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yr 


HISTORY 


OF 


RANDOLPH  ^^^  MACON  COUNTIES, 


MISSOURI 


WRITTEN   AND   COMPILED 


FROM  THE  MOST  AUTHENTIC  OFFICIAL  AND  PRIVATE  SOURCES, 


INCLUDING   A   HISTORY   OF   THKIR 


TOWNSHIPS,  TOWNS  AND  VILLAGES, 


TOGETHER  WITH 


A  CONDENSED  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI;   A    RELIABLE   AND    DETAILED    HISTORY    OF 

RANDOLPH  AND  MACON  COUNTIES  — THEIR  PIONEER  RECORD,  RESOURCES, 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT  CITIZENS ;  GENERAL 

AND  LOCAL  STATISTICS   OF  GREAT  VALUE; 

INCIDENTS  AND  REMINISCENCES. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


ST.  LOUIS: 
NATIONAL  HISTORICAL  COMPANY. 

1884. 


^7  2. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S&4,  by 

O.  P.  WILLIAMS  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


St.  Louis  Mo.: 
Press  of  Nixon -Jones  Printing  Co. 


St.  Louis,  Mo.  : 
Becktold  cf  Co.,  Book-binders- 


CD 


PREFACE. 


The  History  of  Randolph  and  Macon  Counties,  Missouri,  has  been 
written,  in  many  respects,  under  trying  circumstances.  The  publishers 
were  somewhat  embarrassed  from  lack  of  material,  but  not  so  much 
as  overwhelmed  by  a  superabundance  of  conflicting  accounts  of  deeds 
done  and  events  transpired. 

Such  defects  as  may  be  apparent  in  the  work  as  presented,  can,  to 
some  extent,  be  attributed  to  lack  of  material,  but  not  to  any  want  of 
courtesy  on  the  part  of  the  public  officials  or  private  citizens,  on  whom 
the  exigencies  of  the  work  forced  the  compilers  to  intrude,  in  their 
efforts  to  obtain  desired  information. 

In  the  history  of  these  counties  the  greatest  attention  has  been  given 
to  that  dim,  traditionary  period,  the  record  of  which  is  fragmentary, 
and  which,  therefore,  requires  our  efforts  to  preserve  from  that  decay 
which  follows  all  events  inscribed  only  in  the  recollection  of  men. 

The  records  of  the  later  history  as  counties,  have  been  too  fully  and 
voluminously  kept  to  run  the  risk  of  oblivion,  and  their  elaboration  is 
left  to  some  future  historian.  Our  aim  has  been  to  make  this  a  relia- 
ble, accurate  history  of  these  two  counties.  We  cannot  say  that  the 
book  is  without  errors,  for,  were  such  the  case,  it  would  be  beyond  the 
merits  of  any  book  written. 

To  the  kindly  care  of  the  reader  who  seeks  the  truth,  this  work  is 
given  with  the  full  faith  that  he  will  defend  it  in  full  accord  with  its 
merits  against  the  attacks  of  all  who  would  prostitute  the  truth  of 
history  to  the  ephemeral  uses  of  individual  interest  or  prejudice. 

To  name  all  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  valuable  information  ren- 
dered in  the  compilation  of  this  history,  would  be  an  undertaking  of 
too  great  a  magnitude.     We  are  under  obligations  to  the  county  officials 
(iii) 


♦*.-! 


IV  PREFACE . 

of  both  counties,  and  especially  indebted  to  the  Huntsville  Herald^ 
the  Moberly  Monitor,  and  the  Headlight.  The  Times^  the  True  Dem- 
ocrat and  Republican,  of  Macon,  and  the  Home  Press,  of  La  Plata. 
Much  help  has  been  given  by  many  of  the  public  citizens  of  each 
county,  and,  in  fact,  by  every  one  who  has  had  an  interest  in  the  two 
counties.  Thanking  the  citizens  generally  of  Randolph  and  Macon 
counties  for  the  courtesy  and  kindness  shown  to  us  and  our  representa- 
tives while  in  their  midst,  we  submit  this  volume  to  their  generous 
consideration,  believing  that  whatever  of  credit  is  due  us,  will  be  ac- 
corded . 

The  Publishers. 


CONTENTS. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER  I. 

LOUISIANA  PURCHASE. 
Brief  Historical  Sketch 1-7 

CHAPTER   H. 

DESCRIPTIVE  AND  GEOGRAPHICAL. 

Name  —  Extent  —  Surface  —  Rivers  —  Timber  —  Climate  —  Prairies  —  Soils  —  Popula- 
tion by  Counties  7-13 

CHAPTER   III. 

GEOLOGY  OF  MISSOURI. 

Classification  of  Rocks  —  Quatenary  Formation  —  Tertiary  —  Cretaceous  —  Carbonifer- 
ous —  Devonian  —  Silurian  —  Azoic  —  Economic  Geology  —  Coal  —  Iron  —  Lead  — 
Copper  —  Zinc  —  Building  Stone  —  Marble  —  Gypsum — Lime  —  Clays  —  Paints  — 
Springs  —  Water  Power 13-21 

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  Settle- 
ment—  Ste.  Genevieve  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      .        21-27 

CHAPTER   V. 

TERRITORIAL  ORGANIZATION. 

Organization  1812  —  Council  —  House  of  Representatives  —  William  Clark  First  Terri- 
torial Governor  —  Edward  Hempstead  First  Delegate  —  Spanish  Grants  —  First 
General  Assembly  —  Proceedings  —  Second  Assembly  —  Proceedings  —  Population 
of  Territory  —  Vote  of  Territory  —  Rufus  Easton  —  Absent  Members  —  Third 
Assembly  —  Proceedings  —  Application  for  Admission       ....        27-31 

(V) 


VI  CONTEiNTS. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Application  of  Missouri  to  be  Admitted  into  the  Union  —  Agitation  of  the  Slavery 
Question —  "  Missouri  Compromise  "  — Constitutional  Convention  of  1820  —  Con- 
stitution Presented  to  Congress  —  Further  resistance  to  Admission  —  Mr.  Clay  and 
his  Committee  make  Report  —  Second  Compromise  —  Missouri  Admitted       31-37 

CHAPTER   VH. 

MISSOURI  AS  A  STATE. 

First  Election  for  Governor  and  other  State  Officers  —  Senators  and  Representatives  to 
General  Assembly  —  Sheriffs  and  Coroners  —  U.  S.  Senators  —  Representatives  in 
Congress  —  Supreme  Court  Judges  —  Counties  Organized  —  Capital  Moved  to  St. 
Charles  —  Official  Record  of  Territorial  and  State  Officers        .         .         .        37-43 

CHAPTER  VIH. 

CIVIL  WAR  IN  MISSOURI. 

Fort  Sumpter  Fired  upon  —  Call  for  75,000  Men  —  Gov.  Jackson  Refuses  to  Furnish  a 
Man  —  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Liberty,  Mo.,  seized  —  Proclamation  of  Gov.  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  Gen.  Harney  —  Conference  between 
Price  and  Harney  —  Harney  Superseded  by  Lyon  —  Second  Conference  —  Gov. 
Jackson  Burns  the  Bridges  behind  Him  —  Proclamation  of  Gov.  Jackson — Gen. 
Blair  Takes  Possession  of  Jefferson  City  —  Proclamation  of  Lyon  —  Lyon  at 
Springfield  —  State  Offices  Declared  Vacant  —  Gen.  Fremont  Assumes  Command  — 
Proclamation  of  Lieut. -Gov.  Reynolds  —  Proclamation  of  Jeff.  Thompson  and  Gov. 
Jackson  —  Death  of  Gen.  Lyon  —  Succeeded  by  Sturgis  —  Pi'oclamation  of  McCul- 
loch  and  Gamble  —  Martial  Law  Declared  —  Second  Proclamation  of  Jeff.  Thomp- 
son—  President  Modifies  Fremont's  Order  —  Fremont  Relieved  by  Hunter  —  Pro- 
clamation of  Price  —  Hunter's  Order  of  Assessment  —  Hunter  Declares  Martial 
Law  —  Order  Relating  to  Newspapers  —  Halleck  Succeeds  Hunter  —  Halleck's 
Order  18  —  Similar  Order  by  Halleck  —  Boone  County  Standard  Confiscated  — 
Execution  of  Prisoners  at  Macon  and  Palmyra — Gen.  Ewing's  Order  No.  11  — 
Gen.  Rosecrans  Takes  Command  —  Massacre  at  Centralia — Death  of  Bill  Ander- 
son—  Gen.  Dodge  Succeeds  Gen.  Rosecrans  —  List  of  Battles        .         .        43-53 

CHAPTER   IX. 

EARLY  MILITARY  RECORD. 
Black  Hawk  War  —  Mormon  Difficulties  — Florida  War  —  Mexican  War        .        53-59 

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  Products  — 
Fruits  —  Berries  —  Grapes  —  Railroads  —  First  Neigh  of  the  "  Iron  Horse  "  in  Mis- 
souri—  Names  of  Railroads  —  Manufactures  —  Great  Bridge  at  St.  Louis  .     59-65 


CONTENTS.  "^^^ 

CHAPTER  XI. 

EDUCATION. 
Public  School  System -Public  School  System  of  Missouri -Lincoln  Institute -Offi- 
cers of  Public  School  System  -  Certificates  of  Teachers  -  University  of  Missouri  - 
Schools  -  Colleges  -  Institutions  of  Learning  -  Location  -  Libraries  -  News- 
papers and  Periodicals -No.  of  School  Children  -  Amount  Expended- Value  of 
Grounds  and  Buildings —  "  The  Press  " 

CHAPTER  XH. 

KELIGIOUS  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 -Ks 
History 

CHAPTER   XIH. 

FAD  MINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  CRITTENDEN 
Nomination  and  Election  of  Thomas  T.  Crittenden-  Personal  Mention  -  Marmaduke's 
Candidacy  —  Stirring  events  —  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  —  Death  of  Jesse 
James  — The  Eords— Pardon  of  the  Gamblers        .        •        .        .        •  79-85 


HISTORY  OF  KANDOLPH   COUNTY,  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Introductory -What  time  has  done -Importance  of  Early  Beginnings -First  Set- 
tlements made  in  the  Timber- Who  the  First  Settlers  were- Additional  Names 
of  Old  Settlers -Postal  and  Mill  Facilities -County  Organized  and  Named-The 
Name  — John  Randolph 

CHAPTER   II. 

PIONEER  LIFE. 
The    Pioneer's    Peculiarities- Conveniences  and   Inconveniences -The   Historical 
Lo-  Cabin -Agricultural  Implements  -  Household  Furniture -Pioneer  Corn- 
bre"ad-Hand  Mills  and  Hominy   Blocks -Going    to  Mill -Trading   Points- 
Bee  Trees— Shooting  Matches  and  Quilting     100  112 


VIU  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   III. 

EAKLY  RECORDS. 

First  County  Court  —  Its  Proceedings  —  First  Circuit  Court  —  Early  Marriages  — 
First  Recorded  Will  —  Remarkable  Deed  —  Public  Buildings  —  First  Court-House  — 
Second-Court  House — Third  Court-House  —  County  Seat  Question  —  Jails  — 
County  Poor  Farm  —  Blanderrain  Smith 112-125 

CHAPTER   IV. 

TOWNSHIP  SYSTEM  AND  GOVERNMENT  SURVEYS. 

Original  and  Present  Townships  —  County  and  Township  Systems  —  Government 
Surveys  —  Organization  of  Townships  —  Physical  Features     .        .        .      125-135 

CHAPTER  V. 

CAIRO  AND  CLIFTON  TOWNSHIPS. 

Cairo  Township  —  Old  Settlers  —  Cairo  —  Its  History — Secret  Orders  —  Business 
Directory  — Clifton  Township  — Stock  Report  for  1880  —  Early  Settlers  — A  Few 
of  their  Trials  —  Mills  —  Churches  —  Clifton  Hill  —  Secret  Orders— Business 
Directory     135-143 

CHAPTER   VI. 

CHARITON  TOWNSHIP. 

Its  Location  —  Its  Agricultural  Adaptability  —  Population  —  Darksville  —  Thomas 
Hill  — Rolling  Home  — Old  Settlers 143-152 

CHAPTER  VII. 

JACKSON  AND  MONITEAU  TOWNSHIPS. 

Jackson  Township  —  Early  Settlers  —  Jacksonville  —  Its  early  History  —  Business 
Directory  —  Secret  Orders  —  Moniteau  Township  —  Early  Settlers  —  Mills  — 
Schools  —  Farms  and  Stock  —  Higbee  —  Secret  Orders  —  Business  Directory  — 
Stock  Report  for  1880 152-160 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

PRAIRIE,  SALT  RIVER  AND  UNION  TOWNSHIPS. 

Prairie  Township  —  Old  Settlers  —  Durett  Bruce  —  Mill  —  Elliott  —  Shafton  —  Clark's 
Switch  —  Renick  —  Its  History  —  Secret  Orders  —  Business  Directory  —  Stock  Re- 
port for  1880  —  First  House  Erected  in  Renick  —  Salt  River  Township  —  Physical 
Features  —  Early  Settlers  —  Levick's  Mill  —  Union  Township  —  First  Settlers  — 
Milton 160-169 

CHAPTER   IX. 

SILVER  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 
History  of  the  Township  —  Its  Soil  —  Water  Courses  —  Timber  —  Schools  —  Churches 
—  Mt.  Airy  —  Old  Settlers  —  Crops 169-176 


CONTENTS.  IX 

CHAPTER   X. 

SUGAR  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 
Its  History  —  Earliest  Settlers — Agriculture  —  Streams  —  Yield  of  Products  —  His- 
tory of  Moberly  —  First  Elections  —  Mayors  and  Present  City  Offlcers  —  Our 
Railroads  —  Machine  Shops  —  Coal  Mines  —  Grist  Mills  —  Agricultural  Imple- 
ments —  Furniture  —  Foundries  and  Machine  Shops  —  Cotton  and  Woolen  Mills  — 
Wagon  and  Carriage  Factories  —  Tobacco  and  Cigars  —  Creamery  —  Potters 
Ware  —  Gas  —  Newspapers  —  Water  and  Water  Works  —  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciations —  Agricultural  Society  —  Rake  and  Stacker  Factory  —  Scroll  and  Fancy 
Work  —  Soda  Bottling  —  Bricks  —  Minor  Manufactories  —  Real  Estate  Agencies  — 
Commercial  —  Schools  —  Churches  —  Hotels  —  Improvements  —  The  Profes- 
sions—  Miscellaneous  —  Banks  —  Membei's  of  the  Board  of  Trade  —  Secret 
Orders  —  Court  of  Common  Pleas 176-208 

CHAPTER  XI. 

SALT  SPRING  TOWNSHIP. 

Its  History  —  Salt  Spring  —  Water  —  Coal  —  Agriculture  —  Industries  —  Old  Settlers  — 
Death  of  Dr.  William  Fort  —  Huntsville  —  Its  History — Pioneer  Business  Men  — 
Race  Track  —  What  Alphonso  Whetmore  said  of  Huntsville  in  1837  —  Huntsville 
in  Other  Days — Improvements  —  Destructive  Fire- — Subscription  to  Yellow 
Fever  Sufferers  —  Banks  and  Bankers  —  Statement  —  Secret  Orders  —  Building 
and  Loan  Association  —  Pioneer  Church  and  Sunday  School  —  Semple's  Opera 
House  —  Huntsville  Brass  Band  —  Home  Dramatic  Company  —  Huntsville  Flem- 
ing Rake  and  Stacker  Manufactory  —  Town  Incorporated  —  First  Mayor  —  Pres- 
ent Mayor  and  Councilmen  —  Public  Schools  —  Mount  Pleasant  College  —  Female 
College  —  Agricultural  Fair  —  Business  and  Professions  .         .         .      208-232 

^  CHAPTER  XII. 

EARLY  BENCH  AND  BAR. 

Introductory  Remarks  —  Judge  David  Todd  —  Judge  John  F.  Ryland  —  Hon  Joseph 
Davis  —  Gov.  Thomas  Reynolds  —  Gen.  Robert  Wilson  —  Gen.  John  B.  Clark,  Sr.— 
Robert  W.  Wells 232-239 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

CRIMES,  SUICIDES,  INCIDENTS. 

First  and  Second  Executions  which  occurred  in  the  County  under  Sentence  of  Law  — 
Melancholy  Affair  —  A  Man  Shot  and  Killed  near  Moberly  —  The  Murder  —  Peter 
Casper  —  Woman  Shot  and  Man  Hung  —  Railroad  Collision  —  The  last  of  Corlew, 
the  Ravisher  —  James  Hayden  Brown  Pays  the  Penalty  of  his  Crime — Brown's 
Wife  Commits  Suicide  — Murder  most  Foul  —  Distressing  Fatal  Accident — James 
A.  Wright  Commits  Suicide 239-270 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

War  of  1812  —  Indian  War  of  1832  —  California  Emigrants  —  Mexican  War  —  Address 
of  W.  R.  Samuel— The  Civil  War  of  1861  —  Officers  Commanding  Companies  — 
Non-combatants  Killed  in  the  County 270-281 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Railroads 


281-342 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  PRESS  AND  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

History  of  Printing  and  first  Newspapers  —  Huntsville  Becorder  —  Independent  Mis- 
soiirian  —  Advertisements  and  Professional  Men  of  that  Day  — Randolph  Citizen  — 
Randolph  American  —  Randolph  Vindicator  —  North  Missouri  Herald  —  Huntsville 
Herald  —  Higbee  Enterprise  —  Moberly  Herald  and  Seal  Estate  Index — The  Moni- 
tor —  Moberly  Daily  Enterprise  —  Enterprise-Monitor  —  The  Headlight  —  The  Chi'on- 
ic?e  — The  Moberly  i^oresc/in«  — Public  Schools 342-350 


CHAPTER  XVn. 


Ecclesiastical  History 


350-360 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Death  of  Jas.  A.  Garfield  —  Death  of  C.  Wisdom  —  Death  of  Capt.  Lowry  —  Death 
of  Capt.  Coates  — Judge  Thomas  P.  White  —  Sudden  Death  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Oliver  — 
Death  of  an  Old  and  Estimable  Lady  — Tornado  — Tornado  of  1831 —Randolph 
MedicalSprings  — Official  Record  — Politics  — Taxable  Wealth.     .         .      360-381 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Sugar  Creek  Township 
Salt  Spring  Township 
Prairie  Township 
Silver  Creek  Township 
Union  Township 
Clifton  Township 
Chariton  Township    . 
Cairo  Township 
Moniteau  Township  . 
Salt  River  Township 
Jackson  Township 


381-438 
438-536 
536-577 
577-606 
606-616 
616-629 
629-642 
642-669 
669-685 
685-691 
691-699 


CONTENTS.  XI 


HISTORY  OF   MAC0:N^   COUNTY,  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTEE   I. 

The  Pioneer  —  First  Settlements  —  Names  of  Early  Settlers  —  Organization  of  the 
County — Nathaniel  Macon. 701-713 

CHAPTER   II. 

PIONEER  LIFE. 

"Times  change  and  We  change  with  Time  "  — The  Customs  of  Early  Days  — The  Man- 
ner of  Building —  Furniture,  etc. — Pioneer  Women  —  Their  Dress  —  Table  Sup- 
plies—Cloth, How  Made  — House-raisings  — Log-rollings  — Corn  Shuckings  — 
Dances  —  Shooting  Matches  —  Settlement  of  Disputes  —  Pioneer  Mills       713-723 

CHAPTER   HI. 

EARLY  RECORDS. 

County  Court  —  Circuit  Court  —  First  Grand  Jury  —  First  Civil  Case  —  First  Indict- 
ment—  Number  of  Civil  and  Criminal  Cases  Compared  —  Oliver  Perry  Magee 
Trial  —  First  Deed  Recorded  —  Early  Marriages  —  Court-Houses  —  Jails  —  County 
Poor  Farm 723-734 

CHAPTER   IV. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWNSHIPS. 

Morrow  Township  —  Chariton  Township  —  Narrows  Township  —  Middle  Fork  Town- 
ship              734-752 

CHAPTER  V. 

Lingo  Township  —  Callao  Township  —  Bevier  Township  —  Round  Grove  Town- 
ship             752-762 

CHAPTER   VI. 

HUDSON  TOWNSHIP. 

Its  Location  —  Water  Courses  and  Railroads  —  Early  Settlers  —  Macon  —  Macon  City 
the  Original  Town  —  The  Town  of  Hudson  —  Early  Business  Men  —  Additions  to 
Macon  —  City  Officials  —  City  Indebtedness — Banks  and  Bankers  —  Moot  Legis- 
lature—  Secret  Orders  —  Band  of  Hope  —  Macon  Fire  Company  No.  1  —  Macon 
County  Medical  Society  —  Strong's  Cornet  Band  —  Macon  Foundry  and  Machine 
Works  —  The  Massey  Wagon  Company  —  Public  School  —  School  Boards  —  St. 
James'  Academy  —  Johnson  College  —  Hotels  —  Macon  Association  for  the  Distri- 
bution of  Real  Estate  —  Macon  Elevator  Company  —  The  Macon  Creamery  — 
Wright's  Opera  House  —  The  Old  Harris  House  —  Improvements  in  1883  —  Business 
Directory     762-783 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Teu  Mile  Township  —  Eagle  Township  —  Liberty  Township  —  Valley  Township  — 
Russell  Township •         .         .         .         .       783-801 

CHAPTER   Vni. 

Jackson  Township —Lyda  Township  —  Independence  Township  —  Walnut  Creek 
Township  —  White  Township 801-809 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Johnston  Township  —  La  Plata  Township  —  Richland  Township  —  Easley  Township  — 
Drake  Township 809-823 

CHAPTER  X. 

EARLY  BENCH  AND  BAR  — CRIMES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

Thomas  Reynolds  —  Robert  T.  Pruitt  —  William  H.  Davis  — Alexander  L.  Slayback  — 
John  V.Turner  —  James  M.  Gordon  —  J.  R.  Abernathy — Amusing  Incidents  — 
Suing  a  Bull  —  Drinkard  Case  —  Harris  Case  —  Keller  Case  —  Walter  Tracy  Shot 
and  Killed  by  Charles  Stewart 823-843 

CHAPTER   XI. 

Newspapers,  Public  Schools  and  Post-offlces 843-850 

CHAPTER   XII. 

DIFFERENT  WARS. 

Mormon  Diflficulty —  Mexican  War  —  California  Emigrants —  The  Civil  War  of  1861  — 
Resolutions  —  Extracts  from  the  Macon  Legion  —  Companies  and  Captains  —  Occu- 
pation of  Macon  City  by  Union  Troops  —  Military  Execution  at  Macon —  Confeder- 
ate Soldiers  Review  of  Macon  County  Men  — Confederate  OflScers  Hanged      850-866 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Reunions     866-873 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

RAILROADS  AND  BONDED  DEBT. 

Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  —  North  Missouri  Road  —  Alexander  and  Bloom- 
ington  Road  —  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Road  —  St.  Louis,  Macon  and  Omaha  Air 
Line  Road  —  M.  and  M.  Bonds  —  Bonded  Debt  of  Macon  County    .  873-887 

CHAPTER   XV. 

Cyclone  and  Hurricane 887-897 


CONTENTS, 


Xlll 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Agricultural  Societies  —  Granges  —  Coal  and  Fruit  Interests  —  Official  Record.       897-903 

CHAPTER   XVH. 

Ecclesiastical  History 903-920 

CHAPTER   XVHI. 


Macon  County  of  1884 


920-938 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


La  Plata  Township     . 
Lingo  Township 
Independence  Township 
Round  Grove  Township 
Narrows  Township     . 
Jackson  Township 
Middle  Fork  Township 
Richland  Township    . 
Johnston  Township    . 
Eagle  Township 
Lyda  Township  . 
Valley  Township 
Morrow  Township 
Bevier  Township 
Callao  Township 
Chariton  Township     . 
Russell  Township 
Ten  Mile  Township    . 
Liberty  Township 
Hudson  Township 


938-989 
989-1005 
1005-1006 
1006-1009 
1009-1016 
1016-1021 
1021-1025 
1025-1031 
1031-1041 
1041-1057 
1057-1080 
1080-1085 
1085-1089 
1089-1099 
1099-1108 
1108-1115 
1115-1117 
1117-1133 
1133-1141 
1141-1223 


HISTORY  OP  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTEK    I. 

LOUISIANA    PURCHASE. 

BRIEF    HISTOKICAL   SKETCH. 


The  purchase  in  1803  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  im- 
portant event  that  ever  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  nation. 

It  gave  to  our  Republic  additional  room  for  that  expansion  and 
stupendous  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,  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  of  St.  Dominaro,  not  onlv 
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, 
afibrd  him  a  fine  field  whence  he  could  the  more  effectively  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  secured  to  France  from  his 
purchase  of  Louisiana. 

In  1803  he  sent  out  Laussat  as  prefect  of  the  colony,  who  gave  the 

(1) 


2  HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI. 

people  of  Louisiana  the  first  intimation  they  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. 

Mr.  Jefierson,  then  President  of  the  United  States,  on  being  in- 
formed of  the  retrocession,  immediately  dispatched  instructions  to 
R()l)ert  Livingston,  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  Westr- 
ern  States,  and  give  her  also  control  oi  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  so  neces- 
sary to  the  protection  of  American  commerce.  Mr.  Jefferson  was  so 
fully  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  occupancy  of  New  Orleans,  by 
France,  would  bring  about  a  conflict  of  interests  between  the  two 
nations,  which  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.  Na- 
poleon 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  sum- 
moned two  of  his  Ministers,  and  addressed  them  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  pos- 
sessions 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  mani- 
fested on  seeing  it  return  to  the  power  of  France,  I  am  certain  that 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  3 

their  first  object  will  be  to  gain  possession  of  it.  They  will  proba- 
bly commeuce  the  war  in  that  quarter.  They  have  twenty  vessels  in 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  our  affairs  in  St.  Dominffo  are  dailv  eettintr 
worse  since  the  death  of  LeClerc.  The  conquest  of  Louisiana  might 
be  easily  made,  and  I  have  not  a  moment  to  lose  in  getting  out  of 
their  reach.  I  am  not  sure  but  that  they  have  already  begun  an  at- 
tack 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  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  con- 
ciliate. 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  commercial  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  re- 
nounce Louisiana.  I  shall  give  up  not  only  New  Orleans,  but  the 
whole  colony,  without  reservation.  That  I  do  not  undervalue  Louis- 
iana, I  have  sufficiently  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  trying  to  keep  it.  I  commis- 
sion you,  therefore,  to  negotiate  this  afiair  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,  however,  that 
I  need  ample  funds  for  carrying  on  the  war,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  com- 
mence it  by  levying  new  taxes.  For  the  last  century  France  and  Spain 
have  ipcurred  great  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  I  to  regulate  my  demands  by  the  importance  of  this  territorj^ 
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  millions  of  francs,  and  I  will  not  consent  to  take  less. 


4  biSTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

I   would    rather    make    some    desperate    effort   to  preserve  this  fine 
country." 

That  day  the  negotiations  commenced.  Mr.  Monroe  reached  Paris 
on  the  12th  of  April,  1803,  and  the  two  representatives  of  the  United 
States,  after  holding  a  private  interview,  announced  that  they  were 
ready  to  treat  for  the  entu-e  territory.  On  the  30th  of  April,  the 
treatv  was  signed,  and  on  the  21st  of  October,  of  the  same  year,  Con- 
«-ress  ratified  the  treaty.  The  United  States  were  to  pay  $11,250,000, 
and  her  citizens  were  to  be  compensated  for  some  illegal  captures, 
to  the  amount  of  $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  ot  Louisiana 
free  of  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, 
l^rivileges  and  inmiunities  as  other  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  clause  giving  to  them  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 
o-reatest  of  all.  They  could  never  have  prospered  under  any  Euro- 
pean government  as  they  will  when  they  become  independent.  But 
while  thev  enjoy  the  privileges  of  liberty  let  them  remember  that  they 
are  French,  and  preserve  for  their  mother  country  that  aftection  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  Corsican  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 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI.  0 

the  French  authorities  in  the  jurisprudence  of  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Louisiana,  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  20th,  1803,  Gens.  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  twenty  days 
previously  as  the  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  following  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  uncer- 
tainties in  regard  to  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  pro- 
tecting aegis  of  a  government,  republican  in  form,  and  having  free 
access  to  an  almost  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  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 
accomplished  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 


b  HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI 

flow  on  in  his  footsteps,  to  populate,  build  up  and  enrich  the  domain 
which  he  had  con(^uered. 

Year  after  year,  civilization  has  advanced  further  and  further,  until 
at  length  the  mountains,  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, 
Speaking  many  tongues,  yet  feeling 
But  one  heart-beat  in  their  bosoms. 
In  the  woodlands  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 
Encampment,"  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  26th,  1804,  Missouri  was 
placed  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  government  of  the  Territory  of 
Indiana,  and  its  government  put  in  motion  by  Gen.  William  H.  Har- 
rison, then  governor  of  Indiana.  In  this  he  was  assisted  by  Judges 
Griffin,  Vanderburg  and  Davis,  who  established  in  St.  Louis  what  were 
called  Courts  of  Common  Pleas.  The  District  of  Louisiana  was  regu- 
larly organized  into  the  Territory  of  Louisiana  by  Congress,  March  3, 
1805,  and  President  Jefferson  appointed  Gen.  James  Wilkinson,  Gov- 
ernor, and  Frederick  Bates,  Secretary.  The  Legislature  of  the  ter- 
ritory was  formed  by  Governor  Wilkinson  and  Judges  R.  J.  Meigs 
and  John  B.  C.  Lucas.  In  1807,  Governor  Wilkinson  was  succeeded 
by  Captain  Meriwether  Lewis,  who  had  become  famous  by  reason  of 
his  having  made  the  expedition  up  the  Missouri  with  Clark.  Governor 
Lewis  committed  suicide  in  1809  and  President  Madison  appointed 
Gen.  Benjamin  Howard  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  to  fill  his  place. 
Gen.  Howard  resigned  October  25,  1810,  to  enter  the  war  of  1812, 
and  died  in  St.  Louis,  in  1814.  Captain  William  Clark,  of  Lewis  and 
Clark's  expedition,  was  appointed  Governor  in  1810,  to  succeed  Gen. 


HISTORY   or   MISSOURI.  7 

Howard,  and  remained  in  office  until  the  admission  of  the  State  into 
the  Union,  in  1821. 

The  portions  of  Missouri  which  were  settled,  for  the  purposes  of 
local  government  were  divided  into  four  districts.  Cape  Girardeau 
was  the  first,  and  embraced  the  territory  between  Tywappity  Bottom 
and  Apple  Creek.  Ste.  Genevieve,  the  second,  embraced  the  terri- 
tory from  Apple  Creek  to  the  Meramec  River.  St.  Louis,  the  third, 
embraced  the  territory  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  dis- 
tricts 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    n. 

DESCRIFriVE    AM)    GEOGRAPHICAL. 

Name  —  Extent  —  Surface  —  Rivers  —  Timber  —  Climate  —  Prairies  —  Soils  —  Popula- 
tion by  Counties. 

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  sep- 
arated for  about  thirty  miles  on  the  northeast,  by  the  Des  Moines 
River),  and  on  the  east  by  the  Mississippi  River,  which  divides  it  from 
Illinois,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, and  the  States  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  The  State  lies  (with 
the  exception  of  a  small  projection  between  the  St.  Francis  and  the 
Mississippi  Rivers,  which  extends  to  36*),  between  36°  30'  and  40"  36' 
north  latitude,  and  between  12°  2'  and  18°  51'  west  longitude  from 
Washington. 

The  extreme  width  of  the  State  east  and  west,  is  about  348  miles ; 
its  width  on  its  northern  boundary,  measured  from  its  northeast  cor- 
ner along  the   Iowa   line,  to  its  intersection  with  the   Des   Moines 


8  HISTORY   OP  MISSOURI. 

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 
portion  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  out- 
skirts of  the  Ozark  Mountains. 

Beyond  the  Osage  River,  at  some  distance,  commences  a  vast  ex- 
panse of  prairie  land  which  stretches  away  towards  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 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 
Missouri.  By  means  of  the  Mississippi  River,  which  stretches  along 
her  entire  eastern  boundary,  she  can  hold  commercial  intercourse  with 
the  most  northern  territory  and  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,  hurrying,  as  by  foe  pursued. 
Through  shaggy  forests  and  by  palace  walls, 
To  hide  its  terror  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, 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI.  9 

A  dying  miser  shrinking  'neatli  his  goM; 

The  Seine,  where  fashion  glasses  the  fairest  forms; 

The  Thames  that  bears  the  riches  of  the  world; 

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  Mis- 
souri River  receives  a  number  of  tributaries  within  the  limits  of  the 
State,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  Nodaway,  Platte,  Grand  and 
Chariton  from  the  north,  and  the  Blue,  Sniabar,  Lamine,  Osage  and 
Gasconade  from  the  south.  The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Missis- 
sippi 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  175  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  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  oak,  ash,  elm,  hickory,  cotton- 
wood,  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,  papaw  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  sub- 
iect  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, 


10 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


except  during  the  month  of  February,  which  has  many  days  of  pleas- 
ant 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,  while  the  "rolling"  prairies  occupy  the  higher  portions  of 
the  country,  the  descent  generally  to  the  forests  or  bottom  lands  being 
over  only  declivities.  Many  of  these  prairies,  however,  ejfhibit  a  grace- 
fully waving  surface,  swelling  and  sinking  with  an  easy  slope,  and  a 
full,  rounded  outline,  equally  avoiding  the  unmeaning  horizontal  sur- 
face and  the  interruption  of  abrupt  or  angular  elevations. 

These  prairies  often  embrace  extensive  tracts  of  land,  and  in  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  fascinating  panorama  of  ever-changing  color  and  loveliness.  To 
fully  appreciate  their  great  beauty  and  magnitude,  they  must  be 
seen. 

Soil. — The  soil  of  Missouri  is  good,  and  of  great  agricultural  capa- 
bilities, but  the  most  fertile  portions  of  the  State  are  the  river  bot- 
toms, which  are  a  rich  alluvium,  mixed  in  many  cases  with  sand,  the 
producing  qualities  of  which  are  not  excelled  by  the  prolific  valley  of 
the  famous  Nile. 

South  of  the  Missouri  Eiver  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. 


HISTOET  OP  MISSOURI. 


11 


POPULATION  BY  COUNTIES  IN  1870,  1876,  AND   1880. 


Conntiei. 


Adair  . 

Andrew 

Atchison     . 

Audrain 

Barry  . 

Barton 

Bates  . 

Benton 

Bollinger    . 

Boone 

Buchanan   . 

Butler 

Caldwell      . 

Callaway     . 

Camden 

Cape  Girardeau 

Carroll 

Carter 

Cass    . 

Cedar . 

Chariton 

Christian    . 

Clark  . 

Clay    . 

Clinton 

Cole    . 

Cooper 

Crawford    . 

Dade  . 

Dallas 

Daviess 

DeKalb       . 

Dent  . 

Douglas     . 

Dunklin 

Franklin 

Gasconade  . 

Gentry 

Greene 

Grundy 

Harrison     . 

Henry 

Hickory 

Holt    . 

Howard 

Howell 

Iron    . 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jefferson    . 

Johnson 

Knox  . 

Laclede 

Lafayette    . 

Lawrence   . 

Lewis . 

Lincoln 

Linn    . 

Livingston  . 


1870. 


11,449 

15,137 

8,440 

12,307 

10,373 

5,087 

16,960 

11,322 

8,162 

20,765 

35,109 

4,298 

11,390 

19,202 

6,108 

17,558 

17,440 

1,440 

19,299 

9,471 

19,136 

6,707 

13,667 

15,564 

14,063 

10,292 

20,692 

7,982 

8,683 

8,383 

14,410 

9,858 

6,357 

3,915 

5,982 

30,098 

10,093 

11,607 

21,549 

10,567 

14,635 

17,401 

6,452 

11,652 

17,233 

4,218 

6,278 

65,041 

14,928 

15,380 

24,648 

10,974 

9,380 

22,624 

13,067 

15,114 

16,960 

16,906 

16,730 


1876. 


13,774 
14,992 
10,925 
16,157 
11,146 

6,900 
17,484 
11,027 

8,884 
31,923 
38,165 

4,363 
12,200 
25,257 

7,027 
17,891 
21,498 

1,549 
18,069 

9,897 
23,294 

7,936 
14,549 
15,320 
13,698 
14,122 
21,356 

9,391 
11,089 

8,073 
16,557 
11,159 

7,401 

6,461 

6,255 
26,924 
11,160 
12,673 
24,693 
13,071 
18,530 
18,465 

6,870 
13,245 
17,815 

6,756 

6,623 
54,045 
29,384 
16,186 
23,646 
12,678 

9,846 
22,204 
13,054 
16,360 
16,858 
18,110 
18,074 


1880. 

15,190 
16,318 
14,565 
19,739 
14,424 
10,332 
25,382 
12,398 
11,132 
25,424 
49,824 
6,011 
13,654 
23,670 
7,269 
20,998 
23,300 
2,168 
22,431 
10,747 
25,224 
9,632 
15,631 
15,579 
16,073 
15,519 
21,622 
10,763 
12,557 
9,272 
19,174 
13,343 
10,647 
7,753 
9,604 
26,536 
11,163 
17,188 
28,817 
15,201 
20,318 
23,914 
7,388 
15,510 
18,428 
8,814 
8,183 
82,328 
32,021 
18,736 
28,177 
13,047 
11,624 
25,761 
17,585 
15,926 
17,443 
20,016 
20,205 


12 


HISTORY   OP   MISSOURI. 
POPULATION  BY  COUNTIES  — ConrtnM«<I. 


Counties. 


McDonald 

Macon 

Madison 

Maries 

Marion 

Mercer 

Miller 

Mississippi 

Moniteau 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

New  Madrid 

Newton 

Nodaway 

Oregon 

Osage . 

Ozark . 

Pemiscot 

Perry  . 

Pettis . 

Phelps 

Pike    . 

Platte 

Polk    . 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Ralls  . 

Randolph 

Ray     . 

Reynolds 

Ripley 

St.  Charles 

St.  Clair 

St.  Franco 

Ste.  Genev 

St.  Louis* 

Saline 

Schuyler 

Scotland 

Scott  . 

Shannon 

Shelby 

Stoddard 

Stone  . 

Sullivan 

Taney 

Texas 

Vernon 

Warren 

Washington 

Wayne 

Webster 

Worth 

Wright 

City  of  St.  Louis 


1876. 


5,226 

23,230 

5,849 

5,916 

23,780 

11,657 

6,616 

4,982 

13,375 

17,149 

10,405 

8,434 

6,357 

12,821 

14,751 

3,287 

10,793 

3,363 

2,059 

9,877 

18,706 

10,506 

23,076 

17,352 

14,445 

4,714 

11,217 

10,510 

16,908 

18,700 

3,756 

3,175 

21,804 

6,742 

9,742 

8,384 

351,189 

21,672 

8,820 

10,670 

7,317 

2,339 

10,119 

8,535 

3,253 

11,907 

4,407 

9,618 

11,247 

9,673 

11,719 

6,068 

10,434 

5,004 

5,684 


1876. 


1,721,295 


6,072 
25,028 

8,750 

6,481 
22,794 
13,393 

8,529 

7,498 
13,084 
17,751 
14,418 

9,529 

6,673 
16,875 
23,196 

4,469 
11,200 

4,579 

2,573 
11,189 
23,167 

9,919 
22,828 
15,948 
13,407 

6,157 
12,641 

9,997 
19,173 
18,394 

4,716 

3,913 
21,821 
11,242 
11,621 

9,409 

*27,b87 

9,881 

12,030 

7,312 

3,236 

13,243 

10,888 

3,544 

14,039 

6,124 

10,287 

14,413 

10,321 

13,100 

7,006 

10,684 

7,164 

6,124 


1,547,030  I    2,168,804 


'  St.  Louis  City  and  County  separated  In  1877.    Population  for  1876  not  given. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 


13 


Males 

Females 

Native 

Foreign 

White 

Colored  i 


1,126,424 
1,041,380 
1,957,564 

211,240 
2,023,568 

145,236 


CHAPTBE    ni. 

GEOLOGY  OF  MISSOURI. 

Classification  of  Rocks — Quatenary  Formation  —  Tertiary  — Cretaceous  —  Carbonifer- 
ous —  Devonian  —  Silurian  —  Azoic  —  Economic  Geology  —  Coal  —  Iron  —  Lead  — 
Copper  —  Zinc  —  Building  Stone  —  Marble  —  Gypsum  —  Lime  —  Clays  —  Paints  — 
Springs  — Water  Power. 

♦ 
The  stratified  rocks  of  Missouri,  as  classified  and  treated  of  by  Prof. 

G.  C.  Swallow,  belong  to  the  following  divisions :  I.  Quatenary ; 
II.  Tertiary;  III.  Cretaceous;  IV.  Carboniferous;  V.  Devonian; 
VI.  Silurian  ;  VII.  Azoic. 

"  The  Quatenary  formations,  are  the  most  recent,  and  the  most 
valuable  to  man:  valuable,  because  they  can  be  more  readily  utilized. 

The  Quatenary  formation  in  Missouri,  embraces  the  Alluvium,  30 
feet  thick  ;  Bottom  Prairie,  30  feet  thick  ;  Blufi",  200  feet  thick ;  and 
Drift,  155  feet  thick.  The  latest  deposits  are  those  which  constitute 
the  Alluvium,  and  includes  the  soils,  pebbles  and  sand,  clays,  vegeta- 
ble mould,  bog,  iron  ore,  marls,  etc. 

The  Alluvium  deposits,  cover  an  area,  within  the  limits  of  Mis- 
souri, of  more  than  four  millions  acres  of  land,  which  are  not  sur- 
passed for  fertility  by  any  region  of  country  on  the  globe. 

The  Bluff  Prairie  formation  is  confined  to  the  low  lands,  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  Allu- 
vial, it  is  equally  as  rich  and  productive." 

"  The  Blufi"  formation,"  says  Prof.  Swallow,  *•  rests  upon  the 
ridges  and  river  blufii*s,  and  descends  along  their  slopes  to  the  lowest 
valleys,  the  formation  capping  all  the  Blufi's  of  the  Missouri  from 
Fort  Union  to  its  mouth,  and  those  of  the  Mississippi  from  Dubuque 


>  Including  92  Chinese,  2  half  Chinese,  and  96  Indians  and  half-breeds. 


14  HISTORY   OP   MISSOURI. 

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  Missis- 
sippi counties  on  the  south. 

Its  greatest  development  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  greatest  observed  thickness  in  Marion  county  was  only  30 
feet.'* 

The  Drift  formation  is  that  which  lies  beneath  the  Bluff  formation, 
having,  as  Prof.  Swallow  informs  us,  three  distinct  deposits,  to  wit : 
♦'Altered  Drift,  which  are  strata  of  sand  and  pebl)les,  seen  in  the 
banks  of  the  Missouri,  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  State. 

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  locali- 
ties 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  com- 
posed of  variegated  sandstone,  bluish-brown  sandy  slate,  whitish- 
brown  impure  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 
varieties  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 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  15 

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  exten- 
sively utilized  for  building  and  other  purposes. 

Among  the  Lower  Carboniferous  rocks  is  found  the  Upper  Archi- 
medes Limestone,  200  feet ;  Ferruginous  Sandstone,  195  feet ;  Mid- 
dle Archimedes,  50  feet ;  St.  Louis  Limestone,  250  feet;  Oolitic 
Limestone,  25  feet;  Lower  Archimedes  Limestone,  350  feet;  and 
Encrinital  Limestone,  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  Southwestern  Missouri. 

The  Encrinital  limestone  is  the  most  extensive  of  the  divisions  of 
Carboniferous  limestone,  and  is  made  up  of  brown,  buff,  gray  and 
white.  In  these  strata  are  found  the  remains  of  corals  and  moUusks. 
This  formation  extends  from  Marion  county  to  Greene  county.  The 
Devonian  system  contains :  Chemung  Group,  Hamilton  Group, 
Onondaga  limestone  and  Oriskany  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  lime- 
stone, 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  pur- 
poses but  makes  an  excellent  cement. 

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

The  Lithographic  limestone  is  a  pure,  fine,  compact,  evenly-tex- 
tured 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. 


16  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

The  Hamilton  Group  is  made  up  of  some  40  feet  of  blue  shales,  and 
170  feet  of  crystalline  limestone. 

Onondaga  limestone  is  usually  a  coarse,  gray  or  buff  crystalline, 
thick-bedded  and  cherty  limestone.  No  formation  in  Missouri  pre- 
sents 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  Helderberg,  350  feet ;  Niagara  Group,  200  feet ;  Cape  Girar- 
deau limestone,  60  feet. 

The  Lower  Helderberg  is  made  up  of  buff,  gray,  and  reddish  cherty 
and  argillaceous  limestone. 

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

The  Cape  Girardeau  limestone,  on  the  Mississippi  Kiver  near  Cape 
Girardeau,  is  a  compact,  bluish-gray,  brittle  limestone,  with  smooth 
fractures  in  layers  from  two  to  six  inches  in  thickness,  with  argilla- 
ceous 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  liniestone,  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  Prof. 
Swallow  refers  to  in  this  group.  These  formations  are  found  in  the 
bluff  above  and  below  Louisiana ;  on  the  Grassy  a  few  miles  north- 
west of  Louisiana,  and  in  Ralls,  Pike,  Cape  Girardeau  and  Ste.  Gene- 
vieve Counties. 

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

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

Black  River  and  Bird's  Eye  limestone  the  same  color  as  the  Trenton 
limestone. 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  17 

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.  la  a 
bluff  about  two  miles  from  Warsaw,  is  a  very  striking  change  of  thick- 
ness of  this  formation. 

Second  Maguesian  limestone,  in  lithological  character,  is  like  the 
first. 

The  second  sandstone,  usually  of  yellowish  brown,  sometimes 
becomes  a  pure  white,  fine-grained,  soft  sandstone  as  on  Cedar  Creek, 
in  Washington  and  Franklin  Counties. 

The  third  Magnesian  limestone  is  exposed  in  the  high  and  picturesque 
bluffs  of  the  Niangua,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bryce's  Sprino-. 

The  third  sandstone  is  white  and  has  a  formation  in  movino-  water. 

The  fourth  Magnesian  limestone  is  seen  on  the  Niangua  and  Osao-e 
[livers. 

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  ao-e  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  thino-s. 
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 
bituminous  coal.  A  large  portion  of  the  State,  has  been  ascer- 
tained 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  less  coal.  Coal  rocks  exist  in  Ralls,  Mont- 
gomery, 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 


13  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

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,  embraces  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  estimates  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  pos- 
session of  her  developed  and  undeveloped  coal  mines,  Missouri  has  a 
motive  power,  which  in  its  influences  for  good,  in  the  civilization  of 
man,  is  more  potent  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  inex- 
haustible quantity,  and  like  her  coal  fields,  it  has  been  developed  in 
many  portions  of  the  State,  and  of  the  best  and  purest  quality.  It  is 
found  in  great  abundance  in  the  counties  of  Cooper,  St.  Clair,  Greene, 
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  Moun- 
tain, which  is  two  hundred  feet  high,  and  covers  an  area  of  five  hun- 
dred acres,  and  produces  a  metal,  which  is  shown  by  analysis,  to  con- 
tain from  65  to  69  per  cent  of  metallic  iron. 

The  ore  of  Shepherd  Mountain  contains  from  64  to  67  pen*  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,  in  its  nude  state,  a  variety  of  colors, 
from  the  red,  dark  red,  black,  brown,  to  a  light  bluish  gray.  Tlie 
red  ores  are  found  in  twenty-one  or  more  counties  of  the  State,  and 
are  of  great  commercial  value.  The  brown  hematite  iron  ores  extend 
over  a  greater  range  of  country  than  all  the  others  combined,  embrac- 
ing about  one  hundred  counties,  and  have  been  ascertained  to  exist  in 
these  in  large  quantities. 

Lead.  —  Long  before  any  permanent  settlements  were  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 
hundred  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  seven  thousand  square  miles.     Mines  have  been  opened 


HISTORY  OP  MISSOURI.  19 

in  Jefferson,  Washington,  St.  Francois,  Madison,  Wayne,  Carter,  Rey- 
nolds, Crawford,  Ste.  Genevieve,  Perry,  Cole,  Cape  Girardeau,  Cam- 
den, Morgan,  and  many  other  counties. 

Copper  and  Zinc.  —  Several  varieties  of  copper  ore  are  found  in 
Missouri.  The  copper  mines  of  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,  Ben- 
ton, Maries,  Green,  Lawrence,  Dade,  Taney,  Dallas,  Phelps,  Eeyuolds 
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  A.  &  P.  R.  R.  a 
market  has  been  furnished  for  this  ore,  which  will  be  converted  into 
valuable  merchandise. 

Building  Stone  and  Marble.  —  There  is  no  scarcity  of  good  buildino' 
stone  in  Missouri.  Limestone,  sandstone  and  granite  exist  in  all 
shades  of  buff,  blue,  red  and  brown,  and  are  of  great  beauty  as  build- 
ing 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  3rd 
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  Kan- 
sas 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  fourth  Magnesian,  have  more  or  less  strata  of  very  nearly  pure  car- 
bonate of  pure  lime. 

Clays  and  Paints.  —  Clays  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  shades  in  the  coal  measures  which 
possess  the  properties  requisite  for  paints  used  in  outside  work.  Yel- 
low and  red  ochres  are  found  in  considerable  quantities  on  the  Missouri 


20  HISTORY   OF  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  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  counties.  Considerable  salt  was  made  in  Cooper  and 
Howard  Counties  at  an  early  day. 

Sulphur  springs  are  also  numerous  throughout  the  State.  The 
Chouteau  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, 
Lafayette,  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 
particularly  abundant  on  the  waters  of  the  Meramec,  Gasconade, 
Bourbeuse,  Osage,  Niangua,  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. 


HISTORY   OF  MISSOUBI,  21 

CHAPTER    lY. 

TITLE  AND   EAELY  SETTLEIVIENTS. 

Title  to  Missouri  Lands  — Right  of  Discovery  — Title  of  France  and  Spain  — Cession 
to  the  United  States  —  Territorial  Changes  —  Treaties  with  Indians  —  First  Settle- 
ment—  Ste.  Genevieve  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. 

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  that  civilized  nations  considered  themselves  bound  to  respect ; 
so,  therefore,  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  Kussia.  France  held  all 
that  portion  that  now  constitutes  our  national  domain  west  of  the 
Mississippi  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  con- 
tinent, 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  1,  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 


22  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

Missouri,  "but  the  financial  needs  of  Napoleon  afforded  our  Govern- 
ment 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 
territory,  and  provided  for  it  a  temporary  government,  and  another 
act,  approved  March  26, 1804,  authorized  the  division  of  the  "  Louis- 
iana Purchase,"  as  it  was  then  called,  into  two  separate  territories. 
All  that  portion  south  of  the  33d  parallel  of  north  latitude  was  called 
the  "  Territory  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  *'  Lidian  Territory." 

By  virtue  of  an  act  of  Congress,  approved  March  3,  1805,  the 
*'  District  of  Louisiana"  was  organized  as  the  "  Territory  of  Louis- 
iana," with  a  territorial  government  of  its  own,  which  went  into 
operation  July  4th  of  the  same  year,  and  it  so  remained  till  1812.  In 
this  year  the  "  Territory  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  "  Arkan- 
sas Territory,"  and  on  August  10,  1821,  the  State  of  Missouri  was 
admitted,  being  a  part  of  the  former  "  Territory  of  Missouri." 

In  1836,  the  *'  Platte  Purchase,"  then  being  a  part  of  the  Indian 
Territory,  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  :  — 

1.  To  France,  with  other  territory. 

2.  In  1763,  with  other  territory,  it  was  ceded  to  Spain. 

3.  October  1,  1800,  it  was  ceded,  with  other  territory  from  Spain, 
back  to  France. 

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

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

6.  October  1,  1804,  it  was  included  in  the  '*  District  of  Louisiana" 
and  placed  under  the  territorial  government  of  Indiana. 

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


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


23 


8.  June  4,  1812,  it  was  embraced  in  what  was  then  made  the  «*  Ter- 
ritory of  Missouri." 

9.  August  10,  1821,  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State. 

10.  In  1836,  the  "Platte  Purchase"  was  made,  adding  more  ter- 
ritory 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, 
generally  agreed  that  they  were  made  at  Ste.  Genevieve  and  New 
Bourbon,  tradition  fixing  the  date  of  the  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  exclusive  trade  with  the  Indians  of  Missouri  as  far  north  as  St. 
Peter's  Eiver. 

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  in_ 
creased  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  ninth  day  of  November,  1809,  by  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  of  the  district  of  St.  Louis ;  the  town  trustees  being 
Auguste  Chouteau,  Edward  Hempstead,  Jean  F.  Cabanne,  Wm.  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  ad- 


24  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

vantages  of  water  transportation  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  1795,  received  by  grant  from  the 
Spanish  government  a  league  of  land,  now  known  as  the  "Austin  Sur- 
vey.** The  grant  was  made  on  condition  that  Mr.  Austin  would  es- 
tablish 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  villagej 
which  was  for  many  years  known  as  '*  Durham  Hull.'*  At  this  point 
the  first  shot-tower  and  sheet-lead  manufactory  were  erected. 

Five  years  after  the  founding  of  St.  Louis  the  first  settlement  made 
in  Northern  Missouri  was  made  near  St.  Charles,  in  St.  Charles 
County,  in  1769,  The  name  given  to  it,  and  which  it  retained  till 
1784,  was  Les  Petites  Gotes^  signifying,  Little  Hills.  The  town  site 
was  located  by  Blanchette,  a  Frenchman,  surnamed  LeChasseur,  who 
built  the  first  fort  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  Sioux,  was  located  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  River,  and  at  about  the 
same  time  a  Kickapoo  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  Del- 
aware Indians.  The  place  now  known  as  Big  River  Mills,  St.  Fran- 
cois county,  was  settled  in  1796,  Andrew  Baker,  John  Alley,  Francis 
Starnater  and  John  Andrews,  each  locating  claims.  The  following 
year,  a  settlement  was  made  in  the  same  county,  just  below  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Farmington,  by  the  Rev.  William  Murphy,  a  Baptist  min- 
ister from  East  Tennessee.  In  1796,  settlements  were  made  in  Perry 
county  by  emigrants  from  Kentucky  and  Pennsylvania ;  the  latter  lo- 
cating 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 
settled  August  6,  1800,  by  John  Johnson,  by  virtue  of  a  land-grant 


HISTORY   OP   MISSOURI.  25 

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  Hermann,  in  the  Missouri  River,  was  settled  by  a 
few  American  families  in  1807.  This  little  company  of  pioneers  suf- 
fered greatly  from  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  M.  Boone,  sons  of  the  great  hunter  and 
pioneer,  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  Dessein,  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.  During  the  war  of  1812,  at  this  place  many  hard-fought 
battles  occurred  between  the  whites  and  Indians,  wherein  woman's 
fortitude  and  courage  greatly  assisted  in  the  defence  of  the  settle- 
ment. 

In  1810,  a  colony  of  Kentuckians  numbering  one  hundred  and  fifty 
families  immigrated  to  Howard  county,  and  settled  on  the  Missouri 
River  in  Cooper's  Bottom  near  the  present  town  of  Franklin,  and 
opposite  Arrow  Rock. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  the  history  of  some  of  the  early  settlements  of 
Missouri,  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  aflbrded  them 
transportation  for  their  marketable  commodities,  and  communication 
with  the  civilized  portion  of  the  country. 

They  not  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  city.  Churches  and  school  houses  greet  the  eye  on  every 
hand;  railroads  diverge  in  every  direction,  and,  indeed,  all  the  appli- 
ances of  a  higher  civilization  are  profusely  strewn  over  the  smiling 
surface  of  the  State. 


2d  history   of   MISSOURI. 

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,  1766,  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) y  in 
1808. 

The  first  postoffice  was  established  in  1804,  in  St.  Louis — Rufus 
Easton,  post-master. 

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, 
Capt.  Jacob  Reid ;  landed  at  St.  Louis  1817. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  for  public  schools  appointed  in  1817,  St. 
Louis. 

The  first  college  built  (St.  Louis  College),  in  1817. 

The  first  steamboat  that  came  up  the  Missouri  River  as  high  as 
Franklin  was  the  Independence,  in  May,  1819  ;  Capt.  Nelson,  mas- 
ter. 

The  first  court  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  fire  occurred  in  St.  Louis,  1849. 


HISTORY   OP   MISSOURI.  27 

CHAPTER    y. 

TEERITORIAL   ORGANIZATION. 

Organization  1812  — Council  — House  of  Representatives  — William  Clark  first  Terri- 
torial Governor  — Edward  Hempstead  first  Delegate  —  Spanish  Grants— First 
General  Assembly  — Proceedings  — Second  Assembly  —  Proceedings  — Population 
of  Territory  —  Vote  of  Territory  —  Ruf  us  Easton  —  Absent  Members  —  Third  Assem- 
bly —  Proceedings  —  Application  for  Admission. 

Congress  organized  Missouri  as  a  Territory,  July  4,  1812,  with  a 
Governor  and  General  Assembly.  The  Governor,  Legislative  Coun- 
cil, and  House  of  Representatives  exercised  the  Legislative  power  of 
the  Territory,  the  Governor's  vetoing  power  being  absolute. 

/lie  Legislative  Council  was  composed  of  nine  members,  wiiose  ten- 
ure 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  Coun- 
cillors, 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  mem- 
ber for  every  five  hundred  white  males.  The  first  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives consisted  of  thirteen  members,  and,  by  Act  of  Congress,  the 
whole  number  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,  hav- 
ing original  and  appellate  jurisdiction  in  civil  and  criminal  cases. 

The  Territory  could  send  one  delegate  to  Congress.  Governor 
Clark  issued  a  proclamation,  October  1st,  1812,  required  by  Congress, 
reorganizing  the  districts  of  St.  Charles,  St.  Louis,  Ste.  Genevieve, 
Cape  Girardeau,  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  Represen- 
tatives. 

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

Edward  Hempstead,  Rufus  Easton,  Samuel  Hammond,  and  Matthew 
Lyon  were  candidates  in  November  for  delegates  to  Congress. 


28  HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 

Edward  Hempstead  was  elected,  being  the  first  Territorial  Dele- 
gate to  Congress  from  Missouri.  He  sei-ved  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  by  the  people  by  virtue  of  Spanish  grants.  The 
same  act  confirmed  to  the  people  "  for  the  support  of  schools,"  the 
title  to  villaire  lots,  out-lots  or  common  field  lots,  which  were  held 
and  enjoyed  by  them,  at  the  time  of  the  session  in  1803. 

Under  the  act  of  June  4,  1812,  the  first  General  Assembly  held  its 
session  in  the  house  of  Joseph  Robidoux,  in  St.  Louis,  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.  Can.', 
and  Richard  Clark. 

Ste.  Genevieve.  —  George  Bullet,  Richard  S.  Thomas,  and  Isaac 
McGready. 

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  and  Benjamin  Emmons. 

St.  Louis.  —  Auguste  Chouteau,  Sr.,  and  Samuel  Hammond. 

Ste.  Genevieve.  —  John  Scott  and  James  Maxwell. 

Cape  Girardeau.  —  William  Neeley  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  Legis- 
lature. 

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  refer- 
ence to  the  workings  of  the  first  Territorial  Legislature  in  Missouri. 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI. 


29 


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  meas- 
ures ;  creating  the  office  of  Sheriflf;  providing  the  manner  for  taking 
the  census ;  permanently  fixing  the  seats  of  Justices,  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 ;  establishing  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  ;  incorporating  the 
Bank  of  St.  Louis  ;  and  organizing  a  part  of  Ste.  Genevieve  county 
into  the  county  of  Washington. 

The  next  session  of  the  Lesjislature  convened  in  St.  Louis,  Decern- 
ber  6,  1813.  George  Bullet  of  Ste.  Genevieve  county,  was  speaker 
elect,  and  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  McCready,  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 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  people.  Laws  were  enacted  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  vice  and  immorality  on  the  Sabbath  day  ;  for  the  improve- 
ment of  public  roads  and  highways  ;  creating  the  offices  of  auditor, 
treasurer  and  county  surveyor ;  regulating  the  fiscal  affiiirs  of  the 
Territory  and  fixing  the  boundary  lines  of  New  Madrid,  Cape  Girar- 
deau, Washington  and  St.  Charles  counties.  The  Legislature  ad- 
journed on  the  19th  of  January,  1814,  sine  die. 

The  population  of  the  Territory  as  shown  by  the  United  States 
census  in  1810,  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  in- 
habitants, and  the  new  county  of  Arkansas  the  least  —  the  latter  hav- 
ing 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  aggre- 
gated 2,599,  of  which  number  Mr.  Easton  received  965,  Mr.  Ham- 


30  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

moud   746,  Mr.  McNair  853,  and  Mr.  Riddick  (who  had  withdrawn 
previously  to  the  election)  35.     Mr.  Easton  was  elected. 

The  census  of  1814  showing  a  large  increase  in  the  population  of 
the  Territory,  an  appointment  was  made  increasing  the  number  of 
Representatives  in  the  Territorial  Legislature  to  twenty-two.  The 
General  Assembly  began  its  session  in  St.  Louis,  December  5,  1814. 
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  Neeley,  of  Cape 
Girardeau  county. 

It  appeared  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  Legisla- 
ture ao-ain  began  its  session.  Only  a  partial  report  of  its  proceedings 
are  o-iven  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  dividing  ridge 
between  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Rivers.  (For  precise  bounda- 
ries, see  Chapter  I.  of  the  History  of  Boone  County.) 

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  Mis- 
souri "  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,  1818,  and, 
among  other  things,  organized  the  counties  of  Pike,  Cooper,  Jeffer- 
son, Franklin,  Wayne,  Lincoln,  Madison,  Montgomery,  and  three 
counties  in  the  Southern  part  of  Arkansas.  In  1819  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 


HISTORY   OP  MISSOURI.  31 

been  established,  its  commerce  had  grown  into  importance,  its  agri- 
cultural 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  Territorial  Legis- 
lature 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    YI. 


Application  of  Missouri  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  —  Agitation  of  tlie  Slavery 
Question  —  *'  Missouri  Compromise  "  —  Constitutional  Convention  of  1820  —  Con- 
stitution 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. 

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

"  In  forked  flashes,  a  commanding  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  stipu- 
lated 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 


32  HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI. 

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  15th,  1819.  —  After  the  House  had  resolved  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  bill  to  authorize  the  admission  of  Mis- 
souri into  the  Union,  and  after  the  question  of  her  admission  had  been 
discussed  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  slavery  or  involun- 
tary servitude  be  prohibited,  except  for  the  punishment  of  crime, 
whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  and  that  all  chil- 
dren 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 
discussions  which  lasted  nearly  three  years,  finally  culminating  in  the 
Missouri  Compromise.  All  phases  of  the  slavery  question  were  pre- 
sented, not  in  its  moral  and  social  aspects,  but  as  a  great  constitu- 
tional question,  ajSecting  Missouri  and  the  admission  of  future  States. 
The  proviso,  when  submitted  to  a  vote,  was  adopted —  79  to  67,  and 
so  reported  to  the  House. 

Hon.  John  Scott,  who  was  at  that  time  a  delegate  from  the  Terri- 
tory of  Missouri,  was  not  permitted  to  vote,  but  as  such  delegate  he 
had  the  privilege  of  participating  in  the  debates  which  followed.  On 
the  16th  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  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  76.  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  19th  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 


HISTORY   or   MISSOURI.  33 

was  most  unfortunate  for  the  country.  The  people  having  already 
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  of 
Congress.  The  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  uncertainty  up  to  the  meeting  of  Congress,  which  took 
place  on  the  6th  of  December,  1819.  The  memorial  of  the  Legisla- 
tive Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Missouri  Territory, 
praying  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  "  Missouri  Question,"  by  an  amendment  which  read  as  follows  : 

"And  be  it  further  enacted.  That  in  all  that  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  (except- 
ing such  part  thereof  as  is)  included  within  the  limits  of  the  State, 
contemplated  by  this  act,  slavery  and  involuntary  servitude,  other- 
wise 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,  in  any  State  or  Territory  of  the  United 
States,  such  fugitive  may  be  lawfully  reclaimed  and  conveyed  to  the 
person  claiming  his  or  her  labor  or  services  as  aforesaid." 

The  Senate  adopted  this  amendment,  which  formed  the  basis  of  the 
«♦  Missouri  Compromise,"  modified  afterward  by  striking  out  the 
words,  **  excepting  only  such  part  thereof  y 

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 


34  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

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  coutained  fif- 
teen 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  12th  of 
June,  following  the  election  in  May,  and  concluded  its  labors  on  the 
19th  of  July,  1820.  David  Barton  was  its  President,  and  Wm.  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  repre- 
sented by  them  are  as  follows  :  — 

Cape  Girardeau.  — Stephen  Bj'^rd,  James  Evans,  Kichard  S. 
Thomas,  Alexander  Buckner  and  Joseph  McFerron. 

Cooper.  —  Eobert  P.  Clark,  Robert  Wallace,  Wm.  Lillard. 

Franklin. — John  G.  Heath. 

Howard.  —  Nicholas  S.  Burkhart,  Dufi"  Green,  John  Ray,  Jonathan 
S.  Findley,  Benj.  H.  Reeves. 

Jefferson.  —  Daniel  Hammond. 

Lincoln.  —  Malcom  Henry. 

Montgomery.  — Jonathan  Ramsey,  James  Talbott. 

Madison.  —  Nathaniel  Cook. 

New  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, 
Wm.  Rector,  John  C.  Sullivan,  Pierre  Chouteau,  Jr.,  Bernard  Pratte, 
Thomas  F.  Riddick. 

Washington. — John  Rice  Jones,  Samuel  Perry,  John  Hutchings. 
Wayne.  —  Elijah  Bettis. 

On  the  13th  of  November,  1820,  Congress  met  again,  and  on  the 
sixth  of  the  same  month  Mr.  Scott,  the  delegate  from  Missouri,  pre- 
sented to  the  House  the  Constitution  as  framed  by  the  convention. 


HLSTORY    OF   MISSOURI.  35 

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  mulattoes  from 
settling  in  the  State.  The  report  of  the  committee  to  whom  was 
referred  the  Constitution  of  Missouri  was  accompanied  by  a  preamble 
and  resolutions,  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  Avas  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  fol- 
lows :  — 

*'  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 
Constitution  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 
proviso  were  again  taken  up  and  discussed  at  great  length,  when  the 
committee  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  that  great  statesman  and  pure  patriot,  Henry  Clay, 
of  Kentucky,  feeling  that  the  hour  had  come  when  angry  discussions 
should  cease, 

"  With  grave 

Aspect  he  rose,  and  in  his  rising  seem'd 

A  pillar  of  state ;  deep  on  his  front  engravei 

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. 
committee  consisting  of  twenty-three  persons  (a  number  equal  to  the 
number  of  States  then  composing  the  Union),  be  appointed  to  act  in 
conjunction  with  a  committee  of  the  Senate  to  consider  and  report 
whether  jNIissouri  should  be  admitted,  etc. 


36  HISTORY   OP   MISSOURI. 

The  motion  prevailed  ;  the  committee  was  appointed  and  Mr,  Clay 
made  its  chairman.  The  Senate  selected  seven  of  its  members  to  act 
with  the  committee  of  twenty-three,  and  on  the  26th  of  February  the 
following  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,  by  which  any  citizen  of 
either  of  the  States  in  this  Union  shall  be  excluded  from  the  enjoy- 
ment 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  fundamental  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  proclamation,  shall  an- 
nounce 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 
conditions  of  admission,  as  expressed  in  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Clay. 
August  10th,  1821,  President  Monroe  announced  by  proclamation  the 
admission  of  Missouri  into  the  Union  to  be  complete. 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI.  37 

CHAPTER    YII. 

MISSOURI  AS  A  STATE. 

First  Election  for  Governor  and  other  State  Officers  —  Senators  and  Eepresentatives  to 
General  Assembly — Sheriffs  and  Coroners  —  U.  S.  Senators  —  Representatives  in 
Coagress — 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  19th  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  be  held  on  the  28th  of  August  for  the  election  of  a  Governor  and 
other  State  officers,  Senators  and  Representatives  to  the  General 
Assembly,  Sheriffs  and  Coroners,  United  States  Senators  and  Repre- 
sentatives 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  provi- 
sions of  the  constitution,  the  election  was  held,  and  the  General  As- 
sembly convened. 

William  Clark  (who  had  been  Governor  of  the  Territory)  and 
Alexander  McNair  were  the  candidates  for  Governor.  McNair  re- 
ceived 6,576  votes,  Clark  2,556,  total  vote  of  the  State  9,132.  There 
were  three  candidates  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  Sixteenth  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  of  Sep- 
tember, 1820,  and  organized  by  electing  James  Caldwell,  of  Ste. 
Genevieve,  speaker,  and  John  McArthur  clerk ;  William  H.  Ashley, 
Lieutenant-Governor,  President  of  the  Senate  ;  Silas  Bent,  President, 
pro  tern. 

Mathias  McGirk,  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,  Attorney-General,  and  William 
Christie,  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts. 


88 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


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,  Perry,  Ralls,  Ray  and  Saline 
were  organized. 

We  should  like  to  give  in  details  the  meetings  and  proceedings  of 
the  different  Legislatures  which  followed  ;  the  elections  for  Govern- 
ors and  other  State  officers  ;  the  elections  for  Congressmen  and  United 
States  Senators,  but  for  want  of  space  we  can  only  present  in  a  con- 
densed form  the  official  record  of  the  Territorial  and  State  officers. 


OFFICIAL   RECORD  —  TERRITORIAL   OFFICERS. 

Governors. 
Frederick  Bates,  Secretary  and  William  Clark    .    . 

Acting-Governor     .... 


1812-13 


OFFICERS   OF   STATE   GOVERNMENT. 


Oovemors. 

Alexander  McNair 1820-24 

Frederick  Bates 1824-25 

Abraham    J.    Williams,    vice 

Bates 1825 

John  Miller,  vice  Bates    .     .     .  1826-28 

John  Miller 1828-32 

Daniel  Dunklin,  (1832-36)  re- 
signed; appointed  Surveyor 
General  of  the  U.  S.  Lilburn 

W.  Boggs,  vice  Dunklin   .     .  1836 

Lilburn  W.  Boggs 1836-40 

Thomas  Reynolds  (died  1844),  .  1840-44 
M.  M.  Marmaduke  vice  Rey- 
nolds—John  C.  Edwards"   .  1844-48 
Austin  A.  King  .          ...  1848-52 

Sterling  Price 1852-56 

Trusten  Polk  (resigned)  .     .    .  1856-57 

Hancock  Jackson,  vice  Polk    .  1857 

Robert  M.  Stewart,  vice  Polk  .  1857-60 
C.  F.  Jackson  (1860),  office  va- 
cated by  ordinance;  Hamil- 
ton R.  Gamble,  vice  Jackson ; 
Gov.  Gamble  died  1864. 

Willard  P.  Hall,  vice  Gamble .  1864 

Thomas  C.  Fletcher    ....  1864-68 

Joseph  W.  McClurg    ....  1868-70 

B.  Gratz  Brown 1870-72 

Silas  Woodson 1872-74 

Charles  H.  Hardin 1874-76 

John  S.  Phelps 1876-80 

Thomas    T.    Crittanden    (now 

Governor) 1880 


Lieutenant-Governors, 
William  H.  Ashley 
Benjamin  H.  Reeves 
Daniel  Dunklin  .  . 
Lilburn  W.  Boggs  . 
Franklin  Cannon  . 
M.  M.  Marmaduke . 
James  Young  .  . 
Thomas  L  Rice. 
Wilson  Brown  .  . 
Hancock  Jackson  . 
Thomas  C.  Reynolds 
Willard  P.  Hall  . 
George  Smith  .  . 
Edwin  O.  Sianard 
Joseph  J.  Gravelly. 
Charles  P.  .Johnson 
Norman  J.  Coleman 
Henry  C.  Brockmeyer 
Robert  A.  Campbell  (present 
incumbent)      .     . 

Secretaries  of  State, 


Joshua  Barton    .     . 

William  G.  Pettis  . 

Hamilton  R.  Gamble 

Spencer  Pettis    .     . 

P.  H.  McBride   .     . 

John  C.  Edwards  (term  expired 

1835,   reappointed    1837,  re 

signed  1837)    .     . 
Peter  G.  Glover . 
James  L.  Minor . 


1813-20 


1820-24 
1824-28 
1828-32 
1832-36 
1836-40 
1840-44 
1844-48 
1848-52 
1852-55 
1855-56 
1860-61 
1861-64 
1864-68 
1868-70 
1870-72 
1872-74 
1874-76 
1876-80 


1880 


1820-21 
1821-24 
1824-26 
1826-28 
1829-30 


1830-37 
1837-39 
1839-45 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


39 


OFFICERS   OF 

P.  H.  Martin 

Ephraim  B.  Ewing     .    .     .. 
John  M.  Richardson    .... 
Benjsimin  F.  Massey  (re-elected 

1860,  for  four  years).    .    .    . 

Mordecai  Oliver 

Francis  Rodman  (re-elected  18G8 

for  two  years) 

Eugene  F.  Weigel,  (re-elected 

1872,  for  two  years) .... 
Michael  K.  McGrath  (present 

incumbent) 

State  Treasurers. 

Peter  Didier 

Nathaniel  Sinionds      .... 

James  Earickson 

John  Walker 

Abraham  McClellan  .... 
Peter  G.  Glover 

A.  W.  Morrison 

George  0.  Bingham    .... 

William  Bishop 

William  Q.  Dallmeyer    .    .     . 

Samuel  Hays 

Harvey  W.  Salmon     .... 

Joseph  W.  Mercer 

Elijah  Gates 

Phillip  E.  Chappell  (present  in- 
cumbent)     

A  ttorney-  Geneva  Is, 

Edward  Bates 

Kufus  Easton 

Robt.  W.  Wells 

William  B.  Napton  .... 
S.  M.  Bay 

B.  F.  Stringfellow 

William  A.  Robards  .... 
James  B.  Gardenhire  .... 
Ephraim  W.  Ewing    .... 

James  P.  Knott 

Aikman  Welch 

Thomas  T.  Crittenden    .    .    . 

Robert  F.  Wingate 

Horace  P.  Johnson 

A.  J.  Baker 

Henry  Clay  Ewing 

John  A.  Hockaday 

Jackson  L.  Smith 

D.   H.   Mclntire    (present    in- 
cumbent)     


STATE  GOVERNMENT  —  Continued. 


1845-49 
1849-52 
1852-56 

1856-60 
1861-04 

1864-68 

1870-72 

1874 


1820-21 

1821-28 

1829-33 

1833-38 

1838-43 

1843-51 

1851-60 

1862-64 

1864-68 

1868-70 

1872 

1872-74 

1874-76 

1876-80 

1880 


1820-21 

1821-26 

1826-36 

1836-39 

1839-45 

1845-49 

1849-51 

1851-56 

1856-59 

1859-61 

1861-64 

1864 

1864-68 

1868-70 

1870-72 

1872-74 

1874-76 

1876-80 

1880 


Auditors  of  Public  Accounts. 

William  Christie 1820-21 

William  V.  Rector      ....  1821-23 

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  .    .     .    ,     .  187  -80 
John  Walker   (present  incum- 
bent)    1880 

Judges  of  Supreme  Court. 

Matthias  McGirk 1822-41 

John  D.  Cooke 1822-23 

John  R.  Jones 1822-24 

Rufus  Pettibone 1823-25 

Geo.  Tompkins 1824-45 

Robert  Wash 1825-37 

John  C.  Edwards 1837-39 

W^m.  Scott,  (appointed  1841  till 
meeting  of  General  Assem- 
bly in  place  of  McGirk,  re- 
signed;  reappointed    .    .    .  1843 

P.  H.  McBride 1845 

Wm.  B.  Napton 1849-52 

John  F.  Ryland 1849-51 

John  H.  Birch 1849-51 

Wm.  Scott,  John  F.  Ryland, 
and  Hamilton  R.  Gamble 
(elected  by  the  people,  for  six 

years) 1851 

Gamble  (resigned) 1854 

Abiel  Leonard  elected  to  fill  va- 
cancy of  Gamble. 
Wm.  B.  Napton  (vacated    by 

failure  to  file  oath). 
Wm.  Scott  and  John  C.  Rich- 
ardson (resigned,  elected  Au- 
gust, for  six  years)    ....  1857 
E.  B.  Ewing,  (to  fill  Richard- 
son's resignation)    ....  1859 
Barton  Bates  (appointed)    .     .  1862 
W.  V.  N.  Bay  (appointed)  .     .  1862 


40 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


OFFICERS  OP 
John  D.  S.  Drvden  (appointed) 

Barton  Bates 

W.  V.  N.  Bay  (elected)  .  .  . 
John  D.  S.  Dryden  (elected)  . 
David  Wagner  (appointed) .  . 
"Wallace  L.  Lovelace  (appoint- 
ed)      

Nathaniel  Holmes  (appointed) 
Thomas  J.  C.  Fagg  (appointed) 
James  Baker  (appointed)  .  . 
David  Wagner  (elected)  .     .    . 

Philemon  Bliss 

Warren  Currier 

Washington  Adams  (appointed 
to  flu  Currier's  place,  whore- 
signed)    

Ephraim  B.  Ewing  (elected)  . 
Thomas  A.  Sherwood  (elected) 
W.  B.  Napton  (appointed  in 
place  of  Ewing,  deceased)  . 
Edward  A.  Lewis  (appointed, 
in  place  of  Adams,  resigned) 
Warwick  Hough  (elected)  .  . 
William  B.  Napton  (elected)   . 

John  W.  Henry 

Robert  D.  Ray  succeeded  Wm. 

B.  Napton  in 

Elijah  H.  Norton  (appointed  in 

1876),  elected 

T.  A.  Sherwood  (re-elected) 

United  States  Senators. 

T.  H.  Benton 

D.  Barton 

Alex.  Buckner 

L.F.Linn 

D.  R.  Atchison 

H.  S.  Geyer 

James  S.  G-reen 

T.  Polk 

Waldo  P.  Johnson 

Robert  Wilson 

B.  Gratz  Brown  (for  unexpired 
term  of  Johnson)     .... 

J.  B.  Henderson 

Charles  D.  Drake 

Carl  Schurz 

D.  F.  Jewett  fin  place  of  Drake, 

resigned) 

P.  P.  Blair 

L.  V.Bogy 

James  Shields  (elected  for  unex- 
pired term  of  Bogy)     .    .    . 


STATE  GOVERNMENT  —  Continued. 


1862 

1863-65 

1863 

1863 

1865 

1865 

1865 

1866 

1868 

1868-70 

1868-70 

1868-7] 


1871 
1872 
1872 

1873 

1874 
1874 
1874-80 
1876-86 

1880 

1878 
1882 

1820-50 

1820-30 

1830-33 

1833-43 

1843-55 

1851-57 

1857-61 

1857-63 

1861 

1861 

1863 
1863-69 
1867-70 
1869-75 

1870 

1871-77 

1873 

1879 


D.  H.  Armstrong  appointed  for 

unexpired  term  of  Bogy. 

F.  M.  Cockrell  (re-elected  1881)  1875-81 

George  G.  Vest 1879 

Representatives  to  Congress. 

John  Scott     1820-26 

Ed.  Bates 1826-28 

Spencer  Pettis 1828-31 

William  H.  Ashley     ....  1831-36 

John  Bull 1832-34 

Albert  G.  Harrison 1834-39 

John  Miller 1836-42 

John  Jameson  (re-elected  1846 

for  two  years) 1839-44 

John  C.  Edwards 1840-42 

James  M.  Hughes 1842-44 

James  H.Relfe 1842-46 

James  B.  Bowlin 1842-50 

Gustavus  M.  Bower    ....  1842-44 

Sterling  Price 1844-46 

William  McDaniel 1846 

Leonard  H.  Sims 1844-46 

John  S.  Phelps 1844-60 

James    S.     Green    (re-elected 

1856,  resigned) 1846-50 

Will  ard  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.  Lindlej- 1852-66 

Samuel  Caruthers 1852-58 

Thomas  P.  Akers  (to  fill  unex- 
pired term  of  J.  G.  Miller, 

deceased) 1855 

Francis  P.  Blair,  Jr.  (re-elected 

1860,  resigned) 1856 

Thomas  L.  Anderson  ....  1856-60 

James  Craig 1856-60 

Samuel  H.  Woodson  ....  1856-60 

John  B.  Clark,  Sr 1857-61 

J.  Richard  Barrett 1860 

John  W.  Noel 1858-63 

James  S.  Rollins 1860-64 

Elijah  H.  Norton 1860-63 

JohnW.Reid 1860-61 

William  A.  Hall 1862-64 

Thomas  L.  Price  (in  place  of 

Reid,  expelled) 1862 


HISTORY   OF  MISSOURI. 


41 


OFFICERS   OF 

Henry  T.  Blow 

Sempronius  T.  Boyd,  (elected  in 

1862,  and  again  in  1868,  for 

two  years.) 
Joseph  W.  McClurg   .... 

Austin  A.  King 

Benjamin  F.  Loan 

John  G.  Scott  (in  place  of  Noel, 

deceased)    

John  Hogan    ....         .    . 

Thomas  F.  Noel 

John  R.  Kelsoe 

Robert  T.  Van  Horn        .    .    . 

John  F.  Benjamin 

George  W.  Anderson  .... 

William  A.  Pile 

C.  A.  Newcomb 

Joseph  J.  Gravelly 

James  R.  McCormack     .    .    . 
John  H.  Stover  (in  place  of 

McClurg,  resigned)  •    . 

Erastus  Wells 

G.  A.  Finklenburg ... 

Samuel  S.  Burdett 

Joel  F.  Asper 

David  P.  Dyer 

Harrison  E.  Havens    .... 

Isaac  G.  Parker 

James  G.  Blair 

Andrew  King 

Edwin  0.  Stanard 

William  H.  Stone 

Robert  A.  Hatcher  (elected)    . 

Richard  B.  Bland 

Thomas  T.  Crittenden    .    .    . 

Ira  B.  Hyde 

John  B.  Clark,  Jr. 

John  M.  Glover 


STATE  GOVERNMENT  —  Continued, 
1862-66 


1862-66 
1862-64 
1862-69 

1863 

1864-66 

1864-67 

1864-66 

1864-71 

1864-71 

1864-69 

1866-68 

1866-68 

1866-68 

1866-73 

1867 

1868-82 

1868-71 

1868-71 

1868-70 

1868-70 

1870-76 

1870-75 

1870-72 

1870-72 

1872-74 

1872-78 

1872 

1872 

1872-74 

1872-74 

1872-78 

1872 


Aylett  H.  Buckner 1872 

Edward  C.  Kerr 1874-78 

Charles  H.  Morgan      ....  1874 

John  F.  Philips 1874 

B.  J.  Franklin 1874 

David  Rea 1874 

Rezin  A.  De  Bolt 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 

Chas.  H.  Morgan 1876-78 

L.  S.  Metcalf 1876-78 

H.M.  Pollard 1876-78 

David  Rea 1876-78 

S.L.  Sawyer 1878-80 

N.  Ford     1878-82 

G.  F.  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.  Waddell 1878-80 

T.Allen 1880-82 

R.  Hazeltine 1880-82 

T.M.Rice 1880-82 

R.  T.  Van  Horn 1880-82 

Nicholas  Ford 1880-82 

J.  G.  Burrows 1880-82 


COUNTIES 

Adair January  29, 

Andrew January  29, 

Atchison  January  14, 

Audrain December  17, 

Barry January  5, 

Barton December  12, 

Bates January  29, 

Benton Januarys, 

Bollinger March  1, 

Boone November  16, 

Buchanan February  10, 


—  WHEN   ORQANTZET). 

1841 
1841 
1845 
1836 
1835 
1835 
1841 
1835 
1851 
1820 
1839 


Caldwell .December  26,  1836 

Callaway November  25,  1820 

Camden January  29,  1841 

Cape  Girardeau October  1,  1812 

Carroll January  3,  1833 

Carter March  10,  1859 

Cass September  11,  1835 

Cedar February  14,  1845 

Chariton November  16,  1820 

Christian March  8,  1860 

Clark December  15.  1818 


42 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


COUNTIES,  TVHEN  ORGANIZED  —  Continued, 


Butler February  27,  1849 

Clay January  2,  1822 

Clinton January  16, 1833 

Cole November  16,  1820 

Cooper. December  17,  1818 

Crawford January  23,  1829 

Dade January  29,  1841 

Dallas December  10,  1844 

Daviess December  29,  1836 

DeKalb February  25,  1845 

Dent February  10,  1851 

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,  1841 

Jefferson December  8,  1818 

Johnson December  13,  1834 

Knox February  14,  1845 

Laclede February  24,  1849 

Lafayette November  16,  1820 

Lawrence February  25,  1845 

Lewis January  2,  1833 

Lincoln December  14,  1818 

Linn January  7,  1837 

Livingston January  6,  1837 

McDonald March  3,  1849 

Macon January  6,  1837 

Madison December  14,  1818 

Maries March  2,  1855 

Marion December  23,  1826 

Mercer February  14,  1845 

Miller ..February  6,  1837 

Mississippi.... February  14,  1845 

Moniteau February  14,  1S45 


Monroe January  6,  1831 

Montgomery December  14,  1818 

Morgan January  5,  1833 

New  Madrid October  1,  1812 

Newton December  81,  1838 

Nodaway February  14,  1845 

Oregon February  14,  1845 

Osage January  29,  1841 

Ozark January  29,  1841 

Pemiscot February  19,  1861 

Perry November  16,  1820 

Pettis January  26,  1833 

Phelps November  13,  1857 

Pike December  14,  1818 

Platte December  81,  1838 

Polk March  13,  1835 

Pulaski December  15,  1818 

Putnam February  28,  1845 

Ealls November  16,  1820 

Randolph January  22,  1829 

Ray. November  16,  1820 

Reynolds February  25,  1845 

Ripley January  6,  1833 

St.  Charles October  1,  1812 

St.  Clair January  29,  1841 

St.  Francois December  19,  1821 

Ste.  Genevieve October  1,  1812 

St.  Louis October  1,  1812 

Saline November  25,  1820 

Schuyler ..February  14,  1845 

Scotland January  29,  1841 

Scott December  28,  1821 

Shannon January  29,  1841 

Shelby January  2,  1836 

Stoddard January  2,  1835 

Stone February  10,  1851 

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  11,  1818 

Webster March  3,  1855 

Worth February  8,  1861 

Wright January  29,  1841 


HISTORY  or  MISSOUKI.  43 

CHAPTER    YIII. 
CIVIL  WAR  IN  MISSOURI. 

Fort  Sumter  fired  upon  —  Call  for  75,000  men  —  Gov.  Jackson  refuses  to  furnish  a 
man  —  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Liberty,  Mo.,  seized  —  Proclamation  of  Gov.  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  Gen.  Harney  —  Conference  between 
Price  and  Harney  —  Harney  superseded  by  Lyon  —  Second  Conference  —  Gov.  Jack- 
son burns  the  bridges  behind  him  —  Proclamation  of  Gov.  Jackson  —  Gen.  Blair 
takes  possession  of  Jefferson  City  —  Proclamation  of  Lyon  —  Lyon  at  Springfield  — 
State  offices  declared  vacant  —  Gen.  Fremont  assumes  command  —  Proclamation  of 
Lieut.-Gov.  Reynolds  —  Proclamation  of  Jeff.  Thompson  and  Gov.  Jackson  —  Death 
of  Gen.  Lyon  —  Succeeded  by  Sturgis  —  Proclamation  of  McCulloch  and  Gamble  — 
Martial  law  declared — Second  proclamation  of  Jeff.  Thompson  —  President  modi- 
fies Fremont's  order — Fremont  relieved  by  Hunter — Proclamation  of  Price  —  Hun- 
ter's Order  of  Assessment  —  Hunter  declares  Martial  Law — Order  relating  to 
Nevrspapers  —  Halleck  succeeds  Hunter  —  Halleck's  Order  81  —  Similar  order  by 
Halleck  —  Boone  County  Standard  confiscated  —  Execution  of  prisoners  at  Macon 
and  Palmyra —  Gen.  Ewing's  Order  No.  11  —  Gen.  Rosecrans  takes  command —  Mas- 
sacre at  Centralia  —  Death  of  Bill  Anderson  —  Gen.  Dodge  succeeds  Gen.  Rose- 
crans— List  of  Battles. 

"  Lastly  stood  war  — 
With  visage  grim,  stern  looks,  and  blaclily  hued, 

*  »  *  *  m  *  0 

Ah  I  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  soft  bond  of  amity  and  love?" 

Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  April  12,  1861.  On  April  ISth,  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  75,000  men,  from  the 
the  militia  of  the  several  States,  to  suppress  combinations  in  the  South- 
ern 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  cer- 
tain number  of  militia  to  serve  for  three  mont)is,  Missouri's  quota 
being  four  reoriments. 

In  response  to  this  telegram.  Gov.  Jackson  sent  the  following  answer : 

Executive  Department  of  Missouri, 
Jefferson  City,  April  17,  1861. 
To  the  Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary/  of  War,  Washington,  D.O.: 
Sir:  Your  dispatch  of  the  15th  inst.,  making  a  call  on  Missouri  for 


44  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

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 
seceded  States.  Your  requisition,  in  my  judgment,  is  illegal,  unconsti- 
tutional, and  can  not  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.  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Liberty  was  seized  by  order  of 
Governor  Jackson. 

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

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

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

I.  To  attain  a  greater  degree  of  efficiency  and  perfection  in  organ- 
ization and  discipline,  the  Commanding  Officers  of  the  several  Military 
districts  in  this  State,  having  four  or  more  legally  organized  compa- 
nies therein,  whose  armories  are  within  fifteen  miles  of  each  other,  will 
assemble  their  respective  commands  at  some  place  to  be  by  them  sever- 
ally designated,  on  the  3rd  day  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  compa- 
nies immediately  to  these  headquarters,  and  await  further  orders. 

II.  The  Quartermaster-General  will  procure  and  issue  to  Quarter- 
masters of  Districts,  for  these  commands  not  now  provided  for,  all 
necessary  tents  and  camp  equipage,  to  enable  the  commanding  officers 
thereof  to  carry  the  foregoing  orders  into  efiect. 

III.  The  Light  Battery  now  attached  to  the  Southwest  Battalion, 
and  one  company  of  mounted  riflemen,  including  all  officers  and  sol- 
diers belonging  to  the  First  District,  will  proceed  forthwith  to  St.  Louis, 
and  report  to  Gen.  D.  M.  Frost  for  duty.  The  remaining  companies 
of  said  battalion  will  be  disbanded  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in  the 
organization  of  companies  upon  that  frontier.     The  details  in  the  exe- 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI.  45 

cution  of  the  foregoing  are  intrusted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  S. 
Bowen,  commanding  the  Battalion. 

IV.  The  strength,  organization,  and  equipment  of  the  several  com- 
panies in  the  District  will  be  reported  at  once  to  these  Headquarters, 
and  District  Inspectors  will  furnish  all  information  which  may  be  ser- 
viceable in  ascertaining  the  condition  of  the  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 
appoint  one  Major-General ;  to  authorize  the  Governor,  when,  in  his 
opinion,  the  security  and  welfare  of  the  State  required  it,  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  railroad  and  telegraph  lines  of  the  State  ;  to  provide  for 
the  organization,  government,  and  support  of  the  military  forces  ;  to 
borrow  one  million  of  jdollars  to  arm  and  equip  the  militia  of  the  State 
to  repel  invasion,  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  pro- 
ceeds 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  appro- 
priated 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,"  ad- 
dressed General  N.  Lyon,  as  follows  :  — 

Headquarters  Camp  Jackson,  Missouri  Militia,  May  10,  1861. 
Capt.  N.  Lyon,  Commanding  U.  S.  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  im- 
pressed 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 


46  HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 

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, 
devolvino"  upon  them  under  the  Constitution  in  organizing  and  instruct- 
ino-  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  re^-ards  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  entertained.  On  the  contrary,  prior  to  your  taking  command  of 
the  Arsenal,  I  proffered  to  Major  Bell,  then  in  command  of  the  very 
few  troops  constituting  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,  Capt. 
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 
orders  of  my  constitutional  commander. 

1  trust  that  after  this  explicit  statement  that  we  may  be  able,  by 
fully  understanding  each  other,  to  keep  far  from  our  borders  the  mis- 
fortunes 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  your  obedient  servant. 

Brigadier-General  D.  M,  Frost, 
Commanding  Camp  Jackson,  M.   V.  M. 

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

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


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  "  47 

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  Confederacy,  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  supplies  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  unparalleled  legislation,  having  in  direct 
view  hostilities  to  the  General  Government  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  Wasiiington,  it  is  my  duty  to  demand, 
and  I  do  hereby  demand  of  you  an  immediate  surrender  of  your  com- 
mand, with  no  other  conditions  than  that  all  persons  surrendering 
under  this  command  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  Capt.  Emmet  McDonald,  who  refused  to  subscribe 
to  the  parole. 

May  12,  1861.  Brigadier-General  Wm.  S.  Harney  issued  a  procla- 
mation 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. 

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  11,  1861.  A  second  conference  was  held  between  the  National 
and  State  authorities  in  St.  Louis,  which  resulted  in  nothing. 


48  H8TORY    OF    MISSOURI. 

June  11,  1861.  Gov.  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, 
property,"  etc. 

June  15,  1861.  Col.  F.  P.  Blair  took  possession  of  the  State  Capi- 
tal, Gov.  Jackson,  Gen.  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  Gen.  Lyon  and  Col.  John  S.  Marmaduke. 

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

July  5,  1861.  Battle  at  Carthage  between  the  forces  of  Gen.  Sigel 
and  Gov.  Jackson. 

July  6,  1861.     Gen.  Lyon  reached  Springfield. 

July  22,  1861.  State  convention  met  and  declared  the  offices  of 
Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor  and  Secretary  of  State  vacated. 

July  26,  1861.  Gen.  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  1,  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 
General  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  of  the  Government  should  be  free. 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI.  49 

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. 
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  Lexing- 
ton on  Colonel  Mulligan's  forces. 

September  20,  1861.  Colonel  Mulligan  with  2,640  men  surren- 
dered. 

October  25,  1861.     Second  battle  at  Springfield. 

October  28,  1861.  Passage  by  Governor  Jackson's  Legislature, 
at  Neosho,  of  an  ordinance  of  secession. 

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

November  7,  1861.     General  Grant  attacked  Belhiont. 

November  9,  1861.  General  Hunter  succeeded  by  General  Halleck, 
who  took  command  on  the  19th  of  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  assess- 
ment upon  certain  wealthy  citizens  in  St.  Louis,  for  feeding  and  cloth- 
ing Union  refugees. 

December  23-25.  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- 
erals 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. 


50  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

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

Bernard  G.  Farrar, 
Provost  Marshal  General. 

January  26,  1862.  General  Halleck  issued  order  (No.  18)  which 
forbade,  among  other  things,  the  disi)lay  of  Secession  flags  in  the 
hands  of  women  or  on  carriages,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  military  prison 
in  McDowell's  College,  the  carriages  to  be  confiscated  and  the  ofiend- 
ing  women  to  be  arrested. 

February  4, 1862.  General  Halleck  issued  another  order  similar  to 
Order  No.  18,  to  railroad  companies  and  to  the  professors  and  direct- 
ors of  the  State  University  at  Columbia,  forbidding  the  funds  of  the 
institution  to  be  used  "  to  teach  treason  or  to  instruct  traitors." 

February  20,  1862.  Special  Order  No.  120  convened  a  military 
commission,  which  sat  in  Columbia,  March  following,  and  tried  Ed- 
mund 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  Gov- 
ernment. Ellis  was  found  guilty,  was  banished  during  the  war  from 
Missouri,  and  his  printing  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 
Colonel  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  11,  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  Gen- 
eral Marmaduke  and  General  E.  B.  Brown. 

April  26,  1863.     Battle  at  Cape  Girardeau. 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  51 

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, 
Missouri,  and  in  that  I3art  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. 

Those  who,  within  that  time,  establish  their  loyalty  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  military  station  nearest  their 
present  place  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  com- 
manding companies  and  detachments  serving  in  the  counties  named, 
will  see  that  this  paragraph  is  promptly  obeyed. 

Second.  —  All  grain  and  hay  in  the  field,  or  under  shelter,  in  the 
district  from  which  the  inhabitants  are  required  to  remove  within  reach 
of  military  stations,  after  the  9th  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  9th  day  of  September  next,  not  convenient  to  such  stations, 
Avill  be  destroyed. 

Third. — The  provisions  of  General  Order  No.  10,  from  these 
headquarters,  will  at  once  be  vigorously  executed  by  officers  com- 
manding in  the  parts  of  the  district,  and  at  the  stations  not  subject  to 
the  operations  of  paragraph  First  of  this  Order  —  and  especially  in 
the  towns  of  Independence.  Westport  and  Kansas  City. 


52 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 


Fourth.  —  Paragraph  3,  General  Order  No.  10,  is  revoked  as  to  all 
who  have  borne  arms  against  the  Government  in  the  district  since 
August  20,  1863. 

By  order  of  Brigadier-General  Ewing : 

H.  Hannahs,  Adjutant. 

October  13.     Battle  of  Marshall. 

Januarv,  1864.  General  Rosecrans  takes  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment. 

September,  1864.  Battle  at  Pilot  Knob,  Harrison  and  Little  Mo- 
reau  River. 

October  5,  1864. 
farm. 

October  8,  1864. 

October  20,  1864. 

September  27,  1864. 
derson. 

October  27,  1864.     Captain  Bill  Anderson  killed. 

December  — ,   1864.     General   Rosecrans   relieved 
Dodge  appointed  to  succeed  him. 

Nothing  occurred  specially,  of  a  military  character,  in  the  State  after 
December,  1864.  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  Avill  be 
found,  however,  that  the  list  given  below,  which  has  been  arranged  for 
convenience,  contains  the  prominent  battles  and  skirmishes  which  took 
place  within  the  State  :  — 


Battle  at  Prince's   Ford  and  James  Gordon's 

Battle  at  Glasgow. 
Battle  at  Little  Blue  Creek. 

Massacre  at  Centralia,  by  Captain  Bill  An- 

and    General 


Potosi,  May  14,  1861. 
Boonville,  June  17,  1861. 
Carthage,  July  5,  1861. 
Monroe  Station,  July  10,  1801. 
Overton's  Run,  July  17,  1861. 
Dug  Spring,  August  2,  1861. 
Wilson's  Creek,  August  10,  1861. 
Athens,  August  5,  1861. 
Moreton,  August  20,  1861. 
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  16,  1861. 
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,  1861. 
Clark's  Station,  November  11,  1861, 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


53 


Mt.  Zion  Church,  December  28,  1861. 
Silver  Creek,  January  15,  18C2, 
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. 
Independence,  August  11, 1862. 


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


CHAPTEK    IX. 


EARLY  MILITARY  RECORD. 


Black  Hawk  War  —  Mormon  Difficulties  —  Florida  War  —  Mexican  War. 

On  the  fourteenth  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  Keokuk,  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  defence  of  the  fron- 
tier. Five  companies  were  at  once  raised  in  Boone  county,  and  in 
Callaway,  Montgomery,  St.  Charles,  Lincoln,  Pike,  Marion,  Ralls, 
Clay  and  Monroe  other  companies  were  raised. 

Two  of  these  companies,  commanded  respectively  by  Captain  John 
Jamison  of  Callaway,  and  Captain  David  M.  Hickman  of  Boone 
county,  were  mustered  into  service  in  July  for  thirty  days,  and  put 
under  command  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,  leaving  the  fort  in  charge  of  Major  Conyers.  Thirty  days 
having  expired,  the  command  under  Major  Conyers  was  relieved  by  two 


54 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI. 


other  companies  under  Captains  Sinclair  Kirtley,  cf  Boone,  and  Patrick 
Ewing,  of  Callaway.  This  detachment  was  marched  to  Fort  Pike  by 
Col.  Austin  A.  King,  w^ho  conducted  the  two  companies  under  Major 
Conyers  home.  Major  Conyers  was  left  in  charge  of  the  fort,  where 
he  remained  till  September  following,  at  w^hich  time  the  I)idian  troub- 
les, 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. 

MORMON     DIFFICULTIES. 

In  1832,  Joseph  Smith,  the  leader  of  the  Mormons,  and  the  choseu 
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  laud. 

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  published  here  the  Evening  Star^  and  made  themselves  gener- 
ally obnoxious  to  the  Gentiles,  who  were  then  in  a  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  lead- 
era  to  understand  that  they  must  conduct  themselves  in  an  entirely 
different  manner  if  they  wished  to  be  let  alone. 

After  the  destruction  of  their  paper  and  press,  they  became  fu- 
riously incensed,  and  sought  many  opportunities  for  retaliation.  Mat- 
ters continued  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  October  following  the  Mormons  were  overpoweredj 
and  compelled  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  agree  to  leave  the  county 
with  their  families  by  January  1st  on  the  condition  that  the  owner 
would  be  paid  for  his  printing  press. 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI.  65 

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  exertinw 
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  ot  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  De  Witt,  on  the  Missouri  River,  having  purchased  the  land  from 
an  Illinois  merchant.     De  Witt  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  Col.  Hin- 
kle  (one  of  the  Mormon  leaders  at  De  Witt),  what  they  intended  to 
do. 

Col.  Hinkle  upon  being  notified  by  this  committee  became  indig- 
nant, 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  De  Witt,  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  en- 
campment, to  take  place  on  the  21st  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  loo-  houses 
where  they  could  the  more  successfully  resist  the  Gentiles,  who  had 
in  the  meantime  returned   to  their  camp   to   await  reinforcements. 
Troops  from   Saline,  Ray  and  other   counties  came  to  their  assist- 
ance, and  increased  their  number  to  five  hundred  men. 

Congreve  Jackson  was  chosen  Brigadier-  General;  Ebenezer  Price, 


56 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 


Colonel ;  Singleton  Viiughan,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Sarshel  Woods, 
Major.  After  some  days  of  discipline,  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  difficul- 
ties 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  be- 
longing 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  Carroll  county,  the  citizens  would  purchase  at 
first  cost  their  lots  in  De  Witt  and  one  or  two  adjoining  tracts  of 
land. 

Col.  Hinkle,  the  leader  of  the  Mormons,  at  first  refused  all  attempts 
to  settle  the  difficulties  in  this  way,  but  finally  agreed  to  the  proposi- 
tion. 

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  citizens,  is  not  known. 

The  Mormons  had  doubtless  suffered  much  and  in  many  ways  —  the 
result  of  their  own  acts  —  but  their  trials  and  suflerings  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  E.  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  Gen.  A.  W.  Doniphan,  who  pro- 
ceeded to  the  seat  of  war.  Gen.  John  B.  Clark,  of  Howard  county, 
was  placed  in  command  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  balailce 
captured,  some  of  them  being  killed  after  they  had  surrendered. 
Only  one  militiaman  was  wounded. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1838,  Joe  Smith  surrendered  the  town  of 
Far  West  to  Gen.  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 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


57 


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  Hiram. 

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 
Howard,  Major.  Four  companies  of  the  second  regiment  were  raised 
and  attached  to  the  first.  Two  of  these  companies  were  composed  of 
Delaware  and  Osage  Indians. 

October  6,  1837,  Col.  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.  Gen- 
eral Zachary  Taylor,  who  then  commanded  in  Florida,  ordered  Col. 
Gentry  to  march  to  Okee-cho-bee  Lake,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
miles  inland  by  the  route  traveled.  Having  reached  the  Kissemmee 
river,  seventy  miles  distant,  a  bloody  battle  ensued,  in  which  Col. 
Gentry  was  killed.  The  Missourians,  though  losing  their  gallant 
leader,  continued  the  fight  until  the  Indians  were  totally  routed,  leav- 
ing 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, 


58 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


called  for  volunteers  to  join  the  **Army  of  the  West,"  an  expedition 
to  Siinte  Fe  —  under  command  of  General  Stephen  W.  Kearney 

Fort  Leavenworth  was  the  appointed  rendezvous  for  the  volunteers. 
By  the  18th  of  June,  the  full  complement  of  companies  to  compose 
the  first  regiment  had  arrived  from  Jackson,  Lafayette,  Clay,  Sa- 
line, Franklin,  Cole,  Howard  and  Callaway  counties.  Of  this  regi- 
ment, A.  W.  Doniphan  was  made  Colonel ;  C.  F.  Ruff,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  Wm.  Gilpin,  Major.  The  battalion  of  light  artillery 
from  St.  Louis  was  commanded  by  Captains  R.  A.  Weightman  and 
A.  W.  Fischer,  with  Major  M.  L.  Clark  as  field  officer;  battalions  of 
infantry  from  Platte  and  Cole  counties  commanded  by  Captains 
Murphy  and  W.  Z.  Augney  respectively,  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  in- 
fantry to  reinforce  the  "Army  of  the  West."  Mr.  Price  'was  made 
Colonel,  and  D.  D.  Mitchell  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

In  August,  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  Wm.  T.  Lafland.  Conspicuous  among  the  en- 
gagements in  which  the  Missouri  volunteers  participated  in  Mexico 
were  the  battles  of  Bracito,  Sacramento,  Canada,  El  Embudo,  Taos 
and  Santa  Cruz  de  Rosalcs.  The  forces  from  Missouri  were  mustered 
out  in  1848,  and  will  ever  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  the  Mexi- 
can war,  for 

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


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  59 

CHAPTEE    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  Products- 
Fruits- Berries— Grapes—  Railroads  —  First  Neigh  of  the  "  Iron  Horse  "  in  Mis- 
souri—  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  strengthens  popula- 
tion ;  it  creates  and  maintains  manufactures  ;  gives  employment  to 
navigation  and  furnishes  materials  to  commerce.  It  animates  every 
species  of  industry,  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  plovp  employ'd 
The  kings,  and  awful  fathers  of  mankind; 
And  some,  with  whom  compared  your  insect  tribes 
4re  but  the  beings  of  a  summer's  day. 

Have  held  the  scale  of  empire,  rulod  the  storm 

Of  mighty  war  with  unwearied  hand, 

Disdaining  little  delicacies,  seized 

The  plow  and  greatly  independent  lived." 

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  aifected  by  drouth.  The  prairies  are  covered  with  sweet, 
luxuriant  grass,  equally  good  for  grazing  and  hay  ;  grass  not  sur- 
passed by  the  Kentucky  blue  grass  — the  best  of  clover  and  timothy 
in  growing  and  fattening  cattle.  This  grass  is  now  as  full  of  life-giv- 
ing nutriment  as  it  was  when  cropped  by  the  buffalo,  the  elk,  the  an- 
telope, and  the  deer,  and  costs  the  herdsman  nothing. 


60  HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 

No  State  or  territory  has  a  more  complete  and  rapid  system  of  nat- 
ural 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  hill-sides, 
and  w^end  their  way  through  verdant  valleys  and  along  smiling  prai- 
ries, varyino-  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  bushela. 

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  3,552,000  acres  in  corn;  wheat,  1,836,000;  rye, 
48,800;  oats,  640,000;  buckwheat,  2,900;  potatoes,  72,200;  to- 
bacco, 29,900;  hay,  850,000.  Value  of  each  crop:  corn,  $24,196,- 
224;  wheat,  $13,531,320;  rye,  $300,120;  oats,  $3,325,120;  buck- 
wheat, $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  live  stock.  The  fol- 
lowing table  shows  the  number  of  horses,  mules,  and  milch  cows  in 
the  different  States  for  1879  :  — 


HISTORY   OF    MISSOURI. 


61 


States. 


Maine 

New  Hampshire. 

Vermont 

Massachusetts.... 

Rhode  Island 

Connecticut 

New  York 

New  Jersey 

Penns3'lvania 

Delaware. 

Maryland , 

Virginia 

North  Carolina... 
South  Carolina... 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Louisiana 

Texas 


Arkansas 

Tennessee 

West  Virginia 

Kentucky 

Ohio '. 

Michigan....... 

Indiana 

Illinois 


Wisconsin 

Minnesota 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Kansas 

Nebraska 

California 

Oregon 

Nevada,  Colorado,  and  Territories. 


Horses. 


Mules. 


81,700 

57,100 

77,400 

131,000 

16,200 

53,600 

898,900 

11,800 

114.500 

14,400 

614,500 

24,900 

19,900 

4,000 

108,600 

11,300 

208,700 

30,600 

144,200 

74,000 

59,  BOO 

51,500 

119,200 

97,200 

22,400 

11,900 

112,800 

111,700 

97,200 

100,000 

79,300 

80,700 

618,000 

180,200 

180,500 

89,300 

323,700 

99,700 

122,200 

2,400 

386,900 

117,800 

772,700 

26,700 

333,800 

4,o00 

688,800 

61,200 

1,100,000 

138,000 

384,400 

8,700 

247,300 

7,000 

770,700 

43,400 

627,300 

191,900 

275,000 

50,000 

157,200 

13,600 

273,000 

25,700 

109,700 

3,500 

250,000 

25,700 

MUch 

Cows. 


196,100 

98,100 
217,800 
160,700 

22,000 

116,500 

l,44r.,200 

152,200 

828,400 

23,200 
100,500 
236,200 
232,300 
131,300 
273,100 

70,000 
215,200 
188,000 
110,900 
544,500 
187,700 
245,700 
130,500 
257,200 
714,100 
416,900 
439.200 
702,400 
477,300 
278,900 
676,200 
516,200 
321,900 
127,600 
495,600 
112,400 
423,600 


It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  table,  that  Missouri  is  thQ  fifth  State 
iu  the  number  of  horses ;  fifth  in  number  of  milch  cows,  and  the 
leading  State  in  number  of  mules,  having  11,700  more  than  Texas, 
which  produces  the  next  largest  number.  Of  oxen  and  other  cattle, 
Missouri  produced  in  1879,  1,632,000,  which  was  more  than  any  other 
State  produced  excepting  Texas,  which  had  4,800,00.  In  1879  Mis- 
souri raised  2,817,600  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,  by  the  different  States,  is  as 
follows :  — 


States. 


Ohio.... 
Indiana 
Illinois 
Iowa.... 


No. 


932,878 

622,321 

3,214,896 

569,763 


States. 


Missouri.. 
Wisconsin 
Kentucky. 


No. 


965,889 
472,108 
212,412 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI. 


ATERAaE   WEIGHT  PER   HEAD   FOR  EACH  STATE. 

States. 

Pounds. 

States. 

Pounds. 

Ohio 

210.47 
193.80 
225.71 
211.98 

211  o2 

Indiana  

Wiscon.-ui 

220.81 

Illinois 

210  11 

Iowa 

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

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

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

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

Broom  corn,  sorghum,  castor  beans,  wh,ite  beans,  peas,  hops,  thrive 
well,  and  all  kinds  of  garden  vegetables,  are  produced  in  great  abun- 
dance 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  strawberry,  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,  was  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 
presaged  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  and  grander  era  in  the  history  of  the 


HISTORY   OP   MISSOURI.  63 

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  manufacturing  and  industrial  enterprises. 

Additional  facilities  would  be  opened  to  the  marts  of  trade  and 
commerce  ;  transportation  from  the  interior  of  the  State  would  be  se- 
cured ;  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,  be- 
tween four  and  five  thousand  miles  of  track  have  been  laid  ;  addi- 
tional roads  are  now  being  constructed,  and  many  others  in  contem- 
plation. The  State  is  already  well  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  aa;- 
gregating  more  than  one  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  and  a  funded 
debt  of  about  the  same  amount. 

The  lines  of  roads  which  are  operated  in  the  State  are  the  follow- 
ing:— 

Missouri  Pacific  —  chartered  May  10th,  1850;  The  St.  Louis,  Iron 
Mountain  &  Southern  Railroad,  which  is  a  consolidation  of  the  Arkan- 
sas Branch  ;  The  Cairo,  Arkansas  &  Texas  Railroad  ;  The  Cairo  & 
Fulton  Railroad;  The  Wabash,  St.  Louis  &  Pacific  Railway;  St. 
Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railway ;  The  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad  ;  The  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  ;  The  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas &  Texas  Railroad  ;  The  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council  BliilFa 
Railroad ;  The  Keokuk  &  Kansas  City  Railway  Company ;  The  St. 
Louis,  Salem  &  Little  Rock  Railroad  Company ;  The  Missouri  & 
Western  ;  The  St.  Louis,  Keokuk  &  Northwestern  Railroad  ;  The  St. 
Louis,  Hannibal  &  Keokuk  Railroad  ;  The  Missouri,  Iowa  &  Nebraska 
Railway  ;  The  Quincy,  Missouri  &  Pacific  Railroad  ;  The  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway;  The  Burlington  &  Southwestern 
Railroad. 

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 
supply  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 


64  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

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  track-ways. 

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  annually  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. 

The  leading  manufacturing  counties  of  the  State,  are  St.  Louis, 
Jackson,  Buchanan,  St.  Charles,  Marion,  Franklin,  Greene,  Lafay- 
ette, Platte,  Cape  Girardeau,  and  Boone.  Three-fourths,  however,  of 
the  manufacturing  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  ;  meat-packing  $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  propor- 
tion. 

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  construction  is  built  of  tubular  steel,  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  Csesar  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  de- 
stroy 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  crowd- 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  65 

ing  legions  of  men,  armed  not  with  the  weapons  of  war,  but  with  the 
implements  of  peace  and  industry  ;  men  who  are  skilled  in  all  the  arts 
of  agriculture,  of  manufacture  and  of  mining ;  men  who  will  hasten 
the  day  when  St.  Louis  shall  rank  in  population  and  importance,  sec- 
ond to  no  city  on  the  continent,  and  when  Missouri  shall  proudly  fill 
the  measure  of  greatness,  to  which  she  is  naturally  so  justly  entitled. 


CHAPTEK    XI. 

EDUCATION. 

Pnbllc  School  System  —  Public  School  System  of  Missouri  —  Lincoln  Institute  —  Ofl3- 
cers  of  Public  School  System  —  Certificates  of  Teachers  —  Uuiversity  of  Missouri — 
Schools  —  Colleges  —  Institutions  of  Learning  —  Location  —  Libraries  —  Newspa- 
pers and  Periodicals  —  No.  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  were  not 
gratuitous. 

The  establishment  of  the  public-school  system,  in  its  essential  fea- 
tures, was  not  perfected  until  1839,  during  the  administration  of  Gov- 
ernor 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,  especially  among  those  who  had  the  means  to  patronize  private 
institutions  of  learning.  In  upholding  and  maintaining  public  schools 
the  opponents  of  the  system  felt  that  they  were  not  only  compromis- 
ing 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  at  public  schools  could  not  be  otherwise  than  defective  ;  hence 
many  years  of  probation  passed  before  the  popular  mind  was  prepared 


QQ  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

to  appreciate  the  benefits  and  blessings  which  spring  from  these  insti- 
tutions. 

Every  year  only  adds  to  their  popularity,  and  commends  them  the 
more  earnestly  to  the  fostering  care  of  our  State  and  National  Legis- 
latures, and  to  the  esteem  and  favor  of  all  classes  of  our  people. 

We  can  hardly  conceive  of  two  grander  or  more  potent  promoters  of 
civilization  than  the  free  school  and  free  press.  They  would  indeed 
seem  to  constitute  all  that  was  necessary  to  the  attainment  of  the  hap- 
piness and  intellectual  growth  of  the  Republic,  and  all  that  was  neces- 
sary to  broaden,  to  liberalize  and  instruct. 

«« 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  under- 
gone many  changes,  and  always  for  the  better,  keeping  pace  with  the 
most  enlightened  and  advanced  theories  of  the  most  experienced  edu- 
cators in  the  land.  But  not  until  1875,  when  the  new  constitution  was 
adopted,  did  her  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  Lin- 
coln Institute,  located  at  Jefferson  City,  for  the  education  of  col- 
ored 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  Commission- 


68  HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 

ers,  County  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Board  of  Directors,  City  and  Town 
School  Board,  and  Teacher.  The  State  Board  of  Education  is  composed 
of  the  State  Superintendent,  the  Governor,  Secretary  of  State,  and  the 
Attorney-General,  the  executive  officer  of  this  Board  being  the  State  Su- 
perintendent, 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  the  school  funds  and  annually  distributes 
the  same  to  the  counties  ;  supervises  the  work  of  county  school  officers  ; 
delivers  lectures  ;  visits  schools  ;  distributes  educational  information  ; 
grants  certificates  of  higher  qualifications,  and  makes  an  annual  report 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  condition  of  the  schools. 

The  County  Commissioners  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  direct- 
ors 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  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  belono-ing  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 
o-overned  by  a  board  of  six  directors,  two  of  whom  are  selected  annu- 
ally, 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 
exceeding  forty  cents  on  the  one  hundred  dollars'  valuation,  pro- 
vided such  annual  rates  for  school  purposes  may  be  increased  in  dis- 
tricts formed  of  cities  and  towns,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  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'  val- 
uation, on  the  condition  that  a  majority  of  the  voters  who  are  tax-pay- 
ers, votino- at  an  election  held  to  decide  the  question,  vote  for  said 
increase.  For  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings  in  school  dis- 
tricts, the  rates  of  taxation  thus  limited  may  be  increased  when  the 
rate  of  such  increase  and  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  intended  shall 
have  been  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  two-thirds  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  69 

qualified  voters  of  such  school  district  voting  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  dischars:e  of 
all  important  business,  such  as  the  erection  of  a  school  house  or  the 
extension  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  district  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  ;  records 
all  business  proceedings  of  the  district,  and  reports  to  the  annual 
meeting,  to  the  County  Clerk  and  County  Commissioners. 

Teachers  must  hold  a  certificate  from  the  State  Superintendent  or 
County  Commissioner  of  the  county  where  they  teach.  State  certifi- 
cates are  granted  upon  personal  written  examination  in  the  common 
branches,  together  with  the  natural  sciences  and  higher  mathematics. 
The  holder  of  such  certificate  may  teach  in  any  public  school  of  the 
State  without  further  examination.  Certificates  granted  by  County 
Commissioners  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 
susceptible  of  two  grades,  ditfering  both  as  to  length  of  time  and  attain- 
ments. Those  issued  for  one  year  may  represent  two  grades,  marked  by 
qualification  alone.  The  township  school  fund  arises  from  a  grant  of 
land  by  the  General  Government,  consisting  of  section  sixteen  in  each 
congressional  township.  The  annual  income  of  the  township  fund  is  ap- 
propriated to  the  various  townships,  according  to  their  respective 
proprietary  claims.  The  support  from  the  permanent  funds  is  supple- 
mented by  direct  taxation  laid  upon  the  taxable  property  of  each  dis- 
trict. 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  sup- 
port of  "A  Seminary  of  Learning."  The  lands  secured  for  this  pur- 
pose are  among  the  best  and  most  valuable  in  the  State.  These 
lands  were  put  into  the  market  in  1832  and  brought  $75,000,  which 
amount  was  invested  in  the  stock  of  the  old  bank  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri, where  it  remained  and  increased  by  accumulation  to  the  sum  of 
1100,000.     In  1839,  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assemblv,  five  commis- 


70  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

Bioners  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,  Calla- 
way 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  $65,000. 
The  donations  to  the  institutions  connected  therewith  amount  to 
nearly  $400,000.  This  University  with  its  different  departments, 
is  open  to  both  male  and  female,  and  both  sexes  enjoy  alike  its 
rights  and  privileges.  Among  the  professional  schools,  which  form  a 
part  of  the  University,  are  the  Normal,  or  College  of  Instruction  in 
Teaching  ;  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  ;  the  School  of  Mines 
and  Metallurgy  ;  the  College  of  Law  ;  the  Medical  College  ;  and  the 
Department  of  Analytical  and  Applied  Chemistry.  Other  departments 
are  contemplated  and  will  be  added  as  necessity  requires. 

The  following  will  show  the  names  and  locations  of  the  schools  and 
institutions  of  the  State,  as  reported  by  the  Commissioner  of  Education 
in  1875:  — 

TTNITERSITIES    AND    COLLEGES. 

Christian  University Canton. 

St.  Vincent's  College C:ipe  Girardeau, 

University  of  Missouri Columbia. 

Central  College Fayette. 

"Westminster  College Fulton. 

Lewis  College Glasgow. 

Pritchett  School  Institute Glasgow. 

Lincoln  College GreeTiwood. 

Hannibal  College HannibaU 

Woodland  College Independence. 

Thayer  College Kidder. 

La  Grange  College La  Grange. 

William  Jewell  College Liberty. 

Baptist  College Louisiana. 

St  Joseph  College St  Joseph. 

College  of  Christian  Brothers St  Louis. 

St  Louia  University St  Louis. 

Washington  University St  Louis. 

Drury  College Springfield- 
Central  Wesleyan  College Warrenton. 

FOB   SUPERIOR   INSTRTJCTION  OF  WOMEN. 

St  Joseph  Female  Seminary St  Joseph. 

Christian  College Columbia. 


HISTORY   OF  MISSOURI.  71 

Stephens'  College Columbia. 

Howard  College Fayette. 

Independence  Female  College Independence. 

Central  Female  College Lexington. 

Clay  Seminary Liberty. 

Ingleside  Female  College Palmyra. 

Lindenwood  College  for  Young  Ladies St.  Charles. 

Mary  Institute  (Washington  University) St.  Louis. 

St.  Louis  Seminary St.  Louis. 

Ursuline  Academy. St.  Louis. 

FOR   SECONDARY    INSTRL'CTION. 

Arcadia  College Arcadia. 

St.  Vincent's  Academy Cape  Girardeau. 

Chillicothe  Academy Chillicothe. 

Grand  River  College Edinburgh. 

Marionville  Collegiate  Institute MarionviUe. 

Palmyra  Seminary Palmyra. 

St.  Paul's  College Palmyra. 

Van  Rensselaer  Academy Rensselaer, 

Shelby  High  School Shelbyville. 

Stewartaville  Male  and  Female  Seminary Stewartsville. 

SCHOOLS  07  SCIENCB. 

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

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

Polytechnic  Institute  (Washington  University) St.  Louis. 

SCHOOLS  Oy  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  07  MEDICINX. 

Medical  College,  University  of  Missouri Columbia 

College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons St.  Joseph. 

Kansas  City  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons Kansas  City, 

Hospital  Medical  College St.  Joseph. 

Missouri  Medical  College St.  Louis. 

Northwestern  Medical  College Su  Joseph. 

St  Louis  Medical  College St.  Louis. 

Homeopathic  Medical  College  of  Missouri St.  Louis. 

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

Missouri  Central  College St  Louis, 

St.  Louis  College  of  Pharmacy St  Louis. 


72 


HISTORY  OP  MISSOURI. 

LAROSST  PTTBLIO  UBSABIES. 


Name. 


St,  Vincent's  College 

Southeast  Missouri  State  Normal  School 

University  of  Missouri 

Athenian  Society 

Union  Literary  Society 

Law  College 

Westminster  College 

Lewis  College 

Mercantile  Librar}- 

Library  Association 

Fruitland  Normal  Institute. 

State  Library 

Fetterman's  Circulating  Library 

Law  Library. 

"Whittemore's  Circulating  Library 

North  Missouri  State  Normal  School 

"William  Jewell  College 

St.  Paul's  College 

Missouri  School  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy 

St.  Charles  Catholic  Library 

Carl  Frielling'a  Library 

Law  Library 

Public  School  Library 

Walworth  &  Colt's  Circulating  Library 

Academy  of  Science 

Academy  of  Visitation 

College  of  the  Christian  Brothers 

Deutsche  Institute 

German  Evangelical  Lutheran,  Concordia  College. 

Law  Library  Association 

Missouri  Medical  College 

Mrs.  Cuthbert's  Seminary  (Young  Ladies) 

Odd  Fellow's  Library 

Public  School  Library 

St  Louis  Medical  College 

St.  Louis  Mercantile  Library 

St.  Louis  Seminary 

St.  Louis  Turn  Verein 

St.  Louis  University 

St.  Louis  University  Society  Libraries 

Ursuline  Academy 

Washington  University 

St.  Louis  Law  School 

Young  Men's  Sodality 

Library'  Association 

Public  School  Library 

Drury  College 


Location. 


Cape  Girardeau. 
Cape  Girardeau. 

Columbia 

Columbia 

Columbia 

Columbia 

Fulton 

Glasgow 

Hannibal 

Independence.... 

Jackson 

Jefferson  City... 

Kansas  City 

Kansas  City 

Kansas  City 

Kirksville 

Liberty 

Palmyra 

RoUa 

St,  Charles 

St.  Joseph 

St.  Joseph 

St  Joseph 

St  Joseph 

St.  Louis 

St.  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St.  Louis 

St.  Louis 

St.  Louis 

St.  Louis 

St  Loui? 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

St  Louis 

Sedalia 

Sedalia 

Springfield 


Volumes. 


6, 500 
1,225 

10,000 
1,200 
1,200 
1,000 
6,000 
8,000 
2,21*^ 
1,100 
1,000 

13,000 
1,300 
8,000 
1,000 
1,050 
4,000 
2,000 
1,478 
1,716 
6,000 
2,000 
2.600 
1,500 
2,744 
4,000 

22,000 
1,000 
4,800 
8,000 
1,000 
1,500 
4.000 

40,097 
1,100 

45,000 
2,000 
2.000 
'17.000 
8,000 
2.000 
4,500 
8.000 
1,327 
1,500 
1.015 
2,000 


IN  1880. 
Newspapers  and  Periodicals 481 

CHARITIK.-^. 

State  Asylum  for  Deaf  and  Dumb 

St  Bridget's  Institution  for  Deaf  and  Dumb 

Institution  for  the  Education  of  the  Blind 

State  Asylum  for  Insane 

State  Asylum  for  the  Insane 


Fulton. 

..St  Louis. 
..St  Louis. 

Fulton. 

.St  Louis. 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI.  73 

NORMAL  SCHOOLS. 

Normal  Institute Bolivar. 

Boutheast  Missouri  State  JSormal  Cichoul 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. 

IN  1880. 
Number  of  school  children 


IN  1878. 

Estimated  value  of  school  property $8,321,399 

Total  receipts  for  public  schools 4,207,617 

Total  expenditures 2,406,139 

NUMBER   OF  TEACHERS. 

Male  teachers 6,239;  average  monthly  pay $36.36 

Female  teachers 5,060;  average  monthly  pay 28.09 

The  fact  that  Missouri  supports  and  maintains  four  hundred  and 

eeventy-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    Xn. 

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  religions  thought  and  training,  who 
penetrated  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Valleys,  were  Pere  Marquette, 
La  Salle,  and  others  of  Catholic  persuasion,  who  performed  missionary 


74  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

labor  among  the  Indians.     A  century  afterward  came  the  Protestants. 
At  that  early  period 

"  A  church  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 
ah)ng  the  shores  of  the  two  great  rivers  whicli  form  the  eastern  and 
western  boundaries  of  the  State,  and  still  a  little  later  they  were  sown 
upon  her  hill-sides  and  broad  prairies,  where  they  have  since  bloomed 
and  blossomed  as  the  rose. 

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  Eev.  David  Green,  a  Baptist,  and  a  native  of  Virginia. 
In  1816,  the  first  association  of  Missouri  Baptists  was  formed,  which 
was  composed  of  seven  churches,  all  of  which  were  located  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  State.  In  1817  a  second  association  of 
churches  was  formed,  called  the  Missouri  Association,  the  name  being 
afterwards  changed  to  St.  Louis  Association.  In  1834  a  general  con- 
Tention  of  all  the  churches  of  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 
colleges,  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  min- 
isters and  eighty-nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty  church  members. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

The  Congregationalists  inaugurated  their  missionary  labors  in  the 
State  in  1814.  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Mills,  of  Torringford,  Connecticut, 
and  Rev.  Daniel  Smith,  of  Bennington,  Vermont,  were  sent  west  by 
the  Massachusetts  Congregational  Home  Missionary  Society  during 


HISTORY   OP  MISSOURI.  75 

that  year,  and  in  November,  1814,  they  preached  the  first  regular 
Protestant  sermons  in  St.  Louis.  Eev.  Samuel  Giddings,  sent  out 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Connecticut  Congregational  Missionary 
Society,  organized  the  first  Protestant  church  in  the  city,  consisting 
of  ten  members,  constituted  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  Kan- 
sas City  and  Springfield  District  Associations.  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  previously  to  1829. 
The  first  church  was  formed  in  St.  Louis  in  1836  by  Elder  E.  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,  ♦*  Tlie  Chris- 
tian,''* which  is  a  weekly  publication  and  well  patronized.  The  mem- 
bership 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  Eiver. 

CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

In  the  spring  of  1820,  the  first  Presbytery  of  this  denomination 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  was  organized  in  Pike  County.  This  Pres- 
bytery included  all  the  territory  of  Missouri,  western  Illinois  and 
Arkansas  and  numbered  only  four  ministers,  two  of  whom  resided  at 


76  HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI. 

that  time  in  Missouri,  There  are  now  in  the  State,  twelve  Presby- 
teries, 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  pub- 
lished at  St.  Louis. 

MPTHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

In  1806,  Rev.  John  Travis,  a  young  Methodist  minister,  was  sent 
out  to  the  *'  Western  Conference,"  which  then  embraced  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  from  Green  County,  Tennessee.  During  that  year  Mr. 
Travis  ors^anized  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  1870,  and  showed 
an  ao;o;reorate  of  one  hundred  and  six  members  and  two  circuits,  one 
called  Missouri  and  the  other  Meramec.  In  1808,  two  circuits  had 
been  formed,  and  at  each  succeeding  year  the  number  of  circuits  and 
members  constantly  increased,  until  1812,  when  what  was  called  the 
Western  Conference  was  divided  into  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  Confer- 
ences, Missouri  falling  into  the  Tennessee  Conference.  In  1816, 
there  was  another  division  when  the  Missouri  Annual  Conference  was 
formed.  In  1810,  there  were  four  traveling  preachers  and  in  1820,  fif- 
teen travelling  preachers,  with  over  2,000  members.  In  1836,  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Missouri  Conference  was  again  divided  when  the  Missouri 
Conference  included  only  the  State.  In  1840  there  were  72  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  meml)ership  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  was  over  25,000,  and  during  the  succeeding  ten  years 
the  church  prospered  rapidly.  In  1875,  the  M.  E.  Church  reported 
274  church  edifices  and  34,156  members;  the  M.  E.  Church  South, 
reported  443  church  edifices  and  49,588  members.  This  denomina- 
tion has  under  its  control  several  schools  and  colleges  and  two  weekly 
newspapers. 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  dates  the  beginning  of  its  missionary 
efforts  in  the  State  as  far  back  as  1814,  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  Bonhomme,  Pike  County.  The  First  Presbyterian  Church 
was  organized  in  St.  Louis  in  1817,  by  Rev.  Salmon  Gidding.     The 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


77 


first  Presbytery  was  organized  in  1817  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 
1860  the  rolls  of  the  Old  and  New  School  Synod  together  showed  109 
ministers  and  146  churches.  In  1866  the  Old  School  Synod  was  di- 
-vided  on  political  questions  springing  out  of  the  war — a  part  form- 
ing the  Old  School,  or  Independent  Synod  of  Missouri,  who  are  con- 
nected with  the  General  Assembly  South.  In  1870,  the  Old  and  New 
School  Presbyterians  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  num- 
bered 80  ministers,  140  churches  and  9,000  members.  It  has  under 
its  control  several  male  and  female  institutions  of  a  high  order.  The 
St.  Louis  Preahj/terian,  a  weekly  paper,  is  the  recognized  organ  of 
the  Synod. 

PROTESTANT   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  missionary  enterprises  of  this  church  began  in  the  State  in 
1819,  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 
1836,  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 


78  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

pecuniary  tronliles.  In  1847,  the  Clark  Mission  began  and  in  1849 
the  Orphans'  Home,  a  charitable  institution,  was  founded.  In  1865, 
St.  Luke's  Hospital  was  established.  In  1875,  there  were  in  the  city 
of  St.  Louis,  twelve  parishes  and  missions  and  twelve  clergymen. 
This  denomnation  has  several  schools  and  colleges,  and  one  newspaper. 

UNITED    PRESBYTKRIAN    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  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Noi-th  America.  Its  members  were  generally  bitterly 
opposed  to  the  institution  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  the  Rev.  W.  G.  Eliot,  in  St. 
Louis.  The  churches  are  few  in  number  throughout  the  State,  the 
membership  being  probably  less  than  300,  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  Catholi^ Church  in  Missouri  shows 
that  Father  Watrin  performed  ministerial  services  in  Ste.  Genevieve, 
in  1760,  and  in  St.  Louis  in  1766.  In  1770,  Father  Menrin  erected  a 
small  log  church  in  St.  Louis.  In  1818,  there  were  in  the  State  four 
chapels,  and  for  Upper  Louisiana  seven  priests.  A  college  and  semi- 
nary were  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  University.  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  charitable  institutions.  In 
1834  he  completed  the  present  Cathedral  Church.  Churches  were 
built  in  difierent  portions  of  the  State.  In  1847  St.  Louis  was  created 
an  arch-diocese,  with  Bishop  Kenrick,  Archbishop. 

In  Kansas  City  there  were  five  parish  churches,  a  hospital,  a  con- 
vent and  several  parish  schools.  In  1868  the  northwestern  portion  of 
the  State  was  erected  into  a  separate  diocese,  with  its  seat  at  St.  Joseph, 


HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI.  79 

aTid  Right-Keverend  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,  out- 
side 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, 
1  college,  1  monastery,  5  convents  and  14  parish  schools : 

Number  of  Sunday  Schools  in  1878 ,        .        2,067 

Number  of  Teachers  in  1878        ...                         ,  .  .      18,010 

Number  of  Pupils  In  1878 .  139,578 

THEOLOGICAL    SCHOOLS. 

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

Central  College  (M.  E.  South) .        Fayette. 

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

Christian  University  (Christian) Canton. 

Concordia  College  Seminary  CEvangelical  Lutheran)  .        .        .  .     St.  Louis. 

Lewis  College  (M.  E.  Church) Glasgow. 

St.  Vincent  College  (Roman  Catholic) Cape  Girardeau. 

Vardeman  School  of  Theology  (Baptist)       .  .        .        .        .        •        Liberty. 

The  last  is  connected  with  William  Jewell  College. 


CHAPTER    Xin. 

ADMINISTRATION   OF   GOVERNOR   CRITTENDEN. 

Nomination  and  election  of  Thomas  T.  Crittenden — Personal  Mention — Marmaduke*s 
candidacy  —  Stirring  events  —  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  —  Death  of  Jesse 
James  —  The  Fords  —  Pardon  of  the  Gamblers. 

It  is  the  purpose  in  this  chapter  to  outline  the  more  important 
events  of  Governor  Crittenden's  unfinished  administration,  stating 
briefly  the  facts  in  the  case,  leaving  comment  and  criticism  entirely  to 
the  reader,  the  historian  having  no  judgment  to  express  or  prejudice 
to  vent. 

Thomas  T.  Crittenden,  of  Johnson  county,  received  the  Demo- 
cratic nomination  for  Governor  of  Missouri  at  the  convention  at  Jeffer- 


80 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 


son  City,  July  22d,  1880.  Democratic  nomination  for  a  State  office  in 
Missouri  is  always  equivalent  to  election,  and  the  entire  State  ticket 
was  duly  elected  in  November.  Crittenden's  competitors  before  the 
convention  were  Gen.  John  S.  Marmaduke,  of  St.  Louis,  and  John 
A.  Hockaday,  of  Callaway  county.  Before  the  assembling  of  the 
convention  many  persons  who  favored  Marmaduke,  both  personally 
and  politically,  thought  the  nomination  of  an  ex-Confederate  might 
prejudice  the  prospects  of  the  National  Democracy,  and  therefore,  as 
a  matter  of  policy,  supported  Crittenden. 

His  name,  and  the  fame  of  his  family  in  Kentucky  —  Thomas  T. 
being  a  scion  of  the  Crittendens  of  that  State,  caused  the  Democracy 
of  Missouri  to  expect  great  things  from  their  new  Governor.  This, 
together  with  the  important  events-  which  followed  his  inauguration, 
caused  some  people  to  overrate  him,  while  it  prejudiced  others  against 
him.  The  measures  advocated  by  the  Governor  in  his  inaugural 
address  were  such  as,  perhaps,  the  entire  Democracy  could  endorse, 
especially  that  of  refunding,  at  a  low  interest,  all  that  part  of  the  State 
debt  that  can  be  so  refunded ;  the  adoption  of  measures  to  relieve  the 
Supreme  Court  docket ;  a  compromise  of  the  indebtedness  of  some  of 
the  counties,  and  his  views  concerning  repudiation,  which  he  con- 
temned. 

HANNIBAL  &  ST.  JOE  RAILROAD  CONTROVERSY. 

By  a  series  of  legislative  acts,  beginning  with  the  act  approved 
February  22,  1851,  and  ending  with  that  of  March  26,  1881,  the 
State  of*  Missouri  aided  with  great  liberality  in  the  construction  of  a 
system  of  railroads  in  this  State. 

Among  the  enterprises  thus  largely  assisted  was  the  Hannibal  and 
St.  Joseph  Railroad,  for  the  construction  of  which  the  bonds  of  the 
State,  to  the  amount  of  $3,000,000,  bearing  interest  at  6  per  cent  per 
annum,  payable  semi-annually,  were  issued.  One  half  of  this  amount 
was  issued  under  the  act  of  1851,  and  the  remainder  under  the  act  of 
1855.  The  bonds  issued  under  the  former  act  were  to  run  twenty 
years,  and  those  under  the  latter  act  were  to  run  thirty  years.  Some 
of  the  bonds  have  since  been  funded  and  renewed.  Coupons  for  the 
interest  of  the  entire  $3,000,000  were  executed  and  made  payable  in 
New  York.  These  acts  contain  numerous  provisions  intended  to 
secure  the  State  against  loss  and  to  require  the  railroad  company  to 
pay  the  interest  and  principal  at  maturity.  It  was  made  the  duty  of 
the  railroad  company  to  save  and  keep  the  State  from  all  loss  on 
account  of  said  bonds  and  coupons.     The  Treasurer  of  the  State  was 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  81 

to  be  exonerated  from  any  advance  of  money  to  meet  either  principal 
or  interest.  Tlie  State  contracted  with  the  raih'oad  company  for  com- 
plete indemnity.  She  was  required  to  assign  her  statutory  morto-ao-e 
lien  only  upon  payment  into  the  treasury  of  a  sum  of  money  equal  to 
all  indebtedness  due  or  owing  by  said  company  to  the  State  by  reason 
of  having  issued  her  bonds  and  loaned  them  to  the  company. 

In  June,  1881,  the  raih-oad,  through  its  attorney,  Geo.  W.  Easley, 
Esq.,  paid. to  Phil.  E.  Chajjpell,  State  Treasurer,  the  sum  of  $3,000,- 
000,  and  asked  for  a  receipt  in  full  of  all  dues  of  the  road  to  the 
State.  The  Treasurer  refused  to  give  such  a  receipt,  but  instead  gave 
a  receipt  for  the  sum  <'  on  account."  The  debt  was  not  yet  due,  but 
the  authorities  of  the  road  sought  to  discharge  their  obligation  pre- 
mdturely,  in  order  to  save  interest  and  other  expenses.  The  railroad 
company  then  demanded  its  bonds  of  the  State,  which  demand  the 
State  refused.  The  company  then  demanded  that  the  $3,000,000  be 
paid  back,  and  this  demand  was  also  refused. 

The  railroad  company  then  brought  suit  in  the  United  States  Court 
for  an  equitable  adjustment  of  the  matters  in  controversy.  The  $3, 
000,000  had  been  deposited  by  the  State  in  one  of  the  banks,  and  was 
drawing  interest  only  at  the  rate  of  one-fourth  of  one  per  cent.  It 
was  demanded  that  this  sum  should  be  so  invested  that  a  larger  rate 
of  interest  might  be  obtained,  which  sum  of  interest  should  be  allowed 
to  the  company  as  a  credit  in  case  any  sum  should  be  found  due  from 
it  to  the  State.  Justice  Miller,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court, 
who  heard  the  case  upon  preliminary  injunction  in  the  spring  of  1882, 
decided  that  the  unpaid  and  unmatured  coupons  constituted  a  liability 
of  the  State  and  a  debt  owing,  though  not  due,  and  until  these  were 
provided  for  the  State  was  not  bound  to  assign  her  lien  upon  the  road. 

Another  question  which  was  mooted,  but  not  decided,  was  this: 
That,  if  any,  what  account  is  the  State  to  render  for  the  use  of  the 
$3,000,000  paid  into  the  treasury  by  the  complainants  on  the  20th  of 
June?  Can  she  hold  that  large  sum  of  money,  refusing  to  make  any 
account  of  it,  and  still  insist  upon  full  payment  by  the  railroad 
company  of  all  outstanding  coupons  ? 

Upon  this  subject  Mr.  Justice  Miller,  in  the  course  of  his  opinion, 
said  :  "  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  State,  having  accepted  or  got  this 
money  into  her  possession,  is  under  a  moral  obligation  (and  I  do  not 
pretend  to  commit  anybody  as  to  how  far  its  legal  obligation  goes)  to 
so  use  that  money  as,  so  far  as  possible,  to  protect  the  parties  who 
have  paid  it  against  the  loss  of  the  interest  which  it  might  accumulate, 


82  HISTORY    OF   MISSOURI.     ' 

and  which  would  go  to  extinguish  the  interest  on  the  State's  obliga- 
tions." 

March  26, 1881,  the  Legislature,  in  response  to  a  special  message  of 
Gov.  Crittenden,  dated  February  25,  1881,  in  which  he  informed 
the  Legislature  of  the  purpose  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  com- 
pany to  discharge  the  full  amount  of  what  it  claims  is  its  present 
indebtedness  as  to  the  State,  and  advised  that  provision  be  mad© 
for  the  "  profitable  disposal"  of  the  sum  when  paid,  passed  an  act, 
the  second  section  of  which  provided. 

♦*  Sec.  2.  Whenever  there  is  sufficient  money  in  the  sinkiug  fund  to 
redeem  or  purchase  one  or  more  of  the  bonds  of  the  State  of  Missouri, 
such  sum  is  hereby  appropriated  for  such  purpose,  and  the  Fund 
Commissioners  shall  immediately  call  in  for  payment  a  like  amount 
of  the  option  bonds  of  the  State,  known  as  the  **  5-20  bonds," 
provided,  that  if  there  are  no  option  bonds  which  can  be  called  in  for 
payment,  they  may  invest  such  money  in  the  purchase  of  any  of  the 
bonds  of  the  State,  or  bonds  of  the  United  States,  the  Hannibal  and 
St.  Joseph  railroad  bonds  excepted." 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1882,  the  regular  semi-annual  payment  of 
interest  on  the  railroad  bonds  became  due,  but  the  road  refused  to 
pay,  claiming  that  it  had  already  discharged  the  principal,  and  of 
course  was  not  liable  for  the  interest.  Thereupon,  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  aiding  act  of  1855,  Gov.  Crittenden  advertised  the 
road  for  sale  in  default  of  the  payment  of  interest.  The  company 
then  brought  suit  before  U.  S.  Circuit  Judge  McCrary  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  to  enjoin  the  State  from  selling  the  road,  and  for  such  other 
and  further  relief  as  the  court  might  see  fit  and  proper  to  grant. 
August  8,  1882,  Judge  McCrary  delivered  his  opinion  and  judgment, 
as  follows : 

^*First.  That  the  payment  by  complainants  into  the  treasury  of  the 
State  of  the  sum  of  $3,000,000  on  the  26th  of  June,  1881,  did  not 
satisfy  the  claim  of  the  State  in  full,  nor  entitle  complainants  to  an 
assignment  of  the  State's  statutory  mortgage. 

**/Second.  That  the  State  was  bound  to  invest  the  principal  sum 
of  $3,000,000  so  paid  by  the  complainants  without  unnecessary  delay 
in  the  securities  named  in  the  act  of  March  26,  1881,  or  some  of 
them,  and  so  as  to  save  to  the  State  as  large  a  sum  as  possible, 
which  sum  so  saved  would  have  constituted  as  between  the  State  and 
complainants  a  credit  pro  tanto  upon  the  unmatured  coupons  now  in 
controversy. 


HISTORY  or   MISSOURI. 


83 


**Th{rd.  That  the  rights  and  equity  of  the  parties  are  to  be  deter- 
mined upon  the  foregoing  principles,  and  the  State  must  stand 
charged  with  what  would  have  been  realized  if  the  act  of  March, 
1881,  had  been  complied  with.  It  only  remains  to  consider  what  the 
rights  of  the  parties  are  upon  the  principles  here  stated. 

«*  In  order  to  save  the  State  from  loss  on  account  of  the  default  of 
the  railroad  company,  a  further  sum  must  be  paid.  In  order  to  deter- 
mine what  that  further  sum  is  an  accounting  must  be  had.  The  ques- 
tion to  be  settled  by  the  accounting  is,  how  much  would  the  State 
have  lost  if  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  March,  1881,  had  been 
complied  with  ?  *  *  •  *  I  think  a  perfectly  fair  basis  of  settle- 
ment would  be  to  hold  the  State  liable  for  whatever  could  have  been 
saved  by  the  prompt  execution  of  said  act  by  taking  up  such  5-20 
option  bonds  of  the  State  as  were  subject  to  call  when  the  money  was 
paid  to  the  State,  and  investing  the  remainder  of  the  fund  in  the 
bonds  of  the  United  States  at  the  market  rates. 

*♦  Upon  this  basis  a  calculation  can  be  made  and  the  exact  sum  still  to 
be  paid  by  the  complainant  in  order  to  fully  indemnify  and  protect  the 
State  can  be  ascertained.  For  the  purpose  of  stating  an  account 
upon  this  basis  and  of  determining  the  sum  to  be  paid  by  the  com- 
plainants to  the  State,  the  cause  will  be  referred  to  John  K.  Cravens, 
one  of  the  musters  of  this  court.  In  determining  the  time  when  the 
investment  should  have  been  made  under  the  act  of  March,  1881,  the 
master  will  allow  a  reasonable  period  for  the  time  of  the  receipt  of  the 
said  sum  of  $3,000,000  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  —  that  is  to  say, 
such  time  as  would  have  been  required  for  that  purpose  had  the  offi- 
cers charged  with  the  duty  of  making  said  investment  used  reason- 
able diligence  in  its  discharge. 

*♦  The  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  railroad  is  advertised  for  sale  for  the 
amount  of  the  instalment  of  interest  due  January  1,  1882,  which 
instalment  amounts  to  less  than  the  sum  which  the  company  must  pay 
in  order  to  discharge  its  liabilities  to  the  State  upon  the  theory  of  this 
opinion.  The  order  will,  therefore,  be  that  an  injunction  be  granted 
to  enjoin  the  sale  of  the  road  upon  the  payment  of  the  said  instal- 
ment of  interest  due  January  1,  1882,  and  if  such  payment  is  made 
the  master  will  take  it  into  account  in  making  the  computation  above 
mentioned.** 

KILLING    OF   JESSE   JAMES. 

The  occurrence  during  the  present  Governor's  administration  which 
did  most  to  place  his  name  in  everybody's  mouth,  and  even  to  herald 


84 


HISTOKY    OF    MISSOURI. 


it  abroad,  causing  the  European  press  to  teem  with  leaders  announcing 
the  fact  to  the  continental  world,  was  the  "removal"  of  the  famous 
Missouri  brigand,  Jesse  W.  James.  The  career  of  the  James  boys, 
and  the  banditti  of  whom  they  were  the  acknowledged  leaders,  is  too 
well-known  and  too  fully  set  forth  in  works  of  a  more  sensational 
character,  to  deserve  further  detail  in  these  pages  ;  and  the  ♦'  removal " 
of  Jesse  will  be  dealt  with  only  in  its  relation  to  the  Governor. 

It  had  been  long  conceded  that  neither  of  the  Jameses  would  ever  be 
taken  alive.  That  experiment  had  been  frequently  and  vainly  tried, 
to  the  sorrow  of  good  citizens  of  this  and  other  States.  It  seems  to 
have  been  one  of  the  purposes  of  Gov.  Crittenden  to  break  up  this 
band  at  any  cost,  by  cutting  off  its  leaders.  Soon  after  the  Winston 
train  robbery,  on  July  15,  1881,  the  railroads  combined  in  empower- 
ing the  Governor,  by  placing  the  money  at  his  disposal,  to  offer  heavy 
rewards  for  the  capture  of  the  two  James  brothers.  This  was  ac- 
cordingly done  by  proclamation,  and,  naturally,  many  persons  were 
on  the  lookout  to  secure  the  large  rewards.  Gov.  Crittenden  worked 
quietly,  but  determinedly,  after  offering  the  rewards,  and  by  some 
means  learned  of  the  availability  of  the  two  Ford  boys,  young  men 
from  Ray  county,  who  had  been  tutored  as  juvenile  robbers  by  the 
skillful  Jesse.  An  understanding  was  had,  when  the  Fords  declared 
they  could  find  Jesse  —  that  they  were  to  "turn  him  in."  Robert 
Ford  and  brother  seem  to  have  been  thoroughly  in  the  confidence  of 
James,  who  then  (startling  as  it  was  to  the  entire  State)  resided  in 
the  city  of  St  Joseph,  with  his  wife  and  two  children  1  The  Fords 
went  there,  and  when  the  robber's  back  was  turned,  Robert  shot  him 
dead  in  the  hack  of  the  head!  The  Fords  told  their  story  to  the 
authorities  of  the  city,  who  at  once  arrested  them  on  a  charge  of  mur- 
der, and  they,  when  arraigned,  plead  guilty  to  the  charge.  Promptly, 
however,  came  a  full,  free  and  unconditional  pardon  from  Gov.  Crit- 
tenden, and  the  Fords  were  released.  In  regard  to  the  Governor's 
course  in  ridding  the  State  of  this  notorious  outlaw,  people  were 
divided  in  sentiment,  some  placing  him  in  the  category  with  the  Ford 
boys  and  bitterly  condemning  his  action,  while  others  —  the  majority 
of  law-abiding  people,  indeed, — though  deprecating  the  harsh  meas- 
ures which  James*  course  had  rendered  necessary,  still  upheld  th 
Governor  for  the  part  he  played.  As  it  was,  the  "Terror  of  Mis- 
souri "  was  effectually  and  finally  "  removed,"  and  people  were  glad 
that  he  was  dead.     Robert  Ford,  the  pupil  of  the  dead  Jesse,  had 


HISTOEY   OF  MISSOURI.  85 

been  selected,  and  of  all  was  the  most  fit  tool  to  use  in  the  extermina- 
tion of  his  preceptor  in  crime. 

The  killing  of  James  would  never  have  made  Crittenden  many  ene- 
mies among  the  better  class  of  citizens  of  this  State ;  but,  when  it 
came  to  his 

PARDON    OF   THE    GAMBLERS. 

The  case  was  different.  Under  the  new  law  making  gaminghouse- 
keeping  a  felony,  several  St.  Louis  gamblers,  with  Robert  C.  Pate  at 
their  head,  were  convicted  and  sentenced  to  prison.  The  Governor, 
much  to  the  surprise  of  the  more  rigid  moral  element  of  the  State, 
soon  granted  the  gamblers  a  pardon.  This  was  followed  by  other 
pardons  to  similar  offenders,  which  began  to  render  the  Governor  quite 
unpopular  which  one  element  of  citizens,  and  to  call  forth  from  some 
of  them  the  most  bitter  denunciations.  The  worst  feature  of  the  case, 
perhaps,  is  the  lack  of  explanation,  or  the  setting  forth  of  sufficient 
reasons,  as  is  customary  in  issuing  pardons,  This,  at  least,  is  the  bur- 
den of  complaint  with  the  faction  that  opposes  him.  However,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  his  term  of  office,  at  this  writing,  is  but 
half  expired,  and  that  a  full  record  can  not,  therefore,  be  given.  Like 
all  mere  men,  Gov.  Crittenden  has  his  good  and  his  bad,  is  liked  by 
some  and  disliked  by  others.  The  purpose  of  history  is  to  set  forth 
the  facts  and  leave  others  to  sit  in  judgment;  this  the  historian  has 
tried  faithfully  to  do,  leaving  all  comments  to  those  who  may  see  fit  to 
make  them. 


HISTORY 


OF 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY,  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTEE    I. 

Introductory  —  What  Time  has  Done  —  Importance  of  Early  Beginnings  —  First  Set- 
tlements made  in  the  Timber  —  Who  the  First  Settlers  were  —  Additional  Names 
of  Old  Settlers  —  Postal  and  Mill  Facilities  —  County  Organized  and  Named  —  The 
Name  —  John  Kandolph. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

History  "is  but  a  record  of  the  life  and  career  of  peoples  and  na- 
tions." The  historian,  in  rescuing  from  oblivion  the  life  of  a  nation, 
or  a  particular  people,  should  *'  nothing  extenuate,  nor  set  down  aught 
in  malice."  Myths,  however  beautiful,  are  but  fanciful;  traditions, 
however  pleasing,  are  uncertain  ;  and  legends,  though  the  very  essence 
of  poesy  and  song,  are  unauthentic.  The  novelist  will  take  the  most 
fragile  thread  of  romance,  and  from  it  weave  a  fabric  of  surpassing 
beauty.  But  the  historian  should  put  his  feet  on  the  solid  rock  of 
truth,  and  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  the  allurements  of  fancy,  he  should 
sift  with  careful  scrutiny  the  evidence  brought  before  him,  from  which 
he  is  to  give  the  record  of  what  has  been.  Standing  down  the  stream 
of  time,  far  removed  from  its  source,  he  must  retrace  with  patience 
and  care,  its  meanderings,  guided  by  the  relics  of  the  past  which  lie 
upon  its  shores,  growing  fainter,  and  still  more  faint  and  uncertain  as 
he  nears  its  fountain,  ofttimes  concealed  in  the  debris  of  ages,  and  the 
mists  of  impenetrable'  darkness.  Written  records  grow  less  and  less 
explicit,  and  finally  fail  altogether,  as  he  approaches  the  beginning  of 

1  (87) 


OO  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  community  whose  lives  he  is  seeking  to  rescue  from  the  gloom  of 
a  rapidly  receding  past. 

Memory,  wonderful  as  are  its  powers,  is  yet  frequently  at  fault,  and 
only  by  a  comparison  of  its  many  aggregations  can  he  be  satisfied  that 
he  is  pursuing  stable-footed  truth  in  his  researches  amid  the  early 
paths  of  his  subject.  It  cannot  then  be  unimportant  or  uninteresting 
to  trace  the  progress  of  Randolph  county  from  its  embryotic  period  to 
its  present  proud  position  among  its  sister  counties.  To  this  end, 
therefore,  we  have  endeavored  to  gather  the  scattered  and  loosening 
threads  of  the  past  into  a  compact  web  of  the  present,  trusting  that 
the  harmony  and  perfect ness  of  the  work  may  speak  with  no  uncertain 
sound  to  the  future. 

WHAT    TIME    HAS    DONE. 

Fifty-four  years  have  passed  since  Randolph  county  was  organized. 
Most  wonderful  have  been  the  changes,  and  mighty  have  been  the 
events  and  revolutions,  the  discoveries  and  inventions  that  have  oc- 
curred within  this  time. 

Perhaps  since  "  God  formed  the  earth  and  the  world,"  and  tossed 
them  from  the  hollow  of  his  hand  into  space,  so  many  great  things 
have  not  been  accomplished  in  any  fifty-four  years.  Reflection  cannot 
fail  to  arouse  wonder,  and  awaken  thankfulness,  that  God  has  ap- 
pointed us  the  place  we  occupy  in  the  eternal  chain  of  events.  Ten- 
nyson and  Browning,  Bryant  and  Whittier,  Lowell  and  Longfellow 
have  sung.  The  matchless  Webster,  the  ornate  Sumner,  the  eloquent 
Clay,  the  metaphysical  Calhoun  and  Seward  have  since  reached  the 
culmination  of  their  powers  and  passed  into  the  grave.  Macauley, 
Theirs,  Gizot  and  Froude  have  written  in  noble  strains  the  history  of 
their  lands  ;  and  Bancroft  and  Prescott  and  Hildreth  and  Motley  have 
won  high  rank  among  the  historians  of  the  earth.  Spurgeon  and 
Beecher  and  Moody  have  enforced  with  most  persuasive  eloquence, 
the  duties  of  morality  and  religion.  Carlyle  and  Emerson,  Stuart 
Mill  and  Spencer  have  given  the  results  of  their  speculations  in  high 
philosophy  to  the  world.  Mexico  has  been  conquered  ;  Alaska  has 
been  purchased ;  the  center  of  population  has  traveled  more  than  250 
miles  along  the  thirty-ninth  parallel,  and  a  majority  of  the  States  com- 
posing the  American  Union  have  been  added  to  the  glorious  constella- 
tion on  the  blue  field  of  our  flag.  Great  cities  have  been  founded  and 
populous  countries  developed  ;  and  the  stream  of  emigration  is  still 
tending  westward.  Gold  has  been  discovered  in  the  far  West,  and 
the  o;reat  Civil  War  —  the  bloodiest  in  all  the  annals  of  time  —  has 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  89 

been  fought.  The  telegraph,  the  telephone  and  railroad  have  been 
added  to  the  list  of  the  most  important  inventions.  In  fact,  during 
this  time,  our  country  has  increased  in  popuhition  from  a  few  millions 
of  people  to  fifty  millions.  From  a  weak,  obscure  nation  it  has  be- 
come strong  in  all  the  elements  of  power  and  influence,  and  is  to-day 
the  most  marvelous  country  for  its  age  that  ever  existed. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  EARLY    BEGINNINGS. 

Every  nation  does  not  possess  an  authentic  account  of  its  origin. 
Neither  do  all  communities  have  the  correct  data  whereby  it  is  possi- 
ble to  accurately  predicate  the  condition  of  their  first  beginnings. 
Nevertheless,  to  be  intensely  interested  in  such  things  is  characteristic 
of  the  race,  and  it  is  particularly  the  province  of  the  historian  to 
deal  with  first  causes.  Should  these  facts  be  lost  in  the  mythical 
traditions  of  the  past,  as  is  often  the  case,  the  chronicler  invades  the 
realm  of  the  ideal  and  compels  his  imagination  to  paint  the  missing 
picture.  The  patriotic  Eoman  was  not  content  until  he  had  found 
the  "  first  settlers,"  and  then  he  was  satisfied,  although  they  were 
found  in  the  very  undesirable  company  of  a  wolf,  and  located  on  a 
drift,  which  the  receding  waters  of  the  Tiber  had  permitted  them  to 
pre-empt. 

One  of  the  advantages  pertaining  to  a  residence  in  a  new  country, 
and  one  seldom  appreciated,  is  the  fact  that  we  can  go  back  to  the 
first  beginning.  We  are  thus  enabled  to  not  only  trace  results  to 
their  causes,  but  also  to  grasp  the  facts  which  have  contributed  to 
form  and  mold  these  causes.  We  observe  that  a  State  or  county 
has  attained  a  certain  position,  and  we  at  once  try  to  trace  out  the 
reasons  for  this  position  in  its  settlement  and  surroundings,  in  the 
class  of  men  by  whom  it  was  peopled,  and  in  the  many  chances  and 
changes  which  have  wrought  out  results,  in  all  the  recorded  deeds  of 
mankind.  In  the  history  of  Randolph  county  we  may  trace  its  early 
settlers  to  their  homes  in  the  Eastern  States  and  in  the  countries  of 
the  Old  World.  We  may  follow  the  course  of  the  hardy  backwoods- 
man, from  the  "  Buckeye  "  or  "  Hoosier  "  State,  and  from  Kentucky 
and  Virginia  on  his  way  West,  "to  grow  up  with  the  country," 
trusting  only  to  his  strong  arm  and  willing  heart  to  work  out  his 
ambition  for  a  home  for  himself  and  wife,  and  a  competence  for  his 
children.  Again,  we  will  see  that  others  have  been  animated  with 
the  impulse  to  move  on,  after  making  themselves  a  part  of  the  com- 
munity, and  have  sought  the  newer  portions  of  the  extreme  West, 


90  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

where  civilization  had  not  penetrated,  or  returned  to  their  native 
heath. 

We  shall  find  something  of  that  distinctive  New  England  character, 
which  has  contributed  so  many  men  and  women  to  other  portions  of 
the  West.  We  shall  also  find  many  an  industrious  native  of  Germany, 
as  well  as  a  number  of  the  sons  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  all  of  whom  have 
contributed  to  modify  types  of  men  already  existing  here.  Those  who 
have  noted  the  career  of  the  descendants  of  these  brave,  strong  men, 
in  subduing  the  wilds  and  overcoming  the  obstacles  and  hardships  of 
early  times,  can  but  admit  they  are  worthy  sons  of  illustrious  sires. 
They  who  in  the  early  dawn  of  Western  civilization  first  "  bearded 
the  lion  in  his  den,"  opened  a  path  through  the  wilderness,  drove  out 
the  wild  beast  and  tamed  the  savage  Indian,  are  entitled  to  one  of  the 
brightest  pages  in  all  the  records  of  the  past. 

The  old  pioneers  of  Eandolph  county —  the  advance  guard  of  West- 
ern civilization  —  have  nearly  all  passed  away  ;  those  remaining  may 
be  counted  on  the  fingers  of  one  hand.  A  few  more  years  of  waiting 
and  watching,  and  they,  too,  will  have  joined  — 

"The  innumerable  caravan,  that  moves 
To  that  mysterious  realm,  where  each  shall  take 
His  chamber  in  the  silent  halls  of  death." 

Fresh  hillocks  in  the  cemetery  will  soon  be  all  the  marks  that  will 
be  left  of  a  race  of  .giants  who  grappled  nature  in  her  fastnesses,  and 
made  a  triumphant  conquest  in  the  face  of  the  greatest  privations, 
disease  and  difliculty.  The  shadows  that  fall  upon  their  tombs  as  time 
recedes  are  like  the  smoky  haze  that  enveloped  the  prairies  in  the 
early  days,  saddening  the  memory  and  giving  to  dim  distance  only  a 
faint  and  phantom  outline,  to  which  the  future  will  often  look  back 
and  wonder  at  the  great  hearts  that  lie  hidden  under  the  peaceful 
canopy. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENTS  MADE  IN  THE  TIMBER. 

The  first  settlements  in  the  county  were  invariably  made  in  the  tim- 
ber or  contiguous  thereto.  The  early  settlers  did  so  as  a  matter  of 
necessity  and  convenience.  The  presence  of  timber  aided  materially 
in  bringing  about  an  early  settlement,  and  it  aided  in  two  ways  ;  first, 
the  county  had  to  depend  on  emigration  from  the  older  settled  States 
of  the  East  for  its  population,  and  especially  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
These  States  originally  were  almost  covered  with  dense  forests,  and 
farms  were  made  by  clearing  off  certain  portions  of  the  timber.  Al- 
most every  farm  there,  after  it  became  thoroughly  improved,  still  re- 


HISTORY   or   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  91 

tained  a  certain  tract  of  timber  commonly  known  as  "the  woods." 
*'  The  woods  "  was  generally  regarded  as  the  most  important  part  of  the 
farm,  and  the  average  farmer  regarded  it  as  indispensable.  When  he 
emigrated  to  the  West,  one  objection  was  the  scarcity  of  timber,  and  he 
did  not  suppose  that  it  would  be  possible  to  open  up  a  farm  on  the  bleak 
prairie.  To  live  in  a  region  devoid  of  the  familiar  sight  of  timber 
seemed  unendurable,  and  the  average  Kentuckian  could  not  entertain 
the  idea  of  founding  a  home  away  from  the  familiar  forest  trees.  Then 
again  the  idea  entertained  by  the  early  immigrants  to  Missouri,  that 
timber  was  a  necessity,  was  not  simply  theoretical.  The  early  settler 
must  have  a  house  to  live  in,  fuel  for  cooking  and  heating  purposes, 
and  fences  to  inclose  his  claim.  At  that  time  there  were  no  railroads 
by  which  lumber  could  be  transported.  No  coal  mine  had  yet  been 
opened,  and  few  if  any  had  been  discovered.  Timber  was  an  absolute 
necessity,  without  which  material  improvement  was  an  impossibility. 
No  wonder  that  a  gentleman  from  the  East,  who  in  early  times  came 
to  the  prairie  region  of  Missouri  on  a  prospecting  tour,  with  a  view  of 
permanent  location,  returned  home  in  disgust  and  embodied  his  views 
of  the  country  in  the  following  rhyme  :  — 

"Oh!  lonesome,  windy,  grassy  place, 

Where  buffalo  and  snakes  prevail; 
The  first  with  di-eadful  looking  face, 

The  last  with  dreadful  sounding  tail! 
I'd  rather  live  on  camel  hump, 

And  be  a  Yankee  Doodle  beggar, 
Than  where  I  never  see  a  stump, 

And  shake  to  death  with  fever'n  ager." 

The  most  important  resource  in  the  development  of  this  Western 
country  was  the  belts  of  timber  which  skirted  the  streams  ;  and  the 
settlers  who  first  hewed  out  homes  in  the  timber,  while  at  present 
not  the  most  enterprising  and  progressive,  were,  nevertheless,  an 
essential  factor  in  the  solution  of  the  problem. 

Along  either  side  of  the  various  streams  which  flow  across  the 
country,  were  originally  belts  of  timber  ;  at  certain  places,  generally 
near  the  mouths  of  the  smaller  tributaries,  the  belt  of  timber  widened 
out,  thus  forming  a  grove,  or  what  was  frequently  called  a  point,  and 
at  these  points  or  groves  were  the  first  settlements  made  ;  here  were 
the  first  beginnings  of  civilization ;  here  "began  to  operate  those 
forces  which  have  made  the  wilderness  a  fruitful  place  and  caused  the 
desert  to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose." 

Much  of  the  primeval  forest  has  been  removed  for  the  building  of 
houses  and  the  construction  of  fences  ;  other  portions,  and  probably 


92  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  largest  part,  have  been  ruthlessly  and  improvidently  destroyed. 
This  destruction  of  timber  has  been  somewhat  compensated  for  by 
the  planting  of  artificial  groves. 

WHO    THE    FIRST    SETTLERS    WERE. 

The  early  settlers  in  Randolph  county  were  generally  from  Ken- 
tucky, Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  the  emigrants  from  the  first 
named  State  predominating  in  number.  Many  of  these  pioneers 
located  first  in  Howard  county,  but  coming  into  Randolph  on  hunting 
expeditions,  they  were  so  favorably  impressed  with  its  diversified 
scenery,  its  fertile  hills  and  valleys,  its  bountiful  supply  of  timber, 
and  water  courses,  they  returned  at  once  with  their  families  and 
hewed  out  homes  for  themselves  and  their  little  ones  in  this  new  land 
of  promise.  Here  they  and  their  descendants  have  lived  to  see  that 
tide  of  emigration  which  has  since  penetrated  every  nook  and  corner 
of  Randolph  county.  They  have  seen  civilization  and  enlightenment 
take  the  place  of  savage  ferocity  and  indolence,  and  have  watched  with 
proud  satisfaction  each  new  development  of  material  wealth  which 
has  marked  the  advancement  of  the  county. 

That  portion  of  Randolph  county  which  borders  upon  Howard 
county  was  first  settled,  and  is  now  known  as  Silver  Creek  and 
Moniteau  townships.  From  the  best  and  most  reliable  information 
that  can  be  obtained,  the  first  white  man  to  permanently  pitch  his 
tent  in  what  is  now  known  as  Randolph  county,  was  William  Holman, 
who  emigrated  to  Missouri  in  1817,  from  Madison  county,  Kentucky, 
and  located  in  Howard  county,  where  he  remained  until  the  following 
year  (1818)  and  then  moved  to  Randolph  county  and  settled  in 
Silver  Creek  township. 

We  take  the  following  from  the  Macon  True  Democrat,  which  gives 
something  of  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  William  Holman,  and  some  early 
facts  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  pioneer  times  in  the  first 
settlement  of  Randolph  county  :  — 

SQUIRE    HOLMAN. 

Squire  Holman  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ky.,  October  31, 
1807,  and  with  his  lather's  family  emigrated  to  the  Territory  of  Mis- 
souri in  1817.  They  settled  just  a  few  miles  below  Old  Franklin,  in 
Howard  county,  and  from  thence  moved  in  the  spring  of  1818  to 
Silver  Spring,  in  what  is  now  Randolph  county.  His  father  (Wm. 
Holman),  James  Dysart  (the  father  of  Rev.  James  Dysart,  of  Macon), 
and  Joseph  Holman  (the  uncle  of  Squire  Holman)  were  the  first 
settlers  of  Randolph  county. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  93 

When  Randolph  county  was  organized,  it  included  Macon  and  all 
the  territory  north  to  the  Iowa  line  or  Indian  Territory. 

The  Indians  were  numerous  and  frequently  came  into  the  settle- 
ments. Huntsville  was  laid  out  shortly  after  Squire  Holman  was 
grown,  but  he  does  not  remember  the  lirst  officers.  The  early  settlers 
had  frequently  to  beat  their  corn  in  wooden  mortars,  and  when  they 
went  to  mill  had  to  go  to  Snoddy's  mill,  near  Glasgow. 

The  first  school  ever  taught,  as  far  as  he  recollects,  in  Randolph 
oounty,  was  by  Jack  Dysart,  who  afterwards  became  Colonel  of  the 
militia  (and  was  father  of  B.  R.  Dysart,  of  Macon),  about  1822. 
This  school  was  kept  in  a  log  house  seven  or  eight  miles  south-west  of 
the  present  town  of  Huntsville,  on  Foster's  Prairie. 

The  first  church  was  a  log  house,  used  by  the  Old  School  Baptist, 
near  Silver  Creek,  and  the  first  sermon  preached  was  by  Elder  Merri- 
man,  between  the  years  1822  and  1825,  the  early  settlers  pre- 
viously going  to  Mount  Ararat,  in  Howard  county,  to  hear  Elder 
Edward  Turner.  For  a  number  of  years  the  settlers  of  Randolph 
went  to  Fayette  for  such  groceries  and  dry  goods  as  they  absolutely 
needed.  The  settlers,  male  and  female,  wore  home-made  clothes. 
Many  beautiful  young  ladies  were  married  in  home-made  striped 
cotton,  and  handsome  young  men  in  their  home-made  jeans. 

Mr.  Holman  remembers  when  the  early  settlers  of  what  is  now 
Randolph  had  to  go  to  Fayette  to  court,  where  Gen.  Owens 
kept  tavern.  The  General  use  to  laugh  and  say  that  he  could  always 
tell  a  Randolphian  by  the  color  of  his  clothes.  The  early  male  set- 
tlers generally  wore  jeans  dyed  with  walnut  bark.  They  would  have 
passed  during  the  war  for  No.  1  Butternuts. 

Squire  Holman  was  married  to  Arathusa  Barnes,  in  Randolph  county 
in  1832,  and  of  their  twelve  children  raised  nearly  all. 

Mr.  Holman  had  been  a  member  of  the  Old  School  Baptist  church 
some  thirty  years,  and  an  elder  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Holman  believes  that  the  first  store  over  opened  in  Randolph 
county  was  by  Daniel  G.  Davis,  near  the  residence  of  Willian  Goggins, 
which  site  was  afterwards  made  Huntsville.  He  did  not  remember  the 
first  post-office,  but  said  that  the  mail  was  carried  on  horseback. 

The  first  mill  was  Hickman's  horse  mill,  between  Silver  Creek  and 
Huntsville. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Holman  also  had  a  horse  mill  and  cotton  gin.  In 
those  days  the  settlers  raised  their  own  cotton  for  all  domestic 
purposes. 

When  Mr.  Holman's  father  settled  in  what  is  now  Randolph  county 
the  government  had  not  offered  any  land  for  sale.  The  emigrant 
selected  his  land  and  settled  on  it,  and  when  the  land  came  into 
market  purchased  it  of  the  government  at  Franklin,  where  a  land  office 
was  opened. 

Squire  Holman  served  twelve  days  under  Gen.  Owens  in  burying 
the  dead  that  were  killed  near  Kirksville  in  the  Indian  fight,  of  which 
Mr.  Blackwell  and  Mr.  Myers  have  already  given  an  account. 


94 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


He  also  served  sixty  days  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  under  Gen.  John 
B.  Clark,  for  which  he  got  from  the  United  States  a  160-acre  land 
warrant.     He  was  in  no  fight. 

Many  years  before  Macon  county  was  organized  Mr.  Holman  came  to 
the  Loe  settlement,  and  kept  hogs  on  the  mast.  This  was  below  where 
Rose's  mill  on  the  Chariton  river  was  afterwards  built,  on  the 
Bloomington  and  Linneus  road.  At  that  time  there  were  no  settle- 
ments north  of  the  Loes  and  Morrows. 

The  wolves  were  very  numerous,  both  gray  and  prairie.  At  nio-ht 
he  stopped  in  a  hut  that  he  supposed  had  once  been  used  as  an  IndTan 
wigwam.  At  night  the  wolves  would  keep  up  a  regular  howl,  that 
was  not  very  pleasant  to  a  lone  man  far  from  any  friend  except  his 
dog.  The  dog  would  yelp  them  away,  but  as  soon  as  he  would  start 
back  to  the  hut  the  wolves  would  return.     He  had  no  gun  with  him. 

One  night  he  was  scarce  of  wood  to  make  a  fire  to  keep  the  wolves 
away,  and  it  looked  as  though  they  would  come  in  anyhow.  He  had 
brought  with  him  an  ancient  bugle  horn,  and  he  concluded  he  would 
try  the  effect  of  music  on  the  ravenous  animals.  He  took  it  up  and 
blew  a  few  shrill  blasts  that,  strange  to  say,  sent  the  wolves  skedadlino- 
in  a  hurry.     The  horn  was  worth  more  than  a  gun  to  him  that  nio-htt 

The  wolves  became  so  troublesome  that  a  premium  was  offered, "and 
his  father  killed  and  took  the  scalps  that  brought  several  hundred 
dollars.     They  were  good  for  paying  taxes. 

About  the  year  1833  Mr.  Holman,  with  several  others,  made  a  trip 
for  honey  between  the  Chariton  and  Grand  river,  and  in  three  weeks 
time  took  eight  barrels  of  strained  honey,  and  left  fifteen  bee  trees 
standing,  having  no  need  of  packing  more.  He  remembers  when  elk 
were  plenty  within  the  present  limits  of  Macon,  and  bears  and  cata- 
mounts were  numerous. 

Mr.  Holman's  father  was  a  great  hunter  ;  he  delighted  in  bear  hunt- 
mg ;  he  had  a  famous  bear  dog,  who  could  scent  them  at  a  oreat 
distance.  About  the  year  1818  his  father  was  out  on  a  bear  hunt,1iear 
the  Sweet  Spring,  in  Randolph  county,  when  the  dogs  began  to  yelp 
after  one.  The  dogs  soon  came  up  with  it,  when  the  bear  turned  on 
them  and  killed  several  of  them  before  Mr.  Holman  came  up  ;  he  fired 
at  It,  and  then  he  rode  back  and  got  another  gun  from  one  of  the  party 
fired,  and  finally  killed  the  bear.  It  was  so  large  that  they  had  to  take 
skids  to  pull  it  up  on  the  horse.  When  this  was  done  the  horse  sank 
under  the  weight ;  they  finally  got  it  home  ;  he  does  not  remember  the 
weight. 

Squire  Holman  was  no  particular  hunter.  Deer  and  other  game 
were  so  plenty  that  it  did  not  raise  any  curiosity  in  him  ;  his  father 
always  kept  a  supply  of  venison  and  other  fresh  meat  on  hand.  The 
guns  used  were  rifles  and  muskets ;  the  old  settlers  prided  themselves 
on  the  use  of  the  rifle. 

In  1832  Mr.  Holman  was  taking  provisions  to  Gen.  Clark's  army, 
and  in  passing  up  the  Chariton  divide,  near  old  Winchester,  three 
miles  west  of  Bloomington,  shot  at  a  deer's  head,  150  yards  off,  and 
struck  it.     This  was  the  best  shot  ever  made. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  '  95 

In  1858  he  settled  in  Macon  county,  about  three  miles  north  of 
Callao  and  about  four  miles  west  of  Bloomington,  where  he  died  in 
the  spring  of  1875.  He  left  many  relatives  and  friends  to  mourn  his 
death.     He  was  an  elder  in  the  Regular  Baptist  Church. 

After  the  settlement  made  by  Holman,  then  came  Iverson  Sears, 
John  Sears,  Asa  Kerby,  Hardy  Sears,  David  R.  Denny,  Younger 
Rowland,  John  Rowland,  Archie  Rowland,  Sam'l  Humphreys,  Wright 
Hill,  Rev.  James  Barnes,  Uriah  Davis,  Abraham  Goss,  Isaiah  Hum- 
phreys, Rev.  S.  C.  Davis,  James  Davis,^  John  Viley,  Jacob  Medley, 
Thomas  Mayo,  Sr.,  Charles  Mathis,  Tillman  Bell,  James  Beattie, 
Charles Finnell,  Val.  Mayo,  Charles  Baker,  Sr.,  Jos.  M.  Baker,  Charles 
M.  Baker,  Jr.,  Dr.  W.  Fort,  Jer.  Summers,  John  Whelden,  Wm.  El- 
liott, Neal  Murphy,  Wm.  Cross,  Nat.  Hunt,  Blandermin  Smith, 
George  Burckhartt,  John  C.  Reed,  Capt.  Robert  Sconce,  James  Good- 
ring,  Elijah  Hammett,  John  J.  Turner,  Joseph  Wilcox,  James  Coch- 
ran, Thomas  Gorham,  Sr.,  T.  R.  C.  Gorham,  Daniel  Hunt,  William 
Goggin,  Reuben  Samuel,  Thomas  J.  Samuel,  John  Head,  Robert  Bou- 
cher, Joseph  M.  Hammett,  Dr.  W.  B.  McLean,  Chas.  McLean,  F.  K. 
Collins,  Paul  Christian,  Sr.,  Jos.  Cockrill  and  Robert  W.  Wells  and 
Nathan  Hunt. 

ADDITIONAL  NAMES  OF   OLD    SETTLERS. 

James  Head,  Robert  Wilson,^  James  Wells,  Archibald  Shoemaker, 
John  Peeler,  Elisha  McDaniel,  Thomas  Bradley,  John  Dysart,  Abra- 
ham Goodding,  Nathaniel  Floyd,  David  Floyd,  William  Drinkard, 
John  McCully,  Benj.  Hardester,  Samuel  McCully,  Terry  Bradley, 
Thos.  J.  Gorham,  Geo.  Shirley,  Rob't  Gee,  Phoebe  Whelden,  Gabriel 
Johnson,  Abraham  Summers,  George  W.  Green,  Jacob  Maggard,^ 
Samuel  Eason,  James  Davis,  John  Harvey,  Elijah  Hammett,  Joseph 
Goodding,  Fielding  Cockerill,  Edwin  T.  Hickman,  Nicholas  S.  Dy- 
sart, Benj.  F.  Wood,  Hancock  Jackson,*  S.  Brockman,  Elias  Fort, 
Aaron  Fray,  John  Welden,  John  M.  Patton,  Wm.  Harris,  Wm.  Patton, 
Isaac  Harris,  James  Wells,  Henry  Lassiter,  Mark  Noble,  William  B. 
Tompkins,  John  Garshwiler,  Sandy  Harrison,  Thomas  Adams,  May 
Burton,  James  Burton,  Josiah  Davis,  David  Proffit,  Joseph  Higbee, 
Ambrose    Medley,    Henry    T.    Martin,    John    Loe,    Thoret  Rose, 

1  Still  living, 

^  At  one  time  U.  S.  S.  from  Mo. 

3  Magj»ard  often  took  his  gun  to  church,  and  would  kill    a   deer  on   the  way  and 
leave  his  son  to  watch  it  until  he  returned. 
*  Lieut.-Governor  of  Mo, 


96  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Charles  Baker,  William   Baker,  John  Clarkson,  William  Holeman,^ 
John    Bagley,    John   Taylor,   George   Q.   Thomson,   Thomas  Griffin, 
Thomas  Prather,  John  Kirley,  John  Littrell,  James  Pipes,  James  Viv- 
ion,  Wiley  Ferguson,  Robert  Ash,  Hiram  Summers,  Nicholas  W.  Tut- 
tle,  Noah  Baker,  Richard  Wells,  Phillip  Dale,  Isaac  Waldon,  Felix  G. 
Cockerill,  Frederick  Rowland,  James  Howard,  Rachel  Crawford,  Wm. 
H.  Davis,  Isam  Rials,  Anthony  Head,  Jesse  Jones,  Robert  Cornelius, 
Jno.  Biswell,  Luke  Mathis,  Wm.  Robertson,  Wm.  H.  Brooks,   Adam 
Wilson,  Benj.  Hardin,  Wm.  Blue,  WyattMcFadden,  W.  M.  Dameron, 
Wm.  Lockridge,    Gideon  Wright,  John  Ball,    Thomas    H.    Benton, 
John  D.  Reed,  Moses  Kimbrough,  Aaron  Kimbrough, -James  Emer- 
son, Edward  Stephenson,  Evan  Wright,  Stephen  Scoby,  James  Ves- 
tals, John  J.  Rice,  Waddy  T.  Currin,'^  Derling  Wright,  William  Up- 
ton, William  Myers,  Lewis  Collier,  William   B.  Tompkins,  William 
Oliver,  Samuel    Gash,  Abijah  Goodding,  Martin   Fletcher,  Edmund 
Chapman,  John  Thompson,  David  Peeler,  John  Tooley,  Toland  Ma- 
goffin, James  S.  Ingram,  Adam  Everly,  Uriel  Sebree,  Robert  Payne, 
John  Nanson,  Jonathan  Dale,  Michael  Daly,  Benjamin  Skinner,  Will- 
iam   Cooley,  Henry   Wilkinson,  Mark    H.  Kirkpatrick,   John    Bull, 
George  Watts,  Justin  Rose,  Noah   Baker,   Simpson   Foster,  Richard 
Goodding,  Andrew  Goodding,  William  Sears,  George  Dawkins,  Jona- 
than RatlifF,   Henry   Scritchtield,  Benjamin   Hardin,^  Liberty  Noble, 
Richard  Rout,  E.  D.  Vest,  Henry  Austin,  William  B.  Means,  Jubal 
Hart,  John  Dunn,  William  Lindse}^  Branton  Carton,  William  Ram- 
sey, Zepheniah  Walden,  Lewis  S.  Jacobs,  William  Cristal,  John  Col- 
lins, Stanton  Carter,  Charles  Hatfield,  Reynold  Green,  James  Mitchell, 
John  Rowton,  Garland   Crenshaw,  William  Smoot,   Thomas  Tudor, 
Thomas  K.  White,  William  W.  Walker,  Isaac  L.  Yealock,  Walker 
Austin,  Daniel  Lay,  John  McDavitt,  Henry  Smith,  Thomas  Phipps, 
Joshua  Phipps,  Owen   Singleton,  Samuel  T.  Crews,  Richard   Routt, 
John  A.   Pitts,   Tilman  W.  Belt,   Joseph   Sharon,    Dabney   Finley, 
Aaron  W.  Lane,  Reuben  Small,  William  Banks,  John  Parker,  Henry 
Hines,  Abner   Brasfield,  Lucinda   Dalton,    Thomas   Partin,  Russell 
Shoemaker,  Jesse  Harrison,  John  B.  Sampkin,  William  C.  Dickerson, 
John  D.  Bowen,  Andrew  King,  Samuel  Hodge,   James  Hodge,  Byrd 
Pyle,  Bright  Gillstrap,    David  James,  Tucker    W.    Lewis,    William 
Wear,  C.   F.   Burckhartt,    Squire  S.  Winn,  Samuel  Richmond,  John 
Kane,  Gabriel  Maupin,  Philip  B.  Hodgkin,  Michael  Wate,  Peter  Gulp, 


^  Put  up  the  first  still  house  iu  the  county. 

^  One  of  the  first  merchants  iu  Fayette,  Howard  county,  Mo. 

'Related  to  old  Ben.  Hardin,  of  Kentucky. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  97 

Sydney  J.  Svvetnam,  Wm.  Fray,  James  H.  Bean,  Ebenezer  Enyait, 
Edmund  Bartlett,  Nathan  Minter,  James  Hinson,  Major  Wallis,  Rob- 
ert Steele,  Eichard  Banter,  James  T.  Haly,IshamP.  Embree,  P.  Sam- 
uel, Wm.  H.  Mansfield,  Lewis  Bumgardner,  Waller  Head,  Edward  R. 
Bradley,  Yancy  Gray,  Abner  Vickry,  Waitman  Summers,  William 
Eagan,  Barnaby  Eagan,  Chas.  W.  Cooper,  G.  W.  Richey,  Joseph  D. 
Rutherford,  Loverance  Evans,  Clark  Banning,  Levi  Fawks,  James 
Fray,  John  Wilks,  Samuel  Belshe,  Hugh  C.  Dobbins,  Fisher  Rice, 
Nathan  Decker,  Leonard  Dodson,  Silas  Phipps.^ 

POSTAL    AND    MILL    FACILITIES. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  county,  for  several  years  after  they  built 
their  cabins,  had  neither  postal  nor  mill  facilities,  and  were  compelled 
to  travel  from  25  to  50  miles  in  order  to  reach  a  post-office,  or  to  get 
their  meal.  Their  usual  way  of  sending  or  receiving  tidings  from 
their  friends  and  the  news  of  the  great  world,  which  lay  towards  the 
east  and  south  of  them,  was  generally  by  the  mouth  of  the  stranger 
coming  in,  or  by  the  settler  who  journeyed  back  to  his  old  home,  in 
Kentucky  or  Virginia.  Those  who  did  not  grate  their  corn,  or  grind 
it  upon  a  hand  mill,  took  it  either  to  Howard  or  Chariton  county, 
whither  they  also  occasionally  went  to  obtain  their  mail.  Postage  at 
that  time  was  very  high,  and  if  the  old  settler  sent  or  received  two  or 
three  letters  during  the  year,  he  considered  himself  fortunate.  His 
every-day  life  in  the  wilds  of  the  new  country  to  which  he  had  come 
to  better  his  condition,  was  so  much  of  a  sameness  that  he  had, 
indeed,  but  little  to  communicate.  His  wants  were  few,  and  these 
were  generally  supplied  by  his  rod  and  his  gun,  the  latter  being  con- 
sidered an  indispensable  weapon  of  defense,  as  well  as  necessary  to  the 
support  and  maintenance  of  himself  and  family.  No  w^onder  that  the 
pioneer  loved  his  "  old  flint  lock,"  and  his  faithful  dog,  whose  honest 
bark  would  so  often  — 

"  Bay  deep-mouth'd  welcome  as  he  drew  near  home." 
COUNTY    ORGANIZED     AND    NAMED. 

Randolph  county  was  organized  in  1829,  out  of  territory  taken 
from  Howard  county,  and  named  after  John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke, 
Va. 

THE    NAME. 

A  great  dramatist  intimates  there  is  nothing  in  a  name  ;  but  a  name 
sometimes  means  a  great  deal.     In  many  instances  it  indicates,  in  a 


1  The  above  named  pioneers  settled  in  Kandolph  county  prior  to  1829. 


98  HISTOKY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

measure,  the  character  of  the  people  who  settle  the  country,  and  have 
given  to  it  its  distinctive  characteristics.  Names  are  sometimes  given  to 
towns  and  countries  by  accident ;  sometimes  they  originate  in  the 
childish  caprice  of  some  one  individual,  whose  dictate,  by  reason  of 
some  real  or  imaginary  superiority,  is  law.  Whether  the  policy  of 
naming  counties  after  statesmen  and  generals  be  good  or  bad,  the 
Missouri  Legislature  has  followed  the  practice  to  such  an  extent  that 
fully  three-fourths  of  the  counties  composing  the  State  bear  the 
names  of  men  who  are  more  or  less  distinguished  in  the  history  of  the 
country. 

In  this  instance,  the  county  of  Randolph  was  not  named  by  acci- 
dent, but  the  christening  took  place  after  mature  deliberation. 

The  man  after  whom  the  county  was  named  was  bold  and  fearless 
in  his  character,  and  possessed,  as  did  the  early  pioneers  of  old  Ran- 
dolph, many  of  the  sterling  characteristics  of  a  noble  manhood.  Be- 
lieving that  a  brief  sketch  of  the  distinguished  gentleman  for  whom 
the  county  was  named  will  be  read  with  interest,  we  here  insert  it ;  — 

JOHN    RANDOLPH, 

an  American  orator,  born  at  Cawsons,  Chesterfield  county,  Virginia, 
June  2,  1773,  died  in  Philadelphia,  June  24,  1833.  He  was  educated 
at  Princeton,  at  Columbia  College,  New  York,  and  at  the  college  of 
Mary  and  William,  and  studied  law  at  Philadelphia,  but  never  prac- 
ticed. In  1799,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress,  and 
soon  became  conspicuous,  in  the  language  of  Hildreth,  as  "  a  singular 
mixture  of  the  aristocrat  and  the  Jacobin."  He  was  re-elected  in  1801, 
and  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways  and  means.  In 
1803,  as  chairman  of  a  committee,  he  reported  against  a  memorial 
from  Indiana,  for  permission  to  introduce  slaves  into  the  territory  in 
spite  of  the  prohibition  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  which  he  pronounced 
to  be  "  wisely  calculated  to  promote  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of 
the  north-western  country.  In  1804  he  was  chief  manager  in  the  trial 
of  Judge  Samuel  Chase,  impeached  before  the  Senate.  In  1806  he 
assailed  President  Jefferson  and  his  supporters  with  great  virulence. 
He  attacked  Madison's  administration,  and  opposed  the  declaration 
of  war  against  Great  Britain  in  1812.  His  opposition  caused  his  de- 
feat at  the  next  election.  He  was  re-elected  in  1814,  and  again  in  1818, 
havinoj  declined  to  be  a  candidate  in  1816.  In  the  Conojress  of  1819- 
20  he  opposed  the  Missouri  Compromise,  stigmatizing  the  northern 
members,  by  whose  co-operation  it  was  carried,  as  "  doughfaces,"  an 
epithet  adopted  into   the  political  vocabulary  of  the  United  States. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


99 


In  1822,  and  again  in  1824,  he  visited  England.  From  1825  to  1827 
he  was  a  Senator  of  the  United  States,  and  during  that  time  fought  a 
duel  with  Henry  Clay.  He  supported  Gen.  Jackson  for  President  in 
1828.  In  1829  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention  to  revise  the  con- 
stitution of  Virginia,  and  in  1830  was  appointed  a  minister  to  Russia, 
but  soon  after  his  reception  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas,  he  departed 
abruptly  for  England,  where  he  remained  for  nearly  a  year,  and  re- 
turned home  without  revisiting  Russia.  He  was  again  elected  to 
Congress,  but  was  too  ill  to  take  his  seat.  Exhausted  with  consump- 
tion, he  died  in  a  hotel  at  Philadelphia,  whither  he  had  gone  on  his 
way  to  take  passage  again  across  the  ocean.  During  his  life,  his 
speeches  were  more  fully  reported  and  more  generally  read  than  those 
of  any  other  member  of  Congress.  He  was  tall  and  slender,  with 
long,  skinny  fingers,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  pointing  and  shak- 
ing at  those  against  whom  he  spoke.  His  voice  was  shrill  and  piping, 
but  under  perfect  command,  and  musical  in  its  lower  tones.  His  in- 
vectives, sarcasm,  and  sharp  and  wreckless  wit,  made  him  a  terror  to 
his  opponents  in  the  house.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  318 
slaves,  whom  by  his  will  he  manumitted,  bequeathing  funds  for  their 
settlement  and  maintenance  in  a  free  State.  His  '«  Letters  to  a  Young 
Relative"  appeared  in  1834. 


CHAPTEK    II. 


PIONEER  LIFE. 


The  Pioneers'  Peculiarities  —  Conveniences  and  Inconveniences  —  The  Historical 
Log  Cabin  —  Agricultural  Implements  —  Household  Furniture  —  Pioneer  Corn- 
bread  —  Hand  Mills  and  Hominy  Blocks  —  Going  to  Mill  —  Trading  Points — 
Bee  Trees  —  Shooting  Matches  and  Quiltings. 

The  people  in  the  early  history  of  Eandolph  county  took  no  care  to 
preserve  history— they  were  too  busily  engaged  in  making  it. 
Historically  speaking,  those  were  the  most  important  years  of  the 
county,  for  it  was  then  the  foundation  and  corner-stones  of  all  the 
county's  history  and  prosperity  were  laid.  Yet  this  history  was  not 
remarkable  for  stirring  events.  It  was,  however,  a  time  of  self-reli- 
ance 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.  Nearly  all  of  the  settlers 
were  poor;  they  faced  the  sanie  hardships  and  stood  generally  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  burden  of  pride  and  vanity  ;  free  also  from  the  anxiety  and  care 
that  always  attends  the  possession  of  wealth.  Other  people's  eyes 
cost  them  nothing.  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  strongest  ties.  They  were  a  little  world  to  them- 
selves, 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  iu-^ 
terest  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  practical.y  communists. 
(100) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  101 

Neighbors  did  not  even  wait  for  an  invitation  or  request  to  help  one 
anotlier.  Was  a  settler's  cabin  burned  or  blown  down?  No  sooner 
was  the  fact  known  throughout  the  neighborhood  than  the  settlers  as- 
sembled 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  members  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  counties,  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  protec- 
tion. They  had  come  far  away  from  the  well  established  reign  of  law, 
and  entered  a  new  country,  where  civil  authority  was  still  feeble,  and 
totally  unable  to  afibrd  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  friend- 
ship of  those  about  him,  and  the  thing  that  any  man  might  well  dread 
was  the  ill  will  of  the  community.  It  was  more  terrible  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  in- 
dignation of  a  pioneer  community.  Such  were  some  of  the  character- 
istics of  Kandolph  county. 

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 
great  deal  of  labor  to  build.  The  very  first  buildings  constructed 
Avere  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  comforta- 
ble 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 
dependence  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  hospi- 


102  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

table  and  entertained  visitors  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  It  is  notice- 
able 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.  The  following  is  a  good  description  of  those 
old  landmarks,  but  few  of  which  now  remain  :  — 

"  These  were  of  round  logs,  notched  together  at  the  corners,  ribbed 
with  poles  and  covered  with  boards  split  from  a  tree.  A  puncheon 
floor  was  then  laid  down,  a  hole  cut  in  the  end  and  a  stick  chimney 
run  up.  A  clapboard  door  is  made,  a  window  is  opened  by  cutting 
out  a  hole  in  the  side  or  end  two  feet  square,  and  finished  vvithout 
glass  or  transparency.  The  house  is  then  <  chinked  '  and  '  daubed  ' 
with  mud.  The  cabin  is  now  ready  to  go  into.  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  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  the  clapboards  are  laid,  or  linn  bark  is  inter- 
woven 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,  or  skillets,  on  and  about  the  big  fire-place,  and  very  fre- 
quently over  and  around,  too,  the  distended  pedal  extremities  of  the 
legal  sovereign  of  the  household,  while  the  latter  was  indulging  in  the 
luxuries  of  a  cob-pipe  and  discussing  the  probable  results  of  a  con- 
templated deer  hunt  on  the  Chariton  river  or  some  one  of  its  small 
tributaries." 

These  log  cabins  were  really  not  so  bad  after  all. 

The  people  of  to-day,  familiarized  with  "Charter  Oak"  cooking 
stoves  and  ranges,  would  be  ill  at  home  were  they  compelled  to  pre- 
pare 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  heat- 
ing and  cooking  purposes  ;  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  an  epicure,  but  such  as  afforded  the  most  healthful  nourishment 
for  a  race  of  people  who  were  driven  to  the  exposure  and  hardships 
which  were  their  lot.     We  hear  of  few  dyspeptics  in  those  days.     An- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  103 

other  advantage  of  these  cookinsi:  arrano-ements  was  that  the  stove- 
pipe  never  fell  clown,  and  the  pioneer  was  spared  being  subjected  to 
the  most  trying  of  ordeals,  and  one  probably  more  productive  of  pro- 
fanity than  any  other. 

Before  the  country  became  supplied  with  mills  which  were  of  easy 
access,  and  even  in  some  instances  afterward,  hominy-blocks  were 
used.  They  exist  now  only  in  the  memory  of  the  oldest  settlers,  but 
as  relics  of  the  "  long  ago,"  a  description  of  them  will  not  be  unin- 
teresting :  — 

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  ax.  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  completed  the  hominy-block  some- 
what resembled  a  druggist's  mortar.  Then  a  pestle,  or  something  to 
crush  the  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  neigh- 
borhood and  was  the  means  of  staying  the  hunger  of  many  mouths. 

In  giving  the  bill  of  fare  above  we  should  have  added  meat,  for  of 
this  they  had  plenty.  Deer  would  be  seen  daily  trooping  over  the 
prairie  in  droves  of  from  12  to  20,  and  sometimes  as  many  as  50 
would  be  seen  grazing  together.  Elk  were  also  found,  and  wild 
turkeys  and  prairie  chickens  without  number.  Bears  were  not  un- 
known. 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  from  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 
2 


104  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

of  these  could  be  procured  by  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. 
Sometimes  large  parties  Avould  get  together,  and,  having  been  provided 
with  cooking  utensils  and  facilities  for  camping  out,  would  go  off  some 
distance  and  spend  weeks  together.  No  danger  then  of  being  ordered 
oH  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  their  own  families. 

On  occasions  of  special  interest,  such  as  election,  holiday  celebra- 
tions, or  camp-meetings,  it  was  nothing  miusual  for  a  few  settlers 
who  lived  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  meetins:  to  entertain 
scores  of  those  who  had  come  from  a  distance. 

Rough  and  rude  thouo-h  the  surroundino;s  mav  have  been,  the 
pioneers  were  none  the  less  honest,  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  compen- 
sated in  the  presence  of  generous  hearts  and  truthful  lives.  They  are 
bold,  industrious  and  enterprising.  Generally  speaking,  they  are 
earnest  thinkers,  and  possessed  of  a  diversified  fund  of  useful,  prac- 
tical information.  As  a  rule  the}'  do  not  arrive  at  a  conclusion  by 
means  of  a  course  of  rational  reasoning,  but,  nevertheless,  have  a  queer 
Avay  at  getting  at  the  facts.  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.  Such  were  the  characteristics  of  the 
men  and  women  who  pioneered  the  way  to  the  country  of  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes.  A  few  of  them  yet  remain,  and  although  some  of  their 
descendants  are  among  the  wealthy  and  most  substantial  of  the  people 
of  the  county,  they  have  not  forgotten  their  old  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  women,  too,  and  while  the  men  piled  up  the  logs  that  fash- 
ioned the  primitive  dwelling-place,  the  women  prepared  the  dinner. 
Sometimes  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 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  105 

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,  everj^ 
other  family  in  the  neighborhood  was  sure  to  receive  a  piece. 

"  We  were  all  on  an  equality.  Aristocratic  feelings  were  unknown, 
and  would  not  have  been  tolerated.  What  one  had  we  all  had,  and 
that  was  the  happiest  period  of  my  life.  J3ut  to-day,  if  you  lean 
against  a  neighbor's  shade  tree  he  Avill  charge  you  for  it.  If  you 
are  poor  and  fall  sick,  you  may  lie  and  suffer  almost  unnoticed  and 
unattended,  and  probably  go  to  the  poor-house;  and  just  as  like  as 
not  the  man  who  would  report  you  to  the  authorities  as  a  subject  of 
county  care  would  charge  the  county  for  making  the  report." 

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 
hundredfold."  Nearly  all,  however,  have  passed  away.  A  few  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  de- 
cided to  face  the  trials  of  pioneer  life.  The  great  majority  of  them 
were  poor,  but  the  lessons  taught  them  in  the  early  days  were  of  such 
a  character  that  few  of  them  have  remained  so.  They  made  their 
mistakes  in  business  pursuits  like  other  men.  Scarcely  one  of  them 
but  allowed  golden  opportunities,  for  pecuniary  profit,  at  least,  to  pass 
by  unheeded.  What  now  are  some  of  the  choicest  farms  in  Randolph 
county  were  not  taken  up  by  the  pioneers,  who  preferred  land  of  very 
much  less  value.  They  have  seen  many  of  their  prophesies  fulfilled, 
and  others  come  to  naught.  Whether  they  have  attained  the  success 
they  desired,  their  own  hearts  can  tell. 

To  one  looking  over  the  situation  then,  from  the  standpoint  now, 
it  certainly  does  not  seem  very  cheering,  and  yet,  from  the  testimony 
of  some  old  pioneers,  it  was  a  most  enjoyable  time,  and  Ave  of  the 
present  live  in  degenerate  days. 

At  that  time  it  certainly  would  have  been  much  more  difficult  for 
those  old  settlers  to  understand  how  it  could  be  possible  that  sixty- 
five  years  hence  the  citizens  of  the  present  age  of  the  county's  pro- 
gress would  be  complaining  of  hard  times  and  destitution,  and  that 
they  themselves,  perhaps,  would  be  among  that  number,  than  it  is 
now  for  us  to  appreciate  how  they  could  feel  so  cheerful  and  contented 


106  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

with  their  meager  means  and  humble  lot  of  hardships  and  depriva- 
tions during  those  early  pioneer  days. 

The  secret  was,  doubtless,  that  they  lived  within  their  means, 
however  limited,  not  coveting  more  of  luxury  and  comfort  than  their 
income  would  afford,  and  the  natural  result  was  prosperity  and  con- 
tentment, 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 . 

Humanity,  with  all  its  ills,  is,  nevertheless,  fortunately  character- 
ized with  remarkable  flexibility,  which  enables  it  to  accommodate 
itself  to  circumstances.  After  all,  the  secret  of  happiness  lies  in  one's 
ability  to  accommodate  himself  to  his  surroundings. 

It  is  sometimes  remarked  that  there  were  no  places  for  public  en- 
tertainment till  latei'  years.  The  truth  is,  there  were  many  such  places  ; 
in  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  morn- 
ino",  those  nearest  the  do^r  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  occasionally  coffee,  to  take  away 
the  morning  chill.  On  Sundays,  for  a  change,  they  had  bread  made 
of  wheat  "tramped  out"  on  the  ground  by  horses,  cleaned  with  a 
sheet,  and  pounded  by  hand.  This  was  the  best  the  most  fastidious 
could  obtain,  and  this  only  one  day  in  seven.  Not  a  moment  of  time 
was  lost.  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  possible.  They  brought  with  them  enough  corn  to  give  the 
horses  an  occasional  feed,  in  order  to  keep  them  able  for  hard  work, 
but  in  the  main  they  had  to  live  on  prairie  grass.  The  cattle  got 
nothinof  else  than  o-rass. 

AGRICULTURAL    IMPLEMENTS. 

An  interesting  comparison  might  be  drawn  between  the  conven- 
iences which  now  make  the  life  of  a  farmer  a  comparatively  easy  one, 
and  the  almost  total  lack  of  such  conveniences  in  early  days.  A  brief 
description  of  the  acommodations  possessed  by  the  tillers  of  the  soil 
will  now  be  given. 

Let  the  children  of  such  illustrious  sires  draw  their  own  corapari- 


HISTORY    or   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  107 

sons,  and  may  the  results  of  these  comparisons  silence  the  voice  of 
complaint  which  so  often  is  heard  in  the  laild. 

The  only  plows  they  had  at  first  were  what  they  styled  "  bull 
plows."  The  mold-boards  were  generally  of  wood,  but  in  some 
cases  they  were  half  wood  and  half  iron.  The  man  who  had  one  of 
the  latter  description  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  Kandolph  county,  as  well 
as  that  of  the  oldest  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  he  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  suited  to  the  fields  abounding  in  stumps 
and  roots  than  would  the  modern  sulkey  plowh^ive  been,  and  Uie  old- 
fashioned  wheat  cradle  did  better  execution  than  would  a  modern 
harvester  under  like  circumstances.  The  prairies  were  seldom  settled 
till  after  the  pioneer  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  ;  it  was  well  for 
the  country  that  such  was  the  case,  for  the  present  generation,  famil- 
iarized as  it  is  with  farming  machinery  of  such  complicated  pattern, 
would  scarcely  undertake  the  clearing  off  of  dense  forests  and  culti- 
vating the  ground  with  the  kind  of  implements  their  fathers  used,  and 
which  they  would  have  to  use  for  some  kinds  of  work. 

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  atrip  was 
often  attended  with  orreat  dans-er  to  the  traveler  when  these  streams 
were  swollen  beyond  their  banks.  But  even  under  these  circumstances, 
some  of  the  more  adventurous  and  more  ingenious  ones,  in  case  of 
emergency,  found  the  ways  and  means  by  which  to  cross  the  swollen 


108  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

streams,  and  succeed  in  making  the  trip.  At  other  times  again,  all 
attempts  failed  them,  and  they  were  compelled  to  remain  at  home  un- 
til 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  travel  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. 

During  the  first  two  years,  and  perhaps  not  until  some  time  after- 
ward, there  was  not  a  public  highway  established  and  worked  on 
which  they  could  travel ;  and  as  the  settlers  were  generally  far  apart, 
and  mills  and  trading  points  were  at  great  distances,  going  from  place 
to  place  was  not  only  very  tedious,  but  attended  sometimes  with  great 
danger.  Not  a  railroad  had  yet  entered  the  State,  and  there  Avas 
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  con- 
ception of  what  a  revolution  a  railroad  and  telegraph  line  through  the 
county  would  cause  in  its  progress.  Then  there  was  no  railroad  in 
the  United  States,  not  a  mile  of  track  on  the  continent ;  while  now 
there  are  over  100,000  miles  of  railroad  extending  their  trunks  and 
branches  in  every  direction  over  our  land. 

Supplies  in  those  days  were  obtained  at  Fayette  and  Glasgow. 
Mail  was  carried  by  horses  and  wagon  transportation,  and  telegraph 
dispatches  were  transmitted  by  the  memory  and  lips  of  emigrants 
coming  in  or  strangers  passing  through. 

The  first  mill  was  built  in  the  county  in  1820,  and  was  known  as 
Hickman's  mill.  At  first  the  mill  only  ground  corn,  which  had  to  be 
sifted  after  it  was  ground,  as  there  were  no  bolts  in  the  mill.  There 
was  only  one  run  of  buhrs,  which,  as  well  as  the  mill  irons,  were 
brought  from  St.  Louis.  They  were  shipped  up  the  Missouri  river. 
The  mill  cost  about  $50.  The  mill  had  no  gearing,  the  buhrs  being 
located  over  the  wheel,  and  running  with  the  same  velocity  as  the 
wheel.  It  was  a  frame  mill,  one  story  high,  and  had  a  capacity  of 
50  bushels  a  day.  People  came  from  far  and  near,  attracted  by  the 
reports  of  the  completion  of  the  mill,  with  their  grists,  so  that,  for 
days  before  it  was  ready  for  work,  the  creek  bottom  was  dotted  over 
with  hungry  and  patient  men,  waiting  until  it  was  ready  to  do  their 
work,  so  that  they  might  return  with  their  meal  and  flour  to  supply 
their  families,  and  those  of  their  neighbors,  thus  enduring  the  hard- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  109 

ships  of  camp  life  in  those  early  days  in  order  that  they  might  be  able 
to  secnre  the  simple  necessaries  of  life,  devoid  of  all  luxuries. 

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  invio-orating  than  now. 

Hunters  nowadays  would  only  be  too  glad  to  be  able  to  find  and  en- 
joy 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.  There 
were  a  good  many  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  sometime  afterward.  Although  the  Indians  slew 
many  of  them,  yet  the  natural  law  prevailed  here  as  well  as  elsewhere  — 
*'  wild  man  and  wild  beast  thrive  together." 

Serpents  were  to  be  found  in  such  large  numbers,  and  of  such  im- 
mense 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  1809,  while  he  was 
traveling  a  distance  of  six  miles  he  saw  as  many  as  73  deer,  in  herds  of 
from  six  to  ten. 

HUNTING    BEE    TREES. 

Another  source  of  profitable  recreation  among  the  old  settlers  was 
that  of  hunting  bees.  The  forests  along  the  water  courses  were  es- 
pecially prolific  of  bee  trees.  They  were  found  in  great  numbers  on 
the  Chariton  rivers  and  their  confluents,  and,  in  fact,  on  all  the  im- 
portant streams  in  the  county.  Many  of  the  early  settlers,  during  the 
late  summer,  would  go  into  camp  for  days  at  a  time,  for  the  purpose  of 
bunting  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. 


110  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

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. 

The  following  passage  is  found  in  the  <'  Report  of  the  Exploring 
Expedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  the  year  1842,  by  Captain  John 
C.  Fremont,"  page  69  :  — 

"  Here  on  the  summit,  where  the  stillness  was  absolute,  unbroken 
by  any  sound,  and  the  solitude  complete,  we  thought  ourselves  beyond 
the  regions  of  animated  life  ;  but  while  we  were  sitting  on  the  rocks 
a  solitary  bee  came  winging  its  flight  from  the  eastern  valley  and  lit  on 
the  knee  of  one  of  the  men.  We  pleased  ourselves  with  the  idea  that 
he  was  the  first  of  his  species  to  cross  the  mountain  barrier,  a  solitary 
pioneer  to  foretell  the  advance  of  civilization." 

Gregg,  in  his  "  Commerce  of  the  Prairies,"  page  178,  Vol.  I.,  says  : 
♦♦  The  honey  bee  appears  to  have  emigrated  exclusively  from  the  east, 
as  its  march  has  been  observed  westward.  The  bee,  among  Western 
pioneers,  is  the  proverbial  precursor  of  the  Anglo-American  popula- 
tion. In  fact,  the  aborigines  of  the  frontier  have  generally  corrobor- 
ated this  statement,  for  they  used  to  say  that  they  knew  the  white  man 
was  not  far  behind  when  the  bees  appeared  among  them." 

There  were  other  recreations,  such  as  shooting  matches  and  quilting 

parties,  which  prevailed  in  those  days,  and  which  were  enjoyed  to  the 

fullest  extent.     The  quilting   parties    were    especially    pleasant  and 

agreeable  to  those  who  attended.     The  established  rule  in  those  days 

at  these  parties  was  to  pay  either  one  dollar  in  money  or  split  one 

hundred  rails  during  the  course  of  the  day.     The  men  would  generally 

split  the  rails,  and  the  women  w^ould  remain  in  the  house  and  do  the 

quilting.     After  the  day's  work  was  done  the  night  would  be  passed 

in  dancing. 

AH  the  swains  that  there  abide, 
With  jigs  and  rural  dance  resort. 

When  daylight  came  the  music  and  dancing  would  cease,  and  the  gal- 
lant young  men  would  escort  the  fair  ladies  to  their  respective  homes. 

\ 

TVOLVES. 

One  of  the  oldest  pioneers  tells  us  that  for  several  years  after  he 
came  to  what  is  now  known  as  Randolph  county  the  wolves  were  very 
numerous,  and  that  he  paid  his  taxes  for  many  years  in  wolf  scalps. 
His  cabin  was  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  that  skirted   Sweet  Spring 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 


Ill 


creek,  and  at  night  the  howls  of  these  animals  were  so  loud  and  inces- 
sant that  to  sleep  at  times  was  almost  impossible. 
Often  at  midnight,  all 

"  At  once  there  rose  so  wild  a  yell, 
Within  that  dark  and  narrow  dell, 
As  all  the  fields  from  heaven  that  fell, 
Had  pealed  the  banner  cry  of  hell." 

At  such  times,  the  whole  air  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the  vibrations  of 
their  most  infernal  and  diabolical  music.  The  wolf  was  not  only  a 
midnight  prowler  here,  but  was  seen  in  the  day-time,  singly  or  in 
packs,  warily  skulking  upon  the  outskirts  of  a  thicket,  or  sallying  cau- 
tiously along  the  open  path  with  a  sneaking  look  of  mingled  cowardice 
and  cruelty. 


CHAPTER   III. 

EARLY  RECORDS. 

First  County  Court  — Its  Proceedings  — First  Circuit  Court  — Early  Marriages  — 
First  Recorded  Will  —  Remarkable  Deed  —  Public  Buildings  —  First  Court  House  — 
Second  Court  House  —  Third  Court  House  — County  Seat  Question  — Jails  — 
County  Poor  Farm  —  Blanderman  Smith. 

We  plead  guilty  to  possessing  much  of  the  antiquarian  spirit,  — 
"  old  wine,  old  books,  old  friends,"  are  the  best,  you  know.  We 
love  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  the  venerable  old  pioneers  of  the  country, 
and  listen  to  the  story  of  their  early  exploits,  when  the  fire  of  youth 
beamed  in  their  eyes,  and  the  daring  spirit  of  adventure  quickened 
their  pulses.  How  they  fought  with  the  savage  Indians  and  prowl- 
ing beasts  to  wrest  this  goodly  land  from  its  primeval  wilderness,  as 
a  rich  heritage  for  the  children  to  come  after  them  ;  how  they  hewed 
down  the  forests,  turned  "  the  stubborn  glebe,"  watched  and  toiled, 
lost  and  triumphed,  struggled  against  poverty  and  privation,  to  bring 
the  country  into  subjection  to  civilization  and  enlightened  progress, — 
all  this  has  an  absorbing  interest  to  us.  Much  as  modern  literature 
delights  us,  we  had  rather  talk  an  hour  with  one  of  these  venerable 
gray-beards  who  are  found  here  and  there  as  the  scattered  repre- 
sentatives of  a  purer  and  more  heroic  age,  than  to  revel  in  the  most 
bewitching  poem  that  ever  flashed  from  the  pen  of  a  Byron  or  a  Ten- 
nyson, or  dream  the  time  away  in  threading  the  mazes  of  the  plot 
and  imagery  of  the  finest  romance  that  ever  was  written.  Moved  by 
this  kind  of  a  spirit,  we  have  been  delving  among  the  musty  records 
of  the  county  court,  where  we  found  many  an  interesting  relic  of  the 
past  history  of  the  county,  some  of  which  we  reproduce  here. 

FIRST    COUNTY   COURT. 

The  first  county  court  that  convened  in  Randolph  county,  was 
held  on  the  2d  day  of  February,  1829.  The  following  is  the  record 
and  proceedings  of  the  first  term  of  the  said  court :  — 

State  of   Missouri,     )  o 
County  of  Randolph, ) 

At  a  county  court  begun  and  held,  for  and  within  the  county  afore- 
said, at  the  house  of  Blandermin  Smith,  the  place  appointed  by  law 
(112) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  113 

for  holding  the  courts  of  said  county,  James  Head,  Wm.  Fort,  and 
Joseph  M.  Baker,  Esquires,  produced  from  the  Governor  of  the  State 
commissions  as  justices  of  said  court,  who  qualified  on  the  2d  day 
of  February,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine. 
Whereupon  court  was  opened  by  proclamation. 

The  court  appoint  James  Head  president  of  the  court. 

The  court  appoint  Kobert  Wilson  clerk ^;?'o  tern,  of  this  court. 

Ordered,  That  all  applicants  for  office  file  with  the  clerk  j9ro  tern. 
their  applications  in  writing. 

The  court  appoints  Robert  Wilson  clerk  of  said  court;  whereupon 
he  entered  into  bonds  with  satisfactory  security,  which  is  received  by 
the  court,  and  ordered  to  be  certified  to  the  Gov^ernor. 

Ordered,  That  court  adjourn  until  to-morrow  morning  at  ten 
o'clock.  Wm.  Fort, 

Joseph  M.  Baker. 

SECOND    day's    proceedings. 

Tuesday  Morning,  February  3d,  1829. 

The  court  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present,  Justices  Head, 
Fort,  and  Baker.  R.  Wilson,  Clerk,  P.  T. 

The  court  recommend  to  his  excellency,  the  Governor  of  this  State, 
the  following  named  persons  to  be  appointed  justices  of  the  peace, 
viz.  :  Blanderman  Smith,  James  Wells,  and  Archibald  Shoemaker, 
for  Salt  Spring  township  ;  John  Peeler  and  Elisha  McDaniel,  for  Sugar 
Creek  township  ;  Thomas  Bradley,  John  Viley,  and  John  Dysart,  for 
Silver  Creek  township,  and  Charles  McLean  for  Prairie  township. 

The  court  then  proceeded  to  divide  the  county  into  townships,  as 
follows,  viz.  :  The  township  of  Silver  Creek  shall  be  bounded  as  fol- 
lows :  Beginning  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Howard  county  ;  thence 
running  north  with  Randolph  county  line,  to  the  township  line,  be- 
tween townships  53  and  54  ;  thence  east  with  said  township  line,  to 
the  range  line,  to  the  Howard  county  line ;  thence  west  with  said  line 
to  the  beginning. 

The  township  of  Prairie  shall  be  bounded  as  follows,  viz.  :  Begin- 
ning at  the  Howard  county  line,  where  the  range  line  between  ranges 
14  and  15  intersects  the  same  ;  thence  north  with  said  range  line,  to  the 
line  dividing  townships  53  and  54  ;  thence  east  with  said  township  to 
the  line  dividing  Randolph  and  Ralls  counties  ;  thence  south  with  said 
county  line,  to  the  Boone  county  line  ;  thence  west  with  the  line, 
dividing  Randolph  and  Boone,  and  Randolph  and  Howard,  to  the  be- 
ginnino;. 

The  township  of  Salt  Sprmg  shall  be  bounded  as  follows,  viz.  : 
Beginning  where  the  township  line,  dividing  townships  53  and  54  on 
the  west ;  thence  north  with  said  county  line  to  the  north-west  corner 
of  the  county  ;  thence  east  with  the  county  line,  to  the  range  line  be- 
tween ranges  14  and  15  ;  thence  south  to  the  corner  of  Silver  Creek 
township ;  thence    west   with    said  line   to  the   beginning. 


114  '  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Ordered,  That  all  territory  lying  north  be  attached  to  and  form  a 
part  of  said  township. 

The  township  of  Sugar  Creek  shall  be  bounded  as  follows,  viz.  : 
Beginning  at  the  range  line,  between  ranges  14  and  15,  on  the  north- 
ern county  line  ;  thence  east  to  the  north-east  corner  of  the  county ; 
thence  south  with  the  line  dividing  townships  53  and  54  ;  thence  west 
with  said  line  to  the  corner  of  Silver  Creek  and  Prairie  townships. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  territory  lying  north  of  said  township,  be 
attached  to  and  form  a  j^art  thereof. 

The  court  appoint  Thomas  J.  Gorhani  surveyor  of  the  .county  of 
Randolph,  whereupon  he  entered  into  bond  conditioned  &,s  the  law 
directs,  with  satisfactory  security. 

The  court  appoint  Terry  Bradley  assessor  for  the  county  of  Ran- 
dolph, for  the  year  1829,  and  until  his  successor  is  duly  elected  and 
qualified.  Whereupon,  he  entered  into  bond  conditioned  as  the  law 
directs,  in  the  penal  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  with  Thomas  Brad- 
ley and  Benjamin  Cockerill  his  securities,  which  was  received  by  the 
court. 

The  court  appoint  Jacob  Medley  collector  for  the  county  of  Ran- 
dolph, for  the  year  1829.  Whereupon,  he  entered  into  duplicate 
bonds,  conditioned  as  the  law  directs,  in  the  penal  sum  of  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  with  James  Head  and  Terry  Bradley  as  his  securities, 
fort  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties  in  relation  to  State  tax,  which 
was  received  by  the  court,  one  of  which  was  ordered  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  auditor  of  public  accounts  ;  he  also  took  the  oath  prescribed  by 
law. 

The  court  appoint  Nathan  Hunt  constable  of  Salt  Spring  township. 
Whereupon,  he  entered  into  bond  in  the  penal  sum  of  eight  hundred 
dollars,  with  Daniel  Hunt  and  Abraham  Goodding  as  his  securities, 
which  was  received  bv  the  court. 

The  court  appoint  Nathan  Floyd  constable  of  Prairie  township. 
Whereupon,  he  entered  into  bond  in  the  penalty  of  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars, with  David  Floyd  and  William  Drinkard  as  his  securities,  which 
were  received  by  the  court ;  he  then  took  the  oath  prescribed  by  law. 

The  court  appoint  John  McCully  constable  of  Silver  Creek  township. 
Whereupon,  he  entered  into  bond  in  the  penalty  of  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars, conditioned  as  the  law  directs,  with  Benjamin  Hardester  and 
Samuel  McCully  as  his  securities,  and  took  the  oath  prescribed  by  law. 

The  court  appoint  Abraham  Goodding  constable  of  Sugar  Creek 
township.  Whereupon,  he  entered  into  bond  in  the  penalty  of  eight 
hundred  dollars,  conditioned  as  the  law  directs,  with  Terry  Bradley 
and  Robert  Sconce  as  his  securities,  and  took  the  oath  prescribed  by 
law. 

Ordered,  By  the  court,  that  application  be  made  to  the  clerk  of 
Chariton  county  court,  for  copies  of  such  records  pertaining  to  the 
county  of  Randolph,  as  may  be  thought  necessary.  The  court  ap- 
point Robert  Sconce,  guardian  of  Luzetta  Whelden,  minor  of  John 
Whelden,  deceased.     Whereupon,  he  entered  into  bond  conditioned 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  l-l^ 

as  the  law  directs,  in  the  penalty  of  one  thousand  dollars,  with  John 
J.  Turner,  and  Thomas  J.  Gorham  as  his  securities,  which  were  re- 
ceived  by  the  court  as  sufficient. 

Ordered,  That  court  adjourn  until  court  in  course. 

William  Fort, 
Joseph  M.  Baker. 

second  term special  term. 

State  of  Missouri,    ) 
County  of  Randolph,  s  ,  .       ,  ^      r 

At  a  county  court  begun  and  held  for  and  within  the  county  afore- 
said, by  special  appointment  on  the  first  day  of  March,  1829  ;  pi^esent 
William  Fort  and  Joseph  M.  Baker,  justices  of  said  court.  Kobert 
Wilson,  clerk,  and  Hancock  Jackson,  sheriff. 

Ordered,  By  the  court,  that  the  temporary  seat  of  justice  tor  said 
county,  be  fixed  at  the  house  of  William  Goggin  in  said  county;  and 
it  is  further  ordered  that  all  courts  of  record,  hereafter  to  be  holden 
in  said  county,  be  held  at  the  house  of  the  said  William  Goggin,  and 
that  a  copy  of  this  order  be  furnished  the  judge  of  the  circuit  court. 
Ordered,  That  court  adjourn  until  court  in  course. 

William  Fort, 
Joseph  M.  Baker. 

The  above  constitutes  the  proceedings  of  the  first  and  special  terms 
of  the  county  court.  The  second  regular  term  of  the  court  was  held  on 
the  4th  day  of  May  following,  and  we  note  the  following  proceedings  :  — 

Gabriel  Johnson  was  recommended  for  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Silver  Creek  township,  and  George  Burckhartt  and  Benjamin  Hardin, 

for  Prairie.  ,         ,  *     i  -i  „i/i 

The  followino-  gentlemen  were  appointed  road  overseers  :  Archibald 

Shoemaker,  Blandermin  Smith,  Thomas  Bradley,  John  Dysart,  James 
Wells,  Henry  Lassiter,  Mark  Noble,  William  B.  Thompkms,  John 
Garshweiler,  John  M.  Patton  and  Josiah  Davis. 

The  first  county  levy  was  made  at  the  June  term,  and  was  ordered 
to  be  50  per  cent  of  the  State  levy,  and  in  order  to  give  some  idea  ot 
the  kind  of  salaries  our  old-time  officers  received,  it  should  be  stated 
that  the  county  assessor,  Terry  Bradley,  -  was  allowed  his  account  ot 
sixty-one  dollars  ^nA  fifty -six  and  one-fourth  cents,  for  thirty-five  days 
service,  postage,  stationery,"  etc.  Query-If  such  salaries  as  this 
were  paid  nowadays,  would  not  electioneering  grow  small  by  degrees 
and  beautifully  less? 

The  collector  made  settlement  of  his  accounts  for  the  county  reve- 
nue November  3,  1829  ;  it  was  as  follows  :  — 

Resident  list  amounts  to ^ 

Delinquent  returned  and  allowed 

Allowed  by  law  for  collecting ^^ 

$21  45 


116  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

•  Leaving  a  balance  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  dolUirs  and  fifteen 
cents  in  his  hands,  together  with  the  sum  of  two  dollars  and  ninety- 
nine  cents,  received  by  him  on  licenses,  which  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to 
the  county  treasurer.  Shades  of  the  past !  Just  think  of  that  for  a 
delinquent  tax  list !  —  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  !  Wh}'^,  the 
printer's  bill  alone  for  publishing  the  delinquent  list  in  this  year  of 
our  Lord  1884,  will  amount  to  several  hundred  dollars,  or  fully  three 
times  the  whole  revenue  of  the  county  then  ! 

In  August,  1830,  the  county  court  njade  the  following  order :  — 

The  clerk  is  ordered  to  procure  a  seal  for  the  county  court,  with  the 
emblem  of  the  American  Eagle,  provided  the  same  can  be  had  on  reas- 
onable terms. 

Robert  Wilson  was  appointed  commissioner  of  the  county  seat. 
William  Goggin  and  Nancy,  his  wife,  and  Gideon  Wright  and  Re- 
becca, his  wife,  Daniel  Hunt  and  wife,  and  Henry  Winburn  and  wife 
all  made  deeds  without  compensation,  conveying  land  to  the  county 
for  the  seat  of  justice.  Each  gave  twelve  and  a  half  acres,  aggregating 
50  acres.  Reuben  Samuel  was  appointed  superintendent  of  public 
buildings. 

The  first  guardian  appointed  by  the  county  court  of  Randolph 
county  was  John  Harvey,  who  was  appointed  guardian  of  Drucilla 
Wheldon,  minor  child  of  John  Wheldon,  deceased.  Davis  and  Currin 
were  granted  the  first  license  to  keep  a  tavern  ;  their  stand  was  at  the 
house  of  William  Goggin.  The  license  for  the  same  cost  them  $10. 
John  Taylor  was  the  second  tavern  keeper. 

The  first  bridge  of  any  importance,  constructed  in  the  county,  was 
built  over  the  east  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  on  the  first  high  bank 
above  Baker's  ford,  in  1829.  The  citizens  paid  half  of  the  cost  by 
subscription,  and  the  county  court  subscribed  the  other  half.  Henry 
B.  Owen  was  the  contractor,  and  received  $1.65  for  building  half  of 
the  bridge.  In  1830  Nicholas  Dysart  was  allowed  the  sum  of  $56  for 
assessing  the  county. 

FIRST    CIRCUIT    COURT. 

The  early  records  of  the  circuit  court  and  recorder's  office,  espe- 
cially the  record  of  deeds  in  the  latter  office,  were  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1882,  at  the  time  the  court-house  was  burned;  consequently  we 
are  forever  precluded  from  knowing  just  exactly  what  they  contained. 

The  first  circuit  court  within  and  for  the  county  of  Randolph,  Avas 
held  at  the  residence  of  William  Goggin  in  1829.  The  Hon.  David 
Todd,  of  Boone  county,  was  the  presiding  judge  ;  Robert  Wilson  was 
the  clerk,  Hancock  Jackson,  sheriff",  and  James  Gordon,  prosecuting 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


117 


attorney.      The  following  persons   composed   the   first   grand  jury  : 
George  Burckhartt,  foreman  ;  Peter  Gulp,  Ambrose  Medley,  William 
Baker,  Lawrence  Evans,  Terry  Bradley,  Edwin  T.  Hickman,  Francis 
K.  Collins,  Levi  Moore,  Jeremiah  Summers,  Robert  Boucher,  Richard 
Blue,  Henry  Martin,  Thomas  Kimbrough,  Moses  Kimbrough,  James 
Davis,   John  Bagby,  John   Dunn,   William   Upton,   Robert   Dysart, 
John  Martin,  William  Pattin,  Isaac  Harris.     These  were  all  good  men, 
of  stern  integrity,  and  we   doubt  whether   a  better  jury   could  be 
selected  now  (1884)  from  the  body  of  men  in  any  county  in  the  State. 
They  closed  their  labors  on  the  second  day  of  the  term,  having  found 
two    indictments, —  one    against    John    Moore    for    "assault    and 
battery,"  and  one  against  John   Cooley,  for  resisting  legal  process. 
The  following  attorneys  were  in  attendance  upon  this  court :     Robert 
W.  Wells,  attorney-general ;  John  F.  Ryland,  Gen.   John  B.   Clark, 
Joseph  Davis,  Thomas  Reynolds,  and  Samuel  Moore.      Each   one  of 
the  above  named   attorneys,   excepting  Moore,  afterwards   occupied 
honorable  positions  in  the  councils  of  the  State.     Wilson  and  Gen. 
Clark  were  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  former  being  a 
Senator. 

On  March  11th,  1830,  the  following  Indians  were  arrested  and 
held  in  custody  until  a  grand  jury  could  be  impaneled  to  pass  upon 
the  charges  which  had  been  preferred  against  them  for  murder  :  Big 
Neck  or  Great  Walker,  Walking  Cloud  or  Pumpkin,  the  chief ;  Brave 
Snake,  Young  Knight,  and  One-That-Don't-Care.  On  March  13th 
the  grand  jury  sitting  upon  their  cases  made  the  following  report : 
"After  examining  all  the  witnesses,  and  maturely  considering  the 
charges  for  which  the  Iowa  Indians  are  now  in  confinement,  we  find 
theni^not  guilty,  and  they  are  at  once  discharged,"  thus  showing  that 
even  a  savage  Indian  would  not  be  punished  for  an  alleged  ofiense, 
unless  the  proof  of  their  guilt  was  ample.  Justice  and  right  seemed 
to  be  the  guiding  stars  of  these  pioneers  ;  and  so  true  were  they  to 
these  principles,  that  it  could  be  said  of  them  — 

"They  were  resolved,  and  steady  to  their  trust, 
Inflexible  to  ill,  and  obstinately  just." 

This  second  grand  jury  was  made  up  of  John  Dysart,  foreman  ; 
James  Davis,  John  Owens,  David  Turner,  William  Mathis,  Thomas 
Prather,  William  Kerby,  Jacob  Epperly,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  Robert 
Elliott,  George  W.  Green,  Thorett  Rose,  Elisha  McDaniel,  John  D. 
Reed,  John  Gross,  James  Cooley,  John  McCuUy,  Dr.  William  Fort, 
Nathaniel  Floyd,  David  Floyd. 


118  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


EARLY  MARRIAGES. 


Cupid,  the  God  of  love,  early  manifested  his  presence  in  Eandolph 
county,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  verbatim  copies  of  a  few  of 
the  first  recorded  marriage  certificates  :  — 

State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Randolph. 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  undersigned,  one  of  the  justices  of  the 
peace,  within  and  for  the  county  aforesaid,  did  solemnize  matrimony 
between  Dulin  Wright  and  Nancy  Riley,  of  the  county  and  State 
aforesaid,  on  the  23d  of  January,  1829. 

Blandermin  Smith,  J.  P. 

Be  it  remembered  that  I,  James  Ratlifi",  did,  on  the  26th  day  of 
February,  1829,  in  the  county  of  Randolph,  solemnize  the  rites  of 
matrimony  between  William  Roland  and  Sindy  Boswell.  Given  under 
my  hand,  this,  the  8th  day  of  April,  1829. 

James  Ratliff,  M.  G. 

State  of  Missouri,    ) 
County  of  Randolph,  s 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  undersigned  justice  of  the  peace,  with- 
in and  for  the  county  aforesaid,  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  1829,  sol- 
emnized matrimony  between  Benjamin  Hardister  and  Jane  Jackson,  of 
the  county  and  State  aforesaid. 

Blandermin  Smith,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,    ) 
County  of  Randolph.  5 

This  is  to  certify  that  I  did  solemnize  matrimony  between  Ebenezer 
Best  and  Catherine  Wheldon,  of  the  county  and  State  aforesaid,  on 
the  26th  day  of  November,  1829.  Blandermin  Smith.  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Randolph. 

This  is  to  certify  that,  on  the  2d  day  of  October  last,  I  solemnized 
the  rite  of  matrimony  between  John  Grooms  and  Ann  Courtney. 
Given  under  my  hand  this  12th  day  of  November,  1829. 

Samuel  C.  Davis. 
State  of  Missouri,    > 
County  of  Randolph.  5 

I,  George  Burckhartt,  justice  of  the  peace,  for  the  county  afore- 
said, certify,  that  on  the  16th  day  of  December,  18'29,  I  solemnized 
the  vows  of  matrimony  between  Stephen  N.  Gowen  and  Gennetta  Brooks 
in  the  county  aforesaid.  Certified  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  13th 
day  of  January,  1830.  George  Burckhartt,  J.  P 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  119 

I  do  certify  that  on  the  25th  day  of  December,  1829,  I  solemnized 
the  ceremony  of  matrimony  between  William  Phipp  and  Vinah  Vestal, 
this  25th  day  of  December,  1829.     Given  under  my  hand  and  seal. 

George  W.  Green,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Randolph. 

I  do  hereby  certify,  that  on  the  5th  day  of  November,  1829,  I 
joined  together  James  Loe  and  Maria  S.  Hinde,as  husband  and   wife. 

John  Loe,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,    > 
County  of  Randolph.  > 

I  do  hereby  certify,  that  the  rites  of  marriage  w^ere  legally  sol- 
emnized between  Alva  Shoemaker  and  Sally  Mullinick,  this  29th  day 
of  November,  1829.  Given  under  my  hand  this  24th  day  of  March, 
1830.  Arch.  Shoemaker,  J.  P. 

In  1829,  14  marriage  certificates  were  recorded. 
In  1883,  230  marriage  licenses  were  recorded. 

last  will  and  testament. 

The  following  was  the  first  will  that  was  recorded  in  Randolph 
county. 

In  the  name  of  God,  amen.  I,  Isam  Rials,  of  Randolph  county, 
in  the  State  of  Missouri,  being  sick  and  weak  in  body,  but  of  sound 
and  disposing  mind,  memory  and  understanding,  considering  the  cer- 
tainty of  death,  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  time  thereof,  and  being  de- 
sirous to  settle  my  worldly  afiairs,  and  thereby  be  the  better  prepared 
to  leave  this  world,  when  it  will  please  God  to  call  me  hence  —  do, 
therefore,  make  and  publish,  this,  my  last  will  and  testament  in  man- 
ner and  form  following — that  is  to  say:  first  and  principally,  I  com- 
mit my  soul  into  the  hands  of  Almighty  God,  and  my  body  to  the 
earth,  to  be  decently  buried  at  the  discretion  of  my  administrator, 
hereinafter  named,  after  my  debts  are  paid,  and  the  death  of  my  com- 
panion Martha,  I  devise  and  bequeath  as  follows  :  — 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  Joseph  Rials,  Polly  Rials  and  Nancy 
Rials,  my  youngest  children,  all  of  the  county  of  Randolph,  Missouri, 
all  the  property  that  I  am  possessed  of,  both  real  and  personal,  to  be 
equally  divided  among  the  three  aforesaid  heirs  after  my  death,  and  the 
death  of  my  wife,  as  hereinbefore  named.  And  lastly  I  do  hereby 
constitute  and  appoint  my  son,  Joseph  Rials,  to  be  sole  administrator 
of  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  revoking  and  annulling  all  former 
wills  by  me  heretofore  made,  ratifying  and  confirming  this,  and  none 
other,  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  affixed  my 
seal,  this  first  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty- nine.  ,  •  ^  '"'^^^  ^ 

Isam  X  Rials.    <  seal  > 
„  mark.  (  ) 


120  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


REMARKABLE    DEED. 


There  is  perhaps  nothing  in  all  the  written  records  of  this,  or  any 
other  State  in  the  Union,  among  all  the  recorded  acts  of  men,  that 
reads  so  strangely  as  the  following  deed,  the  grantee  being  no  less  a 
person  than  God,  the  Supreme  Being. 

This  indenture  made  and  entered  into  this  sixth  day  of  June,  A.  D. 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty,  between  Johnson  Wright,  and 
Eliza  Jane  his  wife,  of  the  county  of  Randolph,  and  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri of  the  first  part,  and  the  government  the  chief  administrator, 
King  of  Righteousness,  the  Sun,  the  Fountain  of  Life,  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born,  which  are  written  in 
Heaven,  and  to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus,  Mediator  of  the  New  Covenant,  and  to 
the  blood  of  sprinkling  that  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel, 
because  he  died  for  us  —  being  in  the  county  of  Randolph  and  State 
of  Missouri,  to  wit :  The  following  tracts  of  land — the  south-west 
qr.  of  the  N.  W.  qr.,  also  the  north  half  of  the  south-west  quarter  of 
section  twenty-eight,  township  fifty-six,  range  fifteen,  containing  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  to  have  and  to  hold  and  its  appur- 
tenances thereunto,  and  everything  wherein  there  is  breath  or  life. 
The  first  party,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  do  warrant  and  defend  the 
title  of  said  land,  unto  the  second  party,  which  is  the  Sun  of  Life,  free 
and  clear  from  all  other  claims  by  or  through  us  or  any  other  persons. 

In  testimony  whereunto,  we,  Johnson  Wright  and  Eliza  Jane,  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

Johnson  Wright, 
Eliza  Jane  Wright. 


The  above  instrument  was  acknowledged  and  may  be  found 
recorded  in  book  '<  H  "  of  the  circuit  court  office  of  Randolph  county. 

PUBLIC    buildings. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  a  large  number,  probably  a  majority 
of  people  in  every  county,  have  very  little  practical  experience  in 
courts,  and  although  they  have  the  legal  capacity  to  sue  and  be  sued, 
never  improve  their  opportunities,  and  never  appear  in  court,  unless 
it  be  on  compulsion  as  witnesses  and  jurors  ;  yet,  as  the  one  great 
conservator  of  peace,  and   as  the  final  arbiter  in  case  of  individual  or 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  221 

neighborhood  disputes,  the  court  is  distinguished  above  and  apart 
from  all  and  every  other  institution  in  the  land,  and  not  only  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court,  but  the  place  of  holdino-  court,  is  a  matter  of 
interest  to  the  average  reader. 

Not  only  so,  but  in  many  counties  the  court-house  was  the  first, 
and  usually  the  only  public  building  in  the  county.  The  first  court- 
houses were  not  very  ehiborate  buildings,  to  be  sure,  but  they  are 
enshrined  in  memories  that  the  present  can  never  know. 

Their  uses  were  general  rather  than  special,  and  so  constantly  were 
they  in  use,  day  and  night,  when  the  court  was  in  session,  and  when 
it  was  not  in  session,  for  judicial,  educational,  religious  and  social 
purposes,  that  the  doors  of  the  old  court-houses,  like  the  gates  of 
gospel  grace,  stood  open  night  and  day  ;  and  the  small  amount  in- 
vested in  these  old  hewn  logs  and  rough  benches  returned  a  much 
better  rate  of  interest  on  the  investment  than  do  those  stately  piles  of 
brick  or  granite,  which  have  taken  their  places.  The  memorable 
court-house  of  early  times  was  a  house  adapted  to  a  variety  of  pur- 
poses, and  had  a  career  of  great  usefulness.  School  was  taught,  the 
Gospel  was  preached,  and  justice  dispensed  within  its  substantial 
walls.  Then  it  served  frequently  as  a  resting  place  for  weary  travel- 
ers. And,  indeed,  its  doors  always  swung  on  easy  hinges.  If  the 
old  settlers  are  to  be  believed,  all  the  old  court-houses,  when  first 
erected  in  this  Western  country,  often  rang  on  the  pioneer  Sabbath 
with  a  more  stirring  eloquence  than  that  which  enlivens  the  pulpit  of 
the  present  time.  Many  of  the  earliest  ministers  officiated  in  their 
walls,  and  if  they  could  but  speak,  they  would  doubtless  tell  many  a 
strange  tale  of  pioneer  religion  that  is  now  lost  forever. 

To  those  old  court-houses,  ministers  came  of  different  faiths,  but 
all  eager  to  expound  the  simple  truths  of  the  sublime  and  beautiful 
religion,  and  point  out  for  comparisons  the  thorny  path  of  duty,  and 
the  primrose  way  of  dalliance.  Often  have  those  old  walls  given  back 
the  echoes  of  those  who  have  sung  the  songs  of  Zion,  and  many  a 
weary  wanderer  has  had  his  heart  moved  to  repentance  thereby,  more 
strongly  than  ever,  by  the  strains  of  homel}'^  eloquence.  With  Mon- 
day morning,  the  old  building  changed  in  character,  and  men  went 
thither,  seeking  not  the  justice  of  God,  but  the  mercy  of  man.  The 
scales  were  held  with  an  even  hand.  Those  who  presided  knew  every 
man  in  the  county,  and  they  dealt  out  substantial  justice,  and  the 
broad  principles  of  natural  equity  prevailed.  Children  went  there  to 
school,  and  sat  at  the  feet  of  teachers  who  knew  little  more  than 
themselves;  but,  however  humble  the  teacher's  acquirements,  he  was 


122  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

hailed  as  a  wise  man  and  a  benefactor,  and  his  lessons  were  heeded 
with  attention. 

The  old  people  of  the  settlement  went  there  to  discuss  their  own 
affairs,  and  learn  from  visiting  attorneys  the  news  from  the  great, 
busy  world,  so  far  away  to  the  southward  and  eastward.  In  addition 
to  the  orderly  assemblies  which  formerly  gathered  there,  other  meet- 
ings no  less  notable  occurred. 

It  was  a  sort  of  a  forum,  whither  all  classes  of  people  went,  for  the 
purpose  of  loafing  and  gossiping  and  telling  and  hearing  some  new 
thing.  As  a  general  thing,  the  first  court-house,  after  having  served 
the  purpose  of  its  erection,  and  served  that  purpose  well,  is  torn 
down  and  conveyed  to  the  rear  of  some  remote  lot,  and  thereafter  is 
made  to  serve  the  purpose  of  an  obscure  cow-stable  on  some  dark  alley. 

There  is  little  of  the  romantic  or  poetic  in  the  make  up  of  Western 
society,  and  the  old  court-house,  after  the  building  of  the  new  one, 
ceased  to  be  regarded  with  reverence  and  awe.  In  a  new  country, 
where  every  energy  of  the  people  is  necessarily  employed  in  the  prac- 
tical work  of  earning  a  living,  and  the  always  urgent  and  ever  present 
question  of  bread  and  butter  is  up  for  solution,  people  cannot  be  ex- 
pected to  devote  much  time  to  the  poetic  and  ideal.  It  therefore  fol- 
lows that  nothino-  was  retained  as  a  useless  relic  that  could  be  turned 
to  some  utility ;  but  it  is  a  shame  that  the  people  of  modern  times 
have  such  little  reverence  for  the  relics  of  former  days.  After  these 
houses  ceased  to  be  available  for  business  purposes  they  should  have 
been  preserved  to  have  at  least  witnessed  the  semi-centennial  of  the 
county's  history.  It  is  sad,  in  their  hurry  to  grow  rich,  so  few  even 
have  a  care  for  the  work  of  their  own  hands.  How  many  of  the  first 
settlers  have  preserved  their  first  habitations?  The  sight  of  that 
humble  cabin  would  be  a  source  of  much  consolation  in  old  age,  as  it 
reminded  the  owner  of  the  trials  and  triumphs  of  other  times,  and  its 
presence  would  go  far  toward  reconciling  the  coming  generation  with 
their  lot,  when  comparing  its  lowly  appearance  with  the  modern  resi- 
dence whose  extensive  apartments  are  beginning  to  be  too  unpreten- 
tious for  the  enterprising  and  irrepressible  "  Young  Americans." 

-       FIRST    COURT-HOUSE. 

The  contract  for  building  the  first  court-house  was  let  on  the  13th 
of  June,  1831,  and  the  building  was  completed  some  time  in  the  fall 
of  the  next  year.  It  was  a  brick  structure,  two  stories  high,  built  in 
a  square  form,  one  room  below  used  as  the  court-room  and  three  above 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  123 

used  as  jury  rooms.  One  of  those  small  rooms  was  for  a  number  of 
years  used  as  a  Masonic  hall,  and  it  was  there  that  the  first  Masonic 
meeting  in  Huntsville  was  held.  Many  of  the  old  citizens  will  remem- 
ber this  old  building  as  the  scene  of  the  greatest  religious  revival  ever 
held  in  the  county.  This  was  in  August,  1839,  and  the  meeting  was 
conducted  by  the  distinguished  and  lamented  A.  P.  Williams,  in  the 
immediate  interest  of  the  Baptist  brotherhood,  and  continued  about 
three  weeks.  The  interest  was  intense,  and  a  deep  religious  sentiment 
was  then  awakened  that  needs  but  a  mere  mention  of  the  event  now 
to  thrill  the  pulses  of  those  who  were  present.  Crowds  of  people 
were  here  from  all  parts  of  the  county,  as  well  as  from  adjoining 
counties,  and  groups  of  praying  believers  and  penitents  could  be  seen 
in  the  groves  contiguous  to  the  town,  making  the  air  vocal  with  their 
songs  and  prayers.  This  building  cost  $2,400,  and  when  it  was  con- 
demned and  torn  down  in  the  winter  of  '58  or  the  spring  of  '59,  the 
brick  were  purchased  by  the  members  of  the  Christian  congregation 
in  this  place,  and  now  do  good  service  in  their  church  building.  They 
were  honest  men  in  those  days,  and  made  good  brick. 

SECOND    COURT-HOUSE. 

The  second  court-house  was  completed  in  1860,  by  Henry  Austin, 
who  was  the  contractor.  The  building  was  a  two-story  brick,  and 
cost  $15,000.  It  was  burned  August  12,  1882.  Steps  were  immedi- 
ately taken  to  build  another  and  a 

THIRD    COURT-HOUSE, 

which  was  commenced  during  the  fall  of  1883  and  finished  in  April, 
1884.  J.  M.  Hammett,  W.  T.  Rutherford,  E.  P.  Kerby,  John  N. 
Taylor,  G.  W.  Taylor  and  R.  E.  Lewis  were  the  contractors,  and 
James  McGrath,  of  St.  Louis,  was  the  architect.  The  building  is  a 
two-story  brick,  contains  eleven  rooms,  and  cost  about  $35,000.  It 
is  surmounted  with  a  dome  of  symmetrical  proportions,  which  is  seen 
for  many  miles  in  almost  every  direction  from  Huntsville.  This  dome 
contains  a  town  clock,  whose  intonations  can  be  heard  distinctly  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  city. 

COUNTY   SEAT    QUESTION. 

In  this  connection  and  at  this  place  we  shall  briefly  refer  to  a  ques- 
tion which  has  caused,  as  it  always  does,  much  bitterness  of  feeling  — 
we  mean  the  county-seat  question  —  and  shall  simply  give  the  vote  of 


124  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  county  at  the  two  different  elections  which  have  been  held  to  test 
the  sense  of  the  people  in  reference  thereto.  The  city  of  Moberly 
was  the  rival  claimant  for  the  county  seat  against  Huntsville,  the 
former  and  present  seat  of  justice. 

The  first  contest  upon  the  question  of  removal  occurred  in  1876, 
with  the  following  result;  For  removal,  2,453;  against  removal, 
2,271.  The  second  and  last  contest  took  place  in  1882,  with  the  fol- 
lowing result:  For  removal,  3,481 ;  against  removal,  3,068. 

It  required  a  two-thirds  vote  to  remove  the  county  seat. 

The  second  jail  was  erected  in  1865,  but  was  considered  unsafe  and 
torn  down  in  1871,  the  material  being  used  in  part  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  present  jail,  which  is  built  of  brick  and  stone.  The  front 
portion  of  the  jail  is  brick,  and  is  the  residence  of  the  jailer. 

COUNTY    POOR   FARM. 

The  county  poor  farm  is  situated  on  the  west  half  of  the  south-west 
quarter  of  section  31,  township  54,  range  14,  and  was  purchased  in 
March,  1878,  from  John  H.  Austin,  for  $2,000.  The  poor  farm 
building  is  made  of  brick,  and  that,  with  outbuildings,  afford  room 
for  about  fifty  paupers. 


[Note.  — The  Blandermiu  Smith,  referred  to  in  this  chapter,  served  for  many  years 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  quite  eccentric,  but  was  a  great  stickler  for  justice, 
and  was  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  wanted  everyone  else  to  be  so. 
Whenever  a  man  was  brought  before  hira,  or  had  a  case  in  his  court,  and  he  became 
satisfied  that  he  was  attempting  to  defraud,  or  take  advantage  of  any  technicality  of 
the  law,  or  evade  the  payment  of  his  just  debts,  Uncle  Blandy,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  would  show  him  no  quarter;  and  many  funny  anecdotes  are  told  in  regard  to 
his  rulings  and  decisions.  Among  the  many,  it  is  told  of  him,  and  vouched  for  by 
living  witnesses  at  the  present  day,  that  a  tailor  sued  a  dandy  for  the  making  of  a 
eoat.  The  plea  was  put  up  by  the  defendant  that  the  coat  did  not  fit,  and  the  cloth 
was  spoiled;  consequently  he  would  not  pay  for  it.  The  tailor  proved  the  making  of 
the  coat,  and  the  price  charged  was  customary  and  usual.  The  defendant  had  several 
witnesses  ready  to  prove  that  the  coat  did  not  fit,  and  was  ruined.  But  Blandy  did 
not  wish,  nor  would  he  hear,  any  evidence  in  the  matter;  but  had  the  coat  sent  for, 
requested  the  defendant  to  put  it  on,  which  he  did,  and  after  a  careful  examination  of 
the  man  with  his  coat  on,  Blandy  pronounced  that  it  fit  as  well  as  some  and  not  ae 
well  as  others,  but  upon  the  whole  he  thought  it  would  answer  his  purpose  very  well. 
Therefore  he  gave  judgment  for  the  plaintiff  for  amount  claimed  and  costs.  The  de- 
fendant and  his  attorney,  of  course,  were  very  indignant  at  this  summary  way  of  deal- 
ing, and  asked  for  an  appeal ;  but  Uncle  Blandy  informed  them  that  he  granted  no 
appeal  in  such  plain  cases,  and  would  not  yield.  Consequently  the  defendant  had  to 
foot  the  bill.  Many  similar  cases  are  told  of  this  old  gentleman.  He  aimed  to  decide 
cases  by  justice  and  hard  common  sense,  and  generally,  it  is  said,  made  them  pretty 
correct.  —  Publishers.] 


CHAPTER    lY. 

TOWNSHIP  SYSTEM  AND   GOVERNMENT  SURVEYS. 

Original   and  Present  Townships  —  County  and   Township   Systems  —  Government 
Surveys  —  Organization  of  Townships — Physical  Features. 

ORIGINAL    TOWNSHIPS. 

The  county  was  originally  divided  into  four  townships,  to  wit : 
Silver  Creek,  Prairie,  Salt  River,  and  Sugar  Creek.  The  townships 
of  Chariton,  Clifton,  Salt  Spring,  Jackson,  Cairo,  Union  and  Moni- 
teau have  since  been  added,  making  eleven  municipal  townships. 
Prairie  is  the  largest,  and  occupies  the  south-eastern  portion  of  the 
county.     Jackson  and  Union  are  the  smallest. 

Before  proceeding  any  further,  we  deem  it  proper,  since  we  are 
about  to  enter  upon  the  history  of  the  townships,  to  give  some  expla- 
nations of  the  county  and  township  sj^stems  and  government  surveys, 
as  much  depends  in  business  and  civil  transactions  upon  county  limits 
and  county  organizations. 

COUNTY    AND    TOWNSHIP    SYSTEMS. 

With  regard  to  the  origin  of  dividing  individual  States  into  county 
and  township  organizations,  which,  in  an  important  measure,  should 
have  the  power  and  opportunity  of  transacting  their  own  business  and 
governing  themselves,  under  the  approval  of,  and  subject  to,  the 
State  and  general  government,  of  which  they  both  form  a  part,  we 
quote  from  Elijah  M.  Haines,  who  is  considered  good  authority  on  the 
subject. 

In  his  *'  Laws  of  Illinois,  Relative  to  Township  Organizations," 
he  says  :  — 

"  The  county  system  originated  with  Virginia,  whose  early  settlers 
soon  became  large  landed  proprietors,  aristocratic  in  feeling,  living 
apart  in  almost  baronial  magnificence,  on  their  own  estates,  and  own- 
ing the  laboring  part  of  the  population.  Thus  the  materials  for  a 
town  were  not  at  hand,  the  voters  being  thinly  distributed  over  a 
great  area. 

(125) 


126  HISTORY   or   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

*«The  county  organization,  where  a  few  influential  men  managed 
the  wholesale  business  of  a  community,  retaining  their  places  almost 
at  their  pleasure,  scarcely  responsible  at  all,  except  in  name,  and  per- 
mitted to  conduct  the  county  concerns  as  their  ideas  or  wishes  might 
direct,  Avas  moreover  consonant  with  their  recollections  or  traditions 
of  the  judicial  and  social  dignities  of  the  landed  aristocracy  of  Eng- 
land, in  descent  from  whom  the  Virginia  gentlemen  felt  so  much 
pride.  In  1834  eight  counties  were  organized  in  Virginia,  and  the 
system  extending  throughout  the  State,  spread  into  all  the  Southern 
States  and  some  of  the  Northern  States  ;  unless  we  except  the  nearly 
similar  division  into  '  districts '  in  South  Carolina,  and  that  into 
<  parishes  '  in  Louisiana,  from  the  French  laws. 

"  Illinois,  which,  with  its  vast  additional  territory,  became  a  county 
of  Virginia,  on  its  conquest  by  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark,  retained 
the  county  organization,  which  was  formerly  extended  over  the  State 
by  the  constitution  of  1818,  and  continued  in  exclusive  use  until 
the  constitution  of  1848.  Under  this  system,  as  in  other  States 
adopting  it,  much  local  business  was  transacted  by  the  commission- 
ers in  each  county,  who  constituted  a  county  court,  with  quarterly 
sessions. 

"During  the  period  ending  Avith  the  constitution  of  1847,  a  large 
portion  of  the  State  had  become  filled  up  with  a  population  of  New 
England  birth  or  character,  daily  growing  more  and  more  compact 
and  dissatisfied  with  the  comparatively  arbitrary  and  inefficient  county 
system.  It  was  maintained  by  the  people  that  the  heavily  populated 
districts  would  always  control  the  election  of  the  commissioners  to 
the  disadvantage  of  the  more  thinly  populated  sections  —  in  short, 
that  under  that  system  'equal  and  exact  justice  '  to  all  parts  of  the 
county  could  not  be  secured. 

"The  township  system  had  its  origin  in  Massachusetts,  and  dates 
back  to  1635. 

"The  first  legal  enactment  concerning  the  system  provided  that, 
whereas,  '  particular  townships  have  many  things  which  concern  only 
themselves  and  the  ordering  of  their  own  afiiiirs,  and  disposing  of 
business  in  their  own  town,'  therefore  the  '  freemen  of  every  town- 
ship, or  a  majority  part  of  them,  shall  only  have  power  to  dispose  of 
their  own  lands  and  woods,  with  all  the  appurtenances  of  said  town, 
to  grant  lots,  and  to  make  such  orders  as  may  concern  the  well  order- 
ino-  of  their  own  towns,  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  and  orders  estab- 
lished by  the  general  court.' 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  127 

"  They  might  also,"  says  Mr.  Haines,  *'  impose  fines  of  not  more 
than  twenty  shillings,  and  '  choose  their  own  particular  officers,  as 
constables,  surveyors  for  the  highway,  and  the  like.' 

"  Evidently  this  enactment  relieved  the  general  court  of  a  mass  of 
municipal  details  without  any  danger  to  the  power  of  that  body  in 
controlling  general  measures  of  public  policy. 

'*  Probably,  also,  a  demand  from  the  freemen  of  the  towns  was  felt 
for  the  control  of  their  own  home  concerns. 

"  The  New  England  colonies  were  first  governed  by  a  general  court 
or  Legislature,  composed  of  a  Governor  and  a  small  council,  which 
court  consisted  of  the  most  influential  inhabitants,  and  possessed  and 
exercised  both  legislative  and  judicial  powers,  which  were  limited 
only  by  the  wisdom  of  the  holders. 

"  They  made  laws,  ordered  their  execution  by  officers,  tried  and 
decided  civil  and  criminal  causes,  enacted  all  manner  of  municipal 
regulations,  and,  in  fact,  did  all  the  public  business  of  the  colony." 

Similar  provisions  for  the  incorporation  of  towns  were  made  in  the 
first  constitution  in  Connecticut,  adopted  in  1639,  and  the  plan  of 
township  organization,  as  experience  proved  its  remarkable  economy, 
efficiency  and  adaptation  to  the  requirements  of  a  free  and  intelligent 
people,  became  universal  throughout  New  England,  and  went  west- 
ward with  the  immigrants  from  New  England,  into  New  York,  Ohio, 
and  other  Western  States. 

Thus  we  find  that  the  valuable  system  of  county,  township  and 
town  organizations  had  been  thoroughly  tried  and  proven  long  before 
there  was  need  of  adopting  it  in  Missouri,  or  any  of  the  broad  region 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  But  as  the  new  country  began  to  be 
opened,  and  as  Eastern  people  began  to  move  westward  across  the 
mighty  river,  and  formed  thick  settlements  along  its  western  bank, 
the  Territory  and  State,  and  county  and  township  organizations  soon 
followed  in  quick  succession,  and  those  different  systems  became  more 
or  less  improved,  according  as  deemed  necessary  by  the  experience 
and  judgment  and  demands  of  the  people,  until  they  have  arrived  at 
the  present  stage  of  advancement  and  efficiency.  In  the  settlement 
of  the  Territory  of  Missouri,  the  Legislature  began  by  organizing 
counties  on  the  Mississippi  river.  As  each  new  county  was  formed, 
it  was  made  to  include  under  legal  jurisdiction  all  the  country  bor- 
dering west  of  it,  and  required  to  grant  to  the  actual  settlers  electoral 
privileges  and  an  equal  share  of  the  county  government  with  those 
who  properly  lived  in  the  geographical  limits  of  the  county. 


128  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLrH    COUNTY. 

The  counties  first  organized  along  the  eastern  borders  of  the  State 
were  oriven  for  a  short  time  iurisdiction  over  the  lands  and  settlements 
adjoining  each  on  the  west,  until  these  localities  became  sufficiently 
settled  to  support  organizations  of  their  own. 

GOVERNMENT    SURVEYS. 

No  person  can  intelligently  understand  the  history  of  a  country 
without  at  the  same  time  knowing  its  geography,  and  in  order  that 
a  clear  and  correct  idea  of  the  geography  of  Randolph  county  may  be 
obtained  from  the  language  already  used  in  defining  different  localities 
and  pieces  of  land,  we  insert  herewith  the  plan  of  government  surveys 
as  given  in  Mr.  E.  A.  Hickman's  property  map  of  Jackson  county, 
Missouri :  — 

<' Previous  to  the  formation  of  our  present  government,  the  eastern 
portion  of  North  America  consisted  of  a  number  of  British  colonies, 
the  territory  of  which  was  granted  in  large  tracts  to  British  noblemen. 
By  treaty  of  1783,  these  grants  were  acknowledged  as  valid  by  the 
colonies.  After  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  these  colonies  were 
acknowledged  independent  States,  all  public  domain  within  their 
boundaries  was  acknowledged  to  be  the  property  of  the  colony  within 
the  bounds  of  which  said  domain  was  situated. 

"  Virginia  claimed  all  the  north-western  territory,  including  what  is 
now  known  as  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana  and 
Illinois.  After  a  meeting  of  the  representatives  of  the  various  States 
to  form  a  Union,  Virginia  ceded  the  north-west  territory  to  the  United 
States  government.  This  took  place  in  1784  ;  then  all  this  north- 
west territory  became  government  land.  It  comprised  all  south  of 
the  lakes  and  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  north  and  west  of  the 
States  having  definite  boundary  lines.  This  territory  had  been  known 
as  New  France,  and  had  been  ceded  by  France  to  England  in  1768. 
In  the  year  1803,  Napoleon  Bonaparte  sold  to  the  United  States  all 
territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  north  of  Mexico,  extending 
to  the  Rocky  mountains. 

"  While  the  public  domain  was  the  property  of  the  colonies,  it  was 
<lisposed  of  as  follows  :  Each  individual  caused  the  tract  he  desired 
to  purchase  to  be  surveyed  and  platted.  A  copy  of  the  survey  was 
then  filed  with  the  registrar  of  lauds,  when,  by  paying  into  the  State 
or  Colonial  treasury  an  agreed  price,  the  purchaser  received  a  patent 
for  the  land.     This  method  of  disposing  of  public  lands  made  law 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  129 

suits  numerous,  owing  to  different  surveys  often  including  the  same 
ground.  To  avoid  the  difficulties  and  effect  a  g-eneral  measurement 
of  the  territories,  the  United  States  adopted  the  present  mode  or 
system  of  land  surveys,  a  description  of  which  we  give  as  follows  :  — 

♦'  In  an  unsurveyed  region,  a  point  of  marked  and  changeless  topo- 
graphical features  is  selected  as  an  initial  point.  The  exact  latitude 
and  longitude  of  this  point  is  ascertained  by  astronomical  observation, 
and  a  suitable  monument  of  iron  or  stone,  to  perpetuate  the  position, 
is  thus  reared.  Through  this  point  a  true  north  and  south  line  is  run, 
which  is  called  a  principal  mei'idian.  This  principal  meridian  may 
be  extended  north  and  south  any  desired  distance.  Along  this  line 
are  placed,  at  distances  of  one-half  mile  from  each  other,  posts  of 
wood  or  stone  or  mounds  of  earth.  These  posts  are  said  to  establish 
the  line,  and  are  called  section  and  quarter-section  posts.  Principal 
meridians  are  numbered  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  established. 
Through  the  same  initial  point  from  which  the  principal  meridian  was 
surveyed,  another  line  is  now  run  and  established  by  mile  and  half- 
mile  posts,  as  before,  in  a  true  east  and  west  direction.  This  line  is 
called  the  base  line,  and  like  the  principal  meridian,  may  be  extended 
indefinitely  in  either  direction.  These  lines  form  the  basis  of  the 
survey  of  the  country  into  townships  and  ranges.  Township  lines 
extend  east  and  west,  parallel  with  the  base  line,  at  distances  of  six 
miles  from  the  base  line  and  from  each  other,  dividing  the  country 
into  strips  six  miles  wide,  which  strips  are  called  townships.  Range 
lines  run  north  and  south,  parallel  to  the  principal  meridian,  dividing 
the  country  into  strips  six  miles  wide,  which  strips  are  called  ranges. 
Township  strips  are  numbered  from  the  base  line,  and  range  strips 
are  numbered  from  the  principal  meridian.  Townships  lying  north 
of  the  base  line  are  '  townships  north  ; '  those  on  the  south  are  'town- 
ships south.'  The  strip  lying  next  the  base  line  is  township  one,  the 
next  one  to  that,  tpwnship  two,  and  so  on.  The  range  strips  are  num- 
bered in  the  same  manner,  counting  from  the  principal  meridian  east 
or  west,  as  the  case  may  be. 

"  The  township  and  range  lines  thus  divide  the  country  into  six- 
mile  squares.  Each  of  these  squares  is  called  a  congressional  town- 
ship. All  north  and  south  lines  north  of  the  equator  approach  each 
other  as  they  extend  north,  finally  meeting  at  the  north  pole  ;  there- 
fore north  and  south  lines  are  not  literally  parallel.  The  east  and 
west  boundary  lines  of  any  range  being  six  miles  apart  in  the  latitude 
of  Missouri  and  Kansas,  would,  in  thirty  miles,  approach  each  other 


130 


HISTORY   or   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


at  2.9  chains,  or  190  feet.  If,  therefore,  the  width  of  the  range  when 
started  from  the  base  line  is  made  exactly  six  miles,  it  would  be  2.9 
chains  too  narrow  at  the  distance  of  thirty  miles,  or  five  townships 
north.  To  correct  the  width  of  ranges  and  keep  them  to  the  proper 
width,  the  range  lines  are  not  surveyed  in  a  continuous  straight  line, 
like  the  principal  meridian,  entirely  across  the  State,  but  only  across 
a  limited  number  of  townships,  usually  five,  where  the  width  of  the 
range  ia. corrected  by  beginning  a  new  line  on  the  side  of  the  range 
most  distant  from  the  principal  meridian,  at  such  a  point  as  will  make 
the  range  its  correct  width.  All  range  lines  are  corrected  in  the  same 
manner.  The  east  and  west  township  lines  on  which  these  correc- 
tions are  made  are  called  correction  lines,  or  standard  parallels.  The 
surveys  of  the  State  of  Missouri  were  made  from  the  fifth  principal 
meridian,  which  runs  throughout  the  State,  and  its  ranges  are  num- 
bered from  it.  The  State  of  Kansas  is  surveyed  and  numbered  from 
the  sixth.  Congressional  townships  are  divided  into  thirty-six  square 
miles,  called  sections,  and  are  known  by  numbers  according  to  their 
position.  The  following  diagram  shows  the  order  of  numbers  and  the 
sections  in  congressional  townships  :  — 


-12- 


-16- 


-14- 


-20- 


-22- 


-24- 


-30- 


-27- 


-26- 


-31- 


-33- 


-34- 


-35- 


-36- 


*'  Sections  are  divided  into  quarters,  eighths  and  sixteenths,  and  are 
described  by  their  position  in  the  section.  The  full  section  contains 
640  acres,  the  quarter  160,  the  eighth  80,  and  the  sixteenth  40  In 
the  following  diagram  of  a  section,  the  position  designated  by  a  is 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


131 


known  as  the  north-west  quarter ;  i  is  the  north-east  quarter  of  the 
north-east  quarter ;  d  would  be  the  south  half  of  the  south-east  quar- 
ter, and  would  contain  80  acres. 


J  Sec.  post. 


Sec.  post. 

0 

"h         i 

160  acres 

/      g 

Sec.  post. 

b 

e 

« 

Sec.  post. 

d 

i  Sec.  post. 


,Sec.  post. 


4  Sec.  post. 


"  Congressional  townships,  as  we  have  seen,  are  six-mile  squares  of 
land,  made  by  the  township  and  range  lines,  while  civil  or  municipal 
townships  are  civil  divisions,  made  for  purposes  of  government,  the 
one  having  no  reference  to  the  other,  though  similar  in  name.  On 
the  county  map  we  see  both  kinds  of  townships  — the  congressional 
usually  designated  by  numbers  and  in  squares  ;  the  municipal  or  civil 
township  by  name  and  in  various  forms. 

"  By  the  measurement  thus  made  by  the  government  the  courses 
and  distances  are  defined  between  any  two  points.  St.  Louis  is  in 
township  44  north,  range  8  east,  and  Independence  is  in  township  49 
north,  range  32  west;  how  far,  then,  are  Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis 
apart  on  a  direct  line?  St.  Louis  is  40  townships  east  —  240 
miles  —  and  5  townships  south  —  30  miles  ;  the  base  and  perpendicu- 
lar of  a  right-angled  triangle,  the  hypothenuse  being  the  required 
distance." 

ORGANIZATION    OF   TOWNSHIPS. 

The  "  township,"  as  the  term  is  used  in  common  phraseology,  in 
many  instances  is  widely  distinguished  from  that  of  "  town,"  though 
many  persons  persist  in  confounding  the  two.  "  In  the  United  States 
many  of  the  States  are  divided  into  townships  of  five,  six,  seven,  or 
perhaps  ten  miles  square,  and  the  inhabitants  of  such  townships  are 
vested  with  certain  powers  for  regulating  their  own  affairs,  such  as 
repairing  roads  and  providing  for  the  poor.  The  township  is  subor- 
dinate to  the  county."  A  *'  town  "  is  simply  a  collection  of  houses, 
either  large  or  small,  and  opposed  to  "  country." 

The  most  important  features  connected  with  this  system  of  town- 
ship surveys  should  be  thoroughly  understood  by  every  intelligent 
farmer  and  business  man  ;  still  there  are  some  points  connected  with 


132  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  understanding  of  it,  which  need  close  and  careful  attention.  The 
law  which  established  this  system  required  that  the  north  and  south 
lines  should  correspond  exactly  with  the  meridian  passing  through 
that  point ;  also,  that  each  township  should  be  six  miles  square.  To 
do  this  would  be  an  utter  impossibility,  since  the  figure  of  the  earth 
causes  the  meridians  to  converge  toward  the  pole,  making  the  north 
line  to  each  township  shorter  than  the  south  line  of  the  same  town- 
ship. To  obviate  the  errors  which  are,  on  this  account,  constantly 
occurring,  correction  lines  are  established.  They  are  parallels  bound- 
ing a  line  of  townships  on  the  north,  when  lying  north  of  the  principal 
base  from  which  the  surveys,  as  they  are  continued,  are  laid  out  anew  ; 
the  range  lines  again  starting  at  correct  distances  from  the  principal 
meridian.  In  Michigan  these  correction  lines  are  repeated  at  the  end 
of  every  tenth  township,  but  in  Oregon  they  have  been  repeated  with 
every  fifth  township.  The  instructions  to  the  surveyors  have  been 
that  each  range  of  townships  should  be  made  as  much  over  six  miles 
in  width  where  it  closes  on  to  the  next  correction  line  north  ;  and  it  is 
further  provided  that  in  all  cases  where  the  exterior  lines  of  the  town- 
ships shall  exceed,  or  shall  not  extend,  six  miles,  the  excess  of  defi- 
ciency shall  be  specially  noted,  or  added  to  or  deducted  from  the 
western  or  northern  sections  or  half  sections  in  such  township,  accord- 
ing as  the  error  may  be  in  running  the  lines  from  east  to  west,  or 
from  south  to  north.  In  order  to  throw  the  excess  of  deficiencies  on 
the  north  and  on  the  west  sides  of  the  township,  it  is  necessary  to 
survey  the  section  lines  from  south  to  north,  on  a  true  meridian,  leav- 
ing the  result  in  the  north  line  of  the  township  to  be  governed  by  the 
convexity  of  the  earth  and  the  convergency  of  the  meridians. 

Navigable  rivers,  lakes  and  islands  are  "  meandered"  or  surveyed 
by  the  comjjass  and  chain  along  the  banks.  "  The  instruments  em- 
ployed on  these  surveys,  besides  the  solar  compass,  are  a  surveying 
chain  33  feet  long,  of  50  links,  and  another  of  smaller  wire,  as  a 
standard  to  be  used  for  correctins^  the  former  as  often  at  least  as 
every  other  day,  also  11  tally  pins,  made  of  steel,  telescope,  tar- 
gets, tape-measure  and  tools  for  marking  the  lines  upon  trees  or 
stones.  In  surveying  through  woods,  trees  intercepted  by  the  line 
are  marked  with  two  chips  or  notches,  one  on  each  side  ;  these  are 
called  sight  or  line  trees.  Sometimes  other  trees  in  the  vicinity  are 
blazed  on  two  sides  quartering  toward  the  line  ;  but  if  some  distance 
from  the  line,  the  two  blazes  should  be  near  together  on  the  side  facins: 
the  line.  These  are  found  to  be  permanent  marks,  not  wholly  recog- 
nizable for  many  years,  but  carrying  with  them  their  old  age  by  the 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  133 

rings  of  growth  around  the  bh\ze,  which  may  at  any  subsequent  time 
be  cut  out  and  counted  as  years  ;  and  the  same  are  recognized  in 
courts  of  law  as  evidence  of  the  date  of  survey.  They  cannot  be 
obliterated  by  cutting  down  the  trees  or  otherwise  without  leaving 
evidence  of  the  act.  Corners  are  marked  upon  trees  if  found  at  the 
right  spot,  or  else  upon  posts  set  in  the  ground,  and  sometimes  a  mon- 
ument of  stones  is  used  for  a  township  corner,  and  a  single  stone  for 
a  section  corner  ;  mounds  of  earth  are  made  when  there  are  no  stones 
nor  timber.  The  corners  of  the  four  adjacent  sections  are  designated 
by  distinct  marks  cut  into  a  tree,  one  in  each  section.  These  trees, 
facing  the  corner,  are  plainly  marked  with  the  letters  B.  T.  (bearing 
tree)  cut  into  the  wood.  Notches  cut  upon  the  corner  posts  or  trees 
indicate  the  number  of  miles  to  the  outlines  of  the  township,  or,  if  on 
the  boundaries  of  the  township,  to  the  township  corners. 

PHYSICAL    FEATURES. 

Kandolph  county  is  situated  in  the  north-east  central  part  of  the  State 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Macon  and  Shelby,  on  the  east  by 
Monroe  and  Audrain,  on  the  south  by  Howard  and  Boone  counties,  and 
on  the  west  by  Chariton  county.  Itcontains  307,677  acres.  The  Grand 
Divide  between  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers  passes  in  a  north- 
ern direction  through  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  leaving  more 
than  one-fourth  on  the  east  drained  by  streams  running  to  the  Missis- 
sippi, while  on  the  west  the  streams  flow  into  the  Missouri .  The  slopes 
east  of  this  divide  and  near  the  prairie  are  gentle,  but  as  the  streams 
enlarge,  the  hills  are  larger  also.  In  the  west,  along  Silver  creek,  the 
county  is  quite  hilly.  Between  the  Chariton  and  Sweet  Spring,  in  the 
west,  the  land  is  rolling  and  undulating.  The  slopes  adjacent  to  Dark 
and  Muncus  creeks  are  gentle,  becoming  more  hilly  near  the  Middle 
fork  of  the  Chariton.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  between  the 
East  and  Middle  forks,  the  country  is  undulating.  Near  the  East 
fork,  Walnut  and  Sugar  creek,  it  is  quite  hilly.  The  prairie  east  of 
the  Grand  Divide,  with  the  timber  skirting  it,  composes  about  one-third 
of  the  county,  and  is  finely  adapted  to  farming,  stock  raising  and 
general  agricultural  pursuits.  The  western  part  of  the  county  is 
mostly  timbered  land,  interspersed,  however,  with  rich  prairie,  and  is 
of  superior  productive  qualities.  The  timber  is  principally  elm,  cotton- 
wood,  shell-bark  hickory,  linden  and  burr,  swamp,  red,  white  and 
black  oak,  sycamore,  blackberry,  birch,  sugar  and  white  maple.  There 
are  some  large   bodies  of  very  rich  land  in  different  portions  of  the 


134  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

county.  The  bottoms  of  the  East  and  Middle  forks  of  the  Grand 
Chariton  and  Sweet  Spring  creel^s  are  very  flat,  but  have  generally 
been  sufficiently  drained  to  be  cultivated,  and  are  very  productive. 

There  are  several  prairies  in  the  county  which  contain  very  superior 
land  for  agricultural  purposes.  The  creek  bottoms  are  wonderfully 
rich,  and  where  not  too  flat,  or  being  flat  have  been  drained,  they  pro- 
duce remarkable  crops  of  the  cereals  and  grasses.  About  one-half  of 
the  county  is  prairie.  The  physical  features  of  Randolph  will  be  more 
clearly  set  forth  in  the  descriptions  of  the  various  townships.  It  is 
sufficient  here  to  say  that  the  county  is  rich  in  the  productive  energy 
that  characterizes  the  soil  of  Central  Missouri. 


CHAPTEK    Y. 

CAIRO  AND  CLIFTON  TOWNSHIPS. 

Cairo  Township  —  Old  Settlers  —  Cairo  — Its  History  —  Secret  Orders  —  Business 
Directory  —  Clifton  Township  —  Stock  Report  for  1880  —  Early  Settlers  —  A  Few  of 
their  Trials — Mills  —  Churches  —  Clifton  Hill — Secret  Orders  —  Business  Direc- 
tory. 

CAIRO    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  in  the  second  tier  of  townships  from  the  northern 
boundary  of  RandoIiDh,  and  in  the  central  north-east  part  of  the  county. 
It  contains  an  area  of  21,920  acres,  or  a  fraction  over  34  square  miles. 
The  "Grand  Divide  "  runs  in  a  north-westerly  direction  through  it, 
separating  it  into  two  nearly  equal  parts.  Its  territory  was  formerly 
a  part  of  Sugar  Creek  township. ' 

The  soil  is  a  rich  black  loam,  overlaying  a  substratum  of  stiff  clay 
that,  when  exposed  to  the  influences  of  rain  and  sunshine,  snow  and 
frost,  not  only  becomes  friable  and  arable,  but  imparts  a  peculiar  pro- 
ductive energy  to  the  soil  and  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  cultivation 
of  certain  crops.  Hence,  the  meadows  and  grass  fields  that  have  been 
deeply  stirred  are  among  the  best  in  the  State,  and  the  township  is 
noted  for  the  rich  and  nutritive  quality  of  its  grasses.  The  cereals, 
also,  are  cultivated  with  great  success,  and  with  proper  care  give  back 
a  liberal  return.  The  other  products  of  the  soil  are  such  as  are  com- 
mon to  the  county,  though  tobacco  is  cultivated  with  great  profit  — 
the  yield  large,  the  quality  good,  and  the  labor  necessary  to  its 
production  unusually  easy. 

About  two-thirds  of  the  territory  is  a  high  rolling  prairie.  There 
is,  however,  more  than  sufficient  timber  for  all  the  needs  of  the  farm. 
Indeed,  timber  is  little  used,  the  Osage  orange  being  extensively  used 
for  enclosing  fields  and  pastures,  and  coal,  of  which  there  is  abundance, 
being  used  for  fuel.  About  three-fourths  of  the  land  is  enclosed  and 
under  cultivation.  The  improvements  are  of  excellent  quality,  and 
are  annually  becoming  better  as  the  farmers  prosper. 

As  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  (north  end)  follows 
the  divide  and  runs  through  the  township,  even  the  farmers  who  reside 

4  (135) 


136  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

in  the  most  remote  parts  of  it  are  not  more  than  six  miles  from  a 
depot.  It  therefore  has  good  shipping  facilities,  and,  with  its  other 
advantages,  becomes  an  attractive  region  for  settlers. 

The  East  fork  of  Chariton  river  and  Walnut  creek  on  the  west 
side,  and  Mud  creek,  Elk  fork  and  Flat  creek  on  the  east,  afford  plenty 
and  never  failing  water  for  all  the  operations  of  the  farm. 

One  of  the  most  profitable  industries  of  the  township  is  sheep  cul- 
ture. There  are  more  sheep  in  Cairo,  in  proportion  to  area,  than  in 
any  other  township  in  the  county.  New  and  improved  breeds  have  been 
introduced,  and  great  care  is  taken  to  choose  those  best  adapted  to 
the  country,  and  yielding  the  largest  amount  of  wool.  The  annual 
wool  clip  is  large  and  rapidly  increasing.  The  yearly  sheep-shearing 
at  Cairo  is  a  season  of  festivity,  and  attended  by  many  farmers  and 
their  wives  of  the  surrounding  country.  It  is  conducted  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Cairo  Sheep  Breeders'  and  Wool  Growers'  Association, 
and  attracts  the  best  sheep  and  fleeces  of  the  country.  The  wool 
finds  ready  sale  at  Cairo,  the  only  town  in  the  township,  at  good 
prices. 

Other  live  stock  is  raised  for  sale  and  exportation,  and  the  amount 
shipped  to  foreign  markets  of  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  horses  and  mules, 
is  very  large,  returning  a  handsome  income  to  the  farmers. 

They  have  in  the  township  eight  well  furnished  and  finished  school 
houses,  and  four  or  five  churches,  one  Old  School  Baptist,  one  Meth- 
odist church,  one  Cumberland  Presbyterian  and  one  Union.  The  av- 
erage yield  of  farm  products  per  acre  is  as  follows  :  Corn,  30  bushels 
average,  extra,  60  bushels  ;  oats,  35  bushels  average,  extra,  50  bushels  ; 
hay,  one  and  a  half  tons,  extra,  two  tons  ;  tobacco,  average  1,000 
pounds. 

OLD    SETTLERS. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  Cairo  township  were  Leonard  Dodson, 
from  Kentucky  ;  Andrew  Goodding,  fr'om  Kentucky  ;  Samuel  Martin, 
from' Kentucky  ;  Col.  Robert  Boucher,  from  Kentucky  ;  Isaac  Baker, 
from  Kentucky  ;  Benj.  Huntsman,  from  Kentucky  ;  Daniel  McKinney, 
from  Kentucky  ;  James  Cochran,  from  Kentucky  ;  William  King,  from 
Kentucky ;  James  T.  Boney,  from  North  Carolina ;  Benjamin  Dam- 
eron,  from  North  Carolina ;  W.  S.  Dameron,  from  North  Carolina; 
Judge  Joseph   Goodding,  from  Kentucky. 

Judge  Joseph  Goodding  is  said  to  have  been  the  firsts  ettler  in 
the  township.  He  emigrated  to  Howard  county,  Mo.,  from  Ken- 
tucky, in  1818,  and  in  1823  located  in  Cairo  township.     He    was  a 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  137 

prominent  citizen,    and   filled  the  office  of  county  judge  three  or  four 
terms. 

W.  S.  Dameron  came  to  the  township  in  1841,  from  Huntsville, 
Mo.,  and  has  lived  in  Randolph  county  52  years.  He  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  October  29th,  1824. 

CAIRO. 

This  town,  of  250  population,  was  located  in  1860,  on  the  North 
division  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railway,  eight  miles 
from  Huntsville,  and  seven  miles  north  of  Moberly,  and  152  miles 
north-west  of  St.  Louis.  The  town  site  originally  comprised  40  acres, 
owned  by  W.  S.  Dameron,  who  donated  five  acres  for  depot  pur- 
poses. The  remaining  35  acres  were  laid  out  in  lots,  all  of  which 
have  since  been  sold.  The  new  town  was  at  first  called  Fairview,  but 
there  being  another  town  of  the  same  name,  it  was  changed  to  Cairo, 
at  the  sugujestion  of  Thomas  Dameron*  The  latter  name  was  not 
liked  by  some  of  the  citizens,  from  the  fact  that  goods  purchased 
by  Cairo  merchants  were  occasionally  shipped  to  Cairo,  111.  The 
town,  however,  has  retained  the  name  of  Cairo.  P.  G.  McDaniel, 
from  Kentucky,  erected  the  first  store  building  in  the  town  ;  Thomas 
Dameron,  the  first  dwelling  house,  located  east  of  the  railroad.  J. 
C.  Tedford  was  the  pioneer  physician.  Abner  Landram  was  the  first 
blacksmith,  and  Thomas  Carter  was  the  first  shoemaker.  B.  R. 
Boucher  taught  the  first  school.  The  Methodists  (M.  E.  Church 
South)  erected  the  first  church  edifice.  Thomas  Dameron  was  the 
first  postmaster,  and  wrote  the  first  mail  matter  that  was  sent  from 
the  town. 

SECRET     ORDERS. 

Lodge  No.  486,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  —  Was  organized  October  15, 
1874,  with  the  following  charter  members  :  W.  M.  Baker,  J.  A.  Han- 
nah, Isaac  H.  Newton,  W.  L.  Newton,  W.  G.  Griffin,  R.  H.  Mat- 
thews, H.  Huntsman,  John  Hoggs,  C.  E.  Llewellyn. 

Lodge  No.  362,  I.  0.  0.  F.  —  Organized  in  October,  1876.  The 
charter  members  were  Thomas  Lisk,  J.  W.  Carver,  J.  W.  Boatman, 
J.  F.  Newton,  Joseph  Wiggington,  Wm.  Wilson,  R.  P.  Rice. 

Lodge  No.  255,  A.  O.  U.  W. — This  lodge  was  formed  November 
26th,  1882,  with  the  following  charter  members  :  Dr.  J.  G.  Wilson, 
J.  W.  Baker,  W.  P.  Henson,  James  G.  Griffin,  R.  H.  Matthews, 
Samuel  Lowe,  D.  W.  Newton,  F.  E.  Hayues,  T.  L.  Day,  E.  S.  Day, 
S.  M.  Holbrook. 


138  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


BUSINESS    DIRECTORY.  ^ 

Two  general  stores,  two  blacksmiths,  one  drug  store,  one  hardware 
store,  one  lumber  yard,  one  hotel,  one  shoemaker,  one  saw  mill,  and 
one  wood-working  shop  are  located  in  this  place. 

CAIRO   WOOL-GROWERS    AND    STOCK-BREEDERS'    ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  organized  in  February,  1876,  with  the  follow- 
ing members:  D.  O.  Frayer,  J.  W.  Boney,  I.  H.  Newton,  James 
A.  Newton,  J.  W.  Huston,  John  S.  Bennett,  Hon.  Walker  Wright, 
A.  Smith,  F.  G.  Johnstone,  F.  E.  Haynes,  William  Haynes,  B.  C. 
Turner,  John  Hogg,  V.  Rollins,  J.  D.  Dameron,  D.  B.  Boucher,  B. 
R.  Boucher,  Judge  J.  F.  Hannah,  J.  D.  Peeler,  W.  L.  Landram, 
John  T.  Halliburton,  John  Huntsman,  W.  L.  Reynolds. 

The  officers  are:  W.  M.  Baker,  president;  J.  D.  Dameron,  vice- 
president;  F.  E.  Haynes,  secretary;  John  Hogg,  treasurer;  I. 
Hamp.  Newton,  corresponding  secretary. 

There  has  been  a  public  shearing  every  spring  since  the  association 
was  organized,  and  at  these  shearings  all  kinds  of  stock  are  exhibited. 

CLIFTON    TOWNSHIP. 

Clifton  is  the  middle  township  on  the  western  border  of  Randolph 
county.  It  is  five  miles  in  width  from  east  to  west,  its  greatest  length 
from  north  to  south  being  seven  and  a  half  miles,  giving  an  area  of 
about  321/2  square  miles.  It  is  watered  by  the  Middle  and  East  fork 
of  the  Chariton,  Muncus  and  Dark  creeks,  the  slopes  are  gentle  and 
the  land  lies  in  beautiful  waves.  Towards  the  southern  and  western 
parts  of  the  township  the  hills  become  more  abrupt,  and  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  East  fork,  on  the  south,  and  the  Middle  fork,  on  the  west,  it 
is  broken  and  somewhat  ragged.  This  is  one  of  the  best  farming  sec- 
tions of  the  county.  The  soil  is  deep  and  rich,  affording  such  a  vari- 
ety, that,  with  care  in  selection  of  position,  almost  any  crop  may  be 
developed  in  perfection.  About  one-third  of  the  township  is  prairie, 
the  balance  timber.  Nearly  all  the  prairie  land  is  enclosed  in  farms 
and  pastures.  Two-thirds  of  the  entire  township  is  in  cultivation  ; 
but  there  are  large  tracts  yet  to  be  brought  under  subjection  to  the 
plow,  which  may  be  opened  into  farms  that  will  hereafter  be  very 
valuable. 

The  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  passes  through  the 
southern  part  of  the  township,  and  no  point  in  it  is  distant  more  than 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


139 


seven  miles  from  that  road.  This  gives  a  convenient  outlet  to  all  the 
products  of  the  farm,  and  easy  shipping  of  live  stock  for  the  eastern 
market. 

The  farmers  of  this  section  are  introducing  improved  farm  imple- 
ments and  machinery,  and  with  new  methods  of  cultivation  they  are 
reaping  beneficial  results.  The  ordinary  crops  are  raised,  including 
tobacco,  and  in  this  township  the  latter  article  proves  to  be  not  only 
of  superior  quality  but  a  very  remunerative  crop.  It  is  probably  the 
banner  tobacco  township  of  the  county  in  proportion  to  area,  and  cap- 
italists have  not  been  slow  to  turn  this  fact  to  account,  by  establishing 
factories  for  prising  and  shipping  this  staple. 

All  the  field  crops  yield  heavy  harvests.  Corn  will  yield  8  to  12 
barrels  or  40  to  60  bushels  to  the  acre  ;  wheat,  15  to  25  bushels  ; 
oats,  40  to  50  bushels;  hay,  1  to  2  tons  ;  tobacco,  1,000  to  1,500 
pounds.  Besides  this,  rye  and  barley,  when  sown,  blue  grass  spon- 
taneously, and  clover  when  cultivated  give  back  rich  crops  to  the  agri- 
culturist. Live  stock  is  reared  at  very  light  cost  and  farm  products 
are  secured  with  less  labor  than  is  often  bestowed  in  other  sections  of 
the  country  in  obtaining  one-half  the  result. 

There  are  six  schools  in  the  township,  which  are  provided  with  neat 
and  comfortable  houses,  some  of  them  with  maps,  charts,  etc.,  and 
all  of  them,  during  school  months,  with  good  practical  teachers.  The 
schools  are  continued  four  to  eight  months  during  the  year ;  there 
are  four  churches,  three  Christian  and  one  Missionary  Baptist,  which  is 
used  as  well  by  the  Old  School  Baptists  and  Methodists,  two  grist  and 
saw  mills  and  two  tobacco  factories. 

Below  is  the  stock  report  for  Clifton  for  1880 :  — 


Cattle. 

Hogs. 

Cattle. 

Hogs. 

A.  Bradsher  . 

33 

63 

C.  P.  Summers  &  Co.     . 

90 

250 

D.  J.  Stamper 

16 

60 

W.  H.  Summers     . 

16 

30 

James  M.  Lea 

22 

60 

J.  F.  Fidler    . 

— 

67 

W.  B.  McCrary     . 

— 

60 

Richard  Fidler 

— 

27 

T.  B.  Stamper 

12 

30 

J.  K.  McLean 

16 

30 

J.  E.  Stamper 

8 

20 

J.  W.  Graves 

16 

30 

229 

727 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

Of  course,  it  is  not  expected  that  we  will,  or  can  give,  the  names  of 
all  the  early  settlers  of  Clifton  township,  or  of  any  other  township  in 
the  county.  This  would,  at  the  present  time,  be  simply  impossible, 
as  more  than  half  a  century  has  intervened  since  the  pioneers  began 
to  make  their  settlements,  and  no  record  of  that  date  has  been  made 


140  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

or  preserved.  We  should  be  glad  to  record  the  names  of  all  the  men 
who  braved  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of  pioneer  times,  and  present 
a  brief  sketch  of  their  lives,  together  with  a  few  of  their  prominent 
characteristics.  But  time  and  space  would  preclude  us  from  entering 
into  details,  which  would  doubtless  prove  to  be  of  so  much  interest  to 
the  reader,  and  consequently  we  must  content  ourselves  with  the 
names  of  such  of  the  pioneers  as  we  have  been  enabled  to  secure. 

Among  the  older  States  we  fiud  that  Kentucky  is  more  largely  rep- 
resented in  the  early  settlement  of  this  township  than  any  other.  In 
fact,  that  grand  old  State  has  contributed  possibly  more  to  the  settle- 
ment of  this  entire  region,  including  the  Boone's  Lick  country,  than  any 
other  two  combined.  Her  sons  and  her  daughters  have  ever  been  in 
the  front  ranks  of  civilization,  and  wherever  they  located,  lived  and 
died,  there  may  be  found  even  to  this  day,  among  the  present  genera- 
tion, many  of  the  traits  of  character  which  they  possessed. 

Joseph  Baker,  from  Kentucky  ;  Charles  Baker,  from  Kentucky  ; 
Noah  C.  Baker,  from  Kentucky ;  David  Harris,  from  Kentucky ; 
David  Proffit,  from  Kentucky,  Sadie  Baker,  from  Kentucky  ;  Wra. 
Titus,  from  Kentucky ;  Russell  Shoemaker,  from  Kentucky  ;  Levi 
Fox,  from  Tennessee  ;  Samuel  G.  Johnson,  from  Tennessee;  Joseph 
Harris,  from  Kentucky ;  Noah  C.  Harris,  from  Kentucky ;  James 
Holman,  from  Kentucky;  Hiram  Stamper,  from  Kentucky;  John  C. 
Turner,  from  Kentucky  ;  Augustine  Bradsher,  from  Kentucky  ;  Capt. 
N.  G.  Matlock,  from  Kentucky  ;  J.  M.  Summers,  from  Kentucky  ;  T. 
J.  Summers,  from  Kentucky  ;  Judge  D.  J.  Stamper,  from  Kentucky  ; 
James  Ferguson,  from  Kentucky;  A.  G.  Rucker,  from  Kentucky  ; 
David  Bozarth,  from  Kentucky  ;  F.  H.  Hackley,  from  Kentucky  ;  David 
Milan,  from  Kentucky;  W.  H.  Ball,  from  Kentucky;  W.  B.  Crutch- 
field,  from  Kentucky;  J.  M.  Creighton,  from  Kentucky;  W.  B.  Mc- 
Creary,  from  Kentucky  ;  J.  M.  Patton,  from  Kentucky  ;  E.  Greer, 
from  Kentucky  ;  Thomas  Williams,  from  Kentucky  ;  J.  H.  Wayland, 
from  Kentucky. 

Samuel  G.  Johnson,^  who  is  now  the  oldest  settler  living  in  the 
township,  in  speaking  of  the  events  of  50  years  ago,  said  :  "I  came 
to  the  township  October  16,  1833,  from  Wilson  county,  Tennes- 
see. We  all  lived  in  log  cabins.  My  cabin  had  a  board  roof,  which 
was  weighted  down  with  poles.  When  there  was  a  snow  storm  the 
snow  would  drift  through  the  roof,  and  after  the  storm  was  over,  the 
snow  would  be  almost  as  deep  on  the  inside  of  the  cabin  as  on  the  out- 


1  Born  ia  1807. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  141 

Side,  the  beds  being  covered  like  the  floor.  I  have  awaked  many  a 
mornino-  with  my  head  and  neck  covered  with  snow,  and  after  mak- 
ing a  fire  had  to  clear  away  the  snow  from  around  the  fire,  so  my  wife 
and  children  could  get  up  to  it  and  warm.  ,  ^,     ,       . 

''  The  floor  of  my  cabin  consisted  of  loose  planks,  sawed  by  hand. 
The  bedsteads  were  made  of  small  logs,  with  poles  put  across   and 

boards  laid  on  them." 

Such  was  the  primitive  method  of  living,  not  only  of  Mr.  Johnson, 
but  of  many  of  his  neighbors,  and  yet  there  were  compensations  and 
pleasures  which  were  experienced  by  these  pioneers,  that  are  wholly 
unknown  to  the  people  of  to-day.  The  forests  abounded  with  game, 
most  rich  and  rare,  and  all  the  streams  teemed  with  the  most  delicious 
and  delicate  varieties  of  the  finny  race.     Here  were  found':  — 

«'  The  bright-eyed  perch,  with  fins  of  various  dye; 
The  silver  eel,  in  shining  volumes  rolled ; 
The  yellow  carp,  in  scales  bedropt  with  gold ; 
Swift  trouts,  diversified  with  crimson  stains, 
And  pikes,  the  tyrants  of  the  watery  plains." 

The  first  mill  that  was  erected  in  Mr.  Johnson's  neighborhood,  or 
in  that  section  of  the  county,  was  built  by  Ezekiel  Richardson,  m 
1824,  on  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river.  Richardson  resided 
in  Chariton  county,  and  sold  the  mill  to  Levi  Fox. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  at  Joseph  Baker's  house,  but 
were  afterwards  held  at  Ezekiel  Richardson's  cabin,  about  the  year 
1828,  where  they  were  continued  until  1834,  when  Mr.  Johnson's 
cabin  was  used  as  a  house  of  worship.  After  a  period  of  four  or  five 
years,  a  small  house,  known  as  Johnson's  school  house,  was  erected, 
which  served  the  purposes  of  a  church  and  school.  Here  met  these 
humble  Christian  worshipers  until  1846,  when  a  larger  and  more 
costly  building  was  constructed  and  called  Providence  church.  This 
edifice,  although  not  a  very  stately  and  magnificent  one,  was  some- 
thino-  of  an  architectural  wonder,  as  it  contained  12  corners.  The 
services  above  mentioned  were  conducted  by  the  Methodists,  who  also 
erected  Providence  church.  Among  the  early  ministers  of  the  gospel 
was  Rev.  John  Shores,  a  Methodist. 

CLIFTON  HILL 

is  the  only  town  in  the  township,  and  was  laid  out  in  1866,  on  the 
south-east  quarter  of  the  north-east  quarter  of  section  35,  township 
54,  range  16,  and  was  named  after  David  Clifton,  who  came  from 


142  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Owen  county,  Kentucky,  about  the  year  1850,  and  was  the  owner  of 
the  town  site. 

William  Holman  erected  the  first  house  that  was  built  in  the  town. 
The  first  hotel  was  opened  by  Julius  Rogers.  Dr.  J.  J.  Watts  was  the 
first  physician  to  practice  in  the  town.  Dr.  E.  F.  Wilson  was  the  first 
resident  physician.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Ansel  Richard- 
son, from  Virginia.  William  Wagner  and  James  Maddox  were  the 
first  shoemakers,  and  W.  M.  Roberts  and  Cyrus  Clifton  were  the  pio- 
neer blacksmiths. 

BUSINESS    DIRECTORY. 

P.  S.  Baker,  drugs  and  post-master;  J.  B.  Lambeth,  general  mer- 
chandise ;  J.  J.  Grouss,  general  merchandise;  N.  Wiseman  &  Bro., 
general  merchandise  ;  J.  M.  Fidler,  shoemaker  ;,  J.  F.  Rogers,  hotel ; 
T.  A.  Morgan,  boarding-house. 

The  town  contains  a  Baptist  church  and  a  free  school ;  it  also  has 
railroad  and  telegraph  facilities,  a  daily  mail,  and  has  a  population  of 
about  150. 


CHAPTER    YI. 

CHARITON  TOWNSHIP. 

Its    Location  —  Its    Agricultural    Adaptability  —  Population  —  Darksville  —  Thomas 
Hill  — Rolling  Home— Old  Settlers. 

Chariton  township  lies  in  the  north-west  corner  of  Randolph,  and 
borders  on  Macon  and  Chariton  counties.  It  was  organized  in  1832, 
and  of  territory  originally  belonging  to  Salt  Spring  township,  and  ex- 
tended 12  miles  into  the  present  limits  of  Macon  county.  By  the 
subsequent  organization  of  that  county  Chariton  township  lost  two- 
thirds  of  its  territory,  and  was  reduced  to  its  present  dimensions  of 
54  square  miles  in  a  rectangular  shape,  being  nine  miles  long  from 
east  to  west,  by  a  width  of  six  miles  from  north  to  south. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  about  the  year  1829,  by  a  few 
families  on  each  side  of  Dark's  Prairie,  near  the  present  sites  of  Eldad 
and  Darksville.  These  were  followed  in  the  spring  and  fall  of  1830 
by  others,  and  from  that  time  the  country  was  rapidly  filled  up  by 
immigrants  from  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
In  about  three  years  from  the  time  of  its  first  settlement  it  had  ac- 
quired sufficient  population  to  justify  its  organization  into  a  separate 
township,  with  Joseph  Turner  its  first  magistrate  and  Henry  Smith 
its  first  constable. 

The  soil  of  this  township,  while  ranking  along  with  the  best  in  the 
county,  is  remarkable  for  the  uniformity  of  its  adaptability  to  agri- 
cultural and  grazing  purposes.  There  is  very  little  waste  land  in  the 
whole  township,  and  scarcely  an  acre  can  be  found  that  is  not  valuable 
for  growing  grass  or  grain.  The  soil  is  principally  a  black  loam  of 
great  fertility,  and  sufficiently  undulating  to  avert  disaster  from  the 
crops  in  extremely  wet  seasons,  and  yet  sufficiently  retentive  of  moist- 
ure to  preserve  them  from  total  failure  in  extreme  drouths.  The 
township  is  about  equally  divided  between  timber  and  prairie  land, 
the  timber  embracing  wide  margins  along  the  streams,  and  the  prairie 
occupying  the  intervening  space.  This  natural  arrangement  atforded 
the  early  settlers  ample  scope  for  selecting  their  lands  with  a  proper 
division  of  timber  and  prairie,  and  has  resulted  in  the  establishment 

(143) 


144  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  some  of  the  best  organized  farms  for  mixed  husbandry  in  the  county. 
The  timber  is  principally  white  oak,  black  oak,  pin  oak,  elm,  and 
hickory,  with  some  burr  oak  and  walnut.  The  township  is  well  watered 
by  four  principal  streams  and  their  tributaries,  all  flowins  from  north 
to  south,  and  so  well  distributed  as  to  furnish  abundant  stock  water 
convenient  to  all  the  farms  the  year  round.  Along  the  eastern  mar- 
gin of  the  township  flows  the  East  fork  of  the  Chariton,  and  through 
the  central  portion.,  at  an  average  distance  of  two  miles,  are  Dark 
creek,  Muncas  creek,  and  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton,  while  the 
western  portion  is  watered  by  a  tributary  of  the  Chariton  river,  the 
latter  of  which  flows  from  north  to  south  just  outside  of  the  western 
boundary.  Surface  springs  are  not  abundant,  but  unfailing  living 
water  is  of  easy  access  in  well  distributed  localities  throughout  the  en- 
tire township,  by  sinking  wells  to  a  depth  of  10  to  30  feet. 

So  well  is  this  township  adapted  to  general,  mixed  and  varied  farm- 
ing, that  more  than  three-fourths  of  its  eutire  territory  are  now  fenced, 
and  are  either  under  the  plow,  in  blue  grass  pasture  or  in  meadow. 

In  population,  this  township  ranks  fourth  of  the  11  townships 
in  the  county,  and  this  without  a  town  of  any  magnitude  or  a  railroad 
station  within  its  borders.  Its  inhabitants  are  en2:ao;ed  almost  ex- 
clusively  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  well-improved  condition  of 
their  farms  indicate  their  general  prosperity. 

There  are  three  election  precincts  in  this  township,  one  at  Darks- 
ville  on  the  east,  one  at  Rolling  Home  on  the  west,  and  the  third  at 
Thomas  Hill  near  central  portion. 

At  Darksville^  area  dry-goods  and  grocery  store,  a  blacksmith 
shop,  a  cabinet  shop,  a  saw  and  corn  mill,  a  wagon  shop,  a  shoe  shop, 
and  a  tobacco  factory  which  was  built  and  managed  by  the  Grange  at 
that  place.  W.  S.  Campbell  is  the  postmaster,  and  Dr.  R.  A.  Ter- 
rill,  who  resides  on  his  farm  adjoining  the  town,  and  Dr.  W.  P. 
Terrill  are  the  physicians.     Darksville  was  settled  in  1856. 

At  Thomas  Hill  are  an  extensive  dry-goods  and  grocery  store,  a 
drug  store,  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  wagon  shop  and  a  saw  and  grist  mill. 
There  is  at  this  place  one  physician.  Dr.  W.  W.  Vasse.  J.  R.  Wren 
is  postmaster,  and  W.  A.  Hunnes  justice  of  the  peace. 

At  Rolling  Home  are  a  dry-goods  and  grocery  store  and  a  black- 


1  Darksville  takes  its  name  from  a  creek  called  Dark  creek.  William  Elliott  was 
hunting  in  the  township  in  1821,  and  night  overtaking  him  on  the  banks  of  a  creek, 
he  camped  all  night,  and  said  that  it  was  the  darkest  night  he  ever  saw;  hence  the 
name,  Dark  creek. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  145 

smith  shop.     J.  B.  Carney  is  the  postmaster,  and  Joseph  H.  Frazier, 
physician. 

The  people  along  the  eastern  and  southern  borders  of  this  township 
are  well  accommodated  with  railroad  advantages  by  depots  on  the  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railroad  at  Jacksonville,  Cairo, 
Huntsville  and  Clifton  Hill,  but  the  people  in  the  central,  northern  and 
western  portions  have  to  travel  from  6  to  12  miles  to  reach  a  shipping 
point.  This  difficulty  will  be  overcome  in  time,  however,  by  the 
building  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  which  has  been  pro- 
jected through  the  entire  width  of  the  western  side  of  this  township. 
The  completion  of  this  road,  already  in  operation  from  Glasgow  to 
Salisbury,  is  only  a  question  of  time,  and  will  be  accomplished  as 
soon  as  the  financial  prosperity  of  the  county  is  securely  re-estab- 
lished. 

The  educational  advantages  of  this  township  are  well  maintained  by 
eight  well-built  and  commodious  school-houses,  in  which  the  public 
schools  are  kept  open  from  four  to  eight  months  during  the  year. 

There  are  six  churches  in  this  township  —  two  of  the  Calvinist  Bap- 
tists, two  of  the  Missionary  Baptists  and  two  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterians.  There  is  very  little  selfishness  or  sectarianism  among 
the  people,  however,  and  most  of  these  churches  are  occupied  at 
stated  intervals  for  public  worship  by  the  Methodist,  Christian  and 
other  Protestant  denominations.  Well-organized  Sunday  schools, 
under  the  guidance  of  zealous  and  efficient  teachers,  are  kept  up  in 
these  churches  the  year  ropnd,  and  the  morals  of  this  fine  rural  dis- 
trict are  further  protected  in  the  fact  that  there  is  not  a  single  drink- 
ing saloon,  or  place  of  public  resort  of  questionable  moral  tendencies, 
within  the  limits  of  the  entire  township. 

There  are  four  resident  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  this  township  : 
Revs.  James  Bradley  and  James  P.  Carter  of  the  Calvinist  Baptists, 
Rev.  J.  E.  Ancell  of  the  Missionary  Baptist,  and  Rev.  M.  B.  Broaddus 
of  the  Methodist  church. 

The  agricultural  products  of  Chariton  township  consist  mainly  of 
tobacco,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  and  timothy.  That  large  and  re- 
munerative yields  of  these  crops  arc  made,  is  abundantly  attested 
by  the  following  estimates  gathered  from  intelligent  and  reliable 
farmers  of  that  locality  :  An  extra  crop  per  acre  of  corn  is  50  bushels  ; 
of  tobacco,  1,200  lbs.  ;  of  wheat,  30  bushels  ;  of  oats,  40  bushels,  and 
of  rye,  35  bushels.  An  average  crop  per  acre  of  corn  is  40  bushels  ; 
of  tobacco,  800  lbs.  ;  of  wheat,  20  bushels:  of  oats,  25  bushels,  and 
of  rye,  25  bushels. 


146  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Below  is  a  statement  of  stock  fed  in  Thomas  Hill  precinct  in  1880  : 


Cattle 

.    Hogs. 

Cattle. 

Hogs. 

A.  J.  Baker   . 

.     15 

20 

G.  W.  Hix      . 



9 

D.  Milam 

.     10 

35 

I.  S.  McCully 



38                1 

Jolm  R.  Wrenn     . 

.     51 

400 

W.  C.  Johnson 



35 

Wm.  W.  Vasse 

.     — 

40 

Lee  S.  Alexander 



20 

James  Ficklin 

,     — 

18 

John  S.  Green 



35 

S.  T.  Campbell     . 

,     — 

10 

H.  B.  Ficklin 



60 

F.  M.  McLean 

.     38 

64 

A.  Lyon   . 



10 

John  H.  Richmond 

.     — 

60 

Rome  Tood    . 



13 

A.  J.  Powell 

.     — 

22 

L  M.  Robertson     . 



20 

W.  H.  Broaddus  . 

.     — 

10 

Gid  Haines     . 



35 

Thomas  T.  Edwards    . 

,     — 

40 

David  Haines 



12 

John  T.  Harlan    . 

.     — 

15 

G.  I.  Carney 

.     32 

165 

Total 

.     .  146 

1186 

OLD  SETTLERS. 

John  Summers,  Aaron  Summers,  Johnson  Wright,  Allen  Wright, 
Hezekiah  Wright,  Nathan  Barrow,  Daniel  Barrow,  Joshua  Phipps 
and  James  Phipps,  from  Kentucky  ;  Robert  Grimes,  from  Virginia  ; 
Robert  Elliott,  Robert  Elliot,  Jr.,  William  Cristal,  Thomas  Rice, 
A.  R.  Rice,  William  H.  Rice,  George  Shipp  and  Owen  Singleton,  from 
Kentucky  ;  John  W.  W^.  Sears,  from  Virginia  ;  Philip  Baxter,  William 
Terry,  Jonathan  Cozac  and  E.  H.  Trimble,  from  Kentucky  ;  John  H. 
Hall,  from  Maine  ;  William  Rutherford  and  John  McCully,  from  Ken- 
tucky ;  Mathias  Turner,  Joseph  Turner  and  John  M.  Turner,  from 
Tennessee  ;  Mrs.  Wright,  Mrs.  Mary  Dawkins  and  Henry  Griffith,  from 
Kentucky  ;  John  M.  Gates,  Giles  F.  Cook  and  James  Carter,  from 
Virginia;  James  Lingo,  Samuel  Lingo,  G.  W.  Harland,  Isaac  Har- 
land  and  James  Harland,  from  Tennessee  ;  Hancock  Jackson  and  Will- 
iam Sumpter,  from  Kentucky  ;  Burchard    McCormick,  John  Gaines 

and  John  Head,  from  Virginia  ;  Thomas  Roberts  and Chitwood, 

from  Kentucky;  James  Holeman,  Thomas  Gillstrap  and  Thomas 
White  ;  William  Brogan  and  Henry  Brogan,  from  North  Carolina ;  — 
Black  ;  Nathaniel  Tuley,  from  Virginia  ;  James  Hinton,  from-  North 
Carolina  ;  Green  Shelton  and  N.  Tuttle,  from  Tennessee  ;  WiUiam  A. 
Hall  and  John  H.  Hall,  from  Maine  ;  Dr.  R.  L.  Grizard,  from  Tennessee  ; 
Dr.  Stephen  Richmond,  from  North  Carolina ;  John  Harland,  Josiah 
Harland,  Lee  Harland,  Josiah  Smith,  Henry  Smith,  John  Smith,  James 
Smith,  William  Beard,  Josiah  Taylor,  from  Tennessee  ;  William  Redd, 
from  Virginia  ;  JohnRichmond  Samuel  Richmond,  JamesM.  Richmond, 

John  Dameron  and  James  Dameron,from  North  Carolina  ; Pipes 

and  William  Pipes,  from  Kentucky  ;  John  Hix,  Elliott  R.  Thomas, 

Henry   Thomas,    Lowden    Thomas,    Haines,     from   Virginia ; 

Bruce  Stewart,  Frances  Terrell,  Ned  Stinson,  John  Wilks,  Tyra  Baker, 
Andrew  Baker,  Douglas  Baker,  Alfred  McDaniel,  Thomas  Kirkpatrick, 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  147 

Ephriam  Snell,  Jordan  Elliott,  Perry  Elliott,  William  Elliott,  Jr.,  H. 
M.  Rice,  Joshua  Rice,  Bennett  Rice,  Yancey  Gray,  Mike  McCully,  John 
McCuley,  Jr.,  Robert  Turner,  Elijah  Turner,  John  Turner,  Carroll 
Holman,  John  Godard,  Samuel  Turner,  Bartlett  Anderson,  John  R. 

Anderson,  CrafFord  Powers, Campbell,  John  Campbell,  Thomas 

Campbell,  William  Edwards,  James  Lamb,  Ashbury  Summers,  Thomas 
Egan,  Benjamin  Cozad,  John  Terrill,  Caswell  Smith,  Grant  Allan, 
Henry  Johnson,  George  H.  Hall,  George  W.  Barnhart,  and  Silas 
Phipps. 

The  settlers  above  named  located  in  the  township  before  1848. 

One  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  the  township  was  Judge  Joseph  Tur- 
ner. He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1802,  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Tennessee  in  1815,  was  married  in  1822,  and  moved  to  Missouri 
and  entered  the  land  on  which  he  now  resides,  near  Eldad  church,  in 
1830.  He  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  before  the  township 
was  organized,  and  had  jurisdiction  to  the  Iowa  line.  He  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  until  1850.  In  1861  he  was  appointed 
county  court  justice,  was  president  of  that  body,  and  held  the  posi- 
tion nearly  six  years.  When  he  first  settled  he  had  for  neighbors 
Joseph  Holman,  George  Epperly,  Richard  Blue  and  Asa  Kirby.  These 
were,  perhaps,  the  first  settlers  on  the  west  side  of  Dark's  prairie. 
Richard  Blue  and  Asa  Kirby  were  the  only  heads  of  families  then  re- 
sidino;  west  of  the  Middle  fork.  Judo;e  Turner  lived  in  Chariton 
township  54  years  at  his  present  residence,  where  he  raised  a  family 
of  eight  children,  three  boys  and  five  girls,  all  now  living,  and  most 
of  them  around  him,  except  one  son  who  died  out  West  about  1877. 

The  only  other  survivor  of  those  very  early  times,  now  living  in  the 
township,  and  a  close  neighbor  of  Judge  Turner's,  is  John  Richmond. 
He  moved  to  Randolph  county  from  Tennessee  in  1830,  and  lived  in 
Silver  Creek  township  until  the  fall  of  1832,  when  he  entered  120 
acres  of  land  where  he  now  lives,  and  built  his  cabin  upon  it  in  pioneer 
style.  He  has  since  increased  his  farm  to  520  acres,  and  now  occu- 
pies quite  a  commodious  dwelling,  built  some  25  years  ago.  He  is  now 
in  his  79th  year,  and  has  raised  a  family  of  six  children,  four  boys  and 
two  girls,  all  now  living.  When  he  first  came  to  the  township,  the  first 
settlers  of  that  neighborhood,  already  mentioned,  had  been  increased 
by  the  addition  of  Yancey  Gray,  Mark  Crabtree,  Samuel  Richmond, 
Josiah  Smith,  Henry  Smith,  James  Lingo,  Samuel  Lingo,  Isaac  Har- 
lan, John  Withes,  Andrew  Baker,  Tyree  Baker,  Jesse  Miller,  Thomas 
Kirkpatrick  and  Greenbury  Shelton.     Some  of  these  made  their  set- 


148  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

tlements  about  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Richmond.  Among  those  who 
settled  in  his  neighborhood  soon  after  him,  he  remembers,  Daniel 
Milam,  John  Gray,  Jonathan  Haynes,  Thomas  Brookes,  John  Mc- 
CuUy  and  Madison  Richmond.  On  the  east  side  of  Dark's  prairie, 
south  and  east  of  the  present  site  of  Darksville,  were  living  at  that 
time  (1832)  Johnson  Wright,  John  Waymire,  Joseph  Summers, 
Hodge  England,  and  Pleasant  and  Nicholas  Tuttle.  With  the  last 
named  lived  their  father,  a  very  aged  man  and  a  revolutionary  soldier, 
whom  our  informant  remembers  to  have  seen  on  election  and  parade 
days  surrounded  by  crowds  listening  to  his  account  of  the  part  he  took 
in  the  War  of  Independence. 

One  of  the  most  eccentric  men  that  ever  lived  in  the  township  was 
Johnson  Wright.  He  was  at  first  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  but  did 
not  entirely  agree  in  doctrine  with  any  religious  denomination,  and  we 
doubt  if  he  ever  belonged  to  any  church.  He  sold  his  farm  in  Chari- 
ton township  in  1837,  and  moved  to  Macon,  which  county  he  soon 
afterward  represented  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  in  the  habit 
of  doing  some  things,  which,  although  not  considered  immoral  in 
themselves,  were  nevertheless  thought  to  be  unbecoming  the  character 
of  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  But  he  always  justified  himself  by  quo- 
tations from  the  scriptures,  and  by  citing  the  example  of  some  old 
patriarch  who  indulged  in  the  same  practices.  Among  other  things, 
he  was  very  fond  of  the  game  of  euchre,  and  claimed  that  this,  his 
favorite  amusement,  had  the  divine  sanction,  because  he  had  seen  the 
word  "  Eucharist"  in  the  Bible.  He  returned  to  Chariton  township 
about  the  year  1847,  where  he  lived  till  his  death,  some  years  after. 
Towards  the  latter  part  of  his  life  some  of  his  eccentricities  were  so 
absurd  that  most  of  his  acquaintances  considered  him  insane.  He 
voted  at  the  August  election  of  1850  at  Huntsville,  but  his  ballot  con- 
tained only  the  name  of  "Jesus  Christ  for  the  office  of  Head  of  the 
Church."  When  it  was  suggested  to  him  that  Christ  had  been  elected 
to  that  office  over  1800  years  ago,  his  reply  was  :  "  Well,  if  it  has 
been  that  long  it  is  time  he  was  re-elected."  His  erratic  notions  on 
religious  subjects  culminated  before  his  death  in  his  deeding  his  farm 
to  Christ  (see  deed  in  Chapter  III. ),  upon  the  fancied  consideration,  no 
doubt,  that  he  would  be  granted  an  equivalent  interest  in  the  happy 
land  of  Canaan.  He  was,  withal,  one  of  the  kindest  of  men,  and  had 
the  friendship  and  regard  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  several 
times  married,  and  raised  quite  a  family  of  children,  some  of  whom 
and  his  widow,  we  believe,  still  live  in  Chariton  township. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  149 

Amons:  the  stronsrest  minded  and  most  influential  men  of  his  day  in 
that  township  was  John  M.  Yates.  He  immigrated  from  Kentucky  to 
Randolph  county  about  40  years  ago,  and  after  living  a  year  or  two 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  settled  on  Dark's  prairie  about 
the  year  1835,  and  died  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  one  he  first  settled 
in  the  year  1872.  He  was  twice  married  and  raised  15  children, 
13  of  his  own  and  2  step-daughters.  Most  of  them  are  still  liv- 
ing in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  among  whom  we  can  mention 
Mrs.  George  Chapman  and  Mrs.  Hugh  Trimble,  of  Dark's  prairie; 
Mrs.  John  S.  McCanne  and  Dr.  Paul  Yates,  of  Jacksonville;  Mrs. 
Elijah  Turner  and  Dr.  William  Yates,  of  Macon  county,  and  Mrs.  W. 
T.  McCanne,  of  Moberly. 

Mr.  Yates  was  an  uncle  of  the  celebrated  Richard  Yates,  once 
Governor  of  Illinois  and  U.  S.  Senator  from  that  State,  and  was  him- 
self a  man  of  much  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  soundness  of 
judgment.  Had  he  turned  his  attention  to  public  life  in  his  early  man- 
hood, and  pursued  it  with  the  energy  necessary  to  bringing  out  his 
great  natural  capabilities,  he  would  have  equaled,  if  not  surpassed  in 
eminence,  his  distinguished  relative. 

Judge  William  A.  Hall  was  born  and  partly  raised  in  the  State  of 
Maine.  His  father  having  been  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  U.  S. 
armory  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  that 
place,  and  when  they  moved  to  Chariton  township,  about  the  year 
1839,  he  soon  followed  them,  being  then  a  young  man  nearly  25 
years  of  age.  About  that  time  his  father  died,  and  he  made  his 
home  with  his  widowed  mother,  although  he  kept  his  law  office  in 
Fayette,  Mo.,  and  for  a  short  time  edited  a  Democratic  paper  in  that 
place.  He  made  regular  visits  to  his  mqther's  home  in  Chariton 
county  whenever  his  professional  duties  would  permit,  and  very  often 
walked  the  entire  distance  of  over  thirty  miles.  He  rapidly  advanced 
to  the  front  rank  in  his  profession,  and  on  the  death  of  Judge  Leland, 
which  occurred  about  the  year  1846,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor 
judge  of  this  judicial  circuit,  a  position  to  which  he  was  continuously 
re-elected  until  1861,  when  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  district  of 
which  Randolph  was  a  part,  in  the  U.  S.  Congress.  About  the  time 
he  was  first  appointed  judge,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Octavia  Sebree, 
a  niece  and  adopted  daughter  of  Uriel  Sebree,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Howard  county.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  settled  on  his  farm,  now 
known  as  the  Broaddus  farm,  in  Chariton  township,  where  he  remained 
until  he  removed  to  Huntsville  in  1861,  and  the  following  year  to  a 
farm  near  that  place. 


150  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

In  the  winter  of  1860-61,  Judge  Hall  was  chosen,  with  Gen.  Ster- 
ling Price,  to  represent  this  senatorial  district,  then  composed  of  Ran- 
dolph and  Chariton  counties,  in  the  State  convention  called  by  the 
Legislature  to  consider  the  relations  between  the  State  of  Missouri  and 
the  general  government,  in  view  of  the  then  impending  crisis  which 
threatened  a  disruption  of  the  Union  by  the  secession  of  the  Southern 
States.  In  that  convention  he  sided  with  the  majority  in  favor  of  the 
State  continuing  her  allegiance  and  loyalty  to  the  Union,  and  during 
the  war  that  followed  remained  a  faithful  and  consistent  Union  man. 
By  his  conservative  position  and  able  management  he  did  more  to 
protect  the  Southern  people  of  this  county  and  State  from  military 
despotism  and  the  lawless  acts  of  an  unrestrained  soldiery,  than  any 
other  man.  And  those  who  truly  and  fully  appreciate  the  value  of 
his  services  in  those  precious  times,  will  long  hold  him  in  grateful  re- 
membrance. He  was  twice  elected  to  Cono-ress  during  the  war,  and 
at  its  close  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Huntsville,  in 
which  he  continued  until  about  1874,  when  he  improved  another  farm 
in  the  north-west  corner  of  Chariton  township,  where  he  resided  in 
complete  retirement  from  public  life,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family  and 
surrounded  by  his  flocks  and  herds. 

Among  the  most  noted  men,  and  the  giant  of  Randolph  county,  who 
was  raised  in  Chariton  township  and  still  resides  there,  is  Thomas  Gee. 
His  weight  is  about  300  pounds,  his  height  about  6  feet  4  inches, 
and  his  age  between  35  and  40  years.  His  great  weight  is  not  alto- 
gether due  to  excess  of  flesh,  but  is  attributable  in  a  great  measure  to 
large  bones  and  heavy  muscles.  Although  he  was  nearly  as  large  in 
1861  as  he  is  now,  yet  he  enlisted  in  the  Conffederate  army,  marched 
on  foot  through  the  campaigns  of  four  years,  and  surrendered  at  the 
close  with  the  remnant  of  that  band  of  heroes  who  fought  it  out  to  the 
bitter  end.  Accepting  the  situation,  he  returned  to  Chariton  town- 
ship, where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 

He  takes  great  interest  in  politics,  goes  to  Jefferson  City  whenever 
the  Legislature  sits  and  always  gets  some  employment  about  the  capi- 
tol  during  the  session.  He  does  up  his  work  during  the  hours  of  ad- 
journment, so  as  to  have  his  leisure  to  spend  in  the  House  or  Senate 
during  the  sittings.  He  always  gives  a  barbecue  or  more  on  election 
years,  which  he  gets  up  in  good  style,  invites  all  the  candidates,  and 
manages  so  as  to  have  everybody  in  the  neighborhood  present.  The 
candidate  that  has  any  hope  at  all  of  getting  the  vote  of  Chariton  town- 
ship never  thinks  of  missing  one  of  Tom  Gee's  barbecues. 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

Stock  fed  at  Thomas  Hill  post-office  in  1880  : 

Cattle.  Hogs.  Sheep. 

■William  McCanne 20  —  60 

Brown  &  Sons 60  —  — 

H.  T.  Lamb —  —  62 

David  Connell —  —  — 

J.  W.  McCanne 20  —  — 

J.  H.  Penney 120  60  50 

Total         .        .        • 220  60  172 

5 


151 


Mules. 
35 
10 

74 

77 

196 


CHAPTER    YIL 

JACKSON  AND  MONITEAU  TOWNSHIPS. 

Jackson  Township  —  Early  Settlers — Jacksonville  —  Its  early  History  —  Business 
Directory  —  Secret  Orders  —  Moniteau  Township  —  Early  Settlers  —  Mills  — 
Schools  —  Farms  and  Stock  —  Higbee  —  Secret  Orders  —  Business  Directory  — 
Stock  Eeport  for  1880. 

Jackson  township  is  the  middle  township  oh  the  northern  border  of 
the  county.  It  is  somewhat  irreguUir  in  shape,  and  is  less  in  size 
than  a  congressional  township,  having  an  area  of  17,400  acres, 
or  27V2  square  miles.  It  is  watered  on  the  west  by  the  East  fork 
of  the  Chariton  and  Walnut  creek,  and  on  the  east  by  Hoover  and 
Mud  creeks.  Almost  every  acre  of  the  soil  is  susceptible  of  cultiva- 
tion. Prairie  and  timber  land  are  about  equal.  Its  valuable  minerals 
consist  of  coal,  limestone  and  fire  clay.  Three-fourths  of  Jackson 
township  is  in  cultivation,  and  the  farms  generally  are  in  good  condition. 
The  prairie  is  undulating,  and  in  its  wild  state,  produces  a  strong, 
healthy  and  vigorous  growth  of  native  grasses.  In  a  state  of  cultiva- 
tion it  yields  generously  to  the  care  and  culture  of  the  husbandman, 
all  the  grains,  grasses,  roots  and  fruits  usually  cultivated  in  this  lati- 
tude. The  minerals  are  coal,  limestone,  and  brick  clay.  The  average 
yield  of  farm  products  per  acre  is  as  follows:  Corn,  25  bushels  aver- 
age, extra,  40  bushels  ;  wheat,  15  bushels  average,  extra,  20  bushels  ; 
oats,  25  bushels  average,  extra,  40  bushels  ;  hay,  IV4  tons  aver.age, 
extra,  2  tons  ;  tobacco  average  800  pounds.  Very  little  tobacco  is 
raised  in  the  township.  It  has  three  mills,  six  school-houses  con- 
veniently located  and  well  built  and  furnished. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

The  early  settlers  in  Jackson  township  settled  generally  along  the 
course  of  the  streams,  and  in  the  timber  ;  in  fact  the  pioneers  through- 
out this  Western  country  all  sought  the  timber  and  water.  The 
prairies  were  not  settled  until  many  years  had  passed.  Many  of  the 
pioneers  were  poor,  and  did  not  have  teams  sufficient  to  break  the 
prairie,  as  it  required  from  three  to  four  good  yoke  of  oxen  to  draw 
the  plow,  and  coming  as  they  did  from  Kentucky  and  other  States, 
(152) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  153 

which  were  originally  covered  with  dense  forests,  they  naturally  located 
conveniently  near  to  or  in  the  timber.  The  old  settlers  now  say,  the 
prairie  land  has  undergone  a  great  change  since  they  first  came  to  the 
county  ;  it  then  appeared  to  be  of  a  cold,  wet,  and  clammy  nature, 
and  did  not  possess  the  same  productive  quality  that  it  now  has.  As 
the  country  became  opened  and  settled,  and  the  prairies  were  grazed 
and  trodden  by  stock,  their  productive  qualities  were  greatly  improved 
until  they  are  now  considered  the  better  farming  lands. 

Jackson  township  is  not  so  well  watered  naturally  as  some  other 
townships.  The  streams  generally  vein  the  western  and  south-eastern 
portion  of  it.  Walnut  creek,  the  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river. 
Hoover  and  Mud  creeks,  and  their  tributaries,  all  take  their  rise  in 
this  township,  and  all  flow  south-west  and  south-east  excepting  Hoover 
creek,  which  flows  north-east. 

'  The  early  settlers  included  some  of  the  following  names  :  Henry 
Owens,  from  Kentucky  ;  Isaac  Reynolds,  from  Kentucky  ;  John  Coul- 
ter, from  Kentucky  ;  Robert  Stevens,  from  Kentucky  ;  William  Mc- 
Canne,  from  Kentucky ;  H.J.  McCanne,  from  Kentucky  ;  Thomas 
McCanne,  from  Kentucky;  Nathaniel  Sims,  from  Kentucky;  Benj. 
Poison,  from  Kentucky;  James  W.  Lamb,  from  Kentucky;  Milton 
Durham,  from  Kentucky  ;  Stokely  W.  Towles,  from  Kentucky  ;  Leon- 
ard Hill,  from  Virginia  ;  John  Hore,  from  Virginia  ;  George  W.  Hore, 
from  Virginia;  David  McCanne,  from  North  Carolina;  L.  C.  Davis, 
from  North  Carolina;  Jonathan  Hunt,  from  Virginia  ;  John  Ancell, 
from  Virginia  ;  Frank  Ancell,  from  Virginia;  C.  F.  Burckhartt,  from 
Virginia  ;  Frank  Sims,  from  Tennessee  ;  William  Bailey,  from  Tennes- 
see ;  John  H.  Penny,  from  Virginia. 

Among,  the  oldest  living  settlers  are  Henry  Owens  and  James 
W.  Lamb.  Mr.  Lamb  came  in  November,  1837,  from  Casey  county, 
Kentucky,  and  has  followed  farming  until  a  few  years  ago,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  keeping  hotel  in  the  town  of  Jacksonville.  Li  1837 
there  were  no  settlements  on  the  prairie.  A  road  ran  north  and  south 
through  the  township,  called  the  "Bee  Trace,"  so  called  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  the  route  traveled  by  the  old  pioneers  who  hunted 
wild  honey,  which  was  worth  at  that  time  twenty  cents  a  gallon. 

Mr.  Lamb  occupied  his  time  after  his  arrival  in  the  township,  cut- 
ting timber  and  splitting  rails  at  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  a  hun- 
dred, and  sawing  planks  with  a  rip-saw  at  $1.50  per  hundred  feet. 
Tobacco  was  raised  at  an  early  date,  and  taken  to  Glasgow,  where  it 
was  sold  to  the  merchants  and  shipped  to  St.  Louis  and  elsewhere,  for 
$1.50  per  hundred  pounds.     Bacon  was  worth  $2.25  per  hundred. 


154  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

After  remaining  here  a  few  years  Mr.  Lamb  went  back  to  Kentucky 
and  while  there,  married.  After  his  marriage  he  determined  to  return 
to  Eandolph  county,  and  in  1842  he  started  upon  his  journey  of  nearly 
600  miles,  with  only  $10  in  money,  his  wife,  a  horse  and  buggy,  and 
after  traveling  26  days,  he  arrived  at  his  new  home,  having  spent  all 
his  money,  excepting  seventy-five  cents.  Deer  were  so  numerous  from 
1835  to  1840  that  oftentimes  30  and  40  could  be  seen  at  one  time. 
Nothing  like  it  can  now  be  seen  on  the  American  continent. 

"  By  chase  our  long-lived  fathers  earned  their  food; 
Toil  strung  the  nerves,  and  purified  the  blood; 
But  we,  their  sons,  a  pampered  race  of  men, 
Are  dwindled  down  to  three-score  years  and  ten," 

Humphrey  and  Brock  erected  the  first  saw  mill  in  the  township, 
which  was  soon  destroyed  by  fire,  and  immediately  rebuilt,  when  it 
was  sold  to  George  "W.  Jones,  who  combined  it  with  a  grist  mill. 
Jones  sold  to  Benjamin  Sims,  its  present  owner.  The  mill  is  located 
about  half  a  mile  north  of  Jacksonville,  at  a  spring,  which  furnishes 
water  during  the  dry  seasons  for  many  of  the  citizens  of  the  town. 

The  first  church  that  was  built  in  the  township  was  also  located  at 
this  spring  by  the  Christian  denomination  in  1852,  and  was  a  union 
church.     Mr.  Sims  now  uses  it  as  a  barn. 

JACKSONVILLE. 

Jacksonville  is  located  on  the  northern  division  of  the  Wabash,  St. 
Louis  and  Pacific  Kail  way,  19  miles  north-west  of  Huntsville,  and  12 
miles  north  of  Moberly.  It  is  an  incorporated  village  of  300  inhabitants, 
containing  two  church  edifices,  used  by  the  different  sects,  a  public  school , 
and  colored  school.     It  has  railroad,  telegraph  and  express  facilities. 

The  town  site  was  owned  by  William  McCanne,  Jr.,  John  W.  Mc- 
Canne,  Sr.,  and  Henry  Owen,  who  donated  50  acres  to  the  railroad 
company,  provided  they  would  locate  a  depot  upon  it.  This  was  about 
the  year  1858.  The  town  was  named  after  Hancock  Jackson,  who 
was  an  early  settler  in  the  county,  and  who  filled  besides  several 
county  offices,  the  position  of  Lieut. -Governor  of  Missouri.  The 
first  business  house  was  erected  by  J.  J.  Humphrey  and  was  occupied 
by  him  as  a  general  store. 

Samuel  Kidgeway  opened  the  first  hotel,  and  continued  to  occupy 
it  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1880.  Dr.  Burckhartt  was  the 
first  physician.  Thomas  Demster  was  the  pioneer  shoemaker.  The 
first  church  was  erected  in  1867  by  the  Christians.  Thomas  Griffey 
and  Robert  Skinner  were  the  first  blacksmiths. 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  155 


BUSINESS    DIRECTORY. 

Two  general  stores,  one  grocery,  one  drug  store,  four  blacksmiths, 
one  shoemaker,  one  undertaker,  one  lumber  yard,  one  livery  stable, 
and  one  hotel  are  at  this  place. 

LODGE. 

Masonic  Lodge,  ITo.  44. —  Was  organized  in  June,  1866,  with  the 
following  charter  members  :  James  A.  Berry,  James  A.  Holt,  James 
M.  Hannah,  J.  H.  Pety,  David  Halliburton. 

MONITEAU    TOWNSHIP. 

Moniteau  is  the  middle  township  on  the  southern  border  of  Ran- 
dolph county.  It  contains  a  fraction  over  37  square  miles,  and  was 
cut  off  from  the  townships  of  Prairie  and  Silver  Creek  after  the  con- 
struction of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railroad,  from  Hannibal 
to  Sedalia.  Soon  after  this  event  a  depot  was  established  in  the 
present  territory  of  Moniteau,  on  lands  then  belonging  to  Edward 
Owens,  called  Higbee,  and  soon  a  village  was  laid  out  on  lands 
belonging  to  Edward  Owens  and  Joseph  Burton.  A  post-office  was 
also  established,  and  the  growth  of  the  future  town  was  begun. 
This  o;rowth  was  afterward  accelerated  by  the  location  of  the 
Chicago,  Alton,  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  Railroad  through  its 
borders,  crossing  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Road  near 
the  center  of  the  town.  These  arrangements  having  been  com- 
pleted, a  petition  was  numerously  signed  by  citizens  of  the  vicinity, 
asking  the  county  court  to  organize  another  township,  to  be  called 
Moniteau,  as  it  would  be  located  on  the  head  waters  of  Moniteau 
creek. 

The  Moniteau,  Silver  and  Bonne  Femme  creeks  take  their  rise  in 
the  borders  of  this  township.  Along  the  borders  of  these  streams 
the  country  is  broken  and  hilly,  covered  with  black  and  white  oak 
timber.  Where  the  bottoms  and  valleys  are  broad  enough  for  culti- 
vation, the  land  is  found  to  be  very  rich  and  productive.  Even  the 
land  that  cannot  be  cultivated  is  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  val- 
uable timber  composed  of  sugar  maple,  walnut  and  cottonwood.  As 
the  dividing  ridges  of  these  streams  are  approached,  a  sightly  and 
fruitful  country  is  presented,  now  occupied  by  substantial  farmers, 
and  highly  improved.  For  grazing  purposes  it  seems,  in  many  re- 
spects, better  than  regions  adjoining,  which  have  a  richer  and  deeper 
soil.     Clover  and  timothy   produce  well  with   cultivation  ;   but  blue 


156  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

grass,  the  first  to  come  in  the  spring,  the  most  nutritions  while  it 
lasts,  and  the  last  to  be  afiected  by  the  frosts,  is  the  spontaneous  pro- 
duction of  this  region.  If  not  grazed  too  closely  during  autumn,  it 
affords  excellent  pasture  for  sheep  and  stock  cattle  during  the  winter. 
Even  the  most  broken  white  ©ak  ridges,  when  the  undergrowth  is  re- 
moved, will  in  a  short  time  be  covered  with  a  natural  growth  of  blue 
grass. 

Kailroad  ties  are  an  important  article  of  exportation  from  Moniteau. 
The  white  oak  lands  which  furnish  the  most  durable  and  valuable  ties, 
and  which  are  almost  surrounded  by  railroads,  have  become  valuable 
of  late  because  of  this  product,  and  because,  when  cleared  of  the  tim- 
ber, they  are  the  best  tobacco  lands  we  have.  They  are  also  easily 
converted  into  blue  grass  pastures  and  timothy  meadows.  Tobacco, 
however,  has  ceased  of  late  to  be  a  staple  production  on  account  of 
the  low  prices  that  have  ruled  for  several  years.  Some  few  planters 
continue  to  raise  it,  but  only  to  a  limited  extent.  The  grains  and 
grasses  and  the  rearing  of  live  stock  are  depended  upon  for  the  prin- 
cipal resources  of  the  farmers . 

Bituminous  coal  underlies  the  surface  and  crops  out  at  intervals 
along  almost  all  the  streams.  Its  accessibility  renders  it  important, 
whether  as  an  inducement  to  capitalists  to  locate  manufactories,  or  to 
engage  in  mining.  The  proximity  of  the  railroads  to  these  deposits 
of  "black  diamonds,"  makes  either  enterprise  a  safe  and  profitable 
investment.  The  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  superiority  of  this 
coal  will  be  acknowledged,  and  it  will  then  be  "more  precious  than 
rubies." 

The  healthfulness  of  this  region,  as  indeed  of  the  whole  county,  is  a 
consideration  for  those  looking  for  a  permanent  location.  The  settled 
portions  of  the  township  are  on  the  divides,  or  ridges,  between  the 
streams.  The  air  is  therefore  pure  and  not  impregnated  with  the 
miasma  and  malarial  influences  that  affect  lower  lands.  The  bottoms 
are  used  for  cultivation,  the  hills  and  highlands  for  homes.  The  great 
body  of  the  country  embraces  elevated  territory,  and  Moniteau  town- 
ship especially  enjoys  the  salubrity  and  health-giving  properties  of 
pure  air. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

Moniteau  was  first  settled  by  Virginians,  Kentuckians,  Tennesseeans 
and  North  Carolinians,  among  whose  virtues  were  temperance, industry, 
probity  and  hospitality.  Of  these  were  James  Dysart,  John  Dysart, 
Dr.  William  Walker,  Rev.  Jesse  Terrill,  Montgomery  Whitmore,  J. 
Higbee,  George  Yates  and  others,  who  have  passed  the  bourne  of 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  157 

time.  But  they  have  left  the  impress  of  their  sturdy  manhood  upon 
the  character  of  society.  Of  those  whose  time  approaches  and  who 
wrought  a  good  work  in  the  township  when  customs  and  institutions  were 
in  a  formative  state,  may  be  mentioned  Nicholas  Dysart,  Christopher 
Dysart,  M.  M.  Burton,  Maj.  J.  B.  Tymony,  Joseph  Burton,  Edward 
Owens  and  George  Quinn.  Edward  Owens  was  the  oldest  man  in  the 
township  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Nicholas  Dysart,  aged  75,  is  the 
oldest  settler ;  Hon.  M.  M.  Burton,  aged  62,  is  the  oldest  native 
born  citizen  of  Moniteau.  Mrs.  Nicholas  Dysart  is  the  oldest  lady. 
Among  other  settlers  were  John  Turner,  William  B.  Tompkins, 
Lynch  Turner,  Joseph  Wilcox,  Jacob  Maggard,  Charles  McLean  and 
Thomas  Dawkins. 

MILLS. 

Moniteau  has  three  steam  saw  mills  and  one  combined  saw  and 
flouring  mill.  One  of  these  is  located  in  Higbee,  the  other  three 
being  located  on  ©r  near  Moniteau  river.  The  lumber  produced  by 
these  mills  is  generally  used  for  bridging,  house  framing  and  other 
work  requiring  substantial  timbers.  The  material  used  is  principally 
white  and  black  oak,  though  several  car  loads  of  walnut  lumber  have 
been  shipped  from  this  section.  John  Turner  erected  the  first  mill 
that  was  put  up  in  the  township.  It  was  an  old-fashioned  horse-mill ; 
was  located  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  township,  and  was  running 
as  early  as  1828. 

SCHOOL. 

Thomas  Dawkins  taught  the  first  school  about  the  year  1830 ;  the 
school  house,  a  small  cabin,  stood  near  a  small  stream — one  of  the 
forks  of  Silver  creek.  Dawkins  was  from  Kentucky,  and  was  much 
thought  of  as  a  teacher. 

"The  people  all  declared  how  much  he  knew; 
'  Twas  certain  he  could  write  and  cipher  too ; 
Lands  he  could  measure,  terms  and  tides  presage ; 
And  even  the  story  ran,  that  he  could  gauge." 

FARMS    AND    STOCK. 

The  yield  of  farm  products  is  as  follows  :  Corn,  average  per  acre, 
50  bushels,  extra,  75  bushels  ;  wheat,  average  15  bushels,  extra,  30 
bushels  ;  oats,  average  50  bushels,  extra,  60  bushels  ;  hay,  average  2 
tons,  extra,  3  tons;  tobacco,  average  1,000  pounds,  extra,  1,500 
pounds.  The  highest  prices  paid  for  the  last  named  product  for  three 
preceding  years  has  been  from  $3  to  $8  per  100  pounds. 


158  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

About  three-fourths  of  the  township  is  enclosed  by  fences  and  in- 
cluded in  farms,  one-half  of  these  enclosures  being  devoted  to  pasture. 
There  are  no  regular  vineyards,  but  grapes  do  well,  and  show  that  if 
properly  cultivated,  wine  of  excellent  quality  and  delicious  flavor  could 
be  made. 

Of  course  in  a  region  so  well  adapted  to  grazing  and  cheap  feeding, 
live  stock  forms  the  principal  and  most  valuable  article  of  commerce. 
Horses,  mules,  neat  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  are  reared,  and  sold  to 
traders  and  shipped  in  large  quantities.  About  2,000  head  have  been 
shipped  by  rail  during  the  past  year,  though  there  are  many  mules, 
horses  and  cattle  raised  in  Moniteau  and  sent  to  more  or  less  distant 
marts  of  which  no  record  is  kept.  Of  the  enterprising  cattle  dealers 
are  William  James,  James  E.  Rucker,  Isham  Powell,  A.  and  G. 
Miller.  They  also  deal  to  some  extent  in  mules  and  horses,  sheep  and 
hogs.  There  are  many  substantial  farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  the 
township,  among  whom  are  O.  P.  Baker,  Nicholas  Dysart,  Owen 
Bagby,  Z.  Hale,  Joel  H.  Yates,  W.  L.  Rennolds,  John  Harlow,  G. 
Quinn,  Dr.  W.  P.  Dysart,  W.  Yager,  William  James,  J.  Collins,  Moss 
Dawkins,  H.  Patrick,  W.  Smith,  R.  Hinds,  Isham  Powell,  James  E. 
Rucker,  G.  Miller,  and  others. 

HIGBEE. 

The  name  of  James  Higbee,  a  worthy  citizen  of  Moniteau,  now  de- 
ceased, gave  the  title  to  the  station  which  has  grown  into  a  lively, 
progressive  and  thriving  village.  The  village,  recently  incorporated 
into  a  town,  is  situated  about  three  miles  north  of  Howard  county 
line,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  and  the  Chi- 
cago, Alton,  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  Railroads.  These  roads,  it  is 
thought,  will  soon  build  a  union  depot  at  the  crossing,  and  the  town  is 
also  spoken  of  as  a  good  point  for  the  location  of  workshops  for  the 
Chicago,  Alton,  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  road,  being  near  large 
coal  fields  and  valuable  timber  lands.  Higbee  is  the  only  voting  pre- 
cinct in  the  township.  It  possesses  facilities  for  shipping  second  to  no 
place  in  North  Missouri  except  Moberly.  It  stands  on  an  open  ridge 
tw®  miles  wide,  between  the  Moniteau  and  Bonne  Femme  creeks,  and 
is  but  three  years  old,  having  a  population  of  400.  The  public  school, 
which  is  well  conducted,  contains  119  pupils.  The  Grange  had  a  mem- 
bership of  60  in  1880.  The  government  of  the  town  is  excellent,  and 
the  citizens  are  peaceable  and  contented. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  159 

Joseph  Burton,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town,  is  in  the  68th  year 
of  his  age.  He  has  a  family  of  15  cliildren,  10  sons  and  5  daughters, 
and  18  grand-children. 

Edward  Owens,  another  of  the  founders,  is  dead.  He  left  a  family 
of  9  children,  44  grand-children  and  6  great-grand-children. 

LODGES. 

Highee  Lodg^  No.  210,  A,  0.  U.  W.,  —  Was  organized  in  Decem- 
ber, 1880,  Vvith  the  following  charter  members :  J.  E.  Rucker,  J. 
W.  Newby,  J.  S.  Dysart,  W.  H.  Elgiu,  S.  L.  Ashby,  E.  M.  Foster, 
J.  W.  Fristo,  F.  M.  Tymony,  W.  J.  Pulliam,  G.  R.  Reynolds,  Dr. 
L.  J.  Miller. 

BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 

Two  drug  stores,  three  physicians,  two  shoemakers,  one  lawyer, 
one  barber,  three  restaurants,  three  saloons,  one  livery  and  feed 
stable,  three  blacksmiths,  one  milliner,  one  meat  market,  one  lum- 
ber yard,  two  general  stores,  one  grocery,  express  and  telegraph 
office,  and  the  Higbee  Weekly  Entei-prise,  compose  the  business  of 
this  town. 

The  following  stock  were  fed  in  1880,  in  the  Higbee  voting  pre- 
cinct :  — 

Cattle. 

William  Jones  &  Son 25 

H.  E.  Patrick            35 

T.  W.  Yager 20 

Augustus  Miller 80 

J.  M.  Collins 10 

J.  A.  Blackford 34 

James  Ferguson 15 

Patton  &  Powell 197 

William  H.  Burton 15 

O.  P.  Baker 27 

James  E.  Rucker 60 

Total 526    583    509      42 


Hogs. 

Sheep. 

Mules. 

45 

120 

4 

— 

60 

— 

10 

74 

— 

75 

140 

4 

20 

65 

3 

25 

— 

8 

28 

— 

4 

200 

— 

4 

10 

20 

2 

20 

20 

3 

150 

10 

10 

CHAPTER    YIII. 

PRAIRIE,  SALT  RIVER  AND  UNION  TOWNSHIPS. 

Prairie  Township  —  Old  Settlers  —  Durett  Bruce — Mill  —  Elliott  —  Shafton  —  Clark's 
Switch  —  Renick  —  Its  History  —  Secret  Orders  —  Business  Directory  —  Stock  Re- 
port for  1880  —  First  House  Erected  in  Renick  —  Salt  River  Township  —  Physical 
Features  —  Early  Settlers  —  Levick's  Mill  —  Union  Township  —  First  Settlers  — 
Milton. 

PRAIRIE  TOWNSHIP. 

Prairie  township  lies  in  the  south-eastern  corner  of  Randolph  county. 
It  is  the  largest  township  in  the  county,  and  has  an  area  of  about 
88  square  miles.  The  amount  of  prairie  and  timber  land  is 
about  the  same.  As  the  township  is  bounded  on  two  sides  by  Monroe, 
Audrain,  Boone  and  Howard  counties  —  counties  that  stand  in  the 
front  rank  as  to  soil,  productions,  population  and  wealth — it  may 
justly  be  inferred  that  Prairie  is  in  the  front  rank  of  townships,  and 
is  settled  by  a  progressive  and  prosperous  people.  The  soil  is  a  black 
loam  with  substratum  of  clay.  The  land  has  an  undulating  surface, 
drains  itself  readily  in  seasons  of  protracted  rainfall,  and  retains  suf- 
ficient moisture  for  the  sustenation  of  vegetation  in  periods  of  pro- 
tracted drouth. 

It  is  watered  by  the  tributaries  of  Salt  river  on  the  north  and  east 
sides  of  the  "  divide,"  and  by  Perche  and  the  tributaries  of  Moniteau 
river  on  the  south-west.  These  streams  take  their  rise  within  its  ter- 
ritory, but  before  they  leave  it,  form  large,  deep  creeks  that  contain 
water  during  the  entire  year,  however  dry  the  season.  The  smaller 
streams  being  numerous,  supply  stock  water  for  every  part  of  the  dis- 
trict, as  well  as  moisture  to  the  air  in  the  hot  months  of  summer. 
Wells  and  cisterns  are  relied  upon  for  domestic  use  and  are  easily  and 
cheaply  made.  Ponds  dug  in  the  clay  hold  like  a  jug,  and  are  fre- 
quently employed  by  farmers  in  fields  and  pastures  through  which  no 
streams  run.  A  few  days'  work,  with  teams,  plows  and  scrapers,  will 
dig  a  pond  of  sufficient  size  to  water  a  hundred  head  of  stock  for  seven 
to  ten  years  before  cleansing  is  necessary.  The  timber  of  Prairie  is 
good,  embracing  several  kinds  of  oak,  hickory,  walnut,  honeylocust, 
elm,  hackberry,  etc.  When  the  white  oak  timber  is  removed  the  land 
makes  the  best  tobacco  ground  used  :  hickory  land  is  the  strongest, 
and  walnut,  elm,  honey  locust  and  pawpaw  the  richest  and  most  pro- 
(160) 


HISTORY   or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


161 


ductive.     Coal  is  abundant  throughout  the  district,  and  some  mines  • 
near  Eeniclv  are  successfully  and  largely  worked. 

It  is  often  the  case  in  the  east  that  coal  lands  are  unfit  for  anything 
but  coal,  but  such  is  not  the  case  in  Missouri.  Land  overlying  coal 
beds  is  frequently  as  rich  and  productive  as  any  other  land  in  the 
country,  and  this  is  peculiarly  the  case  in  Prairie  township. 

There  are  five  churches  in  this  township,  the  Baptist,  Methodist  and 
Christian  denominations  being  the  most  numerously  represented. 
Every  school  district  is  organized,  and  all  have  comfortable  and  con- 
venient houses,  with  modern  appliances.  The  principal  products  are 
grain,  grasses  and  live  stock.  The  number  of  cattle  and  hogs  sold 
annually  is  very  large,  and  the  annual  sale  of  wool  reaches  $25,000. 
The  average  yield  of  corn  per  acre  is  25  bushels,  extra  60  bushels  ; 
wheat  15  bushels,  extra  30  bushels  ;  oats  40  bushels,  extra  60  bushels  ; 
tobacco  1,000  pounds.  Hay  sure  crop  ;  average  yield  per  acre  IV2 
ton.  Over  two-thirds  of  the  township  is  in  cultivation,  which  includes 
all  of  the  prairie  and  part  of  the  timber. 

OLD    SETTLERS. 

Among  the  old  settlers  of  this  township  were  John  Hamilton,  James 
Martin,  R.  P.  Martin,  Mrs.  Chisham,  William  Butler,  Joel  Hubbard, 
Eice  Alexander,  Hugh  C.  Collins,  Dr.  Presley  T.  Oliver,  Jackson 
Dickerson,  Joseph  Davis,  Moses  Kimbrough,  Aaron  Kimbrough, 
Thomas  Kimbrough,  A.  Hendrix,  Benjamin  Hardin,  Asa  K.  Hub- 
bard, Presly  Shirley,  Jeremiah  Bunnel,  Thomas  Stockton,  W.  S. 
Christian,  Granderson  Brooks,  Archibald  Goin,  May  Burton,  John 
Sorrell,  Henry  Burnham,  William  Croswhite,  John  Kimbrough, 
Bluford  Robinson,  Wiley  Marshall,  A.  W.  Lane,  Durett  Bruce, 
Eeuben  Samuel  and  Joseph  Wilcox. 

Nearly  all  of  the  above  named  pioneers  were  from  Kentucky,  and 
many  of  these  men  were  great  hunters,  notably  so  were  Durett  Bruce, 
Joe  Davis,  Cy  Davis, Uriah  Davis,  H.C.  Collins,  John  Sorrell  and  James 
Martin.  The  latter  in  his  early  manhood  was  very  athletic,  and  is 
probably  the  only  man  who  ever  caught  an  un wounded  deer  by  run- 
ning after  it  on  foot,  and  an  unwounded  wild  turkey  by  climbing  a  tree. 
Durett  Bruce,  who  came  to  the  township  in  1837,  is  the  oldest  man 
now  living  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Kentucky,  eight  miles  south  of  Lexington,  March  1st,  1789,  and  was, 
therefore,  95  years  old  March  1st,  1884.  His  father's  name  was 
Benjamin  Bruce  ;   he  was  a  native   of  Scotland,   and  a  kinsman  of 


162  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY  . 

Robert  Bruce,  one  of  the  Scottish  chiefs,  whose  deeds  of  bravery  and 
feats  of  manhood  have  been  immortalized  by  the  incomparable  pen  of 
Jane  Porter. 

Mr.  Bruce  married  Miss  Sarah  Stephens,  daughter  of  Col.  Stephens, 
April  13th,  1813.  In  1834,  October  10th,  he  came  to  Boone  county, 
Missouri,  and  after  raising  two  crops,  he  settled  in  Randolph 
county.  Hearing  that  the  wolves  were  numerous,  and  very  destruc- 
tive to  sheep,  he  brought  with  him  to  the  county  15  sheep,  18 
hounds,  and  a  cur  dog,  and  was  never  annoyed  by  wolves  after 
his  arrival.  He  was  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  served  under  Gen.  William 
H.  Harrison  six  months,  and  Gen.  McArthur  four  mouths,  near  Lake 
Superior. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Bruce  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  locksmith, 
a  pursuit  which  he  now  follows,  notwithstanding  he  has  nearly  reached 
the  ninety-fifth  mile-stone  in  the  journey  of  his  life.  In  1869  he 
located  in  the  then  new  town  of  Moberly,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. 

We  hope  that  the  brittle  thread  of  life  may  be  yet  lengthened  out  to 
the  old  man  many  spans,  and  that  by  and  by  it  may  be  said  of 
him :  — 

"  Of  no  distemper,  of  no  blast  he  died, 

But  fell  like  autumn  fruit  that  mellowed  long, 

Even  wondered  at,  because  he  dropt  no  sooner.. 

Fate  seemed  to  wind  him  up  for  four-score  years, 

Yet  ran  he  on  for  twenty  winters  more; 

Till,'  like  a  clock,  worn  out  with  eating  time, 

The  wheels  of  weary  life  at  last  stood  still." 

The  first  mill  was  owned  by  Jesse  Jones,  and  was  located  about 
three  miles  south-west  of  Renick.  The  first  church  edifice  in  the 
township  was  called  Dover  church,  and  was  occupied  by  different 
denominations.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Col.  John  M.  Bean, 
a  Kentuckian,  at  a  place  called  Oak  Point.  Lynch  Turner  was  the 
first  officiating  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

Elliott,  about  two  miles  west  of  Renick,  is  a  mining  town,  contain- 
ing about  200  inhabitants.     It  has  a  post-office,  store,  etc. 

Shafton,  about  two  miles  south  of  Renick,  on  the  Chicago  and  Alton 
Railroad,  is  also  a  mining  town,  and  has  a  population  of  about  200. 

Clark's  Switch,  about  six  miles  east  of  Renick,  at  the  crossing  of 
the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railroad  and  the  Chicago 
and  Alton  Railroad,  has  a  post-office,  blacksmith  shop,  store,  and 
other  establishments. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  163 


RENICK. 

Renick,  the  most  important  town  in  the  township,  was  located  in 
1856,  after  the  North  Missouri  Railroad  had  become  an  established 
institution.  It  is  situated  on  a  high  rolling  prairie,  on  the  '*  Grand 
Divide,"  the  waters  on  the  east  side  of  the  town  flowing  to  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  those  on  the  west  side  to  the  Missouri.  The  St.  Louis, 
Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railroad  passes  diagonally  through  the 
town,  the  depot  being  convenient  to  the  business  portion  of  it.  It  lies 
six  miles  south  by  east  of  Moberly,  and  contains  a  population  of  about 
700.  Its  citizens  are  a  thorough-going  and  enterprising  people.  It 
has  one  large  church  edifice,  which  is  used  by  the  Methodist,  Baptist 
and  Christian  denominations.  Renick  rejoices  in  having  the  finest 
public  school  building  outside  of  Moberly  in  the  county.  The  only 
other  public  building  of  any  importance  is  the  Masonic  Hall,  which 
is  an  elegant  and  attractive  edifice.  There  is  also  a  Good  Templar 
and  public  hall. 

There  is  located  in  the  town  a  large  custom  and  merchant  mill. 
One  or  two  coal  mines  are  in  operation  near  the  place,  giving  employ- 
ment to  a  number  of  hands,  and  working  a  four  foot  vein.  The  coal 
is  used  extensively  by  the  railroads,  and  large  quantities  are  exported. 
Three  times  has  the  business  portion  of  the  town  been  desolated  by 
fire,  and  at  one  time,  during  the  great  Civil  War,  nearly  all  the  houses 
in  the  town  were  destroyed.  But  the  public  spirit  and  enterprise  of 
the  citizens  were  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  it  is  to-day  a  better 
town  than  ever  before. 

It  is  a  great  shipping  point  for  live  stock  of  all  kinds. 

.      SECRET    ORDERS. 

Masonic  Lodge,  N'o.  186.  — Was  organized  October  19, 1867,  with 
the  following  charter  members  :  G.  A.  Settle,  A.  E.  Grubb,  S.  A. 
Mitchell,  James  Hardin,  Benjamin  Terrill,  J.  R.  Alexander,  R.  Davis, 
T.  Y.  Martin,  R.  P.  Martin,  J.  Y.  Coates,  S.  S.  Elliott,  William  But- 
ler, G.  R.  Christian. 

Lodge  No.  225,  A.  O.  U.  W.  —  Was  organized  November  11, 1881. 
The  charter  members  were  J.  M.  Williams,  Dr.  S.  M.  Forrest,  A.  N. 
Maupin,  R.  W.  Hatton,  J.  W.  McDonald,  J.  D.  Waters,  D.  A.  King, 
T.  T.  Grant,  J.  J.  Butler,  O.  Morton,  D.  W.  Osborne,  A.  Butler, 
J.  A.  Mitchell,  J.  H.  Littrell,  J.  B.  Martin,  B.  H.  Ashcomb,  J.  J. 


164  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Hubbard,  J.  B.  Brooks,  W.  N.  Clifton,  J.  R.  Jackson,  A.  H.  Shearer, 
W.  H.  Deer,  A.  Greenland,  S.  W.  Terman,  S.  E.  Keemer. 

BUSINESS    DIRECTORY. 

Nine  general  stores,  one  wagon  shop,  two  blacksmiths,  one  paint 
shop,  one  lumber  yard,  one  harness  shop,  one  hotel,  one  livery  stable, 
two  saloons,  and  two  butcher  shops,  are  in  Renick. 

Clay  Thompson,  who  came  from  Kentucky  about  the  year  1856, 
erected  the  first  house  in  the  town  ;  he  also  opened  the  first  business 
house  and  hotel.  William  H.  Marshall  was  the  first  blacksmith,  Peter 
Hoeman  the  first  shoemaker.  William  B.  McLean  was  the  first  physi- 
cian in  that  region  of  country. 

Below  will  be  found  a  list  of  stock  feeders  and  the  amount  of  stock 

fed  for  market  in  Prairie  township  in  1880  :  — 

Cattle.      Hogs.     Mules. 

Patton  &  Powell 150  400  — 

T.  D.  Bailey 180  125  — 

P.  Spellman 100  125  — 

S.  N.  Pyle            .         .         .         .  ■ —  —  30 

T.  J.  Grant —  30  50 

C.  D.  Robinson 60  60  — 

Renick  Mill  Co -^  30  — 

D.  H.  Osborn —  —  20 

J.  Hamilton 30  —  — 

George  Cottingham 30  —  — 

F.  K.  Collins 30  50  — 

G.  Wilcox            *0  —  — 

J.  G.  Smith 50  50  — 

P.  K.  Venable 20  10  — 

W.  A.  Irons 50  100  — 

Total 660  980  100 

SALT    RIVER   TOWNSHIP. 

Salt  river  is  the  north-eastern  township  of  Randolph  county.  About 
one-fifth  of  the  surface  is  prairie,  the  balance  is  timber  land.  The 
prairie  is  generally  level  or  gently  undulating.  The  timber  land  is 
more  uneven,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  streams  is  somewhat  broken 
and  hilly.  The  prairie  is  all  under  fence  and  in  cultivation.  But 
little  good  land  is  unenclosed,  all  the  best  farming  territory  having 
been  fenced  either  for  tillage  or  pasturage. 

The  territory  is  well  provided  with  streams  and  stock  water  is 
abundant  throughout  the  year.  Mover,  Mud,  Flat,  McKinney,  Lick, 
and  Painter  creeks,  with  other  less  important  streams,  take  their 
courses  through  the  township  and  every  farm  is  convenient  to  some 
stream  that  contains  water  the  year  round.  Nevertheless,  for  greater 
convenience,  ponds,  wells,  and  cisterns  are  dug  on  the  farms  for  the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  165 

use  of  stock.  Living  water  is  found  at  short  distances  below  the  sur- 
face, giving  a  permanent  and  inexhaustible  supply. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  township  are  H.  G.  Robuck,  M. 
McKinney,  and  Strother  Ridge  way.  They  still  reside  there  and  are 
among  the  most  worthy  citizens  of  the  county.  The  farms  in  this 
tow^nship  are  generally  small,  averaging  in  size  from  100  to  200 
acres,  and  very  few  exceed  the  latter  amount.  It  is  essentially 
a  farming  and  grazing  country.  Remote  from  railroad  depots 
(the  average  distance  being  about  nine  miles),  little  is  shipped  in  the 
way  of  agricultural  products.  The  grains  and  grasses  raised  are  gen- 
erally consumed  at  home,  the  only  articles  of  export  being  cattle, 
horses,  mules,  hogs  and  sheep.  The  farmers  are,  however,  in  a  pros- 
perous and  thrifty  condition.  They  are  doing  much  more  work  with 
machinery  now  than  formerly.  Cultivators,  reapers,  and  mowing 
machines,  and  other  labor-saving  implements,  are  coming  into  more 
general  use,  and  the  process  of  farming  is  conducted  on  better  and 
more  intelligent  principles  than  heretofore. 

The  quality  of  the  soil  is  about  the  same  as  that  in  Monroe  county, 
which  the  township  joins  on  the  eastern  side.  It  is  rich  and  produc- 
tive, easily  cultivated,  warm  and  generous.  The  crops  now  growing 
promise  a  heavy  harvest,  except  the  meadows,  which  have  been  some- 
what injured  by  a  protracted  and  unusual  drouth.  The  recent  rains 
have  greatly  improved  the  looks  of  the  grass,  and  excellent  fall  and 
summer  pastures  are  assured. 

The  reliable  staple  crops  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  timothy,  tobacco, 
and  blue  grass.  The  latter  is  used  almost  entirely  for  grazing,  and  is 
rarely  mowed  for  hay.  Clover,  also,  yields  well,  but  is  not  generally 
sown.  The  main  reliance  of  the  farmers  is  upon  the  corn,  timothy, 
and  the  grass  growths.  Of  corn,  a  common  yield  is  50  to  60  bushels 
to  the  acre  ;  wheat,  15  to  25  bushels  ;  oats,  25  to  40  bushels  ;  timo- 
thy, a  ton  to  a  ton  and  a  half;  tobacco,  600  to  1,000  pounds.  About 
three-fourths  of  the  township  is  in  cultivation. 

The  timber  in  this  portion  of  the  county  is  about  the  same  as  is  gen- 
erally found  in  other  parts  of  Randolph.  The  highlands  are  cov- 
ered with  the  various  oaks,  hickory,  walnut,  maple,  etc.,  while  the 
bottoms  and  valleys  have  sycamore,  hackberry,  pawpaw,  red  bud, 
elm,  etc. 

Coal  lies  a  short  distance  below  the  surface  in  many  parts  of  the 
township,  but  wood  is  so  abundant  and  convenient,  the  markets  are  so 
remote,  and  the  manufactories  so  few,  that  the  coal  beds  have  not 
been  developed. 


166  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

There  is  but  one  post-office  in  the  township  —  Levick's  Mill.  This 
is  located  in  the  geographical  center  of  the  township,  convenient  to 
every  part  of  it.  This  is  a  small  village,  having  a  store  where  general 
merchandise  is  sold,  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  a  tin  shop.  It  is  a  great 
convenience  to  the  surrounding  country.  There  are  no  manufactories 
of  any  importance  in  the  vicinity,  except  mills,  of  which  there  are 
several  on  or  near  the  streams. 

The  improvements  on  the  farms  are  generally  good.  Many  farmers 
are  erecting  neat  and  comfortable  farm  houses,  to  take  the  place  of 
less  sightly  edifices  built  in  the  earlier  history  of  the  township.  Fences 
and  out-buildings,  barns,  etc.,  recently  built,  are  of  a  better  class 
than  those  formerly  erected. 

There  are  four  school-houses  in  Salt  River  township,  and  so  situated 
as  to  be  convenient  to  all  the  citizens.  These  are  used  from  four  to 
six  months  in  the  year,  and  good  teachers  are  employed  to  conduct 
the  schools.  There  are  also  two  churches  in  the  territory — a  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church,  and  a  union  building  used  alternately 
by  the  Baptist  and  Christian  denominations.  The  Methodists  hold 
regular  services,  and  employ  the  school-houses  as  places  of  worship. 

The  society  of  Salt  River  is  composed  of  sober,  industrious,  and 
intelligent  farmers,  with  their  wives  and  children.  The  people  are 
temperate,  social,  and  hospitable,  and  heartily  welcome  immigrants  to 
their  midst.  It  is  a  peaceable  and  quiet  community,  having  all  the 
substantial  comforts  of  a  rich,  productive,  healthy  farming  country. 

UNION    TOWNSHIP. 

Union  is  the  middle  township  on  the  eastern  border  of  Randolph, 
joining  Monroe  county  on  its  eastern  boundary.  It  has  an  area 
of  about  29  square  miles,  and  a  population  of  1,350.  Flat 
creek,  Coy  branch,  Elk  Fork,  Sugar  creek.  Mud  creek,  and  Coon 
creek,  branches  of  Salt  river,  penetrate  its  territory  in  every  direction 
and  fertilize  its  fields  and  farms.  There  is  no  district  in  the  county, 
of  the  same  dimensions,  that  is  better  watered. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  township  were  George  Burckhartt  (father 
of  Judge  G.  H.  Burckhartt),  Clemen  Jeeter,  Dr.  Burton,  Geo.  Chap- 
man, Nade  Chapman  and  Wm.  Haly,  These  men  have  left  the  im- 
press of  their  toil  and  industry  on  the  country  they  settled  and 
improved. 

The  lands  of  this  township  are  unusually  fertile  and  will  compare 
favorably  with  the  best  lands  in  any  part  of  the  State.  The  territory 
is  about  equally  divided  into  prairie  and  timber  lands.     Each  division 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  167 

is  equally  well  adapted  to  cultivation  and  pasturage.  The  crops  of 
every  kind  are  heavy  and  the  live  stock  raised  is  of  superior  quality. 

Coal  is  found  in  large  beds  and  of  very  excellent  quality  in  various 
parts  of  the  district.  Much  of  it  finds  its  way  to  the  city  of  Moberly, 
and  with  improved  transportation  to  the  railroads,  would  become  an 
important  factor  in  the  aggregate  of  the  public  income.  Limestone, 
brick  and  potter's  clay  are  also  found,  but  as  yet  none  of  these  have 
been  put  to  any  practical  use. 

There  are  three  mills  in  Union  township,  owned  respectively  by  W. 

D.   Wilson, Elsea,   and  Frank  Hall.     These  are  the  principal 

raanufjictories  of  that  section,  and  each  is  doino-  a  s^ood  business. 

or? 

There  are  five  churches  within  its  borders,  viz.  :  two  belono-ins:  to 
the  Southern  Methodists,  two  to  the  Christian  denomination  and  one 
Baptist.  It  has  four  school  houses,  provided  with  modern  improve- 
ments and  conveniences,  in  w^hich  schools  are  taught  from  five  to  six 
months  in  the  year.  The  average  of  wages  paid  to  teachers  is  $40  per 
month. 

The  yield  of  crops  is  as  follows  :  Corn  per  acre,  average,  40  bushels, 
extra,  70  bushels;  wheat,  average,  15  bushels,  extra,  25  bushels; 
oats,  25  to  35  bushels  per  acre;  hay,  average,  one  ton,  extra,  two 
tons ;  tobacco,  average,  1,000  pounds,  extra,  1,500  pounds.  The 
average  price  of  the  latter  for  several  years  has  been  about  $3.  But 
little  attention  is  given  in  Union  township  to  the  sowing  of  wheat  and 
oats.  The  grasses  are  cultivated  with  great  care,  the  farmers  prefer- 
ring to  convert  their  lands  into  pasturage  for  the  accommodation  of 
stock,  and  only  planting  so  much  grain  as  is  absolutely  needed  for 
home  consumption.  Almost  the  entire  township  is  under  fence,  and 
all  the  territory  is  made  to  contribute  to  the  general  welfare. 

There  are  some  large  farmers  in  the  township,  prominent  among 
whom  we  may  mention  Capt.  James  Wight,  who  owns  and  cultivates 
a  farm  of  720  acres  in  a  very  high  state  of  improvement,  having  a 
palatial  residence,  and  stocked  with  the  best  animals  of  different 
kinds  that  he  has  been  able  to  procure.  Capt.  Wight's  farm  is  on 
Elk  fork,  and  he  has  resided  in  the  village  of  Milton  for  30  years. 
He  has  twice  represented  Randolph  county  in  the  State  Legislature, 
and  is  the  father  of  the  present  county  clerk,  Mr.  James  M.  Wight. 

Among  her  prominent  traders  and  farmers  are  G.  W.  Burton, 
general  stock  dealer ;  Andrew  Carpenter,  Q.  T.  Hall,  Capt.  James 
Wight  and  I.  H.  Newton,  dealers  in  sheep,  mules  and  horses,  and  L. 
L.  Newton,  dealer  in  horses  and  hogs,  having  shipped  more  of  the 
latter  in  the  winter  of  1878,  than  any  other  man  in  the  township.  D. 
6 


168  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

T.  C.  Mitchell  and  Benj.  Oldham  have  been  extensively  engaged  in 
the  pile  and  tie  business,  employing  from  ten  to  twelve  men  and  six 
to  eight  teams  each,  bringing  a  large  amount  of  money  into  the  town- 
ship. W.  G.  Leusley  is  engaged  in  coal  mining  on  a  large  scale  and 
is  also  occupied  in  bridge  building. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Holloway,  aged  94,  is  the  oldest  man  in  the  township  ; 
the  oldest  lady  is  Mrs.  Wesley  Boatman,  and  the  oldest  settler  now 
living  is  David  Myers.  Mr.  George  Burckhartt,  deceased,  was  the 
first  settler. 

MILTON, 

the  only  village  in  the  township,  is  about  40  years  old.  Its  trade 
has  been  of  a  purely  local  character,  there  being  no  facilities  for  ship- 
ping. It  is,  however,  eligibly  and  pleasantly  situated  on  Elk  Fork, 
and  hag  an  elegant  grist  and  saw  mill,  one  wagon  and  carriage  factory 
and  repair  shop,  one  blacksmith  shop,  and  some  other  unimportant 
shops.  Until  about  1878,  four  ministers  made  their  homes  in  Milton, 
to  wit :  Eld.  J.  A.  Holloway,  of  the  Christian  church,  Rev.  Peter 
Parker  and  Rev.  W.  D.  Hutton,  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and 
Rev.  W.  L.  T.  Evans  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  The  latter, 
a  most  estimable  and  much  beloved  man,  died  about  1879.  Dr.  R. 
R.  Hall,  the  only  physician,  has  resided  in  Milton  for  about  40  years. 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

SILVER  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

History  of  the  Township  —  Its  Soil  —  Water  Courses  —  Timber  —  Schools  —  Churches 
Mt.  Airy  —  Old  Settlers  —  Crops. 

SILVER  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

Silver  Creek  is  one  of  the  four  townships  into  which  Randolph 
county  was  originally  divided.  It  was  made  the  smallest  in  extent  of 
territory,  because  it  embraced  the  most  thickly  settled  portion  of  the 
county  at  the  time  of  its  organization.  This  fact,  taken  in  connection 
with  its  location  along  the  border  of  Howard  county,  which  was 
settled  first,  leads  us  to  infer  that  it  is  the  oldest  township  in  the 
county.  Although  originally  the  smallest  in  area,  it  has  recently 
given  up  18  square  miles  of  its  territory  to  the  newly  organized 
township  of  Moniteau,  and  being  without  railroad  or  a  railroad  town 
within  its  borders,  it  still  ranks  sixth  in  population  among  the  eleven 
townships  into  which  the  county  is  now  divided,  and  shows  a  greater 
votinof  strength  than  four  others  which  have  railroads  runnins;  throus^h 
them.  These  facts  show  that  outside  of  the  towns  and  cities.  Silver 
Creek  township  is  still  the  most  thickly  settled  of  any  in  the  county. 
It  is  situated  in  the  south-west  corner  of  the  county. 

While  it  has  no  railroad  running  directly  through  it,  its  people, 
taken  as  a  whole,  are  as  well  accommodated  with  railroad  facilities  as 
those  of  any  other  township  except  Sugar  Creek. 

Within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  its  northern  boundary  are  the  depots  of 
the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  (now  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and 
Pacific)  Railroad  atHuntsvilleand  Clifton  Hill.  Not  far  from  its  eastern 
boundary  the  Chicago  and  Alton  R;;^ilroad  crosses  the  Missouri,  Kansas 
andTexas,atHigbee,and  on  thesouth,  at  Armstrong,  in  Howard  county, 
is  another  depot  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad.  The  township  is 
literally  surrounded  by  railroad  depots  without  any  railroad  running 
through  it,  a  circumstance  which  gives  to  all  its  people  a  great  uni- 
formity of  railroad  advantages  without  any  of  the  usual  concomitant 
annoyances,  such  as  the  killing  of  stock  and  the  introduction  of 
tramps,  contagious  diseases,  and  other  nuisances. 

While  Silver  Creek  contains  less  level  land  than  the  other  town- 
ships, it  may  be  safely  asserted  that  the  most  fertile  tracts  in  the 

(169) 


170  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

whole  county  lie  within  its  borders.  The  surface  ranges  from  the 
gently  undulating  to  hilly  near  the  margins  of  the  streams,  and  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  white  oak  ridges  and  hickory  flats  in  the  north- 
east, and  an  occasional  one  in  other  parts,  the  soil  of  the  entire 
township  is  of  a  black,  rich,  sandy  loam,  interspersed  with  limestone, 
which  does  not  predominate  in  any  locality  so  as  to  interfere  seriously 
with  cultiyation,  but  is  generally  distributed  so  as  to  furnish  the 
requisite  supply  of  this  material  element  of  natural  fertility. 

Here,  also,  is  to  be  found  one  of  the  best  watered  sections  in  the 
whole  county.  The  Sweet  Spring,  taking  its  name  from  a  noted 
fountain  on  its  southern  margin,  washes  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
township,  and  Silver  creek  with  its  tributaries  flows  from  east  to  west 
through  the  central  and  southern  portions.  The  names  given  to  these 
streams,  from  the  latter  of  which  the  township  takes  its  name,  are 
significant  of  the  purity  and  pahitable  qualities  of  their  waters  and  of 
the  perennial  fountains  which  dot  their  margins  and  spring  spontaneous 
from  the  fertile  hillsides  in  many  other  parts  of  the  township. 

About  one-third  of  the  township  is  prairie  land,  lying  mostly  south 
of  Silver  creek  and  along  the  Howard  county  line.  Most,  if  not  all 
of  this,  however,  is  now  under  fence  and  in  cultivation,  and  if  one 
familiar  with  the  appearance  of  the  country  50  years  ago,  and  who 
had  been  absent  that  length  of  time,  should  now  return,  he  would 
find  but  few  landmarks  and  but  little  else  by  which  he  could  identify 
the  fields  over  which  moved  the  grasses  and  bloomed  the  flowers  of 
Foster's  and  the  Four-mile  prairies  in  the  days  of  his  childhood.  Of 
the  magnificent  forests  that  originally  covered  the  remaining  two- 
thirds  of  the  township,  about  one-half  has  given  way  to  cultivated 
fields,  so  that  now  only  about  one-third  of  the  territory  remains  in 
timber. 

Of  this,  the  leading  varieties  are  white  oak,  burr  oak,  Spanish  oak, 
red  oak,  black  oak,  pin  oak,  white  and  black  walnut,  hickory,  black- 
berry and  elm. 

In  localities  suited  to  their  growth  may  also  be  found  the  sycamore, 
ash,  maple,  linden,  sassafras,  coffee-bean,  honey-locust  and  per- 
simmon. 

Many  of  the  varieties  of  these  trees  have  grown  to  magnificent  pro- 
portions, particularly  the  white  oaks,  burr  oaks,  sycamores,  walnuts 
and  elms.  An  old  settler  tells  us  of  a  sycamore  seven  feet  in  diameter 
which,  in  1832,  stood  on  the  banks  of  Silver  creek,  near  the  place 
where  the  Huntsville  and  Glasgow  road  now  crosses  the  stream. 

The  educational  advantages  are  first  class. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  171 

Nine  capacious  and  well  built  school-houses,  includino;  a  graded 
school  building  at  Roanoke,  all  furnished  with  improved  appliances  to 
facilitate  instruction,  supply  the  youth  of  all  parts  of  the  township 
with  mental  and  moral  training  not  surpassed  by  those  of  any  rural 
district  in  the  State. 

The  leading  Protestant  religious  denominations,  embracing  Baptist, 
Methodist,  Presbyterians  and  Christians,  have  places  of  public 
worship  and  hold  regular  services  ;  the  Missionary  Baptists  being  the 
most  numerous  while  the  others  are  quite  respectable  in  numbers. 
There  are  three  churches  in  the  township,  three  of  which  are  Baptists 
and  the  other  two  are  union  churches. 

The  region  of  country  embraced  within  the  limits  of  this  township 
is  remarkable  for  its  healthfulness,  and  there  is  only  one  physician, 
Dr.  A.  Aldridge,-who  keeps  his  office  at  Mt.  Airy,  which  is  the  only 
post-office. 

At  Mt.  Airy  are  also  a  store  of  dry-goods  and  groceries,  kept 
by  Mr.  James  Smith,  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop,  and  a  large 
tobacco  factory,  operated  by  Messrs.  Evans  &  Patterson,  who  prise 
and  ship  their  tobacco.  This  place  is  the  business  center  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  township,  while  the  people  of  the  southern  part 
do  their  trading  at  Roanoke,  a  larger  village,  which  lies  partly  ia 
Howard  and  partly  in  Randolph  county,  the  main  business  part  of  the 
town  and  its  post-office  being  in  Howard  county. 

There  are  two  voting  precincts  in  Silver  Creek  township,  one  at 
Mt.  Airy  and  the  other  in  that  part  of  Roanoke  which  lies  in  this 
county. 

Mt.  Airy  is  located  on  the  public  road  leading  from  Huntsville  to 
Roanoke,  about  7  miles  from  the  former  place  and  12  miles  from 
Moberly.  There  is  plenty  of  coal  in  this  township  and  the  local 
demand  is  easily  supplied,  for  which  purposes  only  have  the  mines 
been  so  far  developed*.  The  indications  are,  however,  that  with 
proper  facilities  for  transportation,  a  large  business  could  be  done  in 
shipping  this  mineral  to  outside  markets. 

There  are  two  corn  and  saw  mills  in  the  township,  one  owned  by  J. 
C.  Head  and  the  other  by  James  Bagby.  The  latter  is  engaged  also 
to  some  extent  in  the  manufacture  of  flour. 

OLD  SETTLERS. 

Silver  Creek  has  held  on  well  to  its  old  settlers,  and  quite  a  number 
who  settled  there  before  and  about  the  time  the  township  was  organ- 
ized are  still  living  there  in  advanced  age,  while  the  descendants   of 


172  HISTORY    or   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

most  of  those  who  have  since  died,  yet  cling  to  the  homes  of  their 
childhood  and  linger  around  the  graves  of  their  fathers. 

Among  these  are  John  Viley,  who  has  been  judge  of  the  county 
court,  Nicholas  Dysart,  George  W.  Dameron,  once  sheriff,  Woodson 
Newby,  James  Goodman,  Morgan  Finnell,  William  Burton,  William 
Thompson,  William  R.  Burcli,  George  Ellis,  Newton  Bradley,  Jeff. 
Fullington,  Samuel  Cockrell,  John  Minor,  Paschall  Troyman,  Leven 
I.  Dawkins,  John  Vaughan,  Cornelius  Vaughan,  Allen  Mayo,  John 
Alexander,  William  E.  Walden,  William  Nichols,  Roderick  O'Brien, 
William  Holman,  Joseph  Holman,  Sr.,  John  Sears,  Sr.,  Hardy  Sears, 
Iverson  Sears,  Allen  Mayo,  William  Mayo,  Valentine  Mayo,  John 
Rowland,  Younger  Rowland,  D.  R.  Denny,  Samuel  C.  Davis,  Isaiah 
Humphrey,  William  Fort,  Asa  Kirby,  John  Head,  Ambrose  Medley, 
Basil  McDavitt,  Sr.,  Roger  West,  James  Davis,  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Davis, 
Thomas  Bradley,  Tolmau  C.  B.  Gorham,  Tolman  Gorham,  Jr.,  Thomas 
Gorham,  Ambrose  Halliburton,  William  Morrow  and  Joseph  Morrow. 

Mr.  William  Mathis,  beter  known  as  Uncle  Billy  Mathis,  emigrated 
from  North  Carolina  in  the  year  1827  and  erected  his  cabin,  in  primi- 
tive pioneer  style,  on  80  acres  of  land  entered  at  government  price, 
within  five  miles  of  where  Mt.  Airy  now  stands,  and  he  is  still  living, 
in  his  81st  year,  within  a  half  mile  of  that  place,  having  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county  52  years.  He  was  married  when  he  came  to  the 
State,  but  never  had  any  children.  He  was  here  before  the  county 
was  organized,  and  mentions  William  Holman,  Abraham  Gross  and 
James  Dysart  as  residents  when  he  came,  the  first  of  whom  Avas  en- 
gaged in  running  a  horse  mill. 

Jerry  Jackson  came  with  Uncle  Billy  from  North  Carolina,  and  set- 
tled in  the  same  neighborhood,  but  emigrated  to  Texas  several  years 
ago. 

About  the  year  1837,  Capt.  William  Upton,  another  old  settler, 
opened  a  store  at  his  place  in  connection  with  D.  C.  Garth,  who  lived 
at  Huntsville,  and  had  another  store  there.  A  blacksmith  shop  and  a 
tobacco  factory  were  soon  after  erected,  and  the  place  was  first  called 
Uptonsville.  The  enterprising  people  of  the  vicinity,  however,  were 
not  long  in  obtaining  a  post-ofiice,  which  was  christened  Mt.  Airy,  a 
name  which  it  has  ever  since  borne.  Capt.  Upton,  several  years  be- 
fore the  late  war,  sold  out  his  farm  and  store  and  moved  south  of  the 
Missouri  river,  where  he  still  lives,  far  advanced  in  years. 

The  business  at  Mt.  Airy  has  several  times  since  changed  hands, 
and  for  the  most  part  during  the  late  Civil  W^ar  was  entirely  suspended. 
It  was  afterwards  revived  and  increased,  and  its  renewed  prosperity 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  173 

t 

has  been  well  maintained.  The  mercantile  establishment  there,  for 
several  years  immediately  after  the  war,  was  owned  and  managed  by 
James  B.  Thompson,  Esq. 

Judge  James  Head,  one  of  Silver  Creek's  pioneers,  a  resident  when 
the  county  was  organized,  and  one  of  the  judges  of  the  first  county 
court,  founded  Roanoke  on  the  Howard   county  line  in  1836.     The 
place  at  first  went  by  several  names,  as   suited  the  fancy  of  the   set- 
tlers, such  as  Head's  Store,  and  Van  Buren,  the  favorite  and  success- 
ful Democratic  candidate  for  the  presidency  for  that  year.     But  when 
the   post-oflBce   was    established    there,    at   the    suggestion  of  Judge 
Head,  it  was  named  for  the  residence  of  a  favorite  statesman  of  his 
native  State  —  the  celebrated  John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke.     Judge 
Head  emigrated  to  Randolph  county,  from  Orange  county,  Virginia, 
several  years  before  the  county  was  organized.     He  was  accompanied 
by  his  sister,  Mrs.  Fannie  Medley  and  her  husband,  Jacob  Medley,  who 
settled  near  him,  and  was  the  first  collector    of  Randolph    county. 
Judge  Head  lived  on  his  farm  adjoining  Roanoke,  and  carried  on  bus- 
iness in  the  town,   until   1849,   when   he  moved  to  Lockhart,  Texas, 
where  he  died  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  82  years.     He   was   followed  to 
this   State  in    1831    by  his  father  and  mother,  and  all  his  remaining 
brothers  and  sisters,  except  Mrs.  Minor  Rucker,  who  came   with  her 
husband  and  family  in  1837.     They  all  settled  in  Randolph   county. 
His  father,  John  Head,  and  his  brother,  John  Head,  Jr.,  settled  in  Sil- 
ver Creek,  two  miles  north  of  Roanoke,  the  former  on  the  farm  where 
he  resided  until  his  death  in  1852,  and  which  the  latter  now  owns  and 
occupies.     All  the  others   settled  in  and  around  Huntsville.     These 
were  Dr.  Walker  Head,  Avho  was  twice  elected  to  the  Legislature  from 
this  county,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1845,  he  had  just  been 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention,  to  revise  the  Constitution. 
Mrs.  Emily  Chiles,  Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Allen,  Mrs.   Amanda  Garth,  and 
Mrs.  Harriet  Rucker  were  other  members  of  the  family.     Mrs.  Mar- 
tha Price,  the  youngest  daughter,  was  single   when  she  came  to  the 
State,  and  was  married  to  General  Sterling  Price,  at  her  fjither's   res- 
idence in  Silver  Creek  township,  in  the  year  1833.     Capt.  John  Head, 
who,  as  we  have  stated,  resides  upon  his  father's  homestead  adjoining 
the  farm  on  which  he  settled  in  1831,  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  for  52  years.     He  raised  a  family  of  nine  children  —  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  seven  of  whom  are   still  living.     Capt.  Head  has 
always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  politics  on  the  Democratic  side,  ever 
since  the  days  of  Andrew  Jackson,  for  whom  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
President  in  1824. 


174  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Mr.  Robert  Smith,  who  owns  a  fine  farm,  upon  which  he  operated 
a  tobacco  factory,  half  a  mile  east  of  Mt.  Airy,  is  an  old  settler. 
He  came  to  Huntsville  in  1837,  where  he  "remained  six  years,  and 
then  moved  to  Silver  Creek.  He  is  now  73  years  of  age,  and  has 
raised  a  family  of  six  children,  three  girls  and  three  boys.  In  1842 
he  bought  the  Cooley  farm,  one  mile  east  of  Huntsville.  The  farm 
is  underlaid  by  a  four-foot  vein  of  coal. 

Mr.  John  Osborn  has  resided  in  the  county  50  years,  having  emi- 
grated from  Orange  county,  Va.,  in  1835.  He  is  now  67  years  old. 
He  purchased  dry  goods  and  other  family  supplies  at  Old  Chariton,  in 
Chariton  county.  Allen  Mayo,  Daniel  McDavitt  and  William  Fer- 
guson were  Mr.  Osborn's  earliest  neighbors,  having  preceded  him  in 
the  settlement. 

Rev.  William  H.  Mansfield  ^  resided  one  mile  north-east  of  Roanoke, 
on  the  farm  of  200  acres  which  he  settled  in  1831,  and  was  one  of  the 
oldest  men  in  Silver  Creek  township  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  Va.,  and  resided  in  this  county  50  years. 
He  was  married  in  1814,  in  Virginia,  to  Miss  Salina  Eddings,  who  still 
survives,  and  they  have  had  13  children.  Mr.  Mansfield  was  a  vet- 
eran of  the  War  of  1812,  and  drew  the  usual  pension.  He  took  a 
just  pride  in  having  participated  in  the  stirring  events  of  that  great 
national  drama,  in  which  his  valor  and  patriotism  contributed  to  win 
imperishable  honor  for  Americans  and  vindicated  our  national  motto, 
*'Free  Trade  and  Sailors'  Rights."  He  never  departed  from  the 
political  faith  which  inspired  his  early  manhood,  and  in  his  old  age  he 
adhered  with  unwavering  fidelity  to  the  principles  which  in  his  youth 
he  drew  his  sword  to  defend.  He  was  a  devoted  Christian,  and  a 
member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  for  nearly  three-quarters  of 
a  century.  He  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  1832,  and 
for  more  than  40  years  valiantly  carried  the  banner  of  the  Cross,  until 
increasing  age  and  corpulency  compelled  him  to  abandon  the  active 
duties  of  the  ministry,  when,  under  a  conscious  conviction  of  having 
finished  his  appointed  work,  he  retired  to  the  shades  of  a  more  private 
life.  Being  seldom  away  from  home  he  was  very  often  called  upon  to 
perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  and  was  noted  for  his  clemency 
towards  runaway  couples,  whom  he  never  declined  to  unite,  unless 
prevented  by  a  legal  barrier.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  sociability 
and  hospitality,  and  always  gave  his  friends  a  dinner  on  Christmas 
Day,  and  on  New  Year's  1878,  he  celebrated  his  golden  wedding. 


*  Weighed  300  pounds. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  175 

Mrs.  Saliiia  Mansfield,  his  wife,  is  the  oldest  lady  in  the  township. 
She  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Va.,  in  1798,  and  is  now  86  years  of 
age.  She  ismuch  beloved  on  account  of  her  social  and  Christian  virtues, 
and,  like  her  husband,  has  been  a  zealous  Christian  and  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  during  the  period  of  their  married  life.  She  was 
a  few  years  ago  quite  active,  rode  horseback,  and  attended  to  the  do- 
mestic duties  of  the  family. 

In  this  township  an  extra  crop  of  corn  is  50  bushels  per  acre,  and 
the  average  40.  An  extra  crop  of  wheat  is  30  bushels  per  acre,  and 
the  average  is  21.  An  extra  crop  of  oats  is  45  bushels  per  acre,  and 
the  average  is  25.  An  extra  crop  of  tobacco  is  1,500  pounds  per  acre, 
and  the  average  is  1,000.  Meadows  are  abundant  and  the  hay  crop 
is  generally  good. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

SUGAR  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

Its  History  —  Earliest  Settlers  —  Agriculture  —  Streams  —  Yield  of  Products  —  His- 
tory of  Moberly  —  First  Elections  —  Mayors  and  Present  City  Officers  —  Our 
Railroads  —  Machine  Shops  —  Coal  Mines  —  Grist  Mills  —  Agricultural  Imple- 
ments—  Furniture  —  Foundries  and  Machine  Shops  —  Cotton  and  Woolen  Mills  — 
Wagon  and  Carriage  Factories  —  Tobacco  and  Cigars  —  Creamery  —  Potter's  Ware — 
Gas  —  Newspapers  —  Water  and  Water  Works  —  Building  and  Loan  Associations  — 
Agricultural  Society  —  Eake  and  Stacker  Factory —  Scroll  and  Fancy  Work  —  Soda 
Bottling —  Bricks  —  Minor  Manufactories  —  Eeal  Estate  Agencies  —  Commercial  — 
Schools  —  Churches  —  Hotels  —  Improvements  —  The  Professions  —  Miscellane- 
ous—Banks—  Members  of  the  Board  of  Trade— Secret  Orders  — Court  of 
Common  Pleas. 

SUGAR    CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  original  municipal  townships,  and  was  organized 
in  1829.  Its  general  shape  is  that  of  an  L,  a  strip  six  miles  long  and 
two  miles  wide  forming  the  lower  extension  of  the  letter,  while  a  strip 
four  miles  wide  and  six  and  a  half  miles  long  composes  the  upper  ex- 
tension. The  township  contains  about  thirty-six  square  miles.  It  has 
been  much  reduced  from  its  original  limits,  other  townships  having 
been  formed  from  it.  The  narrow  strip  of  the  township  reaches  to  the 
eastern  border  of  the  county,  while  the  greater  body  of  land  lies  six 
miles  west  of  that  boundary.  A  large  proportion  of  the  terrritory  is 
prairie,  but  there  is  abundance  of  timber  for  all  the  practical  purposes 
of  the  farmer. 

The  "divide"  runs  through  its  territory  in  a  north  direction,  in 
the  eastern  central  portion  of  the  township.  The  eastern  part,  there- 
fore, contributes  its  waters  to  the  Mississippi  river,  while  the  streams 
of  the  western  part  are  tributary  to  the  Missouri. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  having  made  their  homes  in  the  county 
before  it  was  originated,  were  Reuben  Cornelius,  Benjamin  Hardin, 
Malcom  Galbreath  and  T.  N.  Galbreath.  From  the  latter,  now  living 
in  Prairie  township,  we  learn  that,  in  1822,  when  he  first  settled  there, 
and  even  at  a  much  later  period,  elk,  deer,  bear,  wild  turkeys  and 
grouse  were  abundant  for  game,  while  wolves,  foxes,  wild  cats  and 
panthers  were  numerous.  Col.  P.  P.  Ruby,  T.  P.  White,  John  Han- 
nah, Alexander  Jones,  John  Grimes,  Elijah  Williams,  Patrick  Lynch, 
W.  H.  Baird  and  Eli  Owens  were  among  the  early  settlers. 
(176) 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  177 

Wild  honey  proved  a  profitable  crop,  and  could  be  found  with  little 
labor.  In  1823,  or  1824,  Mr.  Whittenburg  built  a  mill  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  county,  and  Mr.  Goggin  one  within  the  present  cor- 
porate limits  of  Huntsville.  These  were  draught  or  horse  mills,  grind- 
ing corn  alone.  Previous  to  that  meal  was  ground  on  hand  mills  or 
grated  on  graters  prepared  for  the  purpose.  Little  wheat  flour  was 
used,  and  what  was  consumed  was  brought  from  Old  Franklin,  more 
than  forty  miles  distant. 

The  land  is  diversified  with  prairie  and  timber  ;  comparatively  little 
of  it  is  so  broken  as  to  be  unfit  for  cultivation,  and  all  of  it  is  adapted 
to  grazing.  The  climate  has  undergone  a  great  change  within  the 
recollection  of  those  now  living,  and  is  much  milder  than  a  half  cen- 
tury ago.  Snows  fell  more  frequently,  and  were  deeper  then  than  at 
the  present  time.  The  ground  froze  to  a  greater  depth,  but  it  was 
more  easily  cultivated  than  now.  The  summers  have  become  warmer, 
and  crops  mature  at  an  earlier  date.  Harvests  that  were  .gathered  in 
July  and  August  then  are  gathered  now  in  June  and  July. 

A  piece  of  information  given  by  some  of  our  oldest  citizens  is  im- 
portant. In  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  the  native  grasses  held 
possession  of  the  soil,  and  blue  grass  was  unknown.  When  the  lands 
were  enclosed,  and  the  trampling  and  grazing  of  stock  had  killed  the 
native  grass,  blue  grass  began  to  make  its  appearance  ;  showing  that 
it  is  an  indigenous  growth  in  this  soil,  and  neither  cultivation  nor  graz- 
ing will  destroy  it. 

The  township  settled  up  slowly,  owing,  in  great  part,  to  its  remote- 
ness even  from  local  markets  and  the  want  of  adequate  transportation 
to  foreign  marts.  The  farmers  fed  their  grain  and  grass  to  live  stock, 
and  dei^ended  upon  the  "  drovers  "  to  purchase  their  cattle,  horses  and 
hogs.  After  the  construction  of  the  North  Missouri  Railroad,  settle- 
ments became  more  common,  and  since  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  they 
have  advanced  rapidly.  Within  the  last  twelve  years  fully  two-thirds 
of  the  land  now  cultivated  by  farmers  in  Sugar  Creek  township  has 
been  prepared  for  the  plow.  Its  growth  since  then  has  contrasted 
strangely  with  its  tardy  improvement  in  previous  years.  Farms  have 
been  opened  in  every  direction,  population  has  increased  tenfold,  man- 
ufactories have  been  established,  and  a  new  era  has  been  inaugurated. 

The  creeks  in  this  township  are  numerous,  but  as  the  land  lies  along 
the  dividing  ridge  of  eastern  and  western  waters,  these  streams  are  all 
small.  They,  however,  supply  abundance  of  water  for  the  loose  stock. 
In  the  absence  of  springs,  farmers  prepare  with  little  labor  convenient 


178  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ponds,  which,  being  once  filled,  iire  never  empty  until  they  become 
filled  by  the  gradual  washing  of  the  soil.  The  character  of  the  sub- 
stratum is  admirably  adapted  to  such  convenience,  being  a  stifi'clay 
that  forms  an  almost  solid  bottom  and  a  safe  receptacle. 

The  variety  of  agricultural  products  is  not  surpassed  by  any  other 
country  in  the  world.  While  there  are  other  lands  that  may  produce 
one,  two  or  even  three  crops  in  larger  proportion,  there  are  none 
that  will  yield  so  generous  a  harvest  of  such  a  great  variety  of 
productions.  And  this  fact  constitutes  the  chief  charm  of  Central 
Missouri.  To  enumerate  is  only  to  repeat  what  has  a  thousand 
times  been  said :  Corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye,  flax,  Hungarian 
grass,  millet,  clover,  blue  grass,  apples,  peaches,  pears,  quinces,  and 
the  smaller  fruits  and  berries,  potatoes,  yams,  artichokes,  beets,  all 
the  vegetables  for  the  kitchen  garden,  tobacco,  and  numerous  other 
vegetable  products,  grow  with  proper  culture,  and  give  back  ample 
remuneration  for  the  toil  of  the  husbandman. 

Coal  underlies  a  large  area  of  the  township.  New  and  valuable 
mines  have  been  and  are  constantly  being  opened.  As  the  manufac- 
tories of  Moberly  and  the  demands  of  the  railroads  increase,  these 
will  be  fully  developed,  making  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  indus- 
tries of  the  township  and  employing  a  large  number  of  laborers. 
This  trade  is  constantly  increasing  and  must  prove  a  source  of  large 
profit  in  the  near  future. 

Within  a  comparatively  short  time,  the  school  interests  have  re- 
ceived a  new  impetus.  Schools  are  convenient  to  every  part  of  the 
township,  there  being  11,  including  those  in  Moberly,  within  its  lim- 
its. These  are  equal  to  the  best  common  schools  in  any  section  of 
the  country,  and  give  instruction  in  all  the  rudimentary  branches  of 
education.  For  the  pay  of  teachers  the  State  furnishes  a  large  fund 
to  every  organized  district.  The  balance  of  the  money  needed  for 
teachers,  apparatus,  library  and  contingent  expenses,  is  derived  from 
taxation  upon  all  the  property  of  the  district,  nothing  but  churches 
and  cemeteries  being  exempt. 

The  population  will  compare  favorably  for  intelligence,  morality, 
enterprise,  hospitality,  liberality  and  thrift,  with  that  of  the  same 
number  of  people  in  any  part  of  the  Union.  The  population  of  the 
township  is  about  12,000,  possibly  more,  no  census  having  been  taken 
for  several  years  ;  this  is  but  a  fair  estimate.  They  represent  all  sec- 
tions of  the  Union,  all  political  parties,  all  denominations  of  Chris- 
tians in  the  West,  a  multitude  of  occupations   and  an  aggregation  of 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  179 

those  higher  qualities  of  manhood  that  give  tone  and  character  to  a 
community.     Every  industrious  immigrant  is  cordially  greeted. 

The  churches  in  the  township,  including  those  in  Moberly,  are  14 
ni  number ;  besides  which,  the  school  houses  are  frequently  used 
for  religious  meetings.  There  are  few  townships  in  Missouri  where 
the  number  of  houses  of  worship  is  in  such  large  proportion  to  the 
population. 

As  the  manufactories  are  nearly  all  in  the  city  of  Moberly,  we  shall 
speak  of  them  in  connection  with  our  review  of  its  industries  and 
business. 

The  average  yield  of  land  in  Sugar  Creek  township  is  thus  reported 
by  farmers  who  have  had  a  long  experience  :  Corn,  per  acre,  average 
crop,  25  bushels  ;  good  crop,  35  bushels  ;  extra  crop,  50  bushels. 
[When  an  unusually  good  season  and  extra  cultivation  and  care  on 
well  prepared  ground  have  combined,  these  figures  have  been  doubled]. 
Wheat,  average  crop,  15  bushels  ;  good  crop,  20  bushels  ;  extra,  30 
bushels.  Oats,  average,  30  bushels;  good,  40  bushels;  extra,  50  to 
60  bushels.  Rye,  average,  40  bushels  ;  good,  50  bushels  ;  extra,  60 
bushels.  Tobacco,  average,  1,200  pounds;  good,  1,500  pounds;  ex- 
tra, 1,800  pounds.  Timothy  hay,  average,  3,000  pounds;  good,  two 
tons. 

It  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  estimate,  even  approximately, 
the  number  of  live  stock  shipped  or  exported  from  the  township,  as 
Moberly  is  not  the  only  shipping  point  from  which  its  products  are 
sent,  and  many  mules,  horses  and  cattle  are  driven  on  foot  to  remote 
points.  The  aggregate  is  very  large,  and  the  returns  to  the  farmers 
very  remunerative. 

MOBERLY. 

But  a  few  years  ago,  comparatively  speaking,  the  present  beautiful 
town  site  of  Moberly  was  covered  with  wild  grass,  over  which  roamed 
at  will  the  cattle  of  the  neighboring  farmers,  who,  at  that  time  little 
dreamed  that  the  unbroken  quietude  of  the  prairie  range  would  soon  be 
disturbed  by  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  locomotive,  the  hum  of  machin- 
ery, and  the  din  and  noise  of  a  busy  and  populous  city.  Almost  at  a 
single  bound  the  bantling  sprang  into  vigorous  life,  defying  all  oppo- 
sition, and  transcending  the  hopes  of  its  most  ardent  friends,  who 
looked  and  wondered,  until  the  fair  young  city  now  looms  up  as  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  and  rapidly  built  monuments  of  Western 
pluck  and  Western  energy  to  be  found  outside  of  the  mining  reo-ions 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 


180  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


ITS   HISTORY. 

Ill  1858  a  charter  was  granted  to  the  Chariton  and  Randolph  Rail- 
road Company,  with  authority  to  construct  a  road  from  a  point  in 
Randolph  county  to  Brunswick,  in  Chariton  county.  It  was  desirable 
that  this  road  should  tap  the  North  Missouri  road  at  the  most  conven- 
ient point  for  its  construction,  and  what  is  now  Moberly  was  fixed  upon 
as  the  point  of  departure.  The  company  laid  off  a  town  and  drove  up 
stakes  marking  the  lots.  The  village  of  Allen,  one  mile  north  of  where 
Moberly  now  stands,  contained  several  houses,  and  was  the  shipping 
pf)int  for  Huntsville  and  other  points  west.  To  induce  the  abandonment 
of  this  village,  the  Chariton  and  Randolph  Company  offered  to  all  who 
would  remove  their  houses  to  the  new  site  the  same  amount  of  ground 
they  owned  and  occupied  in  Allen.  This  was  in  the  summer  of  1861. 
But  the  inhabitants  of  Allen  either  had  no  confidence  in  the  com- 
pany's ability  to  build  the  road,  or  thought  their  own  town  better 
located,  and  destined  in  the  future  to  beat  its  rival,  which  then  existed 
only  in  name  and  on  maps.  From  whatever  cause,  the  proposition 
was  rejected  by  the  majority,  and  was  accepted  by  only  one  person. 
Patrick  Lynch,  an  Irishman,  who  still  resides  near  the  corporate  lim- 
its of  Moberly,  had  a  small,  one-story  frame  house  in  Allen,  and  be- 
lieving the  junction  would  one  day  be  the  better  point,  he  placed  his 
domicile  on  rollers,  took  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  drew  it  down  to  what 
were  then  and  still  are  lots  11  and  12  in  block  12,  fronting  on  Clark 
street,  opposite  to  the  Merchants'  Hotel,  and  running  east  with  Reed 
street  to  the  alley  between  Clark  and  Sturgeon.  The  west  end  of 
these  lots  is  now  occupied  as  a  grocery  store  by  Messrs.  Hegarty. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  Moberly.  The  land  around  was  a  prairie, 
without  fence  or  enclosure  of  any  kind,  and  here  Pat  Lynch  lived  with 
his  family,  solitary  and  alone.  The  Allenites  laughed  at  him,  but  he 
stuck  to  his  contract  and  stayed.  The  Civil  War  put  a  temporary  em- 
bargo upon  town  building,  and  Patrick  concluded  to  profit  by  his 
lonely  position.  He  plovyed  up  the  stakes  set  to  mark  the  lots,  and 
cultivated  the  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  railroad,  where  the  business 
houses  of  Moberly  now  stand.  Nothing  was  done  toward  the  further 
sale  of  lots  by  the  Chariton  and  Randolph  Railroad  Company,  and  Pat 
continued  to  occupy  the  place  and  *'  hold  the  fort"  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  war,  unmolested  by  soldiers. 

When  business  began  to  revive  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  the 
franchises  and  property  of  the  Chariton  and  Randolph  Railroad  Com- 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  181 

pany  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  North  Missouri  Railroad  Company, 
and  the  project  of  building  the  road  and  extending  it  to  Kansas  City 
was  renewed.  At  the  head  of  that  company  was  Isaac  M.  Sturgeon, 
of  St.  Louis,  a  practical  business  man  of  eminent  ability  and  forecast, 
and  endowed  with  an  indomitable  spirit  of  energy  and  enterprise. 

Having  determined  to  complete  the  extension  to  Kansas  City,  it 
seemed  to  be  certain  that  a  large  town  would  grow  up  somewhere 
about  midway  between  the  eastern  and  western  termini  of  the  road. 
The  junction  of  the  north  end  with  the  western  branch  seemed  to  offer 
a  good  opportunity  to  lay  out  and  establish  such  a  place.  Moberly 
was,  therefore,  resurveyed,  and  a  sale  of  lots  was  advertised  to  take 
place  on  the  grounds  September  27,  1866.  In  the  first  map  of  the 
place,  issued  by  the  auctioneers,  Messrs.  Barlow,  Valle  &  Bush,  of 
St.  Louis,  machine  shop  grounds  were  indicated  and  the  picture  of 
a  house,  somewhat  resembling  a  southern  cotton  gin,  combined  with 
a  Kentucky  rope  walk,  was  sketched  on  its  face.  The  terms  of 
sale  were  one-third  cash  when  the  deed  was  ready,  one-third  in  one 
year  and  one-third  in  two  years,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  six 
per  cent  on  deferred  payments  —  $10  on  each  lot  to  be  paid  at  the 
time  of  bidding.  The  sale  was  pretty  largely  attended  and  lots  sold 
at  fair  prices.  The  lot  on  which  the  Merchants'  Hotel  now  stands 
was  sold  for  $150,  and  some  other  lots  brought  prices  ranging  from 
$85  to  $125.  The  average  price  of  lots  at  this  sale  was  between 
$45  and  $50.  Before  the  sale  began,  Mr.  Sturgeon  ordered  that  lots 
11  and  12,  in  block  12,  be  marked  off  to  Patrick  Lynch  and  a  deed 
to  them  be  made,  he  to  pay  $1  as  recorder's  fee.  This,  as  Mr.  Stur- 
geon said,  was  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that  Pat  had  '<  held  the 
city  during  the  war  without  the  loss  of  a  life  or  a  house."  Among 
the  purchasers  at  that  sale,  who  now  live  in  Moberly,  were  Wm. 
H.  Robinson,  O.  F.  Chandler,  Dr.  C.  J.  Tannehill,  Elijah  Williams, 
John  Grimes,  Ernest  Miller,  C.  Otto,  J.  G.  Zahn,  Patrick  Lynch 
and  others,  perhaps,  whose  names  we  have  not  learned. 

Immediately  after  the  sale  S.  P.  Tate  began  the  construction  of  a 
hotel  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Clark  and  Reed  streets.  The  struc- 
ture was  a  two-story  frame.  John  Grimes  also  began  the  building  of 
a  hotel  on  Sturgeon  street,  which,  being  completed  before  Tate's,  is 
the  first  house  ever  built  in  Moberly.  It  is  the  American  Hotel, 
near  the  corner  of  Sturgeon  and  Rollins  streets,  and  now  occupied 
by  Martin  Curry,  as  a  hostelrie.  Messrs.  Chandler,  Otto,  Robinson, 
Miller,  McDaniel  and  other  parties  followed  in  rapid  succession,  and 


182  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  noise   of  hammer  and   saw  was  heard  everywhere  along  Clark, 
Reed,  Sturgeon  and  Coates  streets. 

Mr.  Adam  Given,  now  of  the  banking  house  of  Avery,  Woolfolk  & 
Co.,  owned  a  horse  mill  and  sawed  the  lumber  for  the  first  house 
erected  in  Moberly.     The  house  is  still  standing. 

The  original  plat  of  the  town  embraced  four  blocks  north  of 
Franklin  street  and  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  lands  of  the  railroad 
company  ;  five  blocks  and  five  half  blocks  on  the  west  side  of  the  rail- 
road, from  Wightman  street  on  the  south  to  the  railroad  lands  on  the 
north,  and  from  Sturgeon  street  on  the  east  to  the  alley  between  Clark 
and  Williams  streets  on  the  west ;  and  also  fourteen  blocks  on  the  east 
side  of  the  railroad,  from  Sturgeon  to  Morley,  and  from  Wightman 
street  to  the  township  road  on  the  north.  At  the  first  sale  no  lots  on 
the  east  side  of  the  railroad  were  disposed  of,  and  the  new  buildings 
were  erected  on  the  west  side.  The  first  brick  house  built  in  INfoberly 
was  the  dwellins;  which  stands  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Coates  and 
Williams  streets,  erected  by  Perry  McDonald.  In  the  fall  of  1867, 
another  sale  took  place,  at  which  a  large  number  of  lots  on  the  east 
side  were  sold,  and  the  work  of  extending  the  area  of  the  city  began. 
This  sale  also  attracted  many  bidders,  as  live  men  had  begun  to  ap- 
preciate the  value  of  the  location  as  a  business  point. 

Since  then  many  additions  have  been  made,  and  the  territory  of  the 
city  has  been  vastly  extended,  the  old  limits  being  gradually  filled 
with  business  houses  and  dwellings,  the  population  steadily  advancing, 
and  the  permanency  of  the  location  becoming  every  year  more  and 
more  assured.  The  wooden  structures  at  first  built  gave  way  to  more 
substantial  and  stylish  brick  edifices,  the  frame  hotels  and  wooden 
store  rooms  were  superseded  by  commodious  and  solid  walls,  and  the 
small  one-roomed  dwellings  were  moved  to  the  rear  to  make  room  for 
larger  and  more  imposing  buildings. 

As  a  matter  of  history  we  record  the  names  of  the  first  dealers  in 
the  leading  lines  of  trade  :  Dry  goods,  Tate  &  Bennett ;  drugs,  O.  F. 
Chandler, ;  groceries,  —  Lampton,  who  was  immediately  succeeded  by 
Martin  Howlett ;  hardware,  William  Seelen  ;  furniture,  H.  H.  Forcht, 
and,  immediately  after,  J.  G.  Zahn,  both  houses  being  owned  by  E. 
H.  Petering;  lumber,  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  H.  H.  Forcht  for  E.  H. 
Petering;  jewelry,  John  N.  Kring ;  livery,  White  Bros.;  clothing, 
Levy  &  Krailsheimer  ;  boots  and  shoes,  L.  Brandt ;, butcher,  Henry 
Overberg ;  barber,  O.N.  Kaare. 

The  first  officers  of  the  town  were  :  Trustees,  A.  T.  Franklin,  pres- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  183 

ident ;  Chas.  Tisue,  L.  Brandt,  Asa  Bennett  and  William  Seelen  ;  mar- 
shal, Martin  Hewlett ;  jnstice  of  the  peace,  E.  Sidner ;  constable, 
Chas.  Featherston  ;  notary  public,  W.  E.  Grimes  ;  postmaster,  Chas. 
Tisue,  who  was  also  agent  of  the  Merchants'  Union  Express  Com- 
pany. 

Up  to  1873,  the  3'ear  of  the  great  panic,  the  amount  of  building  and 
the  increase  of  business  were  sufficient  to  justify  the  assumption  of  the 
now  po^Dular  sobriquet  of  the  "Magic  City."  Mining  districts  have 
sometimes  gathered  larger  populations  in  shorter  time,  but  they  have 
not  carried  with  them  the  evidences  of  solidity  and  stability  that 
marked  the  growth  of  Moberly.  But  the  panic  placed  a  temporary 
check  upon  the  spirit  of  speculation  and  enterprise.  It  checked,  but 
did  not  stay  the  progress  of  the  town.  Even  under  the  most  dis- 
couraging circumstances  the  work  of  extension  was  continued,  and  if 
there  were  fewer  buildings  erected  than  in  previous  years,  still  the 
citizens  and  property  holders  had  unfaltering  faith  in  the  future  of 
Moberly,  aad  continued  to  build  as  the  wants  of  the  place  demanded. 
Meantime  Moberly  had  grown  from  a  place  on  paper  to  a  smart  village, 
from  a  village  to  a  town,  from  a  town  to  a  city. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1868,  the  first  board  of  trustees  met,  chose  A. 
T,  Franklin  chairman,  and  appointed  the  chairman  and  C.  Tisue  to 
draft  by-laws  and  ordinances.  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  June  14, 
1869,  a  resolution  was  passed  offering  one  of  three  tracts  of  land  to 
the  North  Missouri  Railroad  as  a  site  for  the  location  of  the  machine 
shops,  the  ground  and  its  appurtenances  to  be  exempt  from  city  taxes 
so  long  as  they  were  used  for  that  purpose.  These  tracts  were  the 
Concannton  farm,  67  acres,  northwest  of  town  ;  a  portion  (60  acres)  of 
the  farms  of  Grimes  and  Meals,  north  of  town  ;  a  portion  (60  acres) 
of  the  Hunt  and  Godfrey  farm  south  of  town.  J.  D.  Werden  was 
appointed  agent  of  the  town  to  confer  with  the  directors  of  the  rail- 
road. On  the  20th  of  August  the  purchasing  committee  reported  that 
James  Meals  offered  to  sell  "  near  six  acres  alono;  the  West  Branch 
Railroad  at  $200  per  acre,  and  the  remaining  portion  north  of  said 
strip  and  including  the  ground  his  house  is  on,  extending  north  to 
the  north  line  of  the  land  known  as  the  reservoir  land,  at  $500  per 
acre."  No  action  was  taken  by  the  board  on  this  liberal  proposition, 
.but  an  election  was  ordered  for  August  31,  1869,  to  take  the  sense  of 
the  voters  as  to  whether  a  tract  of  100  acres,  to  cost  not  exceeding 
$12,000,  should  be  bought  for  machine  shop  purposes.  At  this  elec- 
tion T.  B.  Porter,  B.  Y.  N.  Clarkson  and  Josiah  Harlan  were  judges. 
At  a  meeting  on  the  4th  of  September,  A.  F.  Bunker  was  appointed 
7 


184  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

a  committee  of  one  to  close  the  contract  with  the  raih'oad  company 
for  the  location  of  the  machine  shops. 

Quite  a  panic  was  created  in  the  fall  of  1869  by  the  appearance 
here  of  a  malignant  form  of  small-pox,  and  the  town  incurred  heavy 
expense  in  caring  for  the  patients  and  taking  precautionary  measures 
against  the  spread  of  the  disease.  On  the  27th  of  June,  1870,  another 
vote  was  taken  to  determine  whether  the  town  would  purchase  a  tract 
of  104  acres  of  ground  lying  north  and  west  of  town  for  the  machine 
shops.  The  result  of  this  election  is  not  recorded,  but  it  was  held  to 
have  been  unlawful,  having  been  held  on  Monday.  A  new  election 
was  ordered  for  August  2,  1870.  This  election  showed  perfect 
unanimity  pn  the  subject  of  the  purchase,  as  there  was  not  a  dissent- 
ing voice;  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  on  the  4th  of 
August,  20  bonds  of  the  denomination  of  $1,000  each  were  ordered 
to  be  printed. 

At  a  meeting  held  August  19,  1870,  William  Seelen  was  required, 
in  addition  to  his  duties  as  vice-president  of  the  board,  to  '*  hear  and 
try  all  cases  for  the  violation  of  the  city  ordiilances,"  and  on  the  7th 
of  October  he  was  appointed  to  purchase  six  street  lamps.  The  bond 
of  the  town  collector  was  fixed  at  $4,000;  but  in  1871  it  was  raised 
to  $10,000,  showing  a  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent  increase  in  the 
revenue  within  two  years.  On  the  24th  of  August,  1871,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  board  was  authorized  to  borrow  "  such  a  sum  of  money  as 
he  may  be  able  to  obtain  at  15  per  cent  interest  for  the  longest  time 
he  can  get  said  money,  for  the  improvement  of  the  streets  of 
Moberly,"  for  which  the  bonds  of  the  town  were  to  be  issued.  On 
the  13th  of  November,  1871,  the  proposition  to  donate  money  to  the 
North  Missouri  Railroad  Company  for  machine  shops  was  renewed. 
On  the  21st  of  March,  1871,  the  board  of  trustees  accepted  the 
proposition  of  Dr.  C.  J.  Tannehill  to  donate  the  block  on  which  the 
public  school  building  now  stands  as  a  public  park.  On  the  25th  of 
the  same  month,  an  election  was  held  to  determine  whether  the  city 
should  purchase  and  donate  to  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  North- 
ern Railroad  Company  200  acres  of  land  lying  between  the  west 
branch  and  the  main  line,  for  the  erection  of  machine  shops.  The 
election  resulted  favorably,  the  board  of  trustees  proposed  to  donate 
this  land,  also  618  acres  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  that  tract,  and. 
exempt  the  whole  for  twenty  years  from  all  city  taxes.  Another 
inducement  held  out  was  that  the  land  thus  o-jven  contained  an  inex- 
haustible  bed  of  coal.  Hon.  William  A.  Hall  was  appointed  the  agent 
of  the  town  to  present  the  proposition.     The  contract  was  subse- 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  185 

quciitly  made  and  was  ratified  b}^  the  trustees  of  Moberlj  April  2, 
1872.  "  ,.       . 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  on  the  3d  of  April,  1872,  W.  F.  Barrows 
was  appointed  to  contract  for  the  lithographing  of  seventy  bonds  of 
the  denomination  of  $500  each,  bearing  10  per  cent  interest,  and 
amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  $35,000,  payable  in  10  years.  He 
was  also  empowered  to  sell  these  bonds  without  limitation  as  to  price. 
At  the  same  time  a  sjDecial  election  was  ordered  to  take  place  May  10, 
1872,  to  determine  whether  the  town  would  purchase  818  acres  of  land 
for  the  car  shops.  The  election  resulted  in  favor  of  the  purchase  by 
a  vote  of  299  for,  to  4  against  it,  and  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $27,000 
were  ordered  to  be  issued.  On  the  26th  of  August,  same  year,  right 
of  way  was  granted  to  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railway  Com- 
pany to  construct  their  road  the  entire  length  of  Moulton  street,  and 
across  "  any  other  street  in  said  town." 

An  election  was  held  February  1,  1873,  to  ascertain  "whether  a 
majority  of  the  citizens  of  the  town  are  in  favor  of  having  the  town 
of  Moberly  incorporated  under  a  special  charter  by  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature," J.  T.  Young,  J.  H.  Burkholder,  H.  M.  Porter,  B.  Y.  N. 
Clarkson  and  T.  P.  White  having  been  appointed  in  the  preceding 
December  to  draft  the  charter.  This  election  resulted  in  favor  of  the 
charter,  and  T,  P.  White  was  appointed  to  go  to  Jeiferson  City  in  the 
interest  of  the  town.  On  the  5th  of  March,  a  legislative  delegation 
visited  Moberly  and  a  supper  was  given  them  by  the  city,  which  cost 
$272. 

The  first  election  under  the  charter  granted  by  the  Legislature  was 
held  April  8,  1873,  and  resulted  as  follows:  T.  P.  White,  mayor; 
councilman  at  large,  C.  P.  Apgar ;  councilmen  :  First  ward,  H.  C 
Moss;  Second  ward,  William  Seelen  ;  Third  ward,  D.  H.  Fitch  and 
B.  R.  White.  Clerk,  C.  B.  Rodes.  At  that  election,  also,  it  was  de- 
cided to  fund  the  debt  of  the  town,  under  the  general  law,  by  a  vote 
of  509  to  4.  The  bonds  of  the  city  were  ordered  by  the  first  council 
to  be  of  the  denomination  of  $500  each,  to  be  issued  to  W.  F.  Bar- 
rows or  bearer,  payable  10  years  after  date,  redeemable  at  option  of 
the  city  after  five  years,  with  ten  per  cent  interest  payable  semi-annu- 
ally.    The  bonds  authorized  to  be  issued  amounted  to  $30,000. 

The  mayors  of  the  city,  from  its  organization  to  the  present  time, 
have  been  T.  P.  White,  1873-4  ;  J.  H.  Burkholder,  1874-5  ;  W.  L. 
Durbin,  1875-6;  J.  C.  Hickerson,  1876-7  and  1877-8;  W.  T.  Mc- 
Canne  1878-9;  J.  H.  Burkholder,  1879-80;  George  L.  Hassett, 
in  1880-1  ;  P.  J.  Carmody,  1881-2  ;   Daniel  S.  Forney,  1883.     Pres- 


186  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

eiit  city  officers  and  coiincilmeii  are  :  City  attorney,  W.  S.  Sand- 
ford  ;  recorder,  D.  A.  Coates ;  clerk,  Charles  L.  Hunn  ;  collector, 
Joseph  B.  Davis  ;  marshal,  George  Keating  ;  treasurer,  C.  P.  Apgar. 
Councilmen,  W.  Chisholm,  J.  A.  Camplin,  E.  H.  Mix,  M.  A.  Hays, 
W.  M.  Coyle,  Norris  Tattle.  During  these  years  the  population  of 
the  city  has  largely  increased,  elegant  business  houses,  hotels,  public 
school  buildings  and  private  residences  have  been  erected,  and  all  the 
appliances  of  a  young  and  vigorous  city  have  been  added.  The  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  and  Texas  Railroad  has  been  completed  through  the 
limits  of  the  city  and  railroad  transportation  to  any  part  of  the  country 
is  easily  obtained. 

November  1,  1883,  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Moberly  published  a 
paper  called  the  Moberly  Board  of  Trade  Review,  and  as  the  indus- 
tries, manufactories,  enterprises  and  business  interests  of  the  city  have 
been  admirablv  classified  and  concisely  treated  of  under  their  proper 
headings,  in  that  paper,  we  take  from  it  the  following  extracts  :  — 

OUR    RAILROADS. 

As  the  permanency  and  prosperity  of  Moberly  depend  almost  wholly 
upon  the  railroads  centering  here  or  contributing  to  her  commercial 
growth,  as  they  furnish  the  only  means  of  transporting  our  products 
to  distant  markets,  we  mention  them  first  in  order.  Taking  Moberly 
as  a  center,  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  extends  east- 
ward to  St.  Louis  and  westward  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.  At  these 
points  connection  is  made  with  the  great  trunk  lines  leading  to  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  on  one  side  and  the  Pacific  coast  on  the  other.  Mo- 
berly is  the  central  point  between  the  two  places,  is  the  terminus  of 
one  and  the  beginning  of  another  division  and  is  the  point  at  which  all 
repairs  are  made,  all  engines  are  manufactured  and  all  cars  are  built. 
The  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  is  one  of  the  leading  roads  in  Mis- 
souri, and  its  tonnage  during  the  year  shows  a  traffic  second  to  no  west- 
ern road.     Four  mails  daily  pass  over  this  route. 

Stretching  north-westerly  from  Moberly,  also,  is  the  Omaha  branch 
of  the  Wabash,  terminating  at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  there  connect- 
ing with  the  Union  Pacific,  with  which  it  is  closely  allied.  A  very 
large  proportion  of  the  California  trade  and  travel  passes  over  this 
branch,  and  as  this  is  one  of  the  termini,  much  of  the  freight  is 
handled  at  this  point.  These  two  roads  cross  a  number  of  lines  run- 
nins:  north  and  south  through  Missouri,  which  thus  become  valuable 
feeders  from  the  northern  portion  of  the  state. 

Northward  from  Moberly  a  road  extends  to  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  and 
connects  with  the  Iowa  and  Minnesota  systems.  It  crosses  sevenil 
important  east  and  west  lines,  furnishing  direct  communication  with 
north-eastern  and  north-western  Missouri  and  all  of  Iowa  and  Minne- 
sota.    Two  mails  arrive  daily  fi-om  the  north. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  187 

The  Kansas  and  Texas  branch  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  runs 
north-easterly  to  Hannibal  and  there  connects  with  roads  running  north- 
ward through  Keokuk  and  Bnrlington,  Iowa,  and  north-easterly  to 
Chicago.  Two  trains  daily  leave  Moberly  for  Chicago  and  two  arrive 
from  that  point,  besides  a  number  of  freight  trains. 

South-westerly  this  road  traverses  South-west  Missouri,  South-east 
Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory  and  enters  Texas  at  Denison.  It 
crosses  the  Chicago  and  Alton  at  Higbee,  Randolph  county,  Missouri, 
the  Missouri  Pacific  at  Sedalia  and  the  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco  at 
Vinita,  I.  T.  It  is  part  of  the  great  consolidated  South-western  system 
and  connects  with  the  main  lines  of  Texas. 

Numerous  branches  from  all  these  roads  tap  the  richest  agricultural 
and  mining  lands  in  the  West.  Thus  Moberly  is  in  close  proximity  to 
the  cotton  fields  of  Texas,  the  lead  mines  of  South-west  Missouri,  the 
iron  mines  of  South-east  Missouri  and  the  grain  fields  of  the  w^hole 
trans-Mississippi  Valley,  It  is  on  the  direct  line  of  travel  between 
New  York  and  San  Francisco  ;  it  is  located  on  one  of  the  railroads 
that  carries  the  products  of  the  great  South-west  to  the  great  St.  Louis, 
Cliicago  and  eastern  markets.  It  stretches  its  iron  arms  into  remote 
territories  and  enables  the  manufacturer  to  ship  his  wares  direct  from 
this  point  to  almost  every  prominent  place  on  the  continent,  and  espec- 
ially to  the  thriving  towns  and  villages  of  the  West.  Its  facilities  for 
transportation  are,  therefore,  unsurpassed.  Other  railroads  are  talked 
of,  but  even  with  those  already  built  the  advantages  are  better  than 
those  of  any  other  town  in  the  interior  of  Missouri. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  growing  importance  of  these  roads,  we  give 
below  a  statement  of  the  passenger  and  freight  business  during  the 
periods  indicated :  — 

The  number  and  value  of  passenger  tickets  sold  at  this  point  for 
the  last  three  years  is  as  follows :  — 

1881,  No.  tickets  sold,  45,766 $88,526.95 

1882,  <'         "  '«     43,208 97,346.60 

1883,  (9  mos.  to  Sep.  30)  34,396 84,542.05 

Allowins:  that  the  last  three  months  of  1883  will  average  with  the 
first  nine  (and  they  more  than  did  so),  the  number  of  tickets  sold 
during  the  year  will  reach  45,8(31  and  the  receipts  will  be  $113,722.73, 
an  increase  over  the  previous  year  of  nearly  seventeen  per  cent, 
and  over  the  year  1882  over  twenty-eight  per  cent. 

Comparing  the  freight  received  and  forwarded  in  1882  and  1883,  the 
increase  is  still  more  marked.  The  receipts  for  freight  during  the 
month  of  August,  1882,  were  $9,675.53,  during  the  month  of  Aug- 
ust, 1883,  $11,988.55  — an  increase  of  $2,313.02,  or  nearly  twenty- 
four  per  cent.  The  receipts  of  September,  1882,  were,  $9,981.03; 
for  September,  1883,  $15,352.17  —  anincrease  of  $5, 371, 14, or  nearly 
fifty-four  per  cent.  The  tonnage  of  freight  forwarded  by  the  Wabash 
for  the  first  five  months  of  1879  was  7,531,130  pounds;  while  for  the 
single  month  of  August,  1883,  it  was  6,378,670  pounds.  The  cash 
receipts   on  freight  for  the  same  periods  were,  January  1  to  June  1, 


188  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

1879,  $17,509.28;  for  the  single  month  of  September,  1883,  the  re- 
ceipts were  $15,352.17. 

We  have  given  these  figures  as  a  slight  indication  of  the  rapid  and 
steady  growth  of  the  city  of  Moberly. 

These  roads  are  all  equipped  with  an  abundance  of  the  finest  rolling 
stock — palace  coaches,  sleeping  cars,  freight  and  stock  cars,  magnifi- 
cent engines  and  all  the  needful  vehicles  for  the  trans[)ortation  ot  the 
products  of  our  orchards,  fields  and  mines.  Thus  these  roads  are 
continually  pouring  through  our  city  a  flood  of  cars  laden  with  the 
silks  and  teas  of  China  and  Japan,  the  wines  and  fruits  of  California, 
the  gold  and  silver  of  Colorado  and  the  western  territories,  the  wheat 
and  corn  of  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Western  Missouri,  the  cotton,  grain, 
cattle  and  horses  of  Texas,  the  manufactured  goods  of  New  England, 
the  agricultural  machinery  and  other  products  of  States  farther  east,. 
and  the  lumber  from  the  pineries  of  the  North. 

MACHINE    SHOPS. 

By  large  donations  of  land,  the  city  secured  the  location  here  of  the 
immense  machine  shops  of  what  is  now  the  W^abash,  St.  Louis  and 
Pacific  Railway.  They  are  located  on  a  tract  of  218  acres  of  land  lying 
in  the  northern  limits  of  the  city,  though  the  company  owns  over  800 
acres  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  shops.  Under  the  contract  be- 
tween the  railroad  company  and  the  city  these  shops  cannot  be  removed, 
but  mustever  be  the  main  shops  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific 
Railway  and  its  successors.  Even  the  forfeiture  of  the  land  donated 
would  not  release  the  company  from  the  contract,  and  as  immense 
buildings  have  been  erected  they  will  ever  remain  a  prominent  and 
permanent  feature  of  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Moberly. 

Everything  connected  with  a  railroad,  except  the  rails  and  wheels, 
are  here  manufactured.  Engines,  coaches,  passenger,  freight  and 
stock  cars,  velocipedes,  cabooses  and  everything  that  moves  on  the 
track  are  made.  Here,  too,  the  bridges,  station  houses  and  boarding 
"  shanties"   of  the  road  are  built  and  shipped  wherever  needed. 

The  water  necessary  for  all  this  work  is  derived  from  a  lake  cover- 
ing several  acres  of  ground  and  measuring  about  20  feet  in  depth 
in  the  deepest  parts.  The  lake  is  fed  and  maintained  by  small  rivu- 
lets that  prevail  during  the  spring  and  fall  seasons,  and  affords  an  abun- 
dance of  water  all  the  year  round  for  every  demand  of  the  car  and 
machine  shops. 

From  650  to  900  men  are  constantly  employed  in  building  engines 
and  constructing  coaches  and  cars.  They  form  a  part  of  the  per- 
manent citizenship  of  the  place.  Many  of  them  have  acquired  prop- 
erty since  they  came  here,  and  own  their  homes.  For  industry, 
intelligence,  integrity  and  sobriety,  they  will  compare  favorably  with 
the  same  number  of  men  in  any  department  of  business  or  in  any 
profession.  Their  large  library,  located  in  the  office  building  on  the 
shop  grounds,  and  containing  over  1,000  volumes,  is  evidence  that 
they  are  actuated  by  high  moral  principles  and  superior  intelligence. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  189 

They  are  skilled  workmen,  and  the  products  of  these  shops  are  not 
excelled  by  those  of  any  similar  manufactory  in  the  Union.  Whether 
in  the  production  of  engines,  sleeping,  dining,  passenger,  baggage,  or 
freiirht  cars,  the  work  is  a  model  of  completeness  and  excellence.  In 
the  brass  and  iron  foundries,  the  boiler  shops,  the  forges,  and  the 
wood-work  department,  only  the  finest  and  most  costly  machinery  is 
used.  The  fuel  necessary  to  carry  on  this  vast  work  amounts  to  about 
1,000  tons  of  coal  and  100  cords  of  wood  monthly.  This  fuel  is  ob- 
tained in  this  immediate  vicinity,  and  thus  aids  in  the  establishment  of 
other  industries. 

COAL  MINES. 

As  previously  stated,  the  entire  county  is  underlaid  with  valuable 
beds  of  coal.  At  Renick,  six  miles  south  of  Moberly,  several 
shafts  have  been  sunk  and  beds  of  coal  of  great  thickness  and  won- 
derful heating  power  have  been  worked  for  several  years.  West  of 
Moberly,  between  this  city  and  Hunts ville,  three  or  four  mines  have 
been  opened  on  the  line  of  railroad,  giving  employment  to  hundreds 
of  miners  and  affording  an  excellent  quality  of  fuel. 

Three-fourths  of  a  mile  north-west  of  this  city,  and  connected 
with  it  by  a  branch  railroad,  is  the  Williams  mine,  opened  a  short 
time  ago.  The  depth  of  the  shaft  is  115  feet.  The  coal  is  found  in 
layers  of  from  four  to  four  and  a  half  feet  in  thickness.  The  mine 
is  absolutely  free  from  water,  and  the  coal  is  perfectly  dry.  Its 
heating  capacity  is  equal  to  that  of  the  best  coal  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and 
Illinois,  and  for  making  steam  is  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  other 
mine.  Owing  to  want  of  capital,  the  proprietor  has  not  been  able  to 
develop  the  bed,  and  is  at  present  only  working  about  30  hands 
and  taking  out  from  40  to  50  tons  per  day.  He  has  a  lease  on  210 
acres,  but  the  lead  may  be  extended  for  miles. 

In  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  city,  and  just  beside  the  railroad, 
Timothy  Collins  has  sunk  a  shaft  to  the  depth  of  256  feet,  and  found 
a  bed  of  coal  rangino;  in  thickness  from  two  feet  to  four  feet  two 
inches.  This  mine  has  not  been  fully  developed,  but  arrangements 
are  being  made  to  work  it  thoroughly. 

Other  mines  will  be  opened  in  time,  but  it  requires  an  amount  of 
capital  which  our  people  find  it  practically  impossible  to  command 
at  present.  The  market  for  all  this  mineral  is  as  extensive  as  could 
be  desired.  Already  miners  are  shipping  their  products  northward 
to  Iowa,  westward  to  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  southward  to  Arkansas, 
and  eastward  till  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  mines  in  Illinois. 
It  is  furnished  on  flats  the  year  round  for  $1.75  i^er  ton.  There  are 
thousands  of  acres  of  it,  and  many  3^ears  must  elapse,  even  should 
manufactories  be  multiplied  many  fold,  before  the  mines  could  be 
even  partially  exhausted. 

GRIST  MILLS. 

Moberly  can  boast  of  grist  mills  which,  if  not  so  extensive  as  those 
of   other  cities,   are    at   least   equal  to    the  best  in  the  quality  and 


190  HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

character  of  their  products.  Located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
city  are  the  Moberly  Flouring  Mills  of  Messrs.  Simon  Bros.  They 
were  erected  in  1874  at  a  cost  of  $22,000  ;  but  since  coming  into  the 
possession  of  the  present  proprietors,  the}'  have  been  enlarged  at 
heavy  cost,  and  greatly  increased  in  capacity.  They  have  ten  sets  of 
rollers  —  in  fact,  all  of  the  most  modern  improved,  machinery  of  a 
complete  roller  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  new  or  patent  process  flour. 
They  are  40x40  feet,  four  stories  high,  with  a  brick  engine  and  boiler 
house  20x50  feet.  There  is  warehouse  capacity  for  15,000  bushels  of 
wheat,  and  storage  for  1,000  barrels  of  flour,  and  100,000  pounds  of 
bran . 

The  wheat  used  is  largely  obtained  from  this  immediate  vicinity, 
the  proprietors  claiming  that  the  finest  flour  in  the  market  is  made 
from  the  wheat  grown  in  Randolph  and  adjacent  counties.  The  pro- 
ducts of  these  mills  are  sold  along  the  line  of  the  various  rail- 
roads, reaching  far  into  Iowa  on  the  north.  New  York  and  Boston 
on  the  east,  and  North-eastern  and  Central  Texas.  The  present 
capacity  of  the  mills  is  140  barrels  per  day,  but  they  are  so 
arranged  as  to  be  susceptible  of  great  extention  at  comparatively 
little  cost.  The  proprietors  manufactured  during  the  past  year  7,000,- 
000  pounds,  or  35,000  barrels  of  flour,  all  of  which  has  found 
ready  sale  for  cash  at  remunerative  prices,  l)esides  a  large  amount  ex- 
changed with  farmers  for  wheat.  The  flour  made  is  equal  to  the  best 
brands  manufactured  elsewhere,  and  will  command  a  premium  in 
almost  any  market. 

In  close  proximity  to  the  Union  depot,  and  almost  in  the  heart  of 
the  city,  is  another  mill,  also  erected  in  1874,  to  which  is  added  wool 
carding  machinery.  It  has  recently  been  enlarged  and  improved,  and 
now  supplies  the  best  quality  of  bolted  meal  to  all  the  surrounding 
country.  It  is  under  the  management  of  William  Radell,  an  experi- 
enced miller,  and  has  secured  a  large  and  constantly  growing  trade. 

Very  recently  a  company  has  been  formed  in  Moberly  for  the 
erection  of  a  large  merchant  mill  near  one  of  the  railroads,  in  connec- 
nection  with  which  an  elevator  will  be  built. 

AGRICULTURAL    IMPLEMENTS. 

Fully  $25,000  worth  of  agricultural  implements,  such  as  moAvers, 
reapers,  threshers,  cultivators,  riding  and  walking  plows,  harrows, 
rakes,  stackers,  planters,  etc.,  are  annually  sold  in  this  city.  Nearly 
all  this  machinery  is  manufactured  abroad  ;  not  because  we  have  not 
the  necessary  materials  cheaper  and  more  convenient  than  they  are 
ordinarily  found,  but  because  a  want  of  capital  has  prevented  our  cit- 
izens from  engaging  in  such  enterprises.  The  very  timber  that  grows 
in  our  forests  is  shipped  to  distant  points,  to  come  back  to  us  or  to 
go  into  States  and  Territories  still  farther  west,  in  the  shape  of  com- 
pleted tools  and  implements.  While  this  work  is  being  done  else- 
where, our  beds  of  coal  lie  only  partially  explored,  and  scarcely  at  all 
developed.     With  beds   of  fine   coal  three   and  a  half  to  five  feet  or 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  191 

more  in  thickness,  with  easy,  speedy  and  cheap  transportation  from 
the  iron  fields  of  Missouri,  and  with  great  forests  of  as  fine  timber  as 
was  ever  worked  into  shape,  we  have  no  manufactories  of  importance, 
simply  because  we  have  not  a  surplus  capital  that  may  be  taken  from 
the  ordinary  occupations  of  our  people  and  invested  in  such  enter- 
prises. 

The  demand  for  every  kind  of  agricultural  implements  is  daily  in- 
creasing. Farms  are  annually  multiplying  all  around  us,  while  the 
vast  prairies  of  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Colorado  and  Wyoming 
are  peopled  with  adventurous  spirits  whose  demands  for  all  improved 
farming  machinery  must  be  supplied  from  the  timber,  iron  and  coal 
fields  of  Missouri.  Farming  is  no  longer  an  experiment,  it  is  a  science 
which  is  rapidly  developing  into  a  fine  art,  and  it  will  require  a  vast 
outlay  of  capital  and  the  employment  of  a  large  amount  of  skilled 
labor  to  furnish  the  plows,  rakes,  harrows  and  other  implements  of 
the  Western  farmers  for  ages  to  come.  No  better  point  can  be  found 
in  the  State  of  Missouri  than  the  city  of  Moberly  for  the  establish- 
ment of  these  manufactories,  and  he  who  first  occupies  the  field  has  a 
positive  assurance  of  gain. 

FURNITURE. 

While  our  forests  abound  in  maple,  ash,  cherry,  oak,  walnut,  syc- 
amore, and  other  woods  suitable  for  making  furniture  for  the  entire 
West,  there  is  scarcely  a  single  article  of  household  economy  that  is 
not  shipped  here  from  abroad.  Chairs,  tables,  stands,  bedsteads,  bu- 
reaus, etc.,  whether  of  fine  or  common  material,  are  all  imported, 
and  that,  too,  from  places  which  are  destitute  of  the  facilities  we 
possess.  As  the  great  tide  of  emigration  sets  westward,  and  the  ter- 
ritories every  year  become  more  densely  peopled,  new  fields  are  opened 
up  for  the  sale  of  such  wares.  The  nearer  the  manufacturer  can  get 
to  the  market  the  cheaper  his  goods  can  be  supplied  to  consumers,  as 
the  cost  of  transportation  is  lessened.  Here  is  a  boundless  territory 
rapidly  becoming  an  empire,  not  onl}^  in  extent,  but  in  population  and 
wealth.  The  country  west  of  Missouri  affords  no  facilities  for  the 
production  of  this  class  of  manufactures,  as  the  land  is  barren  of 
forests  and  possesses  only  scattered  and  stunted  trees.  The  market 
for  furniture  of  all  kinds  is  constantly  increasing  in  its  demands.  The 
investment  of  capital  in  the  city  of  Moberly  in  this  branch  of  industry, 
cannot  be  otherwise  than  profitable  to  the  investor. 

FOUNDRIES   AND   MACHINE    SHOPS. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  machine  shops  of  the  Wabash,  St. 
Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  located  at  this  point.  But  they  do  no  cus- 
tom work,  and  confine  themselves  to  that  of  the  road  to  which  they 
belong,  and  its  numerous  branches  and  feeders.  The  western  roads, 
hundreds  of  which  are  annually  built,  and  few  of  which  have  machine 
shops  of  their  own,  will  for  many  years  afford  ample  custom  for  all 
the  shops  likely  to  be  erected  in.  this  State.     The  work  can  be  done 


192  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

here  cheaper,  better  and  more  speedily  than  even  along  the  line  of 
these  roads,  as  we  have  the  timber  and  the  coal  and  are  nearer  the 
great  iron  furnaces  of  Missouri.  Experienced  and  intelligent  ma- 
chinists connected  with  the  Wabash  shops  regard  Moberly  as  the  best 
point  in  the  State  for  the  establishment  of  such  an  enterprise. 

For  70  miles  around  us  there  is  no  foundry  worthy  of  the  name. 
In  fact  there  is  not  one  where  the  work  demanded  by  an  agricul- 
tural community  can  be  done.  Within  a  radius  of  40  miles,  in  the 
counties  of  Boone,  Audrain,  Monroe,  Macon,  Chariton,  Howard 
and  Randolph,  there  is  a  population  of  150,000,  with  an  aggregate 
wealth  of  fully  $40,000,000.  Not  one  of  these  counties  has  a  foun- 
dry. They  are  all  agricultural  districts,  where  a  vast  amount  of 
machinery  is  employed.  A  large  part  of  the  work  required  goes  to 
St.  Louis  or  Kansas  City,  the  distance  in  either  case  being  two  or 
three  to  five  times  as  great  as  if  sent  to  Moberly.  All  these  counties 
are  connected  by  railroad  with  this  city,  and  the  class  of  custom  to 
which  we  refer  would  of  itself  be  sufficient  to  maintain  a  foundry. 
But  besides  this,  there  is  other  and  heavier  work  to  be  done.  Prac- 
tical foundrymen,  however,  will  readily  appreciate  the  advantages 
from  what  has  been  said  above.  A  comparatively  small  amount  of 
capital  invested  in  a  foundry,  or  foundry  and  machine  shops  combined, 
would  be  speedily  doubled,  trebled,  or  quadrupled  in  the  hands  of  an 
experienced  and  skillful  man  or  company.  Here  is  an  opening  for  in- 
telligent labor  to  reap  a  rich  reward. 

COTTON  AND  AVOOLEN  MILLS. 

This  region  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  sheep  and  the 
production  of  wool.  Sheep  require  to  be  fed  but  little.  The  blue 
grass  of  our  pastures  and  forests  affords  sufficient  nutriment  nearly 
all  the  year  round.  Very  recently  our  farmers  have  turned  their  at- 
tention more  particularly  to  the  breeding  of  sheep.  They  have  not 
only  largely  increased  their  flocks,  but  they  have  now  the  best  breeds 
of  wool-producing  animals,  including  both  the  finer  and  coarser  grades. 
As  an  evidence  of  the  rapid  growth  of  this  industry  in  Randolph  county 
alone,  we  may  say  that  in  1879  there  were  but  18,000  sheep  in  the 
count3^  In  1880  the  number  had  grown  to  23,000,  and  in  1883  to 
32,000.  The  Cairo  Wool-Growers' and  Sheep-Breeders'  Association, 
which  was  organized  several  years  ago  at  a  point  six  miles  north  cf 
this  city,  has  done  much  to  promote  the  wool  interest  and  to  give  a 
new  impetus  to  sheep  culture. 

What  is  true  of  Randolph  county  is  true  of  all  the  surrounding  coun- 
ties. The  industry  might  be  indefinitely  extended,  and  would  1)e  if 
there  were  mills  at  home  to  consume  the  product.  Few  farmers, 
however,  have  enough  wool  to  justify  them  in  shipping  to  a  foreign 
market,  and  they  therefore  sell  to  local  traders  or  to  parties  who 
come  from  distant  localities,  thereby  losing  the  trans))ortation  upon 
their  products.  The  wool  clip  of  Randolph  in  1880  was  131,000 
pounds.     In  the  eight  or  ten  counties  that  might  be  made  tributary  to 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  193 

woolen  mills  in  Moberly,  the  clip  of  1883  could  scarcely  hiive  been 
less  than  a  million  and  a  half  of  pounds.  Millions  of  pounds  more 
could  be  readily  purchased  from  adjacent  territory  at  a  trifling  cost 
for  transportation.  The  mills  necessary  to  work  up  this  large  amount 
of  material  are  not  found  in  Missouri.  The  mills  that  have  hereto- 
fore been  established  have  been  compelled  to  work  on  a  stinted  cap- 
ital, and  have,  on  that  account,  been  less  profitable  than  they  should 
have  been.  With  large  means  and  ample  machinery  a  mill  of  that 
character  in  Moberly  would  pay  a  heavy  interest  upon  the  capital  em- 
ployed. 

This  city  is  located  on  the  Kansas  and  Texas  division  of  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  Railroad,  a  system  that  penetrates  the  great  cotton 
regions  of  Texas  and  Arkansas.  It  is  on  a  direct  line  between  the 
cotton  fields  of  these  States  and  the  Eastern  markets,  and  many  thou- 
sand bales  of  this  Southern  staple  annually  pass  through  this  place  to 
the  mills  of  more  favored  sections.  To  arrest  this  transportation  here 
and  work  the  raw  material  into  fabrics  such  as  are  required  in  the 
West,  would  be  to  put  into  the  pockets  of  the  manufacturer  the  double 
cost  of  freight  between  Moberly  and  distant  factories.  Here,  where 
living  is  cheap,  where  fuel  is  abundant,  and  where  the  cost  of  steam 
power  is  not  much,  if  any,  greater  than  that  of  the  water  power  in 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  the  profits  of  such  an  establishment 
must  be  large.  Missouri  is  certain  to  become  a  great  manufacturing 
State,  because  she  can  readily  supply  the  raw  material  for  every  de- 
sired industry  and  feed  the  consumers  at  little  cost,  while  her  great 
rivers  and  railroads  reach  into  the  very  heart  of  the  markets  in  which 
such  goods  must  be  sold. 

WAGON   AND    CARRIAGE    FACTORY. 

Two  establishments  of  this  kind  are  found  in  this  city.  The  vehi- 
cles here  manufactured  are  celebrated  for  their  lightness,  strength 
and  durability.  They  are  made  from  the  growth  of  our  native  forests 
and  are  a  credit  both  to  the  workmen  who  manufacture  them  and  to 
the  country  in  which  they  are  made.  But  in  this,  as  in  other  depart- 
ments of  mechanism,  the  capital  invested  is  too  small  for  the  demands 
of  the  country.  Hundreds  of  wagons,  buggies,  carriages  and  other 
vehicles  are  annually  shipped  here  from  abroad  and  sold  to  our  farm- 
ers and  the  citizens  of  our  towns.  There  is  no  reason  why  such  pro- 
ducts of  skill  should  not  be  made  here  cheaper  and  better  than  in  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.,  or  Eock  Island,  111.  Our  timber  is  better,  our  land  is 
cheaper,  our  food  costs  less  and  we  are  nearer  the  center  of  the  great 
Western  market.  Even  the  factories  we  have,  pinched  as  they  are  for 
want  of  means,  are  steadily  growing  and  making  money  for  those  who 
operate  them.  The  market  cannot  be  supplied  beyond  the  demand. 
All  the  vehicles  manufectured  would  find  ready  sale  within  the  com- 
pass of  a  small  adjacent  territory,  unless  the  manufactories  were  on 
a  very  extensive  scale,  and  in  that  case  the  boundless  West  and  South- 
west are  at  our  door.     As  wealth  increases,  the  demand  for  luxuries 


194  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

also  increases,  and  fine  carriages  are  more  common  now  than  the 
plainest  spring  wagons  were  a  few  years  ago.  This  is  true  of  Mis- 
souri, Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  other  Western  States. 

TOBACCO    AND    CIGARS. 

In  this  immediate  vicinity  the  tobacco  crop  is  as  certain  and  as 
profitable  as  any  other  planted  by  the  farmer.  A  very  superior  qual- 
ity of  the  White  Burley  and  other  varieties  of  tobacco  are  raised, 
most  of  which  must  be  disposed  of  in  distant  markets,  as  there  are 
no  parties  here  who  handle  it  in  bulk.  The  tobacco  of  this  section  is 
not  excelled  in  texture,  color,  body,  or  flavor  by  that  raised  in  the 
best  fields  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  In  fact,  at  the  annual  award 
of  premiums  by  the  St.  Louis  warehouses.  North  Missouri  has  almost 
invariably  received  the  first  prize,  although  competing  with  Western 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Illinois,  and  Iowa. 

Here  is  an  opening  for  the  location  of  a  large  tobacco  stemmery  or 
manufactory.  If  the  farmers  of  this  region  received  sufficient  en- 
couragement, they  would  plant  larger  crops  and  raise  only  such 
tobacco  as  was  demanded  by  the  market,  instead  of,  as  in  many  in- 
stances, the  coarser  and  heavier  varieties  that  make  up  in  weight  what 
they  lack  in  texture  and  appearance. 

CREAMERY. 

Although  numerous  creameries  have  been  established  in  the  country, 
Moberly  enjoys  no  such  enterprise.  Here,  where  our  native  grass 
sustains  the  cattle  for  eight  months  in  the  year  and  where  provender  is 
so  cheap  when  they  require  extra  food,  would  seem  to  be  the  proper 
location  for  a  butter  manufactory  on  an  extensive  scale.  It  is  profit- 
able alike  to  the  farmer  and  the  manufacturer,  as  the  high  prices  for 
butter  that  always  prevail  in  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City,  Hannibal  and 
other  large  cities  with  which  Moberly  is  connected  by  rail,  would  en- 
able the  latter  to  pay  high  prices  for  cream  and  receive  in  return  a 
large  profit  on  his  products.  These  institutions  have  been  successful 
everywhere  they  have  been  tried  by  competent  men,  and  there  is  no 
field  which  suggests  a  better  assurance  of  profit  than  that  in  the 
vicinity  of  Moberly. 

potter's  ware. 

In  this  department  of  manufacturing,  as  in  almost  every  other  in 
which  individual  capital  alone  is  invested,  the  demands  are  greater 
than  the  capacity  of  the  factory.  A  short  time  since  a  pottery  was 
established  in  this  city  which  has  been  doing  a  prosperous  business 
from  the  beginning.  It  has  a  capacity  of  only  20,000  gallons  per 
month,  and  the  ware  is  beautiful  in  color  and  excellent  in  material. 
The  clay  is  obtained  at  a  convenient  distance  from  the  factory,  and 
the  glazing  is  derived  from  the  East.  The  market  for  this  ware  is  to 
be  found  in  all  the  surrounding  country,  and  the  goods  do  not  need 
to  be  shipped  to  distant  points.  This  industry  can  be  indefinitely  ex- 
tended by  the  addition  of  larger  capital. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  195 


GAS. 

The  principal  streets  of  Moberly  have  been  lighted  with  gas  since 
November  30,  1875.  The  gas  works  are  located  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  city,  so  that  the  inhabitants  are  not  distnrbed  by  offensive 
odors  from  the  works.  The  gas  is  made  from  the  coal  taken  from  the 
mines  of  this  vicinity,  burns  with  a  clear  and  beautiful  flame  and  is 
supplied  to  consumers  at  $2.50  per  thousand  cubic  feet.  There  are 
seven  or  eight  miles  of  mains  and  connections,  affording  a  cheap,  safe 
and  brilliant  light  for  shops,  stores,  factories  and  private  residences. 

WATER  AND  WATER  WORKS. 

It  would  naturally  be  supposed  that  a  city  located  on  the  dividing 
rido;e  between  the  waters  of  two  such  streams  as  the  Missouri  and 
Mississippi  would  be  destitute  of  water  power,  and  even  of  sufficient 
water  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Such  was  the  fact  in  the  early 
history  of  Moberly.  But  our  country  possesses  a  peculiarity  that 
compensates  this  absence  of  large  streams.  Below  the  soil  is  a  sub- 
soil of  clay  of  fine  texture  almost  impervious  to  water.  Lakes  and 
ponds  constructed  by  artificial  means,  retain  the  water  drawn  from 
the  adjacent  country  until  exhausted  by  evaporation  or  by  artificial 
means. 

On  the  western  border  of  the  town  is  a  reservoir  holding  20,000,000 
gallons  of  water,  which  was  constructed  at  a  cost  of  $3,300.  This  is 
owned  by  the  city  and  is  free  to  all  for  any  and  every  purpose.  The 
city  also  owns  47  acres  of  land  on  which  the  reservoir  is  made,  which 
it  is  contemplated  to  divide  into  lots  for  manufacturing  purposes. 
This  land  is  adjacent  to  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad 
and  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  location  of  factories  and  shops. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  reservoir,  also,  are  tracts  of  land  having  deep 
ravines  where  much  larger  basins  may  be  constructed  at  even  less  cost 
than  that  of  the  city  reservoir. 

Cisterns  and  wells  supply  the  water  for  domestic  purposes  at 
present.  But  recently  an  enterprise  has  been  projected,  which  will 
probably  be  adopted,  to  erect  water  works  at  a  distance  of  some  four 
miles  from  the  city  to  supply  the  inhabitants  with  living  water  from 
flowing  springs.  This  is  not  yet  an  accomplished  fact,  nor  has  it  ever 
been  determined  upon,  but  negotiations  are  in  progress,  and  there  is 
little  doubt,  judging  from  the  temper  of  the  people,  that  it  will  be 
carried  to  successful  execution  at  an  early  day. 

BUILDING  AND  LOAN  ASSOCIATION. 

In  1876  a  building  and  loan  association  was  organized,  and  many  a 
poor  man  has  reason  to  rejoice  at  the  establishment  of  such  an  institu- 
tion. The  association  has  been  in  operation  for  over  seven  years,  and 
hundreds   of   houses  have  been  erected  under  its  auspices.     It  has 


196  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

enabled  men  of  small  and  moderate  income  to  buy  or  build  their 
houses.  The  individual  securing  the  benefit  of  the  association  pays 
for  his  property  by  monthly  installments  running  through  a  series  of 
years,  and  in  most  instances  these  payments  but  little  exceed  the 
amount  the  beneficiary  would  be  compelled  to  pay  in  rents.  Money 
that  would  otherwise  go  into  the  pockets  of  landlords,  and  for  which 
tenants  would  receive  the  equivalent  of  only  a  temporary  shelter,  is 
by  this  process  expended  in  permanent  homes  which  it  is  both  the  pride 
and  pleasure  of  the  occupant  to  improve  and  beautify  and  adorn. 
The  peace,  permanency  and  prosperity  of  a  city  depend  in  large 
measure  upon  the  number  of  citizens  who  own  the  property  on  which 
they  reside.  If  the  number  be  large  there  will  be  just  that  many 
whose  interests  are  involved  in  the  improvement  of  the  place,  the 
erection  of  public  buildings,  the  promotion  of  education,  morality  and 
religion,  and  the  enforcement  of  order.  A  very  large  proportion  of 
the  people  of  Moberly  own  their  own  homes. 

AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

In  the  summer  of  1878  some  enterprising  gentlemen  of  this  county 
determined  to  organize  an  agricultural  society.  The  Moberly  District 
Fair  Association  was  the  outgrowth  of  this  movement.  A  tract  of 
land,  lying  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the  city  and  containing  86 
acres,  was  purchased  for  the  purpose,  and  on  it  were  immediately 
erected  buildings  suitable  for  such  an  association.  Plank  walks 
extend  from  the  business  part  of  the  city  to  these  grounds,  distant 
not  over  half  a  mile.  The  entire  86  aci-es  are  enclosed  by  a  sub- 
stantial plank  fence.  A  grand  stand,  28x70  feet,  and  rising  to  the 
height  of  30  feet,  well  covered  and  comfortably  seated,  overlooks 
the  whole  ground.  There  is  seating  room  for  several  thousand  visitors. 
There  are  also  dressing  rooms  for  ladies  and  a  floral  hall.  Just  in 
front  of  the  stand  is  a  judge's  stand  in  the  form  of  an  eastern  pagoda. 
A  magnificent  mile  track,  probably  the  best  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  is  laid  out  so  that  every  step  of  a  horse  may  be  seen  as  he  goes 
around.  Jockeys  who  have  tested  it  say  that  it  is  a  very  fast  track, 
and  the  speed  that  has  been  made  on  it  would  confirm  this  opinion. 
There  are  numerous  stalls  for  the  accommodation  of  horses  and  cattle. 
Other  improvements  are  to  be  made,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  these 
grounds  in  a  few  years  will  be  second  to  none  in  the  West  outside  of 
St.  Louis.  There  is  an  abundance  of  room  for  the  construction  of 
art  halls,  machinery  apartments,  ancl  other  necessary  buildings,  besides 
•I  large  area  for  ornamentation.  The  first  fair  was  held  in  September, 
1878.  The  sixth  annual  fair  was  held  in  September,  1883,  when  over 
$5,000  were  distributed  in  premiums.  A  large  number  and  great 
variety  of  stock  was  shown,  as  well  as  machinery,  domestic  fabrics, 
farming  implements,  agricultural  products,  etc.  On  one  day  of 
the  fair  it  was  estimated  that  there  were  between  7,000  and  8,000 
people  in  the  enclosure. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  197 

There  has  also  been  organized  a  jockey  club  or  racing  association, 
though  it  is  no  way  connected  with  the  fair  association.  The  first 
racing  season  occurred  last  July,  when  there  were  many  blooded  and 
fleet  horses  present  to  contend  for  the  purses. 

RAKE  AND  STACKER  FACTORY. 

Very  recently  Messrs.  Fort  &  Wayland  of  this  city  have  built  near 
the  Union  depot  a  house  for  the  manufacture  of  the  Champion  stacker 
and  rake.  The  building  is  of  brick,  40x80  feet  in  size,  besides  a 
neat  brick  office  and  shed  for  storing  and  seasonino-  lumber.  The 
machinery  for  this  factory  is  now  being  put  in  place.  The  firm  con- 
template employing  25  or  30  hands,  and  will  begin  work  as  soon  as 
their  arrangements  can  be  completed.  It  is  also  in  contemplation  to 
connect  a  foundry  with  the  factory  to  make  the  necessary  castings  and 
do  some  custom  work.  -- 

SCROLL  AND  FANCY  WORK, 

There  is  also  an  establishment  for  the  making  of  fancy  wood  work, 
such  as  brackets,  banisters,  shelving,  and  all  kinds  of  tasteful  and 
ornamental  work,  models,  patterns,  and  everything  that  can  be  made 
of  lumber.  The  factory  is  well  equipped  with  machinery,  and  has 
workmen  skilled  in  the  art.  It  has  been  established  about  a  year  and 
has  already  secured  a  large  and  profitable  business. 

SODA    BOTTLING. 

Messrs.  Strattman  &  Bro.  have  a  valuable  soda  water  manufactory 
in  the  city,  and  supply  the  local  trade  and  much  of  the  surrounding 
county  with  bottled  soda.  They  have  an  artesian  well  of  great  depth 
and  the  goods  are  made  from  the  purest  material.  The  industry  is 
still  increasing  in  patronage,  and  large  quantities  of  the  product  are 
disposed  of. 

BRICKS. 

As  previously  remarked  in  this  review,  the  clay  and  sand  of  this  sec- 
tion constitute  the  material  for  a  superior  quality  of  bricks.  This 
manufactory  is  a  growing  industry,  and  those  engaged  in  it  find  the 
demand  from  this  city  and  from  the  neighboring  towns  and  villages 
greater  than  their  capacity  to  manufacture.  During  the  past  season 
there  have  been  burned  at  the  Moberly  kilns  5,000,000  bricks  and  at 
least  one  contractor  has  fallen  short  half  a  million.  The  product  of 
the  kilns  is  a  hard,  firm  brick,  of  a  bright  red  color,  close  grain  and 
compact  structure,  able  to  withstand  any  pressure  to  which  bricks  are 
ever  subjected. 

For  the  first  time  an  experiment  was  made  in  the  manufacture  of 
pressed  bricks.  The  experiment  was  made  on  a  small  scale  and  with 
imperfect  machinery,  but  with  the  most  satisfactory  results,  showing 
that  the  clay  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  manufacture   of  this  cheap 


198  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  excellent  building  material.  The  houses  built  from  it  are  very 
handsome  and  present  a  defiant  exterior  to  sunshine,  storm  and 
tempest.  The  bricks  of  Moberly  have  been  shipped  to  nearly  every 
town  within  a  radius  of  30  miles,  and  far  more  could  have  been 
disposed  of  but  for  the  inability  of  the  makers  to  provide  them. 

MINOR    MANUFACTORIES. 

Time  and  space  would  fail  us  in  enumerating  the  minor  manufac- 
tories of  Moberly  —  those  in  which  one  to  six  men  are  employed. 
They  embrace  every  branch  of  industry  usually  pursued  in  a  growing 
young  city,  and  give  employment  to  a  large  number  of  skilled  labor- 
ers. 

Two  large  marble  yards  turn  out  beautiful  and  artistic  designs  for 
monuments,  tombstones,  headstones,  etc.,  manufactured  from  both 
foreign  and  domestic  marble.  Many  attractive  shafts  mark  the  last 
resting-place  of  loved  ones  in  our  cities  of  the  dead.  The  work  of 
these  shops  finds  sale  in  this  and  all  the  adjacent  counties. 

Three  harness  and  saddle  manufactories  find  employment  and  turn 
out  work  of  excellent  finish  and  first-class  material.  Our  tailors, 
blacksmiths,  bakers,  shoemakers,  painters,  plumbers,  plasterers, 
bricklayers,  carpenters,  and  other  artisans,  form  a  small  army  of 
skillful  and  industrious  workers,  who  are  providing  well  for  the  pres- 
ent and  are  not  improvident  of  the  future. 

REAL    ESTATE    AGENCIES. 

There  are  several  real  estate  agencies  in  the  city  that  buy  and  sell 
wild  lands,  farms,  town  lots,  residence  and  business  houses.  The 
business  is  an  active  one,  and  is  growing  rapidly.  Messrs.  Stewart, 
Wilson  &  Brand  are  the  oldest  firm  in  the  city,  and  their  agency 
embraces  a  wide  territory  in  this  and  adjoining  counties.  Messrs. 
Porter,  Hunn  &  Porter  are  next  in  point  of  age,  and  have  in  their 
hands  a  great  many  thousand  acres  of  both  improved  and  unimproved 
lands,  town  and  city  residences  and  lots.  Messrs.  Hannah  &  Gravely 
do  a  large  purchasing,  selling  and  exchange  business,  and  John  L. 
Vroom  has  every  kind  of  real  estate  property  for  sale.  The  transac- 
tion in  this  line  of  business  annually  will  aggregate  $140,000  to 
$150,000. 

COMMERCIAL. 

The  trade  of  Moberly  is  steadily  growing.  It  noAv  embraces  a  wide 
area,  extending  into  all  the  adjoining  counties.  And  this  circumfer- 
ence is  continually  widening  as  the  city  grows  in  population  and  wealth. 
Within  a  few  years  a  great  many  new  business  houses  have  been 
erected,  all  of  which  have  been  promptly  occupied  by  traders  and 
merchants.  Not  only  have  the  numbers  multi[)lied,  but  the  value  and 
variety  of  goods  handled  have  been  largely  increased,  showing  a 
healthy  growth  in  these   departments  of  commerce.     From  all  the 


HISTOEY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  199 

surrounding  country  come  citizens  to  trade  with  our  dry  goods,  milli- 
nery, grocery,  drug,  hardware,  lumber,  clothing  and  boot  and  shoe 
merchants. 

We  have  eight  dry  goods  houses,  carrjnng  heavy  stocks  and  exhib- 
iting for  sale  the  finest  textures  as  well  as  the  coarser  and  more  popu- 
lar fabrics.  The  amount  of  monev  invested  srows  larirer  and  larg-er 
annually  as  the  area  of  trade  is  widened  and  the  city  grows  in  popu- 
lation.    The  annual  retail  sales  amount  to  $200,000. 

In  the  line  of  family  groceries  there  is  also  a  good  and  increasing 
foreign  and  home  trade.  There  are  twenty  grocery  houses  in  the  city 
dealing  in  staple  and  fancy  goods.  Some  of  these  have  a  considerable 
jobbing  and  wholesale  trade,  supplying  the  merchants  of  adjacent  vil- 
lages. Some,  of  course,  carry  small  stocks  and  are  confined  to  a  light 
city  trade.  But  the  business  is  expanding,  and  during  the  last  year 
the  sales  have  fallen  little  if  any  short  of  $400,000. 

The  clothing  houses  of  the  city  are  four  in  number,  carrying  exclu- 
sive stocks  of  ready-made  Avear  for  gentlemen  and  furnishing  goods. 
All  do  a  greater  or  less  amount  of  merchant  tailoring.  Besides  these, 
several  dry  goods  merchants  carry  a  limited  stock  of  clothing  and  fur- 
nishing goods.  Within  a  few  years  this  branch  of  trade  has  greatly 
increased.  Really  elegant  stocks  are  exposed  for  sale,  and  the  aggre- 
gate sales  amount  to  not  less  than  $125,000. 

Notions,  fancy  goods  and  household  ornaments  have  recently  occu- 
pied a  separate  department  in  the  commercial  transactions  of  cities 
and  towns.  Several  houses  of  this  character  are  found  in  our  city, 
and  form  a  convenient  as  well  as  ornamental  department  of  trade. 
The  business  is  growing  with  a  steady  growth,  and  the  sales  of  the 
past  year  have  reached,  probably,  $65,000. 

The  trade  in  boots  and  shoes  is  done  by  four  houses,  though  small 
stocks  are  kept  by  some  of  the  dry  goods  merchants.  The  trade  is 
mostly  local,  though  several  firms  carry  heavy  stocks.  The  sales  dur- 
ing the  last  year  were  from  $80,000  to  $100,000. 

Four  houses  are  engaged  in  the  millinery  line,  and  supply  the  city 
and  country  trade.  Some  of  these  houses  would  be  creditable  to  a 
much  larger  city.     The  sales  of  the  past  year  have  reached  $20,000. 

The  hardware  business  is  conducted  by  four  firms,  carrying  stocks 
of  iron,  stoves,  hollowware,  cutlery  and  builders'  supplies.  Two  of 
these  houses  have  been  established  since  the  early  history  of  the 
place  ;  the  others  are  of  more  recent  date.  The  sales  will  amount 
to  $100,000  for  the  year  just  closing.  Agricultural  implements, 
$25,000. 

There  are  eight  drug-stores,  which  also  include  in  their  stock,  paints, 
oils,  leads,  wall-paper  and  fancy  goods.  Their  asfgregate  sales  will 
reach  $80,000. 

Three  lumber  yards  furnish  the  building  material  for  the  city  and 
vicinity.     One    of    these   has   been    but    recently    established.     The 
amount  of  lumber  sold  during  the  year  will  reach  between  $80,000 
and  $100,000. 
8 


200  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Ill  furniture  there  are  two  large  and  elegant  establishments,  keep- 
ing in  stock  every  variety  of  household  supplies  and  dealing  in  under- 
takers' goods.  Their  stocks  embrace  furniture  from  the  cheapest  and 
plainest  to  the  most  costly  and  elegant.     Sales  this  year,  $65,000. 

The  book-stores  and  numerous  neWs-stands  keep  in  stock  a  great 
variety  of  popular  books,  newspapers,  sheet  music,  stationery,  etc. 
The  sales  of  the  past  year  have  reached  $25,000. 

Jewelry  establishments  are  four  in  number,  offering  for  sale  every 
variety  of  plain  and  costly  jewelry,  watches,  clocks,  musical  instru- 
ments and  ornaments.  The  aggregate  sales  annually  will  reach  $25,- 
000. 

Two  houses  supply  beer  by  the  keg,  barrel  or  car-load.  This  is  a 
heavy  trade,  and  will  probably  reach  this  year  about  $25,000. 

This  is  only  an  indication  of  the  trade  of  the  city,  and  by  no  means 
includes  all  its  industries.  The  meat  market  alone  requires  an  an- 
nual expenditure  of  $100,000  to  $125,000.  Small  manufacturers  and 
dealers  swell  the  aggregate  numbers,  and  run  the  annual  trade  in  all 
departments  into  many  millions  of  dollars.  But  we  have  not  the  space 
to  devote  to  these  branches. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  schools  of  Moberly  are  her  pride.  The  public  school  buildings 
are  three  in  number,  to  wit :  The  Central  building  having  11  rooms, 
built  at  a  cost  of  $16,000. 

Three  of  these  are  devoted  to  the  high  school  department  where 
higher  mathematics  and  the  classics  are  taught.^  Prof.  L.  E.  Wolfe, 
the  superintendent,  is  an  accomplished  scholar  and  experienced  edu- 
cator.    In  this  school  are  enrolled  at  the  present  time  756  pupils. 

The  East  Moberly  school-house  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $8,000. 
Three  teachers  are  employed  and  167  scholars  are  enrolled. 

The  school  for  colored  pupils  is  a  commodious  structure  well  located. 
Two  teachers  are  employed  and  the  number  of  children  attending  at 
present  is  141.- 

These  three  schools  under  one  superintendent  are  free  to  the  chil- 
dren of  all  citizens,  the  expenses  being  paid  by  revenue  derived  from 
the  State  and  by  a  tax  upon  the  property  of  the  city.  They  continue 
in  session  eight  to  nine  mouths  of  the  year. 

Besides  these,  St.  Mary's  Academy,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Sisters  of  Loretto,  gives  educational  training  to  several  hundred  chil- 
dren. It  is  admirably  conducted  and  its  curriculum  embraces  a  wide 
range  of  studies. 

The   Scientific  School  was  to  have  been  opened  early  in  October, 

but  some  circumstances  which  the  principal  could  not  control  have 

prevented  him  from  pursuing  his  design.     It  will  be  opened   soon. 


iL.  E.  Wolfe,  Supei'intendent;  W.  E.  Coons,  Principal;  F.  G.  Ferris,  Assistant. 
Mrs.  A.  Baird,  Miss  Barbara  Mullin,  Nellie  O'Keefe,  Rebecca Hendrix,  Anna  Buchanan, 
Lizzie  Shaughnessey,  Ida  B.  Roote,  Flora  Pyle,  Bettie  Williams,  Katie  Elliott,  Katie 
Williams. 

2  The  colored  school  is  taught  by  M.  A.  Scrugs  and  wife. 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  201 

Several  private  schools  are  also  in  successful  operation,  the  whole 
showing  a  registration  of  about  1,400  pupils. 

CHURCHES. 

The  churches  in  the  city  are  11  in  number,  as  follows :  1  Old 
School  Presbyterian;  1  Old  School  Baptist;  1  Missionary  Baptist ; 
1  Episcopal;  2  Methodist  Episcopal ;  1  Cumberland  Presbyterian  ;  1 
Christian ;  1  Catholic ;  1  colored  Baptist ;  1  colored  Methodist. 
Nearly  all  these  have  established  pastors  and  regular  services. 

HOTELS. 

Moberly  is  well  provided  with  commodious  and  well  kept  hotels. 
The  Grand  Central,  elegantly  furnished  and  equipped,  has  80  rooms, 
and  is  second  to  no  house  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  It  is  owned 
by  William  Smith  and  is  ably  conducted  under  the  proprietorship 
of  Geo.  S.  Merritt.  P.  J.  Carmody  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Mer- 
chants' Hotel,  a  large  three-story  structure  of  60  rooms,  supplied 
with  all  modern  conveniences.  The  Commercial  is  also  a  commodious 
house,  conducted  by  George  W.  Morris.  The  Florence,  conducted  by 
W.  G.  Herold,  is  located  near  the  Union  depot  and  is  an  excellent 
house.  Numerous  smaller  houses  are  also  well  kept,  while  restaurants, 
eatino;  houses  and  boardins;  houses  afford  convenient  refreshments  for 
the  stranger  or  sojourner. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

In  the  haste  with  which  this  review  has  been  gotten  up,  it  has  been 
found  impossible  to  obain  a  detailed  statement  of  the  improvements 
during  the  season  of  1883.  But  the  amount  of  building  has  been  very 
large.  The  number  of  houses  erected  in  a  given  time  has  been  ex- 
ceeded in  previous  years,  but  the  character  of  the  buildings  in  1883  is 
far  superior  to  that  of  former  years.  Ten  large  and  costly  business 
houses  have  been  built  and  over  one  hundred  dwellings.  These  are 
all  occupied  soon  as  completed  and  are  frequently  rented  before  the 
foundation  is  laid.  Vacant  houses  are  rarely  seen,  and  there  is  a  con- 
stant demand  for  more  dwellings.  The  improvements  do  not  keep 
step  with  the  increase  of  population.  From  the  best  information 
obtainable  there  has  been  expended  the  past  year  in  buildings  and 
improvements  about  $150,000. 

V 

THE  PROFESSIONS. 

''"  The  medical,  legal  and  theological  professions  are  represented  by 
able  and  learned  men.  There  are  13  ministers,  14  physicians  (of 
various  schools),  and  8  lawyers  resident  here. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Moberly  is  well  equipped  in  all  departments.  Her  municipal  gov- 
ernment, at  the  head  of  which  is  Mayor  D.  S.  Forney,  is  frugal,  econ 


202  HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

omical  and  yet  liberal.  The  police  force  is  sufficient  to  preserve  the 
peace  and  keep  an  orderly  city.  The  fire  department  is  thoroughly 
organized,  having  a  steam  fire  engine  and  a  hook  and  ladder  equip- 
ment and  convenient  cisterns  in  all  parts  of  the  territory  embraced  in 
the  corporate  limits.  Our  public  halls  are  numerous  and  extensive. 
This  review  might  be  greatly  extended  but  space  forbids. 

BANKS. 

No  banking  institutions  in  the  country  are  safer  or  are  conducted 
on  more  correct  business  principles  than  those  of  Moberly.  The  capi- 
tal stock  is  not  large,  but  depositors  are  secure  under  the  law  of  the 
State  and  under  the  safe  methods  adopted  by  the  banks  themselves. 
The  Mechanics'  Bank,  W.  F.  Elliott,  president,  Howard  Jennings, 
cashier,  has  a  capital  and  surplus  of  $30,000,  and  is  the  oldest  bank  in 
the  city.  The  Exchange  Bank,  Adam  Given,  president,  O.  E.  Han- 
nah, cashier,  has  been  in  operation  nine  years  and  has  secured  a  large 
custom.  The  Randolph  Bank  was  opened  in  1882,  B.  F.  Harvey, 
president,  J.  C.  Shaefer,  cashier.  It  has  secured  the  confidence  of 
our  business  men  and  is  a  reliable  institution. 

Our  report  shows  a  thrifty,  growing  and  prosperous  city.  It  will 
be  observed,  also,  that  there  are  many  enterprises  that  have  no  ex- 
istence here  that  might  be  established  with  profit  —  such  as  soap, 
cheese,  butter,  agricultural  implements,  woolen,  furniture,  tobacco, 
and  paper  factories,  a  foundry,  machine  shops,  nail  mills  and  a  host 
of  industries  the  products  of  which  are  now  supplied  by  distant  manu- 
factories. Our  central  position,  our  railroads,  our  cheap  living,  our 
superior  coal  fields  and  a  host  of  other  advantages,  mark  Moberly  as 
one  of  the  best  locations  in  the  West  for  the  investment  of  capital. 

Here  are  found  combined  all  the  conditions  for  a  thriving  cit}',  —  a 
central  location  ;  a  rich  agricultural  country  :  inexhaustible  mines  of 
coal ;  unsurpassed  railroad  transportation  ;  a  large  and  continually  in- 
creasing demand  for  the  products  of  our  mills,  mines  and  manufiic- 
tories  ;  raw  material  of  all  kinds  at  the  cheapest  rates  ;  labor  abundant ; 
good  schools,  and  a  population  of  industrious,  intelligent  and  enter- 
prising people.  Immigration  is  not  only  not  refused,  but  requ  sted. 
There  is  no  proscription  on  account  of  political  faith,  or  religious  be- 
lief, or  nationality.  Every  honest,  industrious  citizen,  of  whatever 
calling  or  persuasion,  is  cordially  welcomed.  Our  people  are  remark- 
ably hospitable,  our  society  is  moral  and  exceptionally  temperate, 
industrious  and  frugal.  Without  boasting,  it  may  be  truthfully  as- 
serted that  there  is  no  city,  of  equal  population,  where  order  and  quiet 
are  more  strictly  observed.  Our  police  government  is  excellent  and 
insubordination  to  municipal  authority  is  of  rare  occurrence. 

To  the  immigrant  Ave  off'er  lands  cheaper,  better  and  more  convenient 
to  market  than  any  he  will  find  farther  west.  Improved  farms,  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation,  are  offered  at  prices  less  than  half,  and  in 
many  instances  less  than  one  third  what  he  would  be  required  to  pay 
in  Indiana,   Illinois,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  or  any  of  the  older  States 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  203 

farther  east,  with  no  better  and  in  most  cases  not  as  good  facilities  for 
reaching  a  reacl}^  market.  Unimproved  lands  are  offered  to  the  settler 
at  little  more  than  the  congress  price  of  land  in  the  West,  where  there 
are  neither  schools,  churches,  manufactories,  nor  organized  society. 
To  pass  such  a  country  for  a  home  on  the  frontier  is  to  deliberately 
throw  away  advantages. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE. 

The  Moberly  Board  of  Trade,  under  whose  auspices  this  review  is 
published,  was  organized  August  (3,  1883,  and  is  fully  officered  and 
equipped.     The  following  gentlemen  constitute  the  membership  :  — 

C.  Adams,  C.  P.  Apgar,  John  Bergstresser,  Alfred  Beynon,  J.  R. 
Bhickmore,  L.  C.  Brand,  H.  Brewer,  Charles  Brown,  P.  J.  Carmody, 
O.  F.  Chandler,  Thomas  Coates,  William  Coyle,  J.  B.  Davis,  C.  W. 
Digges,  F.  T.  Dysart,  S.  A.  Edmiston,  W.  F.  Elliott,  C.  Feldenheimer, 
William  Firth,  D.  S.  Forney,  J.  H.  Gingrich,  S.  J.  Goodfellow,  A. 
Gundlach,  C.  Hall,  L.  B.  Hannah,  O.  E.  Hannah,  B.  F.  Harvey,  J. 
H.  Hardin,  I.  H.  Hexter,  R.  R.  Haynes,  Pat  Hegarty,  C.  T,  Hunn, 
D.  Hutchinson,  J.  C.  Hutton,  H.  Jennings,  H.  P.  Jennings,  E.  W. 
Jones,  G.  B.  Kelly,  J,  N.  Kring,  Max  Lowenstein,  Julius  Lotter,  J. 
R.  Lowell,  Houston  Mathews,  William  Maynard,  William  McNinch, 
August  Merck,  E.  H.  Miller,  Julius  Miller,  G.  W.  Morris,  T.  E.  Mor- 
rison, A.  O'Keefe,  J.  T.  O'Neal,  I.  B.  Porter,  T.  F.  Priest,  D.  Proc- 
ter, J.  G.  Provines,  J.  W.  Ragsdale,  V.  Reigel,  H.  Roemer,  C.  B. 
Rodes,  James  Sandison,  Al.  Schott,  William  Seelen,  James  Shaugh- 
nessy,  A.  E.  Simon,  William  Smith,  W.  B.  Stewart,  J.  C.  Straub,  H. 
R.  Suppe,  A.  D.  Terrill,  A,  B.  Thompson,  Frank  Tuttle,  J.  L.  Vroom, 
T.  C.  Waltenspiel,  J.  S.  Wayland,  G.  H.  Werries,  John  B.Williams, 
John  T.  Williams,  R.  A.  Wilson. 

SOCIETIES. 

Benevolent  societies  are  well  represented  in  Moberly.  The  follow- 
ing fraternities  have  lodges  and  are  in  a  flourishmg  condition  :  Masons, 
Knights  Templar,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Knights  of 
Honor,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  United  Workmen,  Order  Rail- 
way Conductors,  Brotherhood  Locomotive  Engineers,  Brotherhood 
Locomotive  Firemen,  Good  Templars,  Temperance  Union,  Brothers 
of  Philanthrophy  and  perhaps  others. 

A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Blue  Lodges—  Gothic  Lodge,  JSTo.  108  — Was  or- 
ganized March  20,  1878.  The  charter  members  are  J.  W.  Hogue, 
W.  T.  McCanne,  J.  H.  Gravely,  George  W.  Lent,  E.  H.  Mix,  N.  H. 
Wheeler,  John  Simpson,  Samuel  Gravely,  Peter  Brown,  J.  Shaw,  W. 
H.  Pool,  A.  Taylor,  and  T.  T.  Millholland.  The  charter  bears 
date  November  7,  1878.     The  present  number  of  members  is  40. 

Moberly  Lodge  JVo.  344  —  Is  also  in  a  flourishing  condition. 


204  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Western  Star  Lodge  No.  34  —  Of  (colored)  Masons.  This  Lodge 
was  organized  in  January,  1875. 

