HISTORY COOPER COUNTY, Misjsouri, © From the first visit hy White Men, in February, i8o^,to the sth day of "July, i8y6. BY HENRY C. LBVENS AND NATHANIEL M. DRAKE. ST. LOUIS: PtKBlN i SMITH, STEAM BOOK AND JOB rBlNTURS, 701 WASHINGTON AVENUE. 18 7 6. F if 11 V 3 ■■y CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 4r -=-^^^^^^ ^ '.^^'^^i '^-cf Cornell University Library F 472C7 L65 History of Cooper County. Missouri, from olin 3 1924 028 846 463 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028846463 -A- HISTORY COOPER COUNTY, ]Vf issoxiri. From the first visit by White Men, in February, 1804., to the ^th day of July, 1876. BY HENRY C. LEYENS AND NATHANIEL M. DRAKE. ST. LOUIS; PEREIN & SMITH, STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTEKS, 701 W-iSHTSGTOX AVKJTc'^t'' J87.6, 2 ■ /■' '6'K .A r Bntered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by LEVENS & DRAKE, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Af? 5ff5 SO CONTENTS. PAGE. Correspondence, . , .... 5 Introduction, ....... 7 Dedication, . ....... 10 CHAPTER I. History of Boone's Liclc Country, from the First Visit by White Men to the Organization of Howard' County, . . 11 CHAPTER II. History of Boone's Lick Country, continued, ... 20 CHAPTER III. History of Boone's Lick Country, continued, . 29 CHAPTER IV. Organization of Howard County, .... 39 CHAPTER V. Organization of Cooper County, ... 48 CHAPTER VI. History of Cooper County, ... .56 CHAPTER VII. History of Cooper County, continued, . . . ■ 64 CHAPTER VIII. History of Cooper County, continued, . . • ■ 6^ CHAPTER IX. Political History of Cooper County, . • . i- CHAPTER X. War History of Cooper County, . • • • °' CriAPTER XI. War History of Cooper County, continued, . . ■ 95 CHAPTER XII. Character, Manners and Customs of the Early Settlers of Cuoper County, ^^^ CHAPTER XIII. Diflerent Towns in Cooper County, . • ■ .126 iv. CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. Different Townships in Cjoper County, . , ,. . 142 CHAPTER XV. / Early History of Different Townsliips, .... 157 CHAPTER XVI. Early History of Diffrfrent Townships, continued, . . 177 CHAPTER XVII. Bio.^raphies of some of the Old Citizens, which were not placed in the History of the Townships in which they lived, . 196 CHAPTER XVin. Celebration of July Fourth, 1876, at Boonville. Poem by H. A. Hutchison, ...... 203 CHAPTER XIX. Present Boundaiies of Cooper County, Population, etc., etc., 210 CHAPTER XX. Complete List of State Officers who served from the Organization of the State to the present time, .... 215 CHAPTER XXI. Complete List of County Officers who have served from the Organ- ization of the County to the present time, . . . 222 Those to Whom we are under Obligations for Assistance, . 228 Abstracts. ........ 229-231 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The following correspondence explains itself: BooNviLLE, Mo., June 5, 1876. Messrs. H. C Levens and N. M. Drake : Gentlemen — We are making arrangements for celebrat- ing the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independ- ence, and in order to do so with credit to our people, we propose to enlist the cordial efforts of our citizens. Know- ing your thorough acquaintance with the history of Cooper county, we respectfully solicit a contribution from you in conformity to a resolution of Congress and proclamation of the Presiderit, to be read upon the above occasion, at least such portions as you may deem of special interest to our people. We are aware that we are asking a great deal to be done in so short a time, but the circumstances, we think, justifies the appeal, and our confidence in your willingness to respond favorably. Awaiting an early reply, we have the honor to remain with sentiments of high respect. Very truly yours, F. W. LUDWIG, ) e >i r-i H. M. Clark, l^P^^^ <^o">- BooNviLLE, Mo., June 8, 1876. Messrs. F. W. Ludwig and H. M. Clark : — Gentlemen — Yours of 5th inst., requesting us to write a short histor}'^ of Cooper county, &c., received. In reply would say, that we will comply with your request to the best of our ability. Very Respectfully, Henry C. Levens, N. M. Drake. INTRODUCTION. In compliance with a resolution of Congress, and the Proclamation of the President of the United States, the Committee of Invitation for the ''Celebration of the "Cen- tennial" 4th day of July, requested us to -write a brief his- torical sketch of Cooper county, Missouri, to which we, with considerable mistrust, as to our ability to meet the ex- pectations of the people, consented, and undertook to per- form. After reading the same on that occasion, the multitude there assembled, unanimously passed a resolution, offered, by Maj. Henry M. Clark, Chairman of said Committee, requesting us to complete said history, and have the same published in book or pamphlet form, which has accordingly been done. This book contains, among other items of interest, viz : 1st. The history of the "Boone's Lick Country," from the time it was first visited by white Americans to the or- ganization of Cooper county. 