Tancred  Commandery  No.  25.,  Knights  Templar — Was  organ- 
ized July  22,   1874,  and  chartered   October  12,  following.     Its  first 

officers  were  :  Charles   W.   Burlingame,  Eminent  Commander ;  

Gaines,   Generalissimo  ;  A.  T.  Bissell,  Captain  General ;  E.  H.  Mix, 

Prelate  ;  Hotchkiss,  Senior  Warden  ;  T.  P.  White,  T.  ;  G.  W. 

Daly,  Rec.  ;  M.  F.  Brown,  Warden. 

Moberly  Lodge  No.  244,  I.  O.  G.  T.  — Was  instituted  De- 
cember 21,  1871,  with  the  following  list  of  charter  members,  viz.  : 
Henry  P.  Bond,  W.  K.  Christian,  W.  G.  Woods,  W.  H.  Pool, 
James  P.  Porter,  James  G.  Shepherdson,  H.  P.  Hunter,  A.  N. 
Dawson,  George  W.  Larue,  Thomas  A.  Lyon,  Charles  B.  Rounds, 
Nannie  T.  Pool,  Huldah  E.  Pool,  Charles  H.  Wentz,  Julia  E.  Wentz, 
Charles  B.  Rodes,  and  John  C.  Jefferies.  The  following  were  the  first 
elective  officers,  viz.  :  Charles  B.  Rodes,  W.  C.  T.  ;  Nannie  T.  Pool, 
W.  V.  T.  ;  H.  P.  Bond,  W.  Chap.  ;  Charles  H.  Wentz,  W.  Sec'y ; 
W.  G.  Wood,  Fin.  Sec'y;  James  P.  Porter,  Treasurer.  The  Lodge, 
like  most  similar  organizations,  has  had  its  "  ups  and  downs,"  but  is 
now  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  having  over  60  active  members 
on  its  list.  It  occupies  the  west  hall  in  the  Elliott  building,  which  it 
has  fitted  up  in  neat  style,  with  new  carpets,  new  furniture,  etc. 

Olive  Branch  Lodge  No.  35,  Knights  of  Pythias — Was  organized  in 
Moberly  May  16,  1874,  with  the  following  charter  members  :  John  A. 
Hughes,  A.  C.  Van  Horn,  J.  A.  Nettles,  F.  M.  Doolittle,  William 
Clark,  William  McKinzie,  E.  C.  Veits,  Frank  Barnett,  C.  A.  Williams, 
L.  Haines,  Morry  Burrell,  H.  V.  W.  Davis,  William  James,  G.  G. 
Ginthes,  Harry  Coleman,  Jacob  Lanner,  D.  R.  StefFey,  Henry  D. 
Janes,  Peter  Brown,  James  Ashworth,  John  McMerley,  William 
Haughlin,  R.  A.  Kirkpatrick,  William  McDonald,  George  Dickinson, 
Edwin  Tomlinson,  George  L.  Hassett,  Frank  Reno,  Joseph  Taylor, 
J.  R.  Callahan,  B.  Levy,  William  S.  Janes,  George  S.  Shone,  W.  D. 
Davis.     The  lodge  has  a  membership  of  65. 

The  Endowment  Rank,  Section  216,  K.  of  P. — Was  instituted  in 
1878. 

Randolph  Charter  No.  150,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star — Was  or- 
ganized April  6,  1877,  and  chartered  December  14th  following.  Its 
first  officers  were :  Mrs.  C.  E.  Greer,  Worthy  Matron  ;  John  Simpson, 
Worthy  Patron;  Mrs.  M.  L.  McGindley,  Associate  Matron;  Mrs. 
Mary  P.  Selby,  Treasurer  ;  Mr.  E.  H.  Mix,  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  Mattie 
J.    Mix,    Conductress ;    Mrs.   Lena  D.   Gravely,   Ada ;    Mrs.  MoUie 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  205 

O'Brian,  Euth ;    Mrs.  Mary  M.  Ward,  Esther;    Mrs.  Delia  Tanner, 
Martha  ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Bowden,  Electa  ;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Brown,  Warden. 

M.  B.  M.  Society. — In  June,  1879,  the  Moberly  District  Medical 
Society  was  organized  with  34  members.  It  embraces  the  counties 
of  Howard,  Eandolph,  Monroe  and  Chariton,  and  will  probably  in- 
clude Macon.  The  meetings  are  to  be  held  three  times  a  year, 
June,  October  and  Februarj'-,  in  the  city  of  Moberly.  Dr.  J.  Vaughn, 
of  Glasgow,  is  president,  and  Dr.  G.  W.  Broome,  of  Moberly,  is 
secretary. 

Moherly  Royal  Arch  Chapter  lio.  79 — Was  organized  in  March, 
1873.  The  charter  members  were  George  L.  Hassett,  Eli  Owens,  T.  P. 
White,  Adam  Given,  Henry  Combe,  E.  A.  Wilson,  George  A.  Suttles, 
B.  Y.  A.  Clarkson,  ,J.  C.  Hickerson,  W.  H.  Hassett,  D.  A.  Poole, 
B.  H.  Weatherford.     The  lodo;e  now  contains  56  members. 

A.  0.  U.  W. — Randolph  Lodge,  No.  30  —  Was  organized  Octo- 
ber 24,  1877.  The  charter  members  were  J.  T.  Cox,  E.  H.  Mix,  S.  G. 
Merrill,  C.  F.  Campbell,  A.  Grundlach,  C.  G.  Greer,  J.  L.  Wright,  L. 
L.  Kenepp,  V.  E.  Lary,  M.  A.  Hayes,  Thomas  Hughes,  J.  W.  Kin- 
ney, John  Mathias,  G.  W.  Marsey,  J.  J.  Jones,  J.  E.  Eoberts,  I.  C. 
Ehodes,  John  N.  Ward,  N.  H.  Wheeler,  James  Haight. 

Select  Knights,  A.  0.  U.  W.  —  Organized  May  22,  1882.  Charter 
members:  C.  K.  McGowan,  E.  P.  Jones,  J.  P.  Cunningham,  E.  H. 
Miller,  W.  J.  Jackson,  William  Fennell,  James  McNulty,  M.  A. 
Hayes,  J.  H.  Gingrich  ;  present  membership  is  38. 

Moherly  Lodge,  No.  248  —  Was  organized  May  25,  1882,  with  the 
following  charter  members:  N.  M.  Baskett,  W.  S.  Jones,  George  W. 
Sparks,  W.  A.  Wright,  M.  L.  Sears,  Howard  Jennings,  P.  H.  Nise,  J. 
E.  Blackman,  A.  J.  McCanne,  D.  T.  Carpenter,  Hiram  Jennings,  J. 
W.  Eagsdale,  W.  W.  Porter,  J.  T.  O'Neal,  M.  Lowenstein,  W.  J. 
Hallick,  George  Eupp,  James  A.  Lindley,  E.  E.  Haynes,  B.  T.  Por- 
ter, W.  S.  Hall,  W.  M.  Coyle,  T.  E.  Morrison,  W.  B.  Stewart,  G. 
H.  Cunningham,  C.  H.  Parker,  B.  E.  White,  Ferdinand  Miller, 
James  Sanderson,  J.  H.  Hardin,  W.  T.  Eagland,  C.  W.  Digges,  H.  H. 
Eoberts,  A.  McCandless,  B.  T.  Hardin,  J.  E.  Sharp,  C^  G.  Ham- 
mond, J.  P.  Trimble,  J.  Q.  Mason,  J.  W.  Webster,  William  Barrow- 
man,  E.  J.  Deskins. 

Knights  of  Honor —  Golden  Rule  Lodge,  No.  19.  —  Organized  in 
188 — ,  with  the  following  as  charter  members  :  U.  S.  Hall,  James  E. 
Eoberts,  L.  Brandt,  A.  G.  Grundlach,  G.  Dickinson,  T.  F.  Priest,  E. 
Freeman,  John  Held,  Eev.  H.  C.  Davhoff,  G.  B.  Kellev,  John   Zeis, 


206  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

G.  W.  Weems,  C.  E.  Austin,  J.  H.  Conradt,  Dabney  Proctor,  John 
G.  Provines,  Frank  White,  H.  S.  Priest,  John  B.  Martin,  O.  E.  Han- 
nah, John  B.  Dolson,  Homer  Kimball,  W.  H.  Cook,  J.  A.  Tannehill, 
F.  E.  P.  Harhm,  J.  Y.  Evans,  G.  A.  St.  Clair. 

Mo.gic  Council^  No.  26  —  Organized  January  17,  1884,  with  the 
following  members:  L.  B.  Hannah,  Zeth  Walden,  J.  K.  Kimball,  D. 
K.  Kimball,  J.  T.  Cox,  B.  T.  Porter,  William  P.  Davis,  T.  A.  Man- 
uel, S.  H.  Tedford,  J.  A.  Nettles,  Mrs.  L.  Kimball,  William  F. 
Sharp,  William  Firth,  W.  A.  Rothwell,  H.  W.  Johnson,  I.  A. 
Thompson.     Membership,  35. 

BUSINESS    HOUSES. 

Seven  drug  stores,  eight  barbers,  seventeen  saloons,  four  hardware, 
six  hotels,  two  opera  houses,  four  millinery  stores,  seven  restaurants, 
two  painters,  five  meat  markets,  one  laundry,  fourteen  physicians, 
five  shoe-makers,  twenty  groceries,  three  second-hand  stores,  two 
marble  works,  five  cigar  stores,  four  boot  and  shoe  stores,  two  fancy 
goods  stores,  seven  dentists,  one  wall  paper  store,  four  newspapers, 
three  clothing  stores,  three  tailors,  five  general  stores,  two  photogra- 
phers, ten  lawyers,  three  blacksmiths,  one  carpenter,  three  banks, 
six  dry  goods  stores,  two  wagon-makers,  three  lumber  yards,  three 
jewelers,  one  bill  poster,  one  boarding-house,  two  book  stores,  three 
harness  shops,  one  pottery  shop,  one  carriage  manufactory,  two  bak- 
eries, five  real  estate  and  insurance,  one  news-dealer,  one  builder, 
two  rag  stores,  one  dye  works,  one  dress-maker,  one  pork  packing 
house,  one  gas  company,  two  sewing  machine  and  organ  houses,  one 
bricklayer,  one  fruit  store,  three  livery  stables,  one  furniture  store, 
two  florists,  one  confectionary,  one  academy,  one  hide-bouse,  one 
gunsmith,  one  coal  mine,  one  flour  mill,  one  fish  and  vegetable  house, 
one  coal  and  wood  yard. 

COURT  OF  COMMON  PLEAS. 

The  court  of  common  pleas  was  established  at  Moberly  in  1875, 
with  jurisdiction  over  one  township.  The  judge  of  the  second  judicial 
circuit  was  ecc-q^ao  judge  of  that  court.  This  was  Hon.  George  H. 
Burckhartt,  who  has  ever  since  presided.  C.  H.  Hance  was  the  first 
clerk.  The  jurisdiction  of  this  court  has  been  enlarged  so  as  to  take 
in  Union,  Salt  River,  Jackson  and  a  part  of  Prairie  townships. 

The  seal  of  the  court  is  the  picture  of  Judge  Burckhartt  horseback, 
with  five  hounds  in  pursuit  of  a  deer. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


207 


During  the  first  week  in  September,  1853,  Judge  Burckhartt  with 
five  hounds  of  the  St.  Hubert  breed,  started  a  deer  in  what  is  now  the 
corporate  limits  of  the  city  of  Moberly,  and  killed  it  where  the 
orchard  of  Henry  Grimes  now  stands.  In  memory  of  that  event  and 
in  honor  of  Judge  Burckhartt,  the  seal  of  the  court  was  made. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

SALT  SPRING  TOWNSHIP. 

Its  History  —  Salt  Spring  —  Water  —  Coal  —  Agriculture  —  Industries  —  Old  Settlers  — 
Death  ©f  Dr.  William  Fort  —  Huntsville — Its  History  —  Pioneer  Business  Men  — 
Eace  Track  —  What  Alphonso  Whetmore  said  of  Huntsville  in  1837 — Huntsville  in 
Other  Days  —  Improvements  —  Destructive  Fire  —  Subscription  to  Yellow  Fever 
Sufferers  —  Banks  and  Bankers  —  Statement  —  Secret  Orders  —  Building  and  Loan 
Association  —  Pioneer  Church  and  Sunday  School —  Semple's  Opera  House  —  Hunts- 
ville Brass  Band  —  Home  Dramatic  Company  —  Huntsville  Fleming  Kake  and  Stacker 
Manufactory  —  Town  Incorporated  —  First  Mayor  —  Present  Mayor  and  Council- 
men —  Public  Schools  —  Mount  Pleasant  College  —  Female  College  —  Agricultural 
Fair — Business  and  Professions. 

>.  SALT    SPRING    TOWNSHIP. 

Salt  Spring,  one  of  the  original  four  townships  of  Randolph  county, 
has  a  municipal  existence  coeval  with  the  organization  of  the  county, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  wealthy,  populous,  and  influential  of  the  eleven 
townships  into  which  the  county  is  now  divided.  It  also  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  capital  township,  Huntsville,  the  county  seat, 
being  within  its  limits.  Geographically,  Salt  Spring  is  almost  central 
to  the  county  boundaries,  and  contains  31,040  acres. 

Topographically,  the  lands  of  this  township  are  gently  undulating, 
assuring  fine  drainage,  and  are  of  every  desirable  adaptation,  whether 
for  pasturage  and  the  various  grasses,  or  the  more  active  cultivation  of 
wheat,  corn,  rye,  oats,  tobacco,  potatoes,  and  the  several  root  crops. 

It  can  hardly  be  said  with  propriety  that  the  township  contains  any 
prairie  lands  proper.  In  the  matter  of  timber  and  wood  lands  it  is 
richly  provided,  about  one-third  of  its  acreage  being  clothed  with 
forests  of  white,  red,  black,  burr,  swamp  and  pin  oak,  hickory,  walnut, 
maple,  elm  and  sycamore. 

As  will  readily  be  conjectured,  the  township  name,  Salt  Spring,  has 
a  local  significance.  It  is  so  called  from  the  existence  within  its  limits, 
and  some  three  miles  south-west  of  Huntsville,  on  the  line  of  the 
Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railway,  of  a  salt  spring,  or  well, 
of  considerable  volume,  at  which,  in  the  early  history  of  the  county, 
the  pioneer  settlers,  by  primitive  processes,  manufactured  their  sup- 
plies of  salt.  The  first  systematized  salt  works  at  this  place  were 
established  and  operated  by  Dr.  William  Fort,  at  a  very  early  day, 
(208) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  209 

who  not  only  supplied  the  demand  of  the  region  immediately  round 
about,  but  who  also  sent  large  supplies  of  salt  to  various  points  on  the 
Mississippi  and  elsewhere  equally  remote. 

It  is  amongst  the  traditions  of  the  people,  that,  at  that  early  day,  this 
spring,  or  well,  served  not  alone  the  purpose  mentioned,  but  was  then, 
as  it  is  now  reputed  to  be,  a  fountain  of  healing,  in  the  use  of  whose 
waters  health  and  rejuvenation  came  to  many  hapless  victims  to  acute 
and  chronic  rheumatism,  and  other  kindred  physical  ailments.  Possibly 
it  may  serve  a  beneficial  purpose  to  say  right  here  that  this  salt  spring 
is  rapidly  growing  in  local  popularity,  and  attracts  no  inconsiderable 
number  of  casual  visitors  during  the  summer  months.  With  an  ade- 
quate expenditure  of  means  in  developing,  improving  and  populariz- 
ing the  place,  it  might  be  made  an  attractive  and  valuable  adjunct  of 
the  township  and  county. 

This  township  is  also  well  supplied  with  water,  having  the  East  fork 
of  the  Chariton  river,  with  its  several  inferior  tributaries,  cutting  it 
almost  centrally  from  the  north-east  to  the  south-west,  and  with  Sweet 
Spring  creek  flowing  along  its  entire  southern  boundary.  Of  flowing 
springs  there  are  but  few,  wells  and  cisterns  being  relied  upon  for 
drinking  and  general  domestic  purposes. 

In  the  matter  of  roads  and  bridges,  the  forecast  and  liberality  of  the 
county  court  have  left  the  township  nothing  for  reasonable  complaint. 

As  before  stated,  the  proportion  of  land  in  the  township  open  and 
cleared  for  cultivation,  and  that  in  timber,  is  about  as  two  of  the  former 
to  one  of  the  latter ;  and  while  frankness  constrains  the  admission 
that  the  farmers,  taken  as  a  whole,  are  rather  careless  and  untidy  in 
their  methods  of  farming,  the  lands  are  generous,  and  respond  with 
kindly  liberality  to  whatever  labor  and  care  are  bestowed  upon  them. 
Taking  any  given  five  years  together,  it  is  believed  the  following  esti- 
mates of  the  products  of  these  lands,  per  acre,  will  be  almost  literally 
verified  :  An  extra  crop  of  corn,  60  bushels  ;  average,  40  bushels  ;  ex- 
tra of  wheat,  30  bushels  ;  average,  20  bushels  ;  hay,  average,  2  tons  ; 
tobacco,  average,  1,200  pounds. 

With  the  rapidly  increasing  use  of  improved  agricultural  appliances 
and  the  infusion  of  new  blood  and  new  ideas  into  the  agricultural 
body,  the  latent  force  and  susceptibility  of  these  lands  maj'  be  made 
to  yield,  not  the  necessaries  of  life  only,  but  its  wealth  and  luxuries, 
also,  in  most  generous  measure. 

In  coal.  Salt  Spring  township  is  rich  beyond  its  sister  townships  of 
the  county ;  and  from  this  source  is  now,  and  for  several  years  has 


210  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

been,  realizing  much  profit.  Of  well  developed  coal  workings,  there 
are  a  half  dozen  within  a  radius  of  two  miles  of  the  court-house  (four 
of  them  being  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Huntsville),  and  which, 
during  the  fall  and  winter,  give  employment  to  from  10  to  100  men 
each  ;  each,  of  course,  working  an  inferior  force  during  the  summer 
months. 

The  oldest  coal  banks  were  opened  by  J.  C.  Chapman  and  David 
Reece.  G.  W.  Taylor,  I.  Cook,  William  Mitchell,  J.  A.  Stewart, 
and  Anderson  &  Co.  have  drift  mines,  which  are  now  consolidated 
under  the  management  of  Taylor  &  Bedford,  E.  S.  Bedford,  general 
manager.     Altogether,  these  mines  have  a  capacity  of  78  cars  per  day. 

Woodward  Coal  Mining  Co.  have  two  banks.  There  are  also  the 
Huntsville  Coal  Mining  Co.  and  the  coal  mines  of  Jones  &,  Green. 

As  indicating  the  magnitude  of  their  interests,  we  append  some  sta- 
tistics, drawn  from  authentic  sources,  and  which  may  be  relied  on  as 
literally  accurate.  From  the  Huntsville  depot  there  were  shipped 
over  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railroad  to  points  re- 
mote, for  the  year  ending  the  last  day  of  December,  1878,  partial  pro- 
duct of  these  mines,  73,780  tons  of  coal.  During  the  same  period, 
coal  mine  No.  3,  operated  by  the  Huntsville  Coal  and  Mining  Co., 
loaded  directly  from  the  mines  into  the  cars  and  shipped  abroad 
6,239  tons  of  coal.  During  the  same  period,  coal  mine  No.  2V2,  oper- 
ated by  J.  Bailey  &  Co.,  loaded  directly  from  the  mine  and  shipped 
abroad  2,400  tons  of  coal. 

The  foregoing  is  exclusive  of  the  local  consumption  of  coal,  which, 
it  is  safe  to  say,  will  fully  reach  3,000  tons,  possibly  much  more. 

Coal  is  shipped  to  Kansas  City,  Omaha,  Council  Bluffs  and  Kan- 
sas ;  380  men  are  employed  in  the  different  mines. 

And  while  the  matter  of  the  exports  is  in  hand,  we  may  as  well 
make  note  of  the  tobacco  and  live  stock  exportations.  Of  tobacco 
there  were  shipped  from  the  Huntsville  depot  during  the  year  1878, 
1,848  hogsheads  ;  of  horses  and  mules,  189  head  ;  of  neat  cattle,  521 
head;  of  hogs,  1,754  head;  of  sheep,  800  head. 

During  the  same  period  there  was  brought  to  and  distributed  from 
the  depot  here,  4,798,894  pounds  of  freight,  and  passenger  tickets 
sales  made  to  the  amount  of  $5,113.95. 

The  township  contains  two  flouring  and  four  saw  mills,  in  more  or 
less  active  operation,  and  one  woolen  mill ;  to  which  we  may  properly 
add  one  flouring  mill  erected  in  Huntsville.  This  mill,  built  by  a  non- 
resident, is  well  located,  is  a  substantial  structure,  and  contains  three 
run  of  buhrs,  two  for  wheat,  and  one  for  corn. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  211 

In  close  proximity  is  the  woolen  mill,  or  manufactory,  of  Mr.  John 
Sutliff,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  valuable  of  the  local  industries. 
The  building  is  a  large  and  substantial  one  of  stone,  and  is  thoroughly 
equipped  with  the  best  machinery.  Erected  a  few  years  ago  by  a  com- 
pany, it  passed  by  sale  to  Mr.  Sutliff,  under  whose  experienced  guid- 
ance it  is  now  not  only  profitable  to  him,  but  positively  a  necessity  of 
this  entire  region.  Its  annual  consumption  of  wool  is  about  40,000 
pounds,  and  its  productions  are  cloths,  jeans,  satinets,  flannels,  lin- 
seys,  tweeds,  blankets,  carpets  and  yarns.  In  the  production  of  yarns 
for  domestic  knitting,  this  mill  has  practically  superseded  the  spinning 
wheels  of  our  mothers  and  grandmothers,  fully  two-thirds  of  the  yarn 
so  used  in  this  county  being  supplied  by  Mr.  Sutliff.  The  quality  of 
his  yarn  productions  will  be  appreciated  when  we  say  that  fully  two- 
thirds  of  it  finds  ready  sale  in  Eastern  markets.  In  connection  with 
this  establishment,  and  operated  by  the  same  power,  Mr.  Sutliff  has 
a  fully  equipped  saw  mill,  from  which  he  turns  out  an  annual  average 
of  40,000  to  50,000  feet  of  lumber. 

As  to  the  market  values  of  real  estate  (fanning  lands)  in  this  town- 
ship, they  have  the  usual  range,  depending  upon  soil,  location,  and 
improvement.  Salt  Spring  will  compare  favorably  with  any  toAvnship 
of  the  county  or  State.  In  the  body  of  the  township,  outside  of  Hunts- 
ville,  there  are  three  churches  with  regularly  worshipping  congrega- 
tions, to  wit:  Pleasant  Hill  Regular  Baptists,  40  members.  The 
others  are  New  Hope  and  Trinity,  both  Methodist,  with  large  mem- 
berships. At  Huntsville  there  are  houses  of  worship,  to  wit :  One 
Methodist  (white),  membership  75  ;  one  Baptist  (white),  membership 
196;  one  Baptist  (colored),  membership  102  ;  one  Christian,  mem- 
bership (approximately)  125. 

Of  public  school  buildings,  there  are  six  in  the  township,  exclusive 
of  the  two  at  Huntsville,  These  buildings  are  all  of  good  class, 
judicially  located,  and  adequately  equipped.  The  schools  are  well 
taught,  and  generally  well  sustained.  The  Huntsville  school  build- 
ing (white)  is  a  handsome  and  commodious  structure,  centrally 
and  handsomely  located.  The  colored  school  building  is  less  com- 
modious, but  ample  for  the  requirements  of  the  place. 

RANDOLPH  CREAMERY. 

There  is  in  successful  operation,  one  mile  west  of  Huntsville,  an 
institution  known  as  the  Randolph  Creamery,  which  was  established 
in  September,  1882,  by  R.  E.  Lewis,  D.  S.  Benton,  and  E.  S.  Bod- 
ford,  with   a  capital  stock  of   $(5,500.     This  creamery  makes  4,600 


212  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

pounds  of  butter  per  month,  which  is  marketed  in  St.  Louis  and  New 
York.  E.  E.  Lewis  is  president,  and  E.  S.  Bedford,  vice-president 
and  general  manager. 

TOBACCO   FACTORIES. 

There  are  three  tobacco  factories  in  Huntsville.  Two  of  these  are 
owned  by  W.  T.  Rutherford  and  E.  E.  Samuel,  Jr.,  and  the  other  by 
Miss  Berenice  Morrison,  of  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Rutherford  will  handle 
about  400,000  pounds  ;  he  employs  from  100  to  125  hands.  E.  E. 
Sammel,  Jr.,  is  operating  all  of  these  factories,  and  will  handle  be- 
tween 400  and  450,000  pounds.  He  works  from  175  to  200  hands. 
The  tobacco  put  up  in  the  Huntsville  market  is  shipped  to  England, 
Ireland  and  Germany,  as  well  as  to  the  markets  of  the  United  States. 
Huntsville  is  the  second  largest  leaf  tobacco  market  in  the  State,  and 
generally  ships  from  two  and  a  half  to  three  millions  of  pounds  per 
annum. 

The  firm  of  Thomson,  Lewis  &  Co.,  composed  of  James  D.  Thom- 
son, James  W.  Lewis  and  E.  E.  Samuel,  have  until  the  past  year 
handled  the  largest  part  of  the  leaf  tobacco  grown  in  this  market. 
The  purchases  of  this  firm  last  year  amounted  to  three  millions  of 
pounds,  one-third  of  this  being  bought  in  this  market.  Dealers  here 
.sometimes  sell  to  European  buyers.  One  of  the  largest  sales  ever 
made  here  was  made  by  Thomson,  Lewis  &  Co.  last  year  to  London 
buyers,  who  purchased  300  hhds.  at  $50,000.  There  will  probably 
be  paid  out  the  sum  of  $75,000  this  year  at  Huntsville  for  tobacco, 
notwithstanding  the  present  crop  is  light.  Farmers  are  preparing 
for  a  large  crop,  and  if  the  season  is  favorable  there  will  be  three 
millions  of  pounds  handled  alone  in  this  market  next  year.  The  to- 
bacco of  Randolph  county  commands  a  price  equal  to  that  produced 
anywhere  in  the  United  States,  and  is  sought  for  by  buyers  all  over 
the  globe.  Li  1880  the  tobacco  crop  of  Randolph  amounted  to 
$701,052.  Chariton  and  Macon  are  the  only  counties  in  the  State 
that  produce  more  tobacco  than  Randolph. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

The  pioneers  of  Salt  Spring  township  were  generally  from  Kentucky, 
us  will  be  seen  from  the  list  of  names  given  below  :  From  Kentucky 
came  Henry  Lassiter,  Henry  Winburn,  Valentine  Mays,  Neal  Murphy, 
Clark  Skinner,  Benjamin  Skinner,  Joseph  M.  Hammett,  William 
Fray,  Blandermin  Smith,  Robert  Sconce,  William  Baker,  Charles 
Baker,  Joseph  M.  Baker,  Christly  Baker,  Jeremiah  Summers,  Archi- 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  213 

bald  Rutherford,  William  Rutherford  and  Shelton  Rutherford.  John 
Read  came  from  North  Carolina.  Tolman  Gorham  came  from 
Tennessee,  as  did  also  Thomas  Gorham,  Sr.,  Thomas  J.  Gorham  and 
Dr.  William  Fort.  James  Cochrane,  John  Welden,  Jeremiah  Sum- 
mers, William  Elliott,  Robert  Elliott,  Joseph  Holman,  William 
Cunningham  and  Abraham  Goodding  were  other  early  settlers. 

Dr.  William  Fort,  above  named,  together  with  Tolman  Gorham, 
opened  and  operated  the  salt  works,  which  were  then  located  at  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Medical  Springs,  in  Randolph  county.  They 
began  making  salt  in  1823,  and  continued  to  supply  a  wide  scope  of 
country,  extending  many  miles  in  almost  every  direction,  for  many 
years. 

The  doctor  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  county,  and 
being  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  county,  we  here  insert  the  fol- 
lowing notice  of  his  death,  furnished  by  his  son,  Dr.  John  T.  Fort, 
of  Huntsville  :  — 

DEATH    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    FORT. 

Another  of  the  strong  and  notable  men  of  the  pioneer  life  of 
Missouri  has  been  called  to  his  reward  in  the  person  of  Dr.  William 
Fort,  of  Randolph  county,  who  died  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  Henry 
T.  Fort,  near  Huntsville,  without  a  struggle,  and  from  exhaustion  and 
old  age,  on  August  23,  1881,  aged  88  years. 

The  deceased  was  born  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  October  19,  1793, 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  under  Gen.  Jackson.  After 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  on  March  14,  1815,  he  married  Miss  Patsy 
Gorham,  who  with  four  of  their  six  children  survive  him. 

In  1817  he  professed  religion  and  united  with  the  Baptist  church. 

In  1820,  a  year  before  the  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  he 
emigrated  with  his  young  family  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Randolph 
county,  and  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was  buried. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  first  county  court  of  Randolph  county, 
and  during  his  life  was  elevated  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  seats  in  both 
branches  of  the  General  Assembly,  always  discharging  his  official 
trusts,  as  he  did  his  personal  and  professional  obligations,  with 
fidelity,  promptness  and  great  acceptance  to  the  people,  aiding  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  in  laying  the  foundations  of  the  great  Common- 
wealth of  which  he  was  always  so  justly  proud. 

He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  school  of  Jefierson  and  Jackson,  and 
during  the  latter  years  of  Senator  Benton's  career,  a  leader  in  the 
State  of  the  anti-Benton  forces,  and  contributed  not  a  little  by  his 
influence  in  the  final  overthrow  of  Benton's  power  in  Missouri. 

Dr.  Fort  was  a  man  of  the  most  exemplary  private  life  ;  took  the 
right  side  of  all  the  moral  questions  of  the  da}',  and  being  fearless  as 
well  as  discreet  in  the  proclamation  of  his  opinions,  left  the  world 
the    better  that   he  had   lived  in  it.     Decided  in  his  convictions  of 


214  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

public  policy,  he  was  conservative  without  being  tame,  and  tolerant 
of  opinions  differing  from  his  own.  In  short,  he  was  a  strong 
character,  and  has  left  his  impress  on  his  generation. 

By  profession  he  was  a  physician,  and  for  many  years  his  practice 
was  very  successful  and  extensive. 

William  Fray  erected  the  first  water  mill  in  Salt  Spring  township, 
on  the  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river. 

HUNTSVILLE. 

Huntsville  is  beautifully  located  upon  an  elevated  and  healthful 
plateau,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific 
Railroad. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1831,  the  first  steps  were  taken  towards 
locating  the  county  seat  at  Huntsville,  by  the  appointment  of  Robert 
Wilson  as  commissioner.  The  tract  or  tracts  which  comprised  the 
original  town  were  donated  to  the  county  by  William  Goggin,  Gideon 
Wright,  Daniel  Hunt  and  Henry  Winburn,  and  the  county  surveyor 
was  immediately  ordered  to  lay  off  the  land  and  make  a  plat  thereof. 
Each  of  these  donations  consisted  of  I2V2  acres,  which  formed  an 
exact  square,  the  dome  of  the  new  court-house  being  the  centre. 
The  town  site  now  covers  between  seven  and  eight  hundred  acres. 

Daniel  Hunt,  one  of  the  donors  above  named,  was  the  first  settler, 
locating,  however,  but  a  little  while  in  advance  of  the  other  three. 
These  men  were  from  Kentucky.  The  town  was  called  Huntsville  in 
honor  of  Daniel  Hunt,  the  first  settler. 

The  first  sale  of  lots  took  place  in  the  following  April,  and  included 
all  of  them  with  the  exception  of  those  from  number  94  to  99 
inclusive,  reserved  for  court-house,  lot  155  for  jail  lot,  and  also 
number  32,  which  it  was  then  thought  necessary  to  hold  back  for  a 
market-house.  This  market-house  lot  was  subsequently  sold,  and  is 
the  one  on  which  stands  the  present  residence  of  James  B.  Thompson. 
The  highest  price  then  paid  for  lots  was  $115,  which  was  paid  for 
the  lot  on  which  stands  the  brick  store  now  occupied  by  M.  Hey- 
mann,  and  the  post-office  stand,  and  also  for  the  lot  which  is  the 
present  site  of  the  Austin  House.  Some  of  the  lots  sold  as  low  as 
$3.25,  which  are  very  valuable  property  now. 

The  original  town  site  of  Huntsville -was  doubtless  covered  with 
timber,  judging  from  the  following  order  which  was  made  by  the 
county  court  when  the  town  was  located  : 

Ordered  :  That  all  persons  cutting  timber  in  the  streets  of  Hunts- 
ville are  required  to  leave  the  stumps  not  more  than  one  foot  in  height, 
and  to  clear  all  timber  so  cut,  together  with  the  brush. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  215 


PIONEER    BUSINESS    MEN. 


The  pioneer  business  men  of  the  town  were  Davis  and  Currin,  to 
whom  were  issued  the  first  tavern  license,  granted  by  the  county  court 
in  1829.  Their  place  of  business  was  at  the  house  of  William  Goggin 
(Daniel  G.  Davis  and  Waddy  T.  Currin).  The  next  merchants  were 
Garth  and  Giddings  (Dabney  C.  Garth  and  Brack  Giddings).  These 
gentlemen  were  from  Virginia.  Garth  represented  the  county  in  the 
Legislature. 

Then  came  Fielding,  Clinton  and  Grundy  Cockerill,  who  did  a 
general  merchandise  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Cockerill  &  Co. 
Joseph  C.  Dameron  commenced  the  mercantile  business  in  the  spring 
of  1835,  and  in  1842  he  brought  the  first  piano  to  the  county,  its 
strange  and  inspiring  notes  being  the  first  ever  heard  among  the  classic 
hills  of  Hunts ville. 

Conway  and  Lamb  were  among  the  earliest  merchants.  John  F. 
Riley  was  the  first  gunsmith  ;  O.  D.  Carlisle  was  the  first  saddler; 
John  Gray  taught  the  first  school,  in  a  log  house  located  on  the  public 
square;  James  C.  Ferguson  was  the  first  shoemaker;  Dr.  Waller 
Head  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  town.  He  was  a  native 
of  Orange  county,  Virginia,  and  located  in  Huntsville  in  October, 
1831,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
August,  1845.  Dr.  Joseph  Rutherford  came  soon  after  Head,  and 
formed  a  partnership  in  the  practice  of  medicine  with  the  latter. 

Ned.  Goggin  (colored)  opened  the  first  bakery,  and  after  accumu- 
lating quite  a  fortune,  he  moved  to  Putnam  county,  Missouri,  where 
he  now  resides.  Joseph  Viley  erected  the  first  carding  machine  and 
cotton  gin  in  1834.  Joseph  C.  Dameron  opened  the  first  tobacco 
factory.  Dr.  J.  J.  Watts  kept  the  first  drug  store  ;  William  Smith 
the  first  livery  stable. 

Gen.  Robert  Wilson  was  the  first  lawyer  in  the  town.  He  was 
also  the  first  county  and  circuit  court  clerk,  and  afterwards  became  a 
United  States  Senator  from  Missouri.  Clair  Oxley,  from  Kentucky, 
was  the  second  lawyer;  he  afterwards  died  in  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
William  Goggin  erected  the  first  mill  in  the  town  at  a  very  early  day. 
It  was  a  horse  mill,  and  was  operated  for  nearly  35  years. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  the  founding  of  the  new  town,  a  few  of 

the  old  settlers,  anxious  to  amuse  themselves,  opened  a  race  track 

near  the  north-western  portion  of  the  town.     Here  met  the  sporting 

men  and  lovers  of  the  turf  for  several  years,  drawn  hither   at  stated 

9 


216  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

periods  to  witness  the  speed  of  some  strange  or  favorite  horse. 
Among  the  horses  whose  popularity  has  come  down  to  us  were 
'♦  White  Stockings  "  and  "  Aleck,"  the  former  the  property  of  Bart 
McDameron,  and  the  latter  the  property  of  Hancock  Jackson.  In  1837 
Alphonso  Wetmore,  the  compiler  of  the  "Gazetteer"  of  Missouri, 
said  of  Huntsville  at  that  date  :  — 

.  Huntsville,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Randolph,  is  near  the  centre  of 
the  county.  This  town  is  flourishing,  and  contains  a  good  brick 
court-house,  seven  stores,  etc.  There  is  no  church  in  the  place  ;  but 
public  worship,  by  all  denominations,  is  held  in  the  court-house,  and 
in  the  school  houses  of  the  town  and  county.  This  is  a  fashion 
throughout  Missouri,  and  it  seems  rational  to  occupy  one  house  for 
various  purposes  in  a  new  country.  While  the  people  are  building  up 
their  fortunes,  and  erecting  private  houses  at  the  same  time,  there 
should  be  indulgence  given  until  they  shall  be  better  able  to  build  tem- 
ples, suited  in  magnificence  to  the  great  Being,  to  whom  these  will  be 
dedicated. 

HUNTSVILLE    IN    OTHER   DAYS. 

[From  the  Citizen.] 

By  request  we  publish  the  following  letter,  outlining  the  proceedings 
of  a  celebration  of  the  Huntsville  Division  of  Sons  of  Temperance,  in 
this  place  in  1848.  It  was  published  in  the  Glasgow  Times  of  Octo- 
ber 12,  1848,  together  with  the  addresses  to  which  it  refers.  Some 
of  the  gentlemen  whose  names  are  mentioned  are  still  with  us,  and 
will  no  doubt  cast  their  mind  back  over  30  years  of  their  life  and 
recognize  the  proceedings  referred  to  :  — 

Huntsville,  Mo.,  Oct.  4,  1848. 
^^ Gentlemen: — The  undersigned  were  appointed  a  committee,  by 
the  Huntsville  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  to  have  the  enclosed 
addresses  delivered  in  this  place  on  Thursday,  the  28th  September, 
the  first  celebration  of  the  order  in  this  place,  published  —  and  believ- 
ing as  we  do,  that  your  paper  is  always  open  to  any  and  every  subject 
that  may  prove  beneficial  to  the  cause  of  humanity,  we  thought  fit  to 
impose  upon  your  generous  feelings,  so  far  as  to  ask  permission  for 
the  patriotic  and  noble  sentiments  inculcated  in  those  addresses,  a 
place  in  your  columns,  and  to  request  other  journals,  favorable  to  the 
extension  and  advancement  of  the  glorious  cause  of  Temperance,  to 
copy  the  same.  These  speeches  were  delivered  by  Miss  Mary  M. 
Lewis,  on  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Huntsville  and  vicinity,  in  present- 
ing a  beautiful  banner  which  was  made  for  the  order,  and  by  John  O. 
Oxley,  in  behalf  of  the  Division.  We  would  remark  also,  that  on 
that  occasion,  a  Bible  was  presented,  and  an  excellent  address  from 
Mrs.  M.  M.  Watts,  and  responded  to  by  Mr.  E.  B.  Cone,  on  behalf  of 
the  Division,  which  we  will  also  send  you  in  the  course  of  a  few  days 
for  publication. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  217 

"  Our  celebration  was  everything  to  be  desired.  Besides  the  eloquent 
and  masterly  efforts  by  those  who  delivered  the  flag  and  Bible,  and  those 
who  received  them  on  behall"  of  the  Division,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simpson, 
from  Glasgow,  George  H.  Burckhartt  and  Dr.  McLean,  of  Huntsville 
Division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  delivered  most  able  and  inter- 
esting addresses.  The  cause  is  prospering  finely  here,  and  we  hope 
will  continue  to  prosper,  until  the  Demon,  Intemperance,  is  banished 
from  our  land  of  liberty. 

"  Respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

"  W.  R.  Samuel, 
"  W.  M.  Dameron, 
"F.M.  M'Lean." 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

[From  the  Huntsville  Herald.] 

During  the  year  1871  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  spent 
in  permanent  improvements  by  the  people  of  the  city  of  Huntsville, 
a  partial  list  of  which  we  give  below,  not  having  the  data  at  hand  for 
a  full  report,  but  the  figures  we  give  only  fall  a  few  hundred  dollars 
short  of  the  true  amount  given  and  we  are  fully  satisfied  $25,000  ad- 
ditional would  not  cover  the  whole  expense  of  improvement  in  the  one 
year  of  1871.  Our  people  are  fully  waked  up  to  the  importance  of 
building  a  large  town  here,  and  now  that  the  ball  is  set  rolling  they 
will  keep  it  going.  We  have  resources  untold  that  need  development, 
and  it  only  requires  a  liberal  expenditure  of  capital  with  judgment 
and  eijergy  to  make  our  town  one  of  the  most  important  in  North 
Missouri. 

Here  are  the  names  of  the  parties  and  the  improvements  they  have 
made. 

The  amount  expended  on  the  college  looks  large  on  paper,  but  we 
have  a  detailed  statement  of  expenditures  in  this  office  to  prove  it  cor- 
rect. Any  doubting  "  Thomas  "  can  walk  in  and  examine  it  for  him- 
self:— 

"  Huntsville  Woolen  Mill  building,  $5,000  ;  addition  to  college  and 
boarding  house,  $19,000;  Wm.  SmTth's  livery  stable,  $3,500;  addi- 
tion to  plow  factory,  $800;  Sandison,  Murry  &  Co.,  two  stone  store- 
houses, $5,500;  Charles  Allin,  residence,  $1,700;  William  Mayo, 
wagon  and  blacksmith  shop,  $225  ;  W.  H.  Taylor,  office,  $600,  re- 
pairs and  improvements  on  his  residence,  $300;  J.  N.  Taylor,  im- 
provement on  furniture  store,  $400  ;  J.  C.  Shaefer,  dwelling  to  rent, 
$1,100;  improvements  on  residence  of  same,  $100;  Methodist  Church 
South,  new  church,  $6,000;  Neal  Holman,  new  dwelling,  $1,000;  J. 
R.  Christian,  barn  and  improvements  on  residence,  $250  ;  J.  P.  Klink, 
improvements  on  business  house,  $200;  Archie  Rutherford,  dwelling 
to  rent,  $1,000;  S.  Y.  Pitts,  new  dwelling,  $3,500;  Jno  H.  Austin, 
dwelling  to  rent,  $475  ;  Walter  Adams,  residence,  $900;  V.  B.  C:d- 
houn,  residence,  $1,200;  S.  M.  Keebaugh,  addition  to  store,  $600; 
Mrs.  Mary  McCampbell,  improvements  on  hotel,  $325;  J.  R.  Wisdom, 
house  to  rent  and  improvements  on  his  store,  $1,600  ;  Mrs.  Gillis,  im- 


218  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

provements  on  dwelling,  $200 ;  H.  Woodbury,  improvements  on 
dwelling,  $300;  G.  F.  Eothwell,  house  to  rent,  $550;  William  Pil- 
ger,  dwelling,  $350  ;  Huntsville  Coal  Company,  shaft  and  other  im- 
provements, $12,500;  W.  T.  Rutherford,  five  dwelling  houses  to 
rent,  $2,500 ;  Taylor  &  Smothers,  three  houses  to  rent,  $2,700 ; 
David  Reese,  two  houses  to  rent,  $850  ;  Mr.  Chas.  McCarty,  residence, 
$600;  G.  F.  Rothwell,  residence,  $1,500;  John  B.  Taylor,  improve- 
ments on  residence,  $1,500;  J,  D.  Hunt,  residence,  $525;  T.  D. 
Bogie,  improvements  on  residence,  $200  ;  Mrs.  Boulware,  improve- 
ments on  residence,  $250;  Will  Doc  Hunt,  residence,  $600;  H.  L. 
Rutherford,  improvements  on  residence,  $400;  school-house  for  ne- 
groes, $540;  Westley  Elay,  "  dwelling,  $1,100;  James  Chrisman, 
dwelling,  $300  ;  Nelson  Carter,  dwelling,  $450  ;  J.  Hummons,  dwell- 
ing, $450  ;  J.  Smith,  dwelling,  $300  ;  David  Morton,  addition  to  resi- 
dence, $200;  Beverly  Lay,  residence,  $450;  Easter  Austin,  residence, 
$300;  L.  Henderson,  residence,  $200 ;  jail  and  jailor's  residence, 
$8,000;  Jane  Walker,  improvements  on  residence. 


DESTRUCTIVE  FIRE. 

[From  the  Herald.] 

On  a  Monday  morning,  in  January,  1874,  about  one  o'clock,  fire  was 
discovered  issuing  from  the  rear  room  of  the  grocery  store  of  George 
T.  Green,  on  Main  street,  in  this  place.  The  flames  spread  rapidly, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  house  of  Moses  Heymaun,  on  the  west,  and 
the  City  Drug  Store  of  Charles  Semple  &  Co.,  Avere  on  fire,  and  were 
not  long  in  being  reduced  to  ruins.  By  this  time  a  large  crowd  had 
gathered,  and  by  the  almost  superhuman  efforts  of  a  few  men  the  prog- 
ress of  the  flames  was  checked.  The  house  of  Mrs.  Lewis,  occupied 
by  W.  T.  Jackson  as  a  grocery  store,  the  next  store  on  the  east  from 
the  drug  store,  was  saved  without  material  damage. 

The  fire  was  evidently  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  as  no  fire  had 
been  in  the  store  of  Mr.  Green  since  the  Saturday  night  previous,  and 
in  the  part  of  the  building  where  the  fire  originated  there  was  no  stove 
or  stove  flue,  and  it  is  not  known  that  there  was  any  combustible  sub- 
stance to  create  a  fire. 

WHO  OWNED   THE  HOUSES. 

The  first  house  burned  was  the  property  of  Mr.  J.  C.  Shaefer.  It 
was  a  two-story  brick,  brick  front,  about  40  feet  deep  by  21  feet  wide, 
and  had  a  wooden  addition  on  the  south  end.  It  was  insured  in  the 
Underwriters'  Insurance  Company  of  New  York  City  for  $1,500. 
The  building  is,  of  course,  a  total  loss. 

The  next  house  on  the  east  was  the  property  of  James  Wisdom.  It 
was  a  two-story  brick,  about  40  feet  deep,  with  a  brick  extension  on 
the  south.  It  was  fitted  up  for  a  drug  store,  in  a  very  complete 
manner,  and  was  the  best  house  for  that  purpose  in  the  county.  It 
was  insured  in  the  American  Central,  of  St.  Louis,  for  $2,500. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  219 

On  the  corner  stood  the  three-story  brick  which  formerly  belonged 
to  the  estate  of  John  McCampbell,  bnt  which  was  purchased  some 
time  ago  by  Moses  Heymann.  This  building  was  not  insured,  and 
is  a  total  loss. 

HOW  THE  HOUSES  WERE  OCCUPIED. 

Moses  Heymann  occupied  the  first  story  of  the  corner  building,  as 
a  dry  goods  and  clothing  store,  and  had  on  hand,  he  estimates,  about 
115,000  in  stock,  on  which  there  was  an  insurance  in  the  following 
companies:  Equitable,  of  Nashville  ;  Fire  and  Marine,  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  Underwriters,  of  New  York  — aggregating  $8,000.  His  stock  was 
partially  saved,  but  of  course  more  or  less  damaged  in  removing.  His 
losses  will  be  heavy,  but  cannot  yet  be  approximated  in  dollars  and  cents. 

The  second  story  of  this  building  was  occupied  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Bibb  as 
a  saddle  and  harness-maker's  shop.  His  goods  were  nearly  all  saved, 
and,  we  understand,  not  badly  damaged  in  handling. 

The  third  story  was  occupied  as  a  Masonic  hall,  and  the  Huntsville 
Lodge  and  Huntsville  Royal  Arch  Chapter  each  had  all  their  regalia 
and  other  fixtures  there,  which  are  a  total  loss,  as  nothing  w^as  saved 
from  this  part  of  the  building.  The  records  of  both  Lodge  and  Chap- 
ter were  fortunately  not  in  the  building,  but  the  charter  of  each  of  the 
institutions  was  burned. 

The  first  story  of  the  next  building  was  occupied  by  George  T. 
Green,  as  a  family  grocery  store,  and  he  had  on  hand  a  full  stock  of 
goods  in  his  line.  As  the  fire  originated  in  his  back  room,  only  such 
goods  as  were  in  the  front  portion  of  the  store  were  saved.  His  losses 
will  be  heavy.  He  was  insured  in  the  St.  Joseph  Fire  and  Marine  In- 
surance Company  for  $2,000  on  his  stock.  The  second  story  was 
occupied  by  Col.  Denny  as  a  law  office,  in  which  he  kept  his  books 
and  a  considerable  amount  of  office  furniture.  His  books  were  for- 
tunately saved,  but  his  furniture  and  some  valuable  papers  were 
burned.     No  insurance. 

The  first  story  of  the  next  building  was  occupied  by  Messrs.  Charles 
Semple  &  Co.  as  a  drug  store,  in  which  they  had  a  very  complete 
stock  of  drugs,  etc.  We  understand  that  only  about  $500  worth  of 
their  stock  was  saved,  as  the  oils,  etc.,  in  the  rear  of  their  store 
burned  very  rapidly.  They  are  insured  in  the  New  York  Home  Insur- 
ance Company  for  $2,500. 

The  second  story  of  the  building  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Charles 
Semple  as  a  dwelling.  He  succeeded  in  saving  all  his  furniture  and 
household  goods,  only  losing  a  little  clothing.  This  completes  the 
occupancies  of  the  buildings  burned.  The  above  covers  the  buildings 
that  were  burned  and  their  occupancy.  In  addition  to  this  the  stocks 
were  removed  from  the  remaining  buildings  in  the  row,  and  were  of 
course  more  or  less  damaged. 

W.  T.  Jackson  is  damaged  three  or  four  hundred  on  grocery  stock. 
No  insurance.  The  bank  moved  out  their  desks  and  other  movable 
fixtures,  but  there  was  no  particular  damage  to  them.  The  liquors 
and  fixtures  of  John  R.  Belsher's  saloon  were   all   moved  out,  and  iu 


220  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  effort  to  take  care  of  them,  the  liquors  were  nearly  all  drank  up. 
He  lost  nearly  all  his  stock  which  falls  heavy  on  him.  G.  W,  Taylor's 
goods  were  all  moved  out  into  the  street,  and  will  be  damaged  to  the 
amount  of  a  thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  covered  by  insurance. 
The  stoves  and  hardware  of  V.  B.  Calhoun  were  moved  out,  but  the 
damage  will  be  slight,  as  was  also  the  saddlery  of  A.  J.  Ferguson,  and 
the  stores  and  hardware  of  H.  P.  Hunter,  The  law  books  and  office 
furniture  of  John  R.  Christian  were  removed,  and  more  or  less 
damaged,  as  were  those  of  I.  P.  Bibb. 

The  total  losses  by  the  fire  Avill  not  be  far  from  $20,000,  at  a  very 
moderate  estimate.  A  number  of  our  citizens  worked  faithfully  to 
stop  the  ravages  of  the  fire,  among  whom  none  deserve  more  praise 
than  William  and  Neal  Holman,  and  R.  J.  Flouruey,  also  a  man 
named  Fowler,  from  Sedalia,  and  another  named  elohn  N.  Brison, 
from  Shelbina.  The  roof  on  the  house  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Oliver  was  torn 
off  to  stop  the  fire  in  case  it  got  that  far,  but  fortunately  this  was  un- 
necessary. 

We  cannot  close  this  without  saying  that  a  number  of  ladies  who 
live  in  town  did  heroic  service  in  assisting  to  save  the  goods,  for  which 
they  deserve  great  credit. 

There  have  been  other  fires  in  Huntsville,  but  none  perhaps  more 
destructive  than  the  fire  above  mentioned. 

SUBSCRIPTION  TO  YELLOW  FEVER  SUFFERERS. 

The  people  of  Huntsville,  ever  generous  and  alive  to  the  calls  of 
suffering  humanity,  met  at  the  court-house,  August  31,  1878,  during 
the  prevalence  of  yellow  fever  in  the  South,  and  contributed  of  their 
substance,  as  will  be  seen  bv  the  followino:  notice  :  — 

At  a  meeting  at  the  court-house,  on  August  31,  1878,  to  devise 
ways  and  means  to  assist  the  suffering  South,  G.  H.  Burckhartt  was 
elected  chairman;  Charles  Allin,  secretary;  and  W.  R.  Samuel, 
treasurer.  Committee  appointed  and  following  sums  subscribed  by 
those  present : 

W.  T.  Austin,  $5  ;  G.  H.  Burckhartt,  $5  ;  J.  N.  Taylor,  $5  ;  C.  H. 
Hance,  $5  ;  William  Smith,  $5  ;  W.  H.  Williams,  $5  ;  W.  R.  Samuel, 
$5;  J.  C.  Oliver,  $5;  Charles  Allin,  $5;  Dr.  Dameron,  $5;  I.  J. 
Loeb,  $2  ;  V.  B.  Calhoun,  $1  ;  John  Swetnam,  $2  ;  W.  Sandison,  $2  ; 
A.  J.  Ferguson,  $1  ;  J.  H.  Simms,  $1  ;  Edward  Jackson,  $2  ;  A.  H. 
Waller,  $1;  V.  M.  Baker,  $1;  R.  Flournoy,  $1;  C.  H.  Hammett, 
$2.50;  W.  C.  Kirby,  $1  ;  Mrs.  Gillis,  25c;  total,  $67.75. 

Collected  by  V.  B.  Calhoun:  Thomas  B.  Reed,  $10;  Dr.  A.  L. 
Bibb,  $1  ;  J.  G.  Bibb,  $1  ;  J.  D.  Head,  50c;  T.  B.  Minor,  25c;  J. 
S.  Vancleve,  25c;  total,  $13. 

Collected  by  V.  M.  Baker:     C.  D.  Vase,  50c;  J.  D.  Oliver,  25c; 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  221 

J.  M.  Baker,  50c;  G.  W.  Taylor,  $1.50;  Luther  Cobb,  50c;  total, 
$3.25. 

Collected  by  l*saac  J.  Loeb  :  William  Sims,  $1;  A.  Doffnir,  25c; 
M.  Heymanii,  50c  ;  John  Hunt,  25c  ;  L.  B.  Keebaiigh,  25c  ;  H.  A. 
Clark,  25c;  J.  W.  Hammett,  $1  ;  E.  H.  Hammett,  50c;  J.  Ashurst, 
50c;  Henry  Burton,  50c;  Thomas  Herndon,  50c  ;  Charles  Semple, 
50c;  Gray  Lo wry,  50c;  J.  D.  Moore,  50;  John  Vaughan,  25c;  J. 
H.  Smith,  50c;  G.  P.  Dameron,  25c;  Cash,  40c;  J.  H.  Eeed,  25c; 
C.  R.  Ferguson,  $2;  H.  L.  Rutherford,  50c;  J.  G.  Dameron,  25c; 
William  Cave,  25c  ;  W.  G.  Lea,  25c  ;  George  Malone,  25c  ;  F.  M. 
Hammett,  $2  ;  W.  T.  Rutherford,  $5  ;  Jo.  Kirby,  40c  ;  Robert  Rains, 
25c  ;  E.  E.  Samuel,  50c  ;  J.  G.  Baker,  50  ;  J.  Burk,  50c  ;  total,  $21.30. 

Collected  by  Mrs.  Elmore  and  Miss  Kiernan  :  Dr.  Kiernan,  $1 ; 
Mrs.  Eberle,  10c  ;  Mrs.  Rebecca  Rutherford,  50c  ;  Mrs.  Denny,  $1  ; 
Mrs.  Gillis,  25c  ;  Rev.  W.  Penn,  $1.50  ;  T.  D.  Bogie,  printing,  $2.50  ; 
total,  $6.85. 

Collected  by  J.  H.  Simms  :  Edward  Stephenson,  50c;  S.  Harri- 
son, 25c  ;  J.  A.  Heether,  90c  ;  James  Murry,  $1  ;  J.  R.  Belsher,  50c  ; 
G.  V.  Wright,  50c  ;  W.  Boniface,  25c  ;  J.  N.  Stewart,  50c  ;  W.  T. 
Jackson,  $1;  C.  B.  Shaefer,  25c;  G.  W.  Crutchfield,  25c;  William 
Meyer,  25c;  L.  M.  Hunt,  $1;  H.  P.  Hunt,  50c;  A.  Jordan,  25c; 
A.  W.  Scott,  25c  ;  A.  Cox,  50c  ;  G.  A.  Wright,  25c  ;  N.  J.  Smothers, 
50c;  total,  $9.40. 

Collected  by  W.  H.  Williams :  A.  P.  Terrill,  $5  ;  A.  J.  Miller, 
$1  ;  John  Murry,  $1.75  ;  T.  B.  Kimbrough,  $1  ;  Thomas  Elmore,  $1 ; 
G.  W.  Keebaugh,  $1  ;  P.  Y.  Swetnam,  $5  ;  Jo.  W.  Taylor,  $1 ;  J. 
R.  Christian,  $1  ;  H.  Woodbury,  $1  ;  J.  D.  Hammett,  $2  ;  A.  J. 
Rambury,  50c  ;  C.  Boyd,  $1 ;  James  Alderson,  50c  ;  H.  Ficklin,  50c  ; 
J.  R.  Terrill,  $1;  C.  F.  Rigg,  $1;  W.  H.  Taylor,  $2.50;  John  H. 
Penny,  $1  ;  Joseph  Allin,  $1  ;  W.  A.  Thomas,  $1;  W.  B.  Crutchfield, 
50c  ;  W.  G.  Wilson,  $1  ;  J.  R.  Hull,  50c  ;  Miss  Dunlap,  15c  ;  Mahlon 
Hix,  $1;  James  Hardin,  $1;  I.  P.  Bibb,  $1;  E.  P.  Kirby,  $5; 
total,  $4i.90. 

Total  at  court-house,  $67.75  ;  collected  by  Williams,  $41.90;  col- 
lected by  Calhoun,  $13  ;  collected  by  Baker,  $3.25  ;  collected  by  Mrs. 
Elmore,  $6.85;  collected  by  J.  H.  Simms,  $9.40;  collected  by  I.  J. 
Loeb,  $21.30;  total,  $163.45  ;  deduct  printing,  $2.50;  total  $160.95. 
This  sum  was  sent  to  Howard  Association  to  be  distributed  where 
most  needed. 

G.  H.  Burckhartt,  president;  Charles  Allin,  secretary;  W.  R. 
Samuel,  treasurer.  The  1.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  sent  $15  in  addition  to 
the  above. 


222  HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 


BANKS  AND  BANKERS. 

The  first  banking  enterprise  in  Huntsville  was  inangurated  about 
the  year  1866  by  William  M.  Wisdom  and  Courtney  Hughes.  It  was 
a  private  institution,  and  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Hughes, 
which  occurred  in  1867.  The  bank  then  did  business  under  the  name 
of  C.  Wisdom  &  Co.,  until  December  31,  1874,  when  it  was  succeeded 
by  the  Huntsville  Savings  Bank.  The  bank  was  again  changed  in 
1878,  to  the  private  bank  of  J.  M.  Hammett  &  Co.,  with  the  follow- 
ing directors  and  stock-holders  :  F.  M.  Hammett,  president ;  James 
W.  Hammett,  vice-president;  C.  H.  Hammett,  cashier;  B.  F.  Ham- 
mett, J.  D.  Hammett,  W.  R.  Samuel,  M.  J.  Sears,  John  R.  Christian. 
The  bank  is  supplied  with  a  time-lock,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, as  the  following  statement  will  show:  — 

Official  statement  of  the  flnancial  couditiou  of  J.  M.  Hammett  &  Co.,  at  Huntsville, 

State  of  Missouri,  at  the  close  of  business  on  the  31st  day  of  December,  1883: 
Eesources  — 

Loans  undoubtedly  good  on  personal  or  collatei'al  security          .         .  #  96,409  36 

Loans  and  discounts  undoubtedly  good  on  real  estate  security     .        .  24,000  00 

Overdrafts  by  solvent  customers 10,095  36 

Other  bonds  and  stocks  at  their  present  cash  market  price     .        .         .  3,450  00 

Due  from  other  banks,  good  on  sight  draft 8,3S1  00 

Real  estate  at  present  cash  market  value  \  ,  r,nn  nn 

Furniture  and  fixtures                                    J '"" 

Bills  of  National  Banks  and  legal  tender  United  States  notes        .        .  12,987  00 

Gold  coin 3,000  00 

Silver  coin 2,4(!0  42 

Total $164,983  14 

Liabilities  — 

Capital  stock  paid  in $  15,900  00 

Surplus  funds  on  hand 3,341  93 

Deposits  subject  to  draft  —  at  sight 145,741  21 

Total $164,983  14 

State  of  Missouri,    \ 
County  of  Randolph,  j 

We,  C.  H.  Hammett  and  James  W.  Hammett,  two  of  the  partners  in  or  owners  of 
said  banking  business,  and  each  of  us,  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  above  statement  is 
true  to  the  best  of  our  knov/Iege  and  belief.  G.  H.  Hammett, 

J.   W.  Hammett. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  8th  day  of  January,  A.  D.  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-four. 

[l.  s.]  Witness  my  hand  and  notarial  seal  hereto  affixed,  at  office  in  Huntsville, 
the  date  last  aforesaid.  (Commissioned  and  qualified  for  a  term  expiring  March  15th, 
1887.)  Will  C.  Kirby,  Notary  Public. 

SECRET     ORDERS. 

Huntsville  Lodge  No  30,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. — Was  chartered  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri  October  8,  1840.  The  following  are  the 
only  three  names  of  the  charter  members  that  appear  upon  the  records  : 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  223 

Edward  Slater,  Fleming  Terrill,  Thomas  P.  Coates.  This  lodge  owns 
a  hall  equal  to  any  similar  institution  to  be  found  in  any  town  not  ex- 
ceeding 3,000  inhabitants. 

Huntsville  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No.  13 — Was  chartered  by  the 
Grand  R.  A.  Chapter  of  Missouri,  May  23,  1849.  Charter  members  : 
Priestly   H.   McBride,  Edward  Slater,  William  B.  Giddings,  N.  B. 

Coates, Halstead,  Garland  Ried,  John  Grigler,  James  Shirley, 

Milton  Bradley  and  others,  whose  names  could  not  be  obtained,  the 
record  having  been  destroyed  by  fire. 

Randolph  Lodge  No.  23,  1.  0.  0.  F. — Was  chartered  April  29, 
1847,  and  organized  and  officers  installed  June  10,  1847,  by  Grand 
Master  Isaac  M.  Veitch,  of  St.  Louis,  assisted  by  Clark  H.  Green,  D. 
D.  G.  M.  Number  admitted  to  membership  since  organization,  258. 
Charter  members  were:  Henry  Bagwell,  N.  G.  ;  Thomas  Adams,  V. 
G.  ;  William  M.  Withers,  S.  ;  George  Gentry,  T.  ;  William  Ander- 
son.^ Present  officers  :  Charles  Cartwright,  N.  G.  ;  William  Pool,  V. 
G.  ;. James  Farquarson,  S.  ;  J.  H.  Miller,  Per.  S.  ;  B.  W.  Malone, 
T.     Term  of  office  expires  March  31,  1884. 

Huntsville  Lodge  No.  101,  A.  0.  U.  W. — Organized  in  January, 
1879.  Charter  members:  Thomas  D.  Bogie,  Will  C.  Kirby,  H.  G. 
Bourn,  Joseph  Allin,  R,.  E.  Kiernan,  August  Doffnir,  R.  F.  Poison, 
Charles  H.  Hance,  V.  M.  Baker,  William  F.  Meyer,  D.  T.  Gentry. 
Officers :  D.  T.  Gentry,  P.  M.  W.  ;  T.  D.  Bogie,  M.  W.  ;  R.  F.  Pol- 
son,  G.  F.  ;  V.  M.  Baker,  O.  S. ;  William  F.  Meyer,  Guide  ;  Will  C. 
Kirby,  Recorder ;  Joseph  Allin,  Financier  ;  C.  H.  Hance,  R.  ;  H.  G. 
Bourn,  I.  G.  ;  A.  Doffnir;  O.  G.  ;  R.  E.  Kiernan,  M.  E.  Trustees  : 
R.  E.  Kiernan,  M.  D.  ;  T.  D.  Bogie,  W.  F.  Meyer.  The  list  of  offi- 
cers for  1884  is :  W.  C.  Kirby,  P.  M.  W.  ;  T.  M.  Elmore,  M.  W.  ;  J. 
A.  Heether,  Gen.  F.  ;  August  Schunaman,  O.  V.  S.  ;  J.  M.  Shaefer, 
Recorder;  John  R.  Hull,  Financier;  William  Meyer,  Receiver;  E.  S. 
Bedford,  Guide;  T.  L.  Haggard,  I.  W.  ;  Moses  Rothchild,  O.  W.  ; 
A.  Schunaman,  William  Meyer  and  T.  M.  Elmore,  trustees. 

Huntsville  Lodge  No.  2589,  K.  of  H.  — Was  organized  October  24, 
1881.  The  charter  members  were:  J.  W.  Heist,  L.  V.  Heether,  J. 
P.  Hurry,  W.  V.  Hall,  G.  L.  Alexander,  J.  H.  Miller,  J.  W.  Brook- 
ing, J.  R.  Belcher,  F.  T.  Payne,  W.  C.  Kirby,  W.  H.  Balthis,  S. 
C.  Matlock,  William  Isles,  J.  A.  Heether,  E.  S.  Bedford,  F.  G. 
Parker,  A.  D.  Asbell,  F.  P.  Baird  and  Charles  Sandison.  The 
first  officers  in  October,   1881,  were:    J.  W.  Heist,  Dictator;  W.  V. 


1  Father  of  "  Bill  "  Anderson,  the  guerrilla  chief  in  the  War  of  1861. 


224  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Hall,  p.  Dictator ;  L.  V.  Heether,  Vice-Dictator ;  J.  P.  Hurry, 
Assistant-Dictator;  L.  G.  Alexander,  Chaplain;  J.Horace  Miller, 
Eeporter ;  J.  W.  Brooking,  F.  Reporter  ;  J.  R.  Belcher,  Treasurer ; 
F.  T.  Payne,  Guide;  W.  V.  Hall,  D.  G.  D.  Present  officers 
(1884):  J.  P.  Hurry,  D.  ;  J.  W.  Taylor,  V.  D.  ;  J.  L.  Chapman, 
A.  D.  ;  E.  E.  Samuel,  Jr.,  R.  ;  W.  E.  Wade,  F.  R.  ;  W.  C.  Kirby, 
Treasurer;  J.  C.  Samuel,  Chaplain;  T.  C.  Jackson,  Guide;  Eugee 
Jackson,  Guardian;  R.  E.  Treloar,  Sentinel;  W.  V.  Hall,  E.  S. 
Bedford,  J.  H.  Miller,  Trustees  ;  E.  S.  Bedford,  Rep.  ;  Alternate,  J. 
Heist. 

BUILDING   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Huntsville  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  chartered 
February  17,  1882.  The  first  officers  were  William  Sandison, 
President;  T.  M.  Elmore,  Vice-President;  C.  H.  Hammett, 
Treasurer ;  J.  C.  Shaefer,  Secretary.  The  same  officers  were  con- 
tinued at  the  last  annual  election  until  February,  1885.  The  Associa- 
tion is  in  a  good  and  flourishing  condition.  About  15  family 
residences  have  been  built  during  its  two  years'  existence  by  the  aid 
of  this  association,  and  it  is  expected  that  as  many,  or  more,  will  be 
built  during  the  present  year  —  1884. 

PIONEER    CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY    SCHOOL. 

The  Huntsville  Baptist  church  (Missionary)  was  organized  at  the 
house  of  Brother  Zephaniah  Waldeu,  near  Huntsville,  in  August, 
1837,  with  seven  constituent  members,  to  wit :  Theophilus  Eddine, 
Zephaniah  Walden  and  wife,  Mary  Thomas,  Martha  Dameron,  Ben- 
jamin Terrill  and  James  Terrill.  The  first  church  house  in  the  town 
was  erected  about  1840. 

The  first  additions  to  the  church  were  J.  C.  Shaefer  and  wife,  in 
September,  1837,  on  letters  of  commendation  from  the  Baptist  church 
at  Charlotfesville,  Va.  Since  then,  nearly  all  the  Baptist  churches  in 
the  county  have  been  organized  by  members  dismissed  from  the  Hunts- 
ville church.  The  present  membership  is  140.  Present  clerk,  W.  R. 
Samuel ;  pastor,  S.  Y.  Pitts.  The  first  Sunday-school  in  the  town 
or  county  was  organized  by  J.  C.  Shaefer,  in  August,  1839,  and  has 
been  successfully  carried  on  without  intermission  to  the  present  time. 
The  present  superintendent  is  W.  R.  Samuel. 

SEMPLe's    opera    HOUSE. 

This  eleo-ant  buildino;  was  finished  in  Februarv,  1884,  and  is  the 
property  of  Charles  Semple.     The  building  has  a  frontage  of  42  feet 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  225 

on  Court  Square,  and  a  depth  of  90  feet,  with  19  foot  ceiling.  The 
lower  story  of  the  building  is  divided  into  two  store  rooms,  each  21 
by  90  feet.  The  stage  is  42  feet  wide  and  20  feet  deep,  and  is  supplied 
with  drop  curtains  and  fly-wings,  which  have  been  gotten  up  in  the 
best  style  of  the  scenic  art.  The  building  is  a  monument  to  the  good 
taste  and  liberality  of  Mr.  Seniple,  and  a  great  credit  to  the  city  of 
Hunts ville.  The  builders  of  the  Opera  House  were  Frank  and  Jake 
Walsh,  stone  builders.  The  architect  was  Mr.  E.  Cook,  of  Moberly  ; 
stage  architect,  W.  O.  Thomas  ;  scenic  artists,  W.  O.  Thomas  &  Co., 
of  Kansas  City;  decorative  artist,  E.  Viets,  of  Moberly;  painter,  E. 
W.  Stradley,  Huntsville ;  cornice  work,  H.  Wiles  &  Co.,  Kansas 
City  ;  iron  work.  Smith,  Hill  &  Co.,  Quincy,  III.  ;  plasterer,  James 
Domm,  Huntsville  ;  gas  fitting,  P.  H.  Nise,  Moberly ;  gas  fixtures. 
Fay  Gas  Fixture  Co.,  St.  Louis  and  William  Sandison,  Huntsville; 
tin  work  and  heaters,  Holman  &  Payne,  Huntsville.  The  carpeting, 
matting,  and  chairs  were  all  special  orders  from  St.  Louis,  and  were 
obtained  through  the  agency  of  Mr.  John  N.  Taylor,  of  Huntsville. 

HUNTSVILLE    BRASS    BAND. 

This  band  was  organized  in  November,  1883,  and  is  composed  of 
the  following  persons  :  J.  P.  Hurry,  E.  W.  Taylor,  J.  W.  Taylor, 
E.  E.  Samuel,  B.  E.  Treloar,  Philip  Maniel,  J.  O.  Simms,  Eddie  Cal- 
houn, Ed.  St.  Clair,  M.  A.  Cooley,  William  Skinner,  Prof.  Jonahan 
Goetz. 

HOME    DRAMATIC    COMPANY 

gave  its  first  public  performance  in  January,  1884.  The  following 
are  the  members  of  this  company:  Prof.  B.  F.  Heaton,  J.  M. 
Wright,  H.  L.  Ellington,  W.  K.  Smith,  J.  P.  Hurry,  Dr.  W.  B. 
Abbington,  B.  E.  Treloar,  Church  Brooking,  John  McClary,  D.  P. 
Hall,  Eugene  Jackson,  Mrs.  V.  B.  Calhoun,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Wright,  Miss 
Anna  Sears,  Miss  Minnie  Sears,  Miss  Dora  Shaefer,  Miss  Ella  Good- 
ding  Miss  Maggie  Williams,  Miss  Annie  Smith,  Miss  Jeffie  Jones. 
This  company,  composed  exclusively  of  home  talent,  has  given  two 
entertainments,  which  were  largely  attended  and  highly  appreciated 
by  the  citizens  of  Huntsville.  The  first  earnings  of  the  company  are 
to  be  used  to  pay  for  the  town  clock. 

HUNTSVILLE     FLEMING     RAKE    AND    STACKER    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY 

was  formed  in  November,  1883,  with  a  capital  of  $10,000,  held  by  22 
stockholders.  Its  present  officers  are  W.  T.  Rutherford,  president ; 
T.  M,  Elmore,  vice-president,  and  J.  A.  Swetnam,  treasurer.  This 
company,  although  it  has  been  doing  business  but  a  few  weeks,  has 


226  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

now  100  agents  and  116  sub-agents  in  cliflferent  States.  Twenty-five 
men  are  employed,  who  make  about  16  machines  per  day. 

Huntsville  was  incorporated  March  12,  1859.  March  10,  1871,  the 
corporation  limits  were  extended. 

L.  S.  Barrad  was  the  first  mayor,  and  held  his  office  in  1859, 

PRESENT    MAYOR   AND    COUNCILMEN. 

W.  V.  Hall,  mayor  ;  W.  T.  Rutherford,  J.  W.  Hammett,  Thomas 
M.  Jones,  G.  M.  Keebaugh,  councilmen. 

CITY    OFFICERS. 

G.  M.  Keebaugh,  clerk;  W.  T.  Rutherford,  treasurer;  A.  M. 
Ellington,  city  attorney  ;  J.  C.  Shaefer,  assessor ;  T.  C.  Jackson, 
marshal. 

PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 

The  public  schools  were  partially  organized  in  Huntsville  some 
little  time  after  the  close  of  the  war,  but  the  organization  was  not 
completed  until  1877,  when  the  new  school  building  was  erected. 
The  building  and  grounds  cost  about  $3,500  ;  it  is  a  two-story  frame 
structure,  and  contains  eight  rooms.  In  1877,  Prof.  M.  C.  McMellen 
took  charge  of  the  school  as  principal.  The  white  pupils  enrolled  at 
that  time  numbered  225,  and  the  colored  75. 

The  present  enrollment  of  white  pupils  numbers  350,  colored 
pupils  125,  showing  an  increase  over  the  year  1877  of  145.  Under 
the  management  of  Prof.  Benjamin  F.  Heaton,  the  accomplished  and 
popular  principal,  the  schools,  both  white  and  colored,  are  doing  Avell. 
Prof.  Heaton's  aim,  from  the  beg-innino;  of  his  connection  with  the 
schools,  has  been  to  not  only  raise  them  to  a  higher  grade,  but  to  so 
conduct  them  that  their  utility  would  soon  be  recognized  and  acknowl- 
edged by  all.  HoAV  well  he  has  succeeded  is  seen  in  the  interest  which 
is  now  manifested  upon  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Huntsville. 

The  teachers  are  Prof.  Benjamin  F.  Heaton,  principal:  Miss 
Bettie  Reed,  Miss  Anna  Sears,  Miss  Dora  Bibb,  Miss  Dora  Shaefer, 
Miss  Bettie  Kiernan. 

MOUNT    PLEASANT    COLLEGE. 

In  1853  the  citizens  of  Randolph  county,  impressed  with  the  need 
of  an  institution  of  learning,  and  wishing  to  secure  to  themselves  its 
benefits,  determined  to  erect  suitable  buildinjrs  at  a  cost  of  not  less 
than  $10,000.  Acting  on  the  advice  of  Hon.  William  A.  Hall,  to  put 
the  institution  under  the  care  and  patronage  of  Mount  Pleasant  Baptist 
Association,  a  letter  stating  the  above  jDroposal,  signed  by  William  A. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  227 

Hall,  H.  Austin  and  P.P.  Ruby,  in  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Randolph 
county,  was  addressed  to  and  accepted  by  the  Association,  and  the 
institution  took  the  name  of  the  Association.  Under  this  arrange- 
ment the  money  was  secured  and  the  building  erected.  February  28, 
1855,  the  charter  was  obtained.  In  1857,  the  building  having  been 
completed  at  a  cost  of  $12,500,  and  a  school  of  170  pupils  under 
Rev.  William  Thompson,  LL.  D.,  President,  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Carter, 
A.  B.,  Professor  of  Mathematics,  and  Miss  Bettie  Ragland,  Principal 
of  female  department,  having  been  taught  with  gratifying  results  one 
year,  the  institution  was  formally  tendered  by  the  board  of  trustees  to 
the  Association  and  accepted ;  the  Association  at  the  same  time 
promising  to  endow  the  college  remotely  with  $25,000,  and  within 
two  years,  with  $10,000,  appointed  Rev.  Noah  Flood  to  proceed  at 
once  to  secure  the  last  named  amount,  and  pledged  himself  to  main- 
tain sufficient  and  efficient  teachers  until  the  $10,000  endowment  was 
secured.  Rev.  W.  R.  Rothwell  succeeded  Dr.  Thompson  in  the 
presidency,  and  the  college  ran  till  1861,  filling  the  most  sanguine 
expectations  of  its  friends.  President  Rothwell  gathered  quite  an 
extensive  library,  provided  apparatus  for  chemical,  philosophical  and 
astronomical  purposes,  secured  a  considerable  cabinet  of  minerals  and 
fossils,  and  established  the  character  and  reputation  of  the  college. 
The  war  in  1861  crippled  the  resources  of  the  school,  by  cutting  off 
students,  and  a  deficit  of  $580  in  teachers'  salaries  was  imposed,  which 
failing  to  be  met  by  the  Association,  the  trustees  of  the  college  let  it 
to  President  Rothwell,  who,  at  his  own  risk,  and  mainly  by  his  own 
effort,  carried  the  collesre  through  the  clouds  of  war  into  the  sunshine 
of  1868.  The  school  which  had  hitherto  been  self-sustaining,  or 
carried  by  the  magnanimity  of  President  Rothwell  to  1866,  now  being 
cut  down  by  the  impoverished  and  unsettled  state  of  the  country, 
made  a  move  for  an  endowment  a  necessity,  and  the  call  became 
imperative.  The  board  of  trustees  at  Mount  Gilead  church  in  1866, 
with  emphasis  called  upon  the  Association  to  redeem  her  past  pledges 
for  endowment. 

Y.  R.  Pitts  and  Wade  M.  Jackson  were  appointed  solicitors  to  raise 
$10,000  in  twelve  months.  The  next  year  (1868)  the  Association  at 
Keytesville,  through  Y.  R.  Pitts,  reported  as  endowment :  — 

In  notes $  5,640  50 

In  cash 200  00 

Jerry  Kingsberry  bequest 2,500  00 

Balance  unprovided  for     •=• 1,660  00 

$10,000  50 


228  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

The  balance,  $1,660,  was  raised  by  subscription  at  that  sitting  of 
the  Association. 

In  1870,  Mount  Pleasant  Association,  wishing  further  to  endow  the 
college,  and  learning  that  Macon  Association  was  contemplating  build- 
ing a  similar  institution  of  learning  at  Macon  City,  m  the  adjoining 
county,  and  within  30  miles  of  Huntsville,  proposed  to  Macon  As- 
sociation to  consolidate  upon  Mount  Pleasant  College,  offerinof  them 
first,  one-half  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  second,  requiring  them  to 
raise  $5,000  to  be  blended  with  the  endowment  fund.  W.  R.  Roth- 
well,  Benjamin  Terrill,  Joshua  W.  Terrill,  W.  R.  Samuel  and  W.  T. 
Beckelheimer  were  appointed  a  committee  with  discretionary  power  to 
confer  with  Macon  Association.  In  1872,  Macon  Association  havinsf 
canvassed  her  ability  to  build,  and  the  proposal  of  Mount  Pleasant 
Association,  agreed  by  resolution  to  co-operate  with  Mount  Pleasant 
Association,  in  building  up  Mount  Pleasant  College,  when  the  com- 
mittee from  Mount  Pleasant  Association  guaranteed  them  one-half  of 
the  board  of  trustees  except  one,  leaving  a  majority  of  the  board  in 
Mount  Pleasant  Association.  In  1869,  Rev.  James  W.  Terrill  suc- 
ceeded President  Rothwell.  The  war  being  over,  confidence  restored, 
and  the  times  being  prosperous  and  inviting,  the  college  with  other 
enterprises,  took  new  life.  Added  to  this.  President  Terrill  brought 
to  the  institution  a  combination  of  merit,  enterprise  and  energy, 
rarely  found  in  one  man,  and  in  producing  a  new,  popular  and  success- 
ful method  of  teaching,  carried  the  college  to  its  highest  point  of  suc- 
cess. The  question  of  repairs,  additions  and  betterments  (for  the 
building  had  been  used  for  military  quarters  during  the  war)  now 
arose,  and  the  terms,  patronage  and  success  of  the  school,  and  the 
earnest  protestations  of  both  Mount  Pleasant  and  Macon  Associations, 
seemed  to  demand  and  encourage  immediate  action  in  this  direction. 
The  trustees  concluded  to  make  ample  improvement  and  additions, 
and  to  the  main  building  added  two  wings,  running  out  and  back  of 
the  main  building,  giving  in  rooms,  halls,  stairways  and  closets,  a 
building  whose  size,  arrangement,  decoration  and  stability  which  would 
rank  with  any  in  the  State.  Added  to  this  the  patronage  and  liber- 
ality of  the  citizens  of  Randolph  county,  and  especially  the  citizens  of 
Huntsville  to  the  institution,  which  had  ever  been  marked,  the  board 
of  trustees  were  induced  to  build  a  commodious  and  tasteful  boarding;- 
house,  three  stories,  besides  the  basement.  The  citizens  of  Hunts- 
ville for  this  purpose  furnished  $3,000  cash,  by  which  with  a  loan  on 
first  mortgage,  assisted  by  a  loan  of  $3,500  endowment  fund,  secured 
by  second  mortgage  on  the  building,  it  was  completed. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  229 

These  buildings  and  additions  were  completed  in  1871,  and  a  con- 
siderable debt  incurred.  In  1873,  the  financial  trouble  which  had 
been  threatening  overwhelmed  the  country,  and  a  wave  more  damag- 
ing and  blighting  than  war  passed  over  the  college.  For  two  years 
longer,  under  President  Terrill,  it  stood  bravely  on  its  feet  carrying 
the  heavy  pressure.  But  the  boarding-house  was  sold  under  first 
mortgage,  and  failing  to  bring  the  debt,  the  second  mortgage,  $3,500 
endowment  fund,  was  lost  and  the  Jerry  Kingsbury  bequest,  $2,500, 
being  swept  away,  when  the  bank  failed,  and  the  parties  failing  to 
come  to  time  on  their  notes,  from  financial  embarrassments,  the  $10,- 
000  endowment  was  never  realized. 

In  1876,  Rev.  M.  J.  Breaker  came  to  the  head  of  the  institution, 
and  like  his  worthy  predecessor,  Rothwell,  stood  by  it  in  a  dark  hour 
of  peril,  and  by  effort  and  sacrifice  bore  her  on  in  her  noble  mission 
for  three  years  longer,  till  March  21,  1879,  when  a  judgment  haVing 
been  obtained  against  the  college  for  debt,  and  looking  for  the  execu- 
tion to  be  levied  in  June  following.  President  Breaker  resigned  and 
the  school  closed  —  the  second  time  in  its  existence  of  23  years  ;  once 
before  after  the  close  of  the  war  in  1869,  under  President  Rothwell ; 
both  times  at  the  spring  term. 

Mount  Pleasant  College,  during  her  23  years  of  existence,  had  been 
presided  over  by  Rev.  William  Thompson,  LL.  D.,  one  year;  Rev. 
W.  R.  Rothwell,  D.D.,  twelve  years;  Rev.  J.  W.  Terrill,  seven 
vears,  and  Rev.  M.  J.  Breaker,  three  years  ;  it  instructed  hosts  of 
youths,  turned  out  109  graduates,  blessed  the  cause  of  education,  ele- 
vated the  community,  and  demonstrated  the  co-education  of  the  sexes, 
as  the  fittest  and  best. 

Rev.  A.  S.  Worrell,  D.D.,  succeeded  Mr.  Breaker,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  college  in  1880-81.  Rev.  James  B.  Weber  succeeded  Dr. 
Worrell,  and  had  charge  of  the  college  as  its  president  when  the  build- 
ing was  destroyed  by  fire  (July  13,  1882).  At  the  time  the  college 
building  was  destroyed  there  was  a  debt  on  it  of  $3,000,  which  was 
known  as  the  (Wiley)  Ferguson  bequest.  All  other  debts  had  been 
paid  by  the  friends  of  the  institution.  The  Ferguson  bequest  was 
secured  by  a  mortgage  on  the  building  and  grounds,  and  in  order  to 
pay  this,  the  college  and  grounds  were  sold  in  1883,  and  Avere  pur- 
chased by  the  court-house  building  committee. 

There  has  been  no  special  efi"ort  to  rebuild  the  institution,  but  it  is 
hoped  that  steps  will  soon  be  taken  in  this  direction,  especially  since 
the  new  court-house  which  was  destroyed  soon  after  the  college,  b}'  fire 
also,  has  been  completed.     The  college  was  one  of  the  best  and  most 


230  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

convenient  school  structures  in  tlie  State.  Besides  closets  and  ward- 
robes, the  entire  building  contained  14  large,  airy  rooms.  Its  working 
capacity  was  amply  sufficient  for  500  students. 

The  board  of  directors  and  faculty  at  the  time  the  college  was  burned 
down  in  1882,  was  :  H.  T.  Fort,  President ;  T.  B.  Kimbrough,  Sec- 
retary ;  W.  K.  Samuel,  Treasurer;  J.  D.  Brown,  Stephen  Connor, 
J.  F.  Finks,  P.  T.  Gentry,  J.  D.  Humphrey,  G.  W.  Keebaugh,  R. 
J.  Mansfield,  W.  A.  Martin,  W.  D.  Wilhite,  Alfred  Coulter,  W.  F. 
Elliott,  J.  T.  Fort,  W.  J.  Horsley,  W.  B.  McCrary,  S.  Y.  Pitts,  T.  T. 
Elliott,  J.  C.  Shaefer.  These  trustees  held  the  college  for  the  Mount 
Pleasant  Baptist  Association.  Faculty  :  —  Rev.  J.  B.  Weber,  A.  M., 
President,  Professor  of  Greek,  Moral  Philosophy  and  English  ;  Miss 
Nannie  L.  Ray,  B.  A.,  Assistant  in  Mathematics  and  Latin;  J.  B. 
Weber,  Acting  Professor  of  Natural  Science  ;  Mrs.  A.  E.  Weber, 
Principal  Preparatory  and  Primary  Departments  ;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Lasley, 
Principal  of  the  Music  Department. 

FEMALE    COLLEGE    MEETING. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Huntsville,  held  on  Tuesday  even- 
ing, March  8th,  185  —  ,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration 
the  building  of  a  Female  College,  W.  R.  Samuel,  Esq.,  was  called  to 
preside  over  the  meeting,  and  S.  T.  Morehead  was  appointed  Sec- 
retary. 

Aleck  Phipps,  Esq.,  was  called  upon  to  explain  the  objects  of  the 
meeting,  which  he  did  in  a  brief  and  appropriate  manner. 

Col.  Barrows,  of  Macon  City,  was  called  upon  and  made  a  very  in- 
teresting and  earnest  address  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  education,  and 
the  necessity  of  a  Female  College  in  this  community. 

Mr.  Overall,  of  Macon  City;  G.  F.  Rothwell  and  I.  B.  Porter 
were  also  called  for,  and  responded  in  appropriate  speeches. 

Capt.  W.  T.  Austin  then  offered  the  following  resolutions,  which 
were  adopted  :  — 

Resolved,  1.  That  while  the  Female  College,  proposed  to  be  erected 
at  Huntsville,  by  the  citizens  of  Randolph  and  adjoining  counties,  is 
not  designed  to  be  sectarian  in  its  2:overnment  and  control,  vet  we  be- 
lieve  that  the  successful  establishment  of  the  proposed  college  demands 
that  it  be  placed  under  the  control  of  some  religious  denomination. 

Resolved,  2.  That  as  the  Baptist  brethren  have  their  Mount  Pleas- 
ant College  in  Huntsville,  Randolph  county,  the  Presbyterian  brethren 
their  McGee  College  in  Macon  county,  and  the  Methodist  brethren 
their  Central  College  in  Howard  county,  we  therefore  do  declare  it  to 
be  the  sense  of  this  meeting  that  the  proposed  college  would  be  more 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  231 

conducive  of  success  by  placing  said  college  under  the  control  of  the 
brethren  of  the  Christian  church. 

A  motion  was  made  and  carried  that  a  committee  of  four  gentlemen 
and  four  ladies  be  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  proposed 
college.  The  chairman  then  appointed  the  following  named  gentle- 
men and  ladies  :  — 

Gentlemen — W.  T.  Eutherford,  M.  J.  Sears,  Charles  AUin,  J.  M. 
Baker. 

Ladies  —  Mrs.  Annie  Wisdom,  Mrs.  Goodding,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Fergu- 
son and  Mrs.  V.  B.  Calhoun. 

On  motion  the  meeting  adjourned  until  the  following  Monday  even- 
ing. W.  K.  Samuel,  President. 
S.  T.  MoREHEAD,  Secretary. 

This  college  was  never  erected. 

AGRICULTURAL   FAIR. 

The  first  fair  was  held  at  Huntsville  in  the  fall  of  1854.  D.  C. 
Garth  was  president,  Wallace  McCampbell,  vice-president ;  William 
D.  Malone,  secretary ;  Robert  Y.  Gilman,  treasurer.  The  directors 
were:  Dr.  W.  T.  Dameron,  James  M.  Hammett,  Col.  Thomas  P. 
Ruby,  Hon.  James  F.  Wright,  F.  M.  McLean,  N.  B.  Christian.  The 
last  fair  was  held  in  1876.  The  officers  were:  H.  T.  Rutherford, 
president ;  J.  M.  Summers,  first  vice-president ;  F.  M.  Hammett, 
second  vice-president.  The  directors  were  Louis  Heether,  W.  T. 
Rutherford,  James  F.  Robinson,  Capt.  Thomas  B.  Reed,  James  M. 
Baker,  Neal  Holman,  G.  H.  Burckhartt,  S.  T.  Morehead. 

The  following  includes  the  business  and  professions  in  Huntsville : 
Four  dry  goods  and  clothing  stores,  one  newspaper,  four  groceries, 
two  shoemakers,  two  meat  markets,  three  tobacco  factories,  three 
wagon  makers,  four  saloons,  one  tailor,  one  tobacco  and  cigar  store, 
three  carpenters,  one  furniture  store,  one  barber,  three  millinery, 
two  insurance  agents,  one  bakery  and  tobacco,  four  ministers,  one 
shoe  store,  five  lawyers,  two  drug  stores,  five  physicians,  one  bank, 
two  dentists,  two  hardware,  three  hotels,  one  sewing  machine,  one 
restaurant  and  confectionery,  two  jewelers,  three  blacksmiths,  one 
harness  shop,  one  livery  and  feed  stable,  two  flour  mills,  two  saw 
mills,  one  woolen  mill,  one  lumber  and  hardware. 

The  population  of  the  place  is  2,000. 
10 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

EARLY  BENCH  AND  BAR. 

Introductory  Remarks  —  Judge  David  Todd — Judge  John  F.  Ryland  —  Hon.  Joseph 
Davis  —  Gov.  Thomas  Reynolds  —  Gen.  Robert  Wilson  —  Gen.  John  B.  Clark,  Sr. — 
Robert  W.  Wells. 

Horace  Greeley  once  said  that  the  only  good  use  a  lawyer  could  be 
put  to  was  hanging,  and  a  great  many  other  people  entertain  the  same 
opinion.  There  may  be  cause  for  condemning  the  course  of  certain 
practitioners  of  the  law,  but  the  same  may  be  said  within  the  ranks  of 
all  other  professions.  Such  men  should  not  be  criticised  as  lawyers, 
doctors,  or  the  like,  but  rather  as  individuals  who  seek,  through  a  pro- 
fession that  is  quite  as  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  body  politic,  as 
the  science  of  medicine  is  to  that  of  the  physical  well  being,  or  theology 
to  the  perfection  of  the  moral  nature,  to  carry  out  their  nefarious  and 
dishonest  designs,  which  are  usually  for  the  rapid  accumulation  of 
money,  although  at  times  for  far  more  evil  and  sinister  purposes,  and 
which  are  the  instincts  of  naturally  depraved  and  vicious  natures. 
None  of  the  professions  stand  alone  in  being  thus  afflicted.  All  suffer 
alike.  The  most  holy  and  sacred  offices  have  been  prostituted  to  base 
uses.  And  it  would  be  quite  as  unreasonable  to  hold  the  entire  medi- 
cal fraternity  in  contempt  for  the  malpractice  and  quackery  of  some 
of  its  unscrupulous  members,  or  the  church  with  its  thousands  of  sin- 
cere and  noble  teachers  and  followers,  in  derision  for  the  hypocrisy 
and  deceit  of  the  few,  who  simply  use  it  as  a  cloak  to  conceal  the  in- 
tentions of  a  rotten  heart  and  a  corrupt  nature,  as  to  saddle  upon  a 
profession  as  great  as  either  the  shortcomings  of  some  of  its  individual 
members. 

By  a  wise  ordination  of  Providence,  law  and  order  govern  every- 
thing in  the  vast  and  complex  system  of  the  universe.  Law  is  every- 
thing—  lawyers  nothing.  Law  would  still  exist,  though  every  one  of 
its  professors  and  teachers  should  perish  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
And  should  such  a  thing  occur,  and  a  new  race  spring  up,  the  first 
instinctive  desire  of  its  best  men  would  be  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos 
by  the  enactment  and  promulgation  of  wise  and  beneficial  laws.  Law 
in  the  a1)stract  is  as  much  a  component  part  of  our  planet  as  are  the 
elements,  earth,  air,  fire  and  water.  In  a  concrete  sense,  as  ap^Dlied 
(232) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  233 

to  the  government  of  races,  nations  and  people,  it  plays  almost  an 
equally  important  part.  Indeed,  so  grand  is  the  science  and  so  noble 
are  the  objects  sought  to  be  accomplished  through  it,  that  it  has  in- 
spired some  of  the  best  and  greatest  men  of  ancient  and  modern  times 
to  an  investigation  and  study  of  its  principles  ;  and  in  the  long  line  of 
great  names  handed  down  to  us  from  the  dim  and  shadowy  portals  of 
the  past,  quite  as  many  great  men  will  be  found  enrolled  as  members 
of  the  legal  profession  as  in  any  of  the  others,  and  owe  their  greatness 
to  a  sound  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  law,  and  a  strict  and  impar- 
tial application  of  them,  Draco,  among  the  first  and  greatest  of 
Athenian  law-givers,  was  hailed  as  the  deliverer  of  those  people 
because  of  his  enacting  laws  and  enforcing  them  for  the  prevention  of 
vice  and  crime,  and  looking  to  the  protection  of  the  masses  from 
oppression  and  lawlessness.  It  is  true  that  many  of  the  penalties  he 
attached  to  the  violation  of  the  law  were  severe,  and  even  barbarous, 
but  this  severity  proceeded  from  an  honorable  nature,  with  an  earnest 
desire  to  improve  the  condition  of  his  fellow-men.  Triptolemus,  his 
contemporary,  proclaimed  as  laws  :  "Honor  your  parents,  worship 
the  gods,  hurt  not  animals."  Solon,  perhaps  the  wisest  and  greatest 
of  them  all,  a  man  of  remarkable  purity  of  life  and  noble  impulses, 
whose  moral  character  was  so  great,  and  conviction  as  to  the  public 
good  so  strong,  that  he  could  and  did  refuse  supreme  and  despotic 
power  when  thrust  upon  him,  thus  replied  to  the  sneers  of  his 
friends  :  — 

Nor  wisdom's  plan,  nor  deep  laid  policy, 
Can  Solon  boast.     For,  when  its  noble  blessings 
Heaven  poured  into  his  lap,  he  spurned  them  from  him. 
Where  were  his  sense  and  spirit,  when  enclosed 
He  found  the  choicest  prey,  nor  deigned  to  draw  it? 
Who  to  command  fair  Athens  but  one  day 
Would  not  himself,  with  all  his  race,  have  fallen 
Contented  on  the  morrow? 

What  is  true  of  one  nation  or  race  in  this  particular  is  true  of  all, 
viz.  :  that  the  wisest  and  greatest  of  all  law-makers  and  lawyers  have 
always  been  pure  and  good  men,  perhaps  the  most  notable  exceptions 
being  Justinian  and  Tribonianus.  Their  sfreat  learning;  and  wisdom 
enabled  them  to  rear  as  their  everlasting  monument  the  Pandects  and 
Justinian  Code,  which,  however,  they  sadly  defaced  by  the  immoralities 
and  excesses  of  their  private  lives.  Among  the  revered  and  modern 
nations  will  be  found,  conspicuous  for  their  great  services  to  their 
fellows,  innumerable  lawyers.     To  the  Frenchman  the  mention  of  the 


234  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

names  of  Tronchet,  Le  Brun,  Portalis,  Roederer  and  Thibaudeau 
excites  a  thrill  of  pride,  of  greatness,  and  of  gratitude  for  theit  good- 
ness. What  Englishman,  or  American  either,  but  that  takes  just  pride 
in  the  splendid  reputation  and  character  of  the  long  line  of  England's 
loyal  lawyer  sons?  The  Bacons,  father  and  son,  who,  with  Lord  Bur- 
leigh, were  selected  by  England's  greatest  queen  to  administer  the 
affairs  of  state,  and  Somers  and  Hardwicke,  Cowper  and  Dunning, 
Elden,  Blackstone,  Coke,  Stowell  and  Curran,  who,  with  all  the  bold- 
ness of  a  giant  and  eloquence  of  Demosthenes,  struck  such  vigorous 
blows  against  kingly  tyranny  and  oppression  ;  and  Erskine  and  Mans- 
field and  a  score  of  others. 

These  are  the  men  who  form  the  criterion  by  which  the  profession 
should  be  judged.  And  in  our  own  country  have  we  not  names 
among  the  dead  as  sacred  and  among  the  living  as  dear?  In  the 
bright  pages  of  the  history  of  a  country,  founded  for  the  sole  benefit 
of  the  people,  and  all  kinds  of  people,  who,  more  than  our  lawyers, 
are  recorded  as  assisting  in  its  formation,  preservation,  and  working 
for  its  perpetuity? 

The  American  will  ever  turn  with  special  pride  to  the  great  Web- 
ster, Rufus  Choate,  William  Wirt,  Taney,  Marshall,  and  a  hundred 
others,  who  reflected  the  greatest  honor  upon  the  profession  in  our 
own  country.  And  among  the  truest  and  best  sons  of  Missouri  are 
her  lawyers,  and  even  in  the  good  old  county  of  Randolph,  some  of 
her  most  highly  esteemed  and  most  responsible  citizens  are  members 
of  this  noble  profession. 

The  following  sketches  include  only  some  of  the  earliest  attorneys, 
who  either  presided  upon  the  bench  or  practiced  at  the  bar  of  the 
Randolph  circuit  court :  — 

JUDGE    DAVID    TODD. 

Judge  Todd  presided  over  the  first  circuit  court  that  was  held  in 
Randolph  county,  in  1829.  Few  of  the  early  judges  of  Missouri 
were  better  known  than  him.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was 
born  about  the  year  1790,  in  Fayette  county.  He  came  to  Missouri 
at  an  early  day,  and  located  in  Old  Franklin,  in  Howard  county, 
where  he  had  to  contend  with  such  men  as  Judge  Leonard,  Charles 
French,  Gov.  Hamilton  R.  Gamble,  and  others  no  less  distinguished 
as  eminent  lawyers  and  jurists.  He  was  appointed  judge  of  the 
Howard  circuit,  which  afterwards  included  Randolph  county ;  he 
was  an  impartial,  conscientious,  and  upright  judge.  He  died  in 
Columbia,  Boone  county,  Missouri,  in  1859. 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH  COUNTY.  235 


JUDGE  JOHN  F.  RYLAND. 

King  and  Queen  county,  Virginia,  was  the  birthplace  of  Judge 
Ryland  —  that  event  occurring  in  November,  1797.  He  also  settled 
in  Old  Franklin,  in  the  year  1819,  and  practiced  law  until  1830,  when 
he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  sixth  judicial  circuit.  In  1848  he 
was  appointed  judge  of  the  supreme  court.  He  died  in  1873.  He 
was  one  of  God's  noblemen,  and  bore  the  judicial  robe  with  a  dig- 
nity suited  to  the  high  and  responsible  position  —  neither  strained 
nor  assumed,  but  easy,  natural,  and  commanding.  Judge  Ryland 
was  one  of  the  lawyers  who  appeared  at  the  Randolph  county  bar  in 
1829,  the  year  before  he   was   appointed  judge  of  the  sixth  district. 

HON.    JOSEPH    DAVIS. 

He  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  in  January,  1804,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  in  1818,  and  settled  near  Fayette, 
in  Howard  county.  He  was  a  clerk  in  the  land  office  at  Old  Frank- 
lin—  pursued  the  study  of  his  profession  a  part  of  the  time  with 
Gen.  John  Wilson,  and  the  remainder  with  Edward  Bates,  of  St. 
Louis.  He  first  opened  an  office  in  Old  Franklin,  but  afterwards 
moved  to  Fayette.  He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  lay  out  a 
road  from  Missouri  to  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico.  He  was  made  colonel 
of  a  reo-iment  in  the  Indian  War,  and  commanded  a  brigade  in  the 
Morman  difficulties.  He  served  in  the  Legislature  from  1844  to  1864, 
and  died  in  October,  1871. 

GEN.    ROBERT   WILSON. 

In  November,  1796,  near  Staunton,  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  Gen. 
Robert  Wilson  was  born.  In  the  spring  of  1820,  he  located  at  Old 
Franklin.  After  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  of  Howard  county 
to  Fayette,  he  located  there.  He  was  appointed  probate  judge  of 
Howard  county  in  1823.  About  1829  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
circuit  and  county  courts  of  Randolph  county.  He  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  of  militia  in  1838.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Leg- 
islature in  1844-5,  and  soon  after,  of  the  State  Senate.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Constitutional  convention  in  1861,  and  a  member  of 
the  U.  S.  Senate  in  1862.     His  death  occurred  in  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

GEN.  JOHN  B.   CLARK,  SR. 

Among  the  many  distinguished  professional  men  of  the  early  bar  of 
the  Western  country  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  still  survives 
at  his  home  in  Fayette,  Missouri,  at  the  advanced  age  of  82  years. 


236  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

He  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  in  1802,  and  came  with 
his  father's  family  to  Howard  county,  Missouri,  in  1818.  He  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  Howard  county  court  in  1823  ;  elected  captain 
of  militia  in  1823  ;  colonel  in  1825  ;  participated  in  the  Indian  War 
in  1829  ;  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  in  1832  ;  was  twice  wounded  ; 
elected  brigadier-general  of  militia  in  1830,  and  ma]'or-genei;al  in  1836. 
In  1849  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature ;  in  1854,  elected  to 
Congress,  whither  he  went  for  three  successive  terms. 

He  became  brigadier-general  in  the  Southern  army  in  the  War  of 
1861,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Confederate  Congress  and  Senate.  The 
General  even  now  (1884)  possesses  a  strong  mind  and  vigorous  mem- 
ory, and  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  he  is  blind,  he  would  still  be  an 
active  man.  During  many  years  of  his  eventful  life,  he  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  Whig  politicians  of  Missouri,  and  made  in  behalf  of 
his  party  some  of  the  ablest  and  most  aggressive  campaigns  ever 
made  in  the  State.  He  has  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party  since 
1854.  As  a  lawyer.  Gen.  Clark  was  very  successful,  and  was  always 
strong  before  a  jury.  ^ 

ROBERT   W.  WELLS. 

As  Mr,  Wells  was  the  first  prosecuting  attorney  who  appeared  be- 
fore the  Eandolph  county  circuit  court,  we  shall  present  in  this 
chapter  a  sketch  of  his  life. 

We  are  conscious,  however,  that  any  sketch  of  the  early  life  and 
career  of  this  able  jurist  and  long  tried  public  servant  which  may  be 
prepared  from  the  scanty  material  on  hand,  must  necessarily  be  very 
imperfect. 

He  was  a  son  of  Richard  Wells,  of  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  was 
born  there  in  1795.  The  impression  that  his  education  was  classical 
and  thorough  seems  to  have  been  generally  entertained,  but  the  con- 
trary is  true,  for  the  only  school  he  ever  attended  was  an  ordinary 
common-field  school,  such  as  prevailed  at  that  early  day  throughout 
the  Old  Dominion.  None  but  wealthy  planters  and  gentlemen  of 
fortune  were  able  to  send  their  sons  to  a  college,  and  as  Richard 
Wells  did  not  fall  within  either  of  these  classes,  he  was  forced,  from 
necessity,  to  deny  his  son  the  benefits  of  a  liberal  education.  But  he 
instilled  into  his  young  mind  the  necessity  of  self-exertion,  and  en- 
couraged him  by  pointing  to  the  brilliant  career  of  many  self-made 
men,  who  had  attained  the  highest  distinction  in  the  various  pursuits 
of  life,  with  no  adventitious  circumstances  to  aid  them.  Young  Wells 
was  fond  of  his  books,  being  a  constant  reader,  and  with  the  assistance 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  237 

of  such  translations  of  ancient  authors  as  fell  in  his  way,  he  acquired 
a  fair  knowledge  of  the  classics.  He  must  have  studied  Latin  under 
some  private  tutor  —  most  probably  about  the  time  he  was  preparing 
himself  for  admission  to  the  bar  —  for  in  after  years,  in  his  large 
library,  many  Latin  works  were  found,  which  bore  evidences  of  much 
use,  with  marginal  notes  and  references  in  his  own  handwriting. 

When  he  reached  his  nineteenth  or  twentieth  year,  he  entered  upon 
the  study  of  law  with  Judge  Vinton,  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  nearly 
completed  his  studies  with  that  gentleman.  He  then  came  to  Mis- 
souri and  commenced  his  professional  life  at  St.  Charles.  This  was 
during  our  Territorial  government,  and  was  probably  as  early  as  1818 
or  1819,  if  not  before  that  time,  for  upon  the  admission  of  the  State  into 
the  Union  he  had  acquired  considerable  practice,  and  was  appointed 
prosecuting  attorney  in  the  St.  Charles  circuit,  embracing  St.  Charles, 
Lincoln,  Pike,  Kails  and  other  counties.  Judge  Rufus  Pettibone 
was  the  judge  of  the  circuit,  and  the  first  appointed  under  the  State 
government. 

The  political  trouble  growing  out  of  the  admission  of  Missouri, 
formed  one  of  the  most  exciting  and  important  epochs  in  our  nation's 
history,  and  came  very  near  precipitating  us  in  a  bloody  revolution. 
Some  of  the  strongest  articles  which  appeared  upon  that  subject  in 
the  Missouri  press  were  attributed  to  the  pen  of  Mr.  Wells.  He  was 
certainly  a  writer  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  We  are  unable  to 
state  how  long  he  filled  the  office  of  circuit  attorney,  but  most  proba- 
bly until  the  time  he  was  appointed  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  which 
was  January  21,  1826.  This  responsible  and  highly  honorable  office, 
which  had  previously  been  filled  by  Edward  Bates  and  Rufus  Easton, 
was  held  by  Mr.  Wells  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  It  was  no  sinecure, 
for  the  Attorney-General  was  ex-officio  reporter  of  the  decisions  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the  Cole  Circuit,  superin- 
tendent of  common  schools,  one  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  Peni- 
tentiary, and  legal  adviser  of  the  Legislature,  Governor  and  all  other 
State  officers.  The  long  period  for  which  his  services  were  retained 
is  the  best  evidence  of  his  diligent  and  faithful  discharge  of  the  com- 
plicated and  laborious  duties  of  the  office. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  office  of  Attorney-General  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Missouri, 
and  continued  in  this  position  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  2, 
1865,  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  married  daugh- 
ter.    He  had  nearly  reached  his  seventieth  year. 

Judge  Wells  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  in  1832  to  a  daughter 
of  Major  Elias  Barcroft,  of  St.  Louis  county.     Major  Barcroft  was 


238  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

State  Auditor  from  1823  to  1833.     By  this  marriage  he  had  a  son  and 
two  daughters.     A  few  years  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  in  June, 
1840,  he  married  Miss  Covington,  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  a  very  estima- 
ble lady,  who  was  living  in    1878,  and  by  this  marriage   he  had  two 
daughters.      One  of  his    daughters,    by    his  first  marriage,  married 
Gen.  Monroe  Parsons,  who  was  waylaid    and  murdered  by  Mexican 
outlaws.     Though  a  slave-holder  during  most  of  his  life,  Judge  Wells 
became  satisfied  that  the  institution   became  a  stumbling  block  in  the 
progress  of  this  State,  and  at  a  very  early  time  advocated  a  gradual 
system  of  emanciiDation.     With  him  it  was  a  question  of  interest,  for 
he  had  no  prejudices  to  encounter  in  opposition  to  slavery.     He  saw 
no  hope  for  the  development  of  our  agricultural  and  mineral  resources 
except  through  free  labor  and  capital,   neither  of  which   would  en- 
counter slave  labor.     With  him,  therefore,  it  was  a  question  of  dollars 
and  cents,  of  local  interest,  and  he  was  ready  to  adopt  any  policy 
which,  in  his  judgment,  would  invite  immigration,  labor  and  capital. 
In  1845  a  State  convention  was  called  to  revise  the  constitution, 
and  Judge  Wells  was  elected  a  delegate  from  the  Cole  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict, and  upon  the  reassembling  of  the  convention  was  selected  as  its 
presiding  officer.     During  the  session  he  made  several  speeches,  evinc- 
ing much  knowledge  of  constitutional  law.     He    was  a  close,  logical 
reasoner,  and  always  secured  the  full  attention  of  his  hearers,  but  he 
had  but  few  of  the  elements  of  oratory.     His  voice  was  sharp,  shrill, 
and  effeminate,  and  he  was  anything  but  graceful  in  his  gestures  or 
delivery.     He  never  spoke  without  ample  preparation,  and  was  happy 
and  effective  in  his  illustrations. 

A  constitution  was  framed  and  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people, 
but,  by  reason  of  one  or  two  unfortunate  provisions,  became  ob- 
noxious, and  was  rejected  at  the  polls.  Judge  Wells  was  a  consistent 
Democrat  through  life,  and  though  not  a  man  who  had  many  warm 
personal  friends,  was  greatly  admired  for  his  general  learning  and 
legal  erudition.  He  intended,  after  completing  his  visit  to  his 
daughter  in  Kentucky,  to  spend  a  few  months  in  the  East  to  recruit 
his  health,  but  he  never  left  her  house  alive.  As  soon  as  his  death 
was  telegraphed  to  St.  Louis  a  bar  meeting  was  held  in  the  city  and 
appropriate  resolutions  adopted,  eulogistic  of  his  character  as  a  man 
and  as  a  jurist.  These  resolutions  were  spread  upon  the  records  of 
the  Federal  and  State  courts  held  in  St.  Louis.  A  committee  was 
also  appointed  to  receive  his  remains  at  the  depot,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and  to  escort  them  through  St.  Louis  on  their  way 
to  Jefferson  City.  The  bar  of  Cole  county  also  assembled  and  paid 
a  suitable  tribute  to  his  memory. 


CHAPTEK    XIII. 

CRIMES,  SUICIDES,  INCIDENTS. 

First  and  Second  Executions  which  occurred  in  the  County  under  Sentence  of  Law  — 
Melancholy  Affair— A  Man  Shot  and  Killed  near  Moberly— The  Murder— Peter 
Casper  —  Woman  Shot  and  Man  Hung  —  Railroad  Collision  —  The  last  of  Corlew, 
l^e  Ravisher — James  Hayden  Brown  Pays  the  Penalty  of  his  Crime —  Brown's 
Wife  Commits  Suicide  —  Murder  most  Foul  —  Distressing  Fatal  Accident  —  James 
A.  Wright  Commits  Suicide. 

There  have  been  but  three  legal  executions  in  Randolph  county. 
As  a  community,  the  people  of  the  county  are  as  law-abiding  in  their 
character  as  the  people  of  any  county  in  the  State.  Yet  there  have 
been  many  crimes  committed  within  her  borders,  a  full  and  complete 
history  of  which  would  occupy  too  much  space  in  our  book  for  record. 
We  have,  therefore,  recorded  only  some  of  the  most  prominent  of 
these,  including  a  few  suicides,  believing  that  a  perusal  of  the  same 
will  be  of  great  interest  to  the  reader. 

The  first  man  who  was  executed  iu  the  county,  under  sentence  of 
law,  was  George  Bruce,  a  slave,  for  killing  his  master  Benjamin 
Bruce. 

The  next  person  was  John  Owens,  a  free  negro.  Both  of  the  above 
named  persons  were  hanged  between  the  years  1853  and  1860. 

A   MELANCHOLY   AFFAIR. 

[From  the  Citizen  of  1861.] 
Perhaps  there  is  no  feature  more  alarming  in  our  social  history  than 
the  rapid  increase  of  the  mania  for  self-destruction.  Within  the  last 
few  years  it  has  been  reaping  a  rich  harvest  of  victims,  and  the  com- 
munities are  rare  which  can  plead  a  total  exemption  from  the  effects 
of  this  fatal  delusion.  It  becomes  our  painful  duty  to  chronicle  a  case 
which  has  just  occurred  in  our  own  county,  the  facts  of  which  are 
about  as  follows  :  Mr.  Robert  Trimble,  an  old  gentlemen,  some  75  or 
80  years  of  age,  possessed  of  a  fine  property,  surrounded  by  a 
respectable  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  and  enjoying  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  his  neighbors,  was  found  dead,  on  Saturday  last, 
suspended  to  a  limb  of  an  oak  tree  near  a  small  ravine  in  a  Mr. 
Baker's  field,  about  two  miles  south  of  Durkville,  in  this  county. 
When  found,  a  rope  was  twisted  tightly  about  his  neck ;  he  was  on 
his  knees,  and  no  marks  of  violence  were  perceivable. 

(239) 


240  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Coroner  Calhoun,  on  being  notified  of  the  sad  occurrence,  promptly 
repaired  to  the  scene  Sunday  morning,  and  proceeded  to  hold  an 
inquest.  The  verdict  rendered  was,  in  substance,  that  the  deceased 
came  to  his  death  by  his  own  act  by  hanging.  We  append  the  testi- 
mony elicted  at  the  inquest,  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the  old 
gentleman  had  been  laboring  under  some  mental  derangement,  super- 
induced, perhaps,  by  a  severe  chronic  affliction,  and  had  repeatedly 
meditated  self-destruction  before  the  rash  act  was  finally  consum- 
mated. It  is  truly  a  melancholy  affair,  and  the  surviving  relatives 
have  our  deepest  sympathy  in  their  great  sorrow. 

THSTIMONY   AT   THE    INQUEST. 

G.  W.  Chapman,  of  lawful  age,  being  sworn,  said:  I  went  with 
Mr.  Trimble,  Mr.  Waters  and  Mrs.  Wright  to  hunt  Mr.  Kobert 
Trimble.  We  found  him  in  a  branch  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  A.  Baker; 
found  him  dead  with  a  rope  around  his  neck,  and  attached  to  a  limb 
above  his  head  ;  appeared  to  have  been  strangled  to  death  ;  we  found 
him  on  his  knees;  no  marks  of  violence  perceivable  ;  I  think  he  came 
to  his  death  by  the  rope  ;  it  was  tight  around  his  neck  ;  I  helped  to 
take  the  body  down,  and  helped  to  bring  him  to  Mrs.  Wright's  house. 

E.  Waters,  of  lawful  age,  being  duly  sworn,  said  :  I  was  out  on  the 
hunt  of  Mr.  Trimble  with  Preston  Wright,  E.  H.  Trimble  and  George 
W.  Chapman.  We  found  him  in  a  branch  in  A.  Baker's  field  ;  he  was 
hanging  on  a  limb  ;  I  helped  to  take  him  down  and  put  him  in  a 
wao;on. 

E.  H.  Trimble,  of  lawful  age,  being  duly  sworn,  said  :  My  father  has 
been  sufiering  for  some  years  with  chronic  diarrhoea,  and  for  the  last 
five  or  six  months  has  shown  repeated  signs  of  a  deranged  mind,  more 
especially  in  regard  to  his  financial  matters.  He  has  lived  with  me 
the  greater  portion  of  the  time  since  the  15th  of  Ma}^  and  on  several 
occasions  has  talked  of  putting  an  end  to  himself,  which  gave  me  a 
great  deal  of  uneasiness  when  he  was  not  in  my  sight.  I  was  with  E. 
Waters,  Preston  Wright  and  George  W.  Chapman.  We  found  him 
suspended  to  a  limb  by  a  rope  around  his  neck,  to  a  burr  oak  tree  in 
a  small  ravine,  in  A.  Baker's  field.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  he  came 
to  his  death  at  his  own  hands.  I  was  present  when  he  was  removed. 
I  never  knew  him  to  attempt  to  commit  suicide  before.  There  were 
no  other  tracks  discernable  about  where  he  was  hung.  We  found  him 
by  his  tracks. 

Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Wright,  being  of  lawful  age,  and  duly  sworn,  said: 
My  father  has  been  staying  with  me  for  the  last  two  weeks.  I  heard 
him  say  several  times  that  he  wished  he  was  dead,  and  that  he  thought 
it  best  to  kill  himself.  Last  Wednesday  morning  he  went  up  stairs 
and  got  his  pistol  and  stepped  out,  and  I  went  up  stairs  to  see  if  his 
pistol  was  gone,  and  found  it  was.  1  saw  him  up  in  the  field,  and  I 
ran  and  called  him,  and  he  answered.  I  managed  to  get  the  pistol 
away,  and  locked  it  up.  He  slipped  out  yesterday  a  little  after  three 
o'clock.     I  was   not  very  uneasy  as  I  knew  he  had  no  weapons.     I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  241 

never  thought  about  a  rope.  They  all  hunted,  and  reported  his 
absence  until  about  twelve  o'clock  last  night.  I  went  with  them  to 
fetch  him  home  after  they  had  found  him.  He  did  not  say  what  he 
was  going  to  do  with  his  pistol,  but  I  believe  that  he  was  going  to  kill 
himself,  and  if  I  had  not  run  and  called  him,  I  believe  that  he  would 
have  performed  the  deed  then.  I  have  reason  to  believe  he  wanted 
to  kill  himself.  He  showed  no  sign  of  self-destruction  yesterday  until 
he  was  missing.  I  have  been  watching  him  heretofore,  suspecting 
that  he  wanted  to  kill  himself,  and  I  believe  he  came  to  his  death  of 
his  own  accord. 

A    MAN    SHOT    AND    KILLED    NEAR    MOBERLY. 
[From  the  Citizen.] 

On  Sunday  morning  last,  1869,  near  the  residence  of  John  A. 
McDaniel,  Esq.,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Moberly,  in  this  county, 
John  Duggan,  a  laborer  on  the  Hannibal  and  Moberly  Railroad,  came 
to  his  death  under  the  following  circumstances  :  He  had  been  loiter- 
ing around  Mr.  McDaniel's  house  for  several  days,  apparently  crazy, 
and  on  Sunday  morning  his  movements  were  such  as  to  occasion  some 
alarm,  and  Mr.  McD.  determined  to  have  him  arrested,  and  started  to 
Moberly  for  an  officer,  charging  his  sons  (two  little  boys)  to  keep  a 
watch  upon  Duggan  until  his  return  with  the  officer.  The  boys  went 
to  a  neighbor's  house  and  called  upon  George  Boyd,  a  young  man 
employed  in  the  neighborhood,  to  come  and  assist  them,  telling  him 
to  bring  a  gun,  as  it  might  be  needed  to  defend  themselves.  The 
boys  returned,  when  Duggan  made  for  them  with  a  stick.  The  boys 
ran  (McDaniel's  sous  in  front),  and  Boyd,  with  his  gun,  between 
them  and  Duggan.  The  latter  continued  to  gain  upon  them,  when 
Boyd  stopped,  and  after  repeatedly  halting  Duggan  and  warning  him 
that  he  would  hurt  him,  fired  upon  him,  the  shot  taking  fatal  effect. 
Mr.  McDaniel  heard  the  report  of  the  gun,  when  about  a  half  mile  on 
his  way,  and  returned  to  find  Duggan  dead.  Coroner  Calhoun,  of 
this  place,  was  sent  for  to  hold  an  inquest,  by  which  these  facts  were 
elicited.  Boyd  surrendered  himself  to  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Mo- 
berly and  was  discharged.  Duggan  is  said  to  have  been  indulging 
strongly  in  liquor  for  several  days,  and  his  insanity  was  attributable 
to  this  cause.     It  is  reporte^l  he  leaves  a  family  in  St.  Louis. 

A    MURDER. 

Editor  Citizen  :  I  feel  it  a  duty  I  owe  to  the  citizens  of  Randolph, 
and  perhaps  kindred  and  friends,  to  give  an  account  of  such  a  scene 
of  horror  as  never  occurred  before  in  our  community,  to  my  recollec- 
tion . 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1870,  a  man  was  found  dead  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Mrs.  Betsy  Elliott's,  in  this  county.  The  way  in  which  he 
was  discovered  was  by  the  stench  that  came  from  his  body.  Two  of 
Mrs.  Elliott's  sons  walked  out  from  the  house  to  see  about  something 


242  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

pertaining  to  their  business,  when  they  were  arrested  by  a  very  offen- 
sive smell,  which  caused  them  to  examine  from  whence  it  came,  and 
upon  examination  found  the  body  of  a  strange  man  concealed  in  a 
tree-top.  One  of  the  boys  immediately  repaired  to  the  residence  of 
M.  H.  Rice,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  the  justice,  supposing  that 
the  body  found  was  over  10  miles  distant  from  the  coroner  of  the 
county,  issued  his  writ  commanding  the  constable  of  Chariton  town- 
ship to  summon  a  jury  to  hold  an  inquest  on  the  body  of  the  deceased, 
and  after  the  jury  was  sworn  and  received  their  charge,  they  brought 
in  the  following  verdict :  — 

*'  We,  the  undersigned,  a  jury  summoned  to  hold  an  inquestupon  the 
body  of  an  unknown  man  found  dead  near  the  premises  of  Mrs.  Elli- 
ott, find  that  the  deceased  came  to  his  death  by  being  murdered  by 
some  unknown  person  or  persons.  As  revealed  by  n  post  moi'letn  ex- 
amination, his  skull  had  been  broken  in  five  different  places  ;  no  other 
marks  of  violence  were  found  on  his  body,  and  he  is  supposed  to  have 
been  dead  some  10  or  15  days. 

"  Mc.  B.  Broaddus,  Henry  Brogan, 

"  A.  M.  Brogan,  George  Summers, 

«'  H.  F.  Dennis,  David  Wright, 

"  Robert  Terrill,  M.  D." 

Since  this  thing  has  come  to  light  in  the  shape  that  it  has,  it  has 
caused  considerable  excitement,  from  an  occurrence  that  took  place  in 
the  neighborhood  somewhere  about  the  12th  of  this  month.  In  the 
evening  of  that  day  a  two-horse  wagon,  with  one  man  in  sight  (it  is 
supposed  there  were  more  in  the  wagon,  but  they  could  not  be  seen, 
as  it  was  covered),  passed  through  Darkville  about  dusk  and  inquired 
the  way  to  Macon  City.  They  were  directed  to  that  place.  The 
next  we  hear  of  them  is  at  Hugh  Trimble's,  where  they  stopped  and 
asked  him  if  he  could  tell  them  where  a  man  by  the  name  of  Frank 
Davis  lived,  telling  Mr.  Trimble  that  he  had  sold  Mr.  Davis  a  piece  of 
land,  and  that  Davis  had  sent  him  word  that. if  he  would  come  and  see 
him  he  would  pay  him  (the  traveler)  some  money  on  the  land,  and  he 
had  heard  that  Davis  lived  about  8  or  10  miles  from  Huntsville, 
and  although  coming  from  the  direction  of  Huntsville  at  the  time,  he 
asked  Mr.  Trimble  jf  there  was  not  a  road  east  of  that,  that  led  to 
Huntsville.  The  next  we  hear  of  them  is  at  Mrs.  Elliott's,  between  eight 
and  nine  o'clock  at  night.  Stopping  the  wagon  before  approaching  the 
house,  one  of  the  men  went  to  the  house  and  inquired  for  this  same 
Frank  Davis.  On  being  informed  that  they  knew  nothing  of  such  a 
man,  he  asked  if  there  was  a  house  ahead  that  he  could  stay  at.  They 
told  him  they  did  not  know.  He  then  hallooed,  "  Come  on,  boys," 
when  the  wagon  advanced  in  the  direction  of  the  house  and  passed  by, 
and  about  half  a  mile  from  the  spot  where  the  dead  man  was  found 
secreted  by  the  side  of  the  road  —  a  road  that  is  but  very  little  trav- 
eled. The  next  account  that  we  have  of  them  is  at  A.  H.  Rice's, 
still  later  at  night,  inquiring  for  this  same  Davis.  They  were  in- 
formed that  they  knew  nothing  of  such  a  man,  and  they  passed  on. 


HIS'TORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  243 

The  next  account  Ave  have  of  them  was  at  Silas  Wright's,  near  Dark- 
ville,  where  they  asked  if  they  were  on  the  road  to  Hiintsville,  when 
the  said  Wright  directed  them  the  right  way,  and  they  proceeded  in 
that  direction.  On  this  road  that  they  passed  over  tliat  night,  close 
to  the  residence  of  Jesse  Rutherford,  a  day  or  two  after,  it  was  discov- 
ered there  had  been  some  things  burned,  supposed  to  have  been 
clothes,  as  a  piece  of  goods  was  found  that  was  not  consumed.  A 
pocket-book  was  also  found,  and  in  addition  some  plates  of  ambro- 
types,  together  with  the  irons  of  a  satchel  or  trunk.  These,  Mr. 
Editor,  are  the  facts  in  the  case  as  near  as  could  be  given  under  the 
circumstances,  and  we  hope  the  citizens  of  Huntsville  and  vicinity 
will  take  this  matter  into  consideration  and  endeavor  to  ferret  it  out. 

Respectfully, 
A  Citizen  of  Chariton  Township. 

PETER    CASPER. 
[From  the  Herald.] 

Our  readers  will  doubtless  many  of  them  recollect  the  circumstances 
of  the  killing  of  Clement  Jeter,  in  1871,  by  Peter  Casper,  on  the  farm 
of  the  latter,  in  Union  township,  in  this  county.  The  death  of  Jeter 
was  caused  by  a  gun-shot  wound,  produced  by  a  small  single  barrel 
shot-gun  in  the  hands  of  Casper.  At  the  time  the  affair  occurred, 
Casper  was  arrested  and  taken  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  but  as 
Jeter's  wound  was  not  considered  fatal,  he  was  released  on  $600  bail. 
Afterward,  when  it  became  evident  that  Jeter  would  die,  Casper  were 
scared  into  running  off  from  the  county  rather  than  stand  a  trial,  and 
his  $600  bail  bond  was  forfeited  and  paid.  His  whereabouts  were 
discovered  by  Dick  Powell,  of  Moberly,  and  after  the  Governor  had 
offered  a  reward  for  Casper's  apprehension,  Dick  went  over  to  Illinois 
and  brought  him  back,  the  circumstances  of  which  we  gave  in  this 
paper  a  short  time  since. 

On  a  Thursday  morning  in  .Tuly,  1875,  the  day  agreed  upon,  the 
trial  of  Peter  Casper  for  murder  in  the  first  degree,  for  the  killing  of 
Clement  Jeter,  was  commenced  in  our  circuit  court.  Messrs.  W.  N. 
Rutherford,  J.  C.  Crawley,  G.  F.  Rothwell  and  W.  T.  McCanne,  all 
of  Moberly,  appeared  for  the  prosecution,  and  William  Hinkleman, 
of  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  J.  R.  Christian,  of  Huntsville,  for  the 
defense. 

The  following  jurors  were  selected  to  decide  the  case  :  — 

M.  S.  Turner,  Joel  Rucker,  Thomas  Stockton,  W.  B.  Hardister, 
John  Hendrix,  George  D.  Brock,  M.  T.  Halliburton,  A.  L.  Miller,  W. 
C.  Kirby,  P.  S.  Baker,  L.  D.  Maupin,  Charles  H.  Hammett. 

The  jury  were  duly  charged  and  placed  in  charge  of  Sheriff  Will- 
iams, and  were  not  permitted  to  separate  again  until  after  they  had 
rendered  a  verdict,  which  they  did  on  Saturday  evening,  having  been 
guarded  by  the  sheriff  three  days. 

We  have  not  space  to  give  the  evidence  in  detail,  but  the  sum  and 
substance  amounts  to  about  this :  Casper  had  an  oat  field  that  a  mare 


244  HISTORY  or  Randolph  county. 

of  Jeter's  had  been  trespassing  upon,  and  an  unfriendly  feeling  had 
sprung  up  between  them  on  this  account.  Casper  went  with  his  gun, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  to  Jeter's  house  on  Sunday  morning,  a  few 
days  before  the  shooting,  and  notified  Jeter  to  keep  his  mare  out  of 
his  oats,  and  it  is  also  said  he  threatened  to  shoot  Jeter.  A  few  days 
later,  Jeter's  mare  again  got  into  Casper's  oat  field,  and  Casper  sent 
for  two  of  his  neighbors  to  come  and  assess  the  damage  done,  but  be- 
fore they  arrived  Jeter  came  for  the  mare.  Casper  told  him  he  could 
not  get  her  until  the  neighbors  came  and  assessed  the  damage,  and 
ordered  Jeter  out  of  the  field  and  off  his  premises.  Jeter  started  to 
comply  with  this  order,  but  when  he  got  to  the  fence,  he  changed  his 
notion  and  again  returned  for  his  mare.  Casper  saw  him  coming,  and 
endeavored  to  keep  between  Jeter  and  the  mare,  but  Jeter  advanced 
on  him,  and  grabbing  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  with  his  left  hand,  struck 
Casper  over  the  head  with  the  bridle  and  bridle  bit  he  held  in  his  right 
hand.  After  this  lick  Casper  fired  the  fatal  shot.  This  is  as  good  an 
account  of  the  evidence  as  we  can  give  in  so  short  a  space. 

The  evidence  was  all  in,  the  jury  was  first  addressed  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Canne,  for  the  prosecution,  in  an  able  speech  of  about  an  hour's  length. 
He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Hinkleman,  in  a  speech  of  one  and  three- 
quarter  hours  in  length,  which  was  well  delivered  and  was  considered 
a  masterly  speech  for  the  defense.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Rutherford 
in  a  speech  of  about  one  hour  for  the  prosecution,  which  set  forth  the 
evidence  in  some  points  very  clearly,  but  as  a  whole  was  more  of  an 
appeal  for  law  and  order  than  a  prosecuting  speech  :  then  followed  J, 
R.  Christian  for  the  defense  in  the  master  speech  of  the  whole  trial, 
it  requiring  two  and  a  half  hours  for  its  delivery.  John  astonished 
his  most  intimate  friends  in  the  clearness  and  force  with  which  he 
brought  the  evidence  and  circumstances  of  the  case  clearly  and  vividly 
before  the  jury,  and  we  were  confidentially  informed  by  one  of  the 
jurymen  that  this  speech  saved  Casper  from  the  penitentiary.  Mr. 
Crawley  closed  the  case  for  the  prosecution,  but  we  had  heard  so  much 
speech-making  that  we  only  remained  to  hear  a  portion  of  his  speech. 
The  case  was  then  given  to  the  jury. 

The  jury  returned  to  court  after  an  absence  of  about  one  hour,  with 
the  following  verdict :  — 

"  We,  the  jury,  find  the  defendant  not  guilty." 

George  D.  Brock,  Foreman. 

After  the  reading  of  the  verdict,  the  defendant,  as  well  as  the  jury, 
were  discharged,  and  all  felt  free  again. 

WOMAN  SHOT  AND  MAN  HUNG. 
[From  the  Huntsville  Herald.] 
We  are  called  upon  this  week  to  record  a  terrible  tragedy  and  its 
sequel,  which  followed  close  after  and  is  no  less  horrible.  John  W. 
Green,  a  farmer  living  on  the  farm  of  William  Embree,  two  miles 
north-east  of  Roanoke,  in  this  county,  on  Saturday  morning  last,  July 
12,  1877,  about  one  o'clock,  shot  his  wife,  so  badly  wounding  her  that 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  245 

she  died  in  about  10  hours  afterwards.  Green  ckiimed  that  he  was 
trying  to  shoot  a  dog,  and  in  passing  through  a  door  the  gun  was  ac- 
cidentally discharged,  with  the  result  stated.  The  ante  mortem  state- 
ments of  Mrs.  Green  and  other  circumstances  led  people  to  believe 
that  a  foul  murder  had  been  committed,  and  on  proper  process  being 
issued,  Mr.  Dameron,  the  constable  of  Silver  Creek  township,  arrested 
Green  on  Saturday  night  last.  He  brought  him  to  the  residence  of 
the  constable's  father,  Mr.  G.  W.  Dameron,  near  Silver  Creek  church, 
where  he  kept  him  under  guard  until  Monday  evening.  Having  sus- 
picions that  an  attempt  would  be  made  on  Monday  night  to  lynch  the 
prisoner,  the  constable  mov(jd  him  for  greater  safety  to  the  residence 
of  H.  S.  Newby.  He  was  right  in  his  surmises,  for  about  twelve 
o'clock  that  night  a  body  of  men,  variously  estimated  at  from  40  to 
75,  visited  the  residence  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Dameron,  in  search  of  the 
prisoner.  On  being  told  that  he  was  not  there,  they  searched  some 
barns  and  outbuildinofs,  and  not  findins;  him  returned  and  searched 
the  house.  But  they  were  not  to  be  thus  baffled,  for  they  immedi- 
ately began  to  search  the  neighborhood,  and  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
night  found  him.  They  were  not  long  in  overpowering  the  constable 
and  guard  and  soon  secured  the  prisoner.  They  then  issued  a  writ- 
ten order  to  the  constable  not  to  follow  them,  and  also  stating  that 
his  body  would  be  found  next  morning  near  Silver  Creek  church. 
This  last  statement  proved  true,  for  early  Tuesday  morning  Green 
was  found  dead,  suspended  by  the  neck,  where  they  had  stated,  his 
feet  not  being  more  than  two  feet  from  the  ground.  He  was  hung 
with  an  ordinary  plow  line,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  sure 
work.  Up  to  this  time  nothing  is  known  of  the  men  who  composed 
the  mob,  but  it  is  supposed  that  they  were  from  the  neighborhood  of 
Washington  church,  in  Howard  county,  as  many  of  the  dead  woman's 
relations  dwell  in  that  section.  The  man  hung  was  a  son  of  'Squire 
Green,  a  farmer  living  near  Sturgeon,  Avho  is  a  quiet,  well  disposed 
man,  much  respected  in  his  neighborhood,  and  the  sad  fate  of  his  son 
is  much  to  be  regretted  on  his  father's  account. 

The  people  of  Eandolph  are  peaceable  and  law-abiding,  and  while  it 
is  the  general  belief  that  this  mob  was  from  Howard,  yet  it  is  painful 
to  us  to  be  called  upon  to  record  such  a  i)roceeding  on  our  own  soil, 
tho'  we  doubt  not  that  every  man  who  engaged  in  hanging  this  man 
felt  that  he  was  discharging  a  sacred  duty  conscientiously  and  for  the 
good  of  the  community  and  his  fellow  man. 

It  is  our  hope  that  Randolph  may  never  again  have  such  an  occur- 
rence within  her  borders. 

RAILROAD   COLLISION. 

[From  the  Herald.] 

Two  trains  tried  to  pass  each  other  on  the  same  track,  in  the  south 
part  of  Huntsville  on  Tuesday  night,  November  28,  1879,  about  six 
p.  M.  One  was  the  regular  eastern  bound  freight  train  drawn  by  engine 
No.  25,  with  C.  Blessins;  as  euo-ineer.     The  other  was  a  construction 


246  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

train  drawn  by  engine  No.  71,  with  Engineer  Johnson  as  driver. 
When  the  collision  occurred  the  construction  train  was  nearly  at  a 
dead  stand  but  the  freight  train  was  moving  very  rapidly.  The 
engineer  of  the  freight  train,  Mr.  Blessing,  was  caught  between  the 
engine  and  tender  and  so  horribly  crushed  that  he  died  in  a  short  time. 
If  he  had  remained  on  his  seat  he  would  possibly  have  escaped  without 
serious  hurt.  No  other  person  was  seriously  hurt,  though  some  work- 
men on  the  construction  train  ran  a  narrow  risk  of  instant  death,  as 
they  were  on  a  flat  car  in  the  rear  of  the  tender  which  telescoped  with 
the  car.  Fortunately  they  were  sitting  on  a  tool-box  which  was 
knocked  out  of  the  way. 

The  accident  was  caused  by  the  freight  train  passing  the  depot 
without  orders. 

The  damage  to  the  trains  is  much  smaller  than  usual  with  railroad 
accidents,  as  none  of  the  cars  were  thrown  from  the  track,  and  none 
of  them  damaged  beyond  the  loss  of  draw  heads.  The  cow-catchers 
and  front  portions  of  the  engines  were  torn  up  and  very  much 
damaged,  but  we  think  none  of  the  fine  machinery  about  either  engine 
was  seriously  damaged. 

The  wreck  was  cleared  away  that  night  and  no  trains  were  seriously 
delayed  by  it. 

The  dead  man  leaves  a  wife  and  probably  a  family  at  Kansas  City. 

THE  LAST  OF  CORLEW,  THE  RAVISHER. 
[From  the  Moberly  Headlight  of  July  29,  1880.] 
Another  horror  has  been  added  to  the  list  possessed  by  Moberly. 
A  deed  has  been  done,  which,  though  just  in  the  eyes  of  all  men  ac- 
quainted with  the  provocation,  will  make  the  name  of  our  fair  city  a 
by-word  and  a  reproach  in  other  States,  furnish  political  capital  for 
unscrupulous  politicians,  and  cause  law-abiding  men  to  look  with  dis- 
trust upon  the  county  of  Kandolph. 

This  morning  about  8 :30  o'clock  Sheriff  Matlock  brought  the 
prisoner,  Corlew,  over  from  Huntsville,  to  stand  his  trial  for  rape,  in 
the  Moberly  court  of  common  pleas.  The  prisoner,  guarded  by  the 
sheriff  and  deputies,  came  from  the  jail  in  a  light  two-horse  spring 
wa^on,  and  just  alighted  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Reed  streets, 
at  the  fo©t  of  the  steps  leading  to  the  court-house,  and  had  turned  to 
o-o  up  the  steps  when  Mr.  Crump,  the  woman's  husband,  who  had 
just  come  across  the  street  with  Mr.  Waller,  the  prosecuting  attorney, 
drew  a  self-cocking  revolver  and  fired  at  the  prisoner.  His  aim  was 
disconcerted  by  Mr.  Waller  grabbing  hold  of  his  arm,  and  the  ball 
passed  through  the  right  sleeve  of  Corlew' s  coat,  setting  it  afire, 
burnino"  quite  a  hole.  The  thoroughly  frightened  man  ran  up  the 
steps  into  the  court-room,  pursued  by  Crump.  In  the  meantime 
Marshal  Lynch  and  others  grabbed  hold  of  Mr.  Crump,  but  the 
o-leam  of  revolvers  in  the  hands  of  his  friends  made  them  let  go.  The 
court-room  had  but  few  spectators  in  it.  Corlew  ran  through,  or 
around  the  room,  and  was  caught  by  Esquire  Clarkson,  who  supposed 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  247 

the  mail  was  trying  to  get  away.  Corlew  broke  loose  from  his  grasp 
and  ran  again,  catching  hold  of  an  old  man  named  Trimble,  pulling 
him  down  on  top  of  him.  Rising  hastily  he  ran  out  of  the  room, 
down  the  stairs  and  diagonally  across  the  street  in  the  direction  of 
Hance  &  Hardin's  store.  While  in  the  street  he  was  shot  in  the  back 
by  Crump,  but  the  ball  did  not  check  his  speed.  He  returned  and 
ran  up  street,  through  Werries'  dry  goods  store,  followed  by  Crump, 
who  endeavored  to  shoot  him  there,  but  could  not  get  his  pistol  to 
work.  The  prisoner  ran  into  the  alley,  next  to  Nise's  building, 
across  Reed  street,  through  Harvey's  grocery  store,  across  Fourth 
street  and  darted  up  the  steps  leading  to  August  Nitzsche's  shoe  shop, 
over  Chris  &  George's  saloon.  He  ran  through  the  shop  into  the 
room  adjoining,  used  as  a  store  room,  where  Crump  emptied  his  revolver 
into  the  poor  wretch,  finishing  him,  as  he  supposed,  but  he  lived  for 
at  least  half  an  hour  afterwards,  wholly  unconscious.  Crump  then 
went  down  stairs,  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off. 

From  the  appearance  of  the  room  there  must  have  ensued  a  des- 
perate struggle,  as  there  were  several  shots  in  the  ceiling  and  wall, 
showing  that  Crump's  pistol  must  have  been  struck,  and  it  is  probable 
that  he  was  clinched  by  Corlew,  The  last  wound,  made  back  of  the 
left  ear,  was  badly  powder  burnt,  and  the  pistol  must  have  been 
shoved  against  his  head. 

The  room  was  quickly  thronged  with  excited  individuals,  anxious  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  miserable  wretch  Avho  was  gasping  his  life  away. 
He  lay  upon  a  lounge,  upon  the  slats  only,  his  feet  hanging  over  the 
end,  his  coat  rolled  up  for  a  pillow  under  his  head,  the  head  of  the 
lounge  lifted  and  resting  upon  a  box.  Cold,  clammy  sweat  stood  out 
in  big  beads  over  his  face  and  neck  ;  his  lips  were  white,  and  his  eyes 
had  a  vacant,  wandering  look,  and  not  a  gleam  of  intelligence  escaped 
from  them  ;  though  when  he  was  moved,  bystanders  could  see  he  was 
conscious  and  suffering  terribly.  His  pulse  was  strong  and  full 
almost  up  to  his  last  breath,  which  was  drawn  so  quietly  that  it 
seemed  as  if  he  had  gone  to  sleep  ;  his  features  were  not  distorted 
at  all,  but  bore  the  calm,  placid  expression  so  noticeable  in  all  who  die 
from  the  effects  of  o-un-shot  wounds.  Before  he  died  the  room  was 
cleared  of  all  except  physicians  and  reporters.  An  examination 
showed  that  he  was  shot  three  times  in  the  head  and  once  in  the  small 
of  the  back,  near  the  spinal  column,  any  of  which  wounds  would  have 
caused  death. 

The  excitement  attending  the  shooting  was  intense,  though  it  seemed 
to  be  the  general  verdict  that  the  fiend  met  with  the  punishment  he 
deserved,  though  all  regret  that  the  law  was  not  allowed  to  take  its 
course,  for  the  man  would  have  undoubtedly  been  hanged. 

The  remains  were  taken  in  charge  by  the  coroner  and  an  inquest 
held.     The  jury  returned  the  following  verdict :  — 

"  We,  the  jury,  having  viewed  the  body  of  Corlew,  deceased,  find 
that  he  came  to  his  death  by  gun  or  pistol   shots  fired   by  unknown 
hands  to  the  jury." 
11 


2-i'6  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CRIME. 


The  crime  for  which  Corlew  met  his  fate  is  fresh  in  the  minds  of 
many  of  our  readers,  but  as  there  are  some  who  may  not  be  acquainted 
with  the  facts  a  short  account  of  the  transaction  is  given  :  — 

Tuesday  night,  the  17th  of  February  last,  a  woman  with  two  chil- 
dren arrived  at  Moberly  from  some  phice  north  of  here,  coming  in  on 
the  north  branch  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Road.  The 
train  reaches  here  about  midnight.  The  woman  and  her  children 
were  sitting  in  the  ladies'  waiting  room  at  the  depot.  She  was  ap- 
proached by  a  stranger  who  told  her  there  was  no  train  going  east 
for  some  time  and  that  she  had  better  accompany  him  to  a  hotel.  He 
said  his  mother  was  keeping  a  hotel  just  across  the  street,  and  that  he 
would  take  pleasure  in  giving  her  and  the  children  a  bed  free  of  charge 
until  morning.  By  such  persuasions  he  induced  the  woman  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  Depot  Hotel,  and,  representing  to  the  clerk  that  the 
woman  was  his  wife,  he  secured  a  room,  and  taking  one  of  the  chil- 
dren in  his  arms  carried  it  up  stairs,  depositing  it  in  the  room.  Im- 
mediately locking  the  door,  he  drew  a  pistol  and  forced  the  woman  to 
submit  to  his  hellish  lust.  The  woman  and  children  left  next  morn- 
ing after  telling  her  story  to  the  landlady  of  the  hotel.  A  representa- 
tive of  this  paper  traced  the  matter  up  and  caused  Corlew' s  arrest,  but 
as  nothing  could  be  proven  against  him  then,  he  was  released  and  went 
to  Huntsville,  where  he  was  subsequently  arrested  and  lodged  in  jail. 
On  the  preliminary  examination  he  was  identified  by  the  woman, 
picked  out  of  a  number  of  men,  and  was  bound  over  for  trial,  being 
removed  to  Kansas  City  for  safe  keeping.  The  case  has  been  post- 
poned again  and  again  on  account  of  the  illness  of  Mrs.  Crump. 

When  Corlew  was  arrested  he  gave  his  name  as  Burton,  and  had  a 
woman  with  him  who  claimed  to  be  his  wife,  and  probably  was;  at 
least  she  was  a  wife  to  him  in  all  that  the  name  implies. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  mob  Corlew  once,  but  the  jailor  was  noti- 
fied in  time  and  removed  his  prisoner  out  of  harm's  way.  It  has 
been  a  conceded  fact  in  the  minds  of  many  that  Corlew  would  never  have 
a  trial,  and  they  were  correct. 

It  seems  the  prisoner  had  a  premonition  of  his  fate,  for  while  in  the 
Kansas  City  jail  he  was  made  the  recipient  of  a  little  Testament,  the 
front  fly-leaf  of  which  has  the  following :  — 

"  CHAS    BURTON : 

"May  you  take  into  your  heart  the  words  of  this  precious  little  book, 
as  they  have  eternal  life  through  the  Son  of  God. 

"  M.  M.  RoBSON. 
"  See  Luke  xv  :  17-20." 

On  the  back  fly-leaf  and  on  the  inside  of  the  back  is  the  following 
letter,  probably  written  for  his  wife  : — 

"  Artie,  Darling:  When  you  read  these  lines  I  may  be  with  our 
little  Willie,  and  I  hope  you  may  meet  me  and  him  in  a  better  land. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  249 

You  can  if  you  put  all  your  trust  in  our  great  God.  Remember 
Charlie.  If  anything  should  happen  to  me  I  want  my  dear  wife 
Artie  to  have  this  little  book,  and  may  it  do  her  good. 

"  Charlie  M.  C." 

The  letter  and  inscription  are  both  undated,  and  there  is  nothing  to 
tell  when  they  were  written.  Several  poems  clipped  from  news- 
papers are  found  between  the  pages  of  the  Testament,  and  several 
pressed  flowers.  In  the  poem  of  Moore,  beginning,  "  Come  rest  on 
this  bosom,  my  own  stricken  dear,"  under  the  line,  "  Thro'  the  fur- 
nace thy  steps  I'll  pursue,"  he  has  penciled,  "  If,  Artie,  you're 
true." 

A  tin  type  of  his  wife  and  a  photograph,  probably  of  his  mother, 
were  also  found  in  the  book.  A  postal  card  from  his  mother,  dated 
July  27th,  1880,  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  My  Dear  Boy  :  Your  cards  came  to  hand,  but  will  not  try  to 
express  my  feelings  ;  they  are  too  sad  for  words.  I  can  do  nothing 
without  money — have  done  all  I  can.  (Name  illegible)  lied  to  me. 
Told  me  he  would  go  down  until  the  last  moment,  then  refused  to  aro. 
I  knew  "  Ai't  "  was  with  you.  Heard  she  was  in  La  Plata.  I  will  try 
if  I  can  come  down.  Try  and  keep  your  trial  oft'  as  long  as  you  can. 
At  least  until  I  see  if  I  can  get  there. 

"Your  Mother." 

Several  letters  from  his  wife  while  she  was  at  Huntsville  are  also  in 
his  effects.  The  letters  are  all  full  of  devotion,  but  are  miserably 
written  and  poorly  spelled.  Among  his  papers  is  a  letter  written 
June  3d,  by.  himself,  to  his  wife.  It  is  too  long  to  give,  })ut  the  tenor 
of  it  is  despair  for  her  desertion  of  him,  A  letter  from  Hade  Brown 
is  also  found,  which  is  given  :  — 

"Kansas  City,  June  2,  1880. 

"Dear  Friend  Burton:  You  must  not  give  up.  You  must  keep 
up,  and  if  your  wife  has  gone  home,  let  her  go.  Mr,  Haley  says  she 
can't  do  you  no  good  if  she  was  here.  He  says  that  clerk  and  the 
hotel  keeper  are  all  the  witnesses  you  want.  He  says  they  can't  con- 
vict you  on  her  evidence  to  save  the  world.  Burton,  you  must  not 
give  up  ;  you  must  keep  up  in  good  heart ;  you  will  get  out  all  right, 
Terry  Jackson  said  he  was  going  to  see  you  would  geV  out  all  right. 
Burton,  if  Artie  has  gone,  let  her  go  ;  she  is  not  true  if  she  has  gone 
home.  She  ain't  no  true  wife,  I  would  be  glad  she  was  gone,  if  she 
was  a  wife  of  mine,  for  that  showed  she  wanted  your  money,  and  when 
your  money  is  gone  she  leaves  you.  Ah  !  I  hope  she  is  not  gone,  I 
hope  she  will  be  true  and  stand  to  you  while  you  are  in  your  trouble, 
is  my  wishes.  Burton,  keep  up  in  your  spirits,  and  whenever  old 
Ferald  will  let  my  wife  come  around  I  will  send  her  around  to  you. 
She  wanted  to  go  and  see  you  Sunday,  but  Ferald  would  not  let  her 
go  around.  Keep  in  good  spirits.  You  are  young  and  can  get  another 
wife  if  she  is  gone  home.     Goodnight,     Your  true  friend, 

"J,  H,  Brown," 


250  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Brown's  letter  is  chiefly  remarkable  from  his  never  once  alluding  to 
himself,  but  it  showed  he  was  no  true  prophet,  however  good  he  might 
be  at  consoling. 

Well,  the  deed  is  done.  "We  regret  that  Moberly  was  made  the 
scene  of  such  a  bloody  transaction,  but  the  way  of  the  transgressor  is 
hard,  and  Corlew  deserved  death,  but  not  that  way.  Comments  are 
useless  and  we  will  let  it  rest.  We  have  tried  to  glean  the  facts  in  the 
case,  but  not  being  an  eye-witness  have  to  depend  on  the  statement  of 
others,  and  they  disagree  in  some  minor  particulars.  However,  our 
version  of  the  tragedy  will  be  found  to  be,  in  the  main,  correct. 

Corlew' s  mother  came  down  from  Kansas  City  on  the  twelve  o'clock 
train.  She  knew  nothing  of  the  fate  of  her  son  till  arriving  in  the 
city.  His  two  brothers,  living  in  Kansas  City,  have  been  telegraphed 
for  and  will  come  down  on  first  train.  It  is  not  known  where  he  will 
be  buried. 

JAMES  HAYDEN  BROWN  PAYS  THE  PENALTY  OF  HIS  CRIME. 

[From  the  Huntsville  Herald.] 

On  Friday  morning  last,  June  the  25th,  1880,  the  day  fixed  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  for  the  execution  of  James  Hayden  Brown, 
the  murderer  of  his  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Dr.  Parrish,  the  sun  rose  clear 
and  beautiful — not  a  cloud  was  visible  in  any  part  of  the  horizon. 
All  nature  seemed  to  smile  approvingly  upon  the  incoming  day,  as  if 
rejoicing  that,  at  last,  retributive  justice  was  about  to  be  meted  out 
to  the  red-handed  assassin  and  mul'derer,  who  had  willfully  and 
wickedly  violated  the  laws  of  God  and  man.  Years  had  elapsed  since 
the  commission  of  the  horrible  crime,  but  justice  at  last  stood  ready 
and  determined  to  demand  the  full  penalty  of  the  law  —  a  life  for  a 
life. 

On  Thursday  before  the  day  of  execution,  Sheriff  Matlock,  accom- 
panied by  L.  V.  Heether,  J.  K.  Belsher,  James  Eagsdale,  E.  L.  Duval, 
Harry  Wallace,  Henry  Herndon  and  G.  L.  Alexander,  returned  from 
Kansas  City  with  the  condemned  murderer.  A  large  crowd  of  men, 
women  and  children,  attracted  by  that  morbid  curiosity  that  creates 
in  human  nature  an  uncontrollable  desire  to  behold  the  doomed  or  the 
dead,  awaited  them  at  the  depot,  all  excited  and  anxious  to  feast  their 
eyes  upon  the'poor  doomed  criminal  who  was  so  soon  to  pay  the  just 
penalty  of  his  awful  crime.  He  was  taken  from  the  cars  pale  and 
trembling,  for  the  first  time  seeming  to  realize  his  true  situation.  He, 
however,  soon  recovered  his  usual  levity,  and  greeted  cordially  all  whom 
he  recognized.  He  expressed  great  anxiety  to  have  all  persons  whom 
he  had  wronged  or  offended  to  come  forward  and  forgive  him.  He 
was  incarcerated  in  the  county  jail,  and  securely  guarded  to  await  the 
hour  of  his  execution. 

brown's  FIRST  REALIZATION  OF  HIS  TERRIBLE  POSITION. 

At  the  jail  in  Kansas  City  Sherifi"  Matlock  had  an  interview  with 
Brown,  and  although  he  had   on  many  occasions  sworn  vengeance 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  251 

against  Mr.  Matlock,  he  promised  to  do  all  that  would  be  asked  of 
him.  He  was  in  a  very  pensive  mood,  exhibiting  no  signs  of  anger, 
but  on  the  contrary  melting  to  tears  when  he  spoke  with  the  officer  in 
regard  to  the  execution.  He  asked  the  sheriff  to  forgive  him  for  all 
the  hard  things  he  had  said  about  him  and  trouble  he  had  given  him, 
and  then  remarked  :  "  I've  got  to  die  and  I  propose  to  show  the  world 
that  I  can  die  like  a  man.  I  know  it  is  just,  and  if  anybody  had 
killed  my  mother  I  should  want  him  to  be  hung." 

A  Kansas  City  Times  reporter  had  the  following  interview  with  him 
the  day  previous  :  — 

"  Well,  Mr.  Brown,  how  do  you  feel  to-day?  " 

"  Very  well,  thank  you.     I  am  all  right  as  far  as  I  know." 

"  You  had  quite  a  lively  time  down  here  tlie  other  night?  " 

"  Yes,  I  was  angry  and  did'nt  know  what  I  was  doing.  One  of  the 
men  calTed  me  a  bad  name  and  I  didn't  like  it.  If  they  had  asked  me 
for  that  poison  I  should  have  given  it  to  them." 

"  Did  you  have  any  poison  the  officer  did  not  get?  " 

"  Of  course  I  did.  They  thought  they  were  very  smart,  and  as 
soon  as  they  got  the  stuff  out  of  my  mouth  thought  they  had  it  all  but 
they  hadn't,"  with  a  sly  twinkle  of  his  eye.  "I  had  some  more, 
enough  to  kill  all  the  men  in  this  jail,  in  my  shoe,  and  when  they 
went  away  I  took  it  out  and  showed  it  to  Hoge,  here.'^ 

"  Have  you  taken  any  since  thatinight?  " 

"  Yes.  I  took  some  on  Tuesday  morning,  but  it  was  an  overdose, 
and  I  threw  it  up." 

"  How  did  you  get  the  poison?  " 

"  Some  of  it  was  handed  to  me  through  the  bars  when  one  of  the 
deputies  was  standing  beside  my  friend  but  he  didn't  see  it.  That 
wasn't  all,  either.  Some  came  in  here  under  a  plate  of  victuals,  sent 
b}'^  one  of  my  friends." 

"  Did  your  wife  bring  any  of  the  morphine  to  you?  " 

"  No,  sir.  She  bought  it  though,  and  sent  it  by  her  friends.  She 
bouo;ht  it  at  Dr.  Morrison's  drus;  store." 

"  Did  you  ever  have  any  other  poison?  " 

"  I  should  say  I  did.  When  I  came  from  St.  Louis  I  had  a  lot  of 
it  tucked  under  the  lining  of  my  cap,  and  the  officers  searched  me  but 
didn't  find  it.     I  had  enouoh  to  kill  100  men  —  it  was  arsenic." 

"  Did  you  ever  use  any  of  it?  " 

"  Certainly,  I  have  a  dozen  times  or  more,  but  every  time  1  threw 
it  up,  I  couldn't  make  it  stick  on  my  stomach."     This   w,ith  a  smile. 

"  What  made  you  think  of  committing  suicide?  " 

"Well,  I  saw  in  some  of  the  papers  that  I  was  to  be  hanged  in  a 
wigwam  and  that  there  were  tickets  being  sold  for  people  to  see  me 
executed,  and  I  didn't  like  that,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would 
not  hang,  but  I  know  that  it  is  all  right  now  and  I  shall  submit  and 
not  try  to  do  anything  bad." 

"You  are  a  Catholic,  are  you  not,  Mr.  Brown?" 

"Yes,  lam.  The  priests  used  to  come  and  see  me  before  this 
scrape  Monday  night,  but   since   that  they   have  kept  away.     I  shall 


252  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

telegraph  to  Father  O'Shay,  of  St.  Louis,  to  come  and  see  me  before 
I  die.     I  used  to  go  to  church  when  I  was  there." 

"  You  won't  attempt  any  more  trouble?  " 

"  No,  I  shall  not,  I  have  made  up  my  mind  that  I  am  going  off  like 
a  man."  Turning  to  the  marshal,  he  said:  "Mr.  Ligget,  I  want 
everybody  to  forgive  me,  and  I  forgive  everybody  that  has  injured 
me.  I  want  to  go  olF  now  without  any  trouble,  and  shall  go  with  the 
officers  when  they  want  to  take  me.  I  know  I  have  done  wrong,  but  I 
know  I  shall  be  forgiven.  If  not  in  this  world  in  the  next,"  and  his 
eyes  filled  with  tears. 

THE    DAY    OF    EXECUTION. 

At  early  dawn  Friday  the  eager  crowd  came  pouring  into  town  from 
every  direction  and  in  every  conceivable  way,  until  by  noon  the  streets 
and  alleys  were  completely  packed  and  jammed  with  one  living  mass 
of  human  beings,  all  anxious  to  get  a  look  at  the  doomed  man.  Early 
in  the  morning  Brown  swallowed  a  white  powder  from  a  paper  sup- 
posed to  contain  morphine.  Dr.  W.  H.  Taylor  was  called  in,  but 
found  upon  examination  that  the  drug  h^id  no  perceptible  effect  upon 
him.  Brown  sent  for  Dr.  Oliver  and  gave  him  a  druggist's  envelope, 
carefully  folded  up,  requesting  him  not  to  open  it  until  he  (Brown) 
was  dead,  saying  the  doctor  would  then  learn  the  cause  of  his  death. 
He  evidently  desired  to  produce  the  impression  that  he  had  taken 
poison  with  the  intention  of  committing  suicide.  Upon  inspection. 
Dr.  Oliver  found  the  envelope  marked,  "Morphia;  Dr.  H.  C.  Mor- 
rison, Druggist,  12th  St.,  between  Locust  &  Cherry,  Kansas  City, 
Mo,"  but  it  contained  nothing,  having  been  previously  rifled  of  its 
contents. 

During  the  morning  the  little  three-year-old  orphan  child  was  taken 
to  the  cell  of  his  doomed  father  to  bid  him  an  eternal  farewell.  The 
meetino;  was  heart-rending  and  bevond  description.  The  anguish  of 
the  father  as  he  clasped  to  his  breast  the  innocent  child  whom  he  had 
doubly  orphaned,  covering  his  face  with  kisses  and  tears,  was  ex- 
treme. His  brother  Frankie,  a  boy  about  15  years  of  age,  was  also 
admitted  to  the  cell.  Hade  presented  him  with  his  breastpin  and 
asked  him  to  wear  it  for  his  wretched  brother's  sake.  He  also  ad- 
vised Frankie  to  take  warning  from  his  fate,  and  shun  all  dissipation 
and  wickedness,  they  having  been  the  cause  of  his  disgrace  and  ruin. 

His  mother,  who  is  a  good  and  true  woman,  was  not  present  to  wit- 
ness the  sad  fate  of  her  wayward  and  undutiful  son.  Had  he  heeded 
her  nurture  and  admonitions  this  sad  fate  would  never  have  befallen 
him. 

His  last  night  on  earth  was  a  restless  and  sleepless  one,  spent 
principally  in  conversation  with  the  guards  and  a  few  friends  and 
acquaintances  who  were  permitted  to  visit  him.  His  mood  was  ex- 
tremely versatile —  sometimes  joking  and  laughing,  telling  anecdotes, 
relating  his  exploits  before  and  since  the  commission  of  his  crime; 
but  when  the  subject  of  his  wife  and  child  was  mentioned  he  became 
unmanned,  and  gave  way  to  feelings  of  grief  and  despair. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  253 

About  nine  o'clock  Rev.  W.  T.  Ellington,  of  the  Methodist  church, 
was  sent  for,  and  administered  to  the  criminal  the  rite  of  baptism. 
The  scene  was  one  that  impressed  the  audience  with  great  solemnity, 
which  was  made  manifest  by  the  free  effusion  of  tears  from  the  eyes 
of  all  who  witnessed  it.  The  doomed  man  seemed  to  be  exceedingly 
penitent,  and  expressed  faith  in  Jesus. 

A  few  minutes  after  twelve,  shackled  and  accompanied  by  armed 
o;uards,  Brown  came  out  and  climbed  into  the  wao^on,  takino;  a  seat  on 
his  coflSn,  which  was  lying  on  the  bottom  of  the  open  wagon.  The 
vehicle  did  not  start  for  some  minutes,  during  which  a  number  of 
Brown's  old  acquaintances  came  up  and  shook  hands  with  him.  He 
received  them  pleasantly,  betraying  little  or  no  emotion  but  showing 
a  firmness  that  betokened  the  great  change  that  had  recently  taken 
place  in  his  disposition.  Slowly  the  procession  marched  to  the  place 
of  execution  along  a  dusty  road  crowded  with  vehicles  of  all  kinds, 
horses  ridden  by  eager  spectators,  and  still  more  eager  men  on  foot 
walking  to  the  place  of  death. 

Arriving  at  the  scaffold,  which  was  erected  in  a  woodland  pasture, 
distant  about  one  mile  east  of  the  court-house,  on  the  Moberly  road. 
Brown  ascended  to  the  platform  with  a  firm  step  and  seated  himself 
on  a  bench  placed  at  the  north  side.  He  was  accompanied  by  Sheriff 
Matlock,  Deputy  Sheriff  William  Matlock,  Sheriff  Glasscock,  of 
Audrain  county.  Rev.  W.  T.  Ellington,  and  a  number  of  reporters. 
Brown  looked  about  him  at  the  vast  crowd,  which  is  estimated  to  have 
numbered  15,000,  and  seemed  to  search  the  vast  concourse  for  faces 
that  he  knew.  His  countenance  was  that  of  a  person  deeply  inter- 
ested but  fearless.  He  looked  like  he  had  been  contending  with  him- 
self, and  had  conquered.  After  prayer  by  Mr.  Ellington,  the  sheriff 
asked  Brown  if  he  had  anything  to  say,  to  which  the  condemned  man 
answered  affirmatively.     He  stepped  to  the  railing  and  said  :  — 

"  If  you  all  will  keep  still  a  few  minutes  I  will  say  a  few  words  in 
regard  to  myself,  to  both  young  and  old,  men,  women  and  children. 
I  was  a  free  man  once,  and  never  thought  to  be  hung  as  I  am  to-day. 
As  I  was  on  my  way  out  here  awhile  ago,  I  noticed  several  young 
men  I  used  to  know  and  was  raised  with,  riding  along  near  the  wagon, 
coming  to  my  —  funeral,  so  to  say,  reeling  on  their  horses.  I  was 
sorry  to  see  them,  and  it  made  me  shudder,  for  it  was  this  that 
brought  me  where  I  am.  Oh,  God,  the  trouble  it  has  brought  in  the 
world.  I  feel  as  though  I  hadn't  an  enemy  in  the  crowd.  I  hope 
you  all  have  forgiven  me,  as  I  have  forgiven  everybody.  My  God 
is  the  only  one  who  has  given  me  strength  to  believe  this,  and  I 
hope  it  is  so.  I  am  going  to  meet  my  dear,  sweet  wife,  who  died  for 
me.  She  loved  me  better  than  all  the  world.  They  say  I  put  her  up  to 
it,  but  as  my  God  in  Heaven  knows  I  never  did  it,  and  knew  nothing  of  it. 
I  committed  a  heinous  crime,  but  didn't  know  it.  It  was  done,  and  1 
must  suffer  for  it  on  the  gallows.  I  hope  I  have  not  an  enemy  here  to- 
day. I  forgive  everybody  and  hope  everybody  forgives  me.  I  ask  pardon 
of  Dr.  Parrish  and  all  his  family.     Oh,  God  !  the  trouble  Icaused  them. 


254  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

If  MissLutie  Ptirrish,  Sarah  Parrisli,  Dr.  Parrish,  Mr.  Chris.  Parrish, 
Mr.  Henry  Fort,  or  any  of  the  rest  of  the  family  are  her&,  won't  they 
please  to  hold  up  their  hands  to  show  that  they  have  forgiven  me? 
[Here  Mr.  Chris.  Parrish  held  up  his  hand.]  Thank  God!  there  is 
one.  Are  there  any  others?  I  see  none.  If  any  of  you  should 
meet  my  mother,  brother,  or  darling  child,  don't  snarl  at  them,  but 
meet  them  in  a  nice  way.  It  was  the  dying  I'equest  of  my  wife  that 
we  be  buried  together  in  the  same  coffin,  in  the  same  grave.  I  want 
her  family's  consent  to  be  buried  by  my  side,  and  if  they  object  let 
some  of  them  say  so  now.  I  hope  every  one  of  you  may  remember 
the  poor  creature  who  stands  here  to-day,  and  I  hope  none  hold 
malice,  for  I  would  die  the  most  miserable  of  men  if  I  thought  so. 
Now,  I  have  here  some  flowers  that  I  want  placed  in  my  wife's  sweet 
hand.  If  there  is  any  lady  in  the  crowd  who  will  attend  to  this  for 
me  will  she  please  raise  her  little  hand?  [One  does.]  Thank  you. 
Now  here  are  some  others  I  want  put  on  the  breast  of  my  coat.  Will 
some  one  attend  to  this  for  me.  Jesus  Christ  has  given  me  courage 
to  stand  here  to-day.  I  want  you  ail  to  see  that  I  am  buried  with  my 
dear,  sweet  wife  ;  and  pray  God  for  me,  as  wicked  a  man  as  I  am. 
May  God  have  mercy  on  every  one  of  you." 

Having  finished  his  remarks,  the  prisoner  took  a  seat  on  the  scaf- 
fold bench  and  looked  around  over  the  immense  crowd,  while  Deputy 
Sheriff  Will  Matlock  read  in  a  clear,  distinct  voice  the  death  warrant, 
after  which  Brown  was  asked  to  take  his  stand  on  the  fatal  trap. 
He  complied  with  this  requirement  promptly  and  like  a  brave  man, 
and  as  Deputy  Sherifi"  Will  Matlock  placed  the  black  cap  over  his  head 
he  remarked,  "  Now,  Will,  don't  make  a  botch  of  it,"  which  were  his 
last  words.  The  noose  was  adjusted  by  Sheriff  Glasscock,  of  Audrain 
county,  and  at  1:28  o'clock  the  trap  was  sprung  by  Sherifl"  N.  G. 
Matlock,  resulting  in  instant  death  from  a  broken  neck.  Drs.  Taylor, 
Oliver,  Dameron  and  Aldridge  examined  the  body  and  pronounced 
life  extinct  in  6V2  minutes.  The  body  was  cut  down  in  20  minutes, 
placed  in  a  handsome  double  coffin  and  turned  over  to  his  relatives, 
who  conveyed  it  to  the  depot  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  remains  of 
his  wife,  who  committed  suicide  in  Kansas  City  the  Monday  night 
previous,  a  full  account  of  which  appeared  in  last  week's  Herald. 
The  bodies  of  the  two  unfortunates  were  conveyed  on  the  night  ex- 
press train  to  Moberly,  and  at  the  depot  in  that  city  the  remains  of 
the  two  were  placed  together  in  the  same  coffin,  according  to 
their  dying  wish.  The  most  perfect  repose  rested  upon  the  face  of 
the  dead  woman,  the  features  wearing  a  pleased  expression  and  being 
in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation.  I^rown's  face  wore  a  look  of  calm- 
ness and  presented  only  slight  discoloration.  The  lady  who  promised 
the  doomed  man  on  the  gallows  to  place  the  bunch  of  flowers  in  the 
dead  hands  of  his  wife  was  present  and  performed  her  mission  faith- 
fully, after  midnight,  when  the  vast  throng  who  observed  her  make 
the  promise  were  wrapped  in  slumber.  She  refused  to  give  her  name, 
but  it  is  said  she  resides  at  Higbee.     The  two  ])odies  were  placed  in 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  255 

each  other's  arms,  and  the  roses  lay  between  them .  They  were  shipped 
on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Road  to  Madison,  Monroe  county, 
and  were  buried  the  following  day  at  a  family  burying  ground  three 
miles  from  Milton  in  this  county.  The  coffin,  transportation,  etc., 
were  paid  for  out  of  private  subscriptions  raised  in  Huntsville  and 
Moberly,  the  citizens  of  each  place  contributing  about 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRIME,    ETC. 

» 

James  Hayden  Brown,  the  murderer  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Parrish,  was  born 
in  Cairo  township,  Randolph  county,  Missouri,  July  12,  1856,  near 
the  place  where  the  crime  was  committed.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
notorious  Bill  Brown,  who  murdered  William  Penny  at  Jacksonville, 
in  this  county,  in  1865,  and  who  was  afterwards  shot  and  killed  by 
his  brother-in-law,  young  Hayden,  for  the  brutal  abuse  of  his  wife. 
He  was  endowed  with  an  ungovernable  temper,  had  been  an  unruly, 
turbulent,  bad  boy  during  his  whole  life,  ever  ready  to  shoot,  cut  or 
kill  whoever  or  whatever  crossed  his  path,  and  always  boasted  of  his 
ability  to  whip  or  kill  any  one  who  dared  to  insult  him.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  married,  against  the  will  of  her  parents.  Miss  Susan 
Parrish,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Parrish,  a  respectable  and  highly 
esteemed  gentleman  of  this  county.  Soon  after  the  marriage  Hade's 
devilish  temper  and  cruel  disposition  was  manifested  towards  his  wife, 
which  resulted  in  his  whipping  and  otherwise  cruelly  treating  her,  all 
of  which  she  bore  with  fortitude  until  forbearance  ceased  to  be  a 
virtue,  when  she  left  home  and  appealed  to  her  parents  for  protection. 
They  advised  her  to  return  home  and  live  with  him  if  possible.  She 
returned,  but  his  cruel  treatment  soon  again  compelled  her  to  flee  for 
safety.  She  naturally  sought  that  protection  which  is  due  from  loving 
parents  to  their  children.  She  appealed  to  their  sj'mpathies,  protested 
against  again  returning  home  to  be  beaten  and  cursed  like  a  cur. 
The  parents,  in  their  goodness  of  heart,  yielded  to  her  entreaties,  and 
her  father  carried  her  otf  to  his  son's  home  in  Howard  county.  When 
Brown  found  that  his  wife  had  gone  out  of  his  reach,  he  became  en- 
raged and  threatened  to  kill  his  wife's  parents  for  affording  her 
shelter  and  protection  against  his  cruelty,  which  threat  he  carried  into 
execution  on  the  23d  of  July,  1877,  by  shooting  the  Doctor  and  killing 
Mrs.  Parrish,  the  mother  of  his  wife,  one  of  the  kindest  and  most 
affectionate  mothers  that  ever  lived,  thus  committing  one  of  the  most 
cruel  and  cold-blooded  murders  that  marks  the  annals  of  crime. 
After  the  murder  Brown  made  his  escape,  eluding  the  most  diligent 
search  of  the  officers  of  the  law,  and  11  months  afterwards  was 
captured  in  the  distant  State  of  Minnesota,  and  returned  to  this 
county  for  trial. 

Brown's  first  trial  was  in  February,  1879,  and  resulted  in  a  hung 
jury.  The  case  was  again  set  for  December,  1879.  The  jury  had 
been  selected  and  the  taking  of  testimony  commenced,  when  one  of 
the  jurvmen  was  taken  seriously  ill.  The  judge  discharged  the  re- 
maining jurors,  ordered  the  sheriff  to   summon  another  panel  of  40 


256  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

men,  and  set  the  case  for  trial  January  26,  1880.  The  greater  part 
of  the  first  two  days  was  occupied  in  an  effort  to  get  a  change  of  venue. 
The  trial  proper  commenced  Thursday  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  by 
Monday  night  following  the  testimony  was  all  in.  Tuesday  and  the 
early  part  of  Wednesday  was  consumed  in  arguing  the  case.  The 
defense  was  most  ably  represented  by  Messrs.  Martin,  Priest, 
Christian  and  Provine,  while  the  prosecution  was  well  conducted  by 
Messrs.  Porter,  Hall  and  Waller. 

The  case  was  given  to  t^ie  jury  Wednesday  morning,  and  they  were 
only  out  some  15  minutes  when  they  returned  a  verdict  of  guilty  of 
murder  in  the  first  degree. 

The  Supreme  court  was  appealed  to  by  the  defense,  with  the  hope 
of  having  the  case  reversed.  But  on  the  6th  day  of  May,  a  decision 
was  rendered  affirming  the  finding  of  the  court  below.  The  day  of 
execution  was  fixed  for  June  25,  1880. 

Below  we  give  a  synopsis  of  the  important  testimony  in  the  case  :  — 

J.    BENNETT. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  1877,  I  was  in  the  lane  east  of  my  house  ; 
Brown  was  there  in  my  lane  ;  the  old  lady  Parrish  came  driving  up 
the  lane  from  the  east:  Brown  said  here  comes  the  d  —  d  old  b  —  h 
now,  I'll  go  and  give  her  a  couple  of  loads  ;  I  said  Brown  you  wouldn't 
shoot  an  old  woman  ;  he  said  yes  I'll  finish  her  ;  he  reached  the  wagon, 
and  ffot  off  his  horse  ;  Mrs.  Parrish  dumb  out  of  the  wao;on  and 
seemed  to  try  to  keep  the  wagon  between  Brown  and  her  ;  he  shot  her 
once  and  she  started  to  run  when  he  shot  her  again,  when  she  was 
brought  to  my  house  ;  the  middle  of  the  lane  running  by  my  house  is 
the  line  between  Cairo  and  Salt  River  township  ;  the  shooting  was  in 
Cairo  township. 

Mr.  Priest  here  objected  to  the  indictment,  on  the  ground  that  the 
court  had  no  jurisdiction  in  Cairo  township. 

Prior  to  the  shooting  of  Mrs.  Parrish,  Brown  was  at  my  house,  about 
noon  ;  I  didn't  hear  Brown  sav  anvthino;  about  the  shooting  of  Dr. 
Parrish  ;  I  didn't  see  Brown  shoot  Dr.  Parrish  ;  heard  the  report  and 
saw  Dr.  Parrish  l)leeding  ;  it  wasn't  but  a  few  moments  till  Brown 
made  the  remarks  al)out  Mrs.  Parrish  until  he  shot  her;  I  was  about 
300  yards  from  where  he  shot  Mrs.  Parrish  ;  there  was  nothing  to  ob- 
struct my  view  ;  my  eyesight  is  g(»od  ;  I  have  never  had  to  wear  glasses 
until  the  last  year. 

Crt)ss-examined  :  The  first  time  I  ever  saw  Brown  was  the  day  of 
his  father's  sale  ;  have  known  him  for  several  years  ;  I  saw  Brown 
first  that  day  about  noon  ;  I  was  sitting  at  the  table  ;  he  drove  up  to 
the  house  and  stopped;  I  told  my  wife  to  tell  him  to  come  in  and  eat 
his  dinner  ;  had  no  conversation  with  Brown  that  day,  prior  to  his 
difficulty  with  Dr.  Parrish  ;  my  wife  was  talking  to  him  but  I  do  not 
remember  any  of  the  conversation  ;  he  had  a  donble-l)arreled  shot-gun 
in  his  buggy  ;  did  not  see  him  just  previous  to  the  difficulty  ;  did  not 
see  Dr.  Parrish  before  I  heard  the  gun  ;  did  not  see  the  shots  fired  but 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  257 

heard  two  shots,  and  when  I  went  to  the  hme  I  saw  Brown  riding  oflf 
with  his  gun  in  his  hand  ;  Dr.  Parrish  came  to  my  house  and  ran  in  ; 
did  not  follow  the  Doctor  into  my  house  until  Brown  shot  the  old  lady  ; 
the  Doctor  said  nothing  to  me  as  he  passed  me  ;  while  Dr.  Parrish  was 
in  my  house  I  saw  no  lire  arms  in  his  possession. 

I  stood  in  the  lane  until  Brown  went  to  his  house  and  returned  ;  his 
house  is  in  full  view  of  me  ;  he  was  riding  fast;  Brown's  house  and 
Dr.  Parrish's  house  are  in  view  of  each  other;  do  not  know  what 
Brown  said  when  he  came  back  to  my  house,  but  think  he  said  some- 
thing about  shooting  him  again  for  taking  otf  his  wife  and  child  ;  he 
hitched  his  horse  a  little  south  of  my  house,  went  round  in  the  pas- 
ture and  said  he  would  shoot  Parrish  again  if  he  had  to  shoot  him 
through  the  window  ;  he  had  just  returned  from  the  pasture  when  he 
saw  Mrs.  Parrish  coming ;  he  then  made  the  remark:  There  comes 
the  d  —  d  old  b  —  h  ;  he  was  walking  about,  talking  about  Dr.  Parrish 
taking  off  his  wife  and  child  ;  did  not  hear  Brown  swear,  laugh  or 
cry  ;  before  she  came  he  picked  up  a  wagon  seat  and  slammed  it  over 
the  fence  a  time  or  two,  I  cannot  recollect  what  he  said  ;  it  was  Par- 
rish's wagon  seat ;  didn't  see  him  tear  off  or  break  any  palings  ;  didn't 
see  him  load  his  gun  after  shooting  Dr.  Parrish  ;  Lou  Patten,  Jack 
Amick,  young  Jack  Amick,  George  Amick  and  John  Will  Smith  were 
in  the  lane.  Lthink  there  were  but  three  in  the  lane  when  Brown 
came  up.  Patten  said  to  him  :  Hade,  leave  that  old  woman  alone. 
He  (Brown)  then  started  for  his  horse  with  his  gun  in  his  hand.  When 
Brown  and  Dr.  Parrish  met,  I  suppose  Parrish  was  going  home.  I 
did  not  state  at  the  former  trial  that  Dr.  Parrish  was  going  home  and 
that  Brown  was  going  to  Cairo  with  a  cow.  It  was  a  mistake.  I  did 
not  say  so.  When  Brown  returned  from  his  house  he  appeared  to  be 
out  of  humor.  Did  not  seem  to  be  excited.  He  wasn't  swearing,  at 
least  in  ray  presence.  Will  Palmer  was  in  the  yard.  Did  not  see  him 
in  the  lane.  My  wife  met  Brown  at  the  fence.  I  think  Mrs.  Amick 
met  him  at  the  gate.  It  is  prairie  in  front  of  my  house.  There  was 
no  wagon  in  the  lane  or  anj^thing  else  to  obstruct  my  view.  When 
Brown  shot  Dr.  Parrish  it  frightened  the  horses  and  they  ran  off.  Do  not 
know  what  speed  Brown  was  going  when  he  left  my  house  to  meet  Mrs. 
Parrish.  Don't  know  what  speed  the  wagon  was  coming.  Think  a  negro 
was  driving.  Beatty  Clutter  was  riding  horseback  behind  the  wagon. 
Did  not  see  Clutter  stick  a  rifle  through  the  fence  just  before  Brown 
met  the  wagon.  Don't  know  if  Clutter  was  working  for  Dr.  Parrish. 
Don't  know  what  became  of  Brown  after  he  shot  Mrs.  Parrish  second 
time.  I  saw  him  no  more.  Mrs.  Parrish  was  riding  on  the  west  side 
of  the  wagon  and  Brown  was  sitting  on  his  horse  on  the  east  side  of 
the  wagon.  Mrs.  Parrish  walked  towards  the  heads  of  the  mules  in  a 
stooping  posture  and  then  walked  and  raised  her  head  when  Brown 
shot  her.  George  Amick  went  with  Brown  to  his  house  from  mine. 
I  do  not  know  what  he  went  for.  While  at  my  house  Brown  was  talk- 
ing of  some  diflBculty  with  Dr.  Parrish,  I  did  not  pay  particular  at- 
tention to  what  he  was  talkino;  about.     Saw  some  of  the  shot  extracted 


258  HISTOEY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

from  Dr.  Parr ish's  face.  They  were  small  shot,  not  the  smallest  or 
the  largest. 

Re-direct :  I  do  not  know  where  William  Palmer  was  when  Brown 
started  down  to  meet  Mrs.  Parrish.  When  I  went  back  into  the  yard 
he  was  in  rear  of  my  kitchen.  Did  not  see  him  in  the  lane  at  all. 
He  would  have  had  to  pass  by  me  had  he  gone  into  the  lane.  He  did 
not  pass  me.     Plat  of  ground  shown. 

Objected  to  by  defense,  objection  sustained.  Questions  asked  as 
to  height  of  fences  and  other  questions  of  minor  importance. 

MISS    LUTIE    PARRISH. 

Am  a  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Parrish.  I  was  present  in  the  lane 
near  Mr.  Bennett's  the  day  mother  was  killed.  I  first  saw  Brown 
within  a  quarter  mile  of  Mr.  Bennett's.  He  was  in  front  of  Mr.  Ben- 
nett's. When  Brovvn  met  us  he  said,  by  G — d  stop  that  wagon. 
Mother  said  O,  go  on  he  didn't  want  us  to  stop.  He  said  yes,  1  do. 
Get  out  of  the  wagon.  Ma  said  don't  shoot  me.  He  said  yes  I  will. 
Ma  ofot  out  of  the  waggon  on  the  west  side  and  went  toward  the  liead 
of  the  mules,  then  came  back  and  he  shot  her.  After  shooting  her 
she  came  back  and  rested  her  head  on  the  wheel  of  the  wagon  ;  I  asked 
her  if  she  was  shot  and  she  replied  that  she  was,  "right  here,"  point- 
ing to  her  neck.  I  said  don't  shoot  any  more.  His  answer,  oh,  by 
G — d  she  ain't  dead  yet.  I  told  her  to  run  which  she  did,  up  the  fence, 
when  he  fired  again.  I  reached  my  mother's  side  and  asked  her  to 
speak  and  she  tried  to  and  couldn't.  There  was  present  in  the  lane 
at  that  time,  Mrs.  Osborne,  my  sister,  Jack  Amick,  Beatty  Clutter 
and  the  negro.  That  was  all  there  until  Mrs.  Bennett  came.  She 
told  me  to  run  to  the  house,  which  I  did. 

Cross-examination  :  I  am  a  sister-in-law  of  defendant.  They  had 
been  married  for  about  two  years.  They  did  not  marry  at  home. 
They  ran  off  and  got  married.  They  first  visited  at  our  house.  There 
was  not  very  kindly  feeling  between  Mr.  Brown  and  my  father.  It 
was  at  Brown's  solicitation  that  father  let  him  live  on  the  place.  I 
once  saw  a  difficulty  between  Brown  and  father,  vvhen  he  attempted 
to  shoot  Brown  but  was  prevented  from  so  doing  by  my  brother-in- 
law.  Father  always  carried  a  pistol  ;  had  one  the  day  he  was  shot  by 
Brown;  never  heard  him  say  he  would  kill  Brown;  we  met. Beatty 
Clutter  and  he  joined  us  ;  asked  if  he  had  a  gun,  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  but  the  question  was  objected  to  and  objection  sustained. 
When  Brown  came  up  to  the  wagon  he  spoke  about  shooting,  nothing 
else  that  I  heard;  said  nothing  about  mother  having  tried  to  poison 
him  ;  if  he  said  anything  to  Mrs.  Osborne  about  his  wife  and  child  I 
did  not  hear  it.  Beatty  Clutter  and  I  never  talked  about  what  our 
testimony  would  be  on  the  trial.  When  at  the  wagon  he  told  ma  he 
was  going  to  kill  lier  ;  my  sister  asked  him  not  to  kill  her.  He  replied  : 
"  Hush  up,  or  I'll  kill  you."  The  horses  to  wagon  were  going  in  a 
trot,  his  horse  was  walking.  I  just  saw  Mr.  Brown.  Ma  made  Mr. 
Clutter  put  his  gun  away.     Do  not  know  why  he  had  it,  it  was  father's. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  259 

Do  not  know  when  he  got  it.  When  we  first  met  him  he  had  been  up 
towards  Mr.  Bennett's  with  the  gun,  but  on  turning  around  to  accom- 
pany us  mother  made  him  leave  the  gun.  Do  not  remember  of  mother 
telling  him  she  would  tell  him  where  his  wife  and  child  were  if  he  would 
not  shoot  her.  If  I  stated  at  former  trial  that  Brown  seemed  to  be 
very  mad  it  is  correct.  Did  not  hear  him  say  ;  "  I  am  a  dying  sinner 
of  the  cross,  I  am  going  to  die  and  go  to  hell  and  want  to  carry  a  few 
passengers  with  me."  I  heard  Brown  tell  mother  that  he  had  father. 
I  have  told  all  I  know.  Am  not  conscious  of  remembering  anything 
I  have  not  told. 

Re-direct:  I  met  Beatty  Clutter  at  the  bridge,  this  side  of  our 
house,  going  towards  the  house.  It  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  our  house  when  he  put  the  gun  away  at  mother's  request.  The 
diificulty  between  father  and  Brown  happened  at  our  yard  fence  two 
months  before  mother  was  killed.  Do  not  know  if  Brown  and  father 
ever  met  afterwards.  Mrs.  Brown  came  to  our  house.  Mother  never 
went  there,  I  and  my  sisters  visited  there.  Father  took  Brown's  wife 
away  from  him  the  Saturday  before  mother  was  killed.  She  came  to 
our  house  and  left  from  there  with  father.  Sister  Sarah  went  with 
Mrs.  Brown  and  father  when  they  left. 

MRS.    BENNETT. 

I  was  at  home  on  the  23d  of  July,  1877.  I  first  saw  Hade  Brown  at 
my  house  that  day.  I  was  on  my  porch  when  Dr.  Parrish  was  shot. 
It  was  near  five  o'clock  that  day.  He  saw  Dr.  Parrish  and  shot  him. 
He  came  back  to  the  house  and  tried  to  shoot  him  again.  When  he 
saw  the  wagon  coming  he  said,  "  There  they  come  now."  He  made  no 
threats.  I  then  left  to  take  Mrs.  Brown,  his  mother,  some  things, 
which  put  my  back  to  him.  I  met  John  Will  Smith  ;  he  told  me  to  go 
down  there  as  there  would  be  trouble.  When  in  about  25  yards  of  the 
wagon  I  saw  Mrs.  Parrish  in  a  stooping  posture  on  the  west  side  of 
the  wagon.  Brown  was  on  the  east  side.  When  she  raised  her  head 
he  fired,  she  then  started  to  run  towards  me  when  he  fired  again.  She 
fell  at  the  crack  of  the  second  barrel.  Mrs.  Osborne,  Lutie  and  my- 
self reached  her  about  the  same  time.  Lutie  first.  They  were  afraid 
of  Brown  and  ran  to  my  house.  I  staid  with  her  till  she  died  —  about 
20  minutes.  Mrs.  Osborne,  Lutie  Parrish,  Beatty  Clutter,  Jacky 
Amick  and  the  negro,  Frank,  were  all  that  were  there  in  the  lane. 

Cross-examination  :  It  was  about  noon  when  Brown  was  at  ray 
house  ;  there  was  quite  a  good  many  there  when  he  was,  his  mother, 
sister  and  others.  I  heard  at  church  Sunday  that  his  wife  had 
left  him.  His  mother  told  me  that  day  that  Susan  had  left  him. 
He  seemed  in  cheerful  spirits  that  day,  and  said  he  was  going  to  have 

his  child,  that  he  didn't  give  ad d  for  his  wife.     When  Dr.  Parrish 

was  coming  up,  his  mother  said,  "  There  comes  Hade,  and  they  will 
meet."  Dr.  Parrish  was  in  a  two-horse  spring  wagon  with  his  daugh- 
ter Sarah.  When  Brown  shot  the  second  time,  the  horses  ran  away. 
We  took  the  Doctor  in  the  house  and  cared  for  him,  as  he  looked  like 


260  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

he  would  die.  When  Hade  left,  after  shooting  the  Doctor,  he  left  in 
a  hurry,  but  soon  came  back.  I  saw  a  pistol  taken  from  the  Doctor's 
person  ;  it  was  a  small  one.  Know  it  was  not  a  five  or  six-shooter  ; 
do  not  know  what  kind  of  one  it  was.  When  he  came  back,  he  ripped 
around,  and  made  threats  that  he  would  finish  Dr.  Parrish  ;  he  tried  to 
get  in,  but  did  not  try  very  bad  ;  he  was  prancing  around  and  making 
threats.  I  saw  him  cry  once  ;  it  was  when  he  said  his  mother  had 
thrown  him  away,  and  his  wife  and  child  had  been  taken  away  from 
him.  I  stated  last  winter  that  he  acted  like  a  wild  fool  ;  I  meant  a 
mad  fool.  He  did  not  act  like  a  crazy  fool.  Saw  him  break  up  the 
wagon  seat,  and  he  said  what  he  could  not  destroy  one  way  he  would 
another.  I  went  down  to  see  if  Hade  would  not  let  Mrs.  Parrish 
come  and  see  the  Doctor.  I  was  not  near  enoug^h  to  hear  anvthino; 
that  was  said.  I  did  not  see  him  stop  the  wagon.  After  he  shot  Mrs. 
Parrish,  he  loaded  his  gun,  got  on  his  horse,  and  called  Lou  Patten 
to  him,  and  told  him  to  see  that  Frank  had  his  horse,  and  to  kiss  his 
wife  and  child.  He  then  rode  to  Mrs.  Kunnell's  and  stopped  awhile  ; 
rode  in  a  canter  when  he  left.  If  1  said  last  winter  that  Brown  said 
give  the  black  horse  to  Frank  Wilson,  I  don't  think  I  knew  the 
negro's  name  was  Wilson.  I  said  last  winter  that  he  acted  like  a  gen- 
tleman while  at  the  house  ;  I  meant  at  dinner.  I  am  not  an  enemy  to 
Brown,  only  to  the  crime  he  has  done.  He  has  always  treated  me 
gentlemanly.  When  he  was  talking  about  his  mother,  while  on  the 
fence,  I  saw  the  spittle  flying  from  his  mouth  ;  did  not  see  the  slobber 
running  down  his  mouth  ;  if  I  said  slobber  last  winter,  I  meant  spit. 
He  said  that  he  meant  to  kill  that  many  more,  throwing  up  his  hand, 
and  then  die  in  the  same  house  old  Bill  Brown  died  in,  the  bravest 
man  that  ever  lived.  I  asked  him  if  he  was  prepared  to  die  ;  he  said, 
"  Hell,  no  !  "  I  don't  know  how  fast  he  rode  when  he  left  after  kill- 
ing Mrs.  Parrish. 

Re-direct :  When  examined  last  winter  I  was  so  hoarse  I  could  not 
speak,  and  Sheriff  Williams  had  to  interpret  what  I  said.  When  he 
came  back  he  called  his  mother,  and  she  left,  saying,  "  I  will  have  to 
get  away  from  here."     When  he  called  her,  she  would  not  go. 

JACK    AMICK,  JR. 

I  was  present  on  the  23d  day  of  July,  1877,  when  Mrs.  Parrish  was 
killed.  I  was  in  Mr.  Bennett's  field  when  Dr.  Parrish  was  shot.  I 
then  went  to  Dr.  Parrish' s  house  after  Mrs.  Parrish.  I  left  the  house 
with  Mrs.  Parrish,  the  girls,  and  the  driver  in  a  wagon.  When  close 
to  Mr.  Bennett's  I  met  Brown.  He  stopped  the  wagon  and  told  Mrs. 
Parrish  he  was  going  to  shoot  her,  and  did  shoot  her.  When  I  first  saw 
Brown  he  was  about  200  yards  distant  at  Mr.  Bennett's.  When  he 
came  to  the  wagon,  he  told  Mrs.  Parrish  if  she  had  anything  to  say  to 
Lutie,  she  had  better  say  it,  as  he  was  going  to  kill  her;  told  me  and 
the  negro  man  to  get  out  of  the  wagon.  Brown  was  on  the  east  side 
of  the  wagon  when  he  shot.  When  Brown  first  shot  Mrs.  Parrish  was 
standing  near  the  front  of  the  mules  ;  she  ran  north,  and  he  shot  her 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  261 

a^ain.  He  walked  around  to  the  back  part  of  the  wagon  to  get  to  her. 
Before  he  shot  Mrs.  Parrish,  Brown  said  to  her  that  she  had  taken  his 
wife  away.  She  said  she  would  like  for  them  to  live  together  if  they 
could  ;  she  begged  him  not  to  kill  her  and  to  let  her  go  to  the  house 
and  see  Dr.  Parrish.  I  was  sitting  on  the  spring  seat  of  the  wagon. 
He  told  Mrs.  Osborne  he  was  going  to  kill  her,  too,  for  giving  a  couple 
of  dresses  to  his  wife  for  his  child.  Mrs.  Osborne  told  him  his  wife 
wanted  them  and  she  thought  she  would  give  them  to'  her.  Those 
present  at  the  time  of  the  shooting  were:  Mrs.  Osborne,  Sarah  Par- 
rish, Lutie  Parrish,  Beatty  Clutter,  Mrs.  Osborne's  children,  Mrs. 
Parrish,  the  negro  Frank,  and  myself.  After  Mrs.  Parrish  was  shot 
the  second  time,  others  came  down  ;  Mrs.  Bennett  was  one.  Brown, 
after  shooting  Mrs,  Parrish  the  second  time,  went  towards  the  black- 
smith shop. 

Cross-examination  :  I  testified  at  former  trial.  All  the  part  of  the 
clitEculty  I  saw  was  at  the  wagon.  First  saw  Beatty  Clutter  at  Dr. 
Parrish's.  Mrs.  Parrish  asked  him  to  come  and  go  along  with  us  to 
Mrs.  Bennett's.  I  saw  Brown  shortly  before  he  shot  Mrs.  Parrish 
sitting  on  his  horse  in  the  road,  between  the  blacksmith  shop  and  Mr. 
Bennett's.  When  he  came  to  the  wagon,  he  said  something  about 
his  wife  and  child  ;  did  not  ask  where  they  were  ;  do  not  remember 
of  her  telling  him  she  would  tell  him  where  his  wife  and  child  were 
if  he  would  let  her  go  to  her  husband  ;  remember  something  of  the 
kind.  Heard  Brown  say  to  Mrs.  Parrish  that  she  had  tried  to  poison 
him,  and  he  could  prove  it  by  the  doctors  at  Cairo.  She  denied  it,  and 
he  said  he  was  going  to  kill  her;  saw  Brown  laugh ;  don't  remember 
what  he  said  before  laughing  ;  did  not  hear  Mrs.  Osborne  say  she  would 
have  Mr.  Osborne  to  whip  him  for  talking  :  did  not  see  Brown  talking 
with  Lou  Patten  ;  don't  remember  of  Brown's  having  any  c(^nversa- 
tion  with  Mrs.  Osborne.  I  heard  him  tell  Beatty  Clutter  he  believed 
he  was  taking  the  Parrish's  part,  and  threatened  to  shoot  him.  I 
asked  Brown  to  let  Mrs.  Parrish  go  to  the  house.  He  drew  his  gun 
on  me  and  told  me  to  hush  or  he  would  shoot  me.  I  don't  remember 
of  seeing  Palmer ;  heard  Brown  say  that  he  had  killed  Dr.  Parrish, 
was  going  to  kill  Mrs.  Parrish,  and  expected  to  die  before  sunrise 
next  morning,  and  that  they  would  be  buried  together.  Did  not  see 
Clutter  put  the  gun  down  ;  it  was  a  rifle.  Saw  no  revolver  in  the 
party.  Clutter  had  the  gun  when  he  came  to  the  house  ;  do  not  know 
whose  gun  it  was  ;  have  not  heard  since  ;  don't  know  if  I  ever  saw  it 
before.  Miss  Lutie  Parrish  was  at  home  when  I  got  there  ;  don't  know 
whose  horse  Clutter  was  riding.  I  was  at  Mrs.  Bennett's  when  Brown 
took  dinner  ;  he  ate  before  I  did.  Had  no  conversation  with  Brown 
that  day.  Met  Brown  that  day  close  to  Cairo  in  a  buggy  ;  if  he  had  a 
gun  I  did  not  see  it.  Don't  think  I  saw  Brown  the  day  before.  I 
was  not  at  church.     Did  not  see  him  on  Saturday  as  I  remember  of. 

About  the  1st  of  April  last,  the  Sherifl'  believing  it  unsafe  for  Brown 
to  remain  in  the  county  jail,  removed  him  to  Kansas  City  for  safe 
keeping.     During  his  incarceration   at  Kansas   City   he  kept  up  the 


262  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

character  he  had  established,  defying  God  and  man,  and  showing  no 
signs  of  contrition  for  his  dreadful  deeds  up  to  a  short  time  before 
the  day  fixed  for  his  execution.  When  the  paper  was  handed  him 
containing  the  last  decision  of  the  supreme  court  in  his  case,  he  called 
his  fellow  prisoners  around  him,  and  with  curses  upon  the  courts  and 
the  officers  of  the  law,  read  in  mock  judicial  tones  the  decision  that 
doomed  him  to  die  upon  the  gallows,  and  made  his  little  child  the  son 
of  an  executed  felon.  Later,  as  her  letters  unquestionably  indicate, 
he  conspired  with  his  true  and  devoted  wife  to  simultaneously  commit 
suicide,  thereby  doubly  orphaning  his  innocent  and  helpless  child. 
His  never  faltering  wife,  brave  little  woman  that  she  was,  had  the  . 
courage  to  fulfill  her  part  of  the  compact,  but  he  seems  to  have  shrank 
from  his,  and  clung  to  life  to  the  last  possible  moment,  and  died  an 
ignominious  death  upon  the  scaffold. 

brown's  wife  commits  suicide. 

[From  the  Kansas  City  Times,  June  22d,  1880]. 

It  was  half-past  seven  o'clock  last  evening  that  the  rej^ort  of  a  pistol 
shot  was  heard  near  the  corner  of  Cherry  and  Thirteenth  streets. 
Mrs.  Fisher,  who  resides  at  1305  Cherry  street,  was  sitting  on  her 
front  porch  at  the  time.  It  seemed  to  her  as  if  the  shot  had  been  fired 
near  the  rear  of  her  house.  Her  first  thought  was  of  burglars,  and 
she  stepped  quickly  through  the  hall  into  her  bedroom.  From  the 
threshold  of  the  door  she  saw  the  sight  that  explained  the  mysterious 
shot.  A  woman  lying  dead  on  the  floor,  a  pistol  by  her  side,  a  hole 
in  the  forehead,  and  the  thin  clouds  of  smoke  curling  up  to  the  ceil- 
ing—  that  was  all,  yet  it  told  the  story  of  the  last  act  of  a  brave, 
faithful  little  woman.  Hade  Brown's  wife  dead  —  dead  by  her  own 
hand,  just  four  days  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  execution  of 
her  unworthy  husband.  Hers,  had  been  a  sad,  weary  life,  full  of 
anxiety,  care,  excitement,  sufi"ering,  disgrace  and  sorrow.  For  three 
years  past,  during  all  the  while  her  husband  had  been  hunted  by  the 
officers  of  the  law,  during  his  trial,  during  the  suspense  of  waiting  for 
the  final  decree  of  the  highest  tribunal,  and  during  the  last  weeks  of 
the  doomed  man's  stay  on  earth,  this  wife  had  been  true  to  him,  cease- 
less in  her  attentions,  tireless  in  her  devotion,  unremitting  in  her  love. 
A  more  beautiful  and  touching  instance  of  womanly  fidelity  and  wifely 
devotion  the  world  never  knew. 

The  story  of  Hade  Brown's  crime  is  familiar  to  every  one.  In  a  fit 
of  passion  he  slew  his  mother-in-law.  He  fled  to  Iowa  and  for  a  year 
lurked  about,  pursued  by  detectives.  He  was  finally  captured  and 
taken  back  to  Randolph  county,  the  scene  of  his  crime.  He  was 
doomed  to  death  on  the  gallows.  The  supreme  court  was  appealed 
to  as  a  last  resort.  Pending  their  decision  he  was  removed  to  Kansas 
City.  The  supreme  court  refused  to  interfere  in  his  behalf,  and  the 
Governor  declined  to  interpose  his  executive  clemency.  The  date  of 
the  execution  was  fixed  for  Friday,  the  25th,  only  three  days  hence.  . 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  263 

When  the  wife  heard  that  her  husband  must  die,  she  came  at  once 
to  Kansas  City,  bringing  with  her  an  only  child,  a  little  boy  just  past 
his  third  birthday.  The  meeting  between  the  doomed  man  and  his 
family  was  touching  in  the  extreme.  The  woman  gave  vent  to  her 
sorrow  in  heartrending  shrieks  and  a  flood  of  tears.  Hade  Brown  — 
the  careless,  blasphemous  and  scared  wretch  that  they  called  him  —  was 
overcome  by  emotion.  The  woman  and  the  child  were  all  he  loved. 
During  his  trial  and  when  sentence  was  passed  on  him  he  had  expressed 
himself  only  in  oaths  and  threats.  Now  the  sight  of  the  woman  and 
child  unnerved  him.  He  was  the  braggart  no  longer.  He  dropped  on 
his  knees  and  wept  and  sobbed  as  though  his  heart  would  break. 

That  was  four  weeks  ago.  Ever  since  that  time  the  woman  has  been 
a  ministerino;  ang-el  to  the  man.  Each  day  she  has  trudged  to  the 
jail,  through  rain  or  shine,  to  renew  her  pledges  of  devotion  and  offi- 
ces of  love  to  the  husband  already  under  the  shadow  of  death. 

The  woman  loved  the  man .  He  had  disgraced  her.  He  had  blighted 
her  young  life.  He  had  amassed  a  heritage  of  shame  for  her  child. 
He  had  broken  her  heart.  And  yet  she  loved  him,  and  Avhen  the 
hope  that  he  might  be  spared  was  dead,  the  resolve  came  upon  her 
that  she  would  die  too  and  sleep  in  the  same  grave  with  him.  The 
end  came  quickly.  A  pistol  shot  —  a  gasp  —  a  sigh  —  and  the 
troubled  soul  was  at  rest. 

THE    CONSPIRACY    OF    DEATH. 

Yesterday  afternoon  Hade  Brown  was  visited  in  his  cell  by  his  wife. 
What  passed  between  them  is  not  known  and  probably  never  will  be. 
It  is  known,  however,  that  both  man  and  woman  had  made  up  their 
minds  to  perish  by  suicide.  This  plan  had  been  discussed  before. 
All  along  Hade  Brown  has,  with  the  most  hideous  oaths,  declared  he 
would  never  perish  on  the  gallows.  These  declarations  did  not  par- 
ticularly impress  the  authorities,  as  Brown  was  supposed  to  be  more 
expert  at  threatening  than  at  executing.  Nevertheless,  as  is  usual  in  the 
case  of  criminals  about  to  die,  he  was  closely  watched,  and  no  means 
for  accomplishing  his  self-destruction  were  suff*ered  to  come  within 
his  grasp.  There  was  no  suspicion  that  the  wife  would  convey  to  him 
any  weapon  or  poison  by  which  his  threats  at  suicide  might  be  carried 
into  efiect.  Sue  Brown  was  regarded  as  a  quiet,  modest,  shrinking 
little  woman,  one  who  would  naturally  revolt  at  any  such  action,  which 
it  now  appears  she  was  so  ready  to  perform,  and  of  course  was  not 
watched.  The  visit  to  the  jail  yesterday  was  for  two  purposes.  The 
first  was  to  bid  her  husband  an  eternal  farewell,  for  she  had  resolved 
to  die.  The  second  was  to  provide  him  with  means  whereby  he  might 
end  his  life  and  thus  escape  the  gallows.  The  means  she  had  to  offer 
him  were  poison — a  heavy  dose  of  morphine,  which,  secreted  in  the 
folds  of  her  dress,  she  had  no  difficulty  in  conveying  to  his  cell. 
Where  she  obtained  the  morphine  has  not  yet  been  developed.  That 
may  come  out  among  the  dry  details  of  the  coroner's  inquest,  but 
probably  not.  Hade  Brown  took  the  deadly  powder  and  placed  it  in 
12 


264  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

his  vest  pocket.  It  was  decided  between  the  two  that  the  wife  was  to 
die  first ;  she  probably  told  him  how  she  intended  to  end  her  wretched 
lite.  She  was  to  leave  a  note  for  a  friend,  and  the  friend  was  to  hasten 
to  the  jail  and  "tell  Hade  that  Sne  was  dead."  That  was  to  be  the 
signal  for  the  husband's  preparations  for  death  to  begin.  He  was 
then  to  take  the  poison,  retire  to  his  pallet  and  pass  to  his  eternal 
sleep.  The  morning  was  to  find  his  body  dead  and  stark  and  stiif  in 
the  cell. 

When  the  two  parted  there  was  no  unusual  display  of  emotion  be- 
tween them.  There  Avas  not  a  look  nor  a  gesture  nor  a  word  that  was 
calculated  to  excite  suspicion.  They  kissed  each  other  good-bye,  and 
the  wife  said  :  "  We  will  see  each  other  in  the  morning,"  and  these 
were  her  last  words  to  him.  She  had  said  the  same  words  many  times 
before,  and  the  guards  took  no  particular  notice  of  them. 

At  the  door  she  turned  and  looked  back  at  him,  but  said  nothing. 
The  door  closed,  the  man  went  to  his  cell  and  the  woman  went  to  her 
death. 

THE    SCENE    OF    DEATH. 

Upon  her  return  to  Mrs.  Fisher's  residence  on  Cherry  street,  there 
was  nothing  in  Mrs.  Brown's  appearance  or  actions  to  convey  even  the 
remotest  hint  of  the  dreadful  purpose  she  had  in  mind.  She  ate  her 
supper  with  the  family  and  conversed  as  usual.  After  supper  she 
took  the  child  over  to  a  neighbor's  and  left  him  there  to  play.  She 
was  observed  to  embrace  him  and  kiss  him  before  she  left  him.  The 
child  went  about  his  play  in  his  bright,  nervous  way. 

She  returned  to  Mrs.  Fisher's  house  and  found  Mrs.  Fisher  sitting 
on  the  front  porch  talking  to  a  lady  friend.  She  passed  into  the  house 
and  was  not  seen  alive  again.  From  the  evidences  at  hand,  it  is  clear 
that  upon  leaving  Mrs.  Fisher  she  went  into  the  bedroom,  near  the 
rear  of  the  house,  and  wrote  the  two  letters  found  after  her  death  — 
wrote  them  in  the  dim,  uncertain  light  of  day,  upon  two  slips  of  com- 
mercial bill-heads,  and  in  very  uncertain  scrawling  chirography.  This 
accomplished,  she  took  a  comforter  from  the  bed  and  with  it  made  a 
pallet  on  the  floor.  In  one  of  the  bureau  drawers  there  was  a  small 
thirty-eight  caliber  five-shooter.  The  woman  opened  the  bureau 
drawer,  took  out  the  weapon,  stretched  herself  out  on  the  pallet, 
placed  the  weapon  to  her  right  temple  and  discharged  it.  The  bullet 
crushed  through  the  bone  and  lodged  in  the  brain.  Death  was  instan- 
taneous. 

When  Mrs.  Fisher  found  her  lying  there  dead,  the  body  was  turned 
slightly  over  on  the  left  side,  but  the  attitude  was  so  natural  and  easy 
that  the  repose  might  have  been  mistaken  for  that  of  sleep  instead  of 
death.  Mrs.  Fisher  was  terribly  shocked.  Her  cries  soon  attracted 
the  neighbors,  who  came  pouring  in,  and  among  them  the  little  boy 
whom  his  mother  had  but  a  half  hour  previously  kissed  good-bye  for 
the  last  time. 

What  did  the  child  know  of  death?  When  he  saw  the  woman  lying 
there,  he  tip-toed  softly  back  to  the  staring,  frightened  group  of  women 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  265 

and  said  softly,  *'  Mamma  is  asleep  —  we  mustn't  talk  or  we'll  wake 
her  up." 

Everybody  wept — the  strong  men  as  well  as  the  weaker  women. 
A  lady  took  the  child  up  and  carried  him  out  into  the  street  and  there 
he  romped  and  played  as  gaily  as  if  he  were  not  indeed  the  loneliest 
and  most  blighted  of  orphans. 

THE    TWO    LETTERS. 

Two  letters  were  found,  conveying  the  last  wishes  of  the  unhappy 
woman.  The  first  was  pinned  on  the  bosom  of  her  dress  and  read  as 
follows  :  — 

"  Mrs.  Fisher.  — Please  tell  my  darling  husband  immediately,  will 
you,  that  these  are  my  dying  words.  Please  see  that  Hade's  relations 
take  me  to  Sundell  graveyard  and  bury  me  with  my  dear  husband, 
and  in  the  same  grave  and  coffin.  These  are  my  dying  words,  good- 
bye forever  and  ever.  Please  see  that  my  child  is  raised  right  no 
matter  who  takes  charge  of  him.  I  forgive  every  one  who  has 
wronged  me  and  ask  forgiveness.  Good-bye  to  Chris  and  his  family, 
and  to  Moses  and  those  sweet  children  ;  also  my  sister  and  dear  old 
father  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher,  and  last  of  all  my  dear,  sweet  child 
and  husband.  Oh  forgive  me,  God,  is  my  prayer,  for  the  time  draws 
near  when  I  must  die.  Good-bye,  my  dear,  darling  child  and  hus- 
band.    This  is  written  by  Sue  Brown." 

The  other  letter  was  found  on  the  bureau  and  was  as   follows  :  — 

"  To  MY  darling  husband  and  child  and  my  fried  Belle  Fisher, 

THE  ONE  WHO  HAS  BEEN  SO  VERY  GOOD  AND  KIND  TO  ME.  My  darling 

husband  and  I  will  both  die  to-night.  My  life  is  a  misery  to  me  for  I 
know  that  James  is  to  hang,  and  I  am  ver\'^  near  craz}'^  over  my  troubles, 
they  are  more  than  I  can  bear.  Oh,  how  T  hate  to  leave  my  darling, 
precious  babe.  I  hope  my  relations  will  take  charge  of  him,  and 
raise  him  right,  and  always  be  good  and  kind  to  him  and  for  my  sake 
never  let  him  be  imposed  upon.  I  love  my  dear  husband  better  than 
the  whole  world,  and  he  can't  live  and  I  won't — we  Avill  both  die' 
together.  I  want  to  be  buried  in  my  darling's  arms,  and  in  the  same 
coffin  with  him. 

"  Mrs.  Fisher,  will  you  please  see  to  us  and  not  let  them  separate  us 
in  death  is  my  dying  wish.  That  God  will  forgive  me  and  take  me 
safely  home  is  my  dying  prayer.  I  want  my  sisters,  Sarah  and 
Luta,  to  have  my  things  between  them.  A  farewell  kiss  to  my  dear 
old  father,  one  I  love.  Mrs.  Fisher,  will  you  please  for  my  sake  have 
this  published.  I  want  you  to  take  the  news  to  Hade,  it  makes  no 
difference  who  says  no." 

THE    SCENE    AT    THE    JAIL. 

The  discovery  and  perusal  of  the  two  letters  left  by  Mrs.  Brown 
let  the  authorities  into  the  secret  that  there  was  an  understanding 
between  the  murderer  and  his  wife,  and  that  the  murderer  himself  con- 


266  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

templated  suicide  and  was  probably  in  possession  of  the  means 
whereby  to  accomplish  that  result.  To  frustrate  any  such  design, 
Deputy  Marshal  Freeman,  accompanied  by  Jailor  Farrell,  Sergeants 
Deitch  and  Snider,  officer  Barrons  and  several  other  patrolmen,  made 
haste  to  the  jail  and  quietly  slipped  up  in  front  of  Hade  Brown's  cell. 

"  Come  outside,  Hade,"  said  Freeman,  in  as  careless  a  tone  as  he 
could  feign. 

Brown  looked  up  and  saw  the  squad  of  officers.  In  a  flash  he 
divined  that  something  deeply  affecting  him  had  transpired.  He  did 
not  know  what,  nor  did  he  care.  As  quick  as  lightning  he  plunged 
his  hand  in  his  vest  pocket,  drew  out  the  package  of  morphine  and 
crammed  it  into  his  mouth.  Before  he  could  swallow  the  fatal  drug, 
however,  the  officers  had  seized  him  and  powerful  hands  had  fastened 
their  vice-like  clutch  about  his  neck.  Then  ensued  a  frightful 
struggle.  The  baffled  wretch  floundered  and  fought  with  the  despera- 
tion of  a  madman.  His  blasphemies  and  oaths  and  imprecations 
were  too  terrible  for  recital  in  a  public  print.  Alternately  he  cursed 
himself  and  his  assailants. 

"  Kill  me,  you  dogs  of  —  !  "  he  shrieked.  *<I've  got  to  die  any- 
way next  Friday,  and  I  might  just  as  well  die  here  and  now." 

It  was  a  dreadful  scene.  The  struggle  lasted  several  moments,  till 
absolutely  exhausted,  blue  in  the  face,  his  eyeballs  protruding  from 
his  head  and  the  froth  bubbling  from  his  mouth,  the  miserable  wretch 
lay  feebly  writhing  on  the  jail  floor.  As  if  he  had  been  a  beast,  his 
mouth  was  pried  open  and  the  poisonous  package  dragged  forth. 
Then  he  was  hauled  to  his  cell  and  placed  under  heavy  guard,  and 
even  then,  exhausted  as  he  was,  he  continued  to  utter  the  most  revolt- 
ing blasphemies  and  imprecations. 

It  was  decided  not  to  communicate  to  him  the  fact  of  his  wife's 
death  till  to-day.  * 

MURDER   MOST   FOUL. 
[From  the  Moberly  Headlight.] 

One  of  the  most  dastardly,  cold-blooded  and  unprovoked  murders 
on  record  has  just  come  to  light  in  this  county,  and  speedy  justice 
has  already  been  meted  out  to  the  bloody  perpetrators  by  an  infu- 
riated mob,  composed  almost  wholly,  if  not  entirely,  of  colored 
men. 

Some  three  weeks  ago,  George  Matthews,  an  old  negro  man  of  in- 
dustrious habits  and  good  character,  living  four  or  five  miles  east  of 
Moberly,  suddenly  disappeared  from  his  home,  and  his  continued 
absence  aroused  the  suspicion  that  he  had  been  foully  made  way  with, 
and  the  people  of  the  neighborhood,  enlisting  the  aid  of  officials,  set 
to  work  last  Saturday  to  ferret  out  the  mystery,  and  they  were  not 
Ions:  in  brin^ins:  to  lio;ht  one  of  the  most  brutal  murders  on  record. 
On  Monday  the  body  of  old  George  was  found  in  Elk  fork,  a  creek 
close  to  his  late  residence,  with  a  bullet  hole  through  the  head  and  the 
head  badly  beat  up. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  267 

Abe  Lincoln,  a  stepson  of  the  murdered  man,  aged  about  20  years, 
Henry,  a  negro  boy  about  17  years  old,  Alfred  Cason,  a  negro  neigh- 
bor, the  wife  of  the  victim  and  another  negro  were  arrested  and  taken 
to  Moberly,  charged  with  the  crime.  At  the  coroner's  inquest  in  Mo- 
berly,  Tuesday,  Abe  Lincoln,  the  stepson  of  the  murdered  man,  con- 
fessed to  having  shot  his  stepfather,  and  implicated  the  boy  Henry 
with  him  in  the  murder.  According  to  his  confession,  they  went  to 
the  residence  of  the  old  man  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  the  mur- 
der for  the  express  purpose  of  killing  him.  They  found  him  alone, 
and  sat  and  talked  with  him  for  an  hour  or  two,  when  they  arose  and 
set  about  their  bloody  work.  The  stepson  put  his  pistol  to  the  old 
man's  head  and  fired,  inflicting  a  deadly  wound  and  causing  the  old 
man  to  fall  to  the  floor  in  a  heap.  The  boy  Henry  then  stepped  to 
the  door,  gathered  a  club  he  had  left  on  the  outside,  and  dealt  the 
dying  man  several  heavy  blows  on  the  head  with  it.  The  stepson  then 
took  the  club  and  proceeded  to  beat  the  last  spark  of  life  out  of  the 
prostrate  body,  after  which  the  two  dragged  it  from  the  house  into  a 
fence-corner  near  by,  and  then  went  to  Cason' s  and  stayed  all  night. 
They  returned  about  sunrise  the  following  morning,  dragged  the  body 
to  the  creek  and  threw  it  in. 

No  cause  whatever  is  assigned  for  the  brutal  deed,  but  the  negro 
Cason  is  supposed  to  be  the  principal  instigator  and  the  planner  of  the 
affair,  and  all  the  parties  arrested  and  some  others  are  believed  to  be 
more  or  less  implicated.  It  seems  that  Matthews'  wife  and  his  step- 
daughters are  of  a  very  loose  character,  and  that  he  protested  against 
feeding  and  entertaining  the  worthless  characters  that  this  case  of 
affairs  drew  aroun.d  him,  which,  no  doubt,  led  to  the  bloody  deed. 

Between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  Tuesday  night  a  body  of  heavily 
armed  men  rode  up  to  the  Moberly  calaboose  and  made  the  guards  give 
up  the  prisoners  —  Henry  Mitchell,  Dick  Yancy  (Abe  Lincoln)  and 
Alfred  Cason.  They  were  taken  to  a  trestle  bridge,  about  a 
mile  east  of  town,  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas,  and  all 
three  swung  up.  Cason  was  let  down  and  then  swung  up  again. 
He  would  not  or  could  not  confess  anything,  and  was  let  down 
and  sent  back  to  the  calaboose.  Mitchell  and  Yancy  were  left 
hanging  until  the  following  morning,  when  they  were  cut  down 
and  an  inquest  held  over  them.  The  jury  returned  verdicts  to 
the  efiect  that  deceased  came  to  their  deaths  at  the  hands  of  un- 
known parties.  The  mob  was  not  masked,  and  a  good  many  are 
known,  but  the  ones  who  know  will  not  tell.  The  negro,  Cason,  is 
scared  half  to  death,  and  will  answer  no  questions.  The  bodies  were 
taken  in  charge  by  an  undertaker  and  buried.  Everything  was  con- 
ducted quietly,  and  few  in  Moberly  knew  anything  had  happened 
until  the  following  morning. 

DISTRESSING    FATAL    ACCIDENT. 

[From  the  Herald.] 
The  old  tank  pond  just  east  of  the  corporate  limits  of  Huntsville, 
which  contains  a  large  body  of  Avater,  from  10  to  12  feet  in  depth,  was 


268  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  scene  of  a  most  distressing  accident  between  five  and  six  o'clock 
on  Wednesday  evening  of  last  week,  January  13,  1881,  whereby  one 
happy  home  was  made  suddenly  desolate  by  the  loss  of  its  head  and 
protecter.  Mr.  Richard  Hotchkiss,  an  industrious  and  hard-working 
coal  miner,  living  in  the  east  side  of  the  town,  having  finished  his  day's 
work  in  the  pit,  hitched  his  horse  to  his  buggy,  and  with  his  two 
little  boys  drove  to  this  pond  for  the  purpose  of  washing  off  the 
vehicle.  Not  knowing  the  depth  of  the  water,  and  being  unable  to 
swim,  he  unhitched  the  horse  and  rode  him  in  to  try  it  before  driving 
the  buggy  in.  He  had  only  got  a  few  yards  from  the  bank  when  his 
horse  suddenly  struck  deep  swimming  water.  The  first  plunge  of  the 
animal  jerked  the  rider's  hat  off,  and  in  attempting  to  recover  it,  he 
fell  off  the  horse  and  was  drowuied.  The  only  witnesses  to  this  sad 
tragedy  were  the  two  little  boys,  who,  upon  seeing  their  father  sink 
beneath  the  water  the  third  time,  ran  for  their  home  screaming  at  the 
top  of  their  voices.  As  soon  as  the  sorrowful  news  reached  the  ears 
of  the  unsuspecting  wife,  she  was  almost  crazed  with  grief,  and  rush- 
ing wildly  to  the  pond  she  attempted  to  plunge  into  the  deep  water 
after  the  body  of  her  husband,  whose  face  she  had  looked  upon  but  a  few 
moments  before  in  perfect  health  ;  but,  happily,  a  number  of  persons 
were  attracted  to  the  place  before  her  by  the  screams  of  the  children 
and  prevented  her  from  becoming  a  victim  of  her  own  rashness.  It  was 
only  a  short  time  until  the  banks  of  the  pond  were  lined  with  pe()[)le, 
and  the  work  of  dragging  the  pond  was  at  once  commenced  and  kept  up 
until  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock,  when  the  b(Kly  was  recovered. 
The  face  showed  a  number  of  bruises  and  cuts,  and  bled  freely  for 
hours.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  these  injuries  were  inflicted  by 
the  horse's  fore  feet,  for  it  is  an  established  fact  that  all  horses  become 
greatly  frightened  Avhen  they  first  strike  swimming  water,  and  if  a 
rider  falls  off  at  such  a  time  the  horse  will  in  every  instance  claw  the 
water  desperately  to  get  to  him. 

The  deceased  was  31  years  of  age,  and  leaves  a  devoted  wife  and 
three  interesting  little  boys  to  mourn  his  untimely  death ;  and  these 
have  the  sincere  sympathy  of  our  entire  people  in  this  their  hour  of 
sad  affliction.  He  was  an  honest,  upright  man  ;  was  loved  by  his 
friends,  and  respected  by  all.  His  remains  were  buried  Thursday 
evening  in  the  city  cemetery  by  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  fraternity 
he  was  an  honored  member,  and  were  followed  to  their  last  resting 
place  by  a  large  concourse  of  people. 

Peace  to  his  ashes,  and  may  the  good  God  comfort  the  bereaved 
ones. 

JOHN    H.  WRIGHT  COMMITS    SUICIDE. 

John  H.  AVright,  a  young  married  man  about  32  years  of  age,  re- 
siding with  his  wife  and  two  children  four  miles  south  of  Huntsville, 
on  a  farm  adjoining  the  one  occupied  by  his  father,Mr.  James  Wright, 
committed  suicide  about  nine  o'clock  Tuesday  morning,  January  29, 
1884,  by  hanging  himself  to  a  tree  in  a  woods  pasture  about  a  half  a  mile 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


269 


from  his  house.  He  got  up  Tuesday  morning  and  dressed  himself 
and  walked  over  to  see  his  father.  Finding  that  his  father  had  gone 
to  see  a  neighbor,  a  Mr.  Yager,  he  returned  home,  told  his  wife  that  he 
was  going  over  to  Mr.  Hunt's,  another  neighbor,  and  started  in  that 
direction.  He  walked  down  the  road  over  which  his  father  would  have 
to  return  to  a  point  about  half  a  mile  from  his  house,  climbed  over 
the  fence,  walked  about  50  yards  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  pasture, 
tied  a  comfort  around  his  head  and  deliberately  hung  himself  with  a 
rope  which  he  had  with  him,  dying  from  strangulation.  Life  could 
not  have  been  extinct  very  long  when  his  father  returned  over  the  road 
in  company  with  Mr.  William  Bagby,  who  noticed  the  dangling 
object  and  called  Mr.  Wright's  attention  to  it,  saying  he  believed  it 
was  a  man.  Mr.  Wright  replied,  he  guessed  not — it  was  only  a  "  scare- 
crow." But  Mr.  Bagby  kept  his  eye  on  the  object,  and  again  de- 
clared his  belief  with  more  firmness,  when  Mr.  Wright  thought  it 
might  be  and  that  they  had  better  go  over  and  investigate,  and  they 
did.  Finding  that  it  was  a  man  in  fact,  but  not  knowing  who  it  was 
because  of  the  face  being  concealed  by  the  comfort  tied  over  it,  Mr. 
Wright  suggested  that  they  had  better  go  and  get  some  of  the  neigh- 
bors before  interfering  with  the  body,  and  they  each  started  in  dif- 
ferent directions  for  neighbors.  Mr.  Bagby  and  his  companions 
returned  first  and  cut  the  body  down  and  removed  the  comfort, 
when  they  recognized  the  face,  and  the  body  of  the  dead  man  was 
at  once  removed  to  the  home  of  his  parents.  A  note  found  pinned 
on  the  coat  stated  that  the  deceased  was  tired  of  living,  asked  to  be 
buried  in  the  clothes  he  had  on  and  that  no  inquest  be  held  on  his 
body. 

The  cause  is  ascribed  to  physical  infirmities.  He  had  been  in  poor 
health  for  several  years  and  a  few  months  before  he  had  a  severe 
spell  of  sickness,  which  left  him  in  a  still  more  enfeebled  condition. 
He  had  been  quite  despondent  for  some  time,  and  about  a  month 
previous  bought  laudanum  with  the  view  of  taking  his  life,  but  his  wife 
persuaded  him  from  it.  His  wife  says  their  domestic  relations  were 
the  most  pleasant  and  happy,  and  that  he  had  never  given  her  a  cross 
word. 

At  an  inquest  held  on  the  body  a  verdict  in  accordance  with  the 
above  facts  was  found. 


CHAPTEK    XIY. 

"War  of  1812  —  ludian  War  of  1832  —  California  Emigrants  —  Mexican  War  —  Address 
of  W.  R.  Samuel  —  The  Civil  War  of  1861 — Officers  Commanding  Companies  — 
Non-combatants  Killed  in  tiie  County. 

**  Our  heroes  of  the  former  days 
Deserved  and  gained  their  never  fading  bays." 

Randolph  county  has  never  been  wanting  in  patriotism,  but,  upon 
the  contrary,  her  citizens  have  always  been  among  the  first  to  respond 
to  the  call  of  their  country  when  its  honor  or  its  liberty  were  im- 
periled. Whether  they  were  called  to  meet  the  savage  Indian  at 
home,  or  the  scarcely  less  civilized  Mexican  under  the  burning  suns 
of  a  foreign  clime,  they  have  responded  with  the  same  alacrity,  and 
gone  forth  to  do  battle  with  an  enthusiasm  and  courage  that  have  ever 
characterized  the  true  soldier. 

A  few  of  these  men  have  seen  service  in  four  different  wars.  The 
veterans  of  1812  have  all  passed  away  except  Durett  Bruce,  William 
McCanne  and  Elijah  Williams,  who  will,  ere  long,  join  their  comrades 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 

THE    OLD    SOLUIERS    OF    1812    HAVE    A    MEETING. 

In  answer  to  a  call  which  had  been  generally  made  by  the  papers 
of  North  Missouri,  the  surviving  soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812  assembled 
together  at  Moberly,  October  20th,  1871,  and  were  royally  entertained 
by  the  patriotic  citizens  of  that  place.  There  were  in  all  about  30 
of  the  old  heroes,  and  they  enjoyed  the  reunion  after  the  good  old 
fashion  of  the  past. 

The  meeting  was  appropriately  opened  with  prayer  by  Elder  F.  R. 
Palmer,  himself  one  of  the  veterans,  breathing  a  spirit  of  thankfulness 
that  so  many  of  those  who  had  breasted  the  tide  of  British  invasion  in 
those  trying  times  were  permitted  to  meet  and  greet  each  other  at  so 
late  a  period  of  life,  and  invoking  the  blessings  of  heaven  to  rest  upon 
the  land  which  they  aided  in  rescuing  from  the  domination  of  a 
haughty  tyrant.  An  able,  entertaining  and  beautiful  address  was 
delivered  by  Col.  W.  F.  Switzler,  of  the  Columbia  Statesman,  and 
the  party  repaired  to  the  Tate  House  to  partake  of  a  magnificent  ban- 
quet which  the  munificence  of  the  landlord  in  conjunction  with  that  of 
the  good  people  of  the  place  had  provided  for  their  entertainment. 
(270) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  271 

The  utmost  good  feeling  and  social  cheer  characterized  the  occasion, 
and  marked  it  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  epochs  in  the  history  of 
the  county.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  glorious  old  gray-beards 
who  were  in  attendance,  with  their  ages  and  places  of  residence :  — 

B.  C.  Wright,  aged  85  ;  William  McCanne,  Sr.,  aged  76  ;  William 
Eoiltree,  aged  76  ;  William  Haines,  aged  83  ;  Durett  Bruce,  aged  81, 
now  (1884)  resides  in  Moberly ;  Elijah  Williams,  aged  74,  now 
(1884)  resides  in  Moberly;  B.  Owen,  aged  76;  Abraham  Goodding, 
aged  76 ;  Robert  Boucher,  aged  77 ;  S.  C.  Davis,  aged  76  ;  Louis 
Osburn,  aged  S2 ;  all  of  Randolph  county.  F.  R.  Palmer,  Clay 
county,  aged  82.  George  Brown,  aged  72  ;  William  Sulson,  aged  76  ; 
both  of  Macon  county.  William  Woodruff,  aged  82,  Linn  county. 
Abajiah  Woods,  Grundy  county,  aged  75.  Thompson  Hardin,  aged 
84;  F.  Herndon,  aged  78;  William  Acton,  aged  77;  John  Daven- 
port, aged  77  ;  Gabriel  Parker,  aged  77  ;  William  Summers,  aged  80  ; 
Martin  G.  Buckler,  aged  74  ;  Brice  Edwards,  aged  79  ;  all  of  Boone 
county.  Robert  P.  Jones,  Callaway  county,  aged  79.  J.  M.  Chadsey, 
aged  73 ;  Thomas  G.  Grant,  aged  72 ;  John  Adkinson,  aged  84 ; 
George  T.  Naylor,  aged  84  ;  all  of  Monroe  county. 

INDIAN    WAR    OF    1832. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  a  number  of  soldiers  who  enlisted 
in  the  Lidian  War  from  Randolph  county:  Iverson  Sears,  James 
Ratcliff,  Joseph  Holman,  James  Holman,  Capt.  Robert  Boucher,  Jo- 
seph Goodding,  Capt.  Abraham  Goodding,  Joseph  M.  Hammett, 
Thomas  J.  Samuel,  Tarrett  Rose,  John  Dysart,  Ignatius  Noble,  Dr. 
C.  F.  Burckhartt,  May  Burton,  Jefferson  Hockersmith,  Benjamin 
Hardin,  Samuel  Hardin. 

CALIFORNIA    EMIGRANTS. 

The  years  1849  and  1850  will  be  remembered  by  the  old  settlers  of 
Randolph  county  as  the  periods  when  the  gold  excitement  in  Cali- 
fornia reached  its  highest  point,  and  as  the  years  when  the  people 
generally  throughout  the  American  Union,  as  well  as  Randolph  coun- 
ty, were  alike  smitten  with  the  gold  fever.  The  early  settlers,  like 
their  descendants  of  to-day,  soon  learned  that 

"  Gold  is  the  strWgth,  the  sinew  of  the  world ; 
The  health,  the  soul,  the  beauty  most  divine;" 

and  manifested  their  love  and  appreciation  of  the  saffron-hued  metal 
by  separating  themselves  from  their  homes  and  friends,  and  taking  up 
their  line  of  march  to  the  gold  fields  of  California. 


272  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Randolph  county  sent  forth  many  of  her  sons,  some  of  whom  were 
men  with  gray  beards,  and  others  were  boys  still  in  their  teens,  to 
that  far  distant  region,  all  animated  with  the  hope  that  their  labors, 
their  sacrifices,  and  their  bravery  would  be  rewarded  with  an  abun- 
dance of  the  glittering  and  precious  ore. 

Very  few  of  these  gold-hunters  ever  accumulated  anything,  and  a 
number  lost  all  they  had,  including  even  "  their  lives,  their  fortunes, 
and  their  sacred  honor."  The  persons  who  really  gained  by  the  gold 
excitement  were  those  who  remained  at  home  and  sold  their  produce 
to  the  infatuated  emigrants.  The  rush  which  had  commenced  in  the 
spring  of  1849  continued  until  about  the  first  of  June,  1850,  when 
the  great  surging  tide  began  to  abate,  although  belated  gold-hunters 
continued  to  pass  through  the  country  for  some  time. 

But  the  excitement  began  to  die  away,  and  those  citizens  who  had 
judgment  enough  to  resist  the  contagion,  now  settled  down  in  quiet 
to  pursue  the  even  tenor  of  their  way. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  names  of  many  of  the  parties  who 
went  from  Randolph  county  to  California  in  1849  and  in  1850 :  — 

CALIFORNIA    EMIGRANTS. 

G.  W.  Taylor,  John  Taylor,  E.  T.  Owen,  Thomas  H.  B.  Owen, 
James  Murphy,  Joseph  Murphy,  H.  Lassiter,  Thomas  J.  Gorham,  R. 
T.  Gorham,  Abraham  Lassiter,  Tony  Fort,  Dr.  G.  T.  Fort,  A.  J. 
Fort,  A.  G.  Lea,  James  P.  Dameron,  James  Collins,  Granvil  Wilcox, 
Jerry  Taylor,  E.  B.  Cone,  George  Hunt,  Milton  Hunt,  J.  B.  Hunt, 
F.  M.  Hammett,  Daniel  Hunt,  Major  Hunt,  William  Hunt,  Charles 
Hunt,  John  Gaines,  John  Dameron,  Willis  Dameron,  Jeptha  Baker, 
Charles  Fletcher,  F.  M.  McLane,  William  Dunn,  J.  V.  DunU,  John 
Callahan,  John  Tillotson,  William  Hardister,  Capt.  W.  T.  Austin,  J. 
H.  Austin,  Felix  Austin,  Henry  Austin,  Sr.,  James  Atterbury,  Uras- 
mus  Atterbury,  Asa  Fidler,  J.  A.  Brown,  Henry  Austin,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Yowell,  James  Emerson,  Sr.,  James  Emerson,  Jr.,  Rufus  Emerson, 
George  Pool,  J.  C.  Boney,  Hugh  McCanne,  Charles  Ragsdale,  Julius 
Ragsdale,  John  Maupin,  Z.  P.  Gray,  William  Gladwell,  William  Al- 
verson,  Robert  Brown,  Ban  Hutchison,  Robert  Skinner,  Samuel  Skin- 
ner, Randall  Sears,  James  Summers,  Doc.  Summers,  Frank  Summers, 
James  Head,  Charles  Turner,  Jesse  Suimiiers,  Joseph  Yowell,  Martin 
Shriver,  Gabriel  Austin,^  William  Austin,^  Lewis  Austin^  (colored). 


1  Were  given  their  freedom  in  California. 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  273 


MEXICAN   WAR. 


Ill  July,  1846,  upon  the  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
a  company  of  men  was  organized  in  Randolph  county  for  the  Mexican 
War.  The  company  consisted  of  about  100  men,  and  left  Huntsville 
on  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1846.  Before  leaving  the  company 
was  presented  with  a  beautiful  silk  flag,  made  by  the  ladies  of  Ran- 
dolph county.  This  flag  was  carried  by  the  men  through  all  their 
long  marches  and  engagements,  and  when  they  returned  home,  in  No- 
vember, 1847,  it  was,  with  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  men,  stored 
away  in  the  court-house  for  safe  keeping,  and,  unfortunately,  de- 
stroyed by  fire  when  the  court-house  was  burned.  This  list,  being 
thus  destroyed,  we  are  unable  to  give  all  the  names  of  the  men  who 
made  up  the  company ;  the  list,  however,  is  as  complete  as  we  can 
make  it :  — 

Hancock  Jackson,  captain,  dead  ;  Clair  Oxley,  first  lieutenant,  dead  ; 
R.  G.  Gilman,  second  lieutenant,  dead  ;  W.  R.  Samuel,  third  lieuten- 
ant, living;  William  Ketchum,  first  sergeant,  died  in  the  army;  W. 
L.  Fletcher,  first  sergeant,  died  in  Texas  in  1883;  L.  W.  T.  Allin, 
second  sergeant,  died  in  the  army  ;  Eldridge  Cross,  second  sergeant, 
died  in  Adair  county  ;  Vincent  Barnes,  fourth  sergeant,  died  in  the 
army  ;  Isaac  Larrick,  fourth  sergeant,  died  in  the  army  ;  Thos.  L. 
Gorham,  first  corporal,  died  in  Montana  ;  Robert  C.  Reed,  third  cor- 
poral, died  in  California  ;  E.  C.  Montgomery,  fourth  corporal,  died  in 
North  Carolina;  R.  M.  Proffitt,  first  bugler,  dead;  W.  C.  Holman, 
second  bugler,  dead;  Harrigan  Barnett,  dead;  A.  Bradigan,  black- 
smith, Lincoln  county  ;  N.  B.  Bris well,  dead  ;  W.  P.  Baker,  dead  ; 
John  W.  Burris,  dead  ;  James  H.  Brown,  dead  ;  Francis  Condon, 
dead  ;  George  R.  Caton,  dead  ;  Jeremiah  Clarkston,  in  Macon  county  ; 
Asa  K.  Collett,  in  Adair  county  ;  James  Cole,  dead  ;  Lewis  R.  Col- 
lier, in  Rudolph  county;  William  Embree,  in  Randolph  county;  O, 
N.  P.  Flagett,  dead  ;  David  A.  Gray,  dead  ;  Samuel  P.  Gray,  dead  ; 
William  N.  Gist,  dead  ;  Benjamin  F.  Heaton,dead  ;  Lewis  Haggard, 
dead  ;  James  Heaton,  dead  ;  A.  O.  John  ;  N.  T.  Johnson,  in  Randolph 
county;  F.  M.  Morris,  dead  ;  John  F.  Miller,  dead  ;  Daniel  C.  Moore, 
dead  ;  E.  A.  Matney,  in  Macon  county  ;  James  N.  Marshall,  in  Macon 
county;  William  Murley,  Adair  county;  Monroe  Mullion,  Monroe 
county  ;  John  F.  McDavitt,  died  in  the  army ;  O.  P.  Magee,  died  in 
T^xas;  A.  McDonald;  John  O.  Oxby,  dead;  F.  E.  W.  Patton,  in 
the  mountains;    James  Phillips,  Macon  ;  M.  H.  Parker;  E.  W.  Par- 


274  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

sels,  Adair  ;  John  Roberts  ;  H.  H.  Richardson,  in  Chariton  county  ; 
John  W.  Richardson,  in  Texas;  W.  T.  Redd,  in  California;  W.  G. 
Riley,  in  Randolph  county;  S.  D.  Richardson,  dead;  Martin  Riddle; 
P.  M.  Richardson ;  John  W.  Latta,  in  Illinois  ;  Harvey  C.  Ray ; 
James  Ramy,  in  Platte  county  ;  James  G.  Smith,  in  Randolph  county  ; 
W.  R.  Shiter;  Paul  Shirley,  in  California;  E.  K.  Wilson,  in  Macon 
county;  G.  H.  Wilson,  in  Randolph  county;  William  H.  Wilson,  in 
California  ;  O.  H.  P.  Fizell ;  William  Roberts  and  A.  M.  C.  Donald. 

This  company  belonged  to  the  Second  Regiment  Missouri  Mounted 
Volunteers,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sterling  Price,  and 
Lieut. -Col.  D.  D.  Mitchell,  two  as  brave  and  gallant  officers  as 
ever  commanded  a  regiment  in  any  war. 

The  men  were  in  two  small  engagements,  one  at  Taos,  and  the  other 
in  the  Moreau  Valley,  and  like  the  American  forces  generally,  came 
out  victorious. 

Two  young  men  from  Randolph  county,  joined  the  army  away  from 
home.  Their  names  were  Chilton  B.  Samuel,  and  his  cousin,  Edmond 
T.  Taylor.  The  former  joined  Capt.  O.  P.  Moss'  companjs  Doni- 
phan's regiment,  and  the  latter  Captain  Barber's  company,  of  Linn 
county.  They  were  true-hearted  and  brave  ;  one  died  with  the  con- 
sumption (Samuel),  and  the  other  (Taylor)  died  from  an  attack  of 
measles,  and  was  buried  far  away  from  home  and  friends,  on  the  top 
of  a  lonely  mountain  in  New  Mexico. 

September  21,  1877,  during  the  progress  of  the  fair  which  was  then 
being  held  at  Huntsville,  W.  R.  Samuel  delivered  the  following  ad- 
dress to  many  of  the  surviving  soldiers  of  Capt.  Hancock  Jackson's 
company,  who  were  on  that  day  present :  — 

Fellow  Soldiers  of  the  Mexican  War  :  Thirty-one  years  ago, 
the  first  Monday  in  August  last,  after  casting  our  votes  as  American 
freemen,  for  men  of  our  choice  to  represent  us  in  our  State  and 
National  councils,  we  left  for  the  seat  of  war.  Our  enlistment  as 
soldiers  in  the  Mexican  War  was  only  a  few  days  prior  to  the  close  of  an 
exciting  contest  in  the  political  arena,  in  which  the  good  old  Whig  and 
Democratic  parties  were  the  contestants.  Our  departure  was  postponed 
for  a  few  days,  in  order  that  we  might  enjoy  this  inestimable  privilege  of 
voting,  which  no  good  citizen,  we  take  occasion  to  say,  should  ever 
neglect.  A  company  of  about  100  men,  raised  and  organized  princi- 
pally by  Capt.  Hancock  Jackson,  was  drawn  up  in  line,  mounted 
and  equipped,  in  the  public  square  of  Huntsville,  and  was  presented 
with  a  beautiful  silk  flag  by  the  ladies  of  Huntsville  and  vicinity,  the 
presentation  speech  being  made  by  a  handsome  young  lady,  then  a 
resident  of  Huntsville,  now  a  resident  of  Randolph  county.  The  la^y 
is  now  some  older  of  course,  but  still  good  looking,  and  if  you  have 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  275 

fo¥gotten  her  I  refer  you  to  Judge  Burckhartt  who  knows  every  lady, 
especially  the  handsome  ones,  that  have  lived  in  this  vicinity  since  he 
was  10  years  old,  and  that  has  been,  /  guess,  nearly  50  years,  but  for 
fear  he  will  not  tell  you,  I  will  say  that  it  was  Miss  Harriet  Amanda 
Head,  now  the  wife  of  our  Representative,  the  Hon.  James  F.  Wight. 
I  being  ensign  and  second  lieutenant,  was  the  happy  recipient  of  that 
ilag,  and  also  the  bearer  of  it,  and  am  glad  to  be  able  to  say  that  it  was 
never  dishonored,  trailed  in  the  dust,  surrendered  or  captured.  We 
all  made  it  a  point  to  preserve  it  and  defend  it,  not  only  because  it 
bore  the  stars  and  stripes,  emblematic  of  the  American  Union,  our 
native  land,  but  also  as  a  valuable  memento  of  the  parting  gift  of  our 
many  fair  friends  left  behind.  We  brouo:ht  it  back  untarnished,  it 
having  waved  in  triumph  in  all  the  contests  in  which  we  were  engaged. 
We  started  on  our  destination,  we  knew  not  where,  but  with  strong 
resolutions  to  do  our  duty,  and  with  many  misgivings  as  to  whether 
we  would  hold,  out  faithful.  The  whole  people,  en  masse,  vied  one 
with  another  in  loading  us  with  presents  of  various  kinds,  and  provi- 
sions in  abundance,  and  after  many  warm  expressions  of  regret  at  our 
departure  and  expressing  the  hope  of  our  safe  return,  we  were  rapidly 
marched  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  then  on  the  western  borders  of  civili- 
zation, but  now  not  far  from  the  center  of  a  populated  empire.  There 
we  found  Col.  Sterling  Price  and  Lieut. -Col.  D.  D.  Mitchell,  both 
noble  men,  generous,  kind  and  brave,  organizing  a  regiment  of  which 
we  were  to  form  a  part.  We  were  kept  at  the  Fort  drilling,  breaking 
mules  and  oxen,  and  doing  camp  duty  in  the  heat  and  dust  for  a  week 
or  ten  days,  which  some  of  us  at  least  considered  hard  work,  still  not 
knowing  whether  we  were  destined  for  New  or  Old  Mexico,  or  whether 
we  were  to  embark  by  land  or  water,  all  becoming,  in  the  meantime, 
restless  and  anxious  to  be  started  to  some  point.  If  the  order  had 
come  to  disband  and  go  home,  some  of  us  would  have  rejoiced  more 
than  we  did  when  the  order  was  finally  promulgated  to  be  ready  to  march 
at  daylight  next  morning.  It  was,  however,  a  great  relief  to  be  able  to 
leave  the  abominable  Fort.  We  were,  while  there,  under  the  orders 
of  regular  army  officers,  and  the  discipline  was  rather  severe  for  raw 
volunteers,  and  although  we  were  considered  a  part  of  the  garrison  of 
the  Fort,  we  were  neither  permitted  to  eat  or  sleep  inside  its  walls, 
but  were  to  do  our  eating  and  sleeping  on  the  bleak  hills  a  mile  or  so 
beyond.  We  started  out  1000  strong,  our  destination  proving  to  be 
Santa  Fe,  in  New  Mexico,  whither  Col.  A.  W.  Doniphan's  regiment 
had  preceded  us  a  short  time,  and  whose  place  in  that  country  we 
were  to  supply.  We  had  a  weary  march  of  1000  miles,  harassed  oc- 
casionally by  the  wild  savages  then  inhabiting  the  foot  hills  of  the 
desert  plains.  We  were  frequently  short  of  provisions,  and  some- 
times almost  famishing  for  water,  but  I  can  say  with  sincerity  and 
truth,  we  had  no  murmuring,  for  no  company  had  a  better  set  of  men 
than  Co.  C.  Others  may  have  had  as  good,  none  better.  It  is 
true  that  we  had  a  few  that  were  unruly  and  turbulent,  but  the  good 
and  true  so  greatly  predominated  that  such  hard  cases  were  held  in 


276  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

check.  We  had  but  one  man  in  our  company  that  so  disgraced  the 
name  of  a  soldier  that  we  had  to  drum  him  out  of  the  service,  and 
never  permitted  him  to  enter  the  ranks  again.  He  afterwards,  I  be- 
lieve, joined  the  Mexicans;  but  the  quick  dismissal  of  this  one  from 
the  ranks  by  unanimous  consent  (for  he  was  not  court-martialed), 
only  showed  how  severely  any  dishonorable  act  would  be  condemned 
and  punished. 

Although  the  troops  occupying  New  Mexico  never  had  to  fight  any 
such  hard  battles  as  were  fought  at  Cerro  Gordo,  Resaco  de  la  Palma, 
Buena  Vista,  Churubusco,  and  Monterey,  and  in  which  it  was  proven, 
beyond  question,  that  American  soldiers  are  unrivalled,  yet  what  little 
fighting  we  did,  though  greatly  outnumbered,  we  always  came  ofi" 
victorious  ;  and  then  we  were  at  all  times  ready  to  go  where  danger 
or  duty  called,  and  that  was  all  that  could  be  expected  of  us.  We 
were  constantly  exposed  to  armies  larger  than  ours,  and  it  frequently 
happened  that  small  detachments  were  taken  prisoners,  and  notwith- 
standing the  Mexican  treachery  and  the  many  outrages  committed  on 
our  men  who  were  captured,  and  notwithstanding  the  causes  thus 
given  for  retaliation,  we  committed  no  acts  of  vandalism,  nor  punished 
the  innocent  for  acts  of  the  guilty,  but  when  parties  fell  into  our 
hands  who  were  proven,  beyond  doubt,  to  be  the  leaders  in  murdering 
small  detachments  of  our  men,  whom  they  had  taken  prisoners,  you 
may  be  sure  speedy  justice  was  meted  out  to  them. 

While  we  had  many  hardships  and  privations  to  encounter  in  this 
campaign,  which  were  sometimes  severe  and  trying,  we  enjoyed  many 
seasons  of  pleasure  and  satisfaction.  Our  company  was,  comparatively 
speaking,  a  band  of  brothers  or  a  family.  We  were  in  a  foreign  land, 
many  miles  from  home,  surrounded  on  every  hand  by  bitter  and 
relentless  enemies.  These  circumstances,  perhaps,  knit  us  together 
more  closely  as  friends  —  at  any  rate  we  were  friends,  and  fast  ones 
too,  and  I  am  truly  proud  to  be  able  to  say  on  this  occasion,  that  as 
an  officer  of  the  company,  I  had  the  unbounded  confidence  of  nearly 
the  entire  company  ;  they  had  mine  also.  I  never  called  upon  any  of 
you,  or  those  who  have  gone  from  us,  for  a  favor  that  you  did  not 
cheerfully  grant,  nor  did  I  ever  give  an  order  that  was  not  promptly 
obeyed,  but  I  was  always  careful  not  to  make  an  order  that  was  not 
necessary  to  be  executed,  nor  one  I  was  not  willing  to  help  to  execute 
myself.  In  -this  way  mutual  confidence  was  established  and  fully 
maintained,  and  no  honors  of  the  war  are  so  gratifying  as  this  reflec- 
tion to-day.  We  went  forth  100  strong.  We  came  back  many  short 
of  that  number.  We  buried  rudely,  though  tenderly,  some  of  our 
noble  men  on  the  sandy  plains  and  on  the  hills  around  Santa  Fe  and 
Las  Vegas.  Many  more  since  our  return  have  crossed  the  turbid 
stream,  and  gone  to  that  bourne  whence  no  traveler  returns.  I  am 
the  only  commissioned  officer  of  the  company  now  living,  and  of  the 
rank  and  file  not  more  than  20  now  survive.  It  seems,  in  imagina- 
tion, but  a  short  time  since  we  chased  together  buffiilo  and  antelope 
on  the  plains,  and  Mexicans  in  the  mountains  around  Moreau  and  Taos. 


1 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  277 

But  what  wonderful  events  have  transpired  in  the  intervening  period? 
I  have  no  idea  that  five  men  in  our  company  had  ever  seen  a  raih'oad 
track  or  a  steam  car.  Now  our  country  is  dotted  all  over  with  them, 
and  the  whistle  of  the  iron  horse  has  echoed  in  the  mountains  of  the 
Far  West,  and  the  two  oceans  are  brought  apparently  in  close  prox- 
imity, when  in  reality  they  are  3,000  miles  apart.  And  as  for 
telegraphing,  they  had  never  dreamed  of  such  a  thing.  And  now 
the  Atlantic  cables  enable  the  Old  World  and  the  New  to  communicate 
in  an  instant;  of  time,  and  from  the  signs  of  the  times  it  is  thought 
conversation  can  actually  be  carried  on  by  two  persons  thousands  of 
miles  apart,  orally,  by  means  of  the  telephone. 

Since  that  time  the  great  Civil  War  raged  in  our  own  hitherto 
happy  and  united  country.  Its  results  and  consequences  are  well 
known  to  us  all.  But  to  enumerate  all  the  wonderful  events  and 
changes  that  have  taken  place  even  in  our  own  land  and  country, 
would  occupy  too  much  time,  and  weary  your  patience,  hence  I  will 
pass  on  to  say  that  those  of  us  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  reach 
our  old  homes  were  given  a  hearty  welcome.  A  grand  barbecue  was 
given  in  our  honor,  attended  by  a  vast  concourse  of  the  good  people 
of  Randolph,  for  which  we  are  still  thankful.  In  behalf  of  you  all,  I 
tender  our  sincere  thanks  to  the  Fair  Company  for  so  kindly  remem- 
bering: us  so  long  after  the  events  to  which  I  have  referred.  But  it  is 
right  to  honor  men  who  have  thus  gone  forth  to  battle  for  their  coun- 
try's honor  or  their  country's  rights.  It  has  been  the  custom,  of  all 
nations  to  do  so,  especially  when  the  benefits  resulting  from  the  war 
in  which  they  have  been  engaged  are  of  such  magnitude  as  were  t  he 
events  resulting  from  the  Mexican  War.  And  if  the  benefits  resulting 
from  the  war  with  Mexico  were  to  be  paid  for  in  dollars  and  cents,  and 
if  the  soldiers  who  did  the  fighting  were  to  receive  the  pay,  it  would 
make  them  all  rich.  Whatever  was  the  primary  cause  of  the  war  and 
whether  right  or  wrong  to  wage,  the  American  armies  were  every- 
where victorious,  and  on  the  13th  of  September,  1847,  the  frowning 
citadel  of  Chapultepec  was  carried  by  storm,  and  in  the  darkness  of 
that  night  Santa  Anna  and  his  officers  fled,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
14th,  the  regiments  of  Gen.  Scott  filed  through  the  streets  of  the 
beautiful  City  of  Mexico,  and  at  six  o'clock  the  flag  of  the  United 
States  floated  over  the  halls  of  the  Montezumas,  and  as  history  tells 
us,  so  ended  one  of  the  most  brilliant  campaigns  known  in  modern 
history.  The  United  States  acquired,  as  the  result  of  this  war, 
1,000,000  square  miles  of  territory,  including  within  the  boundary 
California  and  the  fertile  valleys  and  mining  country  of  the  Pacific 
slope  as  well  as  New  Mexico.  Mexico  was  also  severely  chastised 
for  its  barbarity  to  Texas,  and  taught  them  a  lesson  which  they 
will  doubtless  long  remember ;  that  she  must  respect  American 
rights  as  well  as  American  citizens.  And  while  the  moral  sense  of 
the  world  should  be  shocked  by  war,  it  sometimes  seems  to  be  the 
least  of  two  evils  ;  let  us  hope  such  was  the  case  in  the  Mexican 
War.     Notwithstanding  the  great  expanse  of  territory,  rich,  not  only 


278  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

in  minerals,  but  also  in  agricultural  resources,  and  now  settled  up 
by  many  thousand  pioneers,  belonged  to  us  by  right  of  conquest, 
yet  the  General  Government,  in  its  generosity  and  magnanimity,  paid 
to  the  Mexican  government  over  $18,000,000  for  it,  thus  indicating 
that  in  this  case,  at  least,  the  ordinary  sense  of  justice  was  not  alto- 
gether quenched  or  smothered.  And  while  this  magnanimity  to  a  con- 
quered foe  was  all  right  and  highly  commendable,  the  government 
ought  also  recollect  that  it  ought  to  be  magnanimous  to  the  soldiers 
who  did  the  fighting,  and  to  their  widows  and  orphan  children  at  least, 
and  give  to  each  surviving  soldier  of  that  war,  or  to  his  widow  or 
children  under  16  years  of  age,  not  less  than  eight  dollars  per 
month.  This  would  be  a  great  help  to  many  who  are  old,  and  some 
of  them,  doubtless,  quite  poor.  And  we  should  urge  upon  our  Con- 
gressmen and  Senators  the  justice  of  our  cause.  Let  Congress  pass  a 
law  taxing  government  bonds  as  other  property,  which  should  have 
been  done  long  ago,  and  also  making  silver  and  greenbacks  legal  ten- 
der for  all  dues,  whether  to  bondholder  or  the  government,  and 
enough  money  would  be  saved  in  one  year  to  pension  all  the  surviving 
soldiers  and  widows  of  soldiers  of  the  Mexican  War  as  long  as  one  of 
them  are  left  in  the  land  of  the  living.  These  measures  are  demanded 
by  the  great  mass  of  the  people  ;  and  they  ought  to  be  proclaimed  in 
thunder  tones  to  the  ear  of  the  nation's  representatives,  until  the  ser- 
vants of  the  people  obeyed  the  voice  of  their  masters.  If  there  ever 
was  a  time  in  the  history  of  our  nation  when  the  great  truth,  uttered 
by  the  immortal  Washington,  "  Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  lib- 
erty," should  be  remembered  and  obeyed,  it  has  come. 

And  now,  fellow-veterans  of  the  Mexican  War  —  so  many  of  us  and 
yet  so  few  —  may  never  have  the  pleasure  of  all  meeting  together 
again  this  side  of  the  grave,  let  us  hope  and  pray  that  we  may  meet  in 
a  brighter  clime  and  a  more  glorious  home,  where  war  nor  rumors  of 
war  are  neither  heard  of  nor  seen»  and  where  happiness  will  last  for- 
ever. 

THE    CIVIL    WAR    OF    1861. 

When  the  first  gun  was  fired  upon  Fort  Sumpter  (April  12,  1861), 
little  did  the  citizens  of  the  remote  county  of  Eandolph  dream  that  the 
war  which  was  then  inaugurated  would  eventually,  like  the  simul- 
taneous disemboguement  of  a  hundred  volcanoes,  shake  this  great  na- 
tion from  its  center  to  its  circumference. 

Little  did  they  then  dream  that  the  smoke  of  the  bursting  shells, 
which  hurtled  and  hissed  as  they  sped  with  lurid  glare  from  rebel  bat- 
teries upon  that  fatal  morning,  foreboded  ravaged  plains  — 

"And  burning  towns  and  ruined  homes, 
And  mangled  limbs  and  dying  groans, 
And  widows'  tears  and  orphan's  moans, 
And  all  that  misery's  hand  bestows 
To  fill  the  catalogue  of  human  woes."- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  279 

Little  did  they  dream  that  the  war  cloud  which  had  risen  above  the 
waters  of  Charleston  harbor  would  increase  in  size  and  o-loora  until 
its  black  banners  had  been  unfurled  throughout  the  leno;th  and  breadth 
of  the  land. 

Little  did  they  imagine  that  war,  with  all  its  horrors,  would  invade 
their  quiet  homes,  and  with  ruthless  hand  tear  away  from  their  fire- 
side altars  their  dearest  and  most  cherished  idols. 

Could  the  North  and  the  South  have  foreseen  the  results  of  that  in- 
ternecine strife,  there  would  be  to-day  hundreds  of  thousands  of  hap- 
pier homes  in  the  land,  hundreds  of  thousands  less  hillocks  in  our 
cemeteries,  hundreds  of  thousands  less  widows,  hundreds  of  thousands 
less  orphans,  no  unpleasant  memories,  and  no  legacies  of  hatred  and 
bitterness  left  to  rankle  in  the  breasts  of  the  living,  who  espoused  the 
fortunes  of  the  opposing  forces. 

All  that  transpired  during  that  memorable  struggle  would  fill  a  large 
volume.  Randolph  county,  as  did  the  State  of  Missouri  generally, 
sufi^ered  much.  Her  territory  was  nearly  all  the  time  occupied  by  either 
one  or  the  other  antagonistic  elements,  and  her  citizens  were  called 
up(ni  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  first  one  side  and  then  the  other. 
However  much  we  might  desire  to  enter  into  the  details  of  the  war, 
we  could  not  do  so,  as  the  material  for  such  a  history  is  not  at  hand. 
Indeed,  were  it  even  possible  to  present  the  facts  as  they  occurred, 
we  doubt  the  propriety  of  doing  so,  as  we  would  thereby  reopen  the 
wounds  which  have  partially  been  healed  by  the  flight  of  time  and  the 
hopes  of  the  future.  It  were  better,  perhaps,  to  let  the  passions  and 
the  deep  asperities  which  were  then  engendered,  and  all  that  serves  to 
remind  us  of  that  unhappy  period,  be  forgotten.  We  have  tried  in 
vain  to  obtain  the  number  and  names  of  the  men  who  entered  the  Con- 
federate army  from  Randolph  county.  No  record  of  them  has  ever 
been  preserved,  either  by  the  officers  who  commanded  the  men,  or  by 
the  Confederate  government. 

Among  those  who  commanded  companies  which  were  partially  or 
entirely  raised  from  Randolph  county  for  the  Southern  army  were 
Col.  H.  T.  Fort,  Col.  John  A.  Poindexter,  Capt.  Frank  Davis,  Capt. 
John  W.  Bagby,  Capt.  Benjamin  E.  Guthrie,  and  Col.  C.  J.  Perkins. 
Some  of  the  above  named  officers  were  from  adjoining  counties,  but 
recruited  portions  of  their  companies  from  Randolph  county. 

Among  those  who  raised  companies  for  the  Union  army  were  Capts. 
T.  B.  Reed,  C.  F.  Mayo,  W.  T.  Austin,  N.  S.  Burckhartt,  W.  A. 
Skinner,  M.  S.  Durham  and  Alexander  Denny.  The  number  of  men 
13 


280  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

entering  each  army  was  about  the  same  —  numbering  between  600 
and  900. 

During  the  war  a  few  non-combatants  were  killed  in  the  county  : 
James  Harris,  Martin  Green,  James  K.  Carter,  Andrew  J.  Herndon, 
and  two  or  three  colored  men  were  shot  to  death  at  their  homes  or  in 
the  county. 

The  above  statement,  in  reference  to  the  number  of  men  entering 
the  two  armies,  does  not  in  any  manner  indicate  the  political  complex- 
ion of  the  county  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War. 

There  was  among  the  people  a  strong  Union  sentiment,  which  was 
retained  by  them  until  Fort  Siimpter  was  fired  upon,  and  until  the  call 
for  75,000  men  was  made  by  the  government  to  suppress  the  insurrec- 
tion. After  that  call  was  made,  the  people  of  Kandolph  county,  as 
did  the  people  of  Missouri  generally,  became  the  friends  of  the  South, 
and  so  strong  was  the  sympathy  of  the  people  with  their  Southern 
brethren  that  the  number  in  favor  of  the  South  was  about  as  twenty 
to  one. 


CHAPTEK    XY. 

RAILROADS. 

Man  is  so  constituted  that  in  order  to  make  any  appreciable  progress 
in  prosperity  and  intelligence  he  must  live  in  a  state  of  civil  society. 
One's  wants  are  so  diverse  and  innumerable,  and  the  physical  con- 
ditions of  the  country  in  which  he  lives  so  varied,  that  he  cannot 
possibly  supply  his  needs,  either  by  his  individual  exertions  or  from 
the  products  of  any  one  district  of  country.  Hence,  trade  and  com- 
merce become  necessities.  One,  with  given  talents  and  aptitudes,  in 
certain  territorial  conditions,  produces  to  the  best  advantage  a  partic- 
ular class  of  commodities  in  excess  of  what  he  needs,  whilst  he  is  able 
to  produce  only  at  great  disadvantage,  or  not  at  all,  other  commodities 
quite  as  needful  to  him  as  the  first ;  another  produces  these  needed 
commodoties  in  excess  of  what  he  personally  requires,  but  none  of 
those  which  the  industry  of  his  neighbor  yields.  Thus  sprino-g  up 
trade  between  the  two,  and  to  the  advantage  of  both.  As  with  indi- 
viduals, so  with  communities  and  peoples.  Nations  cannot  live  and 
prosper  independent  of  each  other,  any  more  than  families  can  live 
independent  of  their  neighbors  and  prosper.  So  that,  as  prosperity 
constitutes  the  foundation  of  human  progress  and  civilization,  and 
since  this  cannot  be  attained  except  by  means  of  trade  and  commerce, 
these  become  the  indispensable  conditions  to  advancement  in  material 
affairs  and  in  intelligence. 

But  neither  trade  nor  commerce  can  flourish  without  practicable, 
efficient  means  of  transportation.  Products  must  be  carried  to  the 
place  of  demand  at  a  cost  that  will  leave  the  producer  just  compensa- 
tion for  his  toil  after  they  are  delivered  and  sold  and  the  cost  of 
carriage  paid.  Hence,  an  adequate  means  of  transportation,  means 
sufficiently  cheap  and  expeditious,  becomes  a  matter  of  the  first 
importance.  Without  some  such  system  communities  cannot  be  built 
up  or  be  made  to  flourish.  So  we  see  that  in  earlier  times  and  even 
yet,  where  regions  of  country  were  and  are  not  thus  favored,  they 
have  been  and  still  are  either  uninhabited,  or  peopled  by  semi- 
civilized  or  barbarous  populations.  Take  the  map  of  the  Old  World 
and  scan  it ;  it  more  than  justifies  what  is  here  said.  In  the  past 
most  and,  indeed,  all  of  the  more  advanced  nations  inhabited  regions 

(281) 


282  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  country  washed  by  the  seas  or  drained  by  navigable  rivers  or  other 
inland  waters.  Navigation  afforded  and  still  aifordsto  such  countries, 
to  a  measurable  degree,  at  least,  the  means  of  transportation  required 
for  their  prosperity  and  advancement.  But  the  interior,  or  regions 
far  removed  from  navigation,  remained  either  unpeopled  or  in  a  savage 
or  tribal  state.  So  such  regiens,  not  penetrated  by  railways,  remain 
to-day,  as  for  instance,  the  non-navigable  districts  of  India  and  Russia 
and  other  countries. 

The  problem  of  meeting  this  desideratwin  of  transportation  into 
non-navigable  regions,  which  constitute  a  large  portion  of  the  best 
lands  of  the  globe,  came  to  be  looked  upon  in  early  times  as,  and 
continued  up  to  our  own  time,  one  of  the  greatest  with  which  man- 
kind had  to  deal.  In  every  country  were  vast  regions  with  every 
other  advantage  for  supporting  prosperous  and  enlightened  commu- 
nities which,  on  account  of  their  want  of  transportation  facilities,  were 
valueless,  or  worse  than  valueless — the  homes  of  wild  and  warlike 
tribes.  As  more  enlightened  and  progressive  peoples  sought  td  ex- 
tend themselves  into  those  regions,  the  efibrt  was  made  to  supply 
their  want  of  transportation  facilities  by  means  of  canals,  which  were 
constructed  on  quite  an  extensive  scale  in  some  and,  indeed,  in  most 
of  the  leading  countries  of  Europe.  But  the  districts  of  country 
through  which  canals  could  be  constructed  were,  of  course,  compara- 
tively small,  and  the  great  problem  of  interior  transportation,  so  far 
as  non-navigable  regions  were  concerned,  continued  open  and  to 
attract  the  thought  and  experiment  of  the  best  minds  of  all  countries 
and  of  every  age.  At  last  Stephens'  experiment,  in  1825,  solved  the 
great  problem. 

It  is  beyond  question  that  no  invention  of  the  present  century,  and 
perhaps  of  all  time,  has  proved  so  beneficial  to,  and  mighty  in  its 
influence  upon  the  material  aflairs  of  mankind,  if  not  for  the  general 
progress  of  the  human  race,  as  that  of  land  transportation  by  steam, 
as  represented  in  our  present  railway  system.  An  eminent  French 
writer  has  said  that  "  the  railway  trebled  the  area  of  the  inhabitable 
globe."  It  has  not  only  brought  and  is  bringing  vast  regions  hith- 
erto valueless  under  the  dominion  of  civilized  man,  but  has  quickened 
and  is  quickening  every  movement  of  humanity  in  the  onward  march 
of  civilization.  Wonderful  as  have  been  its  results  in  the  develop- 
ment and  civilization  of  our  own  continent,  results  at  which  the  world 
stands  struck  with  astonishment  and  admiration  ;  wonderful  as  have 
been  its  results  elsewhere,  and  wherever  it  has  penetrated,  its  achieve- 
ments in  the  past  compared  to  what  it  is   destined  to  accomplish  in 


\ 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  283 

the  future,  are  as  the  dust  that  floats  in  the  air  to  the  suns  that  people 
the  infinity  of  space. 

The  railway  has  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  transforming  the  wilds 
©f  this  country  into  great  and  prosperous  States,  and  in  placing  the 
American  Union  in  the  front  rank  of  the  great  nations  of  the  earth. 
Speaking  of  this,  in  an  article  in  the  February  number  (1884)  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century,  in  which  he  strongly  urges  the  establishment  of 
an  extensive  railway  system  in  India,  as  the  surest  means  of  develop- 
ing the  natural  resources  of  that  magnificent  country,  Hon.  William 
Fowler,  Member  of  Parliament  for  Cambridge,  says  :  "  But  if  encour- 
agement be  needed,  it  is  well  to  consider  what  has  been  done  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Before  the  railway  came  to  Illinois,  it  was 
little  more  than  a  prairie.  In  a  very  few  years  its  produce  doubled, 
and  now  it  stands  as  one  of  the  first  producing  States  of  the  Union, 
and  can  point  to  Chicago  as  an  evidence  of  its  progress.  It  is  difficult 
to  imagine  what  would  have  been  its  present  condition  had  not  the  rail- 
way come  to  its  aid.  Missouri  had  much  facility  of  water  carriage, 
but  its  progress  was  very  slow  until  railways  traversed  it.  Nebraska, 
now  a  most  flourishing  young  State,  has  been  created  by  the  railway. 
Its  vast  agricultural  wealth  must  have  been  locked  up  indefinitely  Init 
for  the  locomotive.  The  same  remark  applies  to  Kansas,  now  ad- 
vancing with  rapid  strides. 

"  Shareholders  may  grumble  at  competition  in  America,  and  bond- 
holders may  tremble,  but  the  producer  flourishes  in  low  rates  of 
carriage,  and  no  economical  facts  are  so  wonderful  as  those  pre- 
sented by  the  progress  of  the  United  States  since  the  development 
of  the  railway  system.  The  experience  of  Canada  is  hardly  less 
remarkable,  for  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  Macpherson,  of  Ottawa, 
that  during  last  year  25,000,000  acres  of  land  were  allotted  by  the 
Dominion  Government  to  settlers  or  companies.  The  great  temp- 
tation of  those  who  settle  in  that  severe  climate  is  the  excellence 
of  the  wheat  land,  but  it  is  obvious  that  without  cheap  carriage 
no  such  settlement  would  be  possible,  for  the  produce  would  be 
unsalable."  Thus,  the  railway  is  rapidly  peopling  and  developing 
this  continent.  What  it  is  doing  here,  it  can  do  elsewhere — in 
India,  Australia,  Interior  Russia,  South  America,  and  everywhere, 
where  the  physical  conditions  of  territory  and  climate  render  possibl.- 
the  abode  of  man.  It  is  the  great  civilizer  of  modern  times,  and 
wherever  the  headlight  of  its  locomotive  gleams  out  or  the  shrill  echo 
of  its  whistle  is  heard,  barbarism  falls  back  as  the  darkness  of  ignor- 
ance before  the  light  of  knowledge.    . 


284  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

By  the  railway  communities  and  States,  separated  from  each  other 
by  thousands  of  miles,  are  made  neighbors  and  the  populations  of 
whole  continents  are  not  only  enabled  to  intermingle  and  thus  benefit 
by  association  and  interchange  of  ideas,  but  trade  and  commerce  be- 
tween them,  the  life-blood  of  all  prosperity  and  advancement,  are 
reduced  to  a  perfect  system  and  to  the  minimum  of  expense.  Under 
its  influence  the  nations  of  Europe  have  been  brought  more  nearly 
under  the  government  of  common  interests  and  ideas  —  in  fact,  are 
nearer  one  people,  —  than  the  shires  and  manors  of  England  were 
under  the  feudal  system.  And  its  influence  in  this  direction,  as  in  all 
others  for  the  betterment  of  the  condition  of  mankind,  will  go  on 
and  on,  as  the  ages  roll  away,  until  ultimately  the  dream  of  the 
noblest  philosophers  who  have  conned  the  afliiirs  of  men  shall  have 
been  realized  —  the  universal  brotherhood  of  man. 

By  the  railway  space  is  already  practically  obliterated.  To  illus- 
trate this,  a  fact  or  two  will  suflice  :  The  present  rate  on  a  bushel  of 
wheat  from  Huntsville,  Missouri,  to  St.  Louis  is  about  8V2  cents  ;  the 
rate  on  to  New  York  is  IOV2  ;  and  from  New  York  to  Liverpool,  or 
Glasgow,  4  cents  —  thus  making  the  rate  from  Huntsville  to  Great 
Britain  about  22  cents  per  bushel,  or  about  $7.25  per  ton.  This  is 
but  little  more  than  it  cost,  before  the  era  of  railroads,  to  haul  the 
same  amount  of  wheat  from  Randolph  county  to  Glasgow,  Missouri ; 
so  that,  practically,  the  market  at  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and,  indeed, 
the  markets  of  the  whole  world  have  been  brought  nearly  as  close  to 
the  farmers  of  this  county  as  the  market  at  Glasgow,  "on  the  Missouri 
river,  only  twenty  or  thirty  miles  away,  was  in  former  times.  What 
is  true  of  wheat  is  true,  in  a  greater  or  less  measure,  of  other  products 
and  of  merchandise,  and  of  everything  that  ministers  to  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  man. 

But  without  this  system  of  railway  transportation  the  present  vast 
products  of  agriculture  in  the  interior  would  have  been  impossible, 
and  population  would  still  have  been  compelled  to  hug  closely  to  the 
coasts  of  seas  and  to  the  shores  of  inland  navigable  waters.  "Had 
one  been  asked  ten  years  ago,"  says  Mr.  E.  Atkinson,  of  Boston,  in 
his  paper,  in  1880,  on  "  The  Eallroads  of  the  United  States  and  their 
Effects  on  Farming  and  Production,"  "  'Can  150,000,000  bushels  of 
grain  be  removed  from  the  prairies  of  the  West  5,000  miles  in  a  single 
season,  to  feed  the  suffering  millions  of  Europe,  and  prevent  almost  a 
famine  amongst  the  nations?'  he  who  ansAvered  'Yes;  it  is  only  nec- 
essary to  apply  the  inventions  already  made  to  accomplish  that,'  would 
have    been   deemed  visionary..   It    has    been   accomplished."     And, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  285 

illustrating  the  same  point,  a  writer,  under  the  caption  "  The  Railroad 
and  the  Farmer,"  in  the  ^me?7ca?i  Agricultural  Revieio  for  August, 
1882,  speaking  for  Oregon,  says:  "  Our  export  of  wheat  to  Europe 
had  hardly  begun  ten  years  ago  for  lack  of  cheap  transportation  to 
the  ship.  *  *  *  Before  the  advent  of  railroads  the  nominal  price 
of  farm  land  was  from  $5  to  $10  per  acre,  yet  its  average  productive- 
ness was  from  25  to  30  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre.  *  *  *  When 
railroads  were  built,  or  since  1873,  improved  farm  land  sells  readily 
at  from  $15  to  $100  per  acre.  Wheat  has  become  the  principal  prod- 
uct. The  export  of  wheat  and  flour,  mostly  to  Europe,  has  risen  from 
zero  to  about  5,000,000  bushels  per  annum,  with  regular  yearly 
increase." 

It  is  this  means  of  getting  the  products  of  the  interior  to  market 
that  renders  the  land  of  non-navigable  regions  valuable,  and  indeed 
inhabitable,  by  civilized  man.  Ten  years  ago  Oregon  exported  no 
wheat,  for  want  of  railwa}^  facilities  of  transportation.  In  1880 
she  exported  $5,000,000  worth,  and  her  exports  will  continue  to  in- 
crease until  her  vast  wheat  lands,  hardly  touched  yet  with  the  plow, 
are  covered  with  rich  harvests,  and  all  her  territory  is  filled  with  a 
prosperous  and  enlightened  population.  Who  can  be  found,  then, 
bold  enough  to  say  that  that  great  Commonwealth  will  not  owe  its 
greatness  more  directly  to  the  railway  than  to  any  other  and  all  other 
physical  causes  combined  ?  What  is  true  of  Oregon  is  true  of  all  the 
States  of  the  West,  and,  in  only  a  less  measure,  of  the  other  States  of 
the  Union.  Missouri,  though  essentially  a  river  State,  has  been  built 
up  almost  alone  by  the  railway  since  the  war.  Her  vast  area  of  grain 
and  stock  lands  and  her  other  resources  have  been  opened  up  by  the 
railway  to  industrial  development,  for  by  it  the  markets  of  the  world 
have  been  brought  to  her  very  door.  So  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska, 
and  of  Arkansas  and  Texas.  Texas,  although  with  a  vast  extent  of 
sea-coast,  has  been  developed  by  railway  transportation,  and  there  is 
hardly  a  parallel,  even  in  the  history  of  the  Great  West,  to  the  won- 
derful progress  that  State  has  made  in  material  development,  and  in 
population,  and  in  wealth  and  in  intelligence. 

No  people  under  the  sun  have  shown  the  enterprise,  even  by  com- 
parison, shown  by  the  people  of  this  country  in  railroad  building,  and 
no  people  have  increased  in  population  and  in  every  measure  of  ad- 
vancement in  a  ratio  even  approaching  the  progress  made  by  the 
United  States.  But  for  railroads  this  could  not,  of  course,  have  been 
done,  for  the  regions  accessible  by  navigable  waters  would  long  since 
have  been  taken  up  and  overcrowded.     This  country,  or  rather,  the 


286  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  '     • 

people  of  the  country,  s;iw  iit  a  glance  the  importance  of  railway 
transportation  to  their  material  prosperity  and  general  interests. 
Every  community,  wherever  settled,  turned  its  attention  to  railroad 
building  in  order  to  open  up  the  territory  tributary  to  it.  The  result 
was  that  railroads  were  pushed  in  all  directions,  and  are  still  being 
extended,  so  that  the  whole  land  is  rapidly  being  warped  and  woofed 
with  a  perfect  labyrinth  of  railway  tracks.  Speaking  of  this,  a  recent 
English  writer  says  :  "  The  American,  confident  of  the  future,  pushes 
forward  the  railway  into  the  wilderness,  certain  that  the  unoccupied 
land  will  be  settled,  and  that  he  will  get  his  reward  in  the  increased 
value  of  this  land,  as  well  as  in  the  traffic  on  his  railway."  At  first, 
in  order  to  make  his  road  self-sustaining,  on  account  of  the  sparseness 
of  population  (indeed,  there  is  often  no  population  at  all  in  large 
regions  through  which  his  road  passes),  and  the  consequent  lightness 
©f  business,  he  is  compelled  to  charge  high  rates  of  traffic  and  of 
travel,  and  often  these  rates  do  not  save  him,  for  it  is  the  experience 
of  most  roads  through  new  States  and  Territories  that  in  their  early 
years  they  pass  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver.  But  soon  the  country 
tributary  to  them  settles  up  and  the  volume  of  business  increases,  so 
that  they  become  prosperous  enterprises. 

And  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  although  railroads  in  this  country 
have  had  more  to  contend  against  and  more  to  discourage  them  than 
those  in  any  other,  they  have  shown  a  degree  of  public  spirit  and  a 
regard  for  the  interests  of  the  communities  through  which  they  pass 
unequaled  by  any  other  roads  on  the  globe.  To  those  who  get  their 
information  from  the  average  politician,  anxious  for  an  office  or  solici- 
tous to  retain  one,  and  who  has  been  refused  a  pass,  this  statement 
may  sound  strange.  To  begin  with,  the  rates  of  traffic  on  railroads 
were  higher  here  than  those  on  the  roads  of  any  country  in  Europe, 
as  it  would  seem  they  ought  to  be,  for  wages  and  everything  else  are 
higher,  and  in  most  of  this  country  traffic  is  much  lighter  than  it  is  in 
Europe.  But  to-day  railway  freight  rates  in  the  United  States  are 
lower  than  the  rates  in  any  other  country. 

And  it  is  this  fact  that  has  proved  the  salvation  of  the  American 
farmer  and,  therefore,  of  the  prosperity  of  the  whole  country.  But 
for  the  high  railway  rates  in  India  and  Russia  and  in  Australia,  Ameri- 
can wheat  would  long  since  have  been  driven  from  the  markets  of 
Europe.  "It  costs  considerably  more,"  says  a  recent  writer,  "to 
carry  a  ton  of  wheat  600  miles  over  the  Great  Indian  Peninsula  Rail- 
way than  it  does  to  carry  the  same  quantity  1,000  miles  over  an 
American  line."     There  labor  is  incomparaV)ly  cheaper  than  it  is  in 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


287 


this  country,  the  hinds  are  quite  as  fertile  and  cheap,  and  the  ship 
rates  to  Europe  are  nearly  or  quite  as  favorable  as  ours.  But  here 
wheat  can  be  carried  from  Iowa  to  New  York  by  rail  so  cheap  that  the 
Indian  grower,  with  his  present  railway  rates,  cannot  compete  to 
advantage  with  the  American  farmer  in  European  markets.  In  the 
United  States  rates  have  been  reduced  to  less  than  one-fourth  of  what 
they  were  in  1865.  This  reduction  is  still  going  on,  and  with  the 
improvements  constantly  being  made  in  the  railway  system,  it  will 
doubtless  continue  to  go  «n  until  rates  are  far  below  what  they  are 
to-day.  The  following  table,  in  which  are  given  the  average  pas- 
seno;er  and  freisfht  rates  of  six  leadinsr  Western  roads  since  1865, 
shows  the  steady  reduction  in  tariffs :  — 

TABLE    OF    RATES. 


Passenger 

Freight  Rate 

Bates  Per 

Per     Ton 

Year. 

Mile, 

Per  Mile, 

Cents. 

Cents. 

1865 

4.81 

4.11 

1866 

4.58 

3.76 

1867 

4.32 

3.94 

1868 

4.17 

3.49 

1869 

3.91 

3.10 

1870 

3.80 

2.82 

1871 

3.58 

2.54 

1872 

•         •••.••..•• 

3.46 

2.39 

1873 

3.38 

2.30 

1874 

3.15 

2.18 

1875   • 

3.09 

1.97 

1876 

3.01 

1.89 

1877 

2.94 

1.63 

1878 

2.89 

1.61 

1879 

2.63 

1.47 

1880 

2.56 

1.32 

1881 

2.49 

1.20 

1882 

2.41 

1.07 

1883 



2.88 

.97 

1884 



2.35 

.89 

These  are  the  general  averages  of  rates  of  Western  roads,  the  dif- 
ferent classes  and  the  relative  amounts  of  each  class  considered,  and 
both  through  and  local  rates  computed.  Similar  estimates  for  East- 
ern roads  would  of  course  show  much  lower  rates,  as  would  estimates 
of  through  rates  from  the  West  to  the  East,  as,  for  instance,  grain  is 
now  being  shipped  (April,  1884,)  from  St.  Louis  to  New  York  at 
171/2  cts.  per  100  pounds,  and  from  Chicago  to  New  York  at  15  cts. 
These  are  the  present  pool  rates,  which  show  a  ton-rate  per  mile  of 
about  .33  of  a  cent,  instead  of  .89,  as  given  above.     Surely,  when  a 


288  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ton  of  grain  can  be  hauled  three  miles  for  a  cent,  rates  ought  to  be 
satisfactory  to  the  producer.  It  is  not,  therefore,  surprising  that 
American  farmers  are  the  most  prosperous  class  of  agriculturists 
on  the  globe.  If,  on  account  of  the  cheapness,  fertility  and  abun- 
dance of  land  they  can  raise  produce  at  a  comparatively  nominal  cost, 
and,  by  the  cheapness  of  transportation  rates,  they  are  placed  almost 
as  near  the  markets  of  Europe  as  the  farmer  of  France,  England  or 
Germany,  why  should  they  not  prosper?  The  saving  to  the  producer 
and  consumer  in  this  country  in  a  single  year  from  the  reductions  of 
freight  rates  made  between  1865  and  1879,  according  to  Mr.  Poor,  an 
American  statistician  recognized  as  authority  in  both  America  and 
Europe,  amounted  to  over  $35,000,000.  During  the  same  period  the 
rates  from  Chicago  to  New  York  were  reduced  over  $13.50  on  the  ton. 

Nor  does  it  follow  that  because  these  reductions  have  been  made, 
freights  could  have  been  carried  at  lower  rates  than  were  previously 
charged.  As  has  been  said,  the  increase  of  population  and  traffic  and 
the  improvements  made  in  the  railway  system  have  made  these  re- 
ductions possible.  Freights  can  now  be  carried  at  little  more  than,  if 
indeed  not  half  the  rates  charged  ten  years  ago.  Explaining  this,  a 
prominent  Eastern  railroad  official  recently  said:  "The  economies 
that  are  being  introduced  in  the  management  of  the  railroads  of  this 
country  are  very  poorly  appreciated  by  the  public.  With  the  in- 
troduction of  steel  rails,  with  which  all  the  leading  lines  are  now 
equipped,  the  improved  condition  of  rolling  stock,  the  enormous 
increase  in  the  strength  and  power  of  the  locomotives  and  the  solidity 
of  road-beds,  that  can  only  be  attained  after  many  years'  use,  to- 
gether with  a  multitude  of  economies  that  cannot  be  learned  without 
many  years'  practical  experience,  where  so  many  men  are  employed 
as  are  required  to  handle  one  of  our  trunk  lines,  the  actual  cost  of 
transportation  has  been  reduced  far  below  the  point  at  which  a  few 
years  ago  the  most  sanguine  advocate  of  railroad  transportation,  as 
the  economical  successor  of  all  other  means  of  moving  freight,  did 
jiot  dream." 

The  people  of  the  country  are  rapidly  coming  to  understand  and  ap- 
preciate the  importance  the  railway  is  to  their  highest  and  best  inter- 
ests. The  old  prejudice  against  railroads  is  rapidly  dying  out.  States 
and  communities,  —  counties,  towns  and  townships,  —  and  the  Na- 
tional Government  showed  commendable  public  spirit  in  assisting  in  the 
construction  of  railroads  in  the  infancy  of  the  development  of  our  rail- 
way system,  and  because  the  roads,  when  constructed,  were  compelled 
for  a  time  to  charge  what  seemed  hio:h  rates  of  traffic,  much  wrath  was 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  289 

visited  upon  the  railway,  or  rather  upon  railway  management.  But 
whether  these  rates  were  necessary  is  shown  by  the  result.  More 
men  of  means  have  been  bankrupted  by  rail wa}^  investments,  —  not 
from  mismanagement  of  the  roads,  only  in  exceptional  cases,  but  be- 
cause, by  the  best  management  they  could  not  be  made  to  pay  at  the 
rates  charged,  —  than  by  any  other  class  of  investments.  More  roads 
have  gone  into  the  hands  of  receivers  than  any  other  enterprises  have 
in  the  country,  numbers  and  importance  considered,  and  fewer  for- 
tunes have  been  made  by  railway  investments.  True,  a  few  great 
fortunes  have  been  accumulated,  for  the  interests  involved  were  of  the 
greatest  magnitude,  so  that,  if  one  fails,  he  fails  as  Villard  did,  but  if 
he  succeeds,  he  succeeds  as  Gould  has. 

But,  however  much  railways  have  cost  the  public  generally,  who  is 
there  to  question  that  they  have  been  of  greater  public  benefit  than 
their  cost,  a  thousandfold?  Missouri's  railways  cost  her  in  State  and 
municipal  bonds  (county,  city,  etc.),  about  $29,000,000.  In  one 
year  alone,  1883,  her  taxable  wealth  increased  $63,349,625,  not  in- 
cluding the  increase  in  the  value  of  railway  property  ;  and  the  increase 
of  the  present  year  will  probably  carry  the  aggregate  up  to  $800,000,- 
000.  No  one  will  claim  that  this  would  have  been  possible  without 
the  railway,  for  Missouri  is  an  agricultural  State  and  to  her,  efficient 
practicable  transportation  is  everything.  So  far  as  the  railroads  are 
concerned,  they  are  of  far  greater  benefit  and  profit  to  the  public  at 
large,  and  especially  to  the  farmer  and  business  man,  than  to  their 
owners.  A  fact  or  two  will  illustrate  this  :  ^The  net  earnings  of  Mis- 
souri railroads  in  1882,  after  deducting  operating  expenses,  were  in 
round  numbers  $11,000,000,  which  was  about  $2,444  a  mile,  or  less 
than  four  per  cent  on  the  capital  they  represent.  This  is  a  fair  aver- 
age of  the  profits  of  the  roads  generally  throughout  the  country. 
Where  is  the  farmer  or  business  man  whose  profits  are  no  more  than 
these  who  would  not  feel  outrao;ed  if  his  customers  were  to  denounce 
him  for  extortion  or  overcharges?  The  more  one  looks  for  the  rea- 
sons of  the  late  outcry  against  railroads,  the  more  unreasonable  he 
finds  it  to  have  been. 

Whilst,  in  common  with  all  human  enterprises  and  institutions,  it 
cannot  be  claimed  that  railways  have  always  been  an  unmixed  blessing,  it 
may  be  safely  said  of  them  that  they  have  been  productive  of  less  harm 
to  humanity  and  have  resulted  in  less  injury  in  proportion  to  the  good 
that  they  have  done  than  any  other  influence  in  material  affairs.  They 
have  done  more  to  develop  the  wealth  and  resources,  to  stimulate  the 
industry,  to   reward  the  labor,  and  to   promote   the  general  comfort 


290  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  prosperity  of  the  country  than  any  other,  and  perhaps  all  other, 
mere  physical  causes  combined.  They  scatter  the  productions  of  the 
press  and  literature  broadcast  through  the  country  with  amazing  ra- 
pidity. There  is  scarcely  a  want,  wish  or  aspiration  they  do  not  in 
some  measure  help  to  gratify.  They  promote  the  pleasures  of  social 
life  and  of  friendship  ;  they  bring  the  skilled  physician  swiftly  from  a 
distance  to  attend  the  sick,  and  enable  a  friend  to  be  at  the  bedside  of 
the  dying.  They  have  more  than  realized  the  fabulous  conception  of 
the  Eastern  imagination,  which  pictured  the  genii  as  transporting  in- 
habited palaces  through  the  air.  They  take  whole  trains  of  inhabited 
palaces  from  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  with  marvelous  swiftness  deposit 
them  on  the  shores  that  are  washed  by  the  Pacific  seas.  In  war  they 
transport  armies  and  supplies  of  Government  with  the  utmost  ce- 
lerity, and  carry  forward  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  as  it  were,  relief 
and  comfort  to  those  who  are  stretched  bleeding  and  wounded  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

As  a  means  of  inland  transportation  the  locomotive  has  exceeded 
the  expectations  of  even  those  most  sanguine  of  its  usefulness.  Since 
its  introduction  canals  have  been  practically  abandoned  and  river  trans- 
portation has  become  a  matter  of  comparative  unimportance.  Missouri 
has  a  river  outlet  to  the  sea,  but  only  an  insignificant  percentage  of  her 
products  transported  to  the  Atlantic  is  carried  down  the  river.  While 
a  few  large  shippers  of  heavy  freights  in  the  cities,  here  and  there,  and 
the  politicians  are  agitating  interior  water  transportation,  the  vast 
body  of  the  people  are  shipping  by  the  railroad.  In  this  age  "  time 
is  money,"  and  the  time  occupied  by  freight  shipped  by  river  is  gen- 
erally of  more  consequence  to  those  interested,  than  the  small  differ- 
ence of  rates  between  river  and  railway  charges  ;  and  in  most  instances 
this  alleged  difference  is  more  imaginary  than  real.  The  railroads 
from  St.  Louis  make  the  same  rates  on  freights  for  New  Orleans  that 
are  charged  by  the  steamers,  and  the  difference  of  rates  from  St. 
Louis  to  the  latter  city,  and  from  the  former  to  New  York,  are  merely 
nominal. 

By  the  railway  the  shipper,  informed  what  the  prices  are  at  the 
wholesale  markets  to-day,  may  have  his  products  delivered  at  those 
markets  in  twelve,  twenty-four,  or  thirty-six  hours,  and  thus  feel 
reasonably  safe  in  the  estimates  of  the  prices  he  expects  to  get.  And 
by  abolishing  space  and  uniting  the  communities  of  a  whole  continent 
in  one  confederacy  of  trade  and  interests,  regularity  and  stability 
are  given  to  prices,  for  the  supply  of  one  section,  if  that  of  an- 
other   fails,   tends  to   regulate   the  s^eneral   demand.      This  fall  the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  291 

farmer  may  sow  his  wheat  and  this  winter  fatten  his  stock  with  an  in- 
telligent and  safe  estimate  of  the  approximate  returns  he  is  to  receive 
the  succeeding  year.  Nor  does  a  rich  harvest  in  one  State  glut  the 
markets  and  depreciate  the  prices  to  ruinous  figures,  for  the  markets 
of  the  whole  world  are  almost  equally  accessible,  so  far  as  the  cost  of 
carriage  is  concerned.  The  farmer  of  Missouri  is  practically  as  near  to 
London,  England,  to-day  as  was  the  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Cambridge 
less  than  half  a  century  ago,  and  all  Christendom  is  reduced  to 
narrower  limits,  so  far  as  time  of  transit  is  concerned,  than  the  limits 
of  this  country  prior  to  the  era  of  railroads.  Galveston,  Texas,  is 
nearer  to  New  York  by  railway  travel  to-day  than  Kansas  City  was  to 
Huntsville  a  few  years  ago.  In  making  Texas  a  neighbor  to  New 
York  State  and  Missouri  to  Massachusetts,  in  penetrating  the  great 
West,  the  railways  have  opened  up  this  mighty  region  to  the  flood- 
tides  of  immigration  from  the  East  and  all  the  world  which  have 
poured  into  it  and  are  still  pouring  in,  establishing  here  the  greatest 
and  most  prosperous  commonwealths  in  the  Union. 

Foremost  among  the  railway  systems  of  the  West,  and,  indeed,  the 
greatest  combination  of  railway  systems  on  the  globe,  is  that  of 
Gould's  Western  System,  which  include  the  Missouri  Pacific,  or 
South-Western  system,  the  Wabash,  and  the  Union  Pacific  systems, 
aggregating,  in  all,  over  15,000  miles  of  main  track.  The  lines  of 
these  systems  penetrate  every  State  of  the  West  and  nearly  every 
Territory,  and  aggregate  more  miles  of  track  than  are  laid  in  any 
country  in  Europe  except  Germany,  France  and  Great  Britain,  each 
of  which  they  closely  approach  in  mileage.  These  three  systems  are 
run  in  harmony  with  each  other,  and  the  last  two,  the  South-Western 
and  the  Wabash,  are  practically  under  one  management,  or,  in  other 
words,  constitute  virtually  one  system  of  railways.  Together  they 
aggregate  over  10,000  miles  of  road,  and  include  lines  of  travel  in 
twelve  of  the  great  States  of  the  Union  and  in  the  Indian  Territory. 
The  South-Western  and  Wabash  systems  constitute  one  of  the  most 
valuable  and  prosperous  combinations  of  railroads  in  the  United 
States.  They  were  built  up  of  many  independent  lines  in  the  different 
States,  and  the  Missouri  Pacific  proper  and  the  old  Wabash  were 
taken  for  the  bases  of  the  systems.  The  original  roads,  of  which 
these  systems  were  finally  formed,  were  in  many  instances  in  financial 
and  business  embarrassment,  and  some  of  them  were  in  the  hands  of 
receivers.  Largely  by  the  genius  of  one  man,  through  the  assistance 
of  the  able  men  he  drew  around  him,  they  were  gathered  up,  one  by 
one,  and  were  united  and  made  to  prosper,  so   that  we  have   seen 


292  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

built  up  in  a  few  years  the  greatest  combination  of  railroads  of  the 
age,  a  work  that  has  been  accomplished  with  such  success  that  one 
cannot  but  view  it  with  mingled  admiration  and  surprise.  We  can- 
not go  into  the  details  of  the  history  of  these  roads  at  this  time, 
but  must  confine  ourselves  to  an  outline  of  the  respective  systems, 
the  South-Western  and  the  Wabash. 

THE    SOUTH-WESTERN   RAILWAY    SYSTEM. 

This  system  includes  and  operates  5,983  miles  of  railroad,  which 
lie  in  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Arkansas,  the  Indian  Territory, 
Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  is  composed  of  the  old  Missouri  Pacific 
proper,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas,  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain 
and  Southern,  the  International  and  Great  Northern,  the  Central 
Branch  of  the  Union  Pacific,  and  the  Texas  and  Pacific.  The  follow- 
ing table  shows  the  miles  of  each  division  in  operation :  — 


MILEAGE. 


Missouri  Pacific  Division         .... 
Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Division    . 
International  and  Great  Northern  Division   . 
St.  Louis  and  Iron  Mountain  Division   . 
Central  Branch  of  the  Union  Pacific  Division 
Texas  and  Pacific  Division      .... 


Total 


990 

1,386 

826 

906 

388 
1,487 


5,983 


As  has  been  said,  the  Missouri  Pacific  forms  the  basis  of  this 
system.  The  charter  for  this  road,  or,  rather,  of  its  predecessor, 
the  Pacific  Eailroad  Company,  was  granted  by  the  Missouri  Legis- 
lature by  act  approved  March  12,  1849.  The  Pacific  Company  was 
authorized  to  build  two  lines  of  road  from  St.  Louis,  one,  the  main 
line,  to  Jefi*erson  and  on  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  State,  and 
the  other,  a  branch,  to  the  south-western  part  of  the  State.  The 
capital  stock  of  the  company  was  fixed  at  $10,000,000,  and  the  road 
received  aid  from  the  State  to  the  amount  of  $7,000,000.  To  aid 
in  the  construction  of  the  Southwest  Branch,  as  the  branch  was 
called,  Congress  also  made  a  grant  to  the  company  of  3,840  acres 
of  land  to  the  mile,  which  amounted  in  all  to  1,161,204  acres.  Con- 
struction of  the  main  line  was  commenced  July  4,  1851,  but  its 
progress  was  slow.  It  reached  Jefierson  City  in  1856  and  Sedalia 
in  1861,  but  was  not  completed  to  Kansas  City  until  the  fall  of 
1865.  The  construction  of  the  Southwest  Branch  was  even  slower, 
but  was  finally  completed  to  the  State  line,  by  way  of  Springfield. 
In  1866,  however,  the   Southwest  Branch  was    taken    possession  of 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  293 

by  the  State  for  non-payment  of  interest  on  the  State  subsidy  and, 
with  its  lands,  was  sold  to  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Railroad  Company, 
which  company,  in  1872,  leased  the  lines  of  the  old  company,  or 
Kansas  City  trunk  road.  The  two  roads  were  then  operated  under 
one  management  until  1876,  when  the  Pacific  was  sold  under  fore- 
closure  and  conveyed  by  the  purchasers  to  the  present  Missouri  Pa- 
cific Company.  This  company,  with  a  capital  of  $3,000,000,  was 
incorporated  October  21,  1876.  In  the  meantime,  in  1868,  $5,000,- 
000  of  the  State  subsidy  had  been  back-paid  to  the  State .  The  amount 
of  indebtedness  the  new  Missouri  Pacific  assumed  when  it  bought  the 
road  was  $13,700,000. 

Since  the  completion  of  the  road  to  Kansas  City,  it  has  successfully 
competed  with  all  its  rivals  for  the  traffic  of  the  Great  West  and, 
besides  its  numerous  tributary  lines,  its  connections  with  other  roads 
are  such  that  cars  run  to  and  from  St.  Louis  to  every  point  in  the 
West  and  South-west  without  break  of  freight-bulk.  Its  career  since 
it  became  the  property  of  its  present  owners  has  been  one  of 
unparalleled  success,  and  it  has  grown  from  a  single  line  across  Missouri 
to  one  of  the  most  important  trunk  lines  in  the  Union,  with  its 
thousands  of  miles  of  feeders  extending  in  every  direction  west  of  St. 
Louis  and  in  the  South-west.  In  1880  the  St.  Louis  and  Lexington, 
the  Kansas  City  and  Eastern,  the  Lexington  and  Southern,  the  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Arizona,  the  Missouri  River  and  the  Leaven- 
worth and  North-Western  were  consolidated  with  it.  This  was  on  the 
11th  of  August,  and  the  authorized  share-capital  of  the  consolidated 
company  was  fixed  at  $30,000,000.  The  amount  issued  to  carry  out 
the  consolidation  was  $12,419,800.  The  debt  of  the  company  after 
this  consolidation  was  $19,259,000. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1880,  the  Missouri  Pacific  leased  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railway  for  a  period  of  99  years,  the 
consideration  paid  being  the  net  earnings  of  the  road.  The  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  was  organized  April  7,  1870,  by  consolidation  of 
the  Southern  branch  of  the  Union  Pacific,  the  Tebo  and  Neosho, 
the  Labette  and  Sedalia,  and  the  Neosho  Valley  and  Holden.  The 
St.  Louis  and  Santa  Fe  Railroad  from  Holden,  Missouri,  to  Paola, 
Kansas,  was  purchased  by  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  in  1872, 
and  the  Hannibal  and  Central  Missouri,  from  Hannibal  to  Moberly, 
was  purchased  in  1874.  This  is  the  division  of  the  road  which  passes 
through  Randolph  county,  and  is  about  20  miles  in  length.  It  was 
chartered  February  13,  1865.  The  line  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas 
and  Texas  was  opened  from  Junction  City  to  the  southern  boundary 


294  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

of  Kansas  in  1870,  and  from  Sedalia  to  Parsons  in  1871.  From  the 
southern  boundary  of  Kansas  to  Denison  it  was  opened  January  1, 
1873,  and  from  Hannibal  to  Sedalia,  in  September  of  the  same  year, 
thus  completing  a  continuous  line  from  Hannibal,  Missouri,  to  Deni- 
son, Texas. 

The  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  received  large  grants  of  land  under 
act  of  Congress,  both  in  Kansas  and  in  the  Indian  Territory,  and  also 
important  grants  from  the  State  of  Kansas.  The  lands  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  however,  are  subject  to  the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian 
title,  and  have  not  therefore  become  available  to  the  company.  This 
road  has  been  mainly  instrumental  in  settling  up  and  developing 
South-west  Missouri  and  Southern  Kansas.  By  it,  also,  Texas  was 
given  an  outlet  to  the  North,  and  over  its  line  a  perfect  stream  of 
trade  and  commerce,  and  of  travel,  flowed  to  and  from  that  great 
State.  Probably  no  road  on  the  continent  has  been  of  so  much  value 
and  importance  to  a  State  or  section  of  country,  as  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  has  been  and  still  is  to  Texas.  ^  Over  it  population 
has  pushed  into  the  State  and  settled  up  all  of  its  northern  counties, 
a  section  of  country  nearly  as  large  as  the  entire  State  of  Missouri. 
Hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  have  been  added  to  its  population, 
and  millions  of  property  have  augmented  its  wealth.  The  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  has  been  to  Texas  what  the  Missouri  river  was  in 
pre-railroad  days  to  Central  Missouri  —  the  main  artery  of  its  popu- 
lation and  wealth,  and  of  its  general  advancement  and  prosperity. 

In  1882  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  acquired  the  International 
and  Great  Northern  by  the  exchange  of  two  shares  of  its  own  stock 
for  one  share  of  the  latter.  This  exchange  increased  the  share-capital 
of  the  company  by  $16,470,000.  By  the  International  and  Great 
Northern,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  also  acquired  a  land  grant 
in  Texas  of  about  5,000,000  acres.  With  the  acquisition  of  the 
International  and  Great  Northern  and  other  tributary  lines,  a  con- 
tinuous route  was  given  from  Hannibal  and  St.  Louis  to  Galveston, 
Texas,  and  to  Laredo,  on  the  Rio  Grande.  At  Laredo,  connectipn 
is  made  with  the  Mexican  National,  which  will  lead  into  the  city  of 
Mexico,  when  the  present  gap  in  its  line  shall  have  been  filled  up. 
However,  by  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  a  through  rail  route  is 
already  opened  to  Mexico,  by  connection  with  the  Texas  Pacific  and 
the  Mexican  Central,  which  latter  is  completed  to  the  capital  city  of 
the  Montezumas. 

Early  in  1881  the  Missouri  Pacific  acquired  the  St.  Louis,  Iron 
Mountain  and  Southern,  issuino'   to  the   hitter's   stockholders  three 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  295 

shares  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  stock  for  four  shares  of  the  Iron  Moun- 
tain, the  object  and  effect  of  the  purchase  being  the  consolidation  of 
the  two  companies.  The  Iron  Mountain  and  St.  Louis  extends  from 
St.  Louis  to  Texarkana,  a  distance  of  490  miles,  with  branches  from 
Bismarck,  in  Washington  county,  Missouri,  to  Columbus,  Kentucky, 
on  the  Mississippi,  a  distance  of  121  miles,  and  from  Knoble  to 
Helena,  Arkansas  ;  also  from  Jonesborough  on  the  Helena  branch  to 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  from  Poplar  Bluffs,  Missouri,  to  Cairo, 
Illinois,  besides  numerous  minor  branches.  At  Texarkana,  on  the 
line  of  the  Arkansas  and  Texas,  connection  is  made  with  the  Texas 
Pacific,  which  latter  leads  south-east  to  New  Orleans,  west  to  El  Paso 
(where  it  connects  with  the  Southern  Pacific  for  California),  and  due 
south  to  Longview,  Texas,  where  it  connects  with  the  International  and 
Great  Northern  for  Galveston,  on  the  Gulf,  and  for  Laredo  on  the  Rio 
Grande  ;  or  rather,  the  Iron  Mountain,  the  Texas  and  Pacific  and  the 
International  and  Great  Northern  form  one  continuous  line  either  to 
New  Orleans,  Galveston,  Laredo,  or  El  Paso,  for  all  are  members  of 
the  South-Western  system. 

The  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  is  a  consolidation  of  four 
original  roads,  or  organizations  —  the  St.  Louis  and  Iron  Mountain,  the 
Arkansas  Branch  of  the  St.  Louis  and  Iron  Mountain,  the  Cairo,  Ark- 
ansas and  Texas,  and  the  Cairo  and  Fulton.  This  consolidation  was 
effected  May  6,  1874.  But  long  before  either  of  these  companies  was 
incorporated,  away  back  in  1837,  an  act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed 
incorporating  the  St.  Louis  and  Bellevue  Mineral  Railroad,  the  object 
being  to  reach  the  rich  mineral  regions  of  Southeast  Missouri,  from 
St.  Louis.  That  Company  was  finally  merged  into  the  St.  Louis  and 
Iron  Mountain  Companj^  which  was  incorporated  March  3,  1851. 
The  capital  stock  of  the  Iron  Mountain  was  fixed  at  $6,000,000. 
Various  subsequent  acts  of  the  Legislature  were  passed  to  expedite 
the  construction  of  the  road,  and  the  State  issued  its  own  bonds  to 
assist  in  the  construction,  to  the  amount  of  $3,500,000,  for  which  the 
State  took  a  mortgage  on  the  road.  Work  was  commenced  in  the  fall 
of  1853.  It  was  completed  to  Pilot  Knob  in  May,  1858.  Under  the 
act  of  March  21,  1868,  the  Arkansas  Branch  was  built  to  Texarkana,. 
Arkansas,  the  capital  stock  of  the  Branch  being  $2,500,000.  The- 
road  was  completed  to  Texarkana  in  the  fall  of  1872.  In  the  mean- 
time, however,  the  Iron  Mountain  had  failed  to  acquit  its  liability  to 
the  State,  and  it  was  sold  under  the  State  mortgage,  Messrs.  McKay, 
Simmons  and  Vogel  becoming  the  purchasers.  They  transferred  it  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Allen  and  his  associates,  who  reorganized  the  Iron  Moun- 
14 


296  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

tain  Company  and  conducted  the  road  under  that  name  until  1874, 
when  the  name  of  the  road  was  changed  to  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Moun- 
tain and  Southern,  on  account  of  the  consolidation  of  the  other  roads 
with  it. 

The  Cairo,  Arkansas  and  Texas,  which  was  consolidated  with  the 
Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  in  1874,  was  an  independent  organization 
and  was  chartered  May  16,  1872,  with  authority  to  build  a  line 
from  Greenfield,  opposite  to  Cairo,  to  Poplar  Bluffs.  This  road  had 
a  grant  of  65,000  acres  of  land.  The  Cairo  and  Fulton  was  also  an  in- 
dependent organization,  incorporated  in  1853.  It  had  a  grant  of 
6,400  acres,  which  became  the  property  of  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Moun- 
tain and  Southern  at  the  time  of  the  consolidation. 

The  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  is  justly  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  important  sections  of  road  in  the  great  South-Western 
system.  It  is  a  trunk  line  from  St.  Louis  to  Texas,  and,  by  connec- 
tion with  the  Mexican  National,  soon  to  be  completed,  it  will  become 
the  main  line  J:o  the  City  of  Mexico.  At  St.  Louis  it  connects  with 
the  great  Wabash  System,  which  extends  north-east  to  Chicago,  to 
Toledo  and  to  other  points.  At  Toledo  and  at  Detroit  also,  con- 
nection is  made  by  the  Wabash  with  the  Canadian  trunk  lines  and  with 
leading  lines  to  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boston,  etc.  The  Iron 
Mountain  opens  up  the  magnificent  mineral  regions  of  Missouri,  and 
passes  diagonally  through  Arkansas,  making  the  Great  Arkansas 
Kiver  Valley  tributary  to  its  traffic.  It  not  only  taps  the  cotton 
regions  of  Arkansas  and  the  north-western  parts  of  Louisiana  and 
Mississippi,  but  also  those  of  Texas,  and,  by  the  Texas  Pacific,  of 
the  whole  Red  River  Valley. 

The  Texas  Pacific,  the  longest  line  of  the  irreat  South-Western 
System,  being  1,487  miles  long,  or  101  miles  longer  than  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas,  was  organized  under  an  act  of  Congress,  approved 
March  8,  1871,  and  also  under  the  general  laws  of  Texas.  It  acquired 
the  property  of  the  Southern  Pacific,  the  Southern  Trans-Continen- 
tal, the  Memphis,  El  Paso  and  Pacific,  and  the  New  Orleans  Pacific. 
The  Southern  Pacific  was  a  consolidation  of  the  Vicksburg,  Shreve- 
port  and  Texas,  and  the  Southern  Pacific.  The  building  of  the  Texas 
Pacific  was  characterized  by  wonderful  vigor  and  rapidity  of  con- 
struction. It  is  one  of  the  new  railroads  of  the  country,  but  is 
rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  great  trunk  lines  of  the  Southwest. 
It  now  extends  from  New  Orleans  up  the  Red  river  to  Shreveport 
and  on  through  Texas    by    way    of   Ft.  Worth  to  El  Paso,  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  297 

extreme  western  corner  of  the  Lone  Star  State,  where  it  connects 
with  the  Southern  Pacific  for  California.  Also  a  branch  from  the 
main  line  extends  from  Marshall,  in  Harrison  county,  Texas,  to  the 
junction  of  the  Iron  Mountain,  and  from  there  to  Whitesborough, 
on  the  line  of  the  Missouri  Pacific,  in  Northern  Texas,  or  the  ex- 
tension of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  ;  and  it  has  other  branches, 
among  the  most  important  of  which  is  the  Ft.  Worth  and  Dency,  ex- 
tending from  Ft,  Worth,  in  the  direction  of  Colorado,  or  toward  the 
north-western  Pan-Handle  of  Texas,  being  completed  now  as  far  as 
Wichita  Falls,  about  100  miles.  This  road,  also,  has  a  land  grant 
which  entitles  it  to  10,240  acres  to  the  mile  in  Texas,  under  the 
laws  of  that  State,  and  it  has  already  had  set  apart  to  it  over  10,- 
000,000  acres. 

The  Central  Branch  of  the  Union  Pacific,  which  now  forms  a  part 
of  the  South-Western  System,  extends  west  from  Atchison  through  the 
northern  part  of  Kansas  to  Lenora,  a  distance  of  nearly  200  miles, 
which,  with  its  branches,  aggregates  388  miles,  as  stated  above.  This 
road  was  originally  chartered  on  the  11th  of  February,  1859,  under 
the  name  of  the  Atchison  and  Pike's  Peak  Railroad  Company.  A  large 
part  of  the  road  was  opened  in  1867.  It  became  a  branch  of  the 
Union  Pacific  under  one  of  the  acts  of  Congress  relating  to  that  com- 
pany, and  received  a  grant  of  187,608  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment and  bonds,  the  latter  at  the  rate  of  $416,000  per  mile  for  100 
miles.     It  became  a  part  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  in  188 — . 

Although  included  in  the  lines  already  named,  special  attention 
should  be  called  to  the  line  of  road  in  the  South-Western  System  ex- 
tending from  Joplin  north  to  Kansas  City  and  on  up  the  Missouri 
river  to  Omaha.  For,  besides  the  value  which  the  Joplin  end  of  this 
line  is  to  the  system  as  a  feeder,  the  Omaha  extension  is  of  great 
importance.  This  extension  passes  up  to  the  Nebraska  side  of  the 
river  and  gives  a  through  line  by  the  Missouri  Pacific  from  Omaha  to 
St.  Louis,  both  for  passengers  and  freight,  without  change  of  cars  for 
the  former  or  break  of  bulk  of  the  latter.  It  also  forms  a  part  of  a 
continuous  line  via  Kansas  City  and  Denison,  Texas,  from  Omaha  to 
either  New  Orleans  or  Galveston,  or  to  Western  Texas  or  Laredo,  on 
the  Rio  Grande.  In  other  words,  it  is  a  part  of  the  greatest  north- 
and-south  line  of  railroads  in  the  United  States.  At  Omaha  it  con- 
nects with  the  Union  Pacific,  and  makes  the  Missouri  Pacific  one  of 
the  important  tributary  lines  to  that  great  trunk-line  across  the 
continent. 


298 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


The  following  tables  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  financial  and 
business  condition  of  the  roads  included  in  the  South-Western  Sys- 
tem :  — 

STOCKS.  — 1883. 


Boads. 


Missouri  Pacific,    ( including  exchanges  for   Iron   Mountain 
stock  whicli  is  lield  as  an  investment) 

Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas,  i  Vv^'^vQk 

International  and  Great  Northern 

St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  (which  is  owned  by  the 
Missouri  Pacific,  being  acquired  by  an  exchange  of  stock)     . 

Central  Branch  of  the  Union  Pacific 

Texas  and  Pacific 


Amounts. 


$29,962,125  00 

46,405,000  00 

12,566  93 

9,755,000  00 

22,083,865  00 

32,161,900  00 


The  Central  Branch  stock  is  included  in  that  of  the  Union  Pacific, 
the  former  road  being  operated  by  the  South-Western  System  on  ac- 
count of  the  Union  Pacific.  Hence  the  Central  Branch  stock  is  not 
given  in  the  statement  of  the  stock  of  the  South-Western  Svstem. 


FUNDED    INDEBTEDNESS. 


1883. 


Boads. 


Missouri  Pacific 

Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas. 
International  and  Great  Northern.     . 
St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern. 
Central  Branch  of  the  Union  Pacific. 
Texas  and  Pacific 

Total 


Amounts. 


$26,895,000  00 
41,560,589  65 
15,008,000  00 
35,319,299  46 


41,714,000  00 


$160,496,889  11 


All  the  financial  afiairs  of  the  Central  Branch  are  managed  by  the 
Union  Pacific. 

INTEREST  CHARGE  ON'  FUNDED  INDEBTEDNESS. 1883. 


Boads.    . 

Amounts. 

Missouri  Pacific. 

Missoui-i,  Kansas  and  Texas 

International  and  Great  Northern  (including  the  G.  H.  &  H).  . 
St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern 

$1,698,000  00 
2,481,660  00 
1,016,230  00 
2,180,840  00 

Texas  and  Pacific 

2,574,630  00 

Total 

$9,967,370  00 

HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


299 


AMOUNT    OF    BUSINESS. 


6 

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1,655,103 

2,130,894 

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No.  of  tons  of  f'gt.  car'd  in  1881 

No.  of  tons  of  f'gt.  car'd  in  1882 

No.  of  tons  of  f'gt.  car'd  in  1883 

Increase  of  1883  over  1882 

2,712,634 

3,194,353 

3,270,721 

76,368 

345,279 
317,434 
371,556 
54,122 

459  ,.536 

486,585 
593,452 
106,867 

"l89,i96 

1,155,892 

1,049,262 

946,219 

1,693,943 

1,500,491 

1,557,954 

57,463 

m 

1940  m 
2533  m 
2390  m 

7,510,775 

8,203,223 

9,059,986 

856,758 

Deci'ease  of  1883    "     1882 

103,043 

803  m 
850  m 
133'  m 

2326  m 
1773  m 
197  m 

2225  m 
2195  m 
2003  m 

201,387 
250,817 
492,172 

241,355 

"Vss'm 

Avei-age  distance  oarr'd  in  1881 
Average  distance  carr'd  in  1882 
Average  distance  carr'd  in  1883 

1359  m 
125°  m 
136"  m 

1565  m 
1980  ni 
273"  m 

1701m 
172Sm 

236«m 

No.  of  Passengers  carr'd  in  1881 
No.  of  Passengers  carr'd  in  1882 
No.  of  Passengers  carr'd  in  1883 

1,023,036 
1,472,311 
1,567,683 

95,372 

124,640 
145,084 
164,743 

19,659 

405,956 
557,035 
793,808 

236,773 

793 
942 
70* 

347,558 
392,365 
744,745 

352,380 

63* 

81* 
468 

913,755 

955,787 

1,028,943 

73,156 

630 
515 
512 

3,016,332 
3,773,399 
4,883,289 

1,109,890 

91,195 

57*  m 
542  m 
495  m 

480  m 
44-  m 

481  nj 

692 
756 

568 

633 

Average  distance  carr'd  in  1882 
Average  distance  carr'd  in  1883 

632 

331 

593 

In  the  tables  preceding  this  one  the  Galveston,  Honston  and  Hender- 
son statements  are  included  in  the  International  and  Great  Northern, 
of  which  it  is  now  a  branch. 


EARNINGS . 


1883. 


Missouri  Pacific 

Gross. 

Expenses. 

Surplus. 

$   915,731  38 
4,978,465  38 

$  4,175,266  00 

Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas. 

Gross. 

Expenses. 

Surplus. 

7,843,511  61 
4,646,503  66 

3,197,007  95 

International  and  Great  Northern. 

Gross. 

Expenses. 

Surplus. 

3,435,968  71 
2,481,716  80 

954,251  91 

St.  Louis,  Iron  Mount,  and  Southern. 

Gross. 

Expenses. 

Surplus. 

7,904,683  47 
4,214,563  85 

3,690,119  62 

Central  Branch 

Gross. 

Expenses. 

Surplus. 

1,505,345  71 
830,173  01 

675,173  70 

Texas  and  Pacific 

Gross. 

Expenses. 

Surplus. 

7,045,652  38 
5,597,645  26 

1,648,007  12 

Total  Surplus 

$14,339,826  30 

300 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


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302  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

These  fucts  show  that  the  South- Western  System  is  on  a  solid  basis 
and  is  doins:  a  flourishino;  business.  The  various  bonds  of  the  differ- 
ent  roads  are  sought  after  in  the  markets  as  safe  and  remunerative  in- 
vestments, and  most  of  them  are  above  par.  The  Texas  and  Pacifies 
are  quoted  at  about  1.06,  as  an  average,  and  the  Missouri  Pacifies  range 
from  1.01  to  1.16,  according  to  the  issue  to  which  they  belong.  The 
International  and  Great  Northern  (first  mortgage)  range  from  1.05  to 
1,11,  whilst  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  consols  (7s)  sell  from  1.04 
to  1.10.  In  1882  the  Missouri  Pacific  paid  a  dividend  of  7  per  cent. 
The  figures  of  1883  are  not  before  us,  but  we  feel  safe  in  saying  that 
so  far  as  dividends  are  concerned  the  stockholders  of  the  entire  Sys- 
tem have  every  reason  to  congratulate  themselves. 

In  character  of  road-bed  and  equipments,  as  well  as  in  every  other 
particular,  the  South-Western  System  is   without  a  superior  in  the 
West.     Most  of  its  main  lines  are  laid  with  steel  rails  and,   a  large 
part  of  the  System  being  composed  of  old  roads,  the  road-beds   have 
become  settled  and  solid  and,  being  kept  in  the  best  condition,  the 
tracks    are    among   the    best    west    of  the  Mississippi    and,  indeed, 
throughout  the   whole  country.     The   bridges   of  the    System   were 
invariably  built  for  safety  aud  durability,  without  too  close  an  esti- 
mate of  the  cost,  and  it  is  a  fact  that  fewer  accidents  have  occurred  on 
the  South-Western  System  from  defective  bridges  than  on  any  other 
large  system  of  roads  during  the  same  period  of  time.     The  depots 
and  buildings,  and  other  local  accommodations  for  traffic  and  travel, 
are  of  a  superior  class,  and  are  fitted  up   with  an  eye  less  only  to 
appearance  than  to  comfort  and  service.     The  rolling  stock  is  unsur- 
passed in  the  West.     It  has  one  of  the  finest  stocks  of  passenger  cars 
and  sleepers,  including  reclining   chair  cars,  in  the   Union.     No  ex- 
pense or  pains  are  spared  to  make   the  journey  of  passengers   both 
pleasant  and  expeditious.     Run  in  connection  with  the  Wabash  System, 
the  owners  and  managers  of  the  two  now  being  practically  the  same, 
the   South-Western  and  the   Wabash  afford  to  the  travel  and  traffic 
throughout  the  interior  of  the  Union   unrivaled  facilities.     All  trains 
on  both  systems  are  rnn  so  as  to  make   sharp   connections   with  each 
other,  thus  making  unnecessary   delays  or  lay-overs  hardly  possible, 
from  any  fault  of  the  road.     Any  point  on  the  entire  10,000  miles  of 
lines  may  be  reached  from  any  other  point  at  the  rate  of  from  20  to 
35  miles  per  hour,  and  without  missing  connections.     Besides,  these 
systems  are  run  in  connection  with  the  Union  Pacific  system,  and  they 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


303 


also  have  advantao;eous  runnino:  arrangements  with  all  the  other  lead- 
ing  lines  throughout  the  United  States. 

As  has  been  observed  above,  several  of  the  roads  included  in  the 
South- Western  System  have  received  valuable  land  grants  from  the 
Government  and  from  some  of  the  States  in  which  the  lines  of  the 
System  are  located.  The  following  table  shows  the  extent  of  these 
grants  and  the  operations  of  the  System  with  regard  to  the  disposition 
of  its  lands  during  the  last  fiscal  year  :  — 


LAND    STATEMENT. 


Missouri, 

St.  Louis, 

1.  M.  &S.    R'y. 

Texas 

Kansas  ^nd 
Texas. 

AND 

Pacific. 

Missouri  Div 

Arkansas  Div 

Total  number  of  acres  originally 

granted  and  purchased     . 

663,709 

139,375 

1,368,798 

4,931,702 

No.  acres  unsold  Dec.  31,  1882. 

30,053 

119,357 

994,763 

4,729,042 

No.  of  acres  sold  during  1883. 

82,756 

4,159 

66,840 

205,693 

Average  price  per  acre  1883.    . 

$2.37 

$3.71 

$2.88 

$2.68 

No.  acres  unsold  Dec.  31,  1883. 

5,500 

115,644 

928,498 

4,523,349 

Total  amount  of  sales,  including 

town  lots,  during  1883.     . 

$     78,280  81 

$      15,700 

18 

$   195,988  31 

$   646,006  59 

Cash  received  during  1883.     , 

112,240  07 

17,739 

02 

171,879  68 

135,388  99 

Notes  received  during  1883.  . 

54,118  48 

5,290 

55 

101,589  40 

173,328  72 

Gross  receipts   of  Deparment 

since  commencement. 

2,020,219  75 

127,421 

55 

1,145,457  62 

1,204,471  17 

Gross  expenses  of  Department 

since  commencement. 

1,128,935  47 

«0,536 

78 

391,264,73 

575,256  42 

Notes  receivable,  outstanding 

Dec.  31,  1883 

250,788  83 

27,013 

12 

701,554  21 

217,801  55 

By  the  above  statement  it  is  shown  that  the  Texas  and  Pacific  division 
has  4,729,042  acres  of  land  still  undisposed  of.  The  St.  Louis,  Iron 
Mountain  and  Southern  has  994,753  acres  in  Arkansas  and  119,357  in 
Missouri,  while  all  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  lands  are  dis- 
posed of  except  30,053.  The  following  table  shows  the  location  of 
the  lands  of  the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad  by  counties  and  the  number 
of  acres  in  each  county  :  — 


304 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


TABLE. 


Counties. 

Acres. 

Counties. 

Acres. 

Bowie 

21,843 

Jack 

1,280 

Ked  River. 

6,456 

Palo  Pinto. 

2,338 

Lamar 

795 

Stephens. 

18,628 

Fannin. 

13 

Eastland 

5,000 

Rains.          .... 

2,452 

Comanche. 

70O 

Van  Zandt.     . 

1,710 

Brown 

47,000 

Collin 

89 

Callahan. 

64,105 

Denton. 

2,769 

Taylor 

30,509 

Cooke.          .... 

1,920 

Jones 

12,216 

Wise 

1,593 

Baylor 

2,040 

Clay 

14,080 

Wilbarger. 

13,320 

Tarrant     .... 

1,627 

Fisher 

23,674 

Parker 

9,732 

Nolan. 

56,298 

Mitchell. 

94,603 

Howard.             .         . 

216,861 

Martin 

200,192 

Squrry. 

5,156 

Briscoe. 

20,928 

Hall 

41,782 

Childress.    .        .        •        . 

26,880 

i  Motley. 

13,851 

Floyd 

240 

Stonewall. 

6,260 

Kent.            .... 

1,925 

Tom  Green. 

1,113,171 

Borden 

170,088 

Dawson. 

106,176 

Andrews.     .         .         •         . 

42,373 

Edwards,     . 

10,180 

Crockett,  in  S.  E.  Cor.    . 

5,180 

iDimmit. 

44,800 

Pecos.           .... 

553,150 

jPresidio. 

368,114 

El  Paso. 

1,307,254 



A  large  proportion  of  these  counties  are  on  or  near  the  line  of  the 
Texas  and  Pacific  Railway  and  other  railways,  and  the  lands  therein  are 
therefore  afforded  the  advantag-e  of  o-ood  railroad  and  market  facilities. 
Many  of  them  are  near  new  and  rapidly  growing  towns,  which  have 
generally  been  started  within  the  past  two  or  three  years,  or  since  the 
advent  of  the  railroad  in  that  section  of  the  State. 

The  lands  of  this  Company  range  in  price  generally  from  $2.50  to 
$4.00  per  acre,  and  are  offered  for  sale  on  cash,  five-year,  and  ten- 
year  credit  terms.  The  ten-year  terms  are  one-tenth  cash,  and  one- 
tenth  annually,  commencing  the  second  year  from  date  of  purchase. 
The  deferred  payments  bear  interest  at  the  rate  of  seven  per  cent 
per  annum,  which  is  payable  annually.  The  five-year  terms  are  one- 
fifth  cash,  and  one-fifth  annually,  commencing  the  second  year  from 
date  of  purchase.  The  deferred  payments  bear  interest  at  the  rate 
of  seven  per  cent  per  annum,  which  is  payable  annually.  There  is 
generally  a  difference  of  30  percent  between  cash  and  ten-year  terms, 
and  20  per  cent  between  cash  and  five-year  terms.  When  the  lands 
are  bought  for  cash,  the  Company  issues  its  deed  to  the  purchaser  at 
once,  but  when  bought  on  credit  terms  a  contract  of  sale  is  issued, 
and  for  this  contract  a  deed  is  substituted  when  final  payment  is  made. 
More  particular  descriptions,  as  well  as  maps  of  many  of  these  conn- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  305 

ties,  have  been  published  by  the  Company,  for  free  distribution, 
and  can  be  had  on  application  to  W.  H.  Abrams,  Land  Commissioner, 
Texas  and  Pacific  Railway,  Dallas,  Texas. 

The  only  satisfactory  course  for  purchasers  to  pursue,  is  to  come  and 
see  the  country  and  make  their  own  selections.  The  Company's  land 
has  been  carefully  examined,  and  in  both  the  main  office  of  the  land 
department  at  Marshall,  and  at  its  branch  office  at  Baird,  can  be  found 
plats  and  descriptions  of  the  land,  which  are  open  to  the  inspection  of 
all  inquirers.  At  both  of  these  offices  are  experienced  men,  who  are 
personally  familiar  with  most  of  the  lands,  and  will  give  any  needed 
information.  In  nearly  all  counties  in  which  the  available  lands  of  the 
Company  are  located,  local  agents  have  been  appointed,  who  will 
cheerfully  show  lands  and  render  purchasers  every  reasonable  assist- 
ance in   selecting  homes.     These  accents  are  reliable  men,  furnished 

CO  ' 

with  plats  and  prices  of  all  the  lands  in  their  vicinity,  and  will  cheer- 
fully render  all  reasonable  facilities  to  prospective  purchasers.  Their 
duty  is  to  show  the  lands  and  state  prices,  and  when  a  tract  has 
been  selected,  to  fill  out  the  necessary  application  and  attest  the 
same.  Blanks  for  such  purpose  have  been  furnished  them.  The 
applicant  will  then  forward  the  application,  with  the  necessary  pay- 
ment, to  W.  H.  Abrams,  Land  Commissioner,  Dallas,  Texas.  Here 
all  applications  are  subject  to  approval  or  rejection.  All  applications 
are  approved  if  made  on  a  basis  of  existing  prices,  unless  the  land 
applied  for  has  been  previously  sold.  If  accepted,  immediate  ac- 
knowledgment is  made,  and  the  necessary  title  papers  are  furnished, 
as  explained  on  the  application  blanks,  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

Nature  has  been  extremely  lavish  in  making  Texas  one  of  the  most 
varied  in  her  products  of  all  the  States  in  the  Union.  Such  is  the 
adaptation  of  her  soil  and  climate  to  the  production  of  cotton  —  rank- 
ing in  staple  the  finest  in  the  world's  markets  —  that  one-fifth  of  her 
territory  could  produce  an  annual  crop  greater  than  is  now  gathered 
from  all  the  cotton  fields  on  the  globe. 

The  lands  of  this  State  are  equally  productive  in  the  growth  of  all 
the  cereals ;  and  the  region  especially  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
wheat  is  larger  than  the  great  States  of  Missouri,  Illinois  and  In- 
diana  combined.  Of  the  168  organized  counties,  68  are  capable  of 
producing  18  bushels  to  the  acre,  which  is  below  the  average  pro- 
duct. The  wheat  of  this  State  is  drier,  more  dense,  and  the  heaviest 
known,  weighing  from  64  to  i^6  lbs.  per  bushel. 

Sea  Island  cotton  grows  well  along  the  entire  coast,  and  sugar-cane 
and  rice  thrive  in  all  that  part  of  the  State  south  of  the  30th   parallel 


306  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  north  latitude.  Corn,  barley,  oats,  rye,  sorghum,  millet,  castor- 
beans,  broom  corn  and  potatoes — both  Irish  and  sweet — are  raised 
in  great  abundance  and  perfection.  Peaches,  pears,  apples,  apri- 
cots, figs,  pomegranates,  strawberries  and  raspberries  of  the  finest 
quality  have  been  grown  successfully  wherever  they  have  been  tried. 
Grape-growing  is  destined  to  become  an  important  industry  ;  the 
vines  grow  vigorously,  and  the  fruit  is  large  and  delicious ;  wild 
grapes  of  excellent  quality  grow  in  great  profusion  in  all  of  our  for- 
ests. 

The  soils  of  Texas  are  admirably  adapted  to  the  growth  of  nearly 
every  kind  of  vegetable  in  use  by  man,  and  her  climate  and  seasons 
admit  of  their  beino;  broug-ht  into  market  both  earlier  and  later  than 
in  any  of  the  Middle  or  Northern  States. 

According  to  the  annual  report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
for  the  year  1881,  a  year  remarkable  for  its  drouth,  particularly  so  in 
Texas,  it  is  shown  that  the  value  of  farm  crops  per  acre  is  much 
greater  than  in  most  other  States  and  Territories  of  the  Union.  The 
following  are  the  figures  for  eight  staple  crops :  — 

Value. 

Corn fU  78  Greater  than  in    8  other  States  and  Territories. 

Wheat 17  78  "  "29  "  "  "  " 

Eye IG  80  "  "35  "  "  "  " 

Oats 16  35  "  "34  "  "  "  " 

Barley 17  37  "  "20  "  "  "  " 

Potatoes       ....  39  20  "  "          3  "  "  "  " 

Tobacco        ....  54  72  "  "         20  "  "  "  " 

Hay 13  75  "  "11  "  "  "  " 

Adding  the  prices  per  acre  and  dividing  by  the  number  of  staples 
shows  $23.47  to  be  the  average  value  per  acre  of  produce,  exceeded 
only  by  Nevada  and  Colorado,  where  irrigation  is  necessary.  In  re- 
gard to  the  hay  crop  it  must  be  stated  that  the  cattle  are  on  the  range 
all  year,  very  little  hay  being  required  for  their  maintenance  ;  but  in 
sections  where  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  production  of  hay,  large 
crops  of  the  finest  quality  are  easily  produced. 

In  accordance  with  the  same  authority,  the  average  yield  per  acre 
and  price  per  bushel,  ton  and  pound,  are  greater  in  Texas  than  in  the 
majority  of  States  and  Territories. 

Crop.  yield. 

Corn 11.9  bushels  greater  than  in    6  States. 

Wheat 12.7        "  "  "  26  " 

Rye 14           "  "  "  30  " 

Oats 26.8        "  "  "  17  " 

Barley 19.3        "  "  "  15  " 

Potatoes .40           "  "  "  8  " 

Tobacco .304     pounds  "  *'  18  " 

Hay 118    tons  "  "  25  " 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


307 


Crop. 
Corn  . 
Wheat 
Rye   . 
Oats  . 
Barley 
Potatoes 
Tobacco 
Hay   . 


Price. 
f      99  greater  than  in  24  States. 


1  40 

(( 

23 

1  20 

31 

61    ' 

(( 

25 

90    * 

<( 

14 

98    ' 

<( 

20 

18    ' 

36 

11  65    ' 

(( 

7 

Owing  to  the  great  drouth  of  1881,  the  crop  fell  far  below  the  usual 
yield.  The  total  yield,  acreage  and  valuation,  as  compiled  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  are  as  follows  ;  — 


Crop. 


Corn  . 
Wheat 
Rye  . 
Oats  . 
Barley 
Potatoes 
Tobacco 
Hay     . 


Yield. 


33,377,000 

3,339,000 

42,000 

8,324,000 

106,000 

277,440 

217,950 

62,684 


Acreage. 


2,803,700 

263,200 

3,000 

311,100 

5,500 

6,936 

716 

53,122 


Valuation. 


$33,043,230 

4,674,600 

50,400 

5,077,640 

95,400 

271,891 

39,231 

730,269 


The  total  value  of  the  principal  crops  in  Texas  was  estimated  for 
the  year  1881  at  $43,982,661,  which  was  more  than  was  produced  in 
any  of  22  other  States,  though  the  cotton  crop  in  the  Southern  States 
fell  short  over  1,000,000  bales,  and  corn,  wheat,  and  other  cereals 
were  greatly  reduced  in  their  yield. 

For  the  year  1882,  no  complete  statistics  are  before  us.  The  es- 
timates however  are  as  follows  :  Corn,  from  20  to  40  bushels  per  acre  ; 
wheat,  from  12  to  28  bushels  per  acre  ;  oats,  from  28  to  35  bushels  ; 
potatoes,  from  70  to  150  bushels  per  acre  ;  sweet  potatoes,  100  to  200 
bushels  ;  tobacco,  about  650  pounds  per  acre  ;  millet,  two  tons  per 
acre  ;  cotton,  three  quarters  to  one  and  one-quarter  bales  ;  sorghum, 
from  100  to  200  gallons  per  acre. 

The  crops  of  corn,  wheat,  and  cotton,  raised  during  the  year  1882, 
were  enormous,  as  the  following  figures  will  show :  Cotton,  1,280,000 
bales,  estimated  at  $45  per  bale,  are  worth  $57,600,000.  The  corn 
crop  was  98,000,000  bushels,  valued  at  40  cents  per  bushel,  worth 
$38,200,000.  Of  wheat,  13,218,000  bushels  were  produced,  valued 
at  $13,000,000.  The  oat  crop  amounted  to  30,000,000  bushels,  valued 
at  $14,000,000. 

It  is  estimated  that  5,500,000  head  of  cattle  are  owned  in  Texas, 
valued  at   $137,500,000;    horses    and   mules,    1,305,000,   valued   at 


308  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

$36,000,000.     The  number  of  sheep  is  Qstimated  at  7,000,000,  and 
valued  at  $17,500,000. 

Texas  has  increased  in  population  and  wealth  with  greater  rapidity 
during  the  last  ten  years  than  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  Her 
population  in  1850  was  212,000  ;  in  1860,  600,000  ;  in  1870,  818,000  ; 
in  1880,  1,654,480,  an  increase  of  over  100  per  cent  in  the  last  ten 
years  ;  such  has  been  the  flow  of  immigration  into  Texas  the  past  year 
that  her  present  population  is  believed  to  number  nearly  2,000,000. 
The  tide  of  immigration  into  the  State  is  immense,  and  there  is  every 
prospect  that  during  the  present  it  will  exceed  largely  that  of  any  pre- 
vious year. 

The  taxable  property  of  the  State  in  1850  was  $51,000,000  ;  in  1860, 
$294,000,000;  in  1870,  $174,000,000;  in  1875,  $275,000,000;  1880, 
in  round  numbers,  $325,000,000,  and  at  the  present  time  largely  in 
excess  of  $400,000,000.  During  the  past  few  years  the  annual  value 
of  a  few  of  her  leading  articles  of  export  has  been  as  follows  :  Cot- 
ton, $30,000,000;  cattle,  $6,000,000;  hides,  $1,800,000;  wool,  $1,- 
500,000  ;  fruits  and  other  exports,  $3,000,000.  By  the  last  census, 
Texas  ranks  as  the  second  wool-producing  State  in  the  Union. 

With  the  completion  of  the  many  new  railroads  in  Texas,  immense 
tracts  of  land  have  been  made  accessible  and  opened  to  settlement. 
Since  1876  an  enormous  current  of  immigration  has  poured  into  the 
State.  Hundreds  of  new  towns  have  sprung  into  existence,  and 
thousands  of  new  farms  have  been  opened  in  places  entirely  uninhabited 
two  or  three  years  ago. 

One  very  decided  advantage  which  Texas  has  over  most  of  the  other 
States  in  the  Union,  is  that  taxes  are  very  low,  and  will  continue  so, 
as  her  present  debt  is  comparatively  small,  and  such  wise  provisions 
have  been  engrafted  in  her  State  Constitution  as  will  efiectually  pre- 
vent reckless  running  into  debt,  on  account  of  either  the  State,  her 
counties  or  cities,  as  have  been  witnessed  in  so  many  of  the  North- 
western States  in  the  past  few  years.  Most  of  these  States  now  have 
similar  constitutional  provisions  ;  but,  in  most  instances,  they  have 
been  adopted  after  heavy  debts  have  been  contracted,  while  Texas, 
with  the  exception  of  a  very  few  of  her  counties  and  cities,  has  been 
fortunate  in  that  she  has  secured  exemption  before  the  burden  has 
been  placed  upon  her.  There  are  but  very  few  counties  in  Texas  in 
which  the  levy  for  taxes  of  all  kinds  exceeds  the  rate  of  one  per  cent 
per  annum  on  the  total  valuation,  and  this  valuation  in  Texas,  as  in 
most  other  States,  is  seldom  more  than  one-half  or  three-fourths  of 
the  actual  value.     In  many  counties  in  the  State  the  total  levy  for 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  309 

the  purposes  of  taxation  does  not  exceed  one-half  of  one  per  cent 
per  annum. 

Article  XIII.,  section  9,  of  the  Constitution,  provides  that  the 
State  tax  on  property,  exclusive  of  the  tax  necessary  to  pay  the  pub- 
lic debt,  shall  never  exceed  50  cents  on  the  $100  valuation  (the  levy 
at  the  present  time  is  only  30  cents  on  the  $100  valuation),  and  no 
county,  city,  or  town  shall  levy  more  than  one-half  of  said  State  tax, 
except  for  the  payment  of  debts  already  incurred,  and  for  the  erec- 
tion of  public  buildings,  not  to  exceed  50  cents  on  the  $100  in  any 
one  year. 

The  lands  of  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  Railway  in 
the  State  of  Arkansas  are  situated  on  both  sides  of  that  road  which 
runs  diagonally  from  the  north-east  to  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
State  of  Arkansas,  crossing  six  navigable  rivers,  and  running  through 
many  fine  improved  districts,  having  many  thriving  towns. 

These  lands  were  selected  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  but  were  not 
salable  until  the  completion  of  the  railway.  It  presents  the  advan- 
tages of  good  climate,  varied  surface,  different  soils,  high  lands,  bot- 
tom lands,  many  products,  fine  timber,  good  water,  free  range,  rich 
mines,  water  power,  choice  of  markets,  and  the  conveniences  of  trans- 
portation. The  streams  are  tributaries  of  the  great  Mississippi  river. 
This  grant  is  said  to  be  in  the  middle  of  the  country,  because  it  is 
located  between  the  southern  and  the  northern  tiers  of  States  ;  because 
there  is  fully  as  much  of  the  wheat  of  the  United  States  grown  west 
of  a  line  which  passes  north  and  south  through  this  grant,  as  in  the 
country  east  of  it ;  because  a  north  and  south  line  drawn  very  near 
the  eastern  limit  of  this  land  grant  divides  the  population  of  the  United 
States  into  two  equal  parts  ;  and  because  it  is  convenient  to  markets, 
and  is  the  land  grant  nearest  to  old  settlements.  It  is  far  enough 
West  to  have  cheap  and  good  land  in  abundance,  while  the  South,  the 
North  and  the  East  are  not  distant  for  commercial  intercourse,  either 
by  rail  or  by  water.  Some  do  not  wish  a  life  too  remote  from  the 
busy  world  ;  this  is  the  spot  where  easy  terms  are  yet  to  be  obtained 
for  the  homeseeker  without  traveling  to  the  outer  edge  of  civilization. 
This  country  offers  inducements  to  honest  and  enterprising  immigrants 
which  cannot  be  equaled  in  any  part  of  America.  The  dangers  of  pio- 
neer life  are  passed.  Rail  and  river  communication,  the  comforts  of 
social  life,  mails,  churches,  schools  are  firmly  established,  and  law  and 
order  prevail. 

The  natural  resources  of  Arkansas  are  of  such  nature  that  employ- 
ment can  be  had  all  the  year  round  by  those   with  limited  means. 


310  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Splendid  forests  of  pine,  white  oak,  ash,  cypress,  hickory,  etc.,  cover 
many  portions  of  the  State,  and  are  located  convenient  to  Kansas, 
Nebraska  and  other  States  which  have  no  timber,  and  must  be  sup- 
plied from  this  source.  Hundreds  of  saw-mills  and  wood-working 
establishments  are  already  in  operation,  and  many  more  are  being 
erected.  Mines  of  silver,  iron,  lead  and  zinc  of  various  qualities  are 
being  opened  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  Coal  is  found  in  various 
places.  Quarries  of  granite  and  sandstone  are  worked,  and  porphyry, 
banks  of  clay,  kaolin,  ochres  and  white  sand  for  the  manufacture  of 
glass  and  queen's-ware  are  available.  Water  powers  may  be  obtained 
easily,  and  many  towns  will  be  brought  into  existence  and  will  afford 
great  increase  of  values  to  people  who  will  combine  to  pursue  branches 
of  manufactures  in  such  locations. 

All  the  raw  materials  for  manufacturing  and  fuel  and  water  are 
abundant  in  Arkansas.  Three  thousand  miles  of  navigable  water,  and 
railways  running  in  every  direction,  enable  this  State  to  manufacture 
everything  that  can  be  needed  for  home  consumption,  and  markets  for 
everything  that  can  be  grown  or  manufactured  are  convenient.  The 
elevation  of  the  high  land  is  about  1,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  and  the  highest  points  attain  greater  altitude.  In  these  districts 
of  the  Ozark  range  of  hills,  consumptive  and  other  invalids  have 
relief  and  extension  of  life.  The  atmosphere  is  most  excellent,  and 
not  so  rarefied  as  to  be  severe  on  delicate  organizations. 

A  milder  and  more  equable  climate  than  that  of  Arkansas  can  not 
be  found  anywhere.  The  summer  is  of  longer  duration  than  in  Mich- 
igan or  Manitoba,  and  but  rarely  will  the  heat  be  as  great  in  Arkansas 
in  summer  as  it  is  in  Nebraska,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Manitoba,  or 
any  part  of  Canada  during  July  and  August.  Cases  of  sunstroke  are 
rarely  heard  of  in  Arkansas,  but  are  very  common  in  all  the  Northern 
States.  Here  gentle  breezes*  are  blowing  night  and  day.  The  nights 
are  cool  in  the  midst  of  summer,  and  the  farmer  wakes  up  refreshed 
in  the  morning,  ready  for  his  day's  work. 

The  winters  are  short  and  mild,  enabling  the  people  to  work  in  the 
open  air  nearly  every  day  in  the  year.  Snow  falls  but  rarely,  and 
remains  on  the  ground  not  longer  than  a  day  or  two.  Lung  diseases^ 
throat  diseases,  chronic  colds,  rheumatism  and  diseases  caused  by 
climatic  influences,  are  of  rare  occurrence.  Thousands  of  cases  of 
chronic  diseases  caught  in  the  Northern  States  have  been  permanently 
cured  by  the  health-giving  waters  at  Hot  Springs,  Warm  Springs, 
Searcy,  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Ravenden  Springs,  and  the  many  other 
health  resorts  of  Arkansas. 


HISTORY   OF   KANDOLPH    COUNTY.  311 

The  soils  are  of  various  kinds,  such  as  black   sandy  loams,  clayey 
loams,  and  sandy  and  clayey  mixtures  of  different  combinations  in  the 
lower  lands,  all  very  productive  and  well  adapted  for  corn,  cotton  and 
general  farm  products.     In  the   upland   flats  and  hills  the   soils  are 
similar,  not  quite  so  rich,  but  splendidly  adapted  for  fruit  and  grape 
growing  and  cereals.     In  some  parts   of  the  State   black,  waxy°land 
of  surprising  fertility  is  found,  changing  into  red  lands  of  equal  fruit- 
fulness.     The  prairie  land  is  located  mostly  along  the  Memphis  and 
Little  Rock  Railway,  but  the  greater  portion  of  the  State  is  covered 
with  timber.     In  our  strong  soils  and  good  climate  small  spaces  grow 
great  crops,  and  as  they  are  planted  early  and  the  frost  is  late,  well 
applied  industry  will  cause  surprising  results,  and  a  succession  of  crops 
may  be  produced  upon  the  same  ground  in  one  year.     This  region, 
devoted  to  many  crops,  can   produce   everything  for  its  own  u.^e  at 
home,  and  needs  to  import  nothing. 

The  wheat  produced  here  is  considered  the  best  carried  to  St.  Louis. 
Proofs  displayed  at  the  Centennial  Exposition,  and  at  other  exposi- 
tions and  fairs,  have  secured  great  favor  among  the  people,  and 
voluntary  mention  from  many  newspapers.  The  corn  and  cotton 
taking  the  highest  premium  at  the  Atlanta  Exposition  were  grown  in 
Arkansas.  The  cotton  crop  is  always  certain,  always  salable,  and 
does  not  injure  by  keeping  or  in  transportation.  A  small  per  centum 
of  Its  value  takes  it  to  a  market,  which  can  always  be  found  at  the 
nearest  town  or  steamboat  landino-. 

Root  crops,  melons,  peas,  beans,  potatoes,  and  other  like  veo-etables 
are  grown  successfully  in  all   respects.     The  grains   and  grasses  are 
produced  very   profitably  without    much  labor.     Tobacco  is  grown 
with  remarkable  success,  and  is  now  become  another  great  source  of 
prosperity.     Well  authenticated  experiments  have  fully  proved  the 
red  uplands  —  so  closely  resembling  the  red   soil  of  cJba  —  capable 
of  producing  a  fine  quality  cigar  leaf.     By  first-class  cultivation  in  the 
bottom  lands,  on  natural  soils,  without  fertilizers,  there  can  be  raised 
per  acre,  from  60  to  80  bushels  of  corn,  15  to  30  bushels  of  wheat,  40 
to  100  bushels  of  oats,  1,200  pounds   of  tobacco,  75  bushels  of  pea- 
nuts,  200  bushels   of  sweet  potatoes,  more   than   one  bale  of  good 
cotton.     Grass  grows  abundantly,  and   hay  is  excellent.     Cotton  is- 
grown  here  as  a  regular  crop.     Arkansas  produces  wheat  equal  to  the 
best  in  the  world.     Where  wheat  and  cotton  flourish  and  the  peach, 
crop  rarely  fails,  the   moderation   of  the  climate   is  assured.     Great 
tracts  of  beautiful  and  useful  timber  convince  one  of  fertility.     These 
rich  bottoms  are   as  productive   as   the  Delta  of  Egypt,  and  farms 
15 


312  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

worked  for  many  years  without  the  application  of  fertilizers  are  yet 
rich  and  profitable.  The  country  has  the  highest  record  for  the  best 
wheat  in  tlie  world.  The  boasting  made  by  other  States  is  about  the 
great  number  of  acres  producing  wheat. 

Both  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas  the  Iron  Mountain  Railroad  lands  are 
sold  from  $2.50  upwards,  with  a  general  average  of  from  $3  to  $5  per 
acre  for  good  farming  land.     The  terms  of  sale  are  as  follows  :  — 

1st.  When  one-sixth  of  the  purchase  money  is  paid  down,  a  dis- 
count of  8  per  cent  from  the  old  approved  prices. 

2d.  When  one-fourth  of  the  purchase  money  is  paid  down,  a  discount 
of  16  per  cent ;  and 

3d.  When  all  the  purchase  money  is  paid  down,  a  discount  of  25 
per  cent. 

To  those  purchasing  land  of  the  company  a  rebate  of  33V3  per 
cent  on  freight  paid  on  the  immigrant's  movables  over  its  line  will 
be  allowed.  To  settlers  purchasing  land  adjoining  that  of  the  com- 
pany a  rebate  of  20  per  cent.  Proof  of  purchase  and  settlement 
must  be  made  to  the  Land  Commissioner,  at  Little  Rock,  within  ninety 
days,  accompanied  by  receipted  freight  bill.  To  those  purchasing  80 
acres  of  land  from  the  company,  and  paying  one-fourth  cash,  one-half 
the  purchaser's  fare  ;  and  to  those  purchasing  40  acres,  and  paying  all 
cash,  the  whole  of  the  purchaser's  fare  paid  over  its  line,  will  be 
deducted  from  amount  of  purchase  money. 

Terms  No.  1.  At  time  of  purchase,  and  in  the  year  following  the 
payment,  is  6  per  cent  interest  on  principal  ;  and  in  the  third  and 
each  year  thereafter,  one-ninth  of  the  principal,  with  6  per  cent 
interest  on  the  remainder  until  all  is  paid,  giving  a  credit  of  10  years. 

Terms  No.  2.  At  time  of  purchase  and  in  each  year  thereafter,  one- 
sixth  of  the  principal  and  one  year's  interest  on  the  remainder,  at  the 
rate  of  6  per  cent  per  annum  until  all  is  paid,  giving  a  credit  of  5 
years  on  deferred  payments. 

Terms  No.  3.  At  time  of  purchase,  and  in  each  year  thereafter, 
one-fourth  of  the  principal  and  one  year's  interest  on  the  remainder, 
at  the  rate  of  6  per  cent  per  annum  until  all  is  paid,  giving  a  credit 
of  3  years. 

Terms  No.  4.  The  whole  purchase  money  down  at  time  of  purchase, 
and  deed  given  to  purchaser. 

Arkansas  is  increasing  in  population  with  wonderful  rapidity.  From 
1860  to  1870,  on  account  of  the  war,  it  increased  but  11.2  per  cent, 
but  from'  1870  to  1880  it  increased  65.6  per  cent,  and  now  has 
1,000,000  inhabitants,  its  rate  of  increase    being  surpassed  by   few 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  313 

States  in  the  Union.  It  has  an  area  of  34,464,000  acres  and  is  des- 
tined to  become  one  of  the  great  States  of  the  West.  Its  lands  are 
advancing  in  value  with  unprecedented  strides.  The  department  of 
the  Iron  Mountain  Road  reports  that  in  a  single  year,  1<S83,  its  lands 
advanced  in  value  no  less  than  40  per  cent,  or  rather  that  their  sales 
showed  an  increase  of  price  per  acre  of  40  per  cent  over  the  price  of 
1882.  In  1870  it  produced  117,784,800  pounds  of  cotton  ;  but  in 
1882  it  produced  315,100,000.  So  the  increase  in  the  corn  produc- 
tion is  hardly  less  remarkable.  In  1870  it  was  13,382,145  bushels ; 
but  in  1882  it  was  34,485,000.  The  crops  of  wheat  show  a  steady 
and  substantial  increase.  In  1883  it  aggregated  1,416,400  bushels. 
Of  oats  there  was  produced  in  1870  528,777  bushels,  and  .in  1882 
3,131,500.  In  1870  there  were  but  265  miles  of  railway  ;  but  on  the 
1st  of  May,  1883,  there  were  1,747  miles.  Of  merchantable  timber 
standing  in  the  different  States  of  the  Union  in  1880,  Arkansas  sur- 
passed even  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  having  41,315,000,000  feet. 
So  in  almost  every  other  measure  of  natural  wealth  and  of  progress 
Arkansas  stands  among  the  foremost  States  of  the  West  and  South. 
Surely  when  the  best  lands  in  such  a  State  can  be  bought  for  $2  or 
$3  an  acre  on  small  cash  payments,  long  time  and  low  interest,  lands 
that  are  advancing  in  value  40  per  cent  annually,  as  shown  by  official 
reports,  why  should  one  ask  or  desire  a  better  investment?  The  lands 
of  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern,  in  Missouri,  are  equally 
as  desirable  as  those  in  Arkansas,  and  may  be  had  on  the  same 
terms. 

We  have  now  reviewed  briefly  the  history  of  the  great  South- West- 
ern System,  including  that  of  the  several  roads  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed, as  well  as  their  location  and  mileage,  their  business  and  financial 
condition,  their  land  grants  and  so  forth.  The  various  lines  of  this 
magnificent  system  palmate  a  region  of  country  which  includes  more 
than  a  fourth  of  the  entire  Union  —  the  great  Southwest,  one  of  the 
fairest  and  most  fertile  regions  on  the  continent.  The  advantage  to  a 
county  from  being  situated  on  such  a  system  of  railways  cannot  be 
overestimated.  It  places  such  county  at  once  on  the  great  lines  of 
traffic  and  travel  throughout  a  vast  section  of  the  country  and,  by  the 
connections  of  the  railway  system  on  M'hich  it  is  situated,  gives  the 
county  ingress  and  egress  into  and  out  of  all  railroad  points,  from  the 
frozen  regions  of  the  North  to  the  perennial  flower-lands  of  the  Monte- 
zumas,  and  from  the  quays  of  New  York  to  the  golden  coast  of  the 
Pacific.  It  brings  the  same  currents  of  civilization  that  course  through 
the  most  favored  communities  through  all  the  counties  and  localities 


314  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

•which  it  penetrates,  and  gives  Missouri  equal  advantages  with  those 
of  the  oldest  States  in  the  race  of  development  and  prosperity.  Ideas 
and  efibrts  are  thus  given  the  same  opportunities  to  assert  themselves » 
wherever  the  track  of  the  railway  is  laid. 

The  following  are  the  general  officers  of  the  South- Western  Sys- 
tem :  — 

Jay  Gould,  President,  New  York  City. 

R.  S.  Hayes,  First  Vice-President,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

A.  L.  Hopkins,  Second  Vice-President,  New  York  City.   . 

H.  M.  Hoxie,  Third  Vice-President,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

A.  A.  Talmage,  Fourth  Vice-President,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

D.  S.  H.  Smith,  Fifth  Vice-President  and  Local  Treasurer,  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 

A.  H.  Calef,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  New  York  City. 

John  C.  Brown,  General  Solicitor,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

James  F.  How,  Assistant  Secretary,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

C.  G.  Warner,  General  Auditor,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

George  Olds,  General  Traffic  Manager,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

W.  H.  Newman,  Traffic  Manager  Lines  South  of  Texarkana  and 
Denison,  Galveston,  Tex. 

G.  W.  Lilley,  Freight  Traffic  Manager  Lines  North  of  Texarkana 
and  Denison  and  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  System,  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

E.  Andrews,  Consulting  Engineer,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

H.  C.  Townsend,  General  Passenger  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

F.  Chandler,  General  Ticket  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Like  the  Wabash  System,  the  great  South- Western  has  been  built 
up  of  fragmentary  roads  situated  here  and  there,  each  running  inde- 
pendently, with  little  or  no  profit  to  itself,  and  to  the  great  incon- 
venience of  business  and  travel.  But  at  last  a  master  mind  appeared 
on  the  scene  and  brought  order  and  system  out  of  chaos.  As  Byron 
says  of  the  sailor,  — 

"  Once  more  upon  the  waters!  yet  once  more ! 
And  the  waves  bound  beneath  me  as  a  steed 
That  knows  his  rider,"  — 

SO  the  great  railroad  manager  of  modern  times  took  hold  of  the 
roads  now  composing  this  splendid  system  and  in  a  short  time,  they 
became  successful  roads  and  valuable  members  of  the  finest  system 
of  railroads  on  the  continent.  The  name  of  this  "man  it  is  unneces- 
sary to  mention,  for  he  is  known  as  well  without  being  named  as  is 
the  great  Captain  of  the  age.     A  man  of  transcendant  ability  himself, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  315 

he  had  the  insight  and  wisdom  to  discover  and  call  around  him  to 
aid  him  in  his  work  associates  worthy  to  share  with  him  the  great 
achievements  he  and  they  have  accomplished.  No  history  of  the 
great  South-Western  and  the  Wabash  Systems  would  be  complete 
which  failed  to  reflect  something  of  the  lives  and  characters  of  the  men 
who  have  been  identified  with,  and  instrumental  in  building  up  those 
great  railway  enterprises.  In  the  sketch  of  the  Wabash  System, 
which  follows  this,  will  be  found  short  biographical  notices  of  several 
of  the  leading  men  connected  with  that  road,  including  Mr.  Gould, 
Capt.  Hayes,  Col.  Hoxie,  Col.  Howe,  Col.  Blodgett,  Mr.  Townsend 
and  others,  most  of  whom  are,  and  have  long  been,  identified  with 
the  South-Western  System.  But  prominent  among  those  identified 
with  the  latter  system  are  Mr.  Talmage  and  Gov.  Brown,  and  for 
that  reason  short  sketches  of  their  lives  are  given  here.  It  should 
be  remarked,  however,  that  other  officials  are  hardly  less  worthy  of 
mention,  which  would  certainly  be  made  but  for  the  want  of  data  from 
which  to  prepare  sketches.     This  will  be  attended  to  afterwards. 

ARCHIBALD    A.  TALMAGE. 

The  practical  operation  of  the  great  South-Western  System  is  con- 
fided to  the  experienced  and  skillful  hand  of  the  Fourth  Vice-President, 
Mr.  Talmage.  Archibald  Alexander  Talmage  was  born  in  Warren 
county.  New  Jersey,  April  25,  1834.  His  father,  an  Englishman  by  de- 
scent, was  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  congregation,  and  was  assisted  in 
his  responsible  duties  by  a  noble  wife,  in  whose  veins  flowed  some  of 
the  purest  blood  of  Scotland.  Born  under  these  favorable  auspices,  he 
enjoyed  every  opportunity  for  acquiring  a  sound  rudimentary  educa- 
tion, and  improved  his  advantages  so  well  that  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  15  he  had  passed  through  the  curriculum  of  the  high 
school  and  the  academy  with  more  than  usual  credit.  Desiring  to  be 
independent,  he  then  left  home  and  spent  three  years  in  a  country 
store  at  Goshen,  New  York,  where  he  became  somewhat  familiar  with 
the  routine  of  general  business  and  obtained  his  first  glimpse  of  active 
commercial  life.  The  lessons  learned  in  this  capacity  no  doubt  proved 
invaluable  in  molding  the  future  character  of  the  man  and  in  giving 
him  habits  of  method  and  organization,  which  qualified  him  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  for  performing  the  duties  of  freight  clerk  in  the  freight 
department  of  the  New  York  and  Erie  Railway,  on  which  he  entered 
when  18  years  of  age,  and  where  he  remained  for  one  year,  display- 
ing during  that  brief  period  a  precocious  talent  and  an  adaptability 


316  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

for  railroad  work  which  were  highly  satisfactory  to  his  superiors.  He 
next  spent  some  months  in  a  wholesale  hardware  establishment  in  New 
York  City,  but  the  business  hardly  suited  him,  and  in  1853  he  re- 
moved to  Chicago  and  obtained  employment  with  the  Michigan  South- 
ern Railroad  as  freight  clerk.  Within  60  days,  however,  he  was 
transferred  to  Monroe,  Michigan,  and  soon  after  to  Toledo,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  August,  1858,  during  the  last  two  years  in 
the  responsible  position  of  train-master,  directing  all  trains  on  the 
Toledo  Division  ot'  the  road,  and  having  charge  of  all  employes  at 
that  point. 

In  his  25th  year  he  removed  to  St.  Louis  and  engaged  as  passenger 
conductor  on  the  Terre  Haute  and  Alton  Railroad,  displaying  the 
same  force  of  character,  the  same  energy,  and  the  same  ready  tact 
which  characterize  his  present  management,  and  his  superior  abilities 
in  the  transportation  department  being  generally  conceded  by  all  with 
whom  he  was  brought  in  contact.  In  April,  1864,  he  was  appointed 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  road  between  East  St.  Louis  and  Terre 
Haute,  and  infused  into  the  management  new  energy  and  method. 
But,  in  consequence  of  a  want  of  harmony  between  himself  and  his 
chief,  he  resigned  in  October,  1864,  and  accepted  a  position  as  master 
of  transportation  of  the  military  roads  controlled  by  the  United  States 
government  east  and  south  of  Chattanooga.  Within  30  days  he 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  same  lines,  and  remained  in  ab- 
solute charge  of  them  until,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  the  government 
turned  them  over  to  the  civil  authorities.  He  was  then  appointed 
general  superintendent  of  the  East  Tennessee  and  Georgia  Railroad, 
and  remained  busily  engaged  in  its  reorganization  and  reconstruction 
until  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he  was  invited  by  Mr.  Herkimer,  general 
superintendent  of  the  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis  Railway  Company 
(which  had  leased  the  Terre  Haute  and  Alton  Railroad),  to  resume  the 
assistant  superintendency,  which  he  had  resigned  in  October,  1864. 
Here  he  displayed  such  marked  ability  that  in  October,  1870,  he  was 
appointed  Mr.  Herkimer's  successor,  the  late  Col.  Thomas  A.  Scott 
asserting  that  "A.  A.  Talmajje  was  the  best  railroad  manager  in  the 
West."  In  this  position  his  abilities  became  more  wjdely  known  and 
recognized,  and  hence  it  was  not  surprising  that  in  March,  1871,  he 
was  requested  to  transfer  his  sphere  of  operations  to  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi  river,  and  to  become  general  superintendent  of  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Railroad,  running  from 
Pacific  to  Vinita.     In  December  of  the  same  year  the  general  super- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  317 

intendence  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  was  intrusted  to  him,  and  for  a 
period  of  over  11  years,  with  the  exeeption  of  a  few  months  in  1876, 
he  has  remained  in  active  charge  of  what  may  be  truly  considered  the 
most  valuable  railroad  property  west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  In  this 
position  he  enjoys  the  implicit  confidence  of  those  who  are  recognized 
as  being  among  the  shrewdest  and  most  far-seeing  railway  managers 
in  the  United  States.  His  retention  in  so  responsible  a  position  as 
that  of  general  transportation  manager  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Rail- 
way and  its  comprehensive  system,  covering  about  6,000  miles  of 
railway,  for  so  long  a  period,  is  the  best  possible  evidence  of  his  suc- 
cess. He  certainly  occupies  a  foremost  place  among  those  truly  great 
and  public-spirited  men  who  have  been  instrumental  in  building  up 
that  unrivaled  transportation  system  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 
There  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  indomitable  energy,  versatility  and 
executive  ability  of  one  who,  in  the  prime  of  physical  and  mental 
strength,  has  raised  himself  to  a  standard  of  influence  incomparably 
superior  to  that  which  is  occupied  by  any  operating  executive  officer 
in  the  Western  States.  March  1,  1884,  he  was  appointed  Fourth  Vice- 
President  and  his  jurisdiction  was  extended  to  include  the  Wabash 
System,  his  success  with  the  Missouri  Pacific  having  been  so  great  that 
he  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  Wabash.  He  now  has  more  miles 
of  road  under  his  management  than  any  other  general  manager  on  the 
globe. 

In  1868  Mr.  Talmage  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  R.  Clark,  the 
accomplished  daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  Clark,  D.D.,  of  Philadel- 
•phia,  Pennsylvania.  The  Rev.  T.  DeWitt  Talmage,  D.D.,  the  bril- 
liant pulpit  orator  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  is  his  cousin. 

GOV.    JOHN    C.    BROWN. 

Gov.  Brown  was  born  January  6,  1827,  in  Giles  county,  Tennessee, 
and  was  the  son  of  a  farmer  in  moderate  circumstances.  His  parents 
were  of  Scotch  blood,  and  he  was  the  youngest  of  nine  children.  He 
received  his  earliest  training  in  the  old-field  school-house  of  that  day, 
and  later  received  the  best  education  which  the  times  afforded,  at 
Jackson  College,  in  Columbia,  Tenn.  He  finished  his  course  in  1846, 
and  then  engaged  in  teaching,  while  preparing  for  the  bar,  to  which 
he  was  admitted  in  October,  1848.  He  opened  an  office  in  Pulaski, 
where  his  diligence,  integrity  and  ability  secured  him  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice,  to  which  he  mainly  devoted  himself  until  the  Civil  War. 
His  devotion  to  his  profession  did  not  interrupt  his  private  studies  of 


318  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

general  literature,  and  having  the  means  and  the  leisure,  he  supple- 
mented his  studies  with  a  journey  abroad  in  1858-59,  visiting  the 
country  of  his  forefathers,  and  then  making  the  tour  of  the  continent, 
Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land. 

Up  to  1860,  Mr.  Brown  had  strictly  devoted  himself  to  his  pro- 
fession. He  never  sought  office,  and  although  a  zealous  and  pro- 
nounced Whig,  avoided  politics  as  a  pursuit.  In  1860,  however,  he 
was  chosen  an  elector  on  the  Bell  and  Everett  or  Constitutional  Union 
ticket.  As  a  consequence  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  election,  the  Southern 
States  determined  to  secede  from  the  Union.  The  State  of  Tennessee 
was  in  a  condition  of  intense  political  excitement,  during  which  Mr. 
Brown  took  the  stump,  and  made  a  vigorous  and  fearless  canvass  in 
favor  of  the  Union  and  in  opposition  to  secession.  But  when  the 
proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  required  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
in  common  with  other  States,  to  furnish  her  quota  of  troops  for  the 
coersion  of  the  seceding  States,  John  C.  Brown,  with  the  great  body 
of  citizens  of  his  State,  felt  that  they  owed  it  to  their  duty  and  their 
manhood  to  refuse  to  yield  obedience  to  the  call  of  the  Government, 
which  sought  to  compel  them  to  bear  arms  against  their  brothers  and 
their  own  blood.  When  Tennessee  separated  herself  from  the  Union, 
and  began  organizing  her  troops  lor  the  Confederacy,  as  a  son  of  the 
South,  Gov.  Brown  did  not  hesitate,  but  joined  the  Confederate  army  as 
a  private,  was  elected  captain  of  his  company,  and  became  colonel  of  the 
Third  Tennessee  volunteers  ;  and  as  senior  colonel  he  commanded  a 
brigade,  and  participated  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Donelson.  When  the 
fort  surrendered,  he  l)ecame  a  prisoner  of  war.  After  his  exchange  in 
August,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  be  brigadier-general,  and  was  assigned 
to  duty  with  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg.  In  the  campaign  in  Kentucky,  he 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville  and  other  actions.  After  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge,  and  the. actions  incident 
to  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  retreat  (in  all  of  which  he  participated), 
he  was  promoted  major-general.  He  finished  his  active  military 
career  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  where  he  was  so  severely  wounded  as  to 
be  unable  to  rejoin  his  command  until  a  short  time  before  the 
surrender  of  Joiinston's  army  at  Greensboro',  N.  C,  where  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  one  of  Johnston's  best  divisions.  In  his 
relations  with  the  army,  he  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and  always  at 
the  post  of  duty.  No  trespassing  on  private  property  was  tolerated, 
and  marauding  was  severely  and  promptly  punished.  He  was  several 
times  severely  wounded.     In  1864  he  was  married  to  Miss  Childers, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  319 

an  accomplished  lady  of  Miirfreesboro,  Teun.,  and  a  niece  of  Mrs. 
James  K.  Polk,  widow  of  the  ex-President.  Mrs.  Brown  has  contri- 
buted a  woman's  share  in  promoting  her  husband's  fortunes,  and  has 
borne  him  an  interesting  family  of  children.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
Gov.  Brown  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pulaski,  and 
continued  in  full  practice  till  1869,  when  he  was  elected  delegate  to 
the  convention  and  later  president  of  that  body  which,  in  Ja'iiuary, 
1870,  met  and  passed  the  present  Constitution  of  Tennessee.  In  1870, 
he  was  unanimously  nominated  by  the  Democrats  of  Tennessee  for 
Governor.  The  issues  in  this  canvass  were  of  a  character  that  seriously 
affected  the  honor  and  prosperity  of  Tennessee.  The  war  had  greatly 
wasted  the  resources  of  the  State.  An  enormous  public  debt  had 
accumulated,  and  deftiult  had  been  made  in  payment  of  interest.  The 
public  credit  was  low  and  the  resources  for  current  expenses  almost 
exhausted.  Gov.  Brown  took  the  statesmanlike  ground  that  the  public 
debt  could  be  and  must  be  paid.  He  was  elected  by  40,000  majority 
to  the  office  of  governor  —  an  office  to  which  his  eldest  brother,  Neill 
S.  Brown,  now  of  Nashville,  had  been  chosen,  in  1847,  over  Aaron  B. 
Brown,  one  of  the  most  popular  Democrats  of  his  day.  The  influence 
of  Neill  S.  Brown,  who  was  a  central  figure  in  State  and  National 
politics,  was  sensibly  felt  in  the  Presidential  campaign,  which  resulted 
in  the  election  of  Gen.  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Brown  was  subsequently 
tendered  the  post  of  minister  to  Russia,  which  he  accepted. 

In  1872,  Gov.  John  C.  Brown  was  unanimously  re-elected,  and 
during  his  administration  (1871-5)  the  bonded  debt  of  the  State  Avas 
reduced  from  about  $43,000,000  to  a  little  more  than  $20,000,000,  a 
large  floating  debt  was  paid,  and  the  State  re-established  its  credit  by 
resuming  the  payment  of  current  interest  after  funding  its  past- 
due  obligations  at  par.  He  retired  from  office,  having  won  the  general 
approval  of  the  people  of  the  State.  In  November,  1^76,  a  new  career 
opened  to  him  with  the  office  of  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the  Texas 
and  Pacific  Railway.  This  great  highway  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard, 
through  Texas  and  Mexico  to  California,  a  route  unexposed  to  snows 
and  frosts,  was  projected  before  the  war.  Such  a  system  of  rail- 
ways, connecting  the  Mississippi  Avith  the  Pacific  slope,  was  intended 
to  attract  the  trade  of  California  and  the  trans-Cordilleras  to  the  great 
water-ways  of  the  United  States,  and,  at  the  same  time,  open  a  too 
long  neglected  commerce  of  the  Republic  of  Mexico  to  our  enterprising 
merchants.  This  Texas  route,  south  of  the  isothermal  line  of  snow 
blockades,  had  been  projected,  a  small  part  of  it  built,  and  valuable 


320  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

franchises  secured,  before  the  war.  An  immense  grant  of  hmd  from 
the  State  of  Texas,  which  owned  her  own  public  domain,  had  been 
secured,  and  favorable  treaties  with  Mexico  for  the  right-of-way  were 
in  progress  of  negotiation,  when  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States 
stopped  the  work.  When  the  war  was  ended,  the  Southern  States 
found  their  Mississippi  river  commerce  destroyed,  and  their  great 
trans-continental  railway  still  a  scheme  upon  paper,  while  the  North  and 
West  had  made  rapid  progress  in  building  the  Northern  and  Central 
Pacific  Railroad  towards  the  Pacific  slope. 

Gov.  Brown  accepted  the  office  of  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the 
Texas  Pacific  with  the  enlightened  views  of  the  statesman  and  pub- 
licist. He  clearly  saw,  if  the  South  was  to  have  her  ante-bellum  river 
traffic,  there  was  in  the  projected  railway  through  Texas  and  Mexico, 
with  its  liberal  franchises  and  its  landed  subsidies,  a  ready  means  of 
reaching  the  trade  of  California  and  the  sister  Republic,  and  he  entered 
heartily  into  the  project.  As  Vice-President  of  the  company  he  issued 
an  appeal  to  the  people  of  the  South,  elaborating  his  views  in  relation 
to  the  enterprise  in  a  statesmanlike,  sagacious  and  practical  pamphlet, 
which  deserve  a  leading  place  in  the  railway  literature  of  a  period  that 
was  prolific  of  great  enterprises.  He  also  delivered  numerous  ad- 
dresses in  which  he  appealed  to  the  people  of  the  South  to  lay  aside 
all  questions  of  sectional  strife  and  urged  them  to  address  all  their 
eflforts  to  the  improvement  of  their  country,  the  fostering  of  educa- 
tion and  the  creation  of  wealth-producing  facilities.  For  three  years 
he  remained  at  Washington,  appearing  before  congressional  commit- 
tees and  pressing  upon  them  the  claims  of  this  great  work.  His  labors 
were  onerous  and  difficult,  but  owing  to  the  opposition  of  rival  inter- 
ests they  were  not  fully  successful.  Nevertheless,  he  performed  them 
to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  Col.  Thomas  A.  Scott  and  the  capital- 
ists who  were  interested  in  the  enterprise  and  who,  pending  the  ap[)eal 
to  Congress,  had  gone  on  with  the  work.  Ultimately  Gov.  Brown 
was  authorized  by  Col.  Scott  to  go  on  to  New  York  and  effect  negoti- 
ations which  had  been  invited  by  Jay  Gould  and  other  capitalists. 
These  negotiations  were  satisfactorily  accomplished  in  January,  1880. 
Gov.  Brown  was  then  continued  in  his  confidential  position  and 
in  September,  1881,  accepted  the  position  of  General  Solicitor  for 
the  consolidated  system  Avhich  includes  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway, 
the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railway,  the  Iron  Mountain,  the  Texas 
Pacific,  the  New  Orleans  and  Pacific  and  the  International  and  Great 
Northern.     He  continued  to  have  superintendence  of  the  construction 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  321 

of  the  Texas  Pacific  from  Fort  Worth  to  El  Paso,  with  head- 
quarters at  St.  Louis,  until  the  line  was  completed  in  the  winter  of 
1881-82. 

Gov.  Brown's  identification  with  the  interests  of  St.  Louis  was 
heartily  welcomed'  His  knowledge  of  the  law  and  his  abilities  as  a 
speaker,  trained  in  the  sharp  school  of  exciting  debate  and  in  the 
calmer  method  of  inquiry,  his  experience  in  the  command  of  men  and 
in  the  management  of  the  most  important  affiiirs,  his  careful  examina- 
tion and  knowledge  of  the  carrying  trade  and  its  auxiliary  interest, 
eminently  combine  to  fit  him  for  leadership  in  the  gigantic  schemes 
that  are  radiating  from  St.  Louis  into  the  undeveloped  regions  of  the 
Great  Southwest. 

THE  WABASH,  ST.  LOUIS  AND  PACIFIC  SYSTEM. 

Various  railroad  enterprises  were  discussed  and  advocated  in  this 
State  as  early  as  1835,  and  two  years  afterwards  charters  were  granted 
by  the  Legislature  to  the  St.  Louis  and  Bellevue  Mineral,  and  the 
Louisiana  and  Columbia  Railroad  Companies.  These  were  after- 
wards merged  into  the  charters  of  the  Iron  Mountain  and  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joe  Companies.  After  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  the 
building  of  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast  began  to  be  agitated,  and 
the  people  of  Missouri,  and  particularly  of  St.  Louis,  were  among 
the  first  to  advocate  the  enterprise.  The  policy  of  St.. Louis  was  to 
build  three  grand  trunk  lines  from  that  city,  one  directly  west  up  the 
Missouri  into  Kansas  and  to  the  Pacific  ;  another  toward  Arkansas 
and  the  South-west ;  and  the  third  towards  Iowa  and  the  great  North- 
west. For  these  roads  charters  were  granted  by  the  Legislature,  and 
they  ultimately  became  the  Missouri  Pacific,  the  Iron  Mountain  and 
the  North  Missouri,  respectively. 

The  North  Missouri  Railroad  was  chartered  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1851.  The  compan}'  was  authorized  to  build,  equip  and  operate  a 
railroad  from  St.  Louis  via  St.  Charles,  thence  on  the  dividing  ridge 
between  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  rivers  through  this  State  to  the 
Iowa  line  and  in  the  direction  of  Des  Moines.  The  road  was  com- 
pleted to  St.  Charles  in  August,  1855  ;  to  Warrenton  in  August, 
1857  ;  to  Mexico  in  May,  1858  ;  to  Moberly  in  November  of  the  same 
year;  and  to  Macon  in  February,  1859. 

The  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railway  Comj)any  w^as 
organized  under  the   general  laws  of  Missouri,  and  in   1872  became 


322  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  owner  by  purchase  of  the  old  North  Missouri  Railrocad.  Financial 
embarrassments  having  overtaken  the  North  Missouri  in  1871,  it  was 
sold  out  under  foreclosure,  and  M.  J.  Jessup,  of  New  York,  became 
its  purchaser.  In  February  of  the  following  year  he  sold  it,  as  stated 
above,  to  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Company.  This 
company  operated  the  road  with  marked  ability  and  success  until  the 
7th  of  November,  1879,  when  it  consolidated  with  the  Wabash  Rail- 
way Company  east  of  the  Mississippi,  forming  the  present  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railway,  the  third  largest  system  of  roads  in  the 
United  States. 

This  company  owns  and  operates  in  Randolph  county,  including  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas,  about  64  miles  of  road. 

At  the  time  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  was  con- 
structed, the  individual  and  county  subscriptions  to  it  amounted  to 
$175,000.  This  amount  was  jiaid  within  four  years  after  the  sub- 
scription had  been  made. 

As  has  been  said,  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railway  is  the 
product  of  the  consolidation  of  the  old  Wabash  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern.  The  general 
offices  of  the  consolidated  road  are  at  St.  Louis.  Of  these  mention 
will  be  made  further  alons;.  For  convenience  of  manao-ement  the 
road  is  divided  into  two  o-rand  divisions  known  as  the  "  Western 
Division  "  and  the  "  Eastern  Division."  The  former,  being  that  part 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  aggregates  over  1,300  miles  ;  the  latter,  that 
part  east  of  the  river,  on  the  old  Wabash  Railway,  has  a  total  mileage 
of  over  2,300  miles. 

The  old  Wabash  Railway  originated  in  the  Toledo  and  Illinois  Rail- 
way, which  was  organized  April  25,  1853,  under  the  laws  of  Ohio, 
authorizing  the  company  to  construct  and  operate  a  road  from  Toledo 
to  the  western  boundary  of  that  State.  On  the  19th  of  August, 
following,  the  Lake  Erie,  Wabash  and  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company 
-vas  organized  under  the  laws  of  Indiana  to  build  a  road  from  the  east 
line  of  the  State  through  the  valleys  of  the  Little  river  and  Wabash 
river,  to  the  west  line  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of  Danville,  Illinois. 
The  road  from  Toledo  throu2:h  Ohio  and  Indiana  was  constructed 
under  these  two  charters.  On  the  25th  of  June,  1856,  the  two  com- 
panies were  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  Toledo,  Wabash 
and  Western  Railroad  Company.  This  organization  having  become 
financially  embarrassed  in  the  panic  of  1857,  its  property  was  sold 
in  October,   1858,  under  foreclosure  of  mortgage  and  purchased  by 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  323 

Ozariah  Boody,  who  conveyed  it  to  two  new  companies  under  the 
names,  respectively,  of  the  Toledo  and  Wabash,  of  Ohio,  and  the 
Wabash  and  Western,  of  Indiana,  the  two  being  consolidated  October 
7,  1858,  under  the  style  of  the  Toledo  and  Wabash  Railroad  Company. 
This  company  operated  the  road  through  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  until  1865,  when  all  interests  between  Toledo  and  the 
Mississippi  river  at  Quincy  and  Hamilton  were  consolidated  under 
an  agreement  between  the  Toledo  and  Wabash,  the  Great  Western,  of 
Illinois,  the  Quincy  and  Toledo,  and  the  Illinois  and  Southern  Iowa 
Railroad  Companies,  under  the  name  of  the  Toledo,  Wabash  and  West- 
ern Railroad  Company.  The  Great  Western  Railroad  Company  of 
this  combination  was  organized  in  1859,  and  its  road  extended  from 
the  Indiana  State  line  to  Meredosia  in  Illinois,  with  a  branch  from 
Bluff  City  to  Naples.  The  road  from  Meredosia  to  Camp  Point  was 
owned  by  the  Quincy  and  Toledo  Company,  and  the  road  from  Clay- 
ton, Illinois,  to  Carthage,  Indiana,  was  owned  by  the  Illinois  and 
Southern  Iowa  Company. 

In  1870  the  Decatur  and  East  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company  con- 
structed and  equipped  a  road  between  Decatur  and  East  St.  Louis, 
which  in  the  same  year  came  under  the  management  of  the  Toledo, 
Wabash  and  Western  Railroad  Company,  and  in  1871  this  road  was 
opened  to  St.  Louis.  The  Hannibal  and  Naples  Railroad,  including 
its  branch  from  Pittsfield  to  Maysfield,  was  leased  to  the  Toledo, 
Wabash  and  Western  Company  in  1870,  and  the  following  year  the 
same  company  obtained  control  of  the  Pekin,  Lincoln  and  Decatur 
Railroad.  In'  1872  the  Lafayette  and  Bloomington  was  added  to 
the  lines  of  the  Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western.  But  in  1874,  when  so 
many  railroads  were  forced  to  the  wall  by  the  stringency  in  the  money 
market,  the  Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western  was  forced  to  go  into  the 
hands  of  a  receiver,  and  John  D.  Coe  was  appointed  by  the  court  to 
conduct  the  affairs  of  the  road.  He  retained  control  of  it  until  1877 
when  a  reorganization  was  effected  under  the  style  of  the  Wabash, 
Railway  Company.  While  the  road  was  in  the  hands  of  the  receiver 
the  leases  of  the  Pekin,  Lincoln  and  Decatur,  and  the  Lafayette  and 
Bloomington  Railroads  were  set  aside  as  well  as  that  of  the  Quincy 
bridge,  which  it  had  previously  secured.  In  1879  the  Edwardsville 
branch  passed  under  the  control  of  the  Wabash,  and  in  1879  the  con- 
solidation between  the  Wabash  and  the  Kansas  City  and  Northern  was 
effected,  as  stated  above. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  consolidated  company  —  the  Wabash,  St. 


324  HISTORY  or  Randolph  county. 

Louis  and  Pacific  —  was  $40,000,000,  and  in  addition  to  this  it  had 
an  indebtedness  of  $35,469,550,  making  the  capital  and  bonded  debt 
of  the  company  $75,464,550.  The  present  system  includes  twenty- 
one  originally  distinct  and  independent  lines  of  road.  Previous  to 
the  consolidation  the  Wabash  proper  extended  from  Toledo  to  St. 
Louis,  Hannibal,  Quincy  and  Keokuk,  with  a  branch  from  Logans- 
port  to  Butler,  Indiana,  or  a  total  length  of  782  miles.  But  by  the 
consolidation  these  roads  were  united  with  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City 
and  Northern  and  its  branches,  which  gave  the  new  company  a 
through  line  from  Toledo  to  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  and  Omaha, 
making  the  total  at  that  time  1,551  miles.  The  same  year  of  the  con- 
solidation entrance  was  made  into  Chicago  by  its  purchase  of  the 
Chicago  and  Paducah,  extending  from  Effingham  and  Altamont  to 
Chester,  Illinois,  and  by  the  construction  of  a  branch  from  Strawu, 
ninety-six  miles  northward.  Subsequent  acquisitions  were  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  and  Warsaw,  a  distance  of  246  miles,  and  before  the  close  of 
the  year  the  Quincy,  Missouri  and  Pacific,  the  Champaign,  Havana 
and  Western,  the  Missouri,  Iowa  and  Nebraska,  and  the  Centreville, 
Moravia  and  Albia,  all  connecting  at  different  points  with  the  main  line. 
On  the  1st  of  January,  1881,  the  system  embraced  2,  479  miles  of 
road. 

The  lines  built  and  acquired  during  the  year  1881,  were  the  Detroit, 
and  Butler,  an  extension  of  the  Logansport  and  Butler  division  to  the 
city  of  Detroit,  113  miles;  the  Indianapolis,  Pennsylvania  and  Chi- 
cago, 161  miles  in  length  ;  the  Cairo  and  Vincennes,  the  Danville  and 
South-western,  the  Quincy,  Missouri  Pacific,  the  Des  Moines,  North- 
western, and  the  Attica  and  Covington,  making  the  total  mileage  at 
the  close  of  the  year  3,'384  miles.  The  Butler  and  Detroit  roads, 
in  connection  Avith  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Warsaw,  completed  the 
second  independent  trunk  line  of  the  system  from  the  Mississippi  river 
to  Lake  Erie,  besides  securing  new  and  important  connections  upon 
its  entrance  into  Detroit. 

In  1872  several  extensions  and  branches  were  finished,  the  most 
important  of  which  were  the  Shenandoah  and  the  Des  Moines  divis- 
ions. The  former  continued  the  Detroit  trunk  line  from  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Missouri.  The  latter,  which  now  extends  to  Spirit  Lake, 
in  the  north-western  part  of  Iowa,  opened  up  that  great  State  to  the 
traffic  of  the  Wabash  System.  The  total  length  of  the  system  in 
1882  was  3,670  miles,  as  follows  :  — 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


325 


EASTERN   DIVISION. 

Toledo  to  St.  Louis 

Decatur  to  Quincy  

Bluffs,  Illinois,  to  Hannibal,  Missouri     . 

Maysville,  Illinois,  to  Pittsfield,  Illinois 

Clayton,  Illinois,  to  Keokuk,  Iowa 

Logansport,  Indiana,  to  Detroit,  Michigan     . 

Edwardsville,  Illinois,  to  Edwardsville  Crossing,  Illinois 

Indianapolis,  Indiana,  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana 

Havana,  Illinois,  to  Springfield,  Illinois 

West  Lebanon,  Indiana,  to  Le  Roy,  Illinois 

Vincennes,  Indiana,  to  Cairo,  Illinois     . 

Danville,  Illinois,  to  Francisville,  Indiana 

HoUis,  Illinois,  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois 

Toledo,  Ohio,  to  Milan,  Michigan 

Attica,  Indiana,  to  Covington,  Indiana 

State  Line,  Indiana,  to  Buckington,  Iowa 

La  Harpe,  Illinois,  to  Elveston,  Illinois 

Hamilton,  Illinois,  to  Warsaw,  Illinois 

Chicago,  Illinois,  to  Altamont,  Illinois 

Streator,  Illinois,  to  Streator  Junction,  Illinois 

Shumway,  Illinois,  to  Effingham,  Illinois 

Warsaw,  Illinois,  to  Havana,  Illinois      . 

White  Heath,  Illinois,  to  Decatur,  Illinois      . 

Bates,  Illinois,  to  Grafton,  Illinois 

Champaign,  Illinois,  to  Sidney,  Illinois 


Total 


Miles. 

435.7 

150.7 

49.8 

6.2 

42.3 

213.8 
8.5 

161.0 
47.2 
76.0 

158.0 

115.1 
76.3 
34.0 
14.5 

214.8 

20.8 

5.9 

215.5 

29.6 

8.5 

102.2 
29.7 
74.4 
14.0 

2,307.6 


WESTERN  DIVISION. 

St.  Louis  to  Kansas  City  .... 

Brunswick,  Missouri,  to  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa 
Rosebury,  Missouri,  to  Clarinda,  Iowa 
Moberly,  Missouri,  to  Ottumwa,  Iowa 
North  Lexington,  Missouri,  to  St.  Joe,  Missouri 
Centralia,  Missouri,  to  Columbia,  Missouri 
Salisbury,  Missouri,  to  Glasgow,  Missouri 
Eerguson,  Missouri,  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri 
Quincy,  Missouri,  to  Trenton,  Missouri 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  to  Shenandoah,  Iowa 
Relay,  Iowa,  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  to  Fonda,  Iowa 


Total 


1,363.0 


RECAPITULATION. 


Eastern  Division 
Western  Division 


Total 


2,307.6 
1,363.0 

3,670.6 


During  the  year  1883  considerable  additions  were  made  to  the 
road,  including  the  extension  from  Fonda,  Iowa,  to  Spirit  Lake, 
Iowa,  a  distance  of  about  80  miles,  and  others  of  importance,  but 
the  official  figures  are  not  before  us. 

The  controlling  stockholders  in  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific 
are  also  the  leading  stockholders  in  the  Missouri  Pacific  and  in  the 


326  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Iron  Mountain,  or  the  "  South-Western  System,"  as  the  two  last 
named  roads,  with  their  tributary  lines,  are  called,  so  that  virtually 
the  Wabash  and  the  South-Western  constitute  a  single  system  of  rail- 
ways. Indeed,  in  April,  1883,  the  Wabash  was  leased  to  the  Iron 
Mountain,  of  the  South-Western  System,  so  that  the  whole  10,000 
miles  of  road  are  now  practically  under  one  management,  making  by 
far  the  largest  railway  system  in  the  world.  These  roads  all  traverse 
magnificent  territory,  and,  looking  at  them  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  future  development  of  the  country,  they  are  without  doubt  among 
the  most  valuable  railroad  properties  on  the  globe.  This  is  particu- 
larly true  of  the  Wabash  System.  Where  are  there  five  States  in  the 
Union  equal  to  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Iowa,  the  States  in 
which  the  Wabash  roads  are  located  ?  Their  elements  of  agricultural, 
mineral  and  forest  wealth  make  them  now,  even  under  partial  devel- 
opment, a  region  of  unsurpassed  value.  In  1882,  although  consti- 
tutino'  but  nine  per  cent  of  the  total  area  of  the  United  States,  they 
produced  196,244,100  bushels  of  wheat  of  the  502,798,600  bushels 
raised  in  the  whole  country,  or  over  39  per  cent  of  the  total  crop  of 
the  Union.  Of  the  740,665,000  bushels  of  corn,  they  yielded  340,- 
705,900  bushels,  or  46  per  cent  of  the  total  crop.  Their  other  farm 
products  were  proportionately  large.  In  manutactures  they  are  also 
of  the  first  importance.  Of  the  $5,369,677,706  worth  of  manufac- 
tured products  turned  out  in  1880,  these  States  produced  20  per 
cent,  or  products  valued  at  $1,147,606,405.  Bituminous  coal  is  found 
in  inexhaustible  quantities  in  each  of  the  five  States  named,  and  other 
minerals,  particularly  in  Missouri,  are  found  in  great  abundance. 
With  a  population  of  only  12,000,000  in  1880,  what  may  we  not  ex 
pect  the  value  of  their  products  to  be  when  they  contain  60,000,000 
inhabitants,  as  they  are  "certainly  destined  to  do  ?  With  such  a  ter- 
ritory to  draw  from,  the  Wabash  Railway  has  little  to  fear  in  the 
future,  so  far  as  volume  of  traffic  is  concerned. 

In  point  of  management  the  Wabash  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the 
ablest  conducted  roads  on  the  continent.  The  men  who  are  now  at 
the  head  of  its  afiiiirs  are  men  who  have  risen  to  eminence  in  railway 
manao-ement  by  their  own  ability,  enterprise,  and  personal  worth  ; 
men  who,  amid  the  failure  of  thousands,  and  in  the  most  trying  times 
in  the  history  of  railroads  the  country  has  ever  seen,  have  built  up 
one  of  the  greatest  railway  systems  in  the  world  —  gathering  up  the 
wrecks  of  roads  here  and  there  where  others  had  left  them,  and  con- 
finino-  them  in  a  harmonious,  successful  whole — a  display  of  execu- 
tive and  business  ability,  of  enterprise  and  far-sighted  sagacity,  with 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. ,  327 

but  few  parallels  in  history.  No  man  in  the  management  of  the  road 
but  that  holds  his  position  because  of  his  success  in  railroad  affairs  ; 
because  of  his  success  where  others  had  failed,  a  success  achieved  upon 
a  very  sea  of  disasters.  Look  back  ten  years  ago  at  the  condition  of 
the  roads  which  now  constitute  the  Wabash  System  !  Then  there 
were  not  more  than  a  score  of  them,  scattered  here  and  there  over  the 
great  prairie  States,  the  fairest  and  most  fertile  region  under  the  sun, 
yet  all  of  them  tottering  on  the  very  brink  of  bankruptcy,  and  many 
of  them  practically  dead  as  business  investments.  First  one  was 
taken  from  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  a  piece  of  dead  property,  and  put 
on  its  feet  and  made  to  stand,  not  only  to  stand,  but  to  become  self- 
sustaining  and  prosperous.  Then  another  was  taken  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  first  and  put  through  a  little  course  of  resuscitation  — 
and  still  another,  and  another,  until  the  present  magnificent  system 
has  been  formed.  It  is  an  unrivaled  distinction  of  the  Wabash  Sys- 
tem that  it  has  been  built  up  of  roads  mainly  which  had  before  proven 
failures  —  that  it  is  the  product  of  the  brain  and  energy  of  men  who 
have  shown  the  genius  and  to  force  success  where  others  have  failed. 

To-day  the  Wabash  is  one  of  the  best  roads  in  the  United  States. 
Its  main  lines  are  all  laid  with  steel  rails,  and  its  road-beds,  bridges, 
culverts,  depots,  and  other  improvements,  are  not  surpassed  in  the 
West.  The  rolling  stock  of  the  road  has  long  been  regarded  as 
among  the  best  in  the  country.  Having  always  had  sharp  competi- 
tion, the  management  has  made  it  a  fixed  policy  to  afford  the  public 
the  best  of  accommodations,  whether  in  passenger  travel  or  freight 
shipments.  As  a  result,  their  coaches,  sleepers,  and  dining  cars  are 
perfect  triumphs  of  art,  not  only  in  point  of  comfort,  but  of  elegance 
and  good  taste,  and  their  accommodation  for  freight,  both  merchan- 
dise and  live  stock,  are  all  that  could  be  desired.  In  one  important 
particular  the  Wabash  is  without  a  rival  in  the  West  —  in  time.  It 
runs  through  cars  daily,  including  elegant  chair-cars,  sleepers,  and 
dining-cars,  direct  from  St.  Louis  to  New  York  and  Boston,  making 
over  thirty  miles  an  hour  on  the  through  trip,  and  on  all  main  lines  its 
through  rates  of  speed  are  approximately  as  great.  Not  only  in  pas- 
senger travel  is  it  ahead  of  any  of  its  rivals  as  to  speed,  but  in  freight 
transportation  also.  Less  than  four  days  are  required  to  land  its 
through  fast  freights  in  New  York  after  they  leave  the  depot  in  St. 
Louis. 

With  regard  to  tariffs  it  would  be  suppressing  the  truth  not  to  say 
that  the  Wabash  is  among  the  most  liberal  of  roads.     In  fiict,  in  rail- 
road circles  it  is  not  as  popular  as  some  roads,  for  the  very  reason  that 
16 


328  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

it  has  so  often  led  the  way  in  reducing  passenger  and  freight  rates. 
Recognizing  the  fact  that  low  tariffs  increase  travel  and  transporta- 
tion, its  policy  has  always  been  to  reduce  the  cost  of  carriage  to  the 
lowest  possible  figures. 

We  give  the  official  figures  of  the  Wabash  freight  rate  per  ton  per 
mile,  since  1875  :  — 

Year  '                                             Average  rate  per 

I  ton  per  mile  in  cts. 

1876 1.10 

1877  .         .        ■ 0.87 

1878 0.75 

1879 0.63 

1880 0.79 

1881 0.68 

1882 0.64 

1883 0.58 

These  figures  verify  what  was  said  above  that  the  Wabash  has  led 
the  march  of  Western  roads  in  the  direction  of  freight  rates. 

The  following  are  the  general  officers  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and 
Pacific :  — 

Jay  Gould,  President,  New  York. 

R.  S.  Hayes,  First  Vice-President,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

A.  L.  Hopkins,  Second  Vice-President,  New  York. 

H.  M.  Hoxie,  Third  Vice-President,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

A.  H.  Calef,  Treasurer,  New  York. 

D.  S.  H.  Smith,  Local  Treasurer,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

James  F.  How,  Secretary,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

O.  D.  Ashley,  Second  Secretary  and  Transfer  Agent,  195  Broadway, 
New  York. 

Wagner  Swayne,  General  Counsel,  New  York. 

Wells  H.  Blodgett,  General  Solicitor,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

D.  B.  Howard,  Auditor,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Morris  Trumbull,  Assistant  Auditor,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

George  Olds,  Freight  Traffic  Manager,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Robert  Andrews,  General  Superintendent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

K.  H.  Wade,  Superintendent  Transportation,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

W.  S.  Lincoln,  Chief  Engineer,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

M.  Knight,  General  Freight  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

H.  C.  Townsend,  General  Passenger  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

F.  Chandler,  General  Ticket  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

George  P.  Maule,  General  Baggage  Agent,  Union  Depot,  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

R.  B.  Lyle,  Purchasing  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

George  F.  Shepherd,  Paymaster,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  329 

C.  P.  Chesebro,  General  Car  Accountant,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

C.  Selden,  Superintendent  Telegraph,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

George  C.  Kinsman,  Assistant  Superintendent  Telegraph,  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

Jacob  Johann,  General  Master  Mechanic,  Springfield,  111. 

U.  H.  Kohler,  General  Master  Car  Builder,  Toledo,  Ohio. 

I.  N.  McBeth,  General  Live  Stock  Agent,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Most  of  these  gentlemen  are  well  known  to  the  general  public.  As 
has  been  said,  there  is  not  a  man  connected  with  the  management  of 
the  road  who  has  not  risen  to  his  position  by  his  own  ability,  energy 
and  worth.  The  whole  world  is  familiar  with  the  career  of  the  presi- 
dent of  the  company, 

MR.    JAY   GOULD, 

certainly  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  of  this  or  any  other  age. 
A  New  York  farmer's  son,  self-educated,  and  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself  without  a  dollar,  by  dint  of  his  own  exertions  and  character 
he  has  risen  to  the  position  of  the  first  railroad  manager  on  the  globe. 
A  great  deal  has  been  said  for  and  against  Mr.  Gould.  A  great  deal 
has  been  said  for  and  against  every  man  who  has  made  a  distinguished 
success  in  life.  It  is  one  of  the  conditions  of  success  to  be  criticised 
and  slandered  as  well  as  honored  and  esteemed.  But  if  men  are  to  be 
judged  according  to  the  general  results  of  their  lives,  Mr.  Gould  has 
nothing  to  fear  for  his  reputation  in  history.  He  has  given  to  the 
country  the  finest  systems  of  railway  and  telegraph  the  world  ever 
saw,  and  if  the  people  do  not  seem  to  appreciate 

"What  manner  of  man  is  passing  by  tlieir  doors," 

the  time  will  come  when  his  services  and  character  will  receive  the 
homage  which  is  their  due.  Mr.  Gould  became  the  president  of  the 
Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  on  the  organization  of  the  company  in 
1879.  Personally,  however,  he  does  not  direct  the  afiiiirs  of  the  road, 
but  is  directly  represented  in  its  management,  as  he  is  in  the  manage- 
ment of  all  his  other  Western  roads,  by 

CAPT.  R.  8.   HAYES, 

the  first  vice-president  of  the  company.  Capt.  Hayes  was  originally 
from  New  York.  By  profession  he  is  a  civil  engineer.  His  first 
prominent  connection  with  Mr.  Gould's  Western  roads  was  as  the 
builder  of  the  Texas  and  Pacific.  That  road  was  constructed  with 
amazing  rapidity,  and  its  afi'airs  were  managed  with  such  ability  and 
success  that  Capt.  Hayes  became   at  once  recognized   as  one  of  the 


330  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ablest  railroad  men  in  the  country.  The  construction  of  the  road 
was  commenced  in  1881,  and  on  January  the  15th  of  the  following 
year  it  was  ready  for  traffic  to  El  Paso,  on  the  Mexican  border,  thus 
opening  up  the  route  via  the  Southern  Pacific  to  San  Francisco. 
Following  this,  Capt.  Hayes  was  placed  at  the  head  of  Mr.  Gould's 
whole  South-Western  System,  or,  in  other  words,  was  made  first  vice- 
president  of  the  roads  embraced  in  that  system,  and  on  the  lease  of 
the  Wabash  to  the  Iron  Mountain  in  May,  1883,  he  became  first  rice- 
president  of  the  Wabash  company. 

Personally,  Capt.  Hayes  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentleman.  He  is 
one  of  the  few  men  whom  position  does  not  change  in  their  bearing 
toward  those  around  them.  True  manhood  is  superior  to  any  position, 
however  exalted,  and  this  quality  distinction  cannot  add  to  nor  make 
less.  It  is  only  the  weak  and  vain  —  those  whose  positions  are  above 
their  merits  —  who  make  their  importance  and  authority  conspicuous. 
From  no  word  or  action  of  Capt.  Hayes,  outside  of  his  official  duty, 
would  it  ever  be  discovered  that  he  is  at  the  head  of  the  greatest 
combination  of  railroad  systems  in  the  world.  He  is  the  same  digni- 
fied, unpretentious  gentleman  now  that  he  was  before  he  became  dis- 
tinguished for  his  great  executive  abilities.  In  his  office  all  who  have 
business  with  him  are  treated  with  the  consideration  and  respect  due 
them.  In  this  particular  he  is  in  marked  contrast  with  not  a  few  whose 
positions  are  far  less  prominent.  If  all  were  as  he  is,  it  could  not  be 
said  with  truth,  as  unfortunately  it  sometimes  seems  to  be,  that  he 
who  becomes  a  railway  official  puts  his  modesty  and  good  manners 
behind  him. 

Capt.  Hayes'  leading  characteristics  as  a  railway  manager  are  cool- 
ness and  caution,  united  with  firmness  and  great  enterprise.  No  step 
of  importance  is  taken  without  a  thorough  understanding  of  its  results, 
and  of  the  influence  it  is  likely  to  have  upon  all  the  interests  afl^ected 
by  it.  But  when  a  measure  is  once  decided  upon  and  approved,  it  is 
carried  out  with  a  resolution  and  energy  that  makes  its  success  a  fore- 
gone conclusion.  He  not  only  directs  the  general  policy  of  his  roads, 
but  personally  overlooks  the  administration  of  affairs  in  the  several 
business  departments  of  the  service.  He  sees  to  it  that  abuses  are 
nowhere  tolerated,  and  that  the  business  of  the  different  companies  is 
dispatched  with  promptness  and  efficiency.  The  result  is  manifest, 
not  only  in  the  harmony  with  which  everything  moves  through  the 
half-dozen  great  roads  over  which  he  presides,  but  in  the  superiority 
of  service  they  have  rendered  since  he  was  placed  at  their  head,  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  331 

in  the  remarkable  financial  success  they  have  achieved.  Of  all  others, 
he  is  undoubtedly  the  man  for  the  position  he  holds,  and  his  selection 
for  the  place  is  but  another  proof  of  the  remarkable  sagacity  of  the 
man  whose  interests,  mainly,  he  represents. 

The  second  vice-president  of  the  company,  as  appears  above,  in  the 
roll  of  general  officers,  is  Mr.  A.  L.  Hopkins.  The  sketches  of 
several  other  officers  of  the  Wabash  appear  on  a  previous  page 
of  this  work  in  connection  with  the  Missouri  Pacific,  with  which  they 
are  likewise  identified. 

COL.  H.  M.   HOXIE, 

the  third  vice-president  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific,  and  of 
the  Missouri  Pacific  or  South- Western  System,  like  many  of  our  most 
successful  men,  has  risen  to  prominence  and  independence  by  his  own 
energy  and  intelligence  and  the  indomitable  strength  of  his  character. 
He  is  a  Western  man  by  birth,  and  started  in  life  poor  and  without 
even  the  favor  of  influential  friends.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  there  in  a  few  years  became  recognized  for  his 
hio-h  character  and  great  enterprise  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
influential  citizens  of  the  place.  Such  was  the  consideration  in  which 
he  was  held  that  without  his  solicitation  or  even  desire  he  was  recom- 
mended for  and  appointed  to  the  responsible  office  of  United  States 
Marshal.  This  position  he  filled  with  great  efficiency  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  office,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  he  declined  reap- 
pointment, desiring  to  devote  his  whole  time  and  attention  to  business 
interests. 

On  the  inauguration  of  the  great  Union  Pacific  Railway  enterprise, 
Col.  Hoxie  became  connected  with  it  as  a  superintendent  of  construc- 
tion ;  and  there  he  first  distinguished  himself  for  great  executive  abil- 
ity and  indefatigable  energy  in  pushing  the  work  to  completion  with 
unparalleled  rapidity.  The  energy  and  dispatch  with  which  the  road 
Avas  pushed  across  the  continent  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  mar- 
velous pieces  of  enterprise  the  world  had  ever  seen,  and  was  com- 
mented on  by  the  leading  journals  of  Europe  as  an  evidence  of  the 
wonderful  spirit  of  progress  prevailing  in  America.  To  Col.  Hoxie, 
more  than  to  any  other  one  man,  is  due  the  credit  resulting  from  the 
expedition  and  success  with  which  the  two  oceans  were  for  the  first 
time  "linked  with  bands  of  steel."  He  personally  supervised  the 
work  under  his  charge,  and  for  months  was  on  the  ground  at  day- 


332  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

dawn,  to  leave  only  at  dark,  directing  and  pushing  the  work  forward. 
The  ability  and  success  with  which  he  conducted  the  construction  of 
the  Union  Pacific  attracted  the  attention  of  leading  railroad  men  all 
over  the  Union,  and  his  services  were  in  great  request.  On  the  com- 
pletion of  the  road.  Col.  Hoxie  was  made  its  general  superintendent  — 
at  that  time  one  of  the  most  important  and  difficult  positions  to  fill  in 
the  entire  railway  service  of  the  country.  But  the  result  vindicated 
the  high  estimate  the  board  of  directors  had  placed  upon  his  ability 
and  energy.  As  superintendent  of  the  practical  operation  of  the 
road,  his  success  was  not  less  brilliant  than  his  success  had  been  as 
superintendent  of  construction.  His  future  as  one  of  the  great  rail- 
road managers  of  the  country  was  now  assured. 

From  the  Union  Pacific  he  was  called  to  Texas  to  build  the  Inter- 
national and  Great  Northern.  There  he  displayed  the  same  qualities 
he  had  shown  in  the  construction  of  the  Union  Pacific.  The  Inter- 
national and  Great  Northern  was  built  with  amazing  rapidity.  Of  this 
he  also  became  superintendent,  and  later  along  was  appointed  vice- 
president  of  the  company.  As  soon  as  the  Texas  and  Pacific  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Gould  he  became  superintendent  of  that  road 
also.  On  the  formation  of  the  South- Western  System  he  was  appointed 
general  manager  of  the  International  and  Great  Northern  and  of  the 
Texas  and  Pacific,  and  was  also  appointed  third  vice-president  of  all 
the  consolidated  roads.  Afterwards  when,  in  May,  1883,  the  Wabash 
was  leased  to  the  Iron  Mountain,  thus  becoming  practically  a  part  of 
the  Missouri  Pacific,  or  "  South-Western  System,"  as  it  is  called,  that 
road  also  came  under  his  control,  so  far  as  the  third  vice-presidency 
is  concerned. 

As  third  vice-president  of  these  roads,  Col.  Hoxie  has  the  manage- 
ment and  superintendence  of  the  entire  freight  traffic  of  the  combined 
lines.  These  roads  aggregate  nearly  10,000  miles,  and  together  con- 
stitute the  most  extensive  system  of  railways  under  one  management 
in  the  Avorld.  To  have  the  control  of  the  freight  interests  on  this  vast 
system  is  a  responsibility  which  but  few  men  could  safely  undertake, 
a  responsibility  perhaps  not  equaled  by  that  of  any  office,  civil  or 
military,  in  the  government.  The  freight  business  on  a  railroad,  as 
every  one  knows,  is  to  the  prosperity  of  the  road  what  the  advertising 
business  of  a  newspaper  is  to  the  success  of  the  paper  —  the  very  life- 
blood  of  its  existence.  The  main  support  of  every  prosperous  road 
comes  from  its  freight  business  ;  this  is  the  source  of  its  greatest  rev- 
enue, and  on  the   success  of  its  freight  management  everything  else 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  333 

depends.  Nor  is  any  other  department  of  railroad  management  so 
complicated  and  difficult.  The  interests  to  be  considered  are  innumer- 
able and  often  conflicting,  but  all  must  be  consulted  and  harmonized 
to  the  best  possible  advantage.  It  requires  not  only  a  broad  compve- 
hension  of  the  general  principles  of  transportation  and  trade,  but  an 
intelligent  and  thorough  knowledge  of  practical  business  affairs,  and 
of  the  best  methods  of  conducting  business  transactions.  Not  only 
must  general  interests  be  looked  to,  but  details  also  must  be  closely 
regarded.  Nothing  will  wreck  a  road  quicker  than  bad  freight  man- 
agement. It  is,  therefore,  one  of  the  most  important  departments, 
if  not  the  most  important,  of  railway  management. 

The  success  that  has  attended  Col.  Hoxie's  administration  of  this 
department  of  railway  service,  as  official  figures  show,  is  gratifying  in 
the  extreme.  The  receipts  from  freight  transportation  have  been  un- 
precedentedly  large  —  out  of  all  proportion,  in  fact,  to  former  years, 
even  allowing  for  the  growth  of  the  country — and  notwithstanding 
this,  rates  have  been  steadily  reduced.  These  facts,  though  perhaps 
not  so  conspicuous  as  his  construction  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railway, 
speak  hardly  less  for  his  ability  as  a  railroad  manager.  Indeed,  it  is 
at  least  questionable  whether  it  required  a  higher  exercise  of  ability  to 
gain  the  applause  of  the  world  by  linking  the  two  oceans  together, 
than  it  does  to  successfully  conduct  the  diversified,  complicated  and 
extensive  business  of  10,000  miles  of  railway  traffic. 

Col.  Hoxie  is  now  somewhat  past  the  meridian  of  life,  but  his 
energy,  resolution  and  force  of  character  seem  only  to  have  been 
strengthened  by  his  ripening  years.  A  man  of  prodigious  capacity  for 
work,  he  superintends,  directs  and  personally  inspects  every  branch 
of  the  service  in  his  charge  ;  and  he  seems  to  be  as  active  and  as  am- 
bitious of  the  future  as  he  was  before  he  had  achieved  either  reputa- 
tion or  fortune.  Personally  he  is  highly  esteemed. .  Having  risen 
from  the  people  himself,  there  is  nothing  of  the  aristocrat  either  in 
his  manners  or  thoughts.  He  weighs  men  according  to  their  charac- 
ter  and  intelligence,  and  res[)ects  rank  and  fortune  in  the  individual 
only  so  far  as  he  makes  himself  worthy  of  respect.  A  man  of  gener- 
ous impulses  and  a  kind,  sympathetic  nature,  he  is  a  warm,  true  friend 
to  those  who  gain  his  confidence,  and  there  is  nothing,  not  dishonora- 
ble, within  the  bounds  of  reason  that  he  would  not  do  to  serve  them. 
Those  who  have  known  him  for  years  speak  of  him  as  one  of  the  truest 
hearted  and  best  of  men. 

One  of  the  oldest  general  officers  of  the  Wabash,  or  rather  one 


334  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

among  those  longest  ut  the  head  of  the  affairs  of  that  part  of  it,  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  is 

COL.    JAMES    F.    HOW, 

the  present  secretary  of  the  company.  Col.  How  is  an  old  St.  Louisan 
and  comes  of  one  of  the  best  families  of  the  city.  He  commenced  his 
railway  career  in  the  ticlvet  office  of  the  old  North  Missouri  Company, 
but  rapidly  rose  by  promotion  to  one  of  the  general  officers  of  the  com- 
pany. Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  present  Wabash,  St.  Louis 
and  Pacific,  he  was  the  vice-president  of  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City 
and  Northern,  the  predecessor  to  the  Wabash  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  was  the  successor  to  the  old 
North  Missouri,  and  was  one  of  the  most  successful,  enterprising  and 
progressive  railways  ever  operated  on  this  side  of  the  river.  It  not 
only  brought  the  affairs  of  the  old  North  Missouri  out  of  embarrass- 
ment, but  improved  the  road  in  every  particular  and  added  hundreds 
of  miles  of  track  to  its  original  lines.  It  built  and  opened  the  line  to 
Omaha  and  increased  the  service,  both  passenger  and  freight,  on  all 
the  lines  of  the  road.  Its  financial  success  was  unequivocal  and  most 
gratifying ;  so  much  so  that  it  became  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces 
of  railway  property  in  the  country.  Its  management  was  character- 
ized by  unusual  ability  and  vigor,  and  to  no  one  was  it  more  entitled 
for  its  rapid  and  brilliant  success  than  to  Col.  How.  A  man  of  a  high 
order  of  ability  and  of  extensive  experience  in  railway  affairs,  young 
and  full  of  energy  and  ambitious  to  make  the  road  a  success,  he  in- 
fused into  its  management  a  new  life  and  vigor,  and  urged  it  forward 
upon  a  policy  that  soon  placed  its  success  beyond  the  shadow  of  a 
doubt.  Looking  back  upon  the  record  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City 
and  Northern  road  has  made,  he  has  every  reason  to  feel  satisfied  with 
the  influential  and  leading  part  he  took  in  its  management.  Col.  How 
now  has  much  to  do  with  the  finances  of  the  road,  so  far  as  its  prac- 
tical operation  is  concerned,  and  has  entire  control  of  its  tax  depart- 
ment. In  these  departments  of  railway  management  he  has  already 
established  a  high  reputation.  His  success  in  the  tax  affairs  of  the  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  was  particularly  conspicuous.  He 
saved  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  to  the  company  annually  by 
defeating  exorbitant  and  erroneous  levies.  He  is  in  every  sense  a 
worthy  member  of  the  present  brilliant  management  of  the  Wabash. 

COL.    R.    ANDREWS, 

the  general  superintendent  of  the  road,  was  originally  from  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  superintendent  of  the  old  Wabash,  east  of  the  Missis- 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  335 

sippij-fora  number  of  years  before  the  consolidation.  The  success  of 
that  road  was  largely  due  to  the  able  and  energetic  manner  in  which 
he  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  superintendent's  office.  Having  estab- 
lished a  wide  and  enviable  reputation  while  with  the  old  Wabash, 
when  the  consolidation  took  place  he  was  naturally  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  same  department  of  the  new  company.  Col.  Andrews  is  not 
only  a  railway  official  of  high  standing,  but  is  possessed  of  the  qualities, 
to  a  marked  degree,  that  challenge  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  men. 
He  is  a  man  with  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  have  business  relations,  and 
who  adds  much  to  the  popularity  and  patronage  of  the  road  with  which 
he  is  connected. 

H.    C.    TOWNSEND, 

the  general  passenger  agent  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  and 
Missouri  Pacific  System,  is  distinguished  for  being  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  efficient  general  passenger  agents  in  the  United  States. 
His  rise  in  the  railway  service  has  been  unprecedentedly  rapid.  Pos- 
sessed of  a  quick,  active  mind,  and  of  stirring  energy,  in  each  position 
he  held  he  comprehended  the  scope  of  his  duties  almost  at  a  glance, 
and  discharged  them  with  so  much  spirit  and  success,  that  his  advance- 
ment was  assured  and  rapid.  That  he  is  the  general  passenger  agent, 
though  still  a  young  man,  of  the  most  important  railway  system  in 
the  United  States  —  a  system  in  which  none  but  the  ablest  and  best 
men  are  permitted  to  hold  important  positions,  is,  in  itself,  the  highest 
indorsement  of  his  character  and  ability  that  could  be  given.  And  he 
is  worthy  in  an  eminent  degree  of  the  prominence  to  which  he  has 
risen.  With  qualifications  far  above  the  position  he  holds,  although 
it  is  one  of  the  first  in  prominence  and  responsibility,  he  brings  to  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  that  ability  and  dignity,  that  clear  aiid  inteJli- 
gent  grasp  of  the  influence  and  effects  of  measures  upon  the  difficult 
interests  of  the  road,  and  that  self-respecting,  manly  bearing,  which 
not  only  make  him  a  marked  success,  but  elevate  and  dignify  the 
position  he  holds.  Personally  Mr.  Townsend  is  a  man  of  wide  and 
genuine  popularity.  Of  an  open,  frank  nature,  well  disposed  toward 
the  world,  and  full  of  life,  he  always  has  a  pleasant  word  for  every 
one,  and  apparently,  without  effort,  wins  the  good  opinions  and  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  His  personal  popu- 
larity was  by  no  means  the  least  consideration  that  influenced  his 
promotion  to  his  present  office.  In  business  affairs  he  is  courteous, 
polite  and  affable,  and  no  one  leaves  his  office  with  an  unpleasant 
incident  to  remember.     His  chief  clerk. 


336  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


MR.    H.    A.    FISHER, 

is  also  comparatively  a  young  man,  and  is  highly  esteemed  both  in 
railroad  circles  and  by  the  general  public.  He  commenced  life  for 
himself  by  learning  the  printer's  trade,  and  having  the  qualities  for  a 
successful  man  in  almost  any  calling,  he  of  course  succeeded  as  a 
printer.  He  became  an  artist  in  his  trade  —  one  of  the  finest  printers 
throughout  the  country.  Subsequently  he  was  called  into  the  service 
of  the  Wabash  Railway  to  superintend  its  fine  advertisement  work,  of 
which  he  since  has  had  charge.  It  has  doubtless  been  noticed  by 
every  one  who  has  traveled  in  the  West  that  the  Wabash  has  the 
handsomest,  most  artistic  and  unique  advertisements  of  all  the  West- 
ern roads.  This  of  course  is  the  result  of  Mr.  Fisher's  control  of  its 
advertising  department.  And  he  has  made  the  distribution  of  his 
advertisements  as  judiciously  as  he  has  made  their  appearance 
attractive.  Indeed,  he  has  been  remarkably  successful  in  advertising 
the  road,  and  its  rapid  increase  of  business  is  proof  that  the  industry 
and  good  judgment  he  has  shown  in  his  work  has  not  been  without 
their  reward.  In  the  entire  service  of  the  road  no  one  is  more 
popular  and  more  deservedly  so.  He  is  as  accommodating  and 
gentlemanly  as  if  it  was  his  only  study  to  be  pleasant  and  obliging. 
Personally  the  writer  desires  to  acknowledge  here  a  favor  received  at 
his  hands  —  material  assistance  in  collecting  the  data  for  the  preced- 
ing sketches  of  the  Wabash  Railway. 

COL.  WELLS    H.  BLODGETT, 

general  solicitor  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  in  all  business 
of  a  legal  character  afiecting  the  active  management  of  the  road, 
became  connected  with  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern,  the 
predecessor  of  the  present  Western  Division  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis 
and  Pacific,  as  its  assistant  attorney  during  the  winter  of  1873-74. 
In  June  following  he  was  elected  general  solicitor  of  the  St.  Louis, 
Kansas  City  and  Northern  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  its  board  of 
directors.  On  the  consolidation  of  that  company  with  the  old 
Wabash  in  1879,  he  became  general  solicitor  of  the  new  Wabash,  St. 
Louis  and  Pacific,  the  position  he  now  holds.  Col.  Blodgett's  career 
as  a  railroad  lawyer  has  been  one  of  marked  ability  and  success. 
Gifted  with  a  legal  mind  of  a  high  order  and  of  fine  administrative 
ability,  industrious  almost  to  a  fault,  and  an  inveterate  student,  of 
the  highest  integrity  of  character  and  of  close,  exact  business  habits, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  337 

justly  popular  with  all  who  know  him  for  his  smooth,  gentlemanly 
demeanor,  and  for  his  high  personal  worth,  a  clear,  philosophical 
thinker  and  a  pleasant,  logical  speaker,  he  combines,  to  an  eminent 
degree,  all  the  more  important  qualifications,  both  natural  and 
acquired,  for  the  chief  law  officer  of  one  of  the  great  railway  corpora- 
tions of  the  country.  Like  most  men  of  real  merit  who  have  risen 
to  eminence  he  is  essentially  a  self-made  man. 

His  father,  Israel  P.  Blodgett,  now  deceased,  was  a  respectable 
farmer  of  Illinois,  but  like  most  of  his  neighbors  in  that  then  new 
part  of  the  country,  was  not  a  wealthy  man.  Wells  H.,  therefore, 
had  little  or  no  pecuniary  means  to  assist  in  establishing  himself  in 
life.  After  acquiring  a  common  school  education,  supplemented  with 
a  few  terms  of  college  instruction,  young  Blodgett  went  to  Chicago 
and  began  the  study  of  law  under  his  brother,  Hon.  Henry  W.  Blod- 
gett, now  Jud^e  of  the  United  States  District  Court  there,  but  then 
the  general  solicitor  of  the  Chicago  and  North-Western  Railway.  Of 
studious  habits,  a  superior  mind,  and  entirely  devoted  to  his  chosen 
profession,  he  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1860  with  expressions  from  the  court  highly  compli- 
mentary to  his  attainments  and  promise  for  the  future.  He  at  once 
entered  actively  upon  the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago,  and  was  making 
rapid  progress  in  his  profession  when  the  Civil  War  burst  upon  the 
country  with  all  its  fury.  The  life  of  the  nation  imperiled,  he  saw 
but  one  duty  before  him  —  to  go  manfully  to  its  defense.  He  became 
a  private  soldier  in  the  array  of  the  Union,  and  followed  the  flag  of 
his  country  with  unfaltering  devotion  until  it  floated  in  triumph  from 
the  granite-ribbed  hills  of  Maine  to  the  sunlit  waters  of  the  Southern 
Gulf.  For  meritorious  conduct  as  a  soldier  he  was  repeatedly  pro- 
moted, and  rose  to  the  command  of  a  battalion  with  the  rank  of 
colonel.  He  was  twice  cofnmended  by  written  reports  of  the  com- 
manding general  for  conspicuous  gallantry  on  the  field.  Two  honor- 
able scars,  the  proudest  decorations  a  soldier  can  wear,  attest  the 
patriotic  part  he  took  in  the  war. 

After  the  war  Col.  Blodgett  located  at  Warrensburg,  Mo.,  in  the 
practice  of  the  law.  There  he  at  once  took  front  rank  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  in  1866  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  Legislature.  Two  years  afterwards  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate.  Following  this,  in  1872,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  by 
his  party  for  re-election  to  the  Senate,  but  was  defeated  at  the  polls 
by  a  test  party  vote.  Indeed,  he  ran  far  ahead  of  his  own  party 
ticket,  and  was  defeated  only  b}'  a  small  majority. 


338  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

In  the  Legislature  his  ability  and  attainments  made  him  a  leading 
member  in  each  of  the  houses  in  which  he  sat.  A  clear,  sober- 
minded  thinker,  and  a  conscientious,  upright  man,  the  fact  that  he 
supported  a  measure  left  but  little  or  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  others 
that  it  was  for  the  best  interests  of  the  State  ;  and  advocating  it  in 
his  calm,  lucid  manner,  he  seldom  failed  to  carry  it  to  a  successful 
issue. 

Though  a  Republican,  earnest  and  faithful,  Col.  Blodgett  was  one 
of  the  first  prominent  men  in  the  State  to  advocate  the  enfranchise- 
ment of  those  who  had  been  in  rebellion.  His  record  in  the  Legisla- 
ture on  this  question  forms  one  of  the  brightest  pages  in  the  history 
of  his  career.  With  him  the  broad,  vital  principle  upon  which  our 
government  is  founded  —  equal  and  fair  representation  for  all — was 
of  vastly  more  importance  than  any  temporary  party  advantage  or 
expedient.  Indeed,  his  conception  of  true  partisanship  is  that  it 
should  strive  to  keep  the  party  identified  with  the  best  interests  of 
the  country.  The  rank  and  file  of  those  formerly  in  rebellion  he  be- 
lieved to  have  been  honest  but  misguided  ;  and  representing  their  hon- 
esty of  purpose  and  bravery,  since  they  had  submitted  to  the  authority 
of  the  government  and  sworn  to  obey  the  laws,  he  believed  no  good 
purpose  could  be  served  by  showing  the  distrust  of  their  sincerity,  and 
continuing  them  under  the  ban  of  civil  ostracism.  Hence  he  advo- 
cated earnestly  and  ardently  their  restoration  to  citizenship  ;  and  to 
his  efforts,  less  than  to  no  man's  in  the  State,  were  the  enfranchised 
indebted  for  their  ultimate  right  to  vote. 

By  the  close  of  his  term  in  the  Senate,  such  was  the  high  standing 
he  had  attained  as  a  lawyer,  no  less  than  as  a  public  man,  for  he  had 
continued  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  all  the  time,  that  his 
services  as  official  attorney  were  sought  by  various  important  corpor- 
ation interests.  Indeed,  he  had  already  distinguished  himself  in 
corporation  practice,  a  department  of  the  profession  for  which  he  has 
a  special  taste.  In  the  spring  of  1873  he  accepted  the  assistant  attor- 
neyship of  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railway  as  stated 
above,  and  was  soon  afterwards  elected  general  solicitor  for  the  road. 

The  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  was  the  successor  to  the 
old  North  Missouri ;  and  the  mere  mention  of  the  name  of  that  road 
suggests  confusion,  chaos  and  lawsuits  without  ending.  Its  policy 
was  to  fight  everything  and  pay  nothing  —  perhaps  because  it  had 
nothing  to  pay  with.  It  finally  went  down  under  a  perfect  maelstrom 
of  litigation  ;  and  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  inherited 
from  it  a  very  sea  of  legal  entanglements.     To  straighten  out  these 


d 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  339 

and  get  the  new  road  in  proper  condition,  so  far  as  its  law  interests 
were  concerned,  was  the  first  work  to  which  Col.  Blodgett  addressed 
himself,  and  it  was  a  work  which  no  ordinary  lawyer  could  have 
accomplished.  None  with  less  ability  than  he  showed,  none  with  less 
industry,  less  energy  and  resolution,  less  system  and  method  in  the 
conduct  of  business,  could  have  succeeded.  But  being  a  thorough 
business  man  no  less  than  an  able  lawyer,  he  went  to  work  in  his 
office  and  in  the  courts,  and  in  a  remarkably  short  time  had  his  dock- 
ets practically  cleared  —  clearer  by  far  than  railroad  dockets  usually 
are  —  and  in  almost  every  case  with  success  to  his  company.  His 
office,  also,  became  a  model  of  system,  order  and  method  ;  indeed, 
this-^  orderly  arrangement  of  everything  connected  with  his  legal  and 
business  affairs — is  one  of  the  chief  characteristics,  without  which 
the  diversified  and  complicated  business  of  which  he  has  charge  could 
not  be  successfully  conducted. 

In  the  settlement  of  damage  cases  against  the  railroad,  and,  in- 
deed, of  every  class  of  claims,  Col.  Blodgett  inaugurated  an  entirely 
difierent  policy  from  what  had  before  prevailed.  He  has  always 
made  it  a  rule  to  compromise  every  claim  on  a  fair  basis  in  which 
there  is  any  merit  at  all,  even  though  the  law  does  not  allow  the  claim, 
where  compromise  is  possible.  This  policy,  which  has  since  been 
adopted  by  the  law  departments  of  several  important  roads,  he  has 
found  best  in  every  respect.  It  tends  to  promote  that  good  feeling 
between  the  people  and  the  road  so  advantageous  to  both  ;  whilst  it 
saves  thousands  of  dollars  legal  costs  to  the  company  and  to  claim- 
ants. As  claimants  can  afford  to  compromise  their  claims  at  much 
less  than  they  might  ultimately  recover  by  litigation,  on  account  of 
the  great  cost  and  delay  attending  it,  thus,  without  injury  to  them, 
the  road  saves  additional  thousands  by  fair  compromises.  This  policy 
both  good  conscience  and  business  sagacity  approve. 

Col.  Blodgett  makes  it  as  much  to  the  interest  of  claimants  to 
compromise  as  to  the  interest  of  the  road.  He  tells  them  frankly 
that  he  will  allow  what  is  fiiir  on  their  claims  ;  but  before  he  will 
allow  the  company  to  be  bilked,  he  will  make  it  cost  them  more  than 
they  can  possibly  hope  ultimately  to  realize  by  suit.  A  railroad 
lawyer  of  the  first  order,  he  knows  beforehand  in  almost  every  case 
what  the  decision  of  the  courts  will  be;  and  when  he  goes  to  law 
against  a  claim  he  generally  wins  the  case.  Indeed,  the  frequency 
with  which  cases  are  won  by  the  railroad  is  often  made  the  subject  of 
criticism  unfavorable  to  the  courts.  The  fact  lies  not  in  the  bias  of 
the  courts  in  favor  of  the  railroad,  for  that  does   not  exist ;  but  in 


340  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

that  the  road  scarcely  or  never  o:oes  to  the  higher  courts  with  a  bad 
case.  The  attorneys  for  the  road  know  a  good  case  when  they  see  it, 
and  they  know  a  bad  one  ;  the  first  they  carry  up  ;  the  second  they 
settle.     Thus  the  railroad  is  scarcely  ever  beaten  in  the  courts. 

Col.  Blodgett,  although  he  has  long  stood  in  the  front  rank  of 
lawyers  in  the  West,  is  still  comparatively  a  young  man,  being  now 
only  forty-four  years  of  age.  Considering  his  age  and  the  position 
he  occupies  in  his  profession,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his  career 
has  been  a  most  successful  and  brilliant  one.  Nor  has  he  yet  nearly 
approached  its  meridian.  With  little  less,  if  not  quite  a  score  of 
years  more  of  professional  activity  before  him  in  the  ordinary  course 
of  nature,  years,  too,  usually  of  the  greatest  advancement  in  the  legal 
profession,  his  future  promises  a  degree  of  eminence  to  which  but  few 
men  can  hope  to  attain. 

CHICAGO  AND  ALTON  RAILROAD. 

This  road  was  originally  known  as  the  Louisiana  and  Missouri  River 
Railroad,  and  was  completed  through  Randolph  county  in  1871. 

The  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  Company  was  organized  October 
16,  1862,  The  following  table  will  show  the  number  of  miles  of  road 
now  owned  and  operated  by  this  company  :  — 

CHICAGO   AND   ALTON   RAILROAD    COMPANY. 

Joliet  to  East  St.  Louis 243.50 

Coal  City  Branch 29.76 

Dvvight  to  Washington  aud\branch  to  Lacon 79.80 

Roodhouse  to  Louisiana 38.10 

Upper  Alton  Line 7.40 

Joliet  and  Chicago  Railroad  (Chicago  to  Joliet) 37.20 

St.  Louis,  Jacksonville  and  Chicago  Railroad  (Bloomington  to  Godfrey  via 

Jacksonville) 150.60 

Louisiana  and  Missouri  River  Railroad  (Louisiana  to  Cedar  City  via  Mexico)  100.80 

Kansas  City,  St.  Louis  and  Chicago  Railroad  (Mexico  to  Kansas  City)          .  162.62 


Total 849.78 

Of  this  number  586.36  miles  are  east  of  the  Mississippi  river,  while 
263.42  lay  west  of  that  stream. 

This  road  is  now  one  of  the  most  deservedly  popular  railroads  in 
the  West.  It  is  especially  popular  along  the  line  of  its  route  through 
Missouri ;  popular,  because  of  the  courtesy  of  its  officers  and  em- 
ployes, and  because  of  its  speed,  safety,  and  the  prompt  arrival  and 
departure  of  its  trains  upon  schedule  time.  Its  passenger  coaches  are 
not  only  neat,  but  elegant  in  design  and  construction.  Each  train  is 
supplied  with  reclining  chairs,  which  are  always  so  highly  esteemed 
by  the  traveler,  whether  his  journey  be  long  or  short. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


341 


The  Chicago  and  Alton  owns  and  operates  about  18  miles  of  road 
in  the  county.  Altogether,  there  are  82  miles  of  railroad  in  Ran- 
dolph county. 

BONDED  INDEBTEDNESS  OF  RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 


*  6  six  per  cent  bonds  of  $1,000  each,  payable  in  from 
one  to  seven  years,  issued  July  10,  1880,  to  fund 
floating  debt,  interest  payable  annually  on  1st  day 
of  July,  at  office  of  county  treasurer 
16  ten  per  cent  bonds  of  f  lOOeach,  due  in  from  1  to  10 
years,  issued  January  1,  1871,  for  ditching  and 
draining  swamp  lands,  interest  payable  annually  on 
1st  of  January,  at  office  of  county  treasurer 

Money  borrowed  from  school  fund  upon  which  the 
county  pays  10  per  cent  interest  on  the  1st  day  of 
January  of  each  year 

Interest  promptly  paid  ;  interest  and  sinking  fund  tax 
of  15  cents  on  $100  valuation.  Taxable  wealth 
$4,412,657. 

SUGAR   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

69  six  per  cent  10  year  bonds  of  $500  each,  and  155  do. 
of  $100  each,  issued  July  14,  1879,  under  act  of 
April  12,  1877,  in  compromise  and  redemption  of 
bonds  issued  to  the  Tebo  and  Neosho  Railroad  Co., 
interest  payable  1st  of  April  and  October,  at  EX' 

change  Bank,  Moberly,  Mo 

Interest  promptly  paid ;  interest  tax  on  $100  valuation 
60  cents.    Taxable  wealth  $1,086,075. 


$6,000  00 

1,600  00 
22,693  00 


$30,293  00 


50,000  00 


The  bonded  debt   of  Sugar  Creek  township  was  incurred  in  aid  of 
the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railroad. 


The  county  indebtedness  has  been  reduced  to  about  $22,692.18 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

THE  PRESS  AND  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

History  of  Printing  and  first  Newspapers  —  Huntsville  Eecorder  —  Independent  Mts- 
sourian  —  Advertisements  and  Professional  Men  of  that  Day  —  Randolpli  Citizen  — 
Eandolph  American  —  Randolph  Vindicator  —  North  Missouri^  Herald  —  Huntsville 
Herald  —  Higbee  Enterprise  —  Moberly  ^eraM  a7id  Heal  Estate  Index — TTie  Meni- 
tor — Moberly  2)ai7j/  Enterprise  —  Enterprise-Monitor — The  Headlight — The  Chron- 
icle—  The  M-ob^xly  Fortschritt  —  Public  Schools. 

The  press,  the  great  luminary  of  liberty,  is  the  handmaid  of  prog- 
ress. It  heralds  its  doings  and  makes  known  its  discoveries.  It  is 
its  advance  courier,  whose  coming  is  eagerly  looked  for  and  whose 
arrival  is  hailed  with  joy,  as  it  brings  tidings  of  its  latest  achieve- 
ments. The  press  prepares  the  way  and  calls  mankind  to  witness  the 
approaching  procession  of  the  triumphal  car  of  progress  as  it  passes 
on  down  through  the  vale  of  the  future.  When  the  car  of  progress 
stops  the  press  will  cease,  and  the  intellectual  and  mental  world  will 
go  down  in  darkness.  The  press  is  progress,  and  progress  the  press. 
So  intimately  are  they  related,  and  their  interests  interwoven,  that 
one  cannot  exist  without  the  other.  Progress  made  no  advancement 
against  the  strong  tides  of  ignorance  and  vice  in  the  barbaric  past 
until  it  called  to  its  aid  the  press.  In  it  is  found  its  greatest  dis- 
covery, its  most  valuable  aid,  and  the  true  philosopher's  stone. 

The  history  of  this  great  discovery  dates  back  to  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury. Its  discovery  and  subsequent  utility  resulted  from  the  follow- 
ing causes  in  the  following  manner :  Laurentius  Coster,  a  native  of 
Haerlem,  Holland,  while  rambling  through  the  forest  contiguous  to  his 
native  city,  carved  some  letters  on  the  bark  ©f  a  birch  tree.  Drowsy 
from  the  relaxation  of  a  holiday,  he  wrapped  his  carvings  in  a  piece  of 
paper  and  lay  down  to  sleep.  While  men  sleep  progress  moves,  and 
Coster  awoke  to  discover  a  phenomenon,  to  him  simple,  strange  and 
suggestive.  Dampened  by  the  atmospheric  moisture,  the  paper 
wrapped  about  his  handiwork  had  taken  an  impression  from  them,  and 
the  surprised  burgher  saw  on  the  paper  an  inverted  image  of  what  he 
had  engraved  on  the  bark.  The  phenomenon  was  suggestive,  because 
it  led  to  experiments  that  resulted  in  establishing  a  printing  office, 
(342) 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  343 

the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  old  Dutch  town.  In  this  office  John  Guten- 
burg  served  a  faithful  and  appreciative  apprenticeship,  and  from  it,  at 
the  death  of  his  master,  absconding  during  a  Christmas  festival,  tak- 
ing with  him  a  considerable  portion  of  the  type  and  apparatus.  Guten- 
burg  settled  in  Mentz,  where  he  won  the  friendship  and  partnership 
of  John  Faust,  a  man  of  sufficient  means  to  place  the  enterprise  on  a 
secure  financial  basis.  Several  years  later  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved because  of  a  misunderstanding.  Gutenburg  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  a  younger  brother,  who  had  set  up  an  office  at  Stras- 
burg,  but  had  not  been  successful,  and  becoming  involved  in  lawsuits, 
had  fled  from  that  city  to  join  his  brother  at  Mentz.  These  brothers 
were  the  first  to  use  metal  types.  Faust,  after  his  dissolution  with 
Gutenburg,  took  into  partnership  Peter  Schoeffer,  his  servant,  and  a 
most  ingenious  printer.  Schoeff'er  privately  cut  matrices  for  the 
whole  alphabet.  Faust  was  so  pleased  that  he  gave  Schoeflfer  his  only 
daughter  in  marriage.  These  are  the  great  names  in  the  early  history 
of  printing,  and  each  is  worthy  of  special  honor. 

Coster's  discovery  of  wood  blocks  or  plates  on  which  the  page  to  be 
printed  was  engraved,  was  made  some  time  between  1440  and  1450,  and 
Schoeffer's  improvement  — casting  the  type  by  means  of  matrices  — 
was    made   about    1456.     For   a   long  time  printing  was  dependent 
upon  most  clumsy  apparatus.     The  earliest  press  had  a   contrivance 
for  running  the  forms  under  the  point  of  pressure  by  means  of  a  screw. 
When  the  pressure  was  applied  the  screw  was  loosened,  the  form  with- 
drawn and  the  sheet  removed.     Improvements  were  made  upon  these 
crude  beginnings  from  time  to  time,  until  the  hand-press  now  in  use 
is  a  model  of  simplicity,  durability  and   execution.     In    1844,   steam 
was   first   applied    to  cylinder  presses  by  Frederick  Kong,  a  Saxon 
genius,  and   the  subsequent  progress  of  steam  printing  has  been  so 
remarkable  as  to  almost  justify  a  belief  in  its  absolute  perfection.     In- 
deed, to  appreciate  the  improvement  in  presses  alone,  one  ought  to  be 
privileged  to  stand  awhile  by  the  pressman  who  operated  the*  clumsy 
machine  of  Gutenburg,  and  then  he  should  step  into  one  of  the  well- 
appointed  modern  printing  offices  of  our  larger  cities,  where  he  could 
notice  the  roll  of  dampened  paper  entering  the  great  power  presses, 
a  continuous  sheet,  and  issuing  therefrom  as  newspapers,   ready  for 
the  carrier  or  express.     The  Romans,  in  the  times  of  the  emperors, 
had  periodicals,  notices  of  passing  events,  compiled  and  distributed. 
These  daily  events  were  the  newspapers  of  that  age.     In   1536,   the 
first  newspaper  of  modern  times  was  issued  at  Venice,  but  govern- 
mental bigotry  compelled  its  circulation  in  manuscript  form. 
17 


344  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Ill  1663,  the  Public  Intelligencer  was  published  in  London,  and  is 
credited  with  being  the  first  English  paper  to  attempt  the  dissemina- 
tion of  general  information.  The  first  American  newspaper  was  the 
Boston  Neios-Letter ^  whose  first  issue  was  made  April  24,  1704.  It 
was  a  half-sheet,  twelve  inches  by  eight,  with  two  columns  to  the  page. 
John  Campbell,  the  postmaster,  was  the  publisher.  The  Boston  Ga- 
zette made  its  first  appearance  December  21,  1719,  and  the  American 
WeeMy^  at  Philadelphia,  December  22,  1719.  In  1776  the  number 
of  newspapers  published  in  the  colonies  was  37  ;  in  1828,  the 
number  had  increased  to  852,  and  at  the  present  time  not  less  than 
2,000  newspapers  are  supported  by  our  people.  Journalism,  by  which 
is  meant  the  compiling  of  passing  public  events,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  them  more  generally  -known  and  instructive,  has  become  a 
powerful  educator.  Experience  has  been  its  only  school  for  special 
training,  its  only  text  for  study,  its  only  test  for  theory.  It  is  scarcely 
a  profession,  but  is  advancing  rapidly  toward  that  dignity.  A  distinct 
department  of  literature  has  been  assigned  to  it.  Great  editors  are 
writing  autobiographies  and  formulating  their  methods  and  opinions  ; 
historians  are  rescuing  from  oblivion  the  every-day  life  of  deceased 
journalists  ;  reprints  of  interviews  with  famous  journalists,  touching 
the  difi*erent  phases  of  their  profession,  are  deemed  worthy  of  publi- 
cation in  book  form.  Leading  universities  have  contemplated  the  in- 
auguration of  courses  of  study  specially  designed  to  fit  men  and  women 
for  the  duties  of  the  newspaper  sanctum.  These  innovations  are 
not  untimely,  since  no  other  class  of  men  are  so  powerful  for  good 
or  ill  as  editors.  More  than  any  other  class  they  form  public  opinion 
while  expressing  it,  for  most  men  but  echo  the  sentiments  of  favorite 
journalists.  Even  statesmen,  ministers  and  learned  professors  not 
unfrequently  get  their  best  thoughts  and  ideas  from  the  papers  they 
read. 

The  Huntsville  Recorder  was  the  pioneer  newspaper  of  Huntsville 
and  of  Randolph  county.  It  was  established,  we  suppose,  some  time 
during  the  year  1853,  judging  from  what  the  proprietor,  John  R. 
Hull,  says  in  his  valedictory.  Through  the  kindness  of  Mrs.  E.  G.  St. 
Olair,  we  have  been  permitted  to  see  the  first  copy  of  the  Independent 
Missourian,  which  contains  the  valedictory  of  the  editor  of  the  He- 
corder,  and  also  the  salutatory  of  E.  G.  St.  Clair,  the  editor  of  the 
Independent  Missourian.     The  valedictory  is  as  follows  :  — 

We  appear  once  more  before  our  readers  and  the  public  generally, 
in  order  to  make  our  parting  bow  to  them  in  retiring  from  the  position 
of  editor,  which  we  have  occupied  for  some  time  past.     In  doing  so,  we 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  345 

renew  the  hope  expressed  on  a  former  occasion,  that  our  readers  may 
have  been  pleased  with  our  efibrts  to  amuse  and  inform  them  ;  and  if 
at  any  time,  they  may  not  have  been  altogether  satisfied,  we  ask  of 
them  to  remember  only  the  good  and  forget  the  ill  of  us.  We  have 
heard  remarks  once  or  twice  about  the  "  failure  of  the  i?ecorc?er." 
We  beg  leave  to  state  there  Avas  no  such  thing  as  a  failure.  The  pro- 
prietors of  the  Recorder  sold  it,  as  they  intended  to  do  from  the  first, 
provided  they  had  a  suitable  offer;  if  they  had  not  met  with  such  an 
ofl'er  the  paper  would  still  have  been  continued  and  issued  as  regularly 
as  usual.  Their  only  motive  was  to  keep  up  a  county  paper  here. 
As  for  ourself,  we  have  not,  nor  ever  have  had,  any  idea  of  becoming 
an  editor  for  any  great  length  of  time.  Our  profession,  as  our 
readers  all  know,  is  a  totally  difierent  one  ;  and  we  have  never  had 
the  slightest  intention  of  chano^ins^  it.  Mr.  St.  Clair  who  succeeds  us 
in  the  editorial  chair  has  been  connected  with  the  press  for  many 
years  ;  and  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  judge,  he  is  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  business  of  conducting  a  paper  in  the  proper  style,  and  is 
also  fully  qualified  for  that  position.  We  hope,  and  indeed  confidently 
expect,  that  he  will  be  able  to  give  entire  satisfaction  to  our  patrons. 
In  conclusion,  we  ofl'er  to  our  readers  and  citizens  our  best  wishes  for 
their  future  welfare  in  all  things,  and  may  success  ever  attend  them. 
Though  we  retire  from  the  editorial  office,  we  may  still  be  found  at 
our  office  at  all  times,  where  we  shall  be  happy  to  see  visitors,  whether 
on  business  or  otherwise.  Call  and  see  us  reader,  and  give  us  the 
pleasure  of  your  acquaintance. 

Respectfully, 

John  R.  Hull. 

E.  G.  St.  Clair  succeeded  Mr.  Hull  as  editor,  and  changed  the  name 
of  the  paper  to  the  Independent  Missourian.  The  following  is  his 
salutatory  :  — 

With  this  number  commences  the  first  volume  of  the  Independent 
Missourian.  In  accordance  with  a  long  established  custom,  as  well 
as  with  our  own  views  of  propriety,  we  take  this  opportunity  to  give 
the  public  a  brief  outline  of  the  course  we  will  pursue  as  a  public 
journalist.  Independent  is  the  name  we  have  chosen  for  our  journal, 
and  independent  we  intend  it  shall  be  in  all  things,  but  neutral  in 
nothing.  To  advance  the  interest  of  our  adopted  county  and  State, 
and  to  contribute  as  far  as  in  us  lies  to  the  prosperity  of  this 
glorious  sisterhood  of  States,  is  the  highest  object  of  our  ambition, 
and  to  the  attainment  of  which  all  our  energies  will  be  directed.  No 
party  in  politics  or  sect  in  religion  will  receive  our  support,  except 
so  far  as  in  our  judgment,  its  religious  or  political  tenets  tend  to  the 
great  objects  we  have  in  view,  viz.  :  The  loelfare  of  our  common 
country.  This  is  the  standard  by  which  we  shall  judge  of  the  public 
acts  of  our  public  men.  In  a  word,  we  will  labor  for  the  good  of  the 
country,  and  not  for  the  supremacy  of  party.  Instead  of  long 
leaders  on  the   old,  stale  political  dogmas  of  Whig  and  Democratic 


346  •  HISTORY  or  Randolph  county. 

orthodoxy,  our  columns  will  be  filled  with  all  the  earliest,  foreign, 
domestic  news  and  local  items.  The  mighty  events  now  transpiring 
in  Europe,  Asia  and  on  our  own  continent  —  the  fearful  struggle  in 
which  every  power  in  Europe  seems  likely  to  be  soon  involved  —  the 
result  of  battles  more  momentous  in  their  consequences  than  any 
which  have  been  fought  since  the  star  of  the  first  Napoleon  sank  in 
blood  —  will  be  fully  given  in  the  Independent  Missourian.  Our 
paper  will  be  fully  as  good  as  any  weekly  in  all  the  surrounding 
country,  and  equally  as  interesting  to  all  classes,  unless  it  be  to  the 
hackneyed  politician  to  whose  soul  tricks  of  party  "  are  as  congenial 
as  candor  and  fair  dealing  are  strangers."  Our  terms  are  One  Dol- 
lar, invariably  in  Advance.  We  believe  and  confidently  expect,  that 
the  citizens  of  Randolph  will  rally  to  our  support,  give  us  a  liberal 
subscription  list,  and  always /orA;  over  the  dollar  al  the  time  of  sub- 
scribing. 

E.  G.  St.  Clair. 

As  the  paper  from  which  we  have  taken  the  above  was  published  30 
years  ago,  it  may  be  a  matter  of  some  interest  to  our  readers  of  to-day 
to  know  who  then  advertised  among  the  business  and  professional  men 
of  the  town,  and  to  see  something  of  the  advertisements  and  character 
of  the  matter  which  the  paper  contained. 

Business  men. —  P.  G.  Gerhart,  stove  and  tin  store;  J.  F.  Riley, 
gunsmithing ;  A.  J.  Ferguson,  manufacturer  of  saddles,  trunks,  har- 
ness and  upholstery  ;  J.  C.  Shaefer,  tailor ;  L.  Heether,  Randolph 
House  ;  Smothers  &  Tedford,  saw-mills,  two  miles  from  town  ;  B.  N. 
Tracy,  general  store  ;  J.  B.  &  G.  W.  Taylor,  general  store  ;  Patton 
&  Samuel,  general  store;  J.  V.  Hardy  &>  Co.,  wholesale  and  retail 
druggists. 

Professional  Men. —  John  R.  Hull,  attorney-at-law  ;  G.  H.  Burck- 
hartt,  attorney-at-law;  Thomas  B.  Reed,  attorney-at-law;  H.  M. 
Porter,  attorney-at-law ;  B.  P.  Herndon,  physician  ;  J.  H.  Miller, 
physician;  W.  T.  Dameron,  physician;  William  C.  Bohannon, 
*  physician;  W.  H.  Taylor,  physician,  six  miles  north  of  Huntsville  ; 
James  J.  Watts,  physician,  eight  miles  south  of  Huntsville. 

There  seems  to  have  flourished  at  that  early  day  in   Huntsville,  a 
lottery,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  advertisement :  — 
Now  Fortune  Waves  the  Magic  Wand  : 

1,000  dollar  lottery  to  come  off  in  Huntsville  on  Christmas  day.  A 
free  dinner  will  be  given  to  all  ticket  holders.  Call  and  get  a  ticket 
soon,  or  they  will  all  be  gone  and  none  left  for  the  lucky  ones. 

S.  W.  Robertson. 

SLAVES    FOR    SALE. 

The  undersigned  will  keep  constantly  on  hand,  negro  men,  women, 
boys  and  girls  in  Huntsville.     All  persons  who  wish  to  buy  negroes, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  347 

can  make  it  their  interest  to  call  on  the  subscribers,  or  address  them 
by  letter,  giving  description  of  the  kind  of  slaves  desired. 

®:^=A11  negroes  warranted  to  come  up  to  recommendations,  or 
taken  back  or  exchanged.  H.  L.  Rutherford, 

Wm.  D.  Malone. 

wives  wanted. 

[For  the  Indepeudeut  Missourian.] 

Two  young  men  are  anxious  to  secure  wives,  while  men  are  scarce 
and  girls  are  plenty.  The  hair  of  one  is  auburn,  with  fair  complexion, 
rather  corpulent,  with  considerable  pretensions  to  literature,  is  be- 
lieved as  good-looking.  The  other  has  light  hair,  ayes  nearly  gray, 
tall,  complexion  rather  pale,  but  passable  looking,  teeth  bad.  Both 
possess  some  money,  but  little  inclination  to  work.  We  wish  wives 
with  a  good  suit  of  hair  (black  preferred),  positively  no  gray  ones  ; 
of  medium  size  ;  brunette  complexion  preferred,  but  do  not  feel  dis- 
posed to  make  that  a  point ;  rosy  cheeks,  pouting  lips,  hands  and 
feet  small,  straight  nose,  but  not  sharp,  good  teeth,  sweet  breath,  and 
they  must  abhor  tobacco  (for  we  wish  to  use  that).  No  claims  as 
noble  descendants  of  noble  parentage,  as  we  wish  none  higher  than 
the  second  families  of  Virginia.  Widows  we  wish  included,  if  they 
possess  not  more  than  five  responsibilities.  We  have  mutually  agreed 
that  one  shall  have  all  the  money,  as  we  have  not  enough  to  serve 
both  plentifully  ;  and  that  one  of  the  ladies  must  be  in  good  circum- 
stances, the  other  may  be  poor.  What  the  gents  lack  in  money  will 
be  made  up  in  kindness. 

All  communications  with  inquiries  will  be  promptly  answered. 

Address  Cupid, 

Huntsville,  Mo. 

The  Randolph  Citizen  succeeded  the  Independent  Missourian  in 
May,  1858,  and  was  first  published  by  Francis  M.  Taylor.  It  was 
afterwards  conducted  at  different  times  by  Richard  W.  Thompson, 
Alexander  Phipps,  William  A.  Thompson,  James  B.  Thompson  and 
W.  C.  Davis,  and  was  discontinued  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1875. 

The  Randolph  American  was  the  next  paper  established  at  Hunts- 
ville, and  was  started  in  November,  1858,  by  G.  M.  Smith  and  J.  M. 
Stone,  under  the  firm  name  of  Smith  &  Stone. 

The  publication  of  the  Randolph  Vindicator  was  commenced 
February  28th,  1878,  by  Balthis  &  Collins  (W.  H.  Balthis  and  H.  C. 
Collins),  who  continued  to  run  it  for  about  12  months,  when  it 
ceased  to  exist. 

The  North  Missouri  Herald  was  established  January  10,  1869,  by 
John  R.  Christian,  J.  S.  Hunter  and  L.  R.  Brown.  In  May  follow- 
ing, the  interest  of  L.  R.  Brown  was  taken  by  W.  C.  Davis.     In  Jan- 


348  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.     - 

iiary,  1870,  the  interest  of  John  R.  Christian  was  purchased  by 
Thomas  D.  Bogie.  In  October,  1870,  the  interest  of  W.  C.  Davis 
was  purchased  by  J.  S.  Hunter  and  T.  D.  Bogie.  The  paper  was 
run  by  these  parties  until  January  1,  1875,  when  the  interest  of  J.  S. 
Hunter  was  purchased  by  T.  D.  Bogie,  who  run  the  paper  alone  until 
January  16,  1879,  when  he  sold  it  to  T.  M.  Elmore,  who  managed  it 
by  himself  until  July  following  when  he  sold  a  half-interest  to  W. 
H.  Balthis,  and  the  paper  is  still  being  conducted  by  these  gentlemen. 
The  name  was  changed  from  North  Missouri  Herald  to  Huntsville 
Herald  in  April,  1870.  The  Herald  is  now  the  only  paper  published 
in  Huntsville. 

The  Higbee  Enterprise  was  published  at  Higbee  in  1882-83,  by 
Dentith  &  Ferlet  (William  E.  Dentith  and  Timothy  A.  Ferlet). 

MOBERLY    PAPERS. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Moberly  was  the  Moberly  Herald 
and  Real  Estate  Index,  published  by  William  E.  Grimes,  who  was 
the  first  real  estate  agent  in  the  place.  The  first  number  was  issued 
January  16,  1869.  It  was  a  sixteen-column  folio,  and  contained  13 
columns  of  reading  matter,  and  three  of  advertisements. 

There  are  three  weekly  and  two  daily  papers  published  in  Moberly. 
The  Monitor,  a  weekly  journal,  was  started  in  1869  and  for  several 
years  it  was  published  only  weekly.  The  Moberly  Daily  Enterprise 
was  established  in  the  spring  of  1873.  In  1874  these  two  journals 
consolidated  under  the  name  of  Enterprise- Monitor,  and  at  a  later 
date  the  title  "  Enterprise  "  was  dropped  and  the  paper  has  ever  since 
been  conducted  as  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Monitor.  Steam  power  has 
been  added  and  the  printing  house  has  been  greatly  enlarged,  doing 
all  classes  of  work.  It  is  owned  and  published  by  George  B.  Kelly. 
It  is  Democratic  in  politics. 

The  Headlight  was  established  in  1873  and  published  both  as  a 
daily  and  weekly  edition.  A  job  office  attached  does  all  kinds  of  work 
in  that  line.  It  has  a  power  press  and  other  machinery,  and  does  a 
large  amount  of  business.  It  is  owned  and  published  by  William  May- 
nard,  and  is  Republican  in  politics. 

The  Chronicle  was  started  as  a  daily  and  weekly  journal  in  the  fall 
of  1880  by  William  A.  Thompson.  In  the  winter  of  1881-2  the 
paper  was  removed  to  Missouri  City  and  subsequently  to  Salisbury, 
Mo.  At  the  latter  place  Mr.  Thompson  died,  and  his  widow,  Mrs. 
Ella  Thompson,  continued  the  publication  of  the  paper,  removing  it 
to  Moberly  in  the  summer  of  1883,  where  it  is  now  issued  as  a  weekly 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  349 

journal.  It  is  Democratic  in  politics  so  far  as  it  treats  of  political 
matters. 

These  journals  have  an  extensive  circulation  and  are  important  fac- 
tors in  the  commercial  interests  of  the  city. 

The  Moberly  Fortschritt,  was  started  April  1,  1881,  by  G.  B.  Kelly, 
who  after  running  it  for  one  year,  sold  it  to  Gus.  Miller,  who  after 
continuing  it  about  three  months,  ceased  publishing  it. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS ENUMERATION. 

Number  of  white  children,  males  3479  ;  females,  3335  ;  number  of 
colored  children,  males,  426  ;  females,  416  ;  total,  7656. 

To  accommodate  this  number  of  children  there  have  been  erected  in 
the  county  87  school  buildings  ;  eight  of  these  are  for  colored  chil- 
dren. They  are  neat  frame  buildings,  and  have  been  constructed 
with  reference  to  the  health,  comfort  and  convenience  of  both 
teacher  and  pupils.  These  pupils  are  under  the  care  and  instruction 
of  48  male  and  73  female  teachers,  who  are,  in  the  main,  not  persons 
who  have  temporarily  adopted  the  vocation  of  a  teacher  as  a  mere 
expedient  to  relieve  present  wants,  and  with  no  ultimate  aim  to 
continue  teaching,  but  who  have  chosen  their  profession  from  choice, 
expecting  to  make  a  life  work  of  it.  The  male  teachers  are  paid 
a  salary  which  averages  $43.00  per  month,  and  the  female  a  salary 
which  averages  $35.00  per  month.  We  hope  the  day  is  not  far  dis- 
tant when  Eandolph  county  will  be  as  liberal  in  the  salaries  of  the 
female  teachers  in  her  public  schools  as  Greene,  Dallas  and  a  few 
other  counties  in  the  State.  These  counties  have  recognized  the  fact 
that  the  services  of  the  female  teacher  are  worth  just  as  much  as  the 
services  of  the  male,  and  are  accordingly  paying  her  an  equal  salary. 

For  teachers'  wages,  the  sum  of  $24,218.10  was  paid  out  during 
the  year  1883  ;  for  fuel,  $1,036.85  ;  for  repairs  and  rent  of  buildings, 
$1,179.88;  for  apparatus  and  incidental  expenses,  $2,656.91;  for 
erection  of  school-houses  and  purchase  of  sites,  $1,086.50;  for  past 
indebtedness,  $2,016.44;  for  salaries  to  district  clerks,  $393.00; 
amount  on  hand  at  the  close  of  the  year,  $4,150.68;  value  of  school 
property  at  the  close  of  the  year,  $45,574.00  ;  average  rate  per  $100 
levied  for  school  purposes,  43  cents. 

The  county  has  now  a  school  fund  of  more  than  $37,000,  which  is 
rapidly  increasing  year  by  year.  The  schools  are  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition throughout  the  county,  and  are  being  liberally  patronized  by 
all  classes  of  persons.  The  opposition  and  prejudice,  with  which  they 
met  a  few  years  ago,  are  gradually  dying  out,  and  everybody  is  now 
a  friend  of  the  public  schools. 


CHAPTEE     XYIL 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY. 

HAPPY    ZION    AND    SILVER  CREEK    ( BAPTIST)  CHURCH. 
[By  Eev.  M.  J.  Sears.] 

On  the  third  Saturday  in  August,  1819,  before  Missouri  was  a 
State,  or  Randolph  was  a  county,  a  number  of  the  early  settlers  met 
together,  and  were  organized  into  a  Baptist  Church,  and  gave  it  the 
name  of  Happy  Ziou,  and  on  the  second  Saturday  in  the  following 
month,  united  with  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Association,  organized  at  Mt. 
Pleasant  Church,  Howard  county,  just  one  year  before.  The  dele- 
gates chosen  by  the  church  to  bear  their  petitionary  letter  to  the  As- 
sociation, were:  Thomas  Henson,  William  Harvey  and  Asa  Kirby. 
***********  *  * 

At  the  August  meeting,  1827,  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed 
to  Silver  Creek.  Up  to  this  date  and  for  many  years  later,  almost 
the  entire  settlement  was  made  up  of  Baptists  and  their  families,  and 
the  church  enjoyed  to  a  very  liberal  degree  the  blessings  of  the  Lord, 
reporting  peace  and  prosperity  in  all  the  letters,  which  were  annually 
sent  up  to  the  association,  down  to  the  year  1835.  Yet  the  member- 
ship, perhaps,  never  at  any  one  time,  numbered  over  75  or  80  per- 
sons, for  other  Baptist  churches  were  organized  in  the  surrounding 
country,  and  drew  largely  upon  the  present  body  for  membership  ; 
among  which  we  mention  Mt.  Harmon,  Mt.  Ararat,  Pleasant  Grove, 
Dover  (first  called  Turner's  Prairie),  and  Little  Union,  located  in  the 
north  suburbs  of  North  Huntsville,  all  of  which  have  become  extinct. 
The  different  pastors  who  served  the  church  up  to  date  above  men- 
tioned were  Elders  Thomas  Henson,  Charles  Harryman,  James  Rat- 
cliff,  Thomas  Fristoe  and  William  Sears.  All,  except  Elder  Fristoe, 
commenced  their  ministry  in,  and  were  ordained  by  Silver  Creek 
Church.  Among  the  influential  citizens  who  were  prominent  members 
of  that  church,  before  the  year  1835,  were  William  Harvey,  Dr. 
William  Fort,  Hardy  Sears,  Aaron  King,  John  Whelden,  William  and 
Joseph  Marrow,  Ambrose  Halliburton,  Blandermin  Smith,  Abraham 
Gross,  Asa  Kirby,  Isaiah  Humphrey,  Basil  McDavitt,  Sr.,  Wiley 
(350) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  351 

Sears,  Sr.,  David  Crews,  Charles  Finuell,  William  Cavens,  Benjamin 
Hardister  and  Richard  Bradley.  These  and  many  others,  whose 
names  are  not  at  hand,  all  obtained  a  good  report  through  faith,  and 
have  gone  from  faith  to  sight  in  the  glory  land. 

At  the  October  meeting  following  the  division  in  Mt.  Pleasant  As- 
sociation, Isaiah  Humphrey  and  wife,  Basil  McDavitt,  Sr.,  and  wife, 
William  Cavens  and  wife,  and  Nancy  West  withdrew  from  Silver 
Creek  Church  in  order  to  form  a  separate  body,  and  to  become  identi- 
fied with  what  was  then  called  the  "  Missionary  Party ^''^  since  which 
time  the  church  has  enjoyed  uninterrupted  peace,  and  a  fair  share  of 
prosperity.  The  writer  of  this  united  with  the  church  in  October, 
1849,  and  began  his  ministry  before  he  was  20  years  of  age,  and  at 
21  years  of  age  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church,  and 
has  sustained  that  relation  to  the  church  to  this  day.  From  1835  to 
1849,  Elders  William  Sears,  John  Buster  and  John  Mansfield,  each 
in  turn,  served  the  church  as  pastors  with  good  success.  These  were 
o-ood  and  faithful  ministers,  but  on  account  of  the  distance  thev  lived 
from  the  field  of  their  labors,  would  often  fail  to  meet  appointments. 
In  1840  Brother  James  Sears,  and  in  1843,  Brother  Willis  Sears,  now 
©f  Chariton  Church,  Macon  county,  left  the  "  Missionaries,"  and  were 

received  into  the  church  upon  their  baptism. 

************* 

Soon  after  the  unhappy  division  of  1835,  a  large  per  cent  of  our 
membership  emigrated  to  Macon  county,  and  helped  to  found  the 
now  prosperous  churches  at  Chariton  and  Little  Zion,  in  that  county ; 
and  in  this  county,  the  churches  at  Hickory  Grove  and  Oak  Grove, 
which  are  both  prosperous.  Besides  the  two  last  named  and  the 
mother  church,  there  are  also  Pleasant  Hill  and  Moberly  Churches, 
making  five  in  all,  of  the  Primitive  Order  in  Randolph  county. 
Elders  W.  A.  Rothwell,  M.D.,  James  Bradley,  James  P.  Carter 
and  the  writer  are  the  ministers  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  faith  in  this 
county.  The  first  named  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  brother  Carter,  of 
Virginia ;  brother  Bradley  and  the  writer  were  born  and  raised  in  this 
county.  Elders  James  RatclifF,  William  Sears,  James  Barnes,  Archi- 
bald Pattison,  J.  W.  Garshwiler,  John  Buster  and  James  Grisholm 
have  all  been  residents  of  this  county,  and  in  turn  have  served  the  old 
churches  above  named,  and  have  all  gone  to  their  reward  above  to 
rest  from  their  labors  below.  Elder  William  Sears  was  ordained  to 
gospel  ministry  in  Silver  Creek  Church  in  1836.  No  other  ordination 
to  the  ministry  occurred  in  the  church  until  the  third  Sunday  in  April, 


352  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

1851,  when  the  writer  was  set  apart  to  the  important  work  of  preach- 
ing the  gospel  of  Christ  to  dying  men.  Since  that  time  the  chnrch 
has  set  apart  Elder  Lewis  Sears  and  Elder  J.  W.  Bradley  (since 
deceased)  and  granted  license  to  Elder  P.  M.  Sears,  who  was  after- 
ward ordained  to  the  ministry  at  the  request  of  Oak  Grove  Church. 

Little  Union  Church  (^Baptist). — This  is  the  name  of  the  first 
church  edifice  that  was  erected  near  the  town  of  Huntsville.  It  was 
a  log  cabin,  and  was  erected  about  one  mile  north  of  the  town,  as  early 
as  1828.  Among  its  constituent  members  were  Nancy  Wright,  Dr. 
William  Forth  and  wife,  Mr.  Lafon  and  wife,  Martha  Fort,  Abraham 
Riley  and  wife,  Rachel  Riley,  James  Riley,  Nancy  Goggin,  John 
Smoot  and  wife,  Susan  Smoot,  Martin  Fletcher  and  wife,  Charles 
Hatfield  and  wife,  Benjamin  Skinner  and  wife,  Paulina  Skinner, 
Thomas  Hardister  and  wife,  Isaac  Harris  and  wife,  Blandermin  Smiths 
This  church  was  presided  over  by  Revs.  Lynch  Turner,  John  Buster, 
James  Ratclifi' and  Thomas  Fristoe,  at  difierent  intervals. 

After  the  course  of  several  years,  the  old  building  was  torn  down,, 
and  a  new  house  of  worship  erected  near  the  present  site  of  Lay's 
Mill,  which  is  in  the  corporate  limits  of  Huntsville. 

Providence  {Methodist)  Church  —  Was  organized  in  1834  at  the 
cabin  of  S.  G.  Johnson,  with  the  following  named  persons  as  consti- 
tuting the  original  membership  :  S.  G.  Johnson,  Nancy  W.  Johnson, 
Margaret  Cooper,  Nancy  Fawks,  Polly  Fawks,  and  Lasey  Cooper. 
About  the  year  1836  this  congregation  had  preaching  at  what  was 
known  as  Johnson's  School  House,  and  in  1846  they  erected  Old 
Providence  Church,  called  the  "  Twelve  Corners."  In  1878,  the  pre- 
sent frame  house  of  worship  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,100,  the  dedi- 
catory service  the  same  year  being  presided  over  by  Rev.  B.  F. 
Johnson,  D.D.  Among  those  who  have  ministered  to  the  spiritual 
needs  of  this  church  are  Jesse  Green,  presiding  elder  and  circuit 
preacher;  Read  Coleburn,  Forsythe  Thatcher,  R.  B.  Ashby  (presid- 
ing), William  Caples,  William  Sutton,  A.  Monroe,  J.  Elder  Eads. 
The  membership  now  numbers  about  80. 

Renick  Union  Church.  —  This  house  of  worship  was  built  jointly 
by  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  Christian  and  Missionary  Baptist,  at  a 
cost  of  $3,000,  each  denomination  contributing  the  sum  of  $1,000 
towards  its  erection.  It  is  situated  in  the  town  of  Renick.  Amona^ 
the  names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Methodist  congregation  are 
found  those  of  Stephen  Brockman  and  wife,  Thomas  Brockman,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Spurlin,  Thomas  Price,  wife  and  daughter,  Elizabeth  Pyles, 
E.  D.  J.  Brockman,  S.  W.  Hubbard,  Jane  Hubbard,  and  Rev.  Wesley 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  353 

Hatton  and  family  —  Jane,  Reuben  and  David.     The  first  pastor  of 
this  congregation  was  Rev.  Collett,  followed  by  Revs.  Taylor,  W.  N. 
Sutton  and  Thomas  B.  Moss.     About  50  persons  constitute  the  mem- 
bership at  present. 

Some  of  the  primary  members  connected  with  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination were  William  Butler,  W.  F.  Elliott  and  G.  O.  Powell  and 
wife.     Rev.  Beauchamp  was  the  first  to  preach  for  the  congregation. 

An  organization  of  the  Christian  Church  was  effected  about  the  year 
1860,  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Anderson,  at  which  time  S.  N.  Pyle  and  wife,  An- 
tony Foster,  S.  S.  Elliott  and  wife,  M.  M.  Burton  and  wife,  T.  C. 
Walker  and  wife,  Mrs.  Jules  Chilton  and  Daniel  Bruce  and  wife  com- 
posed the  first  members.  Now  the  membership  is  70.  Revs.  Wilmott, 
Donan  and  C.  P.  HoUis  have  been  their  pastors. 

This  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1876,  at  a  cost  (as  above 
stated)  of  $3,000.  The  same  year  it  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  John  D. 
Vincil.  A  Sabbath-school  containing  about  40  scholars  was  started 
in  1870,  and  is  now  superintended  by  J.  A.  Mitchell.  It  is  a  strong 
pillar  of  the  church. 

Chapel  Grove  Church  —  Which  is  located  on  the  southern  part  of 
section  26,  township  52,  range  13,  was  formed  into  an  organization 
about  the  year  1869,  by  William  B.  Cross  and  wife,  J.  B.  Green  and 
wife,  Samuel  Lyons  and  wife,  George  W.  Ferguson  and  wife,  G.  W. 
Hubbard  and  wife,  Mrs.  Stockton  and  Albert  Smith  and  wife,  who 
were  the  charter  members.  Rev.  William  Wood  first  filled  the  pulpit 
of  the  church,  after  him  coming  Revs.  DeMoss,  John  Shores,  J.  F. 
Rooker,  William  Sutton,  William  Warren,  A.  Spencer  and  R.  F. 
Beavers.  In  1871  the  present  building,  in  which  services  are  held  — 
a  frame,  32x42  feet  —  was  completed  and  is  valued  at  $1,200.  The 
number  in  the  church  at  this  time  is  55. 

Enon  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  —  In  1872  William  Moberlyand 
wife,  William  Bartee  and  wife,  Cephus  Nichols  and  wife,  Jesse  Burton, 
wife  and  son,  Oscar  Paul  De  Garino,  Mrs.  Isaac  Stipe,  and  possibly 
others,  met  and  formed  the  above  named  church.  That  year,  or 
during  the  following  one,  a  church  building  was  erected  on  section  2, 
township  53,  range  13,  and  cost  in  the  vicinity  of  $600.  It  is  a 
frame  structure,  and  in  the  fall  of  1873  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  W.  L. 
T.  Evans,  who  was  the  first  shepherd  of  this  little  flock.  William 
Woods,  John  R.  Terrell  and  Rev.  Evans,  the  present  pastor,  succeeded 
the  first  mentioned.     The  number  of  the  present  membership  is  40. 

Mt.   Carmel  Church  —  Was  organized  August  31,  1873,  by  Rev. 
J.  B.  Mitchell,  with  five  elders,  Henry  T.  Johnson,  James  M.  Holman, 


354 


HISTORY    OF    KANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


William  D.  Harlan,  Thomas  J.  Sherran,  Paul  Teeter.  Two  deacons 
were  ordained  in  August,  1874 ;  George  W.  Harlan  and  George  W. 
Clardj.  Thomas  J.  Sherran  ceased  to  act  in  1880  as  elder,  and  James 
M.  McGoodwin  and  James  K.  Harlan  were  elected  elders  March  6, 
1881.  George  W.  Chirdy  ceased  to  act  as  deacon  in  1879,  and  Oscar 
C.  Bedel  was  elected  to  fill  his  place.  George  W.  Harlan  and  Oscar 
C.  Bedel  discontinued  their  services  as  deacons  in  1882,  and  I.  N. 
Harlan  and  William  T.  Farris  were  elected  in  their  stead.  The 
church  was  organized  with  85  members,  —  Henry  T.  Johnson, 
James  M.  Holman,  William  D.  Harlan,  Thomas  J.  Sherran,  Paul 
Teeter,  Elizabeth  N.  Johnson,  M.  L.  Johnson,  James  T.  Day,  G.  J. 
Dressier,  J.  A.  McGuire,  J.  S.  Harlan,  J.  D.  Gregory,  M.  C.  Adams, 
S.  L.  Harlan,  M.  L.  Summers,  J.  H.  Frazier,  G.  W.  Clardy,  Wm.  H. 
Mofi'ett,  Hugh  Eagan,  Ella  Eagan,iV[.  R.  Kirkpatrick,  G.  W.  Harlan, 
W.  B.  Morris,  M.  E.  Morris,  I.  N.  Harlan,  Samuel  McGuire,  Joseph 
Roygere,  O.  C.  Redd,  S.  F.  Gregory,  M.  J.  Eagan,  J.  S.  Combs, 
Martha  Combs,  M.  S.  Harlan,  Dora  Doaks,  R.  S.  Holman,  J.  W. 
Gray,  M.  L.  Clardy,  M.  C.  Barnes,  H.  Burton,  S.  A.  Burton,  L.  S. 
Dressier,  G.  W.  Harlan,  W.  McDaniel,  A.  E.  McDaniel,  G.  Darr, 
Samuel  Epperly,  Mary  Epperly,  M.  A.  Epperly,  Thomas  McCully, 
M.  E.  Clardy,  N.  F.  Power,  S.  C.  Power,  J.  W.  Vreeman,  S.  F. 
McCully,  G.  P.  Epperly,  Felise  Day,  Nancy  Day,  M.  L.  Holman,  J. 
S.  Barnes,  S.  T.  Barnes,  Harriet  Darr,  W.  H.  Eagan,  G.  J.  Eagan, 
W.  T.  Dameron,  H.  A.  Epard,  C.  B.  Day,  James  H.  Rogers,  J.  L. 
Powers,  M.  F.  Burton,  M.  H.  Tinsley,  J.  W.  Harlan,  John  Roger,  Eliza 
Roger,  C.  F.  Harlan,  Isaac  S.  Harlan,  J.  W.  Turner,  M.  L.  Rogers,  L. 
A.  Teeter,  S.  M.  Harlan,  W.  D.  Johnson,  Fanny  McGuire,  Biney  Mc- 
Guire, S.  J.  Harlan,  R.  J.  Moffett  and  D.  E.  Frazier.  At  the  present 
date  170  persons  constitute  the  membership.  The  church  house  was 
built  in  1876  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  Rev.  James  Dysart  is  the  present 
pastor. 

Vlifton  Bill  Church  — Was  originally  known  as  "  Dark's  Prairie  " 
Church  (thus  called  at  organization),  and  held  its  first  meetings  one 
mile  north  of  Clifton  until  the  new  house  of  worship  was  completed 
in  1868,  when  it  was  moved  to  that  structure,  and  shortly  thereafter 
the  name  was  changed  to  the  present  form.  This  latter  building  is 
valued  at  $1,200,  and  was  dedicated  to  God's  service  in  the  fall  of 
1868  by  Noah  Flood.  Rev.  S.  Y.  Pitts  was  called  as  pastor  when  the 
church  was  started,  and  has  since  served  in  this  capacity.  The  organ- 
izing members  of  the  society  were  H.  Stamper,  Sarah  Stamper,  D.  J. 
Stamper,  Mary  A.  Stamper,  Isaac  Sanders,  Phebe  Sanders,  Jonathan 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  355 

Sanders,  Frances  Sanders,  Indiana  Sanders,  Kile}^  Sanders,  David 
Clifton,  and  another  person  named  Sanders,  whose  Christian  name  we 
were  unable  to  learn.     There  are  now  in  the  church  168  members. 

Silver  Creek  Baptist    Church  —  Effected  an   organization  on    the 
third  Saturday  of  August,  1819,  the  originators  being  Elders  Thorp 
and  Hubbard.     The   names  of  those  comprising  the  first  membership 
we  were  unable  to  obtain,  as  they  are  not  specified  on  the  record.     In 
1833  a  log  house  for  worship  was  built.     The  church  became  sepa- 
rated upon  the  missionary  question  and  subsequently  was  reorganized, 
their  first  meeting  being  held  the  fourth  Saturday  of  November,  1835, 
when  Thomas  Fristoe  was  made  pastor  and  Isaiah  Humphreys  deacon, 
with  William  Cavins  as  clerk.     In  1860  the  building  in  which  services 
are  now  held  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.     It  is  a  frame  structure, 
and  was  dedicated  by  Elder  M.  J.  Sears,  anti-Missionary,  and  Elder 
Noah  Flood  of  the  Eegular  Baptist  Church.     The  names  of  the  pastors 
who  have  served  the  church  are  as  follows  :     Thomas  Fristoe,  from 
1835  to  March,  1839  ;  Wm.  Mansfield,  1839-1845  ;  Jesse  Ferril,  1846  ; 
John  Roan,  1847-1852  ;  Jesse  Ferril,  again,  1853-1858  ;  F.  M.  Stark, 
1858-1863  ;  William  C.   Woods  in   1863  ;  S.  Y.  Pitts,  April,  1864, 
March,  1867  ;  Lewis  Sears,  1867-1869  ;  F.  M.  Stark  from  February, 
1869,  to  February,  1870  ;  J.  W.  Terril  accepted  the  care  of  the  church 
as  pastor  in  June,    1870,   and   resigned  in  November,  1871  ;  F.  M. 
Stark,  December,  1871,  September,  1876;  W.   Kilbuck   was  elected 
pastor  October,  1876,  and  continued  to  April,  1878  ;  F.  M.  Stark  was 
again  elected  in   May,  1878,  for  12  months;  J.  W.  Terril,  October, 
1879,  resigned  in  February,  1881 ;  Elder  Stark  was  then   elected  in 
xMarch   of  the  same  year,  and  is  pastor  at  this  time  (April,  1884). 
The  records  show  that  200  persons  have  been  members  of  this  church, 
52  of  whom  are  known  to  be  dead,  and  most  of  these  died  while  con- 
nected with  this  cono-reo-ation  ;  13  have  been  excluded  from  the  fellow- 
ship  of  the  church,  and  the  remainder,  except  the  40  who  now  compose 
the  organization,  have  been  dismissed  by  letter  to  join  other  churches 
of  a  like  faith  and  order. 

Mount  Vernon  Missionary  Baptist  Church. — This  church  now  has 
a  membership  of  75,  but  at  the  organization,  in  1858,  had  only  nine 
members,  as  follows  :  John  S.  Kimbrough  and  wife,  F.  B.  Hubbard 
and  wife,  Mary  Y.  Settle,  J.  G.  Settle  and  wife  and  Simeon  Styles 
and  wife.  At  an  expenditure  of  $1,200,  a  fine,  well-finished  structure, 
in  which  services  are  now  held,  was  built  in  the  fall  of  1881.  It  is  of 
frame,  28x42,  and  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Houtchin,  Benjamin 
Gentry  and  P.  T.  Gentry.     The  latter  gentleman  was  the  first  pastor 


356  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  the  church,  and  served  as  such  for  a  number  of  3'ears,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  W.  L.  T.  Evans,  W.  W.  Kilbuck  and  Daniel  R.  Evans, 
the  present  minister  in  charge. 

Good  Hoj^e  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  —  In  a  good,  substantial 
log  house  —  which  was  built  by  the  members,  and  money  to  the 
amomit  of  $50  —  services  of  this  body  are  now  held  once  a  month. 
Though  not  a  building  of  any  very  great  external  beauty,  within  a 
spirit  of  unity,  peace  and  concord  prevails  among  the  members  —  a 
beauty,  though  not  so  apparent,  of  far  more  value.  The  organization 
was  effected  in  1871,  with  Hugh  Jackson  and  wife.  Rev.  J.  M.  Byram 
and  wife,  Samuel  Jackson,  John  H.  Roberts  and  wife,  Sarah  Hargis, 
and  Mrs.  Naler.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1872  and  was 
dedicated  by  Revs.  J.  M.  Byram,  Woods  and  others.  The  pastors 
have  been :  Revs.  J.  M.  Byram,  W.  W.  Kilbuck,  Jackson  Harris,  Ed- 
ward Silver  and  William  Brown.  Rev.  Jackson  Harris  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

Pleasant  Hill  Regular  Baptist  Church  —  Is  located  on  section  8,  town- 
ship 54,  range  14  ( Salt  Spring  township).  In  1865-66  this  church  edi- 
fice, for  the  purposes  of  worship,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,000. 
In  dimensions  it  is  36x40  feet.  At  the  organization  of  the  church,  in 
May,  1866  (organized  by  Rev.  M.  S.  Sears),  the  following  persons 
were  present  and  their  names  placed  upon  the  records  :  Leonard  Dott- 
son  and  wife,  Mrs.  Margaret  Goodding,  R.  R.  Goodding  and  wife, 
Nancy  Hall  and  sister,  Peyton  Hall,  Mrs.  Mason,  S.  G.  Phipps  and 
wife,  J.  R.  Phipps  and  wife,  William  Rodgers  and  wife  and  James 
Brock,  wife  and  mother.  At  this  time  the  membership  numbers 
nearly  40.  Revs.  M.  J.  Sears,  Benjamin  Owen,  P.  M.  Sears  and 
James  K.  Carter  have  filled  the  pulpit  of  the  society.  The  latter  is 
the  present  pastor.  The  Missionary  Baptists  have  a  half  interest  in 
the  church,  which  was  deeded  to  them  in  the  fall  of  1883,  but  they 
have  held  services  there  for  some  14  years.  Their  ministers  have 
been  W.  L.  T.  Evans,  S.  Y.  Pitts  and  G.  B.  Clifton.  They  have  61 
members  in  their  organization. 