2d. The general history of the county of Cooper from the time of its organization, to the 5th day of July, 1876. 3d. The Political History of the County, containing the names of all of the voters at the first election for delegates to Congress on the 2d day of August, 1819, who lived with- in the present hmits of the county ; and, also, the names of the candidates for office at several of the early elections and the number of votes given. 4th. The war history of the county. viii INTRODUCTION. 5th. A short biographical sketch of some of the most prominent early settlers. 6th. A description of the first churches, and schools, ministers of the gospel and school teachers, showing that the first school was taught upon a log in the open air, and the names of the pupils attending the same. 7th. A list of all of the State and County officers elect- ed and appointed, from the formation of the State and county government to the 4th day of July, 1876 ; their terms of office, when the same commenced and when ex- pired. 8th. A table showing the progress of schools, the taxa- ble wealth and taxes at diflFerent periods and other useful statistics, in regard to the advancement of the county. 9th. A description of each post office in the county, and a separate history of the City of Boonville and the different towns. loth. A brief history of each township, with the names of a number of its earliest settlers, from the best informa- tion which could be obtained from the records, and the rec- ollectiens of the old citizens still living. A large majority of those mentioned were here and voted at the August elec- tion, in 1820, and but few are included, who arrived subse- quent to that date. These lists are, we think, in the main correct, but some of the early settlers ha;'ve, no doubt, been omitted, for the want of proper information. It will be no- ticed that the histories of some of the townships are more full and complete than others, their citizens having taken more interest in giving the desired information. We expect our history to be severely criticised by some, but they must bear in mind, that it is a difficult and labori- ous task to write a detailed history, reaching over a period of sixty-six years, when there are so few of the old settlers f}ow living from whonqi informatioji could be obtained. INTRODUCTION. IX Neither could any other history, written previous to this one be found, which could be used as a guide. We have, merely in a plain old-fashioned style, recorded the facts, as they were learned from others, and from the State and county records. We undertook the task, not be- cause we thought that we |COuld perform it better than any one else, but because we felt that it should be done, arid no one else showed a disposition to put his shoulder to the wheel. For these and other reasons, we have undertaken this responsible duty, hoping that our efforts, in that behalf, may meet the expectations of a generous public ; and that the following pages may be the means of perpetuating the memories of at least some of those who braved the dangers of the savage foe, and? whose privations and toil were the means of opening to civilization one ol the most productive and best counties, upon which the sun has ever shone. Many of them, whose remains are sleeping in the sacred soil of old Cooper have been long since entirely forgotten, and all recognize the fact that this should not be. We should honor their memories, and imitate their vir- tues, their moral courage and their heroic bravery. We have few such men among us now. Those glorious days of simplicity have passed away, and only the memory of them remains. We live during the fast age of steamboats, railroads and telegraphs. Whether these things have in- creased our happiness and prosperity is left to others to de- termine. But one thing is certain, and that is, the fact that crime has increased to an alarming-extent. The records of our county show that no person was indicted or punished for crime, during the twelve years subsequent to its first settle- ment. This proves that the first settlers were, with hardly ^,n exception, honest men an4 l^Yf abiding citizens, X INTRODUCTION. Hoping that our efforts, in this behalf, will be the means of accomplishing some good, we are, Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servants, HENRY C. LEVENS, N. M. DRAKE. DEDICATION. To Captain Samuel Cole and Mrs. Jennie Davis, his sister, the only two persons now living in Cooper county, who were among the first company of settlers who put their feet upon its sacred soil — this work is respectfully dedicated. May they live long, and be forever blessed, and may their latter days be as peaceful and happy as their former ones have been honorable and glorious. HISTORY OF BOONE'S LICK COUNTRY. From the First Visit by White Men to the Organization of Howard County. CHAPTER I. Boundaries of the Boone's Lick Country.