Highee  Christian  Church. — The  original  organization  of  this  body 
took  place  near  the  year  1845  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Higbee, 
and  was  known  as  the  Dover  Church.  From  continued  usage,  and 
after  withstanding  the  storms  of  many  winters,  the  church  structure 
about  rotted,  and  a  new  edifice  was  erected  one  mile  west  of  Higbee, 
in  which  services  were  held  until  the  formation  of  the  present  church 
at  HiMDee  in  the  summer  of  1880.  Some  of  the  members  at  the  re- 
oriranization  were :  M.   M.  Burton,  wife,  two  sons   and   an  adopted 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  357 

daughter  ;  J.  W.  Burton,  wife,  and  two  sons  ;  S.  Lessly,  wife,  mother 
and  one  son  ;  W.  L.  Eeynolds,  John  W.  Newby,  John  Blackford,  Sarah 
Blackford,  Eleven  Dawkins  and  wife,  Ann  Dysart,  Mary  8.  Dysart, 
Alice  Yates,  Fannie  Yates  and  Joel  Yates.  Their  present  house  of  wor- 
ship is  a  frame  building,  36x56,  erected  at  an  expense  of  $1,900.  It 
was  dedicated  by  Eev.  Joel  A.  Headington  and  Rev.  C.  P.  Hollis. 
The  former  was  the  first  pastor,  and  since  then  Rev.  Headington  has 
ministered  to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  the  congregation.  There  are 
75  members,  and  'services  are  held  there  times  a  month.  The  Sab- 
bath-school, with  a  regular  attendance  of  50  pupils,  is  superintended 
by  S.  Lessly. 

Salem  Christian  Church. — In  the  summer  of  1873  this  church 
completed  a  house  of  worship,  30x34  feet,  with  14  feet  of  studding  — 
property  now  valued  at  about  $600.  It  is  a  frame  building,  and  is 
located  on  section  2,  township  53,  range  13.  The  formation  of  the 
church  took  place  in  1872,  when  Jason  Moberly  and  wife,  T.  J. 
Nichols  and  wife,  J.  Quisenberry  and  wife,  C.  B.  Quisenberry 
and  wife,  William  Love  and  wife,  and  John  Reid  and  wife  con- 
stituted the  regular  members.  There  are  now  about  60  commu- 
nicants. Among  those  who  have  served  as  pastors  are  Revs.  William 
Blackburn,  P.  C.  Hollis,  John  McCune,  R.  H,  Love,  after  whom 
came  J.  C.  Reynolds,  then  George  Dew,  and,  finally,  William  Hen- 
derson.    It  is  now  in  a  most  flourishing  condition. 

Antioch  Christian  Church.  —  On  the  first  Lord's  Day  in  July,  1837, 
this  church  was  constituted  as  such,  and  among  the  early  members  we 
find  the  following  named  well  known  persons  the  first  11  were  con- 
stituent members  :  Roland  T.  Proctor  and  wife,  Diana  D.  ;  Benjamin 
Haley  and  wife,  Eliza  ;  James  Heathman  and  wife,  Elizabeth  ;  James 
Adams  and  Caroline,  his  wife  ;  Joseph  C.  and  Eliza  Drake  ;  James 
Beatty,  Jacob  Roman,  William  Haley  and  wife,  Belinda;  Henry  R. 
Haley,  Joseph  W.  Helm,  Thomas  P.  Coates  and  wife,  Frances;  Nor- 
burn  Coates,  David  Myers  and  Mary,  his  wife  ;  Henry  and  Judith 
Myers,  Henry  H.  Newton,  Henry  Grimes,  James  G.  Dunn,  Ambrose 
Haley  and  wife,  Cassandra  ;  Isaac  Foster,  Peter  Matthews  and  wife, 
Ettaline;  Asa  C.  Proctor,  Ardeline  Chapman  and  Cynthia,  his  wife; 
Thomas  Wilson,  Nathaniel  Welch,  Alexander  Proctor,  Dabney 
Haggard,  William  Myers  and  wife,  Christina;  William  Newton, 
Elisha  Sherwood  and  wife,  Frances,  and  Clement  and  Amy  Jeter.  The 
first  church  building,  which  was  of  logs,  was  constructed  in  1837,  and 
in"  1860  their  present  frame  structure  was  completed.  Elders  Wilmot, 
James  A.  Berry,  William  H.  Featherston,  Peter  Donan,  George  E. 


358  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Shanklin  and  George  A.  Perkins  have  filled  the  pulpit,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  occupying  it  at  this  date.  He  has  under  his  control  77  mem- 
bers. Many  ministers  of  the  Christian  denomination  have  become 
famous  in  this  State,  and  among  them  might  be  mentioned  Alexander 
Proctor,  Thomas  P.  Haley,  Henry  H.  Haley  (now  deceased),  Will- 
iam H.  Featherston  and  E.  J.  Lampton  of  the  Antioch  Church. 
Their  popular  reputation  has  been  deservedly  won. 

Mount  Hope  Cumbeiiand  Presbyterian  Church. — The  edifice  of 
this  denomination,  which  is  located  on  section  29,  township  54,  range 
14  (Salt  Spring  township),  was  constructed  in  1874,  and  is  24x42 
feet  in  dimensions,  its  valuation  being  about  $600.  The  society 
formed  itself  into  an  organization  and  became  known  by  the  above 
name  in  the  spring  of  1874,  Rev.  W.  F.  Manning  being  the  originator. 
The  constituent  members  were  J.  S.  Jenkins  and  wife,  Margaret 
Evans,  Mary  A.  Walker,  A.  T.  Chapman,  M.  J.  Hardesty,  J.  J. 
Adams,  Ann  A.  demons,  Susan  E.  demons,  W.  A.  and  Mary  L. 
Cunningham,  Alexander  and  Sabra  Frazier,  Eliza  J.  Shaw,  Thomas 
and  Sarah  A.  Hardesty,  D.  A.  Shaw,  D.  S.  and  Janette  Payne,  John 
A.  Adams,  Roxanna  Turner,  Fannie  E.  Jenkins,  Jennie  A.  Adams, 
Mary  J.  Overby,  Arthur  Jenkins,  May  F.  Gentry,  Barbara  E.  Riley, 
Mary  F.  Sperry,  Selmon  Frazier,  Mary  E.  Payne,  Lenora  Adams,  J. 
H.  Hardesty,  George  Gentry,  Josephus  Hardesty,  W.  J.  Evans,  Mary 
C.  Riley  and  Joan  Chapman.  Their  first  pastor  was  Levi  Hanes,  fol- 
lowed by  Revs.  A.  M.  Buchanan,  George  Wittingham  and  J,  Lewis 
Route. 

Sugar  Creeh  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. — The  first  build- 
ins:  of  this  cono-reojation  was  erected  in  1840  —  a  structure  26  x  46  feet. 
The  present  house  of  worshi]3  is  the  third  one  put  up  upon  the  same 
site.  This  is  on  section  26  of  Sugar  Creek  township,  about  two  miles 
north-west  from  Moberly.  The  church  was  formed  under  the  present 
name  in  1834  by  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Davis,  who  was  the  earnest  and 
loved  pastor  for  18  years.  The  members  at  the  organization  were  John 
Tedford  and  wife,  D.  Tedford,  Andrew  and  Margaret  Hannah,  Lu- 
cinda  Hannah,  and  James  and  Jennie  Cunningham.  Rev.  Lewis  Routt 
is  the  present  pastor  in  charge. 

M.  E.  Church  South  —  Located  at  Cairo,  through  the  efforts 
largely  of  Rev.  C.  Babcock  was  constituted  as  a  church  organization 
in  1868,  John  Hoag  and  wife,  William  Moody  and  wife.  Walker 
Wright  and  wife,  Harriet  Johnson,  Sarah  Smith,  Mrs.  Shaw  and  Mrs. 
Lampton  being  the  original  members.  A  frame  house  of  worship,  in 
which  services   are  now  held,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,400  in  1873, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  359 

and  was  dedicated  the  same  year  by  Dr.  W.  G.  Miller.  There  are 
now  68  persons  in  the  church.  The  following  named  pastors  have 
served  as  such  in  this  congregation:  Kevs.  C.  Babcock,  L.  Rush, 
David  Blackwell,  J.  S.  Todd,  Walter  Toole,  James  Taylor,  L.  Bald- 
win, Walter  Toole,  L.  Brewer,  J.  C.  Carney,  George  W.  Quinby, 
and  lastly  the  present  incumbent,  J.  S.  Todd. 

Meals  Chapely  M.  E.  Uhurch  /South. — The  organization  of  this 
church  was  consummated  by  Rev.  C.  W.  CoUett,  in  1867,  with  M.  and 
J.  Moberly  and  wives,  J,  P.  Meals  and  wife,  William  Grimes,  George 
H.  Cottingham  and  wife,  William  Westfall  and  wife,  Eli  Eastwood 
and  wife,  Mrs.  John  Mills,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Meals,  Mrs.  Susan  Grimes  and 
Mrs.  Hulda  Meals  as  constituting  the  primitive  members.  Since  then 
the  membership  has  increased  to  42.  The  following  ministers  have 
been  the  pastors  of  the  church  since  its  start;  C.  W.  Collett,  Rev. 
J.  R.  Taylor,  H.  W.  James,  William  Toole,  Rev.  Baldwin,  W.  M. 
Sutton,  J.  S.  Rooker,  Joseph  Rowe  and  Robert  Loving.  The  build- 
ing in  which  worship  is  conducted  was  erected  in  1867.  In  size  it  is 
36x40,  and  is  valued  at  about  $800. 

^620  Hope  M.  U.  Church  South. — In  the  summer  of  1881  the 
church  edifice  now  occupied  by  this  congregation  was  built  at  an  ex- 
penditure of  $1,200.  It  is  a  frame  structure,  30x15  feet,  and  was 
dedicated  the  same  year,  after  which,  in  the  fall  of  1881,  an  organiza- 
tion was  affected,  the  original  members  being  G.  H.  Cottingham  and 
wife,  S.  D.  Lyons,  wife  and  two  daughters,  John  J.  Matthews  and 
wife,  S.  Robertson  and  J.  T.  S.  Gates  and  wife.  Revs.  William  War 
ren,  Spencer  and  R.  Beaver  have  been  its  ministers.  Services  are 
conducted  by  the  Methodist  denomination  in  this  house  once  a  month, 
and  the  Christians  and  Baptists  also  hold  meetings  each  once  a  month. 
18 


CHAPTEE    XYIIL 

Death  of  Jas.  A.  Garfield  —  Death  of  C.  Wisdom  —  Death  of  Capt.  Lowry  —  Death 
of  Capt.  Coates  —  Judge  Thomas  P.  White  —  Sudden. Death  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Oliver  — 
Death  of  au  Old  and  Estimable  Lady  —  Tornado — Tornado  of  1831 — Randolph 
Medical  Springs  —  Official  Record  —  Politics  —  Taxable  Wealth. 

DEATH    OF     JAMES    A.    GARFIELD,    PRESIDENT     OF     THE     UNITED    STATES. 

[From  the  Herald.] 

Monday,  September  26,  1881,  was  indeed  an  impressively  sad  day 
in  Huntsville.  Our  citizens  with  great  unanimity  seemed  to  appreciate 
fully  and  deeply  the  awful  fact  that  on  this  memorable  day,  in  the  far 
off  State  of  Ohio,  would  be  laid  to  rest  for  ever  in  the  cold  embrace  of 
mother  Earth,  all  that  was  mortal  of  James  Abram  Garfield,  our  late 
honored  chief  magistrate,  who  was  stricken  down  in  the  prime  of  his 
life,  in  the  zenith  of  his  high  renown  and  in  the  hour  of  his  greatest 
usefulness,  without  warning  and  without  cause,  by  a  red-handed 
assassin.  This  horrible  and  humiliating  fact  cast  a  deep,  settled 
gloom  over  our  entire  community,  and  each  face  wore  an  expression 
of  sadness,  such  as  could  only  have  been  produced  from  heartfelt 
grief.  Then  it  was  meet  and  proper  that  our  people  should  take  such 
steps  as  would  show  to  the  outside  world  how  keenly  they  felt  the 
great  calamity  with  which  we  have  been  afflicted  ;  to  show  in  what 
high  esteem  we  held  the  illustrious  dead  while  living,  and  to  give  an 
honest  expression  of  sympathy  for  the  bereaved,  aged  mother,  who, 
standing  as  she  is  almost  upon  the  brink  of  the  grave,  has  had  the  last 
tender  tie  which  bound  her  so  firmly  to  earth  ruthlessly  severed ;  for 
the  pure,  amiable  wife,  who  showed  so  plainly  her  true  womanhood 
by  her  admirable  and  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  wifely  duty,  and  for 
the  five  orphaned  children,  who  are  deprived  in  earl}^  youth  of  their 
natural  and  alfectionate  guardian.  To  this  end  all  business  was 
suspended  for  the  day  ;  the  churches,  public  buildings,  business 
houses,  and  a  large  number  of  private  residences  were  tastefully 
draped  in  mourning,  and  at  two  o'clock  p.  m.,  union  memorial 
services  were  held  at  the  Christian  Church. 

At  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  bells  of  the  city  commenced  to  toll. 
Each  stroke  seemed  to  add  additional  depression  to  the  poignant 
sorrow  of  every  heart,  and  the  deep  quiet  which  prevailed  throughout 
the  day  told  plainer  than  words  could  express  it  that  our  people  were 
sorely  grieved  over  what  they  conscientiously  believed  to  be  a  great 
national  calamity.  Ten  minutes  before  two  o'clock,  the  Masons  and 
Odd  Fellows  formed  in  front  of  their  respective  lodges,  and,  headed 
b}'  Beedles  &  Prindle's  excellent  brass  band,  marched  in  procession  to 

(360) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  361 

the  strains  of  solemn  music  to  the  Christian  Church,  and  filed  in, 
occupying  front  seats  therein.  The  church  was  densely  crowded,  and 
a  great  many  were  compelled  to  remain  on  the  outside. 

At  two  o'clock  sharp,  the  choir,  lead  by  Mrs.  Wisdom,  sang  in  an 
aftecting  tone  of  voice  the  beautiful  hymn,  "Vital  Spark,"  after 
which  President  Weber  offered  up  a  fervent  prayer.  The  old,  familiar 
hymn,  "God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way  His  wonders  to  perform," 
was  then  read  by  Rev.  W.  T.  Ellington  and  sung  with  feeling  by  the 
choir. 

President  Weber  next  read  in  a  clear,  full  voice  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolutions  presented  by  the  committee  appointed  fo^i-  that 
purpose  :  — 

Whereas,  The  citizens  of  Huntsville  aud  vicinity  feeling:,  with  all  other  sections  of 
the  country,  the  great  loss  to  the  nation  in  the  death  of  James  A.  Garfield,  President 
of  the  United  States ;  and 

Whereas,  On  this  day  of  his  interment,  while  memorial  services  are  being  held 
here,  and  not  only  in  every  city  and  hamlet  on  the  American  continent,  but  also  in 
most  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  we  deem  it  proper  and  right  to  express  the 
sentiment  of  the  people  of  Huntsville  this  day  assembled  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  departed  ;  therefore 

liesolvecl,  That  without  regard  to  party  or  sect,  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  James 
A.  Garfleld,  late  President  of  the  United  States,  was  received  with  great  sorrow  by 
this  entire  community,  and  while  thus  expressing  the  most  profound  admiration,  not 
only  for  his  just  and  able  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  nation,  as  indicated  in 
his  brief  career,  but  also  of  his  heroic  courage,  fortitude  and  Christian  patience 
exhibited  during  his  protiacted  suffering,  we  must  also  utter  our  detestation  of  the 
monster  in  human  form  who  thus,  by  his  infamous  deed,  deprived  the  nation  of  its 
honored  and  well-beloved  chief. 

Eesolved,  That  our  warmest  sympathies  and  tenderest  regards  are  hereby  tendered 
to  the  heroic.  Christian  wife,  and  aged  Christian  mother  and  to  his  orphaned  children, 
in  their  hour  of  great  affliction  and  in  their  irreparable  loss  of  son,  husband  and  father. 

The  resolutions  were  heartily  adopted,  and  President  Weber  then 
read  appropriate  passages  of  Scripture  from  the  books  of  Second 
Kings,  Isaiah  and  James,  after  which  the  consoling  hymn,  "  Asleep  in 
Jesus,  Blessed  Sleep,"  was  read  with  confidence  by  Rev.  Mr.  Elling- 
ton and  sung  with  earnestness  by  the  choir.  As  soon  as  the  sweet, 
assuring  strains  of  the  Christian  music  had  been  l)orne  away  on  the 
peaceful  bosom  of  the  atmosphere,  to  be  taken  up  and  wafted  on  by 
angel  voices  to  the  foot  of  the  Great  White  Throne,  on  which  is  seated 
the  King  of  Kings,  Mr.  Ellington  came  forward,  and  in  his  most 
eloquent  and  impressive  manner  delivered  the  following  able  memorial 
sermon,  which  was  listened  to  with  marked  interest  tlirouo-hout,  and 
which  was  requested  to  be  published  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the 
meeting. 

SERMON. 

Text :  "  Howl,  fir-tree  ;  for  the  cedar  is  fallen."  — Zechariah,  11th 
chapter,  first  clause  of  second  verse. 

To-day  the  nation  sits  solitary.  To-day  the  wail  of  sadness  and 
grief  casts  its  gloom  over  all  the  States  and  Territories  of  the  broad 
Union,  and  the  world  sends  messages  of  sympathy  and  condolence  — 


362  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  chief  magistrate,   the  President   of  the  United  States,  is   dead. 
"  Howl,  fir-tree  ;  the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 

"  God  only  is  great."  Such  was  the  concise  but  triumphant  ex- 
pression with  which  Massillon,  the  distinguished  religious  orator,  com- 
menced his  discourse  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Louis  XIV. 

Never  was  a  more  correct  sentiment  uttered  by  human  lips.  And 
never  was  there  a  more  appropriate  occasion  for  its  utterance,  unless 
it  is  on  the  present  occasion.  Who  would  dare  appropriate  the  epi- 
thet "  great  "  to  himself,  when  he  who  had  received  it  from  a  nation's 
voice  for  half  a  century  had  fallen  at  the  very  slightest  touch  of  Prov- 
idence—  the  crown  removed  from  his  temples,  the  scepter  wrested 
from  his  hands,  and  his  form  changed  to  dust  and  ashes?  That,  cer- 
tainly, as  well  as  the  present,  was  a  suitable  time  for  the  minister  of 
God,  whose  business  it  is  to  measure  the  human  by  the  Divine,  and  to 
adjust  the  temporal  to  the  Eternal,  to  detach  an  epithet  which  has  so 
often  been  wrongly  placed,  from  its  human,  and  append  it  to  God  alone. 

The  utterance  of  this  important  sentiment  stands  approved  by  phi- 
losophy as  well  as  by  theology,  by  the  decisions  of  human  reason  as 
well  as  by  inspiration.  It  is  a  sentiment  which  commends  itself,  not 
only  deductively,  but  almost  to  man's  intuitive  perceptions,  that  there 
is,  and  can  be,  but  one  absolute  greatness.  All  other  greatness,  if  it 
be  possible  there  can  be  any  other  greatness,  is  greatness  by  compari- 
son. It  is  the  greatness  of  finite  estimated  by  the  finite,  of  the  de- 
structible weighed  in  the  balance  of  the  destructible  ;  the  greatness  of 
angel  measured  by  angel,  of  man  measured  by  man  ;  but  it  is  not  and 
can  not  be  the  greatness  of  God.  The  greatness  of  God  differs  from 
all  other  in  that  it  is  greatness  absolute. 

Man  is  great  only  by  comparison.  In  this  sense  the  epithet  "  great  " 
stands  indissolubly  connected  with  the  name,  and  is  most  justly  worn 
by  the  deceased  President  of  the  United  States,  James  A.  Garfield, 
whose  sad  and  most  unfortunate  death  we  this  day  commemorate. 
*'  Howl,  fir-tree  ;  for  the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 

Howl,  all  ye  smaller  trees  of  the  forest  that  receive  support  and 
protection  from  the  overtowering,  matchless  cedar  ;  howl,  for  the  cedar 
is  fallen  ! 

To-day  there  is  no  North,  no  South,  no  East,  no  West.  Each  State 
vies  to  do  honor  to  our  fallen  chief.  The  thousands  of  pulpits,  busi- 
ness houses,  family  residences,  from  the  humble  cabin  to  the  mansion, 
clad  in  mourning.  Ah  !  a  nation  flooded  in  tears  attest  a  nation's 
grief,  a  nation's  love-appreciation.  "  Howl,  fir-tree  ;  for  the  cedar  is 
fallen!" 

This  grand  Union  of  States  stands  united  to-day  as,  perhaps,  never 
before  ;  and,  brief  as  was  his  career  in  official  stations,  no  man,  liv- 
ing or  dead,  has  done  more  to  bring  out,  to  strengthen,  to  close  up, 
and  to  make  forever  indissoluble  the  bonds  of  this  Union,  than  James 
A.  Garfield.  May  I  not  say  he  has  forever  sealed  these  bonds  with 
his  blood;  and  let  all  the  people  say,  Amen.  "  Howl,  fir-tree  ;  for 
the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  363 

But  the  nation  not  only  sits  to-day  in  sorrow  and  sadness,  but  also 
in  deep  humiliation.  Sad  thought!  Had  our  beloved  President 
fallen  by  the  usual  order  of  sickness,  sorrow  alone  would  sadden  the 
heart.  But  feelings  of  deep  humiliation  miugle  with  the  sorrow  of 
every  American  citizen.  The  President  of  the  happiest,  the  freest, 
the  most  inviting  to  respectability,  usefulness  and  honor  of  au}'^  coun- 
try upon  which  the  sun  rises  ;  in  the  time  of  universal  peace,  prosper- 
ity and  happiness,  falls  by  the  red  hand  of  the  assassin.  Just  as  the 
hopes  of  the  whole  country  were  raised  to  a  state  of  unprecedented 
rejoicing  over  the  undoubted  prospect  of  an  unprejudiced,  impartial 
administration,  that  would  continue  or  give  even  greater  prosperity 
and  happiness  to  the  country,  and  that  would  give  satisfaction  to  and 
be  the  admiration  of  all  parties,  sects  and  sections,  the  unrelenting 
assassin  steps  in  with  his  bloody  ax,  and  the  tall,  sturdy,  overshadow- 
iug  cedar,  around  which  centered  the  hopes  of  fifty  millions  of  human 
beings,  after  weeks  of  the  most  persistent  resistance  to  death's  dark 
pall,  trembles,  bends,  falls,  and  now  lies  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  a 
weeping,  humiliated  nation.  "Howl,  fir-tree;  for  the  cedar  is 
fallen!" 

I  think  it  proper,  and  know  you  will  indulge  me  in  making  a  few 
extracts  of  Southern  sentiment.  They  come  from  Georgia,  and  are 
full  of  thrilling  interest,  —  a  section  of  the  country  not  thought  to  be 
always  in  sympathy  with  the  government  at  Washington  :  — 

"  With  anguish  we  announce  that  the  worst  fears  have  been  con- 
firmed, and  James  A.  Garfield,  President  of  the  United  States,  is 
dead.  By  the  hand  of  a  fanatic  of  most  desperate  surroundings, 
whom  it  would  be  a  stretch  of  charity  to  call  a  madman,  this  great 
and  good  President,  this  fond  husband  and  loving  father,  this  noble 
gentleman,  has  been  slain.  Strange  that  the  bullets  of  brave  foemen 
should  have,  in  fair  fight,  spared  him  for  such  a  fate.  Sad,  in- 
deed, is  it  that  such  a  glorious  being,  so  useful,  so  powerful,  so  manly, 
so  excellent,  should  become  the  victim  of  so  vile  a  wretch.  To  God 
we  leave  vindication  and  the  ends  of  justice.  The  heart  of  the  South 
bleeds  for  the  stricken  mother,  wife  and  children. 

'*  Upon  his  dead  body  we  lay  an  immortelle,  a  wreath  of  trust, 
sorrow  and  regret.  Innocent  of  the  assassination  of  Garfield,  the 
South,  fearless  of  the  future  and  forgetful  of  the  past,  stands  tear- 
fully beside  the  relics  of  the  President  and  prays  that  the  storm-tossed 
spirit  shall  have  the  rest  of  the  righteous  and  a  sanctuary  in  that 
eternal  haven  where,  lulled  to  slumber,  grief  forgets  to  mourn." 

Georgia,  grand  old  Georgia,  of  the  immortal  thirteen,  speaks  for 
the  whole  South.  Who  does  not  rejoice  at  such  sentiments  coming  up 
from  the  land  of  chivalry  and  manhood.  The  South  is  solid  once  more. 
Solid,  thank  God,  in  sympathy  and  affection  for  the  President,  his 
family  and  friends,  and  in  common  grief  with  a  sorrowing,  bleeding 
nation.  Then  from  the  North  and  from  the  South,  from  the  East  and 
from  the  West,  we  this  day  hear,  in  mournful  notes,  "  Howl,  fir  tree  ; 
for  the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 


364  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

It  is  true  our  noble  President  fell,  and  the  nation  put  in  tears,  at 
the  hands  of  a  dastardly  assassin,  but  facts  are  being  developed  that 
give  to  the  country  the  brightest  hopes  for  the  future,  both  civil  and 
religious.  There  has  been  developed,  and  is  still  being  developed,  an 
amount  of  sympathy  and  confidence,  in  all  sections  of  the  country,  in 
the  stability  and  just  administration  of  our  grand  republic  that  the 
most  trustful  scarcely  dared  to  anticipate. 

Such  is  the  well  arranged,  the  grandeur,  the  adaptibility  of  the 
machinery  of  our  unparalleled  government,  that,  were  it  not  for  the 
universal  sympathy  and  good  will  manifest  towards  our  deceased 
President,  scarcely  a  ripple  would  roll  over  these  broad,  happy  lands 
when  death  snatches  the  scepter  from  the  hand  and  lays  the  body  in 
the  grave.  In  the  forcible  language  of  our  lamented  President  on 
the  demise  of  President  Lmcoln  ;  "  God  reigns  and  the  government 
at  Washington  still  lives." 

The  fact,  also,  to  a  high  degree,  and  most  satisfactory,  has  been 
developed,  broadened,  heightened,  so  that  it  has  taken  its  stand  upon 
the  dome  of  the  capitol  of  most  every  State  in  the  Union,  and  by 
proclamations  for  prayer  and  mourning,  proclaims  in  tones  heard  from 
the  center  to  the  circumference  of  the  nation,  "  This  is  a  Christian 
nation."  For  a  time  it  was  a  nation  upon  its  knees.  Infidelity  stands 
aghast  at  the  amount  of  religious  confidence  developed.  Just  when 
that  gloomy  system  is,  as  I  believe,  making  its  last  weak  eflbrt  to 
revive  its  dark  shades,  which  had  been  stricken  to  the  earth  by  the 
sunlit  righteousness  of  God,  the  whole  nation,  with  rare  exceptions, 
is  expressing  its  faith  in  the  existence  and  providence  of  God,  and 
turning  their  eyes  and  hearts  to  His  altars,  as  the  great  source  of  help 
in  the  dreadful  extremity  impending. 

A  depth  of  religious  feeling  and  sentiment  pervades  the  entire 
nation  that  is  gratifying  to  a  high  degree  to  every  lover  of  Christianity 
and  of  Christian  civilization. 

To  trace,  to-day,  the  leading  events  in  the  life  and  death  of  our 
deceased  President  is  unnecessary.  The  history,  the  facts  of  the  life 
and  death  of  James  A.  Garfield,  are  better  knowai  to-day  by  the  great 
masses  of  the  people  of  these  States  than  any  other  man,  perhaps,  living 
or  dead.  But  as  the  basis  of  some  remarks  to  induce  all  classes  to 
emulate  his  virtues  and  his  just  ambition  to  do  his  work  faithfully, 
whatever  that  work  might  be,  we  will  say,  that  from  early  childhood, 
in  the  dear  little  cabin  of  his  parents,  to  his  elevation  to  the  presidency 
of  the  greatest  republic  known  to  history,  he  seems  to  have  been  a 
model  ;  a  model  boy,  a  model  youth,  a  model  student,  a  model  young 
man,  a  model  husband  and  father,  a  model  teacher,  a  model  soldier, 
a  model  statesman,  and  bid  fair  to  make  a  model,  if  not  tlie  model 
President.  But,  alas  !  just  in  the  midst  of  life,  in  the  midst  of  his 
career  of  usefulness  and  honor,  when  all  hearts  were  turned  to  him  as 
being  the  man  who  would  heal  up  the  wounds  and  divisions  of  the 
nation  and  place  the  cap  sheaf  thereon  with  shoutings,  death  did  its 
fatal  work,  and  the  model  man  is  dead!  "  Howl,  fir  tree;  for  the 
cedar  is  fallen  I  " 


I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  365 

In  this  "land  of  the  free,  and  home  of  the  brave,"  obscurity  of 
birth,  poverty,  h\ck  of  royal  blood  or  noble  paternity  stand  not  in  the 
way  of  ascending  the  ladder  of  human  greatness  to  its  highest  round. 
In  this  home  of  the  free,  honesty,  honor,  industry  and  perseverance 
are  sure  to  carry  you  to  the  front  in  whatever  occupation  or  profession 
you  may  follow.  If,  boys  and  young  gentlemen,  who  hear  me  to-day, 
you  would  rise  to  places  of  higher  trust  and  honor,  the  true  way  is  to 
follow  your  present  honest  business,  however  humble,  with  honor, 
strict  fidelity  and  unswerving  perseverance,  then  you  will  soon  be  in 
demand  for  more  elevated  positions.  In  this  we  have  a  rich  example 
in  our  deceased  President.  Born  in  poverty,  but  of  honorable  parent- 
age; bereft  of  his  father  before  he  was  two  years  of  age,  his  entire 
training  and  education  were  left  to  a  mother,  a  notable  mother.  She 
early  instilled  into  his  childhood  and  youthful  mind,  principles  of 
affection,  integrity  and  perseverance.  Mothers  too  many  take  a  lesson 
here.  He  ever  acknowledged  his  indebtedness  to  his  mother —  God- 
like principle  —  and,  living  and  dying,  he  clung  to  that  mother  with 
the  grace  of  aflfection,  esteem  and  confidence,  that  only  the  iron  grasp 
of  death  could  sever. 

Here  are  infallible  marks  of  the  existence  of  the  elements  of  true 
greatness  in  every  boy  and  young  man  —  a  high  esteem  for  mother, 
a  deep  constant  affection  for  mother,  a  constant  devotion  to  the  coun- 
sels and  wants  of  mother;  mother,  excepting  the  name  of  the  adora- 
ble Savior,  the  sweetest,  the  divinest  name  that  falls  on  mortal  ears. 
We  are  proud  of  our  noble  President's  record  here.  Boys,  young 
gentlemen,  emulate  him  in  this.  I  have  no  confidence  in  the  honor- 
able success  of  any  young  man  who  does  not  hold  in  highest  affection 
and  esteem  his  mother. 

But,  were  it  expedient,  I  might  continue  this,  and  speak  in  terms 
equally  honorable  of  our  noble,  fallen  President  in  every  relation  of 
life,  whether  domestic  or  civil.  But  we  must  close  this  part  of  the 
subject.      "  Howl,  fir  tree  ;  for  the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 

Whatever  may  be,  however,  the  honorable  terms  in  which  we  may 
speak  of  these  relations  of  our  world-honored  President;  the  highest, 
the  crowning  glory  and  virtue  of  all  is  James  A.  Garfield,  deceased 
President  of  the  United  States,  was  a  Christian,  highest  style  of  man. 
He  was  not  satisfied  with  the  mere  profession  in  a  general  way,  in  the 
presence  of  select  friends,  that  the  great  doctrines  of  Christianity 
may  be  true.  His  religions  convictions  were  of  a  higher  order  and 
from  his  heart,  and  were  manifest  in  practical  life.  He  felt  it  his 
duty  publicly  to  acknowledge  his  allegiance  to  the  religion  of  Jesus, 
and  his  faith  in  Him  as  his  personal  Savior.  Unlike  many  others,  he 
did  not  vainly  imagine  that  he  could  serve  God  as  faithfully,  as  ac- 
ceptably out  of  the  church,  away  from  God's  organized  people,  as  he 
could  among  them,  hence  he  made  a  choice  of  one  division  of  the 
grand  army  of  our  glorious  God.  He  cast  his  lot  with  the  denomina- 
tion of  Christians  known  here,  in  whose  house  we  worship  to-day, 
and    everj^where    they   have    carried    their    influence  as  the  Christian 


f 


366  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Church  ;  and  at  Mentor,  the  home  of  his  youth  and  warm  attachment, 
he  was  a  constant  communicant  of  that  church  and  a  devout  wor- 
shiper at  her  altars.  When  he  came  to  the  White  House  as  the 
President,  all  hail  to  the  Christian  President !  he  did  not  leave  his 
religion  at  home,  in  the  rear.  Here  it  was  in  front  again  ;  here.  Sab- 
bath after  Sabbath,  he  is  seen  making  his  way  to  the  little,  unpre- 
tending, unassuming  white  church  ;  still  a  constant  communicant  and 
worshiper  of  Almighty  God. 

No  wonder  in  his  last,  lingering  affliction,  when  the  cold  chills  of 
death  were  gathering  over  him,  he  could  look  the  tyrant  in  the  face 
and  exclaim  :  "  I  fear  thee  not,  I  am  read3^"  Simple  thought,  grand 
language,  glorious  truth,  "I  am  ready!"  But  a  sympathizing  na- 
tion, and  weeping  mother,  wife  and  children,  can  only  attend  him  to 
the  margin  of  the  cold  river;  here  angels  take  the  charge,  and,  on 
the  other  shore,  they  lift  him,  all  dripping  with  the  waters  of  the 
Jordan  of  death,  and  triumphantly  bear  him  off  to  his  home  in  the 
skies,  in  the  bosom  of  his  God,  forever  at  rest.  Joyful  thought !  thrice 
comfortable  reflection,  our  suffering  President  is  free  !  No  sorrow  rolls 
over  him,  no  pain  afflicts,  no  anxious  care  disturbs.  We  this  day 
cover  him  with  the  nation's  tears  and  a  world's  sympathy,  and  com- 
mit his  body  to  the  tomb.     "  Howl,  fir  tree;   the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 

The  wheels  of  the  clay  tenement  stand  still.  That  once  noble  form 
is  now  prostrate  in  death.  But  that  consecrated  soul,  that  cultivated 
mind,  that  great  intellect  is  not  dormant ;  nor  hushed  in  silence,  nor 
stilled  in  action,  but,  on  the  other  shore,  in  the  mighty  universe  of 
God,  it  moves  in  a  higher  sphere,  in  nobler  works,  and  shines  as  a 
star  of  the  first  magnitude.  God  has  use  for  such  Christian  intellects 
in  other  parts  of  his  infinitely  expanded  universe,  as  well  as  this  ; 
and  doubtless,  already  started  on  missions  of  thought,  and  grander 
works  than  ever  engaged  his  head  and  heart  on  tljis  humble  planet  of 
ours,  as  great  as  those  works  were. 

With  all  sections  of  our  weeping,  bereaved  country,  '<  we  lay  an 
immortelle  upon  his  grave,"  and  wave  a  final  adieu  till  we  meet  him 
in  the  skies.  Join  all  ye  States,  all  ye  fathers  and  mothers,  wives 
and  children  in  the  sad  adieu.  "Howl,  fir  tree;  the  cedar  has 
fallen!"  In  the  language  of  another :  "  Brave  heart !  Great  soul! 
America  is  the  stronger  for  that  life  and  that  death.  His  life  was 
gentle,  and  the  elements  so  mixed  in  him,  that  nature  might  stand  up 
and  say  to  all  the  world  ;   '  This  was  a  man.'  " 

O,  though  wronged,  outraged,  suffering,  fallen  President,  thy  soul 
having  escaped  and  taken  its  aflight  to  fairer  climes,  we,  this  day, 
commit  thy  body  to  the  grave  ;  earth  to  earth,  dust  to  dust,  ashes  to 
ashes;  in  glorious  hope  of  a  blissful  immortality.  Farewell,  fare- 
well, Christian  man  and  brother.  Peace  to  thy  ashes,  a  crown  of 
glory  upon  thy  head.     "  Howl,  fir  tree  ;  the  cedar  is  fallen  !  " 

After  the  delivery  of  the  memorial  sermon,  the  choir  sang  in 
pathetic  strains  the  hymn,  •' Mourn,  pray,  praise,"  and  at  its  con- 
clusion Judo;e  Burckhartt  came   forward  and  pronounced  a  fflowinsr 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  367 

eulogy  on  the  deceased  President  and  his  noble  wife,  in  which  he  de- 
clared with  great  earnestness  that  James  A.  Garfield  was  the  truest 
type  of  the  American  citizen  that  ever  filled  the  presidential  chair,  and 
that  his  devoted  wife  had  also  shown  herself  to  be  a  true  type  of  the 
American  woman. 

The  doxology  was  then  sung  by  the  congregation,  the  benediction 
pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellington,  and,  while  the  choir  sang 
*' Where  now  is  our  loved  one,"  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows 
marched  out  and  back  to  their  respective  lodges,  and  the  rest  of  the 
audience  dispersed  to  their  homes. 

The  Odd  Fellows,  on  their  return  to  their  lodge,  concurred  in  the 
adoption  of  the  following  resolutions  drafted  by  St.  Louis  Lodsfe, 
No.  5:  — 

James  A.  Garfield,  President  of  the  United  States,  is  dead. 

A  nation,  yea  a  world  mourns.  He,  who  from  the  poor  and  almost  friendless  boy, 
by  indomitable  will  and  perseverance,  wrought  his  way  to  distinction  among  men, 
even  to  the  proudest  position  ever  held  by  mortal  man,  has  been  cut  down  in  the 
midst  of  a  most  useful  career  —  at  the  very  moment  of  reaching  the  topmost  round 
of  the  ladder  of  fame  —  mercilessly  cut  down  by  the  hand  of  that  most  despised  of 
despicable  creatures,  the  cold-blooded  and  cowardly  assassin. 

We,  the  Odd  Fellows  of  Missouri,  as  good  citizens,  desire  to  express  our  horror  at 
the  cruel  act  which  destroyed  so  valuable  a  life,  our  unmitigated  contempt  for  and 
condemnation  of  the  miserable  wretch  who  perpetrated  it,  and  our  heartfelt  sym- 
pathy and  condolence  with  the  family  of  the  President  so  foully  murdered;  therefore 
be  It 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  the 
State  of  Missouri,  do  hereby  express  to  the  officers  of  the  government  and  the  people 
of  the  Republic  our  great  sorrow  for  the  country's  loss. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  noble,  heroic  and  devoted  wife  of  the  deceased 
and  her  fatherless  family  our  sincere,  heartfelt,  aye,  inexpressible  sympathy  in  this 
their  great  affliction.  May  God,  in  His  infinite  mercy,  visit,  comfort  and  bless  her 
and  them. 

Resolved,  That,  as  a  token  of  our  sorrow,  our  halls  be  draped  in  mourning  for 
thirty  days.  It  is  the  duty  of  Odd  Fellows  to  "weep  with  those  who  weep,"  to 
"mourn  with  those  who  mourn." 

DEATH    OF    C.  WISDOM. 

A  good  man  has  fallen  ! 

At  half  past  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  December  2,  1869, 
Mr.  Caswell  Wisdom,  banker  of  Huntsville,  breathed  his  last,  after  a 
protracted  illness.  He  died  calmly,  peacefully  —  fell  asleep  to  wake 
no  more.     The  faithful  watchers 

Thought  him  dying  when  he  slept, 
*  And  sleeping  when  he  died. 

Mr.  Wisdom  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county,  in  fact,  its 
history  is  his  history.  Going  there  at  an  early  day  from  North  Car- 
olina, a  poor  man,  by  industry,  economy  and  business  tact,  he  accu- 
mulated a  handsome  estate.  He  filled  several  offices  of  public  trust, 
having  served  four  years  as  sheriff  of  the  county  —  and  in  all  of  them  his 
honesty  and  integrity  was  never  questioned.     A  number  of  years  ago, 


368  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

he  made  a  profession  of  religion,  but  we  do  not  believe  he  ever  united 
with  the  church.     He  was  about  61  years  old. 

[Copied.] 
DEATH    OF    CAPT.     LOWRY. 

Another  of  the  brave  knights  who  fought  under  the  glorious,  but 
ill-starred  banner  of  the  South,  and  who  illustrated  by  their  unblench- 
ing  courage,  and  chivalrous  devotion  that  all  the  knightly  attributes 
did  not  die  out  of  the  world  with  the  good  Prince  Arthur,  has  obeyed 
the  summons  of  his  great  Captain  and  gone  to  join  the  ranks  of  those 
who  keep  watch  and  ward  on  the  battlements  of  Eternity. 

Capt.  Thomas  G.  Lowry,  of  this  county,  whom  we  mentioned 
recently  as  being  in  a  critical  condition  from  cancer  on  his  face,  died 
on  Tuesday  night  last,  June  23,  1870,  His  death  was  not  altogether 
unexpected  either  by  himself  or  his  friends,  and  when  the  final  sum- 
mons came  for  him  to  leave  the  scenes  of  his  toils  and  triumphs,  like 
the  true  soldier  that  he  was,  he  answered  "Ready"  and  passed  out 
into  the  damps  and  dews  of  eternity  without  a  murmur.  At  an  early 
period  in  the  struggle  for  Southern  nationality,  he  enlisted  under  the 
red  battle  cross  that  marshalled  the  hoasts  of  freedom,  and  was  placed 
in  command  of  Co.  F,  in  the  "Old  Missouri  Third,"  a  regiment 
commanded  by  Col.  Reeves,  and  whose  thinned  ranks  and  scarred 
veterans  told  how  nobly  and  how  well  they  fought  in  that  glorious  but 
fruitless  struggle.  Under  that  banner  he  fought  with  heroic  firmness 
during  all  those  terrible  years,  loved  with  a  brother's  aflfection  by  all 
his  comrades,  and  we  know  he  would  have  asked  for  no  greater  boon 
than  that  its  drooping  folds  should  hang  moui-nfuUy  over  his  bier 
when  he  could  light  no  longer.  But  he  is  gone  —  gone  from  all  who 
loved  and  honored  him  here,  and  the  sad  announcement  of  his  death 
will  drive  the  tear  of  sorrow  down  the  furrows  of  many  a  bronzed 
cheek  that  never  blenched  in  the  red  gleam  of  battle,  where  Death 
rode  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind  ;  but  we  feel  thankful  for  the  assur- 
ance that  he  had  made  his  peace  with  God  ;  and  that  the  old  soldier, 
having  "  crossed  the  river,"  is  now  sweetly  resting  with  the  immortal 
Jackson,  "  under  the  shade  of  the  trees."  He  was  buried  yesterday 
with  all  the  impressive  solemnity  of  the  Masonic  funeral  services. 

DEATH    OF    CAPT.    COATES. 

Scarcely  is  the  ink  dry  with  which  the  announcement  of  Capt. 
Lowry 's  death  was  made,  before  we  are  called  upon  to  chronicle  the 
departure  of  another  aged  and  venerable  citizen  from  the  shores  of 
time. 

Capt.  Thomas  P.  Coates,  well  known  to  all  our  people  as  one  of 
the  noblest  of  men,  died  at  his  residence  near  Milton,  in  this  county, 
on  the  26th  of  June,  1870.  He  was  born  in  Essex  county,  Virginia, 
November  10th,  1791,  and  was  therefore  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
the  79th  year  of  his  age.     In  1834  he  moved  to  Missouri,  and  tented 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  369 

on  the  place  on  which  he  lived  and  died.  In  1817,  he  became  identified 
with  the  ancient  and  honorable  Masonic  fraternity,  being  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  Huntsville  lodge.  In  1838,  he  connected  himself 
with  the  Christian  Church,  of  which  he  remained  a  devoted  and  active 
member  through  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  dying,  was  cheered  and 
supported  by  his  living  faith.  He  was  married  four  times,  and  be- 
came the  father  of  13  children,  10  of  whom  are  now  living.  No  one 
among  the  old  pioneers  of  this  country  was  more  beloved  and  honored 
by  those  among  whom  the  strength  of  his  manhood  was  spent,  than 
Capt.  Coates,  and  in  the  course  of  his  career  he  was  called  upon  to 
serve  his  fellow-citizens  in  various  responsible  positions,  at  one  time 
filling  the  office  of  judge  of  our  county  court.  To  some  men,  and 
indeed  to  many,  the  thoughts  of  Death  embitter  what  should  be  the 
happiest  hours  of  existence,  but  to  a  miin  like  the  venerated  one  who 
has  just  fallen,  it  comes  with  a  benediction  in  its  hands,  and  the  hero 
who  has  fought  the  battle  well  and  bravely,  when  his  last  hours  come, 
is  cheered  by  the  consciousness  that  the  world  was  better  for  his  livhig 
in  it,  and  lays  down  his  life  not  reluctantly  at  its  protracted  close. 
His  remains  were  deposited  in  the  family  cemetery  on  Tuesday  last, 
with  all  the  honors  and  impressive  ceremonies  of  the  Masonic  funeral 
service. 

[Copied.] 

JUDGE    THOMAS    P.  WHITE. 

Judge  Thomas  P.  White,  one  of  the  best,  noblest  and  purest  citi- 
zens Randolph  county  ever  had,  died  at  his  home  in  Moberly,  about 
three  o'clock  last  Friday  morning,  after  a  few  days'  illness,  of  pneu- 
monia. The  following  historical  sketch  of  his  life,  and  excellent  tri- 
bute to  his  moral  worth,  we  clip  from  the  Moberly  Headlight,  and  it 
will  be  indorsed  by  every  man  in  the  county  who  was  ever  associated 
with  him  socially,  commercially,  or  otherwise  :  — 

Thomas  P.  White  was  born  in  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  the  5th  of 
November,  1818,  and  removed  to  Boone  county,  Missouri,  when  16 
years  old.  He  remained  there  but  two  years,  when  he  came  to  Ran- 
dolph county,  which  county  he  lived  in  until  his  death,  though  for  a 
while  absent  in  California,  where  he  went  in  the  pioneer  days.  Re- 
turning, he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Trimble,  with  whom  he  lived  for 
27  years,  and  who  still  survives  him.  He  never  had  any  children. 
To  Mr.  James  P.  Trimble,  of  this  city,  his  stepson,  he  was  always  a 
father  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 

Judge  White  was  a  representative  man,  and  such  a  man  as  the  people 
love  to,  honor,  being  upright,  honest  and  consistent  in  all  his  actions, 
and  pure  in  his  life.  He  once  represented  the  county  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  was  the  first  mayor  of  the  city,  having  been  elected  to  that 
office  in  1873.  At  one  time  he  was  vice-president  of  the  Mechanics' 
Bank  and  was  a  director  of  the  same  bank  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death. 


370  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

In  1877  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  county  court,  to  fill  out 
the  unexpired  term  of  Seburn  Jones,  and  the  following  year  was  . 
elected  to  the  same  office  for  the  Eastern  district  of  the  county  and 
held  the  office  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  president  of  the 
Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Moberly,  and  treasurer  of  the  Dis- 
trict Fair  Association.  He  was  a  Mason  and  a  Knight  Templar,  and 
about  30  years  ago  he  united  with  the  Christian  Church,  and,  during 
that  time,  was  a  faithful  and  devoted  member  and  earnest  Christian 
gentleman.  He  was  a  deacon  and  a  trustee  of  the  church  in  this  city. 
Our  acquaintance  with  Judge  White  has  not  been  of  long  duration, 
compared  with  that  of  others  of  his  friends,  but  we  always  found  him 
in  every  transaction  to  be  the  honorable,  conscientious  business  man 
of  unwavering  integrity,  firm  but  affiible,  in  everything  that  noblest 
work  of  God  —  an  honest  man.  He  always  took  a  great  interest  in 
the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  Moberly,  and  was  ever  ready  to  join  in 
any  scheme  for  the  promotion  of  her  interest.  His  counsels  were  al- 
ways listened  to  and  his  words  always  bore  weight  with  them.  The 
county  has  lost  a  good  citizen,  society  a  true  man  and  gentleman,  the 
church  a  worthy  member,  and  his  family  a  noble  husband,  father  and 
friend. 

The  following  was  ordered  spread  on  the  records  of  the  court :  — 

"  State  of  Missouri,    / 

>  ss 
"  County  of  Eandolph,  y"' 

'<  In  the  Randolph  County  Court,  March  1st,  1880. 

"  Whereas,  It  has  pleased  the  Allwise  Ruler  of  the  universe  to  re- 
move from  our  midst  the  Hon.  Thomas  P.  White,  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  court,  in  which  we  feel  that  the  community  has  lost  an  efficient 
member,  society  a  useful  and  exemplary  man,  and  this  court  an  amia- 
ble, efficient  judge; 

"  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  in  token  of  respect  and  a  sincere  feel- 
ing of  the  said  loss,  this  court  adjourn  until  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  and 
that  badges  of  mourning  be  placed  on  the  door  and  judges'  stand  of 
the  county  court  room,  and  that  a  certified  copy  of  this  order  be  de- 
livered to  the  county  papers  for  publication,  and  a  copy  be  delivered 
to  the  family  of  deceased. 

*'  1,  J.  W.  Wight,  clerk  of  the  county  court  within  and  for  the 
county  and  State  aforesaid,  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  full, 
true  and  complete  copy  of  the  order  of  court  as  the  same  appears  on 
record. 

"  Witness  mv  hand  and  official  seal  at  office  in  Huntsville,  this  1st 
day  of  March,  A.  D.  1880. 

"  J.  W.  Wight,  Clerk." 

SUDDEN    DEATH    OF    DR.    J.    C.    OLIVER. 
[From  the  Herald.] 
Dr.  JohnC.  Oliver,  the  eminent  physician,  the  public-spirited  citizen 
and  the  universal  personal  favorite,  is  dead. 

He  died  suddenly  on  Friday  morning,  November  18,  1881,  in 
South  Huntsville,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  William  Thomas,  whom  he 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  371 

was  treating  for  typho-malarial  fever.  He  had  just  finished  prescrib- 
ing for  his  patient  and  had  reached  the  door  on  his  departure  when  he 
was  stricken  with  apoplexy.  He  seized  hold  of  the  door-facing,  told 
the  occupants  of  the  house  that  he  was  sick  and  that  he  wanted  to  lie 
down.  He  was  conducted  into  an  adjoining  room  and  laid  upon  a  bed, 
when  he  again  declared  that  he  was  very  sick  and  asked  that  some  one 
be  put  on  his  horse  and  sent  over  in  town  after  Dr.  Dameron  or  Dr. 
Taylor,  the  first  seen,  which  was  promptly  done.  Dr.  Taylor  was 
the  first  to  receive  the  summons  and  he  immediately  hastened  to  the 
bedside  of  his  brother  physician.  On  arriving  there,  Dr.  Oliver  in- 
formed him  that  his  head  was  killing  him  and  that  he  was  going  to 
die.  Dr.  Taylor  said  he  hoped  not,  and  tried  to  revive  the  sick 
physician's  drooping  spirits  by  calling  his  attention  to  the  severe 
neuralgic  affections  of  the  head  he  had  been  subjected  to  before.  But 
the  prostrate  man  insisted  that  he  was  much  worse  than  he  had  ever 
been,  and  seemed  to  be  hopeless  of  recovery.  He  had  been  vomiting 
freely  and  complained  also  of  a  sourness  of  stomach.  Dr.  Taylor  gave 
him  a  dose  of  soda  and  injected  some  morphine  under  the  skin  of  the 
forehead  near  the  seat  of  the  acutest  pain.  This  greatly  relieved  him, 
and  for  a  time  it  seemed  as  if  his  spell  would  pass  off ;  but  in  a  short 
while  he  commenced  that  apoplectic  breathing  which  always  precedes 
dissolution,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  dead. 

The  universal  sadness  that  this  great  public  bereavement  occasioned 
in  our  midst  can  be  better  imagined  than  described,  when  we  declare 
that  no  man  ever  lived  in  a  community  who  was  more  sincerely  re- 
spected, more  implicitly  trusted,  and  more  generally  loved  for  his 
goodly  traits  of  character  than  was  Dr.  John  C.  Oliver,  for  whom 
we  all  mourn.  He  was  possessed  of  a  happy,  insinuating  disposition  ; 
was  always  bright  and  cheerful,  and  had  a  kindly  salutation  for  every 
one  he  met.  He  loved  his  profession  and  adorned  it,  having  attained 
an  eminence  in  it  that  but  few  have  reached.  He  was  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  every  measure  calculated  to  redound  to  the  interest  of  the 
general  public  received  his  hearty  and  sustained  support.  He  was  a 
member  of  our  city  council  at  the  time  of  his  death,  having  been  re- 
elected to  that  position  for  several  terms,  and  no  one  was  more  zealous 
in  agitating  and  pressing  public  improvements  than  he.  In  short,  his 
death  has  made  a  vacancy  in  our  midst  which  it  will  be  hard  to  fill. 

We  all  miss  Dr.  John  C.  Oliver,  and  we  all  sincerely  mourn  his 
death.  Then,  what  must  be  the  depth  of  the  agonizing  grief  in  the 
broken  family  circle,  where  he  was  best  known,  more  devotedly  loved, 
and  the  mainstay  of  happiness,  comfort  and  support.  He  was  an  at- 
tentive and  devoted  husband,  and  a  kind  and  indulgent  father;  and 
was  closely  bound  to  every  member  of  his  family  by  the  golden  ties 
of  pure,  zealous  aff'ection,  and  the  sudden  ruthless  severing  of  these 
ties  was  almost  like  tearing  out  the  very  heart-strings  of  his  idolized 
loved  ones.  He  made  home  happy,  cheerful  and  contented  by  his 
genial  presence,  and  his  demise  has  created  in  the  family  circle  an 
aching  void  which  time  may  alleviate  but  never  eradicate  ;  hence  we 


372  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

feel  thiit  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  offer  words  of  consolation 
to  those  who  feel  this  great  loss  most  deeply.  Time  only  can  bring 
even  partial  relief  to  these  bleeding  hearts,  and  to  this  great  agency 
we  leave  the  tender  mission. 

Dr.  John  C.  Oliver  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  May  2, 
1825.  He  removed  to  Missouri  in  early  youth,  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  near  Renick.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Chariton  township,  and  moved  to  Huntsville  in  1864.  Here  he  suc- 
cessfully practiced  his  profession  up  to  the  hour  of  his  death.  He  died 
November  18,  1881,  and  was  consequently  56  years,  6  months  and  17 
days  old.  He  was  buried  on  Sunday  the  20th,  in  the  city  cemetery, 
with  Masonic  honors  by  members  of  the  Huntsville,  Clifton  Hill  and 
Salisbury  lodges. 

His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Elder  S.  Y.  Pitts  in  the  College 
Chapel,  and  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  feeling  discourses  we 
ever  listened  to.  It  paid  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  many  virtues  of  the 
distinguished  dead,  and  sprinkled  words  of  scriptural  consolation  on 
the  weeping  hearts  of  the  bereaved. 

DEATH    OF    AN    OLD    AND    ESTIMABLE    LADY. 

[Copied.] 

One  by  one  the  roses  fall,  and  one  by  one  the  revered  and  hardy 
old  settlers  are  being  called  home,  while  their  bodies  are  being  laid  to 
rest  in  that  dreamless  sleep  of  the  just  beneath  the  emerald  sward  of 
the  land  they  loved  so  well. 

At  ten  o'clock  Thursday  evening,  October  4,  1883,  at  the  late  resi- 
dence of  her  son.  Col.  Henry  T.  Fort,  near  this  city,  died  Mrs.  Patsy 
F.  S.  Fort,  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  William  Fort,  aged  87  years,  two 
months  and  24  days. 

Having  well  nigh  rounded  out  four  score  years  and  ten,  the  death 
of  this  estimable  lady  was,  of  course,  expected  at  any  time.  Her  ill- 
ness was  of  but  short  duration,  occasioning,  apparently,  but  little,  if 
any,  suffering.  The  summons  came  to  her  in  a  sudden  and  positive 
form,  in  the  utter  prostration  of  all  her  energies  of  mind  and  body. 
She  did  not  murmur  at  the  last  o-i-eat  chansfe,  but  when  the  o-olden 
gates  swung  inwardly,  noiselessly,  unlocked  by  unseen  fingers,  and  the 
Death  Angel  hovered  near,  she  fell  asleep  as  sweetly, as  trustingly,  as 
a  child  upon  the  bosom  of  its  mother,  while  her  deathless  spirit  took 
its  flight  to  a  brio^hter  and  better  home. 

Her  mortal  remains  were  removed  to  Moberly  and  interred  in  the 
Oakwood  cemetery,  by  the  side  of  her  honored  and  sincerely  mourned 
husband,  whose  demise  we  were  called  upon  to  record  about  two  years 
ago. 

Mrs.  Fort  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Kentucky,  July  10,  1796. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Gorham.  She  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Dr.  William  Fort  in  1815,  and  emigrated  with  her  husband 
in  1820  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  this  county,  where   she  lived   until 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  373 

her  God  called  her  home.  There  are  now  surviving,  as  the  fruits  of 
this  marriage,  four  children,  Col.  Henry  T.  Fort,  of  Moberly ;  Mr.  A. 
J.  Fort,  of  Montana,  and  Dr.  John  T.  Fort  and  Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Ham- 
mett,  of  this  city. 

Having  professed  religion  in  1817  at  the  age  of  21,  she  united  herself 
with  the  Baptist  Church,  lived  up  to  the  tenets  of  the  church,  and  was 
a  devoted  and  humble  follower  of  the  divine  Nazarine  from  that  time 
forward,  walking  continuously  and  trustingly  in  the  path  marked  out 
for  the  children  of  God. 

The  deceased  was  a  woman  of  rare  accomplishments,  the  descend- 
ant of  distinguished  ancestry,  and  was  possessed  of  great  amiability 
of  character  and  remarkable  elegance  and  dignity  of  manner.  Few 
women  have  passed  through  the  trying  vicissitudes  of  a  life  of  such 
varied  fortunes  with  so  much  firmness  of  purpose,  so  much  purity  and 
unselfishness  of  heart.  Thoughout  a  period  of  63  years  in  this 
community,  she  was  beloved  and  respected  for  her  manifold  virtues, 
and  esteemed  as  one  of  the  noblest  specimens  of  the  wife,  the  mother 
and  the  neighbor. 

Amid  the  stormy  trials  of  an  unusually  active  political  career  through 
which  her  late  lamented  husband  was  called  to  pass,  during  a  life  of 
stirring  events,  Mrs.  Fort  ever  illustrated  the  highest  attributes  of  a 
truly  good  wife  ;  always  proving  to  be  his  truest  friend,  his  most  val- 
ued counsellor  and  ministering  angel ;  able  and  ready  to  cheer  and 
assist  him  in  the  hour  of  trial  and  need,  or  to  applaud  him  and  rejoice 
in  his  success,  and  now  both  are  gone.  For  her  too,  now  the  great 
record  of  life  has  been  made  up — a  life  filled  with  well-spent  years  — 
and  her  pure  spirit  summoned  to  bask  in  the  glory  of  an  approving 
Master's  smile,  and  also  to  be  reunited  to  him  who  had  so  lately  gone 
l)efore,  and  around  whose  memory  her  loyal  heart  clung  wnth  the 
fondest  emotions  of  ardent  love  and  profound  veneration.  United 
again  in  the  land  of  eternal  youth,  where  two  of  their  own  "flock  " 
stood  ready  to  crown  them  with  wreaths  of  enduring  love  and  honor. 

TORNADO. 

[From  the  Moberly  Headlight  of  11th.] 

The  air  was  full  of  rumors  yesterday  (December,  1879,)  morning 
about  the  cyclone  that  swept  over  a  portion  of  Randolph  county  Tues- 
day evening,  and  to  sift  the  truth  from  the  many  false  reports  w^as 
special  duty  assigned  a  Headlight  representative.  Leaving  this 
place  on  No.  2  in  company  with  a  Olohe-Democrat  correspondent  and 
an  irrepressible  school  book  agent,  we  were  soon  landed  in  the  classic 
city  of  Renick  of  this  historic  fame.  Nothing  but  cyclone  was  talked 
about,  and  nothing  but  cyclone  was  thought  of.  Farmers  were  in 
town  from  every  direction.  Some  were  going  to  the  scene  of  the  dis- 
aster, and  some  were  coming  from  there. 

We  stepped  into  Mr.  Ben  Ashcomb's  store  and  procured  a  small 
boy  as  a  guide,  struck  out  afoot  across  the  country  for  the  scene  of  the 


374  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

wreck.  After  having  gone  about  two  miles  in  a  westerly  direction, 
signs  of  the  tornado's  wrath  was  seen,  and  in  a  short  time  we  were  gaz- 
ing at  the  ruins  of  Mr.  Bird  Pyle's  house.  It  would  be  impossible  to 
convey  to  the  readers  anything  like  a  true  impression  of  the  ruin  that 
presented  itself.  What  was  once  a  handsome  country  residence  was 
nothing  but  a  scattered  mass  of  debris. 

There  was  not  enough  of  it  left  to  make  a  chicken  coop.  The 
foundation  stones  were  even  turned  over  and  the  sills  blown  away,  one 
of  which  could  be  seen  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  another  was 
found  half  a  mile  away,  sticking  in  the  ground  for  a  distance  of  six 
or  seven  feet.  Hay,  corn,  rails,  household  goods,  hogs,  chickens, 
and,  in  short,  everything  that  could  be  carried  away  was  found  any- 
where within  a  radius  of  three  miles. 

The  track  of  the  storm,  tornado,  cyclone,  or  whatever  it  was,  is 
well  marked,  and  is  about  one  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width,  and  as  far 
as  now  learned  lost  its  power  after  going  about  five  miles.  It  came 
from  the  south-west  direction  and  traveled  in  a  zig-zag  north-easterly 
course.  It  was  first  noticed  in  the  direction  of  Harrisbnrg,  Boone 
county,  and  seemed  to  travel  very  rapidly.  Persons  who  saw  it  say 
that  it  seemed  to  be  a  funnel-shaped  cloud,  the  cone  near  the  earth, 
that  it  had  a  rotary  motion  and  emitted  at  intervals  clouds  of  white 
steam  with  the  puffing  sound  of  a  steam  engine  a  million  times  magni- 
fied. The  noise  was  heard  at  Higbee,  a  distance  of  five  or  six  miles, 
and  Mr.  Wheeler,  a  blacksmith  at  that  place,  says  he  saw  it  distinctly. 
It  rose  and  fell  like  a  swallow  in  flight,  and  from  the  ruin  that  followed 
in  its  wake  appeared  to  loose  some  of  its  force  when  a  short  distance 
above  the  ground.  One  young  man,  who  was  working  in  a  field 
about  100  yards  from  its  path,  says  that  he  suddenly  saw  the 
heavens  darkened,  heard  a  terrible  roaring  for  the  space  of  two  minutes 
or  more,  but  that  the  first  intimation  he  had  of  its  raining  was  that  he 
was  knocked  down  by  what  he  thought  a  barrel  of  water  thrown  right 
on  his  head.  The  barn  of  Mr.  Land  was  the  first  place  struck.  It 
was  blown  down,  one  horse  killed,  another  crippled,  and  a  lot  of  corn 
and  hay  distributed  gratuitously  to  the  elements. 

The  worst  work  done  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bird  Pyle.  He,  his 
wife  and  two  children  were  in  the  house.  The  door  being  slightly 
ajar  he  stepped  forward  to  shut  it  when  he  heard  the  noise,  and  while 
his  hand  Tvas  on  the  door  the  house  was  struck.  He  remembered 
nothing  until  he  found  himself  lying  on  the  ground  with  something  on 
top  of  him,  which  was,  however,  almost  immediately  lifted.  Getting 
up,  half  stunned,  he  looked  around  and  saw  that  his  house  was  not  to 
be  seen.  While  groping  around,  hardly  knowing  what  he  was  doing,  he 
heard  one  of  his  children  crying,  and  going  in  the  direction  from  whence 
the  cry  proceeded  found  the  little  girl  standing  up,  and  a  few  feet  from 
her  lay  the  mother  and  other  child.  Mrs.  Pyle  was  unable  to  speak 
when  found,  but  was  sensible,  and  in  a  few  minutes  some  of  the  neigh- 
bors arrived,  and  placing  the   wounded  woman  and  children  upon  a 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  375 

sled,  she  was  conveyed  to  a  neighbor's  house  a  short  distance  oflf  and  a 
courier  dispatched  for  medical  assistance. 

The  cyclone  after  striking  and  demolishing  Mr.  Pyle's  house, 
moved  rapidly  on  and  struck  the  residence  of  Mr.  Harrison  Smith, 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  distant.  This  house  was  not  overblown,  but 
was  moved  from  the  foundation  and  torn  up  so  completely  on  the  in- 
side that  it  is  rendered  entirely  useless  as  a  dwelling.  None  of  the 
family  were  injured,  but  his  barn  and  fences  were  demolished,  and  his 
garnered  crop  all  lost.  Almost  everything  he  had  in  the  world 
he  lost.  Tom  Davis',  one  mile  from  Smith's  was  the  next  place 
visited.  His  house  was  moved  from  the  foundation,  his  wife  and  one 
child  thrown  into  the  fire  and  himself  and  other  children  slightly 
bruised.  None  were  hurt  seriously.  One-half  mile  from  Davis', 
stands  Mr.  Burkhead's  house.  It  was  blown  down,  but  none  of  the 
inmates  seriously  hurt.  Joseph  Patrick's  house  was  blown  down, 
and  a  Mrs.  Wright,  who  was  visiting  there,  was  '"feeriously  wounded. 
There  were  abundant  traces  of  the  cyclone  after  leaving  Mr.  Patrick's, 
but  we  could  learn  of  no  serious  damage  having  been  done,  though  a 
rumor  was  current  last  night  that  several  houses,  five  or  six  miles 
from  where  it  is  supposed  to  have  lost  its  force,  were  blown  down, 
but  we  could  not  trace  the  report  to  any  reliable  source. 

INCIDENTS. 

Mrs.  Pyle  and  children  were  carried  about  75  yards,  and  were 
found  in  a  small  ravine  back  of  the  house.  Mrs.  Pyle  fell  against  a 
straw  mattress,  which  evidently  saved  her  from  being  killed  out- 
right. Both  bones  of  her  right  leg  were  fractured  between  the  knee 
and  ankle,  and  a  portion  of  the  bone  had  to  be  removed  by  Dr. 
Dysart.  The  former  was  broken  and  the  flesh  all  broken  loose  from 
the  bone.  Her  skull  was  fractured  above  the  right  eye,  and  several 
pieces  of  bone  were  removed  by  Drs.  Hamilton  and  Forrest.  She 
was  resting  easy  yesterday,  and  Dr.  Dysart  seemed  to  think  she 
would  get  well,  though  others  think  differently.  The  children  are 
doing  well. 

Mr.  Pyle  received  a  severe  scalp  wound  on  the  toj)  of  his  head. 
The  hat  he  had  on  at  the  time  he  was  hurt  was  found  on  the  other 
side  of  Renick,  three  miles,  from  his  house.  A  feather  pillow  was 
also  found  near  the  same  place. 

A  bureau  that  was  in  Mr.  Pyle's  house  completely  disappeared. 
The  only  trace  of  it  that  has  'oeen  found  is  one  knob  that  was  picked 
up  yesterday  afternoon,  and  a  white  kid  glove  that  was  in  it,  which 
was  picked  up  by  Mr.  Ben  Ashcorab. 

After  striking  Mr.  Pyle's  house  the  cyclone  raised  and  went  over 
his  barn  taking  off  the  comb  of  the  roof,  doing  no  other  damage. 
The  barn  was  within  20  yards  of  the  house. 

Chickens  were  seen  lying  around  stripped  of  feathers. 
19 


376  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

A  wagon  was  standing  near  Mr.  Pyle's  house,  loaded  with  corn. 
Three  of  the  wheels  were  blown  away.  The  hub  of  the  remaining 
wheel  was  blown  out  and  not  a  trace  of  it  is  to  be  found. 

Trees  standing  in  the  yard  were  twisted  off  close  to  the  ground,  and 
pieces  picked  up  looked  as  if  all  the  fibres  had  been  twisted  together 
like  a  rope. 

Laths  are  around  everywhere  driven  into  the  ground  so  tightly  that 
they  cannot  be  pulled  out. 

We  noticed  some  preserves  in  the  form  of  a  jar.  The  jar  had  evi- 
dently been  blown  away,  leaving  them  there. 

A  rail  was  driven  clear  through  a  hog  and  the  hog  was  found  walk- 
ing around  with  the  rail  in  its  body. 

One  man  hastening  to  his  home  from  the  field,  was  struck  in  the 
face  with  a  flying  dishpan  and  knocked  down. 

The  top  of  a  sewing  machine,  belonging  to  Mr.  Pyle,  was  found  in- 
side of  the  foundation  walls  and  seemingly  had  dropped  right  through 
the  floor  from  where  it  was  standing.  The  rest  of  the  machine  could 
not  be  found. 

Hundreds  of  neighbors  visited  the  afliicted  families  and  did  all  in 
their  power  to  alleviate  their  sufferings.  The  sympathy  displayed  was 
enough  to  make  any  one  acknowledge  that  this  was  not  such  a  bad 
w^orld  after  all. 

We  have  but  faintly  described  the  devastation  wrought  by  the  cy- 
clone, but  have  confined  ourself  to  what  we  saw.  Columns  could  be 
tilled  with  rumors,  but  we  have  given  about  all  that  is  of  particular 
interest. 

TORNADO  or  1831. 

In  the  summer  of  1831,  the  first  tornado  visited  the  county.  Its 
track  was  from  the  south-west  to  the  north-east,  and  passed  over  the 
Iverson  Sears  neighborhood.  Its  width  was  from  200  to  400  yards, 
and  its  length  about  12  miles.  Mr.  Sears,  as  the  storm  swept  by, 
supported  himself,  by  embracing  a  small  hickory  tree.  The  roof  was 
blown  from  his  cabin,  and  his  bed-clothes  were  scattered  in  every 
direction.  This  was  the  severest  wind-storm  that  ever  visited  the 
county  until  the  occurrence  of  the  storm  of  December,  1879. 

RANDOLPH    MEDICAL    SPRINGS. 

The  Randolph  Medical  Springs  are  situated  in  one  of  the  most 
healthy  regions  of  Missouri,  on  the  line  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and 
Pacific  Railroad,  about  four  miles  west  of  Huntsville,  the  county  seat 
of  Randolph  county. 

These  springs  have  been  well  known  for  years  —  to  the  people  liv- 
ing in  their  vicinity  and  surrounding  country — to  possess  great  cura- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  377 

tive  virtues,  and  have  therefore  been  largely  resorted  to  by  them  ;  but 
the  want  long  felt,  of  adequate  bathing  facilities  and  proper  hotel  ac- 
commodations, have  prevented  people  from  a  distance  from  patronizing 
these  springs,  and  thus  receiving  the  benefits  to  be  derived  therefrom. 
Tliis  long-felt  want,  before  referred  to,  the  present  management  have 
endeavored  to  meet. 

There  have  been  erected  at  the  Salt  Springs  convenient  and  suitable 
bath  houses  and  a  commodious  hotel,  with  large  dining  hall,  well  ven- 
tilated rooms  and  broad  verandas,  which  opened  for  the  season  of 
1881,  on  the  1st  of  June. 

The  hotel  is  in  charge  of  eflScient  managers  and  the  table  supplied 
'with  the  best  the  market  affords,  and,  in  short,  no  pains  are  spared 
to  render  the  springs,  to  all  who  seek  them,  whether  for  recreation, 
pleasure  or  health,  unexcelled  as  a  summer  resort. 

It  is  confidently  believed  that  no  springs  in  the  United  States  pos- 
sesses more  or  varied  medical  qualities  than  these. 

SALT    SPRINGS. 

The  Salt  Springs  have  a  daily  flow  of  50,000  gallons^  and  no  reason 
can  be  conceived  why  bathing  in  them  should  not  be  as  invigorating 
and  health-imparting  as  sea  baths.  Baths  can  be  taken  in  these  waters 
at  any  temperature  desired,  and  have  been  found  specially  eflicacious 
iu  rheumatic  and  neuralgia  troubles. 

Bath  houses  are  not  more  than  150  feet  from  the  hotel. 

SALINE    SULPHUR    SPRINGS. 

Thirty  yards  from  the  Salt  Springs,  and  equally  near  the  hotel,  is 
the  Saline  Sulphur  —  an  artesian  well  reaching  to  the  depth  of  over 
nine  hundred  feet. 

In  all  diseases  of  the  stomach,  bowels,  kidneys,  bladder,  urinary 
organs,  and  diseases  peculiar  to  females,  liver  complaint,  dyspepsia 
and  kindred  troubles,  these  waters  have  been  found  to  greatly  aid  re- 
covery and  effect  cures  when  all  other  remedies  have  failed. 

The  action  of  this  water  is  freely  diuretic  and  laxative,  and  when 
first  used  of  cathartic  effect;  this  latter  condition,  however,  does  not 
continue  beyond  a  few  days.  The  use  of  these  waters  are  at  once  ap- 
parent in  increasing  the  appetite,  while  at  the  same  time  wonderfully 
assisting  the  digestive  powers.  It  is  confidently  claimed  that  while 
their  use  will  be  found  eminently  remedial,  in  the  class  of  diseases  be- 


378  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

fore  mentioned,  great  advantages  will  also  be  found  in  cases  of  habitual 
constipations,  hemorrhoidal  congestions  or  piles ;  and  when  com- 
bined with  external  use  —  as  in  the  bath  —  all  forms  of  scrofula,  skin 
and  venerial  diseases. 

The  attention  of  physicians  and  others  are  invited  to  the  analysis 
of  this  mineral  water,  made  by  Prof.  P.  Schweitzer,  of  Missouri 
University. 

ANALYSIS. 

One  U.  S.  gallon,  281  cubic  inches. 

237.883  grains Solium  Choride. 

40  093      " Calcium  Chloride. 

11954       "         ..'..*. Magnesium  Chloride. 

17*808       <'        1        '.'.'.        '. Aluminum  Chloride. 

30153       ".'.'.'. Aluminum  Chloride. 

340.157       " 

The  professor  adds  the  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  —  which  is  doubt- 
less in  the  water  as  it  comes  from  the  spring  —  we  did  not  determine 
as  that  can  only  be  done  at  the  spring. 

OFFICIAL    RECORD. 

County  Court  Judges.  —  William  Fort,  William  Upton,  James 
Head,  Joseph  M.  Baker;  James  Wells,  John  Viley,  Blandermin 
Smith  ;  John  Dysart,  Archibald  Shoemaker,  Francis  Patton  ;  David 
K.  Denny,  Terry  Bradley,  John  J.  AUin;  Terry  Bradley  (resigned 
in  1844),  David  R.  Denny,  Fleming  Terrill;  John  J.  AUin,  Thomas 
P.  Coats,  Major  Horner ;  John  P.  Coates,  John  M.  Yates,  Major 
Horner ;  James  B.  Dameron,  Joseph  Goodding,  James  Terrill ;  H. 
Austin,  James  Terrill,  Joseph  Goodding;  James  Terrill,  Joseph 
Gooding,  A.  G.  Lea ;  C.  B.  Stewart,  A.  G.  Lea,  J.  W.  Bradley ; 
James  Terrill,  C.  B.  Stewart,  Henry  Blake;  Joseph  Turner,  William 
A.  Sears,  William  Dossey ;  Joseph  Turner,  William  A.  Sears,  J. 
H.  Burkholder;  Joseph  Turner,  William  A.  Sears,  J.  L.  Minor; 
Joseph  Turner,  William  A.  Sears,  W.  E.  Walden  ;  James  Terrill, 
Samuel  Burton,  Joseph  Goodding;  James  Terrill,  William  E.  Wal- 
den, D.  J.  Stamper;  James  Terrill,  D.  J.  Stamper,  M.  M.  Burton  ; 
D.  J.  Stamper,  M.  M.  Burton,  S.  Jones  ;  D.  J.  Stamper,  M.  M. 
Burton,  T.  P.  White;  D.  J.  Stamper,  M.  M.  Burton,  J.  T.  Coates; 
D.  J.  Stamper,  H.  T.  Fort,  J.  T.  Coates ;  D.  J.  Stamper,  J.  F. 
Hannah,  J.D.Richmond;  B.  F.^Harvey,  Austin  Christian,  Strother 
Ridgeway. 

/Sheriffs. — Hancock  Jackson,  William  Upton,  Henry  Austin,  Ben- 
jamin Dameron,  Greenup  Wilcox,  Thomas  J.  Samuel,  Caswell  Wis- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  379 

dom,  G.  W.  Dameron,  John  B.  Taylor,  John  H,  Austin,  Charles  F. 
Mayo,  William  F.  Elliott,  William  H.  Williams. 

Treasurers. — Robert  Wilson,  Joseph  C.  Dameron,  Robert  T.  Gil- 
man,  Andrew  J.  Ferguson. 

Circuit  Clerks.  —  Gen.  Robert  Wilson,  Reuben  Samuel,  John  J. 
Alhn,  W.  R.  Samuel,  Capt.^W.  T.  Austin,  Chas.  H.  Hance. 

Probate  Judges.  —  Charles  AUin,  first  probate  judge,  held  the  office 
from  June  14,  1872,  to  January  1,  187.3  ;  A.  P.  Terrill,  from  Jan- 
uary 1,  1873,  to  September  3,  187  8  ;  R.  F.  Poison,  from  September 
3,  1878,  to  January  1,  1883.  Previous  to  June  14,  1872,  the 
probate  business  was  transacted  in  the  county  court,  and  Mr.  Charles 
Allin  was  then  county  clerk,  and  was  appointed  probate  judge  until 
one  was  elected  at  the  next  election  thereafter. 

County  Clerks. — Gen.  Robert  Wilson,  Reuben  Samuel,  John  J. 
AlUn,  W.  R.  Samuel,  J.  C.  Shaefer,  Charles  Allin. 

Terry  Bradley,  Joseph  Allin,  James  D.  Head,  held  the  office  by  ap- 
pointment. 

Representatives.  — Dr.  William  Fort,  George  Burckhartt,  Dr.  Jos- 
eph Ruthertbrd,^  Dr.  William  B.  McLean,  Dr.  John  B.  Oliver,  Dab- 
ney  C.  Garth ;  in  1852  the  county  sent  two  representatives,  J.  W. 
Wight  and  W.  E.  Samuel ;  Dabney  C.  Garth,  M.  M.  Burton,  Hender- 
son B.  Wilcox,  George  M.  Quinn,  Joseph  L.  Minor,  Col.  Thomas  P, 
Ruby,  John  G.  Burton,  James  F.  Cunningham,  William  Quayle, 
Henry  A.  Newman,  James  F.  Wight,  F.  P.  Wiley,  Walker  Wright. 

POLITICS. 

The  political  parties  of  Randolph  county  (Whig  and  Democratic) 
were  nearly  evenly  divided  until  1854,  or  until  the  Native  American 
party  came  into  existence.  The  county  was  represented  in  the  Lower 
House  of  the  General  Assembly  by  Whigs  and  Democrats,  the  differ- 
ence in  their  votes  ranging  generally  between  10  and  50  votes  at  each 
election. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  political  contests  that  ever  occurred  in  the 
county,  took  place  in  18 —  between  Dr.  John  B.  Oliver,  a  Whig,  and 
Dabney  C.  Garth,  a  Democrat.  These  gentlemen  were  exceedingly 
popular  with  their  respective  organizations,  and  each  brought  to  the 
polls  the  full  strength  of  his  party.  The  excitement  was  intense,  and 
so  determined  was  each  candidate  and  his  friends  to  win  the  race,  that 
the  contest  was  continued  with  unabated  zeal  until  the   close  of  the 


1  Died  before  taking  his  seat.     Elected  a  Whig  by  three  votes. 


380 


HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


polls  upon  election  day.  Dr.  John  B.  Oliver  was  the  victor,  but  by 
only  three  votes.  The  vote  being  so  close,  the  election  was  contested 
by  Garth,  but  resulted  as  it  did  before  — in  favor  of  Oliver. 

We  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  place  before  our  readers  a  record 
of  each  of  the  early  elections  that  were  held  in  the  county,  showing 
the  names  of  the  candidates  and  the  votes  received  by  each. 

The  earliest  election  of  which  any  record  can  be  found  was  in  August, 
1840,  the  returns  of  which  were  as  follows  :  — 


Governor  — 

Sheriff— 

John  B.  Clark 

.     542 

Henry  Austin 

.     587 

Thomas  Reynolds  . 

.     490 

John  D.  Halstead  . 

.     387 

Lieutenant-Governor  — 

Judges  County  Court  — 

Joseph  Bogy  . 

.     529 

David  R.  Denny 

.     528 

M.  M.  Marmaduke 

.     485 

Roland  T.  Proctor 

.     493 

Congress  — 

Fleming  Terrill 

.     498 

E.  M.  Samuel 

.     537 

Joseph  Turner 

.     451 

George  C.  Sibley     . 

.     529 

Assessor  — 

John  Miller     . 

.     489 

Benjamin  Dameron 

.     564 

John  C.  Edwards    . 

.     480 

James  T.  Roan 

.     396 

Bepresentatives  — 

Coroner  — 

George  Burckhartt 

.     506 

C.  Mathis 

.       39 

William  B.  McLean 

.     527 

J.  C.  Dameron 

3 

William  Fort  . 

.     470 

B.  P.  Herndon 

1 

John  J.  Allin  . 

.     502 

Among  the  Whig  politicians  of  the  county  were  Gen.  Robert  Wil- 
son, Charles  McLean,  George  Burckhartt,  while  among  the  Democrats 
were  found  Dr.  William  Fort,  Dr.  Waller  Head,  Hancock  Jackson 
and  Col.  Major  Horner.  The  county  now  (1884)  is  overwhelmingly 
Democratic. 

TAXABLE   WEALTH.  ' 

Real  estate  valuation S3, 111, 486 

Personal  property 1,540,380 


Total 


$4,651,866 


The  county  produced  in  1883  the  following  number  of  stock  :  — 

Neat  cattle 10,336 

Sheep 18,609 


Hogs 

Corn  (bushels  in  1880) 
Wheat      "        "      " 
Oats         "        "      " 


.     17,648 

1,861,667 

70.000 

167,000 


I5^^#^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


SUGAE    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  C.  BAIRD 

(Farmer,  Stock-raiser  and  Operator  in  Coal). 

Mr.  Baird  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  21, 
1824.  His  father,  Benjamin  Baird,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county, 
and  lived  there  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1851.  His 
mother,  Ellen  Summerson,  was  an  English  woman  by  birth,  but  was 
brought  to  this  country  when  an  infant.  John  C.  grew  up  on  the 
homestead  and  acquired  a  good  common  school  education,  supple- 
mented by  a  year's  instruction  at  Alleghany  College,  Meadville,  Pa. 
When  a  young  man  he  taught  school  several  years.  He  was  married 
October  18,  1848,  to  Miss  Almind  Frances  Milligan,  of  the  same 
county.  After  his  marriage,  and  until  1866,  Mr.  Baird  was  actively 
engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering  in  Pennsylvania;  he  at  that  time 
moved  to  Missouri  and  established  himself  on  his  present  property. 
He  owns  320  acres  of  fine  land,  well  adapted  to  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  purposes,  about  two  and  one  half  miles  from  Moberly  —  all 
fenced.  About  160  acres  of  this  are  in  cultivation  and  meadow.  The 
place  includes  a  good  bearing  orchard  and  a  splendid  young  orchard 
coming  up.  Mr.  Baird  is  a  substantial,  prosperous  citizen.  He  owns 
besides  other  property  a  good  coal  bank  with  a  four  foot  vein.  All  of 
his  land  is  underlaid  with  coal  of  superior  quality,  from  which  he  is 
annually  having  mined  a  large  quantity  for  the  local  market.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baird  have  been  blessed  with  nine  children  :  Mary  V., 
wife  of  J.  F.  Tedford,  of  Moberly  ;  Frank  P.,  married  and  resides  in 
Huntsville,  Mo.  ;  Fletcher  C,  married  and  makes  his  home  in 
Moberly;  J.  Ella,  wife  of  R.  A.  Curran,  also  lives  in  Moberly  ;  Will- 
iam H.,  Maggie  B.,  John  W.,  Minnie  F.  and  Benjamin  D.  still  remain 
under  the  parental  roof.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baird  are  devout  members  of 
Suo;ar  Creek  cong-regfation  of  the  Cumberland  Presbvterian  Church. 
Mr.  Baird  has  held  several  local  offices,  and  is  trusted  and  respected 
on  every  side. 

WILLIAM  BARROWMAN 

(Freight  Agent  for  the  Missouri  Pacific  and  the  Wabash  Railroads,  Moberly). 
Mr.  Barrowman,  who  has  held  the  position  he  now  occupies  for  the 
last  thirteen  years,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  railwav  service 

(381) 


382  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

for  nearly  twenty-tive  years,  is  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  a  son  of  R. 
L.  Barrowman,  originally  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Eliza  Virginia  Warrell,  formerly  of  Virginia.  The 
parents  were  comparatively  early  settlers  in  Michigan,  and  Mr. 
William  Barrowman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  that  State, 
and  in  the  county  of  Monroe,  on  the  31st  of  October,  1841.  Reared 
in  his  native  State,  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  when 
a  youth  clerked  for  his  father  who  carried  on  merchandising  in  Michi- 
gan. In  1857  the  family  moved  to  St.  Louis,  and  three  years  after- 
wards young  Barrowman  began  his  career  as  a  railroad  man.  He 
obtained  the  position  as  bill  clerk  in  the  freight  office  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Railroad  at  St.  Louis.  In  18^35  he  became  1)111  clerk  for 
the  North  Missouri,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  with  that  road 
until  1871,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Moberly  and  installed  in  his 
present  office.  Mr.  Barrowman,  having  had  a  long  experience  in  rail- 
road life,  is  of  course  a  capable  and  efficient  officer,  as  the  way  in 
which  he  is  retained  in  the  service  by  the  railroad  officials  conclusively 
shows.  On  the  24th  of  May,  1864,  Mr.  Barrowman  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Noland,  originally  of  New  York.  They  have  seven 
children:  Alice,  Robert,  Addie,  Jennie,  Mary,  George  and  Ralph. 
Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

LEONARD  F.  BARTON 

(Roadmaster  of  Section  between  Moberlj'  and  Kansas  City  and  tlie  Glasgow  Branch, 

headquarters,  Moberly) . 

No  melodrama  in  modern  times  has  had  a  more  successful  and  pop- 
ular run,  both  among  the  people  and  on  the  stage,  than  that  of  "  Pin- 
afore." The  reasons  for  this  are  l)y  no  means  occult.  Beneath  its 
well  attuned  air  and  well  constructed  measures  there  is  a  ^philosophy 
which  at  once  attracts  the  attention  and  consideration  of  the  truthful. 
It  is  the  philosophy  expressed  in  the  celebrated  distitch  of  Pope,  in 
his  '<  Essay  on  Man  :  " — 

"  Honor  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise ; 
Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies." 

It  is  the  philosophy  which  teaches  that  merit  will  win  and  that  if  one 
but  do  his  duty  faithfully  in  whatever  position  he  may  be  placed,  he 
will  steadily  rise  in  life.  In  "  Pinafore  "  this  philosophy  is  expressed 
in  language,  if  not  as  staid  and  dignified  as  that  with  which  Pope  has 
clothed  it,  at  least  more  forcible  and  pointed  :  — 

"  He  polished  up  the  handles  so  carefullee, 
That  now  he  is  the  ruler  of  the  Queen's  navee." 

So  in  every  walk  in  life  we  see  men  coming  up  from  the  humblest  sta- 
tions to  the  highest.  Lincoln  was  a  rail-splitter  and  Andrew  Johnson 
was  a  tailor.  But  it  is  unnecessary  to  refer  to  outside  examples.  The 
subject  of  the  present  sketch  may  be  pointed  to  as  an  instance  of  this 
kind.  Of  course  he  has  not  become  President,  nor  anything  of  that 
kind,  and  perhaps  may  never  rise  to  a  position  of  more  than  ordinary 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  383 

distinction,  for  circumstances  have  much  to  do  with  elevating  men  ; 
and  the  way  of  promotion  to  high  honor  may  not  open  up  for  him. 

"All  but  a  scattered  few,  live  out  their  time 
Husbaudiug  that  which  they  possess  within, 
Aud  go  to  the  grave  uuthought  of.    Strongest  minds 
Are  those  of  whom  the  noisy  world 
Hears  least." 

But  so  far  as  his  opportunities  have  permitted,  he  has  risen  by  steady 
strides.  Mr.  Barton  commenced  railroading  as  a  section  boss,  and  is 
now  roadmaster  for  a  hirge  portion  of  the  lines  of  one  of  the  leading 
railroads  of  the  United  States.  Still  comparatively  a  young  man,  this 
is  a  record  that  reflects  not  a  little  credit  on  his  character  for  indus- 
try, capacity  and  fidelity.  He  was  born  in  Wilson,  N.  Y.,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1847,  and  in  youth  had  excellent  educational  advantages, 
taking,  besides  courses  in  the  common  and  academic  schools,  a  course 
at  Ann  Arbor  College,  quitting  that  institution,  however,  at  the  close 
of  the  sophomore  year.  He  then  began  railroading,  and  has  contin- 
ued it  from  that  time  to  the  present,  working  on  various  railroads  in 
the  United  States.  In  1875  he  was  appointed  supply  agent  of  the 
Wabash,  and  in  the  spring  of  1883  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his 
present  position.  In  December,  1876,  Mr.  Barton  was  married  to 
Miss  Harriet  Fairbanks,  of  Kendleville,  Indiana.  They  have  three 
children:   Nellie,  Sidney  and  Pansey. 

NATHANIEL  M.  BASKETTf  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,-  Moberly) . 

Looking  around  us  we  see  men  here  and  there  and  everywhere  who 
have  risen  to  prominence  in  their  respective  walks  in  life.  Eminence 
in  any  calling  is  the  result,  generally,  of  long  experience,  accom- 
panied, of  course,  with  the  proper  qualifications  and  application  for 
success  ;  and  hence  it  is  that  we  see  most  of  those  who  have  become 
prominent  to  be  men  at  least  of  middle-age,  but  more  often  ad- 
vanced in  years.  Seeing  these  leading  men  around  us,  the  questiofi 
naturally  occurs,  when  they  are  gone,  who  are  to  occupy  their 
places?  The  race  of  life  is  like  all  other  contests,  those  who  pos- 
sess superior  powers  and  apply  them  rightly  will  win.  And  it  is  not 
difficult  to  pick  out  such,  even  early  in  life.  Prominence  usually 
manifests  itself  from  the  beginning.  The  young  man  of  to-day  who 
stands  higher  in  his  calling  than  those  around  him  of  the  same  age 
and  opportunities,  will  likely  continue  in  advance  of  his  fellows,  only 
be  will  gain  on  them  in  an  increasing  ratio,  — and  thus  as  time  comes 
and  goes  he  will  probably  take  a  commanding  position  in  the  aff'airs 
with  which  his  life  is  identified.  These  remarks  are  suggested  by  run- 
ning over  the  notes  from  which  this  sketch  is  written.  Here  is  a 
young  man  but  little  more  than  past  his  thirtieth  year,  at  an  age  when 
young  men  ordinarily  are  hardly  more  than  trained  for  the  career  they 
are  to  run,  yet,  already,  he  has  reached  a  position  in  his  profession 
second  to  that  of  but  few  physicians  of  advanced  age  and    long  expe  - 


384  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

rience,  in  this  section  of  the  State,  Looking  back  over  his  past,  the 
few  brief  years  that  have  intervened  since  he  was  a  youth,  and  per- 
ceiving that  his  advantages  were  no  better  than  those  of  the  average 
young  men  around  him,  and  seeing  what  he  has  already  accomplished, 
it  requires  no  gift  of  prophecy  to  foretell  that  his  future  will  be  one  of 
more  than  ordinary  prominence  and  usefulness.  He  is  recognized  to- 
day as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  scientific  physicians  throughout  the 
surrounding  country.  Thoroughly  devoted  to  his  profession,  while 
not  occupied  with  the  duties  of  the  active  practice,  he  is  engaged  in 
study  and  investigation,  and  being  a  man  of  much  originality  of 
thought,  he  has  written  numerous  articles  on  topics  of  interest  to  the 
profession.  He  is  a  contributer  to  several  leading  medical  journals, 
and  among  his  contributions  may  be  mentioned  "  Fibroids  of  the 
Uterus,"  "Dermoid  Cysts  of  the  Ovary,"  "Bright's  Disease," 
"  Some  Subjects  for  Sanitation,"  and  an  "  Essay  on  the  Influence  of 
Maternal  Impressions  on  the  Growth  of  the  Eml)ryo."  The  Doctor 
is  a  distino-uished  member  of  the  State  and  District  Medical  Societies, 
and  has  also  been  elected  an  honorary  member  of  various  county 
medical  societies.  Dr.  Baskett,  being  a  close  student  of  current 
events,  and  a  man  of  wide  general  information,  as  well  as  public 
spirited  and  zealous  for  the  best  interests  of  society,  takes  an  in- 
telligent and  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  A  Missourian  by 
nativity  and  continuous  resident,  he  is,  of  course,  as  every  good 
Missourian  ought  to  be,  an  earnest  and  faithful  Democrat.  Ap- 
preciated for  his  wofth,  his  party  associates  in  this  county  have 
called  him  to  the  chairmanship  of  their  county  central  committee, 
a  position  he  now  holds,  and  the  duties  of  which  he  discharges 
with  his  characteristic  ability  and  energy.  Dr.  Baskett  was  born  in  St. 
Louis,  April  5,  1853.  Reared  there,  he  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  that  city  and  afterwards  attended  school  at  Paris,  Monroe  county. 
Young  Baskett  read  medicine  under  Dr.  A.  E.  Gore,  of  Paris,  and  in 
due  time  entered  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1876.  He  subsequently  located 
at  Granville,  in  Monroe  county,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
where  he  continued  until  1878,  when  he  came  to  Moberly.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  at  this  place  and  has  built  up 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popuhir,  as  he 
is  one  of  the  most  skillful  and  capable  physicians  of  this  city.  On 
the  18th  of  November,  1878,  Dr.  Baskett  was  married  to  Miss  Kate 
E.  Cooper,  a  daughter  of  D.  L.  Cooper,  now  deceased,  but  formerly 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Monroe  county.  Mrs.  Baskett,  a  beautiful  and 
accomplished  young  lady,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her,  survived 
her  marriage  less  than  three  years,  dying  July  23,  1881.  Two  chil- 
dren, the  fruits  of  their  happy  but  short  union  (lone  and  Mary),  are 
both  deceased.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Select  Knights  and 
Ladies  of  Honor  and  of  the  Christian  Church.  His  parents  were 
William  B.  and  Mary  A.  (Austin)  Baskett,  the  father  originally  of 
Kentucky,  but  the  mother  a  native  of  Virginia.     The   father  was  a 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  •  385 

man  of  fine   business  qualifications,  a   thorough   book-keeper,  and  a 
merchant  of  St.  Louis. 

CHRIS.  BERLET 

(Retail  dealer  in  Wines,  Liquors,  Beer,  Cigars,  Tobacco,  etc.,  etc.,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Berlet,  who  has  been  engaged  in  his  present  business  at  Mo- 
berly since  1878,  and  has  one  of  the  best  and  most  popular  houses  in 
his  line  in  the  city,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  Fatherland  on  the  9th  of  July,  1832.  His  parents  were  Chris, 
and  Mary,  and  young  Chris,  had  good  school  advantages  in  boyhood 
and  youth.  He  attended  an  excellent  school  in  his  native  vicinity,  of 
the  kind  in  this  country  we  call  academies,  for  eight  years  consecu- 
tively, and  from  the  age  of  five  to  fourteen.  In  1852  the  family  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  at  Scranton,  Pa.,  where  the 
father  subsequently  followed  the  hotel  business.  In  1862  Chris,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Macon  City, 
where  he  obtained  a  situation  at  railroad  work.  Six  years  afterwards 
he  came  to  Moberly,  and  was  baggagemaster  on  the  Wabash  for  ten 
years.  In  1877  he  retired  from  his  position  on  the  Wabash  and  learned 
the  saloon  business,  and  the  following  year  established  his  present 
saloon.  Mr.  Berlet  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  a  good  citizen,  and  is 
respected  by  all.  Some  diflfer  from  the  views  he  holds  with  regard  to 
Scriptm'e  doctrine  as  applicable  to  his  present  business  ;  but,  like 
members  of  different  denominations,  he  and  those  who  differ  from 
him  have  never  allowed  those  differences  of  opinion  to  make  them 
personal  enemies.  He  believes  in  the  great  principles  of  religion  as 
sincerely  and  earnestly  as  any  man,  and  claims  that  his  present  occu- 
pation is  not  only  not  opposed  by  the  Scriptures,  but  is  sanctioned 
and  authorized  by  the  inspired  Word  of  God,  and  in  proof  of  this  he 
cites  the  following,  as  he  could  innumerable  other  passages,  from  the 
written  law:  "  Drink  no  longer  water,  but  use  a  little  wine  for  thy 
stomach's  sake  and  thine  often  infirmities.  [I.  Tim.  v  :  23.]  "  Give 
strong  drink  unto  him  that  is  ready  to  perish,  and  wine  unto  those 
that  be  of  heavy  hearts."  [Prov.  xxxi :  6.]  *' Let  him  drink  and 
forget  his  poverty,  and  to  remember  his  misery  no  more."  [_Ia.  7.] 
In  pursuance  of  those  commands,  Mr.  Berlet  keeps  constantly  on  hand 
a  large  supply  of  different  brands  of  wines  and  liquors,  not  only  of 
the  quality  called  "strong  drink,"  but  of  the  weaker  kinds  called 
light  wines,  and  all  the  pure  grades.  He  also  keeps  a  pool  table  for 
the  harmless  amusement  of  customers.  Mr.  Berlet  is  personally  quite 
popular,  and  his  house  commands  a  large  trade.  In  1860  Mr.  Berlet 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hoffsummers.  They  have  two  children, 
Lizzie  and  John.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Brothers  of  Philanthophy. 

JACOB  S.  BOWERS 

(Of  Bowers  &  Reis,  Dealers  in  Dry  Goods,  Clothina;,  Gents'  and  Ladies'  Furnishing 
Goods,  Hats  and  Caps,  Carpets,  etc.,  etc.,  No.  Ill  and  113  Reed  street,  Moberly). 

Mr,  Bowers,  who  has  been  engaged  in  his  present  business  at  Mo- 
berly since  the  fall  of  1882,  was  reared  to  merchandising,  and  besides 


386  •  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLrH    COUNTY. 

having  a  business  experience  which  extends  back  to  boyhood,  he  has 
the  advantajje  of  a  o:ood  jjeneral  and  commercial  education.  If,  there- 
fore,  he  does  not  become  a  more  than  ordinary  and  prominent 
merchant  —  and  he  is  really  well  advanced  toward  that  position  —  it 
will  not  be  for  want  of  qualifications  and  opportunities.  Understand- 
ing his  business  thoroughly  in  every  detail,  and  being  a  man  of  solid 
and  sober  character,  as  well  as  of  popular  and  pleasant  address,  and 
a  kind  and  accommodating  disposition,  his  success  in  life  seems  as- 
sured. Mr.  Bowers  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Philadelphia 
March  20,  1847,  and  educated  in  the  excellent  schools  of  that  city. 
He  also  subsequently  had  the  benefit  of  a  course  of  commercial 
college.  At  the  age  of  14  he  began  his  career  in  mercantile  life,  a 
career  that  has  continued  unbr(')kon,  and  has  been  marked  by  steady 
advancement  up  to  the  present  time.  He  then  entered  the  large  dry 
goods  and  clothing  store  at  Union  City,  Ind.^of  A.  J.  S.  Bowers  & 
Bros.,  which  employs  a  large  force  of  clerks.  He  subsequently  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm,  and  continued  in  business  there  until 
January,  1882,  when  he  came  to  Moberly,  and  the  following  fall 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  with  which  he  is  now  connected.  Mr. 
Bowers  made  a  most  favorable  impression  on  coming  to  this  city,  an 
impression  which  has  been  fully  justified  by  his  subsequent  career. 
The  business  of  Messrs.  Bowers  &  Reis  has  increased  with  wonderful 
rapidity.  They  first  occupied  only  the  lower  floors  of  their  present 
building,  but  the  great  increase  of  trade  which  they  have  had  com- 
pelled them  to  lease  also  the  upper  floor,  which  they  have  had  elabor- 
ately fitted  up  for  the  display  of  carpets  and  fancy  goods  in  their 
respective  departments.  They  deal  for  cash  exclusively,  and  buy  in 
large  quantities,  so  that  they  get  substantial  discount  from  the  whole- 
sale houses,  and  they  are  thus  enabled  to  sell  goods  at  prices  which 
are  simply  below  competition.  This  fact  soon  V^ecame  known,  and 
hence  the  remarkable  increase  of  their  business.  They  now  carry  one 
of  the  largest  and  best  stocks  of  goods  in  their  lines  to  be  found  out- 
side of  a  large  city  in  IN orth-east  Missouri,  and  their  salesrooms  during 
business  hours  present  almost  as  busy  a  scene  as  a  bee  hive,  customers 
coming  and  going  every  minute  in  the  day,  and  all  pleased  with  their 
bargains.  Mr.  Bowers  still  retains  an  interest  in  the  unsettled  affairs 
of  the  firm  of  A.  J.  S.  Bowers  &  Bro.,  at  Union  City.  In  so  far  as 
means  are  concerned,  he  is  already  practically  independent,  and  his 
entire  success  has  been  achieved  by  his  own  industry,  enterprise  and 
merit.  On  the  3d  day  of  August,  1880,  Mr.  Bowers  was  married  to 
Miss  Letitia  Hall,  of  Ohio.     They  have  one  child,  Willie. 

L.  SCOTT  BOYD 

(Fanner  and  Dealer  in  Small  Fruits). 

Mr.  Boyd  is  the  son  of  Thomas  Boyd  and  Maria  S.  Steele,  both  of 
Ohio.  The  hero  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Seneca  county  of  that 
State  September  9,  1839.     In  1849  his  parents  left  Ohio  and  located 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  3b7 

in  Warreu-county,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Boyd,  Sr.,  entered  and  improved 
500  acres  of  land.  Tliey  lived  here  until  1866,  then  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  settling  upon  the  farm  upon  which 
the  son  now  resides.  The  father  died  here  March  26,  1882.  He  was 
a  most  worth}'^  man,  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  his  memory  is  held  in  beloved  veneration.  L,  Scott  grew  to  man's 
estate  in  Iowa,  receiving  a  good  common  school  education.  In  Jan- 
nary,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  fifteenth  Iowa  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  until  discharged  in  December,  1862.  In  1864  he  re-enlisted  in 
the  forty-eighth  Iowa  infantry,  serving  100  days.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Shiloh,  the  last  fight  at  Corinth,  and  many  smaller  engage- 
ments. When  "  the  cruel  war  was  over  "  he  went  home  and  lived  on 
the  farm,  moving  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  in  1866.  In  the  course 
of  time  Mr.  Boyd's  mind  was  turned  to  softer  lays  than  of  wars  and 
glory  —  the  divine  passion  of  love  waked  within  him,  and  he  laid  his 
heart  and  hand  at  the  feet  of  one  of  the  most  charming  of  women, 
Miss  Harriet,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  (Reed)  Watson,  of  Ohio. 
This  lovely  lady  did  not  say  him  nay,  and  they  were  married  March  17, 
1881.  Fair,  sweet  and  trim,  Mrs.  Boyd  is  as  goodly  a  picture  as  ever 
gladdened  an  adoring  husband's  eyes.  For  the  first  year  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Boyd  lived  on  the  old  home  place  and  carried  on  the 
farm.  In  1882,  however,  he  built  a  neat  two-story  frame  residence  on 
his  own  tract  of  43  acres,  where  he  has  a  good  barn  and  all  necessary 
out-buildings  ;  he  has,  beside,  80  acres  of  land  seeded  in  tame  grass 
and  80  in  timber.  He  continues  to  superintend  the  old  home  farm 
on  which  there  is  a  coal  shaft,  both  places  being  largely  underlaid  in 
coal,  which  yield  abundantly  every  year.  Mr.  Boyd,  wise  in  his 
generation,  is  making  a  specialty  of  small  fruits —  "  there  is  millions 
in  it."  He  has  a  fine  vineyard  of  600  bearing  vines,  and  a  large  and 
select  variety  of  small  fruits.  There  is  a  splendid  young  orchard 
coming  on.  Mr.  Boyd  bids  fair  to  outstrip  many  of  those  around  in 
the  race  for  wealth.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Moberly. 

DUDLEY  T.  BRADLEY. 

Mr.  Bradley,  one  of  the  most  prosperous  of  the  farmers  in  Randolph 
county,  was  born  in  this  county  March  25,  1845,  being  one  of  two  sons 
of  William  Bradley,  of  Kentucky,  and  Miss  Sally  Cockrill,  a  native  of 
Missouri.  Dudley's  brother's  name  was  Benjamin  F.,  the  date  of  his 
birth  being  March  3,  1843.  Mr.  Bradley  went  to  California  in  1840, 
and  died  there  the  same  year.  The  mother  of  these  brothers  died  in 
April,  1850,  vvhen  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  five  years  old,  and 
then  they  went  to  live  with  their  maternal  grandmother,  with  whom 
Dudle}'^  T.  remained  until  her  death  in  1858,  when  he  was  bound  out 
to  his  uncle,  Samuel  Cockrill.  He  lived  here  until  his  nineteenth  year. 
When  he  was  13  years  old  Benjamin  F.  Bradley  determined  to  leave 
the  scene  of  his  early  childhood,  and  accordingly  went  to  California 
with  his  uncle,  Christopher  Cockrill.     After  three  years,  or  at  the  age 


388  HISTORY  or  Randolph  county. 

of  16,  on  account  of  ill  treatment,  he  left  this  relative,  ancl  going  to 
Grant's  Pass,  Oregon,  he  was  first  occupied  in  driving  for  a  stage  com- 
pany, subsequently  following  different  branches  of  work.  He  has 
become  a  man  of  extensive  information  and  travel,  having  visited  all 
of  the  Northern  and  Western  States  ;  two  years  he  spent  in  Utah,  Salt 
Lake  City,  and  has  also  mined  in  British  Columbia  for  the  same  length 
of  time.  Several  years  have  been  passed  in  Washington  Territory, 
and  he  has  been  in  several  other  Territories,  but  he  now  resides  in 
Idaho,  being  interested  in  the  Cordelains  mines.  Through  energy, 
perseverance,  etc.,  he  has  accumulated  a  good  share  of  this  world's 
goods.  Though  possessed  of  a  good  education  it  was  obtained  through 
his  own  efforts  after  being  able  to  realize  the  necessity  of  literary 
knowledge.  Commencing  poor,  he  has  risen  to  a  position  of  wealth 
and  influence  which  is  a  credit  to  himself,  having  had  nothing  when 
he  besan  but  an  interest  in  80  acres  of  land  left  himself  and  brother. 
After  a  separation  of  28  years  these  brothers  were  reunited  in  March, 
1884.  Though  Dudley  T.  Bradley  had  no  parental  hands  to  guide  his 
steps  in  youth  his  early  training  was  by  no  means  neglected;  but  he 
was  brought  up  a  hard-working,  upright  man,  and  was  given  a  fair 
common  school  education.  When  a  boy  of  19  he  enlisted  in  Price's 
army,  but  in  about  six  weeks  he  was  captured  at  White  river,  Ark., 
and  held  until  March,  1865.  After  his  return  he  lived  on  the  farm 
until  his  marriage,  which  rite  was  celebrated  February  13,  1873,  the 
chosen  one  being  Miss  Martha  T.,  daughter  of  William  T.  and  Eliza- 
beth J.  Jennings,  of  Missouri.  With  the  exception  of  one  year,  in 
which  he  worked  at  Miller  Bros.'s  saw  mill,  Mr.  Bradley  has  made 
farming  the  occupation  of  his  life,  purchasing  in  1877  the  farm  he  now 
owns.  The  place  comprises  120  acres  of  bearing  land  and  79  in  tim- 
ber, 40  of  good  pasture,  fenced,  13  acres  bearing,  and  a  fine,  young 
bearing  orchard  containing  about  200  select  fruits.  Mr.  Bradley,  by 
his  own  industry  and  good  management,  has  obtained  a  goodly  com- 
petence for  his  declining  years.  He  owns  another  place  of  145  acres, 
all  in  cultivation,  and  has  one-half  interest  in  still  another  of  120  acres, 
principally  timber,  and  60  acres  in  another  tract.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bradley  have  four  children  :  Emma  E.,  DoraL.,  Lucy  M.  and  Gracie 
J.  Two  of  their  treasures  are  laid  up  "  where  thieves  do  not  steal 
nor  moth  corrupt" — Sarah  E.,  died  March  11,  1875,  and  a  son 
passed  away  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Bradley  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Renick,  and  Mr.  Bradley  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity 
at  Huntsville. 

MATTHEW  Y.  BUCHANAN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  born  in  Randoli)h  county.  Mo.,  April  5,  1838. 
His  father,  C.  C.  Buchanan,  and  mother,  Elizabeth  Jenkins,  were 
natives  of  Tennessee,  but  moved  to  Missouri  in  the  year  of  1836. 
They  settled  in  Randolph  count}''  near  Moberly,  and  entered  land 
where  the  north-west  portion  now  stands.     The  father  died  here  July 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  389 

9,  1881,  aged  68  years,  two  months  and  21  days.  Matthew  Y.  was 
next  to  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  seven  childern,  of  whom  four,  three 
sons  and  a  daughter,  are  still  living.  Their  names  were  Luty  J., 
Matthew  Y.,  Cicero  G.,  Cyrus  W.,  Alonzo  M.,  James  H.  and  John  T. 
Cicero,  Cyrus  and  James  died  prior  to  the  death  of  their  father,  the 
first  named  dying  when  young,  the  other  two  reached  maturity,  and 
graduated  from  college  with  high  honors.  Cyrus  had  chosen  the  pro- 
fession of  physician,  while  James  had  become  a  lawyer.  Alonzo  is  a 
minister,  and  John  T.,  who  graduated  from  Commercial  College,  is 
now  proving  the  value  of  his  business  course  Ijy  keeping  books. 
During  his  youth  Matthew  Y.  lived  on  the  home  farm,  having  all  the 
advantages  in  education  that  the  county  afforded.  In  September, 
1861,  Mr.  Buchanaa  enlisted  under  Gen.  Sterling  Price,  first  in  cav- 
alry but  principally  as  a  private  in  the  tenth  Missouri  infantry.  He 
took  part  in  the  second  fight  at  Boonville,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Helena, 
Ark.,  and  numerous  smaller  skirmishes.  He  fought  with  signal  cour- 
age until  1863,  when  nearly  all  of  his  regiment  was  captured.  For 
20  months  he  was  kept  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Delaware  and  Alton  ;  then 
being  exchanged,  he  returned  to  the  service  only  to  be  again  captured 
near  Natchez,  Miss.  He  was  taken  to  Alton  and  not  released  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Not  long  after,  Mr.  B.  was  married,  in  Randolph 
county,  to  Miss  Mary  Ficklin,  daughter  of  Tyre  and  Louisa  Baker. 
This  estimable  lady  survived  but  one  short  year  —  leaving  an  infant 
daughter,  Ida  Mary,  who  died  September  24,  1875.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Buchanan  made  a  home  for  himself  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  has  nearly  150  acres  of  very  valuable  land  adjoining  the 
town  of  Moberly,  all  in  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  besides 
about  ]05  acres  of  timbered  land  in  the  same  vicinity.  His  residence 
is  a  comfortable  one,  as  are  his  other  buildings.  In  February, 
1871,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  married  a  second  time,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
•being  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Martha  T.  AYisdom,  of 
Macon  county.  There  are  five  children  :  C.  Earl,  Katie  M.,  Onie  A., 
Walter  C,  and  Claud.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  Cum- 
l)erland  Presbyterian  Church  and  take  an  active  part  in  church  mat- 
ters.    They  are  highly  respected  members  of  the  community. 

JUDGE  JOSEPH  H.  BURKHOLDER 

(Railroad  Contractor  and  Dealer  in  Railway  Supplies,  Moberly). 

Judge  Burkholder  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  useful  citizens  of 
Randolph  county,  and  a  man  who  has  been  as  long  and  favorably 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  this  city  as  any  one  in  it.  He  has 
served  several  terms  as  mayor  of  the  city  and  has  added  important 
additions  to  its  limits,  and  built  numerous  houses,  in  fact  has  been 
one  of  the  thorough-going,  enterprising  fathers  of  the  place,  always  a 
sanguine  believer  in  its  future  and  a  zealous  friend  to  its  progress. 
Judge  Burkholder  is  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  born  in  Rocking- 
ham county,  July  31,  1833.  His  educational  advantages  were  those 
of  the  common  schools  and  he  was  reared  to  a  farm  life.     On  the  23d 


390  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  October,  1855,  be  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  A.  Davis,  a  daugliter 
of  tbat  well-known  and  prominent  citizen  of  Randolph  county,  Joseph 
Davis,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county,  having  come 
bere  as  early  as  1818.  In  the  meantime  Judge  Burkholder  had  also 
come  to  Missouri,  and  he  was  identified  witb  agricultural  interests 
mainly  until  1857,  when  be  commenced  bis  career  as  a  railroad  con- 
tractor. A  man  of  superior  intelligence,  energy  and  enterprise,  as 
well  as  having  some  means,  be  was  awarded  the  contract  to  build  a 
portion  of  tbe  North  Missouri  Railroad  in  Randolph  county,  a  work 
of  which  he  acquitted  himself  with  great  credit  and  not  without  sub- 
stantial profit.  After  tbe  road  was  built,  there  being  no  other  rail- 
ways then  in  course  of  construction  in  bis  part  of  the  State,  he  re- 
sumed farming,  which  be  continued  with  success  for  about  three 
years.  In  1864  Judge  Burkholder  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Renick 
and  two  years  before  was  elected  a  member  of  the  county  court,  a 
position  he  filled  with  honor  to  himself  and  tbe  county  to  the  close  of 
bis  term.  In  1865  be  returned  to  farming,  and  also  ran  a  mill,  and 
during  tbe  years  1864  and  1865  he  traded  quite  extensively  in  bogs 
and  tobacco.  He  also,  while  farming  and  milling,  furnished  railroad 
supplies  for  the  North  Missouri,  and  continued  this  up  to  1869.  On 
tbe  1st  of  November  of  that  year  be  removed  to  Moberly,  and  bere 
ensaged  largely  in  tbe  real  estate  business,  buying  and  selling  land  on 
bis^own  account  and  trading  in  town  property.  Keeping  up  bis  busi- 
ness of  furnishing  railroad  supplies  during  all  the  time  tbat  be  was 
dealing  in  real  estate,  be  has  continued  his  railroad  business  up  to  tbe 
present  time.  His  life  has.  been  entirely  successful  in  a  business  j)oint 
of  view,  and  be  is  comfortably  situated,  having  ample  means,  if  be 
were  disposed  to  retire,  on  which  to  rely,  while  he  has  always  stood  high 
in  tbe  esteem  of  tbe  people.  In  187i  and  1872  be  was  a  member  of 
tbe  city  council,  and  in  connection  witb  H.  M.  Porter,  be  framed  the 
city  charter  and  drew  the  ordinances  under  it.  In  1874  Judge  Burk-. 
holder  was  elected  mayor,  and  also  served  two  years  on  the  school 
board.  Again  be  was  elected  mayor  in  1879,  and  whether  in  or  out 
of  office  hebas  always  taken  an  intelligent  and  active  interest  in  public 
affairs.  He  has  been  elevated  to  position  not  through  any  seeking  or 
desire  of  bis,  but  by  tbe  people  alone,  who  desired  his  services.  No 
man  in  Moberly  stands  higher  than  Judge  Burkholder.  The  Judge 
and  bis  good  wife  have  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children  :  John  T., 
Hettie  A.,  Mary  R.,  Mark  H.,  James  R.,  Helen  H.,  Lena,  Mattie  R., 
Paul  H.,  Claude  D.,  Ruby  and  Belle  A. 

WILLIAM  H.  CHISHOLM 

(Proprietor  of  the  Williams  Street  Meat,  Ves^etable  and  Game  Markets,  Moberly). 
Mr.  Chisbolm,  who  has  one  of  tbe  largest  establishments  in  bis 
line  in  this  city,  and  represents  the  first  ward  in  tbe  city  council,  be- 
iuf  a  successful  business  man  and  influential  citizen,  is  a  native  of 
Canada,  born  in  Lugaria,  May  18,  1853.  When  he  was  12  years  of 
age  bis  parents,  Archibald  and    Catherine  (McCrae)  Chisbolm,  tbe 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  391 

father  originally  from  Scotland,  and  the  mother  of  Scotch  descent, 
but  a  native  of  Canada,  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  William  A.  grew 
to  manhood.  He  received  a  good  ordinary  education  in  the  schools 
of  St.  Louis,  and  in  youth  learned  the  butcher's  business.  He  sub- 
sequently followed  butchering  in  that  city  until  1880,  when  he  came 
to  Moberly,  where  he  has  since  continued  the  business.  He  has  been 
quite  successful,  and  now  employs,  regularly,  three  men  in  his  establish- 
ment. Recognized  as  a  man  of  intelligence  and  sterling  character,  as  well 
as  public-spirited  and  enterprising,  in  April,  1880,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  a  position  he  now  fills  with  honor  to  himself 
and  credit  to  the  city.  On  the  18th  of  May,  1882,  Mr.  Chisholm  was 
married  ;  but  his  wife  survived  her  marriage,  however,  little  more 
than  a  year,  dying  in  June,  1883.  He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Catholic  Knights. 

WILLIAM    S.  CHRISTIAN 

(Farmer  aucl  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  C,  another  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  this  county,  is  a  native  of 
Scott  county,  Kentucky,  born  February  2,  1817.  His  parents,  Paul 
Christian  and  Mary  K.  Sutton,  were  both  from  Virginia,  but  strangely 
enough,  did  not  meet  until  both  had  moved  to  Kentucky,  where  the 
twain  were  made  one.  They,  came  to  Missouri  in  1832,  Paul  Chris- 
tian entering  land  and  improving  a  farm  in  Randolph,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death  in  the  fall  of  1851.  William  S.  spent  his 
early  years  on  the  farm,  learning  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  his 
father,  who  carried  on  a  shop  on  the  place.  Mr.  Christian  was  mar- 
ried October  8,  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  William  Terrill, 
formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Christian  was  herself  born  in  Kentucky, 
but  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Missouri.  Mr.  Christian  lived  un- 
til 1877  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  ;  he  then  moved  to  the 
farm  he  now  lives  on,  near  Moberly.  It  includes  250  acres  of 
land,  of  which  210  are  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  out-buildings  ;  there  is,  also,  a  fine  young  bearing  orchard 
with  some  grape  and  small  fruits.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian  have  five 
children  :  John  J.,  Ann  M.,  wife  of  Augustus  Miller  ;  Susan  C,  wife 
of  William  Burton;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Thomas  Yager,  and  Eva  M., 
now  a  young  lady  at  school  at  Winchester,  Tenn.  Mrs.  Christian 
is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  while  the  children 
all  belong  to  the  Christian  Church.  Mr,  Christian  is  a  member  of 
Morality  Lodge  No.  168,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  Renick. 

EDWIN  COOK 

(Architect  aud  Builder,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Cook,  who  occupies  a  leading  position  in  his  line  at  this  city, 
is  a  native  of  England,  born  in  Sussex,  May  1,  1836,  and  was  reared 
in  his  native  country.  His  education  was  limited  to  the  common 
schools,  and  his  parents,  though  respectable  and  worthy  people,  were 
not  wealthy.  So  he  has  had  his  own  way  to  make  in  the  world, 
20 


392  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

and  without  means  to  begin  on,  from  early  manhood.  Mr.  Cook 
learned  the  business  of  building  and  architecture  in  England,  and 
worked  at  it  there  with  success  until  1870,  when  he  came  to  America, 
then  located  in  Canada,  but  six  months  afterwards  removed  to  Kansas 
City,  where  he  followed  building  for  about  a  year,  and  then  settled 
permanently  at  Moberly.  For  four  years  he  was  contractor  and  su- 
perintendent of  construction  and  repairs  on  the  Wabash  Railroad, 
having  his  headquarters  at  this  place  during  that  tune.  Aside  from 
this,  he  has  been  engaged  exclusively  in  his  business  as  an  architect 
and  builder  at  Moberly  for  the  past  13  years.  A  man  of  supe- 
rior intelligence  and  full  of  energy  and  industry,  as  well  as  reliable 
and  upright,  his  career  has  been  an  entirely  successful  one,  and  he  is 
steadily  accumulating  the  substantial  evidences  of  prosperity.  He  has 
done  a  very  large  business  in  Moberl}',  but  being  a  thoroughly  honest 
man,  he  puts  none  but  the  best  material  in  his  building,  according  to 
the  prices  and  terms  agreed  on,  and  charges  only  such  sums  for  his 
work  and  skill  as  are  but  reasonable  and  fair,  so  that,  while  he  may 
not  accumulate  wealth  as  fast  as  some,  what  he  does  obtain  will  be 
only  the  fruits  of  honest  industry  and  enterprise,  and  may  be  enjoyed 
with  an  easy  conscience.  He  has  constructed  some  of  the  best  build- 
ings at  this  place,  and  there  is  but  one  testimony  as  to  the  character 
of  the  work —  entire  satisfaction.  Mr.  Cook  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  best  ai'chitects  and  builders  at  Moberly.  In  1858  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Emma  Pilbeam,  a  native  of  England.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren :  Edwin,  Alfred,  Emma,  John,  William  and  Elizabeth.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Brothers  of  Philanthrophy. 

WILLIAM  MARK  COYLE 

(Of  Coyle  &  Harris,  Real  Estate,  Fire  and  Life  Insurance  Agents,  Notaries  Public,  etc). 
Mr.  Coyle,  who  is  now  the  senior  member  of  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing business  agencies  of  the  city,  has  made  his  own  way  up  in  life, 
and,  considering  that  he  is  still  comparatively  a  young  man,  the  posi- 
tion he  now  occupies  in  the  business  community  where  he  resides 
is  of  no  ordinary  credit  to  his  worth  and  merits.  He  is  by  nativity  of 
the  Empire  State,  tliough  he  was  reared  in  Ohio.  Born  on  the  5th  of 
July,  1852,  when  he  was  but  two  j^ears  of  age  his  parents,  John  W. 
and  Mary  (Anderson)  Coyle,  removed  from  New  York  to  Ohio,  in 
which  latter  State  they  settled  in  Butler  county,  where  they  reared 
their  family,  the  father  being  a  tlirift}^  intelligent  and  successful 
farmer  of  that  county.  William  M.  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  the  Buck- 
eye State,  and  managed  to  scratch  around  and  get  a  pretty  good  com- 
mon Eno-lish  education  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  Of  an 
enterprising,  ambitious  turn  of  mind,  when  18  j^ears  of  age  he  de- 
cided to  quit  home  and  tap  the  great  world  farther  west  for  a  fortune. 
When  his  ancestors  came  over  from  Ireland,  prior  to  the  Revolution, 
they  transported  their  worldly  [)ossessions  in  a  long,  sleek  oil-cloth 
valise,  that  was  equally  adapted  for  carrying  bed  and  bedding,  the 
family  wardrobe  and  the  culinary  implements  of  the  household.    This 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  393 

ancient  relic  of  the  trans-Atlantic  migration  of  the  family  was  handed 
down  from  father  to  son  through  generations,  until  it  finally  became 
the  heritage  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  William  M.  now  got  the 
old  valise  down  and  loaded  it  with  his  singing-school  boots,  his  home- 
made ruffled  shirts  and  other  go-to-meeting  toggery,  and  he  and  the 
valise  struck  out  towards  the  setting  sun  to  see  whether  the  sky  really 
did  come  down  to  the  ground  where  it  seemed  to.  William  M.  was 
then  18  years  of  age,  and  pre-eminently  "a  youth  to  fortune  and  to 
fame  unknown."  The  further  West  they  came,  William  and  valise, 
the  bigger  the  world  seemed  to  get,  and  finally  they  landed,  "this  side 
up  with  care,"  at  St.  Louis.  The  valise  was  all  right  when  it  got  here, 
and  as  full  as  it  was  when  they  started  out,  but  William,  in  the  abdom- 
inal regions,  was  in  much  the  condition  that  the  average  bank  is  whose 
stockholders  too  long  and  too  implicitly  trust  a  Sunday-school  super- 
intendent to  carry  the  keys  to  the  cash  vault,  while  his  pockets,  so 
far  as  dingbats  were  concerned,  were  as  flat  as  bursted  bladders. 
Somethino;  had  to  be  done,  and  William  went  to  work  to  o;et  work. 
He  soon  obtained  employment  on  a  street  railroad,  and  although  this 
was  pretty  hard  work,  he  was  sure  it  beat  plowing.  At  any  rate,  he 
prospered  physically,  and  mentally  he  did  not  retrograde.  In  1872 
he  obtained  a  situation  as  brakenian  on  the  North  Missouri  Railroad, 
working  for  two  years  on  a  freight  train.  He  then  became  brakeman 
on  a  passenger  train.  In  1874  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  baggage 
car,  and  after  three  years'  service  in  that  capacity,  he  was  given  charge 
of  an  express  car.  Here  he  also  remained  for  three  years.  He  now 
decided  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own  account,  and  he  became  a 
wholesale  dealer  in  and  an  extensive  shipper  of  butter  and  eggs. 
This  was  in  1880,  and  he  followed  it  with  success  until  he  engaged  in 
his  present  business,  in  February,  1882.  His  career,  as  outlined 
above,  is,  as  any  one  may  see  at  a  glance,  one  of  entire  credit,  and  one 
that  no  worthy  man  need  be  ashamed  of.  In  the  12  years  from  1870, 
when  he  landed  in  St.  Louis,  up  to  1882,  when  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business  in  this  city,  he  has  been  in  five  different  employ- 
ments, atid  in  all  of  them  he  acquitted  himself  ftiithfully  and  worthily, 
and  retired  from  them  voluntarily,  either  on  account  of  promotion  or 
to  engage  in  some  other  business  better  than  the  employment  which 
preceded  it.  In  his  present  line  of  business  his  career  has  been  one 
of  gratifying  success.  There  is  no  more  popular  firm  in  Moberly  than 
that  of  Coyle  &  Harris  in  their  line.  Their  business  will  be  spoken 
of  at  greater  length  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Harris,  on  a  subsequent  page 
of  this  volume.  Mr.  Coyle  is  a  gentleman  of  fine  business  qualifica- 
tions, a  clear  head  and  a  good  heart,  and  popular  with  all  who  know 
him.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Belle  Dunlap, 
a  native  of  Canada,  but  educated  in  England.  They  have  one  child; 
Archibald  L.  Edwin,  the  eldest,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Coyle  takes 
an  active  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  city,  and  at  present  rep- 
resents the  third  ward  in  the  city  council.  / 


394  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 


JOHN  T.  cox,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Moberly) . 

Dr.  Cox,  the  Nestor  of  the  medical  profession  in  this  city,  and  a 
physician  of  high  standing  and  hirge  practice,  is  a  native  Missourian, 
born  in  Monroe  county,  near  Florida,  December  4,  1839.  His  school 
advantages  were  those  of  the  common  schools  of  his  native  vicinity, 
with  a  course  at  Prairie  High  School  superadded.  His  father,  Jacob 
Cox,  was  a  substantial  farmer  of  Monroe  county,  but  was  not  a 
wealthy  man  ;  so  that  the  son,  in  early  manhood,  had  to  make  his 
own  start  in  life.  Ambitious  to  rise  above  an  ordinary  condition,  he 
conceived  a  purpose  to  devote  himself  to  the  medical  profession  as  the 
avenue  to  his  advancement.  To  carry  out  that  design,  however,  he 
had  to  provide  himself  with  pecuniary  means,  and  having  a  good  gen- 
eral education  and  well  qualified  to  instruct  the  young,  he  engaged 
temporarily  in  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  at  a  satisfactory  salary. 
Young  Cox  became  quite  successful  as  a  teacher,  and  continued  teach- 
ing for  about  four  years.  During  this  time  he  also  read  medicine,  de- 
voting the  extra  months  of  his  school  years  to  study,  and  also 
studying  during  the  rest  of  the  time  while  not  actively  engaged  in  the 
duties  of  the  school-room.  His  medical  preceptor  was  Dr.  R.  R. 
Hall,  of  Florida,  Mo.  In  due  time  he  entered  the  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  graduated  with  distinction  in  1870. 
Immediately  after  his  graduation,  Dr.  Cox  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  this  city,  and  has  since  continued  it.  Thoroughly 
qualified  for  the  practice,  14  years  of  active  work  in  his  profession,  as 
well  as  of  continuous  study  during  this  time  —  for  he  has  always  been 
a  close  student  —  have  sufficed  to  place  him  in  the  front  rank  of  phy- 
sicians in  this  section  of  the  State.  His  practice,  already  large  and 
highly  respectable  in  character,  is  steadily  increasing  in  volume  and 
profit,  and  he  is  rapidly  accumulating  the  substantial  evidences  of  pros- 
perity. Personally,  Dr.  Cox  stands  very  high,  and  is  esteemed  not 
less  as  a  man  and  citizen  than  as  a  physician.  On  the  16th  of  De- 
cember, 1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss  D.  T.  Hall,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  R.  R.  Hall,  his  former  preceptor.  They  have  two  children: 
Frederick  E.  and  Helen.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  District  and  State 
Medical  Societies.  His  parents  were  originally  from  Kentucky,  and 
his  mother,  before  her  marriage,  was  a  Miss  Cassandra  Talbot,  of  the 
old  and  respected  Talbot  family,  originally  of  Virginia  and  afterwards 
also  of  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  as  well  as  of  other  States. 

CHARLES  W.  DIGGES 

(Dealer  in  Groceries,  Provisions,  Wood  and  Willow-ware,  Flour,  Bacon,  Fish,  Cigars, 
Tobacco,  etc.,  etc.,  Moberly). 

Mr.   Digges,   one  of  the  enterprising  and  popular  grocers  of  this 
city,  is  by   nativity  and  bringing  up  a  son  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  395 

has  proved  himself*  eminently  worth}^  of  the  o-allant  old  hero-land  that 
gave  him  birth.  When  the  war  broke  out  in  1861,  he  was  a  young  man 
in  his  twenty-second  year,  and  was  a  clerk  for  McClellan,  Scruggs  & 
Co.,  of  St.  Louis,  having  come  out  West  a  couple  of  years  before.  But 
when  Virginia  called  for  volunteers  to  defend  her  against  invasion,  he 
returned  to  his  mother  State  and  became  a  plighted  soldier  of  the 
Commonwealth  and  the  South.  He  enlisted  in  what  is  known  in  his- 
tory as  the  Black  Horse  of  Virginia,  a  command  that  won  a  reputation 
for  gallantry  and' fearlessness  that  will  last  as  long  as  bravery  on  the 
field  of  battle  is  esteemed  a  virtue  among  men.  We  have  not  the 
space  to  follow  the  career  of  Mr.  Digges  through  the  war.  Suffice  it 
to  say,  that  he  did  his  whole  duty  as  a  member  of  that  celebrated  com- 
mand, and  was  six  times  pierced  with  Federal  liullets  while  gallantly 
fighting  for  the  honor  and  independence  of  his  country.  But  few  of 
the  young  men  who  started  out  with  him  in  18(51  lived  to  return  to 
their  homes,  but  those  who  did  survive,  or  most  of  them,  came  back 
as  he  did,  covered  with  honorable  scars,  the  proudest  decorations  a 
soldier  can  wear.  After  Lee's  surrender,  Mr.  Digges  was  taken  pris- 
oner and  confined  at  Johnson's  Island  for  three  months,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  which  time,  the  war  being  over,  he  was  discharged.  In  the 
array  he  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  for  a  long  time  was  on  the 
staff  of  Gen.  AV.  H.  Payne.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  St.  Louis 
and  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  for  Hawkins,  Albert  &  Co.,  and 
was  on  the  road  afterwards,  being  with  other  houses  for  seven  years. 
A  man  full  of  life  and  animatioii,  of  good  business  qualifications,  and 
a  jovial,  agreeable  companion,  he  became  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  successful  traveling  salesmen  on  the  road,  and  accumulated  suffi- 
cient means  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own  account.  He  accord- 
ingly located  at  Moberly,  and  was  engaged  in  merchandising  at 
this  place  for  a  short  time,  when,  being  offered  a  highly  advantage- 
ous position  with  the  Taylor  Manufacturing  Company,  of  St.  Louis, 
he  disposed  of  his  business  here  and  returned  to  the  road,  continuing 
a  traveling  salesman  for  some  five  years.  On  the  9th  of  October, 
1873,  Mr.  Digges  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Rucker,  of  Huntsville,  and 
he  finally  decided  to  settle  down  again  in  business  on  his  own  account. 
In  the  fall  of  1879  he  established  his  present  store  at  Moberly,  and 
has  been  engaged  in  the  business  ever  since.  Possessing  the  business 
qualifications  and  popular  manners  and  dispositicm  that  Mr.  Digges 
has,  he  could  hardly  fail  of  becoming  a  po[)ular  merchant.  With  a 
good  word  for  every  one,  and  accommodating  in  his  store  and  wher- 
ever he  may  be,  he  has  gathered  around  him  a  host  of  friends,  and 
keeping  as  he  does  a  large  and  well-selected  stock  of  groceries  and 
other  goods  of  kindred  lines,  he  has  naturally  built  up  an  extensive 
custom.  Mr.  Digges  has  one  of  the  best  retail  stores  in  his  line  in 
Moberly,  and  is  doing  a  flourishing  and  steadily  increasing  business. 
Judging  by  every  indication,  he  has  the  promise  of  becoming  more 
than  ordinarily  successful.  Mr.  Digges,  himself  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter and  ujiimpeachable  integrity,  comes  of  a  good  old  Virginia  fam- 


396  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ily.  He  w:is  born  in  Fauquier  county,  August  25,  1839,  and  received 
a  more  than  average  general  education  as  he  grew  up,  in  the  Male 
and  Female  Seminary  of  Warrenton,  Va.  His  father  was  Charles 
W.  Digges,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Fauquier  county.  The  Digges 
have  long  been  settled  in  Virginia,  and  came  from  England  prior  to 
the  Kevolutionary  War.  Representatives  of  the  family  have  from  time 
to  time  held  prominent  positions  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  Old 
Dominion.  Mr.  Digges'  mother  was  a  Miss  Elizabeth  McClenichan, 
and  she  was  originally  from  New  York.  Mr.  Digges,  before  coming 
to  Missouri,  prior  to  the  war,  and  when  a  youth,  followed  clerking  in 
a  dry  goods  store,  and  was  even  then  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
efficient  and  popular  young  men  connected  with  mercantile  business  at 
Warrenton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Digges  have  two  children  :  Anna  E.  and 
Charles  W.  Mrs.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is 
an  active  and  popular  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

W.  L.  DURBIN 

(Train  Master  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad,  Moberly). 

The  duties  of  train  dispatcher  and  master  are  exceeded  in  responsi- 
bility by  those  of  no  other  position  in  the  railway  service.  The  in- 
terests of  life  and  property  to  an  extent  beyond  estimation  are  directly 
dependent  upon  the  efficiency,  close  attention  and  fidelity  of  this 
officer.  He  orders  the  trains  out,  directs  where  and  how  they  shall  be 
run,  and  all  must  follow  his  mandate  without  question.  Of  course  he 
must  be  systematic,  clear-headed  and  always  conversant  with  the 
minutise  of  train  work.  One  mistake  of  his  may  cost  hundreds  of 
lives  and  the  destruction  of  property  almost  beyond  valuation.  None 
but  the  most  trustworthy  and  capable  men  are  allowed  to  fill  this 
position  —  men  whose  qualifications  and  character  and  reliability  are 
beyond  question.  And  ihe  fact  that  one  holds  this  position  is  a  com- 
pliment of  no  ordinary  significance  and  value  to  the  incumbent,  —  it 
is  such  a  compliment  as  to  attempt  to  express  it  in  words  would  do  the 
officer  to  whom  it  belongs  an  injustice,  for  as  the  finer  code  of  morals 
and  civility  cannot  be  written,  so  there  are  acts  indicative  of  confidence 
and  esteem  which  cannot  be  properly  expressed  in  words.  Mr.  Dnr- 
bin  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Marion  county,  near  Palmyra, 
April  4,  1849,  his  parents,  Richard  and  Lucy  (Logsdon)  Durbin,  being 
early  settlers  of  that  county  from  Kentucky,  having  removed  to  Marion 
county  in  1832.  Young  Durbin  spent  his  early  years  on  the  farm  in 
Marion  county  and  received  a  good  ordinary  common  school  education 
as  he  grew  up.  In  1864,  being  then  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  obtained 
a  situation  in  a  local  office  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  to 
learn  the  telegraph  business.  He  learned  that  business  and  followed 
it  with  success  for  four  years,  when  he  obtained  a  situation  with  the 
Missouri  Pacific  as  train  dispatcher,  which  he  filled  with  satisfaction 
to  the  company  for  two  years.  Prior  to  this,  however,  and  when  but 
seventeen  years  of  age,  young  Durbin  had  discharged  the  duties  of 
train  dispatcher  at  Rrookfield  and  with  such  efficiency  that  he  was 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  397 

safely  intrusted  with  a  similar  position  later  along.  Mr.  Durbin  came 
to  Moberly  in  1869  and  assumed  the  duties  of  his  present  office.  He 
now  has  charge  of  over  600  miles  of  road  and  the  hundreds  of  trains 
that  he  starts  out  daily  all  run  with  the  regularity  of  clock-work. 
Under  his  management  of  this  section  of  the  road  there  have  been 
fewer  collisions  and  accidents  resulting  from  irregular  trains  than  dur- 
ing any  former  period  of  its  existence,  comparing  the  time  year  with 
year.  Of  a  quick  mind,  and  alert  and  active  and  possessed  of  superior 
business  qualifications,  Mr.  Durbin  has  become  one  of  the  best  train 
dispatchers  in  the  railway  service,  and  from  long  experience  he  has 
been  able  to  build  up  a  system  of  dispatching  trains  which  is  with- 
out a  superior,  if  it  has  an  equal.  A  number  of  young  men  have 
learned  the  business  under  him,  and  have  become  connected  with  other 
roads,  doing  credit  by  their  success  not  less  to  their  preceptor  than  to 
themselves.  On  the  7th  of  February,  1871,  Mr.  Durbin  was  married 
to  Miss  Missouri  Pew,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  A.  D.  Pew,  of  Montgomery 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durbin  have  been  blessed  with  seven  children  : 
Maud  L.,  Laura  L.,  Nellie  W.,  William  L.,  Kichard,  Lillie  and  Mis- 
souri. Lillie,  the  next  to  the  youngest,  died  December  9,  1883.  Mr. 
Durbin,  in  1874,  when  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  was  elected 
mayor  of  Moberly  and  has  also  been  council man-at-large  for  the 
city.  It  is  but  the  plain  truth  to  say  that  he  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  young  men  in  the  city.  A.  gentleman  in  the  highest  and  best 
sense  of  the  word  in  character,  manners  and  conversation,  he  is  liked 
by  every  one.  He  will  doubtless  yet  hold  positions  both  in  the  rail- 
way and  in  the  civil  service  of  honor  and  importance  compared  to 
which  his  past  positions  would  be  but  evanescent  coruscations. 

FINIS   T.  DYSART 

(Dealer  in  Groceries,  both  fancy  and  staple,  and  in  Wood  and  Willow-ware,  Cigars, 

Tobacco,  Etc.,  Moberly). 

When  the  war  broke  out  in  1861,  Mr.  Dysart  was  a  young  man 
21  years  of  age,  and  being  a  Missourian  of  Southern  antecedents 
and  sympathies,  as  well  as  believing  that  the  South  was  right  on 
the  questions  then  at  issue,  he  proved  the  faith  of  his  convictions 
by  enlisting  for  the  service  under  the  three-barred  banner  of  the  Con- 
federacy. He  became  a  volunteer  under  Gen.  Price,  and  served  for 
one  year  in  the  Southern  arm}^  under  that  old  Pater  Patnie  of  Mis- 
souri. His  health  failing,  however,  he  was  compelled  to  return  home 
and  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  on  account  of  physical 
disability,  his  eyes  having  almost  lost  their  power  of  sight.  Some 
time  afterwards,  having  recovered  his  health  to  a  measurable  degree, 
he  worked  under  his  father  in  the  tobacco  business  in  Macon  county 
for  a  few  years.  Mr.  Dysart  then  removed  to  Salisburjs  in  Chariton 
county,  and  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  which  he  followed  Avith 
success  for  about  three  years.  In  1871  he  was  appointed  deputy 
sherift'  of  Chariton  county,  a  position  he  filled  during  the  years  1871-2. 
In  1874  Mr.  Dysart  was  elected  county  clerk   of  Chariton  county  and 


398  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

held  that  office  for  eight  years.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  last  term  of 
office,  ou  the  1st  of  Januarj,  1883,  he  carne  to  Moberly  and  engaged 
ill  his  present  business.  Mr.  Dj'sart,  who,  as  every  one  in  Chariton 
county  knows,  made  one  of  the  best  county  clerks  that  couutj'"  ever 
had,  is  a  thorough-going  business  man,  perfectly  reliable  and  of  a 
more  than  ordinarily  acconimcKlating  disposition  and  agreeable  man- 
ners. These  qualities  are  having  the  effect  to  make  him  one  of  the 
successful  retail  business  men  of  Moberly.  He  has  an  excellent  stock 
of  goods  and  sells  at  prices  which  inevitably  bring  him  a  large  trade. 
He  has  everything  to  be  found  in  his  line,  and  in  great  variet}"^  and  of 
the  best  grades,  so  that  a  customer  has  the  advantage  of  selecting  just 
such  goods  as  he  wants  and  at  prices  at  which  he  cannot  fairly  com- 
plain. In  November,  1867,  Mr.  Dysart  was  married  to  Miss  Lou 
Bastin,  of  Chariton  county.  She  lived,  however,  only  about  seven 
3^ears,  dying  in  1874,  having  borne  him  three  children,  only  one  of 
whom,  Chiude,  is  now  living.  The  deceased  are,  an  infant  and  Lou, 
the  latter  of  whom  survived  her  mother  only  about  six  months,  dying 
in  November,  1874.  To  his  last  wife,  previously  Mrs.  Lou  Sands, 
Mr.  Dysart  was  married  in  1878.  She  is  also  deceased,  having  died 
in  October,  1881.  There  is  one  child  by  this  marriage,  Anna.  Effie, 
the  other,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Dysart  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order  and  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  His  father, 
Rev.  James  Dysart,  was  a  prominent  minister  in  that  denomination, 
and  for  many  years  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Macon  county.  Mr. 
Dysart  was  born  in  that  county  March  1,  1840.  His  higher  education 
was  received  at  McGee  College.  In  1880  he  was  a  prominent  candi- 
date for  the  nomination  for  Secretary  of  State  in  the  Democratic 
Convention,  and  came  very  near  receiving  the  nomination. 

GEORGE  WILLIAM  FAIRGRIEVE,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Treatment  of  the  Eye  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children, 

Specialties,  Moberly,  Mo.). 

Dr.  Fairgrieve,  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  scientific  prac- 
titioners in  the  profession  in  his  city,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
comes  of  an  old  and  distinguished  Scotch  family  in  the  line  of  the 
Stuarts,  receiving  his  general  education  in  America,  his  classical  in 
Scotland,  and  his  medical  in  both  England  and  America.  He  was  born 
in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  May  23,  1848  ;  is  the  eldest  son  of  George  Fairgrieve, 
who  was  born  in  Galashiels,  Scotland,  October  24,  1817,  and  Agnes 
Stalker  Fairgrieve,  who  was  born  in  E(linl)urgh,  Scotland,  January 
21,  1820.  Dr.  Fairgrieve's  father  being  engaged  by  Crosley  &  Co.,  of 
England,  in  placing  the  famous  power  carpet  loom  in  the  different 
manufacturing. towns  of  the  East,  and  in  bringing  families  over  to 
take  charge  of  and  operate  the  same,  it  necessitated  numerous  trips 
back  and  forth  across  the  ocean,  and  as  a  rule  the  family  went  with 
him,  until  1868,  when  he  retired  from  active  life.  He  died  in  Octo- 
ber, 1873,  after  a  short  illness.  His  mother  is  still  living,  in  Tilli- 
coultry, Scotland.     The  elder  Fairgrieve  being  all  of  his  active  life  in 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  399 

the  manufacturing  business,  was  of  tlie  opinion  that  his  son  George 
should  be  a  manufacturer,  and  svith  this  end  in  view,  insisted  that  he 
should  work  through  the  various  departments,  from  the  raw  wool  to 
the  finished  product,  and  accomplished  his  desire  to  quite  an  extent. 
But  his  mother,  who  thought  it  would  be  better  to  give  the  boy  his 
own  choice,  succeeded  in  having  his  time  divided  l)etweon  the  facto- 
ries and  the  schools.  As  earh^  as  1860  we  find  the  boy,  when  only  12 
years  of  age,  rolling  pills  in  a  doctor's  oflSce.  In  1868,  an  assistant 
in  practice  with  Dr.  Russell,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  where  he  con- 
tinued outside  of  lecture  hours  for  several  years.  In  1875  we  find 
him  with  Dr.  Eobertson,  of  London,  England.  But  his  mechanical 
turn  of  mind  found  the  most  satisfaction  in  the  science  of  Surgery, 
and  he  placed  himself  under  the  charge  of  the  eminent  Surgeon  of 
Westminster  Hospital,  Mr.  Richard  Davy,  and  for  two  years  gave 
close  attention  to  the  rectification  of  deformities.  Then  he  connected 
himself  with  the  Eye  and  Ear  hospital  in  London,  known  as  the  West- 
minster Royal  Opthalmic,  Charing  Cross,  under  the  direct  tutorage 
of  the  chief  surgeon  of  European  fame,  Mr.  Charles  Macnamara, 
author  of  several  works  on  the  Eye  and  its  Diseases.  Mr.  Macnamara 
is  now  in  British  India,  the  chief  surgeon  and  founder  of  the  large 
school  and  hospital  in  Calcutta.  Dr.  Fairgrieve  remained  in  England 
most  of  the  time  until  1879,  and  passed  from  one  division  of  his  chosen 
profession  to  another,  until  he  had  given  all  of  its  l^ranches  close  at- 
tention, and  during  this  time  he  enjoyed  privileges  surpassed  by  few; 
was  assistant  house  surgeon  in  Westminster  School  and  Hospital,  un- 
der Surgeon  Cowell,  Obstetrics  under  Surgeon  Barnes,  Dentistry 
under  Surgeon  Gregg,  and  filled  the  ofiice  of  demonstrator  of  anatomy 
under  Surgeon  Thomas  E.  Cooke  (author  of  Cooke's  Tablets  of  Anat- 
omy and  Physiology)  in  his  school  for  practitioners  perfecting  them- 
selves for  membership  in  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  of  England. 
Young  Fairgrieve  was  always  busy,  and  took  great  pleasure  in 
imparting  any  knowledge  he  had  gained  to  others.  But  with  a  view  of 
locating  for  life,  and  not  caring  to  wait  for  dead  men's  shoes,  he  returned 
to  his  native  land,  America,  after  making  several  trips  as  surgeon  on 
ocean  steamers  plying  between  this  country  and  England.  And  we 
find  him  pushing  his  way  Westward,  and  connecting  himself  with  the 
Medical  department  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa  to  acquire  knowledge 
of  any  peculiarities  that  might  exist  that  would  enable  him  to  practice 
his  profession  successfully  in  this  Western  country.  He  graduated 
from  this  school  with  honor,  and  was  his  class  representative  at  the 
banquet  upon  the  commencement  day.  All  of  Dr.  Fairgrieve' s  studies 
have  been  in  the  regular  rational  school  of  medicine,  improperly  nick- 
named allopathy  by  the  founder  of  homeopathy.  He  then  located  in 
Moberly,  M©.  A  characteristic  of  his  has  ever  been  close,  untiring 
studionsness.  Dr.  Fairgrieve  has  an  excellent  practice  at  Moberly  ; 
has  had  built  for  him  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  city,  and  has 
his  office  in  one  of  the  finest  business  blocks  in  the  city.  His  rooms 
are  specially  adapted  for  his  convenience,  the  plans  of  the  same  being 


400  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

drawn  by  him.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  general  practice  , 
also  in  his  special  treatment  of  the  Eye  and  Deformities,  and  is  con- 
ceded to  be  one  of  the  finest  Oculists  in  this  section  of  the  State, 
and  as  he  is  at  all  times  courteous,  and  very  conscientious,  being 
careful  not  to  overstate  expected  results,  he  makes  a  friend  of  every 
one  he  meets.  The  Doctor  is  a  man  of  tine  literary  attainments,  and 
is  the  president  of  the  Garrick  Club  ;  also  director  of  the  Railroad 
Literary  Club  —  both  flourishing  societies  of  Moberly.  In  fact,  the 
Doctor  is  the  chosen  leader  in  all  literary  matters  in  his  city.  January 
19,  1870,  Dr.  Fairgrieve  was  married  to  Inez  P.  Ferguson,  who  was 
born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  September  12,  1850,  and  is  the  seventh 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Keziah  Ferguson  ;  her  father  being  Scotch, 
and  her  mother  English.  They  have  had  born  to  them  three  chil- 
dren: Emma  Inez,  born  Februarv  14,  1876  ;  Agnes  Seton,  born  March 
26,  1880,  died  June  22,  1880;  George  Ernest,  born  April  30,  1881. 
George  and  Emma  are  both  living,  and  are  bright  and  promising 
children.  Old  members  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
will  remember  Dr.  Fairgrieve's  father,  when  they  recall  the  time  when 
Odd  Fellowship  was  at  a  very  low  ebb  in  America  ;  when,  in  fact,  the 
names  of  George  Fairgrieve,  Thomas  Barr,  George  Ash  worth,  and 
Robert  J.  Garrett  were  among  the  few  who  held  on  to  their  charters, 
and  defended  the  order,  which  has  since  grown  into  such  glorious 
magnitude.  Dr.  Fairgrieve  joined  the  order  May  23,  1869,  upon  the 
evening  of  his  twenty-first  birthday,  and  in  due  season  passed  through 
the  various  chairs  of  the  subordinate  lodge  and  into  the  Encampment. 
Dr.  Fairgrieve  never  had  any  sisters,  and  only  one  brother,  James 
Fairo-rieve,  who  is  now  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in  New  York 
City.     He  is  three  years  younger  than  the  Doctor. 

HON.  DANIEL  S.  FORNEY 

(Mayor  of  the  City  of  Moberly). 
There  is  something  in  the  nature  of  an  instinct  in  the  public 
mind,  involuntary  and  unerring  as  it  always  seems  to  be,  which 
prompts  the  people,  when  their  civil  afljiirs  become  embarrassed 
and  in  a  critical  condition,  to  select  some  man  in  their  midst  un- 
thought  of  before,  but  whose  character  and  qualifications  make  him 
pre-eminently  a  man  for  the  occasion,  to  take  charge  of  their  aflairs 
and  bring  order  out  of  chaos.  Then  it  is  that  the  noisy  politicians 
are  brushed  aside  and  the  individual  in  whom  worth  and  becom- 
ing modesty  are  combined  is  selected.  It  was  such  an  uprising 
of  the  people  of  Moberly  in  the  spring  of  1883  that  made  the  plain, 
unpretentious,  common-sense  citizen  Avhose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
mayor  of  the  city.  For  years  previous  he  had  gone  on,  keeping  the 
even  tenor  of  his  way  and  quietly  attending  to  his  business,  and,  by 
mingling  with  his  fellow-citizens  and  transacting  business  with  them 
from  day  to  day,  he  impressed  upon  them,  all  unconscious  of  it  himself, 
the  strength  and  worth  of  his  character,  his  soljd,  level-headed  busi- 
ness qualifications,  and  that  he  was  the  man  for  an  emergency  in  city 


I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY,  401 

affairs.     Little   more  than  a  year  ago,  through  bad  financiering  and 
bad  management,  the  bonds  of  the  city  and  its  other  forms  of  indebt- 
edness were   being  hawked   about  the  streets   and   elsewhere  at  20c 
on  the   dollar,  and  the  city  treasury  was  empty.     Municipal   affairs 
could  hardly  have  been  in  a  worse  condition.     The  government  of  the 
city  was  in  great  embarrassment,  and  something  had  to  be  done.    The 
politicians  and  professional  pap-suckers  came  forward,  each  with  his 
scheme  and  device  to  relieve  the  city,  if  he  were  only  given  some  cov- 
eted  place.     They  had  been  relieving  it  in  the  same  way  too  many 
years,  until  they  had   about  "relieved"   it  of  all   its  funds   and   its 
ability  to  raise  them.     It  was  then  that  a  general  demand  went  up  for 
a  good,  practical,  level-headed  business  man  to  take  charge  of  affairs 
and  straighten  things  out.     Out  of  the  many  citizens  of  Moberly  of 
this  class,  Mr.  Forney  was  selected  as  being  the  one  best  calculated 
for  the  work.     He  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  and  the  bum- 
mers and  "professionals"  were  relegated  to  the  rear.     How  well  he 
has  fulfilled  the  expectations  which  were  justly  formed  of  his  adminis- 
tration is  well  known  to  all.     Order  has   been  brought  out  of  confu- 
sion, and  the  financial  condition  of  the  city  has  been  restored  to  credit 
and  health.     No  city  in   the  State  is  better  governed  or  in  a  better 
condition,  so  far  as  its  public  affairs  are  concerned,  than  is  Moberl3^ 
But  the   most  conclusive  evidence  of  the  wonderful  change  that  has 
been  wrought  in  this  respect  is  afforded  by  the  quotations  of  the  city 
bonds  in  the  markets.     Capital  is  sensitive,  and  the  way  it  regards  a 
city  is  the  surest  index  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  place.     One 
year  of  Mr.  Forney  at  the  head  of  affairs  has  sufficed  to  run  the  bonds 
of  the  city  up  to  97c  in  the  markets,  and  they  are  everywhere  sought 
after  as  safe  and  reliable  securities.     Such  a  record  in  national  affairs 
would  justly  make  any  man  famous,  and  such  a  record  in  any  large  city 
of  the  country  Avould  make  his  name  public  by  commendation  through- 
out the  land.     But  Mr.  Forney,  a  quiet,  unpretending  man,  takes  no 
special  credit  to  himself  for  what  he  has  done,  and  when  he  speaks  of  it 
at  all,   says  that   he   has  done   only  his  duty  and  to  the  best  of  his 
ability.     With  ftir-sighted  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  he  is  now  carry- 
ing forward  a  system  of  general  sewerage,  and  is  also  improving  the 
water  supply,  both  of  which  movements  when  carried  forward  to  com- 
pletion will  be  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  city,  not  only  directly  ]>ut 
in  attracting  wealth  and  population  and  increased  business  and  pros- 
perity to  the  place.     Mr.  Forney  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born 
June  6,  1834,  and  was  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Buchanan)  For- 
ney, his  father  originally  of  Maryland,  but  his  mother  of  West  Vir- 
ginia.    In  an. early  day  the  family  removed  West,  and  the  father  now 
lives  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  the  mother  having  died  in  1854.     In  1856 
Daniel  S.  Forney,  having  grown  to  manhood  in  the  meantime,  went  to 
Texas  and  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  but  closed  out  in  1861  and 
returned  to  Virginia.     The   following  year  he  came  to  Missouri,  and 
for  ten  years  succeeding  was  engaged  in  the  tobacco  business,  trading 
in  leaf  tobacco  and  manufacturinir  cigars  and  tobacco  for  sale.     How- 


402  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ever,  in  1869,  Mr.  Forney  came  to  Moberly,  and  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  cit}'  ever  since,  a  period  now  of  fifteen  years.  He  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  business  some  nine  years  ago,  and  has  since  continued 
it  with  excellent  success.  He  carries  a  fine  stock  of  goods  and  com- 
mands a  large  trade.  On  the  9th  of  September,  1856,  Mr.  Forney 
was  married  to  Miss  Henrietta  Beatty.  She  was  formerly  of  Ohio. 
This  excellent  lady  lived  to  brighten  his  home  for  nearly  20  years, 
dying,  however,  June  27,  1873.  She  had  borne  him  four  children, 
who  are  living:  May,  now  Mrs.  George  Miller,  of  Virginia;  Erwin, 
at  home  with  his  father;  Etta,  now  Mrs.  Robert  Ditty,  of  Virginia, 
iind  Frank,  who  is  also  with  his  father.  To  his  present  wife,  Mr. 
Forney  was  married  July  22,1874.  She  was  a  Miss  Cyrene  Gregory, 
of  Grant  county,  Ky.,  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady.  Mr.  F.  is  a 
member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  order.  Whether  he  is  of 
any  kin  to  the  well-known  John  W.  Forney  on  his  father's  side,  or  to 
ex-President  James  Buchanan  on  his  mother's  side,  the  writer  does 
not  know,  for  the  question  was  not  asked,  but  as  the  families  all  come 
from  the  same  section  of  country,  it  is  not  improbable  that  they  are 
related.  Mr.  Forney's  success  in  public  life  is  another  evidence  of 
this  inference. 

JUDGE  JOHN   F.  HANNAH 

(Breeder  aud  Dealer  in  Thorougbred  Jersey  Cattle) . 

Judge  H.  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Tenn.,  March  25,  1822.  His 
parents,  Andrew  Hannah  and  Margaret  Patton,  were  natives  of  North 
Carolina.  They  moved  from  North  Carolina  to  Tennessee,  and  after  liv- 
ing there  for  twenty  years,  came  in  1832  to  Randolph  county,  Missouri, 
locating  about  two  miles  from  the  town  of  Moberly,  where  the  senior 
Hannah  remained  until  his  death  in  May,  1853.  Mr.  Hannah,  Sr., 
was  a  man  of  great  piety,  and  nearly  all  his  life  a  ruling  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the 
first  Cumberland  Presb^'terian  Church  in  this  county,  the  first  meeting 
being  held  at  his  house.  He  afterwards  gave  the  land  for  the  Sugar 
Creek  Church  and  cemeteiy.  His  son,  the  Judge,  grew  up  in  the 
neighborhood  of  his  present  home,  and  with  some  assistance  from  the 
common  schools,  educated  himself.  He  was  married  the  first  time  to 
Miss  Emily  E.,a  daughter  of  William  Roberts,  of  Randolph.  Mrs. 
H.  died  in  1859,  leaving  three  sons,  L.  B.,  O.  E.  and  H.  O.,  all  in 
business  in  Moberly,  and  the  heads  of  families.  Mr.  Hannah's  second 
wife,  whom  he  espoused  January  30,  1861,  was  Miss  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  David  S.  and  Angeline  (Hill)  Bouton,  of  Delaware 
county,  New  York.  This  lady  was  raised  and  educated  in  that  State, 
and  reflects  much  credit  upon  it.  She  is  one  of  instinctive  and 
cultured  refinement,  and  her  mental  gifts  are  rrfre  ;  her  educational 
training  was  very  thorough,  and  she  was  successful  in  imparting  to 
others  her  store  of  knowledge.  She  first  came  to  Missouri  to  accept 
a  position  as  teacher  in  the  Macon  High  School.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
H.  have  four  children:  Minnie,  Alma,  Wilbur  and  Franklin.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Hannah  settled  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  vvhicli 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  403 

was  then  only  partially  improved.  He  has  80  acres  where  he  lives, 
and  80  acres  of  timber.  He  has  recently  sold  off  a  part  of  the  farm, 
and  built  a  handsome  residence  one  mile  north  of  town.  He  has  a 
good  new  barn,  etc.,  and  has  for  the  last  five  years  made  a  business  of 
breeding  and  dealing  in  thoroughbred  Jersey  cattle.  Judge  Hannah 
is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1880  was  nominated  and  served  for  two  years 
with  honorable  distinction  as  county  judge.  He  was  also  magistrate 
for  about  ten  years,  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Exchange 
Bank  at  Moberly.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  while  his  wife  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church  ;  the  latter 
is  president  of  the  Woman's  Temperance  Union.  Both  of  the 
daughters  are  graduates  of  Chaddock  College,  111.  This  is  one  of  the 
very  first  fsimilies  in  the  township,  and  would  be  sought  after  in  any 
society. 

BEN.  T.  HARDIN 

(Of  Martin  &  Hardin,  Attorneys  at  Law,  Moberly.) 
Mr.  Hardin,  a  young  lawyer  of  marked  ability  and  of  recognized 
prominence  in  his  profession,  is  a  descendant  of  Hon.  Ben.  Har- 
din, of  Bardstown,  Ky.,  for  over  20  years  a  member  of  Congress 
from  that  State,  and  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  distinguished 
criminal  lawyers  who  ever  addressed  a  jury  in  the  Blue  Grass 
Commonwealth.  He  was  also  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  that  State,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention  in  1849,  and  Secretary  of  State  of  Kentucky  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  prior  to  that  time.  Mr.  Hardin's  father,  Ben.  Hardin, 
Jr.,  was  also  a  man  of  marked  ability  and  strong  character.  He 
married  a  Miss  Susan  G.  Hubbard,  pf  this  State,  and  made  his  per- 
manent home  in  Randolph  county.  Ben.  T.  Hardin  was  born 
in  this  county,  October  8,  1852.  His  education  was  received  at 
Mt.  Pleasant  College,  Huntsville,  Mo.,  and  at  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Kirksville,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  took  a  four  years' 
course,  and  graduated  with  distinction  in  the  class  of  1875.  Having 
decided  to  devote  himself  to  the  legal  profession,  he  began  a  regular 
course  of  study  for  the  bar  immediately  after  his  graduation  at  Kirks- 
ville, and  entered  the  law  ofiice  of  Martin  &  Priest,  of  Moberly,  Mo., 
under  whose  instruction  he  read  until  the  summer  of  1877,  when  he 
was  admitted  to  practice.  Two  years  afterwards  Mr.  Hardin  was 
elected  city  attorney  of  Moberly,  a  position  he  held  during  the  years 
of  1879  and  1880.  Although  he  has  been  in  the  practice  less  than 
seven  years,  such  are  his  qualifications  and  ability,  his  application  to 
business  and  thorough  reliability  of  his  character,  that  he  has  won  the 
full  confidence  of  the  public  as  a  member  of  the  bar,  and  has  built  up 
a  good  practice.  He  attends  to  civil  and  criminal  cases,  and  has  been 
very  successful.  In  December,  1881,  he  and  Mr.  Martin,  his  former 
preceptor,  formed  their  present  partnership  in  the  practice  of  law  — 
a  partnership  that  has  proved  highly  satisfactory  and  advantageous  to 
both.  On  the  8th  day  of  October,  1879,  Mr.  Hardin  was  married 
to  Miss  Clara  Phillips,"^a  daughter  of  Judge  R.  Phillips,  of  Audrain 


404  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

county.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  Mr. 
H.  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W. 

JUDGE  BENJAMIN  F.  HARVEY 

(Pi'esideut  of  the  Randolph  B  ink,  Presidium  Justice  of  the  County  Court,  and  Farmer 
and  fine  Stock-raiser,  residence  near  Moberly) . 

Judge  Harvey,  himself  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Randolph  coun- 
ty, comes  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  in  this  section  of  the 
State.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  (Walkup)  Harvey,  came 
from  Kentucky  in  an  early  day,  while  Missouri  was  still  a  territory, 
and  settled  in  Howard  county,  where  Judge  Harvey  Avas  born,  June 
26,  1883,  and  reared  to  manhood.  The  father  became  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Howard  county,  highly  respected,  influential  and 
wealthy.  He  represented  that  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  died  in 
1864,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  and  deeply  mourned  by  all  who  were  familiar 
with  the  events  of  his  long  and  useful  life.  The  mother,  a  good  and 
true  woman,  a  loving  wife  and  devoted  mother,  and  kind  friend  and 
sincere  Christian  lady,  died  in  1844.  The  father,  a  man  of  broad 
and  superior  intelligence,  appreciated  at  their  worth  the  advantages 
of  advanced  education,  and  sought  to  avail  his  children  of  these  as 
well  as  of  other  opportunities  for  their  promotion  in  life.  Benjamin 
F.  Harvey,  after  availing  himself  of  the  instruction  aflbrded  by  the 
schools  of  this  State,  was  sent  to  Virginia  and  took  a  thorough  course 
in  the  celebrated  Bethany  College  of  that  State,  famous  not  less  in 
many  respects  than  that  it  is  the  institution  over  which  the  great 
divine,  Alexander  Campbell,  presided  for  many  years.  Young  Harvey 
graduated  from  Bethany  with  high  honor,  in  1857.  Returning  home 
to  Missouri,  he  remained  on  the  farm  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
when  he  at  once  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  and  soon  afterwards 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  prosecuted  his  studies  with  assiduity 
for  some  time.  The  outbreak  of  the  war  found  him  in  his  native 
State,  and  a  Southern  man  by  kindred,  sympathies,  interests  and 
principle,  he  joined  the  Missouri  State  Guard  under  Gov.  Jackson's 
call  and  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  a  company.  Mr.  Harvey  served 
for  six  months  under  Gen.  Price,  and  after  the  battle  of  Lexington 
resigned  his  commission  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  did  no  further 
active  service  in  field  or  camp  during  the  war.  As  is  well  known,  a 
formidable  organization  existed  in  Canada  during  our  civil  struggle 
for  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  South,  and  Mr.  Harvey 
being  unacceptable  as  a  soldier  on  account  of  physical  disability,  made 
himself  very  useful  to  our  side  by  his  activity  and  services  on  the 
north  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Mis- 
souri and  engaged  in  the  stock  business  and  farming,  becoming  one 
of  the  prominent  men  in  these  lines  in  Randolph  county.  For  five 
vears  following  1871  he  was  extensively  engaged  in  handling  stock  in 
Montana,  and  was  quite  successful.  Some  years  ago  he  became 
president  of  the  Randolph  Bank,  at  Moberly,  in  which  he  is  a  large 
stockholder,  and  in  1882  he  was  elected  presiding  judge  of  the  county 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUKTY.  405 

court.  Although  a  substantial  property  holder  of  the  county  and  a 
man  of  fine  intelligence  and  lousiness  qualifications,  he  is  one  of  the 
most  unassuming  and  unpretentious  of  men.  Plain  in  his  manners 
and  conversation,  he  is  yet  appreciated  for  his  true  worth,  and  while 
he  is  popular  with  all  classes,  he  is  especially  esteemed  b}^  the  better 
citizens  of  the  county.  Industrious  and  enterprising,  attentive  to 
business  and  intelligently  frugal,  but  entirelj^  free  from  parsimony, 
his  life  has  been  an  entirely  successful  one  thus  far,  and  although  only 
fairly  advanced  to  middle  age,  he  is  comfortably  situated  so  far  as 
this  world's  goods  are  concerned,  and  possesses  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all  who  know  him.  Judge  Harvey  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Wilcox,  daughter  of  Granville  Wilcox,  of  Randolph  county, 
in  1864.  She  died  about  18  months  thereafter.  No  issue  of  this 
marriage  is  now  living.  On  the  6th  day  of  March,  1877,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ellen  M.  Blakey,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  M.  D.  Blakey, 
of  Monroe  county,  an  amiable  and  excellent  lady,  and  three  children 
are  the  fruits  of  their  happy  married  life,  namely  :  Mary  E.,  Julia  B. 
and  Frank  B.  Harvey.  Mrs.  Harvey  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  Judge  Harvey  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  His 
residence  is  four  miles  from  town. 

JOHN  C.  HICKERSON,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Moberly) . 

Dr.  Hickerson  is  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  born  in  Fauquier, 
April  4,  1834.  In  an  early  day  his  parents  removed  to  Missouri  and  lo- 
cated in  Cooper  county.  Subsequent!}^  his  father  became  a  merchant  at 
Boonville,  Mo.  Young  Hickerson  received  his  higher  education  at  the 
St.  Paul's  College,  which  he  attended  for  three  years.  Following  this 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  N.  F.  Bowles,  of  Marion 
county,  from  whose  instruction  in  due  time  he  passed  to  the  St.  Louis 
Medical  College,  graduating  with  distiuction  in  the  class  of  1860.  In 
1861  Dr.  Hickerson  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ralls  county, 
where  he  continued  in  the  practice  with  success  for  ten  years.  Al- 
though doing  exceedingly  well  in  Ralls  county  he  desired  a  larger  and 
more  lucrative  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  professional  skill,  and  ac- 
cordingly, in  the  fall  of  1871,  came  to  Moberly,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Dr.  Hickerson' s  experience  here  has  been  entirel}'  satisfac- 
tory, both  to  himself  and  to  the  public.  He  has  built  up  a  large 
practice  and  has  become  not  only  popular  and  influential  as  a  physi- 
cian but  as  a  man  and  citizen.  He  is  very  highly  respected,  and  his 
family  moves  in  the  best  society  of  this  city.  .  The  Doctor  was 
married  on  the  8th  of  January,  1861,  to  Miss  Darthula  Rodes,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Tyre  Rodes,  of  Ralls  countv.  Thev  have  five  chil- 
dren :  Edwin  R.,  Ab.  S.,  John  H.,  Charles  B.  and  William  T.  Two 
children  are  deceased,  both  dying\  in  infancy.  The  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Hickerson  are  members  of  the  M.  E,  Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  a 
Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  order  and  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.     The    Doctor's  parents   are  both  deceased,  the  father,  Absalom 


406  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Hickerson.  dying  in  1848,  and  the  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Margaret  E.  Shacklett,  dying  in  1875.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  District  and  State  Medical  Societies. 

DAVID  HULTZ,  M.D. 

(Homeopathic  Physician  and  Surgeon,  Moberly). 

Dr.  Hultz,  a  physician  of  long  and  successful  experience,  who  for 
many  years  has  made  a  specialty  of  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  women 
and  children,  having  established  a  wide  and  enviable  reputation  in  that 
department  of  the  practice,  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  Burling- 
ton county.  May  16,  1815.  His  parents  were  David  and  Mary  Hultz, 
both  of  old  and  respected  New  England  families.  The  father  was  a 
carriage  maker  and  millwright  by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation 
for  many  years.  Young  Hultz  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  18 
years  of  age,  receiving  a  good  common  school  education  in  the  meantime. 
He  then  went  to  Philadeljjhia  and  completed  his  novitiature  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  had  previously  worked  for  a  short  time. 
After  acquiring  his  trade  in  1835  he  came  West  to  Illinois,  and  re- 
mained in  that  State  for  about  nine  years,  engaged  in  farming  at  first 
and  afterwards  mainly  in  trading  in  stock.  In  1844  Mr.  Hultz  went 
to  Cincinnati  and  took  the  contract  for  building  the  engine  houses  and 
turn-tables  of  the  Little  Miami  Railroad.  After  completing  his  con- 
tract, and  having  in  the  meantime  accumulated  some  means,  he  decided 
to  study  for  the  medical  profession,  and  accordingly  began  a  reguhir 
preparatory  course  of  study.  In  1849  he  entered  the  Homeopathic 
Medical  CoUeo-e  of  Cleveland,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1850.  Im- 
mediately  following  his  graduation  Dr.  Hultz  located  at  Milford,  Ohio, 
and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Subsequently  he 
removed  to  Mount  Pisgah,  in  the  same  State,  and  anxious  to  advance 
himself  in  the  knowledge  of  his  profession  as  far  as  instruction  afibrded 
by  the  schools  goes,  he  took  a  thorough  course  in  the  American 
Eclectic  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1853.  Dr.  Hultz 
then  located  at  Morrow,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  three  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Louisville,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  for  15 
years.  Dr.  Hultz  has  always  been  a  close  student  as  well  as  a  faithful 
practitioner,  and  for  many  years  has  taken  a  special  interest  in  diseases 
affecting  women  and  children,  and  particularly  in  those  of  a  chronic 
nature.  He  became  very  prominent  in  Louisville  in  this  branch  of  the 
practice,  and,  in  fact,  was  regarded  as  the  leading  physician  in  that 
department  in  that  city.  In  1871  he  came  further  West,  locating  at 
Cairo,  111.,  and  five  years  afterwards  removed  to  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
but  in  1877  came  to  Macon,  and  thence  to  Moberly  four  years  after- 
wards, where  he  has  since  resided  and  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  Although  he  has  been  here  but  three  years  he  has 
already  become  i)rominent  as  a  physician,  and  in  the  treatment  of 
women  and  children  he  is  without  a  superior,  if  he  has  an  equal,  in 
this  city,  or  indeed  in  this  section  of  the  State.  No  man  has  been 
more  successful  in  this  branch  of  the  practice,  and  he  is  justly  entitled 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  407 

to  all  the  popularity  he  has  won.  On  the  11th  day  of  March,  1835, 
Dr.  Hultz  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Martyer,  of  New  Jersey.  She 
lived  for  16  years  after  they  married,  dying  in  1851.  She  had  borne 
him  eight  children  :  John,  Albert,  James,  Mary  A.,  Anna  Eliza,  Martha, 
now  Mrs.  Thomas  Beeley,  David  andMahlon.  The  eldest  is  deceased. 
The  Doctor  was  married  to  his  present  wife  in  1858.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  Doctor  joined  the  church 
in  the  year  1844,  and  soon  after  he  was  elected  class  leader.  One  year 
later  he  was  licensed  to  exhort,  which  he  did  for  five  years,  and  at  this 
time  he  was  tendered  a  license  to  preach.  Choosing  rather  to  attend 
to  his  adopted  profession,  he  did  not  accept  it.  An  important  chapter 
in  the  life  of  Dr.  Hultz  is  contained  in  his  travels  through  the  Old 
World.  Becomino;  desirous  of  visitino;  these  distant  countries  he  left 
home  on  March  3,  1869,  and  took  his  departure  from  New  York  on 
the  5th  of  that  month,  arriving  in  Liverpool  the  29th.  Leaving  there, 
he  visited  Constantinople,  went  thence  to  Alexandria,  where  he  re- 
mained until  September  1st,  and  going  down  the  canal  landed  on  the 
river  Nile,  at  a  city  called  Atfe.  Passing  up  the  river  he  visited  many 
towns  and  villages  ;  went  across  the  deserts,  and  then  down  the  Delta, 
proceeding  through  several  plains,  on  to  the  River  Jordan  and  to  the 
Dead  Sea.  After  exploring  rocks,  hills,  etc.,  and  the  "  pillar  of 
salt,"  he  moved  up  the  river  to  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  seeing  also  Mount 
Carmel,  which  stands  majestically  at  a  height  of  nearly  2,000  feet. 
Upon  leaving  the  hills  of  Samaria  he  again  moved  up  the  river  to  a 
point  where  it  is  said  our  Lord  was  bai)tized.  Crossing  the  country 
he  reached  Jerusalem,  of  which  city  many  interesting  reminiscences 
might  be  enumerated,  but  space  forbids.  After  spending  13  months 
in  this  vicinity  the  Doctor  embarked  for  New  York,  and  arrived  there 
on  the  14th  of  June,  1871,  having  had  an  experience  such  as  but  few 
are  permitted  to  enjoy. 

WILLIAM  JAMES 

(Retired  Business  Man,  Moberly). 

Mr.  James  was  born  in  Howard  county.  May  20,  1822,  and  as  he 
grew  up  received  a  good  common  school  education.  In  the  spring  ot 
1863,  being  then  21  years  of  age,  he  removed  to  Randolph  county 
and  the  following  year  went  over  into  Audrain,  where  he  lived 
for  five  years.  He  then  returned  to  Randolph  county  and  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county  from  that  time  to  this.  In  1863,. 
having  accumulated  a  comfortable  competency,  he  retired  from 
the  activities  of  business  life,  and  since  that  time  he  has  not  been  en- 
gaged in  any  active  employment.  Mr.  James  was  for  many  years  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Randolph  county,  and  has  dealt  in  stock  quite 
extensively,  more  or  less,  all  his  life  up  to  the  time  of  his  retirements 
Indeed,  buying  and  shipping  stock  has  been  his  principal  occupation,, 
and  it  is  to  this  that  he  is  mainly  indebted  for  his  success.  Though  he 
lost  considerably  in  slaves  and  other  property  b}'^  the  war,  his  estate 
was  not  seriously  crippled.  On  the  9th  of  October,  1849,  Mr.  James 
21 


408  HISTORY    OF    RATiDOLPH    COUNTY. 

was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Joel  Smith,  of  Kan- 
dolph  county.  They  have  four  children:  Laura,  now  Mrs.  W.  A. 
White  ;  Lizzie,  now  Mrs.  Baker ;  Anna,  at  home  ;  and  William  S. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr. 
James  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  is  a  man  of  irreproach- 
able character  and  a  kind  and  accommodating  disposition,  and  is 
highly  thought  of  among  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 

GEORGE  M.  KEATING 

(City  Marshal,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Keating,  the  present  efficient  and  popular  marshal  of  this  city, 
is  a  native  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  born  on  the  4th  of  August,  1856. 
His  father,  John  C.  Keating,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Anna  Conners,  were  both  originally  from  Ireland.  George  H.,  as  he 
grew  up,  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  and  completed  his  apprentice- 
ship in  the  Wabash  Railroad  shops  of  his  native  city.  Subsequently  he 
worked  for  10  years  in  the  Wabash  shops.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
come  to  Moberly,  and  in  April,  1880,  was  appointed  deputy  marshal. 
At  the  April  election,  three  years  afterwards,  he  was  elected  city  mar- 
shal, a  position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Keating  is  a  man  of  fair  common- 
school  education,  of  sterling  character,  and  a  faithful  officer  of  the  law. 
Under  his  administration  of  the  office  of  marshal  in  the  city,  offenders 
have  been  made  to  feel  that  they  could  not  escape  detection  and  pun- 
ishment, and  the  influence  of  his  name  has  been  a  potent  factor  in 
preserving  the  peace  and  maintaining  that  unusual  observance  of  the  law 
which  has  characterized  the  conduct  of  the  troublesome  classes  since  he 
came  into  office.  It  is  generally  admitted  that  the  city  never  had  a 
better  marshal  than  George  Keating  has  been.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  he  and  his  mother 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Keating' s  father  died  in 
Canada  when  George  M.  was  but  two  years  of  age,  and  the  mother 
and  son  are  residents  of  Moberly. 

GEORGE  B.  KELLY 

(Editor  and  Proprietor  of  tlie  Daily  and  Weekly  Monitor,  Moberly). 

It  is  a  fact  to  be  observed  by  every  one  of  intelligence  and  general 
information  that  most  of  the  successful  men  of  this  country,  at  least, 
are  what  are  called  self-made  men,  or  those  who  have  risen  in  life 
mainly,  if  not  exclusively,  by  their  own  exertions  and  merits.  For 
every  one  reared  in  luxury  and  affluence,  who  occupies  a  justly  enviable 
and  prominent  position  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives,  there  are 
scores  equally  or  more  prominent  and  esteemed  who  came  up  from 
exceedingly  unfavorable  and  discouraging  circumstances  in  early  life. 
This  is  true  in  every  occupation,  profession  and  calling.  Indeed,  the 
qualifications  for  success  seem  to  be  acquired  only  in  the  school  of 
adversity.  There  it  is  that  strong  points  of  character  are  required, 
and  from  that  school  no  one  ever  graduates  or  passes  beyond  unless 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  409 

he  evinces  them.  The  characteristics  that  enable  one  to  overcome 
early  disadvantages  are  the  characteristics  that  in  nearly  every 
instance  will  carry  him  forward  to  ultimate  success.  If  one  young 
and  inexperienced  can  rise  superior  to  unfavorable  surroundings, 
what  may  fiiirly  be  expected  of  him  when  he  reaches  years  of  maturity, 
ripe  judgment  and  an  intelligent  knowledge  of  the  conditions  of  life? 
The  little  waif  of  a  boy  that  we  see  floating  around  in  the  world  here 
or  there,  or  to-day  or  to-morrow,  an  orphan,  perhaps,  and  friendless, 
must  not  be  despised.  The  possibility,  if  not  the  probability,  is  that 
in  a  few  years  he  will  occupy  a  position  in  life  above  the  mediocre  that 
now  looks  down  upon  him  and  pities  him.  This  is  the  lesson  taught 
by  the  lives  of  most  of  the  successful  men  of  the  present  and  of  the 
past ;  it  is  the  lesson  taught  by  the  lives  of  the  successful  men  of 
every  community.  Character,  intelligence  and  energy  will  win,  whether 
nurtured  on  a  bed  of  down  or  a  pallet  of  straw.  These  reflections 
are  called  out  by  glancing  over  the  brief  notes  from  which  the  present 
sketch  is  written.  Mr.  Kelly,  though  not  a  child  of  poverty  and 
friendless,  was  a  boy  that  was  left  fatherless,  and  soon  afterwards 
penniless,  by  the  vicissitudes  of  the  war,  and  with  his  mother's  family 
to  care  for.  He  had  then  not  reached  the  age  of  youth,  or  his  "  teens," 
and  he  was,  of  course,  without  education.  But  the  qualities  that  make 
successful  men  were  with  him  —  strength  of  character,  sterling  intel- 
ligence and  energy.  He  entered  the  office  of  the  Border  Star  at 
Independence,  Mo.,  his  native  place,  to  learn  the  printer's  trade, 
and  he  so  recommended  himself  to  his  emplo3^er,  by  his  industry  and 
evident  personal  worth,  that  he  was  given  liberal  compensation  for  his 
work,  besides  the  instruction  he  received.  His  small  earnings  were 
gladly  contributed  to  the  support  of  his  mother  and  the  loved  ones  of 
her  family.  Close  application  to  the  case  and  a  desire  to  learn  and 
rise  in  his  calling  soon  made  him  a  more  than  ordinarily  rapid  and 
competent  printer.  Later  along  he  worked  in  the  Sentinel  office,  and 
his  services  were  always  in  request  wherever  he  was  known.  In  1870, 
then  22  years  of  age,  he  concluded  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  great 
State  of  Texas,  and  therefore  went  to  the  imperial  Commonwealth, 
facing  on  the  waters  of  the  Rio  Grande.  He  remained  in  the  Lone  Star 
State  only  a  short  time,  returning  in  1871,  and  the  following  year  he 
began  the  publication  of  the  Daily  Herald.  Because  Mr.  Kelly  came  up  a 
poor  boy  it  does  not  necessaril}^  follow  that  he  has  not  the  natural  qualities 
to  make  a  successful  and  accomplished  editor,  in  as  large  a  measure  as 
if  he  had  been  reared  in  affluence  and  spent  his  youth  in  the  classic 
walls  of  a  university.  True,  he  may  not  understand  the  different 
readings  of  Sophocles  as  well,  and  a  great  many  other  things  so  dear 
to  the  heart  to  a  spectacled,  dyspeptic  professor.  But  after  all,  what 
have  these  things  to  do  with  the  practical  brain-work  of  editing  a 
paper.  They  are  well  enough,  perhaps,  for  mental  training,  and  so  is 
the  15  puzzle.  But  so  far  as  ever  realizing  any  dividend  from  them  it 
is  very  doubtful  whether  anybody  but  a  professional  teacher  ever 
declared  a  cash  balance  on  such  things  equal  to  an  uncancelled  postage 


410  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

stamp.  Every  occupation,  business  and  professional,  must  be  learned 
in  the  regular  course  of  training  that  leads  up  to  that  calling,  and  the 
editorial  tyro  must  become  an  editor  by  becoming  a  man  of  general 
and  varied  information  and  by  learning  to  write — to  express  his 
thoughts  in  clear,  terse  and  pointed  English  and  briefly.  This  is  the 
schooling  that  Mr.  Kelly  has  had  for  his  work.  While  in  newspaper 
offices  as  a  typographer  he  improved  all  his  leisure  by  reading  and 
the  study  of  such  books,  scholastic  and  other  kinds,  as  afforded  infor- 
mation in  the  line  of  editorial  work;  and  he  also  wrote  for  the 
different  papers,  his  production  being  accepted  and  published  if 
satisfactory  to  the  editor,  and  rejected  if  not  approved.  Thus  through 
years  of  training  of  this  kind  he  was  well  qualified  to  begin  the  pub- 
lication of  a  paper  when,  in  1872,  he  had  saved  up  a  sufficient  nucleus 
of  means  for  that  purpose.  The  Herald  enterprise  proved  a  successful 
venture,  and  the  following  year  the  Enterprise  was  consolidated  with 
it.  In  1873  Mr.  Kelly  moved  his  office  to  Moberly,  and  a  year  later 
the  Enterprise  was  consolidated  with  the  Monitor  of  this  city,  under 
the  name  of  the  E nter prise- Monitor .  In  the  fall  of  1875  the  word 
"  Enterprise  "  was  dropped  from  the  title  of  the  paper  as  unnecessary, 
and  since  then  the  journal  has  flourished  under  the  title  of  Monitor 
alone.  Mr.  Freeman  was  the  partner  of  Mr.  Kelly  for  some  time, 
but  the  latter  bought  out  the  former's  interest  in  1873.  Mr.  Kelly 
built  in  1872,  and  added  a  steam-power  press  and  complete  job  office 
to  the  establishment.  He  also  set  up  a  book  and  stationery  house  in 
connection  with  the  paper,  and,  in  a  word,  has  shown  himself  to  be 
the  man  to  make  every  edge  cut  that  could  be  utilized  in  getting  along 
in  the  world.  The  career  of  the  Monitor  has  been  one  of  unusual 
prosperity.  He  unquestionably  has  one  of  the  best  newspaper  and 
job  offices  in  the  interior  of  the  State  and  outside  of  a  large  city.  It 
would  seem  supererogation  to  speak  of  the  reputation,  influence  and 
circulation  of  the  Monitor,  daily  and  weekly.  Every  Missourian 
knows  the  Moberly  Monitor.  A  man  of  strong  character,  enterprise 
and  ability,  Mr.  Kelly  has  made  the  Monitor  partake  of  the  same 
qualities  he  possesses  himself.  Personally,  more  than  ordinarily 
successful,  considering  his  time  of  life  and  opportunities,  the  Monitor 
has  been  made  a  more  than  ordinarily  successful  country  newspaper.  It 
has  the  largest  circulation  of  all  the  papers  throughout  the  surround- 
ing country,  and  few  well  regulated  families  in  the  limit  of  its  domain 
feel  entirely  at  home  without  it.  Its  news  columns  are  filled  with  the 
quintessence  of  the  latest  and  best  news,  and  its  editorial  discussions 
are  alvrays  characterized  with  dignity  and  fairness.  The  paper,  in  a 
word,  is  an  able,  influential  and  popular  journal,  and  is  respected  for 
its  high  character  and  perfect  reliability  wherever  it  is  known.  As  an 
advertising  medium,  its  value,  as  its  columns  show,  is  placed  above 
that  of  any  other  journal  published  throughout  the  territory  where  it 
circulates.  Mr.  Kelly  has  just  cause  to  be  satisfied  with  his  own 
career  in  life,  but  he  has  greater  cause  to  be  proud  of  the  Monitor ; 
and  the  pleasure  with  which  he  speaks  of  its  progress  shows  that  he  is 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  411 

not  insensible  to  the  credit  which  its  career  reflects  upon  himself. 
Personally,  he  is  a  man  of  irreproachable  worth,  and  justly  occupies 
an  influential  position  in  the  affairs,  political,  material  and  social,  of 
Moberly  and  surrounding  country.  On  the  18th  of  November,  1875, 
Mr.  Kelly  was  married  to  Miss  Lillie  Slidenstricker,  of  Saline  county, 
a  lady  of  great  personal  worth  and  rare  charms  of  mind  and  person. 
They  have  one  child,  Heber  B.  Mr.  Kelly  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  and  of  the  Brothers  of  Philanthropy.  He  was  also 
lieutenant  in  the  National  Guard  of  this  city  by  election  of  his  com- 
pany and  the  appointment  of  the  Governor.  Mr.  Kelly's  parents 
were  John  Kelly,  originally  of  Virginia,  and  Polly  A.  Davis,  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  were  married  in  the  latter  State  and  came  to  Missouri  in 
a  comparatively  early  day,  settling  in  Jackson  county,  where  the 
father  died  in  1860.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  business  qualifications  and 
possessed  of  considerable  means,  but  his  estate  was  swept  away  as  a 
result  of  his  death  and  the  war.  George  B.  was  born  at  Indepen- 
dence, October  8,  1848.  The  Monitor  is  the  official  paper  of  the  city 
of  Moberly. 

CHAELES  KNIGHT 

(Ticket  Agent  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad,  Moberly). 
Mr.  Knight,  one  of  the  most  popular  and  efficient  ticket  agents  on 
the  line  of  the  Wabash  Railroad,  cojnes  of  two  of  the  earliest  families 
of  this  country,  the  Knights  and  the  Goulds,  both  of  which  were  rep- 
resented by  brave  soldiers  in  the  Colonial  army  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  Mr.  Knight's  great-grandfather,  on  his  father's  side, 
served  from  Massachusetts  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  as  did  also  the 
latter' s  brother,  who  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  captain  for 
conspicuous  gallantry  on  the  bloody  field  of  Bennington.  Of  the 
ancestral  line  was  Grace  Gould,  one  of  the  Pilgrims  who  landed  at 
Plymouth  among  the  immortal  band  that  came  over  in  the  Mayflower. 
Mr.  Knight's  father  was  Edwin  P.  Knight,  and  the  maiden  name 
of  his  mother  was  Elizabeth  Vaughan,  both  of  Hanover,  Grafton 
county,  N.  H.,  where  Charles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born, 
June  3,  1849.  Charles  Knight  was  educated  in  the  excellent  com- 
mon schools  of  Hanover  and  when  18  years  of  age  came  West,  and 
located  at  Bloomington,  111.,  where  he  eng-ao-ed  in  sellins'  oroods 
for  the  three  succeeding  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, becoming  proprietor  with  his  brother  E.  F.  Knight,  of  the  Nor- 
mal Hotel  of  that  city,  which  they  conducted  for  about  two  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  this  time  Mr.  Knight  received  an  appointment  to 
a  desirable  position  on  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad,  which  he 
filled  with  efficiency,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  company  and  pub- 
lic up  to  1873,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  place  as  ticket 
agent  of  the  Wabash  at  this  city.  His  record  here  has  been  one  of 
exceptional  merit.  Not  only  have  his  services  been  entirely  satisfac- 
tory to  the  officials  of  the  road,  but  he  has  become  exceedingly  pop- 
ular with  the  public,  on  account  of  his  accommodating  disposition  and 
his  urbane,  courteous  politeness  to  all.     The  first  year  his  sales  at  this 


412  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

office  amounted  to  $35,000,  last  year  they  exceeded  $115,000.  Mi-. 
Kiiight  has  stock  and  a  hirge  sheep  ranch  in  Kansas.  Personally  he 
is  well  liked,  and  is  exceptionally  popular  with  the  ladies. 

GEOEGE  W.  LENT 

(Foreman  Blacksmith  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Lent,  who  now  has  charge  of  the  blacksmith  department  of 
the  Wabash  shops  at  this  place,  and  is  working  about  50  men,  is 
one  of  those  clear-headed,  energetic  men  who  rise  to  prominence  in 
whatever  calling  with  which  they  are  identified,  and  who  invariably 
become  the  directing  minds  in  every  enterprise  in  their  line  with  which 
they  are  connected.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  New  York, 
and  was  born  in  Putman  county,  in  June,  1827,  and  in  boyhood  had 
common  school  advantages.  When  13  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  worked  at  until  he  had  completed  it, 
at  the  age  of  21,  being  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  the  Matte  wan  Cot- 
ton Manufacturing  Company.  In  1848  he  went  to  Newburg,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  worked  as  blacksmith  in  the  shops  of  the  New  York 
and  Erie  Kailroad  Company.  Four  years  later  he  went  to  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  and  in  1853  returned  to  New  York  City,  and  for  the 
following  14  years  was  foreman  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  shops, 
on  Thirty-first  street  and  Tenth  avenue.  Li  1867  Mr.  Lent  came  to 
Missouri  and  located  at  Hannibal,  where  he  worked  for  about  three 
years,  and  then  went  to  Cheyenne,  where  he  was  foreman  of  the 
Union  Pacific  shops  for  about  a  year.  He  afterwards  returned  to 
St.  Louis  and  became  foreman  of  the  Iron  Mountain  shops  of  that 
city,  and  in  1875  came  to  Moberly  as  foreman  blacksmith  of  the 
Wabash  shops,  a  position  he  has  since  held.  In  May,  1874,  Mr.  Lent 
was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Langdon.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lent  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Lent 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  being  an  initiate  of  the  Blue  Lodge 
No.  28,  the  Chapter  No.  7,  and  the  Commandery  No.  5,  at  Hanni- 
baL 

ROBERT  LITTLE 

(Merchant  Tailor ;  business  house,  on  Clark  Street  between  Coats  and  Reed  Streets, 

Moberly). 

Mr.  Little,  a  successful  and  popular  business  man  of  this  city  in 
his  line,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  March  16,  1832,  and  received 
a  common  school  education  and  learned  his  trade  in  his  native 
land.  He  afterwards  came  to  America  and  located  at  New  Castle, 
in  Canada,  and  in  1869,  14  years  after  coming  to  this  country, 
he  came  to  Missouri  and  followed  his  trade  in  Monroe  countv. 
However,  Mr.  Little  was  engaged  in  farming  for  about  two 
years  on  first  settling  in  Missouri,  but  at  the  expiration  of  this  time 
located  in  Paris  and  carried  on  a  shop  there  until  1874,  when  he  came 
to  Moberly.  Mr.  Little  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
tailors,  not  only  in  Moberly,  but  throughout  this  section  of  the  conn- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  413 

try.  A  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  he  has  made  a  spec- 
ialty of  learning  his  bnsiness  thoroughly  and  keeping  up  with  the  times 
in  fashions  and  improved  methods  of  making  up  goods.  Having  had 
a  long  experience  in  handling  goods  in  the  line  of  gent's  wear,  he  is 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  different  "makes"  and  qualities  kept 
in  the  markets,  both  of  home  manufacture  and  foreign  production. 
His  10  years'  experience  at  Moberly  has  been  one  of  gratifying  suc- 
cess. His  patronage  has  steadily  increased  and  he  numbers  among 
his  patrons  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  city.  He  makes  it  a  point 
to  let  no  work  leave  his  house  that  is  not  only  satisfactory  to  the  cus- 
tomer but  to  himself,  for  he  properly  claims  that  he  is  better  able  to 
judge  whether  work  will  be  generally  approved  than  a  customer  who 
knows  but  little  about  the  business  and  less  about  public  taste  in  this 
line.  As  he  says,  himself,  his  best  advertisement  is  his  work,  and  he 
relies  on  this  mainly  for  his  reputation.  Let  a  patron  request  him  to 
select  a  good  piece  of  goods  and  make  a  good  suit  of  clothes,  and  the 
customer  may  rest  assured  that  he  will  have  a  suit  of  which  he  will 
have  no  just  cause  to  complain,  Mr.  Little's  prices  are  always  rea- 
sonable, for  desiring  to  avoid  all  appearance  of  making  unreasonable 
charges,  he  often  does  his  work  at  figures  which  are  unfair  to  himself. 
Personally,  he  is  an  upright,  worthy  citizen,  and  is  well  respected. 
In  1857  Mr.  Little  was  married  to  Miss  Sophia  Osborn  of  Canada. 
They  have  five  children  ;  William,  John,  Albert,  Andrew  and  Gershom. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Little  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  Mr. 
L.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

JOHN  LYNCH 

(Deputy  Marshal,  Moberly) . 

Mr.  Lynch,  who  was  for  several  years  marshal  of  this  city  and  one 
of  the  best  ministerial  officers  ever  in  its  service,  is  a  native  of  the 
county  in  which  he  now  resides,  and  it  may  therefore  be  said,  as  was 
said  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  ancient  feudal  days  of  England,  that 
*'he  is  a  free  man  and  to  the  manor  born."  On  the  11th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1856,  he  first  looked  out  upon  the  radiant  light  of  day,  and 
from  that  glad  morning  to  the  present  his  life  has  been  a  thread, 
woven,  throughout,  in  the  history  of  his  native  county.  Mr.  Lynch 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  county  and  was  reared  to 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  For  years  he  assisted  his  father  to  culti- 
vate the  land  which  is  now  the  site  of  the  city  of  Moberly.  After 
he  grew  u\)  he  engaged  in  work  in  the  railroad  machine  shops, 
which  he  followed  for  over  three  years.  He  then  followed  firing  on  a 
locomotive  engine  for  nearly  four  years,  and  in  1880  wns  elected  city 
marshal  of  this  city,  and  afterwards  re-elected  twice.  Last  year  Mr. 
George  Keating  became  his  successor,  and  Mr.  Lynch  was  appointed 
deputy  marshal.  AVell  qualified,  so  far  as  business  is  concerned,  for 
the  duties  of  his  office,  he  at  the  same  time  combines  in  his  character 
those  qualities  of  fearlessness,  vigilance,  impartiality  and  immovable 
integrity  which  conspire  to  make  him  an  officer  whom  the  city  could 


414  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

not  well  afford  to  do  without.  In  all  justice  he  ought  to  be  re-elected 
marshal  and  have  his  salary  increased.  He  could  then  afford  to  marry, 
settle  down  and  be  happy,  and  thus  to  lead  a  life  to  which  every  good 
citizen  is  entitled.  Mr.  Lynch  is  a  whole-souled,  genial,  good  fellow, 
and  in  the  language  of  the  Roman  Senate  when  decreeing  a  triumph 
to  its  great  generals,  "  he  deserves  well  of  his  country." 

EEV.  FATHER  FRANCIS  McKENNA 

(Pastor  of  the  Church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  Ault  Street,  Moberly_) . 
The  strength  and  virtue  of  every  religious  faith  consists  in  its  purity 
and  sincerity.  If  there  is  but  one  Christian  religion,  there  can  be  but 
one  Christian  faith,  and  all  variations  and  modifications  must  neces- 
sarily be  but  corruptions  and  schisms  from  the  true  doctrine  and  the 
true  faith.  Looking  over  the  religions  of  the  world  as  they  present 
themselves  and  weighing  their  claims  to  verity  and  credence,  no  intel- 
ligent man  can  doubt  that  if  there  is  a  true  religion,  if  indeed  there 
is  a  genuine  religious  element  in  the  constitution  of  man,  that  religion 
is,  and  that  religious  element  has  its  true  exponent  in,  the  Christian 
religion.  For  fifteen  hundred  years  the  Catholic  Church  stood  out  in 
the  afi'airs  of  the  world  as  the  exclusive  representative  of  this  religion, 
and  ever  since  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century  she  has  been 
the  principal  representative  of  Christianity  throughout  the  Avorld,and 
she  has  ever  been  the  true  and  only  genuine  representative.  From 
St.  Peter,  to  whom  Christ,  himself,  spoke :  "Thou  art  Peter,  and 
upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my  church  ;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  it.  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  key  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  ;  and  whatsoever  thou  shall  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound 
in  heaven  ;  and  whatsoever  thou  shall  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed 
in  heaven  ;  "  —  from  St.  Peter  to  whom  Christ  thus  spoke,  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  the  Catholic  Church  has  had  an  unliroken  line  of  apostolic 
successors,  each  representing  in  iiis  person  and  by  his  office  all  that 
St.  Peter  represented — the  true  and  only  Church  of  Christ  and  the 
sum  and  summit  of  Christianity.  It  was  the  Catholicism  of  early 
times  that  established  itself  in  Rome,  and  it  was  the  same  Catholicism 
which,  spreading  out  from  Rome,  dispersed  itself  throughout  the 
known  world,  and  planted  the  Cross  in  every  land  known  to  the  geog- 
raphy of  man.  If  the  Christianity  of  the  Catholic  Church  was  good 
enough  for  mankind  for  fifteen  hundred  years  prior  to  the  time  of 
Martin  Luther,  what  reason  can  be  advanced  why  it  should  not  be 
Cood  enoug-h  since  that  time?  If  those  who  looked  to  this  church  for 
fifteen  centuries  as  their  hope  and  guide  were  saved,  can  any  one  be- 
lieve that  those  who  have  looked  to  it  since  have  been  lost?  If 
Catholics  since  Luther's  time  have  been  in  error  and  have  been  lost, 
then  they  were  in  error  and  were  lost  prior  to  that  time,  and  Chris- 
tianity, as  a  means  of  salvation,  is  a  scheme  of  modern  times  alone. 
The  truth  is,  that  as  men  rebel  against  the  laws  of  God,  so  also  they 
rebel  against  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  His  church  ;  and  the  doctrine 
of  rebellion,  or  Protestantism,  once  admitted,  who  can  answer  for  its 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  415 

final  ending?  In  the  last  few  centuries  we  have  abundant  evidences 
of  the  depravity  and  ruin  of  this  doctrine.  First  we  have  Martin 
Luther,  the  founder  of  religious  rebellion,  or  Protestantism  ;  then 
comes  Calvin,  rebelling,  or  protesting  against  the  doctrines  of  Luther  ; 
then  against  Calvinism  there  are  rebellious,  or  protestations,  without 
number,  each  modifying,  diminishing  and  corrupting  the  original  true 
Christianity  of  the  Catholic  Church  —  and  so  we  have  Baptists,  Meth- 
odists, Episcopalians,  Congregationalists,  so  called  "  Christians,"  or 
Campbellites,  Universal ists.  Unitarians;  and,  finally, .the  Protestants, 
throwing  off  all  disguise,  blossom  out  into  pure  Infidelity,  as  repre- 
sented by  Col.  IngersoU.  From  Luther  to  IngersoU  there  are  but  a 
few  steps  and,  the  first  taken,  the  last  is  sure  to  follow — both  are 
protestants,  and  both  are  equally  bitter  against  the  Catholic  Church. 
The  intermediate  denominations  from  Luther  to  IngersoU,  are  but  the 
steps  that  lead  from  one  to  the  other.  Against  these  and  all  such  as 
these  the  Catholic  Church  stands  out,  the  veritable  Rock  of  St.  Peter 
■which  hell  cannot  prevail  against,  and  holds  up  the  Cross  to  all  the 
world,  the  symbol  of  the  pure,  true  Christian  religion,  making  no 
terms  with  religious  rebellion  in  any  form  and  character  whether  it  be 
called  Protestantism  or  what  not,  and  asking  none.  She  has  stood 
for  nearly  nineteen  centuries  the  supreme  representative  of  Christian- 
ity on  the  earth,  and  she  will  stand  through  the  unnumbered  centuries 
yet  to  come,  and  until  all  mankind  shall  be  brought  through  her  in- 
sti-umentality  as  the  vicegerent  of  God  to  the  knowledge  of,  and  the 
true  faith  in  the  true,  living  God.  Here  in  Missouri  the  Church  of 
St.  Peter  first  planted  the  Cross,  and  all  over  the  State  the  spires  of 
his  temples  of  worship  raa}^  be  seen  piercing  the  sky.  In  Moberly, 
as  elsewhere,  she  has  a  pastor  for  her  flock,  and  here,  as  elsewhere, 
he  is  a  man  worthy  by  character,  faith,  good  works,  and  learning  to 
represent  Christianity  among  his  fellow-men.  For  fifteen  years  Father 
McKenna  has  had  charge  of  the  church  at  this  place,  and  his  work 
has  been  blessed  by  the  most  abundant  encouragement.  When  he 
came  here  but  12  families  were  represented  in  his  congregation ; 
now  it  includes  200  families.  In  1878  he  was  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing the  Catholic  school  at  this  place,  which  now  has  an  enrollment 
of  200  pupils.  Such  a  record  any  good  servant  of  the  Lord  may  well 
contemplate  with  satisfaction.  Father  McKenna  was  born  in  county 
Monaghan,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  when  quite  young.  In- 
tended for  the  priesthood,  he  took  a  thorough  course  of  preparatory 
school  and  college  study,  both  in  literature  and  the  languages,  as  well 
as  in  the  sciences  and  philosophy.  He  subsequently  took  a  thorough 
theological  course  and  became  a  man  of  wide  and  profound  learning, 
as  well  as  of  sincere  piety.  Father  McKenna  was  duly  ordained  and 
his  first  charge  was  at  New  Madrid,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  for 
three  years.  He  then  came  to  Moberly,  where  he  has  superintended 
the  building  of  three  churches.  He  also  has  charge  of  the  church  at 
Sturgeon.  Father  McKenna  is  a  man  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  ser- 
vice  of   God  and  humanity,  an  able  and  eloquent  divine  and  more 


416  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

than  ordinarily  zealous  and  successful  in  his  great  life  work.  He  is 
greatly  beloved  by  his  parishioners  and  is  esteemed  by  all  for  his 
earnestness  as  a  Christian  priest  and  his  worth  as  a  man. 

WILLIAM    MAYNARD 

(Editor  and  Proprietor  of  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Headlight,  Moberly). 
Mr.  Maynard,  the  Nestor  of  journalism  at  Moberly,  and  for  nearly 
20  years  an  editor  and  newspaper  proprietor  iu  this  section  of  the 
State,  is  a  native  of  England,  born  in  London,  March  9,  1839.  When 
he  was  10  years  of  age,  in  1849,  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Sophia 
(Cordell)  Maynard,  immigrated  to  America  with  their  family  of  chil- 
dren, landing  at  New  York  sometime  in  July,  about  the  time  of  President 
Zachary  Taylor's  death.  The  father  was  a  paper-box  manufacturer, 
and  followed  that  with  success  on  a  large  scale  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  city  of  London.  William  Maynard  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  aud  in  printing  offices,  but  mainly 
in  the  latter,  supplemented  with  study  at  home  and  general 
self-culture.  He  began  his  apprenticeship  at  the  printer's  trade 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  worked  for  some  time,  and 
afterwards  continued  it  in  the  printing  house  of  John  A.  Gray,  of 
New  York.  Having  mastered  his  trade,  he  obtained  a  situation  in  the 
office  of  the  Brooklyn  Eagle,  where  he  worked  a  year,  being  in  that 
office  at  the  time  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln.  Leaving 
Brooklyn,  Mr.  Maynard  now  came  West  and  stopped  in  St.  Louis  for 
a  time.  While  there  he  worked  in  both  the  offices  of  the  Democrat 
and  the  Republican,  the  Democrat  then  not  being  consolidated  with 
the  Globe.  In  1866  Mr.  Maynard  came  up  to  Keytesville  and  started 
the  Chariton  County  Union,  which  he  published  with  success  until 
1870,  when  he  established  the  Headlight,  at  Moberly.  Mr.  Maynard 
has  had  such  a  training  as  could  hardly  have  failed  to  make  any  one  of 
his  intelligence  and  energy  a  capable  and  successful  newspaper  man. 
Not  brought  up  in  affluence  or  luxury,  but  made  to  know  from  youth 
the  importance  of  personal  exertions  and  merit  to  success  in  life  ;  on 
the  one  hand  he  was  removed  from  those  temptations  to  idleness  and  ex- 
travagance which  beset  the  favorites  of  fortune,  and  on  the  other  those 
habits  of  industry  and  frugality  were  formed,  without  which  success 
in  any  calling  is  impossible.  With  a  marked  taste  for  journalism,  as 
well  as  a  natural  aptitude  for  the  mechanical  work  of  the  typo- 
grapher, he  soon  became  not  only  a  skillful  printer,  but  also  well 
qualified  by  mental  culture  for  editorial  work.  He  has  always  been 
an  indefatigable  reader,  and  the  field  of  his  inquiry  has  been  as  varied 
in  character  as  it  has  been  extensive.  If  he  has  shown  a  partiality  for 
any  particular  department  of  investigation,  it  has  been  for  that  of 
public  affiiirs,  including  the  whole  range  of  civil  government,  political 
economy  and  history.  An  ardent  Republican,  in  the  original,  generic 
sense  of  that  word,  he  believes  supremely  in  government  by  the  peo- 
ple through  popular  representatives,  such  as  we  have  in  America,  or 
such,  rather,  as  we  Avould  have    if  our  practices  were  as  pure  as  our 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  417 

system  is  wise  and  just.  Recognizing  the  fact  that  our  institution.^ 
are  right  and  that  all  that  is  needed  to  make  our  civil  administrations 
the  best  under  the  sun  is  purity  in  politics,  he  has  ever  striven  in  his 
sphere  as  an  editor  to  bring  about  that  purity  in  political  affairs,  at 
least  within  the  domain  of  the  influence  of  his  paper.  While  he  is  an 
intelligent  partisan,  he  is  the  fartherest  removed  from  an  extremist 
or  dogmatist,  and  is  ever  for  the  commonweal  before  the  interests  of 
party,  conceding  to  others  the  same  sincerity  of  motives  and  freedom 
of  expression  that  he  claims  for  himself.  Carrying  these  principles 
into  the  management  and  tone  of  his  paper,  he  has  naturally  won  for 
it  the  respect  and  consideration  of  all  classes  among  whom  it  circulates, 
and  its  influence  is  justly  great.  The  interests  of  home,  or  Moberly 
and  the  county  and  surrounding  country,  he  regards  first  and  above 
all  the  world,  and  strives  for  their  advancement  with  specjal  zeal.  No 
man  has  worked  more  earnestly  for  the  material  interests  of  Moberly 
and  its  tributary  section  of  the  State  than  Mr.  Maynard,  both  in  the 
columns  of  his  journal  and  as  a  private  citizen.  Nor  have  his  efibrts 
been  unrecognized  by  the  public.  The  career  of  his  paper  has  been  one 
of  uninterrupted  success.  Since  its  establishment  it  has  grown  from 
a  small  Aveekly  to  one  of  the  sprightliest  and  best  dailies  in  the  interior 
of  the  State.  Its  news  columns  are  filled  with  the  latest  telegraphic 
news,  political,  business  and  otherwise,  to  be  had,  and  all  selected, 
digested  and  presented  so  as  to  give  the  facts  clear  and  plain  without 
worrying  the  reader  or  consuming  time  and  space  Avith  superverbage. 
In  the  editorial  columns  the  different  questions  of  interest  and  impor- 
tance to  the  public  are  discussed  from  day  today  with  fairness,  clear- 
ness, and  in  a  respectful  tone.  In  every  department  of  the  paper  the 
laws  of  decency  and  the  amenities  of  good  breeding  are  ever  regarded, 
and  nothing  is  permitted  to  appear  in  print  that  may  not  with  pro- 
priety be  read  in  the  most  refined  and  polite  household.  The  publi- 
cation of  the  weekly  is  also  kept  up,  and  the  effort  is  made  to  make 
it  a  general  family  newspaper,  and  with  excellent  success,  as  its 
appearance  conclusively  shows.  It  is  a  large  and  well  arranged 
paper,  and  neatly  and  well  printed,  and  filled  with  reading  matter, 
entertaining  and  instructive,  of  almost  every  variety  proper  to 
enter  the  household.  The  circulation  of  both  the  daily  and  weekly  is 
very  large,  ranking  in  that  respect  among  the  leading  papers  of  this 
part  of  the  State;  and  as  an  advertising  medium  the  Headlight  \s 
without  a  superior  in  this  section,  where  it  chiefly  circulates.  Mr. 
Maynard,  being  a  thoroughly  practical  printer  himself,  and  an  edito- 
rial writer  of  long  experience,  is  able  to  superintend  and  direct  every 
department  of  the  paper ;  and  being  an  excellent  and  enterprising- 
business  man,  he  has  succeeded  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  enviable 
position  of  prosperity  and  influence.  He  has  just  purchased  a  fine 
new  power  press,  and  also  has  first-class  job  presses,  so  that  his  office, 
both  for  newspaper  and  job  work,  is  one  of  the  best  outside  of  the  large 
cities  in  the  State.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  fine  job  and  book  work, 
and  having  in  his  employ  job  printers  of  rare  skill  and  taste,  artists  in 


418  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

fact  ill  their  line,  he  is  enabled  to  do  this  class  of  work  in  the  best  of 
style  and  with  dispatch.  Mr.  Maynard  was  married  on  the  18th  of 
March,  1868,  to  Miss  Adeline  Y.  Carmon,  originally  of  Pennsylvania. 
She  left  him  one  son,  William  Carmon.  To  his  present  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Nellie  Stanley  Tidswell,  Mr.  Maynard  was  married  November 
30,  1876.  She  was  originally  from  England,  born  at  Manchester, 
Angust  16,  1848.  They  have  three  children  :  Stanley  Tidswell,  Stella 
Thane  and  Elizabeth  Roth  well.  Mrs.  Maynard  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Triple  Alliance. 

GEORGE  S.  MERRITT 

(Proprietor  of  Smith's  Grand  Central  Hotel,  Moberly,  Mo.). 

Mr.  Merritt,  one  of  the  most  popular  and  enterprising  hotel  men 
in  this  section  of  the  State,  and  now  at  the  head  of  the  leading  hotel 
of  Moberl}^  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  at  Norwich,  November  27, 
1852.  His  parents  were  Sherwood  S.  and  Mary  A.  (Wilcox)  Mer- 
ritt, both  representatives  of  old  and  prominent  New  York  fami- 
lies. His  father  was  a  leading  lawyer  of  that  State,  and  was  for 
many  years  the  attorney  of  the  Midland  Railroad.  George  S.  had 
superior  educational  advantages  as  he  grew  up,  and  graduated  at 
Fairfield  College  in  the  spring  of  1870  with  high  honor.  After  his 
graduation  he  engaged  quite  extensively  in  the  lumber  business  in  his 
native  State,  and  was  entirely  successful  while  in  business.  Anxious 
to  see  the  country  on  this  side  of  the  Alleghanies,  he  came  West  in 
1878  and  located  at  Junction  City,  in  Kansas,  where  he  began  his 
career  as  a  hotel  man.  He  had  charge  of  the  leading  hotel  of  that 
place  for  three  years,  and  then  received  an  appointment  to  a  lucrative 
position  in  the  freight  department  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
Texas.  From  the  Lone  Star  State  Mr.  Merritt  came  to  Missouri  and 
took  charge  of  the  principal  hotel  at  Kirksville,  which  he  conducted 
until  the  fall  of  1882.  He  then  came  to  Moberly  and  became  propri- 
etor of  Smith's  Grand  Central,  which  he  has  since  run.  The  Grand 
Central  has  greatly  improved  under  his  management.  One  of  the  best 
hotel  buildings  in  the  country,  he  has  renovated  it  throughout  and 
fixed  it  up  not  only  in  the  latest  and  best  style,  but  with  an  eye  espe- 
cially to  cleanliness  and  comfort.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in 
these  respects  the  Grand  Central  is  without  a  superior  in  North-east 
Missouri.  Mr,  Merritt,  having  had  an  extensive  experience  in  hotel 
life,  and  being  a  man  of  fine  education  and  wide  general  information, 
knows  not  only  how  to  conduct  a  hotel  with  regard  to  bed  and  board, 
but  how  to  treat  guests  so  that  they  will  feel  welcome  and  at  home 
under  his  roof.  Looking  at  the  table  he  sets  on  any  day,  one  would 
suppose  that  he  had  made  the  art  culinary  a  study  through  life.  His 
table  is  a  perfect  triumph  in  the  art  of  preparing  the  best  of  edibles 
in  the  best  manner,  and  so  as  to  present  the  most  inviting  appearance. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  419 

An  epicure  would  luxuriate  at  his  table,  while  a  gourmand  would  re- 
peat in  his  heart  of  hearts  the  language  of  Tani  O'Shanter  :  — 

"  Kings  may  be  blest,  but  I  am  glorious. 
O'er  all  the  ills  of  life  victorious." 

The  Grand  Central  contains  50  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  guests, 
all  neatly  and  well  furnished  ;  and  to  run  it  as  Mr.  Merritt  is  deter- 
mined it  shall  be  run  —  in  first-class  style  — requires  no  less  than  28 
regular  employes.  Mr.  Merritt  has  built  up  a  large  custom  for  the 
Grand  Central,  and  his  patronage  is  steadily  on  the  increase.  He 
gets  most,  or  all,  the  better  class  of  the  traveling  public,  and  he  also 
has  a  large  patronage  from  the  people  of  Moberly,  a  number  of  whom 
make  his  house  their  permanent  home.  On  the  22d  of  June,  1876, 
Mr.  Merritt  was  married  to  Miss  Alta  E.  Bonney,  formerly  of  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Merritt  are  very  popular  in  the  best  society  in  Moberly. 
Mr.  Merritt  is  a  whole-souled,  genial  man,  justly  liked  by  every  one. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

JULIUS    MILLER  &  BEO. 

(Wholesalers  of  Keg  and  Bottled  Beer,  Moberly). 

Messrs.  Miller,  who  stand  at  the  head  of  the  leading  firm  in  their 
line  of  business  in  this  section  of  the  State,  are  large  property  holders 
and  wealthy,  influential  citizens  of  Moberly.  They  are  of  German 
nativity,  and  come  of  an  ancient  and  highly  respectable  family  of  the 
Regierungsbezirk  of  Magdeburg,  in  their  native  country.  Their 
grandfather  Miller  was  an  officer  under  Napoleon,  and  distinguished 
himself  in  several  large  battles  in  Spain  and  Germany.  Their 
father,  F.  H.  L.  Miller,  was  born  at  the  comopolis  of  Neu  Hal- 
lensleben,  in  Prussiu,  near  the  fortress  of  Magdeburg,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Seminary  of  Magdeburg  for  a  teacher,  in  which  profession 
he  engaged,  and  he  continued  teaching  for  a  number  of  years. 
Messrs.  Miller's  mother,  whose  maiden  name  wa«  Frederike  Rose, 
was  a  daughter  of  Karl  Rose,  a  master  mechanic  over  the  Government 
Iron  and  Steel  Works  at  Magdesprung  am  Harz,  and  at  that  place, 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  romantic  looking  villages  to  be  found  in 
northern  Prussia,  the  daughter,  who  subsequently  became  the  mother 
of  the  subjects  of  this  sketch,  was  born  and  reared.  She  and  F.  H. 
L.  Miller  were  married  in  1840.  After  their  marriage  they  resided  at 
Qaedlinburg  until  1853,  when  the  father  came  to  America,  locating  at 
Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  the  following  year  the  mother,  with  her 
four  small  children,  Julius  and  Robert,  and  Matilde  and  Anna,  joined 
him  at  that  place.  F.  H.  L.  Miller,  the  father,  was  a  teacher  at 
Friederichsbrunnen  am  Harz,  when  the  Revolution  of  1848  broke  out, 
but  was  forced  to  resign  his  position  on  account  of  his  liberal  views 
and  the  active  aid  he  gave  the  Revolutionists  in  their  attempt  to  over- 
throw the  Government.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  business  at 
Quedlinburg,  and  continued  it  until  his  emigration  to  America  in  1853. 


420  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

He  was  induced  to  take  this  step  because  he  was  bitterly  opposed  to 
the  despotism  which  had  set  itself  up  in  Prussia,  and  he  desired  to  live 
in  a  land  of  liberty  and  freedom  regulated  by  equal  and  just  laws. 
He  eniraged  in  business  at  Milwaukee  and  continued  there  with  satis- 
factory  success  until  1858.  From  Milwaukee  he  removed  to  New 
Frankfort,  in  Saline  county,  Missouri,  near  which  place  he  engao^edin 
farming.  He  continued  a  citizen  of  Saline  county  for  nearly  20 
years,  and  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1882.  He  became  quite 
comfortably  situated  and  was  highly  respected.  A  man  of  superior 
intelligence  and  a  fine  education,  as  well  as  public  spirited,  and  honor- 
able and  upright  in  every  relation  of  life,  he  naturally  rose  to  a  position 
of  prominence  and  influence  in  his  county,  and  during  his  long  resi- 
dence there,  filled  various  local  offices,  always  acquitting  himself  with 
credit  and  ability.  The  mother,  his  wife,  died  in  Saline  county  in  1873. 
She  was  a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  well 
educated  and  refined,  and  much  esteemed  by  her  neighbors  and 
acquaintances.  While  she  was  one  of  the  most  gentle  of  women,  she 
was  at  the  same  time  a  woman  of  great  resolution  and  courage,  and 
could  face  any  dangers  or  hardships,  however  great,  whenever  and 
wherever  duty  required.  An  instance  of  this  is  afforded  in  the  trip 
she  made  across  the  Atlantic.  In  those  days  the  journey  was  one  of 
great  peril,  but  notwithstanding  this  she  had  the  brave-heartedness  to 
cast  herself  and  four  little  children  on  the  mercies  of  the  stormy 
ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel  bound  for  the  distant  shore  where  her  husband 
was  watching  and  waiting,  and  doubtless  sending  up  many  silent 
prayers  for  her  safe  arrival.  Julius  Miller  was  born  at  Friederichs- 
brunnen,  Prussia,  in  March,  1843,  and  was  therefore  ten  years  of  age 
when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his  mother.  He  came  to  Saline 
county  with  the  family  in  1858.  He  remained  on  the  farm  in  that 
county  until  he  was  about  17  years  of  age,  and  as  his  father  took  great 
pains  with  his  education,  he  received  an  excellent  knowledge  of  books 
as  he  grew  up.  But  Saline  county  was  almost  wholly  peopled  with  a 
Southern  sympathizing  population,  and  they  therefore  had  great  pre- 
judices against  the  Germans,  who  generally  sympathized  with  the 
Union  side.  In  1862,  on  account  of  this  antagonism,  times  became 
so  critical  in  Saline  county  that  it  was  not  safe  for  young  Miller  to 
remain  at  home,  and  he  therefore  joined  the  Union  forces,  becoming 
a  non-commissioned  officer.  He  participated  in  all  the  campaigns 
against  Price  during  the  hitter's  raid  in  this  State,  and  was  in  several 
battles,  but  came  through  the  war  without  injury.  Returning  to 
Saline  county  in  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Lichtenberg, 
and  engaged  in  business  in  that  county,  but  without  much  success.  In 
1872,  however,  he  removed  to  Moberly  and  opened  a  small  retail  beer 
and  liquor  house,  which  proved  a  successful  enterprise.  He  was  soon 
joined  by  his  brother,  Robert,  as  his  partner,  and  they  conducted  the 
business  with  continued  success  until  they  were  burned  out  in  1873. 
They  were  making  money  at  the  time  and  felt  that  they  were  on  the 
high  road  to  at  least  a  comfortable  competency,  but  they  carried  no 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  421 

insurance  and  all  they  possessed  in  the  world  was  swept  away  by  the 
fire.  As  if  to  fill  his  cup  of  misfortune,  the  same  year  that  he  burned 
out  ill  business,  he  lost  his  loved  and  devoted  wife.  But  he  was 
young  and  resolute,  and  was  determined  not  to  give  up.  He  started 
in  business  in  a  small  way  again,  his  brother  continuing  with  him,  and 
the  smiles  of  fortune  returned  to  brighten  his  life.  Industry,  enter- 
prise and  close  attention  to  business  prospered  them  abundantly. 
Finally  he  and  his  brother  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  keg 
and  bottle  beer  business,  and  they  now  have  one  of  the  largest  houses 
in  that  line  outside  of  St.  Louis,  in  North-east  Missouri.  They  also 
deal  extensively  in  ice.  In  1876  he  was  married  to  Miss  Carmilla 
Mathien,  and  she  has  borne  him  several  children.  He  also  has  a  son 
by  his  first  wife.  Mr.  Kobert  Miller  had  the  singular  misfortune  of 
losing  his  wife  and  both  his  children  within  the  last  few  years.  His 
wife  was  a  Miss  Pauline  Lehman.     She  was  born  in  Hannibal,  Mo. 

R.  S.  MINER 

(Division  Superintendent  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad,  Moberly,  Mo.) . 
Mr.  Miner,  though  by  no  means  an  old  man,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
men  in  the  railway  service  in  point  of  continuous  employment  in  Mis- 
souri, and  one  among  the  oldest  in  the  country.  He  began  his  career 
as  a  railroad  man  over  30  years  ago,  away  back  in  1853,  before 
most  of  the  men  connected  with  the  railroads  in  this  State  Avere 
born.  He  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  at  "Windsor,  in 
Berkshire  county,  April  11,  1831.  Reared  on  a  farm,  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  he  was  21  years  of  age  when  he  accepted  a  position 
in  the  service  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad,  having  to  do  with 
the  track,  its  repairs,  etc.,  as  a  master  workman.  He  remained  with 
that  road  for  eight  years  and  then  went  to  New  York  and  took  charge 
of  the  track  of  the  New  Haven  &  Northampton  Railroad,  which  he 
had  for  two  years.  In  1863  Mr.  Miner  came  West  and  took  charge 
of  tracks  of  the  Wabash  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  superintending  tracks 
on  that  division  of  the  road  for  nearly  20  years.  In  1882,  however, 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Western  Division  of  the  Wabash.  He  now 
has  charge  of  nearly  800  miles  of  road.  Having  been  with  the  Wa- 
bash road  for  over  20  years,  this  long  record  of  faithfulness  and  suc- 
cess in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  is  itself  the  highest  compliment  that 
could  be  paid  him  as  an  officer  of  the  road  and  as  a  man.  Industry, 
close  attention  to  business  and  intelligent  appreciation  of  what  is  re- 
quired to  keep  a  road  in  first-class  condition  are  his  characteristics  in 
the  discharge  of  his  official  duties;  and  unswerving  integrity,  courtesy 
and  public  spirit  mark  his  career  as  a  man  and  citizen.  The  Wabash 
tract,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  is  known  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and  best 
in  the  West,  and  for  this  the  road  and  the  public  are  indebted  to  Mr. 
Miner's  intelligence  and  management  more  than  to  any  other  cause. 
It  was  in  recognition  of  this  fact  that  the  company  transferred  him  to 
the  Western  Division  in  order  that  he  might  make  it  compare  favor- 
a'bly  with  his  work  east  of  the  Mississippi.     The   expectations  of  the 


422  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

road  in  this  particular  he  is  rapidly  fulfilling,  for  the  Wabash  track 
west  of  the  Mississippi  is  fast  becoming  one  of  the  best  on  this  side  of 
the  great  Father  of  Waters.  On  the  9th  day  of  September,  1858,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Jackson,  who  lived  to  brighten  his  home  for  14 
years,  but  died  in  1872.  To  his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Howe,  he 
was  married  January  20,  1880.     Mr.  Miner  has  no  children. 

RICHARD  C.  MURRAY 

(General  Yard  Master  of  the  Waba-ih,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  and  of  the  Missouri  Pacific 

Railroads,  Moberly). 

It  is  a  fact  well  known  by  all  who  have  given  the  subject  any 
thought  or  investigation,  that  most  of  the  men  connected  with  the  rail- 
way service  were  brought  up  in  the  country  and  to  a  farm  life.  The 
qualities  required  to  make  a  good  railroad  man,  industry  and  close 
attention  to  business  as  well  as  the  strength  of  character  and  physical 
vigor  necessary  in  the  discharge  of  duties  relating  to  the  railway  ser- 
vice, seem  to  find  more  favorable  conditions  for  development  on  a  farm 
than  elsewhere.  There  youths  grow  up  inured  to  hard  work  and  ac- 
customed to  that  frugal,  temperate  manner  of  living  required  for  suc- 
cess in  almost  any  calling.  Used  to  the  open  air  and  exercise  of  fal*m 
life,  they  develop  robust  constitutions,  and  as  they  approach  early 
manhood,  they  are  the  best  material  out  of  which  to  form  reliable, 
efficient  and  useful  railroad  men.  Mr.  Murray,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  another  example  of  this  fact.  He  was  born  at  Carlyle,  111., 
April  1,  1849,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm  up  to  the  age  of  20.  He 
received  a  fair,  practical  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the 
age  of  20  came  to  St.  Louis  and  accepted  a  position  in  the  freight 
department  of  the  North  Missouri  Road.  A  year  later  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  yard  master  at  St.  Louis,  and  in  1872  he  was  sent  up 
to  Moberly  and  took  charge  of  the  night  yards  at  this  place.  The 
following  year  Mr.  Murray  was  made  general  yard  master  at  Moberly, 
and  when  the  Missouri  Pacific  and  Wabash  both  became  the  property 
of  Mr.  Gould,  he  was  given  charge  of  the  yards  of  both  roads.  On 
November  21,  1877,  Mr.  Murray  was  married  to  Miss  Duffy,  of  Dallas, 
Texas.  His  wife  survived  her  marriage,  however,  only  about  three 
years,  dying  August  7,  1880.  She  left  one  child,  Julia  May.  Mr. 
Murray  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  of  the  Moberly  Board 
of  Education.  In  his  yard  he  has  under  his  direction  about  30  men 
who  keep  the  business  of  the  yard  up  in  first-class  order. 

PATRICK  G.  MURPHY 

(Baggage  Master  of  the  Wabash,  St,  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  and  of  the  Missouri 

Pacific  Railroad,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Murphy,  who  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man  about  23  years  of  age,  and  located  first  in  Boston, 
where  he  was  employed  by  the  Government  on  fortifications.  Mr. 
Murphy  worked  at  Boston  in  the  service  of  the  Government  for  about 
seven  years.    In  1848  he  went  to  Virginia  and  worked  on  the  Alexandria 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  423 

railroad,  grading  the  track,  where  he  continued  for  some  years.     In 
1854  he  went  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  worked  on  the  Alton  Road 
for  about  a  year.     From  there  he  came  to  Missouri  and  was  employed 
in  grading  the  track  between  Centralia  and   Sturgeon.     Mr.  Murphy 
worked  on  several  roads  in  this  State  until  1861,  when  he  retired  from 
the  railroad  business  and  engaged  in  farming.     In  1866  he  returned  to 
the  railroad,  becoming  foreman  of  a  section  on  the  North  Missouri,  a 
position  he  filled  for  two  years.     Following  this,  Mr.  Murphy  came  to 
Moberly  and  built  the  yards  for  the  North  Missouri,  and  also  ran  a 
construction  train.     In  1870  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position. 
He  has  therefore  been  baggage  master  for  the  past  14 years,  and  since 
the  consolidation  of,  or  rather  the  combination  between,  the  Missouri 
Pacific  and  Wabash  he  has  been  bao-orage  master  for  both  roads.     Mr. 
Murphy's  long  experience  as  baggage  master,  together  with  his  habits 
of  attending  closely  and  faithfully  to  business,  combine  to  make  him 
one    of  the  most    efficient  and  expeditious  baggage    masters  in  the 
service  of  the  road.     On  the  14th  of  February,  1883,  he  lost  a  son, 
John  Murphy,  a  young  man   whom  all  that  knew  him  liked,  and  a 
young   man    of  industry  and  many  estimable  qualities  of  head  and 
heart.     He  was  killed  while  in  the  service  of  the  railroad.     Mr.  Mur- 
phy's wife  died  in  1866.     To  her  he  was  married  in  1859.     She  was  a 
Miss  Margaret  Dana,  and  came  of  the  same  family  from  which  Charles 
A.   Dana,   the  editor  of  the  New  York  Sun,  is  a  descendant.     The 
family  is  of  Irish  origin,  and  Mrs.  Murphy  herself  was  a  native  of  the 
Green  Isle  beyond  the  sea.     She  was  an  estimable,  good  woman,  an 
affectionate  and  dutiful  wife,  a  loving,  devoted  mother,  and  a  kind  and 
hospitable    neighbor.     She    was   a  faithful   member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.     Mr.  Murphy  is  also  a  member  of  that  church.     A  native  of 
Ireland,  though  he  has  been  away  from  there  for  40  years,  he   loves 
the  old  isle  yet  with   all  the  ardor  of  a  true  patriot,  and  is  always 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand,  both  of  his  means  and  of  his  personal 
services,  to  free  that  fairest  of  all  the  isles  of  the  sea  from  the  blight- 
ing curse  of  British  rule. 

THEODORE    F.  PRIEST 

(Of  Priest  &  Jones,  Proprietors  of  the  Moberly  Livery  and  Feed  and  Sales  Stables). 

Mr.  Priest  engaged  in  his  present  business  in  1878,  and  his  experi- 
ence thus  far  has  more  than  justified  his  expectations  at  the  time  he 
])egan.  The  firm  of  which  he  is  a  member  have  one  of  the  best  stables 
in* Moberly,  a  place  noted  for  the  superior  quality  and  fine  appearance 
of  the  rigs  turned  out  by  its  stables.  They  have  accommodation  for 
65  head  of  horses,  their  brick  buildino-  being:  45x75  feet  and  their 
frame,  25x75.  They  also  have  a  buggy  house  25x85  feet.  Their 
riding  and  driving  horses  are  not  surpassed  in  the  city,  while  their 
buggies,  carriages,  coupes,  etc.,  are  of  the  latest  and  best  styles,  and 
gotten  up  in  the  very  height  of  art  and  good  taste.  They  have  a  large 
and  increasing  custom,  and  while  their  stables  are  popular  with  the 
transient  public,  they  are  even  more  so  in  the  city  itself;  for  besides 
22 


424  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  fact  that  they  have  as  good  rigs  as  can  be  had  in  the  city,  they 
are  personally  very  popular,  being  young  men  of  good  business  qual- 
ifications, perfect  reliability,  accommodating,  and  very  genial  and 
sociable  in  the  company  of  others.  Mr.  Priest  is  a  native  Missourian, 
born  in  Ralls  county  on  his  father's  homestead,  four  miles  from  Han- 
nibal, April  15,  1849.  His  early  educational  advantages  were  good, 
and  accordingly,  so  far  as  the  knowledge  of  books  are  concerned,  his 
business  qualifications  are  ample.  Mr.  Priest  was  brought  up  to  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  followed  that  calling  with  success  until 
he  came  to  Moberly  in  1878  and  engaged  in  his  present  line  of  business. 
On  the  9th  of  November,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rosie  Muld- 
row,  of  Ralls  county.  She  survived  her  marriage,  however,  less  than 
six  years,  dying  August  12,  1877.  She  left  two  children,  Malena  and 
Theodore  F.,  Jr.  On  the  9th  of  October,  1879,  Mr.  Priest  was  mar- 
ried to  his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Emma  Lapsley,  born  and 
reared  in  this  county.  Two  children  are  the  fruits  of  this  marriage, 
Samuel  R.  and  an  infant.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Priest  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  His  parents,  Thomas  J.  and  Amelia  (Brown) 
Priest,  were  originally  from  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  respectively. 
The  father  died  in  the  fall  of  1873,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  and 
is  a  resident  of  Ralls  county. 

HON.  WILLIAM  QUAYLE 

(Farmer,  Stock-raiser  and  Dairyman) . 

Mr.  Q.,  a  native  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  was  born  October  18,  1825.  A 
man  of  much  individuality,  and  having  seen  life  in  all  its  phases,  he 
has  now  settled  down  on  a  farm  where  he  tills  the  soil  in  peace  and 
plenty.  He  devotes  much  of  his  attention  to  stock-raising,  and  has  a 
model  dairy.  Mr.  Quayle  is  the  son  of  Charles  Quayle  and  Jane 
Cannels,  both  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  In  1827  the  family  emigrated  to 
this  "  home  of  the  free,"  and  pitched  their  tents  in  Ontario  county,  in 
the  western  part  of  New  York.  Here  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
spent  his  boyhood,  during  which  time  he  attended  the  Canandagua 
Academy,  and  though  his  opportunities  were  limited,  he  obtained  a  fair 
English  education.  At  the  age  of  16  he  went  to  sea,  and  for  12  years 
was  "  rocked  in  the  cradle  of  the  deep."  He  rapidly  rose  to  the  rank 
of  captain,  and  his  life  was  one  of  great  interest,  visiting  all  parts  of 
the  world.  He  found  a  fascination  in  the  sea  which  did  not  lose  its 
flavor  until  its  treacherous  waters  betrayed  him.  In  1852  his  vessel 
was  wrecked  ofi"  the  west  coast  of  Greenland.  As  one  finding  an  ugly 
worm  at  the  heart  of  his  luscious  peach,  casts  it  from  him  in  disgust, 
so  the  Captain  turned  his  back  on  his  beloved  ocean  forever.  He  first 
engaged  in  merchandising  and  farming  in  Tarrant  county,  Tex.,  of 
which  section  he  served  four  years  as  district  clerk.  He  was  also 
three  years  on  the  bench  as  probate  judge.  In  1861  the  judicial 
ermine  was  doffed,  and  donned  in  its  stead  were  the  helmet  and  spear 
of  the  warrior.  Though  originally  a  Whig  and  opposed  to  secession, 
yet  his  true  heart  warmed  in  defense  of  the  home  of  his  adoption  ;  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  425 

after  the  Lone  Star  seceded,  Mr.  Q.  boldly  took  his  stand  in  the  front 
ranks  of  the  Confederate  service,  to  fight,  to  die,  if  need  be,  with 
those  whom  he  loved.  Mr.  Quayle  is  a  man  who  rises  as  naturally 
as  a  cork  to  the  surface,  and  having  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  Texas  cavalry, 
he  was  at  once  elected  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  was 
enofaired  in  several  fio-hts  with  the  Indians,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Elkhorn,  Corinth,  etc.  Falling  a  victim  to  that  most  insiduous 
enemy,  camj^  fever,  he  was  compelled  to  return  to  his  home  ;  but  as 
soon  as  he  recovered  he  organized  another  company,  and  after  being 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  was  appointed  Commander  of  the  First 
Frontier  District  of  Texas.  At  the  end  of  the  war,  Mr.  Quayle  was 
restless  and  went  to  Mexico.  He  remained,  however,  only  three 
years,  then  lived  two  years  on  the  western  coast  of  Texas,  and  in  1869 
came  to  Randolph  county,  Missouri.  He  has  served  a  term  in  the 
Legislature,  and  in  1882  was  a  Congressional  candidate  on  the  Green- 
back ticket.  The  Judge  claims  that  his  principles  are  the  same  they 
have  ever  been,  but  the  Democratic  party  has  changed.  He  was 
married  in  Tarrant  county,  Tex.,  in  1857,  to  Sarah  J.,  daughter  ot 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson,  of  Mississippi.  There  are  two  children  by 
this  marriage:  William  H.,  now  living  at  Hope,  Ark.,  and  Sidney,  a 
station  agent  on  the  Missouri  Pacific.  His  first  wife  dying  in  Texas 
in  1860,  Judge  Quayle  was  married  again,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Terrill,  of  Texas.  Mrs.  Quayle, 
however,  was  born  and  raised  on  the  farm  upon  which  she  is  now 
living.  There  are  five  children  :  Katie,  now  the  wife  of  John  SetlifF, 
of  the  Waters  and  WoUey  College,  in  Tennessee,  formerly  a  graduate 
of  Columbia;  Papie,  Charles,  Jack  and  James.  One  child,  Benjamin, 
died  October  20,  1870,  aged  six  years.  The  Judge  has  72  acres  ot 
land,  situated  about  a  mile  from  Moberly,  all  in  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation. His  dwelling  is  a  comfortable  structure,  and  his  other  out- 
buildings attest  his  enterprise.  He  also  has  a  fine  bearing  young 
orchard.  Judge  Quayle  is  making  a  specialty  of  his  butter  and  milk 
dairy.  As,  mayhap,  his  own  noble  ship,  after  stormy  seas,  anchored 
in  some  sheltered  nook,  so  tempest  tossed  and  weary,  he  finds  a  peace 
and  repose  in  his  rustic  retreat. 

CHARLES  RATTRAY 

(Local  Manager  of  the  Pacific  Express  Company,  Moberly) . 

Mr.  Rattray,  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  August  12,  1841,  was  in 
his  tenth  year  when  his  parents,  Charles  and  .Lane  (Williams)  Rattray, 
both  of  ancient  and  respected  Scotch  families,  came  to  America  for 
the  purpose  of  casting  their  fortunes  with  the  future  of  the  New 
W^orld.  On  landing  on  our  shores,  they  proceeded  West  and  located 
at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  the  father  engaged  in  the  book  and  station- 
ery business.  In  Scotland  the  family  belonged  to  the  more  respecta- 
ble class  of  untitled  people,  and  the  father  was  a  man  of  good 
education  and  excellent  business  qualifications.  In  early  life  he  was 
a  civil  engineer,  and  after  he  came  over  to   this   country,  aside  from 


42(5  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

his  book  and  stationery  business,  followed  his  profession  for  about 
three  years.  Young  Rattray  was  principally  educated  in  Iowa,  and 
when  17  years  of  age  obtained  a  position  with  the  American  Express 
Company  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  was  in  the  service  of  that  company 
until  called  back  to  take  charge  of  the  book  store  on  account  of  his 
father's  death.  Winding  up  the  book  business  in  Dubuque,  in  1862, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  Chicago  office  of  the  American  Express  Com- 
pany, and  has  been  in  the  express  business  ever  since.  From  Chicago, 
later  along,  he  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  then  to  St.  Charles,  and  from 
the  latter  city  to  Moberly.  Mr.  Rattray's  administration  of  the 
office  here  has  been  very  efficient,  satisfactory  and  popular.  He 
makes  it  a  point  to  be  courteous  and  accommodating  to  all  who  show 
themselves  worthy  of  consideration,  while  he  permits  no  part  of  his 
business  to  fall  into  neglect.  When  he  first  came  here  there  were  two 
men  employed  in  the  office.  Now  there  are  fifteen  men  and  nine 
messengers.  Mr.  Rattray  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  order 
iind  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  was  married  April  19,  1868, 
to  Miss  Alice  A.  Leavenworth,  originally  of  Connecticut,  and  a 
descendant  of  the  same  family  of  which  Colonel  Leavenworth,  for 
whom  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  is  named,  was  a  representative.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rattray  have  three  children  :  Charles  A.,  Bertha  and  Jesse 
O.     The  fourth  child  died  in  infancy. 

IRA  S.  REIS 

(Of  Bowers  &  Reis,  Dealers  in  Dry  Goods,  Clothino;,  Gent's  and  Ladies'  Furnisliing 

Goods,  Carpets,  Hats  and  Caps,  etc.,  etc.,  No.  Ill  and  113  Reed 

Street,  Moberly,  Missouri). 

No  adequate  idea  could  be  formed  of  the  mercantile  affairs  of  Mo- 
berly from  a  review  of  this  city  which  fails  to  make  mention  of  the 
firm  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  These  gentlemen  have  been  en- 
gaged in  business  in  this  city  less  than  two  years,  yet  they  have 
built  up  one  of  the  leading  houses  in  their  line  in  the  interior  of 
North-east  Missouri.  The  volume  of  their  business  has  grown  with  a 
rapidity  that  has  no  equal  in  this  city  and  throughout  the  surrounding 
country.  Each  of  them  had  had  a  successful  experience  in  business 
before  coming  here,  and  had  accumulated  a  substantial  nucleus  of 
means.  They  came  here  for  the  purpose  of  building  up  a  large  busi- 
ness, believing  Moberly  to  l)e  one  of  the  best  points  in  the  country 
for  that  purpose.  Neither  have  they  been  disappointed  in  their  opin- 
ion of  the  place,  nor  in  the  results  of  their  enterprise.  The  remark- 
able progress  of  this  house  has  been  spoken  of  in  the  sketch  of  Mr. 
Bowers,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  so  that  it  would  but  be  rep- 
etition to  dwell  at  length  on  it  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  they  have 
become  almost  at  a  bound  leading  merchants  of  Moberly,  and  it  can 
not  be  doubted  that  they  are  destined  to  be,  sooner  than  most  people 
supposed,  by  all  odds  the  principal  men  in  their  line  of  business  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  Mr.  Reis  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  Philadelphia,  June  1,  1855,  and  educated  in  the  Philadelphia  High 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  427 

School.  He  began  business  at  Uniontown,  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
dry  goods  and  clothing  and  gent's  furnishing  goods  line,  with  a  tailor- 
ing establishment  in  connection.  He  was  entirely  successful  at  Union- 
town,  and  only  came  to  Moberly  because  he  believed  this  city  offered 
better  opportunities  to  build  up  a  large  busiuess  in  a  few  years.  In 
this,  as  has  been  said,  he  has  not  been  disappointed.  The  following 
gentlemen,  well  and  favorably  known  to  the  citizens  of  Moberly,  are 
salesmen  in  their  establishment:  John  E.  Lawrie,  William  Tolle, 
Joseph  C.  Brand,  J.  Q.  Coats,  Robert  Barrowman  and  Mark  H. 
Burkholder.  Mr.  Reis  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  R.  is  a  self-made  man,  a  gentleman  who  has 
risen  to  his  present  enviable  position  in  business  life  by  his  own  indus- 
try and  worth.  He  is  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  high  sense  of  honor 
and  gentlemanly  and  courteous  to  all.  He  is  justly  very  popular, 
both  as  a  business  man  and  personally,  with  all  who  know  him. 

SAMUEL  S.  RICH 

(Depot  Policeman,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Rich  was  born  in  Kenton  county,  Kentucky,  August  24,  1842, 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  county.  He  had  common 
school  advantages  in  his  youth,  and  followed  farming  in  Kentucky 
until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Kentucky  volunteer  infantry, 
Co.  K,  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1865  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Co.  K,  Fourth  Kentucky  veteran  volunteer  mounted  in- 
fantry, U.  S.  A.  Returning  to  his  native  State,  he  remained  there 
occupied  in  farming  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  Chariton  county,  where  he  continued  farming  for  about  two 
years.  In  1879  Mr.  Rich  obtained  a  position  in  the  fuel  department  of 
the  Wabash  Railroad  service,  which  he  held  for  three  years.  He  then 
was  appointed  check  clerk  in  the  freight  department,  the  position  he 
held  until  he  accepted  his  present  office.  The  office  of  depot  police- 
man is  authorized  by  city  ordinance,  and  the  incumbent  is  appointed 
b}'  the  railroad  authorities,  with  the  consent  and  approval  of  the 
mayor.  Mr.  Rich  makes  a  capable  and  efficient  officer,  and  sees  to  it 
that  nothing  illegitimate  is  allowed  to  be  carried  on  around  the  depot. 
He  is  a  worthy  man  in  a  worthy  position,  and  fills  it  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  concerned.  On  the  23d  of  December,  1868,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  N.  A.  Williams,  originally  of  Kentucky.  They  have  two 
children;  Lidia  W.  and  Alfred  B.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  South,  and  Mr.  Rich  is  a  Select  Knight  in  the  United 
Workman  order.  Mr.  Rich's  parents  are  Samuel  and  Mary  (Stowers) 
Rich,  both  natives  of  Kentucky. 

JAMES  SANDISON 

(Brick  Manufacturer,  and  Layerand  Contractor:  Yards,  western  suburbs  of  Moberly). 

Mr.  Sandison  is  one  of  those  intelligent,  enterprising  men  that 
reveal  in  their  methods  of  carrying  on   business  and  in  their  success 


428  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  nationality  which  they  represent  —  the  sturdy,  intelligent  Scotch 
race.  The  Germans  are  noted  for  their  frugality  and  solid  thrift ; 
though  it  must  be  confessed  that  they  are  by  no  means  the  most  enter- 
prising people  under  the  sun.  The  Scotch  are  equally  frugal  and 
thrifty  as  the  Germans,  and  in  addition  to  these  qualities  they  are 
enterprising  to  a  marked  degree.  Hence  it  is  that  among  the  Scotch 
in  this  country  we  find  fewer  mendicants  or  even  shiftless  people  than 
among  any  other  race  to  be  met  with.  They  have  the  industry,  intel- 
ligence and  enterprise  to  get  along  in  the  world,  and  they  generally 
succeed.  These  remarks  are  called  out  by  scanning  the  facts  of  Mr. 
Sandison's  life,  a  worthy  representative  of  the  land  of  Bruce  and  Wal- 
lace and  of  Burns  and  Scott.  He  was  born  in  Keith,  Decemljer  27, 
1846,  and  was  reared  in  his  native  country.  His  father  was  William 
Sandison,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Jane  Lawson.  His 
father  was  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  died  in  1855.  In  1868  the 
family,  including  James,  who  had  then  grown  to  manhood,  emigrated 
to  America,  and  on  landing  came  on  out  AVest,  locating  at  Huntsville, 
in  Randolph  county,  where  the  mother  still  resides.  James  Sandison, 
who  had  learned  the  brickmaking;  business  and  contractino;  and  build- 
ing,  went  to  work  there  at  his  trade,  and  continued  with  success  until 
1879,  then  coming  to  Moberly.  Here  he  resumed  business,  and  has 
been  successfully  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  l)rick  and  in  contract- 
ing and  building.  He  has  a  good  yard,  and  works  a  large  number  of 
hands.  His  brick  have  an  enviable  reputation,  being  generally  pre- 
ferred to  those  of  any  other  local  manufacturer  in  the  market.  On  the 
27th  of  July,  1873,  Mr.  Sandison  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Morrison, 
of  Scotland  originally.  They  had  five  children:  James  G.,  William 
S.,  John,  and  George.  Margaret,  the  third  child,  is  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sandison  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
Sandison  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  order,  and  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Laljor  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  superintendent  of 
the  Collins  Coal  Company,  of  this  county. 

WILLIAM  H.  SELBY 

(Master  Mechanic  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Selby  who,  like  many  of  the  leading  men  of  this  country  in  the 
department  of  practical  mechanics,  is  a  native  of  England,  has  been  at 
the  head  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  as  master 
mechanic  since  1873,  and  has  long  had  charge  of  about  1,200  miles  of 
road  in  his  department  of  the  service.  A  man  of  collegiate  education, 
and  of  a  high  order  of  natural  intelligence,  he  has  made  of  mechanics 
a  science  no  less  than  an  art,  at  least  in  so  far  as  his  connection  with 
its  principles  and  practice  is  concerned,  for  he  has  studied  the  philos- 
ophy of  mechanics,  including  the  laws  of  motion,  inertia,  weight, 
etc.,  which  it  involves,  not  less  than  the  practical  work  of  his  occupa- 
tion. It  is  questioned  by  no  one  who  knows  him  and  is  capable  of 
judging  that  he  is  one  of  the  most  capable  and  skillful  mechanics  in 
the  State,  while  his  executive  ability  is  such  —  his  strength  of  char- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  429 

acter  and  his  faculty  for  controlling  and  directing  men  and  executing 
important  undertakings  —  that  he  is  pre-eminently  the  man  for  the 
position  he  holds  —  that  of  master  mechanic  of  one  of  the  leading  rail- 
roads of  the  United  States.  A  man  of  high  character  and  excellent 
social  qualities,  he  is  popular  with  the  men  under  him  and  is  appreci- 
ated for  his  superior  personal  worth  by  the  controlling  officials  of  the 
road.  Mr.  Selby  was  born  in  England  June  4,  1832,  where  he  grew 
up  and  was  educated  ;  and  when  a  young  man  he  came  to  America  on 
a  visit  to  his  brother  who  resided  in  Canada,  and  after  spending  a 
short  time  there,  concluded  to  remain  in  the  New  World  permanently. 
From  Canada  he  came  to  St.  Louis  where  he  became  connected  with 
the  mechanical  department  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Eailroad  and 
was  foreman  of  the  East  St.  Louis  shops  for  over  live  years.  He  was 
then  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  in  1865  came  to  St.  Charles,  where  he  was 
foreman  of  the  North  Missouri  shops  for  about  eight  years.  From 
there  Mr.  Selby  came  to  Moberly  in  1873,  since  which  he  has  been 
master-mechanic  of  the  Wabash  Railroad.  On  the  11th  of  April, 
1863,  Mr.  Selby  was  married  at  St.  Charles  to  Miss  Nancy  P.  Pillardy 
of  St.  Charles  county.  They  have  four  children  :  James  E.,  William 
H.,  Charles  and  Frederick.  Mr.  Selby  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the 
Masonic  order,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

CHARLES    B.  SHAFFER 

(Cashier  of  the  Randolph  Bank,  Moberly). 
John  C.  Shaefer,  the  father  of  Charles  B.,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  came  over  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Randolph  county  in  an 
early  day.  He  came  of  one  of  the  better  untitled  classes  into  which 
society  is  divided  in  Germany,  and  was  a  man  of  strong  character, 
marked  intelligence  and  good  education.  Like  Schurz,  and  thousands 
of  other  Germans  of  that  class,  he  came  to  this  country  more  out  of 
his  love  for  republican  institutions  than  from  other  considerations, 
although  he,  of  course,  did  not  fail  to  appreciate  the  incomparable 
natural  resources  and  other  advantages  to  be  met  with  in  the  United 
States.  He  was  married  in  Charlottesville,  Va.,  to  Miss  Ellen  Day, 
formerly  of  Virginia,  a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart.  The  father  was  for  many  years  an  enterprising  and  successful 
farmer,  and  being  a  man  of  influence  in  the  county  and  fine  business 
qualifications,  he  was  elected  county  clerk.  This  was  in  1868,  and 
young  Shaefer  worked  in  the  office  under  his  father.  In  1871  young 
Shaefer  obtained  a  position  in  Wisdom's  Bank,  at  Huntsville,  as 
factotum  and  collector,  a  position  he  held  with  satisfaction  and  effi- 
ciency for  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  business  for  himself  and 
continued  it  for  four  years.  In  1878  Mr.  Shaefer  settled  up  his  busi- 
ness in  which  he  had  previously  been  engaged  and  became  connected 
with  the  Mechanics'  Bank,  with  which  he  was  identified  for  over  a 
year.  Following  this  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  in  the 
Randolph  Bank.  Coming  of  the  family  he  did,  and  having  had  the 
opportunities  he  has,  it  is  only  as  was  to  have  been  expected,  that  he 


430  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

has  become  one  of  the  most  capable  and  efficient  bank  cashiers  in  this 
section  of  the  State.  Having  been  reared  in  the  county,  and  been 
identified  with  business,  either  public  or  private,  all  his  life,  he  has 
thus  obtained  that  knowledge  of  the  people,  their  reputations,  charac- 
ters, financial  responsibilities,  etc.,  so  necessary  to  the  successful  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  a  bank  cashier.  His  opportunities,  while  in 
the  county  clerk's  office,  were  exceptionally  favorable  for  obtaining 
this  information.  Indeed,  as  is  proper  that  he  should,  he  has  taken 
special  pains  to  obtain  a  thorough  knowledge  of  these  facts.  And  it 
is  now  recognized  in  financial  and  business  circles  atMoberly,  as  we 
understand  from  leading  men,  that  he  is  one  of  the  best  posted  men 
as  to  the  character  of  commercial  paper  made  in  Eandolph  county  in 
the  entire  county.  A  man  of  high  character  and  popular  manners, 
and  understanding  the  principles  of  banking  thoroughly,  he  is  an 
officer  of  inestimable  value  to  the  bankinsr  institution  with  which  he 
is  connected.  Mr.  Shaefer  is  a  public-spirited  gentleman,  and  takes 
a  commendable  interest  in  all  matters  of  advantage  to  Moberly  and 
Randolph  county,  and  is  ever  anxious  to  do  anything  in  his  power  for 
the  common  weal  of  the  people  among  whom  his  whole  life  thus  far 
has  been  spent.  On  the  21st  of  October,  1875,  Mr.  Shaefer  was 
married  to  Miss  Nannie  L.  Hawkins,  of  Keytesville,  a  young  lady 
then  regarded  as  the  belle  of  that  place.  She  is  a  lady  of  singular 
refinement  and  of  many  charms,  both  of  mind  and  person,  and  is  a 
very  agreeable  and  gifted  conversationalist.  She  is  much  esteemed 
in  the  social  circle  which  she  favors  with  her  presence,  and,  indeed, 
by  all  who  know  her.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaefer  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

WILLIAM  SMITH 

(Proprietor  of  the  Grand  Central  Hotel,  Moberly;    also,  Farmer,  Stock-raiser   and 

General  Business  Man). 

Mr.  Smith,  a  man  of  large  means  and  larger  heart,  and  of  a  mind 
not  less  than  either,  has  come  up  in  the  world  to  the  enviable  position 
which  he  at  present  occupies  by  his  own  worth  and  merits,  and  pos- 
sesses all  of  the  characteristics  to  a  marked  degree  which  characterize 
the  successful  and  popular  man.  Able  to  make  money  anywhere,  at 
everything,  and  at  all  times,  he  makes  friends  wherever  he  goes,  and 
even  more  rapidly  than  he  accumulates  the  solid  wherewithal  of  pros- 
perity. Mr.  Smith  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Rjindolph  county, 
April  2,  1837,  and  was  a  son  of  Joel  Smith,  an  enterprising  trader  and 
speculator  of  that  county,  but  originally  of  Kentucky.  The  fiither 
was  a  man  of  superior  intelligence  and  great  energy  of  character,  and 
was  highly  esteemed  for  his  social  and  business  qualities.  He  died 
June  28,  1882.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  resides  near  Moberly. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Dorcas  Tureman,  and  she  was  also  formerly  of 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Smith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  at 
Bethany  College,  in  Virginia,  and  being  a  young  man  full  of  life  and 
animation  and  with  a  big  heart,  he,  of  course,  soon  married.     Miss 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  431 

Florence  Head,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Head,  of  Huntsville,  became  his 
wife  on  the   2l8t  of  April,  1858.     He  was  then  just  19  days  past  21 
years  of  age.     He  at  once  engaged  in  the  tobacco  business  at  Hunts- 
ville, which  he  followed  for  about  a  year.     After  that  he  became  pro- 
prietor of  the   stage   line  between  Allen  and  Glasgow  and  Allen  and 
Brunswick,  and  thus  continued  up  to  the  time  of  the  building  of  the 
West  Branch  Kailroad.     In  1865  he  engaged  in  farming  and  the  livery 
business  and  has  continued  in  that  occupation  up  to  the  present  time, 
meeting  with  his  usual  success.     In  May,  1880,  he  opened  the  Grand 
Central,  one  of  the  finest  and  best  interior  hotels,  if  it  has  an  equal  out- 
side the  large  cities,  in  the  State.     It  is  by  all  odds  the  leading  hotel 
in  Moberly.     This   colossal  building  has   no   less  than  sixty  rooms, 
and  is  furnished  throughout  in  almost  oriental  luxury.     It  is  a  home 
in  which  time  flies  with  a  dove's  wing,  so  soft  and  pleasant  is  every- 
tning  around,  and  the  hours  of  the  night  are  filled  with  the  sweet- 
est dreams  which   Morpheus   can   provide,  whilst  guests  recline   on 
downy  pillows  and  on   beds  whose  springs  as  gently  quiver  as  aspen 
leaves  in  the  shimmering  hours  of  summer.     A  vear  ago  last  sum- 
mer  Mr.  Smith,  with  an  enterprise  that  stops  at  nothing  where  success 
is  to  be  won,  opened  a  large  ranch  for  horses  and  mules  in  Colorado, 
where  he  has   hundreds  of  head  now  gamboling  on  the  green  in  the 
horizon-bounded   prairies  of  the  Centennial   State.     It  was  through 
his    public    spirit   mainly  that    the    Moberly    Fair   Association    was 
organized,    now    one  of  the  permanent    institutions    of  the    county, 
and  one  of  the  most  successful  agricultural  associations  in  the  State. 
Mr.   Smith,  while  a  man  with    an  eye  to  his    own   interests,  which 
he    is    abundantly  able    to    take    care  of,  is  also  a  man  not  a  little 
concerned  for  the  Avelfare  of  the  county  and  the  community  in  which 
he  lives,  and  has  been  of  great  service  as  a  citizen  in  inaugurating 
and  promoting   movements  for  the  general  good.     Personally  he  is 
whole-souled    and    genial,  and  is  popular  with    everybody.     Of   an 
open,  generous  disposition  and  a  kind  word  for  every  one,  he  knows 
how  to  enjoy  health    and  wealth,   both  of  which  he  possesses,  and 
his  presence  wherever  he  goes  is  welcome  and  is  received  like  a  ray 
of  sunshine,  gladly  and  with  a  smile.     No  man  is  more  highly  thought 
of  by  those  who  know  him.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  a  family  of 
one  child,  namely:  Mary,  born  March  3d,  1873. 

JOHN  C.  TEDFORD,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Moberly). 
Dr.  Tedford  has  been  occupied  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion for  25  years,  and  though  a  plain  and  unassuming  man,  is  conceded 
to  be  one  of  the  most  capable  and  successful  physicians  in  the  treat- 
ment of  cases  in  this  city.  He  is  a  native  of  Alabama,  born  in  Mad- 
ison county,  October  28,  1825,  and  in  youth  received  a  good  private 
school  education.  In  1836  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Copeland  (  Boggs) 
Tedford,  removed  to  Missouri,  and  located  on  the  land  in  Randolph 
county  now  the  site  of  the  city  of  Moberly.     The  father  entered  this 


432  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

land  and  improved  a  farm  here,  on  which  he  lived  for  many  years. 
Young  Tedford  grew  to  manhood  in  this  county,  and  after  attaining 
his  majority,  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Oliver.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  and  graduated  from 
that  institution  with  distinction  in  1859.  Dr.  Tedford  at  once  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  for  that  purpose  located  at 
Milton.  Since  then  he  has  practiced  two  years,  or  thereabout,  in 
Kansas,  at  Mound  City.  In  1880,  however,  he  came  back  to  the 
place  where  his  boyhood  days  were  sjjent,  and  found  it  one  of  the 
most  populous  and  flourishing  cities  in  this  section  of  the  State. 
Since  that  time  Dr.  Tedford  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  at  Mo- 
berly,  and  his  thorough  qualifications  and  long  experience  as  a  physician 
have  had  the  effect  to  bring  him  an  excellent  practice.  A  man  of  high 
character  and  kindly  disposition,  he  is  personally  as  much  liked  as  he 
is  esteemed  as  a  practitioner  in  his  profession.  Free  of  all  pretense 
and  show,  he  is  one  of  those  sober,  substantial  men,  candid  and  sin- 
cere in  everything  they  do,  who  inspire  the  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  they  are  thrown  in  contact.  For  solidity  of  character  and  per- 
sonal worth  no  man  in  Moberly  is  entitled  to  greater  consideration, 
while  as  a  physician  he  is  equally  faithful  and  reliable.  In  1855  Dr. 
Tedford  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Dameron,  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Dameron,  of  this  county.  They  have  reared  a  large  and  worthy 
family  of  children.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  District  and  State 
Medical  Societies  and  of  the  Odd  Fellow's  order  and  the  local  temper- 
ance organization. 

JAMES  TERRILL 

(Deceased) , 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Albemarle  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  moved  to  Kentucky  when  quite  young.  Thence  he  went 
to  Randolph  county,  Missouri,  near  where  Moberly  now  is  situated, 
where  he  resided  for  about  forty  years.  He  was  the  oldest  of  six 
brothers,  all  of  whom  were  well  known  and  highly  respected  and 
honored,  enjoying  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  them.  Their  names 
in  order  of  their  ages  are  James,  Jesse,  William,  Benjamin,  John, 
and  Robert.  Jesse  and  Benjamin  Terrill  were  Baptist  preachers,  and 
were  known  far  and  wide  in  this  part  of  the  State.  John  Terrill 
moved  to  Texas  and  settled  in  Tarrant  county,  where  he  is,  and  has 
l)een  for  some  time,  county  commissioner  (county  judge).  Robert 
is  still  a  resident  of  Randolph  county,  and  is  a  physician  of  high 
standing.  John  and  Robert  are  the  only  ones  now  living.  James 
Terrill  was  born  December  29,  1801.  The  greater  part  of  his  early 
life  was  spent  in  Boone  county,  Kentucky.  On  December  29,  1825,  he 
was  married  to  Henrietta  Conner,  of  Boone  county,  Kentucky,  by 
which  marriage  two  children  were  born,  one  son  and  one  daughter. 
John  R.  Terrill,  the  son,  is  a  Baptist  minister  widely  known  in  North 
Missouri.  His  first  wife  died  August  15,  1830.  On  May  16,  1833, 
he  was  married  to  Eliza  A.  Crisler,  of  Boone  county,  Kentucky,  and 
from  this  union  there  were  born  twelve  children,  five  boys  and  seven 


I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  433 

girls,  all  of  whom  are  still  living,  except  one  boy  and  one  girl,  both  of 
whom  died  while  quite  young.  James  Terrill  was  a  man  of  sterling 
qualities  of  head  and  heart, — a  Christian  man,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  and  loved  by  all  who  enjoyed  his  personal  ac- 
quaintance. Firm  in  his  conviction  of  right,  he  had  the  courage  to 
defend  his  position,  and  he  allowed  no  pressure  to  swerve  him  from 
the  performance  of  a  known  duty.  The  confidence  of  the  people  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that,  although  he  preferred  the  quiet  of  the  home 
circle  to  the  busy  realities  of  public  affairs,  he  was  several  times  re- 
elected to  fill  the  office  of  county  judge,  serving  in  all  about  twenty 
years  in  succession,  except  a  few  years  during  the  war,  when  he  re- 
signed, refusing  to  take  the  test  oath.  The  following  is  from  an 
obituary  notice  written  by  Rev.  W.  L.  T.  Evans:  "Brother  James 
Terrill  professed  faith  in  Christ  at  an  early  age  and  became  a  member 
of  the  Bullittsburg  Baptist  Church.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  for  60  years:  a  deacon  in  the  church,  and  his  mem- 
bership was  with  the  church  at  Moberly.  Bro.  Terrill  was  an  every- 
day Christian,  and  no  man  delighted  to  talk  of  the  grace  of  God  more 
than  he.  He  was  a  man  in  whom  the  people  of  Randolph  county 
placed  implicit  confidence,  having  been  for  a  number  of  years  judge 
of  the  county  court.  His  life  was  a  living  comment  on  the  Bible." 
James  Terrill  died  September  14,  1876.  His  death  was  very  sudden 
and  entirely  unlooked  for  by  his  family  and  friends.  He  leaves  a  re- 
cord of  which  all  may  be  proud.  His  motto  seemed  to  be  that  "  a 
good  name  was  rather  to  be  chosen  that  great  riches." 

JOHN  R.  TERRILL,  Jr., 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  T.  was  born  in  Greenup  county,  Ky.,  November  1,  1829.  His 
father,  William  Terrill,  was  originally  from  Virginia,  but  moved 
to  Kentucky  when  a  young  man,  and  married  Ann  Calvin,  a  native 
of  that  State.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  the  spring  of  1846,  and 
locating  in  Randolph  county,  bought  and  entered  land  and  im- 
proved a  farm,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  August,  1869.  In 
this  family  there  were  seven  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
and  have  homes  in  Randolph.  John  R.  was  the  eldest  of  them  all ; 
he  lived  until  a  man  on  his  father's  farm,  and  was  given  such  educa- 
tion as  could  be  had  at  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  "When 
he  was  grown  he  went,  in  company  with  Capt.  William  Roberts  and 
others,  to  California  by  the  overland  route,  and  including  the  time 
spent  in  the  mines  was  two  years  making  this  trip.  He  returned  in 
the  summer  of  1852  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  and  New  York.  After 
spending  two  years  with  his  father  he  made  another  trip  to  California 
overland,  taking  some  cattle,  and  returned  the  next  year  by  the  same 
route  as  before.  On  the  15th  of  March,  1856,  Mr.  Terrill  was  mar- 
^ried  to  Miss  Ann  E.,  daughter  of  William  Roberts,  formerly  of  Ken- 
tucky. After  his  marriage  he  established  himself  on  a  farm  which 
had  been  previouslj'-   settled    by  Jehu  Pyle,  and   here  he  still  lives. 


434  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Mr.  Terrill  has  about  400  acres  of  land,  of  which  330  are  fenced  and 
in  cultivation.  He  owns  a  good  two-story  residence  and  outbuildings. 
His  old  orchard  is  on  the  decline  but  he  has  a  splendid  young  one, 
which  contains  200  apple  and  100  peach  trees,  with  some  grape  and 
other  small  fruits.  Mr.  Terrill  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose  his  wife 
on  the  9th  of  November,  1873  ;  she  was  a  true  and  devoted  wife  and 
mother,  and  a  faithful  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  to 
which  denomination  Mr.  Terrill  and  his  mother  also  belong.  Mr. 
Terrill  has  nine  children  to  be  the  stay  and  comfort  of  his  declining 
years  :  William  E.,  one  of  the  county  teachers  ;  Lola  and  Emma  H., 
both  teachers;  Lizzie  E.,  now  at  school  at  Winchester,  Tenn.  ;  James 
M.,  Robert  G.,  Henry  R.,  Vincent  C.  and  Anna  C.  Mr.  Terrill  is  a 
man  of  winning  address  and  much  ability  ;  he  takes  a  warm  interest 
in  all  educational  matters  and  has  carried  his  views  into  practice  in 
the  training  of  his  children.  He  is  a  member  of  Moralitv  Lodge,  No. 
186,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

JAMES  H.  TRAVIS 

(Master  of  Bridges,  BuLldings  and  Water  Supplies  for  tlie  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pa- 
cific Railroad,  Moberly) . 

Mr.  Travis,  who  has  charge  of  the  entire  line  of  the  Wabash  Sys- 
tem west  of  the  Mississippi  river  in  his  department,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  railroad  bridge  builders  in  this  part  of  the  country,  is  a  native 
of  New  York,  born  in  Putnam  county,  April  7,  1850.  When  he  was 
ten  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois,  where  young  Travis 
grew  up  to  the  age  of  17,  his  youth  prior  to  that  time  being  spent  on 
a  farm  in  the  Prairie  State.  His  advantages  for  an  education  were 
those  afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and  he  thus  succeeded  in 
acquiring  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  books  for  all  the  practical  pur- 
poses of  ordinary  business  life.  In  1867  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
located  at  Kansas  City,  where  he  was  clerk  under  Mr.  Chase  for  about 
a  year.  He  then  began  to  work  for  the  Keystone  Bridge  Company 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  the  employ  of  which  he  served  a  regular  and 
thorough  apprenticeship  at  bridge  building;  and  while  still  with  that 
company  he  rose  to  the  position  of  foreman  of  construction,  taking 
charge  of  all  its  business  west  of  Pittsburg.  He  continued  with  the 
Keystone  Company  until  1877,  when  he  was  offered  and  he  accepted 
the  position  of  inspector  of  improvements  for  the  city  of  St.  Louis 
under  Gen.  Turner,  commissioner  of  streets  at  that  time.  Mr.  Travis 
held  the  position  of  inspector  of  improvements  until  1878,  when  he 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  present  position.  He  has  under  his  control 
an  average  of  nearly  500  men,  and  he  directs  his  force  with  such  sys- 
tem and  regularity  that  his  work  is  carried  on  with  efficiency  and 
success.  A  man  of  superior  executive  ability,  as  well  as  a  first-class 
mechanic,  he  has  given  entire  satisfaction  to  the  company  and  is  val- 
ued as  one  of  its  best  master  workmen.  On  the  29th  of  March,  1877, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  V.  Foster,  formerly  of  Illinois.  They 
have  two   children :    James   H.    and   Dnrward   O.     Mr.  Travis  is   a 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  435 

Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  order  and  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  Mr.  Travis  is  a  man  of  superior  general 
intelligence,  of  pleasant  manners  and  agreeable  address,  and  is  hardly- 
less  popular  in  social  circles  than  in  his  position  of  master  bridge 
builder  of  the  Wabash  Railroad. 

FRANK  J.  TUTTLE 

(Plasterer  and  Contractor;  Fancy  and  Ornamental  Work  a  Specialty). 

Mr.  Tuttle,  a  young  man,  still  less  than  thirty  years  of  age,  is 
rapidly  coming  to  the  front  in  his  line  of  industry,  and  unless  all  signs 
are  misleading,  he  will  doubtless  take  a  leading  position  among  the 
successful  and  popular  plasterers  and  contractors  of  this  city.  He 
learned  his  trade  under  his  brother,  Norris  Tuttle,  whose  sketch 
follows  this,  and  in  his  work  he  carries  out  those  ideas  of  doing  every- 
thing thoroughly  and  honestly,  which  have  characterized  the  career 
of  his  brother.  He  was  born  in  Indianapolis,  September  22,  1854, 
and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Noblesville.  He  subsequently 
learned  fancy  tombstone  work  under  Lucas  &  Yeaman,  of  Nobles- 
ville. Later  along  he  began  work  under  his  brother,  Norris  Tuttle, 
at  the  plasterer's  business,  and  remained  with  the  latter  until  he  had 
become  a  thorough  master  of  the  trade.  He  worked  at  Kirksville,  in 
this  State,  for  three  years  after  1874,  and  then  came  to  Moberly, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  has  made  good  progress  in  his 
calling,  and  has  an  excellent  business.  On  the  7th  of  January,  1879, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Missouri  Livesay,  of  Warren  county,  this 
State.  Mr.  Tuttle  is  a  member  of  Gothic  Square  No.  108,  and  of  the 
Triple  Alliance.  His  parents  are  both  deceased,  the  father,  Ben- 
jamin W.,  dying  in  1870,  and  his  mother  in  1874.  Both  were  natives 
of  New  York.  Mr.  Tuttle  is  a  young  man  of  superior  intelligence 
and  fine  personal  appearance,  and  would  be  pointed  out  in  almost  any 
assemblage  as  a  leading  man.  With  proper  application,  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  he  would  make  a  successful  lawyer  and  able  advocate. 

NORRIS  TUTTLE 

(Contractor  and  Plain  and  Ornamental  Plasterer,  Moberly). 

Mr.  Tuttle  has  been  a  resident  of  Missouri.since  1867,  at  which  time 
he  came  from  Indianapolis  to  Kirksville,  in  which  latter  city  he 
remained  for  about  12  years,  and  came  to  Moberly  in  1879.  The 
work  of  a  plasterer,  as  is  well  known,  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  lines 
of  industry  to  follow  successfully  in  the  whole  catalogue  of  occu- 
pations, for  one  or  two  bad  jobs  will  ruin  a  reputation  for  skill  and 
thoroughness  that  it  has  taken  years  to  build  up.  The  plasterer, 
therefore,  cannot  be  too  particular  in  the  execution  of  his  work,  for 
he  must  give  universal  satisfaction  to  succeed.  Mr.  Tuttle  had  the 
intellig'ence  to  recoo-nize  this  fact  at  the  beginning,  and  he  has  made  it 
a.rule  throughout  his  whole  career  to  inspect  closely  the  material  used 
in  filling  his  contracts,  and  to  see  that  it  is  properly  prepared  and  put 


436  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

up.  Hence  it  is  that,  turning  off  none  but  work  of  a  superior  class, 
he  lias  built  up  a  high  reputation  in  his  business,  and  has  been  very 
successful.  He  is  now  one  of  the  prominent  contractors  in  his  line  in 
Moberly,  and  does  a  large  business  —  a  business  which  is  increasing 
year  by  year.  Mr.  Tuttle  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Marion 
county,  July  6,  1842,  and  received  a  good  common  school  education. 
Up  to  the  age  of  17  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  trade  of  painting,  and 
after  that  learned  the  plasterer's  trade,  which  he  has  since  followed 
and  in  which  he  has  achieved  such  signal  success.  On  the  22d  of 
December,  18(33,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Josephine  Kernodle,  a 
native  of  Indiana.  She  died,  however,  in  1874,  and  nearly  four  years 
afterwards  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  who  was  formerly  Miss 
Angle  Dye,  originally  of  Ohio.  He  has  no  children  living.  Mr. 
Tuttle's  parents,  Benjamin  F.  and  Mary  (Leach)  Tuttle,  are  both 
deceased,  the  father  having  died  in  1870  and  the  mother  in  1872.  Mr. 
Tuttle  works  from  12  to  20  hands  in  his  business  as  contractor  for 
plastering  work. 

CLAEENCE   A.  WILLIAMS 

(Coach  Builder  for  the  Wabash  Eailway,  Moberly). 
Mr.  Williams  has  been  working  in  the  Wabash  shops  of  this  city  in 
the  capacity  of  coach  builder  for  the  past  twelve  years,  and  prior  to 
this  had  had  considerable  experience  in  his  present  occupation.  He  is 
a  native  of  the  Empire  State  of  the  Union,  New  York,  and  was  born 
in  Augusta,  Oneida  county,  December  20,  1847.  In  1856  the  family 
came  west  and  located  at  Morris,  111.  After  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
young  Williams  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  infantry, and  served 
with  that  regiment  for  three  years  and  11  months,  participating  during 
that  time  in  many  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war.  On  the  22d 
of  July,  1864,  he  was  severely  wounded  in  front,  of  Atlanta,  during 
the  siege  of  that  city,  being  shot  in  the  right  leg,  which  disabled  him 
from  active  service  for  some  time.  After  his  discharge  Mr.  Williams 
returned  to  Morris,  111.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  in 
1867  went  to  Council  Bluffs,  and  from  thence,  the  following  year, 
pushed  on  out  to  San  Francisco.  Mr.  Williams  returned  from  the 
Pacific  coast  to  Omaha,  and  worked  in  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad 
shops  of  that  city  from^  1869  to  January,  1871.  From  Omaha  he 
came  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  became  connected  with  the  North  Mis- 
souri Railroad,  and  in  the  summer  of  1873  came  to  Moberly,  where 
he  has  since  worked  in  the  shops  at  this  city.  On  the  15th  of  August, 
1873,  Mr.  Williams  was  married  to  Mrs.  Fannie  Sherwood,  born  and 
reared  on  the  present  site  of  where  the  Union  Market  now  stands  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  she  was  born  April  15,  1847.  They  have  one 
child,  Lulu  Sherwood.  Mr.  Williams  takes  quite  an  interest  in  the 
different  society  orders  of  which  he  is  a  member,  and  in  each  of  which 
he  is  quite  prominent.  He  is  Past  Vice  Grand  Chancellor  of  the  order 
of  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Gothic  Square  108, 
of  Moberly,  being  Secretary  of  the  Square,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  is 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  437 

high  priest  in  the  Chapter  in  the  Masonic  order,  and  is  Sir  Knight 
Commander  of  Moberly  division  No.  5,  uniform  rank  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  ;  and  is  also  a  Knight  Templar.  Mr.  Williams'  father  now 
resides  at  Kerwin,  Kansf.s,  and  is  a  contractor  and  builder  of  that 
place.  His  name  is  Samuel  R.  Williams.  His  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Lucia  A.  Cottrell,  died  September  6,  1866,  at  Morris,  111., 
in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  her  age. 

CHARLES  WRIGHT 

(Foreman  in  the  Machine  Shops  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad, 

Moberly) . 

Mr.  Wright,  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  bringing  up,  has  been 
identified  with  the  business  with  which  he  is  now  connected  from  boy- 
hood, and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  both  by  natural  aptitude  for 
his  calling  and  by  long  experience,  he  has  become  one  of  the  most 
capable  and  efficient  men  in  his  line  in  the  country.  This  fact  is 
conceded  by  all  who  are  capable  of  judging,  and  who  know  his  quali- 
fications, and  is  recognized  in  a  marked  manner  by  the  position  he  now 
occupies,  that  of  foreman  of  the  machine  shops  of  one  of  the  leading 
railroads  of  the  United  States.  He  has  held  his  present  position 
continuously  for  10  years,  so  that  he  has  conclusively  proven  that  he 
is  entirely  worthy  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  which  he  then 
undertook.  Mr.  Wright  was  born  in  Derby,  England,  March  19, 
1840,  and  was  reared  in  his  native  shire,  receiving  as  he  grew  up  a 
fair,  common  English  education.  At  an  early  age  he  became 
apprenticed  to  the  machinist's  trade  in  the  railroad  service  in  Derby, 
at  which  he  worked  continuously  for  seven  years.  He  then  went  to 
Lancashire,  where  he  worked  at  several  machine  works,  and  also 
constructed  locomotives.  Remaining  there  for  two  years,  he  went  to 
Newton  moor,  in  Cheshire,  where  he  worked  for  a  time,  thence  to 
South  Wales,  where  he  was  foreman  of  the  machine  shops  of  the  Penarth 
Harbor  Docks  and  Railroad  Company  for  about  two  years.  After  this  he 
worked  as  journeyman  at  the  London  and  North-western  shops.  In  the 
spring  of  1866  Mr.  Wright  sailed  for  America,  and  on  landing  in  this 
country  came  on  out  to  St.  Louis  and  there  met  Mr.  Sturgeon,  through 
whose  influence  he  obtained  a  position  in  the  North  Missouri  shops  at  St. 
Charles,  in  which  he  worked  as  journeyman.  From  that  city  he  came 
up  to  Moberly  in  1873,  and  put  the  machinery  in  the  North  Missouri 
shops  at  this  place.  From  here  he  went  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas, 
where  he  was  working  for  the  Iron  Mountain  for  about  a  year,  and 
afterwards  worked  at  Laramie  City,  Wyoming,  for  the  Union  Pacific, 
but  in  1874  was  called  to  his  present  position  by  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas 
City  and  Northern.  On  the  3d  of  July,  1862,  Mr.  Wright  was 
married  to  Miss  Eliza  Delicate,  formerly  of  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wright  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  W.  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  and  Knights  of 
Honor. 

\ 


438  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


SALT    SPRING    TOW]V[SHIP. 


WILLIAM  H.  H.  ALEXANDER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  A.  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Mo. ,  March  1 ,  1841 .  His  parents, 
Gabriel  and  Lucinda  J.  (Miller)  Alexander,  were  originally  from  Ken- 
tucky, but  moved  to  Monroe  in  1836,  where  Mr.  Alexander  entered 
land,  improved  a  farm  and  remained  until  his  death,  in  1870.  William 
H.  H.  spent  his  boyhood  roaming  the  parental  acres  and  attending  the 
common  schools  of  the  county.  He  came  to  Randolph  in  the  fall  of 
1871,  a  widower  with  one  child,  having  married  May  3,  1866,  Miss 
Cassie,  daughter  of  James  Belsher,  of  Randolph  county,  formerly  of 
Kentucky.  This  good  lady  laid  down  the  burden  of  life  on  the  10th  of 
September,  1871,  leaving  to  her  almost  heart-broken  husband  a  pre- 
cious legacy  —  a  little  girl,  Effie  Lee,  now  a  young  lady  of  unusual 
attractions.  Mr.  Alexander  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1873,  tak- 
ing with  him  a  second  Mrs.  A.,  to  whom  he  was  married  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year.  She  was  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  Belsher, 
and  a  cousin  of  his  first  wife.  Mr.  A.  is  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  He  owns  100  acres  of 
land,  all  of  which  is  fenced,  and  about  75  acres  cleared  and  in  culti- 
vation. He  occupies  a  very  neat  one-story  residence,  and  has  a  good 
stable,  smoke-house,  cribs,  etc.  His  orchard  contains  100  apple  trees, 
besides  a  number  of  peach  and  cherry,  all  young  and  in  tine  bearing 
condition. 

G.  LACKEY  ALEXANDER 

(Of  Belsher  &   Alexaader,    proprietors   of    the   Huntsville   Livery,    Feed  and    Sale 

Stables). 

Mr.  Alexander's  father,  Hon.  Gabriel  Alexander,  was  an  early  set- 
tler of  Monroe  county,  and  became  a  successful  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
of  the  county.  He  was  quite  prominent  in  early  days,  and  repre- 
sented the  county  several  terms  in  the  Legislature.  His  wife,  before 
her  marriage,  was  a  Miss  Jane  Miller,  and  both  were  originally  from 
Kentucky.  Gabriel  L.,  the  sixth  in  their  family  of  children,  was  born 
on  his  father's  farm  in  that  county,  June  4,  1853,  and  was  brought  up 
to  an  agricultural  life.  At  the  age  of  21  he  came  to  Randolph,  hav- 
ing married  November  12,  1872,  and  located  on  a  farm  about  a  mile 
north  of  Huntsville.  His  wife  Avas  a  Miss  Rettie  Belsher,  a  sister  to 
his  present  partner  in  business.  She  died,  however,  in  1877,  leaving 
him  one  child,  Forest  LeRoy,  now  a  bright  boy  some  six  and  a  half 
years  old.  Mr.  Alexander  continued  on  the  farm  near  Huntsville 
until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Belsher,  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business. 
They  have  an  excellent  stable,  a  first-class  stock  of  horses  and  vehicles, 
and  are  doing  a  flourishing  business.     Their  stable  is  quite  popular, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY,  439 

not  only  locally,  but  with  the  travelinsj  public,  especially  among  com- 
mercial salesmen,  who  give  them  a  large  patronage.  They  have  fixed 
and  fair  prices  for  their  rigs,  which  are  as  good  and  desirable  as  any 
in  the  county,  and  by  treating  everybody  honestly  and  with  accom- 
modation, they  have  built  up  a  large  ciistoni,  which  is  steadily  increas- 
ing. On  the '9th  of  March,  1880,  Mr.  Alexander  was  married  to  his 
present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Eugenia  Brooking,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Brooking  of  this  county.  It  has  been  stated  that  Mr.  Alexander  was 
on  the  farm  continuously  from  1873  to  1880.  This  requires  one  cor- 
rection :  in  1878  he  went  to  Montana  and  was  absent  for  two  years. 
He  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor. 

JAMES  M.  ANDERSON 

(Of  Anderson  &  Co.,  Coal  Miners  and  Dealers,  P.  0.,  Huntsville). 

The   mining  company  of  Anderson  &  Co.   was   organized  June  1, 
1880,  and  is  composed  of  J.  M.  Anderson,  G.   W.  Jones,  and  G.  W. 
Evens,  and  they  own  the   mmes  whish  they  are  exploiting,  including 
the  tract  of  land  the  coal  underlies.     They  work  their  mines  by  horse 
power,  and  have  a  daily  capacity  of  900  bushels,  but  are  now  raising 
700  bushels  daily,  and  are  working  ten  men.     Mr.  Anderson  is  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland,  of  Scotch-Irish  parents,  and  has  a  life-long  experience 
in  his  present  business,  or  I'ather  since  he  was  18  years  of  age.    He  was 
born  April  22,  1852,  and   was  a  son  of  John  and  Letitia  Anderson. 
While  he  was  still  in  childhood  his    parents   came    to    America  and 
located  at  Cumberland,  where  his  father  was  superintendent  of  mines 
for  a  long  time.     James  M.  began  vvorking  in   the   mines  at  18  years 
of  age,   and  came   to  Missouri  in  1875,  having  by  this  time  learned 
thoroughly  all  the  branches  and  details  of  the   business.     He  worked 
in  the  mines   of  Belleville,  111.,  for  a  short  time,  when  he  came  to 
Russell,  Missouri,  and  where  he  worked  for  two  years.     Mr.  Anderson 
came  to  Huntsville  in  the  fall  of  1877,  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  James  Bailey  in  mine  No.  2V2,  in  which   he  continued  for  three 
years.     The  present  company  was  then  organized.     Mr.  Anderson  is 
one  of  the  most  capable  and   enterprising  coal   men    in    Randolph 
county,  and  is  rapidly  coming  to   the  front  as  a  substantial  citizen  in 
his  line  of  business.     On  the  5th  of  July,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Susana  Bailey,  a  daughter  of  James  Bailey,  of  this  county.     Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Anderson  have  lost  two   children  :  Letitia,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  13  months,  and  George,  died  at  the  age  of  17  months.     Mr.  Ander- 
son is  a  prominent  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  being  Past  Noble  Grand 
in  that  order,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.     Mr.  An- 
derson is  a  stockholder  and  member  of  the  board  of  directors  in  the 
Buildinor  and  Loan  Association  of  Huntsville. 

BENJAMIN  H.  ASHCOM 

(Sheriff  of  Randolph  County,  Huntsville), 
To  any  one  who  has  led  a  successful  and  honorable  life,  it  should  be 
a  matter  of  pardonable  pride ;  and  this,  especially,  with  one  who  has 
23 


440  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

come  up  without  those  advantages  in  early  years,  inestimable  in  value, 
which  kind  parents  and  family  influence  can  bestow.  Mr.  Ashcom 
was  left  an  orphan  when  a  small  by  the  death  of  both  his  parents  ;  and 
he  was  left  without  means,  and  with  his  own  way  to  make  in  the 
world.  His  father,  Samuel  P.  Ashcom,  was  a  man  of  sterling  intelli- 
gence and  great  personal  worth,  but  he  was  a  poor  man  and  died 
poor — that  is,  he  left  no  estate  worth  speaking  of  to  be  divided  among 
his  children.  Benjamin  H.  at  the  age  of  10  went  to  live  with  William 
Terrill,  of  Randolph  county,  where  he  made  his  home,  assisting  on  the 
farm,  until  he  was  17  years  of  age.  While  there  he  showed  a  taste  for 
books  and  improved  his  leisure  to  good  advantage  with  study.  In 
about  1857  the  North  Missouri  Railroad  was  being  surveyed  and 
opened  from  Sturgeon  to  Macon  City,  and  he  joined  the  corps  of  civil  en- 
gineers engaged  in  locating  the  route.  He  was  with  the  North  Missouri 
corps  for  some  time  and  made  it  a  point  to  learn  surveying  and  civil  en- 
gineering both  in  practice  and  theory,  for  while  working  with  the  corps 
of  engineers  he  learned  the  practical  details  of  the  profession  and, 
providing  himself  with  books,  also  learned  the  theory'  and  principles 
involved  thoroughly.  His  record  while  in  this  service  showed  con- 
clusively that  he  possessed  the  qualities  which  make  succe.ssful  men. 
Already  he  had  decided  to  fit  himself  for  a  useful  and  honorable  life. 
Nor  did  he  give  up  that  purpose  for  a  moment.  On  the  contrary,  feeling 
the  want  of  a  college  education,  while  improving  his  time  with  study  he 
saved  up  means  to  carry  him  through  college.  He  entered  Mt.  Pleasant 
College  in  1859  and  took  the  junior  course  in  that  institution,  including 
the  scientific  branches.  His  means  being  now  exhausted,  he  began 
teachino;  school,  and  he  continued  his  studies  while  teachino;.  Later 
along  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  and  was  rapidly  fitting  himself 
for  the  bar  when  the  war  cloud,  in  1861,  burst  upon  the  country.  Of 
Southern  ancestry  and  sj'mpathies  and  interests,  he  promptly  went  to 
the  defense  of  the  South  and  enlisted  under  Col.  Congrave  Jackson 
of  the  State  Guard  and  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers. After  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  the  State  Guard,  he  en- 
listed in  the  regular  Confederate  service  under  Col.  Perkins  and  was 
also  first  lieutenant  under  that  officer.  His  command  joined  Gen. 
VanDorn  in  Arkansas,  and  he  was  afterwards  with  Col.  Dorsey.  In 
1863  he  became  first  lieutenant  of  a  company  in  Col.  Elliott's  regiment 
under  Shelby,  and  served  under  that  fiery  cavalier  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  Mr.  Ashcom  was  taken  prisoner  in  December,  1861,  and 
was  paroled,  after  Avhich  he  taught  school  for  a  short  time,  but  soon 
returned  to  service  under  the  Stars  and  Bars.  At  the  battle  of  Fay- 
etteville,  Ark.,  he  was  wounded  in  three  different  places  and  was 
confined  in  the  hospital  for  some  six  weeks.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Boonville,  Dry  Wood,  Lexington,  and  all  the  others  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  war  in  which  the  different  commands,  with  which  he  was 
connected,  participated.  After  the  restoration  of  peace,  he  returned 
to  Randolph  county  and  engaged  in  teaching,  continuing  it  up  to  1869, 
principally  at  Renick  where  he  taught  his  first  school  before  the  war. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  441 

He  had  now  saved  up  a  nucleus  of  means  to  en^a^e  in  business  and 
accordingly  he  established  a  store  at  Reuick  whfcirhe  carried  on  wih 
increasing  success  until  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county.  A  man 
of  upnght  character   good  business  qualifications  and  an  open,  o-enia 

fwlT^'r    If^'f^"  '""'''''''''^  '^''  ""'''^^  «^'l^i^  acquaintanc;  ?tead- 
Ij  enlarged  and  he  became  as  favorably  as  widely  known.      His  nomi- 
nation for  the  office  of  sheriff  in  1882  was  the  furthest  fi-om  an  ace  den  . 
As  soon  as  his  name  was  mentioned  for  the  office  he  became  generally 
recognized  as  the  right  man  for  the  place,  for  the  people  had"  a  ready 
earned  to  know  his  qualifications  and  integrity  and  he  was  unive  s  liy 
liked      He  beat    h.s    opponent,  W.   S.    Christian,    an    excellent   and 
worthy  man,  by  a  majority  of  some  2,500  votes.     The  peo^  ex  L'ed 
hun  to  make  a  capable  and  popular  officer  and  he  has  nU  disappohi  ed 
d7o7E1,r-tl  "^^''"f  disparaging  others,  it  may  with't^utrbe 
public  official       Tft^'''"^  never  had  a  more  efficient  and  popular 
public  official.     If  he    ives  he  aviU  of  course  be  re-elected,  if  he   con- 
sents to  run  again,  and  already  his  name  is  bein^favorahi;  mentioned 

ttrn  :?'T  ffl  '-'n  'f'"'  ''-''''•  P~I>v,  he  is  a  thLugh  g  ;_ 
tleman  and  officially  he  is  a  credit  to  his  office  and  the  county.  "On 
Uie  25th  of  April,  1867,  Mr.  Ashcom  was  married  to  Miss  SuL  E 
Goiu,  a  daughter  of  Archibald  Goin.  Thev  have  have  two  cSen '• 
Effie  Maude  and  Roy  Princeton.  Mr.  Ashcom,  while  a  resident  of 
Renick  was  chainnan  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Building  and  Loan  Associations  of  both  that  place  andHun  svi\le 
He  IS  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  has  been  a  memblr  of 
the   Masonic    order    since    1874.     Mr.   Ashcom's  parents  were  from 

Jh"e      She':;' J"-    T'^"'i  T"  '  ^^'^'^  P^^'^^  I^'--  '^^^--e  he'  mZ 
lowed  hf!f    H        "'  I^^^»d^>lph  county  in   1849,  and  her  husband  fol- 
lowed her  to  the  grave  a  year  afterwards.      He    was  oric^inally   from 
Pennsyy^xma.     They  had    five    children:   Benjamin    h"  Su  an    E 
/mm.  ?^5re,•  Rebecca,  now  Mrs.  U.  J.  Williams  ;   William  T^f  the 

at  -^cl'T  "^ -ir^T^  ^"?^^"^^'  "^^^  J^^'^^^   ^-     Benjamin  H.  was   born 
at  NicholasviUe,  Ky.,  January  6,  1840.  "^^ooin 

FRANK  P.  BAIRD 

(Superintendent  of  the  Woodard  Coal  and  Mining  Company  Store) 

Ramlolnh'oo^ntv^''''"§^'"="^'l'^'  enterprising  young  business  man  of 
Ka  Uolph  county,  is  a  Pennsyl  vanian  by  nativity  and  was  partly  reared 

".  tt  tih  of  D '"  ^\"''%  .S"'?  '^  ^^'"^"^  ^"-^^^'  ''  Pinn's  Woods' 
C    Id  A    i^    J^'7'"'?.V  ^^'^,?'  ^''  '^^'  '^'-""g-ht  out  by  his  parents,  J 
r  i'      \  ^^'''^'  '""^''^^  '^'"  3^"""^'  to  Missouri,  and  ore.v  to  man- 

hood in  Randolph  county  where  the  family  located.'  He  was  e  lucTd 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  and   in    1879  began  work  for  W    R    Wood- 

"ye^r   "^IfterwTd";'  ''  "'"Z^^'  ''  ""'^  ^^^^^  ^^  woVked  foTover     ' 
Jcl      '  ,r^^''''''^'  h^  e"2:aged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Huutsville 

Sal  ncMin"??"  ''  ''''  T'^  ''''  ^--^T  «tore  to  the  Woodard 
hite  ident  R?l  ""^''"^  ""^^^'^  ''"^^  conducted  it  as  their  super- 
intendent.    He  has  carried  on  the  store  with  efficiency  and  great  sat- 


^^2  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

isfaction  to  the  company,  and  has  m.ide  it  a  ^l^^^^^f  "^^^^^^^^^Vr  Mr"^ 
a  profitable  investment  to  them.     On  the  7th  ot  ^aich,  1877,  Mr 
Bdrd  was  married  to  Miss  Sue  Dunn.     She  was  a  d.u>g    ei  o f  ^ ^ 
iam  G.  Dunn  of  this  county  who  was  a  son  ot  James  G.  and  Amei.ca 
P    (McCall)  Dunn,  who  settled  near  Milton  from  ^^"t^f  3^^,;.'  ^.^^^.s' 
William  G.   Dunn  was   born  in  Fayette  county,   Ky.,  ^'^}'''^fyjf' 
i829,  and  after  he  grew  up  in  Randolph  county,  --, --"^^^^^^^^^^  ^^ 
Sai-ih  P   Day,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Day,  originally  ot   lennessee, 
on  the  27Vh^of  September  1853.     Mr.  Dunn  had  previously  been  to 
Cam-on.fa  ^.d  had  followed  mining  there  for  two  years      Excepting 
this  and  a  short  time,  a  few  years  ago,  while  ^"g^S^^^^^^^^.^f^S 
business,  ftu-ming  and  stock  raising  have  been  his  ««"/tant  puisu    s 
in  life.     However,  he  was  also   for  some  time  ^^P^/j^'^^^^^^.^^^^^^^J  ^ 
Randolph  Coal  and  Mining  Company  and  he  opened  ^^^^ /  ,f  .^^"/^^^^^^^ 
on  the  railroad  in  the  county.     During  the  war  he  was  in  the  militia 
ad  after  the  war  he  was  county  superintendent  of  registration  for  two 
yarsand  until  the  law  was  repealed.     He  has  also  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  held  other  positions  of  less  importance.     Mi    and 
Mrs.  Dunn  have  three  children :    Susie,  now  Mrs.  Fi-nk  P.  Baud 
MarvM      now  Mrs.  Joseph  Dameron  ;    and  Sallie  W.,   the  wite  oi 
Robert  B'eaucamp,  of  French  descent,  who  traces  his  ancestry  directly 
to  Le  De  Plon  Beaucamp,  the  greatest  orator,  statesman,  f  dosophei 
metaphysician,  economist   and   diplomat  France   ever  pi'ocluced.     Mr 
Tnd    Mrs.  Dunn  are  both  members  of  the  Christian   Church      Mi. 
b"s  a  descendant  of  Gen.  Sir  David  Baird  of  England,  who  d.s- 
tino-uished  himself  by  his  services  in  the  East  Indies  and  in  the  expe- 
ditfon  by  which  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  was  taken,  and  subsequently 
afcorunir where  the  command  of  Sir  John  Moore  devolved  upon 

JAMES  GRANVILLE  BAKER 

(Farmer,  Post  Office  Huntsville) . 
Mr  B.  owns  one  of  the  handsomest  farms  in  Salt  Spring  townsliip,  and 
is  one  of  the  respected,  influential  citizens  of  the  township.     He  was  a 
son  of  William  ind  Rhoda  (Summers)  Baker  (the  latter  a  daugh  er  of 
Abraham  Summers),  who  .^ame  from    Kentucky  to  Missouri  in  182 
and   settled  near  Fort    Henry,  in    R^^»^^«  ^^^  ^"""^y.     They  hve^^ 
this  county  until  1862,  when  they  removed  to  Carroll  «;'^«ty  ^^^^^^^^^^ 
near  Shootwman,  where  the  father  died  December  20    1881,  at  the  a  e 
of  about    80.     The    mother    had    died   three  years  ^'''V^tlev 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Christian  Churchy    James  G.  Bake 
was   born    in    Wayne    county,    Ky.,    December    25     1825,  and  was 
Tared   on   Dark's'prairie,    in   Randolph  county,  -hei-e    his  ^.u-en 
settled    while  he  was  in  infancy.     On   the  15th  of  Jiine,   1857,   he 
wa     married  to   Miss  Elizabeth    Lay,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Lay    of 
SuntTvTlle!  but  originally   of  Virginia,  where   Mrs.  Baker  was  born 
Ma^h  ^^^^  Mr.  Baker  hadlbUowed  forming  prior  to  his  mar- 

VZe,  and  then  located  at  Callao,  and  was  engaged   in  running  a  saw 
Ind^rist  mill  at  that  place  for  about  three  years.     He  was  then 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  443 

farming  up  to  1864,  vvhen  he  resumed  milling  in  his  own  neighbor- 
hood. He  located  on  his  present  farm  in  1859,  and  has  continued 
here  for  the  past  25  years.  This  was  originally  the  Gov.  Han- 
cock Jackson  farm,  and  it  also  includes  parts  of  the  old  Sconce 
and  Dale  farms.  His  farm  contains  740  acres  of  fine  land,  and  he  is 
largely  engaged  in  stock-raising.  He  has  a  fine  blue-grass  pasture  of 
nearly  500  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  a  family  of  six  children: 
Binda  F.,  now  Mrs.  Benjamin  H.  Hammett ;  Jasper,  Miller,  Jimmy, 
Mollie  and  Euler.  The  first  three  were  educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant 
College.  Mrs.  Baker  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
Baker's  fjirm  is  exceptionally  well  improved,  and  he  has  one  of 
the  finest  residences  in  the  township,  if  not  in  the  county.  His  house 
was  built  just  after  the  financial  panic  in  1873  when  everything  was 
cheap,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  over  $3,000. 

JAMES  MADISON  BAKER 

(Merchant,  Huntsville) . 

It  was  away  back  in  1817  that  Charles  and  Mary  Baker,  the  grand- 
parents of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  both  of  whom  were  originally 
from  Virginia,  came  from  Kentucky,  where  their  parents,  respectively, 
we're  early  settlers,  and  settled  three  miles  south-west  of  Huntsville, 
where  the  grandfather  improved  a  farm.  Four  years  later  he  removed 
to  a  tract  of  land  one  mile  north-west  of  this  city  where  he  improved 
another  farm  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1835.  All  of  his  family  of  children,  Joseph,  Charles,  Noah  C,  Isaac, 
Elizabeth,  and  William,  each  of  whom  became  the  head  of  a  family, 
are  now  deceased,  dying  in  this  county  near  Huntsville,  except  Isaac, 
who  now  resides  near  Cairo.  William  Baker,  the  sixth  in  the  above 
family,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  married  Miss  Sarah 
Montgomery  in  this  county  in  1822.  Her  father,  John  William  Mont- 
gomery, came  from  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  from  whence  William 
Baker's  parents  also  came  in  about  1818,  and  located  in  the  north- 
western part  of  Howard  county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death. 
William  Baker  lived  on  the  old  Baker  homestead  after  his  marriage 
until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Macon  county,  where  he  died  during 
the  fall  of  that  year.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1851,  dying  in  this 
county.  They  had  a  family  of  four  sons  :  Joseph,  who  died  in  tender 
years  ;  Charles  Jackson,  James  Madison  and  Thomas  Marion,  the 
last  three  all  residents  of  the  county,  the  family  having  returned  to 
this  county  immediately  after  the  father's  death,  and  settled  three 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Huntsville.  James  Madison  Baker  was  born 
near  Huntsville,  February  14,  1828,  and  was  reared  in  the  county, 
being  brought  up,  as  most  youths  were  in  those  early  days,  to  a  sturdy 
farm  life.  On  the  22d  of  November,  1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Celia  Baker,  a  cousin  of  his,  and  a  daughter  of  Noah  C.  Baker,  an 
old  resident  of  the  county.  James  Madison  Baker  continued  to  follow 
farming  pursuits  until  1857,  when  he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  at 
Thomasville,  though  not  a  blacksmith  himself,  which  he  carried  on  as 


444  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

proprietor  until  1865.  In  the  meantime,  however,  on  the  outbreak 
of  the  war,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  State  Southern  service  under 
Capt.  Lowery,  being  made  first  lieutenant  of  the  company  which  was 
organized  at  Ft.  Henry.  He  subsequently  participated  in  the  battle 
at  Lexington,  but  later  along  was  discharged  for  disability  resulting 
from  rheumatism.  In  1865  he  took  charge  of  the  Randolph  House 
at  Huntsville,  which  he  ran  for  a  short  time,  and  then  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  this  place,  which  he  followed  with  success  up  to  a 
short  time  ago.  Capt.  Baker  will  soon  re-engage  in  merchandising, 
being  now  waiting  for  the  completion  of  a  business  house  in  which  to 
open  up  a  stock  of  goods.  As  a  merchant  and  citizen  he  is  well 
known  to  every  one  in  Huntsville  for  miles  round  about  the  country 
tributary  to  this  place,  and  he  is  as  highly  esteemed  and  respected  as 
he  is  generally  well  known.  He  has  had  four  children  :  William 
Noah,  who  died  July  10,  1883,  and  was  a  prominent  physician  of  the 
county  prior  to  his  death,  a  regular  graduate  of  medicine,  and  also 
engaged  in  the  drug  store  business;  Joseph  L.,  a  sketch  of  whom 
follows  this;  Martha  A.  and  James  J.  Martha  A.  is  a  graduate  from 
the  Fulton  Deaf  and  Dumb  College  and  is  now  at  home.  Capt.  Baker 
has  served  as  cnptain  of  the  militia  since  the  war,  and  has  occupied 
the  mayor's  chair  of  Huntsville  for  some  five  years.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  he  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason. 

JOSEPH    L.  BAKER 

(Proprietor  of  Baker's  General  Feed  Store,  Huntsville). 

The  Baker  family  is  one  of  the  old  and  respected  families  of  Ran- 
dolph county.  Mr.  Baker's  grandfather  came  here  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county,  and  his  father,  James  M.  Baker"  was  born  and 
reared  in  Huntsville  town,  which  has  continued  to  be  his  permanent 
home.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Celia  Baker,  a  cousin  to 
her  husband,  was  also  born  and  reared  in  the  county.  James  M. 
Baker  was  long  recognized  as  one  of  the  progressive,  enterprising 
merchants  of  Huntsville,  and  is  one  of  its  highly  esteemed  and  well- 
to-do  citizens.  He  reared  a  worthy  family  of  children,  and  gave  them 
good  opportunities  for  an  education.  His  success  in  life  and  the  envi- 
able position  he  occupies  as  a  citizen  are  the  results  almost  alone  of 
his  own  industry  and  merit,  for  he  had  little  with  which  to  start  out 
in  life.  He  came  up  at  a  time  when  school  advantages  were  by  no 
means  of  a  high  order,  and  when  the  opi)ortunities  to  accumulate 
means  rapidly  were  far  from  being  favorable.  Yet,  by  the  strength 
of  his  own  character,  his  untiring  industry  and  his  studious  habits,  he 
has  come  to  be  not  only  a  man  fairly  well  situated  in  life,  but  one  of 
fine  intelligence  and  wide  general  information.  Joseph  L  is  the  sec- 
ond in  his  family  of  children,  having  been  born  in  1855.  Having  al- 
ways had  a  taste  for  business  pursuits,  he  decided  to  come  to  Huntsville 
and  devote  his  energies  to  business  life.  Accordingly,  he  came  here 
and  eno-agfed  in  the  feed  store  business,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
Mr.  Baker  has  had  satisfactory  success  in  the  feed  store  business,  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  445 

has  built  up  a  good  trade.  On  the  11th  of  October,  1876,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Sutliff,  a  daughter  of  John  Sutliff,  of  this 
county.  She  was  born  February  26,  1859.  They  have  one  child, 
William  Oscar,  born  May  14,  1877.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

CAPT.  WILLIAMI'H.  BALTHIS 

(Editor  of  the  Huntsville  Herald,  Huntsville). 

Capt.  Balthis,  a  newspaper  man  of  long  experience,  and  a  gentle- 
man who  is  esteemed  wherever  known  for  his  high  character  as  a  man 
and  his  worth  as  a  citizen,  has  been  identified  with  the  Herald  at 
Huntsville  for  nearly  five  years,  and  during  that  time  the  paper  has 
made  steady  and  substantial  progress,  not  only  in  value  as  a  business 
investment,  but  in  influence  and  reputation  as  a  journal.  Capt. 
Balthis  is  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  by  his  services  as  a 
soldier  has  proved  himself  to  be  a  worthy  son  of  the  old  Common- 
wealth that  gave  him  bifth.  He  was  born  in  Front  Royal,  May 
24,  1843,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Margaret  A.  Balthis, 
one  of  the  respected  families  of  that  place.  Capt.  Balthis'  early 
education  was  rather  limited,  he  having  quit  the  local  academy  of  his 
town,  whilst  still  in  boyhood,  of  his  own  accord  and  in  order  to  learn 
the  printing  business.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  at 
the  case  in  the  office  of  the  Virginia  Valley  Gazette,  a  paper  published 
at  Front  Royal.  Subsequently  he  worked  a  short  time  in  the  same 
office  as  journeyman.  Later  along  he  quit  tiie  printing  business  to 
accept  a  situation  in  a  tin  and  stove  establishment  of  that  place,  in 
which  he  continued  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  On  the  first  call 
of  the  Governor  of  Virginia  to  defend  the  State  against  invasion, 
young  Balthis  promptly  offered  himself  as  a  volunteer  and  was 
accepted,  entering  the  service  as  a  drummer  boy.  This  was  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1861,  and  for  four  years  and  eight  daj's  following  he 
followed  the  three-barred  banner  of  the  South  with  unfaltering  devo- 
tion and  bravery,  and  until  it  went  down  in  defeat  to  rise  no  more 
perhaps  for  generations.  By  his  merits  as  a  soldier  and  his  gallantry, 
he  rose  from  grade  to  grade  until  he  became  the  captain  of  one  of  the 
most  dashing  and  intrepid  cavalry  companies  in  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  He  commanded  Co.  A,  of  the  Twenty-first  Virginia  cavalry 
for  over  two  years,  and  until  after  Lee's  surrender.  His  company  was 
noted  in  the  army  for  its  superior  drill  and  ])ravery.  Capt.  Balthis 
commanded  the  last  skii-mish  line  in  front  of  his  brigade  at  Appomat- 
tox, but  withdrew  with  his  division  before  the  articles  of  surrender 
were  signed  by  Gen.  Lee.  Afterwards  he  reported  at  Gen.  Hancock's 
headquarters  at  Winchester  and  was  paroled  April  26,  1865.  After 
the  surrender  Capt.  Balthis  returned  to  Front  Royal  and  engaged  in 
the  tin  and  stove  business.  However,  he  soon  determined  to  come  to 
Missouri,  and  accordingly,  in  March,  1866,  sold  out  in  Virginia  and 
moved  to  this  State,  locating  at  Brunswick,  where  he  obtained  a  situ- 
ation in  the  office  of  the  Bmnswicker.     In  the   fall  of  the  followincj 


446  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

year  he  purchased  Judge  Winslow's  interest  in  the  Brunswicker,  and 
became  an  equal  partner  with  J.  B.  Naylor  in  the  ownership  and  pub- 
lication of  that  paper.  Capt.  Balthis  continued  identified  with  the 
Brunswickei'  for  some  eight  years,  but  in  1875  sold  his  interest  to  his 
partner  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  store  business  at  Brunswick. 
The  year  following,  however,  he  retired  from  the  grocery  business 
and  went  to  Joplin,  where  he  was  speculating  in  mines  for  a  short 
time.  It  was  in  February,  1878,  that  he  came  to  Huntsville,  and 
here,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  H.  O.  Collins,  he  established  the  Ran- 
dolph Vindicator,  becoming  also  associate  editor  of  that  paper.  They 
conducted  the  Vindicator  for  about  a  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  they  suspended  its  publication,  and  soon  afterwards  Capt.  Balthis 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  Hergld  from  Mr.  T.  M.  Elmore,  and 
became  associate  editor  of  the  paper  with  Dr.  John  T.  Fort,  who  pre- 
viously had  editorial  charge  of  it.  The  September  following  Dr.  Fort 
retired  from  the  paper  and  Capt.  Balthis  became  sole  editor.  Since 
then  he  and  Mr.  Elmore  have  conducted  the  paper  together,  the 
former  having  charge  of  the  editorial  and  mechanical  departments,  and 
the  latter  the  business  management.  The  Herald,  as  every  one 
knows,  is  one  of  the  leading  papers  of  Randolph  county,  and,  indeed, 
one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  cosmopolitan  journals  of  this 
section  of  the  State.  It  has  a  large  circulation,  and  as  an  advertising 
medium  has  few  equals  among  the  country  papers  of  North-east  Mis- 
souri. Capt.  Balthis  is  an  excellent,  writer  and  a  man  of  independence 
of  mind  and  expressions,  and  though  an  earnest  Democrat,  he  never 
permits  party  interests  to  come  between  him  and  his  care  for  the  best 
interests  of  Randolph  county  and  the  people  at  large.  On  the  8th  of 
June,  1869,  Capt.  Balthis  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  T.  Spencer, 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  H.  Spencer,  a  well-to-do  and  respected 
farmer  residing  near  Brunswick.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  a  son  and  two  daughters 

JACOB  M.   BERGSTRESSER 

(Proprietor  of  the  Huntsville  City  Mills). 

Mr.  Bergstresser,  though  a  young  man,  less  than  30  years  of  age, 
has  charge  of  one  of  the  important  mills  of  the  county,  and  is  con- 
ducting it  with  marked  energy  and  success.  The  mill  has  a  capacity 
of  30  barrels  a  day,  and  carries  a  large  stock  of  grain  regularly. 
Mr.  Bergstresser  is  a  thoroughly  capable  and  skillful  miller,  and  under 
his  management  the  flour  bearing  the  brand  of  the  "  City  Mills  "  has 
obtained  great  popularity,  and  he  has  a  constant  demand  for  all  and 
more  than  he  can  manufacture.  He  is  a  native  of  the  old  Keystone 
State,  and  was  born  at  Carlisle,  in  Cumberland  county,  October  10, 
1855.  His  parents  were  John  and  Catherine  (Gaymon)  Bergstresser, 
and  Jacob  M.  was  reared  in  his  native  State.  In  1872  he  and  two  of 
his  brothers  came  to  Missouri  — John  and  Henry.  He  remained  until 
1876  engaged  in  milling  in  South-east  Missouri.  He  then  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  was  engaged  in  milling  at  Charabersburg  from 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  447 

1876  to  1879,  coming  thence  back  to  Missouri  antl  locating  in 
Randolph  county.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  the  sewing  machine 
business,  with  headquarters  at  Moberlj,  until  1881,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  City  Mills  at  Huntsville.  His  brother,  John,  is  with 
him  in  the  milling  business,  although  the  latter  now  resides  at 
Moberl3^  Their  mill  is  valued  at  $5,000,  and  is  fitted  up  with  an 
excellent  class  of  machinery,  and  is  in  excellent  shape  and  condition. 
Their  business  is  steadily  increasing,  and  in  time  they  expect  to 
greatly  enlarge  its  capacity  for  the  manufacture  of  flour,  meal,  etc. 

HENEY  H.  BERGSTRESSEE 

(Dealer  in  Groceries,  Queen' s-ware,  Tin-ware,  etc.,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Bergstresser,  who  is  a  brother  of  Jacob  M.,  whose  sketch 
precedes  this,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  March  16, 
1842,  and  was  reared  in  that  county.  His  father  was  a  miller  by 
occupation,  and  Henry  H.,  like  Jacob  M.,  was  brought  up  to  that 
calling.  On  the  10th  of  January,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jennie  E.  Hurley,  and  he  continued  to  reside  in  that  county,  engaged 
in  the  milling  Ijusiness,  until  1879,  when  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
embarked,  as  clerk  for  his  brother  John,  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Moberly.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Huntsville  and  took  charge  of 
the  City  Mills  at  this  place,  which  he  conducted  with  success  until 
1881.  He  then  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  at  Huntsville,  and  has 
since  followed  it.  He  has  a  good  stock  of  groceries  and  other  goods 
in  the  lines  mentioned  above,  and  an  excellent  trade.  He  is  attentive 
to  business,  deals  fairly,  and  is  enterprising,  and  is  getting  along 
exceedingly  well.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bergstresser  have  four  children  : 
Jennie,  Mary  Maud,  Ulysses  Grant  and  Harry  E. 

JAMES  G.  BIBB 

(Dealer  in  Harness,  Huntsville). 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Russellville,  Logan  county, 
Ky.,  and  is  »a  brother  of  Gov.  Henry  G.  Bibb,  a  distinguished 
lawyer  of  that  State  and  eminent  in  its  political  aff\iirs,  having  held 
various  official  positions  of  distinction,  including  the  office  of  lieuten- 
ant-governor. Their  parents  were  Henry  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Poe) 
Bibb,  originally  of  Virginia,  but  who  moved  to  Russellville,  Logan 
county,  Ky.,  in  the  year  1818.  James  G.  Bibb  lived  upon  a 
farm  until  he  was  17  years  old  ;  he  then  began  to  learn  the  saddlery 
and  harness  maker's  trade,  and  has  worked  at  it  from  that  time  to 
this  with  but  little  interruption.  In  1853  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
located  at  Glasgow,  where  he  carried  on  business  for  four  years. 
Then  coming  to  Huntsville  he  has  since  resided  here,  and  he  has  been 
engaged  in  his  present  line  of  business  except  about  four  years,  be- 
tween 1862  and  1867,  when  he  conducted  a  grocery  store.  In  1865 
he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Salt  Spring  township,  and  has 
held  the  office  through  all  the  vicissitudes   of  politics   by  consecutive 


448  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY 

re-elections  from  that  day  to  this,  and  has  tried  during  his  officia 
career  about  2,000  civil  and  criminal  causes  ;  and  such  has  been  the  con- 
fidence in  his  ability  and  integrity  as  a  justice  that  but  few  appeak 
have  been  taken  from  his  decisions  to  the  higher  courts.  No  more 
worthy  certificate  could  be  required  of  his  standing  and  character  as  a 
man  than  is  afforded  by  the  fact  of  his  long  continuance  in  office,  run- 
ning through  a  period  of  19  years  continuously.  It  was  through  his 
efibrts  that  the  official  records  of  Randolph  county  were  saved  to  the 
people.  When  the  court-house,  in  which  they  were  deposited,  was  on 
fire,  and  when  dismay  was  depicted  on  every  countenance  and  no  one 
knew  what  to  do,  he,  amid  the  fire  and  smoke  and  falling  brick  and 
burning  timbers,  rushed  into  the  building  and  saved  the  deed  books 
and  court  records  from  destruction.  For  this  act  alone  the  people  of 
Randolph  county  will  ever  hold  him  in  grateful  remembrance.  He  is 
one  of  the  fine  old  gentlemen  of  Randolph  county,  a  man  of  broad  in- 
telligence, large  heart,  and  always  courteous  and  obliging,  one  of  that 
class  of  men  whom  the  communities  in  which  they  live  are  glad  to 
claim  as  citizens  and  who  always  command  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  those  around  them.  His  life  has  been  one  of  strict  integrity, 
worthy  industry,  and  always  solicitous  for  the  best  interests  of  society. 
Though  not  a  rich  man,  he  is  more  Qontent  with  his  worldly  posses- 
sions than  many  whose  estates  are  far  greater,  for  he  has  never 
considered  the  possession  of  wealth  the  greatest  reward  of  life,  but 
on  the  contrary  has  striven  to  live  correctly  and  without  reproach, 
so  that  when  old  age  should  come  he  would  fall  under  the  shadow 
of  no  man's  ill  will. 

WILLIAM  BLAIR,  M.D^ 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Huntsville,  Mo,). 

Dr.  Blair,  who  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  and  has  been  located  at  Huntsville  for  the 
past  25  years,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ances- 
try, being  a  representative  of  the  same  family  from  which  Gen. 
Frank  P.  Blair,  of  this  State,  descended.  Prior  to  the* Revolution, 
five  of  the  Blair  brothers  came  to  America  from  the  North  of  Ire- 
land, and  from  these,  most,  if  not  all  of  the  Blairs  of  the  United 
States  sprang,  including  Gen.  Frank  P.  Blair,  who  was  a  second 
cousin  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  their  ancestor  of  the  fourth 
generation  being  the  same.  The  brothers  who  came  over  were: 
James,  Archibald,  John,  Brice  and  Thomas.  Brice  Blair  was  the 
grandfather  of  Dr.  William  Blair.  John  Blair,  a  son  of  Brice  Blair, 
married  Miss  Mary  Purdeau,  a  daughter  of  William  Purdeau,  who 
came  over  from  France  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  John  Blair  had 
a  family  of  11  children,  and  Dr.  Blair  was  the  second  of  these. 
James  and  Mary  are  in  Iowa,  Charity  lives  at  Bedford,  Pa., 
and  John  S.  is  at  Frankfort,  Va.  All  the  rest  are  deceased.  The 
parents  both  died  in  Pennsylvania  —  the  father  in  1853  and  the  mother 
in    1878,    in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of   her  age.     Dr.  Blair  was  born 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  449 

at  Flint  Stone  creek,  in  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  May  20,  1811, 
and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  in  his  native  county,  until  he 
was  18  years  of  age,  when,  having  been  of  studious  habits  and  having 
a  quick,  active  mind,  he  had  acquired  a  good  English  education,  and 
he  began  school-teaching.  He  became  quite  successful  and  popular 
as  a  school-teacher,  and  continued  it  for  four  years.  In  the  mean- 
time, he  had  decided  to  devote  himself  to  the  medical  profession,  and 
having  saved  up  some  means  with  which  to  prosecute  his  studies,  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Scott,  of  Bedford  county, 
applying  himself  with  unflagging  diligence  and  energy  for  about  two 
years.  He  was  now  qualified  to  engage  in  the  practice,  and  he  began 
practice  in  his  native  county  and  continued  it  with  success  until  1853, 
when  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  in  medicine  and  surgery  in  the  med- 
ical department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  resumed 
practice  and  has  continued  it  from  that  time  to  this  without  inter- 
ruption, except  while  attending  medical  college  a  second  term,  at  the 
conclusion  of  which  he  was  duly  graduated.  Dr.  Blair  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  1859  and  located  at  Huntsville,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  house,  then  in  the  outskirts  of  town,  was  in  the  woods,  and  the 
county  was  but  little  more  than  a  wilderness.  In  1861,  Dr.  Blair,  like 
nearly  all  of  his  name  in  this  country,  took  sides  unequivocally  for 
the  Union,  and  didn't  go  behind  the  bush  to  express  his  convictions 
or  act  upon  them.  He  identified  himself  promptly  and  actively 
with  the  Union  element  in  the  State,  and,  the  value  of  his  services 
as  a  physician  and  surgeon  being  appreciated,  he  was  made  post  sur- 
geon of  the  Third  Iowa,  two  companies  stationed  at  Huntsville  in  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  1862,  and  two  companies  of  Merril's  Horse.  In 
March,  1863,  Gen.  Gamble  commissioned  him  surgeon  of  the  Fiftieth 
regiment,  and  he  was  also  detailed  surgeon  of  the  First  Provincial 
regiment,  E.  M.  M.,  with  headquarters  at  Mexico.  Later  along  he 
was  made  regimental  surgeon  of  the  Forty-sixth  E.  M.  M.,  and  was 
commissioned  under  Col.  A.  F.  Denny,  Col.  J.  D.  Douglass  being 
colonel  of  the  First  Provisional  regiment,  where  he  was  retained 
as  examining  physician  for  seven  months,  when  he  resigned.  He 
was  then  commissioned  surgeon,  by  Gov.  Willard  P.  Hall,  of  the 
Forty-sixth  E.  M.  M.,  and  was  stationed  at  Huntsville  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  November,  1863,  Dr.  Blair  was  appointed 
one  of  the  examining  physicians  for  the  pension  ofiice  (serving 
under  Baker  and  Van  Arnum,  commissioners  of  pensions),  and  he 
has  held  that  position  ever  since.  Dr.  Blair  was  quite  active  and  use- 
ful in  organizing  the  militia  of  Randolph  county  during  the  war  for  the 
Union  service,  and  continued  in  the  service  until  1866,  In  the  gen- 
eral practice  of  his  profession  he  has  been  quite  successful,  and  has 
long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county. 
Personally,  he  is  a  man  of  high  character  and  is  of  a  kind,  generous 
disposition,  and  much  esteemed  by  the  people  wherever  he  is  known. 
He  is  a  man  of  strong  character,  great  mental  vigor,  and  as  deter- 
mined and  resolute,  almost,  as  the  laws  of  nature  ;  for  whatever  he 
conceives  to  be  right  and  proper  to   do,  he  will   do  it,  or  make  the 


450  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

attempt,  though  the  heavens  fall.  This  is  a  characteristic  of  the  Blair 
family,  and  it  is  this  unconquerable  resolution  that  makes  them  men 
of  consequence  and  influence  wherever  their  fortunes  are  cast.  On 
the  19th  of  March,  1833,  Dr.  Blair  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  Hend- 
rickson,  of  Alleghany  county,  Maryland.  She  lived  to  brighten 
his  home  for  nearly  half  a  century,  but  at  last  went  the  way  of  all 
flesh,  and  her  spirit  passed  through  glory's  morning  gate  on  the  17th 
of  August,  1881.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children  :  Jonathan,  the 
eldest,  died  in  infancy  ;  Martha  died  while  the  wife  of  J.  T.  Devore  ; 
Sarah  is  the  widow  of  Rev.  William  Hanley,  formerly  a  Methodist 
minister  of  Breckinridge  ;  Eliza  died  in  infancy,  as  did  also  John ; 
Norval  W.  is  at  home  ;  Albert  died  in  the  Union  army  at  the  age  of 
17  ;  Lydia  J.  P.,  the  wife  of  W.  G.  True,  of  Moberly  ;  Clara,  the  wife 
of  Thomas  A.  Craig,  of  Macon  ;  and  Arabella  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
C.  Ford,  of  Ottumwa,  Iowa.  Dr.  Blair  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  as  was  his  wife  for  many  years  prior  to  her  death. 

C.  BOYD,  A.B.,  A.M.  and  M.D. 

(Proprietor  of  the  Rutherford  House,  Huntsville) . 

Dr.  Boyd,  an  old  Marylander,  and  one  of  the  best  educated  men  in 
this  section  of  the  State,  as  well  as  a  physician  of  nearly  20  years' 
experience  in  the  active  practice,  has  been  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  Huntsville  for  more  than  eleven  years  past,  and  has  become 
widely  and  favorably  known  by  the  traveling  public  throughout  this 
State,  and,  indeed,  generally  in  this  section  of  the  country,  as  one  of 
the  most  popular  landlords  and  capable  and  successful  hotel  men  con- 
nected with  the  business.  He  is  from  Baltimore  to  Huntsville  and 
was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  May  16,  1826.  Dr.  Boyd 
received  his  general  education  at  Dickinson  College,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing institutions  of  learning  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  he  took  com- 
plete literary,  scientific  and  classical  courses,  graduating  in  1846 
among  the  first  in  a  class,  several  of  whose  members  have  since  be- 
come distinguished  in  life.  He  was  honored  by  his  Alma  Mater  with 
both  the  degrees  of  A.B.  and  A.M.,  to  which  his  attainments  fully 
entitled  him.  He  had  pursued  his  general  educational  course  with 
the  view  of  becoming  a  physician,  and  immediately  following  his 
graduation  he  began  the  study  of  medicine.  He  continued  the  study 
without  interruption  and  with  assiduity,  and  in  due  time  entered  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  second  to  no 
institution  of  medical  learning  in  the  United  States.  He  graduated 
in  medicine  with  high  honor  in  1850,  and  at  once  returned  to  Mary- 
land and  entered  upon  his  career  in  the  practice  at  the  city  of  Balti- 
more. He  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
that  city  for  many  years,  but  at  last  decided  to  come  West  and  make 
his  home  in  Missouri.  Accordingly,  in  1869,  he  came  to  this  State 
and  located  at  Huntsville  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  se- 
cured the  Rutherford  House,  which  he  has  conducted  since  its  opening. 
Dr.  Boyd  has  made  this  house  one  of  the  most  popular  cosmopolitan 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  451 

hotels  in  Missouri.  A  man  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  a  perfect 
gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  he  not  only  knows  how  to  treat 
guests  properly,  but  has  the  heart  and  manhood  to  do  his  full  duty  to 
them.  He  strives  to  conduct  his  house  so  that  the  traveler  will  feel 
as  nearly  contented,  comfortable  and  at  ease  under  the  roof  of  the 
Rutherford  as  one  away  from  his  own  home  and  family  could  possibly 
be  situated.  His  house  is  the  delight  of  the  commercial  men,  and  on 
their  long  journeys  they  look  forward  to  the  time  when  they  will  stop 
with  him,  as  the  caravanist  on  the  desert  looks  forward  to  the  time 
when  he  will  rest  under  the  shade  of  the  green  trees,  and  on  the 
velvety  lawn  of  an  oasis  and  be  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  music  of  sing- 
ing birds  and  the  murmuring  flow  of  the  cool  waters  of  perennial 
springs.  Dr.  Boyd  keeps  his  beds  as  clean  as  the  snow  as  it  descends 
from  heaven,  and  his  rooms  as  comfortable  and  cozy  as  the  chamber 
that  was  prepared  at  eventide  for  the  lovely  Lalla  Rookh  as  she 
journeyed  on  to  her  waiting  and  fondly  expectant  lover  ;  and  the  table 
that  the  Rutherford  presents  is  such  as  to  make  the  epicure  think  that 
the  millenium  has  come,  while  the  gourmand  seems  to  loose  self-con- 
sciousness as  he  dines,  or  at  least,  to  know  only  that  there  is  a  perfect 
sea  of  good  thino-s  before  him  and  all  that  he  has  to  do  is  to  eat  until, 
like  Tam  O'Shanter,  he  shall  be  "  o'er  all  the  ills  of  life  victorious." 
In  a  word,  there  are  few  such  hotels  in  the  interior  of  the  State  for 
neatness,  comfort  and  menu  as  Dr.  Boyd  keeps  ;  and  personally  he  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  landlords,  as  all  the  traveling  public  know. 
On  the  5th  of  June,  1872,  Dr.  Boyd  was  married  to  Miss  Virginia 
Boulware,  of  Renick,  this  county.     They  have  no  children. 

JUDGE  GEORGE  H.  BURCKHARTT 

(Huntsville) . 

For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  Judge  Burckhartt  has  occupied 
with  honor  and  ability  the  bench  of  the  judicial  circuit  of  North-east 
Missouri,  which  includes  the  county  of  his  residence — Randolph. 
During  this  long  service  his  life  has  of  course  become  intimately  inter- 
woven with  the  judicial  history  of  the  State.  For  years  he  has  been 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  judges  and  most  upright  men  on  the  cir- 
cuit bench,  and  his  opinions  command  the  highest  consideration  and 
respect,  both  from  the  profession  and  the  public  at  large. 

Judge  Burckhartt  descends  from  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Mis- 
souri. His  grandfather,  Christopher  F.  Burckhartt,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  a  gallant  soldier  under  Washington  during  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  He  immigrated  to  this  State  with  his  family  in  1811 
and  settled  first  in  St.  Louis  county,  and  in  two  years  moved  to  How- 
ard county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  one  of  the  worthy  and  re- 
spected old  pioneers  of  that  county.  He  was  well  advanced  in  years 
when  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  most  of  his  family  of  children  had 
grown  up  and  become  themselves  the  heads  of  families.  Among  these 
was  George  Burckhartt,  who  became  the  father  of  Judge  George  H., 
the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 


452  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY, 

George  Burckhartt,  pere,  was  retired  in  Frederick  county,  Mary- 
land, and  was  married  in  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky,  to  Miss  Ruth 
Dorsey,  a  representative  of  another  old  and  respected  Maryhind  fam- 
ily. George  Burckhartt  and  family  came  to  Missouri  five  years  after 
his  father,  and  also  settled  in  Howard  county.  But  in  1820  he  re- 
moved over  into  Randolph  county,  where  he  resided  for  many  years. 
He  died  in  Howard  county,  to  which  he  had  returned  10  years  pre- 
viously, in  1864,  when  83  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  intel- 
ligence and  high  character,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Randolph  county.  Before  coming  to  Missouri  he  had  served  under 
Harrison  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  it  was  on  account  of  his  absence 
in  the  array  that  he  did  not  follow  his  father  sooner,  as  he  had  in- 
tended to  do,  to  this  State.  In  Randolph  county  he  served  for  a 
number  of  years  on  the  county  court  bench,  and  held  other  positions 
of  local  importance.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  Legislature  of 
Missouri  from  Howard  count}',  and  was  a  member  from  Randolph 
after  it  was  organized.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  as  was 
also  his  father,  and,  considering  the  times  in  which  he  lived  and  his 
opportunities,  he  was  quite  successful.  In  politics  he  was  a  life-long 
Whig,  and  was  one  of  the  staunchest  supporters  of  that  party  in 
Randolph  county. 

Judge  George  H.  Burckhartt,  the  ninth  and  youngest  in  his 
father's  family  of  children,  was  born  in  Randolph  county  on  his 
father's  homestead,  six  miles  south-east  of  Huntsville,  September  11, 
1823.  He  was  brought  up  to.  agricultural  pursuits  and,  of  course, 
in  this  section  of  the  country  at  that  early  day,  had  only  limited 
school  advantages.  From  an  early  age,  however,  he  sliowed  a 
marked  taste  for  study,  and  besides  the  instruction  he  received  in 
the  occasional  common  schools  kept  in  the  neighborhood,  he  im- 
proved his  leisure  to  good  advantage  by  study  at  home.  John 
Stuart  Mill  says  that  the  distinctions  between  men  arise  not  so 
much  from  the  superior  natural  ability  of  one  over  another,  as  from 
the  inspiration  of  aml)ition  which  stimulates  the  one  to  higher  ex- 
ertions than  the  other.  This  ambition  to  rise  to  prominence  and 
usefulness  in  life  young  Burckhartt  had,  and  it  is  perhaps  due  quite 
as  much  to  this  as  to  his  sterling  natural  ability,  which  all  recog- 
nize, that  he  rose  to  the  enviable  position  he  has  so  long  occupied  and 
adorned.  Pursuing  his  studies  with  unabated  zeal  and  assiduity  when 
young,  he  soon  became  qualified  to  teach  school,  and  capable  school- 
teachers were  in  much  request  in  this  section  of  the  country  at  that 
time.  In  September,  1839,  he  began  teaching  in  Monroe  county,  and 
he  continued  to  teach  for  two  years. 

In  the  meantime  he  had  determined  to  devote  himself  to  the  legal 
profession,  and  during  his  leisure,  while  teaching,  he  pursued  a  regu- 
lar course  of  study  preparatory  to  his  admission  to  the  bar.  In  1843 
he  was  duly  admitted  to  practice  law  by  Judge  P.  McBride,  of  Mon- 
roe, sitting  at  Paris,  Monroe  county,  Mo.,  and  he  immediately 
afterwards  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Huntsville, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  453 

Mo.  His  sound,  sober,  good  sense  and  his  close  attention  to 
business,  united  with  his  high  character  and  habits  of  study,  and  his 
close  investigation  of  the  law  and  facts  of  every  case  entrusted  to  him, 
soon  made  a  favorable  impression  on  the  community  as  to  his  ability 
and  worth  as  a  lawyer,  and  he  was  not  long  in  securing  an  excellent 
and  lucrative  practice.  His  rise  in  his  profession  as  a  practitioner 
was  steady  and  substantial,  and  he  had  not  been  at  the  bar  many 
years  before  he  became  recognized  as  one  of  the  soundest  lawyers  and 
most  successful  practitioners  in  the  Huntsville  circuit.  He  was  al- 
ways a  man  of  steady,  even  habits,  and  went  about  performing  the 
duties  of  his  practice  in  a  methodical,  clear-headed,  business-like  way  ; 
and  the  opening  of  court  rarely,  if  ever,  found  him  unprepared  to 
take  the  proper  steps  in  his  cases,  when  they  were  called. 

Judge  Burckhartt  is  possessed  of  a  mind  broad  and  logical  in  its 
operations,  considerably  of  the  philosophic  cast,  and  he  views  ques- 
tions which  come  up  for  consideration  not  only  as  to  their  immediate 
causes  and  eflects,  but  as  to  the  general  principles  which  they  in- 
volve and  their  relations  with  other  questions  of  a  kindred  nature, 
and  the  influence,  directly  and  ultimately,  a  given  decision  would 
have.  Thus  in  the  practice,  whilst  he  was  an  untiring  student  of  his 
cases,  consulting  all  the  law  and  precedents  bearing  upon  them  and, 
at  the  same  time,  more  than  ordinarily  careful  and  exact  in  preparing 
his  pleadings,  and  arranging  and  presenting  his  testimony,  he  de- 
pended more  for  success  in  the  trial  of  causes  upon  some  one  or  more 
principles  of  law  involved,  upon  which  he  asked  a  favorable  decision, 
than  upon  anything  else  —  either  technical  advantages,  influence  as  a 
speaker,  or  otherswise.  He  was  therefore,  principally,  what  is  termed 
a  court  lawyer,  as  contradistitiguished  from  a  jury  hnvyer.  Before 
the  court  his  career  was  one  of  distinguished  success  i'or,  being  a  fine 
lawyer  himself,  he  w^as  seldom  found  presenting  a  case  for  considera- 
tion in  which  there  was  not  solid  merit  on  his  side,  and  never  one  in 
which  he  did  not  believe  that  he  was  in  the  right.  Being  thus  an  able 
and  honorable  practitioner,  he  was  almost  invariably  successful  with 
his  cases  before  the  court.  And  when  he  went  to  the  jury  he  was 
usually  so  well  prepared  with  instructions  that  it  was  not  a  difiicult 
task  for  him  to  make  their  way  clear  to  a  verdict  for  his  client. 

While  Judge  Burckhartt  never  claimed  to  be  a  great  orator,  he  was 
always  a  clear,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker,  and  generally  carried 
the  convictions  of  his  hearers  with  him  in  his  train  of  argument.  Of- 
ten, indeed,  when  fully  imbued  with  the  justice  and  gravity  of  a 
cause,  he  rose  to  a  high  point  of  eloquence  in  his  addresses  before 
judge  and  jury,  and  whenever  he  essayed  to  touch  the  cords  of  senti- 
ment, he  never  failed  to  carry  the  hearts  of  those  who  heard  him  with 
their  convictions,  which  he  had  alread}'^  secured.  Long  before  he 
went  on  the  bench,  he  Avas  regarded  on  all  hands  as  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  North-east  Missouri,  and  he  commanded  a  large  practice, 
both  in  the  circuit  courts  and  in  the  State  Supreme  Court. 

Recocrnizing  his  eminent  fitness  and  qualifications  for  the  position, 
in   1862   he   was  elected  circuit  judge  of  the  Second  Judicial  Circuit, 


445  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  in  1864  he  was  re-elected.  Subsequently  he  was  appointed  judge 
of  that  circuit  by  Gov.  Fletcher,  when  the  convention  of  1865  ousted 
all  the  judges  in  the  State,  and  was  again  re-elected  in  1868.  Since 
then  he  has  been  consecutively  re-elected  and  has  held  that  office  con- 
tinuously up  to  the  present  time.  As  a  judge,  he  has  more  than  ful- 
filled the  high  expectations  of  those  who  honored  him  with  their 
confidence  and  esteem  in  placing  him  in  that  grave  and  responsible 
office.  A  man  of  sound  judgment  and  wide  and  thorough  legal  learn- 
ing, clear-headed  and  penetrating  in  investigating  the  merits  of  a 
cause,  and  anxious  to  do  justice  for  the  love  of  justice  and  that  the 
dignity  and  majesty  of  the  law  may  be  upheld,  his  administration  of 
his  office  has  been  such  as  to  reflect  lasting  honor  upon  a  position, 
which  of  itself  would  be  an  honor  to  any  man  to  hold. 

Such  are  the  weight  and  influence  of  his  opinions  on  the  bench,  that 
fewer  cases  are  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  from  his  circuit,  consider- 
ing the  number  and  importance  of  cases  tried,  than  from  any  other  cir- 
cuit in  the  State,  as  the  writer  is  informed  by  a  prominent  practitioner 
in  the  Supreme  Court  who  has  had  every  opportunity  to  know.  An  able 
lawyer  and  a  learned  judge,  his  ability  and  learning  are  only  equaled 
by  his  high  character  and  incorruptibility. 

*'  With  an  equal  scale 
He  weighs  the  offenses  betwixt  man  and  man; 
He  is  not  so  soothed  with  adulation, 
Nor  moved  with  tears  to  wrest  the  course  of  justice 
Into  an  unjust  current,  to  oppress  the  innocent; 
Nor  does  he  make  the  laws 
Punish  the  man,  but  in  the  man  the  cause." 

Though  taking  only  the  interest  of  a  public-spirited  citizen  in  poli- 
tics, since  the  demise  of  the  Whig  party  Judge  Burckhartt  has  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket,  or  rather  he  cast  his  first  Democratic  vote  for 
George  B.  McClellan,  having  voted  for  Bell  and  Everett  in  1860. 
During  the  war  he  was  a  steadfast  Union  man,  but  as  bitterly  depre- 
cated the  excesses  committed  in  the  name  of  the  Union  as  he  de- 
nounced the  outrages  perpetrated  on  the  other  side.  As  a  patriotic 
citizen  he  was  for  the  Union  above  and  beyond  everything  else,  and 
he  felt  that  after  that  was  restored  other  things  would  soon  right 
themselves.  In  this,  time  has  already  vindicated  the  wisdom  and  cor- 
rectness of  his  position. 

On  the  16th  of  October,  1849,  Judge  Burckhartt  was  married  to 
Miss  Amanda  McCampbell,  a  daughter  of  Wallace  McCampbell,  an 
extensive  farmer  and  respected  citizen  of  Randolph  county,  who  set- 
tled in  that  county  from  Jessamine  county,  Ky.,  in  an  early  day. 
This  union  has  proved  a  long  and  happy  one,  and  was  blessed  with 
seven  children  :  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  24  ;  George  Dorsey, 
who  resides  in  this  county  some  10  miles  south-west  of  Huntsville  ; 
Maria,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Heether,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears in  this  volume  ;  Wallace,  Odon,  Guitar,  the  last  two  of  whom 
are  at  home.  Miss   Ella  being  in  school  at  Stephens'  College,  at  Co- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  455 

lumbia.     The  Judge  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  for  30  years. 

*'  Throughout  his  entire  career,"  says  a  biographer  of  his  life, 
"Judge  Burckhartt  has  been  characterized  by  prompt  and  energetic 
action  and  careful  attention  to  business.  Independent  in  thought, 
social  and  genial  in  manner,  and  inflexible  in  integrity,  he  has  attained 
to  that  success  and  lives  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  reward  which  are 
the  natural  outgrowth  of  a  true  life." 

JUDGE   MAY   M.  BURTON 

(Retired  Farmer  and  Merchant). 

To  give  the  history  of  the  Burton  family  in  Randolph  county  in  all  its 
details  would  be  to  write  much  of  the  history  of  the  county  itself,  for 
representatives  of  this  family  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  and  its  members  have  been  more  or  less  prominently  identified 
with  agricultural,  business  and  public  afitiirs  here  from  the  pioneer 
days  of  the  country.  It  cannot  be  fairly  expected  that,  in  the  space 
to  which  a  sketch  must  be  confined  in  this  volume,  anything  like  a 
complete  review  of  the  history  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  can  be 
given,  but  it  is  proposed 'to  furnish  such  a  frame-work  of  facts  that  at 
some  future  time  a  more  perfect  review  may  be  written,  if  circum- 
stances call  for  its  production.  Judge  Burton's  father  was  originally 
from  Virginia,  though  his  parents  became  pioneer  settlers  of  Kentucky, 
where  the  son,  whose  name  was  also  May  (the  father  of  the  Judge), 
was  reared.  After  he  grew  up  he  lived  in  Kentucky  until  the  out- 
break of  the  War  of  1812,  when  he  went  bravely  to  the  front  in  the 
defence  of  his  country.  He  served  with  gallantry  throughout  that 
entire  struggle,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  in  which  the 
celebrated  Indian  chief,  Tecumseh,  was  killed,  young  May  being 
present  at  the  time  he  was  slain  in  the  progress  of  the  battle.  He 
remained  in  Kentucky  after  the  war,  until  1819,  and  was  married  in 
that  State  to  Miss  Nancy  Woolfolk.  He  then  removed  to  Missouri 
and  settled  near  Higbee.  He  commenced  in  this  county  with  prac- 
tically no  means,  having  little  more  than  his  team  and  rifle,  with  a 
family  to  care  for  besides.  He  was  a  man  of  great  courage  and 
resolution,  and  even  greater  industry  and  intelligence.  He  went  to 
work  with  a  brave  heart  and  willing  hands,  and  opened  a  large  farm. 
In  time  he  became  one  of  the  wealthy  and  prominent  farmers  of  the 
county  and  one  of  its  leading  citizens.  He  lived  here  until  his  death, 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all,  and  to  the  advanced  age  of  80  years. 
Two  of  his  brothers  also  came  to  Randolph  county,  Elijah  and  James, 
both  of  whom  are  also  now  deceased.  May  Burton  had  a  family  of 
five  children  who  grew  to  maturity,  namely,  Burrilla,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Thomas  J.  Gordon,  a  leading  citizen  of  the  countj',  and  a 
State  Senator  from  this  district,  but  now  deceased  ;  Irene,  the  wife  of 
J.  W.  Waller,  of  Kentucky;  Ambrose  W.,  who  was  county  and 
government  surveyor  prior  to  the  war,  but  is  now  deceased;  Joseph 
W.,  who  resides  near  Higbee,  and  Judge  May  M.,  the  subject  of  this 
24 


456  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

sketch.  Three  others  died  young,  William,  Edna,  and  John  C. 
Judge  May  M.  Burton  was  born  in  this  county,  December  14, 
1822,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  His  father  being  a 
man  in  good  circumstances,  the  son  was  given  an  excellent  general 
education.  In  early  life  he  started  as  a  school  teacher,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  several  years,  and  became  quite  popular  and  successful  in 
his  chosen  calling.  On  the  5th  of  December,  1845,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Minerva  Brooks,  a  danghter  of  William  H.  and  Susan  (Pyle) 
Brooks,  of  this  county.  After  his  marriage  Judge  Burton  settled 
down  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  secured  quite  an  extensive  tract 
of  land  near  his  father's  old  homestead,  on  which  he  resided  and  con- 
tinued farming  and  stock  raising  until  1870.  Inheriting  to  a  marked 
degree  the  stronger  and  better  qualities  of  his  father's  character,  he, 
too,  became  successful  in  agricultural  life,  and  quite  prominent  as  a 
citizen.  In  1856  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  over  George 
Settle,  a  prominent  man  of  the  county,  by  a  large  majority.  In  1870 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  county  court,  and  has  since  been 
re-elected  from  time  to  time,  having  served  in  all  nearly  eight  years. 
The  year  that  he  was  first  elected  a  member  of  the  county  court  he 
retired  from  the  farm  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Higbee, 
Mo,,  and  in  1878  he  moved  to  Sweet  Springs,  in  Saline  county,  where 
he  continued  for  about  three  years.  Returning  to  the  farm  in  1881, 
he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  having  an  ample  competency  on  which 
to  rely  as  old  age  comes  on  apace,  and  something  to  leave  each  of  his 
children.  Judge  Burton's  first  wife  died  in  April,  1881.  She  had 
borne  him  two  sons  who  survive:  Ambrose  C.  and  William  H.,  both 
of  whom  are  carrying  on  the  farm  at  the  old  homestead.  Judge  Bur- 
ton was  married  to  his  present  wife  July  5,  1883.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Sarah  A.  Lassiter,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Lassiter,  an  early  settler 
of  the  county  from  Kentucky.  Her  first  husband,  Robert  G.  Gilman, 
was  for  many  years  treasurer  of  the  county  and  one  of  its  most 
highly  respected  citizens.  He  died  November  9,  1872.  The  Judge 
is  a  man  still  hale  and  well  preserved.  His  eye  is  as  bright  and  his 
step  as  elastic  as  would  be  expected  of  one  10  or  15  years  his  junior. 
Only  62  years  of  age  as  yetj  to  all  appearances  he  stilljhas  a  future  of 
much  activity  and  usefulness.  No  man  in  the  county  is  more  highly 
esteemed. 

JUDGE  SAMUEL  and  JAMES  M.  BURTON 

(Post-ofRce,  Huntsville). 

The  Burton  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  section  of  country 
where  they  reside.  Judge  Burton's  parents,  Francis  H.  and  Zilpha 
(Love)  Burton,  came  to  Randolph  county  in  1831,  settling  near  Roa- 
noke. Four  years  later  they  removed  to  Salt  Springs  wher-e  they 
lived  until  their  death.  The  father  died  in  the  spring  of  1857,  in  the 
sixty-eighth  year  of  his  aa;e,  from  being  thrown  from  a  horse.  He  was 
justice  of  the  peace  of  Salt  Spring  township  for  many  years.  His  wife 
died  in   1862.     They  were  from   North  Carolina  and   the  family  was 


I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  457 

originally  from  the  North  of  England  whence  they  came  to  America 
in  the  colonial  days  of  the  country  and  settled  in  Virginia.  From 
there  branches  of  the  family  established  themselves  in  North  Carolina 
and  a  number  of  other  States.  Judge  Burton  was  the  oldest  in  their 
family  of  11  children,  the  others  being :  Able  F.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  35  ;  Frances,  who  died  while  the  wife  of  Samuel  Blanker- 
ship  in  1858  ;  David,  who  died  in  Chariton  county  in  1881  ;  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  in  1864,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Mathis  ;  Hutchins,  of  this 
county;  Barbara,  now  Mrs.  William  Scritchfield,  near  Macon  City  ; 
James  D.,  of  this  county  ;  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Richard  Belmear,  of  Hunts- 
ville ;  and  William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  35  and  was  a  twin 
with  David.  Judge  Samuel  Burton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Caswell  county.  North  Carolina,  March  27,  1812,  and  was 
therefore  reared  in  the  old  North  State.  He  came  out  to  Randolph 
county  with  his  parents,  and  on  the  2()th  of  May,  1834,  was  married 
to  Miss  Frances  L.,  a  sister  to  George  Dameron.  He  had  already  be- 
gun farming  for  himself  and  has  continued  it  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  1846  he  settled  on  his  present  place.  From  his  marriage  up  to  the 
time  of  coming  to  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  although  interested  in 
farming,  he  had  lived  in  Huntsville  and  was  identified  with  business 
at  that  place.  Since  locatina:  on  his  farm,  however,  he  has  followed 
farming  exclusively,  united  with  stock  raising.  Judge  Burton's  farm 
contains  250  acres  and  he  is  comfortably  situated.  He  has  long  been 
engaged  in  tobacco  raising  and  has  found  it  a  very  profital)le  branch 
of  industry.  In  1866  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  county  court  and 
served  four  years  on  the  bench  with  efficiency  and  with  satisfaction  to 
the  public.  He  is  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  the  county 
and  represented  the  county,  in  part,  in  the  convention  which  nomi- 
nated that  time-honored  old  statesman  for  governor,  John  S.  Phelps. 
He  has  also  been  a  delegate  to  district  conventions  and  to  various  other 
meetings  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  Judge's  wife  died  in  1859. 
She  left  him  seven  children:  James  M.,  Able  F.,  Sarah  A.,  married 
William  Cooley,  and  died  in  1857  ;  William  W.,  who  was  killed  in  the 
Confederate  army  under  Pemberton  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  in  1863  ; 
Elizabeth  H.,  now  Mrs.  B.  S.  Darr ;  George  B.,  died  in  1876,  leaving 
a  family  ;  Martha  M.,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Mayo  ;  Thomas  S.,  and  Eva 
now  Mrs.  N.  Thomas  Mathis.  The  Judge  has  been  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  South  for  over  40  years. 

James  M.  Burton,  present  assessor  of  Randolph  county  and  the 
eldest  in  his  father's  family  of  children,  was  born  February  26,  1836. 
At  the  age  of  19,  having  received  a  good  common  school  edu- 
cation, he  began  teaching  school,  and  continued  it  during  the  winter 
months  for  about  11  years.  He  became  very  prominent  and  pop- 
ular as  a  school  teacher,  and  his  services  were  in  request  wherever  he 
was  known.  It  was  the  many  acquaintances  that  he  formed  by  teach- 
ing school  and  the  favorable  impression  he  made  that  contributed  very 
largely  to  his  election  to  office  afterwards.  In  1875  Mr.  Burton  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  sheriff  and  deputy  collector  of  the  county,  a  position 


458  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

he  held  for  three  years.  He  was  then  deputy  assessor  for  four  years, 
and  in  1882  he  was  elected  assessor.  Mr.  Burton  was  quite  popular 
in  the  positions  he  held,  and  is  now  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  capa- 
ble and  efficient  assessors  the  county  ever  had.  During  the  war  he 
served  one  year  in  the  militia  and  was  lieutenant  under  Capt.  Hicks. 
On  the  17th  of  October,  1856,  Mr.  Burton  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
E.  Cockrill,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Jane  (Duncan)  Cockrill,  who 
settled  in  this  county  from  Kentucky  in  1840.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burton 
have  eight  children:  Thomas  J.,  Frances  L.,  Quantrell  Lawrence, 
Ella  D.,  Olive  B.,  John  A.,  Anna  M.  and  Mary  L.  Frances  L.  is 
now  the  wife  of  John  Jennings  of  Nebraska.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burton 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  Mr.  B.  is  a  Royal  Arch 
in  the  Masonic  order. 

MARY  CARLSTED 

(Residence,  Section  7,  Township  53,  Range  15,  near  Huntsville). 

Mrs.  Carlsted  is  the  widow  of  Christian  Carlsted,  who  died  oh  the 
farm  where  she  now  resides  November  18,  1877.  She  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  June  26,  1839,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Gotleib  P.  Klink,  of 
the  Kino;dom  of  Bavaria.  Mrs.  Carlsted  was  reared  in  her  native 
country,  and  when  20  years  of  age  came  to  America  with  her 
brother,  Philip  Klink,  their  parents  having  previously  died  in  the 
old  country.  Two  years  after  her  arrival  in  the  United  States,  on 
the  9th  of  November,  1861,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Carlsted.  He 
was  born  in  Prussia  in  1836,  and  was  therefore  three  years  her  senior. 
When  he  was  13  years  of  age,  in  1849,  he  came  to  the  New  World, 
locating  at  first  in  Ohio.  Later  along  he  came  to  Missouri,  and 
finally  located  in  Randolph  county.  Here  he  met  and  married  Miss 
Klink,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  as  stated  above.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  settled  on  the  farm  where  she  now  resides.  Mrs.  Carl- 
sted has  a  good  farm  of  over  200  acres,  and  she  and  her  sons  are 
eno;ao-ed  in  stock-raisino;.  Her  husband  left  her  five  children  :  Sallie, 
now  Mrs.  John  A.  Burton  ;  William  W.,  Florence  S.,  Cassie  D.  and 
Mary  C.  Mrs.  Carlsted  and  her  children  are  members  of  the  Mission- 
ary Baptist  Church. 

MARK  A.  COOLEY 
(Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Woodard  Coal  and  Mining  Company,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Cooley,  a  prominent  member  of  the  above  company,  is  a  self- 
made  young  man,  having  accumulated  all  he  has  by  his  own  in- 
dustry and  intelligence.  He  was  born  in  Batavia,  Kane  county, 
111.,  January  12,  1854.  His  parents  were  Allison  and  Alice  M. 
(Peck)  Cooley,  and  Mark  A.  was  reared  at  Batavia.  When  a  young 
man,  or  rather  while  still  a  youth,  he  worked  two  years  on  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad,  and  in  1875  came  to  Hannibal,  Mo.,  and  worked 
at  the  cabinet  maker's  trade,  which  he  had  previously  learned,  for 
two  years.  The  summer  of  1880  he  spent  in  Colorado,  and  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  j'^ear  he  came  to  Huntsville.  Here  he  has  since 
been  identified  with  the  coal  business.     He  and  Mr.  Chipman  have 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  459 

been  the  leading  owners  of  mine  No.  3  for  some  time,  and  in  June, 
1882,  that  shaft  and  mine  No.  2  were  consolidated,  and  Mr.  Cooley 
has  since  been  assistant  superintendent  of  the  consolidated  mine, 
having  charge  of  the  outside  work  of  the  bank,  attending  to  the  pur- 
chase of  supplies,  to  the  sales  of  coal,  shipments,  etc.,  etc.  Mr. 
Cooley  is  a  live,  energetic  man,  and  with  the  start  he  already  has  and 
his  business  qualifications  and  enterprise,  he  will  doubtless  become  a 
more  than  ordinarily  well-to-do  citizen,  no  Providential  hinderance 
intervening.  On  the  18th  of  April,  1882,  Mr.  Cooley  was  married  to 
Miss  Mollie  L.  Wilber,  of  Hannibal. 

ANDREW  COX 

(Contractor  and  Builder,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Cox,  a  thorough  practical  carpenter  himself,  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  most  practical  men  in  his  line  in  this  part  of  the  county.  His 
father  before  him  was  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  and  to  this  occupa- 
tion young  Cox  was  brought  up.  Being  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary, 
natural  intelligence,  and  having  worked  at  his  trade  faithfully  from 
boyhood  with  but  little  interruption,  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  has 
risen  to  a  prominent  position  in  his  calling'.  He  now  has  charge  of  the 
construction  of  the  opera  house  at  this  city,  and  has  been  the  leading 
contractor  and  builder  of  Huntsville  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Cox 
is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in  Orange  county,  near  West  Point, 
November  20,  1840.  He  was  reared  in  New  York,  and  received  a 
good  common  English  education  in  the  local  schools.  At  an  early  age 
he  began  the  carpenter's  trade  under  his  father,  and  continued  it  up 
to  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  During  the  war  he  worked  in  the  United 
States  arsenal,  and  afterwards  resumed  general  work  at  his  trade. 
Later  along  he  was  superintendent  of  a  small  arms  and  ammu- 
nition manufactory  at  Springfield,  Mass.  In  1869  Mr.  Cox  came 
to  Huntsville,  having  previously  move  West,  and  has  since  followed 
his  business  at  this  place.  He  is  a  man  of  character  and  business  en- 
terprise, and  has  the  confidence  of  the  entire  community.  His  busi- 
ness and  reputation  are  steadily  increasing.  Mr.  Cox's  parents  were 
Andrew  and  Rosanna  (McRane)  Cox,  both  natives  of  New  York. 

WARREN  T.  DAMERON,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Huntsville). 

Dr.  Dameron  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Randolph 
county  in  1849  and  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the  practice  at 
Huntsville  since  1851,  a  period  of  33  years.  In  1850  he  was  attracted 
to  California  by  the  gold  excitement,  but  was  absent  only  a  year.  As 
a  physician  it  is  not  less  than  the  truth  requires  to  be  said  that  his 
life  has  been  one  of  excellent  success.  Possessed  to  a  marked  degree 
of  the  natural  aptitutes  and  mental  qualities,  without  which  one  can 
not  hope  for  success  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  he  has  pursued  his 
chosen  calling  with  that  fixedness  of  purpose  and  industry  both  as  a 


4:60  HISTORY    OF    KANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

student  and  practitioner,  which  wonld  have  made  him  successful  even 
with  less  ability  than  he  possesses  and  with  less  adaptability  to  the 
profession.  In  a  short  biographical  sketch  it  is  of  course  not  expected, 
nor  would  it  be  proper  to  go  into  the  details  of  the  career  of  the  subject 
in  his  business,  industrial  or  professional  activities.  Nor  can  any  ex- 
ception be  made  to  this  rule  in  the  present  case,  although  the  subject 
is  fairly  worthy  of  a  more  than  ordinary  notice  in  the  present  volume. 
Let  it  be  sufficient  to  say,  however,  that  both  as  a  physician  and  a 
man  his  life  has  been  one  of  marked  usefulness  and  without  reproach. 
Personally,  he  is  highly  thought  of  by  all  who  know  him  and  highest 
by  those  who  have  known  him  longest  and  know  him  best.  He  is 
possessed  of  many  qualities  that  draw  around  him  warm  and  true 
friends  and  make  him  esteemed  bv  those  amonof  whom  he  lives.  Dr. 
Dameron  commenced  life  for  himself  without  means  or  other  advant- 
ages except  the  education,  a  good  practical  one,  which  his  worthy  and 
venerated  father  greatly  assisted  him  to  obtain.  His  Either  wisely 
believed  that  the  best  heritage  he  could  leave  his  children  was  an  hon- 
ored name,  an  upright  character  and  a  good  education,  and  these  he 
transmitted  to  them  all.  Warren  T.  Dameron  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  August  15,  1822,  and  was  one  in  a  family  of  13  chil- 
dren. His  parents  were  George  B.  and  Mary  W.  Moore  Dameron,  who 
were  reared  and  married  in  Virginia.  The  father  was  of  French  de- 
scent and  the  mother  of  English  origin.  They  removed  to  North 
Carolina  and  later  along,  in  ISB^,  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Randolph 
county,  where  they  lived  until  their  death.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  was  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  were  earnest  and  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  was  especially  active  and  zealous  in  church  work  as  a  lay  member. 
He  was  a  man  of  decided  convictions  and  clear,  sober  intelligence, 
much  given  to  thought,  and  therefore  an  instructive  conversationalist 
to  those  with  whom  he  conversed.  In  politics  he  was  a  sterling  Jack- 
son Democrat,  and  all  of  his  sons  who  grew  up  to  be  men  followed  in 
his  footsteps,  and  those  still  living  are  unfaltering  in  their  party  fealty. 
He  died  December  18,  1848,  widely  and  profoundly  regretted,  for  he 
was  one  of  the  most  esteemed  citizens  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the 
county.  Dr.  Dameron  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the 
local  schools  of  the  county.  He  subsequently  studied  medicine  and 
afterwads  attended  Medical  College  from  which  he  was  duly  grad- 
uated in  1849.  Dr.  Dameron  has  been  twice  married.  First,  in  1849 
to  Miss  Frances  A.  Horner,  a  daughter  of  M.  and  Keturah  Horner, 
of  this  county.  She  died  in  1859.  September,  1863,  he  was  married 
to  his  last  wife,  Mrs.  Laura  McLean,  a  daughter  of  Noah  and  Nancy 
Kingsbury,  of  Howard  county,  one  of  the  best  families  of  that  county. 
She  was  educated  at  Columbia,  Mo.  Her  first,  husband,  Dr.  John 
McLean,  died  in  1858.  Dr.  Dameron  has  three  children,  one  a 
son,  George  M.,  aged  34,  bv  his  first  wife,  and  two  by  his  last  wife, 
Lulie  W.,  18  years  old,  and  Clifford  Lee,  seven  years  old.  His  first 
wife  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  as  was  also  his  last  wife, and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  461 

the  Doctor  himself  has  been  a  member  of  that  church  from  boyhood. 
He  has  long  been  an  official  member  of  the  church  and  all  his  brothers 
and  sisters  followed  the  same  faith,  except  a  sister  who  married  a 
Presbyterian  minister,  and  very  naturall}'  identified  her*elf  with  her 
husband's  denomination.  But  four  of  Dr.  Dameron's  father's  family. 
of  children  are  now  living. 

ANDREW  MONROE  ELLINGTON 

(Attorney  at  Law  and  Postmaster,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Ellington,  a  3'oung  attorney  of  some  seven  years'  experience 
in  the  practice,  and  a  lawyer  of  thorough  preparatory  training,  both 
literary  and  professional,  as  well  as  a  young  gentleman  of  good  ability 
and  excellent  business  habits,  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  at  Fayette, 
Howard  county,  February  2,  1852.  He  comes  of  two  old  and  re- 
spected families  of  this  State  — the  Ellingtons  and  Monroes  —  names 
not  unfamiliar  to  Missourians,  especially  to  those  who  know  anything 
of  the  church  history  of  the  State.  For  30  years  his  father,  W. 
T.  Ellington,  has  been  an  active  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  M.  E. 
Church  South.  Although  now  well  advanced  in  age,  he  is  still  en- 
gaged in  his  great  life-work  with  as  much  zeal  and  apparently  with  as 
much  energy  as  characterized  the  labors  of  his  earlier  years.  On  his 
mother's  side,  Mr.  EUino-ton  was  a  g^randson  of  the  late  Rev.  Andrew 
Monroe,  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Missouri  Conference,  and  for 
over  half  a  century  one  of  the  able  and  esteemed  ministers  of  the 
Southern  Methodist  Church.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Central  Missouri,  and  repeatedly  held  the  office  of  presiding  elder  in 
his  church.  He  died  at  Mexico,  in  Audrain  county,  where  his  remains 
are  interred,  and  a  suitable  monument  has  been  erected  at  his  grave 
by  the  church,  to  commemorate  his  long  and  useful  life,  the  memory 
of  which  is  even  more  sacredly  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  Methodists 
and  good  people  all  over  the  State.  Young  Ellington  grew  up  at 
Columbia,  Mo.,  and  has  had  the  best  educational  advantages  the  State 
affords.  He  graduated  from  the  State  University  in  the  class  of  1872, 
and  he  is  still  an  honored  member  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  Society  of 
that  institution.  After  his  grraduation,  Mr.  Ellington,  who  had  de- 
cided  to  devote  himself  to  the  profession  of  the  law,  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  in  Boone  county  in  order  to  defray  his  current  expenses 
while  prosecuting  his  legal  studies.  He  taught  school  with  success 
for  several  years  and  read  law  while  not  occupied  with  the  duties  of 
the  school-room.  In  1877  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Columbia  by 
Judge  Burckhartt,  judge  of  the  Second  Judicial  Circuit,  and  was  grace- 
fully complimented  by  the  court  for  his  attainments  as  a  licentiate. 
Mr.  Ellington  has  always  been  of  close,  studious  habits,  and  since  his 
admission  to  the  bar  he  has  greatly  advanced  himself  in  the  knowledge 
of  the  law  by  continued  study.  After  his  admission  he  went  to  Colo- 
rado and  located  at  the  county  seat  of  Saguache  county,  where  he 
practiced  his  profession  for  about  four  years.  During  his  last  two 
years  in  Colorado   he   served   as  school   superintendent  of  Sagmiclu' 


462  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

county.  Returning  to  Missouri  in  the  winter  of  1880-81,  Mr.  Elling- 
ton located  at  Huntsville  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  at  this  place.  The  following  July 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Huntsville,  and  still  holds  that  posi- 
tion. His  younger  brother  (Harry)  is  his  deputy,  and  attends  to  the 
duties  of  the  office,  Mr.  Ellington  giving  his  entire  time  to  the  prac- 
tice. He  is  thoroughly  wedded  to  his  profession,  and  possesses  the 
qualities  and  qualifications  to  rise  to  distinction  at  the  bar,  being 
ambitious  to  succeed,  studious,  attentive  to  business  and  well-trained, 
both  generally  and  in  his  profession.  In  politics,  Mr.  Ellington  is  a 
Republican,  but  is  a  man  of  broad  views,  and  quite  as  ready  to  con- 
cede to  others  the  right  to  express  their  opinions  freely  as  he  reso- 
lutely claims  the  same  right  to  himself.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1872, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Josie,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Hammett,  Esq., 
of  Huntsville.  Their  first  born  and  only  child  died  in  infancy,  July 
4,  1883.  Personally,  Mr.  Ellington  is  courteous  and  gentlemanly, 
and  is  much  esteemed  at  Huntsville. 

THOMAS  M.  ELMORE 

(Formerly  of  the  Huntsville  Herald). 

Mr.  Elmore,  who  has  been  identified  with  the  newspaper  business 
from  early  manhood,  and  is  prominently  connected  with  the  business 
affairs  of  Huntsville,  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Schuyler  county. 
His  father  is  William  C.  Elmore,  now  of  Adair  county.  Mo.,  and  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Clark.  He  was  born  in  White 
county,  Tenn.,  and  she  near  Wheeling,  West  Va.  Both  came 
West  when  young,  and  they  were  married  in  Monroe  county.  111.,  in 
1848.  Nine  years  afterwards  they  removed  to  Missouri  and  settled 
in  Adair  county.  They  had  a  familj  of  10  children,  namely  :  George 
L.,  William  H.,  Emily,  Caroline,  McLealen,  Terry  C,  Jessie,  Clar- 
ence and  Thomas  M.  The  father's  life  pursuit  has  been  farming. 
He  is  a  man  of  sober,  clear  intelligence,  and  is  well  informed  in  the 
aff'airs  of  the  world,  having  always  been  an  intelligent  and  discriminat- 
ing reader,  devoting  much  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  history.  He  is 
also  quite  fond  of  newspaper  reading,  and  is  well  posted  in  the  current 
events  of  the  times.  Thomas  M.,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Adair  county,  and  received  a  good  general 
common  school  education.  After  quitting  the  fiirm  he  came  to  Ran- 
dolph county  in  1869,  and  engaged  in  business  pursuits  and  conducted 
a  drug  store  at  Huntsville  for  some  time.  At  Huntsville  he  also 
became  identified  with  the  newspaper  business,  with  which  he  con- 
tinued until  a  short  time  ago,  when  he  retired  from  the  Herald  office. 
Mr.  Elmore  is  well  known  among  newspaper  men  as  a  good  business 
manager,  and  a  clear-headed,  pointed  writer.  While  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Herald,  that  paper  steadily  grew  in  value  and 
influence,  and  improved  in  every  feature.  He  retired  from  the  paper, 
leaving  it  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  cosmopolitan  journals 
of  the  State.     Mr.  Elmore  has  always  taken  a  public-spirited   and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  463 

intelligent  interest  in  the  general  affairs  of  the  community,  and 
especially  in  its  public  and  business  enterprises.  He  is  a  prominent 
stockholder  of  the  Huntsville  Gas  Company  and  of  the  Building  and 
Loan  Association.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  and  the  president  of  the 
Huntsville  Rake  and  Stacker  Company,  and  is  a  director  in  all  three 
of  the  companies  above  named.  In  1878  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Ella  Fort,  a  refined  and  accomplished  young  lady  of  this  city,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Fort.  They  have  two  children  :  Susie  E.  and  Helen; 
Mr.  Elmore  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  influential  citizens  of  Hunts- 
ville, and  is  highly  respected.  Personally  he  is  quite  popular,  and 
socially  he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  much  esteemed  in  the  best 
society  of  Huntsville  and  wherever  they  are  known. 

ANDREW  JACKSON  FERGUSON 

(County  Treasurer,  Huntsville). 

That  intelligence  and  energy  will  ultimately  succeed  in  life,  what- 
ever may  be  the  early  circumstances  in  which  they  are  placed,  is 
illustrated  in  every  community  by  the  lives  of  its  successful  men. 
Early  advantages  are,  of  course,  not  to  be  despised,  and  every  father 
should  strive  to  afford  his  children  all  the  opportunities  for  their 
advancement  in  his  power  to  give  them.  But  opportunities  alone 
will  not  make  a  successful  man.  The  qualities  necessary  to  bring 
success  must  be  inherent  in  the  individual.  If  these  are  present,  and 
his  constitution  is  reasonably  vigorous,  he  will  succeed  anyhow,  and 
early  advantages  only  tend  to  accelerate  his  success  and  make  the 
road  to  its  achievement  shorter  and  less  rugged.  Among  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Randolph  county  who  have  risen  in  life  by  their 
own  merits  and  exertions  alone,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch 
justly  occupies  an  enviable  position.  Mr.  Ferguson  is  a  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  born  at  Danville,  September  10,  1828.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Sarah  (Hopwood)  Ferguson.  When  Andrew  J.  was 
still  in  childhood,  his  father  was  taken  away  by  death,  and  the  mother 
afterwards  removed  to  Christian  county,  Ky.,  where  the  son  princi- 
pally grew  up.  He  was  apprenticed  to  the  saddler's  trade  at  New 
Providence,  Tenn.,  and  after  learning  the  trade,  he  worked  at  it  in 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  until  1850,  when  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
located  at  Cape  Girardeau.  Mr.  Ferguson  followed  his  trade  in  Cape 
Girardeau  for  several  years,  and  in  about  1853  removed  to  Glasgow, 
Mo.,  remaining,  however,  only  a  short  time,  and  coming  thence  to 
Huntsville  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Fero-uson  engaged  in  busi- 
ness  here  in  the  saddlery  and  harness  line,  and  continued  it  with  success 
until  1878.  He  was  quite  successful  as  a  business  man,  and  has 
accumulated  a  neat  competency.  Having  lived  an  upright  and  blame- 
less life  for  so  many  j'-ears  among  the  people  of  Randolph  county,  he 
has  naturally  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public.  Recog- 
nizing his  high  character  and  excellent  business  qualifications,  in  1864 
he  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  treasurer  of  the  county,  the  duties 
of  which  he   discharged   with  singular    efficiency  and  general    satis- 


464  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

faction.  In  1872  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  repeatedly  re-elected,  and  still  has  charge  of  the 
financial  affairs,  or  rather  the  public  funds,  of  the  county.  His  long 
continuance  in  this  important  and  respon8il)le  office  shows  in  what 
high  esteem  he  is  held  by  the  people  of  the  county.  His  record  has 
certainly  been  one  upon  which  he  can  afford  to  look  back  with  satis- 
faction and  not  without  pardonable  pride.  How  many  young  men 
starting  out  in  the  world  with  every  advantage  which  means  and 
parental  affection  can  confer,  fail  to  reach  a  station  in  life  to  be  com- 
pared with  that  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  attained  in  the 
face  of  all  obstacles  and  by  his  own  character  and  industry?  Mr. 
Ferguson  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  previously  Miss 
Sarah  A.  Young,  of  Montgomery  county,  Tenn.,  but  originally  of 
Hopkins  county,  Ky.  She  died  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  in  1851. 
To  his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Mary  A.  Boyd,  originally  of 
Kentucky,  Mr.  Ferguson  was  married  November  3,  1853.  Mr. 
Ferguson  has  four  children  :  Ada,  now  the  wife  of  H.  G.  Bourne,  of 
Pueblo,  Col.  ;  William  B.,  of  Montana;  Claude  and  Beulah,  the  last 
two  at  home.  Mr.  Ferguson  was  a  member  of  the  militia  during  the 
war,  and  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  an 
initiate  of  the  Commandery  at  Moberly  and  of  the  Blue  lodge  at 
Cape  Girardeau. 

JOHN  THOMAS  FORT,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Huntsville). 

No  biographical  conspectus  of  Huntsville  would  be  at  all  just  or 
accurate  which  should  not  give  a  prominent  and  worthy  place  to  a 
sketch  of  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  for  the  careers  of  few, 
if  of  any,  have  been  more  intimately  and  creditably  interwoven  with 
its  history  than  that  of  Dr.  Fort.  And  an  outline  of  his  life  and 
family  antecedents  will  be  found  interesting,  even  outside  of  his  own 
identification  with  this  place.  Dr.  Fort  has  not  become  a  distin- 
guished man  in  the  broader  acceptation  of  that  term,  but  his  life  has 
been  a  more  than  ordinarily  active  one,  and  one  of  much  practical 
value  to  those  among  whom  he  has  lived.  Nor  can  the  writer  forbear 
the  expression  of  the  opinion  that  if,  instead  ot  being  a  representative 
of,  lie  had  been  an  exception  to,  the  class  whom  Wordsworth  de- 
scribes— 

"Nor  having  e'er,  as  life  advanced,  been  led 
By  circumstances  to  take  unto  the  height 
The  measure  of  themselves,"  — 

if  he  had  been  led  by  circumstances  to  fill  an  exalted  position  in  the 
world,  he  would  have  acquitted  himself  with  high  honor  and  with 
credit  to  the  station  he  occupied,  for  his  qualities  of  mind  and  charac- 
ter are  such  that  they  would  not  prove  unequal  to  the  responsibilities 
of  any  place  in  life  open  to  his  advancement.  Dr.  Fort  is  a  native  of 
Randolph  county,  born  four  miles  west  of  Huntsville,  and  on  the  31st 
of  August,   1826.     His   parents   were    pioneer   settlers   of  Randolph 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  465 

count}'^,  and  his  father's  parents  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Da- 
vidson county,  Tenn.,  locatins;  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Nashville  in  1793,  when  there  was  only  a  block-honse  standing  where 
there  now  is  a  city  of  75,000  inhabitants.  Josiah  and  Piety  Fort,  the 
grandparents  of  Dr.  Fort,  located  at  Nashville  from  North  Carolina, 
and  William  Fort,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  block-house  at  that 
place  October  19,  1793,  his  parents  not  then  having  made  any  im- 
provements of  their  own.  William  Fort  grew  up  in  Tennessee,  and, 
considering  the  newness  of  the  country  in  which  he  lived  and  his  op- 
portunities, obtained  a  more  than  ordinarily  good  education.  He 
subsequently  read  medicine  and,  as  the  old  citizens  of  Randolph 
county  know,  he  was  for  many  years  a  successful  and  prominent 
physician.  In  1815  he  was  married  in  Robertson  county,  Tenn.,  to 
Miss  Patsey  Gorham,  and  five  years  afterwards  he  came  to  Randolph 
county  and  located  four  miles  west  of  Huntsville,  where  he  lived  to 
old  age  and  until  his  death.  Randolph  county  was  then  a  wilderness, 
and  his  name  justly  occupies  a  place  among  those  of  its  pioneer  set- 
tlers. The  place  of  his  location  here  was,  and  is  still  known  as 
Medical  Springs,  and  there  he  opened  salt  works  in  1823  and  worked 
them  for  about  20  years,  supplying  salt  for  Randolph  and  Macon  coun- 
ties. He  and  his  good  wife  reared  a  family  of  six  children  :  Henry 
T.,  now  of  Moberly  ;  Martha  E.,  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Burton,  both  of 
whom,  however,  are  now  deceased  ;  Amanda  C,  the  widow  of  Joseph 
M.  Hammett;  Frances  C,  the  wife  of  Giles  F.  Cook,  but  both  are 
now  deceased  ;  Andrew  J.,  a  prominent  stock  man  in  Montana  Ten-i- 
tory  ;  and  John  T.  Dr.  Fort  w;is  reared  on  the  farm  near  Huntsville 
and  received  a  thorough  education,  taking,  besides  a  general  course, 
a  complete  classical  course.  His  preceptor  was  Hugh  McEwing,  a 
Scotch  scholar  and  a  man  of  fine  education.  Mr.  McEwing  taught  at 
Dr.  Fort's  father's  residence,  and  was  reputed  to  be  the  best  teacher 
in  this  section  of  the  State  at  that  time.  His  attainments  were  sub- 
stantial and  thorough,  rather  than  flashy  and  superficial,  and  he 
brought  up  his  pupils  in  the  same  way.  At  the  age  of  18  young 
Fort  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  his  father,  and  under  the 
latter's  instruction  continued  study  until  1846,  Avhen  he  entered  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  State  University,  which  was  located  at  St. 
Louis.  He  took  two  regular  courses  of  lectures  in  medicine  and  grad- 
uated with  distinction  in  1848.  Immediately  following  his  graduation 
Dr.  Fort  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  his  old  home,  with  the 
view  of  relieving  his  father  of  much  of  the  burden  of  a  large  practice 
and  of  establishing  himself  in  life,  but  he  was  young  and  full  of  enter- 
prise and  the  spirit  of  adventure.  About  this  time  the  California  gold 
excitement  broke  out  and,  like  many  of  the  young  men  of  Missouri 
and  all  over  the  civilized  world,  he  was  attracted  to  the  Midas  land 
beyond  the  Cordilleras  by  the  genii  stories  of  Pactolian  sands  that 
glistened  in  the  sunlight  in  the  far  off"  garden  of  the  new  found  Hes- 
perides.  He  spent  two  years  in  California,  but  found  it  more  con- 
genial, if  not  more  profitable,  to  relieve  suffering  for  gold  than  to  dig 


466  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

for  it.  While  there  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice,  with  excellent 
success,  at  Red  Bluff.  Returning  to  old  Missouri  in  1852,  and  de- 
siring to  make  himself  thorough  in  his  profession,  so  far  as  the  in- 
structions of  the  schools  go,  the  following  winter  he  took  a  special 
course  of  lectures  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  St.  Louis  Uni- 
versity, and  in  the  spring  of  1854  located  at  McGee  College,  in  Macon 
county.  Dr.  Fort  continued  the  practice  there  for  two  years  and  then 
returned  to  the  vicinity  of  his  old  home  in  Randolph  county.  In  1860 
he  went  to  Robertson  county,  Tenn.,  locating  at  the  place  where 
his  mother  was  born  and  reared,  and  continued  the  practice  at  that 
place  for  15  years.  He  became  very  successful  as  a  physician  in 
Tennessee,  and  accumulated  no  inconsiderable  evidences  of  prosperity. 
Returning  to  Randolph  county  in  1875,  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  at  Huntsville.  For  nearly  10  years  he  has  held  the 
place  here  of  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county.  No  physi- 
cian stands  higher  in  the  practice  in  this  community  than  Dr.  Fort 
does  at  Huntsville.  His  success  has  been  uninterrupted,  both  in  re- 
lieving the  suffering  and  in  material  affairs.  Dr.  Fort  has  been  thrice 
married.  To  his  first  wife,  formerly  Miss  Susan  F.  Cummins,  he  was 
married  March  1,  1848,  immediately  after  receiving  his  diploma  at  the 
medical  college.  She  survived  her  marriage  nine  years,  leaving  him 
two  children  at  her  death:  Susan  F.,  who  died  in  girlhood,  and 
Martha,  the  wife  of  Thomas  M.  Elmore,  editor  of  the  Huntsville 
Herald.  Three  other  children,  sons,  preceded  their  mother  to  the 
grave.  In  1860  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  Fort,  a  cousin-germane, 
of  Tennessee.  She  died  in  1870,  and  to  his  present  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Ellen  C.  Fort,  a  sister  to  his  second  wife,  he  was  married  some 
12  years  ago.  Dr.  Fort  has  not  confined  his  activities  to  the 
medical  profession  alone.  He  has  for  years  been  quite  prominently 
identified  with  business  affairs,  public  life  and  the  benevolent  societies. 
For' four  years  he  was  a  partner  with  his  brother,  Henry  Fort,  in  mer- 
chandising at  Ft.  Henry.  For  several  years  he  carried  on  the  drug 
business  at  Huntsville,  and  during  1879  and  1880  he  was  a  partner 
with  his  son-in-law,  T.  M.  Elmore,  in  the  proprietorship  and  publica- 
tion of  the  Herald  at  this  place.  He  was  the  editor  of  the  Herald 
during  that  time,  and  he  has  long  been  known  as  a  valuable  news- 
paper correspondent  from  this  point.  He  contributed  very  materially 
to  the  maintenance  of  the  county  seat  at  Huntsville  by  the  vigorous, 
unanswerable  arguments  he  published  on  that  question.  He  has  long 
been  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  citizens  of  the 
place  and  has  done  much  to  promote  its  prosperity.  He  has  served 
in  the  city  council,  and  was  for  several  years  mayor  of  the  city.  Dr. 
Fort  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  for  nearly  30  years,  being  now  treasurer  of  the  lodge  at 
Huntsville.  He  is  also  a  membor  of  the  Select  Knights  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor.  In  recognition  of  his  prominence  in  his  profes- 
sion he  has  been  given,  and  now  holds,  the  position  of  examining 
surgeon   of   the    Masonic   Mutual    Aid    Societv,  and    is  also  exam- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  467 

ining  surgeon  of  the  South-west  Aid  Society,  of  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Company,  and  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company. 

A.  F.  GILL 

(Farmer,  Section  34,  Township  54,  Range  15,  near  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Gill  was  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Watts)  Gill,  from  Boyle 
county,  Ky.,  who  came  to  Missouri  in  181L  The  father  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  in  St.  Louis  for 
three  years  after  coming  to  this  then  territory.  From  St.  Louis  he 
removed  to  St.  Charles  county,  where  he  continued  his  trade  and  later 
along  became  somewhat  identified  with  farming.  He  was  born  in 
1789,  and  died  in  1872.  A.  F.  was  born  in  St.  Charles  county  Janu- 
ary 20,  1834,  and  was  reared  in  his  native  county.  April  26,  1866, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Fairchild,  formerly  of  Warsaw,  111. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Capt.  O.  H.  Fairchild,  and  her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Ada  W.  Brown.  Her  father  was  for  many  years  a  well 
known  steamboat  captain  on  the  Mississippi,  and  lost  his  life  on  the 
steamer  Fashion  between  Memphis  and  New  Orleans,  his  body  never 
being  recovered  from  the  river.  He  was  made  the  hero  of  one  of 
John  Hays'  poems  entitled  "James  Bledsoe,"  the  poet  having  been  a 
friend  of  Capt.  Fairchild,  and  was  afterwards  private  secretary  to 
President  Lincoln.  Mrs.  Faii-child  still  survives  and  finds  a  welcome 
and  pleasant  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Gill.  About  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Gill  removed  to  Randoli)h  county,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming  in  this  county.  He  has  a  comfortable  home- 
stead and  his  life  has  been  one  of  satisfactory  success.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gill  have  three  children :  Ada,  Everett  and  Emma.  Mr.  G.  is  a 
member  of  the  C.  P.  Church,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
denomination.  Mr,  Gill  was  clerk  of  township  53,  range  15,  for  five 
years,  and  has  also  served  as  county  coroner.  Mrs.  Gill  has  but  one 
sister  surviving,  Emma,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Judge  James  H.  Vail, 
of  Milner,  Dak.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years  judge  of  the  Iron- 
ton  (Mo.)  judicial  circuit. 

ALONZO  GROVER 

(Of  Lay  Bro^-.  &  Grover,  Proprietors  of  tlie  Valley  Mills,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Grover,  a  leading  miller  and  thorough  machinist  of  th«  county, 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Ashtabula  county.  May  19,  1834.  When 
he  was  six  years  of  age  his  parents,  John  and  Jennie  (Merritt) 
Grover,  came  West  and  located  first  in  Knox  county.  Mo.,  but  soon 
afterwards  removed  to  Fulton  county.  111.  The  father  was  a  mer- 
chant by  occupation,  and  followed  that  in  Fulton  county  for  many 
years.  In  1850,  however,  he  started  to  California,  and  was  killed 
en  route,  16  miles  from  Salt  Lake  City,  from  being  overwhelmed 
by  a  mountain  snow-slide.  Alonzo  was  reared  in  Fulton  connty  and 
from  an  early  age  displayed  a  decided  natural  taste  for  the  use  of 
tools.     He  was  encouraged  in  this  and  later  alonsf  be<jan  to  accustom 


468  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

himself  to  h:iudling  and  managing  machinery,  for  which  he  always  had 
a  great  admiration".  He  was  not  less  apt  in  familiarizing  himself  with 
the  principles  and  uses  of  machinery  than  he  was  zealous  to  learn  and 
anxious  to  become  a  skillful  machinist.  He  obtained  a  situation 
at  Farmington,  111.,  in  a  large  mill,  and  afterwards  went  to  Gales- 
burg,  that  State,  where  he  was  engaged  in  milling  for  11  years.  Prior 
to  this,  he  had  become  a  thorough  miller  and  skillful  machinist,  and 
his  services  were  in  request  wherever  he  was  known.  He  was  offered 
a  position  on  flattering  terms  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  where  he  went 
and  worked  a  year.  He  then  came  to  Moberly,  Mo.,  where  he 
worked  for  about  six  years,  being  recognized  as  the  best  miller  of 
that  place.  In  1879  he  came  to  Huntsville  and  ran  the  City  Mill  until 
the  fall  of  1881,  when  he  became  a  partner  in  the  present  firm.  He 
has  supervision  of  the  milling  machinery,  and  has  just  put  in  improved 
works  of  the  latest  and  best  make;  and  the  Valley  Mills,  under  his 
management,  have  taken  a  leading  place  among  the  best  mills  of  the 
county.  These  mills  were  l)uilt  in  1868  by  Elias  and  John  P.  Lay 
and  father,  F.  W.  Lay,  and  were  the  first  mills  propelled  by  steam 
built  at  Huntsville.  Elias  Lay  came  to  Missouri  Avith  his  father  when 
a  lad  eight  years  of  age,  away  back  in  1836.  He  followed  farming 
here  aft^r  he  grew  up  until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Huntsville.  His 
wife  was  a  Miss  Nancy  E.  Henderson  before  her  marriage,  and  they 
have  two  children  :  Jane  F.,  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Rutherford,  and  Robert 
E.  The  mill  has  three  runs  of  buhrs,  and  does  a  general  merchant 
and  exchange  business.  It  has  a  capacity  of  25  barrels  a  day,  and  its 
flour  is  made  by  the  "new  process."  Mr.  Grover  bought  out  the 
interest  of  F.  W.  Lay,  the  father  of  Elias  and  John  P.,  which 
interest  he  now  owns.  In  December,  1868,  Mr.  Grover  was  married 
at  Fairfield,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Margaret  J.  Russell,  formerly  of  Ohio. 
They  have  two  children;  John  E.  and  a  girl,  Jessie  M.  Mrs.  G.  is 
a  member  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  G.  is  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  energy  and  enterprise,  and  has  made  all  he  has 
by  his  own  industry  and  intelligence. 

HENRY  C.  HALEY 

(Blacksmith  and  Farmer). 
Mr.  H.  was  born  in  Macon  City,  January  28,  1843,  and  was  a  son  of 
James  T*  and  Cynthia  F.  (Goggins)  Haley,  his  mother's  father  being 
Wm.  Goggins  the  original  settler  of  Huntsville,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Macon  and  Randolph  counties.  Henry  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
learned  the  blacksmith  trade  as  he  grew  up  before  the  war,  and  in 
1862  he  entered  the  Confederate  service  under  Capt.  Waldon,  and 
continued  in  the  ranks  of  the  South  for  about  18  months.  He  then 
came  home  and  affairs  were  in  such  a  shape  that  he  couldn't  stay  un- 
less he  became  identified  with  the  Union  militia,  for  they  then  had 
possession  of  the  country.  He  therefore  became  enrolled  in  the  E. 
M.  M.,  and  was  attached  to  them  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After 
peace  was  restored  he  resumed  his  trade  and  has  since  worked  at  it. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  469 

March  30,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  B.  Rutherford,  who 
was  born  in  Chariton  county,  July  6,  1848,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Shelton  Rutherford  of  that  county.  Mr.  Haley  continued  his  black- 
smithinp;,  and  he  has  been  on  his  present  place  for  a  number  of  years. 
His  shop  and  farm  are  on  the  Roanoke  Road,  about  four  miles  from 
Huntsville.  He  has  a  neat  place  of  60  acres  aud  is  doinof  very  well. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haley  have  six  children:  Shelton  L.,  William  T., 
Beulah,  Taylor  Clay,  Obie  Dodson  and  Jim  Morgan.  Cynthia 
Frances  was  burned  to  death  in  a  lire-place.  Misfortunes  never  come 
alone.  In  July,  1878,  a  piece  of  iron  struck  Mr.  Haley  in  the  right 
eye  and  put  it  out.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haley  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

JOSEPH   MILLER  HAMMETT 

(Deceased) . 

Joseph  M.  Hammett  died  at  his  residence  in  Huntsville  on  the  9th 
day  of  June,  1883.  The  death  of  no  citizen  of  Randolph  county  ever 
caused  more  general  and  sincere  regret  throughout  the  county  than 
that  of  Joseph  M.  Hammett.  He  had  been  a  resident  of  the  county 
for  56  years,  and  for  a  generation  was  prominent  in  its  agricultural 
and  business  affairs  and  in  the  social  life  of  its  people.  From  a  youth 
without  means  and  with  very  limited  educational  advantages,  he  came 
up  in  the  world  to  a  position  of  comparative  affluence,  and  made  for 
himself  a  name  for  useful  citizenship  that  will  survive  where  his  life 
was  spent  long  after  the  marble  that  now  marks  his  last  resting-place 
shall  have  crumbled  into  dust.  His  life  was  an  abundant  success,  not 
only  in  material  affairs,  but  in  making  himself  useful  to  those  among 
whom  he  lived,  and  above  all  in  winning  and  retaining  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens,  of  which  he  was  eminently  worthy,  and 
which  when  once  won  were  never  for  a  moment  withdrawn.  In  every 
biographical  history  of  Randolph  county  worthy  of  such  a  title,  the 
name  that  heads  this  sketch  must  ever  occupy  a  prominent  place  on  its 
pages.  As  an  agriculturist  he  was  enterprising,  progressive  and  suc- 
cessful—  the  leader  by  all  odds  of  those  around  him;  in  business 
affairs  he  was  energetic,  clear-headed  and  honorable,  and  he  founded 
one  of  the  best  and  most  reputable  banking  houses  in  the  county,  an 
institution  of  which  he  was  the  able  head  for  years,  and  until  his 
death ;  and  as  a  citizen  he  was  public-spirited,  always  to  the  front  in 
every  movement  designed  for  the  public  good,  and  oidy  less  generous 
of  his  personal  services  and  advice  than  of  his  private  means.  To 
speak  of  this  man's  life  as  a  neighbor  and  friend  and  in  his  family, 
would  be  to  characterize  one  who  was  possessed  of  as  few  faults  and 
as  many  estimable  qualities  in  these  particulars,  as  in  most  others,  as 
are  seldom  united  in  one  individual.  The  most  eloquent  tribute  that 
could  be  paid  to  the  character  of  a  good  and  useful  man  was  the  pro- 
found and  universal  sorrow  with  which  the  news  of  Joseph  Hammett's 
death  was  received  by  his  neighbors  and  friends  on  the  day  that  he 
yielded  his  body  to  the  earth  and   his   spirit  to  the  God  who  gave  it. 


470  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

As  a  husband,  his  memory  is  cherished  by  his  widow,  a  good  and  true 
woman,  worthy  to  have  been  the  wife  of  such  a  man,  as  that  of  the 
kindest  and  best  of  men,  ever  faithful  and  devoted  to  his  wife  and 
children ;  and  as  a  father,  his  life  is  looked  to  as  worthy  of  all  imita- 
tion. No  man  was  ever  more  loved  and  venerated  in  his  own  family  ; 
and  well  he  might  be,  for  few,  if  any,  in  this  world  of  human  weak- 
nesses was  ever  a  kinder  and  more  exemplary  husband  and  father. 
All  in  all,  Joseph  Hammett  was  such  a  man  as  fathers  might  wish 
their  sons  to  be,  and  such  a  citizen  as  any  community  might  well  be 
proud  to  claim.  Let  us,  therefore,  give  a  brief  sketch  of  this  man's 
life  —  a  sketch  that  we  are  not  vain  enough  to  believe  can  add  anything 
to  the  name  he  has  left  behind,  but  one  given  only  that  we  may  show 
that  we  esteem  his  life  and  character  as  having  been  of  the  first  im- 
portance as  a  representative  citizen  of  Randolph  county.  Joseph  Mil- 
ler Hammett  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ky.,  December  25,  1809. 
His  father,  Elijah  Hammett,  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  in  which 
State  the  ancestry  of  the  family  have  been  settled  since  long  prior  to 
the  Revolution.  The  mother,  before  her  marriage,  was  a  Miss  Mary 
Snodgrass,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  in  which  State  they  were  married, 
Elijah  Hammett  having  come  out  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents  when 
quite  young.  The  mother  was  a  daughter  of  David  Snodgrass,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Warren  county,  Ky.,  and  a  leading  man  in  the 
official  and  military  affairs  in  that  section  of  the  State.  Joseph  M. 
Hammett  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  in  Warren  county,  up  to 
the  age  of  16,  when,  in  1826,  the  family  removed  to  Missouri  and 
located,  first,  in  Howard  county,  but  two  years  later  came  to  Randolph 
county,  where  the  parents  made  their  home.  Here  the  father  entered 
land,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  son,  Joseph  M.,  improved  a  farm 
on  which  the  former  lived  for  many  years.  He  died,  however,  at 
Waco,  Tex.,  in  1857,  having  gone  to  that  State  on  a  visit.  The 
mother  died  in  this  county  in  1843.  Joseph  M.  was  the  only  son  in 
their  family  of  five  children,  the  daughters  being  Mary,  Rebecca, 
Martha  and  Louisa,  two  of  whom  only  are  living  —  Martha  and  Louisa, 
who  are  married  and  are  residents  of  Texas.  Joseph  M.  Hammett 
remained  on  the  farm,  some  three  miles  north-west  of  Huntsville, 
until  after  he  had  completed  his  majority.  His  education,  so  far  as 
school  instruction  is  concerned,  was  limited  to  that  afforded  in  the  log 
school  houses  of  the  period.  But  inheriting  a  vigorous  physical  con- 
stitution, which  the  manner  of  his  rearing  tended  greatly  to  strengthen 
(for  he  was  brought  up  to  the  labors  of  pioneer  life),  he  at  the  same 
time  was  possessed  from  youth  of  a  marked  taste  for  mental  culture, 
and  as  years  advanced,  by  study  at  home  and  general  reading,  he 
acquired  even  a  wider  range  of  useful  knowledge  than  is  to  be  had 
from  the  ordinary  college  course.  Favored  with  good  natural  ability, 
his  habit  of  learning  all  that  could  be  acquired  by  his  opportunities 
resulted  in  making  him  not  only  a  thoroughly  capable  business  man, 
so  far  as  business  rules  and  principles  are  concerned,  but  also  a  citi- 
zen of  superior  general  intelligence   and   information.     Reared  on  a 


I 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  471 

farm,  that  very  naturally  became  his  calling  in  early  manhood,  and 
although  in  after  years  he  became  quite  successful  in  other  pursuits, 
it  was  in  agriculture,  farming  and  handling  stock  that  he  achieved  his 
greatest  success.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1830,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Millsapp,  of  Randolph  county,  a  lady  of  singular  excel- 
lence of  character  and  amiability.  Before  his  marriage  Mr.  Haramett 
had  begun  life  for  himself,  and  he  now  went  to  work  with  redoubled 
energy  and  perseverance  to  establish  himself  comfortably  as  a  farmer 
and  citizen.  Industry  and  good  management  steadily  prospered  him, 
and  in  time  he  took  a  leading  position  among  the  agriculturists  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  Before  the  war  he  dealt  quite  extensively  in 
stock,  mainly  mules  and  horses,  and  even  after  the  war  he  con- 
tinued the  stock  business,  but  handled  cattle  principally.  He  was  also 
largely  interested  in  real  estate,  and  dealt  extensively  in  land.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  over  6,000  acres  in  Randolph,  Macon 
and  Chariton  counties.  When  it  was  proposed  to  construct  the  North 
Missouri  Railroad  he  was  one  of  the  most  earnest  and  active  friends 
of  the  enterprise  in  the  county,  and  contributed  very  materially  to  the 
location  of  the  road  through  the  center  of  Randolph  county,  or  rather 
so  that  it  became  tributary  to  Huntsville.  Always  zealous  in  the 
cause  of  education,  he  took  a  leading  part  in  the  establishment  of 
Mount  Pleasant  College,  and  up  to  the  day  of  his  death  viewed  its 
welfare  and  prosperity  with  earnest  solicitude.  In  short,  as  has  been 
said,  no  man  in  this  part  of  the  county  went  before  him  in  aid  of 
movements  for  the  best  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 
A  large  stockholder  in  the  Huntsville  Savings  Bank,  he  was  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  the  president  of  that  institution,  and  it  was  his  well- 
known  character  and  business  ability  that  contributed  in  an  important 
measure  to  give  that  institution  the  high  reputation  it  enjoys  in  finan- 
cial and  business  circles  and  with  the  public  at  large.  Indeed,  it 
seems  that  in  every  movement  and  enterprise  with  which  he  identified 
himself,  he  jnfused  new  life  and  energy,  and  that  he  made  its  success 
doubly  sure.  Looking  back  over  his  past  and  considering  what  he 
accomplished,  and  in  view  of  his  advantages  and  opportunities,  it  must 
strike  the  most  casual  observer  that  he  was  a  man  of  talents  and  ener- 
gies of  a  high  order.  Who  can  question  that  with  such  qualities  of 
head  and  heart  as  he  possessed,  and  with  such  energy  and  resolution, 
in  more  favorable  circumstances  he  would  have  risen  to  more  than  or- 
dinary distinction  among  his  fellow-men?  But  he  was  not  a  man  am- 
bitious of  fame.  He  sought  rather  to  lead  a  life  useful  and  just,  and 
to  accumulate  by  honest  methods  a  competency  for  himself  and  some- 
thing for  those  who  were  to  bear  his  name  and  come  after  him,  while 
making  his  life  valuable  to  the  community  in  which  he  lived  at  the 
same  time.  And  if  a  respectable  measure  of  wealth  came  to  him,  it 
came  to  him  as  a  result  alone  of  his  untiring  industry,  his  intelligence, 
and  his  sober,  frugal  manner  of  living,  ancT  not  by  unjustly  depriving 
any  man  of  a  feather's  value.  For  public  office  he  had  no  ambition, 
preferring  to  lead  a  quiet,  active  life  as  a  private  citizen  ;   and  aside 

25 


472  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

from  a  short  period  in  the  Bhick  Hawk  War  and  a  number  of  years 
in  the  city  council  of  Huntsville,  to  the  hitter  of  which  he  consented 
only  as  a  matter  of  kindness  to  his  neighbors  and  friends,  he  was 
never  identified  with  the  public  service.  Yet  he  always  took  an  intel- 
ligent interest  in  public  affairs,  and  ever  threw  his  ballot  and  influ- 
ence for  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  best  interests  of  the  community, 
the  county  and  the  whole  country.  Joseph  M.  Hammett  was  a  typical 
private  citizen,  a  valued  neighbor  and  an  inestimable  friend,  and  as 
such  his  name  and  life  are  worthy  of  all  remembrance.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1864.  To  the  good  woman  who  now  survives  him  as  his  widow 
he  was  married  February  20,  1866.  She,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage 
to  him,  was  a  Mrs.  Amanda  LaFon,  the  widow  of  a  Mr.  LaFon,  of 
this  county.  Of  his  first  family  of  children  there  are  five  living: 
Francis  Marion,  president  of  the  banking  house  of  J.  M.  Hammett  & 
Co.  ;  James  W.,  a  prominent  stock-dealer  of  the  county;  Benjamin 
F.,  a  prominent  real  estate  dealer  of  St.  Louis  ;  Charles  H.,  cashier 
of  the  banking  house  of  J.  M.  Hammett  &  Co.  ;  and  Jefferson  D., 
still  at  home  on  the  old  Hammett  homestead  near  Huntsville.  The 
father  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  :ind 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  pillars  of  his  church  at  this  place.  His 
life  from  its  morning  until  its  sun  was  forever  set  was  unclouded  by  a 
just  reproach,  and  his  name  goes  down  in  the  "  History  of  Randolph 
County  "  as  one  of  the  worthiest  and  best  citizens  of  the  county. 

FRANCIS  M.  HAMMETT 

(President  of  the  Banking  House  of  J.  M.  Hammett  &  Co.,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Hammett,  as  shown  by  the  sketch  of  his  father,  which  precedes 
this,  was  the  eldest  in  his  father's  family  of  children,  and  was  born  on 
the  old  Hammett  homestead  near  Huntsville  on  the  19th  of  August, 
1831.  He  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  to  know,  all  about  hard 
work  by  experience  ;  but,  naturally  of  industrious  habits,  this  was  not 
as  distasteful  to  him  as  it  otherwise  might  have  been,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  had  the  effect  to  develop  physical  strength  and  insure  him 
a  good  constitution  well  fitted  for  the  activities  of  life.  Colleges  had 
not  been  founded  here  when  he  (!ame  up,  and  he  therefore  had  to  rely 
on  the  neighbf)rhood  schools  for  instruction  and  on  study  at  home. 
Inheriting  his  father's  taste,  however,  for  books,  notwithstanding  the 
limited  extent  of  his  school  advantages,  he  early  succeeded  in  acquir- 
ing a  more  than  average  common  English  education  for  that  time, 
principally  by  self-culture  or  study  at  home.  He  commenced  in  the 
world  for- himself  as  a  school  teacher,  and  being  a  young  man  of 
industry  and  practical  ideas,  as  well  as  of  good  education,  he  became 
quite  successful  and  popular  as  a  teacher.  He  spent  a  great  deal  of 
his  time  as  purchasing  agent  for  buyers  of  stock  and  tobacco  outside 
of  the  county,  and  thus  became  generally  acquainted  with  the  people 
of  the  adjoining  counties,  as  well  as  making  some  money.  He  was 
soon  able  to  buy  stock  on  his  own  account,  and  he  was  generally  suc- 
cessful in  his  stock  transactions.     In  1850  he,  like  thousands  of  others 


\ 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  473 

in  Missouri  and  everywhere  else,  was  taken  with  the  California  fever 
and  made  a  trip  to  the  golden  shores  of  the  Pacific.  He  was  in 
California  for  about  a  year,  eno;;iged  principally  in  mining,  and,  as  in 
everything  else,  he  was  satisfactorily  successful  out  there.  Returning 
home,  however,  he  resumed  the  stock  business  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. From  that  time  to  this  he  has  been  interested  in  these  industries, 
and,  as  the  mantle  of  the  father  falls  to  the  son,  so  he,  like  his  father, 
has  come  to  the  front  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  in  everything 
else  to  which  he  has  turned  his  attention.  He  is  now  one  of  the  largest 
land  holders  in  the  county,  and  his  homestead  of  750  acres  is  without 
a  superior  as  a  grain  and  stock  farm  in  the  county.  It  is  a  handsomely 
improved  place,  well  arranged  with  regard  to  fields  and  pastures,  and 
the  buildings  are  commodious  and  tastily  constructed.  Everything 
about  the  place,  in  short,  shows  that  its  proprietor  is  a  modern,  pro- 
gressive agriculturist.  On  his  farms  Mr.  Hanmiett  keep.s  usually 
about  500  head  of  cattle.  He  is  also  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Hammett 
&  Hall,  who  have  large  stock  interests  —  ranches  and  cattle — in 
Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  interests  representing  a  value  of  nearly 
$300,000.  To  these  interests  Charles  H.  Hammett  gives  his  personal 
attention,  going  out  to  look  after  their  affairs  in  the  West  every  few 
months.  Mr.  Hammett  is  also  enoased  in  the  banking  business,  and 
is  president  of  the  banking  house  mentioned  above.  This  is  one  of 
the  leading  banking  institutions  in  the  county,  and  its  reputation  for 
stability  is  without  a  superior  in  this  section  of  the  State.  He  gives 
the  affairs  of  this  institution  his  personal  attention.  He  succeeded 
his  father  in  the  presidency  of  the  bank,  and  is  carrying  it  forward  in 
that  career  of  prosperity  and  popularity  in  business  circles  and  with 
the  public,  in  which  it  has  been  conducted  from  the  beginning.  His 
personal  reputation  as  a  man  of  high  character  and  superior  business 
qualifications  goes  far  to  give  this  institution  the  enviable  standing  it 
has.  Mr.  Hammett  has  made  a  special  study  of  the  banking  busi- 
ness, and,  beins:  a  man  of  sober  iudgment  and  clear  intelliijence,  he 
could  not  fail  of  success  in  this  branch  of  business.  Personally,  the 
same  respect  and  esteem  in  which  his  father  was  held  is  descending 
to  him,  and  already  he  has  the  confidence  and  respectful  consider- 
ation of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a  sociable,  plain,  unassuming 
man,  and  a  man  of  great  solidity  of  character  and  personal  worth. 
On  the  23d  of  November,  1854,  Mr.  Hammett  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  S.  Robertson,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Robertson,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  this  county.  They  have  had  a  family  of  ten  children : 
Joella,  the  wife  of  A.  M.  Ellington;  Benjamin  H.,  William  F., 
assistant  cashier  of  the  bank  ;  Sidney  A.,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Roberts  ; 
Stonie,  James  L.,  now  in  Colorado  on  the  stock  ranch;  John  H., 
Clarence  J.,  Susan  A.  and  Edwin  De  Young,  the  last  three  still 
children  at  home.  Mr.  Hammett  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Hammett  is  one  of  the  public 
spirited  citizens  of  this  part  of  the  county,  and  is  ever  ready  to  assist 
every  enterprise,  material  or  otherwise,  that  promises  well  for  the 
commonwealth. 


474  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


CHARLES  H.  HAMMETT 

(Cashier  of  the  Banking  House  of  J.  M.  Hammett  &  Co.,  Huntsville). 
Mr.  Hammett  has  been  cashier  of  this  well  known  hanking  institu- 
tion since  1876,  and  being  a  thoroughly  qualified  business  man,  both 
generally  and  in  the  banking  business,  and  exceptionally  well  posted 
as  to  the  resources  and  reputation  of  the  people  among  whom  princi- 
pally his  bank  does  business  (having  been  born  and  reared  near 
Huntsville),  he  is  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  successful  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  his  position.  He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  M.  Hammett,  whose 
sketch  precedes  this,  and  when  this  fact  is  stated,  a  great  deal  is  said 
for  his  character  as  a  citizen  and  his  success  as  a  business  man.  Born 
on  the  old  family  homestead,  near  Huntsville,  on  the  30th  of  May, 
1845,  he  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  when  he  came  up,  not  only 
had  good  common  school  advantages,  but  the  benefit  of  a  general 
and  scientific  course  at  Mt.  Pleasant  College.  Nothing  serves  as  well 
to  fix  the  elementary  principles  of  a  common  English  education  in 
one's  mind  as  teaching,  and  with  this  object  in  view  as  much  as  any- 
thing else,  young  Hammett  taught  school  for  nearly  a  year  after  leav- 
ing college.  He  then,  in  keeping  with  habits  and  traditions  with  his 
family,  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  with  which  he  is  still 
prominently  identified.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  1,000  acres  of  land, 
and  deals  in  cattle,  hogs  and  mules  quite  exclusively.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Hall  &  Hammet  Bros.,  which  owns  a  large  ranch 
and  cattle  interests  in  New  Mexico  and  Colorado,  representing  a  value 
of  nearly  $300,000.  Mr.  Hammett  has  charge  of  these  interests,  and 
makes  a  trip  every  few  months  to  the  West  to  look  after  them.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Samuel  &  Hammett,  leading  real  estate 
dealers  of  Huntsville.  He  is  likewise  treasurer  of  the  Building  and 
Loan  Association.  Mr.  Hammett  has  been  entirely  successful  in  all 
his  business  enterprises,  and  while  in  general  affairs  he  is  regarded  ai 
a  man  of  superior  judgment  and  business  qualifications,  it  is  as  a 
financier  that  he  has  won  his  chief  reputation.  He  has  been  cashier  of 
the  banking  house  with  which  he  is  now  connected  for  a  period  of 
about  10  years,  and  while  he  has  never  been  regarded  as  unjustly 
exacting  in  the  matter  of  securities  or  illiberal  in  making  loans,  it 
stands  out  as  a  distinguishing  fact  in  his  record  as  a  banker  that  he 
has  never  made  a  bad  loan  nor  ftiiled  to  collect  a  debt  which  was  con- 
tracted by  him  or  through  his  advice.  There  is  probably  not  another 
cashier  in  the  State  of  Missouri  ©f  whom  this  can  be  said  with  truth. 
He  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  penetration  of  mind,  clear  in  judg- 
ment almost  as  a  cloudless  day,  and  never  acts  in  business  matters  of 
importance,  or  in  any  other  affair  of  moment,  without  first  considering 
all  the  circumstances  connected  with  it  —  what  is  necessary  to  be 
done,  what  effect  his  own  course  will  have,  and  what  the  result  is 
likely  to  be.  In  business  affairs,  and  especially  in  financial  matters, 
his  opinion  is  sought  and  his  judgment  deferred  to  by  many  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  475 

most  intelligent  business  men  of  this  section  of  the  county,  and 
indeed  wherever  he  is  known.  In  the  discharge  of  his  business 
he  is  quick  and  accurate,  and  always  urbane  and  polite,  and  he  is 
liked  hardly  less  for  his  pleasant,  agreeable  manners  than  he  is 
esteemed  for  his  ability  as  a  business  man.  Personally  he  is  quite 
sociable  and,  in  common  Avith  his  brothers,  he  is  plain  and  unassum- 
ing. While  there  is  nothing  light  or  frivolous  in  his  character,  he  is 
at  the  same  time  quite  companionable,  not  to  say  jovial,  when 
free  from  business  cares,  and  is  always  welcomed  in  every  circle 
where  he  is  known.  Amono^  the  bankers  of  the  State  he  has  an 
enviable  reputation,  for  it  is  recognized  by  all  that  he  has  had  not  a 
little  to  do  with  making  the  house  with  which  he  is  now  connected 
the  substantial,  able  financial  institution  which  it  is  conceded  to  be. 
On  the  25th  of  December,  1869,  Mr.  Hammett  was  married  to  Miss 
Fannie  Jackson,  a  daughter  of  Able  Jackson,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Howard  county.  They  have  three  children  :  Ladie  Bell,  Anna  and 
Able  M.     Mrs.  Hammett  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

JAMES  W.  HAMMETT 

(Stock  Dealer,  Farmer,  Merchant,  Real  Estate  Dealer,  Etc.,  Huntsville). 

The  life  of  Joseph  M.  Hammett,  deceased,  father  of  J.  W.  Ham- 
mett, was  one  of  more  than  ordinary  value  to  Randolph  county  in 
many  particulars,  in  material  affairs,  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  and 
otherwise  ;  but  in  no  respect  was  it  of  as  great  value  as  in  the  worthy 
citizens  he  has  left  to  the  county,  who  bear  his  name.  That  one  is  a 
representative  of  this  family  is  sufficient  assurance  to  those  who 
know  the  family  that  he  is  a  worthy  and  valuable  citizen.  And  this 
is  said  not  in  any  spirit  of  flattery,  for  no  people  are  plainer  and  more 
unassuming  than  the  Hammetts,  but  simply  as  a  fact  to  which,  so  far 
as  the  writer  knows,  there  is  not  a  single  exception.  Certainly  the 
subject  of  the  present  sketch  forms  no  exception  to  the  well  known 
character  and  reputation  of  the  family  whose  name  he  bears.  His 
career  has  been  confined  to  the  sphere  of  private  life,  but  has  been 
one  of  great  activity,  singular  good  judgment  and  abundant  success, 
and,  like  his  father,  he  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  county. 
James  W.  Hammett,  the  second  son  of  his  father's  family  of  children, 
was  born  on  the  old  Hammett  homestead,  near  Huntsville,  January  1, 
1834,  and  his  youth  was  characterized  by  very  much  the  same  experi- 
ences through  which  his  father  passed.  In  1855,  at  the  age  of  21,  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  and  went  over  into  Macon  county  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  was  never  troubled  with  any  distasteful 
work,  and  entering  upon  the  duties  of  farming  with  energy  and  reso- 
lution, and  being  a  man  of  good  habits  and  an  excellent  manager,  he  of 
course  prospered.  Feeling  the  need  of  a  wife  to  preside  over  his 
home,  which  his  own  industy  had  provided,  and  having  offered  his 
heart  and  hand  to  a  young  lady  eminently  Avorthy  of  both,  on  the  15th 
of  May,  185(3,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Haines,  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Haines,  a  respected  citizen  of  Handolph  county. 


476  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Mr.  Hanimett  continued  fjirniing  in  Macon  county  for  about  14 
years  and  made  a  large  farm  there,  a  place  of  about  400  acres, 
whicli  he  still  owns.  His  place  is  near  Callao,  and  in  1867  he 
engaged  in  merchandising  in  Callao  and  also  dealing  quite  ex- 
tensively in  tobacco,  and  buying  and  selling  real  estate  and 
handling  stock;  in  fact,  since  1867,  and  indeed  since  prior  to 
that  time  he  has  given  his  whole  attention  to  various  lines  of  busi- 
ness, and  has  been  successful  in  all  of  them.  Returning  to  Randolph 
county  later  along,  he  located  on  a  farm  near  Huntsville,  which  he 
owns,  a  farm  of  nearly  400  acres,  where  he  has  continued  farming, 
not  only  carrying  on  this  place,  but  also  superintending  another  farm 
of  nearly  500  acres  in  the  north-western  part  of  the  county  which  he 
owns.  He  is  still  handling  stock  quite  extensively,  including  cattle, 
hoo:s  and  mules,  and  is  engasred  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Hunts- 
ville,  buying,  selling,  trading,  renting,  etc..  farms,  raw  land,  town 
property,  and  other  real  estate,  and  he  himself  owns  some  $10,000 
worth  of  town  property  in  this  city,  including  residences,  business 
houses,  etc.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  J.  M.  Ham- 
mett  &  Sons.  Mr.  Hammett,  as  these  facts  show,  is  one  of  the.  live, 
pushing,  enterprising  men  of  Randolph  county,  and  is  eminently  wor- 
thy to  bear  the  honored  name  he  has  inherited  from  his  father.  In 
every  relation  of  life  he  is  without  reproach.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammett 
have  had  a  family  of  seven  children:  Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  H.  P. 
Hunter;  Betzie  B.,  now  Mrs.  F.  P.  Willey,  of  Moberly,  Randolph 
county  ;  Joseph  P.,  who  has  charge  of  the  500-acre  farm  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  county  ;  James  H.,  Rebecca,  Evan  H.  and  Allie  J. 
Hammett.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammett  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

BENJAMIN  H.  HAMMETT 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  16,  To;ivnship  54,  Range  15,  near  Huntsville). 
The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  as  is  shown  by  the  sketch  of 
his  father,  Francis  M.  Hammett,  which  is  the  one  preceding  this,  is 
the  second  in  his  father's  family  of  children.  He  was  born  on  his 
father's  homestead,  three  miles  north-west  of  Huntsville,  December 
2,  1856,  the  old  family  residence  being  a  half  mile  from  where  Ben- 
jamin H.  now  resides.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  his 
higher  education  at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  but  did  not  continue  until 
his  graduation,  having  quit  the  year  before  that  would  have  occurred. 
On  leaving  college  Mr.  Hammett  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, becoming  a  partner  with  his  uncle,  Benjamin  F.  Hammett, 
with  whom  he  continued  until  1878.  He  then  went  to  Colorado  and 
took  charge  of  the  ranch  in  which  he  had  an  interest  with  his  father. 
He  continued  in  charge  of  the  ranch  out  there  for  three  years.  In 
1881  Mr.  Hammett  returned  to  Randolph  county,  or  rather  in  the 
winter  of  1880-81,  and  the  following  January,  it  being  the  20th  day 
of  the  \nonth,  his  marriage  was  solemnized  with  Miss  Bindie  F. 
Baker,  a  daughter  of  Granville  Baker,  of  this  county.     She  was  born 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  477 

October  11,  1859.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammett  have  one  child,  Christine. 
Durinoj  the  March  foUowiiio;  his  marriao;e  Mr.  Hammett  settled  on  his 

o  or? 

present  farm.  Here  he  has  a  pUice  of  260  acres,  which  is  handsomely 
improved.  Mr.  Hammett  makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising,  and 
also  has  some  fine  thoroughbred  cattle.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Rake  and  Stacker  Manufacturing  Company.  Mr.  Hanmiett  is  a  young 
man  of  energy  and  enterprise  and  has  already  a  neat  start  in  life. 
His  future  will  doubtless  prove  as  worthy  and  successful  as  that  of 
the  others  in  the  county  who  bear  his  name  and  whose  careers  are 
already  well  advanced. 

JAMES    D.  HEAD 

(Deputy  County  Clerk,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Head,  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  who  has  been  officially  con- 
nected with  the  public  aft'airs  of  Randolph  county  more  or  less 
desultorily  for  30  years,  having  held  various  positions  in  the  county, 
including  those  of  county  clerk  and  county  school  commissioner 
among  the  rest,  was  born  in  Huntsville  April  30,  1832,  and  was  a  son 
of  Dr.  Waller  Head,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Huntsville  and  for  many 
years  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  place  and  a  highly  respected 
and  influential  citizen  of  the  county.  Mr.  Head's  mother,  before  her 
marriage,  was  a  Miss  Hardenia  P.  Garth,  a  sister  to  Dabney  C.  Garth, 
an  old  and  prominent  merchant  of  Huntsville.  Both  parents  were 
originally  from  Albemarle  county,  Va.  Dr.  Head  represented  this 
county  in  the  Legislature  and  was  a  member  elect  of  the  State  Con- 
stitutional Convention  of  1845  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
still  comparatively  a  young  man  and  if  he  had  lived  would  doubtless 
have  risen  to  the  first  prominence  in  the  affairs  of  the  State,  for  he 
was  a  man  of  a  high  order  of  ability  and  of  great  personal  magnetism. 
His  widow  is  still  living  and  finds  a  welcome  and  pleasant  home  with 
her  son  James  D.,  the  subject  of. this  sketch.  She  subsequently  be- 
came the  wnfe  of  W.  L.  Boulware,  of  Cooper  county,  who  is  also 
now  deceased.  She  and  her  first  husband  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  James  D.  being  the  fifth.  James  D.  Head  was  reared  in 
Huntsville  and  was  educated  at  the  State  University,  graduating  in 
the  class  of  1850.  He  subsequently  taught  school  for  several  years 
and  was  principal  of  the  school  at  Glasgow  and  afterwards  at  Lafay- 
ette, and  also  later  along  of  the  school  at  Huntsville.  While  teach- 
ing he  studied  law  under  Hon.  H.  M.  Porter  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1855.  Mr.  Head  began  the  practice  here  after  his  admission 
and  continued  it  except  when  employed  with  official  duties  outside  of 
the  practice  until  1879.  He  was  county  school  commissioner  for  six 
years  following  1854  and  for  five  years  after  1862  he  was  county 
clerk.  He  has  also  held  the  position  of  deputy  in  the  county  and 
circuit  clerk's  offices  and  is  now  holding  that  position  in  the  county 
clerk's  office.  For  a  short  time  durins:  the  war  he  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Militia,  Union  service,  but  was  never  called  away  per- 
manently from   Huntsville.     Mr.   Head   has  been  a  member  of  the 


478  HISTOEY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Masonic  lodge  for  nearly  30  years.  Personally,  he  is  a  man  of 
irreproachable  character  and  justly  popular  in  the  county.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  capable  and  efficient  clerks  the  county  ever  had,  and  his 
services  have  come  to  be  regarded  as  almost  indispensible  to  the 
public  service. 

BENJAMIN  F.  HE  AXON 

(^Piincipal  of  the  Public  Schools,  Huntsville). 

Prof.  Heaton,  a  gentleman  of  advanced  and  thorough  education  and 
an  educator  of  some  13  years'  experience,  is  a  native  of  the  Old  Domin- 
ion, born  in  Rappahannock  county.  May  12,  1850.  The  Heatons 
are  representatives  of  the  better  class  of  people  in  Rappahannock 
county,  and  Prof.  Beaton's  parents  were  no  exceptions  to  the  others 
of  their  name  in  the  county.  His  father  was  a  well-to-do  and  intelli- 
gent farmer  and  occupied  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  those  among 
whom  he  lived.  He  is  deceased  now,  but  his  wife  still  survives,  and 
is  on  her  old  family  homestead  in  Rappahannock  county.  Benjamin 
F.  was  reared  in  that  county  to  the  age  of  17,  his  youth  up  to  that 
time  being  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  the  schools  of  the  county.  At 
an  early  age  he  showed  an  ambition  for  the  acquisition  of  an  educa- 
tion and  in  boyhood  and  early  youth  was  more  than  ordinarily  atten- 
tive to  his  studies.  Thouo:h  his  advantasres  were  those  of  the  average 
youth  of  the  vicinity,  he  made  much  more  rapid  progress  at  school 
than  most  of  his  associates  and  was  soon  fitted  for  college,  for  it  had  k)ng 
been  the  dream  of  his  life  to  acquire  a  collegiate  education.  His 
father  being  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  warm  paternal  affection,  and 
of  liberal  ideas  with  reg-ard  to  education,  and  havinsf  the  intelligence 
to  perceive  that  his  son  might  accomplish  something  more  in  the  world 
than  the  common  lot  of  boys,  if  he  should  have  proper  advantages, 
resolved  to  give  him  the  benefit  of  a  course  at  college,  and  accordingly 
young  Heaton  was  sent  to  Indiana  where  he  matriculated  at  the  Oxford 
Academy  of  Sciences  in  Oxford,  of  that  State,  where  relatives  of  the 
family  were  residini*;.  Youns;  Heaton  took  a  thorouo;h  course  at  Ox- 
ford,  continuing  a  student  in  that  institution  for  four  years.  He  grad- 
uated in  1872  with  marked  distinction,  and  in  the  same  class  in  which 
Hon.  Arnett  Owen  graduated,  who  subsequently  became  a  U.  S.  district 
judge  in  New  Mexico,  but  is  now  deceased.  Immediately  after  his 
graduation,  such  was  the  high  esteem  in  which  Prof.  Heaton  was  held, 
both  personally  and  as  a  scholar,  by  the  faculty  of  his  Alma  Mater, 
that  he  was  tendered  the  chair  of  mathemathics  and  philosophy  in 
that  institution,  which  he  accepted  and  occupied  with  distinguished 
ability  and  success  for  two  terms.  He  was  then  offered  the  position  of 
principal  of  the  public  schools  at  Boswell,  Ind.,  at  a  flattering  salary, 
and  accordingly,  taking  charge  of  those  schools,  he  remained  at  their 
head  five  years,  and  brought  them  to  a  high  state  of  efficiency.  In 
1877  he  took  charge  of  the  public  schools  .of  Fowler,  in  Benton 
county,  and  was  soon  elected  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  the 
county,   a  position  he  filled  for  four  years  and  until  1879,  when  he 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.*  479 

came  to  Missouri,  having  decided  to  cast  his  fortune  with  this  State. 
Here  he  first  located  at  Moberly,  and  was  given  charge  of  the  High 
School  at  that  place,  which  he  conducted  for  two  terms,  and  in  1882 
was  elected  principal  of  the  public  schools  at  this  place  —  Huntsville. 
Prof.  Heaton's  career  as  an  educator  has  been  characterized  by  suc- 
cess from  the  l)eginning.  A  teacher  by  profession,  he  adopted  this  as 
his  calling  in  life  from  choice,  and  in  preference  to  all  others,  believing 
it  to  be  the  field  of  the  greatest  usefulness  and  the  one  eminently 
worthy  the  ambition  and  activities  of  any  man  who  has  a  proper  ap- 
preciation of  the  conditions  and  responsibilities  of  life.  It  is  to  edu- 
cation that  the  world  must  look  for  the  conservation  of  the  best 
interests  of  society  and  the  future  of  humanity.  It  is  by  the  mind 
that  we  see  our  way  through  life,  the  path  that  not  only  leads  us 
through  this  transitory  world,  but  that  marks  the  journey  on  to  Heaven. 
If  then,  education  tends  to  improve  and  brighten  the  mind,  what  higher 
interest  can  mankind  have  at  stake  than  the  cause  of  general  educa- 
tion? And  he,  who  contributes  to  the  promotion  of  the  cause  by  de- 
voting his  whole  life  to  the  work  of  instructing  the  young,  renders  a 
service  to  his  fellow-men  of  the  highest  value.  Thus  Prof.  Heaton 
looks  at  it,  and  viewing  it  in  this  light  he  has  entered  upon  and  pur- 
sued his  great  life-work  with  that  earnestness,  perseverance  and  zeal 
which  could  not  fail  of  carrying  him  forward  to  a  high  place  in  his 
profession.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  is  one  of  the  most  thor- 
ough and  successful  educators  connected  with  the  public  schools  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  He  is  a  man  of  clear,  practical  ideas,  wide 
general  information,  anindustrious  studentand  an  indefatigable  teacher  ; 
and  he  is  singularly  fortunate  in  the  ability  he  possesses  to  impress 
upon  the  minds  of  his  pupils  with  ease  and  great  pleasure  to  them  the 
information  he  desires  to  impart.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important 
secrets  of  his  success.  His  services  have  been  of  great  value  to  the 
people  of  Huntsville,  not  only  in  the  practical  instruction  of  the 
young,  but  in  bringing  their  public  schools  to  that  plane  of  eflSiciency 
and  success  to  which  he  has  advanced  them.  On  the  31st  of  July, 
1873,  Prof.  Heaton  was  married  to  Miss  Olive  A.  Stingle,an  accom- 
plished daughter  of  Edward  Stingle,  of  Eandolph  county.  Mo.  They 
have  one  child,  Laura  Belle.  Mrs.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  the  Professor  professed  faith  in  the  Baptist  Church,  but 
was  never  baptized  on  account  of  the  congregation  being  broken  up 
by  the  excitement  incident  to  the  war,  the  church-house  having  been 
completely  wrecked.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
Kniglits  of  Honor. 

JOHN  A.  HEETHER 

(Of  J.  S.  Robertson  &Co.,  Grocers,  Huntsville). 

Among  the  prominent  and  enterprising  young  business  men  of  this 
city  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  justly  occupies  an  enviable  posi- 
tion. He  comes  of  an  old  and  excellent  family  of  Randolph  county, 
and  has  had  good  advantages  to  fit  himself  for  a  successful  business 


480  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

life.  Mr.  Heether  was  born  in  Huntsville,  May  1,  1851,  and  is  a  son 
of  Lewis  (originally  of  Germany)  and  Catherine  (Artman)  Heether, 
the  latter  formerly  from  Kentucky.  He  was  reared  in  this  place,  and 
his  early  years  from  boyhood  were  spent  in  the  local  schools  and  in 
assisting  in  his  father's  grocery  store.  Later  along  he  took  a  course 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  and  in  1871  obtained  a  situation  on  the 
Wabash  Railroad  as  U.  S.  express  messenger  between  Kansas  City 
and  St.  Louis,  in  which  he  continued  for  over  two  years,  being  also 
during  a  part  of  that  time  on  the  Missouri  Pacific  in  the  same  capacity. 
In  1873  he  left  the  road  and  began  clerking  for  W.  T.  Jackson  at 
Huntsville,  and  afterwards  for  J.  B.  Carney.  He  continued  clerking 
until  1875,  when,  being  in  a  situation  to  engage  in  business  for 
himself,  he  established  a  store  on  his  own  account.  Mr,  Heether 
carried  on  his  store  until  1880,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the 
mule  trade,  buying  and  shipping  quite  extensively  to  St.  Louis. 
He  also  in  a  little  while  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  J.  S.  Robert- 
son &  Co.,  in  the  grocery  and  queen's-ware  trade,  in  which  he  has 
since  continued.  They  have  one  of  the  leading  houses  in  their  line 
at  Huntsville,  and  carry  an  exceptionally  large  and  well  selected  *stock 
of  goods.  Both  men  are  of  good  means  and  excellent  business  quali- 
fications, and  are  very  popular  wherever  they  are  known  for  their 
recognized  integrity  of  character,  accommodating  disposition  and 
agreeable  manners.  They  will  occupy  a  leading  position  in  the  busi- 
ness affairs  of  Huntsville  as  long  as  they  desire  to  continue  identified 
with  its  trade.  Mr.  Heether  was  married  January  31,  1874,  to  Miss 
Maria,  a  daughter  of  Judge  George  H.  Burckhartt.  Mrs.  Heether, 
coming  of  one  of  the  best  families  in  the  county,  is  herself  a  lady  of 
rare  personal  worth  and  superior  charms  of  manners  and  conversa- 
tion. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heether  are  esteemed  members  of  the  best 
society  at  Huntsville.  They  have  three  children  :  Franklin  Hobbs, 
Paul  Oliver  and  Adam  Smith.  Mrs.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  Mr.  H.  is  Grand  Foreman  of  the  United  Workmen  order, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  of  the  Masonic  order. 
He  is  a  young  man  of  fine  intelligence,  good  education,  and  the  best 
of  business  qualifications.  Active,  upright  and  enterprising,  with 
the  excellent  start  he  already  has  in  life,  his  future  seems  one  of  more 
than  ordinary  promise. 

HENRY  AND  THOMAS  B.  HERNDON, 

(Business  Men,  Huntsville). 
Every  one  who  knows  anything  about  the  people  of  Randolph 
county  is  familiar  with  the  life  of  the  father  of  these  gentlemen.  Dr. 
Bertley  P.  Herndon,  deceased,  late  of  this  place.  He  practiced  med- 
icine at  Huntsville  for  45  years,  without  interruption  and  until  his 
death  in  1880,  at  an  advanced  old  age,  thus  illustrating  the  distich  in 
Cymbeline :  — 

"By  medicine  life  may  be  prolonged,  yet  death 
Will  seize  the  doctors  too." 


HISTOEY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  481 

He  was  a  skillful  and  successful  physician,  a  man  of  fine  intelligence 
and  wide  information,  an  upright  citizen  and  an  esteemed  neighbor  and 
friend.  No  citizen  of  Huntsville  was  ever  more  generally  and  sin- 
cerely respected,  and  the  news  of  his  death  was  received  by  all  who 
knew  him  with  universal  sorrow.  He  was  from  Albemarle  county, 
Va.,  born  in  1806,  and  came,  to  this  county  in  about  1830.  His 
wife,  before  her  marriage,  was  Miss  Margaret  Belsher,  of  Huntsville, 
who  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  51.  She  was  originally  of  Ken- 
tucky. They  had  five  children:  AdeliaW.,  now  the  wife  of  W.  C. 
Davis,  of  St.  Louis  ;  Henry,  Bertley  P.,  of  Schuyler  county  ;  Thomas 
B.  and  Mattie,  /emme  libre  of  St.  Louis,  who  resides  with  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Davis.  Henry  and  Thomas  B.  Herndon  were  born  at  Hunts- 
ville, respectively,  February  7,  1851,  and  July  10,  1854.  Both  were 
reared  here  and  educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant  College.  Henry  has  been 
in  business  at  Huntsville,  and  is  now  retail  liquor  dealer  at  this  place, 
having  a  good  trade  and  is  doing  quite  well.  He  is  an  intelligent, 
worthy  citizen  and  is  well  respected.  About  the  worst  thing  that 
can  be  said  of  him  is  that  he  is  not  married,  for  every  good  man 
owes  his  aff'ections  and  a  comfortable  support  to  some  worthy,  good 
woman.  Thomas  B.  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  here  up 
to  1882,  when  he  went  to  Sumner  and  embarked  in  the  drug  business. 
On  the  22d  of  September,  1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Cynthia 
Amerman  of  Lewis  county. 

MOSES   HEYMANN 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Heymann  is  a  worthy  representative  of  that  large  class  of  foreign- 
born  citizens  who  have  come  to  this  country  and  done  much  to  augment 
its  prosperity  in  trade,  commerce,  manufactures,  agriculture,  and,  in- 
deed, in  every  department  of  human  energy  and  thrift.  Native-born 
Americans,  reared  amid  the  multiplied  advantages  which  this  country 
a,fi^brds  for  successful  careers  and  for  the  accumulation  of  wealth,  often 
fail  to  appreciate  the  abundant  opportunities  everywhere  about  them, 
and  in  not  a  few  instances  fail  to  benefit  by  them.  But  let  the  intel- 
ligent foreigner  come  here  from  a  countiy  less  favored  than  ours,  more 
thickly  populated,  and  where  competition  is  much  greater,  and  in  a 
little  while  he  will  be  well  advanced  on  the  high  road  to  success.  This 
fact  is  illustrated  by  the  careers  of  our  foreign-born  citizens  in  almost 
every  community,  and  by  the  careers  of  few  more  forcibly  than  by 
that  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Heymann  was  born  in  Kirchburg,  July  24, 
1839,  and  was  reared  in  his  native  country  up  to  the  age  of  18, 
during  which  time  he  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  as  required 
there,  receiving  a  diploma  for  skill  and  proficiency.  Li  1857  he 
came  to  America  and  was  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  for  a  year.  From 
Pittsburg  he  came  to  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  and  began  here  as  a 
peddler.  From  that  time  to  this,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  ab- 
sence, he  has  been  a  resident  of  Randolph  county.  In  1865  he  opened 
a  store  at  Huntsville  and  has  since  been  ensfaged  in  merchandising  at 


482  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

this  place.  Mr.  Heymann  has  built  up  one  of  the  largest  mercantile 
establishments  at  Huntsville,  and  keeps  employed  in  his  store  contin- 
ually four  or  five  men.  He  does  an  annual  cash  business  of  over 
$30,000,  and  his  trade  is  increasing  from  year  to  year.  Such  a  record 
as  this  speaks  its  own  eulogy,  and  nothing  could  be  said  to  the  credit 
of  him  who  has  made  it  greater  than  it  implies.  Fair  dealing,  and 
treating  everybody  respectfully  and  with  accommodation  have  made 
him  not  only  a  successful  merchant,  but  esteemed  and  popular  as  a 
man  and  citizen.  On  the  7th  of  May,  1863,  Mr.  Heymann  was 
married  in  St.  Louis  to  Miss  Emily  Schweich,  of  Trier  on  the  Moselle, 
in  France.  Mrs.  Heymann  was  born  December  3,  1839,  and  came  to 
America  in  1858.  They  have  eight  children  :  Carrie,  Dora,  Gustave, 
Otelia,  Bertha,  Gertrude,  Charlotte  and  Julius.  Mr.  Heymann  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  since  1861,  and  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  For  13  years  he  has  been  secretary 
to  the  school  board  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  Huntsville  Gas  Light  Company,  and  a  member  of  the 
Building  and  Loan  Association. 

NEAL  HOLMAN 

(Of  Holman  &  Payne,  Dealers  in  Hardware,  etc.,  etc.,  Huntsville), 

Mr.  Holman's  father,  John  Holman  (who  was  a  brave  soldier  in 
the  Black  Hawk  War),  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Randolph  county 
and  gave  the  name  to  Silver  creek  which  it  still  bears.  He  was  mar- 
ried here  to  Miss  Eliza  Murphy,  a  daughter  of  Neal  Murphy,  another 
pioneer  settler  of  the  county.  Both  the  father  and  maternal  grand- 
father were  originally  from  Kentucky.  Neal  Holman  was  the  fourth 
in  the  family  of  his  parent's  children  and  was  born  on  Silver  creek, 
October  7,  1841,  and  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed in  the  State  Guard  and  followed  the  flag  of  the  South  for  12 
months,  during  which  he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Boonville,  Lex- 
ington, Pea  Ridge,  and  numerous  other  engagements  of  less  import- 
ance. He  then  became  separated  from  the  army  and  being  unable  to 
rejoin  it,  on  account  of  intervening  federal  forces,  crossed  over  into 
Illinois,  and  remained  there  as  a  refugee  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
While  in  Illinois  he  took  up  the  carpenter's  trade  and  learned  it  and 
continued  to  work  at  it  until  eight  or  nine  years  ago.  In  1872  he 
went  to  California  and  was  absent  on  the  Pacific  coast  a  year.  Except 
during  that  time  he  has  been  in  this  county  ever  since  the  war. 
Durins:  most  of  the  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  in  connec 
tion  with  carpentering.  In  January,  1882,  he  became  a  partner  with 
Mr.  F.  T.  Payne  in  the  hardware  business,  and  they  have  since  con- 
ducted the  business  together.  They  have  one  of  the  best  hardware 
stores  at  Huntsville,  having  an  unusually  well  selected  stock  in  their 
line  and  they  are  doing  a  large  and  steadily  increasing  business. 
They  are  both  men  of  character  and  deal  fairly  with  their  customers, 
having  uniform  prices,  and  they  sell  at  figures  as  low  as  the  state  of 
the  market  will  allow,  and  hence  while  it  has  become  known  that  they 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  483 

keep  the  best  class  of  goods,  it  is  equally  well  known  that  their  prices 
are  reasonable  and  fair.  On  the  24th  of  December,  1868,  Mr.  Hol- 
man  was  married  to  Miss  Augusta  Belsher  a  daughter  of  Milton  Bel- 
sher  of  this  county.  They  have  five  children  :  Ada  M. ,  Willie,  Russell, 
Jackson  and  Ethel.  Mr.  Holman  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Rake  and 
Stacker  Company.  He  also  has  a  good  farm  of  about  a  quarter  section 
of  land  a  couple  of  miles  from  town.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

JOHN  R.  HULL 

(Attorney  at  Law  and  Judse  of  the  Probate  Court,  Huntsville). 

In  preparing  a  biographical  conspectus  of  Randolph  county  to 
accompany  the  general  history  of  the  county  ,it  would  be  an  omission 
to  be  regretted,  both  by  the  publishers  and  by  the  public,  not  to  in- 
clude a  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  worthy  citizen  whose  name  stands  at 
the  head  of  this  brief  statement  of  facts.  Judge  Hull  is  a  plain,  un- 
assuming gentleman,  of  much  worth  and  greater  modesty,  who  has 
long  and  usefully  been  identified  with  the  county  ;  a  good  lawyer,  a 
faithful  and  capable  official,  and  an  upright  and  valuable  citizen.  This 
much  is  said  of  him  in  frankness  and  candor,  for  if  his  name  is  to  be 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  county  at  all,  not  less  could  be  said  with 
truth.  He  has  no  desire  to  see  his  name  in  print,  for  he  is  the  last 
man  that  would  consent  to  be  paraded  before  the  public  or  to  cut  a 
figure,  and  the  greatest  difficulty  we  have  in  preparing  this  sketch  is  to 
so  word  it  that  it  will  not  be  objectionable  to  his  sense  of  the  fitness  of 
things.  Judge  Hull  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  August  31,  1831, 
and  his  family,  a  highly  respectable  one,  had  been  settled  in  that  State 
or  colony  for  100  years  prior  to  the  Revolution.  His  father,  John 
Hull,  was  born  ancl  reared  in  Northumberland  county,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  E.  Ball,  was  of  the  same  county. 
Judge  Hull's  parents  died  while  he  was  still  in  childhood,  and  but  one 
other  of  the  family  is  now  living,  Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  James  W.  Ball, 
of  Carroll  county.  The  Judge  was  reared  by  his  uncle,  R.  H.  Ball,  a 
successful  school  teacher  of  Northumberland  county,  by  whom  the 
nephew  was  given  a  well  grounded  and  thorough  common  English  and 
classical  education.  At  the  age  of  18  vouns^  Hull  began  the  study  of 
law  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  under  an  able  lawyer  of  that  city,  Hon.  St. 
George  W.  Teackle.  Continuing  study  at  Baltimore  until  1852,  or  for 
a  period  of  three  years,  by  which  time  he  had  reached  his  majority,  he 
was  then  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  remained  in  Baltimore  until  1854, 
when  he  located  at  Huntsville,  Mo.,  where  he  has  since  resided 
and  been  engaged  in  the  practice.  He  married  here  on  the  14th  of 
October,  1858.  Miss  Josephine  Ball,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Martha  K.  Ball,  became  his  wife.  She  survived,  however,  less  than  a 
year,  dying  August  18,  1859.  December  7,  1873,  he  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Lou.  J.  Horner,  widow  of  James  S.  Horner,  and  a  daughter  of 
Noah  Kingsbury,  of  the  well  known  Kingsbury  family,  of  Howard 
county,  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  in  that  county.  She  has 
two  children  by  her  former  marriage :  Laura  S.  and  Lena  P.  Horner. 


484  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

The  Judge  has  no  children  of  his  own.  Judge  Hull  has  always  been 
recognized  as  a  safe,  reliable  lawyer  and  upright  man.  A  man  of 
solid,  substantial,  instead  of  brilliant,  flashy  talents,  he  depends  for 
success  in  his  profession  more  on  industry  in  making  himself 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  law  and  the  facts  of  a  case,  and  presenting 
them  to  judge  or  jury  in  a  clear,  practical,  common  sense  light,  and 
appealing  to  their  judgment  and  intelligence  for  a  favorable  decision, 
than  on  sharp  turns  in  the  practice  and  brilliant  triumphs  as  an  orator. 
He  is  a  forcible,  convincing  speaker,  and  his  high  character  gives  his 
words  more  than  ordinary  weight  with  judge  and  jury.  His  career  as 
a  lawyer  has  been  one  of  satisfactory  success,  and  without  a  blemish, 
Judge  Hull  was  for  two  years  county  attorney  of  Randolph  county, 
and  afterwards  prosecuting  attorney  from  1872  to  1875.  In  1882  he 
was  elected  probate  judge,  and  is  still  serving  in  that  office.  The  fact 
that  he.  was  advanced  to  a  position  in  which  he  has,  to  a  large  extent, 
the  care  of  the  estates  of  widows  and  orphans,  shows  in  what  confidence 
he  is  held  by  the  people  of  the  county.  The  duties  and  responsibili- 
ties of  this  office  he  has  discharged  thus  far  with  singular  efficienc}'- and 
good  judgment,  and  commendation  is  the  opinion  everywhere  ex- 
pressed of  his  career  as  a  judicial  officer.  The  Judge  and  his  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order  for  28  years,  having  filled  every  station  in  the 
local  lodge. 

JOHN  THOMAS  HUNT 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  H.,  an  energetic  farmer  and  worthy  citizen  of  Salt  Spring  town- 
ship, was  a  grandson  of  Daniel  Hunt,  from  whom  the  city  of  Huntsville 
took  its  name,  he  having  settled  on  the  site  of  that  place  away  back 
when  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory  now  included  in  Randolph  county 
could  be  numbered  on  one's  fingers.  He  and  his  brother,  Nathan, 
came  out  from  Kentucky  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  part  of  the 
count}^  and  both  lived  here  until  their  deaths.  In  Daniel  Hunt's 
family  were  two  sons,  William  and  Andrew,  the  first  of  whom  mar- 
ried Miss  Matilda  Turner,  also  originally  from  Kentucky.  Of  this 
union  came  John  Thomas  Hunt,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch, 
who  was  born  on  the  present  site  of  Huntsville,  September  15,  1845. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  as  was  also  his  grandfather, 
but  his  father  went  to  California  during  the  gold  excitement  and  died 
there  in  1849.  He  left  one  other  child  besides  John  Thomas,  Sarah 
M.,  who  is  still  unmarried.  John  Thomas  was  reared  by  his  uncle 
Andrew  and  remained  with  him  until  of  majority.  He  was  brought 
uj)  to  a  farm  life  and  received  a  good  practical  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  Southern  service,  and  was 
under  Capt.  Jack  Baker  most  of  the  time,  the  hitter's  company  be- 
ing a  part  of  Elliott's  brigade.  Remaining  out  until  the  surrender 
at  Shrevejjort,  he  then  returned  to  Randolph  county,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  which  he  has  since  followed.  March  4,  1869,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Cha[)man,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Eliza  J.  (  Barnes) 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  485 

Chapman,  of  this  county,  but  originally  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hunt  have  four  children :  Ella,  Arthur,  Wilnier  and  Lillie.  One  is 
deceased,  John  Forrest  Jackson.  Mr.  Hunt's  farm  contains  200 
acres,  and  he  has  resided  on  his  present  place  for  the  past  seven  years. 
He  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  raising  and 
shipping  cattle,  hogs  and  mules.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  are  members 
of  theM.  E.  Church  South. 

CLIFTON  T.  KERBY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  3,  Townstiip  53,  Range  15,  near  Huntsville) . 

Mr.  Kerby  has  one  of  the  handsomest  farms  in  Salt  Spring  town- 
ship. His  place  contains  over  300  acres  and  is  a  plat  of  land  of  more 
than  ordinary  natural  beauty.  It  is  gently  undulating,  sufficiently 
rolling  for  good  natural  drainage,  but  not  broken  enough  to  cause 
vrashes  by  cultivation  and  heavy  rains.  His  improvements  are  of  a 
character  to  correspond  with  the  natural  beauty  of  his  land.  His 
fences  are  substantial  and  in  excellent  repair  and  his  buildings  are 
neat  and  comfortable,  and  constructed  with  an  eye  to  appearance  only 
less  than  utility  and  durability.  Mr.  Kerby,  as  his  place  shows,  is  a 
progressive,  enterprising  and  successful  farmer.  He  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  Madison  county,  August  10,  1849.  His  parents 
wereE.  P.  and  Elizabeth  E.  (Baker)  Kerby.  When  Clifton  T.  was 
a  lad  10  years  of  age,  they  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Howard 
county,  where  they  lived  for  14  years,  and  then  came  to  Randolph, 
locating  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Huntsville.  The  father  always  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock-raising,  and  Clifton  T.  followed  his  example. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  his  marriage,  which  was  the  22d  of 
February,  1872.  Miss  Cassie  Rutherford  then  became  his  wife.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Sallie  (Adams)  Rutherford,  and  was 
born  in  Randolph  county.  May  26,  1851.  Both  her  parents  are  de- 
ceased. When  she  was  only  five  years  of  age  her  mother  died,  and 
she  was  reared  by  her  grandmother  in  Howard  county.  Her  father 
died  in  1865.  Mr.  Kerby  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  now  resides,  in 
1872.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kerby  have  five  children  :  Joseph,  William, 
George,  James,  and  a  girl,  Lucy.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

THOMAS   B.  KIMBROUGH 

(Attorney  at  Law,  HimtsvilleJ. 

Mr.  Kimbrough  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  nearly  20  years,  or  since  1866,  and  his  life  as  a  law- 
yer is  better  written  in  the  judicial  records  of  the  county  than  it 
could  possibly  be  sketched  here.  A  man  of  untiring  energy,  a  close 
student  and  a  careful  practitioner,  it  is  but  the  truth  to  say  that  he 
has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  safe  and  successful  lawyers  of 
this  circuit,  and  that  he  commands  the  confidence  of  the  pul)lic  not 
only  in  his  profession  but  as  a  man  and  citizen.  As  a  counselor  he  is 
cautious,  discerning  and  safe  ;  in  shaping  the  case  of  his  client  on  the 


486  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

record  —  in  stating  the  facts  on  which  he  relies  tor  the  assertion  or 
the  defeat  of  a  chiiiu  —  he  is  accurate,  painstaking  and  vigihmt ;  and  in 
the  trial  of  a  cause  his  resources  are  almost  inexhaustible  ;   he  lays 
before  the  triers,  whether  court  or  jury,  every  relevant  fact  ascertain- 
able by  legal  evidence.     His  comments  on  the  evidence  are  always 
forcible  and  often  masterly  ;  and  in  the  discussion  of  the   legal    prin- 
ciples  applicable   to   these   facts  he   has  few  if  any  superiors  in  the 
circuit.     Mr,  Kimbrough  was   born  and  reared  in  Randolph  county, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  S.  and   Lucinda  C.  (Hamilton)  Kimbrough, 
his  father  of  North  Carolina,  but  his  mother  of  Kentucky.     They  met 
and  were  married,  however,  in  Randolph  county,  Avhere  they  reared 
their  family  and  lived  until  his  father's  death,  which  occurred  in  1874. 
His  mother  is  still  living.     John  S.  Kimbrough  came  to  Missouri  when 
a  mere  boy  with  his  uncle,  Thomas  Kimbrough.     The  latter  first  came 
to     Tennessee     in     about    1816    from     Surry    county,  N.    C,   when 
the  nephew  was  only  seven   years   of  age.     The   following  year    he 
removed    to    Todd    county,  Ky.,    and    in     1818    came    to    Howard 
county.  Mo.,   but    the    next   year  settled  permanently    in    Randolph 
county.     Here  the  nephew  grew  up  and  was  married,  as  stated  above, 
to  Miss  Lucinda  Hamilton.     Thomas  B,  Kimbrough,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  spent  his  youth  at  home  on  the  farm  of  his  father.     How- 
ever,   when  15    years    of  age    he    went    to    Glasgow   and    attended 
school  for  a  short  time  and  then  began  teaching  near  Renick.     He 
subsequentl}'^  taught  at  other  points  and  later  along  entered  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant Colleo-e  in  which  he  continued  as  a  student  until  his  graduation  in 
1860.     Mr.  Kimbrough  resumed    teaching  after   his  graduation    and 
kept  it  up  for  about  five  years,  during  which  time  he  had  charge  of  a 
number  of  the  best  schools  of  the  county,  including  the  select  school 
at  Roanoke  in  connection  with  Prof.  James  Roan.     In  the  meantime, 
he  had  occupied  his  leisure  to  good  advantage  Avith  the  study  of  the 
law,  and  at  the  March  term  of  the  circuit  court  of  Randolph  county, 
in  1866,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  duly  licensed  to  practice  by 
Judge  Burckhartt.     He  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession and  has  continued  it  from  that  time  forward  without  interrup- 
tion.    In  1876  he  became  a  member  of  the  legal  firm  of  Kimbrough 
&  Terrill,  in  which  he  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time.     This 
firm  has  a  large  practice  and  is  one  of  the  leading  firms  at  the  bar  in 
the  circuit.     Mr.  Kimbrough  has  from  the  beginning  been  thoroughly 
wedded  to  his  profession,  and  aside  from  the  general  interest  he  takes 
in  political  affairs  he  gives  the  law  his  whole  time  and  attention.     A 
man  of  superior  order  of  ability,  he  has  risen  to  his   present  promi- 
nence as  a  lawyer  by  using  his  talents  as  the  successful  farmer  uses  his 
plow  —  industriously  and  patiently,  from  early  morn  until  dewy  eve. 
Mr.  Kimbrough,  though  an  active  participant  in  the  political  affairs  of 
his  county,  has  a  brief  record  as  a  candidate  for  personal  preferment. 
When  a  young  man,  away  back  in  1866,  he  ran  for  county  treasurer 
and  was  defeated  by  his  opponent,  Robert  Gillman,  by  a  small  ma- 
jority, since  which  he  has  had  no  desire  to  engage  again  in  a  canvass 


I 


i 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  487 

for  office,  and  he  has  steadily  refused  to  become  a  candidate  in  any 
circumstances.  An  earnest  Democrat,  however,  he  is  always  anxious 
to  see  the  principles  of  his  party  prevail  at  the  polls.  Being  a  good 
speaker  he  has  been  called  to  take  the  stump  for  his  party  in  Ran- 
dolph and  neighboring  counties  in  every  canvass  which  has  occurred 
for  the  last  ten  years,  a  call  that  he  has  never  declined  ;  and  no  man 
has  contributed  more  materially  to  the  success  of  his  party  in  this 
section  than  he.  Mr.  Kimbrough  is  a  singularly  entertaining  and 
popular  speaker,  and  he  never  fails  to  draw  a  large  gathering  to  hear 
him  whenever  he  is  announced  to  speak.  While  his  arguments  are 
convincing,  he  intersperses  his  remarks  with  well-toned  and  apt  anec- 
dotes, so  that  he  amuses  while  he  instructs,  and  having  much  enthu- 
siasm himself,  he  inspires  his  audience  with  the  same  spirit  and  zeal ; 
and  thus  his  speakings  prove  of  much  practical  value  to  the  party  in 
stimulating  the  people  to  come  out  to  the  polls  and  vote  as  all  good 
men  should  vote  —  the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  Mr.  Kimbrough 
has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  before  her  marriage,  was  a 
Miss  Julia  A.  Roan,  of  Roanoke.  To  her  he  was  married  August  14, 
1862.  She  died  about  eight  years  afterwards,  June  13,  1870.  To  his 
present  wife,  previously  Miss  Carrie  L.  Vroom,  he  was  married  March  4, 
1874.  She  was  previously  a  successful  school  teacher  and  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  public  school  at  Jefi'erson  City.  She  is  a  lady  of  superior 
intelligence  and  excellent  education.  They  have  one  child,  Roscoe  H. 
They  lost  a  little  daughter  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimbrough  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order  for  nearly  20  years.  In  1868  Mr.  Kimbrough  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Mt.  Pleasant  College, 
and  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  board  ever  since  that  time.  He  has 
also  held  the  office  of  city  attorney,  but  without  any  desire  or  solici- 
tation on  his  part.  Mr.  Kimbrough  is  a  relative  to  John  S.  Kimbrough, 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Clinton,  Mo.,  one  of  whose  daughters  is  the 
wife  of  Hon.  Harvey  W.  Salmon,  ex-State  treasurer  and  probably  the 
next  governor  of  Missouri. 

JOHN  P.  KLINK 

(Post-office,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Klink  is  a  Bavarian,  and  the  son  of  Gotlieb  F.  Klink  and  Jacob 
Wena  Wooldridge,  both  natives  of  Bavaria.  He  was  born  April  14, 
1828,  and  lived  in  his  own  country  until  1849.  He  received  a  good 
education  in  his  native  language  and  when  15  years  of  age  began 
to  learn  the  baker's  trade,  and  after  serving  as  apprentice  at  it  for 
three  years  he  traveled  through  Germany,  plying  his  vocation  in  the 
different  cities.  As  at  the  age  of  21  every  young  man  is  required  to 
enter  the  army  and  as  no  minor  is  permitted  to  leave  the  State,  John 
P.  being  on  the  border  line,  slipped  away  and  emigrated  to  the  States. 
After  a  stormy  and  adventurous  trip  across  the  ocean,  he  landed  at 
New  Orleans,  May  8,  1849.  He  first  chose  St.  Louis  as  his  field  of 
future  greatness,  but  after  working  at  his  trade  there  for  18 
26 


488  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

months,  and  at  Boonville  nine  months,  he  went  to  Glasgow  in  1852 
and  started  a  bakery  for  himself.  He  carried  this  on  a  year,  then 
came  to  Randolph  county  and  went  into  business  at  Huntsville.  For- 
tune frowned  upon  his  venture,  and  after  two  months  he  was  burned 
out,  losing  everything  in  the  world  he  possessed,  even  his  clothing. 
He  had  positively  not  a  hat  for  his  head.  Left  thus,  lord  of  himself 
and  naught  beside,  many  men  would  have  given  up  in  despair,  but 
Mr.  Klink  rising  like  a  Phoenix  from  the  flames  and  with  the  timely 
aid  of  a  friend,  started  again  and  after  14  years  of  hard  work  and 
close  attention  to  business,  accumulated  a  nice  property.  His  was 
the  first  bakery  in  Huntsville  and  indeed  in  the  whole  section  of  the 
country.  Mr.  K.  still  owns  this  as  well  as  residence  property  in  the 
town.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  bought  a  farm  already  partially  im- 
proved and  moved  out  to  it.  He  now  has  440  acres  of  land  all  fenced 
and  about  240  acres  cleared  and  improved,  a  nice  one-story  residence, 
ice-house,  stables  and  other  out-buildings,  also  a  thrifty  young  orchard 
of  100  trees,  beside  grapes  and  other  small  fruits  in  quantity  sufficient 
to  supply  himself  and  his  neighbors.  Mr.  Klink  was  married  Febru- 
ary 14,  1855,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  S.,  daughter  of  Robert  Belsher, 
formerly  from  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  have  a  family  of  eight 
children:  Mattie,  Jonathan,  Sylvester,  Louisa,  Emma,  George  W., 
James  F.  and  Mary  Sue.  Mrs.  R.  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church 
while  her  husband  is  inclined  to  the  Lutheran  faith.  He  is  an  ancient 
Odd  Fellow,  and  has  filled  many  of  the  chairs  of  the  order.  As  gold 
tried  by  fire,  Mr.  Klink  has  emerged  from  the  furnace  of  life's  vicis- 
situdes. He  now  occupies  a  position  which  few  men  mid  the 
"changes  and  chances  of  this  mortal  life"  attain. 

JUDGE   ASHLEY  G.  LEA 

(Huntsville). 

An  old  pioneer  citizen  of  Randolph  county,  and  for  many  years  one  of 
its  most  successful  farmers,  now  four  years  past  the  allotted  age  of 
three-score  and  ten.  Judge  L.  is  spending  the  Indian  summer  of  his  life 
comfortably  situated  on  an  excellent  homestead ^  and  in  comparative 
retirement,  favored  with  a  competency  of  this  world's  goods,  blessed 
with  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances,  and 
happy  in  the  love  and  veneration  of  his  own  family.  Having  lived  a 
useful  and  successful  life  and  a  life  upon  which  no  breath  of  reproach 
has  ever  fallen,  and  having  passed  his  days  in  the  consciousness  of  his 
duties  and  responsibilities  here,  and  in  the  full  faith  of  a  life  beyond 
the  grave  —  having  lived  in  accordance  with  the  principles  and  doc- 
trines of  the  Christian  religion,  as  nearly  as  the  weakness  of  flesh  has 
rendered  possible,  and  having  fixed  his  hope  on  the  Redeemer  whom 
he  has  ever  tried  to  serve,  and  in  whom  he  has  ever  trusted  ;  now,  as 
the  shadows  of  the  evening  of  life  begin  to  fall,  he  can  look  back  upon 
the  day  of  his  earthly  career  with  but  few  regrets,  and  forward  to  the 
dawning  of  the  glorious  morning  of  immortality  with  hope  and  faith, 
and  without  fear.     To   have  so  lived  is  to  have  fulfilled  as  nearlv  as 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  489 

commonly  falls  to  the  lot  of  men  the  true  mission  of  mankind  upon 
the  earth.  Ashley  G.  Lea  was  born  in  Caswell  county,  N.  C, 
February  3,  1810.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  State,  and  was 
there  married  on  the  5th  of  September,  1832,  to  Miss  Mary  Matlock, 
a  sister  to  Capt.  Matlock,  of  this  county.  Six  years  afterwards  he  and 
his  wife  came  to  Missouri  with  the  Matlock  family,  and  he  located 
three  miles  west  of  Huntsville  where  he  bought  land  and  improved 
the  farm  which  William  Smith  now  owns,  building  the  brick  residence 
still  on  the  place.  The  place  contained  340  acres  of  land.  Judge 
Lea  removed  to  his  present  place  in  1865.  This  is  situated  a  mile  and 
a  half  south  of  Huntsville  and  contains  230  acres.  He  has  so\d  it, 
however,  to  his  son-in-law,  John  T.  Dameron.  Judge  Lea  was  a 
member  of  the  county  court  for  eight  years,  his  colleagues  having 
been  Judges  Charles  B.  Stewart  and  Joseph  Goodding  and  others. 
Li  1849,  during  the  gold  excitement,  he  went  to  California,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  mining  and  in  the  grocery  trade  for  about  two  vears. 
The  Judge  and  Mrs.  Lea  have  had  a  family  of  five  children  :  James 
M.,  Anavia,  now  Mrs.  John  Henderson,  of  Salisbury,  Mo.  ;  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  George  T.  Malone  ;  Josephine,  now  Mrs.  John  T.  Dam- 
eron ;  and  William  G.,  who  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  residing 
six  miles  north-west  of  Huntsville.  Judge  Lea  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order  40  years.  He  was  road  and  bridge  commis- 
sioner for  six  years  following  1866,  and  was  four  years  justice  of  the 
peace.     He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

John  T.  Dameron  was  born  October  20,  1845,  and  was  a  son  of  Will- 
iam L.  and  Priscilla  (Cravens)  Dameron,  his  mother  being  now  de- 
ceased, but  his  father  is  still  living,  and,  at  the  age  of  65,  finds  a 
pleasant  home  with  his  son.  John  T.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  Avas 
married  to  Miss  Josephine  Lea,  June  10,  1856.  He  subsequently  fol- 
lowed farming  in  this  county,  and  in  1880  bought  his  father-in  law's 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  cattle 
and  hogs.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  State  Guard  under  Capt.  San- 
ders and  was  in  the  battles  of  Lexington,  Dry  Wood  and  less  engage- 
ments, under  Capt.  Sanders.  He  was  subsequently  under  Capt. 
Matlock,  and  while  with  him  was  in  the  battle  at  Pea  Ridge.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  the  end  of  his  service,  but  on  his  way  home 
was  made  a  prisoner  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  by  the  Federals  and 
confined  at  Springfield  for  three  months.  After  this  he  staid  at  home 
until  1864,  when,  his  life  being  threatened  by  the  militia,  he  started 
South  to  join  Price,  but  on  the  way  fell  in  with  Quantrell's  men  with 
whom  he  served  for  three  months.  He  then  made  his  way  to  Illinois, 
and  took  no  further  part  in  the  war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dameron  have 
five  children:  Ashley,  Lutie,  Frank,  John  E.,  Pencie,  and  an  infant. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

RICHARD  EARICKSON  LEWIS 

(Proprietor  of  the  Randolph  Creamery,  and  Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Lewis  is  a  worthy  representative  of  that  old  and  respected  fam- 
ily of  Central  Missouri  whose  name  he  bears.     His  father,  Col.  Ben- 


490  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

jamin  Lewis,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  and  wealthy  men 
of  Howard  county,  and,  indeed,  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the 
State.  He  accumulated  a  large  fortune  in  the  tobacco  business,  and 
was  as  highly  esteemed  for  his  many  estimable  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  as  he  was  eminently  successful  in  the  business  affairs  of  life. 
He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity  and  great  business  ability,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  public-spirited  citizens  in  his  section  of  the  State. 
His  brother,  Maj.  J.  W.  Lewis,  was  also  a  prominent  man  of  the 
State,  and  the  descendants  of  each  occupy  leading  positions  in  busi- 
ness or  agricultural  life  wherever  they  reside.  Col.  Ben  Lewis  was 
for  a  number  of  years  vice-president  of  the  North  Missouri  Railroad, 
and  later  of  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern.  He  is  one  of 
the  leading  railroad  and  business  men  of  St.  Louis.  Richard  E. 
Lewis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Glasgow,  Mo.,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1857,  and  was  principally  reared  in  Howard  county.  He  had 
the  benefit  of  a  thorough  course  of  training  in  the  common  and  inter- 
mediate schools,  and  afterwards  entered  Princeton  College,  of  New 
Jersey,  from  which  he  graduated  with  marked  credit.  Upon  re- 
turnins:  from  coUeo^e  in  1877,  he  located  at  St.  Louis  and  eno;aged  in 
the  coal  and  iron  mining  business  in  which  he  continued  with  success 
for  about  for  years.  In  1881  Mr.  Lewis  decided  to  engage  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  for  which  he  always  had  great  preference,  and  he 
came  to  Randolph  county  and  located  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
Huntsville.  Here  he  has  a  place  of  1,000  acres  and  is  extensively 
engao-ed  in  stock-raising;.  In  the  fall  of  1882,  in  association  with 
others  he  organized  the  Randolph  Creamery  Company,  and  estab- 
lished a  creamery  at  Huntsville  which  now  has  a  capacity  for  2,400 
pounds  of  butter  per  day.  In  connection  with  this,  he  has  his  farm 
stocked  with  milch  cows,  which  afford  a  large  percentage  of  the  cream 
used  by  his  creamery.  Both  in  stock-raising  and  the  creamery  busi- 
ness, Mr.  Lewis  has  been  quite  successful,  considering  the  time  he 
has  been  thus  engaged.  October  20,  1880,  Mr.  Lewis  was  married  to 
Miss  Libbie  N.  Hutchinson,  a  daughter  of  John  Hutchinson,  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Chariton  county.  Mrs.  Lewis  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement  and  presides  over  her  elegant  home  with  rare  grace  and 
dignit3^  She  is  much  esteemed  in  the  best  society  of  Huntsville  and 
vicinity.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  have  two  children  :  Sarah  Eleanor  and 
Christine.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  Mr.  Lewis  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

ALONZO  M.  AND  JOHN  C.  McCRARY 

(Of  McCrary  Bros.,  Grocers,  Huntsville). 
These  young  gentlemen,  both  energetic  and  thoroughly  qualified 
business  men,  are  representatives  of  one  of  the  pioneer  and  highly 
respected  families  of  Howard  county.  Their  grandfather,  Benjamin 
McCrary,  came  to  that  county  from  Tennessee  among  its  first  settlers, 
and  died  there  in  1881  at  the  advanced  age  of  93,  and  on  the  farm 
which   he  opened  when  the  Indian  and  bear  were  still  in  the  county. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  491 

The  father,  John  McCrary,  was  reared  in  Howard  county,  luid  when  a 
young  man  was  married  there  to  Miss  Mariam  Witt,  of  another  old 
and  prominent  family  of  that  county.  He  and  wife  are  still  livinor  on 
their  farm  near  Fayette  and  are  in  well-to-do  circumstances.  The 
SODS,  Alonzo  M.  and  John  C,  were  born,  respectively,  March  15, 
1853,  and  Fel)ruary  2,  1858,  and  were  reared  on  the  farm.  Alonzo 
M.  McCrary  remained  on  the  farm  near  Faj^ette  until  the  fall  of  1880, 
when  he  came  to  Salisbury  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with 
B.  F.  Davis  under  the  firm  name  of  McCrary  &  Davis,  where  he 
remained  until  1882,  when  he  established  his  present  business  at 
Huntsville  with  his  brother,  John  C.  On  the  16th  of  October,  1878, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Ada  Graves,  a  daughter  of  Terry  Graves,  of 
Huntsville.  They  have  one  child,  an  infant.  Floy,  a  daughter,  died 
in  infancy.     His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

John  C.  McCrary  received  his  general  education  at  Central  College 
in  Fayette,  and  in  1882  took  a  course  in  commercial  college,  graduat- 
ing from  Bryant's  Commercial  College  at  St.  Joseph  in  the  spring  of 
1883.  He  then  came  to  Huntsville  and  became  a  partner  with  his 
brother  in  their  present  business  the  same  year.  They  carry  an  excel- 
lent stock  of  groceries  and  are  rapidly  building  up  a  large  trade. 
Both  are  young  men  of  character  and  popular  manners,  and  have 
already  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community. 

BASLEY  W.  MALONE 

(Superintendeat  of  the  Couaty  Eleemosynary  Farm,  near  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Malone  has  had  charge  of  the  county  farm  for  nearly  six  years, 
and  in  that  time,  by  his  industry,  intelligence  and  good  management, 
has  made  it  one  of  the  handsomest  and  best  conducted_^  places  of  its 
kind,  and,  withal,  one  of  the  least  expensive,  the  number  of  inmates 
considered,  in  the  State.  It  is  not  a  common  thing  that  a  man  of  his 
character  and  ability,  capable  of  succeeding  anywhere,  is  found  in 
charge  of  an  eleemosynary  establishment  of  this  kind  ;  not  that  they 
are  not  worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  best  of  men,  for  the  duties  at- 
taching to  them  should  command  the  best  qualities  of  head  and  heart, 
but  that  men  of  enterprise  and  capacity  generally  direct  their  ener- 
gies in  other  lines,  and  in  business  and  industries  partaking  more 
directly  of  individual  interest.  When,  therefore,  one  can  be  found  to 
take  charge  of  a  place  of  this  kind  and  manage  it  as  Mr.  Malone  has 
managed  this  place,  he  is  entitled  only  to  the  more  credit  for  his  ser- 
vices, and  this  has  not  been  refused  him  by  those  who  know  him  and 
are  familiar  with  his  manner  of  carrying  on  the  county  farm.  He 
stands  high  in  public  esteem,  as  does  also  his  excellent  wife  and  fam- 
ily. Mr.  Malone  is  a  native  Randolphian,  born  on  Sweet  Spring 
creek,  March  27,  1831.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Dame- 
ron)  Malone,  came  to  Randolph  county  from  North  Carolina  in 
1829.  The  father  died  here  in  1843,  and  the  mother  four  years  after- 
wards. They  had  a  family  of  11  children,  most  of  whom  are  living, 
and  are  themselves  the  heads  of  families.,   but   Basley  W.  is   a  resi- 


492  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

dent  of  Randolph,  as  is  all  of  the  family,  except  one,  who  lives  in 
Sacramento  City,  Cal.  He  was  reared  to  habits  of  industry,  and  on 
the  29th  of  June,  1854,  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  F.  Collins,  a 
daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Courtney  (Robertson)  Collins.  Her  father 
died  and  her  mother  afterwards  married  Thomas  Jackson,  who  is  also 
now  deceased,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of 
70.  Mr.  Malone  I'^ed  from  the  age  of  14  with  his  uncle,  George  A. 
Mathis,  and  was  ^aged  in  putting  up  tobacco  until  his  marriage. 
He  then  engaged  coopering  at  Mt.  Airy,  and  also  ran  a  blacksmith 
sliop  for  about  i  ^i  years.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Matlock's 
company  of  the  ^Southern  service,  but  was  soon  afterwards  captured 
in  October,  and  kept  in  prison  at  St.  Louis  and  Alton  until  Febru- 
ary, 1865.  Returning  to  Randolph  county,  he  engaged  in  farming 
near  Clifton,  where  he  continued  for  eight  years.  Coming  to  Hunts- 
ville  in  1873,  he  was  engaged  in  putting  up  tobacco  and  the  butcher 
business  here  until  he  took  charge  of  the  county  farm.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Malone  have  one  daughter,  Katie  M.,  now  a  young  lady.  Mr. 
Malone  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
for  20  years,  and  has  been  a  member  since  he  was  15  years  of  age. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  is  treasurer  of  the  lodge 
at  Huntsville.  For  one  term  he  was  deputv  sheriff  of  the  county 
under  Capt.  W.  F.  Elliott. 

JOHN  W.  AND  WILLIAM  Y.  MASON 

(Farmers  and  Stock-raisers). 

These  brothers,  independent  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Ran- 
dolph county,  first  saw  the  light  on  the  same  day,  June  2,  1849. 
Their  father,  ^illiam  Mason,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he 
lived  until  after  his  marriage.  His  wife  was  Elena  J.  Payton,  also  a 
native  of  the  State.  Mr.  Mason  moved  to  Missouri  in  1844,  and  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  where  his  sons  now  live.  John  W.  and  William 
Y.  were  raised  on  the  farm  and  educated  at  the  neighboring  schools. 
Since  the  death  of  their  father,  April  17,  1872,  they  have  taken 
charge  of,  and  carried  on  the  farm,  which  is  a  large  and  flourishing 
one.  It  comprises  480  acres  with  about  300  improved  and  in  culti- 
vation. William  Y.  Mason  married  October  14,  1874,  Miss  Itheua 
Owen,  daughter  of  James  Owen,  a  Kentuckian,  but  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  They  have  only  one  child,  Ivola.  Two  years 
after  his  brother  succumbed  to  the  almost  inevitable  fate  of  man,  J. 
W.  Mason  followed  suit,  wedding  January  5,  1876,  Miss  Theresa  J., 
daughter  of  Josiah  Terry,  a  resident  of  Randolph.  To  them  were  born 
three  children  :  Mittie  White,  Owen  and  Asa.  Though  these  brothers, 
with  that  peculiar  affection  which  always  seems  to  animate  the  hearts 
of  twins,  have  clung  together,  yet  they  do  not  make  one  household  ; 
J.  W.  continues  to  live  in  the  old  homestead,  which  is  a  handsome 
two-story  building ;  he  has  a  good  barn,  ice-house  and  other  things 
necessary  to  the  comfort  of  a  prosperous  farmer,  including  a  nice 
young  bearing  orchard  of  seventy  trees.     William  Y.  has  a  pretty, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  493 

new,  one-story  residence,  ice-house,  two  good  barns  and  fine 
orchard.  In  the  sight  of  these  two  men  bound  by  the  closest  tie 
that  unites  one  man  to  another,  dwelling  in  this  haunt  of  peace, 
where  "Nature's  heart  beats  strong,"  surrounded  on  every  side  by 
associations  and  reminders  of  a  past  generation,  there  is  something 
almost  Arcadian :  — 

Noiseless  falls  the  foot  of  time 
That  only  treads  on  flowers, 

and  though  these  respected  gentlemen  are  in  the  fir  u  vigor  of  man- 
hood, one  can  imagine  them  living  thus  serene  and  happy  for  at 
least  a  hundred  years  to  come. 

JAMES  HORACE  MILLER 

(Deputy  Circuit  Clerk,  Huntsville,  and  Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  MUler,   a  self-made  man,  and  one  of  the  popular  citizens  of 
Randolph    county,    is    a    native    of   the  Blue  Grass  State,    born    in 
Nicholasville,  Ky.,  April  16,   1832.     His  parents   were  Thomas  and 
Nellie  (Branham)  Miller,  both  of  old   and  respected  Kentucky  fami- 
lies.    The  father  died,  however,  when  James  Horace  was  but  two 
years  of   age,  and  after  becoming  old  enough  to  be  of  any  service 
he  was    given    a    position    in    a  store,   and    he  continued  identified 
with    merchandising    in    the  capacity  of   a    clerk    until    he    was    20 
years  of    age.     His  education  was   acquired  mainly  by  self-culture 
or  study  during  leisure  hours  without  an  instructor.     The  nature  of 
his  duties  as  a  clerk  were  such  that  to  be  efficient  and  capable  he 
needed  a   good    practical    education,   and    this  he  had  the  industry 
and  force  of   character    to    acquire.     He    became  a  very  successful 
and    popular    clerk,  and    his    services    were  in  request  wherever  he 
was  known.     In  1852,  however,  he  decided  to  cast  his  fortune  with 
the  future  of  Missouri,  and  he  accordingly  came  out  to  this  State 
and    selected  Macon  county  as  the  place  of    his  residence.     There 
he  encased  in  clerkino;    and  afterwards  obtained   a  situation  in  the 
county  clerk's    office.     When    the    war  broke  out  he  promptly  en- 
listed in  the  State  Guard  under  Gov.  Jackson's  call,  and  for  three 
years  afterwards  he  followed  the  Southern  banner  and  participated 
in  many  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war.     He  was  honor- 
ably discharged  at  the  expiration  of   his  service,   but  while  on  his 
return  to  Missouri  he  was  made  a  prisoner  by  the  Vermont  troops 
and  confined  at  Camp  Morton,  in  Indiana,  untu  about  the  close  of 
the  war.     During  most  of  his  service  in  the  Confederate  army  Mr. 
Miller  held  the  rank  of  orderly  sergeant,  and  he  was  noted  in  his 
regiment  for  the  efficiency  and   energy  with  which  he  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  office.     He  returned  to  Missouri  after  his  release  from 
prison  and  engaged  in  farming  near  Darksville,  in  this  county.     On 
the   12th    of   November,   1868,   he    was    married    to  Miss  Mattie,  a 
daughter    of  Watson    and    Hannah   (Marvin)    Carter,   of   Randolph 


494 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


county,  but  originally  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Miller  continued  farming  with 
success  until  1878,  when  he  was  elected  assessor  of  the  county  and 
served  for  four  years.  In  1882  he  was  a  candidate  before  the  Demo- 
cratic convention  for  the  nomination  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  but 
was  defeated  by  Mr.  Wight.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  deputy 
circuit  clerk,  the  position  he  now  holds.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  capable 
and  energetic  farmer,  and  has  made  a  very  efficient  and  popular  county 
officer.  He  is  one  of  those  whole-souled,  open-hearted,  generous 
men,  who  cannot  help  being  kind  and  accommodating,  and  whom 
the  people  cannot  help  liking  if  they  would,  and  would  not  if  they 
could.  He  is  an  outspoken,  frank-minded  man,  a  good  talker,  be- 
cause he  always  has  something  worth  listening  to  to  say,  and  he 
makes  friends  wherever  he  goes  as  fast  as  a  hungry  barn-fowl  swal- 
lows dough.  As  honest  as  dajdight,  and  the  soul  of  cleverness  in 
every  way,  he  is  just  the  man  to  be  popular  in  any  well  regulated 
community,  and  although  he  ran  on  the  outside  track  and  came  out  a 
neck  behind  in  1880,  only  because  he  thought  he  could  win  anyhow, — 
it  is  not  always  the  boy  who  knocks  the  first  apple  who  gets  over  the 
fence  with  the  most  fruit.  Several  bad  harvests  hardly  ever  follow 
each  other  in  succession,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  next 
reaping  will  fill  his  granary,  —  at  any  rate,  that  seems  to  be  the 
opinion  of  the  public  now,  for  the  people  recognize  the  fact  that 
official  advancement  could  not  be  more  worthily  bestowed  than  on 
him,  a  man  who  has  ever  stood  up  for  their  interests  when  others 
were  silent,  if  doing  nothing  worse,  and  one  whom  they  know  to 
be  capable  and  honest.  The  people  have  a  native  and  incorrupti- 
ble sense  of  fairness,  and  they  will  not  always  submit  to  see  a  man 
pushed  aside  to  make  place  for  others  no  more  worthy  and  capable 
than  he.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Odd  Fellow's 
order,  having  taken  the  highest  degree  in  the  lodge,  and  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  of  the  Masonic  order. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  five  children :  Anna,  Maggie,  Thomas, 
Nellie  and  Mary.     Mrs.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

THOMAS  BENTON  MINOK 

(Huntsville). 

Mr.  Minor  descends  from  an  old  and  respected  Virginia  family. 
His  ancestor  of  the  fourth  generation,  Joseph  Minor,  was  a  well-to-do 
farmer  and  worthy  citizen  of  Culpeper  county,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death.  He  left  a  family  of  several  children,  including  George 
H.  Minor,  who,  after  he  grew  up,  married  Mary  Gatewood,  of  the 
adjoining  county  of  Spottsylvania.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Gatewood,  Sr.,  of  that  county,  and  was  one  of  two  sisters  in  a 
family  of  seven.  One  of  her  brothers,  Joseph  Gatewood,  Jr.,  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Kentucky  and  then  to  Pike  county.  Mo., 
and  Dr.  R.  H.  T.  Gatewood,  of  Audrain  county,  near  Wellsville, 
is  his  son.  George  H.  Minor  and  wife,  nee  Mary  Gatewood,  also 
removed  to  Kentucky  and  located  in  Scott  coupty    where  he  lived 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUiNTY.  495 

for  many  years,  but  in  1831  he,  too,  came  to  Missouri  and  settled 
permanently  in  Randolph  county,  where  he  and  wife  died  at  ad- 
vanced ages.  They  had  a  family  of  18  children,  namely  :  Samuel, 
born  August  8,  1811,  married  Luvena  Stewart,  and  died  in  Ran- 
dolph county;  Joseph  L.,  born  September  18,  1812,  married  Sallie 
A.  Cavins,  and  resides  at  Huntsville  ;  John,  born  October  25,  1815, 
married  Mary  R.  Cook  ;  they  became  the  parents  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  will  again  be  referred  to  further  along  ;  Larkin,  born  May 
1,  1816,  now  deceased  ;  Mary  A.,  born  December  19,  1817,  became 
the  wife  of  Henry  Thomas,  and  resides  in  Chariton  county,  in 
Salisbury;  Merritt,  born  February  17,  1819,  married  Elizabeth 
Stewart,  and  died  in  Randolph  county;  Eliza,  born  March  19,  1821, 
is  now  deceased  ;  Virginia,  born  November  6,  1822,  is  also  deceased  ; 
Lydia,  born  March  10,  1824,  married  Walter  Bohn,  now  of  this 
county;  Henry,  born  October  18,  1825,  married  Rachel  Sears,  and 
lives  in  Polk  county ;  Harriet,  born  October  21,  1827,  died  in  this 
county  ;  Haskins,  born  April  22,  1829,  also  died  in  Randolph  county  ; 
Elizabeth,  born  October  27,  1830,  is  also  deceased  ;  Cinsey,  born 
July  1,  1832,  married  George  W.  McDonald,  and  deceased  in  this 
county  ;  Josephine,  born  July  3,  1834,  married  W.  A.  Thomas,  and 
died  in  this  county  in  188ii ;  Willis,  born  April  24,  1837,  married 
Martha  Epperly  and  resides  in  Chariton  county,  in  Salisbury ;  Sallie, 
born  August  6,  1840,  married  Andrew  Agee  and  resides  in  this 
county;  and  Lewis,  born  December  9,  1841,  married  Barbara  Ep- 
perly and  resides  in  Salisbury.  The  father  of  these,  George  H. 
Minor,  was  a  man  of  sterling  character  and  solid  intelligence,  and 
led  a  life-  without  reproach  and  was  fairly  successful  as  a  farmer,  also 
a  school  teacher.  His  wife  was  an  estimable  lady  and  greatly  loved 
in  her  own  family,  as  well  as  prized  by  others  who  knew  her  as  a  neigh- 
bor and  friend. 

John  Minor,  their  third  son,  who  afterwards  became  the  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  still  a  youth  when  the  family 
came  to  Missouri.  In  early  manhood  he  liecame  a  cabinet  maker  and 
worked  at  his  trade  at  Huntsville  for  many  years.  He  was  regarded 
as  a  mechanical  genius  by  those  who  knew  him,  for  there  was 
hardly  anything  possible  to  skill  and  judgment  in  the  use  of  tools 
that  he  could  not  do.  This  was  especially  the  case  in  wood  work, 
and  he  was  considered  the  best  cabinet  maker  in  all  this  section  of 
country.  Later  along  in  life,  however,  he  located  on  a  farm  in  the 
county  and  became  comfortably  situated.  He  was  for  many  years 
an  earnest  and  faithful  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church 
and  was  a  zealous  worker  in  the  church.  He  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Mt.  Salem  Church  and  built  the  present  house  of 
worship  at  that  place.  He  was  an  intelligent  and  close  reader  of  the 
Bible,  and  became  a  licensed  preacher,  and  did  much  valuable  work 
for  his  church  and  the  cause  of  religion,  though  he  never  preached  a 
great  deal.  He  was  a  man  of  kindly  disposition  and  sober  thought, 
and  wielded  a  marked  and  beneficial  influence  on  those  around  him. 


496  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Self-educated  himself,  he  appreciated  the  importance  of  education, 
and  o:ave  his  own  children  the  best  school  advantao;es  his  circum- 
stances  would  allow.  He  died  July  14,  1879,  sincerely  and  deeply 
regretted  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the 
grave  about  eight  years,  dying  June  8,  1871.  They  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  as  follows  :  John  S.,  born  May  7,  1840,  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Brockman  ;  Samuel  C,  born  March  8,  1842,  married  Mary 
E.  Buffington  ;  Thomas  Benton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Josephus, 
born  February  19,  1846,  married  Minerva  F.  Bradley;  Melchisedec, 
born  January  9,  1848,  married  Florence  Ford  ;  Monroe,  born  Novem- 
ber 30,  1849,  married  Laura  F.  Patrick;  Cecelia  J.,  born  March  1, 
1851,  married  George  T.  Burton;  Julia  A.,  born  July  15,  1853,  not 
married;  Isadora,  born  July  25,  1855,  married  John  H.  Cash;  Mary 
Ellen,  born  February  25,  1857,  died  in  tender  years;  Stephen  W., 
born  July  25,  1858,  died  in  infancy  ;  andLarkin,  born  March  8,  1862, 
single.  Melchisedec  and  Isadora  reside  across  in  Chariton  county, 
but  the  others  living  are  residents  of  this  county. 

Thomas  Benton  Minor  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  August  25,  1843.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  was  brought 
up  to  habits  of  industry,  and  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion. But  after  he  grew  up  he  decided  to  engage  in  business  life, 
and  in  1866,  going  to  Boonville,  he  embarked  in  merchandising  as 
salesman  in  the  employ  of  J.  S.  McFadden  (the  husband  of  Mr.  M.'s 
mother's  ©nly  living  sister,  her  maiden  name  being  Cecilia  Cook). 
In  1868  he  returned  to  Randolph  county  and  resumed  the  mercantile 
business  at  Huntsville,  handling  a  stock  of  general  merchandise  with 
his  father  underthe  firm  name  of  T.  B.  Minor  &  Co.  In  1873  Mr.  M., 
disposing  of  his  interest  to  his  father,  went  to  Moberly  and  commenced 
the  clothing  and  merchant-tailoring  business,  which  he  continued  un- 
til 1875,  when  he  returned  to  Huntsville  and  became  identified  with 
the  insurance  business.  He  has  followed  this  ever  since,  and  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  considering  the  population  of  the  place 
and  adjacent  territory.  He  has  built  up  the  leading  insurance  agency 
of  Huntsville  and  one  of  the  prominent  agencies  of  the  county.  He 
represents  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  the 
largest  insurance  company  in  the  world,  its  cash  assets  aggregating 
over  $100,000,000,  and  is  the  oldest  company  in  the  United  States. 
He  also  represents  the  following  companies  which  insure  against  losses 
by  fire,  lightning,  wind,  storm,  tornado,  etc.  :  ^tna,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.  ;  American,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  ;  American  Central,  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  ;  Continental,  of  New  York,  N.  Y.  ;  Fire  Association  of 
Pennsylvania;  Fireman's  Fund,  of  California;  German  American,  of 
New  York,  N.  Y.  ;  Underwriter's  Agency,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  Insur- 
ance Company  of  North  America;  Pennsylvania  Manufacturers'  In- 
surance Company,  Massachusetts  ;  Phoenix,  of  New  York,  N.Y.  ;  Spring- 
field Insurance  Company,  of  Mass.  ;  North  British  and  Mercantile,  of 
England  ;  and  the  Queen  Insurance  Company,  also  of  England. 

Mr.  Minor  attributes  his  success  to  the  fact  that  he  has  devoted  him- 
self, so  far  as  business  activities  are  concerned,  exclusively  to  the  in- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  497 

surance  business.  He  says  that  he  has  found  by  experience  that  "  a 
man  had  better  do  one  thing  well  than  to  try  to  do  many  things  and 
do  none  well."  His  success  in  business  certainly  shows  that  his  ideas 
and  methods  are  worthy  of  imitation,  whilst  it  reflects  no  ordinary 
credit  on  his  character,  energy  and  intelligence.  On  the  20th  of 
February,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Jones,  of  this 
county,  a  daughter  of  Evan  Jones,  originally  of  Lanchire,  Wales,  and 
wife,  formerly  of  Covington,  Ky.  Mrs.  Jones'  maiden  name  was 
Mary  A.  Harper.  She  and  husband  lived  in  Schuyler  county,  and 
their  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Minor,  was  reared  in  Schuyler  and  this 
county,  and  principally  educated  at  Moberly.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Minor 
have  three  children  :  Mary  Dundee,  born  March  18,  1880  ;  Lucelia, 
born  March  23,  1882,  and  Byron  Benton,  born  February  25,  1884. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  at 
Huntsville,  and  Mr.  M.  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  since 
1869. 

HON.  HENEY  A.  NEWMAN 

(State  Commissioner  of  Labor  Statistics;  Residence,  Huntsville). 
To  any  one  who  knows  anything  of  the  politics  of  Missouri  for  the 
past  10  or  15  years,  the  name  that  heads  this  sketch  is  not  an  un- 
familiar one.  Col.  Newman  has  many  of  the  stronger  and  better 
qualities  for  a  public  man  and  leader  of  men.  He  is  public  spirited, 
generous  almost  to  a  fault,  a  man  of  strong  convictions  and  zealous  in 
the  maintenance  of  them,  a  fine  organizer,  a  fearless,  bold  leader, 
yet  a  discreet  and  safe  tactician.  In  the  war  he  was  a  gallant  soldier 
of  the  South,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his  intrepidity  on 
more  than  one  bloody  field.  He  started  out  in  1861  and  did  not  re- 
turn until  the  broad  bars  and  bright  stars  of  the  Confederate  banner 
went  down  in  defeat  to  rise  no  more  for  ever.  He  surrendered  at 
Greensboro',  N.  C,  being  at  the  time  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  D. 
H.  Hill.  After  the  war  he  returned  home  and  went  to  work  as  a 
worthy  citizen  to  establish  himself  in  life,  for  he  had  lost  practically 
all  his  proj)erty  during  the  struggle.  Of  course  such  a  man  as  he  is 
could  not  sit  quietly  down  and  fail  to  take  part  in  public  affairs  when 
issues  of  so  much  importance  were  constantly  before  the  people.  A 
man  of  broad  intelligence,  superior  general  education,  a  speaker  of 
great  ability  and  eloquence,  as  well  as  a  citizen  of  potent  influence 
amongthe  people  where  he  lived,  by  the  process  of  "  natural  selection," 
as  Col.  Farr  of  Jefferson  City  would  say,  in  the  language  of  Darwin, 
his  favorite  naturalist  and  scientist.  Col.  Newman  was  called  from  the 
shades  of  private  life,  like  John  the  Baptist  was  called  to  preach  to  the 
natives  of  the  wilderness,  to  take  the  rostrum,  or  rather  the  stumps, 
and  to  point  out  to  his  fellow-citizens  in  that  burning  eloquence  for 
which  he  is  noted,  their  duties  in  the  great  crisis  in  which  the  people 
were  involved,  and  to  lead  them  up  to  a  higher  and  purer  plane  of 
civil  administration,  or  in  other  words,  to  show  them  how  the  country 
might  be  saved,  and  to  lead  the  way  for  its  salvation.  Appreciated 
for  his  ability  as  a  statesman  and  orator,  in  1872  the  people  of  Ran- 


498  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

dolph  county  rose  up  with  one  glad  acclaim  and  elected  him  to  the 
Legislature.  Seated  in  the  law-making  assembly  of  the  State  govern- 
ment, where  wise  enactments  were  to  be  placed  upon  the  statute  books 
for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people,  there  the 
wide  and  profound  sweep  of  his  intellect  became  manifest  to  every  in- 
telligent citizen,  and  beseemed  to  grasp,  as  by  intuition  and  at  the 
moment,  the  condition  of  the  situation  and  to  understand  with  marvel- 
ous wisdom  the  great  reforms  that  were  necessary  to  be  brought  about 
for  the  welfare  and  best  interests  of  the  Commonwealth.  In  the  Legis- 
lature, Col.  Newman  took  a  high  position,  and  held  it  with  distinguished 
ability  to  the  end  of  his  representative  career.  He  originated  and  car- 
ried forward  to  final  enactment  many  of  the  most  wholesome  laws  in 
our  civil  and  criminal  code.  We  have  not  time  nor  space  to  specify 
these  numerous  enactments  —  details  are  tedious,  and  only  those  of 
entomological  minds  can  stop  to  consider  them.  Col.  Newman  re- 
turned home  after  his  service  in  the  Legislature  and  received  the  con- 
gratulations  of  all  his  constituents,  not  only  on  the  high  value  of  his 
services,  but  on  the  position  of  prominence  and  influence  to  which  he 
had  elevated  their  county  in  the  representative  hall  of  the  State.  He 
was  not  again  in  the  public  service  as  an  official  for  some  six  years, 
though  he  was  warmly  urged  by  the  people  for  various  positions  ;  but 
whether  in  or  out  of  office,  he  was  ever  found  standing  up  fearlessly  and 
boldly  for  the  rights  and  best  interests  of  his  county,  the  State,  and 
the  whole  country.  In  every  campaign  since  the  war  Col.  Newman 
has  taken  an  active  part  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  orator,  and 
there  is  not  a  hall  in  this  section  of  the  State  that  has  not  echoed  his 
voice  as  he  spoke  for  honest  government  and  purity  and  wisdom  of 
civil  administration  ;  while  in  Randolph  county  the  native  stumps  are 
as  familiar  with  the  tread  of  his  feet,  and  the  atmosphere  as  used  to 
the  sound  of  his  voice,  as  they  are  to  those  of  the  scarlet-crowned 
woodcock.  Col.  Newman  has  of  course  always  been  a. Democrat,  and 
he  belongs  to  the  unterrified  of  his  party,  the  boys  that  fear  no  noise. 
Wherever  a  few  Democrats  are  gathered  together  in  Missouri  in  the 
name  of  Thomas  Jefferson  there  will  he  be  found  also,  and  no  face  is 
more  familiar  in  conventions  and  committees,  district,  county  and  State, 
to  representative  Democrats,  than  that  of  Henry  Newman.  He  is  at 
present  a  member  of  the  State  Democratic  Central  Committee,  and  is 
always  a  prominent  figure  in  State  and  county  conventions.  In  1878 
he  was  secretary  of  the  State  Senate,  and  in  1883  he  was  appointed 
State  Labor  Statistician  by  Gov.  Crittenden.  While  the  Governor 
recognized  the  fact  that  Col.  Newman  was  a  representative  Democrat 
of  the  Confederate  element  in  the  State  which,  according  to  all  rules 
of  politics,  was  entitled  to  representation  in  the  Governor's  adminis- 
tration. Col.  Newman's  superior  qualifications  for  the  office  and  his 
well  known  sympathy  for  the  laboring  classes  are  the  controlling  con- 
siderations which  brought  about  his  appointment.  Col.  Newman  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  himself  and  to  hard  work,  and  he  therefore 
knows  from  personal  experience  what  the  hardships   and  deprivations 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  499 

of  the  men  of  toil  are  ;  and  having  given  the  question  of  the  relations 
between  hibor  and  capital  profound  study  for  years,  and  having  trav- 
ersed in  his  investigations  the  whole  field  of  political  economy,  from 
Serra,  the  Italian  economist,  indeed  from  Plato,  to  Henry  George,  of 
our  own  time  and  country,  he  is  conversant  with  all  the  principles  in- 
volved in  the  subject  with  which  he  has  to  deal,  and  understands 
thoroughly  the  true  theory  upon  which  the  affairs  of  his  office  should  be 
administered.  In  late  years  he  has  made  it  a  special  study  to  discover 
the  practical  operations  of  the  industries  in  this  country  in  all  their 
bearings,  and  no  man  in  the  West  understands  better  the  reforms 
needed  to  place  labor  and  capital  in  just  and  satisfactory  positions  with 
regard  to  each  other.  These  reforms  he  will  outline  in  recommenda- 
tion to  the  legislative  branch  of  the  State  government  which  will  be 
laid  before  that  body  by  the  Governor,  and  which,  if  enacted  into  laws, 
will  produce,  as  those  best  capable  of  judging  believe,  the  most  salu- 
tary and  satisfactory  results.  Col.  Newman's  whole  heart  and  energies 
are  enlisted  in  the  great  work  of  effecting  a  wise  solution  of  the  diffi- 
culties resulting  from  the  conflicts  between  capital  and  labor,  and  the 
troubles  arising  from  the  varying  interests  of  these  economic  factors. 
His  services  in  his  present  office  will  doubtless  prove  of  the  highest 
value  to  the  State,  and  reflect  honor  upon  himself  and  the  State 
administration  of  which  he  is  a  worthy  representative.  Col.  Newman 
is  a  man  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  not  only  in  age  but  physical  and 
mental  vigor.  He  was  born  in  Staunton,  Va.,  March  29,  1835,  and 
was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Caroline  (Austin)  Newman,  both  representa- 
tives of  old  and  influential  Virginian  families.  He  was  reared  in 
Virginia  and  received  an  excellent  and  general  education,  and  in  1856 
he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  near  Knoxville.  Col.  Newman  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  State  for  a  period  now  of  nearly  30  years,  and 
has  proved  himself  not  only  a  usefnl  citizen,  but  one  more  than  ordin- 
arily zealous  for  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  his  adopted  State.  On 
the  28th  of  August,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Austin,  a 
distant  relative  of  his.  They  have  been  blessed  with  a  worthy  family 
of  children,  and  their  married  life  has  been  one  of  singular  happiness. 
Col.  Newman,  as  stated  above,  makes  his  home  here  at  Huntsville 
where  he  has  long  resided,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  that  place. 

JOHN  CHRISTIAN  OLIVER,  M.D.  (deceased) 
(Huntsville). 

On  the  18th  of  November,  1881,  was  suddenly  stricken  down  of 
apoplexy  in  this  vicinity.  Dr.  John  C.  Oliver,  in  the  meridian  of  his 
usefulness,  who  died  at  11  o'clock,  a.m.,  shortly  after  having  received 
the  fatal  stroke.  To  those  of  the  present  generation  in  Randolph 
county,  and  particularly  in  the  vicinity  of  Huntsville,  no  written 
record  of  this  good  and  useful  man's  life  is  necessary  to  inform  them 
whom  and  what  he  was,  for  the  worth  of  his  character  and  services 
is  engraved  on  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him.      But  soon    these 


500  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  the  present  will  pass  away,  and  it  is  but  the  performance  of  a  duty 
to  transmit  to  posterity  some  knowledge  of  this  man's  life,  that  the 
influence  of  his  example  may,  like  the  wave  of  a  sea,  go  vibrating   on 
toward  the  further  shore  of  time.     Not  only  are  such  lives  as  he  lived 
valuable  in  themselves  and  to  those  among  whom  they  live,  but  the  his- 
tory of  their  careers  are  valuable  for  the  lessons  they  teach  to  those  of 
the  future,   and  wherever  Christian  character  and  successful  efforts  for 
the  good  of  humanity  are  appreciated  among  men.     While  his   was 
not  a  life  to  attract  the  attention  and  admiration  of  the  idle,  unthink- 
ing world,  it  was  such  a  life  that  the  more  it  is  studied  and  the  better 
understood  —  plain  and    unobtrusive,   but   sincere    and    useful  —  the 
more  and  the  better  it  is  appreciated.     A  man  of  large  humanity  and 
warm  sympathies,  and  one  Avhose  highest  ambition  seemed  to   be  to 
make  himself  useful  to  the  utmost  of  his  capacity  and   opportunities 
while  yet  in  youth,  he  determined  to  devote  himself  to  the  medical  pro- 
fession as  affording  to  him,  as  he  believed,  a  field    of  the    greatest 
usefulness.     Continuing  steadfast  to  this  purpose,  under  the   instruc- 
tion of  his  father  and  afterwards  by  the  knowledge  acquired  at  a  med- 
ical college  he  became  a  physician,  and  he  pursued  the  practice  ot"  his 
chosen  calling  without  interruption  and  with  unabated  zeal  until  he  was 
finally  stricken  down  in  death   while   absent  from  home   attending  a 
patient,  —  dying,  as  we  have  every  reason  to  believe   he  preferred  to 
die,  whilst  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  to   suffering  humanity,  for 
which  he  had  already  done  so  much,  and  for  which  it  was  his  greatest 
pleasure   to  labor.      Possessed    of   a    mind    of  more    than    ordinary 
strength  and  clearness,  and  a  hardly  less  devoted  student  than  he  was 
a  zealous  and  faithful  practitioner,  he  inevitably  rose  to  a  position  of 
marked  honor  and  distinction  in  his  profession,  and  his  skill  and  learn- 
mor  were  recognized  wherever  his  name   was  known.     No  one   of  his 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  could  fail  to  make  a  good  and    useful  cit- 
izen ;  so,  it  is  but  stating  a  sequence  to  say,  that  as  a  member  of  the 
community  in   which  he   lived  none  were  more  forward  in  measures 
for  the  common  weal  than  he.     Public  spirited,  and   a  man  of  broad 
and  enlightened  views,  he  was  equally  generous  of  his  time  and  means 
when  they  were  required  for  the  general  good.     In  his  family  he  was 
loved  and  esteeined  with  singular  tenderness  and  admiration.     As  hus- 
band and  father  he  seemed  to  be  all  to  his  loved  ones  they  would  have  him 
be,  and  by  them  his  memory  is  cherished  with  a  sacredness  that  speaks 
a  noble  eulogy  of  his  life  around  his  own  hearthstone.     In  a  word,  in 
the  character  and  career  of  Dr.  John  C.  Oliver  were  combined  as  many 
virtues   and  as   few   faults  as  seldom  fall  to  the  lot  of  a  single  life. 
Commenting  on  his  death  the  Moberly  Daihj  Monitor  thus  spoke  of 
him:      "  Dr.  Oliver  was  an  old  and  estimable  citizen  of  Huntsville,  a 
man  of  clear  head  and   large    information,  of   warm  heart  and  gener- 
ous impulses,  widely  known   and  universally  respected.       *       *       * 
Huntsville  has  lost  one   of  her  best  citizens,  the  Medical  Society  an 
able  and  influential  member,  Randolph  county  a  prominent  and   use- 
ful   resident,    and     his    family    a    devoted  husband    and    indulgent 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  501 

father.  *  *  «  <'Dr.  Oliver  will  be  greatly  missed,  and  his 
place  in  the  community  will  be  hard  to  fill.  In  every  relation  of  life 
he  was  a  true  and  just  man,  one  whose  obligations  to  his  family  and 
to  society  were  faithfully  and  scrupulously  fulfilled.  *  *  * 
The  sudden  death  of  Dr.  John  C,  Oliver  on  Friday  was  succeeded 
by  the  funeral  and  burial  of  the  remains  3'esterday.  The  funeral  ora- 
tion was  pronounced  by  Elder  S.  Y.  Pitts  in  the  chapel  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
College.  The  chapel  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  a  large 
number  were  unable  to  gain  admittance.  Not  only  did  Huntsville 
pour  out  her  population  to  pay  the  last  sad  rites  to  the  eminent  physi- 
cian and  justly  popular  citizen,  but  many  persons  were  in  attendance 
from  Moberly  and  various  other  parts  of  the  county  and  State.  Such 
was  the  high  esteem  in  which  the  deceased  was  held  that,  notwith- 
standing the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  Huntsville  witnessed  yester- 
day the  largest  funeral  procession  in  her  history.  The  burial  rites 
were  observed  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  deceased  having  been  a 
Mason  for  many  years.  Mr.  Colmass,  of  Kentucky,  an  eminent  Ma- 
son and  distinguished  traveler  and  lecturer,  conducted  the  ceremony. 
Here,  as  in  the  chapel,  the  deep  solemnity  and  awe  that  pervaded  the 
assembly  attested  the  sincere  regard  and  affection  in  which  Dr.  Oliver 
was  held.  Sorrow  w^as  marked  on  every  countenance,  and  the  body 
was  laid  to  rest  amid  the  tears  and  sobs  of  an  affectionate  people." 

John  Christian  Oliver  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ky.,  May  1, 
1825.  His  father  was  Di".  Presley  T.  Oliver,  subsequently  a  lead- 
ing physician  and  prominent  citizen  of  Randolph  county,  who  is  re- 
membered by  all  who  knew  him  as  a  man  eminently  worthy  to  have 
been  the  father  of  such  a  son  as  him,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  is  given  on 
these  pages.  The  mother's  maiden  name  was  Jane  Christian,  and  both 
parents  were  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  where  they  were  married 
in  1817.  In  1850  the  father  came  to  Missouri  with  his  family  and  lo- 
cated in  Washington  county,  but  two  years  later  removed  to  Cooper 
county,  and  in  1836  crossed  the  river  and  settled  in  Randolph  county, 
near  Renick,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  lived  until  their  deaths.  He 
was  entirely  successful  as  a  physician,  both  in  the  practice  and  in  the 
accumulation  of  property,  and  left  a  comfortable  estate  at  his  death. 
He  died  on  his  farm  near  Renick,  June  12,  1863.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  public  spirit,  and  took  an  active  and  intelligent  interest  in  the 
general  affiiirs  of  the  community  and  the  county.  He  represented  the 
county  in  the  Legislature  in  about  1848,  and  was  always  regarded  as 
one  of  its  most  intelligent  and  worthy  citizens.  He  was  long  a  member 
of  the  church  and  was  quite  prominent  in  church  affairs.  Though  fond 
of  books,  he  was  more  a  man  of  original  thought  than  a  follower  after 
others.  A  man  of  pleasing  and  popular  address,  nothins:  delighted 
him  more  than  to  be  among  his  friends  and  acquaintances  for  social 
converse,  and  he  was  always  prized  among  them  as  an  agreeable  com- 
panion. He  preceded  his  good  wife  to  the  grave  some  two  years,  a 
most  estimable  lady.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children  :  Frederick 
G.  and  Robert  C,  both  now  deceased;  Simeon  T.,  who  is  now    a 


502  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

farmer  near  Renick  ;  Judith,  who  is  now  residing  near  Renick  and  is 
the  widow  of  Noah  Martin,  deceased;  Martha  A.,  who  is  now  the 
widow  of  George  W.  True  and  resides  at  Moberly  ;  Mary  J.  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  James  R.  Neale,  and  resides  in  Prairie  township  ;  and 
John  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who,  in  common  with  his  brothers, 
Frederick  G.  and  Robert  C,  became  a  physician.  Dr.  JohnC.  Oliver 
was  reared  in  the  county  and  studied  medicine  under  his  father. 
Later  along  he  attended  medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  honorably  graduated.  Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  re- 
turned to  Randolph  county  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. On  the  23d  of  January,  1850,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Eddins,  an  orphan  girl,  who  was  reared  by  her  uncle,  Robert  Mitchell, 
who  resided  near  Huntsville.  For  seven  years  following  Dr.  John 
C.  Oliver  resided  on  a  farm  near  Renick,  where  he  devoted  his  whole 
time  and  energies  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  his  father. 
In  1857  he  removed  to  a  farm  four  miles  north-west  of  Huntsville 
where  he  resided  12  years,  coming  thence  to  Huntsville  in  1869, 
the  place  of  his  residence  from  that  time  until  his  death.  As  has  been 
intimated  above,  his  career  as  a  physician  was  one  of  eminent  success. 
For  years  prior  to  his  taking  off  he  had  enjoj^ed  an  extensive  and  lu- 
crative practice,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  capable  physi- 
cians throughout  the  whole  section  of  country  in  which  he  lived.  He 
accumulated  a  handsome  estate  as  the  material  reward  of  his  long  and 
useful  services  in  the  medical  profession.  He  was  a  student  by  nat- 
ural inclination  from  boyhood,  and  his  studies  were  not  confined  to 
his  profession,  but  extended  over  a  wide  field  of  investigation.  Thus 
it  was,  that  he  became  a  man  of  more  than  ordinarily  large  and  thor- 
ough information.  Though  taking  a  lively  interest  in  the  various 
societies  of  vvhich  he  was  a  member,  he  was  pre-eminently  fond  of 
home,  and  when  not  occupied  with  his  duties  as  a  physician  or  citizen, 
he  was  invariably  found  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  Dr.  Oliver 
had  no  taste  for  public  life,  yet  he  always  did  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen, 
striving  at  all  times  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  public.  All  in 
all,  he  was  one  of  the  truest  and  worthiest  men  in  genuineness  of  char- 
acter with  whose  citizenship  Randolph  was  ever  honored.  He  left 
two  children  :  Lelah  M.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  L.  B.  Keebaugh,  now 
a  prominent  druggist  of  Huntsville,  and  John  E.,  who  is  now  taking 
a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia. 
Mrs.  Oliver,  the  mother  of  these,  is  also  living,  a  woman  of  many 
estimable  qualities,  and  who  is  greatly  prized  as  a  neighbor  and  ac- 
quaintance by  all  who  know  her. 

EDWARD  C.  PEW  and  DAVID  S.  BENTON 

(Of  Pew  &  Benton,  Dealers  in  Groceries,  Queen's-ware,  etc.,  etc.,  Huntsville). 

These  gentlemen,  who  have  one  of  the  leading  grocery  stores  in 
Huntsville,  engaged  in  business  here  together  in  the  fall  of  1880,  and 
Mr.  Pew  had  been  in  the  same  business  for  a  short  time  before.  They 
carry  an  excellent  stock  of  goods  in  their  lines,  large  and  well  selected, 


\ 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  503 

and  buying  entirely  for  cash,  they  are  able  to  sell  at  prices  which  place 
them  beyond  the  fear  of  competition.  Their  trade  has  steadily 
increased  from  the  beginning,  and  they  number  among  their  customers 
a  large  percentage  of  the  best  citizens  of  Huntsville  and  surrounding 
country.  Considering  their  prominence  as  merchants  of  this  place,  it 
would  be  an  omission  inexcusable  not  to  include  in  this  volume,  which 
purposes  to  give  a  biographical  conspectus  of  the  county  as  well  as  its 
general  history,  short  sketches  of  the  lives  of  these  gentlemen.  Mr. 
Pew  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  at  Lexington,  September  4,  1844, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Longmore)  Pew,  both  originally  of 
Virginia.  When  Edward  C.  was  still  in  tender  years,  the  parents 
removed  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
was  educated  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  but  did  not  graduate,  having  to  quit 
college  on  account  of  failing  health.  Returning  home,  he  remained 
there  until  1860,  when  he  came  to  St.  Louis.  He  subsequently  took 
a  course  at  Bartlett's  Commercial  College,  of  Cincinnati,  aud  follow- 
ing this  was  engaged  as  a  book-keeper  for  a  large  mercantile  house  for 
some  time.  Desiring  outdoor  work,  however,  he  went  on  the  road  as 
a  commercial  traveler  and  continued  in  that  employment,  being  on 
the  road  about  half  the  time  and  in  the  store  the  other  half,  until  the 
spring  of  1880,  when  he  came  to  Huntsville  and  engaged  in  his  present 
business.  He  has  therefore  had  a  thorough  business  training,  not 
only  theoretically  at  commercial  college,  but  practically  in  a  business 
house  and  on  the  road  selling  goods.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  business 
he  learned  thoroughly  the  art,  which  so  few  have,  of  making  friends 
readily  and  retaining  them  permanently,  a  quality  of  the  first  impor- 
tance to  the  successful  merchant.  This  has  been  one  of  the  many 
secrets  of  the  success  of  his  firm  at  Huntsville.  On  the  7th  of  August, 
1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Elkin,  formerly  of  Springfield, 
111.  They  have  one  child:  Edward  W.  Mrs.  P.  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

David  S.  Benton,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm,  native  is  a 
Missourian,  born  at  Platte  City,  September  2,  1842.  His  father.  Dr. 
Delford  Benton,  is  well  known  to  most  old  Missourians,  for  in  his 
younger  days  he  was  a  man  of  prominence  and  great  activity.  He 
was  in  business  at  St.  Joseph  after  being  a  resident  of  Platte  City,  and 
went  to  California  in  1850,  returning  two  years  later.  Florissant,  in 
St.  Louis  county,  became  his  permanent  home,  and  he  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  that  county.  Mr.  Benton's  mother,  before  her 
marriage,  was  a  Miss  Susan  Musick,  of  the  old  and  prominent 
Musick  family  in  this  State,  several  of  whose  representatives  have 
become  distmguished  in  the  ministry,  at  the  bar  and  other  callings. 
David  S.  was  reared  at  Florissant,  and  his  youth  was  divided  between 
attending  school,  assisting  in  his  father's  store  and  at  work  on  his 
father's  farm.  On  reaching  his  majority,  he  went  to  Helena,  Mon., 
and  built  the  second  house  in  that  place.  He  remained  there  engaged 
in  mining  until  1866,  and  was  interested  in  the  celebrated  Grizley 
Gulch  and  Last  Chance  Mines,  meeting  with  good  success.  He  had 
27 


504  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

many  thrilling  experiences  in  the  far  North-west  as  a  member  of  vigil- 
ance committees  and  in  other  affairs,  which  we  have  not  the  space  to 
relate.  Keturning  to  Missouri,  he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  St.  Louis 
county  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he  came  to  Randolph  county 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  this  county.  He  followed  farming  here 
until  the%Ul  of  that  year,  when  he  came  to  Huntsville  and  became  a 
partner  in  the  present  firm.  He  is  a  man  full  of  energy  and  industry, 
of  o-ood  business  qualifications,  a  whole-souled,  genial  companion,  and 
very  popular  with  all  with  whom  he  becomes  acquainted.  He  contri- 
butes his  full  share  to  the  popularity  and  success  of  the  firm  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  and  is  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  business  interests 
of  Huntsville. 

SANFORD  G.  RICHESON 

(Of  T.  G.  Dulany  &  Co.,  Lumber  Merchants  and   Dealers   in   Builders'  Hardware 
Paints,  Oils,  etc.,  etc.,  and  House  Furnishing  Materials,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Richeson  became  a  member  of  the  above-named  firm  in  the  fall 
of  1878,  and  has  since  been  continually  identified  with  the  business, 
o-ivino-  it  his  whole  time  and  attention,     Messrs.  Dulany  &  Richeson 
have  built  up  a  large  trade  as  lumber  merchants,  and  now  carry  one 
of  the  leading  stocks,  if  not  the  principal   one,  in  their  lines  in  this 
part  of  the  country.     Their  motto  has  ever  been  to  deal  fairly  with 
their  custom,  and  to  sell  them  the  best  goods  for  the  prices  charged 
that  the  state  of  the  trade  will  allow.     Hence  they  have  won  the  con- 
fidence of  the  public,  and  customers  have  no  hesitation  in  sending  to 
them  for  supplies,  for  they  know  they  will  get  as  good,  if  not  better, 
bargains  than  can  be  had    elsewhere.     Mr.   Richeson    was    born    in 
Taylor  county,  Ky.,  March  5,  1848,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  E.  and 
Margaret  A.  (Turner)  Richeson,  later  along  well  known  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Randolph  county.     The  father,  Capt.  Richeson, 
came  to  this  county  in  about  1832,  and  resided  here  some  four  years, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  he  returned  to  Kentuck3^     He  was  a  young 
man  when  he  came  to  Randolph  county,  and  here  met  and  married 
Miss  Turner.     She  was  a  daughter  of  Judge  Joseph  Turner,  one  of  the 
pioneer  and  prominent  citizens  of  the  county,  and  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  county  court.     He  is  still  living  in  the  county  at  a 
venerable  and  well-preserved  old  age.     Capt.  Richeson  returned  to 
Kentucky   with   his   young  wife,   as    stated    above,    remained    there 
engaged  in  merchandising  until  1856,  when  he  came  back  to  Randolph 
county,  and  settled  permanently  on  a  farm  nine  miles  south-west  of 
Huntsville.     A  Southern  man  in  sympathies  and  principles,  and  having 
the  courage  of  his  convictions,  when  the  war  broke  out  in   1861,  he 
joined  the   Southern  army,  becoming  forage  master  for  Thompson's 
reo-iment  in  Shelby's  brigade,  in  which  he  served  until  1863.     He  then 
came  home  and  organized  a  company  of  Southern  volunteers,  of  which 
he  was  made  captain,  and  which  he  started  to  lead  back  to  Price's 
command  in  the  South.     He  was  intercepted  on  the  way  near  Cole 
Camp  by  a  superior  force  of  so-called  Home  Guards,  or  in  other  words, 
horse  thieves,  house  burners  and  murderers,  and  was  taken  prisoner. 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  505 

Although  a  reguhir  Confederate  soldier  and  an  officer  in  the  army, 
whose  record  bore  no  mark  but  that  of  bravery  and  honorable  man- 
hood, he  was  taken  out  by  the  cowardly  assassins  who  captured  him 
and  brutally  murdered.  It  was  the  fashion  in  those  days  with  the 
Home  Guards  and  militia  to  call  everybody  who  failed  to  join  them  in 
their  lawless  depredations,  and  whom  they  ran  off  from  home  for  that 
reason,  by  the  general  name  of  "  bushwackers,"  and  to  shoot  them 
when  they  captured  them  because  they  ran  away  to  keep  from  being 
shot  at  home.  Many  of  the  purest  and  best  men  in  almost  every 
county  in  the  State  were  thus  murdered  by  lawless  scoundrels  who, 
before  the  war,  were  social  outcasts,  and  too  trifling  to  keep  them- 
selves clean.  Sanford  G.  Richeson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
joined  the  Southern  army  in  1864,  serving  in  Perkin's  regiment,  under 
Shelby.  He  was  subsequently  transferred  to  the  8th  Missouri  infan- 
try, in  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  During  the  last 
year  of  the  war,  his  mess  of  nine  men,  while  on  detail  duty,  were 
captured,  and  all  but  himself  were  shot  —  another  example  of  the 
humanity  and  bravery  characteristic  of  the  other  side  in  the  trans- 
Mississippi  department.  After  the  war,  Mr.  Richeson  returned  to 
Randolph  county  and  followed  farming  for  about  five  years,  and  the 
next  four  years  he  was  at  Salisbury,  in  Chariton  county,  where  he 
served  as  constable  and  was  deputy  sheriff  of  that  county.  He 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  as  stated  above,  in  1878.  On  the 
11th  of  January,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Minor,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  L.  Minor,  of  Springfield,  Mo.  They  have  six 
children:  James  W.,  Vallie  A.,  Joseph  G.,  Edgar  T.,  Birtie  and 
William  T.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and 
Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  having  held  all  the  lodge  offices 
in  that  order.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  board  of  school  directors,  and  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  Building  and  Loan  Association  and  in  the  Gas 
Light  Company. 

THOMAS    W.    ROBERTS 

(Deputy  Collector,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Roberts,  though  quite  a  young  man,  occupies  one  of  the  most 
important  and  responsible  official  positions  of  the  county,  having  full 
charge  of  the  collector's  office,  and  what  is  more  to  his  credit,  dis- 
charges his  duties  with  that  soberness  and  close  attention  to  business 
to  be  expected  of  men  only  much  further  advanced  in  years  than  he, 
and  with  that  efficiency  and  vigor  characteristic  of  youth  and  zeal  and 
possible  to  those  only  of  thorough  business  qualifications  and  untiring 
industry.  He  is  doubtless  the  youngest  county  collector  in  the  State, 
for  as  has  been  said,  he  has  complete  charge  of  the  office  ;  and  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  the  duties  of  the  office  are  as  well  and  faithfully 
attended  to  as  those  of  any  official  position  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Roberts,  notwithstanding  he  is  quite  a  young  man,  has  had  no  small 
amount  of  business  experience,  and  his  experience  as  a  business  man 
has  been  entirely  successful.  He  was  born  in  this  county  July  13, 
1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  H.  Roberts,  the  present  collector  of  the 


506  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

county.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Sallie  C.  Coates,  of  the  old 
and  well  known  Coates  family,  of  Randolph  county.  His  father  has 
principally  followed  farming  heretofore  and  Thomas  W.  was  reared  on 
the  farm.  After  attending  the  preparatory  schools,  at  the  age  of  16, 
he  entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Kirksville,  where  he  took  a  two 
years'  course  of  instruction.  He  then  taught  a  term  of  school  and 
following  this  began  clerking  for  Duncan  &  Vince.  He  clerked  for 
two  years  in  that  establishment  and  learned  the  business  thoroughly. 
He  then  bought  Mr.  Duncan's  interest  and  the  firm  became  Vince  & 
Roberts,  in  which  he  continued  in  the  dry  goods  business  until  De- 
cember, 1882,  when  he  sold  out  and  the  following  year  took  charge 
of  the  collector's  office,  his  fiither  having  been  elected  to  this 
position  the  November  before.  He  has  now  had  charge  of  the  office 
for  two  years  and,  as  has  been  said,  has  managed  its  affairs 
with  singular  efficiency  and  success  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public. 
His  record  thus  far  in  the  activities  of  life  has  been  one  of  more  than 
ordinary  credit  and  his  future  seems  especially  bright  with  promise. 
Mr.  Roberts,  at  the  age  of  24,  or  rather  in  his  twenty-fourth  year,  was 
married  January  9,  1881,  to  Miss  Sidney  A.  Hammett,  a  daughter  of  F. 
M.  Hammett,  of  Randolph  county.  They  have  one  child,  Victor  E. 
Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

[contributed.  J 

JUDGE  WILLIAM    SAMUEL  (Deceased),  and  REUBEN  SAM- 
UEL (Deceased) 

(Former  County  Clerk  and  Recorder). 

To  give  a  biographical  sketch  of  the  Samuel  family  would  require 
more  space  than  any  delineator  of  character  or  writer  of  State  or 
county  history  would  be  willing  to  devote  to  a  family,  however  dis- 
tinguished they  may  be,  or  may  have  been  in  past  ages.  The  Samuels 
were  pioneers  to  Kentucky  from  Virginia,  and  the  grandfather  and 
fathers  of  the  names  that  are  deemed  worth}'"  of  mention  in'  history,  are 
of  Welsh  descent.  From  Judge  William  Samuel,  a  native  of  Caroline 
county,  Virginia,  has  sprung  numerous  Samuels,  who  have  for  more 
than  half  a  century  back  been  prominent  citizens  of  several  States  of 
this  Union.  Judge  Samuel's  sons  were  well  trained  to  business  ;  edu- 
cated in  the  best  schools  accessible  in  the  county  where  they  were 
born.  Listening  to  the  glowing  accounts  given  by  tourists  visiting  the 
newer  country  west,  William  Samuel  with  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters left  a  comfortable  homestead,  and  friends  dear,  for  a  wider  scope 
of  country,  where  energy  and  industry  promised  surer  reward  for  labor 
in  tilling  the  soil ;  the  avocation  followed  by  the  father  of  a  large 
family  of  sons  and  daughters.  His  circle  of  young  children  to  provide 
for  as  planter,  farmer  and  trader,  consisted  of  William  Jr.,  Reuben, 
John  and  Robert.  Daughters  :  Nancy,  Elizabeth,  Agnes,  Fannie  and 
Phebe.  William  Samuel,  Jr.,  the  oldest  son  of  William  Samuel,  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  Washington  and  William  ;  daughters  : 
Nancy  and  Eliza.     Washington  when  quite  young  located  near  George- 


i 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  507 

town,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  wealthy  farmer  ;  has  many  sons  and  daugh- 
ters now  living  in  Kentucky  and  other  States.  Nancy  married  Samuel 
Pryor,  the  father  of  Judge  William  Pryor  of  New  Castle,  Kentuck}', 
and  Eliza  married  Judge  James  Pryor  of  Covington,  Kentucky.  John 
Samuel,  of  New  Castle,  had  no  heirs  ;  possessed  great  wealth  ;  was  hon- 
ored at  any  time  during  his  manhood  with  any  position  he  desired 
within  the  gift  of  his  countrymen,  having  often  served  the  county  in 
the  Legislature  ;  he  was  au  eloquent  and  forcible  speaker  ;  he  was  tall 
o;raceful  and  diii^nitied,  and  considered  one  of  the  finest  men  in  Ken- 
tucky,  a  friend  and  associate  of  Clay  and  Rowan.  RoVjert  Samuel, 
third  son  of  William  Samuel,  was  born  in  Caroline  county,  Virginia, 
settled  in  New  Castle,  Kentucky,  studied  law,  but  soon  gave  it  up  for 
more  lucrative  and  pleasing  pursuits,  embracing  all  the  enjoyments  of 
chasing  the  fox  and  wild  deer  on  the  hills  and  valleys  of  his  farm. 
Robert  Samuel  had  only  one  son,  John  White  Samuel,  who  before  the 
age  of  eighteen  was  high  sheriff  of  Henry  county,  Kentucky.  After 
serving  his  term  faithfully  without  default,  he  entered  into  business  as 
clerk  with  his  cousins  E.  M.  and  George  W.  Samuel,  at  the  time  one 
of  the  largest  commercial  houses  in  North-west  Missouri  ;  from  their 
employment  he  commenced  the  mercantile  business  in  Andrew  county, 
before  the  Platte  country  was  ceded  to  the  State,  erected  a  log  store- 
house on  Hackberry  Ridge  amidst  the  pea-vines  and  rushes  then  lux- 
uriant over  the  verdant  soil  of  the  Platte  river  up  and  low  lands.  In 
the  little  loo;  store-house  which  was  removed  to  Savannah  and  occu- 
pied  by  Mr.  Samuel  till  his  death  in  1846-47,  his  industry,  honesty 
and  business  qualities  gained  the  good  will  of  every  citizen  of  the 
county  ;  he  died  in  the  prime  of  life  and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  James 
Winston,  grandson  of  Patrick  Henry,  the  Cato  of  America  ;  over  his 
grave  the  hardy  pioneers  wept  for  the  loss  of  a  just  man. 
Agnes,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Judge  Samuel,  became  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Brannum,  of  Shelby  county  Ky.,  and  their  many  sons  and 
daughters  have  a  history  in  the  State  of  Kentucky.  Elizabeth  Samuel 
married  Henry  Pemberton  ;  Fanny  became  the  wife  of  Edward 
Vaughn.  Phebe  Samuel  was  twice  married,  first  to  William  Mont- 
joice  and  after  to  Thomas  Craig,  a  celebrated  Baptist  minister.  From 
the  several  fimilies  that  have  intermarried  with  the  Samuels,  history 
has  pointed  out  many  occupying  high  positions  in  several  States  who 
take  active  part  in  the  politics  of  the  present  day,  as  their  forefathers 
have  done  in  the  past.  But  after  rounding  up  the  histor}''  of  a  family, 
thus  tracing  to  ancestors,  it  paves  the  way  to  get  fully  the  genealogy 
of  the  family  that  may  be  claimed  as  pioneer  settlers  of  Randolph 
and  Howard  counties.  Reuben  Samuel  and  four  of  his  sons  may  be 
justly  claimed  as  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Randolph,  and  one 
that  of  Howard  county.  Reuben  Samuel  was  born  in  Bowling  Green, 
Caroline  county,  Va.  ;  was  a  carpenter,  l)uilder  and  contractor,  and 
learned  his  slaves  the  trade,  and  for  many  years  superintended  and 
employed  many  hands  in  this  business  ;  there  being  no  shoddyism  in 
the  family  they  did  not  adopt  the  fashionable  calling  for  such  a  trade,  — 


508  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

that  of  architect.  His  education  and  business  qualifications  were  ap- 
preciated and  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  ask  of  the  elective  magistrates, 
he  being  one,  the  office  of  recording  clerk  of  the  circuit  and  county 
court.  He  ran  for  the  office  and  tied  his  worthy  opponent  whose 
father  had  held  the  office  for  40  years,  holding  the  casting  vote 
himself,  and  rather  than  withhold  it  he  cast  it  for  his  opponent,  Ed- 
mund P.  Thomas,  who,  if  alive,  holds  it  yet.  The  trickery  of  the 
present  day  in  elections  was  not  then  known,  but  self-respect  forbid 
the  l)uying  or  selling  of  votes  for  money.  Mr.  Samuel  with  his  large 
family  soon  left  Kentucky  to  seek  home  and  fortune  in  Missouri ;  on 
account  of  limited  means  sojourned  temporarily  in  Lebanon,  111. 
Recruiting  in  funds,  he  pursues  his  course  but  sees  the  prospective 
greatness  of  St.  Louis,  invests  his  limited  means  in  lots,  the  value 
increases,  he  sells  them  and  buys  a  cargo  of  flour,  charters  a  boat, 
the  second  or  third  that  ever  ascended  the  Missouri  river  destined 
as  high  up  as  Council  Bluffs  ;  the  boat  sinks  a  few  miles  below  Old 
Franklin,  no  insurance,  and  his  fortune  ere  this  has  been  food  for 
sharks  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  His  capital  left  to  build  a  fortune  on 
was  his  life,  saved  by  swimming  ashore  with  pocket-book  and  coat  in 
his  teeth.  Mr.  Samuel,  after  all  these  reverses,  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, then  straight  back  to  Randolph  county  where  he  was  placed  in 
the  best  office  in  the  gift  of  the  good  people  of  Randolph  county, 
which  he  held  to  his  death,  and  then  to  his  son,  W.  R.  Samuels,  and 
now  held  by  a  grandson,  Joseph  Chilton  Samuel.  Thomas  J.  Samuel, 
the  oldest  son  of  Reuben  Samuel,  was  born  in  New  Castle,  Ky.,  died 
in  Huntsville,  where  he  has  resided  the  greater  part  of  his  long  and 
useful  life.  One  of  the  purest,  best  and  noblest  of  mankind,  he 
sought  never  to  amass  gold.  His  own  pure  heart  was  a  rich  mine  of 
jewels.  Money  with  him  was  but  baskets  of  bread  ready  to  scatter  to 
friend  or  foe  that  needed  his  charity.  Randolph  count}^  had  him  with 
her  people  as  far  back  as  1826  ;  his  aged,  helpless  parents  had  him 
with  them  alwavs  ;  his  care  and  his  hands  were  their  support  and 
solace  till  the  venerable  parents  rested  in  peace  in  the  cemetery,  a  few 
miles  south  of  Huntsville,  Avhere  the  noble  son  followed  to  rest  by 
their  side.  Thomas  J.  Samuel  has  one  son,  Joseph  C.  Samuel, 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  and  recorder  of  Randolph  county.  His 
father's  example  is  his  polar  star,  no  other  would  be  safer  to  watch. 

Sarah  Samuel,  the  only  sister  of  five  brothers,  died  in  Huntsville 
with  that  dreadful  malady,  consumption,  contracted  by  exposure; 
she  was  noted  for  her  energy  and  perseverance,  charitable  to  a  degree 
that  robbed  herself  of  the  comforts  of  life. 

Edward  Madison  Samuel,  second  son  of  Reuben  Samuel,  was  a 
native  of  Henry  county,  Ky.,  born  in  1807;  his  history  can  never 
be  fully  written,  for  but  few  men  now  living  know  how  closely  identi- 
fied he  has  been  with  public  interests,  by  which  the  great  State  of 
Missouri  shaped  its  policy  when  in  its  infancy.  His  tongue,  his  pen, 
and  his  purse  always  free  to  serve  his  adopted  State,  no  man  in 
Missouri    has  labored  harder  to  advance  and  push  on  enterprises  of 


A 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  509 

internal  State  improvements  than  Mr.  Samuel.  He  was  an  able 
writer,  a  good  speaker ;  a  writer  of  more  than  ordinary  ability ; 
articles  from  his  pen  have  contributed  largely  to  the  news  journals  as 
far  back  as  the  Intelligencer,  published  in  Franklin,  by  Nathaniel  Patten 
and  John  T.  Cleeland,  when  the  brilliant  intellects  of  Gamble,  Bates, 
Guyer,  Leonard,  Carroll  and  others  contributed  to  the  only  news- 
paper in  the  Boone's  Lick  country.  Edward  M.  Samuel  was  then  the 
youth  whose  intellect  was  bright,  and  by  men  of  great  ability  consid- 
ered a  youth  of  great  promise.  Mr.  Samuel  became  a  partner  oi 
Lamme  Brothers  in  1826,  the  most  wealthy  and  extensive  merchants 
above  St.  Louis  ;  remained  with  that  firm  until  his  own  fortune  was 
ample  to  establish  himself  in  the  same  business  in  Liberty,  Clay  county, 
Mo.,  when  he  became  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  North-West  Mis- 
souri, retiring  from  business  with  ample  fortune  ;  was  considered  the 
most  popular  and  available  Whig ;  was  nominated  by  a  Whig  con- 
vention and  made  the  race  for  Congress,  when  two  members  were  to 
be  chosen  by  the  State  at  large  ;  was  only  defeated  by  a  small  major- 
ity by  the  invincible  Democracy,  when  they  had  such  odds  against 
the  Whig  party  in  the  State.  After  his  defeat  he  was  appointed  re- 
ceiver of  the  hind  oiSce  at  Plattsburg  by  Gen.  Harrison,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  with  fidelity  and  honesty,  which  speaks  well  for  an 
agent  handling  public  money.  The  noble  deeds  of  E.  M.  Samuel 
have  been  recorded  elsewhere  in  history;  from  the  pulpit  his  piety, 
his  Christian  virtues  and  his  usefulness  have  been  graphically  com- 
mented upon  by  able  divines,  who  knew  him  more  than  a  half-century 
ago  ;  as  a  worker  in  the  wilderness,  when  only  the  good  could  pass 
through  the  privations  incident  to  a  new  country  and  remain  spotless, 
unsullied  and  guiltless  of  crimes  or  a  dishonest  act  or  deed  that  sul- 
lied his  good  name.  Mr.  Samuel  sold  his  splendid  homestead  near 
Liberty,  removed  to  St.  Louis,  established  the  Commercial  Bank, 
placed  it  upon  a  firm  basis,  gave  it  a  national  reputation,  and  it  has 
maintained  its  firmness  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Samuel,  who  died  pres- 
ident of  the  institution.  Mr.  Samuel  was  senior  in  the  commercial 
house  of  E.  M.  Samuel  &  Sons,  and  the  firm  still  exists  under  the 
same  name  by  his  three  sons,  Webb  M.  Samuel,  Edward  E.  and  W. 
P.Samuel.  Mr.  Samuel  has  two  daughters  living:  Martha,  Mrs. 
Ray  ;  Jennie,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Eingo  ;  the  first  of  Marshall,  Mo.,  the  lat- 
ter of  St.  Louis. 

George  Warren  Samuel  was  born  in  New  Castle,  Henry  county, 
Ky.,  June  4,  1810;  came  to  Fayette,  Howard  county.  Mo.,  in  the 
yaer  18^8  ;  obtained  a  clerkship  with  Harrison,  Glasgow  &Ross,  who 
were  then  the  wealthy  merchants  of  Missouri.  Inexperienced  as  he 
then  was,  much  labor  was  required  of  him  as  book-keeper  and  sales- 
man in  a  commercial  house  doing  the  largest  business  ©f  anv  mer- 
chant  above  St.  Louis,  the  house  selling  the  greater  portion  of 
merchandise  that  went  across  the  plains  to  New  Mexico  ;  a  trade  so 
profitable  that  the  junior  partner,  James  Harrison,  was  indebted  for 
a  great  portion  of  his  immense  estate  left  at  his  death.     Mr.  Samuel, 


510  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

after  leavino;  the  house,  set  up  business  for  himself  and  obtained  large 
credit  in  Philadelphia,  which  enabled  him  to  do  an  extensive  business 
in  many  counties  as  a  merchant,  which  business  he  followed  up  to  the 
year  1852,  when  he  became  president  of  the  Southern  Bank  of  St. 
Louis,  Branch  at  Savannah,  Mo.,  which  institution  he  managed  with 
great  success  to  the  commencement  of  the  war,  when  the  institution 
had  to  close  ;  and  by  his  exertion,  at  all  times  surrounded  by  great 
danger,  he  managed  to  convey  the  bank's  large  deposit  to  the  parent 
bank  at  St.  Louis  in  safety.  His  standing  as  a  citizen,  his  business 
qualifications,  his  success  as  banker,  merchant,  farmer,  and  in  his 
varied  avocations  ;  his  eventful  life,  his  delicate  health  whilst  pursuing 
arduous  and  hazardous  lines  of  trade,  is  more  fully  set  forth  in  the 
historical  work,  the  United  States  Biographical  Dictionary,  published 
in  1878,  at  Kansas  City.  Mr.  Samuel  had  only  one  son  and  three 
daughters,  Eliza  Barr,  the  wife  of  Henry  VV.  Yates,  banker,  Omaha, 
Neb.  ;  Florence  Tilton,  the  wife  of  Maj.  John  T.  Johnson,  of  the 
Merchants'  Bank,  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Anna  Imby,  the  wife  of  John  S. 
Lemon,  banker.  George  W.  Samuel  and  W.  R.  Samuel  are  the  only 
living  sons  of  Reuben  Samuel — G.  W.  Samuel  over  70  and  W.  R. 
over  60  years  old.  Four  of  the  brothers  have  borne  arms  and  served 
the  State  in  war,  obeyed  their  country's  call,  whether  in  a  conflict  for 
liberty  or  invasion.  Thomas  and  Edward  served  in  the  Mormon  and 
Black  Hawk  War,  Chilton  and  Robert  in  the  Mexican  War  under  Gen. 
A.  W.  Doniphan  and  Gen.  Price;  one  as  non-commissioned  and  the 
other  as  first  lieutenant.  In  the  battles  fought  their  man}' comrades 
fell  whilst  they  escaped  shot  or  shell,  but  the  poisonous  climate 
fastened  a  deadly  disease  upon  Chilton,  and  the  brave,  noble  boy, 
died  after  reaching  home. 

Col.  David  Todd  Samuel  was  the  only  son  of  George  Warren  Sam- 
uel, of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  son-in-law  of  the  late  Judge  David  Todd, 
deceased,  of  Columbia.  The  brilliant,  brave,  and  chivalrous  Colonel 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  on  the  30th  of 
August,  1864  ;  afterwards  interred  with  the  honors  of  war  in  the  city 
cemetery  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  where  his  father  after  his  interment  found 
his  remains  and  brought  them  for  final  sepulcher  by  the  side  of  his 
little  brother  and  sister.  The  young  Colonel  was  but  a  youth,  only 
24,  when  captured  at  Camp  Jackson,  and  was  a  lieutenant  under  Col. 
Bowen.  Returning  to  his  home  in  Andrew  county,  with  no  intention 
of  entering  the  rebel  service,  his  situation  became  so  perilous  that 
amid  the  excitement  of  the  hour  he  left  friends  and  home,  and  his  last 
words  spoken  to  his  father  were  :  "  Father,  I  had  rather  fall  in  battle 
than  forsake  m)^,  comrades  with  whom  I  have  enlisted."  As  major, 
assisted  by  Col.  Jeflerson  Patten,  he  raised  a  small  regiment  of  vol- 
unteers, with  which  he  fought  at  Blue  Mills,  Lexington,  Pea  Ridge, 
Corinth,  Vicksburg,  Kenesaw,  luka,  Atlanta,  and  Jonesburgh.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  colonel  of  the  Third  C.  S.  A.,  and  was 
the  youngest  officer  of  rank  west  of  the  line  of  Southern  States. 
His  brightness  was  a  shining  light  for  the  deadly  missies  that  hides 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  511 

the  noble  youth  from   bereaved  parents,  who   had  watched  over  and 
guided  him  when  his  infant  smiles  were  their  joy  and  pride. 

The  five  Samuel  brothers  were  tall,  slender,  had  dark  hair  even  in 
old  age,  blue  eyes  ;  all  merchants  and  bankers  except  one,  the 
youngest ;  in  height  not  an  inch,  differing  in  weight  not  more  than  ten 
pounds  ;  all  taking  after  their  ancestors,  the  Bartletts,  on  the  mother's 
side  and  Samuels  on  their  father's  side. 

HON.  WILLIAM  E.  SAMUEL 

(Of  Samuel  &  Hammett,  Real  Estate  Agents,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Samuel,  the  fifth  son  of  Reuben  Samuel,  a  sketch  of  whom  pre- 
cedes this,  is  a  worthy  representative  in  every  way  of  the  honored  family 
whose  name  he  bears.  Now  in  his  sixty-second  year,  his  life  has  been 
one  of  great  activity  and  usefulness,  and  one  untarnished  by  a  wrong  act. 
Coming  out  to  Missouri  with  the  rest  of  the  family,  when  a  young  man 
he  commenced  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk  for  his  brother,  E.  M.  Samuel, 
at  Liberty,  Missouri.  Later  along,  he  engaged  in  merchandising  on 
his  own  account,  having  removed  to  Huntsville.  This  was  nearly  forty 
years  ago,  and  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Randolph  county  from  that 
time  to  this.  In  point  of  character  and  ability  he  is  no  exception  to 
the  others  of  his  family,  and  though  a  man  the  least  self-seeking  and 
ambitious  of  political  advancement,  as  far  back  as  1852  he  was  elected 
by  the  Whigs,  and  not  a  few  votes  from  the  Democratic  party,  to  rep- 
resent Randolph  county  in  the  State  Legislature.  As  a  law-maker, 
his  course  was  marked  by  strict  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  his  consti- 
tuents and  the  State,  and  by  earnest  and  effectual  efforts  throughout 
his  term  to  promote  the  general  welfare  by  wise  and  judicious  legisla- 
tion. As  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  sober  intelligence,  he  was  not 
only  appreciated  in  the  Legislature  for  his  character  and  sterling  com- 
mon sense,  but  he  was  abundantly  able  to  make  his  influence  felt  on 
the  floor  of  the  House  as  an  advocate  of  sound  enactments  and  an  op- 
ponent of  injudicious  legislation.  In  1856,  Mr.  Samuel  was  elected 
as  circuit  and  county  clerk  and  recorder,  a  position  he  filled  with  such 
efficiency  and  satisfaction  that  he  was  continued  in  it  by  repeated  re- 
elections  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  He  then  retired  from  office  to 
engage  in  the  tobacco  business,  which  he  has  since  carried  on.  He 
has  so  lived  that  the  truest  and  best  wealth  this  life  can  afford  has 
come  to  him  to  enjoy  —  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  have 
known  him  long  and  well.  For  the  last  five  years  Mr.  Samuel  has 
been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  with  Charles  H.  Hammett. 
They  do  the  leading  business  in  this  line  at  Huntsville,  and  both  are 
implicitly  trusted  and  are  more  than  ordinarily  popular.  Mr.  Ham- 
mett has  most  of  the  leading  characteristics,  mental  and  physical,  of 
his  father,  who  was  a  man  of  great  generosity,  singular  unpretentious- 
ness,  marked  kindness  of  disposition,  unusual  agreeableness  of  man- 
ners, and,  withal,  one  of  the  good  and  true  men  of  Randolph  county  — 
a  man  of  whom,  when  he  is  gone,  no  expressions  of  his  life  will  be 
heard   except  those  of  appreciation  for  his  many  estimable  qualities, 


512  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  regret  that  he  could  no  longer  be  spared  to  those  among  whom  he 
has  led  so  useful  and  blameless  a  life.  In  March,  1849,  Mr.  Samuel 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  W.  Lewis,  a  daughter  of  Tucker  and  Mary 
(Gilbert)  Lewis,  of  this  county,  but  originally  of  Virginia.  They 
have  two  children,  Edward  E.  and  Mollie,  now  the  wife  of  Andrew  T. 
Bissell,  of  Chicago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  are  members  of  the  church, 
Mr.  S.  of  the  Baptist,  and  Mrs.  S.  of  the  Methodist  (South)  congre- 
gation. 

GEORGE  WARREN  SAMUEL 

(St.  Joseph,  Mo.). 

Mr.  Samuel  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Randolph  county, 
having  located  at  Huntsville  among  the  first  business  men  of  that 
place.  He  is  also  a  representative  of  that  prominent  and  influential 
family  of  this  State  whose  name  he  bears,  and  a  number  of  whose 
members  have  been  long  and  usefully  identified  with  the  growth  and 
development  and  the  public  afiiiirs  of  Randolph  county.  For  these 
reasons  the  present  "  History  of  Randolph  County  "  could  hardly  claim 
to  be  complete  without  including  on  its  pages  an  outline  of  the  life  of 
the  subject  of  the  present  sketch.  A  short  biography  of  his  life  has 
already  Vieen  published  in  the  "  U.  S.  Biographical  Dictionary  " 
(Missouri  Vol.),  which,  well  written,  though  brief,  we  cannot  do 
better  than  to  present :  — 

George  Warren  Samuel  was  born  June  4, 1810,  at  New  Castle,  Henry 
county,  Ky.  He  was  the  son  of  Reuben  Samuel,  of  Caroline  county, 
Va.,  and  grandson  of  Col.  Edmond  Bartlett,  of  Spottsylvania  county, 
Va.,  and  Judge  William  Samuel,  of  Virginia,  the  former  being  in  the  war 
of  1812.  Among  his  father's  connections  arethe  Vaughans,Pembertons, 
Baldwins,  Toombs,  Brannins  and  Craigs,  all  emigrants  from  Virginia  to 
Kentucky. 

At  the  age  of  17  George  left  school  without  a  liberal  education,  not 
being  able  for  want  of  means  to  master  the  languages  and  obtain  a 
thorough  collegiate  course,  his  father  having  met  with  reverses  and 
lost  his  once  ample  fortune.  In  feeble  and  delicate  health  he  started 
out  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  West,  and  reached  Fayette,  Howard 
county,  Mo.,  in  November,  1828,  with  only  50  cents,  a  mother's 
parting  blessing  and  a  clear  conscience,  and  with  these  he  was  wealthy. 

He  entered  the  mercantile  house  of  Harrison,  Glasgow  &  Ross,  then 
the  largest  dealers  in  merchandise  and  trade  in  the  West  above  St. 
Louis.  After  remaining  with  them  two  years,  his  employers'  implicit 
confidence  was  gained,  and  with  their  aid  and  commendation  he 
embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Chariton,  Mo.,  but  on 
account  of  the  unhealthiness  of  the  locality  he  removed  to  Huntsville, 
Randolph  county.  The  few  settlers  of  this  county  not  aff'ording  suf- 
ficient trade  for  his  energy,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  the  Lammes, 
of  Columbia,  which  being  entered  into  by  correspondence,  caused  the 
unfrequent  incident  of  an  introduction  to  his  own  partners  upon  his 
removal  to  Columbia,  in  1834.  In  1835  they  erected  the  first  paper 
mill  west  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  at  Rockbridge,  Boone  county,  which 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  513 

was  profitably  managed  by  the  late  John  Keiser,  who  was  a  part 
owner.  The  depreciation  of  State  banks  at  this  time  produced  a 
panic,  which,  added  to  the  burning  of  the  paper  mill,  brought  the  firm 
into  depressed  circumstances. 

Mr.  Samuel's  declining  health  required  a  change  of  climate, 
and  a  sea  voyage  was  recommended.  The  vessel  was  wrecked 
near  the  Bemici  island,  on  Moselle  rock.  He  managed  to  get 
back  to  Missouri,  although  a  mere  skeleton  and  penniless.  A 
friend,  the  wealtiiy  Thomas  Smith,  of  Kentucky,  with  his  means 
assisted  Mr.  Samuel  to  embark  in  the  packing  business,  but  the  exper- 
iment was  unfavorable,  and  the  investment  proved  a  bad  one  to  himself 
and  the  friend  who  furnished  the  money,  as  in  those  days  pork  was 
mostly  fattened  by  the  mast  of  the  woods,  and  when  shipped  to  foreign 
markets  usually  lost  by  shrinkage  or  became  spoiled.  Another  venture 
seeming  necessary,  and  steamboating  promising  to  be  remunerative, 
his  next  venture  was  on  the  river.  A  steamboat  was  built,  but  the 
sj^eculation  proved  disastrous  and  his   fortune  was  again  diminished. 

In  1838  Mr.  Samuel  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  T.  Todd,  daughter 
of  the  late  Judge  Todd,  early  in  life  a  captain  under  Gen.  Harrison  in 
the  War  of  1812.  In  the  passing  resolutions  of  condolence  and  regard 
in  reference  to  the  death  of  Hon.  David  Todd,  his  constituents  pre- 
sented the  following  preamble  with  resolutions  :  — 

"  Whereas,  in  the  order  of  an  all-wise  Providence,  death  has  removed 
from  our  midst,  and  from  the  places  long  familiar  to  us  as  the  scenes  of 
his  usefulness,  our  professional  brother  and  highly  esteemed  citizen,  the 
Hon.  David  Todd,  the  pioneer  of  our  profession  in  Central  Missouri, 
himself  the  immediate  descendant  of  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  the  oldest  lawyer,  with  a  single  exception,  in  the  State  ;  judge  of 
the  circuit  court  of  Howard  county  from  the  year  1819  to  1836  ;  subse- 
quently, and  until  a  few  years  preceding  his  death,  a  leading  member 
of  our  bar ;  we,  his  associates,  some  of  us  of  40  years  standing, 
assemble  here  in  order  to  give  a  public  and  lasting  manifestation  of 
the  high  esteem  in  which  we  held  the  deceased  in  his  lifetime,  and  of 
our  great  respect  for  his  memory  now  that  he  is  removed  from  us  for 
ever." 

He  was  the  son  of  Gen.  Levi  Todd,  of  Fayette  count}^  Ky., 
who  settled  in  that  State  as  early  as  1776,  and  was  the  first  clerk 
of  the  county,  which  position  he  held  until  his  death  in  1807.  In 
that  year  Judge  Todd  was  one  of  the  guard  that  conducted  Blen- 
nerhassett,  who  was  supposed  to  be  implicated  in  the  treasonable 
objects  of  Aaron  Burr,  to  Richmond,  Va.  After  this  time  he  was 
a  student  at  law  under  the  instructions  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  H. 
G.  M.  Bibb  and  Henry  Clay.  While  in  the  office  of  the  former,  the 
Hon.  John  J.  Crittenden  was  his  fellow-student,  with  whom  he  formed 
a  lasting  friendship.  Mrs.  Samuel  was  a  niece  of  James  Barr,  of 
Boston,  whose  large  fortune,  had  justice  been  done  him  by  the  United 
States  Government,  would  have  fallen  partly  to  her.  She  was  also 
related  to  the  Warfields,  Bullocks,  Stewarts,  Rhodes,  Carrs,  Burks, 


514  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Clays,    Hunts    and    Todds.     Mrs.   Samuel   and    Mrs.    Lincoln    were 
cousins. 

Mr.  Samuel's  many  reverses  emboldened  him  to  try  other  fields 
with  new  hope,  and  when  the  Platte  country  was  ceded  to  the  States, 
in  1838,  he  removed  to  Platte  City.  In  Martinsville  he  erected 
a  neat,  plain  cottage —  the  first  house  upon  which  a  saw,  hammer  and 
plane  were  used  in  Platte  county — which  afterwards  fell  into  the 
possession  of  Hon.  David  R.  Atchison,  for  one  day  President  of  the 
United  States.  Prior  to  his  moving  to  Platte  City,  he  saw  the  great 
future  of  the  site  upon  which  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  now  stands.  He 
was  eager  to  possess  it,  and  a  company  was  formed  to  buy  it ;  a  bargain 
for  the  pre-emption  right  for  $1,600  was  made  between  them  and  the 
proprietor,  and  but  for  a  trivial  offense  given  by  one  of  the  company 
to  the  owner  of  the  land,  it  would  have  been  the  property  of  Moss, 
Samuel,  Hughes  and  Thompson. 

Notwithstanding  continued  disappointments  his  courage  and  hope  did 
not  succumb.  He  again  embarked  in  mercantile  business,  in  Savannah, 
Mo.,  where  he  remained  until  1860,  at  which  time  he  found  his  fortune 
again  restored.  Being  driven  out  by  the  war  and  again  crippled  fin- 
ancially, he  removed  to  St.  Joseph  in  1868,  and  organized  "  The  St. 
Joseph  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company,"  of  which  he  was  for  a 
length  of  time  president,  and  is  now  a  director.  It  is  considered  the  largest 
and  strongest  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  West.  He  was  interested  in 
stores  in  tlie  counties  of  Howard,  Boone,  Clay,  Shelby,  Randolph, 
Ray,  Lafayette,  Clayton,  Caldwell  and  Andrew,  and  is  well  known 
and  respected  for  his  indomitable  energy  and  integrity,  passing  through 
all  the  panics  from  1830  to  1877,  making  no  compromise  with  his 
creditors,  but  paying  always  100  cents  on  the  dollar  ;  and  it  is  a  well 
known  fact  that  he  owes  no  man  a  just  debt,  and  that  to  his  know- 
ledge, he  never  wrono;ed  a  fellow  being;. 

On  the  26th  of  July,  1865,  Mr.  Samuel  was  bereft  of  his  wife, 
a  lady  who  had  brought  from  her  home  of  refinement  to  her 
then  wild  Missouri  home,  those  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which 
eminently  fitted  her  to  the  position  to  which  she  was  introduced 
by  the  social  and  official  standing  of  her  husband.  A  month 
later,  on  the  26th  of  August,  1865,  his  only  son.  Col.  David  Todd 
Samuel,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  was 
interred  with  the  honors  of  war  in  the  city  cemetery  of  Atlanta.  His 
father  brought  his  remains  to  Columbia,  Mo.,  for  sepulcher. 

Mr.  Samuel  has  three  daughters  :  the  eldest,  Eliza  Barr,  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  W.  Yates,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  Omaha,  Neb.  ; 
Anna  Imley  is  the  wife  of  John  S.  Lemon,  a  retired  and  wealthy  mer- 
chant of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Florence  Tilton  is  the  wife  of  J.  T.  Johnson, 
of  St.  Joseph. 

Notwithstanding  his  varied  and  eventful  life,  his  many  disap- 
pointments and  bereavements,  he  is  still  cheerful  and  bears  well 
his  age,  spending  no  idle  days  nor  even  letting  the  sun  set  on  one 
unfinished  duty.     He  has  never  desired  nor  held  public  office,  but  has 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  515 

always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  being  from  his  earliest  recol- 
lection of  parties  a  firm  Whig,  and  has  almost  worshiped  Henry  Chiy 
as  a  statesman.  The  unbounded  and  lasting  friendship  of  that  hon- 
ored statesman  was  bestowed  upon  any  of  the  family  of  his  former 
law  student.  Judge  Todd  ;  he  sent  a  lock  of  his  own  hair  to  the 
Judge's  youngest  daughter  just  before  his  death,  which  tribute  of 
affection  is  still  in  possession  of  a  member  of  the  family. 

Since  the  extinction  of  the  Whig  party  he  has  been  a  Democrat,  for 
whom  and  for  public  enterprises  in  general  he  has  always  given  a 
helping  hand. 

Moral  principles  being  instilled  into  his  mind  by  a  pious  and  loving 
mother,  he  has  always  been  religiously  inclined,  although  somewhat 
skeptical  as  to  some  of  the  doctrines  held  by  the  church.  He  has  no 
well-defined  belief  upon  religious  subjects,  adopting  the  principles  so 
beautifully  expressed  in  Don  Carlos  :  — 

"  In  my  creed  is  blended 
All  creeds  that  seem  to  come  from  God, 
Or  end  in  God  and  Heaven ; 
All  creeds  which  do  inculcate 
Love  of  man  unto  his  fellovF, 
And  creature  to  Creator, 
All  that  tends  to  purer  life  on  earth, 
Or  holier  life  in  Heaven." 

Although  he  has  always  held  himself  in  readiness  to  serve  his 
country  in  defending  his  State  or  section,  yet  he  has  never  desired 
military  fame,  and  has  no  military  record. 

Mr.  Samuel  is  greatly  respected  by  all  who  know  him  as  one  of 
Nature's  noblemen  —  a  friend  in  need,  a  counselor  in  trouble  and  a 
sympathizer  in  sorrow's  dark  hour.  That  part  of  his  native  character- 
istics which  are  necessarily  exposed  to  the  public —  his  business  tact 
and  commercial  integrity  —  are  too  well  known  to  need  mention. 

JOSEPH  C.  SAMUEL 

(Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Samuel  is  the  only  son  of  Thomas  J.  Samuel,  referred  to  in  the 
sketch  of  Judge  William  and  Reuben  Samuel  given  above.  His  father, 
who  is  remembered  as  one  of  the  best  men  who  ever  lived  in  Randolph 
county,  died  here  in  1875  at  the  age  of  72.  He  had  served  three 
terms  as  sherifi:'  of  the  county,  and  being  an  early  settler,  took  part 
in  the  Indian  troubles  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the  country.  His  wife  died 
in  1882  in  her  fifty-seventh  year.  She  was  a  Miss  Susan  A.  Murphy 
before  her  marriage.  Joseph  C.  Samuel  was  born  near  Renick,  July 
3,  1850,  and  was  reared  in  the  county.  His  education  was  received 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  which  he  completed  in  1869.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  as  clerk  in  Huntsville,  and  subse- 
quently clerked  for  difierent  firms.  In  1875  Mr.  Samuel  engaged  in 
the  boot  and  shoe  business  which  he  followed  with  success  for  two 
years.     He  then  became  a  partner  in  the  lumber  trade  with  Dr.  J.  D. 


516  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Hammett.  In  1879  he  established  a  real  estate  and  insurance  office 
at  Huntsville,  the  business  in  which  he  continued  until  he  was  elected 
to  his  present  position.  He  was  elected  to  this  office  in  1882,  det'eat- 
intr  for  the  nomination  several  prominent  and  popuhir  men  in  the 
county.  He  was  chosen  at  the  polls  by  a  majority  of  over  1,400. 
His  opponent  at  the  final  election  was  Dr.  J.  C.  Tedford,  a  man  of  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  and  great  personal  popularity.  These  facts  speak 
a  hitrher  eulogy  upon  his  character,  personal  worth  and  business 
qualifications  than  anything  could  express  which  might  be  said  here. 
On  the  5th  of  January,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Tillie  Owen,  a 
amiable  and  accomplished  daughter  of  Thomas  J.  Owen.  She  was 
taken  from  him  by  death  August  1,  1882.  She  left  him  two  children, 
Ella  T.  and  Louisa.  Mr.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
Knights  of  Honor.  He  is  a  man  of  many  estimable  qualities  both  of 
head  and  heart,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  officers  in  the  county. 
With  his  character  and  integrity,  and  his  close  business  habits,  united 
with  his  pleasant  manners  and  kind  and  accommodating  disposition, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  will  remain  in  his  present  office  as  long 
as  he  desires  the  position.  None  who  bear  his  name  are  more  highly 
esteemed  or  more  worthy  of  the  estimation  in  which  they  are  held. 

EDWARD  E.  SAMUEL 

(Manufacturer  of,  and  Dealer  in  Tobacco,  Huntsville). 

Taine,  in  his  English  Literature  says,  that  ideas  like  fishes  go  in 
shoals,  and  that  through  all  history  they  are  found  in  greater  abund- 
ance and  excellence  first  in  one  country  and  then  in  another,  on  down 
through  the  ages.  However  it  may  be  with  regard  to  ideas,  the  great 
principle  of  heredity  certainly  proves  that  success  in  life  unquestion- 
ably runs  in  families,  and  no  one  who  has  given  family  biography  any 
considerable  thought  or  investigation  will  for  a  moment  question  this. 
Here  is  an  evidence  of  the  fact  in  the  career  and  the  antecedents  of 
the  young  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Still  two  years  less 
than  30  years  of  age,  he  is  already  recognized  as  one  of  the  promi- 
nent and  successful  men  in  business  affairs  in  the  section  of  the  State 
where  he  resides,  and  his  ancestors  on  back  through  Kentucky  and 
Virginia  for  generations  have  been  not  less  successful  than  he  is,  and 
still  has  every  promise  of  becoming.  Mr.  Samuel  is  a  son  of  Hon. 
William  R.  Samuel,  whose  sketch  is  one  which  precedes  this. 
He  was  born  in  Huntsville,  April  3,  1856,  and  was  brought  up  to 
business  life,  receiving  in  addition  an  advanced  education.  He  first 
passed  through  Mt.  Pleasant  College  and  then  entered  Michigan 
University,  where  he  took  a  literary  course,  continuing  a  student  in 
that  eminent  institution  for  two  years.  Returning  from  Ann  Arbor 
in  1877,  then  21  years  of  age,  he  engaged  in  handling  leaf  to- 
bacco, and  soon  afterwards  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Thom- 
son, Lewis  &  Co.,  in  which  he  continuefl  with  advantage  to  himself 
and  the  firm  for  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  same  business  on 
his  individual  account,  and  he  became  recognized  as  such  an  authority 


A 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  517 

in  the  tobacco  business,  as  well  as  being  a  man  of  education  and  high 
character,  tliat  in  1880  he  was  appointed  State  Tobacco  Inspector  by 
Gov.  Crittenden.  Filling  that  office  with  credit  and  ability  for  a 
year,  he  then  resigned  in  favor  of  the  appointment  of  his  friend,  J.  M. 
Staple.  While  State  Tobacco  Inspector  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  the  commission  business  in  St.  Louis  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Cummiskey  &  Samuel.  After  his  official  resignation,  he  engaged  in 
the  tobacco  business  again  at  Huntsville  on  his  individual  account, 
which  he  has  since  continued.  He  puts  up  now  from  400  to  1,000,000 
pounds  annually,  employing  some  100  hands.  Mr.  Samuel  has  two 
factories,  and  is  having  abujidant  success  in  his  line  of  business.  On 
the  16th  of  October,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Miller  McLean,  a 
daughter  of  F.  M.  and  Jennie  (Stewart)  McLean,  of  Randolph  county. 
Mrs.  and  Mrs.  S.  have  two  children,  Mary  and  Jennie.  Mr.  S.  is  a 
stock  holder  in  the  Raker  &  Stacker  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
the  Building  and  Loan  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Honor. 

ABBOTT  W.  SCOTT 

(Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery,  Huntsville,  Mo.). 

How  completely  circumstances  direct  and  control  the  careers  of 
men  is  illustrated  by  the  life  of  Dr.  Scott.  The  great  difierences  we 
observe  in  the  stations  which  men  occupy  in  the  world,  result  not  so 
much  from  original  differences  of  talents,  as  from  differences  of  cir- 
cumstances tending  to  the  development  of  the  talents  of  each,  and 
of  the  manner  in  which  individuals  improve  such  circumstances. 
This  is  the  view  held  by  Adam  Smith  and  John  Stewart  Mill,  Sir 
Isaac  Newton,  Sir  William  Jones,  Dr.  Johnson,  Raynolds,  the  great 
English  artist,  and  most  of  the  great  minds  of  all  countries.  Dr. 
Scott  has  become  one  of  the  leading  dentists  of  North-east  Missouri, 
and  his  name  is  recognized  as  authority  in  his  profession,  wherever 
he  is  known.  Yet,  but  for  slight  circumstances,  he  would  have  been 
a  farmer  to-day,  and  doubtless  a  successful  one.  He  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  married  and  settled  down  with  the  view  of  making  that 
his  permanent  calling.  He  was  following  farming  and  getting  on  sat- 
isfactorily well  when  his  health  failed  and  he  had  to  turn  his  attention 
to  something  else  for  the  support  of  his  family.  He  was  then  living 
near  Warrenton,  and  there  was  a  dentist  at  Wentzville,  by  the  name 
of  Dr.  J.  C.  Goodrich,  who  suggested  the  idea  to  him  of  studying 
dentistry.  He  accordingly  went  to  work  to  become  a  dentist  with 
that  industry,  application,  and  perseverance  that  never  fails  to  bring 
success  in  any  calling.  The  result  of  his  embarking  in  this  profes- 
sion is  known  to  every  citizen  of  Huntsville  and  throughout  the  sur- 
rounding country.  He  has  a  large  practice,  and  has  made  an  enviable 
reputation  in  his  chosen  calling  in  life,  Dr,  Scott  was  born  in  How- 
ard county,  August  22,  1825,  and  was  a  son  of  Davis  and  Catherine 
(Woods)  Scott,  originally  of  Kentucky.  The  father  came  to  How- 
ard county  as  early  as  1817,  and  was  for  a  time  in  Fort  Cooper. 
In  1830  the  parents  removed  to  Monroe  county,  or  rather  the  father 


518  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

did,  his  wife  having  died  four  years  before.  He  has  since  lived  in 
that  county  engaged  in  farming.  His  second  wife  was  a  Miss  Nancy 
Embree,  also  of  Howard  county.  She  is  still  living.  Abbott  W. 
was  reared  in  Monroe  county,  and  was  married  there  May  14,  1846, 
to  Miss  Sarah  H.  Wright,  originally  of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky. 
In  1852  he  went  to  Warren  county  and  followed  farming  for  some 
seven  years,  but  his  health  failing,  he  took  up  the  study  of  den- 
tistry, as  stated  above,  and  since  tliat  time  has  devoted  all  his  time 
and  energy  to  the  profession  of  dental  surgerj^  He  located  at 
Huntsville  in  1865,  and  has  been  here  ever  since.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Scott  have  five  children:  Mary  C,  the  wife  of  David  Morrill,  of 
Ralls  county;  Emma  F.,  the  wife  of  John  Skinner;  Ella  L.,  James 
E.  and  Beverly  P.  ;  the  last  three  are  at  home.  Andrew  D.  is  de- 
ceased, dying  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  27.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  S.  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order. 

REV.  MILTON   J.  SEARS 

(Pastor  of  the  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Cliurch,  and  Evangelist). 

Maine,  discussing  the  origin  of  civilization  in  his  "Ancient  Lay," 
savs,  that  in  the  family  is  to  be  found  the  germ  of  civil  society  and  of 
all  systems  of  government  known  to  history.  In  the  Mosaic  period  it 
was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  a  single  family  to  found  a  com- 
munity which  in  time  developed  into  a  state,  or  local  government, 
with  all  the  attributes  and  powers  of  an  independent  people.  In- 
stances of  this  kind  then,  and  indeed  afterwards,  are  too  numerous 
and  too  well  known  to  the  reader  of  ordinary  information  to  require 
mention.  But  later  along  still,  population  became  so  considerable 
that  emigrations  occurred  in  large  numbers  and  instead  of  a  new  com- 
munity being  founded  by  a  single  familj^,  a  number  of  families  would 
go  out  into  a  new  land  and  establish  a  colony.  .And  this  system  of 
colonization,  or  the  settlement  of  a  new  country  by  a  part  of  the  peo- 
ple from  an  older  one,  has  been  and  still  is  history  repeating  itself 
from  the  beginning.  Thus  Southern  Europe  was  settled  and  North- 
ern and  Western  Europe  and  all  other  countries  under  the  sun  ;  and 
in  common  with  the  history  of  the  settlement  of  other  countries,  this 
is  the  history  of  the  settlement  of  our  own  —  of  every  State  and 
county  and  township  in  the  Union.  As  heredity  is  a  great  fixed 
natural  law,  the  unending  manifestations  of  which  are  observable  in 
everything  around  us,  so  every  community  partakes  to  a  marked  de- 
gree of  the  characteristics  of  its  founders  and  early  settlers.  For  in- 
stance, the  early  Protestant  settlers  of  Missouri  were  Baptists,  and 
hence  to  this  day  we  see  that  the  oldest  communities  of  the  State, 
aside  from  the  large  cities,  or  in  ather  words,  those  which  have  had 
principally  a  steady,  natural  growth,  are  still  essentially  Baptist  com- 
munities. So,  Missouri  was  settled  originally  by  Kentuckians  and 
Virginians  and  other  Southern  people.  Hence  to  this  day  it  is  essen- 
tially a  Southern  State.  Likewise  one  may  go  into  any  county,  and 
by  discovering  the  leading  characteristics  of  the  earlier  settlers,  he  will 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY,  519 

be  able  to  form  an  accurate  opinion  of  the  character  of  the  people  at 
the  present  time.  Hence  it  is  that  in  writing  a  history  of  the  county 
it  is  of  the  first  importance  to  study  the  history  of  its  early  families. 
This,  like  a  torch,  throws  a  bright  light  on  conditions  and  events  which 
would  otherwise  be  undiscoverable.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  so  much 
space  is  given  in  the  present  volume  to  family  histories.  These  con- 
tain the  facts  which  go  to  make  up  the  history  of  the  county,  and  the 
history  itself  is  but  a  summarization  of  these  facts  or  a  short  and 
generally  imperfect  statement  of  them.  Viewing  the  history  of  a 
county  thus,  no  pages  in  this  volume  can  be  considered  better  occu- 
pied than  those  which  give  a  history  (and,  unfortunately,  too  short  a 
one)  of  the  old  and  representative  family  of  Randolph  county,  the 
name  of  a  member  of  which  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  Here 
is  a  family  that  has  been  identified  with  the  county  from  its  pioneer 
days,  —  prominently  and  worthily  identified,  —  a  family,  the  members 
of  which,  by  reason  of  their  numbers,  character  and  influence,  have  done 
not  a  little  to  give  character  and  direction  to  the  community  in  which 
they  have  lived  for  so  many  years.  It  is  such  a  family  as  any  worthy 
and  intelligent  citizen  of  the  county  would  be  glad  to  refer  to  as  a 
representative  of  the  character,  intelligence  and  worth  of  the  people. 
An  old  Baptist  family,  to  its  influence  is  due  not  a  little  the  fact  that 
the  people  of  Randolph  county,  and  especially  the  community  where 
it  has  been  so  long  settled,  are  largely  Baptists  in  religious  feeling 
and  faith.  The  Sears  family  was  originally  of  Virginia  and  came  to 
that  State,  then  a  colony,  from  England  nearly  a  century  before  the 
Revolution.  John  Sears  came  out  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day  and 
settled  near  Bowling  Green,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  children. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  character,  great  industry  and  superior  intel- 
ligence, and  was  possessed  of  great  reverence  for  religion,  being  an 
earnest  church  member  himself.  In  his  family  were  four  sons  :  Hardy, 
Ivison,  Henry  and  William.  Henry  moved  from  Kentucky  and  settled 
in  Montgomery  county,  Illinois,  in  1820,  and  became  a  prominent  Bap- 
tist minister  in  Central  and  Southern  Illinois,  where  he  labored  con- 
tinuously for  about  the  space  of  40  years.  He  died  in  the  year  1860, 
leaving  a  widow  (who  has  since  died)  but  no  children.  The  other 
three  came  to  Missouri,  all  settling  in  Randolph  county,  where  they 
lived  until  their  deaths,  but  William  subsequently  settled  in  Macon 
county  and  became  the  founder  of  the  well  known  and  influential 
Sears  family  of  that  county.  He  was  a  Baptist  ministerand  died  there 
at  a  ripe  old  age  greatly  loved  and  venerated  for  his  nobility  of 
character,  his  Christian  piety  and  his  long  and  useful  life.  Hardy 
Sears,  the  oldest  of  the  three  brothers,  was  a  good  and  true  man  and 
worthy  citizen,  and  died  in  this  county  leaving  a  family  of  children. 
Ivison  Sears,  the  next  oldest  of  the  three  brothers,  was  married  near 
Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  in  1817,  and  came  to  Missouri  in  the  spring 
of  the  second  year  afterwards.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Ryals,  of  an  old  North  Carolina  family,  which  was  of  Irish  descent. 
John  Sears,  the  father  of  the  four  sons,  came  to  Missouri  in  1820  and 

28 


520  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

died  in  Randolph  county.     Ivison  Sears  settled  near  Huntsville  and 
improved  a  large  farm.      He  became  comfortably  situated  m  life  and 
lived  here  a  prosperous,  highly   esteemed  citizen  until  his  death,  or 
for  a  period  of  35  years.     He  died  in  1854.     All  old  settlers  remem- 
ber him  as  a  generous  and  hospitable  neighbor,  a  worthy  and  usehil 
citizen,  and  a  kind-hearted  and  Christian  man.     His  wife  survived  him 
but    three    years.      They    had    a     family    of    13    children,  namely: 
Matilda,  who  died  whilst  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  Roan,  an  early  Baptist 
preacher  of  the  county  ;  Martha,  who  died  the  wife  of  Caswell  Court- 
uey  ;  Mary,  who  died  whilst  the  wife  of  Valentine  McCully  ;  Theophi- 
lus    became   a  prominent  citizen    of   the  county,  and  died   m  1874 
whilst    public    administrator.     His  son,  Hon.  Walker  S.  Sears,  now 
represents  Macon  county  in  the  Legislature  ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wite  ot 
John  T.  Cavens  ;  Sallie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Shepperd,  of  Cliariton 
county  ;  Malinda  J.  is  the  wife  of  Calvin  Smith,  of  this  county  ;  Lewis, 
a  Baptist  minister  in  Texas  county,  this   State  ;  Albert  F..  a  resident 
of  Huntsville;   Woodson  D.,  died  in  Gratiot  Street  Prison  during  the 
war      He  was  one  of  the  prisoners  who  drew  for  his  life  at  the  Pal- 
myra massacre  but  drew  a  "  life-slip  "  and  was  accordingly  not  shot ; 
William  B.,  for  a  number  of  years  a  merchant  at  Renick,  who  died  at 
his  home  in  October,  1867  ;  Milton  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
Oliver  P.,  of  Texas  county,  the  last  two  being  the  sixth  and  seventh, 
respectively,  in  the  family  of  children,  but  the  others  being  stated  in 
the  order  of  their  birth.     Rev.  Milton  J.  Sears  was  born  on  the  farm 
near  Huntsville,  January  13,  1830,  and  was  educated   at  a    private 
school  receivino-  an  excellent  general  English  education.     Subsequently 
he  taukt  school  and  studied  for  the  ministry  while  teaching,  having 
decided  to  devote  himself  to  the  service  of  his  Maker  and  humanity  m 
that  sacred  calling.     Rev.  Mr.  Sears  began  preaching  when  in  his  nme- 
teenth  year  and  has  continued  his  labors  in  the  pulpit  from  that  time 
to  this      In  1850  he  was  ordained  by  Elder  William  Sears,  his  uncle,  ot 
Macon  county,  and  by  Rev.  James  Ratcliff.     The  same  year  of  his 
ordination   he  was  installed  as    pastor  of  the    Silver   Creek   Baptist 
Church,  and  has  continued  in  this  pastorate  from  that  time  to  this. 
For  the  past  two  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  evangelical  work,  a 
portion  of  the  time  in  the  Eastern  part  of  the  State,  and  the  balance 
of  the  time  in  the  Southern  part,  though  he  has  continued  in  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Silver  Creek  Church,  preaching  there  regularly  every 
month.     The  Silver  Creek  Church  is  the  oldest  Baptist  organization 
in  the   county  and  his  continued  pastorate,  now  for  over  30  years, 
shows  how  much  he  is  esteemed  both  as  a  minister  and  a  man  by  those 
who  have  known  him  longest  and  best.     A  man  of  sincere  piety  .and 
o-reat  zeal  in  the  cause  of  religion,  he  is  at  the  same  time  an  eloquent 
and  successful  preacher,  and  has  contributed  as  much  to  the  pi-ospenty 
of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Randolph  county  as  any  minister  ot  his  de- 
nomination within  its  borders.     No  man  in  the  county  stands  higher 
in  o-eneral  confidence  and  esteem.     Since  his  brother's  death  he  has 
dis?haro-ed  the  duties  of  public  administrator,  receiving  the  office  first 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  521 

by  appointment  and  subsequently  being  elected  to  it.  Mr.  Sears  was 
a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Mt.  Pleasant  College  for  many 
years  and  until  the  college  building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  On  the 
24th  of  July,  1851,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Cynthia  A.  Oliver,  a  native 
ot  Clark  county,  Ky.,  born  August  13,  1833,  and  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Cynthia  Oliver  who  came  to  Randolph  county  in  about  1837, 
where  the  father  died  in  April,  1877,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his 
age.  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sears  have  reared  a  family  of  seven  child- 
ren :  Madison  L.,  who  has  just  retired  from  the  real  estate  business 
at  Denver,  Col.,  and  has  recently  located  in  St.  Louis  as  special  and 
adjusting  agent  for  the  Manufiicturers  Insurance  Company  of  Boston, 
representing  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Utah,  Wyomino- ; 
Victoria  A.,  now  the  wife  of  Felix  Aubuehen,  of  Grenola,  Kansas;' 
Henry  L.,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.  ;  Emeline  C.,' 
now  Mrs.  Benjamin  McCrary,  of  Chariton  county;  Anna  M.,  a 
graduate  of  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  and  at  present  a  teacher  at  Hunts- 
vdle  ;  Minnie  and  Stella  both  voung  ladies  at  home.  Mr.  Sears  is 
the  author  of  the  "Primitive  Baptist  Hymnal,"  a  book  of  sacred 
songs  used  extensively  in  Baptist  churches.  It  contains  a  number  of 
selections  of  music  composed  by  his  daughter,  Victoria,  for  some  time 
a  teacher  of  music  at  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Hardin  CoUeo-es. 

JOHN  C.  SHAFFER 

(Huntsville) . 
A  resident  of  Randolph  county  for  47  years,  Mr.  Shaefer  has  from 
time  to  time  been  prominently  identified  with  its  business  and  public 
affairs.  His  name  has  stood  out  for  nearly  half  a  century  as  a  syno- 
nym of  integrity  of  character,  personal  worth  and  useful  citizenship. 
He  was  born  in  Carlshafen,  Hesse,  now  a  part  of  Prussia,  Germany, 
on  the  11th  of  October,  1814,  and  was  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary 
Hoffman  Scheafer  (as  the  name  was  originally  spelled),  both  of  old 
and  respected  German  families.  John  C.  received  an  ordinary  edu- 
cation in  his  native  language  and  was  brought  up  to  the  tailor's  trade, 
which  he  learned  thoroughly,  as  has  ever  been  required  of  apprentices 
m  that  country.  In  1833  he  came  to  America,  landing  at  Baltimore, 
but  soon  proceeded  to  Washington  City,  where  he  worked  for  Christo- 
pher Echloff  at  his  trade  for  about  15  months.  He  then  went  to 
Charlottesville,  Va.,  where  he  pursued  his  trade  for  about  three 
years.  While  there  he  met  and  married  Miss  Ellen  Day,  of  that  place. 
She  was  born  January  19,  1815,  and  they  were  married  January  26, 
1836.  The  following  year  he  moved  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Hunts- 
ville, where  he  has  lived  continuously  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
followed  tailoring  here  for  nearly  30  years.  Having  a  good  ordinary 
education  in  his  native  language,  he  applied  himself  to  study  in  the 
English  language,  and  obtained,  also,  an  excellent  general  English 
education.  A  man  of  superior  intelligence  and  excellent  address,  he 
soon  attained  to  considerable  prominence  at  Huntsville  and  became 
highly  esteemed  for  his   high  character  and  business  qualifications. 


,•*«     .         '•'  ' 

522  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

In  1866  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  and  filled  the  office  with  efficiency 
and  entire  satisfaction  to  the  public.  In  1870,  his  term  of  official 
service  having  expired,  he  and  his  sons,  C.  B.  and  J.  M.,  engaged  in 
merchandising,  and  he  continued  the  business  a  number  of  years.  He 
then  sold  out,  and  has  since  been  identified  with  no  regular  business 
pursuit.  He  is,  however,  secretary  to  the  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, and  also  secretary  for  the  Independent  Coal  and  Mining  Com- 
pany, in  both  of  which  he  is  a  stockholder.  Mr.  Shaefer  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  for  over  42  years,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  secretary  during  nearly  all  that  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shaefer  have  had  nine  children  :  Sophia  M.,  who  died  in  1876,  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Waldo  Lewis,  or  rather  his  widow,  for  he  preceded  her  to  the 
grave  some  10  years;  Dabney  G.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  17; 
August  G.,  wh©  died  in  1876,  aged  33;  Jennie,  now  Mrs.  V.  B. 
Calhoun;  Mary  ^.,  femme  litre;  Kate,  now  Mrs.  John  D.  Gregory, 
of  Norborne,  Mo.  ;  Dora,  a  popular  teacher  of  the  county  ;  Charles 
B.,  cashier  in  the  Randolph  Bank  of  Moberly,  and  James  M.,  of  Tay- 
lor's dry  goods  store..  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaefer  have  been  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  for  nearly  50  years. 

J.  H.  SIMMS 

(Retail  dealer  in  Wines,  Liquors,  Cigars,  Tobacco,  etc.,  etc.,  Huntsville). 

The  early  settlement  of  Randolph  county  was  effected  principally 
between  1825  and  1835.  Of  course,  before  that  time  there  were  a 
large  number  of  pioneers  who  settled  in  the  county,  and  after  1835 
there  was  a  steady  stream  of  new  comers  from  Kentucky,  Virginia, 
and  several  of  the  other  Southern  States.  But  betweeen  the  dates 
we  have  named  there  was,  perhaps,  a  larger  bulk  of  immigrants  to 
the  county  than  at  any  equal  period  prior  to  the  Civil  War.  It  was 
during  that  time  that  Mr.  Simms'  parents  came  to  this  county. 
Rufus  and  Mildred  (Austin)  Simms  were  from  Virginia,  and  came 
here  in  1830.  They  settled  three  miles  west  of  Huntsville  where 
they  became  comfortably  situated  on  a  good  farm,  and  lived  there 
until  their  death.  James  H.  was  born  on  the  farm  March  25,  1847, 
and  was  brought  up  to  a  farm  life,  getting  a  good  common  school 
education.  Although  a  youth  of  only  about  15  years  of  age  when 
the  war  broke  out,  he  enlisted  in  the  State  service  under  Gen.  Price, 
and  subsequently  participated  in  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Lexington, 
and  other  less  engagements.  After  his  term  of  service  was  out  in  the 
State  Guard  he  returned  home,  and  was  on  the  farm  the  balance  of 
the  time  until  the  close  of  the  war.  During  the  year  1864  he  took  a 
course  at  school  at  Callao.  In  1865  he  engaged  in  the  saloon  busi- 
ness which  he  has  since  continued,  except  for  one  year.  He  now 
has  two  saloons  in  Huntsville  and  keeps  the  best  Kentucky  whiskies 
to  be  had  in  the  market,  while  the  fragrance  of  his  cigars  and  tobacco 
is  such  as  to  make  infants  smile  and  maidens  long  for  quaffs  of  its  de- 
liciousness.  Mr.  Simms  has  had  saloons  at  Moberly  and  Nevada 
City,  which,  however,  were  only  branches  of  his  business  at  Hunts- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  523 

ville.  On  the  23d  of  April,  1879,  Mr.  Simms  was  married  to  Miss 
Sullie  Hall,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Hall,  of  this  county.  Mrs.  S.  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  S.,  though  not  a  church  mem- 
ber, is  a  man  of  religious  instincts,  and  fully  appreciates  the  import- 
ance of  churches,  when  properly  conducted,  to  the  well  being  of 
society.  He  is  himself  a  temperate,  substantial  citizen,  and  reliable, 
upright  man.  He  is  much  respected  in  the  community  by  saints  as 
well  as  sinners. 

JOHN    SUTLIFF 

(Owner  and  Proprietor  of  the  Huntsville  Woolen  Mills). 

Mr.  Sutliff's  whole  life  has  been  identified  with  the  woolen  millings 
business.  His  father  before  him,  Phineas  Sutliff",  was  connected  with 
the  same  business,  and  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  coming  origin- 
ally of  an  old  and  worthy  English  family.  Mr.  SutlifTs  mother  was  a 
Miss  Susanna  Teasdale,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  Phineas  Sutliff  went 
to  the  latter  State  and  located  at  Bloomfield,  in  Essex  county,  where 
he  ran  a  large  woolen  mill  for  a  number  of  years.  The  son,  John, 
was  born  at  Bloomfield,  July  12,  1824.  In  1837  the  family  removed 
to  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  located  at  Newville,  where  the  father 
ran  a  woolen  mill  for  about  10  years.  He  then  located  in  Butler 
county  of  the  same  State,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  same  business 
until  his  death.  He  died  in  1865.  John  SutliflT  remained  with  his 
father  at  work  in  the  woolen  business  until  he  was  18  years  of  age, 
when  he  started  out  for  himself.  Before  he  was  21  years  of  age  he 
had  put  up  a  large  woolen  mill  in  Pennsylvania,  and  ran  it  with  suc- 
cess for  about  two  years.  He  then  came  West,  locating  at  Glasgow, 
Mo.,  where  he  was  employed  in  putting  up  the  machinery  of  a  woolen 
mill  at  that  place.  There  he  erected  the  first  woolen  mill  ever  estab- 
lished west  of  St.  Charles.  In  1855  he  came  to  Mount  Airy,  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  from  that  time 
to  this,  for  a  period  now  of  nearly  30  years.  He  built  a  woolen  mill 
on  Silver  creek,  now  known  as  the  Silver  Creek  Woolen  Mills.  Mr. 
Sutliff  carried  on  the  mills  there  for  a  period  of  16  years  and  came 
to  Huntsville  in  1872,  having  previously  erected  the  Huntsville 
Woolen  Mill,  of  which  he  took  full  charge.  This  mill  was  erected  by 
a  joint  stock  company  in  which  Mr.  S.  is  a  leading  stockholder,  and 
has  a  capacity  of  340  spindles,  being  a  one-set  mill.  The  company 
represents  a  capital  of  $16,000.  The  mill  consumes  about  40,000 
pounds  annually.  Mr.  Sutliff  is  without  question  one  of  the  most 
capable  and  skillful  woolen-milling  men  in  this  section  of  the  State, 
and  has  contributed  no  inconsiderable  part  to  the  energy  and  success 
which  has  characterized  his  line  of  industry  in  this  county  and  through- 
out the  surrounding  country.  He  has  led  the  way  in  this  important 
branch  of  manufactures,  and  by  his  example  others  have  been  encour- 
aged to  engage  in  the'same  business.  His  removal  to  Huntsville  was 
a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  best  interests  of  the  place.  On  the  19th 
of  August,  1846,  Mr.  Sutliff  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  C.  Varnum, 
whose  father  was  one  of  the'  pioneer  settlers  of  Butler  county.  Pa. 


524  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutlifl'have  six  children  :  Enoch  Phineas,  Susan  Sophia, 
Sarah  Jane,  William  Henry,  Amanda  Catherine  and  Hattie  Harriet. 
Mrs.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church. 

GEORGE  T.  SWETNAM 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
It  was  away  back  in  1828,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad 
only  about  seven  years  of  age,  that  his  parents,  John  and  Sarah  (Goff) 
Swetnam,  came  to  Missouri.  They  were  from  Clark  county,  Ky., 
where  George  T.  was  born  July  9,  1821,  and  they  settled  in  Howard 
county,  near  Burton,  where  they  lived  long  and  respected  lives  and 
died  greatly  regretted  by  those  who  knew  them.  George  T.  was 
brought  up  on  the  farm  near  Burton  and  was  reared  to  know  all 
about  hard  work,  not  from  observation,  but  by  actual  experience  ;  for 
those  were  not  the  days  of  shaded  riding  breaking  plows  and  sulky 
plows  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  but  the  prairie  was  broken  with  three 
yokes  of  cattle,  and  corn  covered  with  a  hoe  and  planted  one  way  and 
weeded  in  between  by  hand  or  with  a  hoe.  There  was  work  to  do  in 
those  days  and  no  foolishness,  as  now,  riding  around  on  a  sulky  plow 
reading  "Daring  Dick  of  Denver,"  or  "The  Monstrous  Monk  of 
the  Mountains."  George  T.  Swetnam,  after  he  grew  up  was  mar- 
ried, on  the  24th  of  December,  1848,  to  Miss  Nancy  E.  Barter,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Asa  J.  Barter,  an  early  settler  of  Howard  county. 
In  1850  Mr.  Swetnam  came  over  into  Randolph  county  and  settled 
seven  miles  north  of  Huntsville.  Four  years  later  he  removed  to 
his  present  farm  where  he  has  resided  ever  since,  for  a  period  now 
of  30  years.  He  has  a  good  farm  here  of  250  acres.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  grew  tobacco  mainly,  but  for  some  time  past  has 
given  his  attention  mainly  to  stock-raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swetnam 
have  11  children:  John  A.,  the  present  county  surveyor,  whose 
sketch  follows  this  ;  Josephus,  who  died  at  the  age  of  30,  November 
19,  1881  ;  William  L.,  now  a  resident  of  California;  Susie,  educated 
at  Mount  Pleasant  College,  and  now  a  popular  teacher  in  the  county  ; 
Elmer,  Lura,  Nancy  C,  Lizzie  N.,  and  George — the  last  four  still 
at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swetnam  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
They  are  highly  respected  residents  of  the  county. 

JOHN  A.  SWETNAM 

(County  Surveyor,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Swetnam,  who  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  prominent  and  pop- 
ular educator  of  the  county,  and  is  a  man  of  superior  culture  and  ex- 
cellent business  qualifications,  was  born  and  reared  in  the  county, 
which  has  continued  his  permanent  home.  Mr.  Swetnam's  parents 
are  George  T.  and  Nancy  E.  (Barter)  Swetnam,  old  and  respected 
residents  of  the  county.  His  father  is  a  successful  and  influential 
farmer,  and  is  in  comfortal)le  circumstances.  John  A.,  born  on  his 
father's  farm,  near  Darksville,  April  22,  1850,  remained  at  home,  as- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  525 

sistingonthe  place  after  he  became  old  enough  to  be  of  service,  and  at- 
tending the  neighborhood  schools  until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  Huntsville  and  entered  Mount  Pleasant  College.  He  took  a  reg- 
ular course  at  this  institution  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1874  with 
David  Gentry,  of  Audrain  county,  John  S.  Gashwille,  now  deceased, 
and  a  number  of  others,  occupying  a  creditable  position  in  his  class. 
Mr.  Swetnam,  immediately  following  his  graduation,  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  in  Randolph  county,  and  spent  nine  years  in  that  profession. 
During  this  time  he  was  assistant  in  the  school  at  Roanoke,  and  had 
chargfe  of  several  other  leadinsr  schools  of  the  countv.  For  three 
years  he  was  professor  of  mathematics  at  Mount  Pleasant  College,  his 
alma  mater,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching  at  Clifton  at  the  time  of  his 
election  to  the  office  of  county  surveyor.  While  at  school,  as  a  stu- 
dent and  afterwards  as  a  teacher,  Mr.  Swetnam  always  showed  a 
marked  preference  for  mathematics,  and  became  more  than  ordinarily 
advanced  and  proficient  in  that  science.  He  takes  the  same  view  of 
mathematics  in  which  Washington  always  regarded  it.  Every  one  is 
familiar  with  the  fact  of  the  latter's  partiality  for  that  science.  In 
his  letter  to  Nicholas  Pike,  the  author  of  the  first  American  arithmetic 
ever  published,  he  thus  expresses  his  admiration  for  the  science  of  fig- 
ures :  "The  science  of  figures,  to  a  certain  degree,  is  not  only 
indispensably  requis.te  in  every  walk  of  civilized  life,  but  the  investi- 
gation of  mathemati  cal  truths  accustoms  the  mind  to  method  and  cor- 
rectness in  reasoning,  and  is  an  employment  peculiarly  worthy  of 
rational  beings.  Tn  a  cloudy  state  of  existence,  where  so  many  things 
appear  precarious  to  the  bewildered  research,  it  is  here  that  the 
rational  faculties  find  a  firm  foundation  to  rest  upon.  From  the  high 
ground  of  mathematical  and  philosophical  demonstration  we  are  insen- 
sibly led  to  far  nobler  speculations  and  sublime  meditations."  It 
was  Washington's  partiality  for  mathematics  that  led  him  to  the  study 
of  that  science  which  fitted  him  at  an  early  age  for  the  work  of  sur- 
veying, and  it  was  in  that  profession  that  he  started  out  in  life.  As 
an  exercise  of  the  mind  there  is  unquestionably  no  study  equal  to  the 
science  of  mathematics,  and  it  was  the  study  of  this  science  which 
contributed  largely  to  prepare  the  Father  of  His  Country  for  the  great 
duties  and  responsibilities  which  were  destined  to  rest  upon  him.  Mr. 
Swetnam,  in  his  study  of  mathematics,  of  course  became  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  science  of  surveying,  and  it  was  in  recognition  of 
his  qualifications  in  this  direction,  not  less  than  on  account  of  his  high 
character  and  personal  popularity,  that  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
surveyor  irl  1880.  He  has  given  general  satisfaction  in  his  present 
position  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  able  and  efficient  survej^- 
ors  the  county  ever  had.  He  is  also  ex-officio  road  and  bridge  c(nn- 
missioner,  and  has  been  appointed  by  the  county  court  to  the  office  of 
county  inspector  of  mines.  Mr.  Swetnam  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Huntsville  Fleming  Raker  &  Stacker  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
is  secretary  of  the  company.  This  company  has  a  capital  stock  of 
f  10, 000,  fully  paid,  and  was  organized  in  1883.     On  the  12th  of  Seji- 


526  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

tember,  1875,  Mr.  Swetnam  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Baker, 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Irene  T.  (Mathis)  Baker,  of  this  county. 
She  was  a  woman  of  singular  gentleness  of  mind  and  rare  culture,  and 
industrious  and  enterprising,  a  devoted  wife  and  kind  mother,  but  soon 
fell  a  victim  to  that  dread  malady,  consumption.  She  died  June  4, 
1880.  Two  of  her  children  are  with  her  in  her  home  beyond  the 
grave.  One  survives  her.  Prince  W.,  aged  seven.  Mr.  Swetnam  is 
a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  is  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbatii-school  of  his  church.  He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  church 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  most  valuable  and  worthy  members. 
Still  quite  a  young  man,  the  future  undoubtedly  has  much  useful- 
ness in  store  for  him,  both  in  public  affairs  and  in  private  life. 

JOSEPH  W.  TAYLOR,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Huntsville). 
The  positions  of  prominence  in  the  various  walks  of  life  we  now  see 
occupied  by  men  well  advanced  in  years  will  soon  be  taken  by  younger 
men,  as  their  seniors  gradually  pass  off  the  stage  of  hurnan  activity 
by  superannuation  and  death.  Whom  these  successors  are  to  be  de- 
pends almost  alone  upon  the  exertions  and  ambition  of  each  individual. 
Two  youths  may  start  out  in  life  side  by  side,  and  with  equal  intelli- 
gence and  advantages.  One  will  achieve  marked  success  and  rise  to 
prominence  and  influence.  The  other  will  fail  and  remain  in  obscur- 
ity. The  true  secret  of  their  varying  fortunes  lies  in  the  difference  of 
spirit  which  animates  them  and  the  difference  of  application  and  per- 
severance with  which  they  pursue  their  respective  careers  in  life.  It 
was  a  frequent  remark  of  John  Stuart  Mill,  one  of  the  greatest  econo- 
mists and  philosophers  of  modern  times,  that  *'  What  I  could  do, 
could  assuredly  be  done  by  any  boy  or  girl  of  average  capacity  and 
healthy  physical  constitution."  His  position,  as  is  well  known,  was, 
that  there  is  not  so  much  difference  in  the  capacities  of  individuals  as 
is  generally  imagined  ;  and  that  it  is  by  industry  and  perseverance 
almost  alone,  occupations  being  the  same,  that  distinctions  ultimately 
obtain.  While  it  may  be  going  too  far  to  follow  him  to  the  end  in 
this  view,  he  is  certainly  right  to  a  very  great  extent ;  and  no  more 
conclusive  evidence  of  a  young  man's  ultimate  prominence  in  his  call- 
ing can  be  given  than  that  he  possesses  these  qualities.  In  the 
medical  profession  at  this  place  we  have  more  than  one  physician 
whose  career  illustrates  this  doctrine  of  Mill ;  men  who  have  risen  in 
the  absence  of  early  advantages  to  success  and  local  prominence  in 
their  profession,  and  solely  by  their  own  industry  and  perseverance  as 
students  and  practitioners  ;  and  taking  the  secret  of  their  success  as  a 
criterion  to  judge  the  future  of  the  younger  members  of  the  profes- 
sion, it  is  not  difficult  to  i)oint  out  those  who  are  to  occupy  the  places 
of  these  old  and  prominent  physicians  when  they  have  passed  off  the 
stage  of  action.  Prominent  among  this  class  of  young  men  in  Ran- 
dolph county  is  without  question  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 
A  young  man  of  sterling  natural  intelligence  and  good  constitution, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


527 


and  having  devoted  himself  to  the  medical  profession,  he  has  pursued 
his  studies  and  attended  to  his  practice  with  that  industry  and  resolu- 
tion that,  if  continued,  cannot  fail  to  place  him  in  the  front  rank  of 
his  profession  in  Eandolph  county.  So  as  time  rolls  on,  he  will 
probably  become  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  O'f  the  county  and  a 
leading,'  influential  citizen,  while  others,  school-mates  of  his,  perhaps, 
without  the  qualities  he  possesses,  in  the  years  to  come,  will  still  find 
themselves  as  little  distinguished  among  their  fellow-men  as  when  he 
and  they  started  out  youths  together.  It  is  such  representative  citi- 
zens as  are  here  spoken  of,  both  present  and  prospective,  whose 
sketches  it  is  desired  to  give  in  this  volume,  and  therefore  the  sketch 
of  Dr.  Taylor,  Jr.,  properly  finds  a  place  on  these  pages.  Dr.  Joseph 
W.  Taylor  is  a  son  of  Dr."^  William  H.  Taylor  whose  sketch  follows 
this,  and  was  born  at  Huntsville  October  21,  1854.  He  was  educated 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  and  intended  when  in  youth  to  devote  him- 
self to  the  profession  of  pharmacy.  In  pursuance  of  this  purpose  he 
studied  pharmacy,  and  in  1874  took  a  course  of  pharmaceutical  lectures 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Returning  home  after  this,  he  was  engaged 
in  clerking  at  Huntsville,  but  soon  decided  to  follow  the  example  of 
his  father  and  become  a  physician.  He  read  medicine  under  his  father 
for  two  years,  and  applied  himself  to  study  with  great  assiduity  and 
perseverance.  In  1876  he  entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  he  took  a  course  in  medi- 
cine and  surgery,  and  continuing  his  studies,  in  1877,  he  then  attended 
the  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated with  marked  credit  in  1878.  Coming  home  now  to  Huntsville, 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  with  his  father  and  has  made  gratifying 
progress  in  his  profession  as  a  practitioner.  He  is  studious  and  pro- 
gressive in  his  idea  and  faithful  and  attentive  to  his.  practice,  and  is 
rapidly  winning  the  confidence  of  the  community  in  his  skill  and 
ability  as  a  phvsician,  as  he  has  always  had  it  personally  and  in  the 
ordinary  afl'airs  of  life.  On  the  24th  of  September,  1878,  Dr.  Taylor 
was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  B.  Rutherford,  a  daughter  of  W.  T. 
Rutherford.  They  have  two  children,  Reba  and  Willie.  Mrs.  T.  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  They  have  a  beautiful 
residence  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town  with  a  handsome  farm  tributary. 

WILLIAM    H.  TAYLOR,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Huntsville). 
Dr.  Taylor,  who  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Huntsville,  with  but  little  intermission  but  for  two  years  less  than  40 
vears,  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  successful 
phvsicians  in  the  county,  and  whose  character  as  a  man,  without  a 
blemish,  stands  high  for  the  many  estimable  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  he  possesses.  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Bartlett) 
Taylor,  who  were  the  first  settlers  of  what  is  now  Schuyler  county, 
their   nearest  neio-hbors   at  that  time   being  at  Kirksville,  50  miles 


528  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

away.  The  father  died  in  Schuyler  county  on  his  farm,  and  the 
physician  who  attended  him  in  his  last  illness  had  to  come  from 
Huntsville,  a  distance  of  nearly  100  miles.  His  death  occurred  July 
21,  1835.  Prior  to  going  to  Schuyler  county  he  had  lived  at  Hunts- 
ville, locating  here  as  early  as  1827.  He  kept  the  first  hotel,  called 
the  Taylor  House,  ever  opened  in  the  county,  and  built  the  first  brick 
house,  long  known  as  the  Austin  House,  ever  erected  in  the  limits  of 
the  county.  It  was  in  1833  that  he  left  Huntsville  for  Schuyler 
county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  and  wife  were  both  from 
Kentucky,  and  his  father's  family  was  originally  from  Virginia.  His 
wife  survived  him  about  five  years,  dying  on  a  farm  four  miles  north 
of  Huntsville,  August  14,  1840,  at  the  age  of  40  years,  the  ftimily  hav- 
ing come  to  this  county  after  the  fiither's  death.  There  were  seven 
children  :  Hardin  M.  W.,  who  died  in  1857  ;  Edmund  T.,  who  was 
under  Gen.  Price  in  the  Mexican  War  and  died  near  Santa  Fe  during 
that  struggle;  William  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John  B.,  a 
stock-raiser  near  Helena,  Montana  ;  George  W.,  at  Huntsville  ;  Sarah 
E.,  who  died  while  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Brooks,  and  Martha  P.,  now 
Mrs.  Paul  C.  Murphy.  William  H.  Taylor  remained  on  the  farm 
with  his  mother  near  Huntsville  and  attended  school  at  this  place 
until  1843,  when  he  went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  clerked  in  a 
drug  store  at  that  place  for  about  four  years.  He  had  decided  to 
make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  calling  for  life,  and  while  in  the 
drug  store  he  pursued  a  regular  preparatory  course  of  study  for  that 
purpose,  occupying  all  his  leisure  time,  and  especially  the  evenings 
after  business  hours,  often  until  12  o'clock,  with  his  books.  He  took 
three  courses  of  lectures  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Louisville 
University  then  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Caldwell,  graduating  in 
1848.  Li  the  meantime,  however,  he  had  returned  to  Missouri  after 
his  first  course  of  lectures  and  engaged  in  the  practice  at  Huntsville. 
He  resumed  his  practice  here  immediately  after  his  graduation  and 
started  the  first  drug  store  ever  established  in  the  place.  This  was 
in  May,  1848,  and  he  has  since  been  identified  with  the  drug  business 
more  or  less  desultorily  and  with  the  practice  of  medicine  continu- 
ously, except  from  1858  to  1861,  when  he  was  in  the  drug  business. 
He  was  also  at  one  time  interested  with  his  brother,  George,  in  the 
mercantile  business.  In  the  practice  of  medicine  his  son,  Joseph  W., 
is  now  his  partner  and  has  been  since  1868,  when  the  latter  graduated 
from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia.  Dr.  Taylor  was 
first  married  January  29,  1850,  to  Miss  Margaret  Murphy,  daughter 
of  Neil  and  Hannah  (Davis)  Murphy,  of  this  county.  She' was  his 
companion  for  over  twenty  years,  but  on  the  6th  of  October,  1870, 
was  taken  from  him  by  death,  leaving  him  two  children,  Joseph  W. 
and  Ernest.  On  the  21st  of  May,  1872,  Dr.  Taylor  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Mary  Wisdom,  the  widow  of  Caswell  Wisdom,  deceased,  and 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Reed,  of  this  county.  She  is  a  sister 
to  Capt.  Reed,  well  and  favorably  known  by  most  old  residents  of  the 
county.     The  Doctor  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  529 

and  the  Doctor  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Odd  Fellow's  lodge,  or- 
ganized in  Huntsville  in  1847,  and  has  held  every  station  in  the  lodge, 
as  well  as  being  also  a  member  of  the  Encampment.  He  is  also 
identified  with  the  Masonic  order,  being  a  member  of  the  lodge  at 
this  place.  The  Doctor,  althongh  he  has  seen  nearly  forty  years  of 
hard  and  active  practice  in  his  profession,  and  is  now  over  sixty  years 
of  age,  is  remarkably  well  preserved,  being  still  erect  in  form  and 
quick  and  elastic  in  step,  and  looks  to  be  still  a  middle-aged  man,  or 
as  young  as  men  usually  are  ten  or  fifteen  years  his  junior.  He  has 
always  stood  high  as  a  physician  and  has  ever  had  a  leading  practice  in 
this  part  of  the  county.  Personally,  no  man  is  more  highly 
esteemed.  He  has  held  the  office  of  mayor  and  councilman,  but  has 
never  had  any  desire  for  official  advancement. 

E.  W.  TAYLOR 

(Of  Taylor  &  Keebaugh,  Druggists,  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Taylor,  an  energetic  and  successful  young  business  man  of 
Huntsville,  is  a  son  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Taylor,  whose  sketch  precedes 
this,  and  was  born  at  this  place  October  8,  1858,  being  the  youngest 
in  his  father's  family  of  children.  He  was  reared  at  Huntsville  and 
educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  taking  a  regular  course  in  that  in- 
stitution and  graduating  with  credit  in  the  class  of  1878  under  the 
presidency  of  Rev.  Dr.  Baker.  Having  made  up  his  mind  to  devote 
himself  to  a  business  life,  immediately  after  his  graduation  he  en- 
tered the  drug  store  of  Woodbury  &  Baker  to  learn  the  practical 
details  of  merchandising.  Later  along  he  became  a  partner  with 
Dr.  Fort  in  the  drug  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fort  &  Taylor, 
and  made  a  regular  study  of  pharmacy.  He  is  now,  and  has  been  for 
some  time  past,  a  registered  druggist  of  the  county.  Some  two  years 
ago  Mr.  L.  B.  Keebaug-h  bouo^ht  Dr.  Fort's  interest  in  the  store  and 
the  firm  has  since  been  Taylor  &  Keebaugh.  This  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing drug  firms  of  Huntsville,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known 
houses  in  the  drug  line  in  the  county.  Messrs.  Taylor  &  Keebaugh 
have  greatly  improved  the  stock  of  drugs  and  have  considerably  in- 
creased it  since  they  became  proprietors  of  the  house,  and  its  trade 
has  had  a  marked  increase.  Both  being  men  of  first-class  business 
qualifications,  they  carry  on  their  business  with  that  intelligence  and 
enterprise  which  cannot  fail  of  success.  Courteous  and  polite  to  all, 
and  perfectly  fair  in  their  dealings  with  customers,  they  have  the  full 
confidence  of  the  conmiunity,  and  are  popular  not  only  as  druggists, 
but  personally  as  neighbors  and  citizens.  Mr.  Taylor  is  thoroughly 
conversant  with  all  the  details  of  his  business,  and  is  a  capable  and 
skillful  druggist.  The  fact  that  this  store  is  largely  patronized  by 
physicians,  who  are  always  exacting  in  the  compounding  of  their  pre- 
scriptions, shows  how  he  is  regarded  as  a  druggist  by  those  most  cap- 
able of  judging,  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  stockholder  of  the  gas  company 
of  this  city  and  in  the  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  in  the 
Raker  and  Stacker  Manufacturing  Company. 


530  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


JOHN  N. TAYLOR 

(Merchant,   Dealer  in  Faraiture  and  Carpets,  Wagons  and  Buggies,  etc.,  etc., 

Huntsville). 

Mr.  Taylor,  although  still  comparatively  a  young  man,  and  hav- 
ing started  out  in  life  for  himself  on  reaching  his  sixteenth  year, 
with  no  means,  is  now  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  busi- 
ness men  of  Randolph  county.  He  has  just  cause  to  be  satisfied  with 
his  past,  and  to  look  with  hope  for  a  more  than  ordinarily  prosper- 
ous future.  Possessing  many  of  the  stronger  and  better  qualities 
and  qualifications  for  a  successful  life  in  business,  he  is  at  the  same 
time  favored  with  that  integrity  of  character  and  pleasant  and  accom- 
modating disposition  which  challenge  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  is  thrown  in  contact.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  July  21,  1850,  and  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Isabella  (Silverwood) 
Taylor,  both  of  old  and  respected  Pennsylvania  families,  and  both  of  En- 
glish descent.  John  N.  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania  up  to  the  age  of  16, 
occupying  his  time  to  good  advantage  either  at  school  or  assisting  in 
his  father's  store.  But  of  an  enter[)rising  disposition  and  desiring  to 
accomplish  something  in  life  without  waiting  until  he  attained  man- 
hood, he  struck  out  for  the  great  West,  and  finally  called  a  halt  at 
Sigourney,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  at  the  cabinet-maker's  trade. 
After  working  there  three  years  he  went  over  to  Richland,  in  the 
same  State,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Stroup,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Stroup,  formerly  of  Pennsylvania,  but  an  early  settler  of 
Keokuk  county,  Iowa,  and  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  men 
of  that  county.  This  was  the  25th  of  August,  1870,  and  the  follow- 
ing week  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Taylor,  instead  of  settling  in  Iowa, 
came  promptly  to  Missouri  to  seek  a  location  for  the  purpose  of  car- 
rying on  his  trade.  Selecting  Huntsville,  he  went  to  work  here  with 
the  little  means  he  had  to  establish  himself  in  life.  His  career  since 
has  been  one  of  unusual  success.  He  soon  had  a  large  furniture  store, 
and  in  eight  years  he  added  a  carpet  department.  Later  along  he  es- 
tablished a  vehicle  warehouse,  opening  a  fine  stock  of  wagons  and 
buggies.  He  now  does  the  largest  business  in  his  line  of  any  man  in 
the  county,  and  has  one  of  the  largest  establishments  in  North-east 
Missouri.  With  characteristic  enterprise,  when  the  contract  was  to 
be  let  for  the  erection  of  the  court-house  at  this  place,  he,  with  five 
other  gentlemen,  put  in  their  bid,  which  was  accepted,  and  they  are 
now  carrying  on  the  work  of  building  that  structure.  He  also  has 
a  branch  house  at  Salisbury  in'charge  of  his  brother,  William  H.  Tay- 
lor, where  he  carries  a  stock  representing  over  $5,000.  Such  a  rec- 
ord of  business  success  is  rarely  equaled,  and  reflects  the  highest 
credit  on  his  character  and  business  qualifications.  He  says  the  se- 
cret of  his  success  is  that  he  pushes  everything  for  all  it  is  worth  and 
deals  fairly  at  all  times  and  in  all  circumstances.  He  has  thus  not  only 
succeeded,  but  has  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public.     No 


i 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  531 

man  in  Huntsville  stands  higher  than  he.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  have  four 
children  :  Marj  H.,  Maud  S.,  Lucile  G.  and  Lida.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

WILLIAM   TERRY 

(Farmer,  Section  11,  Township  54,  Kange  15,  near  Huntsville). 

Mr.  Terry  is  vvell  known  in  this  section  of  the  county  as  one  of  its 
most  worthy  citizens.  His  life  has  been  one  of  more  than  ordinary 
activity  and  without  reproach.  He  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ky., 
October  30,  1808,  and  was  a  son  of  Josiah  and  Nancy  (Thomas) 
Terry,  early  settlers  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  from  Tennessee.  Capt. 
Terry  was  reared  in  Madison  county,  to  which  his  parents  removed 
when  he  was  quite  young,  and  in  December,  1830,  was  married  to  Miss 
Ithema  Pay  ton,  a  daughter  of  Yelverton  and  Mildred  (White)  Pay- 
ton,  and  born  in  Madison  county,  November  30,  1813.  Mr.  Terry 
and  wife  came  to  Missouri  in  1837,  settling  on  section  2,  township  54, 
range  15,  where  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  and  improved  a  farm  on 
which  he  lived  for  many  years.  In  Kentucky  he  had  learned  the  tan- 
ner's trade,  and  in  this  county  he  set  up  a  tannery  on  Dark's  creek 
which  he  conducted  for  about  eight  years.  Excepting  this  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  and  raising  stock  ever  since  he  came  to  the  county. 
He  came  to  his  present  farm  in  1869  and  has  resided  here  ever  since. 
His  tract  of  land  contains  nearly  500  acres,  and  he  is  comfortably 
situated.  Since  the  war  he  has  grown  a  great  deal  of  tobacco,  and 
has  found  this  a  very  profitable  branch  of  industry,  and  has  also  raised 
considerable  cattle  and  mules.  In  1850  Mr.  Terry  went  to  California 
and  was  engaged  in  mining  out  there  for  a  year  with  pretty  o-ood  suc- 
cess. He  and  wife  have  reared  a  fomily  of  four  children  :  Josiah 
William,  Nancy  J.  and  Mildred  A.  Nancy  J.  is  now  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Elliott,  and  Mildred  A.  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Jackson,  of 
Salisbury,  Mo.  Mr.  Terry  has  traded  quite  extensively  in  land  and 
owned  at  one  time  about  1,100  acres.  He  still  has  675  acres.  His 
farm  is  largely  run  in  grass. 

Capt.  Josiah  Terry,  the  eldest  in  his  father's  family  of  child- 
ren, was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ky.,  December  17,  1832,  and 
was  reared  in  Randolph  county.  In  1850,  at  the  acre  of  17,  he 
went  to  California  with  his  father,  but  remained  out  there  three  years 
and  four  months,  engaged  in  mining  and  fighting  Indians,  but  princi- 
pally the  latter.  He  was  in  the  militia  that  carried  on  a  war  against 
the  Piutes  and  Diggers,  and  was  in  several  hot  fights,  experiencing- 
more  than  one  narrow  escape  from  the  scalping  knife  of  "  Lo,  the  poor 
Indian,  who  sees  God  in  evervthing."  He  returned  to  Missouri  in 
the  spring  of  1853  and  had  not  a  little  of  the  yellow  dust  that  makes 
happy  the  hearts  of  both  saints  and  sinners.  He  now  proceeded  to 
get  a  wife,  and  accordingly  on  the  12th  of  January  of  the  following 
winter,  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Turner,  a  daughter  of  David 
Turner  of  this  county.  He  and  his  young  wife  then  settled  on  a  farm, 
where  he  went  to  work  as  an  industrious  farmer  and  stock-raiser.     In 


532  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

1861  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the  Southern  service,  being 
elected  captain,  and  served  until  1862,  when  his  time  being  out,  he 
enlisted  in  the  regular  Confederate  army,  or  rather,  raised  another 
company,  of  which  he  was  also  made  captain.  He  was  with  Gen. 
Heinman  after  this,  and  at  the  reorganization  of  the  army  he  resigned 
his  commission,  and  joined  Gen.  Parsons,  and  was  afterwards  captured 
at  Helena,  Ark.,  and  confined  in  military  prison  at  Alton  until 
May,  1864.  He  was  then  released  on  parol  and  went  to  Iowa,  where 
he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Coming  back  to  Missouri,  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  trading  in  and  shipping  stock. 
He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  several  terms  and  is  one  of  the 
respected,  influential  citizens  of  his  vicinity.  Captain  and  Mrs.  Terry 
have  seven  children:  Theresa  J.,  now  Mrs.  Jennie  Mason  ;  Emily  F., 
Joella,  Jennie,  Alfred,  Talton  and  Arthur.  Theresa  and  Joella  have 
been  popular  teachers  in  the  county. 

BENNETT  E.  TRELOAR 

(Railroad  and  Express  Agent  and  Telegraph  Operator,  Hnntsville). 

Mr.  Treloar,  one  of  the  most  popular  and  efficient  j^oung  officials 
in  the  service  of  the  Wabash,  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  born  at  Dodge- 
ville,  Iowa  county,  April  4,  1857.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  James  T. 
Treloar,  an  able  minister  of  Dodge ville,  a  man  of  tine  talents  and 
profound  learning,  an  erudite  theologian  and  a  distinguished  pulpit 
orator.  He  was  originally  from  England,  but  came  to  this  country 
when  a  youth,  and  was  married  in  Canada  to  Miss  Jane  Dale,  a  lady 
of  great  strength  of  mind  and  character  and  many  accomplishments, 
as  well  as  of  the  most  amiable  disposition.  They  -had  a  family  of 
several  children,  and,  illustrating  the  truth  of  the  position  which 
many  learned  people  hold,  that  refined  and  cultured  parents  are  gen- 
erally favored  with  children  capable  of  distinguishing  themselves  in 
letters,  the  fine  arts,  and  all  the  higher  spheres  of  human  skill  and 
genius,  it  is  a  fact  that  all  of  Rev.  Mr.  Treloar's  children  are  musi- 
cians of  rare  excellence  and  culture.  One  of  their  sons  is  now  a 
teacher  of  music  in  Synodical  College,  and  one  of  their  daughters  a 
teacher  of  oil  painting  and  drawing  in  the  Female  college  at  Richmond, 
and  Bennett  E.,  himself,  is  an  accomplished  musician.  He  came  to 
Missouri  in  1873  and  attended  Mt.  Pleasant  College  for  two  years. 
He  was  then  in  the  music  business  at  Red  Oak  Junction,  in  Iowa, 
for  two  years.  Returning  to  Missouri,  he  was  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
business  at  Mexico  for  two  years,  and  in  1880  came  to  Huntsville  and 
learned  the  telegrapher's  business  under  E.  S.  Bedford.  In  1882  he 
was  in  the  train  dispatcher's  office  at  Kansas  City,  and  afterwards  in 
the  freight  office  there  up  to  July,  1883,  when  he  returned  to  Hunts- 
ville, and  has  since  been  chief  railroad  and  express  agent  and  tele- 
graph operator  at  this  place.  He  has  two  assistants.  Mr.  Treloar's 
father  is  deceased,  and  his  mother  and  two  sisters,  Jennie  and  Ada, 
are  with  him  at  Huntsville.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  53i 


ISADOR  VAN  DERBECK 

(Proprietor  Depot  Hotel,  Huntsville). 

The  Van  Derbeck  family,  as  its  name  indicates,  came  originally  from 
Holland,  but  during  the  Napoleonic  wars  Mr.  Van  Derbeck's  ancestor 
of  the  third  generation,  who  was  impressed  into  the  French  service, 
finally  settled  in  the  North  of  France,  or  in  the  department  Le  Nord, 
where  his  descendants  have  since  resided.  Isador,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  there  on  the  13th  of  June,  1848,  and  was  reared  in 
his  native  department.  After  he  became  old  enough  he  began  work 
in  the  coal  mines  of  Northern  France,  and  continued  there  until  1872. 
He  passed  through  all  the  branches  of  coal  mining  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica during  the  year  stated  above,  and  worked  in  the  Collinsville 
mines,  near  Belleville,  111.,  for  about  seven  years,  and  was  foreman 
under  Pitts  Bros,  for  about  two  years  in  the  Canton  mine.  In  1879 
he  returned  to  France  on  a  visit,  but,  coming  back  to  America  the 
following  year,  he  subsequently  followed  coal  mining  at  Murphysboro, 
111.,  for  about  a  year.  In  1881  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  in  August 
of  that  year  to  Huntsville,  and  after  mining  here  a  short  time  he  be- 
gan keeping  boarding-house,  the  business  finally  developing  into  his 
present  Depot  Hotel..  A  man  who  likes  good  things  to  eat  himself, 
and  wants  clean  beds  and  comfortable  rooms,  he  knows  how  to  run  a 
hotel,  and  when  guests  leave  they  generally  express  a  regret  that 
they  can  not  stay  longer,  for  it  is  a  luxury  to  eat  at  his  table,  sleep  in 
his  beds  and  while  away  leisure  hours  in  his  cosy,  comfortable  rooms. 
His  prices,  too,  are  so  reasonable  that  one  becomes  richer  the  longer 
he  boards  with  him,  while  of  course  he  becomes  fatter  and  happier. 
And  for  guests  who  enjoy  an  occasional  "  dhrop  o'  tli'  crayture,"  or 
a  fragrant  chew  of  tobacco  or  a  delicious  smoke,  he  keeps  a  neat  bar 
with  the  best  refreshments  to  be  found  in  town.  On  the  30th  of 
April,  1878,  Mr.  Van  Derbeck  was  married  to  Miss  Adele  Duguenay, 
originally  of  the  land  of  vines,  France,  They  have  three  children : 
Victor,  Martile  and  Arthur. 

JOHN  B.  WHITE 

(Farmer,  Section  5,  Township  53,  Range  15,  near  Huntsville). 
Daniel  B.  and  Susan  (Stere)  White,  the  parents  of  John  B.,  came 
to  Missouri  from  Virginia  in  1836  and  settled  in  the  north-western  part 
of  Howard  county,  where  they  still  reside.  John  B.  White  was  born 
on  a  farm  near  Glasgow,  July  30,  1845.  When  15  years  of  age  he  met 
with  an  accident  bv  which  he  lost  his  right  leg.  A  gun  Avent  off,  in- 
flicting  a  wound,  on  account  of  which  his  leg  had  to  be  cut  off  a  few 
inches  below  the  knee.  After  that  his  parents  designed  him  for  an 
indoor,  commercial  life,  and  he  was  educated  with  that  object  in  view. 
After  attending  school  at  Glasgow  for  several  years,  he  took  a  course 
in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  School  at  St.  Louis.  After  his 
commercial  course  he  returned  here,  and  finallv  decided  to  follow  an 


534  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

agricultural  life,  for  which  he  had  a  decided  preference.  He  remained 
at  home  engaged  in  farming  with  hia  father  until  his  marriage,  which 
took  place  on  the  27th  of  March,  1872,  when  Miss  Denie  B.  Garth 
became  his  wife.  Her  parents  were  Garland  and  Mary  (Burnley) 
Garth.  Miss  Garth  came  to  Missouri  in  the  year  1866  and  lived  with 
her  uncle,  Mr.  D.  C.  Garth,  her  father  having  died  during  the  war. 
The  Garths  were  originally  of  Albemarle  county,  Virginia.  Mr. 
White  and  his  wife  after  their  marriage  set  up  for  themselves,  and  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  Howard  county,  or  rather  continued  it.  In  1875 
he  removed  to  Randolph  county,  where  he  bought  the  Minor  Rucker 
farm,  situated  four  miles  west  of  Huntsville,  where  he  still  resides. 
This  farm  contains  nearly  300  acres  of  fine  land,  and  is  one  of  the 
choice  places  of  the  township  ;  is  within  one  mile  of  the  celebrated 
Randolph  medical  spring.  Mr.  White  makes  somewhat  a  specialty  of 
stock-raising,  and  is  quite  successful.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  three 
children  :  Sue  Mary,  Daniel  Boone  and  Fannie  D.  Burnley  died  at 
the  age  of  four.     Mrs.  W.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

JAMES  WILLIAM  WIGHT 

(County  Clerk  of  Randolph  County,  Huntsville,  and  Farmer  and  flue  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  Wight  was  elected  to  his  present  position  in  November,  1878, 
and  has  held  the  office  ever  since  that  time,  having  been  re-elected  in 
1882,  and  he  still  has  two  years  to  serve  of  his  second  term.  Mr. 
Wight's  contest  for  the  office,  or  rather  for  the  nomination  for  the 
office,  the  first  time  he  ran,  was  one  of  more  than  ordinary  spirit,  there 
being  four  prominent  and  popular  men  beside  himself  before  the  con- 
vention for  the  nomination,  at  the  time  he  was  chosen  to  bear  that 
honor.  He  had  never  figured  in  public  life  before,  except  as  a  private 
citizen,  but  he  was  well  and  favorably  known  to  the  people  of  the 
countv,  and  he  was  chosen,  not  through  any  sharp  management  of  his 
canvass,  but  because  he  was  regarded  as  the  best  man  for  Llie  place. 
Having  been  thoroughly  educated  as  he  grew  up,  and  being  a  man  of 
high  character  and  excellent  business  qualifications,  these  considera- 
tions added  to  his  urbane  manners  and  genial  disposition  so  recom- 
mended him  to  the  people  and  the  convention  that  his  defeat  was 
hardly  less  than  impossible,  even  with  the  Avorthy  opponents  he  had 
to  meet  in  the  convention.  His  nomination  was  effected,  however, 
without  bitterness,  and  his  election  at  the  succeeding  poll  was  one  of 
more  than  ordinary  enthusiasm  and  by  a  majority  highly  compliment- 
ary to  him  personally.  The  expectations  of  the  public  have  not  been 
disappointed  by  his  subsequent  career.  He  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  office  for  the  first  four  years  with  so  much  efficiency,  fairness  and 
general  satisfaction  that  he  was  again  triumphantly  nominated  and 
elected,  and  unless  all  signs  are  to  be  interpi-eted  the  reverse  of  what 
they  indicate,  the  end  is  not  yet.  While  Mr.  Wight  is  as  capable  and  effi- 
cient an  officer  as  there  is  in  the  county,  the  principal  cause  of  his  suc- 
cess is  his  great  personal  popularity.  Tiiough  dignified  and  not  too  free 
and  easy,  he  is  of  such  a  gentlemanly,  generous  disposition,  respectful 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  535 

and  obliging,  and  courteous  and  kind  to  all,  that  those  with  whom  he 
is  thrown  in  contact  seem  to  invariably  and  naturally  come  to  regard 
him  as  worthy  of  implicit  trust,  and  to  look  on  him  as  a  friend  and  one 
who  would  help  them  if  in  need.  He  is  not  called  "  Jim  Wight  "  by 
everybody  who  knows  him,  but  all  respect  and  esteem  Mr.  Wight  and 
feel  that  they  are  doing  the  proper  thing  to  favor  him,  for  they  know 
very  well  that  there  is  no  kindness  in  his  power  which  he  would  not 
gladly  do  them.  Thus,  while  he  is  popular,  he  is  respected  and  looked 
on  with  that  consideration  to  which  his  character  and  personal  worth 
entitle  him.  Mr.  Wight  was  born  and  reared  in  this  county  and  is  a 
son  of  James  F.  and  Frances  A.  (Burton)  Wight,  of  this  county,  who 
came  here  from  Kentucky  in  1840.  His  father  has  long  been  one  of 
the  successful  and  influential  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the  county. 
James  W.  is  the  only  son,  and  was  born  June  13,  1842.  Brought  up 
to  the  age  of  16  on  the  farm,  he  then  advanced  from  the  preparatory 
school  to  Mount  Pleasant  College,  then  under  the  presidency  of  Dr. 
William  R.  Rothwell,  now  at  the  head  of  William  Jewell  College,  and 
one  of  the  most  scholarly  and  accomplished  educators  in  the  State. 
Youns:  Wigrht  remained  at  Mount  Pleasant  until  his  graduation  in  the 
class  of  1863,  having  received  the  highest  honors  of  the  same  at  the 
hands  of  the  president  of  the  college  whose  duty  it  was,  according  to  a 
time-honored  custom  of  the  institution,  to  bestow  it  upon  the  most  de- 
serving. Several  of  the  representatives  of  the  class  have  become  dis- 
tinguished in  life.  Mr.  Wight's  tastes  have  always  inclined  him  to  an 
agricultural  life,  and  after  his  graduation  he  returned  to  the  farm  and 
identified  himself  with  fiirming  and  stock-raising.  In  these  lines  of 
industry  he  continued  without  interruption  until  his  election  to  the 
office  of  county  clerk,  and  became  very  successful.  He  is  still  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  county,  and  is 
justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  intelligent,  progressive  and  enter- 
prising farmers  and  stock  men  in  the  county,  and  is  quite  comfortably 
situated.  On  the  12th  of  May,  1868,  Mr.  Wight  was  married  to  Miss 
AureliaT.  Fullinwider,  a  daughter  of  Henry  W.  and  Jane  A.  (Ship- 
man)  Fullinwider,  now  of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky.  Mr.  Fullin- 
wider is  prominently  identified  with  the  Female  College  at  Millersburg, 
Ky.  Mrs.  Wight  is  a  lady  of  rare  accomplishments  and  many  graces 
of  personal  manners.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wight  have  two  children  :  James 
Winter  and  Fannie  Amanda.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South. 

GIDEON  V.  WRIGHT 

(Proprietor  of  the  City  Balcery  and  Grocery  Store,  Huatsville). 

Of  the  thousands  of  brave-hearted  men  who  crossed  the  plains  and 
scaled  the  summits  of  the  cloud-capped  Cordilleras  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  between  1848  and  '52,  to  seek  their  fortunes  on  the  golden 
coast,  not  a  few  went  out  from  home  and  friends  never  to  return. 
Among  these  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Amos 
Wright.  He  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Belsher, 
were  from  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Randolph  county  in  an  early  day, 
29 


536  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

settling  on  a  farm  near  Huntsville.  Here  Gideon  V.  Wright  was 
born  on  the  17th  of  April,  1843.  Six  years  afterwards,  in  1849,  the 
father  went  to  California,  where  he  died  the  following  year.  The 
mother  still  resides  in  this  county  and  lives  in  Huntsville.  Gideon 
learned  the  baker's  trade  under  John  P.  Clink,  and  worked  at  it  for 
four  or  five  years.  Later  along  he  engaged  in  the  bakery  business  at 
Macon  City,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  the  war,  served  in  the 
militia.  After  the  war  Mr.  Wright  continued  to  follow  the  baker's 
business,  and  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  saloon  business.  In 
1874,  however,  he  resumed  the  bakery  business  at  Huntsville,  and 
has  since  continued  it.  A  baker  of  long  experience,  he  understands 
his  business  thoroughly,  and  his  breads,  cakes,  pastries,  etc.,  htive  a 
high  reputation,  not  only  for  excellence  of  ingredients  and  architect- 
ural design,  but  for  cleanliness  and  general  desirability.  He  also  has 
a  stock  of  groceries  in  connection  with  his  other  business,  and  has  a 
good  custom  in  this  line.  On  the  17th  of  April,  1866,  Mr.  Wright 
,was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Skinner,  a  daughter  of  Everett  Skinner' 
of  this  county.  They  have  one  child,  Walter  W.,  now  a  youth  15 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Wright  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  has 
been  since  1866.     He  is  also  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Honor. 


PRAIRIE     T0W:N^SHIP. 


J.  R.  ADAMS 

*  (Farmer,  Post-oflSce,  Renick) . 

Mr.  A.  is  a  son  of  J.  Q.  Adams  and  Elizabeth  Foster,  of  Kentucky, 
and  was  born  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  present  home  December  30, 
1852.  He  had  one  brother  and  one  sister,  both  of  whom  are  dead. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  only  a  child,  four  years  of  age,  and  left 
him  to  the  care  of  a  very  delicate  mother.  She  lived  until  he  had 
turned  his  fifteenth  year,  when  she,  too,  was  taken  when  she  was  most 
needed,  just  as  he  was  budding  into  manhood.  But  her  counsel  had 
made  such  impressions  upon  his  character  that  they  have  never  been 
erased.  He  grew  up  in  the  country  and  was  given  a  good  education, 
and  when  his  studies  were  completed  he  settled  on  a  farm  and  was 
married,  October  22,  1874,  to  Miss  Emma  Halloway,  daughter  of 
Edwin  Halloway,  who  removed  with  his  parents  from  Kentucky  to 
this  State  when  a  boy.  They  have  had  three  children,  one  of  whom 
now  survives:  Carrie  E.,  born  December  11,  1880.  Mr.  Adams  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  both  having  joined  before 
their  marriage.  Mrs.  Adams'  grandfather  Halloway  has  grown  old 
in  the  services  of  the  Christian  ministry. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY,  537 


ELDER  WILLIAM  B.  ANDERSON 

(Post-office,  Kenick) . 

Nearly  60  springs  have  put  forth  their  tender  buds,  and  as  many 
summers  blushed  and  smiled  and  passed  since  this  reverend  and  ven- 
erable man  of  God  first  opened  his  eyes  on  the  sin  and  misery  of  the 
world.  It  was  in  Green  county,  Ky.,  on  a  bleak  February  morn, 
that  angels  rejoiced  over  the  birth  of  one  more  worker  in  the  vine- 
yard of  their  beloved  Master.  Rev.  Robert  T.  Anderson  and  Martha 
Lowry,  his  wife,  parents  of  the  good  man  whose  pen  portion  is  here 
given,  were  both  from  Virginia,  but  moved  to  Kentucky  at  an  early 
day  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Rev.  Robert  T. 
was  a  man  of  vast  erudition,  and  was  occupied  during  the  larger  por- 
tion of  his  life  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  knowledge  in  the  fertile  mind  of 
youth.  He  was  of  marked  prominence  in  his  profession,  and  was  at 
the  head  of  the  Baptist  Association.  His  son,  William  B.,  was  prin- 
cipally educated  under  his  scholarly  eye.  Though  growing  up  on  a 
farm  in  Christian  county,  part  of  the  time  he  attended  the  common 
schools,  and  for  one  year  was  at  Bethany  College.  He  early  showed 
a  disposition  to  be  a  servant  of  Christ,  at  the  age  of  16  joining  the 
Baptist  Church.  When  he  was  22  he  attached  himself  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  the  following  year  (1847)  came  to  Missouri.  Two 
years  later  he  began  speaking  in  public,  and  in  1850  was  ordained  in 
the  ministry,  appointed  for  the  salvation  of  mankind,  since  which  time 
he  has  labored  without  ceasing  to  bring  the  lost  sheep  into  the  fold. 
He  has  been  a  faithful  watchman  and  steward  of  his  Lord  and  a  whole- 
some example  and  pattern  to  his  flock.  He  won  his  charge  of  the 
Christian  Churches  at  Renick  and  Salem.  On  the  18th  of  November, 
1850,  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Miss  Eupha,  daughter  of  F.  K. 
Collins,  one  of  the  most  respected  residents  of  Randolph  county. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Anderson  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  different 
places  for  some  time.  Indeed,  altogether,  he  has  taught  not  less  than 
25  years.  He  has  lived,  since  1856,  on  a  farm,  and  has  devoted  his 
leisure  moments  to  its  improvement.  It  contains  160  acres  of  land,  60 
of  which  are  under  the  plow  and  in  meadow  land.  He  has  a  double 
log  house,  a  good  barn  and  nice  bearing  orchard,  including  some  grape 
and  other  small  fruits.  Mrs.  Anderson  is  also  a  member  of  the  Chris 
tian  Church.     There  are  two  children  :  Frank  P.  and  Sallie  C. 

WILLIAM  N.  ARMSTRONG 

(Merchant,  Renick) . 

Mr.  A.  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Hancock  county,  February 
15,  1850.  His  father,  W.  N.  Armstrong,  and  mother,  a  Miss  Hay- 
maker, were  from  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  dying  when  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  but  two  years  of  age.  William  lived  on  a  farm  in 
Illinois  until  he  was  a  grown  man,  and  was  the  recipient  of  a  good 
common  school   education.     He  came  to  Missouri  in  the  winter  of 


538  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

1880,  and  farmed  for  two  years  in  Caldwell  county;  then  he  moved 
to  Eandolph  county,  and  in  October,  1882,  started  in  business  at 
Renick.  He  has  a  complete  stock  of  hardware,  tinware,  and  queen's- 
ware,  and  has  a  large  and  well  established  trade.  Mr.  Armstrong  is 
an  unusually  popular  man,  and  of  such  orood  commercial  mind  as 
stamps  him  at  once  a  prosperous  one.  He  is  young,  with  all  the 
world  before  him.  His  fate  is  in  his  own  hands,  and  there  is  no  doubt, 
from  the  beginning  he  has  made,  of  what  it  will  be.  Mr.  A.  is  a  single 
man  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

ALBERT  H.  AUSTIN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Austin,  a  native  of  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  was  born  at  Hunts- 
ville  March  16,  1842,  his  parents,  Henry  Austin  and  Henrietta 
Rhodes,  being  originally  from  Virginia.  Henry  Austin  moved  to 
Missouri  at  an  early  day,  and  located  at  Huntsville.  He  was  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  and  built  both  the  first  and  second  court-houses 
of  the  place,  besides  a  great  many  business  houses  and  residences. 
Mr.  Austin  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  merchant,  but  in  1852  re- 
tired from  business,  and  taking  a  company  of  50  men  went  to  Cali- 
fornia overland.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  mines  there.  After  his 
return  in  1854  he  was  for  one  or  more  terms  sheriff  of  the  county. 
Mr.  A.  was  a  strong  Union  man  during  the  war,  and  was  appointed 
provost  marshal,  a  position  which  he  held  until,  his  health  failing,  he 
was  forced  to  resign  it.  He  died  February  22,  1864,  In  this  family 
there  were  four  sons  and  two  daughters  :  J.  H.,  now  in  Texas  ;  Mrs. 
S.  N.  Robertson;  W.  T.,  attorney  at  Huntsville;  F.  H.,  of  Texas; 
Sallie  A.  and  A.  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  last  named 
grew  up  in  Huntsville.  He  was  well  educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant  Col- 
lecje.  Having  instilled  into  him  from  his  earliest  childhood  an  enthu- 
siastic veneration  for  the  "  Stars  and  Stripes,"  when  in  1861  his 
country  called,  he  "  hesitated  not  upon  the  order  of  his  going,"  but 
enlisted  at  once  under  his  beloved  flag.  He  went  in  as  a  private  in 
Co.  G,  Missouri  cavalry,  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war; 
the  summer  of  1865  released  him.  He  fought  bravely  through  many 
fierce  engagements,  among  them  the  battle  of  Boonville.  When 
peace  once  more  spread  her  white  wings  over  the  land,  Mr.  A.  re- 
turned to  Huntsville,  lived  there  until  1870,  and  then  settled  finally 
on  the  farm  which  has  since  been  his  home.  Part  of  the  time  he  has 
had  his  place  rented  out,  but  he  has  just  moved  with  his  sister, 
Miss  Sallie,  to  see  after  his  creature  comforts,  into  hisnew  and  ele- 
gant house,  recently  completed  and  furnished  in  the  latest  and  hand- 
somest style.  .  Mr.  Austin  owns  200  acres  of  land,  all  fenced  and  set 
in  tame  grass.  Miss  Austin  is  a  lady  of  exceeding  grace  and  refine- 
ment and  possessed  withal  of  a  mind  of  unusual  strength  ;  this  has 
been  cultivated  to  the  highest  degree,  her  education  having  been  con- 
ducted at  the  Christian  College  at  Columbia,  and  at  the  M.  E.  college 
at  Quincy,  111.     She  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  539 

and  she  and  her  brother  are  among  the  most  charming  people  in  the 
township. 

THOMAS    D.  BAILEY 

(Farmer  and  Stock  Dealer). 

The  snbject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Boyle  county,  Ky., 
March  22,  1831  ;  his  parents,  Alfred  Bailey  and  Cyrena  Baker,  were 
also  natives  of  Kentucky.  When  the  family  removed  to  Missouri  in 
1839,  they  first  wintered  in  Boone  county,  and  it  was  in  the  spring  of 
1840  that  they  came  to  Randolph.  Until  1847  their  movements  were 
somewhat  uncertain  ;  they  lived  two  years  in  Randolph,  one  year  in 
Macon  and  one  year  in  Boone  counties,  returned  to  Kentucky  for  a 
year,  finally  came  back  to  Missouri  and  settled  down  on  a  place  which 
Mr.  Bailey  entered  and  improved  at  Round  Grove,  and  where  his  son 
now  resides.  At  this  time  the  country  was  almost  a  wilderness  ; 
wolves  were  numerous  and  their  howls  broke  the  stillness  of  many  a 
winter's  night.  On  the  other  hand  they  afforded  royal  sport  for  these 
sturdy  pioneers ;  the  horns  of  the  hunters,  the  deep  mouthed  baying 
of  the  hounds  and  the  excited  neighing  of  the  eager  horses,  often  en- 
livened a  chase  which  had  not  been  unworthy  of  a  king's  pasture. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  in  the  fall  of  1849,  Thomas  D.,  being  the 
eldest  of  the  family,  took  charge  of  the  farm,  its  onerous  duties  leaving 
him  but  little  leisure  for  pursuing  his  studies.  Mr.  Bailey's  first  wife 
was  Miss  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Enoch  and  Elsie  Ridgeway  of  Boone 
county,  but  originally  from  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Bailey  died  in  1863, 
leaving  no  children.  Mr.  Bailey  was  married  a  second  time  in  Boone 
county,  in  January,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Tandy  and 
Elizabeth  Robinson,  formerly  from  Virginia,  but  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Boone,  where  Mrs.  Bailey  was  born  and  raised.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Bailey  purchased  the  old  homestead  where  he  continued 
to  live  until  October  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Ninth 
Missouri  infantry,  Co.  C.  During  the  war  he  took  part  in  a 
number  of  engagements,  among  them  Prairie  Grove,  Cyprus  Bend, 
Ganes  Landing,  etc.  While  on  a  scouting  expedition  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  State  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  held  about  21 
months,  being  incarcerated  first  at  St.  Louis  and  afterwards  at  Camp 
Morton,  Indianapolis,  Ind.  His  war  record  is  one  of  which  he 
may  justly  feel  proud  ;  he  served  with  distinction  and  was  rewarded 
by  promotion.  After  his  discharge  from  prison  on  the  22d  of  March, 
1865,  he  returned  to  his  farm  and  commenced  life  once  more  with  no 
capital  in  hand  except  his  two  good  arms  and  a  stout  heart,  and  withal, 
a  debt  of  $1600  hanging  over  him.  Naturally  he  had  a  hard  struggle 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  by  dint  of  indefatigable  industry  and  close 
management,  he  has  accumulated  a  nice  property.  He  owns  415 
acres  of  fine  land  all  fenced  and  in  cultivation  and  pasturage,  also  60 
acres  of  timber  land  ;  his  house  is  a  very  neat  structure  and  he  has 
besides  substantial  barns,  etc.  Mr.  Bailey  makes  a  specialty  of  buy- 
ing young  mules  and  raising  them  for  the  market.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bailey  have   five    children,  Bettie  B.,   Mary  Minnie,  Nettie  C.  and 


540  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Esty  D.  ;  four  children  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Bailey  has  been  a  second 
Nimrod  in  his  day  and  many  a  deer  and  other  wild  game  have  fallen 
before  his  unerring  rifle.  Upon  one  occasion  he  caught  a  large  buck 
by  the  horns  (which  now  ornament  his  walls),  the  dogs  having  hold  of 
him  all  around  ;  the  animal  was  not  wounded,  but  Mr.  Bailey  held 
him  firmly  until  another  hunter  rode  up  a,nd  dispatched  him.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bailey  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Fairview,  and 
Mr.  Bailey  is  a  prominent  member  of  Morality  Lodge  No.  186,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  at  Renick,  Mo. 

WILLIAM  R.  BARRY 

(Farmer  and  Merchant  of  Prairie  Township) . 

Mr.  B.  is  a  Virginian  by  birth,  his  parents,  William  Barry  and  Mary 
Ann  Rankin,  being  also  natives  of  that  State.  When  the  family  first 
came  to  Missouri  in  1838,  they  located  in  Boone  county,  but  in  1846 
moved  to  Randolph,  and  wandered  no  more  ;  the  elder  Barry  closing 
his  eyes  for  his  last  sleep  in  August  of  the  year  1878.  William  R., 
who  was  born  October  25,  1832,  spent  the  first  years  of  his  life  in 
Boone  county,  but  his  maturer  interests  have  been  identified  with 
Randolph.  His  education  was  conducted  partly  at  the  common  schools, 
partly  at  McGee  College,  though  he  owes  much  to  his  own  course  of 
self  instruction.  After  leaving  school,  he  taught  at  intervals  for  five 
years,  employing  his  winters  thus,  and  farming  during  the  summer. 
In  1859  Mr.  Barry  began  farming  in  Boone  county,  continuing  for  six 
years.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  flouring  and  saw-mill  for  Seymore 
&  Co.,  bought  one-fourth  interest  and  after  remaining  in  the  business 
four  years,  sold  out  and  bought  his  present  farm.  He  has  40  acres 
in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  on  it  a  comfortable  house,  etc.  In 
December,  1882,  Mr.  Barry  took  charge  of  the  mercantile  house  of 
Mr.  Ford,  and  now  owns  a  considerable  interest  in  the  store.  The 
firm  carry  a  full  line  of  general  merchandise  including  hardware, 
queen's-ware,  groceries,  dry-goods,  etc.  On  the  20th  of  January, 
1859,  in  Boone  county,  Mr.  Barry  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Elizabeth  A., 
daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Seymore,  formerly  of  Tennessee,  though 
Mrs.  Barry  herself  has  been  a  life-long  resident  of  Missouri.  There 
are  four  children  :  Mary  A.,  Orpha  D.,  Susan  Iva  and  Nancy  E.  One, 
Georgella,  died  in  the  fall  of  1867,  before  the  baby  tongue  had  learned 
to  lisp  its  mother's  name.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barry  and  their  daughters 
are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of  Boone  county. 
Mr.  Barry  is  a  man  of  great  weight  in  this  township. 

MRS.  ETHETA  D.  J.  BROCKMAN 

(Post-office,  Renick). 

Among  the  earlier  settlers  of  Howard  county.  Mo.,  who  came  from 
the  grand  old  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  to  this  then  wild  and  sparsely 
settled  country,  was  George  Rorer  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Miss  Nancy  Nowlin,  both  Virginians  by  birth.  Prior  to  their 
settlement   in   Howard    county,  which   was  in  1829,  and  about  five 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  541 

years  before  leaving  their  native  State,  there  had  been  born  to  this 
worthy  couple  a  daughter,  whom  we  now  take  as  the  subject  of  this 
memoir.  Her  natal  day  was  the  30th  of  September,  1824.  Young 
and  still  in  a  tender  age  when  the  family  took  up  their  location  in 
Howard  county,  she  grew  up  there  amid  the  scenes  which  were  in 
strong  contrast  to  what  it  might  have  been  had  she  been  kept  in  Vir- 
ginia, yet  becoming  possessed  of  good  educational  advantages  for  that 
day.  After  leaving  the  public  schools  she  entered  Central  College, 
at  Faj^ette,  remaining  there  some  time.  She  soon  engaged  in 
teaching,  her  time  being  occupied  principally  in  teaching  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  though  one  or  two  of  a  private  character  received  some  of 
her  attention.  Thus  she  continued  until  her  marriage,  and,  indeed, 
she  has  taught  more  or  less  every  year  since  that  time.  On  the  26th 
of  December,  1848,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mr.  Burgis  G. 
Harris,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  purchased  a  farm  and 
settled  in  Howard  county,  but  subsequently  exchanged  that  place  for 
the  one  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Brockman,  and  here  he  continued  to 
live  until  called  away  by  death,  September  20,  1855.  To  them  had 
been  born  three  children,  viz  :  Kate,  wife  of  Rice  Marshall ;  Camelia, 
wife  of  George  Marshall ;  Tucker  Viola,  wife  of  James  W.  Dougherty. 
One  child  died  when  eight  years  of  age,  Burgis.  Following  the  death 
of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Harris  resumed  the  occupation  of  teaching,  for 
which  she  had  previously  become  well  qualified,  and  continued  it  until 
her  second  marriage,  November  30,  1858,  when  she  was  made  the 
wife  of  Thornton  Mason,  like  herself,  originally  from  Virginia.  He 
came  to  this  State  early  in  his  career,  and  while  yet  a  young  man 
served  as  assessor.  His  death  occurred  in  January,  1866.  There  are 
two  daughters  by  this  last  marriage :  Fannie,  wife  of  George  A. 
Dougherty  ;  and  Nannie,  wife  of  William  Ragsdale.  One  son  died  at 
the  early  age  of  eight  months.  Once  again  did  Mrs.  Mason  turn  to 
teaching  as  a  means  of  support  after  the  departure  of  her  second 
husband,  and  up  to  1869  served  as  an  educator.  On  the  9th  of 
August  of  that  year  Mr.  Stephen  Brockman  claimed  her  as  the  sharer 
of  his  joys  and  sorrows,  and  to  him  she  proved  a  helpmate  indeed, 
one  ever  ready  to  help  where  her  counsel  and  cheering  words  would 
be  of  benefit.  He,  too,  came  to  Randolph  county  when  young.  He 
departed  this  life  Jnly  5,  1883,  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him,  and 
was  followed  to  the  grave  bv  a  large  concourse  of  sorrowing  friends. 
Mrs.  Brockman  has  resided  upon  the  farm  where  she  now  makes  her 
home  most  of  her  life,  though  she  passed  some  time  during  1865  in 
Renick.  She  is  a  loved  member  of  the  family  circle  in  the  home  of 
her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Dougherty,  and  is  still  active  in  mind  and  body 
and  of  a  most  agreeable  disposition  and  kmdly  nature. 

WILLIAM  C.  BROOKS 

(Saw-Mill  and  Lumber  Business). 

The  subject  of  this   sketch  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  business 
men  of  Randolph  county,  and  was  born  April  12th,  1838.     He  is  a 


542  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

son  of  Thomas  N.  Brooks,  who  was  originally  from  Wayne  county, 
Ky.  The  latter  lived  in  his  native  State  until  he  had  reached  the 
years  of  maturity,  when  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Gillispie  of  the  same 
State.  In  the  autumn  of  1832  he  removed  with  his  family'  to  Mis- 
souri and  settled  in  Randolph  county.  He  entered  land  and  devoted 
his  time  to  improving  his  place  and  farming.  After  having  lived 
nearly  half  a  century  in  the  county,  he  passed  away  at  the  residence 
of  his  son,  William  C,  on  October  3,  1879.  Mr,  Brooks  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm,  and  early  in  life  showed  signs  of  that  energy  and 
perseverance  which  were  the  causes  of  his  success  in  later  years.  He 
may  be  called  a  self-made  man  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  His 
present  prosjDerous  condition  is  due  to  his  own  exertions,  and  not  to 
any  special  advantages  which  he  had  in  his  youth.  With  an  educa- 
tion limited  to  the  common  schools,  he  accomplished  what  men  with 
twice  his  learning  have  failed  to  do.  At  the  age  of  20  Mr.  Brooks 
began  work  in  a  saw-mill,  receiving  50  cents  a  day  for  his  labor. 
Being  convinced  that  a  "  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss,"  he  stuck 
closely  to  business.  A  close  and  careful  observer,  he  gradually 
learned  the  minuticE  of  the  saw-mill  and  lumber  business  and  has  fol- 
lowed the  same  ever  since.  By  his  industry  and  economy  he  saved 
money  enough  to  enable  him  to  buy  the  mill,  which  he  had  entered 
years  before  on  a  nominal  salary.  As  time  passed  on  he  had  the 
honor  of  being  the  proprietor  of  the  first  steam-mill  ia  Randolph 
county.  He  was  not  too  busy,  however,  to  woo  and  win  a  bride,  and 
Miss  Sarah  F.  Galbreath  was  his  choice.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
James  A.  Galbreath,  of  Kentucky,  and  the  marriage  took  place  ou 
the  25th  of  February,  1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  have  had  nine 
children:  Ardena,  Hettie  Ann,  Henry,  Fannie,  Virginia,  Benjamin, 
Cora,  Obe  and  Nellie  May.  It  would  seem  that  Mr.  Brooks  would 
have  his  hands  full  in  attending  to  his  manifold  duties  at  the  mill,  and 
that  he  had  about  as  much  as  one  man  could  do  without  attempting 
anything  else.  After  his  marriage  he  took  up  his  residence  on  the 
farm  where  he  yet  lives.  In  partnership  with  his  brother  he  under- 
took the  arduous  duties  of  farming.  His  farm  consists  of  about  125 
acres.  He  has  about  80  acres  in  timber.  Mr.  Brooks  makes  a 
specialty  of  the  saw-mill  business,  but  does  not  neglect  his  farm,  as 
the  neat  appearance  and  general  air  of  thrift  about  his  place  can  bear 
witness.  By  his  excellent  management  and  good  business  capacity  he 
has,  with  the  aid  of  his  brother,  come  to  be  the  owner  of  a  number  one 
steam-mill,  and  is  doing  an  unusually  heavy  business.  Among  the 
many  duties  of  life  which  Mr,  Brooks  fulfilled  was  the  one  which 
called  him  to  be  one  of  the  defenders  of  his  country.  When  the 
trumpet  of  war  sounded,  penetrating  to  the  most  peaceful  and  happy 
homes,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond  to  its  call.  He  enlisted 
first  in  the  Fourth  Missouri  State  militia,  and  after  serving  there  with 
credit  to  himself  was  transferred  to  the  First  Missouri  cavalry.  Union 
service.  He  served  in  the  latter  company  until,  on  account  of  physi- 
cal disability,  he  was   honorably    discharged.     Mr.  Brooks  took  an 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  543 

active  part  iu  a  number  of  skirmishes  in  Missouri,  and  tells  many  in- 
teresting reminiscences  of  his  life  during  the  war. 

JAMES  M.  BUTTS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Butts  is  a  worthy  scion  of  good  old  Virginia  stock,  and  was 
himself  born  in  that  State,  April  16,  1811.  His  father  was  Thomas 
Nugent  Butts  ;  his  mother,  Sarah  C,  daughter  of  Major  James  Brod- 
dus,  who  served  for  five  years  without  compensation  in  the  Kevolu- 
tionary  "War.  James  M.  grew  up  and  was  married  in  Virginia, 
in  August,  1833,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.,  daughter  of  Alfred  M.  Yager. 
He  lived  for  a  year  or  more  in  Page  county,  after  his  marriage,  and 
in  1836  came  to  Missouri,  first  stopping  in  Franklin  county.  He  was 
engaged  there  in  teaching  for  several  years ;  next  lived  about  10 
years  in  Howard,  continuing  to  teach,  and  in  1851  moved  to  Ran- 
dolph and  bought  land  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  This  has 
since  been  his  home.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year  that 
Mr.  Butts  lost  his  wife.  Mrs.  Butts  left  eight  children,  one  hav- 
ing preceeded  her  to  that  happy  land  where  there  is  no  sorrow 
nor  any  sighing.  Those  living  are  Martha  A.,  wife  of  George 
Cross  ;  Elizabeth  C,  wife  of  Thomas  Brunnel ;  James  W.,  Thomas 
Alfred,  Margaret  T.,  wife  of  George  P.  Hulett ;  Virginia  C,  wife  of 
Eobert  Terrell  ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  J.  E.  Hubbard,  and  Sarah  F.,  wife 
of  Thomas  Hulett;  the  last  two  being  twins.  Mr.  Butts  joined 
Bethel  Primitive  Baptist  Church,  of  Culpeper  county,  Va.,  in  1832, 
and  commenced  exercising  his  gift  in  the  ministry  in  the  third  year, 
and  has  continued  it  duringthistime,  also  teaching  without  interruption. 
He  owns  a  farm  of  80  acres,  well  improved  and  with  a  good,  substan- 
tial and  comfortable  dwelling,  convenient  barn,  and  other  buildings, 
and  fine  bearing  orchard.  In  December,  1851,  Mr.  Butts  took  to 
wife  Mrs.  Mary  Ann,  widow  of  Abel  Burton  and  daughter  of  Bart. 
Dameron,  formerly  of  North  Carolina.  Mrs.  Butts  has  three  children 
by  her  first  marriage:  Rebecca  J.,  wife  of  Green  Dameron;  Laura 
Belle,  wife  of  Scott  Malone  and  Thomas  F.  Burton  married  Miss 
Sarah  Barry,  a  sister  of  William  P.  Barry,  whose  sketch  is  one  of  the 
number  in  this  history.  To  her  second  husband  Mrs.  Butts  has  borne 
five  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy.  Now  living,  are  George 
W.,  John  S.  and  Lenora  Ann,  wife  of  Thomas  Carr,  of  Boone 
county.  This  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  families  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  far  and  near  is  spread  the  influence  of  Mr.  Butts'  pious 
teachings.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  have  38  grandchildren. 

WILLIAM    J.  E.  CARR 

(Renick) .' 

Mr.  Carr  is  of  English  parentage,  his  father,  J.  E.  Carr,  and 
mother,  Jane  Hayson,  not  coming  to  this  country  until  after  his  birth, 
April  17,  1861.     The  family  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1863, 


544  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  first  stopped  in  Streator,  111.  Here  Mr.  Carr  opened  up  the  great 
coal  fields  of  that  part  of  the  State  ;  he  also  built  the  third  house 
erected  in  Streator.  In  1869  the  family  moved  to  Missouri,  and  after 
living  in  Ray  county  for  one  year,  where  Mr.  Carr  sunk  a  mine,  they 
went  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  and  have  since  remained  there.  Mr. 
Carr  is  general  manager  of  the  Star  Coal  Mining  Company,  and  is 
also  vice-president  of  the  company.  In  addition  to  this  he  occu- 
pies the  position  of  general  manager  and  consulting  engineer  of  the 
Leavenworth  Coal  Company.  He  is  eminently  qualified  in  every 
way  to  take  a  foremost  place  among  men,  and  he  bears  himself 
right  nobly  in  the  high  station  to  which  he  has  attained.  William  J. 
E.  grew  up  in  Leavenworth,  receiving  a  good  English  education,  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  in  mining  at  the  University  at  Rolla,  Mo. 
In  October,  1881,  he  came  to  Renick  and  obtained  the  position  he 
now  holds,  of  superintendent  of  the  Star  Coal  Mining  Company, 
Renick,  Mo.  Mr.  Carr  was  married  in  Rolla,  November  15,  1882, 
to  Miss  Sadie  E.,  daughter  of  Judge  J.  G.  Hutchinson,  now  of 
Phelps  county,  but  formerly  of  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Carr  was  born  in 
Phelps  county  and  was  educated  at  Rolla ;  she  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  This  young  couple  have  one  child,  an  unusually  fine 
boy,  called  Willard  Avery,  born  September  13,  1883.  It  is  rarely 
the  case  that  one  so  young  is  called  upon  to  support  the  dignity  of 
8uch  an  office  as  Mr.  Carr  holds,  but  the  firm  discretion,  keen  sagacity 
and  faithful  dilio:ence  with  which  he  discharges  its  duties,  leave  no 
room  to  doubt  that  he  was  born  to  rule.  Mr.  Carr  is  comparatively 
upon  the  eastern  horizon  of  his  life.  It  is  easy  to  foresee  that  the 
sparkling  promise  of  its  dawn  will  gather  a  more  brilliant  radiance 
with  the  noontide,  but  to  be  eclipsed  by  the  golden  glory  of  its  lat- 
ter end. 

CHRISTOPHER    J.  CHILTON 

(Post-office,  Moberly) . 
Mr.  C,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and  esteemed  citizens  of  Prairie 
township,  is  a  representative  of  an  old  and  honored  anti-Revolutionary 
fiimily,  the  Chiltons  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Chilton's  great  grandfather 
Chilton  was  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Assembly  at  the  time  of  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  between  the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain,  and  he 
it  was  who  introduced  the  resolutions  in  that  body  instructing  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Colony  in  Congress,  then  sitting  at  Philadelphia, 
to  use  their  influence  toward  securing  the  adoption  of  a  "  Declaration 
of  Independence  "  of  the  Colonies  from  the  mother  country.  It  was 
in  pursuance  of  these  resolutions  that  Richard  Henry  Lee,  early  in 
June,  introduced  into  Congress  a  resolution  declaring  "That  these 
United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent 
States."  Following  this,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  Thomas  Jefi'er- 
son's  "Declaration  of  Independence "  was  adopted,  and  the  great 
Republic  of  the  Western  Hemisphere  was  born.  From  Mr.  Chilton, 
the  author  of  the  resolutions  above  referred  to,  descended  Samuel 
Chilton  of  Warrenton,  Va.,  a  member  of  Congress  from  that  State, 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  545 

and  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  duriug  the 
first  half  of  the  present  century.  A  still  younger  descendant  was 
Thomas  Chilton  of  Elizabethtown,  Ky.,  who  represented  his 
district  in  Congress  with  distinction  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr. 
Chilton's  grandfather,  James  Chilton,  became  a  pioneer  settler  in 
Kentucky  when  our  subject's  father,  John  Chilton,  was  in  infancy. 
In  that  State  James  Chilton,  the  grandfather,  became  a  wealthy 
farmer,  and  there  John  Chilton,  his  son,  grew  to  early  manhood. 
While  still  a  young  man  John  Chilton  came  to  Missouri  and  located 
in  Pike  county.  There  he  engaged  in  fiirming,  and  soon  afterwards 
was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  Jackson.  Later  along  he  removed  to 
Randolph  county  and  here  bought  and  entered  nearly  2,000  acres  of 
land.  Like  his  father,  he  too  became  quite  well  off  in  property  affairs, 
and  was  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  county.  He  dealt 
quite  extensively  in  stock,  and  drove  mules  South  for  a  number  of 
years,  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He  died  August  2,  1863. 
The  third  son  in  his  family  of  children  was  Christopher  J.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  March  23,  1843,  and  was  reared  on  a 
farm  in  this  county.  The  Chiltons  have  almost  invariably  been 
farmers  and  stock-raisers,  and  Christopher  J.  has  proved  himself  no 
exception  to  this  rule.  He  was  married  December  14,  1865,  to  Miss 
Martha,  a  daughter  of  James  Owenby,  formerly  of  Kentucky,  and  at 
once  located  on  a  farm  and  went  to  work  to  establish  himself  in  life. 
He  has  a  fine  farm  of  over  half  a  section  of  land,  about  two-thirds  of 
which  he  has  well  improved.  Mr.  Chilton  raises  grain  in  a  general 
way  and  gives  considerable  attention  to  stock.  He  is  satisfactorily 
successful  and  stands  well  as  a  citizen  and  neiofhbor.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chilton  have  two  children,  James  and  Mary. 

ROBERT  T.  CHRISTIAN,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon) . 

Dr.  Christian,  a  fine  physician  and  charming  gentleman  of  Ran- 
dolph, was  born  in  that  county,  October  12,  1839.  He  was  the 
son  of  N.  B.  Christian  of  Scott  county,  Ky.,  and  Martha  C.  Sweatnam 
of  the  same  State.  His  parents  found  their  way  to  Missouri  in  1830, 
and  located  within  half  a  mile  of  the  site  of  the  town  of  Renick. 
Robert  T.  came  to  man's  estate  there,  living  on  the  farm.  He  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  at  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
supplemented  by  a  three  years'  course  at  Mount  Pleasant  College  at 
Huntsville,  Mo.  When  Robert  had  finished  his  studies,  he  selected 
medicine  for  his  profession  in  life,  and  began  to  prepare  himself  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  T.  L.  Hamilton,  near  Renick.  He  took  his  first 
course  of  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in  the  winter  of 
1859-60,  and  graduated  there  in  the  spring  of  1861.  Just  as  the 
Doctor  was  ready  to  launch  out  a  full-fledged  M.D.,  the  commence- 
ment of  hostilities  between  the  North  and  South  brought  before  him  a 
new  field  of  action.  All  his  sympathies  were  with  the  gallant  South- 
ern braves,  and  he  enlisted  in  that  cause  under  Col.  Congrave  Jackson, 


546  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

of  the  Jackson  Missouri  State  Guards,  re-enlisted  in  the  summer  of 
1862  witli  Col.  Poindexter,  and  after  serving  with  him  about  four 
months,  went  South  and  joined  the  regular  Confederate  forces.  Col. 
Dorsey's  Battalion.  In  1863  he  was  transferred  to  Perkins'  Battal- 
ion, acting  as  surgeon  in  both.  He  first  enlisted  as  a  private,  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  assistant  surgeon  under  Poindexter  and 
afterwards  made  first  surgeon,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  After  the  surrender  the  Doctor  returned  to  Renick 
and  began  anew  to  carry  out  his  life's  ambition.  He  has  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  this  point  ever  since,  and  his  faithful 
endeavors  have  been  crowned  with  well  merited  success.  Dr.  Christian 
was  one  of  those  who  built  the  Renick  flourino-  mill  in  which  he  was 
a  partner  for  the  first  year  or  so.  He  was  married  in  Renick,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1870,  to  Miss  Kate  D.  O'Keefe,  daughter  of  William  O'Keefe, 
formerly  from  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Christian  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania but  came  to  Missouri  with  her  parents  at  the  age  of  12  years. 
Eight  children  have  blessed  this  union,  seven  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Napoleon  J.,  Ar.thur  T.,  Ida  C,  Robert  E.,  William  P.,  J.  Charles, 
Ernest  L.  and  Earl  J.  The  brightest  hope  of  this  noble  family  of 
children  may  well  be  that  they  shall  follow  closely  in  the  footsteps  of 
their  parents. 

JUDGE  JOHN  T.  COATES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

The  family  of  this  country  of  which  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch 
is  an  honored  representative  was  native  originally  to  Virginia,  where 
the  founder  of  the  family  settled  from  England  generations  prior  to 
the  Revolution.  Branches  of  the  family  are  still  resident  of  that 
State  and  are  widely  dispersed  over  it.  At  this  day  an  old  Virginian 
can  scarcely  be  found  who  is  not  acquainted  with  some  representative 
of  the  family  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Branches  of  the  family  have  also 
settled  in  various  other  States,  including  among  the  rest,  Kentucky 
and  Missouri.  But  wherever  they  are  found  they  almost  invariably 
occupy  enyiable  positions  in  their  respective  communities.  It  is  there- 
fore only  as  should  be  expected  that  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch, 
a  citizen  of  Randolph  county,  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county 
in  character,  influence  and  standing.  Judge  Coates  comes  of  a  Ken- 
tucky branch  of  the  Coates  family,  or  rather  his  father,  who  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  was  for  a  time  settled  in  Kentucky.  Judge  Coates' 
father,  Judge  Thomas  P.  Coates,  was  reared  in  his  native  county.  His 
parents  were  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  influential  families  of  the 
county,  and,  considering  the  early  times  in  which  he  was  brought  up, 
when  college  educations  were  extremely  rare,  he  had  more  than  ordi- 
narily good  advantages  for  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  his 
mind.  He  studied  at  a  private  school  kept  l)y  the  best  class  of  teach- 
ers that  could  be  had,  and  succeeded  in  acquiring  an  excellent  practi- 
cal English  education.  When  a  young  man,  desiring  to  avail  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  the  cheap  and  fertile  lands  of  Kentucky  for  es- 


( 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  547 

tablishing  himself  in  life,  he  removed  to  that  State,  and  there,  later 
along,  was  married  to  Miss  Belinda  Darrett,  whose  family  was  also 
from  Virginia.  Soon  after  this,  the  attention  of  emigration  was  gen- 
erally drawn  to  Missouri,  and,  indeed,  before  this,  for  here  were  lands 
as  cheap  and  fertile  and  a  climate  and  natural  transportation  facilities 
as  favorable  as  any  under  the  sun.  These  facts  were  hardly  more 
than  brought  to  the  notice  of  young  Mr.  Coates,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, when  he  resolved  to  cast  his  fortunes  with  those  of  favored  Mis- 
souri. Accordingly,  in  1835,  he  turned  the  front  of  his  mover's 
wagons  westward  and  was  soon  entering  the  borders  of  this  State. 
He  came  on  directly  to  Randolph  county,  which  he  had  made  his  ob- 
jective point,  and  entered  a  fine  body  of  land,  on  which  he  improved 
a  good  farm.  The  seasons  and  the  years  came  and  went,  and  he  oc- 
cupied all  his  time  to  good  advantage  in  agricultural  pursuits  and 
looking  after  the  best  interests  of  the  community  and  county  with 
which  his  life  had  become  linked.  He  prospered  abundantly  in  agri- 
cultural affairs  and  steadily  rose  to  prominence  and  influence  among 
those  around  him.  He  became  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the 
county,  comfortabl}^  situated,  in  easy  circumstances  and  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all.  For  several  terms  he  was  a  member  of  the  county 
court,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  capable  and  expeditious 
business  men  and  one  of  the  soundest  and  most  upright  judges  who 
ever  sat  on  the  county  bench.  He  was  not  only  a  prominent' farmer 
and  an  esteemed  official  of  the  county,  but  a  man  of  great  public 
spirit  and  sagacity  in  originating  and  carrying  forward  movements 
and  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit  the  county.  In  short,  he  was  a 
leader  in  all  steps  taken  of  that  kind.  In  stock-raising  he  advocated 
and  himself  practiced  what  he  urged,  that  the  best  breeds  should  be 
introduced,  and  as  a  farmer  h.e  believed  in  the  most  approved  and 
progressive  methods  of  agriculture.  He  also  favored  the  encourage- 
ment of  immigration  and,  in  a  word,  was  ever  found  in  the  forefront 
of  the  most  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  county.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  valued  communicants  of  that  denomination 
throughout  the  section  of  the  county  in  which  he  resided.  After  a 
residence  of  35  years,  which  he  had  made  replete  with  labors  for 
the  best  interests  of  all,  he  was  called  from  his  earthly  home  "to 
his  home  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  His  death 
was  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him  as  a  severe  loss,  for  he  was 
more  than  ordinarily  valued  as  a  neighbor  and  citizen.  In  his  own 
family  he  was  loved  and  venerated  with  a  depth  and  sincerity 
which  bore  eloquent  testimony  to  his  life  around  his  own  hearth- 
stone. When  Judge  Thomas  P.  Coates  died,  one  of  the  best  citi- 
zens who  ever  honored  Randolph  county  with  their  residence  was 
taken  away. 

From  such  a  father  came  Judge  John  T.  Coates,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  the  mantle  of  the  father  has  fallen  to  a  son  not  unworthy  to 
wear  it.     Judge  John  T.  Coates  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Ky.,  July 


^^^  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

8,  1831,  and  was  therefore  a  lad  only  four  years  of  age   when  his 
father  settled  in  Randolph  county.     Like  his  father,  he  was  reared  to 
a  tarm   hfe  and  to  habits  of  industry  and  principles  of  morality  and 
integrity.     His  education    was    acquired    in    the  common  and  hio-h 
schools  of   the  county,  and  inheriting  his  father's  spirit   of  enterprfse 
and  ambition  to  succeed  in  life,  he  was  naturally  attracted  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast  during  the  California  gold  excitement.     He  was  19  years 
of  age   when  he   crossed  the  plains,  going  in  the  company  of  Capt 
Owens    in   which  there  was  a  large   train  of  brave-hearted  pioneers 
bound  for  the  Golden  Coast.     Young  Coates  spent  four  years  in  the 
distant  land  of  the  Argonauts  engaged  in  mining  and   speculatino-  in 
mines,  for  his  was  not  the  character  to  come  back  like  a  homesick  o-irl 
before  the  moon   had  grown  old  during  his  absence.     He  went  there 
to   make  money  and  he  Avas  determined  not  to  fail  through  any  fault 
of  his      Nor  was   he  disappointed  in  his  expectations.     He  had  rea- 
sonable success,  both  in  raining  and  speculating,  and  came  back  to  his 
old  home  m  Randolph  county  in  1854  by  no  means  the  worse   off  for 
his  long  absence       On  reaching  Randolph  county  —  and  he  made  the 
return   trip   by  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  York  — he  at  once 
resumed  farming,  and  soon  turned   his  attention  also  to  raisino-  stock 

Vr      u^^ol  '!'   *^^'^'"-     ^^'^  y^'''^  ^f^^^"  ^""^•ng  back,  on  the  16th  of 
March,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Joel  bmith,  of  Randolph  county,  but  formerly  of  Kentucky   °  Before 
his  marriage,  however,  he   had  already  located  on  the  farm  where  he 
still   resides,  and   here   he  has  continued,  successfullv  occupied  with 
agricultural  pursuits.     He  has  long  since  become  one  of  the  leading 
fanners  and  stock  men  of  the  county,  and  a  citizen  not  less  respected 
and  influential  than  was  his  honored  father.     Judge  Coates'  farm  con- 
tains 900  acres  and  is  one  of  the  handsomest  farms  in  natural  ap- 
pearance, as  well  as  by  improvements,  in  the  county.     It  is  situated 
about  two  miles    from    Moberly,  and  from  his  residence  an  excep- 
tionally  fine    view    of   the    surrounding  country  may  be  had       His 
house,  a  commodious  and  tastily  constructed  two-story  buildino-   is 
situated  on  a  handsome  collado  or  rise  about  300  yards  back  from 
the  road,  and  the  lawn  in  front  is  one  of  rare  beauty.     The  other 
buildings,  includmg  a  large  barn,  cribs,   carriage  house,   ice  house, 
etc.,  are  constructed  in  keeping  with  the  residence,  and  the  general 
ensemble  of  the  place  is  that  of  the  abode  of  a  progressive  ao-ricul- 
turist  and  intelligent,  prosperous  citizen.     Judge   Coates   raise's  and 
handles  cattle  quite  extensively,  having  on   his  place  at  the  present 
time  nearly  200  head,  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  raisino- mules,  buy- 
ing them  when  young  and  feeding  them  through  a  few   seasons  until 
they  are  ready  for  the   markets.     Like  his  father,  Jud^e  Coates  has 
always  taken  an  intelligent  and  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  thouo-h 
being  himself  the  farthest  from  a  self-seeking  man.     An  earnest  and 
sincere   Democrat,  he   cooperates  with    his  party  because  he  believes 
that  principles  of  Democracy,  those  which  the  teachings   of  Jefferson 
and  Jackson  reveal,  are  the  true  principles  upon  which  the  govern- 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  549 

ment  should  be  administered,  and  he  hopes  not  only  to  see  these  prin- 
ciples carried  out  in  affairs,  but  also  to   see  none   but  worthy  men 
selected  for    oflficial    positions.     These   motives  have   ever  been  the 
mainspring  of  his  political  action,  and  thus  animated  he  always  strives 
in  local  affairs  to  secure  the  selection  of  pure  and  worthy  men  for  of- 
fice.    Appreciated  for  his   high  character  and  sound  judgment,  and 
known  to  be  a  man  of  superior  business  qualifications  and  a  prominent, 
representative  citizen  of  the  county,  in  1880  Judge  Coates  was  ap- 
pointed by  Gov.  Phelps  to  till  out  an  unexpired  term   on  the  county 
bench,  a  position  he  accepted,  and  the  duties  of  which  he   discharged 
with  that  efficiency  and  general  satisfaction  characteristic  of  his  fath- 
er's   administration    of  the    same   office   many  years  before.     Judge 
Coates'  first  wife  died  May  14,  1868.     She  was  a  lady  of  singular 
strength   of  mind   and  gentleness  of  manners,  and  was  only  less  es- 
teemed among  her  neighbors  than  she  was  loved  in   her  own  family. 
Her  whole  life  seemed  to  be  devoted  to  doing  her  duty  as  a  devoted, 
loving  wife,  a  gentle  and   affectionate  mother,  a  kind   neighbor  and  a 
worthy  member  of  the  church,  as  a  Christian  woman.     She  was  one  of 
the  good  and  true   women,  the   memory  of  whose  lives  is  without  a 
blemish,  and  who  are  thought  of  by  those  who  knew  them  as  angels 
are.     She  had  borne   her  husband,  who  loved  her  with  great  tender- 
ness, and  to  whom  her  death  seemed  a  loss  too  hard  to  bear,  six  worthy, 
children   namely:  Charles  N.  D.,  William  W.,  Minnie  D.,JohnQ., 
Lizzie  S.  and  Henderson  W.     To  his  present  wife,  Judge  Coates  was 
married  June  22,  1869.     She  was  previously  a  Miss  Lizzie  S.  Smith, 
a  sister  to   his  first  wife.     Like  her  sister,  she  is  much  esteemed  by 
her  neighbors  and  is  a  valued  member  of  the  church.     There  are  also 
six  children  by  this  union  :  Rodger  S.,  Joel  S.,  Wade  Hampton,  Glenn 
T.,  Lucy  H.  and  Thomas  White.     Judge  Coates  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the  Judge  is  one  of  the  leading  lay 
members  of  that  denomination  in  his  vicinity.     He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  and  has  occupied  all  the  positions  in  the  Mo- 
berly  lodge  of  that  order.     Judge  Coates  is  president  of  the  Moberly 
Coal  Mining  Company,  one  of  the  prominent  coal  companies  of  Mo- 
berly.    One  of  the  foremost  agriculturists  of  the  county.  Judge  Coates 
has  always  taken  an  important  interest  in   agricultural   affairs,  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  liberal  minded  farmers 
and  stock-raisers  throughout  the  surrounding  country.     In  stock-rais- 
ing, he  believes  in  handling  the  best  blood  that  can   be  had,  and  car- 
rying out  this  idea,  he  has  some  exceptionally  fine  graded  cattle,  and 
also  other  representative  stock  of  a  superior  class.     Li  public  affairs, 
relating  to  the  material  prosperity  of  Moberly  and  Randolph  county, 
Judge  Coates  shows  great  liberality  and  zeal  and  falls  behind   no  one 
in  steps  taken  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  public.     As  has 
been  said,  he  wears  with  true  worth  and  becoming  grace  the  mantle  of 
his  honored  father  which  has  fallen  to  him. 


550  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


GEORGE  H.  COTTINGHAM 

(Farmer  and  Stock- raiser). 

Mr.  C.  is  one  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  Randolph  county  and  one  ©f 
the  most  liberal  and  public  spirited  men  in  the  township.  He  was 
born  October  17,  1833,  in  Shelby  county.  111.,  while  his  parents,  B. 
T.  Cottingham  and  Lucy  Hardman,  both  of  Kentucky,  were  visiting 
friends  in  Illinois.  The  family  moved  to  Missouri  in  1838,  and  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Callaway  county.  After  leaving  there, 
they  abode  in  Boone  county  for  two  years  and  in  Audrain  seven,  and 
at  last  settled  in  Monroe  county,  where  the  senior  Cottingham  died. 
It  was  here  that  George  H.  arrived  at  man's  estate  and  finished  his 
education  at  the  common  schools.  He  only  lived  here  one  year  after 
his  marriage,  February  22,  1858,  and  then  came  to  Randolph  county, 
which  had  been  his  wife's  home,  and  for  eight  years  was  engaged  in 
the  saw  mill  and  lumber  as  well  as  the  flouring  mill  business.  He 
took  possession  of  his  present  farm  in  March,  1875.  He  has  350 
acres  of  land,  320  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  and  has  about  200  in 
timothy  and  blue  grass.  His  residence  is  handsome,  and  he  has  a 
good  barn  and  two  splendid  orchards,  one  in  especial,  containing  250 
trees — apple,  peach,  cherry  and  other  fruits.  Mrs.  Cottingham  was 
Miss  Sarah  M,  Brooks,  daughter  of  Thomas  B.  Brooks,  formerly  of 
Kentucky.  They  have  seven  children :  Florence,  wife  of  J.  J. 
Matthews;  R.  C.,  Lora  May,  wife  of  Logan  Meals;  James  H., 
Ernest,  Beulah  and  Thomas  B.  Three  children  died  in  infancy. 
R.  C,  the  eldest  son,  is  a  young  man  of  most  brilliant  promise.  He 
was  educated  and  graduated  at  Columbia,  and  is  now  a  successful 
practicing  physician  at  Leesburg,  Monroe  county.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cottingham  and  the  two  eldest 
daughters  are  zealous  and  devoted  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South,  for  whose  worship  there  is  a  building  situated  on  Mr.  Cotting- 
ham's  farm.  It  is  a  new  and  beautiful  structure,  costing  $1,200,  and 
in  which  Mr.  Cottingham  has  the  right  to  feel  great  personal  pride, 
having  given  the  ground  upon  which  it  stands  and  more  money 
towards  its  erection  than  any  four  others,  besides  boarding  the  car- 
penters free  and  contributing  largely  in  other  ways. 

JAMES  N.  COX 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  C.  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ky.,  Juh^  9,  1824.  His  father, 
Daniel  Cox,  who  was  a  man  of  heroic  mold,  and  fought  in  the  War 
of  1812  in  the  naval  service  on  Lake  Erie,  died  before  the  family  left 
Kentucky,  in  1836.  James  N.  and  his  mother,  formerly  Miss  Lydia 
Hurst,  of  Kentucky,  located  first  in  Boone  county.  Mo.,  and  it  was 
not  until  he  became  his  own  master  that  Mr.  Cox  moved  to  Randolph 
county  and  began  for  himself.  He  has  been  successful  in  his  efforts, 
and  DOW  owns  195  acres  of  land,  all  fenced,  with  130  in  cultivation 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  551 

and  meadow.  He  occupies  a  neat  residence.  On  tiie  29th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1849,  Mr.  Cox  crowned  liis  life  with  the  love  of  Miss  Susan 
Spurling,  daughter  of  Alfred  Spurling,  formerly  from  Kentucky. 
Mrs.  C,  though  born  in  Kentucky,  was  raised  in  Kandolph  county. 
She  was  to  him  a  good  and  faithful  spouse,  and  died  February  28, 
1880,  leaving  three  children:  Elizabeth  F.,  wife  of  James  T.  Harris  ; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Albert  Byram  ;  and  Ida  Lee.  Mr.  Cox  was  married 
again,  March  30,  1881,  to  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  widow  of  George  W.  Camp- 
bell and  daughter  of  Elijah  Fowler,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Cox 
belongs  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  and  Mrs.  C.  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

JOSEPH  B.  AND  CHARLES  G.  DAVIS 

(Post-office,  Renick"). 

Joseph  B.  Davis  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  January 
8,  1829,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Davis,  orignally  of  Virginia,  who 
removed  to  Kentucky  when  quite  young,  being  brought  out  by  his 
parents  to  the  Bhie  Grass  State,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Ken- 
tucky. Joseph  grew  to  manhood  in  that  State  and  was  there  married 
to  Miss  Polly  Williams,  also  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky.  Joseph 
Davis,  pere,  came  out  to  Missouri  in  1819,  and  prospected  in  this  State 
for  a  location  at  which  to  settle.  Returning  to  Kentucky,  he  removed 
his  family  to  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  in  1822,  where  he  had  decided 
to  make  his  future  home.  He  settled  near  Renick,  or  rather  where 
the  town  of  Renick,  then  in  a  state  of  no7i  esse,  is  now  situated. 
He  resided  on  the  farm  which  he  settled  near  the  site  of  Renick, 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  1,  18G5.  He  was  twice  mari'ied, 
and  his  widow  by  his  second  marriage  now  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Joseph  B.  Davis  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  this  county,  and  had  good 
common  school  advantages.  In  1850,  then  21  years  of  age,  he  crossed 
the  plains  on  his  way  to  the  golden  coast  of  the  Pacific  seas.  He  went 
in  the  company  of  White  and  Burkhead,  and  about  10  others,  and 
they  were  on  the  road  some  four  months.  After  an  experience  of 
nearly  a  year  in  the  mines  he  returned  to  Missouri  by  way  of  the 
Isthmus  and  New  Orleans,  reaching  his  old  homestead  in  Randolph 
county  in  1851.  The  following  winter,  on  the  17th  of  February,  1852, 
he  was"  married  to  Miss  Sallie,  a  daughter  of  Saul  and  Jeauette  Mar- 
tin, formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Davis  was  born  and  reared  in  this 
county.  There  are  two  children  bj  this  marriage  :  Jeanette,  who  is 
the  wnfe  of  Charles  C.  McKinney  ;  and  Charles  G.,  one  of  the  subjects 
of  this  sketch.  The  mother  of  these  died,  and  on  the  7th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1864,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Grace,  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Grace,  and  a  daughter  of  Owen  McGruder,  an  early  settler  of 
Howard  county,  but  now  deceased.  Mrs,  Davis  has  one  daughter  by 
her  former  marriage,  Annie  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Davis,  Jr.,  of  Moberly. 
By  her  last  marriage  there  is  also  a  daughter,  Sallie  M.,  now  a  young  lady 
of  17.  Two  children  died  after  they  had  reached  years  of  maturity,  — 
30 


552  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

both  by  Mr.  Davis'  first  marriage  :  Florence  G.,  who  died  in  the  fall  of 
1883,  and  James  Rollins,  who  died  November  4,  1881,  at  the  age  of  24. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  fine  ability  and  superior  attainments,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  practicing  at  Moberly,  and  a  graduate  of  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  State  University.  It  was  a  sad  thing  to  see  this  young 
man  die  in  the  opening  bloom  of  life,  when  all  the  bright  days  of  use- 
fulness and  perhaps  eminence  at  the  bar  and  in  public  service  were 
before  him.  He  had  fitted  himself  for  his  profession  by  a  thorough 
course  of  study,  and  was  one  of  those  characters  in  whom  the  fire  of 
genius  was  imbedded  and  the  noble  aspiration  to  make  his  life  one  of 
value  to  the  world  and  of  honor  to  his  name  and  country.  With  his 
talents  and  attainments  and  the  honorable  ambition  that  prompted 
him  to  strive  for  a  destiny  above  that  of  the  average  of  men,  he  could 
scarcely  have  failed  to  make  for  himself  a  reputation  and  a  name  that 
would  have  gone  vibrating  down  the  ages,  as  that  of  one  of  the  able 
men  of  his  native  State.  Mr.  Davis,  the  senior  subject  of  this  sketch, 
settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  before  his  marriage.  This 
is  an  excellent  place  of  250  acres  and  is  well  improved,  including 
good  buildings  and  fences,  meadows  and  pastures,  etc.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  Mr.  Davis  is 
a  member  of  Morality  Lodge,  No.  186,  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  at 
Renick. 

Charles  G.  Davis,  the  junior  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  June 
23,  1861,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm.  Being  of  studious  habits  and 
of  an  active  and  quick  mind,  he  acquired  an  excellent  education,  and 
became  well  qualified  to  teach  school.  He  taught  school  in  the  county 
for  several  terms,  and  also  one  term  in  Howard  county,  and  meeting  a 
charming  lady,  to  whom  he  became  ardently  attached.  Miss  Alice 
Sorrel  1,  daughter  of  John  Sorrell,  of  this  county",  he  was  married  to 
her  on  the  3d  of  August,  1882.  After  his  marriage,  Charles  G. 
Davis  bought  back  an  interest  in  the  mill  which  he  had  previously 
been  running,  and  continued  to  run  it  for  some  time  afterwards.  He 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  as  early  as  the  fall  of  1880,  but  sold 
out  in  the  spring  of  1881,  and  did  not  return  to  it  until  after  his  mar- 
riage. 

REESE  D.  DA  VIES 

(Merchant,  Kenick). 

Born  in  South  Wales,  England,  May  14,  1843,  Mr.  Davies  was  the  sou 
of  David  and  Magdaline  Davies.  He  clung  to  his  native  laud  until 
some  years  after  reaching  his  majority,  working  as  apprentice  at  the 
trade  of  blacksmithing ;  then,  conceiving  the  far-ofF  America  to  be 
an  El  Dorado,  he  finally  set  his  steps  toward  it.  He  could  not,  how- 
ever, valiant  as  his  courage,  face  the  uncertainties  of  a  new  life,  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  without  one  loving  heart  to  cheer  his  way  ; 
so  in  August,  1868,  Miss  Eliza  Walters  consented  to  link  her  fate  with 
his,  for  better,  for  worse,  and  in  1869  the  newly-married  pair,  with 
a  tear  in  the  eye  and  a  smile  on  the  lip,  started  for  this  glorious  land 
of  liberty.     Mr.  Davies  settled  in  Macon  county,  where  for  five  years 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTT.  553 

he  was  engaged  in  coal  mining.  He  moved  to  Huntsville,  Randolpli 
county,  in  1874,  and  continued  to  work  in  the  mines  for  two  years. 
During  this  time  he  found  that  his  previous  knowledge  of  blacksmith- 
ing  was  no  disadvantage  to  him,  and  he  made  use  of  it  in  making  and 
sharpening  tools  for  the  mines.  He  finally  came  to  Reuick  in  the  fall 
of  1878  and  worked  in  the  mines  here  for  three  years,  when  he  started 
a  saloon.  Though  he  has  sold  one-half  his  interest  in  this  business, 
he  still  owns  the  building.  From  the  fall  of  1881  until  January, 
1883,  he  was  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  and  then  forming  a 
partnership  with  William  Crosswhite,  they  laid  in  a  stock  of  hard- 
ware and  groceries  under  the  firm  style  of  Crosswhite  &  Co.  A  man 
of  such  good  business  habits  and  capacity  and  sterling,  self-reliailt  worth 
could  not  fail  to  prosper,  and  Mr.  Davies  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
his  own  industry  in  the  shape  of  a  flourishing  trade.  Not  less  has  heaven 
smiled  upon  his  home.  He  has  six  children,  all  of  whom  were  born 
in  Missouri :  David  W.,  Anna,  Lizzie,  William,  Mary  J.  and  Arthur. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davies  are  devout  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  Mr.  D.  belongs  to  Estridge  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

GEORGE  A.  DOUGHERTY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser  and  Dealer) . 

Mr.  D.  is  a  native  of  Howard  county,  Mo.,  and  was  born  July  28, 
1849.  Hfs  mother,  Anna  Walker,  was  also  a  native  of  the  county, 
her  father  being  one  of  its  earliest  settlers.  Franklin  Dougherty,  his 
father,  came  from  Kentucky  in  1837  and  entered  land  in  Howard,  only 
three  miles  from  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  George  A.  spent  his 
youth  on  the  home  farm,  receiving  a  good  common  school  education. 
At  the  age  of  22  he  went  to  Texas,  and  was  for  some  time  employed 
in  driving  and  trading  in  cattle.  In  1873  he  located  in  Randolph, 
marrying,  October  21,  1875,  a  young  lady  who  was  born  and  raised  in 
the  county,  Miss  Fannie  A.,  daughter  of  Thornton  Mason.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Dougiierty  bought  a  place  near  Elliott,  in  the  same 
county,  which,  after  living  on  it  until  in  February,  1883,  he  sold  it, 
coming  to  the  fiirm  upon  which  he  now  lives  in  February,  1883.  Mr. 
Dougherty  makes  a  business  of  trading  in  mules  and  cattle,  buying 
young  mules  and  raising  theni  for  the  markets,  besides  trading  in 
other  stock.  He  is  a  man  of  much  energy  and  enterprise  and  has  the 
esteem  of  all  his  neighbors.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dougherty  have  only  one 
child  :  Nannie  Pearl,  a  winsome  little  maid,  born  November  21,  1876. 

SAMUEL  M.  FOREST,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon.)J 

Dr.  F.  was  originally  from  Kentucky,  having  been  born  in  Barren 
county,  January  29,  1845.  His  father,  John  M.,  and  mother,  Martha 
Malone,  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  came  to  Missouri  in  the  fall 
of  1857,  and,  having  wintered  in  Columbia,  settled  in  Audrain  county 
the  following  spring.     Samuel  M.  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  attended 


554  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  neighboring  schools;  hia  education,  however,  was  finished  at  a 
high  school  in  Barren  county,  Ky.  On  his  return  to  Audrain  he 
farmed  two  years;  then,  seized  with  the  Texas  fever,  he  determined 
to  try  his  fortune  there.  He  continued  his  occupation,  farming,  in 
Texas,  from  1868  to  1873,  when,  feeling  the  medical  profession  to  be 
the  noblest  on  earth,  he  adopted  it  as  his  life  work,  a  decision  for 
which  many  have  had  reason  to  be  thankful.  I;i  1874  Dr.  Forest 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  San  Marcus,  Texas,  under  Dr. 
Wood,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  that  part  of  the  State.  He 
read  with  him  one  year,  then  returned  to  Missouri,  read  with  a 
brother  at  Middle  Grove,  Monroe  county,  took  his  first  course  of 
lectures  the  winter  of  1875-76,  and  in  the  spring  of  1878  graduated 
with  honor  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College.  He  first  pitched  upon 
Franklin,  in  Howard  county,  as  the  scene  of  his  future  labors  and  tri- 
umphs, but  in  the  winter  of  1879  removed  to  Renick,  which  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  In  1880,  unwearying  in  the  pursuit  of  knowl- 
edge. Dr.  Forest  took  another  course  of  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis 
Medical  College,  and  returned  in  the  spring  (if  1881  to  Renick  and 
continued  the  practice  of  his  profession.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
he  has  become  "to  all  the  country  dear."  Being  by  nature  en- 
dowed with  qualities  both  of  head  and  heart  which  render  him  pecu- 
liarly well  adapted  to  the  calling  of  his  choice,  he  has  reaped  in  a 
marked  degree  the  fruit  thereof.  He  is  a  man  of  brilliant  mind, 
with  an  insatiable  thirst  for  study,  and  deserves  to  the  full  the  dis- 
tinction he  has  won.  In  1882  the  Doctor  went,  in  connection  with 
his  brother,  John  Forest  (who,  as  was  mentioned  in  a  previous 
sketch,  was  succeeded  by  G.  O.  Powell),  into  the  drug  business,  in 
which  he  has  prospered.  Dr.  Forest  is  a  member  of  the  Moberly 
District  Medical  Society,  and  is  secretary  of  that  organization  ;  he 
is  a  member  of  Middle  Grove  Lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  also  a 
member,  as  well  as  examining  physician,  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Thus 
far  the  Doctor,  despite  the  universal  decree  that  a  physician  shall 
marry  young,  has  remained  single,  finding  room  only  in  his  heart  for 
suffering  humanity,  to  which  he  has  devoted  himself  with  the  ardor 
of  a  lover.  It  may  be  that,  with  rare  wisdom,  he  recognizes  the 
undoubted  fact  that,  in  spite  of  all  said  to  the  contrary,  young 
physicians  will  share  with  young  ministers,  to  the  end  of  time,  the 
worship  of  every  female  heart. 

WILLIAM  C.  FOSTER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.,  Foster  is  the  son  of  Anthony  Foster  and  Permelia  Carej^  of 
Clark  county,  Ky.  His  parents  came  to  Randolph  in  January, 
1848,  and  bought  an  improved  farm  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mr. 
Foster's  present  home.  There  were  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  three  sons  and  a  daughter  are  still  living.  William  C, 
who  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ky.,  January  18,  1835,  lived 
until  he  was  a  man  on  the  farm,  receiving  a  fair  common  school  edu- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  555 

cation.  When  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded  through  the  air  Mr.  Foster 
cast  in  his  lot  with  that  noble  and  devoted  band  who  gave  their 
lives  freely  in  defense  of  their  sunny  land  of  flowers,  and  whose 
hopes  were  doomed  to  blight  and  decay.  He  enlisted  in  1861  in 
the  Missouri  State  Guards,  John  B.  Clark's  Division.  He  held  a 
commission  as  second  lieutenant,  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Boon- 
ville  and  Lexington.  He  then  resigned,  came  home,  joined  Perkins 
and  Poindexter,  and  in  1862  was  taken  prisoner  and  held  at  St. 
Louis  and  Alton,  111.,  for  several  months  ;  finally,  his  exchange  being 
efiected  at  Vicksburg,  he  went  into  the  Ninth  Missouri  infantry,  under 
Col.  John  B.  Clark,  Jr.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  par- 
ticipating with  distinguished  valor  in  several  important  engagements 
and  a  number  of  skirmishes.  The  next  event  worthy  of  note  in  Mr. 
Foster's. career  was  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mollie  E.,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam H.  and  Deidamia  Cooper,  formerly  of  Kentucky,  whom  he  wedded 
September  19,  1867.  They  have  three  living  children  :  Sallie,  Minnie 
Gertrude  and  Henry,  losing  in  1878,  within  a  few  months  of  each 
other,  two  promising  boys;  Thomas  E.,  died  April  16th,  in  his 
10th  year,  and  William  died  September  16th,  aged  two.  Upon  his 
marriage  Mr.  Foster  settled  quietly  down  on  the  farm  he  still  owns. 
This  comprises  243  acres  of  land  —  200  in  the  home  place,  all  fenced 
and  nearly  all  in  cultivation  and  meadow  pasture,  a  new  and  neat 
residence,  good  stable  and  fine  bearing  orchard.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Foster  are  exceedingly  popular  among  their  neighbors,  and  are  de- 
sirable members  of  the  community.  They  both  belong  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  Renick. 

WILLIAM  B.  GARVEN 

(Post-office,  Renick) . 

Mr.  G.,  a  respected  citizen  and  farmer  of  this  county,  was  born  on 
February  11,  1839.  His  fiither,  Stephen  H.  Garven,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  He  came  to  Missouri  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  be- 
lieving in  the  Bible  doctrine  that,  "it  is  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone,"  he  married  Miss  Janette  Brooks,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
settled  in  Randolph  county  near  Roanoke.  He  resided  in  the  county 
until  his  death,  which  ocurred  in  the  year  1871.  His  son,  William 
B.,  was  brought  up  on  his  fiither's  farm,  and  his  youthful  days  were 
spent  in  acquiring  that  useful  and  practical  knowledge  of  farm  life, 
which  was  in  after  life  of  so  much  benefit  to  him.  Brought  up  as  a 
stock-raiser  and  farmer,  he  has  pursued  both  occupations  with  great 
energy,  and  his  eff'orts  have  been  crowned  with  success. 

Mr.  Garven  is  well  educated  in  the  English  branches,  having  com- 
pleted a  course  in  the  public  grammar  schools  and  the  Sturgeon  High 
School.  In  the  midst  of  the  sterner  duties  of  life,  Mr.  Garven  found 
leisure  to  choose  for  himself  a  partner  in  life.  He  was  accordingly 
married  in  this  county  on  Novenber  24,  1861,  to  Miss  tydia  Ann 
Shirley,  who  was  also  born  and  brought  up  in  Randolph  county.  Her 
father,  Presley  Shirley,  was  formerly  from  Kentucky.    Their  marriage 


556  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

was  blessed  by  seven  children,  namely:  Eugei)e,  Anna  Orald,  Cora, 
Charles,  Don,  Maud  and  William  Ira.  But  death,  who,  in  his  relentless 
course,  spares  neither  young  nor  old,  did  not  forget  this  household. 
Five  little  ones  Avere  taken  from  their  loving  mother's  arms  in  their 
infancy.     Truly  is  it  said, 

There  is  a  reaper,  whose  name  is  Death, 

And  with  his  sickle  keen, 
He  reaps  the  bearded  grain  at  a  breath, 

And  tlie  flowers  that  grow  between. 

The  flowerets  of  the  sorrowing  parents  had  but  "  budded  on  earth 
to  bloom  in  heaven." 

Mr.  Garven  did  not  settle  permanently  immediately  after  his  mar- 
riage, but  rented  a  farm  for  a  few  years.  In  the  year  1869  he  bought 
a  farm  near  Eenick,  and  remained  there  for  12  years,  meeting  with 
success.  In  1881  he  sold  the  farm  on  which  he  lived  and  purchased  the 
place  where  he  now  resides.  His  place  is  kept  well  repaired,  and 
everything  is  in  good  order,  showing  that  the  master's  eye  is  carefully 
attentive  in  the  minutest  particular.  Mr.  Garven  is  the  owner  of  200 
acres  of  land,  all  fenced.  He  can  also  lay  claim  to  100  acres  in  culti- 
vation, and  about  75  acres  in  pasture. 

THOMAS  W.  GENOLA 

(Proprietor  of  City  Livery,  Feed  and  Sale  Stable,  Eenick). 

Mr. G.  was  born  in  Howard  county,  Mo.,  February  4,  1847.  His 
father,  Joseph  Genola,  was  a  Frenchman  ;  his  mother,  Elizabeth  Owen, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  Joseph  Genola  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  a  young  man,  and  settled  first  in  Glasgow,  Howard  county,  of 
this  State,  where  he  married.  In  1849  he  went  to  California,  re- 
mained eight  years,  and  returning  in  1857,  lived  in  Glasgow  about 
one  year,  when  he  moved  to  Renick.  There  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  until  his  death,  September  9,  1860.  Thomas  W. 
Genola,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  while  growing  up,  divided  his  time 
between  school  and  assisting  his  father  in  the  store.  After  the  death 
of  the  latter  he  enlisted,  in  1864,  in  Price's  army,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Lexington  and 
fought  all  the  way  from  that  place  to  the  Arkansas  river.  During  this 
memorable  journey  he  was  under  fire  at  least  20  or  24  days.  After 
the  war  Mr.  Genola  returned  to  Renick  and  clerked  until  1868,  in 
the  spring  of  which  year  he  began  merchandising  on  his  own  account, 
and  did  a  good  business  for  10  years,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
in  1874  he  was  turned  out,  without  insurance,  and  suffered  a  heavy 
loss  of  about  $3,000.  In  the  fall  of  1879  he  bought  a  stable  and  era- 
barked  in  the  livery  business;  but  one  could  almost  imagine  him  pur- 
sued by  the  hungry  jaws  of  a  veritable  fiend,  for  in  the  same  year  he 
was  again  burned  out.  Rising  Phoenix-like  from  the  flames,  he  built 
in  1881,  the  brick  stable,  where  he  is   now  established.     Mr.  G.  has 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  557 

been  at  times  engaged  to  some  extent  in  shipping  native  lumber,  and  is 
also  now  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  meat  market.  He  was  elected 
in  the  spring  of  1881,  mayor  of  the  city,  which  honorable  office  he  now 
continues  to  fill  to  the  material  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the 
community.  To  say  that  fortune  smiles  upon  him  is  but  calling  at- 
tention to  the  inevitable  consequence  of  his  own  indomitable  energy 
and  steady  industry,  the  only  imperishable  treasure  that  can  be  .pos- 
sessed by  a  man  in  this  world  of  change  and  chance.  Mr.  Genola 
was  married  at  Renick,  June  6,  1870,  to  Miss  Dulcie  Boulware,  a 
daughter  of  John  Boulware,  formerly  from  Kentucky.  There  are 
two  children  in  their  family  :  Ida  Velera  and  Rita. 

JAMES  L.  GEORGE 

(Merchant  at  Renick,  Mo.). 

A  native  of  Howard  county,  Mo.,  Mr.  George  was  born  July  25,  1853, 
the  son  of  William  George  and  Sarah  Hardin,  both  from  Kentucky. 
Mr.  George  was  a  man  of  distinction,  having  fought  with  honor  in  the 
Mexican  War.  After  settling  in  Howard  county,  when  a  young  man, 
he  tilled  the  soil  there  for  a  number  of  years.  When  the  late  Civil 
War  broke  out,  like  the  war-horse  who  sniff's  the  battle  afar,  he  rushed 
to  the  fray  ;  he  served  in  the  Confederate  army,  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  died  in  1864,  that  most  terrible  death,  a  captive  in  a  military 
prison  in  St.  Louis.  J.  L.  spent  his  life  until  his  majority  on  the 
farm,  during  which  time  his  education  was  not  neglected.  He  at- 
tended the  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  finally  taking  a  course  of 
two  years  at  the  Normal  school  at  Kirksville.  Upon  the  completion 
of  his  studies  Mr.  George  turned  them  to  good  account ;  he  took 
charge  of  a  school  and  taught  "  the  young  ideas  how  to  shoot"  for 
four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  embarked  in  the  drug  and 
grocery  liusiness  at  Renick,  and  was  in  the  trade  about  three  years. 
In  October,  1882,  Mr.  George  sold  out  his  store  and  bought  a  third 
interest  in  the  Renick  Flouring  Mills,  in  partnership  with  Williams 
&  Grant.  He  continued  in  this  line  until  July,  1883,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  share  in  the  concern.  He  has  just  completed  a  fine 
brick  store  house,  24X80,  which  he  has  fitted  out  with  a  full  stock  of 
drugs  and  groceries,  and  is  now  prepared  to  fill  all  orders  with  which 
the  public  may  favor  him.  Mr.  George  and  Mr.  T,  J.  Grant  own 
f&ur  fine  brick  buildiugs,  just  finished,  beautifully  ornamented  with 
iron  facings.  Mr.  G.  is  as  yet  unmarried,  but  if  Dame  Rumor  speaks 
aright  will  not  long  continue  so.  He  is  a  man  of  genial,  pojnilar 
manners,  and  his  friends  are  a  host ;  of  steady,  reliable  business  hab- 
its and  a  clear-headed  nianaoer,  his  success  was  a  thino;  assured. 

JAMES  W.  GIBBS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  G.,  a  son  of  Stephen  Gibbs,  of  Virginia,  and  Martha  Miller,  of 
Kentucky,  breathed  his  first  sigh  in  Howard  county.  Mo.,  March   28, 


558  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

1848.  The  family  came  to  Howard  in  1843,  where  Mr.  Gibbs  en- 
tered land  and  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  peaceful 
passing  away,  in  1870.  James  W.  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Howard 
countv,  receiving  a  good  common  school  education.  He  first  adopted 
the  carpenter's  trade  and  built  most  of  his  own  building,  as  well  as  two 
or  three  others  in  the  neighborhood.  Upon  his  marriage,  however, 
February  9,  1875,  to  Miss  Martha  E.,  daughter  of  Judge  B.  H.  Tol- 
son,  of  Howard  county,  whose  sketch  may  be  found  in  the  Howard 
County  History,  Richmond  township,  his  father-in-law  presented  him 
with  the  ftirm  upon  which  he  lives,  in  Randolph  county.  In  March, 
1876,  Mr.  Gibbs  moved  to  his  new  home.  He  owns  262  acres  of 
land,  all  fenced  and  nearly  all  in  cultivation.  His  young  orchard 
embraces  a  variety  of  small  fruits.  Mrs.  Gibbs,  xi  lady  of  refinement, 
intelligence  and  beauty,  is  a  native  of  Howard  county,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  Christian  College,  Columbia.  She  and  her  husband  are  both 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  They  have  four  children  :  Sallie 
F.,  Anna  Belle,  Katie  S.  and  Benjamin  Elliott.  Mr.  Gibbs  is  a  young 
man,  every  day  of  whose  life  unfolds  some  bud  of  promise  and  hope, 
and  of  which  the  full  flower  cannot  fail  to  be  of  gorgeous  bloom. 

THOMAS  J.  GRANT 

(Renick) . 

Among  the  substantial  business  men  of  Renick  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Mr.  Grant,  a  son  of  Thomas  G.  Grant  and  Lucy  M.  Allen, 
of  Virginia,  was  born  in  Boone  county,  Ky.,  December  15,  1835.  The 
family  moved  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  and  from  Kentucky  to  Mis- 
souri in  1841,  locating  in  Monroe  county.  Mr.  Grant,  Sr.,  was  a  vet- 
eran and  a  pensioner  of  the  War  of  1812.  T.  J.  lived  in  Monroe  county 
until  he  was  grown,  passing  his  life  on  a  farm,  and  being  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  While  still  in  Monroe,  Janu- 
ary 2,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
William  H.  Fields,  originally  from  Kentucky.  Mrs.  G.,  though  a 
Kentuckian  by  birth,  came  with  her  parents  to  Missouri  at  the  age  of 
14  years.  After  Mr.  Grant  was  married  he  continued  to  live  in  Macon 
until  March  9,  1866,  when  he  came  to  Randolph  county  and  estab- 
lished himself  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  520  acres 
of  land,  all  in  a  body,  adjoining  the  town  of  Renick,  upon  which  he 
has  a  handsome  two-story  residence,  two  new  barns,  and  other  neces- 
sary out-buildings.  Mr.  Grant  makes  a  business  of  handling  thorough- 
bred cattle,  and  has  a  herd  of  18  head  of  as  fine  as  can  be  found 
anywhere,  led  by  Leonard,  a  deep  red  roan,  and  magnificent  animal,  one 
year  old.  Mr.  Grant  takes  great  pride  in  his  stock,  and  with  reason. 
Besides  this,  he,  under  the  firm  name  of  Williams  &  Grant,  is  a  half 
owner  of  the  Renick  flouring  mill,  and  of  a  carriasre  and  wagon  fac- 
tory,  a  handsome  one-story  brick  structure,  just  completed  ;  he  is  also 
interested  in  a  harness  shop.  Grant  &  George,  as  mentioned  in  the 
sketch  of  the  last  named,  own  a  block  of  four  substantial  brick  build- 
ings, all  iron  front,  and  the  best  store-rooms  in  the  town  of  Renick. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  559 

Mr.  Grant's  principal  occupation  is  handling,  feeding  and  shipping 
stock  to  the  wholesale  markets ;  though  a  young  man,  he  is  well  on 
his  way  to  fortune  ;  and  what  makes  his  success  more  agreeable,  is  the 
consciousness  that  he  owes  it  alone  to  his  own  energy  and  enterprise. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  have  four  children  :  Charles  T.,  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Vernon  county;  Anna  Kate,  wife  of  Charles  Kagsdale  ;  James 
and  Luella.  Mr.  G.  and  wife  belong  to  the  Christian  Church,  and  he 
is  a  Mason  and  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

J.  LEONARD   GRIMES 

(Farmer  and  Fine  Short-horn  Cattle  Breeder). 

Mr.  Grimes,  who  has  an  excellent  farm  of  240  acres,  has  been  en- 
gaged in  breeding  and  raising  fine  short-horn  cattle  and  dealing  in  that 
class  of  stock  for  about  16  years.  He  has  been  quite  successful  in 
this  branch  of  industry,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  for  Randolph  county 
and  the  country  round  about,  in  improving  the  grade  of  stock  raised. 
He  has  a  herd  of  some  25  head  of  as  fine  thoroughbred  short-horns  as 
are  to  be  seen  in  the  country.  He  has  made  a  specialt}'^  of  the  study 
of  fine  stock  breeding,  particularly  in  the  branch  of  the  business  with 
which  he  is  identified,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  posted  fine 
stock  men  and  one  of  the  best  judges  of  stock  in  the  county.  He,  of 
course,  raises  his  stock  for  sale,  and  he  keeps  a  record  of  the  descent 
of  each  head,  showing  from  what  sires  and  dams  each  one  came 
through  a  generation  past,  so  that  when  one  buys  from  him  the  pur- 
chaser knows  exactly  what  he  is  getting;  and  this  record  of  stock  is 
faithfully  and  honestly  kept,  thus  rendering  mistakes,  or  worse  than 
mistakes,  impossible.  Any  one  who  knows  Mr.  Grimes  will  not  for  a 
moment  question  any  certificate  of  stock  which  bears  his  genuine  sig- 
nature. Mr.  Grimes  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides  January  21,  1846.  His  father,  George  W. 
Grimes,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Randolph  county,  but  died  in 
St.  Charles  county.  Mo.,  on  his  return  from  Virginia,  July  17,  1847. 
He  came  out  here  in  1836,  and  settled  on  the  place  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  now  resides.  He  left  a  wife  and  six  children  at  his 
death,  and  of  his  children  four  are  now  living,  including  J.  Leonard. 
J.  Leonard  Grimes  was  reared  in  the  county,  and  as  he  grew  up  re- 
ceived a  good  common  school  education.  On  the  21st  of  February, 
1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  S.,  a  daughter  of  V.  B.  Bohannon, 
of  Monroe  county,  but  formerl}'  of  Kentucky.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Grimes  located  on  the  old  Grimes  homestead,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Mrs.  Grimes  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr. 
Grimes'  father  was  also  a  member  of  the  church,  a  communicant 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  was  a  man  of  earnest  piety  and  many  estim- 
able qualities  of  head  and  heart.  His  death  was  sincerely  and  pro- 
foundly mourned  by  his  old  neighbors  and  acquaintances  in  Randolph 
county. 


560  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


DR.  THOMAS  L.  HAMILTON 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Renick,  Mo.)- 

Dr.  H.  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born  in  Williamson  county,  May  17, 
1825.  His  father,  J.  B.  Hamilton,  M.D.,  and  mother,  Nancy  Campbell, 
were  from  Kentucky.  They  moved  from  Tennessee  to  Kentucky  when 
Thomas  L.  was  a  child  and  settled  in  Green,  and  after  one  year  moved 
to  Marion  county.  Dr.  Hamilton,  Sr.,  practicing  medicine  in  Marion 
county  and  Green,  where  the  mother  of  Thomas  L.  Hamilton  died  in 
1830.  Mr.  Hamilton,  Sr.,  then  married  Caroline  Sanders.  The 
family  made  another  move  in  1846,  this  time  choosing  the  State  of 
Missouri  as  their  goal ;  they  took  up  their  abode  in  Gallatin  in  1855. 
The  subject  of  this  memoir  passed  the  first  years  of  his  life  in  Green 
and  Marion  counties,  Kentucky.  Here  he  received  a  good  education, 
and  employed  his  leisure  hours  in  attending  his  father's  office.  It  was 
under  the  paternal  eye  that  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  at  the  un- 
heard-of age  of  14  years.  He  took  his  first  course  of  lectures  in  the 
winter  of  1849-50  at  the  McDowell  Medical  Institute,  a  branch  of  the 
State  University.  In  the  spring  the  Doctor  commenced  the  practi.ce 
of  his  profession  near  Renick,  in  Randolph  county,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  in  Daviess,  one  year  in  St.  Louis  county  during 
the  war,  and  about  a  year  in  Huntsville,  he  has  continued  in  constant 
practice  at  that  place  ever  since.  Dr.  Hamilton  has  united  with  his 
professional  duties  a  mercantile  enterprise,  carrying  on  at  the  same 
time  a  drug  and  dry  goods  store.  He  was  for  two  or  three  years 
mayor  of  the  town,  and  was  president  of  the  school  board  when  the 
school-house  was  built.  The  Doctor  wooed  and  won  one  of  the  fairest 
daughters  of  Randolph  county.  Miss  Cynthia  A.,  child  of  N.  B.  and 
Martha  C.  Christian.  On  the  18th  of  December,  1850,  the  indissolu- 
ble knot  was  tied ;  and  time  has  them  but  fonder  made,  this  lovely 
lady  being  ever  the  "balm  of  his  cares  and  sweet  solace  of  all  his 
toils."  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  have  seven  children  :  Colie,  wife  of 
Rev.  J.  W.  Terrell,  president  of  the  Normal  School  at  Winchester, 
Tenn.  ;  John  N.,  William  T.,. Carrie  E.,  wife  of  Ed.  Pennington,  of 
Tennessee  ;  James  P.,  Ollie,  and  Ida  F.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  and 
eldest  daughter  belong  to  the  Christian  Church,  and  Dr.  Hamilton  is 
a  member  of  Morality  Lodge  No.  186,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

**  The  world's  a  theater,  the  earth  a  stage, 
Which  God  and  Nature  do  with  actors  fill ;  " 

and  of  these  not  one  has  better  played  his  part  than  Dr.  Thomas  L. 
Hamilton,  of  Renick,  Mo. 

JOHN  H.  HARDIN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Benjamin  Hardin,  father  of  John  H.,  came  from  Kentucky  with  his 
parents  when  a  little  lad,  five  years  of  age.     They  settled  in  Howard 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  561 

county,  where  the  chubby  child  became  a  sturdy  youth,  and  in  time  a 
handsome  young  man  who.  in  1838,  moved  to  Randolph  county  and 
entered  and  bought  a  large  body  of  land  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  dealing  in  stock  until  the  time  of  his  death,  August  31, 
1879.  Mr.  Hardin  was  successful  both  in  love  and  war,  having  fought 
manfully  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  twice  winning  a  prize  in  the 
matrimonial  market.  By  his  first  wife,  Susan  Hubbard,  a  young  lady 
of  Randolph  county,  he  had  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and 
of  whom  John  H.  is  the  second  son.  The  latter  has  known  no  other 
home  than  the  farm  upon  which  he  was  born,  on  the  3d  of  April,  1850. 

**  Happy  he  whom  neither  wealth  nor  fashion, 
Nor  the  march  of  the  encroaching  city, 

Drives  an  exile 
From  the  hearth  of  his  ancestral  homestead." 

Mr.  Hardin  was  educated  at  the  public  school  of  the  county,  with  the 
additional  advantage  of  two  years  at  the  Kirksville  Normal  School. 
In  1875  he  made  a  trip  to  California,  pleasantly  occupying  two  years 
in  visiting  Sacramento,  San  Francisco,  and  all  the  noted  cities  of  the 
Pacific  Slope.  In  the  spring  of  1877,  the  wanderer  found  his  way 
home,  and  resumed  the  cares  and  toils  incident  to  the  life  of  any  man 
of  ordinary  ambition.  Mr.  Hardin  has  a  farm  of  200  acres,  all  fenced, 
and  principally  in  blue  grass  and  meadow.  He  occupies  an  elegant 
residence,  and  his  place  is  supplied  with  necessary  buildings  and  a 
young  orchard.  On  the  18th  of  December,  1878,  Mr.  Hardin  was 
joined  in  the  bonds  of  holy  wedlock  to  Miss  Nannie,  daughter  of  J. 
W.  Hubbard,  of  Renick,  formerly  from  Kentucky.  This  fair  lady  is 
fitted  by  education  as  well  as  by  her  graces  of  character  to  be  the 
companion,  counselor  and  comfort  of  even  a  man  like  Mr.  Hardin, 
whose  intellectual  vigor  and  moral  force  stamp  him  as  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive men  of  the  township.  The  young  couple  have  two  interesting 
children  :  Benjamin  Forrest  and  Clara  L.  Mrs.  Hardin  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

JOHN  W.  HENDRIX 

(Blacksmith,  Eenick). 

Mr.  H.  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  country.  His 
father,  Allen  Hendrix,  was  born  at  Hays'  Station  Fort,  Ky.,  as 
far  back  as  1790  ;  his  mother,  Levina  Howard,  was  also  aKentuckiun, 
and  he  himself  was  born  in  Madison  county  of  the  same  State  August 
3,  1833.  Mr.  Hendrix,  Sr.,  was  a  man  of  great  worth,  and  held  the 
office  of  sheriflf  of  his  county  for  several  terms.  The  family  came  to 
Missouri  in  1840,  being  among  the  pioneers  of  Randolph.  J.  W. 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  vicinity  of  Renick,  where  he  still  lives.  His 
early  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his  opportunities  of  obtaining 
an  education  were  few.  He  availed  himself  of  them,  however,  as  far 
as  possible.  February  26,  1867,  Mr.  H.  was  married  to  Miss  M.  J. 
Williams,  daughter  of  I.  C.  and  Mary  J.  Williams,  of  Randolph  county. 
By  this  marriage  there  is  one  son,  Charles  A.     Mrs.  Hendrix  did  not 


562  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

long  survive  ;  with  all  of  life  before  her,  she  slipped  away  from  those 
who  loved  her  but  three  short  years  from  her  wedding  day.  J.  W., 
thinkino-  that  a  good  deed  cannot  be  too  often  done,  was  married  a 
second "^ime  Octtiber  17,  1875,  to  Miss  A.  E.,  daughter  of  James 
Miles,  also  of  Randolph.  They  have  three  children:  Sallie  A.,  W. 
Carl,  and  J.  Ruby.  After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  H.  farmed  for  about 
five  years,  but  in  1875  moved  to  Renick  and  established  a  blacksmith 
shop,  which  he  continues  to  carry  on  in  connection  with  a  wagon  and 
repair  shop.  He  is  one  of  the  best  blacksmiths  in  all  the  country 
round,  and  deservedly  enjoys  a  flourishing  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hendrix  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  Mr.  H.  is  a  promi- 
nent Mason,  having  filled  with  credit  to  himself  nearly  all  the  stations 
in  his  order.  This  honest  man,  unconvulsed  by  the  storms  of  this 
restless  world,  lives  at  peace  with  himself  and  those  about  him,  a  life 
of  placid  content,  only  possible  to  one  whose  conscience  is  at  ease 
and  whose  heart  is  in  the  right  place. 

JAMES  J.  HUBBARD 

(Superintendent  of  the  Renick  Coal  Company) . 

Mr.  H.,  a  young  man  of  remarkable  capacity,  is  a  native  of  Macon 
county.  Mo.,  and  first  saw  the  light  on  the  17th  of  March,  1860. 
His  father,  J.  W.,  and  mother,  Lucinda  Goodding,  were  originally 
from  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  and  returned  there  in  1865,  Mr.  Hub- 
bard, Sr.,  becoming  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Renick  Coal  Mine. 
Here  James  J.  arrived  at  man's  estate,  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education.  At  the  age  of  19  he  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  Renick  Coal  Company,  and  for  two  years  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  this  responsible  position.  In  the  spring  of 
1881  this  young  man's  fancy  lightly  turned  to  thoughts  of  love,  and 
touched  by 

"A  sparlc  of  that  Immortal  Are 
With  angels  shared,  by  Allah  given, 

>  To  lift  from  earth  our  low  desire," 

he  laid  siege  to  the  heart  of  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of  Dr.  Crews,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  but  life  resident  of  this  county.  After  his  marriage, 
which  happy  event  was  solemnized  on  the  23d  of  June,  Mr.  Hubbard 
retired  to  a  farm  near  Huntsville,  where  he  lived  for  two  years  in 
sweet  seclusion,  the  world  forgetting,  but  not  by  the  world  forgot, 
for  at  the  end  of  this  time  his  dream  of  peace  was  disturbed  and  he 
was  called  upon  once  more  to  take  an  active  share  in  the  battle  of  life. 
He  returned  to  Renick,  and  in  October,  1883,  again  took  charge  of 
the  mine.  These  are  very  extensive  works,  employing  about  30  men, 
with  a  profit  of  $25,000  per  year.  It  is  not  necessary  to  comment 
on  the  strength  and  ability  of  Mr.  Hubl)ard's  mental  build,  the  facts 
speak  for  themselves  ;  for  a  man  of  his  age  to  be  placed  in  such  a 
position  proves  him  to  be  a  man  among  men,  and  shows  the  very  flat- 
tering estimate  of  him  held  by  the  community.  Mr.  Hubbard  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  563 


ALEXANDEE  S.  JONES 

(Post-office,  Moberly). 

In  his  fourteenth  year  when  Missouri  was  admitted  into  the  Union 
March  7,  1821,  Mr.  Jones  is  therefore  one  of  the  venerable  old 
men  of  Randolph  county.  Now  past  the  age  of  76,  he  is  still  on  a 
fine  farm  which  he  owns  in  the  county,  on  which  he  has  resided  for 
many  years,  and  the  running  of  which  he  personally  superintends  and 
directs.  Although  he  is  quite  venerable  looking  in  appearance,  yet 
*♦  age  sits  with  decent  grace  upon  his  visage  and  well  becomes  his  sil- 
ver locks,"  and  if  one  were  to  judge  of  his  years  by  his  conversa- 
tion and  movements,  for  he  is  remarkably  bright  in  the  one  and  active 
in  the  other,  he  would  be  taken  to  be  many  years  junior  to  his  real 
age.  He  is  one  of  those  well-preserved,  intelligent  old  men  who, 
though  their  lives  have  been  industrious  and  not  without  satisfactory 
success,  have  not  wrecked  themselves  either  physically  or  mentally  in 
the  inconsiderate  pursuit  of  wealth.  He  has  so  lived  that,  instead  of 
the  evening  of  his  life  being  darkened  and  made  burdensome  by  the 
clouds  of  bitter  regrets  and  physical  anguish,  it  is  softened  and  mel- 
lowed by  the  shadows  of  a  serene  old  age  like  unto  the  evening. hori- 
zon of  an  Italian  sky.  Alexander  S.  Jones  was  born  in  Lincoln 
county,  Tenn.,  January  8,  1808,  seven  years  to  a  day  before  the  bat- 
tle of  New  Orleans.  A  native  of  the  State  from  which  the  iron-willed^ 
hero  of  that  crowning  triumph  of  the  War  of  1812,  came,  he  was 
reared  in  Tennessee,  and,  like  Andrew  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  year  and  in  the  same  State,  he  learned  a  trade  in  his  early  years, 
commencing  at  the  hatter's  trade  about  the  same  time  that  Johnson 
enlisted  in  the  knighthood  of  the  goose  or  tailor's  trade.  Young 
Jones  continued  at  his  trade  for  about  nine  years  and  elohnson  for  about 
the  same  period,  and  the  former  took  to  agriculture  and  the  latter  to 
politics.     But  — 

"  Fortune  in  men  has  some  small  difference  made, 
One  flaunts  in  rags,  one  flutters  in  brocade; 
The  cobbler  apron'd  and  the  parson  gown'd, 
The  friar  hooded  and  the  monarch  crown'd." 

Johnson  went  to  the  Presidency  ;  but  while  Mr.  Jones  has  not  risen 
to  eminence  in  the  admiring  vanity  of  the  world,  his  life  has  been  one 
of  sober,  solid  success  —  such  a  one  as  he  hoped  to  live.  His  has 
been,  and  is,  the  middle  fortune  which  La  Bruvere  has  said  that,  after 
all,  is  the  best :  "  There  is  nothing  that  keeps  longer  than  a  middling 
fortune,  and  nothing  melts  away  sooner  than  a  great  one."  Mr. 
Jones  was  married  in  his  native  county  in  October,  1830,  to  Miss 
Matilda  Jenkins  and  five  years  afterwards  removed  to  Missouri  and 
located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  a  half  mile  from  the  pres- 
ent depot  of  what  is  now  the  city  of  Moberly.  Here,  in  less  than 
another  year,  he  will  have  lived  for  a  half  a  century.     He  has  a  fine 


564  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

body  of  210  acres  of  land  and  his  farm  is  comfortably  improved.  He 
has  lived  a  plain,  industrious  and  upright  life,  and  no  breath  of  re- 
proach has  ever  settled  upon  the  burnished  shield  of  his  character. 
One  of  the  old  fathers  of  the  county  in  point  of  early  settlement  and 
lono-  residence,  he  is  at  the  same  time  one  of  its  worthy  old  patri- 
archs, having  reared  a  large  and  respected  family  of  children,  a  num- 
ber of  whom  are  now  themselves  the  heads  of  families.  Mr.  Jones 
has  been  twice  married.  By  his  first  marriage  he  was  blessed  with 
12  children,  namely:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  David  James;  Mar- 
garet, who  died  in  maidenhood  at  the  age  of  19  ;  Eliza,  who  is  now 
the  widow  of  Michael  Shipp,  deceased  ;  Robert  A.  ;  John  J.  ;  Sarah, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Chrystall  ;  Catherine,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Sparks  ;  Louisa,  who  is  now  the  widow  of  Mr.  Shad- 
rick  ;  Thomas  B.,  who  is  now  deceased  ;  Duliena,  yet  in  maidenhood 
and  at  home  ;  Marietta,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Marion  Crase  ;  Julia 
("Duck"),  who  is  now  the  wife  of  William  Barton.  Thomas  B. 
was  a  captain  in  the  Confederate  army  and  was  wounded  during  a 
battle  while  gallantly  leading  his  company,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  soon  after  died.  Mr.  Jones'  first  wife  died  December  20, 
1877,  after  a  happy  married  life  of  one  year  less  than  half  a  century. 
Of  her  it  may  in  truth  be  said,  in  the  language  of  Proverbs,  that  "  she 
stretched  out  her  hand  to  the  poor,  yea,  she  reacheth  out  her  hand  to 
the  needy  ;  strength  and  honor  are  her  clothing  and  she  shall  rejoice 
in  time  to  come.  She  openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom  and  in  her 
tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness.  She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her 
household  and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness.  Her  children  rise  up 
and  call  her  blessed  and  her  husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her."  To 
his  present  wife,  a  most  worthy  and  excellent  woman,  Mr.  Jones  was 
married  on  the  9th  of  September,  1881.  She  was  the  widow  of  Thomas 
S.  Cox,  deceased,  and  her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Miller.  She 
was  originally  from  New  Jersey  and  was  a  daughter  of  George  Miller, 
who  came  from  England.  By  her  former  marriage  she  has  four  chil- 
dren :  Esther,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  John  C.  Campbell ;  Grace,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  William  Lyon  ;  Emily,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Hol- 
lis  Hoyt ;  and  Rose  C,  who  is  still  a  femme  libre. 

JOHN  J.  JONES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

When  in  his  twentieth  year,  in  1859,  Mr.  Jones,  w^ho  had  been  born 
and  reared  in  this  county,  joined  the  live  stock  expedition  of  Charles 
Burton,  bound  for  California,  and  assisted  others  to  drive  some  300 
head  of  cattle  and  a  large  number  of  mules  and  horses  to  the  Pacific 
coast.  The  expedition  was  on  the  road  for  about  six  months  and 
endured  many  hardships  wiiich  the  young  men  of  the  present  genera- 
tion can  hardly  understand  or  appreciate,  and  which  would  be 
impossible  now  even  if  stock  were  still  driven  across  the  plains  and 
through  the  mountains,  for  settlements  along  the  route  are  too  numer- 
ous to  render  the  journey  anything  near  as  severe  or  perilous  as  it 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  565 

was  then.  Mr.  Jones  remained  in  California  for  about  six  years, 
engaged  in  mining  and  sheep  raising,  and  not  without  some  success. 
In  1865  he  returned  to  Missouri,  making  the  trip  by  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  in  South  America,  and  coming  on  to  the  interior  from  the 
Atlantic  coast  at  New  York  by  rail.  Here  he  engaged  in  firming,  and 
on  the  28th  of  April,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sallie  H.  Kim- 
brough,  widow  of  Thompson  C.  Kimbrough,  deceased,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  Strother,  of  Randolph  county,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  The 
year  following  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  bought  his  present  farm.  He 
has  a  good  place  of  100  acres,  which  is  better  improved  than  the 
average  of  farms  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Jones  makes  something  of  a 
specialty  of  breeding  horses  and  mules,  and  has  some  fine  represent- 
ative stock  for  both  branches  of  that  industry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones 
have  two  children  :  Lela  and  Thomas  J.  ;  one  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Jones  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Moberly,  October  18,  1839. 
His  father,  Alexander  Jones,  still  resides  there,  and  is  a  well  respected 
citizen  of  that  vicinity.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Matilda 
Jenkins,  Both  were  originally  from  Tennessee,  and  came  to  Randolph 
county  away  back  in  1835. 

HENRY  KIMBROUGH 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  K.  was  born  in  the  county  February  23, 1836,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
S.  Kimbrough,  of  Surrey  county,  N.  C.  The  fjither,  John  S.,  came  to 
Missouri  with  his  uncles  at  the  age  of  nine,  halted  for  a  year  in  Howard 
county,  and  then  came  on  to  Randolph  county,  where  he  remained 
carrying  on  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  15,  1874. 
He  was  one  of  those  who  fought  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Henry  K., 
like  most  of  the  farmers  in  the  county,  was  raised  to  the  life  of  an 
agriculturist.  He  was  educated  at  Elm  Ridge  Academy,  near  Glasgow, 
and  at  Mount  Pleasant  College,  at  Huntsville.  After  he  left  college 
he  taught  school  for  four  years  in  Boone  and  Randolph  counties,  and 
then  taking  up  the  business  to  which  his  early  training  inclined  him, 
he  bought  raw  land  and  improved  the  farm  he  still  cultivates.  He 
owns  175  acres  of  land  with  140  fenced  and  under  the  plow.  Upon 
this  place  are  necessary  buildings,  orchards,  etc.  Mr.  Kimbrous'h  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  this  township  in  November,  1868, 
which  office  he  has  held  continuously  since  that  time,  having  had  the 
pleasure  of  tying  the  fatal  knot  for  more, than  50  couples.  He  is  a 
Democrat  from  principle,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  con- 
ventions as  well  as  member,  a  number  of  times,  of  the  central 
committee.  He  has  had  a  taste  also  of  martial  glory,  serving  as 
lieutenant  of  Rice's  company  in  the  enrolled  militia  for  a  short  time 
toward  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Kimbrough  married,  February  23, 
1860,  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Ferguson,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Ann 
Ferguson,  formerly  of  Tennessee.  This  estimable  lady  died  January 
16,  1881,  leaving  four  children  :  Ann  A.,  wife  of  Stephen  G.  Hamil- 


566  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ton;  George  T.,  Hattie  L.  and  John  S.  July  21,  1881,  Mr.  K.  was 
again  wedded,  in  Milan,  Sullivan  county,  to  Mrs.  Lucinda  Vance, 
widow  of  John  T.  Vance  and  daughter  of  Joseph  Lewis,  a  native  of 
St.  Louis  county.  Mo.  Mrs.  K.  has  two  children  by  her  first  mar- 
riage :  Hiett  E.  and  Joe  Roy  Vance.  As  will  be  gathered  from  the 
above  facts,  Mr.  Kimbrough  is  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the 
township,  his  character  being  one  of  strong  individuality.  Among 
many  incidents  which  emphasize  this  is  that  he  has  never  in  his  life 
been  on  a  dancing  floor,  and,  which  may  account  for  his  robust  phy- 
sique, has  never  drank  a  cup  of  coffee.  This,  in  coffee-loving  America, 
is  rather  remarkable.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  are  members  of  the  Mission- 
ary Baptist  Church. 

JAMES    H.  LITTRELL 

^(Luraber  Dealer,  Renick.) 

Geo.  Littrell,  the  father  of  James  H.,  came  originally  from  Ken- 
tucky ;  he  moved  to  Missouri  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Howard  county,  where  he  married  Miss  Eliza 
J.  Hocker,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  he 
entered  land  in  Audrain  county,  where  he  still  resides.  He  held  the 
office  of  magistrate  for  a  number  of  years.  J.  H.  was  born  in  Aud- 
rain county,  Missouri,  on  the  first  of  January,  1841.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  Audrain  county. 
After  finishing  his  education  in  the  hio^h  schools  of  Boone  and  Howard 
counties,  he  became  a  teacher  himself,  and  taught  for  about  five  3^ears 
with  great  satisfaction  to  his  patrons.  He  was  married  December  24, 
1867,"to  Miss  Nettie  J.,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Gashwiller,  of  Howard 
county.  Mrs.  L.  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  and  was  educated  at 
the  Fayette  High  School,  of  Howard  county.  After  Mr.  Littrell  was 
married  he  farmed  for  one  year  in  Howard  county,  for  four  years  in 
Audrain,  and  moved  to  Renick  in  1873,  buying  a  farm  adjoining  the 
town  of  Renick,  where  he  now  resides.  In  April,  1883,  Mr.  Littrell 
opened  a  lumber  yard  at  this  point,  and  is  building  up  a  good  trade 
which  is  constantly  increasing.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  principle,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1882  was  elected  constable  of  the  township.  This  office  he 
still  holds,  but  it  is  feared  will  resig^n,  owins:  to  the  cares  of  his  other 
business,  which  do  not  leave  him  time  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  it. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Littrell  have  three  children  :  Lnlie  E.,  India  L.  and  A. 
Gaston.  This  worthy  couple  are  members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist 
Church,  and  Mr.  L.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  having  been 
recorder  of  that  order  since  its  organization.  He  is  highly  esteemed 
by  the  community  in  wiiich  he  lives. 

SAMUEL  D.  LYON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  L.  is  the  son   of  Daniel  Lyon   and   Didema  Morrow,    both   of 
Kentucky.     They  moved  to  Missouri  at  a  very  early  day,   and   were 


HISTORY    OF*  RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  567 

among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Howard  county.  After  living  there  two 
years  Daniel  C.  removed  to  Boone  and  improved  a  farm,  upon  which 
he  peacefully  closed  his  eyes  in  February,  1860.  Samuel  D.  was  born 
in  Boone,  August  6,  1829,  learning  from  childhood  the  management 
of  a  farm.  June  3,  1852,  he  was  married  in  his  native  county  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  J.,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Williamson,  originally  from  Vir- 
ginia. Mrs.  Lyon  was  herself  a  native  of  Boone  county.  There  are 
four  children :  William  F.,  Martha,  wife  of  Dudley  Johnson;  Effie 
D.,  and  Daniel  J.  They  have  lost  two.  Thomas  M.  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years,  in  1861,  and  Jefferson  P.,  a  boy  of  12  years  and  10 
days,  died  February  12,  1875.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lyon  lived  in 
Boone  county  until  the  spring  of  1865,  then  moved  to  Audrain  fer  one 
season,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  established  himself  on  the 
farm  whereon  he  now  lives.  He  has  230  acres  of  land  all  fenced,  with 
about  160  in  cultivation  and  meadow  pasture,  a  neat  residence,  sub- 
stantial barn  and  fine  bearing  orchard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyon  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  Mr.  Lyon  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
Lodge  at  Sturgeon. 

JAMES  D.  MARSHALL 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  M,  was  born  in  Albemarle  county,  Va.,  September  4,  1835. 
His  father,  William  Marshall,  was  a  native  of  that  State,  his  mother, 
Sarah  Dorsey,  being  from  North  Carolina.  The  family  left  Virginia 
soon  after  the  birth  of  J.  D.,  in  1838,  and,  finding  their  way  to  Mis- 
souri, settled  down  in  Randolph  county  :  they  being  among  the  earliest 
white  settlers.  James  D.  grew  up  in  the  county,  receiving  a  tolerable 
common  school  education.  At  the  age  of  18,  in  1853,  he  determined 
to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade.  He  worked  one  year  at  Milton,  then 
six  months  at  Buena  Vista,  then  took  a  contract  on  railroad  grading, 
at  which  he  worked  for  one  year.  After  this  he  started  a  blacksmith 
shop  in  connection  with  a  wagon  and  repair  shop,  in  which  trade  he 
continued  in  1874,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  Marshall  has  a  farm  of  150  acres,  all  fenced  and  in 
fine  cultivation,  including  splendid  pasturage.  There  is  a  nice  resi- 
dence, good  barn  and  other  buildings.  In  connection  with  the  form 
there  is  a  splendid  young  bearing  orchard,  in  which  some  attention  is 
paid  to  the  raising  of  grapes.  Mr.  Marshall  married  in  Randolph 
county  April  29,  1859,  Miss  Susan  A.,  daughter  of  James  and  Martha 
Ann  (Hardin)  Martin,  formerly  from  Kentucky.  Mrs.  M.  herself  is 
a  native  of  Randolph.  To  this  union  were  born  James  W.,  John  D., 
Milton  M.,  Zenobia  G.  and  Asbury  Russell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  M.  is  entirely  a  self-made 
man  ;  "  strong  in  will  to  strive,  to  seek,  to  find,  and  not  to  yield,"  he 
has  carved  out  his  own  fortunes  with  a  resolute  hand,  and  that  "  noblest 
work  of  God,  an  honest  man,"  he  has  made  a  name  which  his  children 
will  be  proud  to  claim. 

31 


568  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


JAMES  B.  MARTIN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

In  both  of  these  callings  Mr.  M.  has  displayed  unusual  energy  and 
been  very  successful.  He  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1838,  and  his  youth  and  early  manhood  were  passed  on 
the  farm  where  he  was  born  and  now  resides.  He  is  a  son  of  Saul 
Martin,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  latter  was  united  in-marriage  to 
Miss  Janette  Murphy,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  raised  in 
Kentucky.  Concluding  to  try  his  fortunes  in  what  was  then  con- 
sidered the  "  Far  West,"  Mr.  Martin  removed  with  his  family  from 
his  home  in  Kentucky  to  Missouri  about  the  year  1825,  He  partici- 
pated in  the  struggles  of  the  first  settlers,  being  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Randolph  county,  and  on  his  arrival  located  on  the  farm  where  his 
son  now  lives,  which  he  entered.  He  departed  this  life  May  9,  1839, 
in  his  forty-third  year,  leaving,  besides  his  widow,  seven  daughters  and 
one  son.  The  mother  of  these  died  April  21,  1861,  in  her  fifty-ninth 
year,  at  her  daughter's  residence  (Mrs.  H.  Davis)  in  Canton,  Lewis 
county.  Mo.  The  boyhood  of  James  B.  Martin  was  spent  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  beneath  its  sheltering  roof.  He 
received  a  practical  education  at  the  public  and  high  schools,  besides 
being  endowed  by  mother  Nature  with  a  liberal  fund  of  common  sense, 
which  has  dictated  the  course  of  his  actions.  On  December  29,  1859, 
at  the  early  age  of  21,  Mr.  Martin  took  to  wife  Miss  Sallie,  daughter 
of  Thomas  N.  Stephenson,  of  Monroe  county,  formerly  a  resident  of 
Kentucky'.  Seven  children  were  the  result  of  this  union  :  Mary  J., 
Saul  T.,  Katie  P.,  James  P.,  Charles  T.,  Hubert  M.  and  Sallie  N.  He 
devoted  the  year  1860  to  farming  on  the  old  homestead,  of  which 
place  he  took  charge  after  his  marriage.  In  the  year  1861  he  moved 
with  his  young  wife  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  there  turned 
his  attention  to  farming.  On  April  21st  of  the  same  year  his  mother 
died.  Absence  from  the  old  place  had  not  alienated  his  heart  from 
it,  but  only  served  to  increase  the  aff*ection  he  had  for  the  early  mem- 
ories of  his  boyhood's  home,  so,  in  the  spring  of  1862,  Mr.  Martin 
returned  to  the  homestead,  and  shortly  after  bought  out  part  of  the 
heirs.  By  his  industry  and  good  management  he  is  now  the  fortunate 
poss^essor  of  a  farm  consisting  of  360  acres  of  land  all  in  a  body. 
There  is  very  little  of  it  that  is  not  fenced  and  about  260  acres  are  in 
blue  grass,  timothy  and  plough  land.  Like  many  others,  Mr.  Martin 
felt  the  effects  of  war  troubles.  He  rented  his  farm  and,  after  making 
other  arrangements,  removed  to  Nebraska  in  April,  1865,  located  in 
Douglas  county  and  remained  there  about  six  months,  and  returned 
in  the  fall  to  his  home.  Mr.  Martin  has  displayed  his  characteristic 
good  management  by  keeping  his  place  in  thorough  repair,  and  has 
improved  the  old  home  well.  About  it  is  an  air  of  comfort  and  thrift 
which  is  refreshing  to  the  eye.  Mr.  Martin  supplies  the  demand  for 
stock  in  wholesale  markets  and  makes  a  business  of  feedinjr  cattle  for 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  569 

this  purpose.  He  feeds,  on  an  average,  one  carload  of  steers  and 
about  50  hogs  annually.  Both  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Martin  are  exemplary 
members  of  the  Renick  Church.  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  at  Renick.  He  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  that  well- 
known  order  and  took  an  active  interest  in  its  organization. 

JAMES  A.  MITCHELL 

(Merchant,  Renick). 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  a  born  soldier  and  at  the  first  call  enlisted,  July, 
1861,  in  Col.  McCowan's  Fifth  regiment  of  Missouri  infantry  of  the 
State  service  and  afterwards  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service.  He 
fought  through  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Wilson  Creek,  Dry  Wood, 
Lexington,  luka  and  the  second  Corinth.  Severely  wounded  in  this 
last,  he  suffered  amputation  of  his  leg  upon  the  field  of  battle,  but 
nowise  discouraged  strapped  on  an  artificial  limb,  returned  to  the  ser- 
vice and  did  service  in  hospitals  at  Bhickwater  and  Vicksburg.  At 
the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  returned  to  Missouri,  and  for  a  time 
herded  cattle  near  Sedalia,  then  taught  school  in  Cooper  county,  and 
in  1866  took  up  his  permanent  residence  in  Renick.  Mr.  Mitchell  is 
a  son  of  the  Rev.  Jesse  Mitchell  and  of  Providense  Norwood,  his 
wife,  who  about  the  year  1820  left  Tennessee  and  settled  in  Polk 
county,  Mo.  Here  James  was  born  June  24,  1843,  he  being  the 
fifteenth  child,  one  of  a  family  of  10  sons  and  5  daughters,  12  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  His  early  years  were  passed  on  the  home 
farm  and  in  receiving  the  ordinary  common  school  education.  After 
the  war  and  his  coming  to  Renick,  Mr.  Mitchell  became  a  clerk  in  a 
drygoods  house,  a  few  years  later  bought  an  interest  in  the  business, 
and  in  1877  became  the  owner  of  the  well-established  concern.  He 
has  since  taken  a  partner  and  the  firm  of  J.  A.  Mitchell  &  Co.  are 
doing  a  business  of  $20,000  a  year  in  dry  goods,  hats,  caps,  clothing 
and  boots  and  shoes.  On  the  28th  of  December,  1880,  Mr.  Mitchell 
married  Mrs.  Josie  Johnson,  daughter  of  William  Pearcy,  and  by  her 
has  one  son,  Pearcy  Norwood  Mitchell,  born  January  5,  1883.  Mrs. 
Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church  while  her  hus- 
band belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  He  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School  since  its  organization  in  1871,  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  a  business  man  of  great 
energy  and  ability.  His  whole  stock  was  burned  in  1880  and  with  no 
insurance,  yet  he  was  soon  again  in  a  larger  business  than  before, 
and  he  now  bids  fair  to  be  one  of  our  most  successful  citizens. 

MATTHEW    H.  NEAL, 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Born  in  Fauquier  county,  Va.,  July  25,  1840,  Mr.  Neal  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Rodgers)  Neal,  who  removed  to  Missouri  when 
Matthew  H.  was  still  in  infancy,  locating  in  Marion  county.  The 
father  bought  land  in  that  county  and   engaged  in  farming  on    which 


570  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  iu  1854.  Matthew  H.  grew 
up  on  the  farm  in  Marion  county  and  when  the  war  broke  out  in  1861, 
was  in  his  twenty-tirst  year.  The  same  year  he  enlisted  in  the  State 
Guard  and  served  under  Gen.  Price  for  a  term  of  six  months,  that 
beino-  the  period  of  his  enlistment.  During  this  time  he  was  in  a 
number  of  engagements,  including  the  battle  of  Lexington  and 
others.  Returning  to  the  county  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service,  he  engaged  in  farming  and  has  since  followed  it.  On  the  15th 
of  April,  1871,  Mr.  Neal  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Irons,  of  Eandolph  county.  Her  father  was  from  Virginia 
to  this  State,  but  originally  from  Scotland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neal  have 
six  children:  Nancy  E.  and  Susan  M.,  twins;  John  T.,  Wesley, 
Zula  and  Sarah.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Neal  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  210  acres  of  good  land,  all  but  40 
acres  of  which  are  improved.  His  improvements  are  of  an  excellent 
class.  Mr,  Neal  is  a  man  of  industry  and  takes  a  public-spirited  in- 
terest in  local  affairs.  He  has  served  as  clerk  of  the  school  board  for 
five  years.     Mr.  Neal  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  at  Renick. 

J.  HYATT  NOLIN 

COf  the  Firm  of  Nolin  Brothers,  Druggists,  Clark's  Switch). 

Mr.  H.  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Mo.,  June  12,  1855.  His  father,  John 
L.  Nolin,  came  originally  from  Virginia  when  a  young  man,  and  settling 
in  Howard  county  married  Miss  Miranda  Williams,  a  native  of  the 
county.  He  is  a  wheelwright  by  trade  but  is  now  living  on  a  farm  in 
Pike.  J.  H.  grew  up  in  that  county  on  his  father's  farm  and  was 
educated  at  the  common  schools.  In  January,  1883,  he  canie  to  Ran- 
dolph, and  in  partnership  with  his  brother  established  himself  in  the 
drug  business  at  Clark's  Switch.  Their  stock  also  includes  a  full  line  of 
groceries,  and  though  a  new  house  they  are  already  doing  well.  They 
are  young  men  of  push  and  enterprise  and  with  the  aid  of  their  per- 
sonal popularity  cannot  fail  to  be  soon  in  the  midst  of  a  rushing  trade. 
J.  Hyatt,  thinking  with  Richter,  that  "  no  man  can  either  live  piously 
or  die  righteous  without  having  a  wife,"  espoused,  June  5,  1883,  Miss 
Belle,  a  native  of  the  county,  and  charming  daughter  of  Thomas 
Stockton,  originally  from  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Nolin  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  South. 

GEORGE  O.  POWELL 

(Of  the  Firm  of  Powell  &  Forest,  Merchants,  Renick,  Mo) . 

This  reliable,  trustworthy,  and  good  man  is  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Powell  &  Forest,  merchants,  in  Renick,  Mo.  Mr.  Powell's  parents, 
J.  T.  and  Mandarin  Powell,  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  he  himself 
■was  born  in  that  grand  old  State  on  the  23d  of  February,  1833.  The 
family  emigrated  in  about  1843  to  Illinois,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to 
settle  in  Cass  county,  the  senior  Powell  building  the  first  house  that 
was   ever  erected  in   the  town  of  Virginia,  and  afterwards  serving  as 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  571 

sheriff  of  the  county.  His  son,  George,  grew  to  manhood  in  Cass 
county,  on  the  farm,  and  received  a  good  common  school  education. 
He  came  to  Missouri  in  1850,  and,  locating  in  Randolph  county,  he 
attended,  for  one  year,  the  McGee  College.  After  completing  his 
studies,  he  taught  in  Randolph  county  for  five  years,  then  fanned 
for  two  3'ears,  and,  at  last,  in  1862,  came  to  Renick  and  was  ap- 
pointed agent  at  this  place  for  the  Wabash,  then  the  North 
Missouri  Railroad.  This  position  he  held  for  21  years,  fulfilling 
its  duties  with  the  highest  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  unbounded 
satisfaction  of  the  railroad  company  and  the  general  public.  Mr. 
Powell  was  commissioned  notary  in  1867,  and  still  holds  that  office. 
In  January,  1883,  to  the  profound  regret  of  all  concerned,  he  re- 
signed his  position  on  the  railroad,  and  in  March  following  bought  a 
half  interest  in  the  drug  store  of  Forest  &  Bro.,  succeeding  John  For- 
est. This  firm  carry  a  complete  stock  of  drugs,  groceries  and  hard- 
ware, and  now  enjoy  a  flourishing  trade.  Mr.  Powell  was  married  in 
Randolph  county,  April  17,  1858,  to  Miss  Permelia  Ann,  daughter  of 
Grendison  Brooks,  formerly  from  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Powell  herself 
was  born  in  that  State,  but  has  lived  all  her  life  in  Missouri.  They 
have  three  children  :  Charles  J.,  Anna  Belle,  and  Josephine  M.  The 
latter  was  the  pride  of  her  parents'  hearts  and  an  ornament  to  her 
sex ;  she  was  a  graduate  of  Hardin  College,  and  was  a  girl  of  the 
brightest  intellect,  but,  alas,  "  vvhom  the  gods  love,  die  young,"  and 
November  5,  1881,  at  the  age  of  19,  this  fair  flower  drooped  and  died. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell  are  much  beloved  and  are  prominent  members 
of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

JOHN  B.  REID 

(Farmer    and    Stock-raiser) . 

It  was  in  1839  that  Mr.  Reid's  parents.  Col.  Garland  Reid  andw^ife, 
whose  maiden  name  had  been  Miss  Elizabeth  Woods,  removed  from 
Garrard  county,  Ky.,  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Randolph  county. 
This  county  was  at  that  time  still  very  sparsely  settled,  and  indeed 
was  yet  almost  a  wilderness.  Col.  Reid  entered  a  large  landed  estate 
and  improved  an  extensive  stock  farm.  He  became  one  of  the  influ- 
ential farmers  and  leading  stock  men  of  his  section  of  the  county.  He 
served  for  some  time  as  colonel  of  militia*  under  the  old  muster  laws, 
and  was  judicial  magistrate  of  his  township  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
died  here  at  an  advanced  age,  widely  and  deeply  regretted  b}^  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county  and  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  preceded 
him  to  the  grave  by  some  years.  John  B.  Reid  was  14  years  of  age 
or  thereabout  when  his  parents  removed  to  this  State,  having  been 
born  in  Garrard  county  October  1,  1825.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  this  county,  and  had  only  the  limited  advantages  for  an  education 
afforded  in  his  neighborhood  in  the  early  days  when  he  grew  up.  He 
succeeded,  however,  in  acquiring  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  books  for 
all  the  practical  purposes  of  ordinary  farm  and  business  life.  Follow- 
ing the  example  of  his  father,  he  too  became  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 


572  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  has  since  followed  these  pursuits.  On  the  6th  of  March,  1851, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy,  a  daughter  of  'Squire  James  Hocker, 
a  well  respected  citizen  of  Howard  county,  who  came  originally  from 
Maryland.  This  union  of  Mr.  Reid  and  Miss  Hocker  has  proved  one 
of  singular  congeniality  and  happiness,  and  has  been  blessed  with  a 
numerous  family  of  children,  namely:  J.  Clifton,  Mary  E.,  now  the 
wife  of  L.  C.  Cheatham;  John  M.,  Sallie  W.,  Arthur  W.,  Lula  and 
Luther  E.  Mr.  Reid  has  resided  on  his  farm  since  soon  after  his 
marriage,  except  for  one  year  during  the  most  troublous  period  of  the 
war,  when  he  lived  in  Moberly,  and  one  year  also  which  was  spent  in 
Iowa.  He  has  160  acres  in  his  farm,  which  he  has  neatly  and  sub- 
stantially improved,  and  runs  his  place  in  grain  and  grass  including 
meadow,  of  which  he  has  about  30  acres,  and  also  raises  some' stock. 
He  also  owns  another  farm  of  80  acres  near  by,  which  he  has  comfort- 
ably improved.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reid  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  for  nearly  40  years. 

JOHN  H.  ROBERTS    ' 

(Section  33,  Post-office,  Sturgeon) . 

Jesse  Roberts,  of  Kentucky,  the  father  of  John  H.,  came  to  Missouri 
with  his  parents  when  nine  years  of  age  and  settled  first  in  Boone 
county,  afterwards  moving  to  Audrain,  where  he  arrived  at  the  age  of 
discretion  and  married  Miss  Barthena  Smith,  a  young  lady  from  North 
Carolina.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  for  a  time  in  Randolph  and 
also  in  Howard  county,  but  expects  now  to  end  his  days  in  Boone. 
John  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm  in  Howard  county  and  acquired, 
chiefly  by  his  own  efforts,  a  good  education.  Possessed  from  his 
cnidle  with  a  dauntless  spirit  of  daring  and  genuine  love  of  adventure, 
he  was  not  destitute  of  those  qualities  of  patient  perseverance  and  en- 
durance which  also  go  to  form  the  character  of  a  true  soldier.  For 
these  he  found  a  glorious  field  in  the  recent  "unpleasantness"  be- 
tween the  North  and  South.  Enlisting  in  the  Union  service  in 
August,  1862,  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Missouri  infantry,  he  fought  with 
ardor  until  discharged  June  22,  1865,  On  many  a  "  tented  field  "  his 
heart  swelled  'neath  the  cold  light  of  the  stars  with  tender  memories 
of  home.  In  many  a  fierce  and  furious  fray,  with  head  erect  and  eyes 
aflame,  he  grappled  with  the  foe.  In  one  of  these  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  he 
received  a  grapeshot  wound  in  the  stomach  and  was  deafened  in  one 
ear  for  life  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  He  was  in  the  fights  at  Vicks- 
burg  and  Chattanooga  (from  the  time  of  the  latter  was  for  three 
months  and  ten  days  under  fire  all  the  time,  day  and  night,  and  without 
once  having  ott'  his  uniform  fought  all  the  way  to  Atlanta),  and  the 
battles  of  Atlanta,  Marietta,  Altoona  Mountain,  Rome,  Jonesboro, 
Savannah,  Beaufort,  Dismal  Swamp,  S.  C.  (at  which  he  fought  in 
water  for  three  days  and  nights),  and  Bentonville.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  this  conquering  hero  turned  his  steps  homeward  and  began  peace- 
fully to  follow  the  plough  in  Boone  county.  October  30,  1867,  he 
united  his  fate  to  that  of  Mrs.  Maria  Smith,  widow  of  John  B.  Smith 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  573 

and  daughter  of  James  Horn,  of  Howard  count3^  Mrs.  Roberts  has 
one  son  by  her  former  husband,  James  F.  Roberts,  having  now  taken 
the  name  of  his  stepfather.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Roberts  lived 
two  years  in  Boone,  and  in  March,  1869,  moved  to  Randolph  county 
to  his  present  farm.  He  owns  jointly  with  his  son  135  acres  of  land, 
with  85  under  fence,  and  on  it  a  cosy  dwelling,  good  stable  and  orchard. 
Mr.  R.'s  son,  J.  F.,  owns  a  coal  bank  of  splendid  coal,  in  which 
he  has  just  opened  a  three  and  a  half  foot  vein,  and  which  he  is  now 
working  in  a  small  way.  Mr.  Roberts  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  deacon  since 
its  organization. 

JOHN  G.  SAUNDERS 

(Merchant,  Renick). 

It  was  not  until  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  beginning  to  feel  him- 
self a  man  that  his  family  emigrated  to  this  country.  His  parents, 
Charles  Saunders  and  Elizabeth  Stone,  were  English,  but  he  was  born 
in  Wales  March  5,  1856.  When  they  arrived  in  the  States  in  1871, 
they  selected  Audrain  as  their  home,  and  the  pater  familias  still 
lives  there.  J.  G.  of  course  was  educated  in  his  native  land.  At  the 
age  of  18  he  took  his  life  in  his  own  hands  and  commenced  farming 
for  himself.  He  farmed  for  two  seasons  in  Audrain  ;  in  1875  moved 
to  Renick  and  engaged  in  mining.  After  following  this  occupation 
for  two  years,  he  went  West  to  Colorado,  and  mined  for  a  year  at 
Erie.  Upon  his  return  to  Renick  the  following  spring,  he  worked  in  a 
coal  mine  for  another  year,  and  in  January,  1881,  established  a 
grocery  house.  Mr.  S.  carries  a  general  stock  of  groceries  and 
notions,  and  has,  beside,  a  meat  store.  He  is  a  live,  energetic  busi- 
ness man,  and  an  honor  to  any  community.  He  has  prospered  in 
everything  that  he  undertook,  and  bids  fair  to  attain  to  great  wealth. 
Mi'.  Saunders  is  an  unmarried  man,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
at  Wellsville,  Mo. 

JAMES  G.  SMITH 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  S.,  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Prairie  township,  and  one  of  its 
well-to-do  farmers  and  enterprising  stock  men,  like  many  of  the  better 
people  of  Randolph  county,  is  by  nativity  a  son  of  the  Old  Dominion, 
that  land  of  statesmen  and  heroes  and  mother  of  States  and  picmeers. 
Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Louisa  county,  Va.,  October  1,  1825.  But 
when  he  was  quite  young  his  parents  removed  to  Kentucky,  the  first 
and  fairest  daughter  of  Virginia,  where  they  lived  for  a  number  of 
years.  Later  along,  in  1848,  they  came  to  Missouri,  James  G.  being 
then  a  youth  some  17  years  of  age,  and  of  course  coming  with 
them.  They  located  in  Audrain  county,  and  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  that  county.  The  father  died  there  in  March,  1857.  How- 
ever, in  1844,  James  G.  Smith  crossed  over  into  Randolph  county,  near 
the  line  of  the  county,  where  he  located  and  lived  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Mexican  War.     He  then  promptly  enlisted  in  the  ranks  of  the 


574  HISTORY    OF    KANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

American  soldiery,  and  served  with  credit  for  over  a  year.  Return- 
incrto  Randolph  connty,  in  1850  he  joined  the  caravan  headed  by  Dr. 
C.L.  Lovell  bound  for  the  golden  coast  of  California.  He  remained 
on  the  Pacific  for  about  two  years,  and  engaged  principally  in  mining. 
Returning-  a<'-ain  to  Randolph  county,  he  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
m<f,  which  he  had  previously  followed  when  residing  in  the  county, 
and  the  5th  of  October,  1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  a 
daughter  of  William  L.  Wood,  formerly  of  Virginia,  but  an  early 
settler  of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  three  children: 
Marietta,  wife  of  F.  K.  Venable  ;  James  W.  and  Rice  W.  Mr.  Smith 
has  been  on  his  present  farm  for  18  years.  His  tract  of  land  contains 
300  acres,  all  but  40  acres  of  which  he  has  fenced  and  in  cultivation, 
meadow  or  pasturage.  His  improvements  are  of  an  excellent  class, 
and  he  is  comfortably  situated  on  his  farm.  Although  Mr.  Smith  has 
had  his  present  place  since  1866  and  has  always  considered  it  his  per- 
manent homestead,  yet  he  has  been  engaged  in  other  pursuits  which 
have  necessitated  him  to  reside  for  stated  periods  at  other  places.  In 
1864  he  bought  a  store  building  and  residence  property  at  Sturgeon, 
to  which  place  he  removed,  and  was  engaged  there  in  merchandising 
for  about  two  years.  Indeed,  some  eight  years  before  this  he  built 
the  first  business  house  ever  erected  at  Sturgeon,  and  merchandised 
there  for  about  a  year.  In  1867  he  engaged  quite  extensively  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  tobacco,  making  his  headquarters  at  Renick,  where 
he  was  located  for  about  12  months.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  man  of  industry, 
and  good  business  qualifications,  and  has  usually  been  quite  successful 
in  his  industrial  and  business  ventures.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Renick. 

WILLIAM    H.  STILES 

Section  9,  Post-office,  Kenick. 

Mr.  Stiles  is  a  farmer  in  good  circumstances  in  Randolph  county, 
Mo.  He  is  the  son  of  Simeon  Stiles,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Rebecca 
Ann  Hanna,  of  Virginia,  who  on  coming  to  Missouri  settled  in 
Howard  county.  Here  William  H.  was  born  December  16,  1841. 
Mr.  Stiles,  Sr.,  afterwards  removed  to  Randolph  and  purchased  the 
farm  which  has  now  descended  to  his  son,  and  where  he  died  Novem- 
ber 14,  1880.  William  H.  grew  to  manhood  here,  and  received  a 
good  common  school  education.  He  enlisted  March  5,  1862,  in 
the  Federal  service,  Co.  G,  Ninth  Missouri  cavalry.  State  militia. 
He  was  in  numerous  skirmishes,  fighting  bushwhackers,  but  in  no 
regular  engagement.  He  remained  in  the  army  until  April  22,  1865, 
when  he  was  discharged.  Mr.  Stiles  has  been  twice  married  ;  his  first 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  January  31,  1867,  was  Miss  Matilda  J-, 
daughter  of  Squire  Green,  also  of  this  county.  He  was 
left  a  widower  on  the  30th  of  November,  1870,  with  two  children  : 
Arthur  L.  and  W.  Luther.  June  16,  1872,  he  married  his  second 
wife.  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Pate,  of  Audrain.  They 
have  three  children:   M.  Gertrude,  M.  Raphel   and  Ada   R.,  having 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLrH    COUNTY.  575 

lost  two  in  infancy.  Mr.  Stiles  resides  on  the  old  homestead  with  80 
acres  of  land,  70  of  which  are  fenced  and  60  in  cultivation  ;  he  has  a 
good  orchard  and  other  improvements.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stiles  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

JAMES  M.  WILLIAMS 

(Senior  Member  of  the  Firm  of  Williams  &  Grant,  Proprietors  of  the  Renick  Milling 

Company) . 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  native  of  Howard  county,  Mo.,  and  was  born 
June  20,  1842.  His  father,  Wiloby  Williams,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
came  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man  and  was  one  of  the  ])ioneer  set- 
tlers of  Howard  county,  dying  while  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
still  a  child.  His  mother,  formerly  Miss  Nancy  Hardin,  waz  a  Mis- 
sourian.  James  M.  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  parental  farm  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  In  1861,  at 
the  age  of  20,  he  removed  to  Randolph  county  and  resolved  to  become 
a  follower  in  the  footsteps  of  Tubal  Cain  ;  this  worthy  ambition,  how- 
ever, was  nipped  in  the  bud,  for  in  the  fall  of  the  same  }'ear,  hearing 
on  all  sides  the  call.  To  arms  !  his  youthful  spirit  was  fired  by  the  sound 
and  he  rushed  forth  to  taste  the  fierce  joys  of  war.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Confederate  service  with  Gen.  Clark's  regiment  of  infantry  and  served 
two  years.  He  was  a  participant  in  the  battles  of  Lexington,  Mo., 
Pea  Ridge,  Ark.,  and  a  number  of  smaller  engagements.  In  the 
fall  of  1863  he  left  the  army  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  six  months 
in  St.  Louis,  then  returned  to  Renick,  where  he  now  resides,  and  pur- 
sued his  honest  calling,  blacksmithing,  for  10  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1876  he  went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Grant  in  the  flouring  mill  and 
harness-making  business.  They  also  have  a  new  brick  carriage 
and  wagon  factory,  and  besides  are  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
grain.  They  have  been  very  successful,  shipping  some  years  as  many 
as  30,000  bushels  of  grain.  Mr.  Williams  is  an  enterprising,  thor- 
ough business  man,  and  owes  his  prosperity  in  life  to  his  own  industry, 
energy  and  tact.  It  was  in  March,  1864,  the  first  year  of  his  return 
to  Renick,  that  Mr.  Williams  was  married,  in  Randolph  county  (where 
he  was  both  reared  and  educated),  to  Miss  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of 
James  Martin,  of  the  same  county.  There  was  born  of  this  union  but 
one  child,  Ethlyn.  Mr.  W.  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1880  was  elected  collector  of  the  county  and  served 
one  term.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  Mr.  W.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

THOMAS  C.  WIRT 

CFarraer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  W.  was  borninWashington  county ,Va.,  December  18,1816.    His 

parents,  Adam  Wirt  and  Mary  L.  Colly,  were  also  natives  of  Virginia, 

coming  to  Missouri  in  1818.     Mr.  Wirt  bought  land  in  Boone  county 

and  improved  a  farm  where  he  lived  until  his  death.     Thomas  C.  was 


576  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

riiised  there,  and  continued  at  his  home  until  after  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  October  27,  1842,  Miss  Nancy  Alexander,  daughter 
of  Joshua  Alexander,  formerly  from  Kentucky,  was  the  lady  he  chose 
to  grace  his  fireside  ;  but  not  long  was  she  spared  to  him  ;  in  1856  her 
soul  "drifted  out  on  the  shadowy  river  which  flows  forever  to  an 
unknown  sea."  Mrs.  Wirt  left  one  son,  Joshua  A,,  who  is  now  mar- 
ried, with  a  family  of  his  own.  After  Mr.  Wirt  was  married  he  came 
to  E.andoli)h  and  established  himself  on  a  farm  not  far  from  where 
he  now  resides,  then  entering  land  and  improving  his  present  farm. 
When  his  wife  died  he  went  back  to  Boone  county  and  lived  with  his 
father  for  three  years.  Having  known  the  joy  to  be  found  in  the 
companionship  of  a  good  helpmeet,  in  1858  he  persuaded  Mrs.  Mary 
J.  Collins,  the  widow  of  Reuben  Collins  and  daughter  of  Samuel 
Martin,  formerly  of  Kentucky,  to  share  his  fate  for  weal  or  woe. 
Mrs.  Wirt  has  one  son  by  her  previous  marriage,  F.  K.  Collins,  and 
to  her  second  husband  she  bore  a  daughter,  Bettie.  Mr.  Wirt  is  one 
of  the  substantial  formers  of  the  township.  He  has  213  acres  of  fine 
land,  160  of  which  are  fenced  for  cultivation  and  pasturage.  He  lives 
in  a  handsome  two-story  residence,  with  one-story  ell,  and  attached 
to  the  home  place  are  good  stables  and  other  necessary  buildings. 
His  orchard  deserves  particular  mention,  being  filled  with  a  large  and 
select  variety  of  fruits.  Mr.  W.  is  a  God-fearing  man,  worshiping 
according  to  the  faith  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mrs.  W.  belongs  to 
the  Baptist  denomination. 

WILLIAM  WIRT 

(Section  2,  Post-office,  Renick) , 

Mr.  W.,  a  brother  of  Thomas  C,  was  born  in  Boone  county,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1825.  He  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm  in  that  county,  and 
came,  in  1852,  when  a  young  man,  to  Randolph,  of  which  he  has  ever 
since  been  a  resident.  In  March,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy 
Ellen,  daughter  of  Rodger  Robinson,  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Wirt  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  lived  there  until  a  woman.  Mr.  Wirt 
owns  253  acres  of  land,  of  which  213  are  fenced  and  in  cultivation. 
He  also  has  fine  pasturage.  His  residence  is  commodious  and  com- 
fortable, two  stories  and  well  built.  His  farm  is  well  stocked  with 
everything  necessary  to  the  comfort  and  maintenance  of  his  family, 
including  two  splendid  barns  and  all  other  necessary  out-buildings. 
He  has  a  fine  orchard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirt  have  six  children  living: 
Mildred,  wife  of  Rufus  Fullington  ;  Adam,  Lucy  M.,  who  is  one  of 
the  best  of  the  county  teachers  ;  Radford,  Robinson  and  Maggie.  Two 
pledges  of  their  love  died  in  inftmcy.  Mrs.  Wirt  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  W.  is  an  ancient  Mason. 

ZEPHANIAH  WRIGHT 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Feeder  and  Dealer). 
Mr.  W.  was  born  January  29,  1837,  while  his  parents,  Joshua  Wright 
and  Mary  Sweney,  were  on  the  road  betvireen  Illinois   and   Missouri. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  577 

They  came  first  from  Kentucky  in  1836,  and  lived  in  Illinois  only  one 
year.  On  arriving  at  their  destination  they  settled  in  Boone  county, 
but  after  a  four  years'  stay  moved  to  Kandolph.  Here  Zephaniah 
Wright  grew  to  manhood,  and  shared  the  advantages  in  schooling 
common  to  the  neighborhood.  In  1861,  on  account  of  the  disturbed 
state  of  the  country,  consequent  upon  the  eruption  of  Civil  War,  Mr. 
W.,  with  that  discretion  which  is  the  better  part  of  valor, 

"Folded  his  tents  like  the  Arabs, 
And  as  silently  stole  away." 

Kansas  received  him  into  her  bosom  for  the  next  five  years,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1866  he  returned  to  Randolph.  He  bought  one  place 
and  lived  upon  it  two  years,  then  sold  it  and  bought  land  not 
far  distant,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  a  farm  of  347  acres,  all 
fenced  and  in  pasture  and  cultivation.  Upon  this  there  is  a  good  com- 
fortable house  with  out-buildings,  etc.  ;  also  a  thrifty  young  orchard. 
Mr.  W.  possesses  besides,  160  acres  of  land,  all  fenced  and  in  meadow 
pasture,  and  he  owns  still  another  tract  of  120  acres,  partially  im- 
proved and  containing  a  small  house.  He  feeds  on  an  average  150 
head  of  cattle  yearly,  and  about  the  same  number  of  hogs,  sometimes 
shipping,  sometimes  selling  at  home  to  other  shippers,  and  to  a  limited 
extent,  buying  for  shipping  purposes.  Mr.  Wright  is  of  shrewd  and 
acute  perceptive  faculties,  and  with  keen  sagacity  he  guides  his  craft 
safely  through  the  inevitable  snags  and  shoals  that  but  too  often  prove 
fatal  to  other  voyagers.  He  showed  the  same  wisdom  in  selecting  a 
wife  as  in  the  conduct  of  his  business  affairs,  when  he  married  March 
31,  1861,  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henderson  Sims,  formerly  of 
Virginia.  Mrs.  Wright  herself  was  born  and  raised  in  Boone  county. 
There  are  five  children  :  Lincoln,  Joshua  H.,  Lizzie,  William  M.  and 
Marv  E.     Two  died  at  tender  ages. 


SILVER    CREEK    T0W:N^SHIP. 


JAMES  H.  BAGBY 

CSaw  and  Grist  Miller,  and  Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  Bagby,  one  of  the  energetic  and  successful  men  of  this  town- 
ship, and  one  of  its  higiily  respected  citizens,  was  left  an  orphan  when 
but  nine  years  of  age,  his  mother  having  died  in  1838,  and  his  father 
in  1847.  His  parents  were  William  and  Virginia  (Harrison)  Bagby, 
his  father  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  his 
mother  of  the  well-known  Harrison  family,  and  formerly  of  Virginia, 
but  by  way  of  Kentucky  to  this  State.  Their  home  was  near  Roa- 
noke, in  Randolph  county,  where  James  H.  was  born,  September  20, 


578  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

1834.  They  had  but  one  other  child,  William  H.,  now  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  this  county.  However,  after  the  mother's  death,  the  father 
married  Miss  Nancy  H.,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  Davis,  of  Randolph 
county,  bv  whom  he  had  two  other  children,  Robert  J.  and  Virginia 
C,  now  Mrs.  J.  H.  Mathis,  of  Callao.  The  mother  of  these  two  chil- 
dren, after  their  father's  death,  married  James  D.  Burton,  but  she  is 
now  also  deceased.  After  his  father's  death,  James  went  to  work  for 
William  R.  Ferguson,  of  this  county,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
was  19  years  of  age.  But  in  early  years  he  showed  a  marked 
preference  for  mechanical  employment,  and  he  evinced  a  high  order 
of  genius  and  skill  in  devising,  inventing  and  working  machinery. 
Indeed,  he  was  noted  throughout  the  country  round  about  where  he 
lived  for  his  aptitude  in  this  direction,  and  at  the  age  of  19,  al- 
though he  had  little  or  no  opportunities  to  improve  his  natural  genius 
and  skill,  he  was  called  upon  by  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Davis,  one  of  the 
best  men  and  ablest  ministers  Randolph  county  ever  produced,  to  re- 
construct and  rebuild  the  latter's  mill.  Young  Bagby  undertook  this 
difficult  and  responsible  task  without  hesitation  and  performed  it  with 
such  success  and  so  satisfactorily  to  Mr.  Davis  that  the  latter  gave 
him  a  third  interest  in  the  mill  for  his  work.  Mr.  Bagby  ran  the  mill 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  subsequently  became  full  owner  of  it. 
Later  along  he  erected  a  new  mill  on  the  site  of  the  old,  which  he  has 
since  run.  This  has  both  steam  and  water  power,  and  is  one  of  the 
best  mills  in  this  part  of  the  county.  Mr.  Bagby  also  bought  a  part 
of  the  old  Davis  homestead  from  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  the  latter  taking 
the  former's  note  of  word  in  payment.  He  paid  that  off,  a^nd  after- 
wards bought  the  whole  place,  a  fine  farm  of  276  acres,  which  he  has 
owned  for  years.  Mr.  Bagby  has  been  running  his  mill  and  farm  con- 
tinuousl}^  and  on  the  latter  makes  a  specialty  of  stock-raising  in 
which  he  is  quite  successful.  Mr.  Bagby  married  Miss  NancyH.  Fer- 
guson, a  daughter  of  William  I.  Ferguson,  who  reared  Mr.  Bagby. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bagby  have  four  children  :  Lou,  Orpha,  Thomas  N.  and 
Kate,  all  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

JOHN  H.  BLAICE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  B.  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  January  4,  1827,  and  was 
a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Lydia  (Freeland)  Blake,  his  father  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  his  mother  originally  from  Kentucky.  John  H. 
grew  to  the  age  of  13  in  his  native  county,  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  in  1840,  settling  in  the  neighborhood 
where  the  son  now  lives.  John  H.  grew  up  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
father's  farm,  and  in  youth  attended  the  neighboring  schools.  In  1850 
he  crossed  the  plains,  driving  an  ox  team,  to  California,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  mining  gold  out  there  for  five  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Missouri  by  the  Isthmus,  and  soon  after  reaching  here  settled  on  the 
land  where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  improved  a  good  farm,  which, 
at  present,  contains  about  200  acres  of  choice  land,  and  belongs  to  the 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  579 

better  class  of  places  in  the  township.  It  is  an  excellent  grain  and 
stock  farm,  and  Mr.  H.  has  good  success  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser. 
During  the  war  he  served  for  about  a  year  in  the  enrolled  militia,  and 
in  January,  1866,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Denny's  company,  of  the  Union 
service,  under  whom  he  served  until  the  return  of  peace.  On  the  16th 
of  April,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Fitzgerald,  the  adopted 
daughter  of  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  of  Glasgow,  Howard  county,  and  the 
natural  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Catherine  Lundberry,  originally  of 
London,  England,  but  who  died  while  their  daughter  was  quite  young. 
Mrs.  Blake  was  educated  at  the  convent  in  St.  Lonis.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Blake  have  six  children:  Robert  N.,  Thomas  A.,  Willie  L.,  Perry 
D.,  Norienne  and  John  E.  Mrs.  Blake  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

JUDGE   JOHN  W.  BRADLEY 

(Deceased.) 

Judge  Bradley  was  but  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents,  Richard 
and  Mary  (Ratcliff)  Bradley,  came  to  Randolph  county.  That  was 
away  back  in  1828  and  they  are  therefore  justly  remembered  as  early 
settlers  of  the  county.  They  were  from  Barren  county,  Ky.,  and 
after  removing  to  Randolph  county  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  in  this  county,  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them. 
Judge  Bradley  was  born  February  3,  1822,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Randolph  county.  Although  his  advantages  for  an 
education  in  those  early  days  of  the  country  were  extremely  limited, 
he  succeeded  in  acquiring,  mainly  by  study  at  home,  a  good  general 
knowledge  of  books  and  became  abundantly  well  qualified  for  all  the 
ordinary  farm  and  business  affairs  of  life..  Brought  up  to  a  farm  life, 
that  became  his  regular  occupation  in  early  manhood,  and  he  followed 
it  with  only  occasional  interruptions  throughout  his  whole  life.  On 
the  23d  of  December,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eunice  A.  Brad- 
sher,  and  after  his  marriage  he  settled  on  the  farm  where  his  family 
still  resides.  This  was  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  13th  of  February,  1879.  Besides  becoming  a  successful  farmer 
during  his  life,  Judge  Bradley  was  also  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and 
he  served  the  people  of  the  county  in  the  capacity  of  judge  of  the 
county  court.  He  held  the  office  of  county  judge  for  two  terms,  and 
acquitted  himself  of  the  duties  of  that  position  with  ability  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  whole  people  of  the  county.  Having  prepared  him- 
self for  the  ministry  in  the  regular  Baptist  Church,  he  was  duly  or- 
dained to  preach,  and  preached  at  Silver  Creek  until  1877,  two  years 
before  his  death.  Upon  close  study  and  mature  consideration,  as  a 
man  and  Christian,  he  became  convinced  that  it  was  his  duty  to  iden- 
tify himself  with  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  and  he  accordingly 
became  a  member  of  that  denomination  at  Pleasant  Grove  Church,  in 
which  he  continued  as  an  earnest,  faithful  Christian  minister  until  his 
spirit  was  called  by  the  Master  to  his  home  on  high.  Judge  Bradley 
was  one  of  the  good  and  true  men  of  Randolph  county,  and  no  name 
stood  higher  than  his  among  those  who  knew  him  well.     As  a  farmer 


580  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

he  was  industrious  and  enterprising,  and  accumulated  an  excellent  es- 
tate; as  a  neighbor  he  was  kind  and  obliging  almost  to  a  fault,  for  he 
often  inconvenienced  himself  to  accommodate  others  ;  as  a  citizen  he 
was  loyal  to  every  duty  and  every  trust ;  and  in  his  family  he  was  one 
of  the  best  of  men  as  husband  and  father.  If  the  world  were  peopled 
with  such  as  he  was,  it  would  be  far  better  than  it  is  or  has  ever 
been,  for  wrong  and  oppression  would  be  unknown.  His  memory 
will  long  be  cherished  by  those  who  knew  him  as  that  of  one  with 
as  many  estimable  qualities  and  as  few  faults  as  seldom  fall  to  the  lot 
of  a  man.  Mrs.  Bradley  still  survives  her  husband  and  is  much  es- 
teemed among  her  neighbors  for  her  many  motherly  and  neighborly 
qualities.  The  Judge  and  Mrs,  Bradley  had  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren :  Mary  E.,  Sarah  E.  and  John  J.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  James 
Stark  ;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  V.  Adams,  at  present  school  com- 
missioner of  the  county  ;  and  John  J.  was  married  the  day  the  writer 
took  the  notes  for  this  sketch,  December  20,  1883,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Oliver,  a  most  queenly  and  attractive  young  lady  of  the  county,  then 
becoming  his  wife.  They  will,  doubtless,  have  a  long  and  happy 
married  life,  for  the  writer,  who  believes  in  dreams,  had  a  most  pro- 
pitious dream  of  their  future  the  night  folloAving  their  happy  marriage. 
John  J.  is  a  young  gentleman  of  high  character,  good  education  and 
full  of  life  and  energy,  and  will  doubtless  become  a  prominent  and 
successful  citizen  of  the  county.  He  has  charge  of  the  famih'^  home- 
stead, which  contains  320  acres  and  is  a  fine  farm.  He  is  quite  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  is  meeting  with  success. 

JUDGE  JOHN  W.  VILEY  and  WILLIAM  R.  BURCH 

(Farmers  and  Stock-raisers,  Section  17,  Township  52,  Eange  15,  P.  O.,  Yates). 

The  sketch  of  the  lives  of  the  present  subjects  forms  a  distinctive 
and  justly  important  thread  in  the  warp  of  the  history  of  the  agricul- 
tural affairs  of  Randolph  county,  a  thread  that  reaches  back  to  the 
early  cords  of  their  woof.  Judge  Viley  came  to  Randolph  county 
from  Kentucky  away  back  in  1824.  His  parents,  George  and  Martha 
Viley,  were  originally  from  Virginia,  but  became  early  settlers  in  Ken- 
tucky, where  Judge  Viley  was  born  on  the  1st  of  January,  1796.  His 
father  was  a  representative  of  the  better  class  of  Virginians,  and  was 
a  man  of  character  and  intelligence,  and  quite  successful  in  life.  He 
became  a  substantial  propert3^-holder  in  Kentucky,  his  property  con- 
sisting principally  of  land  and  slaves,  for  he  was  a  prominent  farmer, 
and  he  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Judge 
Viley  was  reared  in  Kentucky  and  was  married  there  in  1825  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Elley,  of  Scott  county.  He  at  once  came  to  Missouri  after 
his  marriage  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  and  his  son-in-law, 
William  R.  Burch,  now  reside.  He  entered  large  bodies  of  land  in 
this  county,  aggregating  1,000  acres,  and  improved  a  splendid  farm. 
Judge  Viley  prospered  abundantly  at  his  new  home  and  became  one 
of  the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent  men  of  the  Countv.  He  was 
elected  county  judge  in  1840,  and  became   the  owner  of  some  20,000 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  581 

acres  of  land  and  about  70  negroes.  For  many  years  he  was  a  lead- 
ing tobacco  raiser,  and  had  a  tobacco  press  on  his  own  farm,  where  he 
put  up  tobacco  for  shipment  to  distant  markets.  He  was  also  for  a 
long  time  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Glasgow,  being  a  partner  with 
George  and  Logan  D.  Dameron,  their  firm  being  one  of  the  principal 
establishments  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  But  prior  to  this  time  he 
had  also  owned  and  conducted  a  large  mill  and  distillery  in  this 
county,  in  which  he  was  also  abundantly  successful.  For  25  years 
prior  to  the  war  no  name  in  Randolph  county  was  more  familiar  to  all 
its  citizens,  or  stood  higher  than  that  of  Judge  Viley,  and  *by  all  old 
settlers  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  useful  men 
who  ever  made  their  homes  within  the  borders  of  the  county.  Judge 
Viley  is  now  in  his  eighty-ninth  year,  and  having  led  a  life  of  unceas- 
ing industry  and  activity,  ever  going  forward  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  in  private  affairs  and  as  a  citizen  regardless  of  season  and 
weather  and  often  when  others  would  have  hesitated,  the  labors  and 
exposures  he  has  endured  have  at  last,  in  his  advanced  old  age,  borne 
heavily  upon  him,  and  he  is  now  confined  to  his  room,  unable  longer 
to  participate  in  active  affairs.  Indeed,  for  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  leading  a  retired  and  quiet  life,  favored  with  an  abundance  of 
this  world's  goods,  and  happy  in  the  home  where  so  many  of  his  days 
have  been  spent,  which  has  been  brightened  by  his  kind  and  loving 
daughter  and  his  dutiful  and  respectful  son-in-law,  her  husband.  Old 
age  must  come  to  us  all  who  live  out  the  allotted  period  of  life,  and  in 
looking  forward  to  its  shadows,  our  fondest  hope  should  be  that  it  may 
be  brightened  by  filial  affection.  This  has  been  the  happy  fortune  of 
Judge  Viley.  Judge  Viley's  first  wife  died  in  1827,  leaving  him  one 
child,  Martha  E.,  now  the  wife  of  William  R.  Burch,  and  it  is  in  their 
family  that  the  Judge  finds  a  welcome  and  happj'^  home.  To  his  sec- 
ond and  last  wife  he  was  married  in  1828.  She  died  in  1858.  They 
were  sisters  ;  the  first,  Miss  Mary  E.,  and  the  second.  Miss  Susan  B. 
EUey.  By  his  last  wife  he  had  six  children  :  George  H.,  a  farmer 
and  trader,  who  died  in  1864;  William  E.,  who  died  in  1874;  John 
W.,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Roanoke  ;  Wallace  K.,  who  resides  on 
the  farm  with  Mr.  Burch  ;  Junius  W.,  who  died  in  1876  ;  Sarah  Lo- 
gan, who  is  now  the  wife  of  Stephen  B.  Yancy,  near  Roanoke. 

William  R.  Burch  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Ky.,  January  5, 
1824,  and  was  a  son  of  Milton  and  Martha  (Viley)  Burch,  his  mother 
being  a  sister  to  Judge  Viley.  Joseph  C.  Burch,  his  grandfather,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Scott  county,  Ky.,and  came  from  Virginia. 
John  C.  Breckinridge,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  President  in  1860, 
married  Miss  Mary  C.  Burch,  who  was  a  double  cousin  to  William  R., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  she  was  reared  by  Mr.  Burch's  father 
and  was  married  at  his  father's  house.  William  R.  Burch  came  to 
Missouri  in  1847,  and  on  the  7th  of  June,  of  the  same  year,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Martha  E.  Viley,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Judge  Viley. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Burch  returned  to  Kentucky  with  his  wife  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  there  for  two  years,  but  at  the  solicitation  of 


582  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

his  father-ill-law,  he  came  back  to  Missouri  and  settled  on  a  tract  of 
500  acres  of  land  near  Roanoke,  which  Judge  Vilej  gave  him,  and 
on  which  he  lived  for  about  17  years,  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  trading.  In  1866  he  secured  his  present  farm  from  his  father- 
in-law,  the  old  Viley  homestead,  to  which  he  removed  and  on  which 
he  has  since  resided.  His  farm  contains  about  630  acres,  and  is  one 
of  the  finest  stock  farms  in  Randolph  county.  Nearly  all  the  land  is 
set  with  blue  grass  and  meadow,  and  the  place  is  more  than  ordinarily 
well  improved.  The  residence  itself  represents  a  value  of  $6,000. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burch  have  no  children,  their  only  two  having  died  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  Burch's  aunt,  Mrs.  Cyrene  Williams,  the  widow  of  Col. 
M.  B.  R.  Williams,  is  now  visiting  her  brother,  Judge  Viley,  from 
Kentucky.  Her  husband  was  at  one  time  the  leading  fine  stock- 
raiser  of  Randolph  county  and  owned  a  number  of  famous  horses, 
including  "  Flying  Cloud "  and  others  well  known  to  turf  men 
throughout  the  West. 

JOHN^T.  CAVINS 

(Farmer) . 

Mr.  C,  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Silver  Creek  township,  was 
born  in  Scott  county,  Ky.,  January  5,  1823,  and  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Margaret  (Gorham)  Cavins,  both  also  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  by 
nativity.  The  Cavins  were  originally  from  Virginia.  When  John 
T.  was  a  lad  some  12  years  of  age  his  parents  came  to  Missouri  and 
settled  in  Randolph  county,  and  on  the  same  place  where  he  now 
resides.  The  country  was  then  a  wilderness  and  the  houses  of  settlers, 
for  of  course  there  were  a  few  people  here  at  that  time,  were  miles  apart, 
oftentimes  a  half  day's  journey  from  each  other.  There  was  but  one 
road  then  in  this  section  of  the  county  —  the  old  Glasgow  road  — 
which  lead  on  south  to  the  Southern  border  of  civilization,  or  rather 
of  the  white  settlements.  Deer  were  in  abundance,  and  almost  daily 
ran  l)y  the  log  cabin  that  Mr.  Cavins'  father  built  on  his  place,  in 
which  they  resided,  and  the  wolves  made  the  nights  lonely  and  dreadful 
by  their  melancholy  howls.  Mr.  Cavins  was  reared  here  in  those 
early  days  of  the  country,  and  of  course  had  no  chance  to  get  a 
collegiate  blue-ribbon  education,  but  on  the  slab  benches  of  the 
puncheon-floored  log  school  house  of  the  period,  poring  over  "  Pike's 
Arithmetic,"  '*  The  Life  of  Marion,"  and  that  sort  of  studies,  he 
succeeded  in  acquiring  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  books  for  all  the 
practical  purposes  of  farm  life.  At  the  age  of  21  he  started  out  for 
himself  without  a  dollar,  but  lands  were  cheap,  the  seasons  good,  and 
he  knew  how  to  work  and  was  not  afraid  of  it.  He  soon  had  a 
good  tract  of  land  and  a  neat  farm,  and  of  course  he  had  to  marry, 
because  people  cannot  keep  house  to  do  any  good  without  marrying. 
Accordingly  he  looked  around,  and  fell  in  love  with  a  fiiir  young  lady 
of  the  vicinity  —  Miss  Elizabeth  Sears,  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Milton  J. 
Sears,  of  Huntsville,  whose  sketch  is  published  in  this  volume.  He 
made  himself  exceedingly  agreeable  to  her,  and  on  the  homeopathic 
principle  that  like  produces  like,  she  also  fell  in  love  with  him,  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  583 

they  were  married  January  29,  1851.  This  union  has  proved  a  long 
and  happy  one,  and  has  been  blessed  with  a  worthy  liirnlly  of  children, 
namely:  Maggie,  now  Mrs.  R.  F.  Upton;  Tolman  S.,  Mary  M.  and 
John  M.  Three,  besides,  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gavins  are 
members  of  the  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Church. 

GEORGE  W.  DAMERON 

(Section  19,  Post-office,  Mt.  Airy). 
This  prominent  citizen  and  enterprising  farmer  of  Silver  Creek  town- 
ship, who  has  held  various  official  positions  of  prominence  in  the  county, 
including  that  of  sheriff  for  four  years,  and  for  a  generation  has  been 
regarded  as  one  of  the   most  worthy  and  popular  men  in  the  county, 
is  a  representative  of  that  old  and  respected  Dameron  family,  so  many 
descendants  of  which  reside  in  this  county  and  in  other  communities, 
and  are  always   classed   among  the  best  citizens  wherever  thev  live. 
The   Damerons  came  to   Randolph  county  over  half  a  century  a^o. 
They  were  from  North  Carolina.     George  W.  Dameron  was  born  in 
Caswell  county,  of  the  old  North  State,  February  10,  1815.     He  was 
one  in  a  family  of  11  children  of  Bartholomew  and  Rebecca  (Malone) 
Dameron.     Of  these    Alexander,    John,.  Elizabeth    and    Sarah,    the 
daughters,  with  their  husbands,  came  to  Randolph  county  in  1830, 
and  the  parents  with  the  rest   of  the  family  came  two  years  later  ; 
Alexander  M.  died  here  iiv  1854  ;  Salinda  died  at  Huntsville  in  1846, 
whilst  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Dameron;  Elizabeth  died  in  1847,  whilst  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Malone  ;  Sarah  is  the  widow  of  Hugh  C.  Dobbins  and 
is  now  aged  75;  John  died  in   1851  in  California;  Phoebe  died  whilst 
the  wife  of  Barzella  Wisdom   in   1854;  George  W.  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  ;  Frances  died  in  1859  whilst  the  wife  of  Judge  Samuel 
Burton ;  Parthna  died  in  1883  whilst  the  wife  of  Georgfe  A.  Mathis  : 
William  L.  resides  in  this  county  ;  Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  James  M. 
Butts,  and  is  still  living.     The  father  died  February  25,  1847,  and  the 
mother  October  11,  1851,  each  aged  about  70.     The  father  settled  on 
the  place  in  1832  where  George  W.  now  lives.     He  was  a  successful 
farmer  and  tobacco  raiser,  and  had  a  number  of  slaves.     George  W.  was 
17  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this  county,  and  he  was 
married  here  eight  years  afterwards,  June  25,  1840,  to  Miss  Susan  J. 
Lebban.     She  died  five  years  afterwards,  November  15,  1845,  leav- 
ing him  one  son,  James  B.,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Chariton  countv. 
To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Dameron  was  married  May  24,  1847.     She 
was  a  Miss  Eliza  J.  Mayo,  a  daughter  of  Allen  Mayo  of  this  county, 
and  was  born  December  27,  1827.     Mr.  Dameron  has  followed  farm- 
ing continuously   from  boyhood,    except   while    identified    with    the 
official  affairs  of  the  county,  and  even  then  he  continued   to  carry  on 
his  farm.     In  1840  he  was  elected  constable  for  Silver  Creek  township 
and  was  re-elected  six  times  consecutively  afterwards,    holding  the 
office  for  12  years,  when  he  resigned  it  to  accept  the  office  of  sheriff 
of  the   county  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1852.     He  was  re-elected 
sheriff  in  1854,  servins:  in  that  office  for  four  vears  consecutively.     At 
32 


584  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

that  time  the  elections  in  Randolph  county  between  the  Democrats 
and  Whigs  were  very  close,  with  the  chances  generally  in  favor  of  the 
latter,  and  when  Mr.  Dameron  made  his  last  race  for  sheriff,  his  op- 
ponents, the  Whigs,  were  in  the  majority  in  the  county.  Notwith- 
standing this,  however,  he  was  elected  by  a  highly  complimentary 
majority  and  was  one  of  the  only  two  men  on  the  Democratic  county 
ticket  elected,  Christopher  Collhis  being  the  other,  who  ran  for.  asses- 
sor. In  1857-8  Mr.  Dameron  was  district  assessor  of  one-fourth  of 
the  county,  and  four  years  from  1856  he  was  deputy  sheriff,  making 
eigrht  years  in  all.  Mr.  Dameron  has  a  SLOod  fiirm  where  he  resides 
of  240  acres,  and  also  another  place  of  over  100  acres.  He  gives  his 
attention  mainly  to  stock-raising  and  has  some  good  graded  cattle. 
For  four  years  he  was  interested  in  the  saw-mill  business.  Mr. 
Dameron  is  reojarded  as  a  man  of  high  character  amono;  his  neisrhbors 
and  throughout  the  county,  and  is  quite  influential  in  agricultural  and 
political  afiiiirs.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South 
for  45  years,  and  is  a  trustee  in  his  church.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  By  his  last  marriage  Mr.  Dameron  has  had  12 
children,  all  living  but  the  two  eldest,  Sebatin  C.  and  Alba  E.,  both 
of  whom  died  in  tender  years.  The  others  are:  Cass  A.  of  Helena, 
Arkansas;  William  T.,  Mattie  H.,  now  Mrs.  Lewis  Malone  ;  Sudie 
A.,  now  Mrs.  Hebrew  Johnson;  George  P.,  Thenie  M.,  Charles  H., 
Lutie  R.  and  John  M. 

REV.  SAMUEL  C.  DAVIS 

(Deceased) . 

To  no  old  citizen  in  the  south-western  part  of  Randolph  county,  and, 
indeed,  throughout  the  surrounding  country,  is  the  name  that  heads 
this  sketch  an  unfamiliar  one,  and  the  memory  of  him  who  bore  it 
is  as  reverently  cherished  as  he  himself  was  widely  and  well  known. 
Here  he  lived,  and  on  the  same  farm,  for  over  40  years,  and  among 
the  people  of  Randolph  and  Howard  counties  he  resided  for  a 
period  of  nearly  three-score  years.  For  55  years  he  was  an  earn- 
est, faithful  and  more  than  ordinarily  useful  minister  of  the  gospel 
in  the  Cumberland  Presley terian  Church,  and  having  reached  the 
ripe  and  honored  old  age  of  83  years  and  past,  his  spirit  at  last 
took  its  flight  to  heaven,  of  which  he  had  so  long  and  nobly 
preached,  and  his  mortal  remains  now  rest  in  honor  and  veneration 
among  the  people  with  whom,  practically,  his  whole  life  was 
spent.  The  career  of  Samuel  C.  Davis  was  not  one  that  attracted  the 
curiosity  of  the  unthinking,  shallow  world,  and  caused  him  to  be 
pointed  out  as  a  conspicuous  character  by  the  class  which  line  the  way 
of  a  circus  parade,  but  it  was  one  of  sober  worth,  always  unpreten- 
tious and  plain,  and  as  valuable  to  those  among  whom  he  lived  as  he 
himself  was  honest,  sincere  and  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his 
fellow-creatures.  As  a  preacher  he  worked  with  untiring  energy  for 
his  church  and  people,  and  for  the  honor  and  glory  of  God  ;  and  in 
the  pulpit  he  was  ever  zealous,  earnest  and  was  "more  than   ordinarily 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  585 

eloquent  and  successful ;  and  outside  of  the  pulpit,  in  private  work 
among  the  people  and  in  counselling  them,  he  ever  strove  to  impress 
upon  their  minds  the  importance  of  an  upright  life  here,  and  the  hope 
of,  and  a  way  to  a  beatific  immortality  hereafter, — though  he  was 
always  respectful,  considerate  and  never  offensive  in  anything  he  said 
or  did.  In  a  word,  Kev.  Samuel  C.  Davis  was  a  true  minister  of  the 
gospel,  beloved  as  such  by  all  who  knew  him  and  rewarded  for  his 
labors  with  more  than  ordinary  success  in  bringing  souls  to  Christ. 
He  was  the  pioneer  minister  of  his  Presbytery  in  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  its  history  his  name  stands  out  as  long- 
est in  its  service.  Kev.  Mr.  Davis  was  a  man  of  fine  intelligence, 
exceptionally  well  read,  considering  the  early  time  of  the  country  in 
which  he  lived,  and  was  possessed  of  a  heart  whose  generosity  and 
charity  knew  no  bounds.  Sociable,  genial  and  affiible  in  the  com- 
pany of  friends  and  acquaintances,  he  was  prized  as  the  best  of  com- 
panions, while  as  a  citizen  he  was  loyal  to  every  duty,  as  he  saw  the 
right,  and  always  wielded  a  potent  influence  in  affairs,  though  without 
effort  on  his  part,  but  simply  by  his  own  example.  In  his  family  he 
was  loved  with  the  tenderest  devotion,  for  he  was  a  singularly  kind 
and  affectionate  husband  and  father,  and  took  no  thought  of  himself 
where  the  interests  or  happiness  of  his  loved  ones  are  at^stake.  Ran- 
dolph county  can,  perhaps,  boast  names  wider  known  to  fame  than 
that  of  Samuel  C.  Davis,  but  in  its  whole  history  there  is  not  one 
whose  life  was  purer  and  better  and  whose  memory  is  more  sacredly 
cherished  by  those  who  knew  him  well,  than  his.  He  was  a  Viro-in- 
ian  by  nativity  and  bringing  up,  and  inherited  most  of  the  better  quali- 
ties of  the  typical  true-hearted,  chivalrous  minded  Virginia  gentleman. 
He  was  a  son  of  Robert  Davis,  one  of  the  best  men  of  Rockingham 
county,  and  was  born  in  that  county  April  3,  1795,  being  the  sev- 
enth in  a  family  of  eight  children.  Reared  in  his  native  county,  he 
early  decided  to  cast  his  fortunes  with  the  great  country  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  and  away  back  in  1819,  became  a  pioneer  settler  in  How- 
ard county,  Mo.  Mr.  Davis  had  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  under 
Gen.  Porterfield,  Capt.  R.  Erwin's  company  of  Virginia  militia  vol- 
unteers, and  for  the  last  nine  years  of  his  life  he  received  a  compensa- 
tion in  the  form  of  a  pension  from  the  government  of  $96  per  year. 
Prior  to  this,  December  29,  1815,  he  was  married  in  Virginia,  to  Miss 
Mary  Herring,  of  Rockingham  county.  Mr.  Davis  setttled  near 
Roanoke  in  Howard  county,  where  he  lived  some  17  years,  after 
which  he  removed  to  the  place  in  Randolph  county,  on  which  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Here  he  bought  some  600  acres  of 
land  and  improved  a  fine  farm.  Early  in  life  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  having  decided  to  devote 
himself  to  the  ministry,  he  took  a  course  of  study  with  that  object  in 
view  and  began  preaching  as  early  as  1823.  Four  years  afterwards 
he  was  regularly  ordained  and  continued  in  the  service  of  his  church 
until  compelled  to  retire  from  the  pulpit  on  account  of  loss  of  sight 
and  the  general  decrepitude  of  old  age.     Mr.  Davis'  first  wife  died 


586  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

December  16,  1855.  For  40  years  she  had  been  all  that  a  true  and 
devoted  wife  could  be  to  an  aifectionate  and  kind  husband.  Nine 
children  were  the  fruits  of  their  long  and  happy  married  life,  namely: 
James  H.,  who  died  in  boyhood;  Matilda  H.,  who  died  in  1876,  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Burton  ;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  W.  I.  Ferguson  ;  Nancy  M., 
who  died  in  1873,  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Burton  ;  Virginia,  now  the  widow 
of  Thomas  Taylor;  Rebecca  F.,  who  died  in  maidenhood  ;  Sarah  A., 
who  died  in  1866,  the  wife  of  William  H.  Johnston  ;  Robert  H.,  who 
died  in  boyhood,  and  Martha  J.,  now  the  wife  of  A.  Bradsher  Clifton. 
Mr.  Dayis  was  married  May  5,  1857,  to  Mrs.  Harriet,  the  widow  of 
David  Little.  She  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Paul  Shreckhise.  She  has  one  child  by  her  last  mar- 
riage, Samuel  C,  and  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Davis, 
besides  attending  to  his  duties  as  a  minister,  was  a  successful  farmer 
and  was  for  many  years  largely  engaged  in  growing,  not  only  the 
usual  crops  of  the  time,  but  tobacco,  flax,  hemp,  etc.,  in  which  he 
was  quite  successful.  He  owned  some  16  slaves  before  the  war,  but 
these,  of  course,  were  taken  away  by  the  Emancipation  Proclamation. 
He  built  one  of  the  first  mills  ever  erected  in  this  part  of  the  county, 
a  large  water  mill,  and  conducted  it  successfully  for  many  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  remarkable  energy  and  industry  in  industrial  and  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  though  one  of  the  most  acjtive  and  zealous  of  minis- 
ters, he  followed  that  sacred  calling,  not  as  a  means  of,  or  help  to 
material  support,  but  out  of  his  sense  of  duty  alone,  and  from  an 
abundant  love  of  God  and  humanity. 

HUMPHREY    B.  DENNY 

(Farmer,  Section  29,  Township  53,  Range  15,  near  Mt.  Airy). 

Mr.  Denny  is  a  brother  of  Capt.  Alexander  Denny,  of  Howard 
county,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  justly  occupies  a  prominent  place  in 
the  history  of  that  county.  Nor  is  the  brother,  of  Randolph  county, 
whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  less  worthy  of  honor- 
able mention  in  the  history  of  his  own  county  than  is  his  brother, 
Capt.  Denny,  of  Howard.  Their  parents,  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Best)  Denny,  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  but  came  to  Howard  county, 
Mo.,  among  its  pioneer  settlers  away  back  in  1818.  The  father  was 
a  typical,  brave-hearted  old  pioneer,  a  courageous,  generous  man,  and 
an  industrious  and  successful  farmer.  He  died  in  that  county  at  a 
ripe  old  age,  honored  and  respected  in  life  and  regretted  and  mourned 
in  death  by  all  who  knew  him.  Humphrey  B.  Denny  was  one  and 
one-half  years  Capt.  Denny's  junior,  having  been  born  November  27, 
1827.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Howard  county  and  to  habits  of 
industry,  having  to  rely  more  on  study  at  home  for  an  education  than 
on  instruction  in  school.  But  he  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  sufficient 
knowledge  of  books  for  all  the  practical  purposes  of  farm  life.  On 
the  10th  of  December,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  E. 
Snoddy,  a  daughter  of  Walter  Snoddy,  an  early  settler  of  Howard 
county.     Mr.  Denny,  however,  had  previously  removed  to  Randolph 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  587 

county  and  had  for  a  number  of  years  been  engaged  in  farming  on  his 
own  account.  His  life  from  boyhood  has  been  one  of  untiring  in- 
dustry and  has  been  abundantly  rewarded  with  the  fruits  of  honest 
toil.  Mr.  Denny  owes  all  he  has  to  his  own  exertions  and  good  man- 
agement, and  this  is  saying  not  a  little.  He  has  three  excellent  farms, 
aoro-i-eo-atino:  over  900  acres.  His  home  place  contains  over  400  acres 
and  his  other  two  farms  175  and  120  acres,  respectively.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Denny  have  had  a  family  of  eight  children:  Narcissa  F.,  now 
Mrs.  David  Bagby  ;  James  M.,  David  R.,  Nannie,  now  a  student  at 
the  State  University;  Elizabeth,  John  A.,  Humphrey,  Jr.,  and 
Maggie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Sweet  Spring. 

MORGAN  FINNELL 

(^Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

All  early  settlers  of  Randolph  county  knew  William  Finnell,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  for  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  the  county  and  was  a  great  hunter  in  his  day,  being 
one  of  the  best  shots  in  all  the  country  round  about  and  at  a  time 
when  marksmen  successfully  competed  with  the  Indians  in  shooting 
matches.  He  came  out  to  this  county  away  back  in  1817  and  lived 
in  the  log  house  that  he  had  built  himself,  where  he  kept  bachelor's 
hall  and  followed  hunting  and  fishing  principally  and  all  the  sports  of 
the  field  and  forest.  However,  he  improved  a  farm  as  time  rolled 
away  and  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Goodman,  a  daughter  of  another 
pioneer  of  the  county.  Morgan  Finnell  was  born  of  this  union,  and 
it  was  on  the  22d  of  August,  1833,  that  his  eyes  first  opened  to  re- 
ceive the  light  of  day.  The  son  was  reared  in  the  county  and 
attended  the  log  school  houses  of  the  period,  obtaining  from  the  in- 
struction there  given  an  adequate  knowledge  of  school  books  to  get 
along  conveniently  in  life,  so  far  as  education  was  concerned.  His 
father  was  quite  an  old  bachelor  before  he  married  and  so  the  son 
also  became  a  bachelor  and  kept  bachelor's  hall  for  several  years. 
However,  in  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Rice,  a  daughter  of 
Ezekial  and  Elizabeth  (Montgomery)  Rice,  early  settlers  of  Missouri 
from  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Finnell  have  four  children  :  Gertrude 
H.,  Mattie,  Elizabeth  B.  and  Eliza  E.  Mr.  Finnell  has  a  good  farm  of 
160  acres  which  he  bought  and  paid  for  by  his  own  labor  since  the  war. 
When  hostilities  broke  out  in  1861  he  joined  the  Confederate  service  but 
was  captured  the  second  day  after  he  enlisted  and  was  paroled  by  Gen. 
Prentiss,  after  which  he  returned  home  ;  but  times  became  so  un- 
settled and  affairs  so  critical  that  he  either  had  to  take  to  the  bushes 
and  try  to  get  South  or  join  the  Federal  militia,  for  if  he  had  started  ofi" 
to  the  Southern  army  he  would  probably  have  been  captured  and  shot, 
as  thousands  of  others  were,  on  the  charge  of  being  "  bushwhackers." 
He  therefore  joined  the  militia  and  was  more  fatal  to  the  hard  and  reg- 
ular rations  that  he  drew  than  to  anybody  on  the  other  side.  Mr.  Fin- 
nell started  out  for  himself  at  18  years  of  age,  without  a  dollar,  and 


588  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

went  to  farm  work,  but  the  war  coming  on  soon,  and  he  being  an  honest 
man,  he  was  of  course  not  able  to  save  anything  during  that  time. 
After  the  war  he  commenced  again  without  a  cent  and  is  now  com- 
fortably situated  and  highly  respected.  This  record  speaks  better  for 
him  than  anything  that  could  be  said  here. 

JACOB   FUHRMANN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  F.  is  a  Prussian  by  nativity,  and  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Elsoff-Pror-Arnsberg.  His  parents  were  Henry  and  Mary  E.  (Hes- 
ter) Fuhrmann.  Jacob  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  his  native  country 
and  received  a  good  common  school  education  in  the  German  language. 
At  the  age  of  15  he  began  to  learn  the  wagon-maker's  trade  and 
worked  at  it  for  two  years  following.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he 
boarded  a  sail  vessel  bound  for  the  United  States  and  in  due  time 
landed  at  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Fuhrmann  came  by  steamboat  up  to 
Glasgow  and  worked  there  at  his  trade  for  a  year.  From  Glasgow 
he  came  to  Roanoke  and  worked  at  that  point  for  two  years  and  then 
established  a  shop  of  his  own.  He  carried  on  the  business  of  wagon- 
making  at  Roanoke  until  1869,  and  his  wagons  obtained  a  wide  repu- 
tation throughout  Howard,  Randolph  and  neighboring  counties.  He 
then  moved  on  a  farm  and  made  a  business  of  building  for  some  time, 
besides  farming.  In  1871  he  bought  his  present  place  largely  on 
time,  and  by  industry,  good  management  and  economy  has  long  since 
paid  for  it.  This  place  contains  350  acres  and  he  has  it  well  improved. 
The  place  alone  is  worth  not  less  than  $10,000,  yet  when  Mr.  Fuhr- 
mann came  to  Roanoke  his  worldly  possessions  consisted  of  his  wear- 
ing apparel  and  a  25-franc  piece.  This  is  a  record  that  would  be  a 
credit  to  any  man.  On  the  26th  of  March,  1867,  Mr.  Fuhrmann  was 
married  to  Miss  Ellen  Althouse,  of  this  county,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Katrina  (Hester)  Althouse.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fuhrmann  have  five 
children:  Anna  M.,  Edward,  Florence,  Eliza  A.  and  Mary.  Mrs.  F. 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Roanoke. 

CAPT.  J.  C.  HEAD 

(Farmer,  Stock-raiser  and  Coal  Dealer) . 

Capt.  John  Head,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and 
the  f  ither-in-law  to  Gen.  Sterling  Price,  the  noble  old  Pater  Patroe 
of  Missouri,  whose  life  forms  the  brightest  chapter  in  the  history  of 
the  State,  was,  like  his  illustrious  son-in-law,  originally  from  Virginia, 
and  came  to  Missouri  from  the  Old  Dominion  about  the  same  time  of 
the  migration  of  the  Prices  to  this  State.  Capt.  Head  settled  in  Ran- 
dolph county  and  the  Prices  in  Chariton,  just  across  the  line  from  each 
other.  Capt.  Head  was  a  fine  old  Virginia  gentleman  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word,  prosperous  in  the  affairs  of  life,  intelligent  and 
public-spirited  and  as  hospitable  at  his  own  hearthstone  as  Jupiter 
himself.     Of  his    family  of  children,  Martha   married   Gen.   Sterling 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  589 

Price  !ind  John,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Adeline  Stark.  John  Head,  Jr., 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  Va.,  in  1801,  and  died  in  this  county  in 
his  eighty-second  year  in  the  spring  of  1883.  He  was  also  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  county.  His  son,  J. 
C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Randolph 
county  in  September,  1839.  His  father  being  in  easy  circumstances, 
J.  C.  had  good  opportunities  to  obtain  an  education,  which  he  did  not 
fail  to  improve.  Besides  a  general  literary  and  scientific  course,  he 
had  the  benefit  of  a  course  in  Geoponics,  or  the  science  of  agriculture, 
at  the  State  University.  He  graduated  from  the  Agricultural  De- 
partment of  the  State  University  in  1859.  Intended  for  a  farm  life, 
for  which  he  had  always  had  a  marked  preference,  he  now  returned  to 
the  farm  in  Randolph  county  with  a  view  of  beginning  at  once  his 
career  in  his  chosen  calling  and  for  himself,  for  he  was  closely  ap- 
proaching his  majority.  But  soon  afterwards  the  excitement  growing 
out  of  the  rapid  approach  of  the  war  unhinged  everything  and  all 
attention  was  drawn  to  the  events  of  the  impending  crisis.  When  at 
last  the  war-cloud  burst  upon  the  country,  young  Head,  in  common 
with  nearly  all  of  the  better  class  of  young  men  of  his  section  of  the 
State,  promptly  shouldered  his  musket  as  a  plighted  soldier  of  his 
native  State  and  Virginia  and  of  the  South  and  the  Southern  cause. 
He  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  an  orderly  sergeant  and  by  his 
merits  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain.  He  participated  in  many  a  hard- 
fought  battle.  Of  those  in  this  State  in  which  he  look  part  are  re- 
called the  engagements  at  Boonville,  Lexington,  Dry  Wood,  Glasgow, 
Independence  and  Westport.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Capt.  Head 
located  on  a  farm  in  Randolph  county  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  For  a  time,  however,  he  also  owned  and  ran  a 
portable  saw-mill  with  which  he  had  good  success.  His  farm  contains 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  section  of  excellent  land  which  he  has  substan- 
tially and  neatly  improved.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1866,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Susan  Wallace,  a  daughter  of  John  S.,  from  Kentucky, 
and  Idress  (Craig)  WalUice,  both  of  whom  were  representatives  of 
prominent  Virginia  and  Kentucky  families.  Mrs.  Head  was  born  and 
reai'ed  in  Chariton  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  four  children  : 
Lotta,  Wallace,  Ida  and  Carrie.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Mission- 
arv  Baptist  Church  and  his  wife  is  a  Southern  Methodist.  Capt.  Head 
has  a  fine  vein  of  coal  on  his  place  which  he  has  worked  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  though  not  with  machinery  and  on  a  large  scale.  His 
coal  has  been  proved  to  be  of  a  superior  quality  and  the  quantity  is  so 
abundant  that  it  cannot  fail  to  be  the  source  of  a  good  income  when 
mined  with  a  sufficient  force  of  hands  and  proper  ai)pliances. 

CAPT.  J.  D.  HICKS 

(Section  34,  Post-office,  Roanoke). 

Capt.  Hicks  served  gallantly  in  the  Confederate  army  from  the  time 
the  first  gun  of  the  war  was  fired  in  Missoju'i  until  the  surrender  of  his 
command  at  Shreveport,  La.,  in  May,  1865,  and  rose  from  the  ranks  to 


590  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  captaincy  of  Co.  B,  of  the  Tenth  Missouri,  by  his  bravery  and 
merits.  He  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Boone  county,  June  30,  1832, 
and  is  to-day  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  Silver  Creek  township,  in  Eandolph  county.  Capt.  Hicks 
was  a  son  of  Willis  Hicks,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Boone  county. 
The  Captain's  mother  before  her  marriage  was  a  Miss  Elizabeth  Fos- 
ter, and  both  parents  were  from  Kentucky.  Whilst  Capt.  Hicks  was 
still  in  infancy  the  family  removed  to  Scotland  county,  where  the 
father  became  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  respected,  influential  citizen. 
Capt.  Hicks  was  reared  in  Scotland  county  and  received  a  good 
common  school  education.  Having  a  natural  inclination  of  mechanical 
pursuits  and  a  marked  aptitude  for  handling  tools,  even  before  reach- 
ing his  majority  he  began  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  afterwards 
also  worked  at  the  brickmason's  trade  and  at  plastering.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  these  occupations,  as  work  required,  when  the  war  broke  out 
in  1861.  Coming  of  a  Southern  family  and  having  Southern  principles 
and  sympathies,  he  showed  the  courage  of  his  convictions  by  promptly 
enlisting  in  the  Confederate  service.  Gen.  Martin  Green  enlisted 
one  of  the  first  commands  in  the  Southern  service  in  this  State,  and 
the  fact  that  he  so  successfully  secured  arms  for  his  volunteers  and 
equipped  them  for  action  before  the  Federals  came  in  to  interfere  with 
his  movements,  gave  rise  to  a  song  which  was  applied  to  those  who 
were  not  sagacious  enough  to  enter  the  Southern  service  as  early  as 
his  men  did,  and  which  had  quite  a  popular  local  "  run  "  during  the 
first  year  or  two  of  the  war.     The  first  lines  ran  thus:  — 

**  If  you  had  been  smart, 

You  might  have  been  seen 
Going  down  the  river  with 
Martin  Green." 

Capt.  Hicks  was  one  of  those  who  were  smart  enough  to  be  seen 
oroino;  down  the  river  with  Martin  Green,  for  he  was  one  of  the  first 
volunteers  under  the  doughty  chieftain,  and  for  over  four  years  he 
followed  the  broad-barred  and  bright-starred  banner  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. Step  by  step  he  rose  from  the  position  of  a  private  soldier 
through  nearly  every  intermediate  grade  to  the  office  of  captain.  He 
participated  in  battles  and  engagements  and  skirmishes  without  num- 
■  ber,  from  a  hand  to  hand  conflict  of  a  few  soldiers  on  either  side  to  the 
massed  bayonet  charge  of  the  greatest  death  duels  of  the  war,  where 
friend  and  foe  were  intermingled  on  the  deadly  field,  some  dead,  some 
dying,  and  all  courting  death  in  the  red  glare  of  battle.  In  1863  Capt. 
Hicks  was  captured  at  Helena,  Ark.,  and  was  kept  in  prison  for 
19  months,  but  promptly  returned  to  his  command  on  being  exchanged. 
After  the  war  he  came  to  Eandolph  county  and  located  near  Roanoke, 
■where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  later  along  quite  extensively  in 
stock  trading.  In  1873  he  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  ex- 
perienced some  serious  losses  in  property  afl'airs,  although  through  no 
fault  of  his,  but  being  a  man  of  untiring  energy  and  industry  he  has, 
nevertheless,  proved  himself  superior  to  misfortune  and  adversity  and 


HISTORY    OF    KANDOLPH    COUNTY.  591 

has  accumulated  a  comfortable  property.  His  place  contaius  over  a 
quarter  section  of  land  and  is  well  improved.  He  is  still  engaged  in 
stock-raising  and  also  in  buying  and  shipping  stock,  and  is  having  good 
success  of  late  years.  On  the  23d  of  November,  1872,  Capt.  Hicks 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  McDavitt,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Virginia  (West)  McDavitt,  early  settlers  and  respected  residents  of 
Randolph  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hicks  have  three  children  :  Gertie, 
Lela  and  Frank  D.  Mr.  Hicks  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  He  commenced  industrial  activities  after  the  war  without  a 
dollar  and  has  made  all  he  has  by  his  own  energy  and  enterprise,  and 
much  more  than  he  has,  for,  as  has  been  said,  he  has  sustained  serious 
losses  in  his  business  affairs.  Personally,  he  is  a  man  of  marked  in- 
telligence, pleasant,  agreeable  manners,  public  spirited  and  kind 
hearted,  and  is  much  esteemed  by  those  who  know  him  well,  and 
respected  by  all. 

JAMES  J.  KIRKPATRICK 

(Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Farmer,  near  Huatsville). 
Mr.  Kirkpatrick  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  his 
ancestors  have  been  settled  for  generations,  and,  as  far  back  as  they 
can  be  traced,  have  always  ranked  with  the  better  class  of  people  of 
the  old  Keystone  State.  His  father.  Rev.  John  H.  Kirkpatrick,  had 
the  benefit  of  a  tine  education  in  youth,  and  subsequently  studied 
theology,  and  became  an  able  minister  of  the  O.  S.  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Miss  Jane  S.  McKee,  and  by  her  reared  a 
worthy  family  of  children,  all  of  whom  were  given  advanced  educa- 
tions. For  40  years  he  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Harmony,  in  Indiana  county.  Pa.,  and  he  died  in  the  service  of  that 
church.  He  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  being  spared  to  his  congregation 
and  to  his  family  up  to  1878,  when,  at  last,  his  spirit  took  its  flight  to 
heaven  and  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  churchyard  where  he  had 
invoked  the  blessings  of  the  Father  on  so  many  of  his  friends  and 
acquaintances  who  had  preceded  him  across  the  silent  river.  James  J, 
was  born  in  Indiana  county.  Pa.,  March  7,  1839,  and  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm  in  that  county.  After  taking  a  preparatory  course 
in  the  common  and  academic  schools  he  entered  Jefferson  College,  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  he  continued  until  his  graduation,  in  1859. 
He  then  came  to  Missouri  and  taught  school  in  Randolph  county,  and 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  now  resides,  ibr  a  term,  after  which  he 
went  to  Independence,  in  Jackson  county,  where  he  read  law  under  his 
brother,  William  R.  Kirkpatrick,  now  of  Texas.  In  August,  1860, 
he  went  to  Hinds  county.  Miss.,  where  he  engaged  in  school  teaching, 
having  young  men  for  his  pupils,  and  he  was  there  when  the  war 
broke  out.  Though  reared  and  educated  in  the  North,  he  came  of 
sterling  old  State's  rights  Democratic  ancestry,  and  he  believed  that 
the  Federal  Government  had  no  more  right  to  invade  a  sovereign  State 
of  the  Union  with  armed  soldiery  in  defiance  of  State  authority  than 
had  the  Czar  of  Russia  or  any  other  executive  of  a  tyranny.  He  there- 
fore promptly  enlisted  in  theservice  of  Mississippi,  becoming  a  member 


592  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  Co.  C,  Sixteenth  Mississippi  volunteers,  in  April,  1861.  He  served 
during  the  remainder  of  the  war  or  until  August  21,  1864,  when  he 
was  captured  and  afterwards  confined  in  prison  at  Pt.  Lookout  until 
February  following.  He  was  then  sent  to  Richmond  on  parole,  and 
continued  a  paroled  prisoner  of  war  until  the  general  surrender, 
returning,  however,  and  remaining  in  Mississippi.  He  was  in  many 
of  tiie  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war,  and  was  in  Stonewall  Jack- 
son's valley  campaigns  for  two  years,  and  was  then  under  Gen.  A.  P. 
Hill  for  the  remainder  of  the  time.  He  was  wounded  three  times,  but 
only  lost  21  days  during  his  service,  being  confined  in  the  hospital  for 
three  weeks.  After  the  war  he  engaged  in  cotton  raising  in  Missis- 
sippi until  1868,  when  he  went  home  to  Pennsylvania  on  a  visit,  and 
afterwards  paid  a  brother  of  his  a  visit  who  resided  in  Iowa,  and 
thence  came  on  to  Randolph  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On 
the  8th  of  September,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lealie  Fray,  a 
daughter  of  John  Fray,  of  this  county.  They  have  one  child :  John 
W.  After  his  return  to  Randolph  county  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  taught  a 
few  terms  in  school,  but  has  made  farming  and  stock-raising  his 
regular  business,  and  has  been  quite  successful.  He  has  a  fine  farm 
of  232  acres,  on  Silver  creek,  and  is  comfortably  situated.  'Squire 
Kirkpatrick  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1876,  and  has  held  the 
office  ever  since.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities  and  is  personally 
very  popular.  He  has  long  been  a  member  of  and  elder  in  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church. 

WILLIAM  C.  LaMOTTE 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Roanoke). 

Another  one  of  those  successful  men  and  excellent  citizens  of  whom 
this  county  contains  so  many,  who  commenced  in  life  without  means 
or  advantages,  and  who  have  risen  almost  alone  by  their  own  exer- 
tions and  intelligence,  to  competency  and  a  worthy  position  in  the 
esteem  of  their  respective  communities  is  Mr.  LaMotte,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  who,  as  his  name  indicates,  is  of  French  descent.  His 
mother,  however,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rachel  Hoover,  as  her 
name  also  shows,  was  of  Hollandish  ancestry.  The  families  of  both 
parents,  however,  have  long  been  settled  in  Maryland.  The  father, 
John  LaMotte,  was  for  many  years  a  public  official  at  Hempstead,  iu 
that  State,  and  also  owned  farms  in  the  vicinity,  the  conduct  of  which 
he  superintended.  William  O.  was  born  in  Hempstead,  August  25, 
1838.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  comopolis,  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  At  the  age  of  15  he  matriculated  at  the  black- 
smith's trade,  in  which  he  took  a  semester  of  several  years,  becoming 
thoroughly  skilled  in  the  Vulcanic  art.  After  acquiring  his  trade  Mr. 
LaMotte  worked  at  it  in  Maryland  until  the  fall  of  1860,  when  he 
came  to  Missouri,  and  located  at  Roanoke.  When  he  unpacked  his 
leather  apron  at  that  place  for  the  first  time  an  invoice  of  his  worldly 
possessions  showed  that  he  had  the   apron,  a  few  other  articles  of 


HISTOKY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  593 

personal  utility  and  $50  in  State  money,  Bnt  he  began  with  willing 
hands  and  a  brave  heart  to  establish  himself  comfortably  in  life,  and 
he  has  not  failed.  He  formed  a  partnership  with  another  brave  spirit 
who  was  not  afraid  of  soiling  his  hands,  and  established  a  shop.  The 
years  cxime  and  went  and  the  iirm  prospered  in  business.  After  a 
while  Mr.  LaMotte  bonght  out  his  partner  in  business  and  went  it  after 
that  with  a  lone  hand.  He  continued  at  Roanoke  for  some  15  years 
after  the  war,  and  then  retired  from  the  gymnasium  of  the  anvil  to  his 
present  farm,  in  a  condition  materially  and  otherwise,  to  spend  the 
remainder  of  his  days  in  comparative  ease,  though  not  in  idleness,  for 
to  him  that  would  be  the  reverse  of  ease.  Here  he  has  a  fine  farm  of 
about  500  acres,  or  to  speak  more  properly,  he  has  about  500  acres  of 
fine  land,  for  it  is  not  all  in  one  body.  His  homestead  is  neatly  and 
substantially  improved,  and,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  he  is  fixed  so 
as  to  live,  in  the  language  of  Shakespeare,  "  as  free  and  independent 
as  the  winds  that  blow."  During  the  war  Mr.  LaMotte  served  about 
two  years  in  the  enrolled  militia,  but  not  continuously.  In  January, 
1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Althouse,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Catherine  (Hester)  Althouse,  early  settlers  of  this 
county.  Mrs.  LaMotte  was  also  a  relative  to  Gov.  Althouse,  a  whilom 
prominent  citizen  of  Randolph  county,  and  Mr.  LaMotte  now  owns 
the  old  Gov.  Althouse  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  have  four  children: 
AVilliam  H.,  Harrison  H.,  Gertrude  and  George  A.  Mr.  LaMotte  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  for  25  years,  and  he  and  wife 
are  also  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Roanoke,  in  which  he 
holds  the  office  of  deacon. 

ROBERT  M.  LAWRENCE 

(Farmer  and  Fine  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Lawrence  came  from  the  Blue  Grass  regions  of  Kentucky  where 
farming  and  stock-raising  are  carried  on  according  to  the  most  nd- 
vanced  methods,  and  he  has  fully  sustained  the  reputation  of  the  land 
of  his  nativity  in  this  respect,  as  in  all  others.  He  has  one  of  the 
handsomest  farms  in  Randolph  county  and  by  all  odds  the  handsomest 
one  between  Sweet  Spring  and  Silver  creek.  His  place  is  beautifully 
located  and  exceptionally  well  improved.  His  fields  and  meadows 
and  pastures  are  all  being  kept  in  good  condition  and  are  well  ar- 
ranged ;  his  fences  are  neat  and  substantial,  and  his  buildings  —  resi- 
dence, barn  and  outhouses  —  all  tastily  constructed  and  commodious 
and  comfortable.  In  a  word,  his  farm  presents  a  handsome  picture 
of  prosperous,  progressive  agriculture.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  born  in 
Clark  county,  Ky.,  November  9,  1841,  and  came  of  one  of  the  best 
families  in  that  county.  His  parents  were  Robert  and  Lucy  (Ecton) 
Lawrence,  both  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  The  Lawrences, 
however,  were  originally  from  Virginia.  The  Ectons  were  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Kentucky.  Robert  M.  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  State  and  was  20  years  of  age  when  the  war  broke  out  in  18(il. 
He  promptly  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  and  served  under  the 


594  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

Southern  banner  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  West  Virginia,  princi- 
pally, for  three  years.  He  was  under  Gen.  Morgan  and  was  with  that 
famous  cavalry  leader  on  his  memorable  raid  through  the  North. 
After  the  battle  at  Buffington  Island,  in  Ohio,  he,  with  17  others, 
was  captured  while  trying  to  cross  the  Ohio  river.  He  was  held 
a  prisoner  at  Camp  Chase  for  a  short  time  and  then  transferred 
to  Camp  Douglas  at  Chicago,  where  he  was  confined  until  March,  1865, 
when  he  was  exchanged  at  Aikins  Landing  on  the  James  river,  but 
saw  no  further  active  service  in  the  war.  Returning  to  Kentucky,  he 
remained  there  until  the  fall  of  1865  when  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
located  four  miles  south-west  of  Huntsville  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
aunt's  husband,  John  Oliver.  He  soon  bought  land  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming.  In  March,  1879,  he  bought  his  present 
place,  the  Ivison  Sears  farm.  This  farm  contains  260  acres  and  is  one 
of  rare  beauty.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  married  February  7,  1868,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Barbour  Bratcher.  She  died  March  2,  1882.  She  left  him  five 
children :  Johnnie,  Ecton,  Frenchie,  Lulu  B.  and  Marvin.  Mr. 
Lawrence's  wife  was  formerly  Mrs.  Sarah  W.,  the  widow  of  George 
Bui'ton.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Matilda  (Davis) 
Harrison.  Her  first  husband  died  in  1874.  By  him  she  has  three 
children  :  Ada,  Georgie  and  Frankie.  Mrs.  L.  is  a  meml)er  of  the 
M.  E.  C.  P.  Church  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Old  School  Baptist  de- 
nomination. 

"  UNCLE  ALLEN  MAYO " 

(Retired). 

This  oldest  living  resident  of  Randolph  county,  and  now  well  started 
on  the  fifth  score  of  life,  stands  out  from  among  the  third  generation 
of  settlers  a  conspicuous  and  honorable  monument  of  the  past,  repre- 
senting in  his  life  and  services  and  in  his  experiences  as  a  pioneer  and 
citizen  the  whole  chain  of  the  history  of  the  county  from  its  beginning 
to  the  present  time.  At  the  county  fair  at  Jacksonville  in  the  fall  of 
1883,  he  was  formally  presented  with  a  cane  by  the  Fair  Association 
in  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  county,  in  honor  of  his  being  the 
father  of  the  county,  among  the  living,  in  duration  of  residence.  But 
notwithstanding  he  is  a  venerable  old  octogenarian,  he  is  still  as  active 
of  body  and  as  bright  of  mind  as  men  usually  are  when  20  years 
his  junior,  and  has  a  large  farm  of  over  300  acres  which  he  superin- 
tends and  manages  himself,  often  taking  a  hand  to  help  along  with 
the  work,  and  always  doing  a  large  share  of  the  feeding  and  other  in- 
cidental work  about  the  house  and  barn.  It  is  simply  astonishing  to 
observe  the  sprightliness  of  his  movements  and  to  note  the  brightness 
and  spirit  of  his  conversation,  considering  his  advanced  age,  and  the 
hardships  through  which  he  has  passed,  first  as  a  pioneer  settler  of  the 
county,  and  then  as  one  of  the  most  untiring,  resolute  farmers.  Allen 
Mayo  was  born  on  the  14th  of  July,  1802.  His  ftither,  Thomas  Mayo, 
was  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Patrick  county,  Va.,  and  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Blair,  and  came  of  the  same  original 
family  of  which  Gen.  Frank  Blair  of  this  State  was  a  representative, 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  595 

and  an  ontline  of  the  genealogy  of  which  has  been  given  in  the  sketch 
of  Dr.  Bhiir  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Thomas  Mayo,  the  father, 
was  a  gallant  soldier  under  Washington  during  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. In  about  1805  he  removed  to  Tennessee  and  settled  in  Campbell 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  about  12  years,  and 
came  thence  to  Missouri  in  1817.  The  following  winter  the  family 
passed  near  Edwardsville,  III.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1818  landed  in 
Randolph  county.  Here  the  father  went  to  work  to  improve  a  farm, 
and  built  a  log  cabin  for  his  family  and  cleared  a  piece  of  land.  He 
subsequently  opened  a  good  farm  and  became  comfortably  situated, 
spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  Randolph  county  in  compara- 
tively easy  circumstances,  considering  the  times,  and  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  had  a  son,  Valentine,  who  had 
preceded  him  to  the  county  in  1816.  Allen  Mayo  was  16  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Randolph  county,  and  five  years  afterwards, 
in  1823,  he  entered  the  piece  of  land  on  which  he  has  since  resided, 
and  began  the  improvement  of  a  farm.  In  the  spring  of  the  same 
year,  on  the  23d  of  April,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Finnell,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Lucy  Finnell,  also  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
county.  Mrs.  Mayo  was  born  in  Garrett  county,  K3^,  June  28,  1804. 
What  is  hardly  less  remarkable  than  the  longevity  of  Mr.  Mayo,  him- 
self, is  the  fact  that  his  wife  is  also  still  with  him,  and  on  the  23d  of 
April  of  the  present  year  they  celebrated  the  sixty-first  anniversary  of 
their  longand  happy  married  life.  Until  two  years  ago  she  was  quite  as 
well  preserved  in  health  and  strength  as  he,  but  she  was  then  stricken 
with  paralvsis  and  has  been  confined  to  her  room  since  that  time. 
They  have  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  11  children,  and  nine  of  these 
are  still  living:  William,  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  George  Dameron  ;  Thomas, 
Charles  F.,  Lucy,  now  Mrs.  Samuel  McCulley  ;  Porter,  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  F.  M.  Stark  ;  John  A.  and  James  B.  Mr.  Mayo  has  been  quite 
successful  in  the  afi'airs  of  life,  and  although  he  has  reared  a  large 
family  and  has  lived  to  see  his  children  happily  married  and  all  settled 
comfortably  around  him,  he  has  long  enjoyed  an  ample  competency, 
the  fruit  of  his  own  industry,  sober,  economical  life  and  good  manage- 
ment. The  farm  on  which  he  has  lived  for  over  60  years  contains  320 
acres,  though  of  course  he  did  not  have  that  much  to  begin  with.  His 
.place  is  substantially  improved  and  his  home  is  one  supplied  with  all 
necessary  comforts.  Like  all  early  settlers,  and,  indeed,  in  excess  of 
all  of  them,  he  is  replete  with  reminiscences  of  the  past.  When  he 
settled  on  his  present  farm  he  and  his  neighbors  (and  neighbors  were 
then  usually  about  15  miles  apart)  had  to  go  to  Old  Franklin  and 
Old  Chariton  for  their  merchandise,  and  their  milling  was  done  at 
Glasgow  at  an  old-fashioned  horse  mill.  They  shipped  their  surplus 
products,  grain,  stock,  and  the  like  (though  the  stock  had  first  to  be 
killed  and  put  in  the  form  of  meat),  by  flat  boats  to  New  Orleans. 
There  were  then  no  such  things  as  school-houses  in  the  country  and 
not  even  churches  had  been  built.  The  meetings  were  held  at  the  log 
houses  of  the   settlers,  and  the  people  attended  for  miles   around. 


596  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

coming  generiill J  :is  far  as  a  half  day's  journey  to  preaching.  The 
Baptists  were  the  first  in  this  county  and  then  came  the  Methodists, 
and  after  them  the  flood  of  ministers  of  all  denominations.  In  those 
days  the  preachers  were  the  earnest,  zealous  kind,  like  the  faithful 
hard  working  ministers  still  to  be  met  with  in  pioneer  countries,  as  for 
instance,  down  in  the  Indian  Territory  where  a  good  preacher  will 
still  fill  three  appointments  a  day,  riding  an  Indian  pony  with  his 
plug  hat  tied  on  by  a  string  under  his  chin,  and  going  60  miles  be- 
tween appointments.  At  that  time  game  of  all  kinds  abounded  in 
Randolph  county,  including  bear,  deer  and  turkeys,  and  for  a  long 
time  bear  meat  took  the  place  of  bacon  and  was  not  a  bad  substitute. 
The  Indians  were  also  still  in  the  county  and  occasionally  gave  trouble 
to  the  Whites,  but  were  not  much  feared  by  the  bold  and  resolute 
spirits  who  were  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county.  Besides  the 
market  at  New  Orleans  for  surplus  products,  the  Santa  Fe  trade 
opened  up  a  good  market  for  stock,  etc.  In  politics  Uncle  Allen 
Mayo  has  ever  been  a  Democrat,  and  has  voted  the  regular  Democratic 
presidential  tickets  for  half  a  century,  except  in  1864,  when  he  voted 
for  Lincoln,  l)eing  a  strong  Union  man,  as  all  his  family  were,  wl\en 
it  came  to  the  question  of  destroying  the  Union.  His  life  has  been 
one  without  reproach  from  the  beginning,  and  no  man  in  Randolph 
county  stands  higher  in  general  esteem  than  he.  He  and  his  good 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  nearly  half  a 
century. 

THOMAS  MAYO 

(Farmer) . 
Mr.  M.,  the  second  son  in  the  family  of  Uncle  Allen  Mayo,  of  those 
who  are  living,  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  May  17,  1832,  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  21  years  of  age.  He  obtained 
some  knowledge  of  books  in  the  log  school-houses  of  the  period,  and 
on  reaching  his  majority,  his  father  gave  him  a  horse,  saddle  and 
bridle  and  a  father's  blessing,  and  told  him  that  he  could  now  go  forth 
and  enjoy  the  frnits  of  Jiis  own  industry.  He  then  worked  for  his 
brother-in-law,  Henry  B.  Dameron,  for  about  two  yeai's,  and  under 
him  was  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  from  1854  to  1856.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  l)egan  teaching  school,  and  in  March  of  that  year  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Mathis,  a  daughter  of  George  A.  and 
Parlhenia  "(Dameron)  Mathis.  He  continued  teaching  school  and 
also  followed  farming  on  a  rented  pluce  up  to  1860,  when  he  bought 
his  present  farm.  During  the  war  he  served  on  the  Union  side  in  the 
militia  notwithstanding  he  came  of  a  Southern  family  and  his  father 
was  a  slaveholder,  for  neither  he  nor  his  father  were  in  favor  of  seeing 
the  Union  l)r()ken  up  and  destroyed  by  secession.  Mr.  Mayo  has  ever 
been  an  industrious  and  energetic  farmer,  a  good  manager  and  a  well- 
respected  citizen,  and  has  been  quite  successful  in  life.  His  farm 
contains  nearly  500  acres,  and  he  raises  considerable  stock  besides 
grain  and  other  produce.  Mr.  Mayo  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
wife   by  death   in    1869.     She   left  him   five    children:     George    A., 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  597 

Maggie  A.,  now  Mrs.  Elbert  Lee  ;  Mattie,  Cassie  B.  and  Sidney.  Mr. 
Mayo's  second  wife  died  in  1874.  Siie  was  a  Miss  Sidney  Mathis,  a 
sister  to  his  first  wife.  They  were  married  in  the  spring  of  1870. 
To  his  present  wife  he  was  married  in  1878.  She  was  a  Miss  Mattie 
Burton,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Burton  of  this  county,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  vohime.  Mr.  Mayo  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.     His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian. 

JAMES  P.  MAYO 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  M.  is  the  youngest  son  of  Uncle  Allen  Mayo,  as  his  father  has 
been  familiarly  called  for  many  years,  and  was  born  on  the  old  family 
homestead,  September  11,  1845.  When  James  P.  grew  up,  schools 
had  been  pretty  generally  established  in  the  county,  and  were  of  a 
far  superior  grade  to  those  kept  in  pioneer  times.  Besides  attending 
the  neighborhood  schools,  he  had  the  benefit  of  two  terms  at  a  graded 
school  at  Roanoke  and  then  of  another  term  at  Huntsville,  thus  gettino- 
a  more  than  average  general  education.  During  the  war,  he  served 
about  eight  months  in  the  Union  enrolled  militia,  being  himself  an 
ardent  Union  man.  But  most  of  the  time  he  remained  at  home, 
having  charge  of  the  farm,  and  continued  there  until  his  marriage  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1879.  Miss  Susan  S.  Sutliff  then  became  his  wife. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  A.  C.  SuthfF,  and  her  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Varnnm.  Her  father  was  originally  from  New 
Jersey,  and  her  mother  was  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  family.  Before 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Mayo  had  bought  a  quarter  section  of  his  father's 
old  homestead,  and  this  he  made  into  a  good  fsirm  for  himself.  He 
has  erected  an  excellent  dwelling  house  on  his  place,  one  of  the  best 
in  the  vicinity,  and,  in  a  word,  has  made  his  place  one  of  the  best 
farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mayo  are  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  M.  is  a  genial,  whole-souled,  sociable 
man,  and  is  liked  by  everybody.  Every  one  has  a  kind  word  to  say 
of  "Jim  Mayo." 

WILLIAM  LAWRENCE  OLIVER 

(Deceased.) 

Mr.  Oliver  died  at  his  home  in  Salt  Spring  township  May  31, 
1872,  in  his  50th  year,  having  been  born  March  15,  1823.  He  was  a 
mitive  of  Kentucky  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Cynthia  A.  Oliver, 
who  came  to  Randolph  county  in  1837.  Both  parents  are  now  de- 
ceased. They  had  a  family  of  seven  children:  Henry  B.,  Betsey, 
now  Mrs.  Newton  Bradley;  William  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Minerva,  now  Mrs.  Everett  Skinner;  Cynthia  A.,  now  Mrs.  M.  J, 
Sears  :  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Redick  O'Bryan,  and  Mittie,  now  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Alderson.  William  L.  Oliver  was  14  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  this  county.  He  grew  up  here  on  his  father's  farm  and  on 
the  29th  of  December,  1850,  was  married  to   Miss  Amanda  P.  Lill}'-, 


598  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

born  August  16,  1832,  iind  a  daughter  of  David  Lilly,  of  Cooper 
county.  She  survived  her  marriage,  however,  less  than  six  years, 
dving  February  26,  1856,  She  left  him  three  children:  John  D., 
Permelia  J.  and  William  L.,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  Permelia  is  now  the  wife  of  Millard  F.  Belsher,  of 
Cedar  county.  November  27,  1856,  Mr.  Oliver  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Martha  J.,  the  widow  of  Mr.  Shepard,  born  October  12,  1833,  and  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Routt.  Her  first  husband  survived  his  mar- 
riage but  a  short  time.  She  is  also  now  deceased,  having  died  April 
20,  1881.  By  his  last  marriage  Mr.  Oliver  had  six  children  :  Doctor 
F.,  Cynthia  A.,  now  Mrs.  W.  G.  Lee;  Marietta,  now  Mrs.  James 
Bradley  ;  William  L.,  Eliza  J.,  Lilly  and  Taylor  (the  latter  of  whom 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years),  the  remaining  three  being  still  at  home. 
Religiously,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  "  Regular  Baptist,"  hav- 
ing united  Avith  Silver  Creek  Church  when  a  young  man,  and  holding 
the  office  of  deacon  for  many  years.  His  parents,  also,  were  Regular 
Baptists,  as  were  his  own  family,  except  Permelia,  Marietta  and  Cyn- 
thia A.  The  former  two  were  Missionary  Baptists,  and  the  latter  a 
Methodist. 

Doctor  F.  Oliver  was  born  in  this  county  October  23,  1857,  and 
was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  His  father  was  a  me- 
chanic by  trade,  which  he  followed  besides  attending  to  the  farm.  He 
made  wheels,  chairs,  plows,  etc.,  and  had  a  shop  on  the  place.  Dr. 
F.  inherited  the  mechanical  talent  of  his  father,  and,  in  fact,  is 
what  may  be  termed  a  natural  mechanic.  He  has  unusual  inventive 
genius  and  has  devised  numerous  machines  which  have  attracted  fa- 
vorable notice  and  have  been  successfully  used.  He  invented  a  pit- 
man box  intended  for  mowing  machines  which  he  patented,  and  which 
is  now  being  tested  by  the  McCormack  Manufacturing  Company.  He 
also  invented  a  hay  stacker  which  he  has  patented  and  which  promises 
to  be  extensively  used.  Besides  these  he  has  invented  a  hay  rake, 
application  for  a  patent  on  which  is  now  pending  in  the  Patent  Office, 
at  Washington,  and  has  also  invented  valuable  attachments  for  opening 
and  closing  window  shutters.  Although  he  is  on  the  farm,  which  con- 
tains 165  acres  and  which  he  conducts,  yet  he  manages  to  give  a  large 
share  of  his  time  to  work  on  machinery  and  as  the  above  facts  show, 
is  quite  a  genius  in  his  occupation.  Considering  that  he  is  still  but  26 
years  of  age,  his  record  as  an  inventor  is  already  quite  remarkable, 
and  his  future  in  this  line  promises  to  l)e  a  more  than  ordinarily  bright 
one. 

HENRY  B.  OLIVER 

(Farmer,  Section  V3,  Township  53,  Range  15,  near  Huntsville). 
Mr.  Oliver  was  the  oldest  brother  of  William  L.  Oliver,  deceased, 
whose  sketch  precedes  this,  and  came  to  Missouri  with  his  parents, 
John  and  Cynthia  A.  (Lawrence)  Oliver,  in  1836.  He  was  then  18 
years  of  age,  having  been  born  in  Clark  county,  Ky.,  October  24, 
1818.  The  family  settled  four  miles  south-west  of  Huntsville,  where 
the  father  and  sons  improved  the  place   on  which  Redrick  O'Bryau 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  599 

now  lives.  The  parents  lived  in  this  county  until  their  death,  the 
father  survivino;  to  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  90  years,  dying  April 
18,  1877.  His'  wife  died  in  July,  1875,  aged  70.  '  Henry  B.  Oliver, 
after  he  grew  up,  was  married  April  1,  1840,  to  Miss  Paulina  Skinner, 
a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Skinner,  who  settled  on  the  land  on  which  the 
depot  now  stands,  in  1832.  He  was  from  Madison  county,  Ky.  Mr. 
Oliver  settled  on  his  present  farm  soon  after  his  marriage  and  has 
continued  to  reside  on  it  from  that  time  to  this.  For  years  he  has 
made  a  specialty  of  raising  tobacco  and  stock,  and  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful. He  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  industrious  men  of  the 
township  and  is  highly  respected.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  have  had  a 
happy  married  life  of  44  years.  But  one  son  of  their  family  of  chil- 
dren is  now  living,  William  S.,  who  resides  near  his  father.  He  mar- 
rid  Miss  Matilda  J.  Christian.  Two  are  deceased,  James  Henry  and 
Jane  Ann.  James  Henry  married  Dorcas  Ann  Freeman,  and  she  is 
also  deceased.  Jane  Ann  married  William  H.  Stack  and  died  in  1862. 
Her  son,  William  H.,  lives  with  his  grandparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oli- 
ver.    They  are  both  members  of  the  Old  School  Baptist  Church. 

JOSEPH  D.  KICHESON 

(Section  22,  Post-office,  Mt.  Airy ) 

Mr.  R.,  ason  of  James  W.  and  Eliza  (West)  Richeson,  the  former  from 
Kentucky,  the  latter  from  Missouri,  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Au- 
gust 6,  1842.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  the  county,  and 
had  instilled  into  him  from  his  childhood  the  taste  for  that  life,  but 
upon  arriving  at  years  of  discretion,  he  had  not  at  once  an  oppor- 
tunity of  carrying  out  his  plans,  for  being  heart  and  soul  with  the  un- 
fortunate South,  he  could  not  resist  striking  a  blow  in  her  defense,  so 
shouldered  his  musket  and,  enlisting  with  Price,  he  fought  bravely 
and  well.  In  1870  he  began  farming  for  himself,  and  now  is  the  mas- 
ter of  a  nice  property,  consisting  of  240  acres  of  land.  This  is  well 
improved,  and  his  surroundings  reflect  on  every  side  the  industry  and 
energy  of  the  owner.  He  has  also  some  valuable  stock,  and  "  acts 
well  his  part"  as  an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer.  Mr.  Rich- 
eson is  a  man  of  family,  having  married  February  23,  1871,  a  native 
of  the  county,  Miss  Samantha,  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
Stark.  His  children  are  Ann  Eliza,  James  Walter,  Maggie  May, 
Charlie,  Mary  Beatrice  and  Joseph  Elza.  Mrs.  Richeson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Church,  and  is  one  of  those  household 
angels  whose  presence  seems  to  sanctify  a  home. 

JAMES  M.,  JOHN  W.  (deceased),  and  ANDREW  J.  ROBERT- 
SON. 

James  M.  and  John  W.  Robertson,  respectively  the  uncle  and  father 
of  Andrew  J.,  were  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  were  of  a  family 
of  12  children  of  Joseph  Robertson   and  wife,  whose  maiden  name 

33 


600  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

was  Delphi  Snell.  The  parents  were  of  two  old  and  respected  families 
of  the  central  part  of  Virginia,  which  had  been  settled  in  that  State 
since  long  prior  to  the  Revolution.  They,  themselves,  resided  in 
Orange  county,  and  there  their  children  were  born  and  principally 
reared.  The  father,  Joseph  Robertson,  died  in  Orange  county,  and 
afterwards  the  mother  and  all  her  children  came  to  Missouri,  most  of 
them  locating  in  Randolph  county.  She  was  a  woman  of  remarkable 
business  ability,  and  was  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful  and 
energetic  farm  managers  in  all  the  country  round  about.  She  was 
familiarly  known  as,  and  called  by  all  who  knew  her  with  respect,  not 
unmixed  with  a  degree  of  admiration  and  affection,  "Aunt  Delphi 
Robertson,"  and  was  greatly  esteemed  as  a  neighbor  and  friend,  and 
in  the  church  for  her  amiable,  sociable,  kind-hearted  motherly  quali- 
ties. Indeed,  she  was  one  of  the  strong-minded,  pure-hearted  old 
mothers  in  Israel,  of  whom  there  were  so  many  in  the  pioneer  days  of 
the  country,  when  women  had  not  only  to  be  mothers,  gentle,  tender 
and  sympathetic  as  the  thoughts  of  angels  are,  but  strong,  resolute 
and  determined,  brave-hearted  and  heroic  as  their  fearless  husbands, 
who  set  their  rifle  against  one  tree  to  guard  themselves  and  their  fami- 
lies from  the  merciless  savage,  while  they  felled  the  other.  Aunt 
Delphi  Robertson  will  long  be  remembered  in  Randolph  county  as 
one  of  the  good  and  true  pioneer  mothers  of  the  county. 

James  M.  Robertson,  the  first  of  her  sons  mentioned  above,  was 
born  in  Orange  county,  Va.,  April  14,  1812.  Coming  to  this  county 
in  1832,  he  is  still  living  here,  one  of  the  old  and  respected  citizens  of 
the  county,  comfortably  situated  and  still  well  preserved  in  mind  and 
body,  notwithstanding  he  has  long  since  passed  the  allotted  age  of 
three  score  and  ten  years.  Indeed,  not  less  than  four  years  ago  he 
not  only  showed  the  courage,  but  the  physical  strength  and  activity, 
to  make  a  trip  to  California,  where  he  remained  for  three  years,  busily 
occupied  with  property  interests.  He  returned  only  last  fall ;  and  to 
see  him  and  judge  by  his  erect  form,  quick  step,  brightness  of  conver- 
sation and  general  appearance,  one  would  not  take  him  to  be  much, 
if  any,  beyond  a  middle-aged  man.  His  domestic  life  has  been  one 
of  great  contentment  and  happiness,  and  he  has  reared  a  worthy  family 
of  children. 

John  W.  Robertson,  the  father  of  Andrew  J.,  was  born  in  Orange 
county,  Va.,  on  the  15th  of  January,  1806,  and  after  he  grew  up  on 
the  farm  in  that  county  he  was  married  in  that  State  January  16,  1833, 
to  Miss  Frances  M.  Reynolds.  He  and  his  wife  also  came  to  Missouri 
in  the  year*'1836  and  located  on  land  which  he  purchased  in  Randolph 
county,  and  on  which  he  improved  a  farm.  His  son,  Andrew  J.,  now 
resides  on  this  place,  and  it  is  reputed  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
county.  It  contains  450  acres  and  is  well  improved,,  much,  however, 
having  been  done  for  it  in  the  matter  of  improvements  by  the  son. 
The  father  died  here  September  2,  1850,  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  him,  for  he  was  an  upright  man  and  good  neighbor. 

Andrew  J.  Robertson  was  born  on  the  farm,  January  18,  1839, 
and  was  reared   on  his  present  place.     He  received  a  good  common 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  601 

school  education  and  has  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  from  early 
manhood,  having  been  occupied  with  nothing  else.  On  the  9th  of 
January,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Davis,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  Davis,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Morehead. 
They  were  from  Virginia,  and  resided  in  Marion  county,  this  State, 
where  Caroline  F.  was  raised  to  womanhood.  They  have  been  blessed 
with  a  worthy  fjimily  of  seven  children  :  Philip  A.,  John  W.,  Sarah 
F.,  now  Mrs.  James  W.  Patterson;  Anna  D.,  William,  Charles  E. 
and  Kate.  One,  besides,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  E.  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  Mr.  Robertson  makes  a  specialty 
of  raising  breeding  stock,  and  has  some  of  the  best  in  this  section  of 
the  county.  He  is  an  energetic,  progressive  farmer  and  an  intelli- 
gent, public-spirited  citizen,  held  in  high  respect  by  all  who  know  him 

CHAELES   W.   SHORES 

(Post-office,  Mt.  Airy). 

This  successful  farmer  and  respected  citizen  of  Silver  Creek  township, 
residing  on  a  handsome  homestead  which  he  owns,  situated  on  section 
30,  in  township  53,  and  range  15,  near  Huntsville,  is  a  native  of 
Howard  county,  born  May  20,  1835,  and  was  a  son  of  Rev.  William 
and  Susan  R.  (Johnson)  Shores,  he  originally  of  Tennessee,  and  she 
of  Virginia.  The  father  was  for  many  years  a  Methodist  preacher 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Missouri  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South.  He  was  also  a  farmer  and  had  an  excellent  homestead  six 
miles  north  of  Fayette  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  January,  1872.  He  had  been  a  minister  of  the  gospel  from  early 
manhood  and  was  also  in  his  earlier  years  a  skillful  carpenter.  Charles 
W.  Shores  received  a  good  education  as  he  grew  up  and  afterwards 
taught  school  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  He  then  served  six 
months  under  Gen.  Price  and  during  that  time  was  in  the  battle  at 
Pea  Ridge.  In  1862  he  went  West  to  the  mountains  and  was  eng-ao-ed 
in  mining,  trading,  merchandising,  etc.,  until  1866,  when  he  returned 
to  Howard  county.  He  subsequently  taught  school  in  Howard  and 
Randolph  counties  and  was  married  in  this  county  September  15,  1870, 
to  Miss  Lou  C.  Walden,  a  daughter  of  William  E.  and  Emily  (Hurt) 
Walden,  of  Randolph  county,  born  May  12,  1842.  Her  father  was 
originally  from  Kentucky  and  her  mother  from  Howard  county.  Judge 
Walden  served  as  judge  of  the  court  for  six  years  in  this  county.  Mr. 
Shores  settled  on  the  Joshua  Hurt  ftirm,  having  bought  it  in  1868, 
and  lived  on  it  until  the  spring  of  1883  when,  having  bought  the 
Walden  farm  also,  he  came  to  this  place  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  raises  considerable  stock,  principally  cattle  and  hogs,  and  also 
largely  raises  wheat  and  corn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shores  have  two  child- 
ren, Harry  Hurt  and  Charles  Edward.  Their  eldest,  Anna  Nora,  died 
in  tender  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  his 
wife  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 


602  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


ELDER  F.  M.  STARK 

(Minister of  the  United  Baptist  Church,  and  Farmer). 

The  worthy  minister  of  the  gospel  and  highly  Esteemed  citizen  Avhose 
name  heads  this  sketch  has  been  engaged  in  the  service  of  his  fellow 
creatures  and  his  Maker,  in  the  oiEce  of  a  Christian  minister,  for  nearly 
30  years,  and  during  this  time  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing 
many  wayward  souls  to  a  consciousness  of  their  sinfulness  and  to  the 
hope  which  the  Redeemer  holds  out  to  all  the  world.  He  professed 
relio;ion  in  the  fall  of  1855  and  was  accepted  into  the  Silver  Creek 
Church  during  the  following  year.  Preparing  himself  for  the  min- 
istry, on  the  second  Saturday  of  September,  1857,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  and  the  second  Saturday  of  April,  1858,  he  was  duly  ordained. 
The  presbytery  was  composed  of  Elders  B.  Anderson,  Jesse  Terrill 
and  J.  W.  Terrill.  Immediately  following  his  ordination  Elder  Stark 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Mt.  Salem  Church,  where  he  continued 
for  eight  years,  and  then  he  was  called  to  the  past(jrate  of  the  Silver 
Creek  Church  and  has  had  charge  of  this  church  from  time  to  time 
ever  since,  having,  however,  had  charges  at  various  other  places  at 
different  periods  in  the  meantime.  Elder  Stark  has  always  been  re- 
garded as  an  earnest,  sincere  and  useful  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
has  been  very  successful  in  his  great  life-work.  He  has  baptized  pro- 
bably nearly  200  people  and  has  assisted  in  ordaining  numerous  min- 
isters and  a  number  of  deacons.  He  has  married  more  than  75 
couples,  and  in  every  duty  as  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel  he  has 
acquitted  himself  as  a  worthy  man  of  God.  He  is  a  man  well-read 
in  the  Scriptures  and  in  theology  generally,  is  a  forcible  and  impres- 
sive speaker  and,  above  all,  is  influential  for  the  recognized  purity  of 
his  life  and  the  sincerityof  his  labors  as  a  minister.  He  has  partici- 
pated in  many  revival  meetings  which  have  been  productive  of  great 
good  to  the  church  and  to  humanity,  and  for  which  the  cause  of  re- 
ligion is  not  a  little  indebted  to  his  exertions,  his  ability  and  eloquence, 
his  piety  and  zeal.  Elder  Stark  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  July 
18,  1830.  His  father,  William  Stark,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but 
his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Goodman,  was  origin- 
ally from  Tennessee.  They  left  Kentucky  in  an  early  day,  and  settled 
where  Terra  Haute,  Ind.,  now  stands.  William  Stark's  father, 
Jacob  Stark,  owned  a  farm  which  is  now  included  in  that  city.  Elder 
Stark's  parents  came  to  Missouri  in  1825,  and  settled  on  Silver  creek, 
in  Randolph  county,  where  the  son  grew  to  manhood.  He  succeeded 
in  getting  a  good,  ordinary  education  as  he  came  up,  and  on  the  27th 
of  June,  1850,  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  A.  Watteriield,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Prudence  Watterfield,  early  residents  of  this 
county.  After  his  marriage  Elder  Stark  settled  on  a  piece  of  land  and 
opened  a  farm  where  he  lived  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  besides  attending  to  his  ministerial  duties,  for  18  years.  He 
then  removed  to  his  present  farm.     Here  Elder  Stark  has  a  fine  ftirm 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  603 

of  280  acres  and  he  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  raising  stock,  as 
well  as  grain.  On  the  11th  of  September,  1864,  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  good  wife,  who  was  taken  from  him  by  that  inexorable 
messenger.  Death.  To  his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Mary  A.  Mayo, 
a  daughter  of  Allen  Mayo,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  Elder 
Stark  was  married  October  1,  1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stark  have  five 
children:  Enoch  T.,  William  V.,  Nora  R.,  James  and  Frank  R. 
Elder  Stark's  o-reat-grandfather  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  was  of 
English  descent.  His  name  was  Daniel,  and  from  him  has  sprung  de- 
scendants who  have  settled  in  nearly  all  the  States,  especially  the 
West  and  South.  During  Elder  Stark's  ministry  he  has  preached 
three  times  a  day,  accomplishing  this  by  riding  his  horse  very  hard, 
and  he  has  prepared  many  sermons  on  horseback.  One  incident  that 
occurred  during  his  ministry  is  worthy  of  mention.  He  commenced 
a  meeting  with  a  certain  congregation  and  after  preaching  a  sei'mon 
closed  with  an  exhortation,  inviting  sinners  to  come  to  the  Lord  Jesus  ; 
15  convicted  persons  arose  and  came  forward  for  prayer,  while 
two  others  professed  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  congrega- 
tion. The  meeting  continued  a  few  days  and  at  the  close  about  25 
persons  were  buried  in  baptism  by  Elder  S.  With  much  gratification 
he  can  look  back  on  the  work  he  has  accomplished.  From  a  personal 
acquaintance  of  the  fact  we  state  that  of  all  those  whom  he  has  united 
in  marriage,  not  one  couple  has  been  divorced  ;  and  he  has  never 
baptized  a  person  who  denied  the  faith  or  brought  reproach  upon  the 
cause  of  Christ.  In  politics  he  voted  with  the  Whig  party  until  the 
war,  then  took  his  stand  on  the  side  of  the  Union  and  voted  for  Lin- 
coln, and  with  the  Republican  party  down  to  the  present. 

REUBEN  TAYLOR 

(Section  34,  Post-ofRce,  Roanoke). 

Mr.  T.,  one  of  the  neatest  farmers  and  best  citizens  of  this  township, 
and  a  man  who  has  come  up  in  life  from  an  orphan  boy  without  a 
penny  and  with  no  opportunities  for  an  education,  to  the  position  he 
at  present  occupies  and  has  long  held,  that  of  one  of  the  worthy  and 
substantial  men  of  the  county,  is  a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State, 
born  in  Garrett  county,  April  2,  1820.  His  parents,  Dudley  and 
Anna  (Myes)  Taylor,  were  originally  from  Virginia,  and  Reuben  was 
the  fifth  in  their  family  of  seven  children.  His  father  died  whilst  he 
was  quite  young,  and  he  was  reared  to  hard  work  on  a  farm.  Al- 
though he  had  little  or  no  chances  to  go  to  school,  he  managed  to 
gather  up  a  suflScient  knowledge  of  books  for  all  the  practical  purposes 
of  farm  life.  However,  at  the  age  of  16  he  went  out  to  work  on 
a  farm  at  $6.00  a  month,  and  he  continued  this,  though  with  an  in- 
crease of  wages  of  course,  as  the  years  rolled  away,  for  six  years.  He 
then  came  out  to  Missouri  and  went  to  work  on  a  farm  near  Roanoke, 
for  P.  W.  Hawley.  In  1846  he  went  to  Shelby  county  and  settled  on 
a  small  piece  of  land,  where  the  first  winter  he  cleared  up  enough 
ground  for  a  crop  and  built  a  house.     His  only  team  was  a  small  sled 


604  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  one  horse,  unci  with  these  he  did  all  his  freighting,  hauling  out  the 
rails  to  fence  about  30  acres  of  land,  and  doing  all  other  work  of 
that  kind  with  his  faithful  horse  and  not  less  faithful  sled.  He  lived 
on  that  place  for  about  20  years  and  became  quite  prosperous,  and 
married  and  was  blessed  with  a  worthy  family  of  children.  In  1866, 
however,  he  sold  out  and  came  over  to  Kandolph  county  and  bought 
his  present  farm.  Here  he  has  a  fine  place  of  over  250  acres,  one  of 
the  handsomest  farms,  size  considered,  in  the  county.  He  is  comfor- 
tably and  happily  situated,  and,  as  he  says  himself,  is  "fixed  to  enjoy 
life."  He  has  an  abundance  of  everything  around  him,  a  good  home 
and  an  affectionate  family,  and  never  having  wronged  a  man  in  his 
life,  but  having  made  all  he  has  by  honest  industry,  he  has  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  his  conscience  is  clear,  his 
spirit  bright  and  life  seems  to  him  worth  enjoying.  On  the  1st  of 
May,  1858,  Mr.  Taylor  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Totten,  a  relative 
to  the  gallant  officer  by  that  name  who  commanded  Totten' s  famous 
battery.  Mrs.  Taylor  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  A.  (Suitor) 
Totten,  and  was  born  in  Indiana,  but  principally  reared  in  Shelby 
county.  Mo.  Her  parents  were  originally  from  Virginia,  but  from 
Kentucky  to  Indiana,  and  from  the  latter  State  to  Missouri.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Taylor  have  five  children:  Henry  (v.,  Zachery,  Anna,  William 
and  Robert  Lee.  All  the  family,  except  the  youngest  child,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church,  and  Mr.  Taylor  is  an  elder  in  his  church. 
His  son  Henry  is  a  deacon  in  the  same  church.  The  three  eldest  chil- 
dren are  college  graduates,  —  the  first  of  Quincy  College,  the  second 
of  the  Missouri  State  University,  and  the  third  of  Hardin  Female  Col- 
lege of  Mexico,  Audrain  county.  Mr.  Taylor,  although  now  in  his 
sixty-fifth  year,  bears  his  age  remarkably  well,  and  to  judge  of  him 
by  his  movements,  conversation  and  general  appearance,  although  his 
hair  is  silvered  over  with  gray,  one  would  take  him  to  be  at  least  10 
years  younger  than  he  really  is  :  — 

"Age  sits  with  decent  grace  upon  his  visage, 
And  worthily  becomes  his  silver  locks; 
He  bears  the  marks  of  many  years  well  spent, 
Of  virtue,  truth  well  tried,  and  wise  experience." 

COENELIUS  VAUGHAN 

(Farmer). 

Mr.  v.,  a  successful  farmer  of  Randolph  county  and  one  of  its 
best  and  most  highly  respected  citizens,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
Rt.  Hon.  Cornelius  Vaughan,  a  distinguished  leader  in  Parliament  of 
the  time  of  James  I.,  and  a  cousin-germane  to  that  monarch.  During 
the  troublous  times  of  James  II.,  two  of  the  descendants  of  Cornelius 
Vaughan,  M.  P.,  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Virginia.  These 
were  Robert  and  Cornelius  Vaughan,  and  from  the  second  of  these  the 
subject  of  the  present  sketch  traces  his  lineage  hy  a  direct  line  or 
descent.  Abraham  Vaughan,  the  father  of  Cornelius,  our  subject,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Culpeper  county,  Va.,   and  there  married  Miss 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  •        605 

Polly  Weaver,  whose  family  was  originally  of  Pennsylvania  and  was 
of  German  extraction.  Abraham  Vaughan  removed  to  Kentucky  in 
an  earlv  dav  and  settled  in  Boone  county,  where  he  reared  his  family 
and  where  he  and  his  wife  both  lived  until  their  death.  He  was  a 
former  by  occupation,  and  Cornelius  Vaughan,  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  that  county,  August 
12,  1811.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  county  and  when  a  young  man 
22  years  of  age,  he  started  out  'for  himself  with  $50  in  cash, 
which  he  had  made  and  saved  up  the  year  before,  and  located  on  the 
Ohio  river  where  he  began  the  work  of  opening  a  farm.  He  was  quite 
prosperous  there,  and  in  the  spring  of  1835  was  married  to  Miss  Pau- 
lena  Christy,  a  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Lucy  (Kiddie)  Christy  of 
Boone  county,  Ky.,  and  a  niece  of  the  famous  Col.  Christy  of  New 
Orleans,  who  so  greatly  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Ft. 
Magis.  Mr.  Vaughan  came  to  Missouri  in  the  year  1840,  and  located 
in  Randolph  county.  Here  he  opened  a  fine  farm  and  became  one  of 
the  prosperous  citizens  of  the  county.  He  has  followed  tobacco  rais- 
ing quite  successfully  for  many  years,  and  before  the  war  owned  a 
number  of  slaves.  He  suffered  quite  severely  by  the  loss  of  property 
during  the  war,  losing  some  $8,000  in  negroes,  stock,  etc.,  but  his 
estate  was  not  seriously  embarrassed.  He  was  an  ardent  Southern 
man,  having  two  sons  in  the  Confederate  army,  but  he,  himself,  was 
physically  disabled  from  taking  part  in  the  struggle.  In  politics  he 
has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  has  voted  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket  without  a  scratch  or  a  blot,  at  every  election  for  over  40  years, 
commencing  with  Martin  Van  Buren  in  1840.  In  November  of  the 
present  year  he  expects  to  vote  the  twelfth  time  for  the  Democratic 
presidential  nominee,  and  he  has  no  doubt  but  that  his  vote  will  be 
cast  for  the  next  president  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Vaughan  has 
been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  died  in  1857  of  consumption,  and 
had  borne  him  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely  : 
Napoleon,  William,  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  George  Thomson;  Ladora,  now 
Mrs.  William  Henderson  ;  Florence,  now  Mrs.  John  Finnell  ;  Cor- 
nelius. To  his  last  wife  Mr.  Vaughan  was  married  during  the  year 
1858.  She  was  the  widow  of  a  "Mr.  Upton,  and  her  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Dobbins.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Hugh  Dobbins.  She 
also  died  of  consumption  in  1873.  Of  the  three  children  she  left  him 
two  are  living,  Marcia,  now  Mrs.  Oswald  Hurt,  Kate,  now  Mrs. 
Lucien  Cumniings  and  Julie  P.  Vaughan.  Mr.  Vaughan  has  long 
been  afflicted  with  Bright' s  disease,  but  is  remarkably  cheerful  of  mind 
and  an  untiring  and  interesting  talker.  He  is  rich  in  reminiscences  of 
the  past  which  it  is  a  pleasure  to  hear  him  relate. 


606        .  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


u:n^io:n^  township. 


THOMAS  ANDEESON 

Post-office,  Moberly. 
Mr.  A.  is  one  of  the  many  thrifty,  intelligent  Northern  farmers  who 
have  settled  in  Randolph  county  since  the  war,  to  the  great  advantage 
and  benefit  of  the  county.  He  came  here  in  1866,  and,  as  brother  Cox 
says,  bought  a  fine  farm  of  144  acres  and  a  fraction  over,  on  which 
he  has  resided  to  this  day.  Mr.  Anderson  was  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Penn.,  July  21,  1811,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Anderson  and 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Sarah  Shreeves,  his  father  a  Pennsylvanian  by 
nativity,  but  his  mother  originally  of  Maryland.  But  two  of  their 
original  family  of  11  children  are  now  living,  William,  the  one  besides 
Thomas,  being  still  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania.  Thomas  Anderson, 
the  subject  of'^this  sketch,  was  married  June  25,  1832,  to  Miss  Anna 
Sheeder,  of  the  Keystone  State.  Seven  children  have  been  the  fruits 
of  this  union,  but  three  of  whom  are  living:  Henry  J.,  now  of  Ne- 
braska; Aaron  F.,  also  of  Nebraska  and  Allen  S.,  of  this  State. 
The  four  deceased  are :  Mary  J.,  Abner,  Winchester  and  Anna,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  reach  maturity.  Mrs.  Anderson's  parents  were  Henry 
and  Mary  A.  (Wonderley)  Sheeder,  both  originally  from  Germany, 
and  of  high  German  families.  Both  came  over  with  their  parents,  re- 
spectively, when  quite  young  and  settled  in  New  Jersey,  where  they 
married  in  1819,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Pennsylvania.  Her 
father  died  there  in  1864  and  the  mother  in  1856.  Mr.  Anderson 
came  to  Missouri  in  1868. 

JOHN  H.  DuVALL 

(Farmer  and  Stock -raiser) . 

Mr.  DuVall,  like  many  of  the  better  class  of  citizens  of  Randolph 
county,  comes  of  an  old  and  respected  Kentucky  family.  There  are 
few  denizens  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  who  are  not  familiar  with  the 
name  DuVall  ;  for  while  it  is  a  prominent  family  in  that  State,  it  is 
also  one  of  the  largest  and  most  widely  distributed  within  the  borders 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  fair  women,  fast  horses  and  brave  men.  Mr. 
DuVall's  parents,  William  and  Lucy  C.  (Ellis)  DuVall,  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  1839  and  settled  in  Randolph  county,  where  they  lived  until 
the  father's  death,  which  occurred  April  28,  1859,  and  where  the 
mother  still  lives  at  the  age  of  66.  Seven  of  their  fiimily  of  five  sons 
and  four  daughters  are  living:  Sarah  F.,  the  wife  of  Robert  Cotting- 
ham,  of  Monroe  county;  John  H.,  Henry  C,  of  Carroll  county; 
Mary  R.,  the  wife  of  James  D.  Myers,  of  California;  DoUie  E.,  Lucy 
J.,  the  wife  of  Joseph  E.  Damp,  of  Adair  county;  and  James  T. 
John  H.  DuVall  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  June  27,  1842, 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  607 

and  being  reared  on  a  farm  he  was  of  course  brought  up  to  the  hard 
work  incident  to  farm  life,  which  developed  his  physical  constitution 
and  made  a  good  farmer  out  of  him  ;  and  what  is  more  important  to 
the  prosperity  of  a  country  than  good  farmers?  He  attended  the 
neighborhood  school  and  acquired  enough  education  to  get  along  in 
life.  He  is  now  residing  on  section  22,  township  54,  range  13,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  while  his  mother  and  most  of 
her  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

JOHN  T.  HALEY 

(Blacksmith  and  Farmer). 

From  the  time  of  Vulcan  in  Greece,  who  was  the  leading  ferreous 
artist  in  his  section  of  the  country,  and  was  afterwards  deified  by  the 
people  according  to  their  system  of  mythology,  on  the  same  principle 
that  the  Catholic  Church  afterwards  made  saints  out  of  priests  —  from 
that  time  to  the  present  the  blacksmith  has  been  recognized  as  one  of 
the  most  important  factors  in  the  mechanism  of  civilization,  and  in 
every  community  he  must  be  present  to  bend  the  stubborn  ore  and 
shape  it  for  the  wants  of  man.  Mr.  Haley  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  this  useful  and  important  art.  He  is  one  of  the  successful  and 
skillful  blacksmiths  in  his  section  of  the  country,  and  has  a  large  cus- 
tom. He  is  also  enofao-ed  in  farmino^  to  a  certain  extent  where  he  now 
lives,  and  has  40  acres  of  good  land.  He  also  has  60  acres  in  Monroe 
county.  He  handles  a  few  fine  cattle  and  is  raising  some  high  grade 
Licester  and  Canada  South-Down  sheep.  Mr.  Haley  is  a  native  of  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  born  in  Fayette  county  February  3,  1837,  and  was 
a  son  of  Ambrose  Haley  and  wife,  Malinda  Sydner,  the  father  born  in 
Bourbon  county  October  11,  1811,  but  the  mother  a  native  of  the  Key- 
stone State.  They  had  four  children  :  George  W.,  John  T.,  Amanda 
and  Agnes  E.  The  mother  died  in  1843,  and  the  ffither  afterwards 
married  Cassandra  Callaway,  of  Monroe  county.  They  also  have  four 
children  :  Ambrose  E.,  Joseph,  Sarah  and  Anna  E.  The  father  died 
in  1850.  The  same  year  of  his  father's  death  John  T.  Haley  started 
to  California,  but  fell  sick  on  the  way  and  was  compelled  to  return, 
stopping,  however,  at  Glasgow,  in  Howard  county.  He  soon  came 
over  into  Monroe  county,  and  there  married  Miss  Agnes  E.  Haley,  a 
cousin.  One  child  was  the  issiie  of  this  union.  Waller,  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Haley  has  been  a  resident  of  Randolph  county  for  some  time  and 
is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  He  carries  on  the  business 
of  wagon  making  in  connection  with  his  blacksmith  shop,  and  is  getting 
along  quite  satisfactorily  in  life.     He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

ROBERT  R.  HALL,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Milton). 

.  Mr.  H.,  the  Nestor  of  the  medical  profession   in  Randolph  county, 

having   been  in  the  active  practice   in  this  county  for  40  years,  and 

although  now  within  two  years  of  the  allotted  age  of  three  score  and 


608  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ten  is  still  in  the  saddle  and  visiting  the  sick  and  administering  to  the 
suffering  wherever  duty  calls,  day  or  night,  winter  or  summer,  is  a 
native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  and  a  descendant  of  that  old  Mother 
of  stalwart  and  true  men  —  Virginia.  Dr.  Hall  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Ky.,  October  3,  1816,  and  was  a  son  of  Andrew  W.  Hall, 
originally  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  mother  was  a  Miss  Sarah  Cliftbrd 
before  her  marriage,  and  was  formerly  of  Tennessee.  The  parents 
were  married  in  Kentucky  in  1808,  and  of  their  family  of  four  daugh- 
ters and  four  sons  but  two  sons  are  living  —  the  Doctor  and  Andrew 
W.,  Jr.,  of  Shelby  county.  Mo.  Dr.  Hall  was  reared  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  after  a  thorough  course  of  study  and  two  regular  terms  at 
medical  college  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Tran- 
sylvania University  of  Lexington  Ky.,  in  the  spring  of  1884.  He  im- 
mediately came  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Milton,  in  Randolph  county, 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  where  he  has  been  ever  since  ;  and 
the  sun  has  risen  and  set  on  no  day  from  that  time  to  this  that  he  has 
not  been  ready  to  tender  his  services  for  the  relief  of  suffering  human- 
ity in  this  vicinity.  It  has  been  said  that  he  is  a  benefactor  to  his  race 
who  makes  two  blades  of  grass  grow  where  but  one  grew  before.  If 
that  be  so,  what  must  Dr.  Hall  be,  who  has  relieved  human  pain  as 
innumerable  as  the  stars  in  heaven  or  the  sands  upon  the  sea  shore,  or 
the  pearly  drops  of  rain  that  descend  upon  the  earth  beneath  —  who 
has  restored  loved  ones  without  number  tremblino;  in  the  balance  be- 
tween  life  and  death  to  the  bosom  of  their  families,  and  who  ever,  when 
the  skill  of  the  human  physician  was  of  no  avail,  has  soothed  the  dying 
pillow  of  the  suffering  with  his  kind  ministrations  and  made  placid 
and  eas}'^  the  descent  to  the  grave  !  For  such  a  life  there  must  be  a 
reward  in  heaven,  for  there  is  none  equal  to  its  deserts  on  the  earth. 
On  the  4th  of  Februar}^  1^4.5,  Dr.  Hall  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  F. 
Coates,  of  this  county,  born  November  27,  1829.  Six  children  are 
the  fruits  of  this  union,  and  five  are  living:  Clifford,  a  merchant  of 
Moberly ;  Eeese  D.,  of  Eddyville,  Iowa:  Eugene,  chief  clerk  of  the 
Railroad  Bridge  Company  at  Moberly  ;  Dorothy  T.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  J. 
T.  Cox,  of  Moberly,  and  Q.  Thomas,  now  of  Shelby  county.  Mo. 
The  mother  of  these  died  August  12,  1857,  and  on  the  29th  of  March, 
1859,  Dr.  Hall  married  Miss  Anna  E.  Coates,  a  sister  of  the  first  wife, 
and  of  the  eight  children  of  this  marriage  six  are  living:  Carrie  E., 
the  wife  of  George  W.  Burton;  Andrew  C,  Robert  R.,  Jr.,  Susie  F., 
G.  Marshall  and  John  M.  Guy  and  Berry  B.  are  deceased.  The 
mother  of  these  died  March  30,  1881,  being  burned  to  death  by  her 
clothes  catching  on  fire  from  the  stove.  Dr.  Hall  is  a  fine,  old- 
fashioned  gentleman,  intelligent,  well  educated,  hospitable  and  kind, 
and  an  interestine;  and  entertainino;  conversationalist.  He  has  a  laro;e 
practice,  and  has  ever  had,  and  the  sick  enjoy  his  presence  almost  as 
much  as  his  medicines  do  them  good,  which  is  up  to  the  maximum  de- 
gree. No  one  with  a  good  liver  and  a  taste  for  solid  comfort  and 
agreeable  conversation  can  spend  a  more  enjoyable  evening  than  with 
Dr.  Hall  around  his  own  fireside,  while  if  the  visitor's  liver  is  not 
normal  the  Doctor's  is  of  course  the  place  to  go. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  QOO 


HENRY  HAERISON,  Jr. 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

It  would  hardly  be  possible  to  write  a  history  of  any  county  in  Mis- 
souri and  Kentucky  or  Virginia,  or  perhaps  of  any  of  the  North-west- 
ern States,  without  mentioning  on  its  pages  the  Harrison  family,  for 
it  is  one  of  the  most  widely  distributed  families  in  the  country,  and 
its  representatives,  wherever  they  reside,  are  generally  people  of  more 
or  less  consideration  and  prominence.  The  gens  of  the  family  of 
which  we  are  now  speaking  took  its  rise,  so  far  as  the  United  States 
are  concerned,  in  Virginia,  and  from  that  State  the  present  branch  of 
the  family  originally  came.  The  genealogy  of  this  family  is  so  exten- 
sive that  it  cannot  be  given  here.  Those  who  are  curious  to  see  it 
will  find  it  published  in  the  histories  of  Audrain,  Callaway  and  other 
counties  in  this  State  issued  by  the  publishers  of  this  Avork.  Henry 
Harrison,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  Henry  Harrison,  Sr.,  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  and  whose  wife  was,  before  her  marriage,  a  Miss  Polly  Malone, 
of  Irish  descent.  They  were  married  in  about  1806  and  had  a  family 
of  13  children,  Henry  Harrison,  Jr.,  being  the  only  one  living.  The 
father  died  in  1833  and  the  mother  in  1850.  Henry  Harrison,  Jr., 
was  born  in  Woodford  county,  Ky.,  October  8,  1811,  and  on  the  19th 
of  October,  1835,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  McKinsey,  who  was  born 
in  Clark  county,  Ky.,  January  20,  1813.  Four  years  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Harrison,  who  then  lived  in  Grant  county,  Ky.,  came  to 
Missouri  and  settled  in  Randolph  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
By  industry  and  good  management  he  became  well-to-do  and  pos- 
sessed of  a  fine  estate.  His  lands,  however,  he  has  divided  out 
among  his  children,  and  he  is  now  living  in  retirement  and  comfort. 
A  life  well  and  usefully  spent  has  been  rewarded  with  an  abundance 
of  this  world's  goods  and  in  his  old  age  he  is  blessed  with  the  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him  and  with  the  veneration  and  respect  of  his  near 
and  dear  ones.  Such  an  evening  of  life  is  a  fitting  conclusion  to  the 
honorable  and  worthy  career  he  has  made  as  a  man  and  citizen.  Mr. 
Harrison's  first  wife,  a  noble  and  true-hearted  woman,  with  whom  he 
has  spent  nearly  50  years  of  happy  married  life,  is  still  living.  She 
bore  her  husband  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  and  the 
other  is  in  heaven.  The  living  are  :  John  W.,  James  E.  and  Orang 
M.  (at  whose  instance  this  sketch  is  inserted).  John  W.  was  married 
to  Miss  Nackey  Patton  in  1863.  They  had  four  children  ;  three  died 
in  infancy.  His  wife  died  in  1874.  James  E.  was  married  to  Miss 
Kate  Hedges  in  1866.  They  have  three  children:  Nancy  M.,  John 
M.  and  Mary  E.  Their  homestead  contains  155  acres.  Orang  M.  still 
lives  with  his  parents  on  the  old  homestead,  containing  140  acres,  and 
is  unmarried.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Harrison  was  married  Novem- 
ber 9,  1876.  She  was,  prior  to  her  marriage  to  him,  Mrs.  Bettie,  the 
widow  of  William  E.  Patton,  of  Howard  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Har- 
rison have  one  son,  J.  Lester,  born  August  25, 1882.     Mr.  Harrison's 


610  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

present  homestead  contains  175  acres.     Mr.  H.  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

JOHN  W.  HUTSELL 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  H.  was  born  in  this  township,  December  7,  1839,  and  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm.  On  the  11th  of  January,  1866,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Minnie  Eubanks,  of  Monroe  county.  The  following 
year  Mr.  Hutsell  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
a  oood  place  of  200  acres  and  also  one  of  144  acres,  which  he  runs  in 
corn,  wheat,  meadow  and  pasturage.  He  raises  a  number  of  cattle 
and  hogs  for  the  markets  every  year,  and  also  has  control  annually  of 
some  mules.  He  is  a  substantial  citizen  and  one  of  the  thorough- 
going farmers  of  the  township.  Mr.  Hutsell  is  a  son  of  Bloomfield 
Hutsell  and  wife,  previously  Miss  Emily  T.  Carver.  They  still  reside 
in  this  township  and  have  a  good  place  of  200  acres.  The  father  was 
born  in  Bourbon  county,  Ky.,  October  5,  1813,  and  died  January  2, 
1884,  and  the  mother  was  tiorn  in  Fayette  county,  that  State, 
November  19,  1821.  They  were  married  November  27,  1836,  and 
came  to  Missouri  the  following  year,  settling  in  Randolph  county, 
where  they  have  since  resided.  Four  of  their  children  are  living: 
John  W.,  Sarah  M.,  the  wife  of  James  A.  Campbell ;  Melissa  J.,  the 
wife  of  John  D.  Christman  ;  and  Jeremiah  C.  Two  are  deceased : 
Mary  E.  and  James  N.  John  W.  Hutsell  and  wife  have  three 
children  :  James  D.,  Willie  W.  and  Anna  M.  T.  The  mother  of  these 
is  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Jane  (Trimble)  Eubanks,  her  father 
being  born  in  Tennessee,  October  1,  1810,  and  her  mother.  May  30, 
1820.  There  were  married  in  about  1844.  The  mother  was  the 
widow  of  Harvey  Scott  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Eubanks. 
Mr.  Eubanks  came  to  Randolph  county  in  about  1836.  Mrs.  Hutsell 
is  the  only  issue  living  of  their  marriage. 

JOHN  W.  LICHTENTHALER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Rev.  Jacob  B.  Lichtenthaler,  the  father  of  John  W.,  now  an  old 
gentleman  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age,  has  for  60  years  been 
engaged  in  the  gospel  ministry,  and  is  still  zealous  and  active  in 
holding  up  the  banner  of  the  cross  as  the  sign  of  the  everlasting 
<-()venant  of  God  with  all  the  world.  He  is  now  a  missionary  for  his 
denomination  —  the  United  Brethren  —  in  the  far  North-west,  "  where 
rolls  the  Oregon."  He  is  a  representative  of  that  sterling  German 
race  of  men  who  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Avho  stand  out  in  the 
affairs  of  life  steadfast  and  as  immutable  as  the  unwavering  columns  of 
"  Stonewall  Jackson's  men."  Rev.  Jacob  B.  Lichtenthaler  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  August,  1802,  and  after  he  grew  up,  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Morehead,  of  the  same  State,  in  1826.  Of  their  family 
of  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  six  are  now  living:  George  W.,  of 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  611 

McLean  county,  111.;  Nathias,  of  Charleston,  Mo.;  David  S.,  of 
Salem,  Oreg.  ;  John  W. ;  Harrison  B.,  of  Portland,  Oreg.  ;  Jane,  the 
wife  of  A.  C.  Packard,  of  Portland,  Oreg.,  and  a  practicing  physician 
of  that  city,  having  graduated  in  medicine  in  New  York  City  ;  More- 
head  and  William  C.,  the  last  two  also  of  Porthmd,  Oreg.  Kev.  J.  B. 
Lichtenthaler  was  ordained  a  minister  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  but  quit 
that  denomination  from  convictions  of  duty  and  united  with  the 
United  Brethren.  He  has  been  a  missionary  in  Oregon  since  1853. 
His  wife  is  still  living,  and  earnestly  seconds  him  by  her  encourage- 
ment and  personal  assistance  in  his  great  life-work.  John  W. 
Lichtenthaler,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pa., 
April  9,  1835,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  State.  On 
the  28th  of  December,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  Bradley,  of  Hamilton  county,  O.,  where 
his  wife  was  born,  January  5,  1840.  Mr.  Lichtenthaler  removed  to 
Adams  county.  111.,  and  followed  farming  there  up  to  the  fall  of  1879, 
when  he  bought  his  present  place,  and  settled  in  Kandolph  county, 
Mo.  He  has  a  good  farm  of  160  acres,  and  is  one  of  the  thrifty,  enter- 
prising farmers  of  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lichtenthaler  have 
had  10  children:  George  W.,  now  of  California;  Ida  B.,  died  in 
infancy;  Mary  S.,  the  wife  of  William  Lowan,  of  Cedar  county, 
Mo.;  Jacob  B.,  William  (died  in  infancy),  Sarah,  Ellen,  Ospha 
(died  in  infancy),  Cora  and  Serena  Wilhelmantic.  Mrs.  Lichten- 
thaler's  father  and  his  family  reside  in  Randolph  county,  but  her 
mother  died  June  30,  1880. 

JOHN  C.  MYERS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
The  branch  of  the  Myers  family  to  which  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch  belongs  came  originally  from  North  Carolina,  and  was  after- 
wards one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Missouri.  William  C.  Myers, 
the  grandfather  of  John  C,  tirst  came  to  Kentucky  in  the  days  of 
Daniel  Boone.  He  there  married  Miss  Christina  Goff,  and  in  1819 
they  came  on  to  this  State  and  settled  at  Old  Franklin  in  Howard 
county.  He  then  removed  to  Fayette,  and  in  the  spring  of  1836  came 
over  into  Randolph  county  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
was  in  1854.  He  built  the  first  mill  ever  erected  in  Howard  county. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1849  and  he  afterwards  married  Miss  Pauline 
Hunt,  who  is  also  now  deceased.  Of  his  family  of  children  David 
Myers  was  born  in  Barren  county,  Ky.,  and  he  had  four  brothers  and 
one  sister.  After  he  grew  up  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Shredar,  of  Ran- 
dolph county,  on  the  9th  of  March,  1841.  He  became  a  successful 
farmer  of  this  county  and  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  and  he 
and  wife  are  still  residents  of  the  county.  Of  their  family  of  six 
daughters  and  five  sons,  nine  are  still  living:  George  T.,  James  W., 
Porter  D  ,  Christina,  John  C,  Hannah  J.,  Henry  C,  Mary  E.,  Susan 
A.,  the  wife  of  Fred  J.  Nichols,  and  Lydia  C.  John  C.  Myers,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  and  was  reared 


612  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

on  his  father's  farm.  On  the  14th  of  October,  1880,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Anna  D.  Chirk,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  G.  and  Elizabeth  Chirk, 
of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Sangamon  county,  111.,  where  Mrs. 
Myers  was  born  April  15,  1856.  Mr.  Myers  is  engaged  in  farming 
and  is  an  industrious  young  man  and  is  rapidly  coming  to  the  front. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

EZEKIEL  C.  PARRISH 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  P.,  a  worthy  farmer  and  good  citizen  of  Union  township, 
was  born  in  Marion  county,  February  20,  1841,  and  was  a  son 
of  Charles  P.  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  Parrish,  the  father  born  in 
St.  Charles  county  November  12,  1818,  and  the  mother  in  Howard 
county,  September  9,  1821.  They  were  married  May  24, 1840.  They 
reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  lost  one,  a 
daughter.  Ezekiel  C.  Parrish  was  reared  to  a  farm  life,  his  father 
having  been  an  enterprising  and  successful  farmer,  and  when  24  years 
of  age  he  was  married  January  22,  1875,  to  Miss  Nancy  M.  Owen,  of 
Randolph  county,  and  he  soon  afterwards  settled  permanently  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Parrish  located  on  his  present  farm  in  1871.  Here  he 
has  117  acres  which  he  has  improved  himself,  having  made  his  farm 
from  raw  land  and  all  since  1871.  He  has  improved  it  in  a  substantial, 
neat  and  convenient  manner,  and  now  has  one  of  the  choice  small 
places  in  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  are  members  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church,  at  Enoch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parrish  had  eight 
children  :  Charles  E.,  who  died  in  tender  years  ;  Hattie  C.  E.,  Laura 
M.,  who  also  died  in  tender  years;  Octavia,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Birdie  and  Dozie,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  Arthur  C.  and 
Emor  P.  Mr.  Parrish  is  a  man  of  great  industry,  more  than  ordin- 
arily intelligent  and  a  kind  neighbor.  He  is  much  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 

WILLIAM  A.  RICHARDSON 

(Owner  and  Proprietor  of  Prairie  View  Farm) . 

Mr.  R.,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  this 
township,  comes  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Missouri,  his 
grand-parents  having  come  to  this  State  in  the  early  days  of  the 
county.  His  father,  Howard  H.  Richardson,  was  still  a  youth  when 
the  family  settled  in  Chariton  county,  and  he  still  lives  there,  and  has 
for  years  been  one  of  the  prominent  agriculturalists  of  that  county. 
He  owns  a  fine  place  of  about  a  section  of  land,  some  six  miles  north 
of  Salisbury.  The  family  came  originally  from  Tazewell  county, 
Va.,  though  Mr.  Richardson's  mother,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  previous  to  her  marriage  a  Miss  Louisa  A.  Wright,  was 
from  Nashville,  Tenn.  She  was  married  in  Chariton  county  in  1849, 
and  there  was  but  one  child  besides  William  A.,  of  this  union,  namely: 
Dora  E.,  now  the  wife  of  James  Bozarth,  of  this  county.  The  mother 
died  in  the  fall  of  1858,  and  the  father  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Minor,  the  widow  of  James  Minor,  of  Chariton   county.     They 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  613 

have  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  Mrs.  Richardson  had  had 
two  children  by  her  former  marriage.  William  A.  Richardson,  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Chariton  county,  September  8,  1852,  and  was 
reared  in  that  county.  On  the  16th  day  of  March,  1876,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Marinda  A.  Holbrook,  of  Randolph  county,  but  he 
continued  to  reside  in  Chariton  county  nntil  1879,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Randolph,  and  bought  his  present  place  of  280  acres, 
one  of  the  handsome  farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  Richardson  runs 
his  place  mainly  in  meadow  and  pasture,  and  is  quite  extensively 
engaged  in  stock-raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richardson  have  three  sons, 
Omer  B.,  Victor  M.  and  William  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  Mrs.  Richardson's  father,  Colbert  Hol- 
brook, was  originally  from  North  Carolina,  born  in  1797,  and  her 
mother,  nee  Nancy  Milan,  was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  Va.,  June  13, 
1813.  They  were  married  December  25,  1833,  and  had  eight  chil- 
dren. They  came  to  Missouri  in  1837,  and  the  father  died  here  in 
November,  1854.  The  mother  is  still  living.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  South,  as  was  also  her  husband. 

JAMES  A.  SEATON 

(Farmer,  Section  1). 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  February  25,  1841,  in  Adams 
county,  O.,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Seaton,  born  February  29, 1798, 
in  Scotland,  and  Mary  Junk,  born  in  1810  in  county  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, who  were  married  in.  1833,  by  which  union  there  were  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  there  are  six  living, 
and  all  residents  of  Ohio,  except  James  A.,  our  subject.  The  parents 
emigrated  from  Ireland  in  1834  and  settled  in  Adams  county,  O.,  where 
the  father  still  lives  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  where 
the  mother  died  October  12,  1858.  James  A.  Seaton  was  reared  in  that 
county  and  on  the  8th  of  April,  1868,  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Bullock,  of  Monroe  county.  Mo.,  he  having  come  out  to  this  State  in 
1865.  They  have  eight  sons  :  Robert  J.,  deceased  ;  James  W.,  Will- 
iam B.,  Oscar  A.,  Thomas  P.,  John  C,  deceased  ;  Lloyd,  deceased; 
and  Harsha.  Mr.  Seaton  bought  his  present  fiirm  in  1874,  which 
contains  80  acres,  and  is  situated  in  section  one.  Mr.  Seaton  com- 
menced poor  and  has  made  all  he  has  by  his  own  industry.  He  is  a 
Tiard-working  farmer  and  an  intelligent  citizen,  and  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Hickory  Grove,  in  Monroe  county.  His  wife,  a 
Missouri  lady,  is  one  of  those  estimable  women  of  which  this  State  is 
noted,  being  of  a  bright  mind  and  tender  heart,  and  not  less  attrac- 
tive in  manners  and  conversation  than  by  reason  of  her  personal 
charms.  She  is  highly  thought  of  by  all  her  neighbors  and  acquain- 
tainces,  as  is  also  Mr.  Seaton.  She,  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  is  also  a 
devout  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Hickory  Grove,  in  Monroe 
county. 


614  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


ABRAM  VINCE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  V.  was  born  and  reared  in  the  county  where  he  now  resides^ 
and  mainly  by  his  own  industry  and  good  management  has  risen  to 
the  position  he  now  occupies  in  the  agricultural  affairs  of  the  town- 
ship. His  farm  contains  280  acres  of  fine  land  and  is  well  improved 
and  well  stocked.  Mr.  Vince  makes  a  specialty  of  handling  mules  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  this  line  in  the  township.  He  also  feeds 
about  25  head  of  cattle  and  a  large  number  of  hogs  annually  for  the 
wholesale  markets,  and  raises  Cotswold  sheep.  Mr.  Vince  was  born 
on  his  father's  homestead  August  21,  1847,  and  after  he  grew  up,  on 
the  13th  of  November,  1873,  was  married  to  Miss  Malissa  Chrisman, 
a  daughter  of  Silas  Chrisman,  of  this  county.  In  1869  he  settled  on 
his  present  place.  Mrs.  Vince  was  born  on  the  5th  of  October,  1847. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  V.  have  no  children.  Her  father  was  from  Fayette 
county,  Ky.,  born  April,  22,  1809;  and  her  mother  was  from  Jessa- 
mine county,  Ky.,  born  September  8,1816.  They  were  married 
September  19,  1833,  and  came  to  Randolph  county  in  1843,  settling 
north-east  of  Moberly,  where  they  resided  for  34  years,  since  which 
time  they  have  made  their  home  with  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Vince. 
Four  of  their  seven  children  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vince  and  her 
parents  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

MRS.  ELISABETH  (DeGARMO)  WESTFALL 

(Post-offlce,  Moberly). 
Mrs.  AVestfall  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  December  3, 
1841,  and  her  home  has  continued  to  be  in  this  county  from  her  birth. 
Her  parents  were  Paul  DeGarmo  and  Sarah,  nee  Bowman,  he  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  June  9,  1812,  and  she  of  Virginia,  born  June  2, 
1807.  They  were  married  March  1,  1832,  and  soon  afterwards  they 
came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Randolph  county.  Both  lived  here 
until  their  deaths  and  the  father  reached  the  advanced  age  of  74  years, 
being  killed  at  last  by  a  train  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Rail- 
way whilst  he  was  crossing  its  track.  He  became  quite  a  successful 
farmer  of  the  county  and  was  one  of  its  highly  respected  citizens. 
His  first  wife  died  October  16,  1845.  By  her  he  reared  four  children 
including  Mrs.  Westfall,  namely :  Ezra,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been 
murdered  by  the  Indians  in  the  unsettled  regions  of  California  in 
1881;  Angeline,  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Vince  ;  Alfred  and  Mrs. 
Westfall.  On  the  28th  of  June,  1847,  the  father  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Westfall,  also  originally  of  Virginia.  She  died  February 
3,  1872,  leaving  two  children  :  Henry  B.  and  John  W.  To  his  last 
wife,  Mrs.  Hulda  Meals,  of  Randolph  county,  Mr.  DeGarmo  was 
married  May  30, 1872.  There  was  no  issue  of  this  union.  Mrs.  West- 
fall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  or  rather  Miss  Elizabeth  DeGarmo, 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  615 

was  married  to  Jacob  C.  Westfall,  a  nephew  to  her  father's  second 
wife,  on  the  25th  of  August,  1864.  He  was  a  nntive  of  Virginia, 
born  January  30,  1828,  and  came  out  to  Missouri  with  his  parents, 
who  settled  in  Randolph  county.  After  he  grew  up  here,  having  been 
reared  on  a  farm,  he  also  became  a  farmer  and  was  quite  successful. 
He  died  on  his  farm  where  Mrs.  Westfall  now  resides.  He  was  a  man 
of  untiring  industry  and  spotless  character  and  was  esteemed  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  greatly  loved  in  his  family  and 
his  death  was  a  sore  affliction  to  his  loved  ones.  But  he  died  not  as 
one  without  hope,  for  he  had  long  been  at  peace  with  his  Maker  and 
was  an  earnest  and  exemphiry  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Westfall  were  blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children,  one  of 
whom  is  deceased.  Her  children  are,  namely :  Allen  C,  Christina 
M.,  Henry  P.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Anna  E.  and 
Joseph  L.  Mrs.  Westfall  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Her  farm,  where  so  many  years  of  happy  married  life  were  spent  by 
her  and  her  good  husband,  contains  145  acres  of  land.  This  is  man- 
aged by  Mrs  Westfall  and  son,  Allen  C. 

WILLIAM  H.  WESTFALL 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Moberly). 

Mr.  W.  was  born  in  Virginia  July  8,  1822,  and  when  16  years  of 
age  came  out  with  his  parents,  Cornelius  and  Edith  (Wilson)  West- 
fall,  to  Missouri.  They  removed  to  Missouri  in  1838  and  settled  in 
Randolph  county,  where  the  father  died  in  1874  and  the  mother  in 
1850.  William  H.  completed  his  majority  in  Randolph  county  and 
was  married  here  January  17,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  Gee.  Reared  on  a 
fiirm,  farming  became  his  occupation  for  life  and  he  has  followed  it 
with  good  results.  He  has  an  excellent  farm  of  160  acres  on  which 
he  has  beenjiving  since  1865.  He  is  an  energetic,  go-ahead  farmer 
and  is  steadily  prospering  in  life.  He  raises  grain  and  stock  in  a 
general  way  and  markets  considerable  quantities  of  each  every  year. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Westfall  have  two  children:  William  H.,  Jr.,  and 
Lela.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and 
Mr.  W.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  Mr.  Westfall's  father 
was  born  in  Virginia  February  8,  1790,  and  was  therefore  in  the 
eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age  when  he  died.  The  mother  was  born 
in  the  Old  Dominion  June  4,  1797,  and  was  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  her  age  when  she  died.  They  were  highly  respected  resi- 
dents of  Randolph  county  and  the  father  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
and  great  industry.  He  Avas  one  of  the  most  energetic  farmers  of 
his  vicinity  and  he  and  his  wife  were  faithful  church  members.  Mr. 
Westfall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  following  in  the  footsteps  of 
his  father  and  is  esteemed  and  respected  as  he  was. 
34 


616  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


CLiFTO]^  tow:n^ship. 


DR.  PETER  S.  BAKER 

(Physician,  Surgeon  and  Druggist,  Clifton  Hill). 

Dr.  Baker  is  one  of  the  fathers  of  Clifton  Hill,  being  one  of  its 
first  residents,  business  men  and  physicians.  He  located  here  May 
13,  1868,  when  there  were  but  two  houses  in  the  place,  and  established 
.a  drug  store.  The  following  year  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine, 
and  he  has  continued  to  reside  at  this  place  and  practice  his  profession, 
as  Avell  as  to  carry  on  his  drug  business  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  an  excellent  drug  store,  which  commands  a  large  trade,  and  he  is 
well  known  to  the  people  of  the  surrounding  country  as  a  man  of 
unimpeachable  integrity  and  of  a  most  accommodating  disposition. 
The  Doctor  also  has  a  good  practice  in  his  profession,  and  he  never 
refuses  to  go  when  called  to  the  bedside  of  the  suifering.  Dr.  Baker 
is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Johnson  county,  February  10th,  1846. 
His  father,  William  C.  Baker,  and  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Nancy  McGinnis,  were  both  from  Tennessee,  and  came  to  Missouri 
after  their  marriage  in  1832,  locating  in  Johnson  county,  where  they 
lived  until  their  death.  There  were  five  others  in  their  family  besides 
the  Doctor,  namely  :  Elizabeth  J.,  Catherine  A.,  James  H.  P.,  Mary 
E.  and  William  T.  Peter  Smith  Baker,  the  youngest  in  the  family 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Johnson  county,  and  in  young  manhood  learned  the  drug  business  and 
studied  medicine,  in  both  of  which  he  afterwards  engaged.  As  stated 
above,  he  came  to  Clifton  Hill  in  1868,  and  has  since  made  this  his 
home.  In  1878  Dr.  Baker  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  J.  Maxwell, 
formerly  of  Buchanan  county,  having  been  born  at  St.  Joseph.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Martha  (Cummings)  Maxwell,  her  father 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  her  mother  of  Louisville,  Ky.  She  has 
five  brothers  and  a  sister:  James  H.,  William  D.,  Fort,  Charles,  John 
and  Minnie  A.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  one  child  :  Jennie  E.,  born 
January  8,  1879.  Claude  Willie,  their  second  child,  born  November 
22,  1880,  died  June  1,  1883.  The  Doctor  and  wife  are  both  church 
members,  he  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  and  she  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the  United 
Workmen.  Dr.  Baker  is  at  present  the  judicial  magistrate  of  Clifton 
township,  and  is  also  postmaster  at  Clifton  Hill. 

DR.'jAMES  H.  P.  BAKER 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Farmer  and  Stock-dealer,^Clifton  Hill). 
Dr.  Baker,  one  of  the  leading  and  influential  citizens  of  the  north- 
western part  of  the  county,  and  a  brother  to  Dr.  P.  S.  Baker,  whose 
sketch  precedes  this,  being  some  years  the  latter' s  senior,  and  whose 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  617 

biography  ought  perhaps  to  have  been  given  first  on  that  account,  is, 
like  his  younger  brother,  a  native  Missourian.  Reference  lias  already 
been  had  to  the  fomily  of  which  he  was  a  member,  so  that  those  facts 
need  not  be  repeated  here.  It  may  be  mentioned,  however,  that  the 
Doctor's  parents  died,  the  father  in  1861,  and  the  mother  two  years 
afterwards.  Dr.  Baker  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  in  Johnson 
county,  in  1837,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  farm.  In  1860, 
being  then  23  years  of  age,  he  began  the  stndy  of  medicine,  and  after 
a  two  years'  course  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
which  he  has  since  continued.  He  has  also  followed  farmincr  and 
stock-raising,  and  both  in  his  practice  and  as  an  agriculturist  he  has 
been  quite  successful.  While  engaged  in  these  pursuits  in  Johnson 
county,  times  became  so  critical  that,  being  a  Southern  man,  it  was 
not  safe  for  him  to  remain  at  home,  and  accordingly,  in  1864,  he 
joined  the  Confederate  army,  becoming  a  member  of  the  command  of 
that  fiery,  doughty  cavalry  chieftain  of  Missouri,  Gen.  Joe  Shelby.  His 
skill  and  ability  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  soon  became  recognized  in 
the  army,  and  he  was  appointed^' surgeon  in  the  medical  branch  of  the 
service.  He  remained  with  his  command  doing  his  duty  faithfully  as 
a  surgeon  and  gallantly  as  a  soldier,  until  the  general  surrender  at 
Shreveport,  La.,  in  April,  1865.  On  his  return  home  he  was  one  of 
the  passengers  on  the  unfortunate  steamer  "  Kentucky,"  by  the  wreck 
of  which  so  many  of  the  brave  soldiers  onboard,  who  had  faced  death 
for  more  than  four  long  years,  lost  their  lives.  The  Doctor,  escaping, 
came  on  home  to  Missouri,  reaching  his  own  hearthstone  June  25, 
1865.  All  his  personal  property  was  lost  by  the  war,  but  he  at  once 
went  to  work  with  fortitude  and  courage  to  repair  his  fortune.  He 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  also  farming  and  handling 
stock,  principally  cattle  and  mules.  Later  along  he  came  to  Clifton 
Hill,  and  contiguous  to  this  place  he  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides.  Here  he  has  since  continued  the  practice  and  agricultural 
pursuits.  Dr.  Baker  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  is  a  recognized 
leader  in  affairs  in  his  section  of  the  county.  He  at  present  repre- 
sents his  Democratic  co-partisans  in  the  county  central  committee. 
In  1865  Dr.  Baker  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  W.  Henderson,  of  this 
county.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Frances  A.  (Gray) 
Henderson,  both  originally  of  Orange  county,  Va.,  who  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  1835,  locating  in  Randolph  county.  The  mother  died  in 
1880,  and  the  father  is  now  a  resident  of  Salisbury,  in  Chariton 
county.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children  :  John  W.,  Mary  S.  F., 
Sue  M.,  Jennie  W.,  Thelbert  G.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  is  again  married.  The  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  had  four 
children:  Arthur  G.,  Jennie  B.,  Wilfred  Lee  and  Sallie  S.  The 
Doctor  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the 
I.  0.0.  F. 

DAVID   BOZARTH 
(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  B.  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  his  father,  Joseph  Bozarth,  having 
been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  State,  and  marrying  Susan  (Pel- 


618  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

mantry)  Bozarth,  also  a  Kentuckian.  David  B.  was  born  February 
14,  1818,  and  when  but  14  years  of  age,  took  his  life  into  his  own 
hands  and  set  resolutely  to  work  to  carve  his  way  to  fortune.  He  re- 
mained in  Kentucky  until  1840,  and  then  came  to  Missouri,  living  first 
in  Howard  county,  then  in  Schuyler,  and  in  1842  moved  to  Des  Moines 
county,  Iowa,  which  after  a  stay  of  25  years  he  deserted,  again 
to  take  up  his  abode  in  Missouri.  He  stopped  in  Chariton  county  for 
two  years,  but  finally  located  in  Randolph,  where  he  still  lives.  Here 
he  owns  140  acres  of  land,  and  devotes  some  attention  to  tobacco 
raising,  not,  however,  to  the  exclusion  of  other  products  of  the  soil, 
and  of  some  fine  stock.  For  the  past  five  years  Mr.  Bozarth  has  been 
compelled  to  depend  on  his  sons  to  conduct  his  business,  as  he  is  him- 
self confined  to  his  room  from  a  partial  stroke  of  paralysis.  During 
the  war  his  sympathies  were  strongly  with  the  South,  and  he  served 
for  some  time  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia.  In  1841,  in  Schuyler 
county,  Mr.  B.  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Nailer,  daughter  of 
George  Truman  and  Rosa  Newcome  Nailer.  To  them  were  born  10 
children,  of  whom  nine  are  living,  viz  :  William  Franklin,  Nancy  Eliz- 
abeth, Susan  Mary,  James  David,  George  Thurman,  Alexander  Spencer, 
Emaline,  Rosanna  and  Missouri.  Mr.  Bozarth,  who  is  familiarly 
known  as  "  Uncle  David,"  is  one  of  the  most  esteemed  men  in  the 
township,  and  his  family  adorn  with  grace  the  best  society  of  the 
country.  Mr.  B.  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South. 

AUGUSTINE  BRADSHER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  36,  Post-office,  Clifton  Hill). 
Mr.  Bradsher  has  a  fine  farm  of  over  800  acres  and  is  quite  exten- 
sively engaged  in  stock  raising.  He  feeds  and  ships  from  three 
to  five  car  loads  of  cattle  annually  and  from  one  to  two  car  loads  of 
hogs.  In  a  word,  he  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  township, 
and  one  of  its  energetic  and  worthy  citizens.  It  is  therefore,  as  it 
should  be,  that  a  sketch  of  his  life  finds  a  place  in  this  volume.  Mr. 
Bradsher  was  born  in  Caswell  county,  N.  C,  April  17,  1828,  and 
when  he  was  still  in  infancy  his  parents,  Moses  and  Elizabeth  ( Wallis) 
Bradsher,  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Randolph  county.  The 
first  winter  in  this  State  they  spent  in  a  school-house  in  Silver  Creek 
township,  but  later  along  the  father  bought  a  tract  of  land  and  im- 
proved a  farm.  That  was  the  place  now  known  as  the  Judge  Bradley 
farm,  and  there  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared.  He  had  a 
limited  common-school  education  as  he  grew  up,  and  on  the  7th  of 
February,  1856,  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Davis,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Samuel  C.  Davis,  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  this  section  of 
the  State.  The  second  year  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Bradsher  settled  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  or  rather  on  the  part  of  the  land  on 
which  he  made  his  home.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  this 
vicinity  and  has  lived  here  for  27  years,  being  one  of  its  oldest  in- 
habitants in  point  of  continuous  residence.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
uninterrupted  industry   and  has    been    abundantly  blessed  with   the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  619 

fruits  of  honest  toil.  He  Is  comfortably  situated  in  life  as  the  facts 
stated  at  the  beginning  of  this  sketch  show.  His  farm  adjoins  Clifton 
Hill  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradsher 
have  a  family  of  eight  children:  William  M.,  Alver  J.,  Mary  E., 
Lutie  M.,  Vincent  D.,  Minnie  M.,  Ira  C.  and  Earl  L.  Two,  besides,  • 
are  deceased.  Mr,  Bradsher,  besides  raising  cattle,  deals  in  them 
quite  extensively.  He  has  a  number  of  reminiscences  in  regard  to 
the  early  aifairs  of  the  county  which  are  not  given  here  for  the  reason 
that  they  have  already  been  stated  in  the  general  history.  Mr.  Brad- 
sher, on  his  mother's  side,  is  distantly  related  to  Lord  Cornwallis. 
The  Cornwallises  and  Wallises,  as  everyone  familiar  with  history 
knows,  came  of  the  same  family  —  that  is,  the  Wallises,  originally  of 
Scotland.  A  branch  of  the  family  moved  over  into  England  and  there 
one  of  the  ancestors  of  Lord  Cornwallis  became  a  wealthy  miller  and 
large  dealer  in  grain,  and  one  of  his  sons,  being  highly  educated,  rose 
to  great  distinction  in  life  and  took  the  name  of  Cornwallis,  as  it  was 
not  uncommon  in  those  days  for  people  to  assume  the  name  of  the 
calling  with  which  their  family  had  been  successfully  identified. 

JOSEPH  B.  LAMBETH 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  Glifton  Hill). 

Mr.  Lambeth  has  one  of  the  leading  general  stores  in  this  place, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  and  enterprising  men  of  the 
town.  His  stock  of  goods  includes  everything  to  be  expected  in  a 
first-class  general  store,  and  being  a  man  of  superior  business  quali- 
fications, and  more  than  ordinary  personal  popularity,  he  is  not  only 
able  to  buy  goods  at  the  lowest  prices  to  be  had  in  the  market,  but  to 
draw  to  his  house  a  large  custom,  which  is  attracted  not  less  by  the 
low  prices  at  which  he  sells  and  by  the  high  esteem  and  confidence  in 
which  he  personally  is  held.  Mr.  Lambeth,  in  a  few  years,  has  built 
up  an  extensive  business,  and  his  trade  is  steadily  on  the  increase. 
In  establishing  a  laro-e  store  here  he  has  done  a  o^reat  deal  for  the 
local  interests  of  Clifton  Hill,  while  as  a  citizen  in  all  afitiirs  relating 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  place,  he  takes  an  active  and  leading  part. 
Mr.  Lambeth  is  a  native  of  the  old  North  State,  born  in  Alamance 
county,  October  7,  1849.  His  parents  were  Lovic  L.  and  Eliza  J. 
(Windsor)  Lambeth,  both  of  old  and  respected  North  Carolina  fami- 
lies. The  mother  died  when  Joseph  B.  was  in  boyhood,  but  the 
father  is  still  living  and  is  a  resident  of  Alamance  county.  Joseph  was 
the  eldest  of  three  children,  the  others  being  Robert  S.  and  Thomas 
L.,  the  eldest  of  which  two  is  now  deceased.  Joseph  B.  was  reared  on 
the  farm  in  Alamance  county  and  received  a  common-school  education. 
In  1875  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Randolph  county,  but  re- 
turned to  North  Carolina  soon  afterwards.  In  1878,  however,  he 
came  back  to  this  county,  and  on  the  11th  of  the  following  December 
was  married  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Matlock,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Nicholas 
G.  and  Hulda  (Gunn)  Matlock,  old  residents  of  Randolph  county, 
and  originally  of  North  Carolina.     Mrs.  Lambeth  is  the  youngest  in 


620  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

a  family  of  eight  children,  the  others  being  Thomas,  Green  B.,  Wil- 
liam M.,  John  A.,  Sterling  P.,  Nicholas  A.,  Susan  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lambeth  have  had  two  children,  Anna  Porter,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Mary  Carter.  Mr.  Lambeth  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
^  business  at  Clifton  Hill  since  a  short  time  after  coming  to  the  county 
the  second  time.  He  owns  the  building  which  his  store  occupies  and 
which  he  erected  for  the  purpose.  Mrs.  Lambeth  is  a  member  of  the 
church. 

CAPT.  NICHOLAS  G.  MATLOCK 

(Ex-Sheriff  of  Randolph  County,  and  Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
No  history  of  Randolph  county  would  be  complete  which  failed  to 
include  the  biographical  sketch  of  the  subject  of  the  present  one. 
Capt.  Matlock,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  was  partly  reared  in  this 
county,  and  this  has  continued  to  be  his  home  up  to  the  present  time, 
when  already  the  shadows  of  old  age  have  begun  to  fall  around  him. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  value  to  the  county  and  not  a  little  prominent, 
while  it  has  been  one  of  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  name  which  he 
bears.  In  the  long  struggle  of  might  against  right,  during  the  late 
war,  he  was  found  standing  up  gallantly  defending  with  sword  in  hand 
the  homes  and  institutions  of  the  wronged  and  weaker  side,  from  the 
time  the  first  shot  was  fired  until  the  banner  which  represented  the 
principles  for  which  Washington  fought  nearly  a  century  before  — 
the  right  "of  one  people  to  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have 
connected  them  with  another,  and  to  assume  among  the  powers  of  the 
earth  the  separate  and  equal  station  to  which  the  laws  of  nature  and 
of  nature's  God  entitle  them"  — until  that  banner  went  down  in  de- 
feat in  a  cataclysm  of  death  to  rise  no  more,  perhaps  for  generations. 
But  — 

"Truth  crushed  to  earth  shall  rise  again; 
The  eternal  years  of  God  are  hers."  , 

The  standards  of  Poland  and  Ireland  and  Hungary,  and  other  brave 
peoples  struggling  for  independence  and  to  govern  themselves  by  laws 
of  their  own  making,  have  also  gone  down.  But  can  organized 
tyranny  forever  prevail  over  the  highest  hopes  and  aspirations  of  a 
brave  and  noble  people?  To  ask  the  question  is  to  answer  it.  "  Time 
makes  all  things  right,"  and  in  the  end  government  by  force  will 
perish  from  the  earth  and  the  oppressor's  power  will  be  no  more. 
Capt.  Matlock  was  born  in  Caswell  county,  N.  C,  June  22,  1820. 
Whilst  he  was  in  youth  his  parents,  James  and  Martha  (Gunn)  Mat- 
lock, removed  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Randolph  county,  where 
they  lived  until  their  death,  both  to  a  ripe  old  age.  The  father  died 
in  1868,  aged  87,  and  the  mother  in  1871,  aged  82.  Nicholas  G.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fifth  in  their  family  of  children,  and 
the  eldest  of  their  only  three  sons.  All  of  the  family  of  children  are 
livino"  and  are  now  themselves  the  heads  of  families,  except  the  second 
brother,  who  died  in  1850,  leaving  afamily.  Nicholas  G.  Matlock  was 
reared  to  a  farm  life,  for  his  father  was  a  large  farmer  and  successful 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  621 

tobacco  grower,  and  after  reaching  manhood  young  Matlock  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  himself.  On  the  10th  of  March,  1841,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  a  cousin  of  his,  Miss  Hulda  Gunn,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Gunn, ' 
also  formerly  of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Matlock  continued  farming  with 
satisfactory  success  up  to  1849,  when  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Sterling  Matlock,  at  Ft;  Henry, 
in  this  county.  He  continued  the  business  at  that  place  after  his 
brother's  death,  in  1850,  for  four  years,  and  then  resumed  farming. 
Mr.  Matlock  was  on  his  farm  when  the  war  broke  out,  but  he  promptly 
flung  by  the  plow  and  went  to  the  defense  of  his  State  against  Northern 
invasion  on  the  first  call  of  Gov.  Jackson  for  troops.  He  became  first 
lieutenant  of  a  company  under  Col.  Fort,  and  while  in  this  position 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Lexington  and  some  less  engagements.  He 
then  organized  Co,  F,  of  the  Missouri  State  Guard,  of  which  he  was 
elected  captain.  This  company  became  a  part  of  Gen.  Clark's  com- 
mand and  soon  afterwards  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Elk  Horn,  from 
which  but  six  of  its  men  escaped  without  injury.  In  the  spring  of 
1862,  his  company  now  being  decimated,  and,  in  fact,  the  command  of 
which  it  was  a  member  being  disbanded,  he  enlisted  another  company 
for  the  regular  Confederate  service.  But  this  was,  also,  soon  after 
broken  up  by  the  vicissitudes  of  war,  and  he,  in  company  with  a  few 
others,  joined  the  command  of  Gen.  Shelby  and  took  part  under  that 
gallant  leader  in  the  raid  around  Cape  Girardeau,  Helena  and  Spring- 
field. In  the  fall  of  1863  he  returned  to  Randolph  county,  but  later 
along  organized  another  company  consisting  of  about  80  men  and 
joined  Gen.  Price  at  Glasgow.  He  participated  in  Price's  last  cam- 
paign in  this  State  and  saw  a  great  deal  of  hard  and  perilous  service, 
both  in  battles  and  forced  marches.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  cam- 
paign but  little  more  than  a  fourth  of  his  original  company  was  left 
to  tell  the  story  of  their  hard  experiences.  He  surrendered  at  Vicks- 
burg  in  June,  1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Capt.  Matlock  then  re- 
turned home  and  the  following  year  engaged  in  merchandising  at 
Clifton  Hill,  which  he  continued  for  six  years.  In  1872  he  located 
on  his  farm,  where  he  has  a  handsome  place  of  nearly  200  acres,  and 
on  which  he  has  since  resided,  except  while  occupied  with  official  du- 
ties. A  man  of  high  character  and  superior  business  qualifications, 
and  a  man  of  great  personal  popularity,  in  1878  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  over  several  prominent  and  influential 
competitors.  While  serving  as  sheriff"  he  had  the  painful  duty  to  per- 
form of  officiating  at  an  execution  for  a  capital  off'ense.  It  was  the 
hanging  of  the  murderer.  Hade  Brown.  Capt.  Matlock  discharged 
his  duties  as  sheriff"  in  every  respect  with  efficiency  and  general  satis- 
faction. In  1882  he  ran  for  the  office  of  county  collector,  but  was 
defeated  for  the  nomination  by  a  small  majority.  Capt.  Matlock  is  a 
thorough-going,  enterprising  farmer,  and  is  quite  a  successful  stock- 
raiser.  He  is  highly  esteemed  and  respected  throughout  the  county. 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Matlock  have  a  family  of  eight  living  children  and 
two  infants  deceased,  namely :  James  T.,  now  of  Mastersville,  Texas  ; 


622  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Daniel  G.,  now  of  Douglas  county,  this  State;  William  M.,  now  of 
Texas  county;  Susan  A.,  who  is  now  Mrs.  P.  M.  Henderson;  John 
A.,  who  is  still  at  home  on  the  farm  ;  Sterling  C,  of  Texas  county; 
Martha  E.,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Lambeth,  and  Nicholas,  at  present  a  stu- 
dent at  Kirksville.  The  Captain  and  Mrs.  Matlock  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

J.  C.  PARRISH,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Clifton  Hill). 
Dr.  Parrish,  a  physician  of  many  years'  successful  experience  and  a 
citizen  who  is  highly  esteemed  in  the  vicinity  of  Clifton  Hill,  is  a  na- 
tive Kentuckian,  but  has  been  a  resident  of  Missouri  for  over  40  years, 
and  has  shown  himself  a  worthy  representative  of  both  States,  and  of 
the  Revolutionary  ancestry  from  which   he  sprang,  not  less  by  his 
record  in  private  life  than  by  his  gallantry  as  a  soldier  of  the  South. 
He  was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  of  the  Blue  Grass  State,  September 
20,  1818.     His  parents  were  Callaway  and  Nancy  (Shropshire)  Par- 
rish,  both  originally   of  Virginia  families.     His  grandfjither,  Abner 
Shropshire,  was  a  brave  soldier  of  the  colonies  in  the  Revolution.     Dr. 
Parrish' s  father  was  a  saddler  by  trade,  and  died  when  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  but  a  year  old.     But  the  mother  survived  up  to  the 
fall  of  1882,  dying  in  Monroe  county  at  the  advanced  age  of  83. 
There  were  two  children  in  the  family  besides  the  Doctor,  both  his 
seniors :  Benjamin  F.   and  Rebecca.     Dr.   Parrish  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  received  a  common  school  education.     At  the  age  of  18  years 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Asa  Shropshire,  his  uncle, 
and  subsequently  attended  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1843.     Dr.  Parrish  then  came  to  Missouri 
from  Kentucky  and  located  in  Monroe  county,  where   he  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.     In  1847  he   went  to  Howard  county, 
but  three  years  later,  the  gold  excitement  having  broken  out,  he  went 
to  California,  returning  in  1851,  coming  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  and 
New  Orleans,     After  stopping  a  while   in  Howard  county  he  crossed 
over  into  Monroe,  where  he  practiced  medicine   until   1853,  when  he 
located  on    Salt  river,    in  Randolph  county.     Dr.  Parrish  practiced 
medicine  on  Salt  river,  except  while  absent  in  the  Confederate  service, 
for  nearly  25  years,  and  while  there  was  also  interested  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  12  years.     In    1877  he 
went  to  Fayette,  but  soon  removed  to  Moberly.     He  came  to  Clifton 
Hill  where  he  now  resides,  in  1882.     Dr.  Parrish  is  not  only  a  physi- 
cian of  a  long  and  successful  experience,  but  he  has  ever  been  a  con- 
stant student  of  medicine,  investigating  his  chosen  science  both  from 
the  standpoint  of  theory  and  from  that  of  experience.     In  other  words, 
he  has  not  only  studied  the  books  but  has  occupied   much  time  with 
practical  pharmacy  —  the  compounding  of  medicines,  etc.     Thus,  by 
his  study  and  experiments,  he   has  been  able  to  prepare  some  of  the 
most  efficient  remedies   known  to  pharmaceutics.     His  preparations 
have  a  wide  sale  and  become  eminently  popular  wherever  they  are  in- 


HISTORY    OF    KANDOLPH    COUNTY.  623 

trocluced.  In  December,  1860,  Dr.  Parrish  offered  himself  as  a  volun- 
teer to  uphold  the  rights  and  institutions  of  the  South,  then  threatened 
with  invasion  and  overthrow,  and  he  became  an  accepted  soldier  under 
the  banner  of  State's  sovereignty  and  for  the  principles  of  the  resolu- 
tions of  1798.  Dr.  Parrish  fought  it  out  on  that  line  for  over  four 
years,  and  until  the  South  went  down  and  the  government  was  revolu- 
tionized by  the  change  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Fathers  ;  or,  in  other 
words,  by  the  adoption  of  the  thirteenth,  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  amend- 
ments. In  the  early  part  of  the  war  he  was  on  Gen.  Price's  staff,  and 
from  the  beginning  to  the  close  he  did  his  full  duty  as  one  of  the  bravest 
of  the  brave  who  fought  under  the  three-barred  flag  of  the  Confederacy. 
We  cannot  take  the  space  to  give  his  army  record.  SuflSce  it  to  say  that 
he  was  in  many  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war  and  in  skir- 
mishes without  number.  If  every  soldier  in  the  South  had  been  as  suc- 
cessful in  doing  what  he  was  there  for  as  Dr.  Parrish  was,  the  issue 
would  have  been  otherwise  than  as  it  resulted,  and  for  every  Confed- 
erate volunteer  there  would  now  be  three  white  headstones  in  the 
national  cemeteries.  The  Doctor  has  been  married  four  times.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Matilda  J.  Dickinson.  She  died  in  1839.  His 
second  wife  was  a  Miss  Elizabeth  Turner,  of  Howard  county,  who  died 
in  1852,  leaving  him  three  children:  James E.,  William  C.  and  Eliza- 
beth. His  third  wife,  previously  Mrs.  Martha  Burton,  a  vvidow  lady, 
was  murdered  July  23, 1877,  by  her  son-in-law,  James  H.  Brown,  and 
the  Doctor  was  shot  at  the  same  time,  and  still  carries  100  shot  in  his 
body  which  he  received  at  the  time.  By  her  he  had  five  children,  the 
first  four  being  two  pairs  of  twins  :  Mary  and  Amanda,  Susan  and 
Sarah,  and  the  other  is  Louisa  L.  To  his  present  wife  the  Doctor  was 
married  December  29,  1882.  She  was  previously  Mrs.  Margaret  A. 
Bush,  a  widow  lady,  whose  maiden  name  was  Lanter.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order.     He  has  a  fine  farm  in  Clifton  township. 

J.   F.  RODGERS 

(Proprietor  of  the  Clifton  House,  Clifton  Hill). 

Mr.  Rodgers,  who  owns  and  conducts  the  only  hotel  at  this  place, 
for  the  reason  that  he  is  so  popular  as  to  render  competition  imprac- 
ticable, and  who  is  one  of  the  enterprising  citizens  of  the  town  and 
a  substantial  property  holder  both  here  and  of  land  in  the  country,  is 
a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  is  a  self-made  man,  for  he  commenced 
after  the  war  without  a  dollar,  and  has  made  all  he  has  by  his  own  in- 
dustry and  good  management.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia,  August  12,  1833,  and  was  a  son  of  John  Rodgers 
and  Mary  H.,  nee  Lamb  ;  the  father  born  in  1806  and  the  mother  ia 
1809,  the  former  of  English  descent  and  the  latter  of  Irish  ancestry. 
The  father's  father  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  AVar  and 
served  under  Washington  from  Virginia  until  the  British  Lion  had 
been  driven  from  our  shore  by  the  American  Eagle.  In  1851  J.  F. 
Rodgers,  then  a  youth  some  18  years  of  age,  came  to  Missouri  with 


624  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

his  parents,  who  settled  in  Morgan  county,  where  the  father  improved 
a  larse  farm,  havino;  brouji'ht  with  him  some  seventeen  head  of  negroes 
from  Virginia.  J.  F.  was  on  the  farm  in  Morgan  county  when  the 
war  brolie  out,  and  he  promptly  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service. 
He  became  a  member  of  the  "  Morgan  County  Riflemen  "  under  Col. 
Joe  Kelley,  of  Gen.  Parson's  division.  He  served  under  Gen.  Parsons 
for  three  years  and  eight  months,  filling  the  office  during  that  time  of 
orderly  sergeant.  Early  in  the  winter  of  1863  he  returned  home  on  a 
visit  and  was  captured  by  the  militia.  The  alternative  was  then  given 
him  to  be  thrown  into  prison  untih  the  close  of  the  war  or  join  the 
Union  forces,  and  of  the  two  evils  he  wisely  chose  the  least,  and  there- 
fore became  a  nominal  soldier  on  the  opposite  from  Avhere  his  heart 
and  hopes  were.  He  was  placed  as  a  guard  on  the  trains  between 
Macon  City  and  St.  Charles.  However,  he  soon  went  to  Tennessee, 
and  there  he  assisted  in  oro-anizino:  home  o;uards  for  the  Confederate 
service.  While  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  first  years  of  the 
war,  he  participated,  among  numerous  others,  in  the  battles  of  Boon- 
ville,  Wilson's  Creek,  Dry  Wood,  Lexington,  Pea  Ridge  and  Corinth. 
On  the  14th  of  October,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine 
Rucker,  a  daughter  of  Albert  Rucker,  of  Randolph  county.  For  some 
time  after  the  war  Mr.  Rodgers  was  foreman  of  the  tobacco  factory  of 
C.  F.  Mann  &  Co.,  of  Hannibal,  but  in  the  fall  of  1866  he  settled  in 
Randolph  county  and  engaged  in  farming.  This  he  followed  with 
success  for  nearly  ten  years,  and  now  has  a  good  farm  in  the  county. 
In  1877  Mr.  Rodgers  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  Clifton  Hill,  in 
which  he  has  since  continued.  He  keeps  one  of  the  best  houses  in  the 
county,  and  his  hotel  is  popular  with  all  who  have  ever  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  partaking  of  his  hospitalities.  He  is  also  constable  of  the 
township,  and  discharges  the  duties  of  that  office  with  efficiency  and 
with  satisfaction  to  the  public.  Besides  this  he  is  marshal  of  the 
town.  He  is  agent  for  several  prominent  insurance  companies.  The 
livery  and  feed  stable  here  also  occupies  a  portion  of  his  time,  in 
connection  with  which  are  stock  pens  for  drovers.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rodgers  have  but  one  child,  James  Leonard.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

HENRY  SEARS 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Clifton  Hill). 
Mr.  S.,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Clifton  township, 
was  born  in  Silver  Creek  August  21,  1830,  and  was  a  son  of 
Hardy  Sears,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Randolph  county.  Hardy 
Sears'  ancestors  came  from  England  to  North  Carolina  among  the 
first  colonists  of  that  State,  indeed,  they  came  over  with  the  first 
settlers  who  came  to  America  with  the  colonial  expedition  fitted  out 
by  Lord  Raleigh  more  than  a  century  before  our  Revolution.  He, 
Hardy  Sears,  was  born  near  Raleigh,  in  North  Carolina,  August  21, 
1788,  and  in  1805,  being  then  17  years  of  age,  he  came  out  to 
Kentucky  with  his  parents  who  located  in  Warren  county,  of  the  Blue 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  625 

Grass  State.  There  he  lived  for  13  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  died  soon  after  their  nuptials.  He 
then  married  Miss  Dicy  Rigsby  and  came  to  Missouri  iu  the  fall  of 
1818,  making  the  trip  by  land  and  through  the  wilderness  and  located 
in  Silver  Creek  township,  of  Randolph  county.  Here  he  lived  to  a 
ripe  old  age,  dying  in  1856.  In  his  family  of  children  there  were 
seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
being  the  sixth  of  the  children.  Henry  Sears  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  remained  with  his  father  until  the  hitter's  death,  when  the  former 
settled  where  he  now  resides.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  F.  Faulkner,  but  she  was  taken  from  him  by  death  in  the 
spring  of  1877,  leaving  him  four  children  :  William  H.,  Milton  B., 
John  M.  and  James  W.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Sears  was  married 
October  31,  1878.  She  was  a  Miss  Mary  E.  Christy,  a  daughter  of 
Milton  and  Luvenia  Christy,  of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sears  are 
members  of  the  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Church,  of  which  Mr.  S.  is  also 
a  deacon.  He  has  a  good  farm  of  nearly  a  quarter  section  of  land 
and  is  otherwise  comfortably  situated  on  his  place.  When  Mr.  Sears 
settled  where  he  now  lives  practically  all  the  country  round  about  was 
an  uninhabited  wilderness,  and  there  was  an  abundance  of  game  to  be 
had  —  deer,  turkeys,  etc.  He  was  an  extensive  hunter  years  ago  and 
was  considered  one  of  the  best  "  shots  "  among  all  his  acquaintances, 
and  during  the  winter  months  it  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  have 
a  wild  turkey  for  dinner  once  or  twice  every  week.  Looking  back  on 
those  days  and  contrasting  them  with  the  present,  Mr.  Sears  cannot 
but  believe  that  people  were  happier  then  than  now  ;  they  were  more 
hospitable,  kind  and  neighborly ;  nearly  everybody  was  a  member  of 
the  church,  and  the  churches  were  built  by  the  united  labor  of  each 
neighborhood,  and  the  ministers  preached  the  good  old-fashioned 
doctrines  of  religion  and  people  believed  in  them.  Schools  then  were 
kept  by  subscription  and  the  houses  built  of  logs  and  the  floor*  made 
of  puncheons  ;  school  children's  desks  were  split  slabs  and  they  wrote 
with  goose  quills,  and  if  the  letters  were  not  so  even  and  pretty  as 
they  are  now,  they  were  larger  and  much  easier  to  make  out.  There 
were  but  few  mills  in  the  country  at  that  time  and  the  boys  in  the 
neighborhood  took  their  grists  to  mill  on  horseback.  Mr.  Sears  has 
long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  worthy,  good  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship, and  no  man  is  more  highly  respected. 

'SQUIRE  HIRAM  STAMPER 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Clifton  Hill). 
'Squire  Stamper,  or  Uncle  Hiram,  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  is  now 
well  entered  upon  the  seventh  decade  of  life,  but  is  still  well  preserved 
in  mind  and  body,  and  is  both  active  in  his  movements  and  bright  and 
spirited  in  his  conversation.  He  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Clifton  township,  and  takes  a  marked  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  his  own  community  and  in  general  public  concerns.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Clifton  Hill  and  is  one  of 


62(3  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

its  most  valued  members.  He  owned  a  fine,  large  farm  in  the  town- 
ship until  a  few  years  ago  when,  his  children  having  all  grown  up  and 
married  off,  he  sold  it  and  bought  a  neat  place  adjoining  Clifton  Hill, 
where  he  now  resides,  but  he  is  still  at  work,  and  is  the  fiirthest  from 
being  a  man  of  leisure  and  idleness.  He  was  born  in  Owen  county,  Ky., 
April  8,  1812,  and  was  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Nancy  (Sebantin)  Stamper, 
both  originally  from  North  Carolina,  his  father  of  English  descent, 
but  his  mother  of  French  origin.  Hiram  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Kentucky  until  he  was  16  years  of  age  when,  his  father  being  a  manu- 
facturer of  brick  and  a  brick  layer,  he  went  with  him  to  Cincinnati, 
where  his  father  was  engaged  in  that  business  and  where  Hiram  learned 
both  occupations.  He  worked  in  Cincinnati  for  about  seven  years, 
returning  home,  however,  usually  through  the  winter  months.  On 
the  27th  of  December,  1832,  he  Avas  married  to  Miss  Sallie  Cobb,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizaljeth  (Holbrook)  Cobb,  of  Owen  county, 
Ky.  'Squire  Stamper  then  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  continued  until 
1849, ^and  then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  mill  business.  About 
that  time  he  started  the  town  of  Lusby's  Mill,  in  Owen  county,  which 
is  now  a  flourishing  trading  point.  Three  years  later,  however,  he 
returned  to  his  farm  and  continued  on  it  until  1855,  when  he  removed 
to  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  and  bought  some  300  acres  in  Clifton  town- 
ship, where  he  improved  a  fine  farm.  There  he  lived  for  25  years, 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  sold  his  place  in 
1879  and  bought  his  present  farm  the  same  year.  While  in  Kentucky, 
he  held  both  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  constable  a  number 
of  years  each.  'Squire  Stamper  is  a  sociable,  pleasant  old  gentlemen, 
interesting  to  talk  with  and  always  agreeable  in  his  manners  and  con- 
versation. He  and  his  good  wife  have  reared  a  family  of  ten  children  : 
Daniel  J.,  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Elijah  Martin  ;  James  L.,  Thomas  H.  B., 
Joseph  E.,  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Grizzell  ;  Nancy  ;  now  Mrs. 
Yearley  Scott;  Lucian,  now  Mrs.  Samuel  Cobb  ;  Mary  F.,  now  Mrs. 
John  G.  Breckman  ;  and  Finis  M. 

JUDGE  DANIEL  J.  STAMPER 

(Farmer,  Section  25,  Post-office,  Clifton   Hill). 

Judge  Stamper,  the  eldest  son  of  'Squire  Hiram  Stamper,  whose 
sketch  precedes  this,  was  born  in  Owen  county,  Ky.,  November  24, 
1834,  and  was  reared  in  his  native  county.  His  boyhood  and  youth,  up 
to  the  age  of  15,  were  spent  on  the  farm  of  his  father  in  that  county,  but 
in  1849  the  family  removed  to  Owenton,  the  county  seat,  where  the 
father  took  charge  of  a  mill,  and  from  that  time  forward  young 
Stamper  had  the  benefit  of  the  excellent  local  schools  of  Owenton. 
Having  a  taste  for  study,  he  made  a  zealous  student  and  advanced 
rapidly  in  the  acquisition  of  the  knowledge  to  be  had  from  study  in 
a  common  English  course.  Before  reaching  his  majority  he  became 
well  fitted  for  school  teaching  and,  being  requested  to  take  charge  of 
a  school  in  the  county,  he  accepted  the  position  and  was  quite  success- 
ful as  a  teacher.     Industrious,  faithful  and  as  anxious  to  inspire  in  his 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  627 

pupils  a  love  of  knowledge  as  he,  himself,  was  zealous  in  its  pursuit, 
he  became  a  most  efficient  teacher,  and  obtained  a  wide  popularity. 
He  taught  schools  in  Kentucky  for  about  five  years  with  increasing 
reputation  and  success,  and  being  a  constant  student  himself,  he 
steadily  advanced  in  position  in  that  calling  and  became  a  teacher^  of 
considerable  prominence,  in  Kentucky,  In  1854  he  went  to  Iowa  and 
taught  for  about  a  year,  and  from  Iowa  came  to  Missouri,  where  he 
taught  for  two  years  more.  Prior  to  this,  however,  Judge  Stamper 
had  married,  that  is,  on  the  3d  of  September,  1856,  when  Miss  Mary 
A.  Holbrook  became  his  wife.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Martin  and 
Eliza  (Cobb)  Holbrook,  originally  of  North  Carolina,  but  was  herself 
born  and  reared  in  Owen  county,  and  in  girlhood  was  a  pupil  of 
Judge  Stamper.  Two  years  after  his  marriage  Judge  Stamper  located 
on  a  farm  in  Clifton  township  of  Randolph  county,  and  has  since  de- 
voted himself  exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits,  or,  rather,  except 
when  occupied  with  public  aftairs.  Judge  Stamper,  to  begin  with, 
•was  a  young  gentleman  of  superior  intelligence  and  spirit,  possessing 
many  of  the  stronger  and  better  attributes  of  sterling  manhood  and 
useful  citizenship.  Added  to  this,  he  obtained  quite  an  excellent  gen- 
eral education  both  by  study  and  by  long  experience  as  a  teacher.  It 
is  therefore  only  as  was  to  have  been  expected  that  he  would  take  a 
prominent  place  as  a  citizen  of  the  county.  As  a  farmer  he  has  ever 
been  a  man  of  industry  and  enterprise,  with  an  intelligent  grasp  of  the 
conditions  and  influence  necessary  to  be  brought  to  bear  to  achieve  suc- 
cess and  to  advance  the  general  interest  of  agriculture  in  his  community. 
He  has  a  fine  farm,  and  by  his  own  energy  and  good  management  has 
long  since  succeeded  in  establishing  himself  comfortably  in  life.  The 
year  after  coming  to  Randolph  county  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Salt  Spring,  now  Clifton  township,  such  was  the  readiness 
with  which  his  character,  ability  and  business  qualifications  were  rec- 
ognized at  his  new  home.  At  the  following  election  he  was  elected 
to  the  same  office  by  a  majority  highly  complimentary  to  his  personal 
popularity.  Following  this  he  filled  the  office,  in  all,  some  eight  years, 
and  was  thereupon  advanced  by  the  whole  people  of  the  county  to  the 
honorable  and  responsible  position  of  judge  of  the  county  court. 
Judge  Stamper  continued  to  hold  that  office  until  a  year  ago,  nearly 
fifteen  years,  and  as  long  as  he  would  consent  to  serve  the  people  in 
that  capacity.  To  no  citizen  of  Randolph  county  is  it  necessary  to 
speak  of  the  reputation  which  Judge  Stamper  bears  as  a  public  officer. 
His  high  character  and  popularity  are  recognized  in  every  district  and 
around  every  hearthstone,  and  every  door  is  thrown  open  to  him  with 
a  hearty  welcome  wherever  he  goes.  It  is  the  services  of  the  good 
and  true  men  of  every  country  that  constitute  its  honor  and  glory,  and  it 
is  with  pride  that  every  loyal  citizen  points  to  these  services  and  speaks 
of  the  men  whom  his  countrj^  has  produced.  The  fame  of  our  best 
citizens  is  our  greatest  honor,  and  this  we  all  cherish  and  guard  with 
jealous  care.  Thus  the  people  of  Randolph  county  regard  the  lives 
and  services  of  such  of  their  fellow-citizens  as  him  whose  name  heads 


628  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

this  sketch.  Though  his  station  in  life  has  not  been  the  most  dis- 
tinguished, his  services  have  been  not  less  honorable  nor  less  appre- 
ciated than  those  of  any  public  men  within  the  borders  of  the 
county,  and  his  name  commands  respect  wherever  it  is  spoken.  Judge 
and  Mrs.  Stamper  have  a  family  of  seven  children  :  Martin  L.,  Hiram 
M.,  Porter  B.,  Eliza  C,  Lena  J.,  Martha  R.  and  Willie  L.  The 
Judge  and  wife  have  been  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Clifton 
Hill  since  its  organization,  and  the  Judge  is  a  moderator  in  his  denom- 
ination. He  is  also  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Masonic  order 
at  Clifton  Hill. 

JOSEPH  M.  SUMMERS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  near  Clifton  Hill) . 

In  the  lives  of  such  citizens  in  Randolph  county  as  that  of  the  sub- 
ject of  the  present  sketch,  is  to  be  traced  the  true  history  of  the  de- 
velopment of  the  county  and  its  rise  from  the  condition  of  a  wilderness 
to  that  of  one  of  the  first  counties  in  the  State  in  population,  wealth 
and  general  prosperity.  It  is  such  men  as  Uncle  Joe  Summers  that 
have  made  the  county  what  it  is — their  muscle  and  brain,  their  in- 
dustry and  intelligence,  their  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  have  wrought 
the  change  that  has  been  effected.  Joseph  M.  Summers  has  been  a 
resident  of  Randolph  county  for  65  years,  or  from  the  time  he  was 
three  years  of  age,  and  he  commenced  in  this  county  for  himself  when 
a  young  man  without  a  dollar,  as  a  farmer.  He  has  followed  farming 
and  stock-raising  from  that  time  to  this,  and  with  what  success  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  his  possessions  to-day  are  valued  at  over  $100,000. 
He  has  also  reared  a. large  and  worthy  family  of  children  who  are 
pursuing  the  same  course  in  life  that  he  marked  out,  and  who  have 
already  taken  places  among  the  best  people  of  the  county.  He  has 
ever  been  a  man  of  liberal  ideas  and  has  favored  with  generous  help 
all  movements  in  his  vicinity  calculated  to  promote  the  best  interests 
of  the  public.  It  is  such  men  as  he  who  constitute  the  bone  and 
sinew  of  the  county,  and  it  is  on  them  that  the  prosperity  and  the 
progress  of  every  community  depend.  Mr.  Summers  was  born  in 
Wayne  county,  Ky.,  December  18,  1816,  and  was  the  fifth  in  a  family 
of  eight  children  of  Jeremiah  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  Summers,  his 
father  originally  from  North  Carolina  and  his  mother  from  Virginia. 
In  1818  the  family  came  to  Missouri  and  located  for  a  short  time  in 
the  forks  of  the  Chariton,  but  the  following  spring  settled  in  Salt 
River  township  where  the  parents  lived  until  their  death.  The  Indians 
were  still  in  the  country,  and  Randolph  county  was  yet  almost  a 
trackless  wild,  with  only  a  pioneer's  cabin  here  and  there  to  indicate 
that  the  first  step  of  civilization  had  been  made  within  its  borders. 
Joseph  Summers  grew  up  in  those  early  days  of  the  country  and  was 
a  participant  in  the  labors  of  clearing  away  the  forests  and  developing 
the  county,  as  well  as  in  the  sports  of  the  chase,  and  all  the  early 
amusements  characteristic  of  the  times.  He  thus  developed  a  vig- 
erous  constitution  and  learned  the  greatest  lesson  in  life,  that  if  one 
expects  to  succeed  he  can  do  it  honestly  only  by  his  own  industry  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  629 

good  management.  On  the  1st  of  April,  1841,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  Patton,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Kebecca  (Engleton) 
Patton,  early  settlers  of  this  county  from  Tennessee.  This  proved  a 
happy  union  and  was  blessed  with  seven  children  :  William  P.,  Wal- 
ler H.,  Fannie,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Mylam  ;  James  H.,  Jennie,  now 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Brown;  Charles  P.  and  Giles  R.  The  mother  of  these 
died  in  1854.  She  had  for  years  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South,  and  her  children  are  all  members  of  that  denomina- 
tion. Mr.  Summers  has  never  married  again.  While  he  knows  there 
are  many  good  women  in  the  world,  yet  he  feels  that  there  is  no  one 
who  can  take  the  place  in  his  heart  that  she  once  held,  and  in  which 
her  memory  still  lingers  like  a  sweet  dream.  Mr.  Summers  has  for 
more  than  a  generation  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  farmers  in 
his  section  of  the  county,  and  although  he  commenced  in  the  world 
practically  without  a  dollar,  he  now  owns  over  3,000  acres  of  fine 
land.  Uncle  Joe  Summers  is  known  all  over  Randolph  county  and 
he  is  as  highly  esteemed  as  he  is  widely  known.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church  South  for  over  forty  years. 


CHARITOlSr    TOWIS^SHIP. 


ROBERT    E.  BAXTER 

(Section  35,  Post-offlce,  Darksville). 

Philip  and  Susanna  Baxter  came  from  Kentucky  to  Missouri  when 
Randolph  county  was  as  yet  but  on  the  threshold  of  her  existence. 
Settling  land  here,  they  made  a  home  for  themselves  which  has  now 
descended  to  the  subject  of  the  present  narration.  R.  E.  was  born 
March  23,  1844,  has  lived  from  infancy  on  the  farm  and  is  well  trained 
in  every  branch  of  a  profession  that,  more  than  any  other,  requires  for 
its  success  long  experience.  His  education  was  conducted  at  the 
common  schools  of  the  county,  and  before  he  had  really  arrived  at 
man's  estate,  he  became  a  student  in  the  tactics  of  war.  Espousing 
the  interests  of  the  North,  he  served  in  the  State  militia  for  some  time. 
The  close  of  the  war  checked  his  youthful  thirst  for  glory,  and  before 
he  was  20,  March  1,  1864,  he  rushed  into  matrimony.  The  fair  lady 
in  this  case  was  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Odell, 
of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baxter  have  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  but  four  are  living:  Susan  Elizabeth,  William  Philip,  Annie 
Florence  and  John  David.  Those  whom  envious  death  did  gather  to 
her  own  bosom,  were:  Savilla,  Charlie,  Sarah,  Ellen,  Mary  Cornelia 
and  Robert  Emmett.  Mr.  Baxter  has  a  flourishing  farm  of  140  acres 
on  which  he  raises  principally  corn  and  hay.  He  is  a  thrifty  careful 
farmer,  and  yet  in  the  very  prime  and  vigor  of  manhood,  he  has  a 
bright  future  before  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South. 


630  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


JAMES  B.  CARNEY 

(Fanner  and  Stock-raiser,  Rolling  Home). 
Merchandising,  military  service  and  agricultural  pursuits  constitute 
the  three  divisions  into  which  one  of  the  schoolmen  of  the  middle 
ages  would  have  divided  the  biography  of  Mr.  Carney,  if  he  had  been 
called  upon  to  write  it,  and  although  scholasticism  has  gone  out  of 
fashion  and  the  dialectician  is  but  little  heeded  in  these  days  of  the 
teleo-raph,  the  railroad,  the  sewing-machine  and  the  type-writer,  still 
it  is  perhaps  well  not  to  depart  too  far,  but  just  about  far  enough 
from  old  rules  and  principles  and  doctrines.  We  shall  therefore 
adhere  to  these  to  a  certain  extent  in  skiagraphing  the  present  sketch. 
James  B.  Carney  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  near  the  town  of 
Roanoke,  January  16,  1844,  and  was  a  son  of  George  M.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lay)  Carney,  his  father  originally  from  Kentucky  and  his 
mother  born  and  reared  in  Howard  county.  His  father  came  to 
Missouri  in  1828,  and  lived  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1862,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age.  The  mother  is  still  living, 
and  finds  a  welcome  and  pleasant  home  with  her  son,  James  B.  The 
father  was  a  school-teacher  by  profession,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  he  followed  these  in  Howard  and  Randolph  counties  until  his 
death.  James  B.  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  five  children,  the 
others  being  George  I.,  now  of  Texas;  Missouri  M.  T.,  now  Mrs. 
John  Patton  ;  Mattie,/emwie  lihre,  now  with  her  brother,  James  B.  ; 
and  William,  who  died  in  youth.  James  was  brought  up  to  be  a 
farmer,  but  while  young  he  conceived  a  dislike  for  the  exercise  of 
plowing  in  the  beaming  rays  of  the  sun  and  for  husking  corn  in  the 
field  when  snow  is  on  the  ground,  and  he  longed  to  be  in  a  store  as 
a  clerk,  handling  velvet  and  ribbon  and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  He 
therefore  obtained  a  situation  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  William 
Fort  &  Son,  and  was  with  them  for  about  three  years,  and  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  war,  making  a  most  excellent  and  popular  clerk. 
When  the  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  the  Southern  State  Guard, 
for  he  had  a  bold  and  adventurous  spirit,  and  was  anxious  to  participate 
in  the  exciting  events  of  military  life,  while  he  felt  it  was  his  duty 
to  go,  for  he  had  been  brought  up  a  Southerner,  and  held  opinions 
with  the  Southern  people,  and  had  the  most  ardent  sympathy  for 
their  cause.  He  followed  the  Southern  standard  throughout  the  whole 
war.  While  in  the  State  Guard  he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Lex- 
ington, Dry  Wood  and  Springfield,  and  afterwards  enlisted  in  the 
regular  Confederate  service,  becoming  second  lieutenant  of  Co.  K, 
third  Missouri,  in  which  he  continued  until  the  time  of  the  surrender. 
He  was  also  second  lieutenant  in  the  State  Guard.  He  was  captured 
at  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  but  was  exchanged  a  short  time  afterwards. 
He  was  also  captured  at  Mobile,  but  was  again  exchanged  and  sur- 
rendered at  Jackson,  Miss.,  in  June,  1865.  He  then  returned  to 
Missouri  and  clerked  for  Guy  &  Bros,  nearly  two  years.  Following 
this  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  and  also  ran  a  farm  for  three 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  631 

years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business,  being  located  all 
the  time  at  Huntsville,  and  continued  it  until  three  years  ago.  While 
at  Huntsville  he  also  had  branch  stores  at  Roanoke  and  Clifton.  Mr. 
Carney  came  to  his  present  farm  in  1880.  He  has  160  acres  and  is 
quite  extensively  engaged  in  feeding  stock.  He  is  one  of  the  indus- 
trious, enterprising  farmers  of  Chariton  township,  and  is  rapidly 
coming  to  the  front  in  agriculture.  For  about  12  months  he  was  in 
partnership  with  C.  D.  Vase,  in  merchandising,  at  Rolling  Home. 
Mr.  Carney  has  been  married  three  times,  being  singularly  unfortunate 
in  the  loss  of  his  first  and  second  wives  soon  after  marriao;e.  His  first 
Wife  was  a  Miss  Louisa  Malone,  of  Huntsville,  and  his  second  a  Miss 
Kate  Yates,  of  this  county,  a  cousin  to  Gov.  Dick  Yates,  of  Illinois. 
His  present  wife's  maiden  name  was  Miss  Fannie  Lowery.  They 
were  married  March  10,  1873.  They  have  one  child,  Mary  M.  Their 
youngest,  Frank,  died  in  infancy,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  are  members  of 
the  C.  P.  Church. 

WILLIAM  COOLEY 

(Farmer,  Section  12). 

Mr.  C.  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Cooley,  both  natives  of  the 
Blue  Grass  State.  They  came  to  Missouri  at  an  early  day  and  settled 
in  Howard  county,  where  William  C.  was  born  August  19,  1818.  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  a  good  education 
at  the  neighboring  schools.  He  was  engaged  for  some  time  in  salt 
making.  In  1840,  Mr.  Cooley  took  to  wife  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Fields,  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  soon 
after  his  marriage  removed  to  Randolph  county.  He  began  life  with 
only  a  pair  of  ponies  as  his  stock  in  trade,  but  by  steady  attention  to 
his  business  and  habits  of  unflagging  industry  he  has  acquired  a  com- 
fortable property,  and  is  among  the  substantial  men  of  the  township. 
He  cultivates  140  acres  of  land,  making  a  specialty  of  wheat.  Mr. 
Cooley  saw  some  active  service  during  the  war,  being  out  with  Price's 
raid  in  1864,  and  was  made  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Smith.  He  was  after- 
wards released  at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooley  have  eight  chil- 
dren :  Joseph,  Sarah,  Rebecca  Jane,  Catherine,  Elvira,  Evaline, 
Adelia  Ann  and  Edla.  Mr.  C.  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
order. 

W.  W.  ELLIOTT 

(Farmer,  Section  24). 

Mr.  Elliott  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Randolph  county,  Mo., 
August  4,  1829  ;  his  parents  Robert  and  Frances  (White)  Elliott 
having  emigrated  thither  from  Madison  county,  Ky.  W.  W.  lived  at 
home  until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  given  such  educa- 
tion as  the  limited  advantages  of  the  county  at  that  time  afforded. 
Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which 
he  continued  to  work  in  different  places  for  the  next  15  years. 
He  then  came  to  the  place  upon  which  he  still  resides,  in  Randolph. 
For  six  years  he  was  largely  engaged  in  tobacco  growing,  but  he  has 

35 


632  HISTORY  or  Randolph  county. 

noAV  turned  his  attention  chiefly  to  the  raising  of  stock,  buying  while 
yearlings  and  selling  when  three  years  old.  He  also  handles  a  large 
number  of  mules.  His  land  comprises  540  acres  principally  set  in 
<*-rass.  It  was  in  the  merry  month  of  May,  1863,  that  Mr.  Elliott 
brouo-ht  home  a  blushing  bride.  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  William  and 
Ithema  Terry,  originally  from  Kentucky.  To  them  have  been  born 
two  children,  viz.  :  Alonzo  H.  and  Balie.  Although  Mr.  E.  is  in- 
tensely Southern  in  his  sympathies,  the  feebleness  of  his  health  inca- 
pacitated him  from  taking  any  active  part  in  the  hostilities  between 
the  North  and  South.  He  is  a  man  of  the  finest  business  mind  and 
his  qualifications  as  a  manager  are  shown  by  his  property  and  sur- 
roundings.    He  is  one  of  those  who  will  leave 

'« Footprints  in  the  sands  of  time." 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  at  Jacksonville,  Lodge  No.  44. 

JOSEPH  H.  FRAZIER,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon;  also  Farmer;  Post-office,  Boiling  Home,  Mo). 
Dr.  Frazier  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the 
vicinity  of  Rolling  Home  for  18  years,  and  has  been  long  recognized 
as  one  of  the  capable  and  successful  physicians  of  the  north-western 
part  of  the  county.  His  practice  not  only  extends  through  this  sec- 
tion of  Randolph  county,  but  also  into  the  neighboring  vicinities  of 
Macon  and  Chariton.  The  Doctor  has  ever  commanded  a  good  prac- 
tice and,  while  it  has  not  been  his  highest  ambition  to  accumulate 
property,  for  he  has  done  a  great  deal  of  gratuitous  practice  and  has 
never  oppressed  the  poor  or  unfortunate,  yet  as  the  fruits  of  his  long 
and  faithful  services  he  has  secured  a  substantial  modicum  of  this 
world's  goods.  The  Doctor  has  a  handsome  farm  of  some  200  acres 
where  he  now  resides  and  is  pleasantly  and  comfortably  situated.  He 
has  passed  that  point  where  he  must  practice  as  a  means  of  support, 
for  his  farm  would  sustain  him  in  abundance  ;  but  possessed  of  large 
humanity  and  warm  sympathies,  he  never  turns  a  deaf  ear  to  the  call 
of  the  sufferer,  but  goes  wherever  duty  demands,  in  summer's  heat  or 
winter's  cold,  in  sunshine,  or  in  the  shadow  of  night,  when  all  nature 
sleeps,  or  but  the  melancholy  voice  of  the  owl  is  heard  or  the  lonely 
chirp  of  the  cricket  by  the  wayside.  Dr.  Frazier  was  a  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion  —  Virginia,  —  born  in  Orange  county,  Va.,  April  23, 
1828.  His  father's  name  was  Leland  Frazier,  and  his  mother's  maiden 
name  Ann  Mallory.  Both  were  native  to  the  same  county  in  which  the 
Doctor,  himself,  was  born  and  reared.  Dr.  Frazier's  early  educa- 
tional advantages  were  quite  limited,  and  when  he  came  to  Missouri, 
in  1853,  he  had  still  not  completed  a  course  of  instruction  satisfac- 
tory to  himself,  having  in  view,  as  he  did  have,  a  career  in  the  med- 
ical profession.  His  first  year  in  this  State  was  spent  in  Jackson 
county,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm,  after  which  he  came  to  Ran- 
dolph, and  here  he  attended  school  for  a  session  on  Silver  creek. 
Following  his  last  term  at  school,  young  Frazier  taught  school  until 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  633 

1862,  when  he  felt  himself  in  a  situation  to  begin  the  study  of  medi- 
cine. He  read  medicine  under  Dr.  Terrill,  that  old  and  honored 
Nestor  of  the  profession  in  Randolph  county.  He  studied  under  Dr. 
Terrill  until  1865,  attending  the  medical  lectures  at  St.  Louis  during 
the  sessions  of  1864  and  1865.  He  graduated  in  the  Medical  College 
of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  the  class  of  1872,  and  at  once  returned  to  Ran- 
dolph county  and  entered  upon  the  practice  at  Thomas  Hill.  He  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  in  this  vicinity.  On  the  14th  day 
of  February,  1864,  Dr.  Frazier  was  married  to  Miss  Deniza  E. 
Epperly.  They  have  seven  children,  namely:  Joseph,  Susan  M., 
Mary  B.,  Theresa,  William  L.,  Leland  and  Oliver.  All  of  the  chil- 
dren are  at  home,  except  Joseph,  who  is  living  near  Clifton,  in  this 
county.  The  Doctor  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  During  the  war  Dr.  F.  served  eight  months  in  the  Southern 
State  Guard,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Boonville,  Lexington 
and  Pea  Ridge.  He  has  a  pony  that  he  rode  in  the  army  and  while 
in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  which  is  now  26  years  old,  and  which  is 
still  gamboling  on  the  green  with  head  up  and  tail  erect,  as  light- 
footed  and  frisky,  and  Avith  spirit  as  gay  and  free  as  the  May  zephyrs 
that  toy  with  the  velvety  leaves  of  a  new  blown  rose,  or  with  the 
golden  locks  of  a  silken-haired  maid.  This  pony  is  known  as  "  Ear- 
lier Willis,"  and  was  named  for  the  hero  of  the  Crusades,  who,  for 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  world,  unfurled  the  banner  or 
the  Cross  in  triumph  on  the  ancient  walls  of  Jerusalem. 

GIDEON  HAINES 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Darksville). 