— Derivation of the Name. — First Visit by White Men.— Second Visit.— Third Visit.— First Salt Manu- factured in County.—First regular Settlement in Boone's Lick Country. — First Settlement in Cooper County. — Aspect of the Savages. All of the present State of Missouri, lying west of Cedar Creek, and north and west of the Osage river, and extend- ing to the territorial line on the west and north, was, for many years, known as the "Boone's Lick Country." The first settlers, who came here, knew it only by that name. It received its name from a place called "Boone's Lick," in what is now Howard county, situated about eight miles northwest of New Franklin, near the Missouri river. This place was visited by Daniel Boone at a very early time, but the exact date is not known. Here Boone found several large salt springs, and, as such places were always resorted to by deer and other game, he often hunted in the neigh- borhood. Although it has always been stated, as a surmise, that Daniel Boone once resided at this Lick, and afterwards, within the present county of Cooper, yet it has been im- possible to find anything authentic upon the subject ; and, as Samuel Cole, a member of the first white family, which settled in the present limits of Cooper county, says emphat- ically, that Daniel Boone never lived farther west than St. Charles county, the conclusion is inevitable, that these his- 12 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY- tories are mistaken, when they make the statement, that he was the first settler in the "Boone's Lick Country." The first Americans, of whom we have any definite knowledge, who were ever in this portion of the State, were Ira P. Nash, a deputy United States surveyor, Steph- en Hancock, and Stephen Jackson, who came up the Mis- souri river, in the month of February 1804, and located a claim, on the public lands, in Howard county, nearly op- posite the mouth of the Lamine river. They remained there until the month of March, in the same year, employ- ing their time in surveying, hunting and fishing ; and in the month of March they returned to their homes, which were situated on the Missouri river, about 25 miles above St. Charles. While Nash and his companions were in Howard coun- ty, they visited "Barclay's and Boone's Licks;" also a trading-post, situated about 2 miles northwest of Old Frank- lin, kept by a white man by the name of Prewitt. The existence of this trading-post, and the fact that "Barclay's and Boone's Licks" had already received their names, from the white persons who visited them, shows conclusively, that this portion of the country had been explored, even be- fore this, by white Americans. But no history makes men- tion of this trading-post, or of Prewitt ; hence we are una- ble to determine when he came to the "Boone's Lick Coun- try," how long he remained, and where he went when he left; but he, evidently, left before the year 1808, as, when Benjamin Cooper moved to what is now Howard county, in that year, there was then no settlement in this part of the State. In July, 1804, Ira P. Nash, in company with William Nash, James H. Whitesides, William Clark, and Daniel Hubbard, again came into what is now Howard county, and surveyed a tract of land near the present site of Old HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I3 Franklin. On this second trip, Ira P. Nash claimed that, when he came up the river the February before, he had left a compass in a certain hollow tree, and started out with two companions to find it, agreeing to meet the balance of the company the next day at Barclay's Lick, which he did accordingly, bringing the compass with him, thus proving beyond a doubt, that he had visited the country before this time. Lewis and Clarke, on their exploring expedition across . the Rocky Mountains, and down the Columbia river to the Pacific ocean, arrived at the mouth of the Bonne Femme, in Howard county, on the 7th day of June 1804, and camped for the night. When they arrived at the mouth of the "Big Moniteau Creek," they found a point of rocks, covered with hieroglyphic paintings, but the large number of rattlesnakes which they found there, prevented a close examination of the place. Continuing their way up the river, they arrived at the mouth of the Lamine river on the 8th of the same month, and on the 9th at Arrow Rock. When they returned from their journe}^' in 1806, after having successfully accomplished all the objects for which they were sent out, thej passed down the Missouri river and camped, on the i8th of September, in Howard county, opposite the mouth of the Lamine river. And, as they journeyed down the river on that day, they must have passed the present site of Boonville early on the morning of the 19th of September, 1806. The next evidence we have, of any white persons being in the "Boone's Lick Country," is the following : In 1807, Nathan and Daniel M. Boone, sons of old Dan- iel Boone, who lived with their father in what is now St. Charles county, about 25 