Mr.  H.,  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Wright)  Haines, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  of  that  State, 
on  the  6th  of  August,  1828.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Mis- 
souri in  1832,  and  now  resides  within  three  miles  of  the  farm  upon 
which  his  boyhood's  years  were  passed.  He  has  440  acres  of  land 
in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  formerly  was  an  extensive  to- 
bacco grower,  but  is  at  present  devoting  himself  principally  to  the 
raising  of  stock.  Mr.  Haines  brings  to  bear  upon  his  calling  a  cal- 
ibre of  mind  and  character,  instinct  with  every  quality  most  essential 
to  success.  The  "tide  in  the  affairs  of  men  which  leads  on  to  for- 
tune," Mr.  Haines  has  known  how  to  take  at  the  flood,  and  safely 
landed,  can  watch  with  unconcern  the  receding  wave.  Mr.  Haines 
enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army,  under  Price,  in  1862,  and  served 
faithfully  and  gallantly  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  lieutenant,  as  a  recognition  of  his  merit.  On  the  24th  of 
November,  1 853,  he  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Martha  M.  Turner,  who  has 
proved  a  true  and  tender  friend  to  the  man  of  her  choice.  There  are 
nine  children  (one,  Bluford  S.,  deceased; )  living:  Mary  Jane,  now 
Mrs.  Carter;    Jonathan,  Nathan,  David,  Joseph,  Evan,   Betty,  Katie 


634  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

and  Maro-aret.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haines  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

WILLIAM  G.  LYLES 

(Farmer,  Section  3). 
Mr.  H.  has  been  a  resident  of  Randolph  county  since  1868,  and 
came  to  Missouri  from  Kentucky,  where  he  had  been  reared,  though 
he  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born  in  Summer  county,  January  29, 
1829,  and  was  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  (Foster)  Lyles,  who 
removed  to  Kentucky  while  he  was  quite  young,  where  both  lived  until 
their  death,  and  where  William  was  married  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1848,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Law,  also  formerly  of  Tennessee.  Mr.  Lyles 
continued  to  reside  in  Kentucky,  engaged  in  farming,  until  1860,  when 
he  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Schuyler  county,  resuming  farming, 
in  which  he  resided  for  five  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
chano-ed  his  place  of  residence  to  Howard  county,  but  soon  crossed 
over  into  Chariton,  stopping  there  for  a  year  and  coming  to  Randolph 
county  in  1868,  locating  on  Silver  Creek,  where  he  lived,  successfully 
occupied  with  farming  pursuits,  until  the  spring  of  1883,  when  he 
came  to  his  present  place,  which  contains  1,860  acres  of  fine  land, 
comfortably  and  substantially  improved,  tributary  to  which  he  also 
has  40  acres  of  timber,  being  both  as  to  fiirm  and  in  other  respects 
fairly  well  sustained  in  life.  He  and  his  good  wife  have  been  abun- 
dantly blessed  with  children,  and  if  the  passage  of  Scripture  is  to  be 
taken  in  its  literal  sense,  "  Children  are  a  heritage  from  the  Lord; 
blessed  is  the  man  that  hath  his  quiver  full  of  them,"  then  Mr.  Lyles 
has  been,  and  is  an  abundantly  blessed  man,  for  he  has  been  given  by 
his  good  wife,  and  through  the  favor  of  Heaven,  no  less  than  14  sons 
and  daughters,  seven  of  whom  are  still  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyles 
are,  of  course,  members  of  the  church,  both  pious-hearted  Metho- 
dists, being  worthy  communicants  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

FINIS  M.  McLEAN 

CFine  Stock-raiser  and  Dealer,  Post-office  Huntsville) . 
For  many  years  Mr.  McLean  has  been  known  as  one  of  the  most 
progressive  stock-men  of  Randolph  county,  and  so  generally  is  this 
fact  recognized  that  he  is  now  and  for  some  time  past  has  been  the 
president  of  the  Fair  Association  of  Moberly,  conceded  to  be  one  of 
the  leading  associations  of  its  kind  in  the  State.  Another  evidence 
of  the  interest  he  has  taken  in  fine  stock-raising  is  afforded  by  the 
fact  that  he  raised  the  finest  cow  ever  grown  in  the  State,  at  least  the 
one  that  took  the  first  premium  at  the  St.  Louis  Fair,  in  a  competition 
with  tl\e  best  cows  of  the  whole  Union.  Mr.  McLean  has  also  been  a 
successful  farmer  and  has  dealt  quite  extensively  in  real  estate.  He 
was  born  three  miles  north  of  Higbee,  in  Randolph  county,  November 
28,  1828.  His  fiither,  Charles  McLean,  was  one  of  two  brothers, 
William  being  the  other,  who  came  out  to  Missouri  from  Kentucky  in 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  635 

1820.  Charles  settled  first  ne:ir  Renick,  but  afterwards  removed  to 
the  farm  near  Higbee,  where  Finis  M.  was  born  and  where  the  father 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1846.  The  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  P.  McKinney,  died  in  this  county  in  1870  at 
the  age  of  73.  Finis  M.  was  the  fifth  in  the  family  of  nine  children, 
five  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  the 
county.  In  1850,  during  the  gold  excitement,  he  went  to  California 
and  was  out  there  three  years  engaged  in  mining.  In  1853  he  came 
home  and  bought  up  about  600  head  of  cattle  which  he  drove  to  Cal- 
ifornia, and  was  out  there  until  1855  engaged  in  the  stock  business, 
with  abundant  success.  Returning  again  to  Randolph  county,  the 
following  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Stewart,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  B.  and  Fannie  (Hill)  Stewart,  and  in  1857  he  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Clifton,  where  he  followed  farming  for  nearly  25  years,  or 
until  1881.  While  on  the  farm,  which  contained  over  1,000  acres, 
and  which  he  sold  three  years  ago,  he  was  largely  engaged  in  raising 
cattle  and  mules,  or  rather  for  a  number  of  years  raised  mules  and 
afterwards  cattle  ;  and  he  dealt  quite  extensively  in  these  classes  of 
stock.  While  carrying  on  farming  and  stock-raising,  however,  Mr. 
McLean  lived  several  years  in  Huntsville,  where  he  came  to  educate 
his  children,  and  while  here,  in  December,  1873,  the  heaviest  mis- 
fortune befell  him  that  can  fall  to  the  lot  of  man  —  his  good  and  true 
and  devoted  wife,  the  companion  of  his  long  years  of  happy  married 
life  and  the  mother  of  his  loving  children,  fell  to  sleep  in  death  and 
was  borne  to  her  grave,  no  more  to  look  upon  her  loved  ones  in  this 
world  again,  and  no  more  to  be  seen  by  them  until  the  silent  river  shall 
at  last  be  crossed  by  those  who  linger  still  on  the  hither  shore.  She 
had  borne  him  two  children,  the  noblest  testimonies  of  a  wife's  love 
and  devotion.  Of  these,  Lucy  M.  has  become  the  wife  of  E.  E. 
Samuel,  Jr.,  and  Fannie  is  now  Mrs.  Archie  Alexander,  of  Louisville, 
Ky.  After  his  wife's  death  Mr.  McLean  returned  to  his  farm  and 
lived  there  until  he  sold  it  in  1881,  since  which  he  has  been  living  in 
Huntsville  and  has  been  in  no  regular  active  business.  For  some 
nine  years  Mr.  McLean  was  interested  in  purchasing  leaf  tobacco,  in 
which  he  was  quite  successful.  For  many  years  he  has  been  looked 
upon  as  one  of  the  substantial  and  best  citizens  of  the  county  and 
is  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 

C.  F.  McLEAN 

(Farmer,  Stock-dealer  and  Fine  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  McLean,  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  thorough-going 
farmers  and  stock-men  of  his  county,  has  had  a  career  of  more  than 
ordinary  interest.  During  the  war  he  was  a  gallant  soldier  of  the 
South,  and  for  a  time  he  was  a  brave  trooper  under  that  fearless 
leader  of  Missouri,  Bill  Anderson,  whose  name  stands  for  all  that  is 
daring  and  desperate  in  battle,  and  who  never  fought  but  for  victory 
or  death,  and  who,  until  at  last  he  gave  up  his  life  as  a  sacrifice  upon 
the  altar  of  his  conviction  of  dutv  and   his  wrongs,  never  turned  his 


636  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

back  upon  the  foe.  Mr.  McLean  was  with  Anderson  at  the  time  that 
gaUant  hero  of  a  thousand  desperate  encounters  lost  his  life.  After 
the  war  Mr.  McLean — and  he  served  from  the  beginning  until  nearly 
the  close  —  returned  to  Kandolph  county  where  he  had  been  reared, 
and  en2:ao"ed  in  farming,  and  having  made  a  soldier  that  knew  no  fear 
or  faltering,  he  has  proved  himself  a  citizen  peaceable  and  law-abiding 
and  without  reproach,  and  a  farmer  and  business  man  who  knows  no 
such  word  as  fail.  Mr.  McLean  has  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres  near 
Kolling  Home,  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  is  largely  engaged  in 
handling  stock  and  ships  some  250  car-loads  annually,  being  the  prin- 
cipal stock-man  in  this  part  of  the  county  —  in  fact,  he  ships  the  bulk 
of  the  stock  placed  on  the  market  from  this  section  of  the  county. 
He  is  also  a  large  stock-raiser  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  tine 
cattle,  having  one  of  the  best  herds  of  short-horns  in  the  county.  He 
was  born  in  Huntsville  March  15,  1847,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  near  that  place.  When  the  war  broke  out,  in  1861,  he  was  14 
years  of  age,  and  he  promptly  enlisted  in  the  Southern  State  Guard 
under  Col.  Fort,  and  served  until  the  expiration  of  his  six  months' 
term  in  that  ©rganization.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  regular  Confed- 
erate service,  serving  principally  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas  until  1863, 
when  he  came  home  on  a  visit.  Returning  South  to  rejoin  the  army, 
he  fell  in  with  Bill  Anderson's  men  and  became  an  accepted  trooper 
in  the  command  of  that  desperate  leader  who,  expecting  no  quarters, 
seldom  gave  any  to  the  enemy  taken  in  arms,  and  he  followed  the 
banner  on  which  was  inscribed  the  motto,  "  Victory  or  Death,"  until 
Anderson  was  killed,  in  November,  1864.  Mr.  McLean  then  went 
South  and  was  in  Texas  for  two  years.  Returning  to  Missouri  after 
his  stay  in  Texas,  he  went  to  Mount  Carmel,  111.,  where  he  attended 
school  two  years,  his  education  having  been  interrupted  by  the  events 
of  the  war  and  his  circumstances  afterwards.  From  Mount  Carmel 
he  returned  to  Missouri  and  one  year  later  went  to  Texas,  remaining 
there  one  year.  Coming  back  to  Missouri,  he  was  engaged  in  handling 
tobacco  in  Chariton  county  until  his  marriage.  Mr.  McLean  was  mar- 
ried on  Christmas  eve  of  1875,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Richmond,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  T.  Richmond,  of  this  county.  He  then  settled  on  the 
place  which  he  still  owns.  On  his  farm  Mr.  McLean  feeds  usually 
from  100  to  400  head  of  cattle.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church.  They  have  two  children  :  Finis  M.  and 
Julia  A. 

A.  R.  RICE 

(Farmer,  Section  23). 

Mr.  R.  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  August  6,  1810,  of  Thomas 
and  Margaret  ('Thons;)  Rice,  who  came  orisjinallv  from  Virofinia.  A. 
R.  was  raised  in  Kentucky  on  the  farm,  and  was  20 years  old  when  he 
came  fresh  and  eager  for  life's  battle  to  Randolph  county.  Mo.  Here 
he  follows  the  occupation  to  which  he  was  born,  farming,  though  he 
has  also  been  to  some  extent  a  dealer  in  horses.  He  owns  88  acres  of 
good  land   and  is  in   comfortable  circumstances.     Mr.  Rice  married 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  (J37 

September  20,  1835,  Miss  Coly  H.  daughter  of  Moses  and  Minnie 
Sherin  from  Virginia.  They  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  three 
are  livino-:  Marion  R.,  Martha  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Evens,  and  John  W. 
E  Elizabeth  died  in  infancy;  Fannie  and  Zachariah  T.  also  left  this 
world  of  wretchedness  and  woe  and  dwell  in  a  brighter  home.  Dunng 
the  war,  Mr.  Rice,  a  Union  man  from  principle,  did  not  shrmk  when 
called  on  to  sacrifice  his  nearest  and  dearest  in  defense  of  the  flag  of 
his  country.  Two  of  his  sons  fought  through  the  war  with  the  Union 
forces.  Mr.  R.  filled  with  much  credit  to  himself  the  position  of 
iustice,  receiving  his  appointment  first  from  the  government,  but  that 
he  was  satisfactory  to  the  people  was  shown  by  his  re-election  to  the 
office.  He  is  of  kind  heart  and  pleasant  disposition,  and  is  a  favorite 
with  the  people. 

SPENCER  P.  RICE       ; 

(Farmer,  Post-offlce,  Darksville) . 
Mr  R  is  the  son  of  William  H.  and  Elizabeth  Rice,  the  former 
from  Kentucky,  the  latter  a  Missourian.  S.  P.  was  born  April  15, 
1839  on  the  farm  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.  His  youth  was  passed 
without  event,  and  he  received  a  good  common  school  education. 
Just  o-rown  when  the  war  broke  out,  his  enthusiasm  in  behalt  ot  the 
South  led  him  to  take  up  arms  in  her  cause,  and  he  served  under 
Price  in  many  engagements,  among  them  Boonville,  Lexington,  Pea 
Ridae  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  and 
in  the  same  year  enlisted  under  other  colors.  The  god  of  Love  this 
time  numbered  him  among  his  most  zealous  warriors,  and  coming  out 
victorious  in  this  campaign  he  was  united  to  Miss  Rebecca,  daiighter 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  Elliott,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  By  this 
marriage  there  are  seven  children  :  Joann,  Mary  Frances,  WiUiamH., 
Doc,  Earnest,  Elizabeth  and  Elliott.  Mr.  Rice  owns  298  acres  of  land 
and  raises  some  fine  stock.  He  is  a  go-a-head  farmer  in  every  re- 
spect, and  a  valuable  member  of  the  community. 

W.  T.  RICHMOND 

(Farmer,  Section  33,  Township  55,  Range  15,  P.  O.,  Darksville). 
Mr  Richmond  is  a  native  of  the  township  in  which  he  still  resides, 
Chariton,  and  was  born  April  14,  1834.  His  parents  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Rose)  Richmond,  were  early  settlers.  His  father  is  now  living 
on  the  farm  he  first  settled,  being  81  years  of  age.  W.  i.  was 
brou-ht  up  to  habits  of  industry  on  the  farm,  and  h-vs  made  farming 
his  occupation  from  boyhood.  He  has  a  good  f\irm  of  240  acres,  and 
besides  raising  grain  and  other  products  makes  a  specialty  of  raising 
stock,  principally  cattle  and  hogs,  and  fattening  them  for  the  whole- 
sale markets!  On  the  24th  of  January,  1856,  Mr.  Richmond  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Gray.  She  died,  however,  eight  years  after- 
wards, April  25,  1864.  There  are  three  children  now  living  the  fruits 
of  this  union:  Mary  F.,  now, Mrs.  Charles  McLean  ;Bettie  now 
Mrs  Alex.  Broaddus,  and    James    G.   at  home.     Mr.  Richmond  was 


638  HISTOKY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

married  a  second  time,  Jdiiuarj  9,  1867,  when  Mrs.  Mary  S.,  the 
widow  of  B.  B.  Austin,  became  his  wife.  She,  too,  Avas  taken  from 
him  by  death  after  a  short  married  life,  dying  November  19,  1877, 
leaving  him  three  children  :  Allie,  now  Mrs.  Italy  Wright ;  Lutie, 
now  completing  her  college  course  at  College  Mound,  and  Frankie  B. 
To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Richmond  was  married  November  11,  1878. 
Mrs.  Richmond  was  before  her  marriage  to  him  the  widow  of  The- 
ophiles  Sears,  and  her  maiden  name  was  Cornelia  S.  Hicks.  Her  first 
husband,  who  was  public  administrator  of  the  county,  died  September 
18,  1874.  She  has  one  son,  Theophilus  P.  Sears,  now  a  student  in 
Commercial  College  at  St.  Louis.  Her  first  husband  by  a  former 
marriage  of  his  had  a  son,  Walter  S.,  who  is  at  present  representative  of 
Macon  county,  and  resides  at  LaPlata.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richmond 
have  no  children  by  their  marriage.  Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
denomination.  Mr.  Richmond  is  an  enterprising  farmer  and  intelli- 
gent, well  respected  citizen. 

JOHN  W.  W.  SEARS 

(Farmer,  Section  11). 
Mr.  Sears  comes  of  illustrious  family  on  both  sides.  His  father  and 
mother,  William  G.  and  Mildred  B.  Sears,  died  in  Virginia,  and  their 
fathers  were  among  the  heroes  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  John  was 
born  May  29,  1811,  in  Spottsylvania  county,  Va.,  and  until  he  was  16 
years  old  lived  on  a  farm.  At  that  time  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  worked  at  it  until  1835,  when  he  came  to  Randolph.  He 
has  since  been  a  farmer.  He  has  160  acres  of  land,  and  raises  corn 
and  other  grains  common  to  this  section  of  the  country.  He  is  a 
worthy,  industrious  man,  and  is  very  popular  with  his  neighbors.  In 
the  recent  civil  war  he  warmly  espoused  the  Southern  cause,  and  in- 
heriting the  martial  spirit  of  his  ancestors  enlisted  under  Price,  and  at 
Boonviile  received,  in  the  shape  of  a  severe  wound,  a  token  of  which 
he  will  ever  feel  proud.  Mr.  Sears  was  married  March  4,  1874,  to  Mrs. 
Mollie  J.  Penney,  daughter  of  John  P.  Morris  and  Mary  Jane  Morris, 
both  natives  of  Missouri.  This  has  proved  a  happy  union,  with  the 
exception  that  no  oifspring  have  blessed  it. 

CHARLES  B.  STEWART 

(Farmer  aad  Stock-raiser,  Section  26,  Township  55,  Range  16). 
Mr.  Stewart  is  one  of  the  younger  class  of  farmers  of  Randolph 
county,  and  was  brought  up  at  a  time  when  there  were  good  educa- 
tional advantages  in  the  country  and  of  which  he  had  the  benefit.  His 
higher  education  was  received  at  Mount  Pleasant  College,  and  he  then 
took  a  business  course  at  Bryant  and  Stratton's  Commercial  Colleo-e 
of  St.  Louis,  from  which  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1875.  He  had 
intended  to  devote  himself  to  mercantile  pursuits,  and  in  order  to 
learn  the  practical  details  of  the  business  entered  the  store   of  his 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  639 

brother  at  Hunts ville  as  a  clerk  after  leaving  the  commercial  college, 
and  remained  with  his  brother  for  four  years.  But  he  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  and  after  learning  merchandising  and  finding  out  that  it  is  not 
such  a  remarkable  business  after  all,  he  concluded  that  about  the  hap- 
piest and  best  life  a  man  can  live,  and  one  by  no  means  the  least 
profitable,  is  that  of  a  farmer.  He  therefore  returned  to  the  pursuits 
of  his  bo^'^hood  and  3'outh  —  agriculture,  and  has  been  farming  ever 
since.  Of  course  his  education  and  business  experience  are  of  no  dis- 
advantage to  him  as  a  farmer,  but  on  the  contrary  contribute  materi- 
ally to  his  success.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  nearly  300  acres  on  Middle 
Fork  and  is  entering  largely  into  stock-raising,  raising  cattle  princi- 
pally, for  which  he  has  fine  pasturage  and  other  advantages.  Mr. 
Stewart  was  born  just  a  mile  from  where  he  now  resides  32  years  ago, 
on  the  22d  of  February,  1852.  His  parents,  Charles  B.  and  Fannie 
(Hill)  Stewart,  were  from  Virginia,  and  came  here  in  an  early  day. 
His  father  was  in  good  circumstances  and  one  of  the  best  citizens  of 
the  county.  He  died  in  1883  aged  80.  He  was  for  many  years  judge 
of  the  county  court. 

EGBERT  TERRILL,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Darksville) . 

As  a  physician  of  general  practice  in  the  country,  few  members  of 
the  medical  profession  in  Missouri,  if  any,  have  a  more  creditable 
record,  or  have  made  their  lives  more  useful  and  valuable  to  those 
among  whom  they  have  lived  and  practiced,  than  has  Dr.  Terrill,  the 
subject  of  the  present  sketch.  Though  still  not  a  man  of  advanced 
old  age  and  yet  active  in  the  practice,  he  is  one  of  the  old  landmarks 
in  the  medical  profession  of  Randolph  county,  and  has  been  visiting 
the  sick  and  administering  to  the  suffering  among  the  people  of  the 
north-western  part  of  the  county  for  35  years.  In  the  early  days  of 
the  country  his  practice  extended  from  Bloomington  to  Ft.  Henry  and 
from  Muscle  Fork  to  Grand  Prairie,  a  field  now  occupied  by  at  least 
18  active  physicians.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  extent  and 
ma2:nitude  of  his  lons^  and  useful  services  from  the  fact  that  he  has 
attended  the  births  of  over  2,000  children  and  of  all  that  number  has 
lost  but  one  solitary  case  at  time  of  confinement.  In  Missouri  there 
are  some  15  or  20  practicing  physicians  who  took  their  course  of  read- 
ings under  his  instruction.  Verily,  he  is  a  Nestor  in  his  profession, 
and  stands  out  among  all  around  him  conspicuous  and  honored  by  his 
contemporaries  for  his  long  services  in  the  profession  and  for  his  emi- 
nent success  and  usefulness  as  a  physician.  Dr.  Terrill  comes  of  one 
of  the  large  and  influential  families  of  this  section  of  the  State.  Of 
the  Terrills  there  are  perhaps  not  less  than  50  worthy  citizens  of 
Randolph  and  neighboring  counties,  all  relatives  to  the  Doctor,  and 
representing  every  calling  in  life, —  the  law,  medicine,  the  pulpit,  col- 
leges, public  affairs,  trade,  agriculture  and  all  the  better  classes  of  in- 
dustries. We  cannot  attempt  to  give  the  genealogy  of  this  family, 
even  confining  it  to  those  now  living  in  and  residents  of  North-east 


640  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Missouri,  for  it  would  require  far  more  space  than  can  be  set  apart  for 
one  sketch.  The  family  came,  however,  originally  from  Virginia,  that 
old  Commonwealth  of  which  it  has  been  said,  that  "  all  good  people 
come  from  Virginia;  "  though  the  reverse  of  this,  of  course,  is  not 
true,  that  all  who  do  not  come  from  the  Old  Dominion  are  not  good 
people.  The  Doctor's  parents  were  natives  of  Albemarle  county, 
Va,,  and  from  there  emigrated  to  Boone,  after  to  Greenup  county,  Ky. 
His  father's  name  was  Robert  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Lacy.  Others  of  the  Terrill  family  besides  the  Doctor's  par- 
ents emigrated  to  Kentucky  and  finally  to  Missouri,  and  some  of 
them  came  directly  to  this  State.  The  Doctor  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
July  1,  1824,  and  he  was  left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father 
when  he  was  but  four  years  of  age.  In  1830  the  Doctor's  uncle,  John 
Terrill,  removed  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Howard  county.  Six 
years  afterwards,  the  Doctor's  mother,  with  her  family  of  children, 
also  came  to  Missouri,  and  settled  near  her  brother-in-law,  John  Ter- 
rill. The  latter' s  wife  dying  later  along,  John  Terrill  and  the  Doc- 
tor's mother  were  married  in  1847.  Both  died,  however,  two  years, 
afterwards,  and  both  in  the  same  week,  the  husband  on  Sunday  and 
the  wife  on  Thursday.  There  were  no  children  by  their  marriage 
but  each  had  a  large  family  by  their  former  marriages,  respectively, 
who  grew  up  and  settled  in  this  section  of  the  State,  and  became  the 
parents  of  numerous  children,  who  are  now  in  turn  themselves  the 
heads  of  families.  Dr.  Terrill  was  one  in  a  family  of  13  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  reach  maturity  and  marry.  Dr.  Terrill  grew  up 
and  in  early  manhood  began  the  study  of  medicine.  He  read  under  Dr. 
Presley  Oliver,  near  Renick,  and  was  fellow-student  with  Dr.  John  C. 
Oliver.  He  took  the  full  semester  of  lectures  at  the  Eclectic  Med- 
ical College,  of  Cincinnati,  during  the  terms  of  1846-47  and  1847-8. 
But  at  the  end  of  his  first  term  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  his  present  home  and  has  continued  in  the  active  practice 
except  while  attending  medical  college,  from  that  time  to  this.  Dr. 
Terrill  has  been  thoroughly  wedded  to  his  profession  from >  the  begin- 
ning, and  save  his  own  family,  there  is  nothing  in  which  he  has  taken 
greater  pleasure  and  interest.  It  has  ever  been  his  delight  to  prac- 
tice medicine,  not  only  because  he  takes  pleasure  in  the  practice 
itself,  but,  possessed  of  a  warm,  sympathetic  nature,  it  gives  him  the 
greatest  happiness  to  relieve  his  suffering  fellow-creatures  from  the 
rack  of  pain  and  anguish.  That  he  might  be  able  to  do  this  more 
eflectually  and  successfully.  Dr.  Terrill  has  been  a  life-long  student  of 
medicine,  and  has  soug^ht  to  familiarize  himself  with  all  the  knowledge 
of  his  profession  to  be  derived  from  books  and  the  schools.  He  has, 
therefore,  kept  up  in  the  medical  journals  and  the  latest  and  best  text- 
writers,  and  attended  medical  colleges  twice  after  he  had  been  in  the 
practice  15  years.  In  1862  he  took  a  course  in  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College  and  he  afterwards  took  a  course  in  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  at  Keokuk,  Iowa.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1850,  Dr. 
Terrill  was  married  to  Miss  Anna   S.  Hall,  a  daughter  of  John  H. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  641 

Hall,  and  a  sister  to  Judge  William  A.  Hall,  of  Huntsville.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Terrill  have  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  namely:  Robert  A., 
who  is  married  and  now  has  charge  of  the  farm  ;  Willard  P.,  M.D., 
practicing  medicine  with  his  father,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Missouri 
Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  post-graduate  of  the  Bellevue 
Medical  College,  of  New  York  City  ;  Mary  S.,  now  the  wife  of  John 
E.  Godard  ;  Bessie  and  Florence,  who  are  both  at  home.  The  Doctor 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  for  45  years. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  organizers  of  Mt.  Shiloh  Church  nearly  30 
years  ago,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the  18  original  organizers  now  be- 
longing to  the  church.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
for  many  years. 

JOHN  R.  WRENN 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  P.  O.,  Thomas  Hill). 

Mr.  Wrenn,  still  comparatively  a  young  man,  has  had  a  business 
career  remarkable  for  the  rapidity  and  abundance  of  his  success.  In 
the  spring  of  1869  he  commenced  in  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk  in  a 
small  country  store.  To-day  he  has  two  large  stores,  one  at  Thomas 
Hill  and  the  other  at  Summerville,  in  the  first  of  which  he  carries 
$12,000  stock  and  in  the  second  a  stock  of  $5,000,  and  the  tvvo  stores 
do  an  aggregate  annual  business  of  over  $35,000.  Everything  he  pos- 
sesses he  has  made  himself  by  industry,  enterprise  and  honesty,  and 
all  since  1869.  Proof  that  his  success  has  been  achieved  by  methods 
worthy  and  above  reproach  is  given  conclusively  by  the  fact  that 
among  those  in  whose  midst  he  has  lived  no  one  can  be  found  who  will 
speak  of  him  other  than  as  an  upright  man,  a  kind  neighbor  and  a  good 
and  useful  citizen.  Mr.  Wrenn  was  born  in  Loudoun  county,  Va., 
November  13,  1843.  He  was  reared,  however,  in  Fairfax  county, 
where  his  parents  lived  until  his  father's  death  some  10  years  ago, 
and  indeed  his  mother  still  resides  there.  His  father  was  James  O. 
Wrenn,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Martha  E.  Rigg.  John 
R.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  after  the  war  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  followed  it  in  Virginia  until  the  winter  of  1867.  He  then 
came  to  Chariton  county.  Mo.,  where  he  continued  work  at  his  trade 
until  the  spring  of  1869,  when  he  came  to  Randolph  county  and  be- 
came a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Bogy  &  Rigg,  the  latter  being  his  uncle. 
He  clerked  for  that  firm  for  six  months  and  then  clerked  at  Thomas 
Hill  for  the  same  firm  until  1870,  when  Mr.  Bogy  retired  and  Mr. 
Wrenn  took  his  place  as  a  partner  in  the  firm.  Mr.  Wrenn  had  no 
means  at  that  time,  but  his  uncle  recognized  the  value  of  his  services 
and  accepted  his  personal  attention  to  the  work  as  an  equivalent  to 
half  the  capital.  He  conducted  the  store  as  manager  and  partner  for 
nearly  three  years  and  then  bought  his  uncle's  interest.  When  he 
took  charge  of  the  establishment  it  carried  a  stock  of  $1,800,  but  he 
soon  ran  it  up  to  the  figures  mentioned  above.  He  established  his 
Summerville  store  in  1882,  which  is  in  the  charge  of  W.H.  Hubbard. 
He  keeps  a  fine  stock  of  goods  at  each  place  and  has  a  large  and  stead- 
ily increasing  trade.     On  the   28th   of  May,    1872,  Mr.  Wrenn  was 


642  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

married  to  Miss  Florence  B.  Twyraan,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
A.  Twyman,  of  Chariton  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wrenn  have  a 
family  of  six  children  ;  Frankie,  John  W.,  James  E.,  Mary  E.  and 
Mable  E.  Mr.  Wrenn  owns  his  business  house  at  Thomas  Hill,  and 
now  has  five  men  in  employ  in  his  stores.  He  is  postmaster  at 
Thomas  Hill. 

ELIZA  JANE  WRIGHT 

(Widow) . 
This  very  superior  lady  was  born  February  1,  1819,  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ky.,  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Trimble,  both  natives  of  the 
same  State.  Robert  Trimble,  her  father,  a  farmer  of  State  Creek, 
near  Mount  Sterling,  was  a  man  of  wide  reputation  through  all  the 
country  round.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and 
in  1835  moved  to  Missouri  with  her  parents,  settling  in  Randolph 
county.  In  1840  she  married  Johnson  Wright,  a  son  of  Evans  and 
Rebecca  Wright,  originally  from  Kentucky  and  a  man  of  note.  He 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  at  one  time  representa- 
tive of  the  county.  Mr.  Wright  died  April  21,  1867,  leaving  10 
children,  of  whom  nine  are  living:  Mary  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Mc- 
Daniel;  Robert  T.,  George  Preston,  James  Allen,  Non  E.,  Italy  A., 
Ann  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Martin  ;  Samuel  William  and  Inatta  Jane,  now 
Mrs.  Briffan.  Rebecca  is  with  her  father  in  realms  of  unfading  iov. 
Mrs.  Wright,  who  raises  considerable  stock,  owns  260  acres  of  land, 
which  is  at  present  nearly  all  set  in  grass.  So  wisely  and  well  does  Mrs. 
W.  order  her  affairs  that  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  the  soft  hand  of  a 
woman  holds  the  reins.  She  has  the  respect  and  hearty  admiration 
of  all  who  know  her.     She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


CAIEO    TOWIJ^SHIP. 


ANDREW  J.  AMICK 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Amick  comes  of  two  intelligent  and  highly  respected  families, 
the  Amicks,  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  Kingsburys,  of  New  York. 
His  father,  Capt.  George  Amick,  was  a  native  of  the  old  North  State, 
mid  commanded  a  company  of  volunteers  in  the  American  army  in 
I  lie  War  of  1812.  He  subsequently  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Howard  county,  going  there  in  1820,  and  for  a  time,  on  account  of 
Indian  difficulties,  was  compelled  to  make  his  home  in  Fort  Hemp- 
stead. He  soon  met  and  married  Miss  Amy  Kingsbury,  of  the  family 
which  occupies  so  conspicuous  and  enviable  a  position  in  the  "  History 
of  Howard  County,"  recently  published.  In  1837  he  came  to  Ran- 
dolph county,  settling  near  Moberly,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  October,  1847.     His  wife  survived  him  up  to  Aug- 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  643 

ust,  1873,  dying  in  Moberly  at  the  residence  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
David  Burberry.  Both  parents  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Of  their  family  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  but  half  are  now  liv- 
ing. Andrew  J.  Amick  was  born  in  Howard  county,  near  Boonsboro, 
December  15,  1829,  and  was  therefore  mainly  reared  in  Randolph 
county,  his  parents  having  come  here  eight  years  after  his  birth.  On 
the  20th  of  October,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Jeter.  There 
are  six  children,  the  fruits  of  this  union  :  Fannie  J.,  now  Mrs.  James 
M.  Vinee  ;  George  L.,  now  of  Cairo,  Mo.  ;  Jesse  J.,  now  of  Kansas ; 
Edwin  A.  J.,  now  also  of  Kansas;  John  W.,  now  of  New  Mexico; 
and  Arthur  R.,  now  a  student  of  Fayette,  Howard  county.  The 
mother  of  these  died  April  3,  1867.  Mr.  Amick  was  a  second  time 
married  on  the  4th  of  September,  1867,  when  Miss  Elizabeth  Nichols 
became  his  wife.  She  survived  her  marriage,  however,  only  a  few 
years,  dying  December  19,  1870.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Amick 
was  married  August  10,  1873.  Previous  to  her  marriage  to  him  she 
was  a  Mrs.  Catherine  Thomis,  a  widow  of  Hiram  Thomis,  late  of  Cass 
county.  They  have  four  children  :  Nina  G.,  James  Forrest,  Alice 
Z.  and  Olive.  Mr.  Amick  has  made  farming  his  occupation  for  life, 
and  also  handles  considerable  stock.  He  raises  annually  about  200 
acres  of  grain,  and  markets  about  50  head  of  cattle  and  hogs.  Like 
his  father  before  him,  he  is  a  succesful  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  His 
father,  as  all  old  citizens  know,  was  in  his  time  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amick  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

WILLIAM  M.  BAKER 

(Farmer,  and  Owner  of  Pleasant  Home  Farm). 

One  of  the  first  colony  of  pioneers  who  settled  in  Randolph  county 
is  still  living,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Isaac  Baker,  a 
venerable  old  gentleman,  now  long  past  the  age  of  four-score  years, 
and  for  65  years  a  resident  of  this  county.  This  white-haired  and 
honored  old  patriarch,  for  he  is  the  founder  of  a  large  family  of 
children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren,  is  still  well-pre- 
served, considering  his  great  age  and  the  life  of  toil  and  usefulness  he 
has  led,  his  step  being  as  firm  and  his  conversation  as  bright  as  are 
those  usually  of  men  14  years  his  junior.  His  good  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Jane  McCuUey,  and  originally  of  Middle  Ten- 
nessee, died  at  the  age  of  68,  13  years  ago.  He  was  born  in  Madison 
county,  Ky.,  May  11,  1802,  and  came  to  Missouri  when  a  youth  16 
years  of  age,  in  1818,  with  his  father's  family,  locating  with  the 
family  in  Howard  county.  However,  the  family  had  first  moved  to 
Kentucky,  and  from  there  came  out  to  Missouri.  The  following  year 
Isaac  Baker  came  over  into  Randolph  county,  and  has  made  this 
county  his  home  from  that  day  to  this.  Four  years  after  coming  to 
Randolph,  he  was  married  to  the  good  woman  whose  death  has  been 
mentioned  above,  and  with  whom,  had  she  survived  two  years  longer, 
he  would  have  celebrated  his  golden  wedding,  or  a  happy  married  life 


644  *  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  50  years,  and  in  the  presence  of  an  unusually  large  family  of  de- 
scendants. They  were  one  of  the  representative  couples  in  Eandolph 
county  who,  identifying  their  lives  in  their  radiant  morning  with  the 
county,  continued  linked  with  its  destiny  through  the  noonday  of  life 
and  until  the  evening  shadows  fell.  It  was  the  brave-heartedness,  in- 
dustry and  intelligent  worth  of  people  like  these  that  built  up  the 
county  from  a  waste  of  wilderness  to  one  of  the  fairest  and  most 
prosperous  ariiong  her  sisters,  and  have  left  worthy  descendants  to 
take  up  the  work  where  they  quit  it,  carrying  the  county  on  to  a  still 
higher  and  prouder  destiny.  In  those  days  it  required  men  and 
women  of  brain  and  brawn  and  courage  to  face  the  hardships  of 
pioneer  life,  to  undergo  the  trials  and  deprivations  incident  to  a  new 
country,  and  out  of  primitive  nature,  untouched  before  by  the  magic 
hand  of  civilized  man,  to  build  homes,  open  farms,  erect  churches 
and  school  houses,  in  fact,  organize  society  and  construct  an  intelligent 
and  progressive  community  ;  and  such  settlers  as  this  honored  old 
couple  whom  we  are  now  speaking  of  had  all  these  qualities  and  many 
besides  that  made  them  esteemed  and  beloved  by  their  neighbors  and 
acquaintances,  and  which  have  made  their  names  marks  of  veneration 
in  the  old  family  Bible  where  they  are  written,  and  in  which  they  will 
be  handed  down  with  reverence  and  tenderest  care  to  remote  genera- 
tions of  their  children's  children.  Blessed  by  their  own  industry  and 
economy  with  a  comfortable  competency.  Heaven  smiled  upon  them 
in  their  family  in  even  greater  generousness,  and  blessed  them  with 
no  less  that  13  children,  7  sons  and  6  daughters,  and  12  of  these  they 
had  the  happy  fortune  to  rear  to  maturity,  each  of  whom  is  still  living 
and  the  parent  of  a  family,  namely:  Charles  H.,  Margaret  A.,  now 
Mrs.  Thomas  Frazier,  of  Cameron,  Mo.  ;  John  T.,  now  of  Jasper 
county  ;  William  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Thomas  V.,  now  of 
Albany,  Texas;  Nancy  J.,  now  Mrs.  William  N.  Ted  ford,  of  Cali- 
fornia ;  Samuel,  now  of  Moberly  :  Mary,  now  Mrs.  John  Heifner ; 
Martha  F.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Tedford,  of  Moberly;  Joseph  V.,  of 
Benton,  Texas  :  Sarah  B.,  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Snodgrass,  of  Cameron  ; 
Isaac  N.,  of  Shelby  county;  Louisa  M.  died  in  maidenhood,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1867.  William  M.  Baker,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
on  his  father's  homestead  in  Silver  Creek  township,  May  5,  1829,  and 
was  reared  on  a  ftirm.  On  the  18th  of  May,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  E.,  a  daughter  of  Eobert  and  Malinda  Hannah,  of  this 
county,  her  parents  having  immigrated  here  from  Tennessee  in  1835, 
in  which  former  State  she  was  born  on  the  10th  of  October,  1832. 
Mr.  Baker  has  followed  farming  continuously  from  youth  and  settled 
on  his  present  place  in  1866.  He  handles  a  considerable  number  of 
stock  annually,  and  is  one  of  the  intelligent,  go-ahead  farmers  of  this 
township,  and  is  well  respected  as  a  man  and  citizen.  His  farm  is  a 
handsome  small  place,  kept  in  good  shape  and  managed  to  excellent 
advantage,  as  would  be  expected  of  a  man  of  his  experience  and  in- 
telligence. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  four  children  :  Oscar  A.,  who 
is  grown  up  and  is  married  to  Miss   Susan  M.   King;  George  W., 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  645 

Ollie  F.  and  William  M.  Two  are  deceased,  Fines  E.  and  Willie. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  as  his  parents  were  and  his  father  still  is.  Mr.  B.  is  also  a 
member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

JOHN  S.  BENNETT 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Every  old  citizen  in  this  section  of  the  county  very  well  remembers 
'Squire  Bennett's  father,  John  Bennett,  for  he  lived  in  the  county 
nearly  25  years,  and  was  one  of  its  worthy,  good  citizens.  His  wife, 
Falby  Bennett,  was  a  Miss  Phelps  before  her  marriage,  and  both 
were  from  Kentucky.  They  came  to  Missouri  in  about  1830,  and 
settled  in  this  county  the  following  year.  'Squire  Bennett's  father 
was  a  substantial  farmer  and  well-respected  citizen.  He  died  here 
September  6,  1853,  and  his  wife  died  February  6,  1872.  Both  were 
consistent  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  They  had  a 
family  of  12  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living:  Asa,  Abington,  John 
S.,  Sarah  E.,  now  Mrs.  C.  Campbell;  William  H.  and  Mary  J., 
twins,  the  former  of  the  two  a  resident  of  Monroe  county,  and  the 
latter  the  wife  of  John  S.  Eoberts,  of  this  county  ;  Jacob  and  James 
O.  Four  are  deceased:  Eda  A.,  the  wife  of  S.  G.  Matthews; 
Daniel  S.  and  Eobert  F.  'Squire  John  S.  Bennett,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  July  1,  1831,  in  Marion  county,  but  was  reared 
on  the  farm  to  which  his  parents  removed  in  Randolph  county.  On 
the  24th  of  December,  1864,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.,  a 
daughter  of  Jackson  T.  and  MLandanna  (Powell)  of  this  county.  The 
'Squire  began  his  career  as  a  farmer  for  himself  when  a  young  man, 
which  he  has  since  continued.  His  life  has  been  an  industrious  one  and 
one  without  reproach.  The  'Squire  has  a  good  farm  of  120  acres  devoted 
to  mixed  farming  and  is  comfortably  situated  on  his  place.  A  man 
of  intelligence  and  strong  character,  he  occupies  a  somewhat  prominent 
position  in  the  community.  In  1874  'Squire  Bennett  was  elected 
magistrate  of  his  township,  and  such  was  the  efficiency  and  fairness 
with  which  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office,  that  he  was  re- 
elected and  served  consecutively  for  eight  years.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.  'Squire  Bennett  and  wife  have  six  children  :  Reese  D., 
Drucilla  B.,  Roena  I.,  Jackson  T.,  John  R.  and  Dora  E.  They  also 
have  an  adopted  daughter,  Minnie  A.,  left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of 
her  parents,  Robert  F.  and  Isa  Dora  Bennett.  'Squire  Bennett  has 
been  residing  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives  for  21  years. 

DANIEL  BOONE  BOUCHER 

(Post-oflfice,  Cairo) . 
As  will  be  conjectured  from  his  name,  Mr.  B.  is  of  Kentucky  extrac- 
tion, his  parents,  Robert  Boucher  and  Elizabeth  Wilcox,  both  having 
been  born  in  that  State.     The  former,  however,  came  to  Randolph  when 


646  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

quite  a  young  man,  first  entered  land  about  three  miles  west  of  where 
D.  B.  now  lives,  and  remained  there  until  1849,  then  settling  and  im- 
proving a  farm  upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  December, 
1872.  Daniel  B.  was  raised  on  this  farm  which  is  still  his  home,  and 
was  given  first-class  advantages,  part  of  the  time  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  country  and  afterwards  at  McGee  College.  After  he 
had  finished  his  studies  he  became  a  teacher  himself  for  a  short  time, 
but  his  inclinations  leaning  towards  the  life  to  which  he  had  been  ac- 
customed from  childhood,  he  began  to  farm,  which  he  has  continued 
ever  since.  Mr.  Boucher  has  now  160  acres  of  fine  land,  120  acres  in 
the  farm,  and  all  in  cultivation.  He  lives  in  a  handsome  new  resi- 
dence with  one  story  ell,  and  has  two  fair  barns  and  splendid  young 
bearing  orchard.  Mr.  B.  married  October  15,  1873,  Mrs.  Josephine, 
widow  of  W.  G.  Hasting,  and  daughter  of  U.  G.  and  Eveline  (Turner) 
Mason.  Mrs.  Boucher  was  born  in  Randolph,  but  spent  most  of  her 
life  in  Monroe.  She  was  educated  at  Springfield,  Ky.  There  are  two 
children  :  Anna  Zelme  and  Robert  Mason.  Mrs.  B.  has  also  one 
child  by  her  first  marriage,  viz.  :  Mary  Eva  Hastings.  Mr.  Boucher 
and  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  occupy 
an  enviable  position  in  the  township. 

BENJAMIN  R.  BOUCHER 

(Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser") . 

Mr.  B.  is  a  brother  of  Daniel  B.  Boucher,  whose  sketch  precedes 
this.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  from  his  birth,  which 
eventful  day  was  July  3,  1835.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  but  to  this  has  added  much  self-culture.  In 
1857,  when  in  his  twenty-second  year,  Mr.  B.  began  to  teach  and  for 
15  years  summer  and  winter,  with  a  short  interval  when  his  health 
would  not  permit,  he  has  continued  to  wield  the  ferule.  Mr.  B.  has 
a  crippled  knee  and  has  sometimes  been  forced  to  use  crutches.  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1863,  he  married  Miss  Elenor  F.,  daughter  of  M.  T.  Halli- 
burton, formerly  from  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Boucher  came  to  Randolph 
with  her  parents  when  a  child  of  10  years.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Boucher  continued  to  teach  in  Cairo  for  several  years,  but  in  1866, 
longing  for  the  freedom  of  wood  and  field,  he  moved  to  the  farm  upon 
which  he  lives.  He  owns  90  acres  of  land,  80  in  the  home  farm  and 
in  cultivation,  a  nice  residence,  a  story  and  half  in  height,  good  stable, 
and  an  orchard  continuing  300  bearing  apple  trees,  a  few  peach  and 
some  other  small  fruits.  Mr.  B.  has  at  different  times  filled  offices  of 
public  trust  to  the  advancement  of  the  weal  of  the  community.  He 
has  been  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  township,  U.  S.  marshall,  and  for 
10  years  in  succession  justice  of  the  peace  ;  he  has,  in  addition,  al- 
ways been  connected  with  the  schools  as  director  or  clerk.  Mr. 
Boucher'shome  is  not  without  those  "  living  palms,"  children.  There 
are  seven  children  :  Bettie,  wife  of  Sylvester  Mason  ;  John  W.,  Alice 
C,  Kate,  Haskell,  Ezra  and  Delbert  ;  Charles  died  at  the  age  of  18 
months,  and  Minnie  aged  six  years,  and  Vernon  about  nine  months  : 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  647 

both  faded  as  the  flowers,  on  the  same  day,  July  19,  1882.  Mrs. 
Boucher,  who  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Christian  Church  and  a  most  estimable  woman  in  every  relation 
of  life,  died  October  11,  1883  : — 

There  fell  upon  the  house  a  sudden  gloom, 

A  shadow  on  those  features  fair  and  thin ; 
And  softly,  from  that  hushed  and  darkened  room 

Two  angels  issued,  where  but  one  went  in. 

Mr.  B.  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Cairo. 
DAVID  PEELEK  BOUCHER,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon) . 

Dr.  Boucher,  a  prominent  and  successful  physician  of  the  North- 
eastern part  of  the  county,  and  long  located  at  Cairo,  comes  of  one 
of  the  pioneer  families  of  Ran-dolph  county.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Kentucky.  His  father,  Robert  Boucher,  was  born  in  Rich- 
mond, of  Madison  county,  of  that  State,  February  22,  1795,  and 
his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Wilcoxon,  in  Clark 
county  in  1805.  They  were  married  in  1823.  However,  Robert 
Boucher  had  come  to  Missouri  prior  to  his  marriage,  having  removed  to 
Howard  county  as  early  as  1818.  Immediately  after  his  marriage  he 
settled  in  Randolph  county,  about  four  miles  north  of  Huntsville,  and 
his  wife  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  white  woman  who  ever  resided 
north  of  Huntsville  in  this  county,  and  west  of  the  grand  divide  and 
east  of  the  East  Fork  of  the  Chariton.  She  died  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1867,  and  her  husband  on  the  24th  of  December,  four  years  after- 
wards, after  having  been  residents  of  the  county  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  Eight  of  their  family  of  12  children  are  still  living,  four 
sons  and  four  daughters.  Dr.  Boucher,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Randolph  county,  November  26,  1837.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  and  afterwards  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
under  Dr.  J.  C.  Tedford;  Entering  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Iowa  (that  department  now  being  known  as  the  Keokuk 
Medical  College),  he  continued  a  student  there  until  his  graduation  in 
the  class  of  1863.  Immediately  after  his  graduation.  Dr.  Boucher 
returned  to  Randolph  county  and  located  at  Cairo  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  with 
the  exception  of  an  absence  of  one  year  spent  in  Schuyler  county. 
Here,  for  a  time,  he  read  with  his  former  preceptor.  Dr.  Tedford,  who 
is  now  a  prominent  physician  of  Moberly,  Mo.  On  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  Dr.  Boucher  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.,  eldest 
daughter  of  Harrison  Leslie,  a  successful  farmer  and  highly  respected 
citizen  of  this  county.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Boucher  have  five  children  : 
Robert  Ulysses,  Millie  B.,  Sophia  J.,  Manly  D.  and  Nellie  D.  Five 
are  deceased  :  Arthur  O.,  William  L.,  Hattie  E.,  Emma  P.  and  Norvil 
R.  The  Doctor  and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at 
Cairo,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order  at  this 

36 


648  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

place,  and  also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  A  superior  medical  education, 
supplemented  with  over  20  years'  experience  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession,  have  conspired  to  place  Dr.  Boucher  in  the  front 
rank  of  physicians  in  Randolph  county.  It  would  be  supereroga- 
tion to  say  that  as  a  physician  no  man  in  this  part  of  the  county  stands 
higher  in  the  esteem  of  the  people. 

MICHAEL  P.  CAPP 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) .  , 

M.  P,  Capp,  the  father  of  Albert  A.  Capp,  whose  sketch  follows 
this,  was  born  in  Somerset  county.  Pa.,  June  4,  1826,  and  was  a 
son  of  Michael  Capp,  Sr.,  and  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Susana 
Adams,  both  natives  of  the  old  Keystone  State.  In  1837  the  family 
came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Monroe  county,  where  the  father 
became  one  of  the  large  land-owners  and  prominent  farmers  of  that 
county.  He  died  there  on  the  9th  of  October,  1853.  His  wife  had 
preceded  him  to  the  grave  some  10  years,  having  died  on  the  5tli  of 
September,  1843.  He  had  already  made  a  division  of  his  land, 
and  a  large  tract  fell  to  each  of  his  heirs.  Three  only  of  their 
family  of  children  are  living :  Michael  P.  Capp  was  reared  on  his 
fiither's  farm  in  Monroe  county,  and  on  the  2d  of  February,  1847, 
was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  J.  Wood,  of  Randolph  county.  He 
subsequently  located  in  this  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here 
he  has  a  iine  farm  of  over  225  acres,  one  of  the  choice  places  of  Jack- 
son township.  Besides  raising  large  quantities  of  grain  and  other 
products,  he  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  handling  stock,  and  ships 
from  25  to  50  car-loads  of  cattle  and  hoo-s  to  the  wholesale  markets 
annually,  principally  to  St.  Louis.  He  is  an  enterprising,  thorough- 
going farmer  and  stock-raiser,  a  man  of  intelligence  and  good  business 
qualifications,  and  of  more  than  ordinary  influence  in  the  township  ; 
in  fact,  one  of  the  leading,  better  class  of  citizens  in  his  vicinity.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Capp  were  blessed  with  10  children,  six  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  there  are  seven  now  living:  Susan  J.,  the  wife 
of  Henry  Gibson  ;  Albert  A.,  the  subject  of  the  next  sketch  ;  Eras- 
mus M.,  Virginia  E.,  now  Mrs.  Paul  Walker;  Mary  E.,  now  Mrs. 
Leonard  Newton,  Alice  C.  and  James.  The  three  deceased  are  the 
eldest:  Eiisha  M.,  John  W.  and  William.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capp  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

ALBERT  A.  CAPP 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  and  of  the  Firm  of  Phelps  &  Capp,  Dealers  in  General  Mer- 
chandise, at  Cairo). 

Mr.  Capp,  who,  previous  to  1881,  had  been  engaged  exclusively  in 
farming  and  stock-raising,  formed  a  partnership  at  that  time  with 
Mr.  Phelps  in  general  merchandising,  and  has  since  been  actively 
identified  in  this  line  of  business,  and  a  member  of  the  same  firm. 
A  man  of  good,  general  education  and  excellent  business  qualifica- 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  649 

tions,  the  industry  and  enterj)rise  he  had  shown  in  carrying  on  his 
farm  affairs  also  became  manifest  in  his  business  life,  and  the  result 
has  been  that,  united  with  Mr.  Phelps,  a  large  and  successful  business 
has  been  built  up.  They  carry  a  good  and  ample  stock  of  goods  in 
their  line,  and  dealing  fairly  with  the  custom,  they  have  obtained  the 
conlidence  of  the  public  and  the  trade  of  a  large  circle  of  country 
around  their  place  of  business.  Mr.  Capp  is  of  an  old  Pennsylvania 
family.  His  parents,  however,  Michael  P.  and  Margaret  (Wood) 
Capp,  came  to  Missouri  before  their  marriage,  long  prior  to  the 
'Civil  War,  and  settled  with  their  parents  in  Monroe  county.  They 
subsequently  married  and  became  well-to-do  and  highly  respected 
residents  of  Randolph  county,  where  they  have  reared  a  large  family 
of  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  seven  of  whom  are  still 
living.  Of  their  children,  Albert  A.  was  the  third,  and  was  born  in 
Monroe  county,  September  30,  1854.  Like  the  boys  of  his  vicinity, 
he  was  brought  up  to  a  farm  life,  and  educated  in  the  neighborhood 
schools.  When  21  years  of  age,  young  Capp  came  to  Randolph 
county  and  located  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  is  still  identified  with  farming  in  this  township,  and  has  a 
good  place  of  over  220  acres.  More  particularly,  however,  he  is  giv- 
ing his  attention  to  handling  stock,  and  has  been  quite  successful  in 
this  line  of  industry.  Accumulating  considerable  means,  and  anx- 
ious to  make  every  edge  cut,  so  to  speak,  possible,  he  engaged  in 
merchandising,  as  stated  above,  with  Mr.  Phelps,  in  1881.  In  1877 
Mr.  Capp  was  married  to  Miss  Nannie  Cochran,  of  this  county. 
She  was  a  lady  in  every  way  calculated  to  make  his  domestic  life  a 
happy  one  —  devoted  to  her  home,  a  faithful  and  loving  wife,  a  ten- 
der mother,  and  a  neighbor  loved  by  all  ;  —  but  the  fairest  flowers  of 
all  the  field  are  often 'withered  by  the  north  wind's  blast  before  the 
thistles  that  grow  between.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1881,  she  was  cut 
off  by  the  inexorable  scythian.  Death,  and  all  the  hopes  of  a  promis- 
ing and  happy  married  life  with  her  as  his  loved  and  beloved  compan- 
panion  vanished  from  the  bosom  of  her  devoted  husband  and  were 
buried  with  her  in  the  grave  forever.  She  had  borne  him  two  bright 
and  charming  children:  Era  Leon,  born  November  12,  1878,  and 
Robert  Enor,  born  June,  1881. 

NEWTON  C.  CUNNINGHAM 

^  (Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Cunningham  is  a  native  of  the  county,  born  October  6,  1847. 
His  father,  Joseph  Cunningham,  came  from  Tennessee  to  Missouri,  a 
single  man,  in  1833,  and  located  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  married 
twice,  his  last  wife,  and  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  being 
Miss  Mary  J.  Goodding,  a  native  of  the  county,  and  born  on  the  placd 
upon  which  N.  C.  now  lives.  Joseph  Cunningham  went  to  California 
in  1849,  and  was  in  the  gold  mines  for  three  years.  He  returned  to 
Missouri,  but  only  for  a'short  time,  and  in  1863  moved  his  family  to 
California,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.     Until  the  age   of  15 


.650  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

Newton  C.  lived  on  the  farm  in  Randolph.  He  then  accompanied  his 
parents  to  California,  and  spent  eight  years  on  a  ranch  in  that  State. 
When  he  returned  to  Missouri,  he  took  charge  of  the  place  upon 
which  he  still  lives,  which  his  father  had  bought  from  his  grandfather 
Goodding,  who  entered  the  land  and  settled  the  farm  in  1822.  Mr. 
Cunningham  boug-ht  the  land  himself  in  1880.  He  owns  421  acres, 
320  of  which  are  fenced  and  nearly  all  seeded  in  tame  grass,  meadow 
and  pasture.  There  is  an  old-fashioned  and  picturesque,  but  at  the 
same  time,  roomy  and  comfortable  dwelling,  good  stable  and  other 
outbuildings.  Mr.  C.  is  making  a  specialty  of  butter- making,  aver- 
aging about  40  pounds  a  week.  He  is  also  largely  interested  in  the 
sheep  business,  and  has  a  flock  of  about  200  of  good  graded  Cots- 
wolds.  Mr.  Cunningham  was  married  April  11,  1875,  to  Miss  Mary 
E.,  daughter  of  J.  D.  Dameron,  of  subsequent  mention.  Mrs.  C.  be- 
longs to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  her  husband  is  a 
member  of  Cairo  Lodge,  No.  486,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  He  is  one  of  the 
solid  men  of  the  county. 

JOHN  D.  DAMERON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser), 

Mr.  D.  was  born  in  Caswell  county,  N.  C,  December  28,  1822, 
his  parents,  Benjamin  Dameron  and  Matilda  Mathis,  being  natives 
of  that  State.  The  family  moved  in  1827  to  Tennessee,  but  finally 
in  1829,  to  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  where  the  elder  Dameron  bought 
land  and  improved  a  farm,  coming  in  time  to  be  a  personage  of 
much  importance.  He  was  county  assessor  from  1834  to  1842,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  March  25,  1843,  occupied  the  responsible  and 
honorable  ofiice  of  sheriff.  John  D.  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm, 
receiving  a  common  school  education.  Reared  as  he  was  among  the 
sweet  influences  of  Nature  where 

There's  music  in  the  sighing  of  a  reed 
And  music  in  the  gushing  of  a  rill, 

his  heart  was  early  enthralled  by  Love's  young  dream,  as  which 
"  there's  nothing  half  so  sweet  in  life,"  and  on  the  22d  of  July,  1847, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Robert, and  Elizabeth 
Boucher,  originally  from  Kentucky,  but  among  the  very  earliest  set- 
tlers of  the  county.  Mr.  D.  taught  school  for  three  terms  before  his 
marriage,  as  well  as  several  after,  locating  on  his  present  farm  in  1849. 
He  has  159  acres  in  his  home  place  all  fenced,  and  nearly  all  in  culti- 
vation and  meadow  pasture.  His  residence  is  a  comfortable  one-story 
building,  and  there  is  a  good  barn  and  fair  orchard.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dameron  have  seven  children  living:  Mary  E.,  wife  of  N.  C.  Cun- 
ningham ;  Isaac  T.,  Elizabeth  M.,  wife  of  D.  G.  Day  ;  Josie,  wife  of 
G.  W.  Reynolds  ;  Rebecca  F.,  wife  of  T.  L.  Day ;  J.  C.  and  William 
B.  Four  are  deceased  as  follows  :  Benjamin  F.,  died  when  6  months 
old  ;  Zachariah  S.,  at  the  age  of  4  months  ;  Valentine,  aged  14  months, 
and  Ida  Dora  died  at  the  age  of  19  years  and  10  months.     Mr.  and 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  651 

Mrs.   D.   belong  to  the    Cumberland  Presbyterian   Church  and  are 
worthy  members  of  the  community. 

WILLIAM  D.  DAY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  D.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Tenn.,  on  the  23d  of  January,  1836  ;  his  father, 
Thomas  Day,  came  from  Virginia  when  a  young  man,  marrying  Ma- 
tilda Henley,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  moved  to  Missouri  in  1844, 
and  settled  in  Randolph  county,  buying  a  farm  already  partially  im- 
proved which  is  still  in  the  family.  William  D.  passed  the  first  part 
of  his  life  on  this  place,  owing  most  of  his  education  to  his  own  eflbrts. 
April  7,  1863,  Mr.  Day  was  married  to  Miss  George  Ann,  daughter 
of  John  V.  and  Ann  Dunn,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  D.  herself, 
however,  was  a  native  of  Randolph.  They  have  had  four  children : 
Ida  G.,  Anna  L.,  Birdie  May  and  William  A.  After  Mr.  D.  had  as- 
sumed the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  matrimony,  he  lived  for  two 
years  on  his  present  farm,  then  went  to  Iowa  for  a  year,  and  upon  his 
return,  lived  a  year  in  Macon  county,  and  at  last  in  the  spring  of  1867, 
when  the  seed  was  bursting  through  the  ground,  the  buds  breaking  into 
bloom,  he  moved  back  to  the  old  home.  Here  he  lives,  honored  and 
content,  a  citizen  of  whom  Randolph  should  be  proud.  His  farm  com- 
prises 65  acres  of  good  land  fenced  and  cultivated,  good  stable,  a 
comfortable  house,  and  an  orchard  of  about  150  trees.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Day  are  deeply  imbued  with  religious  faith  and  belong  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  During  the  late  war,  Mr.  William  Day  served  in  the 
militia  in  the  fall  of  1864  and  winter  of  1865  ;  his  brother  Elbert 
served  in  the  Southern  army  for  four  years  and  was  in  some  of  the 
most  severe  battles  in  the  South.  In  one  in  which  he  participated  all 
were  slain  in  his  company  but  one  comrade  beside  himself.  He  came 
home  at  the  end  of  the  war  without  a  wound,  having  been  honorably 
discharged.  A  remarkable  feature  of  the  family  of  Thomas  and  Ma- 
tilda Day  is  contained  in  the  fact  that  out  of  a  family  of  12  children, 
six  boys  and  six  girls  — all  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood  with  the 
exception  of  one,  an  infant,  who  died  at  a  tender  age.  All  these  have 
assumed  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  married  life.  The  parents 
are  still  living,  the  father  being  nearly  80  years  of  age  and  the  mother 
in  her  seventy-fourth  year.  They  are  among  the  most  worthy  and 
highly  respected  pioneers  of  the  county. 

CHARLES  S.  DAY 

(Post-oflBce,  Cairo). 
Mr.  Day,  a  brother  of  W.  D.,  whose  biography  appears  above,  is  a 
native  of  the  county,  and  was  born  February  28,  1846.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  a  farm  upon  a  portion  of  which  he  resides.  He  received 
a  good  common  school  education.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  State 
Militia  and  served  untit  discharged  in  July,  1865,  being  stationed  most 


652  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  the  time  at  Huntsville.  After  Mr.  D.'s  marriage,  April  15,  1866, 
he  lived  at  home  for  a  year,  then  for  two  years  with  his  wife's  father 
and  finally  settled  on  a  tract  of  the  home  place  which  he  had  previ- 
ously purchased.  This  contains  70  acres  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  a 
comfortable  residence,  out-buildings,  etc.,  and  a  fine  young  bearing 
orchard  of  about  100  trees.  Mr.  Day's  wife  was  a  Miss  Mary  C. 
Lessly,  daughter  of  Harrison  Lessly,  formerly  from  Kentucky,  but  a 
resident  of  the  county  for  many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  have  five 
children  living  :  William  E.,  Dora  Belle,  Hubert  L.,  Ruble  and  Jennie 
Pearl ;  besides  these,  one  died  at  a  tender  age.  Mr.  Day  is  an  ener- 
getic, thrifty  and  prosperous  farmer,  one  of  the  sort  whom  every 
county  should  strive  to  number  among  her  residents,  for  they  are  her 
bone  and  sinew.  He  and  his  wife  walk  in  the  light  that  shines  from 
above,  and  guide  their  footsteps  according  to  the  belief  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church. 

DABNEY  G.  DAY 

(Farmer,  Section  11). 

Mr.  D.,  another  member  of  the  ancient  and  honored  family  of 
Days,  is  a  brother  of  Charles  S.  and  William  Day.  He  also  lives  on 
a  portion  of  the  home  place  which  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  town- 
ship, having  been  settled  away  back,  beyond  the  memory  of  all  but 
the  oldest  inhabitants.  D.  G.  was  born  here  January  30,  1850,  and 
like  his  brothers  grew  up  on  the  farm,  enjoying  its  pure  and  simple 
pleasures,  and  preparing  himself  for  the  toils  of  life  by  such  education 
as  the  common  schools  of  the  county  enabled  him  to  obtain.  He  was 
satisfied  with  the  peaceful  world  in  which  he  was  brought  up,  and 
upon  his  majority  felt  no  desire  to  change  :  — 

"To  surrender 
The  pond  with  all  its  lilies,  for  the  leap 
'  Into  the  unknown  deep." 

Therefore,  upon  taking  to  himself  a  partner  of  his  joys,  he  settled 
more  firmly  than  ever  upon  his  ancestral  soil.  He  married  September 
6,  1873,  Miss  Elizabeth  M.,  daughter  of  J.  D.  Dameron,  the  picture 
of  whose  life  ornaments  the  pages  of  this  history.  Children  who 
are  — 

,  As  the  leaves  are  to  the  forest, 
E're  their  sweet  and  tender  juices 
Have  been  hardened  into  wood, 

have  clustered  around  their  fireside.  Their  names  are  respectively 
Winford  E.  Hortense,  Arthur  B.  C.  and  Carson  Roy,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  February  2,  1884.  Mr.  Day  has  a  comfortable  house,  good 
stable  and  young  orchard  coming  on,  all  pleasantly  situated  upon  85 
acres  of  fenced  land,  and  in  cultivation  and  pasture.  Mr.  Day  is  a 
young  man  of  admirable  qualities  of  heart  and  head,  and  endears  him- 
self to  every  one  by  his  courteous,  affable  manners  and  sunny  temper. 
They  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  653 


WILLIAM  G.  AND  JAMES  G.  GRIFFIN 

(Father  and  Son;  the  Former  Retired,  the  Latter  Merchant  at  Cairo). 

The  biography  of  the  Griffin  fjimily,  or  at  least  the  branch  of  it  to 
which  the  subjects  of  this  sketch  belong,  leads  back  to  long  prior  to 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  its  representatives  are  all  as  worthy  as 
men  and  citizens  as  the  older  ones  are  remarkable  for  their  longevity. 
The  Griffins  settled  in  Virginia  from  England  soon  after  the  colony  at 
Jamestown  was  founded,  and  from  the  Old  Dominion  branches  of  the 
family  have  spread  out  into  the  other  States.  William  G.  Griffin's 
father,  James  Griffin,  was  born  in  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  in 
about  1758,  and  grew  up  in  that  county,  where  he  was  subsequently 
married  to  Miss  Delphia  Adams,  one  year  his  junior.  James  Griffin 
and  his  father  (who  is  the  great-grandfather  of  James  G.  Griffin,  the 
junior  subject  of  this  sketch)  served  in  the  army  of  Virginia  under 
Washington  during  the  war  for  Independence,  James,  the  elder,  be- 
ing only  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  enlisted.  After  the  war  he 
came  out  to  Kentucky  and  settled,  where  he  reared  a  large  family  of 
children  and  lived  until  his  death,  which  was  in  1853,  when  he  was  in 
the  ninety-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  died  also  in  Kentucky,  in 
1843,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  her  age.  Of  their  family  of  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  most  of  whom  lived  to  rear  families  of  their 
own,  but  two  are  now  living — Parmelia,  the  widow  of  William  Rey- 
nolds, of  Pulaski  county,  Ky.,  and  now  in  the  eighty-third  year  of 
her  age;  and  William  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  William  Gr. 
Griffin  was  born  in  Pulaski  county,  Ky.,  May  13,  1803,  and  was  reared 
in  that  county.  In  1838  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Ralls 
county,  but  the  following  year  came  over  into  Macon  county,  and 
from  Macon  to  Randolph  in  1865,  where  he  still  resides,  now  81  years 
of  age,  and  in  remarkable  health  both  of  mind  and  body,  considering 
his  advanced  age.  On  the  6th  of  January,  1839,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  Griffin,  a  second  cousin  of  his,  and  formerly  of  Kentucky. 
Five  of  the  family  of  children  resulting  from  this  union  are  living : 
John  H.,  of  Macon  county,  recorder  of  deeds  ;  Sarah  J.,  the  wife  of 
Morgan  Cox  ;  Louisa,  the  wife  of  F.  G.  Johnston  ;  Mary  A.,  the  wife 
of  John  L.  McKinney  and  James  G.  The  father,  William  G.,  was  a 
successful  farmer  in  his  time  and  accumulated  a  comfortable  estate. 
Having  lived  an  industrious,  temperate  and  worthy  life,  he  is  thus 
spared  to  reach  a  ripe  old  age,  with  his  mental  powers  unimpaired  and 
his  physical  strength  well  preserved.  James  G.  Griffin,  the  youngest 
of  their  family,  was  born  on  the  19th  of  September,  1850,  and  on  the 
12th  of  March,  1872,  was  married  to  Miss  Belle  McKinney.  The  year 
of  his  marriaije  Mr.  Griffin  eno-ao-ed  in  merchandisinir  at  Cairo,  which 
he  has  since  followed  now  for  a  period  of  12  years,  and  with  abund- 
ant success.  He  carries  an  excellent  stock  of  goods  and  commands 
a  large  trade.  He  is  also  quite  extensively  engaged  in  handling  stock 
and  ships  largely  to  the  wholesale  markets.     An  enterprising,  thor- 


654  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

ough-going  business  man,  he  is  rapidly  coming  to  the  front  as  one  of 
the  substantial  and  leading  citizens  of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
GrifBn  have  five  children  :  Florence,  Flora,  Maude,  Rosamond  and 
Willie  Pearl.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Church,  he  of  the 
Baptist,  and  she  of  the  Christian.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

JOSEPH  A.  HANNAH 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

If  one  had  been  on  the  road  between  Missouri  and  East  Tennessee 
in  1835,  he  might  have  seen  a  mover's  covered  wagon  slowly  but 
surely  wending  its  way  on  to  this  State.  In  the  wagon  here  referred 
to  was  Robert  Hannah  and  wife,  formerly  a  Miss  Melinda  Jenkins, 
both  young  then  and  inimigrating  to  this  new  country  to  establish 
themselves  in  life.  They  came  on  and  settled  in  Randolph  county, 
and  here,  as  the  seasons  came  and  went  and  decades  grew  into  almost 
half  a  century,  their  industry  and  perseverance  prospered  them 
abundantly  in  the  affairs  of  the  world  and  Heaven  blessed  them  with 
a  numerous  family  of  children.  The  father  became  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  influential  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the  county  and 
one  of  its  large  landholders.  He  died  here  in  a  green  old  age  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1876,  honored  for  the  long  and  useful  life  he  had  led 
and  deeply  mourned,  now  that  the  end  had  come.  His  good  wife, 
worthy  to  have  been  the  life-companion  of  such  a  man,  preceded 
him  to  the  grave  in  1855.  Both  sleep  beneath  the  sod  of  the  county 
for  which  they  had  done  so  much  and  in  which  they  will  long  be  re- 
membered for  the  valued  and  blameless  lives  they  lived.  Such  parents 
children  may  cherish  the  memory  of  with  the  sweet  sadness  and  sacred- 
ness  of  a  happy  dream.  Six  of  their  family  of  children  are  living: 
James  M.,  now  of  California  ;  Joseph  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  W.  M.  Baker  ;  Louisa  J.,  the  wife  of  Elder  J. 
E.  Sharp;  Julia  A.,  the  wife  of  S.  R.  King,  of  Saline  county;  and 
Emily  E.,  the  wife  of  E.  H.  Jett.  Margaret  F.  grew  to  womanhood 
and  became  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Howard,  A.B.  and  A.M.,  a  professor  in 
Oxford  Female  College,  of  the  State  of  Mississippi.  She  died  in 
1866.  Joseph  A.  Hannah,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Lincoln  county,  Tenn.,  August  5,  1830,  emigrated  to  Missouri  in 
the  spring  of  1835  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  Having  de- 
cided to  devote  himself  to  fiirming  before  he  reached  manhood,  he  has 
ever  since  followed  that  occupation.  He  has  a  handsome  place  of 
nearly  300  acres,  over  half  of  which  he  has  in  pasturage,  devoting 
his  place  largely  to  stock-raising.  He  handles  cattle,  hogs,  sheep  and 
mules  and  is  satisfactorily  successful  in  all  these  lines.  Mr.  Hannah 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  at  Cairo  and 
also  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  at  that  place.  On  the  14th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Isabella,  a  daughter  of  Lydia  and 
William  Kino-.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannah  have  six  children  :  William  E., 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  655 

James  S.,  Joseph  E.,  Julia  Belle,  Mattie  F.  and  Susie  B.  But  alas  ! 
there  is  no  flock,  howe'er  watched  and  tended,  but  one  dead  lamb  is 
there.  Lydia  A.  lived  but  nine  months,  when,  too  fair  to  last,  her 
little  spirit  was  wafted  to  its  home  on  high.  Mrs.  Hannah  is  an  ex- 
emplary member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

WILLIAM  P.  HENSON 

(Proprietor  of  Henson's  Drug  Store,  Cairo) . 

Mr.  Henson,  a  young  business  man  of  Cairo  of  thorough-going 
enterprise,  established  his  present  business  at  this  place  in  the  spring 
of  1882.  A  young  gentleman  of  somewhat  advanced  education  and 
already  with  a  neat  start  in  life,  for  all  he  has  and  has  accomplished 
he  is  very  largely,  if  not  mainly,  indebted  to  his  own  resolution, 
spirit  and  industry.  Mr.  Henson  has  the  only  drug  store  at  Cairo  and 
he  strives  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  people  in  his  line  as  well  and 
completely  as  if  there  were  any  number  of  other  houses  here  in  his 
line.  He  is  one  of  that  class  of  men  who  can  be  accommodating  and 
faithful  to  their  obligations  in  business,  as  well  as  otherwise,  without 
competition  to  spur  them  on,  or  other  fictitious  influences.  He  keeps 
an  excellent  stock  of  good,  fresh  drugs,  and  buying  as  he  does  alto- 
gether for  cash,  he  is  able  to  sell  them  at  the  lowest  prices  the  state 
of  the  markets  allow.  Personally,  Mr.  Henson  is  a  genial,  sociable 
and  popular  man  and  the  general  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  has 
hardly  less  to  do  with  the  large  trade  he  commands  than  the  high 
character  of  the  business  he  conducts.  Mr.  Henson  is  a  native  Mis- 
sourian,  born  in  Lewis  county,  October  3,  1855.  Reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  that  county,  he  remained  at  home,  with  the  exception 
of  short  absences,  until  1877,  when  he  entered  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Kirksville,  in  which  he  took  a  preparatory  course  for  general 
business  pursuits  of  three  years.  After  this  he  taught  two  terms  of 
school  and  by  economy  saved  up  a  nucleus  of  means.  In  1882  he 
came  to  Cairo  and  established  his  present  business.  On  the  15th  of 
November,  1881,  Mr.  Henson  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  E.  Baldwin, 
of  Shelby  county.  Mo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  an  interesting  little 
daughter,  born  August  18,  1883.  He  and  wife  are  both  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  South  at  this  place.  Mr.  Henson's  parents  are  res- 
idents of  Harrison  county,  Ky.  His  father,  George  Henson,  was  born 
in  that  county  June  20,  1823.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Henrietta  Bourn,  was  born  there.  They  were  married  in  1850  and 
subsequently  lived  in  Lewis  county,  this  State,  where  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born.  They  afterwards  returned,  however,  to  Harri- 
son county,  Ky.,  where  they  now  reside.  Of  their  original  family  of 
nine  children,  all  are  still  living  and  are  residents  of  Lewis  county, 
this  State,  except  our  subject.  The  father  is  a  substantial  farmer  of 
Harrison  county  and  one  of  its  most  highly  respected  citizens. 


656  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


JOHN  HUNTSMAN 

(Farmer). 

Mr.  H.,  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Cairo  township  and  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  county,  was  born  in 
Lincoln  county,  Kentucky.  He  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Ann 
C.  (Darby)  Huntsman,  both  natives  of  the  same  county,  the  father 
born  in  1788  and  the  mother  in  1803,  and  who  came  to  Randolph 
county  in  1833  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Cairo  township.  The  father 
entered  land  there  and  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided  for 
nearly  40  years  and  until  his  death,  which  occurred  August  1,  1872, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  84.  The  mother  died  January  29,  1874,  aged 
71.  The  father  served  as  magistrate  and  was  one  of  the  respected 
citizens  of  the  township.  Of  their  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, four  sons  and  one  daughter  are  living,  namely  :  George,  John, 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Joseph  W.  Darby  ;  Harrison  and  Benjamin  F.  The 
deceased  were:  Amanda,  who  died  in  maidenhood;  William,  who 
died  in  military  prison  as  a  Confederate  soldier  during  the  Civil  War ; 
Susan  J.,  who  died  in  1870.  John  Huntsman,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  after  he  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Cairo  township,  began  farming 
for  himself  and  has  since  followed  that  occupation.  On  the  20th  of 
May,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie  M.,  a  daughter  of  William 
M.  and  Sarah  Nichols,  formerly  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  where  Mr. 
Huntsman's  wife  was  born  August  27,  1842.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunts- 
man have  four  children  living:  Walter,  Martha  A.,  Emily  and  Hattie 
W.  One,  an  infant  son,  is  deceased.  Mr.  Huntsman  settled  on  his 
present  place  in  1850.  His  farm  contains  150  acres  of  land,  and  from 
boyhood  he  has  led  a  worthy,  industrious  and  respected  life.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  many  years,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  Union  Church,  his  name  being  first  on  the  books. 
This  church  was  organized  in  1857,  and  he  has  been  one  of  its  faithful 
members  ever  since.  He  is  also  a  worthy  member  of  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M. 

FELIX  G.  JOHNSTON 

(Owner  aucl  Proprietor  of  Wayside  Farm). 

Mr.  J.,  one  of  the  enterprising,  thrifty  farmers  of  Cairo  Township, 
is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Macon  county  June  10,  1844.  His 
parents  are  Richard  T.  and  Mary  (Ware)  Johnston,  both  natives  of 
Virginia,  the  father  born  in  1799  and  the  mother  in  1826.  They  came 
to  Missouri  in  1838  and  settled  in  Macon  county,  where  the  mother 
still  resides,  but  the  father  died  September  10,  1866.  Five  of  their 
family  of  10  children  are  living  :  Charles  M.,  James,  Felix  G.,  Richard 
T.  and  Barbara  F.,  all  residents  of  this  State.  Felix  G.  Johnston  was 
reared  on  the  farm  in  Macon  county,  and  on  the  5th  of  January,  1866, 
was  married  to  Miss  Lula  B.  Griffin,  a  daughter  of  William  G.  and 
Anna  Griffin,  of  that  county.     Mr.  Johnston  located  on  his  present 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  657 

farm  in  1870.  Here  he  has  an  exceptionally  neat  and  well  cared  for 
place  of  160  acres.  His  resideiice  is  a  well  constructed  and  tastily 
built  cottage,  and  everything  about  his  place  shows  that  it  has  an  in- 
telligent, progressive  man  for  proprietor.  He  also  has  a  small  place 
a  short  distance  from  his  homestead.  His  farm  is  largely  devoted  to 
meadow  and  pasturage,  and  he  raises  considerable  stock.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Johnston  have  two  children  :  Anna  F.  and  Ida  May.  The  parents 
and  children  are  all  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Johnston  is 
a  worthy,  upright  man  and  is  well  respected. 

ALFRED  LOWELL 

(Owner  and  Proprietor  of  Oakfield  Farm), 
This    leading    agriculturist     of    Randolph    county    is    a    worthy 
descendant    of    two    of    the    best    families    of    Massachusetts — the 
Lowells  and  Godfreys,   though  Mr.    Lowell   himself   is    a  native  of 
Maine,  whither  his  father  had  removed,  and  was  born  in  Kennebec 
county,  July  16,  1812.     The  Lowells  were  originally  from  England, 
but  came   over  to    Massachusetts   in   the    early  days  of  the  colony. 
John  Lowell,  of  Newberryport,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men 
of  the  State,  being  the    first    Supreme  Judge  of  the  Commonwealth 
under  the  American  Constitution,  and  for  many  years,  both  before  and 
after  the  Revolution,  a  member  of  Congress,  and  after  the  close  of  the 
war  for  Independence  a  U.  S.  District  and  Circuit  Judge  and   one  of 
the  founders  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.     Joshua 
A.  Lowell,  who  died  in  1874,  is  well  known  as  a  leading  Democratic 
statesman  of  Maine,  but  born  and  reared  in  Massachusetts.     And  James 
Russell  Lowell,   the   present  American  Minister  at  the   Court  of  St. 
James,  is  too  well  known  as  a  scholar,  poet  and  statesman  to  require 
more  than  mention.     The  Godfreys  were  originally  from  Normandy, 
France,  but  passed  over  into  England,  or  a  branch  of  the  family  at 
least,  in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror.     Godfrey,  of  Bouillon, 
was  by   all  odds  the  greatest  man  of  the  Crusades,  and  was  the  first 
Christian  king  of  Jerusalem.     He  it  was  that  led  the  Christian  hosts 
at  the  time  of  the  capture  of  the  Holy  City.     Speaking  of  that  immor- 
tal victory,  Gibbon  says:     "  On  Friday,  at  three  in  the  afternoon, 
the  day  and  the  hour  of  the  Passion,  Godfrey  of  Bouillon  stood  victori- 
ous on  the  walls  of  Jerusalem."     And  then  in  England  there  was  Sir 
Edmundbury  Godfrey,  the  great  jurist  who  exerted  himself  in  the 
discovery  of  the  Popish  plot  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  murdered 
by  the  Catholics.     Of  the  American  branch  of  the  fiimily  we  have  the 
great   mathematician,  Thomas  Godfrey  and  his  son,  the  latter  being 
the  first  dramatic  poet  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.     James  Lowell,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Newberryport,  Mass., 
in  1770,  and  was  a  nephew  of  Hon.  John  A.  Lowell,  of  Newberryport, 
mentioned  above.     James  Lowell  married  Miss  Olive  Godfrey,  who 
was  born  in   that  part  of  Massachusetts  now  in   the  jurisdiction  of 
Maine,  in  1780.     They  were  married  in  1798  and  settled  permanently 
in   Maine.     James  Lowell  there  became  a  wealthy  and  leading  ship- 


658  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

builder  and  ship-owner,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Maine 
in  his  line  of  business  for  many  years.  He  died  in  1853,  but  his  wife 
survived  up  to  187<5,  reaching  the  advanced  age  of  96  years.  They 
had  a  family  of  eight  children  :  Mary,  James,  Harrison,  Alfred,  Ed- 
ward, Henry,  Franklin  and  Leander,  of  whom  only  Alfred  and  Leander 
are  living.  Alfred  Lowell,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  at 
Kennebec  and  educated  under  the  excellent  New  England  system  of' 
public  instruction.  In  1838,  then  a  young  man  26  years  of  age,  he 
decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  West,  and  accordingly  came  out  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Tazewell  county,  where  he  embarked  in  the 
pursuit  of  farming.  Three  years  afterwards,  on  the  10th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1841,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  S.  Richmond,  of  Tazewell 
county,  and  he  continued  a  resident  of  that  county,  engaged  mainly  in 
farming,  for  over  30  years  after  his  marriage.  A  man  of  his  antece- 
dents, intelligence  and  enterprise  could  hardly  have  failed  of  success 
in  tending  his  flocks  and  herds  and  cultivating  the  rich  soil  in  the 
Prairie  State.  Li  1870  Mr.  Lowell  determined  to  push  on  out  to 
Missouri,  and  disposing  of  his  interests  in  Illinois,  he  came  to  this 
State  and  settled  in  Randolph  county  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides. This  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township,  a  typical  place 
for  a  Northern  farmer,  neat  and  clean  and  everything  in  good  shape. 
He  has  over  400  acres  of  fine  land  in  the  county,  and  he  and  his  sons 
are  largely  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  their  annual  shipments 
running  as  high  some  years  as  250  head  of  cattle  and  400  head  of  hogs. 
He  is  one  of  the  well  known  and  popular  citizens  of  the  county,  a  man 
whose  citizenship  is  of  value  to  the  people  among  whom  he  lives,  and 
no  one  is  more  highly  respected  by  those  who  know  him  than  he.  Mr. 
Lowell's  first  wife  died  in  1853,  and  on  the  24th  of  April,  1855,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Sill,  a  daughter  of  D.  T.  and  Polly  Sill, 
formerly  of  Ohio,  in  which  State  Mrs.  Lowell  was  born  July  3,  1834. 
By  his  first  marriage  there  were  three  children :  Elizabeth,  who  died 
in  maidenhood  ;  Edward  and  James.  He  also  has  three  children  by 
his  last  marriage  :  Clara  E.,  Florence  and  Edith. 

HIRAM  McKINNEY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  and  Dealer  in  Lumber). 

Fifty-one  years  ago  the  scene  presented  by  Randolph  county  was  far 
difiierent  from  that  which  it  presents  to-day.  Then  it  was  an  almost 
uninhabited  wilderness,  the  solitute  of  the  wilds,  so  far  as  human  ha- 
l)itations  were  concerned,  being  broken  only  now  and  then  by  a  white 
man's  cabin  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  that  skirted  broad  prairies. 
Now,  all  these  prairies  have  been  fenced  up  and  nmch  of  the  timber 
has  been  cleared  away  ;  white  farm  houses  and  occasionally  brick  ones 
rear  their  spacious  fronts  on  the  different  farms,  and  the  land  is  filled 
with  a  busy,  prosperous  and  intelligent  people.  For  this  mighty 
change,  a  change  not  less  happy  than  it  is  marked,  we  are  indebted  to 
the  sturdy  pioneers  who  came  here  in  an  early  day,  wending  their  way 
from  distant  States   over  high  mountain  ranges  and  through  lonely 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  6 5 'J 

plains  ill  their  white  covered  wagons,  to  lay  the  foundations  of  a  pros- 
perous community  on  this  side  of  the  turbid  waters  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  to  rear  aloft  with  their  brawn  and  brain  the  proud  walls  of  its 
superstructure.  Among  those  who  contributed  their  full  share  in  this 
great  work  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Daniel  Mc- 
Kinney.  Born  in  Lincohi  county,  Ky.,  on  the  13th  of  January,  1802, 
he  married  Miss  Eliza  Brown  in  1833,  and  the  following  year  came  to 
Missouri,  locating  in  Randolph  county,  where  for  48  years  he  labored 
unceasingly  for  the  material  development  of  the  county  ;  and  accumu- 
lating a  comfortable  fortune,  he  thus  contributed  his  full  share  to  its 
wealth  and  prosperity,  and  dying  at  last  at  a  good  old  age,  left  a 
worthy  family  of  children  to  succeed  to  his  name  and  estate  and  to 
carry  forward  the  great  work  to  which,  practically,  his  whole  life  was 
devoted.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raiseis  of  Ran- 
dolph county,  and  died  a  worthy  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  of 
w^hich  he  had  been  a  member  for  many  years.  His  wife  still  resides 
on  the  old  family  homestead  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  73.  Of  their 
family  of  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  nine  are  living  :  Sophia  J.,  now 
Mrs.  Robert  Brown,  of  Monroe  county  ;  Hiram,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  ;  William  E,,  of  Oregon;  Annie  M.,  now  Mrs.  Harrison  Hunts- 
man ;  Patsey  J.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  F.  Campbell ;  Harrison  S.,  John 
F.,  Madison  and  Laura  B.,  the  wife  of  James  G.  Griffin.  Hiram 
McKinney,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  the  8th  of  June, 
1837,  and  from  that  day  to  this,  a  period  of  47  years,  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous resident  of  Randolph  county.  On  the  27th  of  February, 
1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  F.,  a  daughter  of  James  G. 
and  Sarah  R.  Campbell,  who  settled  here  also  in  about  1833,  coming 
from  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mr^.  McK.  have  but  one  child,  Sophia  J., 
born  October  12,  1873.  Two  are  deceased,  Evelena  and  Nora  Lee. 
Mr.  McKinney's  whole  life,  from  youth  to  the  present,  has  been  spent 
in  farming,  and  as  the  fruits  of  his  toil  he  may  point  with  reasonable 
satisfaction  to  his  fine  farm  of  200  acres,  one  of  the  best  in  the  town- 
ship, and  also  to  his  stock  and  other  valuable  personal  property.  He 
makes  something  of  a  specialty  of  raising  stock,  and  ships  from  two 
to  three  car  loads  to  the  markets  annually.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  church,  his  wife  of  the  Christian  and  he  of  the  Baptist  denom- 
inations. Mr.  McKinney  keeps  on  hand  a  stock  of  lumber  for  general 
custom. 

MARQUES  D.  L.  PATTON 

(Farmer) . 

It  was  in  1837  that  Thomas  Patton  and  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Stinson,  with  their  family  of  children,  emigrated  from  Ten- 
nessee to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  a  wheel- 
wright by  occupation,  and  followed  that  in  this  county  until  his  death, 
whi^h  occurred  March  5,  1842.  He  was  born  in  Alabama  in  1790. 
She  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1804,  and  died  in  this  county  Jan- 
uary 7,  1883.  But  four  of  their  family  of  11  children  are  living : 
Rhoda,  the  wife  of  William   Mayo,  of  Benton    county,   Arkansas ; 


660  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Marques  D.  L.,  Nancy  M.,  the  wife  of  Richard  Cromwell,  and  Thomas 
Jr.  Marques  D.  L.  Patton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
this  county  March  3,  1837,  and  his  home  has  been  in  this  county  from 
that  day  to  this.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Cromwell,  and  five  sons  and  four  daughters  have  been  the 
fruits  of  their  union,  but  five  of  whom,  however,  are  now  living: 
Nora  B.,  Charles  A.,  Stephen  C,  Mary  H.  and  Freddie  M.  Mr. 
Patton  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  1872.  He  has 
200  acres  of  good  land  and  is  comfortably  situated  on  his  place.  Mrs. 
Patton  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  February  25,  1839.  Her  parents 
were  Joseph  W.  and  Martha  Cromwell,  who  came  to  this  county  in 
1856. 

JEREMIAH  W.  PHILLIPS 

(Farmer  and  Justice  of  the  Peace) . 

During  the  War  'Squire  Phillips'  father,  Allen  Phillips,  an  old 
gentleman  61  years  of  age,  and  who  has  been  a  resident  of  Monroe 
county  for  25  years,  a  peaceable  and  law-abiding  man,  taking  no  part 
in  the  troubles  of  the  times,  and  one  of  the  best  and  most  highly  re- 
pected  citizens  in  the  county,  was  taken  out  from  his  house  by  a  band 
of  irresponsible  and  merciless  scoundrels  serving  on  the  Union  side  as 
militiamen,  and  shot  down  like  a  common  dog  in  cold  blood.  His 
body  was  afterwards  taken  charge  of  by  friends  and  respectfully  and 
sadly  buried  in  the  home  cemetery,  where  his  remains  still  rest  in  the 
unendino;  embrace  of  the  o;rave.  He  was  a  orood  man,  an  elder  in  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  was  esteemed  by  all,  and  his 
memory  is  tenderly  cherished  by  his  loved  ones  and  by  all  his  neigh- 
bors and  acquaintances.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  Febru- 
ary 24,  1803.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Doswell, 
formerly  of  Prince  Edward  county,  Virginia.  Two  of  their  family  of 
children  are  living:  Alice  C,  widow  of  James  M.  Fifer,  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  His  last  w*ife  was  previously  Mrs.  Susan  Davis, 
and  came  from  Garrett  county,  Ky.  'Squire  J.  W.  Phillips  was 
born  in  Casey  county,  Ky.,  now  Boyle  county,  July  15,  1838. 
He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Monroe  county,  and  on  the  21st 
of  April,  1859,  was  married  to  Miss  Marietta  H.  Patton,  of  Macon 
county.  They  have  six  children  living:  Alice  L.,  Allen,  James  W., 
Susan,  Nora  B.  and  Edward.  Three  are  deceased  :  Hugh  R.,  drowned 
June  17,  1882  ;  Charles  and  Emma,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
'Squire  Phillips  has  a  neat  farm  and  is  an  intelligent  citizen  and  in- 
dustrious farmer.  In  1882  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and 
has  since  held  that  office.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  C.  P. 
Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

JOSEPH  C.  RIDINGS,  M.D.,  and  OVERTON  H.  RIDINGS,  M.D. 

(Of  J.  C.  &  O.  H.  Kidings,  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Cairo). 

These  gentlemen,  leading  practitioners  in  the  medical  profession, 
in  the  north-eastern  part  of  Randolph  county,  are  the  sons  of  George 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  661 

Ridings,  Esq.,  an  old  and  respected  citizen  and  successful  farmer  of 
Monroe  county,  but  originally  of  Virginia.  George  Ridings  was  born 
in  the  Old  Dominion  on  the  10th  of  September,  1813,  and  after  he 
grew  up  came  out  to  Missouri  in  an  early  day.  In  1848  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  Hersman,  formerly  of  near  Lexington,  Ky., 
where  she  was  born  in  1827.  She  died,  however,  three  years  after 
her  marriage,  on  the  16th  of  December,  1851,  in  Monroe  county, 
where  she  and  her  husband  had  previously  lived.  She  left  two  sons, 
only  one  of  whom,  however,  Joseph  C,  one  of  the  subjects  of  this 
sketch,  lived  to  reach  manhood.  On  the  15th  of  May,  1854,  the 
father  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Hersman,  a  cousin  to  his  first 
wife.  His  second  marriage  proved  not  less  happy  than  the  first, 
and  his  last  wife  was  spared  to  brighten  his  home  until  it  was 
darkened  at  last  by  his  own  death.  Of  the  family  of  five  children 
by  this  union,  two  are  now  living,  Overton  H.,  the  second  subject 
of  this  sketch,  and  Abbie,  now  also  of  Cairo,  residing  with  her 
mother,  who  is  still  living.  The  father  died  at  Lynchburg,  Ohio, 
on  the  22d  of  April,  1872.  Dr.  Joseph  C.  Ridings  was  born  in 
Monroe  county.  Mo.,  May  8,  1849.  Reared  on  his  father's  farm 
in  that  county,  he  prepared  himself  for  college  in  the  local  schools, 
and  in  1861  entered  Westminster  College,  where  he  took  a  thor- 
ough general  and  classical  course,  continuing  there  for  five  years 
and  graduating  with  distinction  in  1866.  Immediately  after  his 
graduation,  young  Ridings  began  the  study  of  medicine,  and  in  1868 
attended  the  Kentucky  College  of  Medicine  at  Louisville.  Contin- 
uing his  studies,  he  took  his  second  course  at  medical  college  at 
the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in  1870-71,  graduating  in  the  spring 
of  the  last  named  year  with  high  honor.  Dr.  Ridings'  preceptor 
in  the  study  of  medicine  was  Dr.  John  McNutt,  of  Middle  Grove. 
In  1871  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  C.  S.  Gray,  in  the  prac- 
tice at  Nevada  City,  Mo.  They  subsequently  removed  to  Liberty, 
Montgomery  county,  Kas.,  where  they  continued  the  practice  to- 
gether for  a  short  time.  Dr.  Ridings  then  returned  to  Missouri  and 
located  at  Cairo,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice. 
Here,  in  1872,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  J.  G.  Wilson,  which 
continued  with  agreeableness  and  mutual  advantage  for  eleven  years, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  it  was  dissolved  in  the  same  spirit  of  friend- 
ship that  had  characterized  their  long  practice  as  partners.  Dr.  Overton 
H.  Ridings  then  became  Dr.  J.  C.  Ridings'  partner  in  the  practice,  a 
partnership  which  has  since  continued.  To  the  people  of  the  north- 
eastern part  of  Randolph  county  it  would  be  repeating  a  well  known  fact, 
which  has  been  said  by  every  one  in  this  vicinity,  that  Dr.  J.  C.  Ridings 
is  one  of  the  best  physicians  that  was  ever  called  to  the  bedside  of  the 
suffering.  With  a  marked  natural  taste  and  a  singular  aptitude  for 
the  medical  profession,  he  commenced  with  a  thorough  general  educa- 
tion, and  then  took  an  advanced  college  course  in  his  profession,  a 
course  which  was  characterized  Avith  more  than  ordinar}'-  proficiency 
throughout.     Since  his  graduation  at  medical  college,  now  thirteen 


662  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

years  ao-o,  although  engaged  constantly  and  arduously  in  active  prac- 
tice, he  has  never  ceased  to  be  a  medical  student,  for  he  loves  medicine 
not  less  as  a  science,  a  field  of  constant  interest  and  investigation, 
than  as  an  art,  or  a  field  of  practical  work.  The  result  is  that  he  has 
inevitably  taken  a  leading  and  enviable  position  in  his  profession.  The 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  takes  a  marked  interest 
in  the  discharge  of  his  Masonic  duties  and  the  general  welfare  of  the 
order.  On  the  6th  of  October,  1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rosa 
Voorhies,  a  daughter  of  C.  F.  Voorhies,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Mon- 
roe county.  Mrs.  Ridings  was  born  in  Rapides  Parish,  La.,  June  16, 
1853.  They  have  three  children.  Pearl,  George  V.  and  Cornelius  R. 
Both  parents  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dr.  Overton  H.  Ridings  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  April  6, 
1855,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  county.  He  was  princi- 
pally occupied  with  farming  pursuits  until  he  began  his  course  as  a 
medical  student.  Dr.  O.  H.  Ridings  read  medicine  under  Dr.  I.  For- 
rest, and  afterwards  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in  which 
he  continued  as  a  student  until  his  graduation.  Having  pursued  his 
studies  with  zeal  and  intelligence,  his  graduation  was  highly  credita- 
ble. Receiving  his  honors  at  the  medical  college  with  the  class  of 
1882,  he  afterwards  engaged  in  the  practice  at  Clark's  Switch,  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  where  he  continued  with  success  until  November,  1883, 
when  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  his  brother  at  Cairo. 
Although  Dr.  Ridings  has  been  in  the  practice  but  a  short  time,  his 
qualifications  and  natural  aptness  for  a  successful  physician  are  such 
that  he  can  hardly  fail  of  winning  a  place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  the  public  as  a  practitioner  quite  as  high  as  that  now  occupied  by 
his  brother.  A  man  of  generous  impulses  and  warm  sympathies,  he 
enters  at  once  into  rapport ^  as  the  French  would  say,  with  his  patient, 
and  is  able  to  prescribe  intelligently,  not  only  from  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  medicine,  but  from  that  intuition  which  comes  to  every  one 
who  has  the  natural  qualities  for  a  good  nurse.  Difiering  from  many 
physicians,  his  presence  in  a  sick  room  brings  with  it  hope  and  cheer, 
and  is  always  agreeable  to  the  suffering,  having  none  of  those  char- 
acteristics of  want  of  feeling  and  sympathy  which  are  often  the  case 
with  some  excellent  doctors.  Personally  and  professionally.  Dr.  O.  H. 
Ridings  is  very  popular  and  stands  high  as  a  citizen  and  neighbor. 
On  the  9th  of  September,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sally  W. 
Harris,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  B.  Harris,  an  influential  farmer  of  Mon- 
roe county.  Mrs.  Ridings  was  born  April  28,  1856.  They  have  two 
children :  Clifton  H.  and  Stanley  H.  One  died  in  infancy.  The 
Doctor  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

VALENTINE  ROLLINS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  R.  was  born  in  Dnnville,  Cumberland  county.  Me.,  September 
14,  1818,  his  parents,  Abiel  L.  and  Martha  (Manuel)  Rollins,  living 
all  their  lives  in  the  same  State.     Mr.  Rollins,  Sr.,  served  at  one  time 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  663 

in  the  militia,  doing  muster  service.  Valentine  R.  spent  his  youth 
and,  indeed,  part  of  his  maturer  years  in  his  native  State.  He  was 
educated  there,  and  taught  school  for  one  term.  His  first  wife,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  Cumberland  county  in  1844,  was  a  Miss  L. 
S.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Verill,  also  a  life  long  resident.  The  year 
after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rollins  came  West  to  seek  his  fortune,  and 
made  his  home  upon  part  of  the  same  ground  upon  which  he  now 
lives.  At  first  he  entered  only  80  acres,  and  for  seven  years  lived  in 
a  12x12  cabin  ;  but  success  never  fails  to  come  to  those  who  strive 
with  patience  and  perseverance  to  win  it,  and  now  Mr.  R.  has  the  use 
of  400  acres  of  land,  with  340  fenced,  and  all  in  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation, tame  pasture  and  meadow.  He  occupies  a  nice  residence,  and 
has  a  good  tenant  house,  two  farms  and  a  large  rat  proof  corn  crib. 
In  1857  Mrs.  Rollins  died,  and  the  following  year  Mr.  R.  was  married 
again,  this  time  to  Miss  L.  B.  Boucher,  daughter  of  Robert  Boucher, 
formerly  of  Kentucky,  but  a  time-honored  citizen  of  this  county.  To 
them  have  been  born  seven  children:  Martha  J.,  wife  of  W.  R. 
McDaniel ;  Aba  A.,  wife  of  James  D.  Peeler;  Sarah  L.,  Millie  B., 
Walter  A.,  Frederick  V.  and  Charles.  Mr.  Rollins  has  some  military 
experience  though  he  was  not  in  any  engagement.  He  served  for 
some  time  in  the  Enrolled  Militia,  which  was  organized  for  home  pro- 
tection. He  was  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  G,  Col.  Denny's  regiment. 
Mr.  R.  now  makes  farming  and  stock-raising  his  profession,  and  with 
careful,  painstaking  diligence  is  preparing  a  golden  harvest. 

WILLIAM  M.  STEELE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  S.  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  resides  in  1856,  and  for 
28  years  has  devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  tilling  his  farm  and  raising 
such  stock  as  farmers  usually  keep.  His  place  contains  155  acres 
and  is  comfortably  improved.  Mr.  Steele  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth, 
and  the  30th  of  December,  1819,  was  the  day  that  marked  his  en- 
trance into  the  world.  His  parents  were  residents  at  the  time  of  Adair 
county,  and  both  his  father,  Robert  Steele,  and  mother,  Cynthia,  nee 
Vaughan,  came  of  old  Virginia  families.  They  came  to  Missouri  in 
about  1826,  and  lived  in  Howard  county  until  1831,  when  they 
removed  to  Randolph  and  made  this  their  home  for  some  17  years. 
The  father  then  removed  to  Saline  county,  where  he  died  in  1848. 
The  mother  died  in  Carroll  county  in  1858.  William  M.  Steele  was 
reared  in  this  county  and  brought  up  to  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
November  26,  1839,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Wallace,  and  he 
and  his  wife  at  once  settled  on  a  place  to  themselves.  He  has  con- 
tinued farming  from  youth  up  to  the  present  time,  being  now  nearly 
65  years  of  age.  Mr.  Steele's  first  wife  died  August  27,  1873. 
Seven  of  the  children  by  this  marriage  are  living:  John  T.,  Mary  J., 
now  Mrs.  Hosea  Eastwood,  of  Chariton  county  ;  Louisa  C,  William 
W. ,  Major  J.,  Robert  H.,  of  Washington  Territory  ;  Susana,  the  wife 
of  J.  L.  Brown,  of  Linn  county.  On  the  same  day  of  his  wife's 
37 


664  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

death,  but  in  the  year  1874,  Mr.  Steele  was  raarriecl  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth, 
the  widow  of  Joseph  M.  Reid.  Mrs.  Steele  is  now  married  to  her 
third  husband.  She  is  the  mother  of  four  children:  one  by  her  first 
husband,  Charles  W.  Halliburton,  who  is  now  married  and  living  in 
Moberly ;  Lela  M.  and  Carrie  L.  by  her  second  husband,  Mr.  Reed  ; 
and  Edgar  Singleton  by  her  present  husband,  Mr.  Steele.  Mr.  S.  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  denomination. 

ELDER  JONAS  G.  SWETMAN 

(Minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  Farmer.) 

Mr.  Swetman,  who  now  has  charge  of  the  Baptist  church  at 
Midway,  an  arm  of  Mount  Shiloh,  and  is  an  earnest,  faithful  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Clark  county, 
January  11,  1820.  When  he  was  a  lad  eight  years  of  age,  his  parents. 
Judge  John  Swetman  and  Sarah,  nee  Golf,  came  to  Missouri  with  their 
family  and  settled  on  a  tract,  of  land  about  seven  miles  from  Fayette. 
in  Howard  county,  on  which  the  father  built  a  log  dwelling  which  is 
standing  to  this  day,  a  landmark  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the  county. 
He  lived  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1864.  He  became 
one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and  influential  citizens  of  that  county, 
and  served  for  16  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  afterwards  a 
judge  of  the  county  court.  The  mother,  a  woman  of  gentle  heart  and 
pious  mind,  motherly  and  beloved  by  all  her  neighbors,  died  in  1835. 
The  father  was  afterwards  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Belmear,  of  that 
county.  By  his  first  marriage  there  were  10  children,  and  his  second 
12  —  of  the  first  family,  namely  :  Jonas  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
George  T.,  William  B.,  deceased;  Levi  W.,  deceased;  Polly,  John 
H.,  Strother  B.,  Elisha  J.  aiid  Sarah  M.,  deceased;  all  but  two  of 
whom  lived  to  maturity  and  became  the  heads  of  families  —  of  the 
second  family,  namely :  Asa  L.,  Elizabeth  F.,  Jesse  D.,  Joseph  S., 
Susan  M.,  deceased;  Benjamin,  deceased;  Sidney  T.,  deceased; 
Hiram,  deceased;  Daniel  W.,  Albert,  Malvina  and  Charles,  all  but 
two  of  whom  lived  to  maturity.  Twelve  of  the  22  children  are  still 
living.  Elder  Jonas  G.  Swetman  Avas  reared  in  Howard  county.  On 
the  26th  of  November,  1840,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  F.  Wallace. 
She  was  born  in  Caswell  county,  N.  C,  May  24,  1816.  She  was  of 
Randolph  county  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  and  to  this  county  Mr. 
Swetman  moved,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  which  he  has  since 
followed.  She  died  February  13,  1881,  having  been  the  mother  of 
eight  children:  Sarah  E.,  now  the  wife  of  William  Halliburton,  of 
Shelby  county  ;  John  J.,  died  at  the  age  of  17,  in  1860  ;  George  W., 
who  was  killed  in  a  coal  bank  in  1880  at  the  age  of  34  ;  Silas,  who 
died  in  boyhood;  Susan  M.,  who  died  in  tender  years  ;  Louisa,  the 
wife  of  John  H.  Lilly,  of  this  county  ;  Malinda  P.,  who  died  while  the 
wife  of  Charles  Orr,  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  26  years  ;  and  Jonas  A., 
Jr.,  born  May  7,  1857.  Mr.  Swetman  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Colborn,  March  7,  1883.     Mr.  Swetman  has  long  been  a  member  of 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  665 

the  Baptist  Church.  In  1871  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  two 
years  afterwards  he  was  duly  ordained  a  minister  in  his  denomination. 
He  is  a  man  of  profound  piety,  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the 
Scriptures,  a  superior  mind  and  a  preacher  of  more  than  ordinary 
eloquence  and  piety.  Under  his  ministry  many  precious  souls  have 
been  saved  to  the  Eedeemer.  Elder  J.  G.  Swetman  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  takes  a  warm  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
order.     Mr.  Swetman's  farm  contains  100  acres. 

REV.  MILTON  F.  WILLIAMS 

(Minister  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Ciiurcii,  Post-office,  Cairo) . 

In  the  whole  ecclesiastical  history  of  Missouri  there  is  not  a  family 
that  deserves  more  honorable  mention  or  is  more  justly  entitled  to 
the  lasting  remembrance  of  posterity  than  the  one  of  which  the  sub- 
ject of  the  present  sketch  is  a  representative.  Rev.  Mr.  Williams 
was  a  son  of  Rev.  Lewis  Williams  who  has  been  well  termed  in  the 
"  History  of  the  Baptists  in  Missouri  "  "  The  prince  of  pioneer  min- 
isters." After  him  came  his  eldest  son,  Rev.  Alvin  P.  Williams,  who, 
for  many  years,  and  until  his  untimely  taking  olF  b}'  an  accident  in 
the  harvest-time  of  his  usefulness,  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Baptist 
clergy  of  Missouri.  Both  father  and  son  have  been  justly  classed 
among  the  most  remarkable  men  whose  lives  have  been  identified  with 
this  State.  The  father  was  a  co-laborer  here  when  the  country  was 
known  as  Upper  Louisiana,  with  Musick  and  Wilhoite,  the  three 
pioneer  Protestant  ministers  of  Missouri.  He  was  from  North  Caro- 
lina and  came  to  this  then  Territory  in  1797,  being  at  that  time  13 
years  of  age.  He  grew  up  as  a  hunter  and  frontiersman  and  among 
the  Indians,  surpassing  them  all  in  the  chase,  as  a  marksman,  and  in 
every  exercise  and  amusement  common  at  that  day.  He  was  of  course 
without  education,  but  finally  learned  to  read  and  became  a  Baptist 
minister.  His  career  in  the  church  was  that  of  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful preachers  of  his  time.  He  organized  churches  and  planted  the 
banner  of  the  cross  in  every  settlement  of  white  men  in  North-eastern 
and  Central  Missouri,  and  to  this  day  the  strength  and  importance  of 
that  denomination  in  these  sections  of  the  State  is  probably  more 
largely  due  to  his  ministry  than  to  the  services  of  any  other  clergy- 
man of  his  denomination  of  his  time.  He  was  a  man  of  wonderful 
natural  eloquence,  untrammeled  by  artificial  methods,  and,  therefore, 
the  more  powerful  and  effectual  in  the  pulpit.  Hundreds  came  into 
the  church  under  his  preaching  every  year  and  although  the  country 
was  sparsely  settled,  often  large  numbers  of  the  congregations  coming 
a  day's  journey  to  hear  him,  yet  his  conversions  towered  into  the 
thousands.  His  eldest  son,  Alvin  P.  Williams,  also  became  one  of 
the  leading  Baptist  ministers  of  the  State.  His  education  and  ad- 
vantages were  very  limited,  but  by  self-culture  he  obtained  an 
advanced  education,  and  became  one  of  the  most  accomplished  Greek 
scholars  in  his  denomination  in  the  State.  He  was  an  inveterate 
student  and  jjossessed  of  a  wonderful  memory.     He  was  often  heard 


C66  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

to  remark  that  he  believed  if  the  New  Testament  were  lost  he  could 
supply  it  in  loto  from  memory.  He  was  not  only  a  tireless  student 
:ind  an  accomplished  scholar,  but  a  most  indefatigable  minister,  an 
eloquent  and  successful  preacher.  Mr.  Burlingham  has  said  of  him  : 
"  He  was  equally  efficient  in  the  pulpit,  on  the  platform,  or  with  the 
pen.  By  character,  sound  judgment,  conciliating  manners  and  inces- 
sant efforts,  he  placed  himself  in  the  front  rank  of  the  Baptists  of 
Missouri,  and,  indeed,  of  the  denomination."  Of  course  in  the  space 
to  which  the  present  sketch  is  necessarily  confined,  no  adequate  idea 
can  be  conveyed  of  the  lives  and  services  of  these  distinguished  and 
eminent  servants  of  God,  men  whose  influence,  though  their  remains 
now  rest  peacefully  under  the  son  and  their  spirits  are  in  Heaven,  still 
goes  on  vibrating  down  the  current  of  time  and  on  the  gulf  of  eternity. 
The  father.  Rev.  Lewis  Williams,  has  well  been  called,  "The  father 
of  preachers."  All  four  of  his  sons,  Alvin  P.,  Perry  D.,  Isaiah  T. 
and  Milton  F.  became  Baptist  ministers,  and  five  of  his  grandsons, 
the  sons  of  his  daughters,  also  became  ministers  in  the  same  church, 
namely,  Revs.  Lewis  and  J.  D.  Murphy,  and  Revs.  Perry  D.  and 
Frank  Cooper,  also  Rev.  I.  T.  Williams,  Jr.,  the  son  of  Rev.  I.  T. 
Williams,  Sr.  The  biographies  of  several  of  these,  including  Rev. 
Lewis  and  Alvin  P.  Williams,  are  given  in  the  "  History  of  the  Bap- 
tists in  Missouri,"  above  referred  to,  and  in  several  other  works. 

Rev.  Milton  F.  Williams,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county.  Mo.,  January  11,  1826,  and  was  about  13  years  his 
eldest  brother's  junior.  When  he  came  up  he  had  better  school  ad- 
vantages than  those  with  which  the  former  were  favored,  having 
besides  elementary  instruction  in  good  neighborhood  schools,  the 
benefit  of  a  course  at  Pleasant  Ridge  College,  in  Platte  county.  He 
became  early  decided  for  the  ministry  and  prosecuted  his  studies  in 
advance  of  entering  upon  the  theological  course  with  this  object  in 
view.  From  college  he  entered  at  once  upon  a  preparatory  course 
for  the  pulpit  and  in  due  time  he  was  ordained,  April  7,  1849,  at  Brin 
Zion  Church,  in  St.  Clair  county.  Since  then  he  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  ministry.  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  has  had  numerous  charges 
in  Missouri  during  the  past  35  years  and  has  ever  been  esteemed  an 
able,  sincere  and  successful  minister.  A  man  who  has  devoted,  prac- 
tically, his  whole  life  to  study  and  work  in  his  sacred  calling,  and 
blessed  with  a  mind  of  singular  strength  and  penetration,  as  might  be 
expected,  he  has  risen  to  an  enviable  rank  among  the  Baptist  clergy- 
men of  Missouri.  Filled  with  the  spirit  that  should  animate  the  true 
Christian  minister,  and  learned  not  only  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible 
and  the  general  principles  of  theology,  but  in  the  knowledge  afforded 
by  secular  writings,  when  he  enters  the  pulpit  he  is  prepared  to  speak 
from  a  standpoint  of  more  than  ordinary  information,  and  being  of  an 
earnest  nature,  zealous  in  his  office,  he  addresses  himself  to  his 
liearers  with  that  strength,  impressiveness  and  force,  that  the  impres- 
sion he  makes  upon  the  minds  of  his  congregation  is  not  less  effectual 
than  his  appeals  to  their  hearts  and  consciences.     As  a  speaker  he  is 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  667 

possessed  of  rare  grace  and  agreeableness  of  delivery,  and  his  language 
is  well  chosen,  fluent,  and  briugs  out  the  points  he  wishes  to  make 
clear  with  great  perspicuity.  Though  more  of  an  even,  smooth 
speaker  than  a  demonstrative,  excitable  one,  yet,  when  he  becomes 
wrought  up  by  the  impressiveness  and  splendor  of  his  theme,  he  seems 
to  lose  himself  entirely  in  his  subject  and  rises  to  a  high  degree  of 
eloquence.  At  such  times  his  influence  on  many  is  irresistible.  In  a 
word,  Mr.  Williams  is  one  of  the  able  and  successful  ministers  of  his 
denomination,  and  one  who  bears  with  credit  the  honored  name  he 
has  inherited.  On  the  22d  of  January,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Brown,  a  daughter  of  William  Brown,  of  St.  Clair  county,  but 
originally  of  Washington  county,  Ky.  They  have  no  children,  their 
only  child  having  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  W^illiams  has  a  neat  home- 
stead where  he  resides  of  60  acres.  Mr.  Williams'  mother  was  a  Miss 
Nancy. Jump,  a  pious,  good  woman,  whose  influence  upon  her  children 
was  very  marked.  Besides  the  four  sons  named,  there  were  four 
daughters :  Isabella  became  the  wife  of  William  Murphy ;  Mary 
became  the  wife  of  William  Cooper ;  the  eldest,  Eliza,  became  the 
wife  of  John  Whitmire  ;  and  the  second  eldest,  Lavisa,  became  the 
wife  of  Henry  Dent.  The  grandmother  of  the  W^illiams'  boys  was  a 
woman  of  fine  intelligence,  great  strength  of  character,  and  from  an 
early  age,  in  North  Carolina,  an  earnest  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  It  was  largely  through  her  influence  that  her  son,  Lewis 
Williams,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  became  a  member 
of  the  church  and  afterwards  a  Baptist  minister,  thus  giving  by  his 
course  eight  prominent  ministers  in  after  years  to  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination. Who,  in  the  face  of  this  fact,  can  question  woman's  influence 
and  the  value  of  woman's  services.  A  pious-hearted  mother  may  set 
a  wave  of  Christian  influence  in  m.otion  that  will  go  quivering  on  down 
the  current  of  humanity,  increasing  in  volume  as  it  goes  to  the  end  of 
time. 

JOSEPH  G.  WILSON,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Cairo). 

Seventeen  years  of  continuous  practice  of  his  profession  at  this 
place  have  placed  Dr.  Wilson  in  the  front  rank  of  successful  and 
prominent  physicians  in  Audrain  county,  while  his  long  residence, 
durino:  which  he  has  been  of  orreat  value  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
community,  material,  social  and  otherwise,  has  won  for  him  a  place 
in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  public  second  to  that  of  no  one  in 
this  part  of  the  county.  A  man  of  intelligence,  high  character  and 
public  spirit,  as  well  as  a  first-class  physician,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  he  should  command  the  confidence  and  respectful  considera- 
tion of  all  who  know  him.  Dr.  Wilson  comes  of  a  good  family  on 
each  side  of  his  parentage.  His  fiither,  Joseph  G.  Wilson,  Sr.,  was 
originally  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Logan  county  February  24,  1795. 
The  mother  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  was  ten  years  her  husband'>< 
junior,  having  been  born  November  26,  1805.  Married  in  Kentucky, 
they  came  to  this  State   among  its  early  settlers,  locating  in   Clark 


668  HISTORY   OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

county,  where  they  lived  until  their  death.  The  father  became  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the  county.  But  five  of 
their  family  of  cliildren  are  now  living :  Robert,  a  resident  of  Clark 
county.  Mo.  ;  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Martin,  also  of  that 
county;  Dr.  Joseph  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Emriia,  the  wife 
of  Dr.  J.  K.  Musgrove,  of  Labelle,  Lewis  county,  and  Weber,  a  prom- 
inent merchant  of  Fairmount,  in  Clark  county.  The  father  died 
August  31,  1851,  but  the  mother  survived  until  1864.  They  left  a 
large  estate,  which,  however,  suffered  severel}^  during  the  war.  Dr. 
Wilson  was  born  in  Clark  county.  Mo.,  March  27,  1842,  and  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  that  county.  Having  a  taste  for  study 
and  mental  culture,  as  he  grew  up  he  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  more 
than  average  general  education,  notwithstanding  his  opportunities 
were  by  no  means  the  most  favorable.  He  early  formed  a  determina- 
tion to  devote  himself  to  the  medical  profession,  and  in  pursuance  of 
that  resolution  began  a  regular  course  of  study  under  the  preceptorate 
of  a  prominent  physician  of  Clark  county.  In  due  time  he  entered 
the  Keokuk  College  for  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Iowa,  from  w^hich 
he  subsequently  graduated  Avith  high  honor.  Entering  the  practice 
of  medicine  immediately  after  his  graduation,  he  continued  it  in  his 
native  county  until  his  removal  to  Cairo,  in  1866.  Since  that  time 
he  has  continued  to  practice  at  this  place.  Here  his  ability  and  skill 
as  a  physician  soon  became  manifest,  and  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice was  the  result.  The  high  estimate  formed  of  Dr.  Wilson  on  his 
first  acquaintance  at  Cairo  has  been  more  tlian  justified  by  his  subse- 
quent career  since.  He  is  a  man  whose  friendship  and  esteem  all  who 
know  him  are  anxious  to  retain  and  greatly  prize,  and  a  man  who  has 
made  his  life  useful  and  valuable  to  those  among  whom  he  has  lived. 
On  the  30th  of  April,  1867,  Dr.  Wilson  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  E., 
a  daughter  of  Rev.  Lewis  and  Susan  Baldwin,  now  of  Shelby  county. 
Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  a  prominent  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South, 
and  a  clergyman  of  great  ability  and  profound  piety.  The  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Wilson  have  three  children  :  Homer  Lee,  Floy  and  Zula.  Dr. 
Wilson  is  one  of  the  prominent  Masons  of  the  county  and  takes  an 
earnest  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  order.  The  Doctor  now  contem- 
plates removing  to  Kansas,  where  he  expects  to  continue  the  practice 
of  the  profession.  His  change  of  residence  will  be  a  great  loss  to 
Cairo  and  vicinity,  for  by  many  he  is  regarded  as  indispensable  as  a 
physician,  and  by  all  as  valuable  as  a  citizen.  It  is  an  expression 
heard  on  every  hand  that  "It  is  hoped  he  may  yet  conclude  to  remain 
at  Cairo,  where  he  is  so  well  and  favorably  known  and  where  his 
services  and  character  are  appreciated  at  their  great  worth."  Should 
he  carry  out  his  purpose,  however,  to  go  to  Kansas,  he  will  doubtless 
be  as  well  received  there  as  he  has  been  here,  for  the  people  of  that 
State  are  intelligent  and  well  disposed,  and  cannot  fail  to  discover  his 
worth  personally  and  in  his  profession.  He  will  be  a  valuable  ac- 
quisition to  the  community  in  which  he  expects  to  settle. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  669 


MOKITEAU    TOWNSHIP. 


PEOF.  JACOB  V.  ADAMS 

(Educator  and  County  School  Commissioner), 

Although  Prof.  Adams  is  still  a  young  man,  his  career  has  already 
been  such  that  it  teaches  a  valuable  lesson  to  youths  who  are  ambi- 
tious of  accomplishing  something  in  life,  but  whose  opportunities  are 
anything  but  favorable.  Professor  Adams  was  left  an  orphan  while 
yet  in  infancy  by  the  death  of  his  father.  Although  he  still  had  the 
tender  care  and  encouragement  of  a  dovoted  mother  to  stimulate  him 
to  worthy  endeavors,  the  absence  of  the  paternal  help  and  counsel 
which  an  affectionate  father  can  give,  rendered  his  way  up  in  life  any- 
thing but  an  easy  one  to  pursue.  He  was  reared  in  Randolph  county 
by  his  kind  mother,  and  his  good  grandparents,  who  did  all  they 
could  for  his  advancement.  Before  reaching  his  majority  he  learned 
the  plasterer's  trade  and  worked  at  it  some  two  years.  In  the  mean- 
time he  attended  the  common  schools,  and,  having  a  fondness  for 
study,  he  also  occupied  his  leisure  with  books,  so  that  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  laying  a  good  foundation  for  an  education.  Quitting  the 
plasterer's  trade  in  1872,  he  now  decided  to  obtain  a  college  educa- 
tion, and  with  that  end  in  view  entered  Mt.  Pleasant  College.  Prof. 
Adams  took  a  complete  course  "of  four  years  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and 
graduated  with  distinction  in  1876.  After  his  graduation  he  at  once 
entered  upon  the  profession  of  an  educator,  in  which  he  has  since 
been  engaged.  Prof.  Adams  had  taught  continuously  in  Randolph 
county,  except  for  one  year,  when  he  had  charge  of  the  public  school 
at  Salisbury.  He  has  iDecome  widely  known  in  this  county  as  one  of 
the  best  teachers  within  its  borders,  and  his  services  are  in  quest  at 
many  of  the  best  schools  in  the  county.  Such  was  his  recognized 
prominence  in  1882,  that  he  was  appointed  county  school  commis- 
sioner, and  the  following  spring  was  elected  to  that  office  without  op- 
position, highly  complimentary  to  his  personal  popularity  and  to  his 
attainments  as  a  scholar  and  ability  as  an  educator.  He  still  occupies 
the  office  of  county  school  commissioner,  and  Is  acquitting  himself 
of  its  duties  with  singular  zeal  and  efficiency.  It  has  been  one  of  his 
chief  endeavors  to  elevate  the  grade  of  teachers  in  the  county,  and 
thus  to  improve  the  practical  workings  and  tone  of  the  county  schools. 
In  this  he  has  been  fairly  successful,  and  the  improved  condition  of 
the  schools  in  the  county  observed  by  all  who  have  given  the  matter 
any  attention,  is  almost  wholly  attributable  to  his  exertions.  On  the 
8th  of  November,  1877,  Prof.  Adams  was  married  to  Miss  Sanie 
Bradley,  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Bradley,  of  this  county.  The  Pro- 
fessor and  Mrs.  Adams  have  one  interesting  son,  Claud  Byron,  born 
August  20,  1878.     Prof.   Adams  has  for  a  number  of  vears  taken  a 


670  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

commendable  interest  in  Sunday-school  work,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
active  and  prominent  men  in  the  county  in  advancing  Sunday-school 
interests.  He  has  served  at  different  times  and  places  as  superintend- 
ent, and  has  otherwise  made  himself  useful  to  the  cause.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Church.  Prof.  Adams'  parents, 
John  and  Elizabeth  Adams,  were  both  originally  of  Kentucky.  They 
came  to  Kandolph  with  their  parents,  respectively,  while  each  was 
still  quite  young.  They  were  married  in  this  county,  and  the  father 
died  here  in  1851,  whilst  the  son  was  still  less  than  a  year  old.  The 
father,  himself,  was  quite  a  young  man  at  the  time  of  his  death,  not 
having  reached  his  majority. 

JOSEPH  W.  BURTON 

(Farmer) . 

Mr.  B.,  a  brother  of  Judge  May  M.  Burton,  and  an  influential 
farmer  of  Moniteau  township,  comes  of  good  old  stock.  His  father. 
May  Burton,  leaving  Virginia,  went  to  Kentucky  when  a  lad  of  six 
years.  Upon  reaching  man's  estate,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Wool- 
folk,  a  young  lady  in  whose  veins  flowed  some  of  the  bluest  blood  of 
the  country.  Mr.  Burton  saw  gallant  fighting  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  also  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  moved  to  Missouri  in  1819, 
and  entered  land  in  the  southern  part  of  Randolph  county,  near  Hig- 
bee.  He  was  among  the  first  inhabitants  of  that  section  where  his  son 
still  lives  and  which  was  his  own  home  until  his  death  in  1859.  J. 
W.  Burton  was  l)orn  in  Shelby  county,  Ky.,  on  the  1st  of  June,  1816, 
but  has  lived  since  the  age  of  three,  in  Missouri.  He  made  the  most 
of  his  advantages  in  his  youth,  but  in  those  early  days  of  course,  edu- 
cational opportunities  were  not  very  extensive.  Mr.  Burton  has  been 
twice  married.  His  first  choice  was  Miss  Orpha  J.,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Brooks,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Of  this  union  were  born  five 
children  :  May  William,  Benjamin  W.,  Thomas  W.,  Speed  and  Irene  ; 
of  these  the  sons  are  all  at  the  heads  of  families  of  their  own.  Mr. 
Burton's  second  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  June  27,  1852,  was 
Miss  Sarah  A,,  daughter  of  Bird  Pyle,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burton  have  10  children:  Toleman,  now  married  ;  Laura 
S.,  wife  of  Wallace  Settle;  Bindy,  wife  of  James  B.  Tymony;  Bird, 
Henderson,  now  married  ;  Medley,  James  R.,  Woolfolk,  Gavella  and 
Anna  W.  With  the  exeption  of  a  short  stay  in  California,  to  which 
State  he  went  by  land  as  captain  of  a  band  of  teamsters,  returning  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  and  New  Orleans,  and  a  brief  experience  in  the 
Confederate  army  during  the  last  year  of  the  war,  Mr.  Burton  has 
remained  on  the  farm  ever  since  his  first  marriage.  He  owns  about 
416  acres  of  splendid  land  with  300  in  the  home  tract,  all  fenced  and 
in  cultivation  and  irrass,  with  out-buildings.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burton 
are  members  of  the  Higbee  Christian  Church,  as  also  are  their  children, 
with  the  exception  of  the  four  youngest. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  671 


P.  JONES  CHRISTIAN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Christian  is  the  son  of  Paul  Christian  and  a  brother  of  William 
S.,  whose  biography  will  be  handed  down  to  future  ages  through  the 
medium  of  this  work.  He  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Ky.,  on  the  1st 
of  January,  1823,  aud  came  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of 
seven,  settling  in  Randolph  county,  within  one  mile  of  his  present 
abode.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  sharing  the  advantages  common  to 
the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Christian  married  in  1853,  Miss  Susan,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Mary  McLean,  but  she  did  not  long  bless  his  hearth- 
stone. In  1856  all  that  was  mortal  of  Mrs.  Susan  Christian  was  borne 
to  her  last  resting  place.  Mr.  Christian  from  the  time  of  his  marriage 
lived  on  the  old  homestead  carrying  on  the  business  of  the  farm.  In 
1862,  he  moved  to  his  present  home  where  he  has  200  acres  of  land, 
160  of  which  are  fenced  and  in  careful  cultivation.  His  house  is  sub- 
stantial and  comfortable,  and  his  barn  and  nice  young  bearing  orchard 
attest  his  thrift  and  prosperity.  In  the  meantime,  in  1861,  in  How- 
ard county,  were  celebrated  the  nuptials  of  Mr.  Christian  and  his  sec- 
ond bride.  Miss  Frances,  daughter  of  B.  Annette  and  Frances  Guerin, 
originally  from  the  beauteous  isle  of  France.  Mrs.  Christian  was 
herself  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  but  came  to  Missouri  with  her  parents 
when  a  tiny  maiden,  ten  years  of  age.  Not  less  fair  than  the  three 
sisters  of  Granada,  Zayda,  Zorayda,  and  Zorahayda,  are  the  three 
daughters  who  were  the  blooming  fruit  of  this  happy  union.  In 
Laura,  Mary  F.  and  Josephine,  Mr.  Christian  seeks  comfort  for  the 
terrible  affliction  which  now  darkens  his  life.     On  the  20th  of  August, 

1883,— 

"The  angel  with  the  amaranthine  wreath 
Pausing,  descended,  and  with  voice  divine 
Whispered  a  word  that  had  a  sound  like  death" — 

and  Mr.  Christian  was  left  again  a  widower,  to  mourn  the  sweetest, 
truest,  tenderest  wife  and  mother  that  ever  graced  a  home.  Mrs. 
Christian  was  a  woman  whose  life  was  a  poem,  whose  death  a  public 
calamity.  The  heart  of  her  husband  did  indeed  safely  trust  in  her, 
and  her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed.  We  cannot  doubt  that 
with  the  seraphic  strains  mingles  her  soft,  gentle  voice,  and  her  daugh- 
ters have  cause  to  rejoice  that  they  have  known  such  a  mother. 

JOHN  M.  COLLINS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  C,  a  man  of  universally  acknowledged  goodness,  and  a  thriv- 
ing farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  the  township,  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Ky.,  on  the  17th  day  of  February  1822.  His  Mher,  James 
Collins,  of  Kentucky,  married  a  Virginia  lady.  Miss  Mary  Christian, 
and  three  years  after  the  birth  of  J.  M.,  died  in  Kentucky.  The 
family,  consisting  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  moved  to  Missouri 


672  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

in  1834  and  bought  u  place,  partially  improved,  upon  which  John  M. 
still  resides.  Mr.  Collins  has  lived  always  in  the  county,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  making  a  trip  with  Wm.  Embree  and 
others  to  California  ;  his  school  advantages  were  limited,  but  he  did 
not  abuse  them.  Mr.  C.  is  the  third  son  and  when  his  brothers  were 
grown,  married  and  gone,  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm  and  has 
run  it  ever  since.  He  has  460  acres  of  land  all  fenced,  360  in  culti- 
vation, and  meadow  pasture,  and  a  nice  bearing  orchard.  Mr.  Collins 
has  never  married,  sacrificing  his  life  with  the  rarest  and  most  unselfish 
devotion  to  the  care  of  his  sister.  Miss  Sally  Collins,  who  has  been 
confined  to  her  bed  for  more  than  thirty-five  years. 

LEVEN  T.  DAWKINS 

-  (Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  D.  is  the  son  of  William  Dawkins  and  Rosanna  Showard,  both 
natives  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Missouri  when  Randolph  county 
was  in  its  infancy.  Mr.  Dawkins,  Sr.,  entered  land  and  improved  a 
farm  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death  in  1851,  L.  T.  was 
born  in  the  county  December  11,  1842,  and  has  spent  his  life  on  the 
old  homestead  of  which  he  now  owns  a  part — a  cosy  farm  of  240 
acres,  all  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  blue  grass  and  meadow.  His 
house  is  a  picturesque  building,  and  adjoining  he  has  a  good  orchard. 
In  1863  thinking  that  "  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone,"  Mr.  Dawkins 
was  married  February  1,  to  Miss  Juliet  F.,  daughter  of  Christian  Col- 
lins, formerly  of  Kentucky,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
county.  Mrs.  Dawkins  was  reared  and  partly  educated  in  Macon 
county  under  the  care  of  an  aunt,  to  whose  guardianship  she  was  con- 
fided when  left  motherless  at  the  age  of  six.  In  this  home  of  domestic 
virtue  and  Christian  love  are  not  wanting  busy  little  feet,  whose  patter- 
ings  never  fail  to  find  a  responsive  echo  in  the  parent's  heart,  little 
hands  whose  tender  caresses  have  power  to  soften  life's  sternest  woes. 
Five  children  adorn  as  "  gems  of  purest  ray  serene  "  the  abode  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dawkins:  Anna  C,  Sallie  J.,  William  C,  Mattie  E.  and 
Nannie  P.  Two,  Johnnie  and  Mamie,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  at  the  tender 
ages  of  three  and  four.  Mrs.  Dawkins  is  an  earnest  member  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  Higbee,  while  her  husband  belongs  to  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  at  the  same  place.  They  are  both  eminently  fitted  by  birth 
:ind  education  to  shine  in  any  society. 

RICHARD  G.  DUNCAN 

(Of  R.  G.  Duncan  &  Bro.,  Dealers  in  General  Merchandise,  P.  O.,  Yates). 

Richard  G.  Duncan,  postmaster  at  Yates,  and  one  of  the  substantial 
business  men  of  the  south-western  part  of  the  county,  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  Grayson  county.  May  26,  1843.  When  he  was 
nine  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  parents,  William  S.  and  M.  E. 
(Thomas)  Duncan,  to  Marion  county.  Mo.,  where  they  settled  in  1852, 
near  Middle  Grove.     The  father  died  there  in  1856,  and  they  returned 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  673 

to  Kentucky  (the  mother  and  her  family,  inchiding  Richard  G.)  im- 
mediately after  the  father's  death.  There  the  mother  subsequently 
married  Rev.  Ezra  Ward,  a  prominent  Presbyterian  minister.  But  he 
also  died  in  1863.  Richard  G.  in  the  meantime  had  learned  the  sad- 
dler's trade,  and  he  came  to  Missouri  the  year  following  his  step- 
father's death.  He  located  at  Paris,  in  Monroe  county,  and  worked 
there  for  two  years.  Mr.  Duncan  then  became  a  traveling  salesman 
for  a  tobacco  house,  and  followed  that  until  1869  when  he  accepted  a 
situation  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Macon  City,  where  he  worked  until  his 
removal  to  Randolph  county.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1870,  and 
secured  a  farm  near  Yates,  where  he  followed  farming  exclusively  for 
two  years.  In  the  meantime,  in  1870,  his  mother  came  from  Ken- 
tucky and  made  her  home  with  him.  Some  14  years  ago  Mr.  Duncan 
took  charge  of  the  gram  store  at  Burton,  and  conducted  that  with  suc- 
cess for  about  six  years.  He  then  resumed  farming  on  his  place  at 
Yates,  and  in  1870  bought  his  present  store  of  T.  J.  Bagby  which  he 
has  since  conducted.  However,  his  brother,  Thomas  J.,  has  been  in 
partnership  with  him  in  all  his  business  and  farming  transactions  since 
1870,  and  is  still  his  full  partner.  They  carry  a  general  stock  of  mer- 
chandise ample  in  every  respect  for  the  trade  at  this  place,  and  they 
have  a  large  custom.  Their  farm  contains  nearly  900  acres.  On  the 
29tli  of  May,  1866,  Mr.  Duncan  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  E.  Penn, 
a  daughter  ofW.  N.  Penn,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Monroe  county. 
She  died  February  3,  1868.  No  children  survive  their  marriage. 
Mr.  Duncan  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  ai<d 
brother  are  good  business  men  and  are  highly  respected. 

NICHOLAS    DYSART 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  3,  Township 52,  Range  15,  P.  O.,  Yates). 

James  Dysart,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  one  of 
the  three  first  settlers  of  the  south-western  part  of  Randolph  county, 
the  other  two,  who  preceded  him  here  a  little,  being  William  and 
Joseph  Holman.  James  Dysart  was  from  Kentucky  and  came  to  Mis- 
souri from  Tennessee,  where  he  had  lived  for  16  years,  in  1818,  locat- 
ing at  first  in  the  Boone's  Lick  country  and  then  coming  to  Randolph 
county,  settling  on  section  9,  near  where  Nicholas,  his  son,  now  lives, 
in  1819.  His  wife  before  her  marriacre  was  a  Miss  Martha  Cowden. 
He  subsequently  moved  north  of  Huntsville,  where  he  died  in  1853, 
aged  76,  and  his  wife  died  the  same  year.  Of  their  four  sons  but  two 
are  now  living,  James  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  former  of 
whom  resides  in  Macon  county.  Robert  died  in  Saline  county  and 
John  in  Howard  county.  Nicholas  Dysart  was  born  near  Lexington, 
Ky.,  October  26,  1800.  After  growing  up  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Euphemia  Givans,  of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Kentucky,  born  in 
1810.  They  were  married  in  1827,  and  he  at  once  settled  on  a  part 
of  his  present  farm.  He  first  entered  80  acres,  but  prospered  by  in- 
dustry, his  place  increasing  to  a  fine  farm  of  400  acres.  He  also  became 
the  owner  of  20  head  of  fine  negroes,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  to- 


674  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

bacco  raisers  of  the  county,  selling  one  crop  for  over  $3,000.  He  has 
Ions;  raised  a  good  grade  of  stock,  and  has  constantly  improved  the 
quality  of  his  stock,  including  fine  graded  cattle,  blooded  horses,  etc. 
Mr.  Dysart,  now  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  is  still  vigorous,  mentally 
and  physically,  and  but  for  an  accident  he  received  a  year  ago,  being 
thrown  from  his  horse  and  having  his  thigh  bone  broken,  by  which  he 
is  now  compelled  to  go  on  crutches,  he  would  be  taken  for  a  man,  both 
in  appearance  and  conversation,  not  over  60  years  of  age.  His  good 
wife  is  also  spared  to  him,  and  they  have  been  blessed  with  a  family 
of  nine  children:  Martha  W.,  now  Mrs.  John  Waytens,  of  Roanoke, 
Mo.;  Mary  A.,  now  Mrs.  William  Twj'raan,  of  Chariton  county; 
James  E.,  who  died  during  the  war  in  Chariton  county,  and  was  a 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  minister;  Benjamin  G.,  now  a  prominent 
physician  at  Paris,  Monroe  county;  William  F.,  now  of  Howard 
county;  Robert  R.,  who  died  in  Howard  county  in  1864,  aged  24; 
John  T.,  who  resides  near  his  father  ;  Charles  N.,  who  died  a  student 
at  McGee  College  in  1860,  aged  19,  and  Kizzie,  now  Mrs.  George 
Reynolds,  near  Moberly.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dysart  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but 
before  the  war  was  a  Whig,  and  was  the  candidate  of  that  party  for 
the  Legislature  in  1850,  but  the  Democrats  had  a  majority,  and  he  was 
of  course  permitted  to  remain  at  home  and  look  after  his  farming  in- 
terests. He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  took  the  United 
States  census  of  this  county  in  1880.  He  has  also  served  two  terms 
qfB  county  assessor.  Mr.  Dysart  lost  several  thousand  dollars  by  the 
war.  He  has  long  been  one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  the 
county. 

WILLIAM  P.  DYSART,  M.D. 
(Physician  and  Surgeon). 
Dr.  Dysart  was  born  in  the  county  July  12,  1827,  and  has  lived, 
child,  youth  and  man,  among  those  to  whom  he  is  that  closest,  most 
trusted  and  dearest  of  friends,  the  family  physician.  Growing  up  on 
a  farm,  his  character  has  been  largely  influenced  l)y  the  wise  and  en- 
nobling counsels  of  Nature  as  only  vouchsafed  to  those  who  seek  in 
daily  communion  to  learn  of  her.  The  discriminating  judgment,  un- 
erring skill  and  sympathetic  tenderness  so  necessary  in  one  whose 
mission  is  ever  where  pain  and  sorrow  abide,  which  have,  to  such  a 
marked  degree,  characterized  the  career  of  Dr.  Dysart,  could  only 
have  been  learned  whence  all  great  thoughts  emanate,  in  the  country, 
not  made  by  man,  but  by  God.  The  Doctor's  education  was  begun 
at  the  common  schools  of  the  county  and  finished  at  McGee  College. 
Before  settling  down  he  went  in  1850  with  Capt.  Redd  and  others,  by 
the  overland  route,  to  California.  Here  he  spent  four  years  in  the 
mines,  returning  by  the  way  of  the  Isthmus  and  New  York,  and  taking 
in  Niagara,  Canada,  etc.  In  1856  Dr.  (then  Wm.  P.)  Dysart  began 
under  Dr.  Dick  Lewis,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Randolph 
county,  to  study  medicine.  He  was  afterwards  for  18  months  at  the 
Jeiferson  Medical  College    at   Philadelphia,  graduating  there  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  675 

spring  of  1859.  He  returned  home  at  once,  and  hanging  out  his 
shingle  bravely  and  hopefully  awaited  the  future.  What  this  has  been 
none  who  know  him  could  doubt.  The  hirge  practice  which  at  once 
fell  to  him,  and  the  fact  that  during  the  war  he  was  employed  by  all, 
of  whatever  politics,  attest  his  merit.  The  Doctor  marriexl,  February 
14,  1861,  Miss  Mary  Susan,  daughter  of  Christian  Collins,  formerly 
from  Kentucky,  and  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Higbee,  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Dysart,  an  unusually  superior 
woman,  was  educated  in  the  county  at  Mount  Pleasant  College.  There 
are  seven  children:  "William  P.,  Jr.,  John  Christian,  Mary  Susan, 
Matilda  Catherine,  Orpha  Juliet,  Thomas  Nichols  and  Lascellis.  Two 
died  in  infancy.  Dr.  Dysart,  as  soon  as  he  was  married,  settled  on 
the  farm,  one  mile  from  Higbee,  upon  which  he  still  lives.  He  owns 
256  acres  of  land,  all  fenced,  with  200  in  cultivation,  timothy  and  blue 
grass.  During  the  last  five  years  Dr.  Dysart  has  not  been  able,  on 
account  of  his  health,  to  attend  so  closely  to  his  professional  duties, 
to  the  profound  regret  of  those  to  whom  he  is  indispensable.  The 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  State  and  District  Medical  Societies,  and  of 
Morality  Lodge  No.  186,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  He  belongs  to  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mrs.  Dysart  to  the  Higbee  Christian 
Church. 

J.  SPRAGUE  DYSART 

(Proprietor  of  the  Higbee  Lumber  Yard) . 

Mr.  Dysart' s  grandparents  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Randolph 
county,  coming  here  from  Maury  county,  Tenn.,  as  early  as 
1818.  John  Dysart,  one  of  their  sons,  and  afterwards  the  father  of 
J.  Sprague  Dysart,  was  18  years  af  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this 
county.  He  grew  up  here,  and  married  Miss  Matilda  Brooks,  whose 
parents  were  early  settlers  from  Kentucky.  He  subsequently  settled 
on  a  farm,  and  by  a  change  made  in  the  dividing  line  between  Ran- 
dolph and  Howard  counties,  this  farm  was  included  in  the  latter 
county,  and  it  was  there  that  J.  Sprague  Dysart  was  born,  the  date 
being  February  13,  1832.  He  served  for  a  number  of  years  on  the 
county  court  bench  of  Randolph  county,  and  was  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-raiser.  He  died  in  Howard  county  in  1868,  greatly 
mourned  and  regretted  all  over  the  county.  J.  Sprague  Dysart  grew 
up  on  the  farm,  and  received  a  common-school  education.  He  took 
a  two  years'  course  at  McGee  College,  and  after  quitting  college 
taught  school  for  about  seven  years  in  Randolph  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties. He  then  engaged  in  merchandising  at  College  Mound,  and  con- 
tinued it  for  nearly  three  years,  or  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 
Mr.  Dysart  promptly  identified  himself  with  the  South  in  the  strug- 
gle and  served  a  term  of  six  months  in  the  State  Guard,  and  after  the 
expiration  of  that  term,  which  was  shortly  after  the  battle  of  Elk 
Horn,  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  Confederate  service.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  Confederate  army  until  the  surrender,  or  rather 
until  he  was  captured,  a  short  time  before  the  close  of  the 
war.     He  was  in  the   First  Missouri  infantry  service,   and  enlisted 


676  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

as  a  private  soldier.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Vicksburg  and  held 
for  about  three  months,  after  which  he  was  exchanged.  But  he  was 
again  captured  on  Mobile  Bay  opposite  the  city  of  Mobile,  and  held 
prisoner  on  Ship  Island  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Dysart  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Wilson's  Creek,  Elk  Horn,  first  and  second  Cor- 
inth, Baker's  Creek,  the  engagements  around  Vicksburg,  and  along  the 
line  of  the  railroad  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  many 
others.  About  the  close  of  the  war  he  engaged  in  cotton  planting  in 
Mississippi,  but  in  the  winter  of  1866-7  came  home  and  took  charge 
of  his  father's  farm,  which  he  conducted  until  1878.  He  then  came 
to  Higbee  and  engaged  in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Dysart  carries  a 
full  line  of  pine  and  native  lumber,  sash,  doors,  blinds,  hardware  and 
everything  to  be  found  in  alirst-class  lumber  yard.  He  has  a  large  stock 
of  goods  and  the  only  lumber  yard  at  Higbee,  and  does  an  extensive 
business.  Quick  sales  and  small  profits  is  his  motto  ;  in  this  way  he 
succeeds.  His  already  large  business  is  steadily  increasing.  On 
the  20th  of  May,  1880,  Mr.  Dysart  was  married  to  Miss  Mollie  J.,  a 
daughter  of  John  Fray,  of  this  county.  They  have  two  children, 
Laura  M.  and  Lassie.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  of  the  Masonic  Order  at  Roanoke. 

LASCELLIS  DYSART,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Higbee) . 

Dr.  Dysart  is  a  brother  to  J.  Sprague  Dysart,  whose  sketch  pre- 
cedes this,  and  was  born  in  Howard  county,  July  18,  1839.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  of  Judge  Dysart,  his  father,  in  that  county,  and 
after  taking  a  course  in  the  common  schools  in  his  vicinity  he  en- 
tered McGee  College,  in  which  he  completed  his  education.  He  had 
early  determined  to  devote  himself  to  the  medical  profession,  and, 
after  quitting  college,  he  began  teaching  school  and  studying  medi- 
cine at  the  same  time.  He  taught  school  and  read  medicine  for  about 
a  year  and  then  continued  the  study  of  medicine,  having  for  his  pre- 
ceptor during  all  this  time  Dr.  R.  J.  Bagby,  one  of  the  prominent 
physicians  of  Howard  county.  In  1861  young  Dysart  entered  the 
Medical  College  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  which  he  took  his  first  course 
of  lectures.  His  second  course  he  took  at  the  University  of  Iowa, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1863.  Immediately  fol- 
lowing his  graduation,  Dr.  Dysart  located  at  Renick,  in  this  county, 
for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  continued  in  the  practice  in 
that  vicinity  for  four  years.  He  then  removed  to  Higbee,  and  has  since 
been  practicing  in  Randolph  and  Howard  counties,  surrounding  this 
place.  Dr.  Dysart  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  profession,  and  has 
taken  a  prominent  position  as  a  physician.  He  has  a  large  practice 
and  commands  the  confidence  of  the  community,  both  professionally 
and  personally.  A  man  of  large  humanity  and  warm  sympathies,  he 
regards  his  calling  as  much  a  mission  of  mercy  as  a  profession  of  ma- 
terial advantage  to  himself,  or  as  a  means  of  accumulating  property, 
and,  indeed,  far  more  so,  for  it  is  a  common  thing  for  him  to  visit  the 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  f)77 

sick  and  administer  to  the  suffering,  when  he  is  satisfied  it  will  be  of 
no  personal  advantage  to  him,  or  of  no  profit  whatever  ;  cases  of  this 
kind,  or,  indeed,  of  any  other  kind,  within  the  limits  of  his  practice, 
he  never  refuses  to  attend  when  he  is  able  to  go.  Dr.  Dysart  takes 
a  great  interest  in  his  profession,  iiot  only  in  its  active  practice,  but 
in  the  study  of  it  as  a  science,  and  is  hardly  less  a  zealous  student  than 
he  is  an  untiring  practitioner.  Possessed  of  a  clear,  discriminating 
mind  and  of  cool,  sober  judgment,  by  long  experience  and  study,  he 
has,  as  would  be  expected,  risen  to  an  enviable  place  in  his  profession. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  this  section  of  the 
country,  and  wields  a  potent,  though  modest  and  almost  unconscious 
influence  on  those  around  him.  January  4,  1865,  Dr.  Dysart  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  M.,  a  daughter  of  George  Yates,  of  Randolph, 
county,  but  formerly  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  D.  was  educated  at  Fayette, 
in  Howard  county,  and  is  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence  and  culture. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  takes  quite  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  church  affairs.  Dr.  Dysart  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Medical  Association.  The  Doctor  is  also  a  member  of  the  Sons 
of  Temperance. 

WILLIAM  EMBREE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Embree  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county  and  was  born  January 
11,  1828.  He  is  the  son  of  Isham  P.  Embree,  who  came  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Missouri  when  in  the  spring  time  of  life  and  settled  in  How- 
ard county  in  1816.  He  married  Miss  Martha  Givens,  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Randolph,  Mr. 
Isham  P.  Embree  lived  in  Howard  county  until  his  death,  in  April, 
1871.  He  was  a  man  of  note  in  his  day  and  saw  good  service  both 
in  the  Indian  and  Mormon  wars.  His  wife  survived  only  by  a  brief 
12  months.  William  E.  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  Howard,  learn- 
ing in  that  best  of  all  schools,  practical  experience,  the  duties  of  a 
farmer.  When  he  became  a  man,  after  serving  one  year  in  the  Mexi- 
can War,  he  went  to  California  overland,  taking  a  drove  of  cattle,  and 
in  company  with  James  Wilson,  and  others.  He  returned  in  Febru- 
ary, 1854,  by  way  of  Central  America  and  New  Orleans,  but  went 
back  with  more  cattle  the  same  year  and  remained  until  1856,  this 
time  making  the  return  trip  by  the  Isthmus  and  New  York.  Mr. 
Embree  then  commenced  his  farming  operations  which  he  continued 
until  his  marriage.  May  15,  1859.  After  this  important  step  he  moved 
to  Renick,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  a  commercial  enterprise. 
Finally,  early  associations  proving  too  strong  for  him,  he  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Roanoke,  where  he  lived  for  17  years,  but  sold  this  place  in 
1882  and  bought  the  one  he  now  owns.  This  (which  was  entered  and 
improved  by  Joel  Smith  in  1831)  contains  1,040  acres  of  beautiful 
land,  720  fenced  and  700  in  cultivation  and  meadow  pasture.  Mrs. 
Embree,  who  presides  over  this  establishment  of  ease  and  plenty,  was 
Miss  Sallie  Fray,  a  native  of  the  county,  and  daughter  of  John  Fray, 
formerly  of  Virginia.     A  charming  family  of  six  children  have  blessed 


678  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

this  union:  Kate,  the  eldest,  died  Avhen  six  months  old;  Rollie  D., 
Hattie,  Avife  of  John  Sweatnam  ;  Hugh  C,  Ella  and  Roma.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Embree  and  all  of  their  children,  except  the  youngest,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr.  Embree  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  We  rarely  see  a  family  so  united  as 
this  one,  children,  as  parents,  making  the  law  of  their  lives  the  will 
of  Him  who  died  that  we  might  live. 

SHELTON  LESSLY 

(Of  the  Firm  of  Lessly  &  Co.,  General  Merchants,  Higbee,  and  Farmer). 

Mr.  Lessly  has  led  a  life  of  great  activity,  directed  by  singular 
good  business  judgment,  and  although  still  a  middle-aged  man,  he  has 
already  accumulated  a  substantial  modicum  of  the  rewards  of  industry 
and  good  business  management.  He  is  the  leading  member  in  a  firm 
which  carries  one  of  the  largest  and  best  stocks  of  general  merchandise 
in  the  county  outside  of  Moberly,  and  which  commands  a  trade  per- 
haps surpassed  by  that  of  no  general  store  in  the  county.  Their 
stock  comprises  among  other  goods  full  lines  of  dry  goods,  clothing, 
groceries,  hardware,  furniture  and  farming  implements,  and  they  do  a 
business  averaging  through  the  year  nearly  $1,000  weekly.  The  gen- 
tlemen composing  this  firm  are  all  three  men  of  fine  business  qualifi- 
cations, and  more  than  ordinarily  popular,  and  having  early  made  it 
their  motto  to  deal  honestly  and  sell  goods  at  the  lowest  possible 
prices  the  state  of  the  market  allows,  they  have,  as  would  be  expected, 
come  steadily  to  the  front  as  leading  merchants  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Lessly  also  has  a  fine  farm  near  Higbee,  the  carrying  on  of  which  he 
superintends.  His  position  as  a  prominent  business  man  and  influential 
citizen  of  this  vicinity  he  has  won  almost  alone  by  his  own  exertions 
and  merits  and  is  therefore  entitled  only  to  the  more  credit  for  what 
he  has  accomplished.  Mr.  Lessly  is  a  native  Missourian  and  was  born 
in  Howard  county.  May  1,  1833.  His  father,  Andrew  Lessly,  came 
to  Missouri  from  Kentucky  in  1829  and  located  in  Randolph  county, 
where  he  bought  land  (after  going  to  Howard  county  and  residing  a 
short  time)  and  improved  a  farm.  He  lived  on  his  farm  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1855.  He  was  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of 
his  section  of  the  county,  greatly  esteemed  as  a  neighbor  and  in  every 
relation  of  life.  His  loss  was  sadly  deplored  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  married  soon  after  coming  to  Missouri  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Robb, 
who  came  out  with  her  parents  from  Kentucky  some  years  before. 
Shelton  Lessly  Avas  born  of  this  union  while  his  parents  were  residents 
of  Howard  county,  but  he  was,  of  course,  reared  in  Randolph 
county  on  the  family  homestead.  He  received  a  good  common  and 
high  school  English  education  as  he  grew  up  and  afterwards  taught 
school  for  a  time  with  success.  On  the  23d  of  March,  1855,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Surrilda  Pyle,  a  daughter  of  Jehu  Pyle,  formerly  of 
Kentucky.  Mrs.  Lessly  died  October  6,  1876,  and  two  children  sur- 
vive, Andrew  J.  and  May  W.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Lessly  was 
married  some  17  years  ago.     She  was  formerly  Miss  Orpha  J.  Brooks,  a 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  679 

daughter  of  Benjamin  R.  Brooks,  from  Kentucky  to  Randolph  county. 
Mr.  Lessly  has  served  in  various  official  capacities  in  the  county.  In 
1855  he  was  elected  county  surveyor  and  served  with  efficiency  and 
satisfaction  to  the  public  for  four  years.  Two  years  after  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  office  he  was  'appointed  surveyor  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term,  and  served  for  three  years  more.  In  1866  he  was 
appointed  deputy  assessor,  helping  to  make  two  assessments  of  the 
county  and  serving  two  j^ears.  Thus,  in  all,  he  has  served  nine  years 
as  a  public  officer.  He  has  also  held  other  positions,  but  of  minor  im- 
portance. While  a  public  officer  he  also  carried  on  his  farm.  In  1874 
he  engaged  in  his  present  business  at  Higbee  under  the  firm  name  of 
S.  Lessly  &  Co.,  and  since  that  another  partner  has  been  taken  into 
the  business,  making  three  in  all.  Mr.  Lessly  is  one  of  the  most 
thorough-going,  enterprising  men  in  his  section  of  the  county,  such  a 
man  as  would  be  expected  to  build  up  a  large  business  and  succeed 
by  worthy  methods  and  without  incurring  the  hatred  or  enmity  of  any 
right  thinking  man.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lessly  are  worthy  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  Higbee,  of  which  Mr.  Lessly  has  been  an  elder 
since  its  organization.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Morality  Lodsre  No. 
186,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  Renick,  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  at  Higbee, 
of  which  latter  order  he  is  financier. 

AUGUSTUS  MILLER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser ;  also,  a  Breeder  of  Hereford  Cattle) . 

Mr.  M.  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  July  6,  1846.  His 
father,  Jacob  H.  Miller,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  this  country 
at  the  age  of  eight  with  his  parents,  who  first  stopped  for  a  few  years 
in  Maryland,  but  then  moved  to  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Miller  still  lives. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Bittner,  also  of  German  birth,  but  a  resident  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  had  seven  children,  now  all  grown  and  with 
families  of  their  own.  Augustus,  who  was  the  second  son  and  third 
child,  grew  to  manhood  in  Holmes  county  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  He  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  1870  and  located  on  the  same  tract  of  land  in  Randolph  which  he 
now  occupies,  marrying  January  28,  1873,  Miss  Ann  M.,  daughter  of 
"William  S.  Christian,  whose  sketch  is  among  these  biographies.  Mrs. 
Miller  was  born  and  reared  in  Randolph  and  attended  for  some  time 
Mount  Pleasant  College,  at  Hunts ville.  There  are  five  children : 
John  A.,  Lizzie  E.,  Eugenie  D.,  Ella  K.  and  William  J.  Eugene  E. 
(their  first  born)  died  February  7,  1877,  in  his  fourth  year.  Mr. 
Miller  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers  in  the  neio-hborhood.  He  owns 
780  acres  of  land,  all  fenced,  of  which  500  acres  are  in  cultivation, 
pasture  and  meadow.  His  residence  is  a  comfortable  one  and  he  has 
two  good  stock  barns,  cribs,  sheds,  etc.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  man  highly 
considered  by  the  community.  Mrs.  Miller  has  attached  herself  to 
the  Christian  Church  at  Higbee. 

38 


680  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


HEZEKIAH  E.  PATEICK 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  P.  was  born  in  Lafayette  county,  Ky.,  October  12,  1829.  His 
father,  Robert  Patrick,  was  among  the  goodly  army  of  those  who, 
with  hearts  filled  with  hope,  surged  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  in 
quest  of  wealth  and  fame.  One  treasure  he  claimed  as  his  own  —  a 
blooming  flower  of  Kentucky  soil.  Miss  Dorcas  Owen,  became  his  wife 
and  the  mother  of  Hezekiah  E.  Mr.  Patrick,  Sr.,  moved  to  Randolph 
county.  Mo.,  in  1830,  entering  land  and  improving  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  died  in  1873.  Here  Hezekiah  E.  grew  up,  enjoying  but 
limited  opportunities  for  the  cultivation  of  his  mind.  When  he  came 
of  age,  in  1850,  the  first  use  he  made  of  his  freedom  was  to  take  a 
trip  to  the  mines  of  California  in  company  with  Henderson  Wilcox 
and  others.  He  tarried  two  years,  and  then,  returning  home  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus  and  New  York,  he  began  life  in  earnest.  His  early 
training  inclining  him  to  the  unfettered  life  of  a  farmer,  he  engaged 
in  that  occupation  at  once.  In  1852  Mr.  Patrick  wooed  .and  married 
Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  William  Dawkins  and  Rose  Ann  Showard, 
who  were  married  in  1830.  She  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  a  life-long 
resident,  however,  of  this  county.  She  has  not  disappointed  his  dear- 
est hopes,  but  has  been  to  him  a  better  half  indeed,  the  comfort  of 
his  joys  ;  each  stronger  for  the  other,  they  walk  hand  in  hand  along 
the  not  always  smooth  path  of  life,  striving  to  keep  their  eyes  fixed 
on  that  brighter  Beyond,  which  must  be  the  reward  of  all  who  have 
the  courage  to  struofffle  on.  Mr.  Patrick  has  no  small  share  of  this 
world's  goods.  He  owns  146  aci*es  of  land,  with  100  fenced  and  im- 
proved, upon  which  is  a  good  bearing  orchard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patrick 
have  five  living  children  :  William  R.,  now  married  to  Melissa  Whit- 
more  ;  Addie,  wife  of  Francis  M.'Tymony;  Mary  G.,  wife  of  Hen- 
derson Burton  ;  Leven  T.  and  Nancy  L.  Five  children  died  in  infancy 
and  one,  Ann  Eliza,  died  January  3,  1882,  the  lamented  wife  of 
George  W.  Lessly  ;  she  left  five  children,  the  youngest  of  whom,  Ann 
Elizabeth,  lives  with  her  grandparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patrick.  Mr. 
Patrick  and  wife  are  devoted  members  of  the  Higbee  Christian  Church. 

ISHAM  POWELL 

(Farmer,  Section  4) . 

Mr.  P.  is  one  of  the  go-ahead  men  of  the  township,  who  lives  *'  that 
each  to-morrow  find  him  farther  than  to-day."  What  he  has  to  do 
he  does  with  all  his  might,  and  in  the  great  strides  he  is  making  to- 
ward the  fruition  of  his  hopes,  is  amply  rewarded  for  his  pains.  His 
parents,  Golston  Powell  and  Mary  Coulter,  came  from  Boyle  county, 
Ky.,  where  Ishani  was  born  November  15,  1843.  Mr.  Powell  bought 
an  improved  farm  in  Randolph  county  in  1857,  living  here  until  his 
death  in  1863.  Isham  Powell  was  raised  and  educated  in  his  native 
county,  receiving  a  good  business  training.     When  only  18  years  old 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  681 

and  but  a  short  time  after  his  arrival  in  Randolph,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Missouri  State  Guard.  The  next  year,  1862,  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
regular  Confederate  service,  Shelby's  brigade,  going  in  as  a  private 
but  was  soon  promoted  to  lieutenancy  of  Co,  K,  Col.  Smith's 
regular  cavalry,  and  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Powell 
fought  with  much  gallantry  through  the  battles  of  Dry  Wood  and 
Lexington,  and,  indeed,  all  of  the  fights  that  took  place  in  Missouri 
up  to  that  of  Pea  Ridge.  He  was  also  present  at  the  engagements  at 
Helena,  Ark.,  Little  Rock,  Prairie  De  Han  and  Mark's  Mill,  Ark. 
In  1864,  at  Brunswick,  Mr.  Powell  received  a  severe  gunshot  wound 
through  the  bridge  of  the  nose.  Returning  home  in  1866,  scarred 
and  worn,  but  no  less  a  hero,  he  took  up  once  more  the  broken  thread 
of  his  life  and  went  to  work  with  energy  to  weave  anew  the  shattered 
fabric  of  his  youthful  dreams.  He  first  rented  a  place  and  began 
farming  and  handling  stock.  In  1880  he  bought  a  one-half  interest  in 
709  acres  of  splendid  land,  nearly  all  fenced,  and  in  grass  and  cultiva- 
tion, with  everything  that  is  necessary  to  a  prosperous  farm  in  con- 
nection. Mr.  Powell  handles  from  200  to  400  head  of  stock  annually 
and  generallj-  ships  to  wholesale  markets.  He  is  a  shining  example 
of  what  pluck  and  energy  may  accomplish.  Though  Mr.  Powell  faced 
without  a  quiver  the  shot  and  shell  of  many  a  battle-field,  yet  his 
doughty  heart  capitulated  without  a  struggle  before  the  charms  and 
graces  of  Miss  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  Alexander  Mitchell,  of  Renick, 
originally  of  Missouri.  They  were  married  on  the  24th  of  February, 
1870.  To  them  were  born  two  children :  Lulie  and  Henry.  Mrs. 
Powell  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

WILLIAM   L.  RENNOLDS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  near  Higbee) . 

Mr.  Rennolds  who,  for  a  number  of  years  past,  has  owned  the  May 
Burton  place  containing  some  300  acres,  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this 
section  of  the  county,  and  also  over  600  acres  more  of  fine  land,  and 
who  is  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  and  stock  men  of  Moniteau  town- 
ship, when  seventeen  years  of  age  was  left  by  the  death  of  his  father 
with  his  mother  and  a  large  family  of  children  to  care  for,  and  had 
no  means  to  go  on.  The  duties  of  providing  for  the  family  he  faith- 
fully and  affectionately  performed,  and  commencing  life  for  himself 
under  these  responsibilities  and  disadvantages,  he  has  risen  by  his  own 
industry  and  merits  from  a  youth  without  a  dollar  and  working  out  at 
farm  labor  by  the  month,  to  the  position  he  at  present,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  past,  has  occupied.  Such  a  record  is  well  worthy  a  place 
in  this  volume,  and  it  is  one  to  which  he  nor  his  need  be  ashamed  to 
point.  Mr.  Rennolds  is  a  native  Missourian,  and  was  one  of  a  family 
of  13  children,  11  of  whom  are  still  living.  He  wtis  born  in  Howard 
county.  Mo.,  May  7,  1833.  His  father  was  J.  C.  Rennolds,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  born  December  9,  1805,  and  when  a  young  man  came  out 
to  Kentucky  and  located  in  Clark  county.  He  there  met  Miss  Delilah 
Quisenbury,  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  born  December  17,  1813.     To  her  he 


682  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

was  married  in  1829,  whilst  she  was  in  her  sixteenth  year.  After  their 
marriage  they  came  to  Missouri,  stopping  first  in  Boone  county,  but 
later  along  came  to  Howard  county,  and  in  1839  settled  in  Randolph 
county.  Here  the  father  died  in  about  1856.  William  L.  grew  up  in 
the  county  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  fair  knowledge  of  books  in  the 
occasional  winter  schools  he  attended  and  by  study  at  home.  In  early 
manhood  he  made  up  his  mind  to  become  a  physician,  and  entered 
upon  the  study  of  medicine  with  that  object  in  view.  He  studied  un- 
der Dr.  J.  M.  Walker,  commencing  in  1861,  and  during  the  term  of 
1863-64  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Keokuk  Medical  College.  But 
being  a  man  of  active  mind  and  habits,  and  ambitious  to  establish 
himself  in  life  as  soon  as  possible,  he  concluded  that  the  route  through 
the  medical  profession  was  too  long  and  tedious — that  he  couldn't 
wait  to  take  another  course  and  then  to  sit  around  in  a  small  town  on 
pine  boxes,  whittling  in  front  of  the  post-office  waiting  for  somebody 
to  get  sick  and  call  on  him  for  ten  cents  worth  of  pills,  for  which  he 
would  have  to  have  the  India-rubber  conscience  to  charge  three  dollars 
under  the  head  of  a  "  visit."  On  the  contrary,  he  concluded  to  shed 
his  linen  and  go  to  work.  He  therefore  resumed  farming  after  com- 
ing back  from  Keokuk,  and  later  along  engaged  in  handling  stock. 
The  result  of  his  change  of  purposefrom  the  medical  profession  to  that 
of  an  agriculturist  has  been  indicated  above.  He  now  owns  945  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  there  is  in  this  section  of  the  State,  most  of  which 
is  improved,  besides  having  a  large  amount  of  other  property.  To 
accummulate  this  much  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Randolph  or 
Howard  counties  would  create  a  panic  in  the  quinine  trade  and  increase 
the  cemeteries  to  such  dimensions  as  have  never  been  seen  in  this  west- 
ern country.  Mr.  Rennolds  settled  on  his  homestead  place  in  1863, 
and  has  since  resided  here.  It  is  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
the  township,  including  fences,  buildings,  pastures,  meadows  and  every 
necessary  convenience  and  advantage  for  successful  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  He  also  has  two  other  tracts  of  land  near  Higbee,  and  a  third 
one  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Higbee  which  contains  240 
acres,  partly  improved,  and  still  another,  also  south  of  Higbee,  which 
contains  320  acres.  Mr.  Rennolds  has  a  large  amount  of  town  prop- 
erty in  Higbee,  including  half  a  dozen  dwelling  houses  and  a  number 
of  valuable  town  lots.  For  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  stock 
men  of  his  part  of  the  county,  and  has  followed  this  continually  from 
early  manhood,  except  for  about  three  years  when  he  was  engaged  in 
railroad  contracting.  T)uring  that  time  he  supplied  nearly  half  a  mill- 
ion ties  to  the  railroads,  furnishing,  among  the  rest,  the  Chicago  and 
Alton  about  200,000,  and  shipping  to  Fort  Scott  and  south  of  that 
city  as  many  more.  He  is  a  man  of  wonderful  industry  and  enterprise, 
and  is  as  full  of  business  as  an  egg  is  of  meat  —  one  of  that  class  of 
stirring,  thrifty  men  who  ne'er  fail  of  success  in  life.  Such  men  can't 
be  kept  down,  —  the  fog  would  be  no  harder  to  keep  down  when  the 
morning  sun  comes  up  clear  and  bright.  May  7,  1878,  Mr.  Rennolds 
was  married  to  Miss  Bettie  Bolin,  daughter  of  William  Bolin,  of  How- 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  683 

ard  county,  but  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Her  parents  died  when  she 
was  quite  young,  and  she  was  reared  an  orphan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ren- 
nolds  have  two  children  :   Bessie  May  and  William  L. 

JAMES  E.  RUCKER 

(Farmer,  Stock-raiser  and  Dealer). 

One  of  the  leading  men  in  the  township  of  Moniteau  is  the  subject 
of  this  memoir,  a  prominent  and  flourishing  farmer,  stock-raiser  and 
dealer.  Mr.  Rucker's  parents  were  from  that  noblest  of  the  States, 
Virginia.  His  father,  Capt.  Minor  Rucker,  was  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  "  first  families"  and  was  himself  a  man  of  distinction.  His 
sword  and  commission  as  captain  in  the  War  of  1812  are  still  pre- 
served as  precious  heirlooms  in  the  family.  He  and  his  wife,  Harriet 
Head,  moved  to  Missouri  in  1833,  and  located  in  what  was  then  How- 
ard, but  is  now  Randolph  county.  He  entered  and  bought  1900  acres 
of  land  where  the  Randolph  Medicinal  Springs  are",  and  there  he  ended 
his  days,  August  30,  1867,  his  beloved  wife  having  crossed  the  dark 
river  before  him,  in  1845.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  cradle  of 
James  E.,  who  was  born  October  3,  1839,  was  fanned  by  the  breezes 
of  old  Missouri,  and  Randolph  county  was  the  scene  of  his  boyish 
pranks  and  youthful  exploits.  His  mind  was  lead  into  the  fruitful 
paths  of  knowledge  at  Mount  Pleasant  College,  where  he  graduated 
in  1860,  under  the  guidance  of  President  William  R.  Roth  well. 
When  he  had  completed  his  education  his  heart  drew  him  back  to  the 
free  air  of  the  country,  and  he  embraced  firming  as  his  vocation.  In 
1863  Mr.  Rucker  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Sarah  C.,  a  daughter  of  Joel 
Smith,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  and  capitalists  of  the  county,  and 
among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers  from  Kentucky.  They  have  eight 
children  :  James  W.,  Julia  S.,  Mary  L.,  Willie  Florence,  Maggie  S., 
Joel  S.,  Dorcas  N.  and  Eula  M.  Mr.  Rucker  came  on  his  present 
farm  in  1874,  and  now  owns  1080  acres  of  fine  land,  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  nearly  all  in  blue  grass.  He  lives  in  a  large,  substan- 
tial house,  and  has  a  handsome  carriage-house,  ice-house,  good  barn, 
etc.  His  orchard  of  young  trees  contains  400  of  the  most  select  va- 
rieties of  apples  as  well  as  a  quantity  of  small  fruits.  He  feeds  annu- 
ally about  80  head  of  cattle,  100  hogs,  and  50  head  of  horses  and 
mules.  Mr.  Rucker  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  at  Huntsville, 
Lodge  No.  30,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  recorder  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  at 
Higbee. 

JOHN    W^HITMORE 

(Section  18,  Post-offlce,  Higbee). 

Mr.  Whitmore  is  a  son  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Jessamine  county, 
October  8,  1822.  His  father,  Frederick  Whitmore,  is  a  Virginian  ; 
his  mother,  Mary  Hinds,  also  from  that  State.  Frederick  W.  was  of 
German  descent.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  and  received 
a  land  warrant.  John  lived  on  the  spot  where  he  was  born  until 
1845,  when   he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled   in   Randolph  county  in 


684  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

sight  of  his  present  home.  As  long  as  he  was  a  single  man  Mr.  Whit- 
more  kept  honse  with  a  sister  at  the  head  of  it,  but  met  his  fate  at 
last,  and  October  17,  1860,  took  him  to  wife.  Miss  Sarah  E.,  daughter 
of  Jesse  B.  Hudson,  originally  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Whitmore  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  but  was  raised  principally  in  Randolph  county,  Mo. 
There  are  two  children  :  Melissa,  wife  of  William  R.  Patrick,  and 
John,  Jr.,  and  one  little  cherub  fled  to  its  native  heaven  at  the  in- 
teresting age  of  two  years.  Mr.  Whitmore  has  in  his  home  place 
which  is  known  as  Bowensburg,  240  acres  all  fenced  and  150  in  culti- 
vation, blue  grass  and  timothy.  He  owns  on  the  county  line  80  acres 
of  unimproved  land,  partly  set  in  coal.  His  residence  is  a  large  two- 
story  house,  with  ell,  containing  10  rooms.  He  has  also  a  commodi- 
ous barn.  Mr.  Whitmore  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  township, 
and  his  family  adorn  its  most  refined  circles. 

JOEL  H.  YATES 

(Farmer,  Sectiou  15,  Township  52,  Range  15,  P.  0.,  Yates). 

'Squire  Yates  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  distinguished  families 
of  the  United  States,  being  a  nephew  to  Judge  John  Yates,  of  Illinois, 
and  a  first  cousin  to  Gov.  Dick  Yates,  of  the  same  State,  one  of  the 
ablest  men  this  country  ever  produced.  The  Yates  were  originally  of 
Caroline  county,  Va.,  and  three  brothers  came  out  West:  George, 
John  and  Harry  Yates,  the  last  two  of  whom  settled  in  Illinois  and 
the  first  in  Missouri.  They  came,  however,  by  way  of  Kentucky, 
where  they  resided  a  number  of  years.  John  Yates  became  the  dis- 
tinguished jurist  of  Illinois,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  every  well 
informed  citizen  of  the  great  Prairie  State.  Harry  Yates  became  a 
wealthy  fiirmer  of  that  State,  and  he  was  the  father  of  Dick  Yates, 
whose  fame  is  as  broad  as  the  Union  and  as  enduring  as  his  services 
as  a  lawyer  and  statesman  were  eminent  and  unsurpassed.  George 
Yates  married  in  Kentucky  Miss  Martha  J.  Crenshaw,  and  settled  in 
Randolph  county  away  back  in  1833.  He  became  a  successful  farmer 
of  this  county,  and  died  here  March  29,  1874,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
70,  respected  and  esteemed  for  his  upright  life,  and  regretted  and 
mourned  when  at  last  he  was  laid  to  rest.  'Squire  Joel  H.  Yates  was 
the  third  in  his  family  of  children,  and  was  born  on  the  farm  in  this 
county,  September  3,  1840.  Like  his  father,  he  became  a  farmer, 
and  has  followed  it  with  industry  and  good  success.  December  18, 
1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Kilbuck,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  W. 
Kilbuck,  formerly  of  Benton  county.  She  was  born  September  29, 
1849.  They  have  two  children  :  Boswell  H.  and  Martha  A.  In  1882 
'Squire  Yates  was  elected  to  his  present  office,  that  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  'Squire  Yates  has  on  his  farm 
a  mule  36  years  of  age,  which  has  been  in  the  Yates  family  from  its 
birth.  The  'Squire  has  three  sisters  living,  two  deceased,  and  three 
brothers  deceased.  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  L.  Dysart,  of  Higbee  ; 
Fannie  is  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Williams  ;  and  Georo;ia  A.  is  unmarried 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  685 

and  on  the  family  homestead  with  the  'Squire  ;  John  W.  died  a  Con- 
federate prisoner  at  Rock  Ishiiid,  III.;  Reuben  was  killed  in  the 
Confederate  army  at  Prairie  Grove,  and  Thomas  B.  died  March  1st, 
1881,  at  Yates  post-office,  and  his  widow  is  now  the  wife  of  Sidney 
Quinine.  Mary  E.  and  Martha  M.  both  died  in  infancy.  'Squire 
Yates  father  was  a  genial,  whole-souled  old  Virginia  gentleman,  and 
stood  as  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  as  any  man  in  the  county. 
The  'Squire  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


SALT    RIYER     TOWNSHIP. 


WILLIAM  F.  ALEXANDER 

(Farmer,  Tobacco  and  Stock-raiser  and  Dealer) . 
Mr.  Alexander,  one  of  the  enterprising  agriculturists  and  business 
men  of  Salt  River  township  and  one  of  its  intelligent,  influential 
citizens,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  in  the 
county.  His  father,  Francis  Alexander,  is  remembered  by  all  old 
citizens  of  this  section  of  the  county  as  one  of  the  good  and  true  men 
in  their  midst,  whose  life,  as  a  father  and  citizen  and  as  a  neighbor, 
was  one  of  more  than  ordinary  usefulness  and  value  and  without 
reproach.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Garrett  county, 
November  18,-1809.  He  was  reared  in  that  county,  and  on  the  27th 
of  December,  1831,  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Stephens,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  county.  May  5,  1811.  Less  than  four  years  after 
their  marriage  they  came  to  Missouri,  and  located  first  in  Monroe 
county,  but  a  year  later,  in  1837,  came  to  Randolph  county,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  useful  and  blameless  lives.  In  this 
county  he  entered  a  large  body  of  land  on  section  13  of  Salt  River 
township  and  improved  a  fine  farm.  He  died  on  this  place,  June  30, 
1861,  she  having  preceded  him  to  the  grave  nearly  three  years, 
August  3,  1858.  He  became  a  leading  farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  the 
comity,  and  was  in  easy  circumstances  at  the  time  of  his  death.  No 
man  in  his  vicinity  was  more  highly  respected  and  esteemed  than  he. 
They  left  a  family  of  three  children,  namely  :  William  F.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  ;  Martha  L.  C,  now  the  wife  of  William  A.  Alexander  ; 
and  John  D.  All  three  are  residents  of  Randolph  county,  and  they 
were  born  respectively:  William  F.,  August  16,  1848;  Martha  L. 
C,  May  16,  1852;  and  John  D.,  September  9,  1855.  One  besides, 
a  sister,  died  in  infancy.  She  was  born  August  31,  1846.  The 
others  were  reared  on  the  farm  in  this  county,  and  were  educated  iu 
the  common  schools.  William  F.  Alexander,  after  he  grew  up,  was 
married  October  8,  1868,  to  Miss  Virginia,  a  daughter  of  Joel  and 
Hulda  Wine,  of  Monroe  county,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Alexander  was 
born  in  that  county,  December  16,  1847.     Her  father  died  in  Iowa 


686  HISTORY  or  Randolph  county. 

in  July,  1858,  and  her  mother  now  finds  a  welcome  and  pleasant  home 
with  Mrs.  Alexander.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  have  two  children: 
Ewing,  born  July  4,  1849  ;  and  Alfred  D.,  born  July  2,  1874.  One, 
besides,  the  second  child,  Lucy  A,,  who  was  born  July  11,  1871; 
died  November  23,  1874.  Mr.  Alexander  has  followed  farming  from 
boyhood  and  has  also  been  raising  and  handling  stock  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  has  likewise  been  engaged  in  raising  and  handling  tobacco 
for  several  years.  He  settled  on  his  present  place,  located  in  section 
13,  of  Salt  River  township,  in  1872.  Here  he  has  a  good  farm  of 
over  100  acres,  and  raises  about  10  acres  of  wheat,  from  30  to  35 
acres  of  corn  and  cuts  40  acres  of  meadow  annually.  In  the  stock 
line  he  handles  from  80  to  100  head  of  cattle  and  from  150  to  200 
sheep,  the  latter  being  of  the  Cotswold  and  Leicester  breeds.  Mr. 
Alexander,  it  should  be  remarked,  gives  but  little  attention  to  hogs. 
He  raises,  however,  from  four  to  six  acres  of  tobacco,  and  buys  largely 
for  dealers  in  that  commodity,  usually  from  400,000  to  600,000 
pounds  annually.  He  buys  principally  for  Mr.  E.  E.  Samuel,  of 
Huntsville.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Woodland  Lodge 
No.  222,  of  Monroe  county.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  Church  at  Hickory  Grove  in  Monroe  county. 
Mrs.  Alexander's  parents  were  early  settlers  and  respected  resi- 
dents of  that  county,  locating  there  from  Kentucky  in  1839. 
Mr.  Alexander,  though  not  a  college  graduate,  is  a  man  of  superior 
education  and  possessed  of  wide  and  varied  information,  having 
always  been  an  industrious  and  intelligent  reader  of  the  best  class  of 
books,  periodicals  and  other  publications.  He  is  a  man  of  agreeable 
address  and  an  instructive  and  entertaininoj  conversationalist.  He  is 
quite  influential  in  his  vicinity,  though  he  has  no  personal  ambition 
for  official  advancement,  but  always  takes  a  commendable  interest  in 
public  affairs  in  order  to  secure  the  best  men  for  the  different  offices  in 
his  district,  township  and  county,  to  be  filled.  He  is  highly  respected 
and  esteemed. 

JACOB  BENNETT 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

The'sketch  of  Mr.  Bennett's  ftxther's  family  is  given  in  this  volume 
in  the  sketch  of  his  brother,  John  S.  Bennett,  found  elsewhere, 
s©  that  nothing  need  to  be  said  here  in  regard  to  his  ancestry.  Jacob 
Bennett  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  on  the  6th  of  April,  1843, 
and  like  his  brother,  John  S.,  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing, the  pursuit  in  life  which  he  has  since  followed.  As  a  farmer  his 
success  has  been  unquestioned.  He  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
vicinity.  His  place  contains  nearly  300  acres  and  is  well  improved. 
He  has  resided  on  this  place  since  1873,  —  in  fact,  it  is  a  part  of  the 
old  homestead.  Mr.  Bennett  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  tobacco 
and  grows  about  200  pounds  annually.  He  is  a  man  of  many  ster- 
ling qualities  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  industrious  farmers 
and  worthy  citizens  in  the  township.     His  success  in  life  as  a  farmer 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  687 

is  mainly  due  to  his  energy  and  perseverance  and  to  his  sober  habits 
of  frugality  and  economy.  Now  hardly  more  than  entered  upon  the 
middle  age  of  life,  considering  the  start  he  already  has,  and  the  many 
years  of  industrious  activity  still  before  him,  he  can  hardly  fail  of 
becoming  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  large  property  holders  of 
the  township.  Mr.  Bennett  is  unmarried,  but  has  a  comfortable  home 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  not  long  remain  unbrightened  by  the 
fair  form  and  divine  presence  of  some  lovely  and  worthy  woman. 

JAMES  W.  E.  COSBY 

(Farmer  and  Justice  of  the  Peace). 

'Squire  Cosby  came  to  Missouri  from  Madison  county,  Ky.,  where 
he  was  born  (having  been  reared  in  Fayette  county)  in  1867,  and 
settled  in  Monroe  county  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  with  suc- 
cess for  about  10  years.  He  then  removed  to  his  present  place  in 
Randolph  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  farm  here  con- 
tains 120  acres,  and  besides  farming  in  a  general  way,  he  makes 
something  of  a  specialty  of  raising  stock  of  the  better  class.  'Squire 
Cosby  is  a  man  of  intelligence  and  integrity  of  character,  and  wields 
no  inconsiderable  influence  in  his  township.  While  a  resident  of 
Monroe  county  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  an  in- 
cumbent of  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  removal  to  this  county.  On 
the  14th  of  February,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Wright,  of 
Madison  county,  in  Kentucky.  She  died,  however,  in  1876.  Her 
only  son,  Thomas  G.  Cosby,  is  now  a  farmer  of  Shelby  county.  In 
1878  Mr.  Cosby  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  who  was  previous 
to  her  marriage  to  him,  Mrs.  Virinda,  the  widow  of  Daniel  S. 
Bennett.  They  have  two  children  :  Mary  M.  and  Bennett  S.  Mrs. 
Cosby  was  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  S.  and  Rebecca  Bullock,  formerly 
of  Kentucky,  but  both  now  deceased.  They  were  early  settlers  of 
Monroe  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cosby  are  members  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Cosby' s' parents  were  Winfield  M.  and  Amanda 
(Hudson)  Cosby,  both  originally  from  Virginia,  he  from  Louisa 
county,  born  September  11,  1806,  and  she  from  Culpeper  county, 
born  June  25,  1810.  They  removed  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day  and 
are  still  residents  of  that  State,  in  which  James  W.  E,,  their  first 
son,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  January  17,  1833,  Mr. 
Cosby  was  a  gallant  soldier  during  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  in 
the  fall  of  1862  under  that  noted  raider,  John  H.  Morgan,  in  company 
B,  eleventh  Kentucky  cavalry,  C.  S.  A.  ;  he  continued  in  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  having  passed  19  months  as  a  prisoner  of  war 
at  Camp  Douglass,  Chicago,  111. 

HARRIS  FELPS 

(Merchant,  at  Cairo). 
Mr.  Felps,  although  barely  a  middle-aged  man,  is  one  of  the  pro- 
minent men,  property  holders  and  citizens  of  Randolph  county,  and  to 


688  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

the  position  he  occupies  in  affairs  and  the  estimation  of  the  people  he 
has  risen  hirgely  by  his  own  exertions  and  merits.  Having  important 
merchandising  interests  at  Cairo,  named  above,  he  also  has  a  fine 
farm  in  the  county  and  owns  a  handsome  residence  property  at 
Moberly.  Prosperous  as  he  is  in  the  affairs  of  the  world  he  is  not 
less  favored  with  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 
Mr.  Felps  comes  of  the  pioneer  and  prominent  families  of  Randolph 
county.  He  was  a  son  of  Harris  Felps,  Sr.,  and  wife,  previously  a 
Miss  Nellie  E.  Lawrence,  both  originally  of  Kentucky,  the  father 
born  April  20,  1795,  and  the  mother  in  1797.  They  came  from  Old- 
ham county,  Ky.,  to  Marion  county.  Mo.,  in  1833,  and  for  four  years 
afterwards  settled  in  Randolph  county,  where  they  lived  until  their 
death.  The  father  died  here  July  14,  1862,  and  the  mother  July  14, 
1871,  and  both  sleep  side  by  side  in  the  family  burying-ground  on  the 
old  homestead.  The  father  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers 
and  stock  men  in  the  county,  and  at  his  death  left  a  small  estate. 
They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  but  three  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Minerva,  the  wife  of  R.  N.  Matthews,  and  Ruth  E.,  the  wife 
of  W.  S.  Dameron,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  third  one. 
Several  of  the  others  lived  to  reach  maturity.  Harris  Felps,  Jr., 
was  born  in  Oldham  county,  Ky.,  January  7,  1833,  and  was  there- 
fore reared  in  Randolph  county.  On  the  23d  of  December,  1853,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Chrissy,  a  daughter  of  "William  D.  and  Nancy 
Halliburton,  of  this  county,  but  originally  of  Montgomery  county, 
Tenn.,  where  Mr.  Felps'  wife  was  born  April  9,  1839.  He  followed 
farming  after  his  marriage  exclusively  up  to  1857,  and  is  still  engaged 
in  farming  and  handling  stock,  principally  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep, 
and  the  latter  on  quite  an  extensive  scale.  In  1857  he  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  the  place  now  known  as  Levick's  Mill,  where  he 
continued  with  steadily  increasing  success  for  some  14  years.  He 
then  retired  to  the  farm  and  was  devoted  to  farming  alone  until  1871, 
when  he  resumed  merchandising,  locating  this  time  at  Cairo.  His 
success  here  has  been  exceedingly  gratifying.  He  has  had  partners 
at  different  times,  and  he  at  present  has  a  partner  in  the  Cairo  store, 
Mr.  M.  P.  Capp.  Mr.  Felps  bought  his  residence  property  in 
Moberly,  in  contemplation  of  removing  there,  which  he  did.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Felps  have  three  children  :  William  H.,  Nellie  M.  and  Ira. 
Mrs.  F.  is  a  member  of  the  C.  P.  Church,  and  Mr.  Felps  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  and  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

THOMAS  W.  HALLIBURTON 

(Farmer,  Section  16). 

Mr.  H.,  who  has  an  excellent  farm  of  220  acres  in  Salt  River  town- 
ship, and  is  one  of  the  thrifty,  energetic  farmers  and  well  respected 
citizens  of  the  township,  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born  in  Haywood 
county,  February  7,  1826.  His  parents,  Reuben  P.  and  Cynthia 
(McMurry)  Halliburton,  removed  to  Missouri  in  1855  and  settled  in 
Sullivan  county,  where  the  father  followed  farming  for  about  twenty- 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH   COUNTY.  689 

seven  years  and  until  his  death,  which  occurred  August  11,  1882.  He 
was  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age,  having  been  born  October 
21,  1803,  in  North  Carolina.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  finds  a 
welcome  and  pleasant  home  with  her  son,  John  W.,  in  Sullivan  county. 
She  was  born  in  Tennessee,  March  9,  1807,  and  they  were  married  in 
April,  1825.  Six  of  their  family  of  four  sons  and  six  daughters  are 
living:  Thomas  W. ;  Frances  B.,  now  Mrs.  James  H.  Halliburton, 
having  married  a  cousin  ;  Nancy  A.,  the  wife  of  John  Beuum,  now  of 
Oregon  ;  James  W.,  of  Sullivan  county  ;  John  W.,  also  of  that  county, 
and  Eliza  M.,  the  wife  of  Peter  Scarlett,  of  Kansas.  Thomas  W. 
Halliburton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  had  grown  to  manhood  before 
the  family  came  to  Missouri,  and  was  married  in  Tennessee  to  Miss 
Martha  E.  Rogers  on  the  14th  of  January,  1847.  She  was  born  in 
Dixon  county,  December  10,  1828.  Mr.  Halliburton  preceded  his 
father's  family  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Randolph  county.  He  came 
to  his  present  farm  in  1854.  He  has  always  been  an  industrious 
farmer  and  good  manager,  and  owes  all  he  has  to  his  own  exertions  and 
merits.  He  has  ever  lived  a  worthy  and  respectable  life,  and  is  es- 
teemed as  a  good  neighbor  and  upright  citizen  by  all  who  know  him. 
He  and  his  good  wife  have  been  favored  with  a  numerous  family  of 
children,  nine  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  there  are  ten  in  all  living, 
and  all  residents  of  Randolph  county  :  John  A.,  born  October  2,  1851 ; 
Elizabeth  B.,  born  December  17,  1853;  Thomas  McM.,  born  Decem- 
ber 24,  1855  ;  E.  R.,  born  November  23,  1858;  G.  D.,  born  Septem- 
ber 17,  1860  ;  Ophelia  F.,  born  September  14,  1862  ;  Cynthia  J.,  born 
February  28,  1864  ;  James  M.,  born  February  26,  1866  ;  Samuel  M., 
born  September  25,  1868;  Sarah  M.,  born  December  11,  1870;  W. 
E.,  born  April  10,  1873;  and  Callie,  born  February  16,  1875.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Halliburton  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Union. 

JUDGE  STROTHER  RIDGEWAY 

(Farmer  and  Member  of  the  County  Court). 

Judge  Ridgeway  has  been  a  resident  of  Randolph  county  for  nearly 
half  a  century,  and  his  life  here  from  his  first  settlement  in  the  county 
up  to  the  present  time  has  been  marked  by  strict  integrity  as  a  man, 
public  spirit  as  a  citizen,  and  industry  and  enterprise  as  a  farmer, — 
and  no  name  in  the  history  of  the  county  stands  out  in  a  light  freer 
from  a  shadow  of  reproach  than  his.  A  man  of  superior  intelligence, 
sound  judgment  and  good  business  ability,  in  1882  he  was  picked  upon 
by  the  leading  citizens  in  difi'erent  parts  of  the  county  as  a  proper 
candidate  for  the  office  of  county  judge.  No  sooner  was  his  name 
generally  mentioned  for  this  position  than  it  met  the  hearty  approval 
of  a  large  majority  of  his  party  and  of  the  people.  The  result  was 
that  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democracy,  of  which  party  he  has  long 
been  a  prominent  member,  and  at  the  succeeding  election  was  elected 
by  a  majority  highly  creditable  to  his  personal  popularity.  He  is  now 
serving  in  this  position,  and  brings  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  office  qualities  and  qualifications  which  combine  to  make  him  one 


690  HISTORY    OF    EANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

of  the  most  capable  and  efficient  judges,  as  Avell  as  one  of  the  most 
upright  and  unswerving,  who  have  set  on  the  bench  for  years.  On  the 
19th  of  May,  1836,  Judge  Ridgeway  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  M. 
Eoush,  originally  of  Berkeley  county,  Va.  Thirteen  children  have 
been  the  fruits  of  this  union,  but  nine  of  whom,  however,  are  now  liv- 
ing :  Charles  V.;  Lucy  J.,  now  Mrs.  Alonzo  Dodge  ;  George  R.,  a 
resident  of  Shelby  county  ;  John  S.,  Fountain  A.,  Smith  A.,  James  F., 
Marion  and  Fayette.  Those  deceased  are  :  Sarah  E.,  who  died  in  1868 
at  the  age  of  30  ;  Joseph  H.,  who  died  in  1863  at  the  age  of  23  ;  Rosana 
C,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Anna  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  10 
years.  In  the  affiurs  of  the  world  Judge  Ridgeway  has  been  satisfac- 
torily successful.  He  has  long  been  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of 
Salt  River  township.  His  place  contains  over  250  acres  of  excellent 
land,  and  is  well  improved  and  well  stocked.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  at  Salem.  Judge  Ridge- 
way comes  of  an  excellent  Virginia  fiiniily,  and  he,  himself,  is  a  native 
of  that  State,  in  which  he  made  his  home  until  his  removal  to  Mis- 
souri and  settlement  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  born  in  Clark 
county,  Va.,  then  called  Frederick  county,  November  11,  1814.  His 
parents  were  both  also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion.  His  father, 
Richard  Ridgeway,  was  born  February  2,  1790,  and  his  mother,  Sallie 
Crum,  was  born  April  6,  1792,  and  they  were  marrie(^  in  about  1811. 
They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  namely : 
Strother,  Eliza  A.,  the  widow  of  James  L.  Roberts,  deceased,  and  a 
resident  of  Maryland;  Richard  S.,  of  near  Springfield,  Ohio;  Chris- 
tian F.,  of  West  Virginia ;  Margaret  P.,  whose  first  husband,  Peter 
Bell,  of  Virginia,  was  murdered  without  cause  by  the  Federals  during 
the  war  —  some  years  after  which  she  became  the  wife  of  Martin  Max- 
well, now  of  Maryland;  and  Lucy  I.,  the  widow  of  Dennis  Denny, 
of  Berkeley  county,  W.  Va.  Judge  Ridgeway's  father  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  of  Virginia,  and  a  descendant  of  the  old  Ridgeway  family 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  that  State. 

JAMES  B.  TAYLOR 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  and  Proprietor  of  Taylor's  Blaclisraith  and  Wagon-malving 

Shop,  Section  11). 

Mr.  Taylor  comes  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  families  in  the 
United  States.  His  father.  Major  Jonathan  Taylor,  was  a  full  cousin 
to  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  the  sixteenth  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  both  were  distinguished  officers  in  the  American  army  during  the 
War  of  1812.  Maj.  Taylor  was  also  an  officer  under  Gen.  Wayne, 
known  as  "Mad  Anthony  Wayne,"  in  the  Colonial  army  during  the 
War  for  Independence.  He  was  a  major  during  the  Revolution  and 
distinguished  himself  by  his  gallantry  and  intrepidity  on  many  a  hard- 
fouffht  field  during  that  long  and  momentous  struo;o;]e.  His  discharire 
from  the  army  after  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812,  signed  by  Thomas 
Jefferson,  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  The  Taylor  family 
was  for  generations  prior  to  the  Revolution  settled  in  Virginia.    Maj. 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  691 

Taylor  was  married  there  to  Miss  Mary  Ashley,  of  another  family  not 
unknown  to  fame.  He  Avas  of  Shenandoah  county,  and  emigrated  to 
Kentucky  in  an  early  day,  where  he  died  May  10,  1832,  in  Oldham 
county.  His  wife  died  on  the  family  homestead  in  that  county  March 
10,  three  years  afterwards.  Maj.  Taylor  was  a  man  of  fine  education 
and  business  qualifications,  and  was  for  many  years  Government  sur- 
veyor. He  and  Col.  Rector  did  a  vast  amount  of  surveying  work  in 
Missouri,  but  Maj.  Taylor  never  settled  permanently  in  this  State. 
He  and  his  good  wife  had  a  family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  only 
three  of  whom  are  now  living,  the  other  two  besides  James  B.  being 
Mary,  the  widow  of  William  Gibson,  of  Kentucky,  and  Elizabeth,  the 
widow  of  Thomas  Amos,  of  Washington  City.  James  B.  Taylor  was 
born  in  Fayette  county,  Ky.,  August  1,  1811,  and  was  reared  in  the 
Blue  Grass  State.  On  the  10th  of  June,  1836,  havino;  come  to  Mis- 
souri  just  exactly  two  months  before,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Betsey 
A.  Lilly,  of  Marion  county.  Two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Taylor 
came  to  Randolph  county  and  settled  where  Levick's  Mill  now  stands. 
He  entered  160  acres  of  land  and  opened  a  farm,  where  he  lived  for 
about  two  years,  and  then  settled  on  his  present  place.  He  has  a 
good  farm  and,  also,  runs  a  blacksmith  shop,  including  wagon-making. 
Long  years  of  industry  and  frugal  habits  of  living  have  prospered  him 
abundantly,  and  his  homestead  has  expanded  into  a  fine  estate  of  400 
acres.  His  first  wife  died  on  the  10th  of  September,  1853,  and  on 
the  10th  of  May,  1855,  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife.  She  was 
previously  Miss  Sarah  Lawrence,  of  this  county.  By  his  first  wife 
Mr.  Taylor  was  given  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom  are 
living.  Mr.  Taylor's  farm  is  Avell  improved,  and  he  is  comfortably 
situated  in  life. 


JACKSON    TOWIS'SHIP. 


FRANCIS  W.  ANCELL 

(Farmer,  Post-offlce,  Cairo) . 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Missouri,  and  particularly  North-east  Mis- 
souri, Virginia  contributed  her  full  share  of  sturdy,  worthy  pioneers  — 
men  with  the  courage  and  resolution,  and  with  the  industry  and  in- 
telligence, to  build  up  prosperous  and  enlightened  communities. 
Among  those  who  came  out  from  the  Old  Dominion  in  an  early 
day  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  Michael 
Ancell.  It  was  in  1836  that  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in 
Randolph  county,  near  Huntsville.  The  following  year  he  bought  a 
tract  of  160  acres  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  82,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1868. 
His  wife  died  before  he  came  to  Missouri,  in  1824,  and  for  44  years 
he  remained  a  widower  and  until  the  sun  of  his  earthly  career  had 


692  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

set  forever.  Having  given  her  his  love  in  the  bright  springtime  of 
life,  she  remained  the  sole  object  of  his  marital  affection  not  only 
until  the  grave  closed  over  her,  but  for  44  years  afterwards,  and 
until  he,  too,  was  laid  beneath  the  sod.  What  a  poem  of  profound 
and  enduring  love  remains  unwritten  in  the  life  of  this  faithful  and 
good  man.  In  all  the  years  that  came  aiter  the  flowers  had  bloomed 
again  and  again  above  the  once  beautiful  form  of  his  beloved  wife, 
he  saw  no  one  else  who  could  take  her  place  in  his  heart,  or  whose 
presence  in  the  chamber  of  his  breast  would  not  be  a  sacrilege  to 
the  place  sacred  alone  to  her  sweet  memory.  She  left  three  chil- 
dren:  John  S.*,  still  of  Virginia ;  Francis  W.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  John  Koutt,  of  this  county.  There 
is  a  circumstance  connected  Avith  the  burial  of  the  parents  worthy 
of  mention.  James  Brokin,  a  resident  at  that  time  of  Virginia,  but 
now  of  Huntsville,  and  an  undertaker  by  occupation,  made  the  coffin 
that  inclosed  the  remains  of  the  young  wife  in  Virginia,  and  44  years 
afterwards  made  the  coffin  in  which  reposed  the  remains  of  the  aged 
husband.  Francis  W.  Ancell  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Va.,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1819,  and  came  out  to  Missouri  with  his  father.  Here  he 
subsequently  married  on  the  25th  of  February,  1855,  Miss  Lucetta 
T.  Ancell  a  cousin  of  his,  but  of  Fluvanna  county,  Va.,  where  she 
was  born  on  the  17th  of  May,  1818.  None  of  their  family  of  four 
children  are  living.  Their  names  were:  Michael  H.,  Elizabeth  M., 
Richard  Hunter  and  Henrietta.  Mr.  Ancell  has  ever  been  an  in- 
dustrious farmer  and  worthy  citizen,  and  has  a  comfortable  home  of 
120  acres,  on  which  he  has  resided  since  1857.  Mrs.  A.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church. 

BENJAMIN  F.  ELSEA 

(Farmer  and  Fine  Stock-raiser). 

The  same  influences  that  have  operated  to  give  Kentucky  the  en- 
viable reputation  she  has  long  enjoyed  for  the  superior  quality  of  stock 
raised  within  her  borders  and  particularly  in  the  Blue  Grass  region, 
are  now  operating,  and  have  been  for  a  number  of  years  past,  in  Mis- 
souri, and  especially  in  the  section  of  the  State  which  includes  Ran- 
dolph county,  that  is,  an  intelligent  appreciation  on  the  part  of 
agriculturists  of  the  greater  profit  to  be  derived  from  raising  fine  stock, 
and  a  determination  on  their  part  to  realize  this  increased  profit  by 
following  the  example  of  Kentucky  and  other  advanced  fine  stock 
sections  of  the  country.  In  Randolph  county  we  have  hundreds  of 
farmers  who  take  this  view  of  the  subject,  and  who  are  carrying  it  out 
to  the  full  extent  of  their  means  and  opportunities.  Among  this  class 
in  Jackson  township  is  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch.  Mr.  Elsea 
has  a  neat  farm  of  160  acres,  and  is  devoting  it  largely  to  raising  fine 
sheep.  His  breeds  are  of  the  Lincolnshire  and  Shropshire  stocks,  and 
he  is  having  excellent  success  in  this  line  of  industry.  An  intelligent, 
progressive  farmer,  his  example  in  turning  his  attention  to  the  best 
grades  of  sheep  will  doubtless  have  a  beneficial  influence  on  others, 


HISTORY    or    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  69 S 

and  thus  redound  greatly  to  the  advantage  and  benefit  of  the  township 
and  county.  Mr.  Elsea  is  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  born  on  the 
17th  of  November,  1820,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children, 
but  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  of  Jonathan  Elsea  and  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  Matthews.  The  mother  died  in  Virginia  in 
1885,  and  the  father  removed  to  Missouri  four  years  afterwards,  locat- 
ing near  Hannibal,  and  in  1841  crossed  overinto  Macon  county,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  1850.  Benjamin  F.  Elsea 
was  19  years  of  age  when  his  father  came  to  Missouri.  On  the  2d  of 
March,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.,,  daughter  of  John 
Grafi'ord  of  Macon  county.  Continuing  farming,  to  which  he  had  been 
brought  up,  in  1866  he  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  Randolph  county. 
His  life  from  youth  has  been  one  of  industry  and  strict  integrity,  and 
the  rewards  of  such  a  character,  now  that  he  is  passing  middle  age 
and  approaching  the  evening  of  his  earthly  career,  he  has  to  enjoy,  a 
comfortable  competency  of  this  world's  goods  and  the  respect  and  es- 
teem of  all  who  know  him.  Mr.  Elsea's  first  wife  died  in  1862,  and 
nearly  two  years  afterwards,  in  November,  1863,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Thalitha  H.,  a  daughter  of  Howey  and  Elizabeth  Taylor,  of  Ran- 
dolph county,  who  is  still  spared  to  accompany  him  down  the  journey 
of  life.  Bj' his  first  marriage  there  were  five  sons  and  a  daughter : 
James  W.,  Benjamin  F.,  Jr.,  Felix,  John  C,  Laura  B.  and  one  other. 
By  his  present  wife  Mr.  Elsea  has  seven  children  :  Lydia  J.,  David  J., 
Leona  P.,  Lucy  D.,  Lena  K.,  Homer  and  Lottie.  Thomas  G.  is  de- 
ceased. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elsea  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  Mr.  E.  is  a  member  of  the  Stock  Breeders'  Association  of  Ran- 
dolph and  Macon  counties,  which  was  organized  in  1878. 

JUDGE  REUBEN  F.  POLSON 

(Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser,  and  Proprietor  of  the  Lone  Elm  Farm). 

The  Poison  family,  of  which  there  are  a  number  of  worthy  repre- 
sentatives in  Randolph  county,  who  rank  among  its  most  substantial 
and  intelligent  citizens,  is  originally  of  Virginia,  to  which  State  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  this  country  came  from  England,  long  prior 
to  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  The  Poisons,  of  Virginia,  as  these  of 
Randolph  county  are,  are  among  the  well-to-do  and  influential  citizens 
of  their  respective  communities.  The  Randolph  branch  of  the  family 
comes  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Poison,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  and  Avho  was  born  in  Virginia  on  the  6th  of  October,  1872. 
While  still  quite  young  he  was  brought  out  to  Kentucky  by  his 
jDarents,  who  removed  to  the  latter  State  in  an  earl}^  day,  where  Benja- 
min grew  up  and  was  educated.  He  was  married  there  on  the  6th  of 
February,  1813,  to  Miss  Sarah  Wall,  who  was  born  September  11, 
1795,  and  was  of  an  old  North  Carolina  family,  representatives  of 
which  now  live  in  Henry,  Johnson,  and  several  other  counties  of  this 
State,  as  well  as  nearly  all  the  other  Western  States.  Benjamin 
Poison,  whose  parents  in  Kentucky  were  in  well-to-do  circumstances, 
received  something  more  than  an  average  education  at  that  time,  and 


G94  HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

subsequently  studied  for  the  ministry  and  was  duly  ordained.  In 
those  days  it  Avas  the  custom,  as  it  was  in  the  primitive  days  of 
Christianity,  for  ministers  of  the  gospel  to  look  mainly  to  their  own 
industry  for  worldly  prosperity,  and  to  rely  but  very  little  for  support 
on  their  work  in  the  pulpit.  Hence  it  is  that  in  the  early  history  of 
the  church  in  this  county,  we  find  most  of  its  ministers  also  farmers 
or  devoted  to  some  other  secular  calling.  So  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Poison.  He  was  not  only  an  able  and  popular  minister  of  the  gospel, 
but  an  enterprising  and  successful  agriculturist,  a  man  abundantly 
able  to  take  care  of  himself  and  those  depending  upon  him  without 
help  from  his  brethren.  Besides,  he  preached  alone  from  love  of 
God  and  sympathy  for  humanity  in  its  lost  state,  and  therefore  worked 
without  worldly  reward,  but  for  that  higher  and  more  infinite  reward 
to  be  had  alone  in  Heaven.  In  1837  he  removed  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  Randolph  county.  Here  he  continued  his  great  life-work 
in  the  service  of  God  and  also  began  a  career  as  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  in  this  county  which  was  very  successful.  Increasing  his  pos- 
sessions by  industry  and  good  management,  his  homestead  at  one 
time  numbered  900  acres,  and  he  was  as  comfortably  situated  as  any 
man  in  the  county.  A  true  Christian  minister,  and  a  generous,  hos- 
pitable man,  his  home  was  a  welcome  resort  to  neighbors  and  friends, 
and  to  the  wayfaring  man  the  latch-string  of  his  door  was  never  drawn 
in,  but  a  hospitable  bed  and  board  were  ever  ready  to  those  who 
hailed  him  from  his  gate.  In  short,  he  was  a  great-hearted,  good  man, 
whose  humanity  and  generosity  were  as  boundless  as  his  faith  in  the  re- 
ligion he  preached  was  sincere  — one  at  whose  house  it  was  a  pleasure  to 
stay  and  in  whose  company  it  was  a  pleasure  to  be.  In  1838  he  organized 
the  next  to  the  first  Christian  church  in  the  history  of  the  county,  and 
was  its  pastor  for  18  years,  preaching  within  the  walls  of  the  edifice 
erected  at  his  instance,  and  in  groves  and  neighbors'  houses,  the  bound- 
less love  and  charity  of  God,  and  the  glorious  doctrine  of  the  Atone- 
ment. He  worked  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  faithfully  and  without 
ceasing  until  the  shadows  of  old  age  settled  deep  and  thick  about  him, 
and  admonished  him  that  the  time  for  retirement  and  rest  had  come. 
He  survived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  died  in  his  eighty-first  year,  on 
the  8th  of  May,  1873.  His  good  wife,  who  had  been  his  comfort  and 
solace  through  a  long  and  happy  married  life,  preceded  him  to  the 
grave  by  less  than  three  years,  leading  in  the  pathway  that  he  was 
soon  to  tread  on  the  10th  of  Octol^er,  1870.  He  raised  a  worthy 
family  of  children,  consisting  of  eight  sons  and  three  daughters 
but  four  of  whom,  however,  are  now  living,  namely:  Betsey  A., 
now  the  widow  of  James  J.  Rice;  Harrison  P.,  Reuben  F.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  and  Sarah  J.,  the  widow  of  M.  P.  Durham. 
Those  deceased  are:  Thomas  J.,  Nancy  S.,  William  G.,  James  M., 
John  E.,  Benjamin  F.,  Jr.,  and  Jacob  A.  Judge  Reuben  F.  Poison, 
next  to  the  youngest  in  his  father's  family  of  children,  was  born  in 
Lincoln  county,  Ky.,  April  2,  1834,  and  was  therefore  but  three  years 
of  age  when  his  ^parents  removed  to  Randolph  county.     Brought  up 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  695 

by  such  a  father  as  his,  he  of  course  developed  those  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart,  and  those  habits  of  industry,  which,  when  present  in  an  in- 
dividual, never  fail  to  make  him  a  useful  and  influential  citizen.  He 
of  course  became  a  farmer  and  this  occupation  he  has  ever  since  fol- 
lowed. When  about  seven  years  old  he  met  with  a  severe  accident, 
having  his  left  arm  fractured  and  elbow  dislocated  ;  this,  of  course, 
prevented  him  from  performing  physical  labor  with  that  member.  At 
the  age  of  19  he  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but  before  com- 
pleting his  course,  at  his  father's  request  he  took  charge  of  the  hitter's 
farm  and  business  generally,  continuing  to  be  thus  occupied  until  his 
death.  In  the  meantime  R.  F.  Poison  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides.  Although  doubtless  perfectly  competent  to  enter  the 
legal  profession,  he  has  never  applied  for  admittance  to  the  bar.  On 
the  3d  of  May,  1855,  Mr.  P.  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Halley 
of  Macon  county.  She  survived  for  nearly  22  years,  dying  April  25, 
1877.  Of  the  family  of  six  daughters  and  three  sons  born  of  this 
union,  six  are  living:  Logan,  Dora  A.,  new  Mrs.  Daniel  S.  Routt; 
Ellen  D.,  now  Mrs.  Martin  L.  Routt;  Reuben  S.,  Kittle  A.  and  Effie 
E.  Those  deceased  are:  Joseph  F.,who  died  at  the  age  of  17, 
in  1875  ;  Susan  M.,  Ida  and  Florence,  all  three  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. During  this  time  Mr.  Poison  became,  as  his  father  had  before 
him,  entirely  successful  in  the  affairs  of  life  and  highly  respected  and 
influential  as  a  citizen.  He  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1862.  Four 
years  afterwards  he  was  elected  magistrate  of  his  township  and  filled 
the  office  with  such  fairness  and  ability  and  such  general  satisfaction, 
that  he  was  afterwards  continuously  re-elected  and  served  until  1878, 
when  his  name  had  become  so  prominent  and  well-known  as  a  leading 
citizen  of  the  county,  and  his  reputation  for  business  ability,  sound 
judgment,  and  high  character  so  generally  recognized,  that  he  was 
elected  for  the  responsible  office  of  probate  judge  of  the  county,  the 
highest  judicial  office  in  the  county  and  second  to  only  that  of  circuit 
judge  of  the  whole  judicial  district.  He  filled  this  position  to  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  with  his  characteristic  ability  and  efficiency,  and 
retired  with  the  confidence  and  high  esteem  of  all  the  people  of  the 
county,  regardless  of  party  or  other  differences  of  opinion.  Such  a 
record  he  may  well  contemplate  with  satisfaction,  and  such  a  record 
his  children  and  the  county  may  point  to  with  just  pride.  On  the 
25th  of  November,  1877,  Judge  Poison  was  married  to  his  present 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Hallie  Burckhartt.  She  was  born  in  this  county 
February  27,  1843,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  C.  F.  Burckhartt,  a  prom- 
inent representative  of  that  old  and  honored  family  whose  name  he 
bears,  so  well  and  favorably  known  to  Missourians.  The  Judge  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  also  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  at 
Jacksonville.  He  is  an  unflinching  Democrat,  always  voting  for  the 
nominees  of  his  party. 

39 


696  HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


JAMES  L.  POLSON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser), 

Mr.  Poison  is  the  eldest  of  two  sons  now  living  in  the  family  of 
children  by  the  first  marriage  of  his  father,  Rev.  Harrison  P.  Poison. 
Dr.  Harrison  P.  Poison  was  the  seventh  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Poison, 
mention  of  whom  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Judge  Reuben  F.  Poison, 
which  precedes  this,  and  was  born  in  Gasey  county,  Ky.,  November 
16,  1831.  He  followed  the  example  of  his  father  and  became  a 
follower  of  Christ  about  the  year  1852,  and,  also,  like  his  father, 
became  a  successful  farmer  and  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
citizens  in  this  portion  of  the  county.  Reared  in  Randolph  county, 
he  was  married  here  on  the  14th  of  May,  1854,  to  Miss  Mary  P. 
Halley,  who,  like  himself,  was  originally  from  Kentucky,  where  she 
was  born  on  the  17th  of  April,  1835.  She  died  on  the  21st  of  May, 
1862,  and  of  her  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  but  two 
sons  are  living:  James  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  Thomas  F. 
He  was  subsequently  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cannon,  of  Macon 
county.  There  are  three  children  by  this  union,  two  daughters  and 
a  son.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  general  education,  considering  the 
times  and  country  in  which  he  lived,  and  his  opportunities  for  mental 
culture.  But  in  the  Bible  he  was  especially  well  read,  and  having  the 
gift  of  healing,  which  he  has  practiced  for  many  years,  hundreds  have 
been  made  to  rejoice  at  his  power  over  diseases  by  laying  on  of  hands. 
While  his  faith  in  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion  is 
unfaltering  and  as  enduring  as  life  itself,  his  zeal  is  of  the  kind  that 
never  wearies,  but  at  all  times  and  in  all  circumstances  it  is  a  great 
source  of  comfort  to  him.  He  is  still  living  near  Jacksonville,  Mo., 
and  using  his  gift  as  best  he  can  by  healing  all  who  call  upon  him. 
When  he  comes  to  lay  aside  the  garments  of  his  earthly  flesh,  it  can 
be  said  of  him  — 

"  How  beautiful  it  is  for  a  man  to  die 
Upon  the  walls  of  Zion!  to  be  called 
Like  a  watch-worn  and  weary  sentinel, 
To  put  his  armour  off,  and  rest  in  heaven." 

James  L.  Poison,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  his  father's 
homestead  in  this  county  on  the  4th  of  May,  1855,  and  was  reared  on 
a  fiirm.  On  the  9th  of  January,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda 
F.  Durham,  daughter  of  F.  P.  and  Susan  Durham,  of  this  county. 
Mr.  Poison  has  made  farming  his  life  occupation,  and  has  a  neat  place 
of  80  acres,  besides  40  acres  of  good  timber.  His  farm  is  exception- 
ally well  improved,  and  shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  marked  intelligence, 
enterprise  and  good  taste.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poison  have  three  children  : 
Ruby  E.,  Bertha  E.  and  John  H.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  in  which  his  father  and  grandfather  were  faithful 
and  able  ministers. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  697 


WILLIAM  G.  EILEY 

(Farmer). 

Mr.  R.,  one  of  the  substantial  and  respected  citizens  of  Jackson 
township,  is  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  oldest  native  residents,  if  not 
the  oldest,  of  Randolph  county.  He  was  born  near  Huntsville,  on  his 
father's  homestead,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1823,  and  will  therefore  soon 
have  spent  61  years  within  the  borders  of  his  native  county,  with  the 
exception  of  the  years  1844  and  1845,  when  he  resided  in  Marion 
county.  He  has  grown  with  the  growth  of  the  county,  and  while  the 
county  in  these  60  years  has  developed  from  a  wilderness  into  one  of 
the  best  in  the  State,  he  has  come  to  be  one  of  its  best  citizens,  and 
not  less  prosperous  in  worldly  affairs  than  he  is  highly  respected. 
Coming  up  in  this  new  country,  he  of  course  had  but  poor  opportuni- 
ties, so  far  as  education  and  other  artificial  advantages  are  concerned, 
to  fit  himself  for  a  successful  future ;  but  for  this  absence  of  advan- 
tages he  has  more  than  made  up  by  the  energy  and  sterling  qualities 
of  his  character.  From  boyhood  he  has  followed  farming,  and  has 
become  one  of  the  most  practical  and  intelligent  farmers  of  his  town- 
ship. The  fruits  of  his  industry  and  good  management  are  visible  in 
his  large  and  handsome  farm  of  260  acres,  and  in  his  flocks  and  herds 
which  pasture  on  it  and  in  his  other  valuable  property.  He  certainly 
has  no  cause  to  complain  of  his  situation  in  life  or  the  manner  in  which 
the  soil  and  seasons  have  responded  to  his  toil.  He  has  resided  on 
this  place  since  1851.  On  the  25th  of  December,  1849,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Tedford.  Seven  of  the  nine  children, 
the  issue  of  this  marriage,  are  living.  Mr.  Riley's  first  wife  died  on 
the  24th  of  April,  1873.  His  present  wife  was,  previous  to  her 
marriage  to  him,  a  Mrs.  Susan  Tabor,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Tabor, 
of  Macon  county.  This  marriage  was  solemnized  August  9,  1874, 
and  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  have  followed.  The 
names  of  his  children  are;  Laura  F.,  John  W.,  Margaret  L.,  Susan 
H.,  Olivia  A.,  Virginia  C,  Nannie  J.,  Mollie  Lee,  Victor  H.,  Herbert 
E.,  Buler  G.  and  Earl.  Mr.  Riley's  parents  were  Abraham  and  Mary 
(Dale)  Riley,  the  father  born  in  Maryland,  June  18,  1776,  and  the 
mother  in  Kentucky  10  years  afterwards.  They  had  six  sons  and  six 
daughters,  four  sons  and  two  daughters  of  whom  are  residents  or 
Randolph  and  Macon  counties.  The  others  are  deceased.  The 
parents  were  among  the  very  earliest  settlers,  having  removed  here 
from  Kentucky  in  1822.  The  mother  died  in  1847,  and  after  her 
death  the  father  made  his  home  with  his  children,  and  lived  to  the 
advanced  age  of  90  years,  dying  September  16,  1866.  Mr.  Riley  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  his  wife  of  the  Old  School  Baptists. 
It  should  have  been  mentioned  above  that  Mr.  R.  served  as  a  volunteer 
in  the  United  States  army  in  the  War  with  Mexico  in  1846-47, 
winning  an  enviable  record  as  a  brave  soldier  in  that  conflict. 


C98  HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


WILLARD  M.  SEARS 

(Druggist,  Jacksonville). 

Mr.  Sears,  a  popular  young  business  man  of  this  place,  comes  of  an 
old  Randolph  county  family,  and  was  born  in  this  county  on  the  28th 
of  June,  1856.  His  ftither  was  a  substantial  farmer  of  this  county, 
and  Willard  M.  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  a  good  practical, 
education  in  the  common  schools.  On  the  15th  of  December,  1878, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Elva  V.  Campbell,  born  and  reared  in  Ran- 
dolph county.  They  have  had  two  interesting  children  :  Zula  F.,  born 
October  7,  1879,  and  Virgil  E.,  born  December  4,  1881.  Both  are 
now  deceased,  Zula  having  died  April  21,  1880,  and  Virgil,  August  21, 
1883.  Up  to  1883,  Mr.  Sears  followed  farming  exclusively  and  he 
still  has  a  neat  farm  of  80  acres  in  this  township,  the  management  of 
which  he  controls.  But  in  April  of  last  year  he  established  his 
present  drug  store  at  this  place.  This  has  proved  an  entire  success 
as  a  business  venture,  and  Mr.  Sears  justly  claims  to  have  one  of  the 
neatest,  best  kept  and  most  popular  retail  drug  houses  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  He  keeps  a  good  line  of  fresh  drugs,  and  is  careful  in 
compounding  prescriptions  so  that  all  mistakes  are  avoided.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Mt.  Salem,  in  Macon 
county.  Mr.  Sears  was  one  in  a  family  of  four  children  of  Andrew 
J.  and  Fannie  A.  .(Palmer)  Sears,  of  this  county.  The  mother 
died  in  September,  1863.  Two  years  afterwards  the  father  was  mar- 
to  Miss  Minnie  Teter  of  Macon  county.  Seven  children  followed  his 
second  marriage.  He  died  here  May  22,  1881,  leaving  a  comfortable 
homestead  of  nearly  a  quarter-section  of  land. 

WILLIAM  SURBER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Toward  the  early  settlement  of  Missouri,  and  particularly  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State,  Virginia  contributed  more  sturdy,  brave-hearted 
pioneers  than  any  State  in  the  Union.  Among  those  who  came  out  in 
an  early  day  from  the  Old  Dominion  were  the  parents  of  Mr.  Surber 
and  their  family,  who  settled  in  Randolph  county,  where  the  father, 
Jacob  Surber,  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  seventy- 
ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  in  1865  ;  the  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Nancy  Wagoner,  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  1864.  They  had 
six  sons  and  six  daughters,  and  three  sons  and  four  daughters  are  liv- 
ing:  James  W.,  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Elijah  Elder;  William,  Maria,  the 
wife  of  George  Halley  ;  Caroline,  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Barnes;  Anton- 
ette,  the  wife  of  James  Moody,  and  John  T.  B.  The  deceased  are : 
Emeline,  Joseph,  Charles  T.,  George  A.  and  Harriet.  William  Surber, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Virginia,  January  4,  1827,  and 
was  reared  on  a  farm.  On  the  25th  of  August,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  Walker,  also  originally  of  Virginia,  born  January  10, 1830, 
but  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  a  resident  of  Macon  county,  this  State. 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH    COUNTY.  699 

Mr.  Surber  continued  farming  after  he  was  married  and  has  had  good 
success.  In  1870  he  settled  on  his  present  place,  which  contains  over 
300  acres.  He  is  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in  stock-raising, 
and  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Surber  have  four  children  :  Alice  G.,  the  wife  of  John  -C.  McCanne, 
of  Jacksonville,  Mo.  ;  Kobert  P.,  Birdie  W.  and  Mittie  L.,  twins  ;  the 
latter  the  wife  of  H.  J.  Humphrey,  of  Jacksonville,  Mo.,  and  Lutie. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Surber  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


MACON    COUNTY. 


HISTORY 


OF 


MACON    COUNTY,  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER    I. 

The  Pioneer  —  First  Settlements  —  Names  of  Early  Settlers— Organization  of  the 

County  —  Nathaniel  Macon. 

THE   PIONEEE. 

"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-stroke  loud  and  clear, 
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  flame  up  the  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  to-night  he  sits  by  the  fireside. 
In  a  mansion  quaint  and  old. 
With  his  children's  children  around  him. 
Having  reaped  a  thousand  fold." 

(701) 


702  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


FIRST    SETTLEMENTS. 


Although  the  first  permanent  settlement  was  not  made  within  the 
present  limits  of  Macon  county,  until  the  year  1827,  its  territory  was 
not  by  any  means  unknown  to  the  pioneers  of  Randolph,  Chariton 
and  Howard  counties.  The  daring  hunter,  with  his  trusty  rifle,  had 
not  only  explored  all  the  important  water-courses  which  vein  its  sur- 
face, but  had,  time  and  again,  traversed  its  broad  prairies  in  search  of 
the  game  which  everywhere  abounded. 

That  part  of  Macon  county  which  borders  upon  Randolph  and  Char- 
iton counties,  was,  naturally,  first  occupied  by  the  emigrant,  as  the 
latter  counties  ante-date  the  former,  both  in  settlement  and  organiza- 
tion, and  were  at  that  time  the  only  contiguous  territory  that  contained 
any  inhabitants,  other  than  the  Indians  and  wild  animals. 

The  first  settlers  in  the  county,  though  generally  from  Kentucky 
and  Virginia  (the  two  States  which  have  contributed  so  largel}'^  to 
the  early  settlement  of  Missouri),  came  to  Macon  direct  from  Howard 
and  Randolph  counties.  Mo.,  whither  they  had  emigrated  from  their 
native  States. 

From  the  most  reliable  information  that  can  be  obtained,  the  first 
white  man  to  erect  his  cabin-home  in  the  present  limits  of  Macon 
county,  was  James  Loe,  who  came  to  Howard  county.  Mo.,  in  1820, 
from  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  and  located  near  the  old  town  of  Fayette, 
where  he  remained,  as  above  indicated,  until  1827,  when  he  and  his 
family  came  to  Macon  county.  They  located  south  of  Callao,  on 
what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Joseph  M.  Hammett  farm,  section 
13,  township  57,  range  16. 

For  some  time  after  their  arrival  they  saw  no  human  beings  but 
Indians,  whose  acquaintance  they  were  not  particularly  anxious  to 
cultivate.  During  the  hunting  season  the  Sioux  Indians  passed  within 
sight  of  their  cabin  almost  every  day,  and  frequently  camped  on  the 
Chariton  river  with  their  squaws  and  pappooses.  They  continued  to 
come  to  the  county  on  their  annual  hunting  expeditions  until  about 
the  year  1836,  when  they  took  up  their  line  of  march  further  west. 
Mr.  Loe  died  in  18 — .  His  son,  Jacob  Loe,  is  still  a  resident  of 
Macon  county,  and  is  now  77  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Rowland  came  to  the  county  in  1829  and  located  where  old 
Centre ville  (since  called  Woodville)  was  laid  out.  He  was  born 
in  Chatham  county,  N.  C,  March  2,  1805,  and  came  to  Randolph 
county  in  1822.     He  and  his  brother,  William  H.  Rowland,  entered 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  703 

the  first  land  in  that  part  of  the  county  in  1828.  At  the  date 
of  his  coming,  the  game  consisted  of  bears,  ellis,  deer,  panthers, 
turkeys  and  wolves.  Mr.  Rowland  was  fond  of  hunting,  and  during 
those  pioneer  times  he  killed  elks  with  horns  so  large  that  when  re- 
versed with  tips  on  the  ground  he  could  walk  under  them.  He  killed 
upon  one  occasion  two  large  black  bears  on  one  tree.  Hunters 
would  at  that  time  often  go  north  as  far  as  the  Raccoon  fork  of  the 
Des  Moines  river,  where  the  city  of  Des  Moines  is  now  situated. 
One  niffht  six  or  eis-ht  Indians  came  to  Mr.  Rowland's  cabin  and 
made  known  their  presence  by  their  war  whoop,  which  they  sounded 
upon  their  arrival.  There  were  no  floors  or  doors  to  his  cabin.  He 
stood  with  his  musket  and  butcher-knife  in  hand,  and  his  trembling 
wife  by  his  side,  expecting  to  be  killed  every  minute.  The  Indians 
attempted  to  force  their  way  into  the  cabin  but  were  prevented  from 
so  doing  by  Mr.  Rowland.  They  finally  desired  to  shake  hands  with 
him  and  called  him  "Brave  Mucky-man,"  and  left.  The  next  morn- 
ing he  heard  that  they  robbed  every  man  in  the  settlement  but  one. 

In  1847  Mr.  Rowland  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
one  of  the  county  court  judges.  In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the 
Lower  House  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  was  reelected  for  one  or 
two  succeedinfr  terms.  In  1854  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate, 
and  in  1861  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention.  He 
is  still  living  in  Macon  county. 

William  Morrow  was  the  third  settler.  He  came  from  Clay  county, 
Ky.,  in  1819,  to  Missouri,  and  opened  the  farm  now  known  as  the 
Dr.  John  Sappington  place,  six  miles  north-east  of  Glasgow,  in 
Howard  county.  After  residing  in  Howard  county  three  years  he 
moved  to  Marion  county,  Tenn.,  where  he  remained  six  years  and 
then  returned  to  Missouri,  this  time  settling  in  Randolph  county, 
near  Fox's  mill  on  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river.  After 
living  there  for  one  year,  on  March  15,  1831,  he  came  to  Macon 
county  and  located  on  the  south-east  quarter  of  section  2,  township 
56,  range  16,  in  Chariton  township.  The  farm  which  he  opened  is 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Nancy  Perrin. 

At  the  date  of  Mr.  Morrow's  coming  there  were  no  settlements  in 
the  region  of  country  including  Adair,  Schuyler,  Putnam  and  Macon 
counties,  except  those  made  by  James  Loe,  Lewis  Green,  Elisha 
Chambers,  Randall  Clark,  Frederick  Rowland,  Andrew  Millsap  and  a 
few  others.  Mr.  Morrow  erected  the  first  grist  (corn)  mill  that  was 
put  up  in  the  county,  near  to  or  on  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Perrin,  above 
named.     This  served   for  a  large  section  of  country  for  a  number  of 


704  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

years.  He  was  not  only  a  pioneer  miller,  but  was  the  pioneer  black- 
smith, and  being  an  ingenious  workman,  he  made  it  a  success.  Major 
William  J.  Morrow  and  Jefferson  Morrow,  Sr.,  are  sons  of  William 
Morrow.  The  neighborhood  where  they  originally  located  was  called 
the  ••  Morrow  Settlement." 

Then  was  made  the  Blackwell  settlement  on  Grand  Prairie,  five 
miles  north  of  Macon,  and  was  composed  of  William  Blackwell, 
Nathan  Richardson  and  John  Walker,  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier. 

Mr.  Blackwell,  after  whom  the  settlement  was  named,  was  born  in 
Madison  county,  Ky.,  January  13,  1797,  and  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1823,  he  married  Elizabeth  Lynch.  He  came  to  Boone 
county.  Mo.,  in  November,  1827,  and  moved  to  Howard  county  the 
following  year.  On  the  12th  of  April,  1831,  he  became  a  citizen  of 
Macon  county,  and  resided  continuously  in  the  same  neighborhood 
until  the  date  of  his  death. 

*' Blackwell  Settlement  "  was  afterwards  called  Moccasinville,  so 
named  because  the  pioneers  had  no  leather  to  make  shoes  of,  and  were 
compelled  to  wear  moccasins  instead.  Mr.  Blackwell  died  at  his  home 
in  Eagle  township  in  1882,  at  the  advanced  age  of  85  years.  He  left 
a  large  number  of  children  and  grandchildren,  and  when  his  remains 
were  interred  in  Bellview  cemetery  a  large  concourse  of  people  were 
in  attendance,  among  whom  were  many  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
county  and  their  descendants. 

The  next  emigrants  to  the  county  came  in  1832,  and  formed  the 
*' Owenby  Settlement."  Their  names  were  Joseph  Owenby  and 
Clemens  Hutchison,  and  located  where  the  town  of  Blooraington  now 
stands.  Joseph  Owenby  was  one  of  the  first  three  county  court 
judges. 

In  1833  a  number  of  other  settlements  were  made.  Lewis  Gilstrap 
and  William  Garrett  settled  the  tracts  of  land  on  which  the  town  of 
Beyier  stands,  running  west  to  the  Middle  fork.  Samuel  Goodson 
and  James  Stow  located  about  the  same  time  on  Bear  creek.  Abraham 
Dale,  William  Shain,  Isaac  Gross,  and  a  few  others,  opened  farms  on 
the  Chariton  Divide,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  In  the 
south-eastern  part  of  the  county  another  settlement  was  made  by 
Frederick  Rowland,  Thomas  Winn  and  Henry  Mathews. 

About  the  year  1832,  Thomas  Winn  settled  in  Frederick  Rowland's 
neighborhood.  He  was  a  native  of  Clark  county,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
born  September  26,  1808.  His  father  emigrated  to  Missouri  in  1817, 
and  like  many  others  of  the  first  settlers  of  Macon  county,  first  stopped 
in  Howard  county.     In  1829  he  married  Nancy  Brown  of  that  county, 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  705 

and  by  this  union  10  children  have  been  born  unto  them,  five  sons 
and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  be  grown.  He  had  30  grand- 
children, and  all  of  them  settled  on  farms  in  the  same  vicinity.  He 
was  also  a  great  hunter,  and  during  the  winter  of  1833-4  he  and  others 
killed  17  bears  and  a  few  panthers.  He  killed  a  bear  that  weighed  400 
pounds.  In  1834-5  he  found  80  bee  trees.  He  served  on  the  first 
gran.d  jury  impaneled  in  the  county.  He  died  February  20,  1880,  in 
the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 

We  have  endeavored  to  give  the  names  and  locations  of  the  earliest 
settlers  and  settlements  of  Macon  county,  and  have  given  brief  sketches 
of  a  few  of  the  most  prominent  men  who  were  instrumental  in  form- 
ing and  moulding  those  settlements,  and  shall  now  append  a  long  list 
of  names  of  men,  who  among  others,  constituted  that  van-guard  of 
early  emigrants  who  assisted  in  bearing  aloft  the  banner  of  civiliza- 
tion. This  list  will  include  the  names  of  a  large  number  of  the 
settlers  who  came  to  the  county  between  the  years  of  1830  and  1844. 

Ishmael  Abbott,  Elvan  Allen,  David  Amick,  Haley  Andrews,  Isaac 
B.  Andrews,  Robert  Armstrong,  John  Ashbel,  Simon  Atteberry, 
Walker  Austin,  Othmel  Baccus,  James  H.  Bagwill,  John  M.  Baird, 
J.  P.  Baldwin,  John  Ballinger,  Felix  Baker,  John  B.  Ballard,  Samuel 
Baldridge,  Frazier  Banning,  Thomas  Banning,  John  Banta,  Elijah 
Barnes,  Caleb  Barnett,  David  Barrow,  Nathan  Barrow,  Ammon  Beebe, 
Rev.  Stephen  P.  Beebe,  John  H.  Bian,  John  Beall,  Jacob  Beall,  John 
Bell,  John  Blew,  Samuel  Blankenship,  Richard  Blew,  Solomon  Bless- 
ing, William  Brammer,  Shadrich  Brammer,  Wesley  O.  Bristoe,  M. 
T.  Brasfield,  William  R.  Brock,  Chesley  Brock,  Reuben  Brown,  Will- 
iam Breckin,  Arthur  Brown,  James  Bryant,  Arthur  Borron,  C.  G. 
Buckley,  Winfield  Bulkley,  Henry  Bunch,  Joseph  Bunch,  John  Bunch, 
Abner  Bundron,  Green  B.  Burckhartt,  Richard  Burnett,  Rowland  Bur- 
nett, William  Burris,  Michael  Buster,  C.  Buster,  James  Buster,  Joseph 
D.  Butler,  John  Butt,  George  Cain,  Rev.  Samuel  B.  F.  Caldwell, 
Alfred  Calffre,  Richard  Calvert,  W.  R.  Calfer,  J.  S.  Cantwell,  George 
Caperon,  Simeon  Cannon,  Stanton  Carter,  J.  G.  Canterbury,  W.  J. 
Care,  Wesley  Cherry,  Richard  Christial,  Milton  Christial,  Elisha 
Chambers,  James  Chrissup,  Fletcher  Chrissup,  Joseph  Claybrook, 
Thomas  Clifton,  James  C.  Cochran,  Charles  Colyear,  George  B- 
Cook,  William  J.  Cook,  Valentine  Cook,  Rice  Cook,  Jeremiah  Coil, 
Isaac  Cooley,  George  Condor,  Benjamin  Cooley,  David  Cooper,  George 
Coperon,  Floyd  H.  Coulter,  Sterling  Coulter,  William  Cooksey, 
James  Cox,  Joel  Crain,  Daniel  Crawley,  James  Croft,  Peter  Cum- 
mings,   Samuel  Cunningham,  Tyre   Dabney,  Jubal  Dabney,  Nathan 


706  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Dabney,  Bluford  Dabney,  Philip  Dale,  Abraham  Dale,  Alexander 
Dameron,  J.  C.  Dameron,  Andrew  J.  Davis,  John  Davis,  Drevvry 
Davis,  Rev.  O.  P.  Davis,  James  Davis,  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Davidson, 
Jacob  Dawson,  William  Dickerson,  Obediah  Dickerson,  Thomas  Dod- 
son,  George  Dodson,  Joseph  Dougherty,  William  Drinkard,  Mark 
Dunn,  Palington  Dunnington,  Reuben  Dunuington,  George  Dungan, 
Nicholas  Durall,  Rev.  James  Dysart,  Urban  East,  Samuel  G.  Eason, 
William  Easley,  John  Ellis,  John  E.  Ellis,  John  Elliott,  Hodges 
England,  Ebenezer  Enyart,  Abraham  Enyart,  George  Epperly,  S.  L. 
Evans,  David  Farrington,  William  Farmer,  John  Ferguson,  Jefferson 
Finn,  Achilles  Finnel,  K.  S.  Fitts,  Bartlet  Fletcher,  Wilson  Fletcher, 
Isham  Fletcher,  James  Floore,  Jonathan  Floyd,  Benjamin  Forman, 
Henry  D.  Fort,  ^  Simpson  Foster,  William  S.  Fox,  Samuel  Fox,  B. 
Freeman,  George  Gates,  William  Garwood,  William  Gates,  George 
Gallihorn,  Thomas  H.  Gains,  Robert  George,  Thomas  Gee,  John  Gee, 
Aaron  Gee,  Robert  I.  Gipson,  Stephen  Gipson,  E.  S.  Gipson,  Walter 
Y.  Gilman,  James  Glenn,  William  H.  Glenn,  Jesse  Gilstrap,  Peter 
Gilstrap,  Abner  L.  Gilstrap,  Philip  Gilstrap,  Alexander  Goodding, 
Nicholas  Goodding,  Isaac  Goodding,  William  Goddard,  John  C.  Good- 
son,  J.  G.  Goodard,  Samuel  Goodson,  G.  J.  Gorham,  Joseph 
Grady,  Robert  Graves,  Benjamin  Grafford,  James  H.  Graves, 
John  Graham,  Hiram  Graves,  George  W.  Green,  Willis  E. 
Green,  William  Green,  William  Griffin,  William  G.  Griffin, 
Obed  Griffin,  Henry  Griffin,  Jesse  Griffin,  Joseph  Griffin,  James  A. 
Griffin, Cunningham  Grimes,  Spencer  Grogan,  John  Gross, Isaac  Gross, 
Allen  C.  Gunter,  J.  W.  Hacker,  Reuben  Haines,  W.  L.  Hale,  John 
Hagewood,  Jesse  Hall,  Samuel  Hall,  Simeon  Halliburton,  Ambrose 
Halliburton, Wesley  Halliburton,  John  Haley,  James  T.  Haley,  Charles 
H.  Hamilton,  Leroy  Hampton,  E.  E.  Hand,  I.  C.  Hanes,  H.  Hard- 
grove,  Hardin  Hargis,  Golden  Harden,  Isaac  Hargis,  John  Hargis, 
William  Hartgrove,  Andrew  Hatfield,  Oliver  Hatter,  Lewis  C.  Haw- 
kins, James  L.  Hawkins,  James  W.  Haydon,  E.  Hayden,  Richard 
Heaton,  James  Head,  Burtley  P.  Herndon,  Henry  Hines,  E.  T.  Hick- 
man, William  C.  A.  Hill,  William  Hibbard,  Rev.  A.  T.  Hite,  David 
Hodge,  James  P.  Holly,  James  Hollowell,  R.  S.  Holley,  E.  L.  Holli- 
day,  Joseph  Holman,  William  Holman,  'Squire  Holman,  Andrew 
Hood,  Thomas  Hood,  Elias  Holiday,  James  Holderley,  Charles  Holt, 
John  D.  Howe,  Thomas  Howard,  Christopher  Howard,  William  Huck- 
aby,   David    Hubble,   Daniel  C.    Hubbard,   Micajah    Hull,  Kelm   T. 


1  Surveyed  the  first  county  seat. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  707 

Hulin,  Wilbuni  Hughes,  John  Huffraann,  Martin  Humphreys,  William 
Hurley,  Peyton    Y.  Hurt,  Jesse  James,  H.  T.  James,  Abner  James, 
Alfred  James,  William  Jeremy,  J.  Jennings,  Gabriel  Johnson,  Enoch 
Johnson,   Richard  T.  Johnson,  Jacob  Johnson,   John  Jones,  Allen 
Jones,   Theodore  Jones,  Johnson   Jones,  Jacob   Kasinger,    William 
Kelly,  John  Kelso,  Thomas  Kennedy,  Joel  King,  Edward  P.  G.  Kin- 
kade,    Hughes    W.    Kirk,    A.    Q.    Kirby,    Thomas     Kirkpatrick, 
Moses     Kitchen,     John    Lander,    Robert    Landrum,    John    Lamb, 
Travis  Lamb,  John  Landry,  George  B.Larrick,  Rev.  Joshua  Lawson, 
John  M.  Leath,  John  Leathers,  Oliver  P.  Lee,  Abraham  Lewis,  John 
Lesley,   John    Lister,  Charles    Lecompt,  Amos  A.  Logsdon,   James 
Londay,  Gideon  Lyda,  Pleasant  Lyle,  James  Lyons,  James  Mackey, 
David  Magee,  Jehoidah  Marsh,  William  Mason,  Bright  Martin,  Hugh 
Mastison,  Broad    Matney,  Jefferson   Matney,  Joel   Maxey,  Benjamin 
Mead,  John  F.  McDavitt,  Leo  McDavitt,  W.  R.  McLean,  John  Mc- 
Duffee,  John  McNuly,  Hugh  McCann,  Henderson  McCully,  Amhurst 
P.  McCall,  Robert  Menifee,  JohnH.  Meadley,  Armstead  Miles,  Maxey 
Miller,  John  Miller,  L.  D.  Miller,  Robert  Miller,  Rev.  Solomon  Milan, 
A.  J.  Miles,  John  Moore,  Abram  Morris,  John  L.  Morris,  Amos  Mor- 
ris, Green    Moore,  Jeifersou    Morrow,  William    J.  Morrow,    Carroll 
Moss,  William  Montgomery,  Rev.  James  Moody,  R.  Mott,  Ichabod 
Moberly,  Daniel  Murley,  Sr.,  Daniel  Murry,  Martin  Murphy,  Sand- 
ford  Murley,  C.  G.  Maupin,  Daniel  F.Myers,  James  Meyers,  Robert 
Myers,  James  Mulinax,  John    L.  Northup,   Robert  Nunley,  Owenby 
Oliver,  Rev.  Joseph  Oliver,  Canady  Owenby,  Nelson  Olverson,  Bird- 
rick   Posey,   Leroy    Penton,    Jefferson    Patrick,  John    D.   Penland, 
Charles  Perrin,  William  Phipps,  Peter  Powell,  John  C.  Powell,  Henry 
Powell,  Barzilla  Powell,  W.  H.  Proctor,  Martin  Partin,  William  Pen- 
ick,  James    Pipps,  Tolly    Porter,  Henry  Percy,  A.  C.   Peyton,  John 
Patrick,  Joseph   Pershall,   Miles    Poteet,  Jepthar   Pittman,  William 
Patton,  John  Peyton,  Rev.  James  Ratliff,  Howel  Rose,  John  Rose, 
Jonathan  Ratliff,  William  H.  Rowland,  Frederick  Rowland,  J.  E.  Rich- 
ardson, John  Roberts,  Hiram  Reed,  James    Riley,  George  Reynolds, 
James  Rowland,  Nathan  Richardson,  F.  Rice,  James  N.  Richey,  James 
H.  Ray,  Benjamin  Robuck,  Joseph  Ringo,  Silas  Richardson,  William 
V.   Rippy,  Thomas  Royalty,  William  Ramsey,  Ralph  Roberts,  James 
Reed,     John    A.    Roper,  Rev.    William    Sears,   Ninevah    Summers, 
Waymire  Summers,  Johnson  Summers,  Reuben  C.  Sims,  Daniel  Sims, 
Rev.  Abram  Still,  Richard  Summers,  Aaron  Summers,  Joseph  Sears, 
James  Sears,  Joshua  Seny,  Hemsley  Seny,  Joseph   Stone,  Archibald 
Shoemaker,  R.   L.   Shackelford,  Thomas  G.  Sharp,  H.  B.  Smedley, 


708  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Lewis  Smith,  William  C.  Smith,  Perry  M.  Stacy,  Newton  Switzer, 
Rev.  John  G.  Swinney,  Armstead  Smoot,  Jacob  Surber,  Hiram  Sum- 
mers, Alva  Shoemaker,  Stephen  T.  Smith,  Moses  Summers,  John  T. 
Skinner,  Joseph  R.  Snodgrass,  Warren  C.  Smoot,  Noah  Summers, 
John  Shawver,  E.  Sloan,  James  H.  Stokes,  John  Sneed,  John  D. 
Smith,  Sidney  S.  Swetman,  David  H.  Steele,  W.  B.  Stephens,  Will- 
iam Saling,  George  W.  Spooner,  Wash.  Surber,  Hezekiah  Sneed,  M. 
Scruthfield,  George  A.  Strange,  William  Scruthfield,  George  M. 
Taylor,  James  A.  Terrill,  Moses  Taylor,  Lewis  Tilly,  Walter  Thomp- 
son, Charles  H.  Tuggle,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  Rev.  Alfred  Tobin,  Lynch 
Terrill,  Jesse  Truitt,  John  Thompson,  John  Temple,  John  Vansickle, 
Jacob  Vestal,  Samuel  Vernum,  Abner  Vickery,  Robert  Vankirk,  Rev. 
Allen  Wright,  Evans  Wright,  Sr.,  Bennett  C.  Wright,  James  Wells, 
Temple  Windle,  John  P.  Walker,  Jesse  Walker,  Owen  Wilson, 
Isham  Walker,  D.  G.  Walker,  Thomas  K.  Walker,  Randolph  White, 
John  Whiles,  Thomas  J.  Winn,  Ellis  R.  Wilson,  William  Winkler, 
W.  W.  Wiggins,  Amos  Williams,  Summers  Wright,  Johnson  Wright, 
Clayborn  Wright,  Eli  Williams,  Thomas  Williams,  John  White, 
Thomas  Waller,  William  West,  Edwin  A.  Whitfield,  William  Will- 
iams, James  B.  Wiggins,  Scott  Winn,  Perry  G.  Walker,  David 
Young,  E.  R.  Yates,  James  M.  Yager. 

The  names  above  recorded  should  be  carefully  preserved  and 
handed  down  to  future  generations,  because  they  are  the  names  of  the 
men  who  first  entered  and  peopled  the  territory  now  known  as  Macon 
county.  The  first  settlers  in  any  new  country  pass  through  an  ex- 
perience which  no  succeeding  generation  will  ever  be  able  to  fully 
appreciate.  The  time  is  ah'eady  past  when  the  youth  of  the  present, 
even,  have  any  conceptions  of  the  vicissitudes,  dangers  and  trials, 
which  the  pioneer  fathers  and  mothers  were  compelled  to  undergo,  to 
maintain  a  footing  in  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Every  new 
settlement  wrote  a  history  of  its  own,  which  differed  from  others  in 
the  nature  of  its  surroundings,  but  the  aggregate  of  the  experience  of 
all,  was  one  never  to  be  repeated  again  in  the  same  territory  or 
country.  The  mighty  woods  and  the  solemn  prairies  are  no  longer 
shrouded  in  mystery,  and  their  effect  on  the  minds  of  the  early  comers 
are  sensations  which  will  be  a  sealed  book  to  the  future..  Year  by 
year  the  circle  of  these  old  veterans  of  civilization  is  narrowing.  All 
that  is  most  vivid  and  valuable  in  memory  is  rapidly  disappearing. 
Gray  hairs  and  bowed  forms  attest  the  march  of  time.  The  personal 
sketch  of  pioneer  settlers,  however  rudely  drawn,  or  immature  in  de- 
tail, cannot  be  classed  as  the  work  of  mere  vain  glory.     On  the  con- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  lOd 

trary,  the  future  will  treasure  them,  and,  as  the  generations  recede, 
they  will  become  more  and  more  objects  of  interest  and  real  value. 
The  memory  of  the  pioneer  —  even  if  his  name  be  all  that  is  left  —  is 
one  the  world  will  never  consent  to  let  fade.  Its  transmission  is  a 
priceless  gift  to  the  future.  The  pioneers  still  with  us  are  the  con- 
necting link  between  the  past  and  the  present.  They  have  seen  this 
great  country  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness  and  become  the  home  of 
civilization,  refinement  and  intelligence.  They  have  seen  the  heavy 
road  wagon  give  place  to  the  puff  of  the  engine  and  the  flutter  of  the 
wheel  of  the  steamboat,  which  brought  their  supplies  and  took  their 
surplus  to  market.  They  have  seen  the  iron  horse,  with  clanging  hoof 
and  breath  of  flame,  hissing  contempt  for  the  space  lying  before  it, 
and  make  neighbors  of  distant  cities.  They  have  seen  the  electric 
telegraph  enter  the  race  with  light,  and  beating  the  tardy  sunbeam, 
deliver  messages  ahead  of  time.  They  have  seen  school-houses  dot 
the  country,  and  education  brought  to  every  child.  They  have  seen 
churches  erecting  their  spires  heavenward,  in  places  where  the  pagan 
on  bended  knee  awaited  the  first  glittering  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  and 
can  remember,  too,  the  time  when  — 

"The  sound  of  the  church-going  bell, 
These  valleys  and  hHls  never  heard, 
Nor  sighed  at  the  sound  of  a  knell, 
Nor  smiled  vrhen  a  Sabbath  appeared." 

They  have  seen  the  star  of  empire  finish  its  western  course,  and 
hanging  high  above  the  Pacific,  send  back  its  rays  in  golden  splendor 
upon  fifty  millions  of  American  citizens.  The  old  pioneers  were  al- 
ways law-abiding  men,  and  ever  set  a  good  example  before  their 
associates.  No  indictment  or  charge  of  disorder  was  ever  brought 
against  them,  and  it  may  be  that  those  who  are  still  living,  are  spared 
by  an  all  wise  Providence  as  sentinels  upon  the  watch-tower  of  time, 
to  witness  still  greater  blessings  to  the  human  race. 

ORGANIZATION    OF   THE    COUNTY. 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  held  in  the  City  of 
Jefi"er8on  in  the  winter  of  1836  and  1837,  an  act  was  passed  organizing 
a  new  county  called  Macon,  in  honor  of  Nathaniel  Macon,  with  the 
following  boundaries  :  "Beginning  at  the  south-east  corner  of  township 
56  north,  in  range  13  west  of  the  principal  meridian  ;  thence  north,  on 
the  range  line,  to  the  north-east  corner  of  township  59,  in  said  range  ; 
thence  three  miles  west  on  township  line  to  the  south-east  corner  of 


710  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

section  33,  in  township  60  ;  thence  north  on  section  line  to  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  4,  in  said  township  60  ;  thence  west  on  town- 
ship line,  to  the  north-west  corner  of  township  60,  in  range  17  ;  thence 
south  on  the  range  line  to  the  south-west  corner  of  township  57,  in 
said  range ;  thence  east  on  township  line  to  the  north-west  of 
section  3,  in  town  56  in  range  16 ;  thence  south  on  the  section 
line  to  the  south-west  corner  of  section  34,  in  same  township  ;  thence 
east  on  township  line  to  the  place  of  beginning,"  which  gives  an  area 
of  830  square  miles. 

The  act  appointed  as  commissioners  to  select  the  county  seat, 
Joseph  Baker  and  Henry  Lassiter,  who  performed  that  duty  in  the 
summer  of  1837  by  making  the  location  in  the  Owenby  settlement, 
and  which  place  was  called  Bloomington.  The  civil  government  of 
the  county  was  organized  that  year,  and  a  small  log  house  with  two 
rooms  was  provided,  in  Avhich  to  hold  the  courts  and  keep  the  records. 

Macon  was  the  fifty-seventh  county  organized  in  the  State,  and,  of 
course,  was  the  smallest  in  population.  Fifty-seven  counties  have 
been  formed  since  that  period,  making  a  total  of  114,  which  now  con- 
stitute the  ffrand  old  Commonwealth  of  Missouri.  Of  the  114  coun- 
ties,  only  11  have  a  greater  population  than  Macon,  and  only  two  of 
the  57  which  were  organized  after  Macon  have  exceeded  it  in  popu- 
lation ;  these  are  Jasper  and  Nodaway. 

Macon  is  the  largest  county  in  the  State  in  area  excepting  Texas, 
Shannon,  Howell  and  Bates  ;  the  county  of  Vernon  contains  the  same 
number  of  square  miles  that  Macon  contains. 

NATHANIEL    MACON. 

As  the  county  was  named  after  the  man  whose  name  appears 
above,  we  shall  here  give  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life.  He  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  N.  C,  in  1757,  and  died  at  his  plantation  in  the 
same  county  June  29,  1837.  He  died,  it  will  be  observed,  the  same 
year  in  which  Macon  county  was  organized,  and  as  his  fame  had 
extended  all  over  the  United  States  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
statesmen  of  the  country,  the  county  was  called  Macon  after  him. 
He  was  studying  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  when  the  War  of  the  Revolution 
commenced.  In  1877  he  left  coUesre  and  served  for  a  short  time  as  a 
private  in  a  company  of  volunteers.  Returning  to  North  Carolina,  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law,  but  soon  enlisted  again  as  a  vol- 
unteer, and,  though  several  offices  were  urged  upon  him,  served  as 
a  common  soldier  under  the  command  of  his  brother,  Col.  John 
Macon.     He  continued  in  the   army  until   the  provisional  treaty  of 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  711 

peace  in  1782,  and  was  present  at  the  fall  of  Charleston,  the  rout 
at  Camden,  and  during  the  pursuit  of  Greene  acrjoss  Carolina  by 
Cornwallis.  For  his  military  service  he  refused  any  pay,  nor  would 
he  accept  a  pension.  While  yet  in  the  army,  in  1780,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  North  Carolina,  in  which  post 
he  continued  to  serve  through  1785,  and,  though  very  young,  was 
employed  on  the  most  important  committees  of  that  body.  He  ad- 
vocated the  scheme  of  pledging  the  credit  of  the  State  to  redeem  her 
paper  issues  at  their  then  depreciated  rates,  but  held  that  the  prom- 
ises of  the  State  must  at  any  rate  be  redeemed. 

During  this  period  he  settled  on  a  plantation  on  the  bank  of  the 
Roanoke,  in  Warren  county,  and  made  this  spot  his  home  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  finding  his  main  occupation  and  enjoyment  in 
the  cultivation  of  his  farm.  When  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  first  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  people  of  North  Caro- 
lina, he  opposed  it  as  conferring  too  much  power  on  the  new  gov- 
ernment. He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  1791  to  1815,  and  was 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  from  1801  to  1806,  when  he  declined  re- 
nomination.  He  was  transferred  in  1816  to  the  Senate,  where  he 
served  till  1828,  being  president  pro  tern,  in  1825-7.  Twice  during 
Jefiierson's  administration  he  declined  the  office  of  postmaster-general. 
At  the  general  election  in  1824  the  State  of  Virginia  cast  for  him 
her  24  electoral  votes  for  the  vice-presidency  of  the  United  States. 
In  1828  he  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  and  several  local  offices, 
having  been  a  member  of  Congress  for  37  successive  years.  He 
presided  over  the  convention  called  to  revise  the  constitution  of 
North  Carolina  in  1835,  and  was  a  member  of  the  electoral  college  of 
that  State  in  1836.  In  Congress  Mr.  Macon  voted  for  the  embargo, 
and  for  the  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  but  held  that 
the  war  should  be  defensive  only,  and  so  refused  to  enlarge  the  naval 
force  beyond  what  was  needed  to  guard  the  coasts,  voted  against  a 
system  of  fortifications,  against  privateering,  etc.  He  also  voted 
against  all  schemes  of  internal  improvements  to  be  undertaken  by 
Congress,  spoke  in  1795  against  a  grant  to  Count  de  Grasse,  and, 
in  1824,  against  a  grant  of  land  to  Lafayette  for  revolutionary  serv- 
ices. In  the  convention  of  North  Carolina  he  spoke  against  giving 
to  free  negroes  the  right  to  vote ;  against  a  land  qualification  of 
voters ;  against  the  State  engaging  in  any  works  of  internal  im- 
provement ;  against  all  religious  tests  as  a  condition  of  holding  office  ; 
and  in  favor  of  voting  viva  voce  at  all  elections.  He  died  after 
only  a  few  hours'  illness,  but  had  already  given  directions  to  a  neigh- 
40 


712  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

bor  to  make  for  him  a  plain  coffin,  to  be  paid  for  before  his  inter- 
ment ;  had  selected  for  the  place  of  his  burial  a  barren  ridge,  where 
the  plow  could  never  come,  and  ordered  the  spot  to  be  marked 
by  a  pile  of  loose  stones  from  the  field.  Mr.  Macon  was  a  student 
of  few  books  besides  the  Bible,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Mr.  Jefferson  called  him  "the  last  of  the  Komans,"  and 
Mr.  Randolph  pronounced  him  '*  the  wisest  man  he  ever  knew." 


CHAPTER    11. 

PIONEER  LIFE. 

<*  Times  change,  and  we  change  with  time  "  —  The  Customs  of  Early  Days  —  The  Man- 
ner of  Building  —  Furniture,  etc. — Pioneer  Women  —  Their  Dress  —  Table  Sup- 
plies—  Cloth,  How  Made  —  House-raisings  —  Log-rollings  —  Corn  Shuckings  — r 
Dances  —  Shooting  Matches  —  Settlement  of  Disputes  —  Pioneer  Mills. 

It  is  a  trite  but  true  proverb  that  "  Times  change,  and  we  change 
with  time  ;  "  and  this  is  well  illustrated  in  the  change  in  dress,  con- 
dition and  life,  that  have  taken  place  in  this  country  in  less  than  half 
a  century.  We  doubt  not  that  these  changes,  as  a  whole,  are  for  the 
better.  To  the  old  man,  indeed,  whose  life  work  is  accomplished,  and 
whose  thoughts  dwell  mainly  on  the  past,  where  his  treasures  are, 
there  are  no  days  like  the  old  days,  and  no  song  awakens  so  responsive 
an  echo  in  the  heart  as  *' Auld  Lang  Syne."  The  very  skies  that 
arch  above  his  gray  head  seem  less  blue  to  his  dimmed  eye  than  they 
did,  when,  in  the  adoration  of  his  young  heart,  he  directed  to  them  his 
gaze  ;  the  woods  appear  less  green  and  inviting  than  when  in  the 
gayety  of  boyhood  he  courted  their  cool  depths,  and  the  songs  of  their 
feathered  inhabitants  falls  less  melodiously  upon  his  ear.  He  marks 
the  changes  that  are  everywhere  visible,  and  feels  like  crying  out  in 
the  language  of  the  poet — 

"Backward,  turn  backward.  Oh,  Time  in  thy  flight." 

It  is  natural  for  the  aged  to  sigh  for  a  return  of  the  past,  nor  would 
we  attempt  the  hopeless  task  of  convincing  them  that,  with  the 
changes  of  the  years,  there  has  come  an  increase  in  happiness,  an 
improvement  in  social  life,  a  progress  in  education,  an  advancement 
in  morality,  and  a  tendency  upward  in  all  that  relates  to  the  welfare  of 
mankind. 

We  may  learn  lessons,  however,  from  a  study  of  that  land  over 

which    the    pardonable  and  fond  imagination  of  the  old  settler  has 

thrown  the  '*  light  that  never   was  on  sea  or  land,"  if,  withdrawing 

ourselves  from  the  activities  of  the  present,  we  let  the  old  settler  take 

us  by  the  hand  and  lead  us  back  into  the  regions  of  his  youth,  that 

we  may  observe  the  life  of  those  who  founded  a  great  empire  in  a  great 

wilderness. 

(713) 


714  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Let  us  leave  the  prow  of  the  rushing  ship,  from  which  may  be  dis- 
cerned a  mighty  future,  rich  in  promise  and  bright  with  hope,  and  take 
our  place  upon  the  stern,  and  gaze  backward  into  the  beautiful  land  of 
the  past. 

No  doubt  we  shall  be  led  to  regret  the  absence  among  us  of  some 
of  the  virtues  of  those  who  lived  in  the  early  days.  Gone  is  that  free- 
hearted hospitality  which  made  of  every  settler's  cabin  an  inn,  where 
the  belated  and  weary  traveler  found  entertainment  without  money 
and  without  price.  Gone  is  that  community  of  sentiment  which  made 
neighbors  indeed  neighbors  ;  that  era  of  kindly  feeling  which  was 
marked  by  the  almost  entire  absence  of  litigation.  Gone,  too,  some 
say,  is  that  simple,  strong,  upright,  honest  integrity,  which  was  so 
marked  a  characteristic  of  the  pioneer.  So  rapid  has  been  the  improve- 
ment in  machinery,  and  the  progress  in  the  arts  and  their  application 
to  the  needs  of  man,  that  a  study  of  the  manner  in  which  people 
lived  and  worked  only  fifty  years  ago,  seems  like  the  study  of  a  re- 
mote age. 

It  is  important  to  remember  that,  while  a  majority  of  the  settlers 
were  poor,  poverty  carried  with  it  no  crushing  sense  of  degradation, 
like  that  felt  by  the  very  poor  of  our  age.  They  lived  in  a  cabin,  'tis 
true,  but  it  was  their  own,  and  had  been  reared  by  their  own  hands. 
Their  home,  too,  while  inconvenient  and  far  from  water-proof,  was 
built  in  the  prevailing  style  of  architecture,  and  compared  favorably 
with  the  homes  of  their  neighbors.  They  were  destitute  of  many  of 
the  conveniences  of  life,  and  of  some  things  that  are  now  considered 
necessaries  ;  but  they  patiently  endured  their  lot  and  hopefully  looked 
forward  to  brighter  days.  They  had  plenty  to  wear  as  a  protection 
against  the  weather,  and  an  abundance  of  wholesome  food.  They  sat 
down  to  a  rude  table  to  eat  from  tin  or  pewter  dishes  ;  but  the  meat 
thereon  —  the  flesh  of  the  deer  or  bear,  of  the  wild  duck  or  turkey, 
of  the  quail  or  squirrel  —  was  superior  to  that  we  eat,  and  had  been 
won  by  the  skill  of  the  settler  or  that  of  his  vigorous  sons.  The  bread 
they  ate  was  made  from  corn  or  wheat  of  their  own  raising.  They 
walked  the  green  carpet  of  grand  prairie  or  forest  that  surrounded 
them,  not  with  the  air  of  a  beggar,  but  with  the  elastic  step  of  a  self- 
respected  freeman. 

The  settler  brought  with  him  the  keen  ax,  which  was  indispensable, 
and  the  equally  necessary  rifle  —  the  first  his  weapon  of  offense  against 
the  forests  that  skirted  the  water  courses,  and  near  which  he  made  his 
home  —  the  second  that  of  defense  from  the  attacks  of  his  foe,  the 
cunning  child  of  the  forest  and  the  prairie.     His  first  labor  was  to  fell 


HISTORY    or    MACON    COUNTY.  715 

trees  and  erect  his  unpretentious  cabin,  which  was  rudely  made  of 
logs,  and  in  the  raising  of  which  he  had  the  cheerful  aid  of  his 
neighbors.  It  was  usually  from  14  to  16  feet  square,  and  never 
larger  than  20  feet,  and  very  frequently  built  entirely  without 
glass,  nails,  hinges  or  locks.  The  manner  of  building  was  as  follows  : 
First,  large  logs  were  laid  in  position  as  sills  ;  on  these  were  placed 
strong  sleepers,  and  on  the  sleepers  were  laid  the  rough-hewed  pun- 
cheons, which  were  to  serve  as  floors.  The  logs  were  then  built  up 
till  the  proper  height  for  the  eaves  was  reached,  then  on  the  ends  of 
the  building  were  placed  poles,  longer  than  the  other  end  logs,  which 
projected  some  18  or  more  inches  over  the  sides,  and  were  called 
"  butting-pole  sleepers  ;  "  on  the  projecting  ends  of  these  were  placed 
the  **  butting-pole,"  which  served  to  give  the  line  to  the  first  row  of 
clap-boards.  These  were,  as  a  matter  of  course,  split,  and  as  the 
gables  of  the  cabin  were  built  up,  were  so  laid  on  as  to  lap  a  third  of 
their  length.  They  were  often  kept  in  place  by  the  weight  of  a  heavy 
pole,  which  was  laid  across  the  roof  parallel  to  the  ridge  pole.  The 
house  was  then  chinked  and  daubed.  A  large  fire-place  was  then 
built  in  at  one  end  of  the  house,  in  which  fire  was  kindled  for  cooking 
purposes  (for  the  settlers  were  without  stoves),  and  which  furnished 
the  needed  warmth  in  winter.  The  ceiling  above  was  somewhat 
covered  with  the  pelts  of  the  raccoon,  opossum  and  of  the  wolf,  and 
to  add  to  the  warmth  of  the  dwelling.  Sometimes  the  soft  inner  bark 
of  bass  wood  was  used  for  the  same  purpose.  The  cabin  was  lighted 
by  means  of  greased  paper  windows.  A  log  would  be  left  out  along 
one  side,  and  sheets  of  strong  paper  well  greased  with  **  coon  "  grease 
or  bear  oil  would  be  carefully  tacked  in. 

The  above  description  only  applies  to  the  earliest  times,  before  the 
buzzing  of  the  saw-mill  was  heard  within  our  borders.  The  furniture 
comported  admirably  with  the  house  itself,  and  hence,  if  not  elegant, 
was  in  perfect  taste.  The  tables  had  four  legs,  and  were  rudely  made 
from  a  puncheon.  Their  seats  were  stools,  having  three  or  four  legs. 
The  bedstead  was  in  keeping  with  the  rest,  and  was  often  so  contrived 
as  to  permit  it  to  be  drawn  up  and  fastened  to  the  wall  during  the  day, 
thus  affording  more  room  for  the  family.  The  entire  furniture  was 
simple,  and  was  framed  with  no  other  tools  than  an  ax  and  auger. 
Each  man  was  his  own  carpenter,  and  some  displayed  considerable  in- 
genuity in  the  construction  of  implements  of  agriculture  and  utensils 
and  furniture  for  the  kitchen  and  house.  Knives  and  forks  they  some- 
times had  and  sometimes  had  not.  The  common  table  knife  was  the 
jack-knife  or  butcher  knife.     Horse  collars  were  sometimes  made  of 


716  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

the  plaited  busk  of  the  maize,  sewed  together.  They  were  easy  on 
the  neck  of  the  horse,  and,  if  tug  traces  were  used,  would  last  for  a 
long  time.  Horses  were  not  used  very  much,  however,  as  oxen  were 
almost  exclusively  employed.  In  some  instances  carts  and  wagons 
were  constructed  or  repaired  by  the  self-reliant  settler,  and  the 
wonderful  creakings  of  the  untarred  axles  could  be  heard  at  a  great 
distance. 

The  women  corresponded  well  with  the  virtuous  women  spoken  of 
in  the  last  chapter  of  Proverbs,  for  they  "  sought  wool  and  flax  and 
worked  willingly  with  their  hands."     They  did  not,  it  is  true,  make 
for  themselves  "  coverings  of  tapestry,"  nor  could  it  be  said  of  them 
that  their  "  clothing  was  silk  and  purple  ;  "  but  they  "  rose  while  it 
was  yet  night  and  gave  meat  to  their  household,"  and  they  "  girded 
their  loins  with  strength    and    strengthened   their   arms."     "They 
looked  well  to  the  ways  of  their  household  and  ate  not  the  bread  of 
idleness."     They  laid  "  their  hands  to  the  spindle  and  to  the  distaff," 
and  "strength  and  honor  were  in  their  clothing."     In  these  days  of 
furbelows    and   flounces,    of  lace  and  velvet  trimmings,   when  from 
20  to   30  yards  are  required  by  one  fair  damsel  for  a  dress,  it  is 
refreshins:  to  know  that  the  ladies  of  that  ancient  time  considered 
eight  yards  an  extravagant  amount  to  put  into  one  dress.     The  dress 
was  usually  made  plain,  with  four  widths  in  the  skirt  and  two  front 
ones  cut  gored.     The    waist  was  made  very  short,   and  across  the 
shoulders  behind  was  a  draw-string.     The  sleeves   were  enormously 
large  and  tapered  from  shoulder  to  wrist,  and  the  most  fashionable  — 
for  fashion,  like  love,  rules  alike  the  "  court  and  grove  " — were  pad- 
ded so  as  to  resemble  a  bolster  at  the  upper  part,  and  were  known  as 
*'  mutton  legs  "  or  "  sheep  shank  sleeves."     The  sleeve  was  kept  in 
shape  often  by  a  heavily  starched  lining.     Those  who  could  afford  it 
used    feathers,  which  gave  the  sleeve  the  appearance  of  an  inflated 
balloon  from  elbow  up,  and  were  known  as  pillow  sleeves."     Many 
bows  and  ribbons  were  worn,  but  scarcely  any  jewelry.     The  tow- 
dress  was  superseded  by  the  cotton  gown.     Around  the  neck,  instead 
of  a  lace   collar  or  elegant  ribbon,  there  was   arranged   a  copperas 
colored  neckerchief.     In  going  to  church  or  other  public  gathering, 
in  summer  weather,  they  sometimes  walked  barefooted  till  near  their 
destination,  when  they  put  on  their  shoes  or  moccasins.     They  were 
contented  and  even  happy    without    any    of   the  elegant  articles  of 
apparel  now    used    by   ladies,   and    considered  necessary  articles  of 
dress.     Ruffles,  fine  laces,  silk  hats,  kid  gloves,  false  curls,  rings, 
combs  and  jewels  were  nearly  unknown,  nor  did  the  lack  of  them  vex 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  717 

their  souls.  Many  of  them  were  grown  before  they  ever  saw  the 
interior  of  a  dry  goods  stove.  They  were  reared  in  simplicity,  lived 
in  simplicity,  and  were  happy  in  simplicity.  It  may  be  interesting  to 
speak  more  specifically  regarding  cookery  and  diet.  Wild  meat  was 
plentiful.  The  settlers  generally  brought  some  food  with  them  to 
last  till  a  crop  could  be  raised.  Small  patches  of  Indian  corn  were 
grown,  which,  in  the  earliest  days  of  the  settlement,  was  beaten  in  a 
mortar.  The  meal  was  made  into  a  coarse  but  wholesome  bread,  on 
which  the  teeth  could  not  be  very  tightly  shut  on  account  of  the  grit 
it  contained. 

Johnny-cake  and  pones  were  served  up  at  dinner,  while  mush  and  ' 
milk  made  the  favorite  dish  for  supper.  In  the  fire-place  hung  the 
crane,  and  the  Dutch  oven  was  used  in  baking.  The  streams  abounded 
in  fishes,  which  formed  a  healthful  article  of  food.  Many  kinds  of 
greens,  such  as  dock  and  poke,  were  eaten.  The  "truck-patch" 
furnished  roasting  ears,  pumpkins,  beans,  squashes  and  potatoes,  and 
these  were  used  by  all.  For  reaping-bees,  log-rollings  and  house- 
raisings,  the  standard  dish  was  pot-pie.  Cofiee  and  tea  were  used 
sparingly,  as  they  were  very  dear,  and  the  hardy  pioneer  thought  them 
fit  only  for  women  and  children.  They  said  they  would  not  "  stick  to 
the  ribs."  Maple  sugar  was  much  used,  and  honey  was  only  five  cents 
a  pound.  Butter  was  the  same  price,  while  eggs  were  only  three 
cents  a  dozen.  The  utmost  good  feeling  prevailed.  .If  one  killed 
hogs,  all  shared.  Chickens  were  to  be  seen  in  great  numbers  around 
every  doorway,  and  the  gobble  of  the  turkey  and  the  quack  of  the 
duck  were  heard  in  the  land.  Nature  contributed  of  her  fruits.  Wild 
grapes  and  plums  were  to  be  found  in  their  season  along  the  streams. 
The  women  manufactured  nearly  all  the  clothing  worn  by  the  family. 
In  cool  weather,  gowns  made  of  "  linsey-woolsey  "  were  worn  by  the 
ladies.  The  chain  was  of  cotton  and  the  filling  of  wool.  The  fabric 
was  usually  plaid  or  striped,  and  the  different  colors  were  blended 
according  to  the  taste  of  the  fair  maker.  Colors  were  blue,  copperas, 
turkey  red,  light  blue,  etc.  Every  house  contained  a  card-loom  and 
spinning  wheel,  which  was  considered  by  the  women  as  necessary  for 
them  as  a  rifle  was  for  the  men.  Several  different  kinds  of  cloth 
were  made.  Cloth  was  woven  from  cotton.  The  rolls  were  bought 
and  spun  on  little  and  big  wheels  into  two  kinds  of  thread,  one  the 
*'  chain  "  and  the  other  the  "  filling."  The  more  experienced  only 
spun  the  chain,  the  younger  the  filling.  Two  kinds  of  looms  were  in 
use.  The  most  primitive  in  construction  was  called  the  side  loom.  The 
frame  of  it  consisted  of  two  pieces  of  scantling  running  obliquely  from 


718  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

the  floor  to  the  wall.  Later  the  frame  loom,  which  was  a  great  im- 
provement over  the  other,  came  in  use.  The  men  and  boys  wore 
jeans  and  linsey-woolsey  hunting  shirts.  The  jeans  was  colored  either 
lio-ht  blue  or  butternut.  Many  times,  when  the  men  gathered  to  a 
loo--rolling  or  a  barn-raising,  the  women  would  assemble,  bringing 
their  spinning  wheels  with  them.  In  this  way,  sometimes  as  many  as 
10  or  12  would  gather  in  one  room,  and  the  pleasant  voices  of  the  fail 
spinners  would  mingle  with  the  low  hum  of  the  spinning  wheels. 
Oh  !  golden  early  days  ! 

Such  articles  as  could  not  be  manufactured  were  brought  to  them 
'  from  the  nearest  store  by  the  mail  carrier.  These  were  few,  however. 
The  men  and  boys,  in  many  instances,  wore  pantaloons  made  of  the 
dressed  skin  of  the  deer,  which  then  roamed  the  prairies  in  large 
herds.  The  young  man  who  desired  to  look  captivating  in  the  eyes 
of  the  maiden  whom  he  loved,  had  his  "  bucks  "  fringed,  which  lent 
them  a  not  unpleasant  eflect.  Meal  sacks  were  also  made  of  buck- 
skin. Caps  were  made  of  the  skins  of  the  fox,  of  the  wolf,  wildcat 
and  muskrat,  tanned  with  fur  op.  The  tail  of  the  fox  or  wolf  often 
hung  from  the  top  of  the  cap,  lending  the  wearer  a  jaunty  air.  Both 
sexes  wore  moccasins  which  in  dry  weather  were  an  excellent  substi- 
tute for  shoes.  There  were  no  shoemakers,  and  each  family  made  its 
own  shoes. 

The  settlers  were  separated  from  their  neighbors  often  by  miles. 
There  were  no  church  houses,  or  regular  services  of  any  kind  to  call 
them  together;  hence,  no  doubt,  the  cheerfulness  with  which  they 
accepted  invitations  to  a  house-raising  or  a  log-rolling,  or  a  corn 
husking,  or  a  bee  of  any  kind.  To  attend  these  gatherings,  they 
would  sometimes  go  10  or  more  miles.  Generally  with  the  invita- 
tion to  the  men  went  one  to  the  women  to  come  to  a  quilting.  The 
good  woman  of  the  house  where  the  festivities  were  to  take  place 
would  be  busily  engaged  for  a  day  or  more  in  preparation  for  the 
coming  guests.  Great  quantities  of  provisions  were  to  be  prepared, 
for  dyspepsia  was  unknown  to  the  pioneer,  and  good  appetites  were 
the  rule  and  not  the  exception.  The  bread  used  at  these  frolics  was 
baked  generally  on  johnny  or  journey-cake  boards,  and  is  the  best 
corn  bread  ever  made.  A  board  is  made  smooth,  about  two  feet  long 
and  eight  inches  wide,  the  ends  being  generally  rounded.  The  dough 
is  spread  out  on  this  board  and  placed  leaning  before  the  fire.  One 
side  is  baked  and  the  dough  is  changed  on  the  board,  so  the  other 
side  is  presented  in  its  turn  to  the  fire.  This  is  johnny-cake,  and  is 
good  if  the  proper  materials  are  put  in  the  dough  and  it  is  properly 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  719 

baked.  At  all  the  log-rollings  and  house-raisings  it  was  customary 
to  provide  liquor.  Excesses  were  not  indulged  iu,  however.  The 
fiddle  was  never  forgotten.  After  the  day's  work  had  been  accom- 
plished, outdoors  and  in,  by  men  and  women,  the  floor  was  cleaned 
and  the  merry  dance  began.  The  handsome,  stalwart  young  men, 
whose  fine  forms  were  the  result  of  their  manly  outdoor  life,  clad 
in  fringed  buckskin  trowsers  and  gaudily  colored  hunting  shirts,  led 
, forth  the  bright-eyed,  buxom  damsels,  attired  in  neatly  fitting,  linsey- 
woolsey  garments,  to  the  dance,  their  cheeks  glowing  with  health 
and  eyes  speaking  of  enjoyment,  and  perhaps  of  tender  emotion. 
In  pure  pioneer  times,  the  crops  were  never  husked  on  the  stalks  as 
is  done  at  this  day,  but  were  hauled  home  in  the  husk  and  thrown  in 
a  heap,  generally  by  the  side  of  the  crib,  so  that  the  ears  when  husked 
could  be  thrown  direct  into  the  crib.  The  whole  neighborhood,  male 
and  female,  were  invited  to  the  "  shucking,"  as  it  was  called.  The 
girls  and  many  of  the  married  ladies  generally  engaged  in  this  amus- 
ing work. 

In  the  first  place,  two  leading  expert  buskers  were  chosen  as  cap- 
tains, and  the  heap  of  corn  divided  as  nearly  equal  as  possible.  Kails 
were  laid  across  the  piles,  so  as  to  designate  the  division  ;  and  then 
each  captain  chose  alternately  his  corps  of  buskers,  male  and  female. 
The  whole  number  of  working  hands  present  were  selected  on  one  side 
or  the  other,  and  then  each  party  commenced  a  contest  to  beat  the 
other,  which  was  in  many  cases  truly  exciting.  One  other  rule  was  : 
whenever  a  male  husked  a  red  ear  of  corn,  he  was  entitled  to  a  kiss 
from  the  girls.  This  frequently  excited  much  fuss  and  scuffling,  which 
was  intended  by  both  parties  to  end  in  a  kiss.  It  was  a  universal 
practice  that  tafa^  or  Monongahela  whisky  was  used  at  these  husking 
frolics,  which  they  drank  out  of  a  bottle ;  each  one,  male  and  female, 
taking  the  bottle  and  drinking  out  of  it,  and  then  handing  it  to  his  or 
her  neighbor,  without  using  any  glass  or  cup.  This  custom  was  com- 
mon and  not  considered  rude.  Almost  always  these  corn-shuckings 
ended  in  a  dance.  To  prepare  for  this  amusement,  fiddles  and  fiddlers 
were  in  great  demand,  and  it  often  required  much  fast  riding  to  obtain 
them.  One  violin  and  a  performer  were  all  that  was  contemplated  at 
these  innocent  rural  games. 

About  dark,  when  the  supper  was  half  over,  the  bustle  and  confu- 
sion commenced.  The  confusion  of  the  tongues  at  Babel  would  have 
been  ashamed  at  the  corn-shucking,  —  the  young  ones  hurrying  off 
the  table,  and  the  old  ones  contending  for  time  and  order.  It  was 
the  case  in  nine  times  out  of  ten,  but  one  dwelling-house  was  on  the 


720  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

premises,  and  that  used  for  eating  as  well  as  dancing.  But  when  the 
fiddler  commenced  tuning  his  instrument,  the  music  always  gained 
the  victory  for  the  younger  side.  Then  the  dishes,  victuals,  table  and 
all,  disappeared  in  a  few  minutes  and  the  room  was  cleared,  the  dogs 
driven  out,  and  the  floor  swept  out,  read}'-  for  action.  The  floors  of 
these  houses  were  sometimes  of  natural  earth,  beat  solid  ;  sometimes 
much  excitement  was  displayed  to  get  on  the  floor  first.  Generally 
the  fiddler,  on  these  occasions,  assumed  an  important  bearing,  and 
ordered  in  true  professional  style,  so  and  so  to  be  done,  as  that  was 
the  way  in  North  Carolina  Ayhere  he  was  raised.  The  decision  ended 
the  contest  for  the  floor.  In  those  days  they  danced  jigs  and  four- 
handed  reels,  as  they  were  called.  Sometimes,  three-handed  reels 
were  danced.  In  these  dances  there  was  no  standing  still;  all  were 
moving  at  a  rapid  pace  from  beginning  to  end.  In  the  jigs  the  by- 
standers cut  one  another  out,  so  that  this  dance  would  last  for  hours. 
The  bottle  went  around  at  these  parties,  as  it  did  at  the  shuckings, 
and  male  and  female  took  a  dram  out  of  it,  as  it  was  passed.  No 
sittino;  was  indulged  in,  and  the  folks  either  stood  or  danced  all 
night.  The  dress  of  these  hardy  pioneers  was  generally  homespun. 
The  hunting  shirt  was  much  worn  at  that  time,  which  is  a  convenient 
working  or  dancing  dress.  In  the  morning,  all  would  go  home  on 
horseback  or  on  foot.  No  carriages,  wagons,  or  other  vehicles  were 
used  on  these  occasions,  for  the  best  reason  —  because  they  had  none. 
Dancing  was  a  favorite  amusement,  and  was  participated  in  by  all. 

**  Alike  all  ages;  dames  of  ancient  days 
Have  led  their  children  through  the  mirthful  maze, 
And  the  gray  grandsire,  skilled  in  jestic  lore, 
Has  frisked  beneath  the  burden  of  three  score." 

The  amusements  of  that  day  were  more  athletic  and  rude  than  those 
of  to-day.  Among  the  settlers  of  a  new  country,  from  the  nature  of 
the  case,  a  higher  value  is  set  upon  physical  than  mental  endowments. 
Skill  in  woodcraft,  superiority  of  muscular  development,  accuracy  in 
shooting  with  the  rifle,  activity  and  swiftness  of  foot,  were  qualifica- 
tions that  brought  their  possessors  fame.  Foot-racing  was  practiced, 
and  often  the  boys  and  young  men  engaged  in  friendly  contests  with 
the  Indians.  Every  man  had  a  rifle  and  always  kept  it  in  good  order  ; 
his  flints,  bullets,  bullet-molds,  screw-driver,  awl,  butcher-knife  and 
tomahawk  were  fastened  to  the  shot-pouch  strap,  or  to  the  belt  around 
the  waist.  Target-shooting  was  much  practiced,  and  shots  were  made 
by  the  hunters  and  settlers,  with  flint-lock  rifles,  that   cannot  be   ex- 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  721 

celled  by  their  decendants    with  the  improved  breech-loaders  of  the 
present  day. 

At  all  gatherings,  jumping  and  wrestling  were  indulged  in  :  and 
those  who  excelled  were  henceforth  men  of  notoriety.  At  their  shoot- 
ing matches,  which  were  usually  for  the  prize  of  a  turkey,  or  a  gallon 
of  whisky,  good  feeling  generally  prevailed.  If  disputes  arose,  they 
were  often  settled  by  a  square  stand-up  fight,  and  no  one  thought  of 
using  other  weapons  than  fists.  They  held  no  grudges  after  their 
fights,  for  this  was  considered  unmanly.  It  was  the  rule,  if  a  fight 
occurred  between  two  persons,  the  victor  should  pour  water  for  the 
defeated,  as  he  washed  away  the  traces  of  the  fray,  after  which  the 
latter  was  to  perform  the  same  service  for  the  former. 

PIONEER   MILLS. 

Among  the  first  were  the  "  band  mills,"  a  description  of  which  will 
prove  not  uninteresting.  The  plan  was  cheap.  The  horse-power  con- 
sisted of  a  large  upright  shaft,  some  10  or  12  feet  high,  with  some  8 
or  10  lonff  arms  let  into  the  shaft  and  extending  out  from  it  15  feet. 
Auger  holes  were  bored  in  the  arms  on  the  upper  side  at  the  end,  into 
which  wooden  pins  were  driven.  This  was  called  the  "  big  wheel," 
and  was  about  20  feet  in  diameter.  The  raw-hide  belt  or  tug  was 
made  of  skins  taken  off  of  beef  cattle,  which  were  cut  into  strips 
three  inches  wide  ;  these  were  twisted  into  a  round  cord  or  tug,  which 
was  long  enough  to  encircle  the  circumference  of  the  big  wheel. 
There  it  was  held  in  place  by  the  wooden  pins,  then  to  cross  and  pass 
under  a  shed  to  run  round  a  drum,  or  what  is  called  a  "  trunnel  head," 
which  was  attached  to  the  grinding  apparatus.  The  horses  or  oxen 
were  hitched  to  the  arms  by  means  of  raw-hide  tugs  ;  then  walking 
in  a  circle,  the  machinery  would  be  set  in  motion.  To  grind  12 
bushels  of  corn  was  considered  a  good  day's  work  on  a  band  mill. 

The  most  rude  and  primitive  method  of  manufacturing  meal  was  by 
the  use  of  the  grater,  whereby  the  meal  was  forced  through  the  holes 
and  fell  down  in  a  vessel  prepared  to  receive  it.  An  improvement  on 
this  was  the  hand  mill.  The  stones  were  smaller  than  those  of  the 
band  mill,  and  were  propelled  by  man  or  woman  power.  A  hole  is 
made  in  the  upper  stone,  and  a  stafi"  of  wood  is  put  in  it,  and  the  other 
end  of  the  staff  is  put  through  a  hole  in  a  plank  above,  so  that  the 
whole  is  free  to  act.  One  or  two  persons  take  hold  of  this  staff  and 
turn  the  upper  stone  as  rapidly  as  possible.  An  eye  is  made  in  the 
upper  stone,  through  which  the  corn  is  put  into  the  mill  with  the  hand, 


722  •  HISTOKY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

in  small  quantities,  to  suit  the  mill  instead  of  a  hopper.  A  mortar 
wherein  corn  was  beaten  into  meal  is  made  out  of  a  large  round  log, 
three  or  four  feet  long.  One  end  is  cut  or  burnt  out  so  as  to  hold  a 
peck  of  corn,  more  or  less,  according  to  circumstances.  This  mortar 
is  set  one  end  on  the  ground,  and  the  upper  end  to  hold  the  corn.  A 
sweep  is  prepared  over  the  mortar,  so  that  the  spring  of  the  pole 
raises  the  piston,  and  the  hands  at  it  force  it  so  hard  down  on  the  corn 
that  after  much  beating  the  meal  is  manufactured. 


CHAPTER    III. 

EARLY  RECORDS. 

County  Court  —  Circuit  Court  —  First  Grand  Jury  — First  Civil  Case  — First  Indict- 
ment—Number of  Civil  and  Criminal  Cases  Compared  — Oliver  Perry  MaGee 
Trial — First  Deed  Kecorded  — Early  Marriages  —  Court  Houses  —  Jails  —  County 
Poor  Farm. 

COUNTY    COURT. 

The  following  are  the  early  records  of  the  county  court :  — 
State  of  Missouri,  >  <^  . 
County  or  Macon,  5 

Be  it  remembered,  that  at  a  term  of  the  county  court,  for  the 
county  of  Macon  aforesaid,  begun  and  held  at  Joseph  Owenby's,  for 
and  within  said  county,  being  the  place  appointed  by  law  for  holding 
courts  in  said  county,  on  Monday,  the  first  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven.  Present: 
John  S.  Morrow,  Joseph  Owenby,  and  James  Cochran,  justices  of  said 
court;  Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  clerk;  and  Jeflferson  Morrow,  sherifi";  and 
thereupon,  court  was  opened  by  proclamation  made  in  due  form  of 
law  by  the  sheriff.  The  court  order  and  direct  that  the  county  of 
Macon  be  laid  off  into  townships  as  follows,  to  wit :  All  that  portion 
of  territory  comprised  in  the  following  limits  shall  compose  the  Middle 
Fork  township  :  Beginning  at  the  south-east  corner  of  said  county, 
thence  west  with  the  county  line  to  the  range  line,  dividing  ranges  14 
and  15  ;  thence  north  to  the  line  which  divides  township  57  into 
equal  parts  ;  thence  east  with  said  line  to  the  county  line  ;  thence 
south  with  said  county  line  to  the  beginning. 

Ordered  by  the  court,  that  all  elections  to  be  held  in  said  township 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Gee. 

Ordered  by  the  court,  that  an  election  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  Gee,  in  Middle  Fork  township,  on  the  first  Saturday  in  June, 
for  three  justices  of  the  peace,  for  said  township,  and  James  P.  Holly, 
Thomas  Gee  and  John  Coalter  are  hereby  appointed  judges  of  said 
election. 

Ordered  by  the  court,  that  a  tax  of  50  per  cent  on  the  amount  of 
State  tax  be  imposed  on  all  licenses  made  taxable  by  law  for  State  tax, 
for  the  present  year. 

William  H.  Eowland  made  application  for  a  license  to  keep  a  grocery 
at  his  stand  in  Macon  county,  which  is  granted  to  him  upon  his  paying 
a  State  tax  of  $10,  the  county  tax,  and  fees  allowed  by  law.    Ordered 

(723) 


724  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

that  the  clerk  issue  the  same  according  to  law.  The  court  do  hereby 
appoint  George  W.  Green  treasurer  of  Macon  county,  and  thereupon 
said  Green  appeared  in  court,  and  entered  into  and  acknowledged  bond 
in  the  penalty  of  $5,000,  conditioned  as  by  law  provided,  with  Willis 
E.  Green  and  Andrew  Millsaps  as  his  securities,  who  are  approved 
of  by  the  court. 

Jefferson  Morrow,  sheriff  of  Macon  county,  appeared  in  open  court, 
and  entered  into  and  acknowledged  bonds  in  the  penalty  of  $1,000, 
conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty  as  ex  officio 
collector  of  the  revenue  of  said  county,  for  the  year  1837,  with  John- 
son Summers,  John  S.  Morrow,  and  Joseph  J.  Morrow  as  his  secur- 
ities, who  are  approved  of  as  sufficient  by  the  court. 

The  court  hereby  appoint  George  W.  Green  agent  for  the  county  of 
Macon,  to  receive  from  the  treasurer  of  the  State  of  Missouri  that 
portion  of  the  road  and  canal  fund  in  the  State  treasury  apportioned 
to  the  county  of  Macon  ;  and  the  auditor  of  public  accounts  is  hereby 
required  to  draw  his  warrant  in  favor  of  the  said  George  W.  Green, 
for  said  amount,  and  the  treasurer  to  pay  the  same  according  to  law, 
and  the  said  George  W.  Green  is  hereby  authorized  to  receipt  for  the 
same  accordingly. 

On  motion  of  the  petitioners,  ordered  by  the  court,  that  Aaron 
Gee,  Robert  Vanskike,  George  Reynolds,  James  P.  Holly,  and  James 
Rowland,  or  any  three  of  them,  after  being  duly  sworn,  to  proceed  to 
view  and  mark  out  a  way  for  a  road,  commencing  at  Jones'  Mill,  on 
the  middle  fork  of  Salt  river,  by  Centreville,  and  thence  to  Frederick 
Rowland's,  passing  on  the  south  of  said  Rowland's  ;  thence  by  Daniel 
Crawley's,  and  to  intersect  the  Bee  road  in  the  Grand  Prairie,  the 
nearest  and  best  way,  and  as  little  as  maybe  to  the  prejudice  or  injury 
of  the  several  proprietors  of  land  on  said  road  as  may  be,  and  that 
they  report  to  court  their  proceedings  at  the  next  term  according  to 
law. 

The  court  do  hereby  appoint  James  Ratliff  commissioner  of  the  seat 
of  justice  of  Macon  county. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  bounds  compose  the  township  of  Chari- 
ton :  Beginning  at  the  line  dividinof  rano;es  14  and  15,  running  west 
to  the  county  line  ;  thence  north  to  the  middle  line  township, between 
56  and  57  ;  thence  to  the  line  dividing  ranges  14  and  15  ;  thence  to 
the  beginning. 

Ordered,  That  all  elections  be  held  in  said  township,  at  the  house 
of  Abraham  Morris,  on  the  first  Saturday  in  June,  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  two  justices  of  the  peace  for  said  township,  and  John- 
son Summers,  Clayborn  Wright  and  Richard  Summers  are  hereby  ap- 
ponited  judges  of  said  election. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  bounds  form  a  separate  township  to  be 
known  by  the  name  and  style  of  Liberty,  commencing  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Chariton  township,  on  the  range  line,  dividing  ranges 
14  and  15,  and  at  the  line  dividing  township  57,  in  equal  parts  ; 
thence  with  said  line  running  west  to  the  county  line  ;  thence  with 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  725 

said  line  north  to  the  township  line  of  58  ;  thence  east  with  said 
line,  to  the  line  dividing  14  and  15  ;  thence  south  to  the  begin- 
ning. 

Ordered,  That  all  elections  be  held  at  the  seat  of  justice  in  said 
township. 

Ordej^ed,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  said  township,  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  June  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  three  justices  of 
the  peace  for  said  township.  And  the  court  do  hereby  appoint  Will- 
iam Sears,  Jesse  Gilstrap  and  Canaday  Owenby  judges  of  said  elec- 
tion. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  bounds  shall  compose  the  township 
of  Jackson,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the  east  side  of  the  county,  where 
the  lines  divide  the  township  line,  dividing  57  in  equal  parts,  run- 
ning south  with  said  line,  the  line  dividing  ranges  14  and  15 ; 
thence  east  with  said  line  to  the  township  line  of  58  ;  thence  with 
said  line  to  the  county  line  ;  thence  south  to  the  beginning. 

Ordered,  That  all  elections  be  held  at  the  house  of  Nathan  Rich- 
ardson. 

Orde7'ed,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  said  township,  on  the 
first  Saturday  of  June  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  one  justice 
of  the  peace  for  said  township,  and  the  court  do  hereby  appoint  Na- 
than Richardson,  Elvan  Allen  and  John  Walker  judges  of  said  elec- 
tion. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  territory  lying  north  of  the  township  of  58, 
and  south  of  the  north  side  of  the  county  line,  shall  form  a  separate 
township,  to  be  known  by  the  name  and  style  of  Independence. 

Ordered,  That  all  elections  be  held  at  the  house  of  Bird  Posey. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  said  township  on  the 
first  Saturday  of  June  next,  in  said  township,  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  one  justice  of  the  peace  for  said  township,  and  the  court  do 
hereby  appoint  Abraham  Dale,  Charles  Hatfield  and  Fisher  Rice, 
judges  of  said  election. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  bounds  lying  north  of  the  county  of 
Macon,  and  south  of  a  parallel  line  running  east  and  west,  from  the 
mouth  of  Ry  creek,  on  the  Grand  Chariton,  shall  be  called  the  town- 
ship of  Pettis. 

Ordered,  That  all  elections  be  held  in  said  township  at  the  house  of 
Horton  Partin. 

Ordered,  That  an  election  be  held  in  said  township  on  the  first 
Saturday  of  June  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  one  justice  of  the 
peace  for  said  township,  and  the  court  do  hereby  appoint  Martin 
Partin,  Robert  Miller  and  Isaac  Hargis,  judges  of  said  election. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  bounds  shall  compose  a  separate  town- 
ship, to  be  known  by  the  name  and  style  of  Gocean  township,^  ^J'^^'^g 
north  of  a  parallel  line  running  east  and  west  from  the  mouth  of  Ry 
creek,  on  the  Grand  Chariton  river,  to  the  boundary  line  of  the  State 
of  Missouri. 


1  Gocean  township  is  now  in  Adair  county. 


726  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Ordered^  That  all  elections  in  said  township  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Samuel  Eason. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  said  township  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  June  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  one  justice  of  the 
peace  for  said  township,  and  the  court  do  hereby  appoint  Samuel 
Eason,  John  Lesley  and  James  Cochran,  judges  of  said  election. 

Recorded  May  15  day,  1837. 

Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  Clerk. 

second  term  of  the  county  court. 

State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Macon. 

Be  it  remembered  that  at  a  term  of  the  county  court  of  Macon, 
county  aforesaid,  begun  and  held  atD.  C.  Garth's,  the  place  appointed 
for  holding  courts  in  said  county,  for  and  within  the  said  county,  on 
this  3d  day  of  July,  in  the  year  1837.  Present:  John  S.  Morrow, 
James  O.  Cochran  and  Joseph  Owenby,  justices  of  said  court;  Daniel 
C.  Hubbard,  clerk;  and  Jefferson  Morrow,  sheriff;  and  thereupon 
court  was  opened  in  due  form  of  law  by  proclamation  at  the  door  of 
the  court-house. 

It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  township  of  Middle  Fork  be 
divided  and  form  another  township,  to  be  known  by  the  name  and 
style  of  Narrows  township,  to  commence  at  a  point  where  the  range 
line  dividing  ranges  13  and  14  strikes  the  country  line  on  the  south 
line  of  the  county;  thence  running  north  with  said  line  to  the  line 
dividing  townships  58  and  59  ;  thence  west  to  the  dividing  ranges  14 
and  15  ;  thence  south  with  said  line  to  the  county  line  ;  thence  east 
to  the  beginning. 

Ordered,  That  all  elections  be  held  in  Narrows  township  at  the  house 
of  Simeon  Cannon,  and  it  is  further  ordered,  that  there  be  an  election 
held  in  Narrows  township  on  the  first  Monday  in  August  next,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  one  justice  of  the  peace  for  said  township,  and  the 
court  do  hereby  appoint  Frederick  Rowland,  John  Morrow  and  Lloyd 
Coalter,  judges  of  said  election. 

On  motion  of  the  petitioners,  ordered  that  William  J.  Morrow, 
Joseph  J.  Morrow,  and  Richard  Summers,  or  any  two  of  them  after 
being  duly  sworn,  shall  proceed  to  view,  mark  and  lay  out  a  way  from 
the  county  seat,  to  intersect  the  county  line  dividing  Macon  county 
and  Randolph,  the  nearest  and  best  way,  so  as  not  to  be  too  much  to 
the  prejudice  of  the  people  living  on  said  route,  and  it  is  further  or- 
dered that  the  said  commissioners  shall  meet  at  the  county  seat  on  the 
third  Monday  in  July,  1837,  and  report  their  proceedings  at  the  next 
court. 

Recorded  July  8,  1837.  Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  Clerk. 

Ordered,  That  the  clerk  of  the  county  court  correct  the  assessor's 
book,  and  the  court  do  further  order  that  the  clerk  make  out  the  non- 
resident book. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  727 

Ordered,  That  there  be  100  per  cent  levied  on  the  amount  of  the 
State  tax,  for  the  purpose  of  county  expenditures. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  said  county  on  the  first 
Monday  in  August  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  an  assessor  for 
said  county. 

Ordered,  There  be  an  election  held  in  Chariton  township  for  the  pur- 
IDOse  of  electing  one  justice  of  the  peace  to  fill  the  vacancy  of  Amon 
Beebe,  Esq.,  and  the  court  do  hereby  appoint  Abraham  Morris,  John 
Summers  and  Ninevah  Summers,  judges  of  said  election. 

Ordered,  That  William  Garrett,  Tyre  Dabney  and  James  Holloway 
be  appointed  judges  of  the  election  for  Liberty  township  in  said 
county. 

Ordered,  That  John  McNeeley,  Felix  Baker  and  Elvan  Allen  be  ap- 
pointed judges  of  the  election  of  Jackson  township. 

Ordered,  That  William  Smith,  James  Riley  and  Thomas  Williams  be 
appointed  judges  of  the  election  of  Independence  township. 

Ordered,  That  Hardin  Hargis,  Elisha  Chambers  and  Robert  Miller 
be  appointed  judges  of  Pettis  township. 

Ordered,  That  Samuel  G.  Eason,  John  Lesley  and  James  Davis  be 
appointed  judges  of  the  election  in  Gocean  township. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  Chariton  township,  in  said 
county,  on  the  first  Monday  in  August  next,  for  the  purpose  of  elect- 
ing one  justice  of  the  peace  for  said  township,  to  fill  the  vacancy  of 
Amon  Beebe. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  Independence  township, 
in  said  county,  on  the  first  Monday  in  August  next,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
of  Abraham  Dale,  Esq. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  Pettis  township,^  in  said 
county,  on  the  first  Monday  in  August  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing 
one  justice  of  the  peace  for  said  township,  to  fill  the  vacancy  of  Rob- 
ert Miller,  Esq.,  whose  term  of  service  has  expired. 

Ordered,  That  there  be  an  election  held  in  the  township  of  Gocean, 
in  said  county,  to  fill  the  vacancy  of  Jonathan  Floyd,  whose  term  of 
service  has  expired. 

Joseph  Owenby. 

Attest,  Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  Clerk. 

Recorded  July  24  day,  1837. 

Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  Clerk. 

CIRCUIT    COURT. 

Having  traced  the  records  of  the  county  court  of  Macon  county 
through  its  incijiient  period,  and  given  the  proceedings  of  that  tri- 
bunal entire  through  its  first  two  terms,  we  shall  now  give  something 
of  the  early  record  of  a  higher  and  more  extensive  forum,  wherein 
were  heard  and  decided  the  general  causes  of  pioneer  litigants,  and 


^  Pettis  township  is  now  in  Adair  county. 
41 


728  HISTOKY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

wherein  met  the  pioneer  attorneys,  who  occasionally  employed  in  the 
conduct  of  their  suits  all  the  muscular,  as  well  as  intellectual  aids  in 
their  control. 

The  county  court,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  organized  May  1, 
1837,  but  the  circuit  court  did  not  convene  until  August  the  17th,  of  the 
same  year.  Macon  county  at  that  time  belonged  to  the  Second  Ju- 
dicial Circuit.     The  following  is  the  record  :  — 

State  of  Missouri,  >  g^^ 
County  of  Macon.    > 

At  a  circuit  court,  begun  and  held  at  the  house  of  Dabney  G.  Garth, 
in  the  county  of  Macon,  State  of  Missouri,  as  required  by  law,  on 
Thursday,  the  17th  day  of  August,  in  the  year  1837.  Present,  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Reynolds,  judge  of  said  court.  The  said  Thomas  Rey- 
nolds produced  a  commission  from  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri, with  the  oath  of  office  indorsed  thereon,  which  commission  and 
affidavit  are  in  the  following  words  and  iigures,  to  wit:  — 

*'  Lilburn  W.  Boggs,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  to  all  who 

shall  see  these  presents,  greeting: 

Know  ye,  that  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  the  integ- 
rity and  abilities  of  Thomas  Reynolds,  I  have  nominated,  and  by  and 
with  the  consent  of  the  Senate,  do  hereby  appoint  him  Judge  of  the 
Second  Judicial  Circuit  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  do  authorize 
and  empower  him  to  discharge  the  duties  of  said  office  according  to 
law ;  and  to  have  and  to  hold  said  office  during  the  legal  continuance 
thereof,  with  all  the  powers,  privileges,  and  emoluments  to  the  same 
of  right  appertaining. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused 
the  great  seal  of  the  State  of  Missouri  to  be  affixed.  Done  at  the 
city  of  Jefferson,  this  27th  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven  ;  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States,  the  sixty-first,  and  of  the  State,  the  seventeenth. 

"  Lilburn  W.  Boggs.'' 

"  By  the  Governor, 

"Henry  Shurlds,  Secretary  of  State." 

I,  Thomas  Reynolds,  Judge  of  the  Second  Judicial  Circuit,  within 
and  for  the  State  of  Missouri,  do  make  oath  and  say  that  I  will  sup- 
]iort  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the  constitution  of  the 
State  of  Missouri,  and  that  I  will  faithfully  demean  myself  in  the 
said  office  of  Judge  of  the  Second  Judicial  Circuit. 

Thomas  Reynolds. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me,  the  undersigned,  a  justice  of 
the  peace  within  and  for  the  county  of  Howard  and  State  of  Missouri, 
this  7th  day  of  February  in  the  year  1837  at  the  county  aforesaid. 

William  Taylor,  J.  P. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  729 

The  sheriff  of  said  county  returned  into  court  a  panel  of  a  grand 
jury,  when  the  following  persons  were  impaneled  as  a  grand  jury  for 
the  county  of  Macon,  to-wit :  James  Wells,  foreman ;  James  Riley, 
Micajah  Hull,  Canaday  Owenby,  James  A.  Terr  ill,  Nathaniel  Richard- 
son, Nathan  Dabney,  Jesse  Gilstrap,  Isaac  Gross,  Thomas  J.  Dabney, 
John  F.  Northup,  Richard  Calvert,  William  Smith,  Birdrich  Posey, 
Thomas  Williams,  Lewis  Green,  James  T.  Haley,  James  A.  Griffith, 
Stephen  Gipson  and  David  Young,  who  retired  to  consider  of  present- 
ments. 

Jefferson  Morrow,  the  sheriff,  appeared  in  open  court  and  ac- 
knowledged that  he  appointed  William  Shane  as  his  deputy.  William 
H.  Davis  was  appointed  circuit  attorney  to  prosecute  in  behalf  of  the 
State  for  that  term  of  the  court. 

The  above  constituted  the  proceedings  of  the  first  day  of  the  term. 
Court  convened  next  day,  August  18th,  when  the  following  case  was 
called : 

Daniel  G.  Davis  ^ 

vs.  >  Petition  in  Debt. 

G.  H.  McDaniel  and  Fisher  Rice.  ) 

Ordered,  That  the  defendants  be  ruled  to  plead  to  the  said  petition 
immediately. 

The  following  were  the  first  indictments  :  — 

State  of  Missouri,  Plf.,  vs.  John  Calvin,  Dft.  Indictment  for  gam- 
bling.    A  true  bill. 

Same  vs.  Francis  Taylor,  Daniel  Murley,  James  Carter  and  Austin 
B.  Jones. 

There  were,  during  the  first  twelve  months  after  the  organization  of 
the  circuit  court,  but  seventeen  civil  and  ten  criminal  cases  called. 
This  would  be,  upon  an  average,  about  nine  cases  at  each  term  of  the 
court,  there  being  three  terms  per  year,  and  possibly  not  more  than 
one-half  of  these  cases  were  tried  and  finally  disposed  of.  The  civil 
docket  alone  now  [1884]  contains,  for  each  term  of  the  court,  upon 
an  average,  about  sixty  cases,  nearly  all  of  which  are  tried. 

The  criminal  docket  for  each  term  of  the  court  shows  about  thirty 
cases  ;  whole  number  of  civil  cases  instituted  in  the  year  1883,  amount 
to  183  ;  criminal  cases,  37  ;  making  a  total  of  220. 

Many  of  the  criminal  trials  at  the  early  terras  of  the  court  were  upon 
indictments  for  '«  marking  hogs  with  intent  to  steal,"  and  for  '*  betting 
on  games." 

No  man  Ijas  ever  been  hung  in  the  county,  in  pursuance  of  due  pro- 
cess of  civil  law.  There  have,  however,  been  several  trials  for  mur- 
der, among  which  the  Oliver  Perry  MaGee  trial  stands  prominent,  not 
only  as  being  the  first  trial  for  murder  that  occurred  in  the  county. 


730  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

but  as  beins:  a  case  wherein  much  interest  was  centered,  and  wherein 
many  witnesses  were  sworn  and  examined.  The  bill  of  costs  amounted 
to  more  than  $1,100,  one  item  being  $12.15  for  administering  243 
oaths. 

As  this  was  the  first  case  of  the  kind  upon  the  criminal  docket,  we 
here  present  the  indictment :  — 

State  of  Missouri,  )  In  the  Masen  Circuit  Court, 

County  of  Macon.    5     *  May  Term,  1849. 

The  grand  jurors  for  the  State  of  Missouri  for  the  body  of  the 
county  of  Macon  aforesaid,  upon  their  oaths  present,  that  Oliver 
Perry  MaGee,  late  of  the  county  of  Macon  aforesaid,  not  having  the 
fear  of  God  before  his  eyes,  but  being  moved  and  seduced  by  the  in- 
stigation of  the  Devil,  on  the  10th  day  of  December,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  forty-eight,  with  force  and 
arms  at  the  county  of  Macon  aforesaid,  in  and  upon  one  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson White,  in  the  peace  of  God  then  and  there  being,  feloniously, 
willfully  of  his  malice  aforethought,  by  lyiug  in  wait,  did  make  an  as- 
sault, and  that  he,  the  said  Oliver  Perry  MaGee,  with  a  certain  knife 
of  the  value  of  ten  cents,  which  he,  the  said  Oliver  Perry  MaGee,  in 
his  right  hand  then  and  there  had  and  held,  the  said  Thomas  Jefferson 
White,  in  and  upon  the  left  side  of  the  body,  near  to  the  left  nipple 
of  him,  the  said  Thomas  Jefferson  White,  and  also  in  and  upon  the 
back,  near  to  the  back  bone  of  him,  the  said  Thomas  Jefferson  White, 
and  also  in  and  upon  the  left  shoulder,  near  to  the  point  of  the  said 
left  shoulder  of  him  the  said  Thomas  Jefferson  White,  then  and  there 
feloniously,  willfully,  of  his  malice  aforethought,  and  by  lying  in  wait, 
did  strike,  thrust,  stab  and  penetrate,  giving  to  the  said  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson White,  then  and  there  with  the  knife  aforesaid,  in  and  upon  the 
aforesaid  left  side  of  the  body,  near  to  the  left  nipple  of  him,  the 
said  Thomas  Jefferson  White,  one  fatal  wound  of  the  breadth  of  one 
inch,  and  of  the  depth  of  six  inches,  and  also  giving  to  the  said  Thomas 
Jefferson  White,  then  and  there  with  the  knife  aforesaid,  in  and  upon 
the  aforesaid  back,  near  to  the  back  bone  of  him,  the  said  Thomas 
Jefferson  White,  one  other  mortal  wound  of  the  breadth  of  one  inch 
and  of  the  depth  of  six  inches,  and  also  giving  to  the  said  Thomas 
Jefferson  White  then  and  there,  with  the  knife  aforesaid,  in  and  upon 
the  aforesaid  left  shoulder,  near  to  the  point  of  the  said  left  shoulder 
of  him,  the  said  Thomas  Jefferson  White,  two  other  mortal  wounds, 
each  of  the  breadth  of  one  inch  and  of  the  depth  of  six  inches,  of 
which  several  mortal  wounds  he,  the  said  Thomas  Jefferson  White, 
then  and  there  instantly  died  ;  and  so  the  jurors  aforesaid,  upon 
their  oaths  aforesaid,  do  say  that  the  said  Oliver  Perry  MaGee,  him, 
the  said  Thomas  Jefferson  White,  in  the  manner  and  by  the  means 
aforesaid,  feloniously,  willfully,  of  his  malice  aforethought,  and  by 
lying  in  wait,  did  kill  and  murder,  against  the  form  of  the  statute  in 
such  cases  made  and  provided,  and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of 
the  State.    ^  C.  H.  Hardin,  Circuit  Attorney. 


HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY.  731 

There  are  five  counts  in  the  indictment ;  the  one  we  have  given  will 
show  the  crime  with  which  MaGee  was  charofed. 

FIKST  PROMISSORY  NOTE  UPON  WHICH  SUIT  WAS  BROUGHT. 

On  or  before  the  twenty-fifth  of  December  next,  I  promise  to  pay 
James  A.  Terrell  twenty-five  bushels  of  good,  sound  corn,  for  value 
received  of  him.     This  the  22d  day  of  January,  1846. 

his 
Caleb  X  Riley. 
mark. 
first  deed  recorded. 

State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Randolph. 

This  indenture  made  and  entered  into,  on  this  the  21st  day  of  Janu- 
ary, one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  between  John 
Gross  and  Rachael  Gross  his  cross,  of  the  county  of  Randolph  and 
State  of  Missouri,  of  the  first  part,  and  William  Sears  of  the  State  and 
county  aforesaid,  of  the  second  part,  witnesseth  that  the  said  John 
Gross  and  Rachael  Gross,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  them  in  hand  paid  by  the  said 
William  Sears,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  and  we, 
the  said  John  Gross  and  Rachael  his  wife,  by  these  presents  do  bar- 
gain and  sell  and  convey  unto  the  said  William  Sears,  a  certain  tract 
or  parcel  of  land  described  as  follows  :  The  south-east  quarter  of  the 
south-east  quarter  of  section  twelve  in  township  fifty-eight,  and  range 
sixteen  west,  containing  forty  acres  to  have  and  to  hold  with  all  and 
singular,  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  to  his  own  use,  and 
to  his  heirs  forever,  and  we,  the  said  John  Gross  and  Rachael  Gross 
bis  wife,  do  hereby  covenant  to  and  with  the  said  Sears,  and  his  heirs 
forever,  to  warrant  and  defend  the  right  and  title  of  said  land  to  the 
said  Sears  and  heirs  forever,  against  all  and  every  claim  and  claims 
whatsoever.  In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands 
and  seals  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

John  Gross,  [seal.] 

her 

Rachael  X  Gross. 
mark. 

EARLY   marriages. 

I  do  certify  that  on  the  30th  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1837,  before  the  undersigned,  an  ordained  minister  of  the  Gospel, 
appeared  Joseph  P.  Owenby  and  ^Nancy  Garrett,  and  the  rites  of 
matrimony  was  duly  solemnized  by  me.  Given  under  my  hand,  this 
4th  day  of  May,  1837. 

William  Sears. 

I  do  certify,  that  on  this,  the  24th  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  personally  appeared 


732  HISTORY   OF   ]VIACON    COUNTY. 

Thomas  J.  Dtibney  and  Cassannah  Walker,  and  the  rites  of  matrimony- 
was  duly  solemnized  between  them.  Given  under  my  hand,  this  24th 
day  of  May,  1837. 

William  Sears. 

State  of  Missouri,  > 
County  of  Macon.     5 

This  is  to  certify,  that  on  this  13th  day  of  May,  1837, 1  solemnized 
the  rights  of  matrimony  between  Alexander  Shawner  and  Narcissa 
Kerby,  him  of  the  county  of  Macon,  and  she  of  the  county  of 
Macon.     Given  under  my  hand,  this  the  day  and  date  above  written. 

William  H.  Rowland,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,  > 
County  of  Macon.     5 

This  is  to  certify,  that  on  the  23d  day  of  July,  1837,  I  solemnized 
the  rites  of  matrimony  between  Aaron  Gee  and  Margaret  Moore, 
both  of  the  county  of  Macon,  and  State  of  Missouri.  Given  under 
my  hand,  the  day  and  date  above  written. 

Frederick  Rowland,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,  > 
County  of  Macon.     > 

This  is  to  certify,  that  on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1837, 1  solemnized 
the  rites  of  matrimony  between  Joseph  Stewart,  and  Mary  M.  Haddon, 
of  the  county  of  Macon,  and  State  of  Missouri.  Given  under  my 
hand,  the  day  and  date  above  written. 

Hardin  Hargis,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,  ) 

>  ss 
County  of  Macon.     > 

This  is  to  certify,  that  ©n  the  18th  day  of  August,  1837,  I  solem- 
nized the  rites  of  matrimony  between  Thomas  Clifton  and  Rebecca 
Lesley,  both  of  the  State  and  county  aforesaid.  Given  under  my 
hand,  this  19th  day  of  September,  1837. 

Nathaniel  Floyd,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,  ) 

>  ss 
County  of  Macon.     5 

This  is  to  certify  that  on  the  17th  day  of  August,  1837,  that  I 
solemnized  the  rites  of  matrimony  between  Allen  Fletcher  and  City 
Ann  Hatfield,  both  of  the  State  and  county  aforesaid.  Given  under 
my  hand,  this  the  day  and  date  above,  written. 

Abraham  Dale,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Macon. 

This  is  to  certify,  that  on  the  9th  day  of  November,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  1837,  that  I  solemnized  the  rites  of  matrimony  between 
Lloyd  H.  Coulter  and  Emila  Cannon.  Given  under  my  hand,  this 
11th  day  of  November,  1837. 

Elvan  Allen,  J.  P. 


SCT. 


history  of  macon  county.  733 

State  of  Missouri, 


County  of  Macon      ^ 

This  is  to  certify,  that  on  the  15th  day  of  January,  1838,  I  did 
solemnize  the  rites  of  matrimony  between  Joseph  Cooley  and  Eliza- 
beth Lock.     All  of  the  State  aforesaid. 

John  Summers,  J.  P. 

State  of  Missouri,  > 

>    ss 
County  of  Macon.     5  ' 

Tliis  is  to  certify,  that  on  the  1st  day  of  April,  1838,  I  solemnized 
the  rio;hts  of  matrimony  between  John  Griffin  and  Mars^aret  Ann 
Murley,  both  of  the  State  and  county  aforesaid.  Given  under  my 
hand,  this  15th  day  of  April. 

Absalom  Lewis,  J.  P. 

COURT-HOUSE    AT    BLOOMINGTON. 

At  the  August  term  in  1838,  the  court  made  the  following  order ;  — 
Ordered,  That  a  temporary  court-house  be  built  in  Bloomington  011 
lot  1,  block  No.  3,  agreeable  to  the  plan  of  Joseph  Owenby,  super- 
visor, to-wit :  20  feet  wide  and  30  feet  long ;  one  room  18x20  ;  one 
12  feet  square;  one  room  8x12  feet;  the  lower  floor  to  be  of  good 
seasoned  oak  plank,  jointed  and  nailed  down  ;  the  upper  floor  to  be 
laid  with  loose  plank,  with  sufficient  joints  ;  4  doors  and  3  windows  ; 
one  stack  chimney  where  the  walls  separate  each  room.  The  work 
to  be  done  in  workmanlike  manner  ;  to  be  covered  with  good  shingles  ; 
chinked  and  plastered  with  good  lime. 

SECOND    COURT-HOUSE    AT   BLOOMINGTON. 

At  the  November  term  in  1839,  the  court  ordered  that  a  brick 
court-house  be  built,  45  feet  square  and  tvvo  stories  in  height,  at  an 
estimated  cost  of  $3,000.  Kobert  George  was  the  superintendent. 
This  court-house  was  not  completed  until  1852. 

THIRD    COURT-HOUSE. 

The  third  and  present  court  house  was  erected  in  1864-5,  at  Macon, 
the  present  county  seat,  at  a  cost  of  about  $30,000.  It  is  made  of 
brick  and  is  a  larse  and  substantial  buildins:. 


CHAPTEK    TV. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWNSHIPS. 

Morrow     Township  —  Chariton     Township  —  Narrows     Township  —  Middle    Fork 

Township. 

Before  beginning  the  history  of  the  townships  proper,  we  shall 
first  speak  of  the  boundary,  area  and  physical  features  of  Macon 
county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Adair  and  Knox,  on  the  east 
by  Knox  and  Shelby,  on  the  south  by  Randolph  and  Chariton,  and  on 
the  west  by  Linn  county.  The  county  is  situated  in  the  north-eastern 
part  of  the  State  and  is  separated  from  the  Iowa  State  line  by  Adair 
and  Schuyler  counties,  and  from  the  Mississippi  river  by  Shelby  and 
Marion  counties.  It  has  an  area  of  830  square  miles.  The  land  of 
Macon  county  is  divided  into  three  classes.  The  first  is  composed  of 
the  valley  lands  and  are  equal  to  any  in  the  State  in  fertility  ;  the 
second  of  the  prairie  table  lands  ;  and  the  third  of  the  breaks  in  the 
table  lands  where  they  approach  the  valleys.  The  Grand  Divide 
which  separates  the  affluents  of  the  Mississippi  from  those  of  the 
Missouri  river,  cross  the  entire  county  from  north  to  south.  West  of 
this  are  the  Chariton  and  East  and  Middle  forks  of  Chariton  river, 
with  their  tributaries,  Walnut,  Turkey,  Brush,  Puzzle,  and  Point 
creeks ;  and  on  the  east  of  the  divide  is  the  Middle  fork  of  Salt 
river  and  its  branches,  Narrows,  Winn  and  Hooker  creeks.  Muscle 
fork  with  its  numerous  small  branches  lies  in  the  extreme  western 
part  of  the  county,  and  in  the  east  are  Bear  and  Ten  Mile  creeks. 
Along  these  streams  and  on  the  adjacent  hills,  is  an  abundance  of 
timber,  consisting  of  the  various  kinds  of  oak,  cottonwood,  hickory, 
maple  and  black  walnut.  The  forests  skirt  the  prairies  and  the  farms 
usually  embrace  a  portion  of  each.  The  soil,  of  which  there  is  a 
great  variety,  is  chiefly  a  fertile  black  loam,  underlaid  with  clay,  in 
which  marl  abounds.  West  of  the  Chariton  river  and  north  of  the 
Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  is  the  region  known  as  *'The 
Barrens."  These  consist  of  high  rounded  hills,  covered  with  a  tall 
reddish  grass  and  occasional  clumps  of  post-oak  and  black-jack, 
while  the  valleys  or  drains  between  are  destitute  of  trees,  though 
covered  with  prairie  grass.  East  of  the  Chariton  "The  Barrens" 
(734) 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  735 

are  confined  to  a  few  miles  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Muscle  fork,  between  that  stream  and  Brush 
creek,  also  on  the  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  and  south  of  the  center 
of  the  county,  and  in  the  eastern  part,  north  of  the  Middle  fork 
of  Salt  river,  the  country  is  quite  hilly.  On  the  Chariton  and  on 
Muscle  fork  these  hills  are  sometimes  100  feet  high,  elsewhere  they 
never  exceed  75  feet,  and  are  often  less.  In  the  remainder  of  the 
county  the  slopes  are  gentle,  and  the  surface  is  mostly  prairie. 

The  county  is  divided  into  24  municipal  townships,  namely  :  Bevier, 
Callao,  Chariton,  Drake,  Eagle,  Easley,  Hudson,  Independence,  Jack- 
son, Johnston,  Liberty,  Lingo,  Lyda,  La  Plata,  Middle  Fork,  Mor- 
row, Narrows,  Eichland,  Kussell,  Round  Grove,  Ten  Mile,  Walnut 
Creek,  White  and  Valley.  The  townships  generally  contain  an  area 
of  36  square  miles.  Johnston,  Callao  and  Morrow  are  the  smallest 
townships,  and  Lingo  is  the  largest. 

MORROW   TOWNSHIP. 

Morrow  township  is  in  the  extreme  south-western  corner  of  the 
county,  and  bordering  as  it  does  on  Chariton  and  Randolph  counties, 
it  was  naturally  the  first  settled.  In  fact,  the  few  pioneers  who  com- 
posed the  van  of  the  emigrants  who  were  the  early  settlers  of  Macon 
county,  found  a  home  within  the  present  limits  of  Morrow  township. 
We  have  already  given  the  names,  and  something  of  the  personal  his- 
tory of  the  early  settlers  of  this  township,  in  the  first  chapter  of  the 
history  of  Macon  county,  but  as  they  legitimately  belong  to  the  his- 
tory of  Morrow  township,  we  shall  now  briefly  speak  of  them  again. 

James  Loe,  not  only  the  first  settler  in  this  township,  but  the  first 
to  pitch  his  tent  within  the  present  territory  of  Macon  county,  located 
on  the  north-west  quarter  of  section  1,  township  56,  range  16,  in 
1829.  He  was  originally  from  Wayne  county,  Ky.  Succeeding  him 
were  Randall  Clark,  who  lived  on  section  3,  township  56,  range  16  ; 
Elisha  Chambers,  who  settled  section  2,  township  56,  range  16  ;  Lewis 
Green,  who  opened  a  farm  on  section  1,  township  56,  range  16; 
George  Addis,  who  settled  the  south-east  quarter  of  section  2,  town- 
ship 56,  range  16,  and  William  Morrow,  who  purchased  the  farm 
which  was  settled  by  George  Addis,  the  latter  moving  to  Chariton 
county.  The  six  men  above  named  came  to  the  county  between  1829 
and  1831,  and  all  located  so  near  each  other  that,  on  clear  mornings, 
the  sound  of  the  piston  beating  corn  in  mortars,  for  meal,  could  be 
heard  all  around  the  settlement. 

After  this  nucleus  of  a  settlement  had  been  formed,  other  emigrants 


736  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

followed,  many  of  whom  located  in  Morrow  township,  and  others  in 
Chariton,  the  adjoining  township.  About  the  year  1833  came  Amnion 
Beebe  and  John  L.  Northup,  his  brother-in-law,  from  the  State  of 
New  York  ;  Simeon  Foster,  from  Randolph  county  ;  Robert  Nichols, 
from  Kentucky ;  William  C.  A.  Hill,  from  Georgia,  and  Joseph  J. 
Morrow,  John  S.  Morrow,  Jesse  S.  Morrow,  William  J.  Morrow,  D. 
G.  Buster,  William  B.  Stevens,  James  Holloway,  Ambrose  Medley, 
Samuel  Cunningham,  Charles  Perrin,  James  Perrin,  Achilles  Finnell 
and  others. 

Hill  died  in  St.  Clair  county.  Mo.  ;  Nichols  died  during  the  War  of 
1861 ;  Clark  and  Ammon  before  the  war,  and  Northup  died  in  Cali- 
nia  ;  Chambers  died  in  Breathitt  county,  Ky.  He  was  an  Old  School 
Baptist  minister.  Lewis  Green  and  his  wife  are  now  residing  near 
College  Mound,  Macon  county.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  the 
township  by  James  Holloway,  above  named,  near  the  residence  of 
William  Morrow.  Mr.  Holloway  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  was  an 
elderly  man,  and  was  highly  respected  by  the  patrons  of  his  school, 
among  whom  were  Lewis  Green,  William  Morrow,  James  Loe  and 
others.     He  taught  a  three  months'  school. 

Elisha  Chambers  was  the  pioneer  preacher  of  the  township,  and 
first  broke  the  bread  of  life  to  a  small  number  of  men  and  women, 
at  the  log  cabin  of  William  Morrow  in  1831. 

"  Wide  was  his  parish,  not  contracted  and  close 
In  streets,  but  here  and  there  a  straggling  house ; 
Yet  still  he  was  at  hand  without  request. 
To  serve  the  sick,  to  succor  the  distress'd, 
Tempting  on  foot,  alone,  without  affright, 
The  dangers  of  a  dark,  tempestuous  night." 

The  organization  of  the  first  religious  body  occurred  at  a  very  early 
date  ;  there  was,  however,  no  church  building  erected  in  the  township 
until  about  the  year  1855,  when  the  Old  School  Baptists  and  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians  built  a  house  of  worship  together,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  same,  and  called  it  "  Chariton  Church." 

Among  the  constituent  members  of  the  Baptist  denomination  were 
Charles  Perrin,  James  Perrin  and  wife,  Joseph  Perrin  and  wife,  Rob- 
ert Perrin  and  wife.  Miss  Polly  Ann  Perrin  and  John  Wynant  and 
wife.     Elder  James  Moody  officiated  among  the  early  preachers. 

The  Cumberlands  included  in  their  membership,  William  J.  Mor- 
row, wife  and  two  daughters,  James  W.  Morrow,  who  is  a  minister 
now  residing  at  Kansas  City,  and  others.  Rev.  James  Dysart,  who 
now  lives  at  College  Mound,  Macon  county,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Davis 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  737 

were  the  ministers  of  the  Cumberland  Presl>yterian  Church.  Dr. 
Clark  was  the  first  resident  physician.  He  was  from  Virginia,  and 
while  on  a  journey  to  his  native  State,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health, 
he  died. 

The  first  mill  in  the  county  (as  stated  elsewhere  in  this  book)  was 
erected  in  Morrow  township,  by  William  Morrow,  about  the  year 
1833,  near  the  banks  of  a  stream,  which  then  and  now,  revels  in  the 
suggestive  name  of  "  Stinking  creek."  This  inelegant  appellative 
was  applied  to  that  stream,  because  the  water  therein  presented  a 
muddy  appearance,  and  when  stirred  emitted  an  obnoxious  odor.  The 
land  which  borders  this  stream  ujDon  each  side  is  very  excellent  in 
quality,  being  almost  entirely  unbroken  by  hills,  or  rocky,  barren 
points.  Jefferson  Morrow,  son  of  William  Morrow,  spoken  of,  and 
at  present  treasurer  of  Macon  county,  was  at  the  time  his  father  ar- 
rived in  the  county,  18  years  of  age,  and  remembers  quite  distinctly 
much  of  the  history  connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship. 

He  says  that  the  winter  of  1830-31  was  the  coldest  that  has  ever 
been  experienced  in  the  county.  The  snow  lay  on  the  ground  all 
winter  and  until  about  the  middle  of  March  before  it  melted.  It  was 
generally  about  three  feet  deep  on  level  ground,  and  the  crust  was 
so  hard  frozen  that  it  would  bear  up  both  man  and  beast.  Many  of 
the  deer,  wild  turkeys,  and  other  game  perished,  and  a  great  number 
was  caught  in  the  snow.  The  winters,  during  the  early  years  of  the 
settlement  of  the  county,  were,  perhaps,  a  little  more  severe  than 
they  are  now,  but  not  so  changeable.  The  summers  were  about  the 
same  as  they  are  now,  in  respect  to  heat  and  rain. 

Another  old  settler,  who  died  in  Chariton  county,  related  the  fol- 
lowing in  reference  to  the  winter  of  1830-31  :  — 

"  During;  the  winter  of  1830-31  there  was  a  snow  fall  of  about  three 
feet.  I  was  in  Jefferson  City  until  the  last  of  February,  and  when  I 
returned  to  Chariton  county,  where  I  then  resided,  I  found  that  the 
snow  had  destroyed  nearly  all  the  hogs  in  the  country.  In  many 
places  the  snow  had  drifted  to  the  depth  of  40  feet.  During  the  fall 
of  the  snow  a  heavy  wind  blew  from  the  North-west,  and  all  the 
snow  drifted  from  the  open  prairies,  leaving  the  ground  almost 
bare.  The  snow  lodg-ed  in  the  hollows  on  the  south-east  of  all  those 
high  open  plains,  and  some  hollows  that  I  knew  to  be  from  30  to 
40  feet  deep,  had  the  appearance  of  level  plains.  In  some  steep,  ab- 
rupt hollows,  I  saw  snow  as  late  as  the  first  of  June,  not  yet  melted; 


738  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

and  from  all  appearances  the  snow  had  not  been  less  than  40  feet 
deep. 

*♦  During  the  melting  of  the  snow,  which  was  very  gradual  through 
the  month  of  March  and  a  portion  of  April,  I  went  out  with  William 
Martin,  who  was  my  partner  in  raising  hogs,  on  Yellow  creek,  in 
Chariton  county,  and,  to  our  astonishment,  we  found  the  timbered 
bottoms  strewn  with  the  skeletons  of  dead  stock  and  fowls.  I  dis- 
tinctly remember  one  lot  of  28  two-year-old  hogs,  which  we  had, 
that  were  very  fat  in  the  fall.  After  a  diligent  search  we  found  three 
living  skeletons — all  that  was  left  alive  of  them.  So  poor  were 
they  that  a  couple  of  Indians  described  them  as  having  no  width  at 
all  and  as  crooked  as  a  bow  —  showing  with  their  fingers  that  they 
meant  humpbacked. 

"The  skeletons  of  turkeys  (that  is,  their  leg  and  wing  bones)  lay 
all  over  the  bottom  so  plentiful  that  I  supposed  the  last  turkey  was 
dead  ;  but  while  we  were  hunting  our  hogs  we  saw  three  live  turkeys, 
while  I  have  no  doubt  we  came  across  the  bones  of  five  hundred  dead 
ones.  We  also  found  many  dead  deer,  and,  from  the  signs,  I  con- 
cluded that  they  had  been  killed  by  the  wolves,  which  were  very 
plentiful,  and  were  the  only  animals  in  the  woods  that  were  fat  after 
the  melting  of  that  snow. 

*'  I  remember  running  my  horse  after  a  wolf  that  winter,  and,  when 
just  about  to  overtake  him,  not  noticing,  I  ran  right  into  a  snow-drift 
in  the  head  of  a  hollow,  30  feet  deep,  to  all  appearances.  I  had  my 
rifle  on  my  shoulder,  and  my  horse  plunged  into  the  drift  30  or  40 
yards  before  I  could  stop.  I  got  ofi"  the  horse  and  beat  the  snow 
down  as  well  as  I  could  in  my  back  track,  being  entirely  under  the  snow 
for  many  minutes.  When  I  got  my  head  out,  so  that  I  could  see, 
I  saw  the  wolf  swimming  through  the  drift,  which  was  about  200 
yards  wide.  I  brushed  the  snow  from  the  barrel  of  my  gun  and 
fired  at  the  wolf's  head,  as  that  was  the  only  part  of  him  that  was 
visible,  but  missed  him.  The  snow  being  light,  the  wolf  had  sunk 
ill  it  so  far  that  only  his  head  and  neck  could  be  seen  above  the  sur- 
lace.     This  put  a  stop  to  the  race. 

*«  During  the  time  the  snow  was  on  the  ground  1  traveled  from 
Jeflferson  City  to  my  home  in  Chariton  county.  I  came  as  far  as 
Boonville  in  company  with  Lilburn  W.  Boggs,  Smallwood  V.  Nolen 
and  others.  I  rode  a  common  sized  mule,  and  went  behind  in  all 
places  where  the  snow  was  drifted.  I  shall  never  forget  how  the  snow 
would  part  on  each  side  of  the  mules  jaws  ;  it  could  just  keep  its  nose 
out  of  the  snow  by  raising  its  head  as  high  as  it  could.     I  had  to  stand 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  739 

up  in  my  stirrups  at  all  the  drifts  to  keep  the  snow  out  of  my  face. 
Now,  this  is  so,  and  if  I  had  my  witnesses  I  could  prove  it  by  gentle- 
men '  sembly  setters,'  as  the  old  negro  called  them  in  Jefferson  City, 
and  by  Gov.  L.  W.  Boggs,  who  was  in  the  party. 

"  After  passing  Boonville  I  swapped  my  mule  for  a  horse,  and  then 
made  my  way  home  very  well,  as  the  road  lay  through  a  timbered 
country  where  the  snow,  although  deep,  was  not  drifted." 

The  pioneer,  however,  had  no  forebodings  of  the  tornadoes  and 
cyclones,  which  are  now  so  common  throughout  the  country.  They 
occasionally  —  at  very  long  intervals — had  a  wind  storm  which  swept 
through  a  small  scope  of  country,  destroying  fences,  sometimes  un- 
roofing a  cabin  and  felling  a  few  trees,  but  never  dealing  death  and 
destruction  as  do  the  modern  cyclones  and  tornadoes. 

Birds  and  wild  animals  Avere  so  numerous  and  ravenous  that  durins: 
the  first  two  or  three  years  the  farmers  raised  but  little  corn  and  but 
little  stock.  The  wolves  were  seen  in  packs,  and  were  so  bold  they 
would  even  invade  the  yards  surrounding  the  cabins,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  at  night  they  would  come  to  the  very  cabin  door  and  peer  at 
the  inmates  within  with  glaring  eyes  that  shone  the  brighter  as  they 
came  within  the  rays  of  the  ruddy  fire  that  blazed  upon  the  hearth. 

One  night  while  Mr.  Morrow  was  going  to  Huntsville  on  horseback 
in  great  haste  for  a  physician,  he  met  two  or  three  wolves  in  the  road, 
who  stood  their  ground.  His  horse  first  discovered  their  presence  and 
stopped.  He  attempted  to  urge  him  forward  with  a  switch,  but  just 
at  that  moment  he  heard  the  animals  growling  just  in  front  of  him. 
After  trying  repeatedly  to  urge  his  horse  on  and  failing  so  to  do,  he 
turned  to  the  right  of  the  road  and  left  the  wolves  masters  of  the 
field. 

In  the  summer  of  1835,  Mr.  Morrow  was  passing  through  the 
bottom  of  the  Chariton  river,  and  saw  on  the  limb  of  a  small  water- 
oak  a  large  swarm  of  bees.  He  had  a  number  of  bee-hives  at  home, 
and  had  no  special  use  for  any  more,  but  this  was  such  a  large,  fine- 
looking  swarm  that  he  concluded  to  take  it  home.  The  question 
occurred,  how  could  he  carry  them  ?  He  had  no  sack  or  anything  else 
with  him  in  which  to  put  the  bees.  He  could  not  carry  them  on  the 
limb  just  as  they  were  !  What  must' he  do?  He  finally  adopted  the 
following  plan  :  He  took  off  his  pants,  tied  the  toes  together,  held  the 
open  top  under  the  swarm,  and  deliberately  and  carefully  cut  the 
branch  off  above  and  below  the  swarm ,  and  let  it  fiill  into  his  pants  ; 
he  then  closed  them  up  and  took  the  bees  home.  They  yielded  boun- 
tif  ull}'  both  of  bees  and  honey  for  years  afterwards.     This  was  a  novel 


740  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

expedient  and  a  cheap  one,  yet  its  practical  utility  was  fully  demon- 
strated upon  that  occasion. 

Morrow  township,  agriculturally  speaking,  is  conceded  to  be  the 
best  in  the  county,  and  taken  as  a  whole,  according  to  the  number  of 
acres,  produces  more  corn  than  any  other.  Some  wheat  and  also  some 
tobacco  are  raised,  not  as  much  of  the  latter  as  there  was  in  former 
years.  There  are  a  few  good  orchards  in  the  township.  It  has  no 
railroad  facilities. 

CHARITON   TOWNSHIP. 

Chariton  township^  takes  its  name  from  the  middle  fork  of  the 
Chariton  river,  which  passes  through  its  western  boundary.  Chariton 
was  among  the  earliest  townships  settled,  and  was,  therefore,  one  of 
the  first  improved. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  James  Dysart,  James  Mitchell, 
Thomas  W.  McCormick,  James  Folsor,  Kobert  Gipson,  Stephen  Gip- 
son.  Smith  Gipson,  Thomas  Bannon,  Frazier  Bannon,  Thomas  Gor- 
ham,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  Pleasant  Tuttle. 

COLLEGE   MOUND 

was  settled  about  the  year  1853,  on  section  34,  township  56,  range 
15.  The  plat  of  the  town  was  filed  April  2,  1869,  by  Thomas  W. 
McCormick  and  wife,  Mary  A.  College  Mound  is  the  location  of 
what  is  known  as  McGee  College.  In  the  spring  of  1853  Col.  R.  M. 
J.  Sharp,  then  a  young  man  in  search  of  fortune,  established  a  country 
store  on  the  divide,  between  the  East  and  Middle  forks  of  the  Grand 
Chariton,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  Randolph  county  line.  This 
location  was  surrounded  by  a  number  of  well-to-do  farmers,  prominent 
among  whom  were  Rev.  James  Dysart,  better  known  as  *'  Uncle 
Jimpse,"  Judge  T.  W.  McCormick,  John  Powell,  Stephen  Gipson, 
Sr.,  and  Thomas  L.  Gorham,  the  last  of  whom  subsequently  repre- 
sented the  county  in  the  Legislature. 

At  this  early  date  there  was  not  a  foot  of  railroad  in  the  State,  and 
this  portion  of  the  country  shipped  its  surplus  and  received  its  sup- 
plies ])y  means  of  wagons  running  to  Hannibal,  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  Glasgow  on  the  Missouri.  The  site  selected  by  the  Colonel  was 
convenient  to  the  main  traveled  road  leading  from  Glasgow  toward 
the  Iowa  line,  through  the  county  seats  of  Randolph  and  Macon.  In 
the  same  year  McGee  College  was  opened  under  the  patronage  of 
McGee  Presbytery,  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian   Church ;  Prof. 


1  Called  the  South  Carolina  of  Macon  county  during  the  war. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  741 

J.  W.  Bleriot  was  in  charge  for  a  while,  but  in  October  Rev.  James  B. 
Mitchell  became  President,  Prof.  Bleriot  still  continuing  in  the  insti- 
tution. 

The  influx  of  students,  accompanied  by  an  increase  of  inhabitants, 
enhanced  business,  and  other  houses  opened.  The  patronage  of  the 
college  continued  to  grow  and  the  corps  of  instructors  was  from  time 
to  time  enlarged. 

In  this  way  things  moved  on  until  1861 ;  there  were  three  strong 
firms  dealing  in  merchandise  and  produce;  a  blacksmith,  a  tinsmith, 
a  tailor  and  a  shoe  shop  ;  also,  a  large  tobacco  factory  and  a  carding 
machine.  There  were  likewise  two  or  three  grist  and  saw-mills  in  the 
vicinity.  The  college  at  this  time  had  attained  a  yearly  patronage  of 
200  students,  and  had  eight  preceptors.  Business  was  good.  Farm- 
ers were  prosperous  and  agricultural  interests  were  rapidly  improving. 
The  close  of  the  war  found  this  happy  state  of  things  sadly  changed. 
But  the  activity  and  pluck  of  the  people  came  to  their  relief  and 
they  soon  regained  much  that  had  been  considered  irreclaimable. 

The  college  was  reopened,  and  under  the  supervision  of  the  Presi- 
dent, Dr.  Mitchell,  quickly  regained  its  former  prestige,  extended 
its  patronage  and  improved  its  facilities.  Business,  adapting  itself  to 
its  new  conditions,  revived  with  a  wonderful  vitality.  Farming  inter- 
ests manifested  a  marked  activity. 

The  adjoining  country  to  College  Mound  has  a  good  upland  soil. 
The  yield  of  corn  and  small  grain  is  amply  sufficient  to  meet  all  the 
demands  of  home  consumption.  Timothy  and  other  meadow  grasses 
yield  largely.  Blue  grass  is  luxuriant.  Tobacco  has  been  the  staple 
crop  and  rarely,  if  ever,  fails  to  do  well.  The  quality,  moreover,  is 
much  better  than  the  average  and  always  commands  good  prices. 

The  health  of  College  Mound  and  surrounding  country  is  remarka- 
bly good.  The  land  is  high  and  rolling.  There  are  no  swamps  and 
quagmires  to  emit  their  fatal  malaria.  To  the  south  is  a  large  ex- 
panse of  prairie,  now  occupied  by  beautiful  farms  and  neat  and  com- 
fortable houses.  On  the  east,  north  and  west  are  timbered  lands. 
The  common  fruits,  apples,  peaches,  cherries,  etc.,  are  largely  and 
successfully  cultivated,  and  smaller  fruits  do  well.  The  town  is  in- 
corporated under  the  general  incorporation  law.  There  are  organiza- 
tions of  the  following  societies  :  — 

McGee  Lodge,  No.  106,  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

College  Mound  Lodge,  No.  780,  of  I.  O.  G.  T. 

Coal  is  found  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  township,  and  is  of  good, 
merchantable  character.     It  often  crops  out  on  the  banks  of  creeks, 


742  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

and  may  be  mined  by  drifting.     Shafts  of  from  60  to  90  feet  will  dis- 
cover veins  from  four  to  six  feet. 

ROBERT     GIPSON. 

Chariton  township  claims  the  honor  of  having  the  oldest  inhabitant 
now  living  in  the  United  States  —  in  fact,  we  doubt  whether  there  are 
half  a  dozen  men  living  anywhere  on  the  face  of  the  earth  who  are 
older  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Robert  Gipson  is  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Mollie  Gipson  (his  mother's 
maiden  name  being  Stilwell),  and  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North 
Carolina,  December  25,  1765,  and  was,  therefore,  118  years  old  on 
the  25th  day  of  last  December,  1883.  He  had  two  full  brothers  and 
one  sister,  Nathan  and  John  and  Rebecca,  all  of  whom  are  dead. 
The  names  of  his  half-brothers  and  sisters  wereLarkin,  Isaac,  Thomas, 
Henry,  Stephen,  Alfred,  Betty,  Polly  and  John.  His  stepmother's 
maiden  name  was  Millie  Jackson.  His  own  mother  died  when  he  was 
five  years  old. 

Randolph,  the  county  of  his  nativity,  is  situated  near  the  center  of 
the  State,  Ashboro  being  the  county  seat.  Here  Robert  grew  to  man- 
hood, without  the  advantages  of  wealth,  or  even  the  common  rudi- 
ments of  an  education.  At  that  early  period  schools  were  scarce,  not 
only  in  the  Old  North  State,  but  everywhere  in  the  New  World.  At 
about  the  age  of  30  years,  he  married  Gracie  Smith,  of  his  native 
county,  and  after  the  birth  of  their  first  two  children  he  and  his  father 
and  their  families  emigrated  to  Wayne  county,  Ky.  Here  he  lived 
until  about  the  age  of  55,  and  then  moved  to  Randolph  county, 
Missouri,  where  he  resided  a  few  years,  and  then  moved  to  Macon 
county,  where  he  now  lives.  He  was  mustered  into  service  for  the 
War  of  1812,  but  being  beyond  the  age  when  men  were  compelled  to 
do  military  service,  he  did  not  remain.  His  first  wife  died  about  the 
year  of  1844,  and  in  1851  he  married  Mrs.  Hester  Howe,  of  Macon 
county.  He  had  sixteen  children,  all  by  his  first  wife,  nine  of  whom 
are  now  living.  The  names  of  his  deceased  children  are  Albert,  Na- 
than, Julia,  Nancy,  William,  Alzadai,  and  an  infant  child  that  died 
without  being  named.  The  names  of  his  children  who  are  living  are  ; 
Stephen,  aged  87  ;  Thanie,  aged  78  ;  Smith,  aged  67  ;  Jackson,  aged 
65  ;  Millie,  aged  62  ;  Sabra,  aged  57  ;  Robert,  aged  —  ;  Asa,  aged  50  ; 
Hezekiah,  aged  47. 

When  the  last  named,  which  is  the  youngest,  was  born,  Mr.  Gipson 
was  71  years  of  age.  He  has  four  great-great-grandchildren,  100 
great-grandchildren,  and  104  grandchildren.     Eleven  of  his  children 


HISTORY   OF    MACON   COUNTY.  743 

married,  and  all  raised  families,  the  smallest  number  of  children  to 
any  one  (Hezekiah)  being  seven,  and  the  largest  number  being  19  to 
Smith.     Mr.  Gipson  has  always  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer, 
and   made  a  regular  hand  in  the  field  until  about  10  years  ago,  or 
until  he  was  108  years  of  age,  since  which  time  he  has  been  living  with 
his  children.     About  the  time  he  ceased  working  on  the  farm,  he  was 
riding  horseback  and   his  horse  ran  against  the  limb  of  a  tree,  which 
dislocated  his  left  shoulder  and  injured  one  of  his  legs.     His  father 
was  a  strong  man  at  the  age  of  75  years,  and  was  thrown  from  a  horse 
and  killed.     Mr.  Gipson  is  about  five  feet  four  inches  high,  has  dark 
brown  eyes  and  had   brown  hair  (now  white  as  cotton),   and  has 
weighed  125  pounds.     He  was  very  active  during  the  first  50  years 
of  his  life,  and  could  throw,  in  wrestling,  any  man,  in  the  regiment,  in 
which  he  served  for  a  short  time.     He  says  he  never  met  a  man  who 
could  throw  him,  and  tells  it  with  great  pride.     He  has  had  a  few 
chills  and  one  spell  of  fever  ;  excepting  these,  he  has  enjoyed  excel- 
lent health.     He   never  smoked  tobacco,  but  has  been  chewing  for 
about  50  years.     Has  used  strong  drink  to  a   moderate  extent,  but 
was  never  intoxicated.     His  habits  have  been  good  and  regular.     He 
drinks  cofiee  only  at  breakfast  and  milk  (of  which  he  is  very  fond)  at 
other  meals.     He  is  now  a  hearty  eater  and  always  has  been.     He 
takes  a  nap   of  about  two  hours  every  day,  and  sleeps  well  at  night. 
His  hearing  is  greatly  impaired,  and  was  first  affected  about  seven 
years  ago.     His  eye  sight  began  to  fail  in  1880  ;  he  cannot  now  dis- 
tinguish one  object  from  another.     He,  however,  walks  around  by  the 
aid  of  his  cane,  and  quite  recently  walked  to  see  a  neighbor  who  lives 
a  half  mile  away.     He  has  lived  an  honest  and  industrious  life,  retir- 
ing early,  and  rising  with  the  sun.     "  Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise" 
has  been  his  motto.     He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
for  60  years,  and  although  he  cannot  read  or  write,  he  has  delivered 
a  number  of  sermons,  taking  his  text  from  memory.     His  recollection 
now  is  not  good,  especially  his  impressions  of  early  events  and  dates. 
This,  however,  may  be  looked  for  in  a  man  of  his  great  age,  but  con- 
sidering his  age,  his  memory  is  wonderful. 

There  have  been  but  few  persons  since  the  flood  that  have  lived  to 
be  older  than  Mr.  Gipson.  Pliny  enumerates  54  persons,  who  resided 
between  the  Apennines  and  the  river  Po,  who  reached  the  age  of  100 
years  and  more.  Many  of  the  ancient  philosophers  who  lived  abstem- 
ious, careful  lives,  lived  to  a  great  age.  Sophocles  died  at  90  ;  Zeno 
at  98,  Democritus  at  99,  Diogenes  at  90,  Isocrates  at  98,  and  Hippo- 
crates was  upwards  of  100  years.  The  patriarch  Jaceb  died  at  the 
42 


744  ■  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

age  of  147  years,  and  Joseph  at  the  age  of  110.  The  oldest  man  of 
whom  history  makes  mention  since  antedeluvian  times,  was  Peter 
Czartan,  a  Hungarian  peasant,  the  term  of  whose  natural  life  covered 
a  period  of  185  years.  His,  however,  was  an  exceptional  case.  Mr. 
Gibson  has  already  lived  longer  than  any  of  these  mentioned,  except 
Jacob  and  the  Hungarian  peasant.  He  lived  contemporaneously  with 
Washington,  Lafayette,  Marion,  Green,  and  all  the  Revolutionary 
heroes  of  '76,  and  is  still  living.  He  was  ten  years  old  when  the  first 
o-un  of  the  Revolution  was  fired,  and  heard  the  drums  and  shrill  whistle 
of  the  wry-necked  fifes  as  they  called  the  yeomanry  of  his  native  district 
to  arms.  He  lived  in  Colonial  days,  when  the  American  provinces 
were  under  British  dominion,  and  is  now,  doubtless,  the  only  survivor 
of  those  troublous  times.  He  lived  prior  to  the  birth  of  our  republic, 
and  has  seen  our  nation  grow  from  2,500,000  of  people  to  50,000,- 
000.  He  has  seen  the  increase  of  territory,  beginning  with  the  13 
original  colonies  bordering  the  Atlantic,  and  expanding  until  the 
galaxy  of  States  numbers  38,  and  extending  from  ocean  to  ocean. 
He  was  24  years  of  age  when  Washington  was  first  chosen  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  has  voted  at  every  presidential  election  since 
Washington,  the  only  man  living  or  dead  who  has  had  that  honor. 
Politically,  Mr.  Gipson  was  a  Democrat  prior  to  the  war  of  1861,  and 
has  cast  his  vote  since  that  time  for  Republicans,  except  in  the 
case  of  Gen.  Hancock,  for  whom  he  voted  in  1880.  He  was  born  be- 
fore Clay,  Webster  and  Calhoun  ;  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
has  passed  since  they  left  the  stage  of  action,  and  yet  he  still  lingers 
upon  the  shores  of  time.  Yes,  this  aged  patriarch,  this  wonderful  old 
man,  whose  life  is  verging  so  closely  upon  the  20th  century,  still  re- 
mains among  the  living,  unknown  to  fortune  and  to  fame,  quietly  and 
cheerfully  awaiting  the  moment  when  Time  with  silent  sickle  shall 
mow  him  down. 

NARROWS    TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  in  the  south  tier  of  townships,  and  borders  upon  Randolph 
county.  It  was  one  of  the  earliest  organized  and  one  ©f  the  earliest 
settled.  It  embraces  a  territory  36  miles  square,  more  than  half  of 
which  is  covered  with  timber.  The  principal  stream  which  passes 
through  the  township  is  the  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  which 
flows  through  the  western  portion  of  the  same.  The  eastern  portion 
of  the  township  is  good  farming  land,  the  principal  products  being 
hay  and  corn  ;  some  wheat  and  oats  are  raised.  The  western  part  of 
the  township  is  underlaid  with  coal,  which  seems  to   exist  in  great 


I 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  745 

abundance.  Apples  and  small  fruit  do  well,  and  tobacco  is  to  some 
extent,  cultivated  in  the  timbered  regions.  There  are  three  churches 
and  four  school  houses  in  the  township. 

'  OLD    SETTLERS. 

The  old  settlers  of  Narrows  township  were  Joseph  D.  Butler,  Isaac 
Goodding,  Maj.  John  H.  Bean,  William  C.  Smith,  Starling  Coulter, 
John  Coulter,  Chesley  Brock,  Thomas  Ryletree,  John  C.  Powell, 
Edwin  Bastim,^  Bennett  Wright,  Thomas  Lamb,  John  G.  Lamb,  Lewis 
Vansickle,  G.  P.  Holly,  Thomas  Gee,  Aaron  Gee,  Thomas  Waller, 
John  Waller,  Ignitus  Noble  and  brother,  John  Ellis,  Isam  Walker, 
Daniel  Simms,  Collin  Moore,  Edwin  Bastin,  James  H.  Ray,  Robert 
Vanskike,  James  Lamb,  John  King,  Thomas  King,  Benjamin  McGec 
and  John  Moore,  all  from  Kentucky  ;  William  Cochran,  from  Missouri ; 
Judge  Frederick  Rowland  and  Ellis  Wilson,  from  Tennessee  ;  John 
Thompson  and  Joseph  Thompson,  from  Virginia,  and  Charles  Tuggle, 
William  Chandler  and  A.  P.  McCall. 

SKETCH  OF  A,  P.  m'CALL,  PREPARED  IN  1871. 

A.  P.  McCall  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ky.,  nine  miles  east  of 
Lexington,  September  2,  1809,  and  moved  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in 
Randolph  county,  in  September,  1838.  He  was  married  in  said  county 
to  Mary  J.  Rutherford,  daughter  of  Archibald  Rutherford,  who  re- 
sided near  Huntsville,  the  county  seat.  Huntsville,  at  that  time, 
1838,  although  a  small  town  was  a  good  business  place,  being  the 
center  for  the  trade  of  all  the  upper  tier  of  counties  that  have  since 
been  organized  into  counties. 

In  1843  Mr.  McCall  moved  to  Macon  county,  and  settled  in  the 
neighborhood  of  what  is  now  McLeansville  ;  at  that  time  the  settlers 
of  that  section  were  Sterling  and  John  Coulter,  Maj.  J.  H.  Bean,  Maj. 
J.  D.  Butler,  Chesley  Brock,  Mr.  Tuggle,  the  father  of  James  H. 
Tusfofle,  F.  Rowland,  William  H.  Rowland  and  others. 

At  the  time  Mr.  McCall  settled  in  this  county,  there  were  from  the 
Randolph  county  line  north  to  Iowa  but  a  few  settlers  on  the  Grand 
Prairie.  The  track  on  which  most  all  the  hunters  and  others  traveled 
was  known  as  the  Bee  Trace,  and  the  settlements  were  generally  made 
near  the  road.  He  remembers  as  settlers  near  this  trace  William  Mc- 
Cann,  Sr.,  H.  McCann,  Mr.  Tuggle,  Sterling  and  J.  Coulter,  Fred- 
rick Rowland,  Chesley  Brock,  Maj.  Joseph  D.  Butler,  Maj.  John  H. 
Bean,  Simeon  Cannon,  who  lived  at  the  Grand  Cut  Off  at  the  Narrows,, 


»  The  tallest  man  in  the  county. 


746  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

near  the  Excel lo  post-office.  It  was  at  this  place  that  the  militia  of 
the  countj  used  to  assemble  to  Diuster.  North  of  this,  on  the  Bee 
Trace,  were  Nathan  Richardson,  William  Blackwell,  John  and  Jipe 
Walker,  Gideon  Lyda  and  perhaps  others  that  he  did  not  know  or 
does  not  now  remember. 

It  used  to  be  the  custom  of  Capt.  William  Goggin,  who  was  an  old 
settler  of  Randolph,  to  raise  and  fatten  his  hogs  about  one  and  one- 
half  miles  south-west  of  where  Macon  City  is  now  located.  The  old 
captain  would  come  up  occasionally  to  see  about  his  stock  and  spend 
a  few  days  with  his  friends.  These  trips  and  raising  stock  gave  that 
neighborhood  the  name  of  Goggin' s  hog  office,  and  as  being  the  end 
of  civilization  —  all  north  was  the  land  of  the  Indian  and  trapper. 

These  were  the  days  of  honesty,  brotherly  love  and  plenty ;  when 
the  earth  yielded  bountifully,  all  that  man  or  beast  required.  When 
virtue  was  the  ruling  principle,  and  dishonesty  was  not  known  in  this 
land.  Oh  !  that  we  had  such  a  time  again —  when  a  man's  word  was 
worth  whatever  he  promised  in  gold ;  when  neighbors  helped  and 
assisted  such  as  were  sick  or  distressed. 

The  people  for  meal  had  to  take  their  corn  to  Simms'  mill,  on  the 
East  fork,  near  McLeansville,  and  Rowland's  mill  (an  inclined 
wheel)  at  what  was  afterwards  called  Georgetown.  As  to  flour,  the 
people  did  not  seem  to  care  particularly  for  it,  and  those  who  wanted 
it  took  their  wheat  to  Goggin's  mill,  at  Huntsville.  He  does  not 
remember  whether  the  other  mills  in  that  section  of  country  ground 
wheat  at  that  time  or  not. 

Mr.  McCall  o-ives  as  an  evidence  of  the  chano^e  of  the  seasons  in 
the  last  30  years,  the  statement  that  in  the  early  settlement  of  the 
county,  wheat  or  rye  could  be  raised  by  plowing  it  in  between  the 
corn  rows.  There  were  no  chinch  oran}^  kind  of  potato  bugs  or  other 
insects  to  troublethe  crops.  The  only  trouble  was  from  birds,  turkeys, 
squirrels,  deers,  etc.  Oats  always  turned  out  a  good  crop.  Corn 
yielded  much  larger  crops  than  now. 

In  1844,  Mr.  McCall  farmed  on  what  is  now  the  town  site  of  Mc- 
Leansville, and  raised  18  barrels  or  90  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre, 
about  500  bushels  of  potatoes  to  the  acre,  water  melons  that  weighed 
many  of  them  50  pounds  each.  This  may  seem  unreasonable,  but  the 
settlers  in  that  neighborhood  will  substantiate  it. 

Mr.  McCall  established  at  McLeansville  atanyard,  which  was  about 
the  second  or  third  one  established  in  the  county.  Making  leather  at 
that  day  was  different  from  the  patent  process  now  in  use.     It  took 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  747 

him  about  a  year  to  change  a  hide  into  good  leather  ;  now  it  is  done 
by  steam  and  chemicals  in  a  very  short  time. 

On  April  5,  1845,  he  moved  and  settled  in  Bloomington,  the  then 
county  seat  of  Macon  county,  and  established  the  first  saddlery  and 
harness  shop  in  the  county.  He  supplied  Macon  and  a  good  portion 
of  the  adjoining  counties. 

Among  the  first  settlers  in  Bloomington  were  A.  L.  Gilstrap,  S.  S. 
Fox,  T.  G.  Sharp  and  J.  N.  Brown,  attorneys  ;  George  A.  Shortridge 
and  W.  E.  Moberly,  merchants  ;  John  Wilken  and  Dr.  Arthur  Bar- 
ron, physicians;  William  Beard  and  John  R.  Watson,  blacksmiths  i. 
Benjamin  Sharp  kept  a  hotel ;  George  A.  Shortridge  was  postmaster. 
There  were  no  churches  ;  preaching  was  done  in  the  court-house  and 
the  school-house.  William  Sears,  James  Eadlifi",  Dr.  Abram  Still, 
Allen  Wright,  Dr.  Shoots,  Perry  Davis,  James  Dysart,  Samuel  Davis 
and  others  did  the  preaching. 

The  county  officers  were  Campbell  Hubbard,  sheriff;  G.  M.  Tay- 
lor, circuit  and  county  clerk ;  William  Holman,  treasurer.  Col.  R. 
L.  Shackelford  was  the  representative.  There  was  a  vast  difference 
in  the  early  days  of  the  county  and  now  in  the  taxes  and  expenses  of 
running  county  affairs.  The  whole  revenue  of  the  county  did  not 
equal  what  is  now  required  for  county  purposes  of  Hudson  township 
alone.  The  county  judges  received  $2  per  day  ;  the  treasurer  $75  per 
annum.  The  county  clerk  did  not  receive  one-fourth  of  what  is  now 
paid . 

There  was  a  great  scarcity  of  fruit  and  it  demanded  a  good  price. 
Most  of  the  fruit  was  brought  from  Randolph  and  Howard  counties. 
The  first  orchards  in  the  county  that  he  remembers  of  were  those  of 
Nathan  Richardson  at  Moccasinville,  now  owned  by  William  Jones ; 
and  Elder  William  Sears  and  Elder  James  Radliff,  now  owned  by 
Joseph  Salyer. 

The  first  church  built  in  Bloomington  was  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian. The  Southern  Methodists  and  the  Masenic  fraternity  jointly 
built  a  two-story  brick  building  about  the  same  time. 

The  price  of  pork  was  $1.50  per  100;  meal  25  cents  per  bushel; 
coffee  I2V2  cents;  sugar  5  to  6  cents;  calico  and  domestics  5  to  10 
cents  ;  horses  $35  to  $50;  cows  $7  to  $15  ;  calves  75  cents  to  $1.50. 
Labor  from  25  to  37V2  cents  per  day,  and  the  hands  worked  from  sun  up 
until  sun  down.  While  these  prices  are  low,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  people  had  comparatively  no  taxes  to  pay  and  lands 
were  at  government  prices,  $1.25  per  acre.  This  was  before  the  era 
of  railroads. 


748  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

The  question  of  building  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad  was  first 
agitated  by  ex-Gov.  Stewart  about  the  year  1849  or  1850.  The 
citizens  of  Bloomington  were  anxious  for  the  road,  believing  that  it 
would  run  through  that  town  and  donated  money  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  preliminary  survey  by  Gov.  Stewart.  Afterwards  they 
took  private  stock  in  it  and  assisted  in  voting  some  $25,000  stock  by 
the  county,  which  was  afterwards  released  by  the  company.  Mr.  Mc- 
Call  took  three  shares  in  it,  and  paid  $196  on  it,  and  that  was  all  the 
profit  or  pleasure  he  has  ever  realized  from  his  assistance. 

As  a  friend  to  the  enterprise,  in  1851  he  furnished  his  own  team 
and  took  with  him  S.  S.  Fox  and  traveled  to  St.  Joseph  to  attend  a 
meeting  to  bring  more  favorably  before  Congress  the  necessity  for  a 
land  grant  to  secure  the  completion  of  said  road.  In  June,  1852, 
Congress  passed  the  land  bill,  and  the  work  was  soon  under  contract, 
and  the  year  1859  witnessed  the  iron  horse  speeding  its  way  from  the 
Mississippi  to  the  Missouri  river.  The  location  of  that  road  built  up 
Macon  City  and  ruined  Bloomington,  which  was  finally  crushed  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  1863,  removing  the  county  seat  to 
Macon  City. 

Politically,  Mr.  McCall  was  a  Whig,  and  acted  with  that  party  as 
long  as  it  had  an  organization.  When  it  became  disorganized  after 
1860,  he  acted  with  the  Conservative  or  Democratic  party. 

In  1860  Mr.  McCall  was  elected  sherifi'of  Macon  county,  running 
as  an  independent  candidate  against  the  Democratic  nominee.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  48  years. 

He  is  now  62  years  of  age,  lives  a  retired  life  on  his  farm,  four 
miles  west  of  Macon,  and  hopes  to  see  the  day  when  lower  taxes  and 
a  greater  regard  for  true  republican  government  shall  prevail  through- 
out our  country. 

SKETCH    OF    MAJ.  JOSEPH    D.   BUTLER,  WRITTEN    BY    HIMSELF    IN    1871. 

Joseph  D.  Butler  was  born  in  Prince  William  county,  Va.,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1792,  and  in  his  thirteenth  year  moved  with  his  father's 
family  to  Fayette  county,  Ky.,  and  in  1807  his  father  settled  in 
Mason  county,  near  May's  Lick. 

In  1812  the  war  fever  against  Great  Britain  and  the  Indians  was 
very  high  throughout  Kentucky.  The  Governor  called  for  volunteers, 
and  Mr.  Butler  volunteered  and  became  a  member  of  Capt.  John 
McKee's  company.  Fourth  regiment  of  Kentucky  volunteer  infantry, 
commanded  by  Col.  Robert  Payne.  The  regiment  was  formed  about 
the  time  of  Hull's  surrender  of  Detroit  to  the  British.  Col.  Payne's 
regiment  started  for  Newport,  opposite  Cincinnati,  on  the  27th  of 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  749 

August,  1812,  and  there  drew  its  arms.  From  Newport  the  regiment 
moved  on  to  Dajton,  O.,  and  from  thence  to  St.  Mary's,  thence  on 
to  Auglaze  river,  and  there  built  a  Fort  called  Amanda. 

During  the  winter  an  order  came  for  us  to  join  Gen.  Winchester, 
on  the  Maumee,  but  before  we  joined  him,  he  was  defeated  at  the 
River  Raisin,  with  great  slaughter,  and  the  commander  and  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  captured.  A  large  number  of  these  prisoners 
were  inhumanly  butchered  by  the  Indians,  and  a  number  were  burned 
in  an  old  block  house.  This  defeat  caused  great  lamentation  in  Ken- 
tucky, as  Winchester's  command  was  composed  of  many  of  its  best 
citizens. 

From  the  Auglaze  river,  Mr.  Butler's  regiment  marched  to  Fort 
Defiance,  at  the  junction  of  the  Auglaze  and  Miami  rivers,  called  the 
Maumee  of  the  Lake,  thence  down  the  Maumee  to  Fort  Meigs. 

In  March,  1813,  the  regiment  marched  to  Lebanon,  O.,  where  the 
regiment  was  disbanded. 

This  reg^iment  was  in  no  battle.  For  his  services  Mr.  Butler 
received  from  the  Government  a  160  acre  land  warrant. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  1818,  Mr.  Butler  was  married  to  EUenor 
Haydeu  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  and  remained  in  that  county  until 
1835,  when  he  moved  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Marion  county,  six 
miles  north  of  Palmyra. 

In  the  year  1839  he  moved  to  Macon  county,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  entered  the  land  at  Fayette  in  1836. 
While  at  Fayette  entering  his  land,  the  polls  being  open,  he  voted  for 
Van  Buren  for  President. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Butler  settled  in  Macon  county  there  were  but  few 
settlers  on  the  Grand  Divide. 

Among  his  neighbors  were  John  Moore,  Sim.  Cannon,  Charles 
Tuggle,  Loyd  Coulter,  Chesley  Brock,  John  H.  Bean.  East  and  west 
were  settlements,  and  north  to  Moccasinville.  Between  the  present 
town  of  Macon  and  Bloomington  were  Isaac  and  Alexander  Goodding. 

The  county  was  organized  as  alluded  to  by  some  of  the  other  old 
settlers. 

Mr.  Butler  settled  in  Narrows  township,  which  at  that  time  embraced 
the  present  town  of  Macon.  The  voting  was  done  at  Sim.  Cannon's 
residence,  and  the  comj^any  of  Capt.  Coulter  paraded  at  that  place. 

As  to  mills  and  stores,  Ave  had  to  go  a  considerable  distance  to  get 
grinding  or  goods,  but  the  early  settlers  were  used  to  this,  audit  did 
not  cause  any  great  trouble. 


750 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


There  is  no  particular  incident  that  he  recollects  of  the  first  settle- 
ments that  has  not  been  already  given. 

In  1851  Mr.  Butler  was  appointed  Swamp  Land  Commissioner,  and 
with  his  assistants,  John  P.  Walker  and  George  M.  Taylor,  selected 
the  swamp  lands  for  the  county,  given  by  the  Government  to  the 
State,  and  by  the  State  to  the  counties  in  which  they  were  situated  for 
school  purposes.  This  was  hard  labor,  and  it  took  them  some  three 
months  to  complete  it. 

In  1854  Mr.  Butler  took  the  State  census  for  this  county. 

In  1858  the  county  was  divided  into  five  assessment  districts,  and 
Mr.  Butler  assessed  all  of  range  14  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties 
concerned. 

He  is  now  within  a  few  days  of  79  years  of  age,  and  is  living  near 
his  old  home  with  his  children.  His  health  is  good  for  his  age,  and 
he  is  now  an  applicant  for  a  pension  under  the  late  law  to  the  survivors 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812. 

MILLS. 

The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  located  in  the  north-eastern  part 
of  the  same,  and  was  built  by  Judge  Frederick  Kowland.  It  was 
operated  by  an  incline  wheel  and  ground  about  100  bushels  of  corn 
and  wheat  per  day.  It  was  erected  in  1840,  and  was  run  until  1850, 
when  it  was  changed  to  a  cardins;  machine. 

The  Missionary  Baptists  built  a  house  of  worship,  about  the  year 
1850,  in  the  western  part  of  the  township,  in  the  Brock  settlement. 
Chesley  Brock  and  wife,  Green  Moore  and  wife,  Collin  Moore  and 
wife,  Thomas  Eyletree  and  wife  and  others  constituted  the  early  mem- 
bership.    This  church  is  still  standinsf. 

John  Thompson  was  the  pioneer  school  teacher,  and  taught  a  school 
in  1836,  near  the  center  of  the  township.  A.  P.  McCall  had  a  tan- 
yard  on  the  Grand  Divide,  about  a  mile  from  the  south  edge  of  the 
township.  William  Chandler  operates  a  tan-yard  at  this  time  (1884). 
The  early  physicians  were  Drs.  McLean  and  Petty. 

The  first  goods  were  sold  by  Starling  Coulter  at  his  residence  in 
McLeansville  in  1834.  McLeansville  was  named  after  Dr.  McLean, 
and  was  started  about  the  year  1834.  A  post-office  was  kept  there 
at  a  very  early  date.  Starling  Coulter  was  the  postmaster.  Judge 
Frederick  Rowland  sold  goods  in  1837,  at  Locust  Grove,  his  residence. 
William  Rowland  sold  goods  at  Rowland's  mill  and  carding  machine 
in  1847-48.     James  Lamb  was  also  one  of  the  early  merchants  of  Mc- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  751 

Leansville.  Goods  were  at  that  time  purchased  in  St.  Louis  and 
shipped  to  Hannibal,  whence  they  were  handled  in  ox  wagons. 

Excello  post-office  is  now  the  only  business  point  in  the  township. 
It  is  located]  in  section  28,  township  56,  range  14,  and  contains  two 
stores  and  a  blacksmith  shop.  William  Jones  opened  the  first  busi- 
ness house  in  the  place. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  elections  that  ever  occurred  in  the  county 
was  the  race  between  Col.  Thomas  H.  Benton  and  Trustin  Polk. 
Benton  spoke  at  the  town  of  Bloomington,  which  was  the  county  seat. 

MIDDLE    FORK    TOWNSHIP. 

Middle  Fork  township  lies  in  the  south-east  corner  of  the  county, 
and  is  watered  by  the  Middle  fork  of  Salt  river  (after  which  the 
township  takes  its  name)  and  its  tributaries.  Bordering  upon  Ran- 
dolph county,  it  was  among  the  first  settled,  and  many  of  its  early 
settlers  came  from  Hunt  and  Howard  counties.  Elias  HoUiday, 
Humphrey  Enyart,  Eben  Enyart,  Worly  Gay,  William  Ware,  George 
Reynolds,  Peter  Blanchet,  William  Hofller,  Newton  Switzler,  Wesley 
Halliburton,  Ambrose  Halliburton,  Ashcraft  Payton,  John  Hutton, 
Alfred  Tobin,  John  J.  Menifee,  Dr.  Hill,  Dr.  John  Emery,  Dr.  E.  E. 
Hand,  James  Landrow,  William  H.  Rowland,  Young  W.  Rowland 
and  James  Rowland  were  among  the  early  settlers. 

Woodville,  the  oldest  town  in  the  county,  is  located  in  Middle 
Fork  township.  It  was  laid  out  in  1833,  and  called  Centerville  ;  the 
name  was  changed  by  the  Legislature  to  Woodville  in  1850.  There 
are  at  this  time  a  post-office  and  two  general  stores  in  the  town. 
John  J.  Menifee  opened  the  first  business  house,  and  was  the  first 
postmaster.  William  H.  Rowland  put  up  the  first  dwelling-house. 
John  Hutton  kept  a  saloon  and  grocery.  The  first  school-house  was 
built  in  1830.  Thomas  Thompson  erected  the  first  mill  —  water 
power  —  in  1834. 


CHAPTEE   Y. 

Lingo  Township  —  Callao  Township  —  Bevier  Township — Round  Grove  Township. 

LINGO   TOWNSHIP. 

Lingo  township  occupies  the  south-west  corner  of  the  county,  arid 
is  the  largest  of  the  24  municipal  divisions,  embracing  42  square  miles. 
It  was  named  after  Judge  Samuel  Lingo,  who  came  from  Kentucky  in 
1835.  The  Muscle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  Brush  and  Puzzle 
creeks  flow  south  through  the  township,  and  form  a  most  admirable 
system  of  drainage,  these  streams  being  from  two  to  three  miles  apart, 
and  located  in  the  extreme  western,  the  middle  and  eastern  portions 
of  the  township. 

Lingo  is  an  excellent  township  for  grazing  purposes  ;  the  surface  of 
the  country  is  generally  rolling.  About  one  half  of  the  population  is 
composed  of  Welsh  settlers. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  Gideon  Lang,  who  emigrated  from 
Kentucky  in  1835,  and  settled  on  Brush  creek,  one  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  New  Cambria;  William  Stanfield,  from  Lidiana,  in  1835,  and 
located  between  the  Chariton  river  and  Puzzle  creek,  three  miles  south 
of  New  Cambria  ;  Richard  West,  from  Kentucky,  about  the  same  date, 
and  opened  a  farm  half  a  mile  south  of  William  Stanfield;  William 
Johnson,  from  Kentucky  in  1840,  and  settled  on  the  ridge  between 
the  Chariton  river  and  Puzzle  creek ;  Henry  Harrison,  from  Kentucky 
in  1840,  and  opened  a  farm  between  the  same  streams  ;  Allen  Edgar, 
from  Kentucky  in  1840,  and  settled  south  of  New  Cambria ;  Isaac 
Bundrow,  from  Kentucky  in  1838,  and  located  about  four  miles  south 
of  New  Cambria ;  Willis  Blair,  from  Tennessee,  was  perhaps  about  the 
first  settler  in  the  township  ;  H.  Summers  was  from  Kentucky. 

Drs.  Thomas  Moss  and  N.  D.  Stevenson  were  among  the  early 
physicians,  and  located  at  Jordan  P.  O.  Jordan  Chaffin  was  the  first 
blacksmith  and  located  at  New  Cambria.  George  Rodman  was  an 
early  shoemaker  and  lived  near  Stockton.  William  Hammock,  from 
Virginia,  owned  and  operated  a  mill,  which  was  built  by  Isaac  Mill- 
(952) 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  753 

sap,  about  five  miles  south  of  New  Cambria  on  the  Chariton  river, 
about  1850.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  by  the  Catholics  in 
1860,  and  located  at  New  Cambria ;  it  blew  down  a  few  years  after- 
ward, but  a  new  building  was  immediately  erected. 

Lingo  P.  O.  was  settled  in  1870  by  George  Jobson,  who  opened  a 
coal  mine  at  that  place.  The  town  contains  one  general  store,  one 
hotel,  and  one  blacksmith  shop.  Jobson  was  the  first  postmaster. 
Thomas  Craig  was  among  the  early  citizens  of  the  town. 

Jordan  P.  O.  was  located  in  1 83 — by  Jordan  Hall  and  R.  C.  Mitchell. 
The  place  has  one  dwelling  house,  one  store  and  one  blacksmith 
shop.     Hall  was  the  first  and  is  the  present  postmaster. 

The  plat  of  New  Cambria  was  filed  for  record  October  1,  1861,  by 
Cyrus  O.  Godfrey,  and  the  town  was  located  on  a  part  of  section  1. 
The  place  was  originally  called  Stockton,  in  honor  of  James  Stocks, 
who  was  a  railroad  contractor  on  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad. 
The  name  was  changed  in  1861  to  New  Cambria  by  the  Welsh,  who 
compose  about  half  the  population  of  the  town.  Stocks  erected  the 
first  business  house.  Joseph  Willis,  O.  W.  Jones  and  Judge  W.  D. 
Roberts  were  among  the  pioneer  business  men.  E.  A.  Edmunds 
erected  a  steam  mill  in  1866,  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  town. 

The  business  of  the  place  is  divided  as  follows  :  — 

Four  dry  goods  and  general  stores,  one  weekly  newspaper,  two 
groceries,  two  drug  stores,  one  livery  stable,  two  hardware  stores, 
three  blacksmiths,  three  restaurants,  three  hotels,  two  millinery 
stores,  two  churches  —  Congregational  and  Presbyterian —  Music  and 
Good  Templars'  hall,  two  shoe  shops,  one  furniture  store,  one  har- 
ness shop,  two  saloons,  one  meat  shop,  one  district  school,  one  to- 
bacco factory,  one  fruit  evaporating  works,  one  hoop-pole  factory, 
daily  mail,  telegraph,  express.     Population  about  600. 

Beside  the  above  business  establishments,  there  is  the  Lingo  and 
Southwiek  Creamery,  which  was  opened  May  21,  1883,  by  Judge 
Lee  Lingo  and  H.  R.  Southworth.  It  has  the  capacity  for  making 
1,000  pounds  of  butter  per  day.  New  Cambria  is  a  busy  little  town, 
and  ships  more  produce  than  any  other  place  of  its  size  on  the  line  of 
the  railroad.  The  town  was  incorporated  in  1870  ;  O.  W.  Jones  was 
the  first  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  ;  he  is  now  the  postmas- 
ter, and  has  filled  the  ofl^ice  for  many  years.  The  first  district  school 
was  taught  by  William  Mossbarger,  who  came  from  Kentucky  in 
1856.  Before  the  last  war,  the  town  contained  but  one  store  and 
about  five  dwellinsfs. 


754  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


SECRET   ORDERS. 

Lodge  No.  93,  I.  O.  G.  T.  — Organized  August  5,  1878,  with  the 
following  members :  E.  A.  Fletcher,  J.  S.  BIythe,  Lettie  Bailey,  Martin 
B.  Moore,  W.  M.  Bundrow,  W.  A.  Hughes,  G.  W.  Jones,  E.  H.  Nor- 
toni,  R.  Healey,  Anna  Morman,  Thomas  Fletcher,  Mrs.  Clara  Jones^ 
Mrs.  Libbie  Jones,  Mrs.  Mary  Sundy,  E.  Gr.  Davis,  O.  Boone,  E.  W. 
Davis,  Willie  Jones,  C.  Hughes,  R.  O.  Jones,  J.  Reese,  W.  Hughes, 
Jennie  Hughes,  A.  Jackson,  J.  Linn,  J.  Mclntyre,  L.  E.  Davis,  G.  F. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Thurber,  J.  W.  Lundy,  Mrs.  Libbie  Fletcher,  M.  Good- 
son,  Mrs.  T.  H.  Hughes,  Gracie  Smith,  H.  Adams,  G.  W.  Miller, 
W.  W.  Bailey,  Lizzie  Morgan,  J.  O.  Jones. 

Lodge  No.  402,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  — Was  organized  October  13, 
1871.  The  first  three  officers  were:  Lee  Lingo,  W.  D.  Stephenson 
and  E.  W.  Nortoni. 

Lodge  No.  337,  I.  0.  0.  i^.  —  Was  instituted  May  19,  1875,  with 
the  following  constituent  members:  J.  W.  Bailey,  A.  J.  Barton,  E» 
A.  Flether,  T.  H.  Walker,  J.  A.  Linder,  and  C.  M.  Wilkins. 

Post  No.  113,  G.  A.  i?.  —  Was  organized  Septembers,  1883,  with 
W.  W.  Bailey,  H.  A.  Sisson,  J.  Levett,  J.  M.  Couch,  W.  Smoot,  D. 
Kissor,  J.  F.  Lotz,  J.  A.  Rose,  William  Blake,  C.  Wright,  E.  Dowell, 
J.,W.  Bacon,  A.  Mendenhall,  F.  Dowell  and  P.  Dowell  as  charter 
members. 

CALLAO    TOWNSHIP. 

Callao  township  is  in  the  south-western  part  of  the  county,  lying  just 
north  of  Morrow  township.  It  was  originally,  or  when  first  laid  out, 
no  larger  than  Morrow,  but  is  now  about  thirty-six  miles  square.  It 
is  Avatered  by  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river.  Stinking  creek, 
and  Chariton  river.  Within  its  territory  are  also  located  Fed,  Swan, 
and  Trestle  lakes,  the  largest  of  which  is  Swan  lake,  which  covers 
about  700  acres  of  land  in  sections  15,  16,  21  and  22.  These  lakes 
are  within  a  half  mile  of  each  other,  and  are  connected  by  a  small 
stream.  Swan  lake  was  so  named  because  it  resembles  a  swan  in 
shape.  The  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company  constructed  a 
trestle  work  through  the  north  end  of  Trestle  lake,  hence  the  name, 
*'  Trestle  "  lake.  The  township  was  named  after  the  town  of  Callao, 
which  is  situated  in  the  same,  and  the  town  of  Callao  was  named  by 
Samuel  Kinney  after  a  South  American  city. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  755' 


SOME    OF   THE   FIRST    SETTLERS. 

Claiborne  Wright,  from  Kentucky ;  Jacob  Lowe,  from  North  Car- 
olina;  William  Everhard,  from  Ohio;  John  Roe,  from  England; 
George  Perry,  William  Perry  and  Henry  Perry,  from  North  Carolina  ; 
Daniel  Pillers,  from  Ohio  ;  Isaac  Summers  and  Elza  Perkins,  from 
Kentucky;  John  Dameron,  from  North  Carolina  ;  Samuel  Marmaduke, 
John  Brammar,  John  Gentle,  George  Gentle,  Martin  Wright,  May 
Claybrook,  David  Freeman  and  Enoch  Humphrey,  from  Kentucky  ; 
Samuel  Humphrey,  James  Mott,  Mike  Sweeney  and  John  Sweeney, 
from  Ireland ;  L.  P.  Claybrook,  Allen  Wright  and  Allen  Gunther, 
from  Kentucky. 

The  earliest  religious  denominations  to  organize  churches  in  Callao 
township  were  the  Baptists  and  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  Union 
Ridge  Church  (Baptist)  was  the  first  house  of  worship.  Allen  Wright 
(Christian)  held  meetings  in  the  township  quite  early,  so  did  James 
Ratcliff ,  a  Baptist  minister.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  a  log-house 
located  on  the  farm  of  George  Green.  Dr.  Park  was  the  pioneer 
physician. 

CALLAO. 

Callao  was  laid  out  on  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  in  1858, 
by  Samuel  Humphrey  and  Samuel  Kemm.  Kenim  erected  the  first 
business  house  in  the  town,  which  was  used  as  a  store  and  hotel.  The 
first  dwelling  house  was  built  by  Humphrey.  William  Eberhard 
opened  a  blacksmith  shop.  The  town  contains  three  dry  goods  and 
grocery  stores,  two  drug  stores,  one  furniture  store,  one  hotel,  one 
harness  shop,  one  restaurant,  one  hardware  store,  one  livery  stable 
and  two  blacksmith  shops.  About  10  cars  of  freight  comprising 
stock,  tobacco  and  grain,  are  shipped  from  here  monthly.  There  are 
four  churches  :  M.  E.  Church  South,  Presbyterian,  and  two  colored 
churches  —  Baptist  and  Methodist.  One  flour  mill  which  cost  $8,000, 
and  a  woolen  mill;  the  motive  power  of  each  is  steam.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  place  is  500.     There  is  a  daily  mail  and  express. 

BEVIER     TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  immediately  west  of  Hudson  township  and  con- 
tains 30  square  miles.  The  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad  passes 
through  its  center  from  east  to  west.  The  water  courses  are  few  in 
number,  and  are  confined  to  the  north-western  part  of  the  township . 


756  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

These  streams  include  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river  and  two 
or  three  small  tributaries. 

OLD    SETTLERS. 

William  Green  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled  south  of  and  near 
the  present  site  of  Bevier  ;  Wilburn  Hughes,  from  South  Carolina, 
.settled  west  of  Bevier;  Solomon  Mullinax  came  from  Kentucky; 
Daniel  Barrow,  from  Virginia ;  Phillip  Gilstrap,  from  Kentucky ; 
Thomas  and  William  White,  from  Tennessee  ;  George  Parker,  from 
Kentucky  ;  Lewis  Cross,  from  Kentucky  ;  Daniel  Johnson,  from  Ken- 
tucky. Among  other  early  settlers  were  John  Sneed,  Col.  Jacob 
Johnson,  William  Garrett,  Jonathan  Bremmer,  Jefferson  Patrick, 
Lewis  Magee,  John  Terrill,  Leroy  Penton,  Joseph  Summers,  Milton 
Cristial,  Silas  Cristial,  Jeflerson  White,  Solomon  Shoemaker,  Ellison 
Miller,  John  Miller,  Sr.,  Permenas  Banta,  Evans  Wright,  Elijah 
Mitchell,  Timothy  Cooley. 

The  settlers  above  named  include  many  of  those  who  came  to  the 
township  between  the  years  1832  and  1845. 

The  Baptists  erected  the  first  house  of  worship  about  the  year  1856. 
Kev.  James  Moody  was  an  early  minister  of  the  gospel.  The  first 
school-house  was  built  about  1838,  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of 
Bevier.  William  Mathews,  from  North  Carolina,  was  the  first  school 
teacher.  J.  B.  Winn,  from  Kentucky,  was  one  of  the  first  physicians. 
Lewis  Cross  opened  the  first  blacksmith  shop. 

BEVIER. 

Bevier  was  laid  out  in  1858,  by  John  Dufi",  and  named  after  Col. 
Robert  Bevier,  from  Kentucky.  The  land  upon  which  the  town  was 
started  was  originally  the  property  of  Lewis  Gilstrap,  who  entered 
160  acres.  The  plat  embraces  the  north-east  quarter  and  the  east 
half  of  the  north-west  quarter,  of  section  15,  township  57,  range  15, 
and  was  filed  for  record  June  29,  1858. 

James  McDermith,  an  Irishman,  oi^ened  the  first  hotel. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  of  the  town  were  Daniel  Rowland,  chair- 
man; A.  B.  Goodale,  Thomas  Francis,  David  Jones  and  J.  E.  Frame. 
The  first  marshal  of  the  town  was  P.  C.  Grimes.  William  Hardister 
opened  the  first  store  ;  Col.  Benjamin  Shackelford  erected  one  of 
the  first  business  houses.  The  first  dwelling  house  was  built  by  Ar- 
bory  Bower.  John  H,  Kennedy  was  the  first  white  child  born  in 
the  town.  Oscar  Parker  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  first  mill 
was  erected  in  the  township  by  Oliver  Hughes,  in  1880.     John  Skin- 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  757 

ner  was  the  first  mail  carrier,  his  route  extending  from  Huntsville  to 
Bloomington.     The  first  church  was  built  in  Bevier  in  1862. 

SECRET   ORDERS. 

Knights  of  Pythias,  7i  —  Was  organized  October  20,  1882,  with 
the  following  charter  members:  Isaac  Keith,  R.  Hern,  J.  S.  Evans, 
D.  Wright,  J.   D.  Collins,  G.  W.  Beal,  D.  J.  Reed,  T.  R.  Jones,  O. 

D.  Wallace,  D.  J.  Jones,  William  Beale,  J.  Hickland,  J.  E.  Jones,  J. 
Richards,  D.  Jones,  J.  Meyer,  D.  R.  Williams,  E.  Ruckman,  J. 
Harris. 

Knights  of  Labor,  7i7— Was  instituted  June  22,  1878,  but  was 
discontinued  in  1882.  The  original  members  were  J.  Owens,  T. 
Richards,  M.  A.  Davis,  S.  S.  Evans,  A.  Cook,  W.  C.  Gaston,  D. 
W.  Roberts,  T.  Rogers,  J.  T.  Wright,  J.  Coulter,  J.  Ruch,  R.  X. 
Davis,  D.  Wright,  D.  Andrews,  R.  Morgan,  F.  Mussel,  J.  Reed,  D. 
N.  Williams,  W.  B.  Thomas,  O.  D.  Wallace. 

1.  0.  G.  T.,  314. — Was  organized  May  11,  1871,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members  :  J.   T.    Evans,  J.  R.  Hughes,  J.  Stirrup, 

E.  Elias,  T.  Morgan,  J.  E.  Evans,  T.  W.  Davis,  Lenora  S.  Hughes, 
Ruth  Hughes,  Sarah  A.  Hughes,  Mary  E.  Davis,  L.  L.  Coleman, 
Lavina  Coleman,  D.  R.  Hughes. 

/.  0.  O.  F.,  ^55.  —  Organized  July  7,  1871,  had  as  charter 
members  J.  T.  Wright,  O.  Frederick,  T.  Pearson,  J.  Evans,  J.  J. 
Lewis. 

BUSINESS. 

Six  dry  goods  and  groceries,  two  livery  stables,  three  meat  shops, 
two  druo-  stores,  three  saloons,  two  confectioneries,  one  restaurant, 
one  hotel,  one  public  school,  three  shoe  shops,  three  blacksmiths, 
two  lumber  yards,  eight  churches,  three  doctors,  one  private  school. 
Daily  mail.     Thomas  J.  Reese,  postmaster. 

The  town  contains  about  1,200  population,  and  is  the  chief  coal 
mining  town  in  the  county. 

*.  ROUND    GROVE   TOWNSHIP. 

Round  Grove  township  was  reorganized  in  1872,  and  lies  in  the 
south-eastern  portion  of  the  county,  bordering  upon  Shelby  county. 
It  contains  an  area  of  36  square  miles,  about  one-third  of  which  is 
covered  with  timber.  Its  surface  is  veined  by  the  Middle  fork  of 
Salt  river.  Bee  branch  and  Winn  creek.  The  land  produces  excellent 
corn,   oats,   timothy  and  clover;  and  a  good  quality   of  tobacco  is 


758  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

raised  in  the  timbered  portion  of  the  township,  but  not  much  of  the 
latter  is  grown.  Wheat  is  also  grown  to  some  extent.  Apples  and 
small  fruit  do  well.  Among  the  large  farmers  are  Judge  Jno.  D. 
Smith,  Jacob  Hendershott,  S.  P.  Bronson,  J.  P.  Vancleve,  Pierce 
Bros.  (James  K.  and  John  F.)  and  W.  H.  Whitcomb. 

Mr.  Hendershott  makes  a  specialty  of  short-horn  cattle,  Norman 
horses,  Poland  and  China  hogs,  Plymouth  Rock  chickens,  etc.  He 
operates  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  and  is  prepared  to  manufacture  sorghum 
molasses  on  a  large  scale.  Mr.  Bronson  has  the  Holstein  breed  of 
cattle. 

Among  the  first  settlers  in  Round  Grove  township  were  John  C. 
Rowland,  Thomas  Winn,  Sr.,  Henry  Mathews  and  Levi  Cox.  Mr. 
Rowland  located  on  the  south-west  corner  of  section  31,  township  57, 
range  13.  We  have  spoken  of  Rowland  and  Winn  elsewhere  in  this 
history,  and  will  now  give  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Levi  Cox, 
which  we  take  from  the  Macon  True  Democrat. 

LEVI    COX 

was  born  in  North  Carolina,  on  March  22,  1800.  His  father  and 
family  removed  to  Barren  county,  Ky.,  the  year  not  recollected. 
Mr.  Cox  was  raised  in  said  county,  and  was  married  in  1828  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Wade.  She  died  in  1835,  and  in  1838  he  was  again  married 
to  Miss  Lucy  Wine,  his  present  wife.  In  1842  he  moved  from  Bar- 
ren county,  Ky.,  to  Macon  county,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm,  in 
section  16,  township  57,  range  13,  near  Judge  Smith's. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Cox  settled  in  Macon  county,  the  county  in  his 
immediate  neighborhood  was  settling  up  faster  than  many  other 
portions  of  the  county.  Still  they  were  without  public  schools,  mills 
and  churches.  They  had  to  depend  on  subscription  schools,  and  for 
preaching,  traveling  ministers  held  forth  in  groves  and  farmers' 
houses.  For  meal  and  flour  the  settlers  had  to  go  many  miles  in 
wagons.  But  when  they  went  they  took  grain  enough  to  lay  in  for 
bread  for  months. 

On  April  16,  1850,  Mr.  Cox,  in  company  with  Joseph  Snodgrass, 
Oliver  Stewart,  and  Mr.  Gee,  started  for  the  golden  fields  of  Cali- 
fornia. Their  train  was  hitched  to  horses.  They  made  the  trip 
through  by  the  17th  day  of  August,  or  about  120  days.  When  the 
reader  remembers  the  distance,  the  heat,  the  many  streams  and 
mountain  defiles,  and  steep  rocky  ascents  to  be  made  with  a  wagon, 
he  will  think  the  trip  quick  enough.  There  is  occasionally  a  sprinkling 
of  fun  mixed  in  with  the  hardships  of  such  a  trip.  At  times  the 
traveling  was  very  unpleasant,  especially  in  the  neighborhood  of 
alkali  water,  burning  sand,  and  hostile  Lidians  —  at  all  times  looking 
out  for  Indians,  and  every  night  having  out  sentinels  watching  that 
the  stock  was  not  stolen  or  stampeded  by  the  murdering,  thieving 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  759 

plagues  of  the  plains,  the  Pawnees  and  other  devilish  Indians.  Game 
was  plenty ;  buffalo  and  antelope  were  numerous.  His  company 
killed  some  for  fresh  meat. 

Mr.  Cox  settled  in  Eldorado  county,  California,  and  commenced 
diojging  for  gold  the  first  day  he  got  there.  His  success  was  various. 
Sometimes  he  had  a  few  thousand  dollars  ahead,  when  his  luck  would 
fail,  and  by  the  time  he  got  to  work  again,  it  would  be  all  used  for 
something  to  eat. 

His  life  for  the  past  21  years  has  been  one  of  varied  fortune. 
When  he  left  home  he  had  no  idea  of  being  gone  more  than  two  years. 
From  the  accounts  from  California  he  thought  he  could,  in  that  land 
of  gold,  made  his  fortune  quickly  and  return  home  and  live  at  ease 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  returned  from  Eldorado  worse  off 
than  when  he  left  the  '*  Old  States."  While  a  few  suddenly  made 
fortunes,  and  others  made  fair  wages,  thousands  had  no  success  — 
to-day  making  something,  to-morrow  nothing.  This  was  not  only 
California  life,  but  it  is  to  a  great  extent  the  life  of  the  world. 

When  mining  failed,  he  would  work  at  sawing  lumber  with  a  whip 
saw,  and  do  such  other  work  as  presented.  His  life  in  California  was 
one  of  constant  hard  labor,  and  after  an  absence  of  21  years  from 
home,  he  returned  to  his  family  many  years  older,  and  had  to  begin 
the  battle  of  life  again,  with  ever  changing  fortune. 

When  Mr.  Cox  left  Macon  county  in  1850  there  was  no  kind  of 
internal  improvement.  No  railroad  was  even  spoken  of,  much  less 
any  Macon  City,  La  Plata,  Oallao,  Bevier,  New  Cambria,  Atlanta,  or 
the  fine  college  at  College  Mound. 

Mr.  Cox  had  not  heard  from  his  family  for  more  than  three  years 
before  he  started  for  home.  Nor  had  his  family  heard  from  him ; 
although  he  had  written  repeatedly.  He  wrote  to  other  friends  in 
the  county,  and  none  were  received.  At  last  one  of  his  sons,  while  in 
Montana  Territory,  wrote  to  him.  Mr.  Cox  concluded  he  would  start 
for  home,  and  took  the  cars  at  Sacramento  City,  on  the  Pacific  Eail- 
road,  and  reached  home  in  eight  days,  when  21  years  before  it  had 
taken  him  120  days  to  travel  the  same  distance.  What  a  change  in 
the  whole  country  ! 

When  he  passed  over  this  same  country  21  years  before  it  was 
unsettled,  and  but  few  whites  were  known  outside  of  the  military 
posts.  The  whole  country  was  infested  with  hostile  and  other  Indians, 
with  herds  of  buffiilo  in  every  direction,  with  other  wild  game  in  great 
abundance. 

Now,  this  same  Indian  territory  is  not  only  settled  up  by  whites, 
but  States  have  been  organized  and  entered  the  Union,  and  many 
others  will  soon  be  knocking  at  the  door  for  admission. 

Railroads  that  were  not  thought  of  then  have  not  only  been  built 
across  the  great  plains  and  through  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  towns 
and  cities  have  sprung  up  like  mushrooms  every  few  miles  on  these 
railroads  and  throughout  the  country.  Not  only  this,  but  the  great 
telegraphic  system  of  Morse  has  connected  the  great  Atlantic  and 
43 


760  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Pacific  oceans  with  electric  power.     Thus   have  the  East  and  West 
been  doubly  united  by  rail  and  lightning. 

But  there  was  something  yet  that  had  taken  place,  of  greater  polit- 
ical importance,  since  he  had  left  the  "  States."  The  old  States  had 
been  engaged  in  civil  war.  Large  armies,  North  and  South,  had  been 
marshaled  under  the  greatest  military  leaders  of  the  age,  and  engaged 
in  some  of  the  most  terrible  battles  known  since  the  beginning  of  the 
century.  After  a  few  years  of  carnage,  the  stars  and  stripes  pre- 
vailed and  the  Union  was  declared  indestructible.  With  the  end  of 
the  terrible  war  came  the  freedom  of  the  negro,  and  shortly  afterward 
the  right  of  suffrage  to  that  race  who  were  in  bondage. 

When  he  began  nearing  home,  oh,  who  can  tell  his  feelings  !  The 
country  was  changed  —  everything  appeared  new —  he  did  not  recog- 
nize his  own  native  land.  Would  he  know  his  wife,  his  children,  his 
friends?  —  would  they  know  him?  These  questions  flashed  through 
his  brain.  He  hardly  knew  where  to  get  off  on  the  Hannibal  and  St. 
Joe  Kailroad.  Instead  of  getting  off  at  Macon,  he  went  on  to  Clar- 
ence, in  the  edge  of  Shelby  county.  There  he  had  to  inquire  the  way 
home.  What  did  he  know  of  Macon  City  and  Clarence,  when  all 
around  both  places  when  he  left  was  wild  prairie,  with  scarcely  a  set- 
tlement in  sight?  When  he  came  in  sight  of  home,  he  saw  the  same 
old  log  cabin  and  recognized  it.  He  had  previously  sent  a  neighbor 
to  inform  his  wife  and  family  of  his  arrival,  and  that  he  would  soon  be 
with  them.  They  met  him  in  the  yard.  His  wife  met  him,  but  she 
did  not  look  natural  to  him.  Mrs.  Cox  said  to  him  :  "  Come  in  ;  you 
will  find  us  in  the  same  old  cabin  you  left  21  years  ago."  Great  was 
the  rejoicing.  The  whole  neighborhood  came  in  crowds  to  welcome 
him  home.  Mr.  Cox  did  not  remember  his  children.  From  small  boys 
and  girls  they  had  grown  out  of  his  memory.  The  yard  was  full  of 
his  children  and  grandchildren.  Perhaps  there  never  was  such  an 
event  before. 

Mr.  Cox  said  he  felt  highly  gratified  in  meeting  with  so  many  of 
his  old  friends,  and  for  their  friendly  visits.  If  the  fatted  calf  was 
not  killed,  the  hog  was,  and  the  dinner  was  eaten  on  the  old  style  — 
*'  eat  and  be  merry." 

In  passing  from  Macon  to  Clarence  by  rail,  he  passed  within  half  a 
mile  of  his  home,  and  did  not  know  it.  When  lie  saw  Macon  City, 
he  felt  satisfied  there  were  more  people  in  it  than  there  were  in  the 
whole  country  when  he  left. 

Another  thing,  Mr.  Cox  says,  surprised  him — the  great  growth  of 
the  timber.  A  great  many  places  that  contained  small  undergrowth 
had  grown  into  considerable  timber.  This  he  attributes  to  the  settlers 
keeping  the  fire  out.  Other  places  in  the  prairie  that  had  no  timber 
when  he  left  are  now  covered  with  undergrowth  of  considerable  size. 

Mr.  Cox  is  now  in  his  seventy-second  year,  enjoying  unusual  good 
health  for  his  age,  and  is  surrounded  by  his  children,  grandchildren, 
other  relatives  and  friends,  and  feels  satisfied  in  enjoying  the  balance 
of  his  days  at  home. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  761 

Among  other  pioneers  were  — 

Judge  John  D.  Smith,  from  North  Carolina;  Joel  Crain,  Howard 
county,  Mo.  ;  Joseph  Kincade,  Marion  county.  Mo.  ;  Benjamin  Fur- 
man,  from.  Kentucky  ;  John  Y.  Lister,  from  Maryland;  C.  H.  Lister, 
from  Maryland ;  Judge  John  B.  Walker,  from  Virginia ;  AYilliam 
Faulkner,  from  Virginia  ;  Johnson  Whiles,  J.  G.  Whiles,  and  Jona- 
than Eatcliff,  from  Kentucky;  B.  F.  Grafford,  Pike  county.  Mo.  ; 
George  W.  Waddle,  from  Kentucky  ;  S.  S.  Winn,  from  Kentucky  ; 
George  B.  Larrick,  John  A.  Mackey,  James  Eichardson  and  William 
Mote,  from  Virginia  ;  James  Smith,  from  North  Carolina. 

George  B.  Larrick  taught  the  first  school  that  was  kept  in  Round 
Grove  township.  The  school  house  (log  cabin)  was  located  on  sec- 
tion 21,  township  57,  range  13.  Attending  this  schoool  were  the  fam- 
ilies of  James  Smith,  John  T.  and  C.  H.  Lister,  Thomas  Winn,  Sr., 
S.  S.  Winn,  Joel  Crain  and  others. 

The  pioneer  preacher  was  Dr.  Abram  Still,  a  Methodist.  The  early 
settlers  went  to  Bloomington  and  Hunts ville  to  get  their  supplies,  as 
well  as  to  employ  a  physician.  John  T.  and  C.  H.  Lister  put  up  a 
blacksmith  shop  in  section  28,  township  57,  range  13.  The  first 
church  building  was  erected  about  the  year  1850,  by  the  Methodists, 
and  was  located  near  Judge  John  D.  Smith's  farm,  in  section  28,  town- 
ship 57,  range  13.  Judge  Smith  and  wife,  Thomas  Winn,  Sr.,  and 
wife,  Joel  Crain  and  wife,  John  T.  and  C.  H.  Lister  and  their  wives 
were  among  the  constituent  members.  A  new  church  building  has 
been  erected  by  the  same  denomination  on  the  same  section.  There 
are  at  present  (1884)  two  churches,  and  four  school-houses  in  the 
township.  The  new  church  above  mentioned  is  called  Bethlehem 
Church,  and  the  other  Ewing  Church  (a  Cumberland  Presbyterian), 
which  was  erected  about  the  year  1860,  on  section  8,  township  27, 
range  13. 

ROUND     GROVE 

is  the  only  trading  point  in  the  township,  and  contains  a  post-office 
and  depot,  and  has  daily  mail  and  express  facilities.  It  is  located  on 
the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  and  contains  three  stores,  one 
blacksmith  and  wagon  shop,  and  one  drug  store.  E.  G.  Skinner  is 
the  postmaster.  The  first  building  was  put  up  in  the  town  by  East- 
man Ryther  and  A.  L.  McBride,  which  was  a  business  house. 


CHAPTEE    VI. 

HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 

Its  Location  —  Water  Courses  and  Railroads  —  Early  Settlers  —  Macon  —  Macon  City 
the  Original  Town  —  The  Town  of  Hudson  —  Early  Business  Men  —  Additions  to 
Macon  —  City  Officials  —  City  Indebtedness — Banks  and  Bankers  —  Moot  Legis- 
lature—  Secret  Orders  —  Band  of  Hope  —  Macon  Fire  Company  No.  1  —  Macon 
County  Medical  Society  —  Strong's  Cornet  Band  —  Macon  Foundry  and  Machine 
Works  —  The  Massey  Wagon  Company  —  Public  School  —  School  Boards  —  St. 
James' Academy  —  Johnson  College  —  Hotels  —  Macon  Association  for  the  Distri- 
bution of  Real  Estate  —  Macon  Elevator  Company  —  The  Macon  Creamery  — 
Wright's  Opera  House  —  The  Old  Harris  House  —  Improvements  in  1883  —  Business 
Directory. 

HUDSON  TOWNSHIP. 

Although  not  geographically  centrally  located,  Hudson  township 
contains  the  county  seat  of  Macon  county.  It  has  a  surface  of  36 
square  miles,  and  is  an  average  farming  township.  The  east  fork  of 
the  Chariton  river  flows  through  the  western  portion,  and  one  or  two 
small  tributaries  of  the  middle  fork  of  Salt  river,  through  the  north- 
eastern part.  The  North  Division  of  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and 
Pacific  Railroad  passes  through  the  township  from  north  to  south,  and 
the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Eailroad  passes  through  it  from  east  to 
west. 

William  Fletcher,  Simeon  Cannon,  Benjamin  Catterton,  Wilson 
Jones,  Jacob  Bell,  Sterling  Gee,  James  T.  Haley,  Broadwater  Mat- 
ney,  John  Matney,  William  Holman,  Felix  Baker,  Alexander  Good- 
ding,  Nicholas  Guodding,  William  Scrutchfield,  Jesse  Hall,  Peter 
Cummings,  Andrew  Chit  wood,  Robin  Lockhart,  John  Vansickle, 
Jiidge  William  S.  Fox,  John  M.  Bryant  and  Rufus  Kincaid  composed 
nearly  all  of  the  early  settlers  of  Hudson  township. 

MACON. 

Macon  is  one  of  the  handsomest  towns  in  the  State.  It  is  located 
on  a  slightly  undulating  prairie.  The  town  is  especially  attractive  in 
summer,  because  of  its  numerous  shade  trees  which  adorn  each  side 
of  all  the  streets.  Many  of  the  residences  are  tastefully  constructed 
and  are  surrounded  by  large  yards,  which  abound  in  flowers,  shrub- 
(762) 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  763 

hery  and  shade  trees.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  are  kind, 
courteous,  hospitable  and  charitable,  and  are  a  reflecting,  reading  and 
moral  people,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  existence  of  four  newspapers, 
twelve  church  edifices  and  two  elegant  schools,  each  and  all  of  which 
are  well  sustained.  Macon  is  very  truthfully  called,  the  "  City  of 
Maples."  In  the  spring  of  centennial  year,  Mr.  James  A.  Terrill, 
who  had  a  nursery  near  the  city,  gave  all  parties  desiring  them  as 
many  maple  trees  as  they  would  plant,  hence  the  great  number  of 
maple  trees  in  Macon. 

Macon  City  (the  original  town)  was  laid  out  in  1856,  the  plat  being 
filed  March  12th,  on  the  east  half  of  the  south-east  quarter  of  section 
16,  township  57,  range  14,  by  James  A.  Terrill,  John  M.  Curless, 
Samuel  H.  Herndon  and  James  Gillespie. 

The  first  settlement,  however,  was  made  in  1852,  by  James  T. 
Haley.  The  house  erected  by  him  is  still  standing,  and  is  now  occu- 
pied by  J.  B.  Howe  in  the  south-east  part  of  the  city. 

The  town  of  Hudson,  west  and  adjoining  Macon  City,  was  laid  out 
in  1857  ;  the  plat  was  filed  July  1st  by  Thomas  P.  Kubey,  H.  L. 
Rutherford  and  G.  B.  Dameron,  who  were  trustees  of  the  Hudson 
Land  Company,  of  St.  Louis. 

In  reference  to  the  early  history  of  Macon  City,  the  True  Democrat 
of  April  18,  1884,  has  this  to  say  :  — 

Old  Macon  City  was  laid  out  in  1856,  and  the  first  sale  of  lots 
occurred  during  that  year.  Hudson  was  laid  out  the  next  year,  and 
a  sale  of  lots  took  place  during  that  year  or  the  next.  Old  Macon 
and  Hudson  stood  as  rival  towns,  adjoining  each  other,  and  as  a  nat- 
ural consequence  the  rivalry  created  a  bad  feeling  and  considerable 
trouble.  Several  meetings  were  held  to  obtain  legislative  action  by 
which  a  consolidation  might  be  brought  about.  Finally,  in  1859,  at 
the  adjourned  session  of  the  Legislature,  the  territory  of  the  towns 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Macon  City. 

The  first  mayor  was  Dr.  A.  L.  Knight,^  now  deceased.  The  first 
postmaster  was  Albert  Larrabee,  and  his  office  was  located  on  what  is 
now  Vine  street,  near  Bourk  square.  The  first  place  of  voting  was  in 
old  Macon,  where  elections  were  held  until  the  division  of  the  city  into 
wards. 

The  Legislature  in  1863  passed  a  law  changing  the  county  seat 
from  Bloominffton  to  Macon,  and  striking:  out  the  word  "  Citv."  In 
1863  and  in  1864,  the  election  for  State  and  county  purposes  was 
held  at  the  academy,  owned  and  established  by  Dr.  Frank  Allen, 
now  of  Morrow  township.  This  academy  was  used  and  rented  by 
the  county  for  circuit  and  county  courts  and  other  public  uses. 


1  Albert  Larrabee  was  the  first  mayor. 


764  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

During  the  war,  the  soldiers  at  times  took  possession  of  the  acad- 
'emy,  and  the  county  court  was  held  in  a  little  school-house,  near 
the  Towner  tobacco  factory,  and  was  so  occupied  until  the  comple- 
tion of  the  court-house,  in  1865.  Here  the  vote  of  Macon  (City) 
and  Hudson  township  was  takjcn  in  June,  1865,  on  the  adoption  of 
the  Drake  Constitution,  and  the  place  also  where  the  "Iron-clad 
oath"  was  first  administered. 

Circuit  and  probate  courts  were  held  for  several  terms  in  the  sec- 
ond story  of  the  brick  building  now  occupied  by  Doneghy  &  Bros. 
Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  court-house,  the  county  court  di- 
vided the  city  into  wards,  for  State  and  county  election  purposes. 
The  wards  stand  now  as  first  created  and  numbered.  It  is  not  rec- 
ollected whether  the  city  or  county  authorities  first  acted  in  this 
matter.  An  election  before  this  change  into  wards,  when  Col,  Clark 
Green  was  elected  mayor,  was  held  in  a  little  frame  building,  on 
the  corner  where  the  Hagy  brick  building  now  stands,  and  which 
was  afterward  used  as  a  post-office.  The  first  merchants,  grocers 
and  other  business  men  opened  up  in  old  Macon.  In  1859,  business 
houses  on  a  large  scale  were  erected  just  south  of  the  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  between  Rollins  and  Rubey  streets.  The 
Harris  House,  a  large  three-story  frame  building,  was  put  up.  The 
lower  story  was  used  for  dry  goods  and  groceries.  Johnson  & 
Bagwell,  Thompson  &  White  are  remembered  as  carrying  larger 
stocks  than  are  now  kept  by  any  house  in  the  city. 

The  reason  for  it  is  now  plain.  The  North  Missouri  Railroad 
was  then  unfinished  north  of  this  place,  and  these  firms  furnished 
goods  to  the  people  as  far  as  the  Iowa  line.  The  North  Missouri 
Railroad  track,  as  first  laid  down,  ran  to  the  Harris  House. 

Up  to  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  and  for  some  time  there- 
after, the  Hudson  portion  of  Macon,  north  of  the  Hannibal  and  St. 
Joe  Railroad,  had  but  few  settlements  or  buildings  outside  of  Vine, 
Weed  and  a  portion  of  Rollins  streets.  The  lots  were  all  covered 
with  hazel  brush  and  scattering  wild  cherry  and  pin-oak  trees.  South 
Hudson  had  scarcely  a  house  outside  of  those  in  close  proximity  to 
the  railroads. 

The  first  churches  were  Methodist.  The  M.  E.  Church  South  was 
a  small  frame  building  in  old  Macon,  and  the  M.  E.  Church  was  the 
same  as  is  now  occupied  by  them,  only  that  it  has  been  enlarged  and 
otherwise  improved. 

The  first  lumber  yard  was  established  by  Terrill  and  Reister  in  old 
Macon. 

The  first  attorneys  were  George  S.  Palmer,  Col.  R.  J.  Eberman 
and  Col.  A.  L.  Gilstrap.  The  first  printing  office  was  established  by 
a  young  man  named  Raymond,  and  the  first  newspaper  published  was 
called  the  Republican, 

The  town  took  a  boom  soon  after  the  completion  of  the  court-house 
and  the  close  of  the  war,  and  now  presents  a  beautiful  appearance, 
with  thrifty  business   men,  large  brick  buildings,  churches,  school- 


HISTORY   OF   IVIACON    COUNTY. 


765 


houses,  academy,  hotels  and  other  public  buildings,  equal  to   other 
towns  much  older. 

In  addition  to  the  names  of  the  early  business  men  above  men- 
tioned, there  were  a  number  of  others,  among  whom  were  Dr.  A.  L. 
Knight,  drugs  ;  Charles  Jaeger,  hardware  ;  George  Turner,  dry  goods 
andVoceries;  Littrell  &  Brooks,  dry  goods  and  groceries;  Lamley 
Bros°  dry  goods  and  groceries ;  Goldsberry  &  McQuay,  James  and 
Christopher  Barnes,  and  a  few  years  later,  Joseph  L.  Baum. 

The  first  business  house  in  old  Macon  was  erected  by  John  M. 
Curless,  who  came  from  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  He  had  a  kind  of 
general  assortment,  and  sold  tools  of  difi'erent  kinds  for  railroad 
work.  He  now  resides  at  Cedar  Rapids.  Wilson  Jones  built  the  first 
hotel  in  the  town.  Granville  Draper  put  up  the  first  planing-mill ; 
Daniel  Patton,  the  first  flour  mill;  Kughn  Brothers,  one  of  the  first 
blacksmith  and  wagon  shops.  Dr.  A.  L.  Knight  was  the  first  physi- 
cian. Hayden  Rutherford  &  Bro.  erected  the  first  saw-mill.  The 
first  regular  school  was  taught  in  a  house  built  by  James  A.  Terriil ; 
Dr.  Frank  Allen  was  the  teacher. 

ADDITIONS   TO   MACON. 

Terriil,  Curless  and  Caldwell's  Addition,  plat  filed  October  28, 
1857  ;  County  Addition,  by  Isaac  V.  Pratt,  filed  November  12,  1870  ; 
Pratt's  Sub-division,  filed  November  12,  1870;  County  Addition  of 
sub-division  of  block  142,  by  Abner  L.  Gilstrap  ;  College  Addition, 
by  D.  E.  McKay,  plat  filed  July  25,  1866. 

CITY   OFFICIALS. 

The  early  records  of  the  city  were  destroyed  by  fire,  consequently 
we  are  not  able  to  give  the  full  list  of  officers,  only  since  1875. 

In  1860  Albert  Larrabee  was  elected  the  first  mayor.  Associated 
with  him  as  councilmen,  were  James  Turner,  George  B.  Turner,  A. 
L.  Knight,  J.  T.  Reester,  Benjamin  White  and  D.  E.  Wilson.  R.  J. 
Eberman  was  city  attorney  ;  Daniel  Palmer  was  city  marshal. 

MAYORS  FROM  1862  TO  1874. 

Thomas  Tibbs,  from  1862  to  1863;  D.  E.  Wilson,  from  1863  to 
1866;  Clark  H.  Green,  from  1866  to  1867;  John  M.  Wilson,  from 
1867  to  1868  ;  John  T.  Clements,  from  1868  to  1869  ;  Joseph  Moon, 
from  1870  to  1871 ;  John  Dougherty,  from  1871  to  1872  ;  George  P. 
Glaze,  from  1872  to  1874. 


766  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

City  Officials  since  1875. — Mayor  —  Isaac  Hayes.  Council- 
men— William  F.  Forcht,  S.  G.  Brock,  G.  L.  Towner,  K.  E. 
Melone,  James  Dodds,  A.  N.  McGinley  and  H.  S.  Gordon.  Treas- 
urer—  Samuel  J.  Wilson.  Kecorder — D.  P.  Dobyns.  Attorney  — 
Charles  P.  Hess.  Clerk  —  S.  E.  Waggoner.  Marshal  —  Charles  J. 
Carlin. 

Officers  of  1876. — Mayor  —  William  Seager.  Councilmen  —  R. 
Wright,  B.  F.  Moore,  I.  N.  Stewart,  R.  A.  Melone,  S.  G.  Brock,  W. 
F.  Forcht  and  G.  L.  Towner.  Treasurer — Samuel  J.  Wilson.  Re- 
corder—D.  P.  Dobyns.  Attorney  — C.  P.  Hess.  Clerk  — F.  S. 
Beeler.     Marshal  —  C.  J.  Carlin. 

Officials  0/  i<97 7. —Mayor  — P.  M.  Wright.  Councilmen  — B. 
F.  Moore,  A.  H.  Dysen,  R.  Melone,  G.  L.  Towner,  Joseph  Brown, 
I.  N.  Stewart,  Thomas  Jobson.  Treasurer  —  Samuel  J.  Wilson. 
Recorder— E.  J.  Newton.  Attorney  — F.  White.  Clerk  — T.  S. 
Beeler.     Marshal  — W.  H.  Butler. 

Officials  of  1878.  —  Mayor  —  F.  A.  Jones.  Councilmen  —  B.  F. 
Moore,  A.  H.  Dysen,  P.  F.  Leonard,  J.  G.  Vancleve,  Joseph  Brown, 
J.  P.  Moore,  C.  R.  Haverly.  Treasurer  —  Samuel  J.  Wilson. 
Recorder  —  F.  Ames.  Attorney  —  A.  F.  Foster.  Clerk  —  T.  S. 
Beeler.     Marshal  —  John  H.  Clayton. 

Officials  of  i<97P.  —Mayor  —  William  F.  Forcht.  Councilmen  — 
C.  R.  Haverly,  B.  F.  Moore,  J.  G.  Vancleve,  A.  S.  Richardson,  J.  P. 
Moore,  B.  F.  Stone,  T.  H.  Smith.  Treasurer  —  Samuel  J.  Wilson. 
Recorder  —  F.  Ames.  Attorney  —  F.  White.  Clerk — Joseph  M. 
Patton.     Marshal  —  John  H.  Clayton. 

Officials  of  1880.  —  Mayor  —  William  F.  Forcht.  Councilmen  — 
James  Dodds,  S.  G.  Brock,  J.  S.  Vancleve,  Joseph  Brown.  A.  S. 
Richardson,  B.  F.  Stone,  T.  H.  Smith.  Treasurer  —  S.  J.  W^ilson. 
Recorder — John  Farrer.  Attorney  —  C.  P.  Hess.  Clerk  —  Joe  M. 
Patton.     Marshal  —  John  H.  Clayton. 

Officials  of  1881.  —  Mayor  —  William  F.  Forcht.  Councilmen  — 
R.  W.  Aikens,  A.  S.  Richardson,  B.  F.  Stone,  T.  H.  Smith,  Jos. 
Brown,  S.  G.  Brock,  J.  G.  Vancleve.  Treasurer  —  S.  J.  Wilson. 
Recorder  —  John  Farrer.  Attorney — C.  P.  Hess.  Clerk  —  J.  W. 
Moore.     Marshal  —  John  H.  Clayton. 

Officials  of  1882.  — Mayor — J.  G.  Vancleve.  Councilmen —  H. 
A.  Butler,  S.  G.  Brock,  W.  H.  Sears,  B.  F.  Stone,  Thomas  H. 
Smith,  Philip    Reichel,  N.  S.  Richardson.     Treasurer  —  Samuel  J. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  767 

Wilson.  Eecorder — John  Farrer.  Attorney  —  R.  J.  Eberman. 
Clerk  —  J.  W.  Moore.     Marshal  —  J.  H.  Clayton. 

Officials  of  1883.  —  Mayor  —  N.  S.  Richardson.  Councilraen  — 
T.  H.  Smith,  J.  W.  Thompson,  C.  Eggleston,  S.  G.  Brock,  W.  H. 
Sears,  R.  W.  Aiken,  P.  Reichel.  Treasurer  —  E.  J.  Demeter.  Re- 
corder, George  Bogert.  Attorney  —  C.  P.  Hess.  Clerk  —  J.  E. 
Thompson.     Marshal — John  H.  Clayton. 

Officials  of  1884. — Mayor  —  N.  S.  Richardson.  Councilmen  — 
S.  G.  Brock,  C.  Eggleston,  J.  W.  Thompson,  T.  H.  Smith,  T.  A. 
H.  Smith,  William  Magnus,  William  F.  Forcht.  Treasurer  —  E.  J. 
Demeter.  Recorder — George  Bogert.  Attorney  —  R.  J.  Eberman. 
Clerk — J.  E.  Thompson.     Marshal — John  H.  Clayton. 

The  city  has  no  floating  debt,  but  owes  $5,500,  $1,000  of  which  is 
due  September  1,  1884.  The  balance,  $4,500,  is  due  November  1, 
1891. 

BANKS    AND    BANKERS. 

The  first  banking  institution  established  in  Macon  was  that  of 
George  A.  Shortridge  &  Co.  (George  A.  Shortridge  and  James  B. 
Malone).  Shortridge  was  president  and  Malone  was  cashier.  The 
bank  continued  to  do  business  under  this  name  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Shortridge,  which  occurred  in  1866,  when  Shortridge  and  Malone 
were  succeeded  by  Malone  and  Epperson  (Charles  G.  Epperson), 
who  did  business  till  1872,  when  the  bank  was  changed  to  Macon 
Savings  Bank,  Charles  G.  Epperson,  president,  and  James  B.  Malone 
cashier.  After  running  until  February  14,  1882,  the  bank  failed  for 
$300,000.  The  assets  will  pay  20  per  cent  on  the  dollar,  leaving 
$240,000  unpaid,  or  a  loss  of  that  amount.  There  were  525  deposit- 
ors, the  largest  of  whom  had  $9,375  in  the  bank  when  it  broke. 
When  the  failure  of  the  bank  was  announced,  it  created  a  profound 
surprise,  and  consternation  was  written  upon  the  face  of  all  who  had 
been  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose  their  money  in  it. 

B.  N.  Tracy  and  John  W.  Henry  started  a  bank  in  1857,  which  ran 
until  1869  under  the  name  of  Tracy  &  Henry,  when  the  firm  was 
changed  to  Tracy  &  Son  (N.  B.  Tracy,  Jr.).  This  bank  failed  in 
September,  1876,  its  liabilities  being  at  the  time  a  little  more  than 
$125,000.     It  has  since  paid  about  40  per  cent  to  creditors. 

The  Farmers  and  Traders'  Bank  was  established  January  1,  1877, 
by  G.  L.  Towner,  who  was  president,  Solomon  Wagoner,  cashier, 
and  Charles  G.  Epperson,  James  B.  Malone  and  Theodore  Kraus. 
This  bank  did  business  until  February  14,  1882,  when  it  failed,  the 


768 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


liabilities  being  about  $33,000.  Being  connected  with  the  Macon 
Savings  Bank  and  under  the  same  management,  it  closed  its  doors 
upon  the  same  day  that  the  Macon  Savings  Bank  did.  It  has  since 
paid  about  25  per  cent  of  its  indebtedness. 

The  failure  of  these  three  banks  has  retarded,  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, not  only  the  prosperity  of  Macon  and  its  business  interests,  but 
this  loss  has  been  felt  by  the  farmers,  traders  and  others  throughout 
the  entire  county,  and  in  a  measure  so  crippled  the  community  at 
large  that,  for  a  time,  there  was  scarcely  anything  done  in  the  way 
of  business  enterprises.  Indictments  were  preferred  against  the  chief 
officers  of  the  Macon  Savings  and  the  Farmers  and  Traders'  banks, 
but  after  one  or  two  trials,  which  failed  of  conviction,  the  suits  were 
dismissed. 

STOCKHOLDERS  OF  MACON  SAVINGS  BANK. 

J.  B.Winn,  $5,200;  A.  L.  Shortridge,  $5,000;  E.  C.  Shain, 
$7,500;  Jehu  Teter,  $1,500;  K.  A.  Melone,  $2,200;  T.  E.  Sharp, 
$1,200;  T.  G.  Sharp,  $2,500;  C.  G.  Epperson,  $5,000;  J.  B.  Me- 
lone, $10,000  ;  G.  A.  Shortridge  estate,  $15,000  ;  George  L.  Towner, 
$4,500;  Orr  Sanders,  $200;  Macon  Savings  Bank  (exchanged  real 
estate)  $5,200.     Total,  $65,000. 

John  Scovern,  William  Logan  and  S.  G.  Wilson  opened  a  private 
bank  in  March,  1882,  and  ran  until  March  6,  1883,  when  the  bank 
was  changed  to  the  First  National  Bank  of  Macon.  The  following  is 
a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Macon,  at 
the  close  of  business  April  21,  1884:  — 


LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock $50,000  00 

Surplus  fund 1,000  00 

Undivided  profits 2,428  31 

Circulation 13,500  00 

Deposits 167,191  05 


ASSETS 

Loans  and  discounts 
Government  bonds  . 
Other  bonds  .  .  . 
Due  from  other  banks 
Furnitui-e  and  fixtures 
Redemption  fund  .  . 
Cash 


$234,119  36 


891,889 

56 

15,000 

00 

30,620 

00 

75,456 

84 

778 

90 

675 

00 

19,6»9 

06 

$234,119 

36 

Officers  —  William  Logan,  President;  S.  G.  Wilson,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; John  Scovern,  Cashier ;  C.  D.  Sharp,  assistant  cashier. 

Directors  —  Jeff.  Morrow,  Sr.,  James  L.  Tibbs,  William  Logan,  S. 
G.  Wilson,  John  H.  Babcock,  James  G.  Howe,  P.  Y.  Hurt,  John 
Scovem. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


769 


The  Exchange  Bank  opened  November  20, 1 883,  by  Bairds  &  Wright. 

Official  Statement  of  the  Financial  Condition  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Bairds  &   Wright, 
at  the  close  of  business  on  the  15th  day  of  April,  1884. 


RESOURCES. 

Loans  on  personal  security 
Loans  on  real  estate  security 
Other  bonds  and  stocks 
Due  from  other  banks    .     . 
Furniture  and  fixtures    .     . 
Checks  and  other  cash  items 
Bills  of  National  Banks  and 
legal  tender  U.  S.  notes  . 

Gold  coin 

Silver  coin 

Exchange     


$16,019  42 

8,450  55 

700  00 

15,931  99 

485  85 
741  04 

7,848  90 

2,507  50 

320  03 

1,041  95 


Capital 
Deposits  . 
Exchange 


LIABILITIES. 


«15,000  00 

37,587  39 

1,459  84 


Total $54,047  23 


Total $54,047  23 


State  of  Missouri,  >  We,  P.  M.  Wright,  President,  and  Frank 
County  of  Macon.  (Baird,  Cashier,  two  of  the  partners  in  or 
owners  of  said  banking  business,  and  each  of  us,  do  solemnly  swear 
that  the  above  statement  is  true  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge  and 
belief.  P.  M.  Wright,  President. 

Frank  Baird,  Cashier. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  23d  day  of  April,  A.D. 
1884.  Witness  my  hand  and  notarial  seal  affixed,  at  Macon,  Mo.,  the 
date  last  aforesaid.  (Commissioned  and  qualified  for  a  term  expiring 
October  3d,  1885). 

[seal.]  S.  S.  Wilson,  Notary  Public. 


moot  legislature. 

The  citizens  of  Macon  organized  a  Moot  Legislature  in  1868,  with 
the  following  members  :  John  Mayer,  J.  B.  Melone,  J.  G.  Howe, 
John  Fee,  F.  A.  Jones,  J.  W.  McKindley,  R.  W.  Coles,  G.  W. 
Barnes,  Thomas  Proctor,  Charles  G.  Epperson,  S.  P.  Griffith,  J.  M. 
London,  J.  T.  Clements,  A.  N.  McKindley,  J.  F.  Williams,  J.  H. 
Overall,  E.  C.  D.  Shortridge,  T.  A.  Eagle,  L.  M.  Trimble,  A.  P. 
McCall,  James  M.  Love,  D.  K.  Turk,  P.  M.  Wright,  J.  L.  Wood,  J. 
E.  Wilkerson,  Charles  P.  Hess,  Fletcher  White,  A.  L.  Shortridge, 
W.  M.  Rubey,  H.  P.  Vrooman,  D.  C.  McKay,  W.  A.  Guyselman,  B. 
R.  Dysart,  B.  E.  Tracy,  Jr.,  L.  G.  Tracy,  J.  S.  Curtiss,  J.  W.  Henry, 
W.  S.  Larrabee,  B.  F.  Stone,  William  D.  Wright,  Clark  H.  Green, 
A.  J.  Williams. 

SECRET   ORDERS. 

Masonic  Lodge,  ISTo.  172. — Organized  July  9,  1874.  Charter 
members :  James  G.  Howe,  Sol.  E.  Waggoner,  Thomas  B.  Howe,  A. 


770  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

L.  Knight,  E.  S.  Golclsberiy,  George  P.  Glaze,  Isaac  C.  Stephens, 
James  B.  Melone,  William  H.  Farrar,  E.  B.  Van  Vleet,  C.  G.  Epper- 
son, John  Meyer,  Alfred  Farrar,  Phil,  T.  Holman,  John  D.  Howe, 
John  P.  Walker,  Isaac  Hayes,  Thomas  G.  Thorp,  George  Ingels, 
Jas.  L.  Baum,  James  G.  Howe,  W.  M.  ;  Sam  Ebert,  S.  W.  ;  F.  M. 
Winn,  J.  W.  ;  James  L.  Tibbs,  treasurer  ;  A.  A.  Gilstrap,  secretary ; 
A.  W.  Gilstrap,  S.  D.  ;  L.  A.  Rogers,  J.  D.  ;  T.  A.  H.  Smith,  T.  ; 
Rev.  R.  H.  Crockett,  chaplain. 

Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  Ko.  74.  —  Was  organized  May  19, 
1882.  The  charter  members  :  C.  P.  Hess,  C.  Grahl,  F.  H.  Murphy, 
M.  C.  Trew,  Thomas  A.  Smedley,  W.  F.  Forcht,  W.  B.  Webber, 
George  B.  Reichel,  J.  O.  Jewett,  J.  J.  Ziglar,  J.  S.  Miller,  S.  Ebert, 
R.  W.  Caswell,  Hez.  Purdom,  James  P.  Kern,  Theo.  Gerry,  J.  W. 
Moore,  W.  C.  B.  Gillespie,  Alfred  Dyson,  Chris.  Maffrey,  T.  M.  Sev- 
ern, John  H.  Clayton,  L.  A.  Thompson,  James  H.  Patton,  W.  H. 
Butler,  J.  C.  Brookbank,  A.  R.  Lemon,  Thomas  A.  Craig,  W.  P. 
Howe,  J.  E.  Thompson,  H.  H.  Downing,  John  T.  Jones,  W.  S.  Her- 
man, T.  L.  Thompson,  F.  E.  Williams,  G.  B.  Krieter,  J.  D.  Gatty, 
J.  W.  Wooldridge,  E.  B.  Clements,  J.  G.  Howe,  W.  B.  Kunkel,  M. 
J.  Payne,  E.  A.  Lee,  Frank  Reed.  Officers  :  A.  R.  Lemon,  P.  C.  ; 
Theo.  Gerry,  C.  C.  ;  M.  C.  Trew,  V.  C.  ;  L.  A.  Thompson,  P.  ;  C. 
Maffrey,  M.  E.  ;  J.  S.  Miller,  M.  F.  ;  W.  B.  Kunkel,  K.  of  R.  S.  ; 
J.  W.  Moore,  M.  of  A.  ;  J.  J.  Davis,  I.  G.  ;  S.  Ebert,  O.  G.  ;  rep- 
resentative to  grand  lodge,  C.  P.  Hess. 

Lodge  No.  150,  1.  0.  0.  i^.  — Was  organized  July  15,  1865. 
Charter  members:  James  H.  Biswell,  James  M.  Love,  B.  F.  Clark- 
son,  Henry  Shaw,  John  M.  Floyd,  C.  Otto,  Clark  H.  Green,  A.  L. 
Ferguson.  Present  officers  :  H.  S.  Gordon,  N.  G.  ;  S.  Ebert,  V.  G.  ; 
W.  J.  Wright,  R.  S.  ;  J.  K.  Haverly,  P.  S.  ;  J.  L.  Baum,  treasurer. 

Macon  Lncampment  iVo.  72,  I.  0.  O.  F.  —  Was  organized  Jan- 
uary 8,  1874.  Charter  members  :  O.  S.  Bearce,  D.  P.  Dobyus,  C. 
R.  Hutchins,  A.  L.  Grain,  H.  S.  Glaze.  Present  officers  :  J.  A.  Cook, 
C.  P.  ;  W.  H.  Miller,  H.  P.  ;  S.  Ebert,  S.  IV.  ;  F.  L.  Power,  J.  W.  ; 
C.  R.  Haverly,  S.  ;  J.  W.  Patton,  treasurer. 

Lodge  No.  4,  Brothers  of  Philanthropy  — Was  organized  April  10, 
1881.  Charter  members:  A.  R.  Lemon,  R.  W.  Aiken,  C.  R. 
Haverly,  B.  O.  Parker,  T.  F.  O'Daniel,  N.  L.  Bennett,  F.  H.  Murphy, 
George  W.  Spreistersback,  William  Jones,  G.  H.  Jones.  Present 
Officers :  Henry  Renne,  I.  G.  ;  John  Koll,  O.  G.  ;  B.  O.  Parker,  C. 
K.  ;  William  Dale,  S.  K.  ;  T.  F.  O'Daniel,  R.  ;  C.  R.  Haverly,  Rec.  ; 
W.  M.  Jones,  Treas.  ;  M.  K.  White,  S.  ;  John  C.  Gab,  O. 


HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY.  771 

Marvin  Lodge  JSfo.  325,  I.  O.  G.  T.  —  Was  organized  July  22, 
1871.  The  charter  members  were:  John  M.  Henry,  A.  K.  Lemon, 
S.  B.  Weaver,  James  M.  Turner,  N.  S.  Richardson,  R.  J.  Eberman, 
Fletcher  White,  W.  H.  Sears,  A.  M.  Rogers,  John  A.  Jackson. 
Present  Officers:  Thomas  A.  H.  Smith,  W.  C.  T.  ;  Maude  Holt,  W. 
V.  T.  ;  Kate  Richardson,  Sec.  ;  William  A.  Smith,  F.  S.  ;  May  Ben- 
nett, Treas.  ;  P.  W.  Gayer,  Chaplain  ;  D.  M.  Oliver,  Marshal ;  Lillie 
Eggleston,  Guard  ;  John  C.  Gade,  Sentinel.     . 

Lodge  JSTo.  28,  A.  0.  U.  TF.  —  Was  organized  October  6,  1877. 
Charter  members  :  W.  H.  Goodding,  B.  J.  Milan,  J.  A.  Hudson,  H. 
B.  Marshall,  William  R.  Sheen,  J.  F.  Darling,  T.  E.  Sharp,  L.  D. 
Walbridge,  Hez.  Purdom,  R.  A.  Melone,  S.  J.  Wilson,  John  Shep- 
herd, L.  B.  Williams,  J.  R.  Little,  C.  E.  Evans,  E.  J.  Hawkins,  T, 

A.  Smedley,  John  H.  Mason,  W.  O.  Clarkson,  L.  W.  Mitchell,  John 
W.  Sanford,  R.  W.  Caswell,  James  F.  Corby,  J.  D.  Abell,  T.  S. 
Beeler,  James  M.  Thrall,  James  B.  Melone,  J.  P.  Moore,  Ethelbert 
Talbot,  C.  R.  Hutchins,  H.  S.  Glaze,  J.  O.  Jewett,  E.  M.  Baxter, 
Charles  J.  Borden,  Chris  Fritz.  Present  Officers  :  C.  P.  Hess,  P. 
M.  W.  ;  J.  P.  Moore,  M.  W. ;  John  J.  Davis,  Recorder;  George  P. 
Reichel,  Financier ;  William  F.  Forcht,  Treasurer. 

Lodge  23,  G.  A.  JR.,  Dep.  of  Mo.  —  Was  organized  August  18, 
1882.  Charter  members  :  Frank  M.  Murphy,  Morris  True,  Nathan 
S.  Richardson,  George  Yuncker,  B.  F.  Moore,  H.  S.  Glaze,  R.  W. 
Caswell,  C.  J.  Borden,  R.  M.  Montgomery,  A.  R.  Lemon,  S.  R. 
Dearing,  A.  W.  Inman,  J.  M.  Turner,  Alois  Steiner.  Present  Offi- 
cers: N.  S.  Richardson,  Com.;  S.  G.  Brock,  I.  V.  C;  C.  R. 
Haverly,  I.  V.  C.  ;  E.  C.  Still,  Surgeon;  A.  R.  Lemon,  Adjt. ;  D. 
E.  Wilson,  Chaplain  ;  George  Yuncker,  I.  M.  ;  S.  J.  Wilson,  O.  D.  ; 
H.  A.  Butler,  O.  G. 

«  Band  of  Hope.  —  Organized  in  February,  1884,  with  185  members. 
D.  H.  Payson,  president;  Mrs.  J.  T.  Ridgeway,  vice-president; 
Mollie  Bennett,  secretary  ;  Daisy  Fletcher,  treasurer  ;  Minnie  Gerow, 
librarian  ;  Minnie  Wisdom,  assistant  librarian. 

Macon  Fire  Company  No.  1 — Was  organized  February  6,  1872. 
First  Officers :  Chief  of  Fire  Department,  A.  Field.  Assistant 
Chief  of  Fire  Department,  J.  G.  Howe.  Foreman  of  Company, 
George  P.  Glaze.  Assistant  Foreman  of  Company,  B.  F.  Moore. 
Secretary,  Frank  Smith.  Treasurer,  C.  R.  Hutchins.  Engineer, 
H.  A.  Butlet-.  Foreman  of  Hose,  R.  A.  Melone.  Assistant  Fore- 
man of  Hose,  J.  H.   Clayton.     Charter  Members.-  J.  W.  Henry,  S. 

B.  Hanley,  John   Talbot,    S.   Waggoner,   C.   G.   Epperson,  W.   P. 


772  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Beach,  T.  Wamsley,  Frank  Davis,  J.  P.  Love,  C.  C.  Butler,  James 
Ingles,  A.  Miller,  W.  H.  Goodding,  S.  Jackson,  James  Cook,  W. 
W.  Tory,  Frank  W.  Henry,  D.  A.  Patton,  H.  S.  Allen,  G.  W. 
Barnes,  C.  J.  Carlin,  S.  Ebert,  George  Fox,  P.  T.  Holman,  W.  B. 
Hargis,  J.  M.  London,  James  B.  Melone,  John  W.  Patton,  Frank 
Palmer,  A.  W.  Rogers,  J.  P.  Sharp,  J.  D.  Stephens,  T.  W.  Shaw,  G. 
L.  Towner,  Ed.  Turner,  Thomas  Thompson,  James  Tibbs,  W.  F. 
Williams,  D.  E.  Wilson,  R.  Wright,  J.  Dodds,  John  M.  Easton,  A. 
G.  Dyson,  W.  S.  Hughes.  Fuel  Cart  Boys. — Foreman,  F.  Hobb. 
Assistant  Foreman,  J'.  Epperson;  E.  L.  Glaze,  Tobias  Thompson, 
Charles  Fletcher,  E.  Thompson,  Wm.  Patton,  B.  Goldsberry,  T. 
Hanley,  Ben.  Clayton.  Present  Officers:  H.  A.  Butler,  Chief  of 
Fire  Department;  R.  Davis,  Assistant  Chief  of  Fire  Department;  L. 
K.  Davis,  Foreman  of  Company  ;  Thomas  Still,  Assistant  Foreman 
of  Company  ;  J.  H.  Clayton,  Foreman  of  Hose  ;  J.  H.  Jones,  Assist- 
ant Foreman  of  Hose  ;  J.  D.  Gatley,  Foreman  of  Hook  and  Ladder  ; 
H.  W.  Choj^e,  Assistant  Foreman  of  Hook  and  Ladder;  W.  H.  But- 
ler, Treasurer ;  F.  A.  Rosevale,  Secretary. 

The  average  number  of  tires  per  year  is  15. 

Macon  Count]/  Medical  Society  —  Was  organized  April  16, 1879. — 
Officers  of  1879  — T.  J.  Norris,  President ;  B.  C.  Mitchell,  Treasurer  ; 
D.  H.  Mathews,  Secretary.  Board  of  Sensors  —  G.  W.  Miller,  W. 
F.  Morrow,  D.  H.  Mathews.  1880  — B.  J.  Milam,  President;  W. 
V.  Yates,  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Dr.  Mary  Towner,  Treasurer;  A.  T. 
Levick,  Secretary.  Sensors  — J.  W.  Proctor,  J.  M.  Cully,  T.  Fred- 
erick. 1881  —  W.  F.  Morrow,  President;  E.  Jeserich,  Vice-Presi- 
dent;  B.  J.  Milam,  Secretary  ;  J.  M.  McCully,  Treasurer.  Sensors  — 
J.  W.  Martin,  A.  T.  Levick,  J.  W.  Proctor.  1882  — W.  V.  Yates, 
President;  A.  C.  Smith,  Vice-President;  R.  C.  Mitchell,  Secretary; 
B.  J.  Milam,  Treasurer.  Sensors  —  T.  J.  Norris,  A.  T.  Levick, 
Isaiah  Frederick.  1883— J.  H.  Petty,  President;  F.  Allen,  Vice- 
President ;  J.  W.  Moore,  Recording  Secretary;  B.  J.  Milam,  Treas- 
urer. Sensors  —  J.  W.  Martin,  A.  T.  Levick,  J.  W.  Proctor. 
1884  —  A.  T.  Levick,  President;  J.  W.  Proctor,  Vice-President;  J. 
W.  Moore,  Corresponding  and  Recording  Secretary;  B.  J.  Milam, 
Treasurer.  Sensors  —  T.  J.  Norris,  F.  Allen,  W.  V.  Yates.  Present 
Members ;  Isaiah  Frederick,  W.  V.  Yates,  T.  J.  Norris,  L.  C.  Mit- 
chell, James  T.  Casey,  W.  F.  Morrow,  A.  J.  Norris,  D.  H.  Mathews, 
F.  W.  Allen,  John  McCollough,  B.  C.  McDavit,  J.  W.  Martin,  George 
P.  Benning,  Evans  Jones,  B.  A.  Payne,  A.  L.  Levick,  B.  J.  Milam, 
R.  N.  Turner,  J.  W.  Proctor,  A.  C.  Smith,  Richard  Hayes,  A.  H. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  773 

Nichols,  B.  L.  Mixon,  W.  S.  Sears,  Willarcl  Terrill,  A.  B.  Miller,  T. 
N.  Thompson,  J.  H.  Petty,  J.  W.  Moore,  T.  H.  Hughes,  D.  W. 
Dempsey,  B.  E.  Moody. 

The  Macon  Medical  Society  —  Was  organized  in  September,  1869. 
The  charter  members  were;  A.  L.  Knight,  J.  N.  Stewart,  E.  Hahn, 
J.  J.  Lyle,  Isaiah  Frederick,  J.  B.  Winn,  T.  A.  Eagle,  Arthur  Bar- 
ron, William  Benny,  N.  S.  Eichardson,  J..C.  Scroggin,  T.  W.  Shaw. 
Its  first  officers  were  :  A.  L.  Knight,  President ;  N.  S.  Eichardson, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  At  present  the  officers  are  :  N.  S.  Eichard- 
son, President;  Ed.  B.  Clements,  Secretary  ;  Arthur  Barron,  Vice- 
President ;  J.  B.  Winn,  Treasurer. 

Stronr/s  Cornet  Band — Was  organized  about  four  years  ago  — 
1879.  Names  of  members  :  B.  F.  Strong,  manager;  Charles  L.  Far- 
rer,  president;  Thomas  A.  Craig,  secretary;  O.  D.  Clark,  Treas- 
urer; Gus  Strong,  Eobert  Smith,  Edward  0'Daniels,W.  S.  Herman, 
Charles  Gibbs  ;  Ed.  Berry,  Harry  Berry,  drummers. 

COLORED    ORGANIZATIONS. 

Dane  Lodge  No.  13,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. — Was  organized  February 
1,  1871,  by  W.  A.  Dane  and  J.  N.  Triplett.  Charter  members  — 
William  Jones,  Eeuben  Barber,  E.  W.  Morrison,  Joseph  Allen,  Adam 
Braggs,  John  Jackson,  John  Washington.  Present  officers:  E.  W. 
Morrison,  W.  M.  ;  Craig  Griffin,  S.  W.  ;  James  Coleman,  J.  W.  ; 
John  Tyler,  Treas.  ;  William  Cross,  Sec.  ;  Sam  Davis,  S.  D.  ;  Will- 
iam Jones,  J.  D.  ;  Henry  Dodd,  J.  S.  ;  Alfred  Holliday,  S.  S.  ; 
James  Coleman,  Tyler. 

There  are  also  colored  lodges  of  Good  Templars,  Knights  of  Ta- 
bor and  United  Brethren. 

MACON  FOUNDRY  AND  MACHINE  WORKS. 

The  above  establishment  was  started  in  1880,  by  F.  Palfrey,  the 
present  owner,  who  began  with  an  investment  of  $5,000,  and  by  in- 
dustry and  economy  has  increased  the  amount  to  $15,000,  with  but 
little  incumbrance.  The  castings  made  at  this  foundry  compare 
favorably  with  those  made  at  any  foundry  in  the  country.  One  of 
the  specialties  of  this  foundry  is  the  making  of  the  self-oiling  coal 
car  machinery  wheels,  of  which  Mr.  Palfrey  is  the  inventor.  These 
wheels  are  made  of  chilled  iron.  Another  specialty  is  the  Eggelston 
&  Patton  patent  adjustable  racket  bar  and  bracket  stove  shelving. 
From  15  to  25  men  find  constant  employment  at  this  foundry. 


774  HISTORY  OF  MACON  COUNTY. 


THE  MASSEY  WAGON  COMPANY 


which  was  organized  April  1,  1884,  employs  25  hands,  and  has  a  ca- 
pacity of  making  1,000  wagons  per  year.  The  firm,  previous  to  the 
present  one,  known  as  the  Macon  Wagon  Company,  suspended  oper- 
ations three  years  ago,  and  the  building  and  machinery  remained  idle 
until  the  present  firm,  composed  of  John  Massey  and  Son,  started 
last  April.  The  house  is  a  large,  commodious  brick,  and  cost  $20,- 
000,  including  the  machinery. 

PUBLIC   SCHOOL. 

The  Union  Free  School  building  was  erected  in  1866-67  at  a  cost  of 
about  $20,000.  It  is  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  and 
accommodates  about  800  pupils.  The  school  is  graded  in  several 
different  departments.  The  superintendents  of  the  public  schools  of 
Macon  have  been  S.  P.  Bonnson,  J.  M.  Howard,  G.  P.  Beard,  D.  H. 
Horns,  G.  L.  Osborn,  L.  M.  Johnson,  A.  E.  Wardner,  S.  A.  Taft, 
N.  B.  Henry,  J.  T.  Ridgeway  and  S.  F.  Trammel. 

There  is  at  present  no  colored  school  building,  the  former  one 
having  been  destroyed  by  fire.  The  houses  erected  in  1871-72  cost 
$7,000.     Colored  children  enrolled  in  the  city  number  243. 

SCHOOL   BOARDS    SINCE    1866. 

1866  — H.  P.  Vrooman,  Davis  Stutzer,  N.  H.  Patton  , Thomas  Proc- 
tor, Walker  T.  Gilman,  J.  J.  Lyle.  1867  — L.  M.  Trumbull,  J.  W. 
Henry,  Davis  Stutzer,  H.  P.  Vrooman,  Thomas  Proctor,  A.  H. 
Patton.  1868 — L.  M.  Trumbull,  Philip  Eeichel,  Davis  Stutzer,  H. 
P.  Vrooman,  Thomas  Proctor,  N.  H.  Patton.  1869  —  L.  M.  Trumbull, 
N.  H.  Patton,  JohnH.  Henry,  Philip  Reichel,  Jacob  Gilstrap,  David 
Stutzer.  1869  — L.  M.  Trumbull,  R.  W.  Coles,  B.  N.  Tracy,  J.  W. 
Henry,  N.  H.  Patton,  Philip  Reichel.  1870.  —  L.  M.  Trumbull,  N.  H. 
Patton,  B.  N.  Tracy,  R.  W.  Coles,  W.  C.  Gilstrap,  P.  T.  Holman. 
1870— W.  C.  B.  Gillespie,  B.  N.  Tracy,  Philip  Reichel,  N.  H. 
Patton,  R.  W.  Coles,  E.  F.  Bennett.  1871  — B.  N.  Tracy,  R.  W. 
Coles,  Philip  Reichel,  W.  C.  B.  Gillespie,  J.  Jaeger,  N.  H.  Patton. 
1871  — N.  H.  Patton,  R.  W.  Coles,  Philip  Reichel,  W.  C.  B.  Gilles- 
pie, N.  S.  Richardson,  Samuel  J.  Wilson.  1872  —  Philip  Reichel, 
N.  S.  Richardson,  Amos  Field,  Samuel  J.  Wilson,  N.  H.  Patton,  W. 
C.  B.  Gillespie.  1872  — H.  S.  Glaze,  Amos  Field,  William  Saeger, 
A.  R.  Lemon,  N.  S.  Richardson,  S.  J.  Wilson.     1873  —  H.  S.  Glaze, 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  775 

Amos  Field,  W.  Saeger,  A.  K.  Lemon,  N.  S.  Richardson,  S.  J.  Wilson. 
1874  —  H.  S.  Glaze,  William  Saeger,  Amos  Field,  J.  Jaeger,  H.  S. 
Gordon,  F.  A.  Jones.  1875  — Same  board.  1876  — H.  S.  Glaze, 
William  Saeger,  Amos  Field,  J.  Jaeger,  F.  A.  Jones,  H.  S.  Gordon. 
1877  —  Same  board.  1878  — J.  Jaeger,  Amos  Field,  F.  A.  Jones,  H. 
S.  Glaze,  H.  S.  Gordon,  William  Saeger.  1879  —  Same  board. 
1880  —  Benjamin  F.  Stone,  H.  S.  Glaze,  Amos  Field,  F.  A.  Jones, 
William  Saeger,  Joseph  Jaeger,  1881  —  S.  J.  Wilson,  Web  M. 
Rubey,  H.  S.  Glaze,  Amos  Field,  Benjamin  F.  Stone,  Joseph  Jaeger. 
1882  — W.  F.  Forcht,  Edwin  McKee,  T.  W.  Reed,  Benjamin  F. 
Stone,  Web  M.  Rubey,  S.  J.  Wilson.  1883  — C.  P.  Hess,  B.  E. 
Guthrie,  William  F.  Forcht,  Web  M.  Rubey,  S.  J.  Wilson,  Edwin 
McKee.  1884  —  Edwin  McKee,  Web  M.  Rubey,  B.  E.  Guthrie,  Will- 
iam F.  Forcht,  C.  P.  Hess,  N.  S.  Richardson. 

ST.  JAMES    ACADEMY. 

This  school  was  opened  in  September,  A.  D.,  1875.  It  had  its 
origin  in  a  desire  to  meet  the  local  demands  for  a  higher  education 
than  could  be  furnished  by  the  public  schools.  It  was  not  intended 
at  first  to  make  it  diocesan  in  its  character,  but  simply  local.  But 
the  unexpected  success  of  the  school  encouraged  the  rector  to  yield 
to  the  suggestions  of  his  friends  to  receive  pupils  from  various  parts 
of  the  State  who  might  be  placed  under  his  care.  It  has  now  a 
recognized  position  as  the  only  boarding  school  for  boys  under  the 
control  of  the  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  Missouri.  The  boarding 
department  is  open  exclusively  to  boys  ;  though  the  daughters  of  the 
citizens  of  Macon  are  received  as  day  scholars  under  certain  restric- 
tions. 

This  school  had  enrolled  in  1883,  98  students.  It  is  now  in  a 
prosperous  condition,  and  is  growing  rapidly  into  favor,  receiving 
patronage  and  encouragement,  not  only  from  the  church  under  whose 
control  it  now  is,  but  from  the  friends  of  education  generally. 

JOHNSON    COLLEGE. 

An  institution  bearing  the  above  name  was  incorporated  under  the 
acts  of  County  Courts,  giving  charters,  in  1866,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  North  Missouri  Conference,  with 
the  title  of  Macon  Male  and  Female  University.  The  petition  was 
presented  by  D.  C.  McKay,  D.  E.  Wilson,  F.  A.  Jones,  T.  A.  Eagle 
and  nine  others.  An  outlay  of  $40,000  was  expended  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  building,  but  it  was  never  completed  owing  to  a  want 
44 


776  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

of  sufficient  funds.  It  was  intended  to  make  it  a  large,  handsome 
building  —  large  enough  to  accommodate  300  students.  Edwin  John- 
son, of  Lynn,  Mass.,  after  whom  the  college  was  named,  was  the 
warm  friend  of  the  institution  and  its  chief  contributor,  having  donated 
the  sum  of  $10,000.  The  College  was  located  near  the  north-east 
edge  of  the  city.  It  was  taken  down  a  few  years  ago  and  the  brick 
were  used  in  building  a  part  of  St.  James'  Academy. 

HOTELS. 

Macon  has  had  a  number  of  hotels,  among  which  have  been  the 
Evans  House,  on  Weed  street;  the  City  Hotel,  the  Macon  Hotel,  in 
the  same  vicinity;  the  Commercial  Hotel,  the  Vine  Street  House, 
the  Rollins  House,  the  Wabash  House  and  the  Palace  Hotel.  The 
latter  is  the  largest  building  of  the  kind  in  the  city,  and  was  erected 
in  1881,  by  B.  F.  Stone,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000. 

MACON   ASSOCIATION   FOR   DISTRIBUTION    OF   REAL   ESTATE. 

This  association  was  organized  in  1868,  with  Col.  C.  H.  Green, 
president;  J.  M.  Love,  general  manager;  J.  B.  Melone,  treas- 
urer, and  Capt.  G.  W.  Bearnes.  There  were  3,149  certificates, 
worth  $1  each,  and  193  prizes.  These  prizes  were  to  have  been 
drawn  on  July  15,  1868,  but  failing  to  sell  all  the  certificates,  the 
drawing  did  not  take  place,  and  the  money  was  refunded  to  the 
purchasers  of  certificates. 

MACON  ELEVATOR  COMPANY, 

is  composed  of  J.  G.  Vancleve,  W.  H.  Sears  and  W.  M.  Vancleve. 
These  gentlemen  recently  purchased  the  valuable  property  of  the 
old  company.  The  elevator  does  a  large  business  in  handling  corn, 
rye,  oats  and  seeds,  and  in  exchange  of  meal,  etc.  Its  capacity 
for  grinding  is  500  bushels  per  day,  and  capacity  for  shelling  10 
car-loads  per  day.  The  paid-up  capital  is  $10,000,  and  the  com- 
pany enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  entire  business  community. 

THE    MACON    CREAMERY. 

The  contract  for  building  the  Macon  creamery  has  been  let  and 
work  commenced.  It  is  to  be  completed  by  the  middle  or  last  of 
May.  Judge  H.  Vandeberg  will  have  his  son  and  J.  J.  Davis  asso- 
ciated with  him,  under  the  firm  name  of  Vandeberg  &  Co.  The 
main   building  will   be  46x24 ;    the    ice-house    24x36 ;    boiler-room. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  777 

10x18,  and  the  fuel-room  10x18.  The  building  complete  will  con- 
tain the  following  rooms  and  apartments:  Cream-room,  churn-room, 
butter-working-room,  office,  storage-room,  coolmg-room,  refrigerat- 
ing-room,  wash-room,  engine  and  boiler-room,  fuel-room,  and  ice- 
house. The  building  is  constructed  with  three  air  chambers  in 
outside  walls,  double  doors  and  windows,  fitted  up  with  steam  and 
cold  water  coils  for  heating  and  cooling  building,  steam  pipes,  water 
pipes,  steam  jets,  etc.,  and  following  is  a  partial  list  of  machinery 
and  fixtures  used  in  their  large  plan  :  Two  300-galIon  power  churns  ; 
three  400  or  four  300-gallon  cream  vats  ;  35  patent  refrigerating 
hauling  cans,  power  butter-worker,  scales,  cold  and  hot  water  wash- 
ing tanks,  force  pump  in  well,  cream  pails,  thermometer,  tryer,  all 
necessary  shafting,  belts,  pulleys,  hangers,  etc.,  office  furniture  and 
books,  10-horse  boiler  and  engine,  and  all  small  articles  needed  in 
the  business.  The  company  has  secured  over  500  cows,  and  want  500 
more.  The  building  will  be  located  on  Vine  street,  one  block  east 
of  Rubey,  on  the  old  brick-yard. 

weight's  opera  house 

was  built  by  Nathaniel  Hunt  in  1874,  and  used  as  a  tobacco  ware- 
house for  several  years.  The  present  owner,  P.  M.  Wright,  pro- 
posed to  the  city  council  that  if  it  would  make  a  market-house  of  the 
rooms  below,  and  require  the  butchers  of  the  city  to  open  their  stalls 
in  the  building,  he  would  prepare  the  stalls  and  construct  an  opera 
house,  which  proposition  was  accepted.  The  building  is  being  fitted 
up,  and  when  completed  it  will  be  one  of  the  handsomest  buildings  of 
the  kind  in  the  State.  It  will  have  an  upper  circle  and  seating  capac- 
ity of  900,  with  private  boxes.  The  roof  is  a  suspension  one,  and  no 
pillars  or  posts  in  the  main  hall,  excepting  the  supports  to  circle 
above.  The  opera  house  will  be  nicely  papered  and  decorated 
throughout ;  the  stage  is  22x55  feet ;  ventilation  is  good.  The 
scenery  for  the  stage  and  drop-curtain  is  beautiful  in  design,  having 
been  made  by  a  first-class  scenic  artist.  The  building  is  56x90  feet, 
and  will  cost  when  completed  $12,000.  The  thanks  of  the  people 
are  not  only  due  the  city  council,  but  more  especially  to  Mr.  Wright, 
for  the  convenient  market-house  and  beautiful  hall,  which  will  be  com- 
pleted about  May  15,  1884. 

the    old    HARRIS    HOUSE. 
[From  True  Democrat.] 
The  Old   Harris  House  is  well  remembered  by  the  old  citizens  of 
Macon.     During  the  Civil  War  it  was  headquarters  for  several  Post 


778  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Commanders,  and  the  upper  story  was  used  as  a  military  prison. 
After  Porter's  raid  and  defeat  at  Kirksville,  the  prison  was  pretty  full 
of  prisoners.  They  were  put  in  for  various  reasons  and  causes.  Some 
of  the  prisoners  were  from  adjoining  counties,  but  were  mostly  citi- 
zens of  Macon  county.  They  were  confined  for  some  time,  and  after 
examination  as  to  charges,  were  generally  released  on  oath  of  lo3^alty 
and  bond.  A  few  were  sent  to  the  militarj^  prison  at  Alton  and  St. 
Louis.  It  was  from  the  Harris  house  prison  that  the  notorious  raider, 
Poindexter,  escaped.  He  had  been  in  prison  as  a  noted  rebel  leader 
and  organizer  of  rebel  forces  for  some  time.  He  was  restless,  and 
wanted  to  be  up  and  working  for  his  cause.  One  very  dark  and  rainy 
night  he  managed  to  escape  the  sentinel  at  the  prison,  but  had  not 
gone  far  before  he  was  missed,  and  the  guard  fired  in  the  supposed 
direction.  It  was  reported  he  was  badly  wounded.  He  got  away  all 
the  same.  During  the  year  1864,  Gen.  Guitar  had  his  headquarters 
at  the  Harris  House  —  sometimes  called  the  Planters'  House.  Political 
excitement  ran  high.  The  Union  men  who  were  for  Gen.  McClel- 
lan  —  the  Democratic  candidate  for  President  —  were  looked  upon  as 
no  better  than  Copperheads  of  Vallandingham  stripe,  by  the  Kadical 
Unionists. 

Jim  Lane,  of  Kansas,  was  the  idol  of  many  of  the  extreme  Union- 
ists, and  "  Hurrah  for  Jim  Lane  "  was  constantly  heard  on  the  streets. 
It  was  the  watchword  among  a  large  majority  of  Union  at  this  place. 
Gen.  Guitar  was  not  that  kind  of  a  man.  He  was  for  the  Union  and 
Gen.  McClellan.  The  name  of  Jim  Lane  was  very  obnoxious  to  him. 
It  got  out  that  he  would  punish  any  of  his  men  hurrahing  for  Jim 
Lane  in  his  presence.  Several  of  them  did.  He  knocked  one  over 
with  his  fist,  caused  another  to  carry  a  heavy  stick  of  wood  on  his 
shoulder  and  march  to  and  fro  in  front  of  headquarters,  and  others  he 
put  in  prison.  This  was  done  in  a  military  point  of  view  to  keep  up 
military  organization,  and  keep  his  men  in  proper  subjection  as 
soldiers.  But  he  could  not  fully  do  it.  The  outside  pressure  was 
against  McClellan — nearly  all  for  Lincoln.  The  soldiers  in  prison 
would  get  in  the  window  and  yell  for  Jim  Lane,  so  they  could  be 
heard  for  several  blocks  away.  It  was  not  a  good  time  for  Democrats, 
especially  if  they  were  for  McClellan.  These  soldiers  in  prison  kept 
up  their  yellling  as  long  as  they  were  confined.  It  is  not  now  recol- 
lected whether  they  got  out  of  their  confinement,  or  whether  they 
were  further  punished  in  any  way. 

IMPROVEMENTS    IN    1883. 

[From  Macon  Times  of  August  3cl.] 

A  gentleman  remarked  the  other  day  that  Macon  was  not  only  the 
best  trading  point  he  knew  of,  but  that  in  all  his  travels,  he  knew  of 
no  place  in  all  North  Missouri  where  so  many  improvements  were 
going  on.  And  when  we  come  to  think  of  it,  much  more  is  being 
(lone  in  way  of  improvements  than  is  generally  supposed.  In  fact, 
Macon,  with  the  certainty  of  a  heavy  fall  trade,  is  starting  on  a  con- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  779 

siderable  boom.  The  following  very  incomplete  list  of  improvements 
in  this  city,  which  does  not  include  any  rebuilding  or  repairs  occa- 
sioned by  cyclone  or  storm,  will  give  some  idea  of  what  we  are  doing. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  much  more  would  be  done  in  the  way  of  erecting 
new  buildings  and  improving  others  but  for  the  fact  that  the  recent 
cyclone  required  considerable  time  of  mechanics  making  repairs.  The 
following  list  of  improvements,  which  is  very  incomplete,  will  give 
some  idea  of  our  progress  ;  — 

B.  Edwards,  two  brick  houses  on  Vine  street,  $6,500  ;  B.  Edwards, 
two  brick  houses  on  Eollins  street,  $3,750  ;  Habberman  &  Soldan, 
wholesale  beer  warehouse,  $1,000;  E.  J.  Denieter,  brick  business 
house  on  Rollins  street,  $3,500  ;  J.  Jaeger  &  Co.,  two  brick  business 
houses  on  Weed  street  $3,500  :  McKee  &  Smith,  improvement  of  store- 
rooms, $550  ;  Gen.  Vancleve,  rebuilding  and  erecting  a  large  addition 
to  house  on  Rollins  street,  $1,500;  J.  G.  Vancleve,  improving  resi- 
dence, $500  ;  Chris  Maffry,  new  residence  in  south-west  part  of  city, 
$1,200;  Graham  Wilson,  improving  residence,  $600;  Al.  Miller, 
new  residence  on  Crooked  street,  $1,200;  Benjamin  H.  Stean,  new 
residence  north  of  court-house,  $1,500 ;  B.  Powell,  additions  and 
improvement  of  residence,  $200 ;  C.  H.  Steele,  improvement  of 
premises,  $350  ;  Rev.  H.  R.  Crockett,  additions  and  improvement  to 
residence,  $200  ;  A.  Steiner,  addition  and  improvement  to  residence, 
$250;  Mrs.  Roberts,  improvement  of  residence  (the  Dr.  Stewart 
property),  $500;  Stevens  and  Hail,  improvement  of  store-room, 
$350 ;  Al.  Dyson,  improvement  of  residence,  $200 ;  Myra  Mont- 
gomery, improvement  of  residence,  $150  ;  M.  Gieselman,  improve- 
ment of  business  house,  $200  ;  Dr.  Milam,  improvement  of  residence, 
$200;  Dr.  Milam,  new  barn,  $250;  E.J.  Demeter,  new  residence 
near  park,  $1,100;  D.  K.  Turk,  additions  and  rebuilding  residence, 
$1,000;  H.  S.Gordon,  additions  and  rebuilding  residence,  $1,000 ; 
J.  E.  Goodson,  Jr.,  improvement  of  residence,  $550  ;  S.  J.  Waggoner, 
improvement  of  residence,  $150 ;  Catholic  church,  improvements, 
$300 ;  W.  F.  Forcht,  improvements  of  residence,  $250 ;  M.  E. 
Church,  repairs  and  improvements,  $600  ;  F.  Palfry,  foundry  to  be 
rebuilt  and  enlarged,  $1,000;  Second  Baptist  Church,  colored,  im- 
provements, $500. 

In  addition  to  the  above  list,  which  is  not  complete,  it  does  not 
include  many  improvements  made  which  are  small,  of  themselves,  but 
aggregate  a  great  deal  and  add  immeasurably  to  the  apjDearance  of  the 
city. 

Neither  have  we  included  many  of  the  scores  of  houses  which 
have  been  painted,  among  which  we  may  mention  :  Stephens  &  Hail, 
store;  E.  S.  Goldsberry,  store;  John  Mayer,  store;  Milsted  & 
Burns,  store  ;  Odd  Fellows  hall  ;  W.  C.  Belshe,  store  ;  Isaac  Gross, 
store;  Banta  Bros.,  store;  T.  A.  Craig,  store;  Mrs.  Poole  &  Eggle- 
ston,  store  ;  J.Jaeger  &Co.,  store  ;  Saminett  Bros.,  store  ;  D.  K.  Hagy, 
store  ;  Henry  Stocking,  residence  ;  Ezra  Norris,  residence,  and  many 
others  we  cannot  call  to  mind  in  this  hurried  mention.     This  w^ill 


780  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

suffice  to  show  that  Macon  is  pushing  forward   and  would  have  done 
much  more  had  it  not  been  for  unfortunate  but  unavoidable  drawbacks. 

BUSINESS    DIRECTORY. 

Adams  &  Garrison,  blacksmiths;  Robert  W.  Aiken,  proprietor 
Wabash  Hotel;  J.  W.  Angus,  music  store;  John  A.  Banta,  proprie- 
tor Banta  Roller  Mills  ;  Thomas  Banta,  grocer  ;  Banta  &  Son,  livery  ; 
Rev.  J.  S.  Barwick  (Methodist);  Joseph  L.  Baum,  clothing;  Mrs. 
Tillie  Baxter,  dressmaker;  William  P,  Beach,  real  estate;  Charles 
W.  Belshe,  restaurant ;  William  C.  Belshe,  dry  goods ;  James  L. 
Beny,  lawyer;  Sidney  G.  Brock,  editor  and  proprietor  Republican; 
J.  N.  Brown,  lawyer;  Mrs.  J.  N.  Brown,  music  teacher;  Mrs.  Mark 
Brown,  dressmaker ;  H.  A.  &  C.  C.  Butler,  grocers  ;  Mrs.  Lillie 
Butler,  dressmaker ;  Rev.  Patrick  B.  Cahill  (Catholic)  ;  John  H. 
Clayton,  city  marshal;  Ed.  B.  Clements,  physician;  Thomas  A. 
Craig,  jeweler  ;  Miss  Lou  Dale,  dressmaker  ;  John  J.  Davis,  produce; 
Ed.  J.  Demeter,  hardware  ;  William  Denzler,  harnessmaker  ;  Frank  A. 
Dessert,  harnessmaker  ;  T.  T.  Dodson,  tailor;  James  Donovan,  grocer 
and  express  agent;  Downing  &  Williams,  boots  and  shoes;  Dysart 
&  Mitchell,  lawyers  ;  R.  J.  Eberman,  lawyer;  Samuel  Ebert,  cloth- 
ing;  Eichenberger  &  Trew,  cigar  manufacturers;  Exchange  Bank, 
Bairds  &  Wright ;  Amos  Field,  druggist ;  Fletcher  &  Gatty,  tailors ; 
First  National  Bank,  John  Scovern,  cashier  ;  William  H.  Forbes,  ex- 
press agent  ;  W.  F.  Forcht,  lumber  ;  James  Fowler,  horses  and  mules  ; 
L.  J.  &  G.  J.  Fox,  jewelers  ;  Christian  Fritsch,  meat  market ;  John 
T.  Gehaus,  grocer ;  Fred.  W.  Geiselmau,  tailor;  Moritz  Geiselman, 
tailor.;  Abner  L.  Gilstrap,  lawyer;  Henry  S.  Glaze,  grocer;  Good- 
son  &  Son,  proprietors  Messenger  of  Peace;  Gordon  &  Moore,  farm 
implements;  Gray  &  Ford,  livery;  Grahl  &  Miller,  saloon;  E.  A. 
Graves,  proprietor  Gem  Hotel;  Greene  Bros.,  fruit  evaporators; 
Harbin  M.  Greene,  justice  ;  John  H.  Hartman,  boots  and  shoes  ;  Mrs. 
Curtis  R.  Haverly,  dressmaker ;  Haverly  &  Parker,  livery  ;  Michael 
Hornback,  dry  goods  ;  James  G.  Howe,  county  clerk  ;  London,  Steau 
&  Willis,  real  estate;  Rev.  Charles  Jackal  (Lutheran);  Mrs.  Susan 
Jackson,  dressmaker;  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Jackson,  druggist;  J.  Jaeger, 
hardware;  Peter  Jochims,  meat  market;  John  T.  Jones,  lawyer; 
William  Jones,  blacksmith;  J.  W.  Kings  worth,  stair  builder;  Mrs. 
R.  M.  Kingsworth,  dressmaker;  Franz  A.  Koch,  shoemaker;  John 
H.  Griffin,  live  stock;  R.  S.  Griffith,  shoemaker;  Isaac  Gross,  gro- 
cer; Thomas  Grove,  grocer;  Benjamin  E.  Guthrie,  lawyer ;  Haber- 
man  &  Soldan,  saloon  ;  Daniel  K.  Hagy,  grocer ;  Miss  Delia  Haley, 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


781 


dressmaker ;  Thomas  Haley,  constable  ;  Hail   &  Baker,   dry  goods ; 
Jasper  Hammett,  barber;  J.  F.  Hawley  &  Co.,  boots   and    shoes; 
Miss   Sarah  E.  Harkrader,  millinery  ;  Miss   Mary  J.   Harris,  music 
teacher;    J.  Koechel,  broom-maker;    John  Koll,  builder;    William 
B.    Kunkel,   proprietor  Windsor  restaurant;    J.  Larrabee,  builder; 
Peter    Larson,  restaurant;   John  M.  League,  railroad  agent;  Kich- 
ard    L.    Lewis,    carriage    manufactory;    Friederich    Leubke,    shoe- 
maker;  Macon   Brewery   Company;    —  Teamer,    proprietor  Macon 
House  ;  Massey  Wagon   Company,  John  Massey,  President ;  David 
McCartney,  barber;  McCully  &  Smith,  grocers  ;  John  A.  McDowell, 
wagon  maker;  Mrs.  Martha  McDowell,  millinery;  McKee  &  Smith, 
dry  goods;  Jesse  McNutt,   blacksmith;  McMurray  &  Son,  carriage 
manufactory  ;  Mason  &  Strong,  painters  ;  Joseph  L.  Martin,  circuit 
clerk  ;  William  H.  Martin,  dry  goods  ;  Richard  S.  Matthews,  judge  of 
probate  ;  John  Mayer,  hardware  ;  Mason  House,  —  Alvoid,  proprietor  ; 
Merchants'   Hotel,  Mrs.  Schiffeldecker,  proprietor;    Gabriel  Meyer, 
shoemaker  ;  Benjamin  J.  Milam,  coroner  ;  Miller  &  Milam,  physicians  ; 
A.  J.  Milstead,  grocer;  J.  F.  Mitchell,  lawyer;  Eobert  G.  Mitchell, 
school  commissioner;  Moore,  McCuUough  &  Co.,  proprietors  Macon 
roller    mills;    J.    H.    Morgan,   sheriff;    J.    Morrow,     Sr.,    county 
treasurer;  E.  J.  Newcomer  &  Co.  (William  M.  Vancleve),  druggist; 
Eli  J.  Newton,  lawyer  ;  Henry  C.  Noel,  barber ;  Thomas  J.  Norris, 
physician  ;  Thomas  F.  O' Daniel,  marble  works  ;  Frederick  Palfrey, 
founder  and    machinist;  Palace  Hotel,  M.  B.   Marcum,  proprietor ; 
Dwight  H.  Payson,  real  estate;  John  W.  Patton,  bookseller ;  Joseph 
M.   Patton,  news    depot;    Joseph   Phillips,    wagonmaker;    John  W. 
Pickett,  physician  ;  Phil  Pollard,  stencil  cutter  and  tinner ;  Pool  & 
Eggleston,  milliners  ;  Algernon  R.  Pope,  lawyer ;  Thomaig  W.  Reed, 
dentist;  George  P.  Reichel,  furniture;  Nathan  S.  Richardson,  phy- 
sician ;  Miss  Alice  Roberts,  dressmaker  ;  James  W.  Roberts,  recorder 
and  justice;  Robinson  Bros.,  dry  goods;  Rollins  House,  Gustave  C. 
Sauvinett,  proprietor  ;  Frederick  A.  Roswell,  photographer  ;  Webster 
M.  Rubey,  lawyer  ;  St.  James  Academy,  Ethelbert  Talbot,  proprietor  ; 
Sauvinett    Bros.,  second-hand   goods;  Frank   Sehweikhaus,  saloon; 
William    H.  Sears,  lawyer;    Aaron    R.  Lemon,  carpenter;    Adolph 
Sippel,  blacksmith  ;  Mrs.  Smith,  music  teacher  ;  W.  A.  Smith,  den- 
tist;    Thomas  H.  Smith,  restaurant;    Smith  &  Tory,  dressmakers; 
Con  Suavely,  sewing-machine  agent;  John  G.  Spriesterbach,  wagon- 
maker;    Alois    Steiner,  tailor;    Isaac  C.   Stevens,  clothing;  Ed.  C. 
Still,  physician;  Thomas  A.  Still,  carpenter;  Stocking  &  Huntoon, 
vinegar  manufacturers;  Cyrus  Strong,  builder;  Terrill  &  Bro.,  nur- 


782  HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

serymen  ;  J.  E.  Thompson,  city  clerk  ;  Lysander  A.  Thompson,  law- 
yer; Thomas  L.  Thompson,  painter;  James  L.  Thrall,  furniture; 
James  L.  Tibbs,  grocer;  Times  Printing  House,  J.  A.  Hudson,  pro- 
prietor; William  E.  Tomlinson,  painter;  Toole  &  Payton,  grocers; 
Rev.  John  H.  Townsend,  Baptist;  Trister  &  Co.,  saloon  ;  James  M. 
Turner,  meat  market ;  Horatio  G.  Tuttle,  carpenter  ;  John  Tyler, 
barber  ;  James  G.  Vancele,  grocer  ;  William  M.  Van  Cleve,  proprietor 
Macon  elevator ;  Walker  &  Gilstrap,  real  estate ;  Thomas  Wardell, 
coal  merchant ;  Williams  &  Wooldridge,  druggists  ;  Samuel  J.  Wilson, 
insurance ;  James  B.  Winn,  physician ;  Lucian  P.  Wooldridge, 
insurance  ;  James  W.,  Wright,  florist ;  W.  J.  Wright,  grocer. 


CHAPTER    YII. 

Ten  Mile    Township  —  Eagle  Township  —  Liberty  Township  —  Valley  Township  — 

Russell  Township. 

TEN  MILE  TOWNSHIP. 

Ten  Mile  township  is  the  central  of  the  eastern  tier  of  townships, 
and  is  36  miles  square.  It  is  watered  by  a  tributary  of  the  Middle 
fork  of  Salt  river,  and  two  or  three  other  smaller  streams. 

The  township  took  its  name  from  a  creek  of  the  same  name,  which 
is  just  10  miles  in  length.  There  are  four  churches  and  nine  school 
houses  in  the  township  ;  no  other  township  in  the  county  contains  as 
many  school-houses. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

The  first  settler  in  the  township  was  William  Griffin,  who  was  orig- 
inally from  Kentucky.  Mr.  Griffin  being  the  earliest  settler,  we  shall 
present  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  him,  taken  from  the  Macon 
True  Democrat:  — 

Capt.  William  Griffin  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Ky.,  on  the 
28th  day  of  May,  1797,  and  was  raised  in  Pulaski  county,  same 
State. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Buster  in  September,  1821,  in  Pu- 
laski county.  In  1828  he  and  family,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
John  Griffin,  moved  to  and  settled  in  Ralls  county.  Mo.,  near  New 
London.     In  1829  he  moved  to  Marion  county,  near  Hannibal. 

Hannibal  then  was  in  the  brush  ;  there  were  only  a  few  huts  or  log 
cabins  ;  there  was  only  one  two-story  house  in  the  place,  and  that  was 
made  of  logs,  and  used  as  a  tavern  by  Joseph  Brazier,  not  far  from 
the  present  steamboat  landing.  Occasionally  a  steamboat  would 
make  its  appearance,  but  had  very  little  business  with  Hannibal. 
There  was  a  ferry  kept  by  Samuel  Stone  &  Bro.,  who  also  had  a  dray 
to  haul  goods  from  the  landing  to  Draper's  store.  Zachariah  Draper 
was  the  only  merchant  or  store-keeper  in  the  place. 

Capt.  Griffin  commenced  an  improvement  in  Macon  county  in 
1838  in  Ten  Mile  township,  near  Laporte.  At  that  time  there  was 
no  settlement  nearer  than  Thomas  Winn's,  Henry  Matthews  and  the 
Moccasinville  settlement.  The  county  was  without  roads,  churches, 
school-houses,  mills  or  blacksmith  shops. 

In    February,  1839,  Capt.   Griffin    moved    his    family  to  his  new 

(783) 


784  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

home.  The  first  sermon  preached  in  his  neighborhood  was  delivered 
under  an  oak  tree  near  his  house,  by  Elder  James  Satliflf,  and  Will- 
iam Sears,  he  thinks,  in  1840. 

The  first  church  established  in  his  section  of  the  country  was  in 
1841,  or  1842,  by  the  Missionary  Baptists.  The  first  minister  was 
Euphrates  Stringer.  The  preaching,  after  a  church  organization, 
was  done  in  a  school-house  for  many  years  before  a  regular  house 
was  built  for  worship.  He  does  not  remember  the  year  the  first 
school-house  was  built. 

The  first  post-ofiice  was  established  at  the  Captain's  house,  of 
which  he  was  postmaster,  but  he  does  not  remember  the  year,  but 
sometime  about  1845.  It  was  about  this  time  that  the  State  road 
from  Hannibal  to  St  Joseph  was  established. 

The  first  store  was  established  at  Laporte  by  a  gentleman  by  the 
name  of  Eutter,  in  a  cabin.  Mr.  Rutter  sold  out  to  Edmond  Ash, 
the  year  not  recollected. 

The  county  seat  was  located  at  Bloomington,  about  1837  or  1838. 
The  first  representative  Avas  Johnson  Wright,  and  the  first  sherifiT 
was  Jefferson  Morrow.     The  courts  were  held  in  a  double  log  cabin. 

The  county  was  generally  Democratic,  though  the  Whig  party 
sometimes  elected  their  candidates  on  local  questions. 

Following  Mr.  Griffin  to  this  new  land  of  promise  were  Wylie  J. 
Patrick,  Benjamin  F.  Combs,  William  G.  Griffin  and  Jesse  Richard- 
son, from  Kentucky  ;  Daniel  Cooper,  from  Marion  county,  Mo. ;  John 
Nunly  and  Hiram  Graves,  from  Kentucky;  John  C.  Pierce,  from 
Tennessee  ;  Jonathan  Elsy  and  Delkin  Elsy,  from  Virginia  ;  Thomas 
Gaines,  from  Kentucky  ;  John  Shawber  and  George  Byers,  from  Vir- 
ginia ;  James  Alexander,  Elijah  Barnes,  John  T.Hawkins,  William 
Roberson,  Charles  Barnes,  Tapley  Long,  Marvin  Long,  Charles  Col- 
lier and  James  Griffin,  from  Kentucky  ;  William  Garwood,  Joseph 
Montgomery,  Jackson  Rambo  and  Pat  Montgomery,  from  Indiana ; 
Stephen  Tooley,  from  Kentucky ;  Joseph  Danner,  from  Illinois ; 
Daniel  McKenzie,  William  James  and  Edmund  Rutter,  from  Ken- 
tucky;  Campbell  Watson,  Solomon  Atkins,  Stephen  Woodall,  Henry 
Bates,  Elijah  Elder  and  George  Lee. 

The  first  mill  was  built  in  the  township  in  1842,  by  Charles  Collier ; 
the  first  steam  mill  in  1864,  by  John  B.  Griffin,  and  located  on  Billy's 
branch,  south-west  of  Laporte.  The  first  church  was  erected  about 
the  year  1841,  by  the  Baptists  —  a  small  log  house;  the  first  school 
was  taught  in  the  same  building,  by  Euphrates  Stringer,  who  was 
also  a  preacher.  He  was  from  Kentucky.  William  Sears  and  James 
Ratliff,  whom  we  have  several  times  mentioned  in  this  history, 
preached  in  the  township  as  early  as  1839,  under  some  large  shade 
trees.     The  church  above  referred  to  was  located  on  section  23. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  785 

Dr.  Edmunds  was  the  first  physician,  and  came  from  Shelby  county, 
Mo.,  about  1840.  Edwin  Walker  was  the  pioneer  blacksmith;  he 
opened  a  shop  near  the  town  of  Laporte  in  1852.  William  Silvers 
was  the  first  shoemaker. 

LAPORTE. 

This  hamlet  was  laid  out  by  a  man  (whose  name  we  could  not  ob- 
tain) who  came  from  Indiana.  He  owned  the  tract  of  land  upon, 
which  the  .town  is  located.  The  town  contains  eight  or  ten  houses  — 
two  general  stores  and  a  church  edifice.  William  Griffin  was  the  first 
postmaster  appointed  in  the  township.  The  ofllce  was  called  Ten 
Mile,  and  was  kept  in  a  brick  house  two  miles  east  of  the  present 
town  of  Laporte.  The  present  postmaster  of  Laporte  is  Samuel 
Montgomery,  who  came  from  Ohio  since  the  war  of  1861.  The  town 
contains  a  population  of  50,  and  has  a  Methodist  Church  and  a  dis- 
trict school. 

The  business  consists  of  two  general  stores,  two  shoemakers,  one 
blacksmith,  one  wagon-maker,  one  hotel,  one  cooper,  three  physicians, 
one  lawyer  and  two  carpenters. 

EAGLE    TOWNSHIP. 

Eagle  township  is  north  of  Hudson  township,  and  is  36  miles  square. 
It  was  reorganized  in  1872. 

The  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific  Railroad  passes  almost  through 
the  center  of  the  township  from  north  to  south. 

The  Little  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river  waters  the  township  on 
the  west,  and  the  Middle  fork  of  Salt  river,  with  its  tributaries, 
flows  through  the  eastern  part.  About  three-fourths  of  the  land  is 
in  cultivation,  and  produces  fine  grass,  corn,  and  some  wheat.  About 
one-fourth  of  the  township  is  still  covered  with  timber. 

FIRST    SETTLERS. 

William  Blackwell  was  the  first  white  resident  in  the  township. 
We  have  already  briefly  mentioned  the  name  of  the  old  pioneer,  in 
the  first  chapter  of  the  history  of  Macon  county,  but  will  now  give  it 
more  fully  by  copying  from  the  Macon  Ti'ue  Democrat:  — 

William  Blackwell  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ky.,  January  13, 
1797,  and  was  married  in  the  same  county  and  State  on  the  18th  of 
September,  1823,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lynch.  About  12  months  after 
his  marriage  he  moved  to  Estill  county,  and  lived  there  about  three 
years,  and  from  there  started  to  Missouri,  October^,  1827,  and  landed 
in  Boone  county,  November  7,1827.     He   lived  there  about  a  year 


786  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

and  from  there  moved  and  settled  in  Howard  county.  On  the  9th  of 
April,  1831,  he  left  Howard  county,  and  on  the  12th  of  April  he 
reached  the  neighborhood  where  he  now  resides,  about  six  miles  north 
of  Macon,  on  the  Kirks ville  road. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Blackweil  settled  in  what  is  now  Macon  county,  he 
remembers,  as  being  older  settlers,  the  Morrow  ftimily  —  Maj.  Will- 
iam J.  Morrow,  Joseph  Morrow,  Jefferson  Morrow  (who  was  a  boy), 
John  and  Jesse  Morrow,  Archibald  Chambers,  Andrew  Millsaps,  and 
the  Lowes. 

At  that  time  Macon  county  was  a  part  of  Randolph  county.  In 
fact,  Randolph  extended  to  the  Iowa  State  line. 

There  was  a  settlement  in  the  southern  part  of  what  is  now  Macon 
county,  and  is  now  known  as  Morrow  township. 

The  first  settlers  after  this  were  Clem  Hutchinson  and  Joseph  Owen- 
by,  who  settled  in  1832  where  Bloomington  is  now  located.  There  was 
no  store,  nor  use  for  one  at  that  day.  The  first  store  in  the  county 
was  opened  at  Bloomington  in  1836,  by  Dabney  Garth.  After  this 
the  county  began  to  settle  up,  and  the  place  which  was  afterwards 
Bloomiuijton  was  first  called  Box  Ancle,  from  some  unknown  cause. 
It  was  a  place  where  a  great  deal  of  liquor  was  drank  and  a  good  deal 
of  fighting  took  place  on  every  public  occasion. 

Alexander  Goodding  settled  the  fiirm  where  his  widow  now  resides, 
on  the  road  between  Macon  and  Bloomington,  about  the  year  1836. 

About  the  same  time,  Mr.  Blackweil  don't  remember  whether  be- 
fore 1836,  the  Wrights,  James  A.  Terrell,  William  Sears,  the  Winns, 
D.  C.  Hubbard  and  the  Holmans  came. 

His  settlement  or  neighborhood  was  afterwards  called  Moccasin- 
ville,  because  the  settlers  had  no  leather  to  make  shoes  and  used  moc- 
casins for  their  feet.  When  Mr.  Blackweil  settled  in  Moccasinville, 
he  found  there  Nathan  Richardson  (who  went  afterwards  to  Texas), 
John  Walker  and  the  Walker  boys,  who  had  reached  there  a  few  days 
before  him.  James  Myers  and  family  accompanied  Mr.  Blackweil. 
Mr.  B.  first  settled  the  Rene  Goodrich  place,  and  after  staying  there 
six  3'ears,  settled  the  place  he  now  lives  on.  Nathan  Richardson  set- 
tled the  place  where  William  Jones  now  lives.  The  Walkers  settled 
the  places  where  Robert  Woodville  and  William  Simpson  lives. 

Up  to  1838,  when  this  county  was  organized,  there  was  no  voting, 
nor  was  there  a  justice  of  the  peace  within  the  present  limits.  At 
that  day  all  the  voting  was  done  at  the  county  seat.  The  first  election 
was  held  in  1838  or  1839,  at  Box  Ancle  (afterwards  Bloomington), 
of  which  William  Blackweil  was  one  of  the  judges.  He  does  not 
remember  the  others. 

The  first  mill  was  established  by  Judge  James  C.  Cochran,  at 
Bloomington,  in  1837  or  1838.  The  grinding  was  done  by  horses 
hitched  to  a  sweep  or  lever.  Before  this  mill  was  built,  the  people 
had  to  go  to  Huntsville,  to  Goggin's  mill.  The  first  water  mill  was 
built  on  the  Chariton,  by  Howell  Rose,  the  year  not  recollected. 

The  first  church  or  school-house  he  remembers  was  a  log  building 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  787 

18  feet  square,  at  Moccasinville,  and  the  first  preacher  was  Dr.  Abra- 
ham Still,  father  of  the  present  Dr.  Still,  of  Macon. 

The  first  circuit  judge  was  Thomas  Reynolds.  The  first  lawyers 
not  recollected.  The  first  physicians  were  Dr.  Abraham  Still,  Dr. 
John  Wilkin,  Dr.  Arthur  Borron,  Dr.  William  Proctor.  The  first 
school  teacher  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county  was  Oliver  P.  Davis. 

The  first  court  was  held  at  Box  Ancle,  in  a  log  cabin,  although 
some  said  the  first  session  of  the  county  court  was  held  on  a  fence. 

The  first  mustering  of  the  militia  was  held  at  or  near  what  is  now 
Excello  P.  O.,  four  miles  south  of  Macon.  James  Wells  was  the  first 
colonel,  and  Abner  Vickry  was  one  of  the  captains.  Lloyd  Coulter 
was  also  a  captain. 

The  first  Baptist  preachers  were  William  Sears  and  James  Ratliff. 

In  the  early  settlements  the  wolves  were  very  troublesome,  and  the 
settlers  frequently  had  to  turn  out  and  hunt  them.  Mr.  Blackwell 
remembers  going  with  Alexander  Goodding,  Jesse  Walker  and  Benja- 
min Walker,  catching  three  near  where  the  mining  town  of  Bevier  is 
situated. 

The  woods  and  prairies  were  thick  with  game,  but  more  interest 
was  taken  in  hunting  bee  trees.  Every  fall  parties  would  go  out  with 
teams  and  travel  northward  many  miles,  and  come  home  loaded  with 
the  richest  honey.  It  was  this  continual  travel  up  and  down  the 
Grand  Prairie  (on  which  Macon  City  is  now  built)  that  gave  the  trail 
the  name  of  Bee  Trail,  but  the  settlements  have  now  pretty  much 
obliterated  all  traces  of  the  hunter's  track. 

Billy's  branch,  a  creek  between  Macon  and  Laporte,  was  named 
after  Mr.  Blackwell  by  the  boys,  simply  because  in  cutting  a  bee-tree, 
the  tree  fell  and  crippled  his  dog. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1829,  Robert  Myers,  who  now  lives  near 
Atlanta,  came  to  Mr.  Blackwell's  house  in  Howard  county,  to  inform 
him  that  the  Indians  were  killing  the  stock  and  threatening  the  lives 
of  the  settlers  on  the  Grand  Chariton,  west  of  where  Kirksville  is  now 
located.  James  Myers,  his  brother,  had  sent  word  to  his  father  to 
raise  some  men  and  come  up  there  and  protect  the  settlers  viz.  : 
James  Myers,  Nathan  Richardson,  Isaac  Gross,  Stephen  Gross  and 
Reuben  Myrtle.  On  the  15th  about  25  men,  which  number  was  after- 
wards increased,  started.  The  first  night  they  encamped  on  the  Grand 
Narrows,  where  Sim  Cannon  afterwards  lived.  There  the  company 
chose  Fields  Trammel  for  captain  and  William  Guess  first  lieutenant . 
On  the  16th  they  took  up  their  line  of  march,  and  that  night  they 
reached  the  settlement.  Then  a  council  was  held.  The  Indians  had 
left,  and  the  question  was  whether  the  company  should  pursue  them. 
The  result  was  a  determination  to  follow  the  Indians,  which  was  done  on 
the  morning  of  the  17th.  After  marching  about  10  miles  the  troops 
came  to  the  Indian  encampment.  When  the  company  came  in  sight 
of  the  Indians  they  became  excited  and  rode  forward  in  disorder. 
When  they  got  to  the  camp  they  formed  a  partial  line  on  the  rear  of 
the  camp. 


788  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Capt.  Trammell  rode  up  and  called  for  their  interpreter,  when  two 
Indians,  one  a  chief  called  Pumpkins,  came  up  and  shook  hands  with 
the  captain.  He  asked  the  chief  what  tribe  they  belonged  to,  and 
they  said  the  Iowa.  After  that  Mr.  Blackvvell's  attention  was  called 
to  John  Myers,  who  called  to  the  Indians  to  lay  down  their  guns. 
The  Indians  numbered  about  50  warriors,  and  were  loading  and  prim- 
ino-  their  guns.  He  next  heard  the  squaws  make  a  mournful  yell  or 
scream  and  then  they  broke  for  the  woods.  Mr.  Blackwell  then 
heard  the  report  of  a  gun  when  he  sprang  off  his  horse  and  held  him 
by  the  bridle.  There  was  at  this  time  a  general  flight  or  firing  in 
every  direction.  He  saw  an  Indian  with  a  gun  leveled  at  him,  as  he 
supposed,  and  he  aimed  to  shoot  the  Indian,  but  his  gun  snapped. 
He  then  took  his  gun  from  his  face  and  prepared  to  fire,  when  the  In- 
dian stepped  behind  a  forked  tree.  He  then  aimed  to  shoot  him 
between  the  forks  of  the  tree,  but  his  gun  snapped  again.  (This 
was  the  day  of  the  flint  locks.)  After  the  gun  snapped  the  second 
time  he  looked  around  and  saw  that  his  comrades  had  pretty  much  all 
retreated.  He  retreated,  too,  but  leading  his  horse,  about  100  yards, 
when  he  halted  to  see  what  the  Indians  were  doing.  In  a  moment 
James  Myers  came  up  and  said  he  was  wounded,  and  Blackwell  gave 
him  up  his  horse,  which  Myers  mounted.  Blackwell  told  him  to  go 
on  and  rally  the  men,  that  they  could  whip  the  Indians.  They  went 
on.  The  next  thing  Blackwell  saw  was  James  Winn  trying  to  get  up 
behind  Myrtle,  which  he  finally  did  after  getting  to  a  log.  They  then 
rode  off.  The  next  thing  he  saw  was  'Squire  John  Myers,  who  ran 
into  the  brush  and  hid.  He  went  on  and  overtook  several  of  the  men 
who  had  halted,  among  whom  was  James  Myers,  who  hallooed  that 
they  had  killed  his  father.  Mr.  B.  remarked  that  he  was  mistaken. 
In  a  few  moments  a  loud  report  was  heard  from  a  gun.  He  turned 
to  look  and  saw  several  Indians  standing  where  he  had  seen  Myers 
stop.  At  this  time  the  report  of  at  least  four  guns  was  heard,  and  in 
a  few  moments  several  more  shots  were  heard,  at  which  time  the  mare 
on  which  Winn  and  Myrtle  were  mounted  was  shot.  The  men  then 
broke  and  left  Mr.  B.  on  foot.  He  ran  about  100  yards  to  where  the 
mare  had  fallen  with  her  feet  upon  some  limbs  of  a  fallen  tree. 
Winn's  leg  was  fastened  under  the  mare.  He  asked  Mr.  B.  to  roll 
the  mare  off  him,  but  he  could  not  do  so.  Mr.  B,  then  took  him  by 
the  hand  and  assisted  him  in  getting  loose.  Winn  jumped  up,  when 
they  both  broke  into  a  run.  They  kept  close  together  for  70  or  80 
yards,  after  which  Mr.  Blackwell  turned  and  saw  that  Winn  had  left 
the  trail  and  stopped  and  exclaimed,  "  Boys,  I  am  gone  !  "  Black- 
well  ran  on  about  100  yards  further  when  he  heard  two  more  guns 
fired,  and  he  supposed  those  shots  had  killed  Winn.  Blackwell  ran 
on  several  hundred  yards,  when  he  came  to  a  horse  hitched  for  him 
by  Robert  Myers.  The  bottoms  were  very  muddy  and  the  nag  soon 
gave  out,  and  Mr.  Blackwell  footed  it  until  he  overtook  a  part  of  the 
company  at  the  cabins  or  settlements,  where  Nathan  Richardson  and 
the  others  l)efore  mentioned  lived.  He  found  at  the  cabins  John  Myers 
and  John  Asbell,  who  were  each  wounded  in  the  hand,  Myers  with  a 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  789 

ball  and  Asbell  with  an  arrow.  Capt.  Trammel  (father  of  Philip 
Trammel)  was  wounded,  and  a  portion  of  the  company  was  with  him. 
As  the  company  retreated  they  took  the  women  and  children  with 
them  to  Howard  county. 

In  a  few  days  a  company  was  orj^anized  in  Randolph,  under  Capt. 
Sconce,  and  proceeded  to  the  battle-ground.  Mr.  Blackwell  accom- 
panied them  as  a  member.  When  they  arrived  there,  they  found 
Winn  dead  where  Blackwell  had  seen  him  last.  (James  Winn  was  a 
brother  of  Thomas  Winn,  of  Eound  Grove  township.)  The  Indians 
had  mutilated  his  body  with  fire.  They  also  found  'Squire  John 
Myers  dead  where  Mr.  Blackwell  had  seen  him  last,  shot  with  five  balls. 
They  went  on  to  the  encampment  and  found  Powell  Owenby  dead  on 
the  ground,  also  two  Indians.  Another  Indian  was  reported  dead. 
Gen.  Owens  came  out  with  a  force  the  next  day  and  found  another 
dead  Indian. 

The  Indians  were  soon  afterwards  arrested  by  an  Indian  agent,  and 
they  were  tried  at  Huntsville,  but  it  being  acknowledged  by  James 
Myers  that  he  had  fired  the  first  gun,  the  Indians  were  released. 

There  was  no  more  trouble  Avith  the  Indians  in  this  part  of  the 
State,  and  everythins'  was  quiet  on  the  Indian  question  until  the 
Black  Hawk  War  of  1832. 

Other  old  settlers  were  S.  F.  Blackwell,  son  of  William  Blackwell ; 
John  Walker,  from  South  Carolina ;  Judge  Isaac  Goodding,  from 
Kentucky;  Erbin  East,  from  Kentucky;  William  Brackin,  Albert 
Apperson,  John  Bell,  Sydney  F.  Blackwell  and  Nathan  Richardson, 
from  Kentucky. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  James  Blackwell, 
the  son  of  William  Blackwell,  who  now  lives  in  Henry  county,  Mo. 
He  was  born  in  1833.  The  first  resident  physician  was  Dr.  Charles 
Atteberry.  Dr.  Charles  McLean,  however,  of  Randolph  county, 
practiced  in  the  township  as  early  as  1838. 

Several  years  ago  there  was  a  post-office  in  the  township  called 
Sumner,  located  on  section  21.  This  was  discontinued  and  another 
post-office  established  about  the  year  1880  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
township  called  Lyda.  Wells  Floyd  was  the  first  postmaster ; 
Maurice  Maloney  is  the  present  one.  The  first  religious  services 
were  held  at  Moccasinville  in  a  log  building  which  was  erected  for  a 
school-house  and  church. 

Perry  Davis  was  the  earliest  school  teacher.  John  Floyd  was  the 
first  blacksmith,  and  opened  a  shop  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town- 
ship about  the  year  1861  or  1862.  S.  F.  Blackwell  was  the  chairman 
of  the  first  board  of  trustees.  Porter  Owenby  and  Lucinda  Walker 
were  the  first  couple  married  in  the  township,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed by  Rev.  Cook. 


790  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


JUDGE    ISAAC     GOODDING. 
[From  Macon  True  Democrat.] 

Judge  Isaac  Goodding  was  born  in  Wayne  oouuty,  Ky.,  in  1813. 
His  parents  died  when  he  was  young.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  1829, 
and  first  stopped  in  Randolph  county  with  his  brother  Abraham,  who 
had  come  to  Missouri  in  1816,  and  first  stopped  in  Howard  county, 
and  afterwards  moved  out  and  built  the  first  cabin  north  of  where 
Huntsville  now  stands,  where  he  entered  the  first  land  in  his  town- 
ship. 

Judge  Goodding  lived  with  him  four  years,  and  in  the  year  1832 
came  to  Macon  county  and  built  him  a  shanty  five  or  six  miles  south- 
east of  where  Macon  now  stands.  He  kept  bachelor's  hall  in  the 
winter  of  1833,  10  miles  from  where  any  one  but  himself  lived.  That 
winter  he  trapped  and  killed  six  very  large  wolves,  and  was  at  the 
killing  of  one  panther,  three  bears  and  a  great  many  deer  and  other 
small  game.  The  next  fall  he  built  his  cabin  on  the  place  where 
Derett  Peyton  afterwards  lived.  This  was  the  first  cabin  that  was 
ever  built  in  that  neighborhood,  and  the  help  to  raise  it  came  from  10 
to  15  miles.  Mr.  G.  married  and  moved  into  that  cabin  in  1834,  and 
soon  had  plenty  of  neighbors,  for  that  part  of  the  county  settled  up 
very  fast  that  year  and  the  next.  Most  of  them  were  new  beginners  ; 
had  but  little  and  needed  but  little.  The  only  trouble  in  raising  hogs 
was  to  keep  the  wolves  from  eating  the  pigs.  When  they  wanted 
venison  they  went  out  with  their  guns  and  Idlled  the  fattest ;  when 
they  wanted  honey  they  went  out  and  cut  a  bee-tree  ;  when  they 
wanted  preserves  they  gathered  crab  apples  and  made  them  ;  when  they 
wanted  pies  they  cut  a  pumpkin  and  made  them,  and  with  all  the  im- 
provements the  people  have  not  improved  much  on  the  pumpkin  pie  and 
honey.  They  were  all  full  of  life,  humor,  friendship  and  sociability. 
Sometimes  the  men  would  have  cabin  and  stable  raisings;  the  women 
would  have  quiltings  at  the  same  time,  then  they  would  turn  out  for 
four  or  five  miles  round  and  have  a  nice  time  generally.  Occasionally 
they  took  the  babies  along,  then  every  mother  had  the  prettiest  baby  ; 
every  man  had  the  best  gun  and  dog.  There  were  no  little  tricks  to 
deceive  any  one.  As  Hon.  A.  P.  McCall  used  to  say:  "  These  were 
the  days  of  honesty."  If  any  one  was  sick  they  were  visited  ;  if  his 
crop  needed  work,  they  worked  it  for  him  without  fee  or  reward. 
After  awhile  the  children  were  large  enough  to  go  to  school,  then  the 
neighbors  got  together,  selected  a  site  for  a  school-house,  and  all 
hands  turned  out  and  soon  had  a  comfortable  school-house.  A  teacher 
(generally  old  men)  would  apply  for  the  school.  He  would  have  his 
'*  article  of  agreement "  to  teach  a  three  months'  school  for  $2.50  per 
scholar. 

Soon  after  they  got  their  school-houses,  the  preachers  of  the  gospel 
came  and  preached  to  them.  Sometimes  they  preached  in  private 
houses.  The  Old  Baptists  came  first  in  some  places  and  the  Methodists 
in  others.     These  two  denominations  furnished  the  pioneer  preachers. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  791 

All  hands  and  the  cook  turned  out  to  preaching  —  some  on  foot,  some 
on  horseback,  and  some  in  ox-wagons,  and  all  plainly  dressed,  mostly 
in  their  own  manufacture.  If  some  of  our  modern  young  ladies  and 
gents  had  stepped  into  a  church  at  that  day  it  would  have  caused  about 
as  much  excitement  as  a  monkey.  The  young  ladies  would  walk  for 
miles  barefooted  to  preaching.  When  they  got  near  the  house,  they 
would  stop,  brush  the  dust  off  their  feet  and  put  on  their  shoes. 

They  were  governed  by  the  whip-poor-will.  When  they  sung  in 
the  spring  they  threw  off  their  winter  shoes,  and  had  no  more  use  for 
them  until  they  ceased  singing  in  the  fall. 

Such  things  as  boots  w^ere  hardly  known  in  the  land. 
The  most  of  the  settlers  settled  in  and  cultivated  timber  land  for 
two  reasons  :  — 

First,  they  were  not  able  to  open  a  prairie  farm,  having  no  wagons 
and  teams  to  haul  rails  or  break  prairie. 

Secondly,  they  had  some  doubts  about  the  prairie  being  fit  for 
cultivation,  as  they  were  mostly  from  Kentucky,  and  had  never  seen 
prairie  cultivated. 

In  clearing  his  first  field,  Mr.  Goodding  killed  upwards  of  twenty 
rattlesnakes.  He  never  had  a  law  suit  in  his  life.  He  came  to  Mis- 
souri a  poor  orphan  boy,  without  a  dollar,  and  had  to  borrow  the 
money  to  enter  his  first  forty  acres  of  land. 

He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  40  odd  years,  and 
was  always  very  liberal  in  his  views,  giving  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship to  any  one  that  bore  good  fruit.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  for  over  40  years.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
county  court  with  S.  S.  Lingo  and  John  D.  Smith  for  six  years,  be- 
ginning in  1856.  At  that  time  the  county  lev}'  was  only  20  cents  on 
the  hundred  dollars.  He  was  at  that  time,  like  Nimrod  of  old,  "a 
mighty  hunter,"  and  wore  buckskin  pants  and  hunting-shirt. 

He  once  attended  a  neighborhood  dance  ;  a  majority  of  the  young  men 
were  dressed  in  buckskin  clothes.  After  dancing  awhile  before  a 
large  fire,  they  began  sweating  freely,  and  it  is  said  they  smelt  very 
much  like  the  fifteenth  amendment. 

He  traveled  the  "  Grand  Divide  "  when  there  was  no  sig:n  of  house 
or  farm  in  sight  of  the  road  from  the  vicinity  of  Huntsville  to  the 
Iowa  line.  It  was  winter  —  the  prairie  all  burnt  over  and  the  earth 
covered  with  snow.  He  said  he  thought  it  was  the  most  dismal  look- 
ing country  he  ever  saw,  and  that  he  would  not  have  given  ten  cents 
an  acre  for  all  the  land  on  the  route. 

He  camped  one  night  where  the  Wabash  hotel  now  stands.  The 
largest  vessel  that  he  had  to  hold  water  was  a  pint  cup.  The  water 
was  all  frozen  into  ice.  He  went  down  the  "  branch  "  and  got  a  cake 
of  ice  and  propped  it  up  before  the  fire  and  set  his  cup  under  the  drip 
and  had  plenty  of  water.     This  ice  water  did  not  cost  a  cent. 

In  1838  he  was  appointed  overseer  to  cut  and  open  a  road  from 
Bloomington  to  Centerville.  A  part  of  the  hands  allotted  to  him  lived 
12  miles  from  any  part  of  the  road.     While  notifying  the  hands,  he 

45 


792  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

went  to  an  Indian  encampment  near  where  Vienna  now  stands.  He 
had  a  good  deal  of  fun  trying  to  swap  horses  with  the  Indians.  They 
offered  him  two  ponies  for  his  horse,  but  he  would  not  swap,  and  they 
(lid  not  work  the  road.  He  once  ran  a  couple  of  Indians  a  very  tight 
race  for  200  yards,  but  they  could  not  catch  him. 

He  once  came  very  near  ending  his  life  in  the  following  manner : 
He  had  been  in  the  habit,  when  a  coon  was  treed,  to  cut  and  lodge 
sapplings  against  the  coon  tree,  and  climb  and  cut  the  coon  out. 
In  going  for  a  coon  tree  once,  after  he  had  got  up,  in  cutting  the 
limb,  he  came  very  near  cutting  the  very  limb  that  he  was  standing 
on.  If  he  had,  the  fall  would  have  undoubtedly  stopped  his  breath 
forever. 

Where  the  city  of  Macon  now  stands  was  at  one  time  a  great  place 
to  kill  deer  and  other  game.  He  was  once  hunting  near  there  when  a 
deer  came  running  by  him.  He  looked  just  behind  him  and  there  was 
a  very  large  wolf  after  him.  The  wolf  was  gaining,  and  he  shot  the 
wolf  and  let  the  deer  go.  At  another  time  he  was  running  a  deer 
near  where  Macon  now  stands,  and  his  hat  fell  off,  but  he  kept  on  and 
caught  the  deer,  and  when  he  went  back  the  cows  had  eaten  it  up,  so 
he  had  .to  go  home  hatless.  There  are  several  living  witnesses  to  this 
adventure. 

After  the  change  in  the  township  organization  law,  reducing  the 
number  of  judges  from  25  to  five.  Judge  Goodding  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  county  court  from  the  first  district,  embracing  Eagle, 
Ten  Mile,  Jackson,  Liberty,  Lyda,  La  Plata  and  Johnson  town- 
ships. 

Judge  Goodding  died  at  his  old  home  in  Eagle  township,  on  the  8th 
day  of  September,  1880,  aged  57  years.  He  left  a  widow  and  a  num- 
ber of  children  and  firreat-o-randchildreu  to  lament  his  death.  Per- 
haps  no  man  in  the  county  was  better  known  or  more  universally 
beloved,  or  left  a  family  so  highly  respected. 

LIBERTY   TOWNSHIP 

occupies  the  central  position  of  the  county  and  was  organized  in  1837, 
during  the  sitting  of  the  first  county  court.  Its  territory,  however, 
has  been  greatly  reduced  in  size,  the  township  now  embracing  an 
area  of  only  36  square  miles.  It  is  admirably  watered,  its  surface 
being  veined  by  the  East  and  Middle  forks  of  the  Chariton  river  and 
by  Sweezer  creek.  It  is  a  good  average  township,  agriculturally,  and 
has  a  great  number  of  farmers,  as  shown  by  the  vote,  which  reached 
275  at  the  election  of  1883.  There  are  now  four  churches  and  five 
school-houses  in  the  township,  includino;  the  Bloominsfton  Hisch 
School,  all  of  which  are  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  people  (the 
original  settlers,  at  least),  were  Kentuckians  generally,  and  the  pres- 
ent population  is  steady,  moral  and  industrious. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON   COUNTY.  793 


FIRST    SETTLERS. 


James  Wells,  Clement  Hutchinson,  George  M.  Taylor,  George  W. 
Green,  W.  T.  Gilman,  Absalom  Lewis,  Solomon  Milam,  Allen  D. 
Green,  A.  L.  Gilstrap,  Jesse  Gilstrap,  Jacob  Gilstrap,  Joseph  Griffin, 
Enoch  Griffin,  Charles  A.  Warfield,  Bues  Milam,  Benjamin  Milam, 
Willis  E.  Green,  Warren  C.  Smoot,  William  Wiggans,  Robert  C. 
Armstrong,  John  Landre,  Wesley  Cherry,  William  H.  Proctor,  David 
Seney,  James  B.  Wiggans,  James  B.  Giddings,  Canada  Owenby,  Mar- 
tin Humphreys,  William  Holman,  David  Wright,  Armstead  Smoot, 
Nathan  B.  Garrett,  Mark  Dunn,  Enoch  Johnson,  Haley  Andrews, 
John  Smoot,  Andrew  Millsap. 

A  few  of  the  early  business  men  of  Bloomington  were  Roderick  L. 
Shackelford,  A.  P.  McCall,  B.  F.  Sharp  (hotel  keeper)  and  Austin 
McKinney. 

In  Liberty  township  was  located  the  first  seat  of  justice  in  Macon 
county  ;  here  were  gathered  the  pioneer  lawyers,  the  judges,  the  doc- 
tors, the  officials,  and  that  heterogeneous  class  of  adventurers  who 
follow  in  the  wake,  but  never  in  the  forefront,  of  civilization.  Here, 
for  many  years,  was  the  seat  of  power  and  influence,  and  here  were 
witnessed  some  of  the  first  efibrts  at  farmina:  and  the  buildino-  of 
manufactories,  which  were  but  an  earnest  of  what  may  be  seen  in  the 
county  to-day.  Here,  too,  occurred  some  of  the  first  marriages  and 
first  births  and  here,  too,  repose  the  ashes  of  some  of  the  earliest 
dead. 

We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Arthur  Borron  for  the  following  sketch 
and  recollections  of  the  town  of  Bloomington  and  Liberty  township  :  — 

The  prominent  settlers  in  Bloomington  in  1840  were  Robert  George, 
commissioner  for  building  the  court-house,  which  began  the  following 
year ;  Westley  Halliburton  and  A.  L.  Gilstrap  were  then  contem- 
13lating  the  study  of  law,  in  which  they  afterwards  achieved  an  honor- 
able distinction  ;  D.  C.  Hubbard,  then  county  clerk  ;  George  M.  Tay- 
lor, county  surveyor;  John  W.  Baird,  afterwards  county  judge; 
George  A.  Shortridge,  in  charge  of  a  store  for  his  brother-in-law,  Ab- 
salom Lewis,  and  some  others. 

About  a  year  or  two  after  Jabez  N.  Brown  moved  to  Bloomington, 
soon  taking  a  prominent  place  as  a  good  lawyer  and  an  honest,  relia- 
ble man,  filling  the  office  of  county  treasurer  for  several  years  with 
credit  to  himself.  Some  time  afterwards  Thomas  G.  Sharp  moved  in 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  law,  and  here,  also,  Benjamin  F.  Dy- 


794  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

sart  began  his  professional    career,   who,    for  his   ability  and  legal 
knowledge,  stands  high  in  public  estimation. 

Of  the  medical  faculty  —  in  1840  two  young  physicians  of  consid- 
erable promise  were  practicing  —  Drs.  Wood  &  Baker  —  who  sold 
their  office  to  Dr.  Borron,  and,  both  moving  to  the  Platte  purchase, 
soon  after  died  ;  also.  Dr.  W.  H.  Proctor,  who,  after  a  residence  of 
12  years  in  Macon  county,  moved  to  Putnam  county,  in  this  State. 

For  a  few  years  several  physicians  settled  in  Bloomington,  the  prin- 
cipal of  whom  were  Dr.  Clarke  and  Dr.  A.  L.  Knight,  Virginians, 
both  of  whom,  for  education  and  moral  character,  stood  high  in  the 
estimation  of  all.  After  that,  Dr.  James  B.  Winro,  who  had  for 
many  years  done  an  extensive  practice  in  the  lower  part  of  this  county, 
located  in  Bloomington  —  a  man  of  high  standing  as  a  physician  and 
gentleman  and  who,  after  a  residence  of  two  or  three  years,  removed 
to  Macon  City,  where  he  at  present  lives. 

In  Divinity  —  the  Rey.  James  Ratliff  and  Rev.  William  Sears  were 
the  acknowledged  leaders  of  the  church  of  Old  School  Baptists.  Mr. 
Ratliff  was  a  man  of  strong,  but  rather  uncultivated  intellect ;  positive 
in  his  religious  views  and  not  wanting  in  self-assertion,  he  was  looked 
up  to  by  a  large  sect  of  Christians. 

About  three  years  after  Bloomington  Lodge  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 
was  chartered,  Mr.  Ratliff  made  himself  known  to  the  members  as  a 
Mason  of  25  years  standing,  stating  that  he  had  been  waiting  to  see  of 
what  material  the  lodge  was  composed,  and  that  now,  being  satisfied 
with  the  standing  @f  the  members,  he  wished  to  be  affiliated.  Per- 
haps this  declaration,  though  a  great  shock  to  his  church,  might  have 
passed  over,  but,  unfortunately,  some  too  zealous  members,  after  con- 
siderable difficulty,  induced  him  to  become  orator  at  a  public  installa- 
tion. This  brought  things  to  a  crisis.  The  church  labored  hard  with 
him  to  renounce  Masonry  and  withdraw  from  the  lodge.  He  replied 
to  them  "  that  he  was  a  Mason  before  he  became  a  member  of  the 
church,  and  that  he  knew  of  nothing  in  Masonry  that  could  not  meet 
his  conscientious  approval." 

Finding  him  immovable,  he  was  excluded  from  the  township.  The 
writer  chronicles  this  as  exemplifying  the  stern  Puritan-like  enforce- 
ment of  the  rules  of  their  church,  in  parting  with  their  ablest  member, 
and  the  firm  integrity  of  an  honest  man,  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice 
rather  than  violate  his  conviction  of  right. 

The  Rev.  S.  B.  F.  Caldwell  afterwards  moved  to  Bloomington, 
organizing  a  large  and  influential  Church  of  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians.    He  was  a  man  of  rather  distinguished  presence,  gentle  man- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  795 

ners,  and  a  fluent,  forcible  speaker,  and   was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
his  congregation  and  a  large  circle  of  admiring  friends. 

The  Rev.  Walter  Toole  presided  most  acceptably  over  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church.  He  was  an  earnest  minister  and  a  devout 
Christian. 

Other  ministers  held  meetings  occasionally,  but  as  they  did  not 
reside  in  Bloomington,  mention  will  only  be  made  of  the  Rev.  Allen 
Wright,  of  what  is  termed  the  Christian  Church,  an  eminent  divine 
and  an  able  preacher.  These  are  included  between  1840  and  1853. 
Of  the  business  men  of  Bloomington  may  be  named  George  A.  Short- 
ridge,  William  E.  Moberly,  James  H.  Bagwill,  John,  Thomas  and 
George  Sharpe,  John  Medly  and  Alfred  Tobin,  all  of  whom  did  a  good 
business  and  had  many  friends. 

Mr.  Shortridofe  put  a  bank  at  Bloomino;ton  about  the  begfinuins:  of 
the  War  of  1861  which  was  raided  and,  unfortunately,  a  large  amount 
of  money  stolen  which  was  never  recovered.  Mr.  Shortridge  moved 
to  Macon  City,  where  he  removed  the  bank,  and  died  soon  afterwards, 
much  regretted  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  as  an  honest  man,  and  Chris- 
tian gentleman. 

The  writer  would  deem  this  sketch  incomplete  with  the  names 
of  Col.  R.  J.  Johnson,  of  Virginia,  and  Howel  Rose,  omitted.  The 
former  was  a  man  of  considerable  wealth,  owning  a  valuable  property 
near  Bloomington.  A  true  Democrat  in  feeling,  esteeming  a  man 
not  for  his  money,  but  for  his  honest  worth,  and  ready  to  assist  a 
poor  man  whom  he  knew  to  be  honest,  he  was  a  man  of  rare  good 
judgment,  with  the  urbanity  and  ease  of  manner  nature  bestows  only 
on  a  chosen  few. 

Mr.  Rose,  who  built  a  mill  on  the  Chariton,  died  soon  after  it  was 
completed.  He  was  a  good  citizen  and  endowed  with  a  remarkable 
engineering  ability  that,  had  his  life  been  spared,  would,  under 
favorable  circumstances,  enabled  him  to  have  made  his  mark  in  the 
world. 

The  writer  can  not  close  without  noticins:  the  influence  of  a  crood, 
true  woman  on  the  fortunes  of  her  family. 

If  in  traveling  through  the  country  40  years  ago,  you  were  to  find  a 
comfortable  double  log-house  with  plenty  of  stock,  sheep,  etc.,  and 
everything  in  order,  you  may  know  that  farmer  had  a  smart,  manag- 
ing woman  at  the  head  of  his  domestic  affairs.  If  you  enter  you  will 
find  the  family-room  clean  and  tidy.  Large  quantities  of  spun  yarn, 
woolen  and  cotton  arrano-ed  alono;  the  walls.  In  an  ante-room  stands 
a  loom,  spinning  wheels  and  all  the  implements  of  domestic  industry. 


796  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

A  matronly,  elderly  lady,  plainly  but  neatly  dressed,  welcomes  you 
kindly  and,  if  near  raeal  time,  invites  you  to  partake  with  the 
family. 

If  towards  evening,  you  are  invited  to  stay  over  night.  After  supper 
is  over,  the  things  cleared  away  and  the  fire  replenished,  the  mother 
quietly  brings  out  her  work  and  her  daughters  arrange  for  their  several 
duties.  The  older  daughters  spin  and  perform  the  manipulations 
needed  to  fit  the  yarn  for  the  loom  ;  a  smaller  one  cards  and  a  little  one 
picks  the  wool.  My  host  converses  with  you,  but  the  kindly 
look  he  occasionally  turns  towards  the  partner  of  his  joys  and  sorrows 
must  show  you  that  he  appreciates  her  work. 

Occasionally  she  puts  in  a  word,  but  all  the  time  keeps  her  eye  on 
the  children  to  see  that  they  properly  perform  their  work. 

After  a  while  you  retire  to  your  couch,  and  the  husband  and  sons 
who  assist   on  the  farm,   and  the  little  ones  follow  your  example; 
but  the  matron  and  her  older  daughters  will    continue  their  labors 
perhaps  to  11  o'clock,  and  then  be  up  before  daylight  for  the  tasks  of 
another  day. 

In  the  morning,  after  breakfast,  you  will  find,  on  inquiry,  you 
have  nothing  to  pay,  and  if  you  have  made  yourself  agreeable,  claimed 
kin,  however  remote,  or  even  acquaintance,  with  some  old  friend  in 
Kentucky  or  elsewhere,  you  receive  a  kindly  invitation  to  call  again 
should  you  ever  pass  that  way  in  future,  and  when  given  it  is  meant. 

And  what  is  done  with  the  product  of  the  family  labor?  you  may 
ask.  It  is  made  into  mixed  jeans  for  the  Sunday  clothes  of  the 
husband  and  sons,  and  bark  jeans  for  every  day  wear ;  flannel  and 
linsey  dress  for  the  mother  and  her  daughters,  blankets,  etc.,  and  the 
balance  goes  to  the  store  to  barter  for  any  little  fancy  articles  they  do 
not  make  themselves. 

And  this  an  every-day  picture  of  the  olden  time.  A  woman  of 
this  kind  is  a  main  factor  in  her  husband's  prosperity.  A  daughter- 
in-law  told  the  writer  that  for  many  years  at  the  outset  of  her  married 
life  she  had,  from  the  proceeds  of  her  sheep,  geese  and  poultry,  kept  in 
clothes  her  family  and  bought  all  their  groceries,  whereby  her  husband 
was  enabled  to  lay  out  his  earnings  in  increasing  his  stock  and  adding 
more  land  to  his  farm.  Such  a  woman  is  beyond  price,  and  if  she 
does  not  bring  a  fortune  she  will  save  one.  Like  the  mainspring 
of  a  watch,  she  keeps  all  the  wheels  running,  and  when  she  stops,  it 
too  often  ends  in  a  ruined,  broken  up  family.  During  a  long  life, 
the  writer  has  found  that  those  who  have  distinguished  themselves 
most  have  almost  always  had  superior  women  for  mothers.     Bodily 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  797 

vigor  and  constitution  may  come  from  the  father,  but  the  intellect  of 
a  child  is  due  to  its  mother. 

The  town  of  Bloomington  was  laid  out  on  the  south-east  corner  of 
the  south-west  quarter  of  the  south-east  quarter,  and  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  east  half  of  the  south-east  quarter  of  section  27,  and  on 
the  north-east  corner  of  the  north-west  quarter  of  the  north-east 
quarter,  and  the  north-west  corner  of  the  east  half  of  the  north-east 
quarter  of  section  34,  township  58,  range  15,  embracing  50  acres  of 
land,  deeded  to  the  county  in  December,  1837,  by  James  C.  Cochran 
and  C.  C.  Hubbard,  in  consideration  that  the  seat  of  justice  should  be 
located  upon  it.  The  plat  of  the  town  was  not  filed  until  May,  1845. 
The  town  was  laid  out  by  James  Ratlifi',  who  was  appointed  commis- 
sioner in  June,  1838. 

A  temporary  court-house  (wooden  building)  was  erected  on  block 
3  in  1838,  under  the  superintendency  of  Joseph  Owenby,  which  was 
20x30  feet  in  dimensions. 

At  the  Nc)vember  term  of  the  county  court,  1839,  an  order  was 
made  for  the  erection  of  another  court-house  to  be  constructed  of 
brick.     This,  however,  was  not  completed  until  about  the  year  1852. 

After  the  removal  of  the  county  seat,  the  court-house  was  torn  down 
and  made  into  a  church  and  Masonic  hall. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  county  court  to  name  the  county  seat 
Bloomfield,  but  there  being  another  town  of  that  name  in  Stoddard 
county,  Mo.,  it  was,  at  the  suggestion  of  Jefferson  Morrow,  called 
Bloomington,  which  name  was  approved  and  adopted  by  the  court. 

Here  was  published  the  Bloomington  Gazette,  the  first  paper  (a 
weekly)  that  was  established  in  the  county.  The  first  number  of  this 
paper  was  issued  May  28,  1850,  by  Love  &  Gilstrap.  The  name  of 
the  paper  was  afterwards  changed  to  the  Macon  Legion,  which  was 
much  enlarged  and  much  improved.  James  M.  Love  was  the  editor 
and  proprietor.  In  looking  over  one  of  the  first  issues  of  the  Gazette^ 
we  find  the  names  of  the  following  business  and  professional  men 
among  the  advertisers:  A.  L.  Gilstrap,  Owen  Wilson,  Jacob  Gilstrap, 
T.  G.  Fladeland  &  Co.,  M.  H.  Smith,  A.  P.  McCall,  M.  J.  Winn,  A. 
T.  Harper,  G.  A.  &  B.  F.  Shortridge.  Among  the  professional  men  : 
T.  G.  Sharp,  attorney  ;  Bright  G.  Barrow,  attorney  ;  S.  S.  Fox,  attor- 
ney ;  W.  H.  Proctor,  M.D.  ;  James  Matson,  M.D.  ;  W.  M.  Pulliara, 
nurseryman ;  Stern  &  Brother,  tanyard,  five  miles  west  of  Bloom- 
ington. 

In    1856  the  town   was   favored  with  the  presence  of  Thomas  H. 
Benton,  who  was  at  that  time  a  candidate  for  Governor.     The  *'  Jack- 


798  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

son  Resolutions"  constituted  the  burden  of  his  speech*  The  people, 
to  the  number  of  1,000,  met  in  a  grove  near  the  edo-e  of  the  town, 
and  here  the  great  man  entertained  them  for  fully  three  hours.  He 
also  discussed  the  advantages  and  practicability  of  the  Pacific  railroad, 
not  forgetting  to  pay  his  respects  to  his  enemies,  whom  he  compared 
to  prairie  hawks,  who  had  been  pecking  at  him  all  over  the  State.  So 
strong  was  the  anti-Benton  feeling  among  some  of  the  people  of 
Bloomington  that  a  store  opened  in  that  town  was  called  the  '<  Anti- 
Benton  Store." 

The  early  settlers  of  Bloomington  and  surrounding  country  were 
fond  of  the  turf.  A  race  track  was  opened  near  the  town,  and  here 
until  1854  the  h)vers  of  fine  horses  were  wont  to  congregate,  to  test 
the  speed  of  different  horses. 

Bloomington  grew  and  flourished  as  a  place  of  business,  until  the 
location  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  and  the  North  Missouri  rail- 
roads at  Macon  City,  a  place  at  that  time  of  about  3,000  people,  when 
it  was  thought  that  the  best  interests  of  the  county  demanded  a  change 
in  the  location  of  the  county  seat.  ^ 

The  removal  of  the  county  seat  was  effected  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  which  was  passed  in  1863,  thereby  saving  the  citizens  of 
the  county  a  long  and  bitter  fight,  which  would  have  ensued  had  an 
attempt  been  made  to  change  the  seat  of  justice  by  a  vote  of  the 
people. 

Bloomington  with  its  hopes  and  ambitions,  containing  a  population 
at  that  time  (18(33)  of  500  inhabitants,  has  gradually  declined  from 
that  time  to  this  ;  it  is  still  a  small  business  point,  with  less  than  150 
inhabitants. 

SECRET    ORDERS. 

Old  Bloomington  Lodge  I.  O.  0.  F.  —  Was  organized  in  1853. 
George  M.  Taylor,  Wilson  L.  Fletcher,  James  W.  Cook,  George  L. 
Tanner,  Henry  Shook,  A.  J.  Seney,  James  M.  Love,  C.  M.  Pilcher, 
Carter  M.  Smith,  William  Burris,  Isaac  Summers,  Jacob  Gilstrap, 
Owen  Wilson,  William  Ratliff,  John  T.  Johnston,  Daniel  Nunley,  John 
G.  Wright,  Thomas  J.  White,  Rufus  C.  White,  John  A.  Dale,  Will- 


1  Macon  was  at  the  time  occupied  by  soldiers  of  the  Union  army.  Everything 
was  in  an  uncertain  condition;  the  civil  authorities  were  in  a  large  measure  subor- 
dinated to  military  rule,  and  it  was  thought  that  the  county  recgrds  would  be  safer 
if  they  were  at  Macon  than  they  were  at  Bloomington.  In  short,  the  county  seat 
was  brought  to  Macon  City,  as  a  kind  of  military  necessity.  Had  the  question  been 
submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  the  seat  of  justice  would  unquestionably  have  re- 
mained at  Bloomington  for  at  least  a  number  of  years  longer. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  799 

iam  J.  Dale,  J^  H.  Biswell,  A.  P.  Linn,  A.  J.  Marmaduke,  Benjamin 
H.  Weatherford  and  Harry  Howard,  were  the  charter  members. 

Bloomington  Lodge  iVo.  102,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  —  Was  organized 
in  1848,  with  the  following  charter  members:  A.  D.  Green,  Samuel 
Davidson,  Nathan  Richardson,  M.  M.  Towner,  Charles  C.  McKinuey, 
S.  B.  F.  Caldwell  and  W.  D.  Marmaduke. 

VALLEY    TOWNSHIP 

•was  originally  named  in  honor  of  Jacob  Loe,  the  first  settler  in  Ma- 
con county,  but  was  changed  in  1872,  by  the  county  court,  to  Valley 
township.  The  Chariton  river.  Little  Turkey  and  Painter  ci'eeks, 
and  other  small  streams  vein  the  surface  of  the  township. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  Richard  Blue,  William  Ward, 
William  Richardson,  Temple  Wendell,  Howell  Rose,  John  Southern, 
John  Dennison,  Isaac  Millstrap  and  Daniel  Hull. 

William  Ward  was  the  first  settler,  and  came  from  Kentucky  in 
1835.  Howell  Rose  built  the  first  mill  in  1840.  John  Dennison  was 
a  great  bee  and  deer  hunter.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  the 
Temple  Wendell  neighborhood  by  John  Richards  about  1844. 

The  first  church  services  were  held  in  the  school-house  above  men- 
tioned, and  were  conducted  by  William  Sears  and  James  Ratlifi".  No 
house  of  worship  is  at  this  time  in  the  township.  Gabriel  Wendell 
opened  the  first  blacksmith  shop.  No  post-office  is  in  the  township  ; 
the  people  get  their  mail  at  New  Cambria.  About  one-half  of  the 
township  is  under  cultivation. 

RUSSELL    TOWNSHIP. 

Russell  is  one  of  the  middle  western  townships  of  the  county,  con- 
taining 36  square  miles.  Its  surface  is  permeated  by  the  Muscle  fork 
of  the  Chariton  river,  Brush  creek  and  a  few  other  smaller  streams, 
which  afford  an  abundance  of  stock  water.  The  soil  partakes  very 
much  of  the  nature  of  the  land  in  Drake  and  White  townships  —  hilly 
and  not  generally  very  fertile,  excepting  some  of  the  bottom  lands  — 
which  are  productive,  and  good  for  agricultural  purposes. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

Jacob  Epperly  was  possibly  the  earliest  settler  in  the  township, 
coming  to  the  same  from  Kentucky  in  1835,  and  locating  on  the 
Muscle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river.  John  D.  Pennell  emigrated  from 
Ohio  and  settled  on  Brush  creek  about  the  same  year.  George  Green 
from  Kentucky  opened  a  farm  on  Brush  creek  ;  James  Roberson  from 
Kentucky  settled  on  the  same  creek. 


800  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Andy  Baker  came  from  Ohio  ;  John  Witt  and  Keuben  Brown  from 
Kentucky ;  Ezra  Wilson  from  Indiana ;  James  Owen  and  James  Mc- 
Connell  from  Kentucky;  James  Epperson  and  A.  Mendenhall  from 
Indiana  ;  Joshua  Lovett  from  Tennessee  ;  Davis  Mendenhall  from  In- 
diana ;  Gabriel  Wendell  from  Virginia. 

Lovett  was  fond  of  hunting,  and  the  township  being  a  prolific  field 
for  game  of  all  kinds,  he  indulged  his  desires  to  the  fullest  extent. 
He  has  had  as  many  as  84  wild  turkeys,  dressed,  and  hanging  up  in 
his  cabin  at  one  time  in  the  winter.  He  chopped  wood  for  fifty  cents 
a  day,  and  paid  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  for  a  bushel  of  corn  meal. 
He  walked  seven  miles  each  day,  and  received  fifty  cents  for  cutting 
and  splitting  one  hundred  rails.  He  was  in  the  Civil  War  of  1861, 
and  fought  under  Sherman  and  Thomas,  remaining  three  years  in  the 
army  and  participating  in  seventeen  battles. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  in  the  township  by  Davis  Mendenhall  on 
the  Muscle  fork.  Joseph  King  and  Joseph  Keese  are  now  operating 
mills,  the  former  on  Brush  creek,  and  the  latter  on  Muscle  fork. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  George  Jenks,  who  came  from  New 
York.  Elias  Bowman  was  the  pioneer  preacher.  He  was  a  Metho- 
dist and  emigrated  from  Illinois.  The  Presbyterians  (C.  P.)  built  the 
first  church  in  1874,  near  Brush  Creek.  William  Bagly  was  among^ 
the  first  practicing  physicians,  locating  in  the  township  in  1872.  Ga- 
briel Wendell  was  the  blacksmith. 

Mechanicsburg  was  a  small  place,  containing  a  store,  post-office  and 
hotel.  It  was  settled  by  Thomas  Burke,  who  erected  the  first  busi- 
ness house  and  hotel.  The  town  was  situated  on  the  old  stage  route 
about  five  miles  from  New  Cambria.  Thomas  Burke  was  the  first 
postmaster.     No  post-office  is  now  in  the  township. 


CHAPTER    YIII. 

Jackson    Township — Lyda   Township — Independence    Township  —  Walnut    Creek 
Township  —  White  Township. 

JACKSON   TOWNSHIP. 

Jackson  is  one  of  the  north-eastern  townships,  bordering  on  the  line 
of  Shelby  county.  It  is  36  miles  square,  and  is  watered,  principally, 
by  Bear  creek  and  its  tributaries.  The  best  soil  for  farming  purposes 
is  found  in  the  north-western  and  south-eastern  portions.  No  coal 
mines  have  as  yet  been  develoiDed.  About  one-fourth  of  the  town- 
ship is  timber. 

The  pioneer  settler  of  the  township  was  Benjamin  Davis,  who  came 
in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  built  a  small  cabin  in  section  36,  township  59, 
range  13.  Davis  came  from  Monroe  county,  Mo.,  and  after  living  in 
Jackson  township  three  years,  he  returned  to  Monroe  county.  He 
was  the  only  settler  in  the  township  for  three  years.  Before  leaving 
the  township,  he  sold  his  improvements  to  Samuel  Goodson  in  1836. 
Goodson  came  from  Clinton  county,  Ky.,  and  died  in  Monroe  county, 
March  27,  1872,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 

During  the  years  1836-37,  Joel  Maxey  and  Andrew  J.  Darby  came 
from  Monroe  county ;  James  M.  Stowe  and  Solomon  Blessing,  from 
"West  Virginia,  in  the  spring  of  1838  ;  Oliver  P.  Lea,  William  and 
Daniel  Saling,  Preston  Duckworth,  Elizabeth  Swinney  and  Isaac  D. 
Goodson,  in  the  fall  of  1838.  About  the  same  time  came  Lacy 
Snow,  William  Kelly,  Stephen  Hail,  William  D.  Hail,  John  Silvers, 
Leven  Bristow  and  Thomas  G.  Poague.  These  were  the  first 
settlers. 

James  McNutt  built  the  first  mill  in  section  36.  James  Griffin 
taught  the  first  school  in  section  34.  The  Primitive  Baptists  organ- 
ized the  first  church  in  1838,  under  James  Ratlifi"  and  Archibald  Pat- 
terson. The  constituent  members  were  William  Saling  and  wife, 
John  Silvers  and  wife,  Isaac  D.  Goodson  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Goodson. 

There  is  and  has  never  been  but  one  post-oflicein  the  township,  and 
it  is  called  Nickellton. 

(801) 


S02  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


LYDA    TOWNSHIP. 


Lyda  township  lies  south  of  La  Plata  township,  and  is  in  the  sec- 
ond tier  of  townships,  south  of  the  north  line  of  the  county.  It 
was  named  after  one  of  the  early  settlers  —  Gideon  Lyda,  who  immi- 
grated from  Tennessee.  The  township  is  well  drained,  and  has  a 
number  of  water-courses,  the  most  important  of  which  are  the  East 
fork  of  Salt  river,  Long  Branch  and  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton. 
About  three-fourths  of  the  township  is  prairie.  The  western  part  of 
the  same  is  hilly  and  rolling.  Coal  has  been  found  in  great  abun- 
dance. The  middle  and  eastern  portion  of  the  township  is  the  most 
productive.  William  A.  Miles,  Joseph  S.  Newmyer,  John  Ketchum 
and  others  are  large  farmers  and  stock-raisers ;  the  last  named 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  sheep. 

OLD    SETTLERS. 

The  southern  portion  of  this  township  was  first  settled,  the  major- 
ity of  the  pioneers  coming  from  Kentucky.  George  Lyda  and  E.  L. 
Lyda  were  from  Tennessee  ;  Kobert  C.  Armstrong,  Rev.  James  Moody, 
Mike  Moody  and  John  Lynch,  from  Kentucky;  Hiram  Stone,  from 
Tennessee;  Col.  Charles  Hamilton,  Henry  Hardgrove,  Hezekiah 
Hardgrove  and  Theodore  Meredith,  from  Kentucky  ;  Alexander  R. 
McDuffy,  William  McDuffy,  Archibald  McDuffy,  Henry  Clem  and 
Joseph  Ayers ;  Bance  Dunnington  and  Reuben  Dunnington,  from 
Tennessee  ;  John  Kelso,  John  Dunnington  and  James  Landry,  from 
Virginia  ;  Pal.  Dunnington,  from  Tennessee  ;  Jefferson  Dabney,  Jubal 
Dabney  and  Dr.  Arthur  Borron,  from  Scotland ;  John  Roan,  Semen 
Atteberry,  George  Goodding,  Bluford  Dabney,  William  A.  Miles, 
John  Farmer,  Frank  Jones,  James  Farmer,  Charles  Buster,  Martin 
Atterberry,  Mike  Buster,  W.  Sanders,  Humphrey  McQuarry  and  Na- 
than Dabney,  from  Kentucky  ;  John  Jones  and  Gideon  Lyda,  from 
Tennessee  ;  Johnson  Miles,  Frail  Myers  and  Robert  Myers,  from  Ken- 
tucky. 

James  Ayers,  one  of  the  pioneers  above  named,  is  said  to  have 
lived  near  the  railroad  many  years  ;  has  never  been  in  a  car,  and 
never  had  a  picture  taken  of  himself.  He  does  not  think  much  of 
railroads  and  modern  ideas  of  invention  and  improvement. 

The  first  church  in  the  township  Avas  located  near  Vienna  and 
erected  about  the  year  1844.  It  was  owned  by  the  Baptists,  and 
called  "  Mount  Tabor."     A  man  by  the  name  of  Aldrich  was  among 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  803 

the  early  ministers  of  the  gospel.  Nathan  and  Jubal  Dabney  and 
James  Black  were  great  hunters.  Long  Branch  aflforded  a  fruitful 
field  for  bears,  panthers,  wild  cats,  lynx,  deer  and  small  game.  No 
such  hunting  grounds  to-day  are  in  all  the  country.  Where  the  deer 
and  the  panther  then  roamed  may  now  be  seen  the  house  and  well- 
improved  farm  aud  the  evidences  of  refinement  and  civilization. 

Old  Shiloh  Church  was  built  about  the  year  1845,  by  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterians,  and  was  situated  near  Love  lake.  The  same 
denomination  built  a  new  house  of  worship  in  1867.  S.  Atteberry 
was  among  the  early  school  teachers. 

ATLANTA. 

Atlanta  was  settled  in  1858,  by  S.  Atteberry.  The  original  plat 
of  the  town  embraced  30  acres  of  his  farm.  Mr.  Atteberry  was 
originally  from  Kentucky,  but  came  from  Davis  county,  Iowa,  to  Mis- 
souri in  1845.  After  his  arrival  he  built  a  log  house,  and  then  came 
the  "house-warming,"  his  neighbors  and  friends  coming  to  dine. 
Wild  game  was  abundant,  the  hunters  seldom  going  more  than  500 
yards  from  their  cabins  to  get  all  they  desired  to  kill.  Wolves 
were  numerous  and  ravenous,  aud  often  deprived  the  settler  of  his 
last  pig,  lamb,  or  even  calf. 

The  first  business  house  was  made  out  of  a  portion  of  Mr.  Atte- 
berry's  barn,  and  was  opened  by  Dr.  Daniels.  Sy.  Sigler  erected  a 
house  which  was  used  by  him  as  a  grocery  store. 

SECRET     SOCIETIES. 

Masonic  Lodge,  No.  268  —  Organized  in  1868;  had  the  following 
as  charter  members:  Arthur  Borron,  Z.  Tate,  E.  M.Ford,  Oliver 
Chatman,  Martin  Atterberry,  Keuben  Dunnington,  J.  S.  Lyda,  J. 
W.  Dabney,  George  A.  Lyda,  Daniel  Moody,  A.  M.  Atterberry,  J. 
R.  Goodin  and  P.  R.  Goodin. 

/.  0.  O.  F.  Lodge,  JSTo.  411  — Was  organized  in  1881.  The 
charter  members  were  W.  E.  McCuUy,  A.  W.  Collins,  R.  B.  Snell, 
Thomas  Thompson,  John  Cook,  C.  R.  Haverly,  Archie  Atterberry, 
O.  S.  Burse. 

/.  O.  G.  T.,  No.  274  — Was  organized  in  November,  1868,  with 
E.  S.  Bedford,  Lottie  Bedford,  J.  H.  Babcock,  Hugh  McDonald,  W. 
W.  Babcock,  Guy  Tozer,  Mary  Tozer,  William  Wilson,  as  charter 
members. 


804  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


BUSINESS. 

The  business  of  this  place  embraces  three  general  stores,  two  drug 
stores,  one  hardware  store,  one  hotel,  one  saw  and  grist  mill,  one 
livery  stable,  one  restaurant,  two  blacksmiths,  one  furniture  store, 
two  millinery  stores,  one  shoe  shop,  two  bakeries,  two  physicians,  one 
meat  market,  two  churches,  daily  mail  and  express. 

In  1883  a  fire  occurred  in  Atlanta,  which  destroyed  nine  buildings, 
the  owners  sustaining  a  loss  of  about  $30,000.  The  citizens,  how- 
ever, with  characteristic  energy  and  liberality,  have  erected  in  their 
stead  larger  and  more  substantial  buildings.  The  post-office  at  At- 
lanta was  originally  called  Ohio,  but  at  the  suggestion  of  Semen  Atte- 
berry,  it  was  changed  to  Atlanta  after  the  Civil  War  of  1861. 

VIENNA    OR   ECONOMY    POST-OFFICE. 

Vienna  was  settled  by  Col.  Charles  Hamilton  in  1837.  He  built 
the  first  mill,  opened  the  first  store  and  laid  out  the  first  town  in 
the  township.  Vienna  is  a  small  business  point,  located  three  miles 
east  of  Atlanta,  and  contains  one  general  store. 

LOVE    LAKE 

derives  its  name  from  a  small  lake  on  which  it  is  located,  16  miles 
north  of  Macon  City.  Both  town  and  lake  were  named  after  James 
M.  Love.  It  is  a  station  on  the  northern  division  of  the  Wabash,  St. 
Louis  and  Pacific  Railway,  and  five  miles  south  of  La  Plata.  Ship- 
ments are  hay,  corn,  live  stock,  sheep  and  grain.  The  population  is 
about  50,  with  daily  mail  facilities. 

James  M.  Love  laid  out  the  town  in  1868,  and  erected  the  first  busi- 
ness house.  J.  L.  Wood  sold  the  first  goods,  and  was  also  the  first 
postmaster.  The  railroad  company  owns  a  large  ice  house  which  is 
located  on  the  lake.  The  town  contains  one  general  store,  one  har- 
ness shop  and  one  blacksmith  shop.  William  A.  Donald,  of  Macon 
City,  is  erecting  a  saw  and  grist  mill  at  this  place.  Henry  Newmyer 
makes  large  shipments  of  hay. 

INDEPENDENCE  TOWNSHIP. 

Independence  Township  is  one  of  the  original  municipal  divisions 
of  the  county,  and  was  organized  in  1837,  but  embraced  much  more 
territory  at  that  time  than  it  does  now.  It  is  the  central  of  the  sec- 
ond tier  of  townships  south  of  the  north  line  of  the  county.     About 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  805 

one-third  of  its  area  is  timber.  Its  surface  is  veined  by  a  number  of 
streams,  among  which  are  Sweezer  creek,  Middle  fork  of  Chariton 
river,  East  fork  df  Chariton  river  and  Licks  branch.  These 
streams  have  been  admirably  arranged  by  nature,  affording  not  only 
ample  drainage,  but  an  abundance  of  water  during  the  dry  seasons. 
The  best  part  of  the  township  for  agricultural  purposes  is  in  the  cen- 
tral portion  of  the  same.  Corn,  tobacco,  hogs,  cattle  and  hay  are 
among  the  products.  The  township  has  three  churches  and  six  school 
houses. 

OLD  SETTLERS. 

The  early  settlers  to  this  township  were  generally  from  Kentucky. 
Many  of  them,  however,  came  to  Howard,  Eandolph  and  Chariton 
counties.  Mo.,  and  lived  there  a  short  time  before  comins:  to  Macon. 
The  list  we  present  below  is  quite  full :  — 

Greenberry  Burckhart,  Philip  Dale,  Simpson  Graves,  Edmond  Bur- 
ton, Samuel  Blakely,  Martin  Lynch, William  Williams,  Charles  Hatfield, 
Isaac  Gross,  George  Gates,  John  Huffman,  John  Griffin,  James  Mays, 
Allen  Erans,  Jesse  White,  Elijah  Faught,  John  D.  Halstead,  William 
Bunch,  James  Bunch,  Abraham  Still,  Edward  Still,  David  Steele, 
W^illiam  Thurman,  James  Lovern,  Noah  Gross,  James  Elliott,  James 
Wiggins,  William  Shane,  Samuel  Thurman,  Henry  Bunch,  John 
Bunch,  James  Mathews,  Abraham  Dale,  James  Riley,  William  Hodge, 
Philip  Trammel,  William  Lister,  Mary  Miller,  Jere  Huffman,  Will- 
iam Haufler,  James  Sunderland,  David  Graves,  Wesley  O.  Bristow, 
James  Mason,  John  Blakely,  Joshua  Sena,  James  Richardson,  Camp- 
bell Hubbard. 

Philip  Trammel,  in  speaking  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship, says  the  first  mill  that  was  operated  was  put  up  by  Abraham 
Dale,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  It  was  a  horse  mill,  and 
was  run  by  an  incline  wheel.  After  Dale's  mill  was  discontinued, 
Isaac  Gross  erected  another  horse  mill  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
Before  the  farmers  were  favored  with  regular  mill  facilities,  and  when 
the  water  was  too  high  for  them  to  go  to  Huntsville,  or  to  Rose's 
mill,  on  the  Chariton  river,  they  went  to  James  Richardson's  house 
in  the  township,  and  ground  their  own  grist  on  a  hand  mill,  Mr. 
Trammel  has  seen  upon  different  occasions  as  many  as  25  men  at 
Richardson's  house  at  one  time,  waiting  to  take  their  turn  at  grind- 
ing. These  occasions  were  always  rendered  agreeable  to  all  present. 
Some  one  or  more  of  these  pioneers  would  kill  a  deer  or  a  turkey  on 
their  way  to  the  mill,  and  upon  their  arrival,  these  would  be  given  to 


806  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Mrs.  Richardson,  who  would  prepare  a  dinner  and  all  were  invited  to 
partake.  Richardson  and  his  good  wife  have  long  since  "  crossed 
the  river,"  but  their  kind-hearted  hospitality  and  royal  feasts  of  ven- 
ison, turkey,  wild  honey  and  corn  bread,  are  still  remembered. 

The  original  blacksmith  was  John  Huffman,  whose  shop  stood  near 
the  eastern  line  of  the  township. 

"  Little  Zion,"  was  the  name  of  the  pioneer  church,  and  was  loca- 
ted in  the  vicinity  of  Dale's  mill.  It  was  a  double  log  house,  and 
was  built  by  the  Regular  Baptists,  about  the  year  1840.  This  prim- 
itive house  of  worship  was  constructed  by  the  constituent  members 
of  the  organization,  which  was  formed  at  that  early  date.  James 
Ratliff,  William  Sears,  and  other  ministers  of  the  gospel  officiated  in 
its  rude  pulpit  for  many  years.  Simpson  Graves  and  wife,  Isaac 
Gross  and  wife,  Charles  Hatfield  and  wife,  William  Shane  and  wife, 
James  Riley  and  wife,  Abraham  Dale  and  wife,  Philip  Dale  and  wife, 
John  Bunch  and  wife,  and  David  Steele  were  some  of  the  early  mem- 
bers of  *'  Little  Zion  "  Church. 

Abraham  Still  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  township. 

Between  the  years  1846  and  1855  the  township  was  visited  by  two 
severe  hail  storms,  which  did  great  damage,  to  corn  especially.  The 
corn  was  young  and  tender,  and  the  hail  beat  and  broke  the  stalks 
down  to  the  ear.  Entire  fields  were  destroyed  in  the  track  of  the 
storm,  which  was  a  mile  and  a  half  in  width,  and  for  some  dayb 
afterwards  these  fields  of  blighted  and  decaying  corn  emitted  a  very 
offensive  odor. 

Cholera  made  its  appearance  in  1849  and  James  Wiggins  took  the 
disease  and  died. 

MAPLE  p.  o. 

This  is  a  small  business  point,  containing  a  store,  16  miles  north 
of  Macon  City.     The  mail  is  a  semi-weekly  one. 

WALNUT    CREEK    TOWNSHIP 

derived  its  name  from  a  creek  which  flows  through  the  northern  por- 
tion of  the  same. 

It  is  supposed  that  Fisher  Rice  was  the  earliest  settler  in  the  town- 
ship ;  he  came  from  Kentucky  in  1834.  Two  or  three  years  afterwards 
Gabriel  Lunday  from  Illinois,  Amos  Williams  from  Kentucky,  Nicho- 
las Gunnels  from  Kentucky,  and  A.  B.  Griffin  from  Kentucky,  located 
in  the  township.  A  little  later  James  L.  Herron  from  Ralls  county, 
Mo.,   Enoch  Johnson    from  Kentucky,  Ignatius   Burnes,   from  Ralls 


I 
I 


HISTORY    or    MACON    COUNTY.  807 

county,  Mo.,  Moses  Loveni  from  Kentucky,  Charles  W.  Truitt  from 
Kails  county,  Jeremiah  Biswell  from  Kentucky,  William  Huckaby 
from  Virginia,  James  Banning  from  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  Joseph 
Bailey  from  Ralls  county,  and  John  Bigsby  from  Kentucky,  emigrated 
to  Macon  county  and  settled  in  Walnut  Creek  township. 

Walter  Gilman  erected  the  first  mill  on  Rock  creek  about  the  year 
1854  ;  it  was  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill.  The  first  church  edifice  was 
built  in  1865  by  the  Welsh  at  Glasstown  —  Presbyterian.  The  first 
school-house  was  put  up  in  1845,  and  a  school  was  taught  therein  by 
P.  M.  Richardson.  E.  C.  Still  was  the  first  practicing  physician; 
William  Dunnels  was  the  first  blacksmith,  and  began  work  about  the 
year  1848.  Amos  Williams  and  his  seven  sons  were  the  Nimrods  of 
the  township.  No  post-office  existed  at  that  time.  Not  more  than 
one-third  of  the  land  is  in  cultivation.  The  township  is  generally  hilly 
and  has  an  abundance  of  timber. 

WTIITE    TOWNSHIP. 

White  township  is  south  of  Drake  township  and  embraces  an  area  of 
36  square  miles.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Randolph  White,  who 
came  from  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  after  1850.  White  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  One  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  township  was  John 
Devoid,  who  emigrated  from  Virginia  about  the  year  1836  and  located 
about  12  miles  north  of  New  Cambria,  where  he  now  resides. 

Mike  Whistnan,  Sol.  Whistnan  and  Gabriel  Lunday  came  from  Vir- 
ginia;  William  Sears,  Thomas  Bradley,  King  Smedley,  Daniel  Hull, 
James  Robertson  and  John  Denison  came  from  Kentucky ;  Samuel 
Michaels  came  from  Illinois  ;  James  Lile,  J.,  P.  Morris,  Rev.  William 
RatlifF,  W.  W.  Green,  William  Stephens,  Samuel  Bland,  D.  D.  Wright, 
Burrill  Richardson ,  Harvey  Richardson,  Riley  Mitchell ;  Marion  Bradley 
came  from  Kentucky  ;  John  White  came  from  Randolph  county.  Mo., 
as  did  also  Thomas  White,  James  White  and  Randolph  White  ;  John 
Devalt,  Elijah  Lovett,  Jesse  Hull,  Lemuel  King,  Lorenzo  Bunch, 
Jonah  Abbott  and  M.  H.  Abbott  were  all  early  settlers. 

Solomon  Scott  erected  the  first  mill  in  the  township  about  the  year 
1866,  on  the  Muscle  fork  of  Chariton  river;  it  was  a  water  mill. 
There  is  no  mill  operated  at  this  time;  no  church  edifice  is  in  the  town- 
ship ;  religious  services  are  held  in  the  school-houses.  Caleb  Collier, 
a  Baptist,  was  one  of  the  first  ministers.  Meredith  Davis  taught  one 
of  the  early  schools  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the  township.  John 
Devoid,  above  named,  was  the  first  blacksmith,  his  shop  being  located 
on  his  farm.  John  Michael  was  the  shoemaker  for  the  neighborhood. 
46 


808  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Dr.  James  Cantwell  practiced  medicine  in  this  section  of  country  before 
any  other  physician. 

The  town  of  Goldsberry,  located  on  section  2,  township  59,  and 
range  17,  is  the  only  business  point,  and  has  the  only  post-office  in  the 
township.  The  town  was  laid  out  by  E.  S.  Goldsberry  and  P.  J. 
Burton,  in  February,  1882,  (the  plat  being  filed  February  3d).  The 
town  contains  one  general  store,  one  drug  store,  two  blacksmith  shops 
and  one  shoemaker  shop.  P.  J.  Burton  was  the  first  and  is  the  pres- 
ent postmaster. 

About  one-half  of  the  land  of  this  township  is  in  cultivation.  The 
soil  is  like  that  of  Drake  township,  generally  poor  and  hilly,  with  some 
rich  alluvial  bottoms  ;  about  one  half  of  the  area  is  prairie  land.  It  is 
watered  by  the  Muscle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  Brush  creek  and 
Little  Turkey  creek,  with  their  tributaries.  There  are  five  school- 
houses  in  the  township. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Johnston  Township  —  La  Plata  Township  —  Eichland  Township  —  Easley  Township  — 

Drake  Township. 

JOHNSTON   TOWNSHIP. 

Johnston  is  the  smallest  township  in  the  county,  containing  about 
18  square  miles.  It  occupies  the  extreme  north-eastern  portion  of  the 
county,  and  is  watered  by  the  North  fork  of  Salt  river,  the  tributa- 
ries of  that  stream  and  Bear  creek.  It  was  reoro-anized  in  1872  and 
named  in  honor  of  Col.  Richard  Johnston,  who  came  here  from  Vir- 
ginia, in  1838,  and  settled  upon  the  present  site  of  Sue  City.  About 
four-fifths  of  the  township  is  prairie,  and  is  well  adapted  to  agricul- 
tural purposes,  and  also  to  the  growth  of  fruit.  A  immber  of  large 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  reside  in  this  township,  among  whom  are 
John  J.  Powell,  J.  M.  Norris,  Lon  Ray,  J.  M.  and  B.  Collins,  Joseph 
and  Frank  Spencer,  There  are  three  churches  and  three  school- 
houses  in  the  township.  No  coal  has  as  yet  been  developed.  The 
township  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  the  county.  Among  the 
early  settlers  were  Logan  Thompson,  William  Wears,  Thomas  Easly, 
George  Billings,  Joshua  Davis,  Peter  Talbot,  William  Lee,  Will-' 
iam  Kelly,  Lacy  Snow,  John  J.  Powell,  Charles  Johnson,  Stephen 
Bradford,  Joseph  Spencer,  Frank  Spencer,  William  Barrow,  Sr.,  Lon 
Ray,  Elijah  Turner,  J.  M.  Collins,  B.  CqIIIus,  nearly  all  of  whom 
located  near  the  present  site  of  Sue  City.  The  first  mill  in  the  town- 
ship was  erected  at  Sue  City  by  Henderson  McCully.  The  first  card- 
ing machine  was  operated  by  Col.  Richard  Johnston  about  the  year 
1841.  The  first  school-house  was  built  by  the  Thompson  Bros,  in 
1866,  about  one  mile  north-west  of  Sue  City.  A  man  by  the  name  of 
Duncan  taught  the  first  school.  Jesse  Kellogg  opened  the  first  black- 
smith shop  at  Sue  City.  Dr.  T.  J.  Norris  was  the  first  resident  phy- 
sician. 

Sue  City  is  located  partly  in  sections  29  and  32,  in  the  south-eastern 
portion  of  the  township.  It  was  laid  out  in  1868  by  Joseph  T.  Rys- 
ter,  and  was  named  after  his  wife  Susan.  At  this  time  the  town  con- 
tains four  general  stores,  one  harness  and  one  millinery  store.  It  has 
mail  facilities.  Dr.  L.  Garrison  being  the  present  postmaster.     The 

(809) 


810  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

town  has  three  churches,  viz:  M.  E.  Church  South,  Missionary  Bap- 
tist and  Christian  Church,  and  also  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill  and 
public  school. 

LA    PLATA    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  situated  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  county, 
and  has  an  area  of  36  square  miles  ;  about  a  third  is  in  timber  land. 
The  Little  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river  runs  through  the  western 
part  of  the  township  ;  the  Middle  fork  of  Salt  river  and  its  tributa- 
ries, through  the  middle  and  southern  part,  and  Titus  creek  through 
the  north-eastern  part.  The  township  is  well  adapted  to  agricultural 
purposes,  and  is  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  shipment  of  hogs,  cattle 
and  sheep.  The  farmers  are  in  a  good  condition,  the  township  is  well 
improved  and  the  people  are  happy  and  prosperous. 

EARLY   SETTLERS. 

John  Gilbreath  came  from  Tennessee  in  1826,  to  Cooper  county, 
Mo.,  and  resided  there  until  1838,  when  he  removed  to  Newton  coun- 
ty, and  thence  to  La  Plata  township,  in  1841.  He  had  no  such  luxu- 
ries as  coffee  and  sugar,  and  did  not  possess  as  much  money  as  would 
amount  to  one  dollar  for  two  years  after  his  arrival.  He  had  to  bor- 
row money  enough  to  pay  his  taxes  (87V2c),  for  several  years.  His 
table,  as  well  as  the  tables  of  the  settlers  generally,  were  supplied  with 
wild  game  and  honey,  which  were  in  great  abundance. 

John  Holmes  emigrated  from  Tennessee  about  the  year  1835,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  township.  He  moved  to  Iowa, 
where  he  now  resides. 

William  Titus  came  from  Kentucky  about  the  year  1836.  Among 
other  very  early  pioneers,  were  Joseph  Owenby  who  came  from  Ken- 
tucky, as  did  John  Beard,  John  Ellis  and  Steven  Atterberry  ;  James 
Seavers,  Lewis  Shores  and  Enoch  Bailey  were  from  North  Carolina  ; 
Jesse  Griffin  and  Richard  Wright  were  from  Kentucky,  as  was  also 
Benjamin  Wright ;  J.  J.  Miller  came  from  Illinois,  and  L.  D.  Miller 
from  the  same  State  ;  Samuel  C.  Davidson  was  from  Tennessee. 

William  Titus  erected  the  first  mill  in  the  township,  locating  it  on 
Titus  creek,  about  the  year  1840  ;  it  was  a  horse-mill  with  no  cogs, 
and  was  supplied  with  a  band  made  of  raw-hide.  This  mill  was  pat- 
ronized by  farmers  residing  10  and  20  miles  distant. 

Samuel  C.  Davidson,  from  Tennessee,  taught  the  first  school  in  a 

loo"  cabin  which  was  located  about  three  miles  south-west  of  La  Plata. 

James  Seavers  was  the  first  blacksmith  who  opened  a  shop  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  811 

township ;  it  was  situated  about  three  miles  south-west  of  La  Plata, 
and  was  put  up  in  1838.  W.  B.  Lillie  was  the  first  physician,  and 
came  from  Boonville,  Mo.,  in  1848,  and  settled  near  La  Plata.  Robert 
Houston  was  among  the  early  shoemakers.  The  first  church  edifice 
was  built  in  1866  by  the  Baptists,  the  building  committee  consisting 
of  L.  D.  Miller,  W.  N.  Morris,  A.  M.  Carpenter  and  J.  J.  Miller. 
The  first  minister  was  Rev.  S.  C.  Davidson. 

LA    PLATA. 

This  town  was  laid  out  in  1855  by  Lewis  Gee  and  Thomas  Sanders, 
on  the  south-west  quarter  of  the  north-west  quarter  of  section  8, 
township  60,  range  14.  The  plat  was  filed  March  17,  1855.  Among 
the  early  business  men    were    Thomas  Sanders    and  ■  Jex.     Dr. 

Moore  erected  the  first  hotel. 

The  La  Plata  Globe  of  July  20,  1871,  said  of  the  town  :  — 
.  La  Plata,  Macon  county.  Mo.,  is  located  on  the  North  Missouri  Rail- 
road, near  the  junction  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  188 
miles  from  St.  Louis.  In  1870  a  census  was  carefully  taken,  giving 
it  a  population  of  some  700,  and  this  has  largely  increased  during  the 
past  year.  The  location  is  peculiarly  pleasant  and  healthful,  being 
immediately  on  the  Grand  Divide,  between  the  Mississippi  and  Mis- 
souri rivers.  Four  churches  have  been  organized  .in  La  Plata,  and 
two  of  these  have  fine  and  comfortable  houses  of  worship.  The  fol- 
lowing denominations  are  represented  :  Presbyterian,  Northern  and 
Southern  Methodist,  Baptist  and  Christian.  The  educational  facili- 
ties of  the  place  are  found  in  one  public  school^  of  high  grade.  A 
new  school-house  is  under  contract,  and  will  be  finished  in  December. 
When  completed,  it  will  accommodate  from  600  to  800  pupils. 

The  Masonic  order  is  well  represented  here.  The  Odd  Fellows  also 
have  a  fine  lodge,  and  the  Good  Templars  have  lodges. 

La  Plata  is  not  excelled  in  this  section  of  the  country  as  a  manu- 
facturing town.  Timber,  coal  and  water  are  easily  obtained  in  abun- 
dance and  of  the  very  best  quality.  Coal  can  be  furnished  here  at  12 
cents  per  bushel ;  wood  of  the  best  quality  from  $2  to  $3  per  cord. 
Car-loads  after  car-loads  of  wood  are  annually  shipped  from  this 
point,  and  nowhere  would  a  woolen  factory  pay  better  than  here. 

Our  flour  mill  is  not  to  be  excelled  in  the  West  for  quality  and  quan- 
tity of  flour  manufactured. 

We  can  boast  of  having  one  of  the  best  nurseries  in  the  West.  J. 
E.  Davis  &  Bro.  are  the  proprietors. 

We  give  the  following  persons  engaged  in  the  various  branches  of 
trade:  Dry  goods — T.  C.  Campbell,  Clark  &* Cherry,  J.  Layman  & 
Co.,  Swarthout,  Barron  &  Ford,  Phipps  &  Powell;  groceries  and 
produce,  Clark  &  Cherry,  T.  C.  Campbell,  E.  J.   Merrill,  Tibbs  & 

1  This  school-house  is  an  elegant  brick  structure. 


812  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Bi'o.,  Phipps  &  Powell,  Barron  &  Ford;  furniture,  J.  M.  Deer; 
drug  stores,  Campbell  &  McDevitt,  E.  J.  Merrill,  Sharp  &  Bro.  ; 
jewelry,  T.  Kelly  ;  boots  and  shoes,  B.  C.  Bernard,  C.  C.  Wood  ; 
hardware  and  farming  implements,  J.  Jager  &  Co.,  W,  Rynearson, 
Spencer  &  Ray  ;  millinery  stores,  Mrs.  Sanders,  Mrs.  Moore  ;  black- 
smith shops,  J.  Ryner,  John  Wright ;  wagon-makers,  Holbert  & 
Murphy  ;  stationery,  Samuel  Davidson,  J.  Swarthout ;  lumber  yard, 
Irving  &  Caldwell ;  livery  stables,  Harrington  &  Haines  ;  harness 
shops,  C.  C.  Wood,  J.  Hamel ;  hotels,  J.  Gilstrap,  J.  H,  Olds,  B.  F. 
Balch;  physicians,  Sharp,  Campbell,  McDevitt,  Ball,  Barrow;  pho- 
tographer, J.  Tompkins  ;  real  estate  agents,  Sanders,  Lilly,  E.  J. 
Newton ;  notary  public,  E.  J.  Newton,  T.  Sanders,  D.  Lilly,  S.  Da- 
vidson ;  nursery,  Davis  &  Bro.  ;  billiard  hall  and  saloon,  Griffin  & 
Bro. 

The  town  was  incorporated  as  a  city  of  the  fourth-class  April  5, 
1881.  Jacob  Gilstrap  was  the  first  mayor.  The  aldermen  were: 
From  the  first  ward,  W.  F.  Morrow  and  D.  M.  Griffin,  and  from  the 
second,  H.  G.  Reyner,  C.  C.  Wood  ;  W.  J.  Biggs  was  treasurer ;  W. 
W.  Miller,  clerk;  J.  F.  Mitchell,  attorney;  John  Chapman,  marshal; 
Calvin  Round,  street  commissioner  ;  N.  W.  Marquis,  collector;  L.  C. 
Reyner,  assessor,  and  James  Round,  sexton. 

The  second  and  present  mayor  and  city  officers  are ;  John  Hemel, 
mayor;  alderman  from  the  first  ward,  C.  Owsley,  John  Fisher;  sec- 
ond ward,  J.  B,  Thompson,  W.  T.  Oliver;  E.  L.  Brown,  treasurer; 
C.  N.  Mitchell,  clerk;  W.  N.  Rutherford,  attorney;  A.  J.  Miles, 
marshal ;  Z.  Kelley,  street  commissioner  and  collector,  B.  R.  Win- 
ters, assessor,  and  John  Owens,  sexton. 

SECRET   ORDERS. 

Lodge  No.  237,  A.  F.  and  A.  Jf  —  Was  organized  in  1858.  The 
charter  members  were  :  Jake  Miley,  E.  B.  Dabney,  S.  C.  Davidson 
and  G.  N.  Sharp. 

Lodge  JSFo.  27,  A.  O.  U.  PF— Was  instituted  in  1876,  with  E.  A. 
Griffin,  James  Irvine,  Joseph  Spencer,  T.  J.  Phipps,  W.  D.  Powell, 
M.  H.  Howard,  D.  M.  Griffin,  J.  M.  Mason  and  others  as  charter 
members. 

Col.  Forbes  Post,  G.  A.  i?.  —  Organized  August  7,  1882,  had 
as  its  charter  members  :  C.  S.  Edwards,  W.  G.  Saltmarsh,  Barney 
Swarthout,  B.  R.  Winters,  Calvin  Round,  John  Sampson,  James  Round, 
Daniel  Caughlan,  James  J.  Mcintosh,  C.  W.  Johnston,  W.  R.  Burch, 
Charles  Westcott,  W.  J.  O'Neal,  W.  H.  Combs,  John  McClung, 
Thomas  Harris,  G.  C.  Saul,  Hamilton  Bonham,  H.  B.  Foster,  James 
A.  Julian,  J.  H.  Sanders,  D.  H.  Barnhard,  James  Phillips,  H.  H. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  813 

Sanders,  U.  J.  Winn.  The  present  officers  are  Calvin  Round,  com- 
mander;  C.  C.  Wood,  adjutant;  and  J.  N.  Mcintosh,  O.  D. 

Lodge  JSTo.  23,1.  O.  G.  T.  —  Was  organized  June  12,  1869,  with 
W.  J.  Biggs,  S.  K.  Kellara,  E.  A.  Caldwell,  S.  A.  Edwards,  Anna  A. 
Walden,  Josie  Buck,  Thomas  R.  Buck,  J.  R.  Joslin,  R.  T.  Davidson, 
E.  C.  Edwards,  W.  W.  Berry,  J.  W.  Campbell,  Alexander  Hart,  Edwin 
Buck,  Minerva  Hart,  E.  A.  Griffin,  W.  F.  Sharp,  C.  S.  Edwards, 
William  Bratton,  Mittie  Lewis,  Jennie  Moore,  B.  C.  McDavitt,  B. 
Sharp,  H.  Sanders,  Lizzie  A.  Berry,  Maggie  Buck,  E.  A.  Fletcher. 

Lodge  No.  139, 1.  O.  O.  i^.  — Was  organized  May  17,  1860.  Its 
charter  members  were  :  Dr.  W.  W.  Moore,  Theodore  Sanders,  Dr. 
Atterbury,  Dr.  Jay  and  others. 

Lodge  No.  63,  A.  0.  U.  PT.  — Was  organized  May  17,  1860.  It 
had  as  charter  members:  Thomas  J.  Phipps,  W.  D.  Powell,  J.  M. 
Irvine,  J.  B.  Spencer,  John  F.  Mitchell,  W.  J.  Biggs,  Josiah  Gates, 
D.  M.  Griffin,  E.  A.  Griffin  and  J.  W.  Mason. 

LA   PLATA    SAVINGS   BANK. 

This  bank  was  established  as  a  private  bank,  November  16,  1876, 
by  Dr.  J.  Gates  as  president  and  G.  N.  Sharp  as  cashier.  The  bank 
was  chartered  May  1,  1882,  and  became  controlled  by  other  parties. 
The  following  is  the  last  official  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of 
this  bank  at  the  close  of  the  business  on  the  15th  day  of  April,  1884  :  — 

RESOURCES.  LIABILITIES. 


Loans  on  personal  security. 


Loans  on  real  estate  security 
Due  from  other  banks     .     . 

Real  estate 

Purniture  and  fixtures    .     . 
Bills  of  National    Banks  and 

legal  tender  United   States 

notes 6,177  00 

Gold  coin 1,000  00 

Silver  coin 493  02 


#22,230  85      Capital  stock  paid  in  ...     .  $15,000  00 


4,242  50  Surplus  funds  on  hand    .     .     .      3,386  II 

17,415  38  Deposits   subject  to   draft  at 

3,100  00  sight 38,826  89 

1,554  25 


Total $57,213  00  Total $57,213  00 


SS. 


State  of  Missouri, 
County  of  Macon. 

We,  W.  T.  Gilbreath,  president,  and  William  J.  Biggs,  cashier  of 
said  bank,  and  each  of  us,  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  above  statement 
is  true  to  tlie  best  of  our  knowledge  and  belief. 

W.  T.  Gilbreath,  President. 

Wm.  J.  Biggs,  Cashier. 


814  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  23d  day  of  April,  A.  D. 
eighteen  hundred  and  eighty-four. 

r  /^^— N  ^      Witness  my  hand  and  notarial  seal  hereto  affixed,  at  office 
<  SEAL  >  in  La  Plata,  the  date  last  aforesaid. 

(  N^v^-/  J      (Commissioned  and  qualified  for  a  term  expiring  March 
23,  1887). 

Edwin  L.  Brown,  Notary  Public. 
Correct  —  Attest : 

J.  Gates, 
,  J.  M.  Irving, 

E.  L.  Brown, 

Directors. 
creamery. 

The  officers  and  stockholders  of  the  creamery  at  this  place  are  J. 
B.  Thompson,  president;  G.  H.  Hockensmith,  vice-president  and 
manager ;  G.  H.  Branham,  secretary  ;  E.  L.  Brown,  treasurer ;  B. 
F.  Atteberry,  B.  C.  McDavitt,  Joseph  Soddrel  and  J.  C.  Doneghy  & 
Bro.,  stockholders. 

The  creamery  building  cost  $6,600,  is  36x44  feet  in  dimension  and 
is  divided  into  cream-room,  churn-room,  butter-working  room,  pack- 
ing-room, cold  storage  room,  office  and  engine-room.  An  ice-house 
adjoining  is  36x44  feet,  story  14  feet,  and  has  a  capacity  for  400  tons. 
The  creamery  is  supplied  with  all  modern  machinery  and  appliances, 
and  has  a  capacity  for  making  2,500  pounds  of  butter  per  day.  The 
company  was  organized  in  May,  1883,  and  ran  successfully  during 
that  year,  making  an  average  of  about  200  pounds  of  butter  per  day. 
Farmers  are  making  extensive  preparations,  and  the  dairy  industry 
for  which  this  section  is  so  well  adapted,  promises  to  be  a  leading 

feature  of  farm  life  and  work. 

* 

newspapers. 

There  have  been  four  newspapers  printed  at  La  Plata.  The  first 
was  the  La  Plata  Globe  in  1871  ;  the  second,  the  La  Plata  I^i^ee  PresSy 
in  1871 ;  the  third,  The  Advocate  in  1873,  and  the  fourth  and  last, 
the  La  Plata  Home  Press  in  1876,  which  is  still  in  existence.  These 
papers  are  more  fully  mentioned  in  our  chapter  on  the  press. 

LA  PLATA  WOOL  GROWERS*  ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  organized  in  February,  1881,  and  have  had  one 
annual  shearing  at  which  premiums  were  awarded.  The  society  was 
discontinued  in   1882.     The  following  were  the  officers  ;    J.  F.  Nor- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  815 

folk,  president ;  B.  F.  Atterberry,  recording  secretary  ;  A.  M.  Earn- 
hardt, corresponding  secretary  and  Joseph  Lane,  treasurer. 

SHIPMENTS  FROM  LA  PLATA. 

The  following  account  of  shipments  was  compiled  by  A.  G.  Treg- 
meyer  commencing  January  1,  1881,  and  ending  December  27,  1881 : 
Horses  and  mules,  10  car  loads ;  hogs,  208  car  loads  ;  cattle,  134  car 
loads  ;  hay,  93  car  loads  ;  shaved  hoops,  21  car  loads  ;  walnut  lumber, 
33  car  loads  ;  sheep,  70  car  loads  ;  oats,  42  car  loads  ;  corn,  15  car 
loads  ;  wool,  12  car  loads  ;  grass  seed,  2  car  loads  ;  ties,  309  car  loads  ; 
chickens,  5  car  loads  ;  old  iron,  2  car  loads  ;  apples,  13  car  loads  ;  total 
number  of  car  loads  969  ;  total  number  of  pounds  forwarded,  10,108,- 
860  ;  amount  of  freight  collected  on  same,  $25,154,037  ;  total  num- 
ber of  pounds  received,  9,722,040;  amount  of  freight  collected  on 
same,  $17,141.87  ;  total  number  of  tickets  sold,  3,391 ;  amount  col- 
lected for  same,  $3,546.50  ;  total  number  of  W.  U.  messages  sent 
and  received,  1,820;  amount  collected  on  same,  $635.42. 

The  shipments  of  the  town  have  gradually  increased  since  that 
period. 

BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 

Swarthout  Barnabas,  postmaster;  Brammer  &  Reed  (George  W. 
Brammer,  Damon  Reed),  grocers  ;  Cahill  &  Powell  (Miss  Elizabeth 
F.  Cahill,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Powell),  milliners  ;  John  Chadwick,  barber ; 
Mrs.  Marsh  &  Miss  Hamel  (Mrs.  L.  C.  Marsh,  Miss  Lucy  Hamel), 
milliners ;  A.  J.  Miles,  city  marshal ;  Davis  &  Chadwell  (Jesse  Davis, 
John  K.  Chadwell),  proprietors  city  scales  ;  John  Green,  proprietor 
La  Plata  House ;  Dudley  W.  Dempsey,  physician;  J.  P.  Phipps, 
jeweler;  John  M.  Derr,  furniture;  J.  C.  Doneghy  &  Bro.  (James  C. 
and  John),  general  store;  John  Fisher,  general  store;  Thomas  W. 
Flag,  physician  ;  Josiah  Gates,  physician  ;  Jacob  Gilstrap,  justice  of 
the  peace  ;  Goodding,  Williams  &  Wait  (J.  Benjamin  Goodding,  Will- 
iam E.  Williams,  E.  M.  Wait),  general  store;  Griffin  Bros.  (Enoch 
A.  and  Daniel  M.),  grain  and  live  stock;  John  M.  Griffin,  livery; 
John  Hamel,  harness-maker;  Isaiah  W.  Herman,  ca:i'penter ;  J.  B. 
Thompson,  editor  and  proprietor  Home  Press;  Fisher  &  Daugherty 
(John  Fisher,  S.  W.  Daugherty),  stove  and  tinware;  James  M. 
Irving,  lumber  and  grain  ;  William  P.  Johnson,  meat  market ;  Zebe- 
dee  Kelley,  street  commissioner  and  city  collector  ;  Joel  King,  pro- 
prietor Farmers'  hotel ;  La  Plata  Savings  Bank,  W.  T.  Gilbreath, 
president, William  J.  Biggs,  cashier;  Llewellyn  Bros.,  confectioners; 


816  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Winfield  S.  Little,  nursery;  Dr.  Brazwell  C.  McDavitt,  druggist;  C. 
C.  Wood,  harness-maker;  Miles  W.  Marquis,  insurance;  Miller  & 
Pennell  (William  Miller,  Joseph  Pennell),  flour  mill ;  Moore  &  Llew- 
ellyn (Thomas  H.  Moore,  Charles  E.  Llewellyn),  lumber;  Joseph 
Park,  lawyer;  Frank  F.  Reed,  dentist;  W.  N.  Rutherford,  lawyer; 
John  Reyner,  blacksmith;  James  A.  Julian,  shoe-maker;  Sanders  & 
Miles  (John  H.  Sanders,  William  Miles),  hay  press  ;  Saul  &  Reyner 
(George  Saul  &  Harry  Reyner),  hardware;  James  J.  Swarthout, 
blacksmith;  Sears  &  Sears  (James  S.  and  Walker  S.),  drugs  and 
groceries  ;  Joseph  Soddrel,  carpenter ;  Joseph  B.  Spencer,  farming 
implements;  Augustus*  G.  Tegmeyer,  railroad  and  express  agent; 
James  B.  Thompson,  real  estate  agent  and  deputy  clerk  of  circuit 
court;  Jacob  F.  Weaver,  cooper  and  city  clerk;  James  H.  Wilson, 
general  store  ;  H.  H.  Haller,  baker  and  confectioner ;  Hamis  &  Allen 
(E.  C.  Hamis,  E.  R.  Allen),  photographers;  John  Mairens,  wagon- 
maker  ;  La  Plata  Creamery  (incorporated),  J.  B.  Thompson,  presi- 
dent, George  T.  Hockensmith,  vice-president,  George  H.  Branham, 
secretary  ;  William  Shalley,  cigars  and  confectionery  ;  Josiah  Gates^ 
drugs  ;  Daniel  Caughlin,  drays  ;  Benjamin  F.  Atteberry,  boots  and 
shoes  ;  Thompson  &  Rutherford  (J.  B.  Thompson,  W.  N.  Ruther- 
ford), general  insurance  ;  William  M.  Hodge,  shoe-maker  ;  B.  R.  Win- 
ters, restaurant;  C.  Owsley,  groceries;  Halbert  Maus,  blacksmith. 

RICHLAND    TOWNSHIP. 

Richland  is  the  central  of  the  northern  line  of  townships,  and  con- 
tains thirty-six  square  miles.  The  East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river 
and  Richland  creek  are  the  principal  water  courses. 

The  earliest  settlers  in  the  township  were  William  Gross,  James  L. 
Barnett,  Eben  Enyart,  R.  A.  Wright,  Josiah  Cannatcy,  Ed.  Hickman, 
John  Sutter,  Nicholas  Duvall,  George  Edwards,  James  Riley,  James 
R.  Alderman,  James  Richardson,  Robert  Y.  Ellis,  Lewis  Shores,  Mat. 
Shores  and  James  Hubbard. 

Among  the  pioneers  above  mentioned,  we  here  copy  a  brief  sketch 
of  William  Grj>ss  taken  from  the  True  Democrat:  — 

William  Gross  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Missouri,  January  12,. 
1822. 

His  father,  Abraham  Gross,  came  from  Cumberland  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  settled  in  the  territory  of  Missouri  in  1816,  in  what  is  now 
Randolph  county,  but  he  thinks  it  was  then  called  Howard  county. 
His  father  settled  near  the  Goose  pond,  seven  miles  south-west  of  where 
Huntsville  is  located.  He  remembers  of  hearing  his  father  speak  of 
a  few  settlers  in  that  section  before  he  settled  there  ;  among  the  names 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  817 

recollected  were  the  Kerbys  and  a  family  by  the  name  of  Sears.  Will- 
iam Gross  lived  in  Randolph  county  until  he  was  18  years  old. 

The  first  time  he  ever  was  at  Huntsville  was  about  1832,  when  he 
was  about  ten  years  old.  There  were  but  a  few  houses  in  the  place  — 
all  built  of  logs.  He  does  not  remember  whether  there  were  any 
courts  held  then.  He  remembers  one  store  kept  by  Daniel  G.  Davis. 
He  remembers  that  William  Goo;o;in  had  a  mill.  He  does  not  remem- 
ber  when  a  court-house  was  built,  but  remembers  of  hearing  his  father 
and  others  say  a  tax  Avas  to  be  raised  to  build  one.  The  year  he  does 
not  remember. 

The  first  preaching  he  ever  heard  was  at  the  Goose  Pond  Church, 
Old  School  Baptist,  by  Thomas  Frisco,  James  RatliflF  and  William 
Sears.  This  was  about  1830.  He  thinks  this  was  the  first  church 
built  in  Randolph  county. 

This  Goose  pond  at  that  time  covered  about  50  or  60  acres  of  land, 
and  would  swim  a  horse.  It  has  long  been  dry  and  in  cultivation,  and 
yielding  large  crops. 

This  pond  land  was  cultivated  for  years  by  Wylie  Sears.  This  is 
now  called  Silver  creek  neighborhood. 

The  next  church  built  that  he  remembers  was  a  Methodist,  and  was 
on  Silver  creek.  Afterwards  there  were  several  other  Old  School 
Baptist  churches  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

About  1839,  Huntsville  was  a  business  place  ;  it  had  increased  to  a 
right  good  size  for  a  new  country.  There  were  a  number  of  stores 
and  groceries  (whisky  shops).  The  court-house  was  built  of  brick, 
and  of  good  size. 

He  remembers  the  following  persons  engaged  in  business  in  Hunts- 
ville in  1839  :  Dabney  C.  Garth,  Coppedge  Dameron  and  Alex  Dam- 
eron,  merchants.  Dr.  Herndon  was  the  leading  physician  in  the  town, 
and  Drs.  Gorham,  Fort  and  Head  in  the  country. 

In  1839,  William  Gross  entered  a  piece  of  land  in  township  60, 
range  15,  now  Richland  township,  Macon  county,  Missouri,  now  oc- 
cupied as  a  farm  by  two  of  his  sons,  Charles  Martin  and  John  Walker 
Gross.  He  entered  this  land  at  the  U.  S.  Land  office  at  Fayette, 
Howard  county  ;  Boone  and  Sebree,  officers. 

In  1840,  William  Gross  came  to  Macon  county  and  married  Irena 
Hatfield,  Elder  William  Sears  officiating.  He  then  settled  on  the  land 
he  had  entered,  then  in  Independence  township,  now  called  Richland. 

Macon  county  had  been  organized  but  a  few  years.  The  northern 
portion  ©f  the  county  had  but  few  settlers.  He  remembers  the  fol- 
lowing persons  when  he  first  came  to  live  here  :  Charles  Hatfield, 
Abraham  and  Philip  Dale,  Stanton  Carter,  William  Shain,  James 
Riley,  John  and  Armstead  Smoot,  George  Gates,  William  Easley,  Sr., 
—  Scott,  William  Huchabee,  Maxey  Miller,  Dr.  Still,  Sidney  Swet- 
nam,  John  Mathis,  Micajah  Hull,  John  Bunch,  Daniel  and  Jesse  Hull, 
Jesse  Griffin,  James  R.  Alderman,  Frederick  Vaughan,  Daniel  Murry 
and  Daniel  Murley,  William  Mason  and  Col.  Isaac  Gross. 

There  were  two  church  organizations.  One  was  the  Old  School 
Baptist  at  Little  Zion,  and  the  other  Methodist,  near  Dr.  Still's. 


818  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

There  was  one  water  mill  on  the  Chariton,  called  Rose's  mill,  and 
a  horse  mill  at  Abraham  Dale's  and  a  band  mill  at  William  Titus'. 

The  militia  mustered  at  Dale's  mill.     The  colonel  was  Isaac  Gross. 

There  was  no  post-office  north  of  Bloomington  until  about  1850. 

Mr.  Gross  has  been  one  of  the  largest  farmers  and  most  extensive 
stock  dealers  in  the  county.  He  was  the  first  man  in  the  county  who 
stall-fed  cattle  for  market.  In  1843  he  had  a  lot  of  these  kind  of 
animals  for  sale,  and  sold  them  to  Col.  Dick  Johnston  at  two  and  a 
half  cents  gross. 

He  was  the  first  man  in  the  county  who  ever  shipped  fat  cattle  to 
New  York.  He  drove  them  to  Quincy,  and  then  by  rail  sent  them  to 
New  York  at  a  cost  of  $22.50  per  head.  He  made  money  in  the  oper- 
ation although  the  freight  appeared  exorbitant. 

Up  to  the  rebellion  he  was  in  fair  circumstances  —  independent. 
He  was  largely  engaged  in  the  cattle  business  and  in  1863  had  300 
head  of  fat  cattle.  He  had  sold  200  head  to  Alexander,  the  great  cattle 
dealer  of  Illinois,  and  started  to  deliver  them,  when  he  was  arrested 
at  Macon  as  a  rebel,  and  the  delivery  prohibited.  He  was  put  in  con- 
finement in  the  Harris  House  Military  Prison  and  kept  there  three 
months  before  he  was  released.  He  had  received  some  pay  for  the 
cattle,  and  through  Gov.  Yates,  of  Illinois,  the  authorities  here  let 
cattle  enough  go  to  Alexander  to  settle  what  was  paid  for. 

Mr.  Gross  had  $1,500  in  the  express  office  at  Macon,  which  Gen. 
Merrill  took  possession  of,  and  when  he  was  released,  to  the  credit  of 
Gen.  Merrill  (who  has  many  sins  to  answer  for),  he  returned  every 
dollar  of  the  money. 

During  his  imprisonment,  the  militia  took  60  head  of  his  cattle, 
leaving  nothing  in  return.  But  this  is  not  all  he  suffered  and  lost. 
He  delivered  to  the  militia  authorities  here  500  tons  of  hay  —  worth 
$5,000  —  and  to  this  day  has  never  received  one  cent. 

These  misfortunes  and  great  losses  would  have  disheartened  an  ordin- 
ary man,  but  William  Gross  is  one  of  the  old-class  pioneers,  used  to 
hard  life  —  its  ups  and  downs  —  and  labors  on,  believing  that  all  will  be 
right  when  the  great  settlement  day  comes. 

He  is  now  62  years  old,  enjoying  good  health  and  bids  fair  for 
many  more  useful  years.  He  still  lives  near  his  first  land  entry  in 
Richland  township,  four  miles  south-west  of  La  Plata. 

EASLEY  TOWNSHIP. 

Easley  Township  is  one  of  the  north-western  townships,  and  em- 
braces an  area  of  about  32  square  miles.  It  is  the  best  drained  town- 
ship in  the  county.  Besides  Walnut  creek  and  Chariton  river  with 
their  tributaries,  there  are  three  small  lakelets,  called  respectively 
Eagle,  Swan  and  Yankapin  lakes,  which  are  located  in  sections  15 
and  22. 

The  township  was   named  after  Judge  William   Easley,  who   emi- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  819 

grated  from  Kentucky  about  the  year  1838.  He  was  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  county  court  from  1852  to  1856,  and  is  still  a  resident 
of  the  township.  We  reproduce  here  a  brief  sketch  of  Judge  Easley's 
life  taken  from  the  TV-we  Democrat:  — 

William  Easley  was  born  in  Grainger  county,  Tenn.,  near  Rut- 
ledge,  in  1806,  and  resided  there  under  the  same  roof  21  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1827  he  immigrated  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  there  he  remained  till 
the  spring  of  1829.  He  then  traveled  further  west  to  Illinois,  and 
settled  in  Sangamon  county.  In  1830  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sophia 
Patrick,  just  from  Clarke  county,  Ky. 

In  1831  there  was  great  excitement  throughout  the  West  over  the 
Indian  question —  Black  Hawk  and  other  chiefs  were  stirring  up  the 
Indians  for  war. 

On  the  4th  day  of  June,  1831,  William  Easley  enlisted  for  the  war, 
under  command  of  Capt.  Achilles  Morris  ;  Gov.  Reynolds  was  com- 
mander-in-chief. Other  officers  were  Gen.  John  Dunkan,  Col.  James 
D.  Henry,  Maj.  John  T.  Stewart  and  Adjutant  John  J.  Harden,  who 
subsequently  fell  while  bravely  fighting  in  the  Mexican  War  with 
Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky. 

After  his  discharge  in  1831,  Mr.  Easley  settled  in  Morgan  county, 
near  Winchester.  He  lived  there  until  the  fall  of  1836.  The  follow- 
ing spring  he  made  a  trip  to  Texas,  and  crossed  the  United  States  line 
March  6th,  1837,  the  day  that  Col.  David  Crockett  and  others  were 
killed  at  the  Alamo,  by  the  Mexican  soldiers  under  Gen.  Santa 
Anna. 

The  same  spring  he  returned  back  to  Illinois,  and  the  same  year  he 
moved  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and  settled  in  the  present  town  of 
Newburg,  which  was  once  called  Polkville. 

In  1840  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  continued  in 
office  until  1852.  Newburg  was  then  in  Independence  township,  and 
it  embraced  at  that  time  Richland,  La  Plata  and  Walnut  Creek  town- 
ships, as  since  organized  out  of  its  territory. 

At  the  general  election  of  1852  Mr.  Easley  was  elected  justice  of  the 
county  court,  and  was  made  presiding  justice  afterwards,  and  served 
four  years.     After  this  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law. 

When  the  rebellion  broke  out,  in  1861,  he  took  the  side  of  the 
Federal  Government.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  F, 
Eleventh  Missouri  cavalry,  M.  S.  M.,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Ignatius  Burns.  A.  L.  Gilstrap  was  colonel  aud  J.  B.  Rogers  was 
major.  Col.  Gilstrap  was  superseded  by  Col.  H.  S.  Lipscomb,  as  good 
a  man  as  Missouri  could  start.  In  a  short  time  Mr.  Easley  was  elected 
a  lieutenant.  He  served  until  October,  1862,  and  tried  to  resign,  but 
owing  to  some  prejudice  his  resignation  was  not  accepted.  The  Second 
and  Eleventh  regiments  were  consolidated  when  he  was  left  out  of  the 
service. 

Sometime  after  he  arrived  at  home,  an  order  was  issued  (No.  107) 
to  organize  companies  or  plattoons  as  militia.  His  neighborhood 
made  up  a  company  and  he  was  elected  captain,  without  opposition. 


820  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

That  order  was  soon  rescinded  and  another  order  issued  that  theState 
should  organize  into  what  was  called  the  Missouri  Militia.  Capt.  Eas- 
ley  then  organized  another  company,  and  was  again  elected  captain. 
That  was  in  1864  or  1865,  and  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
after  which  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 

At  the  time  Judge  Easley  settled  in  Macon  county,  there  were  num- 
bers of  red  men.  There  were  but  fcAv  settlers  in  his  section.  He 
recollects  the  Dales,  Shains,  Hatfields,  Ownleys,  Smouts,  Smiths, 
Lows,  Shores,  Sears  and  Wrights.  There  were  others,  but  he  does 
not  now  remember  their  names. 

Judge  Easley  is,  religiously,  a  Missionary  Baptist,  and  politically,  a 
Democrat,  greatly  opposed  to  Grant  and  all  the  Dent  family. 

Newspapers  in  the  early  days  here  were  hard  to  get,  and  it  some- 
times happened  that  important  matters  were  long  unknown  to  us,  ow- 
ing to  mail  facilities. 

The  first  paper  that  he  ever  subscril^ed  for  was  the  Bloomington 
Gazette,  published  by  James  M.  Love  in  1850.  Col.  A.  L.  Gilstrap 
was  part  owner  with  Mr.  Love.  It  was  a  small  paper,  but  sprightly, 
and  suited  the  people.  When  the  Gazette  was  established,  we  thought 
we  were  making  great  strides  and  that  everything  else  would  soon  fol- 
low. The  next  thing  we  had  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Kailroad,  and 
have  since  continued  to  advance. 

Judge  Easley  is  still  living.  He  resides  on  a  farm  in  Easley  town- 
ship, named  after  him. 

Among  other  old  settlers  were  David  Williams  and  Thomas  Will- 
iams from  Kentucky,  George  Cook,  James  Cook  and  Leo  McDavitt 
from  Kentucky,  James  Broyles  from  Tennessee,  John  McDavitt  and 
Joseph  Sears  from  Kentucky.  At  a  later  date  came  Milton  and  Marion 
Truitt,  John  Roan,  Dr.  William  B.  Lilly,  Colton  B.  Sears,  J.  Hen- 
drickson  and  others. 

The  Truitts  above  mamed  built  the  first  mill  in  the  township,  and 
located  it  at  Mercy ville  in  1854.  It  was  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  is 
still  running. 

Thomas  Truitt  erected  the  first  house  of  worship  in  1858.  The  first 
services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  John  Roan,  who  was  a  missionary 
Baptist.  The  pioneer  school-house  was  built  in  1854.  J.  W.  Cook 
taught  the  first  school.  Dr.  William  B.  Lilly  was  the  first  physician  ; 
Colton  B.  Shears  was  the  first  blacksmith. 

Not  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  township  is  under  cultivation  — 
much  of  the  remainder  is  timber. 

There  is  a  post-office  in  the  township,  located  at  Mercyville,  a  small 
town  situated  in  sections  35  and  36,  in  the  south-east  corner  of  the 
township.  This  town  was  named  after  "Pap"  Williams'  wife, 
Mercy,  and  was  laid  out  in  1865.     The  land  upon  which  it  was  located 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  821 

was  owned  by  Allen  Fletcher  and  Thomas  Truitt.  The  town  contains 
three  general  stores,  one  steam  mill,  one  blacksmith  shop  and  two 
saloons;  no  churches.  The  first  postmaster  wasC.  T.  Shirely.  James 
L.  Miller  was  the  chairman  of  the  first  board  of  trustees  and  still 
holds  that  position.  The  first  store  was  put  up  by  Henry  Cook,  the 
first  dwelling-house  by  Robert  Vanskike.  D.  T.  Galyen  is  the  present 
postmaster. 

DRAKE   TOWNSHir. 

Drake  township  ^  lies  in  the  extreme  north-west  portion  of  the 
county  and  embraces  an  area  of  36  square  miles.  The  land  is  com- 
paratively poor  and  hilly,  much  of  it  (fully  one-half)  remaining  un- 
cultivated. The  streams  are  the  Muscle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river, 
with  its  confluents  and  Walnut  creek.  The  township  contains  a  less 
population  than  any  other  in  the  county  and  but  little  progress  was 
made  towards  its  settlement  until  about  the  year  1855.  The  fact  that 
wild  turkeys,  wild  cats,  a  few  lynx',  and  a  few  deer  are  occasionally 
seen  in  the  township  shows  that  portions  of  it  are  still  sparsely  settled. 
Much  of  the  unsettled  part  of  the  township  is  owned  by  the  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joe  Railroad  Company. 

OLD  SETTLERS. 

George  Naigles  came  from  Kentucky  and  so  did  E.  Williams, 
Preston  Todd,  William  Ratlifi",  James  Ratlifi",  Cyrenius  Helton,  Ham- 
ilton Helton,  R.  O.  Swink,  James  Carter,  Stephen  Ratliff,  W.  H. 
Abbott  and  Caleb  Colgear ;  Amos  Williams  was  an  old  settler ; 
Joseph  Messenger  was  from  Connecticut ;  William  Pates,  ^  from 
Texas;  Kerry  Hobson,  from  New  York;  James  Drake,  from  Iowa; 
John  Messenger,  from  Connecticut ;  Mathew  Crowder,  from  Ken- 
tucky ;  James  Cantwell,  from  Iowa ;  Meredith  Davis  was  from 
Kentucky,  as  was  also  John  Graybeal ;  Joseph  Morris  came  from 
Ohio ;  James  Williams,  from  Kentucky ;  Martin  Abbott,  from  Ken- 
tucky; John  Murry,  from  Kentucky. 

John  Messenger  opened  the  first  business  house  on  the  Muscle  fork 
of  the  Chariton  river,  in  1846.  James  Drake  had  a  store  at  Tullvania, 
and  operated  the  first  steam  mill  that  was  run  in  the  township.  It 
was  located  on  Walnut  creek.  The  first  mill,  however,  was  put  up 
by  Mathew  Crowder,  on  the  Muscle  fork,  and  was  run  by  water 
power.     Religious  services    were    first  held  at  a  place    called    New 


1  Township  named  after  James  Drake,  who  came  from  Iowa  in  184:9. 
'  Raised  in  Indian  Territory. 


822  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Boston,  by  James  Eatliff ,  a  Baptist  minister.  Meredith  Davis  taught 
the  first  school  in  a  little  log  house,  about  three  miles  west  of  what 
is  known  as  the  site  of  New  Boston.  The  first  physician  to  settle  in 
the  township  was  Dr.  James  Cantwell.  John  Graybeal  was  the 
pioneer  blacksmith.     Joseph  Morris  opened  the  first  hotel. 

Among  the  most  noted  hunters  was  James  Williams,  who  followed 
it  for  a  livelihood,  and  so  successful  was  he,  that  he  disposed  of  a 
greater  number  of  hides  and  peltries  at  New  Boston  and  other  towns 
in  the  county  and  adjoining  counties,  than  any  other  man  in  that 
region  of  country. 

NEW   BOSTON. 

This  town  was  named  after  Boston,  Mass.,  and  was  laid  out  in 
1846.  It  contained  about  30  houses,  5  general  stores,  2  black- 
smith shops,  2  saloons  and  1  hotel.  The  town  was  moved  west  one 
and  one-half  miles  into  Linn  county  about  the  year  1872.  All  that 
remains  at  the  present  time  to  mark  the  site  of  the  old  town  is  the 
brick  residence  of  James  Morris.  The  town  was  originally  called 
Robinson,  after  the  first  post-oflBce.  The  first  store  and  dwelling  was 
built  in  New  Boston  by  John  Messenger. 

TULLVANIA. 

Tullvania  is  a  small  business  point  situated  in  section  14.  James 
Drake  at  one  time  erected  a  mill  near  this  point.  The  place  was 
named  after  Nicholas  Tull. 

There  are  several  school-houses,  but  no  church  edifices  in  the  town- 
ship. No  railroad  and  no  post-office  facilities  are  as  yet  within  her 
boundaries. 


\m^mm^' 


CHAPTEE    X. 

EAELY  BENCH  AND   BAR  — CRIMES  AND   INCIDENTS. 

Thomas  Reynolds  —  Robert  T.  Pruitt  —  William  H.  Davis  —  Alexander  L.  Slayback  — 
John  V.  Turner  —  James  M.  Gordon  —  J.  R.  Abernathy — Amusing  Incidents  — 
Suing  a  Bull  —  Drinkard  Case  —  Harris  Case  —  Keller  Case  —  Walter  Tracy  Shot 
and  Killed  by  Charles  Stewart. 

Among  the  early  members  of  the  Bench  and  Bar  of  Macon  county, 
including  those  who  resided  in  the  county,  as  well  as  those  who  at- 
tended circuit  court  from  other  counties,  were  James  M.  Gordon, 
John  B.  Clark,  Sr.,  C.  W.  R.  Vanarsdale,  J.  W.  Minor,  Robert  Wil- 
son, ClowOxley,  William  A.  Hall,  W.  J.  Howell,  Wesley  Hallibur- 
ton, A.  L.  Slayback,  Abner  Gilstrap,  T.  G.  Sharp,  George  H.  Burck- 
hartt,  William  Y.  Slack,  B.  F.  Farr,  Philip  Williams,  J.  V.  Turner, 
A.  J.  Herndon,  Abraham  McKinney,  S.  G.  Wadkins,  Samuel  S.  Fox, 

E.  B.  Lowe,  J.  N.  Brown,  B.  F.  Stringfellow,  J.  R.  Abernathy,    C. 

F.  Bowen,  Josiah  Fisk,  D.    C.   Tuttle,  Samuel  Gloom,  William  S. 
Davis. 

The  sketches  following  include  the  names  only  of  some  of  the  most 
prominent  attorneys,  who  are  now  dead,  beginning  with 

THOMAS    REYNOLDS, 

who  was  the  first  circuit  judge  of  Macon  county. 

We  copy  from  Judge  Bay's  "  Bench  and  Bar  of  Missouri :  "  — 
*'  Many  of  our  readers  will  recollect  the  deep  sensation  produced 
upon  the  public  mind  by  the  announcement  of  the  tragic  death  of  this 
gentleman,  who  took  his  own  life  while  Governor  of  the  State.  He 
was  not  only  one  of  the  profoundest  jurists  of  the  West,  but  possessed 
a  versatility  of  talent  that  would  enable  him  to  adorn  any  position  to 
which  he  might  be  called. 

'♦Gov.  Reynolds  was  born  March  12,  1796,  in  Bracken  county, 
Ky.  But  very  little  is  known  respecting  his  early  education  ;  but  it 
was,  no  doubt,  as  good  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  schools  where  he 
resided.  He  certainly  was  not  a  classical  scholar,  though  he  had 
some  knowledge  of  Latin.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Kentucky 
47  (823) 


824  HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

about  the  time  he  became  of  age,  but  iu  early  life  he  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  filled  the  several  offices  of  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, Speaker  of  the  House,  Attorney-General  and  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court. 

"In  1829,  he  moved  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Fayette,  Howard 
county.  He  brought  with  him  a  high  reputation  as  a  jurist,  and  soon 
secured  a  good  practice.  It  was  not  long  before  he  was  chosen  to 
represent  Howard  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  became  Speaker  of 
the  House.  After  leaving  the  Legislature,  he  was  appointed  judge  of 
the  judicial  circuit  comprising  the  counties  ot  Howard,  Boone,  Calla- 
way, et  al. 

"  In  1840,  the  Democratic  party  met  in  convention  at  Jefferson 
City,  to  nominate  a  ticket  for  State  officers,  and  Judge  Reynolds  was 
nominated  for  Governor,  almost  by  acclamation. 

"  It  was  at  this  time  we  made  his  acquaintance,  and  formed  a  very 
high  estimate  of  him,  as  not  only  a  man  of  ability,  but  of  undoubted 
integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose.  As  a  delegate  in  the  convention, 
we  gave  him  our  support,  and  had  occasion  frequently,  afterwards,  to 
meet  and  transact  business  with  him,  as  we  were  in  the  Legislature 
during:  most  of  the  time  he  was  Governor.  He  was  elected  over  J.  B. 
Clark,  by  a  handsome  majority. 

"No  very  important  event  transpired  during  his  administration. 
He  was  the  first  Governor  who  strongly  urged  the  abolition  of  impris- 
onment for  debt,  and  probably  to  him,  more  than  any  other  person, 
are  we  indebted  for  this  humane  enactment.  Gov.  Reynolds  had  few 
superiors  as  a  jurist,  and  hence  it  is  that  most  of  his  life  was  spent  on 
the  bench.  There  was  nothing  superficial  in  his  law  learning.  He 
drank  from  the  lowest  depths  of  the  legal  well,  and  there  secured  the 
gems  which  can  be  nowhere  else  found. 

"  *  Errors,  like  straws,  upon  the  surface  flow; 

He  who  would  search  for  pearls  must  dive  below.' 

"  He  studied  the  law  as  a  science,  and  we  have  heard  him  say,  on 
several  occasions,  that  he  had  read  Coke,  Bacon  and  Blackstone  sev- 
eral times.  His  mind  was  as  clear  as  a  bell  and  his  power  of  analysis 
very  great.  As  a  forensic  speaker  few  excelled  him,  and  in  canvass- 
ing the  State  for  Governor  but  few  were  willing  to  encounter  him. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  his  prospects  for  distinction  were  greater  than 
those  of  any  man  in  the  State  —  for  his  genial  habits,  pleasant  de- 
meanor and  unquestioned  integrity  had  made  him  exceedingly  popu- 
lar—  and  it  was  a  mere  question  of  time  as  to  his  election  to  the  Fed- 


HISTORY    OF' MACON    COUNTY.  825 

eral  Senate.  He  had  a  dread  of  being  thought  disloyal  to  his  party, 
which  often  induced  him  to  appoint  men  to  office  unfit  for  the  position. 

"Shortly  after  breakfast  on  February  9,  1844,  a  report  of  a  gun 
was  heard  from  the  Executive  Mansion  in  Jefferson  City,  and  some 
persons  passing  by  at  the  time  went  into  the  Governor's  office  to  as- 
certain the  cause  of  it,  and  there  found  the  Governor  weltering  in  his 
blood,  with  the  top  of  his  head  blown  entirely  off,  and  of  course  he 
was  dead.  He  just  before  sent  for  a  rifle,  the  muzzle  of  which  he 
placed  against  his  forehead,  and  by  the  a^d  of  a  strong  twine  tied  to 
the  trigger  with  one  end  wrapped  around  his  thumb  he  discharged  it. 
On  the  table  near  where  he  fell  was  found  a  letter  addressed  to  his 
most  intimate  friend,  Col.  William  G.  Minor,  in  the  following 
words :  — 

"  '  In  every  situation  in  which  I  have  been  placed,  I  have  labored  to 
discharge  my  duty  faithfully  to  the  public  ;  but  this  has  not  protected 
me  for  the  last  twelve  months  from  the  slander  and  abuse  of  my 
enemies,  which  have  rendered  my  life  a  burden  to  me.  I  pray  God 
to  forgive  them  and  teach  them  more  charity.  My  will  is  in  the 
hands  of  James  L.  Minor,  Esq.     Farewell.  Th.  Reynolds.' 

'* '  Col.  W.  G.  Minor.' 

"  Here  we  might  stop  and  throw  a  mantle  over  this  mysterious  and 
tragic  event,  but  truth  and  candor  force  us  to  state  that  many  of  Gov. 
Reynolds'  friends  attributed  the  suicide  to  a  very  different  cause 
from  that  designated  in  his  letter  to  Col.  Minor.  To  be  more  explicit, 
they  believed  it  grew  out  of  his  domestic  troubles.  It  is  certainly  a 
very  great  draft  upon  our  credulity  to  suppose  that  a  man  who  had 
been  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  public  life,  and  who  was  an  old  and 
experienced  politician,  would  take  his  owia  life  because  of  the  ill- 
natured  squibs  of  the  oj^position  press  which  every  public  man  has 
to  encounter.  No  greater  truism  was  ever  uttered  by  man  than  was 
uttered  by  Dean  Swift  when  he  said,  '  Censure  is  the  tax  a  man  pays 
for  being  eminent.'  That  he  may  have  been  more  than  ordinarily 
sensitive  in  this  respect  is  not  improbable,  but  the  comments  of  the 
press  respQcting  his  administration  were  no  more  uncharitable  than 
those  which  had  been  aimed  at  the  Governor  who  preceded  him.  He 
should  have  found  some  consolation  in  the  words  of  Pope :  — 

•"The  villain's  censure  is  extorted  praise.'" 
ROBERT    T.    PRE  WITT. 

Mr.  Prewitt  was  another  early  attorney  who  practiced  at  the  Macon 
bar. 

In  1862,  while  holding  a  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  Jefferson 


826  HISTORY    OF   MAOON    COUNTY. 

City,  we  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Prewitt,  who  was  then  a  lawyer 
in  full  practice,  residing  in  Fayette,  Howard  county.  He  attended 
the  terras  of  court  at  Jefferson  City  regularly,  and  delivered  several 
oral  arguments  which  made  a  favorable  impression,  both  as  to  his 
ability  as  a  lawyer  and  his  pleasant  and  gentlemanly  demeanor. 

He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Joel  Prewitt,  a  Christian  or  Campbellite 
minister,  of    Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Bourbon  county  in   that 
State,  August  1,  1818.      His  father  brought  his  family  to  Missouri 
about   1824,  and  settled   on   a  farm  within   a  few  miles  of  Fayette. 
After  receiving  a  good  academic  education,  he  commenced  the   study 
of  the  law  in  1840  with  Abiel  Leonard,  one  of  the  most  eminent  law- 
yers in  the  western  country.       After  remaining  with   Mr.  Leonard 
about  two  years,  he  went  to  Kentucky  and  completed  his  studies  with 
his  uncle,  Judge  John  Trimble,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  State, 
a  noted  jurist.      He  then  returned  to  Missouri,  took  a  desk  in  the 
office  of  Gen.  John  Wilson  at  Fayette,  and  entered  upon  the  practice. 
His  opportunities  for  a  legal  education  could  not  have  been  better,  and 
he  improved  them  well,  for  he  became  thoroughly  grounded   in   the 
principles  of  the  law.     He  soon  obtained  a  reasonable  share  of  busi- 
ness   which   gradually   increased    through    life.       In    1832    he    was 
appointed  circuit  attorney   for  the   second  judicial  district,  and  dis- 
charo-ed  the  duties  of  his  office  with  marked  ability  until   the  latter 
part  of  1856.     He  necessarily  had  to  encounter  some  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  the  State,  for  his  circuit  embraced  some  of  the  oldest  and 
wealthiest  counties,  such  as  Howard,  Boone  and  Callaway.      He  was 
a   member  of  the  constitutional  convention  called  in  1861  to  deter- 
mine upon  the  relations  of  the  State  towards  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment.    His  district  comprised  the  counties  of  Howard,  Randolph  and 
Chariton,  and  was  represented  in  part  by  Gen.  Sterling  Price.       In 
1863  Gen.  Price  was  expelled   for  disloyalty,  and  Mr.  Prewitt  was 
elected  in   his  place,  and  took  his  seat  June   17.      One  of  the  main 
questions  then  to  be  decided  was  in  reference  to  the  emancipation  of 
the  slaves.     Mr.  Prewitt  took  strong  ground  in  favor  of  the  Union, 
but  was  very  conservative  in  his  course,  and  while  he  admitted  that 
slavery  was  doomed,  he  thought  that  sound  policy  dictated  that  loyal 
slave-holders  should  to  some  extent  be  compensated  for  the  loss  of 
their  slaves. 

Mr.  Prewitt  was  a  man  of  noble  impulses  and  of  the  highest  integ- 
rity, and  was  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  fine- 
looking  man,  and  his  genial  disposition  and  happy  temperament 
brouo-ht  him  a  large  number  of  devoted  and  attached  friends.      He 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  827 

was  a  fluent  and  impressive  speaker,  but  not  an  orator.  His  style  of 
declamation  was  more  conversational  than  otherwise.  He  was,  more- 
over, a  close  student,  and  never  neglected  the  interests  of  his  client. 
In  1844  he  married  Martha  A.  Williams,  daughter  of  F.  E.  and  M. 
A.  Williams,  of  Howard  county,  a  most  estimable  lady,  who  with  five 
daughters  survives  him.  He  died  at  Fayette  in  September,  1873,  at 
the  age  of  55. 

WILLIAM    H.  DAVIS. 

That  portion  of  Missouri  known  as  the  North  Grand  River  country 
possessed,  at  an  early  day,  many  lawyers  of  ability,  among  whom  was 
William  Harrison  Davis,  of  Keytesville,  Chariton  county.  Mr.  Davis 
was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Ky.,  on  November  29,  1811.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Missouri  Territory  in  1820  and  settled  in  Chariton 
county,  which  then  had  a  very  sparse  population  ;  but  the  country  was 
in  a  rapid  state  of  improvement  and  presented  many  inducements  to 
the  emigrant.  Like  all  countries  just  opening  to  settlement,  it  con- 
tained but  very  limited  means  to  educate  the  young.  Now  and  then 
some  enterprising  Yankee  would  stop  and  teach  school  for  one  or  two 
terms,  and  then  push  on  to  parts  unknown.  Frequently  they  would 
be  without  a  teacher  for  six  months  at  a  time.  It  was  this  system  of 
itinerant  teaching  that  young  Davis  had  to  rely  upon  to  obtain  the 
rudiments  of  an  English  education ;  but  he  improved  it  better  than 
the  average  run  of  boys,  for,  though  addicted  to  frolic  and  mischief, 
he  was  studious  and  fond  of  his  books  and  always  stood  well  in  his 
class.  There  is  a  story  of  his  boyhood  worth  relating :  There  were 
two  rival  schools  in  the  neighborhood ;  young  Davis  went  to  the  one 
that  was  taught  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rogers,  who  was  raised  among  the 
Quakers,  and  had  imbibed  their  antipathy  to  war  and  bloodshed.  On 
several  occasions  he  cautioned  the  boys  to  avoid  all  disputes  and  con- 
tentions with  the  boys  of  the  other  school ;  but  young  Davis  was  a 
Kentuckian,  delighted  in  the  manly  art  and  could  not  see  the  necessity 
for  his  teacher's  admonition,  so  he  occasionally  measured  his  strength 
with  the  rivals  of  the  champions  of  the  other  institution.  On  one  oc- 
casion the  facts  reached  the  ears  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer,  who  never 
spared  the  rod  when  advised  of  any  violation  of  the  rules.  As  young 
Davis  came  into  the  school-room  with  a  face  not  much  improved  by 
the  rencounter,  the  teacher,  with  a  raised  ferule  and  an  angry  coun- 
tenance, demanded  to  know  if  he  had  been  in  a  fight,  and,  receiving 
an  affirmative  answer,  was  about  to  chastise  the  offender,  when  Will- 
iam said,  looking  at  him  squarely  in  the  eye  :  "  I  met  one  of  their  big 


828  HISTORY  or  macon  county. 

boys,  sir,  and  he  said  you  was  a  toryand  an  ass,  and  I  couldn't  stand 
tliat :  so  I  o-ave  liim  a  o-ood  threshino-."     In  a  moment  the  ferule  was 

7  O  O  Cj 

quietly  laid  upon  the  table  and  William  pleasantly  directed  to  take  his 
seat.  Such  quickness  of  perception  and  consummate  strategy  are 
very  rare  in  a  boy  of  that  age. 

When  but  16,  young  Davis  entered  as  an  apprentice  in  a  printing 
office  at  Fayette,  Howard  county,  and  soon  learned  the  trade.  In  the 
fall  of  1833  he  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kelly  established  a  paper 
in  Liberty,  Clay  county,  called  the  Enquirer^  and  at  the  end  of  the 
year  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  commenced  the  study  of 
the  law  in  the  office  of  Gen.  John  Wilson,  at  Fayette,  with  whom  he 
remained  about  two  years,  when  he  was  licensed  to  practice  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  and  located  at  Keytesville,  where  he  re- 
sided till  his  death,  which  took  place  on  June  21,  1845,  at  the  early 
age  of  33.  Mr.  Davis  belonged  to  the  old  Whig  school  of  politics, 
and,  though  he  often  indulged  in  political  discourses,  never  became  a 
candidate  for  any  office.  The  State  was  Democratic  and  no  one  of  his 
faith  could  hope  for  political  distinction  ;  hence  he  applied  himself 
very  diligently  to  his  profession,  never  relinquishing  his  studious 
habits,  and  soon  took  high  rank  at  the  bar  —  no  empty  compliment 
when  he  had  to  contend  with  such  men  as  Leonard,  Clark,  Wilson, 
Adams  and  Joe  Davis,  all  of  whom  attended  the  Chariton  court  and 
the  courts  of  the  adjacent  counties.  Mr.  Davis  was  a  vigorous,  earn- 
est and  logical  speaker  and  at  times  quite  eloquent.  As  a  jury  lawyer, 
in  particular,  he  had  but  few  equals,  for  he  rarely  made  a  mistake  in 
his  estimate  of  men.  He  seemed  to  divine  the  peculiarities  of  each 
juror  and  shaped  his  argument  accordingly.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  rising  very  rapidly  and,  had  life  been  spared  to  him,  must 
have  attained  a  very  enviable  position  in  the  profession. 

"  The  world's  a  bubble  and  the  life  of  man  less  than  a  span." 

ALEXANDER    L.   SLAYBACK. 

Those  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  Marion,  Shelby,  Macon  and  La- 
fayette counties,  in  this  State,  who  still  survive,  must  retain  a  pleas- 
ant recollection  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  is  above,  for  he  was 
not  only  one  of  those  genial  spirits  who  never  fail  to  secure  many 
warm  and  attached  friends,  but  was  a  man  of  learning  and  promise, 
and  bade  fair  to  make  a  high  reputation  in  his  profession.  Death, 
however,  "  who  loves  a  shining  mark,"  cut  him  down  in  the  morning 
of  life,  and  at  a  time  when  fortune  was  responding  to  every  wish  of 
his  heart. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  829 

He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Abel  Slayback,  of  Cincinnati,  and  was  born  in 
that  city  in  1817.  When  he  was  but  15  years  of  age,  he  was  sent  to 
Marion  College,  in  Missouri,  an  institution  of  learning  under  the  di- 
rection and  control  of  the  Presbyterian  donomination,  and  conducted 
on  the  manual  labor  plan.  It  was  then  regarded  as  the  best  college 
in  the  State.  Young  Slayback  pursued  his  studies  with  much  dili- 
gence, and  during  his  vacations  entered  upon  a  course  of  reading, 
under  the  direction  of  his  father,  which  it  was  supposed  would  be  ad- 
vantageous to  him  when  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law,  for  at 
an  early  period  he  had  fixed  upon  the  legal  profession  as  best  suited 
to  his  order  of  mind  and  personal  inclinations.  In  this  he  was  en- 
couraged by  his  father,  who  discerned  in  his  son  mental  traits  that, 
in  his  judgment,  fitted  him  for  a  professional  life. 

In  June,  1838,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  Judge  McGirk,  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  Judge  McGirk  congratulated  him  upon  the  good  ex- 
amination he  had  passed,  and  gave  him  some  good  advic©  with  refer- 
ence to  his  future  course,  which  the  young  claimaint  for  legal  honors 
fully  appreciated.  In  July,  1837,  he  married  Miss  Annie  M.  Min- 
ter,  eldest  daughter  of  I.  A.  Minter,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  and  opened 
a  law  office  in  Shelbyville,  the  county  seat  of  Shelby  county.  He  soon 
obtained  a  fair  amount  of  business,  but  to  a  young  practitioner  without 
fortune,  and  solely  dependent  upon  his  own  exertions,  it  was  neces- 
sarily a  life  of  toil  and  privations  ;  but  he  was  greatly  encouraged  by 
the  reception  he  received  from  the  people,  and  by  the  womanly  devo- 
tion of  his  good  wife  who  ever  made  his  home  happy  and  cheerful. 
He  practiced  in  Shelby,  Knox,  Lewis,  Marion,  Macon  and  Audrain 
counties,  and  on  special  occasions  attended  courts  in  other  counties. 
In  May,  1847,  he  concluded  to  change  his  residence,  and  moved  to  Lex- 
ington, Lafayette  county.  Lexington  was  growing  rapidly  in  popu- 
lation and  wealth,  and  not  only  aflbrded  a  larger  field  in  which  to 
prosecute  his  profession,  but  presented  greater  facilities  for  educating 
his  children.  His  great  probity  of  character,  close  application  to  bus- 
isness,  and  fine  oratorical  powers,  readily  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  people  of  Lafayette,  and  he  was  soon  retained  in  many  prominent 
cases  pending  in  the  courts  of  that  circuit.  Though  a  public  spirited 
man,  he  took  but  little  interest  in  politics,  and  never  would  permit  his 
name  to  be  used  for  a  public  office.  He  was  a  very  ardent  Mason,  and 
labored  hard  to  secure  the  location  of  the  Masonic  College  at  Lexing- 
ton, and  in  1848,  delivered  the  address  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone 
of  that  institution.  He  died  August  19,  1848,  very  suddenly,  in  his 
thirty-first  year,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  children,  the  youngest  of 


830  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

whom  survived  him  but  a  short  time.  The  three  sons  —  Alonzo  W., 
Charles  E.  and  Preston  T.,  became  residents  of  St.  Louis;  the  former 
was  killed  in  1882.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  did  not  live  long  enough 
to  obtain  that  distinction  in  his  profession  which  his  talents,  practical 
Christian  hjibits  and  great  personal  integrity  entitled  him  to,  and  no 
doubt  would  have  secured  to  him.  We  have  made  no  reference  to  his 
cheerful  and  genial  disposition,  which  made  him  a  favorite,  particu- 
larly with  his  co-laborers  at  the  bar.  He  was  the  life  of  every  com- 
pany in  which  he  entered  ;  had  a  copious  fund  of  good  humor  and  was 
never  wanting  in  a  good  anecdote  to  amuse  others.  He  was  an  ex- 
ceedingly fluent  and  ready  speaker,  and  his  discourses  abounded  in 
pathos  and  dignified  wit,  and  his  manner  was  wholly  free  from  the 
appearance  of  labored  preparation.  His  unexpected  death  was  not 
only  a  terrible  blow  to  his  confiding  family,  but  proved  a  serious 
loss  to  the  profession,  which  has  not  many  such  men  to  spare.  Mr. 
Slayback  was  a  practical  and  true  Christian,  having  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  when  only  16  years  of  age,  and  his  life  furnished 
a  contradiction  to  the  commonly  conceived  opinion  that  a  successful 
lawyer  cannot  be  a  sincere  Christian.  It  is  said  Mr.  Slayback,  in 
his  youth,  exhibited  many  of  those  traits  of  character  for  which  he 
became  noted  in  manhood.     It  was  Milton  who  said ;  — 

"  The  childhood  shows  the  man 
As  morning  shows  the  day." 

He  was  slender  in  person,  and  about  six  feet  four  inches  in  height, 
and  had  light  brown  hair.  He  was  fond  of  music  and  played  well  on 
the  flute  and  violin. 

JOHN    V.    TURNER, 

who  in  early  days  visited  the  Macon  bar,  was  born  in  Carroll  county, 
Ky.,  on  December  16,  1816.  His  early  education  was  confined  to  the 
common  schools  of  that  day,  but  as  he  approached  manhood  he  en- 
tered Hanover  College,  Indiana,  where  he  made  considerable  progress 
in  his  studies,  but  did  not  remain  long  enough  to  graduate.  He,  how- 
ever, continued  his  studies,  and  by  diligence  and  close  application 
became  a  good  classical  scholar. 

He  pursued  the  study  of  law  several  years  in  Kentucky,  and 
in  1842  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Boonville,  Cooper 
county.  While  practicing  law  there  he  frequently  wrote  for  the 
Boonville  Observer,  a  sheet  that  acquired  considerable  celebrity 
through  its  terse  and  vigorous  editorials,  most  of  which  were  from 
Mr.  Turner's  pen,  and  he  soon  became  the  recognized  editor.     As  the 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  831 

Democratic  party  was  iu  the  ascendant  the  paper  received  little  or  no 
patronage  from  the  State  government,  and  had  to  rely  chiefly  upon  the 
local  advertising,  but  the  ability  with  which  it  was  edited  gave  it  a 
large  circulation,  and  Mr.  Turner's  reputation  as  a  writer  became  well 
established.  Many  of  his  articles  were  republished  in  the  leading  Whig 
papers  in  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Turner  was  a  very  decided  Whig,  and  like 
all  Kentuckians  who  belonged  to  that  party  was  a  great  admirer  of  Mr. 
Clay,  and  supported  him   for  the  presidency  with  much  zeal. 

Wishing,  however,  to  retire  from  the  editorial  chair  and  apply  himself 
more  closely  to  his  profession  he  removed  to  Keytesville,  in  Chariton 
county,  where  he  practiced  with  fair  success  many  years  ;  but  in  1858 
again  changed  his  residence  and  permanently  located  in  Glasgow, 
Howard  county,  where  he  remained  till  his  death,  which  occurred  July 
10,1874.  As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Turner  was  better  known  to  his  profes- 
sional associates  than  to  the  community  at  large,  for  his  extreme 
modesty  and  retiring  disposition  unfitted  him  for  public  display, 
and  in  respect  to  political  preferment  kept  him  in  the  back  ground  ; 
Hbut  those  who  knew  him  well  placed  a  high  estimate  upon  his  legal 
attainments,  and  eagerly  sought  his  opinions  and  his  advice.  For 
office  he  never  manifested  any  inclination,  and  refused  time  and  again 
to  permit  his  name  to  go  before  the  public.  The  only  public  position 
he  ever  filled  was  that  of  treasurer  of  his  county,  and  in  that  case  the 
office  sought  him,  and  he  proved  most  worthy  of  the  trust. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  his  retirement  proceeded  from  a  want 
of  interest  in  the  public  welfare,  for  he  was  a  zealous  advocate  of  in- 
ternal improvements  by  both  State  and  Federal  Governments,  and 
never  failed  to  lend  his  aid  to  all  projects  tending  to  promote  the  public 
good.  From  what  has  been  said  of  Mr.  Turner  it  might  be  inferred 
he  was  wanting  in  social  qualities;  but  such  was  not  the  fact,  for  he 
had  considerable  humor,  and  upon  all  festive  occasions  added  greatly 
to  the  life  and  zest  of  the  company.  He  was,  moreover,  a  man  of 
generous  impulses  and  warm  attachments  ;  his  taste  for  general  litera- 
ture and  scientific  research  fitted  him  for  the  head  of  some  institution 
of  learning,  and  had  his  life  taken  that  direction  he  must  have  obtained 
no  little  celebrity.  Mr.  Turner  had  a  fine  poetical  taste,  which  often 
led  him  to  hold  converse  with  the  muses. 

JAIMES    M.    GORDON. 

James  M.  Gordon  was  one  of  the  first  circuit  or  prosecuting 
attorneys  that  attended  the  early  courts  of  Macon  county. 

With  but  little  education,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  in 


832  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

the  office  of  his  brother  John,  in  1833  or  1834,  and  the  first  book  that 
his  preceptor  placed  in  his  hand  was  "  Paley's  Moral  Philosophy." 
This  he  literally  devoured  and  then  took  up  Coke,  Blackstone  and 
other  standard  authors.  Having  a  fine  constitution  he  devoted  nearly 
16  hours  a  day  in  close  study.  He  read  nothing  but  law,  not  even 
the  newspapers  of  the  day.  He  was  licensed  to  practice  law  in 
August,  1836.  He  had  been  previously  elected  judge  of  the  county 
court,  and  served  in  that  capacity  two  years.  He  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  prosecuting  attorney,  and  prosecuted  in  his  circuit  for  a  term 
of  12  years,  and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  people,  for  he  was  a 
most  vigorous  prosecutor,  and  a  terror  to  evil  doers.  He  mastered 
the  criminal  law  and  few  criminals  in  his  district  escaped  punishment. 
Having  no  literary  taste  his  reading  was  confined  to  the  law,  and  in 
the  law  he  became  very  profound.  In  1852  and  1860  he  was  elected 
to  the  Lower  House  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  1862  to  the 
State  Senate,  the  district  embracing  Boone  and  Callaway  counties. 
He  retired  from  the  practice  of  the  law  in  1865,  and  having  amassed 
a  competency,  settled  upon  a  farm  and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his 
days  to  agriculture.  He  died  suddenly  from  heart  disease  February 
21,  1875.  He  was  never  married.  He  was  the  legal  preceptor  of 
several  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  Missouri ;  among  them,  Gov.  Charles 
H.  Hardin,  who  studied  with  him  two  years,  and  who  entertains  the 
highest  reverence  for  his  memory. 

J.    R.    ABERNATHY. 

J.  R.  Abernathy  was  a  school-teacher,  and  while  he  was  conducting 
his  school,  in  true  pedagogue  style,  and  never  dreaming  of  the  dull 
principles  inculcated  by  Coke  and  Blackstone,  some  one  of  his 
patrons  —  perhaps  the  host  with  whom  he  boarded — had  a  bee-gum 
taken  from  him  rather  unceremoniously.  He  was  in  trouble,  and  in 
his  extremity  applied  to  "Abbey,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called.  He 
took  the  statutes  and  turned  to  the  index  and  looked  first  for  '*  bee- 
o-ums."  Seeins:  nothino;,  he  turned  to  "  bees,"  and  beino;  still  unsuc- 
cessful,  he  next  looked  for  "  honey,"  but  his  search  was  a  vain  one  ; 
and  thus  mocked  by  everything,  but  being  a  man  of  resolution,  he 
began  to  turn  leaf  by  leaf  and  page  after  page.  He  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  until  he  came  to  "  forcible  entr}'^  and  detainer."  *'  Ah  !  " 
said  he,  "I  have  it,"  and  he  instituted  an  action  for  forcible  entry 
and  detainer  for  the  bee-gum.  This  was  his  first  case  in  court,  from 
which  he  afterwards  branched  out,  and  he  was  so  well  pleased  with 
his  success  that  he  read  law  and  applied  for  a  license.     His  case  was 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  833 

referred  for  examination  to  Judsje  Jack  Gordon.  It  is  said  Mr. 
Gordon,  who  was  himself  a  fine  hiwyer,  though  a  little  eccentric, 
only  asked  him  if  he  conld  sino;  and  dance,  and  these  questions  being 
satisfactorily  answered,  he  was  ready  to  report.  He  presented  him- 
self at  the  bar,  and  the  judge  asked  him  if  he  were  ready  to  report. 
His  answer  was  that  Mr.  Abernathy  did  not  know  much  of  the  com- 
mon law,  but  was  h  — 11  on  the  statute,  and  he  recommended  that  the 
court  grant  him  a  license. 

The  following  persons  constitute  the  present  bar  of  Macon :  Ben 
Eli  Guthrie,  William  H.  Sears,  J.  N.  Brown,  Benjamin  R.  Dysart, 
Robert  G.  Mitchell,  Reuben  J.  Eberman,  Abner  L.  Gilstrap,  John  T. 
Jones,  J.  F.  Mitchell,  Eli  J.  Newton,  A.  R.  Pape,  Webster  M. 
Rubey,  L.  A.  Thompson,  M.  C.  Tracy,  J.  F.  Williams,  George  W. 
Stephens,  Charles  P.  Hess. 

AMUSING   INCIDENTS. 

Among  the  many  stories  told  of  the  proceedings  of  the  early  courts 
of  Macon  county,  as  well  as  of  modern  times,  are  the  following  :  — 

In  1857,  when  Judge  J.  W.  Henry  was  on  the  bench,  a  jury  had 
been  impaneled  in  the  forenoon  to  try  a  case.  The  Judge  dismissed 
the  jury  at  noon  with  the  usual  instructions,  and  requiring  them  to 
return  promptly  at  two  o'clock.  One  of  the  jurors  who  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  imbibing  freely  of  "  red-eye,"  every  time  he  came  to  town, 
took  several  drinks  before  court  was  called,  but  was  on  time  when 
court  convened.  The  court-room  was  warm,  the  juryman  was  resting 
in  a  good  and  comfortable  seat,  and  feeling  the  eflects  of  his  too  fre- 
quent potations  he  was  soon  in  the  land  of  dreams.  He  had  been 
sleeping  in  his  seat  some  minutes  before  court  opened.  When  the 
Judge  came  in,  the  sherifi"  called  court,  which  of  course  created  some 
little  commotion  as  the  jurors,  witnesses  and  by-standers  were  taking 
their  seats.  Our  sleeping  friend,  who  had  for  several  years  previous 
to  this  time,  been  one  of  the  judges  of  election  in  his  township,  was 
doubtless  dreaming  of  some  election  through  which  he  had  passed, 
and  hearing  a  buzzing  noise  or  commotion  in  the  court-room,  thought 
that  a  fresh  supply  of  voters  had  been  brought  to  the  polls,  and  cried 
out  in  a  loud,  distinct  tone  of  voice  —  "  M-o-r-e  vo-ters  !  M-o-r-e  vo- 
ters !  "  The  Judge  had  just  taken  his  seat,  and  instantly  looked  about 
him  to  see  what  it  meant.  Casting  his  eye  in  the  direction  of  the  jury 
box,  he  saw  the  sleeping  man,  and  told  the  sheriff  to  take  "  that  man 
out  of  the  court-room,"  and  told  the  clerk  to  enter  a  fine  of 
Another  juror  was  selected  and  the  trial  proceeded  with. 


834  HISTORY  or  ma  con  county. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Timothy  Divine,  who  resided  in  the  county 
west  of  the  Chariton  river ^  was  arrested  for  selling  liquor  without  a 
license.  He  was  not  only  a  very  poor  man,  but  had  lost  the  fingers 
of  one  hand  entirely.  He  was  brought  into  court,  and  when  his  case 
was  called,  he  got  up  and  told  the  Judge  (Henry)  that  he  was  a  poor 
man,  and  did  not  have  a  cent  in  the  world.  The  Judge  asked  him  if 
he  had  sold  the  liquor?  Divine  said  "yes  Jedge,  I  sold  the  liquor." 
His  Honor  then  told  him  that  he  could  not  fine  him  less  than  $40 
and  costs.  Divine,  after  gravely  meditating  upon  the  amount  of  tlie 
fine  a  moment,  looked  toward  the  Judge  and  said  in  a  soliloquizing 
manner—  '^  Well !    Don't  it  beat  h— 11 !  " 

A  man  on  the  witness  stand  about  the  year  1875  had  been  kicked 
in  the  mouth  by  a  mule,  and  the  consequence  was  that  he  could  not 
articulate  distinctly.  Judge  William  A.  Hall  was  then  occupying  the 
bench,  and  had  a  great  contempt  for  a  witness  whom  he  thought  was 
trying  to  prevaricate.  The  opposing  attorney  was  asking  questions, 
and  the  witness  owing  to  the  maimed  condition  of  his  mouth  could  not 
answer  them  very  readily  or  distinctly  —  in  fact  the  Judge  thought 
he  was  prevaricating,  and  finally  became  a  little  impatient  and  asked 
the  witness  if  he  did  not  know  that  he  should  not  prevaricate  when 
giving  his  testimony.  The  witness  thinking  the  Judge  had  reference 
to  the  imperfect  manner  in  which  he  spoke,  turned  around  and  said 
"Judge,  since  the  mule  kicked  me  in  the  mouth,  I  can't  help  it." 
The  Judge  commanded  the  witness  in  a  peremptory  tone  to  "Go 
on." 

SUING   A   BULL. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  late  war,  a  strange,  breachy  bull,  came 
into  the  neighborhood  of  Richard  Whitehead,  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Hudson  township.  Although  an  entire  stranger  to  the  community,  it 
appears  that  he  cared  nothing  for  his  reputation  and  acted  in  such  a 
disreputable  manner  that  the  farmers  upon  whose  pastures  and  upon 
whose  corn  he  had  rioted  without  a  license,  became  highly  incensed. 
So  much  aggrieved  were  they,  that  his  majesty,  the  bull,  was  chased 
into  a  tobacco  barn  and  there  confined  until  the  proper  steps  were 
taken  to  dispose  of  him. 

After  numerous  consultations  the  justice  finally  issued  a  summons 
and  had  all  parties  served  with  a  copy,  including  the  bull  —  the  sum- 
mons being  served  upon  the  latter  in  the  barn.  Upon  the  day  of 
trial  the  parties  to  the  suit  all  appeared  except  the  bull,  and  all  were 
represented  by  counsel  except  the  bull.      The  case  was,  however, 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  835 

heard  and  judgment  taken  against  the  bull  by  default  for  $28  and 
costs.  The  justice  issued  an  execution  for  the  amount  and  the  bull 
was  sold.  Before  the  sale  occurred,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  bull 
was  the  property  of  Milt  Houston  living  in  the  county.  A  man  by 
the  name  of  Briggs  bought  the  bull  at  the  sale.  The  owner  paid  back 
the  money  to  the  purchaser  and  took  possession  of  his  bull. 

CRIMES. 

It  is  simply  designed  here  to  give  only  a  brief  account  of  a  few  of 
the  important  criminal  cases  which  have  been  tried  in  Macon  county. 

drinkard's  case. 

In  1879,  B.  F.  Drinkard,  a  man  who  had  mostly  been  raised  in  the 
county,  had  leased  of  the  widow  McVickar  her  large  farm  in  Callao 
township,  for  a  term  of  years,  and  in  that  year  had  taken  a  man, 
Nichols,  as  a  cropper  (Drinkard  being  a  cripple  from  wounds  received 
in  the  war).  The  three,  Mrs.  McVickar,  Drinkard  and  Nichols,  lived 
in  separate  residences  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  there  were 
numerous  outhouses,  lots  and  fences,  all  connected,  more  or  less  to- 
gether. There  had  sprung  up  some  ill  will  between  Drinkard  and 
Nichols,  and  on  the  morning  of  August  28,  1879,  Nichols  undertook 
to  take  a  load  of  sorghum  cane  to  the  mill  in  the  wagon  of  James 
Mott,  a  neighbor,  who  was  with  him.  As  they  passed  out  of  the 
field  through  Drinkard's  lot,  the  latter  forbid  it,  with  some  threats. 
Nichols,  however,  went  on,  and  on  his  return  secured  a  small  pistol, 
and  as  they  approached  Drinkard's  lot,  Mott  got  out  of  the  wagon 
and  took  the  road  to  his  own  house.  Nichols  proceeded  through 
Drinkard's  lot,  and  as  he  checked  his  team  for  his  little  son  who  had 
seen  him  coming  and  ran  to  the  gate,  close  to  Drinkard's  house,  lead- 
ing to  the  field,  to  open  the  gate,  he  was  shot  in  the  back  with  a  rifle, 
the  ball  ranging  upward.  He  slid  down  from  the  seat  to  the  bottom  of 
the  wagon-bed,  and  when  found  by  his  wife,  Mrs.  McVickar,  and 
Mott,  who  had  heard  the  shot  and  the  scream  of  the  boy,  was  lying 
doubled  up.  He  said  but  little ;  said  he  did  not  think  Frank  was  that 
kind  of  a  fellow  to  shoot  him  from  the  bush.  After  the  shot  the  boy 
saw  Drinkard  run  into  the  house  with  his  rifle.  Nichols  died  within 
a  few  hours.  Drinkard  eluded  the  officers,  and  after  four  or  five 
days  gave  himself  up  to  'Squire  Amos,  of  Macon  ;  was  indicted  at 
the  September  term  of  the  circuit  court,  and  tried  at  the  May  term 
following.     The   State,   in   addition   to  the  above  facts,  with  many 


836  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

others,  relied  on  the  evidence  of  county  surveyor,  W.  G.  "Walker,  and 
his  deputy,  J.  W.  Riley,  illustrated  with  carefully  prepared  plates  of 
the  ground,  houses,  fences  and  gates,  showing  accurately  the  respect- 
ive distances  and  elevations  and  depressions  of  objects  and  the  ground 
in  connection  with  accurately  and  scientifically  drawn  plates  of  the 
human  trunk,  showing  the  exit  and  entrance  of  the  ball,  with  its 
range  through  the  body,  prepared  and  fully  explained  by  the  testi- 
mony of  Drs.  Norris,  Jeserick  and  Milam,  and  the  attending  physi- 
cian. Dr.  Campbell ;  and,  also,  the  fact  that  when  the  little  boy 
looked  up  at  the  crack  of  the  gun,  he  saw  the  smoke  just  passing 
beyond  his  father's  head.  The  mathematical  deduction  from  the 
angle  of  range  of  the  ball,  the  height  of  the  wagon-seat,  and  declina- 
tion of  the  surface  of  the  ground,  was  that  Drinkard  must  have  been 
from  17  to  20  feet  to  the  north  and  rear  of  Nichols  when  he  fired, 
which  would  place  him  in  the  corner  of  the  fence,  among  some  tall 
jimson  weeds.  Nichols'  pistol  was  found  in  his  pocket.  The  de- 
fense was  self-defense  ;  that  Nichols  came  driving  down  with  his  pis- 
tol presented,  threatening  Drinkard,  who  reached  in  the  door  for  his 
rifle  and  stepped  out  in  front  of  his  door  on  high  ground  and  fired. 
The  evidence  on  both  sides  was  very  voluminous.  The  verdict  of  the 
jury  was  guilty  of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  and  assessed  his 
punishment  at  99  years  in  the  penitentiary. 

While  an  appeal  was  being  perfected,  Drinkard  escaped  from  jail, 
and  still  remains  at  large. 

The  State  was  represented  by  the  prosecuting  attorney,  Ben  Eli 
Guthrie  and  Col.  John  F.  Williams.  The  defense  by  Dysart  &  Mitch- 
ell, W.  H.  Sears,  Col.  R.  J.  Eberman  and  Capt.  John  M.  London. 

HARRIS      CASE. 

In  1879  Charles  H.  Harris  lived  on  80  acres  of  land  he  had  pur- 
chased of  Daniel  Morgan,  and  on  which  he  had  given  a  deed  of  trust 
to  Morgan  to  secure  the  unpaid  purchase  money.  The  land  was 
adjoining  the  farm  of  Morgan,  who  had  in  the  meantime  died,  and  his 
widow,  Margaret  Morgan,  was  administrating  the  estate,  and  had 
foreclosed  the  deed  of  trust  on  the  27th  of  May  of  that  year,  buying 
in  the  land.  On  the  28th,  her  son  Thomas,  a  young  man  of  20 
years,  with  his  brother-in-law,  Morris,  went  with  a  wagon  to  get  a 
load  of  timber,  cut  by  Harris  and  lying  in  the  public  road  near  his 
fence,  for  stove  wood.  They  had  loaded  the  wagon  and  gone  about 
100  yards  toward  home,  when  Harris  (who  claimed  he  was  starting 
out  looking  for  a  cow)  made  a  detour  from  his  house  and  met  them 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  837 

in  the  road  with  a  double-barrelled  shot-gun,  halted  them,  and  after  a 
warm  altercation  with  young  Morgan  (in  which  he  claims  Morgan 
threw  his  hands  behind  him,  and  Morris  drew  a  revolver  from  the 
wagon,  all  of  which  Morris  denies),  shot  him  in  the  left  breast. 
Morgan  made  a  few  steps  and  fell  dead  on  the  roadside.  Harris 
escaped  to  the  woods,  but  was  captured  on  the  second  day,  in  the 
neighborhood;  indicted  June  4th,  tried  January  next  following,  and 
found  guilty  of  murder  in  the  second  degree  and  sentenced  to  10 
years  in  the  penitentiary.  His  attorneys  appealed  the  case  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  which  reversed  the  judgment,  and  he  was  brought 
back  from  the  penitentiary,  retried  and  found  guilty  as  before,  and 
sentenced  to  20  years  in  the  penitentiary.  On  a  second  appeal 
the  Supreme  Court  reversed  the  judgment,  and  Harris  was  again 
brought  back  from  the  penitentiary  for  trial.  By  this  time  Morris, 
the  only  witness  of  the  killing,  had  moved  to  Vancouver's  Island, 
and  the  case  was  continued  for  a  term  or  two  to  secure  his  attendance, 
failing  in  which  the  case  was  dismissed  in  January,  1884,  and  Mr. 
Harris,  who  had  always  borne  an  excellent  reputation  for  peace  and 
good  order,  is  now  leading  a  very  quiet  and  industrious  life  at  Bevier, 
in  Macon  county.  On  the  first  trial  in  the  circuit  court  the  pros- 
ecuting attorney,  Capt.  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  was  assisted  by  Col.  R. 
J.  Eberman,  and  on  the  second  trial  by  Col.  John  F.  Williams. 
Messrs.  Dysart  &  Mitchell,  assisted  by  James  W.  Roberts  at  the  first 
trial,  defended  Mr.  Harris  in  the  circuit  and  Supreme  Courts  and 
stuck  to  him  until  his  discharge,  notwithstanding  his  poverty. 

KELLER    CASE. 

Jimmie  O'Neil,  a  young  man  of  about  20  years  of  age,  was  in  1881 
the  night  operator  at  the  telegraph  ofiice  at  the  Hannibal  depot,  in 
Macon  City,  and  was  highly  respected  by  his  employers  and  acquaint- 
ances. Wilbur  F.  Keller,  a  young  man  something  near  30  years  of  age, 
of  a  good  Illinois  family,  and  with  many  natural  and  acquired  accom- 
plishments, had  on  several  occasions  stopped  for  a  few  days  at  Macon, 
putting  up  at  the  Merchant's  Hotel,  where  O'Neil  boarded,  and  they 
were  acquainted.  There  were  some  circumstances  indicating  that  at 
some  time  tacit  but  not  expressed  dislike  occurred  between  them. 
Keller  was  stopping  at  the  Merchant's  in  January,  1881,  and  on  the 
— th  day  of  said  month,  had  been  drinking  about  town  and  was 
somewhat  boisterous,  when  the  marshal  disarmed  him  and  made  him 
promise  to  behave. 

In  the  evening,  Keller  having  received  his  pistol,  started   for  the 


838  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Wabash  depot  to  take  the  train.  In  going  he  had  to  pass  the  Hanni- 
bal depot,  where,  at  the  time  he  struck  the  platform,  O'Neil  was 
leaning  out  of  the  window  talking  to  James  Sweeney,  the  section  boss, 
on  business.  Sweeney  observed  to  O'Neil,  without  intending  Keller 
to  hear,  "  There  comes  that  fellow  who  was  making  a  fool  of  himself 
up  town."  Keller,  somewhat  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  wanted 
to  know  what  they  were  talking  about,  and  an  altercation  followed 
between  him  and  Sweeney,  the  latter  turning  around  and  moving 
toward  him.  O'Neil  called  Sweeney  back  or  cautioned  him,  and 
going  on  to  the  platform  put  his  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  Sweeney 
who  began  to  step  back  toward  the  wall  of  the  depot,  when  O'Neil 
moved  some  six  feet  toward  the  out  edge  of  the  platform  as  if  to  get 
out  of  the  way,  Keller  having  in  the  meantime,  with  a  threatening 
oath,  drawn  his  revolver,  which  either  by  design,  as  claimed  by  the 
State,  or  accidentally,  as  claimed  by  the  defendant,  went  off,  and 
struck  O'Neil  in  the  abdomen.  Keller  turned  and  fled,  throwing 
away,  as  soon  as  out  of  sight,  his  plug  hat.  He  came  back  in  the 
night  and  took  a  south  bound  train  on  the  Wabash,  on  which  he  was 
captured  by  Marshal  Clayton.  He  was  tried  at  the  May  term  follow- 
ing and  found  guilty  of  murder  in  the  second  degree  and  sent  to  the 
penitentiary  for  19  years,  where  he  now  is,  notwithstanding  vigorous 
efforts  have  been  made  for  his  pardon. 

On  the  part  of  the  State,  Prosecuting  Attorney  Guthrie  was 
assisted  by  W.  H.  Sears,  of  Macon,  and  M.  M.  Crandall,  of  Brook- 
field,  and  the  defense  was  conducted  by  Dysart  &  Mitchell,  assisted 
by  Mr.  Phipps,  of  Illinois.     A  motion  for  a  new  trial  was  withdrawn. 

WALTER   TRACY   SHOT   AND    KILLED    BY    GEORGE    STEWART. 
[From  the  Times.] 

Walter  Tracy  and  George  Stewart  lived  in  Ten  Mile  township,  this 
county,  as  neighbors.  They  became  involved  in  trouble  over  Stew- 
art's sister,  a  woman  40  years  old,  and  Friday,  August  24,  1883, 
Stewart  shot  and  killed  Tracy. 

The  details  are  related  so  clearly  in  the  following  testimony  of  an 
eye-witness,  who  appeared  before  the  coroner's  jury,  and  who  is 
corroborated  by  others  who  were  present,  that  we  give  his  evidence 
in  full ;  and  also  publish  the  full  evidence  of  the  woman,  as  will  be 
found  below  : 

Bazzle  Griffin,  sworn  :  Myself,  James  P.  Powell,  David  Miller,  Clay 
Hubble  and  Day  Griffin  were  at  the  bridge  across  draw  between  my 
house  and  David  Miller's  about  10  :30  o'clock  a.m.,  to-day.  I  looked 
up  the  road  and  told  them  there  comes  George  Stewart ;  he  rode 
within  about  30  steps  of   bridge,  hitched  horse  and  got  off  of  horse, 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  839 

and  came  right  down  to  the  bridge  ;  he  stopped  in  about  12  or  15  feet 
of  where  Mr.  Tracy  was  fixing  block  in  end  of  bridge  at  north-east 
corner;  J.  P.  Powell  was  behind  Tracy's  back,  being  to  the  north- 
west; Dave  Miller  and  Clay  Hubble  were  south-east  of  Tracy.  I  was 
south-west  of  Tracy  across  the  bridge,  about  15  feet  from  him.  Mr. 
Stewart  said:  "Every  d  —  d  one  of  you  get  out  of  the  way;  I  have 
nothing  against  any  of  you  except  Tracy ;  when  he  married  my  sister 
he  agreed  to  treat  her  like  a  lady,  and  he  has  not  done  it."  Walter 
Tracy  raised  up  and  started  across  the  bridge,  bent  over,  and  just  as 
Tracy  started  from  Stewart  the  latter  fired,  and  when  he  got  across  on 
the  south  side  about  10  feet  he  fired  the  second  shot  from  gun.  Tracy 
staggered  and  got  into  a  tree  top  that  was  lying  20  or  25  feet  from 
the  bridge,  then  Stewart  fired  first  shot  from  pistol  ;  Tracy  crossed  on 
west  side  of  branch  and  Stewart  followed  across  and  fired  second  shot 
from  pistol;  this  shot  hit  him  in  the  back;  Tracy  at  this  time  was 
throwing  up  his  hands  ;  Tracy  stopped,  staggered  and  fell  on  left  side, 
and  Stewart  followed  right  on  up  and  put  revolver  in  about  one  foot 
of  his  neck  and  fired  twice,  each  shot  taking  effect  in  his  neck.  Then 
Stewart  turned,  walked  back  across  bridge,  and  Miller  said,  *'  You 
will  be  sorry  for  what  you  have  done,"  and  he  said,  "Boys,  I  am 
already  sorry,  but  I  had  to  do  it,  and  I  done  it."  He  then  got  on  his 
horse  and  went  slowly  on  out  east  towards  his  home.  Tracy  lived,  in 
my  opinion,  about  one  and  a-half  or  two  hours  after  he  was  shot;  all 
the  words  Tracy  uttered  was  as  Stewart  was  firing  second  shot  with 
revolver;  while  Tracy  was  crossing  toward  me  he  called,  "  Help  me, 
help  me,"  and  after  Stewart  had  fired  last  shot  and  started  away,  he 
said  in  a  whisper,  "  Raise  me  up."  I  helped  to  raise  him  up,  went  to 
my  home  after  water,  and  gave  him  a  drink  about  30  minutes  after  he 
was  shot;  I  went  to  my  house  and  got  hay  to  prop  him  up  with,  and 
then,  by  this  time  there  being  several  there,  I  went  home,  and  in  about 
15  minutes  came  back  and  they  said  he  was  dying.  Last  Wednesday, 
August  22,  1883,  Stewart  said  in  presence  of  Powell  Griffin  and  my- 
self, "When  Tracy  married  my  sister  he  agreed  to  treat  her  like  a 
lady,  and  has  not  done  it."  This  is  all  I  heard  him  say.  Stewart 
did  not  seem  angry  or  excited  when  he  killed  Tracy,  and  went  away 
cool  and  quiet. 

[Signed]  Bazzle  Griffin. 

Cory  Tracy,  age  40,  December  25,  1883,  being  sworn,  said:  I  am 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Tracy,  deceased.  Married  at  home.  May  4,  1883,  by 
Methodist  minister,  who  resides  at  Clarence  (may  be  A.  P.  Linn),  j 
had  known  Mr.  Tracy  little  over  two  years  ;  first  met  him  at  my  home 
next  morning  after  we  moved,  7th  November,  1881.  He  asked  me  to 
marry  him  in  January  —  first  part  of  the  month —  1883,  at  my  house  ; 
no  one  else  present  in  house  ;  my  brother  was  at  the  lot ;  I  never  con- 
sented ;  I  told  him  I  didn't  want  to  marry  him,  and  I  told  him  I  didn't 
believe  it  would  be  any  account ;  he  begged  and  plead  with  me  ;  by 
saying  I  didn't  think  it  would  amount  to  anything,  I  meant  that  I 
thought  he  just  wanted  to  marry  me  because  he  had  treated  me  as 

48 


840  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

he  had.  When  I  was  married  there  were  present  my  mother,  brother, 
minister  and  ourselves.  He  (Mr.  Tracy)  forced  me  to  marry  him  ; 
George  H.  Stewart  is  my  brother  —  is  the  name  of  party  that  did  the 
shooting ;  he  was  at  our  home  this  morning,  and  went  to  the  black- 
smith shop  this  morning  about  eight  o'clock  and  came  back  about  nine 
or  9  :30  ;  he  went  to  shop  after  wagon  tongue  ;  I  didn't  see  him  leave 
the  house  after  that ;  he  said  that  he  wanted  to  fix  the  wagon  to  go  to 
Clarence  ;  when  he  came  home  the  second  time  he  had  a  whip,  stick 
or  something  in  his  hand  ;  he  has  a  gun  ;  I  don't  know  what  kind  of  a 
gun  it  is  ;  I  don't  know  one  kind  of  a  gun  from  another ;  my  brother 
did  not  speak  to  Mr.  Tracy  before  this  ;  soon  after  we  were  married 
they  had  some  kind  of  settlement,  since  which  time  they  have  not 
spoken.  Question:  Do  you  know  what  they  fell  out  about?  I  don't 
know  what  they  fell  out  about ;  I  know  of  no  difficulty  except 
difficulty  between  me  and  Mr.  Tracy ;  I  never  heard  my  brother  make 
any  threats  against  Mr.  Tracy ;  the  reason  I  married  Mr.  Tracy  was 
because  he  treated  me  bad  about  a  month  before  we  were  married  ; 
no  one  else  was  about  the  house  ;  our  family  consists  of  my  mother 
and  this  one  brother  and  myself;  they  were  in  Clarence  to  see  brother 
Will,  who  was  lying  low  with  typhoid  fever ;  they  are  not  in  the  habit 
of  leaving  me  alone  ;  they  went  on  Thursday  and  at  night  I  went  to 
Brown  Creekman's  and  stayed  all  night;  brother  and  ma  came  home 
about  10  A.  M.  Friday  ;  I  didn't  tell  them  about  what  had  happened 
because  Mr.  Tracy  said  it  would  ruin  both  of  us  ;  I  never  told  this 
until  we  were  married  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Tracy  and  my  mother 
and  brother,  the  morning  before  they  went  to  Macon  after  license  ; 
what  I  told  them  was  I  said:  "Mr.  Tracy,  you  have  treated  me 
badly."  "  I  know  I  have,"  he  said  ;  "  I  did  it  to  make  you  marry 
me."  I  said  I  would  rather  be  buried  alive  than  marry  him  under 
these  circumstances,  and  he  said  :  "  If  you  will  marry  me,  I  will  make 
you  a  lady  all  your  life." 

Before  this  I  had  never  told  my  brother  or  mother  about  Tracy's  bad 
treatment  of  me  ;  this  was  the  only  time  I  ever  told  them  of  this  until 
I  went  home,  after  I  had  lived  with  him  at  his  house  25  days  ;  there 
was  no  indication  of  anger  in  my  brother  after  I  told  this,  and  Tracy 
proposed  to  go  after  a  license  to  Macon,  and  they  went  of  Mr.  Tracy's 
own  free  will ;  no  angry  words  passed,  and  they  went  from  Macon  to 
Clarence  after  a  minister,  and  about  two  hours  by  the  sun  that  day  we 
were  married  ;  my  brother  never  asked  me  to  marry  Mr.  Tracy  ;  I 
married  him  just  because  he  begged  me  to,  and  because  he  had  treated 
me  the  way  he  had  ;  Mr.  Tracy  told  me  after  we  were  married  that 
the  house  was  his,  but  his  parents  said  it  was  not,  and  I  don't  know 
whose  it  is  ;  I  was  not  living  with  Mr.  Tracy  at  this  time,  that  is,  the 
time  of  the  killing  of  Tracy,  and  have  not  since  the  first  25  days  after 
we  were  married  ;  the  reason  I  did  not  live  with  him  was,  his  mother 
and  father  treated  me  so  badly  when  he  was  gone,  and  I  had  no  pro- 
tection ;  when  he  was  here  they  were  good,  but  when  gone,  they  would 
let  in  on  me  ;  they  never  touched  me,   but  just  threatened  me ;  the 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  841 

night  I  left,  the  old  man  said  he  would  kill  me  ;  me  and  Mr.  Tracy 
got  along  well  together  ;  when  my  brother  came  back  home  this  morn- 
ing he  said:  «<  Jack,  "  this  is  what  he  always  called  me,  "I  have 
killed  Tracy."  He  was  at  our  house  door  at  this  time;  he  just 
turned  and  went  off,  and  I  haven't  seen  him  since  ;  when  he  told  me 
this  I  said:  "Why,  brother  George!"  We  moved  from  Logan 
county,  Ky.  ;  Middleton,  in  Simpson  county,  was  our  post-office  ;  we 
lived  two  miles  from  Middleton  ;  John  Ballouw  was  our  near  neigh- 
bor ;  my  brother  never  had  a  difficulty  before  this  that  I  know  of;  he 
did  strike  Frank  Bloodworth  over  the  head  with  the  end-gate  of  a 
wagon,  but  they  were  good  friends  five  minutes  afterwards ;  never 
gets  intoxicated  ;  he  is  mighty  high-tempered  ;  mother  heard  George 
say  he  had  killed  Tracy.  Her 

(Signed)  Cory  X  Tracy. 

mark. 
Following  is  the  verdict  of  the  jury  :  — 

We,  the  undersigned  jury,  summoned  to  inquire  of  the  death  of 
William  W.  Tracy,  in  Ten  Mile  township,  Macon  county.  Mo.,  do  find 
that  he  came  to  his  death  by  means  of  three  pistol  shot  wounds,  in- 
flicted at  the  hands  of  one  George  H.  Stewart,  and  further,  that  said 
shooting  was  done  without  any  provocation  or  just  cause. 

(Signed)  A.  J.  Ashbury, 

W.  J.  Greenley, 
Gee  Jones, 
Joseph  Neff, 
Landreth  Massey, 
N.  B.  Gault. 
We  deeply  regret  that  Stewart  was   not  arrested.     It  seems  that 
those  present,  if  they  had   possessed    presence  of  mind,  could  have 
prevented  the  killing,  and  could  certainly  have  secured  Stewart.     But 
they  were,  no  doubt,  dumbfounded  at  Stewart's  action,  not  expecting 
anything  of  the  kind.     These  citizens   and  others  of  the  community, 
assisted  by  Sherifi"  Morgan,  have  done  all  they  could,  we  learn,  to 
capture  Stewart,  but  thus  far  to  no  avail. 

EXPLOIT    OF    A  ST.  BERNARD  DOG. 
[From  the  Kepublican,  April  16,  1874.] 

Dr.  Berthier,  county  physician,  has,  at  the  county  hospital,  situated 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of  this  city,  a  dog  of  the  Saint  Bernard 
breed.  This  dog  is  not  yet  fully  grown,  but,  it  would  seem,  has  the 
instincts  of  his  breed  strong  within  him.  One  Saturday  night,  about 
8  o'clock,  he  rushed  about  the  hospital  acting  in  a  strange  and  excit- 
ing manner.  It  soon  became  evident  that  he  wanted  some  one  to 
follow  him.  Dr.  Berthier  ordered  "  old  Uncle  Jimmy,"  who  used  to 
make  his  headquarters  at  the  station  house,  but  who  is  now  "man 
Friday  "  at  the  hospital,  to  go  with  the  dog  and  see  what  the  trouble 
might  be.  Finding  that  he  had  made  himself  understood,  and  that 
Uncle  Jimmy  was  prepared  to  follow,  the  dog  led  the  way  across  the 


842  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

country  through  the  snow  in  the  direction  of  the  city.  At  a  distance 
of  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  hospital,  the  dog,  who  rejoices 
at  the  name  of  "  Major,"  descended  into  a  ravine.  Phniging  through 
the  deep  snow  that  filled  the  ravine,  the  dog  went  to  a  big  drift  and 
began  tugging  and  hauling  at  some  object  buried  therein,  lifting  his 
head  occasionally  and  uttering  a  bark  to  encourage  Uncle  Jimmy,  who 
was  wading  to  the  spot  as  fast  as  he  could.  Marveling  greatly,  Jimmy 
plowed  his  way  down  the  ravine,  and  reaching  the  spot  where  Major 
was  at  work,  saw  before  him  a  human  being  —  a  woman.  He  at  first 
tried  to  beat  the  dog  away,  thinking  —  as  he  was  rather  cross  at  nights 
about  the  hospital  —  that  he  was  hurting  her.  He  soon  saw,  however, 
that  he  was  careful  to  lay  hold  of  nothing  but  the  woman's  clothing, 
and  that  he  was  doing  his  best  to  drag  her  out  of  the  drift.  Jimmy 
managed  to  lift  the  woman  —  whom  he  found  was  still  alive  —  out  of 
the  hole,  but  was  unable  to  move  her  from  the  spot,  she  being  so  near 
chilled  to  death  as  to  be  unable  to  stand.  Assistance  was  called  from 
the  hospital,  and  the  doctor  turned  out  with  his  nurses  and  all  the 
convalescents  about  the  place.  It  required  the  exertions  of  six  of  the 
strongest  men  that  could  be  mustered  to  carry  the  woman  to  the  hos- 
pital, and  after  she  was  housed  the  doctor  and  nurses  worked  over  her 
for  some  hours  before  she  could  be  placed  in  bed.  The  husband  of  the 
woman  is  in  the  hospital,  and  it  appears  that  she  left  the  city  late  in  the 
evening  to  visit  him.  Dr.  Berthier  says  that  had  she  remained  in  the 
snow  20  minutes  longer  she  would  have  perished. 

The  next  day  when  she  came  to  her  senses  she  was  so  much 
ashamed  of  the  affair  that  she  left  the  hospital  without  going  to  his 
room,  begging  that  he  might  be  told  nothing  of  her  perilous  adven- 
ture. She  owes  her  life  to  "  Major,"  the  noble  and  sagacious  St. 
Bernard  dog. 


CHAPTER   XL 

Newspapers,  Public  Schools  and  Post-Offices. 

The  first  paper  published  in  Macon  county  was  the  Bloomington 
Gazette.  The  first  issue  of  this  paper  appeared  May  28,  1850,  and 
was  owned  and  published  by  James  M.  Love  and  Abner  L.  Gilstrap. 
The  prospectus  for  this  paper  was  printed  in  Quincy,  111.,  as  early  as 
the  month  of  March.  Mr.  Love,  who  now  resides  at  Macon,  says  that 
he  had  great  difficulty  in  getting  out  the  first  number.  The  type  was 
purchased  at  St.  Louis  and  in  shipping,  all  the  lower  case  g's  were 
omitted  and  the  figure  9  had  to  be  used  to  supply  the  deficiency,  after 
exhausting  italics,  etc.  The  Gazette  had  500  subscribers  and  gave 
employment  to  several  hands.  There  was  no  job  press  and  all  work 
was  done  on  the  newspaper  press.  The  Gazette  was  independent  in 
politics. 

The  Bloomington  Register  was  the  next  paper  and  was  started  in 
1852  by  Thomas  B.  Howe  and  Francis  M.  Daulton.  It  was  Whig  in 
politics. 

During  the  same  year  the  Bloomington  Republican,  a  Democratic 
paper,  was  established  by  Abner  L.  Gilstrap. 

In  1854  Rufus  C.  White  started  the  Bloomington  Messenger,  Demo- 
cratic. 

Thomas  B.  Howe  and  James  E.  Sharp  commenced  the  publication 
of  the  Bloominpton  Journal  in  1855.     Democratic. 

The  Bloomington  Messenger  was  again  started  in  1856  by  R.  C.  & 
D.  C.  White.     Democratic. 

James  M.  Love  and  Harry  Howard  published  the  Macon  Legion  in 
1859.  Democratic  in  politics.  The  Legion  was  the  last  paper  pub- 
lished at  Bloomington. 

The  Republican,  a  Democratic  paper,  was  the  first  paper  published 
in  Macon.     It  was  established  in  1860  by  A.  L.  Gilstrap. 

D.  E.  H.  Johnson  published  the  Register  in  1861  ;  after  he  left,  at 
the  besfinning  of  the  Civil  War,  the  Third  Iowa  regiment  of  infantrv 
took  the  material  of  the  office  and  issued  a  paper  called  the  Union. 
A  man  by  the  name  of  Wilkes  was  the  editor. 

The  Argus,  Republican  in  politics,  was  edited  by  Thomas  Proctor 

and  published  in  1863. 

(843) 


844  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

The  Express,  an  independent  journal,  was  started  in  1870  by  R.  H. 
Griffith. 

Then  followed  the  Greeiibacher,  by  John  M.  London,  in  1877,  and 
was  consolidated  with  the  Standard. 

The  Independent,  by  C.  H.  Steele,  in  1874, 

The  Standard,  by  F.  T.  Mayhew,  in  18 — ;  consolidated  with  the 
Greenbacker  and  called  the  Greenback- Standard  in  1877. 

Free  Press,  by  Steele  &  Mayhew. 

The  Enterprise,  by  Steele  &,  Mayhew. 

The  Examiner,  by  B.  F.  Stone,  in  1875. 

The  Journal,  by  John  M.  London  and  J.  T.  Clements,  in  1867,  and 
consolidated  with  the  Examiner  in  1875. 

The  Daily  Pilot,  by  J.  T.  Clements,  in  1875. 

The  Daily  Examiner,  by  London  &  Steele,  in  1875. 

The  Macon  News,  in  1879,  by  J.  M.  Love. 

[By  J.  A.  Hudson.] 

The  Times  was  started  at  Fayette,  Howard  county,  in  about  the 
year  1840,  by  Green  &  Benson,  the  late  Col.  Clark  H.  Green  being 
the  head  of  the  firm,  the  paper  then  being  called  the  Boonslick  Times. 
Mr.  Benson  died  shortly  afterward,  when  Col.  Green  became  sole 
proprietor.  In  the  year  1844  or  1845,  Col.  Green  moved  the  paper 
to  Glasgow,  and  changed  the  name  to  Glasgow  Times.  Col.  Green 
continued  its  publication  until  in  1862,  when  it  was  suppressed  on 
account  of  its  Union  proclivities.  In  1865,  Col.  Green  removed  to 
Macon  and  resumed  the  publication  of  the  paper  under  the  name  of 
the  Macon  Times,  and  continued  its  publication  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  the  fall  of  1871.  The  paper  was  then  sold  to  the  firm  of 
Gillespie,  Purdom  &  Howe,  composed  of  W.  C.  B.  Gillespie,  Hez. 
Purdom  and  John  N.  Howe,  who  published  the  paper  till  the  sum- 
mer of  1872,  when  Gillespie  purchased  Purdom's  interest.  Gillespie 
&  Howe  published  the  paper  a  few  months,  when,  in  the  winter  of 
1872-73,  T.  A.  H.  Smith  associated  himself  with  Mr.  Howe,  and  they 
purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Gillespie,  and  published  the  paper  a 
short  time,  when  the  paper  was  consolidated  with  the  Macon  Demo- 
crat, under  the  name  of  the  Democratic  Times,  and  passed  into  the 
hands  of  James  M.  Love  and  Edward  C.  Shain,  who  published  the 
paper  until  the  fall  of  1874,  when  it  was  sold  at  trustee's  sale  to  B. 
F.  Stone  and  Walter  Brown.  Soon  afterward  Mr.  Stone  purchased 
Mr.  Brown's  interest.  In  August,  1875,  a  wholesale  consolidation  of 
Macon  newspapers  occurred,  in  which  the  Times  was  a  central  figure, 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  845 

but  ill  which  move  it  lost  its  name  for  a  time.  The  Democratic 
Times,  published  by  B.  F.  Stone,  the  Macon  Journal,  by  John  M. 
London,  and  the  Macou  Daily  Pilot  office,  by  Baxter  &  G-reen,  three 
distinct  establishments,  were  consolidated,  the  proprietors  organizing 
the  Examiner  Printing  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $10,000.  In  this 
combination  Mr.  Stone  held  a  controlling  interest,  and  a  written  con- 
tract that  the  paper  should  be  continued  as  a  Democratic  journal. 
The  company  did  business  in  the  rooms  now  occupied  by  the  Times. 
A  daily  and  weekly  were  published,  known  as  The  Examiner.  After 
a  few  months  the  publication  of  the  daily  was  suspended.  This  com- 
bination gave  the  paper  an  immense  local  circulation  and  strong  pres- 
tige. It  was  an  early  advocate  of  the  nomination  of  Samuel  J.  Til- 
den,  and  after  his  nomination  gave  him  ardent  and  effective  support, 
the  county  giving  a  Democratic  majority  of  over  1,000,  the  largest 
Democratic  majority  ever  obtained  in  the  county.  Before  the  close 
of  this  canvass  the  entire  stock  passed  into  Mr.  Stone's  hands,  who 
sold  the  establishment,  in  the  summer  of  1877,  to  Purdom  &  Hud- 
son, the  firm  composed  of  Hez.  Purdom  and  J.  A.  Hudson,  the  pres- 
ent proprietor.  In  February,  1878,  Mr.  Hudson  sold  his  interest  to 
I.  J.  Buster.  Purdom  &  Buster  then  published  The  Examiner  till 
the  office  vvas  burned  in  the  spring  of  1879,  about  the  first  of  April. 
Shortly  afterward  the  business,  good  will,  and  what  was  saved  of  the 
material,  were  sold  to  W.  C.  B.  Gillespie  and  C.  H.  Steele.  Again 
the  name  was  changed,  this  time  to  North  Missouri  Register.  The 
first  of  February,  1883,  Gillespie  &  Steele  sold  the  paper  to  J.  A. 
Hudson,  the  present  proprietor.  Mr.  Hudson  reorganized  the  office, 
put  in  steam  presses,  and  restored  the  paper  to  its  former  name,  the 
Macon  Times.  In  May,  1883,  the  Missouri  Press  Association,  at  its 
annual  convention,  held  at  Carthage,  Mo.,  awarded  the  Times  a  large, 
handsome  gold  medal,  as  being  the  best  printed  paper  in  the  State  of 
Missouri.  The  Macon  Times  has  been,  and  is,  a  firm  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party,  its  measures  and  its  nominees.  It  has  a  circu- 
lation of  2,200. 

In  reference  to  the  papers  published  in  Macon  in  1875,  Mr.  Ab- 
ner  L.  Gilstrap  in  The  Illustrated  Historical  Atlas  mentions  the 
following :  — 

The  Macon  Democratic  Times,  established  in  1873,  by  James  M. 
Love  &  Co.  ;  now  published  by  B.  F.  Stone  &  Co. 

The  Macon  Journal,  established  by  J.  T.  Clements,  John  M.  Lon- 
don and  K.  W.  Caswell  in  1867  ;  now  published  by  John  M.  London. 


846  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

The  Macon  Republican,^  established  by  Gen.  F.  A.  Jones,  S.  G. 
Brock  and  Dr.  W.  A.  Wilson  in  1870,  and  is  still  published. 

The  Missouri  Granger,  established  in  1873,  and  now  published  by 
C.  H.  Steele  &  Co. 

The  Baptist  monthly  publication,  Messenger  of  Peace,  established 
in  1874,  published  by  E.  M.  Baxter  &  Co.  ;  Elder  John  E.  Goodson, 
editor  and  proprietor. 

Western  Herald,  a  monthly  publication  of  the  colored  .Baptist 
Church,  is  edited  by  Rev.  Amos  Johnson,  colored. 

[Contributed.] 

The  Macon  Republican,  now  the  oldest  newspaper  in  Macon  county, 
was  started  by  Gen.  F.  A.  Jones  and  S.  G.  Brock,  March  2,  1871. 
Previous  to  this  time  these  gentlemen  had  been  in  the  active  practice 
of  the  law,  and  engaged  in  the  newspaper  enterprise  because  they  be- 
lieved that  the  community  needed  a  paper  of  the  true  policy  and 
politics  which  they  assured  the  Republican  would  represent.  At  the 
same  time  they  continued  their  law  practice,  giving  their  intervals  of 
time  to  the  newspaper  work.  Both  being  gentlemen  of  literary  tastes, 
having  graduated  at  one  of  our  best  Eastern  institutions,  the  Republi- 
can won  the  esteem  and  warm  support  of  the  community  regardless  of 
political  differences.  While  distinctly  Republican  in  its  political  senti- 
ments, it  never  allowed  these  sentiments  to  enter  into  any  business 
relations  or  effect  its  earnest  advocacy  of  every  enterprise  or  all  affairs 
that  related  to  the  progress,  social  reforms,  county  or  state  enter- 
prises. It  has  always  zealously  advocated  the  interests  of  its  town, 
county  and  state.  It  has  endeavored  to  lead  and  educate  public  senti- 
ment in  all  moral  reforms,  rather  than  go  with  public  sentiment,  and 
has  been  fearless  and  independent  in  advocating  what  they  considered 
good  public  measures  and  worthy  enterprises.  Year  after  year  it  has 
obtained  a  stronger  hold  upon  the  esteem  and  respect  of  its  readers 
by  its  straightforward  consistent  course.  As  an  evidence  of  its  stand- 
ing we  quote  the  remark  often  made  :  "  We  can  always  depend  on  the 
Republican  and  we  always  find  it  a  clean  sheet." 

It  would  never  suffer  any  slighting  jest  upon  good  morals,  or  in- 
uendoes  at  Christianity  to  appear  in  its  columns.  Hence  it  has  always 
been  a  safe  and  desirable  paper  for  the  family.  Gen.  F.  A.  Jones,  the 
senior  of  the  firm,  died  January  7,  1882,  and  since  then  it  has  been 
under  the  sole  control  and   management  of  S.  G.  Brock,  who  is  its 


1  Gen.  Jones  died  in  January,  1882;  his  interest  was  purchased  by  S.  G.  Brock,  who 
is  now  the  sole  owner  of  the  Republican. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  847 

present  proprietor.  The  Republican  has  clone  a  good  work  for  Macon 
county  in  frequently  publishing  its  resources,  the  inducements  it  offers 
to  immigrants,  in  giving  strong  encouragement  to  its  citizens  in  times 
of  adversity  and  misfortune,  and  its  earnest  words  of  hope  and  strong 
arguments  for  a  future  of  prosperity  and  good  success. 

The  last  paper  started  in  Macon  is  the  True  Democrat.  The  first 
issue  appeared  October  26,  1883.  James  M.  Love  and  Harry  How- 
ard are  the  proprietors. 

The  papers  now  published  at  Macon  are  the  Republican,  the  True 
Democrat,  the  Times  and  the  Messenger  of  Peace;  the  latter  is  a  re- 
ligious paper,  and  published  in  the  interests  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

N'ew  Cambria  Enterprise,  an  independent  paper,  was  started  in 
1876,  by  Martin  Moore.  In  1878,  F.  Theodore  Mayhew  published 
the  Standard,  a  Greenback  paper.  The  Herald  was  established  in 
April,  1881,  by  R.  P.  Thompson.  It  is  still  in  existence,  and  is  in- 
dependent in  politics.  The  Reflector  was  published  at  Bevier  by  J.  J. 
Smith  in  1883.  The  La  Plata  Free  Press  was  started  May  4,  1871, 
by  Frank  H.  Newton  and  T.  B.  Marmaduke.  The  La  Plata  Globe 
was  published  (first  issue)  July  20,  1871,  by  W.  Y.  Bruer,  independ- 
ent. The  Advocate  was  started  in  1873  by  W.  H.  Howard  and  H.  C. 
Caldwell.  It  lived  about  three  years.  The  last  year  of  its  existence 
it  was  published  by  Joseph  Park. 

The  La  Plata  Home  Press  was  established  August  18,  1876,  by  its 
present  editor  and  proprietor,  J.  B.  Thompson.  From  the  first  itkas 
been  and  still  is  uncompromisingly  Democratic  in  politics,  yet  cour- 
teous in  its  discussion  of  all  questions.  Its  main  feature  is  its  local 
news,  however,  and  in  this  regard  it  has  always  aimed  at  excellence. 
And  to  this  fact  may  be  attributed  its  success,  as  it  has  a  circulation 
of  over  1,000  copies.  In  1882  its  editor  was  honored  by  his  brethren 
of  the  press  of  the  State  by  being  chosen  as  its  chief  officer.  The 
paper  was  established  at  La  Plata  without  a  "  bonus  "  being  oftered 
by  the  citizens,  as  is  the  custom  in  Western  towns  and  villages,  its 
publisher  coming  into  the  community  an  uninvited  stranger,  without 
the  promise  of  a  single  subscriber  or  a  line  of  advertising.  It  is  now 
a  well  established,  prosperous  country  newspaper,  with  a  large  and 
steadily  increasing  circulation  and  a  liberal  patronage  otherwise. 

PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 

The  public  schools  of  the  county  were  organized  under  the  new  law 
soon-  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War.  There  was  much  prejudice  ex- 
isting in  the  minds  of  the  people,  generally,  against  the  public  school 


848  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

system,  but  as  time  passed  and  the  practical  utility  and  great  benefits 
arising  therefrom  were  fiiirly  demonstrated,  this  prejudice  gradually 
wore  away,  and  now  the  public  schools  are  regarded  with  great  favor 
by  all.  From  a  few,  straggling,  log-cabin  school-houses,  which  were 
poorly  supplied  and  equipped  with  conveniences  for  instruction,  and 
poorly  patronized,  the  number  has  increased  to  130,  many  of  which 
are  first-class  in  appearance  and  appointments,  and  all  are  neat  and 
comfortable,  and  during  the  year  are  filled  with  as  bright  and  intelli- 
gent a  class  of  pupils  as  can  be  found  anywhere. 

The  location  and  number  of  school-houses  in  the  county  are  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

Ten  Mile  township,  9,  white;  Lingo  township,  7,  white;  Hudson 
township,  7,  white;  Narrows  township,  8,  white;  Easley  township, 
6,  white  ;  Middle  Fork  township,  6  white,  1  colored  ;  Liberty  town- 
ship, 6,  white  ;  Independence  township,  6,  white  ;  Eichland  township, 
6,  white  ;  White  township,  5,  white;  Morrow  township,  5,  white; 
Callao  township,  5  white,  1  colored  ;  Chariton  township,  5,  white ; 
Bevier  township,  5,  white  ;  Lyda  township,  5,  white  ;  Walnut  town- 
ship, 5,  white  ;  Jackson  township,  4,  white  ;  Eagle  township,  4  white, 
1  colored  ;  Round  Grove  township,  4,  white  ;  La  Plata  township,  4, 
white  ;  Drake  township,  4,  white  ;  Valley  township,  4,  white  ;  Russell 
township,  4,  white;  Johnson  township,  3.     Total,  130. 

To  take  charge  of  these  schools,  172  teachers  are  employed,  77  of 
whom  are  males  and  95  are  females.  These  teachers  are  paid  an  aver- 
age salary  of  $31.33  per  month  —  the  males  receive  $34.49  and  the 
females  $28.18. 

There  are  in  the  county,  according  to  present  enumeration,  children 
of  school  age,  white  males  4,702  ;  white  females,  4,326  ;  colored 
males,  198  ;  colored  females,  187 — making  a  total  of  9,413. 

The  county  has  a  magnificent  school  fund  which  now  reaches  the 
sum  of  $86,304.39,  which  is  exceeded  by  only  two  or  three  other 
counties  in  the  State. 

The  amount  loaned  from  swamp-land  funds  is  $51,831.20;  amount 
loaned  from  fund  of  sixteenth  section,  $23,769.31 ;  amount  on  hand 
not  loaned,  $10,703.88. 

For  the  year  1883,  there  was  paid  out  to  teachers  $24,892.46  ;  for 
fuel,  $1,523.63;  for  repairs  and  rents,  $1,063.98. 

The  schools  are  under  the  superintendance  of  Prof.  S.  F.  Trammel, 
who  is  the  school  commissioner  of  the  county.  Mr.  Trammel  is  also 
principal  of  the  public  schools  of  the  City  of  Macon,  and  although 
young  in  years,  he  brings  to  the  work    considerable   experience,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  849 

being  energetic,  ambitious  and  thoroughly  qualified,  the  public 
schools,  through  his  instrumentality,  have  attained  a  degree  of  excel- 
lence of  which  the  people  of  the  county  may  well  feel  proud. 

There  are  two  fine  public  school  buildings  in  the  county  —  one  at 
Macon  and  the  other  at  La  Plata. 

POST-OFFICES. 

Atlanta,  Beverly,  Barnesville,  Bloomington,  Barryville,  Callao, 
TuUvania,  Excello,  College  Mound,  Economy,  Ettle,  Goldsberry,  Love 
Lake,  Macon  City,  Lingo,  Seney,  Walnut,  Maple,  Mercyville,  La 
Plata,  Lyda,  Narrows  Creek,  New  Cambria,  Nickellton,  Kaseyville, 
Ten  Mile,  Woodville. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

DIFFERENT  WARS. 

Mormon  Difficulty —  Mexican  War —  California  Emigrants —  The  Civil  War  of  1861  — 
Kesolutions  —  Extracts  from  the  Macou  Legion  —  Companies  and  Captains  —  Occu- 
pation of  Macon  City  by  Union  Troops  —  Military  Execution  at  Macon  —  Confeder- 
ate Soldiers  Review  of  Macon  County  Men  —  Confederate  Officers  Hanged. 

MORMON   DIFFICULTIES. 

Two  companies  were  raised  in  Macon  county  to  aid  in  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Mormon  diflSculties  in  the  counties  of  Jackson,  Caldwell, 
and  Daveiss.  One  of  these  companies  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Lewis  Gilstrap  and  the  other  by  Capt.  John  H.  Kose. 

MEXICAN   WAR. 

At  the  call  of  President  Polk  for  volunteers  for  the  Mexican  War, 
quite  a  number  responded  from  Macon  county.  No  regular  company, 
however,  was  organized ;  those  who  went  united  with  Capt.  Han- 
cock Jackson's  company,  which  was  at  that  time  forming  in  Randolph 
county. 

The  following  comprises  the  names  of  two-thirds  of  the  men  who 
went  from  Macon  county  to  the  Mexican  War :  J.  B.  Clarkson, 
Robert  Myers,  T.  A.  H.  Smith,  O.  P.  Magee,  Benjamin  F.  Heater, 
Pleasant  Richardson,  Samuel  Love,  Thomas  Barnes,  John  Peyton, 
Daniel  G.  Sweeney,  Hardin  Butner,  Wilson  Fletcher,  Dennis  D. 
Wright,  Ellis  Wilson. 

CALIFORNIA   EMIGRANTS. 

No  doubt  the  desire  for  gold  has  been  the  mainspring  of  all  progress 
and  enterprise  in  the  county  from  the  beginning  till  the  present  time, 
and  will  so  continue  to  remote  ages.  Generally,  however,  this  desire 
has  been  manifested  in  the  usual  avenues  of  thrift  and  industry.  On 
one  occasion  it  passed  the  bounds  of  reason  and  assumed  the  character 
of  a  mania.  The  gold  fever  first  broke  out  in  the  fall  of  1848,  when 
stories  began  to  spread  about  of  the  wonderful  richness  of  the  placer 
mines  in  California.  The  excitement  grew  daily,  feeding  on  the  mar- 
velous reports  that  came  from  the  Pacific  slope,  and  nothing  was  talked 
(850) 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  851 

of  but  the  achievements  of  gold  diggers.  The  papers  were  replete 
with  the  most  extravagant  stories,  and  yet  the  excitement  was  so  great 
that  the  gravest  and  most  incredulous  men  were  smitten  with  the  con- 
tagion  and  hurriedly  left  their  Ijomes  and  all  that  was  dear  to  them  on 
earth  to  try  the  dangers,  difficulties  and  uncertainties  of  hunting  gold. 
Day  after  day  and  month  after  month  were  the  papers  filled  with  glow- 
inoj  accounts  of  California. 

Instead  of  dying  out,  the  fever  rose  higher  and  higher.  It  was  too 
late  in  the  fall  of  '48  to  cross  the  plains,  but  thousands  of  people  in 
Missouri  began  their  preparations  for  starting  in  the  following  spring. 
The  one  great  subject  of  discussion  around  the  firesides  that  winter 
(1848)  was.the  gold  of  California.  It  is  said  at  one  time  the  majority 
of  the  able-bodied  men  of  the  county  were  unsettled  in  mind,  and  were 
contemplating  the  trip  to  California.  Even  the  most  thoughtful  and 
sober-minded  found  it  most  difficult  to  resist  the  infection. 

Wonderful  sights  were  seen  when  the  emigrants  passed  through  — 
sights  that  may  never  be  seen  again  in  Macon  county.  Some  of  the 
emigrant  wagons  were  drawn  by  cows  ;  other  gold  hunters  went  on 
foot  and  hauled  their  worldly  goods  in  hand-carts.  Early  in  the 
spring  the  rush  began.  It  must  have  been  a  scene  to  beggar  descrip- 
tion. There  was  one  continuous  line  of  wagons  from  the  Orient  to 
the  Occident,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  moving  steadily  westward, 
and,  like  a  cyclone,  drawing  in  its  course  on  the  right  and  left  many 
of  those  along  its  path.  The  gold  hunters  of  Macon  crowded  eagerly 
into  the  gaps  in  the  wagon  trains,  bidding  farewell  to  their  nearest 
and  dearest  friends,  many  of  them  never  to  be  seen  again  on  earth. 
Sadder  farewells  were  never  spoken.  Many  who  went  left  quiet  and 
peaceful  homes  only  to  find  in  the  "  Far  West  "  utter  disappoint- 
ment and  death. 

Just  how  many  persons  went  to  California  in  1849-50  from  Macon 
county  cannot  at  this  date  be  ascertained.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
parties  named  below  composed  the  majority  of  the  emigrants  from  this 
county  :  — 

Dr.  Al.  Ray,  Daniel  Cornelius,  Jeptha  Banta,  S.  S.  Lingo,  M.  M. 
Turner,  Aleck  Sichols,  Levi  Cox,  J.  J.  West,  Col.  Thos.  Pool,  Mat 
Halley,  R.  S.  Halley,  Lewis  Cox,  Hardin  Butner,  Hugh  McCann, 
John  Murphy,  Jas.  Landrum,  Carter  Landrum,  James  Banning,  D. 
D.  Fowler,  J.  B.  Hutchinson,  Burrell  Griffin,  Enoch  Griffin,  John 
Tilley,  John  Fisher,  Nathaniel  Brogles,  Wm.  Gates,  Wm.  StanfieW, 
Wm.  Belmear,  John  Melone,  John  Midley,  James  M.  Stone,  Thos. 
Hale,  Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  Wilson  Fletcher,  Lewis  Smith,  Carter  Wil- 


852  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

kin,  Thos.  Bourk,   Joseph  Bourk,   A.  Mendenhall,  S.  Mendenhall, 
W.  Surbur,  Washington  Surbur,  Geo.  W.  Anderson,  Benton  Surbur. 

THE    CIVIL   WAR  .OF    1861. 

Were  we  to  undertake  to  write  the  full  history  of  what  occurred  in 
Macon  county,  either  upon  the  eve  of  the  Civil  War  or  during  its  con- 
tinuance, such  a  history  would  more  than  fill  this  volume.  We  shall, 
therefore,  give  only  such  facts  as  are  most  important,  or  rather  the 
most  salient  features  connected  with  the  war  history  of  Macon  county. 

The  people  of  the  county  were  warm  in  their  attachment  to  the 
Union  of  the  States  until  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumpter,  and 
until  the  attack  made  at  St.  Louis  by  the  Federal  Government  upon 
the  State  troops  under  Gen.  D.  M.  Frost.  The  latter  event  precipi- 
tated their  final  decision,  and  caused  them  to  take  sides  with  their 
Southern  brethren,  and  the  excitement  was  of  such  a  character  that 
the  citizens  of  the  county  met  at  Bloomington,  the  county  seat,  and 
passed  resolutions  expressive  of  their  sentiments  in  regard  to  the 
political  status  of  the  country  at  that  time. 

[From  the  Macon  Legion  of  May  17,  1861.] 

Saturday,  May  11,  1861,  a  very  large  number  of  persons  met  at 
the  court-house  at  Bloomington  for  the  purpose  of  indorsing  the  Gov- 
ernor's course  in  refusing  to  furnish  troops  to  President  Lincoln  to 
make  war  on  the  South. 

At  an  early  hour  the  people  began  coming  in  by  scores  and  hun- 
dreds, until  the  large  crowd  was  estimated  at  from  2,000  to  2,500. 

The  Macon  City  delegation  was  headed  by  a  brass  baud  and  a 
Southern  flag  of  15  stars. 

Next  in  order  were  15  young  ladies  on  horseback,  each  bearing  a 
flag  representing  a  particular  Southern  State,  the  name  of  the  State 
being  in  large  letters.  The  banners  were  followed  by  a  large  number 
of  horsemen  in  double  file. 

The  marshals  were  Ben  E.  Harris  and  Thad  Davis.  The  ladies  and 
the  flags  were  loudly  and  repeatedly  cheered.  About  this  time  a 
large  and  splendid  Southern  flag  with  15  stars  was  run  up  a  pole  93 
feet  in  height,  on  the  public  square,  amidst  loud  huzzas  and  waving 
of  hats.  Ben  R.  Dysart  made  a  neat  and  appropriate  speech  on  the 
occasion,  and  welcomed  the  ladies  bearing  the  Southern  banners. 
Three  loud  cheers  were  given  at  the  conclusion  of  his  speech. 

The  meeting  was  organized  by  calling  Capt.  William  Griffin  to  the 
chair  and  appointing  Web.  M.  Rubey,  secretary.  Mr.  E.  C.  McCabe, 
of  Palmyra,  was  introduced  to  the  meeting,  and  addressed  the  audi- 
ence at  length  in  an  able  advocacy  of  "  Southern  Rights,"  which  was 
well  received  by  the  people.  Hon.  James  S.  Green  addressed  the  peo- 
ple for  two  hours  in  an  able  and  eloquent  manner.     He  took  extreme 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  853 

Southern  ground,  and  declared  that  a  State  had  the  constitutional 
right  to  secede  ;  he  denounced  an  "  armed  neutrality"  as  worse  than 
nonsense,  and  that  its  advocates  had  "  wooden  heads  and  iron 
hearts." 

"  That  neutrality  was  an  impossibility;  and  that  the  people  would 
be  ready  and  willing  to  secede  as  soon  as  they  were  armed.  Mr. 
Green's  speech  seemed  to  suit  the  crowd,  for  he  was  vociferously  and 
constantly  cheered.  As  nearly  everybody  in  this  section  was  present 
it  is  unecessary  for  us  to  give  the  minute  details,  and  to  allude  farther 
to  the  proceedings.  The  chairman  appointed  the  following  committee 
to  report  resolutions  :  T.  G.  Sharp,  Thomas  McCormick,  A.  J.  Mar- 
maduke,  J.  N.  Brown,  G.  A.  Shortridge,  W.  G.  Griffin,  James  A. 
Terrell,  K.  T.  Johnston,  W.  J.  MorroV,  P.  M.  Stacy,  Jacob  Loe, 
Kobert  T.  Ellis,  Benjamin  E.  Harris,  W.  W.  Moore  and  Louis  Robion, 
who  made  the  following  report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted  :  — 

"  Whereas,  Civil  War,  with  all  of  its  horrors,  is  upon  us,  brought  on 
by  the  Black  Republican  Abolition  Administration  (at  the  head  of 
which  is  Abraham  Lincoln),  by  using  low,  cunning  and  base  treachery 
to  deceive  the  people  of  what  was  lately  the  United  States  of  America  ; 
and  then  in  violation  of  solemn  pledges,  attempting  to  reinforce  Fort 
Sumpter,  at  a  time,  too,  when  the  border  States,  deceived  by  Lincoln's 
treachery,  were  hopeful  of  a  peaceable  settlement  of  our  national 
troubles,  and  were  using  every  patriotic  means  for  that  end.  There- 
fore be  it 

^^ Resolved,  That  we  loathe  and  abhor  the  rulers  of  a  nation  who  can 
stoop  to  such  base  hypocrisy  as  has  marked  this  Abe  Lincoln  Black 
Republican  Abolition  Administration. 

'■'■Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  civil  war  into  which  the  country  is 
precipitated  as  being  the  result  of  the  "  irrepressible  conflict"  doc- 
trine as  preached  and  advocated  by  Beecher,  Greeley,  Lincoln,  Seward 
&  Co.  for  years  past. 

^^Resolved,  That  the  sites  of  Federal  forts,  arsenals,  etc.,  within  the 
limits  of  the  States  of  this  Union,  were  acquired  by  the  Federal 
government,  and  jurisdiction  over  them  ceded  by  the  States,  as  trusts 
for  common  purposes  of  the  Union  during  its  continuance,  and  upon 
the  separation  of  the  States  such  jurisdiction  reverts  of  right  to  the 
States  respectively  by  which  the  jurisdiction  was  ceded  ;  whilst  a  State 
remains  in  the  Union  the  legitimate  use  of  such  forts,  etc.,  are  to 
protect  the  country  against  foreign  force  and  to  aid  in  suppressing 
domestic  insurrection.  To  use  or  to  prepare  them  to  be  used, 
to  intimidate  a  State  or  constrain  its  free  action,  is  a  perversion  of  the 
purposes  for  which  they  were  obtained.  Xhey  were  not  intended  to 
be  used  against  the  States  in  whose  limits  they  are  found  in  the  event 
of  Civil  War. 

^^Resolved,  That  in  our  worthy  and  excellent  Governor,  C.  F.  Jack- 
son, we  have  a  true  patriot,  and  one  who  will  stand  by  the  rights  of 
Missouri  and  of  Southern  rights  at  all  hazards.  That  in  refusing 
'  aid  and    comfort   to  the   enemy,'   when  called  upon  by  Secretary 


854  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Cameron  for  troops  to  aid  in  subjugating  our  Southern  brethren,  he 
will  receive  the  unanimous  approbation  of  Missourians. 

^^ Resolved,  That  in  the  hmguage  of  Gov.  Jackson,  "  Missouri  has 
at  this  time  no  war  to  prosecute  ;  it  is  not  her  policy  to  make  aggres- 
sions on  any  State  or  people,  but  in  the  present  state  of  the  country, 
she  would  be  faithless  to  her  honor  and  recreant  to  her  duty,  were  she 
to  hesitate  a  moment  in  making  the  most  ample  preparation  for  the 
rights  of  her  people  against  the  aggressions  of  assailants. 

^'■Resolved,  That  Missouri  ought  with  all  possible  speed  put  herself 
upon  a  war  footing,  so  as  to  be  fully  prepared  for  any  emergency. 

^'Resolved,  That  Missouri  ought  to  co-operate  with  the  slave  States 
in  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary  for  our  mutual  protection  as 
slave  States." 

We  make  further  extracts  from  the  same  paper :  — 
Macon  county  is  alive  with  excitement  and  military  enthusiasm. 
Since  the  attack  on  the  State  troops  at  St.  Louis,  and  the  rumor  that 
an  army  of  Federal  troops  intended  taking  possession  of  Macon  City, 
hundreds  are  volunteering  for  the  defense  of  the  State.  The  men  are 
here  by  thousands,  but  they  are  poorly  provided  with  arms. 

On  Monday  last  there  were  300  men  drilled  the  greater  part  of  the 
day  in  this  place.  The  men  seemed  anxious  to  learn  military  exer- 
cises, and  having  experienced  leaders,  learned  very  rapidly  many  of 
the  evolutions. 

**  SILVER   GRAYS." 

This  company  of  "Home  Guards "  will  parade  here  on  next  Saturday 
at  10  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  drilling  and  electing  officers. 

"MACON   RANGERS." 

This  fine  company,  numbering  96  good  and  true  men,  met  here  on 
Monday  and  elected  William  D.  Marmaduke,  captain  ;  G.  M.  Taylor, 
first  lieutenant ;  James  Lovern,  second  lieutenant ;  and  C.  M.  Smith, 
third  lieutenant. 

COMPANIES    AND  CAPTAINS. 

Two  companies  of  volunteers  were  first  raised,  mostly  in  Macon 
county.  Captains  William  Forbes  and  C.  R.  Haverly.  About  the  same 
time  Capt.  Cupp  raised  a  company  of  Home  Guards. 

In  the  winters  of  the  years  1861  and  1862  six  companies  of  Missouri 
State  Militia  Cavalry  were  recruited  and  organized  at  the  City  of  Ma- 
con, four  of  which  were  from  Macon  county,  commanded  by  Captains 
I.  N.  Burnes,  G.  W.  Bearnes,  Jacob  Gilstrap  and  H.  E.  York.  A. 
L.  Gilstrap  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel,  and  a  few  days  aft- 
erwards Henry  S.  Lipscomb  brought  in  six  additional  companies,  and 
formed  the  Eleventh  Regiment  of  M.  S.  M.,  of  which  Lipscomb  was 
appointed  colonel.     Lieut. -Col.   Gilstrap   remained  in  command  un- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  855 

til  the  consolidation  of  his  reojiment  with  the  Second  Regiment  M. 
S.  M.,  about  the  2d  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1862,  when  he  and  Col. 
Lipscomb  were  mustered  out  as  supernumerary. 

Many  companies  of  militia  were  in  service  during  the  war,  and  in 
1864  three  or  four  companies  of  Missouri  volunteers  were  raised  in 
Macon  county  for  the  Forty-Second  regiment,  commanded  by  Col. 
William  Forbes.  These  troops  were  all  in  the  service  of  the  Federal 
Government. 

On  the  side  for  the  Confederate  States,  six  companies  were  re- 
cruited, mostly  from  Macon  county,  commanded  b}^  Captains  William 
D,  Marmaduke,  Robert  Bevier,  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  Carter  M.  Smith, 
Michael  Griffin  and  Theodore  Saunders. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  men  who  entered  the  Union 
army :  — 

Co.  *'^"  Tenth  Missouri  Infantry. —  Charles  Anderson,  Z.  M. 
Atterberry,  L.J.  Atterberry,  George  W.  Abeling,  M.  E.  Buster,  James 
Buster,  L.  G.  Cook,  Joseph  Cook,  Pinkney  Cook,  D.  W.  Chambers, 
John  S.  Davis,  William  K.  Davis,  William  Forbes,  John  W.  Farmer, 
Robert  C.  Gaines,  Abner  George,  Bunel  C.  Hart,  C.  R.  Haverly,  J. 
P.  Higginbottom,  Robert  Hubbard,  William  H.  Johnson,  Jonathan 
Kimmel,  W.  E.  Kimmel,  David  Kimmel,  Samuel  Ketchum,  William 
S.  Lea,  William  Lea,  William  B.  Lea,  James  R.  Lea,  Alphius  Land, 
John  L.  London,  J.  A.  McQuary,  James  O.  McNamis,  Welcome 
McNamis,  Ellis  R.  Nichols,  John  B.  Newmyer,  Peter  Peterson, 
James  M.  Patrick,  J.  H.  Rubeson,  James  R.  Ramsey,  F.  R.  Ruckraan, 
Benjamin  F.  Stone,  Robert  Seaton,  Jonathan  Scritchfield,  John  C. 
Scott,  James  M.  Stacy,  Jacob  Walker,  A.  B.  Youngblood,  William 
C.  Nichols,  N.  D.  Nichols,  John  W.  Whittaker  and  Thomas  Pleas- 
ants of  the  Twenty-third  Missouri ;  Walker  Lucas,  Isaac  Lucas,  John 
McDaniel,  Silas  Titus,  John  Titus,  Marion  Hines  and  Hezekiah 
Edwards  of  Co.  E,  Twenty -fourth  Missouri;  George  Young- 
blood,  William  Vestal  and  Frank  McGuire  of  the  Sixteenth 
Illinois;  Thomas  Walters,  George  D.  Walters,  James  Stitt,  Tim- 
othy Terrill,  Philip  J.  Atterbery  of  the  Seventh  cavalry; 
John  M.  London,  W.  W.  Jennings,  G.  L.  Green,  James  Trant,  E. 
F.  Baugh,  G.  M.  Dexter,  James  M.  Hewell,  James  E.  Bridewell, 
Claiborn  Vestal,  William  Hagg,  O.  P.  Bramball,  John  Cummings,  J. 
W.  Butler,  W.  W.  Wixon,  Peter  Richmore,  James  M.  Thomas, 
Robert  M.  Verden,  Thomas  E.  Painter,  H.  C.  Woodson,  James  A. 
Painter,  William  Satterfield,  Redmond  Whitehead,  William  M. 
Brogles,  Benjamin  F.  Clark,  Wylie  Harris,  Samuel  Boston,  J.  F. 
49 


856  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Eodgers,  Joel  Cook,  A.  H.  Means,  Israel  Jennings,  Henry  Buchanan, 
William  J.  Lawson,  Frank  G.  Lester,  Thomas  J.  McCall,  H.  G. 
Stephens,  A.  W.  Porter,  Terry  Carter,  John  G.  Carter,  James  W. 
Hitchcock,  Nelson  Lewellan,  E.  H.  Lawson,  A.  h.  Gray,  Francis 
H.  Berry,  Samuel  G.  Davis,  Herman  Kemper,  Levi  D.  Bradley, 
William  H.  Centers,  A.  E.  Kockwood,  Peyton  Y.  Hurt,  John  Vail, 
Thomas  L.  Nicherson,  Thomas  A.  Smedley,  Robert  L.  Turner,  John 
C.  White,  John  Witt,  Peter  M.  Heaton,  Isaac  Whisenand,  John  L. 
Jones,  Preston  Helton,  John  Lane,  William  B.  Shuffitt,  George  Burks, 
Charles  Miller,  C.  R.  Haverley,  Thomas  J.  George,  James  D.  Barn- 
hart,  Hayden  A.  Butler,  Jackson  Botts,  Thomas  J.  Combs,  William 
R.  Coiner,  Robert  L.  Craig,  John  T.  Crawley,  Andrew  J.  Call,  Joshua 
Carney,  A.  N.  Dunn,  Rhodes  Davis,  John  W.  Ellis,  William  V.  Evans, 
B.  F.  Everhart,  James  F.  Evans,  Benjamin  F.  Fields,  JohnM.  Fields, 
William  Forcht,  John  Frye,  Thomas  J.  Garrison,  Thomas  M.  Groves, 
Robert  Gardner,  Joseph  Hewlett,  Lawrence  Hewlett,  Joseph  M.  Henry, 
Daniel  J.  Hoagland,  James  T.  Hunt,  Thomas  P.  Hunt,  Hiram  G. 
Hunt,  William  J.  Hunt,  Melvin  B.  Hogden,  James  Inman,  Oscar  L. 
Jennings,  Alexander  L.  Kale,  Hiram  Lucas,  Daniel  E.  Livermore, 
Thomas  Milledge,  Thomas  H.  McKay,  William  H.  McKay,  Nathaniel 
Minks,  Richard  R.  Minks,  William  Moody,  John  W.  Patton,  H.  N. 
Parberry,  John  Pates,  David  S.  Roberts,  George  W.  Rice,  Peter  F. 
Rowland,  George  H.  Stover,  R.  H.  Smith,  George  A.  Shirley,  Henry 
Sulhoof,  Dabney  Stevenson,  Joseph  Smith,  Anthony  Samuels,  John 
W.  Stevens,  M.  T.  Shelton,  J.  B.  Shoemaker,  A.  N.  Shelton,  Nathan 
M.  Smith,  Charles  Turley,  McDonald  Turley,  Isaac  Underbill,  William 
T.  Van  Meter,  Robert  Vass,  Thomas  Wingfield,  Patrick  Waddle, 
William  H.  Wright,  Milton  C.  Wright,  William  H.  Wilcher,  James 
F.  Wilson,  John  L.  Wilson,  Thomas  P.  Whiteaker,  A.  H.  Will- 
iams, F.  M.  Stice,  Hardin  Cornelius,  John  T.  Hudson,  Lewis 
Campbell,  James  W.  Davis,  Edward  Huchshorn,  Elijah  C.  Harp, 
John  P.  Ramsey,  D.  A.  Shoemaker,  Jonathan  Kimmel,  H.  C.  Shoe- 
maker, James  Shoemaker,  Milton  Shoemaker,  Richard  Shoemaker, 
James  E.  Moorehead,  Reuben  Dowell,  William  Forbes,  Temple  F. 
Lundy,  Richard  West,  William  T.  Shain,  William  S.  Burk,  Josiah 
Stanfield,  Benjamin  F.  Arisman,  Nicholas  T.  Green,  JohnW.  Lundy, 
George  D.  Walters,  Thomas  A.  Vestal,  John  Dowell,  William  Holman," 
William  T.  Atwell,  William  Mendinghall,  John  S.  White,  William  M. 
Fletcher,  James  W.  Banning,  Calvin  Chopin,  Harvey  Richardson, 
John  O.  Lucas,  Armistead  Shain,  John  Sears,  Isaac  Murry,  B.  B. 
Richardson,   Joseph    Dennison,    John   A.    Wilks,    John    Ballenger, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  857 

Tavender  W.  Wilks,  Marvin  Stanfield,  John  H.  Smith,  John  B.  Cook, 
Allen  Penton,  Martin  Coulson,  Charles  A.  Daun,  Elijah  Dowell, 
George  W.  Kinney,  William  Adams,  Alexander  Mendinghall,  James 
N.  Fletcher,  James  H.  Riley,  James  W.  White,  James  K.  Woodruff, 
William  G.  Sullivan,  William  F.  Troutman,  Aaron  Liter,  William  J. 
Summers,  Francis  M.  Rhodes,  Isaiah  E.  Rhodes,  Thomas  W.  Turner, 
William  W.  Turner,  William  Hardisty,  Jacob  Dixon,  John  A,  Dale, 
David  Bradley,  Ed.  G.  Blankenship,  John  C.  Love,  Joseph  Murphy, 
Lorenzo  Medley,  Mordecai  McDonald,  James  W.  Washburn,  M.  M. 
Underbill,  A.  Underbill,  William  Tbompson,  James  W.  Shoemaker, 
Andrew  W.  Taylor,  George  W.  Johnson,  R.  H.  Terrell,  J.  B.  J. 
Phipps,  H.  N.  Burk,  William  F.  Haines,  Ed.  C.  Shain,  James  H. 
Brudlove,  Jacob  Vestal,  William  H.  White,  Allen  Vestal,  John  J. 
Corley,  Henry  Smith,  Andrew  Agee,  Edward  Swink,  M.  H.  Abbott, 
John  W.  Bailey,  Nathan  T.  Bailey,  Joseph  Bailey,  Francis  M.  Bradley, 
Thomas  B.  Burk,  John  A.  Brown,  Isaac  N.  Burk,  John  S.  Butler, 
William  T.  Buchanan,  William  H.  Cantwell,  James  Darrell,  Peter  Ful- 
ton, Robert  W.  Green,  John  Greenstreet,  Thomas  J.  Green,  Jepe 
Hall,  John  H.  Hill,  Thomas  Kerby,  John  Kerby,  Joseph  F.  King, 
John  L.  King,  John  K.  Luster,  John  L.  McCandless,  Jepe  Mitchell. 
George  W.  Dougherty,  William  C.  Hall,  A.  R.  Graves,  John  M. 
Carter,  Samuel  Henderson,  A.  T.  Armstrong,  A.  J.  Dabney,  Benja- 
min Attebery,  Harrison  Able,  John  P.  Attebery,  M.  V.  Attebery, 
Theodore  Attebery,  George  H.  Ashlock,  James  W.  Barnes,  W^.  D. 
Baity,  B.  P.  Bernard,  Robert  Coiner,  G.  B.  Cunningham,  G.  E.  W. 
Cook,  Thomas  M.  Cooley,  Wijliam  P.  Clark,  William  H.  Combs, 
John  C.  Cook,  Hiram  Conkling,  D.  S.  Dauner,  Jerry  Dauner,  Jacob 
Downey,  William  T.  Dunington,  O.  P.  Davis,  J.  B.  Emmons,  L.  G. 
Emmons,  Jonathan  Ford,  N.  G.  Farmer,  Thomas  L.  Griffin,  Howell 
Gee,  B.  F.  Grisham,  John  H.  Gilbreath,  D.  T.  Galyer,  William  G. 
Hunt,  William  H.  Hardgrove,  George  W.  Johnson,  Simon  Kiper, 
James  O.  Lew,  John  S.  Lew,  Elijah  Long,  A.  W.  McDavitt,  Basil 
McDavitt,  William  J.  Milts,  Burt  Marten,  John  C.  Mickells,  James 
Meeks.  Jonathan  May,  John  S.  Miles,  A.  J.  Miller,  A.  J.  Mathews, 
Henry  A.  Pulliam,  Granville  PuUiam,  F.  A.  Patrick,  W.  R.  Payne, 
R.  E.  Patrick,  John  M.  Plummer,  Hiram  Robinson,  George  A.  Red- 
mon,  David  T.  Robinson,  Benjamin  Roberts,  Alfred  Shares,  William 
Shares,  Henry  Sanders,  William  Simmons,  William  J.  Saltmarsh, 
James  H.  Saling,  Elijah  S.  Tate,  William  P.  Tiller,  Cyrenus  Thomp- 
son, James  W.  Truett,  A.  G.  Wilson,  J.  P.  R.  Yorenly,  Albert  Easley, 
J.  B.  Williamson,  W.  T.  Williamson,  C.  H.  Malone,  Joseph  R.  Sum- 


858  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

iners,  C.  W.  Watts,  James  W.  Gunnells,  S.  H.  Shuett,  George  Lee, 
Levi  M.  Gunnells,  Eobert  Draper,  Thomas  J.  Saunders,  W.  H.  Pal- 
mer, A.  C.  Hajden,  J.  D.  Thompson,  George  W.  Gates,  William 
Miller,  Jacob  C.  Teter,  John  G.  Dean. 

OCCUPATION  OF  MACON  CITY  BY  UNION  TROOPS. 

The  first  Union  soldiers  that  reached  Macon  City  Avere  composed  of 
Iowa  and  Illinois  regiments,  under  the  command  of  Brig. -Gen.  Stephen 
A.  Hurlbut.  They  reached  Macon  City  in  June,  1861,  on  the  Hanni- 
bal and  St.  Joe  Railroad  trains.  Among  the  first  acts  was  the  cutting 
down  of  the  Secesh  pole  that  stood  near  the  Harris  House.  The  camp 
was  just  south  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad  depot. 

A  company  of  the  sixteenth  Illinois,  under  Lieut.  Wilson  was  sent 
to  take  all  the  guns  from  the  citizens  of  Bloomington.  This  was  done 
early  one  Sunday  morning,  every  citizen  being  arrested  and  placed 
under  guard.  They  were  all  shortly  released  but  the  arms  were  taken 
to  Macon  City.  Macon  City  was  regarded  by  the  Federal  authorities 
as  a  good  point  for  concentration  of  troops  and  as  a  strategic  key  to 
North  Missouri  from  its  railroad  facilities.  The  arrival  of  Federal 
soldiers  gave  encouragement  to  the  Unionists,  and  soon  many  compa- 
nies and  regiments  were  organized  and  stationed  at  that  point. 
Breastworks  were  thrown  up  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  and  occu- 
pied by  the  State  M.  S.  M.  The  greatest  number  of  soldiers  at  one 
time  stationed  at  this  place  was  7,000,  all  under  the  command  of  Brig.- 
Gen.  Hurlbut.  Their  stay  was  brief.  Other  troops  from  Iowa,  Illi- 
nois, Wisconsin  and  other  North-western  States  took  their  places. 
The  Generals  in  command  at  different  times  were  Merrill,  Fiske  and 
Guitar.  The  Colonels  in  command  at  different  times  were  Foster, 
Gilstrap,  Williams,  Forbes  and  Eberman. 

The  town  presented  at  all  times  a  military  appearance.  Soldiers 
were  seen  everywhere.  The  drum  and  fife  and  cavalry  bugle  kept  the 
martial  spirit  in  its  proper  bounds  and  discipline  in  good  order.  It 
was  sometime  after  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox  before  Macon 
City  was  entirely  relieved  of  troops. 

MILITARY    EXECUTION    AT   MACON. 

On  the  25th  day  of  September,  1862,  10  Rebel  prisoners  were  ex- 
ecuted, on  the  triple  charge  of  treason,  perjury  and  murder.  On 
the  day  previous  144  prisoners,  who  had  been  confined  in  the  "  Har- 
ris House,"  in  Macon,  were  sent  by  railroad  to  St.  Louis,  for  im- 
prisonment during  the  war.     The  10  retained  had  been  condemned  by 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  859 

Gen.  Lewis  Merrill,  or  by  a  drum-head  court-martial,  to  be  "  shot  to 
death,"  because,  as  it  was  claimed,  "  each  one  of  them  had  for  the 
third  time  been  captured  while  engaged  in  the  robbing  and  the  as- 
sassination of  his  own  neighbors,"  and,  therefore,  were  the  most  de- 
praved and  dangerous  of  the  gang.  It  was  also  charged,  that  "  all  of 
them  had  twice,  and  some  of  them  three,  and  others  had  four  times 
made  solemn  oath  to  bear  faithful  allegiance  to  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, to  never  take  up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  Kebel  cause,  but  in  all 
respects  to  deport  themselves  as  true  and  loyal  citizens  of  the 
United  States."  And  it  was  further  charged  that  "every  man  of 
them  had  perjured  himself  as  often  as  he  had  subscribed  to  this  oath, 
and  at  the  same  time  his  hands  were  red  with  repeated  murders." 

The  names  of  the  condemned  men  were,  Frank  E.  Drake,  Dr.  A.  C. 
Rowe,  Elbert  Hamilton,  William  Searcy,  J.  A.  Wysong,  J.  H.  Fox, 
Edward  Riggs,  David  Bell,  John  H.  Oldham  and  James  H.  Hall. 

The  ceremonies  attending  their  execution  were  exceedingly 
impressive.  On  the  morning  of  the  25th  the  condemned  men  were  sep- 
arated from  their  comrades  and  confined  in  a  freight  car  on  the  Han- 
nibal and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  and  were  at  the  same  time  informed 
of  the  doom  that  awaited  them.  The  next  day  the  Rev.  Dr.  R.  W. 
Landis,  chaplain  of  the  cavalry  regiment  known  as  "  Merrill's  Horse," 
was  present  to  attend  to  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  condemned. 
He  called  on  them  on  the  evening  of  the  25th  and  found  them  all 
deeply  penitent  and  apparently  making  earnest  preparations  for  death. 
They  confessed  they  had  Avronged  the  Government,  wronged  the  State, 
wronged  their  neighbors  and  themselves :  yet  they  declared  they 
were  not  wholly  responsible  for  their  own  acts.  They  had  been  led 
into  evil  —  so  they  pleaded  —  through  the  influence  of  others. 

The  prisoners  spent  most  of  the  night  in  prayer.  Next  morning 
urgent  appeals  were  made  to  Gen.  Merrill,  who  was  present  in  Ma- 
con, to  spare  th^r  lives  :  to  have  them  tried  by  civil  courts  ;  to 
imprison  them  till  the  end  of  the  war  ;  but  he  did  not  modify  their 
sentence.  One  of  these  appeals  came  in  the  shape  of  a  letter 
written  by  the  youngest  of  the  10 — about  20  or  21  years  of 
age — and  simply  claimed  mercy  for  the  writer.  It  was  received 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  execution,  and  as  the  General  was  still  in 
bed,  the  note  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  his  adjutant.  The  following 
is  a  verbatim  copy  : — 

general  for  god  sake  spare  my  life  for  i  am  a  boy  i  was  perswaded 
to  do  what  i  have  done  and  forse  i  will  go  in  service  and  figt  for  you 
and  stay  with  you  douring  the  war  i  wood  been  figting  for  the  union 
if  it  had  bin  for  others.  J.  A.  Wysong. 


860  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

At  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  procession  was  formed  and  the  silent  mul- 
titude, civil  and  military,  moved  at  the  signal  of  the  muffled  drum 
toward  the  field  of  execution  near  the  town.  The  executioners  were  de- 
tailed from  the  Twenty-third  Missouri  infantry,  and  numbered  66  men. 
They  marched  six  abreast  with  a  prisoner  in  the  rear  of  each  file. 
A  hollow  square,  or  rather  parallelogram  was  formed  on  a  slightly 
declining  prairie,  a  half  mile  south  of  the  town.  The  executioners 
formed  the  south  line  of  this  square ;  the  balance  of  the  Twenty-third 
Missouri,  the  east  and  west  lines,  and  Merrill's  Horse  the  north.  The 
executioners  were  divided  off  into  firing  parties  of  six  for  each  prisoner, 
leaving  a  reserve  of  six  that  was  stationed  a  few  paces  in  the  rear. 
General  Merrill  and  staff  were  stationed  close  within  the  north-east 
angle  of  the  square.  The  firing  parties  formed  a  complete  line,  but 
were  detached  about  two  paces  from  each  other.  Each  prisoner  was 
marched  out  10  paces  in  front  and  immediately  south  of  his  six 
executioners.  This  order  having  been  completed,  the  prisoners  were 
severally  blinded  with  bandages  of  white  cloth,  and  then  required 
to  kneel  for  the  terrible  doom  that  awaited  them.  At  this  time 
every  tongue  was  silent  and  nothing  was  more  audible  than  the  heart- 
throbs of  the  deeply  moved  and  sympathizing  multitude.  At  a  sig- 
nal from  the  commanding  officer.  Rev.  Dr.  Landis  stepped  forward 
to  address  the  Throne  of  Grace.  His  prayer  was  the  utterance 
of  a  pitying  heart,  brief  and  impressive.  It  was  an  earnest  appeal 
for  pardoning  mercy  for  those  who  were  about  to  step  into  the 
presence  of  God  and  eternity.  And  then  followed  the  closing  scenes 
of  this  bloody  drama.  The  prisoners  remained  kneeling  while  60 
muskets  were  pointed  at  their  palpitating  hearts.  The  signal  is  given 
and  the  fatal  volleys  discharged,  and  the  10  doomed  men  make  a 
swift  exit  from  time  to  eternity. 

The  bodies  of  five  of  the  deceased  were  claimed  by  their  respective 
friends  ;  the  balance  were  interred  by  military  direction.^ 

CONFEDERATE    SOLDIERS. 

Capt.  George  W.  Elliot,  Capt.  Isaac  Gross,  Lieut.  B.  T.  Snod- 
grass,  George  Goddard,  killed  at  Wilson  creek  ;  William  Goddard, 
John  Goddard,  James  F.  Gross,  Capt.  Thurman,  John  B.  Trammel, 
died;  James  P.  Cook,  Asa  Combs,  Andrew  Higginbotham,  Perry 
Gross,  Thomas  Howard,  Dr.  Dil.  Howard,  Jerry  Huffman,  Joseph 
Huffman,  James  A.  Huffman,  William  Lester,  Frank  Lester,  Jackson 


1   Switzler's  History  of  Missouri,  pp.  417,  418,  419. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON   COUNTY.  861 

Cosby,  Eobert  Woods,  D.  Bunch,  Perry  Bunch,  Thomas  Bunch, 
Henry  Fuught,  Amos  Morris,  Maj.  James  Lovern,  Abram  Riley, 
Jacob  Dixon,  Bluford  Engart,  Dr.  James  D.  Sparrow,  John  Sunder- 
land, Thomas  Halstead,  killed;  Thomas  Thurman,  John  H.  Morsran, 
Zach.  Miller,  William  Belmear,  A.  A.  Shain,  William  Shain,  Ben.  B. 
White,  Malin  Hatfield,  George  Hatfield,  James  Hatfield,  John  Dri- 
ver, Ed.  Lindsey,  Abram  Lindsey,  Jacob  Downing,  Thomas  Payton, 
John  T.  Banning,  May  Burton,  William  Burton,  Charles  Leathers, 
John  Edgar,  Clark  Meadows,  Frederick  Switzer,  Martin  Poe,  R.  J. 
Guthrie,  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  Thomas  Moore,  M.  M.  Carter,  John   Dale, 

Walker    Catterton, Catterton,  James  Fletcher,  James 

Palmer,  Peter  Heaton,  Newton  Switzer,  Jr.,  Frederich  Switzer,  Eben 
Engart,  Sr.,  Humphrey  Engart,  William  Wilson,  John  Wilson,  Green 
Bolman,  James  Bolman,  Robert  Bolman,  John  Reynolds,  Eben  Rey- 
nolds, James  Reynolds,  John  Harris,  Green  Groves,  Wesley  Halli- 
burton, Logan  Daniels,  Jacob  Johnson,  Cyrus  Halderman,  Alfred 
Roberts,  George  Roberts,  J.  C.  Hutton,  John  Grimes,  Richard 
Grimes,  William  Nunn,  James  Menefee,  Logan  Hardiston,  Thomas 
Hardiston,  Spuce  Cox,  Carter  Landison,  Thomas  Clark,  John  Deiner, 
Amos  Lewis,  W.  D.  Marmaduke,  Thad.  Marmaduke,  J.  B.  Trammel, 
Thomas  Halstead,  James  Huffman,  Joseph  Huffman,  B.  B.  White, 
William  Laister,  Frank  Laister,  George  W.Elliott,  J.  H.  Morgan, X. 
J.  Pindall,  Horace  Miller,  Dudley  Tobin,  Jerry  Huffman,  John  C. 
Love,  Theodore  Saunders,  W.  W.  Moore,  Carter  M.  Smith,  Perry  M. 
Stacy,  James  Lovern,  George  L.  Turner,  Isaac  Gross,  George  God- 
dard,  Benjamin  R.  Dysart,  Ed.  Coal,  James  D.  Sharron,  W.  W. 
Palmer,  Shad  Davis,  Fairbanks  Larrabee,  W.  H.  Terrell,  James  Rich- 
ardson, Edward  Lindsey,  Hiram  Lindsey,  John  Holman,  William 
Holman,  James  Holman,  Richard  Mott,  William  Mott. 

About  700  men  went  into  the  Union  array  from  Macon  county,  and 
about  600  into  the  Southern  army.  Many  of  those  who  entered  the 
Southern  army  were  enrolled  in  the  militia  after  their  return  home. 
They  did  this  for  protection.  The  people  of  the  county  were  largely 
Southern  in  their  sentiments. 

[By  Capt.  Ben  Eli  Guthrie.] 
A  brief  review  of  the  Macon  county  men  who  went  out  in  the  com- 
pany of  Capt.  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  in  the  State  Guard,  which  company 
afterward  became  Co.  I,  of  the  Fifth  Missouri  infantry,  pro- 
visional army  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  :  John  T.  Banning, 
May  Burton,  William  Burton,  Charles  Leathers,  John  Edgar,  Clark 


862  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Meadows,  Frederick  Switzer,  Marion  Poe,  R.  J.  Guthrie,  Thomas 
Moore,  M.  M.  Carter,  John  Dale,  Walker  Catterton,  James  Fletcher, 
James  Palmer,  Peter  Heaton  and  many  others  whose  names  have 
escaped  the  writer's  memory,  as  well  as  others  I'rom  the  adjoining 
counties  of  Randolph,  Monroe  and  Chariton. 

This  company  left  the  county  August  12, 1861,  crossed  the  Missouri 
river  at  Brunswick  in  company  with  the  company  of  Capt.  William 
M.  Neilson,  of  Chariton,  and  joined  Col.,  afterwards  Gen.  Edward 
Price,  at  Marshall,  and  afterward  was  organized  with  the  companies  of 
Capts.  James  Lovern  and  Theodore  Sanders  into  Bevier's  battalion  of 
Clark's  division,  M.  S.  G.,  and  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Dry 
Wood,  September,  1881,  then  with  Gen.  S.  Price  returned  to  Lexing- 
ton, where,  with  the  companies  of  Capt.  William  H.  Johnson,  Isaac 
Groves,  J.  B.  Griffin  and  James  Hamilton,  was  organized  into  the 
Fourth  regiment,  third  Clark's  division,  with  R.  S.  Bevier,  colonel ; 
F.  X.  Pindall,  lieutenant-colonel ;  James  Lovern,  major;  Capt.  J.  P. 
Leeper,  assistant-adjutant;  and  Thad.  Marmaduke,  sergeant-major; 
Capt.  Thomas  Rider,  commissary  ;  Benjamin  G.  Dysart,  surgeon  ; 
and  Henry  Rider,  hospital  steward.  This  regiment  took  part  in 
Price's  Missouri  operations  during  the  fall  and  winter  of  1861-62.  In 
December,  1861,  Col.  Bevier  took  such  of  this  regiment  as  he  could 
get  and  went  into  the  Confederate  camp  on  Sac  river,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  recruit  until  Price  fell  back  to  Springfield,  where  the  recruit- 
ing continued,  and  large  numbers  of  the  Macon  county  men  joined 
him  until  he  had  several  companies,  when  the  retreat  from  Springfield 
to  Arkansas,  in  February,  1862,  commenced,  in  which  Bevier's 
battalion  took  part,  being  a  part  of  the  reserve  to  the  rear  guard. 
They  also  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  advance  in  March  of  that 
year,  and  the  battle  of  Elk  Horn  Tavern.  After  the  retreat  from  Elk 
Horn,  these  companies  were  consolidated  with  a  battalion  of  Col. 
James  McCowen,  of  Johnson  county,  into  the  Fifth  Missouri  infantry, 
provisional  army,  C.  S.  A.  James  McCowen,  colonel.;  R.  S.  Bevier, 
lieutenant;  Col.  Waddell,  major;  Lieut.  Suppen,  assistant-adjutant; 
Thad.  Marmaduke,  sergeant-major;  Capt.  Mildell,  quartermaster; 
Dr.  B.  G.  Dysart,  surgeon  ;  Dr.  Goodwin,  assistant-surgeon  ;  and  Dr. 
Wolfe,  hospital  steward.  This  regiment  was  then  taken,  with  the 
rest  of  Van  Dorn's  army,  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  marching  from  Frog 
Bayou  to  Des  Arc,  and  then  transported  by  boat  to  Memphis,  and 
then  by  rail  to  Corinth,  and  were  in  Gen.  Little's  division  of  Price's 
corps,  Beauregard's  army,  and  participated  in  the  operations  around 
Corinth,  and  were  in  several  important  skirmishes  and  covered  the 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  863 

retreating  column  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad  on 
the  evacuation.  They  took  part  in  the  battle  of  luka  in  September, 
and  the  battle  of  Corinth  in  October,  and  covered  Van  Dorn's  retreat 
down  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad  to  Grenada,  before  Grant,  in 
November  and  December.  Spent  the  winter  in  Camp  Rodgers,  on  the 
Yallabusha,  15  miles  west  of  Grenada,  and  in  January,  1863,  were 
moved  to  Jackson,  and  in  February  to  the  Big  Black,  and  afterwards 
to  Port  Gibson  and  Grand  Gulf  to  meet  Grant's  advance  on  Vicks- 
burg.  Took  part  in  all  the  operations  around  these  places,  even 
making  a  brilliant  reconnoissance  across  and  up  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  and  when  pressed  to  retreat,  the  Third  and  Fifth  Missouri  made 
a  brilliant  dash  through  a  cane-brake  through  McPherson's  corps,  and 
that  gave  time  to  burn  the  brido^es  and  move  the  train  across  the 
Bayou.  It  should  be  stated,  after  Gen.  Little  was  killed  at  luka. 
Gen.  Bowen  (whose  merits  as  a  soldier,  scarcely  second  to  none,  have 
been  sadly  overlooked)  commanded  the  division.  The  command  then 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  battle  of  Baker's  creek,  cutting  the 
Federal  lines  and  saving  Pemberton's  army  when  they  were  falling 
back  all  along  the  line.  An  incident  will  serve  to  show  the  spirit  of 
the  Macon  county  boys.  When  Pemberton's  lines  began  near  its 
center  to  be  pressed  back,  steadily  and  surely,  he  sent  for  Bowers' 
Missourians,  who  were  to  the  right;  they  came  marching  in  fours  by 
the  left  flank,  and  arriving  at  the  place  where  desired,  so  pressing  was 
the  necessity  they  were  ordered  to  form  by  right  into  line  in  the  midst 
of  the  flying'Confederates,  and  under  the  fire  of  the  advancing  and 
triumphant  enemy.  This  maneuver,  as  a  matter  of  course,  doubled 
them  up,  and  the  line  being  long,  those  first  formed  were  for  a  long 
time  much  exposed  and  pressed,  and  had  to  fall  slowly  back  while  the 
others  formed. 

The  Fifth  regiment  formed  the  center  of  the  brigade,  and  Co. 
I  was  color  company  of  the  regiment,  and  just  as  it  got  on  the 
line,  the  right  gave  way  and  fell  back  behind  a  fence,  and  the  com- 
pany was  compelled  to  do  likewise,  and  the  whole  line  was  in  that 
tremulous  condition  when  no  one  could  tell  whether  it  would  stand  or 
run,  when  John  Dale,  suddenly  jumping  back  over  the  fence,  sang  out 
at   the    top    of    his   voice,   "Come    on    Company    I,   we    can    whip 

the Yankee   of ,"  and  suiting  the  action  to  the 

word,  advanced,  the  company  following  with  a  shout.  The  line  to  the 
right  took  it  up,  the  left  was  given  room  and  chance  to  form,  and  they 
cut  their  way  through  the  enemy,  and  Pemberton  got  behind  his  works 
at  Big  Black.     This  is  simply  one  of  many  instances  of  the  daring  of 


864  HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Macon  county  boys.  The  command  was  in  the  engagement  at  Big 
Black  next  day.  They  also  constituted  the  reserve  during  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg.  After  the  surrender  they  were  placed  in  the  camp, 
at  Demopolis,  Ala.,  wheue  they  became  lions  in  the  social  world  for 
miles  around.  In  the  fall  they  had  their  arms  restored  to  them  and 
were  reviewed  in  the  streets  of  Demopolis  by  Jefferson  Davis  and 
Joseph  E.  Johnston.  They  spent  the  winters  in  quarters  at  Meridian, 
Miss.,  attached  to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Johnston. 

It  should  be  stated  that  Gen.  Bowen  died  at  Vicksburg,  soon  after 
the  surrender,  and  few  commanders  have  been  more  sincerely  mourned 
than  he.  Gen.  Cockrell  became  his  successor.  In  January  the  com- 
mand was  ordered  from  Meridian  to  Mobile,  to  meet  a  threatened 
attack,  when  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Dabney  H.  Maury,  an  old 
friend-adjutant  of  Gen.  Van  Dorn,  who  had  often  commanded  us 
about  Corinth  when  Gen.  Little  was  sick.  He  received  us  warmly, 
treated  us  most  courteously,  and  provided  for  us  bountifully  and  took 
great  delight  in  exhibiting  our  soldierly  bearing  and  capacity  in  fre- 
quent reunions  and  parades  on  Government  street,  where  we  won  the 
admiration  of  the  beauty  and  chivalry  of  the  city.  The  command 
remained  in  Mobile  until  the  spring  when  Sherman  commenced  his 
movement  eastward  from  Vicksburg  ;  it  proceeded  to  Brandon,  Miss., 
to  reinforce  Gen.  Johnston,  and  fell  back  with  Johnston  to  Demop- 
olis, Ala.,  from  where  it  was  ordered  to  Lauderdale,  Miss.  ;  thence 
in  April  to  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  whence  it  was  in  May  ordered  to  join 
Gen.  Johnston  in  Georgia,  which  it  did  at  Eome  on  the  evening  of 
the  night  of  the  evacuation.  In  this  grand  campaign  it  was  attached 
to  Polk's  (afterwards  Stewart's  corps)  and  took  an  active  part  in  all 
the  movements  of  Johnston's  and  Hood's  army,  to  the  close  of  the 
campaign  at  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  in  September,  during  which  time  it  did 
not  have  a  warm  meal,  all  the  provisions  being  cooked  miles  away 
and  usually  issued  and  sold  to  the  men  in  the  line  of  battle.  The 
command  was  with  Hood  in  his  movement  back  through  North  Georgia 
and  Tennessee  to  Nashville,  and  helped  to  tear  up  the  railroad. 
Fought  the  battle  of  Altoona,  Ga.  ;  was  in  the  attack  on  Columbia, 
Tenn.,  and  the  battle  of  Franklin  and  the  investment  of  Nashville  by 
Hood.  After  the  investment,  marched  to  the  mouth  of  Duck  river, 
and  then  up  to  Bainbridge  on  the  Tennessee  river  to  rejoin  Hood  on 
his  retreat  out  of  the  State.  The  company  then  marched  to  West 
Point,  Miss.,  thence  was  sent  by  rail  to  Mobile,  where  in  the  spring 
it  was  a  part  of  a  garrison  of  Fort  Blakely,  across  the  bay  from  the 
city,  and  was   captured   by  Gen.  Canby  on  the   evening  of  the   day 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  865 

Gen.  Lee  surrendered.  The  men  and  line  and  field  officers  were  sent 
to  Ship  Island;  in  the  Gulf,  and  the  general  officers  were  kept  in  the 
forts  in  Mobile  Bay.  Afterwards  they  were  taken  to  New  Orleans 
and  thence  to  Vicksburg  to  be  exchanged,  and  were  put  across  the 
Big  Black  into  the  lines  of  Gen.  Dick  Taylor,  on  the  evening  of  May 
4,  1865.  Gen.  Taylor  had  on  that  day  surrendered  his  department 
to  Gen.  Canby.  The  command  in  a  few  days  afterwards  was  regu- 
larly paroled  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  turned  loose,  ragged  and  penni- 
less, in  a  country  having  only  chimneys  and  a  very  few  houses.  But 
the  Macon  boys  went  to  work  with  the  same  determination  that 
characterized  them  as  soldiers,  and  as  a  consequence  they  are  all 
doing  well  and  are  good  and  upright  citizens. 

CONFEDERATE    OFFICER    HANGED. 

fFrom  the  True  Democrat.] 

The  first  and  only  execution  by  hanging  in  Macon  county  by  official 
authority  was  that  of  a  Confederate  officer  executed  in  Macon  City 
in  the  fall  of  1864.  The  officer  was  tried  by  a  military  court  on  sev- 
eral charges  ;  the  only  one  now  recollected  was  that  of  intercepting 
the  United  States  mails  within  the  Federal  lines  and  examining  the 
same.  He  was  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be  hung  at  Macon  City. 
The  place  of  execution  was  in  the  south-western  portion  of  the  city. 
On  the  day  of  the  execution  thousands  of  citizens  and  soldiers  assem- 
bled to  witness  the  hanging,  and  to  hear  what  the  condemned  officer 
had  to  say. 

As  the  hour  drew  near,  the  prisoner,  properly  escorted,  arrived  in 
a  wagon,  sitting  on  his  coffin.  He  got  out  and  rapidly  ascended  the 
ladder  to  the  platform.  Major  McKay,  provost  marshal,  read  the 
order  of  execution.  The  prisoner  asked  and  obtained  leave  to  make 
a  short  address. 

He  said:  "lam  a  Confederate  soldier,  and  have  been  tried  and 
found  guilty  of  intercepting  the  United  States  mails  and  have  been 
sentenced  to  death  by  hanging.  I  think  as  an  officer  in  the  military 
service  of  the  Confederate  authorities,  that  in  time  of  war  I  had  the 
right  to  intercept  anywhere  any  information  that  would  be  of  service 
to  me  or  my  government.  A  soldier  does  not  fear  death.  But  a 
soldier  prefers  the  bullet  to  the  ignominious  death  of  hanging."  He 
then  took  the  rope  and  put  it  around  his  neck  and  observed  :  *'  I  die 
a  true  Confederate  soldier." 

The  name  of  the  Confederate  officer  is  not  recollected.  He  was  a 
fine-looking  young  man  and  appeared  to  have  no  more  fear  of  death 
than  the  greatest  hero  or  Christian  martyr  recorded  in  history. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

EEUNIONS. 

There  have  been  but  two  reunions  of  the  old  settlers  of  Macon 
county  ;  the  first  occurred  in  July,  1879,  and  the  latter  in  September, 
1883. 

OLD   settlers'    reunion    AND   PICNIC. 

[From  the  North  Missouri  Eegister  of  June  6,  1879.] 

The  undersigned  old  settlers  of  Macon  county,  Mo.,  hereby  call  a 
meeting  of  the  old  settlers  and  the  public,  at  Bloomington,  on  Friday 
the  4th  day  of  July  next.  The  object  is  a  grand  reunion  of  the  old 
settlers  of  Macon  county,  and  to  organize  an  old  settlers'  society  or 
association,  and  to  hereafter  to  have  annual  reunions  and  talk  of  old 
things:  Jacob  Loe,  Jeff  Morrow,  Sr.,  Kobert  Green,  Lewis  Green^ 
William  Blackwell,  Robert  M.  M^^ers,  Thomas  Winn,  Isaac  Goodding, 
William  Holman,  Felix  Baker,  Moses  Taylor,  W.  T.  Gilman,  Frederick 
Rowland,  Robert  Gibson,  Sr.,  N.  H.  Tuttle,  Sr.,  A.  L.  Giistrap,  Isaac 
Gross,  William  Gross,  Abraham  Gross,  Joseph  Griffin,  Bird  Posey, 
W.  S.  Fox,  John  R.  Watson,  N.  Switzer,  John  P.  Walker,  N.  E. 
Walker,  D.  G.  Buster,  William  R.  Brock,  John  C.  Pierce,  William  H. 
Jones,  James  O.  Siltum,  E.  S.  Gipson,  A.  J.  Marshall,  William 
Brammer,  Claiborn  Wright,  Perry  M.  Stacey,  Charles  Barnes,  R,  S. 
Goodson,  D.  G.  Sweeney,  J.  M.  Ston,  Sr.,  James  Sears,  Jacob  Bell, 
O.  Hattler,  George  A.  Lyda,  F.  D.  Dougherty,  L.  D.  Miller,  B.  G. 
Barrow,  William  A.  Miles,  R.  Dunniugton,  B.  F.  Combs,  Jesse  Hall, 
William  S.  Crutchfield,  Evans  Wright,  H.  K.  Smedley,  A.  J.  Davis, 
Beverly  Bradley,  Thomas  Bradley,  Thomas  G.  White,  John  McDuff'ee, 
John  Devoid,  John  A.  Dale,  G.  H.  Hindle,  A.  Mendinghall,  Moses 
Burnett,  Haz  Snead,  J.  D.  Penland,  Willis  Blue,  M.  H.  Terrel, 
William  Easley,  Sr.,  B.  Landre,  James  Landre,  M.  H.  Abbott,  Joshua 
Sency,  A.  Landre,  James  Johnson,  Arthur  Borron,  J,  P.  Powell,  S.  C. 
Hamilton,  John  B.  Griffin,  E.  C.  Still,  James  Dysart,  James  Lovern, 
David  Freeman,  William  King,  J.  N.  Brown,  Walter  Owens,  James 
Mott,  Sam  Humphreys,  George  Truitt,  Thomas  G.  Sharp,  James  W. 
Cook,  Joseph  Stone,  Hiram  Stone,  Bues  Milam,  John  E.  Ellis,  C.  P. 
Ross,  Wesley  Seney,  Sid  Skinner,  Joseph  Claybrook,  Sr.,  James  K. 
Linn,  W.  W.  Wiggins,  Phil  Trammel,  S.  Atteberry,  Mark  White, 
Thomas  Moody,  John  Vansickle. 

A  committee  consisting  of  the  following  old  citizens  will  meet  at 
Bloomington  on  Saturday,  June  14,  to  select  the  ground  and  prepare 
(866) 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  867 

the  same  for  the  picnic,  viz.  :  Judge  Isaac  Goodding,  William  Holman, 
A.  Landre  John  McDuffee,  Joseph  Griffin,  Green  Posey,  James  K. 
Linn,  W.  Y.  Seney  and  S.  C.  Hamilton. 

[From  the  Times.] 

At  a  meeting  of  a  large  number  of  citizens  of  Macon  county,  as- 
sembled at  Bloomington  on  the  4th  of  July,  1879,  to  celebrate  the 
National  anniversary  of  Independence  and  for  a  reunion  of  the  old 
settlers  of  Macon  county,  T.  G.  Sharp  was  elected  chairman  and  J. 
H.  Dameron,  secretary.  The  chairman  explained  the  object  of  the 
meeting.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  E.  Talbot,  after  which  the  fol- 
lowing speakers  were  introduced  by  the  chairman  :  W.  S.  Fox,  Will- 
iam Blackwell,  Jeff.  Morrow,  John  McDuffee  and  Thomas  Pool,  all 
of  whom  made  short  and  appropriate  speeches,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  an  adjournment  for  diimer  was  had,  at  which  was  found  bounti- 
ful supplies  and  invitations  to  all  to  partake.  After  an  hour  of  so- 
cial conversation  and  the  reunion  of  old  friends,  the  meeting  was 
again  called  to  order,  when  the  following  speakers  were  introduced : 
Isaac  Goodding,  G.  H.  Dameron,  F.  T.  Mayhew,  Rev.  R.  Dysart,  G. 
H.  Holderby,  Felix  Baker,  W.  T.  Gilman  and  A.  L.  Gilman,  and  a 
few  remarks  were  made  by  the  chairman.  The  speeches  were  inter- 
esting, and  the  circumstances  referred  to  filled  many  a  heart  with 
the  recollection  of  the  good  old  days  past  and  gone.  The  rending  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  the  occasion  being  the  anniver- 
sary of  freedom,  added  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  day.  The  reunion  of 
the  old  friends  was  happy,  indeed,  to  those  who  had  not  seen  each 
other  for  years,  and  when  reminded  that  some  were  there  who  would 
never  meet  again,  many  hearts  were  filled  with  sadness.  This  reun- 
ion at  old  Bloomington  will  long  be  remembered  by  many.  The  peo- 
ple are  under  many  obligations  to  the  good  people  of  Bloomington 
and  vicinity  who  so  kindly  made  arrangements  for  their  accommoda- 
tion. There  is  a  general  desire  that  these  reunion  meetings  may  be 
kept  up.  At  4  o'clock,  p.  m.,  after  benediction  by  Rev.  E.  Talbot, 
the  meeting  adjourned. 

OLD    SETTLERS. 

[Prom  Macon  Times,  July  20,  1883.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  old  settlers  of  Macon  county  held  at  the  court- 
house in  Macon  City,  May  26,  1883,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to 
hold  a  general  reunion  of  the  old  pioneers  of  Macon  county  at  Steele's 
Park,  Macon  City,  Mo.,  on  Saturday,  the  first  day  of  September  next. 
It  was  the  desire  of  said  meeting  that  an  invitation  be  extended  to  all 
citizens  of  Macon  and  adjoining  counties  to  attend  and  participate  in 
this  reunion  of  old  settlers,  and  the  undersigned  was  directed  to  appoint 
a  committee  consisting  of  one  old  citizen  from  each  township  and 
ward  as  a  general  committee  on  arrangements  and  invitations.  I  have 
therefore  selected  the  following  named  persons  to  act  as  said  commit- 


868  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

tee,  and  would  request  them  to  meet  at  the  court-house  in  Macon  on 
Saturday,  August  4,  to  make  arrangements  for  the  reunion,  to  wit: 
Middle  Fork  township,  Newton  Switzer ;  Round  Grove  township, 
John  D.  Smith ;  Ten  Mile  township,  John  B.  Griffin  ;  Jackson  town- 
vship,  Daniel  J.  Sweeney  ;  Johnston  township,  James  Johnson  ;  Nar- 
rows township,  William  P.  Chandler;  Hudson  township,  James  A. 
Terrell ;  Eagle  township,  S.  F.  Blackwell  ;  Lyda  township,  William 
A.  Miles  ;  La  Plata  township,  John  Gilbreath  ;  Chariton  township, 
Lewis  Green  ;  Bevier  township,  Timothy  Cooley  ;  Liberty  township, 
Joseph  Griffin  ;  Independence  township,  Jacob  Low  ;  Richland  town- 
ship, William  Cross  ;  Morrow  township,  D.  J.  Buster  ;  Callao  town- 
ship, Samuel  Humphreys;  Valley  township,  William  King  ;  Walnut 
township,  James  R.  Hull ;  Easley  township,  William  Easley  ;  Lingo 
township,  Lee  Lingo ;  Russell  township,  Alexander  Mendenhall ; 
White  township,  H.  K.  Smedley ;  Drake  township,  Thomas  Ratliff; 
Macon  —  1st  ward,  J.  N.  Brown;  2d  ward,  Walter  Toole;  3d  ward, 
William  C.  Smith. 

[From  the  Times,  August  10,  1883.] 

The  various  township  committeemen  appointed  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  meeting  of  the  old  settlers  of  Macon  county  assembled 
at  the  court-house  on  Saturday,  August  4th,  and  were  called  to  order 
by  Hon.  Jefferson  Morrow  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.  On  motion,  Maj.  Nor- 
ton Brown  was  chosen  chairman  and  J.  G.  Howe  secretary.  The 
invitation  to  hold  the  reunion  at  Steele's  Park  Saturday,  September  1, 
1883,  was  accepted.  A  general  discussion  of  the  nature  of  the  exer- 
cises and  a  free  interchange  of  views  were  had  between  the  members, 
and  the  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  committee  of  arrange- 
ments and  programme  :  J.  A.  Terrell,  W.  P.  Chandler,  Jefferson  Mor- 
row, Jacob  Bell  and  Philip  Trammel.  This  committee  was  duly 
instructed  to  make  arrangements  for  the  meeting  of  old  settlers  and 
prepare  a  programme,  and  also  to  secure  a  band  of  music  if  prac- 
ticable. 

Committee  of  Speakers,  —  J.  G.  Howe,  G.  W.  Kinchloe  and  D.  J. 
Swinney. 

It  was  the  sense  of  the  meeting,  however,  that  the  speaking  be 
confined  mostly  to  the  old  settlers,  who  would  give  their  recollections 
of  early  life  in  Macon  county. 

A  motion  was  made  and  carried  that  every  citizen  of  Macon  and 
adjoining  counties  be  cordially  invited  to  come  with  baskets  well 
stored  with  provisions,  so  that  all  might  eat  and  be  filled,  and  have  a 
grand  old  reunion. 

On  motion  Gen.  William  M.  Vancleve,  J.  T.  Jones  and  James  G. 
Howe  were  appointed  a  committee  to  secure  reduced  fare  on  railroads, 
and  make  suitable  arrangements  for  the  care  of  visitors  from  abroad 
who  may  remain  over  night. 

On  motion  the  committee  then  adjourned.  The  greatest  interest 
and  enthusiasm  were  manifested  by  all  to  make  the  reunion  a  grand 
success. 


i 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  869 

After  the  general  committee  had  adjourned,  the  committee  of  ar- 
rangements met  and  organized  by  electing  J.  A.  Terrell,  chairman, 
and  Phillip  Trammel,  secretary.  The  committee  then  adjourned  to 
meet  on  Wednesday,  August  8th,  at  1  o'clock,  p.  m.,  at  the  park,  to 
give  directions  for  the  preparation  of  the  grounds,  and  prepare  a  pro- 
gramme to  carry  out  the  views  of  the  general  committee. 

J.  N.  Brown,  Chairman. 

J.  G.  Howe,  Secretary. 

The  committee  of  arrangements  met  at  the  appointed  time  and  pro- 
ceeded to  arrange  a  programme. 

A  large  number  of  citizens  of  Macon  City  having  expressed  a  de- 
sire to  the  committee  to  be  allowed  to  participate  in  the  reunion  and 
aid  in  its  labors,  the  following  gentlemen  are  hereby  appointed  a 
committee  on  behalf  of  Macon  Cit}-^  to  procure  a  band  and  make  such 
other  demonstrations  of  welcome  and  entertainment  as  in  their  discre- 
tion they  may  desire ;  John  Scovern,  William  H.  Sears,  Ben  Eli 
Guthrie,  Frank  Dessert  and  Eli  J.  Newton. 

On  motion  the  committee  adjourned. 

J.  A.  Terrell,  Chairman. 

Philip  Trammel,  Secretary. 

[Taken  from  the  Macon  Times  of  September  17,  1883.] 

The  old  settlers'  reunion  for  1883  is  a  thing  of  the  past,  but  was 
an  event  in  the  history  of  Macon  county  and  Macon  City  to  be  remem- 
bered down  through  years  and  years  to  come  by  thousands  who  were 
present.  The  day  was  beautiful  —  all  that  could  have  been  desired, 
except  that  it  was  a  little  warm  and  dusty. 

The  business  houses  and  many  residences  w*re  profusely  decked 
with  flags  and  streamers,  and  the  entire  city  and  population  put  on 
their  holiday  attire  to  welcome  the  old  settlers  and  make  their  visit  to 
the  capital  city  pleasant.  By  10  o'clock  the  streets  were  thronged 
with  people,  many  having  arrived  in  the  city  the  previous  evening. 
About  10  :  30,  Gen.  Vancleve,  chief  marshal,  and  his  assistants,  W.  H. 
Sears,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  E.  B.  Clements,  formed  the  procession,  which 
began  at  once  to  move  in  the  following  order:  Macon  cornet  band; 
carriage  containing  Mayor  Richardson  and  Congressman  Hatch  ;  car- 
riages containing  old  settlers  ;  carriages  containing  city  and  county 
officers  ;  citizens  generally. 

After  going  through  the  principal  streets,  the  procession  passed  out 
Rollins  street  to  Steele's  park,  where  the  meeting  was  called  to  order 
by  Gen.  Vancleve  and  prayer  offered  by  Rev.  Walter  Toole.  The  old 
settlers  were  then  welcomed  to  the  capital  in  a  happy  and  pleasing 
address  by  Mayor  Richardson. 

Rev.  Walter  Toole  responded  in  behalf  of  the  old  settlers  in  very 
appropriate  terms.  Among  those  honored  with  seats  upon  the  stage 
we  noticed  old  Uncle  Bobbie  Gipson,  117  years  old;  Lewis  Green 
and  wife,  both  77  ;  W.  T.  Gilman,   73 ;    John  W.  Lewis,  70  ;  Jeff' 


870  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Morrow,  70;  Mrs.  Jeff,  Morrow,  64;  James  D.  Eichardson,  64;  W. 
T.  Holraan,  Col.  Hatch,  Rev.  Walter  Toole  and  Gen.  Vancleve. 

Noon  having  arrived,  dinner  was  announced,  which  had  been  brought 
in  baskets  and  found  to  be  in  abundance.  Many  of  the  people  of  the 
city  spread  tables  upon  the  ground.  The  afternoon  was  taken  up  in 
speech-making  by  the  old  settlers  and  awarding  the  presents  made  by 
the  citizens  of  the  city  of  Macon. 

The  following  letter  was  read  by  Ben  E.  Guthrie,  which  explains 
itself : — 

"August  31,  1883. 

"  William    S.   Crutchfield  was    born    March  3,    1820,   in  Howard 
county,  six  miles  from  Glasgow.     His  parents  remained  there  until 
he  was  six  years    old.     They  then  removed  to  Randolph  county  near 
Huntsville.     I  remained  there    till  1837,   and  then  came  to  Macon 
county,   near   old    Bloomington.     In  the  year   1840  I  went  back  to 
Randolph  county,   and  was  married  the  17th  of  December ;  thence, 
the  10th  of  January,  I  moved   back  to  Macon.     I  then  built  a  log 
shanty,  split  out  puncheons  and  floored  it  with  them.     I  had  one  two- 
year-old  filly  and  a  heifer  to  begin  on.     This  was  on  the  place  Will- 
iam Holman    lives  on  now.     In  the  spring  I  cleared  six  acres,  and  it 
being  in  timber,  I  carried  the  most  of  the  rails  to  fence  it.     We  had 
no  wagons   here  then.     I  went  to  the  woods,  cut  a  tree  and  sawed 
wheels  and  made  a  wagon  to  do  my  hauling  on.     That  is  what  you 
call   fogy ;  you  do  better,   but  I  thought  it  was  fogy.     There  was 
plenty  of  game   here    then;   deer,  turkeys   and   some  panthers  were 
killed  after  I  came   here.     I  now  give  you  the  names  of  my  neigh- 
bors  that  were  here  when  I  came  :  Felix  Baker,  Eli  Goodding,  Nich- 
olas Goodding,  Isaac  Goodding,  Nathan  Richardson,  Johnny  Walker, 
Jesse  Walker,  John,  Bell,  Urban   East,  WiUiam  Blackwell  and  old 
man  Penick.     The    only    house    between  here  and    Huntsville   was 
Simeon  Cannon's,  three  miles  south  of  Macon.     We  lived  easy  here 
then  ;  we  all  kept  plenty  of  deer  and  turkey  in  our  smoke-houses. 
Our  nearest  mill  was  at  Huntsville,  kept  by  old  Uncle  Billy  Goggin. 
When  we  got    out  of  meal,  and   corn  was   hard  enough   to    grit,  we 
made  gritters,  and  when  it  got  too  hard  to  grit,  we  burnt  out  the  end 
of  a  log  and  made  a  mortar,  put  in  what  we  called  a  pestle  and  made 
hominy.     I  guess  some  of  the  people  here  would  call  that  old  fogy, 
but  I  wish  we  could   have    such  old   fogy  again.     W^e    killed    deer, 
dressed  their  skins  and  made  our  pants   and   hunting  shirts   out  of 
them.     We  lived  easy,  did  not  work  much;   our  hogs  fattened  on  the 
mast,   so  there  was  no  need   to  work   much.     Some  had  clapboard 
<loors  and  some  had  none.     When  we  went  to  a  neighbor  to  borrow 
anything,  if  they  were  not  at  home,  we  went  in  and  got  it,   and  the 
next  time  we  saw  them  it  was  all  right.     If  a  man  went  to    another 
for  money,  if  he  had  it  he  got  it,  without  either  giving  mortgages  or 
notes.     All  of  these  old  neighbors  that  I  have  mentioned  have  passed 
away,  except  Felix  Baker,  Jake  Bell  and  myself.     I  will  close  my 
remarks  by  saying  that  I  wish  we  could  have  such  times  again. 

"William  S.  Crutchfield." 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  871 

The  citizens  of  Macon  were  prepared  to  make  the  following 
presents  :  A  gold-headed  cane  to  the  oldest  man  present ;  a  gold- 
headed  cane  to  the  oldest  settler  present ;  a  silver  cup  to  the  oldest 
lady  settler  present. 

The  following  committee  was  appointed  to  determine  who  were  en- 
titled to  the  presents:  Capt.  Wm.  C.  Smith,  chairman;  Judge  J.  H. 
Osborne,  Maj.  William  A.  Miles,  Judge  John  McDuffee  and  Esq.  J.  R. 
Wine.  The  committee  reported  to  the  following  effect:  The  oldest 
man  present,  Robert  Gipson,  117  years  of  age  ;  the  oldest  settler 
present,  Lewis  Green,  77  years  old,  settled  in  the  county  in  the  spring 
of  1830  ;  oldest  lady  settler,  Mrs.  Lewis  Green,  who  came  to  this 
county  with  her  husband  in  the  spring  of  1830. 

W.  F.  Anderson,  the  fashionable  tailor  of  the  city,  having  donated 
cloth  for  a  suit  of  clothes  to  be  awarded  to  the  man  who  had  lived 
longest  in  the  county  with  his  wife,  excepting  those  who  had  received 
a  premium,  and  there  being  a  cane  of  rare  wood  to  be  presented  to 
the  second  oldest  settler,  the  same  committee  reported  that  Jefferson 
Morrow  was  entitled  to  the  cloth,  he  having  lived  47  years  in  this 
county  with  his  wife  ;  and  that  Wm.  Phipps  was  entitled  to  the  cane, 
he  having  settled  here  in  1832. 

The  presentations  were  made  by  Capt.  Ben  E.  Guthrie,  who  de- 
livered a  short  but  eloquent  and  appropriate  address  in  each  instance. 
There  were  five  generations  of  uncles  in  Robert  Gipson's^  family 
present,  as  follows:  Robert  Gipson  and  Smith  Gipson,  his  son;  Mrs. 
McGuire,  Smith  Gipson' s  daughter;  Mrs.  McPeters,  Mrs.  McGuire's 
daughter,  and  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  McPeters. 

Another  interesting  feature  of  the  meeting  was  the  presence  of  Col. 
Isaac  Gross  and  William  Blankenship,  who  were  members  of  the  first 
grand  jury  in  the  county.  This  august  body  held  its  meetings  on  a 
loo;  under  a  tree  at  old  Bloomino;ton.  Uncle  Jeff  Morrow,  our  effi- 
cient  county  treasurer,  was  sheriff  at  the  time,  and  attended  this 
grand  jury. 

Among  the  old  settlers  we  noticed  present  were  Ab.  Lewis,  who  is 
one  of  the  pioneers;  Wm.  Patterson,  Moses  Taylor,  E.  S.  Gipson, 
Mrs.  E.  S.  Gipson,  who  came  here  among  the  first,  having  come  with 
her  father,  Thomas  Bannon  —  she  is  now  61  year^of  age  and  the  mother 
of  19  children  ;  John  Foster,  S.  F.  Blackwell  and  his  mother, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Blackwell,  and  also  his  sister,  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hamilton, 
which  families  settled  at  Moccasinville,  in  this  county,  in  1831  —  Mrs. 
Blackwell  is  now  83  years  old  ;  William  Blankenship,  Logan  Thomp- 
son, William  Phipps,  Jackson  Hines,  S.  C.  Hamilton,  Judge  Rowland, 
Howell  Gee,  Judge  John  Walker,  Walter  Gilman,  J.  M.  Love,  Lewis 
Green,  W.  A.  Miles,  Mr.  Baker,  Willam  Holman^  Mrs.  Holman,  Mrs. 
Cane,  Mrs.  Green,  Mrs.  Bean,  Mrs.  Moses  Taylor,  and  many  others 
with  whom  we  are  not  acquainted  and  whose  names  we  did  not  get. 

Next  to  Mr.  Gipson,  the  oldest  person  on  the  grounds,  so  far  as  we 


1  See  Gipson's  sketch  in  history  of  Chariton  township. 
50 


872  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

could  learn,  was  Mrs.  Ann  Barstow,  who  lives  near  Jacksonville,  and 
is  89  years  old,  though  she  has  been  in  the  county  only  a  little  over 
two  years. 

Among  prominent  persons  present  from  a  distance  were  Sol  Hatch, 
of  Hannibal ;  Judge  Ellison,  of  Kirksville,  and  Judge  William  Hay- 
wood, of  Clark  county.  The  occasion  was  truly  enjoyable  and 
pleasant  throughout,  and  old  friends  met  each  other  after  a  separa- 
tion of  many  years  in  several  instances. 

In  addition  to  the  arrangements  made  by  the  old  settlers'  commit- 
tee of  one  from  each  township,  a  committee  was  appointed  in  behalf 
of  Macon  city.  This  committee  took  up  a  subscription  in  the  city, 
the  band  was  employed,  and  carriages  were  provided  to  convey  the 
old  settlers  from  the  city  out  to  the  park.  It  was  this  committee  that 
procured  the  presents  which  were  awarded.  The  people  of  the  city 
desired  to  do  all  that  was  possible  to  make  the  old  settlers  feel  at 
home  and  enjoy  the  day,  and  are  highly  gratified  that  the  meeting  was 
such  a  grand  success  and  hope  that  we  shall  have  many  more  such 
occasions. 


CHAPTEK    XIY. 

RAILROADS  AND   BONDED   DEBT. 

Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Eailroad  —  North  Missouri  Eoad  —  Alexander  and  Bloom- 
ington  Road  —  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Road  —  St.  Louis,  Macon  and  Omaha  Air 
Line  Road  —  M.  and  M.  Bonds — Bonded  Debt  of  Macon  County. 

HANNIBAL    AND    ST.    JOSEPH    RAILROAD. 

The  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  was  completed  to  Macon 
from  Hannibal  in  1858,  and  to  St.  Joseph  in  1859.  Along  this  rail- 
road, for  12  miles  each  side  of  the  road,  the  company  was  granted 
alternate  sections  of  land  by  the  United  States  Government  in  1852. 

As  early  as  August  11,  1851,  we  find  the  following  proceedings 
had  by  the  county  court  in  reference  to  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph 
Railroad  Company :  — 

*'Now,  at  this  day,  came  R.  Stewart,  president,  and  makes  a  mo- 
tion for  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
road that  Macon  county  take  as  much  as  100  shares  of  stock  in  said 
road  by  authorizing  the  judges  of  said  court  to  subscribe  the  same. 

''Whereupon,  it  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  county  of  Macon 
take  100  shares  of  stock  in  said  road,  and  that  the  president  of  said 
stock  subscribe  the  same,  provided  said  road  runs  through  the  county, 
and  not  prejudicial  to  the  county  seat  of  said  Macon  county." 

In  our  history  of  Buchanan  county,  we  gave  some  facts  in  reference 
to  the  early  history  and  completion  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph 
Railroad  to  St.  Joseph,  and  as  they  will  not  be  out  of  place  here  we 
will  reproduce  them. 

The  people  of  St.  Joseph  early  awoke  to  a  sense  of  the  importance 
and  necessity  of  railroad  communication  with  the  East.  About  the 
first  reference  to  this  matter  we  find  in  the  Gazette  of  Friday,  Novem- 
ber 6,  1846 :  — 

*«  Our  country  is  destined  to  sufier  much,  and  is  now  suffering, 
from  the  difficulty  of  navigation  and  the  extremely  high  rates  the 
boats  now  charge.  Our  farmers  may  calculate  that  they  will  get 
much  less  for  produce  and  will  be  compelled  to  pay  much  more  for 
their  goods  than  heretofore,  and  this  will  certainly  always  be  the  case 
when  the  Missouri  river  shall  be  as  low  as  it  now  is.     The  chances 

(873) 


874  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

are  fearfully  against  having  any  considerable  work  bestowed  in  im- 
proving the  river,  and  until  it  is  improved  by  artificial  means,  the 
navigation  of  it  to  this  point  must  always  be  dangerous  and  very  un- 
certain . 

"  The  prospects  for  this  fall  and  winter  are  well  calculated  to  make 
the  people  look  about  to  see  if  there  is  no  way  to  remedy  this  incon- 
venience, if  there  can  be  any  plan  suggested  whereby  our  people  can 
be  placed  more  nearly  upon  terms  of  equality  with  the  good  citizens 
of  other  parts  of  our  land. 

"  We  suggest  the  propriety  of  a  railroad  from  St.  Joseph  to  some 
point  on  the  Mississippi  —  either  St.  Louis,  Hannibal  or  Quincy.  For 
ourselves,  we  like  the  idea  of  a  railroad  to  one  of  the  latter  places 
suggested,  for  this  course  would  place  us  nearer  to  the  Eastern  cities, 
and  make  our  road  thither  a  direct  one;  we  like  this  road,  too,  be- 
cause it  would  so  much  relieve  the  intermediate  country  which  is  now 
suffering  and  must  always  suffer  so  much  for  transporting  facilities  in 
the  absence  of  such  an  enterprise. 

"  If  this  be  the  favorite  route,  we  must  expect  opposition  from  the 
southern  portion  of  the  State,  as  well  as  all  the  river  counties  below 
this.  For  the  present,  we  mean  merely  to  throw  out  the  suggestion 
with  the  view  of  awaking  public  opinion  and  eliciting  a  discussion  of 
the  subject.  In  some  future  number  we  propose  presenting  more  ad- 
vantages of  such  a  road,  and  will  likewise  propose  and  enforce  by 
argument  the  ways  and  means  of  accomplishing  the  object." 

The  suggestions  thus  offered  of  the  necessity  of  a  railroad  seemed 
to  have  been  universally  popular,  and  through  the  vigorous  action  of 
the  friends  of  the  enterprise,  we  find,  thus  early,  a  charter  granted  by 
the  Legislature,  as  follows  :  — 

AN    ACT    TO    INCORPORATE     THE     HANNIBAL    AND    ST.    JOSEPH     RAILROAD 

COMPANY. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Missouri^  as 
follows :  — 

Section  1.  That  Joseph  Robidoux,  John  Corby  and  Robert  J.  Boyd, 
of  St.  Joseph,  in  Buchanan  county;  Samuel  J.  Harrison,  Zachariah 
G.  Draper  and  Erasmus  M.  Moffett,  of  the  City  of  Hannibal ;  Alex- 
ander McMurtry,  of  Shelby  county  ;  George  A.  Shortridge  and  Thomas 
Sharp,  of  Macon  county;  Wesley  Halliburton,  of  Linn  county;  John 
Graves,  of  Livingston  county  ;  Robert  Wilson,  of  Daviess  county, 
and  George  W.  Smith,  of  Caldwell  county,  and  all  such  persons  as 
may  hereafter  become  stockholders  in  the  said  company,  shall  be 
and  they  are  hereby  created  a  body  corporate  and  politic  in  fact  and 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  875 

in  name,  by  the  name  and  style  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
road Company,  and  the  same  title,  the  stockholders  shall  be  in  per- 
petual succession,  and  be  able  to  sue  and  be  sued,  implead  and  be  im- 
pleaded in  all  courts  of  record  and  elsewhere,  and  to  purchase,  receive, 
have,  hold  and  enjoy  to  them  and  their  successors  lands,  tenements 
and  hereditaments,  goods,  chattels,  and  all  estates,  real,  personal  and 
mixed  of  what  kind  or  quality  soever,  and  the  same  from  time  to 
time,  to  sell,  mortgage,  grant,  alien  and  convey,  and  to  make  divi- 
dends of  such  portion  of  the  profits  as  they  may  deem  proper,  and  also 
to  make  and  have  a  common  seal,  and  the  same  to  alter  or  renew  at 
pleasure,  and  also  to  ordain,  establish  and  put  in  execution  such  b}'- 
laws,  ordinances  and  regulations  as  shall  appear  necessary  and  con- 
venient for  the  government  of  such  corporation,  and  not  being  con- 
trary or  repugnant  to  the  Constitutiou  and  laws  of  the  United  States, 
or  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  generally  to  do  all  and  singular  the 
matters  and  things,  which  to  them  it  shall  lawfully  appertain  to  do 
for  the  well  being  of  the  said  corporation  and  the  due  management 
and  ordering  of  the  affairs  of  the  same  :  Provided,  always,  that  it 
shall  not  be  lawful  for  the  said  corporation  to  deal,  or  use,  or  employ 
any  part  of  the  stock,  funds  or  money,  in  buying  or  selling  any  wares 
or  merchandise  in  the  way  of  traffic,  or  in  banking  or  broking  opera- 
tions. 

Sec.  2.  That  the  capital  stock  of  said  corporation  shall  be  $2,000,- 
000,  divided  into  20,000  shares  of  $100  each,  and  it  shall  be  lawful  for 
said  corporation,  when  and  so  soon  as  in  the  opinion  of  the  individ- 
uals named  in  the  foregoing  section  a  sufficient  amount  of  stock  shall 
have  been  taken  for  that  purpose,  to  commence  and  carry  on  their 
said  proper  business  and  railroad  operations  under  the  privileges  and 
conditions  herein  granted. 

Sec.  3.  That  the  said  company  is  hereby  authorized  and  empow- 
ered to  cause  books  for  the  subscription  stock  to  be  opened  at  such 
times  and  places  as  they  may  deem  most  conducive  to  the  attainment 
of  the  stock  required. 

Sec.  4.  The  said  company  [shall]  have  power  to  view,  lay  out  and 
construct  a  railroad  from  St.  Joseph,  in  Buchanan  county,  to  Palmyra, 
in  Marion  county,  and  thence  to  Hannibal  in  said  county  of  Marion, 
and  shall,  in  all  things,  be  subject  to  the  same  restrictions  and  entitled 
to  all  the  privileges,  rights  and  immunities  which  were  granted  to  the 
Louisiana  and  Columbia  Railroad  Company,  by  an  act  entitled  "  An 
act  to  incorporate  the  Louisiana  and  Columbia  Railroad  Company," 
passed  at  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1836  and  1837,  and 
approved  January  27,  1837,  so  far  as  the  same  are  applicable  to  the 
company  hereby  created,  as  fully  and  completely  as  if  the  same  were 
herein  enacted. 

Sec.  5.  Nothing  in  this  act,  nor  in  that  to  which  it  refers,  shall  be 
construed  so  as  to  allow  said  company  to  hold  or  purchase  any  more 
real  estate  than  may  be  necessary  and  proper  for  the  use  of  the  road 
and  the  business  transacted  thereon. 


876  HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

This  act  to  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage. 
Approved  February  16,  1847. 
The  following  were  the 

PROCEEDINGS    OF    THE    RAILROAD    CONVENTION, 

held  at  Chillicothe,  Mo.,  June  2,  1847. 

Deleo-ates  from  the  various  counties  of  North  Missouri  assembled  at 

o 

Chillicothe,  Mo.,  on  the  2d  day  of  June,  1847,  according  to  previous 
notice.  The  convention  was  organized  in  the  court-house  at  11 
o'clock,  by  calling  Judge  A.  A.  King,  of  Ray  county,  to  the  chair, 
and  electing  Dr.  John  Craven,  of  Davies  county,  and  Alexander  Mc- 
Murtry,  of  Shelby  county,  vice-presidents,  and  H.  D.  LaCossit,  of 
Marion  county,  and  Charles  J.  Hughes,  of  Caldwell  county,  secre- 
taries. 

It  was  moved  that  the  delegates  in  attendance  report  themselves  to 
the  secretaries,  whereupon  the  following  gentlemen  gave  in  their 
names  and  took  their  seats  :  — 

B.  F.  Loan  and  Lawrence  Archer,  from  Buchanan  county,  Absalom 
Kernes,  from  DeKalb  ;  Robert  Wilson,  John  B.  Connor,  Volney  E. 
Bragg,  William  Peniston,  James  Turley,  Thomas  T.  Frame,  Jacob 
S.  Rogers,  M.  F.  Greene,  John  Mann,  Woody  Manson  and  John 
Craven,  from  Davies  county  ;  George  Smith,  Patrick  Smith,  Jesse 
Baxter,  A.  B.  Davis  and  C.  J.  Hughes,  from  Caldwell  county;  A.  A. 
King,  ^  from  Ray  county;  John  Graven,  Thomas  B.  Bryan,  Elisha 
Manford,  John  Harper,  F.  Preston,  F.  L.  Willard,  John  L.  Johnson, 
S.  Munser,  John  Bryan,  B.  F.  Tarr,  Thomas  Jennings,  William 
Hudgens,  William  Hicklin,  William  L.  Black,  James  H.  Darlington, 
Robert  Mitchell,  John  Austin,  James  Austin  and  F.  Preston,  from  Liv- 
ingston county  ;  Dr.  Livingston,  from  Grundy  county ;  W.  B.  Wood- 
ruff, James  C.  Moore,  James  Lintell,  John  J.  Flora,  Jeremiah  Philips 
and  W.  Halliburton,  Linn  county  ;  George  Shortridge,  A.  L.  Gilstrap 
and  Benjamin  Sharp,  from  Macon  county  ;  Alexander  McMurtry,  from 
Shelby  county  ;  Z.  G.  Draper,  James  Waugh,  Henry  Collins,  H.  D. 
Laossitt  and  William  P.  Samuel,  from  Marion  county. 

On  motion  of  Col.  Peniston,  it  was  resolved  that  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  one  member  from  each  county  represented  in  the  conven- 
tion be  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  reporting  upon  what  subjects 
this  convention  shall  act.     The  president  appointed  Robert  Wilson, 


1  Austin  A.  King,  who  presided  over  tills  convention,  was  Judge  of  the  Fifth 
Judicial  Circuit,  of  which  Ray  county  was  a  part,  from  1837  to  184:8,  when  he  was 
elected  Governor  of  Missouri. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  877 

L.  Archer,  A.  Kiirns,  G.  Smith,  F.  L.  Willard,  Dr.  Livingston,  W. 
B.  Woodruff,  George  Shortridge  and  Z.  G.  Draper. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved  that  a  committee,  consisting  of  one 
member  from  each  county  here  represented,  be  appointed  to  report  a 
basis  upon  which  to  vote  in  this  convention.  The  president  appointed 
A.  L.  Gilstrap,  B.  F.  Loan,  William  P,.  Peniston,  Thomas  Butts, 
Thomas  R.  Bryan,  Dr.  Livingston,  W.  Halliburton  and  James 
Waugh. 

George  Smith  of  Caldwell  presented  the  following  propositions 
for  the  consideration  of  the  convention,  and  moved  to  lay  the  same 
upon  the  table,  which  was  done  :  — 

Whereas,  The  people  of  Northern  Missouri  are  in  favor  of  the 
project  of  a  railroad  from  Hannibal  to  St.  Joseph,  therefore, 

Resolved,  By  the  delegates  (their  representatives)  that  we  recom- 
mend the  following  as  the  best  method  to  procure  the  means  for  the 
construction  of  the  same  :  — 

First.  A  liberal  subscription  by  the  citizens  of  the  State  to  the 
capital  stock  of  said  company. 

Second.  That  Congress  be  petitioned  for  a  grant  of  alternate  sec- 
tions and  parts  of  sections  of  all  vacant  lands  10  miles  on  each  side 
of  said  road,  when  located. 

Third.  That  the  company  procure  a  subscription  to  the  stock  by 
Eastern  capitalists,  and,  should  the  foregoing  means  prove  inadequate, 
we  then  recommend  that  the  Legislature  pass  an  act  authorizing  the 
company  to  issue  bonds,  to  be  indorsed  by  the  Governor  or  Secretary 
of  State,  for  the  residue  ;  the  company  to  give  a  mortgage  on  the 
whole  work  to  the  State,  for  the  liquidation  of  said  bonds. 

The  convention  then  adjourned  till  afternoon. 

At  the  opening  of  the  afternoon  session,  it  was  resolved  that  the 
rules  for  Ihe  government  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  of  Mis- 
souri, be  adopted  for  the  government  of  this  convention. 

A  report  was  adopted,  by  which  the  basis  of  voting  in  the  conven- 
tion was  fixed  as  follows :  that  each  county  represented  in  the 
convention  be  entitled  to  one  vote  for  every  100  votes  therein,  by 
which  rule  the  county  of  Marion  was  allowed  15  votes  ;  Shelby,  7  ; 
Macon,  9  ;  Linn,  7  ;  Livingston,  8  ;  Grundy,  6  ;  Davis,  9  ;  Caldwell, 
4  ;  Ray,  15  ;  DeKalb,  3  ;  and  Buchanan,  22. 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  duty  of  submitting  sub- 
jects for  action  of  this  convention  reported. 

1.  To  appoint  a  committee  of  three  members  to  draft  an  address  in 
the  name  of  this  convention  to  the  people  of  Western  Missouri,  set- 
ting forth  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  contemplated  rail- 
road from  St.  Joseph  to  Hannibal. 


878  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

2.  To  appoint  a  committee  of  three,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  peti- 
tion the  Legislature  of  Missouri  for  such  aid  in  the  undertaking  as 
can  be  afforded  consistently  with  the  rights  of  other  sections  of  the 
State. 

3.  To  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to  petition  Congress  for  a  dona- 
tion of  alternate  sections  of  lands  within  six  miles  on  each  side  of 
said  road  when  located. 

4.  To  appoint  a  committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  superintend 
the  publication  and  distribution  of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention, 
together  with  the  charter  of  the  road,  and  the  address  to  the  people 
of  Northern  Missouri. 

5.  Said  committees  to  be  appointed  by  the  president  and  the  mem- 
bers of  each  committee  as  nearly  contiguous  as  practicable. 

The  convention  then  adjourned  till  the  following  morning,  when  on 
reassembling,  the  five  above  mentioned  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted,  with  the  exception  of  the  fifth,  which  was  adopted  with  an 
amendment  striking  out  all  after  the  word  president. 

Among  other  resolutions  offered  at  this  session  of  the  convention, 
the  following  by  Judge  King,  of  Ray,  was  unanimously  adopted  by 
way  of  amendment  to  a  similar  one  offered  by  Dr.  Grundy  of  Liv- 
ingston : 

Resolved,  That  whereas  this  convention  has  adopted  a  resolution 
authorizing  a  memorial  to  Congress  for  donation  of  alternate  sections 
of  land  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  contemplated  railroad,  also 
authorizing  a  memorial  to  the  Legislature  for  such  aid  in  the  under- 
taking as  can  be  afforded  consistently  with  the  rights  of  other  por- 
tions of  the  State  ;  therefore,  we,  the  delegates,  pledge  ourselves  to 
support  no  man  for  Congress  who  will  not  pledge  himself  to  the 
support  of  the  proposition  aforesaid,  nor  will  we  support  any  man 
for  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  or  member  of  the  Legislature 
who  will  not  pledge  himself  to  give  such  aid  in  the  construction  of 
the  said  railroad  consistent  with  the  rights  of  other  portions  of  the 
State  as  contemplated  by  the  resolution  aforesaid. 

Mr.  George  Smith,  of  Caldwell,  offered  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  read  and  adopted:  — 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  appointed  to  petition  the  Legislature 
be  instructed  to  ask  for  an  amendment  to  the  fourth  section  of  the  act 
incorporating  the  Louisiana  and  Columbia  Railroad  Company  (being 
the  law  bv  which  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company  are 
to  be  governed),  so  as  to  give  the  power  to  the  president  and  direct- 
ors of  the  last  mentioned  company  to  cull  in  an  amount  not  exceed- 
ing 10  per  cent  every  60  days,  and  change  the  notice  from  60  to  30 
days. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  879 

The  following  resolution  by  Mr.  Sharp,  of  Macon,  was  adopted:  — 

Whereas,  It  is  not  only  extremely  important  to  the  agricultural 
and  commercial  interests  of  the  immediate  country  that  a  good 
wagon  road  be  opened  from  St.  Joseph  to  Hannibal,  but  the  United 
States  mail  stages  cannot  be  put  in  motion  on  said  route  until  said 
road  shall  be  opened.     And 

Whereas,  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  as  well  to  the  whole  in- 
termediate country  as  to  the  two  extremes,  that  mail  facilities  be 
speedily  obtained  in  stages  through  said  country.     Therefore, 

Resolved,  by  this  Convention,  That  it  be  recommended  to  each 
county  through  which  said  road  may  pass,  immediately  to  ©pen, 
bridge,  and  put  in  good  repair  the  said  road,  in  order  that  mail  stages 
may  be  immediately  started,  according  to  the  act  of  Congress  estab- 
'lishing  said  route. 

Mr.  Tarr,  of  Livingston,  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  adopting 
the  third  proposition  reported  by  the  committee  on  business,  which 
was  agreed  to. 

He  then  offered  the  following  amendment  to  said  third  proposi- 
tion:— 

Adding  to  third  proposition  by  the  committee  on  business,  as  fol- 
lows, "Also  to  petition  Congress  that  should  any  of  the  alternate 
sections  on  the  road,  or  within  six  miles  on  either  side  thereof  to  be 
sold  at  any  time  subsequent  to  the  16th  day  of  February,  1847,  and 
before  the  action  of  Congress  in  relation  to  these  lands,  that  other 
lands  be  granted  as  nearly  contiguous  as  possible  in  lieu  thereof." 
Which  was  agreed  to,  and  the  third  proposition  as  amended,  was 
then  adopted. 

Dr.  Livingston,  of  Grundy,  offered  the  following  r,esolution,  which 
was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  convention  be  signed  by  the 
president,  vice-presidents  and  secretaries,  and  that  the  president  be 
requested  to  transmit  a  copy  thereof  to  each  of  our  representatives 
in  Congress,  requesting  them  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  obtain 
from  Congress  the  grant  of  land  contemplated  by  the  proceedings  of 
this  convention. 

The  president  then  announced  the  following  committees:  — 

1.  To  address  the  people  of  Northern  Missouri  —  Archer,  Bragg 
and  Cossitt. 

2.  To  petition  Congress,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the 
convention  —  Cravens,  Halliburton  and  Shortridge. 

3.  To  petition  the  Legislature  —  Tarr,  George  Smith,  of  Caldwell, 
and  Dr.  Livingston. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved  that  the  thanks  of  the  delegates  and 


880  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

their  constituents  are  due  the  officers  of  this  convention  for  the  able 
manner  m  which  they  have  discharged  their  duties  in  this  convention. 

The  convention  then  adjourned  sine  die. 

The  charter  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  was  secured 
mainly  by  the  exertions  of  Robert  M.  Stewart,  afterwards  Governor 
of  the  State,  and  at  the  time  of  its  issuance,  a  member  of  the  State 
Senate,  and  of  Gen.  James  Craig,  and  Judge  J.  B.  Gardenhire, 
yvho  represented  Buchanan  county  in  the  Legislature.  (Gen.  Craig 
was  afterwards  president  of  this  road,  with  two  brief  intervals,  for  the 
period  of  11  years,  from  1861). 

With  all  the  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  the  people,  material  aid  was 
lacking^,  as  it  was  not  until  1852  that  the  building  of  the  road  became 
a  definite  fact.  At  that  period,  Hon.  Willard  P.  Hall  represented  a 
district  of  Missouri  in  Congress,  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
of  public  lands.  By  his  efforts  the  passage  of  a  bill  was  secured 
granting  six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  to  the  Hannibal  and  St. 
Joseph  Railroad  Company,  and  the  success  of  that  long  cherished 
enterprise  was  finally  assured.  The  preliminary  survey  had  been 
made  by  Simeon  Kemper  and  Col.  M.  F.  Tiernan,  accompanied  by 
Robert  M.  Stewart,  whose  indefatigable  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  inter- 
ests of  the  road,  contributed  as  much  if  not  more  than  those  of  any 
other  man  to  their  ultimate  accomplishment.  Stewart  became  after- 
wards the  first  president  of  the  company.  The  building  of  the  road 
commenced  at  the  east  end.  About  the  spring  of  1857,  work  was  be- 
gun on  the  west  end,  and  by  March  of  that  year,  the  track  extended 
out  from  St.  Joseph  a  distance  of  seven  miles.  The  first  fire  under 
the  first  engine  that  started  out  of  St.  Joseph  on  the  Hannibal  and  St. 
Joseph  Railroad,  was  kindled  by  M.  Jefferson  Thompson.  This  was 
several  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  first  through  train  in  Februarys 
1859.     (Sometime  in  the  early  part  of  1857.) 

The  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  was  completed  February  13, 
1859.  On 'Monday,  February  14,  1859,  the  first  through  passenger 
train  ran  out  of  St.  Joseph.  Of  this  train  E.  Sleppy,  now  (1881). 
master  mechanic  of  the  St.  Joseph  and  Western  machine  shops,  in 
Elwood,  was  engineer,  and  Benjamin  H.  Colt,  conductor. 

The  first  to  run  a  train  into  St,  Joseph  was  George  Thompson,  who 
ran  first  a  construction  and  then  a  freight  train. 

The  first  master  mechanic  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad 
shops  in  St.  Joseph  was  C.  F.  Shivel.  These  shops  were  established 
in  1857.  In  the  following  year  Mr.  Shivel  put  up  the  first  car  ever 
built  in  the  city. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  881 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1859,  occurred  in  St.  Joseph  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  completion  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Road.  This 
was,  beyond  doubt,  the  grandest  display  ever  witnessed  in  the  city 
up  to  that  period. 

M.  Jefferson  Thompson,  at  that  time  mayor  of  the  city,  presided 
over  the  ceremonies  and  festivities  of  this  brilliant  occasion.  The  city 
was  wild  with  enthusiasm  and  the  most  profuse  and  unbounded  hos- 
pitality prevailed. 

A  grand  banquet  was  held  in  the  spacious  apartments  of  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall,  which  then  stood  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Felix 
Streets.  Not  less  than  six  hundred  invited  guests  were  feasted  here ; 
and  it  was  estimated  that  several  thousand  ate  during  the  day  at  this 
hospitable  board. 

Broaddus  Thompson,  Esq.,  a  brother  of  Gen.  M.  Jefferson  Themp- 
son,  made  the  grand  speech  of  the  occasion,  and  performed  the  cere- 
mony of  mingling  the  waters  of  the  two  mighty  streams  thus  linked 
by  a  double  band  of  iron. 

The  completion  of  the  road  constituted  an  era  in  the  history  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  from  that  period  dawned  the  light  of  a  new  prosperity. 
In  the  five  succeeding  years  the  population  of  the  city  was  quadrupled, 
and  her  name  heralded  to  the  remotest  East  as  the  rising  emporium 
of  the  West. 

In  the  summer  of  1872  this  road  commenced  the  building;  of  a 
branch  southward  from  St.  Joseph,  21  miles,  to  the  city  of  Atchison. 
This  was  completed  in  October  of  the  same  year. 

The  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company  has  about  19,000 
acres  of  land  in  Macon  county. 

NORTH   MISSOURI   RAILROAD. 

[We  copy  from  the  Macon  News  of  1879.] 

The  organization  of  the  North  Missouri  Railroad  Company  was 
effected  in  1853  or  1854.  The  road  was  built  by  city,  county  and 
private  subscription,  aided  by  bonds  loaned  by  the  State  amounting 
to  some  $6,000,000.  The  road  never  received  any  donation  of  land 
from  the  Federal  Government.  The  city  of  St.  Louis,  by  a  vote, 
took  a  large  amount  of  stock,  and  all  the  counties  on  the  present 
line  took  stock,  except  Macon.  The  charter  called  for  the  location 
along  the  ridge  dividing  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi 
rivers,  "  or  as  near  as  may  be."  After  the  road  was  finished  to  Mex- 
ico, great  efforts  were  made  to  get  stock  subscribed  by  Macon  county. 
Randolph  took  $175,000  stock,  Adair  voted  stock,  and  it  was  thought 
under  these  circumstances  that  Macon  would. 

Public  meetings  were  held  in  the  eastern  and  south-eastern  portions 


882  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

of  the  county  in  favor  of  submitting  the  matter  to  a  vote.  Maj. 
James  S.  Rollins,  of  Boone,  and  Isaac  Sturgeon,  of  St.  Louis,  ad- 
dressed the  citizens  of  Macon  county  at  Bloomington,  showing  the 
advantages  of  the  road.  A  public  meeting  was  held  at  Bloomington, 
at  which  Dr.  A.  L.  Knight,  of  Macon  City,  was  chairman,  and  J.  M. 
Love  was  secretary.  The  meeting  passed  resolutions  asking  the 
county  court  to  submit  a  proposition  subscribing  $100,000  to  secure 
the  location  and  building  of  said  road  through  Macon  county. 

The  resolutions  of  the  meeting  were  presented  to  the  county  court. 
The  county  court  ordered  an  election.  There  were  several  proposi- 
tions, mostly  conditional.  One  was  that  the  line  of  the  road  should 
be  located  through  Bloomington.  The  matter  was  pretty  thoroughly 
canvassed.  The  words  of  the  charter,  "  on  the  dividinsr  ridg-e,  or  as 
near  as  may  be,"  satisfied  many  that  it  could  not  be  located  by  Bloom- 
ington, and  the  election  resulted  in  the  proposition  being  voted  down. 
It  was  fruitlessly  contended  by  the  friends  of  the  road  that  the 
words,  *'as  near  as  may  be,"  permitted  the  location  of  the  road  by 
Bloomington;  that  the  line  could  leave  the  "Grand  Divide,"  pass 
along  the  East  fork,  strike  the  ridge  between  the  East  and  Middle 
fork  to  Bloomington,  thence  north,  intersecting  the  "  Grand  Divide  " 
at  Kirksville.  But  the  voters  took  a  difierent  view.  In  fact,  a  ma- 
jority were  not  in  favor  of  taking  stock  at  all. 

For  some  time  after  this,  the  managers  of  the  road  talked  of  run- 
ning the  road  through  Shelby  and  Monroe  counties,  leaving  Macon 
out.  Perhaps  it  would  have  been  done  had  not  the  words  of  the 
charter  prohibited  it.  The  road  was  finished  to  Macon  City  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1859.  The  track  was  laid  up  to  what  was  then  known  as  the 
Harris  House,  afterwards  burned  down.  The  completion  of  the  North 
Missouri  Railroad  to  Macon  City  caused  the  town  to  increase  rapidly 
in  population  and  business.  There  were  not  half  houses  enough  for 
applicants,  and  rents  were  very  high.  The  business  men  prospered 
to  an  extent  not  surpassed  since  the  road  was  extended  northward. 
Trade  extended  to  Iowa,  and  our  merchants  and  grocers  had  a  whole- 
sale trade  that  was  large  and  profitable  for  a  period  of  10  years  with 
Northern  Missouri  and  Southern  Iowa. 

Old  Bloomington  had  one  more  chance  for  a  railroad  in  a  charter 
for  a  road  known  as  the  Alexandria  and  Bloomington  Railroad  from 
the  Mississippi  to  the  Missouri  river.  The  first  survey  was  made  in 
1862  by  John  B.  Lodge,  afterwards  chief  engineer  of  the  North  Mis- 
souri Railroad.  The  survey  was  paid  for  by  private  subscription. 
The  Civil  War  prevented  any  particular  or  special  efi'ort  being  made 
to  build  it,  and  in  a  short  time  the  county  seat  was  moved  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature  from  Bloomington  to  Macon,  and  the  charter  for 
the  Macon  and  Missouri  River  Railroad  effectually  killed  the  Alex- 
andria and  Bloomington  road.  The  history  of  the  old  roads  has  been 
given,  and  the  two  roads  we  have,  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  and  the 
North  Missouri  Railroad,  the  best  in  the  West,  have  not  cost  us  a 
cent.     The  natural  location  of  the  county  gave  them  to  us  without  a 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  883 

dollai'  of  county  aid,  except  to  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph,  which 
was  afterwards  released  by  the  railroad  company,  and  the  money  that 
had  been  paid  refunded. 

THE  MISSOURI  AND  MISSISSIPPI  RAILROAD. 

The  Missouri  and  Mississipiji  Railroad  was  projected  north-easterly 
from  Glasgow,  Howard  county,  to  Edina,  Knox  county,  on  to  Clark 
county.  The  county  court  in  1868,  without  the  vote  of  the  people, 
granted  $350,000  in  Macon  county  bonds  to  the  Missouri  and  Missis- 
sippi Railroad  Company  and  received  stock  to  that  amount,  which  has 
occasioned  a  course  of  constant  litigation  for  many  years.  The  road 
was  graded  and  partially  bridged  to  Edina  in  1869,  and  then  opera- 
tions entirely  ceased  on  account  of  injunction  and  subscription  suits. 

ST.   LOUIS,  MACON  AND  OMAHA  AIR  LINE  RAILROAD. 

In  1868  the  St.  Louis,  Macon  and  Omaha  Air  Line  Railroad  was 
chartered.  Liberty  township  took  $20,000  in  stock  and  Hudson 
township  $40,000 :  also  some  private  subscriptions  were  received. 
Very  little  work  was  done  on  this  road  ;  some  grading  being  done 
from  Macon,  one  terminal  point  to  Duck  creek  one  mile  towards 
Omaha,  when  the  courts  decided  that  the  subscriptions  were  null  and 
void,  the  company  having  no  legal  existence. 

MISSOURI    AND  MISSISSIPPI  BONDS. 

On  February  the  20th,  1865,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
passed  an  act  to  incorporate  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Railroad 
Company,  to  build  a  railroad  from  Macon  City  through  Edina,  Knox 
county,  to  or  near  the  north-east  corner  of  the  State  in  the  direction 
of  Keokuk,  in  Iowa,  or  Alexandria,  Mo.,  and  said  company  was  after- 
ward authorized  to  extend  said  road  south-west  from  Macon  to  some 
point  on  the  Missouri  river,  and  by  said  act  it  was  made  "  lawful  for 
the  county  court  of  any  county  desiring  so  to  do,  to  subscribe  to  the 
capital  stock  of  the  company  and  issue  bonds  therefor  and  levy  a  tax 
to  pay  the  same,  not  exceeding  one-twentieth  of  one  per  cent  upon 
the  assessed  value  of  the  taxable  property  for  each  year." 

On  the  2d  day  of  April,  1867,  Macon  county  court  subscribed 
$175,000  to  the  stock  of  said  road  without  first  having  submitted  the 
matter  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  were  com- 
pelled by  peremptory  writ  of  mandamus  of  the  State  Supreme  Court 
to  issue  bonds  of  the  county  in  payment  of  subscription. 


884  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

There  was  some  considerable  discontent  on  the  part  of  tax-payers, 
which  in  those  troublesome  times  when  a  majority  of  the  tax-paying 
voters  were  disfranchised  received  but  little  oflScial  recognition. 

The  bonds  were  issued  and  taxes  levied  to  pay  the  interest  and 
principal  of  such  of  them  as  became  due  in  a  short  time,  notwithstand- 
ing the  restriction  on  taxation  in  the  State. 

On  May  2,  1870,  the  county  court  in  the  midst  of  much  excite- 
ment and  agitation  over  the  question  subscribed  for  another  $175,000 
stock,  to  be  expended  on  tHe  south-west  extension  of  the  road,  and 
on  the  same  day  issued  bonds  in  the  payment  thereof,  and  this  too 
without  a  vote  of  the  people. 

The  excitement  became  intense.  Mass  meetings  were  held  all  over 
the  county  ;  loud  protests  went  up  ;  citizens  brought  suits  to  set  aside 
the  subscription  and  avoid  the  bonds  and  distinguished  attorneys 
were  employed. 

But  taxes  were  increased  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  new  bonds  and 
meet  the  maturing  principal  of  the  first  issue,  amounting  in  1871  to  70 
cents  on  the  $100.  In  1872  a  new  county  court  came  in  and  the  tax 
was  reduced  to  one-twentieth  of  one  per  cent  as  restricted  in  the  orig- 
inal charter.  This  tax  produced  about  $3,000.  As  a  consequence 
there  was  a  default  on  the  bonds  and  coupons. 

Litigation  then  began  in  earnest  in  both  State  and  Federal  courts. 
The  State  courts  got  the  first  opportunity  at  the  question,  and  in  1874 
decided  that  there  was  no  power  to  levy  a  special  tax  to  exceed  the 
one-twentieth  of  one  per  cent,  and  in  this  feature  of  the  case  have 
been  so  far  followed  by  the  Federal  Supreme  Court. 

But  in  1876  the  Federal  Supreme  Court  decided  in  a  case  coming  up 
from  Clark  county,  on  the  same  kind  of"  bonds  issued  under  the  same 
law,  and  under  like  circumstances,  that  the  bondholder  who  had  re- 
duced his  bonds  and  coupons  to  judgment  was  entitled  to  a  warrant 
on  the  ordinary  revenues  of  the  county  for  the  usual  expenses,  and 
has  reaffirmed  the  same  doctrine  in  four  or  five  different  cases  from 
Knox,  Clark  and  Macon  up  to  the  case  in  November,  1883  ;  notwith- 
standing the  State  Supreme  Court  in  1878,  in  a  elaborate  opinion,  held 
that  no  such  warrant  could  be  issued  ;  but  the  bondholder  was  con- 
fined to  the  levy  of  one-twentieth  of  one  per  cent  for  the  payment  of 
his  judgment,  and  to  apply  the  ordinary  revenues  to  the  payment  of 
this  extraordinary  debt  would  bankrupt  the  county  and  subvert  its 
judgment. 

In  the  meantime  Macon  county  had  been  defeated  in  both  State 


HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY.  88  5 

and  Federal  courts  in  all  her  attempts  to  set  aside  the  subscription 
and  to  beat  the  bonds  on  the  ground  of  fraud  and  notice. 

The  bonds,  which  some  10  years  ago  were  selling  at  15  to  20  cents, 
are  now  greatest  at  60  to  70  cents,  and  the  holders  have  lately  made 
a  proposition  to  compromise  at  80  cents,  which  the  county  court  have 
refused  to  entertain,  and  the  litigation  promises  to  go  on  ;  and  the 
county  court  has  been  compelled  under  a  peremptory  mandamus  from 
the  Federal  court  to  issue  a  warrant  for  $35,000,  and  the  rise  on  the 
general  funds  of  the  county  and  several  other  cases  are  now  pending 
in  that  court,  which  will  doubtless  have  the  same  issue. 

The  only  remaining  question  that  it  appears  can  arise  in  the  legal 
contest  is,  whether  the  Federal  court,  after  it  has  compelled  the  issue 
of  the  warrant,  will  hold  that  such  warrant  is  payable  in  preference  to 
warrants  issued  for  ordinary  expenses  of  the  county.  All  intimation 
in  their  former  opinions  would  seem  to  indicate  that  such  will  be  their 
decision. 

A  question  of  fact  will  then  remain  whether  there  will  ever  come 
into  the  county  treasury  money  enough  to  pay  these  bond  warrants. 

BONDED    DEBT    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Thirty-seven  six  per  cent  five  3'ear  bonds  of  $50  each,  10  do.  of  $500 
each  and  10  do.  of  $1,000  each,  issued  September  16,  1867,  and  17  do. 
of  $1,000  each,  issued  November  1,  1867,  interest  payable  annually  at 
office  of  county  treasurer,  $36,350.00  ;  101  six  per  cent  6  year  bonds 
of  $50  each  and  49  do.  of  $500  each,  issued  November  1,  1867,  inter- 
est payable  annually  at  office  of  county  treasurer,  $29,550.00;  2  seven 
per  cent  10  year  bonds  of  $500  each  and  13  do.  of  $1,000  each,  issued 
February  1,  1869,  interest  payable  annually  at  Bank  of  Commerce, 
New  York,  $14,000.00  ;  57  ten  per  cent  10  year  bonds  of  $1,000  each, 
issued  January  1,  1870,  interest  payable  semi-annually  at  Bank  of 
Commerce,  New  York,  $57,000.00  ;  175  eight  per  cent  20  year  bonds 
of  $1,000  each,  issued  May  2,  1870,  interest  payable  semi-annually  at 
Bank  of  Commerce,  New  York,  $175,000.00.     Total,  $311,900.00. 

These  bonds  were  issued  as  a  subscription  to  the  Missouri  and  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad  Company,  under  section  13  of  an  act  entitled  '*  An 
act  to  incorporate  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company," 
approved  February  20,  1865  ;  to  pay  said  bonds  the  act  provided  that 
a  tax  not  to  exceed  one-twentieth  of  one  per  cent  should  be  levied 
each  year.  The  county  has  never  failed  to  levy  this  tax,  but  the  rev- 
enue derived  therefrom  is  insufficient  to  pay  the  interest.     No  other 


886  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

provision  is  made  for  interest  or  sinking  fund,  consequently  a  large 
amount  of  interest  is  novv  due  upon  the  bonds.  Taxable  wealth, 
$5,647,740.  Hudson  Township — 27  six  per  cent  5-20  bonds  of 
$500  each,  and  2Q  do.  of  $100  each  and  one  of  $147.45,  issued  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1881,  under  act  of  May  16,  1879,  in  compromise  and  re- 
demption of  bonds    issued    to Railroad,    interest   payable 

annually  on  1st  of  February,  at  Third  National  Bank,  St.  Louis, 
$16,247.45  ;  interest  promptly  paid.  Interest  tax  nine  cents  on  $100 
valuation.  Sinking  fund  tax  11  cents.  Taxable  wealth  $1,241,300. 
Liberty  Toivnship  —  27  six  per  cent  5-20  bonds  of  $500  each,  32  do. 
of  $100  each  and  one  for  $184.45,  issued  February  7,  1881,  underact 
of  May  16,  1879,  in  compromise  and  redemption  of  bonds  issued 
to ,  interest  payable  annually,  February  1st,  at  Third  Na- 
tional Bank,  St.  Louis,  $16,884.45  ;  interest  promptly  paid.  Interest 
tax  28  cents,  and  sinking  fund  tax  32  cents  on  $100  valuation.  Tax- 
able wealth  $306,916. 


CHAPTER    XY. 

CYCLONE  AND   HURRICANE. 

[From  the  Macon  Times,  May  14,  1883]. 

All  day  Sunday  dark  and  ominous  clouds  overspread  the  city  of 
Macon,  bearing  a  threatening  aspect,  but  very  few  contemplated  the 
terrible  work  of  destruction  that  was  in  store  for  them.  Towards 
night,  large,  inky  clouds  gathered  in  the  north  and  west  and  a  slight 
shower  fell,  accompanied  by  a  little,  wind,  but  soon  passed  away,  and 
all  for  a  short  time  was  clear  and  people  were  in  hopes  that  the  weather 
would  be  clear  and  beautiful  ag-ain. 

But  this  was  not  to  be. 

Between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  a  dark,  inky  mass  of  clouds  gath- 
ered in  the  south-west,  which  soon  developed  into  a  more  dense  and 
darker  blackness  as  they  approached  the  city  to  the  west.  They  passed 
just  west  of  the  town  and  passed  on  to  the  north-west,  where  they 
seemed  to  stand  as  if  to  reinforce  their  sj^ent  fury. 

They  remained  thus  for  a  short  time,  gathering  more  in  the  west 
until  the  denser  mass  of  clouds  were  stationed  in  a  direct  line  in  the 
north-west. 

Meanwhile  large  clouds  of  a  similar  nature  were  gathering  in  the 
south-east,  and  like  two  enemies  at  battle,  amid  an  incessant  roar  of 
thunder  and  flashing  of  lightning  the  two  masses  advanced  on  each 
other,  and  a  terrible  roar  like  an  unremitting  peal  of  thunder,  told 
too  truly  the  terrible  story  that  the  warring  masses  had  met,  and  the 
battle  of  destruction  had  begun.  The  lightnings  flashed,  thunders 
pealed  and  the  roarings  of  the  winds  made  the  night  hideous.  Crash- 
ing timbers  could  be  heard  as  they  flew  through  the  air  on  the  wings 
of  the  whirlwind,  striking  houses,  fences,  barns  and  other  out-build- 
ings. Houses  rocked  to  and  fro  as  a  cradle.  Some  were  lifted  com- 
pletely from  their  foundations  and  whirled  a  distance  of  from  three 
to  15  feet.  Some  houses  were  completely  twisted  out  of  shape  and 
unroofed  ;  while  the  majority  were  injured  slightly,  a  number  were 
completely  wrecked.  Small  out-houses  stood  no  more  chance  in  the 
fury  of  this  storm  than  a  feather  would.  Some  of  them  were  scat- 
tered a  distance  of  miles  over  the  fields  and  streets. 

Fortunately  for  the  city  the  path  of  the  cyclone  was  across  the  south 
part  of  the  town,  or  what  is  called  South  Africa,  and  while  a  few  good 
houses  were  damaged,  most  of  those  destroyed  were  huts  and  cabins 
occupied  by  negroes  and  of  but  little  value. 

Early  Monday  morning  we  passed  over  a  good  portion  of  the   path 
51  (887) 


888  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

of  the  storm  to  learn  the  facts  as  near  as  possible.  In  many  places 
it  was  a  scene  of  remarkable  destruction,  and  many  instances  were 
plain  of  the  terrific  character  of  the  disturbing  element. 

Though  we  could  not  obtain  a  very  clear  idea  of  the  character  or 
manner  of  creation,  it  seems  that  the  cyclone  formed  in  the  Chariton 
bottom,  about  one  mile  west  of  A.  B.  Lewis',  14  or  15  miles  south- 
west of  Macon,  and  was  accompanied  by  the  usual  funnel-shaped 
cloud. 

No  fences  were  left  in  any  part  of  the  storm,  which  was  about  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  wide,  and  in  many  orchards  and  in  the  woods  the 
trees  were  torn  up  by  the  roots  or  twisted  into  shreds.  In  many 
places  trees  were  carried  a  considerable  distance.  In  ftict  we  saw 
some  trees  in  the  woods  torn  up  by  the  roots,  and  could  not  see  where 
they  came  from. 

The  first  damage  to  buildings  was  the  partial  destruction  of  Mr.  A. 
B.  Lewis'  barn  14  miles  south-west  of  Macon.  Damage  perhaps 
$300. 

The  place  of  Mr.  C.  E.  Miller,  about  one  mile  north-east,  was  next 
in  line,  and  not  a  thing  of  the  fine  house  and  barn  and  out-houses  was 
left  standing.  Every  building  was  literally  riddled,  and  his  orchard 
and  trees  generally  were  torn  up  by  the  roots.  Part  of  the  build- 
ing was  blown  two  and  a  half  miles.  R.  Green's  little  boy  was  se- 
riously hurt,  having  his  thigh  bone  broken  in  two  places.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler's wife  was  seriously  injured,  and  he  also  sustained  some  loss  in 
stock  killed,  losing  one  fine  mule  and  its  mate  broken  down  in  the 
back.  He  also  lost  some  cattle.  Mr.  Miller's  improvements  were 
good,  and  his  loss  is  estimated  at  $3,000  to  $4,000. 

A  mile  still  further  this  way  the  house  of  J.  A.  Summers  was 
entirely  destroyed,  and  his  barn  about  half  carried  away  and  out- 
bouses  damaged.  His  apple  trees  were  also  ruined.  Damage  perhaps 
$1,000. 

West  a  quarter  of  a  mile  was  the  house  of  John  Clarkson,  but  now 
there  is  nothing  left  on  the  place  but  ruins,  and  Mrs.  Clarkson  was 
instantly  killed.  At  the  time  of  the  shock  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarkson 
were  standing  together  on  the  floor.  When  Mr.  Clarkson  regained 
consciousness  he  heard  his  wife  groan,  and,  on  moving,  felt  her  lying 
close  to  him,  and  discovered  they  were  in  a  mass  of  debris,  about  25 
feet  from  where  they  had  been  standing.  Attempting  to  pick  Mrs. 
Clarkson  up  he  found  she  was  dead.  He  was  greatly  shocked,  but 
not  seriously  hurt.  The  house  seemed  to  have  rolled  over,  and  the 
>ills  were  broke  in  two.     Loss  on  property  about  $2,000. 

Three  hundred  yards  west  of  Mr.  Clarkson's  the  buildings  and 
lrees  of  Esq.  Joe  Burris  were  swept  away,  his  family  being  saved  in 
the  cellar.  Esq.  Burris  had  a  fine  place,  and  it  is  thought  $4,000  will 
not  replace  his  improvements. 

Burris'  school-house  near  by  was  razed  to  the  ground  and  his  wife 
seriously  hurt. 

A  quarter  of  a  mile  this  side  of  Mr.  Burris'  the  place  of  Mr. 
Rigger,  a  German,  was  damaged,  but  no  particulars  learned. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  -  889 

Still  further  north-east  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  William  Shunk's  house 
was  unroofed  and  a  girl  injured. 

A  half  mile  north,  the  buildings  on  the  place  of  John  Blankenship 
were  riddled.     Loss  $1,500  to  $2,000. 

A  half  mile  still  further  to  the  north-east  is  the  place  of  Charley 
Buster,  whose  buildings  were  all  destroyed.  When  the  shock  came 
the  family  ran  into  the  smoke-house,  but  just  as  they  entered  it  it 
was  carried  off.  The  house  belonged  to  James  Banta.  Loss  oi) 
buildings  about  $500.     Mr.  Buster's  loss  is  about  $150. 

In  the  same  neighborhood  Mrs.  John  Miller's  barn  was  unroofed 
and  wrecked. 

A  half  mile  this  side  of  Buster's  the  house  belonging  to  Evans 
Wright  and  occupied  by  Evans  Summers  was  blown  down  and 
burned  catching  fire  from  the  stove.  The  house  was  not  valuable  — 
worth  perhaps  $300.     Mr.  Summers  lost  everything  in  his  house. 

In  the  same  neighborhood  the  Imildings  of  Mrs.  Jane  Rower  were 
unroofed,  but  could  not  get  particulars. 

The  chimney  on  Allen  Miller's  house  was  torn  down  and  his  barn 
wrecked.     Damage  about  $400. 

All  the  buildings  on  Allen  Banta's  place,  still  further  north-east, 
were  razed  to  the  ground,  but  the  family,  fortunately,  were  not  at 
home.     The  loss  is  put  at  $2,500. 

Three-fourths  of  a   mile   or    so   north-east    the    barn   of    Thomas 

Roberts  was  unroofed  and  his  house  wrecked.     Damage  about  $1,500. 

Next  north-east,  less  than   a  mile,  the  house  of   Wes   Banta  was 

razed  to  the  ground,    but  the    barn   still    stands,   though    wrecked. 

Damage  about  $()00. 

In  same  neighborhood  the  house  of  Thomas  Banta  was  lifted  up, 
the  end  carried  around  40  or  50  feet  and  set  down  entirely  away  from 
the  foundation,  the  east  front  turned  directly  north.  Part  of  the 
roof  was  torn  off,  but  it  did  not  look  to  be  otherwise  greatly  damaged. 
Some  of  Mr.  Banta's  out-houses  were  razed  to  the  ground.  The 
above  two  gentlemen  compose  the  firm  of  Banta  Bros.,  grocers,  on 
Rollins  street,  this  city. 

The  next  house  in  the  line  of  the  storm  was  that  of  Elijah  Banta's, 
where  quite  a  number  of  the  relatives  and  friends  had  assembled  to 
see  Mrs.  Banta  and  Mr.  James,  Mrs.  Banta's  father,  both  of  whom 
were  confined  to  their  beds  in  the  house  with  illness.  There  were  in 
all  17  persons  in  the  house,  but  (me  of  whom  escaped  entirely  un- 
hurt, and  not  a  stick  of  a  single  building  on  the  place  was  left  stand- 
ing. Of  those  in  the  house,  Mrs.  Elijah  Banta  was  fatally  injured, 
living  about  half  an  hour,  and  Mr.  Mordecai  Harp  and  his  son  Alonzo 
were  seriously  and  perhaps  fatally  injured.  The  old  gentleman  was 
bruised  about  the  stomach,  and  the  young  man  had  a  frightful 
hole  —  large  enough  to  admit  of  three  fingers  —  torn  into 
his  side  under  the  arm-pit,  extending  into  the  hollow  of  the 
body.  The  bedstead  on  which  Mr.  James  Avas  lying  was  carried 
away,  and  he  left  lying  on  the  ticking  on  the  floor  where  the  bed 


890  ,  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 

stood,  and  was  not  seriously  hurt.  Dr.  Jackson,  who  was  then 
attending  him,  was  carried  out  with  the  debris  and  lodged  under  a 
part  of  the  building,  but  was  saved  from  perhaps  fatal  injuries  by  the 
wind  under  the  timbers  raising  them  up,  and  every  time  the  timbers 
thus  loosened  he  would  straighten  out.  Twice  the  pile  upon  him  was 
thus  lifted,  when  the  current  carried  it  otf,  releasing  him.  As  it  was, 
his  ankle  was  dislocated,  and  he  was  sorely  bruised.  He  got  up  and 
inquired  if  any  one  was  killed  or  seriously  hurt.  He  was  told  there 
was  not,  and  soon  started  for  Mr.  Thomas  Miller's,  accompanied  by 
Alonzo  Harp,  who  was  wounded  in  the  side,  but  he  did  not  know  he 
was  so  seriously  hurt.  At  Miller's  Dr.  Jackson  did  Avhat  he  could  for 
Harp,  and  securing  a  horse,  his  own  escaping  unhurt  from  the  stable 
at  Banta's,  rode  home.  It  is  remarkable  how  the  Doctor  got  home, 
crippled  as  he  was.  In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  as  being 
in  Mr.  Banta's  house  were  Mrs.  Mordecai  Harp,  Elijah  Banta,  William 
Barnes  and  wife,  Stephen  Smith  and  wife,  Arthur  Cooley  and  wife 
and  C.  L.  Barrow.  We  did  not  get  names  of  the  others.  Some 
strange  things  were  noticed  at  Mr.  Banta's  place,  among  others,  two 
chickens  and  a  turkey  that  came  out  of  the  storm  minus  many 
feathers,  places  on  then!  being  entirely  bare.  They  seemed  to  be 
otherwise  serene.  Just  how  the  storm  tore  the  feathers  from  these 
fowls  we  do  not  attempt  to  explain,  but  it  is  certain  it  did  it. 

Next  in  the  path  of  the  cyclone  was  the  splendid  improvements  of 
T.  B.  Miller,  which  were  entirely  destroyed  and  scattered  through  the 
woods.  Fortunately  his  family  were  unhurt.  Some  of  their  barn 
was  left  standing.  The  trees  about  the  place  were  torn  up  by  the 
roots.     The  damage  is  perhaps  $2,500. 

A  quarter  of  a  mile  west  William  Burton's  house  was  unroofed. 

North-east  half  a  mile  Charles  Ross  had  recently  built  a  small  box 
house,  which  he  and  his  family  occupied.  Nothing  was  left  standing 
on  the  place,  and  Mr.  Ross  was  killed,  thougb  we  could  not  learn 
details.  In  fact,  in  each  case  it  was  simply  a  shock,  and  all  was  laid 
in  ruins,  and  the  storm  had  practically  subsided  or  passed  on  by  the 
time  those  present  recovered  from  the  jar. 

In  the  same  neighborhood  Mr.  Smith's  house  and  barn  were 
destroyed  and  Mr.  S.  slightly  hurt. 

Along  the  path  of  the  storm  as  it  crossed  East  fork,  great  damage 
was  done  to  timber,  and  where  the  hills  were  struck  on  this  side  the 
grass  was  peeled  otf.  It  was  also  plain  that  when  the  cyclone  struck 
these  hills  it  was  at  least  partially  scattered  and  turned  up  the  little 
valley,  or  else  it  would  have  passed  along  the  west  or  north-west  side 
of  town.  This  course  was  plainly  indicated  by  a  lot  of  flour 
scattered  some  distance  in  that  direction  from  Elijah  Banta's  house, 
and  was  also  indicated  by  the  effect  on  the  hills  where  the  cyclone 
struck. 

The  next  damage  was  to  Mr,  Jurgensou's  barn,  on  the  edge  of  the 
town,  which  was  damaged  about  $300. 

Near  by  Mr.  William  Magnus*  barn  was  destroyed,  and  two  rooms 
to  his  house  torn  away.     Damaged  about  $1,300. 


■    HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  891 

A  Strange  incident  in  this  locality  is  found  in  the  fact  that  about 
three  feet  of  water  in  Capt.  Bill  Smith's  pond,  on  the  old  Lyle  place, 
was  taken  out. 

It  is  hard  to  tell  where  the  storm  first  struck,  or  the  direction  it 
took,  for  boards  were  scattered  in  every  direction.  The  wind  first 
struck  the  large  frame  house  of  Charles  Lawrence,  east  of  town,  tear- 
ing off  a  portion  of  the  roof,  scattering  shingles  and  fragments  of 
bo^irds  in  every  direction,  tearing  down  fences,  moving  his  stable 
about  six  feet  and  twisting  large  trees  from  their  roots.  It  next  struck 
the  house  of  Joseph  Guy,  colored,  injuring  Lizzie  Guy  in  the  side, 
seriously.  Next  it  struck  the  house  of  Shadrack  Fray,  colored,  tear- 
ing down  outhouses,  fences,  trees  and  partially  unroofing  his  resi- 
dence. Several  little  shanties  in  the  track  of  the  cyclone  were 
demolished,  and  the  debris  scattered  for  miles  across  the  country. 
The  ice  house  and  stable  of  Maurice  O'Brien  were  partially  torn 
down,  both  unroofed  and  house  slightly  damaged.  It  struck  the 
residence  of  Jerry  Allen,  colored,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city, 
tearing  out  windows,  sending  large  timbers  through  the  weather-board- 
ing and  plastering,  moving  the  house  eight  or  ten  feet  and  demolish- 
ing everything  within.  The  house  of  Walker  Tidings,  colored,  next 
followed",  the^roof  falling  in  on  the  inmates,  who  were  in  the  act  of 
retiring  for  the  night.  Here  the  great  strength  of  the  seething,  whirling, 
destroying  monster  was  fully  portrayed.  A  large  safe,  or  cui)board, 
filled  with  dishes,  was  carried  a  distance  of  75  yards  and  dashed  to 
the  ground,  demolishing  everything.  Mrs.  Tidings  and  a  little  girl 
were  injured  by  timbers  falling  on  them.  A  large  two-story  house, 
owned  by  G.  Steiger,  Chicago,"in  the  south-east  part  of  the  town,  un- 
occupied, was  crushed  to  the  earth  like  an  egg  shell,  and  is  a  total 
wreck.  In  its  track  was  the  public  school  building  for  the  colored 
people,  a  commodious  brick  structure,  leveling  it  to  the  ground,  the 
walls  falling  in  every  direction.  The  building  is  a  total  wreck.  The 
house  of  Anthony  Haley,  colored,  was  next  demolished,  the  inmates 
sustaining  slight  bruises  and  cuts.  J.  W.  Riley's  fences  and  out- 
buildings were  blown  down,  a  shed  falling  on  his  buggy  and  smashing 
it.  Thomas  Hanrahan,  adjoining  Riley's,  had  his  house  whirled 
around  ofl^the  foundation  and  kitchen  turned  over.  Charles  Soldan's 
residence  was  partially  unroofed,  stable  and  fence  blown,  and  large 
mai)le  trees  torn  up  by  the  roots.  The  house  of  George  Houser 
suffered  considerable  damage  by  being  partially  unroofed,  and  the 
property  of  W.  C.  Belshe,  adjoining,  had  all  the  outhouses  and  fences 
blown  down.  The  house  of  a  colored  w^oman  named  Smith  was 
moved  about  three  feet.  L.  P.  Woodridge's  fence,  two  or  three  out- 
buildings blown  down  and  shade  and  fruit  trees  torn  up  by  the  roots, 
and  twisted  off  as  one  would  twist  a  blade  of  grass.  Shade  trees 
ruined  at  the  residence  of  Otto  Habbermann,  Mrs.  Troester,  William 
Trister  and  the  porch  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  C.  Brown  was  carried 
awav,  as  were  all  the  fences  and  other  appurtenances  thereon. 

The  African  M.  E.  Church  was  struck    from    the    south-east  and 


892  HISTOKY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

toppled  over,  partly  fiiliing  on  the  side  of  the  house  owned  and 
occupied  by  Jesse  McNutt,  colored,  moving  the  house  about  three 
feet.     Luckily  there  is  a  tornado  risk  on  the  church  for  $1,000. 

Other  and  minor  buildings  were  demolished,  and  to  attempt  to 
enumerate  the  extent  of  damage  done  to  trees,  fences  and  other  smaller 
items  would  be  too  lengthy  for  our  time  and  space.  The  devastater 
struck  the  two-story  frame  house  of  Willis  Turner,  a  colored  man, 
tearing  it  down,  the  timbers  falling  on  George  Turner,  father  of  Willis, 
injuring  him  it  is  supposed  fatally.  The  old  agricultural  works 
building  was  partially  unroofed.  The  building  on  the  south-east 
corner  of  Vine  and  Ruby  streets,  occupied  by  D.  K.  Hagy  as  a 
residence  and  place  of  business,  also  felt  the  power  of  the  cyclonic 
destroyer;  the  upper  portion  of  the  east  wall  for  15  or  20  feet  south  of 
Vine  was  blown  out.  Joseph  and  J.  H.  Patton  had  their  outbuildings 
and  fences  scattered,  and  the  residences  of  Mr.  N.  Hunt  and  Dr.  Still 
suffered  in  like  manner. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Barrow's  fine  residence,  just  beyond  the  southern 
limits  of  the  city,  was  considerably  damaged,  but  the  loss  is  fully 
covered  by  a  cyclone  policy. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Hornback  was  partially  unroofed,  and  Mr.  C 
Strong's  property  suffered  somewhat  also. 

Although  the  damage  to  the  eastern  portion  of  the  town  was  great, 
excepting  the  school-house  and  church,  the  damage  done  in  the 
western  part  was  equally  as  great.  Everywhere  one  went  the  marks 
of  the  cyclone's  terrible  work  were  plainly  visible. 

Mr.  Phil.  Reichel's  property  sustained  serious  damage,  outhouses 
and  fences  being  blown  away,  and  the  roof  of  his  residence  being 
damaged  greatly. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Chope  was  seriously  injured,  the  fences  were 
torn  down,  and  his  stable  was  lifted  completely  ofi'  the  ground  from 
over  his  horses,  leaving  them  standing  tied  in  their  places,  one  of 
them  receiving  only  a  slight  scratch  on  the  side.  The  stable  was 
carried  a  short  distance  and  then  dashed  to  the  ground  and  de- 
molished. 

A  house,  unoccupied,  owned  by  D.  H.  Pa3^son,  was  partially  blown 
away,  the  fences  being  blown  down  and  the  wind  twisting  up  a  huge 
silver-maple  tree  by  the  roots. 

The  house  occupied  by  Mr.  Ballon,  near  the  old  Catholic  Church, 
was  damaged,  the  large  trees  and  outbuildings  torn  down  and 
scattered.  In  some  places  the  limbs  of  trees  that  were  verdured  with 
the  richness  of  spring  were  stripped  clean  of  their  foliage,  as  if  one 
had  taken  a  knife  and  trimmed  the  leaves  off. 

The  stable  of  Thomas  Bledsoe  blew  down  upon  his  horses,  and  he 
and  his  wife  rushed  out  in  the  hail  and  wind  and  heroically  threw  the 
boards  and  heavy  rafters  off  the  poor  brutes,  thereby  saving  their 
lives. 

The  house  of  Fred.  O'Neil,  colored,  was  completely  gutted,  both 
ends  being  blown  out,  the  wind  sweeping  through,  taking  everything 
out  of  the  house  and  scattering  them  over  the  prairie  and  yards. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  893 

George  Sherman  had  his  stable,  fences  and  other  buildings  torn 
down. 

The  residence  of  Benjamin  Woodson  suffered  next,  the  roof  being 
partially  torn  off,  fences  and  outbuildings  being  torn  down. 

The  house  of  William  Forcht  was  damaged,  outhouse  and  fence 
carried  away,  a  small  meat-house  being  lifted  up  and  carried  a  dis- 
tance of  50  feet  or  more,  and  thrown  up  against  the  house  of  Anthony 
Roan  (colored),  mashing  in  the  end,  and  knocking  it  from  its  foun- 
dation. 

Houses  owned  by  Mrs.  Smith,  Wherley  Patton,  Phoebe  Watts, 
Mahala  Austin,  Joe  Allen,  John  Washington,  Margaret  Allen,  were 
all  damaged,  Mrs.  Patton  being  slightly  injured  by  flying  boards. 
The  property  of  A.  R.  Lemon  suffered  extensive  damage.  Mrs. 
Vaughn,  a  colored  woman,  was  in  bed  at  the  time  the  cyclone  struck, 
and  was  picked  up,  bed  and  all,  and  was  carried  out  into  her  garden, 
and  was  gently  let  down,  receiving  no  injury.  Her  house,  a  two-story, 
was  mashed  into  match-wood.  Her  escape  can  be  regarded  as  mirac- 
ulous, as  well  as  providential. 

There  were  quite  a  number  of  other  buildings  blown  down  and  an 
immense  lot  of  property  destroyed,  but  the  manner  in  which  we 
escaped  was  simply  wonderful.  There  is  not  a  house  that  is  standing 
in  the  track  of  the  cyclone,  but  what  is  more  or  less  damaged.  The 
blacksmith  shop  of  Ab.  Bohannan  was  unroofed  and  the  front  end 
blown  out,  and  the  bill  boards  of  both  circuses  smashed  into  pieces 
and  distributed  promiscuously  over  the  common  and  street.  Two 
freight  cars  on  the  Wabash  Railroad  were  blown  over,  while  the  old 
hay  press  structure,  standing  within  25  or  30  feet,  that  three  men 
could  push  over,  was  left  standing.  There  were  several  very  narrow 
escapes  of  individuals  with  their  lives,  which  were  marvelous.  Henry 
Braggo,  a  colored  boy,  was  struck  by  a  flying  tree  and  picked  up  and 
carried  a  distance  of  75  yards  into  a  yard,  sustaining  no  further  in- 
jury than  a  few  bruises  on  the  face  and  about  the  ribs. 

Paul  Walker,  a  colored  man,  was  lifted  by  the  wind  and  carried  a 
distance  of  100  feet  over  the  railroad  track,  receiving  severe  injuries. 

A  large  barrel  half  filled  with  mortar,  was  blown  up  into  the  air  a 
distance  of  100  feet,  striking  edgeways  on  the  roof  of  a  house,  cutting 
a  hole  therein  and  knocking  out  the  end  of  the  barrel.  In  the  busi- 
ness  part  of  town  but  little  damage  was  done,  excepting  to  Hagy's 
building,  A  few  window  glass  were  blown  out  of  the  stores  of  J.  W. 
Angus,  J.  T.  Gellhaus  and  E.  J.  Newcomer  &  Co.  ;  and  a  portion  of 
the  front  of  Jackson  &  Raines'  livery  stable  and  the  fronts  out  of  two 
small  buildings  on  Weed  street. 

There  are  other  incidents  so  wonderful  that  they  are  hardly  credit- 
able, that  could  be  told  but  space  forbids.  •  We  have  endeavored  to 
give  as  minute  an  account  of  the  terrible  work  of  the  cyclone  as  could 
be  obtained.  The  wind  evidently  came  from  every  quarter,  as  frag- 
ments of  buildings,  etc.,  could  be  found  in  all  directions. 

Macon  has  had  her  long-looked-for  cyclone,  and  the  terrible  work 
it  has  wrought  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  people  whom  it  visited. 


894  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

The  colored  people  suffered  mostly,  and  some  are  in  very  distressed 
circumstances,  as  they  have  lost  everything. 

The  scene  of  tlie  wreck  is  a  distressing  one.  Men  with  resolute 
faces  are  working  faithfully,  silently,  to  gather  about  them  all  that  is 
left  for  them  to  gather.  Women  and  children,  some  weeping,  others 
more  courageous  are  helping  their  husbands  and  friends  to  erect  a 
place  of  shelter  from  the  rain  of  another  night.  The  work  is  a  terri- 
ble work,  but  'tis  done. 

[From  Macon  Times.] 

In  our  extra  we  overlooked  the  misfortune  visited  upon  our  neigh- 
bor the  Republican.  The  roof  was  blown  from  the  building  occupied 
by  J.  G.  Vancleve,  the  upper  story  of  which  is  occupied  as  a  part  of 
the  Republican  printing  office.  This  part  of  the  office  was  flooded 
with  water  making  matters  unpleasant  and  inconvenient  for  a  time. 

NOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Numbers  of  the  citizens  sought  refuge  in  cellars,  and  thus  escaped 
the  fury  of  the  wind.  A  large  barn  of  Mr.  F.  Jurgenson  was  lifted 
from  its  foundation  and  carried  over  a  smaller  building  and  then  torn 
to  pieces.  Household  goods,  wearing  apparel,  pieces  of  furniture, 
cooking  utensils  and  other  articles  were  found  scattered  for  miles  over 
the  prairies  and  fields. 

One  old  darkey,  who  lost  heavily  by  the  cyclone,  remarked  the 
next  day,  "  That  he  wouldn't  have  cared  much,  but  it  blowed  de  finest 
chicken  I  had  into  de  well." 

A  colored  wOman  named  Irving  was  hung  up  in  a  large  oak  sapling, 
where  she  remained  for  an  hour,  so  badly  frightened  that  she  was 
unable  to  come  down  or  help  herself.  A  darkey  named  Tidings  had 
his  house  lifted  clear  ofi*  of  the  ground  and  a  portion  of  it  carried  over 
20  feet  with  its  occupants  and  then  dropped  to  the  ground,  falling  to 
pieces  and  injuring  the  inmates.  Tuesday  morning  some  gentlemen 
were  trying  to  hire  some  negro  men  to  go  out  into  the  country,  and 
put  up  fence.  One  negro  replied,  "  No,  sah  ;  my  house  was  injured, 
and  I'se  lookin'  fur  de  'lief  committee  now." 

Alonzo  Harp,  the  young  man  who  was  injured  in  the  cyclone  last 
Sunday  evening,  was  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  young  men  of 
the  county,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  Wednesday  morning,  was 
sad  indeed.  He  was  to  have  been  married  the  next  day,  Thursday. 
An  infant,  five  months  old,  belonging  to  a  negro  woman  named  Mc- 
Kenny,  was  lifted  by  the  wind,  carried  over  300  yards  and  dropped 
into  a  field  owned  by  Charles  Lawrence,  where  it  was  found  in  the 
morning  uninjured,  though  drenched  to  the  skin.  When  found  the 
little  one  was  laughing  and  contented. 

A  negro  child,  three  years  old  named  Murphy,  was  found  near  the 
Barrow  house,  south  of  town.  How  she  got  there,  she  cannot  tell, 
and  no  one  knows,  but  she  was  found  in  her  night  clothes,  at  a  dis- 
tance of  nearly  a  half  mile  from  the  house  in  which  her  parents  lived, 
which  was  totally  wrecked. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  895 

The  remarkable  fact  was  demonstrated  by  the  cyclone  Sunday,  that 
wearing  apparel,  bed  clothhig,  etc.,  with  which  it  came  in  contact, 
when  found,  were  completely  rotten,  appearing  to  be  nothing  but  a 
mass  of  ashes,  but  retaining  their  shape  until  handled,  although  the 
articles  looked  sound  to  eye,  and  did  not  have  any  of  the  marks  of 
fire  about  them. 

Another  remarkable  feature  of  the  cyclone  is,  that  through  the  for- 
ests where  it  passed,  the  leaves  on  the  trees  turned  completely  black 
as  though  a  heavy  frost  had  fallen  upon  them.  These  two  features, 
taken  in  connection,  strengthens  and  goes  a  long  way  towards  proving 
the  electrical  theory  of  Prof.  Tice,  in  regard  to  these  phenomena,  to  be 
correct. 

Mr.  John  Blankenship,  who  was  seriously  damaged  by  the  cy- 
clone, was  standing  looking  directly  at  the  storm  as  it  approached. 
When  the  torrent  was  within  300  yards  of  his  house,  a  large  ball  of 
fire  shot  down  to  the  o-round  and  at  almost  the  same  instant  the  house 
was  riddled.  Where  the  ball  of  fire  struck  the  ground  the  earth  is 
packed  very  hard,  as  though  it  had  been  beaten  down  with  a  maul. 

Elijah  Banta,  whose  buildings  were  swept  away  and  wife  killed  by 
the  cyclone  Sunday  evening,  says  the  shock  sounded  like  the  discharge 
of  a  single  cannon  at  a  distance,  and  that  for  a  moment  after  the 
shock  he  knew  nothing  except  that  a  great  torrent  of  mud  and  trash 
poured  upon  him.  He  could  not  see  a  particle,  and  when  he  at- 
tempted to  rise  it  seemed  he  was  submerged  in  steam  from  a  boiling 
kettle.  The  kindness  displayed  by  the  citizens  in  turning  out  Tues- 
day and  rebuilding  the  fences  blown  down,  speaks  volumes  for  the 
community.  About  400  men  were  on  the  grounds,  coming  from  the 
towns  west  as  far  as  Chillicothe.  The  noble  sons  of  Bevier  turned 
out  to  the  tune  of  near  100,  with  a  liberal  number  from  Summit. 
Several  gangs  went  out  from  Macon,  notwithstanding  losses  here 
which  demanded  attention.  Although  some  objects  to  the  spectators 
who  witnessed  the  terrible  work  of  the  cyclone  were  pitiful  and  dis- 
tressing, there  were  also  some  incidents  which  were  ludicrous  as  well 
as  amusing.  Our  paragrapher  was  amazed  at  the  lightness  of  heart 
with  Avhich  some  people  bore  their  losses.  One  old  colored  woman 
weighing  over  250  pounds  was  somewhat  amusing  to  the  bystanders 
as  she  recounted  her  experience  of  the  terrible  situation.  On  being 
questioned,  she  told  her  story  :  — 

"1  was  stan'in'  by  de  doah,"  she  said,  "an'  I  seed  de  sto'm 
comin'.  It  looked  like  two  race  bosses  on  de  rampaige.  I  got  in  de 
house  an'  got  all  de  chillern  an'  de  ole  man  in  de  house.  De  ole  man 
an'  fo'  ob  de  chillern  got  agin'  de  back  doah  and  I  an'  five  ob  de 
chillern  got  agin'  de  front  doah.  I  was  holdin'  Mary  Ellen's  baby 
which  is  five  months  ole.  Den  de  wind  struck  ;  de  doah  begin  to  gib 
wa3^  an'  I  sed  to  de  ole  man,  '  Lawdy,  Joe,  I  dun  tole  you  I  kent 
hoi'  dis  yar  doah  no  longer,  '  an'  de  doah  busted  in.  Fo'  God,  chile, 
you'd  orter  see  de  chillern  an'  de  res'  ob  de  firniture  fly  !  " 

Another  old  colored  lady,  whose  house  had  been  swept  away,  and 


896 .  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

who  weighed  over  300  pounds,  was  completely  overcome  by  her  situ- 
ation.    Although  she  was  fat —  not  fair  —  and  fifty,  she  wept. 

"Chile,"  she  said,  between  her  sobs,  "I  heerd  it  comin'  and  I 
fought  dat  de  shoutin'  time,  an'  I  begin  to  pray,  chile  ;  I  prayed, 
an'  ebery  time  dat  house  shuk  I  yelled  an'  prayed.  Den  I  begin  to 
sing,  but  w'en  dat  house,  floo'  an'  all  begin  to  crawl  from  under  me 
I  fouo-ht  the  kingdom  had  come,  shuah  ;  an'  ebery  crawl  dat  house 
took  I'd  yell,  Lawd,  she's  a  comin'.  Den  de  house  was  lifted  clean 
up,  floo'  an'  all,  ober  dat  little  shed  ober  dar,  an'  we'n  I  woke  up  I 
war  layin'  ober  dar,  wid  my  head  in  de  flou'  ches'  ;  oh,  honey,  dis 
am  terrible." 

HURRICANE,  JULY  13,   1883. 
[From  Macon  Times] . 

Never  before,  perhaps,  in  the  history  of  Macon  were  her  citizens  in 
o-reater  despair  than  during  the  hour  in  which  the  storm  raged  over 
the  city  with  such  frightful  aspects. 

It  was  a  time  when  strong  men  were  weak ;  it  was  a  time  when  it 
were  arrant  cowardice  to  say  one  was  not  afraid.  It  was  an  hour  of 
terror  to  every  heart  waiting,  watching  and  fearing  that  every  mo- 
ment the  worst  would  come.  It  was  a  time  when  they  thought  little 
of  personal  bickerings  ;  but  turned  in  vain  to  those  nearest  with  ap- 
pealing eyes,  only  to  join  each  other  in  shuddering  and  scringing  at 
each  succeeding  gust  of  wind  that  swayed  and  rocked  everything  in 
its  path.  It  was  a  time  when  the  heavens  seemed  filled  with  clouds 
that  had  no  "silver  lining;"  but  when  they  had  cleared  away  all 
seemed  grateful  that  the  damages  resulting  were  no  worse. 

The  storm  began,  at  a  little  past  three  o'clock,  and  made  earth 
hideous  for  more  than  an  hour.  At  one  time  it  was  so  dark  that  one 
could  scarcely  see  in  a  room,  and  during  a  great  time  of  the  storm  it 
was  difficult  to  tell  whether  houses  were  down  or  standing  across  the 
street,  the  water,  which  fell  so  fast,  being  blown  in  such  blinding 
sheets. 

The  heaviest  loss  in  the  city  was  that  of  St.  James'  Academy, 
prized  by  all  as  the  pride  of  the  city.  After  a  hard  struggle,  a  large 
and  imposing  three-story  wing  to  the  old  building  was  nearing  com- 
pletion. It  was  to  have  been  finished  in  five  weeks,  but  the  storm 
laid  the  new  addition  in  ruins,  leaving  the  original  building  standing. 
The  walls  of  the  academy  fell  upon  a  portion  of  the  residence  of  the 
rector.  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot,  and  crushed  it  to  the  ground  ;  but,  fortu- 
nately, no  one  was  in  the  house  at  the  time,  the  family  being  at 
Fayette. 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

Agricultural  Societies  —  Granges  —  Coal  and  Fruit  Interests  —  Official  Record. 
AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETIES. 

The  people  of  Macon  county,  feeling  the  need  of  a  county  fair, 
effected  an  organization  in  1859.  The  benefits  of  such  an  organiza- 
tion, when  rightly  conducted,  are  varied  and  manifold.  The  society 
placed  right  ideals  before  the  people,  and  by  various  incentives, 
called  them  to  a  higher  plane  of  thought  and  action.  The  best 
thoughts  of  the  world,  the  results  of  much  study,  experiment  and 
investigation,  are  transferred  from  all  lands  and  brought  into  the 
homes  of  the  people.  The  premium  list  covers  the  whole  circle  of 
human  industries,  and  every  family  in  the  county  feels  the  benefits 
incident  to  emulation.  The  gathering  of  people  in  masses  and  the 
annual  display  of  the  best  products  for  examination,  comparison  and 
study,  carries  higher  ideals  and  new  thoughts  to  every  home.  Farm- 
ers discuss  these  matters  around  the  fireside  and  their  farms  begin  to 
show  improvements  in  every  way.  Improved  breeds  of  stock  are 
introduced,  better  seed  is  sown,  and  new  cereals  tried,  improved 
implements  are  bought,  farm-houses  are  constructed  on  better  plans, 
and  the  home  is  furnished  with  many  comforts  and  luxuries  which 
would  never  have  been  thought  of,  without  the  fair.  It  may  be  con- 
ceded that  conductors  of  fairs  have  fallen  below  the  true  ideals,  and 
have  not  used  all  the  forces  placed  in  their  hands  by  these  organiza- 
tions for  human  improvement,  but  the  Macon  county  fairs  have 
never  fallen  below  the  average. 

The  Macon  County  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Society  was  incor- 
porated June  6,  1859,  with  the  following  members:  Frederick  Eow- 
land,  Thomas  Pool,  Joseph  D.  Butler,  William  Griffin,  James  Parker, 
J.  H.  Bean,  William  T.  Griffin,  B.  T.  Grafford,  William  Henry,  Jesse 
Hall,  William  Holman,  Samuel  P.  Brown,  William  Palmer,  Georgi' 
S.  Palmer,  S.  S.  Winn,  Thomas  Winn,  Sr.,  Franklin  Hord,  William 
S.  Fox,  W.  D.  Bean,  J.  W.  Lamb,  John  Hoyne,  B.  F.  Coulter,  B.  E. 
Harris,  M.  P.  Haley,  Thomas  Winn,  Jr.,  Thomas  P.  Eubey,  W.  C. 
Smith,  S.  Davis,  R.  S.  Bevier,  A.  P.  McCall,  Albert  Larrabee,  E.  A. 

(897) 


898  HISTORY    OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

Matiiey,  Charles  Parker,  B.  F.  Stokes,  J.  H.  Petty,  W.  R.  Brock, 
Thomas  L.  Gorhara,  H.  B.  Menfey,  James  A.  Terrell,  D.  H.  Cald- 
well, J.  M.  Burk,  A.  T.  Turry,  Ludwell  Evans,  J.  B.  Rodgers,  Adin 
Atteberry,  W.  C.  Phelps,  R.  S.  Rally,  Harry  Taylor,  J.  S.  Boice, 
Alfred  Ray,  N.  H.  Patton,  W.  P.  Chandler,  R.  D.  Summers,  R.  T. 
Johnson,  W.  D.  Bartle,  R.  T.  Ellis,  W.  M.  Rubey  and  Isaac 
Goodding. 

The  second  fair  was  organized  in  1868,  April  6th,  with  the  follow- 
ing officers  :  — 

Old  stockholders  in  new  organization,  with  others — Isaac  Good- 
ding,  president ;  James  A.  Terrell,  vice-president ;  Isaac  Goodding, 
John  P.  Walker,  Dermenas  Banta,  J.  Hendershott,  James  A.  Terrell, 
William  C.  Smith,  A.  P.  McCall,  N.  H.  Patton,  William  Holman, 
directors;  R.  E.  Eggleston,  secretary;   J.  M.  Bourke,  treasurer. 

The  last  fair  was  held  in  1874. 

GRANGES. 

There  were  18  lodges  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in  the  county,  num- 
bering fully  1,000  members. 

COAL    AND    FRUIT    INTERESTS. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  about  two-thirds  of  Macon  county  is  un- 
derlaid with  coal  of  the  best  quality.  The  most  important  of  the 
workable  mines  are  those  which  are  located  at  and  near  the  town  of 
Bevier,  five  miles  west  of  Macon.  At  this  point  Loomis  and  Snively 
operate  mines  numbers  one,  three  and  four.  The  firm  is  composed  of 
W.  H.  Loomis,  L.  J.  Loomis  and  S.  V.  Snively.  These  mines  were 
opened  before  the  late  Civil  War  by  the  Central  Coal  Mining  Company. 
Loomis  and  Snively  mine  their  coal  by  machinery  without  picking  it 
into  screenings.  Their  shafts  are  sunk  from  60  to  70  feet  below  the 
surface  of  the  earth.  They  own  2,000  acres  of  coal  land.  In  the 
winter  of  1883-84  they  shipped  from  800  to  900  car  loads  of  coal  per 
month,  and  employed  from  300  to  400  men.  In  the  summer  th'ey 
shipped  from  600  to  700  cars  per  month.  The  coal  veins  average 
about  four  and  one-half  feet  in  thickness. 

Thomas  Wardell,  of  Macon,  owns  three  mines  at  Summit  in  the 
vicinity  of  Bevier  ;  only  two  of  these  are  now  worked.  He  employs 
about  200  men  in  the  winter,  and  from  80  to  100  men  in  the  summer. 
He  ships  upon  an  average  about  257  cars  of  coal  per  month  ;  the  vein 
is  four  feet  in  thickness,  and  the  shafts  run  to  a  depth  of  100  feet. 
Mr.  Wardell  owns  2,800  acres  of  coal  lands. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  899 

The  Ouk  Dale  Company,  composed  of  J.  W.  Atwill  and  H.  J.  Seip, 
located  at  Bevier,  employ  about  75  men  upon  an  average,  and  ship  200 
cars  of  coal  per  month.  This  company  works  mine  number  two, 
which  was  opened  during  the  late  war.  The  coal  is  about  four  feet 
thick  ;  60  foot  shaft.     This  company  owns  120  acres  of  coal  land. 

The  Watson  Coal  Mining  Company  is  also  located  at  Bevier,  and  is 
operated  by  W.  S.  Watson  &  Sons.  The  mine  was  opened  in  1882; 
four  and  one-half  foot  vein  and  75  foot  shaft.  About  80  men  are  em- 
ployed ;  300  cars  of  coal  are  shipped  in  winter  per  month  and  about 
125  in  the  summer. 

The  Emmerson  coal  mines  are  in  Narrows  township  and  are  owned 
and  operated  by  William  H.  Jones  &  Co.,  the  members  of  the  com- 
pany being  William  H.  Jones,  P.  Y.  Hurt,  Jefferson  Morrow,  C.  M. 
King,  George  King,  William  King,  John  King,  Henry  Vanskike. 
These  mines  work  about  50  men,  and  ship  about  75  cars  of  coal  per 
month. 

The  richest  coal  fields  in  the  county,  so  far  as  they  have  been  de- 
veloped, are  in  Bevier  and  Chariton  townships.  The  fields  occupy  the 
country  lying  below  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad,  between  the 
Wabash  Railroad  and  Middle  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  and  cover  an 
area  of  about  70  square  miles. 

Coal  is  found  in  sections  21,  22,  4,  8  and  9  in  Chariton  township. 
In  section  22  the  vein  is  about  seven  feet  in  thickness.  The  mines  in 
Chariton  township  have  no  railroad  facilities  ;  they  belong  to  J.  G. 
Richmond,  E.  S.  Gipson,  P.  M.  Tuttle,  J.  M.  Burris  and  others. 
Much  of  the  coal  in  Chariton  township  crops  out  on  the  banks  of 
the  streams.  The  oldest  coal  mine  in  the  county  was  opened  at 
Carbon,  east  of  Macon,  in  Hudson  township  ;  this,  however,  has  been 
abandoned  for  some  time. 

Thomas  Jobson  operates  a  mine  at  Lingo.  He  supplies  coal  to  the 
local  trade  and  also  to  the  railroad.  This  mine  has  been  opened 
about  12  years.  From  40  to  75  men  are  employed  and  from  two  to 
four  car  loads  of  coal  are  taken  from  the  mines  per  day. 

The  coal  supplied  by  Macon  county  is  most  excellent  in  quality, 
and  is  classed  as  the  very  best  of  steam-making  coal.  There  are  but 
few  counties,  if  any,  in  the  State  that  are  more  highly  favored  in  re- 
gard to  coal  —  both  as  to  quality  and  abundance  —  than  Macon. 
From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  nearly  2,000  car  loads  of  coal 
are  shipped  from  Macon  county  every  month,  or  24,000  car  loads  per 
annum,  saying  nothing  of  the  quantity  used  for  home  consumption. 


900  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


FRUIT. 


Macon  county  is  one  of  the  best  fruit  growing  counties  in  the  State, 
antl  will  in  a  i'ew  years  equal  if  not  surpass  any  other  county  in  the 
production  of  apples.  The  apple  crop  for  the  winters  of  1882-83 
amounted  to  105,000  barrels  that  were  shipped  to  Chicago  and  the 
Northern  markets,  saying  nothing  of  the  thousands  of  bushels  that 
were  sold  to  the  local  trade  and  used  at  home.  Edward  and  N.  H. 
Green  (brothers)  cultivate  the  largest  apple  orchard  in  the  county  — 
they  having  an  orchard  of  80  acres  of  bearing  trees.  J.  W.  Patton 
is  putting  out  an  orchard  of  40  acres,  as  are  also  H.  S.  Gordon  and 
J.  P.  Moore.  The  apple  crop  for  1884  promises  a  greater  yield  than 
for  any  preceding  year.  The  Ben  Davis  takes  the  lead  ;  then  comes 
the  Genitan,  Jonathan,  Wine-sap,  Baldwin,  Willow  Twig,  Yellow 
and  White  Belle  Flower,  Parmain,  Maiden's  Blush,  Milan,  Newtown 
Pippen,  the  Northern  Spy  and  a  few  other  kinds.  Small  fruits,  such 
as  cherries,  currants,  gooseberries,  blackberries,  strawberries  and 
raspberries  do  well,  and  are  not  only  raised  by  the  farmers,  but  these 
fruits  are  to  be  seen  in  the  yards  and  gardens  of  those  who  live  in 
the  towns  and  villages  throughout  the  county. 

Grapes,  especially  the  Concord,  thrive  well,  and  could  be  produced 
in  great  abundance  if  there  Were  any  market  or  demand  for  them 
away  from  the  county.  Pears  hit  occasionally  —  once  every  two  or 
three  years ;  peaches  do  well  when  they  are  not  injured  by  cold 
weather ;  an  ordinary  hard  winter,  however,  will  kill  the  trees. 

OFFICIAL    RECORD. 

State  Senators  —  John  H.  Bean,  1846  ;  Frederick  Rowland,  1854; 
William  S.  Fox,  1858  ;  Abner  L.  Gilstrap,i  1862  ;  Web.  M.  Rubey, 
1874;  H.  F.  Caldwell,  1878.  Representatives — Johnson  Wright, 
1838  ;  William  Griffin,  1840  ;  R.  S.  Shackelford,  1844  ;  W.  E.  Moberly, 
1846;  George  A.  Shortridge,  1848  ;  Frederick  Rowland,  1850;  Ab- 
ner L.  Gilstrap,  1854  ;  George  M.  Taylor,  1857  ;  Thomas  L.  Gorham, 
1858  ;  B.  H.  Weatherford,  1860;  Thomas  Moody,  1862  ;  Thomas  A. 
Eagle,  1864  ;  John  Saylor,  1868  ;  John  E.  Goodson,  1870  ;  Amherst 
P.  McCall,  1872  ;  John  E.  Goodson,  1873  ;  James  D.  Humphreys, 
1874;  John  F.  Williams  and  P.  Y.  Hurt,  1876;  William  M. 
Vancleve,  B.,  and  W.  D.  Powell,  G.,  1878;  Walker  S.  Sears 
and  L.  A.  Thompson,  1880  ;  Walker  S.  Sears,  1882.     Judges  Circuit 


I  Served  two  years;  others  four  years. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  901 

Court —  Thomas  Reynolds,  James  Clark,  Biirch  Clark  Leland,  William 
A.  Hall,  George  H.  Biirckhartt,  John  W.  Henry,  Andrew  Ellison. 
Judges  Common  Pleas  Court  —  At  New  Cambria,  William  A.  Guysel- 
man  ;  at  La  Plata,  William  A.  Guyselman  ;  at  Macon  City,  H.  P. 
Vrooman.  Judges  Probate  Court  —  A.  L.  Gilstrap,  John  T.  Johnson, 
Benjamin  Sharp,  M.  B.  Eskridge,  A.  T.  Harper,  John  M.  Gilstrap, 
D.  E.  Wilson,  H.  P.  Vrooman,  E.  W.  Knott  and  R.  S.  Matthews. 
County  Recorders  —  The  recording  was  done  by  the  circuit  clerks,  ex 
officio,  until  the  year  1868,  when  the  recorders  have  been  William  A. 
Guyselman,  1868,  two  years  ;  B.  F.  Stone,  1870,  four  years  ;  Thad- 
deus  Marmaduke,  1874  ;  Marmaduke  in  1878,  died  in  1882  ;  Hezekiah 
Purdora,  1882,  appointed;  Jno.  H.  Griffin,^  1882..  County  Treasur- 
ers—  George  W.  Green,  William  Holman,  Jabez  N.  Brown,  Andrew 
J.  Marmaduke,  George  W.  Beams,  B.  F,  Stone,  Strander  Crum, 
Thomas  G.  Sharp,  William  H.  Goodding,  elected  in  1876  ;  Phillip  Tram- 
mel, in  1878  ;  Phillip  Trammel,  in  1880;  Jefferson  Morrow, Mn  1882. 
Sheriffs  —  Thomas  Jefferson  Morrow,  1837  ;  Archibald  Shoemaker, 
1842  ;  Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  1844  ;  Wilson  L.  Fletcher,  1848  ;  William 
J.  Morrow,  1850  ;  Charles  C.  McKinney,  1854  ;  Robert  T.  Ellis,  1858  ; 
Amherst  P.  McCall,  1860  ;  William  Holman,  1862  ;  Jacob  Gilstrap, 
1864 ;  William  Forbes,  1866  ;  Thomas  A.  Eagle,  1868  ;  Ed.  C.  Shain, 
1870  ;  William  H.  Terrill,  1874  ;  Terrill,  re-elected,  1876  ;  A.  J.  Davis, 
1878;  John  S.  Lyda,  1880;  and  John  H.  Morgan,^  1882.  County 
Clerks  —  Daniel  C.  Hubbard,  1837;  George  M.  Taylor,  1844; 
George  A.  Shortridge,  1856  ;  James  M.  Love,  1862  ;  John  Farrar, 
1866  :  Mathew  Hockensmith,  1870  ;  James  M.  Love,  1874  ;  James  G. 
Howe,  1878;  James  G.  Howe,  1882.  Circuit  Clerks  —  Daniel  C. 
Hubbard,  1837;  George  M.  Taylor,  1844;  George  A.  Shortridge, 
1856;  Walter  T.  Gilraan,  1862;  John  M.  London,  1866  ;  E.  B.  Van 
Vleet,  1870;  Thomas  A.  Smedley,  1874;  Thomas  A.  Smedley,  1878; 
J.  L.  Martin,  1882.  County  Court  Judges  — 1837 —  John  S.  Mor- 
row, Joseph  Owenby,  James  C.  Cochran.  1838  —  Summers  Wright, 
Philip  Dale,  Joseph  Owenby.  Elected  in  October,  1838  —  Philip 
Dale,  Elvan  Allen,  Tyre  Dabney.  1840  —  Wesley  Halliburton,  Lyre 
Dabney,  Walker  Austin.  1841 — Tyre  Dabney,  Archibald  Shoe- 
maker, Walker  Austin.  1842  — Tyre  Dabney,  Walker  Austin,  F. 
Rowland.  1843  —  F.  Rowland,  Jefferson  Morrow,  Walker  Austin. 
1844  — Walker  Austin,  Jefferson  Morrow,  J.  H.  Graves.  1845  — J. 
H.    Graves,    D.    F.  Myers,  Jefferson  Morrow.     1845-46  —  William 


1  Present  incumbent 


902  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Griffin,  D.  F.  Myers,  J.  H.  Graves.  1846— D.  F.  Myers,  William 
Griffin,  S.  B.  Beebe.  1846-48  —  P.  M.  Stacy,  S.  P.  Beebe,  D.  F. 
Myers.  1848-50  — S.  P.  Beebe, P.M.  Stacy,  W.  S.  Fox.  1850-52  — 
Nathan  Barrow,  John  Banta,  W.  S.  Fox.  1852-55  —  Nathan  Bar- 
row, William  Easley,  John  Banta.  1855-57  — William  Easley,  Silas 
Barnes,  Samuel  S.  Lingo.  1857-63 —  Samuel  S.  Lingo,  Isaac  Good- 
ding,  John  D.  Smith.  1863-65  —  John  D.  Smith,  Andrew  Dodson, 
Samuel  S.  Lingo.  1865-67 — Samuel  S.  Lingo,  Andrew  Dodson, 
A.  C.  Atterberry.  1867-70 — J.  R.  Alderman,  William  D.  Roberts, 
Charles  P.  Hess.  1870-71  —  Samuel  S.  Lingo,  John  M.  Wilson,  John 
Gilbreath.  1871  — James  R.  Alderman,  Samuel  S.  Lingo,  Charles  P. 
Hess.     1872  —  Charles  P.  Hess,  T.  C.  Campbell,  Samuel  S.  Lingo. 

In  1872  the  several  municipal  townships  elected  supervisors  to  act 
as  a  county  court.  The  whole  number  of  supervisors  elected  were  25. 
The  names  of  the  supervisors  were  E.  W.  Norton,  Lingo  township; 
James  M.  Randall,  Callao  township  ;  Ezra  Lamkin,  Ten  Mile  town- 
ship ;  P.  Y.  Hurt,  Morrow  township  ;  C.  E.  Griffith,  Eagle  township  ; 
George  Sherman,  Hudson  township  ;  E.  J.  Demeter,  assistant  super- 
intendent, Hudson  township  ;  A.  B.  Vincent,  White  township  ;  Andrew 
Dodson,  Lyda  township;  William  M.  Neilson,  Chariton  township; 
E.  Banta,  Bevier  township  ;  S.  C.  Powell,  Narrows  township;  F.  M. 
Cox,  Middle  Fork  township  ;  John  P.  Walker,  Round  Grove  town- 
ship ;  A.  E.  Stephens,  Jackson  township;  G.  W.  Nagle,  Drake  town- 
ship ;  John  A.  Brown,  Walnut  Creek  township  ;  Daniel  Murly,  La 
Plata  township  ;  Thomas  W.  McDavitt,  Easley  township  ;  George  W. 
Elliott,  Independence  township;  J.  P.  Powell,  Johnston  township; 
John  Gross,  Valley  township  ;    Solomon  Melam,  Liberty  township  ; 

A.  Mendenhall,  Russell  township;  W.  J.  Saltmarsh,  Richland  town- 
ship. William  M.  Neilson  was  chosen  president;  A.  L.  Shortridge 
was  made  president  in  1873.  1875-76  —  John  P.  Walker,  Isaac 
Goodding,  P.  M.  Stacy  and  Theodore  Krauss.  1876-77  — John  P. 
Walker,  Isaac  Gooding,  George  W.  Elliott,  P.  M.  Stacy  and  Theo- 
dore Krauss.  1877-79  —J.  P.  Walker,  G.  L.  Towner  and  Lee  Lingo. 
1879-81 — John  H.  Osborn,  Evans  Wright  and  Charles  R.Perry. 
1881-82  —  John  H.  Osborn,  Charles  R.  Perry  and  James  W.  Paine. 
1882-84  —  Lee  Lingo,  Charles  R.  Perry  and  R.  J.  Owens. 

Macon  county  was  Democratic  until  1865,  when  it  became  Repub- 
lican  under  the  Drake  constitution,  and  remained  so  until  1872  when 

B.  Gratz  Brown  was  elected  Governor,  and  when  the  disfranchised 
were  permitted  to  vote.  Since  that  time  the  county  has  been  Demo- 
cratic ;  the  majority  for  that  party  at  the  present  time  is  about  800. 


CHAPTER    XYII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 

"You  raised  these  hallowed  walls,  the  desert  smiled, 
And  Paradise  was  opened  in  the  wild." 

The   settlement  of  the  county  and  the   organization  of  the    first 
churches  were  almost  contemporaneous.    The  plow  had  scarcely  begun 
to  turn  the  sod  when  the  pioneer  preachers  commenced  to  labor  in 
the  new  field.     In  the  western  country,  as  well  as  in  the   Orient  and 
the  isles  of  the  sea,   marched   the  representatives   of  the   Christian 
religion  in  the  front  ranks  of  civilization.     Throughout  the  centuries 
which  comprise  this  era  have  the  Christian  missionaries  been  taught 
and  trained  to  accompany  the  first  advance  of  civilization,  and  such 
was  their  advent  in  Audrain  county.     In  the  rude  cabins  and  huts  of 
the  pioneers  they  proclaimed  the  same  gospel  that  is  preached  in  the 
gorgeous  palaces  that,  under  the  name  of  churches,  decorate  the  great 
cities.     It  was  the  same  gospel,  but  the  surroundings  made  it  appear 
different,  in  the  effect  it  produced  at  least.     The  Christian  religion 
had  its  rise  and  the  days  of  its  purest  practice  among  an  humble- 
minded  people  ;  and  it  is  among  similar  surroundings  in  modern  times 
that  it  seems  to  approach  the  purity  of  its  source.     This  is  the  best 
shown  in  the  days  of  pioneer  life.     It  is  true,  indeed,  that  in  succeed- 
ing times  the  church  has  attained  greater  wealth  and  practices  a  wider 
benevolence.     Further,  it  may  be  admitted  that  it  has  gained  a  firmer 
discipline,  and  wields  a  more  genial  influence    on    society;    but    it 
remains  true,  in  pioneer  times  we  find  a  manifestation  of  Christianity 
that  we  seek  in  vain  at  a  later  period,  and  under  contrasted   circum- 
stances.    The  meek  and    lowly  spirit    of  the    Christian  fiiith  —  the 
placing  of  spiritual  things  above  vain  pomp  and  show  —  appears  more 
earnest  amid  the  simple  life  and  toil  of  a  pioneer  people  than  it  can 
when  surrounded  with  the  splendors  of  wealth  and  fashion. 

But  we  may  take  a  comparison  less  wide,  and  instead  of    contrast- 
ing the  Christian   appearances    of   a    great    city  with  the  Christian 
appearaces  of  the  pioneers,  we  may  compare  the  appearances  of  40 
years  ago,  here  in  the  West,  with  those  in  the  present  time  of  moder- 
52  (903) 


904  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

ntely  developed  wealth  and  taste  for  display,  and  we  find  niuch  of  the 
same  result.  The  comparison  is  perhaps  superficial  to  some  extent, 
and  does  not  fully  weigh  the  elements  involved,  nor  analyze  them 
properly.  We  simply  take  the  broad  fact,  not  to  decry  the  present, 
but  to  illustrate  the  past.  So  looking  back  to  the  early  religious 
meetings  in  the  log  cabins  we  may  say  :  "  Here  was  a  faith  earnest 
and  simple,  like  that  of  the  early  Christians." 

German  Lutherans  at  ifacou.- The  first  and  original  house  ot 
worship  erected  by  this  denomination  was  put  up  in  1865  — a  frame 
building  and  cost  $1,000.  The  church  divided  in  1882,  and  the  mem- 
bers withdrawing  erected  a  new  church  edifice  called  Zion's  Church, 
a  frame  building  which  cost  about  $2,000.  The  membership  num- 
bered originally  125.  Among  the  early  members  were  Henry  Mag- 
nus William  Magnus,  Charles  Magnus,  Sr.,  Charles  Magnus,  Jr., 
William  Gille,  Frank  Sweikhaus,  Charles  Essler,  Ferdinand  Jurgen- 
sen,  John  Myer,  Henry  Ruhrup,  Pete  Lesser,  John  Koecher.  The 
first  minister  who  officiated  in  the  old  church  was  B.  Meissler ;  suc- 
ceedincr  him  were  M.  Gross,  L.  Pfeiffer,  A.  Claus,  C.  Jaeckel.  The 
new  church  was  dedicated  April  27,  1884,  by  Rev.  P.  W.  Myer. 

CatJwlic  Church  at  Macon. -The  Catholic  Church  buildmg  was 
purchased  from  the  Presbyterians  (Old  School)  in  1875,  it  having  been 
built  in  1864,  and  is  a  large  and  substantial  brick  structure,  which 
cost  $6,000.  The  first  services  were  held  on  Easter,  1875,  by  Rev. 
P  B  Cahill,  who  has  officiated  for  the  church  ever  since.  About 
200  families  attend  the  church  services.  There  are  five  Catholic 
churches  in  the  county,  located  as  follows  :  Macon,  Bevier,  La  Plata, 
New  Cambria  and  in  Richland  township. 

First  Congregational  Church  at  Macon  — W^s  organized  June  lb, 
1866,  by  Rev.  S.  R.  Rasborro,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  Ruth  Smith, 
Thomas  Proctor,  Lydia  Proctor,  S.  R.  Rosborro,  M.  C.  Rosborro, 
Viola  Rosborro,  Sarah  Vrooman,  Arminda  Moore,  Maria  Fry.  There 
have  been  no  regular  services  in  the  church  (a  good  brick  building 
which  cost  $6,000)  for  seven  years.  Rev.  Albert  Bowers  and  A.  b. 
McConnell  have  been  the  ministers  in  charge. 

[By  Rev.  G.  W.  Gaines]. 
The  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  — Was  organized  in 
Macon,  Mo.,  January  20,  1866,  by  the  Rev.  William  A.  Dove,  mis- 
sionary The  following  named  members  composed  the  organization, 
viz  •  Reuben  Barbour,  Jordan  House,  Nancy  Maxwell,  Mary  Jackson, 
An-eline  Coleman,  Milla  Fullington,  Jane  Smith,  Caroline  Barbour, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  905 

Lucinda  Collier,  Rachel  Martin,  Harriet  Humphry,  Lewis  Martin, 
Richard  Goodridge,  Margaret  Jones,  Kitty  Snell.  The  membership 
now  numbers  150.  Reuben  Barbour  was  appointed  leader  and  Lewis 
Martin  was  appointed  steward.  The  church  was  organized  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Lewis  Martin,  in  the  town  of  Macon.  The  society 
erected  a  temporary  board  structure  for  a  place  of  worship.  In  1874 
th&  society  erected  a  brick  house  for  worship  on  lots  nine  (9)  and  ten 
(10),  block  fifty-one  (51),  in  that  part  of  the  city  of  Macon  formerly 
called  Hudson.  The  dimension  of  this  house  was  36x64,  cost  $3,000 
(three  thousand  dollars).  This  building  was  razed  to  the  ground  by 
a  terrible  cyclone  on  the  13th  day  of  May,  1883.  The  congregation 
barely  escaped  dire  destruction,  having  quit  the  house  only  about  one 
hour  before  it  fell.  The  building  was  insured  against  storms  for  $1,000 
(one  thousand  dollars).  The  willing  workers  at  once  resolved  to  clear 
away  the  debris  and  rebuild.  The  pastor  called  out  the  Sabbath- 
school  help  of  all  ages,  from  three  years  old  up  to  50  years  old,  and 
went  to  work  with  a  will.  The  brick  was  cleaned  and  hacked,  so  that 
in  August,  1883,  the  third  house  was  erected.  It  exceeds  by  far  the 
former  house  in  strength,  beauty  and  convenience  ;  its  cost  is  $4,000 
(four  thousand  dollars). 

There  is  a  prosperous  Sunday-school,  which  has  existed  ever  since  the 
church  was  organized,  with  membership  of  150.  The  present  superin- 
tendent is  J.  C  Brown,  and  he  is  assisted  by  Mrs.  M.  W.  Coleman. 
The  secretary  is  eT.  O.  McNutt ;  treasurer,  Miss  M.  A.  Angell.  The 
value  of  the  property  is  $4,000.00.  The  present  indebtedness  is 
$400.00.  The  pastors  who  have  served  as  such  are  :  T.  W.  Hender- 
son, 1865-1868,  three  years  ;  I.  N.  Triplett,  1868-1870,  two  years  ; 
Schuyler  Washington,  1870-1871,  one  year;  J.  H.  Hubbard,  1871- 
1873,  two  years;  J.  P.  Alexander,  1873-1876,  three  years;  W.  B. 
Ousley,  1876,  six  months  ;  B.  F.  Watson,  1877,  six  months  ;  J.  C.  C. 
Owens,  1877-1879,  two  years;  W.  A.  Dove,  1879-1881,  two  years; 
G.  W.  Gaines,  1881-1884,  three  years. 

Macon  Association.  —  The  constitution  and  articles  of  faith  of  the 
old  Cumberland  River  Association  of  Kentucky,  were  adopted,  and 
the  association  took  the  name  of  "  Mt.  Tabor  Association  of  United 
Baptists."  Michael  Buster  was  elected  moderator  and  Walker  Aus- 
tin was  chosen  clerk.  Correspondence  was  solicited  from  the  Bethel 
and  Mt.  Pleasant  Associations. 

In  1844  James  Moody  was  added  to  the  list  of  ministers  as  a  licen- 
tiate.    The  session  this  year  was  cheered  by  the  presence  of  William 


906  HISTORY    OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

Duncan,  Benjamin  and  Jesse  Terrill  from  Mt.  Pleasant  Association, 
and  P.  N.  Haycraft  and  James  F.  Smith  from  Bethel  Association. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year  Euphrates  Stringer,  the  leading  minister  of 
the  association,  moved  to  Texas.  His  loss  was  very  much  felt  by  the 
feeble  churches  of  this  new  interest,  among  whom  he  was  held  in 
high  estimation.  Being  a  man  of  fine  exhortational  powers,  he  was 
regarded  as  a  revivalist  in  that  day.  Not  meeting  with  his  expected 
success  in  Texas,  he  moved  back  to  Pulaski  county,  Ky.  (where  he 
was  born  and  grew  up),  and  died  not  long  afterwards. 

Messengers  from  only  three  churches,  Big  Spring,  Ten  Mile  and 
Mt.  Tabor,  were  present  at  the  meeting  in  1848. 

Joseph  Oliver  appears  in  the  list  of  preachers. 

Licentiates:  James  N.  GriflSn,  Colby  Miller  and  William  May. 

William  H.  Vardeman,  from  Salt  River,  Jesse  Terrill,  of  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, and  William  Barbee,  of  North  Grand  River  Association,  were 
present  as  corresponding  messengers. 

Mt.  Salem  Church,  from  Mt.  Pleasant  Association,  was  received 
into  the  association  this  year.  This,  too,  was  the  beginning  of  a  new 
era  in  what  is  now  the  Macon  Association.  For  the  first  time,  per- 
suant  to  a  resolution  of  the  body,  a  public  demonstration  was  made 
in  behalf  of  missions,  by  making  a  collection  therefor  on  the  Lord's 
day,  amounting  to  $12.50.  On  Monday  following  the  work  was  con- 
tinued by  the  appointment  of  an  executive  board  of  missions,  the 
raising  by  special  pledges  from  individuals  and  from  churches  of  $87, 
and  the  election  of  J.  G.  Swinney  to  itinerate  in  the  destitute  parts 
of  the  Association,  at  a  salary  of  $12.50  per  month.  At  this  session 
also  the  name  of  the  association  was  changed  from  Mt.  Tabor  to 
''Middle  Fork,"  under  which  title  it  continued  until  the  present 
name,  "  Macon,"  was  adopted  in  1866. 

In  1849  Elder  William  Ratliff  preached  the  introductory  sermon. 
Says  Elder  J.  G.  Swinney,  "  My  recollection  is  that  this  is  the  last 
meetine:  this  eccentric  minister  ever  attended.  He  died  some  few 
years  after,  very  suddenly,  from  apoplexy,  having  become  very  fleshy 
and  helpless.  He  was  a  man  of  a  good  mind  and  of  some  doctrinal 
ability,  but  somewhat  speculative,  which,  doubtless,  in  a  measure 
impaired  his  usefulness." 

Blanket  Grove  Church,  now,  La  Plata,  was  admitted  into  the  asso- 
ciation this  year  on  a  letter  from  North  Union  Association. 

The  aggressive  policy,  which  characterized  the  meeting  in  1848, 
continued,  and  by  1852  the  number  of  churches  had  grown  to  10, 
with  327  members. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  907 

J.  G.  Svvinney,  James  Moody  and  Joseph  Oliver  performed  mis- 
sionary labor  durins^  this  period. 

Revivals  were  not  unfrequent.  From  the  close  of  session  in  1849, 
at  Mt.  Salem,  the  meeting  was  continued  by  James  Moody  and  J.  G. 
Svvinney,  resulting  in  a  large  accession  to  the  church,  doubling  its 
membership.  A  case  of  open  communion  interrupted  the  harmony 
of  the  association  at  its  meeting  in  1855.  James  Moody,  an  elder 
and  a  member  in  Blanket  Grove  Church,  avowed  open  communion  sen- 
timents. The  church  considered  his  case  and  called  in  his  creden- 
tials ;  but  he  refusing  to  give  them  up  went  and  united  with  the 
Bethlehem  Church.  In  1854  the  association  appointed  a  committee 
to  visit  and  look  into  the  action  of  said  Bethlehem  Church,  but  she 
refused  to  give  them  any  satisfaction  whatever. 

In  1855  the  committee  reported  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  the  Beth- 
lehem Church  was  excluded  for  "violating  the  principles  on  which  the 
association  was  organized  (Minutes,  1855).  This  action  of  the  asso- 
ciation settled  the  communion  question  which  had  been  agitating  the 
churches  and  creating  a  division.  During  this  discussion,  however, 
brethren  had  said  hard  things  of  one  another,  and  this  session  of  the 
association  closed  with  very  considerable  excitement,  the  minority 
claiming  that  the  association  had  treated  the  church  and  Brother 
Moody  badly. 

The  Bethlehem  Church  never  afterward  enjoyed  any  prosperity, 
and  in  a  few  years  became  extinct.  Elder  Moody  studied  the  com- 
munion question,  saw  his  error,  abandoned  his  position,  and  subse- 
quently became  a  landmark  Baptist ;  and  the  churches  generally 
became  more  firmly  settled  on  doctrines  of  the  primitive  churches  than 
ever  before.  This  restored  quiet  in  the  Macon  Association.  The 
business  of  this  session  (1855)  was  considerably  increased  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  committees  on  periodicals,  colleges,  temperance,  Bible 
societies  and  Sunday-schools.  The  entire  strength  of  the  association 
at  this  time  was  nine  churches  and  427  members.  Seventy-seven 
baptisms  during  the  year  indicated  a  good  degree  of  interest.  In 
1860,  at  Mt.  Tabor,  letters  and  messengers  were  present  from  all  the 
churches,  now  increased  to  14  in  number. 

Ministers — James  Moody,  Joseph  Oliver,  J.  A.  Clark,  G.  C.  Spar- 
row, John  Roan,  John  Estes,  J.  G.  Swinney,  S.  K.  Kellum  —  who 
afterwards  became  a  wreck,  and  G.  W.  Simmons,  five  of  whom  only 
were  in  any  measure  active  in  the  ministry.  The  missionary  reported 
49  days'  labor  and  $68.95  collected.  At  this  session  some  discussion 
arose  on  the  motion  to  strike  out  the  sixth  article  in  the  constitution 


908  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

as  follows  :  "Giving  or  refusing  to  give  money  for  missionary  pur- 
poses shall  be  no  bar  to  fellowship." 

The  motion  was  lost  by  a  large  majority.  The  association  (it  took 
the  name  of  "Macon"  this  year)  met  in  1866  at  Rock  Creek  Church, 
Knox  county,  September  8.     It  consisted  of  13. 

Churches — Novelty,  15;  Bethlehem,  19;  Blanket  Grove,  86;  Mt. 
Tabor,  109  ;  Rock  Creek,  — ;  Chariton  Grove,  51  ;  North  Fork,  75  ; 
New  Salem,  41;  Union  Grove,  16;  Macon,  26;  Mt.  Salem,  167; 
Charlton  Valley,  25;  Dover,  — ;  total  membership,  630;  baptisms, 
84.  The  following  additions  had  been  made  to  the  ministerial  force  : 
J.  B.  Johnson,  B.  F.  Powers,  William  Johnson  and  T.  M.  Colwell. 
The  latter,  an  active  and  efficient  preacher,  was  pastor  at  Macon  City, 
a  railroad  junction  and  the  principal  town  in  the  bounds  of  the  asso- 
ciation. 

By  way  of  promoting  education,  the  association  pledged  its  support 
to  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Baptist  College  at  Huntsville.  The  year  preced- 
ing the  session  at  Mt.  Tabor  in  1867  was  one  of  prosperity.  Four 
churches  —  Pleasant  Grove,  Richland,  Ebenezer  and  Bear  Creek  — 
formerly  belonging  to  the  North  Union  Association,  were  on  applica- 
tion added  to  the  list  this  year.  The  association  was  now  somewhat 
in  debt  to  its  missionary,  and  had  to  appeal  to  the  churches  to  con- 
tribute to  pay  off  the  old  claim.  This  is  an  uncommon  occurrence 
in  the  State,  and  is,  we  feel  confident,  a  bad  method  of  doing  busi- 
ness. It  very  generally  happens  that  while  a  church  or  an  association 
is  raising  funds  to  pay  off  old  debts,  but  little  is  accomplished  for 
anything  else.  We  have  known  church  work  clogged  for  years, 
simply  with  a  debt  of  a  few  hundred  dollars.  This  fact  of  itself  in- 
dicates very  clearly  the  evil  of  church  debts.  We  have,  however, 
known  glorious  exceptions  to  this  rule. 

Ministers  in  1870  —  James  Moody,  Joseph  Oliver,  James  Morris, 
G.  C.  Sparrow,  J.  A.  Clark,  A.  R.  T.  Brown,  T.  M.  Colwell,  M.  H. 
Abbott,  J.  Wood  Sanders,  G.  D.  Brock,  J.  W.  Cook,  W.  Johnson, 
J.  Roan,  E.  W.  Wisdom,  R.  K.  Basket  and  L.  D.  Lamkin.  Whole 
number  of  churches,  26;   total  members,  1,602. 

The  proposition  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  to  consolidate  on  Mt. 
Pleasant  College — Macon  to  have  half  the  trustees  of  said  institu- 
tion—  was  discussed  at  this  meeting,  and  finally  referred  to  the 
churches. 

The  following  year  (1871)  the  proposition  was  accepted,  whereby 
Mt.  Pleasant  College  became  the  school  of  Macon  Association  as 
well  as  of  Mt.  Pleasant.     The    following    were    nominated  trustees 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  909 

to  fill  vacancies  as  they  might  occur :  Stephen  Connor,  G.  W.  San- 
ders, E.  H.  Larkin,  James  Moody,  Sr.,  John  Vansickle,  G.  D.  Brock, 
John  A.  Brown,  Andrew  Baker  and  G.  C.  Sparrow,  and  Eev.  T.  M. 
Colwell  became  financial  agent  of  the  coUeoje.  The  churches  of 
Macon  Association,  27  in  all,  are  located  in  Macon,  Adair  and  Shelby 
counties.  Macon  City,  the  county  seat  of  Macon,  and  Kirksville,  the 
county  seat  of  Adair,  and  seat  of  one  of  the  State  Normal  schools, 
are  in  this  association,  both  of  which  are  important  centers.  The 
largest  church  in  the  association,  in  1879,  was  Friendship,  with  226 
members  ;  the  next  was  Mount  Salem,  with  215  ;  then  Union  Grove, 
Shelby  county,  178,  and  Macon  City,  115.  No  others  exceed  100.  At 
that  session  nearly  one-half  (21)  the  churches  reporting  had  enjoyed 
revivals,  and  179  converts  had  been  added  to  the  churches  by  bap- 
tism. The  numerical  strength  was  1,568.  Ministers  in  1879  —  Allen 
Parks,  J.  C.  Eckle,  D.  R.  Evans,  G.  C.  Sparrow,  W.  R.  Skinner,  J. 
F.  McClellan,  R.  J.  Mansfield,  J.  C.  Shipp,  William  Johnson,  John 
Roan,  G.  W.  Jones,  E.  H.  Sawyer,  D.  D.,  C.  N.  Ray  and  J.  G. 
Swinney. 

In  1881  the  association  was  held  at  Union  Grove,  Shelby  county. 
John  H.  Thompson,  pastor  at  Macon,  had  been  added  to  the  minis- 
terial corps.  The  23  churches  reported  an  aggregate  membership  of 
1,401,  and  a  moderate  degree  of  prosperity  for  the  preceding  year. 
L.  P.  Wooldridge  was  moderator  and  R.  N.  Lyde,  clerk. 

Big  Spring  Church. —  The  first  settlement  in  what  is  now  Macon 
county  was  made  in  1831,  located  4  miles  north  of  Macon  City,  and 
was  called  Moccasinville.  The  first  Baptist  Church  organized  in  the 
county  Avas  Big  Spring,  in  July,  1839,  by  Thomas  Fristoe,  aided  by 
A.  T.  Hite,  a  licentiate.  It  was  composed  of  8  or  9  members,  and 
located  in  a  neighborheod  near  the  northern  limits  of  the  county, 
westward  from  the  present  town  of  La  Plata.  A.  T.  Hite  was  the 
first  minister,  having  been  ordained  at  the  church  immediately  after 
its  foundation  by  Elder  Friscoe.  This  church  first  joined  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  Association,  and  afterwards  (in  1843)  became  a  constituent 
of  the  Northern  Association. 

Blanket  Grove  Church. —  The  second  church  organized  in  Macon 
county  was  not  far  from  the  present  town  of  La  Plata,  in  December, 
1840,  of  11  members,  by  A.  T.  Hite,  called  "Blanket  Grove."  In 
1868  this  church  built  a  new  house  of  worship  in  La  Plata,  since 
which  time  it  has  been  called  by  the  name  of  the  town.  A.  T.  Hite 
was  pastor  for  the  first  10  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  William  T. 
Barnes,  and  he  by  O.  P.  Davis,  for  about  two  years,  when  he  joined 


910  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

the  **  Current  Reformation."  Davis  was  ordained  by  this  church  in 
1843. 

Mount  Salem  Church  —  Bears  date  from  November  13,  1841.  It 
has  been  a  prolific  vine.  Elders  William  Duncan  and  Benjamin  Terrill 
were  present  and  aided  in  its  organization  with  11  members.  For  a 
number  of  years  the  church  met  from  house  to  house  and  in  groves, 
until  in  1854  it  built  a  frame  structure  30x50  feet,  which  has  been 
replaced  by  a  very  neat  frame  building,  well  proportioned,  finished 
and  comfortable,  within  the  last  10  years. 

In  all,  from  the  beginning,  there  have  been  394  names  on  the  church 
roll.  In  1882  the  church  numbered  210  members,  with  M.  F.  Will- 
iams as  pastor.  Benjamin  Terrill  was  the  first  minister.  This  church 
has  sent  forth  by  ordination  two  ministers  —  Samuel  Mays  and  G. 
D.  Brock. 

Bethlehem  (noio  Sue  City)  Church. — This  church  was  first  organ- 
ized March  3,  1850,  of  12  members,  and  located  in  the  edge  of  Knox 
county,  near  the  present  town  of  Sue  City.  For  two  years  it  seemed 
to  prosper.  Then  heresies  crept  in,  much  wrangling  ensued,  many 
left  the  church,  and  the  rest  went  into  open  communion,  first  abolish- 
ing of  the  leading  articles  of  Baptist  faith,  then  restored  it  and  finally 
dissolved.  Some  time  after  this  a  new  organization  was  effected  by 
the  same  name,  which  was  dissolved  in  1869  and  organized  as  the  Sue 
City  Baptist  Church,  of  23  members,  and  in  1882  had  52  members  on 
the  list. 

Rock  Greek  Church  —  Once  a  member  of  Macon  Association,  is  in 
Knox  county,  five  miles  west  of  Edina.  It  originated  May,  1857,  with 
24  members.     J.  W.  Roe  was  their  minister. 

Chariton  Ridge  Church.  —  On  the  fifth  Saturday  in  January,  1864, 
16  persons  covenanted  together,  formed  this  church  and  chose  Will- 
iam Caldwell  as  their  minister.  Its  present  numerical  strength  is  75, 
worshiping  in  a  house  25x40  feet,  one-half  only  of  which  it  owns,  the 
other  belonging  to  the  Methodists.  W.  R.  Skinner  was  pastor  in  1882. 
The  former  name  of  this  community  was  Chariton  Valley,  from  the 
Chariton  river,  near  which  it  was  organized,  and  met  for  one  or  more 
years. 

Macon  City  Baptist  Church  —  Though  neither  the  oldest  nor  the 
largest  in  the  association,  is  one  of  the  most  efficient.  In  1882  J.  H. 
Thompson  was  pastor,  the  church  numbering  103  members.  This 
church  contributes  statedly  to  home  and  foreign  missions  and  to  Bible 
and  Sunday-school  work. 

Kirksville  Church  —  Situated  in  Adair  county,  numbering  65  mem- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  9H 

bers  in  1879,  has  struggled  for  many  years  and  is  in  a  decidedly  im- 
proved condition.  In  1881  J.  C.  Shipp  was  pastor,  and  it  has  been 
gradually  gaining  in  numbers  and  efficiency.  The  time  of  organiza- 
tion of  neither  of  these  last  named  churches  was  furnished  us. 

Second  Baptist  Church,  Bevier. — This  church  was  organized 
April  10,  1870,  with  five  members.  The  same  meeting  continued  15 
days,  resulting  in  48  additions  to  the  church.  In  1882  it  had  64 
members. 

Friendship  Church — Once  the  largest  in  the  association,  was 
organized  September  28,  1867,  by  T.  M.  Colwell  and  Joseph  Oliver, 
with  55  members,  and  is  located  seven  miles  south-east  from  Macon. 
W.  P.  Elliot  was  pastor  in  1879  ;  Joseph  Oliver  was  the  first  pastor. 

Joseph  Oliver  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Ky.,  April  14,  1804.  He 
professed  religion  and  joined  the  Baptist  Church  called  Cave  Spring 
in  May,  1823.  ^William  OHver,  his  father,  and  all  the  family  moved 
to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Howard  county  in  1825,  and  united  (five 
members  of  the  family)  with  Mount  Moriah  Church,  some  four  miles 
from  Fayette.  In  1828  young  Oliver  moved  to  Randolph  county  and 
became  a  member  of  Dover  Church,  soon  after  which  he  was  elected 
writing  clerk  and  also  singing  clerk.  When  the  trouble  on  missions 
was  aofitatino;  the  churches  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  Mr.  Oliver 
found  himself  alone  at  Dover  Church,  it  having  declared  non-fellowship 
for  "  missions  and  the  institutions  "  of  the  day.  He  finally  got  a 
letter  from  and  moved  his  membership  to  the  Huntsville  Church. 
Here,  too,  he  was  a  church  clerk,  and  was  generally  sent  as  a  messen- 
ger to  his  association.  On  the  third  Saturday  in  September,  1843, 
upon  the  call  of  Huntsville  Baptist  Church,  he  was  ordained  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  Elders  William  Duncan  and  William  Mansfield.  The 
first  meeting  he  held  was  one  in  his  own  neighborhood.  A  revival 
followed  and  25  converts  were  baptized.  He  continued  in  the  field  of 
his  early  labors  for  five  or  six  years.  Elders  W.  Duncan,  Jesse,  Benja- 
min and  J.  W.  Terrill  and  William  Mansfield  being  his  co-laborers. 
In  1849  he  moved  to  Macon  county,  identified  himself  with  the  inter- 
ests of  Macon  Association,  and  continued  in  this  field  as  long  as  he 
lived.  Here  he  labored  as  pastor  of  churches,  as  missionary  in  pro- 
tracted meetings,  etc.  His  gift  was  mainly  exhortational,  which 
classed  him  among  what  we  sometimes  call  revivalists.  During  his 
ministry  he  baptized  over  300  persons  and  married  90  couples.  He 
died  on  the  4th  of  August,  1877,  being  73  years  3  months  and  20 
days  old.      His    remains  were    interred  in  the  graveyard  at  Mount 


912  HISTORY   or   MACON    COUNTY. 

Tabor  Church,  near  AUanta,  Macon  county,  on  Sunday,  the  5th  of  the 
same  month. 

Little  Zion  Baptist  Church — Formed  itself  into  an  organization 
on  the  second  Saturday  in  July,  1836.  The  following  constituted 
the  original  membership  :  Elder  William  Sears  and  Jane  Sears,  his 
wife,  Abraham  Dale,  Eveletta  Dale,  Philip  Dale,  Nancy  Dale,  John 
Smoot,  Elizabeth  Smoot,  Charles  Hatfield,  Sarah  Hatfield,  William 
Sham,  Catherine  Sham,  James  Riley,  Susan  Riley,  Thomas  Williams, 
James  Cauchhorn  and  Annie  Cauchhorn.  Among  those  who  have 
served  the  church  as  pastors  are  Elders  William  Sears,  James  Rat- 
liff,  William  Skaggs,  Maston  Doty,  J.  E.  Goodson,  Silas  W.  Sears. 
The  structure  in  which  services  are  now  held  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  about  $700.  The  land  upon  which  it  stands  was  originally  pur- 
chased from  James  Meeks.  It  comprises  five  acres.  During  the 
war  no  services  were  held  in  the  church.  # 

Hopewell  Baptist  Church — Was  organized  with  William  Tate, 
John  R.  Graves,  William  T.  Gilmore,  Melvina  Tate,  George  W. 
Gates,  Mary  A.  Gates,  McDonald  Lyda,  Syrene  Trammel,  Lora 
O.  Gilmore,  Nancy  Halsted,  Mary  R.  Tate  and  Sarah  M.  Tate  as 
constituting  the  original  membership.  Revs.  S.  C.  Davidson,  R.  H. 
Wills,  James  Dysart,  David  Walker,  Jesse  Wilson,  W.  H.  Johnson, 
N.  A.  Langston,  D.  Armstrong  and  R.  Whitehead  have  served  the 
congregation  as  pastors.  The  present  frame  church  building,  which 
was  erected  in  1861  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  was  dedicated  in  1866. 
The  ground  upon  which  it  is  located  was  donated  (one-half  acre) 
by  Phiietus  May. 

Mt.  Tabor  Baptist  Church  —  Located  on  section  26,  township  59, 
range  14,  was  organized  December  4,  1840,  with  J.  L.  Arthur  and 
wife,  Logan  Thompson  and  wife  and  John  Silvers  and  wife  as  the 
original  members.  The  church  was  built  of  hewed  logs  in  about 
1848,  and  the  present  church,  built  of  brick,  35x55,  cost  about  $1,700 
in  1867.  The  first  preacher  was  Rev.  James  Oliver,  followed  by  Rev. 
James  J.  M.  Johnson,  Rev.  Colwell,  John  A.  Clark,  J.  Wood  Saund- 
ers, James  Oliver,  Rev.  Baskett,  John  A.  Clark  and  William  R.  Skin- 
ner.    The  membership  at  present  is  about  100. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Atlanta — Was  organized  in  June, 
1876.  The  church  house,  a  frame  structure,  was  built  the  same  year 
in  Atlanta  at  the  cost  of  about  $2,000.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  C. 
N.  Ray.  The  first  pastor  was  John  A.  Clark,  he  being  succeeded  by 
C.  N.  Ray,  M.  F.  Williams,  Robert  J.  M.  Sansfield  and  J.  L.  Cole. 
The  original  members  were  Robert  Myers,  Woodward  Saunders  and 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  913 

wife,  D.  p.  Doggett  and  wife,  J.  F.  L.  Branliam  and  wife  and  two 
daughters,  George  Goodding  and  wife,  R.  P.  Goodding,  J.  Lyda  and 
wife,  E.  L.  Lyda,  wife  and  two  daughters,  Perry  Armstrong,  William 
Clarkson  and  wife  and  Seman  Atterberry.  The  present  membership 
is  62. 

/Second  Baptist  Church  of  Macon  City,  Mo. — Was  organized  Oc- 
tober 27,  1866.  The  first  deacons  were  Harry  Higby  and  Jacob 
Baset,  and  the  first  trustees  were  Isaac  Burton,  Charles  Tolson  and 
James  Smith.  The  present  church  (brick),  64x50  feet  (the  third 
structure  built),  cost  $6,000,  the  first  being  valued  at  $800  and  the 
second  at  $2,950.  It  was  dedicated  in  the  spring  of  1872  by  Eev. 
Amos  Johnson,  pastor,  and  Rev.  W.  W.  Steward.  The  first  pastor 
after  organization  was  Rev.  Thomas  Clark,  the  second  Rev.  J.  B. 
Hawkins,  followed  in  succession  by  Rev,  Amos  Johnson,  Rev.  D.  S. 
Sawyers,  Rev.  H.  H.  White  and  Rev.  William  Gray,  the  present  pas- 
tor. The  number  of  present  membership  is  253.  The  first  building 
was  not  lara;e  enouo;h  and  it  was  torn  down  and  rebuilt  with  the  ma- 
terial  of  the  old  building  and  with  what  was  added  cost  $2,950,  and 
that  building  was  burned  down,  being  all  paid  for  except  $25.  The 
present  church,  which  is  the  third  one,  cost  $6,000. 

Second  Missionary  Baptist  Church  —  Was  organized  April  10, 
1870.  The  names  of  the  original  members  were  John  C.  Skinner, 
Reuben  Simpson,  Ann  Abbot,  Sarah  Abbot  and  Caroline  D.  Bnchan- 
non.  This  church  was  organized  by  Revs.  Joseph  Oliver  and  J.  Roan, 
in  Miner's  hall,  just  west  of  the  village  of  Bevier.  The  present 
church  was  built  in  1879  (a  frame  building)  at  the  cost  of  $800.  It 
was  dedicated  in  1879  or  1880.  The  names  of  the  pastors  who  have 
served  the  church  are :  Joseph  Oliver,  who  served  two  years  ;  Will- 
iam R.  Skinner,  three  years  ;  John  Roan,  three  years  ;  Daniel  R. 
Evans,  one  year;  J.  E.  Eckel,  nearly  two  and  a  half  years,  and 
Charles  Dodson,  who  is  now  the  pastor.  The  number  of  the  present 
membership  is  63. 

First  Baptist  Church. — The  original  members  of  this  church 
(which  was  organized  in  1872)  were  James  Hier  and  wife,  George 
Harris  and  wife,  G.  G.  Watts  and  wife,  D.  J.  Evans  and  wife,  Lewis 
Williams  and  wife,  William  Lewis  and  wife,  Levi  James  and  wife, 
Caleb  Edwards  and  wife,  Roland  Thomas  and  wife,  John  Thomas  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Hannah  Evans,  Mrs.  Hopkin  Evans,  J.  C.  Williams  and 
wife.  This  church  was  built  in  1872  (a  frame  structure)  at  a  cost  of 
$800,  and  was  dedicated  in  the  same  year. 

Sue  City  Baptist  Church. — The  original  members  of  this  church 


914  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

were  Burton  Sailing,  wife,  two  daughters  and  one  son,  Logan  Thomp- 
son and  wife,  William  Kelly,  wife  and  daughter,  John  Thompson,  Al- 
bert Norris  and  wife,  Samuel  Wares  and  wife,  William  Wares  and 
wife.  The  present  frame  church  building  was  erected  in  about  1870, 
and  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  $800.  Those  who  have  served  as 
pastors  of  the  congregation  have  been  Rev.  William  Johnson,  John 
A.  Clark,  G.  C.  ijarron  and  W.  R.  Skinner,  the  present  pastor.  At 
this  time  the  membership  numbers  52.  The  names  of  the  pastors 
who  have  been  in  charge  are  Shadrack  James,  Samuel  C.  Pierce,  John 
W.  Thomas  and  H.  C.  Parry.  G.  G.  Watts  presented  the  church 
with  a  baptistry  at  a  cost  of  $25. 

First  Baptist  Church  nt  La  Plata  —  Was  organized  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  December,  1840,  Robert  T.  Ellis,  Virgin  M.  Ellis,  Ste- 
phen Attebery,  Martha  J.  Attebery,  James  H.  Morris,  Elizabeth  W. 
Morris,  Oliver  P.  Davis,  Eliza  J.  Morris,  Jeremiah  Davis  and  William 
L.  Morris  being  its  original  members.  The  church  was  built  in  1867-68, 
and  is  a  brick  structure,  being  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,782.72. 
The  names  of  the  pastors  are  A.  T.  Hite,  William  T.  Barnes,  O.  P. 
Davis,  James  Moody,  J.  G.  Sweney,  Joseph  Oliver,  John  A.  Clark, 
John  M.  Johnston,  J.  A.  Pool,  William  Johnston,  John  R.  Terrill,  J. 
Wood  Saunders,  G.  C.  Sparrow  and  Aura  Smith.  The  present  num- 
ber of  membership  is  93.  The  Sabbath-school  was  organized  as  a 
Union  school  in  1869  with  an  attendance  of  about  120.  The  present 
superintendent  is  W.  N.  Rutherford. 

New  Harmony  Gwnheiiand  Presbyterian  Church  —  Was  first  organ- 
ized in  September,  1860,  by  Rev.  R.  H.  Willis.  Some  of  the  origi- 
nal members  are  as  follows  :  G.  W.  Daugherty  and  wife,  Elijah  Turner 
and  wi-fe,  Velinda  J.  Collins,  Elizabeth  Collins  and  M.  G.  Standeford 
and  wife.  The  present  membership  is  about  40.  The  house  of  wor- 
ship was  built  in  the  fall  of  1867  on  section  9,  township  60,  range  13, 
ut  a  cost  of  about  $1,000,  it  being  frame.  The  names  of  the  different 
preachers  who  have  had  charge  are  Revs.  R.  H.  Wills,  at  different 
periods  about  15  years;  Jesse  Wilson,  D.  Walker,  Jesse  Wilson 
again,  Lorance,  George  Burns,  G.  W.  Sharp,  John  Neff  and  Clayton 
Kelso. 

Shiloh  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. — This  church  was  or- 
ganized in  1843  by  Rev.  S.  B.  Col  well,  the  original  members  being 
Reuben  Dunnington  and  Tabitha  C,  his  wife  ;  Joseph  Daugherty  and 
wife ;  Janjes  Mills  and  wife,  and  Hendley  Dunnington  and  wife. 
The  church  house  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1865,  it  being  a  frame 
structure,  and  its  cost  was  $1,200,  located  on  section  5,  township  59, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  915 

range  14.  The  names  of  the  pastors  who  have  had  charge  are  Revs. 
S.  F.  Colwell,  S.  C.  Davidson,  R.  H.  Wills,  Franklin  Man- 
ning, Matthew  Patton,  David  Walker,  David  Loranceand  William  H. 
Johnson,  who  is  the  present  pastor.  The  church  was  dedicated  by  S. 
F.  Colwell.  The  present  membership  is  about  106.  John  M. 
Ketcham  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  assisted  by  Jackson 
Trobridge,  with  about  60  pupils  in  attendance. 

Ewing  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  —  This  church  was  oro-an- 
ized  August  21,  1855,  by  Rev.  S.  C.  Davidson.  The  original  mem- 
bers were  B.  F.  Graftord  and  wife,  Alfred  Ray,  Thomas  Winn  and 
wife,  S.  S.  Winn,  William  GrafFord,  John  Grafford  and  wife,  Leah 
Richardson  and  Adeline  Winn.  The  present  frame  church  buildino- 
was  erected  in  1860,  costing  about  $1,000.  The  present  member- 
ship numbers  about  30.  The  preachers  who  have  presided  since  its 
organization  are  Revs.  R.  H.  Wills,  William  C.  Patton,  Nicholas 
Langston,  Jesse  Wilson,  W.  H.  Johnson,  David  Armstrong  and  R. 
Whitehead,  the  present  pastor  being  Rev.  John  Winn.  This  church 
is  located  on  section  8,  township  57,  range  13  (Round  Grove  town- 
ship). 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of  Macon. — The  original  mem- 
bers of  this  church  were  N.  H.  Patton  and  wife  ;  Rev.  M.  C.  Patton 
and  wife  ;  J.  B.  Melone,  R.  A.  Melone,  and  Rev.  J.  S.  A.  Henderson 
and  wife,  it  being  organized  in  1865.  The  original  church  was  built 
in  1867-68,  a  frame,  and  the  new  structure  was  erected  in  1875,  at  a 
cost  of  $4,000.  The  old  church  was  dedicated  soon  after  its  comiDle- 
tion,  and  the  new  one  in  1875,  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Mitchell,  D.D.  Revs. 
M.  C.  Patton,  J.  S.  A.  Henderson,  S.  F.  Colwell,  W.  H.  Eagan,  W. 
Benton  Farr,  D.D.,  Walker  Schneck,  D.  H.  Ouyett  and  H.  R.  Crock- 
ett are  the  names  of  the  pastors  who  have  presided  in  this  church. 
The  present  membership  numbers  90,  and  the  church  is  entirely  out 
of  debt. 

Liberty  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  — Was  organized  July  19, 
1841,  by  Rev.  Matthew  Patton.  The  names  of  the  original  members 
are  William  R.  Calfee,  Athelie  Calfee,  Anderson  Scrutchfield,  Nancy 
Scrutchfield,  William  Scrutchfield,  Barbara  Scrutchfield,  Nicholas 
Goodding,  Nancy  Goodding,  William  Brachen,  Harriet  Brachen,  Eliza 
Belsher,  Nathaniel  Richardson  and  Lyda  Richerson  ;  the  Revs.  Sam- 
uel B.  F.  Colwell,  Samuel  Davis,  Nathan  Patton  and  James  Dysart 
being  instrumental  in  its  organization.  The  present  church  was 
erected  in  1860,  a  frame  structure,  its  cost  being  $1,200,  and  was 
dedicated  in  October,  1881,  by  Rev.  James  E.  Sharp.     Those  who  have 


916  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

served  the  congregation  as  pastors  have  been  Eevs.  Matthew  Patton, 
James  Dysart,  S.  C.  Davidson,  S.  B.  F.  Colwell,  E.  H.  Wills,  Jesse 
Wilson,  W.  H.  Eagen,  Prof.  Nason,  J.  B.  Lawrence,  T.  G.  Poole,  W. 
H.  eTohnson,  David  Armstrong  and  T.  J.  Pool.  The  present  pastor 
of  the  church  is  G.  H.  Duty.    At  this  time  the  membership  numbers  36. 

Salem  Presbyterian  Church — Is  a  branch  of  the  New  Cambria 
Church,  its  original  members  being  John  T.  Davis  and  wife,  John  P. 
Powells,  William  D.  Williams  and  family,  W.  W.  Lloyd  and  wife, 
John  J.  Williams  and  wife,  William  Howells  and  wife,  Peter  McKin- 
ney  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Hugh  Lloyd.  The  present  frame  church 
building  was  erected  in  about  1878  and  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of 
$320.  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Jones  has  served  the  congregation  as  pastor. 
There  was  a  Sabbath-school  organized  in  1869,  and  prayer  meeting 
and  preaching  were  held  once  a  month. 

La  Plata  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  —  This  congregation 
was  organized  by  Rev.  David  Walker  in  about  1876.  The  names  of  the 
original  members  are  Mrs.  Dr. Gates,  Dr.  G.  N.  Sharp  and  wife,  John 
Chapman  and  wife.  Rev.  S.  C.  Davidson  and  wife,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Sutt- 
marsh,  R.  T.  Davidson  and  wife  and  William  Patton  and  wife.  The 
present  house  of  worship  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1880,  a  frame 
structure,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  and  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B. 
Mitchell.  Rev.  W.  H.  Johnston  is  now  serving  the  church  as  pastor. 
At  this  time  the  membership  numbers  100.  The  Sunday-school  is 
superintended  by  W.  W.  Rutherford,  the  number  of  scholars  being 
125. 

Atlanta  M.  E.  Church. — The  original  members  of  this  church 
were  J.  D.  Parks  and  wife,  J.  A.  Croy  and  wife,  Angeline  Croy,  Sarah 
McManamy,  S.  D.  Ayers,  Susana  Craig,  Rebecca  R.  Parks,  Verina 
G.  Parks,  J.  Buchanan,  Emeline  Dixon  and  Sarah  Parks.  It  was 
organized  in  1866.  The  present  frame  church  building  was  erected 
in  1881,  costing  in  the  neighborhood  of  $1,500.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  50.  The  pastors  who  have  have  had  charge  since  its  organ- 
ization are  Rev.  Chapman,  who  followed  Rev.  Martindale,  Revs.  J. 
C.  Myers,  H.  White,  S.  Enyart,  L.  H.  Shumate,  A.  H.  Ketrow,Rev. 
Olp,  William  Stammer  and  Z.  S.  Weller. 

Fair  View  M.  E.  Church.  —  This  church  organized  a  class  before 
the  war,  but  was  broken  up,  and  reorganized  in  1876.  The  house  of 
worship  was  built  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  it  being  a  frame  struc- 
ture, located  on  section  2,  township  59,  range  14,  Lyda  township. 
Its  cost  was  about  $800.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Mumpower,  of 
Macon  City,  in  the  fall  of  1877.     The  first  preacher  was  Rev.  William 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  917 

Warren,  the  others  being  Revs.  Cleveland,  A.  L.  Brewer,  L.  Rush 
and  J.  N.  B.  Heplcr,  who  is  the  present  pastor.  The  original  mem- 
bers were  G.  A.  Redraon  and  wife,  Elijah  Thompson  and  wife,  Joseph 
Harrison  and  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Harrison,  Jerusha  Farmer,  Susan 
Farmer,  John  R.  Morrow  and  wife,  Maria  Anderson,  John  Hutchison 
and  wife,  John  Martz  and  wife,  and  Charles  Martz  and  others. 

Bethlehem  M.  E.  Churchy  South.  —  This  church  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  $1,500,  it  being  a  frame  structure,  and  was  organized  in  an  old  log 
school-house  in  about  1843,  bv  Rev.  Dr.  Still.  Some  of  the  orioinal 
members  were  Mrs.  Crane,  C.  H.  Liston  and  wife,  John  D.  Smith  and 
wife,  Amy  Harris  and  John  Lister  and  wife.  Some  of  the  preachers 
who  have  presided  here  are  Revs.  Aldbridge,  Hawkins,  Tool,  Ellis, 
Saxton,  Henry  Turner,  Dockery,  Blackwell,  Wood,  Hatton,  Shackel- 
ford, Jordan  and  Rev.  Linn,  he  being  the  last  pastor.  The  present 
church  consists  of  about  125  members.  There  are  no  regular  services 
held  in  this  church.  The  first  church  building  was  built  in  1853,  and 
the  present  house  of  worship  in  about  1874.  It  is  located  on  section 
28,  township  57,  range  13. 

Macon  City  M.  E.  Church,  South.  —  This  church  was  organized 
in  the  summer  of  1866,  with  William  Thompson,  Sarah  Thompson, 
C.  G.  Epperson,  George  Wells,  Amanda  Shortridge,  T.  W.  Reed, 
Sarah  A.  Reed,  A.  Tinsley,  Mrs.  H.  Tinsley,  J.  T.  Reister,  Dr.  J.  J. 
Lyle  and  wife,  Mrs.  D.  C.  Benedict,  Miss  Annie  Lyle  and  others,  as 
its  original  members.  The  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1867,  a 
brick  structure,  at  a  cost  of  $6,000  ;  and  was  dedicated  in  September, 
of  the  same  year,  by  Bishop  E.  M.  Marvin,  The  names  of  the  pastors 
who  have  served  this  congregation  are  Revs.  John  D.  Vincil,  E.  R. 
Hendrix,  G.  W.  Horn,  W.  A.  Tarwater,  J.  R.  A.  Vaughn,  H.  D. 
Groves,  J.  A.  Mumpower  and  M.  M.  Hawkins.  At  this  time  the 
membership  numbers  108.  The 'church  has  been  recently  repaired 
at  an  expense  of  nearly  $700,  and  is  now  neat  and  comfortable,  with 
an  interesting  and  growing  Sunday-school. 

Woodville  M.  E.  Church,  South  —  Was  organized  in  1870,  by 
Rev.  Walter  Toole.  The  names  of  the  original  members  are  Maleeney 
Wood,  Benjamin  F.  Wright,  Elias  Sanner,  Elizabeth  Sanner,  J.  W. 
Foster,  Martha  F.  Foster,  Albert  M.  Wedding,  Rilda  Wilds,  Ellen 
Wilds,  Angelina  Albright,  James  M.  Albright,  Samuel  R.  Wilds, 
Perry  Wilds,  Martha  Wilds,  Sarah  Albright,  Mary  Myers,  Sarah 
Wilds,  Lucy  A.  Sumpter,  Samuel  Wilds,  Susan  J.  Lilley,  Amanda 
Sumpter,  Matilda  Reynolds.  The  names  of  the  pastors  who  have 
served  are  Revs.  L.  Rush,  Shackelford,  Baldwin,  Carney,  Brewer, 


918  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Quinby  and  Rev.  Todd,  who  is  the  present  pastor.  This  congrega- 
tion now  consists  of  10  active  members,  many  having  become  con- 
nected with  the  Holiness  Association. 

Antioch  Christian  Church.  —  This  church  was  organized  on  the 
third  Lord's  day  in  May,  1850,  with  the  following  as  its  original  mem- 
bers :  Jefferson  Morrow,  Mr.  England  and  wife,  Thomas  B.  Harris, 
D.  H.  Cornelius  and  wife,  Huffman  Tuttle,  Evan  C.  Wright  and  wife. 
Pleasant  Wright  and  wife,  Miss  Jane  Tuttle,  Mayton  Burham,  Clay- 
born  Wright,  E.  H.  Lawson  and  wife,  Patience  Lawson,  Joseph  Sum- 
mers, Martin  Wright  and  wife,  Martha  Terrell,  Marion  Terrell  and 
wife,  Barbara  Terrell  and  Johnson  Summers  and  wife.  The  house 
for  worship  was  built  in  1858  and  rebuilt  in  1879,  a  frame  building, 
the  first  at  a  cost  of  |800,  it  being  dedicated  by  Elder  J.  C.  McCune, 
now  of  Chariton  county.  The  dedication  of  the  second  church  was 
by  Elder  Joseph  Penton,  assisted  by  Theodore  Franklin.  The  preach- 
ers who  have  served  this  congregation  are  Elder  E.  H.  Lawson,  Elder 
J.  C.  McCune,  T.  F.  McHue  and  Joseph  P.  Penton,  who  is  its  present 
pastor.  The  present  membership  is  83.  There  is  a  burying  ground 
in  the  church-yard,  where  there  are  many  of  the  old  settlers  of  Bevier 
township  and  Macon  county  buried. 

The  Church  of  Chi-ist  at  La  Plata  —  Was  organized  in  the  fsill  of 
1868,  the  house  of  worship  being  built  the  same  year,  a  frame  build- 
ing, at  a  cost  of  |1,600;  and  was  dedicated  after  its  completion  by 
Elder  Perry  Davis.  The  names  of  the  ministers  who  have  served  this 
church  are  Elders  Browning,  J.  N.  Wright,  C.  P.  Evans,  Hartly, 
C.  P.  Hollis,  H.  A.  Northcut,  C.  P.  Evans  and  J.  W.  Davis.  At  this 
time  the  membership  numbers  45.  Since  the  formation  of  this  church, 
142  persons  have  been  connected  with  it. 

Ehenezer  Welsh  Congregational  Church.  —  This  church  was  or- 
ganized September  9,  1864,  with  David  Humphreys,  Thomas  D. 
Evans,  Daniel  Rowland,  John  H.  Jones,  David  Richards  and  Hopkin 
Evans  as  its  original  members.  The  present ' frame  structure  was 
built  the  same  year  of  its  organization,  costing  in  the  neighborhood  of 
$1,500,  and  was  dedicated  in  May,  1866,  by  George  M.  Jones.  The 
preachers  who  have  served  this  congregation  are  as  follows  :  Revs. 
George  M.  Jones,  Griffith  Jones,  R.  Matthews,  Hughes  and  J.  O. 
Jones.  Eighty-five  persons  form  the  membership  of  this  church. 
Rev.  George  M.  Jones  preached  the  first  sermon  in  this  church  June 
20,  1864.  The  present  officers  are  David  Humphreys,  Thomas  S. 
Jones  and  Robert  J.  Davis,  deacons;    Daniel  Rowland,   treasurer; 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  919 

David  William,  secretary;  Hopkin  Evans,  Daniel  Rowland  and  Rich- 
ard Davis,  trustees. 

St.  Jatnes  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  —  Was  organized  in  1865, 
the  4th  of  September.  The  original  members  were  Dr.  and  Mrs.  A. 
L.  Knight,  Mrs.  Giles  Cooke,  Mrs.  Mary  Hubbs,  Mrs.  G.  C.  San- 
vindt  and  Mrs.  Gage.  The  present  frame  structure  was  built  in  1871, 
costing  $2,300,  and  was  dedicated  April  23,  1871.  The  names  of  the 
pastors  who  have  served  this  congregation  are  Revs.  Dr.  George  Worth- 
ington,  L.  H.  Strycker,  F.  B.  Schutz,  William  H.  Charles  and 
Ethelbert  Talbot.  The  present  membership  consists  of  77  com- 
municants. The  parish  has  been  frequently  depleted  by  removals, 
but  it  is  at  present  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  with  a  fair  promise 
of  usefulness  and  growth. 
53 


CHAPTEK    XYIII. 

MACON  COUNTY  OF  1884. 

FAUNA  AND  TLORA  OF  MACON  COUNTY. 

The  names  and  a  carefully  prepared  list  of  the  animals  of  a  country, 
State  or  county  are  always  of  interest  to  the  inhabitants,  especially 
so  to  the  scientist  and  student  of  natural  history.  After  inquiring 
into  the  political  and  civil  history  of  a  country,  we  then  turn  with 
pleasure  to  the  investigation  of  its  natural  history,  and  of  the  animals 
which  inhabited  it  prior  to  the  advent  of  man  ;  their  habits  and  the 
means  of  their  subsistence  become  a  study.  Some  were  animals  of 
prey,  others  harmless,  and  subsisted  upon  vegetable  matter.  The 
early  animals  of  this  portion  of  the  State  ranged  over  a  wide  field,  and 
those  which  inhabited  the  prairie  and  timbered  regions  of  the  Missouri 
river,  and  its  tributaries,  differ  but  little  materially  as  to  species.  Of 
the  ruminating  animals  that  were  indigenous  in  this  territory,  we  had 
the  American  elk  and  deer  of  two  kinds  ;  the  more  common,  the  well 
known  American  deer,  and  the  white-tailed  deer.  And  at  a  period  not 
very  remote,  the  American  buffalo  found  pastures  near  the  alluvial 
and  shaded  banks  of  the  Missouri  river,  and  the  plains  and  prairies  of 
this  portion  of  the  State.  The  heads,  horns  and  bones  of  the  slain 
animals  were  still  numerous  in  1820.  The  black  bear  was  quite  numer- 
ous, even  in  the  memory  of  the  older  settlers.  Bears  have  been  seen 
in  the  country  within  the  last  30  years.  The  gray  wolf  and  prairie 
wolf  are  not  unfrequently  found,  as  is  also  the  gray  fox,  which  still 
exists  by  its  superior  cunning.  The  panther  was  occasionally  met 
with  in  the  earlier  times,  and  still  later  and  more  common,  the  wild 
cat,  the  weasel,  one  or  more  species  ;  the  mink,  American  otter,  the 
skunk,  the  badger,  the  raccoon  and  the  opossum.  The  two  latter 
species  of  animals  are  met  with  in  every  portion  of  the  United  States 
and  the  greater  part  of  North  America.  The  coon  skin  among  the 
early  settlers  was  regarded  as  a  legal  tender.  The  bear  and  otter  are 
extinct  in  the  counties,  and  were  valuable  for  their  furs.  Of  the 
squirrel  family,  we  have  the  fox,  gray,  flying,  ground  and  prairie 
(920) 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  921 

squirrel.  The  woodchuck  and  the  common  muskrat  were  numerous 
here.  The  bats,  shrews  and  moles  are  common.  Of  the  muridac,  we 
have  the  introductory  species  of  rats  and  mice,  as  also  the  native 
meadow  mouse,  and  the  long-tailed  jumping  mouse,  frequently  met 
with  in  the  clearings.  Hares,  commonly  called  rabbits,  are  very 
plentiful.  Several  species  of  the  native  animals  have  perished,  being 
unable  to  endure  the  presence  of  civilization,  or  finding  the  food  con^ 
genial  to  their  tastes  appropriated  by  stronger  races.  Many  of  the 
pleasures,  dangers  and  excitements  of  the  chase  are  only  known  and 
enjoyed  by  most  of  us  of  the  present  day  through  the  talk  and  tradi- 
tions of  the  past.  The  bufialo  and  the  elk  have  passed  the  Rocky 
mountains  to  the  westward,  never  more  to  return.  Of  birds  may  be 
mentioned  the  following :  Among  the  game  birds  most  sought  after 
are  the  wild  turkey  and  prairie  hen,  which  afi'ord  excellent  sport  for 
the  hunter,  and  have  been  quite  plentiful ;  primated  grouse,  ruffled 
grouse,  quail,  woodcock,  English  snipe,  red  breasted  snipe,  telltale 
snipe,  yellow  legs,  marbled  godwin,  long-bitted  curlew,  short-bitted 
curlew,  Virginia  rail,  American  swan,  trumpeter  swan,  snow  goose, 
Canada  goose,  brant,  mallard,  black  duck,  pintail  duck,  green-winged 
teel,  blue-winged  teel,  shoveler,  American  pigeon,  summer  or  wood 
duck,  red-headed  duck,  canvas  back  duck,  butter  ball,  hooded  mug- 
anser,  rough  billed  pelican,  the  lorn,  kildeer,  plover,  ball  head,  yel- 
low legged  and  upland  plover,  white  heron,  great  blue  heron,  bittern,, 
sandhill  crane,  wild  pigeon,  common  dove,  American  raven,  common 
crow,  blue  jay,  bobolink,  red-winged  blackbird,  meadow  lark,  golden 
oriole,  yellow  bird,  snow  bird,  chipping  sparrow,  field  sparrow, 
gwamp  sparrow,  indigo  bird,  cardinal  red  bird,  cheewink,  white-billed 
nuthatch,  mocking  bird,  cat  bird,  brown  thrush,  house  wren,  barn 
swallow,  bank  swallow,  blue  martin,  cedar  bird,  scarlet  tanager,  sum- 
mer red  bird  (robin  came  less  than  40  years  ago),  blue  bird,  king 
bird,  perver,  belted  kingfisher,  whippoorwill,  night  hawk,  chimney 
swallow,  ruby  throated  humming  bird,  hairy  woodpecker,  downy 
woodpecker,  red  headed  woodpecker,  golden  winged  woodpecker, 
Carolina  parrot,  great  horned  owl,  barred  owl,  snowy  owl,  turkey 
buzzard,  pigeon  hawk,  swallow-tailed  hawk,  Mississippi  kite,  red- 
tailed  hawk,  bald  eagle  and  ring-tailed  eagle. 

Many  of  the  above-named  animals  and  birds  are  no  longer  to  be 
found  within  the  limits  of  these  counties,  —  we  may  say  within  the 
limits  of  the  State.  Some  of  them  are  now  extinct,  and  some  disap- 
peared|with  the  Indian,  upon  the  advance  of  civilization.  The  bald 
eagle  was    often    seen    by  the  early  settlers  on  the  Chariton  river, 


922  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

along  the  banks  of  which,  in  the  tallest  timber,  it  built  its  nest,  and 
brooded  its  young  for  many  years  after  the  first  settlements  were 
made,  and  even  of  late  years,  eagles  have  been  killed  in  the   county. 

FLOEA. 

God  might  have  bade  the  earth  bring  forth 

Enough  for  great  and  small, 
The  oak  tree  and  the  cedar  tree,  ' 

Without  a  flower  at  all. 
He  might  have  made  enough,  enough 

For  every  want  ©f  ours : 
For  luxury,  medicine  and  toil. 

And  yet  have  made  no  flowers. 
Our  outward  life  requires  them  not  — 

Then  whyfore  have  they  birth? 
To  minister  delight  to  man. 

To  beautify  the  earth; 
To  comfort  man  —  to  whisper  hope, 

Whene'er  his  faith  is  dim ; 
For  whoso  careth  for  the  flower, 

Will  much  more  care  for  Him. 

In  speaking  of  the  flora  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  treat  exhaustively 
on  the  plants  of  this  county,  but  rather  to  give  a  list  of  the  native  trees 
and  grasses  found  within  its  limits.  "Mere  catalogues  of  plants 
growing  in  any  locality/'  says  a  learned  writer,  "  might,  without  a 
little  reflection,  be  supposed  to  possess  but  little  value,"  a  supposition 
which  would  be  far  from  the  truth.  The  intelligent  farmer  looks  at 
once  to  the  native  vegetation  as  a  sure  indication  of  the  value  of  new 
lands.  The  kind  of  timber  grown  in  a  given  locality  will  decide  the 
qualities  of  the  soil  for  agricultural  purposes.  The  cabinet-maker 
and  the  wheelwright,  and  all  other  workmen  in  wood,  will  find  what 
materials  are  at  hand  to  answer  their  purpose.  Upon  the  flora  of 
these  counties,  civilization  has  produced  its  inevitable  efiect.  As  the 
Indian  and  buflalo  have  disappeared  before  the  white  man,  so  have 
some  of  the  native  grasses  been  vanquislied  by  the  white  clover  and 
the  blue  grass. 

We  have  treated  particularly  of  the  more  valuable  woods  used  in 
the  mechanic  arts,  and  the  grasses,  plants  and  vegetables  and  flowers 
most  beneficial  to  man,  and  particularly  those  which  are  natives  of 
this  county.  The  plants  are  many  and  rare,  some  for  beauty  and 
some  for  medicine.  The  pink  root,  the  columbo,  the  ginseng,  bone- 
set,  pennyroyal  and  others  are  used  as  herbs  for  medicine.     Plants 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  923 

of  beauty  are  phlox,  the  lily,  the  ascelpias,  the  mints,  golden  rod, 
the  eyebright,  gerardia  and  hundreds  more  that  adorn  the  meadows 
and  brooksides  ;  besides  are  climbing  vines,  the  trumpet  creeper,  the 
bitter  sweet,  the  woodbine,  the  clematis  and  the  grape,  which  fill  the 
woods  with  gay  festoons  and  add  grace  to  many  a  decaying  monarch 
of  the  forest.  Here  are  found  the  oak  with  at  least  its  20  varieties, 
the  hickory  with  as  many  more  species,  the  30  kinds  of  elm,  from  the 
sort  that  bears  leaves  as  large  as  a  man's  hands  to  the  kinds  which 
bear  a  leaf  scarcely  larger  than  a  man's  thumb  nail  ;  the  black  oak, 
so  tall  and  straight  and  beautiful,  is  here;  the  hackberry,  gum  tree 
(black  and  sweet),  the  tulip,  the  giant  cottonwoods,  and  100  more 
attest  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  mildness  of  the  climate.  The  white 
oak  is  much  used  in  making  furniture  and  agricultural  implements, 
as  are  also  the  panel  oak,  burr  oak  and  pin  oak.  The  blue  ash  is 
excellent  for  flooring.  The  honey  locust  is  a  very  durable  wood,  and 
skrinks  less  than  any  other  in  seasoning.  In  the  above  list  some 
plants  may  be  omitted,  but  we  think  the  list  quite  complete. 

GRASSES. 

In  speaking  of  these  we  purposely  exclude  the  grain  plants,  those 
grasses  that  furnish  food  for  man,  and  confine  ourselves  to  those  val- 
uable grasses  which  are  adapted  to  the  subsistence  of  the  inferior  ani- 
mals. Timothy  grass,  or  cat's  tail,  naturalized;  red-top,  or  herbs 
grass,  nimble  will,  blue  joint  (this  is  a  native,  and  grew  upon  prairies 
to  the  height  of  a  man's  head  on  horseback),  orchard  grass,  Ken- 
tucky blue  grass,  true  blue  grass,  meadow  fescue,  cheat  chess,  the 
reed,  the  cane,  perennial  ray  grass,  sweet  scented  vernal  grass,  bud 
canary  grass,  canary  grass,  crab  grass,  smooth  panicum,  witch 
grass,  barnyard  grass,  fox-tail,  bottle-grass,  millet  and  broom-beard 
grass. 

Macon  county  is  one  of  the  most  favored  localities  in  the  State  for 
the  successful  growing  of  forest  trees,  evergreen  trees,  apple  trees  of 
all  varieties,  together  with  peaches,  plums,  pears,  apricots,  grapes 
and  small  fruits.  All  kinds  of  ornamental  and  shade  trees,  flowers 
and  hedges  grow  and  flourish,  with  only  reasonable  care  and  with  a 
certainty  that  is  not  known  east  or  west,  north  or  south.  If  we  go 
much  further  south  the  apple  will  not  flourish,  if  further  north  the 
peach  is  liable  to  blight ;  but  here,  all  are  almost  sure  to  do  well 
although  the  peach  crop  does  not  hit  more  than  once  every  two  or 
three  years. 


924  HISTOPY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


HEALTH. 

As  to  health  fulness,  Macon  county  may  claim  to  be  highly  favored. 
In  the  first  place  it  has  but  a  few  of  those  great  natural  sources  of 
disease,  such  as  low  lands,  swamp,  stagnant  pools,  etc. 

It  has  a  number  of  streams  of  medium  size,  together  with  smaller 
branches,  affording  abundant  drainage  ;  whilst  its  population  is  indus- 
trious, thrifty  and  intelligently  watchful  against  local  causes  of  dis- 
ease ;  still,  it  is  not  free  from  those  "ills  which  flesh  is  heir  to." 
Ordinary  diseases,  such  as  fevers,  pneumonia,  bronchitis,  diarrhea, 
flux,  etc.,  prevail  to  some  extent. 

At  an  early  day  the  prevailing  disease  was  chills  and  fever.  The 
patient,  after  shaking  for  an  hour  or  two  with  the  chill,  then  blazing 
for  an  hour  or  two  with  the  fever,  could  often  get  up  and  attend  to 
business  as  usual,  and  perhaps  repeat  the  process  for  days  or  even  for 
weeks  ;  but  with  increasing  population  and  advancing  development 
of  the  country,  the  chill,  or  congestive  feature  of  the  disease,  has 
nearly  subsided,  whilst  the  fever  element  has  increased  in  intensity 
and  duration.  We  now  have  chiefly  intermittent,  remittent  and 
continued  fevers,  with  an  increasing  tendency  to  the  latter  type. 
We  are  beginning  to  have  frequent  cases  of  what  we  call  typho- 
malarial  fever ;  a  fever  having  all  the  regular  periodicity  and  other 
symptoms  of  malarial,  or  remitting  and  intermitting  fevers,  with  the 
obstinate  persistence  of  typhoid  fever.  This  change  is  probably  due 
to  the  fact  that  at  an  early  date  in  the  history  of  the  county  the 
grass,  weeds  and  underbrush  grew  thick  and  undisturbed,  and,  fall- 
ing down,  covered  the  ground  with  a  thick  matting  which  held  the 
moisture  and  furnished  an  immense  amount  of  decaying  vegetation, 
which  produced  malaria.  Now,  a  larger  amount  of  land  being  cleared 
up  and  cultivated,  and  a  larger  amount  of  stock  being  grazed  on 
the  lands,  this  source  of  malarial  poison  is  in  a  great  degree  re- 
moved, whilst  those  local  and  endemic  influences,  consequent  upon 
increasing  population,  tend  to  the  production  of  enteric  or  continued 
fevers.  Even  these,  however,  are  not  very  prevalent.  There  has 
never  been  an  epidemic  of  cholera  or  small-pox  in  the  county. 

Occasionally,  flux,  dij)theria  and  scarlet  fever  prevail  in  some  town 
or  neighborhood,  in  an  endemic  form,  an  event  common  to  any  long- 
settled  community  ;  and  there  is  probably  no  county  in  the  State,  of 
anything  like  equal  population,  which  can  claim  any  advantage  over 
it  in  the  way  of  health. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  925 


AGRICULTURAL. 

A  magnificent  country,  with  a  great  destiny,  is  this  beautiful  cen- 
tral Missouri,  whose  fortunate  location,  charming  landscape,  equable 
climate,  versatile  and  generous  soils,  fruitful  orchards  and  vineyards, 
matchless  grasses,  broad  grain  fields,  rich  coal  measures,  noble  forests, 
abundant  waters  and  cheap  lands,  present  to  the  capitalist  and  immi- 
grant one  of  the  most  inviting  fields  for  investment  and  settlement  to 
be  found  between  the  two  oceans.  During  the  unexampled  Westeril 
migratory  movement  of  the  last  six  years,  which  has  peopled  Kansas, 
Colorado,  Nebraska  and  other  regions  with  an  intelligent  and  enter- 
prising population,  this  remarkably  rich  and  productive  country  has, 
until  recently,  remained  a  terra  incognita  to  the  average  immigrant, 
the  new  States  above  named  getting  accessions  of  brain,  heart,  muscle, 
experience  and  capital  that  have  given  them  a  commanding  position 
in  the  Union.  And  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  Missouri  offers  to 
intelligent,  enterprising  and  ambitious  men  of  fair  capital  more  of 
the  elements  of  substantial  and  enjoyable  living  than  any  country  now 
open  to  settlement.  In  one  of  the  fairest  and  most  fertile  districts  of 
this  division  of  Missouri  is  Macon  county.  Macon  county  is  admir- 
ably located  within  the  productive  middle  belt  of  the  continent,  a  strip 
of  country  not  exceeding  450  miles  wide,  lying  between  the  latitudes 
of  Minneapolis  and  Richmond,  reaching  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and 
within  which  will  be  found  every  great  commercial,  financial  and  rail- 
way city,  90  per  cent  of  the  manufacturing  industries,  the  great  dairy 
and  fruit  interests,  the  strongest  agriculture,  the  densest,  strongest 
and  most  cosmopolitan  population,  all  the  great  universities,  the  most 
advanced  school  systems,  and  the  highest  average  of  health  known  to 
the  continent.  Scarcely  less  significant  is  the  location  of  the  county 
in  the  more  wealthy  and  productive  portions  of  the  great  central 
State  of  the  Union,  which,  by  virtue  of  its  position  and  splendid 
aggregation  of  resources,  is  bound  to  the  commercial,  political  and 
material  life  of  the  country  by  the  strongest  ties,  and  must  forever 
feel  the  quickening  of  its  best  energies  from  every  throb  of  the 
national  heart. 

Macon  county  is  in  the  right  latitude,  which  is  a  matter  of  primary 
interest  to  the  immigrant.  Lying  squarely  in  the  path  of  empire  and 
transcontinental  travel,  in  the  latitude  of  Washington  and  Cincinnati, 
it  has  the  climatic  influence  that  has  given  to  Northern  Kentucky  and 
North  Virginia  an  enviable  reputation  for  equable  temperature.     The 


926  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

climate  is  a  benediction.  A  mean  altitude  of  about  800  feet  above  the 
tides  gives  tone  and  rarity  to  the  atmosphere  and  the  equable  mean  of 
temperature.  Most  of  the  typical  short  winter  is  mild,  dry  and  genial 
enough  to  pass  for  a  Minnesota  Indian  summer.  The  snowfall  is  gen- 
erally light,  infrequent  and  transient.  The  long,  genial  summer  days 
are  tempered  by  inspiriting  breezes  from  the  south-western  plains, 
and  followed  generally  by  cool,  restful  nights. 

The  annual  rainfall  is  from  28  to  40  inches,  and  is  generally  so 
well  distributed  over  the  growing  season  that  less  than  a  fair  crop  of 
grains,  vegetables  and  grasses  is  rarely  known. 

The  annual  drainage  of  the  county  is  excellent,  the  deep-set  streams 
readily  carrying  off  the  surplus  water  from  the  generally  undulating 
surface,  only  a  limited  area  being  too  flat  to  quickly  shed  the  surplus 
rains. 

The  water  supply  of  this  county  is  alike  ample  and  admirable. 
More  than  a  score  of  deep-set  streams  traverse  almost  every  portion 
of  the  county,  and  with  numerous  springs,  hundreds  of  artificial 
ponds,  and  many  living  wells  and  cisterns,  furnish  pure  water  for  all 
domestic  uses.  The  markets  are  well  supplied  with  hard  and  soft 
woods  at  $2  to  $3.50  per  cord,  and  there  is  a  good  supply  of  building 
and  fencing  timber.  A  good  portion  of  the  county  is  underlaid  with 
coal,  whose  frequent  outcroppings  along  the  streams  and  ravines 
expose  veins  which  are  easily  worked  by  "stripping"  and  "drift- 
ing." Explorations  made  by  shafts  disclose  well-defined  veins,  and 
there  is  not  a  doubt  of  very  extensive  deposits  of  the  best  bitumi- 
nous coal.  The  supply  of  good  building  stone,  too,  is  equal  to  all 
present  and  prospective  needs,  massive  deposits  of  well-stratified 
limestone  being  found  frequently  outcropping  along  the  streams  and 
ravines. 

The  cost  of  fencing  is  materially  lower  here  than  in  most  of  the  new 
or  old  prairie  States.  In  the  wooded  districts  the  fences  are  cheaply 
made  of  common  posts  or  stakes  and  rails.  In  the  prairie  districts 
the  older  and  abler  farmers  do  a  large  amount  of  fencing  with  the 
osage  orange  hedge,  which  is  an  unqualified  success  in  this  county. 
There  are  miles  and  miles  of  fine  hedge  in  this  country,  and  with 
proper  care  a  farmer  can  grow  a  mile  of  stock-proof  hedge  in  four 
years,  at  a  cost  of  $1.25  in  labor.  The  newer  farms  are  being  uni- 
versally fenced  with  barbed  wire,  which  is  esteemed  the  quickest,  most 
reliable,  durable  and  cheapest  fencing  now  in  use  here.  The  stock 
farmers  are  especially  friendly  to  barbed  wire  fencing,  some  of  them 
having  put  up  as  many  as  five  and  six  miles  in  the  last  three  years. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  927 

The  soils  of  Macon  county  are  developing  elements  of  productive 
wealth  as  cultivation  advances.  The  prairie  soil  is  a  dark,  friable  al- 
luvial, from  one  to  three  feet  deep,  rich  in  humus,  very  easily  handled, 
and  produces  fine  crops  of  corn,  oats,  flax,  rye,  broom  corn,  sorghum, 
vegetables  and  grasses.  The  oak  and  hickory  soil  of  the  principal 
woodlands  is  a  shade  lighter  in  color  ;  is  rather  more  consistent ;  holds 
a  good  per  cent  of  lime  and  magnesia,  carbonate  of  lime,  phosphate, 
silica,  alumnia,  organic  matter,  etc.,  and  produces  fine  crops  of  wheat, 
clover  and  fruits,  and,  with  a  deep  rotative  culture,  gives  splendid  re- 
turns for  the  labor  bestowed. 

The  valleys  are  covered  with  a  deposit  of  black,  imperishable  allu- 
vial, from  three  to  eight  feet  in  depth,  and  as  loose  and  friable  as  a 
heap  of  compost,  grow  from  60  to  80  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre, 
and  give  an  enormous  yield  to  anything  grown  in  this  latitude. 
While  these  soils  present  a  splendid  array  of  productive  forces,  they 
are  supplemented  by  sub-soils  equal  to  any  known  to  husbandry.  The 
entire  superficial  soils  of  the  county  are  underlaid  by  strong,  consist- 
ent, silicious  clays  and  marls,  so  rich  in  lime,  magnesia,  alumnia,  or- 
ganic matter,  and  other  valuable  constituents,  that  centuries  of  deep 
cultivation  will  prove  them  like  the  kindred  loess  of  the  Rhine  and 
Nile  valleys,  absolutely  indestructible.  Everywhere,  about  the  railway 
cuts,  ponds,  cisterns,  cellars  and  other  excavations,  where  these  clays 
and  marls  have  had  one  or  two  years'  exposure  to  frost  and  air,  they 
have  slacked  to  the  consistency  of  an  ash  heap,  and  bear  such  a  rank 
growth  of  weeds,  grass,  grain,  vegetables  and  young  trees,  that  in  the 
older  and  less  fertile  States  they  might  readily  be  taken  for  deposits 
of  the  richest  compost. 

After  three  years'  observation  in  Central  and  North-western  Mis- 
souri, we  are  prepared  to  believe  that  a  hundred  years  hence,  when  the 
older  Eastern  and  Southern  States  shall  have  been  hopelessly  given  over 
to  the  artificial  fertilizers  of  man,  and  a  new  race  of  farmers  are  carry- 
ing systematic  and  deep  cultivation  down  into  this  wonderful  alien 
deposit  of  silicious  matter,  the  whole  of  North  and  Central  Missouri 
will  have  become  the  classic  ground  in  American  asfriculture,  and 
these  imperishable  soils  in  the  hands  of  small  farmers  will  have  become 
a  very  garden  of  beauty  and  bounty,  and  these  Macon  county  lands 
will  command  splendid  prices  on  a  strong  market. 

The  lands  of  Macon  county  are  nearly  all  available,  because  they 
are  nearly  all  good.  The  lowest  bottoms  are  free  from  swamps  and 
lagoons,  and  the  highest  elevations  are  comparatively  free  of  rocks 
and  impediments  to  cultivation.     It  is  safe  to  say  that  these  soils,  to- 


928  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

gether,  give  the  broadest  range  of  production  known  to  American 
husbandry.  It  is  the  pride  and  boast  of  the  Macon  county  farmer 
that  he  can  grow  in  perfection  every  grain,  vegetable,  grass,  plant  and 
fruit  that  flourishes  between  the  northern  limits  of  the  cotton  fields 
and  the  Red  river  of  the  North.  Both  the  surface  indications  of  the 
soil  and  its  native  and  domestic  productions  indicate  its  remarkable 
versatility  and  bounty. 

But  a  few  years  ago  much  of  the  outlying  commons  was  covered 
with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  wild  prairie  grass,  of  which  there  were 
more  than  50  varieties,  all  of  more  or  less  value  for  pasturage  and 
hay.  Nearly  all  the  natural  ranges  are  now  enclosed  and  under  trib- 
ute to  the  herdsmen,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  their  native  herbage 
will  put  more  flesh  on  cattle  from  the  beginning  of  April  to  early 
autumn  than  any  of  the  domestic  grasses.  With  the  progress  of  set- 
tlement and  cultivation,  however,  they  are  steadily  disappearing  be- 
fore the  tenacious  and  all-conquering  blue  grass,  which  is  surely 
making  the  conquest  of  every  rod  of  the  county  not  under  tribute  to 
the  plow.  Blue  grass  is  an  indigenous  growth  here — many  of  the 
older  and  open  woodland  pastures  rivaling  the  famous  blue  grass 
ranges  of  Kentucky,  both  in  the  luxuriance  of  their  growth  and  the 
high  quality  of  the  herbage.  Now  and  then  one  meets  a  Kentuckian 
so  provincial  in  his  attachments  and  conceits  that  he  can  see  nothing 
quite  equal  to  the  blue  grass  of  old  Bourbon  county ;  but  the  mass  of 
impartial  Kentuckians,  who  constitute  a  large  per  centum  of  the  pop- 
ulation here,  admit  that  the  same  care  bestowed  upon  the  blue  grass 
fields  of  Kentucky  gives  equally  fine  results  in  Macon  county,  whose 
blue  grass  ranges  are  certainly  superior  to  any  in  Illinois.  This 
splendid  "  king  of  grasses,"  which,  in  this  mild  climate,  makes  a 
luxuriant  early  spring  and  autumn  growth,  is  appropriately  supple- 
mented here  by  white  clover,  which  is  also  "to  the  manor  born;" 
and  on  this  mixture  of  alluvial,  with  the  underlying  silicious  marls 
and  clays,  makes  a  fine  growth,  especially  in  years  of  full  moisture, 
and  is  a  strong;  factor  in  the  sum  of  local  o-razins;  wealth.  With  these 
two  grasses,  followed  by  orchard  grass  for  winter  grazing  (orchard 
grass  makes  a  very  heavy  growth  here),  the  herdsmen  of  fortunate 
Macon  county  have  the  most  desirable  of  all  stock-growing  condi- 
tions —  perennial  grazing  —  which,  with  the  fine  grades  of  stock  kept 
here,  means  wealth  for  all  classes  of  stock-growers.  There  is  another 
essential  element  of  grazino;  resource  here,  and  it  is  found  in  the 
splendid  timothy  meadows,  which  are  equal  to  any  in  the  Western 
Reserve  or  the  Canadas.     These  meadows  give  a  heavy  growth  of  hay 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  929 

and  seed,  both  of  which  are  largely  and  profitably  grown  for  export. 
Red  clover  is  quite  as  much  at  home  here  as  timothy,  and  its  cultiva- 
tion is  being  very  successfully  extended  by  all  the  better  farmers  for 
mixed  meadow  pasturage  and  seed.  Here,  too,  is  found  a  luxuriant 
growth  of  herds'  grass  (red  top),  which,  during  the  past  summer,  has 
made  fine  showing,  the  low  "swale"  lands  and  ravines  presenting 
grand,  waving  billows  of  herds'  grass,  almost  as  rich  and  rank  of 
growth  as  the  "blue  stem"  of  the  wild  Western  prairie  bottoms. 
With  this  showing  for  the  native  and  domestic  grasses,  it  is  almost 
needless  to  pronounce  Macon  county  a  superb  stock  country. 

With  hundreds  of  thousands  of  bushels  of  corn  grown  at  a  cost  of 
16  to  18  cents  per  bushel ;  an  abundance  of  pure  stock  water  and 
these  matchless  grasses ;  the  fine  natural  shelter  afibrded  by  tho 
wooded  valleys  and  ravines  ;  the  superior  facilities  for  cheap  trans- 
portation to  the  great  stock  markets  ;  the  mildness  and  healthfulness 
of  the  climate,  and  the  cheapness  of  the  grazing  lands,  nothing  pays 
so  well  or  is  so  perfectly  adapted  to  the  country  as  stock  husbandry. 
Cattle,  sheep,  swine,  horse  and  mule  raising  and  feeding  are  all  pur- 
sued with  profit  in  this  county,  the  business,  in  good  hands,  paying 
net  yearly  returns  of  20  to  40  per  cent  on  the  investment,  many 
sheep-growers  realizing  a  much  greater  net  profit. 

Cattle  growing  and  feeding,  in  connection  with  swine  raising  and 
feeding,  is  the  leading  industry  of  the  county.  High  grade  short 
horns  of  model  types,  bred  from  the  best  beef-getting  stock,  are  kept 
by  many  of  the  growers  and  feeders,  the  steers  being  grazed  during 
the  warm  months,  after  which  they  are  "  full-fed  "  and  turned  oS 
during  the  winter  and  spring,  weighing  from  1,200  to  1,700  pounds 
gross  at  2  and  3  years  old,  the  heavier  animals  going  to  European 
buyers.  The  steers  are  fed  in  conjunction  with  model  Berkshire  and 
Poland  China  pigs,  which  fatten  perfectly  on  the  droppings  and  litter 
of  the  feed  yard,  and  go  into  market  weighing  from  250  to  400 
pounds  at  10  to  14  months  old.  These  steers  and  pigs  are  bred  and 
grazed  by  the  feeders  of  their  grass  and  corn-growing  neighbors,  and 
will  average  in  quality  and  weight  with  the  best  grades  fed  in  any  of 
the  older  States. 

Horse  and  mule  raising  is  a  favorite  industry  with  many  of  the 
farmers,  and  has  been  pursued  with  profit  for  years,  a  large  surplus 
of  well-bred  work  horses  and  mules  going  mainly  to  Southern  mar- 
kets each  year. 

Sheep  raising  has  for  several  years  been  a  favorite  and  highly 
profitable  branch  of  stock  husbandry  here,  many  growers  realizing  a 


930  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

net  profit  of  40  to  60  per  cent  on  the  money  invested  in  the  busi- 
ness. The  wool  produced  in  1880  amouuted  to  62,348  pounds. 
This  county  is  remarkably  well  suited  to  sheep  growing,  the  flocks 
increasing  rapidly  and  being  generally  free  from  disease.  There  are 
many  small  flocks  that  give  a  higher  per  cent  of  profit  than  the  figures 
above  given,  but  even  the  larger  herds  make  a  splendid  showing. 
Merinos  are  mainly  kept  by  the  larger  flockmasters,  but  the  hundreds 
of  smaller  flocks,  ranging  from  40  to  300  each,  are  mainly  Cotswolds 
and  Downs,  the  former  predominating,  and  the  wool  clips  running 
from  5  to  9  pounds  per  capita  of  unwashed  wool. 

Sheep  feeding  is  conducted  with  unusual  profit  here,  the  mild  win- 
ters, cheap  feed  and  the  very  cheap  transportation  to  the  great  mutton 
markets  especially  favoring  the  business. 

The  extent  of  the  industry  in  this  county  is  only  measurably  indi- 
cated by  the  table  at  the  end  of  this  chapter,  which  gives  the  number 
of  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  horses,  mules,  and  the  value  of  each  class. 
This  statement,  which  is  unquestionably  15  or  20  per  cent  below  the 
real  number  of  animals  kept  in  the  county,  shows  a  large  increase 
over  the  report  of  1870.  The  live  stock  exports  of  the  county  last 
year  exceeded  1,500  car  loads  of  fat  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  horses  and 
mules,  worth  in  the  home  market  at  present  prices  considerably  more 
than  $2,000,000,  and  yet  the  business  is  comparatively  in  its  infancy, 
not  more  than  half  the  stock  growing  resources  of  the  county  being 
yet  developed. 

Dairy  farming  might  be  very  profitably  pursued  here,  the  grasses, 
water  and  near  market  for  first-class  dairy  products  all  favoring  the 
business  in  high  degree.  In  1880,  there  were  567,502  pounds  of 
butter  made. 

Macon  county  could  be  made  a  stock  breeder's  paradise,  as  the 
demand  for  all  classes  of  well-bred  stock  is  always  in  excess  of  the 
supply.  In  former  years  the  local  growers  have  mostly  depended  on 
the  breeders  of  the  older  neighboring  counties  for  their  thoroughbred 
stock  animals,  but  of  late  many  fine  short  horns  have  been  brought 
in,  and  superior  stock  horses  have  been  introduced,  and  there  are  a 
dozen  of  good  breeders  of  sheep  and  swine,  whose  stock  will  rank 
with  the  best  in  the  country. 

Stock  breeding,  grazing,  and  feeding  under  the  favoring  local  con- 
ditions, is  the  surest  and  most  profitable  business  that  can  be  pur- 
sued in  the  West,  or,  for  that  matter,  anywhere  in  *'  the  wide,  wide 
world." 

Not  a  single  man  of  ordinary  sense  and  business  capacity  in  this 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  931 

county,  that  has  followed  the  one  work  of  raising  and  feeding  his 
own  stock,  abjuring  speculation,  and  sticking  closely  to  the  business, 
has  (or  ever  will)  failed  to  make  money.  It  beats  wheat  growing 
two  to  one,  though  the  latter  calling  be  pursued  under  the  most  fav- 
orable conditions  in  the  best  wheat  regions.  It  beats  speculation  of 
every  sort,  for  it  is  as  sure  as  the  rains  and  sunshine.  What  are 
stocks,  bonds,  <«  options,"  mining  shares,  merchandise,  or  traffic  of 
any  character  besides  those  matchless  and  magnificent  grasses  that 
come  of  their  own  volition  and  are  fed  through  all  the  ages  by  the 
eternal  God,  upon  the  rains  and  dews  and  imperishable  soils  of  such 
a  land  as  this?  If  the  writer  were  questioned  as  to  the  noblest  call- 
ing among  men,  outside  of  the  ministry  of  "  peace  and  good  will,"  he 
would  unhesitatingly  point  to  the  quiet  and  honorable  pastoral  life  of 
these  Western  herdsmen.  Stock  growing  in  Macon  county,  as 
everywhere,  develops  a  race  of  royal  men,  and  is  the  one  absorbing, 
entertaining  occupation  of  the  day  and  location.  If  it  be  eminently 
practical  and  profitable,  so,  too,  it  is  invested  Avith  a  poetic  charm. 
To  grow  the  green,  succulent,  luxuriant  grass,  develop  the  finest  lines 
of  grace  and  beauty  in  animal  conformation,  tend  one's  herds  and 
flocks  on  the  green,  fragrant  range,  live  in  the  atmosphere  of  delicate 
sympathy  with  the  higher  forms  and  impulses  of  the  animal  life  in 
one's  care,  and  to  be  inspired  by  the  higher  sentiments  and  traditions 
of  honorable  breeding,  is  a  life  to  be  coveted  by  the  best  men  of  all 
lands.  By  the  side  of  the  herds  and  grasses  and  herdsmen  of  such  a 
country  as  this,  the  men  of  the  grain  fields  are  nowhere.  These  men 
of  the  herds  are  leading  a  far  more  satisfactory  life  than  the  Hebrew 
shepherds  led  on  the  Assyrian  hills  in  the  old,  dead  centuries  ;  they 
tend  their  flocks  and  raise  honest  children  in  the  sweet  atmosphere  of 
content.  They  are  in  peace  with  their  neighbors,  and  look  out  upon 
a  pastoral  landscape  as  fair  as  ever  graced  the  canvas  of  Turner.  The 
skies  above  them  are  as  radiant  as  those  above  the  Arno,  and  if  the 
finer  arts  of  the  old  land  are  little  cultivated  by  the  herdsmen  of  these 
peaceful  valleys,  they  are  yet  devoted  to  the  higher  art  of  patient  and 
honorable  human  living. 

The  lands  are  cheap,  the  location  exceptionally  fine,  and  the  other 
advantages  over  the  older  States  so  great  that  the  question  of  compe- 
tition is  all  in  favor  of  this  country.  This  country  is  admirably  suited 
to  "mixed  farming."  The  versatility  and  bounty  of  the  soil,  wide 
range  of  production,  the  competition  between  the  railways  and  great 
rivers  for  the  carrying  trade,  and  the  nearness  of  the  great  markets 
all  favor  the  variety  farmer.     With  a  surplus  of  capital,  sheep,  pigs. 


932  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

mules,  horses,  wool,  wheat,  eggs,  poultry,  fruit,  dairy  products,  etc., 
he  is  master  of  the  situation.  The  farmers  of  Macon  county  live 
easier  and  cheaper  than  those  of  the  older  States.  The  labor  bestowed 
upon  40  acres  in  Ohio,  New  York  or  New  England,  will  thoroughly 
cultivate  100  acres  of  these  richer,  cleaner  and  more  flexible  soils. 
Animals  require  less  care  and  feed  and  mature  earlier ;  the  home  re- 
quires less  fuel ;  the  fields  are  finely  suited  to  improved  machinery, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  average  Macon  county  farmer  gets 
through  the  real  farm  work  of  the  year  in  150  days. 

Nature  is  so  prodigal  in  her  gifts  to  man,  that  the  tendency  is  to  go 
slow  and  take  the  world  easy.  Nor  is  this  at  all  wonderful  in  a 
country  where  generous  Mother  Nature  does  70  per  cent  of  the 
productive  work,  charitably  leaving  only  30  per  cent  for  the  brain 
and  muscle  of  her  sons.  It  is  only  natural  that  this  condition  of 
things  tends  to  loose  and  unthrifty  methods  of  farming,  and  that  the 
consequent  waste  of  a  half  section  of  land  here,  would  give  a  comfort- 
able support  to  a  Connecticut  or  Canadian  farmer.  It  is  in  evidence, 
however,  from  the  experience  of  all  thorough  and  systematic  farmers 
here,  that  no  region  in  America  gives  grander  sections  to  good  farming 
than  this  county.  There  is  not  one  of  all  the  thorough,  systematic, 
rotative  and  deep  cultivators  of  the  country  who  has  not  and  does 
not  make  money.  No  soils  give  a  better  account  of  themselves  in 
skilled  and  thrifty  hands  than  these,  and  it  is  greatly  to  their  honor 
that  they  have  yielded  so  much  wealth  under  such  indifferent  treat- 
ment. These  Macon  county  lands  will  every  time  pay  for  themselves 
under  anything  like  decent  treatment.  They  are  near  the  center  of 
the  great  corn  and  blue  grass  area  of  the  country,  where  agriculture 
has  stood  the  test  of  half  a  century  of  unfailing  production,  where 
civilization  is  surely  and  firmly  founded  on  intellectual  and  refined 
society,  schools,  churches  and  railways,  markets,  mills  and  elegant 
homes.  The  lands  of  the  county  will  nearly  double  in  value  during 
the  next  decade.  Nothing  short  of  material  desolation  can  prevent 
such  a  result.  Everywhere  in  the  older  States  there  is  more  or  less 
inquiry  about  Missouri  lands,  and  all  the  indications  point  to  a  strong 
inflow  of  intelligent  and  well-to-do  people  from  the  older  States. 
Does  the  reader  ask  why  lands  are  so  cheap  under  such  favorable, 
material  conditions?  Well,  the  question  is  easily  answered.  Up  to 
a  recent  date,  little  or  nothing  has  been  done  by  the  people  of  the 
State  to  advertise  to  the  world  its  manifold  and  magnificent  resour- 
ces. Still  worse,  Missouri  has,  for  two  decades,  been  under  the  ban 
of  public   prejudice    throughout  the  North  and  East,  the  people  of 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  933 

those  sections  believing  Missourians  to  be  a  race  of  ignorant,  inhos- 
pitable, proscriptive  and  intolerant  bulldozers,  who  were  inimical  to 
Northern  immigration,  enterprise  and  progress.  Under  this  impress- 
ion, half  a  million  immigrants  have  annually  passed  by  this  beautiful 
country,  bound  for  the  immigrants'  Utopia,  which  is  generally  laid  in 
Kansas,  Nebraska,  Colorado  and  Texas.  This  mighty  army  of  reso- 
lute men  and  women,  with  their  wealth  of  gold,  experience  and  cour- 
age, have  been  lost  to  a  State  of  which  they  unfortunately  knew 
little  and  cared  to  know  less.  Under  such  conditions  there  has,  of 
course,  been  a  dearth  of  land  buyers.  Happily  Macon  county  has 
been  advertised  by  her  local  newspapers,  her  enterprising  real  estate 
men  and  other  agencies,  and  has,  perhaps,  suffered  less  at  the  hands 
of  ill-founded  prejudice  than  many  other  sections. 

The  people  of  Macon  county  —  28,000  strong  —  are  as  intelligent, 
refined  and  hospitable  as  those  of  Ohio  or  Michigan  ;  and  a  more 
tolerant,  appreciative,  chivalrous  community  never  undertook  the 
subjugation  of  a  beautiful  wilderness  to  noble  human  uses.  We  have 
passed  a  number  of  years  in  Northern  and  Central  Missouri,  visiting 
the  towns,  looking  into  the  industrial  life  of  the  people,  inspecting  the 
farms  and  herds,  reviewing  the  schools  and  carefully  watching  the 
drift  of  popular  feeling,  and  are  pleased  to  affirm  that  there  is  nowhere 
in  the  Union  a  more  order-loving  and  law-respecting  population  than 
that  of  Macon  county. 

"  The  life  they  live  "  here  is  quite  as  refined  and  rational  as  any 
phase  of  the  social  and  political  life  at  the  North.  Whatever  they  did 
in  the  exciting  and  perilous  years  of  the  war,  they  are  to-day  as  frank, 
liberal  and  cordial  in  their  treatment  of  Northern  people,  and  as  ready 
to  appreciate  and  honor  every  good  quality  in  them,  as  if  they  were 
"  to  the  manor  born." 

A  strong  Union  sentiment  is  everywhere  apparent.  Many  persons 
were  strong  Union  Democrats  during  the  war,  never  swerving  in  their 
fealty  to  the  Union,  and  the  old  flag  floats  as  proudly  in  Central  and 
North  Missouri  as  in  the  shadows  of  Indeijendence  Hall.  All  parties 
are  agreed  that  slavery  is  dead,  and  that  its  demise  was  a  blessing  to 
every  prime  interest  of  the  country.  There  is  not  a  man  of  character 
in  the  county  who  would  restore  the  institution  if  he  could.  A  good 
majority  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  county  hail  from  Kentucky  and 
Virginia,  or  are  descended  from  Kentucky  or  Virginia  families,  and 
have  the  deliberation,  frankness,  good  sense,  admiration  of  fair  play, 
reverence  for  woman  and  home,  boundless  home  hospitality  and  strong 
self-respect,  for  which  the  average  Kentuckian  and  Virginian  is  pro- 


934  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

verbial.  They  have  a  habit  of  minding  their  own  business  that  is 
refreshing  to  see.  The  new-comer  is  not  catechised  as  to  social  ante- 
cedents or  politics,  but  is  estimated  for  what  lie  is  and  does.  They 
don't  care  where  a  man  hails  from,  if  he  be  sensible  and  honest. 
They  take  care  of  their  credit  as  if  it  were  their  only  stock  in  trade. 
When  a  man's  word  ceases  to  be  as  good  as  his  bond,  his  credit,  busi- 
ness and  standing  are  gone,  and  the  loss  of  honorable  prestige  is  not 
at  all  easy  of  recovery.  About  half  of  the  present  population  of  the 
county  is  from  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States. 

Sterling  character  finds  as  high  appreciation  here  as  in  any  country 
of  our  knowledge.  The  visitor-is  impressed  with  the  number  of  strong 
men  —  men  who  would  take  rank  in  the  social,  professional  and  busi- 
ness relations  of  any  community  in  civilization.  Macon  county  has 
evidently  drawn  largely  upon  the  best  blood,  brain  and  experience 
of  the  older  States.  In  every  department  of  life  may  be  found  men 
of  fine  culture  and  large  experience  in  the  best  ways  of  the  world, 
and  the  stranger  who  comes  here  expecting  to  place  the  good  people 
of  this  county  in  his  shadow,  will  get  the  conceit  effectually  taken  out 
of  him  in  about  90  days.  They  are  not  a  race  of  barbarians,  liv- 
ing a  precarious  sort  of  life  in  the  bush,  but  a  brave,  magnanimous, 
intelligent  people,  who,  if  their  average  daily  life  be  sternly  realistic 
in  the  practical  ways  of  home-building  and  bread-getting,  have  yet 
within  and  about  them  so  much  of  the  ideal  that  he  is  indeed  a 
dull  observer  who  sees  not  in  their  relations  to  the  wealth  of  the 
grain-fields  and  herds,  and  the  poetry  of  the  sweet  natural  landscape, 
a  union  of  the  real  and  ideal  that  is  yet  to  make  for  them  the  perfect 
human  life.  They  find  ample  time  for  the  founding  and  fostering  of 
schools,  the  love  of  books  and  flowers  and  art,  a  cultivation  of  the 
social  graces,  and  the  building  of  temples  to  the  spiritual  and  ideal. 
Macon  county  raises  horses  and  mules  and  swine,  fat  steers,  and  the 
grain  to  feed  the  million,  but  is  none  the  less  a  generous  almoner  of 
o-ood  gifts  for  her  children.  She  has  127  free  schools  for  white  and 
colored  children. 

Public  morals  are  guarded  and  fostered  by  the  presence  and  influ- 
ence of  churches,  representing  nearly  all  the  denominations,  and  are 
nowhere  displayed  to  better  advantage  than  in  the  general  observance 
of  the  Sabbath,  and  in  the  honest  financial  administration  of  county 
affairs.  There  are  no  repudiators  of  the  public  credit  and  obligation 
here.  They  have  in  a  high  measure  that  singular  and  inestimable  vir- 
tue called  popular  conscience,  and  make  it  the  inexorable  rule  of  judg- 
ment and  action  in  all  public  administration.     It  is  as  unchangeable 


HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY.  935 

as  the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  and  though  public  enterprise 
has  impelled  the  expenditure  of  a  great  deal  of  money,  large  sums 
have  also  been  voted  for  the  building  of  railways,  for  county  build- 
ings and  appointments,  and  for  bridges,  with  a  liberal  expenditure  for 
incidental  uses,  all  within  little  more  than  a  decade  ;  nobody  has  had 
the  hardihood  to  even  talk  repudiation,  and  Macon  will,  we  hope, 
soon  be  out  of  debt  and  the  last  do'llar  of  her  bonded  indebtedness  be 
paid. 

It  is  clearly  no  injustice  to  other  portions  of  Missouri  to  pronounce 
Macon  one  of  the  model  counties.  She  has  an  untarnished  and  envi- 
able credit,  excellent  schools,  light  taxes,  a  brave,  intelligent  popula- 
tion, and  presents  a  picture  of  material  thrift  which  challenges  the 
admiration  of  all.  There  are  a  score  of  men  in  the  county  worth  from 
$30,000  to  $50,000.  Half  a  hundred  more  represent  from  $20,000 
to  $50,000,  and  a  large  number  from  $15,000  to  $20,000,  while  after 
these  come  a  good-sized  army  whose  lands  and  personal  estate  will 
range  from  $10,000  to  $15,000.  This  wealth  is  not  in  any  sense  spec- 
ulative, for  it  has  been  mainly  dug  out  of  the  soil,  and,  in  a  modest 
degree,  represents  the  half-developed  capacity  of  the  grasses  and  grain 
fields.  It  is  not  in  the  hands  of  any  speculative  or  privileged  class, 
but  is  well  distributed  over  the  county  in  lands,  homes  and  herds. 
It  is  one  of  the  pleasures  of  a  lifetime  to  ride  for  days  over  this 
charming  region  of  fine  old  homes,  thrifty  orchards,  green  pastures 
and  royal  herds,  and  remember  that  the  fortunate  owners  of  these 
noble  estates  have  liberal  bank  balances  to  their  credit,  and  are 
well  on  the  road  to  honorable  opulence. 

Many  of  our  readers  will  be  inclined  to  wonder  if  it  is  an  over- 
colored  sketch  of  the  country  and  people,  and  ask  for  the  shady  side 
of  the  picture.  "Are  there  no  poor  lands,  poor  farmers,  or  poor 
farming  in  Macon  county — nothing  to  criticise,  grumble  about  or 
find  fault  with  in  the  ways  of  the  28,000  people  within  the  range  of 
the  latter?"  Yes,  there  is  a  "shady  side"  to  the  picture,  and  it 
is  easily  and  quickly  sketched  from  life.  The  scarcity  of  farm  labor 
is  apparent  to  the  most  superficial  observer.  The  negroes,  who  did 
most  of  the  farm  labor  under  the  old  compulsory  system,  have 
gone  almost  solidly  to  the  towns,  and  are  no  longer  a  factor  in  the 
farm  labor  problem.  The  average  farm  hand  has  acquired  the 
easy,  slip-shod  habits  of  the  slave  labor  system,  and  is  at  best  a 
poor  substitute.  Four-fifths  of  the  farmers  undertake  too  much,  ex- 
pending in  the  most  superficial  way  upon  200  or  400  acres  the  labor 
which  would  only  well  cultivate  100  acres,  and  the  result  is  seen  in 
54 


936  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

shallow  ploughing,  hurried  seeding,  slight  cultivation,  careless  har- 
vesting, loose  stacking,  wasteful  threshing  and  reckless  waste  in 
feeding.  The  equally  reckless  exposure  of  farm  machinery  in  this 
county  would  bankrupt  the  entire  farm  population  of  half-a-dozen 
New  England  counties  in  three  seasons.  The  visitor  in  the  country 
is  always  in  sight  of  splendid  reapers,  mowers,  seeders,  cultivators, 
wagons  and  smaller  implements,*  standing  in  the  swarth,  furrow, 
fence-corner  or  yard  where  last  used,  and  exposed  to  the  storms  and 
sunshine    until   the  improvident  owner  needs  them  for  further  use. 

The  exposure  of  flocks  and  herds  to  the  cold,  wet  storms  of  the 
winter,  without  a  thought  of  shelter,  in  a  country  were  Nature  has 
bountifully  provided  the  material  for,  and  only  trifling  labor  is  re- 
quired to  give  ample  protection,  is  a  violation  of  the  simplest  rule  of 
economy  and  that  kindly  human  impulse  that  never  fails  to  be  moved 
by  the  sight  of  animal  suffering.  The  astonishing  waste  of  manures 
by  the  villainous  habit  of  burning  great  stacks  of  straw  and  leaving 
rich  half-century  accumulations  of  manure  to  the  caprice  of  the  ele- 
ments, may  be  all  right  in  bountiful  old  Missouri,  but  in  the  older 
Eastern  country  would  be  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  insanity  of  the 
land -owner  who  permitted  the  waste. 

The  waste  of  valuable  timber  is  equally  unaccountable,  if  not  really 
appalling.  While  economists  in  the  older  lands  are  startled  at  the 
rapid  approach  of  the  timber  famine,  and  are  wondering  where  the 
timber  supply  is  to  come  from  a  dozen  years  hence,  the  farmers  of 
Macon  county  and  all  north  Missouri  have  until  recently  been  split- 
ting elegant  young  walnut  and  cherry  trees  into  common  rails  to 
enclose  lands  worth  $10  to  $25  per  acre  ;  cutting  them  into  logs  for 
cabins,  pig  troughs  and  sluiceways,  and  even  putting  them  on  the  wood 
market  in  competition  with  cheap  coals,  complaining  the  while  of  the 
cost  of  walnut  furniture  brought  from  factories  a  thousand  miles 
away. 

There  are  too  many  big  farms  here  for  the  good  of  the  overtasked 
owners  or  the  country.  No  man  can  thoroughly  cultivate  600,  1,000 
or  1,500  acres  of  land,  any  more  than  a  country  of  homeless  and 
landless  tenants  can  be  permanently  prosperous ;  and  the  sooner  these 
broad,  unwieldly  estates  are  broken  into  small  farms,  and  thoroughly 
cultivated  by  owners  of  the  soil  in  fee  simple,  the  better  it  will  be 
for  land  values,  schools,  highways,  society,  agriculture,  trade  and 
every  vital  interest  of  the  country.  Such  a  consummation  would  vastly 
add  to  the  wealth  and  attractions  of  this  beautiful  and  fertile  region, 
giving  it  the  graces  of  art,  manifold  fruits  of  production,  and  univer- 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  937 

sal  thrift  that  attend  every  country  of  proprietary  small  farmers. 
There  is  too  much  speculation  and  too  little  work  for  the  benefit  of 
farming  or  economic  living.  Everybody  is  trading  with  his  neighbor 
in  live  stock,  grain,  lands,  town  lots,  options,  or  anything  that  prom- 
ises money  without  work,  forgetting  that  the  country  is  not  a  dime  the 
richer  for  the  traffic.  Nothing  surprises  the  Eastern  visitor  as  much 
as  the  want  of  appreciation  for  their  country,  expressed  by  so  many 
of  the  old  and  substantial  farmers  of  this  region.  They  get  the  Texas, 
Kansas  or  Colorado  fever,  and  talk  about  selling  beautiful  farms  in 
this  f\iir  and  fertile  county  for  the  chances  of  fortune  in  one  of  these 
regions  of  the  immigrant's  Utopia,  as  if  they  were  unconscious  of 
living  in  one  of  the  most  favored  lands  upon  the  green  earth.  A  six 
weeks'  tour  of  some  of  the  older  and  less  favored  States,  followed  by 
a  trip  of  critical  observation  into  some  of  the  newer  ones,  might  give 
these  uneasy  and  unsettled  men  a  spirit  of  happy  content  with  their 
present  homes  and  surroundings. 

Macon  county  has  productive  capacity  great  enough  to  feed  a 
fourth  of  the  population  of  Missouri,  but  before  its  wonderful  native 
resources  are  developed  to  the  maximum,  it  must  have  20,000  more 
men  to  aid  in  the  work.  Men  for  the  thorough  cultivation  of  40,  80 
and  120  acre  farms  ;  for  the  modern  butter  and  cheese  dairy ;  skilled 
fruit  growers  to  plant  orchards  and  vineyards  and  wine  presses ; 
hundreds  of  sterling  young  men  from  the  Northern  States,  the 
Canadas  and  Europe  to  solve  the  farm  labor  problem  in  a  country 
where  reliable  labor  is  scarce  and  wages  high,  and  skilled  artisans  to 
found  a  hundred  new  mechanical  industries.  All  these  are  wanted, 
nor  can  they  come  a  day  too  soon  for  cordial  greeting  from  the  good 
people  of  Macon  county,  or  the  precious  realization  of  a  great  destiny 
for  one  of  the  most  inviting  regions  on  the  green  earth. 

Horses,  10,644;  mules,  2,505;  cattle,  32,207;  sheep,  24,123* 
hogs,  34,280  ;  acres  of  land,  518,150,050,  valued  at  $2,744,802  ;  town 
lots,  5,249,  valued  at  $638,394;  personal,  $2,147,058;  real, 
$3,382,196.     Total  taxable  wealth,  $5,530,254. 

La  Plata  township  leads  off  in  the  production  of  horses,  the  number 
being  770  ;  Liberty  being  next,  668  ;  Liberty  produces  more  mules,. 
233;  Lingo  more  cattle,  2,325;  Drake  following  with  1,979;  Lyda 
more  sheep,  2,206;  Narrows  following  with  1,772;  Jackson  more 
hogs,  2,010;  Liberty  next,  1,923.  There  are  in  the  county  3,202 
dogs,  Hudson  township  having  372,  or  121  more  dogs  than  any 
other  township  ;  this  of  course  includes  the  City  of  Macon.  These 
dogs  are  taxed,  male,  $1 ;  female,  $2. 


938 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


Macon  county  produced  in  1880,  3,222,875  bushels  of  corn  ;  oats, 
272,902  bushels;  wheat,  64,270  bushels  ;  Irish  potatoes,  79,508  bush- 
els; buckwheat,  3,548  bushels;  rye,  13,702  bushels;  hay,  27,000 
tons ;  tobacco  crop,  1884,  728,584  pounds.  Chariton  is  the  only 
county  that  raised  more  tobacco  than  Macon. 

In  1884  there  were  in  cultivation  3,465  farms  in  the  county,  or 
268,375  acres. 

There  was  a  wool  clip  of  123,048  pounds  ;  butter  produced,  567,502 
pounds  ;  cheese,  13,298  pounds.  Only  14  counties  in  the  State  raise 
more  corn  than  Macon.  Six  counties  produce  a  greater  number  of 
sheep. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


LA   PLATA    T0W:N^SHIP. 


ZEPHEMIAH  E.  ATTEBERY 

(Retired  Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser;  Post-Office,  La  Plata) . 