miles west- of the city of St. Charles, on the Femme Osage Creek, came up the Missouri river, and manufactured salt at "Boone's Lick," in Howard 14 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. county. After they had manufactured a considerable amount, they shipped it down the river to St. Louis where they sold it. It is thought by many that this was the first instance of salt being manufactured^n what was at that time a part of the Territory of Louisiana, now the State of Missouri. Though soon after salt was manufactured in large quantities, "salt licks" being discovered in many parts of the State. Although these were the first white persons who remained for any length of time in the "Boone's LicTc Country," yet they were not permanent settlers, as they only came up there to make salt, and left as soon as they had finished. William Christie and John G. Heath came up from St. Louis in 1808, and manufactured salt in what is now Black Water Township, Cooper County. The place is known to this day as "Heath's Salt Lick." He for years afterwards, every summer, made salt at the same place, and was known as the "big salt maker." The salt springs are located on "Heath's Creek," which was also named after him. Previous to the year 1808, every white American who came to the Boone's Lick Country, came with the intention of only remaining there a short time. Three parties had entered it while on exploring and surveying expeditions ; two parties had been to its fine salt licks to make salt, and, no doubt, many of the adventurous settlers living in the eastern part of this State, had often on their hunting expe- ditions, pierced the trackless forests to the "Boone's Lick Country," but, of course, there is no record of these, hence, those expeditions of which there is a record, are placed as being the first to this part of the country, when, in reality, they may not be. But in 1808, one adventurous spirit, determined to forsake what appeared to him to be the too thickly settled portion of the State, and move farther west to the more pleasant gQJitud^s pf tH§ upiqhabited fgmU In the Spring of that HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 5 year. Col. Benjamin Cooper and his family, consisting of his wife and five sons, moved to the "Boone's Lick Country," and located in what is now Howard County, about two miles south-west of "Boone's Lick," in the Missouri river bottom. Here he built him a cabin, cleared a piece of ground and commenced arrangements to make a permanent settlement at that place. But he was not permitted to remain long at his new home. Governor Merriwether Lewis, at that time Governor of the Territory, issued an order directing him to return below the mouth of the Gasconade river, as he was so far advanced into the Indian country, and so far away from protection, that in case of an Indian war he would be unable to protect him. So he returned to Loutre Island, about four miles below the mouth of the Gasconade river, where he remained until the year 1810. But the rich Territory was not destined to be left forever to the reign of wild beasts or still more savage Indians. Aside from the fact that the character of the men of the early days caused them continually to revolt against living in thickly settled communities, yet the Boone's Lick^Country, and especially what is now Cooper County, presented advantages, which those seeking a home where they could find the richest of lands and the most healthful of climate, could not and did not fail to perceive. Its fertile soil promised, with little labor, the most abundant harvests. Its forests were filled with every variety of game, and its streams with all kinds of fish. Is it a wonder, then, that those seek- ing homes where these things could be found, should select and settle first the rich lands of Cooper and Howard Counties, risking all the dangers from the Indians who lived in great numbers close around them ? Two years after the settlement of Benjamin Cooper and his removal to Loutre Island, the first lasting settlement was made in the Boone's Lick Country, and this party was but the forerunner l6 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. of many others who soon followed, and in little more than one-half of a century have thickly settled one of the richest and most attractive parts of the State of Missouri. On the 20th of February, 1810, Col. Benjamin Cooper with several others returned to what is now Howard County. They came up on the north side of the Missouri river from Loutre Island, and all of them, except Hannah Cole and Stephen Cole, setded in Howard county, north of the Mis- souri river. Hannah Cole and Stephen Cole settled in what is now Cooper county; Stephen Cole, about one and one-half miles east of Boonville, in what is now called the old "Fort Field," now owned by J. L. Stephens; and Hannah Cole, in what is now East Boonville, on the big bluff overlooking the river at a point of rocks where a lime kiln now stands. Benjamin Cooper