No  worthy  history  of  La  Plata  township  can  ever  be  written  which 
fails  to  include  among  the  names  of  those  of  its  citizens  who 
have  contributed  a  leading  and  honorable  part  to  the  improvement 
and  development  of  the  township  and  to  the  high  character  and 
personal  worth  of  its  people,  the  name  that  heads  this  sketch,  a 
name  borne  by  one  of  the  best  men  of  the  township,  a  man  who  has 
lived  within  its  borders  for  nearly  40  years,  and  one  whose  life 
has  been  an  unbroken  chain  of  usefulness  to  his  family,  his  chnrch 
and  the  community,  and  who,  b}^  industry  and  the  sterling  qualities 
of  his  own  character,  accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune,  which, 
with  the  liberality  of  his  generous  nature,  he  has  distributed  among 
his  children.  So  far  as  unassumed  and  unassuming  worth  is  con- 
cerned, that  quality  which  prompts  one  to  go  plainly  and  modestly 
forward  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  through  life,  turning  neither 
to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  but  living  faithfully  to  family,  society 
and  to  the  laws  of  God  —  so  far  as  this  is  concerned  no  name  in 
the  history  of  this  township  or  of  any  community  deserves  a  more 
respectful  consideration  than  the  name  of  Z.  E.  Attebery.  Let  us 
then  present  a  brief  sketch  of  this  good  and  worthy  man's  life.  He 
came  down  from  two  old  and  respected  Virginia  families,  the  Atte- 
berys  and  the  demons.  His  father,  Thomas  Attebery,  came  out  to 
Barren  county,  Ky.,  after  his  marriage  to  Susanna  Clemons,  where 
the  parents  made  their  permanent  home.  They  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Barren  county.  Zephemiah  E.  was  born  there 
June  14,  1817,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm.  In  1840  he  came  to 
Missouri,  and  located  in  Monroe  county,  having  prior  to  this  made 
two  trips  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois.  After  living  in  Monroe  county 
two  years  he  went  again  to  Illinois  and  resided  in  Woodfoi'd  county 
until  1847.  While  there,  September  4,  1845,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  J.  Moore,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Prudence  Moore,  formerly  of 
Virginia.  Returning  to  Missouri,  Mr.  Attebery  settled  in  Macon 
county,  in  which  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  bought  a  small  tract 
of  land  and  began  making  himself  a  home.     He  worked  with  untiring 

(939) 


> 


940  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

industry  from  that  time  forward  and  was  quite  successful.  In  time 
he  became  the  owner  of  nearly  1,000  acres  of  land.  This,  however, 
he  has  divided  up  among  his  children,  and  now  owns  no  real  estate  at 
all,  except  a  residence  and  some  lots  in  La  Plata.  Until  recent 
years,  however,  he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  thorough-going, 
energetic  farmers  of  the  township  and  was  esteemed  to  a  high  de- 
gree by  all  who  knew  him,  as  he  still  is  so  far  as  the  estimation  of 
his  neighbors  aud  acquaintances  is  concerned,  but  as  to  farming  he 
has  retired  from  that  in  order  to  spend  the  remaining  years  of  his  life 
in  comparative  ease  and  comfort.  His  good  wife,  after  having  stood 
by  his  side  through  sunshine  and  shadow  for  nearly  40  years,  is  still 
spared  to  accompany  him  on  down  the  long  and  happy  journey  of  life. 
They  have  reared  a  family  of  four  children,  namely:  Susanna  P., 
widow  of  John  M.  Plemons  ;  Benjamin  F.,  of  La  Plata;  Sarah  F., 
wife  of  James  Moody;  and  Josephine  A.,  wife  of  George  W.  Brook. 
Mr.  Attebery  has  long  been  an  elder  in  the  Christian  Church,  but  has 
always  avoided  making  himself  officious  or  conspicuous  either  in 
church  or  politics,  preferring  to  be  considered  what  he  really  is,  a 
plain,  honest  man,  striving  to  do  only  his  duty  as  he  sees  it  as  best  he 
can  and  in  a  modest,  unassuming  way. 

AMBROSE  M.  BARNHARDT 

(Farmer  and  Breeder  of  Thoroughbred  Horses,  P.  O.  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Barnhardt,  who  is  a  representative  of  an  old  and  respected 
family  of  Randolph  county,  and  is  a  man  of  college  education,  and  who 
prior  to  engaging  in  the  breeding  of  fine  horses  had  given  his  attention 
to  teaching  for  several  years  and  then  to  merchandising,  was  born  and 
reared  in  Randolph  county,  and  was  a  son  of  George  W.  Barnhardt,  a 
well  known  citizen  of  that  county.  •  Mr.  Barnhardt's  mother  was  a 
Miss  Rebecca  Phipps  before  her  marriage,  but  is  now  deceased.  Am- 
brose M.  was  born  February  4,  1848,  and  after  taking  a  course  in  the 
common  schools  concluded  his  education  at  Mount  Pleasant  College, 
in  which  he  spent  two  years.  He  then  taught  school  in  Chariton, 
Randolph  and  Macon  counties  for  about  four  years.  Following  this 
he  eno^aged  in  merchandising.  In  1873  he  was  in  business  at  La  Plata 
in  partnership  with  T.  J.  Phipps,  where  he  continued  for  about  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1876  Mr.  Barnhardt  located  on  his  present 
farm,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  La  Plata,  a  neat  little  place  well  im- 
proved, and  engaged  in  farming,  but  more  particularly  in  breeding  fine 
horses.  He  has  had  excellent  success  in  his  business,  and  has  some 
of  the  finest  stock  in  his  line  to  be  seen  in  this  section  of  the  State.  In 
1881  he  bought  a  fine,  pure-blood  Clydesdale  horse,  and  since  that  he 
has  added  two  more  fine  horses  to  his  stud.  These  are  horses  well 
worth  a  day's  journey  to  see,  and  they  have  the  name  of  being  the  best 
stock  throughout  the  country.  April  29,  1875,  Mr.  Barnhardt  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Caldwell,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  H.  F.  Caldwell, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  work.  They  have  two 
children  :  Wilfred  and  Madire.     Mr.  Barnhardt  is  a  member  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY,  941 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  at 
La  Phita.  Personall}'^  he  is  a  gentleman  of  pleasant  address  and  is 
highly  esteemed  by  his  neighbors  and  friends. 

WILLIAM  J.   BIGGS 

(Cashier  of  the  Savings  Banlt  at  La  Plata) . 

Mr.  Biggs,  who  has  been  connected  with  the  above  named  bank  since 
its  first  organization  and  whose  business  tact  and  personal  popularity 
have  contributed  no  inconsiderable  part  to  its  success,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  near  Newark,  in  Licking  county,  January  23,  1846.  His 
parents  came  originally  from  Maryland  and  New  Hampshire  respect- 
ively. They  met  for  the  first  time  in  Ohio,  where  they  were  married. 
The  father,  John  Biggs,  died  in  the  latter  State  in  1861,  and  the 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Louisa  Atwood,  in  1865.  William 
J.  was  reared  in  his  native  county,  or  rather  in  Seneca  county,  to 
which  his  parents  removed  from  Licking  county  in  1854.  His  youth 
was  spent  principally  at  school,  and  in  1860  he  entered  the  Wesleyan 
University  of  Ohio,  which  he  attended  for  three  years,  confining  his 
studies  principally  to  the  higher  English  branches  and  advanced  mathe- 
matics. Subsequently  he  took  a  commercial  course  at  Cleveland, 
where  he  graduated  in  1864.  Two  years  after  the  war  Mr.  Bi^gs 
came  West  and  located  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Plata,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  about  four  years.  He  then  obtained  a  position 
as  clerk  in  a  store.  He  continued  clerking  for  some  five  years,  at 
which  time  the  La  Plata  Savings  Bank  was  organized  and  he  was 
offered  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  bank,  which  he  accepted.  It  was  at 
first  a  private  bank,  but  later  along  was  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  State.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1882.  The  bank  was  organ- 
ized with  a  capital  of  $15,000.  Since  then  a  surplus  has  been  accu- 
mulated of  about  $3,500.  In  the  meantime,  after  a  year's  service 
as  clerk,  Mr.  Biggs  was  appointed  assistant  cashier,  and  in  1880  he 
was  made  cashier  of  the  bank,  since  which  he  has  continued  to  hold 
that  position.  A  thorough  business  man  and  well  acquainted  with  the 
people  with  whom  he  has  to  do  business  in  the  territory  tributary  to 
La  Plata,  he  is  peculiarly  well  qualified  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
cashier.  Urbane  of  manners  and  polite  to  all,  he  is  a  gentleman  with 
whom  the  community  takes  a  pleasure  in  transacting  business. 
February  28,  1878,  Mr.  Biggs  was  married  to  Miss  Rosa  Miller,  a 
daughter  of  L.  D.  Miller,  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Biggs  was  educated 
at  Kirksville.  They  have  two  children  :  Anna  L.  and  Bennie.  Mr. 
Biggs  is  a  member  of  La  Plata  Lodge  No.  237,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and 
also  of  the  Macon  Chapter  and  Kirksville  Commandery. 

EDWIN  L.  BROWN 

(Assistant  Cashier  of  the  Savings  Bank  of  La  Plata) . 

Mr.  Brown,  who  has  held  the  position  of  assistant  cashier  of  the 
bank  with  which  he  is  at  present  connected  since  it  was  incorporated 


942  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

under  the  laws  of  the  State,  in  the  spring  of  1882,  at  which  time  he 
was  elected  to  this  position,  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Mercer 
county,  February  5,  1862.  His  father,  Norman  P.  Brown,  was  orig- 
inally from  Vermont,  but  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
P.  Biggs,  was  from  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Mercer  county  and  filled  various  local  offices,  including  that  of  circuit 
clerk.  However,  in  1871,  he  removed  to  Missouri  and  located  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  There^  he 
resided  for  about  four  years  and  until  his  death.  He  was  quite  suc- 
cessful in  business  and  accumulated  a  comfortable  estate.  After  his 
death  the  mother  with  her  three  children,  Edwin  L.,  Louie  D.  and 
Walter  J,,  went  to  Kansas  City,  where  they  resided  for  two  years. 
They  then  removed  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where  the  mother  still  resides. 
Edwin  L.  remained  at  Toledo  until  the  winter  of  1880-81,  when  he 
returned  to  Missouri.  He  received  a  good  education  as  he  grew  up 
and  became  well  qualified  for  business  pursuits.  He  makes  a  most 
efficient  assistant  bank  cashier,  and  is  highly  popular  with  all  who 
know  him.  He  is  a  young  man  of  sterling  character,  untiring  indus- 
try and  unquestioned  personal  worth,  and  according  to  all  indications 
has  a  most  promising  future  in  the  banking  business.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  La  Plata. 

GEORGE  W.  BRAMMER. 

(Of  Brammer  &  Reed,  Grocers,  La  Plata). 
Mr.  Brammer,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Virginia,  and  has  trav- 
eled over  the  country  considerably,  considering  that  he  is  still  com- 
paratively a  voung  man,  believes  that  when  one  leaves  Macon  county 
to  look  for  a  better  country  he  is  pursuing  an  ignis  fatuus,  and  being 
a  man  of  intelligence  and  close  observation,  his  opinion  is  entitled  te 
no  inconsiderable  weight.  He  thinks  that  we  have  here  all  the  con- 
ditions for  a  thrifty  and  prosperous  country,  and  that  while  our  agri- 
cultural resources  are  unsurpassed,  our  business  opportunities  are  not 
less  favorable.  His  own  experience  seems  to  fully  justify  this  opin- 
ion. He  came  to  Macon  county  in  1868  and  clerked  at  La  Plata  until 
1874.  He  then  traveled  in  the  far  West,  but  came  back  in  a  few  years 
afterwards  and  resumed  clerking.  He  soon  became  able  to  engage 
in  business  for  himself  and  is  now  one  of  the  stirring,  substantial 
business  men  of  La  Plata.  He  commenced  in  1879  in  the  grocerj^  bus- 
iness in  the  firm  of  C.  Owsley  &  Brammer,  but  finally  bought  out 
Mr.  Owslev  and  afterwards  Mr.  Reed  became  his  partner.  They  have 
a  first-class  stock  of  groceries  and  everything  ordinarily  found  in  a 
grocery  store.  Their  trade  already  large  is  increasing  with  rapidity, 
and  Mr.  Brammer  feels  that  he  has  every  reason  to  look  to  the  future 
with  hope  by  no  means  unflattering.  February  2,  1881,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Beatrice  Sears,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Sears,  of  this 
countv,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  Mr,  Brammer  was  a 
son  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Brammer  and  wife  (Maria  Layman),  both  of 
Virginia,  and  was  born  in  Patrick  county  of  that  State.     He  was  reared 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  943 

and  educated  in  West  Virginia  to  which    State  the  parents  removed. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brammer  have  one  child,  Walter  S. 

HON.  HENRY  F.  CALDWELL 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-offlce,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Caldwell,  who  served  four  years  in  the  State  Senate  from  this 
district,  his  term  expiring  in  1882,  and  who  was  one  of  the  prominent 
leaders  and  organizers  of  the  Grange  movement  in  North  Missouri, 
has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  business- 
like farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  this  jDart  of  the  county,  and  is  a  man 
who  stands  as  high  in  general  esteem  as  the  best  in  his  community. 
On  his  father's  side  he  is  of  Irish  parentage,  but  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Margaret  1.  Fesler,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  father,  Alexander  Caldwell,  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  a  mere  boy,  and  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio. 
He  was  married  in  Ohio,  and  Henry  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Athens  county,  of  that  State,  July  1,  1825.  He  received 
a  good  general  English  education,  having  a  course  in  the  common 
schools  and  one  at  Guysville  Seminary.  He  remained  on  the  farm 
with  the  family  until  about  the  time  of  his  marriage,  which  was  in  the 
winter  of  1846-47.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  in  his  native  county 
and  continued  it  there  with  success  until  his  removal  to  Missouri  in 
the  spring  of  1866.  During  all  this  time  he  was  on  the  old  family 
homestead  and  carried  on  the  farm  for  his  parents.  On  coming  to 
Missouri  Mr.  Caldwell  bought  some  400  acres  of  land  in  Richland 
township,  of  Macon  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1868, 
when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  La  Plata.  In  connection  with  Mr. 
Irving  he  built  a  warehouse  here  and  enoao-ed  in  the  grain  and  lumber 
business.  He  was  identified  with  this  business  at  La  Plata  for  about 
five  years.  In  the  spring  of  1873  he  resumed  farming,  however,  and 
has  since  followed  it,  combining  with  that  handling  stock,  in  which 
he  has  had  good  success.  Mr.  Caldwell  early  took  an  active  interest 
in  the  Grange  movement  and  became  an  active  organizer  of  lodges  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  He  organized  nearly  all  the  Granges  in  Macon 
county  and  a  large  number  in  other  counties.  He  also  helped  to 
organize  the  State  Grange  and  served  for  some  time  as  Grange  deputy. 
In  1878  Mr.  Caldwell  was  nominated  on  the  National-Greenback- 
Labor-Reform  ticket  for  State  Senator,  from  the  district  composed  of 
the  counties  of  Macon,  Adair  and  Schuyler,  and  was  triumphantly 
elected.  He  served  his  constituents  with  marked  honor  and  ability 
in  the  upper  branch  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  influential  members  of  that  body,  a  body  dis- 
tinguished for  the  ability  of  its  members.  Mr.  Caldwell  is  a  man  of 
great  public  spirit,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  movements  de- 
signed for  the  general  good,  and  particularly  the  agricultural  classes 
with  whom  he  is  identified  both  by  sympathy  and  interest.  A  man  of 
wide  general  information  and  well  posted  in  the  political  and  economi(i 
afiairs  of  the  times,  he  is  able  to  form  clear  and  just  and  well  defined 


944  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

views  of  the  policies  and  tendencies  of  parties,  so  that  he  naturally 
takes  the  position  of  a  leader  among  those  around  him.  Feeling  that 
organized  capital  and  monopolies  were  too  influential  in  both  the  old 
parties  for  the  people  and  the  agricultural  classes  to  obtain  justice 
from  either  of  them,  he  believed  in  meeting  organization  with  counter- 
organization,  and  consolidating  the  votes  of  the  farmers  and  all 
laboring  elements  in  one  solid  body,  so  that  the  people  could  demand 
and  extort  such  legislation  and  remedial  measures  as  were  necessarv, 
which,  before,  had  only  been  petitioned  for  and  treated  as  petitions 
usually  are  —  with  silent  contempt.  So  believing,  he  went  into  the 
Grange  movement  with  all  earnestness  and  honesty,  and  with  a 
noble  zeal  to  do  all  in  his  power  for  the  best  interests  of  the  people. 
And  although  prosperous  times  may  stay  for  a  time  the  day  of 
reckoning  with  capitalists  and  monopolists  by  the  people,  it  is  bound 
to  come  sooner  or  later,  and  delay  will  only  make  it  more  thorough 
when  it  does  come.  The  people's  rights  and  interests  are  bound  to 
triumph  —  no  power  in  this  free  country  can  keep  them  down.  The 
philosophy  of  modern  civilization  teaches  that  individuals  will  ulti- 
mately resume  all  power,  of  which  they  were  for  a  long  time  deprived 
by  despots  and  other  oppressors,  except  such  as  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  be  possessed  by  Government  for  the  common  good.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Caldwell  have  a  family  of  two  children  :  Amanda,  wife  of  M. 
H.  Howard,  of  La  Plata,  and  Ella,  wife  of  A.  M.  Earnhardt.  They 
have  lost  two,  Henry  and  Bertha  E.,  both  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 
Mrs.  Caldwell,  whose  maiden  name  was  Laviuna  Pierce,  was  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Pierce,  of  Adams  county.  111.,  but  formerly  of 
Athens  county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  La  Plata  Masonic  lodge  and  the  I.  O. 
G.  T. — the  latter  since  he  was  19  years  of  age.  Mr.  Caldwell  has 
filled  several  local  oflSces. 

ANDREW  M.  CAEPENTER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-ofRce,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Carpenter's  father,  Samuel  Carpenter,  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Missouri.  He  came  to  Cooper  county  from  Kentucky  as 
early  as  1819,  and  in  the  winter  of  1821-23  was  married  there  to  Miss 
Sarah  Langly,  whose  parents  were  from  Tennessee  and  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  that  county.  They  made  their  permanent  home  in 
Cooper  county,  and  the  father  died  there  in  18H8,  one  of  the  respected 
citizens  of  the  county.  In  1849  he  went  to  California,  making  the 
trip  there  overland  and  returning  the  following  year  by  the  Isthmus 
and  New  Orleans.  Except  during  that  absence  and  one  year  in  Ben- 
ton county,  he  lived  in  Cooper  continuously  until  his  death.  Andrew 
M.  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Cooper  count}^  December  20,  1822.  He 
was  reared  to  habits  of  industry  on  the  farm  Imd  received  a  common 
school  education.  After  reaching  his  majority  he  carried  the  mail 
between  Jefferson  City  and  Versailles  for  about  10  months.  October 
28,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mar}'  A.  Gilbreath,  a  daughter  of 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  945 

Hugh  Gilbreath,  of  Cooper  county.  He  then  moved  to  his  present 
farm,  the  land  of  which  he  had  previously  bought.  Here  he  went  to 
work  to  make  himself  a  home  and  establish  himself  in  life.  Industry 
and  good  management  have  prospered  him.  He  bought  and  entered 
land  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  nearly  400  acres,  over  half 
of  which  is  under  fence.  His  place  is  comfortably  and  substantially 
improved,  and  he  is  otherwise  well  situated  in  life.  On  the  26th  of 
September,  1866,  Mr.  Carpenter  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife. 
At  her  death  she  left  him  six  children:  Flora  A.,  wife  of  Daniel 
Coates  ;  James  C,  Samuel  C,  George  A.,  John  H.  and  William  L. 
To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Carpenter  was  married  February  28,  1867. 
Mrs.  Carpenter,  whose  maiden  name  was  Leah  D.  White,  was  a 
daughter  of  Jesse  White,  of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Kentucky. 
They  have  six  children:  Jesse  W.,  Oscar  S.,  Mattie  B.,  Hattie  E., 
Gabriel  B.,  Lucy  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  La  Plata,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  at 
that  place.  Mr.  Carpenter  has  served  for  nearly  five  years  as  justice 
of  the  peace. 

JAMES   CHRISTIE 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  La  Plata) . 

Mr.  Christie,  who  has  resided  in  Macon  county  since  1869,  and  is  a 
neat  and  thrifty  farmer  of  La  Plata  township,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  May  14,  1837,  and  was  a  son  of  David  D.  and  Rachel 
(Westville)  Christie,  both  also  natives  of  that  State.  James,  who 
was  reared  a  farmer,  and  received  a  good  common  school  education  as 
he  grew  up,  came  West  when  he  was  16  years  of  age  with  his  parents, 
who  located  in  Lee  county,  111.  There  the  father  bought  a  farm  of 
300  acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  and  the  mother  still 
resides  on  the  old  homestead.  July  3,  1860,  James  Christie  was 
married  to  Miss  Melvina  Swarthout,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Swarthout, 
formerly  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Christie  is  a  lady  of  excellent  educa- 
tion and  taught  two  terms  of  school  in  Illinois  prior  to  her  marriage. 
Mr.  Christie  continued  farming  in  Illinois  until  1869,  when  he  came 
to  Missouri,  settling  in  Macon  county.  Here  he  has  a  neat  farm  of 
over  100  acres  and  a  fine  orchard  of  several  hundred  trees.  His 
place  is  otherwise  well  improved.  Mrs.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  have  six  children:  Frank  B.,  a  popular 
teacher  of  the  county;  IraD.,  Eva  May,  David  S.,  and  Gertie  and 
Bertie,  twins. 

JESSE  DAVIS 

(Public  Weigher,  La  Plata.) 

Mr.  Davis  comes  of  an  old  Kentucky  family.  His  grandfather, 
Col.  Henry  Davis,  was  a  gallant  officer  under  Gen.  Jackson  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  His  (Jesse's) 
father,  George  W.  Davis,  was  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  and  still 
resides  in  that  State,  a  well-to-do  and  respected  citizen  of  Owen 
county.      Jesse  Davis'  mother,  before  her  marriage,  was  a  Miss  Pris- 


946  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

cilia  Caldwell,  also  a  native  of  Owen  county.  Jesse,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  the  second  son  in  their  family  of  seven  children,  and 
was  born  in  Owen  county,  February  28,  1847.  He  received  a  good 
common-school  education  as  he  grew  up,  and  having  been  reared  on 
a  farm,  he  naturally  turned  his  attention  to  that  as  his  regular  occu- 
pation on  reaching  manhood.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  1868,  when 
21  years  of  age,  and  located  in  Adair  county,  where  he  followed  fiirm- 
ing  and  shipping  stock  for  some  time.  In  March,  1879,  Mr.  Davis 
removed  to  La  Plata  and  en2;a2red  in  the  hotel  business,  buvins;  the 
La  Plata  House,  to  which  he  made  addition,  and  conducted  that  house 
with  success  until  the  fall  of  1883,  and  is  said  to  have  carried  on  an 
excellent  cosmopolitan  hostlery.  In  1881  he  was  elected  city  marshal,, 
and  tilled  the  office  one  year,  when  he  resigned  the  position.  Mr. 
Davis  now  has  two  good  public  scales,  and  does  the  principal  part  of 
the  weighing  of  La  Plata  and  this  vicinity.  March  16,  1869,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Tempie  Chadwell,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Chad  well,  of 
Adair  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  two  children  :  Allen  A.  and 
Frankie  P.     Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge. 

DUDLEY  W.  DEMPSEY,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  La  Plata). 

Dr.  Dempsey  was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  and  comes  of  a  respected 
family  of  Athens  county.  His  opportunities  for  the  improvement  of 
his  mind  being  good  as  he  grew  up,  he  availed  himself  of  them  with 
commendable  spirit,  and  secured  an  excellent  education.  It  is  an 
aphorism  that  what  one  thinks  of  himself  has  much  to  do  in  shaping 
the  opinions  of  others  concerning  him.  Without  one  has  some  self- 
appreciation  and  an  ambition  to  accomplish  something  in  life,  he  can 
never  amount  to  much.  Indeed,  Mill  says  that  the  varying  fortunes 
of  men  are  not  so  much  due  to  great  ditferences  in  their  natural  pow- 
ers of  mind,  aside  from  ambition,  as  to  their  differences  of  ambition. 
The  aspirations  of  one  lead  him  to  higher  efforts,  and,  therefore,  to 
higher  achievements  than  to  those  to  which  another  is  led  b}'  his  less 
exalted  purposes.  Young  Dempsey  to-day  might  have  been  a  jour- 
neyman artisan,  or  a  lease-holding  tiller  of  the  soil,  if  he  had  set  his 
mark  in  life  no  higher.  But,  determined  to  accomplish  something  in 
the  world  at  least  above  that  of  the  common  substratum  of  men,  he 
has  already  risen  to  a  position  of  consideration,  and  the  path  on  which 
he  has  entered  leads  up  higher  and  to  a  still  more  advanced  place,  if  he 
but  follow  it  faithfully,  untiringly  and  resolutely  —  in  the  same  spirit 
that  he  has  pursued  it  thus  far. 

He  was  born  in  Nelsonville,  near  Athens,  Ohio,  September  4,  1852, 
and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Eliza  (Sampton)  Dempsey,  both  natives 
of  this  State.  Young  Dempsey  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  his  native 
county,  and,  being  of  studious  habits,  by  the  age  of  17  he  had 
acquired  a  good,  common  English  education  in  the  schools  of  the 
county.  He  then  began  to  teach  school,  and  for  the  next  six  years 
alternated   between  teachino;  and  attending  school.     Durinsj  this  time 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  947 

he  took  a  course  in  the  High  School  of  Atliens,  and  also  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Ohio.  Long  previously  decided  to  become  a  physician,  he 
had  educated  himself  with  that  object  in  view,  and  in  1874  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  A.  B.  Frame,  a  leading  physician  of 
Athens.  Continuing  his  studies,  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Medical  College  of  Ohio,  in  Cincinnati,  during  the  session  of  1878-79. 
Following  his  course  at  Cincinnati,  he  went  to  Kansas,  and  located  at 
Bennington,  where  he  practiced  during  the  remainder  of  the  year 
1879,  and  most  of  the  year  1880.  He  then  entered  upon  a  second 
course  of  lectures  in  the  Missouri  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1881.  Returning  to  Bennington,  Kan.,  he 
continued  there  until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  came  to  La  Plata, 
Mo.,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  pursued  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. A  gentleman  of  fine  intelh'gence,  thorough  general  and  med- 
ical training,  and  urbane  and  popular  in  manners,  he  has  accumulated 
a  practice  with  unusual  rapidity,  and  has  already  taken  a  prominent 
position  as  a  capable  physician  and  useful  citizen.  In  December, 
1881,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  was  married  at  Guysville,  to  Miss 
Addie  C.  Pickett,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Pickett,  a  leading  physician 
of  Athens  county.  Mrs.  Dempsey  is  a  lady  of  superior  culture  and 
refinement,  and  was  an  accomplished  teacher  of  Athens  county  before 
her  marriage.  She  has  taught  one  year  at  La  Plata  snice  their  mar- 
riage, and  with  great  satisfaction  to  the  public.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Demp- 
sey have  one  son,  Leroy.  She  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Dr.  Dempsey  is  a  member  of  the  Macon  County  Medical  Society. 

JOHN  M.  DERR 

(Dealer  in  Furniture,  Etc.,  and  Undertaker,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Derr,  who  has  made  his  way  up  in  life  by  his  own  industry  and 
good  management,  and  is  now  one  of  the  responsible  business  men 
and  respectable  citizens  of  La  Plata,  is  of  sterling  old  Pennsylvania 
German  stock,  a  class  of  people  who  rarely  ever  fail  to  succeed  in 
life.  He  was  born  in  Lycoming  county,  March  15,  1826.  His  father 
was  George  Derr,  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  his  moth- 
er's maiden  name  was  Jane,  nee  Sweeny,  likewise  born  and  reared  in 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  a  gallant  old  soldier  of  the  Revolution. 
John  M.  commenced  labor  in  his  father's  saw  mill,  and  at  the  age  of 
14  took  charge  of  the  mill  himself,  which  he  ran  with  success  6 
years,  until  his  father's  death,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  until  a  few  months  before  his  marriage.  In  1850 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel,  a  daughter  of  Ben  F.  Atkinson,  of 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  the  following  year  removed  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Lee  county,  about  75  miles  west  of  Chicago,  where  he  followed 
the  business  of  making  and  repairing  wagons,  etc.,  for  about  7  years, 
and  was  justice  of  the  peace  5  years.  He  also  farmed  and  did 
carpentering  work  there  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1868,  however, 
he  removed  to  Missouri  and  located  at  La  Plata,  where  he  has  since 
resided.     Here  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  and  has  con- 


948  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

tinuecl  it  with  increasing  success.  He  carries  a  neat  stock  of  furni- 
ture, carpets,  window  shades,  oil  cloths,  etc.,  and  also  a  complete 
line  of  undertaker's  sfoods.  He  has  a  oood  trade  and  is  considered 
an  upright  business  man  and  a  valuable  citizen  in  the  community. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Derr  have  two  children,  Hannah  M.,  wife  of  J.  P. 
Phipps,  and  Frank  C,  a  jeweler  at  Harper,  Kansas.  Mr.  Derr  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order.    He  has  served  two  terms  as  mayor  of  La  Plata. 

CAPT.  CHARLES  S.  EDWARDS 

(Post-ofHce,  La  Plata) . 

This  retired  farmer  of  La  Plata  township,  who  was  one  of  the  gal- 
lant soldiers  in  the  ranks  of  the  Union  during  the  late  war,  and  who  is 
now  commander  of  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, whence  he  received  his  honorary  pronomen,  "  Captain,"  for 
he  was  a  brave  private  in  the  war  —  one  of  the  million  whose  gleam- 
ing bayonets  opened  the  way  for  the  old  flag  to  float  in  triumph  from 
the  Ohio  to  the  Gulf,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  fountain-waters  of 
the  Rio  Grande  or  wherever  treason  attempted  to  bar  the  way — is 
a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State,  but  was  reared  in  loyal  and  ever 
brave  and  true  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Jefierson  county,  Ky., 
January  25,  1880.  His  father  was  Capt.  William  Edwards,  originally 
of  Maryland,  and  his  mother  before  her  marriage  was  Miss  Elizabeth 
Floyd,  a  native  of  Virginia.  When  Charles  S.  was  in  childhood  the 
family  removed  to  the  Cumberland  Valley  of  Tennessee,  but  a  few 
years  afterwards,  in  about  1831,  came  West  to  Illinois,  where  Capt. 
William  Edwards,  the  father,  entered  the  land  now  forming  the  site 
of  the  city  of  Plymouth,  in  Hancock  county,  on  which  he  improved  a 
farm,  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  was  a  successful  farmer 
and  highly  esteemed  citizen,  and  was  captain  of  militia  in  old  muster 
days.  Charles  S.  Edwards  was  reared  in  Schuyler  county,  and  in 
1849  was  married  to  Miss  Serena  A.  Pendarvis.  Like  his  father  he 
became  a  farmer  and  followed  farming  in  Schuyler  county  without 
interruption  and  with  success  until  the  second  year  of  the  war.  By 
this  time  it  had  become  manifest  that  the  struggle  for  the  preservation 
of  the  Union  was  bound  to  be  one  requiring  all  the  strength  of  the 
government,  and  that  therefore  it  was  the  duty  of  every  patriotic 
citizen  who  could  do  so  to  put  aside  his  private  affiiirs  and  shoulder 
his  gun  for  the  cause  for  which  Washington  fought  —  the  life  of  the 
Republic.  Capt.  Edwards,  patriotic  to  the  last  degree,  accordingly 
ofiered  himself  as  a  volunteer  for  the  Union.  Every  consideration  of 
duty  and  patriotism  prompted  him  to  this  course.  His  grandfather, 
William  Edwards,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution  under  Washington, 
and  the  grandson  came  by  his  patriotism  by  inheritance.  His  grand- 
father was  for  a  long  time  personally  associated  with  Washington  — 
was  the  old  Pater  Patrae's  tailor,  in  fact.  He  traveled  with  him  and 
made  all  of  Gen.  Washington's  clothes,  and  Capt.  Charles  S.  Edwards' 
sister,  Mrs.  P.  L.  Wingo,  of  Rushville,  III.,  now  has  in  her  possession 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  91^ 

as  an  heiiiooni  of  the  family,  the  "  goose  "  that  the  grandfather  used 
in  pressing:  Gen.  Washington's  clothes,  which  was  exhibited  at  the 
Phihidelphia  Centennial  in  1876,  and  a  suit  that  Grandfather  Edwards 
made  for  the  General  may  to  this  day  be  seen  on  exhibition  in  the 
patent  office  at  Washington.  Capt.  Charles  S.  Edwards  enlisted  in 
Co.  B,  Ninety-first  Illinois  volunteer  infantry  as  a  private  sol- 
dier and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  honorably  discharged 
in  the  summer  of  1865.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Bacon's  Creek,  in 
Kentucky,  December,  25,  1862,  and  was  taken  prisoner,  but  was 
paroled  and  exchanged  6  months  after  and  resumed  his  place  in  the 
ranks.  He  served  about  14  months  in  Texas,  and  afterwards  served 
in  Mississippi  and  Alabama.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Mor- 
gancy,  Mississippi,  and  in  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  in  Alabama, 
which  lasted  13  days  and  in  which  many  of  his  regiment  were  killed. 
He  himself  was  slightl}'^  wounded.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of 
Whistler,  near  Mobile,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  the  last  one  in  Avhich 
he  participated.  Besides  these  he  was  in  numerous  engagements  we 
cannot  take  the  space  to  mention.  Discharged  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  Capt.  Edwards  returned  to  Illinois,  and 
the  following  spring  came  to  Missouri,  locating  at  La  Plata.  Here 
he  bought  a  farm  adjacent  to  town  and  engaged  in  farming,  which 
he  continued  up  to  a  short  time  ago.  He  still  owns  his  farm,  a  place 
of  nearly  400  acres,  one  of  the  handsomest  and  best  in  the  town- 
ship, and  he  also  owns  valuable  town  property,  including  a  good  two- 
story  brick  business  house,  two  excellent  dwellings,  etc.  His  life  as 
a  farmer  has  been  one  of  excellent  success,  and  he  is  comfortably  sit- 
uated. Having  lost  his  first  wife  some  years  before,  on  the  24th  of 
October,  1882,  Capt.  Edwards  was  married  to  Miss  Lucinda  Ross,  a 
daughter  of  George  Ross,  Esq.,  of  Carroll  county,  Ky.  By 
his  last  marriage  he  has  one  child,  Ethel  L.  Mrs.  Edwards  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
denomination.  By  his  first  marriage  Capt.  Edwards  reared  two  chil- 
dren, Elmas,  wife  of  William  Rynearson,  of  Abilene,  Kan.,  and 
Serena  A.,  widow  of  C.  R.  Tibbs,  late  of  Denison,  Texas.  Capt. 
Edwards  is  a  charter  member  of  the  I.  O.  G.  T.,  and  is  commander 
of  the  La  Plata  Post  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  is  a  man  highly  esteemed 
in  his  community. 

JOHN  FISHER 

(General  Merchant,  La  Plata) . 
Mr.  Fisher,  who  has  been  engaged  in  merchandising  at  this  place 
since  1880,  and  who,  prior  to  that  time,  had  had  a  number  of  years' 
experience  in  merchandising,  was  born  and  reared  in  Missouri,  but  is 
of  Scotch  parentage,  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Isabelle  (Young) 
Fisher,  having  come  from  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in  about  1830. 
They  first  lived  in  Canada  after  landing  on  this  side  the  Atlantic,  but 
soon  removed  to  Illinois,  and  then,  in  about  1835,  to  Knox  county, 
Mo.,  where  they  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  county.  The 
father  died  there  in  1842.     John  Fisher,  his  son,  and  the  subject  of 


950  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

this  sketch,  was  in  infancy  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  having 
been  born  in  Knox  county,  near  Sue  City,  on  the  31st  of  May,  1841. 
He  was  reared  in  that  county  and  at  the  age  of  21,  in  the  spring  of 
18(53,  went  West,  spending  about  three  years  in  Colorado  and  on  the 
Phiins,  and  engaged  principally  in  mining.  Returning  in  1866,  hav- 
ing married  in  Nebraska  the  fall  before,  he  followed  farming  for 
about  eight  years,  and  in  1874  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Sue  City, 
carrying  a  general  stock  of  goods.  He  continued  at  Sue  City  with 
success  until  1880  when  he  removed  a  part  of  his  stock  to  La  Plata, 
and  has  since  been  in  business  at  this  place.  His  business  at  La  Plata 
has  proved  a  complete  success,  and  he  now  has  one  of  the  substantial 
business  houses  of  La  Plata-.  He  carries  a  full  line  of  dry  goods, 
clothing,  boots,  shoes,  hats,  caps,  groceries,  glass-ware,  queen's-ware, 
etc.,  etc.  November  15,  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  E. 
Phipps,  a  daughter  of  Silas  Phipps,  formerly  of  Kentucky,  and  a 
sister  to  T.  J.  Phipps,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fisher  have  three  children:  Lee  E.  (now  attending  the  Kirks- 
ville  State  Normal  School),  Robert  E.  and  Mamie  Ethel.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fisher  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  school  board 
and  the  city  council,  and  Mr.  Fisher  owns  the  business  house  which 
he  occupies,  a  good  brick  structure,  25x75  feet  in  dimension.  Re- 
cently he  has  purchased  the  stock  and  business  property  of  Mr.  M. 
H.  Howard,  in  the  hardware  business  (which  joined  his  store),  and 
in  this  new  house  intends  carrying  a  complete  line  of  hardware,  stoves, 
tin-Avare,  groceries  and  glass-ware,  pumps,  barb  and  smooth  wire,  etc. 
The  two  establishments  will  be  run  in  connection.  Mr.  Daugherty, 
Mr.  F.'s  former  clerk,  is  a  partner  in  the  hardware  department. 

ALEXANDER  D.  GALLOWAY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Galloway's  farm  contains  200  acres,  or  rather  his  tract  of  land 
contains  that  many,  over  half  of  which  is  under  fence  and  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Galloway  came  to  Missouri  in  1873  and 
bought  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  an  industrious,  go- 
ahead  farmer  and  well  respected  citizen,  and  is  making  steady  progress 
in  situating  himself  comfortably  in  life.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  January  3,  1833,  and  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth 
(Adams)  Galloway,  both  born  and  reared  in  the  Keystone  State. 
When  Alexander  D.  was  five  years  of  age,  in  1838,  the  family  removed 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Cook  county,  near  Chicago,  where  the 
j)arents  lived  until  their  death.  Alexander  D.  was  reared  in  Cook 
rounty  and  November  2,  1859,  was  married  to  Miss  Affie  Warren,  a 
daughter  of  C.  R.  Warren  of  the  adjoining  county  of  Lake,  who  came 
fi-om  Vermont.  Mr.  Galloway  bought  a  farm  in  Lake  county  after 
his  marriage  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  he  came  to  Missouri 
in  1873.  His  wife  died  September  14,  1876,  leaving  him  three  chil- 
dren :  Cora,  wife  of  Peter  Wolf,  of  Adair  county  ;  Jessie,  wife  of  Ed. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  951 

Biiiley  and  Edgar  A.  Mrs.  G.  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
for  ten  years  prior  to  her  death,  and  is  therefore  especially  mourned 
by  her  brethren  and  sisters  in  the  church  as  well  as  by  the  loved  ones 
of  her  own  hearthstone. 

JOSIAH  GATES,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon  and  Druggist,  La  Plata). 
Dr.  Gates  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Macon  county  28 
years  ago,  and  has  since  either  been  practicing  his  profession  or  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business,  or  both,  continuously,  but  principally 
the  former.  He  was  born  in  Scott  county,  111.,  May  1,  1832,  and 
eight  years  afterwards  his  parents,  George  W.  and  Sallie  (Stanfield) 
Gates,  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Macon  county.  The  father  was 
from  North  Carolina,  but  was  reared  in  Kentucky.  He  went  to 
Illinois  when  a  young  man,  where  he  was  married,  and  lived  there 
until  Josiah  was  seven  years  of  age.  Coming  to  Macon  county  in 
1839,  he  bought  a  claim  here  in  the  north  part  of  the  county  and  after- 
wards entered  the  land  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  August, 
1879.  Josiah  Gates  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  D.  B.  H. 
Weatherford,  of  Old  Bloomington,  in  September,  1854.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1855-56  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Eclectic  Medical 
Institute  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Keturning  home  in  March,  1856,  in  May 
of  the  same  year  he  moved  to  New  Boston,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county  of  Macon,  where  he  remained  until  March,  18.57.  He  re- 
moved back  to  Bloomington  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  and 
practice  of  medicine  with  Dr.  B.  H.  Weatherford.  They  continued 
together  until  November,  1858,  when  by  mutual  consent  they  dis- 
solved, or,  rather,  sold  their  drug  store  to  Mr.  White.  Then  Dr. 
J.  Gates  moved  to  his  father's  12  miles  north  of  Bloomington,  and 
there  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  and  continued  up  to  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1859,  when  he  went  to  Cincinnati  and  remained  four  months 
and  graduated  in  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  and  returned  back  to 
his  old  vicinity  and  began  business  and  remained  in  the  practice  of 
that  neighborhood  until  May  6,  1874.  He  then  moved  to  La  Phata, 
Macon  county.  Mo.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1881  he  estab- 
lished a  drug  store  here  and  has  conducted  it  with  good  success  up  to 
the  present  time.  Dr.  Gates  has  a  large  practice  and  is  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  skillful  physicians  in  this  part  of  the  county.  In 
1860  Dr.  Gates  was  married  at  Belleville,  111.,  to  Miss  Ellen  Taylor, 
daughter  of  J.  M.  Taylor  of  that  place.  She  died,  however,  August 
6,  1861.  To  his  present  wife  Dr.  Gates  was  married  on  April  26, 
1863.  She  was  a  Miss  Marietta  C.  Linzee,  daughter  of  Jacob  Linzee, 
formerly  of  Wisconsin.  She  came  to  Missouri  with  her  parents  when 
she  was  15  years  of  age.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  three  chil- 
dren: E.  M.,  Sallie  S.  and  William  J.  Mrs.  G.  is  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge,  including  the  Blue  lodge,  the  Chapter  and  the  Com- 
mandery. 

55 


952  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JUDGE  JOHN  GILBREATH. 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  La  Plata). 

Among  the  old  and  useful  citizens  of  Macon  county  whose  lives  have 
been  identified  with  its  best  interests  from  the  pioneer  days  of  the 
county,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  will  always  be  prominently  associa- 
ted, both  in  the  memory  of  all  who  are  familiar  with  the  past  of  the 
county  and  in  its  history.  Judge  Gilbreath  came  to  Missouri  with  his 
parents,  Hugh  Gilbreath  and  his  second  wife.  Flora  (nee)  Macduffee, 
away  back  in  1826.  His  father  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but 
his  mother  was  originally  from  Kentucky.  Their  home  after  their 
marriage,  however,  until  her  death,  was  in  Tennessee,  and  there,  in 
Maury  county,  where  they  resided,  John  Gilbreath,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  on  the  8th  of  December,  1817.  His  mother,  Hannah 
(nee)  Conover,  died  in  Tennessee  when  he  was  only  12  years  old.  On 
coming  to  Missouri  the  family  settled  in  Cooper  county,  where  the 
father  entered  and  bought  large  tracts  of  land,  on  a  part  of  which  he 
improved  a  farm  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
about  1851.  He  had  been  a  gallant  old  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
was  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  and  venerated  citizens  of  Cooper  county. 
John  Gilbreath  was  nine  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Missouri.  Growing  up  in  Cooper  county,  he  was  married  there  to 
Miss  Martha  Clayton,  a  daughter  of  John  Clayton,  formerly  of  Mary- 
land, on  the  18th  of  February,  1840.  The  following  May  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Gilbreath  removed  to  Newton  county,  where  he  lived, 
however,  less  than  a  year,  coming  back  as  far  as  Cole  county.  In  the 
spring  of  1841  he  came  to  Macon  county  and  settled  where  he  has 
been  since  residing.  His  farm  is  three  miles  south  of  La  Plata.  A 
man  of  strong  natural  intelligence,  sufficiently  educated  for  all  the 
practical  needs  of  farm  life,  industrious  to  the  last  degree,  frugal  and 
a  good  manager,  he  of  course  succeeded  here  as  he  would  have  sue- 
ceeded  any  where  with  any  sort  of  fair  opportunity.  In  his  younger 
manhood  he  was  a  hard  worker,  and  relied  only  on  his  own  honest 
toil  and  economy  for  success.  He  entered  and  bought  land  as  his 
labor  and  the  seasons  prospered  him,  until  he  became  one  of  the  large 
landholders  of  the  county.  At  one  time  he  had  over  1,100  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  a  crow  would  wish  to  see  waving  and  ripe  with  corn  ; 
but  with  that  generosity  which  is  characteristic  of  the  honest-hearted, 
industrieus  man,  he  has  given  of  his  possessions  to  his  children,  to 
whom  he  has  also  given  an  honored  name  and  an  honest  bringing  up, 
so  that  now  he  has  only  a  comfortable  homestead  of  400  acres  left  for 
himself.  But  he  is  rich  in  the  love  and  reverence  of  those  whose 
affection  is  of  more  value  and  consolation  to  him  than  all  the  worldly 
possessions  that  cover  the  earth.  Showing  how  time  has  approved, 
in  the  opinion  of  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances,  his  long  and  useful 
life,  it  is  worthy  of  mention  that  in  1872  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  county  judge,  a  position  he  held  with  great  credit  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  until  his  term  was  cut  short  by  a  change  in  the  law,  which 


HISTORY    OF   MACON   COUNTY.  953 

brought  about  a  new  order  of  things.  For  many  years  Judge  Gil- 
breath  was  extensively  engaged  in  raising  and  handling  stock,  at  which 
he  was  abundantly  successful  ;  but  of  late  years,  since  the  shadows  of 
old  age  have  begun  to  fall  around  him,  he  has  quit  the  stock  business 
to  some  extent,  handling  now  only  short-horn  cattle,  and  is  leading 
something  of  a  life  of  ease  and  retirement.  Having  well  improved 
the  harvest  time  of  the  years  of  his  activity,  he  has  not  been  deprived 
of  an  abundance  of  the  fruits  of  industry,  and  now  he  can  contemplate 
the  approach  of  the  frosts  of  winter  with  that  satisfaction  v/hich  the 
good  farmer  feels  who  has  profited  by  the  season  of  summer  showers 
and  fruitful  soil,  and  whose  granaries  and  whose  larder  are  well  filled. 
No  citizen  of  La  Plata  township  stands  higher  in  the  general  esteem  of 
those  around  him  than  Judge  Gilbreath,  and  the  good  opinion  held  of 
him  is  only  just,  for  no  one  has  led  a  life  more  untarnished  or  less 
blameful  than  his  has  been.  One  of  the  men  whose  brawn  and  brain 
have  built  up  the  county  and  made  it  what  it  is,  all  that  he  has  done 
has  been  for  its  good,  and  nothing  for  its  hurt.  The  usefulness  of 
his  life  will  not  cease  for  the  good  of  the  county  when  he  shall  have 
passed  away,  as  his  name  will  not  be  forgotten,  for  he  will  have  left 
children  whose  characters  he  has  made  such  that  both  will  be  per- 
petuated. Blanqui  says  that  one  of  the  greatest  services  a  citizen  can 
perform  for  the  State  is  to  give  to  it  a  family  of  worthy  children,  and 
this  Judge  Gilbreath  has  done.  He.  and  his  good  wife,  one  of  the  best 
of  women,  whom  all  that  know  her  love  and  respect,  have  reared 
several  children  :  John  H.,  Nancy  C,  wife  of  George  Roan  ;  William 
T.,  now  president  of  the  La  Plata  Bank;  James  C.,  Charles  C,  Lo- 
renzo D.,  who  died  in  1878  at  the  age  of  23,  leaving  a  family.  Three 
others  are  deceased.  Judo;e  G.  is  a  member  of  the  La  Plata  Lodg^e  of 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  has  tilled  several  chairs  in  the  order. 

WILLIAM  T.  GILBREATH 

(President  of  the  La  Plata  Savings'  Bank  and  Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Gilbreath  is  a  son  of  Judge  John  Gilbreath,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  northern  part  of. the 
county,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears  on  a  former  page  of  this  volume. 
William  T.  Gilbreath  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  this 
county,  March  26,  1849.  He  was  reared  to  a  farm  life,  and  received 
a  good  common  school  education  as  he  grew  up.  Success  in  life 
depends  not  so  much  on  the  circumstances  in  which  one  is  placed  as 
in  the  manner  in  which  one  improves  his  opportunities.  In  the 
individual  there  must  be  an  ambition  to  succeed,  to  rise  in  life  as  the 
years  come  and  go,  with  an  intelligent  appreciation  of  conditions,  and 
a  practical,  clear  understanding  of  how  these  conditions  can  be  best 
utilized.  Herein  lies  the  secret  of  success,  and  it  is  this  that  forms 
the  touchstone  of  men's  career.  One  may  be  given  a  collegiate 
education  and  favored  with  ample  capital  or  other  means  upon  which 
to  embark  in  life  for  himself,  with,  perhaps,  a  business  training  in 
addition  and  a  business  already  established,  yet  fails  to  succeed  — 


954  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

make  a  complete  failure,  in  fact,  and  sink  even  below  the  common 
level  of  those  who  float  through  the  world  without  accomplishing  any- 
thing of  vahie  either  to  themselves  or  to  society  ;  while  another,  with 
none  of  these  advantages,  but  possessing  the  innate  instinct  of  success, 
that  quality  of  mind  which  enables  one  to  perceive  as  by  intuition 
what  is  necessary  to  be  done  in  any  circumstances  and  how  to  do  it,  will 
steadily  improve  in  fortune  and  position  in  life  until  he  rises,  either 
above  an}^  around  him  or  to  a  place  iunong  the  most  prominent  and 
successful  of  his  community.  These  reflections  are  induced  by 
glancing  over  the  record  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  made. 
He  was  reared  as  other  sons  of  farmers  are  reared  —  with  no  special 
advantages  or  opportunities  ;  yet  to-day,  although  still  comparatively 
a  young  man,  mainly  by  his  own  mental  force  and  clearness,  and  by 
his  own  strength  of  character  and  by  his  industry,  he  is  one  of  the 
prominent  property  holders  and  wealthy  men,  and  one  of  the  leading, 
influential  citizens  of  the  county.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  there 
are  others  and  many  in  every  community  whose  chances  in  life  were 
no  worse  than  his,  but  whose  positions  now  are  far  from  as  enviable 
as  is  his.  Mr.  Gilbreath  is  one  of  those  clear-headed,  thorough-going 
men  for  whom  nature  has  done  more  than  all  the  schools  and  all  that 
factitious  circumstances  could  equal  in  not  a  few  others.  In  a  word, 
he  is  one  of  those  men  who  would  succeed  anywhere  —  with  some 
means  to  begin  on,  only  the  soon-er ;  but  with  no  start  at  all,  not  the 
less  certain.  Many  are  brought  up  on  farms,  but  never  make  success- 
ful farmers  ;  many  are  brought  up  in  l)anks,  with  every  opportunity 
education  and  wealth  can  furnish  to  fit  themselves  for  the  business, 
but  never  make  successful  bankers.  Nature  must  have  laid  the 
foundation  stone,  otherwise  all  that  is  built  up  is  labor  lost.  Mr. 
Gilbreath  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  has  become  a  successful  farmer, 
as  he  would  have  become  if  he  had  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture 
though  previously  he  had  never  seen  a  farm,  for  he  possesses  to  a 
marked  degree  those  general  qualities  for  success  which  rarely  fail  in 
any  channel  in  which  they  are  directed.  As  a  banker  he  has  been 
quite  as  successful  as  he  has  been  as  a  farmer,  yet  previously  he  had 
had  no  bank  experience.  It  is  less  than  might  with  truth  be  said  to  say 
that  he  is  generally  regarded  in  banking  circles  where  he  is  known, 
and  by  all  acquainted  with  him  as  a  banker,  as  one  of  the  soundest, 
most  clear-headed,  intelligent  bank  presidents  throughout  this  section 
of  North  Missouri.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  and  clear  ideas,  who  sees 
and  understands  general  principles  at  a  glance,  and  who,  looking  to 
the  reason  of  these  things,  comprehends  their  operation.  Albert 
Gallatin  and  John  Sherman  doubtless  had  many  nine-hundred-dollar 
clerks  who  understood  the  details  of  banking,  the  bird-headed 
minutioe  of  it,  the  figures  up  one  column  and  down  another,  better  than 
they  did,  but  there  were  few  men  in  their  times  who  possessed  that 
broad  and  comprehensive  understanding  of  the  philosophy  of  financier- 
ing that  characterized  their  administration  of  the  treasury  department 
of  the  Government.     So,  to  a  measure,  the  same  quality  is  required 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  955 

of  the  successful  bank  president.  Clerks  can  do  the  detail  work,  but 
there  must  be  a  pilot  to  direct  the  general  course  of  the  institution, 
one  who  has  a  full  view  of  the  entire  situation  and  who  can  see  the 
shallows  and  danger  points  ahead.  Such  a  banker  Mr.  Gilbreath  is 
by  all  conceded  to  be,  and  it  is  to  his  wise  and  clear  foresight  in 
directing  the  aftairs  of  the  La  Plata  Savings'  Bank  that  is  mainly  due 
its  unusally  rapid  success.  This  bank  is  one  of  the  best  institutions 
in  the  country,  and  possesses  a  high  character  for  stability,  good 
management  and  fair  dealing.  It  has  accumulated  a  large  surplus 
of  funds,  besides  paying  a  handsome  dividend  ©n  its  stocks,  and  is 
one  of  the  prosperous  banks  of  North  Missouri.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  bank,  in  1882,  Mr.  Gilbreath  was  elected  its  president  and 
has  since  filled  that  position.  Prior  to  this  he  had  been  actively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  and  had  achieved  a  gratifying 
degree  of  success.  He  is  still  engaged  in  these  pursuits  and  has  one 
of  the  neatest  and  best  farms  in  the  township.  He  is  a  man  highly 
esteemed  for  his  character  and  many  estimable  qualities  as  a  neighbor 
and  citizen,  and  his  name  stands  as  a  synonym  for  honor  and  integrity. 
On  the  14th  of  November,  1871,  Mr.  Gilbreath  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Gates,  a  daughter  of  George  Gates,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Macon  county,  from  North  Carolina  via  Illinois.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  G.  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Olive  May.  Mr.  G.  is  a  member 
of  the  La  Plata  Masonic  lodge  and  of  the  Chapter  and  Commandery 
at  Kirksville.  He  has  filled  most  of  the  important  stations  in  the 
Blue  Lodge  except  Worshipful  Master. 

JAMES  C.  GILBREATH 

(Farmer  and  Stockman,  Post-offlee,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Gilbreath,  one  of  the  active  and  enterprising  agriculturists  of 
La  Plata  township,  is  a  son  of  Judge  John  Gilbreath,  whose  sketch 
precedes  this,  and  was  born  on  the  old  parental  hoiuestead,  June  22, 
1853.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  g-ood  common  school 
education.  Under  his  father  he  was  brought  up  to  those  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  learned  those  lessons  of  economy,  frugal  habits  and  good 
management  so  important  to  success  in  any  department  of  life.  The 
father  a  successful  farmer,  the  son  naturally  chose  the  same  occupa- 
tion as  his  permanent  calling,  and  inheriting  many  of  the  stronger 
qualities  of  his  father's  character,  he  has  already  given  assurances  by 
his  experience  thus  far  that  he  will  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father 
as  a  successful  man  in  life,  and  a  worthy,  useful  citizen.  February 
24,  1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  M.  Gates,  a  daughter  of 
George  Gates  of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Illinois.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  settled  on  his  present  farm  where  he  went  to  work  to  carve 
out  his  future  as  a  farmer  and  citizen.  He  has  400  acres  of  good  land, 
nearly  all  of  which  is  under  fence  and  most  of  it  either  in  active  culti- 
vation, pasturage  or  meadow.  He  has  a  new  two-story  frame  resi- 
dence, good  stables  and  other  buildings,  a  fine  orchard  of  over  70() 
trees  with  other  fruits,  large  and  small,  and  his  place  is  otherwise  well 


956  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

improved.  He  makes  a  business  of  handling  stock  and  is  quite  suc- 
cessful. He  ships  from  two  to  three  car  loads  of  cattle  and  about  a 
car  load  of  hogs  annually,  and  mainly  of  his  own  feeding.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  G.  have  a  family  of  two  children,  Minnie  P.  and  Irvin  W.  Mr. 
Gilbreath  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  is  one  of  the  well 
respected  citizens  of  the  township. 

CHAELES  C.  GILBREATH 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  La  Plata). 

By  no  means  the  least  value  which  the  life  of  that  old  and  respected 
citizen,  Judge  John  Gilbreath,  has  been  to  Macon  county,  valuable  as 
it  has  been  in  other  respects,  is  in  the  worthy  family  of  children  whom 
he  has  given  to  the  county.  His  four  sons  and  only  daughter,  as 
well  as  himself,  are  represented  in  this  volume,  all  the  heads  of  fami- 
lies deserving  recognition  in  any  worthy  history  of  the  county. 
Charles  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  youngest  of  the  family 
living,  and  although  still  a  young  man,  by  his  industry,  business  man- 
agement and  energy  has  already  shown  that  he  is  fully  worthy  of  the 
name  he  bears  and  the  lineage  of  which  he  comes.  The  Gilbreath 
family,  as  all  know,  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  and  Charles  C. 
possesses  to  a  marked  degree  the  qualities  that  have  given  the  mem- 
bers of  this  family  so  enviable  a  position  in  the  community.  He  was 
born  January  25,  1860,  and  was  brought  up  to  know  that  success  in 
life  is  to  be  achieved,  a  success  that  is  honorable  to  the  one  who  wins 
it,  only  by  personal  industry  and  individual  worth.  He  had  good 
educational  opportunities  and  did  not  fail  to  improve  them  to  the  best 
advantage.  Besides  passing  through  the  common  schools,  he  had  the 
benefit  of  a  course  at  the  La  Plata  High  School,  where  he  obtained  a 
valuable  knowledge  of  advanced  studies.  He,  like  his  brothers,  be- 
came a  farmer  and  he  has  since  continued  to  follow  that  occupation. 
On  the  22d  of  August,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mandana  Morris, 
a  daughter  of  William  M.  Morris,  an  early  settler  of  this  county. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Gilbreath  settled  on  his  present  farm.  He 
has  120  acres  of  good  land,  a  farn\  neatly  improved,  and  he  has  made 
it  one  of  the  comfortable  homes  of  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gil- 
breath have  one  child,  Martha  E.,  and  have  lost  one,  W.  Irving,  who 
died  in  infancy.     Mrs.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  La  Plata  Baptist  Church. 

JOHN  H.  GILBREATH 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  G.  has  a  farm  of  200  acres  where  he  resides,  all  under  fence  and 
nearly  all  in  cultivation,  and  has  his  place  in  a  good  state  of  improve- 
ment. It  is  one  of  the  comfortable  homesteads  of  the  township.  Mr. 
Gilbreath  also  has  other  lands,  but  not  improved.  He  is  a  thorough- 
goinof  farmer  and  raises  some  stock,  and  is  reo;arded  as  one  of  the 
better  class  of  farmers  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  That  he 
is  a  son  of  Judg-e  John  Gilbreath  is  suflicient  assurance  that  as  a  citi- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  957 

zen  and  man  his  name  and  character  are  without  reproach.  Mr. 
Gilbreath  is  the  oldest  son  of  his  father's  four  sons,  and  was  born 
March  1,  1841.  Eeared  on  the  farm,  on  the  11th  of  August,  1860, 
when  19  years  of  age,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  J.  Tate,  a 
daughter  of  William  Tate,  an  old  citizen  of  the  county.  Mr.  Gil- 
breath  eno;ao;ed  in  farmino;  for  himself  about  the  time  of  his  marriage 
and  continued  it  without  interruption  up  to  the  second  year  of  the 
war.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia, 
mainly  for  home  protection  against  marauders.  Later  along,  in  1864, 
he  enlisted  in  the  regular  service,  Forty-second  Missouri  infantry, 
under  Col.  Forbes,  and  served  until  honorably  discharged  in  1865. 
After  he  was  discharged  he  resumed  farming  and  has  since  devoted  his 
whole  attention  to  that  industry  and  stock-raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gilbreath  have  been  blessed  with  11  children  :  Lavara,  John  W.,  Mattie, 
wife  of  T.  J.  Dodson  ;  Lucy,  Jesse  T.,  James  C,  H.  F.,  L.  D., 
Lillie,  Aura  and  Charles.  Mrs.  G.  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

JUDGE  JACOB  GILSTRAP 

(Mayor  of  La  Plata). 

.Tuge  Gilstrap  has  been  identified  with  the  history  of  this  section  of 
the  State  from  the  early  days  of  the  country.  He  has  lived  in  this 
and  neighboring  counties  from  boyhood,  and  his  father,  Jesse  Gil- 
strap,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  Jesse  Gilstrap  was  originally 
from  Tennessee,  and  came  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Isabella  Lee,  originally  from  Virginia,  who  was  a  descendant  of  the 
distinguished  Lee  family  of  the  Old  Dominion.  After  their  marriage 
they  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Lawrence  county,  when  that 
section  of  the  State  was  almost  a  trackless  wilderness.  There  Jacob, 
Judge  Gilstrap,  was  born  April  20,1828.  In  1835  they  removed  to 
Missouri  locating  in  Randolph  county,  but  the  following  spring  set- 
tled near  Old  Bloomiiigton  in  Macon  county.  There  he  entered 
about  600  acres  of  land  and  improved  a  large  farm.  Some  eight 
years, later,  however,  in  1844,  he  went  to  Putman  county,  where  he 
entered  more  land  and  improved  another  place.  He  died  there  in 
1847.  Jacob  Gilstrap  was  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Missouri,  and  16  years  old  when  they  settled  in  Putman 
county.  Coming  up  in  pioneer  times,  he  had  but  little  opportunity 
to  obtain  an  education,  but  improved  his  chances  to  the  best  advant- 
age. He  was  occupied  with  farming  pursuits  until  after  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  October  12,  1851.  He  then  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing in  Putman  county,  and  sold  goods  for  a  short  time,  but  soon 
resumed  farming  and  continued  it  for  about  five  years.  In  1857  he 
established  a  store  at  Wilsontown  and  sold  goods  there  until  1860, 
when  he  went  into  the  grain  and  saw  milling  business.  In  1861  Judge 
Gilstrap  came  to  Macon  county,  but  soon  afterwards  removed  to 
White  Cloud,  Kansas.  January  18,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Missouri 
State  Militia,  under  Col.  Lipscomb,   who  commanded  a  cavalry  regi- 


958  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

ment.  Later  along  this  was  consolidated  with  Col.  John  McNeal's 
regiment.  Judge  Gilstrap  enlisted  as  a  private,  but  was  afterwards 
elected  captain  of  his  company.  He  participated  in  numerous  fights 
during  the  war  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  1863.  After  his 
discharge  he  located  at  Macon  City,  but  in  18*34  returned  to  Adair 
county,  and  resumed  milling.  Selling  out,  however,  soon  after- 
wards, he  came  back  to  Macon  City  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  the  office  of  sheriff  and  also  engasfed  in  the 
implement  business,  but  the  latter,  however,  not  until  after  his  term 
of  sheriff.  In  1869  Judge  Gilstrap  removed  to  La  Plata,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Here  he  sold  goods  for  about  a  year,  and  then  built 
the  La  Plata  House,  which  he  run  for  about  10  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1883  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  is  now  discharging 
the  duties  of  that  office.  He  has  also  served  as  township  trustee  and 
assessor,  as  well  as  in  other  offices.  While  in  Adair  county  he  was 
judge  of  the  county  court,  and  wherever  he  has  resided  he  has  been 
regarded  as  a  worthy  and  valuable  citizen.  In  1882  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  La  Plata,  the  office  he  still  holds.  Judge  Gilstrap's  wife  is 
still  spared  to  him  to  comfort  and  brighten  his  home.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Miss  Sarah  J.  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Ellis  E.  Wilson,  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Adair  county.  Mo.,  and  came  from  Kentucky. 
The  Judge  and  Mrs.  Gilstrap  have  four  children  :  Sarilda,  the  wife  of 
Charles  W.  Thomas  of  Holt  county;  Louella,  the  wife  of  W.  W\ 
Miller,  and  Nancy  I.  and  Martha  G.  The  Judge  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

JOHN  B.  GOODDING 

(Of  Goockling,  Williams  &  Wait,  General  Merchants,  La  Plata). 
Mr.  Gooddino;  stanJs  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
popular  business  houses  throughout  the  northern  part  of  Macon  and 
southern  part  of  Adair  and  the  south-eastern  part  of  Knox  counties. 
This  firm  occupies  two  large  business  rooms  and  carries  a  heavy  and 
well  selected  stock  of  dr}^  goods,  clothing,  queen's-ware,  groceries, 
glassware  and  other  kindred  lines  of  goods.  Mr.  Goodding  came  to 
La  Plata  in  the  summer  of  1881  and  engao-ed  in  business  here  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  T.  J.  Phipps  &  Co.,  since  which  he  has  con- 
tinued the  same  business,  the  firm  having  in  the  meantime  undergone 
different  changes  of  partners.  He  has  continued  at  the  old  stand, 
however,  and  retains  all  his  old  customers.  He  is  a  business  man  of 
thorough  qualifications,  and  is  justly  popular  with  all  who  know  him. 
The  Goodding  family  is  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Missouri. 
Mr.  Goodding's  grandfather,  Abram  Goodding,  came  to  this  State 
from  Kentucky  as  early  as  1817.  He  settled  with  his  familv  in 
Howard  count}'  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  Mr.  Goodding's 
father,  Andrew  L.  Goodding,  was  quite  , young  when  the  fiimily 
came  to  Missouri,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  in  Howard  county.  In 
1846  he  was  married  to  Miss  Miiry  J.  Dameron,  formerly  of  Ten- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUMTY.  951* 

nessee,  of  another  family  of  early  settlers.  Her  parents  lived,  how- 
ever, in  Randolph  county.  The  following  year  Andrew  L.  Gooddinoj 
removed  to  Macon  county,  settling  near  Atlanta,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1859.  John  B.  Goodding,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  the  farm  near  Atlanta,  August 
2,  1847.  He  completed  his  education  at  the  high  school  and  then 
engaged  in  farming,  locating  in  Randolph  county.  Four  years  later, 
however,  in  1868,  he  came  back  to  the  old  family  homestead  in  Ma- 
con county  and  farmed  there  with  success  for  about  11  years.  Born 
and  reared  in  the  county,  and  a  man  of  good  education  and  pleasant, 
popular  address,  he  became  widely  acquainted  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county,  and  his  influence  was  sought  after  by  those 
anxious  for  political  preferment  as  well  as  by  others.  In  1879  he 
was  appointed  deputy  collector  and  filled  that  office  for  two  years 
and  until  he  came  to  La  Plata  in  the  spring  of  1881.  Mr.  Good- 
ding  is  a  man  of  high  standing  and  recognized  influence.  January 
22,  1874,  Mr.  Goodding  was  married  to  Miss  Melissa  Wills,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  R.  H.  AVills,  an  old  citizen  of  this  county  and  a  highly 
esteemed  Presbyterian  minister,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goodding  have  three  children  :  Roscoe  E.,  Alma  M.  and  Ethel.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Goodding  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  he  is  overseer  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Mr.  Goodding  has 
been  clerk  of  Lyda  township  for  two  years. 

JOHN  M.  GRIFFIN 

(Proprietor  of  the  La  Plata  Livery  Stable) . 

Mr.  Griffin  possesses  to  a  marked  degree  the  four  necessary  qualifi- 
cations for  a  successful  liveryman  —  a  thorough  knowledge  of  stock, 
business  tact,  good  taste  and  popular  manners  ;  and  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing, therefore,  that  his  success  in  this  line  has  been  most  satisfactory. 
He  has  a  large  brick  stable,  160  feet  deep  by  40  feet  wide,  facing 
immediately  on  one  of  the  best  streets  of  La  Plata,  and  he  carries  an 
exceptionally  excellent  stock  of  buggies,  carriages,  etc.,  and  driving 
and  riding  horses.  Letting  his  rigs  out  at  reasonable  prices,  and  only 
to  responsible  parties  who  will  not  only  pay  for  their  use  but  take  good 
care  of  them,  he  always  has  them  in  good  shape  so  that  they  can  be 
depended  upon  by  both  the  traveling  and  local  public,  with  each  of 
whom  his  stable  is  more  than  ordinarily  popular.  Nothing  is  better  for 
digestion  and  longevity  than  a  ride  in  one  of  his  "  fly  "  rigs,  and  the 
more  rides  one  takes  the  better  his  digestion  becomes  "and  the  longer 
and  happier  he  lives.  The  result  is  that,  like  Glagg's  relief,  everybody 
takes  it  —  that  is,  in  this  case,  the  ride  —  maids  pine  for  it  and  chil- 
dren cry  for  it,  while  Mr.  Griffin's  business  registers  a  degree  of 
success  higher  for  ever}''  ride  taken.  In  a  word,  he  is  a  polite,  affiible, 
popular  liveryman,  and  is  doing  a  thriving  business.  He  was  born  in 
this  county  July  26,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  M.  and  Telitha  (Murley) 
Griffin,  both  originally  from  Kentucky.  John  M.  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and   after  he  grew  up  continued  farming  until  he  came  to  La 


960  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Plata  and  engaged  in  his  present  business  in  1881.  He  had  previously 
dealt  in  stock  and  had  handled  stock  all  his  life.  April  13,  1873,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of  William  Hatfield  of  this 
county.  They  have  two  children:  Deloma  and  Carl.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

ISRAEL  W.  HERMAN 

(Contractor  and  Builder,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Herman  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  line  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county,  and  comes  of  that  sturdy  old  Pennsylvania  Ger- 
man stock  whose  representatives  rarely  ever  fail  to  succeed  in  what- 
ever pursuit  they  engage,  for  they  are  industrious  and  economical, 
the  qualities  more  important  than  all  others  to  a  prosperous  life. 
Mr.  Herman's  parents  were  William  and  Elizabeth  (Sheffer)  Herman, 
both  of  Pennsylvania  German  lineage  and  nativity.  Israel  W.  was 
born  in  Tioga  county,  of  the  Keystone  State,  July  2,  1835,  and  when 
he  was  12  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Stephenson  county, 
111.,  where  they  still  reside,  and  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  but  at  the  age  of  17  commenced  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  learned  thoroughly  in  three  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1856  he  went  to  Washington  county,  Minn.,  and 
worked  there  two  years,  but  returned  to  Illinois  and  continued  his 
trade  in  Stephenson  county,  combined  much  of  the  time  with  farm- 
ing up  to  1867,  when  he  came  to  La  Plata,  Mo.  Here  he  has 
followed  carpentering  and  contracting  and  building  exclusively  for 
the  last  17  years,  and  has  long  held  a  prominent  position  in 
that  line.  He  has  put  up  many  and  perhaps  most  of  the  better  class 
of  buildings  at  La  Plata  and  throughout  this  entire  vicinity.  An 
honest  and  upright  man,  and  understanding  his  business  thoroughly, 
he  has  the  confidence  of  all  and  commands  a  large  patronage.  July 
2,  1867,  his  twenty-second  birthday,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  A., 
a  daughter  of  Cornelius  Ellis,  of  Washington  county,  Minn.,  but 
formerly  of  Stephenson  county.  111.  They  have  three  children: 
Ida  C,  wife  of  S.  M.  Gibson,  a^ent  of  the  Wabash  Railway,  of 
Brunswick,  Mo.  ;  Adda  Asenath  and  Wesley  S.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

OLIVER  HOWARD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser;  Post-offlce,  La  Plata). 
Mr.  Howard,  whose  ancestry  in  the  agnate  line  includes  some  of 
the  most  distinguished  men  in  Kentucky  and  Virginia  and  in  England, 
comes  of  the  Kentucky  branch  of  the  family,  but  was  himself  born 
in  the  State  of  Indiana,  his  natal  day  being  the  10th  of  March,  1829, 
and  the  county  of  his  birth.  Dearborn.  His  father,  Hon.  Samuel 
Howard,  came  to  that  State  from  Kentucky  when  a  young  man,  hav- 
ing been  reared  and  educated  in  the  Blue  Grass  State.  In  Indiana 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Livingston.  He  resided  in  Switzer- 
land county  and  became  a  leading  man  of  that  county,  representing 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  961 

the  people  in  the  State  legislation  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1844 
he  returned  with  his,  family  to  Kentucky,  and  afterwards  served  in 
the  State  Senate.  He  died  in  Kentucky  in  1876.  Oliver  Howard, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  principally  reared  in  Indiana  and  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education.  After  he  grew  up,  May  11, 
1854,  he  was  married  in  Carroll  county,  Kentucky,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Keene,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Lake  Keene.  Two  years  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Howard  removed  to  Missouri  and  located  at  La  Plata, 
where  at  first  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  after  the  war.  He  then  worked  at  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade  and  made  a  large  percentage  of  the  furniture  sold  at  this  place. 
In  1867  he  settled  on  his  farm,  which  he  had  bought  on  first  coming 
to  the  State.  This  farm  is  a  mile  and  a  half  from  La  Plata  and  con- 
tains 120  acres,  all  in  a  state  of  cultivation  or  otherwise  improved. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  have  eight  children  :  Lucian,  now  of  Monroe 
county  ;  Nanette,  wife  of  Arthur  Runkel,  of  Cedar  county  ;  Louisa, 
Roona,  Charles,  Alice,  William  and  Lizzie.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

WILLIAM  P.  JOHNSON 

Proprietor  of  the  La  Plata  Meat  Market). 

Mr.  Johnson  engaged  in  his  present  business  at  La  Plata  in  1870, 
and  has  since  continued  it.  He  had  been  raised  on  a  farm  and  had 
followed  farming  some  eight  years  and  handling  stock  before  he  came 
here,  so  that  he  was  an  excellent  judge  of  cattle  and  other  farm 
animals  before  he  commenced  the  butcher  business.  He  commenced 
this  business  with  a  determination  to  furnish  his  customers  good  meats 
if  they  could  be  had,  and  never  to  deceive  them  if  he  knew  it.  The 
result  was  that  his  shop  soon  obtained  a  deserved  popularity,  a  popu- 
larity which  it  has  ever  since  retained  and  which  he  has  shown  himself 
entirely  worthy  of.  If  good  meats  can  be  had  in  the  country  they  can 
be  had  at  his  market,  and  at  prices  which  cannot  be  justly  complained 
of,  a  fact  the  public  very  well  know.  Mr.  Johnson  also  carries  on 
farming  during  the  cropping  seasons  in  addition  to  his  butcher  busi- 
ness. He  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  near  Old  Bloomington, 
December  10,  1842,  and  was  a  son  of  Enoch  and  Elizabeth  (Griffin) 
Johnson,  the  former  from  South  Carolina  and  the  latter  from  North 
Carolina.  His  parents  met  and  married  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to 
Missouri  in  1838,  settling  near  Old  Bloomington ;  both  are  now 
deceased.  William  P.,  after  he  grew  up,  followed  farming  in  the 
county  for  about  eight  years,  and  then  came  to  La  Plata,  when  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  January  29,  1863,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Martha  Huckabay,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Huckabay,  of  this 
county.  They  have  four  children  :  Rosella,  wife  of  William  R.  Park, 
of  Bloomfield,  Iowa  ;  William  H.,  Enoch  and  James  T.  The  mother  of 
these  died  January  1,  1872,  and  on  the  15th  of  October,  1874,  Mr. 
Johnson  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Chadwick,  a  daughter  of  Abner 
Chadwick,  of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Kentucky.     She  died  Jan- 


962  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

iiary  15,  1881,  leaving  three  children  :  Emmett,  Berry  C.  andJohn  A. 
Two,  besides,  are  deceased.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Johnson  was 
married  November  17,  1882.  She  was  a  sister  to  his  second  wife,  and 
her  maiden  name  was  Miss  Anna  Chad  wick.  They  have  one  child,  an 
infant,  a  little  boy,  Frank  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  Mr.  J.  is  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church. 

JAMES  B.  LEE 

(Post-office,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  L.  is  a  son  of  Oliver  P.  Lee,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  time-hon- 
ored citizens  of  Macon  county,  who  was  born  June  5, 1807,  and  died  on 
his  farm  in  this  county  on  the  7th  of  March,  1880.  He  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a  magistrate  of  Jackson  township,  and  held  other 
local  offices.  'Squire  Lee  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  as  was  his  wife^ 
whose  maiden  name  was  Polly  Griffin,  and  they  came  from  Pulaski 
county  of  that  State,  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  as  early  as  1834.  He 
entered  land  here  and  improved  a  farm.  He  became  a  well-to-do  farmer, 
and  died  leaving  a  comfortable  estate  of  nearly  300  acres  of  land  and 
considerable  personal  property.  James  B.  was  born  on  the  farm  April 
2,  1852,  and  was  married  December  28,  1876,  to  Miss  Sarah,  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Mingus,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  on  a  subsequent 
page  of  this  work.  They  have  one  child,  a  boy  baby,  Charley  Allen 
Lee,  born  January  22,  1884.  After  his  marriage  young  Mr.  Lee 
settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  a  neat  place  of 
120  acres,  comfortably  improved,  and  being  a  man  of  industry,  enter- 
prise and  sterling  intelligence,  he  is  steadily  coming  to  the  front  as  a 
farmer. 

W.  SCOTT  LITTLE 

(Brick  Manufacturer,  Nurseryman,  and  Coal  Dealer,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Little  is  one  of  that  class  of  stirring,  enterprising  men  who  are 
ready  to  engage  in  any  honest  business  pursuit  and  qualified  for  almost 
any  occupation  of  a  business  nature,  to  which  he  desires  to  turn  his 
attention,  which  is  calculated  to  prove  successful  or  produce  substan- 
tial results.  He  is,  in  the  main,  a  self-made  man,  for  he  had  no  extra 
advantages  in  youth  and  started  out  for  himself  without  anything  to 
succeed  on  but  his  own  brain  and  muscle.  He  is  now  less  than  34 
years  of  age,  yet  he  has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  La  Plata.  He  owns  and  carries  on  a  large  brickyard  here, 
running  several  kilns,  and  manufactures  about  1,000,000  brick  per 
season.  He  has  made  most  of  the  brick,  and,  indeed,  all  that  have 
gone  into  buildings  at  this  place  and  vicinity  since  he  began  the  busi- 
ness. He  also  has  practically  a  monopoly  of  the  coal  business  at  La 
Plata,  supplying  from  his  mine  the  coal  consumed  at  this  point,  and  a 
few  years  ago  he  established  a  nursery  here  which  proved  an  abundant 
success,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  nurseries  of  the  county.  In  a 
word,  he  is  ready  and  qualified  to  engage  in  any  business  which  can 
be  made  successful,  and  with  these  characteristics  he  can  hardly  fail 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  963 

of  becoming  a  man  of  ample  means  in  the  course  of  not  many  years. 
Mr.  Little  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Hancock  county,  November 
16,  1850,  but  was  reared  in  Adams  county  of  that  State,  to  which 
his  parents  removed.  His  father,  Joseph  Little,  was  originally 
from  Washington  county,  Pa.,  but  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  White,  was  from  Tennessee.  They  were  married  in 
Illinois.  W.  Scott  Little  learned  the  brick-makino;  business  in  Adams 
county,  and  afterwards  worked  at  it  until  coming  to  La  Plata  in  1868, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  business  at  this  place.  He  was  married 
December  21,  1868,  to  Miss  Amelia  Wright,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Wright,  formerly  of  New  York.  They  have  one  child :  Clarence  A. 
Mr.  Little  went  to  Kirksville  in  the  spring  of  1869,  but  returned  in  1871, 
working  part  of  the  time  while  he  was  absent  at  the  brick  business, 
and  the  rest  of  the  time  traveling  for  a  nursery.  His  first  wife  died 
October  2,  1872,  and  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife  May  3,  1876. 
She  was  Miss  Carrie  McKinstrey,  a  daughter  of  Sabert  McKinstrey, 
of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Ohio.  They  have  two  children:  Carl 
L.  and  a  girl  baby,  Stella  May.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  are  active  members 
of  the  Good  Templars  lodge,  and  he  is  at  present  lodjje  and  district 
deputy  G.  W.  C.  T. 

CHAELES   E.   LEWELLIN 

(Of  Moore  &  Lewellin,  Lumber  Dealers,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Lewellin,  born  in  Lynchburg,  Va.,  May  15,  1826,  and  reared 
in  Fleming  county,  Ky.,  came  to  Missouri  in  1849,  after  having  trav- 
eled extensively  and  worked  at  various  occupations,  as  well  as  having 
served  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  located  at  Woodville,  in  ^lacon 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school.  From  that  time  up  to 
1855  he  continued  to  teach  in  Macon,  Randolph  and  Monroe  counties, 
except  one  year,  during  which  he  worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at 
Woodville,  when  he  located  at  Patton's  mill,  now  Levick's  mill,  and 
engaged  in  merchandising,  selling  goods  at  that  point  for  about  four 
years.  He  then  went  to  Petersburg,  111.,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
the  grocery  trade  for  about  18  months.  Selling  out  in  Illinois,  he 
located  at  Cairo,  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
merchandising  until  1870.  He  then  settled  on  a  farm,  and  soon  after- 
wards bought  an  interest  in  the  lumber  yard  at  Cairo,  continuing  only 
one  year  in  the  lumber  interest,  but  farming  until  the  fall  of  1881, 
when  he  came  to  La  Plata.  Here,  during  the  following  winter,  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  and  in  the  summer  of  1882  he  and 
his  partner  established  a  branch  yard  at  Millard,  which  they  still  con- 
duct. They  have  an  exceptionally  fine  stock  of  lumber  and  building 
material  of  all  kinds,  and  are  doing  a  thriving  business.  Low  prices 
and  cash  payments  is  their  motto,  and,  living  up  to  this  closely,  they 
have  succeeded  even  beyond  their  expectations.  Accommodating  and 
honorable  in  their  dealings,  they  are  more  than  ordinarily  popular 
with  the  trade.  December  4,  1851,  Mr.  Lewellin  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Ridings,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 


964  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

of  Eandolph  county  and  formerly  of  Virginia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lew- 
ellin  have  four  children:  James  C,  Charles,  Joseph  F.  and  Major. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewellin  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  served  for 
eight  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  in  Randolph  county.  Mr.  Lew- 
ellin is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Lydia  Hart  Lewellin,  who  made 
their  permanent  home  in  Fleming  county,  Ky.  Charles  E.  served 
two  years'  apprenticeship,  from  the  age  of  15,  at  the  blacksmith's 
trade;  he  then  went  to  Arkansas  and  worked  on  a  cotton  farm  one 
year.  Returning  to  Kentucky,  he  worked  in  a  carriage  factory,  at 
Louisville,  about  12  months.  Following  this,  he  worked  in  Arkansas 
another  year  at  cotton  planting,  and  then  worked  in  a  plow  factory  at 
Madison,  Ind.,  then  went  to  Bloomington,  Ind.,  and  worked  in  the 
foundry  and  clerked.  In  1847,  he  enlisted  in  the  Mexican  War  and 
served  for  18  months,  being  honorably  discharged  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time.  He  then  ran  a  restaurant  about  a  year  at  Bloomington, 
Ind.,  and  after  that  attended'  high  school  at  that  place.  Prior  to 
enlisting  in  the  Mexican  War  he  worked  in  a  foundry  at  Blooming- 
ton and  clerked  in  a  store.  After  quitting  the  restaurant  business 
he  learned  the  daguerreotype  business  and  took  pictures  in  Indiana 
for  some  three  months.  He  then  went  to  New  Harmony  and  engaged 
in  flatboating  walnut  logs  down  the  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans. 
After  that  he  came  to  Missouri  and  began  teaching  school  in  Wood- 
ville,  in  Macon  county,  as  stated  above. 

LEWIS  M.  LYDA 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  L.,  one  of  the  enterprising,  thorough-going  citizens  of  La  Plata 
township,  besides  being  a  successful  farmer,  takes  an  intelligent  and 
active  interest  in  local  political  matters,  being  quite  a  leader  among 
the  Greenbackers  in  his  township.  He  is  a  man  of  solid  intelligence, 
good  general  education,  and  possessed  of  pleasant,  agreeable  man- 
ners, so  that  he  is  well  calculated  to  become  a  leader  in  his  party. 
Mr.  Lyda  is  a  brother  to  J.  S.  Lyda,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume,  in  which  an  outline  of  the  family  history 
is  given.  Lewis  M.  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead,  in  the 
county,  December  2,  1844,  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was  19 
years  of  age.  He  then  crossed  the  Plains  to  Virginia  City,  M.  T., 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  some  six  years.  While  working  in  the 
mines  there,  October  25,  1869,  he  met  with  an  accident  that  came 
nearer  than  a  hair's  breath  of  being  fiital,  for  it  even  got  the  hair :  A 
blast  went  off  prematurely,  and  by  the  explosion  one  of  his  eyes  was 
destroyed,  his  left  shoulder  and  eight  ribs  broken  and  his  skull  frac- 
tured in  several  places,  burnt  powder  and  stone  particles  being  driven 
in  through  the  crevices.  By  this  he  was  laid  up  for  two  months,  after 
which  he  returned  home,  but  did  not  recover  entirely  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Lyda  immediately  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  has 
since  followed.     January  9,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Melissa  C. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  9G5 

Saunders,  daughter  of  George  W.  Saunders,  of  this  county,  an  early 
settler  from  Kentucky.  On  the  27th  of  January,  1874,  Mr.  Lyda  met 
with  an  accident  far  more  serious  in  its  result  than  the  first  one  and  sad- 
der than  any  that  could  have  befallen  him.  He  and  his  wife  and  child 
were  in  a  wagon,  crossing  the  east  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  and  when 
in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  which  was  very  swift,  though  not  past  ford- 
ing, the  wagon  became  uncoupled  and  all  three  of  its  occupants  were 
thrown  into  the  water.  Mr.  Lyda  caught  their  child  from  his  wife's 
arms  and  told  her  to  cling  to  him,  so  that  all  three  might  be  able  to 
get  out  alive.  She  lost  her  hold,  however,  and  was  quickly  carried 
down  the  stream  by  the  force  of  the  current,  and  drowned,  Mr.  Lyda 
being  barely  able  to  escape  with  their  child.  Her  body  was  recovered 
soon  afterwards  from  the  river.  The  child,  a  bright  little  boy.  Wood- 
ward L.,  is  still  living  with  his  father.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Lyda 
was  married  October  29,  1874.  Mrs.  Lyda's  maiden  name  was  Miss 
Zelpha  A.  Thompson,  a  daughter  of  Logan  Thompson,  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  the  county  from  Virginia  via  Kentucky.  By  this  union  there 
are  four  children:  James  L.,  Mary  R.,  Effie  A.  and  Nora  M.  Mr. 
L3^da  located  on  his  present  farm  in  the  fall  of  1875.  His  place  con- 
tains 265  acres,  all  under  fence  and  otherwise  substantially  improved. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

DE.  BASIL  C.   McDAVITT 

(Physician  and  Druggist,  La  Plata). 

Dr.  McDavitt  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Randolph  county, 
April  24,  1843,  and  was  a  son  of  Lee  and  Ira  (Kerby)  McDavitt, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  were  married  in  Randolph  county 
and  the  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  county.  Dr. 
Basil  C.  was  reared  in  Macon  county,  to  which  the  family  removed 
when  he  was  quite  young,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  this 
county.  In  1867  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  E.  Keith, 
a  leading  physician  at  the  time,  of  La  Plata.  His  collegiate  educa- 
tion in  medicine  was  acquired  in  the  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chi- 
cago, where  he  concluded  his  course  in  the  spring  of  1869.  He  then 
began  the  practice  at  La  Plata  with  Dr.  Keith,  and  has  since  contin- 
ued it,  being  alone  in  the  practice,  however,  for  a  number  of  years. 
For  the  last  year  or  two  he  has  given  the  principal  share  of  his  atten- 
tion to  his  drug  store  at  this  place,  which  he  has  conducted  since 
1869.  He  still  docs  considerable  practice  in  the  town  of  La  Plata, 
however,  and  when  required,  goes  to  the  country.  He  has  an  excel- 
lent druo;  store,  including  a  full  line  of  drugs   and  medicines,  paints 

Tx  TV  r 

and  oils,  school  books  and  stationery,  notions,  etc.,  etc.  Dr.  Mc- 
Davitt's  drug  business  has  been  quite  successful,  and  his  store  is  one 
of  the  leading  establishments  of  this  kind  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county.  March  12,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  William- 
son, a  daughter  of  Arthur  Williamson,  of  Macon  county,  but  form- 
erly of  Illinois.  They  have  two  children  :  William  A.  and  Lee  W. 
Mrs.  McDavitt  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  the  Doc- 
tor is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge. 


9G6  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


WILLIAM  MILLEE 

(Of  Miller  &  Penuell,  Proprietors  of  the  0.  K.  La  Plata  Mills). 
Mr.  Miller,  a  native  Missourian  and  of  Southern  tamilv  and  sympa- 
thies, being  a  young  man  of  military  age  when  the  war  broke  out, 
very  naturally  identified  himself  with  the  South,  and  promptly  offered 
himself  as  a  volunteer  to  uphold  Southern  rights  and  institutions. 
He  was  in  Texas  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and  early  in  1861  en- 
listed in  Co.  A,  Eleventh  Texas  cavalry,  under  Col.  Young.  After 
the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  he  went  east  of  the  Mississippi  river 
and  was  under  Kirby  Smith  at  the  time  of  his  campaign  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  under  Gen.  Wheeler  most  of  the  time  after  the  battle  of 
Stone  river  until  surrendering  at  Charlotte,  N.  C,  April  26,  1865. 
These  few  lines  taken  from  Gen.  Wheeler's  farewell  address  to  his 
command  are  worthy  of  a  place  here  :  "  You  are  the  sole  victors  of 
more  than  two  hundred  sternly  contested  fields.  You  have  partici- 
pated in  more  than  a  thousand  conflicts  of  arms."  In  one  of  them  he 
was  severely  wounded  and  Avas  confined  to  the  hospital  for  about  a 
month.  Amono;  the  great  battles  of  the  war  in  which  he  took  i)art 
were  those  of  Chickamauga,  Stone  river  and  Pea  Ridge.  He  returned 
to  Macon  county  after  the  war  and  soon  after  went  into  the  milling 
business  in  Chariton  county.  In  1869  this  mill  was  moved  to 
Richland  township,  Macon  county.  In  1879  he  traded  mills  with  A. 
Weakly,  who  erected  and  named  their  present  mill  O.  K.  La  Plata 
mill,  and  he  has  since  been  identified  with  this  mill.  They  have  an 
excellent  grain  mill  (he  and  his  partner)  and  are  doing  a  good  busi- 
ness. On  the  14th  of  Februar3s  1869,  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E,  Pennell,  a  daughter  of  William  D.  and  Delilah  A. 
Pennell,  formerly  of  Pennsylvania,  but  old  and  respected  residents 
of  Chariton  county,  Mo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  are  members  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Miller's  father,  Maxey  Miller, 
is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  as  was  also  the  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Susannah  Tate.  They  removed  to  Missouri  in  about  1830 
and  settled  in  Howard  county.  In  about  1845  the  father  removed  to 
Macon  county  and  settled  in  Independence  township.  The  mother 
died  in  1873,  and  Mr.  Miller,  Sr.,  subsequently  broke  up  house- 
keeping and  died  in  1879.  William  Miller,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  principally  reared  in  Macon  county,  but  was  born  in  Howard 
county,  October  24,  1836.  He  received  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation and  taught  school  for  a  time  after  growing  up.  In  1858  he 
went  to  Texas,  and  was  there  when  the  war  began  in  1861,  as  stated 
above. 

PETER  MINGUS 

(Farmer) . 

Mr.  M.  was  born  in  Union  county,  Penn.,  February  26,  1819,  and 
was  a  son  of  Peter  Mingus,  pere,  and  wife,  Barbara  Carnes,  both 
born  and  reared  in  that  State.     When  Peter,  fils,  was  seven   years  of 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  967 

age  the  family  moved  to  Venango  county,  of  the  same  State,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  In  1842,  then  23  years  of  age,  he  went  to 
Adams  county,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  land  in  the  wilderness  and  im- 
proved a  farm.  Two  years  later,  August  27,  1844,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bars,  a  daughter  of  -William  Bars  of  that  county, 
but  formerly  of  Pennsylvania.  Eight  children  are  the  fruits  of  this 
union:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Martin  Hizer ;  William  A.,  Samuel  C, 
Martha  A.,  wife  of  William  H.  Lee;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  A.  B.  Lee; 
George  W.,  Charles  and  Carrie  E.,  now  a  young  lady.  In  1855  Mr. 
Mingus  removed  to  Iowa,  Avhere  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  15 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  came  to  Missouri  and  bought  land 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  a  farm  of  200  acres,  comfortably  and 
substantially  improved,  and  besides  this  he  has  another  tract  not  far 
distant,  also  improved.  Mrs.  Mingus  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presliyterian  Church  at  La  Plata.  Mr.  Mingus  is  a  hard-working, 
honest  man,  a  man  who  has  made  all  he  has  by  the  sweat  of  his  own 
brow  and  a  man  of  solid  intelligence,  generous  heart  and  good  im- 
pulses. 

J.  LOUIS  NORFOLK 

(Fai'mer  and  Fine  Sheep-raiser). 

Mr.  Norfolk,  who  up  to  six  years  ago  knew  nothing  of  farming,  so 
far  as  practical  experience  is  concerned,  having  been  brought  up  to 
and  always  previously  followed  other  pursuits,  but  who,  nevertheless, 
has  shown  himself  to  be  one  of  the  most  clear-headed,  enterprising 
and  successful  farmers  in  the  township,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  Washington  county,  June  5,  1850.  In  youth  he  took  a 
thorough  course  in  the  Monongahela  public  schools,  and  possessed  of 
a  bright,  active  mind,  and  given  to  habits  of  close  and  attentive 
studiousness,  he  completed  his  course  at  the  early  age  of  13,  gradu- 
ating in  the  common  and  higher  English  branches  and  in  mathematics, 
including  geometry,  surveying,  etc.  He  then  went  on  the  river  and 
was  steamboating  up  to  the  age  of  20.  Tiring  of  the  unsettled  life 
of  a  riverman  he  quit  the  water  and  learned  the  paper-making  trade, 
which  he  followed  in  Elk  Horn,  in  Alleghany  county,  of  his  native 
State,  for  about  seven  years.  But  this  was  too  confining  and  was 
gradually  making  inroads  on  his  health,  so,  having  by  industry  and 
economy  saved  up  some  means,  he  decided  to  try  the  life  of  a  farmer. 
But  of  course  he  hadn't  gotten  alono;  all  this  time  without  a  wife.  He 
was  married  January  29,  1871.  His  wife  was  previously  a  Miss  Barbara 
Cowan,  a  daughter  of  George  Cowan,  of  Washington  county,  Penn. 
Therefore,  in  quitting  the  paper  business  in  1878,  he  brought  his 
family  and  what  means  he  had  out  West,  locating  in  Macon  county. 
Here  he  bought  a  farm  and  went  to  work,  not  with  gloves  either,  but 
in  dead  earnest,  as  a  regular  old-fashioned  to  the  manor  born  granger. 
In  fact,  he  worked  with  a  good  deal  more  energy  than  a  great  many 
farmers  do.  Working  hard  and  managing  well  he  has  of  course  be- 
come successful.  He  has  a  handsome  farm  of  200  acres,  and  has  it 
improved  with  all  modern  conveniences,  including  an  ice  house,  a  fine 
56 


968  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

orchard  and  everything  that  is  calculated  to  make  home  comfortable 
and  pleasant.  Believing  there  was  money  in  the  sheep  business  he 
embarked  in  that  as  a' specialty,  but  not  the  raising  of  scrubby, 
distempered  stock.  He  got  the  best  Spanish  Merino  sheep  he  could 
find  and  now  has  200  head  of  as  fine  bovines  as  one  would  wish  to 
see  of  a  summer's  day, — in  fact  as  fine  sheep  as  there  are  in  the 
county.  Most  of  his  stock  are  thoroughbred  and  can't  be  beat  on 
this  side  of  the  Mississippi.  He  breeds  for  healthy  constitution  and 
heavy  shearing  of  fine  wool.  Mr.  Norfolk  fattens  his  sheep  for  the 
wholesale  markets  and  has  found  it  a  profitable  business.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  N.  have  three  children:  Harry  A.,  Kachie  and  Franklin.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  of  the  I.  O. 
G.  T.  Their  residence  is  a  commodious  two-story  brick  and  is  one  of 
the  better  houses  of  the  township. 

CHRISTOPHER  OWSLEY 

(Dealer  in  Groceries,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Owsley's  father.  Noble  Owsley,  was  a  native  of  East  Tennessee 
and  there  married  Neoma  Cook.  They  subsequently  removed  to  In- 
diana, then  in  about  1844  to  Henderson  county,  III.,  where  they 
made  their  permanent  home.  Christopher  Owsley  was  born  in  In- 
diana, February  9,  1837,  and  was  reared  in  Henderson  county.  III. 
He  was  reared  a  farmer  and  had  only  limited  school  advantages. 
After  he  grew  up  he  went  to  Pike  county,  III.,  where  he  followed 
farming  and  the  saw-mill  business  until  about  1859.  From  Pike 
county.  111.,  he  came  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  but  returned  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  Henderson  county.  In  1864  he  went  to  Idaho  City,  and 
was  out  there  two  years.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he  was  in  Pike 
county,  of  that  State,  until  he  came  to  La  Plata  in  1868.  Here  he 
worked  at  carpentering  for  about  six  months,  and  was  then  elected 
marshal  and  constable  of  the  township  in  which  he  served  until  1871. 
In  February,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Reed.  She 
died  three  years  afterwards,  however.  After  his  marriage  he  engaged 
in  farming  near  La  Plata,  but  in  1874  came  to  this  place  and  opened  a 
grocery  store.  He  has  been  in  this  line  of  business  almost  constantly 
ever  since,  although  he  has  sold  out  at  two  different  times,  remaining 
out  of  business,  however,  only  a  short  time  (when  he  made  one  trip 
to  Carson  City,  Nev.,  and  San  Francisco,  Cal.).  He  carries  a  neat, 
well  selected  stock  of  groceries  and  has  a  profitable  custom.  His  busi- 
ness is  one  of  the  solid  houses  of  the  place  and  he  is  making  some  money 
besides  a  good  living.  He  takes  quite  an  interest  in  local  political 
matters  and  has  served  as  alderman  several  terms.  He  is  now  a  rep- 
resentative of  La  Plata  township  on  the  Democratic  County  Central 
Committee.  May  1,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  C,  the 
widow  of  Charles  Evans,  and  a  daughter  of  Walker  Paul,  formerly 
of  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  have  three  children  :  Effie  B.,  Elsie 
D.  and  Myron  P.  Mrs.  O.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  O.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  969 


THOMAS  J.  PHIPPS 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  La  Plata). 
Last  January  Mr.  Phipps  had  been  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing at  LaPhita  for  18  years  continuously,  and  he  is  still  in  business 
here  with  every  prospect  of  adding  18  years  more  to  his  honorable 
and  successful  record  as  a  merchant  of  this  place.  If  it  is  true  that 
*'  Time  tries  all  things,"  then  Mr.  Phipps  may  be  said  to  have  been 
tried,  fully  and  well  tried  in  that  unerring  crucible  —  to  have  been 
weighed  in  the  balance,  in  fact,  and  not  found  wanting.  No  one  could 
have  continued  business  here  as  long  as  he  has  without  business  capa- 
city and  personal  honesty,  for  both  are  absolutely  necessary  to  endur- 
ing success  ;  the  one  to  carry  on  affairs  properly,  and  the  other  to 
win  and  retain  the  confidence  of  the  public.  These  qualities  Mr. 
Phipps  has  proved  himself  to  possess,  qualities  the  possession  of  which 
is  alone  the  highest  eulogy  that  can  be  spoken  of  one's  character.  Mr. 
Phipps  was  born  in  Randolph  county  May  3,  1836,  and  was  a  son  of 
Silas  Phipps.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Miss  Jane 
Burk,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Silas  Phipps  came  out  to  Kentucky 
when  a  young  man,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Burk.  The 
two  then  came  to  Missouri,  and  located  in  Randolph  county  as  early 
as  1820.  They  lived  there  for  nearly  25  years,  finally  settling  in 
Macon  county,  near  McGee  College,  in  1844,  where  the  father  lived 
38  years,  dying  in  the  fall  of  1882,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  He  had 
seen  service  in  one  of  the  Indian  wars  and  helped  drive  the  Indians 
from  this  then  wilderness. 

Thomas  J.  Phipps  was  principally  reared  in  Macon  county,  and 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  common  schools.  In  1855  he  went 
into  a  store  in  Shelby  county,  where  he  clerked  for  two  years.  He 
then  went  to  Wilsontown,  in  Adair  county,  and  engaged  in  business 
for  himself,  which  he  continued  for  about  four  years.  The  war  hav- 
ing come  on  in  the  meantime,  he  closed  out  business  and  went  on  the 
mountains,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  for  two  years.  He 
then  returned  to  the  plains  and  engaged  in  the  freighting  business. 
He  continued  that  business  with  excellent  success  durmg  the  entire 
war.  In  1865  he  came  back  to  Missouri,  and  the  following  year 
opened  out  a  store  at  La  Plata,  beginning  in  January,  and  enlarging 
his  business  until  two  large  store-rooms  were  required  for  his  exten- 
sive business,  and  finally  reaching  nearly  the  enormous  figures  of 
$100,000  per  year,  in  the  retail  business.  Closing  out  this  business 
in  1882,  with  an  invoice  of  $15,000,  he  again  opened  in  La  Plata,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1883,  with  a  fine  and  complete  stock  of  dry  goods,  clothing,  hats, 
caps,  boots,  shoes  and  furnishing  goods,  with  a  good  patronage,  and 
a  steadily  increasing  trade.  March  6,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Ellis  Wilson,  of  Adair  county. 
They  have  three  children:  Edgar  L.,  now  at  Oak  Lawn  College,  in 
Knox  county  ;  Claude  A.  and  Floy  T.  Mr.  Phipps  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  including  the  Knight  Templar  Chapter  and 
Commandery  lodges. 


970  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JOHN  p.  PHIPPS 

(Jewelry  Merchant,  La  Plata) . 

Mr.  Phipps,  one  of  the  enterprising  j^oung  business  men  of  this 
phice,  has  been  identified  with  trade  at  La  Phita  on  his  own  account, 
either  in  one  line  or  another,  since  1878,  having  clerked,  however, 
for  awhile  during  this  period ;  and  he  was  also  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  trading  for  a  short  time.  He  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 
ness in  November,  1883,  having  bought  out  the  jewelry  store  of  Ber- 
ton  Derr.  Mr.  Phipps  carries  a  superior  assortment  of  clocks,  watches 
and  jewelry  of  all  descriptions.  His  progress  in  his  present  line  has 
been  steady  and  substantial,  and  he  is  rapidly  coming  to  the  front  as 
a  business  man.  On  the  14th  of  June,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Emma,  a  daughter  of  J.  M.  Derr,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this 
volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phipps  have  two  children :  L.  Alma  and  M. 
Alta.  Mr.  Phipps  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  and  Merchants'  As- 
sociation. He  was  born  in  Eandolph  county,  September  21,  1851. 
His  father  was  Joshua  R.  Phipps,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name,  Jane 
Phipps.  The  father  came  to  Missouri  with  his  family  when  but  a 
child,  and  the  ftimily  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Randolph  county. 
After  he  grew  up  he  helped  to  lay  out  the  county-seat  of  Randolph 
county,  and  still  resides  in  that  county,  being  one  of  its  leading  farm- 
ers and  highly  respected  citizens.  John  P.  was  reared  in  Randolph 
county  and  was  educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant  and  McGee  colleges.  He 
then  came  to  La  Plata  in  the  spring  of  1875,  and  clerked  for  T.  J. 
Phipps  &  Bro.  for  about  two  years.  After  this  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  trade  with  C.  Owsley,  but  sold  out  after  two  years.  Follow- 
ing this  he  clerked  again,  and  finally  farmed  and  dealt  in  stock  before 
<!ommencing  his  present  business. 

JOHN  M.  POWELL 

(Superintendent  of  the  La  Plata  Creamery). 

Among  the  citizens  of  enterprise  and  public  spirit  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  occupies  a  de- 
servedly .enviable  position.  He  is  at  the  head  of  a  business  enterprise 
that  has  been  of  great  value  to  the  farming  community  around  him, 
and  more  or  less  directly  to  all  other  interests  ;  an  enterprise  which 
he  took  the  leading  part  in  establishing,  and  which  is  proving  a  busi- 
ness success,  as  well  as  a  public  benefit.  At  the  time  he  embarked 
in  this  business,  putting  his  time  and  means  into  it,  it  was  regarded 
as  an  experiment,  and  many  were  afraid  to  invest  in  it.  But  a  clear- 
headed man,  he  looked  into  it  closely  and  intelligently,  and  convinced 
himself  that,  although  a  new  line  of  business,  it  was  destined  to  be- 
come in  the  not  far  distant  future,  one  of  great  magnitude  and  im- 
portance. He,  therefore,  went  into  it  without  hesitation,  and  although 
but  a  short  time  has  elapsed,  his  judgment  is  already  vindicated  by 
experience.     Creameries  have  been  established  all  over  the  State,  and 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  971 

the  day  is  rapidly  coming  when  they  will  be  as  common  as  the  old- 
fashioned  saw  and  grist  mill.  Last  year  Mr.  Powell  made  10,000  pounds 
of  butter,  and  would  have  made  much  more,  but  had  to  shut  down 
for  want  of  cream.  The  present  year,  however,  he  expects  that  the 
cream  supply  will"  be  sufficient  to  keep  him  running  constantly.  The 
butter,  as  every  one  knows  who  has  used  it  to  any  extent,  is  far  su- 
perior to  the  ordinary  country  butter,  and  needs  only  to  be  introduced 
into  a  community  to  entirely  supersede  the  latter.  Mr.  Powell's 
building  is  a  substantial  structure,  is  36x44  feet  in  dimensions,  with  a 
good  ice-honse  36x44  attached,  and  is  supplied  with  a  handsome  en- 
gine and  other  machinery  and  appliances,  all  of  the  latest  and  best 
make.  Mr.  Powell  is  a  man  of  energy  and  enterprise,  understands 
his  business  thoroughly,  and  has  made  the  La  Plata  creamery  one  of 
the  successful  business  and  industrial  enterprises  of  the  place.  Mr. 
Powell  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  but  was  principally  reared  in  Missouri, 
and  came  of  an  old  and  respected  Virginia  family.  His  father,  Jack- 
son T.  Powell,  and  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mandana 
Yowell,  came  from  the  Old  Dominion  and  settled  in  Cass  county.  111., 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  county.  John  M.  was  born  there 
August  12,  1839.  In  1848  the  family  removed  to  Missouri,  locating 
in  Randolph  county,  where  the  father  entered  land  and  improved  a 
good  farm.  He  died  there  in  1863.  John  M.  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education  in  Randolph  county,  and  followed  farming  for 
a  short  time  after  he  grew  up.  He  came  to  Macon  county  in  1865, 
and  was  engaged  in  merchandising  most  of  the  time  up  to  1879,  when 
he  became  identified  with  the  walnut  lumber  trade,  and  furnishing 
ties  to  the  railroads.  He  was  in  these  lines  until  1883,  when  he  and 
J.  B.  Thompson  and  others,  formed  a  creamery  company,  and  estab- 
lished the  present  creamery.  September  8,  1859,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Deskin,  a  daughter  of  C.  H.  Deskin,  of  Randolph 
county.  The}^  have  one  child,  Lillie  May,  the  wife  of  Theodore 
Pierce,  now  of  Grenola,  Kas.,- where  he  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
trade.  Mrs.  Powell  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  For  four 
3'-ears  Mr.  Powell  was  Master  of  the  La  Plata  Lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M., 
and  is  still  a  prominent  member  of  that  order. 

J.  DAMON  REED 

(Of  Brammer  &  Eeed,  Grocers,  La  Plata). 
Mr.  Reed  of  the  above-named  firm  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in 
Bureau  countv,  January  23,  1848,  and  a  son  of  Freeman  C.  and  Caro- 
line (Dorr)  Reed,  bothVrom  New  York.  Freeman  C.  Reed,  however, 
came  to  the  Prairie  State  when  a  young  man,  and  was  married  in  Bu- 
reau county.  In  the  spring  of  1868  the  family  removed  to  Missouri, 
locating  in  Macon  county  near  Callao,  where  the  parents  still  reside. 
J.  Damon  Reed  came  to  this  State  with  his  parents  and  continued  farm- 
ing and  handling  stock,  to  which  he  had  been  brought  up,  until  1883, 
when  he  came  to  La  Plata  and  bought  a  partnership  interest  in  the 
present  firm.     He  is  a  young  man  of  industry,  good  education  and 


972  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

excellent  business  qualifications,  and  contributes  very  materially  by  his 
enero-y  and  personal  popularity  to  the  success  of  the  firm,  for  he  is 
urbane,  polite  and  closely  attentive  to  business.  The  business  of  the 
firm  has  already  been  spoken  of  in  the  sketch  of  the  senior  partner, 
Mr.  Brammer.  September  26,  1876,  Mr.  Eeed  was  married  to  Miss 
Idressa  A.  Sears,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Sears,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  county^  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  have  one  child,  a  bright 
little  girl  four  years  of  age,  Jennie  L. 

JOHN  REYNER 

(Proprietor  of  Reyner's  Wagon  and  Buggy  Factory,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Reyner  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Brotherly  Love  and  was  born 
March  4,  1819.  His  father  was  Henry  Reyner  also  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  his  mother  was  Maria  Broadhead,  a  representative  of 
the  same  family  by  descent  from  which  Hon.  James  O.  Broadhead  of 
St.  Louis,  the  leading  lawyer  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  at  present 
a  member  of  Congress  from  that  city,  sprang.  She  died,  however, 
when  John  Reyner,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  quite  small.  John 
Reyner  was  educated  in  the  com'mon  schools  of  Philadelphia  and  after- 
wards learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  In  1838  he  removed  to  Bel- 
mont county,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  county.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  at  Pleasant  Grove  for  about  11  years,  and  then 
went  to  Martin's  Ferry,  on  the  Ohio,  a  short  distance  above  Wheel- 
ing, West  Va.,  where  he  worked  until  the  fall  of  1870.  Coming  to  La 
Phita,  Mr.  Reyner  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  here,  which  he 
carried  on  for  some  two  years.  In  1872  Mr.  Reyner  bought  out  a 
blacksmith  shop  at  this  phice  and  continued  it  until  1877,  when  he 
built  an  addition  and  added  wagon  making  to  his  shop,  since  which 
he  has  not  only  run  his  blacksmith  shop,  but  has  made  a  specialty  of 
wagon  making.  He  manufactures  annually  about  thirty-five  wagons, 
about  one-half  of  which  are  spring  wagons.  He  also  makes  plain  bug- 
gies. He  has  had  excellent  success  in  his  wagon  factory  business,  and 
his  wagons  have  obtained  a  wide  and  enviable  reputation.  He  con- 
siders it  a  matter  of  personal  honor  to  put  none  but  the  best  material 
in  his  wagons,  for  he  regards  it  that  a  man  who  would  palm  off  a 
fraudulent  wagon  on  the  market  must  be  a  fraud  himself.  The  people 
have  come  to  find  this  out  and  they  therefore  know  that  when  they 
get  a  Reyner  wagon  they  get  the  full  worth  of  their  money  and  a 
wagon  that  can  be  depended  on,  durable,  light-running  and  substan- 
tial. On  the  17th  of  June,  1840,  Mr.  Reyner  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Guest,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Guest  of  Belmont,  Ohio,  but 
formerly  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  of  Quaker  parentage.  His  father 
I'ell  in  the  defense  of  the  Colonies  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Revner  have  four  children  :  Edwin  D.,  in  business  at  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.  ;  Henry  G.,  a  merchant  at  La  Plata ;  Lewis  C,  agent  of 
the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  at  Washington,  III.  ;  and  William  H., 
now  with  his  father.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  the  I.  O. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  973 

O.  F.  and  the  I.  O.  G.  T.,  in  which  hitter  lodge  he  has  held  all  the 
positions  from  P.  G.  W.  C.  T.  down. 

HENRY  G.  REYNER 

(Of  Saul  &  Reyner,  Hardware  Merchants,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Reyner  did  not  reach  military  eligibility  until  1863,  when  he 
attained  his  eighteenth  year.  Of  northern  antecedents  and  himself 
born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  he  naturally  sympathized  with  the  North  in 
the  struggle  between  the  two  sections.  Accordingly,  he  promptly  en- 
listed in  the  Union  service,  becoming  a  member  of  Battery  H,  first  West 
Virginia  Light  Artillery,  in  which  he  served  for  a  term  of  12  months. 
He  then  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-fifth  Ohio  in- 
fantry, under  Col.  Daniel  McKay,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  participated  in  the  last  battle  of  Harper's  Ferry  and  in  the  battles 
of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and  in  numerous  less  engagements.  After 
the  war  he  returned  home  to  Belmont,  Ohio,  and  was  eniraofed  in  a 
foundry  and  blacksmith  shop  there  at  moulding  for  about  three  years. 
In  1869  became  to  Missouri,  locating  at  La  Plata,  where  he  has  since 
been  in  the  hardware  business.  During  part  of  this  time  he  has  been  in 
business  alone.  The  present  firm  was  formed  in  1882.  They  carry  a 
good  general  stock  of  hardware,  including  tin,  glass  and  queen's-ware, 
as  well  as  other  classes  of  goods  in  their  line.  They  have  a  large 
trade  and  steadily  increasing  business.  Both  are  good  business  men 
and  are  personally  popular  so  that  their  house  commands  a  good  run 
of  custom.  September  17,  1868,  Mr.  Reyner  was  married  at  Macon 
City  to  Miss  Louisa  D.  Jacobs,  a  daughter  of  D.  A.  and  Elizabeth 
Jacobs  of  that  place,  but  formerly  of  Mahoning  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reyner  have  three  children  :  Fred  K.,  Edward  V.  and  Anna  I. 
Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Reyner's  father, 
John  Reyner,  was  born  and  reared  in  Philadelphia  and  came  out  to 
Ohio  when  a  young  man  where  he  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Guest,  for- 
merly of  New  Jersey,  and  settled  in  Belmont  county.  Henry  G.  was 
born  in  that  county  January  19,  1845,  and  was  there  reared  up  to  the 
time  he  entered  the  army. 

JUSTIN  ROAN 

(Farmer,  Post-offlce,   LaPlata) . 

Mr.  Roan,  who  has  lived  in  Missouri  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and 
on  the  place  where  he  now  resides  for  the  last  30  years,  one  of  the 
worthy  farmers  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  county,  is  a 
native  of  the  old  North  State,  born  in  Caswell  county,  March  11, 
1812.  Farming  has  been  his  principal  occupation  from  boyhood.  In 
the  fall  of  1836  he  was  married  in  his  native  county  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Long,  and  the  following  year  removed  to  Haynes  county.  Miss., 
where  he  lived  for  two  years.  From  Mississippi  he  came  to  Missouri 
in  1832,  locating  in  Randolph  county,  where  he  lived  for  13  years 
engaofed  in  farming.     During  that  time,  however,  in  1850,   he  went 


974  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

overland  to  California  in  company  with  Capt.  Joseph  Barton,  but 
after  spending  about  18  months  on  the  Pacific  coast  returned  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus  and  New  Orleans  to  Randolph  county,  reaching  home 
in  July,  1852.  A  couple  of  months  later  he  removed  to  Macon  county, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1854  settled  on  the  place  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  has  an  excellent  farm,  comfortably  and  substantially 
improved,  and  is  otherwise  pleasantly  situated.  Mr.  Roan  is  now 
living  with  his  second  wife.  His  first  wife  died  in  August,  1872,  after 
a  happy  married  life  of  36  years,  which  was  one  of  unbroken  comfort 
to  him  to  the  end:  To  his  present  wife  he  was  married  November  6, 
1873.  She  is  a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities  and  is  greatly  prized 
by  her  neighbors  and  loved  in  her  own  family.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Vicenia  Bernard,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Bernard,  formerly  of  Ken- 
tucky, but  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Roan  she  was  the  widow 
of  Thomas  Pugh.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roan  have  three  children:  Ara- 
minta,  James  B.  and  Gertrude.  Mrs.  Roan  has  two  by  her  former 
marriage,  Thomas  O.  and  Laura.  By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Roan  had 
five  children  :  Sallie  A.,  the  wife  of  William  Hutchinson;  Frances, 
wife  of  Mitchell  Burch  ;  Mary,  wife  of  E.  Kelso  ;  Barbara,  wife  of 
John  McQuey,  and  Burch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roan  are  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  Church,  at  Lover's  Lake,  and  Mr.  Roan  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

JOHN  T.  ROMJUE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Romjue's  father,  Judge  John  H.  Romjue,  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Scotland  county,  this  State.  He  came  from  Oldham  county, 
Ky.,  the  year  that  John  T.  was  born,  in  1836,  and  settled  in  Scotland 
county.  He  entered  900  acres  of  fine  land  there  and  improved  a  large 
farm.  He  also  entered  about  1,100  acres  of  land  in  Bates  county. 
He  lived  in  Scotland  county  for  nearly  25  years  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  that  county.  He  served  on  the  county  court  bench 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  held  other  positions  of  local  prominence. 
In  1860,  however,  he  removed  to  Macon  county  and  settled  on  the 
place  where  John  T.  resides  He  died  here  17  years  afterwards,  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  John  T.  Romjue  was 
reared  in  Scotland  county,  and  when  in  his  twenty-first  year,  February 
22,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna,  a  daughter  of  Willis  Hicks, 
an  early  settler  of  that  county.  Mrs.  Romjue's  father  came  to  the 
county  among  its  very  first  families,  his  being  one  of  the  only  five  in 
the  county  at  that  time.  He  was  also  from  Kentucky.  Three  years 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Romjue  came  with  his  family  to  Macon  county, 
but  bought  land  here  near  Old  Bloomington,  where  he  improved  a 
farm.  He  afterwards  sold  that  farm  and  bought  land  near  his  father's 
place.  Two  years  before  his  father's  death  he  moved  to  the  latter's 
place,  where  he  now  lives.  After  his  father's  death  he  bought  the 
place  and  has  since  continued  to  reside  upon  it.  This  farm  contains 
180   acres,  all  fenced   and   otherwise    well  improved.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  975 

Rorajue  have  reared  a  family  of  eight  children:  James  L.,  marrie<i 
Miss  Susie  Shacklett,  formerly  from  Kentucky,  in  the  year  1882  ; 
Nancy  E.,  wife  of  Frank  Alspach  ;  Lizzie  A.,  wife  ofN.  J.  Steiner,  a 
merchant  of  Canton;  Willis  A.,  Addie  J.,  Thomas  C,  Cora  L.  and 
Hattie  Belle.  One  is  deceased,  Lottie  F.,  who  died  January  9,  1881, 
at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Romjue  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  South. 

ERASTUS  M.  ROSS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Ross  has  resided  in  Macon  county  since  1871,  and  has  a  good 
farm  of  280  acres  with  other  land  in  fence,  his  place  being  m  an 
excellent  state  of  cultivation  and  otherwise  comfortably  improved. 
He  is  engaged  in  farming  in  a  general  way  and  raises  considerable 
stock  for  the  markets,  which  he  fattens  on  his  own  place.  Mr.  Ross 
was  born  in  Boone  count3^  Ky.,  September  16,  1828.  His  father, 
John  W.  Ross,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Boone 
county,  Ky.,  and  became  one  of  the  leading  and  wealthy  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  that  county.  Mr.  Ross'  mother  was  a  Miss  Nancy 
Graves  before  her  marriao;e  and  was  also  a  native  of  Viro'inia.  Eras- 
tus  M.  Ross  was  reared  and  educated  in  Boone  county,  Ky.,  and 
when  20  years  of  age  went  to  Gallatin  county,  of  the  same  State, 
where  he  farmed  for  a  year  and  then  removed  to  Carroll  county, 
of  that  State.  While  in  Carroll  county  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Julia  R.,  a  daughter  of  John  Blessing  of  that  county.  This  was 
July  4,  1851.  Two  years  later  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Hancock  county.  There  he  bought  raw  land  and  improved  a  farm. 
He  farmed  in  Hancock  co'unty.  111.,  for  18  years,  and  also  raised 
and  handled  stock  to  some  extent.  He  then  sold  out  and  came 
to  Missouri  in  1871,  as  stated  above.  Here  he  bought  raw  laud 
in  Macon  county  and  improved  another  farm,  which  he  sold  to 
advantage  in  1876,  buying  after  that  the  place  where  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  Ross  feeds  and  ships  about  two  car  loads  of  cattle  and  one  of 
hogs  annually.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  have  reared  11  children:  Leslie 
C,  Jolin  F.,  Anna  L.,  wife  of  D.  P.  Reyner ;  Hooker  B.,  Frank, 
John  H.,  Erastus  B.,  Albert  T.,  Lou  May,  Charley  and  Maude. 
They  lost  one  in  infancv.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  Mr.  R.  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  in  Illinois. 

HON.  WALTER  S.  SEARS 

(Member  of  the  Legislature  and  Merchant,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Sears,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Macon  county  and  one 
of  its  most  influential,  prominent  citizens,  is  a  representative  of  one  of" 
the  pioneer  and  highly  respected  families  of  this  section  of  the  State. 
His  grandfather,  Ivison  Sears,  immigrated  to  Missouri  from  Ken- 
tucky as  early  as  1818,  and  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  Randolph 
county,  near  the  present  town  of  Huntsville.  He  reared  his  family 
in  that  county  and  lived  there   until   his  death,   which  occurred  in 


976  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

1854.  He  was  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  county,  a  man 
eminently  fitted  both  by  courage  and  enterprise  for  the  great  work 
to  be  done  —  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundations  of  civilized 
society  in  the  then  wilderness.  As  a  farmer  he  was  quite  successful, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  county.  He 
had  a  family  of  15  children,  of  whom  seven  sons  and  six  daughters 
lived  to  reach  maturity,  and  themselves  became  the  heads  of  families. 
The  first  one  of  his  sons  was  Theophilus  Sears,  who  became  the  father 
of  Walter  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  a  short  biography  of 
whom  appears  in  the  History  of  Randolph  county,  published  in  this 
volume. 

Theophilus  Sears  was  born  in  Missouri  in  1824.  He  also  became 
a  successful  farmer  of  Randolph  county.  He  held  numerous  local 
offices  and  occupied  a  position  of  influence  in  his  community.  He 
died  there  in  September,  1875,  widely  and  profoundly  mourned,  for 
he  was  a  citizen  whose  life  reflected  only  honor  on  the  county  in 
which  it  was  spent.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary  J.  Gavins  before 
her  marriage,  a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities  of  head  and  heart. 
She  died  in  1856.      Walter  S.  Sears  was  the  only  child. 

He  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Randolph  county,  October  20,  1850, 
and  was  reared  in  his  native  county.  His  early  youth  was  spent  on 
the  farm  and  at  school.  At  the  age  of  18  he  entered  Mt.  Pleasant 
College,  at  Huntsville,  under  the  presidency  of  James  W.  Terrill,  in 
which  he  took  a  thorouo-h  course,  o;raduatino:  with  distinction  in  the 
class  of  1873.  Such  were  his  qualifications  and  his  personal  qualities 
that  immediately  after  his  graduation  he  was  employed  as  a  teacher 
in  the  college  where  he  had  completed  his  education,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  teach  with  success  in  that  institution  for  two  years.  By 
this  time  his  reputation  as  an  educator  had  become  so  well  established 
and  so  generally  recognized,  that  he  was  solicited  to  open  a  private 
school  in  Paris,  Monroe  county,  which  he  did,  afterwards  accepting  a 
position  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place  with  great  success. 

But  for  some  time  it  had  been  his  desire  to  engage  in  business  pur- 
suits, and  he  now  felt  that  he  was  in  a  position  to  gratify  this  inclina- 
tion. He  therefore  came  to  La  Plata  in  the  spring  of  1877  and 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  becoming  associated  in  business  with 
liis  present  partner,  Mr.  James  I.  Sears.  Later  along  he  and  his 
partner  also  put  in  a  stock  of  groceries,  and  their  business  in  both 
lines  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted  success.  Their  trade  has  con- 
tinued to  increase  and  they  have  from  time  to  time  enlarged  their 
stocks  until  they  now  have  one  of  the  leading  houses  in  the  drug 
and  grocery  line  in  Macon  county.  They  occupy  three  large  rooms, 
two  of  which  belong  to  them  and  all  are  filled  with  goods.  They 
buy  for  cash  in  large  quantities,  so  that  they  get  important  reduc- 
tions, and,  selling  mainly  for  cash,  they  are  enabled  to  mark  their 
goods  at  prices  which  insure  them  a  large  custom  and  protect  them 
from  loss  by  competing  houses,  for  they  can  not  be  undersold  with- 
out injury  to   those   attempting  it.     Both  Mr.  Sears  and  his  partner 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  977 

are  men  of  superior  business  tact  and  capacity,  and  are  personally 
popular  with  the  public,  a  fact  by  no  means  the  least  important  to 
their  success  in  business. 

Mr.  Sears,  a  man  of  ability  and  culture,  and  public  spirited  to 
a  marked  degree,  has  always  taken  a  more  or  less  active  interest  in 
public  affiiirs.  He  is,  of  course,  a  Democrat,  as  every  good  citizen  of 
sound  mind  and  body  in  this  State  ought  to  be,  and  naturally  feels  a 
warm  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party  and  its  principles.  Ever 
ready  to  contribute  his  own  time  and  energies  for  the  good  of  the 
party,  believing  that  in  doing  this  he  is  serving  the  best  interests  of 
the  country,  his  zeal  and  services  have  been  of  great  value  to  the 
party  in  Macon  county  and  in  the  State,  and  he  has  long  been  recog- 
nized as  one  of  its  safest  and  soundest  leaders  in  his  own  county,  and 
throughout  his  section  of  the  State.  In  1880  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Democracy  of  his  district  for  Representative  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture and  was  elected  by  a  majority  highly  complimentary  to  his  per- 
sonal popularity.  Serving  his  district  and  the  State  in  the  House 
with  ability  for  one  term  and  with  satisfaction  to  his  constituents,  he 
was  renominated  by  the  party  of  the  entire  county  for  the  same  office 
and  was  again  elected.  His  second  term  has  not  yet  expired.  In  the 
House  he  took  a  prominent  position  as  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
character,  and  wielded  a  marked  influence  on  State  legislation.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  bill  re-districting  the  State  into  Congres- 
sional districts  which  passed  at  the  special  session  of  1882,  by  all 
odds  the  most  important  bill,  in  a  political  sense,  passed  by  the 
Legislature  during  his  four  years'  service. 

On  the  I5th  day  of  December,  1880,  Mr.  Sears  was  married  to 
Miss  Mattie  W.  Craddock,  a  refined  and  accomplished  daughter  of 
Hon.  Samuel  A.  Craddock,  of  Mexico,  Mo.,  a  leading  lawyer  of  the 
Mexico  bar.  Mrs.  Sears  was  reared  and  educated  at  Mexico,  gradu- 
ating among  the  fii'st  of  her  class  at  Hardin  College  in  1876.  She 
had  previously  taken  a  course  at  Stephens'  College,  of  Columbia. 
She  is  a  lady  of  rare  endowments  and  culture,  and  is  highly  esteemed 
in  the  best  society  of  La  Plata.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.     They  have  one  child,  a  boy,  born  April  11,  1884. 

Mr.  Sears  is^  a  member  of  the  La  Plata  Lodge  No.  237  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  and  of  the  Chapter  at  Macon  City.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Commandery  at  Kirksville.  He  has  filled  all  the  stations  in  the 
Blue  Lodge  and  was  Master  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  Senior 
Deacon  at  this  time. 

ELLISON  L.  SHEPHERD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-offlce,  Love  Lake), 
It  was  a  favorite  maxim  of  Sully,  the  great  French  economist  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  that  Labourage  et pasturage  sent  les  doux  Mamelles  de 
V  Etat, —  '«  Tillage  and  pasturage  are  the  breasts  of  the  state."  He 
held,  as  all  the  world  holds,  that  agriculture  is  the  foundation  of  all 
prosperity.     So,  in  every  country,   and  in  this  country  particularly, 


978  HISy'ORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

farmers,  industrious,  energetic,  progressive  agriculturists,  are  looked 
to  as  the  pillars  of  the  State.  The  men  who  develop  the  wealth  of  the 
soil,  who  till  it  and  cause  it  to  bring  forth  its  ample  products  for  the 
sustenance'  of  man  and  beast,  are  the  men  who  contribute  the  life- 
blood  of  prosperity  to  every  community.  Hence,  in  preparing  the 
history  of  Macon  county,  one  of  its  chief  features  should  be  sketches 
of  the  lives  of  those  sterling  men  who,  by  tending  their  fields  and 
herds,  produce  the  commodities  necessary  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
county,  and  Avho  have  thus  built  it  up  and  made  it  what  it  is.  Prom- 
inent among  this  class  of  citizens  is  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 
Mr.  Shepherd  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  La  Plata  township  and 
one  of  its  most  progressive  and  enterprising  citizens.  Like  manv  of 
our  best  citizens,  he  came  from  the  North,  and  came  here  after  the 
war.  He  was  born  in  Putman  county.  111,,  April  1,  1835.  His  par- 
ents were  Johnson  and  Malinda  (Livingston)  Shepherd,  both  born 
and  reared  in  Ohio.  The  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1833  and  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Putman  county.  The  father  was  in  a 
number  of  Indian  fights  in  that  early  day.  He  died,  however,  when 
Ellison  L.  was  in  infancy,  and  thereupon  the  mother  returned  to  Ohio. 
The  son  was  reared  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until 
21  years  of  age  when  he  returned  to  Putman  county,  111.,  and  engaged 
in  farming.  He  lived  there  and  in  La  Salle  county  for  about  nine 
years,  and  was  married  in  La  Salle  county,  December  25,  1865,  to 
Miss  Priscilla  A.  Robinson,  a  daughter  of  James  Robinson  of  that 
county.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Shepherd  located  in  Livingston 
county.  111.,  where  he  followed  farming  until  1882.  Li  the  fall  of 
1881,  selling  his  farm  in  Livingston  county,  he  came  to  Missouri  the 
following  spring  and  bought  the  farm  where  he  has  since  resided,  two 
miles  east  of  La  Plata.  He  has  400  acres  of  fine  land  here,  280  acres 
in  the  home  place,  all  in  excellent  cultivation.  Besides  other  fencing, 
he  has  1,200  rods  of  excellent  hedge  fencing.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
fencing  80  acres  more  for  pasturage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepherd  have 
two  children,  Robert  Lincoln  and  James  William.  Their  niece  is  also 
a  member  of  their  family,  Miss  Estella  May  Robinson,  a  young  lady 
of  charming  presence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepherd  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  and  he  is  an  elder  in  the  church. 

GEORGE  W.  SHROPSHIRE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Among  the  first,  if  not  at  the  head  of  the  farmers  and  stockmen  of 
Macon  county,  by  the  recognition  of  all,  stands  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch.  Mr.  Shropshire  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and 
handling  stock,  but  principally  in  the  latter,  from  boyhood,  and," hav- 
ing the  qualities  that  make  successful  men,  enterprise,  business  intelli- 
gence and  energy,  he  has  been  eminently  successful.  All  that  he 
has  he  has  made  in  his  present  lines  of  industry.  His  landed  estate, 
practically  all  under  fence  and  more  than  ordinarily  well  improved, 
aggregates  2,000  acres,  on  which  there  are  20  miles  of  good  fencing 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


979 


and  about  60  gates,  including  two  fine  iron  gates,  and  one  mile  of 
his  fencing  is  set  with  iron  posts  and  made  of  the  best  quality  of  wire. 
Besides  the  homestead   residence,  there  are  seven  tenement  houses, 
with  their  accompanying  improvements.     Mr.   Shropshire's  dwelhng 
is  a  substantial,  tastily  constructed  two-story  brick  building,  and  his 
barn  is  a  well  built,  roomy  structure,  peculiarly  well  arranged  and 
well  adapted  for  storing  grain  and  caring  for  stock.     His  other  build- 
in  o-s  and  improvements  compare  favorably  with  those  that  have  been 
mentioned.     His  fields,  pastures  and   meadows  are  so  arranged  with 
reoard  to  fences  and  gates,  and  to  their  locations,  that   stock  and 
o-rain  can  be  moved  from  one  to  another  with  the  least  possible  injury 
to  lands   or  crops,  and  with  the  greatest  convenience.     His  farm  is 
laid  out  and  planned  with  the  judgment  that  would  be  expected  of  an 
architect  in  planning  a  house  or  of  an  engineer  in  laying  off  some  im- 
portant system  of  public  works.     In  a  word,  Mr.  Shropshire  has  one 
of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  and   one  of  the  best  arranged   and 
most  valuable  stock  farms  in  the  State.     Besides  the  large  number 
of  stock  which  he  handles  asVi  dealer,  he  feeds  on  his  own  place  about 
100  head  of  cattle   and  from  two  to  three  car  loads  of  hogs  annually. 
Still  in  the  meridian  of  life,  with  many  years  of  activity  before  him, 
and  occupied  as  he  is  with  his  farming  and  stock  interests,  there  can 
be  but  little  doubt  that  if  he  is  spared  to  an  average  old  age  he  will 
take  a  far  more  advanced  position  than  he  now  occupies  as  an  agricul- 
turist, prominent  as  he  already  is.     Mr.   Shropshire  has  made,  virtu- 
ally, every  dollar  he  is  worth  by  his  own  industry,  enterprise  and  good 
manao-ement,  and   he  is  therefore  entitled  to  the  more  credit  for  the 
position  he  holds  in  agricultural  affairs.     He  is  a  native  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State,  that  State  distinguished  for  the  ability  and  eminent  suc- 
cess of  its  farmers  and  stock-raisers,  a  State  that  has  led  all  the  rest  m 
the   production   of  fine  stock  and  to  whose  stables  and  pastures  the 
whole  continent  resorts  for  the  the  best  blood.     He  was  born  in  Har- 
rison county,  Ky.,  February  14,  1834.     His  father  was  Capt.  xM.  P. 
Shropshire,  a  successful  agriculturist  of  that  State,  and  a  captain  of 
militia  in  the   old  muster  days.     His  mother,  before  her  marriage, 
was  a  Miss  Agatha  Pemberton,  and  of  that  old  and  prominent  family 
well  known  in   Kentucky  and  several  of  the   other    States.     When 
George  W.  was  in  boyhood  his  parents  removed  to  Bourbon  county, 
where  they   made  their  permanent  home.     At  the  age  of  17  he   went 
to  Covino-ton  and   engaged  in  the   horse  and  mule  trade,  buying  for 
and  shipping  to  the   Southern  markets.     In  this  business  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  fortune.     He  also  established  a  large  livery  and  sales 
stable   at  Covington,  which   he  carried  on  with  success  for  about  five 
years.     His  hoi^ses   and  mules  were  bought   for  the  Southern  trade 
principally  in  Kentucky  and  the  adjacent  territory  of  Indiana  and  Ohio. 
In  1855  Mr.  Shropshire  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Macon  county, 
buying  land  in  Johnston  township  adjacent  to  his  present  property. 
Here  he  opened  a  large  stock  farm  and  continued  the  horse  and  mule 
business,  taking  his  stock  principally  to  Arkansas  and   Mississippi. 


980  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY, 

His  success  continued  unbroken.  During  the  war,  times  became  so 
critical  in  this  State  that  in  order  to  avoid  becoming  mixed  up  with 
either  side  or  imperilling  his  own  life  and  property,  Mr.  Shropshire 
left  the  State,  staying  in  Kentucky  a  part  of  the  time  and  a  part  at 
Montreal,  Canada.  He  came  back,  however,  every  year  on  a  short 
visit  to  look  after  his  property.  After  the  war  he  settled  perma- 
nently on  his  place  again,  and  turned  his  attention  more  particularly  to 
cattle,  raising  and  fattening  them  and  dealing  in  them.  This  he  has 
followed  mainly  since  the  war,  and  has  been  as  successful  as  he  was 
before  in  the  horse  and  mule  trade.  Mr.  Shropshire  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  finest  judges  of  stock  in  North  Missouri  and  one  of  the  best 
stock  business  men.  It  is  believed  that  when  he  can't  make  money 
out  of  stock,  profits  for  others  are  by  no  means  hopeful.  He  is  a  man 
of  public  spirit  and  a  useful  citizen  to  the  county,  being  ever  ready  ta 
help  along  any  movement  for  the  material  and  general  interests  of  the 
public  and  particularly  for  the  stock  and  agricultural  interests  of  the 
county.  A  man  of  sterling  intelligence,  high  character  and  generous 
impulses,  he  is  held  in  great  respect  and  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 
In  the  fall  of  1875  Mr.  Shropshire  was  married  to  Mrs.  Nancy  Arthur, 
the  widow  of  Paschal  Arthur,  Esq.,  late  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  Hiram  Stone,  one  of  the  esteemed  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
county.  Mrs.  Shropshire  has  five  children  by  her  first  marriage : 
James  H.,  now  in  Texas;  Lena,  Luther,  Flora  and  Amy.  The  last 
four  are  with  her.  She  is  a  most  esteemed  lady,  and  is  an  exemplary 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

CHARLES  W.  SINNOCK 

(Farmer). 

Mr.  S.,  a  well-to-do  and  respected  farmer  of  La  Plata  township,  was 
born  in  Adams  county,  III.,  August  15, 1849,  and  was  brought  up  to  the 
boot  and  shoe-maker's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  that  county,  con- 
nected with  the  boot  and  shoe  business,  until  the  spring  of  1876,  when, 
needing  the  open  air  and  outdoor  exercise  incident  to  farming,  he 
quit  his  trade  and  business  and  removed  to  Missouri,  locating  near 
La  Plata,  across  in  Adair  county,  where  he  bought  and  improved  a 
farm.  He  followed  farming  there  for  about  six  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Adams  county.  111.,  where  he  re-engaged  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business.  But  having  tried  farming  he  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that,  after  all,  it  is  about  the  best  business  one  can  follow,  health 
and  independence  of  life  considered.  So  he  returned  to  Missouri  in 
1883,  and  bought  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  Macon  county. 
Mr.  Sinnock  has  a  neat  place  of  120  acres,  two  miles  south-east  of 
La  Plata,  all  in  active  cultivation  and  neatly  improved.  May  6, 
1872,  he  was  married  in  Payson,  Adams  county.  111.,  to  Miss 
Lydia  K.  Wharton,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Amy  S.  Wharton, 
of  Adams  county,  but  formerly  of  Pennsylvania,  by  way  of  Indiana. 
Mrs.  Sinnock  was  reared  and  educated  in  Adams  county.  Mr.  Sin- 
nock's  parents  were  George  Sinnock,  a  native  of  England,  and  Sarah 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  981 

Ann  Kay,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  They  were  married  in  Illinois  and 
afterwards  settled  at  Payson,  where  the  father  engaged  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business,  which  he  still  carries  on  at  that  place.  Charles 
W.  became  his  partner  after  he  grew  up  and  was  his  father's  partner 
prior  to  coming  to  Missouri  the  hist  time.  Charles  W.  Sinnock  and 
wife  have  six  children  :  Nellie  M.,  Harry,  Delia,  Amy  M.,  Charles  and 
Clem. 

JOSEPH  SODDREL 

(Contractor  and  Builder,  La  Plata). 

To  show  what  industry,  perseverance  and  good  management  can  do 
in  one  of  the  ordinary  branches  of  industry — carpentering,  and  con- 
tracting and  building,  it  is  only  necessary  to  record  the  facts  of  Mr. 
Soddrel's  career  at  La  Plata.  He  came  to  this  State  from  England, 
in  1869,  and  had  not  only  nothing  but  his  own  energy  and  intelli- 
gence to  rely  upon,  but  was  some  $300  worse  off  than  nothing,  and, 
besides,  had  his  family  to  care  and  provide  for,  a  duty  that  is  one  of 
the  happiest  which  a  worthy  man  has  to  perform.  But  he  went  to 
work  at  his  trade,  and  has  worked  hard  and  managed  well,  living  at 
the  same  time  an  upright  life  and  such  a  one  that  has  won  him  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community,  so  that  he  has  become  one 
of  the  substantial  property  holders  and  successful  men  and  one  of  the 
respected  citizens  of  La  Plata.  It  is  a  fact  that,  during  the  years 
1874-75-76,  Mr.  Soddrel  lost  not  a  single  day  from  work.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders  throughout  the  vicinity 
of  La  Plata,  and  has  built  many  of  the  better  class  of  houses  in  and 
around  this  place.  He  has  managed  well  and  saved  what  he  has 
made,  so  that  now  he  is  one  of  the  leading  property  holders  in  this 
place.  He  works  a  number  of  hands  all  the  time,  and  fills  his  con- 
tracts with  energy  and  to  their  very  spirit  and  letter.  He  was  born 
June  10,  1838,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Martin)  Soddrel, 
both  of  whose  ancestors  had  been  settled  in  the  Empress  Isle  of  the 
Seas  for  generations  and  as  far  back  as  they  can  be  traced.  Mr.  Sod- 
drel was  reared  in  England  and  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  for  seven  j^ears  and  worked  at  it  there  until  he  came  to 
America,  as  stated  above.  He  was  married  in  England  to  Miss  Jane, 
a  daughter  of  William  Bell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Soddrel  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Enoch  Dabney,  a  jeweler  at  Council  Grove, 
Kansas ;  Mary,  wife  of  William  O.  Wait,  of  La  Plata,  and  Belle  and 
Lorton.  Three  are  deceased,  Janie,  William  and  an  infant.  Mr.  S. 
is  a  member  of  the  La  Plata  lodge  of  United  Workmen. 

BARNABAS    SWARTHOUT. 

(Postmaster,  and  Former  Merchant,  La  Plata) . 

Mr.  Swarthout,  now  four  years  past  the  age  of  three-score,  has  led 

a  life  of  continued  industry,  and  one  without  reproach ;  and  now  ho 

finds  himself  in  the  full  possession  of  that  confidence  and  esteem  from 

those  around  him  which  never  fail  to   reward  the  worthy  and  upright. 


982  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

He  had  to  make  his  own  way  up  in  life,  and  the  years  of  his  early 
manhood  were  spent  at  hard  work.  In  the  course  of  time,  however, 
he  became  able  to  engage  in  business  pursuits,  and  showed  the  quali- 
ties and  qualifications  necessary  for  a  good  business  man.  During 
the  war  Mr.  Swarthout  went  to  the  front  as  a  volunteer  for  the  Union, 
and  did  his  full  duty  as  a  soldier  until  he  was  honorably  discharged  in 
1866.  He  was  born  in  Lodi,  Seneca  county.  New  York,  January  18, 
1820,  and  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Margaret  ( StuU)  Swarthout, 
his  father  of  Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  of  New  Jersey.  They 
made  their  permanent  home  in  New  York,  however,  and  there  Barna- 
bas was  reared  to  manhood.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  trading  in  stock,  and  so  continued 
in  New  York  until  1858,  when  he  came  west  to  Rockford,  111.  He 
there  continued  stock  trading,  and  also  opened  a  meat  market.  In 
the  winter  of  1864-65  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
seventh  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  until  alter  the  close  of 
the  war.  On  his  return  he  stopped  in  Illinois  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  came  to  Missouri,  locating  first  at  Macon  City,  where  he  carried 
on  the  farm  implement  business.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  removed  to 
La  Plata  and  opened  a  dry  goods  store  here,  selling  on  commission, 
in  which  he  continued  for  about  seven  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  time  Mr.  Swarthout  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  and  carried 
on  his  business  for  thrse  years.  In  May,  1869,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster,  since  which  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  oflSce, 
having  held  it  almost  continuously,  or  with  the  exception  of  about  two 
months.  Mr.  Swarthout  has  made  an  upright  and  efficient  post- 
master, and  has  the  confidence  of  the  department  and  the  public. 
August  27,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  A.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Tibbs,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Swarthout  was  reared 
in  Iowa,  and  educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant  College.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and 
of  the  G.  A.  R. 

JAMES  J.  SWARTHOUT 

(Proprietor  of  Swarthout's  Blacksmith  and  Wagon  Shop,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Swarthout  is  one  of  those  intelligent,  industrious  and  frugal 
Pennsylvania  Germans  who  are  noted  wherever  they  reside  for  their 
thrift  and  personal  wealth.  He  was  born  in  Wyoming  county,  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1835.  His  father,  Joshua  Swarthout,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Van  Lone,  were  both  natives  of 
the  Keystone  State.  James  J.  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania  and  came 
west  in  1858,  locating  in  West  Paw  Paw,  Lee  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  commenced  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years.  However,  after  the  first  year  he  be- 
<'ame  a  partner  with  his  brother-in-law  in  the  shop.  He  continued  at 
West  Paw  Paw  for  about  seven  years,  when  he  removed  to  Missouri 
and  located  at  La  Plata.  Here  he  opened  a  blacksmith's  shop,  and 
the  following  year  he  added  wagon  making  and  repairing,  which  he 
has  since  conducted.     Since  that  time  he  has  continued  the  business 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  983 

and  has  built  up  a  good  trade.  Mr.  Swarthout  has  beeu  quite  suc- 
cessful and  has  a  nice  property  at  La  Plata  and  stands  well  as  neighbor 
and  citizen.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  best  workmen  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  and  his  shop  is  justly  popular  through- 
out this  entire  vicinity.  February  19,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  J.,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susanna  Simras.  Mrs.  Swarthout 
born  and  reared  in  Luzerne  county,  Pa.  They  have  seven  was 
children:  Harry,  Frederick  R.,  Susan  B.,  Albert,  Clarence  and  Wil- 
ber.  Mr.  Swarthout  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  is  at 
present  the  Master  Workman  of  the  lodge. 

JAMES  B.  THOMPSON 

(Editor  and  Proprietor  of  tlie  La  Plata  Home  Press,  Real  Estate  and  Insurance  Agent, 
and  President  of  the  La  Plata  Creamery  Company) . 

Without  early  advantages  Mr.  Thompson,  by  his  own  exertions  and 
personal  worth,  his  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance,  has  achieved 
a  degree  of  success  in  life,  although  still  comparatively  a  young  man, 
that  many  whose  opportunities  were  all  that  could  be  desired  would 
be  glad  to  claim.  His  parents,  although  not  extremely  poor,  were 
by  no  means  in  easy  circumstances  and  had  a  large  family  to  rear,  so 
that  from  boyhood  he  had  to  rely  largely  upon  himself  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world.  Reared  at  Paris,  in  Monroe  county,  he  early 
learned  the  printer's  trade  and  was  principally  educated  in  the 
printer's  office.  However,  he  had  attended  the  schools  of  Paris  in 
early  youth  and  had  there  laid  the  foundation  of  a  good  general  En- 
glish education.  A  taste  for  study,  a  love  of  books,  one  of  his 
marked  characteristics,  he  doubtless  inherited  from  his  parents,  for 
both  were  people  remarked  for  their  general  intelligence  and  were 
particularly  fond  of  reading.  James  B.,  while  in  the  printing  office, 
improved  all  his  leisure  by'study,  and  in  the  course  of  time  became  a 
young  man  of  excellent  general  education  and  information.  He  also, 
while  a  printer  in  the  office,  began  to  write  for  the  local  department 
of  the  paper,  and  afterwards  contributed  occasional  articles  for  the 
editorial  department,  thus  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  work  of 
editing  a  paper,  and  ease  and  readiness  as  a  writer.  He  continued  to 
reside  at  Paris  until  after  his  marriage.  Soon -after  this  he  went  to 
Glasgow,  where  he  was  publisher  of  the  Glasgow  Times ^  for  a  short 
time.  On  quitting  the  2Vwes  he  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Mt. 
Airy,  for  by  this  time,  by  industry  and  economy,  he  had  accumulated 
some  little  means.  He  remained  at  Mt.  Airy  for  about  two  years. 
But,  becoming  impatient  to  get  back  into  newspaper  life,  he  disposed 
ot  his  mercantile  interests  there  and  accepted  the  position  of  editor 
of  the  Randolph  Citizen,  being  also  interested  in  the  paper.  At 
Huntsville,  as  editor  of  the  Citizen,  he  first  began  to  attract  atten- 
tion as  a  writer,  particularly  on  political  and  business  subjects,  and 
many  of  his  articles  were  widely  copied  in  the  papers  of  the  State. 
He  had  been  a  hard  worker  and  a  close  student,  and  he  now  began  to 
reap  some  of  the  fruits  of  his  industry  and  application,  both  in  repu- 
57 


984  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

tation  and  in  substantial  return.  The  Citizen,  under  his  editorial 
charge,  took  a  prominent  position  among  the  country  journals  of 
North  Missouri  and  obtained  marked  influence  in  public  affairs. 
After  conducting  the  Citizen  for  about  two  years,  and,  receiving  a 
flatterini;  offer  for  an  interest  in,  and  editorial  control  of  the  Monitor 
at  Moberly,  he  accepted  the  offer  and  took  charge  of  that  paper,  with 
which  he  was  connected  for  about  five  years.  The  standing  which  the 
Monitor  then  obtained  it  has  never  lost,  and  is  recognized  to-day  as 
one  of  the  ablest  papers  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  While  con- 
nected with  the  Monitor  Mr,  Thompson's  reputation  as  a  writer 
became  thoroughly  established  and  his  name  familiar  to  all  newspaper 
men  throughout  the  State,  and  to  the  public  generally  in  North  Mis- 
souri, as  that  of  one  of  the  most  terse,  vigorous  and  conscientious  writers 
connected  with  the  country  press.  After  a  period  of  five  years  spent 
in  the  ofl5ce  of  the  Monitor,  he  came  to  La  Plata  and  established  his 
present  paper,  the  Home  Press.  This  he  has  of  course  made  a  suc- 
cess, not  only  in  a  business  point  of  view,  but  in  standing  and 
inffuence,  as  a  journal.  Anyone  at  all  acquainted  with  the 
newspapers  of  Missouri  knows  that  the  ITotne  Press  occupies  a  posi- 
tion among  the  country  journals  of  the  State  second  to  none  in  point 
of  character  and  ability.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  man  of  sober  personal 
worth,  honorable  and  dignified  in  all  he  says  and  does,  and  cares 
nothing  for  display  or  parade.  So  of  his  paper  ;  conducted  on  sound 
business  principles,  it  is  edited  with  that  dignity  and  ability  which, 
while  excluding  all  sensationalism,  personal  feuds  and  factional  fights, 
command  for  it  universal  respect  and  consideration,  and  make  it  an 
important  factor  not  only  in  shaping  the  affairs  of  the  county  where 
it  is  published,  but  the  public  opinion  of  this  part  of  the  State  gen- 
erally. It  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  leading  country  journals  of 
North  Missouri.  In  recognition  of  this,  and  of  Mr.  Thompson's 
ability  and  high  standing  in  the  newspaper  profession,  he  was  hon- 
ored, in  1883,  with  the  presidency  of  the  Press  Association  of  the 
State,  an  honor  of  no  ordinary  significance.  While  Mr.  Thompson 
has  attained  to  enviable  prominence  in  journalism,  he  at  the  same 
time  has  not  neglected  business  interests.  Indeed,  he  has  succeeded 
l)y  his  tact  and  ability  in  making  himself  one  of  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  this  county.  Besides  his  newspaper  office  and  considerable 
other  property,  he  is  largely  interested  in  the  creamery  at  this  place, 
being  president  of  the  creamery  company  and  one  of  its  prominent 
stockholders.  This  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  property  of 
the  kind  in  the  State,  and  is  now  manufacturing  about  1,000  pounds 
of  the  best  article  of  creamery  butter  per  day.  He  also  has  a  valu- 
able real  estate  business  at  La  Plata  and  is  doing  much  for  this  place 
and  the  surrounding  country  in  inducing  others  to  settle  here  by  ad- 
vertising the  large  number  of  valual)le  tracts  of  land,  improved  and 
unimproved,  he  has  for  sale,  and  selling  them  at  prices  which  make 
it  an  object  for  purchasers  to  buy.  He  also  is  a  partner  in  one  of 
the  leading  insurance  agencies  of  the  county,  an  agency  which  repre- 


HISTOEY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  96b 

sents  nine  large  companies,  and  which  is  doing  an  extensive  and 
profitable  business  in  the  insurance  line.  Mr.  Thompson,  being  a 
prominent  newspaper  man,  has  of  course  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics.  Indeed,  he  has  not  confined  himself,  politically, 
entirely  to  the  field  of  journalism,  but  has  taken  a  personal  interest 
in  the  public  afiiiirs  for  years  past.  Always  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  he  is  a  Democrat  of  the  better  and,  we  may  say,  more 
liberal  school,  although  he  is  always  steadfast  in  his  allegiance  to  his 
party.  He  is  a  Democrat  simply  and  alone  from  an  honest  belief  in 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  regarding  the 
doctrines  and  policies  of  that  party  most  conducive  to  a  just  and 
patriotic  administration  of  the  afi^airs  of  Government,  National,  State 
and  local.  While  he  has  always  worked  earnestly  :ind  zealously  far 
the  best  interests  of  the  party,  believing  them  identical  with  the  best 
interests  of  the  country,  he  has  ever  shown  himself  entirely  free  from 
all  considerations  of  personal  advancement,  and,  radically  unlike  only 
too  many,  has  never  allowed  personal  ambition  to  influence  his  con- 
duct. In  fact,  he  is  a  Democrat  from  principle  and  not  from  any  de- 
sire or  hope  for  office.  He  also  takes  an  earnest  interest  in  all  general 
movements  calculated  to  benefit  the  community,  whether  material  or 
otherwise.  He  is  a  warm  friend  to  the  public  schools  and  is  president 
of  the  school  board  at  La  Phita.  Appreciating  the  importance  of  a 
sound  and  economical  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  local  town 
government,  he  consented  to  serve  as  alderman  of  La  Plata,  and  is 
now  president  of  the  board  of  aldermen  and  is  also  resident  deputy 
circuit  clerk  for  this  part  of  the  county.  Mr.  Thompson  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  for  a  number  of  years,  and  occupies 
the  position  of  elder  in  the  church.  He  is  also  warmly  enlisted  in 
the  cause  of  benevolence  and  morality,  and  is  a  prominent  and  active 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order  and  of  the  local  temperance  or- 
ganization. In  a  word,  he  is  one  of  the  useful  and  valued  citizens  of 
La  Plata,  a  man  who  is  respected  and  esteemed  throughout  the  county, 
and  wherever  he  is  known.  He  and  his  excellent  lady  are  highly 
prized  in  the  best  society  of  La  Plata.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement,  and  warmly  seconds  him  in  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  tem- 
perance and  in  all  other  reformatory  and  benevolent  works.  They 
were  married  December  26,  1866.  She  was  a  Miss  Rebecca  Mathis, 
of  Randolph  county,  before  her  marriage,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
George  A.  Mathis,  deceased.  She  was  educated  at  Mt.  Pleasant  Col- 
lege. She,  too,  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  They  have 
six  children:  Gertrude,  Carrie  E.,  Mary  E.,  Anna  L.,  Ivaile  and 
George  W.  During  the  war  Mr.  Thompson  served  nine  months  in 
the  Confederate  army  and  took  part  in  the  battle  at  Pea  Ridge,  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  was  taken  prisoner  and  subsequently  took  no 
further  part  in  the  war.  Mr.  Thompson  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
his  father,  R.  L.  Thompson,  having  been  of  Irish  parentage  and  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Miss  Eliza  J.  Blue,  of  Scotch  de- 
scent.    The  father  was  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  but  the  mother 


986  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

was  originally  from  North  Carolina.  Her  parents  came  directly  from 
Scotland  to  that  State.  His  father  was  a  saddler  by  trade,  and  early 
in  life  came  to  Missouri.  He  lived  for  a  time  in  Bowling  Green,  in 
Pike  county,  and  that  was  the  birthplace  of  James  B.,  the  date  being 
the  18th  of  August,  1838.  The  family  subsequently  resided  at  other 
points,  but  principally  at  Paris,  in  Monroe  county,  where  James  B. 
was  reared.  There  were  six  other  children  in  the  family,  namely : 
AVilliam  A.,  Dr.  John  W.,  Richard  W.,  R.  P.,  Mrs.  M.  L.  Phipps 
and  Mrs,  Mary  Muir.  The  father  was  reasonably  successful  at  his 
trade,  and  did  business  for  himself  which  enabled  him  to  rear  his 
family  in  comfort,  though  of  course  not  in  affluence  or  luxury.  He 
was  a  man  of  strong,  conservative  character,  naturally  intelligent 
above  the  average  of  men,  and,  as  has  been  said,  particularly  fond  of 
books.  The  accumulation  of  a  fortune  was  not  his  controlling  aim  in 
life,  but  he  rather  seemed  to  live  to  improve  his  mind  to  make  him- 
self useful  to  those  around  him,  and  for  the  comfort  and  happiness 
of  his  family.  One  of  his  chief  characteristics  was  his  marked  do- 
mesticity. No  man  was  more  fond  of  his  family  or  found  greater 
satisfaction  and  happiness  in  his  home.  With  him  home  stood  before 
everything  else  in  the  world,  and  all  his  leisure  was  spent  around  his 
own  fireside  with  his  loved  ones  or  in  the  society  of  his  friends.  He 
was  a  man  much  esteemed  by  those  who  knew  him,  and  ever  retained 
their  confidence  and  friendship.  He  had  no  taste  for  public  life  and  never 
manifested  any  desire  for  ofiicial  position.  Outside  of  his  family  and 
friends,  his  chief  interest  centered  in  the  suffering  and  unfortunate. 
Kind-heartedness  and  benevolence  were  qualities  for  which  he  was  re- 
marked by  all.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Besides  doing  more  than  his  share  as 
a  member  of  these  fraternities,  his  private  charities  far  exceeded  his 
ability  to  give,  in  justice  to  himself.  He  was  a  man  who  looked 
upon  life  as  a  mission  which  is  best  fulfilled  by  making  the  best  of 
the  condition  in  which  we  are  placed,  and  by  doing  as  little  harm  in 
the  world  and  as  much  good  as  circumstances  make  possible.  At 
heart  a  great  humanitarian,  he  cared  little  for  the  forms  of  religion, 
but  believed  more  in  the  practice  than  the  profession  of  good  works, 
confident  that,  — 

*'  He  can't  be  wrong  whose  life  is  in  the  right." 

At  last,  at  a  good  old  age,  he  died  at  Huntsville  in  1872,  sincerely 
and  profoundly  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him.  Of  his  worthy  and 
blameless  life  it  can  with  truth  be  said  :  — 

"  His  youth  was  innocent;  his  riper  age 

Marked  with  some  act  of  goodness  every  day 

And  watched  by  eyes  that  loved  him,  calm  and  sage, 
Faded  his  late  declining  years  away, 

Cheerful  he  gave  his  being  up,  and  went 
To  share  the  holy  rest  that  waits  a  life  well  spent. " 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  987 


JAMES    J.  WILSON 

(Of  J.  J.  Wilson  &  Bro.,  General  Merchants,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Wilsf)n's  father,  James  H.  Wilson,  was  a  lad  but  eight  years  of 
age  when  he  was  brought  to  Missouri  by  his  parents  from  Kentucky. 
The  family  settled  in  Adair  county  among  the  first  settlers  of  Wilson 
township,  in  that  county,  and  the  township  took  its  name  from  the 
family.  That  was  in  1837.  James  H.  Wilson,  now  well  advanced  in 
years,  still  resides  in  Wilson  township,  where  he  has  been  for  nearly 
half  a  century.  He  is  an  active  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  the  county.  He  is  also  identified  with  business 
interests  and  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  H,  Wilson  &  Co.,  of  Adair 
county.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Lee,  formerly  of 
Kentucky,  is  also  still  living,  and  they  have  a  numerous  family  of 
children.  James  J.,  their  fifth  son,  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Adair 
county,  November  26,  1856.  He  completed  his  education  at  the 
Kirksville  Normal  School,  and  then  followed  clerking  in  a  store  at 
Kirksville  for  about  two  years.  In  1880  he  came  to  the  town  of  La 
Plata,  and,  in  partnership  with  his  brother  established  their  present 
store,  which  they  have  since  conducted.  They  carry  a  full  line  of 
dry  goods,  clothitig,  boots,  shoes,  hats,  caps,  groceries,  glassware, 
queen's-ware,  etc.,  etc.,  and  have  built  up  a  large  trade.  "Quick 
sales  and  small  profits,"  and  "  Spot  cash  for  every  thing  in  both  buy- 
ing and  selling,"  are  their  mottoes,  and  by  living  up  to  these,  they 
have  succeeded.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  man  of  agreeable,  pleasant  address, 
perfectly  upright  in  his  dealings,  and  readily  wins  the  confidence  of 
all  with  whom  he  is  associated,  which  he  never  fails  to  retain.  His 
accommodating  disposition  and  pleasant  manners  contril^ute  very 
materially  to  his  success  in  business.  November  16,  1879,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  CoraC.  Connor,  a  daughter  of  Cupt.  William  P.  Con- 
nor, of  Louisville,  Ky.,  an  old  and  popular  steamboat  captain.  Mrs. 
Wilson  was  educated  at  Cedarville  Academy,  near  Louisville.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  two  children,  Herbert  and  Edith  May.  He  and 
his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

CYRUS  C.  WOOD. 

(Farmer,  Stock-raiser,  and  Dealer  in  Saddles,  Harness,  etc..  La  Plata). 

Mr.  Wood,  one  of  the  substantial  property  holders  of  the  northern 
part  of  the  county,  and  a  citizen  of  La  Plata,  though  born  in  the 
East  —  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  September  3,  1839  —  was  reared  in  the 
W^est,  and  while  inheriting  the  business  tact  and  acumen  of  the  people 
of  the  East,  has  all  the  characteristic  enterprise  and  energy  of  the 
West.  Combining  these  qualities,  his  career  in  business  affairs  has, 
of  course,  been  one  of  success,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  he  has 
made  all  he  has  by  his  own  industry  and  good  management.  When 
he  was  but  two  years  of  age  his  parents,  Hiram  Wood,  originally  of 
New  Hampshire,  and   Sarah  M.,  nee  Cole,  removed  to  Missouri  from 


988  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  and  located  in  Macon  county  in  1841, 
settling  near  La  Plata  ;  but  the  following  year  they  went  to  Illinois, 
and  made  their  home  in  Lee  county,  about  75  miles  west  o^  Chicago, 
where  the  father  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm.  They  resided 
there  for  about  17  years,  and  the  father  was  postmaster,  during  most  of 
that  time,  of  the  office  at  Paw  Paw.     However,  the  mother  died  April 

19,  1855,  and  four  years  afterwards  the  father  removed  to  Missouri, 
re-settling  in  Macon  county.  He  lived  here  until  his  death,  July  18, 
1875,  but  died  while  on  a  visit  to  his  brother,  John  G.  Wood,  atMon- 
ticello,  la.  Cyrus  C.  was  reared  in  Illinois,  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  Although  coming  back  to  Missouri  with  his 
father  in  1859,  he  remained  here  only  two  years.  Returning  to  Lee 
county.  111.,  he  worked  on  a  farm  there  for  about  18  months,  when 
he  went  to  work  at  the  harness-maker's  trade  at  Paw  Paw,  and  con- 
tinued that  up  to  1864.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  enlisted  in  Co, 
G,  Fifteenth  Illinois  inftintry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
being  honorably  discharged  in  the  fall  of  1865.  Most  of  the  time 
while  in  the  service  he  held  the  office  of  sej-geant.  Returning  to  Lee 
county  after  his  discharge,  he  engaged  in  the  harness  business  at  Paw 
Paw  on  his  own  account,  but  eight  months  afterwards  sold  out,  and 
went  to  Warren  county.  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  at 
Tidioute.  Mr.  Wood  was  at  Tidioute  for  about  14  months,  after 
which  he  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Macon  county,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  engaged  in  the  saddle  and  harness  business  at  La  Plata. 
His  business  here  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted  success.  He  has  one 
of  the  best  houses  in  the  line  in  the  county.  Mr.  Wood  also  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  200  acres,  adjoining  town,  all  in  cultivation,  meadow  or 
pasturage,  and  which  has  two  sets  of  improvements  —  houses,  barns, 
etc.  He  has  his  farm  well  stocked  with  good  graded  cattle,  and  is 
meetino;  with  excellent  success  as  a  farmer.  He  also  has  considerable 
town  property,  including  residence,  business  property,  etc.  June  14, 
1863,  he  was  married  in  Lee  county,  111.,  to  Miss  Adelaide  A.  Haines, 
a  daughter  of  Laroy  Haines  and  Ruth  Ann  Haines  (who  died  October 

20,  1883),  the  former  now  of  La  Plata.  Laroy  Haines  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  and  Ruth  Ann,  nee  Cass,  was  born  in 
Steuben  county  (now  Schuyler),  N."Y.  Mrs.  Wood  was  born  in 
Watkins,  N.  Y.,  March  5,  1844,  but  reared  in  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
W.  have  five  children:  Carrie  R.,  now  in  her  junior  year  at  Hardin 
College;  Lewis  S.,  Clayton  C,  Icie  O.  and  Uonomas  (the  hitter's 
name  being  a  Greek  word  that  means  no  name),  a  boy  now  two  years 
of  age,  that  has  never  received  any  other  name.  Mr.  W.  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R. 

SIDNEY  R.  WOOD 

(Of  C.  C.  Wood  &  Bro.,  Dealers  in  Saddles,  Harness,  etc.,  La  Plata). 

This  firm,  in  addition  to  a  full  line  of  saddles,  harness,  etc.,  carry 
a  complete  stock  of  sewing  machines,  the  handling  of  which  Sidney 
R.  Wood  makes  a  specialty,  having  previously  been  engaged  in  that 
business  exclusively  for  some  years.     In  both  branches  of  their  busi- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  989 

ness,  they  liiive  an  extensive  and  lucrative  custom,  and  their  estab- 
lishment ranks  among  the  solid  business  houses  of  La  Plata.  But 
their  busiiv^ss  has  been  already  spoken  of  in  the  sketch  of  Mr  Wood's 
brother,  Cyrus  C,  as  has  also  their  family  antecedents.  Sidney  R. 
was  born  in  Lee  county.  III.,  April  22,  1851,  and  was  therefore 
eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  located  in  Adair  county,  Mo. 
At  16  years  of  age  he  came  to  La  Plata,  and  the  following  year 
began  to  learn  the  harness-maker's  trade  under  his  brother,  C.  C. 
Wood.  He  worked  three  years  as  an  apprentice  and  then  one  year  as 
a  master  workman,  when  in  1874  he  became  a  partner  in  the  busi- 
ness. He  continued  in  the  firm  for  three  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  established  a  shop  of  his  own  at  Carrollton.  In  the  fall  of 
1879,  however,  he  came  back  and  bought  into  the  business  at  La  Plata, 
continuing  in  it  two  years.  He  and  his  brother  then  both  sold  out 
and  he  engaged  in  the  sewing  machine  business,  which  he  followed 
exclusively  until  the  fall  of  1883,  when  the  two  re-engaged  in  the  har- 
ness business  at  this  place,  which  they  have  since  continued.  Sidney 
R.  has  also  continued  the  sewing-machine  business.  November  22, 
1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  McCaw,  a  daughter  of  John 
McCaw,  of  Macon  City,  but  formerly  of  New  York.  They  have  two 
children,  Eldie  P.  and  Anna  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  are  both  church 
members,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


Lii^Go  tow:n^ship. 


N.  F.  ARBUCKLE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  19,  Township  57,  Range  17). 

M '.  Arbuckle  is  a  man  whom  misfortune  seemed  to  have  claimed 
for  Lis  own,  so  many  have  been  his  reverses  in  life,  but  the  manner 
in  wnich  he  has  conquered  fate,  and  come  forth  as  pure  gold  from  the 
furnace  testifies  as  to  the  material  of  which  he  is  made.  His  parents, 
Drinkard  and  Lucretia  (Maxey)  Arbuckle,  were  natives  of  Kentucky, 
and  on  the  f^ither's  side  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  They  lived  on 
the  line  of  Garrard  and  Madison  counties,  and  here,  September  13, 
1829,  N.  F.  was  born,  being  one  of  eight  children.  When  scarcely 
beginning  to  lisp  his  earliest  Avords,  his  parents  moved  to  Butler 
county  where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  good  education. 
Upon  reaching  manhood  he  first  with  sturdy  independence  hired  him- 
self out  by  the  year,  but  in  1852  commenced  to  run  on  the  river  with 
produce  boats  to  New  Orleans  and  the  coast.  For  five  years  he  con- 
tinued to  run  between  Louisville  and  New  Orleans.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  went  to  Cromwell,  Ohio  county,  Ky.,  taking  a  sit- 
uation as  clerk  in  a  grocerv  store,   but  after  the  first  year  went  into 


990  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

the  general  merchandise  business  for  himself.  The  world  began  to 
look  bright  for  him,  and  September  4,  1858,  Mr.  Arbuckle  chose  him 
a  wife,  Miss  Sallie  Ann  James,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Reno)  James,  originally  from  Virginia.  The  newly  married  couple 
settled  at  Point  Pleasant,  Kentucky.  Mr.  A.  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  and  here  their  lives  were  spent  peacefully  and  profitably 
until  1862  when,  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country  bringing  to  a 
merchant  nothing  but  losses,  Mr.  A.  moved  to  a  farm,  remained  four 
years,  returned  to  Point  Pleasant  for  two  years,  then  in  1869  came 
West  and  locating  where  he  now  resides,  commenced  improving  his 
property.  He  owns  184  acres  of  well  improved  land,  which  he  owes 
to  his  own  inexhaustible  courage  and  indomitable  perseverance.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Arbuckle  are  members  of  the  Ouml)erland  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  have  six  children  :  Samuel  D.,  Florence  H.,  now  Mrs. 
Henry  Perkins  ;  William  T.,  Sarah  E.,  Edmond  R.  and  Georgia  R. 
T.  Mr.  A.  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order  and  also  to  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Good  Templars. 

W.  W.  BAILEY 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise). 

Mr.  Bailey  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  July  2,  1838,  and 
his  parents,  John  and  Emily  (Simmons)  Bailey,  are  still  living  in  that 
county.  W.  W.  Bailey  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  went  first  to  the 
common  schools,  finishing  his  education  at  Sanquait  Academy.  At 
the  age  of  19  he  went  into  his  uncle's  sash  and  blind  factory  where 
he  remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In  August,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  G,  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  New  York  infantry, 
and  fought  nobly  till  the  close  of  hostilities  between  the  sections. 
He  went  in  as  a  private  (in  the  Tenth  corps),  but  was  rapidly  pro- 
moted. His  most  serious  experiences  were  at  the  siege  of  Charles- 
ton and  at  Ft.  Fisher.  He  was  with  Grant  on  the  Potomac  and 
through  to  Petersburg  and  then  went  to  Ft.  Fisher  and  joined  Sher- 
man as  he  came  throuo;h.  When  the  ao'onizino;  terrors  of  war  were 
over  and  the  bleeding  land  began  to  bind  up  her  wounds,  one  war- 
broken  soldier  returned  to  his  home  and  found  employment  with  the 
American  Whip  Company,  of  Westfield,  Mass.  He  was  commercial 
tourist  for  the  house  for  about  five  years,  traveling  through  New 
York  and  the  adjoining  States.  Having  a  brother  engaged  in  farming 
at  New  Cambria,  in  March,  1870,  he  came  on  and  for  the  first  year 
helped  his  brother  about  the  place,  then  for  a  year  and  a  half  clerked 
for  the  house  of  James  Brothers,  which,  in  the  fall  of  1872,  he  bought, 
containing  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  assortments  of  general  mer- 
chandise in  the  town.  He  has  also  a  nice  house  and  lot  and  is 
steadily  going  up  hill.  Though  Mr.  B.  has  met  with  some  reverses, 
he  has  not  been  discouraged  and  his  present  success  is  the  more 
gratifying  since  he  can  feel  it  is  the  hard-earned  reward  of  diligent 
merit.  He  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow 
citizens  and  is  at  present  chairman  of  the  town  board.     Mr.  Bailey  is 


HISTORY    or    MACON    COUNTY.  991 

a   member  of  the  Masonic    order,   Blue   lodge,   Chapter  and   Com- 
mandery. 

L.  F.  BOONE 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  New  Cambria,  Mo.). 

Mr.  Boone,  whose  grandfather,  'Squire  Boone,  Avas  a  brother  to  the 
far-famed  Daniel  Boone,  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ind.,  October 
30,  1814,  and  is  the  son  of  Isaiah  Boone,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  and 
Elizabeth  Green,  of  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  Kentucky  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Indiana,  where  L.  F.  was  reared  on  a  farm 
with  such  education  as  the  common  schools  of  the  county  afforded. 
"When  he  grew  up  he  began  tradiug  with  a  produce  boat  on  the  Ohio 
river,  fitting  it  up  at  Louisville  and  selling  out  on  the  way  down, 
dealing  at  all  times  on  both  sides  of  the  river  from  Louisville  to  New 
Orleans.  The  life  suited  him,  his  health  was  always  good  and  his 
jovial  temperament  made  him  popular  everywhere,  and  he  continued 
the  business  for  nearly  25  years,  making  his  home  a  part  of  the  time 
with  his  brother  near  Canton,  Mo.  In  1855  Mr.  Boone  opened  a 
store  at  Kirksville  in  partnership  with  William  P.  Linder,  but  during 
the  war  which  soon  after  broke  out,  they  lost  so  heavily  that  in  1866 
Mr.  B.  came  to  New  Cambria,  at  thaf  time  a  very  small  place,  and 
established  a  general  merchandise  store  under  the  firm  name  of  Boone 
&  Carroll.  This  partnership  remained  intact  for  eight  or  nine  years 
and  was  then  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  each  continuing  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  and  Mr.  Boone  keeping  the  old  stand.  In 
1879  he  was  burned  out,  losing  about  $8,000,  but  in  no  wise  daunted, 
he  started  again  and  now  has  one  of  the  most  solid  houses  in  the 
place.  He  has  been  in  the  business  so  long  that  he  understands  it 
thoroughly,  is  a  first-class  salesman  and  his  never  failing  courtesy  and 
cheerful  countenance  make  it  a  pleasure  to  deal  with  him.  Mr.  B.'s 
motto  is,  "  do  all  the  good  you  can  and  as  little  harm."  He  is  a 
liberal-hearted  and  generous  man,  the  first  to  respond  to  the  demands 
of  every  public  enterprise  and  uever  deaf  to  the  cry  of  the  poor  and 
needy.  He  is  assisted  in  his  business  by  his  nephew,  L.  E.  Carroll, 
who  came  to  New  Cambria  from  Indiana,  having  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  early  settlement  of  the  town  and  being  himself  well  known. 

BRALEY  &  JOBSON 

(Merchants). 
This  firm,  composed  of  J.  W.  Braley  and  F.  V.  Jobson,  both 
enterprising  business  men  in  the  prime  of  life,  is  located  in  Lingo 
township,  Macon  county,  Mo.  They  carry  a  large  and  Avell  assorted 
stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  and  do  an  extensive 
cash  business  with  the  miners.  J.  W.  Braley  was  born  February  1, 
1850,  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Sarah  Braley, 
both  natives  of  the  same  State.  Mr.  B.  is  a  man  who  can  turn  his 
hand  to  any  thing  and  make  it  a  success  ;  he  has  been  successively, 
carpenter,  engineer  and  miner,  and  has  now  become  a  merchant.     His 


992  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

energy  is  untiring,  his  capacity  boundless.  He  was  married  Septem- 
ber 22,  1872,  to  Miss  Eachel  A.  Lunday,  daughter  of  Gabriel  and 
Elinor  Lunday.  They  have  two  charming  children,  George  E.  and 
James  W,  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  in  Bucklin, 
and  I.  O.  O.  F.  in  New  Cambria.  F.  V.  Jobson,  the  other  member 
of  this  firm,  was  born  December  5,  1856,  in  Canada.  His  parents, 
Robert  and  Julia  Jobson,  are  English.  Mr.  F.  V.  Jobson  is  a 
carefully  trained  business  man.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Gem  City 
Business  College.  The  firm  owe  a  large  part  of  their  success  to  the 
clear  head  and  accurate  mind  of  this  partner.  Mr.  J.  is  a  married 
man  also,  having  taken  to  wife  in  1878  Miss  Pollie  A.,  daughter  of 
J.  C.  and  Catharine  Austin,  of  Illinois.  A  couplet  of  attractive 
children,  Maggie  and  J.  C,  brighten  their  home.  Mr.  Jobson  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  also  of  the  Good  Templars 
lodge  at  Buckner. 

JAMES  R.  DAVIS 

(Farmer,  Section  11). 

Mr,  D.was  born  in  Breconshire,  Wales,  May  14,  1846.  His 
parents,  Reese  and  Jane  (Janes)  Davis,  were  of  Welsh  birth,  the 
father  a  farmer  by  occupation.  There  was  a  family  of  four  children, 
of  whom  J.  R.  was  the  second.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  ob- 
tained a  good  common-school  education.  In  1869  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  America.  They  landed  at  New  York  and  came  at 
once  to  Macon  county,  where  the  father  settled  in  Lingo  township. 
James  roamed  around  quite  extensively,  traveling  through  Missouri, 
etc.,  and  was  for  two  years  at  work  in  the  gold  and  silver  mines  of 
Colorado.  In  March,  1880,  he  returned  and  settled  down  in  his 
present  home,  occupying  himself  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
owns  120  acres  of  land  and  gives  his  attention  principally  to  raising 
stock.  Mr.  D.  is  a  self-made  man,  and  is  always  seeking  to  put  a 
wedge  where  it  will  do  the  most  good.  He  was  married  in  Novem- 
ber, 1873,  to  Miss  Julia,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  and  Sarah  (Hardy) 
Morse.  Mrs.  Davis  was  born  and  educated  in  Cincinnati,  her  father 
and  mother  being,  respectively,  from  Maine  and  Kentucky.  There 
are  three  children  in  this  household,  Charles  R.,  Jennie  and  Sarah 
Bell. 

JAMES  M.  DREW 

(Dealer  ia  General  Merchandise  and  Proprietor  of  the  Boone  Hotel,  New  Cambria). 

Mr.  Drew  is  from  the  land  of  the  shamrock.  He  was  born  in 
County  South,  one  of  the  best  counties  in  Ireland,  on  the  3d  of  May, 
1832,  and  is  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Mary  (  Bennett)  Drew,  of  the  same 
county.  He  was  principally  reared  in  Dublin  and  was  educated  there 
at  the  Model  school.  When  he  reached  man's  estate  he  learned  the 
smelter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  about  12  years  in  Durham 
county,  England.  It  was  during  this  time  that  les  doux  yeux  of  Miss 
Rose  Murphy,  daughter  of  Terrence  Murphy,  of  Ireland,  made  such 
sad  havoc  with  his  affections,  and  so  beguiling  was  his  tongue  that 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY,  993 

on  the  26th  of  May,  1859,  she  left  father  and  mother  to  cleave  only 
unto  him  so  Ions;  as  thev  both  should  live  :  — 

"There's  a  bliss  beyond  all  that  the  minstrel  has  told, 
When  two  that  are  linked  in  one  heavenly  tie, 
With  heart  never  changing  and  brow  never  cold, 
Love  on  through  all  ills  and  love  on  till  they  die." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drew  have  "lent  to  the  Lord"  three  of  their  little 
ones.  They  have  four  children  living:  Patrick,  Kate,  Mary  and 
Annie.  All  of  the  family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
Mr.  Drew  came  to  America  in  1866,  locating  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  but 
after  being  for  two  years  in  the  smelting  works  at  that  place  he 
came  to  Missouri  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  New  Cambria.  He 
devoted  14  years  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  then  sold  his  farm  and 
started  a  creamery  at  New  Cambria.  Of  this  he  made  a  great  suc- 
cess, but  on  finding  the  work  too  hard  for  him  sold  out  at  the  end 
of  the  year  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business.  He  has  a 
full  line  of  general  merchandise,  and  is  a  hard-working,  deserving 
citizen.  In  1883  Mr.  Drew  took  charge  of  the  Boone  House,  where 
he  makes  every  man  feel  as  in  his  own  home,  so  whole-souled  is  his 
welcome  and  so  unremitting  his  attention.  He  is  a  genuine  son  of 
Erin  in  those  qualities  which  chiefest  constitute  the  charm  of  her 
people. 

E.  A.  EDWARDS 

(Proprietor  of  the  Eagle  Mills,  New  Cambria.) 
Mr.  Edwards'  parents,  Evan  and  Elizabeth  (Loyd)  Edwards,  were 
natives  of  South  Wales,  where  he  was  born  in  June  of  the  year  1827. 
He  grew  up  in  that  country  and  received  a  common-school  education. 
When  14  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  family  to  this  country 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Gallia,  afterward  Jackson  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  until  he  came  of  age.  He  then  commenced  working 
for  himself,  traveling  about  a  good  deal.  He  spent  some  years  in  St. 
Louis  and  running  on  the  river,  and  during  the  war  was  teamster  for 
the  government  in  West  Virginia,  at  one  time  having  charge  of  a 
train.  After  the  surrender  he  continued  to  move  about,  visiting  most 
of  the  Western  cities  and  returning  for  a  while  to  the  river.  In  1869 
Mr.  Edwards  came  to  New  Cambria  and  built  the  Eagle  Mills,  at  that 
time  one  of  the  most  complete  in  this  part  of  the  State.  It  is  a  large 
building  and  is  run  by  steam  power.  He  still  conducts  the  business, 
his  wide  experience  giving  him  a  goodly  share  of  public  patronage. 

Realizing  that 

"  At  the  flaming  forge  of  life 

Our  fortunes  must  be  wrought," 

he  looks  neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  but  with  undivided  attention 
devotes  himself  to  his  work.  In  1880  Mr.  Edwards  succumbed  to  the 
fascinations  of  that  most  irresistible  of  beings,  a  widow,  and  in  the 
month  of  September  Mrs.  Margaret  Williams,  daughter  of  John  Rich- 
ards, of  Ohio,  became  his  wife.     Mrs.  Edwards  has  one  child,  John 


994  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Williams,  by  her  first  marriage.     She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyteriaui 
Church. 

LUKE  ELLIS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  20) . 

Mr.  E.  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ky.,  November  1,  1826. 
His  parents,  Thomas  and  Mildred  (Jenkins)  Ellis,  were  natives 
of  that  State.  Mr.  Ellis  being  a  farmer  and  carpenter  by  trade,  Luke 
grew  up  on  the  farm  and  had  some  education  and  partially  learned 
his  father's  trade.  The  family  moved  to  Missouri  in  1836,  but 
lived  for  many  years  in  Chariton  county,  then  after  a  short  resi- 
dence in  South-west  Missouri,  they  came  in  the  spring  of  1857 
to  Macon  county.  The  land  upon  which  they  located  was  wild 
land,  but  Mr.  Ellis  now  owns  130  acres  well  improved  and  with  every 
comfort.  He  is  very  successful  in  raising  stock  and  grain,  and  being 
one  of  the  early  settlers,  is  favorably  known  throughout  the  township. 
Mr.  Ellis  was  very  fond  of  hunting,  and  was  a  splendid  shot ;  but  on 
one  occasion  his  musket  burst  in  his  left  hand,  crippling  it  for  life. 
Mr.  E.  is  a  married  man.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1849,  was  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Zachariah  and  Lucinda 
(Morgan)  McDonald,  of  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Ellis  is,  through  her 
mother,  of  Welsh  ancestry,  but  was  herself  born  and  reared  in 
Chariton  county.  Mo.  Nine  children  have  been  the  fruits  of 
this  marriage,  viz.  :  Augustine,  Amana,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Cutter  ; 
Amanda,  now  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Davis;  Anderson,  John  R.,  Eliza  J., 
O.  v.,  David  S.  and  Stacy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  and  three  of  their 
children  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  two  other  children  hav- 
ing connected  themselves  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  E.  is  a 
Mason  of  good  standino-. 

GRAN  GOODSON 

(Dealer  in  Drugs  and  Medicines,  New  Cambria) . 
Mr.  Goodson  is  the  grandson  of  Samuel  Goodson,  of  Kentucky, 
who  came  to  Macon  county  in  1832,  and  remained  until  his  death. 
His  son,  and  the  father  of  Gran,  John  E.  Goodson,  came  to  Missouri 
with  his  father,  married  in  Macon  and  then  moved  to  Buchanan.  Until 
1863  he  continued  to  move  about,  living  sucessively  in  Carroll  county, 
Lynn  county,  Kas.,  Cass  county.  Mo.,  and  Jackson,  finally  settling  in 
Macon  county,  where  he  still  lives.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born 
in  Carroll  county,  May  27,  1848  ;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  given 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  his  father  being  a  doctor  and 
dealer  in  drugs,  he  became  familiar  with  the  use  of  the  latter.  In 
1869  he  entered  the  emi)loyment  of  Dr.  T.  F.  Owen,  of  Callao, 
and  clerked  for  him  one  year,  after  which  he  came  to  New  Cambria 
and  went  into  business  with  his  father  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  E. 
Goodson  &  Co.  In  1876,  the  son  bought  out  his  father's  interest, 
and  has  since  carried  on  the  business  alone.  Mr.  G.  owns  a  fine  cor- 
ner brick,  and  has  a  well  selected  stock  of  drugs,  books,  wall  paper, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  995 

etc.  He  has  two  farms,  one  in  Macon  and  one  in  Chariton  county, 
and  is  hirgely  interested  in  the  raising  of  short  horn  cattle.  He  has 
a  small  herd  of  thoroughbreds,  and  is  striving  to  arouse  some  inter- 
est in  the  business  amons;  the  neis-hborino-  farmers.  Mr.  Goodson  is 
a  married  man,  his  wife  nee  Miss  Missouri  Hammack,  daughter  of 
Anthony  and  Khody  (Smith)  Hammack,  being  a  native  of  the  county. 
There  are  two  children,  Walter  C.  and  William  H.  Mr.  Goodson  is 
a  man  of  public  note,  and  has  been  a  candidate  for  representative. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order. 

J.  P.  GRANTGES 

(Merchant  at  New  Cambria) . 

A  native  of  Prussia,  Mr.  Grantges  had  his  birth  in  the  village  of 
Olzheim,  on  the  romantic  river  Rhine.  His  parents,  William  and 
Catherine  (Thomas)  Grantges,  were  also  natives  of  Germany,  his 
father  a  farmer  by  occupation.  J.  P.  was  born  September  11,  1844, 
and  obtained  his  earlier  education  in  the  fatherland.  In  the  spring  of 
1856  the  family  came  to  America,  settling  first  in  Brooklyn  and  thence 
after  a  few  months'  residence,  to  Lake  county,  Ind.,  where  J.  P. 
grew  up.  In  1865  he  commenced  learning  wagon-making,  by  which 
means  he  supported  himself  for  several  years.  He  then  moved  to 
Missouri,  and  locating  in  New  Cambria,  set  up  a  wagon-making  shop. 
After  a  few  years,  in  1873,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  J.  Bar- 
ton, which  still  exists.  The  firm  have  a  well  selected  and  probably 
the  largest  stock  of  goods  in  the  town,  where  they  have  an  enviable 
reputation.  Mr.  Grantges  is  a  self-made  man,  having  begun  at  the 
bottom  of  the  ladder  and  gradually  worked  his  way  to  the  top,  stick- 
ing closely  to  business  and  making  honesty  his  rule  of  life.  In  1873 
Mr.  G.  married  Miss  Lizzie  Fulton,  daughter  of  David  Fnlton,  an  old 
resident  of  the  county,  of  Welsh  descent.  Mrs.  G.  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  There  are  five  children  :  William  D.,  Lizzie,  John  J.,  Frank- 
lin and  Arthur  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Granto-es  are  devout  members  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

WILLIAM   HAMMACK 

(Section  29). 

Prominent  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Macon  county  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Hampshire  county,  W.  Va., 
February  7,  1824,  his  parents,  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Wise)  Hammack, 
being  natives  of  the  same  State.  Mr.  Hammack,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer, 
and  was  also  brought  up  to  a  practical  knowledge  of  both  branches  of 
business.  He  had,  besides,  a  good  education.  In  the  fall  of  1851  he 
came  to  Missouri,  his  mother  accompanying  him  overland  in  a  buggy, 
and  settled  where  he  now  resides.  At  that  time  the  citizens  were  like 
angels'  visits  —  few  and  far  between.  Iii  1850  Mr.  Hammack  and  his 
brothers  purchased  the  mill  he  now  runs.  It  was  an  old-fashioned 
saw  and  grist  mill,  but  he  rebuilt  it  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  best  mills 


996  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

in  the  county.  It  is  run  by  water  power  and  is  situated  on  the  Char- 
iton river.  Mr.  H.  owns  upwards  of  2,000  acres  of  hind  in  Macon 
and  Chariton  counties  nearly  all  improved.  He  is  also  largely  inter- 
ested in  stock-raising,  his  cattle  being  principally  graded,  though  he 
has  some  thoroughbreds.  Mr.  Hammack  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of 
Macon  county,  and,  being  one  of  the  oldest  inhabitants,  is  widely 
known.  He  came  to  the  county  when  it  was  almost  a  wilderness,  and 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  improvement.  He  is  a  practical 
miller,  and  his  patronage  extends  for  miles  around.  He  has  filled 
once  each  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  treasurer  of  the  town- 
ship. His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  February,  was  Miss  M. 
Maria  Saville,  of  West  Virginia.  This  good  lady  died  December  19, 
1883,  leaving  six  daughters:  Emma  E.,  Mary  E.,  Mattie  A.,  Sarah 
M.,  Virginia  Lee  and  Fannie  M. 

ROBERT  JOBSON 

(Post-ofRce,  New  Cambria). 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  across  the  seas  in  Northumber- 
land county,  England,  January  15,  1813.  His  father,  John  Jobson, 
was  a  contractor  on  public  works  and  kept  stores.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Johnston,  and  reared  a  family  of  11  children,  of  whom  two  only 
are  now  living.  Robert  was  the  fourth  child  and  second  son,  and 
grew  up  in  the  parish  of  Ilderton,  where  he  attended  preparatory 
schools,  his  education  being  completed  in  Wooler.  His  training  was 
of  a  practical  nature,  studying,  surveying,  etc.,  and  from  the  time  he 
was  18  he  assisted  his  father  in  his  bridge  buildinofs  and  macadamized 
roads  and  the  like.  In  1834  Mr.  Jobson  was  joined  in  the  bonds  of 
holy  matrimony  to  Miss  Judith  Pigdon,  a  native  of  England  and 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  (Turnbull)  Pigdon.  He  continued 
to  live  in  his  native  land  until  1837,  and  then  he  and  his  family,  with 
one  last  look  at  the  shores  of  their  beloved  country,  embarked  on  the 
brig  Symmetry  for  the  Elysian  fields  of  America.  They  were  60  days 
making  the  voyage  from  South  Sunderland  to  Quebec.  Mr.  J.  first 
traveled  through  Canada  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  around  the  lakes 
to  Chicago,  which  at  that  time  was  a  mere  village,  indeed,  little  more 
than  a  mud-hole.  He  took  a  position  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal,  where  he  worked  four  years  and  then  went  back  to  Canada,  and 
was  engaged  for  15  years  on  the  Welland  canal.  In  1857  he  came  to 
Missouri  and  obtained  a  contract  on  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Rail- 
road, and  after  that  was  completed  he  set  up  his  du  penates  on  the 
farm,  section  9,  Lingo  township,  where  he  has  ever  since  devoted  his 
attention  to  ftirming.  At  one  time  Mr.  Jobson  owned  a  large  quantity 
of  land,  but  for  the  last  20  years  he  has  been  afflicted  with  rheumatism, 
and  has  gradually  sold  all  his  possessions  except  80  acres.  He  raises 
stock,  principally,  and  has  some  fine  grades.  He  has  held  for  15 
years  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and,  being  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers,  is  widely  known  and  highly  regarded.  Mr.  Jobson  is  a 
widower  with  seven  children,  his  wife  having  died  in  1880,  and  three 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  907 

treasures  being  already  laid  where  "neither  moth  nor  rust  doth  cor- 
rupt, and  where  thieves  do  not  break  in  and  steal."  One  son,  John, 
of  the  Sixty-third  Illinois  volunteers,  Co.  D,  died  for  the  land  of  his 
adoption.  He  fell  at  the  hill-crowned  city  of  Vicksburg.  Dulae  et 
decorum  eat  pro  patria  mori.  Mr.  Jobson  and  all  of  his  family  belong 
to  the  Episcopal  Church. 

G.  D.  KITCHEN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  20). 

Mr.  K.  was  born  about  1833  in  Caswell  county,  N.  C.  He  belongs 
to  a  very  old  family,  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Vaughn) 
Kitchen,  of  North  Carolina,  being  descendants  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Jamestown,  Va.  G.  D.  came  with  his  father  to  Missouri  when  about 
six  years  of  age  and  settled  near  College  Mound  in  Macon  countv. 
He  was  brought  up  to  farming  from  earliest  chiUlhood  and  has  princi- 
pally followed  that  occupation  through  life.  His  first  round  on  the  lad 
der  of  fortune  consisted  of  a  job  at  which  he  was  hired  by  the  month, 
cutting  10-foot  rails  at  25  cents  a  hundred  Thus  he  plodded  along 
until  he  had  saved  money  enough  to  buy  a  piece  of  land.  Here  he 
lived  raising  tobacco  and  stock  until  1873,  when  he  settled  on  his 
present  farm  of  80  acres.  He  is  a  hard-working  man  and  raises  some 
fine  stock.  During  the  war  Mr.  Kitchen  took  no  part  but  remained 
quietly  at  home,  attending  to  his  own  business  which  he  has  ever 
made  it  a  rule  of  his  life  to  do.  During  his  struggles  Mr.  K.  has  not 
been  without  a  gentle  companion  to  smooth  his  pathway.  In  1848 
he  married  an  orphan  girl,  Miss  Percilla  Hull,  from  Tennessee,  by 
whom  he  has  five  children:  William  A.,  Harriet  W.,  now  Mrs,  David 
Knight;  Sarah  E.,  now  Mrs.  John  St.  Clair;  George  T.  and  Fannie 
D.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kitchen  and  three  of  their  children  belong  to  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance.  Mr.  K.  has  been  very  fond  of  hunting  and  has  had 
some  exciting  experiences  in  the  chase. 

ANDREW  J.  LINGO 

(■farmer,  Section  27.) 

Mr.  Lingo  was  born  in  Macon  county.  Mo.,  June  12,  1846. 
His  parents,  Samuel  S.  and  Sarah  (Smith)  Lingo,  were  from  Ten- 
nessee, and  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county.  They  came  to 
Missouri  in  1830,  first  locating  in  Randolph  county,  and  thence,  in 
1845,  to  Macon  county.  Andrew  J.  was  one  of  a  family  of  13  chil- 
dren, and  the  youngest  of  nine  brothers,  there  being  two  sisters  older 
and  two  younger  than  himself.  Samuel  S.  Lingo  was  inarried  twice, 
and  by  his  second  wife  had  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  thus  making  in  the  two  families  20  children.  Young  An- 
drew was  raised  on  a  farm  in  this  township  and  educated  at  the  neigh- 
boring schools,  in  which  his  father  taught  for  several  terms.  While 
still  a  boy  he  served  for  some  time  during  the  war  in  the  militia. 
When  he  was  21  years  of  age,  he  settled  where  he  now  lives,  and  has 


998  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

been  engaged  in  farniino-  since  that  time.  He  has  240  acres  and 
raises  grain  and  stock.  He  is  painstaking  and  industrious  and  at- 
tends ck)sely  to  his  business.  Jordan  post-office,  consisting  of  a 
store,  a  bhicksmith  shop  and  the  post-office,  is  situated  upon  his  land. 
Mr.  Lingo  has  never  been  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  State  in 
which  he  was  born.  He  belongs  to  a  good  old  family,  his  father  com- 
ing to  the  county  in  its  early  days.  It  was  for  the  last  named.  Judge 
S.  S.  Lingo,  that  the  township  was  named.  In  1867  Mr.  Lingo  won 
the  tender  heart  of  Miss  Sarah  E.  Baker,  daughter  of  Douglass,  and 
Penelope  (Lingo)  Baker,  formerly  of  Ohio,  and  in  December  of  that 
year  they  were  wed.  Mrs.  Lingo  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county 
since  her  tenth  year.  Born  to  them  were  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living:  Curtis  McCuin,  William  Turner,  John  Samuel,  Robert 
Lee  and  Ira  Douglass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lingo  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

JUDGE  LEE  LINGO 

(Section  28). 

Judge  Lingo,  a  brother  to  Andrew  J.,  whose  sketch  precedes  this, 
was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Mo,,  on  the  16th  of  December,  1843. 
When  his  father,  Samuel  S.,  first  came  to  Missouri,  he  settled  for  a 
few  years  in  Randolph  county,  but  moving  in  1845  to  Macon  county 
he  entered  land  in  section  '63,  Lingo  township,  the  township  being 
organized  just  at  the  time  and  was  named  for  him.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent man  and  served  for  16  years  as  county  judge.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  children  numbering  20.  He  ended  his  days  full  of 
3'^ears  and  of  honors  on  the  25th  of  June,  1877.  Lee  Lingo,  the 
tenth  child  by  the  first  wife,  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  was  given  a 
good  education,  being  partly  taught  by  his  father  and  walking  6  miles 
every  day  to  school.  During  the  war  he  was  on  duty-  for  some  time 
both  in  the  Provincial  and  State  Militia,  and  it  is  worthy  of  mention 
that  7  of  the  brothers  were  in  the  same  company  at  once.  When  20 
years  old  Lee  Lingo  commenced  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  in 
connection  with  stock  raising  continued  this  occupation  until  1880. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  tobacco  business  and  has  also 
commercial  interests  at  New  Cambria.  In  May,  1883,  he  and  Mr. 
Drew  started  a  large  creamery  at  that  place.  Mr.  Drew  selling  out 
soon  after,  Mr.  Lingo  took  in  Mr.  H.  R.  Southwick  as  a  partner. 
They  have  a  well  arranged  creamery,  one  of  the  best  in  the  State,  and 
their  butter  sells  for  the  highest  cash  prices.  Mr.  Lingo  owns  200 
acres  of  rich  land,  but  will  withdraw  entirely  from  the  stock  business 
so  as  to  have  more  leisure  for  his  creamery  enterprise  which  has 
•issumed  immense  proportions.  In  1876  and  again  in  1882  Mr.  Lingo 
was  elected  to  the  county  judgeship,  and  he  has  been  conspicuous  as 
well  for  the  grace  with  which  he  has  presided  in  his  eminent  station 
MS  for  the  profundity  of  legal  knowledge  evidenced  by  his  decisions. 
The  Judge,  though  now  arrayed  in  all  his  state,  yet  mirahile 
diclu,  was  once  an  humble  suppliant  at  the  bar  of  the  most  exact- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  999 

ing  court  in  Christendom,  and  so  eloquently  did  he  plead  his  cause 
that  the  judge  in  the  case,  Miss  Mary  E.  Baker,  unhesitatingly 
reversing  all  other  decisions,  granted  him  a  new  trial  for  life.  On  the 
17th  of  December,  1863,  they  took  each  other  "  for  better, 
for  worse."  Judge  and  Mrs.  Lingo  have  had  7  children,  of  whom  5 
are  living;  Nancy  D.,  Samuel  J.,  Hillery  J.,  Leonard  Lee  and  Sarah 
Edith.  They  lost  in  rapid  succession,  in  1883-84,  two  grown 
daughters,  Luetta  May  and  Frances  Ides,  whose  untimely  demise,  in 
all  the  fresh  and  blossoming  beauty  of  girlhood,  was  a  stunning  blow 
to  their  fond  parents  and  many  friends.  They  were  young  ladies  of 
remarkable  talent  and  culture,  fitted  both  by  nature  and  education 
to  shine  in  any  society. 

"  But  angels  say,  and  through  the  word 
I  think  their  happy  smile  is  heard  — 
He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep." 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Lingo  belong  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  the  sainted  dead  were  also  members.  Judge  Lingo 
is  a  Mason,  and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Grand  Lodge 
No.  402  of  New  Cambria.  There  are  few  men  in  the  township  of 
equal  weight  and  consequence. 

HUGH  G.  LLOYD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  L.  is  one  of  those  men  who,  emigrating  to  this  country  from 
Wales,  have  gathered  together  at  New  Cambria,  and  made  a  second 
home  in  a  land  of  strangers.  His  parents,  William  and  Ann  (Roberts ) 
Lloyd,  were  of  W^l^h  ^^i^'tl^*  and  Mr.  Lloyd  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. Hugh  G.  was  born  in  North  Wales,  August  9,  1836,  and  was 
raised  on  the  farm  and  received  a  good  common-school  education. 
When  he  was  21  he  went  to  Australia,  where  he  spent  10  years,  prin- 
cipally engaged  in  mining.  He  also  visited  New  Zealand,  Otago  and 
the  Western  coast.  In  1867  he  returned  to  Wales,  and  the  followino^ 
spring  set  sail  for  American  shores.  He  first  landed  in  Quebec, 
Canada,  but  soon  turned  his  steps  towards  New  Cambria.  Finding  a 
Welsh  settlement  here,.  Mr.  Lloyd  purchased  land,  spending  the 
summer,  however,  in  the  stone  quarries  near  Nauvoo,Ill.  In  the  fall 
of  1868  he  returned,  built  a  house  and  commenced  improving  his  land, 
which  was  all  wild,  but  he  has  continued  to  live  on  it,  adding  from  time 
to  time  such  improvements  as  he  was  able,  and  from  beginning  life  as 
a  poor  boy,  he  has  risen  by  his  own  industry  and  integritj^  to  his 
present  position.  He  owns  about  400  acres,  all  enclosed  and  in  good 
condition,  and  is  largely  interested  in  stock-raising.  Mr.  L.  married, 
in  1871,  Miss  Elizabeth  Davis,  daughter  of  Reese  and  Jane  Davis,  who 
were  all  natives  of  Wales.  They  have  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living:  Jane  Ann,  John  G.,  Edith  and  Lizzie  M.  Mrs. 
Lloyd  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
58 


1000  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


ROBISON  PERRIN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  33). 

Mr.  P.  was  born  in  Madison  connty,  Ky.,  in  1821.  When  he  was 
about  four  years  of  age  his  parents,  James  and  Milkey  (Paget) 
Perrin,  both  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  early  settlers  of  Kentucky, 
moved  to  Breckinridge  county,  and  here  Robison  Perrin  was  reared  on 
a  farm.  He  obtained  a  fair  education  at  the  district  schools.  He 
married,  in  1848,  Miss  Mary  E.  Perrin,  a  third  cousin.  They  rented 
a  farm  for  a  year,  and  then  came  west  and  located  in  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Chariton  river,  and  after  a  residence  there 
of  six  years,  entered  the  land  upon  which  he  now  lives.  It  comprises 
193  acres,  of- which  100  acres  are  under  cultivation.  He  was  formerly 
a  large  tobacco  grower,  but  now  raises  grain  and  stock.  He 
is  noted  everywhere  for  his  upright,  honest  dealings,  and  though 
in  the  "sere  and  yellow  leaf,"  he  does  a  good  day's  work  with 
the  best  of  them.  Mr.  Perrin' s  first  wife  dying  in  1858,  without 
issue,  he  married,  in  1864,  Miss  Susan  Ann  Halbert,  of  Howard 
county,  who  survived  her  marriage  but  four  years.  She  left  two 
children:  John  C.  and  Barthulu  Ann,  now  Mrs.  L.  J.  Slaughter. 
Left  once  more  a  lonely  widower,  Mr.  Perrin  found  solace  in  the 
affection  of  Mrs.  Martha  Stebbins,  a  widow  with  one  child  (Mary  F. 
Stebbins),  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1870.  There  are  three  children 
by  this  marriage,  viz:  Van  Buren,  Stella  E.  and  Oliver.  Mr.  Perrin 
has  the  cordial  good  will  and  respect  of  those  among  whom  his  lot  is 
cast,  and  reaping  the  harvest  of  a  life  well  spent,  he 

"  Pursues  the  even  tenor  of  his  way." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perrin  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

ROBERT  POWELL 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  13). 

Mr.  Powell  was  born  in  Mirionathshire,  North  Wales,  January  17, 
1815.  His  father,  Rowland  T.  Powell,  was  a  farmer  and  quarryman, 
and  his  mother,  Elizabeth  (Humphries)  Powell,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  country.  Robert  was  raised  on  the  farm  and  given  a  good  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools.  From  the  age  of  18,  as  long  as  he 
remained  in  the  country  he  worked  in  the  copper  and  lead  mines.  In 
1842,  being  of  an  adventurous  turn  of  mind,  he  left  his  home  and 
came  to  America.  He  landed  at  New  York,  and  for  the  first  year  or 
two  traveled  over  the  Eastern  States,  finally  settling  at  Plymouth, 
Luzerne  county.  Pa.  He  remained  in  this  section  about  28  years, 
occupying  the  position  of  superintendent  of  different  coal  mines.  In 
the  spring  of  1868  Mr.  Powell  came  West  and  located  where  he  now 
resides.  The  land  was  all  wild  and  open  prairie,  but  he  purchased 
his  first  farm  and  commenced  improving  it.     He  now  owns  320  acres, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1001 

which  is  nearly  all  under  cultivation,  and  raises  grain,  hay  and  stock. 
He  is  a  most  energetic  and  industrious  citizen,  and  though  time  creeps 
on  apace  he  is  full  of  ruddy  health  and  vigor.  He  has  the  hearty 
respect  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Powell  was 
married  in  New  York  City  in  Januar}-,  1855,  to  Miss  Laura  Griffith, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ellen  Griffith,  originally  from  Wales.  Mrs. 
Powell  proved  a  sensible  and  loving  wife,  and  August  3,  1883,  serene 
in  the  consciousness  of  a  life  well  spent  and  trusting  in  the  mercy  of 
Him  who  died  for  us  on  Calvary,  she  lay  down  to  her  last  sleep,  with 
the  sunshine  of  long  years  of  womanly  devotion  resting  calmly  on 
her  slumber.  She  left  live  children:  Samuel  R.,  Humphrey,  Robert 
and  Elizabeth,  twins,  and  Griffith  M.  Mr.  Powell,  his  daughter  and 
youngest  son  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  New 
Cambria,  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  deacon.  Miss  Powell,  who 
is  a  young  lady  of  rare  loveliness  of  character,  keeps  house  for  her 
father  and  brother,  and  has  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  en- 
tire community  by  her  noble  devotion  to  her  family. 

H.  R.  SOUTHWICK 

(Agent  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad,  Dealer  in  Lumber  and  Partner  in  the 
Creamery  at  New  Cambria) . 

Mr.  S.  is  one  of  the  most  influential  and  important  citizens  of  Lingo 
township.  He  is  a  man  of  tireless  enterprise,  and  seems  to  be  a  ver- 
itable descendant  of  King  Midas.  He  was  born  August  16,  1849,  in 
Shallsburg,  Lafoyette  county.  Wis.,  of  David  S.,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  Angeline  E.  (Kneeland)  South  wick,  a  widow  from  New  York. 
Mr.  Southwick,  Sr.,  was  a  Major  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  settled 
in  Wisconsin  at  an  early  day.  H.  R.  grew  up  in  the  village  where  he 
was  born,  and  was  educated  there.  When  he  was  18  3^ears  of  age  he 
went  to  Warren,  111.,  and  began  to  learn  telegraphing,  and  after 
spending  a  year  at  that  place  and  a  few  months  at  New  Boston,  111., 
in  1869  he  came  on  the  Hannibal  road  with  which  he  has  since  been 
connected.  He  also  has  held  the  position  of  operator  at  Clarence, 
Callao  and  Bevier.  Mr.  Southwick  came  to  New  Cambria  on  the  1st 
of  March,  1871,  and  has  been  agent  for  the  road  since  that  date,  the 
length  of  time  being  ample  proof  of  his  ability  and  integrity.  Mr.  S. 
deals  extensively  in  lumber,  has  the  only  yard  in  the  place,  keeps  a  well 
assorted  stock,  and  does  from  $8,000  to  $10,000  worth  of  business  a 
year.  He  has  conducted  this  lumber  yard  since  1873.  In  1883,  in 
partnership  with  Mr.  William  Bucksott,  he  started  a  brick-yard,  and 
made  200,000  brick  the  first  season.  Last  fall  Mr.  Southwick  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Drew  in  the  creamery  at  New  Cam- 
bria, and  this  year  they  expect  to  make  about  1,000  pounds  of  butter 
per  day.  Mr.  S.  also  owns  some  town  property.  He  holds  the  office 
of  township  collector,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Knight  Templars  Com-^ 
raandery  of  Macon  City.  It  is  remarkable  to  see  so  young  a  man  as 
Mr.  Southwick  occupy  so  prominent  a  position.  He  is  emphatically 
one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  section  of  the  county,  and  is  honored 


1002  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

and  respected  to  a  degree  that  would  be  gratifying  to  one  of  twice 
his  years.  He  is  noted  for  his  business  capacity,  and  his  genial  good 
nature  and  cordial  affinity  of  manner  make  him  friends  at  ever}^  hand. 
Mr.  S.  has  not  yet  been  struck  by  "  love's  resistless  lightning,"  or, 
at  any  rate,  no  angel  in  woman's  form  as  yet  makes  of  his  home  a 
heaven  on  earth. 

DE.  N.  D.  STEPHENSON 

(Physician  and  Surgeon). 

Among  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Lingo  township,  and  an 
unusually  successful  man  is  Dr.  N.  D.  Stephenson,  farmer,  stock- 
raiser  and  physician,  section  33.  His  father,  Thomas  D.,  and  mother, 
Mary  J.  (Pittman)  Stephenson,  came  from  Kentucky  at  an  early  day 
and  were  married  in  St.  Charles  county.  Mo.,  in  1811.  N.  D.  was 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  12  children,  10  of  whom  lived  to  be 
grown.  He  was  born  in  St.  Charles  county  on  the  22d  of  April, 
1835.  The  days  of  his  boyhood  were  passed  on  a  farm  and  he  picked 
up  such  education  as  could  be  obtained  at  the  log  cabin  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  afterwards,  however,  attended  the  Dardeme  Acad- 
emy of  the  county.  In  the  fall  of  1853  he  commenced  reading 
medicine  with  Dr.  M.  M.  Maughs,  of  Callaway  county,  and  during 
the  winter  of  1854-55  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Mis- 
souri Medical  College.  In  May  of  the  latter  year  the  Doctor  came  to 
Macon  county,  and  taking  up  his  residence  in  the  family  of  Judge 
Lingo,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  After  a  few  years  he 
moved  first  to  Lynn,  then  to  St.  Charles  county,  but  in  1867  returned 
to  Lingo  township  to  rove  no  more.  He  carries  on  his  farms  in  addi- 
tion to  his  medical  duties,  and  oAvns  1,000  acres  of  splendid  land, 
nearly  all  improved.  His  two  farms  Avould  compare  favorably  with 
any  in  the  county.  Dr.  Stephenson  has  alwaj^s  enjoyed  an  excellent 
practice;  indeed,  has  been  kept  so  busy  that  he  never  had  time  to 
complete  his  studies  until  1882,  when,  being  on  a  visit  to  the  Missouri 
Medical  College  at  the  time  of  his  son's  graduation,  he  took  what  is 
known  as  the  course  of  a  post  graduate.  The  Doctor  is  one  of  the 
landmarks  of  the  county,  having  settled  here  when  it  was  in  its  in- 
fancy and  riding  over  the  prairies  when  but  few  voices  beside  his  own 
stirred  "  the  listening  air."  He  assisted  in  building  the  first  school- 
house  and  church  in  the  township.  At  that  time  the  Hannibal  and 
St.  Joe  Railroad  was  a  thing  of  the  future.  The  farm  on  which  the 
Doctor  resides  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county.  He  is  immensely 
popular  and  deservedly  so.  His  handsome  face  carries  sunshine 
wherever  it  goes,  and  he  has  a  smile  and  pleasant  word  for  ever}'  one. 
Dr.  Stephenson  has  been  twice  married  ;  his  first  wife,  nee  Matilda  J. 
Windsor,  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Mary  Windsor,  of  Montgomery 
county,  Mo.,  died  June  20,  1870,  leaving  two  children  :  John  T.  and 
Mary  Lee.  He  married  again  May  24,  1871,  his  bride  being  Miss 
Emma,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Lina  (Hayes)  Withers,  of  Chariton 
county.  Mo.     By  this  marriage  there  are  four  children:  Paulina  M., 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1003 

Emma  J.,  Nathan  D.  and  Dorothy  W.  The  eldest  son  of  the  house, 
John  T.,  has  taken  some  of  his  father's  practice  off  his  hands,  and 
besides  has  a  large  practice  of  his  own  in  Chariton  county.  Dr. 
Stephenson,  Sr.,  is  a  man  of  genial  temperament  and  has  been  in  his 
day  a  good  hunter.  He  was  one  of  the  best  rifle  shots  in  the  county. 
Mrs.  S.  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  the  Doctor  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  :  is  a  charter  member  of  Grand 
Lodge  No.  402  of  New  Cambria. 

R.  P.  THOMPSON 

(Editor  and  Proprietor  of  the  New  Cambria  Herald) . 

Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  Paris,  Monroe  county.  Mo.,  on  the  23d 
of  December,  1851.  Mr.  Thompson  received  his  education  principally 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  College  at  Huntsville,  Mo.,  but  learned  the  printer's 
trade  in  St.  Joseph.  Afterwards  going  to  St.  Louis,  he  made  the  latter 
city  his  home  for  about  10  years,  working  on  the  Times  and  the  Dis- 
patch,  first  at  the  case  and  afterwards  as  reporter.  He  took  a  lively 
interest  in  sporting  affairs  and  helped  to  raise  that  feature  of  journal- 
ism to  its  present  prominent  position.  Mr.  Thompson  is  quite  an 
ardent  sportsman.  His  first  newspaper  venture  for  himself  was  the 
Sportsmcm,  of  St.  Louis,  which  he  started  in  1877.  He  came  to  New 
Cambria  in  March,  1881,  and  the  first  issue  of  the  Hei^ald  appeared  in 
April  following.  It  is  a  bright,  newsy  paper  ;  in  politics  fearlessly 
independent,  and  seeking  the  favor  of  no  man,  but  devoting  all  its 
energies  to  the  interests  of  the  community.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  mar- 
ried man,  his  wife  having  been  Miss  Virginia  Stone,  daughter  of  Albert 
and  Josephine  (Smith)  Stone,  of  St.  Louis,  where  Mrs.  Thompson 
was  born  and  reared,  her  father  being  a  prominent  river  man  of  that 
place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  four  children  :  Albert,  Inez, 
Myrtle  and  Lucile.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  wide  awake,  enterprising 
young  man. 

WILLIAM  D.  WILLIAMS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  23). 

Mr.  Williams  was  born  in  Wales,  January  19, 1823,  and  was  one  of 
a  family  of  seven  children,  the  worthy  offspring  of  an  honest  farmer, 
David  Williams  by  name,  and  of  Margaret,  his  wife.  William  D.  grew 
up  on  the  paternal  acres  and  attended  school  regularly.  Upon  the 
death  of  his  father.  May  17,  1844,  he  and  his  brothers  conducted  the 
business  of  the  farm  for  several  years  —  until  his  marriage,  December 
8,  1849,  to  Miss  Margaret  Jones,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Jones,  all  natives  and  residents  of  Wales.  After  Mr.  Williams  was 
married  he  rented  a  farm  which  he  worked  for  21  years.  On  the  1st 
of  June,  1870,  he  and  his  family  engaged  passage  on  the  steamer 
Pennsylvania  for  New  York,  and  thence  came  to  New  Cambria,  Macon 
county.  Here  they  arrived  Dei  gratia  after  being  15  days  at  sea  on  a 
crowded  vessel  (the  passengers  numbered  1,550).  When  Mr.  Will- 
iams purchased  the  land  upon   which  he  resides  it  was  nearly  all  a 


1004  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

wilderness.  He  now  owns  160  acres,  and  has  made  it  *'  blossom  like 
the  rose."  He  raises  corn  and  stock,  and  is  an  honest,  hard-working, 
deserving  citizen.  Mr.  Williams  has  nine  children :  John,  David, 
Margaret,  now  Mrs.  William  Howells  ;  William,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Evan,  Timothy  and  Annie  C  He  was  so  unfortnnate  as  to  lose  his 
good  wife  in  the  November  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  but  his 
daughters,  choosing  for  their  pattern  the  gentle  and  dutiful  Cordelia, 
soothe  his  declining  years  with  a  filial  tenderness  beautiful  to  see. 
Mr.  Williams  and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  New  Cambria. 

EICHAED  WILLIAMS 

(Farmer  and  Blacksmith,  New  Cambria). 

Mr.  Williams,  a  man  of  brain  as  well  as  decided  executive  ability, 
was  born  February  23,  1837,  in  Wales.  His  parents,  Thomas  and 
Hannah  (Ellis)  Williams,  were  both  Welsh  by  birth,  his  father  being 
a  merchant.  Richard  W.  was  given  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  at  14  commenced  to  learn  blacksmithing.  At  this  he 
was  apprenticed  for  five  years  in  the  city  of  Cardifl",  Wales.  In  1856 
he  came  over  the  sea  in  search  of  a  fortune,  but  for  nine  years  wan- 
dered from  one  place  to  another.  He  lived  first  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  then 
at  Morris,  Grundy  county,  111.,  then  for  two  years  worked  at  his  trade 
on  the  Rocky  mountains.  He  claims  to  have  been  the  first  black- 
smith in  Denver.  In  1860  he  went  to  Peru,  III.,  where  he  worked 
for  four  years,  next;  he  was  15  months  in  the  government  employ 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  then  spent  the  summer  of  1864  at  Rochester, 
Minn.,  and  finally  in  1865  came  to  Macon  and  settled  on  a  farm, 
opening  also  the  next  year  a  blacksmith's  shop,  in  both  of  which  em- 
ployments he  has  since  been  engaged.  Mr.  Williams  owns  230  acres 
of  well  improved  land  about  three  miles  south  of  New  Cambria  where 
he  raises  stock.  In  connection  with  his  smithy  he  has  a  wagon  shop 
and  deals  in  agricultural  implements,  as  well  as  all  kinds  of  farm  ma- 
chinery. Mr.  W.  is  also  interested  with  Mr.  James  H.  Houghton. 
They  deal  in  evaporated  fruits  of  all  kinds,  and  worked  up  an  im- 
mense number  of  bushels  last  year.  Mr.  Williams  has  a  clear  head, 
and  possesses  the  rare  faculty  of  being  able  to  carry  on  several  differ- 
ent kinds  of  business  at  once,  and  makes  a  success  of  all  of  them. 
Amidst  the  occupations  of  his  life,  he  has  found  time  to  pour  love's 
witching  tale  into  the  listening  ear  of  blushing  maid.  He  formed  an 
alliance  in  January,  1860,  with  Miss  Sarah  Dean,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rachel  Dean,  now  residents  of  the  county.  They  have  two  children, 
Thomas  E.  and  John  W.  Mr.  Williams  is  both  a  Mason  and  an  Odd- 
lellow. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1005 


i:n'depexdei^ce  tow:n^ship. 


HENRY  CLAY  GATES 

(Post-office,  La  Plata) . 

Mr.  G.  is  a  native  of  Macon  county,  Mo.  His  father  was  born  in 
1806  in  North  Carolina,  and  moved  to  Kentuclvy  when  a  small  boy. 
He  afterwards  lived  f«r  a  while  in  Morgan  county.  III.,  coming  to 
Missouri  in  1839  and  settling  on  a  farm  in  the  north-western  part  of 
section  4,  this  township.  There  he  remained  until  his  death  August  9, 
1878.  He  was  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  belonged  to  the  A.  F.  and  A. 
M.  He  was  married  tvvice  ;  the  first  time  in  1829  in  Morgan  county, 
111.,  to  Mrs.  Sallie  Miller,  nee  Stanfield.  By  this  marriage  there  were 
three  children  :  Josiah,  Ellenor,  wife  of  Jesse  Gross,  of  Oregon,  and 
Mary  H.,  the  deceased  wife  of  John  R.  Graves,  now  also  passed  away. 
Mr.  Gates'  second  wife  to  whom  he  was  united  September  23,  1845, 
was  Mrs.  Ellenor  Irving,  nee  Broyles.  She  was  the  widow  of  Lee 
Irving,  of  Washington  county,  Tenn.,  of  which  State  she  was  a  native. 
She  has  one  son  by  Mr.  Irving,  James  M.,  now  at  La  Plata,  engaged 
in  the  lumber  and  grain  trade.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gates  have  four  child- 
ren :  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  W.  T.  Gilbreath,  of  Macon  ;  Henry  Clay,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Fannie,  wife  of  J.  C.  Gilbreath,  and  Laura  J., 
who  married  the  first  time  L.  D.  Gilbreath,  of  Macon,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  H.  H.  Abbott.  Henry  Clay  was  born  and  raised  on  the  old 
homestead  which  eonsists  of  960  acres  of  splendid  land,  one-half  in 
Richland  and  one-half  in  Independence  township  ;  also  about  800  acres 
in  Easley  township,  which  belongs  jointly  to  Henry  Clay  and  his 
father,  G.  W.  Gates.  The  son  is  well  educated,  having  taken  a  full 
course  in  Iron  City  Commercial  College,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  With  youth, 
talent  and  wealth,  there  is  nothing  that  this  gifted  young  man  can  not 
make  of  life.  It  is  all  before  him,  a  placid  sea,  a  rosy  sky,  and  the 
star  of  hope  beckoning  him  on. 

JAMES  VALINDON  RICHARDSON 

(Post-ofRce,  Maple). 

Mr.  Richardson  is  a  native  of  Shelby  county,  Ky.,  whither  his 
father  had  emigrated  when  18  years  of  age  from  Pennsylvania  county, 
Va.  Mr.  Richardson,  Sr.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  sta- 
tioned in  Ohio  and  on  the  Northern  border.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Howard  county,  and  later  his  name  was  on  the 
committee  of  organization  of  Macon  county.  He  was  a  fine  historian 
and  his  mind  was  in  addition  well   stored  with   oeneral  information. 


1006  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

James  V.  was  born  in  1820,  came  to  Howard  county  when  he  was  a 
year  old  and  remained  until  he  was  15,  receiving  his  early  education 
partly  in  the  county.  He  has  been  principally  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  owns  160  acres  of  land  all  under  fence  and  in  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  and  is. in  comfortable  circumstances.  He  is  a  married 
man,  his  wife  having  been  Miss  Cynthia  Griffin,  daughter  of  Jesse 
and  Catherine  Griffin,  of  Macon  county,  where  she  was  educated. 
They  have  lost  four  children  and  have  seven  living,  viz.  :  Frances  J., 
wife  of  Christopher  Walton,  of  Waverly,  Lafayette  county;  William 
H.,  farmer;  Annie,  wife  of  William  Jenkins,  of  Cass  county,  Mo.  ; 
James  A.,  farmer  in  Kansas;  John  M.,  farmer  in  Macon  county; 
Valindon  Price,  farmer  in  Kansas  ;  Commodoi:e  P.,  at  home.  Those 
deceased  are:  Catherine,  Mary  Ellen,  Jesse  B.  and  Budd.  The 
'Squire  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  several  different  times,  and  is 
well  fitted  to  grace  any  position  in  life.  He  is  a  fine  scholar  and  a 
strictly  moral  man  in  his  habits,  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  sons  ever 
having  touched  a  drop  of  liquor  in  their  lives.  Mr.  Richardson  was 
in  the  Mormon  war  in  the  Grand  river  country.  When  he  first  came 
to  this  county  the  Indians  were  still  using  it  as  their  hunting  grounds. 
The  'Squire  is  a  Good  Templar  and  consistent  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  His  wife  belongs  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 
In  politics  Mr.  R,.  advocated  the  Whig  principles  until  1856,  when 
that  party  becoming  disorganized,  he  supported  the  Democratic  plat- 
form —  the  only  National  party  —  to  which  he  has  since  strongly  and 
faithfully  adhered.  He  is  a  man  of  purest,  firmest  principle,  and 
every  action  will  bear  the  strong  light  of  day.  It  might  have  been 
stated  above  that  both  of  Mr.  Richardson's  paternal  grandparents 
were  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 


ROUND     GROYE     TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  F.  GRAFFORD 

(Post-offlce,  Macon  City). 

This  honest  and  hard-working  farmer  and  stock-raiser  is  a  young 
man  with  all  the  vigor  and  glowing  anticipations  of  youth.  He  has 
a  fine  farm  of  160  acres,  140  of  which  are  in  cultivation  and  the  bal- 
ance in  timber.  His  place  is  well-improved  with  good  buildings,  etc., 
and  he  toils  early  and  late  to  win  a  foothold  on  the  unsteady  ladder 
of  Fortune.  Mr.  Grafford  was  born  October  22,  1860,  and  is  the 
son  of  William  V.  and  Mary  J.  (Bell)  Grafford.  His  father  was  also 
a  farmer.  He  was  born  in  Missouri  September  28,  1824,  and  was  one 
of  six  sons,  John,  Elsworth,  Samuel,  Benjamin  and  Henry,  of  whom 
but  two,  Henry  and  Elsworth,  are  now  living.  They,  also,  are 
farmers.  John  F.  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  his  father  dy- 
ing February  26,   1869,  and   his   mother   December   12,  1871.     Left 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1007 

alone  in  the  world  (he  was  an  only  child),  it  was  natural  that  Mr. 
(jr.  should  seek  where,  on  the  threshold  of  his  career,  to  make 
for  himself  that  which  is  the  most  cherished  dream  of  every 
good  man's  heart,  a  home  of  his  own.  Therefore,  at  the  age 
of  22,  he  married,  October  19,  1882,  Miss  Minnie  Ruhrup,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Ruhrup,  of  whose  life  a  brief  sketch  is  given  in 
this  volume.  Heaven  has  blessed  this  young  couple  with  a  lovely 
babe,  a  daughter,  born  December  28,  1883.  Thus,  with  his  heart  at 
rest  in  the  haven  of  his  home,  Mr.  Graiford  can  bestow  his  whole 
time  and  attention  upon  his  business,  in  which  his  energy  and  un- 
usually capable  management  cannot  fail  to  insure  success. 

LEMUEL   A.   ROGERS. 

(Section  20). 

Mr.  R.  is  a  prominent  agriculturist  of  this  township,  and  a  native 
of  Green  county,  Ky.,  where  his  parents  were  also  born.  David 
Rogers  and  Nancy  Cofey,  his  wife,  moved  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of 
1883,  and  vibrated  between  Morgan  and  Mason  counties  for  several 
years,  in  the  fall  of  1842  moving  to  Missouri.  Mr.  Rogers  entered 
land  and  improved  a  farm  in  Macon  county,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  in  April,  1866.  L.  A.  was  born  June  10,  1833,  and  spent 
his  youth  on  the  farm  in  the  county,  being  given,  for  those  early  days, 
a  good  education.  After  Mr.  Rogers  became  a  married  man,  he  lived 
for  a  few  years  on  a  farm  near  Macon  City,  and  in  1858  bought  the  place 
he  now  owns.  It  was  already  a  little  improved,  but  it  is  now  a  fair 
picture  of  prosperity  and  substantial  comfort.  It  comprises  120 
acres,  all  fenced  and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  R.  was  mar- 
ried October  13,  1854,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Rat- 
liff,  from  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Rogers  was  herself  born  in  Monroe  county, 
but  raised  in  Macon.  They  have  eight  children  :  Ben  F.,  married  and 
with  a  family;  Charles  B.,  Mary  D.,  wife  of  Acy  Judy;  Susan 
C,  wife  of  George  T.  Clark;  George  W.,  Sallie  J.,  Louisa  Ann, 
Nancy  E.  and  Lina  T.  One  little  innocent,  folded  safe  in  the  bosom 
of  the  Heavenly  Father,  has  escaped  life's  woes.  Mr.  Rogers  was  in 
the  Confederate  service  for  a  time  durins^  the  war,  thousfh  in  no  en- 
gagement.  He  afterwards  served  in  the  militia  for  home  protection, 
and  held  himself  ready  at  a  moment's  call.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  Mr.  Rogers  belongs  to  the 
Macon  lodge  of  Masons. 

BENJAMIN  R.  THRASHER 

•  (Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Thrasher  was  born  August  13,  1818,  near  Jefferson,  Frede- 
rick county,  Md.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Martha  (Johnson) 
Thrasher,  were  natives  of  the  same  coimty  and  State.  Benjamin  R. 
grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  his  native  county,  and  did  not  come  to 
Missouri  until  1846.     He  then  settled  first  in  Marion  county,  but  re- 


1008  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

mained  there  only  a  hrief  twelve  months,  and  yet  dnring  that  time  he 
captured  the  heart  and  hand  of  Miss  Louisa  Jane  Moss,  a  native  of  the 
county  and  daughter  of  Luke  Moss,  formerly  from  Kentucky.  Sub- 
sequent to  his  marriage  Mr.  Thrasher  moved  to  Audrain  county,  lived 
there  about  three  years,  and  in  1850  came  to  Macon  and  entered  land 
and  improved  his  present  farm.  He  now  owns  460  acres  all  fenced, 
some  in  timber  and  pasture  and  the  rest  in  cultivation  He  has  a  good 
residence  and  other  buildings  and  two  nice  orchards  upon  the  place. 
The  original  landed  possessions  of  Mr.  Thrasher  amounted  to  about 
1,000  acres,  but  he  has  given  each  of  his  children  a  farm  near  him. 
These  children  are  Martha  Ann,  wife  of  D.  Huntsberry ,  and  Hannah  J. , 
now  Mrs.  G.  W.  Withers.  During  the  war  Mr.  Thrasher  took  no  active 
part,  but  sympathized  with  the  South,  on  which  account  he  suflered 
some  hardships.  He  was  taken  prisoner  in  1862  by  the  State  militia 
and  held  for  some  months  at  St.  Louis,  and  Alton,  111.  He  and  his 
wife  belong  to  the  Presbj^terian  Church.  They  are  worthy  people  and 
occupy  a  good  position  in  the  community. 

WILLIAM.  H.  WHITCOMB 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  Beverly). 

Mr.  Wliitcomb  was  born  October  10,  1840,  and  was  the  sdn  of 
David  and  Anna  (Painter)  Whitcomb,  natives  of  Vermont.  Mr. 
Whitcomb,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer,  and  William  worked  on  the  farm  and 
went  to  school  until  he  was  of  age.  He  then  moved  to  Missouri  and 
for  eight  years  was  carpenter  and  section  foreman  on  the  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joe  Railroad.  His  next  step  was  to  buy  the  farm  he  now 
lives  on.  Itconsists  of  210  acres  of  good  prairie  land.  He  is  nicely 
situated  and  has  a  handsome  residence,  whose  attractiveness  is  en- 
hanced ten-fold  by  the  care  of  his  tidy  and  industrious  wife  and 
daughters.  Mrs.  Whitcomb,  to  whom  he  was  married  February  9, 
1865,  was  Miss  Mary  J.  Winn,  a  native  of  Missouri  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  Winn,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Macon  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Whitcomb  have  had  five  children  :  Mary  E.,  born  September  11, 
1866;  Thomas  D.,  born  September  2,  1867;  Nancy  A.,  born  April 
23,  1869  ;  Bertha  B.,  born  September  17,  1871,  and  Myrtle  C,  born 
July  13,  1880.  The  last  named  died  May  17,  1883.  Mr.  Whitcomb 
makes  his  money  out  of  stock,  cattle  and  hogs  and  a  few  sheep.  He 
is  one  of  the  influential  men  of  the  township  and  a  skilled  farmer. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  at  Macon  City.  Mr.  Whit- 
comb has  two  brothers,  who  are  manufacturers  of  boots  and  shoes 
in  Worcester,  Mass. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1009 


]N^AKROWS     TOWN^SHIP 


MADISON   F.  BROCK 

(Of  Section  28,  Near  Excello,  Mo.). 
Mr.  B.  is  of  distinguished  ancestry.  His  graudfatiier  was  from 
North  Carolina,  while  his  father  came  to  Missouri  from  Lincoln 
county,  Ky.  On  his  mother's  side  he  traced  his  lineage  to  one  of  the 
first  families  of  Virginia.  He  himself  is  a  native  of  Lincoln  county, 
Ky.,  where  he  was  ushered  into  existence  on  the  15th  of  November, 
1835.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  and  spent  his  early  life  on  the  farm.  When  21  years  of  age  he 
accepted  a  position  as  salesman  in  the  store  of  Mr.  James  W.  Lamb, 
in  McLeansville,  a  little  village  in  Narrows  township,  this  county. 
This  business  he  followed  both  in  Macon  and  Randolph  counties, 
teaching  school  alternately,  for  a  number  of  years  ;  in  this  way  he 
secured  a  small  capital,  and,  in  1864,  invested  it  in  the  tobacco  busi- 
ness, amassing  quite  a  little  fortune  within  a  few  months  ;  but  owing 
to  a  freak  of  reckless  intemperance  of  one  of  the  company,  a  crash 
came  upon  the  firm,  by  which  he  lost  all  he  had  made,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  Mr.  Brock  became  greatly  involved.  But  being 
endowed  with  an  iron-like  will  and  steely  nerve,  he  determined,  if 
blessed  with  health  and  strength,  to  extricate  himself  from  this 
dilemma,  regardless  of  what  was  then  called  the  bankrupt  law. 
Through  the  kindness  of  friends  and  lienency  of  creditors,  he  secured 
the  tobacco  factory  and  appurtenances,  and  again  resumed  business 
alone,  with  nothing  save  his  staunch  integrity  for  capital ;  never- 
theless, he  could  get  all  the  tobacco  he  wanted.  About  this  time 
his  father  died,  leaving  an  aged  companion,  an  aged  maiden 
sister  (crippled  by  a  fall),  and  a  widowed  daughter-in-law  with  one 
child,  who  were  making  their  home  with  the  old  people.  All  the 
brothers  and  sisters  being  married  except  Mr.  Brock,  it  was  naturally 
agreed  upon  that  he  should  take  the  care  and  responsibility  of  the 
family  and  make  what  he  could  on  the  farm  during  the  lifetime  of  the 
stepmother.  He  agreed  to  accept  things  as  they  stood,  and  obtained, 
for  two  or  three  years,  the  assistance  of  one  of  his  brothers-in-law  who 
lived  near  by.  He  worked  tobacco  in  the  early  spring,  then  tended 
a  crop,  making  a  little  money  each  year,  but  finally  determined  to 
close  out  the  tobacco  business  and  turn  his  attention  exclusivel}''  to 
the  farm.  On  the  3d  of  February,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Samantha  Tedford  Brock,  and  with  the  encouragement  and  economy 
of  his  domestic  wife,  together  with  his  own  industry  and  perseverance, 
he  was  enabled,  in  a  few  years,  to  square  himself  with  the  world  and 
secure  the  homestead,  a  tract  of  200  acres  of  land,  some  of  the  best 
in  the  county.     Mr.  Brock  has  no  children  of  his  own,  but  has  had  the 


1010  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

care  of  orphan  children  ever  since  he  kept  house.  Mrs.  Brock  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Henry  Tedford.  Mr.  Tedford  was  a  native  of 
Bedford  county,  Tenn.,  emigrated  to  Missouri  about  1832,  and  on 
December  9,  1834,  married  Rachael  E.  Graham,  after  which  he  settled 
in  Randolph  county.  He  was  one  of  the  constituent  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  at  Sugar  Creek,  where  he  served  as 
elder  until  his  death,  August  4,  1843.  He  was  buried  in  the  Sugar 
Creek  cemetery,  near  Huntsville.  Mrs.  Brock  was  born  in  Randolph 
county,  Mo.,  December  15,  1835,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  that  county.  At  the  age  of  21  she  was  married  to  John 
Greene  Brock,  aged  26,  a  brother  of  Madison  F.  Brock,  who  was 
shortly  afterwards  killed  by  a  stroke  of  lightning.  Mrs.  Brock  had 
one  child  by  her  first  marriage,  Fannie  Isabella  Brock,  who  was  born 
in  Randolph  county  October  28,  1857,  and  reared  in  Macon  county. 
At  the  age  of  17  she  entered  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  where  she 
remained  two  terms,  takins;  a  short  course  in  Eno-lish,  Latin  and  mu- 
sic.  At  the  age  of  20  she  was  married  to  William  Selman' Coulter, 
a  worthy  young  man  (son  of  G.  A.  Coulter,  a  resident  of  Macon 
county),  who  was  educated  in  the  same  school  as  herself.  Mrs. 
Brock  was  once  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
but  since  her  second  marriage  has  joined  the  Mt.  Salem  Missionary 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  her  husband  has  l)een  for  30  years  a  promi- 
nent member,  occupying  the  position  of  clerk  of  the  church  presby- 
tery. Mr.  Brock  has  been  for  three  years  township  assessor,  for  nine 
years  school  director,  and  is  now  also  justice  of  the  peace.  In  his 
early  life  he  taught  school  in  Randolph  and  Macon  counties.  Appre- 
ciating the  political  wisdom  of  the  adage  "  In  time  of  peace  prepare 
for  war,''  he  became  a  member  of  the  enrolled  militia  and  familiar- 
ized himself  with  military  science.  HivS  whole  life  has  been  most  ex- 
emplary :  No  spot  blurs  his  escutcheon,  "none  know  him  but  to  love 
him,  none  name  him  but  to  praise,"  and,  come  the  summons  when  it 
may,  he  will  be  found  fully  prepared  to  end  his  earthly  probation  and 
enter  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord. 

WILLIAM  RICHARD   BROCK 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  B.  is  now  57  years  of  age.  His  father,  Chesley  Brock,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  and  his  grandfather,  in  North  Carolina.  His 
mother,  Ann  Brock,  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  King  and  was  born  in 
Lincoln  county,  Ky.  Her  father  and  her  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Hannah,  were  natives  of  Ireland.  W.  R.  Brock  moved  to 
Missouri  at  the  age  of  11  years  and  settled  near  Emerson,  Macon 
county.  In  April,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Tuggle,  of 
Macon,  and  of  this  marriage  were  born  three  daughters :  Susan 
Jane,  Lucy  Benda  and  Elizabeth  Ann.  Of  these  Susan  Jane  mar- 
ried J.  C.  Butler,  and  died  leaving  three  children ;  Lucy  Benda 
married  John  Quincy  Jacobs,  and  was  left  a  widow  with  two  children. 
In  1878  she  married  John  King.     In  1854,  having  lost  his  first  wife. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1011 

Mr.  Brock  again  launched  his  ship  upon  the  matrimonial  sea.  Mrs. 
Martha  Martin  becoming  the  vice  commodore.  A  few  years  later  a 
little  ensign  was  added  to  the  ship's  crew  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Minerva  D.  Brock,  who  in  December,  1872,  married  John  W.  Coul- 
ter and  has  one  child.  Elizabeth  Ann  died  sin2;le.  Mr.  W.  R. 
Brock's  parents  were  Baptists,  and  he  has  been  a  deacon  in  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church  for  20  years.  His  wife  is  a  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian. For  many  years  he  was  a  school  director,  but  lately  he  has 
declined  re-election.  Formerly  and  up  to  1876  he  was  a  Democrat. 
During  the  war  he  was  a  Conservative  and  now  he  is  a  National  or 
Anti-Monopolist.  Mr.  B.  has  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  owns 
95  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  the  sun  ever  shone  on.  He  has  given  his 
children  90  acres  and  sold  40  acres  to  them.  As  the  declining  sun 
of  life  casts  lengthening  shadows  over  his  earthly  pathway,  many 
noble  deeds  become  hidden  from  the  present,  but  his  friends  love  to 
recall  his  uniform  kindness  and  speak  in  highest  terms  of  him  and 
those  of  his  household,  both  living  and  dead.  Many  years  of  useful- 
ness are  still  before  him,  and  if  a  retrospect  of  his  past  may  be  taken 
as  a  horoscope  of  his  future,  this  cheerful  testimonial  of  his  worth  will 
be  but  faint  praise  when  his  epitaph  shall  be  written. 

WILLIAM  RILEY  BROWN 

(Section  29,  Post-office,  Excello). 

This  gentleman  was  born  in  1825  in  Virginia.  He  moved  to  Ran- 
dolph county,  Mo.,  at  the  age  of  two  or  three  years,  settling  near 
Huntsville  and  remaining  at  this  place  for  several  years,  engaged  in 
farming.  Mr.  Brown  has  always  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  though  having  many  obstacles  to  contend  with,  has  bravely 
struggled  on  and  by  persevering  industry  risen  to  the  enviable  position 
he  now  occupies  as  a  well-to-do  ftirmer  and  respected  citizen  of  Nar- 
rows township,  Macon  county.  Mr.  Brown  was  married  January  4, 
1849,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson  Lucas,  daughter  of  John  Lucas, 
of  Macon  county.  Thirteen  children  have  blessed  this  union,  of 
whom  nine  are  still  living :  Susan  Mary,  wife  of  John  G.  Brock,  of 
Excello  ;  Sarah  Jane,  wife  of  Josiah  Harrington  ;  John  Thomas,  who 
married  Miss  Mary  Sonimers  ;  Amy  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Andrew  Jack- 
son Sommers  ;  William  Green,  married  to  Miss  Rosa  Luntsford ; 
George  McKinney,  who  married  Miss  Florida  Robinson  ;  Samantha 
Bell,  single  ;  Isaac  Sherman  and  Etna  McCann,  who  is  single.  Mr. 
Brown  owns  80  acres  of  fine  land  on  which  he  has  a  splendid  orchard. 
In  1859  Mr.  B.  went  to  Texas,  and  for  a  year  lived  near  Sherman, 
at  the  end  of  that  time  returning  to  Missouri  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  raising  cattle,  horses,  hogs  and  sheep.  Valuable  coal 
fields  are  found  on  his  land  ;  the  main  vein  being  4  feet  and  the 
branch  veins  18  inches.  In  ante-bellum  days  Mr.  Brown  was  a  Whig, 
but  of  later  years  has  acknowledged  allegiance  to  no  political  party, 
voting  with  the  Conservatives  of  the  county  for  the  good  of  the  nation. 
He  is  now  a  Nationalist.     Mr.  B.  is  very  proud,  and  with  reason,  of 


1012  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

his  military  career.  During  the  "  hite  unpleasantness"  he  enlisted 
at  Macon  City  in  Co.  G,  Twentj^-seventh  regiment  Missouri  volunteers, 
and  participated  in  many  a  fiercely  contested  battle,  among  them 
were  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Grand  Gulf,  Champion's  Hill,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Chiclvamauga,  Resaca,  Atlanta,  Colum- 
bus, Savannah  and  Raleigh,  and  only  when  the  Southern  star  had 
gone  down  into  a  sea  of  her  best  blood,  did  he  cease  from  his  heroic 
labors.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Mr.  Brown 
and  his  wife  are  strict  members  of  Mount  Salem  Missionary  Baptist 
Church,  near  Excello. 

HUGH  JAMES  LAMB 

(Section  22). 

Mr.  Lamb  first  saw  the  light  in  Macon  county.  Mo.,  on  the  6th  of 
February,  1849.  His  father  came  from  Kentucky,  and  his  mother 
started  life  in  the  same  State  as  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann  Brock.  The 
ancestors  of  both  were  from  England,  and  reached  Kentucky  by  the 
usual  Virginia  route.  Mr.  Lamb  was  educated  at  the  district  school, 
and  to-day  is  a  living  proof  of  the  benefits  of  such  schools.  In  1879 
he  took  unto  himself  a  helpmeet  in  the  person  of  Miss  R.  J.  Stokes, 
daughter  of  B.  F.  Stokes,  of  Macon.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Zela  Parker,  of  Illinois,  and  her  ancestors  on  both  sides  were 
from  Enffland,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Two  children  brio^hten  their 
parents'  lives  :  Lona  Lee,  aged  five,  and  Benjamin  Thomas,  one  year. 
Mr.  Lamb  owns  170  acres  of  valuable  land,  under  which  a  fine  strata  of 
red  clay  is  found  and  on  which  is  a  splendid  well,  90  feet  deep..  His 
business  is  that  of  farmer,  and  in  addition  to  always  keeping  "the 
wolf  from  the  door,"  he  has  laid  aside  a  snug  competency  for  a  rainy 
day,  and  is  continually  adding  to  his  store  of  worldly  possessions,  the 
while  straightening  his  accounts  for  final  inspection  by  the  Great 
Shepherd  of  all  flocks. 

/ 
ROBERT  OWEN  McCANNE 

(Section  22). 

Mr.  McC.  was  born  in  the  year  1841,  on  the  22d  of  November,  near 
Jackson,  in  Randolph  county.  His  parents  were  Hugh  and  Maria 
McCanne.  Mr.  R.  O.  McCanne  is  a  farmer,  and  has  beeu  very 
fortunate  in  stock-raising,  in  which  he  deals  almost  exclusively.  He 
also  has  an  interest  in  a  store  in  Jacksonville,  and  was  collector  under  the 
township  organization  during  the  year  1877.  At  the  age  of  24  he 
celebrated  his  birthday  (the  22cl  of  November,  1865)  by  marrying 
Miss  Edna  Jane  Jones,  of  Middleburg,  Ky.  This  lady  was  born  on 
the  10th  of  February,  1841,  near  Middleburg,  Casey  county.  Her 
childhood  was  watched  over  by  Christian  parents,  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  On  October  22,  1866,  their  first  child,  Ahce  Cary, 
was  born,  and  five  children  in  all  have  blessed  their  union  :  Edward 
Bismark,  born  April  21,  1868;    Jessie  Dean,  born  April  20,   1872; 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUMTY.  lOio 

Julia  Maria,  born  March  9,  1874,  and  Stella  May,  the  younorest,  born 
on  the  28th  of  the  "  merrie  month  "  of  May,  1876.  Mr.  McC.  has 
discovered  that  he  possesses  coal  on  his  land,  lying  west  of  the  rail- 
road. The  general  character  of  the  sub-soil  is  sandy  and  yellow  clay. 
During  the  war  Mr.  McC.  was  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  I,  Fortj^-sixth 
regiment  of  the  enrolled  militia  of  Missouri.  His  parents  deserve 
some  special  mention.  They  were  from  Lincoln  county,  Ky.,  his 
father,  Hugh  McCanne,  Sr.,  having  been  l)orn  January  5,  1805.  He 
came  to  Missouri  in  1835,  settling  first  in  the  Western  part  of 
Randolph  county.  There  he  made  purchases  from  time  to  time  as  he 
had  the  means  to  invest  until  he  owned  800  acres  of  land.  In  1849 
he  was  seized  with  a  desire  to  go  to  California  and  did  so,  being 
engaged  while  there  in  the  gold  mines  near  Sacramento  City.  After 
an  absence  of  20  months  he  returned  by  way  of  New  Orleans,  and 
embarked  more  extensively  than  ever  in  farming  and  dealing  in  stock 
until  1858,  when  he,  with  his  oldest  son,  David  (now  deceased),  went 
into  the  mercantile  business  in  Jacksonville,  in  which  he  continued  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  For  many  years  he  was  school  trustee. 
Until  1860,  when  the  South  began  to  struggle  for  her  rights,  Mr. 
McC,  Sr.,  was  a  strict  Democrat,  but  then  he  became  an  uncom- 
promising Unionist,  and  gave  all  his  influence  to  that  side.  He  was 
decidedly  skeptical  as  to  the  divine  origin  of  the  Bible,  but  lived  up 
to  the  religion  of  his  heart,  which  had  for  its  foundation  charily.  He 
was  ever  ready  to  hearken  to  the  cry  of  the  suffering  poor  and  to  help 
the  widow  and  orphan.  His  life  was  marked  by  charitable  deeds,  and 
his  greatest  wish  was  to  aid  in  the  elevation  of  mankind  to  self-support 
and  freedom.  July  11,  1865,  he  breathed  his  last.  His  wife,  nee  Miss 
Maud  King,  was  always  noted  for  her  piety.  She  became  very  early 
in  life  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but  afterwards,  1856,  joined 
the  Christian  Church  to  which  she  now  belono;s.  Althouo^h  in  her 
seventy-fifth  year,  she  has  until  very  recently,  when  her  health  has 
begun  to  succumb  to  that  inevitable  visitor,  old  age,  been  an  active 
member  of  society  and  much  beloved  b}'^  all  who  know  her. 

GREEN  MOORE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  M.  was  born  in  Kentucky,  December  23,  1833.  His  father 
moved  to  Macon  county  in  October,  1836,  and  settled  in  section  34, 
Narrows  township.  He  was  educated  partly  in  a  subscription  school, 
and  afterwards  attended  the  first  public  school  in  Macon  county.  In 
1853  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Frances  Lucas,  daughter  of  John  Lucas. 
Of  10  children  born  to  them,  only  six  are  now  living,  viz.  :  Colin  McKin- 
ney,  married  to  Miss  Melcena  Gibson,  and  living  in  Chariton  town- 
ship ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Benjamin  Theodora  Morris  ;  George  J. 
Bailey,  aged  20  ;  Armilda  Jane,  aged  17  ;  Ira  Green,  aged  10,  and 
Benjamin  Franklin,  aged  seven.  Mrs.  Moore's  father  is  a  native  of 
Casey  county,  Ky.  ;  her  mother  from  Tennessee.  They  first  moved 
to  Randolph   county,  Mo.,  then  to  Macon  county,  then  to  Grundy 


1014  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

county,  then  to  Sherman,  Tex.,  and  finally  back  to  Macon  county. 
Mr.  Moore's  father  was  from  Tennessee;  his  mother  from  Kentucky. 
After  vibrating  between  the  two  States  for  some  years,  they  com- 
promised by  settling  in  Missouri.  Mr.  Moore  owns  165  acres  of  land, 
and  raises  grain,  timothy  and  clover,  cattle  and  sheep.  On  the 
branches  and  bluffs  of  his  farm,  veins  of  coal  ranging  from  24  inches 
to  four  feet  in  thickness  are  found.  From  1861  to  1863  Mr.  M.  was 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  12  years  he  held  the  position  of  school  and 
township  clerk  and  treasurer.  He  was  twice  elected  township  clerk 
and  treasurer,  and  was  constable  of  his  township  for  12  years.  He  was 
twice  elected  township  collector,  and  in  1874  was  elected  assessor. 
In  1880  he  again  acted  as  assessor,  and  for  many  years  has  been  school 
trustee.  Before  the  war  Mr.  Moore  was  a  Whig,  afterward  a  Con- 
servative and  now  he  is  a  Nationalist.  In  1864  he  served  in  the  Enrolled 
State  militia.  Mr.  M.  and  wife  have  been  for  30  years  devout  mem- 
bers of  Mt.  Salem  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  nearExcello,  Mo. 

HUGH  J.  POWELL 

(Section  18,  Post-office,  Jaclisonville) . 

Mr.  P.  was  born  April  3,  1856,  in  Macon  county.  Mo.  His  parents 
were  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Ky.,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  He  was 
cue  of  a  family  of  11  children.  Three  died  during  childhood,  four  are 
married,  and  four  as  yet  remain  unmarried.  Hugh  was  educated  at 
Kirksville  Normal  School,  and  after  finishing  school  he  taught  for  two 
years.  On  the  death  of  his  father,  April  22,  1880,  he  assumed  control 
of  the  old  homestead  of  560  acres,  and  commenced  dealing  in  live 
stock,  which  business  he  still  conducts  with  success.  On  October  18, 
1882,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  MissLydia  A.  McGary,  of  Fulton, 
Callaway  county.  Mo.  He  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views,  and 
Democratic  in  politics.  Mr.  P.  is  a  member  of  Jacksonville  Lodge 
No.  44,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Macon  Chapter  No.  22,  and  Emanuel  Com- 
mandery  No.  7,  and  is  Secretary  in  Blue  Lodge,  Principal  Sojourner 
in  the  Chapter,  and  Junior  Warden  in  the  the  Commandery.  Mr. 
Powell  has,  by  square  dealing  and  upright  conduct,  drawn  around 
him  many  friends,  and  it  may  be  confidently  predicted  that  he  will,  in 
the  future,  be  found  occupying  such  positions  in  public  and  private 
life  as  will  do  credit  to  himself  and  family. 

PETER  REA  POWELL 

(Section  33). 

Mr.  P.  was  born  November  11,  1831,  in  North  Carolina.  His 
father,  Bazilia  Powell,  was  a  native  of  Caswell  county,  N.  C.  His 
mother  also  was  born  and  reared  in  that  State,  and  his  paternal  grand- 
j)arents  were  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  His  father  died  in  December, 
1876,  having  always  lived  an  upright  and  conscientious  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  moved  to  Mis- 
souri in  1837,  and  settled  near  Salisbury,  in  Chariton  county.  After 
two  years  he  changed  his  residence  to  Macon,  near  College  Mound. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1015 

He  was  educated  at  College  Mound  School,  that  being  the  first  school 
ever  taught  there.  His  inquiring  mind  looked  beyond  the  present,  and 
he  sought,  and  has  ever  since  found,  spiritual  light  and  comfort  among 
the  folds  of  the  Christian  Church.  Of  warm  heart  and  domestic  pro- 
clivities, he,  at  the  age  of  23,  married  Miss  Susan  Mary  McCanne. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them,  "  But  the  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord 
hath  taken  away."  They  now  mourn  their  double  loss  with  a  grief 
that  will  not  be  comforted.  The  oldest  died  while  an  infant,  and 
Lucie  K.,  born  December  1,  1861,  died  August  8,  1873,  aged  11 
years,  7  months  and  20  days.  Mr.  Powell  has  always  been  a  farmer, 
owns  120  acres  of  fine,  well  timbered  land,  under  which  an  excellent 
quality  of  stone  coal  is  found.  His  timothy,  clover  and  blue  grass 
bring  him  a  nice  annuity.  He  ife  a  member  of  the  Bkie  Lodge,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  at  Jacksonville,  and  has  held  every  office  in  it.  Mr.  P.  has 
been  a  life-long  Democrat,  and  is  a  staunch  believer  in  the  doctrine  of 
his  forefathers,  that  the  voice  of  the  people  is  the  supreme  law. 
Courteous,  refined,  well-to-do,  and  a  perfect  gentlemen,  the  stranger 
in  his  gates  is  made  to  feel  as  if  to  the  "  manor  born." 

PHILIP  ROWLAND  SMITH 

(Section  25.) 

Mr.  Smith  is  the  son  of  Capt.  William  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Rowland) 
Smith.  He  was  born  in  Macon  county  January  9,  1847.  His  father 
is  a  native  of  Clark  county,  Ky.,  and  his  mother  of  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  the  latter  being  a  daughter  of  Judge  Frederick  Rowland,  of 
Macon.  Mr.  S.  is  engaged  in  buying  and  raising  stock  for  the  St. 
Louis  market.  He  owns  160  acres  of  fine  land,  four  acres  being  cov- 
ered by  a  splendid  orchard,  and  the  balance  with  grass.  Success  follows 
his  every  efibrt,  and  he  is  now  counted  among  the  most  substantial 
citizens  of  Macon.  In  1870  he  married  Miss  Amanda  Walker,  daughter 
of  'Squire  Daniel  Walker,  of  Macon.  Two  sons,  Melville  and  Wil- 
bur, were  born  of  this  union.  The  shadow  crossed  his  pathway  in 
1879,  and  he  was  left  a  widower.  His  present  wife,  Effie,  is  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Solomon  C.  Powell,  of  Macon.  One  child,  Hugh 
Linn,  has  been  given  to  them.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  devout 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Smith  is  also  a  member  of 
the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  Blue  Lodge,  in  Jacksonville  ;  likewise  of  the 
Masonic  Chapter  and  Commandery.  He  has  been  honored  by  his 
fellow  members  with  election,  successively,  to  every  office  in  the  Blue 
Lodge.  In  1864  he  lived  in  Adams  county,  111.,  but  the  next  year 
returned  to  the  scenes  of  his  childhood.  On  his  land  valuable  coal 
fields  are  found.  The  first  strata  is  hard-pan  clay  ;  the  second,  light 
blue  clay,  and  the  third,  a  sandy  substance.  Only  time  can  demon- 
strate the  extent  of  the  wealth  which  these  fields  contain  for  Mr. 
Smith.  At  present  he  reaps  a  golden  harvest  from  his  cattle  and 
orchard  business,  and  it  is  confidently  expected  that  in  a  few  years  he 
will  be  numbered  among  the  richest  and  most  influential  men  in  Macon 
county. 
'  59 


1016  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


jackso:n^   towjs^ship. 


CHARLES  O.  BROWNSON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  B.  is  a  descendant  of  a  very  old  and  honorable  family,  his  great 
grandfather  on  his  mother's  side,  Mr.  Joseph  Page,  having  come  over 
from  England  on  the  same  vessel  that  brought  William  Penn.  He 
was  afterwards  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  received  a  wound  at 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  from  the  eifects  of  which  he  never  recov- 
ered. He  had  been  quite  helpless  for  many  years  preceding  his 
death,  October  7, 1789.  The  ancestors  of  Oscar  F.,  father  of  Charles 
O.,  had  dwelt  from  time  immemorial  in  Richmond,  Vt.  Here  he  was 
born  and  reared,  accompanying  his  parents  to  Michigan  when  a  young 
man.  He  wooed  and  won  Miss  Deborah  A.  Steele,  from  Alleghany 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  continued  to  live  happily  in  Michigan  surrounded 
by  his  children  until  his  death,  August  13,  1859.  Mrs.  Brownson 
was  the  daughter  of  David  and  Eliza  Steele,  from  Pennsylvania,  who 
emigrated  to  Michigan  and  died  there.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band Mrs.  B.  moved,  in  1864,  to  Macon  county,  Mo.,  and  here  she 
still  lives  in  Jackson  township  with  her  son,  Charles  O.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  The  latter  was  born  in  Barry  county,  Mich.,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1856,  and  was  seven  years  of  age  Avhen  he  came  with  his  mother 
to  Missouri.  Mr.  Brownson  is  now  a  young  man  of  more  than  usual 
promise.  He  is  possessed  of  fine  mental  capacity,  unfaltering  prin- 
ciple, and,  besides  a  distingue  face  and  figure,  has  a  charming  bon 
homme  that  would  make  his  fortune  anywhere.  He  has  a  cosy  little 
farm  of  95  acres  which  is  nicely  improved.  This  family  feel  a  very 
natural  pride  of  race,  and  preserve  as  a  precious  heirloom,  a  Bible 
which  was  purchased  in  the  year  1770  at  a  cost  of  $75,  and  from  which 
was  taken  part  of  the  data  for  this  memoir.  Mrs.  Brownson  is  an 
adherent  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

WILLIAM  B.  COLLINS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Collins  was  born  June  1,1828,  in  Washfngton  county,  Ohio. 
His  parents,  of  whom  his  father,  Elijah  Collins,  was  from  Virginia,  and 
his  mother,  Elizabeth  Grandstaff,  of  Ohio,  moved  to  Jefierson  county, 
Iowa,  soon  after  the  birth  of  William  B.,  and  there  they  ended  their 
days,  living  to  a  green  old  age.  William  B.,  after  marrying  in  Jeffer- 
son, removed  to  Macon  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  settled  on  the  farm 
he  still  holds.  This  comprises  320  acres,  finely  improved,  with  good 
buildings  and  handsome  residence,  erected  in  1875.  He  raises  trom 
eight  to  ten  acres  of  wheat,  60  acres  of  corn,  cuts  60  acres  of  meadow 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1017 

and  handles  from  30  to  60  head  of  cattle,  also  from  60  to  100  hogs. 
Mr.  Collins  has  an  interesting  family.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
married  April  24,  1852,  was  a  Miss  Ellen  Loughery,  daughter  of  David 
and  Susan  Loughery,  of  Iowa.  They  have  seven  children  :  James 
B.,  Josephine,  Zary  C,  David  A.,  Franz  Sigel,  Hiram  B.  and  Will- 
iam. Theodore  died  August  12,  1862.  Mr.  C.  is  possessed  of  sound, 
good  sense,  is  of  sterling  worth,  and  he  and  his  family  being  earnest 
and  consistent  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  he  strives  to  show 
in  his  life  the  faith  by  which  he  lives. 

JOHN  C.  FLINCHPAUGH 

(Post-office,  Nickellton). 

Mr.  Flinchpaugh  is  of  German  parentage,  his  father,  Caleb  Flinch- 
paugh,  being  a  native  of  Wurtemburg,  his  mother.  Miss  Mary  M. 
Evil,  of  Baden.  When  they  came  to  this  country  they  established 
themselves  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  John  C.  was  born  July  22, 
1831.  The  first  event  of  importance  in  his  career  was  his  marriage. 
This  took  place  November  30,  1854,  the  bride  being  Miss  Nancy  C., 
daughter  of  Ulysses  and  Elizabeth  Borel  of  Indiana.  Here  our  hero 
lived  until  1857  when  he  moved  to  Missouri.  He  remained  a  year  or 
so  in  Shelby  county,  five  years  in  Knox,  and  in  1866  took  up  his  per- 
manent abode  in  Macon.  He  is  a  prosperous  farmer,  of  quiet,  thrifty 
ways  and  reliable  character.  His  farm  consists  of  135  acres  nicely 
improved.  He  raises  30  acres  of  corn,  cuts  40  acres  of  meadow, 
handles  about  30  sheep  and  about  20  hogs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flinch- 
paugh have  five  children  ;  Mary,  Susan,  Belle,  David  and  Thomas. 
Emeline  died  January  22,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  and  three  of  their 
children  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Trinity  Church. 

JOSEPH  H.  GRADY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  G.  was  born  November  15,  1829,  in  Adair  county,  Ky.  Lince- 
field  Grady,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  while  his 
mother,  nee  Miss  Louisa  Simpson,  was  born  in  Louisiana.  They  were 
married  in  Kentucky  and  moved  soon  after  to  Illinois  ;  thence,  after 
remaining  four  years  to  Iowa,  where  they  lived  until  1855.  They  then 
moved  to  Macon  county  where  Mr.  Grady  died  December  7,  1861. 
Mrs.  G.  now  resides  with  her  son,  Joseph  H,,  who  came  to  Missouri  in 
1855  with  his  parents.  Mr.  Grady's  youth  was  spent  chiefly  in  Iowa, 
and  on  moving  to  Missouri  he  at  once  bought  land  and  began  improv- 
ing it.  He  still  lives  on  this  place  which  he  now  has  in  fine  condition. 
He  owns  280  acres  in  section  18,  in  Jackson  township,  besides  10 
acres  of  timbered  land  in  the  township  of  Lyda,  He  raises  from  75  to 
100  acres  of  corn,  cuts  from  40  to  80  acres  of  meadow,  and  with  the 
exception  of  10  acres  for  the  production  of  oats,  devotes  the  remain- 
der to  pasturage.  Mr.  G.  was  married  May  27,  1856,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Tilford,   daughter  of  James    and    Mary   Tilford,  of  Jefferson 


1018  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

county,  Iowa.  This  gentle  lady  has  borne  him  nine  children,  but  the 
relentless  reaper,  death,  has  been  busy  in  this  fair  garden,  and  four 
tender  buds  have  fallen  before  his  merciless  sickle.  Eugene,  John 
B.,  James  L.,  and  Ella  G.  bloomed  but  to  die.  Those  living  are 
Mary  L.,  Anna,  Hattie,  Ida  M.  and  Lizzie  D.  Mr.  Grady  is  highly 
regarded  by  his  fellow-citizens,  and  was  elected  by  them  to  the  office 
of  magistrate,  a  position  he  has  filled  most  satisfactorily  for  the  past 
12  years,  Mrs.  Grady  is  a  devout  member  of  Mt.  Tabor  Missionary 
Baptist  Church. 

JAMES  M.  HOLLYMAN 

(Section  22) . 

This  man,  a  son  of  John  Hollyman  and  Grace  Neal,  of  Fairfax 
county,  Va.,  was  born  in  Marion  county.  Mo.,  April  7,  1829,  His 
father  and  mother  first  met  in  Kentucky  whither  their  parents  had 
emigrated  at  an  early  day.  They  loved  at  first  sight  and  were  wed, 
remaining  in  the  same  State  until  after  the  birth  of  12  children.  They 
then,  in  1828,  came  to  Marion  county,  where  James  H.,  their  youngest 
child,  was  born.  Mr.  Hollyman  was  an  extensive  farmer  in  Marion 
county  until  his  death,  November  10,  1861.  He  and  his  wife  were 
Christian  people  and  worshiped  according  to  the  faith  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church.  It  was  not  until  1856  that  James  M.  left 
Marion  county  and  settled  in  Macon  on  his  present  farm,  and  also 
during  this  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  M.  Martin,  of  Monroe 
county,  Mo.  By  this  union  there  were  two  children :  Mary  Agnes, 
now  the  wife  of  Burnes  B.  Hosey,  of  Macon  county,  and  JohnW.  In 
1864  Mr.  Hollyman  was  left  a  widower,  and  for  many  years  was  faith- 
ful to  the  memory  of  the  dear  departed,  but  in  1877  falling  a  victim 
to  the  charms  of  Mrs.  Sarah  C,  widow  of  Benjamin  R.  Waller,  and  a 
daughter  of  Oliver  P.  and  Polly  Lee,  all  of  Macon  county,  he  made 
her  mistress  of  his  home.  Mrs.  H.  has  one  son  by  her  first  marriage, 
Robert  Edwin  Waller,  and  also  one  by  the  second,  Alphonso.  Mr. 
Hollyman  has  a  fine  prairie  farm  of  193  acres,  upon  which  he  raises 
35  acres  of  corn  and  cuts  40  acres  of  meadow,  also  dealing  to  some 
extent  in  cattle  as  well  as  hogs.  Mr.  H.  has  the  hearty  good  will  of  his 
neighbors,  and  has  held  for  five  years  past  the  office  of  assessor.  His 
eldest  son,  John  W.  Hollyman,  born  July  29,  1862,  is  himself  a 
landed  proprietor  and  a  prosperous  farmer.  He  owns  80  acres  and 
raises  corn  and  hay  besides  dealing  in  cattle  and  hogs  like  other 
farmers.  He  is  a  married  man  ;  his  wife's  maiden  name  was  Craw- 
ford, daughter  of  Jonathan  C.  Crawford,  of  Macon  county.  Mrs. 
Hollyman,  a  most  attractive  lady,  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

ELLIOTT  H.  MONTGOMERY 

(Post-office,  Ten  Mile) . 

Jonathan  Montgomery,  father  of  Elliott  H.,  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  married  Miss  Mary  Eagle,  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  by 
whom  he  had  11  children.     He  left  Ohio  for  Missouri  in  the  spring 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1019 

of  1863,  and  settled  in  Jackson  township,  Macon  county,  where  he 
has  lived  since,  a  resident  of  Macon  City.  He  and  his  wite  belong  to 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Elliott,  born  October  9,  1846,  in  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  was  almost  grown  when  his  parents  came  to  Missouri,  and  has 
since  his  father's  retirement  from  business  taken  charge  of  his  farm, 
located  in  section  32,  of  Jackson  township.  This  is  a  nice  littje  place 
of  160  acres,  mostly  prairie  land.  It  averages  about  40  acres  of  corn, 
30  of  meadow,  and  Mr.  Montgomery  handles  as  much  stock  as  is  usual 
to  a  farm  of  this  size.  Mr.  M.  is  a  man  of  many  mental  and  personal 
attractions,  and  therefore  found  no  difficulty  in  persuading  to  share 
his  fate  Miss  Mary  E.  McBride,  one  of  the  fairest  daughters  of  Macon 
county,  and  the  child  of  John  and  Mahala  McBride,  formerly  of  Ohio. 
They  were  married  November  12,  1871,  and  the  only  drawback  to 
their  happiness  is  the  fact  that  their  union  has  been  childless.  This, 
however,  has  given  them  more  time  to  devote  to  the  outside  world 
which  repays  them  by  a  very  flattering  popularity. 

THOMAS  MOODY 

(Farmer  and  Stock -raiser). 

Mr.  M.  is  a  son  of  James  Moody,  of  North  Carolina,  and  Jane  Mercer, 
of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Moody  with  his  family,  all  of  his  children  with  the 
exception  of  the  youngest  having  been  born  in  Kentucky,  moved  to 
Macon  county,  Mo.,  in  the  year  1844.  Here  he  entered  120  acres  of 
land  upon  which  he  lived  for  eight  years  and  then  sold  and  bought 
adjoining  property.  This  he  held  until  1870.  He  was  ordained  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  on  the  second  Sunday  in  November,  1844,  in 
Mt.  Tabor  Missionary  Baptist  Church  in  Macon  county,  Kev.  D.  P. 
Davis  and  Euphrates  Stringer  officiating,  and  for  nearly  40  years  the 
people  of  Macon,  Randolph,  Chariton,  Linn,  Shelby,  Knox,  Schuyler 
and  Monroe  counties  have  sat  under  his  ministrations.  He  still 
preaches  occasionally.  Mrs.  Moody  died  November  15,  1869,  after  a 
residence  in  Macon  county  of  over  25  years.  But  though  Mr.  Moody 
is  nearly  82  years  of  age,  his  health  seems  still  unimpaired.  Of  such 
good  parents  was  born,  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  December  23,  1823, 
Thomas  Moody,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  childhood  and  youth 
were  passed  in  Kentucky  and  his  education  was  received  there.  June 
12,  1845,  Mr.  Moody  married  Miss  Eliza  Wright,  whose  parents, 
Summers  Wright  of  Kentucky  and  Naomi  Coffee  of  North  Carolina, 
it  may  be  remarked  en  passant,  are  the  oldest  married  couple  now 
living  in  the  county  of  Macon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moody  have  five  chil- 
dren living :  James,  Stephen  A.  D.,  William  A.,  Mary  J.,  wife  of 
Frank  Chapman  of  Macon  county,  and  Nicholas  M.  They  have  lost 
four  :  Summers  W.,  John  P.,  Marcus  A.  and  Thomas  P.  Mr.  Moody 
is  a  large  landed  proprietor  and  while  he  pays  but  little  attention  to 
smaller  grains,  raises  from  300  to  500  acres  of  corn.  He  cuts  200  or 
300  acres  of  meadow  and  has  handled  as  many  as  500  head  of  cattle. 
He  intends  embarking  extensively  in  this  business  in  future,  and  his 
clear  head  and  keen  sagacity  argue  immense  success  therein.     Mr.  M. 


1020  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

has  large  influence  in  the  public  affiiirs  and  was  instrumental  in  chang- 
ing the  county-seat  from  Old  Bloomington  to  its  present  locality, 
Macon  City.  In  1862  he  was  elected  representative  from  the  county, 
servino^  one  term.  He  is  indeed  one  whom  the  people  are  proud  to 
honor  in  every  way  at  their  command.  Mrs.  M.  is  a  member  of  the 
Bethel  Christian  Church. 

DAVIDSON  NICKELL 

(Farmer,  Section  2). 

Mr.  N.  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  W.  Va.,  November  19,  1829, 
his  father,  Andrew  Nickell,  and  mother,  Catharine  Humphreys, 
both  being  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Mr.  Nickell,  Sr.,  moved 
to  Macon  county,  Mo.,  in  the  year  1838,  and  located  in  Jackson 
township,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1865.  On  the 
17th  of  April,  1856,  Mrs.  Nickell  died  and  Mr.  N.  then  married 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  W.,  widow  of  James  Saling,  of  Macon  county.  By 
her  he  had  three  daughters,  who  are  all  residents  of  the  county. 
Davidson,  who  was  one  of  a  family  of  12  children,  of  whom  11 
are  living,  and  all  in  Missouri,  with  the  exception  of  one  son  in  Mon- 
tana, grew  up  on  the  farm  and  was  given  a  good  education.  In  1855 
he  bought  by  pre-emption  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  commenced  the 
same  year  to  improve.  He  has  since  added  to  his  property  until  he 
is  now  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers  in  the  county,  owning  960  acres 
in  Jackson  and  Ten  Mile  townships.  His  farm  is  splendidly  im- 
proved, containing  one  of  the  handsomest  houses  and  finest  barns  in 
the  township.  He  pays  no  attention  to  the  production  of  wheat,  but 
raises  from  70  to  100  acres  of  corn  and  cuts  100  acres  of  meadow, 
handling  from  50  to  100  head  of  cattle  ;  also,  from  40  to  50  hogs. 
Mr.  Nickell  married  July  23,  1857,  Miss  Amanda  F.  Snell,  daughter 
of  Robert  M.  and  Hannah  Snell,  of  Macon  county.  There  are  six 
living  children :  Mary  Virginia,  wife  of  George  Crawford ;  John 
A.,  David  A.,  Viola,  Joseph  and  Gertrude.  Three  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  N.,  his  wife  and  one  daughter  are  connected  with  the  M.  E. 
Church.     This  is  one  of  the  most  charming  families  in  the  township. 

JOHN  C  RICHARDSON 

(Post-office,  Economy). 

Among  the  substantial  farmers  of  Jackson  township,  none  deserve 
*'  the  goods  the  gods  have  given  "  more  than  him  who  is  now  spoken 
of.  Jonathan  F.  Richardson,  the  father  of  John  C,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 12,  1809,  and  came  from  Kentucky  (his  native  state)  with  his 
first  wife — who  died  in  1840 — to  Missouri,  in  the  fall  of  1838. 
On  the  14th  of  April,  1842,  Mr.  R.'s  second  marriage  occurred, 
Charlotte  Dunnington,  who  had  come  from  Tennessee  in  1840, 
then  becoming  his  wife.  They  settled  in  section  31  of  what  was  then 
Ten  Mile,  but  is  now  Jackson  township,  and  until  his  death,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1875,  Mr.   Richardson  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1021 

township.  His  end  was  the  result  of  an  accident.  While  attempting 
to  get  out  of  a  wagon  in  his  own  field  he  fell,  striking  his  head.  The 
injury  proved  fatal.  He  was  borne  senseless  to  his  home  and  never 
spoke  again.  Fortunately  his  wife  was  spared  this  terrible  shock, 
her  death  having  occurred  May  23,  1874.  There  were  two  children 
by  this  union,  John  C.  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  Sumpter 
June  14,  1874.  John  C>,  who  was  born  March  4,  1843,  had  grown 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  in  1876  purchased  220  acres  of 
the  homestead.  To  this  he  has  since  added,  and  now  owns  294  acres 
of  fine  land.  He  devotes  his  attention  to  corn,  hay  and  the  handling 
of  stock,  as  is  customary  among  farmers,  and  while,  perhaps,  no 
"  massive  deeds  or  great  "  have  been  given  him  to  do,  yet,  as  the 
architect  of  his  own  fate,  and  remembering  that 

"Our  to-days  and  yesterdays 
Are  the  blocks  with  which  we  build," 

he  has   done  his  work  well,  and  leaving  no  yawning  gaps  between, 

has 

"  Wi'ought  with  greatest  care 
Each  minute  and  unseen  part, 
For  God  sees  everywhere." 

Thus,  with  a  firm  and  ample  base,  the  structure  is  a  noble  one,  which, 
when  complete,  must  tower  from  some  lofty  pinnacle  to  the  very  gates 
of  the  Golden  City.  Mr.  Richardson's  wife,  to  whom  he  was  united 
November  3,  1867,  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Newmyer,  who  was  born 
October  16,  1845.  She  was  of  Macon  county,  and  a  daughter  of  J. 
S.  Newmyer.  They  have  five  children  :  Marshal  M.,  Henry  H.,  Austin 
A.,  Lulu  M.  andHattie  C.  Cora  B.  died  November  24,  1878,  at  the 
interesting  age  of  four  summers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  are  members  of 
the  Mt.  Tabor  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 


MIDDLE    FORK    T0W:N^SHIP. 


JOHN  H.  BROWNFIELD 

(Merchant,  Woodville).. 
Mr.  Brownfield,  post-master  at  Woodville  and  part  owner  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  establishment  known  by  the  firm  name  of  Walker 
&  Brownfield,  was  born  in  Fayette  county.  Pa.,  November  1,  1847. 
His  father,  Thomas  Brownfield,  and  mother,  Miss  Eliza  Johnson, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  Mr.  Brownfield  occupied  a  po- 
sition of  prominence.  He  served  for  several  years  each  as  sheriff,  com- 
missioner and  judge  in  his  native  county.  He  came  to  Missouri  in 
1865,  and  locating  near  Madison,  in  Monroe  county,  he  devoted  him- 


1022  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

self  exclusively  to  farming.  He  accumulated  considerable  property, 
leaving,  when  he  died,  September  14,  1881,  a  landed  estate  of  320 
acres.  John  H.  grew  up  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  partly  educated  at 
the  Allegheny  College  at  Meadville,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  17  he  began 
to  teach  school  and  continued  to  do  so  for  10  years.  In  1878  he  left 
Monroe  county  and  settled  in  Macon,  where  he  has  ever  since  been 
enoao-ed  in  business  at  Woodville.  He  is  now  one  of  the  two  mem- 
bers  of  the  firm  of  Walker  &  Brownfield.  They  do  a  flourishing 
trade  and  their  house  is  one  of  the  most  solid  in  the  county.  Sep- 
tember 28,  1871,  Mr.  Brownfield  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Virginia  A., 
daughter  of  William  and  Sophia  Walker,  of  Monroe  county.  By  this 
marriage  there  are  five  children  :  Virgil  M.,  Asa  B.,  Emma  C,  Shirley 
and  Beulah  K.  Mr.  Brownfield  belongs  to  no  secret  order  and  never  P. 
will,  but  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South.  Mr.  Brownfield  is  quite  a  young  man,  the  greater  part  of 
whose  life  lies  before  him,  but  he  is  steadily  toiling  upward,  and  as 
the  child  shows  the  man,  so  his  past  foretells  his  future. 

ANDREW  S.  COX 

(Section  29). 

Lewis  A.  Cox,  father  or  Andrew  S.,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  as 
was  also  Carolina  P.  Baird,  his  wife.  They  moved  to  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  in  the  year  1842.  Mr.  Cox  was  a  brick  and  stone  mason  and 
continued  to  follow  his  trade  after  his  change  of  residence  until  1850, 
when  he  went  to  California,  remaining  15  years.  In  1865  he  returned 
to  the  county  and  made  it  is  home  until  the  year  before  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  New  Mexico  in  May,  1879.  Mrs.  Cox  still  lives 
in  Macon  county.  Andrew  S.  was  born  in  Barren  county,  Ky.,  Oc- 
tober 11,  1836,  but  has  been  for  most  of  his  life  a  resident  of  Macon 
county.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  and  reliable  farmers  of  this  section 
of  the  country.  He  is  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity  and  has  been 
since  1878  a  magistrate  of  the  township.  Mr.  Cox  married  March  9, 
1869,  Mrs.  Susan  M.,  widow  of  Walton  Durham,  of  Randolph  county. 
They  have  5  children:  Anna  Cora,  Minnie  C,  Ernest  E.,  Jimmie 
McCoy  and  Nora  O.  One  child,  Omar  P.,  died  November  25,  1874, 
in  his  third  year. 

FRANCIS  M.  COX 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Cox  was  born  June  22,  1816,  in  Barren  county,  Ky.,  whither 
his  parents,  Moses  Cox  and  Hannah  Baird,  had  emigrated  from  their 
native  soil  of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Cox  the  elder  died  in  Kentucky  in 
1826,  his  wife  surviving  him  by  many  years  and  finally  breathing  her 
last  in  1852,  in  Macon  county.  Mo.  Francis  M.  came  to  Macon  with 
his  mother  in  1842,  and  settled  in  Middle  Fork  township,  not  far  from 
where  he  now  resides.  He  married  Mrs.  Sarah  E.,  widow  of  Thomas 
Halliburton,  of  Randolph,  and  by  her  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
four  are  now  living:  Martha  J.,  now  the  wife  of  James  P.  Robuck; 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1023 

Scarah  E.,  wife  of  Jerome  D.  Albright;  Moses  L.  and  Mary  Louisa. 
Tliose  deceased  are  Francis  M.,  Jr.,  John  C.  and  an  infant  son.  Mr. 
Cox  is  a  man  of  weight  and  influence  in  the  community  and  in  1872 
was  elected  one  of  the  associate  judges,  an  office  which  he  filled  for 
one  term  with  much  dignity  and  ability.  He  has  also  served  as  mag- 
istrate for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  C.  owns  440  acres  of  land,  and  is 
one  of  the  wealthy  and  progressive  farmers  of  the  township.  His 
place  is  well  improved  with  substantial  buildings,  etc.,  and  he  is  en- 
gaged in  all  kinds  of  stock-raising  and  dealing. 

GEORGE  W.  GRAVES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

This  energetic  and  enterprising  farmer  and  extensive  stock-raiser  of 
Middle  Fork  township,  is  indigenous  to  the  county,  having  been  born 
here  April  27,  1846.  His  mother,  nee  Miss  Permelia  Reynolds,  was 
a  native  also  of  Macon,  while  his  father,  William  R.  Graves,  was 
cradled  in  the  waving  blue  grass  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Graves  came  to 
Macon  in  1839,  and  settled  first  in  Woodville,  but  after  remaining  a 
short  time  moved  to  a  small  fiirm  in  the  vicinity,  and  finally  bought 
land  farther  north  upon  which  he  still  lives.  He  has  accumulated  a 
handsome  portion  of  worldly  goods,  owning,  all  told,  785  acres. 
George  W.  grew  to  maturity  on  his  father's  farm,  and  adopted  that 
pursuit  as  his  own  means  of  subsistence.  He  owns  240  acres  of  land 
and  is  a  stable  farmer.  He  is  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  word  a  self- 
made  man.  Of  brisk,  active  habits  of  thought  and  deed,  he  is  not 
like  "  dumb  driven  cattle,"  but  a  "hero  in  the  strife,"  and  his  ex- 
ample of  wide-awake  go-ahead-ativeness  is  of  incalculable  benefit  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Graves  handles  all  kinds  of  stock  and  of  the  best 
grades.  This  man  of  strong  calibre  has  filled  several  offices  within 
the  gift  of  the  people.  He  served  as  magistrate  for  two  years,  deal- 
ing out  justice  with  an  impartial  hand,  and  in  1882  was  appointed  col- 
lector. To  this  position  he  was  re-elected  in  1883  for  a  term  of  two 
years.  Ad  interim,  while  money  and  worldly  advancement  certainly 
seem  to  be  the  end  and  object  for  which  most  men  live,  there  are  few 
who  do  not,  at  some  time  in  the  course  of  their  toilsome  journey,  lin- 
ger for  a  moment  by  the  wayside  to  pluck  some  of  the  sweet-smelling 
blossoms  of  love.  Mr.  Graves  proved  no  exception  to  this  rule,  and 
has  twice  languished  a  captive  in  the  silken  chains  of  beauty.  His 
first  choice  was  Miss  Mary  W.  Patton,  of  Macon.  They  were  mar- 
ried April  15,  1866.  The  three  children  born  of  this  union,  Permelia 
E.,  Robert  H.  and  an  infant  son,  were  early  laid  to  "  rest  in  the  quiet 
earth's  breast,"  while  Mrs.  G.  herself,  in  1879,  filled  an  untimely 
grave.  Mr.  Graves  married  the  second  time  Miss  Mary  H.  Judy,  of 
Macon.  His  home  is  blessed  by  five  charming  children:  William  A., 
Ida  M.,  Oliver  F.,  Pearly  G.  and  George  L.  Mr.  Graves  is  inclined 
to  the  Christian  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church. 


1024  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


ROBERT  M.  MENEFEE 

(Merchant) . 

Mr.  Menefee  is  oAvner  and  sole  proprietor  of  a  mercantile  house  at 
Woodville,  and  was  born  in  Culpeper  county,  Va.,  April  31,  1835.  His 
father,  John  J.  Menefee,  was  a  native  of  the  .same  county,  while  his 
mother,  Lousia  B.  Burch,  was  from  Connecticut.  They  first  moved  to 
Missouri  in  1837,  remaining  for  five  or  six  years  in  Marion,  but  finally 
located  at  Woodville,  then  called  Centreville,  where  Mr.  Menefee  be- 
gan merchandising  on  quite  an  extensive  scale.  He  continued  in  the 
business  until  his  death,  April  25,  1877.  Robert  M.,  breathing  from 
his  earliest  childhood  a  commercial  atmosphere,  naturally  inclined  to 
the  life  when  his  destiny  was  committed  to  his  own  guidance,  though 
he  has  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  farminoj.  He  owns  80  acres  of 
good  farming  land  in  the  township,  which  brings  him  a  nice  income. 
In  November,  1881,  he  embarked  in  business  at  Woodville,  and  having 
a  full  and  carefully  selected  stock  of  general  merchandise,  as  well  as 
being  of  good  commercial  acumen  and  obliging  disposition,  he  has 
built  up  a  fine  trade.  His  house  is  considered  one  of  the  staunchest 
in  the  town.  Mr.  Menefee  is  a  married  man,  his  wife  having  been 
Miss  Iberah  S.  Shirley,  of  Livingston  county,  Mo.  Of  this  union 
were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living,  viz.  :  Albert 
S.,  Maurice  B.,  John  R.,  Orlena  H.  andMattie.  Mary  E.  and  Losia 
B.  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Menefee  are  both  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  South  at  Woodville. 

JOHN  B.  MERRILL 

(Saddler  and  Harness-maker,  Woodville). 

Mr.  Merrill  was  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  June  21,  1851.  His 
parents,  Andrew  and  Julia  A.  (Davis)  Merrill,  originally  from  Vir- 
ginia, came  to  Macon  county  in  1854,  and  lived  near  Woodville  until 
their  demise.  Mr.  Merrill,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer  and  left  an  estate  of  220 
acres,  now  known  as  the  J.  M.  Albright  place,  beside  other  lands  ad- 
joining. John  B.  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  given  a  good 
education.  Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  learned  the  trade  of  sad- 
dlery and  harness-making,  at  which  he  now  makes  his  living.  He  is 
hard  working  and  deserving,  and  is  excelled  by  none  in  his  chosen 
vocation.  He  married  September  15,  1875,  Miss  Drucilla  Vansickle, 
of  Macon  county,  who  was  to  him  amid  the  turmoils  and  vexations  of 
this  troublous  world,  ever  a  fresh  flowing  fountain  of  delight ;  but  such 
joy  was  not  for  this  life,  and  this  tender  flower  was  transplanted  to  a 
fairer  garden  in  Paradise.  Mrs.  Merrill  died  April  20,  1880,  after  a 
lingerino^  illness  of  four  months'  duration,  and  leavins:  three  little  ones 
to  mourn  that  which  nothing  earthly  can  replace,  a  mother's  love. 
They  are  named  respectively,  Daisy  D.,  John  L.  and  Maretta.  Mrs. 
Merrill  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Friendship  Missionary  Baptist 
Church,  to  which  Mr.  Merrill  also  now  belongs. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1025 


JOSEPH  F.  WALKER 

(Post-office,  Woodville). 
William  Walker,  father  of  Joseph  F.,  was  a  farmer  and  millwright 
of  Botetourt  county,  Va.,  and  married  Miss  Sophia  C.  Kirby,  of 
Kentucky.  He  moved  to  Monroe  county,  Mo.,  in  the  year  1836, 
and  assisted  there  in  the  building  of  one  of  the  first  water  mills, 
known  as  the  Kirby  mill.  He  also  biiilt  several  other  mills  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  adjoining  counties.  Later  on  in  life  he 
turned  his  attention  to  ftirming  and  raising  stock,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  most  prominent  farmers  in  the  county.  Mrs.  Walker,  who  died 
May  16,  1883,  was  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and,  al- 
though her  husband  is  not  a  member  of  any  church,  he  might  put  to  the 
blush  many  of  those  who  are.  He  is  of  the  most  upright  character,  and 
his  boundless  hospitality  and  Christian  charity  to  the  poor  and  needy 
are  beyond  praise.  He  owes  "  no  man  anything  but  love,"  and  has 
never  engaged  in  any  lawsuit  or  contention  of  any  description  in  his 
life.  His  son,  Joseph  F.,  of  whom  this  sketch  more  particularly 
treats,  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  July  19, .1842.  He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  given  a  good  education  and  became  in  time  himself  a 
tiller  of  the  soil.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 6,  Woodlawn  township,  Monroe  county.  Mo.,  upon  which  he  set- 
tled in  the  year  1876.  His  property  is  well  improved  and  he  has 
amassed  considerable  wealth.  In  November,  1883,  he  entered  in 
partnership  with  the  firm  alluded  to  in  a  previous  sketch,  that  of 
Walker  &  Brownfield,  at  Woodville.  As  before  remarked,  this  firm 
is  doing  a  thriving  business.  Mr.  Walker  married  September  28, 
1871,  Miss  MattieE.  Manpin,  daughter  of  Lilbourn  and  Martha  A. 
Manpin,  of  Monroe  county.  They  have  six  children  :  Ida  E.,  Enoch 
M.,  Lillie,  Lavenia,  Fannie  M.,  Clara  E.  and  Paul.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walker  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  Monroe  Chapel, 
Leesburg,  Mo.,  and  Mr.  W.  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Wood- 
lawn  Lodge,  No.  223. 


RICHLAND    T0W:N^SHIP. 


HIRAM  B.  FOSTER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  F.,  a  native  of  Clark  county,  Ky.,  was  born  near  Winchester, 
July  30,  1832.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  served  under  Gen.  Har- 
rison in  the  War  of  1812,  being  one  of  the  heroes  of  Lundy's  Lane. 
Hiram  B.  lived  in  Illinois  until  he  was  20  years  old,  was  educated  at 
Spring  Creek  Academy,  and  also  attended  a  college  at  Jacksonville, 
where  he  studied  principally  mathematics.     In  1852  he  came  to  Mis- 


1026  HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

souri,  and  until  1855  was  engaged  in  mercantile  enterprises  at  Kirks- 
ville  and  Newburg,  then  for  three  years  was  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor 
in  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and  after  that  was  elected  county  surveyor 
of  Adair  county,  Mo.  This  office  he  retained  until  1861,  when  he 
resigned  and  entered  the  U.  S.  army.  He  was  adjutant  of  the 
Twenty-second  regiment  Missouri  volunteers  for  a  year,  and  was  then 
mustered  out  at  St.  Louis.  After  remaining  in  private  life  until 
August  2,  1864,  he  once  more  took  up  arms,  this  time  commanding 
Provisional  Co.,  Eigthy-sixth  regiment  of  enrolled  militia,  in  which  he 
served  until  December  14,  1864,  and  was  again  mustered  out.  He 
first  began  to  farm  in  Adair  county,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  moved 
to  his  present  home.  He  has  520  acres  of  land,  420  of  which  are 
under  fence  and  about  350  in  cultivation  ;  one-third  of  his  farm  is  in 
grain  and  the  rest  in  grasses.  He  also  deals  in  graded  cattle,  horses, 
sheep  and  hogs.  As  will  be  seen  Capt.  Foster  is  a  man  of  means. 
His  place  has  every  appearance  of  smiling  plenty.  He  was  at  one 
time  quite  prominent  in  political  affairs.  Capt.  Foster  was  married 
September  4,  1860,  to  Miss  Martha  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Louisi- 
ana Ferguson,  of  Macon  county.  There  are  six  children  :  James  M., 
John  P.,  Jeanette,  William  B.,  Emmet,  Everett  and  Oscar.  Capt. 
F.  is  a  Universalist,  while  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  the  G.  A.  K. 

SAMUEL  LOOS  HERTZLER 

(Section  32). 

Mr.  H.  was  born  March  30,  1849,  at  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  and  is 
the  son  of  Levi  Hertzler  and  Lavinia  Loos,  daughter  of  Conrad  and 
Elizabeth  Loos,  of  Berks  county.  Pa.  The  mother  grew  up  in  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa., and  was  nine  years  old  when  she  left  Berks  county. 
Her  parents  read  both  English  and  German.  Her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Kalbach.  Mr.  Hertzler,  pere,  was  in  early  life  a 
farmer,  then  a  merchant  and  a  trader  in  cattle.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  education,  and  could  read  and  translate  German  and  English, 
besides  being  of  large  general  information.  The  family  first  moved 
to  Illinois,  but  in  1865  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  on  section  33, 
Richland  township,  where  the  father  of  the  family  died  December  24, 
1870.  The  mother  is  still  living.  Samuel  L.  lived  in  Pennsylvania 
until  he  was  15  and  then  came  West.  He  has  a  splendid  general 
education,  obtained  chiefly  in  the  Myerstovvn  Academy.  When 
arrived  at  years  of  discretion,  he  began  farming,  and  now  has  160 
acres  of  land,  120  in  cultivation  and  40  in  timber,  grass  and  corn. 
April  5,  1870,  Mr.  H.  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Icyphenia,  daughter  of  J. 
R.  and  Icyphenia  Alderman.  The  former  was  once  presiding  judge  of 
Macon  county,  but  was  originally  from  Ohio.  Mrs.  Alderman  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  but  was  reared  in  Howard  county,  Mo.  The  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Hertzler  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  where  he 
married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  four  children  :  James  L.,  aged  12  ; 
Samuel   A.,  aged   10;  William   E.,  aged   eight;  and  Charles   H.,   a 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1027 

manly  little  fellow  of  three.     Mr.  H.  belongs  to  the  German  Reformed 
Church. 

REV.  JAMES  HUBBARD 

(Farmer  and  local  preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church  South). 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  born  in  Gurrett  county,  Ky.,  May  23,  1825. 
His  parents  came  to  Missouri  the  same  fall  and  settled  in  Silver  Creek 
township,  Randolph  county.  They  remained  there  until  1847,  and 
then  moved  to  Prairie  township  in  the  same  county.  James  H.  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Randolph  county  where  he  lived  until  1861,  at 
that  time  coming  to  his  present  place,  section  16,  township  60,  range 
15,  in  Macon  county.  Mr.  Hubbard  has  devoted  most  of  his  life  to 
farming  and  at  one  time  was  engaged  in  feeding,  buying  and  shipping 
stock.  In  1869  he  was  ordained  deacon  at  Chillicothe  by  Bishop  Pierce, 
and  has  preached  ever  since.  Mr.  Hubbard  is  an  earnest  and  forcible 
speaker  and  shows  forth  in  his  life  the  precepts  which  fall  from  his 
lips.  Mrs.  H.  is  also  a  member  of  the  church.  Mr.  Hubbard  has 
been  thrice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Margaret  Goodding, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Goodding  of  Randolph  county,  a  man  of  some 
note.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  was  at  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans  and  on  the  Southern  frontier.  He  built  the  first  cabin  north 
of  Huntsville  in  Randolph  county.  Of  this  marriage  were  born  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  Alice  C,  married  to  Reuben  Kirby, 
a  carpenter  in  Deadwood,  Dakota,  and  James  Willard,  a  freighter  in 
Arizona  territory.  He  went  to  Texas  for  his  health  in  1878,  engaged 
in  herding  stock  and  took  a  thousand  head  to  the  head  waters  of  Col- 
orado, from  there  to  New  Mexico  and  then  to  Arizona  prospecting 
gold.  Richard  L.  died  in  1858,  aged  two  years  old.  His  second 
marriage  was  to  Mrs.  Missouri  Ann  Gorham  of  Randolph  county,  a 
daughter  of  Hardy  Sears,  and  by  this  marriage  Mr.  H.  has  five  chil- 
dren all  living,  named  respectively:  Maggie  A.,  wife  of  M.  M.  Self, 
a  farmer  at  Atlanta ;  John  H.,  of  Nodaway  county,  a  preacher  on  the 
Oxford  circuit;  Mollie  E.,  Edgar  T.  and  Emma  M.  Mr.  Hubbard 
was  married  the  third  time  July  25,  1870,  to  Miss  Martha  S.,  widow 
of  James  H.  Holderby  and  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Margaret  White,  of 
Macon  county.  They  have  one  child,  Walter,  aged  four  years.  Mrs. 
H.  has  one  son  by  her  first  husband,  James  M.  Holderby,  a  yoimg 
man  of  19  who  lives  with  his  mother  and  goes  to  school.  Mrs. 
Hubbard's  people  were  from  Kentucky,  her  father  being  a  relative  of 
Daniel  Boone.  His  great-grandfather  was  in  all  the  early  I^idian  wars. 
Mr.  H.  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  and  was  delegate  to  the  Grand 
Lodge. 

ASA  WOODFORD  McDAVITT 

(Post-Office,  La  Plata). 

Mr.  McD.  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  best  known  families  in 
Macon  county.  Dr.  B.  C.  McDavitt,  of  La  Plata,  especially  being 
prominently  identified  with  its  material  interests,  as  is  also  Thomas 
Waller  McDavitt  and  others.     Sketches  of  the  lives  of  several  mem- 


1028  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

bers  of  this  family  will  be  found  on  other  pages  of  this  History. 
Asa  first  saw  the  light  in  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  and  his  natal  day  was 
August  13,  1845.  While  young  he  was  brought  to  Macon  county, 
where  his  youthful  days  were  passed,  remaining  peacefully  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  farming  until  roused  to  military  action.  He  was  mus- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  United  States  at  Macon  City  as  a  member 
of  Co.  H,  Forty-second  Missouri  volunteers,  and  was  in  the  Eastern 
Department,  principally  in  Tennessee.  After  a  gallant  service,  he  was 
mustered  out  during  the  first  days  of  March,  1865.  After  having  re- 
covered from  the  efiects  and  ravages  of  war,  Mr.  McDavitt  was  united 
in  marriage  July  19,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Murray,  daughter  of 
Fielding  and  Katie  Murray,  whose  maiden  name  was  Dale.  The  com- 
plement of  their  family  circle  consists  of  four  children,  as  follows: 
Nora  K.,  aged  11  years;  Fred,  Araminta  and  Arthur  W.  One  is 
deceased,  Evan  L.,  who  died  while  in  infancy  in  this  county.  Mrs. 
McDavitt  was  born  on  the  20th  of  August,  1849,  in  Macon  county, 
and  here  her  entire  life  has  been  spent.  She  is  quite  well  educated 
in  the  English  language.  In  their  religious  preferences  they  are  both 
Universalists.  Mr.  McDavitt  moved  to  Nebraska  in  the  spring  of  1873, 
and  was  there  occupied  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  but  he  became 
satisfied  with  Macon  county  as  a  satisfactory  place  to  follow  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  accordingly  returned  here  on  the  28th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1883.  He  is  now  one  of  the  most  respected  citizens  of  the 
township. 

THOMAS  WALLER  McDAVITT 

(Farmer,  Section  29). 

Mr.  McDavitt  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  January  6,  1840. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Woodford  county,  Ky.,  and  was  a  man  of 
broad  intellect  and  careful  cultivation.  Among  other  branches  of 
knowledge,  he  read  theology  extensively,  being  himself  a  Universalist. 
His  regular  occupation  was  farming,  but  he  also  wielded  the  ferule  in 
Macon  and  Randolph  counties.  He  married  the  first  time  Miss  Ara- 
minta Kirby,  of  Kentucky,  and  his  second  wife  was  Miss  Parthenia 
Broyles,  of  Easley  township,  Macon  county,  Mo.  He  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  Sarah  Margaret,  Nancy,  Ellen  Elizabeth,  Mary  Jane,  B.  C.  Mc- 
Davitt, M.  D.  ;  Asa  Woodford,  William  Harrison,  Thomas  W.  and 
Daniel  Alsley,  deceased.  Thomas  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came 
to  Macon  county  at  the  age  of  four.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer  and 
now  resides  in  Richland  township.  He  owns  131  acres  of  land,  95  un- 
der cultivation  and  the  rest  in  timber  ;  has  three  acres  of  orchard  and 
every  improvement  and  convenience  for  carrying  on  his  farm.  He  is 
one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  the  township  ;  is  blessed  with  an  abun- 
dance of  worldly  goods,  and  not  taking  credit  to  himself,  his  *' soul 
liangeth  upon  Him  whose  right  hand  hath  upholden  him."  "As  for 
him  and  his  household,  they  serve  the  Lord."  Mr.  McD.  and  his  wife 
have  been  for  six  years,  Universalists.  He  married,  August  26,  1860, 
Miss  Ellen  S.,  daughter  of  James  and  Parthenia  Broyles,  of  Macon. 
She  was  born  in  the  county  June  12,  1844,  and  was  raised  in  Easley 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1029 

township.  Her  father  was  from  Tennessee,  and  her  mother  from 
Virginia.  Of  this  union  were  born  three  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living:  Emma  Frances,  wife  of  William  Gash,  a  farmer  of  Easley 
township,  and  mother  of  two  children  :  Freddie,  aged  three,  and 
Waller,  a  little  cherub  of  one  year;  and  Mary  Lozetti,  wife  of  Em- 
mett  Ellis,  also  a  farmer  of  Easley  township.  Mr.  McDavitt  was  for- 
merly a  Whig  and  is  now  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  served  during 
the  war  in  the  Enrolled  State  Militia. 

CHARLES  R.  PERRY 

(Judge  of  County  Coui't). 

Judge  Perry  was  born  November  23,  1828,  in  Fairfield  county, 
Conn.,  the  birthplace  also  of  his  father  and  mother,  nee  Mary  A. 
Judson,  and,  indeed,  of  his  ancestors  on  both  sides  of  the  house,  for 
several  generations  back.  They  were  all  slaveholders.  His  father 
was  a  man  of  learning  and  his  grandfather  was  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  at  the  battle  of  Long  Island.  Charles  R.  Perry  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  high  schools  at  Birmingham,  New  Haven  county, 
completing  the  course  in  the  English  branches.  At  16  he  left 
home  and  went  into  a  shoe  establishment  at  Hilford,  New  Haven 
county,  where  he  remained  four  years,  afterwards  going  to  New  York, 
to  Ohio,  to  Indiana  and  finally  in  1851  back  to  his  old  home  in  Fair- 
field county.  Conn.  During  his  wandering,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Alvira  E.  Heaston,  daughter  of  John  and  Alice 
Heaston,  of  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  but  originally  from  Virginia. 
She  accompanied  her  husband  to  Connecticut  where  they  lived  for  18 
months  and  then  returned  to  Ohio.  Mr.  Perry  came  to  Macon 
county  in  1858,  moving  on  his  present  place  February  28,  1859.  He 
has  been  a  good  deal  in  politics.  He  has  filled  several  offices  of  pub- 
lic trust  with  notable  ability  and  infinite  satisfaction  to  the  commu- 
nity. He  was  constable  for  eight  years,  trustee  of  the  township  for 
four  years,  and  has  now  worn  with  conspicuous  grace  for  five  years  the 
judicial  ermine.  During  the  war  the  Judge  served  in  the  Enrolled 
State  Militia.  He  was  always  a  Democrat.  There  are  seven  children  : 
Andrew  J.,  married  to  Miss  Elvira  McClum,  of  Macon  county  ;  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Marshal  Markey  of  Adair  county;  Emeline  H.,  George 
W., Martha  J.,  Elizabeth  E.  and  Charles  M.  "^Two  children,  Franklin 
and  Cora  A.,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Perry  belongs  to  the  M.  E. 
Church. 

JAMES  SEARS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-Raiser). 
Mr.  Sears  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ky.,  near  Bowling  Green. 
His  father  and  mother  came  to  Missouri  in  1819,  when  he  was  over  a 
year  old,  and  settled  on  Silver  Creek  in  Randolph  county,  where  they 
peacefully  ended  their  days,  the  father  in  1861  and  the  mother  in 
1867.  His  grandfather  was  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  parents 
built  the  first  house  that  far  north  then  known,  and  has  since   made 


1030  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

farming  his  occupation  in  life.  He  is  in  comfortable  circumstances,  own- 
ing 80  acres  of  land,  45  of  which  are  in  cultivation.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat from  principle  and  has  for  7  years  been  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
was  in  the  Mormon  war  at  Far  West  and  Diamond.  Amid  the  graver 
cares  of  this  world  Mr.  Sears  has  found  comfort  and  repose  in  the 
love  of  such  a  wife  as  but  few  men  are  blessed  with.  She  was 
Miss  Mary  Gross,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  Gross.  Mrs. 
Sears  was  born  and  reared  in  Randolph  county,  and  with  unheard  of 
perseverance  and  thirst  for  knowledge  taught  herself.  By  the  light 
of  the  scale-bark  hickory  gathered  by  her  own  hands  from  the  woods, 
this  rara  avis  would  literally  devour  the  contents  of  her  books.  She 
is  a  devoted  Bible  reader.  There  are  three  living  children  :  Sarah 
D.,  wife  of  Nathan  Baker  of  Kentucky,  now  living  near  Huntsville 
and  the  mother  of  three  children;  Martha  E.,  widow  of  Daniel  H. 
Bunch;  Martha  E.  has  two  children,  and  Mary  I.,  wife  of  Virgil 
Goodson  of  Mono  county,  Cal.  ;  George  W.  was  under  Sterling 
Price  and  was  killed  October  4,  1863,  at  Corinth,  Miss. 

"  Like  the  day-star  in  the  wave 
Sinks  the  hero  to  his  grave, 
Midst  the  dew-fall  of  a  nation's  tears !  " 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sears  are  both  devoted  members  of  the  Little  Zion 
Primitive  Baptist  Church,  and  mid  the  "  manifold  changes  and  chances 
of  this  mortal  life,  their  hope  and  trust  are  surely  fixed  where  true 
joys  are  to  be  found."  Mrs.  Sears  joined  the  church  in  her  fifteenth 
year. 

JACOB  NORRIS  STANLEY 

(Section  9). 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1837,  there  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Ohio,  Athens  county,  Jacob  N.  Stanley,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
his  parents  being  Isaac  Stanley  and  Sarah  Norris.  The  former  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  came  originally  from  Vermont. 
His  youthful  days  were  spent  like  that  of  most  boys  of  the  vicinity, 
part  of  his  time  being  occupied  in  attending  the  common  schools, 
while  he  was  engaged  in  working  about  the  home  place  at  other  times. 
In  1865,  leaving  the  place  of  his  birth,  he  went  to  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
and  three  years  later,  in  1868,  took  up  his  location  in  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  his  first  choice  of  residence  being  in  Richland  township.  Having 
been  brought  up  to  the  life  of  an  agriculturist,  it  was  but  natural  that 
he  should  choose  this  same  calling  when  it  became  necessary  for  him 
to  start  out  in  life  for  himself,  and  to  this  occupation  he  has  strictly 
adhered.  His  farm  now  contains  400  acres  of  land,  —  one  of  the 
most  desirable  places  in  this  part  of  the  county.  It  was  not  to  be 
supposed  that  a  man  of.  Mr.  Stanley's  intelligence  and  worth  would 
go  through  this  world  without  a  partner,  one  who  would  be  willing  to 
be  a  help  meet  in  all  his  transactions,  and  accordingly,  on  the  4th  of 
August,  1860,  Miss  Millie  Gudgeon,  of  Athens  county,  Ohio,  became 
his  wife.     Her  parents  were  A.  M.  Gudgen  and  Mary  Gudgen.     She 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1031 

was  fiiirly  educated  in  the  schools  of  her  native  county,  and  by  close 
observation  and  study  since  has  become  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability.  To  this  family  have  been  born  four  children,  viz.  :  James 
Elmer,  aged  20  ;  Angle  Annetta,  18  years  old  ;  Augustus  Dickey,  aged 
16,  and  Viola  Daisy,  aged  seven.  Mr.  Stanley  has  never  been  an  aspir- 
ant for  political  honor,  preferring  the  peace  and  quiet  of  home  life  to  the 
strife  and  turmoil  of  public  position.  Nevertheless  he  has  served  as 
road  overseer  for  several  years  and  has  many  times  been  school 
director.  During  the  late  war  he  was  on  the  side  of  the  Union,  fight- 
ing for  the  maintenance  of  the  principles  for  which  Washington  so 
long  and  desperately  fought.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  g!  A.  R. 
Post  at  La  Plata. 


JOH:NrsTON^  TOw:^rsHip. 


GEORGE  W.  BILLINGS. 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-offlce,  La  Plata). 
Mr.  Billings  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Pike  county,  November 
16,  1838.     His  father  was  George  Billings,  originally  froim  Kentucky, 
and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Jane'Carr,  formerly  of  Tennessee.' 
They  were   married  in  Kentucky,  and  removed  to  Illinois   in  about 
1828.     They  settled  in  Pike  county  of  that  State  among  the  first  set- 
tlers, and  lived  there  for  25  years.     In  1853  they  came  to  Missouri 
and  located  on  Bear  Creek,  in  the   northern  part  of  Macon  county. 
The  father  bought  and  entered  land  here,  on  which  he  improved  a 
farm,  and  lived  here   for  12  years.     In  1865  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
making  his  home  at  Alton,  where  he  died  soon  afterwards.     Georo-e' 
W.  Billings  attained  his  majority  while   the   family  lived  in  Macon 
county,  and  did  not  return  with  them  to  Illinois.     In  Adair  county, 
in  March,  1857,   he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  A.,  a  daughter  of 
Jefi'erson  Easley,  and  afterwards  located  on  a  farm  on  the  west  side  of 
Bear  Creek,  where  he  followed  farming  for  about  five  years.     During 
the  war  he  bought  land  contiguous  to  "his  present  farm,  which  he  im- 
proved and  still  owns.     He  moved  on  that  in  1864,  and  resided  there 
for  10  years,  when  he  bought  his  present  place,  on  \fhich  he  settled 
and  has  since  resided.     His  two  farms  contain   240  acres  of  land,  all 
under  fence,  and  either  in  cultivation  or  pasturage.     Mr.  Billings  has 
a  comfortable  home,  and  is  one  of  the  stirring,  energetic  formers  of 
the  township.     His  first  wife  died  July  27,  1871,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren :  William  H.,  Thomas  J.,  Sarah  L.  and  James.     To  his  present 
wife  Mr.  Billings  was    married  February  28,  1873.     Before  her  mar- 
riage she  was  a  Miss  Mary  E.  Hall,  a 'daughter  of  Presley  Hall,  of 
this   county,  but  formerly  of  Virginia.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billings  have 
two   children  :  Joseph   and  George   S.     They  have  lost  three,  all  in 
tender  years.     Three  of  Mr.  Billings'  children   by  his  first  marriacre 
60 


1032  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

lire  also  deceased — two  in  infancy,  and  one  at  the  age  of  11.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  tlie  New  Harmony  Presbyterian  Cliurcb, 
ill  whicli  be  is  an  elder.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  at 
La  Plata. 

JOHN  M.  COLLINS 

(Farmer  and  Stockman). 

Mr.  Collins  came  to  Missouri  from  Tennessee,  where  he  had  been 
born  and  reared,  in  1853,  when  a  young  man,  and  settled  in  Macon 
county,  and  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides.  He  had  been 
brouglit  up  to  a  farm  life,  and  that  naturally  became  his  permanent 
calling.  He  commenced  here  with  but  little  to  start  on,  and  by  his 
industry  and  intelligent  ^nanagement  has  come  to  be  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  the  township,  and  has  been  quite  as  successful  in 
winning  and  retaining  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  those  around  him 
as  he  has  been  in  agricultural  life.  He  is  looked  upon  by  all  who 
know  him  as  a  man  of  character  and  worth,  and  exercises  a  whole- 
some influence  upon  those  among  whom  he  lives.  Mr.  Collins  has  an 
excellent  tract  of  240  acres  of  land,  most  of  which  is  improved  and 
either  in  cultivation  or  otherwise  used  in  connection  with  his  farm  and 
stock  operations.  His  improvements  are  of  a  good  class,  and  he  has 
an  excellent  orchard  on  his  place.  February  14,  1861,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Virginia  Stowe,  a  daughter  of  James  Stowe,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Macon  county.  They  have  four  children :  Virlinda 
M.,  James  K.,  Augusta  B.  and  Creola  V.  They  have  lost  four, 
George  W.,  Bertha  J.,  Fannie  B.  and  Louisa  E.  Mr.  Collins  makes 
a  business  of  feeding  cattle  and  hogs  for  the  wholesale  markets,  and 
feeds  annually  about  two  car  loads  of  the  former  and  one  of  the  lat- 
ter. He  was  born  in  Giles  county,  Tenn.,  June  29,  1830,  and  was  a 
son  of  Roswell  K.  and  Virlinda  J.  (Johnson)  Collins,  both  natives  of 
Virginia.  His  parents  removed  to  Tennessee,  where  he  was  born  and 
reared.  In  Tennessee,  as  has  been  stated,  he  was  brought  up  to  a 
farm  life.  There  he  learned  those  habits  of  industry  and  those  les- 
sons of  economy  and  good  management  so  important  to  success  in 
every  honest  employment.  Profiting  by  this  training,  he  has  become 
a  successful  farmer  and  useful  citizen. 

,  JAMES  M.  COLLINS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser  and  Dealer) . 
Mr.  Collins  is  a  brother  to  John  M.,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  published 
just  above  this  one.  Like  his  brother,  he,  too,  was  born  in  Giles 
county,  Tenn.  His  natal  day  was  the  3d  of  November,  1835. 
When  18  years  of  age,  reared  in  Tennessee,  he  came  to  Missouri 
in  company  with  his  mother,  his  father  having  died  in  the  mean- 
time, and  located  in  Macon  county,  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  now 
resides.  Four  years  afterwards,  January  22,  1857,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Amelia  A.  Daugherty,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Daugherty,  an  early 
settler  of  Macon,  from  Kentucky.     Mrs,  Collins  was  born  and  reared 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1033 

in  Macon  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  have  eight  children  :  V.  J.  Snell, 
William  P.,  Mary  A.,  James  A.,  John  J.,  Mattie  L.,  Charles  and 
Thomas  C.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Collins,  who  has  followed  farm- 
ing all  his  life,  lived  on  the  i^lace  where  he  now  resides,  about  a  year. 
He  then  removed  to  another  farm,  but  came  back  later  along,  and  has 
continued  to  reside  on  this  place.  He  has  about  a  section  of  good 
land,  nearly  all  of  which  is  contiguous,  which  belongs  to  himself  and 
brother.  Most  of  it  is  under  fence  and  is  otherwise  well  improved. 
Since  1864  he  has  been  engaged  almost  continuously  in  trading  in 
stock,  much  of  the  time  in  connection  with  James  Johnston,  and 
ships  annually  about  100  car  loads.  He  also  has  a  neat  herd  of  short 
horn  cattle,  with  Gold  Dust  at  the  head,  a  fine  three-year-old.  Most 
of  Mr.  Collins'  short  horns  are  recorded  and  are  all  elligible.  Mr.  C. 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Mrs.  Collins  died  January  20, 
1883.  She  had  been  the  companion  of  his  life  for  over  26  years, 
and  was  one  of  the  truest  and  most  devoted  of  wives.  A  kind  and 
gentle  mother  and  a  good  neighbor,  her  loss  was  deplored  with  a 
depth  and  sincerity,  in  both  the  family  and  neighborhood,  rarely 
shown  by  loved  ones  and  acquaintances,  however  profound  and  touch- 
ing their  grief. 

SAMUEL  F.  COMBS 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  Sue  City) . 
Mr.  Combs  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of 
Macon  county.  His  father,  Capt.  Benjamin  F.  Combs,  came  here  from 
Kentucky  as  early  as  1830.  He  entered  land  and  improved  an  excel- 
lent farm,  on  which  he  still  resides.  He  was  a  captain  of  militia 
during  the  old  muster  days  and  has  always  been  regarded  as  a  man  of 
high  character  and  great  personal  worth.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Combs,  a  distant  relative  of  his,  also  born  and  reared  in 
Kentucky.  '  Samuel  F.  was  the  second  son  in  their  family  of  children 
and  was  born  January  18,  1848.  After  reaching  his  majoritv  Samuel 
F.,  who  had  been  reared  to  a  farm  life,  engaged  in  that  occupation  for 
himself,  and  continued  in  it  with  success  until  1872.  In  the  sirring  of 
that  year  he  went  to  Clarence,  in  Shelby  county,  and  eno-ao-ed  in  mer- 
chandising. While  there,  July  29,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Creola  B.  Stow,  a  daughter  of  Maj.  J.  H.  Stow,  of  Macon  county, 
another  early  settler  of  the  county,  who  came  here  from  Virginia.  In 
the  spring  of  1873  Mr.  Combs  came  to  Sue  City  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  In  1880  he  also  put  in  a  general  stock  of  merchan- 
dise and  has  had  good  success.  He  is  upright,  attentive  to  business 
and  deals  fairly,  so  that  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  good  trade. 
He  commenced  in  a  small  way  in  the  first  place  according  to  his  limited 
means,  and  as  his  business  increased  he  steadily  increased  his  stock, 
so  that  now  he  has  a  fine  stock  of  goods  and  is  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
cliants  of  the  place.  He  is  doing  business  on  his  own  capital  and  owns 
everything  he  has  in  his  own  name.  Mrs.  Combs,  with  true  wifely 
spirit,  helps  him  in  the  store  to  save  at  least  that  much  extra  expense. 


1034  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

She  is  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence  and  a  most  pleasant  disposition, 
and  is  quite  popular  for  her  many  estimable  qualities  with  all  who 
know  her.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Combs  are  members  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  order.  He 
has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  lodge. 

GEORGE  W.  DAUGHERTY 

(Farmer  and  Fine  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  La  Plata) . 

Among  the  self-made  and  successful  farmers  of  Johnston  township 
who  are  not  only  farmers  in  the  common  acceptation  of  the  term,  but 
are  progressive  agriculturists,  men  who  take  the  lead  in  the  improve- 
ment of  stock  and  are  active  and  progressive  in  all  agricultural  mat- 
ters, the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  holds  an  enviable  position,  and 
is  justly  entitled  to  more  than  a  passing  notice  in  any  worthy  history 
of  Macon  county.  Mr.  Daugherty  commenced  a  poor  man  and  after 
his  marriage  was  able  to  buy  only  40  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  and  40 
of  timber,  which  he  obtained  partly  on  time,  and  on  which  he  went  to 
work  with  industry  and  resolution.  Continuing  a  hard  worker  and 
proving  himself  a  good  manager,  he  added  to  his  place  from  time  to 
time  and  kept  improving  it  until  he  now  has  one  of  the  choice  farms 
of  the  township,  haying  over  200  acres  in  his  home  fiirm,  which  is 
neatly  and  comfortably  improved,  being  provided  with  everything  to 
make  home  desirable.  Having  the  acumen  to  see  that  the  stock  busi- 
ness offers  better  profit  than  any  other  branch  of  agriculture,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  that,  and  determined  to  be  no  laggard  in  the  business 
as  he  is  in  nothing  in  Avhich  he  engages.  He  procured  the  best  stock 
that  could  be  had.  His  principal  line  of  the  stock  business  is  in  breeding 
and  raising  fine  thoroughbred,  short-horn  cattle,  of  which  he  has  a  hand- 
some, small  herd.  Several  of  these  are  worthy  of  special  mention. 
At  the  head  of  his  herd  stands  Mayberry,  a  fine,  red  short-horn  of 
registered  stock,  his  record  appearing  in  Herd  Book  No.  It),  in  which 
also  the  record  of  the  others  appear.  Among  these  is  Zephyr,  a  fancy 
bred  two-year-old  heifer  of  the  Rose  of  Sharon  family.  Mr.  Daugh- 
erty also  has  some  fine  Berkshire  and  Poland-China  hogs.  He  has 
had  excellent  success  in  the  stock  business  and  is  steadily  enlarging  it. 
Mr.  Daugherty  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Pulaski  county,  three 
miles  north  of  Somerset,  July  5,  1833.  When  he  was  six  years  of 
age,  in  1839,  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Lee)  Daugherty, 
came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  the  north-east  part  of  Lyda  town- 
ship, Macon  county,  where  the  father  entered  land  and  improved  a 
farm.  He  died  there  June  8,  1864,  and  his  mother  on  the  same  place 
nine  years  before,  November  7,  1843.  There  was  a  family  of  eight 
children,  George  W.  being  the  fifth,  and  one  of  the  only  three  sons, 
the  other  two  beinoj  deceased.  Three  of  the  five  sisters  are'livino:. 
George  W.,  after  he  grew  to  manhood,  was  married  July  2,  1855,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Poage,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Poage,  of  La  Plata,  but 
formerly  of  Kentucky.  He  then  bought  the  80  acres  of  land  referred 
to  above  and  commenced  work  for  himself.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daugherty 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1035 

have  four  children  :  J.  Thomas,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  H.  E.  Needham,  a 
public  school  teacher;  William  W.  and  Joseph  W.  Mr.  D.'s  first 
wife  died  September  29,  1863.  His  present  wife  was  formerly  Miss 
Jane  Beatie,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Beatie,  of  Macon  countj^  but  pre- 
viously from  Peoria  county,  111.  She  received  an  advanced  English 
education  in  Illinois,  and  taught  both  in  that  State  and  Missouri  prior 
to  her  marriage.  They  were  married  July  27,  1864.  By  this  union 
there  are  four  children  :  Eliza  M.,  Charles  E.,  Parthenia  B.  and  Oliver 
L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  are  members  of  the  New  Harmony  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  July,  1864,  Mr.  Daugherty  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  Forty-second 
Missouri  infantry,  and  served  until  honorably  discharged  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  in  eight  States  during  his  service,  and  most  of 
the  time  was  on  detail  as  hospital  steward  and  nurse.  He  was  re- 
marked by  all  for  his  kindness  and  attentive  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  La 
Plata. 

GEORGE  W.  HALLADAY 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  Sue  City). 

Mr.  Halladay,  a  business  man  of  life-long  experience,  established 
his  present  store  at  Sue  City  in  January,  1882,  and,  bringing  on  a 
good  stock  of  goods  in  the  first  place,  by  understanding  the  business 
thoroughly  and  treating  every  one  with  fairness  and  accommodation,  he 
has  succeeded  in  little  more  than  two  years  in  building  up  a  large  and 
profitable  trade  and  has  made  his  store  one  of  the  leading  houses  in 
this  line  in  this  section  of  the  county.  His  motto  is,  "once  a  custo- 
mer, always  a  customer,"  for  he  so  deals  with  his  customers  as  to  make 
this  as  true  as  it  is  trite.  Mr.  Halladay  is  a  native  of  Canada,  as 
were  also  his  parents,  Samuel  Halladay  and  Sarah,  nee  Judd.  He 
was  born  in  the  Dominion,  June  28,  1848,  and  at  an  early  age  entered 
a  store  as  clerk.  He  received  his  education  principally  in  the  store, 
and  by  study  during  leisure  hours.  Brought  up  to  a  mercantile  life,  he 
thus  learned  those  principles  of  business  transactions  and  came  to 
understand  those  ideas  of  frank,  honorable,  fair  dealing  without 
which  enduring  success  in  business  life  is  impossible.  In  1868,  then 
20  years  of  age,  young  Halladay  came  to  Missouri,  locating  at  Kirks- 
ville,  where  he  clerked  for  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  com- 
mercial traveling  for  a  Quincy  boot  and  shoe  house,  for  which  he 
worked  until  1871,  when  he  accepted  a  similar  position  under  a  boot 
and  shoe  firm  of  St.  Louis.  After  a  year  with  the  St.  Louis  house  he 
went  to  Canada  on  a  visit,  but  came  back  in  the  fall  of  1873  and 
clerked  at  Kirksville  for  nearly  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  for  himself  in  Kirksville,  which  he  continued 
with  excellent  success  for  about  four  years.  Selling  out,  however, 
in  1879,  he  traveled  for  a  boot  and  shoe  house  of  Chicago  until  he 
came  to  Sue  City  in  January,  1882.  On  the  24th  of  December,  1874, 
Mr.  Halladay  was  married  to  Miss  Lyda  Van  Horn,  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  Van  Horn,  formerly  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Halladay 


1036  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

was  born  and  reared.  Mrs.  H.  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement 
and  highly  prized  in  the  society  of  this  vicinity.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hal- 
laday  have  one  child,  Albert  E.,  and  have  lost  one,  Jessie  May,  who 
died  November  15,  1881.  Mrs.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order.  He 
has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  Kirksville  lodge.  Mr.  Halladay  is  com- 
monly called  'Squire  Halladay,  having  been  elected  to  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1883. 

CHAELES  M.  JOHNSTON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  and  Breeder  and  Dealer  in  Short-horn  Cattle). 
Mr.  Johnston,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  in  agricultural  and 
business  affairs  in  this  section  of  the  county,  was  born  in  "Smyth  county» 
Va.,  August  6,  1837.  His  father  was  Richard  P.  Johnston,  and  his 
mother's  maiden  name,  Mary  A.  Wares.  When  Charles  M.  was  yet 
in  infancy,  in  1838,  the  family  removed  to  Missouri  and  located  in 
Boone  county,  but  the  following  year  came  over  into  Macon  county, 
settling  on  the  land  which  now  forms  the  site  of  Sue  City.  They  lived 
in  this  county  until  1865,  when  they  removed  to  Howard  county  where 
the  father  died  two  years  afterwards.  However,  in  the  meantime, 
Charles  M.  had  grown  to  manhood,  having  been  brought  up  to  a  farm 
life.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Central  College 
in  Fayette.  After  his  college  course  he  engaged  in  stock  dealing  and 
also  clerked  for  a  time  at  Bloomington.  But  stock  dealing  and  farm- 
ino-  he  has  followed  continuously  from  early  manhood.  Mr.  Johnston 
came  to  his  present  farm  in  1859.  This  is  the  old  family  homestead 
on  which  he  was  reared.  He  has  a  fine  tract  of  320  acres,  about 
three-fourths  of  which  is  fenced  and  either' in  cultivation  or  meadow. 
His  place  is  excellently  improved  and  he  is  otherwise  comfortably 
situated.  He  also  has  160  acres  of  good  land  under  fence  in  Jackson 
township,  and  a  half-interest  in  160  acres  in  Adair  county.  In  1871 
Mr.  Johnston  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Sue  City,  in  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  GooddingjUnderthe  firm  name  of  Johnston  &GoGdding. 
They  continued  business  with  success  for  about  10  years,  during  which 
Mr.  Johnston  also  carried  on  his  farming  operations  and  his  stock 
business.  In  1880  he  began  to  make  a  specialty  of  raising  short-horn 
cattle,  of  which  he  now  has  a  neat  herd  of  registered  stock,  each  of 
which  is  recorded  in  the  herd  book.  His  herd  is  headed  by  Grace 
Duke,  a  fine  two-year  old  red  roan,  weighing  about  1,200.  Septem- 
ber 15,  1859,  Mr.  Johnston  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  A.,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Martha  Pennick.  Mrs.  Johnston  was  born  and  reared 
in  Macon  county,  but  her  father  was  from  Indiana,  and  her  mother 
originally  from  Tennessee.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  have  three  children  : 
Edward  C,  Emmett  and  Ernest.  Mrs.  J.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South,  and  Mr.  J.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  at  At- 
lanta. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  ,  1037 


JAMES  JOHNSTON 

(Farmer  and  fine  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  J.  is  a  younger  brother  to  Charles  M.,  whose  sketch  precedes 
this,  and  was  born  while  his  parents  were  in  Boone  county,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1838,  but  was  reared  on  the  farm  now  the  site  of  Sue  City, 
where  they  settled  soon  afterwards.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812  and  died  in  Macon  county  in  1867.  James  Johnston 
became  a  farmer  after  he  grew  up,  the  occupation  to  which  he  was 
reared,  and  in  1869  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  Three 
years  afterwards,  June  20,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Miss  America,  a 
daughter  of  Z.  L.  Sprinkle  of  this  county,  but  formerly  of  Virginia. 
Mrs.  Johnston  was  born  and  reared  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Johnston  has 
followed  farming  continuously  since  1869,  and  has  also  been  engaged 
in  the  stock  business  during  all  this  time.  Indeed,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising  for  over  25  years,  or  since  he  was  20  years  of 
age,  and  has  dealt  in  stock  all  this  time.  He  now  handles  and  ships 
about  100  car  loads  of  stock,  cattle  and  hogs  annually,  and  himself 
feeds  from  three  to  four  carloads.  He  also  has  a  herd  of  short-horns, 
about  20  in  number,  all  of  which  are  recorded  in  the  herd  book.  His 
herd  is  headed  by  Lord  Marquis,  a  fine  four-year-old  of  a  deep  red 
color.  Mr.  Johnston's  mother  is  still  living  and  finds  a  welcome  and 
pleasant  home  in  his  household.  He  is  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
successful  stock-men  of  the  county  and  has  the  reputation  of  being 
one  of  the  best  judges  of  stock  throughout  this  section  of  the  country. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  have  four  children  :  Thaddeus  M.,  James  M.,  Mary 
E.  and  Virgil.  Mrs.  Johnston  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South,  as  is  also  Mr.  Johnston's  mother.  After  Mr.  Johnston's 
father's  death  he  lived  with  his  mother  in  Howard  county,  carrying 
on  the  farm  there  for  some  years,  until  he  came  to  this  county.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternfty. 

JOHN  R.  McQUAY 

(Farmer,  Stock  Dealer,  and  Proprietor  of  Harness  Shop,  Sue  City^. 

Mr.  McQuay's  family,  on  his  father's  side,  came  originally  from 
Maryland,  his  father,  William  McQuay,  having  been  born  and  reared 
in  that  State,  about  40  miles  from  Baltimore,  in  Talbot  county.  He 
came  to  Missouri  in  1838,  and  located  in  Macon  county.  He  was 
subsequently  married  here  to  Miss  Emeline  Swinney.  He  died,  how- 
ever, a  few  years  afterwards,  in  1842,  still  in  the  prime  of  life.  John 
E..  grew  up  in  the  county,  and  in  1860  went  to  California,  crossing  the 
plains  with  Capt.  McFarland,  Charles  Collier  and  others.  He  assisted 
in  taking  stock  to  California,  and  was  nearly  six  months  on  the  trip. 
He  remained  in  the  Pacific  Coast  State  for  about  six  years,  and  was 
principally  engaged  in  mining  and  freighting,  having,  upon  the  whole, 
substantial  success.  After  returning  in  the  fall  of  1866,  he  located 
in  Jackson  township  and  went  to  farming,  at  which  he  continued  for 


1038  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

about  two  years.  He  then  removed  to  La  Plata  township  and  farmed 
there  on  his  father-in- hi w's  phice  until  1870,  when  he  returned  to 
Jackson  township,  where  he  has  since  followed  farming  and  stock 
dealing.  In  1852  he  opened  a  harness  and  saddle  shop  at  Sue  City, 
which  he  has  conducted  with  good  success.  Mr.  McQuay,  while  a 
goed  business  manager,  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  mechanical 
aptitude.  The  trades  come  natural  to  him,  almost,  and  but  little 
jDractice  or  experience  in  them  is  necessary  to  render  him  quite  skill- 
ful. He  is  an  expert  blacksmith,  and  also  understands  the  harness- 
maker's  trade,  at  which  he  is  now  working.  He  has  been  quite 
successful  in  his  several  occupations,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  Jackson  township.  January  1,  1867,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Barbara  E.  Roan,  a  daughter  of  Jester  and  Elizabeth  Roan, 
formerly  of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McQuay  have  three 
children:  Fannie,  William  B.,  and  John  M.  They  have  lost  two, 
Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  dying  at  the  age  of  eight,  in  1875.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McQuay  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  Mr.  McQuay 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

JAMES  W.  MARTIN,  M.  D. 

(Of  Martin  &  Mitchell,  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Sue  City) . 

Mr.  Martin,  of  the  above-named  firm,  a  physician  of  thorough  and 
advanced  professional  education,  and  a  popular  and  successful  prac- 
titioner, is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Randolph  county,  November 
19,  1854.  Like  most  of  the  people  of  Missouri,  he  is  of  Kentucky 
antecedents  and  originally  of  Virginia.  His  father,  William  B.  Mar- 
tin, was  brought  to  Missouri  by  his  parents  when  a  lad,  away  back  in 
1836.  They  located  south  of  the  Missouri  river,  but  10  years  after- 
wards his  father  came  to  Randolph  county,  and  there  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Goodding,  whose  parents  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  the  county.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Randolph  until  1860,  when 
he  removed  to  Macon  county,  locating  at  College  Mound.  James  W., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  grew  up  at  College  Mound  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  at  McGee  College,  taking  a  course  in  the 
hio;her  English  branches  and  such  other  studies  as  were  thought  to  be 
of  value  to  him  in  preparing  himself  for  the  medical  profession.  He 
had,  at  a  comparatively  early  age,  decided  to  devote  himself  to  the 
practice  of  medicine,  and  took  his  course  at  college  with  that  object 
in  view.  In  1876  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  William 
V.  Yates,  a  leading  physician  of  Macon  county,  located  at  College 
Mound.  During  the  winter  of  1876-77  he  took  a  course  of  lectures 
at  the  Missouri  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis,  and  completed  his 
second  course  at  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1879,  graduating 
with  honor.  Dr.  Martin  now  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  locating  at  College  Mound.  He  continued  in  the 
practice  at  that  place  until  1880,  when  he  came  to  Sue  City,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice.  The  Doctor  has  built  up  an 
excellent  practice  here,  and  is  highly  thought  of,  both  professionally 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1039 

and  personally.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  that  order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
county  and  district  medical  societies.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  winter 
of  1883-84  he  took  a  supplementary  course  of  lectures  at  the  above- 
mentioned  institution  (Missouri  Medical  College). 

ROBERT  C.  MITCHELL,  M.D. 

(Of  Martin  &  Mitchell,  Physiciaus  and  Surgeons,  Sue  City). 

Dr.  Mitchell's  father,  Robert  C.  Mitchell,  is  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  came  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man  in  1833.  He  first  located  at 
St.  Louis,  where  he  followed  the  milling  business  for  a  short  time. 
While  there  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Wright,  formerly  of 
Kentucky.  In  1834  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Randolph  county,  but 
six  years  afterwards  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and  continued  there  en- 
gaged in  milling  for  many  years.  Finally,  however,  he  sold  out  at 
that  city  and  located  on  a  farm  in  1869  in  Audrain  county.  Nine 
years  later  he  removed  to  Macon  county,  where  he  still  resides,  and  is 
engaged  in  farming.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  born  while  his  parents  resided 
in  St.  Louis,  August  7,  1849.  He  was  therefore  principally  reared 
on  the  farm.  His  education  was  received  in  the  common  and  high 
schools,  and  he  has  had  the  benefit  of  a  commercial  course  at  McGee 
College.  After  completing  his  studies  he  engaged  in  teaching  school, 
but  at  the  same  time  commenced  the  study  of  medicine.  He  taught 
one  term  of  school  and  soon  afterwards  entered  on  the  regular  study 
of  medicine  under  Dr.  William  Yates.  This  was  in  1875,  and  in  the 
winter  of  1876-77  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Missouri  Medical 
Colleo-e,  o-raduatins:  with  distinction  after  his  second  course  in  the 
spring  of  1878.  Following  his  graduation,  Dr.  Mitchell  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  New  Cambria.  He  continued  the 
practice  there  with  success  until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  bought 
out  Dr.  McCully,  former  partner  of  Dr.  Martin  at  Sue  City,  and  be- 
came a  partner  with  the  latter  in  the  practice  at  this  place,  with  whom 
he  has  since  continued.  Dr.  Mitchell  is  a  man  with  marked  natural 
aptitude  for  the  medical  profession,  sympathetic,  humane  and  kind, 
with  a  keen  sensitiveness  to  the  sufiering  of  others  and  the  clear 
insight  into  the  causes  and  nature  of  diseases.  A  man  thoroughly  de- 
voted to  his  profession  because  he  believes  it  the  field  of  greatest  use- 
fulness to  humanity,  he  has  studied  it  with  that  zeal  and  ambition  to 
understand  it  thoroughly  which  have  resulted  in  making  him  a 
physician  of  more  than  ordinary  information  and  skill.  An  industrious 
practitioner,  he  is  not  less  an  assiduous  student  and  is  steadily  ad- 
vancing in  the  knowledge  of  his  chosen  calling.  Dr.  Mitchell  has  been 
quite  successful  in  the  practice  and  is  most  popular  as  a  physician 
with  those  who  have  known  him  longest.  October  30,  1881,  he  was 
"married  to  Miss  Cecil  Briot,  daughter  of  Francis  Eugene  Briot,  for- 
merly of  France.  Mrs.  M.  was  born  and  reared  at  Green  Bay,  Wis. 
They  have  three  children  :  Allie,  Theodore  and  Cecil  A.  Mrs.  M.  is 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.     The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the 


1040  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

County  Medical  Association,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  recently  taken  the  degrees  in  the  Sue 
City  Lodge  No.  344,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ;  he  also  has  his  certificate  from  the 
Maryland  State  Board  of  Health,  before  whom  he  passed  a  creditable 
examination. 

JOHN  P.  POWELL 

(Farmer,  Stock-raiser  and Piscatorist,  Post-office,  Sue  City). 

Mr.  Powell,  principally  reared  in  Macon  county,  has  made  this 
county  his  home  from  boyhood  and  has  lived  to  reach,  by  his  own  in- 
dustry and  good  management,  an  enviable  position  among  it  best  agri- 
culturists and  most  respected  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Caswell 
county,  near  Yanceyville,  in  North  Carolina,  February  16,  1830. 
When  he  was  seven  years  of  age  his  father,  Bazillia  (his  mother,  Mary 
E.  Poteate  having  died  in  North  Carolina  in  1833)  Powell,  came  to 
Missouri,  stopping  for  a  year  in  Chariton  county,  and  then  settled 
permanently  near  College  Mound,  in  Macon  county.  There  the  father 
bought  and  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm  on  which  he  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  January,  1875.  He  was  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  the  county  and  %vas  for  years  an  elder  in  tlie  Pres- 
byterian Church.  John  P.  Powell,  after  he  grew  up,  being  brought 
up  to  a  farm  life  and  having  received  a  good,  common  school  educa- 
tion, married  in  the  county,  March  13,  1856,  to  Miss  Virginia 
Johnston,  a  sister  to  C.  M.  and  James  Johnston,  whose  sketches  appear 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Powell  settled  on 
a  farm  near  College  Mound,  where  he  remained  until  1859.  He  then 
removed  to  the  neighborhood  where  he  now  resides,  and  commenced 
the  improvement  of  his  present  farm,  or  rather  he  commenced  improv- 
ing it  before  removing  to  it,  and  settled  on  the  place  in  1860.  He 
now  has  440  acres  of  excellent  land,  including  360  which  are  well  im- 
jDroved  and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  His  farm  is  one  mile  north 
of  Sue  City,  and  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  the  vicinity.  His 
residence  is  a  commodious,  tastily  built  two-story  house,  and  he  has  a 
good  barn  with  sheds  and  cribs,  a  good  smoke-house,  a  substantial 
ice  house  and  a  fine  orchard  of  325  bearing  apple  trees,  besides  a 
large  number  of  cherry  and  plum  trees,  and  a  choice  selection  of 
grapes  and  other  small  fruits.  Mr.  Powell  has  two  fine  ponds  on  his 
place,  one  that  covers  two  acres  of  ground  and  is  14  feet  deep,  the 
other  includes  an  area  of  an  acre  and  is  about  eight  feet  deep.  He 
has  stocked  both  with  German  carp  fish,  and  is  having  excellent  suc- 
cess in  pisciculture.  He  stocked  his  ponds  about  two  years  ago  with 
minnows,  and  now  they  are  about  24  inches  long.  Pisciculture  will 
doubtless  prove  a  profitable  industry,  and  he  has  every  advantage  to 
carry  it  on  with  success.  On  the  23d  of  August,  1882,  a  heavy  afflic- 
tion fell  upon  his  home  and  heart.  The  wife  of  his  bosom,  who  had 
brightened  his  home  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  made  his  life, 
through  all  these  years,  one  of  singular  domestic  comfort  and 
happiness,  fell  to  sleep  in  the  cold  embrace  of  death.  She  was  one  of 
those  good  and  true  and  noble  women,  loved  in  her  family  as  wife  and 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1041 

mother,  and  prized  among  all  who  knew  her  as  friend  and  neighbor, 
who  leave  a  void  when  they  are  taken  away  which  no  one  else  can  fill, 
and  from  whose  place,  when  they  are  gone,  no  echo  comes,  but  all  is 
silent,  sad  and  sorrowful.  A  vvoman  of  gentle  mind  and  tender  heart, 
devoted  to  her  family,  and  always  careful  of  the  feelings  and  sensibil- 
ities of  others,  she  was  at  the  same  time  an  earnest  and  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  church,  one  who  strove  to  do  her  duty,  not  only  to  her 
family,  to  society  and  to  her  church,  but  to  her  Maker,  zealously  and 
sincerely,  as  she  saw  her  duty  in  the  light  of  the  noble  teachings  of 
the  Scriptures  ;  and  now  that  she  is  gone,  although  her  absence  here 
seems  a  misfortune  to  her  loved  ones  too  hard  to  bear,  yet  it  is  the 
consolation  of  consolations  that  she  so  lived,  that  she  is  not  lost  be- 
yond hope  to  those  who  knew  her,  but  that  she  has  only  gone  before  to 
light  their  pathway  to  Heaven  where  she  now  abides,  and  where  all  will 
meet  again  in  a  home  eternal,  where  partings  are  no  more  and  happi- 
ness is  unending.  She  left  eight  children  to  mourn  her  loss  and 
cherish  her  memory.  Their  names  are  :  Mary  E. ,  Sophronia  F. ,  James 
M.,  Susie  L.,  Richard  B.,  Martha  I.,  Augusta  M.  and  John  P.  Mr. 
Powell  is  a  meml)er  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Sue  City,  and  is  one  of 
its  leading  and  active  members.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  both  the 
McGee  and  La  Plata  lodges  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  and  has  filled  all 
the  stations  and  places  of  the  Blue  Lodge.  He  became  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order  in  1852,  at  Old  Bioomington. 


EAGLE    TOWNSHIP. 


JUDGE  ADEN  C.  ATTEBERRY 

(Section  28). 

This  old  and  respected  citizen  and  substantial  farmer  of  Eagle  town- 
ship was  born  in  Barren  county,  Ky.,  October  1,  1816.  His  parents 
were  William  Atteberry  and  wife,  nee  Mary  Miller,  both  natives  of 
that  State,  and  the  Judge  was  the  eldest  in  their  family  of  eleven 
children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  but  three  sons  and 
one  daughter  are  now  living.  The  Judge  was  only  a  year  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Howard  county,  but  10  years 
later  they  removed  to  Monroe  county,  12  miles  north-west  of  Paris, 
where  the  parents  made  their  permanent  home.  The  father  was  a 
man  of  strong  character  and  sterling  intelligence,  and  contributed  his 
full  share  toward  building  up  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  He 
died  about  1839.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1862.  Judge  Atte- 
berry grew  to  manhood  in  that  county,  and  was  there  married 
November  24,  1842,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Combs,  formerly  of  Bourbon 
county,  Ky.  Judge  Atteberry  lived  in  Monroe  county  until  1852, 
when  he  moved  to  Macon  county.  He  is  a  farmer  in  the  lat- 
ter   county    and    has    continued   that    occupation    with   good    sue- 


1042  .  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

cess.  The  Judge  has  a  fine  farm  of  220  acres,  situated  on  section  28 
in  Eagle  township,  and  is  otherwise  comfortably  situated.  A  man  of 
character  and  intelligence,  he  has  always  exercised  a  wholesome  and 
considerable  influence  on  those  around  him,  and  has  been  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leaders' in  his  part  of  the  county  in  public  affairs.  In  1863 
he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  county  court  in  that  office  and  served  with 
ability  and  credit  alike  to  the  county  and  to  himself  until  the  expiration 
of  his  term.  He  was  then  solicited  to  accept  the  office  again,  but  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  the  most  illustrious  men,  preferred  to  retire  to 
the  quiet  and  comforts  of  private  life,  and  thus  free  himself  from  all 
the  perplexing  duties  and  responsibilities  of  official  station.  The 
Judge  and  Mrs.  Atteberry  have  had  a  family  of  four  children  :  John 
J.  Crittenden,  born  October  9,  1853,  who  died  February  8,  1863,  a 
young  man  of  bright  promise  and  whose  loss  was  deeply  mourned  ; 
Samuel  Caldwell,  born  Octolier  5,  1848,  who  died  September  20, 
1862,  a  youth  of  many  estimaljle  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  and 
much  beloved  in  his  own  family  and  by  those  who  knew  him  ;  Mary 
T.,  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  Eri  Edmonds,  a  minister  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  of  Gentry  county,  Mo.,  and  Lou,  born  August  15,  1855  ; 
she  is  residing  at  home  with  her  parents.  The  Judge  and  Mrs.  Atte- 
berry are  worthy  and  consistent  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church. 

CHARLES  ATTERBURY,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  and  Farmer  and  Fine  Stock-raiser). 

Dr.  Atterbury  is  a  younger  brother  to  Judge  Aden  C.  Atteberry, 
whose  sketch  precedes  this.  Their  father,  William  Atterbury,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  December  11,  1785,  and  their  mother  in  the 
same  State,  August  10,  1795.  They  early  came  to  Kentucky  and  were 
married  in  Hardin  county  of  that  State,  November  10,  1811.  Their 
subsequent  removals  have  been  noted  in  the  sketch  of  Judge  Atte- 
berr3^  The  father  died  September  28,  1839,  and  the  mother  August 
12,  1862.  Of  their  family  of  11  children,  but  four  are  living :  the 
Judge,  the  Doctor,  Thomas  J.  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Bur- 
ton, of  Randolph  county.  Dr.  Atterbury  was  reared  to  a  farm  life, 
and  on  the  15th  of  June,  1856,  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  C,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  S.  C.  and  Isabella  Davidson,  of  this  county.  Her 
mother's  maiden  name  was  McClanahau ,  and  both  her  parents  were  from 
Tennessee.  They  came  to  Cooi)er  county.  Mo.,  in  1835,  and  10  years 
afterwards  came  to  Macon  county,  where  both  lived  until  their  death. 
Dr.  Atterbury  followed  farming  for  some  years  after  he  attained  his 
majority  and  then  studied  medicine.  He  commenced  the  practice  at  La 
Plata  in  1856,  and  took  a  course  in  the  Medical  College  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1858.  He  continued  practice  at 
La  Plata  with  a  single  year's  absence  while  practicing  in  Putman 
county,  until  1864,  and  then  removed  to  Greenview,  Meiiard  county, 
111.,  where  he  continued  the  practice  for  eight  years.  In  1872  he 
returned  to  Macon  county  and  located  on  his  present  farm.  Here  he 
has  continued  practicing  medicine  and  farming  up  to  the  present  time. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


1043 


He  has  a  o-ood  tarra  of  nearly  900  acres  and  makes  a  specialty  of  rais- 
ino-  fine  sfock.  He  has  a  small  herd  of  fine  short-horn  cattle,  a  lot  of 
Cotswold  sheep  and  a  stock  of  Poland-China  hogs.  He  also  has 
some  fine  English  Park  colts,  and  has  commenced  raismg  Clydesdale 
colts.  In  a  word,  he  is  one  of  the  progressive,  enterprismg  fine  stock 
men  of  the  county.  Dr.  Atterbury  and  wife  have  four  chddren,  but 
one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Alice,  born  February  22,  1857.  Bernice 
and  two  infants  are  deceased.  He  and  wife  are  both  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

.  JULIUS  M.  BOURK 

(Farmer). 
This  substantial  citizen  of  Eagle  township  is  a  native  of  Maine, 
born  in  Lincoln  (now  Kennebec )''county  April  8,  1818.  His  father, 
Cyrus  Bourk,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  of  that  State,  in  February,  1793, 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Ham,  was  born  in 
Bath,  of  the  same  State,  February  8,  1795.  They  were  married  in 
,  1815,  and  were  blessed  with  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  eight 
are  living:  Martha  A.,  the  wife  of  Nathan  Frost,  of  Stillwater,  Me.  ; 
Julius  m"^,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Asenath  C,  the  wife  of  W.  C. 
Whitmore,  of  Chicago  ;  Henrietta  H.,  the  wife  of  Peleg  Hall,  of  this 
county;  Charles  T.,  of  Wyoming;  Hannah  N.,  the  wife  of  Albert 
Darable,  of  Chicago  ;  David  F.,  of  Carroll  county.  Mo.,  and  Sarah  R., 
the  wife  of  James  S.  Mitchell,  of  Macon  City.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  in  Maine,  and  durins:  the  War  of  1812  was  a  soldier  in  the 
American  army.  He  died  March  11,  1848.  The  mother  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1875,  at  Macon  City. 

JEROME  F.  BRICKELL 

(Sections  33  and  84). 
Mr.  B.  is  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  progressive  tanners  in  Eagle 
township.  He  is  a  Northerner  by  family  and  bringing  up,  and  illus- 
trates in  his  methods  of  farming,  the  characteristics  which  have  made 
the  farmers  of  the  North  famous  throughout  the  Union  as  the  best 
farmers  in  the  country.  Mr.  Brickell  came  to  his  present  place  in 
the  fall  of  1869,  and  bought  his  land  unimproved.  He  has  improved 
it  in  first-class  style,  having  an  excellent  class  of  buildings,  good 
ponds,  hedo-e  fences  both  outside  and  cross,  good  fields,  pastures, 
meadows,  etc.  It  is  called  the  "  Model  Farm,"  and  is  well  entitled 
to  the  appellation.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  fine  short-horn 
cattle  and  other  good  stock,  including  Cotswold  sheep  and  PolandChina 
hoo-s  etc.  Mr.  Brickell  is  a  native  of  Michigan,  born  near  Niles,  in 
Ben-ien  county,  July  11,  1841.  His  father,  Thomas  J.,  has  for  many 
years  been  a  successful  business  man  of  Niles,  and  still  resides  near 
that  city.  His  mother  was  a  Miss  Elizabeth  Brickell,  originally  of 
Viro-inia  He,  however,  was  from  Ohio.  Both  are  still  living.  Je- 
rome F.  was  reared  at  Niles,  and  educated  at  the  Baptist  College  at 


1044  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Kalamazoo.  In  1858  he  went  to  California,  and  remained  there  for 
six  years.  While  there,  April  12,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Collier,  of  Sacramento.  Returning  to  Michigan  in  1864,  he  came 
to  this  State  live  years  afterwards,  as  stated  above.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brickell  have  had  a  family  of  three  children:  Edgar  J.,  Gertrude  S. 
and  Fred  L.  They  also  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Cora  V.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brickell  and  the  three  older  children  are  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Macon,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  Mr.  Brickell  has  been  elected  township  treasurer  for  four 
terms  in  succession,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly-respected  and 
prominent  citizens  of  the  county.  His  wife's  family  was  originally 
from  Boston,  Mass. 

JOHN  M.  BUNCH 

(Farmer  aucl  Stock-raiser) . 

The  Bunch  family  is  one  of  the  old  and  respected  families  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Bunch's  father,  Col.  »John  Bunch,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  November  26,  1800,  and  in  1823  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Oliver,  who  was  born  in  the  same  State  in  1805.  They  came 
to  Missouri  in  1825  and  located  in  Howard  county,  but  some  years 
afterwards  they  removed  to  Randolph  county,  and  a  little  later  along 
to  Macon  county,  settling  in  Independence  township,  where  they  made 
their  permanent  home.  Col.  Bunch  became  one  of  the  well-to-do  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  the  county,  a  successful  farmer  and 
widely  and  well  known  as  a  man  of  high  character  and  intelligence. 
He  died  on  his  farm,  in  Independence  township.  May  15,  1883,  hav- 
ing been  a  resident  of  the  county  for  nearly  half  a  century.  His 
widow,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  still  survives,  and  is  on  the  old 
homestead,  one  of  the  venerable  old  mothers  of  the  county.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Old  School  Baptist  Church  from  an  early  period 
of  their  lives.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
Avhom  ten  are  living :  Sarah,  widow  of  James  Morris  ;  Lucy,  the 
wife  of  John  B.  Epperson  ;  Joseph,  Lucinda,  the  wife  of  John  W. 
Bunch;  Eliza,  the  widow  of  Eld.  A.  Balmear ;  James,  of  Paris, 
Tex.  ;  Nancy,  the  wife  of  James  C.  Miles,  of  Adair  county  ;  Thomas 
B.,  of  Kirksville,  and  Benjamin  F.,  of  Sticklerville,  Sullivan  county, 
a  practicing  physician.  John  M.  Bunch,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Randolph  county,  June  11,  1838.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm  in  Macon  county,  and,  of  course,  became  a  farmer.  On  the 
29th  of  January,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ratliff. 
She  survived  her  marriage  11  j^ears,  dying  October  16,  1874,  leaving 
two  sons  and  two  daughters:,  Mary  H.,  Hardee,  Annie  L.  and 
Elvin.  Hardee  died  in  infancy.  March  16,  1875,  Mr.  Bunch  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Martha  F.,  the  widow  of  Benjamin  W.  Oliver  and 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  McGee,  of  this  county.  A  sketch 
of  William  McGee,  her  father,  appears  in  this  volume.  Mrs.  Bunch 
was  born  December  3,  1835.  By  her  former  union  there  are  three 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Edward  E.,  Luther,  Emma,  Joseph  and 
BeLtie.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  have  one  daughter,  born  June    4,  1877. 


HISTORY    OF    BIACON    COUNTY.  1045 

Mr.  Bunch  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1875,  and  is  eno-aofed  in 
raising  grain  and  stock  with  good  success.  He  is  a  man  of  industry 
and  an  enterprising  disposition,  a  wortliy  representative  of  the  old 
and  respected  family  of  which  he  is  a  member. 

THOMAS  A.  EAGLE,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  and  Miller). 
Prominently  among  those  whose  names  occupy  a  deservedly  hon- 
orable place  in  the  history  of  Macon  county,  stands  that  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  a  man  who  has  been  identified  with  the  county  for 
a  generation,  and  who  has  ever  taken  a  leading  part  in  all  movements, 
whether  industrial  or  otherwise,  calculated  to  promote  its  best  inter- 
ests. For  years  he  has  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  physicians 
in  the  county,  and  has  been  one  of  its  most  successful  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  ;  he  was  the  first  citizen  to  advocate  the  broad  and  en- 
lightened doctrine  of  free  labor  and  human  rights,  regardless  of  race 
or  color,  which  now  prevails  from  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other ; 
and  he  has  served  his  county  in  the  legislative  branch  of  State  gov- 
ernment, and  has  hold  the  ofllce  of  sheriff  and  other  positions;  the 
township  in  which  he  lives  new  bears  his  name,  which  was  given  to  it 
by  the  county  in  honor  of  his  long  and  useful  life  within  its  borders, 
and  in  appreciation  of  the  value  of  his  services  as  one  of  its  best  and 
foremost  citizens.  Thomas  A.  Eagle  was  born  in  Wayne  (now  Ash- 
land) county,  Ohio,  April  5,  1819.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  were  representatives  of  old  and  respected  families  in  that 
State.  William  Eagle  and  Rachel  Anderson  wer^^  married  in  1805, 
and  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  the  southern  part  of  that  State  in  1807. 
Two  years  afterwards  they  removed  to  Wayne  county,  and  settled  on 
the  Mohegan  river,  where  they  lived  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and 
reiyed  their  family.  Of  their  seven  children,  Thomas  A.  was  the 
youngest.  The  others  were  :  Isaiah,  who  died  August  2,  1839  ;  Ed- 
ward B.,  who  died  April  23,  1826;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Jonathan 
Montgomery,  of  Macon  City,  Mo.  ;  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  John 
Culbert^on,  of  Jefferson  county,  Iowa;  Nancy,  who  died  December, 
28,  1873,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Nayland,  of  Ohio,  and  Amelia  M., 
who  died  January  20,  1875,  whilst  the  wife  of  Adam  Gwinner,  of 
this  county.  The  father  was  a  substantial  farmer  of  Wayne  county, 
but  in  1856,  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  Amelia,  came  West  with  his 
son,  Dr.  Eagle,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  They  came  to  Missouri,  * 
and  stopped  for  a  while  at  Kirksville,  until  they  could  get  possession 
of  the  land  which  he  had  previously Jt)ought.  While  at  Kirksville  the 
father  died,  February  24,  1857.  Dr.  Eagle  soon  afterwards  settled 
on  his  present  farm  about  the  1st  of  April,  1857,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Dr.  Eagle  received  his  primary  education  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools  during  the 
winter  seasons,  but  during  the  summer  months  worked  on  the  farm. 
He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  G.  "W.  Howe,  of 
Ashland,  Ohio,  and  in  1842,  having,  in  the  meantime,  also  studied  at 


1046  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Mansfield,  he  entered  the  medical  college  at  Willoughbj,  where  he  at- 
tended a  course  of  lectures.  In  1842  he  emigrated  to  Fairfield, 
Iowa,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  where  he  practiced 
with  succe&s  for  two  j'^ears.  Dr.  Eagle  then  returned  to  Ohio  and 
entered  the  Medical  College  of  Cleveland,  from  which  he  graduated 
with  honor  in  the  spring  of  1847.  Immediately  following  this  Dr. 
Eagle  located  at  Mohegansville,  Ohio,  and  followed  his  profession 
therefor  about  five  years.  Meanwhile,  the  California  gold  excitement 
broke  out  and  he  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  distant  Midas-land  on 
the  Pacific  seas.  Accordingly,  in  1852,  he  shipped  for  the  Golden 
coast,  taking  passage  at  New  York  on  the  steamship  Brother  Jonathan 
to  the  Isthmus,  and  from  Panama  on  the  sail  vessel  Clarissa 
Andrews,  of  which  he  was  appointed  surgeon.  Landing  at  San  Fran- 
cisco after  a  voyage  of  65  days,  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  med- 
icine on  the  Pacific  coast,  but  becoming  dissatisfied,  returned  to 
Mohegansville,  Ohio,  the  following  year.  He  remained  at  that  place 
engaged  in  his  profession  until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Missouri,  as 
stated  above.  On  locating  in  this  county,  Dr.  Eagle  entered  at  once 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  also  had  the  improvement  of 
his  present  farm  commenced.  From  that  time  to  this  he  has  contin- 
ued in  the  active  practice  of  medicinle  without  interruption,  except 
while  occupied  with  public  duties,  and  with  success  and  increasing 
reputation.  From  the  beginning  he  has  commanded  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice,  and  still  permits  nothing  to  interfere  with  his  pro- 
fessional duties.  In  farm  and  business  affairs  he  has  also  been  abund- 
antly successful.  One  of  the  best  evidences  of  this  is  his  large  and 
handsome  farm,  which  contains  over  700  acres  of  fine  land  and  is  ex- 
ceptionally well  improved.  He  has  been  quite  successful  in  stock- 
raising,  and  has  also,  from  time  to  time,  been  identified  with  the 
milling  business.  He  and  Mr.  Gwinner  will  shortly  put  up  a  large 
grain  and  saw-mill,  which  will  be  the  fourth  one  with  which  he  has 
been  connected.  Dr.  Eagle  has  also  taken  an  intelligent  and  active 
interest  in  public  affairs.  From  the  beginning  he  was  a  free-soiler, 
believing  that  slave  labor  was  not  only  an  outrage  on  humanity  itself, 
but  was  even  injurious  to  the  white  race  and  the  slave  owner.  He 
was  therefore  in  favor  of  the  abolition  of  slavery  by  peaceable  means, 
and  on  the  basis  of  just  compensation  to  those  who  had  come  honestly 
by  their  slave  property.  If  the  advice  of  such  men  as  Dr.  Eagle  had 
been  followed  by  the  Southern  people,  the  war  with  all  its  attendant 
horrors  would  have  been  avoided,  and  the  South  would  not  have 
been  reduced  to  poverty  and  misery  as  it  was.  Dr.  Eagle  thus  be- 
lieving, advocated  his  principles  in  Macon  county  manfully  and  hon- 
estly, whenever  occasion  called  for  their  expression.  He  made  the 
first  free-soil  speech  ever  delivered  in  the  county.  This  was  at  Rambo 
school-house,  in  Ten  Mile  township,  in  the  fall  of  1857.  In  1860  he 
canvassed  the  counties  of  Macon,  Sullivan  and  Adair  for  the  Lincoln 
electoral  ticket,  and  held  joint  political  discussions  with  John  Foster, 
of  Kirksville,  and  Albert  Gilstrap  and  Henry  Beveir,  of  Bloomington, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1047 

at  clifFerent  points.  In  1868  Dr.  Eagle  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
sheritf,  and  in  1864  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  county  in  the  State 
Legislature,  both  of  which  offices  he  filled  with  honor  alike  to  him- 
self and  the  county.  Dr.  Eagle  has  always  been  a  strong  temperance 
man,  and,  in  fact,  has  been  a  teetotaler  from  boyhood,  both  as  to  the 
use  of  liquors  and  tobacco,  as  well  as  to  profane  language.  He  has 
long  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Dr.  Eagle  has  been 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  previously  Miss  Pauline  New- 
brough,  a  daughter  of  William  Newbrough,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Ashland  county,  Ohio.  They  were  married  September  21,  1858. 
She  died  July  1,  1866,  wdiile  on  a  visit  to  her  parents  in  Ohio.  She 
had  borne  him  five  children,  but  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  namely  : 
Paulina  Oddissa,  the  youngest,  who  is  now  a  young  lady  and  at 
home  with  her  father.  The  others,  Rachel,  Rowenna,  Jessie  F.  and 
William  C,  died  at  tender  ages.  To  his  present  wife,  previously 
Mrs.  Hattie  B.  Morey,  the  widow  of  Robert  C.  Morey,  who  lost  his 
life  in  the  service  of  the  Union,  he  was  married  May  12,  1868.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Jesse  J.  Hall,  of  Washington  county,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Eagle  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

DAVID    A.    FOSTER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  Foster,  a  worthy  citizen  of  Eagle  township,  was  born  in  Nich- 
olas county,  Ky.,  September  12, 1825.  His  father,  David  Foster,  was 
also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  the  family,  by  way  of  Tennessee,  was 
originally  from  South  Carolina.  Mr.  Foster's  mother  was  a  Miss 
Priscilla  G.  Piper,  whose  parents  came  from  the  Old  Dominion.  They 
had  five  children  :  James  L.,  now  of  Illinois  ;  Asberry,  of  California  ; 
David  A.,  Tabitha,  the  wife  of  O.  L.  Edwards,  of  Illinois,  and  Alex- 
ander, of  Kentucky.  David  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose 
parents  in  the  meantime  had  removed  to  Illinois,  was  married  in  that 
State  to  Miss  Angeline  Brown.  This  union  was  consummated  on  the 
4th  of  April,  1848.  By  this  marriage  there  were  four  daughters  and 
two  sons,  of  whom  but  two  are  living:  Docia  E.,  the  wife  of  Martin 
Muff,  and  Lewis  R.  The  mother  of  these  died  March  30,  1860.  Mr. 
Foster  consummated  his  second  marriage  July  23,  1860.  To  this 
union  were  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  there  are 
three  living  :  Lou  W.,  now  of  Portland,  Ore.  ;  Martha  L.  and  Clara  M. 
Mr.  Foster  came  to  Missouri  from  Macoupin  county.  111.,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  the  spring  of  1866,  where,  in  the 
language  of  the  well  known  Baptist  minister.  Rev.  Mr.  Cox,  "  he  has 
since  constantly  resided."  Mr.  Foster  has  a  good  farm  of  80  acres 
and  is  comfortably  situated  on  his  place.  During  the  war  he  served 
three  years  under  the  broad  aegis  of  the  Union.  He  enlisted  under 
Capt.  Ben  Lee,  of  Girard,  111.,  in  Co.  H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
second  infantry,  August  10,  1862.  He  was  in  many  engagements 
during  the  war,  the  last  one  being  the  battle  at  Mobile,  after  which 
he  was  honorably  discharged  July  15,  1865.  Mr.  Foster  is  a  worthy, 
61 


1048  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

good  farmer,  and  is  well  respected  by  the  community  at  large  and  the 
generality  of  those  who  know  him  as  Avell  as  all  who  have  had  dealings 
with  him. 

CHRISTIAN  FULMER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Fulmer  is  one  of  those  sturdy  German  characters,  honest,  in- 
telligent and  industrious,  so  many  of  whom  are  to  he  found  in  Missouri 
and  throughout  the  country,  men  who  have  done  their  full  share 
towards  developing  the  resources  of  the  country  and  making  the  com- 
munity of  which  they  are  members  prosperous  and  progressive.  Like 
most  of  our  worthy  German  fellow-citizens,  Mr.  Fulmer  has  been 
successful  in  life  and  now  has  350  acres  of  fine  land,  the  fruit  of  his 
own  toil  and  good  management.  He  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, September  13,  1806,  and  received  a  good  German  education  as 
he  grew  up.  He  was  one  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters 
of  John  Fulmer  and  wife,  Mary  Mulbach,  both  now  deceased.  Chris- 
tian Fulmer,  at  the  age  of  26,  in  1832,  came  to  America,  landing  at 
Baltimore,  and  here  he  worked  for  three  months  at  the  butcher's 
trade.  He  then  went  to  Marietta,  Penn.,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years  and  then  removed  to  High  Spire,  in  the  same  State,  going  from 
there  to  Cumberland  county  two  years  later,  and  after  a  year  at  the 
latter  place  he  went  to  Cambria  county,  making  that  his  home  until 
the  fall  of  1868.  From  Cambria  county,  Penn.,  Mr.  Fulmer  came  to 
Macon  county,  Mo.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  has  followed 
farming  for  a  number  of  years  and  with  the  success  indicated  above. 
Mr.  Fulmer  has  been  twice  married.  Once  before  leaving  his  native 
country  to  a  young  lady  who  died  some  years  afterwards.  One 
son,  Frederick,  by  this  marriage  is  now  living  in  Somerset  county, 
Penn.  April  18,  1833,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Heister,  of 
Lancaster  county,  Penn.  There  are  five  children  living  from  this 
union  :  John  G.,  of  Colfax  county.  Neb.  ;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Day,  of  this  county;  Margaret,  the  widow  of  Elbridge  Stiles,  of 
Shelby  comity;  Jacob,  of  Oil  City,  Penn.,  and  Isaac,  of  this  county. 
Mr.  Fulmer  and  his  son  Isaac  are  eno-ao-ed  in  farmino;  together.  He 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presl)yterian  Church. 
Isaac  Fulmer  is  a  member  of  the  Brothers  of  Philanthrophy. 

JOHN  S.  GOODDING 

(Section  20). 

This  substantial  and  industrious  farmer  of  Eagle  township  is  a 
brother  to  James  R.  Goodding,  whose  sketch  is  found  elsewhere,  and 
was  born  September  28,  1847.  After  he  grew  up,  on  the  11th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1873,  being  then  in  his  twenty-sixth  year,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  E.,  a  daughter  of  Solomon  C.  and  Matilda  S.  Milam.  A 
sketch  of  the  Milam  family  appears  in  the  biography  of  Dr.  Milam 
on  a  previous  page  of  this  book.  Mrs.  Milam's  father.  Judge 
Baker,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county.     For 


HISTORY.  OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1049 

two  terms  he  was  judge  of  the  county  court  and  held  other  local 
offices.  Mr.  Gooddhig  settled  on  his  farm  soon  after  his  marriage  and 
has  since  resided  on  this  place.  He  has  a  good  farm  of  160  acres  com- 
fortably and  substantially  improved.  He  also  has  160  acres  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Chariton  river.  He  handles  stock  to  quite  an  extent 
and  has  been  satisfactorily  successful.  In  a  word,  he  is  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  township  and  is  well  respected.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Goodding  have  had  a  family  of  five  children  :  James  E.,  Isaac  C, 
deceased;  Samuel  B.,  Nellie  M.  and  Laura  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South  at  Belleview,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

SAMUEL  A.  GOODDING 

(Farmer  aucl  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  G.,  a  brother  to  J.  S.  Goodding,  whose  sketch  precedes  this, 
was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead,  in  this  township,  on  a  part  of 
which  he  now  resides,  March  7,  1850.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  May  27,  1880,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Meadows,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Johanna  Mead- 
ows, who  resided  near  College  Mound.  She  Avas  born  April  4,  1854. 
Ml',  and  Mrs.  Goodding  have  two  children :  Mary  J.  and  Julia  M. 
Mrs.  Goodding  has  a  good  farm  of  213  acres  and  is  one  of  the  intelli- 
gent, go-ahead  young  farmers  of  the  county.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church  South  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  The  history  of  his  father's  family  has  been  fully  given  in  the 
preceding  pages  of  this  book.  Young  Mr.  Goodding  has  shown  him- 
self to  be  one  of  the  coming  farmers  of  the  county.  With  the 
excellent  start  he  has  and  with  his  industry  and  intelligent  system  of 
management,  he  can  hardly  ftiil  to  take  a  position  among  the  lead- 
ing farmers  in  the  course  of  a  few  years.  His  wife  is  a  lady  of 
many  estimable  qualities  and  is  much  esteemed  among  her  neighbor 
friends. 

ADAM  GWINNER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Gwinner  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  Bavaria,  August  21, 
1824.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  country  and  received  the  education 
common  to  the  youths  of  Bavaria  of  his  station  in  life.  At  the  age  of 
21  he  entered  the  German  army,  in  which  he  served  a  term  of  six 
years.  In  1853  he  came  to  America,  and  having  friends  at  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  proceeded  directly  to  that  place.  He  remained  in  South 
Bend  about  three  years,  but  his  health  failing  on  account  of  the  se- 
verity of  the  climate,  he  concluded  to  come  to  the  South-west  and  locate 
in  Kansas.  Finally,  however,  he  settled  in  Macon  county,  Mo.,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  rented  land  and  farmed  for  a  year,  but 
after  that  engaged  in  milling  with  Dr.  Thomas  A.  Eagle,  which  he 
continued  up  to  1860.  Resuming  farming,  he  has  since  followed  it 
almost  continuously  and  has  been  quite  successful.     He  has  an  excellent 


1050  HISTORY   OF   MACON.  COUNTY 

farm  of  nearly  300  acres,  which  he  has  well  improved.  Mr.  Gwinner  is 
one  of  the  industrious,  enterprising  farmers  of  the  township.  He  and 
Dr.  Eao-le  are  now  making  arrangements  for  the  erection  of  a  grain 
and  saw  mill,  which  they  will  soon  put  up.  On  the  15th  of  April, 
1855,  Mr.  Gwinner  was  married  in  Indiana  to  Miss  Margaret  Gottsman, 
formerly  of  Germany.  She  survived  her  marriage,  however,  less 
than  a  year,  dying  January  18,  1856,  having  been  preceded  to  the 
ijrave  by  an  infant  daughter.  Mr.  Gwinner's  second  wife  was  previ- 
ously Miss  Amelia  M.  Eagle,  who  died  in  1875,  without  issue.  To  his 
present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Mary  A.  Roemer,  he  was  married  March 
16,  1876.  They  have  one  daughter,  Resia  A.,  born  July  12,  1881. 
Mr.  Gwinner's  parents  were  Peter  J.  and  Catherine  (Human)  Gwin- 
ner. They  had  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  four  are  living: 
Mary,  the  widow  of  Hoboken  Feight,  of  Wisconsin  ;  John,  of  this 
county  ;  Adam,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  and  George,  of  Eagle 
township. 

SAMUEL  C.  HAMILTON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  H.  is  a  man  who,  though  as  Mr.  Cox  says,  boasts  no  classical 
education,  is  yet  a  man  of  sound  intelligence  and  a  fair  knowledge  of 
books,  and  possesses  that  clear  insight  into  affairs  which  never  fails  to 
make  one  successful  and  influential  in  whatever  pursuit  he  engages. 
Born  January  7,  1820,  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  he  received  a  good 
common  English  education  and  became  a  farmer,  a  calling  in  which 
he  has  been  satisfactorily  successful,  and  he  has  also  obtained  some 
prominence  in  his  part  of  the  county,  having  served  as  township 
clerk, 'and  is  now  township  collector.  He  is  a  substantial,  good  citi- 
zen, respected  b}^  all  who  know  him.  His  farm  contains  240  acres 
and  his  improvements  are  of  a  good  class.  His  father,  Joseph  H. 
Hamilton,  born  March  13,  1799,  is  still  living  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  son,  Samuel  C.  His  wife,  Samuel  C.'s  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Nancy  Kiggin,  born  January  10,  1802,  died  March 
2,  1864.  They  were  married  December  31,  1818,  and  came  to  Macon 
county,  Mo.,  in  1846,  Samuel  C.  having  preceded  them  to  this  county 
three  years.  He  was  married  February  20,  1845,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.. 
Blackwell.  They  have  had  eight  children  :  Nancy  A.,  now  the  wife 
of  J.  S.  Hogue  ;  William  J.,  now  of  Macon  county  ;  James  H.,  now 
of  East  Portland,  Ore.  ;  Sidney  F.,  now  of  Jacksonville,  Mo.  ;  Charles 
L.,  now  of  Washington  Teri:itory  ;  Samuel  C.  R.,  now  of  Montana; 
Mary  E.  and  Robert  E.,  now  of  Macon  county.  Elizabeth  Black- 
well,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hamilton,  born  in  Henrico  county, 
Va.,  August  22,  1800,  is  now  living  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  S.  C. 
Hamilton. 

STEPHEN  B.  HANNA 

(Farmer). 

Alexander  Hanna,  Stephen  B.'s  tather,  was  a  native  of  Harper 
county,  Md.     He  married  Mary  Wilson,  of  Beaver  county,  Penu., 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1051 

and  settled  in  the  latter  county,  where  he  followed  ftirming.  They 
had  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  but  four  are  living  :  Stephen 
B.,  Lee  R.,  of  Pennsylvania;  Elizabeth,  of  Ohio  county,  Ind.,  and 
Cynthia,  of  the  same  county.  The  mother  died  in  Ohio  county, 
Ind.,  in  1873,  to  which  they  had  removed,  and  the  father  died  there 
three  years  later.  Stephen  B.  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Penn., 
March  1,  1826.  He  was  reared  to  a  farm  life.  August  5,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  G,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war.  For  48  days  he  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg 
and  was  there  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  the  place.  He  was  also 
at  the  capture  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  both  times,  being  retaken  by  the 
Confederate  and  recaptured  by  the  loyal  soldiers  of  the  Union. 
January  5,  1865,  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability 
upon  the  surgeon's  certificate  to  that  effect,  having,  however,  nearly 
served  his  time  out.  Since  that  time  he  has  drawn  a  pension  regu- 
larly from  the  Government ;  up  to  1883  at  the  rate  $8  per  month  ;  and 
since  1883  at  the  rate  of  $24.  October  1,  1868,  Mr.  Hanna,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Blackwell,  of  this  county,  he  having  previously 
removed  to  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanna  have  no  children.  Mrs. 
Hanna  was  a  daughter  of  Charles  Blackwell,  of  this  county,  who  died 
July  20,  1882.  Her  mother  still  resides  on  the  old  Blackwell  home- 
stead. Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South, 
and  he  of  the  G.  A.  R.     His  farm  contains  60  acres. 

OLIVER  HATLER 

(Post-offlce,  Atlanta). 

Mr.  H.  is  one  of  the  old  citizens  and  well-to-do,  successful  farmers 
of  Eagle  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Allen 
county,  February  16,  1824.  His  father  was  Michael  Hatler,  origin- 
ally of  South  Carolina,  but  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
E.  Bracken,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Of  the  family  of  four  son* 
and  three  daughters,  only  Oliver,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  now 
living.  Both  parents  are  also  deceased.  Oliver  Hatler  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  1841  and  located  in  Eagle  (then  Liberty)  township.  Here, 
six  years  afterwards,  February  7,  1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susan 
Z.  Belmear.  Mr.  Hatler's  first  wife  died  April  18,  1867,  leaving  him 
two  children  :  Harriet  Z.,  the  wife  of  Wilhelm  VanTilberg,  of  Col- 
orado, and  Martin  L.,  of  this  county.  September  22,  1857,  Mr. 
Hatler  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  D.  Lyda,  a  daughter  of  Gideon 
Lyda,  for  whom  Lyda  township,  in  this  county,  was  named.  By  his 
last  marriage  Mr.  Hatler  has  four  children:  Celia  A.,  the  wife  of 
Lewis  R.  Foster;  Leonard  P.,  Elvina  C,  resident  of  the  town  of 
Home  Circle,  and  Isaac  L.  Mr.  Hatler  has  followed  farming  in  this 
township  from  the  time  he  first  settled  here,  away  back  in  1841,  for  a 
period  now  of  43  years.  He  has  long  lived  on  his  present  farm, 
which  is  known  as  the  Hatler  farm,  containing  340  acres.  His  life 
has  been  such  with  regard  both  to  industry  and  upright  conduct  that 
he  is  now  comfortably  situated  and  enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence 


1052  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

of  all  who  know  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  at  Shiloh  ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M. 

WILLIAM  J.  HUGHES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  H.  is  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  100  acres  of  good  prairie 
land  and  10  acres  of  timber,  all  in  Eagle  township,  on  the  former  of 
which  he  has  his  farm  and  homestead,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged 
in  farming.  Mr.  Hughes  has  a  good  farm  on  which  he  raises  annually 
about  30  acres  of  corn  and  cuts  some  15  acres  of  meadow.  He 
handles  from  15  to  20  head  of  cattle  and  from  10  to  15  head  of  hogs, 
besides  having  a  flock  of  about  60  head  of  fine  sheep.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Belleview  M.  E.  Church  South.  He  is  a  brother  to 
Jerome  Hughes,  whose  sketch  has  already  been  written,  and  in  that 
the  genealogy  of  the  family  has  been  given,  so  that  it  is  unnecessary 
to  say  anything  on  that  score  in  this  article.  Mr.  Hughes,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  August  9,  1844,  and  was  reared  up  a  farmer, 
an  occupation  he  has  ever  since  followed.  On  the  24th  of  December, 
1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Willis,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  Willis,  of  Morrow  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes 
have  a  family  of  four  daughters  :  Gertrude  Maude,  Mabel  L.,  Clara 
M.  and  Kate  M.  Mrs.  Hughes  is  also  a  member  of  the  Belleview  M. 
E.  Church  South.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  are  well  thought  of  by  their 
neighbors  and  acquaintances  and  are  earnest  in  the  interest  they  take 
in  the  church.  They  are  hospitable  neighbors  and  kind  to  all  with 
whom  they  come  in  contact. 

JEROME  HUGHES 

(Section  22). 

One  of  those  industrious,  intelligent  Northern  farmers,  so  many  of 
whom  have  settled  in  this  county  since  the  war,  is  Mr.  Hughes.  He 
was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State,  May  29,  1854,  and  came  to  Missouri 
with  his  parents  in  1859.  His  father,  Thomas  L.  Hughes,  and  his 
mother,  Adeline  Roberts,  were  both  born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  in  which 
State  they  were  married  and  lived  until  their  removal  to  Macon 
county,  Mo.,  in  1869.  They  settled  in  Eagle  township,  where  the 
father  died.  May  5,  1878,  and  the  mother  December  31,  1882.  Both 
were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South  at  Bellview.  The  father 
was  an  enterprising  farmer  and  had  a  good  farm  in  this  county.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children  :  Louisa  J.,  William,  Margaret,  the  wife 
of  John  Love;  Jerome,  Elmer,  a  teacher  at  Macon  City,  and  Thomas 
H.,  the  latter  of  whom  died  from  being  accidently  shot.  Jerome 
Hughes,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  15  years  of  age  when  the 
family  settled  in  Macon  county,  and  completed  his  majority  in  the 
county.  December  30,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jeanette  Stone, 
a  daughter  of  Hiram  S.  and  Lean  Stone,  of  this  county.  Mr.  Hughes, 
who  had  already  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account,  continued 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1053 

in  that  occupation,  and  has  since  followed  it  with  good  success.  He 
has  120  acres  of  land,  20  of  timber  and  the  balance  in  prairie,  which 
is  mostly  in  cultivation.  He  raises  grain  and  stock  in  a  general  way, 
and  is  makino-  o-ood  progress  as  a  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Huo:hes 
have  two  children  living  :  Inez  and  Blair.  Two  are  deceased  :  John 
N.  and  Leannie.  Mrs.  Hughes  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church. 

WILLIAM  McGEE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  McGee,  whose  father  was  also  named  William,  and  whose 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Low,  both  originally  of  North 
Carolina,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  December  14,  1813,  and  was  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  four  children,  the  others  being  Nancy,  Andrew 
and  Sarah,  who  are  now  deceased.  The  father  died  when  our  subject 
was  in  infancy,  and  the  mother  afterwards  married  Herman  Reed,  of 
Kentucky.  She  died  there  in  1828.  William  McGee  grew  up  in 
Kentucky,  and  December  4,  1833,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Moore.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Kentucky  for  16  years  after  his 
marriage,  but  in  1849  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Eagle  township  of 
Macon  county.  He  has  since  continued  to  reside  in  this  township, 
and  is  highly  respected.  Some  years  ago  he  was  elected  magistrate, 
but  declined  to  serve.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church  at  Macon  City.  They  had  a  family  of  10  children, 
six  daughters  and  four  sons,  of  whom  but  five  are  living,  namely  : 
Martha  E.,  wife  of  John  Bunch;  Anna  T.,  wife  of  A.  J.  Terrell; 
William  J.,  public  administrator  of  the  county;  Isaac  M.  and  Ermine, 
wife  of  J.  M.  Day.  The  deceased  were:  Sarah  S.,  who  died  while 
the  wife  of  James  Ashurst ;  Caroline,  who  died  whilst  the  wife  of 
John  Quinn  ;  Aden  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  24;  Emma,  Election 
P.  and  Mary  S.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

DANIEL  MELVILLE 

(Section  21). 
Mr.  M.,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  citizens  and  industrious  farmers 
of  Eagle  township,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  township  since  1870, 
prior  to  which  time  he  had  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth, 
being  a  master  spinner  by  trade,  one  of  the  best  of  his  craft  in  the 
country.  He  retired  from  work  in  the  factory  on  account  of  failing 
health,  which  resulted  from  close  confinement  and  impure  air  incident 
to  his  business.  Mr.  Melville  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  Glas- 
gow, April  23,  1826.  His  father,  Alexander  Melville,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  country,  and  his*  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Clark,  was  from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  by  descent.  There  were 
six  sons  and  three  daughters  in  their  family,  of  whom  five  are  living. 
Both  parents  died  at  Glasgow.  Daniel  Melville  was  reared  in  his 
native  citv,  and  in  1845  came  to  Canada  with  his  uncle  by  marriage, 


1054  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

John  Wallace,  He  lived  in  the  Dominion  until  1848,  when  he  located 
at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  in  the  iron  works  of  Peter  Burton 
for  nearly  two  years.  He  then  entered  the  Ogden  Cloth  Mills,  and  for 
seven  years  had  charge  of  what  is  termed  a  pair  of  "  spinning  mules  " 
or  **  jenneys,"  having  previously  learned  the  spinner's  trade  in  his 
native  country.  While  there  such  was  the  superiority  of  his  skill  that 
he  was  selected  to  spin  the  yarn  which  was  to  be  exhibited  at  the 
World's  Fair  in  New  York.  Mr.  Melville  worked  at  his  trade  almost 
continuously  up  to  1870,  when  he  came  to  Macon  county.  He  has 
been  married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Lackey, 
of  Cohoes  Falls,  N.  Y.  She  survived  her  marriage  but  a  short  time, 
leaving  a  son,  Robert,  now  of  this  county.  His  second  wife  was  Miss 
Davidson,  of  the  same  place.  She  died  in  1875.  The  only  child 
living  of  this  union,  a  daugher,  Julia,  who  is  married,  now  resides 
in  Iowa.  Mr.  Melville's  present  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Lizzie 
Dimick,  of  Macon  county.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Mel- 
ville's farm  contains  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  section  of  land  and  is 
substantially  improved.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church. 

JOSEPH  GATES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

This  country  was  settled  originally  by  the  people  of  England 
mainly,  and  it  was  English  blood  and  brain  and  English  patriotism 
and  love  of  liberty  transplanted  into  the  New  World,  that  won  Amer- 
ican Independence  and  established  here  the  best  government  the 
world  ever  saw.  It  is  therefore  gratifying  to  see  amid  the  flood-tides 
of  foreign  immigration  that  are  crowding  upon  our  shores.  English- 
men have  not  ceased  to  come.  They  are  the  nationality  that  we  most 
want.  Mr.  Gates  is  a  worthy  representative  of  the  sterling  English 
race  who  first  colonized  this  country.  He  came  to  America  in  1867, 
and  settled  in  Macon  county  in  1869.  Mr.  Gates  has  since  resided  in 
this  county,  except  for  a  period  of  four  years,  during  which  he  was 
in  Illinois.  He  purchased  his  present  farm  in  1881.  Here  he  has 
320  acres  of  fine  land.  He  raises  grain  principally,  but  also  has  con- 
siderable stock.  Mr.  Gates  is  one  of  the  thorough-going  farmers  of 
the  township,  and  is  steadily  advancing  in  the  accumulation  of  prop- 
erty. He  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  March  24,  1842,  and  was 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  (Torry)  Gates,  both  of  old  English  families. 
There  were  five  daughters  and  three  sons  in  their  family,  but  four  of 
whom,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  are  living;  but  none  of  them, 
except  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  left  England.  After  coming  to  this 
county  Mr.  Gates  was  married  Gctober  20,  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  C. 
McWilliams,  of  Macon  county.  She  died  of  consumption,  November 
8,  1880,  leaving  him  a  son,  Thomas  J.,  now  seven  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Gates  has  not  since  remarried. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1055 


J.  BRADLEY  THOMPSON 

(Section  28). 

Mr.  T.,  who  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  360  acres,  and  is  one  of  the 
respected  citizens  of  the  township,  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Ky., 
July  31,  1807,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Thompson,  born  in  North 
Carolina,  February  24,  1784,  and  Matilda  S.  Thompson,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Bradley,  born  in  Virginia,  October  8,  1785.  They 
were  married  October  2,  1806,  and  J.  Bradley  was  the  eldest  of  their 
ftimily  of  11  children,  six  daughters  and  five  sons,  of  whom  five  are 
living,  the  others  besides  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  Richard  D., 
now  of  Cass  county,  III.  ;  Samuel  B.,  of  the  same  county;  Sarah  J., 
the  widow  of  William  Boston,  also  of  that  county;  Matilda  J.,  the 
widow  of  Thomas  Richardson,  of  Kansas.  The  father  died  April  26, 
1835,  and  the  mother  October  5,  1851.  They  removed  to  Cass 
county,  111.,  in  an  early  day.  J.  Bradley  continued  to  reside  in  that 
county  until  1876,  when  he  bought  his  present  farm  in  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  and  removed  to  this  place.  He  has  been  twice  married;  his 
first  wife  was  Rosanna,  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Canby,  of  Illinois. 
She  died  January  28,  1858.  There  were  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter by  this  union,  of  whom  three  are  living :  John  L.,  now  of  South- 
ern Missouri;  Lucy  H.,  now  the  wife  of  John  Baird,  of  Ohio,  and 
Francis  M.,  of  Washington  Territory.  To  his  present  wife  Mr. 
Thompson  was  married  May  14,  1858.  She  was  Mrs.  Mary  Carper, 
the  widow  of  John  M.  Carper.  By  this  union  there  have  been  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  four  are  living:  Samuel  T.,  at 
home  with  his  father ;  Robert  McC,  of  Dixon,  III.,  now  attending  the 
University  ;  Emma  D.,  at  home,  and  Abraham  L.,  also  at  home.  Mr. 
Thompson,  in  his  time,  has  been  a  farmer  of  extraordinary  energy 
and  industry,  and  quite  successful.  Though  77  years  of  age,  he  is 
still  well  preserved,  and  would  hardly  be  taken  to  be  more  than  60. 
He  is  a  man  who  is  respected  by  all  who  know  him,  for  in  character 
he  is  upright,  he  is  kind  and  accommodating,  and  his  good  name  has 
ever  been  without  a  breath  of  reproach. 

RICHARD  WHITEHEAD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  W.,  who  owns  a  good  farm  of  140  acres  in  Eagle  township, 
comes  of  an  ancient  and  respected  English  family.  His  grandfather, 
John  S.  Whitehead,  was,  for  many  years,  clerk  of  theDimm  Church, 
in  the  shire  of  Kent,  England,  of  the  Established  Church  of  that 
country.  There  were,  in  his  family,  five  boys  and  five  girls.  He 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  108.  Mr.  Whitehead's  father  was  John 
S.  Whitehead,  born  in  l^ent,  England,  March  2,  1796.  In  1819  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Charlotta  Law,  a  relative  of  the- celebrated  John 
Law,  of  French  assignat  fiime.  By  this  union  there  were  10  children, 
four  boys  and  six  girls,  of  whom  but  five  are  living.     The  parents, 


1056  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

with  their  fiimily  of  chiUlren,  caine  to  America  in  1827,  and  settled  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  The  father  afterwards  returned  to  England 
with  his  family,  but  became  dissatisfied  with  his  native  country  and 
came  back  to  America,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  on  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic.  He  died  atUtica,  N.  Y.,  July  8,  1875.  His  five  sur- 
viving children  all  live  in  this  country,  namely:  John  S.,  in  Macon 
county,  Mo.;  Jeremiah  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  ;  Richard,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch ;  Mary,  the  widow  of  Henry  Barby,  now  in  Chicago,  and 
William,  of  this  county.  Richard  Whitehead,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  married  June  7,  1842,  to  Miss  Stazzie  Sears,  of  New  York 
City.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Canada,  and  her  mother  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Both  died  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  In  1855  Mr.  Whitehead 
came  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Palmyra,  and  in  1858  removed  to 
Macon  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  first  filled  con- 
tracts with  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company,  for 
supplying  timber  for  bridges  and  telegraph  poles.  Afterwards  he 
en^acjed  in  farmino;,  which  he  has  since  followed.  He  has  held  the 
offices  of  magistrate,  township  treasurer  and  school  director,  and  is 
highly  respected.  He  and  his  good  wife  have  had  13  children, 
namely  :  Mary  E.,  who  died  in  1880,  whilst  the  wife  of  S.  S.  Greer, 
leaving  a  family  of  five  children  ;  Redman,  now  living  with  his  father, 
was  a  student  of  McGee  College,  and  is  a  minister  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  of  Kirksville  Presbytery  ;  Charlotte,  the 
wife  of  Samuel  W.  Allen  ;  Rachel  S.,  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  Wilson, 
of  Oberlin,  Kan.,  minister  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church  ; 
John  S.,  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio  ;  William,  a  farmer  in  Macon 
county;  Charles  H.,  studying  for  the  ministry  at  Park  College,  of 
Platte  county.  Mo.  ;  Stazzie  A.,  Ermine  A.  P.,  the  wife  of  B.  H. 
Wiggans  ;  Abram  L.,  Sallie  A.  A.,  Richard  L.  and  George  W.  Mr. 
Whitehead  and  wife  and  eight  of  their  children  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Stazzie  A.,  their  fourth  daughter, 
who  was  for  fiv«  years  an  invalid,  and  whose  recovery  was  despaired 
of  for  nearly  four  years,  was  suddenly  restored  to  health  on  the  3d 
of  February,  1881,  by  the  prayers  of  faith,  as  promised  in  James,  v: 
14,  15,  which  say:  "Is  any  sick  among  you?  Let  him  call  for  the 
elders  of  the  church  ;  and  let  them  pray  over  him,  annointing  him 
with  oil  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  and  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save 
the  sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up  ;  and  if  he  have  committed 
sins,  they  shall  be  forgiven  him."  Whatever  Mill  and  Tyndall  and 
Darwin  and  Spencer,  and  all  the  rest,  may  say  about  miracles,  this 
shows  that  the  power  of  faith  is  still  potent  for  good  on  the  earth. 
The  following  is  a  true  statement  of  the  facts  as  they  took  place,  stated 
in  a  letter  to  his  children  in  Kansas  : — 

Macon,  Mo.,  Feb.  6,  1881. 

Dear  Children:  We  are  all  well.  We  will  seud  you  good  news  which  will  be  to 
you  ^reat  joy. 

We  are  holdiag  a  protracted  meeting  at  Liberty  Church.  It  commenced  the  fourth 
Sabbath  in  January,  conducted  by  Bros.  Pool,  Blosser  and  Redmou  Whitehead.  The 
Lord  has  been  in  our  midst  and  is  still  with  us.  We  can  not  And  words  to  express 
our  gratitude  to  him  for  what  he  has  done  for  Adah. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1057 

At  our  morning  meeting  on  the  2d  of  this  month,  also  at  the  evening  meeting 
of  the  same  day,  I  made  a  request  that  every  child  of  God  would,  to-morrovF  morn- 
ing at  8  o'clock,  join  with  us  in  prayer  to  God  with  faith  believing  that  he  would 
restore  Adah  to  health  again. 

On  February  3d  we  deferred  family  prayers  till  after  breakfast.  While  at  the  table 
Uncle  William  came  in;  asked  if  we  had  said  anything  to  Adah  about  the  request  I 
had  made  for  prayer.  I  said  no,  you  go  and  tell  her.  He  did  so  while  we  were  eating 
aud  we  soon  left  the  table.  T  then  took  all  the  family  with  me  in  the  middle  room. 
I  then  stated  to  them  the  request  that  I  had  made  for  special  prayer  for  Adah  that  she 
might  be  restored  to  health.  I  then  called  the  attention  of  all  to  the  reading  of  the  13th, 
14th,  loth  and  16th  verses  of  the  fifth  chapter  of  James.  We  felt  that  God  was  with 
us.  We  all  with  one  accord  knelt  in  the  presence  of  God,  feeling  that  He  would 
grant  the  request,  Uncle  William  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  mother  at  the  head,  I  in  the 
middle  near  the  stove,  the  rest  close  at  hand.  Uncle  William  led  in  prayer,  then  my- 
self, then  mother  continued,  and  Adah  was  praying  earnestly  that  God  would  help 
her  to  believe  that  he  would  heal  her  now.  Here  she  bounded  out  of  bed  embracing 
me,  saying,  "Jesus  has  healed  me  right  now."  She  ran  from  one  t©  the  other,  em- 
bracing and  saying,  "  I  am  healed  — Jesus  has  healed  me."  I  then  looked  at  the  clock 
and  it  was  10  minutes  past  8  o'clock. 

She  took  her  place  at  the  table  for  dinner  the  same  day,  and  has  ever  since  enjoyed  her 
food  and  mingling  with  the  family  around  the  house.  There  is  a  large  number  already 
come  to  see  her.  She  meets  them  at  the  door  and  says,  "  I  am  healed.  The  Great 
Physician  Jesus  has  healed  me.  Give  your  heart  to  him;  he  will  save  you  from  all 
sins." 

Lo !  I  have  these  many  years  prayed  that  she  might  mingle  with  us  around  the 
family  altar.  The  next  morning  we  realized  that  our  prayer  was  answered.  She  led 
us  in  prayer. 

She  received  your  letter  yesterday.  The  two  doctors  who  treated  her  last  have  seen 
her  and  say  she  is  sound.    For  the  last  year  she  has  kept  her  bed  all  the  time. 

From  your  father  and  mother,  who  are  thankful  to  God  for  this  great  blessing. 

Richard  Whitehead. 


LYDA  TOWJ^SHIP. 


ALBEET  M.  ATTEBERY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser.)  f 

Miv  A.  was  born  in  Woodford  county,  III.,  November  9,  1841.  His 
parents,  William  P.  Attebery  and  Susanah  A.  Glazebrook,  were  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  but  removed  to  Woodford  county.  III.,  in  about 
1828.  In  1856  they  moved  again,  settling  in  Macon  county,  near 
Vienna,  where  he  owned  a  very  fine  farm  of  about  600  acres.  In 
1868  Mr.  A.  bought  a  farm  in  Knox  county,  upon  which  he  lived  until 
his  death,  April  27,  1877.  A.  M.  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm,  and 
received  a  good  education,  first  at  the  common  schools,  and  afterwards 
at  the  Eureka  Academy  and  Eureka  College,  in  Eureka,  Woodford 
county.  III.,  at  which  institution  he  remained  about  eight  years.  At 
the  age  of  19  he  began  to  teach,  but  after  two  years  studied  photog- 
raphy, and  in  1861  went  into  the  business  at  Macon.  The  next  year, 
the  air  being  full  of  the  alarms  of  war,  Mr.  Attebery  went  to  Illinois, 
and  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois  infantry.  He 
was  detailed  almost  at  once  to  the  commissary  department,  and 
served  for  a  few  months  as  assistant  regimental  commissary,  was  then 


1058  HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

promoted,  and  shortly  afterward  again  promoted  to  the  first  lieuten- 
ancy of  Co.  K,  same  regiment,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  he 
was  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865.  He  took  part  in  the  following 
fights:  Chickasaw  Bayou,  Arkansas  Post,  Grand  Gulf,  Port  Gibson, 
Champion's  Hill,  Black  River,  Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Guntown  Raid, 
Siege  of  Mobile,  and  many  smaller  engagements  and  skirmishes. 
After  his  discharge  Mr.  A.  returned  to  Macon  county  and  entered  the 
arena  of  mercantile  life.  He  Avas  engaged  in  business  both  at  Vienna 
and  Atlanta  for  about  18  months,  then  sold  out  and  went  to  farm- 
ing. He  came  on  his  present  farm  January  25,  1870,  and  owns  330 
acres  of  land  one  mile  east  of  Atlanta,  280  fenced  in  meadow,  pasture 
and  cultivation.  His  farm  is  well  improved,  containing  good  buildings, 
including  tenant  house  and  a  fine  orchard.  Mr.  Attebery  married, 
January  19,  1870,  Miss  Jennetta,  daughter  of  Martin  Attebery,  for- 
merly from  Kentucky,  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Macon  county. 
There  are  two  children  :  Phradie  and  Claudie.  Mr.  A.  is  a  Democrat, 
and  has  held  several  offices  in  the  township.  He  was  for  eight  3^ears 
assessor,  and  has  been,  since  1881,  township  collector.  He  has  been 
chosen  many  times  as  delegate  to  the  county  convention,  and  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Atlanta  lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  for  about  15 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  are  members  of  tlie  Christian  Church,  and 
have  the  cordial  respect  and  good  will  of  all  who  know  them. 

L.  J.  ATTERBURY. 

(Post-offlce,  Atlanta). 

Mr.  Atterbury  was  born  on  the  farm  where  the  town  of  Atlanta, 
Macon  county,  Mo.,  is  now  situated,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1845.  His 
father,  Seaman  Atterbury,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  moved  with  his  pa- 
rents when  a  child  of  eight  years,  to  Illinois,  and  passed  his  early  life 
near  Galesburg.  At  the  age  of  18  the  family  removed  to  Monroe 
county.  Mo.,  ^here  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  charming  young 
lady  by  the  name  of  Nancy  G.  Weatherford,  of  Kentucky,  to  yvhom 
he  was  married.  After  living  there  several  years  he  moved  to  Iowa, 
settling  in  Davis  county,  near  the  present  site  of  the  town  of  Bloom- 
field,  where  he  lived  six  years.  Not  satisfied,  he  returned  with  his 
family  to  Missouri  in  1845,  and  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm  in 
Macon  county,  and  there  he  still  lives.  He  lost  his  first  wife  in  1852, 
and  subsequently  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Dabney,  also  from  Kentucky. 
By  the  first  mariage  there  were  seven  children  :  two  girls  and  five  boys  ; 
of  these  L.  J.  was  the  fifth  child,  all  now  married.  There  were  three 
boys  by  his  deceased  wife,  there  being  10  children.  All  are  living  ; 
the  youngest  is  25  years  old.  L.  J.  grew  up  in  the  county  on  a  farm, 
and  was  educated  partly  at  the  common  schools  and  partly  by  himself. 
When  the  war  began  he  was  but  a  boy  of  16,  but  enlisted  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  stars  and  stripes  in  the  Twenty-second  Missouri  infantry, 
afterwards  consolidated  with  and  known  as  the  Tenth  Missouri  in- 
fantry, under  the  brave  Col.  Samuel  A.  Holmes,  of  St.  Louis.  He  served 
until  1864,  part  of  the  time  as   musician.     He  was   in   many  fights, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  lOoi) 

the  principal  of  wliich  are  luka  and  Corinth,  Miss.,  Yazoo  Pass  Ex- 
pedition, Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Raymond,  Port  Gibson,  Jackson, 
Champion's  Hill,  Chattanooga,  Mission  Ridge  and  Stony  Point,  Tenn., 
this  being  his  last  general  engagement  of  any  consequence.  At  Cor- 
inth he  received  a  slight  gunshot  wound  in  the  hip,  but  served  his 
country  until  his  term  of  service  expired,  and  then  was  discharged 
and  went  home.  The  war  not  being  over,  he  remained  home  two 
months,  and  re-enlisted  in  an  independent  company  for  scouting 
purposes,  in  Avhich  he  was  quartermaster  sergeant.  When  the 
war  was  over  he  clerked  for  his  father  in  a  store  in  Atlanta,  but 
in  little  more  than  a  year  went  on  a  farm.  His  next  step,  farming 
being  a  lonely  life  for  a  bachelor,  was  to  choose  a  wife,  whom  he 
found  in  the  person  of  Miss  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  Judge  M.  G.  Clem, 
of  Adair  county,  but  formerly  from  Ohio.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Atterbury  continued  to  farm  for  14  years,  devoting  some  time,  also, 
to  the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock  for  general  markets.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1881,  he  moved  to  Atlanta,  sold  his  farm,  and  engaged  in 
the  drug  and  grocery  business.  He  has  since  sold  out  his  business 
and  is  living  at  ease.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  have  one  child,  M.  Theron, 
one,  Eddie,  having  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  A.  is  a  member  of  Atlanta 
Lodge  No.  411,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  vice-grand  of  the  order.  Mrs. 
A.  belongs  to  tiie  M.  E.  Church. 

BENJAMIN  C.  ATTERBERRY 

(Railroad  Agent  and  Postmaster,  Atlanta) . 

Mr.  Atterberry,  son  of  Seman  Atterberry,  was  born  in  Macon 
county,  near  Atlanta,  January  20,  1849.  The  greater  part  of  his  life 
has  been  spent  in  the  county,  and  he  was  raised  a  farmer.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  partly  at  the  common  schools-  and  partly  at 
the  Kirksville  Normal,  Kirksville,  Mo.  During  the  last  year  of  the 
war  he  fought  for  the  Union  in  Co.  H,  Forty-second  Missouri 
infantry,  under  Col.  Forbes.  Though  his  health  compelled  him  to 
be  much  of  his  time  in  the  hospital,  yet  he  took  part  in  several  minor 
engagements,  was  in  pursuit  of  William  Stephens  west  of  La  Plata 
and  Atlanta,  and  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  scene  on  the  day  after 
the  massacre  at  Centralia.  After  his  discharge  Mr.  Atterberry  re- 
turned to  the  farm  for  several  years  and  continued  his  studies  both  at 
home  and  at  select  schools.  He  learned  telegraphy  under  E  S.  Bed- 
ford, who  was  agent  at  the  time,  and  after  proficient  knowledge  was 
acquired  worked  on  the  road  as  extra,  and  subsequently  was  operator 
and  agent  at  Millard,  Glen  wood  Junction,  Moulton,  Queen  City  and 
Huntsville.  He  has  been  agent  and  operator  at  Atlanta  since  1875. 
Two  years  after  that  time  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  which  office 
he  still  holds,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  public.  Mr.  Atterberry 
married  Miss  Alva  E.,  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Carroll  and  Mrs.  M. 
J.  Davies,  formerly  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  their  daughter  re- 
turned for  her  schooling.  Mrs.  Atterberry  was  born  at  Carbondale, 
Pa.     The  marriage  was  solemnized  September  16,  1880,  by  Rev.'R. 


1060  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

C.  McKinney,  at  the  residence  of  her  mother  at  Norton,  Kan.  Two 
children,  Archie  C.  and  Bernice,  are  the  fruits.  Mrs.  A.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church.  Around  this  family  cluster  much  of  the 
most  refined  society  in  Atlanta. 

WILLIAM  W.  BABCOCK 

(Farmer  aucl  Slock-raiser). 
Mr.  BabcGck  is  one  of  those.enterprising-,  thorough-going  men  who 
o-enerally  succeed  wherever  they  are  and  in  whatever  business  they 
engage.  Some  men  never  succeed  and  are  always  complaining  of 
their  misfortunes,  while  others  go  to  work  and  force  success  out  of 
the  most  unfavorable  surroundings.  Mr.  Babcock  is  one  of  this  latter 
class.  He  had  no  means  left  him  to  begin  on,  but  had  to  learn  by 
his  own  industry  and  intelligence  business  affairs,  and  then  get 
his  own  start  to  begin  on.  This  he  did  most  resolutely  and  with  more 
than  ordinary  success.  He  is  now  one  of  the  prominent  business 
men  of  his  section  of  the  county,  and  has  a  most  promising  future 
before  him.  Mr.  Babcock,  though  born  in  Toronto,  Canada,  July' 4, 
1847,  was  born  of  American  parents  and  reared  in  the  United  States, 
so  that  he  is  by  birthright  and  residence  an  American  citizen.  A 
sketch  of  the  history  of  his  father's  family  has  been  given  in  the 
biography  of  his  brother,  J.  H.  Babcock,  on  a  subsequent  page  of  this 
volume.  After  the  birth  of  William  W.  his  parents,  in  1848,  moved 
back  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Orleans  county.  New  York, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  father  was  engaged  in  farming  in 
Orleans  county,  and  to  that  occupation  William  was  brought  up. 
Everyone  knows  that  New  York  always  had  a  fine  system  of  com- 
mon schools,  and  young  Babcock  had  access  to  these  schools  as  he 
grew  up,  thus  securing  a  good,  practical  English  education.  In  1866, 
then  19  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  and  fol- 
lowed farming  with  his  father  in  this  State  for  several  years.  In 
1870  he  engaged  in  clerking  with  his  brother,  thus  learning  the  prac- 
tical part  of  business  life.  He  continued  it  for  some  10  years.  In 
1881  Mr.  Babcock  opened  a  lumber  yard  at  Atlanta,  the  only  estab- 
lishment of  the  kind  in  the  place.  There  had  previously  been  one 
here,  but  the  business  had  been  abandoned  for  the  reason  that  the 
custom  did  not  justify  it.  Mr.  Babcock  first  started  with  a  small 
stock  of  lumber,  and  as  the  trade  increased  he  steadily  increased  his 
stock.  Keeping  a  good  stock  of  goods  and  selling  at  fair  prices,  as 
well  as  treating  every  one  fairly,  have  proved  the  secret  of  his  suc- 
cess. The  result  is  that  he  now  has  a  large  and  complete  stock  of 
lumber  and  other  building  material,  and  is  doing  a  thriving  business. 
In  the  summer  of  1882  he  also  eno:ai>:ed  in  the  o-rain  trade, 
and  has  since  handled  the  grain  that  ha^  been  shipped  from  this 
place.  In  February,  1882,  Mr.  Babcock  established  a  harness  shop 
at  Atlanta,  which  he  is  also  conducting.  He  carries  an  excellent  as- 
sortment of  harness,  saddles,  etc.,  and  is  doing  a  good  business. 
March  6,  1871,  Mr.  Babcock  Avas  married  to  Miss  Drue  Atterberrv,  a 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1061 

daughter  of  Martin  Atterljerry,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
county  from  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock  have  two  children, 
George  A.  and  Frank  L.  Mr.  B.  is  an  active  member  of  the  Good 
Templars  lodge. 

JOHN  H.  BABCOCK 

(Atlanta) , 
Among  the  leading  merchants  of  Atlanta  is  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Bristol,  England,  December 
10,  1843,  and  is  the  sou  of  John  and  Eliza  (Anthony)  Babcock,  both 
English.  His  parents  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1843  and  settled 
in  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.  Here  John  H.  grew  up  on  his  father's  ftirm. 
He  was  w^U  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Albion  Acad- 
emy. His  war  experience  was  varied  and  thrilling.  He  enlisted  in 
1863  in  Co.  L,  Second  New  York  mounted  rifles  as  a  private,  but  was 
soon  promoted.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Cold 
Harbor,  North  End,  Methesta  Church,  and  siege  of  Petersburg,  and 
from  June  17,  1864,  to  July  30th  was  in  a  general  engagement.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  war  Mr.  Babcock  was  in  the  cavalry  with  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  ;  was  in  several  raids  in  Virginia,  and  had  a 
horse  shot  at  Farmville  on  Lee's  retreat,  April  8th.  The  next 
morning,  just  half  an  hour  before  Lee's  surrender,  he  received  a  gun 
shot  wound  in  the  thigh  at  Appomattox  station.  After  his  recovery 
and  discharge  he  went  back  to  New  York  and  s=[3ent  several  months 
recuperating.  The  next  spring  Mr.  Babcock  traveled  awhile  in  Can- 
ada, Pennsylvania  and  Illinois,  and  in  1866  came  to  Missouri  and 
worked  on  the  survey  of  a  railroad  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State. 
His  father's  family  followed  him  to  Missouri  in  about  a  year,  settling  in 
Macon  county,  and  in  1870  J.  H.  began  merchandising  for  himself. 
He  has  a  large  and  select  stock  of  general  merchandise  and  has  built 
up  an  extensive  trade.  Mr.  Babcock  also  makes  a  business  of  buying 
and  shipping  apples,  and  has  handled  in  the  last  year  about  5,000 
barrels.  He  owes  his  success  to  his  fine  business  ability  and  strict 
attention  to  hisafiairs.  He  owns  his  store,  which  is  a  large  building, 
well  lighted  and  filled  with  goods.  Mr.  Babcock  chose  his  companion 
for  life  from  his  old  home,  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Mary  Cochrane,  daughter  of  William  Cochrane,  of  Waterport, 
N.  Y.  By  his  marriage  there  were  two  children  :  Gracie  K.  and  Daisy, 
the  latter  fading  like  a  flower  touched  by  the  frost  ere  she  reached 
her  fifth  year.  Mr.  Babcock  is  a  member  of  Truth  Lodge  268,  at  At- 
lanta, A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  also  of  Emmanuel  Commandery,  K.  T.,  No.  7, 
and  has  been  for  three  terms  master  of  the  lodge. 

ARTHUR  BORRON,  B.A.,M.B.,  TRIN.  COLL.  CANTAB. 

(Post-office,  Economy). 
Some    philosopher   has  said  that  the  lightest  circumstance   often 
directs  and  controls  the  whole  future  of  one's  life.     And  illustrations 
of  the  truth  of  this  we  see  dailv  in  the  lives  of  those  among  us.     Here 


1062  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

we  may  see  a  man  who  has  come  clown  to  us  through  a  certain  series 
of  surroundings  occupying  a  given  position  in  life,  but  who,  if  his 
course  had  been  directed  through  other  conditions,  would  doubtless 
be  in  a  far  different  station  from  the  one  he  now  holds.  The  direction 
that  the  waters  of  the  fountain  take  on  the  heights  of  the  Andes  con- 
trols the  course  of  the  mighty  Amazon.  Here  is  a  man,  an  Englishman 
by  birth  and  bringing  up,  educated,  both  generally  and  professionally, 
in  the  finest  schools  of  Great  Britain  —  a  man  who  had  every  hope 
and  prospect  of  becoming  eminent  in  his  profession,  the  science  of 
medicine,  in  his  native  country,  but  whose  fortunes  by  a  single  circum- 
stance were  cast  in  the  then  wilds  of  the  Western  States  of  America, 
and  whose  life,  to  old  age,  has  accordingly  been  spent  amid  the 
scenes  and  duties  and  responsibilities  of  this  new  country-.  He  has 
not  made  the  high-sounding  name  here  that  perhaps  he  would  have 
realized  in  other  surroundings,  but  he  has  led  a  useful  and  upright 
life,  and  has  won  and  held  the  good  will  and  esteem  of  the  honest, 
worthy  people  among  whom  he  has  lived.  What  is  there  in  this  life 
higher  and  greater  and  better  than  to  acquit  one's  self  fully  and  faith- 
fully of  his  duties,  according  to  the  circumstances  in  whjch  he  is 
placed?  Heaven  asks  no  more  —  and  is  not  all  else  vanity?  On  such 
a  one  the  shroud  will  rest  as  lightly  as  on  the  greatest  of  earth,  and  the 
reward  beyond  the  grave  will  be  at  least  as  great.  Arthur  Borron, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  September  26,  1808,  and  was 
the  eldest  son  of  tJohu  Arthur  Borron,  of  Lancashire,  England,  and 
Mary  Geddes,  of  Leith,  Scotland.  His  parents  were  married  in  1807. 
John  Arthur  Borron,  the  father,  was  a  representative  of  an  old  and 
respected  family  of  Lancashire,  a  family  settled  there  for  many  gener- 
ations, and  he  himself  made  that  county  his  permanent  home.  He  was 
for  over  thirty  years  a  magistrate  of  the  county  and  stood  high  in  the 
esteem  of  the  public.  Dr.  Borron's  mother  was  the  third  daughter  of 
Archibald  Geddes,  of  Leith,  near  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  Her  father 
was  a  man  of  sterling  character  and  superior  intelligence,  a  represent- 
ative of  one  of  the  best  families  of  the  vicinity  of  Leith.  Young 
Borron's  parents  being  in  easy  circumstances,  he  had  excellent  oppor- 
tunities to  fit  himself  for  the  higher  activities  of  life,  having  access  to 
the  best  institutions  of  learning  in  both  England  and  Scotland.  He 
was  early  intended  for  the  medical  profession,  and  was  educated  Avith 
that  object  in  view,  receiving  such  an  education  as  was  thought  proper 
in  that  country.  From  early  boyhood  up  to  the  age  of  15  he  was 
under  the  instruction  of  a  private  tutor.  In  1823  he  entered  the  Free 
Grammar  School  of  Manchester,  where  he  continued  until  he  became 
well  grounded  in  the  studies  usually  taught  in  the  best  class  of  the 
higher  schools  in  this  country,  taking  also  a  course  in  the  higher 
branches  of  classical  literature.  From  the  Manchester  Grammar 
School,  after  commencing  his  eighteenth  year,  he  matriculated  at  the 
University  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  which  he  also  attended  the  medi- 
cal lectures  delivered  by  the  professors  of  that  eminent  institution. 
Li  1828  he  entered  the  University  of  Cambridge,  England,  one  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1063 

most  famous  institutions  of  learning  in  Europe,  in  which  he  took  a 
course  of  tliree  and  a  half  years,  graduating  with  distinguished  honor 
and  receiviusr  the  deo-ree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  After  this  he 
continued  his  medical  course,  and  two  years  later  was  honored 
with  the  degree  of  M.B.,  or  Bachelor  of  Medicine.  In  1835  Dr. 
Borron  was  married  to  Miss  Adriana  Dewindt  Mills,  youngest 
daughter  of  William  Maynard  Mills,  a  lady  of  superior  culture  and 
refinement.  Meanwhile  reverses  of  fortune  in  pecuniary  affairs  had 
overtaken  him,  and  he  decided  to  come  to  America.  Accordingly 
in  1836  he  emigrated  to  this  country  Avith  his  wife  and  came  directly 
to  the  interior,  or  the  West,  locating  in  the  first  instance  in  Cooper 
county.  Mo.  Four  years  afterwards,  however,  he  removed  to  Bloom- 
ington,  then  the  county  seat  of  Macon  county.  Here  he  enteral  at 
once  actively  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  On  the  then  fron- 
tier of  America,  Dr.  Borron  found  a  far  different  state  of  afiairs  from 
that  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed  in  his  native  country.  Speak- 
ing of  the  condition  of  things  at  that  time  in  this  county  in  a  recent 
letter,  he  says  :  "Macon  county  was  then  but  sparsely  settled.  A  few 
were  in  moderate  circumstances,  but  the  majority  were  young  people 
whose  wealth  was  in  rapidly  increasing  families.  But  they  had  strong 
arms  and  willing  hearts,  and  were  not  discouraged  by  the  hardships 
they  were  compelled  to  endure.  Many  were  embarrassed  by  having 
to  borrow  money  at  25  per  cent  interest  with  which  to  enter  their  land. 
From  these  and  other  causes  the  practice  of  medicine  for  several  years 
was  not  remunerative.  Being  myself  the  only  physician,  with  one 
exception,  in  the  county,  continued  riding  was  very  arduous.  Bridges 
were  few,  necessitating  the  swimming  of  horses  over  the  streams  when 
in  flood,  or  '  cooning '  it  on  fallen  trees.  Often  after  a  ride  of  20 
miles  through  deep  snow  a  puncheon  floor  has  served  for  a  bed  and  pill- 
bags  for  a  pillow.  Crossing  the  Chariton  when  in  flood  was  usually 
eflected  in  a  dug-out  canoe,  sometimes  far  in  the  night,  the  horses  swim- 
ming across  behind  the  canoe. ' '  Thus  Dr.  Borron  continued  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  visiting  the  sick  and  administering  to  the  suffer- 
ing whenever  and  wherever  called  for  years.  In  1853,  having  a  family 
growing  up  around  him  and  desiring  to  rear  his  sons  in  the  country,  he 
removed  from  Bloomington,  locating  on  a  farm  in  the  county,  on  which 
he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  has  continued  to  practice  medicine,  and 
has  also  carried  on  farming.  For  nearly  half  a  century  Dr.  Borron  has 
gtood  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession  in  this  county.  His  services 
as  a  physician  have  been  of  inestimable  value  to  those  among  whom  he 
has  lived,  and  the  influence  of  his  high  character  and  of  his  learning- 
has  ever  been  exerted  for  the  best  interests  of  those  around  him.  No 
one  was  ever  more  highly  esteemed,  and  justly  so,  by  his  neighbors  and 
acquaintances  than  he.  In  1876  the  heaviest  misfortune  that  can  befall 
one  in  this  life  Dr.  Borron  was  called  upon  to  bear.  His  good  wife, 
who  for  41  years  had  stood  by  his  side  "through  sunshine  and 
shadow  "  one  of  the  truest  and  best  of  women,  was  taken  from  him  by 
death.  She  left  him  five  sons.  To  his  present  wife,  a  most  estimable 
62 


1064  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTT. 

and  worthy  lady,  Dr.  Borron  was  married  in  1877.  She  was  the  widow  of 
Josiah  M.  James,  of  Laclede  county.  Mo.,  who  died  whilst  in  the  Union 
service.  Her  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Ann  Terrell.  Of  her  affection- 
ate kindness  and  unremitting  attentions  as  a  faithful  and  devoted  wife 
he  is  deeply  sensible.  Dr.  Borron  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  for  over  40,  years,  and  for  many  years  of  the  Chapter.  For 
several  years  he  served  as  Master  of  Atlanta  Lodge  No.  268. 
Speaking  of  his  past  in  Macon  county,  Dr.  Borron  bears  this  noble 
testimony  to  the  character  of  the  people  among  whom  he  has  lived  ; 
"  I  do  not  regret  the  experiences  through  which  I  have  passed,  rough 
though  they  have  been,  for  I  have  been  of  some  service  I  trust  to  the 
community  and  have  learned  to  appreciate  the  old  settlers,  though 
plaiij  in  manner  and  speech,  among  whom  I  have  lived.  In  their 
hearts  I  have  found  a  true  and  noble  humanity  —  men  capable  of  the 
warmest  and  best  friendships  ;  men  who  would  go  10  or  15  miles  to 
help  one  another  in  their  log-raisings  without  fee  or  reward  ;  who 
would  go  on  each  other's  errands,  and  unite  to  put  in,  tend  and  gather 
the  crops  of  a  sick  neighbor.  And  the  women,  '  gentle  sisters  of 
charity,'  ever  ready  to  wait  on  the  sick,  by  night  or  by  day,  and  to 
give  the  last  delicacy  they  had  to  comfort  and  relieve  the  suffering. 
Few  of  these  old  settlers  now  remain,  and  the  remark  of  the  com- 
panion of  my  earlier  life  often  occurs  to  me,  as  she  said  with  tears  in 
her  eyes  :  '  God  bless  the  old  settlers  of  Missouri ;  they  have  been 
kind,  good  friends  to  us.'  " 

JOHN  W.  BEOCKMAN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 
Mr.  B.,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  thoroughly  good  men  of  the 
township,  was  in  Randolph  county,  near  Renick,  March  4,  1840.  His 
father,  Stephen  H.  Brockman,  was  born  in  Keutucky,  came  to  Missouri 
at  the  age  of  14,  and  lived  near  Renick  until  his  death  in  1883.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  but  was  in  no  engagements.  J.  W. 
grew  up  in  Randolph  county  on  the  farm  with  common-school  educa- 
tion. In  1862  he  was  for  a  few  months  in  the  militia.  On  the  16th 
of  January,  1863,  Mr.  Brockman  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  ^., 
daughter  of  Bevel  Hamilton,  formerly  of  Randolph.  Mr.  B.  lived 
on  the  home  place  until  1865,  when  he  moved  to  Macon  and  bought 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  first  bought  220  acres  with  about 
90  in  cultivation.  As  his  means  permitted  he  added  to  his  land,  and 
now  owns  450  acres,  390  fenced  and  nearly  all  in  cultivation,  meadow 
and  pasture.  His  residence  is  large  and  handsome,  his  buildings  new 
and  his  orchard  fine.  Mr.  Brockman  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding 
stock  for  the  wholesale  market,  and  ships  a  large  number  annually. 
Mr.  B.  has  raised  a  large  family  of  children,  eight  in  number,  viz.  : 
Alice,  Mary  F.,  Tabitha  M.,  Wilber  H.,  Stephen  B.,  Ida  May,  Thomas 
and  Nellie  Pearl.  Besides  these  he  has  had  under  his  care  and  pro- 
tection no  less  than  five  orphan  children.  Mr.  B.  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  at  Love  Lake,  and  he  is  a 
deacon  in  the  church. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1065 


GEORGE  W.  DODSON 

(Of  the  Firm  of  LydacsSb  Dobson) . 

Mr.  Dodson  is  a  native  of  Macon  county,  and  was  born  near  Atlanta, 
August  17,  1849.  His  father,  Judge  Andrew  Dodson,  Avas  from  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  mother,  Sarah  Ingram  Mathis,  from  North  Carolina. 
They  came  to  Missouri  at  an  early  day  and  first  settled  in  Eandol^Dh 
county,  but  after  living  there  a  few  years  they  moved  to  Macon,  where 
the  jmfer  famiUas  heciime  one  of  the  most  influential  citizens.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  also  county  judge  for  several  terms.  He  died  No- 
vember 2,  1880.  G.  W.  grew  up  on  the  ftirm,  and  his  early  education 
was  obtained  at  the  public  schools  ;  he  had  in  addition  the  advantao-e 
of  several  years'  tuition  at  McGee  College.  After  completing  his 
studies  he  returned  to  the  farm,  but  his  taste  leanins;  in  another  direc- 
tion,  he,  in  1874,  embarked  in  mercantile  life  at  Atlanta,  in  Lyda 
township,  where  he  is  still  in  business.  On  Christmas  Day,  1873, 
Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  J.  S.  and  Arminta  D.  Lyda,  became  his 
beloved  wife.  They  have  two  children  :  Zula  M.  and  Jessie  R.  Mr. 
Dodson  was  elected  during  the  same  year  constable  of  his  township, 
which  office  he  held  for  a  year.  In  1880  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
township  ;  in  1882  was  re-elected,  and  is  still  in  office.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
D.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr. 
Dodson  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  Atlanta  Lodge  411  and  is  secre- 
tary of  the  order. 

ROBERT   H.  DUNNINGTON,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon). 

This  young  physician  is  one  of  the  eminent  and  successful  practi- 
tioners in  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Macon  county,  February  25, 
1847.  His  father,  Reuben  Dunnington,  moved  from  Virginia  to  Ten- 
nessee with  his  parents  when  a  lad,  growing  up  in  Knox  county. 
When  he  arrived  at  man's  estate  he  moved  to  Cooper  county,  Mo., 
there  married  Miss  Tabitha  Davidson,  from  Tennessee,  and  in  1839 
settled  in  Macon  county,  at  Love  Lake.  He  entered  land  and  improved 
a  farm,  upon  which  he  still  resides.  .In  this  locality  was  spent  the 
Doctor's  boyhood.  He  attended  the  common  schools,  but  also  took  a 
course  at  the  Normal  school  at  Kirksville,  after  completing  which 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  at  Love  Lake,  under  Dr.  Gates, 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county.  Dr.  Dunnington 
took  his  first  course  at  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  College  in  the 
winter  of  1870-71,  and  in  the  spring  commenced  to  practice  his  pro- 
fession with  Dr.  Gates  at  Love  Lake.  In  1872  he  located  at  Atlanta, 
and  has  now  a  large,  pleasant  and  ever-increasing  practice.  In  1873 
the  Doctor  took  another  course  of  lectures  at  Cincinnati,  graduating 
in  the  spring.  Two  years  later,  never  weary  in  the  pursuit  of  knowl- 
edge, he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  St.  Louis  American  Medical 
College,  and  received  a  diploma  from  that  institution.     In  1880,  Dr. 


1066  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

D.  engaged  also  in  business,  but  sold  out  after  one  year,  the  demands 
of  his  profession  being  too  exacting  to  admit  of  his  attending  to  any- 
thing else.  The  Doctor  was  married  at  Monongahela  City,  Pa.,  March 
5,  1875,  to  Miss  Sarah  H.,  daughter  of  Joel  Ketcham,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  only  one  and  a  half  years  of  connubial  bliss  were  vouch- 
safed to  him.  In  July,  1876,  Mrs.  Dunnington  departed  this  life. 
In  1880  the  Doctor  sought  in  the  tender  heart  of  a  new  bride  to  bury 
all  thoughts  of  woe.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Dr.  E. 
C.  Still,  a  native  of  Macon  county.  This  fair  lady  was  richly  endowed 
with  every  grace  of  mind,  heart  and  person,  and  she  made  her  home  a 
paradise,  but,  December  24,  1883,  her  sainted  soul  fled  to  realms  of 
celestial  glory,  and  life  is  once  more  to  her  bereaved  spouse  a  lone 
and  loveless  waste.  Mrs.  D.  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
She  left  one  child:  Carl  S.,  born  April  1,  1882.  Dr.  Dunnington  is 
a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Atlanta,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the 
offices. 

EEUBEN  DUNNINGTON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Dunnington  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in  Mecklenburgh 
county,  January  26,  1810,  and  a  son  of  Reuben  Dunnington,  Sr.,  and 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Wright,  both  born  and  reared  in 
the  Old  Dominion.  In  1810  they  removed  to  Anderson  county,  Tenn., 
where  they  lived  for  about  10  years.  While  there  the  second  war 
with  Great  Britain  occurred  and  the  father  joined  the  American  army. 
He  was  with  Gen.  Taylor  and  was  at  Mobile  at  the  time  of  the  battle 
of  New  Orleans.  Some  years  after  his  return  from  the  war  he 
removed  to  Morgan  county  of  that  State,  where  he  settled  permanently 
and  lived  until  his  death.  Reuben,  Jr.,  grew  to  manhood  in  Morgan 
county  and  came  to  Missouri  in  1837  with  John  Davidson,  locating  in 
Cooper  county,  near  Boonville.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Macon 
county  and  entered  the  land  on  which  he  now  resides,  where  he  im- 
proved his  present  farm.  He  first  entered  80  acres,  but  added  to  it 
afterwards.  He  now  has  about  160  acres,  having  sold  off  the  rest  or 
divided  it  among  his  children.  About  100  acres  of  his  land  is  in 
cultivation  and  Mr,  Dunnington  has  a  good  homestead  which  is  com- 
fortably and  substantially  improved.  On  the  18th  of  July,  1838, 
Mr.  Dunnington  was  married  to  Miss  Telitha  C,  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Hope)  Davidson,  formerly  of  Tennessee, 
where  Mrs.  Dunnington  was  born  and  reared.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dun- 
nington have  six  children  :  C.  Ellen,  wife  of  Thomas  Lyda  ;  William 
T.,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume;  Isabelle  D.,  the  wife  of 
John  Ketcham,  whose  sketch  is  also  in  this  work ;  John  C,  Emeline, 
wife  of  A.  C.  Goodding.  They  have  lost  two,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Henry 
Williamson,  and  James  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dunnington  are  both  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  Mr.  Dunnington  is  a  ruling  elder.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.     Mr.  Dunnington  took  no  part  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1067 

war  and  never  locked  his  door  during  the  entire  time,  answering  all 
calls  in  person  without  fear  whether  day  or  night,  for  he  had  no 
enemy  on  earth  that  he  knew  of  and  therefore  had  no  fear  of  any  one 
doing  him  hurt. 

ALPHEUS  B.  FOSTER 

(Proprietor  of  the  Atlanta  Hotel  and  Contractor  and  Builder). 

The  wonderful  change  wrought  in  the  appearance  and  condition  of 
North  Missouri  since  the  war  is,  without  a  doubt,  more  largely  due  to 
the  spirit  of  enterprise  which  the  people  of  the  North  and  East  settling 
here  have  infused  into  life  in  this  section  of  the  State  than  to  any 
other  cause,  and  perhaps  to  all  other  causes  combined.  They  build 
up  a  country  wherever  they  go.  Farms  are  opened,  railroads  built, 
school-houses  erected,  churches  established  and  villages  spring  up  on 
every  hand.  When  Mr.  Foster  came  to  Atlanta  in  1865  it  was  noth- 
ing more  than  a  mere  stage  station.  Now  it  is  one  of  the  most 
thriving  railroad  trade  centers  in  the  county  and  is  steadily  advancing 
in  population  and  wealth  as  well  as  in  business  importance.  To  the 
Northern  and  Eastern  people  who  have  Settled  here  and  in  this 
vicinity,  is  largely  due  the  credit  for  this  change.  Mr.  Foster  is  a 
native  of  New  York,  born  in  Orleans  county  December  17,  1829. 
His  father,  Alpheus  Foster,  was  from  Vermont  to  that  county  and 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Orleans  county.  He  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Sarepta  Langdon,  born  and  reared  in  New  York. 
They  continued  to  live  in  Orleans  and  reared  their  family  there.  Al- 
pheus B.  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  educated  at  the 
common-schools  and  also  had  the  benefit  of  a  course  at  the  Albion 
High  School.  Subsequently  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  fol- 
lowed that  business  continuously  until  1865.  March  10,  1853,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  Atwell,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Atwell,  of 
Orleans  county.  This  has  proved  a  union  of  singular  congeniality 
and  happiness  and  remains  unbroken  up  to  the  present  time.  On 
coming  to  Missouri  Mr.  Foster  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  At- 
lanta, his  principle  custom  at  that  time  being  from  travelers  on  the 
stage  line  between  Macon  City^  and  Bloomfield.  Later  along  the 
North  Missouri  Railroad  reached  Atlanta  and  business  steadily 
increased.  Mr.  Foster  enlarg-ed  his  hotel  buildino;  and  has  from  that 
time  to  this  improved  his  house  until  he  now  has  one  of  the  best  cos- 
mopolitan hotels  in  this  section  of  the  State.  His  house  is  especially 
popular  with  commercial  travelers  by  whom  it  is  largely  patronized. 
Mrs.  Foster  does  her  full  part  in  keeping  up  the  popularity  of  their 
house.  A  lady  of  fine  business  qualifications  and  refinement,  she  is  at 
the  same  time  genial  and  unassuming  and  makes  herself  pleasant  and 
agreeable  to  her  boarders  and  the  public  generally.  Indeed,  she 
mainly  manages  and  conducts  the  hotel  herself.  Mr.  Foster  is  occu- 
pied during  the  building  seasons  especially  with  contracting  and 
building.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  have  had  a  family  of  three  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  other,  Anna  S.,  is  also  deceased, 
having  died  January  14,  1875,  at  the  age  of  16.     She  was  just  enter- 


1068  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

ing  young  womanhood  and  was  a  young  lady  of  rare  grace  and  sweet- 
ness of  disposition.  Tlie  only  loved  one  of  her  parents,  she  was  held  by 
them  in  the  tenderest  affection.  Great  care  had  been  taken  in  bring- 
ing her  up  both  with  regard  to  her  health  and  education,  and  she  fully 
appreciated  all  that  was  done  for  her.  No  daughter  was  ever  more 
worthy  of  the  atiection  of  her  parents.  Gentle  in  thought  and  word, 
she  so  always  bore  herself  to  those  around  her  that  she  invariably  won 
their  respect  and  esteem  ;  and  of  quiet,  studious  disposition,  she  had 
stored  her  mind  with  knowledge,  so  that  she  was  not  only  a  young 
lady  of  more  than  ordinary  amiability  and  personal  charms,  but  was 
possessed  of  superior  intelligence  and  culture,  not  the  less  attractive 
for  her  conversation,  always  entertaining  and  instructive,  than  for  the 
modesty  of  her  manner.  It  seemed  too  sad  to  bear  that  one  so  loved 
as  she  was  by  her  fond  parents  and  so  much  esteemed  by  all,  one  so 
well  fitted  for  life  and  whose  future  seemed  so  fraught  with  happi- 
ness to  herself  and  loved  ones  and  so  bright,  should  be  thus  ruth- 
lessly taken  away  by  the  messenger  of  death.  But  the  ways  of 
Providence  are  mysterious  and  past  finding  out ;  yet  we  know  that 
God  is  good  and  merciful  and  all-wise,  and  that  all  he  does  is  for  the 
best.  So  that  if  the  happy  home-circle  is  broken  up  here  by  the  loss 
of  one  most  loved,  we  can  but  feel  assured  that  that  sorrow  is  en- 
dured only  that  all  may  the  more  certainly  meet  in  Heaven,  there  to 
be  re-united  in  ties  of  happiness  and  bliss  that  can  never  be  broken. 
Mrs.  Foster  is  a  member  of  the  Good  Templars  lodge. 

FINLEY  B.  GARDNER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Dealer  and  Feeder). 

Mr.  Gardner  was  born  in  Allegheny,  Penn.,  February  13,  1851. 
His  father,  Joseph  S.  Gardner,  and  mother,  Mary  J.  Neal,  were  both 
natives  of  the  same  county  and  State,  where  the  former  served  for  six 
or  more  years  as  township  collector.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  April, 
1865,  and  settled  on  a  farm  that  is  still  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
family.  He  bought  first  320  acres  of  land  and  afterwards  more  from 
time  to  time  until  the  two  brothers  now  own  320  acres  in  partnership, 
besides  120  each  personally.  The  old  people  live  with  William,  who 
owns  the  old  homstead.  F.  B.  received  a  careful  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  now  lives  on  his  farm  of  120  acres,  which  he  has 
carefully  improved  and  cultivated.  He  married  in  Shiawassee  county, 
Mich.,  February  4,  1874,  Miss  Florence  E.,  daughter  of  Albert  Rann, 
of  that  county.  Mrs.  Gardner  was  well  educated  at  the  Normal  and  high 
schools  and  was  for  several  years  a  successful  teacher  in  Michigan.  In 
October,  1871,  Mr.  Gardner  went  to  Pioche,  Nev.,  where  he  spent 
about  two  years  in  mining  and  lumbering.  He  was  quite  fortunate  in 
his  speculations,  and  is  now  making  a  decided  success  in  his  present 
occupation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  have  four  children  :  Albert  Rann, 
Benjamin  F.,  Clyde  Finlev  and  Ellen  Estell.  Mr.  G.  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


HISTOEY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1069 


RICHARD  p.  GOODDING 

(Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  G.  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  December  27,  1826.  His 
father,  Capt.  Abraham  Goodding,  was  born  in  East  Tennessee,  but 
was  raised  in  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Rogers,  a  na- 
tive of  that  State.  Mr.  Goodding  came  to  Missouri  in  1816,  and 
lived  for  six  years  in  Howard  county.  In  1823  he  moved  to  Ran- 
dolph, entered  land  and  built  the  first  cabin  on  the  east  side  of  the 
East  fork  of  the  Chariton  river,  north  of  Huntsville.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  he  left  the  place  and  lived  near  Renick  with  his  son-in-law 
until  his  death.  May  26,  1877.  Mr.  G.  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  He  was  also  captain  of  a  com- 
pany in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  filled  several  local  offices  with  much 
credit.  R.  P.  grew  up  in  Randolph  county  on  a  farm  and  attended  the 
common  schools.  He  came  to  Macon  county  in  the  spring  of  1860, 
and  married,  in  June  of  that  year.  Miss  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Charlotte  (Shelton)  Ayers,  formerly  from  Tennessee,  and  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Goodding  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan county,  Tenn.,  and  came  to  Missouri  with  her  parents  at  the  age 
of  11.  Mr.  G.  had  previous  to  his  marriage  bought  and  made  some 
improvements  on  the  place  upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  He  owns 
260  acres  fenced  and  well  cultivated.  His  place  is  well  improved  and 
in  first-class  trim.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodding  have  six  children  :  John 
R.,  married  and  resident  of  the  county  ;  Isaac  Wilhird,  Mary  Belle, 
Lucinda  Frances,  Edward  F.  and  Herschel  M.  Mrs.  G.  is  a  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  her  three  oldest  children 
follow  in  her  footsteps,  while  their  father  belongs  to  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church.     Mr.  G.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

GEORGE  R.  GOODDING  &  SONS 

(Proprietors  of  Livery  and  Feed  Stable,  Atlanta,  Mo.) 

Mr.  Goodding  is  the  son  of  Abraham  Goodding  and  Nancy  Rogers, 
his  wife,  both  from  Kentucky.  Mr.  Goodding,  Sr.,  came  to  Missouri 
about  the  year  1818  and  settled  in  Randolph  county ;  he  was  the  first 
white  settler  north  of  Huntsville  on  the  east  side  of  the  East  fork  of 
the  Chariton  river.  It  was  here  that  George  R.  was  born,  December 
13,  1828.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  was  trained  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  After  Mr.  Goodding's 
marriage,  October  10,  1850,  to  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Maj.  Drury 
Davis,  formerly  from  Virginia,  he  moved  to  Macon  county,  where  his 
wife  had  grown  up;  he  farmed  in  the  county  until  1881,  when  he 
moved  to  Atlanta  and  built  the  stables  where  he  and  his  sons  carry 
on  the  livery  business.  His  sons  are  four  in  number:  Alexander  D., 
Andrew  W.,  Drury  O.  and  Joseph  A.  One  son,  Abraham  W.,  died 
in  infancy,  and  a  daughter,  Nancy  E.,  in  her  tenth  year.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  G.  belong  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  G.  is  a 


1070  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

prominent  member  of  Atlanta  Lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  ;  he  is  a  worthy 
and  valuable  citizen. 

JOHN  W.  HARDGROVE 

(Merchant  and  Stock  Dealer,  of  the  Firm  of  C.  W.  Hardgrove  &  Brother,  Vienna). 

Mr.  H.  is  the  son  of  Henry  Hardgrove,  of  Pulaski  county,  Ky., 
who  came  to  Missouri  in  1840  and  settled  in  Macon  county  ;  here  he 
married  Miss  Polly  Farmer,  also  of  Kentucky,  and  here  John  W.  first 
saw  the  light  September  14,  1844.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm, 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  December  26,  1876,  he  led  to 
the  altar  Miss  Frances  Winn,  daughter  of  Joseph  Winn,  of  Sangamon 
county,  111.,  but  who  was  reared  in  Ottumwa,  Iowa.  They  have  one 
child,  Joseph  Henry,  born  July  10, 1880.  Since  May,  1877,  Mr.  Hard- 
grove has  been  a  dealer  in  general  merchandise  at  Vienna  ;  he  has  a 
large,  carefully  selected  stock  of  goods,  and  has  a  flourishing  trade. 
He  and  his  brother  buy  and  ship  stock,  cattle  and  hogs,  to  the  whole- 
sale markets.  In  the  last  year  they  have  shipped  12  car  loads.  Mr. 
H.  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Vienna,  Economy  post-office,  in 
1877,  and  has  held  the  office  ever  since,  giving  universal  satisfac- 
tion. 

WILLIAM  B.  HOLBECK 

(Of  the  firm  of  Landree  &  Holbecls,  Dealers  in  Hardware,  at  Atlanta). 

Mr.  Holbeck  was  born  near  Canton,  in  Fulton  county.  111.,  May  11, 
1851.  His  father,  William  Holbeck,  emigrated  to  this  country  from 
Germany  when  a  boy  of  16,  He  first  made  his  home  in  Chicago,  but 
afterwards  in  Fulton  county,  where  he  married  Miss  Amanda  John- 
son, from  Kentucky.  In  1853  he  moved  his  fiimily  to  Henry  county, 
Iowa.  In  1869  they  made  another  move  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and 
here  they  have  remained,  the  old  man  dying  in  July,  1871.  W.  B. 
was  siven  a  good  common-school  education,  and  then  went  into  a 
blacksmith  and  repair  shop  and  worked  as  apprentice  for  five  years. 
Previous  to  his  father's  death  they  opened  together  a  shop  at  Vienna, 
and  the  son  continued  the  business  at  that  point  until  1883.  He  then 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Atlanta,  and  engaged  in  his  present  enterprise. 
The  firm  built  the  house  they  occupy  and  opened  it  to  the  public 
August  1,  1883.  They  have  a  fine  stock  of  hardware,  glass  and 
queen's-ware  as  well  as  wagons  and  agricultural  implements.  They 
are  doins;  a  rushing  trade,  and  no  young  men  deserve  it  more.  Mr. 
H.  married  in  Macon,  October  29,  1871,  Miss  Josette,  daughter  of 
James  Landree,  formerly  of  Virginia.  They  have  one  child,  Anna 
MyVtle.  Mrs.  Holbeck  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr. 
H.  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to  Atlanta  Lodge  No.  411,  of  which 
he  is  Secretary. 

THEOPHILUS  JONES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

In  about  the  year  1820,  Thomas  Jones,  a  young  man  from  Wales, 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.     He  shortly  after  mar- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1071 

ried  Miss  Eleanor  Williams,  also  a  native  of  Wales,  and  to  them  was 
born  February  21,  1844,  Theophilus  Jones,  the  gentleman  a  rough 
outline  of  whose  life  is  here  given.  He  was  well  educated,  partly  at 
the  public  schools  and  partly  at  the  Lewisburg  University.  When 
his  studies  Avere  completed,  Mr.  Jones  took  a  position  as  clerk  in  a 
dry  goods  house  in  Baltimore.  In  1867  he  came  west  and  was  for 
two  years  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  a  merchant  at  Belpre, 
Washington  county.  In  1869  he  came  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and  for 
a  year  or  so  was  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business  at  Vienna.  He 
then  became  a  farmer,  and  has  since  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  has  a  farm  of  200  acres,  with  160  fenced  and  140  in 
meadow,  pasture  and  cultivation.  His  surroundings  indicate  his 
prosperity  and  thrift.  Mr.  Jones  is  identified  Avith  the  Republicans 
and  was  their  candidate  for  re^jresentative  at  the  last  general  election. 
In  1878  Mr.  J.  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  still  holds  that 
ofSce.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  business  qualifications  and  possesses  the 
entire  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  community.  January  1,  1876,  Mr. 
J.  married  Miss  Edna  E.,  daughter  of  Orson  Snow,  who  is  else- 
where spoken  of  in  these  pages.  Mrs.  Jones  was  born  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  Mich.,  and  came  to  Missouri  with  her  parents  at  the  age  of 
14.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  have  two  children,  Owen  W.  and  Edith. 

JOHN  M.  KETCHAM 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  K.  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  December  28,  1833. 
His  parents,  Joel  Ketcham  and  Elizabeth  Menown,  were  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  Mr.  K.  was  a  man  of  prominence.  He  owned 
a  large  quantity  of  land,  and  amassed  quite  a  fortune.  He  died  in 
his  native  State  in  1867.  In  the  spring  of  1866.J.  M.,  who  until  that 
year  had  lived  in  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Macon  county,  Mo.,  and 
bought  an  improved  place  of  262  acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  1880, 
then  moving  to  his  present  farm  about  three  miles  distant.  In  his 
home  place  Mr.  Ketcham  has  160  acres,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, a  large  and  tasteful  residence  and  all  other  necessary  buildings, 
and  also  an  unusually  fine  orchard.  He  still  owns  the  old  place,  which 
occupies  80  acres  of  timber  and  the  balance  fenced  and  in  cultivation. 
Mr.  K.  makes  a  business  of  raising  and  dealing  in  sheep.  He  owns 
some  fine  Spanish  Merino  and  good  graded  Cotswold,  and  has  a  flock 
that  averages  about  325  head.  Mr.  K.  was  married  October  6.  1869, 
in  Macon  county,  to  Miss  Bell  A.,  daughter  of  Reuben  Dunnington, 
and  sister  of  Dr.  Dunnington,  of  Atlanta.  There  are  four  children 
in  the  family :  Ula  Franklin,  Wilmer  Harvey,  Clarence  Nason  and 
Ora  Belle.  In  1882,  Mr.  Ketcham  was  the  Republican  candidate  for 
county  judge.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  in  which  Mr.  K.  is  a  ruling  elder. 


1072  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


JOHN  S.  LYDA 

(Of  the  firm  of  Lyda  &  Dodson). 

Mr.  Lyda  is  one  of  the  leading  mercliants  of  Atlanta.  He  was 
born  in  White  county,  Tenn.,  January  1,  1835,  his  father,  Gideon 
Lyda,  being  from  North  Carolina,  while  his  mother,  Miranda  Defrese, 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  also.  The  family  moved  to  Missouri 
in  1836,  and  after  two  years  in  Cooper  county,  settled  in  Macon 
county,  10  miles  north  of  Macon  City.  Mr.  Lyda  improved  a  farm 
there  and  made  it  his  home  until  his  death,  January  4,  1870.  He  was 
one  of  the  survivors  of  the  War  of  1812.  J.  S.  grew  up  in  the  coun- 
try on  the  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools,  but  principally  ob- 
tained his  education  by  the  fireside  at  night.  In  his  twentieth  year, 
November  23,  1853,  Mr.  Lyda  was  married  to  Miss  Aramantha, 
daughter  of  John  Y.  Huffman,  a  girl  of  15.  This  youthful  couple 
settled  on  a  farm  four  miles  west  of  Atlanta  where  they  lived  until 
1866.  Mr.  L.  then  moved  to  Atlanta  and  went  into  mercantile  busi- 
ness, carrying  on  a  farm  at  the  same  time.  Li  1880  he  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Macon  county  and  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  store.  Mr. 
Lyda  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  since  been 
elected  constable  of  his  town.  In  1882  he  returned  to  Atlanta  and 
re-purchased  his  interest  in  the  store,  the  firm  having  a  good  brick 
building  and  a  full  line  of  general  merchandise,  in  which  they^are  do- 
ing a  good  business.  Mr.  L.  owns  besides  a  handsome  town  residence 
and  the  store,  a. farm  of  135  acres  of  good  land  near  Atlanta.  It  is 
well  fenced  and  nicely  improved,  and  in  general  good  shape.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  L.  belong  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr. 
Lyda  is  a  member  of  Truth  Lodge,  No.  268,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  There 
are  seven  children  :  Mary  E.  wife  of  George  W.  Dodson  ;  Miranda  F. 
wife  of  James  Lanigan  ;  George  T.,  married  ;  Nancy,  wife  of  William 
Alexander;  Lou  Alice,  Laura  and  Homer.  Though  Mrs.  Lyda  is 
not  yet  44,  she  has  a  grand-child,  10  years  old. 

E.  L.  LYDA 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  L.  is  a  brother  to  J.  S.  Lyda,  of  Atlanta,  this  county,  whose 
sketch  precedes  this,  and  in  which  an  outline  of  the  family  history  has 
been  given.  E.  L.  Lyda,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
White  county,  Tenn.,  July  24,  1832,  and  came  to  Missouri  with  his 
parents  when  a  boy  five  years  of  age.  As  stated  in  the  sketch  of  J. 
S.  Lyda,  they  first  located  in  Cooper  county,  but  two  years  after- 
wards came  to  Macon  county,  where  they  made  their  permanent 
home.  E.  L.  Lyda  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  this  county,  and  had  but 
limited  school  advantages.  Still,  by  improving  his  opportunities, 
he  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  sufBcient  knowledge  of  books  for  all 
ordinary  purposes  in  farm  life.  June  27,  1854,  he  was  married  to 
Miss   Frances  J.  Burton,  daughter  of  Elijah  Burton,  of   Kandolph 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


lo: 


county,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  county  from  Kentucky. 
Mr  and  Mrs.  Lycla  have  been  blessed  with  four  children :  Merinda 
E.,  wife  of  James  W.  Surber ;  Mollie  E.,  wife  of  Andrew  Craw- 
ford; Araminta  T.,  wife  of  John  H.  Powell,  and  Gideon  C,  now 
taking  a  course  at  St.  James'  Academy,  in  Macon  City.  After  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Lyda  bought  land  and  located  on  his  present  farm. 
His  career  as  a  farmer  has  been  one  of  satisfactory  success.  He 
has  300  acres  of  good  land,  160  acres  of  which  are  fenced  and  all 
but  about  10  acres  in  cultivation.  Mr.  Lyda  has  good,  substantial 
improvements,  and  is  comfortably  situated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyda  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  at  Atlanta,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge,  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  lodge. 

WILLIAM  A.  MILES 

(Farmer  and  Breeder  of  Thoroughbred  Stock) . 
Mr.  Miles  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Va.,  November  7,  1825. 
His  father,  Armstead  J.,  served  a  few  months  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  was  born  in  Virginia,  October  15,  1796,   married  Miss  Elizabeth 
A.  Arthur,  and  moved,  iu  1830,  to  Pulaski  county,  Ky.     In  1839,  he 
changed  his  residence  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  entering  land  and  im- 
provfng  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  residence  of  William  A. 
Miles. °  He  lived  there  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  May,  1857, 
broke  up  his  household,  and  then  spent  his  time  in  visiting  alternately 
with  his' children  until  his  death,  which  occurwed  July  13,  1880,  at  the 
home  of  his  son,  James  C.  Miles,  in  Adair  county.     William  A.  Miles 
was  14  when  his  parents  left  Kentucky  ;  the  remainder  of   his  youth 
was  passed  on  the  farm  in  Macon  county,  where  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  but  limited.     A  man  in  those  days  seemed  scarcely  to  feel 
secure  in  his  own   "  grown-upness  "   until  the  clinging  dependence  of 
a  wife  brought  it  home  to  him.     Mr.  Miles  was  no  exception  to  this 
rule,  and,  August  5,  1847,  he  espoused  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Jos- 
eph  Daugherty,    of  Macon    county.      Of  this  union  were  born   12 
children  :°Fouutain  A.,  now  married  and  living  in  Oregon;  Joseph 
D.,  also  married,  and  a  resident  of  the  county;  Madison  L.,  Mar- 
garet L.,  William   N.,   Charles  H.   and  Arthur   B.     Five    children 
have    been    taken    from    them  — two   in    infancy    and   three   grown 
ones.     James  C.  died  March  31,   1875,  in   his  twenty-seventh  year, 
Thomas  A.  died  July  19,  in   his  nineteenth   year    and    Melissa    F. 
died   January    21,    1882,   also   in    her   nineteenth    year.     After   his 
marriage,    Mr.    Miles    bought    land    in    the   north-east  part  of   the 
county'^and  improved  a  farm.     He  made  one  or  two   changes  before 
he  finally  (in  September,  1853,)  settled  on  the  land  upon  which  he 
now  resides.     He  has  in  his  home  place  360  acres,  fenced:  60  in 
timber,  used  for  grass  and  pasture,  220  in  meadow  and  grass  and  80 
under  the  plow.     He  has  a  comfortable  residence  and  all  other  neces- 
sary buildings,  also  a  fine  bearing  orchard.     Besides  this   farm,  Mr. 
Miles  has  two  other  pieces  of  land,  an  80  and  a  40-acre  tract,   unim- 
proved .     He  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  and  raising  for  the  markets 


1074  '  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

thoroughbred  short-horn  cattle.  He  has  a  herd  of  24  females  and  five 
males  with  Pioneer  Duke,  No.  44,564,  recorded  in  the  American  Herd 
Book.  His  farm  is  also  completely  stocked  with  thoroughbred  Cots- 
wold  sheep  and  thoroughbred  Berkshire  hogs.  He  has  some  fine 
Plymouth  Kock  chickens.  Mr.  Miles  started  in  the  short-horn  busi- 
ness in  February,  1877,  with  two  cows.  He  owes  his  present  pros- 
perity to  his  own  unaided  business  ability  and  hard  work.  He  has 
a  nice  pond  covering  an  acre  of  ground  and  stocked  with  German 
carp.  Mr.  Miles  is  a  member  of  the  Atlanta  lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M., 
in  which  he  has  filled  many  of  the  offices.  Such  men  as  this  are  the 
mainspring  of  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 

JOSEPH  D.  MILES 

CSection  14) . 

Mr.  M.  is  a  son  of  W.  A.  Miles,  whose  biography  appears  before 
this,  and  is  a  native  of  Macon  county,  born  on  the  home  place, 
January  9,  1854,  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and 
trained  for  a  farm.  March  24,  1881,  Mr.  Miles  led  to  the  hyme- 
neal altar  a  blushing  bride  in  the  person  of  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 
P.  Dunnington,  from  Tennessee,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Macon  county.  Mrs.  Miles  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  the 
country,  and  is  one  of  its  fairest  ornaments  ;  young,  beautiful,  charm- 
ing, and  withal  of  a  gentle,  loveable  nature,  she  reminds  one  of  Long- 
fellow's happy  expression, 

"A  smile  of  God  thou  art." 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  M.  settled  on  the  place  upon  which  he  now 
lives.  It  comprises  200  acres  of  land,  all  fenced,  all  in  meadow, 
13asture  and  cultivation.  The  farm  is  well  improved,  with  good 
buildings  and  nice  orchard.  Mr.  Miles  is  a  young  man  of  fine  prom- 
ise in  every  way.  He  is  a  member  of  Atlanta  Lodge,  Truth  No. 
268,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  is  senior  deacon  of  his  lodge. 

JOSEPH  S.  NEWMYER 

(Farmer  and  Raiser  and  Feeder  of  Stock). 

This  gentleman  Avas  born  in  Fayette  county,  Penn.,  June  8,  1821, 
and  is  the  son  of  Mary  Strickler  and  Jonathan  Newmyer,  of  the 
same  county.  The  latter  lived  in  Fayette  until  the  death  of  his  wife 
in  1866,  and  then  broke  up  housekeeping  and  went  to  live  with  a 
daughter  in  Westmoreland  county,  and  there  died  in  1879.  J.  S.  was 
raised  on  the  home  farm,  and  obtained  such  education  as  his  limited 
opportunities  afforded.  In  November,  1842,  he  took  for  better  or  for 
worse,  Miss  Margaret  Lipincutt,  a  young  lady  of  Westmoreland 
county,  and  daughter  of  Samuel  Lipincutt.  Two  years  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Newmeyer  moved  to  Adams  county,  III.,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  10  years.  In  the  s-ummer  of  1856  he  came  to 
Missouri  and  settled  on  his  present  farm.     He  just  bought  320  acres 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1075 

of  laud,  of  which  100  was  improved.  To  this  he  has  added  exten- 
sively, and  now  owns  1,100  acres,  all  fenced,  and  about  750 
in  meadow  pasture  and  cultivation.  He  has  also  bought  360 
acres  in  Drake  township,  and  40  in  Walnut,  all  unimproved.  Mr. 
N.'s  property  is  in  good  shape,  and  shows  the  master-hand;  he 
has  a  comfortable  residence  and  all  necessary  buildings.  He  makes  a 
business  of  stall  feeding,  and  averages  yearly  from  one  to  three  car 
loads  of  cattle,  three  of  sheep  and  about  100  hogs.  He  is  considered 
one  of  the  most  reliable  men  in  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newmyer 
have  nine  children:  John,  a  man  of  family,  and  living  in  Kirksville ; 
Mary  Ann,  wife  of  John  Richardson  ;  Katie,  now  on  t^he  tapis;  Henry 
C,  George,  Hattie,  William  Lincoln,  Grant  and  Joseph.  Mrs.  N.  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

LEANDER  O.  PL  ATT 

(Post-office,  Atlanta).  » 

Mr.  Piatt  was  born  June  19,  1840,  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Mich. 
His  father,  B.  R.  Piatt,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  married  in 
1835  Miss  Fidelia  Hammond,  also  of  New  York.  He  then  moved  to 
Michigan,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Kalamazoo.  He  was  su- 
pervisor of  his  township  for  a  number  of  years  and  lived  there  until 
his  death,  in  1849.  L.  O.  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  and 
attended  the  common  school.  He  farmed  on  the  old  homestead  until 
1866,  when  he  moved  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and  at  once  established 
himself  on  his  present  farm.  He  owns  280  acres  of  land,  all  fenced, 
and  nearly  all  in  meadow,  pasture  and  cultivation.  His  farm  is  well 
improved,  and  bears  every  mark  of  careful  management  and  success. 
His  orchard  is  particularly  fine.  In  Kent  county,  January  1,  1863, 
Mr.  Piatt  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Helen,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Catherine  Blain,  formerly  from  Orleans  county.  Mrs.  P.  is  a 
native  of  Kent.  There  are  three  children  in  the  family:  Oscar  B., 
now  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  ;  Ollie,  wife  of  John  R.  Goodding,  and 
Euofene  Delano.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piatt  belong  to  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian  Church. 

GEORGE  A.  REDMON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-feeder). 

Mr.  Redmon,  who  has  followed  farming  practically  his  whole  life, 
has  thus  far  been  quite  successful,  and  is  comfortably  situated.  He 
has  a  good  farm  of  200  acres,  besides  other  lands,  and  has  his  place 
more  than  ordinarily  improved.  His  residence  is  a  neat  and  com- 
fortable one,  and  his  fences  are  substantial,  while  his  stables  and  other 
buildings  are  of  an  excellent  class.  He  has  a  good  orchard  on  his 
place,  and  has  most  of  his  farm  in  meadow,  which  he  finds  a  profitable 
product.  He  is  now  feeding  about  50  head  of  cattle  and  100  head  of 
hogs  for  the  wholesale  markets.  Mr.  Redmon  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  born 
in  Van  Buren  count}"-,  November  27, 1837.  His  parents,  Dr.  Solomon 
Redmon  and  Rebecca,  nee  Williams,  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky, 


1076  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

and  removed  to  Morgan  county,  III.,  in  an  early  day.  They  subse- 
quently removed  to  Van  Baren  county,  la.,  as  early  as  1837,  a  few 
months  before  George  A.'s  birth.  The  father  was  the  pioneer  physi- 
cian of  VanBuren  county,  as  well  as  one  of  its  first  settlers.  In  1849 
he  went  to  California,  going  in  a  large  train  of  Argonauts  across  the 
plains,  and  being  the  only  physician  in  the  train.  He  died  in  Cali- 
fornia soon  after  reaching  his  destination.  George  A.  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Van  Buren  county,  and  had  but  limited  opportunities  to  obtain 
an  education.  He  learned  enough,  however,  to  manage  his  own  aflairs 
successfully,  and  has  picked  up  much  information  by  reading  since. 
He  first  started, out  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Birmingham,  la.,  where  he 
clerked  for  18  months.  He  then  came  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in 
Macon  county  in  1858.  Here  he  bought  raw  land,  and  improved  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  January  18,  1859,  Mr.  Redmon  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Harrison,  a  daughter  of  William  Harrison, 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Macon  county  from  North  Carolina. 
Mrs.  Redmon  was  born  and  reared  in  Jones  county  of  that  State. 
Mr.  Redmon  continued  to  reside  on  his  farm  in  this  county  until  1866, 
when  he  sold  it  and  went  back  to  Van  Buren  county,  la.  ;  but  having 
to  take  his  farm  back  for  non-payment  of  the  purchase  money,  he 
came  back  to  his  place  in  1869,  and  has  since  resided  on  it.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  R.  have  been  blessed  with  13  children  :  Ella  M.,  deceased  at  the 
age  of  20;  Solomon  L.,  John  G.  V.,  Thomas  E.,  Josiah  H.,  Mary 
S.,  James  H.,  Benjamin  F.  and  Alger  A.  They  have  lost  four  be- 
sides Ella  — William  E.,  Winefred  E.,  Alma  R.  and  Nellie,  all  of 
whom  died  at  tender  ages.  In  1861  Mr.  Redmon  enlisted  in  the  M. 
E.  M.,  and  served  two  years  under  Col.  Eberman.  August  3,  1864, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  of  the  United  States  Forty-second  Missouri  in- 
fantry, and  served  until  honorably  discharged  in  March,  1865.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  R.  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Fair- 
view,  of  which  he  is  the  steward  and  a  trustee.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R. 

EDWIN  O.  SNOW 

(Of  Snow  &  Co.,  Merchants,  Atlanta). 
Mr.  Snow  has  been  engaged  in  his  present  business  since  the  fall  of 
1883.  His  firm  carries  an  excellent  stock  of  general  merchandise  and 
has  a  substantial  and  steadily  increasing  trade.  They  keep  a  good 
class  of  goods  and  sell  them  at  prices  which  protect  them  from  injury 
by  competition,  for  they  can  not  be  undersold  by  any  other  house  in  the 
countv.  Dealing  fairly  with  their  customers,  they  retain  their  confi- 
dence and  make  their  house  one  of  growing  popularity.  Mr.  Snow 
is,  himself,  a  man  of  good  education  and  business  experience,  and  be- 
ino-  a  man  of  popular  manners  and  address,  he  could  hardly  fiiil  of 
success  in  any  ordinary  circumstances.  He  is  a  native  of  Michigan, 
born  in  the  county  of  Kalamazoo,  December  26,  1853.  A  sketch  of 
his  father's  family  appears  on  a  former  page  of  this  work.  Edwin  O. 
was  13  years  of  age  when  they  came  to  Macon  county,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  his  youth  was  spent  on  the  fiirm  in  this  county.     Besides 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1077 

a  good  common-school  education  which  he  acquired,  he  attended  busi- 
ness college,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  farm  and  remained  there 
until  1878.  He  now  removed  to  Kansas  and  was  engao-ed  in  farmino; 
and  stock-raising  there  for  about  four  years.  From  Kansas,  in  the 
fall  of  1882,  he  went  to  Nebraska  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
at  Hastings.  The  following  year,  however,  he  sold  out  at  Hastings 
and  came  back  to  Macon  county,  and  engaged  in  his  present  business 
at  Atlanta.  On  the  29th  of  December,  1876,  Mr.  Snow  was  married 
to  Miss  Cora  M.  Davies,  a  daughter  of  William  Davies,  of  this  county, 
but  formerly  of  Baltimore,  Md.  Mrs.  Snow  was  reared  and  educated 
at  Baltimore,  where  she  received  an  advanced  education.  She  made 
a  specialty  of  the  study  of  instrumental  music,  and  became  highly  ac- 
complished in  that  department.  She  taught  instrumental  music  for 
several  years,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  pianists  in  the 
city.  Mrs.  Snow  is  a  lady  of  superior  musical  talent  and  culture, 
and  is  highly  prized  in  the  best  society  of  Atlanta  and  this  vicinity. 
Mr.  and  Sirs.  Snow  have  two  children  :  Milo  Herbert  and  Gilbert  E. 
Mrs.  Snow  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

ORLA  SNOW 

(Of  the  Firm  of  Orla  Snow  &  Co.,  Dealers  in  General  Merchandise,  Atlanta,  Mo.). 

Mr.  Snow  is  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  was  born  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  September  27,  1841.  His  father,  Ansel  Snow,  from  Massa- 
chusetts, when  starting  out  in  life  went  first  to  New  York.  He  there 
met,  loved  and  married  Miss  Arbelia  Wilmouth,  and  continuing  his 
travels,  finally  landed  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Mich.  Here  Orla  S.  re- 
ceived his  first  lesson  in  farming,  as  well  as  other  branches  of  educa- 
tion. He  attended  the  public  schools,  and  remained  in  the  county 
of  his  birth  until  1865,  which  year  he  began,  on  the  first  day,  by 
marrying  Miss  Marilla,  daughter  of  Arden  Beckley,  formerly  from 
Ohio,  though  Mrs.  S.  was  born  and  reared  in  Lenawee  county,  Mich. 
The  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Snow  moved  to  Macon  county,  Mo., 
bought  a  farm  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  It  was 
not  until  September,  1882,  that  he  embarked  in  his  present  business. 
He  dwns  his  building  which  is  handsome,  new,  and  of  brick,  and  con- 
tains a  full  line  of  general  merchandise;  Mr.  S.  has  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow-citizens  and  has  secured  a  flourishing  trade.  He  has  a 
lovely  family,  numbering  six  children:  Clara  E.,  Lora  Effie,  Carey 
E.,  Orson  E.,  Arthur  M.  and  Ruby.  Mr.  Snow  is  a  member  of  At- 
lanta lodge.  No.  411,  I.  0.0.  F.,  has  filled  all  the  offices  of  the 
lodge  and  is  now  the  Noble  Grand.  He  holds  the  position  of  trustee 
of  his  township. 

ORSON  SNOW 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  S.  is  the  son  of  Ansel  Snow  and  brother  of  Orla  Snow,  of  At- 
lanta, whose  sketch  appears  in  this  history.  Mr.  Snow  was  born  in 
Oswego  county,  N.  Y.,  January  19,  1827.     In  1837  he  went  with  his 


1078  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

parents  to  Michigan,  Kalamazoo  county,  and  here  spent  most  of  his 
youthful  years.  He  was  given  a  good  education  at  the  public  schools. 
Mr.  Snow  lived  in  Kalamazoo  county  until  after  the  war,  making 
farmino-  his  profession.  In  1866,  after  a  previous  prospecting  trip 
to  Missouri,  he  moved  to  the  State  and  bought  a  partially  improved 
farm  in  Lyda  township.  This  he  subsequently  traded  for  the  one  he 
now  owns  which  contains  480  acres  of  land,  400  fenced  and  in  culti- 
vation and  meadow  pasture.  He  has  also  given  each  of  his  sons  a 
farm,  for,  of  course,  Mr.  Snow  is  a  married  man.  His  first  wife,  to 
whom  he  was  united  October  22,  1848,  was  Miss  Kosella,  daughter  of 
Timothy  Ward,  formerly  from  Ohio.  By  this  marriage  there  were 
six  children:  Edgar  G.,  now  married  in  the  county;  Edna,  wife  of 
Theophilus  Jones  ;  Edwin  O.,  married  and  in  business  at  Atlanta  with 
Orla  Snow;  Julia,  wife  of  J.  J.  Butler;  Estella  Ettie,  a  teacher,  and 
Charles  T.  Mrs.  S.,  who  for  31  years  had  been  a  true  and  faithful 
companion  to  her  husband,  departed  this  life  June  29,  1879.  She 
was  a  woman  of  manifold  excellencies  and  was  adored  by  her  husband 
and  family  as  well  as  beloved  by  all  who  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  her 
acquaintance.  Mr.  Snijw's  second  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Wap- 
pello  county,  Iowa,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1883,  the  fair  lady  being 
Mrs.  Jane,  widow  of  Jesse  Lane,  and  daughter  of  John  P.  Still  well, 
of  Ithica,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Snow  has  by  her  former  marriage  three  chil- 
dren :  Ella  E.,  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.  ;  Burritt  S.,  telegraph  operator 
at  Creston,  Iowa,  and  Everett  C,  also  aii  operator  in  Wyoming  and 
agent  at  Farrel  Station.  Mrs.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     This  family  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in  the  township. 

ORANGE  WARD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 
Mr.  W.  was  born  in  Akron,  Summit  county,  Ohio,  June  7,  1827, 
and  was  the  son  of  Col.  Timothy  H.  Ward,  who  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  and  married  Miss  Rosella  Ross,  from  N.  Y.  After  his  mar- 
riao-e  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  took  a  position  of  much  promi- 
nence among  men,  standing  always  at  the  head  of  the  advance  to 
civilization  and  education  in  his  day.  He  served  as  magistrate  fbr  a 
p-ood  many  years,  and  also  as  colonel  of  militia.  Orange  W.  grew 
up  in  Summit  county,  and  received  a  good  common-school  education. 
At  the  ao-e  of  14  he  was  apprenticed  in  a  carriage  factory  at  Talmage, 
and  remained  there  four  years.  He  then  worked  for  several  years  at 
Middlebury  and  Akron,  and  in  1847  was  married  to  'Miss  Ann, 
dauo-hter  of  John  Spellman,  of  Ohio.  Directly  after  taking  this  im- 
portant step  in  life,  Mr.  Ward  moved  to  Michigan,  and  was,  until 
1866,  eno-aged  in  buying  raw  land,  improving  and  selling  it.  He 
lived  successively  in  Kalamazoo,  Barry,  Kalamazoo  again,  and  Oceana 
counties,  and  in  the  year  above  mentioned  he  moved  to  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  in  company  with  about  30  families,  nearly  all  from  Kalama- 
zoo. He  bought  the  place  upon  which  he  now  lives.  It  contains  210 
acres  of  land,  in  which  his  son  has  an  interest,  a  comfortable   house, 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1079 

good  buildings,  and  orchard,  etc.  Mr.  W.  has  sold  160  acres,  as  he 
did  not  need  so  much.  He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
was  for  a  time  collector  of  Oceana  county,  and  has  been  for  more  than 
20  years  school  director.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  the 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  have  two  children  :  George  C,  now  a 
man  of  family,  at  Vienna,  Macon  county,  and  Mar}',  wife  of  George 
Parsons. 

BENJAMIN  H.  WEATHERFORD,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon). 

Dr.  Weatherford  was  born  in  Howard  county,  Mo.,  December  16, 
1824.  His  father  and  mother,  David  and  Elizabeth  (Grogan)  Weath- 
erford, were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  after  their  marriage  emigrated, 
first  to  Tennessee,  then,  in  1819,  to  Howard  county.  Mo.,  and  in 
1829  to  Monroe  county,  and  there  the  Doctor  grew  up  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  21  went  to  Shelby ville  to  study  medicine  under  Dr.  McCord, 
an  eminent  physician  of  that  county.  He  took  his  first  course  of  lec- 
tures in  the  winter  of  1848-49,  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  at 
Cincinnati,  to  which  he  returned  to  complete  the  course  after  prac- 
ticing for  some  years  both  at  Shelby  ville  and  Bloomington.  He  then 
practiced  in  various  places  ;  Kinmundy,  Marion  county.  111.,  Moberly, 
Mo.,  Kirksville,  La  Plata,  and  finally,  in  1881,  settled  in  Atlanta, 
and  there  has  since  remained.  Though  his  health  has  interfered 
to  some  extent  with  his  medical  duties,  Dr.  Weatherford  has  been 
very  successful  in  his  profession,  and  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit 
to  suffering  mankind.  He  has  the  entire  confidence  and  affectionate 
regard  of  a  boundless  circle  of  friends.  The  Doctor  married  in  Shel- 
byville,  in  April,  1848,  Miss  Lucy  Marmaduke,  daughter  of  J.  B. 
Marmaduke,  of  Shelby  county,  but  after  a  few  years  she  faded  away, 
having  lost  in  infancy  both  of  her  children.  In  1854  Dr.  Weather- 
ford chose  for  her  successor  Mrs.  Julia  Ann,  widow  of  George  W. 
Sharp,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons  :  the  Rev.  James  E.  Sharp,  a  very 
talented  speaker,  now  in  charge  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  at  Moberly,  and  the  Rev.  George  W.  Sharp,  also  a  minister 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  preacher  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability.  He  has  been  working  in  the  interest  of  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union  for  three  or  four  years  past,  but  does  a  great 
deal  of  preaching  while  establishing  Sunday  Schools.  He  has  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  active  and  efficient  workers  in  the 
cause.  Dr.  W.'s  wife  died  in  July,  1880,  and  he  is  still  a  widower. 
He  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat,  and  in  1860  represented  the  county 
with  much  brilliancy.  In  1861  the  Doctor  went  into  the  Confederate 
services  as  a  surgeon,  which  experience  has  been  invaluable  to  him 
in  that  branch  of  his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  Blue  Lodge,  and  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  and  is  also  an  Odd 
Fellow,  in  both  of  which  orders  he  has  filled  all  the  offices. 

63 


1080  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

JAMES  L.  WOOD,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Merchant). 
Dr.  Wood  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ky.,  December  9,  1809.  His 
father,  Capt.  John  Wood,  was  the  first  settler  of  what  was  known  as 
the  wilderness  of  Kentucky,  and  built  a  block  house  at  the  Hazle- 
patch  for  protection  against  the  Indians.  He  also  had  command  of  a 
company.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  Mane,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
lived  in  Kentucky  until  his  death.  The  Doctor  grew  up  in  his  native 
county  on  a  farm  and  received  a  good  English  education.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  in  1844,  under  Dr.  Bartlett,  of  Louis- 
iana. He  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College 
in  the  winter  of  1845-46,  also  in  1846-47,  and  graduated  in  the  spring. 
On  receiving  his  diploma  Dr.  Wood  went  into  partnership  with  Dr. 
Bartlett  and  continued  to  practice  at  Louisiana  until  1854.  He  then 
lived  in  various  places,  viz.  :  St.  Charles  county.  Mo.,  Moro,  111.,  and 
in  1865  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  practiced  there  for  a  year,  at- 
tending at  the  same  time  the  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary,  next  lived  for 
four  years  in  Macon  City,  and  finally  in  1870  settled  at  Love  Lake 
where  he  now  lives.  The  Doctor  has  given  up  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession and  become  a  merchant.  He  carries  a  good  stock  of  general 
merchandise.  He  was  for  12  years  railroad  agent  at  this  station. 
Dr.  Wood  occupied  several  positions  of  trust  while  in  Louisiana.  "  He 
was  recorder  and  treasurer,  was  examiner  of  teachers,  and  filled  several 
minor  local  offices.  He  was  postmaster  at  Love  Lake  for  12  years, 
and  was  deprived  of  the  position  because  he  would  not  contribute  to 
the  election  of  Garfield.  In  1880  the  Doctor  married  in  Knox  county, 
Ky.,  Mrs.  Susanna  Logan,  daughter  of  Luke  Watkins,  one  of  the  old 
pioneers  of  Kentucky,  from  Virginia.  Mrs.  W.  died  in  Louisiana  in 
about  1847.  There  were  three  children,  two  of  whom  reached  years 
of  discretion.  But  one  now  survives,  viz.  :  Henderson  Wood,  in  the 
railroad  business  at  St.  Joe.  In  1849,  in  Louisiana,  the  Doctor  chose 
a  second  wife,  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Richard  Fentum,  an  English- 
man by  birth.  Mrs.  Wood  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Mo.  Eleven 
children  vi^ere  born  of  this  union,  of  whom  on^  only  is  now  living  : 
Margaret  Ann,  wife  of  B.  F.  Atterberry,  of  La  Plata.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Wood  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  the  Doctor  has 
been  for  35  years  a  Mason. 


VALLEY     TOWISrSHIP. 


DANIEL  C.  JONES 

(Farmer,  Section  19). 

This  gentleman  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  Jones,  natives  of 
Wales,  where  Daniel  C.  was  born,  August  9,  1835.  He  was  raised 
on  a  farm,  and  received  a  common-school  education.  Upon  coming 
to  America,  he  adopted  farming  as  his  calling,  and  settled  in  Macon 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1081 

county.  He  owns  106  acres  of  land,  and  raises  principally  hay, 
though  he  has  some  good  stock.  Mr.  Jones  married,  in  1866,  Miss 
Jane  Jones,  of  Chicago,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Benedict  Jones,  from 
Wales.  There  are  three  children  living  and  one  deceased  ;  the  first 
are  Benedict  D.,  Thomas  T.  and  David  Francis.  Jane  sleeps  in  the 
bosom  of  her  God.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  New  Cambria.     They  are  worthy  and  deserving  people. 

EDWAED  C.  LLOYD 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Callao) . 
The  large  number  of  the  better  class  of  citizens  of  Macon  county 
who  old  Virginia  has  contributed  to  the  county,  is  shown  by  a  mere 
glance  at  the  names  and  nativity  of  the  subjects  of  the  bioo-raphical 
department  of  this  work.  The  Old  Dominion  has  given  to  Macon 
county  more  of  its  residents  than  have  been  furnished  by  any  other 
State  except,  perhaps,  Kentucky,  and  nine  out  often  Kentuckians  are 
either  themselves  originally  from  Virginia  or  the  representatives 
by  descent  of  old  Virginia  families.  In  common  with  many  of  our 
best  citizens,  Mr.  Lloyd  also  is  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  was  born 
in  Bedford  county,  of  the  Old  Dominion,  January  8,  1829.  His 
father  was  Henry  C.  Lloyd,  and  his  mother,  before  her  marriao-e,  was 
a  Miss  Temperence  Meadow.  The  father  was  a  former  by  occu°3ation, 
and  Edward  C.  was  brought  up  to  understand  all  about  farming.  At 
the  age  of  21  he  made  his  home  in  Kentucky,  and  as  that  State  is 
famous  for  its  fair  women,  he  was  not  many  years  in  the  Blue  Grass 
Commonwealth  until  he  met  one  of  whom  he  thought  as  Lorenzo  de 
Medici  thought  of  La  Nencia  da  Barberino  :  — 

"  Beyond  all  noble  fortunes,  fortunate 

He'll  be  who  takes  her  to  his  happy  bosom. 
Well  might  he  call  his  stars  glorious  and  great 

Whose  lot  it  is  to  wear  this  heavenly  blossom! 
Well  may  he  take  his  peace  thenceforth  with  Fate, 

And  lightly  bear  whatever  ills  should  cross  him. 
Who  clasps  fair  Nencia  as  his  wedded  wife, 

White  as  wild  wax  and  with  love's  honey  rifel" 

He  devotedly  paid  his  fair  one  court,  and  his  suit  resulted  as  they 
usually  result  where  the  suitor  is  worthy  of  a  true  woman's  regard. 
Accordingly,  on  the  24th  of  March,  1853,  he  was  married  to  the'  one 
he  loved  more  than  all  others  on  earth,  and  Miss  Martha  Wilson 
became  his  happy  bride.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  singular  attractive- 
ness of  person  and  manners,  and  rare  sweetness  of  disposition.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  M.  K.  Wilson,  of  Meade  county,  Ky.,  but 
afterwards  of  Macon  county.  Mo.  This  union  proved  a  long  and 
happy  one,  and  was  blessed  with  several  children.  Meanwhile,  in'l855, 
Mr.  Lloyd  moved  to  Missouri,  and  located  first  in  Lewis  county,  but 
two  years  later  came  to  Macon  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Here  he  has  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  with  great  industry, 
and  has  not  only  brought  up  his  family  in  comfort,  but  has  aceumu- 


1062  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

latecl  a  comfortable  property.  He  has  a  good  farm  of  160  acres,  one 
of  the  desirable  homesteads  of  this  part  of  the  county.  August  26, 
1874,  Mr.  Lloyd  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  wife  of  his  early 
manhood  days,  the  one  who  for  over  20  years  had  been  by  his  side, 
his  solace  and  comfort  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  life,  and  who,  it 
mattered  not  how  the  storm  of  misfortune  or  adversity  raged  without, 
made  the  sacred  confines  of  his  home  one  of  singular  peace,  and 
encouragement  and  happiness.  She  was  a  rare  woman  in  many 
respects,  and  in  every  respect  a  true  and  loving  wife  and  devoted 
mother.  She  died  buoyed  in  the  last  hour  and  last  moment  of  life  by 
that  supreme  and  happy  faith  in  the  promise  of  the  Redeemer  that 
the  grave  shall  be  but  an  entrance  to  a  life  eternal.  Of  their  family 
of  children  eight  are  living.  Mr.  Lloyd  has  no  children  by  his  present 
wife.  She  was  a  Mrs.  Martha  M.  Beers  before  her  marriage  to  him,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lucinda  Davis,  formerly  of  New  York.  Mrs. 
Lloyd  is  a  most  excellent  and  amiable  lady,  and  is  highly  thought  of 
by  all  her  neighbors  and  acquaintances.  Her  first  husband,  Daniel 
Beers,  to  whom  she  was  married  in  1840,  died  in  the  Union  army  at 
Columbus,  Ga.,  in  1865.  She  has  four  sons  by  her  first  marriage: 
James  B.,  of  Colorado  ;  Lyman  A.  of  Illinois  ;  Henry  W.  and  Charles 
N.,  who  died  in  January,  1884,  at  the  age  of  22.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lloyd  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.  in  Kentucky. 

DANIEL  OWEN 

(Farmer,  Section  31). 

Mr.  Owen  is  of  Welsh  birth,  and  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Sarah 
Owen,  and  first  saw  tiie  liglit  October  16,  1810  ;  his  parents  were 
both  born  in  Wales.  Daniel  was  raised  on  a  farm  in  his  native  coun- 
try and  lived  there  until  1876,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  coming 
directly  to  New  Cambria,  Macon  county.  He  is  here  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising;  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  100  acres  and  is  well-to- 
do  in  the  world.  Far  from  the  scenes  of  his  childhood  he  has  made  a 
new  home  as  fair  and  almost  as  dear,  and  in  this  strange  land  his  vir- 
tues find  ready  acknowledgment,  his  sturdy  worth  ungrudging  admir- 
ation. In  1836  Mr.  Owen  married  Miss  Maria  Morris,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Eleanor  Morris,  all  of  Wales.  They  have  three  children  : 
Alexander,  Margaret  and  Martha.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owen  are  members 
of  the  New  Cambria  Baptist  Church. 

RICHARD  C.  PHIPPS 

(Post-office,  Callao). 

Mr.  Phipps,  the  son  of  J.  W.  and  Anna  (Crystal)  Phipps,  natives 
of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  the  Blue  Grass  State  October  21,  1829. 
When  he  was  but  one  year  old  his  parents  emigrated  to  Randolph 
county,  Mo.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  county.     When  he  reached  the  age  of  24  he  went 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1083 

by  himself  to  Macon  county  and  bought  a  farm  in  what  was  then 
Liberty  but  is  now  Valley  township,  and  branched  out  into  a  full 
fledged  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  Of  the  latter  he  makes  a  specialty, 
and  still  resides  in  Valley  townshi^D.  His  farm  is  very  far  above  the 
average  of  those  in  the  county  and  has  all  the  newest  and  most  mod- 
ern conveniences  and  improvements.  Mr.  Phipps  is  in  every  sense  a 
progressive  farmer,  and  believes  in  keeping  up  with  the  times.  In 
the  year  1855,  on  the  25th  of  October,  Mr.  P.  led  to  the  altar  a  blush- 
ing bride.  Miss  Catherine  Humphreys,  a  daughter  of  Martin  and  Eliza- 
beth (Staufield)  Humphreys,  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  have  six 
children  :  William  Pay,  born  August  31,  1856,  now  married  to  Miss 
Mattie  Goodson,  daughter  of  John  E.  Goodson;  Mady  Morella,  born 
October  12,  1858,  wife  of  John  M.  Burton  ;  Lizzie  Martin,  born  June 
27,  1861,  now  the  Avife  of  Paul  Burton  ;  Charlie  Lee,  born  May  4, 
1864,  married  to  Miss  Mary  Fletcher;  Effie  Ann,  died  in  1869,  and 
interred  in  Callao  cemetery;  and  Carlos  Bual,  born  September  22, 
1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phipps  are  members  of  the  Old  School  Baptist 
Church.     Mr.  P.  was  for  two  years  assessor  for  the  township. 

JOHN  KEES 

(Farmer,  Section  30). 

Mr.  Rees  was  born  March  1,  1818,  in  Wales.  He  was  raised  on 
the  other  side  of  the  ocean  and  taught  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which 
he  worked  until  1854.  He  then  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  this 
"  land  of  the  free  and  home  of  the  brave.  "  He  landed  in  New  York 
with  a  light  purse,  but  a  strong  spirit.  He  followed  his  trade  for  a 
few  years  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  then  in  1866  came  to  Macon 
county.  Mo.  His  pluck  brought  him  safely  through,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  most  flourishing  farmers  in  the  township.  He  owns 
300  acres  of  land,  all  well  improved  and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
His  name  is  the  synonym  for  honesty  iind  integrity,  and  serene  in  the 
consciousness  of  a  life  well  spent,  he  now  basks  in  the  sunshine  of 
prosperity.  Mr.  Rees  was  married  in  Wales,  in  1845,  to  Miss  Mary 
Williams,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Williams,  natives  of  this 
soil.  Of  this  marriage  were  born  10  children,  viz.  :  Joseph,  Han- 
nah, now  Mrs.  Evans;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Phillips;  Jeanette,  John, 
Thomas  and  Maggie.  Ann,  Sarah  and  Rees  are  deceased.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rees  belono-  to  the  Consiireo-ational  Church  at  New  Cambria. 

EVAN  W.  ROBERTS 

(Section  29). 

Among  the  oldest  and  best  citizens  of  Valley  township  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  the  son  jof  William  and  Mary  Roberts,  of  Wales. 
Evan  W.  was  born  in  that  country  May  10,  1831.  He  came  to  Macon 
county  in  March  of  the  year  1858,  and  has  been  here  ever  since.  He 
owns  160  acres  of  pleasant  lying  land  which  he  has  in  first-clnss 
order.  He  has  some  good  graded  stock.  October  3,  1851,  Mr. 
Roberts  married  Miss  Jane  Roberts,  but  after  giving  birth  to  several 


1084  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

children,  two  of  whom,  Kobert  E.  find  Mary  Jane,  are  living,  this 
gentle  ladj  slipped  quietly  away  to  dwell  forever  in  a  heavenly  man- 
sion, where  no  harp  of  gold  makes  sweeter  music  than  hers.  Decem- 
ber 11,  1867,  Mr.  R.  was  again  married  to  Miss  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Kev.  Edward  and  Maria  Meredith,  natives  of  Wales.  He  and  his  family 
are  Presbyterians.  During  the  war  Mr.  Roberts  belonged  to  the 
Forty-second  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia,  and  served  at  intervals  for 
three  years.  He  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  acting  agent  for  the 
Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad. 

WILLIAM  D.  ROBERTS 

(Post-office,  New  Cambria) . 

Mr.  R.  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  Welsh  settlers  in  New  Cambria. 
He  was  born  December  31,  1826,  in  Wales,  and  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents,  David  W.  and  Miriam  Roberts,  when  a  child.  They 
lived  for  a  number  of  years  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  then  removed  to 
Waukesha  county,  Wis.,  where  the  old  people  died,  the  father  in  1857, 
the  mother  in  1881.  In  1854,  in  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  William  D. 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Williams,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Eleanor  Williams,  of  Wales.  Mrs.  Roberts  herself  was  born  in 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  Four  children  were  born  of  this  marriage, 
Miriam  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  Baldwin;  David  A.,  Minnie,  now  Mrs.  Bun- 
dren  ;  and  Margaret  C.  The  movement  in  favor  of  a  Welsh  colony  was 
first  agitated  in  1863  by  a  gentleman  from  New  York,  and  during  the  two 
following  years  it  was  established  in  Macon  county,  Mo.  The  family  of 
Mr.  Roberts  was  the  first  t©  arrive.  They  settled  in  what  was  then 
called  Stockton,  but  is  now  New  Cambria  ;  and  Mr.  R.  built  the  first 
house  in  the  place,  which  was  a  hotel  for  the  accommodation  of  all  who 
should  come.  He  is  therefore  identified  with  all  the  best  interests  of 
the  town,  and  none  of  the  citizens  have  its  welfare  more  at  heart. 
Mr.  Roberts  is  a  farmer,  owning  500  acres  of  land  well  cultivated, 
and  with  good  buildings,  etc.  ;  his  stock  is  specially  fine.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Roberts  are  connected  with  the  Congregational  Church  at  New 
Cambria,  and  Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  that  place. 

JAMES  M.  SENEY 

(Farmer,  Section  1,  Post-office,  Callao,  Mo). 

Mr.  S.'s  father,  Ira  Seney,  was  born  April  12,  1807,  in  Kentucky. 
He  married  Miss  Susan  Sluth,  a  native  of  Ohio,  in  the  year  1827,  in 
Shelby  county,  Ind.,  and  continued  to  live  in  that  locality  until  1835  ; 
he  then  removed  to  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  but  after  a  residence  of  a 
few  months  again  moved  to  Macon  county,  and  settled  in  Valley  town- 
ship, then  Liberty,  on  the  same  farm  the  son  James  now  owns  and 
lives  on.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  there  being  only 
two  families  in  it  at  the  time  of  his  emigration.  Mr.  Ira  Seney  raised  a 
family  of  11  children,  all  living  except  two,  who  died  in  infancy.  They 
were  respectively :  Nancy  Ann  died  in  1832  at  the  age  of  two  years  ; 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1085 

Averrilla,  wife  of  Alexander  Steadraan,  of  Macon  ;  Mary  Ann,  at 
home  ;  Lucinda,  wife  of  J.  W.  Cavender ;  Albert  G.,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  A.  T.  Steadman,  of  Iowa,  and  living  in  Macon  county; 
Robert  M.,  who  fell  on  Red  river  under  Price  while  bravely  battling 
for  the  rights  of  the  heroic  but  doomed  South  ;  a  nation  not  less  no- 
ble though  vanquished  remembers  with  tears  the  fate  of  this  one  of 
her  departed  heroes;  Wilbur  J.,  who  married  Amanda,  daughter  of 
William  Knight,  now  a  widower ;  Caroline,  wife  of  John  Bohers,  of 
Macon  county  ;  James  M.,  at  home,  and  John  L.,  who  married  Laura 
Raines,  daughter  of  Robert  Raines,  of  Macon  county.  The  father  of 
this  family  met  with  his  death  in  March,  1847,  through  an  accident. 
He  was  killed  by  a  fall  while  building  a  house.  James  M.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  February  20,  1844.  He  was  educated  in 
Missouri  at  the  public  schools  and  has  lived  always  in  Macon  county ; 
indeed,  has  never  left  it  except  for  a  few  months  at  a  time  in  search  of 
health.  He  is  a  farmer  and  has  60  acres  of  as  good  land  as  ever 
smiled  beneath  the  sky;  his  improvements  are  first-class.  Mr.  Seney 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war  under  Gen.  Price  ;  he  enlisted  in  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  in  the  Third  regiment  of  Missouri  State  Guards,  and  was 
in  the  battles  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  and  Pea  Ridge.  At  the  latter  he  re- 
ceived a  wound  in  his  hand,  of  which  he  still  bears  the  mark.  Mr.  S. 
belongs  to  the  Good  Templars  of  Liberty  township,  and  took  part  in 
the  Grange  movement  of  1873.     He  is  an  unmarried  man,  and 

Many  an  eye  marks  his  coming 
Ami  shines  brighter  when  he  comes. 

He  is  one  of  the  finest  young  men  in  the  township. 


MOKROW     TOWlSrSHIP. 


I 


WILLIAM  M.  EPPERLY 

(Section  24), 

Mr.  E.,  a  native  of  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  was  born  February  5, 
1839.  His  father,  David  Epperly,  was  from  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  as 
also  his  mother,  who  has  since  died  in  Randolph.  William  M.  grew 
up  on  a  farm  and  attended  the  county  schools,  finally  taking  a  course 
in  English,  Latin  and  German  at  Mount  Pleasant  College.  About  the 
time  he  reached  manhood  war  was  declared  between  the  North  and 
South,  and  he  enlisted  in  Sterling  Price's  army.  He  was  under  Van- 
dorn,  Hindman  and  Holmes.  When  the  soft  voice  of  peace  prevailed 
over  the  thunders  of  war,  Mr.  Epperly  took  up  the  ferule  in  place  of 
the  musket,  and  for  10  years  his  battles  were  waged  with  the  ignor- 
ance, stupidity  or  obstinacy,  as  it  chanced,  of  unruly  urchins.  He 
taught  in  Randolph  and  Chariton  counties.  Mr.  E.  is  now  a  farmer. 
He  owns  180  acres  of  land  which  is  all  in  good  order,  and  among  other 


1086  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

improvements  contains  a  line  orchard  of  apple  and  peach  trees.  Mr. 
Epperly  is  a  married  man,  having  taken  to  wife  on  the  13th  day  of 
January,  1876,  Miss  Sarah  E.  Somers,  daughter  of  Weimer  Somers, 
now  of  Macon  county,  Morrow  township,  formerly  from  Kentucky. 
Mrs.  E.  is  a  native  of  Macon,  and  was  educated  at  the  public  schools 
of  the  same.  She  has  been  for  nine  years  a  member  of  the  Mission- 
ary Baptist  Church.  They  have  two  children  :  Elmer  and  Mollie;  one 
not  of  the  earth,  earthy,  has  soared  to  that  heavenly  realm  "where 
all  is  peace  and  joy  and  love."  Mr.  Epperly  is  much  respected  by  all, 
and  occupies  the  responsible  oflSce  of  justice  of  the  peace. 

PEYTON  Y.  HURT 

(Post-office,  Callao). 

Mr.  Hurt  was  born  in  Howard  county.  Mo.,  March  28,  1838.  His 
father  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  moved  to  Kentucky  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Jemima  Winn,  daughter  of  John  Winn  and  s-randdauirhter 
of  Col.  Winn,  of  South  Carolina.  He  then  came  to  Missouri  and 
settled  in  Howard  county,  near  Glasgow,  and  here  Peyton  Y.  was 
reared.  He  attended  the  common  schools  first  and  finished  his  edu- 
cation at  the  Glasgow  Academy.  In  his  younger  days  he  was  a 
farmer.  In  1845  he  removed  to  Chariton  county,  and  for  five  years 
was  superintendent  of  a  tobacco  factory.  There  he  met,  loved  and 
married  November  28,  1848,  Miss  Eliza  F.  Harrelson,  daughter  of 
James  M.  Harrelson,  of  Caswell  county,  N.  C.  By  this  marriage 
there  are  seven  living  children,  viz.  :  Olivia  F.,  wife  of  John  L.  An- 
derson, of  Macon  county,  formerly  of  Kentucky;  Elizabeth  J.,  wife 
of  William  J.  Powell,  of  Morrow  township,  formerly  of  North  Caro- 
lina; Grizzella  A.,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  F.  Morrow,  of  Kirksville,  Mo.  ; 
Leonidas  Bascom,  who  married  Miss  Ella  Lyles,  of  Macon  county  ; 
Luther  A.,  Ida  Alice,  wife  of  Thomas  C.  Cravin,  of  Randolph 
county,  and  Martin  Leftridge.  Those  deceased  are  Isabella,  Eleanor, 
Monroe  and  Eliza  J.,  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  In  1849  Mr. 
Hurt  moved  to  Macon  county,  still  engaging  in  farming.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  held 
for  13  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county 
court,  and  was  chosen  to  represent  the  Western  district  of  Macon 
county  in  the  Twenty-ninth  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  He  has 
also  been  trustee  of  the  township  for  a  number  of  years.  The  Judge 
was  left  a  widower  July  9,  1878,  and  on  the  15th  of  January,  1879, 
he  led  to  the  altar  a  second  wife  in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Ter- 
rill,  widow  of  Keeling  L.  Terrill,  formerly  of  Henry  county,  Ky.,  and 
daughter  of  James  Perrin,  of  Breckinridge  county,  Ky.  Mrs.  H.  has 
three  children  by  her  first  marriage:  Mattie  C.,  wife  of  M.  C. 
Burns,  of  Macon  City;  Luther  L.,  just  home  from  Central  College, 
and  Julia  A.  There  is  no  family  by  the  second  union.  Judge  Hurt's 
family  on  the  mother's  side  sprang  from  the  Hampton  fiimily.  He 
is  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  influential  men  in  the  township. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church   South,   in  which  he  has  been 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1087 

since  his  youth  steward  and  class  leader.  He  also  belongs  to  the  A. 
F.  and  A.  M.  Mrs.  H.  when  she  was  17  years  of  age,  joined  the 
Baptist  Church,  but  after  her  second  marriage  became  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

SINGLETON  LYLE  KASEY 

(Post-office,  Kaseyville). 

Mr.  Kasey  is  the  son  of  Singleton  Lyle  Kasey,  Sr.,  who  was  born 
October  1,  1796,  near  Liberty,  in  Bedford  county,  Va.  He  was  a 
farmer,  raising  principally  tobacco.  He  first  emigrated  to  Kentucky, 
and  in  1868  to  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  died.  His  wife  was  the 
daughter  of  James  Boatright,  a  farmer  on  the  Cumberland  river,  Va., 
who  also  moved  to  Kentucky.  Mr.  Kasey' s  grandfather,  Alexander 
KaSey,  Sr.,  was  also  a  native  of  Bedford  county,  Va.,  while  his  great- 
grandfather, James  Kasev,  Sr.,  was  from  Ireland.  The  latter  fouffht 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court 
House,  Gate's  Depot,  and  at  Yorktown.  Mr.  Kasey  himself  was  born 
June  8,  1838,  in  Breckinridge  county,  Ky.  He  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation in  the  hiofher  Eno-lish  branches  as  well  as  in  Latin  and  French 
at  a  high  school  at  Big  Spring,  in  Meade  county.  In  1866  he  moved 
to  Missouri  and  settled  at  Kaseyville,  Macon  county.  He  is  a  farmer 
and  also  a  merchant.  Since  1867  he  has  held  the  office  of  postmaster, 
with  which  he  combines  the  duties  of  notary  public.  On  the  6th  of 
November,  1878,  Mr.  Kasey  married  Miss  Octavia  Stanley  Hall, 
dauo-hter  of  Judo-e  William  Ausnstus  Hall.  The  Judo^e  was  born  in 
Maine,  but  was  taken  when  a  child  to  Virginia.  He  was  raised  at 
Harper's  Ferry  and  educated  at  Frederickstown,  Harvard  [Cam- 
bridge] and  Yale.  At  the  latter  place  he  studied  law,  and  moving  in 
1835  to  Missouri,  settled  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  a  representa- 
tive in  Congress  for  two  terms.  For  15  years  he,  with  marked  ability, 
graced  the  office  of  circuit  judge.  Mrs.  Kasey 's  grandparents  on  both 
sides  by  her  father  were  from  England  ;  her  mother.  Miss  Octavia 
Stanley  Sebree,  was  one  of  the  fairest  flowers  of  that  land  of  gorgeous 
bloom,  Florida  ;  she  was  a  native  of  Pensacola,  but  left  it  when  a  girl 
of  16.  She  was  married  July  29,  1847.  Mrs.  Kasey,  a  lady  of  fine 
natural  gifts  and  brilliant  accomplishments,  was  educated  with  unusual 
care.  She  first  attended  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  in  Randolph,  and 
afterwards  the  Convent  of  the  Visitation,  at  Frederick  Cit}^  Md. 
She  took  a  thorough  course,  including  music  and  French,  and  gradu- 
ated with  the  highest  honors.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kasey  have  two  children, 
a  son,  James  Singleton,  aged  three  years,  and  a  daughter,  Sebree 
Preble,  aged  two.  This  is  one  of  the  most  cultivated,  polished  and  in- 
teresting families  in  the  township.  Mr.  Kasey  is  jDossessed  of  fine  mind, 
charming  address  and  a  boundless  stock  of  information.  But  few  men 
have  more  influence.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and 
in  1877  was  a  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge.  Mr.  Kasey's  grandmother, 
wife  of  A.  Kasey,  was  Lurana  Shaon,  of  Virfrinia.  His^  great-grand- 
mother, wife  of  James  Kasey,  Sr.,  was  Mary  Kennedy.     Mrs.  Kasej's 


1088  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

grandmother,  mother  of  Hon.  William  A.  Hall,  was  Statira  Preble,  of 
Maine.  Her  grandmother,  wife  of  Capt.  William  Sebree,  was  Miss 
Ann  Brickell,  of  North  Carolina. 

CHARLES  CURTIS  PIERCE. 

(Farmer  and  Stock-Raiser). 

This  young  farmer,  of  brilliant  mind  and  more  than  ordinary  ac- 
quirements, is  a  native  of  Marion  county,  Ky.  In  that  county  he 
spent  the  first  nine  years  of  his  life,  then  moving  to  Daviess  county, 
of  the  same  State.  Immediately  afterwards  his  father  died,  and  he 
went  to  live  with  a  cousin  also  in  that  county.  At  the  end  of  a  year 
he  moved  to  Muhlenburgh  county,  and  was  there  educated  at  the  high 
school.  He  received  a  thorough  training  in  all  the  higher  English 
branches  as  well  as  in  Latin.  When  Mr.  Pierce  first  came  to  Mis- 
souri, in  1859,  he  settled  in  Randolph  county,  near  Huntsville,  where 
he  was  engaged  until  1864  in  farming  and  milling  with  his  step-father. 
For  the  next  few  years  he  was  agent  in  Kentucky  and  Indiana  for  a 
fan-mill  factory.  In  1867  Mr.  Pierce  returned  to  Missouri  and  for 
10  years  taught  in  the  public  school.  The  quickness  of  his  intellect 
and  his  varied  store  of  information  eminently  qualified  him  to  lead 
the  impressionable  mind  of  youth  into  the  most  fertile  fields  of  knowl- 
edge. Mr.  Pierce  is  now  a  farmer,  in  which  vocation  he  distinguishes 
himself  no  less  than  in  that  of  preceptor. 

WILLIE  VILEY  YATES,  M.  D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon) . 

Dr.  Yates,  a  popular  young  physician  of  Kaseyville,  was  born  No- 
vember 3,  1839,  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.  He  is  on  his  father's  side 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  on  his  mother's,  of  Welsh.  Both  branches 
were  in  the  colonies  before  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  head  of  the 
Yates  family  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Maryland,  having  lost 
an  arm  in  the  British  service  before  he  left  his  native  country.  He 
raised  two  sons,  one  of  whom  had  20  sons,  who  married  and  scattered 
all  over  the  colonies.  The  other  had  two  sons,  who  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  this  branch  springs  the  representative  of  the  family 
of  whose  life  this  sketch  treats.  His  father  was  born  in  Caroline 
county,  Va.,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1796.  He  moved  to  Kentucky 
first,  and  afterwards  in  1833  to  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  where  he  died 
in  1872.  He  was  educated  for  a  lawyer  in  Latin,  Greek  and  English 
literature  at  a  college  in  his  native  State.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  Kentucky,  was  also  a  Virginian.  Dr.  Willie  Yates  was 
raised  and  educated  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  taught  principally 
at  the  public  schools,  but  attended  Mt.  Pleasant  College  one  term. 
He  spent  his  boyhood  chiefly  on  a  farm,  where  his  father  raised  a 
large  number  of  negroes.  The  Doctor  studied  medicine  first  under 
his  brother  Paul  C.  Yates,  at  Jacksonville,  Randolph  county,  after- 
wards with  Dr.  Terrell  of  Darksville.     He  also  attended  the  Missouri 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1089 

Medical  College,  from  which  institution  he  received  his  M.  D.  in  1871. 
He  first  practiced  for  five  years  in  Macon  county  at  College  Mound, 
but  since  1877  has  been  at  Kaseyville.  Dr.  Yates  has  been  twice 
married,  the  first  time  in  1872  to  Miss  Mary  Rebecca  "Wright,  a 
daughter  of  John  G.  Wright  of  Jacksonville,  and  a  most  lovely  and 
accomplished  lady.  But  death  loves  a  shining  mark,  and  after  three 
years  of  happy  life  claimed  her  for  his  own.  She  left  one  child,  a 
little  girl  now  eight  years  old,  called  Laura  Elma.  In  1876  Dr.  Yates 
espoused  Miss  Laura  Marston  Wright,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  by 
whom  he  has  one  son,  John  Edward,  aged  six  years.  Mrs.  Yates  is 
a  graduate  of  McGee  College.  Her  grandfather,  a  Virginian  by  birth, 
moved  to  Kentucky  before  the  War  of  1812,  of  which  he  was  a  pen- 
sioner ;  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  six  years  ago  he  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  93.  Her 
mother  was  born  in  Tennessee,  but  was  of  German  parentage.  Her 
father  was  a  preacher  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the 
movement  for  the  development  of  which  he  was  conspicuous.  It  was 
to  his  (Willie  Yates')  great  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side,  a  Mr. 
Sutton,  that  a  transfer  of  land  between  Crab  Orchard  and  George- 
town was  made  by  Patrick  Henry.  Dr.  Yates  is  one  of  the  most  em- 
inent physicians  in  this  section  of  the  county.  His  winning  manner 
brings  him  a  large  practice,  which  his  wonderful  skill  and  success 
make  it  easy  for  him  to  keep.  For  him  life  v/ears  her  brightest  smile 
and  the  future  beckons  him  on  with  rosebud  finger.  Kaseyville,  the 
scene  of  the  Doctor's  triumphs,  was  built  in  1867.  ^Its  post-office 
and  lodge-room  however  were  not  completed  until  1874.  Lodge  No. 
498,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  was  chartered  in  1877.  The  lodge-room  is  over 
the  church.  The  present  officers  are  :  D.  D.  G.  M.,  David  Baird  of 
Kirksville;  Past  W.  M.,  W.  D.  Singleton,  J.  J.  Buster  and  Single- 
ton Kasey.  Dr.  Yates  fought  long  and  well  for  the  lost  cause.  He 
was  at  the  battle  of  Dry  Wood,  Warrensburg,  Lexington  and  Oak 
Hill.  At  the  last-named  place  he  received  a  severe  wound  through 
his  right  lung  and  was  afterwards  until  the  close  of  the  war  a  hos- 
pital steward.  He  was  in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Mississippi,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  Tennessee,  and  was  under  Price,  McCulloch,  A.  S.  Johnson, 
Beauregard,  Polk,  J.  E.  Johnston  and  Hood.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Yates 
are  both  member's  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 


BEYIER    TOW:>^SHIP. 


JAMES  E.  BURGE 

(Farmer) . 

James  R.  Burge's  ftither  was  a  native  of  England,  who  emigrated 
to  America,  marrying  a  lady  from  Pennsylvania  and  begetting  five 
boys  and  five  girls,  of  whom  James  was  born  January  3,  1837,  in  Car- 


1090  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

roll  county,  O.  He  remained  with  his  parents  on  their  farm  until  1857, 
when  he  spent  a  year  visiting  Iowa,  finally  locating  at  Granby,  New- 
ton county.  Mo.,  working  in  the  lead  mines  for  two  years.  There  he 
met  Mary  Harris,  a  native  of  Illinois  and  daughter  of  Timothy  Harris. 
His  courtship  ripened  into  a  happy  marriage,  of  which  came  eight 
children:  May,  George  H.,  Emery  E.,  Thomas  H.,  Charles  C,  Anna 
R.,  Louise  and  Mary.  He  removed  with  his  wife  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
embarking  in  gold  mining  on  Pistol  river,  Curry  county,  Oreg.  For 
a  year  he  followed  ranching,  then  left  for  Nevada  Territory,  where  he 
remained  until  1869,  when  he  removed  to  California  for  a  year,  and 
then  returned  East,  mining  for  eight  years  at  Bevier,  Mo.  In  1882, 
he  purchased  200  acres  of  excellent  land  in  Liberty  township.  At 
present  he  resides  on  a  rented  place,  having  rented  his  farm.  His 
family  attend  Bevier  Congregational  Church. 

W.  A.  CLYMANS 

(Of  Watts  &  Co.,  General  Merchants,  Bevier). 

Mr.  Clymans  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  that  State, 
December  22,  1837.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  county  and  educa- 
ted in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  21  he  began  teaching 
school,  and  followed  that  occupation  in  Pennsylvania  until  coming 
West  in  1865  —  that  is,  except  while  he  was  in  the  army.  During  the 
war  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  Two  Hundred  and  Fifth  Pennsylvania  in- 
fantrj^  and  served  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  or 
until  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  was  in  a  number  of  hard- 
fought  battles  durino-  that  long  and  terrible  struo;orle.  On  comins: 
West,  during  the  last  year  of  the  war,  Mr.  Clymans  located  in  Colon, 
in  St.  Joseph  county,  Mich.,  udiere  he  followed  blacksmithing,  a  trade 
he  had  previously  learned.  Three  years  afterwards  he  came  to  Mis- 
souri, stopping  for  a  short  time  in  Shelby  county,  and  in  February, 
1869,  located  at  Bevier.     Here  he  engaged  in  merchandising  with  T. 

D.  Thomas,  under  the  firm  name  of  Clymans  &  Thomas.  Mr.  Cly- 
mans continued  merchandising  at  Bevier  for  several  years,  after  which 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  two  years.  In  1879  he  went  to  Colo- 
rado, and  followed  freighting  on  the  plains  for  al^out  12  months. 
Returning  to  Macon  county,  he  now  resumed  farming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed with  success  up  to  1881.  Having,  however,  a  controling 
inclination  for  business  pursuits,  he  re-engaged  in  merchandising  at 
Bevier  three  years  ago,  and  has  since  followed  it.  Messrs.  Watts  & 
Co.  carry  a  full  line  of  general  merchandise,  and  have  an  excellent 
trade,  which  is  steadily  increasing.  Both  are  gentlemen  well  known 
in  the  community,  and  are  justly  popular,  not  less  personally  than  as 
business  men.  Mr.  Clymans  has  held  the  office  of  township  clerk,  and 
has  also  occupied  the  position  of  school  board  treasurer.  A  man  of 
good  education  and  business  qualifications,  he  was  well  fitted  for  these 
positions,  and  discharged  his  official  duties  with  efficiency  and  entire 
satisfaction  to  the  public.     Mr.  Clymans  is  also  a  member  of  the  M. 

E.  Church,  and  a  member  of  the  Bloomino;ton  lodsre  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


1091 


Of  course  Mr.  Clyraer  is  not  unmarried  ;  he  is  too  true-blooded  a  man 
to  be  a  maledict.  September  18,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Bland,  a  widow  lady,  and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Susan  fetrunk, 
of  Mifflin  county,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clymans  have  had  two  children  : 
Willie,  a  young  man  now  19  years  of  age,  and  Mattie  E.,  deceased. 
Mrs.  Clymans  had  one  child  by  her  first  husband,  Watson  Bland. 
She  is  also  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

THOMAS  EDWARDS 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  Bevier). 
In  1865   Mr.  Edwards  took  up  his  location  in  Macon  county,  Mo., 
being  then  16  years  of  age.     His  birthplace  was  Meigs  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1850,  being  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Catherine  Michael  Edwards,  who  owed  their  nativity  to  the  north  of 
Wales.     Young  Thomas,  during  his  early  youth,  received  good  ad- 
vantao-es  for  acquiring  an  education,  which  he  did  not  fail  to  improve, 
andwiiich  have  been   of  no  ordinary  benefit  to  him  in  later  years. 
Brouo-ht  up  to  the  occupation  of  coal  mining,  he  followed  it  untd  16 
vears°old,  when,  as  above  stated,  he  found  a  home  in  this  county, 
comincr  here  with  his  parents.     Farming,  mining  and  merchandismg 
each  claimed  his  attention  until  1875,  at  which  time  he  removed  to 
Osao-e  county,  Kansas.     Owning  a  mine  there,  he  of  course  engaged 
in  the  coal  business,  and  continued  it  until  1881,  when  he  returned  to 
Macon  county.     Mr.  Edwards  soon  resumed  the  business  of  a  general 
merchant,  and  subsequently  became  the  proprietor  of  the  establish- 
ment which  he  still  conducts.     This  is  filled  with  an  excellent  stock  of 
o-oods,  and  as  Mr.  E.  is  well  and   ftivorably  known  throughout  the 
entire  vicinity  of  Bevier,  he  is  in  possession  of  an  excellent  trade,  his 
peculiar  fitness  for  the  business  and  his  popular  manners  adding  not  a 
little  to  his  success.     In  1873  Mr.  Edwards  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Nellie  Jones,  a  native  of  Vermont.     This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children  :  Lulu  Bell,  Robert  Lindon,  and  an  infant. 

HOPKIN  EVANS 

(Post-office,  Bevier) . 
Mr.  E.  is  a  distinctive  coal  prospector,  operator  and  miner.  In  all 
of  Northern  Missouri  it  is  doubtful  whether  there  is  another  man 
more  widely  known  and  more  highly  respected  than  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  He  was  the  first  man  who  opened  a  coal  bank  in  Bevier 
township,  and  was  thus  the  magnet  that  has  made  Bevier  City  what  it 
is,  one  of  the  leading  coal  towns  of  Missouri.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  native 
of  South  Wales,  born  at  Swansea,  Glanmorganshire,  April  13,  1822. 
He  was  educated  in  South  Wales,  having  the  benefit  of  a  comnion- 
school  education.  He  has  been  engaged  in  mining  and  about  mines 
all  his  life,  beginning  at  the  age  of  eight  years  at  his  birth-place  m 
his  native  county.  He  worked  there  until  1849,  then  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  settled  in  St.  Louis  county,  leasing  the  mines  at  Blue  Ridge. 


1092  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

In  1855  he  was  chosen  by  the  great  French  merchant  and  specuhitor, 
Mr.  Van  Phool,  of  St.  Louis,  to  make  a  prospecting  tour  through 
Monroe,  Marion,  Shelby  and  Macon  counties  for  coal.  He  set  out, 
foUowino-  the  ideas  elaborated  by  the  geologist.  Swallow,  in  the  work 
just  then  completed  on  the  minerals  of  Missouri.  When  he  had 
finished  this  job,  Mr.  Evans  returned  to  Macon  county  and  began 
operating  in  coal  at  Carbon,  he  being  OAvner  of  the  mines  and  super- 
intendent of  the  works.  In  1860  he  moved  to  Bevier  township,  open- 
inor  the  first  mine  in  the  township,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  present  site  of  Bevier,  on  Col.  Kobean's  farm.  Later  he  organized 
a  joint  stock  company,  he  being  manager,  and  has  ever  since  engaged 
in  operating  the  coal  mines  at  Bevier.  He  is  now  also  interested  in 
the  Oakdale  mine,  commonl}^  known  as  "  Bevier  No.  2."  He  is 
what  is  called  "  pit  boss  "  in  the  works,  which  employ  about  70  men. 
Mr.  Evans  is  the  best  known  man  of  Bevier  township,  and  is  con- 
sidered the  coal  miner  of  the  country.  He  was  appointed  Railroad 
Brigadier  in  the  late  war,  but  was  always  in  Bevier  township.  Mr. 
Evans  was  married  in  1845  in  his  native  country,  to  Miss  Mary  Ed- 
wards, and  two  children  were  born  to  him,  of  whom  Mary  is  deceased 
and  Anna  living.  He  became  a  widower  in  1874,  and  the  following 
year  married  Mrs.  Leah  J.  Evans.  This  marriage  is  childless.  Mr. 
Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Templars  Lodge  No.  7,  of  Macon 
county,  Mo.,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  No.  102,  of 
Macon  City,  Mo.,  and  Chapter  22  of  the  same  place.  He  belongs  to 
the  Welsh  Congregational  Church,  of  Bevier  township,  in  which  he 
is  one  of  the  trustees.  There  is  no  citizen  of  the  township,  or  of  the 
county,  who  has  it  in  his  power  more  materially  to  benefit  the  general 
public  than  Mr.  Evans.  His  acquaintance  is  boundless,  his  popular- 
ity and  influence  almost  without  a  precedent.  Upright,  straightfor- 
ward and  gifted  with  a  wonderful  knowleds-e  of  men  and  things,  he  is 
invaluable  to  the  community. 

SAMUEL  EVANS 

(Farmer  and  Stock -raiser). 

Mr.  Evans,  a  leading  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Bevier  township  — 
section  2,  range  15, —  Avas  born  in  Caermartenshire,  South  Wales,  De- 
cember 28,  1826,  and  lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  20  years 
of  age.  His  educational  advantages  were  poor,  his  father  being  in 
rather  straightened  circumstances,  he  attended  only  a  weekly  school 
held  every  Sabbath  day.  His  first  venture  in  life  was  in  a  rolling  mill 
(iron  works),  in  Glanmorganshire,  South  Wales.  He  worked  there 
in  the  puddling  department  for  17  years.  In  1858  Mr.  Evans  came 
to  America,  but  after  working  for  about  18  months  in  the  iron  works 
of  Phoenixville,  Penn.,  he  returned  to  the  Old  Country.  In  1862, 
however,  he  tried  it  once  more,  this  time  locating  at  Pittsburg,  Penn. 
He  was  first  engaged  in  farming,  then  went  to  coal  mining,  in  which 
occupation  he  was  employed  for  18  years,  in  different  sections  of  the 
United  States.     At  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Evans  gave  up  mining 


I 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1093 

and  determined  to  become  a  farmer,  which  he  did,  first  in  Osage 
county,  Kas.,  and  in  April,  1881,  in  Bevier  township.  Mo.,  on  his 
present  farm.  This  comprises  60  acres  of  beautiful  land,  which  he 
has  in  fine  condition,  ^Ir.  Evans  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Marga- 
ret Evans,  natives  of  South  Wales.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried November  16,  1846,  was  also  from  his  old  home.  She  was  Miss 
Ann  Thomas,  daughter  of  John  and  Charlotte  Thomas.  There  were 
born  seven  children:  John,  born  May  5,  1848,  now  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Eosser,  a  native  of  South  Wales,  and  residing  iu  Ohio  ;  Ruth, 
born  Jannary  26,  1850,  died  May  12,  1856  ;  Moses,  born  August  10, 
1852,  died  March  2,  1882;  Aaron,  born  May  27,  1855;  Miriam, 
born  January  26,  1857,  died  May  21,  1864;  Abraham,  born  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1861,  died  December  6,  1882,  and  Isaac,  born  July  11, 
1864.  The  eldest  son,  John,  was  in  the  late  war.  He  served  for 
one  year  in  the  heavy  artillery,  and  was  stationed  at  Fort  Anderson, 
on  the  Potomac.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  worthy  citizen  and  consistent  Chris- 
tian. He  is  a  member  of  the  Welsh  Congregational  Church  at 
Bevier. 

S.  S.  EVANS 

(Superintendent  of  the  Oakclale  Coal  Company's  Works,  Bevier). 

Mr.  Evans,  a  young  man  of  superior  business  qualifications,  good 
education  and  thorough  energy  and  enterprise,  is  a  native  of  the  Em- 
press Isles  of  the  seas,  but  was  partially  raised  in  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Dowlais,  South  Wales,  England,  April  31,  1857, 
and  when  12  years  of  age  his  parents,  Roger  and  Hannah  (Williams) 
Evans,  came  to  America,  pushing  on  out  directly  to  Missouri  and  lo- 
cating at  Bevier.  Here  the  father  engaged  in  the  hotel  business, 
which  he  followed  until  his  death  in  1878.  S.  S.  was  one  in  a  family 
©f  two  brothers  and  three  sisters,  all  of  whom  are  still  at  Bevier. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  also  took  a  course  at 
Olathe  (Kan.)  College,  graduating  in  1873.  In  the  fall  of  1880  Mr. 
Evans  was  married  to  Miss  Elvira  Collins,  a  daughter  of  John  Collins, 
of  Bevier,  Mo.,  but  formerly  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  have  two 
children  :  Bertha  and  Secondus,  the  younger  being  only  six  months 
old.  Mr.  Evans  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  town  board,  and  is 
one  of  the  popular  young  men  of  Bevier.  He  makes  a  most  efficient 
and  capable  superintendent  of  the  coal  works  of  which  he  has  charge, 
and  is  conducting  them  with  success  and  with  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  the  company. 

ISAAC  R.  GREEN 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  32). 

Mr.  G.  is  the  son  of  Lewis  and  Nancy  (Gross)  Green,  both  natives 
of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  September  9,  1833,  in  Chariton  township, 
Macon  county,  Mo.  Mr.  Green  was  educated  and  has  long  lived  in  the 
county,  and,  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  mention,  that  he  was  never  in  his 
life  out  of  the  State.  He  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  until  his 
marriage,  June  20,  1859,  after  which  event  he  began  farming  for  him- 


1094  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

self.  A  large  portion  of  his  income  is  derived  from  raising  and  dealing 
in  stock,  cattle  and  mules,  in  which  trade  he  is  a  proficient.  He  owns 
200  acres  of  good  land  which  he  keeps  in  beautiful  order,  and  in 
which  he  is  encouraged  by  the  ftict  that  the  country  is  steadily  im- 
provino;  in  every  way.  Mr.  Green  was  for  five  years  constable  of  the 
township,  and  is  in  politics  a  Democrat.  His  father  was  a  large  slave- 
holder. Mr.  G.  married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Summers,  daughter  ©f  Nevia 
and  Jane  Summers,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Nancy  Jane  Lowry 
Green,  a  young  lady  of  many  charms,  who  has  been  for  a  year  the  wife 
of  James  L.  Love,  son  of  William  Love.  Mr.  Green  is  a  member  of 
Concord  Christian  Church  of  Callao  township. 

MORDECAI  HARP 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  36) . 

Mr.  Harp  was  born  March  7,  1823,  in  Kentucky,  of  which  State 
his  mother,  Elizabeth  Winter,  was  a  native,  as  also,  were  her  remotest 
forefathers.  His  father,  James  Harp,  was  a  Virginian,  and  thence 
sprang  all  his  ancestors.  Up  to  the  age  of  25,  the  date  of  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Harp  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  in  Kentucky,-  hav- 
ing the  advantage  of  a  common-school  education.  After  his  marriage 
he  managed  a  plantation  until  1851  when  he  moved  to  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  and  has  ever  since  farmed  in  Bevier  township,  of  which  he  is  also 
road  supervisor.  Mr.  H.  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  during  the  war 
served  in  the  State  Militia.  In  February,  1848,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Nancy  James  and  she  has  borne  him  eight  children,  viz.  :  Elijah, 
now  married  and  living  in  Hudson  township  ;  Deborah,  wife  of  Thomas 
Wright,  of  Callao  township  ;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Monroe  Powell,  of  Char- 
iton township  ;  James  Thomas,  living  in  Buffalo,  New  York  ;  Luella, 
wife  of  W.  W.  Bricker,  of  Callao  township  ;  Alonzo,  deceased  ;  Wil- 
lard  and  Reggie.  Mr.  Harp  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  directly  in 
the  main  path  of  a  cyclone  through  whose  terrible  agency  his  son  was 
hurled  into  eternity  in  a  moment's  time,  and  his  own  health  and  prop- 
erty received  serious  damage.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  township. 

JOHN  R.  HUGHES 

(Dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  Bevier). 

Mr.  H.  was  born  December  4,  1837,  in  Monmouthshire,  South 
Wales.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Ruth  (Rowland)  Hughes.  His 
education  was  partly  acquired  in  his  own  country,  which  he  left,  how- 
ever, at  the  age  of  12.  He  came  to  America  in  1849,  and  was  for  15 
years  a  miner  in  Ohio.  In  1865  he  gave  up  mining  and  went  into  the 
grocery  business  near  Youngstown,  Ohio.  Two  years  later  Mr. 
Hughes  moved  to  Bevier  township,  and  accepted  a  clerkship  in  Row- 
land's store.  Though  he  had  run  through  with  most  of  his  means,  his 
reputation  was  so  good  that  he  was  offered  several  positions  of  trust. 
He  continued,  however,  to  act  as  general  manager  of  Rowland's  store 
until  1870,  when  he  launched  into  business  for  himself.     At  the  time 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  1095 

there  was  strong  competition  in  Bevier  township,  and  he  had  at  first 
rather  a  tough  struggle  with  the  central  store,  an  establishment  then 
doing  business  there,  which  attempted  to  drive  him  from  the  field, 
but,  in  the  end,  his  shrewdness  and  superior  tactics  prevailed,  and  he 
was  left  master  of  the  field.  He  used  the  profits  of  his  trade  to  en- 
large the  same,  and  finally  built  the  store  he  now  occupies.  Durino- 
the  panic  of  1874  all  the  houses  of  this  place  closed  with  the  excep- 
tion of  that  of  Mr.  Hughes.  Though  deeply  in  debt,  he  safely 
weathered  the  storm.  He  was  never  pressed  by  his  creditors,  thouo-h 
they  voluntarily  ofiered  him  50  per  cent,  discount.  Mr.  H.  preferred, 
however,  to  pay  in  full,  and  did  so  without  being  forced  by  the  col- 
lecting attorney  or  sued  in  court.  These  facts  speak  for  the  character 
of  this  upright  and  honorable  man  more  loudly  than  any  words.  Mr. 
Hughes  has  been  clerk  of  the  township  for  about  three  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  Eskridge  Lodge  No.  253,  and  has  filled  all  its  offices. 
He  has  been,  since  he  was  17  years  of  age,  a  devout  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Welsh  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  H. 
married  in  1863,  Miss  Elizabeth  Reese,  of  Pomeroy,  Ohio.  Their 
children  have  numbered  13  in  all,  seven  of  whom  are  dead;  six  are 
living:  their  names  are  Daniel,  Edward,  John,  Elizabeth,  Jane  and 
Joseph. 

JOHN  P.  JONES 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser), 

Mr.  Jones*,  a  prosperous  farmer,  stock-raiser  and  stock  dealer,  of  Sec- 
tion 11,  was  born  August  10, 1832,  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.  His  parents, 
George  Jones  and  Gracie  Ann  (City)  Jones,  were  both  natives  of 
Kentucky.  John  P.  was  raised  on  the  farm  and  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools.  At  the  age  of  23  he  committed  matrimony  and  farmed 
for  himself  for  the  five  years  following,  in  Clinton  county,  Ky.  In 
1857  he  and  his  father  both  emigrated  to  Missouri,  the  father  settlino- 
in  Putnam  county,  the  former  in  Bevier  township.  John  P.  rented  a 
place  for  the  first  few  years  ;  then  in  1864  bought  the  farm  he  now  works 
and  resides  on.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  places  in  the  county,  containino- 
100  acres  of  splendid  land,  which  is  beautifully  improved.  Mr.  J.  has 
also  the  genuine  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  his  possessions  were  obtained 
by  his  own  honest  labor,  than  which  nothing  can  give  more  satisfac- 
tion. To  look  over  his  smiling  fields,  his  neat  and  tidy  buildings,  his 
bursting  barns,  and  realize  that  all  this  he  has  earned  by  diligent  in- 
dustry and  patient  perseverance,  it  is  worth  all  the  years  of  privation, 
of  toil  and,  sometimes,  of  dark  discouragement.  Who  has  the  rio-ht 
thus  to  feel,  has  gained  the  sweetest  happiness  known  to  man.  Mr. 
Jones  was  married  October  20,  1853,  to  Miss  Minerva,  daughter  of 
Dennis  and  Sallie  (Davis)  Hopkins,  of  the  old  and  distinguished  fam- 
ily of  that  name,  who  occupy  such  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  history 
of  Kentucky.  Of  this  marriage  were  born  nine  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  They  are  :  George,  who  married  in  1879  Miss  Minerva 
Trenary,  daughter  of  R.  C.  Trenary  ;  Dennis  H.,  now  living  in  Mon- 
tana Territory  ;  Sadie  E.,  at  home  ;  Gracie  A.,  wife  of  Thomas  Jones, 
64 


1096  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

of  Pennsylvania;  Johnny  B.,  William  M.,  Mary  E.,  Minnie  V.  and 
James  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  Mr.  J.  has  been  for  many  years  an 
elder. 

LEROY  PENTON 

(Deceased). 

This  lamented  gentleman,  late  a  respected  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of 
Bevier  township,  Macon  county,  Mo.,  was  born  November  13,  1803, 
in  Mississippi.  His  parents,  Leroy  and  Jane  (January)  Penton,  were 
natives  of  Georgia,  but  moved  to  Mississippi  before  the  State  was 
divided  into  counties.  At  the  tender  age  of  three  years  Leroy,  Jr., 
was  bound  out  to  a  blacksmith  of  the  name  of  Closson,  who  lived  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Baton  Rouge,  his  mother's  home.  He  lived  with 
Mr.  Glosson,  working  at  blacksmithing  until  he  was  14  years  old. 
He  then  went  in  search  of  his  mother,  who  in  the  meantime  had  mar- 
ried Mr.  John  Moreland,  and  was  living  in  East  Tennessee.  Having 
reached  her,  he  supported  himself  by  hiring  out  on  the  farms  in  the 
vicinity  until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  when  he  and  his  stepfather  moved 
to  Monticello,  Ky.,  and  went  to  farm  in  partnership.  In  1823  Mr. 
Penton  married  Miss  Delilah  Summers,  and  after  a  few  years'  additional 
residence  in  Kentucky  moved  to  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  still  pursuing 
agriculture  as  a  profession.  In  1834  he  located  finally  in  Macon 
county,  Bevier  township,  and  began  farming  on  the  Allen  Banta  farm, 
which  he  owned.  Mr.  Penton  has  eight  childen,  all  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased, except  twcT  sons.  Two  children  died  in  infancy.  Jane  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  December  21,  1826,  and  died  February  8,  1876, 
wife  of  Jefferson  Patrick  ;  Elizabeth,  born  January  17,  1831,  died 
February  17,  1862,  wife  of  John  McGee  ;  John,  born  November  30, 
1833,  married  Miss  Ida  Tuttle,  and  died  November  9,  1867  ;  Allen, 
born  March  16,  1834,  married  Miss  Nancy  White,  died  December  31, 
1881 ;  Joseph  P.,  born  March  30,  1838,  married  Miss  Amelia  Blankin- 
ship,  and  William,  born  July  5,  1842,  married  Miss  Eliza  Williams. 
The  two  latter  are  still  living.  Mr.  Penton  was  a  very  successful 
farmer,  and  before  his  death  divided  his  land  between  his  two  sons, 
Joseph  and  William.  On  the  14th  of  January,  1884,  Mr.  Penton  re- 
ceived the  dread  summons  which  must  some  day  sound  in  every  mortal 
ear,  and  serene  in  the  consciousness  of  a  life  well  spent  he  tranquilly 
passed  away.  Of  rare  religious  feelings  and  governing  his  conduct  by 
the  example  laid  down  by  his  blessed  Master,  Mr.  Penton 's  life  was  one 
of  ever  opening  vistas  of  beauty.  Honest,  honorable,  kind  and  gener- 
ous, his  memory  will  be  ever  kept  green  in  the  hearts  of  his  friends. 
He  was  an  earnest  and  faithful  member  of  Antioch  Church,  where  he 
was  buried. 

JOSEPH  P.  PENTON 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  32). 

Mr.  Penton  was  born  March  30,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of  Leroy  and 
Delilah  (Summers)  Penton,  of  whom  previous  mention  has  been  made. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1097 

His  mother  died  September  7,  1865,  and  his  father  January  14,  1884. 
Mr.  Penton  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  now  owns  200  acres 
of  land  in  Bevier  township.  He  is  supplied  with  all  the  latest  im- 
provements in  farming,  and  is  a  well  informed,  broad-minded  man. 
He  possesses  the  esteem  and  high  regard  of  all  his  neighbors,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  citizens  of  the  county.  Mr.  Penton  is  a 
devoted  Christian  and  is  an  elder  in  the  Antioch  Church,  also  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath-school.  Mr.  Penton  was  married  March  16, 
1865,  to  Miss  Amelia  Blankinship,  daughter  of  William  Blankinship 
and  Chancy  Ballinger,  his  wife.  This  marriage  is  one  of  unusual  con- 
geniality and  happiness,  but  to  them  has  been  denied  that  sweetest  of 
all  moments,  when  those  who  love  bend  together  over  the  cradle  of 
their  child,  that  purest  of  all  joys,  to  watch,  as  the  lily  unfolds  her 
leaves,  the  pure,  young  mind  open  and  expand  in  the  warmth  of  dawn- 
ing intelligence.  But  if  they  knew  not  the  joy  of  parenthood,  neither 
do  they  experience  its  terrible  disappointments,  its  griefs  that  will  not 
be  comforted.     Who  shall  say  which  is  best? 

S.  J.  O.  TOMPKINS 

(Bevier.) 

Mr.  Tompkins  is  a  native  of  this  State,  having  been  born  in  Pike 
county  January  8,  1818.  His  father,  William  Tompkins,  was  born  in 
old  Virginia,  and  his  mother  Martha  (Gilbert)  Tompkins,  was  a  Ken- 
tuckian.  Both  are  now  dead.  Mr.  Tompkins  attended  school  but  one 
year,  his  parents  giving  him  the  rest  of  his  education  at  home.  He 
lived  always  on  the  farm,  until  1841,  when  he  married  Miss  Cassandre 
Kizie  Clark.  There  were  born  four  children  :  Anna  M.,  Virginia  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years  ;  Kizie  and  Nancy  C.  In  1846  Mr.  Tompkins 
moved  from  Pike  county,  Mo.,  to  Pike  county,  III.,  and  in  1855  to 
Ralls  county.  Mo.  There  he  lived  for  11  years,  farming  and  mer- 
chandising. He  carried  on  his  business  in  connection  with  his  farm 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  All  of  Mr.  Tompkin's  relatives  as 
well  as  his  property  and  other  interests  were  in  the  South,  and  he 
naturally  sided  with  that  section.  Though  he  took  no  active  part  in 
the  hostilities,  his  sympathy  with  the  Southern  cause  cost  him  dear. 
Not  only  was  he  financially  ruined  by  his  property  being  carried  off 
by  Federal  soldiers,  but  he  was  himself  taken  prisoner,  and  incarcer- 
ated at  Hannibal,  and  on  two  occasions  was  tried  for  his  life  before 
Col.  Tyler,  provost  marshal.  He  was  also  disfranchised  and  not 
allowed  to  vote  for  10  years.  He  cast  his  first  vote  in  1871.  Mr.  T. 
moved  in  1866  to  Bevier  township,  Macon  county,  Mo.,  and  has  been 
interested  since  that  time  in  operating  coal  mines  in  Iowa  and  Mis- 
souri. At  present  his  health  being  somewhat  impaired,  he  does  no 
business  worth  mentioning,  but  lives  on  the  interest  of  his  money.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  county.  Mr.  Tomp- 
kins lost  his  first  wife  August  12,  1866,  and  married  in  May,  1869, 
Miss  Sarah  Waterbury,  by  whom  he  has  no  children.     He  is  a  mem- 


1098  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

ber  of  Antioch  Christian  Church  in  which  he  is  an  elder.     He  also 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Bloomington,  Mo. 

ALLEN  J.  VICKREY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

This  valuable  citizen  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  August  18, 
1829.  His  parents,  Abner  and  Nancy  Vickrey,  were  respectively 
from  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  and  moved  to  Missouri  the  year  of  his 
birth.  They  went  first  to  Randolph  county,  but  in  1832  located  in 
Macon  in  what  is  now  known  as  Bevier  township,  building  a  cabin  in 
section  34,  where  the  house  now  stands.  Allen  J.  was  educated  in 
Callao  township,  and  though  his  opportunities  were  limited,  managed 
to  secure  a  fair  share  of  learning.  In  1859  Mr.  Vickrey  married  Miss 
Mary  Gaines,  daughter  of  Jefferson  and  Emily  Gaines,  of  Randolph 
county.  They  have  nine  children:  Francis  M.,  John  J.,  Abner, 
Emily  C,  George,  Addie,  Nellie  M.,  Wilson  S.  and  Elmer  J.  Mr. 
V.  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grange  lodge  of  Bevier  township, 
and  was  at  one  time  tax  collector  of  that  township.  He  also  was  in 
the  path  of  the  memorable  cyclone  of  May  13,  1883,  but,  by  the 
mercy  of  God,  escaped  with  comparatively  little  injury,  and  is  now 
in  prosperous  circumstances  and  of  great  service  to  the  public.  Mr. 
Vickrey  is  a  man  of  liberal  views  and  large  mind,  and  a  good  example 
to  those  around  him.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

WILLIAM  S.  WATSON 

(Coal-operator  and  Merchant). 
Mr.  Watson  is  an  influential  and  wealthy  citizen  of  Bevier  town- 
ship. He  was  born  May  2,  1829,  at  New  Castle,  England,  of  William 
and  Jane  (Scott)  Watson.  He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools, 
and  when  a  young  man  was  apprenticed  to  a  grindstone  maker, 
at  the  conclusion  of  which  period,  being  22  years  of  age,  he  set  sail 
for  America.  He  went  at  once  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  thence  to 
Middletown,  working  at  stone  work,  a  branch  of  grindstone  making. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1851  he  got  work  in  the  coal  mines  of  Coshocton, 
O.,  but  in  a  few  years  moved  to  Knoxville,  Marion  county,  la.,  and 
until  1861  was  engaged  in  farming  and  coal  operating.  He  then 
moved  to  Macon  county  and  locating  in  Bevier,  opened  one  of  the 
first  coal  mines  in  the  county,  known  then  and  now  as  Shaft  No.  3. 
Mr.  Watson  worked  this  mine  until  1867,  doing  a  profitable  business. 
At  that  time  all  the  mines  consolidated  into  a  joint-stock  company, 
known  as  the  Central  Coal  and  Mining  Company,  the  capital  stock 
being  $400,000.  In  1868  Mr.  W.  withdrew  from  the  company,  and 
for  several  years  thereafter  busied  himself  with  various  speculative 
enterprises  in  Missouri  and  Iowa,  prospecting  for  coal  in  both  States. 
In  1881  he  opened  a  coal  shaft  east  of  Bevier  and  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued to  operate  the  mine  known  as  Watson's  mine.     Mr.  Watson 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


1099 


was  married  in  England,  in  1849,  to  Miss  Isabella  Wardell,  and  has 
seven  children  :  Isabella,  Jane  Ann,  John  W.,  Mary,  Thomas,  Edward 
and  Anna.  His  two  sons,  Edward  and  Thomas,  are  interested  with 
him  in  his  mercantile  house  in  Bevier.  They  carry  a  general  stock, 
which  they  propose  enlaro^ing,  making  it  one  of  the  most  extensive 
establishments  of  the  kind^in  the  county.  The  mine  pays  from  $5,000 
to  $8,000  monthly.  Mr.  Watson  is  endowed  with  rare  personal  and 
mental  graces.  His  manners  stamp  him  as  an  elegant  gentleman, 
while  hfs  brilliant  conversational  powers  enchain  his  listeners  and 
render  his  society  a  valuable  addition  to  every  social  gathering. 


CALLAO     TOWNSHIP. 


HARDIN    P.  BENNING,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon). 
Dr.  Benning,  one  of  the  largest  practitioners  in  Macon  county,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Callao,  Missouri,  since  1868,  excepting  a  few  years 
spent  in  Livingston  county.     His  parents,  both  now  dead,  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia.     They  were  John  W.  and  Jane  (Forsey)  Benning. 
Hardin  P.  was  born  October  17,  1826,  in  Montgomery  county,  Mo. 
When  he  was  five  years  of  age  his  parents   moved  to  Pike  county, 
and  in  1833  his  father  died.    ^He  lived  on  the  farm  with  his  mother 
until  he  was  grown   and  then  went  to  Ralls  county,  Mo.,  where  he 
studied  medicine  under  Dr.  George  E.  Frazier,  an  eminent  physician 
of  that  county.     Dr.  Benning  received  a  fine  education  at  Louisiana, 
Mo.,  in  the  Pike  County  Seminary.     When  his  medical  studies  were 
completed  he  began  practicing  his  profession   in  Monroe  county,  but 
as  has  been  said  before,  moved  in  1868  to  Callao  where  he  is  still  es- 
tablished in  partnership  with  Dr.   Campbell.     He  has   a  large  and 
lucrative  practice  and  is  one  of  the  most  skilled   physicians  in  the 
county.     The  Doctor,  knowing  that  to  no  man  is  the  tender  comfort 
and  care  of  a  good  wife  more  necessary  than  to  a  physician,  chose  as 
the   sharer  of  his  joys   and  woes  Miss  Lucy  E.  True,  their  marriage 
taking  place  in  1856.     To   them  were  born  seven  children,  four  of 
whom,  Mary  J.,  James,  Edgar  S.  and  Maggie  J.,  died  in  infancy; 
those  now  surviving  are  John  H.,  Lucy  V.  and  Ruth  A.     Mrs.  Ben- 
nincr  died  in  April,  1872,  and  in  December,  1872,  Dr.  Benning  espoused 
Misl  Mary  E.  Collier,  bv  whom  he  has  had  five  children:   Olive  J., 
Hardin  L.,  Bessie  L.,  Anna  S.,  and  an    infant  who   "climbed  the 
o-olden  stair"  ere  the  little  tongue  had  learned  to  lisp  its  mother's 
name.     Dr.  Benning  is  very  popular  in  the  community.      He  is  a 
member  of  the  Triple  Alliance  Lodge  No.  38. 


1100  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

JOSEPH  M.  BROWN 

(Post-offlce,  Callao). 

Joseph  M.  Brown  is  a  wealthy  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  section 
3.  He  was  born  March  22,  1834,  in  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  the 
son  of  Reuben  Brown  and  Elizabeth  Brown,  natives  of  Kentucky. 
He  resided  on  his  parents'  farm  until  13  years  of  age,  when  they 
removed  to  Russell  township,  Macon  county.  At  24  he  married 
Elizabeth  Jones,  of  Macon,  March  6,  1863,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children:  Lenora  E.,  Minnie  B.,  Ada  L.  and  Norah  E.  His  wife 
died  January  24,  1870,  and  in  June,  1872,  he  married  Elizabeth  Mott, 
daughter  of  D.  O.  and  Elizabeth  Miner,  natives  of  Virginia.  Mrs. 
Brown's  parents  are  still  living  with  her.  They  have  been  residents 
of  this  county  for  the  past  36  years.  Mrs.  B.  departed  this  life, 
without  issue,  April  30,  1879,  and  was  buried  in  Callao  cemetery. 
Mr.  Brown  wedded  his  third  wife  December  7,  1879.  She  was  a 
widow  with  one  child  (Arena)  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  Mrs. 
Martha  Julinta  by  name,  daughter  of  D.  O.  Spicer.  There  were  no 
children  by  the  last  marriage.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War  that  so  lately  distracted  this  American  country.  He  was  in  Co. 
G,  Third  regiment  of  Missouri  State  Guards,  and  fought  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Lexington  and  Pea  Ridge.  He  is  a  prominent  Mason  of  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.  Lodge  No.  38,  of  Callao,  Mo.  Though  not  an  office- 
seeker,  Mr.  Brown  is  a  man  of  such  correct  habits  of  life,  and  further- 
more, of  that  adaptability  upon  which  success  so  largely  depends,  that 
his  fellow-citizens  have  a  unanimous  respect  and  regard  for  him.  He 
is  an  industrious  and  intelligent  farmer,  and  has  a  place  with  com- 
fortable buildings  and  every  necessary  improvement.  He  is  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  very  best  men  in  the  community. 

JOHN  F.  CAMPBELL,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Callao). 

Dr.  Campbell,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Macon  county,  and 
a  man  of  advanced  general  and  professional  education,  as  well  as  a 
citizen  who  stands  as  high  in  public  esteem  as  any  one  in  this  part  of 
the  county,  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  nativity,  born  in  Somerset  county 
March  14,  1840.  He  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated 
after  taking  the  course  of  the  common  school,  at  Somerset  Normal 
Institute.  Subsequently,  removing  to  Iowa,  he  attended  Fairfield 
College,  and  also  McElroy's  Academy,  the  latter  of  Ottumwa,  Iowa. 
Completing  his  general  education,  Dr.  Campbell  then  began  the  study 
of  medicine,  placing  himself  under  the  preceptorate  of  Drs.  Weir  and 
Parker,  leading  physicians  of  Iowa,  located  at  Agency  City.  Pre- 
paring himself  for  the  medical  college  under  these  physicians,  he  then 
matriculated  at  the  College  of  Physicians  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  which 
he  took  a  thorough  course.  Dr.  Campbell  now  came  to  Missouri  and 
engaged  actively  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Morrow  township. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1101 

of  Macon  county.  He  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  at 
that  location  for  three  years,  and  then  came  to  Callao  in  order  to  com- 
mand a  wider  territory  in  his  i3rofession.  Here  his  career  as  a  physician 
has  been  one  of  uninterrupted  and  steadily  increasing  success.  As  the 
years  have  come  and  gone,  he  has  grown  into  an  extensive  practice, 
which  now  covers  an  area  of  10  to  20  miles  square.  He  is  conceded 
by  all  to  be  one  of  the  most  capable  and  skillful  physicians,  as  his 
experience  has  shown  him  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful,  in  the 
treatment  of  patients  throughout  this  section  of  North  Missouri. 
Personally,  he  is  highly  esteemed,  and  is  one  of  the  most  influential 
citizens  of  Callao.  January  2,  1873,  Dr.  Campbell  was  married  to 
Miss  Fiedelia  Green,  a  daughter  of  Hardin  Green,  Esq.,  of  Macon 
City.  They  have  had  three  children  :  Ethel  May,  now  10  years  old  ; 
Herbert  and  Frankie  Cecil,  both  of  whom  died  at  tender  ages.  The 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Callao.  He  and 
his  wife  are  highly  prized  in  the  best  circles  of  society,  wherever  they 
are  known,  and  are  esteemed  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  being 
acquainted  with  them. 

MARION  CLAYBROOK 

(Merchant). 

Marion  Claybrook,  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Claybrook  Bros,  Callao, 
was  born  August  2,  1832,  in  Randolph  county.  His  father,  Joseph 
Claybrook,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  :  his  mother,  Mary  Humphreys,' 
of  North  Carolina.  The  subject  of  the  sketch,  after  having  received 
the  advantage  of  a  common-school  education,  at  the  age  of  23  left 
home  and  located  in  Callao,  of  which  he  has  ever  since  been  an  hon- 
ored citizen.  After  farming  for  a  time  he  became  a  clerk  in  Samuel 
Kern's  store,  where  he  remained  for  three  years,  until  he  accepted  a 
more  lucrative  employment  with  Jeff.  Morrow  &  Co.  Within  a 
year  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  business  on  his  own 
account,  establishing  the  popular  firm  of  Claybrook  &  Smith.  He 
sold  out  his  interest  in  this  house  to  embark,  in  1860,  in  the  tobacco 
business.  He  prospered  as  years  succeeded,  and  in  1875  entered  into 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Joseph  Claybrook,  establishing  the  pres- 
ent firm.  They  now  occupy  their  own  building,  and  have  become  one 
of  the  largest  firms  in  the  county,  employing  two  salesmen  besides 
the  proprietors.  He  married,  December  18,  1864,  Margaret  Lobban, 
daughter  of  W.  P.  Lobban,  who  is  now  an  extensive  farmer  and 
stock-raiser.  His  wife  possesses  all  those  graces  which  make  the 
frugal  and  happy  wife.  Six  children  are  the  result  of  the  happy 
union,  of  whom  Stella  died  September  13,  1880 :  Elba,  May,  13, 
1875,  those  remaining  and  living  being  John,  Mittie  and  Joe.  Mr. 
Claybrook  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
Callao. 


1102  HISTORY    OF   IVIACOX    COUNIT 


LYMAN  L.  COLEMAN 

(Section  13). 

Lyman  L.  Coleman,  a  prominent  stock-raiser  and  farmer  of  this 
township,  was  born  in  Aurora,  111.,  June  13,  1846.  His  parents,  Enos 
Coleman  and  Frances  M.  Andrews,  are  living  with  their  son  on  the 
farm.  The  one  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  the  other  of  New  York. 
The}^  have  besides  three  children,  a  son  and  two  daughters,  who  are 
still  alive.  Mr.  Coleman  was  a  close  student  at  Clark's  Seminary, 
now  known  as  Jennings'  Institute,  Aurora,  111.,  from  which  he  removed 
with  his  parents  in  1858  to  Hannibal,  Mo.  ;  but  owing  to  dissatisfac- 
tion there  during  the  war  they  returned  to  their  former  home,  leaving 
their  son  successfully  engaged  in  the  wood  trade.  He  took  the  con- 
tract in  1866  to  furnish  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  with 
wood,  which  he  continued  to  do  for  five  ^^ears.  Then  he  became  a 
conductor  on  the  same  road,  removing  after  two  years  to  Kansas  City 
to  work  for  two  more  years  in  the  machine  shops  as  a  machinist. 
Thence  he  engaged  with  the  Union  Pacific  road  as  superintendent  of 
the  tie  cutting  force,  but  afterwards  went  to  Huntsville,  Mo.,  working 
for  the  Huntsville  Coal  and  Mining  Company  as  engineer.  In  1876 
he  removed  to  Bevier  township,  settling  upon  a  farm  of  240  acres 
which  he  had  purchased  several  years  previous.  By  assiduous  toil  he 
has  converted  this  property  into  a  fine  stock  farm,  with  elegant  im- 
provements, his  business  having  become  extensive  until  recently,  w^hen 
he  reduced  the  herd  hy  sale.  He  was  married  May  12,  1878,  to  Miss 
Annie  Winn,  daughter  of  J.  R.  Winn,  of  Macon  county.  He  has  two 
children:  Alice  and  Louisa.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Lodge  No.  78,  of  Macon  City,  and  also  of  Eskridge  Lodge  No.  328, 
of  Bevier.     His  family  attend  the  Congregational  Church  of  Bevier. 

NICHOLAS  DECKER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser  and  Dealer,  Section  36). 

Mr.  Decker  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,  December  27, 
1822,  of  Peter  P.  and  Elizabeth  (Jacoby)  Decker,  natives  of  N.  Y. 
Nicholas  D.  had  every  advantage  of  education,  attending  the  finest 
classical  schools  in  New  York.  When  he  was  21,  however,  he  learned 
carpentering  under  Jesse  Van  Ness,  then  a  noted  carpenter  and 
builder  of  New  York,  and  w^as  in  that  and  the  lumber  manufacturing 
business  until  1860,  when  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  milling  enter- 
prise in  Chatham,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.  He  was  thus  engaged  for 
six  years  ;  then  for  10  more  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  was  again  in  the 
carpenter  and  building  trade.  In  1876  Mr.  Decker  sold  his  interest 
in  the  business  and  also  his  city  property,  and  bought  a  farm  in  Kent 
county,  Mich.  After  three  years'  residence  he  again  moved.  Pur- 
chasing a  farm  in  Callao  township,  Mo.,  he  took  up  his  abode  upon  it 
and  it  is  still  his  home.  The  farm  comprises  210  acres  of  land  in 
fine  shape.     It  is  almost  all  seeded  down,  which  is  the  best  method  of 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1103 

farming  in  Missouri.  Mr.  Decker  married  in  1859  Miss  Margaret 
Tradenburgh,  and  has  four  children :  Peter,  Ehner,  Carrie  and 
Emma,  all  of  whom  are  at  home,  except  Elmer,  who  is  au  engineer 
in  Michigan  on  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Eailroad.  Mr.  D.  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  one  of  the  most  valua- 
ble citizens  of  the  township. 

ENOCH  HUMPHREYS 

(Post-office,  Callao) . 
Enoch  Humphreys  is  a  well  known  farmer  and  stock-raiser  residing 
in  section  7,  of  this  township.  He  was  born  February  6,  1825,  in 
Scott  county,  111.,  of  Samuel  Humphreys  and  Margaret  Stanfields, 
both  of  whom  died  in  Callao  township  between  1861  and  1862.  He 
first  came  to  Randolph  county,  Mo.,  but  shortly  afterwards  removed 
to  Macon.  Se^Dtember  21,  1857,  he  married  Mary  Harrison,  nee 
Crabtree,  widow  of  Benjamin  Harrison  and  daughter  of  E.  Crabtree, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  have  had  six  children  :  Charles  H.  Har- 
rison, a  son  of  Mrs.  Humphrej^s  ;  John  W.  Humphreys,  Maggie,  who 
died  in  1863  ;  Lulu,  and  two  that  died  in  infancy.  His  farm  consists 
of  120  acres  of  first-class  land,  well  improved.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

DANIEL  W.  PILLERS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Daniel  W.  Pillers  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  April  24,  1839, 
of  Albert  Pillars,  of  Pa.,  and  Sarah  Buck.  He  came  west  with  his 
parents  at  the  age  of  18  years  and  located  in  Macon  county,  16  miles 
north  of  Callao.  After  remaining  there  a  short  time,  he  removed  to 
the  place  now  occupied  by  him  in  Callao  township.  He  w^orked  at 
the  farm  until  the  spring  of  1861,  and  then  went  to  Iowa,  Indiana, 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  being  absent  about  four  and  one-half  years. 
He  was  in  the  army  four  months  during  this  time  in  Co.  I,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-seventh  regiment,  under  Col.  George  W.  M.  Cook.  He 
served  most  of  the  time  at  Fort  Delaware,  40  miles  below  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  honorably  discharged  September  2,  1864.  After  his 
travels,  he  attended  schools  at  New  Hagarstown,  Ohio,  during  a  year, 
located  for  a  period  in  the  oil  region  of  Pennsylvania,  and  fi  nally  re- 
turned to  Missouri  in  1865,  teaching  school  in  Macon  county  two 
years.  Eliza  Osborn,  of  Bevier  township,  became  his  wife  October 
8,  1867,  by  whom  he  has  four  promising  children:  Edith  J.,  born 
September  5,  1868;  James  H.,  born  December  30,  1870;  Elva,  born 
October  20,  1873,  and  Willard  E.,  born  November  29,  1877.  The 
young  couple  settled  down  in  Callao  township,  the  husband  cultivating 
160  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  upon  which  he  has  placed  many  valu- 
able improvements  and  an  excellent  breed  of  stock.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Wright  Post  No.  52,  of  Callao,  a  highly  respected  at- 
tendant of  the  Cumberland  Presb3^terian  Church,  and  has  filled  for  a 
number  of  years  with  honor  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 


1104  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


WILLIAM  M.  PERRY 

(Post-office,  Callao). 

William  M.  Perry,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  resides  on  section  1, 
Callao  township.  He  was  born  September  12,  1831,  in  North  Caro- 
lina, of  James  Perry  and  Martha  Griffith,  natives  of  North  Carolina. 
He  possesses  the  advantages  of  a  common-school  education.  In  1844 
he  removed  to  Macon  county,  Mo.,  with  his  parents  and  lived  on  the 
farm  until  21  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  began  to  work  upon  farms 
in  the  neighborhood.  When  23  years  old  he  married  Eliza  Mont- 
gomery, a  native  of  Missouri.  The  worthy  couple  have  11  chil- 
dren; George  W.,  Missouri  B.,  Martha  L.,  who  died  June  3,  1882  ; 
John  W.,  who  died  August  18,  1869  ;  Gallic  A.,  Mary  F.,  who  died 
August  18,  1869  ;  Mozella,  Madie  M.,  Ottie  C,  who  died  December 
30,^1880;  Thomas  L.,  who  died  July  12,  1880,  and  Henry  C,  who 
died  July  6,  1881.  He  located  after  his  marriage  in  Callao  township 
upon  a  farm  of  only  40  acres,  which  by  steady  labor  and  diligence  and 
ability  he  has  increased  to  150  acres.  It  is  a  beautiful  place  with  a 
number  of  advanced  improvements.  Mr.  Perry  is  an  intelligent  citi- 
zen in  every  sense  of  the  word.  He  is  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

JAMES  M.  RANDALL 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  26). 

Mr.  Randall  is  descended,  through  his  mother,  nee  Jane  Putnam, 
from  the  family  of  the  famous  old  General  of  that  name,  and  by  his 
father,  Ora  P.  Randall,  from  the  old  Randall  stock  of  Vermont,  than 
which  there  was  none  of  more  honored  standing.  He  received  a  good 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  New  York  and  Wisconsin,  and 
from  the  age  of  13  worked  on  a  farm  and  clerked  in  stores.  Oc- 
tober 5,  1861,  he  entered  the  U.  S.  army,  as  a  private  of  Co.  B,  Four- 
teenth regiment,  Wisconsin  infantry.  He  was  afterwards  transferred 
to  Co.  G,  Twenty-first  regiment,  Wisconsin  infontry,  and  at  the  end 
of  six  months  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain.  He  served  until 
the  first  of  April,  1865,  and  participated  in  the  following  battles  : 
Shiloh,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Re- 
saca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Jonesboro  and  Benton- 
ville,  at  which  later  engagement  he  Avas  seriously  wounded.  He 
marched  Avith  Gen.  Sherman  to  the  Sea,  and  from  Savannah,  Ga.,  to 
Goldsboro,  N.  C.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Randall  went  to  Wal- 
worth county,  Wis.,  but  in  1868  moved  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and 
settled  in  Callao  township,  where  he  has  since  been  one  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  and  stock-raisers.  December  25,  1863,  he  espoused  Miss 
Martha  M.  Pollard.  Her  father  and  mother  were  natives,  respectively, 
of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Lena  R.,  aged  17;  Linden  M.,  aged  15;  Clinton  L.,  aged  10 
years,  and  Myrtle  M.,  a  charming  little  maid  of  two  years.  Mr. 
Randall  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  which  he 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


1105 


has  been  a  senior  vice-commander  of  the  Post  No.  52,  CaUao.  He 
belongs  also  to  the  Masonic  lodge  No.  38  of  Callao,  Mo.,  and  has  been 
succeSjively  master  of  the  Lodge,  senior  and  junior  warden.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Concord  Christian  Church  of  Callao  township.  Mr.  Kan- 
dall  is  considered  one  of  the  most  intelligent  men  in  the  county  and 
in  1876,  when  there  was  an  arrangement  to  do  away^with  county 
iudo-es  and  have  supervisors  instead,  he  was  chosen  by  Callao  as  their 
representative.  Mr.  Randall  has  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  farms 
in  the  township,  comprising  over  400  acres. 

JUDGE  P.  M.  STACY 

(Section  18). 
Judo-e  P.  M.  Stacv,  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Pulaski   county,  Ky.     He  was  born  February   10,  1814,  his 
parents,  Simon  Stacy  and  Elizabeth  Hull,  being  from  Ohio.     At  the 
ao-e  of  12  he   removed  with  his    parents  to  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  re- 
si°ling  on  the  farm  and  receiving  an  excellent  common-school  educa- 
tion.^ When   21   years   old  he  accompanied  a  brother  and  sister  to 
Saline  county,  Mo.,  afterwards  removing  to  the  Platte  and  finally 
settling  on  section  18  of  Callao  township.     In  1854  he  drove  a  herd 
of  cattle  across  the  plains  of  which  he  disposed  in  California,  return- 
in^  from  a  most  profitable  journey.     He  has  once   since  visited  the 
Golden  State.     He  wedded  January  18,  1826,  Elizabeth  Cofi'en,  the 
lovely  daughter  of  Joel  Coffen,  of  Kentucky.     She  died  in  1849,  at 
Callao.     By    her    were    born :  Elizabeth,  who  died  in    1852  ;  Mary 
Ann,  married  to  Joseph  Glum  ;  James  L.,  born  August  27,  1840,  and 
Jackson,  Charlie,  Union,   two  babies    unnamed,  all  of  whom   died. 
Judo-e   Stacv  re-married,  the  lady  being  Elizabeth  Powell,  daughter 
of  Henry  A"".  Powell,  native  of  North  Carolina.     The  union  resulted 
in  12  children  :  Henry  P.,  who  died  March  5,  1859  ;  Martha,  married 
to  John  Melon  ;  William  F.  ;   Cornelia,  married  to  John  Smith  ;  John 
A  ,  died  in  1873;  Thomas  S.  ;  Mittie  E.,  married  to  John  Allison; 
Susan  E.,  Franklin  S.,  Henry  L.,  Perry   M.,   died    September    5, 
1873.     He  was   county  judge  from   1854-55,  which  position  he  filled 
with  such  dignity  and  justice  that  he  received  a  re-election  in  1866, 
servincy  until   1870.     He  holds  a  high  place  in  Lodge  No.  38,  A.  F. 
and  A°M.,  of  Callao,  and  is   a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian  Church.     During  the  late  war  he  served  in  the  Confederate 
armv,  in  Co.  F,  under  Col.  Clark  for  six  months,  and  was  a  strong 
sympathizer  with  the  South.     His  farm  of  325  acres  is  in  fine  condi- 
tion and  his  residence  is  among  the  most  elegant  of  the  vicinity.- 

JAMES  H.  TAYLOR 

(Post-office,  Callao). 
James  H.  Taylor,  a  business  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  section   6, 
was  born  in  Virginia,  Februarv   13,  1824.     His  parents,  natives  ot 
that  State,  emigrated  in  1838   to  Jefferson  county,  Iowa.     There  he 


1106  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

received  a  good  common-school  education  and  at  the  as^e  of  24  was 
married  December  31,  1847,  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Stewart,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  Stewart.  They 
have  had  12  children  :  Calvin  S.,  married  ;  Rachel  E.,  who  died  May 
20,  1861;  Mary,  who  died  February  6,  1860;  Sarah  R.,  married; 
Abi,  who  died  November  4, 1863  ;  Calista,  George  W.,  Alia  J.,  William 
H.,  who  died  October  18,  1873;  Thomas  C,  Emma  and  Eva  May. 
He  removed  to  La  Plata,  Mo.,  in  1868,  and  began  farming,  but  in 
1882,  having  purchased  100  acres  of  land  in  Callao  township,  he 
settled  there.  He  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Grange  movement, 
treasurer  for  two  years  of  La  Plata  township  and  a  number  of  years 
held  the  position  of  school  director.  In  politics  he  is  of  the  Green- 
back party,  but  was  born  and  reared  a  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of  Callao. 

CAPT.  JOHN  VAIL. 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Capt.  John  Vail  is  a  well-known  and  wealthy  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  of  section  14,  Callao  township.  Mr.  Vail's  grandfather  on  his 
mother's  side,  James  Copus,  was  one  of  the  seven  pioneers  who  set- 
tled in  Ohio,  six  of  whom  were  killed  by  the  Indians.  He  was  born 
March  8,  1818,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio.  His  father,  James  Vail, 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  his  mother,  Sarah  Copus,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  has  two  sisters  and  one  brother  living.  His  father 
died,  leaving  John  at  the  age  of  seven  and  a  half  years,  and  Mrs.  Vail, 
now  84  years  old,  still  residing  in  Ohio.  After  receiving  the  advan- 
tage of  a  good  common-school  education,  he  remained  in  Ohio  until 
1860,  when  he  removed  to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  locating  just  north  of 
Macon,  following  the  avocation  of  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Lyda 
township.  In  October,  1882,  he  came  to  his  present  residence  in 
Callao  township,  possessing  120  acres  of  home  farm  and  60  acres  in 
Jackson  township.  The  improvements  in  the  former  are  more  than 
the  average  of  the  county.  During  the  late  war  he  was  captain  of 
Co.  H,  Forty-second  Missouri  infantry  volunteers.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbj-terian  Church,  and  has,  at  various  times, 
filled  a  number  of  important  county  positions.  He  married,  April  29, 
1840,  Miss  Fanny  Kisling,  of  Pennsylvania,  by  whom  he  has  10  chil- 
dren :  Joseph  F.,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ellen,  Samantha,  Henry,  Cetta, 
John  C,  William,  Fanny  and  Cyrus,  Avho  died  November  21,  1849. 

C.  WRIGHT 

(Section  30) . 

This  worthy  citizen  and  experienced  farmer  and  stock-raiser  moved 
to  Missouri  in  1829,  from  Wayne  county,  K3^,  where  he  grew  up  on  a 
farm  and  received  his  education.  Both  he  and  his  parents,  Evan  and 
Rebecca  Wright,  were  natives  of  Virginia.  Young  W.  was  born  April 
8,  1800.     On  coming  to  Missouri  he  settled  in  Randolph  county,  but  in 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.         .  1107 

1834  moved  to  Calluo  township,  which  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  Texas  in  1854.  He  owns  a 
farm  of  260  acres,  which  presents  a  most  attractive  appearance,  and 
gives  substantial  evidence  of  the  care  and  trouble  that  has  been  ex- 
pended upon  it.  January  11,  1821,  Mr.  Wright  was  married  to  Miss 
Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  Vestal.  .They  had  10  children  ;  Elizabeth, 
born  February  23, 1823,  married  James  White  ;  Thomas  C,  born  May 
11,  1824  ;  he  was  assassinated  by  bushwhackers  in  Callao  township, 
on  account  of  his  Southern  sympathies  ;  Evans,  born  December  22, 
1825,  died  at  the  age  of  five,  in  Kentucky  ;  Allen,  born  June  22,  1829, 
married  first  to  Miss  Nancy  Humphreys,  the  second  time.  Miss  Patience 
Gilstrap  ;  Telitha  L.,  born  March  12,  1831,  died  in  1845  ;  Sarah,  born 
December  29,  1832,  married  Moses  Burnett;  Martha  E.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1839,  married  B.  H.  Gilstrap;  William  C,  born  February 
6,  1841,  married  Sarah  Perkins;  and  Nancy  C,  born  February  5, 
1845,  married  E.  R.  Nichols.  The  first  Mrs.  Wright  died  in  March, 
1852,  and  in  1855  Mr.  W.  married  Miss  Martha  Trimble,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Elizabeth  Trimble,  natives  of  Montgomery  county,  Ky., 
who  moved  to  Randolph  in  1835.  By  the  second  marriage  there  are 
two  children:  George  C,  born  August  31,  1858,  married  September 
5,  1852,  to  Miss  Alice  Sisson  ;  and  Margaret  A.,  born  March  9,  1860, 
now  the  wife  of  James  Mason.  Mr.  Wright  was,  for  many  years  in 
the  early  history  of  the  county,  justice  of  the  peace  and  constable, 
and  also  tax  collector.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Concord  Christian 
Church  of  Callao,  as  are  also  all  his  children,  grandchildren  and  rela- 
tives, of  whom  he  has  a  goodly  host.  In  his  family  he  has  had  20 
marriages,  and  has  12  children,  55  grandchildren,  25  great-grandchil- 
dren and  two  great-great-grandchildren.  He  is  spending  in  peaceful 
repose  the  closing  years  of  his  life,  and,  amidst  his  numerous  descend- 
ants, the  moments  glide  gently  by,  until  he  shall  hear  the  welcome 
words,  "Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant ;  rest  thou  in  the 
joy  of  thy  Lord." 

MARTIN  WRIGHT 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  30) . 

Mr  Wright,  like  others  of  the  family,  was  born  in  Wayne  county, 
Ky.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  October  22,  1806.  He  grew  up  and 
received  his  education  in  Kentucky,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Missouri  in  1829.  He  lived  a  short  time  in  Randolph  county,  and 
then  located  in  Bevier  township,  Macon  county,  in  1832.  In  1840  he 
again  changed  his  residence,  choosing  Callao  township  as  his  stopping 
place.  He  has  since  that  time  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  Mr.  Wright  has  been  a  large  land  owner,  but  retains  only 
about  120  acres.  He  is  a  married  man,  having  been  first  married  to 
Miss  Elvira  Coffee,  daughter  of  Joel  Coffee  and  Mary,  his  wife,  na- 
tives of  the  Old  Dominion.  There  were  born  12  children  :  Martha 
J.,  born  June  22,  1830,  who  died  September  12,  1849,  whilst  the  wife 
of  J.  D.  Banta, ;  James  G.,  born  January  2,  1832,  who  married  Miss 
Sarah  Palsegrave ;  Sarah  V.,  born  March  13,  who  died  September 


1108  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

2,  1883,  whilst  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Banta  ;  Henry  B.,  born  August  13, 
1836,  who  married  Miss  Lucinda  Summers;  Newton  H.,  born  No- 
vember 22,  1839,  who  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Trimble  ;  Evan  C,  born 
June  15,  1841,  who  married  twice.  Miss  Ann  Mary  Stinson  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  Wright ;  Joel,  born  July  18,  1844,  who  died  in  1845  ; 
Allen  L.,  born  July  21,  1847,  who  married  Miss  Marinda  Music; 
Elvira,  born  March  28,  1850,  who  married  T.  B.  Cavanaugh  ;  George 
F.,  born  December  20,  1854,  who  married  Miss  Ella  Curry,  and 
two  children,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Wright  died  September  7, 
1869,  and  Mr.  W.  married  a  widow  Mrs.  Susan  Jessup,  with  one 
child,  Calvin  Jessup.  Mrs.  Wright's  first  husband  was  assassinated 
bv  bushwhackers  durins;  the  war,  while  servins;  in  the  Missouri  State 
Militia.  He  was  a  resident  of  Chariton  county,  and  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. Mr.  Wright  took  the  side  of  the  North  in  the  late  struggle, 
and  had  one  son,  Evan  C,  in  the  Twenty-second  Missouri  infantry. 
He  served  faithfully  until  discharged,  in  1863,  for  disability.  Mr. 
W.  has  a  large  family,  including  24  grandchildren  and  nine  great- 
grandchildren. He  is  an  influential  citizen  and  a  devout  member  of 
the  Concord  Christian  Church,  of  Callao  township,  and  all  of  his  fam- 
ily are  members  of  Concord  Church. 

ALLEN  WRIGHT 

(Farmer,  Section  30). 

Mr.  Wright  was  born  June  22,  1829,  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  in  1829.  He  lived 
with  his  parents  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  22  years  of  age. 
He  then  started  in  life  for  himself,  his  first  step  being  to  take  unto 
himself  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Nancy  Humphreys.  Four 
children  were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  one,  Dora  E.,  is  living, 
and  Leutia  is  dead,  as  are  also  Lydia  and  an  infant.  Mr.  Wright 
has  lived  since  1854,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  in  Macon  county, 
and  in  this  township.  He  tried  Texas  for  one  yeaf,  but  soon  re- 
turned. He  has  a  fine  farm  of  110  acres  with  good  improvements 
of  every  kind.  Losing  his  first  wife  in  1866,  he  married  in  1867, 
Miss  Patience  Gilstrap,  by  whom  he  has  two  children :  Willard 
Oscar  and  Joel  I.  Mr.  Wright  being  a  natural  good  manager,  has 
been  eminently  successful  in  farming,  and  is  now  as  prosperous  and 
independent  a  citizen  as  the  township  possesses. 


charito:n'    towi^ship. 


REV.  JAMES  DYSART 

(Pastor  in  Presbyterian  Church) . 
Mr.  D.,  who   has   been    for   40  years    an    earnest   and    successful 
preacher  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  whose  name 
will  be  handed  down  to  future  ages  as  the  founder  of  McGee  College, 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1109 

is  one  of  tHe  most  prominent  self-made  men  in  this  section  of  Missouri. 
His  father,  who  was  the  first  man  to  settle  in  Randolph  county,  was 
originally  from  North  Carolina.  His  mother,  nee  Martha  Cowden, 
came  of  an  ancient  Irish-Scotch  family,  and  was  born  in  Saulsbury, 
S.  C.  James  Dysart  was  born  in  Maury  county,  Tenn.,  September 
18,  1807,  and  came  to  Missouri  in  the  glowing-  month  of  June,  1818. 
He  lived  first  in  Howard  county,  then  in  Eandolph,  and  for  six  years 
had  a  stock  farm  on  the  Chariton.  In  1837  he  married  Miss  Betsy 
James,  of  Randolph,  and  moved  into  College  Mound.  His  wife  lived 
but  a  few  months,  and  Mr.  D.  married  the  second  time  Miss  Mary 
Dameron,  daughter  of  George  B.  Dameron,  of  Huntsville.  By  this 
marriage  there  were  12  children,  of  whom  only  four  are  living,  one 
daughter  and  three  sons  :  Fannie,  wife  of  Richard  M.  J.  Sharp,  a 
merchant  at  College  Mound ;  F.  J.  Dysart,  owner  of  a  store  in 
Moberly ;  J.  W.,  also  in  a  store  in  Moberly,  and  G.  William,  a 
preacher  at  Arrow  Rock,  Saline  county,  Mo.  All  of  the  children 
were  educated  at  McGee  College,  of  which  Mr.  D.  was  regent  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  founder.  In  1879  Mr.  D.  contracted  a  third 
alliance  with  the  widow  of  J.  S.  Harlan,  of  Randolph.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Mary  S.  Lockridge,  and  she  was  the  daughter  of  Capt. 
William  Lockridge,  of  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Her  father  was  from 
Rockridge  county,  Va.,  and  her  mother,  Ruth  Davis,  from  the  same 
county,  her  grandparents  on  her  father's  side  being  of  Scotch-Irish 
origin.  Mrs.  D.,  who  is  a  remarkably  attractive  woman,  was  edu- 
cated at  the  public  schools  of  Roanoke,  and  married,  the  first  time, 
Mr,  E.  D.  Atterbury,  of  Randolph.  By  her  second  marriage  she  had 
two  children  :  Minnie  D.  and  Josiah  S.  Harlan,  who  are  at  the  McGee 
College.  Mr.  Dysart  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  has  been 
all  through  the  degrees,  including  the  council.  He  also  passed 
through  all  the  degrees  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  encampment.  He 
served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Of  giant  intellect  and  indomitable 
energy,  Mr.  D.  has  made  himself  what  he  is  —  a  man  of  whom  the 
State  should  feel  proud.  He  still  labors  with  unflagro-ino:  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  Him  who  "  died  that  Ave  might  live." 

'  STEVEN  GIPSON 

(Farmer  and  St©ck -raiser) . 

Mr.  Gipson  was  born  in  North  Carolina  January  22,  1813.  He 
moved  when  a  boy  to  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  and  after  he  was  grown  to 
Missouri.  When  he  came  to  the  State  it  was  filled  with  Indians,  lowas 
and  Sacs,  among  whom  he  spent  the  first  years  of  his  residence  here,  oc- 
cupying himself  in  hunting,  farming  and  taking  care  of  stock.  He  first 
settled  in  Randolph  county  near  the  present  site  of  Huntsville,  though 
at  that  time  the  town  was  not  built.  Many  times  he  bore  arms  against 
Ihe  Indians,  and  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  under  Gen.  Clark. 
Mr.  Gipson  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  Chariton  township,  and 
much  of  his  money  was  made  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  still  owns 
land  to  the  amount  of  1,700  acres,  though  since  1863  he  has  been  en- 


1110  HISTORY    or   MACON    COUNTY. 

gaged  principally  in  the  tobacco  and  dry  goods  business.  A  man  of 
unflinching  integrity,  he  was  yet  ambitious  to  the  highest  degree,  and 
his  youthful  dreams  have  become  a  rapturous  reality.  In  these  days 
gold  is  omnipotent,  and  with  this  magician's  wand  Mr.  G.  finds  every 
door,  so  hopelessly  closed  against  so  many  eager  ones,  fly  noiselessly 
back  on  its  hinges.  Life  pours  at  his  feet  her  choicest  offerings,  and 
time  floats  to  strains  of  sweetest  music  through  the  scented  air.  When 
it  is  remembered  how  much  of  courage,  industry,  perseverance  and 
solid  capacity  Mr.  Gipson's  success  represents,  it  cannot  be  said  that 
his  reward  is  greater  than,  his  deserts.  "  The  way  of  the  transgressor 
is  hard,"  then  his  pathway  must  blossom  thickly  with  the  pure  flowers 
of  virtue  and  truth.  Mr.  Gipson  was  married  in  1837  to  Miss  Lucinda 
Somers,  daughter  of  Abraham  Somers,  of  Eandolph  county,  originally 
from  Kentucky.  By  this  marriage  there  were  seven  children,  viz.  : 
Jane,  wife  of  Philip  Teters,  of  Macon  county  ;  Daniel,  who  married 
Miss  Catherine  Teters  ;  Columbus,  married  Miss  Gates  ;  Annie,  wife 
of  John  Vada,  of  Macon  county  ;  Jasper,  who  married  Miss  Jane 
Yorkum  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas  Manning,  and  Joseph,  still  at 
home.  Losing  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Gipson  married  Mrs.  Virginia  Man- 
ning, daughter  of  Mr.  Province  McCormick,  formerly  of  Virginia. 
The  second  marriag-e  was  crowned  bv  three  children  :  Lucinda,  Fannie 
and  Kichard.  Mr.  Gipson's  family  were  educated  at  McGee  College. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  Blue  Lodge  at  College  Mound, 
and  is  an  exemplary  follower  of  the  faith  of  the  Christian  Church,  to 
which  his  first  wife  also  belonged.  The  present  Mrs.  Gipson  is  a 
Presbyterian . 

LEWIS  GREEN 

(Post-office,  College  Mound). 

This  venerable  gentleman  comes  of  mixed  Virginia  and  Tennessee 
parentage,  and  was  himself  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  in  April, 
1806.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  received  a  common-school 
education.  At  the  age  of  19  he  left  his  boyhood's  home  and  sought 
in  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  a  new  field  for  the  gratification  of  his  hopes 
and  ambitions.  In  a  few  years  he  removed  to  Macon,  where  he  still 
lives.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  now 
owns  110  acres  of  land,  100  under  good  fence.  He  raises  grass,  corn 
and  tobacco.  Mr.  Green  owes  his  possessions  to  his  own  unaided 
efforts,  and  now  enjoys  in  peaceful  tranquilij^y  the  fruits  of  his  toil. 
He  has  been  presented  by  the  old  settlers  of  Macon  county,  as  a 
token  of  respect  to  the  oldest  housekeeper  in  the  county,  with  a  cane, 
cup  and  saucer  and  silver.  Mr.  Green  was  married  in  1828,  to  Miss 
Nancy  Gross,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  Gross,  of  Randolph 
county.  Mo.  They  have  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living: 
Isaac,  who  married  Miss  Polly  Somers,  daughter  of  Nineveh  Somers, 
of  Macon  county,  is  a  well-to-do  farmer ;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Isaac  Johnson  ;  Reynolds,  married  to  E.  Morrow,  daughter  of  Jesse 
Morrow  of  Macon  ;  Christine,  wife  of  Grub  Banning;  Wilson  R.,  who 
married  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Kitchen,   of  Macon,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1111 

John,  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Foster.  Those  deceased  are:  George 
W.,  Celia,  wife  of  Mr.  Somers  ;  Nancy,  wife  of  Albert  J.  Graife.  Mr. 
Green  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  as  his  wife  has  been  for 
45  years.     In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  is  now  a  Democrat. 

ROBERT  CRAIG  MITCHELL 

(Farmer). 

Mr.  Mitchell,  an  influential  farmer  of  Chariton  township,  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  was  born,  as  his  parents  before  him,  in 
Washington  county,  W.  Va.  He  had  the  honor  of  having  the  natal 
day,  22d  of  February,  of  the  great  father  of  his  country,  George 
Washington.  In  the  year  1811  began  the  career  of  Mr.  Mitchell. 
He  grew  up  in  Virginia  where  he  attended  the  common  schools  and 
in  time  became  a  farmer.  In  1839  he  moved  to  Randolph  county, 
Mo.,  and  settled  on  Dark  creek,  five  miles  north-west  of  Huntsville, 
but  in  a  few  years  again  moved,  this  time  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  em- 
barked in  the  steam-mill  and  lumber  business.  This  he  continued 
for  16  years,  then  went  to  Mexico,  Mo.,  where  he  lived  until  1869. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  farming  near  College  Mound,  Macon 
county.  He  owns  52  acres  of  land,  well  improved  and  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation.  In  1838  Mr.  Mitchell  chose  for  the  precious 
partner  of  his  bosom,  Miss  Elizabeth  Wright,  who  moved  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Missouri  with  her  father,  Walter  Wright,  when  she  was 
three  years  of  age.  There  were  10  children  born  of  this  marriage,  of 
whom  seven  are  living:  James  Waller,  who  married  Miss  Emily 
Turner  and  lives  in  Mexico  ;  Susan  Ann,  wife  of  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  a 
prominent  lawyer  of  Macon  City  ;  Marie  Louise,  wife  of  Lloyd  Mcin- 
tosh, a  farmer  in  Audrain  county ;  Robert  Craig,  a  physician  of  Sue 
City,  Macon  county,  who  was  educated  at  College  Mound  and  gradu- 
ated at  the  Missouri  Medical  College  in  St.  Louis  ;  Leonidas  Mathias, 
in  a  store  in  Macon  and  married  to  Miss  Lavinia  Harris  ;  Sarah  Har- 
riet, wife  of  L.  H.  Moss,  attorney-at-law  at  St.  Josepli ;  and  Edmond 
Thomas  at  home.  All  of  Mr.  Mitchell's  children  were  educated  at 
McGee  College.  Mr. Mitchell  was  formerly  in  politics  a  Whig,  and  is 
now  a  Democrat.  Honest  in  his  convictions  and  unswerving  in  his 
adherence  to  what  he  knows  to  be  right,  Mr.  Mitchell's  utterances 
are  esteemed  of  the  profoundest  value  by  his  neighbors,  and  a  word 
from  him  goes  a  long  way  toward  forming  their  opinions.  He  be- 
longs to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  including  the  Chapter.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

WILLIAM  POWELL,  SR. 

(Farmer,  Section  10). 

Mr.  Powell,   Sr.,   an  old   settler  and   a  farmer  widely   connected 
throughout  the  county,  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina.     His  father  was 
a  Virginian  by  birth,  but  emigrated  to  North  Carolina,  married  a  na- 
65 


1112  HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

live  of  Caswell  county  and  there  raised  a  family.  He  subsequently 
moved  to  Chariton  county,  Mo.,  and  died  at  College  Mound.  Mr. 
Powell  was  born  in  Caswell  county,  January  27,  1814,  and  received 
his  education  at  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  When  he  ar- 
rived at  man's  estate  he  farmed  for  some  years  in  his  native  State, 
and  then  moved  to  Missouri,  lived  for  two  years  in  Chariton  county, 
came  to  Macon  and  settled  about  half  a  mile  from  McGee  College,  and 
in  1857  moved  to  his  present  farm  three  miles  north  of  College 
Mound.     He  has  always  Ijeen  a  farmer. 

"  Kemote  from  towns  he  runs  his  race, 
Nor  e'er  has  changed,  nor  wished  to  change  his  place." 

Mr.  Powell  has  160  acres  of  land  upon  which  he  raises  tobacco, 
cattle,  grass  and  timothy.  He  is  successful  in  his  chosen  career,  and 
no  man  can  do  more.  He  was  three  years  justice  of  the  peace. 
Mr.  Powell  is  a  married  man,  having  wedded  on  the  31st  of  Decem- 
ber, 1843,  Miss  Nancy  Banning,  daughter  of  Thomas  W.  Banning,  of 
Macon,  Mo.  There  were  10  children  born,  six  still  living  :  Peter  Polk, 
who  married  Miss  Mary  Stone,  of  Macon,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Malinda  Stone  ;  Thomas  W.  ;  William  Basley,  married  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Kneedler,  daughter  of  Seymour  and  Sarah  Kneedler ;  Lou,  a 
portrait  painter,  educated  at  McGee  College  and  at  Kirksville  ;  James 
Henry,  a  farmer,  married  to  Miss  Isabella  Penton,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  Jane  Penton,  of  Chariton  township,  and  with  one  daughter, 
Leola  ;  and  John  Franklin,  a  bright  youth  of  20,  still  at  home.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Powell  belong  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

DR.  RUFUS  YANCY  POWELL 

(Physician  and  Surgeon). 

Dr.  Powell,  a  physician  of  large  practice  in  Chariton  township, 
was  born  in  Macon,  Noxubee  county.  Miss.,  April  17,  1839.  His 
fjither,  John  Powell,  was  born  January  12,  1812,  near  Yanceyville, 
Caswell  county,  N.  C.  He  was  a  farmer  and  died  on  his  farm  near 
College  Mound,  October  5,  1865.  His  mother  was  born  in  Nash 
county,  N.  C.  She  was  born  March  15,  1815,  and  is  still  living. 
Many  years  of  her  life  were  spent  in  her  Southern  home  in  Mississippi. 
When  the  family  came  to  Missouri,  in  1843,  the  boat  upon  which  they 
w'ere  passengers  was  the  ill-fated  steamer  *'  Emblem,"  which  struck  a 
snag  and  sunk  near  Herman,  on  the  Missouri',  and  they  lost  all 
their  property  and  narrowly  escaped  with  their  lives.  They  reached 
Glasgow  by  another  boat,  the  *' West- Wind,"  and  made  the  rest  of 
the  journey  on  returning  wagons  in  which  the  farmers  of  Macon 
county  had  hauled  tobacco  to  that  point.  They  settled  near  College 
Mound,  and  R.  Y.  was  educated  in  McGee  College.  He  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  in  1861,  and  next  went  out  with  a  class- 
mate, Capt.  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  under  Gen.  Sterling  Price,  in  the  Con- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  1113 

federate  army.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Dry  Wood,  Lexington,  etc. 
After  his  return  from  the  war  he  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  Iowa  State  University  at  Keokuk,  and  graduated  in  1864  with  the 
degree  of  M.D.  He  practiced  12  months  in  Kansas  at  Iowa  Point, 
and  then  returned  to  College  Mound.  The  Doctor  owns  240  acres 
of  land,  160  acres  under  fence  and  principally  in  grass.  He  raises 
thoroughbred  sheep,  cattle  and  hogs,  fine  geese  and  fowls.  He  has  a 
fine  young  orchard,  and  his  land  is  rendered  more  valuable  by  the 
veins  of  coal  underlying  and  running  through  it.  Dr.  Powell's  father 
raised  tobacco  and  one  year  raised  with  four  hands  and  hauled  19,740 
pounds  and  sold  it  at  $5.00  a  hundred,  at  Brunswick,  a  distance  of  45 
miles.  Dr.  Powell  was  married  June  4,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  G. 
Dawkins,  of  Darksville,  Randolph  county.  In  that  county  Mrs. 
Powell  was  born  March  13, 1841,  and  was  educated  at  McGee  College. 
She  has  borne  10  children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  George  W., 
Kufus  Ernest,  Charles  A.  and  Mary  Eoxana.  The  Doctor  belongs 
to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  in  1867  was  representative  to  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Missouri.  He  was  postmaster  and  conducted  the  money 
order  at  College  Mound  for  several  years  in  a  business-like  manner. 
He  has  served  as  notary  public  for  many  years,  being  commissioned 
by  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  He  is  a  man  of  universal 
popularity  and  carries  the  warm  affection  of  half  the  county  in  the 
grasp  of  his  hand. 

JEHU  TETER 

(Farmer,  Section  26) . 

Mr.  Teter,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Chariton  township,  was  born  in 
Randolph  county,  now  Barbour  county,  Va.,  on  the  29th  day  of  August, 
1827.  His  parents  were  natives  of  the  same  State.  He  left  Virginia 
at  the  age  of  10,  and  coming  to  Missouri  settled  in  Macon  county,  on 
the  farm  adjoining  which  he  now  lives.  All  of  his  early  life  was  spent 
on  a  farm,  and  upon  reaching  manhood  he  taught  school  for  some  time 
in  the  county.  He  then  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  though  he  has 
continued  to  farm.  He  now  owns  280  acres  of  land  all  fenced,  and  all 
in  grass  with  the  exception  of  75  acres.  His  ftirm  is  richly  veined  in 
every  direction  with  coal.  Mr.  Teter  is  in  politics  a  Democrat.  He 
served  in  the  enrolled  State  militia.  He  is  possessed  of  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  township,  as  proof  of  which  he  filled  for  many 
years  the  trustworthy  office  of  postmaster.  Mr.  Teter  belongs  to  the 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  ffrand  lodge.  He  has 
been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  1851, 
was  Miss  Juletta  Jackson  Kitchen,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
Kitchen,  natives  of  North  Carolina.  There  were  six  children  born  to 
this  union,  of  whom  but  two  survive:  George  Lee,  attending  school 
at  Pauline  Holiness  College,  and  Minta  Berilla  at  home.  Being  a 
lonely  widower,  on  the  16th  of  September,  1877,  Mr.  Teter  married 
Miss  Frances  Lewis,  daughter  of  James  Lewis,  of  Chariton  county. 
This  has  proved  a  happy  union,  and  he  has  two  children  by  this  mar- 


1114  HISTORY    OF   aiACON    COUNTY. 

riage.     Mr.  Teter  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church. 

ME.  AARON  TETER 

(Farmer  and  Stock- raiser). 

Mr.  Teter,  a  well-to-do  farmer,  is  of  old  and  illustrious  stock,  and 
can  look  back  with  pride  to  a  long  line  of  men  sajis  peur  et  sans  re- 
proache  and  women  virtuous  and  beautiful  as  only  sangre  azul  can 
make  them.  He  preserves  as  priceless  treasures  a  saucer  of  rare  china 
that  has  been  handed  down  through  several  generations,  and  a  cup, 
saucer  and  plate  bequeathed  to  his  wife  by  her  ancestors.  Mr.  Teter' s 
forefathers  belonged  to  the  old  German  aristocracy,  than  whom  no 
prouder  grandees  ever  graced  a  court.  The  family  came  to  America 
when  the  county  was  first  discovered,  and  Mr.  Teter 's  father  was  born 
in  Pendleton  county,  Va.,  in  1790.  He  was  47  when  he  came  to  Mis- 
souri and  settled  the  farm  upon  which  his  son  now  lives.  His  wife, 
Amelia  Graham,  was  also  a  Virginian.  Aaron  Teter  was  born  Novem- 
ber 11,  1829,  in  Randolph  county,  W.  Va.  He  was  about  eight  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  was  educated  partly  in  the  latter 
State,  partly  in  Virginia.  He  lived  always  on  a  farm  and  was  by  every 
tie  of  early  association  wedded  to  the  life.  Naturally  he  chose  it  as 
his  field  of  operations.  He  now  owns  280  acres  of  land,  all  fenced, 
100  in  timber  and  the  rest  in  grass,  and  under  all  lies  a  rich  vein  of 
coal.  His  farm  is  beautifully  improved,  and  he  has  two  acres  in  apple 
and  peach  orchard.  During  the  war  Mr.  Teter  served  in  the  Federal 
army,  Co.  K,  Forty-second  Missouri  volunteers,  under  Col.  Forbes. 
He  was  in  the  Department  of  the  East  in  1864-65,  and  was  in  Ten- 
nessee, Kentucky  and  Alabama.  Mr.  Teter  was  township  collector 
and  school  director  under  the  township  organization.  In  1854  he 
married  Miss  Emeline  Grimes,  daughter  of  Henry  Grimes  and  Eliz- 
abeth Clark,  his  wife,  of  Randolph  county.  Sugar  Creek  township. 
Mrs.  Teter  was  born  in  Virginia,  of  which  State  her  parents  were 
natives,  but  was  brought  to  Missouri  when  an  infant.  Her  father  and 
mother  settled  in  Moberly  and  lived  there  until  their  demise.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Teter  have  two  children  :  Willard  Hall,  now  farming  at 
Moberly  on  his  grandfather's  old  farm,  and  Cora,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Dr.  B.  E.  Moody,  who  was  educated  at  home.  One  child  is  lying 
in  "  the  quiet  earth's  breast,  her  soul  at  home  with  God."  Mr.  Teter 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  he  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  and  G.  A.  R.  He  has  several 
times  been  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1115 


RUSSELL     TOWJN'SHIP. 


JOHN  W.  EVANS 

(Section  36). 

Mr.  E.,  a  leading  farmer  of  Russell  township,  is  also  a  country-man 
of  that  immortal  Paddy  who  was  chosen  by  one  of  the  ancient  poets 
as  the  theme  of  his  inspired  song.  Mr.  Evans  was  born  August  16, 
1834,  in  South  Wales,  the  first  of  the  union  of  William  and  Mary 
Evans.  In  1861  he  went  to  England  and  a  few  years  later  came  to 
America.  He  first  located  in  Pennsylvania  and  lived  successively 
in  Pittston,  Scranton  and  Bradford  counties.  It  was  in  the  first 
named  place  that  he  wedded,  on  Christmas  day,  1864,  Miss  Hannah 
Roberts,  all  of  North  Wales.  This  happy  couple  have  two  children  : 
Sarah  Anne  and  Mary  Elizabeth.  In  1877  Mr.  Evans  moved  to  New 
Cambria,  Macon  county.  Mo,,  and  has  ever  since  made  it  his  home. 
He  owns  a  snug  little  farm  of  40  acres  and  has  it- well  improved  and 
pretty  as  a  picture.  He  is  a  careful  farmer,  and  fulfils  to  the  best  of  his 
ability  every  duty  in  life.  Mr.  E.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
M.  C.  Church  North,  and  he  belonged  formerly  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Encampment. 

ALAMANDER  MENDEHNALL 

(Farmer,  Section  27) . 

This  noble  representative  of  the  State  of  Indiana  was  originally 
from  Tippecanoe  county,  of  that  State,  one  of  several  children  born 
to  Stephen  and  Jane  Mendenhall,  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
and  the  latter  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth.  Alamander's  natal  day  was 
July  3,  1830.  His  father  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Kentucky  and  a 
respected  citizen  of  that  Commonwealth,  having  gone  there  with  Dan- 
iel Boone  and  other  early  settlers  of  that  then  new  country.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  passed  his  younger  days  in  working  upon  the  farm, 
where  were  instilled  into  his  youthful  mind  the  habits  and  principles 
of  industry  and  energy  which  have  characterized  his  whole  life.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  common  school.  In  1845  he  came  to  Ma- 
con county  and  ever  since  then  has  made  his  home  at  or  near  his  present 
place  of  residence  —  a  period  of  39  years.  He  has  been  more  or  less  in- 
timately identified  with  the  material  interests  of  the  county  from  that 
early  day  and  has  become  well  acquainted  with  its  progress  and  develop- 
ment, as  well  as  with  its  inhabitants.  After  his  removal  here,  on  the  28th 
of  February,  1850,  Mr.  Mendenhall  was  married,  Miss  Lena  Elizabeth 
Penland,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  Penland,  of  Kentucky,  becom- 
ing his  wife.  Their  family  consists  of  10  children,  viz.  :  John  Davis, 
James  B.,  Stephen  M.,  Jefferson,  Nancy  Jane,  Howard  Francis,  Mary 
Emma,  Charlotte  F.,  Annie    Ellen  and   Louisa  Josephine.     During 


1116  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

the  war  Mr.  Mendeuhall  responded  to  the  call  for  troops,  and  enlisted 
in  the  Forty-second  Missouri  infantry,  under  Col.  Forbes,  being  mus- 
tered out,  after  having  well  discharged  his  duties  as  a  soldier,  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.  Recently  he  has  turned  his  attention  to  shaving  hoops,  in 
which  he  is  meeting  with  good  success,  and  though  he  owns  147  acres 
of  land,  he  does  but  little  farming  himself.  He  belongs  to  the  G.  A. 
R.  Post  at  New  Cambria.  For  28  years  he  has  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  by  reason  of  which  he  is  well  and  favorably  known  as 
'Squire.     Mrs.  Mendeuhall  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

DAVID  D.  MORRIS 

(Farmer,  Section  36). 

Mr.  Morris  was  born  in  South  Waks,  August  12,  1819.  His  pa- 
rents were  Daniel  and  Dinah  Morris.  He  grew  up  in  his  own  country 
and  was  married  there  in  1838,  to  Miss  Rosamond,  daughter  of  David 
and  Mary  Hughes  James,  all  natives  of  South  Wales.  Mr.  Morris 
did  not  emigrate  to  America  for  some  years  after  his  marriage.  In 
1851  he  landed  in  New  York,  thence  he  found  his  way  to  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  in  different  counties  until  1876,  when  he  went  to  the  Indian 
Territory,  McCalister,  Choctaw  Nation.  After  remaining  there  four 
years  he  came  in  1880  to  Macon  county.  Mo.  Until  his  last  move 
Mr.  Morris  was  a  shoemaker,  but  since  he  has  been  in  Macon  has 
turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  owns  83  acres  of  land  and  de- 
votes himself  chiefly  to  the  raising  of  stock.  He  is  a  man  of  much 
energy  and  go-aheadativeness,  and  contemplates  going  extensively  into 
the  dairy  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  have  had  nine  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  living  ;  these  are  :  Mary  J.,  now  the  wife  of  Frederick  Will- 
iams ;  Theotlis  J.,  James,  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Williams;  Rosatta,  now 
Mrs.  Jones;  Daniel,  and  Lizzie,  now  Mrs.  Simmson.  David  died  in 
1851,  and  Isaac  in  1861.  Two  sons  fought  in  the  Union  army  under 
Gen.  Kelley.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  Mr.  M.  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  at  Rapids 
City,  111. 

EILERT   SIEMENS 

(Farmer,  Section  36). 

Mr.  Siemens  is  the  son  of  Gird  and  Maria  Siemens,  and  was  born 
in  Germany,  July  1,  1842.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  educated  at 
the  public  schools.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1869,  and  settled  first 
in  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.  In  1871  Mr.  Siemens  came  to  New  Cambria, 
and  has  been  a  resident  up  to  date.  He  owns  140  acres  of  land,  prin- 
cipally cultivates  grass  and  raises  stock.  He  is  a  thrifty,  industrious 
citizen,  and  commands  universal  respect.  Mr.  S.  was  married  in  his 
native  land  February  12,  1827,  to  Miss  Sophia  Luntkim,  a  comely 
maiden  of  Germany.  They  have  six  children  :  Annie  Mary,  Johanna 
Catherine,  Gorna  Anna,  Seamon  Rino,  Alea  Sophia  and  Gracie.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Siemens  are  consistent  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church  and  live  up  to  the  doctrines  they  profess. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  IH^ 


MOSES  WILLIAMS 

(Farmer,  Section  35,  Post-office,  New  Cambria), 
On  the  1st  day  of  May,  1814,  in  Wales,  there  was  bora  to  David 
and  Catherine  Williams,  natives  of  the  same  country,  a  son,  whom  we 
now  take  as  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     He  was  brought  up  to  learn 
the  practical  details  of  farm  life,  and  during  his  youth  received  the 
elements  of  a  good  education,  which  have  been  very  materially  added 
to  since  that  time,  not  only  by  observation  but  by  sell  application. 
Becomino-  satisfied  that  in  this  country  better  opportunities  could  be 
had  for  Advancing  one's  self  in  life,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
choosino-  Ohio  as  the  site  of  his  future  labors,  he  settled  there  and 
made  it^'his  home  for  20  years.   .  In  1864  Macon  county.  Mo.,  became 
his  place  of  residence,  and  here  he  has  since  resided,  having  accumu- 
lated a  comfortable  homestead  of  150  acres,  evidences  of  the  improve- 
ment   of    which   denote  thrift,   prosperity  and  perseverance  in  the 
cultivation   of  the   soil.      In    1848  Mr.  Williams,   upon    clioosmg  a 
partner  for  life,  married  Miss  Mary  Evans,  whose  parents,  Evan  and 
Maro-aret  Evans,  also  came  originally  from  Wales.     The  complement 
of  their  family  circle  embraces  Evan  L.,  Maria  A.,  Josiah  and  Harriet. 
Mr   and  Mrs.  Williams  have  long  been  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  this  denomination  Mr.  W.  has  mimstered 
to  the  cono-rea-ation  at  New  Cambria  in  the  capacity  of  a  preacher  ot 
the  o-ospel.     During  the  war  he  remained  entirely  neutral,  o^t  ^^'^^ 
nevertheless  subject  to  no  little  inconvenience   by  soldiers   of  both 
factions.      Since    locating  here,  both   Mr.   and   Mrs.  Williams  have 
enjoyed  the   highest  respect    and    confidence  ot  the  citizens  ot   the 
community. 


TEI!^     MILE     TOWKSHIP. 


JAMES  A.  BANT  A 

(Post-office,  Ten  Mile). 
This  thrifty  farmer  of  Ten  Mile  township,  who  has  a  neat  place  of 
140  acres,  widely  known  as  '«  Maple  Grove  Farm,"  is  a  native  Mis- 
sourian,  and  was  born  January  21,  1856.  His  father  was  AltredBanta, 
and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Martha  A.  Terrill,  both  trom 
Kentucky.  James  A.  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Chariton  township, 
and  when  18  years  of  age  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  White,  a  daughter 
of  Mark  White,  of  this  county.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Banta  located  in 
Ten  Mile  township,  and  has  since  resided  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  have 
had  four  children  :  Clara,  Mark,  Nellie,  died  in  August,  1879,  Charles, 
died  January  29,  1884.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.     Mr.  Banta,  although  still  a  young  man,  has  already  shown 


1118  HISTORY    OF   MACON   COUNTY. 

by  his  industry  and  good  management, that  he  possesses  the  qualities  to 
make  a  successful  farmer  and  useful  citizen.  Upright  and  enterprising, 
he  commands  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him,  and  is  not  only  steadily 
coming  to  the  front  as  a  farmer,  but  is  gradually  pursuing  a  position  of 
influence  in  the  community.  Of  agreeable  manners  and  accommo- 
dating disposition,  as  well  as  being  tvell  qualified  for  ordinary  official 
duties,  it  is  not  improbable  that  with  the  concatenation  of  years  he 
will  be  called  upon  to  serve  the  people  in  some  station  of  public  trust. 

BENJAMIN  F.  COMBS 

(Retired  Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser,  Post-office  Clarence,  Slielby  County) . 

This  old  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Ten  Mile  township  is  the 
only  one  surviving  of  the  first  four  settlers  of  this  township,  the  other 
three,  William  Griffin,  English  Richardson  and  John  Silvers,  having 
all  gone  the  way  of  all  thiugs  earthly.  Mr.  Combs  ate  his  Christmas 
dinner  on  the  floor  of  his  cabin,  which  was  bare  ground,  in  this  town- 
ship in  1839,  since  which  he  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  the 
county.  At  that  time  nearly  the  whole  country  was  in  the  primitive 
state  of  nature,  and  although  the  Indians  had  generally  disappeared, 
wild  game  of  every  kind  was  perhaps  more  plentiful  than  when  the 
red  men  of  the  forest  were  here.  He  relates  many  interesting  stories 
of  his  early  experience  in  this  part  of  the  country,  which  are  fully 
worthy  of  a  place  in  the  history  of  the  county,  but  which  can  not  be 
given  in  this  connection.  One  of  these,  however,  should  not  be 
omitted  from  this  sketch.  He  says  the  deer  were  so  plentiful  here 
that  in  the  fall  of  1840  his  wife  killed  one  with  an  ax  in  their  own 
dooryard.  Since  then  he  has  seen  all  the  prairies  taken  up  by  set- 
tlers and  transformed  into  fine  farms,  and  much  of  the  timbered  land 
cleared  and  put  in  cultivation,  or  fenced  for  pastures.  In  a  word,  he 
has  seen  Macon  county  come  up  from  a  condition  of  a  wilderness  to 
that  of  one  of  the  first  counties  in  the  State.  His  father,  Fielding 
Combs,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Missouri.  He  came  here 
with  his  family  away  back  in  1819.  Benjamin  F.  was  then  a  child 
three  years  of  age,  having  been  born  in  Clark  county,  Ky.,  in  1816. 
The  mother  was  a  Miss  Mary  Foreman  before  her  marriage,  a  daughter 
of  Aaron  and  Rachel  (Fry)  Foreman,  originally  of  Virginia.  The 
family  lived  in  Ralls  county  for  16  years  after  they  came  to  this 
State,  and  then  removed  to  Monroe  county,  where  the  father  died 
September  4,  1879,  at  the  advanced  age  of  83.  The  mother  had  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  grave  hy  four  years,  also  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Benja- 
min F.  Combs,  however,  went  to  Shelby  county  in  1834,  but  the 
following  year  returned  to  Ralls  county,  where  he  resided  for  four 
years  or  until  1839,  as  stated  above.  Meanwhile,  in  1832,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Combs,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Cladora 
(Holder)  Combs,  and  the  granddaughter  of  the  well-known  Col. 
Holder,  of  Ky.  Mr.  Combs  has  followed  farming  and  stock-raising 
continuously  in  this  county  since  his  first  settlement  here,  for  a  period 
now  of  45  years.     He  early  succeeded  in  situating  himself  comforta- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1119 

bly  in  life,  and  has  reared  a  worthy  family  of  children.  There  were 
nine  children  originally  in  their  family,  namely:  Mary  T.,  now  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Ford,  of  Henry  county  ;  Sarah  S.,  the  present  wife  of  R. 
F.  Briimback;  Thomas  J.,  who  died  whilst  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
army,  at  Ft.  Donelson,  1864 ;  Rachel,, the  wife  of  James  M.  Combs  ; 
Samuel  F.,  married  and  a  resident  of  this  county  ;  Margaret  A.,  who 
died  after  she  became  the  wife  of  F.  M.  Stowe  ;  Benjamin  C,  who  is 
married  and  resides  in  this  county  ;  Commodore,  who  died  two  years 
ago,  and  Ernest  B.,  who  is  still  unmarried.  During  the  war  Mr. 
Combs  was  a  gallant  soldier  of  the  Union,  enlisting  in  Co.  H,  Second 
Missouri  State  militia,  of  which  company  be  was  a  sergeant,  and  in 
which  he  served  from  1861  to  1865.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Paddy 
Shield's  post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Clarence.  Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Combs  has  a  fine  homestead  of  240 
acres,  which  is  carried  on  by  his  son-in-law,  R.  F.  Brumback,  he 
himself  having  retired  from  hard  work  on  the  farm,  and  from  the 
duties  and  responsibilities  of  conducting  the  place,  though  he  is  quite 
active,  and  takes  a  live  interest,  not  only  in  the  affiiirs  of  the  farm, 
but  in  all  matters  usually  of  interest  to  an  intelligent  and  public- 
spirited  citizen. 

WILLIAM  H.  EAGLE 

(Farmer,  Post-office  Ten  Mile) . 

Mr.  Eagle  came  to  Missouri  in  1870  and  located  in  Ten  Mile  town- 
ship of  Macon  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  bought 
his  present  place,  which  is  an  excellent  ftirm  of  200  acres,  and  which 
he  has  made  one  of  the  choice  places  of  the  township.  A  man  of 
enterprise  and  industry,  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  our  best  farmers, 
and  has  been  quite  successful  in  handling  stock,  though  he  is  not  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  that  business.  Mr.  Eagle  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Ashland  county,  October  24,  1837.  His  parents  were  Ed- 
ward Eagle,  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  Eliza,  nee  Everetts,  formerly 
of  New  York.  They  now  reside  in  Franklin  county,  Kas.,  but  did 
not  remove  lo  that  State  until  after  the  war.  William  H.  was  reared 
in  his  native  county  and  brought  up  to  the  occupation  of  farming, 
which  he  has  continued  from  boyhood.  January  18,  1864,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elvira  Naylor,  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Eagle 
continued  farming  and  handling  stock  in  Ohio  until  his  removal  to 
Missouri.  During  the  war  he  served  for  some  time  in  the  enrolled 
militia,  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  was  first  lieutenant  of  his 
company.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eagle  have  three  children:  Delia  A.,  wife 
of  Benjamin  F  White,  of  this  county  ;  Lycurgus  E.  and  Naylor.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eagle  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

ELIJAH  ELDER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  6) . 

Mr.  Elder  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Collier)  Elder,  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  his   maternal  grandfather,   Charles  Collier,  being  73  years  of 


1120  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

age,  and  living  in  Castle  county,  Ky.  Elijah  was  born  July  20,  1811, 
in  East  Tennessee,  and  lived  there  with  his  parents  until  they  moved 
to  Kentucky,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Macon 
county  (in  1842),  on  the  same  farm  he  now  occupies.  In  January, 
1837,  Mr.  Elder  married  Miss  Jane  Craig,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Cniig,  of  Kentucky.  By  this  marriage  there  were  seven  chil- 
dren :  Joseph  C,  Mary,  who  died  when  one  year  old,  in  1840  ;  William 
C,  died  in  1838  in  infancy  ;  Nancy,  Margaret,  James  A.,  Melissa  A. 
His  first  wife  died  October  10,  1871,  and  was  buried  at  Mt.  Tabor 
Church,  Mo.  He  was  married  a  second  time,  April  9,  1873,  to  Mrs. 
Daniel  Walker,  widow  of  Daniel  G.  Walker.  Mrs.  Elder's  maiden 
name  was  Mary  J.  Surber.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Nancy 
(Wagoner)  Surber,  of  Virginia,  and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was 
a  widow  with  seven  children:  John  W.,  George  W.,  Charles  G., 
Sarah  M.,  Martha  N.,  Mary  E.  and  Louisa  J.,  all  of  whom  are  mar- 
ried. Amanda  E.  died  January,  1879.  Mr.  Elder  has  220  acres  of 
extraordinary  land  in  Ten  Mile  township,  and  is  a  model  farmer.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  and  Baptist  Church. 

JOHN  W.  GREENLEY 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Post-office,  Ettle). 

Dr.  Greenley,  a  regular  graduate  of  medicine  of  the  allopath  school 
of  physicians,  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion for  over  33  years  and  nearly  all  of  this  time  in  Missouri.  He  is 
a  physician  of  long  and  enviable  standing  in  this  part  of  the  county 
and  has  a  large  and  eminently  respectable  practice.  Dr.  Greenley  is  a 
native  of  Maryland,  born  November  29,  1825.  His  father,  James 
Greenley,  was  also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Brady,  was  of  Scotch  descent,  being  of  the  old  and 
well  known  Brady,  or  Broedy  fiimily  of  Scotland,  as  the  name  is  pro- 
nounced in  that  country.  Dr.  Greenley  received  a  good  general 
education,  and,  after  studying  medicine,  entered  the  University  of  Ken- 
tucky, at  Louisville,  from  which  he  graduated  as  a  doctor  of  medicine 
in  the  medical  department  of  that  institution  March  2,  1851.  He  then 
located  in  Hardin  county,  Ky.,  and  practiced  there  for  two  years,  but 
in  1853  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  at  Newark,  in  Knox  county, 
where  he  practiced  for  12  years.  This  brought  him  up  to  the  first 
year  of  the  war,  and  it  being  suspected  that  his  loyalty  was  a  little 
off  in  color,  he  found  it  safest  to  decamp  and  go  to  Illinois, 
where  he  could  get  it  ebonized  to  the  requisite  sableness.  He  prac- 
ticed medicine  in  Adams  county,  111.,  for  some  years,  but  came 
back  to  Missouri  in  1872,  and  located  at  Clarence,  in  Shelby  county. 
Three  years  later  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Ten  Mile  township,  Macon 
county,  and  came  to  his  present  location.  Dr.  Greenley  has  a  good 
farm  and  comfortable  home,  and,  being  well  thought  of  and  having  a 
large  practice,  is  pleasantly  situated.  March  21,  1851,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Able,  the  widow  of  Hannibal  T.  Able,  and  a 
daughter  of  Moses  Davis,  of  Kentucky.     She  died  January   17,  1856. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1121 

Dr.  Greenley  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Anderson,  a  daughter  of 
Willis  Anderson,  November  12,  1856.  They  have  been  blessed  with 
12  children:  John  A.,  Alexander  W.,  deceased;  Willis  J.,  Rob- 
ert E.  Lee,  Joseph  E.,  Ida  May,  deceased  ;  Richard G.,  Mary  E.,Kate 
E.,  Nannie  H.,  Anna  E.,  Thomas  W.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

JOHN  B.  GRIFFIN 

(Retired  Farmer  and  Miller,  Post-offlce,  Ten  Mile). 

Mr.  Griffin  was  born  in  Pulaski  county,  Ky.,  February  1,  1824. 
His  parents,  Capt.  William  and  Susan  (Buster)  Griffin,  both  originally 
of  Virginia,  came  to  Missouri  in  1828,  when  John  B.  was  but  four 
years  of  age.  They  located  in  Ralls  county,  but  in  1839  came  to 
Macon  county  and  settled  in  Ten  Mile  township.  When  John  B.  was 
16  years  of  age  he  went  to  Howard  county  to  learn  the  millwright's 
trade,  under  his  uncle,  John  Griffin,  where  he  worked  for  two  years. 
He  then  went  to  Hannibal,  where  he  was  engaged  in  milling  until 
1844.  From  Hannibal  he  located  near  Madisonville,  and  carried  on 
the  milling  business  near  that  place  until  1852.  In  1850  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gregg,  a  daughter  of  Nelson  and  Mary 
(Hayden)  Gregg,  formerly  of  Virginia.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  en- 
listed in  Co.  E,  Third  Missouri  regiment.  Southern  service,  under 
Gen.  John  B.  Clark,  and  served  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service  in  1863.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Lexington,  and  numerous 
minor  engagements  and  skirmishes.  He  then  removed  to  Illinois,  and 
there  his  wife  died  in  1864.  Afterwards  he  returned  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  Macon  county,  where  he  engaged  in  milling  and  farming. 
Here  he  continued  to  follow  these  occupations  until  a  short  time  ago, 
when  he  retired  from  all  laborious  and  business  pursuits.  In  1867 
Mr.  Griffin  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Gresham.  She,  too,  how- 
ever, was  taken  from  him  by  death.  She  died  in  1877.  His  second 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Waller  and  Sallie  (Nelson)  Hayden,  formerly 
of  Kentucky.  To  his  present  wife  Mr.  Griffin  was  married  in  1877. 
She  was  previously  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Ellis,  and  sister  to  Mr.  Griffin's 
scQond  wife.  By  his  first  wife  there  were  eight  children:  Alice,  de- 
ceased; Willie,  deceased  ;  Edgar,  deceased  ;  Mary  Nelson,  deceased  ; 
Ida,  Ella  and  Willie,  still  living.  By  his  second  wife  there  are  five 
children:  John  A.,  deceased;  Mary  E.,  deceased;  Robert  E.  Lee, 
deceased;  Effie  Lee  and  Mutee  H.,  living.  Mr.  Griffin  has  been  quite 
successful.  He  is  in  easy  circumstances,  owning  over  1,600  acres  of 
good  land  in  the  county,  besides  a  large  amount  of  personal  property, 
etc.  He  is  one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  county.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Southern  Democrat,  not  perceiving  any  difference 
between  war  Democrats  and  Republicans  only  in  name ;  believing 
States  made  the  Government,  not  Government  the  States ;  reserving 
all  rights  to  themselves  not  especially  delegated,  even  to  secede,  if 
they  thought  proper. 


1122  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


JAMES  H.  HODGIN 

(Post-office,  Clarence). 

Mr.  H.  was  a  man  of  a  family  of  his  own  when  the  war  broke  out, 
and  was  a  resident  of  Holt  county,  where  he  was  peacefully  and  indus- 
triously engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  farming.  But  when  the  life  of  the 
Union  was  threatened  with  destruction,  the  Union  which  the  heroism 
of  Washington  and  his  immortal  compatriots  had  founded,  he  did  not 
hesitate  as  to  his  duty.  He  threw  by  the  plow  and  hoe,  and  shouldered 
his  musket  and  marched  off  like  a  brave  and  honest  man  to  the  war. 
In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Missouri  State  militia,  under  Gen.  Prentiss, 
and  served  in  the  North  Missouri  department  for  a  period  of  six  months, 
the  term  of  his  enlistment,  a  service  then  more  dangerous  and  trying  to 
men's  courage  than  in  almost  any  other  part  of  the  country,  for  here 
neighbor  was  against  neighbor,  and  the  country  was  full  of  men  in 
arms,  brave  and  determined,  to  crush  out  every  spark  of  loyalty  in 
the  State.  After  the  expiration  of  this  term,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H, 
Twenty-ninth  Missouri,  U.  S.  A.,  under  Gen.  Blair,  the  pioneer 
abolitionist  of  Missouri,  and  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  chivalrous 
officers  that  flashed  his  sword  under  the  standard  of  the  Union.  He 
served  through  the  remainder  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Washington  City,  June  24,  1865.  He  was  in  many  of  the  great 
battles  of  the  war,  and  now  bears  a  number  of  honorable  scars,  the 
proudest  decorations  a  soldier  can  wear,  to  attest  the  heroic  part  he 
took  in  the  colossal  conflict  of  modern  times,  the  struggle  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  life  of  the  nation  and  for  the  principles  of  liberty  and 
self-government  throughout  the  world.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Vicksburg,  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Ringgold  (Ga.), 
Rasaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Altoona,  Atlanta,  Sheep's  Gap, 
seige  of  Savannah  and  numerous  others,  besides  small  engagements 
and  skirmishes  without  number.  In  fact,  the  rattle  of  musketry  and 
the  thunder  peals  of  cannonading  became  as  common  with  him  as  the 
moaning  of  the  winds  through  the  pine  forests  of  the  sunny  South  is 
to  the  languid  habitat  of  that  enervating  country.  Mr.  Hodgin  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Ind.,  October  19,  1836,  and  was  a  son  of 
Nathan  and  Martha  (Richards)  Hodgin,  the  father  from  the  old  North 
State  and  the  mother  from  the  land  of  blue  grass  lawns,  sleek  cattle, 
fleet-footed  horses,  liquid-eyed  maids  and  gallant  chevaliers.  Mr. 
Hodgin  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Indiana,  and  came  to  Missouri  when 
21  years  of  age.  He  located  in  Holt  county  and  followed  farming 
there  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  In  1867  he  came  to  Ten  Mile 
township  and  bought  his  present  farm,  nearly  a  quarter-section  of  land, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  September  15,  1870,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  James,  a  daughter  of  John  James,  of  Shelby  county. 
Mo.,  but  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodgin  have  had  five 
children  :  John  Logan,  Martha  A.,  deceased  ;  Alice,  deceased  ;  Bertie 
Carla,  William  H.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


-HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1123 


DAWSON  B.    HODGIN 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Clarence) . 

Mr.  Hodgin,  born  and  reared  in  Indiana,  one  of  the  loyal  States  of 
the  Union,  was  19   years  of  age  when  the  second  year    of  the  war 
opened  and,  like  a  true  son  of  his  native  commonwealth,  he  went  as  a 
volunteer  to  carry  the  flag  of  the  union  in  triumph  to  the  South  Atlantic 
seaboard  and  to  the  sunlit  waters  of  the  Mexican  gulf.     He  was  a  brave 
soldier  in  the  war  and  did  his  duty  faithfuly  until  the  old  flag  was  unfurled 
in  victory  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  all  the  revolted  States, 
and  until  for  every  star  that  studs  its  cerulian  field  there  was  a  State 
restored  to  the  Republic,  even  f>righter  and  more  glorious  than  the  con- 
stellation that  illuminates  the  meteor-like  folds  of  the  irresistible  ban- 
ner of  the  union.     Mr.   Hodgin    enlisted   in   Co.   E,    Fifth  Indiana 
cavalry  and  served  until  the  close  of  the   war,   carrying  his   gleamino" 
bayonet   bravely  in   the   front  ranks  through  many  of  the  bloodiest 
death-duels  of  the  war.     On    the   29th  of  June,  1865,  he  was  honora- 
bly discharged  as  a  soldier  who  had  faithfully  and  bravely  performed 
his  duty.     Two  years  afterward  he  came  to   Missouri  and  settled  in 
Ten  Mile  township,  of   Macon  county,    where  he    has  since  resided. 
Here   he  has  a  farm  of    160  acres,    and  is   one    of  the  industrious 
farmers  and  respected  citizens  of  the  township.     In  1870  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  I.  Macy,  a  daughter  of  Newton  D.  and  Ruth  Macy, 
of  Indiana.     Mrs.  Hodgin  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,   and 
Mr.  Hodgin  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  No.  26,  Paddy  Shields'  post, 
at  Clarence.     He  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ind.,  February  18, 
1843,  and  was  a  son  of  William  Hodgin,  formerly  of  North  Carolina, 
and  consort,  nee  Susana  Brown,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.     He  was 
reared  on  his  ftither's  farm  in  Washington    county,    and,   as   stated 
above,  joined  the  irresistible  army  of  the  Union  in    1862.     Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hodgin  have  two  children  :  Elvira  M.  Hodgin,  born  October  31, 
1873,  and'^William  N.  Hodgin,  born  November  13,  1877. 

ADOLPHUS  R.  HUET 

(Farmer,  Section  12). 

Among  the  progressive  farmers  and  enterprising  Northern  men  who 
have  made  their  homes  in  Macon  county  since  the  war,  it  would  be 
an  inexcusable  omission  not  to  mention  the  name  of  the  present  sketch. 
This  being  pre-eminently  an  agricultural  country,  it  is  to  the  ftirming 
classes  that  we  owe  the  prosperity  of  the  country  and  its  rapid  pro- 
gress in  material  development  and  civilization.  It  is,  therefore, 
eminently  proper  that  in  preparing  the  present  history  we  should  give 
at  least  short  biographical  notices  of  the  better  class  of  farmers  of  the 
county.  It  will  be  conceded  by  all  that  our  Northern  farmers  who 
have  come  in  here  since  the  war  have  contributed  an  important  part 
to  the  improvement  of  the  county.  Them,  therefore,  it  is  proper  to 
sketch,  giving  them  full  credit  for  whatthey  have  accomplished.     Mr. 


1124  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Huet  came  to  Macon  county  in  1868  and  settled  in  Ten  Mile  township. 
Goino-  to  work  at  once  with  that  energy  and  intelligence  usually  char- 
acteristic of  Northern  men,  he  has  been  entirely  successful  at  his  new 
home  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  has  won  an  enviable  name  in 
the  community  where  he  resides  for  neighborly  and  useful  citizenship. 
He  has  been  called  to  serve  as  president  of  the  township  board  of  edu- 
cation for  a  number  of  years,  also  as  district  school  director,  and  has 
shown  commendable  zeal  for  the  best  interests  of  education  in  the  com- 
munity. He  has  a  good  farm  of  330  acres,  and  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition  as  a  farmer.  Mr.  Huet  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  nativity,  born  in 
Beaver  county,  September  2,  1838.  But  when  she  was  quite  young(six 
years)his parents, Andrew  and  Nancy (Heman)Huet, removed  toIUinois 
in  1846,  Jo  Daviess  county,  moving  to  Lafayette  county,  Wis.,  in  1853, 
where  the  father  died  in  1855.  The  mother  died  in  1847.  Adolphus 
R.  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Wisconsin  and  remained  there  engaged 
in  farming  until  his  removal  to  Missouri  in  1868.  On  the  7th  of  May, 
1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Ingersoll,  a  daughter  of  Gar- 
rett and  Mary  (Metts)  Ingersoll,  formerly  of  Illinois.  Her  father 
now  lives,  however,  in  Macon  county,  her  mother  having  died  here 
some  years  ago.  Mr.  Huet's  wife  died  June  18,  1879.  She  left  him 
eight  children  :  John  A.,  George  W.,  Mary  J.,  William  G.,  Nancy 
M.,  Ella  E.,  Harry  A.  and  Manly  N.  The  youngest,  Irving  E.,  is 
deceased.  Mr.  Huet  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  having  joined 
the  church  in  November,  1854,  and  is  a  trustee  of  the  church  at  Mt. 
Zion,  and  also  class  leader  and  Sunday-school  superintendent. 

MORRIS  JONES 

(General  Merchant  and  Farmer,  La  Port). 

Mr.  Jones,  who  has  led  a  life  of  more  than  ordinary  activity  and 
been  identified  with  various  industrial  and  business  pursuits,  has, 
however,  been  settled  at  La  Port  for  nearly  20  years,  or  since  1866. 
He  comes  of  two  old  Massachussetts  families,  both  his  parents,  Amos 
and  Roxanna  (Brockway)  Jones,  having  been  natives  of  that  State 
and  of  families  resident  there  for  generations.  They  were  among 
the  pioneers  of  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  however,  and  Morris  Jones 
was  born  there  January  10,  1812.  From  an  early  day  Ohio  has  had 
good  public  schools,  and  young  Jones  had  the  benefit  of  these  as 
he  grew  up  in  Trumbull  county.  About  the  time,  or  a  short  time 
before,  reaching  his  majority,  he  engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman  of 
goods  in  something  near  the  same  line  followed  now  by  those  who 
(m11  themselves  commercial  travelers,  which  is  a  hi'  falutin'  name  for 
t  he  line  of  business  that  is  a  good  deal  older  than  the  young  men  now 
(-ngaged  in  it  on  the  road  with  log-chain  watch  chains  and  ox-yoke 
seal  rings.  He  continued  as  a  traveling  salesman  until  he  was  24 
years  of  age,  and  on  the  24th  of  January,  1836,  was  married  to  Miss 

Elizabeth  W.  Winters,   daughter  of and  Elizabeth  Winters, 

formerly  of  New  Jersey.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  was  engaged 
in  various    pursuits,  including   the    operation  of  a  tan  yard  and  the 


HISTOKY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1125 

manufacture  of  wagons  and  other  business  and  industrial  enterprises. 
On  the  24th  of  August,  1852,  Mr.  Jones  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
his  wife.  In  the  meantime  he  had  resumed  selling  goods  and  did 
business  at  various  points  in  Ohio,  having  also  ran  store  boats  on  the 
Ohio  river.  He  also  conducted  other  lines  of  business  in  different 
States  and  finally  came  to  Missouri  in  1865.  The  following  May  he  came 
to  Macon  county  and  a  year  later  located  at  Ten  Mile  township.  Here 
he  has  since  been  engao;ed  in  merchandisins^  and  farminsf.  Mr.  Jones 
was  married  to  his  present  wife  July  29,  1864.  She  was  a  Miss  Eliza 
C.  Reid,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Nancy  Reid.  By  his  present  wife 
Mr.  Jones  has  one  child.  There  was  also  one  child  by  his  first  wife, 
Stewart  A.,  who  died  January  9,  1874,  at  the  age  of  29  and  is  buried 
at  the  cemetery  in  Quincy,  111.  Mr.  Jones  has  160  acres  of  land, 
which  includes  a  neat  and  well  improved  farm.  He  has  done  a  good, 
substantial  business  at  La  Port  in  the  general  store  line  from  the  be- 
ginning, and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  a  capable  and  upright 
business  man.     He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

E.  S.  MADDOX 

(Farmer;  Post-office,  Beverly).     • 

Mr.  M.,  an  industrious,  respected  citizen  of  Ten  Mile  township, 
who  has  a  farm  of  160  acres,  which  is  substantially  and  comfortably 
improved,  is  a  native  of  Missouri,  born  in  Monroe  county,  February 
4,  1836,  but  came  of  Tennessee  parents.  His  father  was  Jesse  Mad- 
dox,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Lucinda  Simmons,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  They  were  among  the  early  settlors  of 
Monroe  county,  coming  there  from  the  Rhomboid  State,  which  has 
13roduced  such  men  as  Jackson,  Polk  and  Johnson,  three  presidents 
of  the  Republic,  as  early  as  1834.  Ezekiel  S.  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  Monroe  county  and  when  23  years  of  age  was  married  to  Miss 
Melissa  Wright,  daughter  of  Sumner  Wright,  formerly  of  Kentucky, 
who  came  to  Missouri  in  1829.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maddox  have  been 
blessed  with  six  children.  Melissa  J.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Maddox,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Macon  county  for  many  years.  He  is  a  man  who 
stands  high  with  all  who  know  him,  for  his  life  has  been  such  that  no 
reproach  attaches  to  his  name,  but,  on  the  contrary,  he  has  ever 
striven  to  make  himself  of  some  value  to  the  community  as  a  neigh- 
bor and  citizen  by  favoring  law  and  order  and  bv  setting  an  example 
of  industry  and  faithful  discharge  of  all  duties  through  his  own  con- 
duct. Mr.  Maddox  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  upright  and  valuable 
citizens  of  Ten  Mile  township. 

CHRISTOPHER  MEISNER 

(Farmer;  Post-office,  Ettle). 
Among  the  thrifty  German-American  farmers  and  worthy  citizens 
of  Ten  Mile  township,  the  name  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch 
is  fully  entitled  to  mention,  for  he  is  a  self-made  man  and  in  winning 


1126  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

his  own  success  in  life,  has  contributed  his  full  share  to  the  material 
development  of  the  country  and  its  general  prosperity.  Mr.  Meisner 
was  born  in  Germany  on  the  6th  day  of  October,  1841,  and  on  both 
sides  of  his  ancestry  came  of  long  lines  of  worthy  families  in  the 
Fatherland.  His  parents  were  Lewis  and  Mary  (Thomas)  Meisner. 
In  1855,  when  Christopher  was  14  years  of  age,  he  came  to  America 
without  his  parents,  landing  in  Canada,  but  soon  crossed  over  into 
the  United  States,  and  lived  for  the  next  14  years  in  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming.  In  1869,  having  married  the  year 
before,  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Ten  Mile  township,  where 
he  has  since  been  farming  and  stock-raising ;  here  he  has  200  acres  of 
o-ood  land  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists  of  the  town- 
ship. On  the  23d  of  November,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Wenig,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eva  (Miller)  Wenig,  of  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  but  formerly  of  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meisner  have 
three  children:  Dora,  Morton  and  Johnny.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Meisner's  farm  is  one  of  the  best  improved 
places  in  the  township. 

WILLIAM  J.  MITTS 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  Clarence,  Shelby  County) , 
Mr.  Mitts  has  a  farm  of  240  acres,  40  acres  of  which  are  in  Shelby 
county,  one  of  the  best  improved  places  in  the  vicinity.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  county  since  1859,  and  of  Ten  Mile  Township  since 
1860.  He  has  remained  here  continuously  since  that  time,  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising,  except  for  nearly  a  year  during  the  war, 
whilst  he  was  in  the  army.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  Forty-second  Mis- 
souri Volunteer  infantry,  in  August,  1864,  and  served  with  fidelity 
and  courage  until  he  was  honorably  discharged  about  the  close  of  the 
war.  Mr.  Mitts  is  a  member  of  Paddy  Shields'  Post,  G.  A.  E.,  at 
Clarence.  Mr.  Mitts  is  a  native  of  Illinios,  born  in  Sangamon  county, 
August  15,  1832.  His  parents  were  both  Kentuckians  by  nativity  — 
James  and  Eachel  (Drening)  Mitts.  They  came  out  to  Illinois  in  an 
early  day,  and  when  William  was  three  years  of  age  removed  to  Iowa, 
settling  in  Henry  county,  where  they  were  among  the  first  pioneers 
of  the  county.  There  they  made  their  permanent  home,  and  the 
father  is  still  living  ther§,  though  the  mother  has  been  dead  for  some 
years.  William  grew  up  and  was  married  in  Henry  county,  la.,  April 
6,  1842,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Hume,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Moore)  Hume,  of  Iowa,  but  formerly  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Mitts' 
father  is  deceased,  but  her  mother  resides  in  Macon  county,  this  State. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitts  have  had  11  children,  namely  :  Eachel  I.,  the  wife 
of  John  Sackette,  now  of  this  county  ;  Alice  E.,  deceased  ;  John  S., 
who  died  January  9,  1882;  James  E.,  married,  and  resident  of  Ma- 
con county;  William  G.,  deceased  in  tender  years  ;  Ella,  the  wife  of 
Henry  Scott,  of  Shelby  county;  Franklin  E.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Albert  U.,  also  died  in  infancy  ;  and  Osbert  L.,  who  died  in  boyhood. 
Two,  besides,  died  in  infancy. 


I 


HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1127 


CALVIN  PIXLEY. 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  P.,  one  of  the  later  residents  of  Ten  Mile  township,  resides  in 
Section  5.  He  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  also  works  a  little 
at  the  cooper's  trade.  He  was  born  in  Orleans  county,  July  7,  1834, 
of  Calvin  and  Jennette  (Lucas)  Pixley,  natives  of  New  York  and  Con- 
necticut. He  moved  with  his  parents  from  New  York  to  Michigan 
when  a  small  child,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  in  the 
latter  State.  In  1858,  Mr.  Pixley  being  23  years  of  age,  went  to 
California,  where  he  was  mining  and  speculating  until  1863,  making 
a  great  deal  of  money.  'After  his  return  he  lived  a  few  years  in 
Michigan,  a  short  while  in  Quincy,  and  finally  in  1868,  in  Ten  Mile 
township.  He  has  devoted  himself  to  farming  and  stock-raising  ever 
since.  His  farm  comprises  80  acres,  and  has  good  buildings  and  other 
improvements.  Mr.  Pixley  married  September  8,  1864,  Miss  Delia 
Tinckelpaugh,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Harriet  (Ailing)  Tinckelpaugh, 
of  New  York.  There  are  two  children,  Alida  J. ,  wife  of  Elmer  Hughes, 
of  Ohio,  and  Charlie,  now  at  school  in  Macon.  Mr.  P.  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  is  a  class  leader. 

CAPT.  JAMES  P.  POWELL 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Post-office,  Beverly) . 

Capt.  Powell,  now  in  his  seventieth  year,  and  for  the  past  16  years 
a  resident  of  Ten  Mile  township,  and  one  of  its  best  citizens,  was  for  30 
years  on  '*  old  ocean's  gray  and  melancholy  waste"  as  a  sailor,  and 
began  as  an  ordinary  shipman,  but  by  his  courage,  efficiency  and 
character,  rose  to  the  position  of  captain  and  ship  owner,  and  was  for 
a  long  time  commander  of  the  "Mary  Powell,"  one  of  the  fleetest 
and  handsomest  schooners  that  sailed  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic. 
Capt.  Powell  was  devotedly  attached  to  seafaring  life,  but  after  a  long 
service  on  the  sea,  having  a  large  family  of  children  growing  up,  to 
whom  he  was  even  more  attached,  and  seeing  the  shadows  of  old  age 
beginning  to  approach,  he  decided  to  quit  the  ocean  and  settle  down 
on  a  farm  in  order  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the  bosom 
of  his  own  family,  and  in  that  ease  and  comfort  which  a  quiet,  con- 
tented home  life  invariably  brings.  He  therefore  left  the  sea  in  1865, 
and  soon  afterwards  adopted  country  life  and  farming.  He  came  to 
Missouri  in  1868  and  bought  his  present  place.  Here  he  has  a  comfort- 
able homestead  of  200  acres  fairly  improved,  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  raising  stock  in  a  general  way.  As  a  farmer,  his  aspiration 
has  not  been  and  is  not  to  accumulate  a  fortune,  but  rather  to  make 
a  comfortable  support  tind  to  enjoy  the  retirement  and  rural  scenes 
and  surroundings  of  farm  life.  Capt.  Powell  is  a  native  of  "  Maryland, 
my  Maryland,"  famed  the  world  over  for  its  fair  women  and  brave 
men,  and  for  the  culture  and  refinement  of  its  people.  He  was  bora 
in  Worcester  county,  February  11,  1815,  and  was  a  son  of  John 
66 


1128  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Powell  and  consort,  nee  Hester  Purnell.  Eeared  on  the  farm,  he 
received  a  limited  common-school  education,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark, 
by  way  of  digression,  that  Maryland  had  the  first  free  common  school 
ever  opened  on  this  continent,  and  at  the  age  of  20  he  went  upon  the 
waters  of  the  sea.  He  served  on  various  schooners  and  ships  ;  first, 
and  for  a  number  of  years,  in  coastwise  navigation  and  then  in  trans- 
Atlantic  shipping.  During  the  last  half  or  quarter  of  his  service  on 
the  sea  he  had  an  interest  in  different  vessels,  but  sold  out  on  quitting 
the  ocean  in  1865.  On  the  12th  of-December,  1843,  Capt.  Powell 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Gambling,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  H. 
Gambling,  who  came  originally  from  England.  The  Captain  and  Mrs. 
Powell  have  had  eight  children:  Joseph  T.,  deceased;  James  H., 
deceased;  John  S,,  deceased;  William  G.,  deceased;  Georgia,  de- 
ceased; Kobert  H.,  Frank  E.  and  Thomas  H.  Capt.  Powell  has 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Ten  Mile  township,  and  is  a  member 
of  Mt.  Abraham  Lodge  No.  20,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  in  New  York  City. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Knickerbocker  Lodge  No.  22, 
in  New  York  City.     He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

JOHN  B.  KICHAEDSON 

(Farmer  and  Stockman,  Post-office,  Beverly). 

Mr.  Richardson,  though  born  in  Kentucky,  was  principally  reared 
in  Macon  county,  and  by  industry  and  sterling  intelligence  has  become 
one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  and  stockmen  of  Ten  Mile  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Kentucky,  December  29,  1834,  and  was  the 
son  of  Jesse  E.  and  Sarah  (Griffin)  Richardson,  who  came  to  Missouri 
in  1837  and  first  located  in  Ralls  county.  In  1841,  however,  they 
settled  permanently  in  what  is  now  known  as  Ten  Mile  township,  of 
Macon  county,  where  they  lived  until  their  deaths.  The  father  died 
in  1866,  but  the  mother  preceded  him  in  1844.  John  began  farming 
on  his  own  account  when  he  reached  the  age  of  21  and  continued  it  up 
to  1859,  when  Pike's  Peak  gold  excitement  having  broken  out,  he 
crossed  the  plains,  bound  for  the  land  of  gold  and  silver  in  the  South 
Park  country  of  Colorado.  He  remained  in  Colorado  for  a  year,  and 
returned  home  in  the  summer  of  1860.  In  less  than  a  year  afterwards 
the  war  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  State  guard,  under  Gov. 
Jackson's  call.  Soon  after  the  expiration  of  his  six  months'  service, 
he  went  to  Montana  and  was  in  that  territory,  and  Washington  and 
Idaho,  for  about  seven  years.  He  was  engaged  in  mining  and  had 
good  success.  Returning  in  1869,  the  following  January  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  AVhite,  a  daughter  of  Mark  and  Sarilda 
(Wright)  White,  who  has  blessed  him  with  seven  children,  three  of 
whom,  however,  aje  deceased,  namely:  George  W.,  Martha,  Mark, 
deceased  ;  Samuel,  deceased  ;  John  R.,  Jr.,  William  E.  and  an  infant 
that  died  unnamed.  Mr.  Richardson  has  followed  farminsc  and  stock- 
raising  uninlerruptedly  since  1879,  and  has  also  traded  in  stock  to  a 
considerable  extent.  He  has  400  acres  of  fine  land,  which  is  ex- 
ceptionally well  improved,  including  a  handsome  residence  and  other 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1129 

buildings  and  improvements  to  correspond.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard- 
son are  church  members.  During  his  service  in  the  Southern  army, 
Mr.  Richardson  participated  in  numerous  engagements,  including  those 
of  Lexington,  Dry  Wood,  Wilson  Creek  and  Silver  Creek. 

LESLIE  P.  RILEY 

(Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  Riley  is  a  man  well  qualitied  by  education  and  habits  of  thought 
to  take  an  enviable  position  in  the  most  cultured  society.  He  is  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  Burlington  county,  October  27,  1827, 
but  was  reared  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  to  which  his  parents  removed 
whilst  he  was  in  boyhood.  His  father  was  Rev.  George  Riley,  a 
minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  a  man  of  profound  learning,  great 
eloquence  and  sincere  piety.  Speaking  of  this  learned  and  able  man, 
his  biographer,  in  Ohio,  saj^s  :  "  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
(Allen)  county,  and  lived  to  see  three  generations  of  men  come  and 
go.  He  saw  this  country  pass  victoriously  through  three  wars,  and 
this  State  rise  from  the  cradle  to  the  position  of  one  of  the  foremost 
States  of  the  Union.  He  saw  all  this  beautiful  land  transformed  from 
a  wilderness  into  the  homes  of  a  prosperous  and  happy  people.  Rev. 
George  Riley  was  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  67  years  ago,  and 
was  licensed  to  exhort  while  yet  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Lima  circuit,  Mt.  Vernon  dis- 
trict, and  by  the  Michigan  Annual  Conference,  August  24,  1829.  He 
was  ordained  for  the  office  and  work  of  a  deacon  at  the  session  of  the 
Delaware  Conference  held  at  Lima,  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  at  the 
hands  of  Bishop  Waugh.  Father  Riley  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen, 
and  his  face  wore  the  impress  of  moral  excellence.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  mental  qualities.  Reasoning  was  his  strongest  characteristic. 
The  writer  (his  biographer)  visited  him  over  a  year  ago,  and  found 
him  writing  an  essay  on  Mental  Philosophy.  ^  He  was  quite  familiar 
with  the  writings  in  this  department  of  learning,  and  equally  at  home 
with  the  leading  theological  works  of  his  church.  He  was  especially 
fond  of  reading  the  Bible,  and  loved  the  Word  of  God  with  the  devo- 
tion of  a  true  Christian.  He  was  a  man  of  constant  prayer ;  to  pray 
without  ceasing  was  the  rule  of  his  life.  His  Testament  is  marked 
with  his  own  hand,  as  having  been  read  through  at  the  family  altar 
28  times.  He  died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  91  years.  So  this  good  man 
departed  in  a  full  age,  like  a  '  shock  of  corn  garnered  in  its  season.'  " 
Leslie  P.  Riley  was  reared  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  finished  his 
education  at  Lima  Hif>h  School.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  20  years  of  age  —  learning,  however,  in  the  meantime,  *the  car- 
penter and  joiners'  trade.  On  the  27th  of  October,  1848,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Susana,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Cupp,  of  Ohio,  but 
formerly  of  Virginia.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Riley  went  to  Delphos, 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1865,  and  taught  school  at  that  place  for 
some  six  years.  Coming  to  Missouri  during  the  last  year  of  the  war, 
he  first  located  in   Clark  county,  but   the  following  year,  in    1866, 


1130  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

came  to  Macon  county  and  settled  in  Ten  Mile  township,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  and 
also  dealing  in  stock.  Capt.  Riley  has  a  farm  of  160  acres,  well  im- 
proved, and  he  is  comfortably  situated.  He  has  been  quite  successful 
in  farming  and  handhng  stock,  and  is  steadily  accumulating  property. 
In  1863  he  was  commissioned  captain  of  Co.  B,  First  regiment  Ohio 
militia.  He  served  a  regular  term  of  officers'  drill  at  Camp  Chase, 
Toledo,  and  discharged  his  duty,  wherever  sent,  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  and  wife  have  been  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  since 
1853.  He  held  the  office  of  circuit  steward  a  long  time,  and  was 
chorister  for  several  years.  He  believes  in  being  progressive  in  every 
worthy  calling,  and  is  willing  and  always  ready  to  help  build  up  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  township 
clerk  and  township  assessor,  and  is  now  district  school  clerk.  Capt. 
and  Mrs.  Riley  have  had  a  family  of  nine  children:  Henry  F.,  de- 
ceased ;  George  W.,  postmaster  at  Ettle  ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Stephen 
P.  Hopper,  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio;  Charles  R,,  teaching  in  Macon 
county  ;  James  S.,  Martha  E.,  wife  of  John  S.  Grisham  ;  Ida  A.,  de- 
ceased ;  Andrew  E.  and  Meribah,  music  teacher.  The  children  are 
all  temperate  ;  not  one  of  them  uses  liquor  or  tobacco.  Capt.  Riley, 
as  has  been  said,  is  a  man  of  superior  education  and  wide  general  in- 
formation, having  always  been  a  diligent  reader.  He  also  has  a  taste 
for  literature,  and,  like  his  ftither,  is  himself  something  of  a  writer. 
He  is,  now  correspondent  for  several  prominent  newspapers,  and  his 
letters  are  greatly  prized  both  by  the  proprietors  of  the  paper  and  by 
the  general  public. 

HENRY  C.  SHEETZ 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser;  Post-office,  Ettle) . 

Mr.  Sheetz,  one  of  the  progressive  and  successful  agriculturists  of 
Ten  Mile  township,  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Shelby  county 
May  4,  1849.  His  parents  were  Henry  T.  and  Rebecca  (Van  Dever) 
Sheetz,  who  immigrated  to  Missouri  in  about  1832,  settling  in  Shelby 
county,  near  Shelbyville.  They  lived  near  Shelbyville  a  short  time 
and  then  moved  to  the  north-west  part  of  the  county  where  the 
father  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming  for  about  15  years.  He 
then  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Shelbyville  again,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  and  carried  it  on  for  about  five  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  he  sold  his  place  and  engaged  in  merchandising  in  the  town  of 
Shelbyville.  He  followed  that  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
January,  1865.  His  wife  died  in  April,  1883.  They  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  namely:  Walter  T.,  Anna  M.,  Susan  T.,  Sallie  E., 
Laura  L.,  Henry  C.  and  Julia  J.,  all  of  whom,  except  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  reside  in  Shelby  county.  Henry  C.  Sheetz  was  reared  in 
Shelby  county,  and,  brought  up  to  a  farm  life,  on  starting  out  for 
liimself  adopted  that  as  his  regular  occupation.  Three  years  later, 
however,  he  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Shelbyville,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  some  time  and  then  removed  to  Macon  county  and  began 
farming  in  this  county  and  raising  and  dealing  in  stock,  which  he  has 


f 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1131 

since  continued.  He  has  a  good  farm  of  135  acres  which  he  has  well 
stocked.  On  the  19th  of  October,  1872,  Mr.  Sheetz  was  married  to 
Miss  Lillie  E.  Huston,  a  daughter  of  Erastus  M.  Huston  of  Shelby- 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheetz  have  had  four  children  :  Robert  C, 
Leta  P.  and  Edith  M.,  the  other,  an  infant,  being  deceased.  Both 
parents  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Sheetz  is  highly  es- 
teemed in  the  township  and  quite  popular.  He  has  held  several  local 
offices  including  that  of  township  collector,  and  also  the  office  of 
township  trustee. 

WILLIAM  SINCLAIR 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser;  Post-office,  Ten  Mile). 

Among  the  thorough-going  and  intelligent  agriculturists  of  the 
eastern  part  of  Macon  county  is  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 
Mr.  Sinclair  has  a  fine  farm  of  280  acres,  and  his  place  is  well  im- 
proved. He  is  a  self-made  man,  having  commenced  without  means  and 
accumulated  all  he  possesses  by  his  own  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment. As  a  farmer  and  citizen  he  is  highly  respected  in  the  commu- 
nity. Mr.  Sinclair  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  Hunterdon 
county,  December  8,  1820,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Zear- 
foos)  Sinclair,  the  father  born  and  reared  in  that  State  and  of  German 
ancestry,  but  the  mother  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  de- 
scent. The  father  was  a  farmer  and  plasterer  and  stone  mason  by  oc- 
cupation, and  William  was  brought  up  to  these  pursuits.  He  received 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  after  reaching  majority  took  up 
the  trades  of  plastering  and  mason  work  aijd  followed  them  continu- 
ally and  with  good  success  until  he  went  to  Ohio  and  then  to  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  Sinclair  immigrated  West  in  1854  and  settled  in  Macon 
county  in  1865.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming  and  raising  stock,  and 
has  since  followed  these  pursuits  with  excellent  success.  On  the  8th 
of  December,  1842,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Trauger,  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  Trauger,  of  Bucks  count3S  Pa.  After  a  happy 
married  life  of  41  years  Mr.  Sinclair's  good  wife  was  taken  from  him 
by  death.  She  is  buried  at  Mt.  Zion  cemetery  in  this  township.  She 
had  borne  him  eight  children:  Anna  A.,  wife  of  A.  T.  Mood}^  of 
Texas;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  W.  F.  Townsend,  of  Ohio;  Ferman  F., 
who  died  in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  war;  Sarah  C,  wife  of 
Seldon  Trott,  of  Missouri;  George  W.,  of  this  county;  David  R., 
William  T.,  deceased  ;  and  Cora  Belle,  also  deceased,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sinclair  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Ewing  Church  in  Round  Grove  township. 

EZEKIEL  B.  VAN  VLEET 

(Attorney  at  Law) . 

Mr.  Van  Vleet,  a  retired  attorney  living  on  section  8,  Ten  Mile  town- 
ship, a  former  member  of  the  bar  in  Macon  county,  was  born  in  Yates, 
N.  Y.,  April  17,  1819.  He  is  descended  of  one  of  those  old  Dutch 
families,  who  comprise  the  proudest  aristocracy  of  New  York^tate. 


1132  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

His  parents  were  Peter  P.  and  Louisa  (Swartwoiit)  Van  Vleet.  His 
maternal  great-grandfather  was  born  in  Holland,  and  his  Grandfather 
Swartwont  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Seneca  county,  N.  Y.  ;  he 
was  a  young  man  at  the  time  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  in  which  he 
was  a  soldier.  His  Great-Grandfather  Halsted  was  one  of  the  pris- 
oners on  the  Jersey  prison  ship,  during  which  his  only  food  for  some 
time  was  horse  flesh.  E.  B,  Van  Vleet  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  York  and  Michigan,  and  continued  to  abide  on  his 
father's  farm  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  March  31,  1841,  the 
fair  bride  being  Miss  Matilda  Miller,  daughter  of  Oliver  Miller,  of  New 
York.  Five  children  blessed  this  union:  Helen  O.,  wife  of  C.  P. 
Pendall,  a  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Army  and  living  in  Michigan; 
Sarah  L.,  wife  of  Mr.  Quinn,  of  Kentucky,  now  living  in  Macon 
county;  Cass,  died  August  6,  1850,  aged  three  years  and  11  months  ; 
Louisiana,  died  August  9,  1850,  aged  one  year;  Mary  Eliza,  wife  of 
Burdine  H.  Rogers,  living  in  Buffalo  county,  Neb,  The  first  Mrs. 
Van  Vleet  passed  away  on  the  18th  of  July,  1857,  and  on  the  15th  of 
March,  1859,  Mr.  Van  V.  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Steele,  daughter  of 
David  and  Eliza  (Page)  Steele,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Miss 
Mary  was  educated  partly  in  Franklin,  Ohio,  at  Franklin  Academy, 
and  partly  at  the  Richland  Seminary,  Mich.  Mrs.  Van  Vleet's 
mother  was  a  Miss  Eliza  Page,  of  Philadelphia,  and  her  grandmother 
on  the  mother's  side  was  of  the  old  family  of  Bells  in  Pennsylvania. 
Mrs.  Van  V.  has  a  number  of  family  heirlooms  which  she  prizes  be- 
yond any  price  ;  among  these  are  a  large  mirror  108  years  old,  a  Bible 
118  years  old,  a  candle-stick  140  years  old,  a  silver  sugar  tongs  108 
years  old  and  a  silver  mug  118  years  old,  beside  many  other  articles 
of  great  antiquity.  Mr.  Van  Vleet  has  had  five  children  by  his  second 
marriage:  Byron  E.,  Ella  May,  Charles  W.,  died  October  17,  1866; 
Francis  P.,  died  October  29, 1873,  and  Clara  Bell.  Mr.  Van  V.  is  the 
owner  of  120  acres  of  fine  land  ;  his  improvements  are  first-class;  he 
moved  to  his  present  farm  in  1863.  He  .was  a  soldier  in  the  recent 
war  between  the  North  and  South  ;  he  was  a  captain  in  the  Cumber- 
land army,  Wood  being  division  commander  and  Harker  and  Garfieldf 
brigadiers.  He  was  in  the  following  battles  :  Shiloh,  Corinth,  the 
chase  of  Bragg,  from  August  to  October  ;  was  over  the  ground  made 
famous  by  Sherman's  raid  and  in  the  fight  at  Perryville.  He  was 
discharged  on  the  28th  of  February,  1863,  on  account  of  his  health. 
While  in  Michigan  he  was  township  clerk,  justice  of  the  peace  and  su- 
pervisor;  in  1864  was  elected  county  assessor  of  Macon  county.  Mo., 
and  in  1870  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  holding  the  latter  office  four 
years.  Mr.  Van  Vleet  was  .one  of  the  members  of  the  Macon  bar. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

WILLIAM  YUTZ 

(Farmer;  Post-office,  Ten  Mile) . 

Among  the  many  good  citizens  which  the  Fatherland  has  given  to  Mis- 
souri, the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  deserves  a  worthy  place.     He 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1133 

was  born  in  Germany,  January  12^,,  1840,  and  was  a  son  of  George 
and  Justinia  (Cramer)  Yutz,  whose  ancestors  have  been  settled  in  the 
land  beyond  the  Rhine  from  time  immemorial.  In  1852  the  family 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Easton,  Penu.,  where  the  father  still 
resides  and  is  a  carpet  weaver.  William  remained  at  Easton  until 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and  then  enlisted  in  the  Union  service 
and  was  honorably  discharged  June  1,  1865.  He  was  under  Gen. 
Sheridan  and  participated  in  the  celebrated  march  down  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley.  Mr.  Yutz  was  in  numerous  engagements  during  the  war. 
March  16,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Chistiana  Heckman,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Conrad  Heckman,  of  Pennsylvania,  but  formerly  of  Germany. 
In  1874  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Macon  county,  where  he 
has  since  resided  and  followed  farming.  He  has  a  neat  place  of  120 
acres  and  is  getting  comfortably  situated  in  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yutz 
have  had  10  children  :  George  W.,  Edward  H.,  Charles  M.,  EmmaE., 
John  G.,  Anna  S.  and  Ella  S.  Mr.  Yutz  is  school  director  and  he  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


LIBERTY     T0W:N^SHIP. 


STEPHEN  DRINKARD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  D.,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  is  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Min- 
erva (Collett)  Drinkard,  from  Kentucky.  He  was  born  in  Itandolph 
county.  Mo.,  July  13,  1838.  When  he  was  three  years  of  age  his  pa- 
rents moved  to  Monroe  county  and  there  his  youth  was  passed.  He 
was  educated  at  the  public  schools.  At  the  i\ge  of  15  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself,  and  three  years  later  he  embarked  in  the  cement  and 
plaster  trade,  working  at  this  in  connection  with  his  farm  ever  since. 
In  1864  he  moved  to  Randolph  county  and  in  1871  to  Macon,  and  has 
been  in  business  in  that  section  of  the  county  up  to  the  present  time. 
Mr.  D.  was  a  soldier  in  the  Southern  army,  serving  in  Price's  forces, 
under  Capt.  Majors.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Lexington  and  Dry 
Wood.  For  several  years  Mr.  D.  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  John- 
ston township,  being  first  appointed  by  the  court  and  afterwards 
elected  to  the  office.  He  was  married  October  29,  1858,  to  Miss 
Amanda  E.  Halliburton,  daughter  of  John  and  Elmira  Halliburton, 
natives  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  They  have  10  children  :  Ar- 
milda  F.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four ;  John  W.,  Minerva,  Sarah  E., 
William  Carroll,  Nanora,  Naomi,  Charles  A.,  Minnie  and  Estella  B. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  Liberty  township. 


1134  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

JOHN  J.  DYE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser), 

Mr.  Dye,  postmaster  of  Seney  post-office,  Liberty  township,  also  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser,  of  section  4,  is  from  Ohio.  He  was  born 
September  4,  1834,  in  Washington  county.  His  parents,  Samuel  and 
Lucinda  Dye,  were  also  natives  of  Ohio.  John  J.  had  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages,  having  attended  a  first-class  high  school  at  Mari- 
etta, Ohio.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  31  years  of  age 
and  then  emigrated  to  Missouri,  settling  in  Liberty  township  on  the 
farm  he  still  cultivates.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  and  the  first  seven  years  of  his  residence  in  the  county  he  also 
taught  school.  In  1878  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  still  holds 
the  office.  On  the  6th  of  October,  1859,  Mr.  Dye  was  married  to 
Miss  Emma  A.  Brown,  daughter  of  Walter  Brown,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, but  a  resident  of  Ohio  at  the  time  of  the  marriage.  There  are 
six  living  children  :  Hattie  A.,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Thomas  Hayner,  of 
Macon  county;  Nora  E.,  at  present  at  school  in  Ohio  ;  Walter  S., 
John  J.  and  George  C.  ;  William  W.  died  in  March,  1880,  and  one 
child  in  infancy.  Mr.  Dye  was  left  a  widower  in  1879,  and  December 
4,  1881,  he  led  to  the  altar  a  new  bride  in  the  person  of  Miss  Susan 
Esther  Bronson,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  daughter  of  David  Bronson, 
of  Macon  county.  Mo.  Mr.  Dye  has  a  fine  farm  of  120  acres  of  jorai- 
rie  land,  and  has  surrounded  himself  with  every  comfort  of  life. 
Among  other  improvements  he  has  a  splendid  orchard  of  400  trees. 
He  is  a  substantial  farmer,  considered  one  of  the  best.  The  family 
attend  the  M.  E.  Church. 

JAMES  H.  FORD 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  Ford,  a  leading  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  section  6,  is  an  in- 
stance of  what  good,  sound,  common  sense,  joined  to  an  energetic 
temperament,  will  do  for  a  man's  advancement  in  life.  Mr.  Ford  was 
born  in  Benton  county.  Ark.,  on  September,  4,  1838,  and  was  the  son 
of  William  and  Rebecca  (Tippitt)  Ford,  of  Tennessee.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Arkansas,  at  the  public  schools.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  became  of  age,  and  then  moved  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in 
Walnut  Creek  township,  Macon  county,  finally  purchasing  160  acres 
of  land  in  Liberty,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since,  an  independent 
farmer.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  236  acres,  lying  in  four  different 
townships.  Liberty,  Walnut,  Valley  and  Independence.  The  portion 
in  Liberty,  135  acres,  is  fine  farming  land  in  splendid  cultivation. 
The  farm  contains  good  buildings  and  comfortable  residences.  Mr. 
Ford  only  came  to  Missouri  in  1860,  and  the  progress  he  has  made  in 
that  time  is  astonishing.  There  is  no  better  agriculturalist  in  the 
county  and  he  owes  his  present  position  largely  to  his  shrewd,  keen 
sense  and  observant  mind.     He  would  never  miss  the  flood  of  that 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1135 

tide  in  the  affairs  of  men  that  leads  onto  fortune.  Of  strong  individ- 
uality, tbe  high  character  of  his  moral  worth  and  the  subtle  quickness 
of  his  intelligence  entitle  Mr.  Ford  to  a  front  rank  among  his 
contemporaries,  and  it  is  readily  conceded  him,  though  he  is  not  a 
man  to  push  himself  into  notice  or  rush  after  office.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grange  movement  of  1873.  Mr.  Ford  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried. The  first  time  August  12,  1860,  to  Miss  Margaret  Munley, 
daughter  of  Sandford  Munley,  of  Missouri.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  seven  children  :  Mary  Ella,  died  in  August,  1863  ;  Olive,  wife  of 
John  King,  of  Missouri ;  Matilda  J.,  William  A.,  John  M.,  Oscar  and 
an  infant,  deceased.  The  first  Mrs.  F.  died  in  August,  1879,  and  the 
following  year  Mr.  Ford  wedded  a  young  school-teacher.  Miss  Addie 
Hayner,  daughter  of  James  Hayner,  formerly  of  Scott  county,  Ky., 
but  now  a  farmer  of  Independence  township,  Macon  county,  Mo. 
Two  children,  Maggie  S.  and  James  Victor  have  blessed  this  union. 
The  same  good  judgment  that  governs  Mr.  Ford's  actions  has  been 
displayed  in  the  choice  of  a  life  partner  and  the  management  of  his 
family.  Like  all  men  of  quick  perceptions  and  powers  of  observa- 
tion, Mr.  F.  enters  with  entire  understanding  into  all  the  feelings 
and  thought  of  those  who  look  to  him  for  guidance,  and  like  a  goodly 
ship  under  the  experienced  hand  of  a  skilled  pilot,  they  keep  a  steady 
course  amid  the  perilous  shoals  and  snags  of  life. 

JACOB  V.  GliOVE 

(Section  36,  Post-office,  Blooraington). 

There  is  no  citizen  in  Macon  county  who  is  of  more  value  to  the 
welfare  of  the  public  than  he  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Prom- 
inent in  politics,  deeply  interested  in  the  schools  of  the  county,  of 
which  he  has  been  director  in  his  district  for  eight  years  past,  he  uses 
every  means  at  his  command  for  the  advancement  and  prosperity  of 
the  county.  He  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  by  occupation,  and 
devotes  himself  to  the  making  of  sorghum,  at  which  he  has  met  with 
marked  success,  and  also  a  molasses  manufactory,  which  turns  out 
annually  from  2,000  to  4,000  gallons.  Mr.  Grove  was  born  Novem- 
ber 8,  1843,  in  Westminster,  Md.  His  father,  Jacob  Grove,  was 
a  Virginian,  and  his  mother,  Mary  Humboldt,  was  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  one  of  the  old  Humboldt  stock  who  were  nearly  related  to 
William  Penn.  He  attended  the  Westminster  Academy  at  Westmin- 
ster, Md.,  and  also  at  the  Thad.  Stephen's  College  at  Gettysburg, 
Pa.  When  Jacob  V.  was  17  vears  of  ao-e  he  went  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
arriving  just  in  time  for  the  Baltimore  riot,  April  19,  1871.  His 
youthful  heart  inflamed  with  patriotism  for  the  old  flag.  He  straight- 
way, even  on  the  following  day,  went  to  Gettysburg  and  enlisted  in 
Co.  E,  Second  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  in  Gen.  Patterson's 
command.  After  four  months'  service,  during  which  he  was  in  the 
battles  of  Falling  Waters,  July  1,  1861,  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
Sixth  regiment  of  Maryland  volunteer  infantry,  his  regiment  and 
corps  forming  part  of  the  Potomac  army  (Third  corps).     He  was  in 


1136  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

the  following  battles :  Obegnaii  Creek,  June  13,  1863  ;  Winchester, 
June  14,  15,  1863;  Ft.  Royal,  July  25,  1863;  Wapping  Heiohts, 
June  25,  1863;  Bristow  Station,  October  14,  1863;  Kelly's  Ford, 
November  7,  1863;  Brandy  Station,  November  8,  1863;  Locust 
Grove,  November  27,  1863';  Mine  Run,  November  28,  1863,  and 
Wilderness,  May  5-11,  1864.  In  the  latter  bitter  conflict  Mr.  G. 
was  wounded  —  disabled  by  a  gunshot  wound  in  his  right  shoulder. 
He  was  until  July,  1864,  in  the  Patterson  Post  Hospital  in  Baltimore, 
then  rejoining  his  regiment,  he  took  i)art  in  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Monocacy  and  also  the  following  engagements  :  Charlestown,  August 
21,  1864;  Smithfield,  August  29,  1864;  Winchester,  September  19, 
1864;  Flint  Hill,  September  21,  1864;  Fisher's  Hill,  September  21, 
1864;  Pebbles'  Farm,  September  30,  1864;  Middletown,  October  9, 
1864;  Sheridan's  great  ride  at  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864,  and 
the  siege  of  Petersburg,  April  1,  1865.  The  color-sergeant  of  Mr. 
Grove's  regiment  was  the  first  man  who  got  inside  the  works  and  lived  in 
the  last  named  siege.  Mr.  Grove  had  two  brothers  in  the  Southern 
army,  one  of  whom  was  wounded  at  this  battle.  After  further  par- 
ticipating in  the  fights  at  Sailor's  Run,  April  6,  1865,  and  Appomat- 
tox, April  9,  1865,  Mr.  Grove  was  discharged  June  25,  1865,  after 
four  years  of  as  gallant  and  faithful  performance  of  duty  as  any  man 
in  America  can  boast  of.  The  war-broken  soldier  returned  to  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  and  for  a  year  rested  from  his  labors.  In  1866,  shoulder- 
ing once  more  the  burden  of  life,  he  went  West,  located  at  Elkhart, 
111.,  and  took  up  the  drug  business.  Two  years  later,  on  account  of 
ill  health,  he  discontinued  this,  and  receiving  an  appointment  in  the 
Indian  Bureau  of  the  Interior  Department,  he  went  to  Washington 
City.  Finding,  however,  on  his  arrival,  that  the  position  was  one  he 
did  not  care  to  accept,  he  returned  to  the  West  and  settled  in  Macon 
county,  which  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home,  excepting  during  one 
year  when  he  traveled  through  Iowa,  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin.  Mr. 
Grove  married,  November  8,  1871,  Miss  Annie  M.,  daughter  of  Hon. 
George  M.  Taylor,  of  Macon  county.  There  are  six  children  by  this 
union:  Mary  Belle,  Jennie,  Jacob  V.,  Jesse  Fremont,  Peter  Cooper, 
Huldah  and  Maggie.  His  tamily  belong  to  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr. 
G.  is  a  member^of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  No. "184,  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Bloomington.  Mr.  Grove  is  of 
unprecedented  popularity,  as  was  practically  shown  when  he  made  a 
canvass  for  sheriflTof  his  county. 

JOHN  McDUFFEE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-dealer,  Section  26,  Post-office,  Bloomington) . 

Mr.  McDuffee  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  N.  C,  November  26, 
1813.  His  parents  were  Duncan  and  Nancy  (Bine)  McDuflee.  John 
McD.  was  educated  in  Tennessee,  whither  his  father  emigrated  Avhen 
he  was  but  four  years  of  age.  He  was  partly  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  but  finished  his  studies  at  Hoke  College,  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Maury   county,  Tenn.     At  23  years  Mr.  McDuflee  embarked  in  va- 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1137 

rious  branches  of  mercimtile  life,  and  in  1839  emigrated  to  Missouri. 
He  located  in  Cooper  county,  where  he  lost  his  heart  to  Miss  Lucinda 
Harris,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Harris,  of  Missouri.  The  married 
twain  were  made  one  on  the  28th  of  June,  1845,  and  soon  after  Mr. 
McD.  moved  to  what  was  then  Jackson,  but  is  now  Lj'^da  township, 
of  Macon  county,  Mo.  Here  he  and  his  little  wife  began  to  prepare 
a  home,  he  engagins;  in  fannino;  and  stock-raisinij.  In  the  latter  he 
dipped  quite  extensively,  buying  and  selling  cattle,  horses,  mules  and 
some  hogs.  This  was  before  there  were  any  railroads,  or  even  any 
settlement  ©f  any  consequence  in  the  county.  Mr.  McDuffee  owns 
160  acres  of  land  at  present,  though  his  property  at  one  time  amounted 
to  at  least  600  acres.  He  has  sold  off  a  portion  of  his  land,  and  has 
also  given  largely  to  his  children.  His  farm  has  every  improvement 
that  could  be  desired,  and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  most  exper- 
ienced farmers  in  the  township.  Mr.  McDuffee  is  a  man  of  immense 
personal  popularity,  and  several  times  has  been  implored  to  allow  his 
name  to  be  brought  before  the  public  as  a  candidate  for  county  treasurer. 
He  steadily  declines  the  honor,  however,  though  he  has  served  for  two 
years  as  township  collector.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Grange  move- 
ment, and  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  No.  102,  of  Bloomington, 
Mo.  During  the  war  Mr.  McD.  took  no  sides,  but  following  the  in- 
junction of  Holy  Scripture,  to  be  at  war  with  no  man,  treated  both 
armies  with  equal  kindness.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDuffee  have  seven 
children:  Barbara  J.,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  J.  McDaniel,  of  Bloom- 
ington; William  F.,  who  is  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Garvin,  and  living 
in  Liberty  township  ;  Louisa  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Taylor,  of 
Hudson  township;  Nancy  C,  wife  of  E.  P.  Goodding,  of  Eagle  town- 
ship; Sarah  F.,  wife  of  James  A.  AVright,  of  Eandolph  county; 
Mary  E.  and  George  R.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Bloomington. 

WILLIAM  McCULLY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser,  Section  19). 

Mr.  McCully  is  an  active  and  energetic  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  No 
man  reflects  more  credit  on  the  county  than  he.  He  is  the  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Mildred  (Maho)  McCully.  His  father  was  born  April  15, 1805, 
in  Tennessee,  and  emigrated  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man.  His 
mother  was  also  born  in  Tennessee  on  the  15th  of  March,  1805,  There 
was  a  large  family  of  children,  consisting  of  five  girls  and  eight  boys  ; 
of  these  four  are  deceased.  The  others  are  all  married,  and  are  as 
follows  :  Mary  J.,  wife  of  John  Osborn,  farmer  in  Randolph  county  ; 
Mildred  F.,  wife  of  Thomas,  Colly,  farmer  in  Chariton  county; 
Ardella,  wife  of  James  Ball,  farmer  in  Randolph;  Valentine,  living 
in  South-west  Missouri ;  John  A.,  in  Randolph;  Samuel  J.,  Walter 
H.,  both  in  Randolph,  and  Tolman  G.,  in  Audrain  county.  William, 
the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  born  November  17, 1829,  in  Randolph 
county.  Mo.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools.  •  When  he  came  of  age  he  moved  for  a  year  to  Howard 


1138  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

county,  but  returned  to  Randolph,  and  there,  January  25,  1853,  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Wm.  McCully,  a  farmer.  After 
four  years  farming  Mr.  McCully  moved  to  Macon  county  and  settled 
in  Liberty  township,  on  his  present  farm.  He  owns  160  acres,  which 
he  has  converted  into  a  little  Paradise  by  his  industry  and  good  man- 
agement. Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCully  have  had  seven  children.  Arzelia, 
who  died  January  29,  1860;  William  S.,  died  January  28,  1860; 
Henderson  E.,  Tyson  W.,  Minnie  M.,  James  *T.,  and  Ira,  who  died 
August  6,  1875.  Mr.  McC.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  No. 
102,  Bloomington,  Mo.,  of  which  lodge  he  has  been  treasurer  for  six 
years  j)ast.  He  is  a  thriving  farmer,  and  an  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited  citizen. 

DE.  BENJAMIN  L.  MIXON 

(Physician  and  Surgeon) . 

Dr.  M.,  a  physician  of  extensive  practice  and  wide  reputation,  sec- 
tion 4,  Liberty  township,  was  born  in  St.  Helena  parish,  Louisiana, 
June  26,  1839.  His  father,  George  J.  Mixon,  was  a  native  of  South 
Carolina.  His  mother,  Elizabeth  (Barksdale)  Mixon,  was  born  in 
Georgia,  but  belonged  to  that  talented  family  of  the  name  in  Missis- 
sippi, one  member  of  which  is  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  one 
of  whom  recently  shot  Mr.  Dixon,  in  Yazoo  City,  in  some  political 
quarrel.  Both  were  prominent  politicians.  Benjamin  L.  was  raised 
in  Louisiana  and  educated  for  a  physician.  His  studies  were  partly 
conducted  in  Chicago.  He  remained  at  home  until  20  years  of  age, 
and  then  went  to  Calhoun,  Ala.  ;  after  two  years  moved  to  Escambia 
county,  Fla.,  and  there  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  in  1864,  par- 
ticipating in  the  Battle  of  Perry ville,  Mumfordsville,  Ky.,  George- 
town, Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  was  in  all  the 
engagements  from  the  beginning  of  Dalton,  Ga.,  until  his  capture  by 
Sherman  at  New  Hope  Church,  near  Atlanta,  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1864.  Dr.  Mixon  was  taken  to  Rock  Island  prison,  and  after  a  close 
incarceration  of  nine  months,  in  order  to  regain  his  freedom,  he  joined 
the  Union  army.  He  was,  however,  still  kept  in  prison,  and  after  a 
year's  service  was  discharged  November  29,  1865,  at  Ft,  Leavenworth. 
After  his  discharge  the  Doctor  settled  in  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Walnut  Creek  township.  In 
1877  he  moved  to  Liberty  township,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His 
success  has  been  most  brilliant,  his  practice  extending  over  five  town- 
ships. He  is  a  fine  surgeon  as  well  as  a  physician,  and  the  value  of 
his  services  to  his  fellow  men  is  incalculable.  The'Doctor  is  a  farmer, 
also,  and  has  300  acres  of  land,  all  pasturage,  and  divided  into  three 
separate  farms.  The  one  on  which  he  lives  is  an  unusually  fine  place, 
with  the  best  of  improvements  His  residence  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  county.  December  24,  1865,  Dr.  Mixon  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  A.,  daughter  of  P.  F.  Agee,  of  Missouri.  Of  this  union  were 
born  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Volta  Edwin,  Carlisle 
and  Freddie.     Walter  Trent  died  July  18,  1867,  and  Roswell  Duard 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1139 

died  June  10,  1875.     Dr.  M.  has  been  treasurer  of  the  township  for 
two  years.     He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Christian  Church. 

CRAVEN  P.  ROSS 

(Farmer  aud  Stock -raiser,  Section  20). 

Mr.  Ross  was  ©ne  of  that  steadily  flowing  stream  of  emigrants 
from  Kentucky  who  settled  in  Missouri  in  the  early  days  of  the  coun- 
try. His  parents,  John  and  Nancy  (Peyton )  Ross,  were  natives  of  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  where  Craven  P.  was  born,  in  Madison  county, 
December  17,  1816.  In  1817  the  family  removed  to  Howard  county, 
Mo.,  and  there  the  subject  of  this  sketch  reached  manhood.  He 
had  married  in  the  meantime,  in  Howard  county,  Mo.,  December 
17,  1847,  Miss  Margaret  Elizabeth  Posey,  daughter  of  Bird  and 
Sarah  Posey,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  She  was  born  September  25, 
1833,  in  Howard  county.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ross  emigrated  to 
Liberty  township,  Macon  count}',  March  20,  1851,  and  there  still 
lives.  He  has  always  followed  his  present  pursuit  of  farming  and 
stock-raising,  in  which  he  has  been  eminently  successful.  His  exam- 
ple of  frugal  toil  and  upright  independence  has  been  of  no  small  value 
to  those  around  him,  and  he  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors  in  a 
life  comparatively  free  from  earthly  care.  His  obliging  manners  and 
truly  kind  heart  have  won  for  him  an  enviable  position  in  the  estima- 
tion of  his  fellow-citizens.  His  farm  contains  260  acres  of  as  good  land 
as  there  is  in  the  county,  the  natural  value  of  which  has  been  enhanced 
ten  fold  by  the  assiduous  care  and  attention  he  has  bestowed  upon  it. 
His  improvements  are  first-class,  and  he  is  preparing  to  build  a  fine 
barn  in  place  of  the  one  recently  destroyed.  Mr.  Ross  has  been  for 
25  years  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M,  of  Bloomington  Lodge 
No.  102.  Mrs  R.'s  father  is  still  living  in  the  beautiful  and  healthful 
vigor  of  a  green  and  hale  old  age.  He  is  now  78  years  old.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ross  have  had  five  children  :  George  W.,  was  born  in  How- 
ard county,  Mo.,  May  20,  1849;  William  B.,  was  born  in  Macon 
county  May  21,  1851,  and  died  August  14,  1853  ;  John  W.,  was  born 
in  Macon  county  August  28,1853,  and  died  December  4,  1882  ;  Alex- 
ander Ross,  was  born  in  Macon  county  on  the  1st  of  April,  1855,  and 
married  Miss  Annie  E.  Weakly  on  February  19,  1874  —  she  is  the 
daughter  of  Absalom  Weakly  ;  Birdrick  Ross,  was  born  July  4,  1857, 
and  died  the  21st  of  September,    1858. 

GEORGE  ALLEN  RYALS 

(Teacher) . 

Mr.  Ryals,  a  talented  and  handsome  young  school-teacher,  of  section 
7,  south-east  corner  of  Liberty  township,  was  born  July  10,  1862,  in 
Macon  county.  Mo.  He  has  attended  for  the  past  two  years  the  Kirks- 
ville  State  Normal  school,  and  proposes  to  complete  the  course.  He 
has  always  taught  in  Macon  county,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  he 
.had  charge  of  the  Brush  Creek  district,  Randolph  county.     Mr.  Ryals, 


1140  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

though  only  22  years  of  tige,  has  taken  a  foremost  place  among  those 
of  his  chosen  calling.  So  pronounced  is  his  genius  that  should  he  con- 
tinue to  wield  the  ferule,  the  professor's  chair  must  ere  long  claim  him 
as  an  occupant.  With  manners  of  most  pleasing  grace  and  a  physique 
of  remarkable  beauty,  this  gifted  young  man  is  a  general  favorite,  and 
has  within  his  grasp  those  coveted  joys  and  honors  of  life  for  which 
most  men  sigh  in  vain.  Mr.  .Ryals  belongs  to  the  order  of  Good 
Templars.  William  Ryals,  ftither  of  George  Allen,  is  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  of  section  7.  He  was  born  January  26, 1828,  in  Sangamon 
county.  111.,  but  emigrated  with  his  parents  in  1831  to  Missouri. 
They  lived  first  in  Randolph  county,  then  in  Monroe,  then  in  Putnam, 
and  finally  in  1859  settled  in  Liberty  township,  Macon  county.  Mr. 
Ryal's  father  was  John  Ryal,  his  mother  Mary  (Sears)  Ryals,  daugh- 
ter of  Harry  Sears,  a  member  of  the  old  and  prominent  f amil}^  of  Sears 
in  Kentucky.  William  R.  had  a  good  common-school  education,  and 
has  followed  the  vocation  of  farmer  ever  since  his  residence  in  Mis- 
souri. He  took  no  part  in  the  late  war.  He  served  for  a  time  as  road 
overseer  of  his  district,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Grange  move- 
ment. He  owns  now  but  60  acr6s  of  land,  but  has  been  a  large  land 
holder.  His  farm  is  pleasantly  situated  and  well  improved.  Mr. 
Ryals  has  been  three  times  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
united  March  13,  1850,  was  Miss  Lucinda  Sears,  daughter  of  Wiley 
Sears,  of  Kentucky.  There  were  two  children  :  Mary  F.,  wife  of  W.  P. 
Early,  merchant  and  stock  dealer  of  Callao  township,  and  Luther  W., 
merchant,  of  Callao,  Mo.  Mrs.  R.  laid  down  to  an  eternal  rest  Decem- 
ber 13,  1856,  and  was  interred  in  the  family  burying  ground  in  Ran- 
dolph. November  29,  1857,  Mr.  Ryals  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Sears, 
daughter  of  Hardy  Sears,  of  Kentucky  ;  but  a  second  time  his  dreams 
of  bliss  were  destined  to  a  rude  awakening,  his  beloved  consort  after 
a  few  brief  years  being  snatched  from  his  clinging  arms,  leaving  two 
children:  Isom  L.  and  George  A.,  as  pledges  of  her  devotion.  One 
child  breathed  its  little  life  away  when  an  infant.  In  February,  1866, 
Mr.  Ryals  a  third  time  entered  the  marital  relation  with  Mrs.  Lucinda 
W.  Payne,  daughter  of  Avington  Simpson,  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Payne 
had  one  daughter,  Permelia  Payne,  who  is  still  unmarried.  Mr.  Ryal's 
third  marriage  is  childless.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Old 
School  Baptist  Church  in  Valley  township. 

COLUMBUS  G.  TAYLOR 

(Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser,  Section  35). 

Mr.  Taylor  is  the  son  of  George  M.  Taylor,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  important  citizens  of  Blooraington.  From  his  earliest  youth  he 
■was  entrusted  with  positions  of  responsibility,  in  which  he  ever  ac- 
quitted himself  with  the  most  brilliant  credit.  He  was  successively 
surve3''or,  sheriff  and  representative  of  the  county,  besides  holding 
numerous  other  ofiices,  and  at  the  same  time  owning  a  farm  where  the 
family  resided,  except  when  in  Bloomington.  Columbus  G.  was  born 
February  11,  1844,  in  Macon  county.  Mo.     He  was  educated  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1141 

public  schools,  and  up  to  the  age  of  10  lived  in  Bloomington.  He  then 
moved  to  the  farm  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  In  1865  Mr.  Taylor 
took  a  trip  across  the  plains  ;  he  was  absent  a  year,  engaged  in  no 
particular  business,  hut  seeing  life  generally.  After  his  return  he 
lived  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  December  7, 
1869.  The  fair  lady  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Emma  Cunningham, 
dauo-hter  of  Francis  and  Mary  Cunningham,  natives  of  Kentucky, 
from  which  fxict  may  be  guessed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  beauty  of 
the  bride,  no  State  in  the  Union  being  more  noted  for  her  beautiful 
Avoraen  than  that  of  Kentucky.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Taylor  moved 
first  to  Bevier  township,  then  in  1880  to  Liberty,  of  which  township 
he  is  at  present  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Grange  movement  of  1873,  and  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Lodge 
No.  102,  of  Bloomington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  a  family  of  six 
children  :  Georgia  Anna,  born  November  24,  1870  ;  Francis  Markley, 
born  July  27,  1872  ;  Ida  May,  born  May  8,  1875  :  Edgar  Russell,  born 
March  27,  1827  ;  Ora,  born  April  1,  1880,  and  Florence,  born  August 
11,  1882. 


hudso:n^   township. 


EGBERT  W.  AIKIN 

(Proprietor  of  the  Wabash  Hotel). 
Mr.  Aikin  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Aikin,  farmer,  and  was  born  in  Co- 
lumbus, Ind.,  in  1832.  Before  he  came  to  Macon  he  was  a  commer- 
cial traveler.  After  settling  in  Macon  City  he  ran  the  City  Hotel  for 
three  years,  and  the  Mercliants'  two  years,  and  then  took  charge  of 
the  Wabash,  which  he  now  has.  Mr.  Aikin  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  has  twice  been  elected  councilman  at  large  of  Macon  City. 
He  is  now  city  engineer.  He  has  twice  been  married.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Hendrickson,  of  Indiana,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
1856,  died  in  1863,  leaving  one  daughter,  Ida,  now  the  wife  of  John 
M.  Reed,  farmer.  In  18^78  Mr.  AUdn  made  a  second  matrimonial 
venture,  which  has  proved  a  most  fortunate  one.  His  present  wife 
was  Mrs.  Mary,  widow  of  John  Cook,  who  died  in  1871.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  have  two  sons,  ®ne  a  telegraph  operator  in  the  employ  of 
the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad,"and  the  other  a  printer,  until  two 
years  ago  foreman  in  the  Repuhlican  office  in  Macon,  but  now  work- 
ing on  the  Brookfield  Gazette.  Mr.  Aikin  is  an  experienced  hotel 
keeper,  and  has  one  of  the  best  houses  to  be  found  in  the  country. 
First-class  accommodations  and  assiduous  attention  are  the  fate  of  all 
the  traveling  -pubhc  who  favor  him  with  a  visit.  His  wife  is  a  lady 
possessed  of  many  noble  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  and  by  her  su- 
perior aid  and  counsel  materially  assists  her  husband  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  house. 


1142  HtSTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


WILLIAM    F.  ANDERSON 

(Merchant  Tailor,  Macon  City) . 

Dr.  John  J.  Anderson,  the  father  of  William  F.,  came  of  one  of  the 
most  respectable  untitled  families  of  Scotland.  His  parents  were 
hioiily  cultured  and  in  easy  circumstances,  and  gave  their  children 
advanced  educations.  Dr.  Anderson  received  a  thorough  classical 
education,  and  was  graduated  from  the  ancient  and  famous  University 
of  Dublin,  both  in  a  general  educational  course  and  in  medicine. 
After  this,  whilst  still  a  young  man,  he  came  to  Charleston,  S.  C, 
then  the  most  strictly  aristocratic  city  on  the  continent,  bringing  with 
him  the  highest  recommendations  both  as  to  his  social  standing  and 
professional  abilities,  for  the  purpose  of  practicing  his  profession  at 
the  metropolis  of  the  Palmetto  State.  His  success  at  Charleston  was 
prompt,  and  his  clientele  represented  many  of  the  best  families  of  that 
city.  After  a  residence  of  a  few  years  at  Charleston,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Isabella  McCuUoug^i,  of  South  Carolina,  a  young  lady  of  the 
hio-hest  culture  and  refinement,  and  of  rare  beauty  and  personal  grace. 
William  F.  was  born  of  this  happy  union  in  Charleston,  October  8, 
1836,  but  on  account  of  the  great  torridity  of  the  climate  during  the 
summer  seasons,  and  the  constant  strain  of  a  large  practice.  Dr.  An- 
derson's health  failed,  and  he  was  advised  to  seek  rest  in  the  mountains. 
Accordingly  he  decided  to  remove  to  the  mountains  of  Tennessee,  and 
in  1848  he  located  in  that  State  ;  but  becoming  thoroughly  dissatisfied 
in  Tennessee,  for  the  practice  amounted  to  little  or  nothing  there,  and 
after  the  loss  of  two  years  and  considerable  means,  practically  all  he 
had,  he  located  at  Helena,  Ark.  In  the  meantime  (illustrating  the 
adage  that  troubles  never  come  single)  death  had  robbed  him  of  his 
wife.  At  Helena  his  success  in  his  profession  was  as  good  as  could 
have  been  expected  of  a  place  like  that  in  those  days,  when  there  was 
a  sreat  deal  more  sickness  in  the  country  than  money.  The  result 
was  that  he  was  unable  to  educate  or  bring  up  his  children  as  he  him- 
self had  been  educated  and  brought  up.  His  health  was  never  good 
and  his  means  limited,  so  that  William  F.,  who  had  intended  to  be- 
come a  physician  himself,  and  had  studied  several  years  under  his 
father  with  that  object  in  view,  was  compelled,  at  the  early  age  of  17, 
to  seek  some  employment  that  would  bring  in  an  immediate  income. 
He  accordingly  went  to  work  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade  at  a  small 
salary,  and  was  at  work  at  that  when  the  war  broke  out ;  thereupon 
he  and  two  brothers  promptly  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  South,  he 
in  the  Fortieth  Tennessee  infantry.  His  two  brothers  were  killed  at 
Port  Hudson,  and  he  was  severely  wounded  at  the  bombardment  of 
Island  No.  10,  being  struck  by  two  pieces  of  a  bomb,  one  in  his  side 
and  one  on  the  foot,  thus  disabling  him  from  further  field  service. 
After  this  he  was  in  the  quartermaster's  department,  but  was  finally 
compelled  to  leave  the  service,  on  account  of  bad  heath,  entirely.  He 
returned  to  Memphis  and  resumed  his  trade,  working  there  until  1865. 
He  then  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  worked  a  year  or  two.     From  St. 


HISTORY ''OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1143 

Louis-  he  came  to  the  interior  of  the  State,  and  was  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness at  La  Plata  for  about  two  years.  Excepting  this,  however,  he 
continued  to  work  at  his  trade  and  following  the  business  of  merchant 
tailoring  until  he  came  to  Macon  City,  where  he  has  since  continued 
in  the  same  lines.  He  has  one  of  the  leading  establishments  in  the 
merchant  tailoring  business  at  Macon  City,  and  has  a  large  custom. 
December  2,  1869,  he  w^as  married  at  Shelbina  to  Miss  Sarah  M. 
Green,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  E.  (Tuttle)  Green,  of  Macon 
county.  Mrs.  Green's  father,  Nicholas  Tuttle,  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Macon  county,  and  his  ftither  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the 
American  army  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  An- 
derson have  seven  children  :  James  W.,  Joseph  S.,  Lena  E.,  Dr.  John 
J. ,  Eugene,  Charley  Mark  Twain  and  Francis  Marvin.  Mrs.  Anderson 
and  her  mother  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  he  is  a 
Knight  of  Pythias,  an  L  O.  O.  F.  and  the  Triple  Alliance. 

FEANK  BATED 

(Cashier  of  the  Exchange  Bank,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Baird  may  be  said  to  have  been  bred  to  the  banking  business, 
having  been  brought  up  from  boyhood  in  the  bank  with  which  his 
father  is  connected  at  Kirksville,  the  First  National  Bank.  His  father, 
William  T.  Baird,  is  a  Keutuckian  by  nativity,  from  Carroll  county, 
and  came  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man  in  1857,  locating  in  Adair 
county.  He  taught  school  there  for  a  short  time  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Mattie  C,  a  daughter  of  Mathew  P.  Hannah,  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Adair  county,  and  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  that  county. 
Engaging  in  other  pursuits  subsequent  to  teaching,  he  finally  became 
identified  with  the  banking  business  at  Kirksville,  with  which  he  has 
since  been  connected,  a  period  now  of  nearly  26  years.  He  is  one 
of  the  prominent  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  Kirksville. 

Frank  Baird,  the  eldest  in  his  father's  family  of  children,  was  born 
at  Kirksville  July  8,  1859,  and  as  he  grew  up  had  the  benefit  of  the 
excellent  schools  of  that  place  as  well  as  practical  experience  in  the 
banking  business.  He  also  took  a  term  at  Kemper's  School  in  Boon- 
ville  in  addition  to  his  course  at  the  State  Normal  School.  It  is  thus 
seen  that  his  advantages  and  opportunities  have  been  ample  to  fit  him 
for  business  life,  and  particularly  for  the  banking  business.  Nor  has 
his  experience  since  he  began  life  for  himself  failed  to  show  that  he 
fully  improved  his  time  when  young.  At  the  age  of  20,  such  was  the 
proo:ress  he  had  made  in  learnin2:  the  l^ankino-  business  and  such  his 
efiiciency  and  the  confidence  in  wdiich  he  was  held,  that  he  w^as  made 
assistant  cashier  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  William  T.  Baird,  now  the 
First  National  Bank  at  Kirksville.  The  duties  of  this  position  he  per- 
formed with  entire  acceptability  and  he  continued  assistant  cashier  of 
that  bank  until  he  became  identified  with  the  bank  with  which  he  is 
now  connected  at  Macon  city.  He  came  here  in  1883,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  cashier  of  the  present  bank  —  the  Exchange  Bank  of 
Bairds  &  Wright.  His  thorough  knowledge  of  the  bankins;  business 
67 


1144  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

is  so  well  recognized  and  his  character  such  that  the  success  of  this 
bank  was  assured  from  the  time  he  first  became  identified  with  it.  Its 
career  has  fully  justified  the  expectations  of  those  interested  m  it,  and 
of  the  community  at  large.  It  ranks  among  the  substantial,  solid, 
banking  houses  of  this  section  of  the  State,  being  intelligently  and 
soberly  managed  and  conducted  on  sound  business  principle.  Per- 
sonally, Mr.  Baird  is  popular  with  all  who  know  him.  He  is  aifable, 
courteous  and  accommodating,  and  perfectly  reliable  in  business  as  in 
everything  else.  On  the  1st  of  September,  1880,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Bessie  Hunt,  a  daughter  of  N.  Hunt,  a  prominent  citizen  of  this 
city. 

ALFRED  BANTA 
(Of  Banta  &  Son,  Livery  and  Sale  Stables,  Macon  City) . 

Alfred  Banta,  pere,  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Ky.,  July  29, 
1829.  His  parents,  John  and  Nancy  (List)  Banta,  came  to  Missouri 
in  1844  and  located  in  what  is  now  Bevier  township,  three  miles  south 
of  the  town  of  Bevier,  where  the  father  entered  quite  a  tract  of  land, 
and  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  followed  until  his  death,  some  years 
before  the  war.  Alfred  was  next  to  the  youngest  in  the  family  of 
seven  children,  and  was  reared  partl}'^  in  this  county.  At  the  age 
of  20  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Terrell,  a  daughter  of 
John  Terrell,  an  early  settler  of  the  county.  He  thereupon  located 
on  a  tract  of  land  near  his  father,  where  he  continued  farming  up  to 
the  fall  of  1882,  meeting  with  good  success.  He  grew  tobacco  quite 
extensively  and  also  raised  and  bought  stock,  shipping  them  to  the 
wholesale  markets.  For  four  yeavs  he  ran  the  Banta  mill.  He  still 
owns  his  farm  in  Chariton  township  which  contains  some  200  acres, 
and  which  he  superintends.  In  November,  1882,  he  came  to  Macon 
City  and  in  company  with  his  son,  Alfred,  Jr.,  established  their 
present  business.  They  have  the  leading  livery  and  sales  stables  of 
the  place  and  are  doing  an  excellent  business.  They  carry  a  fine  stock 
of  buggies  and  horses,  and  their  rigs  are  justly  popular  for  their 
appearance  and  serviceability.  Alfred  Banta,  Sr.,  and  wife  have  had 
a  family  of  five  children,  John,  Martha  J.,  who  died  whilst  the  wife 
of  Thomas  L.  Morrow;  James  A.,  Emma,  now  the  wife  of  Robert 
Gant,  and  Alfred.  Luther  died  in  infancy.  Alfred  Banta,  Jr.,  was 
born  July  2,  1860,  and  was  educated  at  the  Kirksville  Normal  School. 
He  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father  in  1878,  and  February  3,  1881, 
was  maiTied  to  Mattie  E.  Ruby,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  William  Ruby. 
They  have  one  child.  Evert  C.  Mrs.  Banta  is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church.  Young  Mr.  Banta  is  an  industrious 
and  energetic  man  and  has  all  the  qualities  for  a  successful  business 
career. 

BRIGHT  C.  BARROW  (deceased) 

(Late  an  attorney-at-law,  Macon  City) . 
Mr.  Banta  was   an  ornament  to  the  bar,  which  has   sustained  an 
irreparable  loss  in  his  death.     He  was  the  son  of  Daniel  Barrow  and 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1145 

Jane  Gillstrap,  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  was  one  of  nine  children  : 

George,  Jane,  Louise,  Melissa,  Weltha,  James  Robert,  Marietta  and 

Bright  G.     Daniel  D.  came  to  Macon  in  1834,  and  farmed  until  his 

death,  in  1865.     His  wife  survived  him  but  a  few  3'ears  ;  in  1870  the 

ftiithful  pilgrim  reached  her  journey's  end.     Bright  G.  Barrow  was 

born  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  October  10,  1826;  was  raised  on  a  farm, 

where    he  worked    and    attended  school  until  he  was    18,  when   he 

began  teaching,  and,  at  the  same  tmie,  reading  law.     At  the  age  of 

21  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  after  married  Miss  Margaret 

Ferguson,  a  native  of  the  county,  from  whom  he  was  lawfully  divorced 

in  1860.     To  them  were  born  eight  children,  all  except  two  of  whom 

died  in  infancy  ;  John  C.  and  Daniel  B.  are  still  living.     In  1863  Mr. 

Barrow  married  a  second  time  ;  the  present  Mrs.  B.  was  Miss  Jennie 

Downing,  daughter  of  Joel  and  Jerusha  (Knapp)  Downing,  originally 

of  Ohio,  who  came  to  Macon  county  in  1861  with  his  five  children  : 

Hannah,   Riley,  Henrietta,   Calista  and  Jennie.     Mr.  Downing  was 

born  in  1810,  and  was  a  farmer.     He  is  still  living  in  sound  health, 

with  his  daughter.     His  w^ife  died  in  1852  in  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa. 

By  his  second   marriage  Mr.  Barrow  had  seven  children,  of  whom 

three  are  living:  Everett  J.,  Frankie  G.,  and  Sueella  T.     Mr.  B.  was 

one  of  the  brightest  of  the  legal  luminaries  of  the  county  and  sat  on 

the  bench  as  probate  and  county  judge.    He  had  a  large  and  lucrative 

practice  and  thus  upon  his  death,  November  6,  1880,  was  enabled  to 

leave  those  he  loved  above  the  grinding  cares  which  so  often  fall  to  the 

lot   of  the  widow  and    orphan.     They   have   a   handsome    home   in 

the  suburbs  of  Macon  City.     Mr.  B.  was  a  prominent  Mason  and  an 

earnest  member  and  zealous  worker  in  the  Christian  Church.     For 

those  who  die  in  Christ,  the  Bible  declares  we  shall  not  mourn,  but 

joyfully  sing  — 

Where  is  thy  victory,  O  grave? 
And  vrhere,  O  death,  thy  sting? 

JACOB  BELL 

(Farmer), 

Jacob  Bell  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Macon  county.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia,  March  22,  1809,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and 
Catherine  (Wiseman)  Bell,  both  natives  of  Maryland.  They  had  12 
children,  only  three  of  whom  survive.  Daniel  came  to  the  country 
in  1840  and  worked  at  the  hatter's  trade  until  his  death  in  1845. 
His  wife  lived  until  1865.  Jacob  was  educated  in  his  native  State 
and  was  a  farmer  there  until  after  his  marriage  in  1839.  The  next 
year  he  accompanied  his  father  to  Missoiiri,  and  entered  his  present 
farm.  His  first  wife,  who  was  Miss  Virginia  Mc^Yilliams,  of  Vir- 
ginia, died  November  20,  1865,  leaving  no  children,  and  Mr.  Bell 
married  September  18,  1866,  Miss  Virginia  Shepherd,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio  in  1843.  By  this  marriage  there  were  four  children  :  Robert  L., 
Mary  V.,  Jacob  W.  and  Ellie  Maud.  J\lr.  Bell  has  a  fine  prairie  farm 
of  240  acres  situated  one  mile  north  of  Macon  City,  and  is  a  man  of 


k 


1146  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

strictest  integrity  and  steadiest  habits.  He  is  noted  for  the  absence 
of  those  vices  most  common  to  the  age.  He  never  took  a  drink  in 
a  saloon  in  his  life,  never  treated  a  person  to  liquor  and  never  used 
tobacco.  It  is  very  interesting  to  listen  to  Mr.  Bell's  account  of  life 
in  the  county  when  he  first  made  it  his  home.  The  clothing  they 
wore  was  woven  by  his  wife  in  a  loom  which  he  made  for  her,  and 
they  had  to  market  in  Hannibal.  They  went  40  miles  to  mill,  and 
»oing  to  church  Mrs.  Bell  rode  her  husband's  saddle  while  he  used  a 
sack  of  straw  thrown  across  the  horse.  At  first  he  wore  a  coat,  but 
finding  himself  thought  proud  in  consequence,  he  left  his  coat  at  home 
and  went  in  his  shirt-sleeves  like  the  rest.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  fine  speci- 
men of  vigorous  old  age  and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

MAJ.  SIDNEY  G.  BROCK 

(Editor  and  Proprietor  of  the  Macon  Bepublican,  Macon  City). 

Among  the  prominent  citizens  of  Macon  county  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch  has  long  occupied  an  enviable  position.  A  resident  of 
the  county  for  the  last  18  years,  his  career  here  from  the  beginning 
has  been  characterized  by  continuous  efibrts  to  promote  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  county,  material  and  otherwise.  As  a  citizen  no  man 
has  shown  greater  public  spirit,  or  evinced  a  more  intelligent  appre- 
ciation of  the  conditions  around  him  and  of  the  requisites  to  the 
country  for  advancement  in  population,  wealth  and  intelligence,  than 
he.  A  man  of  ability  and  culture,  and  trained  in  the  law  and  an 
accomplished  journalist,  a  close  student  of  public  afiairs  and  thor- 
oughly-conversant with  the  principles  of  material  progress,  every 
quality  of  his  mind  and  every  qualification,  every  energy  that  could 
be  made  of  use  or  value  to  the  people  have  been  generously  exerted 
whenever  and  wherever  possible  for  the  common  good.  As  a  jour- 
nalist no  man  has  labored  more  earnestly  and  disinterestedly  for  the 
prosperity  of  his  locality,  and,  indeed,  of  the  State,  than  he.  A 
man  of  irreproachable  character,  both  for  his  personal  worth  and  for 
his  services  as  a  citizen  of  the  county  he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 

Maj.  Brock  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  at  Cleveland,  April  10,  1837. 
His  father  was  Hon.  Eleazer  A.  Brock,  a  prominent  manufacturer  of 
that  city  and  for  a  number  of  years  a  leading  member  of  the  city 
council.  His  mother,  before  her  marriage,  was  a  Miss  Margueretta 
Piatt,  originally  of  New  York. 

Sidney  G.  was  reared  at  Cleveland  and  after  completing  a  course 
in  the  common  schools  he  entered  the  high  school  of  that  city,  from 
which  he  was  o^raduated  in  1853.  Followino;  this  he  matriculated  at 
Alleghany  College,  of  Meadville,  Pa.,  where  he  took  a  thorough  En- 
glish and  classical  course,  and  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  in 
1859.     He  carried  off'  the  prizes  in  both  Greek  and  English  literature. 

Young  Brock  was  educated  for  the  bar,  and  after  his  graduation  at  Al- 
leghany he  at  once  entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  placing  himself  under 
the  instruction  of  Hon.  Hiram  Griswolcl,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of 
Ohio.     Studying  under  Judge  Griswold,  he  also  soon  entered  the  Law 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1147 

College  of  Cleveland,  in  which  he  took  a  regular  course  of  study. 
In  1861  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Avith  the  highest  expressions  of 
confidence  from  the  bench  in  his  future.  He  now  entered  upon  his 
career  as  a  lawyer  and  opened  an  office  in  Cleveland.  Soon  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1861,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Louisa  O.  Williams,  a  lad}'  of  superior  culture  and  refinement, 
a  daughter  of  Vice-President  L.  D.  AVilliams,  of  Alleghany  College, 
Pennsylvania. 

But  by  this  time  it  had  become  evident  that  the  war  was  to  be  one 
in  which  would  be  required  the  united  eff'orts  of  the  whole  people  of 
the  loyal  States  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and  young 
Brock  felt  that  above  every  personal  consideration  stood  his  duty  to 
his  country.  He,  therefore,  four  days  after  his  marriage,  was  ordered 
to  the  front,  having  previously  volunteered  and  organized  a  company. 
Taking  leave  of  his  young  wife,  and  giving  up  for  the  time  at  least 
all  thought  of  his  future  at  the  bar,  which  had  been  the  dream  of  his 
life,  and  for  which  he  had  long  and  faithfully  prepared  himself,  he 
marched  ofi"  to  the  perils  of  the  conflict.  His  enlistment  was  in  Co. 
H,  of  the  Sixty-seventh  Ohio  infantry,  of  which  he  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant,  and  afterwards  elected  captain.  The  Sixty-seventh 
served  principally  in  Virginia  and  South  Carolina  and  participated  in 
some  of  the  severest  campaigns  and  battles  of  the  war.  By  his 
ability  as  an  officer  and  his  conspicuous  bravery,  Capt.  Brock  rose  to 
the  rank  of  major  in  which  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  service 
at  the  close  of  the  struggle.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  service  he 
was  principally  on  detached  duty. 

Returning  to  Ohio  after  his  discharge  with  feelings  of  just  satisfac- 
tion for  the  honorable  part  he  had  borne  in  the  struggle  for  the 
integrity  of  the  Union,  he  remained  in  his  native  State  but  a  short 
time,  for  he  had  already  decided  to  make  his  future  home  in  Mis- 
souri. Maj.  Brock  removed  to  this  State  in  1866  and  located  at 
Macon  City,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  in  the  practice  of  law 
with  Gen.  F.  A.  Jones,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  This  partnership  continued  for  five  years  during  which 
they  were  engaged  in  cases  principally  in  the  United  States  courts, 
though  they  also  did  considerable  business  in  the  State  courts. 

In  1871  Maj.  Brock  and  Gen.  Jones  established  the  Macon  Repuh- 
licariy  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected.  Since  the  establish- 
ment of  theHepublican  Maj.  Brock  has  given  little  attention  to  the 
law  practice,  in  fact  none  at  all  in  recent  years,  the  duties  of  his 
newspaper  office  requiring  his  undivided  time  and  attention.  Gen. 
Jones  continued  with  him  in  the  Republican  until  the  former's  death, 
since  which  Maj.  Brock  has  conducted  it  alone.  By  their  ability  and 
good  management  and  by  their  manifest  concern  for  the  best  interests 
of  the  public,  they  made  the  Republican  one  of  the  leading  interior 
journals  of  the  State,  a  rank  it  has  ever  since  held. 

Maj.  Brock  possesses  many  of  the  stronger  qualities  for  a  success- 
ful newspaper  man.     As  all  know  who  are  acquainted  with  him,  he  is 


1148  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

a  man  of  superior  general  business  qualifications.  For  intelligent  and 
economical,  though  by  no  means  parsimonious  management  in  jour- 
nalism, he  is  looked  upon  by  newspaper  men  as  having  few  equals  and 
not  a  superior  ;  whilst  as  a  writer  his  education  is  such  and  his  general 
mformation  and  experience  in  affairs,  as  well  as  his  habits  of  thought 
and  natural  strength  of  mind,  that  he  has  taken  a  high  rank  among 
the  able  and  influential  editors  of  North  Missouri. 

The  Republican,  as  it  name  indicates,  is  Republican  in  politics,  and 
Maj.  Brock  has  always  been  actively  identified  with  that  party,  be- 
lieving that  its  principles  and  policies  are  most  conducive  to  the  wel- 
fare and  prosperity  of  the  whole  country  and  of  every  section  and 
locality  of  the  country.  Politically,  therefore,  he  has  always  labored 
earnestly  and  zealously  for  the  success  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
difficult  as  it  is  to  build  up  a  local  [)aper  where  the  party  it  represents 
is  in  the  minority,  such  is  the  ability  he  has  shown  as  a  newspaper 
man  that  he  has  succeeded  in  making  the  JRepublican  one  of  the  val- 
uable pieces  of  newspaper  property — one  of  the  most  popular  and  in- 
fluential journals  outside  of  a  large  city  in  the  State.  Financially 
and  in  a  Ijusiness  point  of  view  it  is  on  a  solid  basis,  and  as  a  popular 
journal  of  the  interior  it  holds  a  place  amongst  the  first. 

One  of  the  leading  influences  that  have  contributed  to  the  success 
of  the  Repuhlican  is  the  earnestness  and  fidelity  with  which  it  has 
labored  for  the  material  and  general  prosperity  of  the  county  and 
surrounding  country,  regardless  of  politics.  Whilst  it  has  never 
faltered  in  its  devotion  to  Republicanism,  yet,  when  it  came  to  ques- 
tions involving  the  business  or  social  interests  of  the  community,  it 
has  ever  shown  the  good  sense  to  put  politics  aside  and  labor  for  the 
common  good.  This  has  given  it  great  popularity  with  all  classes  and 
has  made  it  respected  and  esteemed  by  all.  Republican  in  politics, 
even  as  a  partisan  journal  it  never  goes  to  undue  extremes,  but  stands 
up  for  its  co-partisans  only  when  it  honestly  believes  they  are  in  the 
right,  and  never  fails  to  denounce  them,  when  they  have  incurred 
public  censure,  in  terms  quite  as  bitter  as  it  would  use  against  its  op- 
ponents in  similar  circumstances.  In  a  word,  the  Republican  is  a 
broad-gauged,  fair-minded  Republican  newspaper,  believing  in  Re- 
publican principles  and  policies,  but,  above  everything  else,  believing 
in  and  laboring  for  the  general  interests  of  the  community  in  which 
it  circulates  and  of  the  whole  country. 

As  a  citizen  and  outside  of  his  newspaper  oflice,  Maj.  Brock  takes 
an  active  interest  in  every  movement  for  the  benefit  of  Macon  City 
and  the  county,  and  is  especially  active  in  advocating  the  introduction 
and  encouragement  of  manufacturing  industries.  He  believes  with 
Carey,  the  greatest  of  American  political  economists,  that,  "  Wher- 
ever manufactories  go,  population,  wealth  and  intelligence  —  advanced 
civilization  — soon  follow."  In  railroad  enterprises  and  in  all  kinds 
of  public  improvements  Maj.  Brock  contributes  his  full  share  for 
their  encouragement  and  promotion. 

Personally,  as  is  the  case  with  most  men  of  culture,  he  is  a  man  of 
somewhat  retiring  disposition  —  perhaps  too  unassuming  for  his  own 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1149 

advancement.  But  he  is  a  pleasant,  agreeable  companion,  genial 
and  considerate  of  the  feelings  of  others,  an  entertaining  conversa- 
tionalist—  rather  instructive,  however,  than  amusing,  which  perhaps 
comes  of  the  predominence  of  the  serious  cast  of  his  mind  and  of 
his  habits  of  study  and  his  manner  of  thought.  As  a  neighbor  he  is 
highly  esteemed,  accommodating  to  the  last  degree  and  always  hos- 
pitable and  kind. 

Maj.  and  Mrs.  Brock  have  three  children:  Alson  W.,  Sidney  L. 
and  Benjamin  B.  He  and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  he  has  been  superintendent  of  the  local  Sunday-school  for 
the  last  17  years.  In  1876  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Baltimore,  and  is  also  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
In  1883  he  was  one  of  the  two  delegates  from  Missouri  to  the  National 
Encampment  at  Denver.  In  1884  he  was  presidential  elector  from 
the  First  Congressional  District  on  the  Republican  ticket. 

J.  NORTON  BROWN 

(Attorney  at  Law,  Macon  City). 
Mr.  Brown  is  the  oldest  living  member  of  the  Macon  county  bar, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  attorneys  in  duration  of  practice  in  the  circuit. 
He  was  born  in  Westmoreland,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  February  22, 
1812.     He  was  educated  at  Hamilton  College,  and  took  a  course  in 
the  classics.     When   21   years  of  age   he  began  the   study  of  law  in 
Oneida  county   under  Timothy  Jinkins,  Esq.,  and  was   admitted   at 
Utica  in  1836.     After  practicing  in  Oneida  county  for  about  four  years 
he  came  West  and  located  at  Liberty,  in  Clay  county,  but  in  1844  re- 
moved to  Bloomington,  in  this  county,  and  began  his  career  here  as  a 
member  of  the  Macon   county  bar.     For  a  period  of  20  years  Mr. 
Brown  continued  the  practice^  in  the  courts  of  Macon  and  adjoining 
counties  with  uninterrupted   success,  and  built  up  a  large  practice. 
He  was  not  only  successful  in  the  courts  but  also  in  the  accumulation 
of  property,  and  became  comfortably  situated.     He  was  a  large  stock- 
holder in  the  bank  at  Bloomington,  and  was  president  of  that  institu- 
tion.    He  was  also  a  partner  in  the  mercantile  firm  of  Tobin  &  Co.  at 
that  place,  and  was  one  of  its  most  public-spirited  and  influential  citi- 
zens.    He  was  one  of  the  leaders  against  the  removal  of  the  county 
seat  to  Macon  City,  and  contributed  both  his  time  and  means  lil)erally 
and  zealously  to  maintain  the  right.     However,  still  residing  at  Bloom- 
inoton  during  the  progress  of  the  war,  times  became  so  critical  that 
neither  life   nor  property  was   safe  in  this  section  of  the  State.     In 
1864,  fearing  that  the  bank  at  Bloomington  would  be  robbed,  he  took 
a  large  part  of  its  funds,  about  $50,000rto  St.  Louis  for  safe  keeping  ; 
and  sure  enough  three  weeks  afterwards  the  bank  was  robbed,  Mr. 
Brown  losing  $2,600  of  his  own  money.     He  now  decided  to  remove 
to  St.  Louis,  on  account  of  the  unsettled   condition  of  aff'airs  in  the 
country,  and  in  order  not  to  be  idle,  having  of  course  no  professional 
clientage  in  that  city,  he  engaged   in  merchandising  there.     But   he 


1150  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

was  unfortunate  in  his  business,  and  lost  about  $20,000.  In  1868  he 
returned  to  Macon  county  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  locating 
at  Macon  City.  For  about  seven  years  he  and  B.  I.  Dysart,  Esq., 
were  in  partnership  in  the  practice.  He  continued  the  practice,  doing 
a  strictly  professional  business  up  to  about  two  years  ago,  since  which 
he  has  been  living  in  retirement.  Mr.  Brown  was  once  a  candidate 
for  circuit  judge  against  Judge  Henry,  now  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
but  was  defeated.  Otherwise  than  this  he  has  had  but  little  to  do 
with  public  affairs,  so  far  as  elections  are  concerned.  He  has  served 
several  terms  as  county  attorney,  but  has  filled  no  other  official  posi- 
tion to  speak  of.  Before  the  war  he  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  since 
the  demise  of  that  party  has  acted  with  the  Democrats.  October  9, 
1849,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Sheckells,  of  Randolph  county, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Harris)  Sheckells,  originally  of 
Frederick  county,  Va.,  but  who  came  to  Missouri  in  1836,  locating, 
first,  at  Palmyra,  then  at  Shelbyville,  but  finally  in  Randolph  county, 
near  Huntsville,  where  the  father  died  in  1849.  Mr.  Brown  and  wife 
were  married  at  her  father's  death-bed  a  few  hours  before  his  demise. 
She  was  born  June  4,  1826.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  have  reared  a 
family  of  four  children  :  Walter,  now  engaged  in  the  abstract  busi- 
ness at  Macon  City;  Lillie,  a  teacher  at  Shelbyville,  Ky.,  and  Eddie 
and  George,  at  home.  No  man  in  the  county  is  more  highly  respected 
and  esteemed  than  Mr.  Brown.  His  parents  were  Jabez  and  Sophia 
(Babcock)  Brown,  both  natives  of  New  York  State. 

RUSSELL  W.  CASWELL 

(Postmaster,  Macon  City). 
Mr.  Caswell  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  at  Troy,  February  3, 
1842,  and  was  a  son  of  Edmond  and  Lucy  (Goodell)  Caswell,  both 
also  natives  of  that  State.  When  Russell  W.  was  but  13  years  of  age 
his  father  died,  and  he  came  out  to  Illinois  to  make  his  home  with  his 
uncle  at  Oquawka,  where  he  lived  until  1862.  During  the  early  part 
of  the  second  year  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois 
Volunteer  infantry,  and  was  made  adjutant  with  the  rank  of  first  lieu- 
tenant. He  served  in  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  participating  with  his  regiment  in  all  the  campaigns  and  battles 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  At  Franklin  he  was  wounded  in  the 
neck  with  a  musket  ball  and  was  laid  up  for  two  months.  After  the 
war,  in  November,  1865,  Mr.  Caswell  came  to  Missouri  and  engaged 
in  the  book  and  stationery  trade  at  Macon  City.  In  1873  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  at  this  place,  by  President  Grant,  and  he  has 
since  been  re-appointed  by  Presidents  Hayes  and  Arthur,  and  still 
holds  the  office.  He  has  made  an  efficient  and  popular  postmaster, 
as  the  above  facts  show.  Under  his  administration  the  business  of 
the  office  has  greatly  increased,  and  the  income  from  stamps  now 
amounts  to  about  $6,000  a  year.  On  the  3d  of  February,  1866,  Mr. 
Caswell  was  nuirried  at  Oquawka,  111.,  to  Miss  Arvilla  Matthews. 
They  have  three  children  :  Lucy,  Charlie  and   Flora.     Mr.   and  Mrs. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1151 

C.  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  K. 
of  P.  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

COL.  EEUBEN  J.  EBERMAN 

(Attorney  at  Law,  Macon  City). 

Col.  Eberman  descended  from  two  old  and  respected  Pennsylvania 
families,  both  of  German  ancestry  —  the  Ebermans  and  Schuckers. 
His  parents,  Jacob  M.  and  Sarah  (Schuckers)  Eberman,  were  both 
reared  in  their  native  State  and  were  there  married.  Reuben  J.  was 
born  at  Lancaster  City,  in  that  State,  November  22,  1824.  Subse- 
quently the  family  removed  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed merchandising.  Young  Eberman  was  educated  at  a  private 
school,  and  at  the  age  of  17  began  the  study  of  law  under  Judge  Levi 
Cox.  In  1846  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  subsequently  prac- 
ticed law  at  Wooster  until  1859.  During  part  of  this  time  Hon.  A. 
J.  Williams,  present  State  Senator  in  Ohio,  and  who  nominated  Sen- 
ator Payne  for  the  United  States  Senate,  was  his  partner.  From 
Ohio  Col.i  Eberman  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Macon  City.  He 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  this  place, 
except  while  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War.  Early  in  1862  he 
was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Sixty-second  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia, 
by  Gov.  Gamble,  a  commission  he  accepted  and  in  which  he  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Prior  to  this  he  had  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  enlisting  troops  for  the  Union  service,  and  had  been  mainly 
instrumental  in  forming  the  Second  and  Eleventh  regiments.  In  1864 
he  recruited  the  Forty-second  regiment,  which  he  turned  over  to  the 
command  of  Col.  Forbes.  During  the  war  he  was  stationed  at  Ma- 
con City  much  of  the  time,  where  he  constructed  block  houses  for 
the  defense  of  the  place  and  the  protection  of  the  railway.  He  was 
afterwards  detailed  provost  marshal  for  North  Missouri  and  master  of 
ordinance  for  his  district.  In  1864  he  was  relieved  of  his  commis- 
sion as  provost  marshal  and  resumed  the  active  command  of  his  regi- 
ment. From  this  on  he  commanded  the  post  at  Brookfield,  Mo.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service 
and  thereupon  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Macon  City. 
Col.  Eberman  is  now  city  attorney  of  this  place,  and  has  previously 
held  the  same  office.  He  takes  no  very  active  part  in  politics,  but 
devotes  almost  his  exclusive  attention  to  legal  business.  In  1846  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Spencer,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Spencer,  a 
well  known  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  They  have  reared  only 
one  daughter,  Mary  A.,  now  Mrs.  E.  F.  Bennett,  of  Macon  City. 
Col.  E.  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

AMOS  FIELD 

(Dealer  in  Drugs,  Medicines,  Paints,  Oils,  etc.,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Field,  hardly  yet  a  middle-aged  man,  is  at  the  head  of  the 
largest  drug  house,  outside  of  St.  Joe,  in  Northern  Missouri,  of  which 


1152  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

he  is  the  owner  and  proprietor,  and  he  has  risen  to  his  present  envi- 
able position  in  business  life  by  his  own  energy  and  intelligence.     He 
is  a  native  of  Maine,  born  at  Lewiston,  September  14,  1842.     His 
parents  are  Isaac  G.  and  Olive  Field,  both  still  residents  of  Lewiston. 
Amos  was  reared   at  that  place  up  to  the  age  of  20.     In  youth  he 
entered  upon  a  regular  college  course,  but  did  not  continue  in  it  long, 
being  impatient  to  prepare  himself  for  business  life.     At  the  age  of 
14  he  entered  a  drug  store,  and  was  four  years  connected  with  the 
business  at  Lewiston.     He  then  came  West  to  Henderson  county.  111., 
where  he  was  connected  with  the  drug  business  for  two  years,  coming 
thence  to  Macon  City  in  1864.     Here  he  has  been  in  the  drug  business 
continuously  for  20  years.     He  was  first  with  O.  S.  Bearce  and  R.  W. 
Caswell,  but  for  the  last   10  years  has  been  in  business  alone.     His 
career  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted  success,  and  he  now  does  a  large 
jobbing  trade   over  eight  or  10  counties.     He  deals   extensively  in 
glass,  paints,  oils,  etc.,  of  which  he  carries  a  heavy  stock.     He  is  a 
man  of  extraordinary  enterprise  and  business  acumen  and  makes  every 
edge  cut  to  the  best  advantage,  always  preserving,  however,  the  con- 
fidence of  his  customers  by  fidr  and  honest  dealing.     On  the  30th  of 
November,  1865,  he   was   married  to  Miss   Olive  A.  Decker,  then  of 
Henderson  county.  111.,  but    originally  of   New  York.      They  have 
two  children  :  Frank  D.  and  Bessie.     Both  parents  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church. 

L.  G.  FOX 
(Of  L.  G.  &  G.  J.  Fox,  Jewelers,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Fox  is  a  native  of  the  old  Keystone  State,  born  at  the  City  of 
Brotherly  Love,  September  21,  1842.  His  father's  name  was  Samuel 
Fox  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  Susan  George.  L.  G.  was  reared 
in  Philadelphia  and  there  learned  the  jeweler's  trade.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed in  a  Pennsylvania  infantry  regiment  and  served  for  four  years, 
principally  in  the  Virginia  campaigns.  Returning  home  after  the  war, 
he  then  came  West  to  Illinois,  and  finally  located  at  Lewiston,  where 
he  lived  until  1869,  coming  thence  to  Macon  City.  His  brother,  James 
P.  Fox  was  his  partner  until  the  hitter's  death  and  then  his  other 
brother,  George  J.,  succeeded  him  in  the  firm.  He  is  now  also  de- 
ceased, having  died  December  25,  1883,  but  the  name  of  the  firm  has 
not  been  changed.  Mr.  Fox  carries  a  large  stock  of  jewelry  and  is 
doing  an  extensive  and  steadily  increasing  business.  He  has  con- 
tributed his  full  share  to  making  Macon  City  the  prosperous  trade 
center  it  is,  for  in  his  line  he  has  always  been  liberal  and  enterprising. 
He  sells  his  goods  at  the  lowest  prices  the  state  of  the  markets  will 
allow,*  considering  their  quality. 

MAJOR  W.  C.  B.  GILLESPIE. 

(Macon  City) . 

No  history  of  Macon  county  purporting  to  reflect  the  more  import- 
ant events  in  its  past  and  an  outline  of  the  lives  of  those  of  its  citizens 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1153 

who  have  been  actively  and  more  or  less  prominently  identified  Aviih 
the  county,  would  be  complete  without  including  u  sketch  of  the  lile 
of  Major  Gillespie.  He  is  not  a  man  who  has  accumulated  wealth  or 
risen  to  eminence  in  affairs,  but  he  is  a  man  whose  head  and  heart  are 
believed  to  have  ever  been  right,  and  whose  greatest  fault,  as  the 
world  measures  men,  is  that  his  altruistic  qualities  bear  too  large  a 
proportion  to  his  egoism,  or,  in  other  words,  he  prizes  the  common- 
weal more  than  his  own  welfare.  Every  one  who  knows  Will  Gilles- 
pie well,  knows  that  he  is  better  to  others  than  to  himself.  Hence, 
while  his  life  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted  activity  and  untiring  in- 
dustry, and  directed  by  a  mind  equal  to  the  general  average,  he  has 
not  succeeded  in  accumulating  that  which  the  world  prizes  most  nor 
has  he  with  "  unbashed  forehead,"  as  Orlando  would  say,  thrust  him- 
self forward  to  the  hurt  of  others,  to  high  station  in  life.  He  is  one 
of  those  men,  too  soulful  to  be  sordid  and  to  regardful  of  others  to 
advance  himself.  But,  if  the  lives  of  men  are  not  to  be  judged  by  the 
selfish  success  they  have  achieved,  but  by  the  sincerity  and  intelli- 
gence of  their  efforts  to  make  themselves  useful  to  those  around 
them,  then  the  name  that  heads  this  sketch  is  entitled  to  a  favorable 
place  in  the  record  of  those  of  the  county  in  which  he  has  so  long  lived. 

William  C.  B.  Gillespie  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1830,  and  came  of  one  of  the  worthy  and  respected  families  of 
that  county. 

In  1835  the  family  removed  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where 
young  Gillespie  grew  to  manhood.  He  received  a  common  school 
education,  and  by  his  fondness  for  study  became  more  than  ordinarily 
proficient  in  the  common  English  branches.  A  young  man  of  good 
address  and  popular  manners,  being  led  into  politics  by  his  public 
spirit  and  his  zeal  for  his  party,  for  he  was  reared  a  Democrat,  he  at 
once  took  a  prominent  position  in  local  political  affairs.  In  1853  he 
represented  his  county  as  a  delegate  in  the  Senatorial  Convention,  and 
in  January  following  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  State  Conven- 
tion of  Ohio,  in  which  he  had  the  honor  to  represent  the  Muskingum 
Congressional  district  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Kesolutions. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Gillespie  had  been  engaged  in  the  profession  of 
teaching,  and  later  along  had  engaged  in  business  pursuits,  having 
taught  two  years  prior  to  1850  and  been  engaged  in  selling  goods  after 
that  time  up  to  1854.  During  that  time  also  he  had  married  on  the 
6th  of  January,  1852.  In  1854  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Christian  county,  where  he  resumed  the  profession  of  teaching  and 
continued  in  that  calling  in  Christian  and  Sangamon  counties  most  of 
the  time  up  to  1861.  He  became  widely  known  as  a  capable  and 
popular  teacher.  However,  he  united  with  teaching  newspaper  work, 
and  was  for  some  time  a  correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Times.  He 
also  took  an  active  interest  in  local  politics  and,  going  up  to  Spring- 
field in  1857  at  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  his  letters  to  the  Times 
and  his  other  services  to  the  party  had  given  him  such  prominence 
thiit  he  was  elected  first  assistant  clerk  of  the  House  of  Eepresentatives. 


1154  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  Mr.  Gillespie,  a  Douglas  Democrat 
and  an  ardent  Union  man,  promptly  enlisted  in  the  service  and  became 
a  member  of  Co.  G,  Forty-first  Illinois  volunteer  infantry.  In  April, 
1862,  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  and  adjutant  of  his  regi- 
ment "  for  meritorious  and  efficient  services  at  Shiloh,  April  6  and  7, 
1862,"  as  his  commission  expressed  it.  Soon  afterwards  he  was  de- 
tached and  made  acting  assistant  quartermaster  of  Col.  Pugh's 
brigade,  in  which  capacity  he  served  with  credit  until  August,  1864. 
He  then  returned  home  to  Illinois  with  the  non-veterans,  and  was  hon- 
orably mustered  out  of  the  service.  After  this  Mr.  Gillespie  went  to 
Washington  City,  and  on  the  recommendation  of  Gov.  Yates  and 
the  generals  of  the  army  under  whom  he  had  served,  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain  and  commissary  of  subsistence  by  President  Lincoln, 
and  was  ordered  to  report  for  duty  to  Gen.  Sheridan,  near  Winches- 
ter, Va.  From  there,  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Custer,  and 
he  remained  in  the  latter's  division  of  cavahy  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  in  April,  1865,  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  by  brevet, 
without  his  asking  or  seeking  therefor,  and  was  finally  mustered  out 
of  the  service  in  August,  1865,  and  was  then  tendered  a  Government 
position  to  go  South,  which  he  declined  to  accept. 

Returning  to  Illinois  in  September  of  that  year,  he  immediately 
made  arrangements  to  move  to  Missouri,  and,  September  28,  1865, 
landed  in  Macon  City,  where,  barring  a  short  absence,  he  has  since 
resided.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  was  appointed  U.  S.  Assistant  Asses- 
sor of  Internal  Revenue,  having  in  his  district  the  counties  of  Macon, 
Linn,  Adair  and  Schuyler,  and  he  held  that  office  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  administration  of  President  Johnson,  by  whom  he  was 
appointed  and  until  November,  1869,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of 
not  being  in  accord  with  Gen.  Grant's  administration  or  the  party  iu 
power.  Following  this  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  at 
Macon,  becoming  the  local  agent  for  the  ^^tna,  Hartford  and  several 
other  leading  companies. 

In  December,  1870,  Maj.  Gillespie  and  Mr.  G.  C.  Lyda,  now  deputy- 
sheriff  of  Macon  county,  bought  the  office  of  the  Kirksville  Tribune, 
which  they  changed  from  a  Liberal  Republican  paper  to  a  Democratic 
journal,  and  the  name  also  they  changed  to  the  North  Missouri  Regis- 
ter. In  a  short  time  Maj.  Gillespie  bought  Mr.  Lyda's  interest  in  the 
Register,  and  afterwards  conducted  the  paper  alone.  In  the  fall  of 
1871  he,  with  Hez.  Purdom  and  John  Howe,  bought  the  office  of  the 
Macon  Times.  From  this  time  until  January,  1873,  he  edited  both 
the  Register  at  Kirksville  and  the  Times  at  Macon  City,  and  also  con- 
tinued the  insurance  business.  Less  than  a  year  after  becoming  a 
partner  in  the  Times  office,  he  bought  Mr.  Purdom's  interest  in  that 
paper,  which  he  owned  until  he  disposed  of  his  entire  interest  in  the 
Times,  January  1,  1873. 

Miijor  Gillespie  continued  to  run  the  Register  at  Kirksville,  though 
residing,  himself,  most  of  the  time  at  Macon  City,  until  the  spring 
of  1879,  when  he  sold  the  Register  to    Mr.    Felix  Lane.     Shortly 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1155 

afterwards  he  purchased  the  Macon  Examiner  office,  or  rather  what 
was  left  of  it,  for  a  large  portion  of  the  office  had  been  destroyed  a 
short  time  before  by  fire.  In  the  publication  of  the  Examiner  he  took 
in  a  partner,  Mr.  Charles  H.  Steele,  who  had  a  newspaper  at  Clarence 
and  a  small  job  office  at  Macon,  which  were  consolidated  with  the  Ex- 
aminer, and  the  paper  thus  established  was  called  the  North  Missouri 
Register.  They  continued  to  run  the  Register  until  February,  1883, 
when  they  sold  the  office  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Hudson,  who  changed  the  name 
of  the  paper  to  the  Macon  Times,  which  it  still  bears.  Since  July, 
1883,  Major  Gillespie  has  been  engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman  for 
the  St.  Louis  Type  Foundry. 

In  1866  he  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  State  conven- 
tion from  Macon  county,  and  was  also  a  delegate  in  the  State  conven- 
tions of  1868,  1872,  1878  and  1880.  He  was  also  enrolling  clerk  of 
the  Missouri  House  of  Representatives  in  1871-72,  and  in  1872  was 
a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  convention  at  Baltimore,  which 
nominated  Greeley  for  the  Presidency.  From  1878  to  1880,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Democratic  Central  Committee.  He  has  also  al- 
ways been  an  earnest  and  faithful  worker  in  his  party,  and  consider- 
ino-  the  services  he  has  performed  has  received  less  reward  in  official 
promotion  than  any  other  Democrat  of  more  than  local  prominence  in 
the  State.  But  with  him  office  has  never  been  the  price  of  party 
fealty  or  public  duty,  but  he  has  always  contributed  both  his  time  and 
means,  when  necessary,  to  the  best  interests  of  his  party  and,  as  he 
believes,  of  the  country.  As  a  citizen  he  has  ever  been  public  spir- 
ited, and  has  striven  with  generous  zeal  for  the  good  of  Macon  and  the 
countv  as  he  sees  it. 

DR.  J.  E.  GOODSON 

(Of  Elder  J.  E.  Goodson  &  Sou,  Editors  and  Proprietors  of  the  Messenger  of  Peace, 

Macon  City) . 

This  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Macon  county,  long  engaged  in 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  for  over  30  years  in  the  active  practice  of 
medicine,  and  threetimes  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  twice  from 
this  county  and  once  from  Carroll  county,  came  to  Macon  county 
while  yet  a  youth,  away  back  in  the  pioneer  days  of  the  country  — 
indeed,  before  the  county  of  Macon  was  organized.  The  Goodson 
family  was  originally  from  Virginia.  Dr.  Goodson's  father,  Samuel 
Goodson,  a  son  of  William  Goodson,  was  reared  in  Montgomery 
county,  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  when  a  young  man,  before  the  be- 
o:innino-  of  the  present  century,  crossed  over  into  the  then  wilds  of 
East  Tennessee.  But  not  satisfied  with  the  Canaan  of  the  Tories,  as 
they  called  East  Tennessee  after  the  Revolutionary  War,  he  pushed 
on  north-westward,  in  a  few  years,  to  what  is  known  as  Clinton 
county,  Ky.,  locating  on  the  head  of  Indian  creek,  in  that  county,  in 
about  1799.  Of  course  there  were  no  roads  in  the  country  then,  and  he 
was  compelled  to  make  his  way  over  the  mountains  and  throitgh  the 
wilderness  by  pack  horses.  Subsequently,  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ky.,  he   was  married,  in   1813,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Beck,  of  another 


1156  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

pioneer  family  of  the  then  futnre  Blue  Grass  State  of  the  Union. 
Dr.  J.  E.  Goodson  was  born  of  this  union  at  a  place  in  that  county 
called  Seventy-Six,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1819.  The  father,  a 
hatter  by  trade,  followed  that  occupation  in  Montgomery  county,  and 
also  farming  until  1836,  when  he  became  a  pioneer  settler  in  Missouri, 
coming  with  his  family  in  white-covered  movers'  wagons  through 
Western  Kentucky  and  Southern  Indiana  and  Illinois  to  what  was  aft- 
erward known  as  the  Bear  creek  settlement,  in  the  north-eastern  part 
of  Macon  county,  being  the  founder  of  that  settlement.  His  nearest 
neighbor  then  was  10  miles  to  the  east,  and  the  nearest  one  on  the 
west  was  12  miles  distant.  His  post-office  was  Paris,  40  miles  to  the 
south-east.  On  the  north  there  were  no  neighbors  nearer  than  the 
North  fork  of  Salt  river  and  there  were  but  few  families  on  the  Chari- 
ton river.  Joel  Maxey  came  with  Dr.  Goodson's  father's  family  to 
Bear  creek,  moving  out  from  Paris,  in  Monroe  county.  The  next 
spring  A.  J.  Darby  moved  out  to  the  settlement,  but  the  following  year 
pushed  on  northward.  However,  in  1838-39,  settlers  began  to  come 
into  the  Bear  creek  or  Goodson  settlement,  and  after  awhile  a  small 
loo;  school-house  was  built,  being  erected  on  a  site  given  by  James  W. 
Stowe.  James  Griffin  taught  the  first  school,  consisting  principally 
of  small  children,  but  he  also  gave  vocal  music  lessons  and  the  young 
folks  attended  his  music  school  throughout  all  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, for  what  would  now  be  called  a  great  distance.  Dr.  Goodson 
says  that  while  they  did  a  great  deal  of  singing  at  these  schools, 
they  were  not  entirely  free  from  expressions  of  even  tenderer  sen- 
timents of  the  heart  than  music,  and  he  himself  has  some  very 
happy  recollections  of  Prof.  Griffin's  music  school.  About  this  time 
also  Elder  Archibald  Patterson,  a  Primitive  Baptist  minister,  came 
through  the  settlement  and  preached  for  the  neighbors  at  the  house 
of  Dr.  Goodson's  father,  and  soon  afterwards  Bro.  Chambers,  an 
aged  and  devout  minister,  of  blessed  memory,  came  along  and 
preached.  Meanwhile,  in  1839,  Elder  Patterson  and  Elder  James 
Eatliff  organized  a  Baptist  Church,  the  meeting  place  being  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Goodson's  father,  where  many  interesting  meetings 
were  held  and  much  good  done  for  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. But  the  following  year  a  difference  occurred  between  the 
members  on  some  question  of  doctrine  or  church  discipline,  and  two 
parties  were  formed,  one  of  which  organized  again  and  kept  up  the 
meetings.  Dr.  Goodson  remained  with  his  father's  family  until  the 
winter  of  1842-43;  but  having  married  the  preceding  fall,  the  9th  of 
October,  1842,  at  which  time  Miss  Mary  C.  Elsea  became  his  wife,  he 
soon  afterwards  established  himself  in  a  home  of  his  own.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Elsea,  who  came  out  from  Warren 
county,  Va.,  in  1839.  In  December,  1843,  Dr.  Goodson  removed  to 
Buchanan  county  and  settled  near  the  present  site  of  Rushville. 
In  February,  1844,  he  and  his  wife  joined  the  Primitive  Baptist 
Church  at  El  Bethel.  In  his  own  experience  he  soon  had  an  illustra- 
tion of  the  great  truth  that  every  true  Christian  must  bear  his  cross. 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1157 

His  came  to  him  in  tlie  shape  of  a  destructive  flood,  in  the  summer  of 
1844.  He  had  worked  hard  and  had  put  in  a  good  crop,  but  all  was 
swept  away  by  the  avalanche  of  waters  that  came  sweeping  down  the 
Missouri.  He  lost  everything  he  had ;  but  his  loss  in  the  end 
proved  a  benefit  to  him  and  to  humanity,  for  he  now  decided  to 
devote  himself  to  the  medical  profession,  at  which  he  subsequently 
made  a  success,  and  for  over  30  years  was  instrumental,  day  in 
and  day  out  and  week  in  and  week  out,  in  alleviating  the  sufi'er- 
ing  of  his  fellow  creatures.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  A.  B.  Auerum,  an  able  and  long  experienced  physician,  formerly 
from  Ohio.  After  a  due  course  of  study  under  Dr.  Auerum,  and 
upon  the  hitter's  cordial  recommendation,  Dr.  Goodson  began  the 
practice  of  mediciue,  and  in  1847  he  removed  to  Carroll  county,  where 
he  bought  a  farm.  He  there  followed  farming  and  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  attained  to  prominence  both  as  a  physician  and  repre- 
sentative citizen.  In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  from 
Carroll  county  and  served  with  marked  distinction  in  that  body 
through  both  the  regular  and  adjourned  sessions.  There  were  no 
railroads  in  those  days  and,  in  common  with  nearly  all  the  members 
of  the  Legislature,  he  made  his  journeys  to  and  from  Jefierson  City 
on  horseback.  Meanwhile,  Dr.  Goodson  had  come  to  feel  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  before  the  next  election  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Primitive  Baptist  Church.  Although  the 
people  of  the  county  wanted  him  to  serve  another  term  in  the  Legis- 
lature, he  was  ineligible  on  account  of  being  a  minister,  and,  indeed, 
preferred  to  confine  himself  to  the  pulpit  work  and  the  duties  of  his 
profession  as  a  physician.  He  now  entirely  withdrew  from  politics 
and  in  1857  removed  to  Linn  county,  Kas.,  settling  near  the  present 
town  of  Pleasanton.  While  there,  entirely  without  his  solicitation  or 
desire,  he  was  appointed  deputy  marshal  by  the  Governor  of  Kansas, 
and  this  involved  him  in  the  "Kansas  troubles."  The  Territory  was 
infested  with  outlaws,  horse  thieves,  negro  thieves,  robbers  and  cut- 
throats, and  it  was  made  his  duty  to  arrest  them  from  time  to  time,  as 
warrants  were  placed  in  his  hands  for  that  purpose.  He  was  with 
U.  S.  Marshal  Russell  at  the  time  the  latter  and  posse,  consisting  of 
100  men,  were  taken  prisoners  by  a  band  of  Kansas  Red-legs,  400  or 
500  strong,  and  disarmed.  Dr.  Goodson,  for  whom  they  seemed  to 
have  considerable  respect,  was  the  only  one  not  disarmed,  but  was  re- 
tained a  prisoner  with  the  rest  for  about  two  weeks.  About  a  year 
after  this  a  band  of  these  marauders  came  to  Dr.  Goodson's  house,  in 
Linn  county,  at  about  11  o'clock  at  night,  for  the  purpose  of  robbery, 
supposing  that  he  had  considerable  money.  They  were  headed  by  a 
notorious  robber  and  murderer,  afterwards  a  prominent  officer  in  the 
United  States  army  and  a  high  dignittiry  in  the  State  of  Kansas. 
While  plundering  the  house  with  the  courage  characteristic  of  rob- 
bers, they  became  frightened  at  the  wind  slamming  the  barn-door  and 
ran  away,  taking,  however,  the  Doctor's  watch,  a  gun  and  a  valuable 
suit  of  clothes,  of  which  each  of  them  was  sorely  in  need.     One  of 


1158  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

them  the  Doctor  afterwards  identified  and  prosecuted,  but  upon  being 
found  guilty  he  was  turned  loose  by  the  sheriff,  who  was  in  sympathy 
with  the  thieves  and  a  sort  of  "  captain  of  the  crowd  "  among  them. 
Dr.  Goodson  then  left  Kansas  in  disgust  and  came  back  to  honest  old 
Missouri,  but  from  soon  after  the  Kansas  troubles,  for  some  years  fol- 
lowing, the  "Philanthropists,"  who  couldn't  stand  to  see  a  negro 
work  for  a  man  who  reared  or  bought  him,  but  could  murder  a  peace- 
able, unarmed  citizen  in  the  night  time,  drive  his  wife  and  children 
out  and  burn  his  house  and  steal  his  horses,  had  everything  pretty 
much  their  own  way.  Dr.  Goodson  was  again  robbed  in  1862,  his 
personal  property  carried  away  and  his  house  burned,  inflicting  a  loss 
of  about  $15,000.  After  this,  in  1863,  he  returned  to  Macon  county 
and  resided  for  a  year  at  La  Port.  He  then  settled  on  Chariton  Ridge. 
Always  a  man  of  liberal,  conservative  views,  and  of  spotless  character, 
as  well  as  of  recognized  ability,  in  1870  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
to  represent  Macon  county  in  the  Legislature.  Many  of  the  best  citi- 
zens of  the  county  were  then  disfranchised  because  they  had  objected 
to  having  their  negroes  taken  from  them  without  compensation.  But 
a  few  liberal  Republicans,  who  had  no  sympathy  with  the  disfran- 
chising element  in  their  own  party,  united  with  the  few  Democrats 
who  had  escaped  proscription  and  thus  carried  the  State  for  the 
principle  for  which  Washington  fought  —  "Representation  with  Tax- 
ation." Dr.  Goodson  was  elected  on  this  ticket.  He  was  again 
elected  to  fill  an  unexpired  term  in  1872.  In  1874  he  established 
the  Messenger  of  Peace  at  Macon  City,  which  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  publish.  This  is  a  religious  journal  representing  the  Prim- 
itive Baptist  Church,  and  is  one  of  the  ablest  conducted  papers  of 
that  denomination.  It  has  a  wide  circulation  and  a  potent  influ- 
ence for  good  in  church  matters.  In  1876  Dr.  Goodson' s  wife  besan 
to  fail  in  health,  and  at  last,  on  the  21st  of  February,  1878,  she  was 
relieved  of  her  sufferings  by  death.  After  this  Dr.  Goodson  made  his 
home  with  bis  son  in  Macon  City.  During  the  years  1879  and  1880 
he  traveled  extensively  in  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Texas,  Nevada, 
California,  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory.  In  November,  1880, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Conger,  of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  He 
and  his  excellent  wife  have  a  neat  home  at  Macon  City  and  are  much 
prized  in  the  church  and  in  the  best  social  circles  of  this  place.  Dr. 
Goodson  has  reared  a  family  of  nine  children  —  six  sons  and  three 
daughters  —  all  of  whom  but  two  are  married  and  well  settled  in  life. 
On  the  24th  of  January,  1884,  Dr.  Goodson  was  a  victim  of  a  rail- 
road accident,  which  produced  concussion  of  the  brain,  from  which  he 
is  still  (in  May)  a  sufferer.  Otherwise  he  is  well  preserved  and  would 
be  quite  active  in  his  business  affairs. 

CAPT.  BYRON  D.  GRIFFITH 

(Macou  City). 

Mr.  GriflSth,  who,  by  industry  and  good  management,  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a  comfortable  competency,  is  now  and  has  been  for  some 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1159 

time  past  living  rather  a  retired  life.  He  is  a  man  of  large  general 
information,  sterling  intelligence  and  irreproachable  character,  and  is 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community.  He  was  for  some  years  after  the 
war  a  successful- railroad  contractor  and  accumulated  w^hat  he  has 
largely  in  that  business.  Mr.  Griffith  is  a  native  Ohioan,  born  in 
Lorain  county  October  25,  1837.  His  parents,  Michael  and  Rachel 
(Greenman)  Griffith,  came  originally  from  New  York,  settling  in  Ohio 
in  1827.  When  Byron  D.  was  three  years  of  age  they  removed  to 
Hancock  county,  III.,  but  shortly  afterwards  went  to  Wisconsin,  and 
from  there,  in  about  1853,  to  Lee  county,  Iowa.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  followed  that  in  Iowa  from  the  time  of  his 
removal  to  that  State  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1864.  Byron 
D.  Griffith  also  adopted  farming  as  his  pursuit  when  he  grew  up  and 
continued  it  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the 
Second  Missouri  cavalry,  commanded  by  Col.  John  McNiel,  which 
was  a  Missouri  State  militia  regiment.  After  Col.  McNiel' s  promo- 
tion to  a  brigadier-generalship,  the  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col. 
Rodgers.  In  1862  Mr.  Griffith  was  commissioned  Capt.  of  Co.  D,  in 
his  regiment.  He  served  mainly  in  South-east  Missouri,  and  was  Capt. 
of  the  provost  guard  at  Cape  Girardeau.  He  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Cape  Girardeau  and  served  with  credit  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term  in  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
St.  Louis.  It  is  due  to  the  good  name  of  an  honest  and  humane  man 
to  say  that  Capt.  Griffith  took  no  psLYt  in,  and  did  not  sympathize 
with  the  well  known  murder  of  non-combatant  prisoners  at  Palmyra, 
known  as  the  Palmyra  massacre.  In  1865  Capt.  Griffith  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  St.  Francisville  in  Clark  county,  but  soon  afterwards 
became  a  railroad  contractor  on  the  N.  &  M.  road,  and  later  along,  on 
the  Omaha,  the  St.  Louis  and  Keokuk  and  the  I.,  N.  &  M.  He  fol- 
lowed this  business  for  about  ten  years  and  was  quite  successful. 
Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  no  active  business,  though  he  has 
money  invested  in  various  interests  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  this  city.  During  the  war  he  contracted  a  disease 
technically  known  as  locomoto  ataxia,  which  has  practically  disabled 
him  for  active  pursuit  during  the  past  few  years.  He  is  now  unable 
to  walk  without  assistance.  On  the  3d  of  July,  1866,  Capt.  Griffith 
was  married  to  Miss  Nettie  Haywood,  a  daughter  of  William  H.  Hay- 
wood, of  Clark  county,  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  John  Scoveni  in 
this  volume.  The  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  have  had  two  children, 
Florence,  who  died  in  tender  years,  and  Mable,  now  11  years  of  age. 
Capt.  Griffith  came  to  Macon  City  in  1866,  and  has  since  resided  here. 
He  has  been  quite  active  in  local  politics,  being  an  ardent  Republican, 
but  has  held  no  office  nor  has  he  asked  for  any. 

JOHN  H.  GRIFFIN 

(County  Recorder,  Macon). 

Mr.  Griffin  is  one  of  the  remarkable  men  of  Macon  county.     When 
but  18  months  of  age  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and  he  has  never 
68 


1160  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

been  able  to  walk  a  step  in  his  life,  even  with  crutches.  He  gets  about 
on  his  hands  and  knees,  and  notwithstanding  this  apparently  insur- 
mountable misfortune,  he  has  accomplished  more  in  life  than  the  aver- 
a<ye  of  men.  By  his  own  indomital)le  resolution  and  industry  he  has 
j)laced  himself  in  comfortable  circumstances,  has  risen  to  a  position 
of  enviable  prominence  in  the  county,  and  what  seems  still  more  in- 
explicable, he  was  an  accepted  and  valued  soldier  of  the  South  during 
the  early  part  of  the  war  and  until  captured  by  the  enemy.  The  life 
sketch  of  such  a  man  as  this  is  well  worthy  a  place  in  this  volume. 
John  H.  Griffin  was  born  in  Ten  Mile  township  of  Macon  county,  Oc- 
tober 31,  1840.  His  parents,  William  G.  and  Anna  Griffin,  now  reside 
at  Cairo,  in  Randolph  county.  At  the  early  age  of  15  John  H.  began 
teaching  school  and  soon  became  one  of  the  successful  and  popular 
teachers  of  the  county.  He  was  engaged  in  school  teaching  in  Macon 
county  almost  continuously  for  a  period  of  20  years,  the  whole  time 
within  three  school  districts.  When  the  war  broke  out,  though  physi- 
cally disabled,  he  resolved  to  make  himself  useful  to  the  cause  of  the 
South,  and  he  accordingly,  early  in  the  spring  of  1861,  went  to  Boon- 
ville  and  joined  the  Missouri  State  Guard.  Taking  part  in  the  battle 
at  that  ijlace,  he  afterwards  became  a  member  of  Gen.  Clark's  com- 
mand. Coming  home  on  a  visit,  he  subsequently,  in  company  with 
Capt.  M.  B.  Griffin,  rejoined  Price  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Lex- 
ington. After  the  battle  of  Lone  Jack  he  became  separated  from  his 
command  and  was  cut  off  from  rejoining  it  by  the  Kansas  jayhawkers. 
He  was  now  captured  by  Maj.  Foster's  troop  and  confined  at  Macon 
City  for  a  short  time,  but  being  released  on  a  $5,000  bond  not  to  leave 
the  county,  he  remained  at  home  during  the  balance  of  the  war,  con- 
tinuing in  his  profession  of  teaching.  In  1874  he  removed  to  Cairo 
and  engaged  in  the  general  merchandising  business  with  his  brother, 
James  G.,  who  still  resides  at  that  place.  Four  years  later  he  came 
back  to  Macon  county,  and  afterwards  followed  buying  and  shipping 
stock  for  several  years.  In  1882  Mr.  Griffin  was  elected  county 
recorder  and  has  since  held  the  office.  Considering  his  physical  misfor- 
tune he  is  a  man  of  wonderful  activity,  and  is  one  of  the  most  business- 
like, energetic  men  one  could  meet.  Judging  by  results  he  seems  to 
have  gotten  around  a  good  deal  more  lively  than  the  general  average 
of  men.  He  makes  an  efficient  recorder,  and  throughout  the  county 
everybody  knows  and  votes  for  John  Griffin.  Mr.  Griffin  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  for  years,  and  has  an  excellent  farm  near  this  place 
which  he  still  conducts.  February  22,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Coiner,  of  this  county.     They  have  no  children. 

CAPT.  BEN  ELI  GUTHRIE 

CMacon,  Mo). 

The  subject  of  this    sketch    was   born  in   Chariton  county.  Mo., 

May  31,  1839,  six  miles  north  of  Keytesville.     He  is  the  oldest  son  of 

Rev.  Allen  W.  and  Elizabeth  A.  Guthrie.    His  father  was  the  youngest 

son  of  Rev.  Robert  Guthrie,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  November  3, 


HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1161 

1773,  his  parents  having  come  from  the  North  of  Ireland.  They  soon 
removed  to  North  Carolina,  where  they  lived  during  the  Revolution, 
and  Robert  has  told  of  hearing  the  cannon  during  the  battle  of  Guil- 
ford Court  House,  though  at  that  time  too  young  to  be  in  the  army.  He 
afterward  moved  to  Middle  Tennessee  and  settled  in  Sumner  county, 
near  Gallatin,  with  his  brother  James.  Robert  raised  a  large  family. 
In  1830  his  son,  Rev.  Eli  Guthrie,  moved  to  Missouri,  settling  near 
Keytesville,  and  his  father  sent  with  him  young  Allen,  a  boy  then  of 
17,  to  prepare  for  the  reception  of  the  family,  who  came  out  in 
the  following  fall  and  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  until  his  death,  in  1843,  which  was  followed  by 
the  death  of  his  wife  in  1846  —  whom  he  had  married  in  1790,  in  North 
Carolina.  They  were  Cumberland  Presbyterians  and  had  raised  their 
children  in  strict  accordance  with  Presbyterian  usage.  Their  oldest 
son,  James  S.  Guthrie,  was  a  minister  in  that  church  and  preached 
for  many  years  in  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Mifsouri  and  Texas,  in  which 
latter  state  he  died  in  1853.  Eli  Guthye^' above  mentioned,  was  like- 
wise a  minister  in  that  church  and  was  favorably  known  in  his  day  in 
North  Missouri  as  a  preacher,  but  was  drowned  in  the  Missouri  river 
at  De  Witt,  in  Carroll  county,  in  1837,  in  an  attempt  to  rescue  some 
parties  who  had  been  caught  in  the  floating  ice.  Another  son,  Wesley 
Guthrie,  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  died  near  Gallatin,  Tenn. 
Harvey  Guthrie,  another  son,  moved  to  Perry  county,  Tenn.,  where 
he  died  after  raising  a  large  family.  Two  of  Robert's  daughters 
married  Willses  in  Chariton  county,  and  two  married  Culbertsons, 
and  another  married  James  Caper.  These  all  raised  families  in  that 
county,  where  many  of  their  children  still  live.  The  oldest  daughter 
married  William  Burney  and  remained  in  Tennessee,  and  her  oldest 
son,  Stanford  Guthrie  Burney,  D.D.,  is  Professor  of  Theology  in 
Cumberland  University  in  that  State.  Allen  W.  Guthrie  was  ordained 
to  the  gospel  ministry  in  1838  by  McGee  Presbytery  of  the  Cumber- 
laud  Presbyterian  Church,  and  up  to  1848  preached  much  in  Chariton, 
Macon,  Monroe,  Randolph,  Howard,  Boone,  Audrain  and  Callaway 
counties.  On  the  6th  day  of  September,  1838,  he  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  A.  Young,  third  daughter  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Young,  an  old 
and  honored  citizen  and  representative  of  Calhiway  county,  and  settled 
in  Chariton  county  near  his  father's.  In  1848  he  removed  to  Andrew 
county  and  lived  near  Savannah  until  1855,  when  he  lost  his  wife. 
They  had  10  children,  four  of  whom  only  attained  their  majority, 
to  wit :  Ben  Eli,  Robert  James,  Virginia  A.  and  Lavenia  E.  Virginia 
graduated  at  McGee  College  in  Macon  county  in  1869,  and  afterward 
married  John  M.  Mitchell  of  Buchanan  county,  and  died  in  1877. 
Lavenia  graduated  at  Union  Female  College,  Oxford,  Mississippi,  and 
afterward  married  John  A.  Fox  and  resides  near  Macon  City.  The 
two  brothers  in  1851  and  1852  attended  school  at  Savannah  under 
the  tuition  of  Rev.  Charles  Gastun.  In  1855  and  1856  Ben  Eli 
attended  Chapel  Hill  College  in  LaFayette  county.  In  1856  and  1857 
the  brothers  were  students  of  the  late  Col.  Alonzo  W.  Slayback  in  St. 


11G2  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Joseph,  Mo.  In  1858  they  l)oth  entered  McGee  College,  where  they 
^vere  when  Gov.  Jackson  issued  his  proclamation  for  fifty  thousand 
volunteers.  Ben  Eli  was  in  his  senior  year  and  within  two  weeks  of 
graduating.  Both  boys  entered  the  State  service  and  were  in  Gen. 
Price's  fall  campaign  of  1861,  Ben  Eli  commanding  a  company,  which 
he  took  over  to  the  Confederate  service  in  December  of  that  year. 
Robert  was  a  sergeant  in  the  Company.  The  Company  became  Co.  I, 
of  the  Fifth  Missouri  infantry,  Col.  James  McCowen,  and  was  part 
of  the  First  Missouri  Brigade,  commanded  at  different  times  by  Gens. 
Henry  Little,  Dabney  H.  Maury,  Martin  Green,  John  S.  Bowen,  F. 
M.  Cockrell  and  Col.  Elijah  Gates.  Both  enjoyed  good  health  in  the 
service  and  lost  but  little  time.  Robert  received  one  ugly  wound,  and 
both  had  some  narrow  escapes.  They  were  parol^l  at  Jackson,  Mis- 
sissippi, in  May,  1865,  and  went  to  teaching  school  in  that  State; 
Robert  near  Oxford,  and  Ben  Eli  near  Granada.  In  1867  Ben  Eli  was 
elected  to  the  Chair  of  Languages  in  McGee  College,  and  here  the 
careers  of  the  two  boys,  which  from  their  earliest  recollections  had 
run  parallel,  began  to  diverge.  Afterward  Robert  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Mississipj)i  and  taught  for  some  time  therein,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  Union  Female  College  at  Oxford.  He  afterward 
married  Miss  Annie  Buntin,  and  in  1876  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Oxford.  He  pursued  his  profession  at  Oxford  and  Cofteeville,  Miss., 
until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  his  health  failed.  He  spent  the  sum- 
mer in  traveling  for  his  health,  and  died  near  San  Antonio,  Texas,  in 
January,  1883.  Capt.  Guthrie  continued  to  teach  in  McGee  College 
until  the  summer  of  1874.  On  the  31st  of  August,  1873,  he  married 
Miss  Susie  A.  Mitchell,  oldest  daughter  of  Mr.^Robert  C.  Mitchell,  of 
College  Mound,  Mo.  The  next  year  he  resigned  his  professorship, 
and  in  April,  1875,  was  elected  county  school  commissioner  of  Macon 
county,  in  which  office  he  served  for  two  terms.  In  September,  1875, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Macon  bar.  In  1878  he  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  the  county,  which  he  held  for  two  terms,  since 
which  time  he  has  pursued  his  profession.  His  father  after  his 
removal  to  Andrew  county  continued  to  pi'each  in  North-west  Missouri 
until  the  infirmities  of  age  compelled  him  to  stop,  and  he  now  lives 
with  the  Captain  at  Macon,  Mo. 

JOHN   GWINNER 

(Farmer  aud  Stock-raiser). 

This  man,  one  of  the  prosperous  German  farmers  of  Hudson  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Germany,  June  20,  1820.  His  parents,  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Herman)  Gvvinner,  came  to  America  with  a  family  of 
seven  children,  in  1855,  and  died  in  Wisconsin.  John  grew  up  in  his 
native  land,  and  was  a  stage  driver  until  1847.  He  then  contracted 
an  alliance  with  Miss  Catherine  Puchta,  a  fair  German  madchen,  and 
daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Rachel  (Wondirck)  Puchta.  Her  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  she  was  the  youngest  of  six  children.  Mr.  Gwin- 
ner  came  to  this  country  in  1854,  and  after  spending  three  years  in 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1163 

Wisconsin,  came  to  Missouri  and  worked  by  the  day  until  he  had 
enough  to  buy  80  acres  of  land.  He  has  gradually  added  to  this 
until  he  now  owns  180  acres,  and  is  well-to-do  in  the  world.  He 
has  a  good  frame  house,  and  his  farm  is  well  improved.  Mr.  Gwin- 
ner  had  nothing  when  he  came  to  Macon  county,  but  being  a  man  of 
strong  determination  and  good  business  capacity,  he  has  with  rapid 
strides  advanced  his  fortunes,  and  is  now  prominent  among  the  Ger- 
man citizens  of  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  have  eight  children: 
Eva,  wife  of  Frederick  Spellman  ;  Barbara,  wife  of  Charles  Wise- 
man ;  John,  who  married  Miss  Anna  Golman  ;  Adam,  William,  at 
home  and  running  the  farm  ;  Lena,  George,  and  Elizabeth,  the  young- 
est, a  girl  of  12. 

JESSE  HALL 

(Farmer,  Post-office,  Macon.) 

Mr.  Hall,  son  of  Freedom  Hall,  of  Virginia,  was  born  in  that  State 
October  21,  1806.  His  father  died  in  Virginia  at  the  advanced  age 
of  102.  Jesse  received  a  common-school  education,  and  then  became 
a  farmer.  In  1834  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kesiah  Corey,  of  Virginia, 
whose  parents  were  also  very  long-lived.  Her  father  was  101  and 
her  mother  108  at  the  time  of  their  death.  In  1844  Mr.  Hall  moved 
to  Macon,  and  entered  80  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  cleared  and 
increased  to  160  acres.  He  was  a  wealthy  man  until  the  late  war,  by 
which  he  estimates  that  he  lost  $16,000.  By  careful  management, 
however,  he  has  again  accumulated  a  comfortable  property,  and  is 
free  from  care.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  have  had  nine  children  :  David 
R.,  Walter,  Hugh,  Catherine,  Samuel,  William,  Virginia,  Daniel, 
and  a  nameless  child  who  died  in  infancy. 

JUDGE  CHARLES  P.  HESS 

(Attorney  at  Law,  Macon  City). 

Originally  this  country,  or  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  was  settled  largely 
by  people  from  the  British  Islands.  But  for  the  last  half  century  and 
more,  German  immigrants  have  preponderated  over  those  of  any  other 
nationality ;  and  in  every  section  of  the  country  and  community  we 
see  their  representatives.  Nor  is  it  anything  but  the  plain  truth  to  say 
that  they  have  almost  invariably  taken  a  place  among  our  better  class 
of  people.  As  farmers,  they  are  intelligent,  industrious  and  thrifty  ; 
and  as  business  men  they  are  energetic,  clear-headed  and  successful. 
In  the  professions,  particularly  in  law  and  medicine,  they  have  fur- 
nished some  of  the  ablest  men  we  have  ever  had.  In  a  word,  their 
influence  in  this  country  is  very  marked  and  is  for  the  general  good, 
socially,  economically,  and  in  public  affairs.  Their  stability  of  char- 
acter and  characteristic  conservatism  have  been,  and  will  continue  to 
be,  of  great  value  to  us  —  a  people  too  excitable  and  mercurial,  too 
much  like  the  French.  Prominent  among  those  of  this  sturdy,  ster- 
ling German  race,  who  have  settled  among  us  in  this  county,  is  the 
subject  of  the  present  sketch.     Judge  Hess  came  of  a  higher  class  of  un- 


1164  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

titled  Prussians.  His  grtindfatlier  was  an  able  and  successful  lawyer  of 
Prussia,  and  his  father  was  one  of  the  promiiient  men  of  Langenlons- 
heini.  Judge  Hess  was  born  in  that  place,  which  is  situated  near  Bin- 
gen,  in  Prussia,  on  the  9th  of  September,  1837.  His  parents  being 
in  easy  circumstances,  and  he,  himself,  at  an  early  age,  conceiving  a 
marked  taste  for  the  legal  profession,  he  was  designed  for  that  profes- 
sion, and  his  education  was  begun  with  that  object  in  view.  He  was 
expected  to  take  a  thorough  university  course,  which  in  Germany 
means  more  than  in  any  other  country  under  the  sun.  While  at  the 
intermediate  schools  preparing  for  the  university,  the  spirit  of  adven- 
ture and  "  new  countries  for  to  see,"  got  the  better  of  him  so  that  he 
shipped,  all  unknown  to  his  parents,  for  the  distant  America  beyond 
the  blue  waters  of  the  Atlantic.  He  came  to  this  country  in  his  six- 
teenth year,  leaving  home  and  friends  and  parents,  and  last,  but  not 
least,  the  means  of  personal  support,  except  such  as  his  soft  hands 
and  unseasoned  muscles  could  obtain  him.  But  here  he  went  to  work 
and  learned  the  carriage-maker's  trade,  working  at  it  at  Buffalo,  N. 
Y.,  up  until  a  short  time  before  the  war.  Meanwhile,  determined  to 
carry  out  his  design  to  become  a  lawyer,  he  also  attended  school  a 
part  of  each  year,  and  finally  read  law.  When  the  war  broke  out  he 
promptly  went  to  the  front  in  the  defense  of  his  adopted  country,  the 
Union,  one  and  indivisable.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  Sixth  United  States 
(regular)  cavalry,  and  afterwards  organized  Co.  C,  of  that  regiment, 
which  was  composed  of  veterans,  and  in  which  he  became  first  ser- 
geant. He  continued  in  that  regiment  until  it  was  almost  obliterated 
by  the  terrible  cataclysm  of  death  at  Gettysburg.  Sergeant  Hess  was 
then  given  a  position  on  Sheridan's  staff,  where  he  continued  until  the 
expiration  of  his  term,  October  9,  1864.  After  being  honorably  dis- 
charged he  received  a  commission  as  second  lieutenant,  which  he  held 
in  the  quartermaster's  department  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  for  three 
months,  until  the  termination  of  the  war.  At  Williamsport  he  was 
seriously  injured  by  his  horse,  which  was  shot,  falling  upon  him,  but 
recovered  after  a  few  weeks  in  the  hospital.  In  1865  he  returned  to 
Prussia  on  a  visit,  and  coming  back  soon  afterwards  brought  his  sister 
with  him,  who  is  now  the  Avife  of  Fred  W.  Muff,  in  Macon  county. 
He  located  in  Macon  county,  Mo.,  and  engaged  in  farming,  but  also 
continued  the  study  of  law.  Soon  afterwards  he  was  elected  county 
judge,  which  position  he  held  for  five  years.  In  1868  he  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar,  and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  at  the  bar,  and  is 
retained  for  the  defense  in  most  of  the  criminal  cases  that  come  before 
the  courts.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  al)ility  and  an  eloquent,  etlective 
speaker,  with  just  suflicient  foreign  accent  to  lend  an  exquisite  and 
indefinable  charm  to  his  utterances.  He  represented  the  people  in 
the  celebi-ated  bank  trial  at  this  place,  and  conducted  that  case  with 
success  and  distinguished  ability.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  Repub- 
licans of  this  section  of  the  State,  and  was  a  presidential  elector  on 
the  Hayes'  ticket  in  1876.     In  1869  Judge  Hess  was  married  to  Miss 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1165 

Caroline  S.  Maffiy.  They  have  six  children:  Alma,  Carrie,  Herthe, 
Louisa,  Nettie  and  Baby.  The  Judge  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
the  K.  of  P.,  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the  G.  A.  R.  He  has  three 
brothers,  two  of  whom  are  Foresters  for  King  William,  and  the  third, 
and  oldest,  is  living  at  the  homestead  in  Langenlonsheim,  a  very 
prosperous  and  wealthy  farmer. 

WILLIAM  HOLMAN 

f Section  9). 
This  retired  farmer,  and  known  as  the  originator  of  the  first  temper- 
ance movement  in  the  county,  is  the  son  of  William  and  Elenor 
(Barns)  Holman,  from  Kentucky.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and 
came  to  Missouri  in  1818.  He  settled  first  in  Howard  county,  but 
afterwards  bought  a  farm  in  Randolph,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death  in  1834.  He  left  a  family  of  12  children.  William  H.  was 
born  in  Madison  county,  Ky.,  January  14,  1813,  and  was  brought  to 
Missouri  when  a  small  child.  He  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  and,  when  a  man,  became  a  farmer,  remaining  in  Randolph 
until  1839.  During  that  year  he  came  to  Macon  county,  and  bought 
a  farm  near  Old  Bloomington.  While  there  he  was  constable  for  two 
years,  assessor  for  two  years,  and  was  then  elected  county  treasurer, 
the  third  treasurer  in  the  county.  He  filled  this  responsible  office  for 
five  years,  and  in  1849  moved  to  his  present  farm,  one  mile  north  of 
Macon  City.  He  owns  280  acres  of  land  in  good  condition,  and  has 
all  modern  improvements.  His  apple  orchard  is  especially  fine.  It 
was  about  the  year  1853  that  Mr.  Holman  circulated  a  petition 
throughout  the  county  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  issuance  of 
license  to  liquor  dealers,  thus  identifying  himself  with  the  temperance 
movement,  for  the  first  time  started  in  the  county.  In  1858  he  was 
again  appointed  assessor  of  the  county,  and  in  1861,  sherifi".  Two  years 
after  he  was  dected  to  this  office,  and  then  began  a  time  of  much  an- 
noyance in  returning  slaves  to  their  owners.  Mr.  H.  was  a  Union 
man,  but  took  no  part  as  a  soldier  in  the  war.  At  its  close  he  retired 
to  his  farm,  where  he  has  since  remained,  his  son  managing  it  for  him. 
Mr.  Holman  was  married  in  1836  to  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Fanny  Barns,  who  came  from  Kentucky  to  Boone  county,  Mo.,  in 
1818.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  nine  children  :  Francis,  Phillip, 
formerly  a  merchant  in  Macon  City,  but  now  in  the  clerk's  office  ; 
Elizabeth,  James  M.,  teaching  school;  Eliza,  William  A.,  Louella, 
Benjamin  and  John  C.  Mr.  Holman  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

HARRY  HOWARD 

(Of  Howard  &  Love,  Editors  and  Proprietors  of  the  Macon  True  Democrat,  Macon). 
Mr.  Howard  has  had  a  life-time  experience  in  the  newspaper  business, 
having  begun  as  an  apprentice  at  the  case  when  in  his  sixteenth  year 
and  been  continuously  engaged  in  newspaper  life  from  that  time  to  the 


1166  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

present.  With  nearly  30  years'  experience  in  the  business,  and,  dur- 
ing most  of  this  time,  as  an  editor  and  proprietor,  that  he  should 
have  attained,  as  he  has,  to  a  position  of  success  and  prominence,  is 
perhaps  not  more  than  what  might  be  justly  expected.  Mr.  Howard  is 
well  known  to  the  newspaper  men  of  North  Missouri  as  a  capable  and 
successful  manager  and  a  clear,  vigorous,  intelligent  editorial  writer. 
He  has  contributed  very  materially  to  give  the  True  Democrat  the 
enviable  standing  it  has  to-day  among  the  country  journals  of  the 
State.  In  the  field  of  politics,  as  an  exponent  of  Democratic  opinions 
and  principles,  and  in  public  affairs  generally  —  relating  to  the  mate- 
rial interests  of  the  people  and  otherwise  —  it  is  conceded  to  be  one 
of  the  ably-conducted,  sober,  influential  journals  of  this  section  of  the 
State.  He  and  Mr.  Love  established  the  True  Democrat  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1883,  and,  considering  the  men  who  founded  it  and  the  want 
generally  felt  in  this  county  for  such  a  paper  as  they  were  sure  to 
publish,  its  success  was  assured  from  the  beginning.  Its  career  has 
exceeded,  both  in  business  success  and  influence,  even  the  expecta- 
tions of  its  proprietors  and  friends.  Already  on  a  prosperous  foot- 
ing, its  future  bears  every  promise  of  a  continued  career  of  success. 
Mr.  Howard,  though  a  native  of  Indiana,  was  reared  in  Kentucky. 
He  was  born  in  Switzerland  county  of  the  former  State.  His  father, 
Hon.  Samuel  Howard,  a  Kentuckian  by  nativity,  went  to  Indiana  in 
an  early  day,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Livingston,  of 
Dearborn  county,  that  State,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Livingston,  a 
prominent  jurist  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Howard's  father,  while  a  resident 
of  Indiana,  represented  his  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  was  subse- 
quently a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  afterwards  represented 
Carroll,  Gallatin  and  Boone  counties  in  the  Kentucky  State  Senate. 
He  was  a  man  of  sterling  character,  great  energy,  and  indomitable 
will  and  perseverance.  Himself  strict  in  all  his  business  transactions, 
he  expected  like  strictness  of  others,  but  was  at  the  same  time  a  man 
of  generous  impulses,  and  noted  for  his  benevolence.  The  hand  of 
distress  was  never  withdrawn  empty  from  him.  Harry  Howard  was 
the  fifth  in  his  parents'  family  of  nine  children,  and  up  to  the  age  of 
16  his  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  fsirm,  occupied  with  such  work  as 
he  could  do  and  attending  the  country  schools.  He  then,  in  1855, 
entered  the  office  of  the  JVeivs,  at  Vevay,  Ind.,  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade,  and  after  mastering  the  "  art  preservative  of  all  arts," 
in  1857,  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  located  at  La  Plata.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  about  a  year,  he  went  to  Bloomington,  and  became  the 
partner  of  Mr.  Love  in  the  publication  of  the  Legion,  as  mentioned 
in  the  sketch  of  his  partner.  Mr.  Howard  continued  identified  with 
the  Legion  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  After  this  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Landmark  at  Platte  City  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
established  the  Commercial  at  Weston,  in  Platte  county,  which  he 
published  for  the  following  11  years,  and  until  he  became  connected 
with  the  True  Democrat,  at  Macon  City,  in  the  summer  of  1883. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1167 


THOMAS  B.  HOWE 

(Retired  Business  man,  Macon  City) . 

Mr.  Howe,  now  himself  advancing  in  years,  being  closely  approach- 
ing the  allotted  age  of  three-score-and-ten,  was  only  a  lad  in  his  ninth 
year  when  his  parents  removed  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Callaway 
county.  That  was  away  back  in  1826,  when  there  were  but  little  more 
than  twice  as  many  inhabitants  in  the  whole  State  of  Missouri  as  there 
are  now  in  the  single  county  of  Macon.  Both  Mr.  Howe's  father,  Isaac 
P.  Howe,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jeanetta  Boyd,  were 
born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  but  their  parental  families  were  each 
from  North  Carolina.  Thomas  B.  was  born  in  Kentucky  (Mont- 
gomery county)  November  25,  1817.  The  family  settled  in  Callaway 
county,  near  New  Bloomtield,  where  they  lived  until  their  deaths. 
The  father  died  in  1857,  and  the  mother  some  years  afterwards. 
Thomas  B.  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Callaway  county,  and  when  25 
years  of  age,  September  14,  1842,  was  married  to  Zippirah  J.  Thatcher, 
a  daughter  of  William  Thatcher,  who  settled  six  miles  west  of  Fulton 
from  Bourbon  county,  Ky.,  in  an  early  day.  Prior  to  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Howe  had  been  engaged  in  school-teaching  in  Callaway  county, 
and  in  1843  he  "went  to  Putnam  county,  but  remained  there  only  a 
short  time.  The  same  year  he  located  at  Kirksville,  where  he  lived 
until  1850.  Whilst  there  he  was  postmaster  for  four  or  five  years, 
and  was  also  engaged  in  business.  Returning  to  Callaway  county,  he 
ran  a  carding  machine  for  about  three  years,  and  then  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, which  he  followed  with  good  success  up  to  1862.  The 
next  year  Mr.  Howe  removed  to  Callao,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
selling  goods  for  about  a  year.  In  1864  he  went  to  St.  Louis  on  ac- 
count of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country,  and  remained  there 
until  after  the  war  —  indeed  until  1869,  having  become  identified  with 
interests  at  that  place  that  made  it  to  his  advantage  to  remain.  Re- 
turning to  the  interior  of  the  State,  however,  he  located  at  Macon 
City,  and  for  three  or  four  years  was  engaged  in  the  livery  and  sale 
stable  business,  having  for  a  partner  Mr.  John  Howell,  now  deceased. 
A  man  of  excellent  business  qualifications  and  popular  manners,  in 
1871  Mr.  Howe  was  appointed  assistant  in  the  collector's  and  treasu- 
rer's offices,  under  Messrs.  Sharp  and  Goodding,  a  position  which  he 
held  for  about  seven  years,  becoming  an  almost  indispensable  fixture 
in  those  offices.  Finally  he  quit  work  at  the  court-house  in  order  to 
make  a  set  of  abstracts  of  the  titles  to  the  real  estate  of  the  county, 
which  was  then  greatly  in  demand,  on  account  of  the  activity  in  land 
transfers.  For  this  work  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Benjamin 
Stean,  and  together  they  made  their  abstract  books,  the  first  set  ever 
prepared  in  the  county,  and  the  only  one.  He  and  Mr.  Stean  opened  an 
abstract  office  at  Macon  City,  which  they  carried  on  together  and  with 
excellent  success  until  a  short  time  ago,  when  Mr.  Howe  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Mr.  John  M.  London.  Since  then  Mr.  Howe  has  not  been 
engaged  in  any  active  business.     He  is  still  quite  active,  however,  and 


1168  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

full  of  ambition  and  energy,  one  of  the  stirring  old  gentlemen  of 
Macon  City,  and  takes  an  intelligent  and  public-spirited  interest  in 
every  thing  calculated  to  be  of  advantage  to  the  place  or  county.  It 
is  worthy  of  remark  in  this  connection,  that  the  above,  only  a  brief 
outline  of  the  facts  in  his  career,  is,  at  the  same  time,  by  no  means  a 
complete  one,  but  perhaps  suffices  to  give  some  idea  of  the  busy  life 
he  has  led.  Through  all,  it  is  due  to  say  that  his  name  has  come 
down  to  the  present  without  the  tarnish  of  a  reproach,  and  that  no 
man  stands  better  in  the  esteem  of  those  who  have  known  him  longest 
and  best,  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Howe  is  a  man  of 
many  estimable  qualities  of  head  and  heart — one  whom  those  around 
him  can  not  but  regard  with  the  kindliest  consideration  and  highest 
respect  and  esteem.  Whilst  he  lived  at  Bloomington  he  was  for  two 
years  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Bloomington  Journal,  a  prominent 
and  influential  Whig  organ.  This  was  during  the  years  1853-54. 
Prior  to  that,  the  Journal  had  been  known  as  the  Messenger.  Mr. 
Howe  is  a  prominent  Mason,  having  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commander}^  He  was  for  some  years  district 
deputy  from  the  first  Masonic  district,  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  work  and  advancement  of  the  order.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Howe  have  four  children;  Mary  E.,  John  M.,  James  P.  and  Mattie 
E.  The  latter  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  Mann,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind. 
James  is  a  clerk  in  the  Pension  Office  at  Topeka.  John  M.  is  in 
Sacramento,  Cal.,  and  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  H.  Stean,  of 
Macon  City,  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  place. 

JAMES  G.  HOWE 

(County  Clerk,  Macou  City). 

Mr.  Howe  was  elected  to  his  present  position  in  1878,  and  it  is  but 
the  statement  of  a  plain  fact  to  say  that  he  has  made  one  of  the  most 
capable  and  efficient  county  clerks  who  ever  occupied  the  position  in 
this  county.  The  biographer  must  give  facts  in  the  sketches  he  writes, 
and  while  we  are  conscious  that  what  has  been  said  reflects  great 
credit  upon  the  present  incumbent  of  the  office  named,  we  are  sure 
from  conversations  with  those  best  qualified  to  judge  that  this  credit 
is  not  unmerited,  and  therefore  not  out  of  taste.  Mr.  Howe  is  gener- 
ally popular  throughout  the  county,  both  personally  and  as  an  officer, 
for  while  he  is  recognized  as  a  man  of  character  and  man}''  estimable 
qualities,  as  a  business  man  for  office  work  he  is  believed  to  be  without 
a  superior  in  the  county.  Of  a  gentlemanly,  genial,  whole-souled 
disposition,  he  forms  acquaintances  readily  and  retains  their  respect 
and  confidence,  as  well  as  wins  their  esteem,  the  highest  prerequisite 
to  one's  success  in  official  life.  Mr.  Howe  is  a  native Missourian,  born 
near  New  Bloomfield,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Callaway,  or  the  South  Caro- 
lina of  this  State,  on  the  18th  of  August,  1833.  His  parents,  Isaac 
P.  and  Jane  (Boyd)  Howe,  were  early  settlers  in  that  county  from 
Kentucky,  locating  there  in  1825.  James  G.  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  near  New  Bloomfield  up  to  the  age  of  14,  when,  having 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1169 

a  desire  for  business  life,  he  went  to  St.  Aubert  and  began  clerking  in 
a  store  at  tliat  place.  He  subsequently  clerked  at  New  Bloomfield 
and  theu  went  to  Fulton,  where  he  clerked  until  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  the  8th  of  May,  18G6.  His  wife's  maiden  uame 
was  Miss  Mary  S.  Thatcher,  who  was  reared  in  Schuyler  county,  this 
State,  Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Howe  came  to  Blooming- 
ton,  in  Macon  county,  but  in  a  short  time  went  to  Lancaster,  where 
he  sold  goods  for  about  a  year.  Returning  to  Bloomington,  he  sold 
goods  at  this  place  until  1864.  From  that  time  for  18  months  he  was 
at  Plattsmouth,  Neb.,  but  came  to  Macon  City  in  the  latter  part  of 
1865.  Here  he  continued  selling  goods  until  1871,  when  he  accepted 
the  position  of  book-keeper  of  the  North  Missouri  Insurance  Company, 
which  he  held  for  three  years.  In  January,  1875,  he  was  appointed 
deputy  county  clerk  under  J.  M.  Love,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for 
four  years.  He  was  then  elected  Mr.  Love's  successor,  and  has  since 
held  the  office  by  re-election.  In  1874  Mr.  Howe  was  a  partner  of 
Mr.  S.  E.  Waggoner  in  the  insurance  business.  Mr.  Howe  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  has  been  Eminent  Commander 
and  District  Lecturer  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  the  Chapter.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Howe  have  a  family  of  five  children:  William  P.,  Belle  M., 
Minerva  M.,  Charles  G.  and  Mattie  G.  Belle  M.  is  the  wife  of  W.  H. 
Sipple,  and  Minerva  M.  is  the  wife  of  C.  S.  Murray,  of  Liberty  ; 
Charles  G.  now  holds  the  position  his  brother  formerly  held,  that  of 
deputy  county  clerk,  his  brother  now  being  connected  with  the  Hanni- 
bal and  St.  Joe  Railway. 

JAMES  A.  HUDSON 

(Editor  and  Proprietor  of  the  Macon  Times,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Hudson,  a  young  newspaper  man  of  this  county,  who  has  had 
a  career  of  more  than  ordinary  success  in  journalism  and  is  one  of  the 
most  public  spirited  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  county,  is  a 
native  Missourian,  born  in  Montgomerj''  county,  on  the  farm,  near 
Middletown,  October  7,  1853.  His  parents  were  James  M.  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Thomas)  Hudson,  the  father  originallj^  from  Virginia,  but  the 
mother  formerly  of  Kentucky.  They  were  married,  however,  in  Mis- 
souri, in  which  State  they  had  made  their  permanent  home  and  reared 
their  family  of  children.  James  A.  was  the  third  in  their  family,  and 
three  are  living,  two  besides  himself — Joseph  H.,  now  of  Audrain 
county,  and  Frances  A.,  now  the  wife  of  Arthur  Percy,  also  of  Au- 
drain county.  The  father  died  when  James  A.  was  six  years  of  age 
and  the  mother  subequently  married  H.  C.  Anderson.  James  A.  re- 
mained at  home  with  the  family  until  he  was  15  j'^ears  of  age,  when, 
having  received  something  of  a  common  school  education,  he  felt  that 
he  was  able  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and  left  the  homestead  in 
Audrain  county  to  begin  life  for  himself.  In  1872  he  came  to  Macon 
City  where  he  entered  the  Times  office  (which  had  been  established 
some  years  before  by  Col.  Clark  H.  Green)  to  learn  the  printer's 
trade.     Though  not  the  founder  of  this   paper,  young  Hudson  was 


1170  HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

destined  to  become  its  restorer  and  successful  editor  and  proprietor. 
After  workings  for  some  months  in  tlie  Times  office  he  went  to  Bowling 
Green,  Pike  county,  Mo.,  but  soon  returned  to  Macon  City  and 
worked  here  at  the  printer's  trade  until  1874.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  but  not  having  been  l)rought  up  to  whittling  on 
pine  boxes  and  watching  "  Peck's  Bad  Boy,"  while  yawning  and  gaping 
and  waiting  for  a  wayfaring  customer,  he  soon  became  tired  of  the  busi- 
ness and,  fumigating  himself  of  the  odor  of  spoilt  oysters  and  third- 
]3roof  coal  oil,  he  put  on  a  clean  paper  collar  and  returned  to  journalism. 
In  order  to  have  a  field  of  usefulness  not  less  than  he  could  utilize,  he 
he  went  to  St.  Louis.  At  the  Mound  City  he  became  identified  with 
the  Missouri  Hepiiblican,  and  for  a  year  was  employed  in  setting  tyi)e 
on  the  "  Old  Reliable."  Saving  up  a  little  means,  he  now  returned  to 
the  business  in  Macon  City.  In  1877  he  secured  an  interest  in  the  JEx- 
aminer  with  Hez.  Purdom,  which  they  published  for  a  short  time. 
But  having  an  opportunity  to  dispose  of  his  interest  in  the  Examiner 
to  good  advantage,  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Keytesville,  where  he  es- 
tablished the  Chariton  Courier^  successor  to  the  Herald.  The  Cour- 
ier venture  proved  to  be  a  successful  enterprise,  and  he  conducted  the 
paper  for  about  five  years  with  steadily  increasing  success  and  influence. 
Under  his  management  and  editorial  charge  it  became  one  of  the  most 
valuable  pieces  of  newspaper  property,  and  one  of  the  most  popular, 
influential  journals  in  the  interior  of  North  Missouri.  While  at 
Keytesville  he  was  actively  and  prominently  identified  with  various 
public  enterprises,  both  as  adviser  and  stockholder.  Among  them  he 
was  a  stockholder  in  and  director  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Keytes- 
ville, and  in  the  Keytesville  Building  Association.  But  in  1883  he 
sold  the  Courier  at  a  good  price  and  returned  to  Macon  City.  Here, 
Mr.  Hudson  at  once  bought  the  North  Missouri  Register^  which  had  been 
built  up  on  the  wreck  of  the  Times.  But  like  a  man  who  tries  to  wear 
another  man's  boots,  the  Register  never  moved  with  a  steady,  natural 
step,  and  Mr.  Hudson  thought  it  the  best  policy  to  restore  the  paper  to 
its  old  possessio  jjedes.  Renovating  the  office,  aclding  new  and  more  ma- 
terial to  it,  and  improving  it  in  every  way,  he  reproduced  the  Times 
neater,  cleaner  and  better  than  it  ever  was,  a  sprightly,  lively  newspa- 
per, up  to  any  amount  of  snuff,  and  one  of  the  gallant,  fearless  knight- 
errants  of  North  Missouri  journalism.  The  Times  under  its  new  man- 
agement is  having  a  career  of  gratifying  success  and  is  already  on  a  solid 
business  basis,  while  as  a  molder  and  representative  of  public  opinion, 
its  high  standing  is  already  well  recognized.  As  an  advertising  me- 
dium, it  ranks  among  the  Ijest  papers  in  the  interior  of  the  State,  a  fact 
that  is  conclusively  proven  by  the  large  patronage  it  receives  from  the 
business  public.  Mr.  Hudson,  on  an  exhibition  of  specimen  copies 
of  the  Times,  was  awarded  by  the  Missouri  Press  Association  at  its 
annual  meeting  at  Carthage,  in  1883,  a  handsome  gold  medal  for  pro- 
ducing the  best  printed  paper  in  the  State.  October  30,  1873,  Mr. 
Hudson  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  Alderman,  a  daughter  of  Judge  J. 
R.  Alderman.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudson  have  two  children  :  Ethel  and 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1171 

Alexander.     Mr.  Hudson  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  I.  O.  O. 
F.  and  Masonic  orders. 

CHARLES  ITSCHNER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  I.,  a  son  of  Rudolph  and  Selina  (RifFel)  Itschner,  was  born  in 
Switzerland,  April  4,  1837.  His  father  was  a  dealer  in  flour  and 
groceries  and  was  a  man  of  fortune.  In  1880  he  died  suddenly  while 
on  a  pleasure  trip  in  his  native  mountains.  Charles  was  educated  for 
a  farmer,  and  spent  two  years  at  an  agricultural  college.  He  then 
worked  with  his  father  until  1862,  when  he  came  to  America.  He 
went  to  Iowa  and  worked  for  a  year  as  a  farm  hand,  returned  to  his 
Fatherland,  and  on  July  24,  1864,  married  Miss  Barbery  Schulthess. 
He  at  once  brought  his  Inide  to  America,  and  after  remaining  a  few 
years  in  New  Jersey,  in  1868  came  to  Macon  county  and  bought  160 
acres  of  land.  He  now  has  two  farms  of  160  acres  each,  both  well  im- 
proved. He  has  a  large,  handsome  house,  built  in  1880,  a  fine  barn  and 
all  other  necessary  buildings.  Mr.  Itschner  is  a  thrifty  and  successful 
fiirmer  and  belongs  to  the  best  element  in  the  township.  He  devotes 
most  of  his  time  to  the  raising  of  stock,  sheep  and  cattle.  He  has 
an  interesting  family  of  seven  children:  Charles  R.,  Frederick, 
Julius,  Emily,  Frank,  Harry  and  Werner,  a  bright  little  fellow  of 
three.     Mr.  I.  and  wife  are  connected  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 

THOMAS  B.  JACKSON,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Macon  City). 

Dr.  Jackson,  one  of  the  prominent  and  successful  physicians  of 
Macon  county,  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Hancock  Jackson,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  this  section  of  the  State  in  his  day.  His  father  was  a 
Kentuckian  by  nativity,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Ursley  Oldham, 
of  Madison  county.  He  was  of  Laurel  county,  and  had  been  out  to 
Missouri  looking  at  the  country  two  years  before  his  marriage. 
Immediately  following  his  marriage  he  removed  to  this  State  and 
located  first  in  Howard  county,  but  in  1822  settled  in  Randolph 
county,  near  the  south-east  corner  of  the  county.  He  was  prominent 
in  public  life  in  that  county  for  nearly  a  generation,  and  was  a  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  Governor  in  1860,  on  the  Breckinridge  ticket, 
his  competitors  being  Gov.  Claiborne  F.  Jackson  and  Hon.  Sample 
Orr.  He  was  the  first  sherifl"  of  Randolph  county,  and  represented 
that  county  for  years  in  the  Legislature,  first  in  the  House  and  then 
in  the  Senate.  He  was  always  a  prominent  figure  in  State  Coventions, 
and  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  able  men  of  the  State.  His 
principal  business  was  that  of  agriculture,  and  he  improved  a  large 
number  of  farms.  He  removed  to  Oregon  in  1865,  having  retired 
from  politics  after  his  race  for  Governor,  where  he  died  in  1876  at 
the  advanced  age  of  81.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  United 
States  Marshal  for  the  district  of  Missouri,  having  been  appointed  by 
President  Buchanan,  but  he  was  removed  by  Mr.  Lincoln.    Dr.  Jackson 


1172  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

was  born  in  Randolph  county,  September  8,  1837,  and  was  reared  on 
the  farm  in  that  county.  In  1857  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  at 
Independence,  Mo.,  under  the  preceptorate  of  Dr.  Murray.  Early  in 
the  following  year,  having  taught  school  before  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  he  returned  to  Randolph  county  and  resumed  teaching,  but 
also  continued  the  study  of  medicine,  having  the  benefit  in  that  county 
of  instruction  from  Dr.  Hall  of  Milton.  In  the  winter  of  1858  he 
entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  after  a  session  there  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Salisbury,  in  Chariton  county.  His 
next  session  at  medical  college  he  attended  at  Keokuk,  la.,  and 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1860.  Returning  to  Salisbury,  he  remained 
there  engaged  in  the  practice  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  However, 
in  the  spring  of  1861  he  removed  to  Cole  Camp,  in  Benton  county, 
where  he  was  burned  out  by  Lyon's  troops,  on  their  way  South,  on 
account  of  his  having  treated,  professionally,  some  wounded  Confederate 
soldiers.  In  the  meantime,  on  the  20th  of  October,  1860,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Virginia  C.  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  George  M.  Taylor, 
of  Bloomington,  Macon  county,  and  after  he  was  burned  out  at  Cole 
Camp  he  returned  to  Macon  county.  But  he  at  once  enlisted  in  the 
Missouri  State  guard,  becoming  a  member  of  the  Fifth  regiment, 
commanded  by  Col.  Poindexter,  of  Gen.  Clark's  division,  of  which 
reo-iment  he  became  surgeon.  At  the  election  of  Col.  Edwin  Price  to 
a  brisiadier-generalship.  Dr.  Jackson  was  appointed  paymaster  of  that 
divisfon.  Subsequently  he  was  attached  to  Gen.  Parson's  staff  as 
special  surgeon.  In  a  little  while,  however,  he  was  commissioned  by 
the  authorities  at  Richmond  to  raise  a  partisan  regiment,  and  he  and 
Col.  X.  J.  Pindall  came  to  Macon  county  on  a  recruiting  expedition. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  while  in  Randolph  county  by  Col.  Burckhartt 
and  paroled,  with  liberty  to  remain  within  the  district  of  Randolph, 
Macon  and  Chariton  counties.  He  thereupon  resumed  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Bloomington,  but  was  soon  afterwards  arrested  by  United 
States  Marshall  Wallace,  his  father's  successor,  for  treason  and  con- 
spiracy, and  taken  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  soon  released  on  a  bond 
of  $8,000.  After  his  release  at  St.  Louis,  the}'-  went  to  Oregon,  where 
the  Doctor  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  1869. 
He  then  returned  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Macon  City,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Here  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice,  and  is  looked 
upon  as  one  of  the  most  capable  and  popular  physicians  in  the  county. 
Dr.  Jackson's  first  wife  died  soon  after  returning  to  Missouri,  and  in 
December,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Susan  M.  Eskridge,  the 
widow  of  the  late  Judge  Monroe  B.  Eskridge.  Personally,  the  Doctor 
is  hio-hly  esteemed,  and  he  and  his  family  are  gladly  received  in  the 
best  society  of  Macon  City  and  vicinity. 

GEN.  FIELDER  A.  JONES    , 

(Deceased). 

From  the  Macon  Republican  we  take  the  following  well-written  and 
just  obituary  notice  of  the  life  and  death  of  Gen.  Jones,  a  man  whose 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1173 

character  and  ability  and  whose  services  to  his  country,  as  well  as  his 
estimable  qualities  in  the  domestic  circle  and  as  a  neighbor  and  friend, 
entitle  him  to  lasting  remembrance  of  posterity  :  — 

A  great  sorrow  has  fallen  upon  us.  With  a  sad  heart  we  record 
that  our  beloved  friend  and  companion  of  many  years,  Gen.  F.  A. 
Jones,  has  passed  away.  We  would  that  it  need  not  have  been,  and 
that  we  might  have  enjoyed  a  friendship  so  dear,  an  association 
so  pleasant,  for  a  few  years  more  ;  yet,  we  are  called  upon  to  bow  in 
grief  to  a  wisdom  that  is  infinitely  above  all  that  is  earthy.  It  is 
one  of  the  painful  lessons  of  this  life,  that  the  ties  of  affection  and 
friendship  are  ruthlessly  sundered,  but  there  is  much  consolation  in 
the  belief  that  the  Providence  who  creates  the  good  and  permits  the 
development  and  growth  of  the  ties  that  bind  the  hearts  of  friends 
in  this  world  will  in  the  great  hereafter  restore  the  broken  links.  One 
week  ago  our  friend  and  greatly  esteemed  citizen  was  with  us,  and 
thouo-h  very  feeble  in  health,  his  mind  was  clear  and  vigorous,  and 
he  still  hoped  for  some  years  of  a  useful  life.  His  friends  were  fear- 
ful that  his  stay  here  at  the  longest  could  be  very  brief.  For  some 
time  he  had  greatly  desired  to  visit  the  home  of  his  childhood,  hoping 
that  in  those  scenes,  in  the  company  of  hi?  aged  mother  and  his  sisters, 
he  might  receive  a  new  lease  of  life. 

On  "Friday  of  last  week,  with  his  wife,  he  started  for  his  old  home. 
Numerous  friends  accompanied  them  to  the  station,  all  of  whom  feared 
that  in  his  frail,  feeble  condition  he  would  not  reach  the  much  desired, 
destination.  Saturday  encouraging  reports  were  received  of  his  con- 
dition at  Quincy,  and  his  many  friends  expressed  a  wish  that  he  might 
reach  his  old  home.  Sunday  morning,  the  sad  and  startling  intelligence 
was  received  over  the  wires  that  while  the  train  was  nearing  Toledo, 
Ohio,  he  had  quietly  and  peacefully  passed  away  while  resting  in  his 
berth  in  the  sleeping  car.  All  that  a  devoted  wife  and  kind,  attentive 
officials  could  do  was  done  to  restore  the  flickering  spark  of  life, 
but  in  vain.  He  was  called  to  his  long  home,  notwithstanding  he  had 
manfully  battled  for  life  to  the  last.  At  Toledo  many  friends  and  nu- 
merous kind  citizens  received  his  remains,  giving  them  careful  at- 
tention, and  the  most  profound  sympathy  was  extended  to  his  greatly 
bereaved  wife.  Members  of  the  Press  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  took  his  remains  in  charge  and  accompanied  them  to  his 
home,  and  ere  this  he  has  been  quietly  laid  away  with  friends  that 
have  gone  before. 

In  many  respects,  the  life  of  Gen.  F.  A.  Jones  has  been  an 
eventful  one.  It  is  a  life  that  demonstrates  how  much  may  be  ac- 
quired and  usefulness  accomplished  even  under  most  unfavorable  cir- 
cumstances. He  was  born  in  Potter  county,  Penn.,  February  27, 
1834.  His  parents  were  plain,  substantial  people,  but  in  poor  cir- 
cumstances. When  he  was  five  years  old  his  father  was  killed 
by  a  falling  tree.  When  he  was  12  years  of  age  his  step-father 
died.  He  was  left  the  eldest  of  five  children  and  the  family  quite 
poor.     At  13  years  of  age  he  assisted  his  mother  in   supporting  the 


1174  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

family  by  haulinfij  pine  logs  with  an  ox  team  from  the  mountainside, 
at  five  dollars  per  month.  He  spent  his  evenings  and  all  his  leisure 
time  in  studying,  until  at  15  he  entered  Richburg  Academy,  where 
he  gave  special  attention  to  the  study  of  music.  Very  shortly  after 
this  he  taught  music,  and  with  such  success  that  he  created  great 
enthusiasm  in  all  his  immediate  neighborhood  in  this  branch,  and 
was  enabled  to  procure  for  himself  and  one  sister  a  thorough  academic 
education.  From  1853  to  1855  he  was  teacher  in  Water  ford  Academy, 
Penn.  He  then  entered  Alleghany  College  in  the  sophomore  class,  and 
graduated  in  1859,  receiving  some  of  the  highest  honors  of  his  class, 
among  others  the  prize  of  a  silver  goblet  for  English  composition  and 
literature.  He  then  taught  one  year  in  Meadville  Academy,  and 
studied  law  with  Hon.  Hiram  Richmond  ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
during  this  year  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kate  Saeger,  a  most 
estimable  lady,  daughter  of  Edward  Saegar,Esq.,  of  Saegertown,  Penn. 
He  came  to  Seymour,  Ind.,  where  he  taught  school  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
political  campaign  of  1860,  and  early  in  1861,  upon  the  call  for 
troops,  he  raised  the  first  company  in  Southern  Indiana  for  the  three 
months'  service,  it  being  the  thirteenth  from  the  State.  He  was 
mustered  in  as  captain  in  his  company,  in  the  Sixth  Regiment  Indiana 
volunteers,  April  19,  1861.  The  regiment  was  immediately  ordered 
to  Western  Virginia,  where  he  served  with  great  bravery  under 
Gen.  Morris,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Laurel  Hill,  Carrick's 
Ford  and  at  St.  George.  In  this  last  engagement  his  company  cap- 
tured a  large  wagon  train,  and  he  was  severely  wounded,  being  shot 
through  the  right  arm,  the  left  leg  and  through  the  liver  and  lower 
lobe  of  the  right  lung.  He  was  supposed  to  be  mortally  wounded. 
But,  to  the  surprise  of  his  friends,  he  recovered  ;  was  brought  to  In- 
dianapolis, where,  during  his  convalesence,  he  became  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  Gov.  Morton,  who  was  ever  after  his  firm  friend.  As 
soon  as  he  was  able  to  return  to  the  field,  he  was  appointed  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Thirty-ninth  regiment  Indiana  volunteers,  and  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  until  August  8,  1864. 

He  was  engaged  in  the  first  fight  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
with  John  Morgan,  and  in  the  last  engagement  of  Sherman's  army  26 
miles  west  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles 
of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Perrysville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Chat- 
tanooga and  in  all  the  engagements  around  Atlanta.  After  the  bat- 
tle of  Stone  River,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  and  was 
hio:hly  commended  in  general  orders  for  his  efficiency  and  bravery. 

In  1863,  his  regiment,  of  which  he  was  now  the  colonel,  was 
mounted  and  became  the  Eighth  Indiana  Cavalry.  He  was  with  Gen. 
Rosseau  in  his  raid  into  Alabama.  Was  placed  in  command  of  a 
brjo-ade  of  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Ed.  McCook  in  his  celebrated  raid 
around  Atlanta ;  and  when  Gen.  McCook  was  surrounded,  he  cut 
his  way  through  the  enemy,  and  brought  the  only  organized  troops 
out  of  that  disastrous  expedition.  He  was  placed  in  command  of  a 
cavalry  division  of  14  regiments,  in  the  campaign  around  Atlanta,  un- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1175 

der  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  and  after  the  battle  of  Jonesboro  was  promoted 
bri2:adier-o:eneral  for  o^allani  services. 

He  was  in  all  the  skirmishes  in  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea,  and 
through  the  Carolinas,  and  for  the  cavalry  it  was  one  continued  en- 
gagement. During  his  military  career  he  was  wounded  five  times  — 
two  of  them  slight  wounds  —  and  had  four  horses  killed  from  under 
him.  When  Ave  review  his  career  as  a  patriot  soldier,  how  truly  it 
may  be  said  of  him,  he  was  a  gallant  knight,  ^^  sans  puer,  sans  re- 
proche.^' 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  in  September,  1865,  he  came  to 
Missouri  to  seek  a  home,  and  located  at  Macon.  Although  a  con- 
stant sufferer  from  his  wounds,  he  immediately  took  an  active  part  in 
all  public  enterprises,  as  well  as  an  active  interest  in  political,  social 
and  educational  matters.  He  resumed  the  practice  of  law  and  at  once 
stood  among  the  leaders  at  the  bar  in  the  State  and  U.  S.  courts. 
One  of  our  judges  has  remarked,  in  speaking  of  his  abilities,  "  He 
makes  the  clearest  statement  of  a  legal  proposition  of  any  attorney  I 
have  ever  listened  to." 

In  July,  1866,  after  a  lingering  illness  from  consumption,  his  wife 
passed  away. 

In  1870  he  was  married  again,  to  Miss  Sallie  Clayton,  who  has 
been  a  very  affectionate  and  devoted  wife  during  his  long  years  of  suf- 
fering, and  who  has  the  heartfelt  sympathies  of  all  our  citizens  in  her 
great  sorrow  and  lonely  journey. 

Gen.  Jones  was  an  active  politician,  careful  in  forming  his  convic- 
tions and  earnest  in  the  advocacy  of  them.  During  several  campaigns 
he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee.  In  1872  he  was 
an  elector  for  this  Congressional  district  on  the  Kepublican  ticket,  and 
in  1874  was  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  State  Sen- 
ate, but  was  defeated. 

In  1878  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Macon,  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  his  office  acceptably  and  faithfully. 

In  1871  he  became  editor-in-chief  of  the  Macon  Bepublican,  which 
he  has  managed  with  marked  ability.  All  of  his  life  he  has  been  a 
zealous  student  and  constant  reader.  He  was  a  tine,  classical  scholar 
and  well  informed  on  all  subjects.  He  readily  mastered  every  subject 
and  was  a  very  clear  and  forcible  writer.  He  was  a  man  of  tine  ana- 
lytical mind,  of  wonderful  memory,  and  at  home  in  every  department 
of  law,  history  and  literature.  From  boyhood  his  life  had  been 
one  of  industry,  of  thoughtful  study  and  of  useful  works.  He  was 
a  profound  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  He  would  not  suffer  with  any  degree  of  patience  in 
his  presence  the  assertions  or  disputations  of  skeptics,  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  he  was  very  careful  in  speaking  of  his  religious  beliefs  to 
others  and  listened  to  theirs  with  great  tolerance.  A  few  weeks  be- 
fore his  death  he  remarked  :  "  My  beliefs  are  fixed  ;  they  can  not  be 
shaken  ;  I  think  my  heart  is  right  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  go  when  I 
am  called."  One  of  his  prominent  characteristics  was  his  great 
69 


1176  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

generosity  of  heart.  He  never  could  refuse  an  appeal  for  assist- 
ance in  any  form.  He  possessed  in  a  large  degree  that  noble  virtue 
which  the  inspired  author  pronounced  "  and  of  the  greatest  of  all  these 
is  charity,"  both  in  tolerance  of  opinion  and  kindness  of  act." 

He  was  highly  esteemed,  honored  and  respected  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  beloved  by  his  friends.  He  was  pleasant  and  calm  in  his 
demeanor,  and  cordial  to  his  friends.  He  bore  his  sufferings  patiently 
for  many  years  uncomplaining  and  glad  that  he  had  made  sacrifices 
for  his  country  he  loved  so  well.  Truly  he  was  one  of  Nature's  no- 
blemen, a  mature  scholar,  a  devoted  patriot,  a  gallant  soldier  and  a 
good  citizen.  We  do  not  hear  his  footsteps  that  have  been  so  famil- 
iar to  us  for  16  years.  His  presence  that  was  so  agreeable  is  not 
with  us.  We  turn  and  behold  his  books  he  loved  so  well  are  upon  the 
shelves,  but  the  eyes  that  perused  them  are  closed.  His  chair  is  there, 
but  it  is  vacant.  He  is  gone,  his  spirit  has  flown.  Classmate,  com- 
panion, beloved  friend,  farewell  ! 

JOHN  T.  JONES 

(Attorney  at  Law,  Macon  City) . 
Among  the  young  lawyers  of  this  section  of  the  State  who  are  rap- 
idly coming  to  the  front  in  their  profession  and  taking  a  front  rank  in 
afi'airs,  is  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch.  Mr.  Jones'  early  advan- 
tages for  fitting  himself  for  the  activities  of  life  were  good,  and  he 
has  shown  that  he  had  not  only  the  industry  but  the  qualities  of  mind 
to  improve  them.  He  obtained  a  thorough  collegiate  education, 
which  included  a  classical  course,  and  afterwards  followed  the  profes- 
sion of  teaching  for  awhile  which  had  the  effect  to  make  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  college  curriculum  more  ready  and  enduring.  In  1875 
he  began  a  regular  and  systematic  course  of  study  of  the  law,  plac- 
ing himself  under  the  instruction  of  Col.  John  F.  Williams,  then  of 
this  city,  but  now  of  St.  Louis.  Prior  to  this  he  had  spent  some 
time  in  the  general  study  of  law,  but  he  now  devoted  himself  exclu- 
sively to  it.  He  made  such  progress  in  his  studies  that  by  the  fall  of 
1876  he  felt  qualified  to  apply  for  admission  to  the  bar.  His  exam- 
ination was  eminently  satisfactory  and  in  granting  him  license  to 
practice  in  the  courts  of  this  State,  Judge  John  W.  Henry  highly  com- 
plimented him  for  his  attainments  and  spoke  assuringly  of  his  future 
at  the  bar.  Mr.  Jones  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Macon  City  and  practiced  with  his  former  preceptor,  Col.  Williams, 
until  the  latter  removed  to  St.  Louis,  which  was  in  1881.  Since  then 
Mr.  Jones  has  continued  the  practice  at  this  place  alone,  and  with 
steadily  increasing  success  and  reputation.  The  large  practice  which 
Col.  Williams  had,  Mr.  Jones  succeeded  in  retaining,  and  besides  that 
he  has  secured  an  excellent  clientage.  For  the  past  three  years  he 
has  been  the  resident  attorney  for  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific 
Railway,  a  position  that  is  by  no  means  an  insignificant  evidence  of 
his  standing  at  the  bar.  On  the  24th  of  October,  1878,  Mr.  Jones 
was  married  to  Miss  Ida  V.  Thompson  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  a  daughter 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1177 

of  Moses  Thompson,  now  a  prominent  capitalist  of  Denver,  Col., 
and  who  is  largely  interested  in  mining  property.  Mr.  Jones  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his  wile  is  con- 
nected with  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Jones  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs, usually  being  a  delegate  in  district  and  State  conventions,  and  is 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the'  leading  Democrats  and  soundest,  safest 
man  in  his  party  in  this  county.  Personally,  the  official  bee 
is  not  believed  to  have  ever  sung  any  siren  songs  within  vibratory 
reach  of  his  tympanum.  At  least  he  has  never  asked  for  an  office 
and  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  he  would  accept  one  unless  it  were 
sufficiently  high  to  shimmer  with  more  than  ordinary  brightness.  Mr. 
Jones'  parents,  William  T.  and  Mary  S.  (Simms)  Jones,  were  both 
natives  of  Kentucky,  but  came  to  Missouri  long  prior  to  the  war. 
The  father  was  a  merchant  by  occupation  and  was  quite  successful. 
He  founded  the  town  of  Girard  and  opened  the  first  store  established 
at  that  place.  He  came  to  Macon  in  1865  and  subsequently  located 
on  a  farm  about  four  miles  north  of  Macon  City.  He  died  there 
early  in  1883.  He  had  for  years  been  one  of  the  prominent  and  ac- 
tive men  of  the  county  and  was  highly  esteemed.  John  T.,  born  at 
Girard,  June  30,  1850,  spent  his  early  years  mostly  at  school.  At  the 
age  of  17  he  entered  McGee  College  from  which  he  graduated 
with  distinction  in  1874  in  a  large  class,  includinof  R.  G.  Mitchell  of 
Kansas  City,  Rev.  William  Mitchell,  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Mcllvaine  and 
others.  The  following  fall  he  and  Dr.  John  T.  Mitchell,  now  of 
Kansas  City,  established  the  St.  James  Academy,  at  present  known 
as  Macon  Academy,  with  which  he  was  connected  for  about  a  year. 
He  then  began  the  study  of  law,  under  Col.  Williams. 

JOSEPH  L.  JUDY 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser). 

Mr.  J.  is  the  son  of  Alexander  Judy,  of  Kentucky,  who  married  in 
1845,  Miss  Nancy  Smaley,  a  native  of  the  same  State,  by  whom  he 
had  eight  children:  Matilda,  Mary,  Amanda,  Sarah,  Nannie,  Asa, 
Winepark  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Alexander  Judy  was  a  stock-raiser 
up  to  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  in  which  his  experiences  were 
most  thrilling  and  romantic.  He  was  with  Morgan  on  his  raid  through 
Ohio,  was  captured  by  the  enemy  and  sent  to  Camp  Douglass,  from 
which  he  finally  managed  to  escape  by  means  of  a  bribe  to  the  guard. 
In  1865  he  came  to  Macon  county,  and  there  died  May  25,1882.  His 
widow  still  survives.  Joseph  was  born  September  10,  1852,  and  was 
educated  principally  at  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  subsequent  to  which  he 
taught  school  for  a  number  of  terms.  September  17,  1873,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Frances  M.  Walker,  who  bore  him  two  children,  Mabel  and 
Ernest.  June  14,  1880,  Mrs.  Judy  fell  a  victim  to  that  dread  de- 
stroyer, consumption,  and  on  the  17th  of  July,  1881,  Mr.  J.  brought 
home  a  new  bride,  nee  Miss  Mollie  E.  Dunn.  They  have  one  child.  Ves- 
per Lee,  born  September  25,  1882.     Mr.  Judy  owns  a  farm  of  118 


1178  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

acres,  all  under  cultivation,  upon  which  is  a  nice  residence  and  all 
necessary  buildings,  also  a  fine  young  orchard.  He  deals  in  stock, 
cattle  and  mules,  and  is  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Mr.  J.  bears 
an  enviable  reputation  in  the  township,  of  which  he  has  been  clerk 
and  assessor.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Friendship  Baptist  Church. 

AUGUSTUS  L.  KNIGHT,  M.D. 

(Deceased) . 
The  Doctor  was  born  in  New  England,  March  29,  1828,  and  was 
the  son  of  Franklin  and  Kuth  (Johnson)  Knight.  He  was  educated 
at  Bowdoin  College  and  was  a  graduate  of  the  New  York  Medical  Uni- 
versity. He  went  first  to  Virginia  and  began  practicing  medicine  in 
Page  county,  but  in  1852  moved  to  Missouri,  and  located  at  Old 
Bloomington,  Macon  county.  He  lived  here  three  years  and  then 
bought  a  lot  in  Macon  City  when  the  town  was  laid  out,  and  built  the 
first  residence  in  the  place.  He  enjoyed  a  large  practice  among  the 
best  people,  and  in  1860  went  also  into  the  drug  business,  in  which 
he  was  engaged  until  his  death,  April  15,  1880.  Dr.  Knight  was  a 
most  zealous  and  devoted  church  man.  He  first  belonged  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  gave  largely  to  that  denomination.  He  was 
instrumental  in  the  building  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
city,  which  stood  upon  the  present  site  of  the  Palace  Hotel.  After- 
wards he  became  an  Episcopalian,  in  which  faith  he  died.  .  He  was 
senior  warden  in  St.  James'  Church,  towards  the  erection  of  which 
he  contributed  liberally.  His  whole  mind  seemed  taken  up  with 
church  matters,  and  he  was  ever  a  liberal  and  "  cheerful  giver,"  both  in 
the  services  of  the  Lord,  and  to  his  representatives,  the  poor.  He 
was  generous  to  a  fault.  The  Doctor  was  a  Mason,  being  at  the  time 
of  hts  death  treasurer  of  the  Macon  lodge.  He  was  buried  with  all 
the  honors  of  the  order,  also  with  the  solemn  and  impressive  services 
of  the  church.  Dr.  Knight  was  married  February  28,  1854,  at  Flor- 
ence, near  College  Mound,  to  Miss  Anna  K.,  daughter  of  James  and 
Frances  E.  (McCormack)  -Flore,  formerly  from  Virginia.  Mrs.  K. 
was  born  and  educated  in  Winchester,  Va.  Her  parents  were  some 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Mason  county,  having  moved  there  in  1842. 
There  are  three  children  ;  Mrs.  Augusta  J.  Sanford,  residing  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  ;  William  D.,  clerking  in  Macon,  a  young  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  correct  principles,  the  pride  of  his  family ;  and  Ethel,  an 
interesting  girl  of  10  years.  Mrs.  Knight  and  her  three  children  are 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  She  has  lost  five  children.  Dr. 
Knight  left  his  family  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

A.  R.  LEMON! 

(Contractor  and  Builder,  Macon  City), 

Mr.  Lemon,  a  practical  and  experienced  carpenter,  and  one  of  the 
leading  mechanics  and  business  men  in  his  line  at  this  place,  working 
usually  a  large  number  of  hands  to  fill  his  contracts,  is  by  nativity 
from  Maryland,  but  was  reared  in  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  his  re- 


HISTORY    or   MACON    COUNTY.  1179 

moval  to  Missouri  after  the  late  war.  He  was  born  in  Cumberland, 
Alleghany  county,  Md.,  February  25,  1838.  When  but  two  years  of 
age,  however,  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  where  the  ftither  bought 
a  farm  16  miles  north  of  Cincinnati,  and  where  A.  R.  was  reared. 
Young  Lemon  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio  and  at  Glen- 
dale  Academy,  from  the  latter  of  which  he  graduated  in  1858.  Subse- 
quently he  taught  school  for  a  time  and  then  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  at  which  he  was  at  work  in  Cincinnati  with  success,  when  the 
war  broke  out.  Soon  after  the  first  shot  was  fired  on  Ft.  Sumpter  he 
enlisted  in  Battery  K,  Third  United  States  artillery,  and  served  for 
three  years  under  the  banner  of  the  Union.  He  was  twice  wounded 
during  the  war.  He  served  through  the  Peninsula  campaign  at  Wash- 
ington and  in  the  Eleventh  corps.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term 
Mr.  Lemon  was  honorably  discharged  at  Nashville,  and  the  year  after 
the  war  came  to  Macon  City.  Having  resumed  work  at  his  trade,  he 
continued  it  at  this  place.  His  career  has  been  entirely  successful, 
and  as  has  been  said  he  has  taken  a  place  among  the  leading  men  in 
his  line  in  Macon  City,  and  indeed  throughout  the  surrounding  coun-  Cf 

try.  November  13,  1860,  Mr.  Lemon  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  S. 
Ever,  originally  of  Switzerland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemon  have  five 
children:  Olive  A.,  Alfred,  Charles,  Mamie  and  William,  all  of  whom 
are  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemon  are  both  church  members,  he  of 
the  Episcopal  and  she  of  the  Wesley  an.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  the  K.  of  P.,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  Adjutant  of 
the  G.  A.  R.  at  this  place  and  Past  Chancelor  of  the  K.  of  P.  Mr. 
Lemon  has  served  four  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
of  Macon  City,  and  is  the  Grand  Recorder  of  the  Brothers  of  Philau- 
throphy  of  Missouri. 

MAJOR  JOHN  M.  LONDON 

(Of  London  &  Stean,  Attorneys  and  Land  Agents,  Macon  City) . 

Major  London's  paternal  ancestry  settled  in  North  Alabama  about 
1762  from  England.  The  family  owned  a  large  number  of  slaves,  and 
his  grandfather,  William  London,  was  an  extensive  planter.  He  was 
killed  there  by  the  Indians  in  about  1810,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Creek  War,  in  the  early  prosecution  of  which  he  took  an  active  and 
prominent  part.  Major  London's  father  was  born  and  reared  in  North 
Alabama,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Martha  Townsend.  After- 
wards, in  about  1819,  he  immigrated  to  Missouri,  locating  for  a  short 
time  in  Boone  county.  From  Boone  he  removed  to  Jackson  county, 
and  from  there  to  Schuyler  county.  But,  in  1857,  in  order  to  give 
his  children  the  educational  advantages  afforded  by  McGee  College, 
he  settled  near  that  institution,  in  Macon  county.  There  John  M., 
with  the  others  of  school  age  of  his  father's  family,  entered  the  col- 
lege, where  he  continued  as  a  student  until  a  short  time  after  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  In  May,  1861,  the  college  was  closed  on 
account  of  the  war,  and  but  for  that  young  London  would  have  grad- 
uated at  the  ensuino;  commencement  in  June. 


1180  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Major  London's  father  was  an  uncompromising  anti-slavery  man, 
and  was  one  of  the  few  prominent  and  outspoken  Union  men  in  Macon 
county.  In  perfect  accord  with  his  ftither  in  sentiments  of  loyalty  to 
the  Government,  and  in  opposition  to  slavery,  young  London,  soon 
after  quitting  college,  although  barely  past  his  sixteenth  year,  offered 
himself  as  a  volunteer  for  the  defense  of  the  old  flag  and  the  integrity 
of  the  Union.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Twenty-second  Missouri 
infantry,  and  by  his  example  and  encouragement  did  much  to  secure 
volunteers  for  his  regiment.  Up  to  the  spring  of  1862  he  was  princi- 
pally engaged  in  scouting  in  Macon,  Randolph,  Chariton,  Howard, 
Adair  and  Boone  counties,  and  during  the  time  was  in  numberless  en- 
gagements with  bushwackers  and  recruiting  parties  of  the  Confederate 
service. 

Early  in  1862  the  Twenty-second  Missouri  was  consolidated  with 
the  Tenth  Missouri,  and  he  joined  the  latter  regiment  shortly  after  the 
battle  of  Shiloh.  The  Tenth  Missouri  became  noted  in  the  army  as 
one  of  the  finest  regiments  from  Missouri,  remarked  for  its  superior 
drill  and  its  unfaltering  courage  on  the  field  of  battle.  It  took  part 
in  the  North  Mississippi  campaign  in  1862,  and  greatly  distinguished 
itself  in  the  sanguinary  battles  of  luka  and  Corinth.  In  the  latter. 
Major  London  was  severely  wounded,  being  shot  through  the  right 
hip,  seriously  injuring  the  hip-joint.  On  account  of  this  he  was  fur- 
loughed,  but  rejoined  the  army  the  following  May,  1863.  The  Vicks- 
burg  campaign  was  just  then  beginning,  and  he,  with  his  regiment,  took 
part  in  all  the  engagements  that  followed,  including  many  of  the  severest 
conflicts  fought  in  and  around  Vicksburg  during  the  long  and  toilsome 
siege  of  that  city.  Afterwards  the  regiment  participated  in  the  rapid 
and  dangerous  march  across  Tennessee,  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  from 
Memphis  to  Chattanooga. 

Major  London  was  in  that  terrible  hand  to  hand  death-duel  of  the 
war,  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  and  this  is  remembered  as  the  only 
occasion  on  which  the  Tenth  Missouri  ever  wavered  in  the  execution 
of  its  orders,  or  faltered  for  a  moment  in  reaching  the  point  to  which 
it  was  directed  to  go.  The  delay,  however,  was  but  temporary,  and 
would  not  have  occurred  at  all  but  for  the  blunder  or  misapprehension 
of  general  officers.  Had  not  this  mistake  occurred,  the  regiment 
would  have  reached  the  crest  of  the  ridge  in  the  van,  in  keeping  with 
the  reputation  it  had  ever  borne  for  leading  the  way  on  similar  occa- 
sions. During  the  winter  of  1864  Major  London  had  command  of  a 
body  of  mounted  men  detailed  for  the  duty  of  suppressing  bushwackers 
and  outlaws  in  the  country  about  Huntsville,  Ala.  This,  in  the  coun- 
try of  the  enemy,  was  a  most  perilous  duty,  but  it  was  fearlessly  and 
successfully  performed.  During  the  winter  he  captured  over  150  men 
in  arms,  and  among  them  some  of  the  worst  desperados  the  war  pro- 
duced. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  he  entered  upon  the  Atlanta  campaign,  but  the 
term  of  service  of  his  company  (E,  Tenth  Missouri)  expiring  during  the 
following  summer,  with  the  company  he  was  ordered  to  St.  Louis,  and 
honorably  mustered  out.     Immediately  after  his  discharge,  he  again 


i 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1181 

offered  himself  for  service,  and  was  commissioned  adjntant  of  the  Forty- 
second  Missouri,  which  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  organizing  and  dis- 
ciplining. At  the  time  of  Hood's  raid  toward  Nashville,  Major  London's 
command  was  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Thomas  at  the  latter  place.  Sub- 
sequently the  command  went  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  af- 
ter Hood's  retreat  it  was  ordered  to  Tallahoma,  Tenn.  There  Major 
London  was  made  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  district,  and  until 
the  close  of  the  war  was  engaged  in  disciplining  Missouri  and  Illinois 
one-year  troops,  and  in  scouting  service  in  Southern  Tennessee  and 
Northern  Alabama.  He  was  finally  mustered  out  of  the  service  on  the 
3d  of  July,  186.5. 

After  his  discharge  Major  London  returned  to  Macon  county,  and 
in  1866  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  for  the  office  of 
circuit  clerk  and  ex-officio  recorder,  being  elected  at  the  ensuing  No- 
vember election  by  a  majority  of  368  votes.  Two  years  hxter  he  was 
nominated  for  a  second  term,  but  by  this  time  a  great  many,  whose 
zeal  for  the  Union  had  not  been  conspicuous,  liad  returned  to  the  county 
and  he  was  defeated  by  125  majority.  Li  1872  Major  London  was 
nominated  by  the  Independents  for  Representative  in  the  Legislature, 
Hon.  A.  P.  McCall  being  his  opponent  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
Meanwhile  the  Southern  boys  had  pretty  generally  returned,  and,  like 
young  partridges,  after  quiet  was  restored  made  themselves  quite  nu- 
merous, especially  around  the  polls.  Major  London  was  defeated  by 
about  400  majority. 

In  1876,  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  on  the  ticket  headed  by- 
Peter  Cooper  for  President,  and,  though  not  elected,  received  1,325 
votes.  Two  years  later  he  was  again  nominated  for  Congress  by  the 
Greenback  party,  and,  if  a  few  short-sighted,  so-called  "  straight  Re- 
publicans" (who,  like  pigs,  have  to  be  knocked  down  and  turned 
around  while  they  are  blind  in  order  to  get  them  to  run  in  a  different 
direction  from  the  one  in  which  they  start),  had  not  made  a  sort  of 
side-show,  hand-organ  campaign,  he  would  have  been  elected.  He 
received  12,000  votes,  only  1,300  less  than  the  successful  Democratic 
candidate.  Col.  Hatch,  whilst  the  so-called  "straight  Republican" 
candidate  received  4,300,  nine-tenths  of  which  would  have  been  cast 
for  the  Greenback  candidate  if  no  Republican  had  been  in  the  field, 
»which  would  have  defeated  the  Democrat  by  2,000  or  3,000  majority. 
In  1880  he  was  a  third  time  nominated,  and  out  of  the  total  vote  of 
34,800  was  defeated  by  only  400. 

Major  London  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  law  practice  snice 
a  short  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  as  circuit  clerk, 
and  such  is  his  character  as  a  man  and  his  ability  and  success  as  a 
lawyer,  that  he  commands  a  lucrative  practice  and  occupies  an  envia- 
ble position  at  the  bar.  Whilst  he  is  considered  an  able  jury  lawyer, 
being  an  earnest,  forcible  and  eloquent  speaker,  he  is  at  the  same  time 
an  assiduous  student  and  laborious  practitioner,  exercising  great  care 
in  the  preparation  of  his  cases  as  well  as  unwearying  vigilance  ni  their 
management  and  final  trial  in  court.     A  man  of  unquestioned  integ- 


1182  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

ritj  and  of  the  most  honorable  and  gentlemanly  instincts,  he  always 
has  the  confidence  of  the  court  and  the  public,  no  inconsiderable  ad- 
vantage in  the  practice  of  law. 

In  1883  Mr.  Ben.  H.  Stean  became  his  partner,  since  which  they 
have  been  engaged  in  the  practice  together.  They  also  do  a  laro-e  real 
estate  business,  buying,  selling,  etc.,  and  have  on  hand  some  of  the 
best  lands,  both  improved  and  unimproved,  and  some  of  the  choicest 
town  property  to  be  had  in  the  county.  Thoroughly  posted  as  to  the 
quality  and  value  of  property  in  the  county  and  throughout  this  part 
of  the  country,  and  being  men  of  strictly  honorable  business  methods, 
they  afford  both  to  purchasers  and  buyers  superior  advantages  for 
effecting  sales  and  transfers  of  property. 

Major  London  is  now  39  years  of  age  and  is  in  the  very  meridian  of 
manhood,  physical  and  intellectual,  and  to  all  appearances  has  many 
years  of  usefulness  before  him,  to  himself,  to  his  family,  and  to  the 
public.  He  was  married  April  27,  1867,  to  Miss  Minnie  Fletcher,  a 
daughter  of  G.  Fletcher,  of  Tennessee.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  London  have 
six  children,  namely :  Harold,  Kate  E.,  Lee,  Daisy,  Ruth  and  Nellie. 
Mrs.  London  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  G.  A.  E.  orders. 

JAMES  M.  LOVE 

(Of  Love  &  Howard,  Editors  and  Proprietors  of  the  Macon  True  Democrat,  Macon 

City). 

James  Madison  Love  was  born  in  Lynchburg,  Va.,  September  8, 
1825,  an'd  was  the  eldest  son  in  the  family  of  nine  children  of  Daniel 
W.  and  Harriet  (Hawkins)  Love,  both  of  old  and  respected  Virginia 
families,  the  former  originally  of  Stafford  county,  but  the  latter  of 
Bedford  county.  Daniel  W.  Love,  however,  was  reared  in  Pittsyl- 
vania county  and  after  his  marriage  made  his  home  at  Lynchburo;. 
He  died  in  1863,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  pre- 
ceeded  him  to  the  grave  in  1846.  At  the  age  of  fs,  the  son,  James 
M.  Love,  whose  boyhood  up  to  that  time  had  been  spent  principally 
at  school,  entered  a  newspaper  office  to  learn  the  printer's  trade, 
which  he  acquired  in  due  time  and  worked  at  for  several  years.  But 
feeling  that  his  education  was  not  all  that  he  would  like  to  have  it 
or  could  make  it,  he  then  took  a  course  in  the  Botetourt  Seminary,  an 
institution  of  considerable  repute  in  Western  Virginia.  Soon  after 
quitting  the  seminary,  in  1847  he  established  a  paper  at  Jeffersonville, 
in  Tazewell  county,  Va.,  called  the  Jeffersonville  Democrat,  which  he 
l)ublished  with  success  for  about  two  years.  Meanwhile  he  had  de- 
termined to  come  West  and  had  fixed  his  mind  on  Missouri  as  the  State 
of  his  future  residence.  Disposing  of  his  interest,  therefore,  in  the 
Democrat  at  Jeffersonville,  late  in  the  fall  of  1849  he  came  out  to  this 
State  and  located  at  Bloomington,  then  the  county  seat  of  Macon 
county,  with  the  view  of  publishing  a  paper  at  that  place.  Indeed, 
he  at  once  busied  himself  with  arrangements  to  establish  a  paper 
there,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year  the  first  number  of  the 


HISTORY   or   MACON    COUNTY.  1183 

Bloomington  Gazette  was  published.  Col.  Gilstrap  was  his  partner 
in  the  publication  of  the  Gazette  and  they  continued  the  publication 
of  the  paper  for  something  over  two  years.  Mr.  Love  then  sold  out 
and  for  a  time  was  out  of  the  newspaper  business.  In  1853  he  was 
appointed  to  organize  the  county  into  school  districts  under  the  then 
new  public  school  law  of  the  State.  This  was  the  first  school  law  of 
any  real,  practical  utility  enacted  in  Missouri,  and  Mr.  Love,  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the  law,  did  his  work  faith- 
fully and  well  and  to  the  great  benefit  of  the  youth  of  the  county,  as 
all  old  citizens  very  well  know.  He  visited  every  neighborhood  in 
in  the  county  and  gave  the  work  his  undivided  time  and  attention. 
It  was  not  completed  until  well  along  in  1854.  After  this  he  pub- 
lished the  Macon  Republican,  which  became  under  his  management 
and  editorial  control  one  of  the  influential  country  papers  of  the 
State.  In  1855  Mr.  Love,  whose  life,  up  to  this  time,  for  the  previous 
eight  or  10  years,  had  been  one  of  constant  activity  in  affairs  of  a 
more  or  less  public  nature,  having  always  taken  a  somewhat  leading 
part  in  the  politics  of  his  county,  and  in  other  matters  of  a  public 
nature,  decided  to  retire  to  the  country  and  engage  in  farming.  He 
therefore  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm  near  Bloomington,  his 
place  being  in  section  4,  township  58,  range  15,  of  this  county.  Lo- 
cating on  his  place,  he  remained  there  entirely  devoted  to  his  farming 
interests  for  some  four  years.  But,  as  is  said  of  the  sailor,  that  once 
wedded  to  a  life  on  the  sea  he  can  never  be  satisfied  off  of  it,  so  of  a 
newspaper  man  —  once  thoroughly  initiated  into  this  business  he  can 
never  be  happy  or  contented  out  of  it.  This,  at  least,  has  proven 
true  of  Mr.  Love.  Becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  quiet  routine, 
though  independent  and  honorable  life  of  a  farmer,  he  resolved  to 
embark  once  more  upon  the  sea  of  journalism.  Accordingly,  in  1859, 
he  and  Mr.  Howard,  his  present  partner  in  business,  formed  a  part- 
nership and  established  the  Macon  Legion.  The  same  year  Mr. 
Love  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Bloomington.  But  in  the  mean- 
time he  had  been  elected  first  assistant  clerk  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives at  Jefi'erson  City,  in  the  winter  of  1858-59,  and  he  held 
this  position  through  the  regular  session  of  that  winter  and  also 
through  the  adjourned  session  of  1859-60.  A  man  of  good  address  and 
superior  business  qualifications,  he  had  by  this  time  attained  to  a  position 
of  some  prominence  in  public  affairs  and  was  frequently  mentioned  as 
an  available  and  popular  candidate  for  different  offices  in  the  county 
and  in  the  State  Legislature.  When,  therefore,  in  the  fall  or  winter 
of  1861  the  office  of  county  clerk  became  vacant,  his  appointment  to 
that  office  by  the  county  court  was  generally  urged,  and,  upon  it  be- 
ing made,  was  accepted  by  the  people  with  every  evidence  of  satis- 
faction and  approval.  After  filling  out  the  unexpired  term  for  which  he 
was  appointed,  in  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  office.  He  continued  to 
hold  it  thereafter  until  January,  1867.  While  in  office,  in  1863,  the 
county  seat  was  moved  from  Bloomington  to  Macon  City,  and  Mr.  Love 
superintended  the  removal  of  the  county  court  records.     Long  prior  to 


1184  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

his  retirement  from  office  be  had  severed  his  connection  with  the  Legion 
newspaj3er,  and  he  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Macon 
City.  He  continued  in  this  until  1871,  when  he  returned  again  to 
newspaper  life,  establishing  the  Macon  Democrat.  Subsequently  the 
Democrat  was  consolidated  with  the  Macon  Times  under  the  name  of 
the  Democrat- Times.  In  1874  Mr.  Love  Avas  again  elected  county  clerk 
for  a  term  of  four  years.  Thus  for  over  10  years  he  filled  this  re- 
sponsible and  important  office,  and  from  the  information  we  have 
been  able  to  gather,  as  well  as  from  our  personal  acquaintance  with 
him,  we  feel  that  it  would  be  suppressing  the  truth  not  to  say  (and 
the  truth  when  plainly  told  is  never  flattery,  however  complimentary 
it  may  be),  that  he  made  one  of  the  most  capable  and  efficient  county 
clerks  who  ever  occupied  the  position  in  this  county.  After  quitting^ 
the  office  the  last  time  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Eagle  township. 
But  in  the  fall  of  1883  he  returned  to  his  early  love  again,  the 
newspaper  business.  He  and  Mr.  Howard  formed  their  present  part- 
nership for  the  publication  of  the  True  Democrat.  Both  old  and  ex- 
perienced newspaper  men,  in  an  unusually  short  time  they  have 
succeeded  not  only  in  placing  the  True  Democrat  on  a  solid  busi- 
ness footing,  but  have  made  it  one  of  the  influential  interior  newspa- 
pers of  North  Missouri.  Its  editorial  department  is  conducted  with 
marked  ability,  and  it  maintains  an  elevated  tone  at  all  times  and  in 
all  circumstances.  It  is  one  of  the  sober,  ably  conducted  country 
journals  of  the  State.  As  its  name  indicates,  it  is  Democratic  in  pol- 
itics, but  views  all  political  questions  from  a  liberal,  enlightened 
standpoint,  and  never  permits  itself  to  be  used  for  any  base  purpose, 
either  in  politics  or  otherwise.  Mr.  Love  was  married  August  29, 
1850,  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Judge  M.  H.  Smith,  of 
Bloomington.  This  has  proved  a  long  and  happy  union  and  has 
been  blessed  with  12  children,  namely:  Sarah  A.,  now  the  wife  of 
John  McLean;  James  P.,  a  resident  of  Caldwell,  Kan.  ;  Flora  R., 
the  wife  of  F.  W.  Jones,  a  well-to-do  business  man  of  Moberly  ; 
Howard  E.,  the  third  child,  died  in  1866  ;  Frank  S.  is  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Caldwell,  Kan.  ;  Thomas  J.,  the  fourth  son,  died  in  infancy  ; 
Madison  S.,  Charles  A.,  Emma  L.,  Claude,  Nellie  V.  and  Eugene, 
the  last  five  at  home.  Mr.  Love  has  been  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  since  1854.  A  resident  of  Macon 
county  for  nearly  40  years,  since  early  manhood,  he  has  been  identi- 
fied with  its  affairs,  political,  material  and  otherwise,  from  the  begin- 
ning, in  a  manner  that  reflects  only  credit  uj^on  himself  and  upon  the 
county.  Known  as  well,  perhaps,  as  any  man  who  ever  made  his 
home  within  the  borders  of  the  county,  he  is  as  universally  and  highly 
respected  as  he  is  well  known.  As  an  officer  his  record  is  without  a 
stain  and  such  as  to  command  the  indorsement  of  the  people ; 
whilst  as  a  citizen  he  is  justly  esteemed  one  of  the  useful  and  influ- 
ential men  of  the  county.  As  a  newspaper  man,  both  as  a  manager 
and  editor,  he  has  an  enviable  reputation,  and  is  looked  upon  by 
journalists  generally  in  this  part  of  the  State  as  one  of  theii*  best  rep- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1185 

resentatives.  Personally  he  is  kind-hearted  and  of  pleasant,  popular 
manners,  and  is  much  prized  both  as  a  neighbor  and  as  a  companion 
in  the  social  circle.  Mr.  Love  we  have  found  to  be  one  of  the  true 
and  worthy  men  of  Macon  county. 

WILLIAM  D.  LOVE 

(Farmer,  Section  3-t). 

Mr.  Love  is  a  successful  farmer  of  this  township,  and  was  born  in 
Tennessee  June  5,  1828.  He  was  the  son  of  Daniel  Love,  who,  soon 
after  the  birth  of  William,  moved  to  Virginia  and  settled  on  the  James 
river.  He  made  his  home  there  until  his  final  taking  oif.  William 
D.  came  to  Macon  county  in  1851,  and  by  thrift,  honest  industry,  and 
indefatigable  perseverance,  has  amassed  a  nice  fortune.  He  is  a  good 
man  and  valuable  citizen,  and  all  that  know  him  rejoice  at  his  success. 
He  owns  150  acres  of  land,  130  of  which  are  in  good  cultivation  and 
with  nice  improvements  upon  them.  Mr.  Love  early  in  life  wooed 
and  won  Miss  Francis  R.  Powell,  with  whom  he  formed  an  alliance 
on  the  15th  day  of  February,  1852.  She  has  been  all  that  man  could 
wish  as  a  wife,  and  has  shared  with  equal  sympathy  his  joys  and  woes. 
They  have  nine  children  :  Harriet,  James,  Arthur,  William  W.,  Cres- 
ton,  Edward  L.,  Mary  T.,  Anna  B.  and  Henry  P.,  all  of  whom  are 
jewels  worthy  a  monarch's  crown.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Love  are  earnest 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

GIDEON  C.  LYDA 

(Deputy-Sheriff  of  Macon  county,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Lyda,  though  a  young  man,  has  had  quite  an  active,  and  some- 
what extensive,  experience  in  the  afitiirs  of  life,  and  has  shown  the 
energy  and  enterprise  Avhich,  when  directed  in  a  regular  and  perma- 
nent channel,  that  ripeness  of  judgment  will  do,  as  age  advances, 
cannot  fail  to  place  him  in  a  prominent  position  of  success  and  of  use- 
fulness and  influence  as  a  citizen.  That  a  young  racer  has  too  much 
life  and  blood  to  be  kept  close  to  the  track  during  his  first  experience 
on  the  turf,  so  far  from  being  considered  a  fault,  is  considered  the 
most  promising  sign  of  a  future  successful  career.  It  is  better  to  have 
too  much  life  and  blood  in  one's  early  years  than  not  enough,  for  age 
usually  brings  steadiness  of  mind  and  singleness  of  purpose.  The 
young  man  of  little  fire  in  his  nature  becomes  stupid  as  he  grows  old, 
whilst  his  lively,  animated  companion,  if  he  is  not  too  intractible, 
becomes  the  man  of  energy  and  enterprise  and  of  success  and  promi- 
nence. This  is  the  lesson  that  the  lives  of  men  teach,  the  world  over, 
and  to  which  there  are  few  exceptions.  AYith  the  spirit  and  ambition 
Mr.  Lyda  has  shown  heretofore,  and  with  his  qualities  of  mind,  and 
his  education  and  irreproachable  character,  it  is  venturing  nothing  to 
say  that  he  is  destined  to  take  an  enviable  place  in  any  community 
where  his  lot  may  be  cast.  Gideon  C.  Lyda  was  born  in  Macon 
county,  February  14,  1852,  and  was  a  son  of  Gideon  Lyda,  an  old 


1186  HISTORY   OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

and  highly-respected  citizen  of  this  county,  an  outline  of  whose  life 
appears  in  the  sketch  of  John  Lyda  of  Atlanta,  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  Mr.  Lyda's  mother  was  a  Miss  Miranda  De  Frees.  Her 
brother,  B.  L.  De  Frees,  was  State  Treasurer  of  Louisiana  under  the 
Confederacy.  Gideon  C.  was  the  youngest  of  14  children,  all  but 
three  of  whom  are  living.  He  was  reared  on  the  old  Lyda  homestead 
in  Eagle  township  and  had  good  opportunities  for  an  education.  After 
attending  the  common  schools  he  took  a  course  at  Macon  High  School 
in  Bloomingtou  and  then  attended  McGee  College  for  one  term.  Sub- 
sequently he  entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Kirksville,  but  did 
not  continue  there  until  his  graduation,  on  account  of  the  death  of  his 
father,  by  which  he  was  called  home.  His  first  active  work  on  his 
own  account  was  as  agent  of  the  Barnes  Publishing  Company,  having 
been  employed  to  introduce  their  series  of  school  books  for  adoption 
by  the  public  schools  of  this  county.  He  then  followed  teaching  with 
success  for  about  two  years,  and  after  this  united  with  Major  W.  C. 
B.  Gillespie  to  establish  the  North  Missouri  Register.  They  succeeded 
in  placing  the  Register  on  a  solid  basis  of  business  success  and  popular 
influence.  Under  their  management  the  Register  became  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  Democratic  journals  throughout  North- 
central  Missouri.  But  cosmopolitan  journalism  is  notoriously  not  the 
shortest  and  smoothest  road  to  a  fortune,  and  young  Lyda  was  not 
insensible  to  the  advantages  represented  by  at  least  a  sufficiency  of 
this  world's  goods.  After  a  successful  experience  of  18  months  with 
the  Register,  he  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  having 
several  years  before  taken  a  private  course  of  stud}^  in  medicine  and 
pharmacy.  Aware  that  the  profits  on  drugs  are  generally  greater 
than  the  cost-price,  he  felt  assured  that,  if  this  business  was  not  so 
interesting  as  journalism,  there  was  at  least  money  in  it,  which  made 
it  endurable.  But  as  a  druggist  he  was  disappointed  —  perhaps  for 
the  want  of  an  India-rubber  conscience  to  charge  85  cents  for  six 
powders  that  cost  originally  10  cents  a  pint.  Anyhow,  he  failed  as  a 
druggist,  and  lost  all  he  had.  After  two  years'  experience  in  drugs 
he  came  back  to  Macon  county,  in  pretty  much  the  same  condition  of 
mind  that  the  doctor  was  in  who  said  that  if  he  had  good  luck  he 
thought  he  would  succeed  in  pulling  the  old  man  through,  alive.  He 
now  resumed  teaching,  and  from  this  on  followed  various  occupations, 
never  failing,  however,  to  vote  the  straight  Democratic  ticket  at  every 
possible  opportunity.  In  1880  he  was  appointed  deputy-sheriff"  of 
Macon  county.  He  was  just  the  man  for  this  place  and  has  made  a 
regular  ne  plus  ultra  deputy-sherift'.  He  was  first  deputy  under  his 
brother,  John  S,  Lyda,  and  then,  after  Mr.  Morgan  came  into  office, 
he  was  retained,  having  become  a  sort  of  vade  mecum  in  that  office. 
To  make  a  long  story  short,  he  has  made  one  of  the  most  capable  and 
efficient  deputies  who  ever  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  or 
enlivened  the  waning  spirits  of  a  hung  jury  by  a  good  joke.  Mr.  Lyda 
is  very  popular  throughout  the  county  and  will  not  improbably  be 
called  to  the  office  of  high  sheriff"  himself,  some  day.     He  has  been 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1187 

twice  married,  first,  in  1873,  to  Miss  Nannie  Burton  of  Kirksville. 
Stie  died  about  four  years  ago,  and  he  Avas  married  to  his  present 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Sallie  Todd,  of  this  county,  May  1,  1882.  He  has 
one  child,  Myrtle,  a  little  girl,  some  eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lyda  are  both  church  members,  he  of  the  Baptist  and  she  of  the 
Christian  denominations. 

WILLIAM  McCULLOUGH 

(Of  jMcCuUough  &  Smith,  Grocers;  and  Moore,  McCullough  &  Co.,  Millers,  Macon 

City). 

Mr.  McCullough,  a  leading  and  active  business  man  of  this  place, 
came  to  Macon  City  in  the  spring  of  1869,  and  followed  market  garden- 
ing for  about  seven  years.  He  had  been  brought  up  to  this,  and  under- 
stood it  thoroughly,  so  that  his  success  in  the  business  was  assured. 
In  1876  he  also  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  with  Mr.  Frank 
Smith  as  his  partner.  They  have  since  continued  in  the  business  to- 
gether. They  built  up  one  of  the  leading  grocery  houses  of  Macon 
City,  and  carry  an  extensive  stock,  which  includes  every  thing  to  be 
found  in  a  first-class  grocery.  Their  trade  is  very  large,  and  besides 
a  heavy  custom  in  Macon  City,  they  do  a  large  business  outside  of 
town  and  throughout  the  surrounding  country.  Mr.  McCullough  also 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  some  years  ago,  Mr.  William  Johnson 
then  being  his  partner.  Then  Mr.  Smith  also  became  a  partner  in 
the  milling  firm,  and  a  year  later  Mr.  Moore  succeeded  Johnson, 
the  firm  thus  becoming  Moore,  McCullough  &  Co.,  as  it  at  present 
stands.  They  have  an  excellent  mill,  and  manufacture  flour  and  other 
breadstuffs  in  large  quantities.  They  use  the  roller  system,  which 
has  proved  a  complete  success,  and  their  flour  has  attained  a  wide 
reputation  for  excellence.  They  are  also  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
the  grain  business.  Besides  their  business  in  this  line  at  Macon  City, 
they  have  a  large  grain  warehouse  at  DeWitt,  in  Carroll  county, 
where  they  handle  most  of  the  grain  shipped  from  that  vicinity.  Mr. 
McCullough  devotes  his  attention  generally  to  the  grocery  store,  mill 
and  grain  business,  whilst  Mr.  Moore  attends  particularly  to  the  mill, 
and  Mr.  Smith  especially  to  the  grocery  house.  Thus  every  thing 
moves  along  with  harmony,  and  to  the  best  advantage  of  all,  as  well 
as  with  success. 

EDWIN   McKEE 

(Of  McKee  &  Smith,  Dealers  in  Dry  Goods,  Clothing,  Carpets,  Boots,  Shoes,  Etc., 

Etc.,  Macon). 

This  firm  was  organized  in  18 — ,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  its 
present  line  of  business  at  this  place.  Both  gentlemen  comiDosing  the 
firm  are  men  of  business  ability  and  experience.  Mr.  Smith  was  an 
old  merchant  of  Howard  county,  Avell  known  for  his  high  character 
and  personal  popularity.  He  attends  princiiDally  to  the  duties  of 
making  purchases  at  the  wholesale  markets  and  has  the  reputation 
among  wholesale  men  of  being  one  of  the  best  buyers  in  the  country. 


1188  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

Mr.  McKee  confines  himself  principally  to  managing  the  store  or 
stores,  for  their  house  occupies  two  large  sales  rooms,  and  for  this  he 
is  especially  well  fitted.  A  thorough  business  man,  he  is  at  the  same 
time  a  man  of  superior  tastes,  fine  personal  appearance,  popular  man- 
ners and  agreeable  disposition  —  such  a  man  as  is  calculated  to  keep  a 
store  in  good  shape,  well  arranged  and  presentable,  and  to  make  one 
feel  welcome  and  at  ease  while  examining  his  stock  or  making  pur- 
chases. They  carry  an  exceptionally  large  stock  of  goods  and  are 
the  leading  house  in  their  line  at  Macon  City.  Mr.  McKee  is  a  native 
of  New  York,  born  at  Hinsdale,  February  22,  1832.  He  was  educa- 
ted at  Genesee  College,  now  Syracuse  University,  from  which  he 
graduated  with  honor  in  1860.  He  then  went  to  Riissellville,  Ky., 
and  was  engaged  in  teaching  there  for  nearly  a  year.  Returning  to 
New  York,  he  enlisted  in  the  marine  service  and  was  out  for  nearly 
three  years.  He  held  the  office  of  corps  sergeant  and  was  on  the 
war  ship  Vanderbilt,  during  its  pursuit  of  the  Alabama.  The  Van- 
derbilt  traveled  over  25,000  miles  in  search  of  the  Alabama.  In 
1865  Mr.  McKee  came  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Chillicothe,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  business  for  about  a  year,  and  then  became  princi- 
pal of  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  a  position  he  held  for  three 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  business  again  and  continued  three  or 
four  years,  or  until  he  came  to  Macon  City  and  formed  his  present 
partnership  with  Mr.  Benjamin  Smith,  with  whom  he  has  since  been 
associated.  Mr.  McKee  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
about  two  years.  In  July,  1869,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Frank 
Hawley,  of  New  York.  They  have  one  child,  Lloyd  Hawley.  Mr. 
McKee  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Macon  City. 

M.  B.  MARCUM 

(Of  the  late  firm  of  Tucker  &  Marcum,  Proprietors  of  the  Palace  Hotel). 

Mr.  M.,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  was  born  in  1827.  He  was 
raised  as  a  farmer,  receiving  a  common  school  education,  and 
followed  his  profession  in  his  native  State  until  1844,  when  he  moved 
to  Iowa,  where  he  married  in  1849,  Miss  Harriet  Poston.  Remaining 
there  until  1858,  he  then  came  to  Missouri  and  continued  to  farm  un- 
til 1874.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  Marcum  House,  of  Chillicothe, 
Mo.,  which  after  running  for  ten  years  he  gave  up  for  the  Wabash 
Hotel  in  Macon  City.  He  retained  this  house  only  a  few  months,  and 
went  into  the  Palace  Hotel,  where  his  courteous  manners  and  ac- 
commodating disposition  make  him  universally  popular.  During  the 
war  Mr.  Marcum  enlisted  with  the  twenty-third  Missouri,  his  first  ex- 
perience being  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  went  with  Sherman  to  the  sea. 
At  the  end  of  three  years  of  faithful  and  efficient  service  he  returned 
home  without  a  scratch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  have  three  children :  Sa- 
rah, Nancy  and  Franklin  Sherman. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1189 


J.  L.  MARTIN, 

(Circuit  Clerk,  Macon  Cit}'). 

Most  of  the  time  for  the  six  years  preceding  his  election  to  the  of- 
fice of  circuit  clerk  in  1882,  Mr.  Martin  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  principally  in  Macon  and  Randolph  counties.  He  was  quite 
successful  as  a  school  teacher  and  his  services  were  in  request  wher- 
ever he  was  known.  His  popularity  as  a  teacher  had  not  a  little  to 
do  with  his  election  to  his  present  office.  He  made  the  race  against 
Mr.  Barnabas  Swarthout,  of  La  Plata,  defeating  him  by  a  large  ma- 
jority. Since  then  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
his  official  duties,  and  has  won  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  faithful  and  efficient  circuit  clerks  the  county  ever  had.  Mr. 
Martin  has  been  a  cripple  practically  since  1880,  being  compelled  to 
use  crutches  since  that  time.  Five  years  before  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  receive  a  slight  injury  to  his  right  hip,  which  continued  to  grow 
worse  until  at  last,  in  1880,  he  was  compelled  to  resort  to  crutches. 
A  man  of  resolution  and  mental  activity,  however,  he  neglects  no 
duty  on  account  of  his  physical  affliction,  but  is  perhaps  more  scru- 
pulous to  keep  everything  up  in  shape  than  others  would  be.  He  is 
a  prominent  Mason  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  Blue  Lodge. 
He  is  also  a  member  ©f  the  Triple  Alliance  and  is  connected  with 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Josephus  L.  Martin  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  Mo.,  and  is  a  son 
of  Wm.  B.  and  Sarah  M.  (Goodding)  Martin,  the  former  still  living 
at  Callao  in  Macon  county.  Mo.  The  mother  died  in  1865.  In  1860 
the  family  removed  to  College  Mound  and  there  J.  L.  had  the  bene- 
fit of  the  advantages  afforded  by  McGee  College,  but  he  did  not  con- 
tinue in  that  institution  until  his  graduation.  In  1874  he  began 
teaching  school  and  continued  it,  as  has  been  stated,  up  to  1860.  Dur- 
ing this  time,  however,  he  spent  about  a  year  in  Texas  and  was  for 
one  session  (1881)  clerk  to  the  committee  on  internal  improvements 
in  the  Missouri  House  of  Representatives,  of  which  Hon.  L.  A.  Thomp- 
son was  chairman.  Mr.  Martin  is  quite  popular  throughout  the 
county  and  commands  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

JUDGE  RICHARD  S.  MATTHEWS 

(Attorney  at  Law,  Macon) . 

Judge  Matthews,  who  has  held  the  office  of  probate  judge  of  Macon 
county  for  the  last  six  years,  and  is  a  successful  attorney  and  re- 
spected citizen  of  this  county,  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  near  Milton, 
in  Randolph  county,  July  14,  1847.  His  father  was  from  Prince 
William  county  ,Va.,  and  wasi'eared  upon  a  farm  that  afterwards  became 
a  part  ©f  the  battle-field  of  Bull  Run.  His  mother  was  from  Oldham 
county,  Ky.  Richard  N.  Matthews,  the  father,  was  born  in  1812,  and 
came  to  Missouri  in  1836,  locating  in  Ralls  county.  He  subsequently 
settled  in  Monroe  county,  and  lived   for  a  long  time  in  Monroe,  but 


1190  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

settled  permanently  in  Randolph  where  he  still  resides.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  the  latter  county  in  1843,  to  Miss  Minerva  G.  Phelps,  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1822.  They  reared  but  two  children:  Robert  H.,  now 
livino-  at  Cairo,  in  Randolph  county,  and  Richard  S.  The  father's  oc- 
cupation was  farming  and  he  became  comfortably  situated  in  life, 
beino"  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  competency.  Richard  S.  remained 
at  home  until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  assisting  on  the  farm  and 
attending  the  local  schools.  He  then  entered  McGee  College  in 
which  he  studied  for  the  four  following  years.  He  took  the  de- 
cree of  B.  S.  The  college  during  Judge  Matthews'  course 
was  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  one  of  the  able 
educators  of  the  State.  After  his  graduation  Mr.  Matthews 
took  charge  of  the  preparatory  department  of  the  college,  and 
had  control  of  that  department  for  three  years.  He  gave  eminent 
satisfaction  as  a  teacher,  as  we  understand  from  those  familiar 
with  his  record  in  that  position.  While  conducting  the  prepara- 
tory department  of  the  college,  he  also  studied  law.  In  1873  he 
was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  by  Judge  George  H.  Burckbartt,  of 
Randolph  county,  and  during  the  fall  of  that  year  located  at  Macon 
City  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Here  his  irreproachable  char- 
acter, scholarly  attainments  and  professional  qualifications  readily  rec- 
ommended him  to  the  confidence  of  the  community,  and  he  soon 
began  to  accumulate  a  substantial  practice.  In  1878  he  was  elected 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  judge  of  the  probate  court,  and  in  1882  was 
re-elected.  The  last  time  he  ran  he  had  no  opposition.  This  carries 
with  it  its  own  compliment.  So  far  as  probate  business  is  concerned, 
he  is  of  course  inhibited  from  practice,  but  in  the  other  courts,  par- 
ticularly the  circuit  court,  he  has  kept  up  his  practice.  Judge  Matthews 
is  hio-hly  esteemed  as  a  citizen  in  every  relation  of  life.  On  the  21st 
of  August,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Armada  Gilstrap,  a  daughter 
of  Hon.  Abner  Lee  Gilstrap,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Springfield,  Mo., 
but  formerly  of  this  county.  Mrs.  M.  is  also  a  graduate  of  McGee 
College  of  the  class  of  1872.  They  have  four  children:  Orlow  B., 
Otho^F.,  Corinne  and  Richard  L.  The  Judge  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

DR.  EMERY  A.  MERRIFIELD 

(Phygician  and  Surgeon). 
Dr.  M.  is  the  son  of  Francis  and  Sarah  (Kimball)  Merrifield,  of 
Vermont.  In  this  family  there  were  11  children,  all  of  whom  are 
livino-  and  scattered  in  the  Eastern  and  Western  States  with  their 
child'i-en,  numbering  about  40,  three  of  whom  are  ministers  in  the 
Baptist  denomination,  and  are  graduates  both  in  the  literary  and  the- 
ological department  of  Madiso^n  University,  New  York ;  three  hold 
the^controlling  interest  in  the  Mendota  Cottage  Organ  Factory,  with 
a  paid  up  capital  of  $100,000,  and  the  rest  are  farmers,  working 
about  2,000  acres  in  their  farms,  with  the  exception  of  Emery,  who  is  a 
retired  physician.     He  was  born  in   Windham  county,  Vt.,  August 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1191 

20,  1826,  and  was  educated  at  Leland  Seminary,  devoting  fully  two 
years  to  the  study  of  languages.  He  then  went  to  the  Albany  Med- 
ical College,  where  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1853.  Thus  early, 
he  showed  that  tenacity  of  purpose  which  has  distinguished  him 
through  life,  and  in  order  to  accomplish  his  heart's  dearest  wish, 
sawed  wood  at  night  to  help  pay  for  his  tuition.  His  one  brother, 
older,  was  not  less  independent,  and  from  this  fact  arose  the  follow- 
ing distitch :  — 

Merrifields,  two  iu  number, 
Saw  wood  while  others  slumber. 

Dr.  Merrifield  practiced  medicine  until  the  red  banner  of  Mars 
was  unfurled  in  the  land.  He  then  went  out  with  the  Fifty-eighth 
Illinois  as  assistant  surgeon.  After  two  years  he  was  raised  to  the 
rank  of  first  surgeon  of  the  Forty-fourth  Illinois,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  the  close  of  the  Avar.  A  friend  says  of  him,  that  re- 
ports came  home  of  his  great  faithfulness  with  the  sick  and  wpunded, 
of  both  soldiers  and  officers,  and  his  enemies,  in  suffering,  were  his 
friends  to  care  for  ;  and  many  are  the  pleasant  re-unions  with  Con- 
federates, as  well  as  Federals,  because  of  kindnesses  exchanged  in  his 
army  life.  Coming  out  of  his  four  years'  service  with  health  com- 
pletely shattered,  he  gave  up  his  profession  and  began  farming.  He 
moved  to  Macon  in  1866,  and  located  where  he  is  now  living.  On 
the  2d  of  May,  1855,  he  was  joined  in  holy  wedlock  to  Miss  Martha 
E,  Morgan,  only  daughter  of  Peter  and  Anna  (Carson)  Morgan,  of 
Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  most  intelligent  and  cultivated  lady. 
Her  education  was  conducted  at  Springfield  Seminary.  Mrs.  M.  has 
one  brother  who  is  a  farmer  and  cheese  factoryman  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Merrifield  have  two  children :  Charles  H. 
and  Frank  E.  The  Doctor  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  He  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  200  acres  joining  Macon  City,  and  has  a  handsome  sub- 
urban residence  as  the  results  of  his  life's  exertions  and  prudent 
management.  Sans  peur  et  sans  repj'oclie,  his  standing  in  the  county 
is  unexceptionable. 

BENJAMIN  J.  MILAM,  M.D.,  and  ALFEED  B.  MILLER,  M.D., 
OR  MILAM  &  MILLER 

(Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Macon  City). 

Drs.  Milam  &  Miller  formed  their  present  partnership  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  at  Macon  City  in  June,  1882,  and  have  since  been  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  their  profession  together.  Both  are  gentle- 
men of  thorough  general  and  medical  education,  and  each  has  had  a 
num-ber  of  years'  experience  in  the  practice.  Possessed  of  the  natural 
aptitudes  necessary  to  successful  physicians  to  a  marked  degree,  and 
well  qualified  for  the  practice  by  both  study  and  experience,  they  have 
rapidly  advanced,  as  was  expected,  to  a  front  rank  in  their  profession. 
Their  practice  has  largely  increased  and  their  reputation  steadily  ex- 
70 


1192  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

tended,  and  they  are  now  looked  upon  as  leading  physicians  of  the 
county,  and  indeed  throughout  the  surrounding  country. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Johnson  Milam  was  born  in  Old  Bloomington,  of  this 
county,  July  26,  1849.  His  parents  were  Solomon  Milam  and  Matilda 
L.,  nee  Baker.  The  father  was  from  Tazewell  county,  Va.,  and  came 
to  Missouri  in  1837.  He  met  and  married  Miss  Baker,  who  was  from 
Howard  county  originally,  in  Eandolph  county.  They  came  to  Macon 
county  in  1840.  The  father  died  on  his  farm  at  Old  Bloomington  in 
1880  at  the  age  of  65.  The  mother  died  at  the  same  age  the  folio w- 
iuo-  year.  They  had  a  numerous  family  of  children.  Benjamin  J.  was 
educated  at  the  Macon  High  School  and  at  Central  College,  graduating 
from  the  latter  in  1872,  having  taken  besides  the  general  course  the 
classical  course.  Prior  to  this  he  had  been  teaching,  and  he  after- 
wards followed  teaching  for  two  years.  Meanwhile  he  had  begun  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  T.  B.  Jackson,  and  he  continued  the 
study  under  Dr.  Jackson  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  entered  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  College,  in  which  he  took  a  course  of  one  term. 
Dr.  Milam  now  returned  to  Macon  county  and  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Jackson.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  took  his  second  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Jeiferson  Medical  College  of  that  city,  graduating  in  the  spring  of  1877. 
Coming  back  to  Macon  county,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, this  time  without  a  partner,  and  continued  it  with  success  and 
increasing  reputation  for  about  five  years,  or  until  the  formation  of  his 
present  partnership  with  Dr.  Miller.  October  16,  1878,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  B.  McCall,  a  daughter  of  A.  P.  McCall,  of  this 
county.  They  have  three  children  :  Ernest,  Mary  E.  and  Lillie  M. 
Mrs.  Milam  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the  Doctor  is 
a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  He  has  been  coroner  of  the 
county  since  1879.  He  is  a  member  of  the  County,  District  aiMState 
Medical  Societies,  and  has  been  surgeon  for  the  Hannibal  arid  %,.  Joe 
Eailroad  for  the  last  three  years.  Dr.  Milam's  father  was  a  prominent 
and  hio:hly  respected  citizen  of  the  county  and  served  several  terms  as 
county^iudge.  His  grandfather,  whose  name  was  also  Solomon,  came 
to  this  county  from  Virginia  in  1836,  and  died  here  more  than  25 
years  ago. 

Dr.  Alfred  Beckett  Miller  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Mo.,  near 
Palmyra,  February  1,  1852.  His  parents  were  Abdel  and  Mary 
(Jones)  Miller,  his  mother  having  been  born  in  Maryland.  The 
father  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Mo.,  in  1818,  his  father  having  been 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  county.  The  father  died  there  in 
1869,  and  the  mother  in  1872.  Abdel  Miller  was  a  successful  farmer 
and  a  man  of  marked  intelligence.  He  gave  his  children  good  school 
advantages.  Alfred  B.  had  the  benefit  of  a  course  at  Palmyra  Semi- 
nary under  the  then  well  known  educator,  Marshall  Mcllhany.  He 
then  entered  Central  College,  where  he  took  a  thorough  classical  and 
scientific  course,  but  did  not  complete  the  general  course,  becoming 
impatient  to  fit  himself  for  the  medical  profession.     He  began  the 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1193 

study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  B.  A.  Jandon  at  Palmyra.  After  a  course 
of  preparatory  reading  under  tlie  Doctor  he  entered  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  graduating  with  distinction  in  the 
spring  of  1878.  He  engaged  in  the  practice  at  Shelbyville,  Mo.,  after 
his  graduation  and  continued  there,  building  up  an  excellent  practice 
for  four  3'ears,  or  until  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  Dr. 
Milam.  While  Dr.  Miller  is  a  physician  of  superior  skill  and  attain- 
ments in  the  general  practice,  he  is  at  the  same  time  a  specialist  in 
gynaecology,  or  the  diseases  of  women,  in  which  he  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful. He  has  recently  been  elected  to  fill  the  chair  of  Gyiisecology 
at  the  State  University  by  the  board  of  regents,  and  he  will  accord- 
ingly deliver  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  medical  department  in  that 
institution  during  the  next  term.  Dr.  Miller  was  president  of  the 
District  Medical  Society  last  year,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
County  and  State  Societies.  On  the  9th  of  October,  1879,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Lilian,  an  accomplished  daughter  of  Rev.  Lilburn 
Rush,  of  Missouri  Conference  M.  E.  Church  South.  The  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Miller  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

JOHN  F.  MITCHELL 

(State  Prosecuting  Attorney,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  worthy  representative  of  that  class  of  men  who 
almost  invariably  succeed  in  life  whatever  their  early  circumstances 
may  have  been.  He  had  no  wealth  or  exceptional  school  advantages, 
nor  any  potential  ftimily  influence  to  advance  him.  He  came  of  a  good 
family,  one  well  respected,  and  his  parents  were  remarked  for 
their  intelligence  and  personal  worth,  but  they  were  not  wealthy 
people,  and  the  Mitchells,  or  at  least  those  of  the  name  related  to 
him,  are  noted  for  their  independence  of  character  and  self-reliance. 
Each  one  is  disposed  to  look  only  to  his  own  resources  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world.  John  F.  Mitchell,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Lewis  countyr  Ky.,  June  10,  1847.  His  parents  were  Charles 
G.  and  Mary  J.  (Hendrickson)  Mitchell,  the  father  of  Bourbon  county, 
Ky.,  but  the  mother  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  was  reared  in  Kentucky, 
however,  where  she  was  married,  and  they  came  to  Missouri  in  1858, 
locating  at  DeWitt,  in  Carroll  county,  where  Mr.  Mitchell,  Sr., 
followed  the  tombstone  business  for  some  four  years — ■  a  business  that 
he  had  previously  followed  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In 
1862  they  went  to  Illinois  on  account  of  the  war,  where  several  of  the 
family  still  reside.  At  the  age  of  19,  John  F.,  our  subject,  returned 
to  Missouri,  having  received  a  good  common-school  education  in  the 
meantime,  and  taught  several  terms  of  school.  He  subsequently 
taught  school  in  Knox  county  and  in  Kansas.  He  began  reading  law 
in  Kansas  in  1873,  under  W.  L.  Snyder,  Esq.,  and  afterwards  read  at 
McComb,  111.,  under  A.  B.  Cloe,  Esq.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1875  at  Palmyra,  Mo.,  by  Judge  Redd,  and  after  teaching  a  term 
of  school  in  Knox  county,  he  located  at  La  Plata  the  same  year  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession.     He  continued  the  practice  of 


1194  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

his  profession  from  that  place  with  increasing  success  and  reputation 
until  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  prosecuting-attorney  in  1882, 
defeating  Col.  Reuben  J.  Eberman  for  that  office,  a  man  who  is  quite  as 
much  known  to  fame  as  his  name  is  euphonious.  Mr.  Mitchell's 
success  in  the  criminal  department  of  the  law  as  a  State  prosecutor 
has  been  eminently  successful.  He  won  marked  distinction  by  his 
able  prosecution  of  the  celebrated  bank  cases,  and  by  the  ability  he 
displaj^ed  in  the  murder  cases  which  have  come  before  the  court 
since  his  incumbency  of  his  present  office.  On  the  8th  of  September, 
1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Kendrick,  a  daughter  of  James 
M.  Kendrick,  of  Carroll  county.  They  have  one  child,  Earle.  Mr. 
Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  They  have  resided  in  Macon  City  since  January, 
1883. 

JOHN  H.  MORGAN 

(Sheriff,  Macon). 

Mr.  Morgan  is  one  of  those  frank,  plain  men,  whole-souled  and 
genial,  who  show  at  a  glance  what  they  are  and  reveal  the  qualities 
that  never  fail  to  inspire  the  confidence  and  respect  of  those  around 
them.  He  has  none  of  the  Rutherford  B.  Hayes'  canting  hypocrisy 
al)out  him,  but  is  open  and  candid  in  everything  he  says  and  does.  If  he 
Avould  like  to  have  an  office,  he  has  no  hesitation  in  letting  it  be 
known,  boldly  and  above  board,  and  does  not  go  behind  the  door  to 
whisper  in  the  ears  of  his  friends  that  they  get  up  an  urgent  call  on 
him  to  become  a  candidate  and  publish  it,  wording  it  about  this  way  : 
"  The  undersigned,  who  have  known  you  from  infancy,  recognizing 
your  high  character  and  appreciating  your  distinguished  ability  and  ex- 
alted patriotism,  hereby  most  earnestly  and  urgently  request  that  you 
will  allow  us  the  high  honor  of  using  your  name  for  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
Macon  county,"  etc.,  etc.,  etc.  Being  a  man  of  good,  sober  common 
sense,  and  satisfactory  business  qualifications,  and  never  having  done 
anything  in  his  life  which  would  cause  the  people  to  believe  that  if 
elected  he  would  run  off  with  the  funds  he  collected,  he  became  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  sheriff,  in  1882,  because  he  wanted  the  po 
sition  and  thought  he  could  fill  it  satisfactorily.  The  result  was  that 
people  came  to  think  the  same  way  he  did  and  elected  him  by  a  hand- 
some majority.  He  has  made  a  good  sheriff,  as  everybody  knows, 
and  will  be  re-elected  this  fall  if  he  wants  the  office  again  and  is  not 
called  to  play  his  harp  among  the  cherubs.  Mr.  Morgan  is  a  native 
Missourian,  born  near  Hunts ville,  August  29,  1839.  His  parents 
were  Alexander  Morgan  and  Nellie  (nee)  Winkler,  both  formerly  of 
Kentucky.  The  father  died- in  Macon  county  in  1874,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living.  John  H.  resided  with  his  parents  in  Randolph  county 
until  1847,  when  he  moved  to  Macon,  but  only  remaining  there  until 
1854,  then  taking  up  his  location  in  Putnam  county.  He  returned 
to  Macon  in  1856.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Col.  Bur_ 
brido;e's  reo-iment  of  Clark's  division  of  the  State  Guard,  and  subse 
quently  participated  in  numerous  fights  and  battles,  including  those  a 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1195 

Dry  Wood,  Wilson's  Creek,  Lexington,  etc.  At  Neosho  he  was 
taken  sick  and  was  compelled  to  come  home,  but  he  furnished  a  sub- 
stitute, T.  D.  Tooley.  He  was  shortly  afterwards  arrested  and  kept 
in  prison  for  nearly  a  year ;  being  released  then  on  bond,  he  took  no 
further  part  in  the  war.  After  the  war  he  followed  farming  in  this 
county  until  his  election,  and  still  has  a  good  farm  near  Macon  City 
which  he  manages.  However,  he  also  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  considerably  after  the  war  and  was  for  a  time  township  assessor 
of  Walnut  township.  August  30,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Louisa  A.,  a  daughter  of  William  Cherry,  of  this  county.  She  died 
soon  after  their  marriage  and  he  has  not  since  married  again.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South  and  of  the  A.  F"  and  A.  M. 
For  some  time  he  was  eno-ao-ed  in  tradino-  in  stock  with  Mr.  W.  E. 
Attebury  and  had  satisfactory  success. 

JUDGE  JEFFERSON  MORROW,  8R. 

(Treasurer  of  Macon  County,  Macon  City) . 

Judge  Morrow,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  citizens 
of  Macon  county,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of 
Missouri.  His  father,  William  Morrow,  came  to  this  State  as  early 
as  1818,  and  located  first  near  Glasgow,  in  Howard  county.  After 
several  removals  (one  to  Tennessee)  he  settled  permanently  about  13 
miles  south-west  of  Macon  City,  in  Macon  county,  in  the  spring  of 
1831.  There  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of 
Q6,  in  1834.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  was  a  blacksmith  by 
occupation,  and  followed  that  trade,  combined  with  farming,  until  his 
death.  He  was  twice  married  :  first  to  Miss  Sarah  Jay,  of  Caswell 
county,  N.  C.  His  second  wife  was  a  Mrs.  Rachel  Chambers,  a 
widow  lady.  He  had  12  children  by  his  first  wife,  and  four  by  his 
second.  Judge  Jefferson  Morrow  was  of  the  first  family  of  children, 
and  was  born  in  Clay  county,  Ky.,  October  5,  1813,  being  the  youngest 
of  the  family.  Seventeen  years  of  age  when  his  father  came  to  Macon 
county,  he  has  lived  in  this  county  ever  since,  a  period  of  over  half  a 
century.  December  29,  1836,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Minerva  Sum- 
mers, a  daughter  of  Johnson  Summers,  of  this  county.  Coming  up  in 
that  early  day,  like  most  young  men  of  this  new  countrjs  he  became 
a  farmer,  and  has  since  followed  that  occupation,  except  when  occu- 
pied with  public  duties.  In  1837  he  located  on  a  farm  in  what  was 
subsequently,  and  is  still.  Morrow  township,  named  for  himself,  and 
lived  on  that  place  for  a  period  of  45  years,  or  until  November,  1882. 
He  has  been  abundantly  successful  as  a  farmer,  and  is  looked  upon  as 
one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  the  county.  A  man  of  far  more  than  aver- 
age ability,  and  noted  for  his  public  spirit  and  zeal  for  the  best  interests 
of  the  county,  he  has,  for  generations,  been  identified  with  public  life 
in  county  aff'airs.  In  1836,  when  Macon  county  was  organized,  he 
was  appointed  the  first  sheriff"  of  the  county  by  the  Governor.  The 
county  then  included  the  territory  now  covered  by  Macon,  Adair, 
Shelby  and  Putnam  counties.     He  was  twice  re-elected  to  the  office 


1196  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

of  sheriff.  Judge  Morrow  has  his  first  quietus,  under  seal  of  the 
State,  and  remembers  that  the  State  revenue  which  he  collected  in 
1837,  throughout  this  large  area,  amounted  to  only  $210.69.  After 
serving  three  terms  as  sheriff,  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  county 
court,  in  which  office  he  served  for  a  period  of  four  years.  From  this 
time  up  to  1860,  he  was  occupied  with  his  farm  affairs  in  Morrow 
township,  but  held  various  local  township  offices,  and  was,  time  and 
again,  delegate  to  county  conventions  and  a  member  of  the  county 
Democratic  committee.  The  year  before  the  war  Judge  Morrow  was 
appointed  county  assessor,  and  made  the  assesssment  of  the  county 
for  1860.  The  same  year  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  atCallao, 
and  sold  goods  there  for  two  years,  but  finally  closed  out  on  account 
of  the  habit  the  militia  had  of  "pressing"  what  they  needed.  In 
1863  he  was  arrested  by  the  militia  without  any  known  cause,  and 
thrown  in  prison  at  Macon  City,  where  he  was  kept  for  a  short  time. 
Judge  Morrow  continued  on  his  farm  until  1882,  when  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  the  county,  a  position  he  has  since  held.  The  judge  has 
been  a  member  of  various  conventions,  and  was  a  memberof  the  State 
convention  that  recommended  Senator  Vest  to  the  Legislature  for 
election  to  the  United  States  Senate.  He  is  replete  with  many  inter- 
esting incidents  in  the  early  history  of  the  county,  but  space  can  not 
be  given  in  this  connection  to  relate  them.  But  showing  the  primi- 
tive conditions  in  which  justice  was  administered  in  those  early  times 
in  this  part  of  the  State,  it  is  worthy  of  special  mention  that^udge 
Morrow  conducted  the  proceedings  of  the  first  grand  jury  of  the 
county,  he  being  its  foreman,  out  in  the  open  air,  under  a  large  oak 
tree,  buildings  being  too  scarce  for  a  jury  to  obtain  a  room.  That 
was  certainly  hardly  more  advanced  than  the  surroundings  of  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Christians,  who  worshiped  in  the  open  air;  but  as 
Christianity  was  ]3erhaps  purer  then  than  it  is  now,  it  is  doubtless 
equally  true  that  justice  was  not  less  pure  in  the  early  days  of  the 
county  than  it  is  in  the  mortgaged  court-houses  of  our  own  time, 
and  the  political  methods  of  the  present  day,  when  the  men  more  often 
seek  the  offices  than  the  offices  the  men.  Judge  Morrow,  as  every 
one  who  has  known  him  long  and  well  knows,  has  lived  a  blameless 
and  upright  life  ;  and  now,  as  the  shadows  of  old  age  begin  to  fall 
around  him,  the  evening  of  his  earthly  career  is  brightened  by  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  those  among  whom  the  years  of  his  useful- 
ness, up  to  the  present,  have  been  spent.  He  and  his  good  wife  have 
had  a  family  of  eight  children  :  William,  CeHa,  Mary,  Jefferson,  Mi- 
nerva, Johnson,  Rebecca  and  Charles.  Celia  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
B.  Miller,  Mary  is  the  wife  of  AVilliam  A.  Gleason,  Minerva  is  the 
wife  of  John  W.  Banta,  and  Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Neal. 
The  Judge  and  Mrs.  Morrow  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 
The  Judge's  farm  is  situated  six  miles  south  of  Callao,  and  contains 
over  1,100  acres  of  fine  land.  In  1850  he  went  to  California,  and  was 
absent  14  months,  during  nearly  half  of  which  time  he  was  engaged  in 
mining.  He  returned  by  the  Panama  route,  and  was  104  days  on  the 
bosom  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  being  over  two  months  in  a  dead  calm,  so 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY 


1197 


that  no  progress  could  be  made  sailing.     The  crew  and  passengers  en- 
dured many  hardships,  in  which,  of  course,  he  was  a  participant. 

MARTIN  MUFF 

(Macou  City). 
Mr.  Muff  was  born  in  Prussia,  January  15,  1841,  and  is  the  son  of 
Christian  Muff,  a  native  of  Prussia,  and  still  living  there.  His  mother, 
Agnes  (Schmidt)  Muff,  died  in  1859.  There  were  four  brothers: 
Peter,  chief  surgeon  in  the  San  Francisco  Marine  Hospital ;  Frederick, 
importer  of  jewelry  in  Jersey  City  ;  John,  still  in  Prussia,  and  Mar- 
tin, a  rough  draught  of  whose  life  is  here  given.  He  received  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  1863, 
when,  a  natural  geii  de  guene  and  "sniffing  the  battle  afar,"  he 
determined  to  come  to  America,  then  writhing  in  the  agonies  of  civil 
war.  Mr.  Muff  joined  the  Fourth  Regular  Artillery  and  fought  for 
the  Union  with  as  much  vim  as  if  a  son  of  the  soil.  He  distinguished 
himself  by  his  bravery,  being  wounded  three  times.  Upon  one  occa- 
sion he  was  promoted  for  gallantry  ;  he  pulled  his  captain  from  under 
his  fallen  horse,  put  him  on  his  own  and  brought  him  safely  off,  they 
being  the  last  to  leave  a  lost  field.  After  three  years  of  noble  service 
Mr.  M.  was  honorably  discharged,  and  after  working  round  in  different 
places  he  finally,  October  2,  1871,  settled  in  Macon  county,  where  in  the 
suburbs  of  Macon  Citv  he  has  a  snug  little  home  and  charming  family. 
He  married,  August  l,''l872,  Miss  Docia  Foster,  from  Kentucky.  They 
have  three  child^ren  :  William  C,  born  February  8,  1874  ;  Lewis  Hays, 
born  April  4,  1877,  and  Agnes  A.,  born  March  5,  1879.  Mr.  Muff  is 
engaged  in  raising  small  fruits,  bringing  his  sprouts  from  his  native 
country.  He  is  an  industrious,  reliable  man  and  a  valuable  citizen. 
He  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

T.  F.  O'DANIEL 

(Proprietor  of  the  Macon  City  Stone  and  Marble  Works) . 
Mr.  O'Daniel,  who  has  had  over  40  years'  experience  in  his  pres- 
ent business,  and  is  perhaps  the  most  skillful  and  proficient  mechanic 
and,  indeed,  artist  in  this  line,  has  the  only  general  marble  and  stone 
works  in  Macon  county,  and  commands  a  large  custom,  not  only  in 
this  county,  but  throughout  the  neighboring  counties.  He  carries  a 
full  line  of  ijravestones  and  monuments  of  all  patterns,  both  in  Ameri- 
can and  Italian  marble,  and  in  granite,  Tennessee  and  Maine,  as  well 
as  in  other  varieties.  Mr.  O'Daniel  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  born  January  5,  1821.  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary 
(Schroder)  O'Daniel,  his  father  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  his  mother 
of  New  Hampshire.  T.  F.  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  16  years  of  age,  and  was  intended  for  one  of  the  learned  pro- 
fessions, being  educated  with  that  object  in  view.  After  completing 
a  general  English  course  at  the  college  of  West  Ely,  in  Missouri, 
from  which  he  Graduated  in  the  spring  of  1838,  he  was  sent  to  Upper 


1198  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

College  to  take  a  course  in  the  classics,  but  became  tired  of  study  and 
quit  college.  In  1840  he  came  East,  to  Illinois,  and  began  an  appren- 
ticeship at  Quincy,  under  Samuel  Hutton,  in  the  stone-cutter's  trade. 
He  worked  there  for  four  years,  and  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
learned  the  marble-cutting  business,  under  John  G.  Wilson,  which  he 
completed  in  three  years,  or  in  1847.  From  this  time  on,  he  estab- 
lished shops  and  worked  at  different  points  in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Wis- 
consin, until  1877,  when  he  came  to  Macon  City  and  engaged  in  the 
business  at  this  place.  He  has  carried  on  his  present  line  of  business 
at  Macon  City  for  the  last  seven  years  continuously,  and  has  met  with 
excellent  success.  February  22,  1850,  Mr.  O'Daniel  was  married  to 
Miss  Susan  A.,  a  daughter  of  Judge  James  Inman,  of  Wisconsin,  but 
formerly  of  Kentucky.  She  died  two  years  afterwards,  leaving  one 
child,  which  is  also  deceased.  February  1,  1855,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Amanda  W.  Knox,  a  daughter  of  James  D.  Knox,  of  Warsaw, 
111.,  but  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois.  They  have  had  seven  children: 
Clara  B..  William  F.,  Rosalee  (deceased),  Edward  J.,  Arthur  J. 
(deceased),  Meda  and  Bertie.  Mrs.  O'Daniel  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  South.  Mr.  O.  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  some 
time  at  Warsaw,  111.  He  is  a  man  of  tine  business  qualifications,  full 
of  energy,  and  calculated  to  make  any  business  successful  to  which  he 
turns  his  attention. 

J.  W.  PATTON 

(Dealer  iu  Books,  Stationery  and  Musical  Instruments,  Macon  City) . 

Mr.  Patton,  a  thriving  business  man  and  respected  citizen  of  this 
place,  has  made  his  way  up  to  his  present  position  by  his  own  exer- 
tions and  business  enterprise.  He  commenced  his  career  in  business 
life  at  blacking  stoves  in  a  hardware  store  and  rose  from  place  to 
place,  securing  a  good  commercial  education  as  he  came  up,  until  now 
he  is  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  the  community.  He  is  a 
native  M^ssourian,  born  in  Randolph  county,  January  24,  1846.  His 
father,  N.  H.  Patton,  was  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  county. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Roush.  The  family  came  to 
Macon  City  in  1861.  About  this  time  young  Patton  had  started  on  a 
college  course  at  McGee  College,  but  the  war  coming  on,  he  was  pre- 
vented from  continuing  it.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  Forty-second 
Missouri  under  Col.  Forbes,  and  served  principally  in  Missouri  and 
Tennessee  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  after  the  expiration 
of  his  service,  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  began  a  course  at  Commercial 
College.  After  his  course  at  Commercial  College,  he  returned  to 
Macon  City  and  began  his  present  business  in  1866,  which  he  has  since 
carried  on.  He  carries  a  stock  of  from  $8,000  to  $10,000  and  does  a 
large  business.  Mr.  Patton  is  also  proprietor  of  Eggles  &  Patton's 
patent  shelving  irons  which  he  manufactures  and  sells  throughout  all 
of  the  States  and  Territories.  The  shelving  irons  are  sold  throughout 
all  the  States  and  territories,  and  Mr.  Patton  keeps  two  men  on  the 
road.  These  irons  are  made  by  Paulfrey,  who  has  15  or  20  men  em- 
ployed all  the  time  on  this  work.     Mr.  Patton  has  been  sole  proprietor 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  119i> 

since  February,  1883,  and  on  the  first  year's  introduction  his  sah's 
were  $20,000,  and  he  is  now  vigorously  pushing  the  business,  which 
has  thus  far  proved  very  profitable.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1870,  Mr. 
Patton  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Bearce.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Mabel  and  Hall.  Mrs.  Patton  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

THOMAS  W.  REED,  D.D.  S. 

(Maeon  City  Mo.). 

Dr.  Reed,  a  leading  dentist  of  Macon  county,  is  a  native  Missour- 
ian,  born  in  Boone  county,  near  Columbia,  July  8,  1832.  His  pa- 
rents were  John  and  Prudence  (Waller)  Reed,  who  came  to  Boone 
county  from  Union  county,  Ky.,  as  early  as  1825.  The  father  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  is  still  living.  Thomas  W.  was  reared  on 
the  farm  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was  19  years  old.  He  then 
went  to  Shelby ville.  Mo.,  and  began  the  study  of  dentistrj^  which  he 
continued  at  Shelbyville  and  at  other  points  for  about  four  years. 
However,  during  this  time  and  after  a  year  or  two  of  study,  he  be- 
gan the  practice  of  dentistry,  following  the  practice  of  that  profession 
in  Boone,  Audrain,  Howard  and  Macon  counties,  locating  at  Macon 
City  in  1865.  After  coming  to  Macon  City  he  entered  the  St.  Louis 
Dental  College  in  which  he  took  a  thorough  course,  graduatmg  from 
that  institution  in  1867.  Returning  to  Macon  City  immediately  after 
his  graduation,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  has  since 
continued  it.  His  practice  has  steadily  increased  and  he  now  em- 
ploys, and  for  some  time  past  has  had  an  assistant,  in  order  to  meet  the 
wants  of  his  patrons.  As  these  facts  show  his  career  has  been  quite 
successful.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Macon  Medical  Society  and  also 
of  the  State  Dental  Society.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1857,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Addie  Luckey,  a  daughter  of  John  Luckey,  of  Audrain 
county.  They  have  a  family  of  six  children:  Waller  L.,  now  a  den- 
tist at  Mexico,  Mo.  ;  Frank  P.,  a  dentist  at  La  Plata ;  Addie,  now 
Mrs.  J.  R.  Blackwell ;  Frederick  M.,  Leslie  and  John.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Reed  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  Dr.  Reed  is  an 
affable,  pleasant  gentleman. 

NATHAN  S.  RICHARDSON,  M.D. 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Macon). 

Dr.  Richardson,  a  leading  physician  of  North  Missouri,  and  for 
three  years  prior  to  the  fall  of  1880,  the  Orand  Worthy  Chief  Temp- 
lar of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Good  Templars  for  the  State  of  Missouri, 
as  well  as  one  of  the  most  gallant  men  in  the  ranks  of  the  Union  during 
the  late  war,  has  been  a  resident  of  Macon  for  nearly  20  years,  actively 
and  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  during 
all  this  time,  as  well  as  previously,  his  life  has  been  such  as  to  chal- 
lenge the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  As  a  citizen 
he  has  ever  striven  for  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  for  the  best 


1200  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

interest,  of  all,  not  only  locally,  but  generally,  and  every  movement 
calculated  to  promote  the  common  good,  whether  of  a  material,  polit- 
ical, moral  or  benevolent  nature,  or  otherwise,  has  received  his  earnest 
and  zealous  support.  He  has  been  active  in  school  affairs,  and  is  now 
a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Macon.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  city  council  of  Macon  four  years,  and  in  January,  1883,  was 
elected  mayor  of  the  city  by  all  but  a  unanimous  vote,  receiving  517 
of  the  529  votes  cast  at  the  election,  and  was  re-elected  mayor,  Jan- 
uary, 1884.  He  was  elected  on  the  Temperance  issue,  and  being 
recognized  as  the  head  and  front  of  the  Temperance  movement,  not 
only  in  this  county,  but  throughout  the  State  generally,  the  majority 
by  which  he  was  elected  speaks  a  more  eloquent  eulogy  for  his  influ- 
ence at  home  and  his  high  character  where  he  is  best  known  than  any 
sentiment  we  could  indite.  Dr.  Richardson  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Warren  county,  August  24,  1830.  His  father,  Nathan  Rich- 
ardson, was  a  prosperous  farmer  of  that  county,  and  highly  esteemed 
and  respected.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Boosby, 
was  a  lady  of  rare  strength  of  mind  and  character  and  singular  sweet- 
ness of  disposition,  and  was  loved  by  her  neighbors  for  her  many 
estimable  qualities  only  less  than  in  her  own  family.  She  was  a  lady  of 
culture  and  refinement  with  a  marked  taste  for  study, and  from  her  young 
Richardson  largely  inherited  that  thirst  for  knowledge  which  has  ever 
been  one  of  his  conspicuous  characteristics.  At  the  age  of  six  he 
entered  the  neighborhood  district  schools,  where  he  continued  for 
nine  years,  and  even  during  these  early  years  of  his  life  he  was  noted 
for  the  avidity  with  which  his  mind  grasped  all  the  learning  within 
his  reach.  From  the  district  school  he  advanced  to  Lebanon  Acad- 
emy, Ohio,  his  father  apjjreciating  his  talents  and  ambition  for  learning, 
and  desiring  to  give  him  every  opportunity  to  advance  himself  in  his 
power.  Here  young  Richardson  continued  an  indefatigable  student 
for  five  years,  and  graduated  with  honor  at  the  age  of  20.  A 
graduation  from  Lebanon  Academy  at  that  time  was  considered, 
as  it  has  ever  since  been,  a  great  distinction,  for  it  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  ablest  institutions  in  the  country,  and  has  since  become 
a  distinguished  Normal  University  of  Ohio.  Still  not  satisfied  with 
his  acquirements,  though  well  qualified  for  the  activities  of  life,  young 
Richardson  now  entered  Bacon's  Commercial  College  of  Cincinnati, 
in  which  he  remained  until  he  acquired  a  thorough  business  education. 
Returning  home  from  Cincinnati,  he  remained  on  the  farm  with  his 
father,  assisting  in  the  duties  of  carrying  on  the  place  until  1852, 
thus  not  only  obtaining  an  excellent  practical  knowledge,  of  farm 
affairs,  but  by  the  out-door  exercise  and  physical  activity  incident  to 
farm  work,  greatly  improving  and  strengthening  his  physical  consti- 
tution. Possessed  of  large  humanity  and  warm  sympathies,  he  had 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  medical  profession  offers  the  best  field 
for  the  practical  and  beneficient  exercise  of  these  qualities.  Certainly 
the  life  of  no  one  can  be  more  useful  than  that  of  one  who  devotes 
himself  intelligently  and  faithfully  to  administering  to  the  sick  and 
suffering.      Accordingly,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  earnestly 


HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


1201 


and  zealously,  and  in  due  time,  in  1853,  entered  the  Medical  College 
of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained  two  years.     Dr.  Kichard- 
son  now  came  farther  West  and  located  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  where 
his  attainments  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and  his  culture  and  high 
character  as  a  man,  were  at  once  recognized.     He  was   soon   in  the 
possession  of  a  large  and  steadily  increasing  practice.     He  continued 
the  practice  at  Council  Bluffs  for  several  years.     During  this  time  im- 
portant advances  had  been  made  in  medical   science  as  taught  by  the 
schools,  and  Dr.  Richardson  determined  to  avail  himself  of  the  higher 
instruction  they  now  afforded.     In  1859   he   re-entered  the   medical 
college  and  took  a   second  thorough   course,  graduating  in  March, 
1861?     This  was  from  the  Ohio  Medical  College.     The  war  was  by 
this  time  close  to  hand,  and  having  no  sentiment  with  regard  to  pub- 
lic affairs  but  that  of  loyalty  to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  soon 
after  his  graduation  he  promptly  offered  himself  as  a  volunteer  to  the 
cause  of  his  country.     He   was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
Union  army,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  field  hospital  service  in  the 
West,  serving  in  the  Western   branch   of  the  army  with  credit  and 
distinction  until  the  fall  of  Atlanta.     He  was  now  transferred  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  Grant,  and  made  surgeon  of  the  famous 
Thirteenth  Ohio  cavalry.     Here  he  quickly  gained  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  regiment,  and   won  the  esteem  of  every  officer  in  his 
division.     No  danger  deterred  him  from  the  performance  of  his  duty, 
and  by  his  fearlessness  on  the  field  of  battle  he  won  the   sobriquet  of 
the  "  Unterrified  Doctor."     His  gallantry  on  the  field  of  battle  is 
mentioned  more  than  once  in  history.     Among  the  other  notices,  the 
following   is    taken  from  Whitelaw   Reid's    history:    ''Ohio  in   the 
War:"      "  The  Thirteenth  Ohio  cavalry  was   placed  on   picket  duty, 
and  in  Lee's  immediate  front.     In  this  position  it  stood  all  the  night 
through,  and  until  about  daybreak,  April  9,  when  Gen.  Lee's  forces 
made  an  impetuous  dash  on  the  National  army.     Lieutenant  Cooper, 
of  the  Thirteenth  Ohio,  fell   from   his  horse,  mortally  wounded,  and 
was  about  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.     This  danger  caught 
the  quick  eye  of  Surgeon  Nathan   S.  Richardson,  who  rode  through 
the  lines,  exposing  himself  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  reached  the  place 
where  the  Lieutenant  lay  bleeding,  and,  assisted  by  his  orderly,  took 
the  dying  young  hero  upon  his  saddle  and  carried   him  off  the  field." 
This   was   on   the   morning  of   Gen.   Lee's  surrender.      During  Dr. 
Richardson's  service   he  was   noted  for  his  uniform  kind  and  tender 
treatment  of  all  the  soldiers  placed  under  his  care,  whether  from  the 
Union  or  the  Confederate  army.     At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  the  West,  thoroughly  imbued  with  its  enterprise  and  the  magnifi- 
cence of  his  future, "and  located  at  Macon,  in  Missouri,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  and  quietly  and  fiiithfully  pursued  the  practice  of  his 
profession.     Such  is  his  recognized  ability  and  learning  as  a  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  that  he   has  long  held  the  position  of  one  of  the 
ablest  members  of  the  medical  profession  in  this  section  of  the  State. 
Dr.  Richardson  has  been  actively  identified  with  every  Temperance  or- 
ganization since  the  Washingtonians.     He  became  a  Good  Templar 


1202  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

in  the  fall  of  1855,  and  has  held  an  nnbroken  membership  in  that 
order  ever  since.  He  never  tasted  a  drop  of  intoxicating  liquor  as  a 
beverage  in  his  life.  In  July,  1877,  he  was  elected  Great  Worthy 
Chief  Templar  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri,  and  was  twice  after- 
wards re-elected.  By  his  ability  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  Temperance, 
he  increased  the  numerical  strength  of  the  order  from  less  than 
13,000  to  over  28,000  within  a  period  of  three  years  following  1878. 
He  has  three  times  represented  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri  in  the 
Eight  Worthy  Grand  Lodge  of  the  World.  At  the  last  session  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri  he  was  again  re-elected  Grand  Worthy  Chief 
Templar  of  the  State.  In  1856  Dr.  Richardson  was  married  to  Miss 
Rebecca  F.  McFadden,  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  They  have  but  one 
child,  Miss  Kate,  a  young  lady  of  rare  grace  of  presence  and  super- 
ior endowments. 

FRED  A.  ROSWALL 

(Proprietor  of  Roswall's  Photograph  Parlors  and  Studio,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Roswall,  still  a  young  man,  less  than  30  years  of  age,  occupies 
a  position  in  his  profession,  that  of  photography,  among, the  first  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  He  studied  his  art  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  he  took  a  thorough  novitiation,  both  theoretic  and  practical, 
and  became  by  certification  a  regular  maitre  es  art  in  photography. 
After  his  licenciation  in  New  York,  he  came  West  and  located  at 
Clarence,  in  Shelby  county,  where  he  established  a  gallery  and  studio, 
which  he  conducted  with  success  for  three  years.  From  Clarence  he 
came  to  Macon  City,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  photography  at 
this  place  continuously,  except  for  a  short  time  during  which  he  was 
connected  with  Mullett's  well  known  wholesale  house  in  the  line  of 
photograph  materials  at  Kansas  City.  Mr.  Roswall  is  the  leading 
photographer  in  Macon  county  and  one  of  the  leading  artists  in  his 
profession  in  North  Missouri.  He  has  his  appartments  handsomely 
furnished,  and  has  a  full  supply  of  all  the  latest  outils  es  arts  in  pho- 
tography, so  that,  being  thoroughly  educated  both  by  study  and  ex- 
perience in  his  profession,  he  is  prepared  to  do  as  fine  work  as  can  be 
had  in  the  country.  In  his  gallery  are  to  be  seen  specimens  of  work 
which  would  compare  favorably  with  any  in  the  larger  cities.  As  has 
been  said,  he  acquired  his  art  in  New  York,  which,  in  photography,  is 
surpassed  by  no  city  on  the  globe,  and  he  there  learned  it  thoroughly, 
familiarizing  himself  Avith  all  the  principles  as  well  as  the  details  of 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  so  that  he  is  in  fact,  as  well  as  in  name, 
a  master  of  his  art.  Mr..  Roswall  has  $2,000  invested  in  his  parlors, 
gallery  and  studio,  and  the  presentment  they  make  shows  that  he  is 
an  artist  in  conception  as  well  as  in  practice.  He  was  born  in  Got- 
land, Sweden,  July  31,  1856,  and  was  a  son  of  J.  P.  and  Gertrude 
(Emgrall)  Roswell,  of  Sweden.  In  1873  he  immigrated  to  America, 
and  located  at  the  city  of  New  York,  where  young  Roswall  learned 
photography,  as  stated  above.  On  the  2d  of  July,  1879,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Hall,  a  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Elizabeth  E. 
Hall,  proprietor  of  the  Olive  Hotel  at  Clarence.     Mr.  Roswall  is  a 


HISTORY    OF    IVIACON    COUNTY.  1203 

gentleman  of  education,  polished  manners  and  pleasant  address,  and 
is  quite  popular  personally  among  those  who  know  him,  as  he  is 
professionally,  which  is  saying  not  a  little.  His  future  in  the  art  d' 
photographique  seems  one  of  more  than  ordinary  promise. 

ERNEST  HENSY  RUHRUP 

(Deceased). 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Prussia  July  1,  1836.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  1858,  and  went  at  once  to  Macon  City,  where 
he  established  himself  in  business.  He  worked  up  a  good  trade,  and 
after  ten  years  retired  to  take  a  farm  upon  which  his  family  now  re- 
side. Mr.  Ruhrup  was  united,  on  the  5th  of  October,  1861,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Gallner,  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  Gallner,  natives  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  1854,  and  located  first  in  Wiscon- 
sin, but  in  1859  moved  to  Macon  county,  Mo.,  to  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Ruhrup.  There  the  old  couple  lived  until  called  home.  Mr. 
Ruhrup' s  marriage  proved  a  happy  one,  and  six  blooming  children 
were  its  fruit.  Their  names  are  respectively  Henry,  Minnie,  Charles, 
Albert,  Clara  and  Ida.  But  happiness  in  this  world  is  but  a  gleam 
from  a  brighter  one,  and  is  ever  fleeting,  and  this  family  are  now 
mourning  the  loss  of  their  protector,  their  shield,  the  tender  father, 
the  loving  husband,  who,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1884,  laid  down  the 
burden  and  the  mystery  of  this  weary  and  incomprehensible  life.  He 
left  his  family  well  provided  for,  willing  all  his  property  to  his  wife. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

JOHN  SALTER 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser; . 
John  Salyer  was  born  October  2,  1830,  and  was  the  son  of  James 
und  Elizabeth  (Arnett)  Salyer,  natives  of  South  Carolina.  James 
emigrated  with  his  parents  when  in  his  sixth  year  to  the  State  of  In- 
diana in  a  one-horse  cart,  which  contained  all  their  goods  and  chat- 
tels. His  wife  (Elizabeth)  died  when  38  years  old.  He  emigrated 
to  this  country  in  1858,  and  went  back  to  Indiana  in  December,  1863, 
to  finish  settling  up  his  business  there,  and  when  at  Logansport  in 
that  State  he  was  taken  sick,  and  in  the  dark  went  out  at  a  door,  which 
was  five  feet  from  a  pavement,  and  fell,  his  head  striking  first,  which 
caused  Concussion  of  the  brain,  and  he  died  December  6,  1863.  John 
was  educated  mostly  at  a  Quaker  school  in  Indiana,  to  which  he 
walked  daily  a  distance  of  five  miles,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
became  himself  a  teacher.  Coming  to  Missouri  in  1858,  he  engaged 
in  farming,  and  in  1867  in  distilling  on  his  farm,  and  occasionally 
teaching  school  during  winter.  He  had  previously,  in  1852,  taken  to 
himself  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Martha  J.  Bonham,  of  Indiana. 
In  1858  he  was  left  a  childless  widower,  and  the  following  year  was 
again  married  to  Miss  Merica  A.  Smith,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Nancy  (Cole)  Smith,  formerly  of  Indiana.     He  came  to  this   county 


1204  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

in  1857.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  Republican,  and  the  only  man  in  Liberty 
township  who  voted  for  Lincoln  for  President  in  1860.  He  is  since 
deceased,  but  he  will  ever  be  remembered  as  the  only  Lincoln  man  in 
the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Salyer  have  three  children :  Charles, 
who  married  Mary  Fletcher  in  1879  ;  Annie,  who  married  Charles  W. 
Belshe  in  1882,  and  James,  who  is  11  years  of  age.  During  the  war 
Mr.  Salyer  was  captain  of  a  company  of  State  militia,  and  in  1868  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  where  he  assisted  in  getting  a  consti- 
tutional amendment  through  the  House  permitting  disfranchised 
people  to  vote,  and  amendments  to  town  charters.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  occupied  in  farming  and  distilling.  In  1880  he  moved  to 
Macon  City,  and  distilled  spirits  from  grain  for  three  years.  At 
present  he  has  charge  of  the  county  farm.  Mr.  Salyer  was  one  of 
the  13  in  all  the  county  who  voted  for  McClellan  for  President  in 
1864.  Three  besides  himself  were  all  that  were  in  Liberty  township, 
and  on  account  of  having  no  printed  tickets,  he  wrote  the  four  voted 
at  Bloomington.  Mr.  Salyer  was  made  a  Mason  in  Indiana,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  Old  Bloomington  Lodge  No.  102,  for  26  years, 
and  its  worshipful  master  for  13  years. 

JOHN  SCOVERN 

(Cashier  of  the  First  Natioual  Bank,  Macon) . 

Mr.  Scovern  engaged  in  the  banking  business  at  Macon  City  in 
the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Scovern, 
Logan  &  Wilson,  of  which  he  became  the  cashier.  This  firm  carried 
on  the  banking  business  with  success  until  March,  1883,  when  the 
members,  at  the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Scovern,  deciding  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  advantages  of  the  National  banking  laws,  organized, 
with  others,  their  present  bank  —  the  First  National  Bank  of  Macon 
City,  of  which  Mr.  Scovern  is  cashier.  Before  he  engaged  in  the 
banking  business,  Mr.  Scovern  had  established  an  enviable  reputation 
as  a  capable  and  successful  business  man,  and  had  accumulated  con- 
siderable means.  Known  as  a  man  of  character  and  business  ability, 
the  banking  firm  of  which  he  became  a  member  at  once  commanded 
the  confidence,  and  the  business  in  their  line,  of  Macon  City  and 
vicinity.  The  career  of  the  firm  of  Scovern,  Logan  &  Wilson  was 
one  of  exceptionally  gratifying  success,  and  the  First  National  Bank, 
the  successor  of  this  firm,  has  continued  the  success  which  the  former 
inaugurated.  Mr.  Scovern  is  looked  upon  in  banking  circles  as  a 
cashier  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  efiiciency,  and  in  the  com- 
munity at  large  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  affable  manners,  accommo- 
dating disposition  and  thorough  business  qualifications.  He  is  a 
native  Missourian,  born  in  Clark  county,  March  7,  1845.  His  parents 
were  Samuel  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Gillins)  Scovern,  both  originally  of 
England.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  and  settled  in  Clark  county, 
Missouri,  in  1844.  The  father  is  still  a  resident  of  that  county  and 
has  been  for  forty  years.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occupation  and,  a  suc- 
cessful one.     John  Scovern,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on 


HISTORY    or    MACON    COUNTY.  1205 

the  farm  up  to  the  age  of  twelve  when  he  entered  the  office  of  the 
Alexandria  Reveille^  the  first  Free  Soil  paper  ever  published  in  Mis- 
souri, to  learn  the  printer's  trade.  He  remained  in  the  printing  office 
for  about  eight  years  and  learned  the  printing  business  thoroughly. 
At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  established  the  True  Flag,  which  he  pub- 
lished for  about  four  years,  from  1865  to  1869,  having  for  a  partner 
during  the  last  two  years,  N.  L.  Prentiss,  now  of  Atchison,  Kansas. 
Selling  out  his  interest  in  the  True  Flag,  he  removed  to  Kirksville 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  In  1870  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Emma  Haywood,  of  Clark  county,  and  the  following  year  he  and 
George  W.  Browning  established  the  North  Missouri  Register  at 
Kirksville,  with  which  Mr.  Scovern  was  connected  for  about  a  year. 
He  then  removed  to  Glenwood  and  was  successfully  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  for  about  ten  years,  or  until  he  embarked  in  bankino- 
at  Macon  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scovern  have  one  child,  Lula  May, 
born  July  20,  1872.  He  and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Scovern  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 
Mr.  Scovern' s  wife  is  a  daughter  of  William  H.  Haywood,  who  set- 
tled in  Clark  county  as  earh'  as  1832,  and  is  still  living  there,  one  of 
the  venerable  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  that  county. 

WILLIAM  H.  SEARS 

(Of  Guthrie  &  Sears,  Attorneys  at  Law,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Sears,  one  of  the  successful  and  prominent  young  lawyers  of  the 
twenty-seventh  judicial  circuit,  and  who  was  for  four  years  prior  to 
1876  prosecuting  attorney  of  Macon  county,  was  born  and  reared  in 
this  county  and  was  a  son  of  Eev.  William  Sears,  a  pioneer  settler 
and  for  many  years  an  Old  School  Baptist  minister,  widely  known  and 
universally  esteemed  for  his  sterling  character  and  earnest  piety  by  all 
who  knew  him.  William  H.,  born  August  8,  1848,  was  the  eldest  son 
by  his  father's  third  nnarriage.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Dru- 
cilla  Ratliff,  of  the  well  known  and  highly  respected  family  of  that 
name,  long  settled  in  this  section  of  the  State.  William  H.  received 
a  good  common  school  education  as  he  grew  up,  and  in  1869  began 
the  study  of  law  under  Col.  A.  L.  Gilstrap,  of  Macon  City.  As  a 
youth  he  was  remarked  not  only  for  close  application  to  his  studies, 
but  for  the  rapid  progress  he  made.  Possessed  of  an  active,  quick 
mind,  he  seemed  to  grasp  the  principles  involved  in  his  studies  almost 
at  a  glance,  and  was  thus  soon  able  to  master  the  information  afforded 
by  the  curriculum  of  common  school  studies.  Practical  in  ideas  and 
going  directly  to  the  point  of  everything  with  which  he  had  to  do,  he 
felt  that  he  had  no  time  to  lose,  even  if  had  the  means  to  spare,  neces- 
sary to  enable  him  to  take  a  course  in  the  "  upper  air  and  solar  walk  ';' 
studies,  such  as  Sopho(3les,  Quintilian,  Abstract  Mathematics,  etc. 
These  he  regarded  as  mere  ornamental  accompaniments  of  the  average 
thin-haired,  dyspeptic,  spectacled  "professor,"  who generalljMjelieves 
in  spiritualism,  than  as  necessary  to  a  successful  Western  lawyer,  and 
he  therefore  brushed  them  aside  as  Ben  Butler  did  Sunset  Cox,  on  the 


1206  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

"  shoo-fly  "  principle.  Anyhow,  continuing  his  legal  studies  under 
Col.  Gilstrap  until  1870,  he  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar  by  Judge 
Burckhartt,  having  passed  a  most  creditable  examination.  And 
although  he  did  not  have  a  course  of  college  training,  he  has  succeeded 
in  his  profession  much  better  than  many  who  have  had  such  a  course. 
He  entered  at  once  into  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.  Of  a 
vi<^orous  mind  and  industrious  almost  to  a  fault,  he  attended  closely 
and  faithfully  to  the  business  entrusted  to  him,  and  was  generally  suc- 
cessful in  his  cases.  Thus  he  grew  gradually  into  a  good  practice, 
and  soon  won  the  confidence  of  the  public  in  his  ability  and  qualifica- 
tions as  a  lawyer,  a  confidence  that  had  always  been  reposed  in  his 
character  as  a  man.  Genial  in  mind  and  conversation  and  agreeable 
and  popular  in  manliers,  in  1872,  two  years  after  his  admission  to  the 
bar,  he  had  come  to  be  regarded  as  the  proper  man  for  prosecuting 
attorney  of  the  county.  Accordingly  he  was  nominated  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  for  that  oflice,  being  himself  an  ardent  and  active 
Democrat,  and  at  the  November  election  was  triumphantly  elected. 
The  confidence  of  the  public  in  him,  neither  professionally  nor  per- 
sonally, was  misplaced.  He  made  a  faithful  and  efficient  public 
prosecutor,  one  of  the  ablest,  as  many  claim,  whom  the  county  ever 
had.  In  1874  he  was  re-nominated  and  re-elected,  and  filled  the  office 
with  honor  and  abihty  until  1876.  Illustrating  the  truth  of  Carlisle's 
saying,  that  "  the  ambition  of  man  is  as  boundless  as  space,"  he  was 
still  not  satisfied  ;  but  now  his  ambition  took  a  nobler  and  happier 
direction  —  matrimony.  And  he  was  successful  in  this  also.  On  the 
12th  of  October,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Thatcher,  a  re- 
fined and  accomphshed  daughter  of  W.  S.  Thatcher,  of  Atchison,  Kan. 
Mr.  Sears  has  been  as  happy  in  his  domestic  life  as  successful  in  his 
profession,  and  has,  to  add  an  additional  charm  to  his  home,  a  bright 
little  boy,  Charley  T.,  now  two  years  of  age.  After  retiring  from  the 
office  of  prosecuting  attorney  he  continued  the  practice  of  law,  and 
has  steadily  advanced  toward  the  front  in  his  profession.  He  does  a 
general  practice  and  is  quite  successful  with  every  class  of  cases,  but 
especially  so  in  the  trial  of  criminal  causes,  the  latter  being  a  depart- 
ment of  the  law  for  which  he  is  peculiarly  well  fitted,  both  by  the 
natural  qualities  of  his  mind  and  by  his  experience  and  attainments. 
He  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  criminal  lawyers  in  the  circuit. 
On  the  1st  of  January,  1883,  Mr.  Sears  became  associated  in  the  prac- 
tice with  Mr.  Ben  Eli  Guthrie,  a  partnership  that  has  proved  entirely 
agreeable  to  both  and  to  the  mutual  advantage  of  each.  They  have  a 
large  practice  in  the  courts  of  this  county,  and  also  do  considerable 
business  in  the  neighboring  circuit  courts.  Mr.  Sears  has  always  taken 
a  public-spirited  interest  in  politics,  and  is  regarded  as  a  sound  and 
safe  leader  by  his  party  in  the  county.  He  has  served  as  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  Central  Committee,  and  has  repeatedly  represented  his 
party  in  different  conventions.  He  has  served  one  term  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council,  and  has  held  other  positions  of  local  prominence. 
Mr.  Sears  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  stands 
high  in  the  esteem  of  a'tl  who  know  him. 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1207 

GEORGE   SHERMAN 

(Section  35) . 

Mr.  S.,  a  leading  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  tlie  county,  comes  of 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  families  of  America.  He  is  a  descend- 
ant of  a  family  which  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  by  its 
records  as  soldiers,  and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1807.  He  was 
brought  to  Ohio  when  an  infant,  the  family  having  previously  decided 
to  locate  in  that  State.  The  father,  George  Sherman,  Sr.,  was  a 
teamster  and  farmer,  and  bought  provisions  and  grain  for  the  Ameri- 
can army  in  1812.  It  was  while  engaged  in  delivering  the  same  that 
he  came  to  his  death  by  drowning  while  crossing  the  Licking  river 
in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  George  grew  up  in  Ohio  and  worked 
for  several  years  at  a  nominal  salary  on  the  Ohio  canal,  and  after- 
wards for  a  year  at  Moore's  furnace.  In  1865  Mr.  Sherman  moved 
to  Macon  county.  Mo.,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides. 
This  comprises  340  acres  of  good  prairie  land,  all  except  80  acres  of 
which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  excellent  buildings  and  other  im- 
provements, and  is  to-day  one  of  the  enterprising  and  progressive 
agriculturists  of  the  township.  He  is  much  looked  up  to  by  the 
community,  and  has  received  unmistakable  proofs  of  the  esteem  felt 
for  him  in  the  positions  to  which  he  has  been  elected.  He  served  for 
some  time  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  at  one  time  discharged  the 
duties  pertaining  to  the  office  of  a  judge  of  the  county  court.  On 
the  26th  of  April,  1834,  Mr.  Sherman  was  married  to  Miss  Matilda 
A.  Barick,  whose  father,  Philip  Barick,  was  the  first  white  settler  on 
the  Licking  river.  Of  this  union  were  born  six  children  :  Philip, 
George,  James,  who  fought  through  the  war  ;  Louise,  William  and 
Elizabeth.  Mr.  Sherman  is  a  prominent  Mason.  Coming  of  such  a 
family  as  he  has,  one  known  the  world  over  for  the  part  they  have 
taken  in  the  public  affairs  of  this  country,  it  was  not  unnatural  to 
believe  that  Mr.  George  Sherman  would  distinguish  himself  if  no 
more  than  in  a  local  way  ;  and  that  he  has  done  this,  all  will  be  willing 
to  admit  who  are  favored  with  his  acquaintance. 

BARTLEY    SMITH,  M.D., 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Macon  City.) 

Dr.  Smith  comes  of  two  old  and  highly  respected  Pennsylvania  fami- 
lies, but  is  himself  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  his  parents  settled  in  an 
early  day.  His  father,  Rev.  Walter  Smith,  was  an  able  Baptist  min- 
ister of  Ohio,  and  his  grandfather,  Rev.  Charles  B.  Smith,  is  known 
in  the  early  Baptist  histories  of  that  State  and  Kentucky  as  one  of  the 
ablest  preachers  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  Mr.  Smith's  mother 
was  a  Miss  Rachel  Whitlatch,  and  she  and  his  father  were  married  in 
Ohio  and  came  out  to  Ohio  in  company  with  the  families  of  her  father 
and  father-in-law.  Rev.  Charles  B.  Smith.  Dr.  Smith  was  reared  in 
Ohio,  and  received  a  good  common  school  education.  At  the  age  of 
71 


1208  HISTORY    OF    JNIACON    COUNTY 

19,  he  joined  the  Diiukard  Church,  and  at  once  began  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  ministry  in  that  church.  Three  years  afterwards  he 
began  preaching,  being  duly  elected  a  minister  in  the  Dunkard  de- 
nomination, and  continued  preaching  in  the  Dunkard  Church  for  25 
years.  However,  at  the  age  of  23  he  also  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
and  took  a  thorough  course  in  allopathy,  but  the  ministry  occupied 
the  principal  part  of  his  time  up  to  1862,  when  he  entered  the 
P.  M.  Medical  College  of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  in  which  he  took  a 
complete  course.  Dr.  Smith  graduated  in  1867.  After  this  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  in  Ohio  for  about  10  years,  and  then  came  to  Missouri 
and  located  at  Wellsville,  continuing  the  practice  from  that  point  in 
the  neighboring  vicinities  of  Montgomery,  Audrain  and  Callaway 
counties.  In  the  meantime  he  had  severed  his  connection  with  the 
Dunkard  denomination  and  become  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  was  also  licensed  to  preach  in  that  church,  and  while  at  Wells- 
ville filled  the  pulpit  for  his  denomination.  In  January,  1882,  he 
removed  to  Macon  City,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
here  and  also  occasionally  preaches  for  his  church  at  this  point  as  well 
as  at  adjoining  towns.  December  31,  1846,  Dr.  Smith  was  married  to 
Miss  Deantha  M.  Abraham,  of  Ohio.  They  have  two  children, 
Walter,  in  the  drug  business  at  Macon  City,  and  Mary  L.,  now  Mrs. 
D.  C.  Meltner,  of  DeWitt,  Missouri.  The  Doctor  is  also  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  Triple  Alliance. 

FRANK  SMITH 

(Of  McCulloush  &  Smith,  Grocers,  aucl  Moore,  McCullough  &  Co.,  Millers,  Macon 

City). 

Mr.  Smith,  of  the  above  named  firms,  who  is  a  successful  business 
man  and  respected  citizen  of  Macon  City,  is  a  native  of  the  State 
whence  the  next  President  of  the  United  States  will  come,  and  was 
born  in  Auburn,  Me.,  October  11,  1853.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Ruth  (Vickery)  Smith,  and  when  Frank  was  12  years  of  age,  they 
removed  to  Missouri,  bringing  their  family  and  settled  in  Macon  City. 
His  father  is  now  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  Stanberry.  Prior 
to  engao-ino-  in  the  hotel  business,  however,  he  had  been  in  the  gro- 
cery trade  at  Macon  City,  since  his  removal  to  this  State.  Frank 
Smith  o-rew  to  manhood  in  Macon,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  place.  As  he  grew  up  he  also  learned  the  printer's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  about  two  years.  In  1876  he  began  in 
the  grocery  business,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  this  line  of  trade 
with  Mr.  McCullough.  In  1881,  as  stated  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Cullough, he  bought  an  interest  in  the  milling  firm  of  Moore,  McCul- 
louo-h  &  Co.,  with  which  he  has  since  been  identified.  The  business 
of  their  mill  and  grain  trade  of  the  grocery  store  have  already  been 
fully  spoken  of  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  McCoullough,  so  that  it  is  un- 
necessary to  add  anything  further  in  that  regard.  December  29, 
1875,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  Titus,  formerly  a  teacher 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1209 

in  the  public  scliook  at  this  phice.     They  have  one  child,  Waldo  F. 
Mr.  and  Mrs,  Smith  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

ISAAC  C.  STEPHENS 

(Dealer  in  Gent's  Furnishing  Goods,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Stephens  has  had  many  years'  experience  in  his  present  line  of 
business,  and  now  conducts  the  leading  house  in  his  line  in  Macon 
City.  He  is  a  man  of  thorough  business  qualifications,  irreproachable 
character  and  popular  manners,  and  is  highly  esteemed  both  person- 
ally and  in  business.  Proficiently  conversant  with  the  clothing  and 
gent's  furnishing  goods  line,  he  keeps  everything  in  his  stock  to  be 
found  in  a  first-class  store,  in  the  branch  of  business  Avith  which  he  is 
identified,  and,  considering  quality,  sells  at  prices  which  can  not  be 
cut  under  by  competition.  He  has  thus  built  up  a  large  trade,  a  trade 
which  is  steadily  increasing  with  the  progress  of  population  and  wealth 
throughout  the  territory  tributary  to  Macon  City.  Mr.  Stephens  is 
a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Wayne  county, 
January  8,  1839.  His  parents  were  Gordon  C.  and  Sallie  (Crockett) 
Stephens,  and  his  father  was  a  successful  merchant  of  Monticello.  In 
1844  the  family  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Macon  county,  near 
Macon  City,  on  a  farm,  where  the  father  subsequently^lied.  Isaac  C. 
was  then  about  14  years  of  age,  and  two  years  later  he  took  charge  of 
the  farm  and  conducted  it  for  about  four  years,  when,  his  mother 
dying,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  went  to  Colorado  or  Pike's  Peak. 
Returning,  however,  soon  afterwards,  he  attended  school  at  Mexico 
and  then  attended  the  Macon  High  School  at  Bloomiugton.  On  leav- 
ing the  hiffh  school  he  eng-ao-ed  in  teaching  and  taught  about  three 
terms  of  school.  At  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  he  came  to  Macon 
City  and  became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Goldsberry  &  McQuie  (which 
was  about  23  years  ago),  remaining  with  them  five  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  this  time,  he  commenced  in  business  for  himself,  which  he 
continued  for  another  five  years,  afterwards  forming  a  co-partnership 
with  E.  S.  Goldsberry,  his  former  employer,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Goldsberry  &  Stephens.  This  relation  existed  until  about  20  months 
ago  when  the  firm  dissolved,  since  which  period  Mr.  S.  has  been  en- 
gaged in  dealing  in  clothing,  hats,  caps  and  gents'  furnishing  goods, 
with  the  exception  of  about  10  months,  when  Mr.  Hail  was  associated 
with  him,  having  charge  of  the  dry  goods  store.  This  was  sold  tO' 
Messrs.  Hail  and  Baker  last  August  (1883).  Mr.  Stephens  took  for 
a  wife  Miss  Anna  Cravens,  of  Randolph  county,  a  daughter  of  Owen 
Cravens.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Mount  Pleasant  College  and  is  a  lady 
of  fine  intelligence  and  attainments.  They  have  five  children:  Ow^en 
Gordon,  Mollie  Knott,  Lulie  Pearl,  Lethia  and  Howard  Wendall. 
They  have  lost  six :  Cora  Letitia,  dying  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  12  ; 
Walter  Crockett  died  at  about  the  age  of  six  years.  Both  parents  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  he  is  a  Master^ 
Mason. 


1210  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY, 


Dr.  EDWARD  C.  STILL 

(Physician  and  Surgeon,  Macou  City). 

Dr.  Still's  father,  Abram  Still,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel 
and  also  a  physician,  was  the  pioneer  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  this 
county,  and  of  the  medical  profession.  He  preached  the  first  sermon 
ever  delivered  in  Macon  county  from  his  denomination,  and  adminis- 
tered the  first  dose  of  medicine  ever  given  by  prescription  from  a 
physician  in  the  county.  He  was  from  North  Carolina,  and  then  came 
to  Virginia,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Martha  P.  Moore, 
was  a  daughter  of  James  Moore,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  every  one 
acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  Moores  were 
early  settlers  neai'  the  Natural  Bridge  (called  Rock  Bridge),  celebrated 
to  all  our  Sabbath  school  readers  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian 
Sal)bath  School  Library,  by  the  pen  of  the  gifted  Dr.  Brown,  son  of 
one  of  the  captives,  and  not  less,  but  more  sadly,  noted  in  Virginia  his- 
tory as  the  scene  of  the  Abb's  Valley  Indian  Massacre.  In  that  massa- 
cre by  the  Shawnee  Indians,  young  Moore's  father,  or  the  greatgrand- 
father of  Dr.  Still,  Capt.  James  Moore,  as  he  was  at  that  time  a  military 
officer, 'was  murdered.  A  tradition  is  that  the  great-grandmother  was 
taken  to  the  present  site  of  the  City  of  Detroit  and  burned  at  the  stake. 
Young  James,  himself,  when  14  years  of  age,  had  been  captured  and 
taken  into  captivity  by  the  savages,  three  years  prior  to  the  massacre 
and  capture  of  the  family.  He  remained  with  the  Indians  for  seven 
years,  and  having  become  a  universal  favorite  in  the  camp,  especially 
with  the  squaws,  he  was  by  these  protected  from  any  harm  which 
might  have  come  to  him  through  the  effects  of  drunken  disturbances 
of  their  lords.  Satisfied  with  his  condition,  young  Moore  would  prob- 
ably not  have  returned  to  the  white  settlements  had  it  not  been  on 
account  of  the  ill-treatment  of  his  sister  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of 
the  family.  For  her  sake,  and  by  the  entreaties  of  friends,  he  returned 
to  the  old  homestead  where  his  sister  Mary,  or  "  Polly,"  as  she  was 
generally  called,  and  other  captives  had  gone.  Soon  after  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Taylor,  who  bore  him  three  children,  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  Martha,  who,  upon  reaching  womanhood,  married  Rev. 
Dr.  A.  Still,  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Holston  M.  E.  Church 
Conference.  They  raised  a  large  family  of  children,  all  now  living 
and  themselves  the  heads  of  families.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Dr. 
E.  C.  Still,  is  the  oldest  one  of  his  father's  family.  His  parents  lived 
after  their  marriage  for  a  time  in  Tazewell  county,  Va.,  where  he  was 
born,  January  15,  1824.  Shortly  afterwards  they  removed  to  Jeffer- 
son county,  Tenn.,  where  they  resided  for  some  years  on  what  became 
the  scene  in  our  late  war  of  the  battle  of  New  Market.  There  young 
Still  attended  the  Holston  Seminary,  founded  by  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Rev.  Dr.  Still,  the  father,  preached  in  that  State  for  some  years  and* 
practiced  medicine  with  success, in  the  vicinity  of  New  Market.  In 
1837  the  family  immigrated  to  Missouri,  settling  near  Old  Blooming- 
ton,  in  Macon  county.     The  day  they  entered  Bloomington,  the  com- 


i 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  1211 

missioners  located  the  county  seat  of  Macon  county  at  that  place, 
which  then  included  tli^  present  counties  of  Macon,  Adair,  Schuyler 
and  Putman.  The  Commissioners  had  just  driven  the  first  stake 
locating  the  county  seat  at  Bloomington  an  hour  before  the  wagons  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Still  appeared  upon  the  scene.  Some  years  afterwards  he 
removed  to  Schuyler  county,  where  he  resided  for  five  years,  return- 
ing thence  to  Macon.  He  lived  in  this  county  from  that  time  forward 
until  about  1850,  when  he  was  sent  by  his  church  as  a  missionary  to 
the  Shawnee  Indians,  then  settled  in  Kansas.  Thus  became  the 
grandson-iu-law  of  the  ancestor  who  was  massacred  by  the  Shawnees, 
nearly  a  century  before,  the  messenger  of  Christ,  with  the  tidings  of 
good  will  and  mercy  to  their  descendants.  This  was  perhaps  not 
poetic  justice,  but  it  was  poetic  humanity,  and  it  brings  out  in  clearest 
and  purest  light  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  glorious  attributes  of 
humanity.  A  code  of  faith  that  can  produce  results  like  this  can 
spring  only  from  the  conscience  of  God  and  cannot  fail  to  bring  about 
the  universal  brotherhood  of  man  in  one  sympathy,  one  faith  and  one 
hope.  Rev.  Dr.  Still  was  an  active  minister  and  a  practicing 
physician  during  his  entire  residence  in  Macon  county  and  he  con- 
tinued both  callings  among  the  Indians.  He  died  in  Kansas  about 
the  year  1870.  His  widow,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  still  survives, 
a  resident  of  that  State  at  the  advanced  age  of  85  and  well  preserved, 
with  a  fair  possibility  of  celebrating  her  centennial  birthday.  Dr. 
Still,  the  son,  discovered  a  decided  taste  for  the  medical  profession  at 
an  early  age,  and  for  15  years  applied  himself  to  medical  study 
almost  constantly.  In  this  he  had  the  encouragement  and  instruction 
of  his  father,  and  he  made  such  progress  that  at  the  age  of  17  his 
father  took  him  out  with  him  in  the  practice.  He  was  of  necessity, 
owing  to  the  condition  of  the  country  and  surrounding  circumstances, 
almost  compelled  to  make  medicine  and  surgery  his  leading  lifetime 
thouo^ht,  so  that  at  a  very  early  age  it  gave  him  such  a  knowledge  of 
medicine  that  he  readily  won  the  confidence  of  the  public  in  his  skill 
and  ability  in  the  practice,  and  his  father  often  being  absent  in  pulpit 
work,  the  son  was  frequently  compelled  to  take  upon  himself  the 
responsibility  of  managing  cases.  Thus,  at  the  age  of  20,  young  Dr. 
Still  found  himself  in  possession  of  a  good  practice  with  increasing 
reputation  and  popularity.  He  soon  fell  heir  to  his  father's  whole 
practice.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
S.  Powell,  and  he  continued  the  practice,  residing  on  the  farm  near 
Bloomhigton,  until  the  time  of  the  war.  Conscientiously  a  Union  man, 
he  was  made  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Eleventh  Missouri  State  militia, 
which  was  stationed  most  of  the  time  at  Macon  City.  He  therefore 
removed  his  family  to  this  place  and  has  since  resided  here.  Since 
the  war  he  has  been  connected  as  examining  surgeon  with  the  pension 
business  and  is  still  a  member  of  the  examining  board  of  this  county. 
Dr.  Still  has  always  had  a  good  practice,  and  by  his  upright  life  has 
ever  challenged  and  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  among 
whom  he  has  lived.  On  the  20th  of  October,  1882,  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  his  good  wife,  with  whom  he  had  spent  nearly  34  years 


1212  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

of  happy  married  life.  They  reared  three  children :  Sadie,  wiio 
became  the  wife  of  Dr.  E.  H.  Dunnington,  of  Atlanta,  Macon  county, 
Mo.,  and  is  now  deceased  ;  Thomas  A.,  of  Macon  City,  and  with  whom 
the  Doctor  still  resides  ;  and  John  J.,  who  is  a  practicing  physician,  and 
now  resides  in  the  State  of  Kansas.  Dr.  Still  is  a  member  of  the  order 
of  Royal  Arch  Masons. 

REV.  ETHELBERT  TALBOT 

(Rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  Macon  City). 

Rev.  Mr.  Talbot  is  a  native  Missourian,  born  in  Howard  count}^ 
October  9,  1848.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  John  A.  Talbot,  of  that 
county,  for  many  years  one  of  its  leading  physicians,  and  a  man  of 
marked  ability  and  learning.  Dr.  Talbot  was  originally  from  Erie 
county,  Pa.,  and  completed  his  medical  education  at  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  graduated  with  dis- 
tinction. After  practicing  a  short  time  in  Virginia,  where  he  was 
partly  reared,  he  came  to  Howard  county  in  1832,  and  located  at  Fay- 
ette. He  practiced  his  profession  in  that  county  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1859.  Rev.  E.  Talbot  was  the  sixth  in  his  family 
of  nine  children.  After  taking  a  preparatory  course  in  the  Central 
College,  at  Fayette,  young  Talbot  matriculated  at  Dartmouth  College, 
New  Hampshire,  where  he  spent  four  years  in  study,  graduating  in 
1870.  He  then  entered  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  at  New 
York  City,  where  he  received  a  thorough  course  of  training  in  theol- 
ogy, graduating  in  1873.  The  same  year  he  was  ordained  Deacon  at 
New  York,  and  in  the  following  November  was  consecrated  to  the 
Priesthood.  Meanwhile,  in  July,  1873,  he  had  come  to  Macon  City 
and  taken  charge  of  St.  James  Parish.  After  he  had  been  rector 
of  the  parish  some  two  years,  he  established  St.  James  Academy, 
now  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of  learning,  under  the  patronage 
of  his  church,  in  this  section  of  the  State.  On  the  5th  of  November, 
1873,  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot  was  married  to  Miss  Dora  Harvey,  of  Howard 
county,  a  daughter  of  John  Harvey,  Esq.,  a  well  known  and  highly 
respected  citizen  of  that  county. 

CAPT.  WILLIAM  H.  TERRELL 

(Of  W.  H.  Terrell  &  Bro.,  Macou  City). 

So  far  as  Macon  City  is  concerned,  Capt.  Terrell  can  very  justly 
claim  to  be  one  of  its  original  inhabitants.  His  father,  James  A. 
Terrell,  came  here  in  1845,  and  entered  the  land  on  which  the  town 
is  now  situated.  The  town  of  Macon  City  was  laid  off  11  years  after- 
wards, and  Oftpt.  Terrell,  then  a  youth  15  years  old,  carried  the  stakes 
for  the  surveyor,  John  P.  Walker,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1856,  when  the 
place  was  surveyed.  Young  Terrell  grew  up  here,  and  in  18(il,  then 
20  years  of  age,  he  joined  the  Confederate  army  and  served  until  the 
fall  of  Vicksburg,  when  he  ])ecame  a  prisoner.  He  was  afterwards 
pardoned  by  President  Lincoln,  through  the  influence  of  Judge  W.  A. 

t 


HISTORY   OF   MACON   COUNTY.  1213 

Hull  and  Hon.  J.  S.  Rollins,  and  came  home.  Capt.  Terrell  feels 
under  lasting  obligations  to  Hon.  William  A.  Hull  and  Hon  J.  S. 
Rollins  for  their  many  acts  of  kindness,  not  only  to  himself  but  to 
his  father's  family.  After  his  return  to  this  place  he  started  the  Ma- 
con nursery,  and  has  since  been  in  the  business,  except  for  the  years 
from  1874  to  1878,  when  he  was  serving  as  sheriff  of  the  county,  hay- 
ing been  elected  in  the  fall  of  the  first-named  year,  and  re-elected  in 
18"76.  His  brother,  Allen  H.Terrell,  became  his  partner  in  business 
in  1878,  and  they  have  since  conducted  the  business  together.  They 
have  one  of  the  largest  and  best  nurseries  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
Their  trees,  plants,  etc.,  occupy  20  acres  of  ground  and  embrace 
every  variety  of  samples  usually  found  in  a  first-class  nursery. 
Theirs  is  the  only  nursery  in  the  county,  except  one  at  La  Plata'.  In 
1870  Capt.  Terrell  and  Col.  London  organized  a  company  of  militia 
under  the  State  laws.  Col.  London  was  the  first  paptain  of  the  com- 
pany and  Capt.  Terrell  was  its  lieutenant.  After  a  while  the  former 
resigned  and  Capt.  Terrell  became  captain  of  the  company.  On  the 
21st  of  September,  1871,  Capt.  Terrell  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline 
A.  McCall,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  A.  P.  McCall,  who  died  in  the  Legis- 
lature in  1873.  The  Captain  and  Mrs.  Terrell  have  two  children  :  ' 
Arlotta  and  Adolphus.  Capt.  Terrell's  parents  were  from  Kentucky. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  J.  AVright.  His  f\ither  came 
here  in  1828,  and  they  were  married  in  about  1837.  They  subse- 
quently removed  to  what  is  now  Adair  county.  Capt.  Terrell  was 
born  in  that  county,  August  16,  1841.  But,  as  stated  above,  the 
family  came  back  to  Macon  in  1845.  , 

CAPT.  FIELDS  TRAMMEL,  'SQUIRE  PHILIP  TRAMMEL  and 
PROF.  S.  F.  TRAMMEL 

(Macon  City) . 
The  subjects  of  the  present  sketch,  father,  son  and  grandson,  rep- 
resent three  of  the  four  generations  of  this  family  that  have  been  set- 
tled in  North  Central  Missouri.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  this 
section  of  the  State  was  Philip  Trammel,  a  native  of  Virginia,  but 
who  came  to  Missouri  from  Kentucky.  He  settled  in  Howard  county 
among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  that  county,  in  1814,  and  was  a  friend 
and  associate  of  the  Boones,  Coopers,  and  most  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  Boone's  Lick  country.  Of  this  family  of  children  was  Fields 
Trammel,  who  was  in  youth  when  the  family  came  to  Missouri. 
Fields  Trammel  married  Miss  Mary  Hardin,  whose  father's  family 
were  pioneer  settlers,  from  Kentucky,  in  Boone  county,  and  related 
to  the  Hardins  of  Kentucky  and  this  State.  Fields  Trammel  became 
one  of  the  sturdy  and  brave-hearted  frontiersmen  of  the  country,  a 
leader  of  those  "^among  whom  he  lived,  by  reason  of  his  courage, 
character  and  strong  intelligence,  —  as  little  afraid  of  the  stealthy, 
murderous  savage  as  he  was  ready-handed  to  clear  away  the  forests 
and  to  assist  by  his  brain  and  muscle  in  the  establishment  of  civiliza- 
tion  in  this  then  trackless  wilderness.     He  became  a  noted  Indian 


1214  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

fighter  and  his  very  name  was  used  in  the  wigwam  to  make  the  pap- 
pooses  nestle  in  fear  quietly  on  their  mother's  breast.  He  at  last  lost 
his  life  while  gallantly  leading  a  company  of  Howard  county  volun- 
teers, of  which  he  was  captain,  in  a  tight  with  the  Iowa  Indians, 
which  occurred  in  what  is  now  Adair  county,  July  14,  1829.  Mor- 
tally wounded  in  the  tight,  he  died  at  his  home  in  Howard  county, 
shortly  afterwards.  No  braver  man  ever  contributed  his  life  to  the 
great  cause  of  carrying  civilization  across  this  continent  than  Capt. 
Fields  Trammel.  He  left  a  widow  and  four  children,  the  children  be- 
mg  Philip,  Samuel,  Fields  and  Susan. 

Philip  Trammel  was  born  in  Howard  county,  Mo.,  July  26,  1822. 
Seven  yeai's  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  he  remained 
with  his  mother  on  the  family  homestead  in  Howard  county,  until  he 
was  in  his  nineteenth  year,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sirena  Blak- 
ley,  February  25^  1841.  About  this  time  he  removed  to  Macon 
county  and  began  to  establish  himself  a  home.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  this  county,  and,  as  has  been  pertinently  remarked, 
came  here  Avhen  the  Avolves  were  in  the  country,  and  the  Indians  and 
the  deer  and  every  variety  of  animals  fer(E  natures,  indigenous  to  this 
part  of  the  country.  'Squire  Trammel  still  resides  in  Macon  county 
and  has  long  held  the  position  of  one  of  its  most  successful  farmers 
and  highly  respected  and  influential  citizens.  By  sturdy  industry  and 
broad-gauged,  liberal-minded  good  management,  he  has  accumulated 
a  handsome  estate,  and  achieved  his  success  without  doing  any  man  a 
wrong,  but  on  the  contrary  by  his  own  brain  and  muscle,  and  the  soil 
and  seasons  which  God  has  given.  Without  an  enemy,  and  esteemed 
for  the  many  strong  and  excellent  qualities  of  his  character,  as  well  as 
his  excellent  business  intelligence  and  qualifications,  he  has  frequently 
been  called  into  positions  of  public  trust  and  service.  For  many 
years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  Independence  township,  and  in 
1875  he  was  appointed  public  administrator  of  the  county  by  Gov. 
Hardin.  The  following  year  he  removed  to  Macon  City,  in  order  to 
be  near  the  situs  of  his  official  duties.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to  that 
office,  and  two  years  later  he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  and  in 
1880  was  re-elected  county  treasurer.  No  man  in  the  county  stands 
with  a  name  more  spotless  or  is  more  highly  esteemed  than  he.  He 
has  reared  seven  children  :  John  B.,  James  S.,  Anna  M.,  Bethilda, 
Susan  E,,  Samuel  F,  and  Sarah  E. 

Samuel  F.  Trammel,  the  sixth  of  these,  was  born  in  Macon  county, 
December,  13,  1854,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Independence 
township,  where  he  made  his  home  until  he  was  20  years  of  age. 
He  studied  the  hi<xher  branches  of  a  o-eneral  Eng-lish  education  at  the 
State  Normal  School,  in  Kirksville,  and  at  the  St.  James  Academy, 
in  Macon  City.  A  faithful  and  earnest  student,  and  possessed  of  a 
quick,  active  mind  and  a  retentive  memory,  he  succeeded  in  acquir- 
ing a  good  general  education.  After  his  academic  course  he  was  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits  for  two  years  and  then  adopted  teaching 
as  a  profession.  He  has  since  taught  with  success  in  Macon,  Ran- 
dolph and  Howard  counties.     During  the  year  1877  he  was  professor 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


121i> 


of  mathematics  in  the  St.  James  Academy.  In  the  sprmg  of  188.-> 
Prof.  Trammel  was  elected  school  commissioner  of  the  connty,  the 
office  he  now  holds.  A  young  man  of  irreproachable  habits,  marked 
intelligence  and  superior  education,  his  future  seems  more  than  ordi- 
narily bright  with  promise. 

WILLIAM  TRISTER 

(Of  Trister  &  Dyson,  Retail  Dealers  in  Liquors,  Cigars,  Etc.,  Macon). 
Mr.    Trister,  who    commenced    for   himself    when    a   young    man 
without    a  dollar,   and  by  industry,  intelligence   and    enterprise,   is 
rapidly  coming  to  the  front  as  one  of  the  substantial  property  holders 
of  Macon  City,  is,  as  it  is  almost  supererogation  to  say,  a  native  of 
Germany.     He  was  born  in  the  Fatherland  January,  27,   1851,  and 
was  brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  John  and  Caroline  Trister, 
who  emio-rated  to  this  country  in  1855.     They  came  to  Macon  City 
four  yeai°s  afterwards.     The  father  died  here  in  1862,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living.     William  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  afterwards  served 
six  years  on  the  police  force  at  this  place.     He  then  engaged  in  his 
present  business,  which  he  has  since  followed.     For  two  years  Mi\ 
Dyson  has  been  his  partner.     They  carry  a  full  line  of  liquors  and 
keep  constantly  on  hand  good  beer  and  other  refreshing  beverages 
including   wines,  etc.,  etc.      They  also    have   a  fine   assortment    of 
cigars  and  tobacco,  and,  in  fact,  everything  necessary  to  enable^  one 
to°spend  an  hour  of  leisure  with  comfort  and  pleasure.     Mr.  Trister 
also  has  charge  of  the  Macon  brewery,  where  they  make  the  best  beer 
to  be  had  in  this  section  of  the  State,  and  he  and  partner  also  own  a 
large  soda  factory  at  Macon  City,  where  they  manufacture  the  dnnk 
tha^  cools  one  of  a  hot  summer's  day.     Hence,  they  have  the  drinks 
tliat  heat,  the  drinks  that  cool  and  the  drinks  that  come  between  the 
two,  so  that  by  investing  a  small  sum  any  honest  citizen  can  enjoy 
any  degree  of  temperature  that  he  desires,  regardless  of  wind  or 
weathe?,  while  to  cap  the  climax  he  can  have  a  smoke  fragrant  and 
delicious  enoucrh  to  make  even  a  Turk  think  that  he  is  in  his  ideal 
heaven   of   houri   and  niobes.      August   16,   1872,   Mr.   Trister   was 
married  to  Miss  Caroline  Kraul,  originally  of  Germany.     They  have 
two  children:    John  and  Eddie.     Mr.  Trister  is  a  member  of   the 
PJiilanthrops  d'  Fraternite.  ^        t^        \    e 

Alfred  Dyson,  is  of  Trister  &  Dyson,  proprietors  of  the  "Board  ot 
Trade,"  Macon  Citv.  Mr.  Dyson  is  a  native  of  the  Empress  Isle  of 
the  seas,  born  in  Hudderstiekl,  Yorkshire,  March  11,  1846.  Reared 
in  his  native  county,  in  the  tall  of  1869  he  came  to  America,  coming 
soon  afterwards  to  Macon  City.  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year 
be  besan  work  in  a  wholesale  liquor  house  and  had  charge  of  the  soda 
water^'factory,  and  continued  in  the  same  until  January  1,  1883,  when 
he  and  Mr.  Trister  formed  their  present  partnership.  Their  business, 
has  been  spoken  of  at  large  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Trister,  thus  render- 
ing further  notice  of  it  in  this  connection  unnecessary.  March  29, 
1871,  Mr.  Dyson  was  married  to  Miss  Jessie  C.  Hogen,  of  this  place, 


1216  HISTORY    OF   MACON    COUNTY. 

whose  parents  were  formerly  of  England,  and  she  was  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  11  children,  all  the  rest  of  whom  were  born  in  the 
Mother  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dyson  have  three  children  :  John  M., 
Fred  E.  and  Horace  M.  They  lost  their  oldest,  a  daughter,  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Dyson  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Messrs. 
Tiister  &  Dyson  have  $2,000  invested  in  their  saloon,  and  also  over 
$2,000  in  their  soda  water  factory.  They  have  two  shares  of  a  $1,000 
each  in  Macon  brewery,  which  has  a  capital  stock  of  $9,000.  Mr. 
Dyson  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  at  the  time  the  city  ordi- 
nances were  revised. 

FREDEEICK  A.  TUCKEE 

(Macon   City). 

Mr.  T.,  until  recently  of  the  firm  of  Tucker  &  Marcum,  late  propri- 
etors of  the  Palace  Hotel,  is  the  son  of  Geo.  L.  and  Caroline  Tucker. 
Mr.  Tucker,  Sr.,  was  a  member  of  the  Eoyal  College  of  Surgeons, 
London.  He  also  practiced  his  profession  in  New  York  previous  to 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872.  His  wife  is  still  living  in  New 
York,  in  which  State  Frederick  was  born  in  July,  1857.  He  grew  up 
in  New  York  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools.  Coming  to 
Missouri  in  1875,  he  first  clerked  in  the  Browning  House,  Chillicothe, 
and  afterwards  in  several  different  places,  finally  came  to  Macon  City 
and  took  part  in  the  management  of  the  Palace  Hotel  until  disposing 
of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Marcum.  Mr.  Tucker  married,  March  29, 
1883,  Miss  Martha  E.  McMuUin,  one  of  Indiana's  fairest  and  most 
charming  daughters. 

Though  in  this  free  land 

Kind  hearts  are  more  than  coronets, 

And  simple  faith  than  Norman  blood, — 

yet  when  we  can  so  thoroughly  unite  both,  as  does  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  the  effect  is  beyond  measure  pleasing.  Mr.  Tucker  is  every 
inch  a  gentleman,  and  his  obliging  disposition,  his  modest  but  solid 
worth  of  character  and  winning  manners  lend  him  a  fascination  that  in 
his  profession  is  invaluable.     Mr.  T.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

HENEY  VANSICKLE 

(Farmer  and  Stock-raiser) . 

Mr.  V.  is  the  son  of  Louis  Vansickle  and  his  wife,  nee  Brookey 
McKee,  of  Ohio.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  10  children :  William, 
Euth,  John,  Henry,  Sarah,  Charles,  Louis,  Mary  Ann,  Anthony  and 
Nicholas.  His  father  came  to  Macon  county  and  farmed  for  several 
years,  but  afterwards  moved  to  Kansas,  where  he  died  in  1872.  His 
wife  is  still  living  in  Kentucky.  Henry  Vansickle  was  born  in  1838, 
in  Elkhart  county,  Ind.,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  such 
education  as  could  be  obtained  at  the  common  schools  of  the  county. 
He   began    life    without   any    help,  but    by   frugality,   economy   and 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1217 

unflagging  labor,  joined  to  a  clear  head,  natural  talent  for  manage- 
ment, he  has  now  accumulated  a  beautiful  farm  finely  improved  of 
320  acres  ;  160  acres  he  is  desirous  of  selling,  $25.00  per  acre  being 
the  exceedingly  low  figure  at  which  he  offers  his  land.  It  is  equal,  if 
not  superior,  in  value  to  any  in  the  county.  Mr.  Vansickle  deals 
largely  in  stock,  horses  and  cattle.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  to  whom  he  was  united,  December  17,  1845,  was  Miss  Mary 
A.  Shell.  By  her  he  had  eight  children  :  Ruth,  John,  Francis,  Mary  J . , 
Nancy  A.,  Sarah  M.,  Andrew  and  Elisha.  He  was  left  a  widower  in 
1866,  and  the  following  year  married  Mrs.  Mary  Stoops,  widow  of 
Tervis  Stoops,  of  Kent  county,  Md.  Of  this  latter  union  wei^e 
born  six  children:  Brookie  D.,  Etha  M.,  Maudie  M.,  Mattie  L., 
Grantie  A.  and  Henry  B.  Mrs.  Vansickle  had  four  children  by  her 
first  marriage  :  William  J.,  Jessie  B.,  E.  E.  and  Alpha  O.  In  all,  the 
children  of  the  family  number  18.  This  good  man  has  faith- 
fully discharged  his  duty  to  his  family,  and  of  him  it  may  truly  be 
said  that  "His  children  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed." 

JOHN  VANSICKLE 

(Tarraer  and  Dealer  in  Stocky. 

Mr.  Vansickle  is  the  brother  of  Henry  Vansickle,  a  sketch  of  whose 
life  has  been  already  given.  He  was  born  in  Elkhart,  county,  Ind.,  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1826.  His  early  youth  was  passed  in  Indiana, 
and  when  about  14  years  of  age  he  came  to  this  county,  thereafter 
farming  with  his  father  until  his  mairiage  in  1848.  The  fair  lady  of 
his  love  was  Miss  Nancy  Murphy,  daughter  of  Gabriel  Murphy  and 
Mehitable,  his  wife,  whose  father  was  John  Fletcher,  of  South  Carolina. 
Gabriel  Murphy  rode  pack  horses  for  the  British  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Mr.  V.  now  has  a  beautiful  farm  of  290  acres  of  tillable 
land,  upon  which  is  a  handsome  brick  house  and  other  substantial 
buildings,  and  also  a  fine  orchard.  Mr.  V.  deals  extensively  in  stock 
and  devotes  all  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business.  He  never  was 
an  office-seeker,  but  has  always  found  it  sufficient  pleasure  and  honor 
to  be  the  guide  and  counselor  of  his  interesting  family.  He  has 
three  children  :  Brookey,  born  September  5,  1849  ;  William,  born 
March  13,  1851 ;  and  Louetta,  born  October  22,  1861.  In  this  little 
world,  cheerful,  self-possessed,  independent,  he  conducts  his  life  with 
sound  judgment : 

A  narrow  compass !  and  yet  there 
Dwells  all  that's  good  and  all  that's  fair. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vansickle  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
THOMAS  WARDELL 

(Coal  Exploiter  and  Dealer,  Macon  City)  . 
Mr.  Wardell,  a  native   of  England,  now  has  $100,000  invested  in 
the   coal  business  in  Macon  county,  and  mines  and  ships  about  48,000 


1218  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

tons,  or  3,000  car  loads  a  year.  His  coal  lands  number  2,500  acres, 
250  acres  of  which  are  now  being  worked.  He  has  three  different 
shafts,  and  employs  regularly  during  the  coal  season  about  160  men, 
and  during  the  summer  season  over  100  men.  He  has  been  identified 
with  coal  mining  ever  since  he  was  10  years  of  age,  and  has  achieved 
his  whole  success  in  this  industry,  coming  up  from  pennilessness  to 
comparative  wealth  by  his  own  industry  and  good  business  manage- 
ment. Such  a  record  is  not  to  be  blushed  at  except  for  the  credit  it 
reflects,  and  is  well  worth}''  a  place  in  this  volume. 

Thomas  Wardell  was  born  in  County  of  Durham,  England,  near 
New  Castle,  July  4,  1835,  and  went  to  work  in  the  coal  mines  when 
10  years  of  age.  Seven  years  later,  while  still  a  youth,  he  braved 
the  buffetings  of  the  stormy  Atlantic,  and  took  passage  for  America. 
Landing  in  this  country,  he  came  direct  to  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
and  soon  afterwards  pushed  on  out  to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  where  he 
shortly  became  interested  in  coal  raining.  In  1861  Mr.  Wardell 
came  to  Missouri  and  began  operations  in  Macon  county.  He  opened 
the  second  coal  mine  ever  worked  in  the  county,  John  Clifton  having 
worked  one  previously  from  1855  to  1860.  He  came  to  this  county 
at  the  instance  of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railway  Company,  and 
afterwards  supplied  that  company  with  coal.  He  came  to  Macon  City 
in  1879,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

WILLIAM  B.  WEBBER  and  WALTER  SMITH 

(Or  Webber  &  Smith,  Manufacturing  Druggists,  Macon  City). 

These  gentlemen,  besides  having  one  of  the  best  drug  stores  in  Macon 
City,  are  largely  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  Dr.  Kessler's  family 
medicines.  The  following  are  the  medicines  which  they  manufacture 
and  of  which  they  are  the  proprietors  :  Dr.  Kessler's  German  Cough 
Balm  ;  Dr.  Kessler's  Comp.  Syr.  Blackberry  ;  Dr.  Kessler's  Malarial 
Antidote;  Dr.  Kessler's  German  Worm  Treatment;  Dr.  Kessler's 
German  Corn  Cure ;  Dr.  Kessler's  Toothache  Drops ;  Hoffman's 
Canadian  Condition  Powders;  Swan's  Peruvian  Elixir;  Swan's  In- 
stant Hair  Dye  ;  and  Anderson's  Sure  Death  to  Rats.  Both  gentle- 
men are  practical  pharmacists  of  long  experience  and  understand  their 
business  thoroughly.  They  have  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  these  medicines  less  than  a  year  and  their  business  has  grown  with 
wonderful  rapidity.  They  now  have  a  large,  laboratory  and  have 
already  established  a  large  and  growing  trade  for  their  goods.  Their 
medicines  are  intrinsically  valuable  and  their  use  is  their  best  recom- 
mendation. 

ADOLPH  WILL 

(Section  10) . 

Mr.  W.  is  a  leading  farmer  in  the  county,  and  was  born  in  Bavaria, 
August  13,  1823.  His  father,  Guenther  Will,  was  a  military  officer. 
Adolph  was  educated  as  a  civil  engineer  and  painter,  but  dissatisfied  with 
the  monotony  of  the  life  in  his  native  country,  he  came  to  seek  his  fortune 


HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1219 

in  America.  On  the  vessel  in  which  he  crossed  the  ocean,  he  met  a 
Miss  Helena  Seebich,  to  whom,  on  Christmas  Day  of  the  same  year, 
1851,  he  was  married.  For  several  years  in  Baltimore,  Pittsburg,  and 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  he  followed  the  painter's  trade.  In  1857  he 
started  in  a  wagon  to  Kansas,  but  the  team  giving  out  when  he  got  as 
far  -as  Macon  County,  he  concluded  to  stay  there.  He  settled  and  im- 
proved two  farms,  and  then  sold  them,  always  realizing  some  profit, 
until  finally  he  located  where  he  now  lives,  on  80  acres  of  land,  to 
which  he  has  added  from  time  to  time.  He  now  owns  560  acres  of  as 
fine  land  as  there  is  in  the  county,  and  has  the  best  improvements  in 
his  neighborhood.  He  has  a  vineyard  and  orchard  (and  also  raises 
stock,  horses  and  cattle,  etc.).  Mr.  Will  takes  much  pride  in  his 
lovely  home,  which  can  be  seen  from  Macon  City,  lying  as  it  does, 
about  two  miles  to  the  north-east.  He  brought  the  first  cooking  stove 
and  bushel  measure  to  the  county.  Mr.  Will  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They  have  six  children  :  Solomon, 
Henry,  Louis,  Otto,  John  and  Hugo.  Mr.  Will  is  a  citizen  of  whom 
any  community  may  feel  justly  proud. 

JUDGE   DANIEL  E.  WILSON 

(Of  Wilson  &Co.,  Dealers  in  Groceries,  Macon  City). 

Judge  Wilson  was  born  at  Salona,  Centre  county.  Pa.,  Febru- 
ary 27,  1880.  His  father  was  Mark  Wilson,  and  his  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Harriet  Hartman.  In  1836  they  removed  to  Ohio, 
and  settled  in  Wayne  county,  where  the  father  bought  a  farm.  Daniel 
E.  was  reared  in  Wayne  county,  and  received  a  good  district  education 
as  he  grew  up.  In  young  manhood  he  engaged  in  teaching  school, 
and' taught  several  terms  with  success.  He  then  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  and  followed  it  Avith  energy  and  enterprise  until  his  re- 
moval to  Missouri  three  years  before  the  now  not  very  "late"  war. 
September  30,  1856,  he  was  married  at  Berea,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Abbie  M. 
Bevans,  and  two  years  later  he  came  to  Missouri,  locating  at  Macon 
City.  Here  he  took  charge  of  the  public  school,  which  he  conducted 
Avith  satisfaction  to  all  concerned  until  1869.  He  now  retired  from 
the  schools  to  engage  in  the  tombstone  business,  which  he  carried  on 
at  Macon  City  until  the  war  put  a  stop,  practically,  to  all  business  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  He  was  a  staunch  Union  man  during  the 
war  and  became  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Sixty-second  E.  M.  M.  Later 
along,  however,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  in  1863  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Macon  City,  a  position  which  he 
held  until  1806.  After  the  war  in  1867-68  he  was  general  assignee 
in  bankruptcy  for  several  counties.  He  was  also  a  Division  Assessor 
of  Internal  Kevenue  from  1869  until  that  office  was  abolished  or 
rather  the  law  creating  it  was  changed,  and  was  the  U.  S.  Ganger 
for  several  counties.  These  offices,  however,  he  did  not  hold  simul- 
taneously, but  rather  in  the  order  named.  The  office  of  U.  S. 
Gauger  he  held  from  1876  to  1879,  prior  to  this  he  was  appointed  pro- 
bate judge,  and  filled  the  position  with  marked  ability  and  efficiency. 


1220  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Since  1879  he  has  been  engaged  in  various  lines  of  business,  and  es- 
tablished his  present  business  in  the  summer  of  1882.  The  firm  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  carries  a  well-selected  stock  of  groceries,  and 
quite  a  large  one,  and  is  building  up  a  good  trade.  November  13, 
1880,  Judge  Wilson  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  beloved  wife,  who 
died,  leaving  him  two  children:   Ada  E.  and  Harry  B. 

MAJOR   SAMUEL    J.  WILSON 

(General  Insurance,  Macon  City). 

Major  Wilson  came  by  descent  from  two  States  famous  in  history 
for  the  gallantry  of  their  sons  —  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  His  father, 
Samuel  Wilson,  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  McCrosky,  of  the  Blue  Grass  State. 
Her  family,  however,  was  also  originally  from  Virginia,  as,  indeed, 
Kentucky  herself  is  a  daughter  of  the  old  Mother  of  Presidents. 
Judge  Wilson's  parents  settled  in  Illinois  as  early  as  1836.  His 
father  was  an  able  Presbyterian  minister,  and  died  at  Monmouth, 
111.,  in  1847.  The  mother  survived  to  1878.  Samuel  James, 
their  third  son,  was  born  at  Rushville,  in  Illinois,  November  27,  1838, 
and  was  principally  educated  at  Monmouth.  He  graduated  from 
Monmouth  College,  including  a  thorough  classical  course  in  1860. 
He  thereupon  began  school-teaching,  but  in  the  spring  of  1861  en- 
tered the  Tenth  Illinois  infantry  for  the  three  months'  service. 
After  the  expiration  of  this  term  he  enlisted  for  three  years.  In 
the  three  months'  service  he  was  second  lieutenant,  but  in  the  three 
years'  service  he  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  E,  of  the 
Tenth  Illinois  infantry.  For  meritorious  service  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain,  and  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  position  of  Major. 
After  the  expiration  of  his  three  years'  term  he  enlisted  in  the  veteran 
service,  and  continued  until  the  Old  Flag  floated  in  triumph  from  the 
Lakes  to  the  Gulf  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  He  led  his 
company  at  the  battles  of  New  Madrid,  Island  No.  10,  Corinth,  on 
the  Nashville  campaign,  at  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  on  the  march  to 
Atlanta,  and  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek.  At  Peach  Tree 
Creek  he  commanded  his  regiment,  but  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
thigh  and  carried  off"  the  field  in  a  critical  condition.  As  soon  as  he 
was  able  to  travel  he  was  furloughed  for  a  visit  home  and  accordingly 
returned  to  Illinois,  and  was  discharged.  After  his  recovery  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  law  at  Oquawka,  111.  In  1865  he  came  to  Mis- 
souri and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  which  he  continued  until 
1870,  when  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Macon  City,  being  ad- 
mitted by  Judge  Burckhartt.  Meanwhile  he  had  baen  appointed 
clerk  of  the  common  pleas  court,  a  position  he  filled  until  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  at  this  place.  In  1877  he  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  which  he  has  since  followed.  He  represents  many  of  the 
leading  companies  of  the  country — life,  fire,  etc., —  and  does  a  large 
business.     Judge   Wilson   has   also   served    in   the  office    of   county 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1221 

judge  with  ability  and  satisfaction  since  coming  to  this  county,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  since  locating  at  Macon  City. 
He  was  also  city  treasurer  for  about  15  years,  and  has  ever  been 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  public-spirited,  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
the  place.  November  27,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Stella  M. 
Buffington,  of  Port  Huron,  Mich.  They  have  four  children: 
Fred,  Jessie,  Nellie  and  Charlie.  The  Judge  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  T. 

fkan:^<:  e.  williams 

(Of  Downing  &  Williams,  Dealers  in  Boots  and  Shoes,  Macon  City). 

Mr.  Williams,  of  the  above-named  firm,  is  a  son  of  Col.  John  F. 
Williams,  well  known  by  all  Missonrians  as  one  of  the  prominent  men 
of  this  State,  and  was  born  in  Howard  county,  September  16,  1860. 
In  1865  the  family  removed  to  Macon  City,  and  Frank  E.  was  reared 
at  this  place.  He  was  given  a  liberal  general  English  education,  and 
early  deciding  to  devote  himself  to  business  pursuits,  he  took  a  course 
at  business  college.  In  1878  he  entered  the  Gem  Cit}''  Business 
College,  of  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  completed  his  business  education. 
Returning  to  Macon  City  in  1879,  he  began  clerking  with  Goldsberry 
&  Stephens,  and  the  following  year  he  clerked  with  Kem  &  Downing. 
He  continued  with  that  house  until  the  fall  of  1882,  although  it  under- 
went different  changes  of  partnership,  when  he  bought  an  interest  in 
the  firm,  which  was  then  the  Long,  Gooding  &  Kem  Mercantile  Com- 
pany, Mr.  Williams  buying  Mr.  Long's  interest,  and  the  name  of  the 
company  was  changed  to  the  Macon  Mercantile  Company.  This  com- 
pany continued  in  business  until  June,  1883,  when  they  closed  out. 
Until  the  following  January  Mr.  Williams  was  engaged  in  clerking 
and  then  formed  his  present  partnership  with  Mr.  H.  H.  Downing. 
Mr.  Downing  was  from  Scotland  county.  Mo.,  and  came  to  Macon 
City  a  number  of  years  ago.  He  was  clerking  here  for  some  time  and 
was  also  in  business  for  himself  some  six  or  eisfht  v^ars,  most  of  the 
time  in  partnership  with  others.  He  is  now  a  traveling  salesman  for 
a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  house  of  Chicago,  and  Mr.  Williams  gives 
his  special  attention  to  the  business  at  Macon  City.  They  carry  one 
of  the  best  and  most  complete  stocks  of  boots  and  shoes  to  be  seen  in 
Macon  City  or  at  any  other  point  even  much  larger  than  this  in  North- 
central  Missouri.  Both  being  comparatively  young  men  and  full  of 
life  and  enterprise,  and  being  business  men  of  long  experience  and 
superior  taste  and  judgment  in  buying  goods,  they  are  able  to  meet 
the  wants  of  customers  in  every  instance,  and  at  prices  in  which  they 
have  but  little  or  no  rivalry.  Their  business  at  Macon  City  thus  far 
has  been  one  of  gratifying  success,  and  they  have  built  up  a  large 
custom  which  insures  them  a  prosperous  future  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
trade.  Both  gentlemen  are  well  known  in  and  around  Macon  City 
and  are  highly  popular  with  the  public. 


1222  HISTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


CHAELES  FKEDERICK  WRIGHT 

(Deceased). 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  an  old  citizen  of  Macon  City,  died  at  his 
residence  in  this  place  on  the  Ist  of  September,  1882,  at  the  age  of 
74,  having  been  born  March  3, 1808.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  and  Avas  a  son  of  William  Wright,  originally  of  England,  a 
sailor  by  occupation.  Charles  F.  went  to  sea  when  a  boy  and  lost  his 
leo-,  off  Cape  Hatteras.  It  was  amputated  three  times  before  he 
recovered.  He  then  came  ashore  and  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  locat- 
ino-  at  Richmond,  Va.,  where  he  worked  for  some  time.  He  there  met 
mTss  Zelean  Dean,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1837.  From  Richmond 
they  went  to  Galveston,  but  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1838,  removing  the 
same  year  to  Glasgow,  settling  soon  afterward  at  Roanoke,  where  Mr. 
Wright  followed  his  trade  for  30  years.  From  there  he  came  to 
Macon  City,  where  he  followed  merchant  tailoring  for  some  14  years 
and  until  his  death.  For  many  years  before  the  war  he  was  a  slave 
auctioneer  and  was  known  far  and  wide  as  such,  being  regarded  as 
the  best  auctioneer  who  ever  knocked  a  coon  from  the  block.  He 
sold  and  hired  negroes  under  the  hammer  throughout  Howard,  Chari- 
ton, Macon  and  other  counties.  His  widow  still  survives  him,  a 
venerable  silver-haired  old  lady,  respected  by  all  who  know  her.  Her 
father  dying  when  she  was  quite  young,  she  was  reared  by  her  uncle, 
Isum  Puckett,  who  ran  the  Eagle  tavern  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  was 
proprietor  of  the  Broad  Rock  Race  Course,  a  four-mile  track.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wright  had  a  family  of  four  children  :  Christopher,  Rucker, 
a  merchant-tailor  at  Ft.  Scott ;  Adelia,  now  Mrs.  Willis  Worner  ;  and 
Martha,  now  Mrs.  Evan  C.  Wright.  The  mother  with  her  eldest  son 
and  youngest  daughter  reside  at  the  old  Palmer  homestead  in  Macon. 
Christopher  Wright  was  born  at  Roanoke,  Howard  county.  May  19, 
1840,  and  as  he  grew  up  he  learned  the  mason's  and  plasterer's  trade, 
which  he  now  follows.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Four- 
teenth Illinois  inlantry,  under  Col.  John  M.  Palmer.  He  participated  in 
Fremont's  campaign  in  this  State  and  the  Mississippi  River  campaign. 
He  was  also  in  the  North  Georgia  campaign  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charo-ed  in  1864.  In  1865  he  became  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  F,  in 
Pharo  Denny's  regiment  of  Missouri  State  Militia,  and  served  until 
disbanded  by  the  Government.     He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R 

GEORGE  YUNCKER 

(Township  and  City  Collector  and  Dealer  in  Boots  and  Shoes,  Macon) . 
Mr.  Yuncker,  one  of  the  popular  citizens  of  Macon  City,  and  who 
was  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  brave  men  who  fought  to  uphold  the 
Union  and  the  old  flag  during  the  late  war,  is  of  Teutonic-French 
stock,  and  was  himself  born  in  the  Land  of  Vines,  in  the  province  of 
Alsace,  July  13,  1833.  His  parents  were  Nicholas  and  Christine 
Yuncker,  and  his  father  through  several  generations  was  originally 


ftlSTORY   OF   MACON    COUNTY.  1223 

from  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine.  The  mother  died  when  George  was 
a  lad  about  10  years  of  age  and  soon  afterwards  the  father,  bringing 
his  children,  came  to  America,  landing  at  New  Orleans,  but  thence 
proceeded  up  the  river  into  Ohio.  George  grew  up  in  Ohio  and  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  at  Freemont.  Subseqnently  he  worked  as 
journeyman  in  Ohio,  Michigan  and  Illinois,  including  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago. In  1859  he  engaged  in  business  at  Kankakee,  Ills.,  and  was 
there  when  the  war  broke  out.  Early  in  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G, 
Fifty-first  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  until  honorably  dis- 
charged, a  period  of  two  years  and  nine  months.  He  Avas  sergeant  of 
his  company  and  participated  in  many  of  the  hardest-fought  battles  of 
the  war.  At  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  but  seven  of  his  company 
escaped  unhurt,  the  balance  being  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  he, 
himself,  was  wounded  no  less  than  seven  times,  being  as  he  was  though 
shot  all  but  to  pieces.  But  he  was  placed  in  the  hospital  and  in  due 
time  recovered.  Following  this  he  received  his  discharge.  Returning 
to  Kankakee,  he  came  from  there  to  Missouri  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and 
to  Macon  City  the  year  following.  Here  he  worked  for  some  time  at 
his  trade  and  then  established  his  present  business,  which  he  has  since 
continued.  He  is  now  serving  his  third  year  as  city  collector  and  his 
second  as  township  collector.  He  is  quartermaster  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
at  this  place,  and  votes  the  way  he  shot,  the  Republican  ticket,  though 
in  local  afiairs  he  votes  for  the  man,  a  sort  of  go-as-you-please  ballot. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont.  January  2,  1872,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Libbie  Trew,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  three 
children  :  Marion,  Minnie  and  Lizzie.  He  and  wife  are  both  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

72 


A 


Deacidified  using  the  Bookkeeper  process. 
Neutralizing  Agent:  Magnesium  Oxide 
Treatment  Date: 


iBBKKEEPER 

PRESERVATION  TECHNOLOGIES.  L.P. 
1 1 1  Thomson  Park  Drive 
Cranberry  Township.  PA  16066 
(724)  779-21 1 1