settled in Howard county, in the cabin which he had built two years before, and which had not been disturbed by the Indians, although they occupied all the adjacent country. When the families of Hannah and Stephen Cole settled in what is now Cooper county, there was no white Ameri- can living in Missouri west of Franklin county and south of the Missouri river. Those who came with them and settled north of the Missouri river, were their nearest neigh- bors, but they were most of them two or three miles distance from this side of the river. The families of the first settlers south of the Missouri river, were composed of the following members : Hannah Cole and her children Jennie, Matde, Dikie, Nellie, James, Holburt, Stephen, William and Samuel. Stephen Cole and Phoebe, his wife^ and their children James, Rhoda, Mark, Nellie and Polly, making seventeen in all, members of the two families who made the first settlement in what is now Cooper county, but what was then an untrodden wilderness. Here they were surrounded on all sides by savages who HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 7 pretended to be friendl}', but who sought every opportunity to steal horses and commit other depredations upon the settlers. Only four of these children are still alive ; they are Dikie, Jennie, Mark and Samuel Cole. Dikie Cole, now Mrs. Dikie DalHas, and Mark Cole, lived in this county for some time, then moved to St. Clair county, where they now re- side. Samuel Cole, and Jennie Cole, now Mrs. Jennie Davis, have resided in this county ever since the first settle- ment by their mother. To Samuel Cole we are indebted for a great deal of the early history of this county, for he was here a long time before any other person now living here, except his sister, came to the county. When Benjamin Cooper and those who were with him came up the river, there was no road nor anything to guide them through the wilderness. They had to take, as the path in which to travel, any opening which they could find in the thickets which would permit the passage of their wagons and animals. When they arrived at the river, where old Franklin now stands, Hannah and Stephen Cole desiring to cross the i-iver with their families, were compelled to use a large canoe, or "perogue," as it was then called, swimming their horses behind them. Their only neighbors at that time on this side of the Mis- souri river, were the Sauk and Fox Indians. The Sauk Indians, under Q^uashgami, their chief, lived on the Moni- teau Creek, in the south part of Cooper county. When the settlers first came here, these Indians professed to be friendly to them, but, as is generally the case with all savages, they stole horses and committed other depredations. During the war of 1812, these Indians took sides with the British against the Americans. After the conclusion of the war, the Sauk Indians were ordered off to Grand river, and from thence to Rock river. Their other chiefs during this time were l8 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTV. Keokuk and Blundo ; the latter, one-half French, the others full-blooded Indians. Samuel Cole states that he often hunted with these chiefs, and found them generally kind and obliging. He was also well acquainted with Blackhawk, who was at that time a common Indian warrior, but who afterwards became a noted chief. The whites at that day, although they well knew the treachery of the Indians, were accustomed to hunt and fish with them ; also sometimes to visit them at their vil- lages ; yet they always kept on their guard against the wiley savages. When the settlers first came to this county, wild game of all kinds was very abundant, and was so tame as not to be easily frightened at the approach of white men. This game furnished the settlers with all their meat, and in fact, with all the provisions that they used, for most of the time they had little else than meat. There were large numbers of deer, turkeys, elk and other large animals, and to use the expression of an old settler, "they could be killed as easily as sheep are now killed in our pastures." The settlers spent most of their time in hunting and fishing, as it was no use to plant crops to be destroyed by the wild game. Small game, such as squirrels, rabbits, partridges, &c., swarmed around the homes of the frontiersmen in such numbers, that when they did attempt to raise a crop of any kind, in order to save a part of it, they were forced to kill them in large numbers. But these inoffensive animals were not the only ones which filled the forests. Such terrible and blood-thirsty wild beasts as the bear and the panther could be seen very often lying in wait for any unwary traveler who ventured near their lairs. Near where the present residence of Washing- ton Adams stands, in the City of Boonville, a panther was one day killed by Samuel Cole which measured eleven feet HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 19 from the end of its nose to the tip of its tail, and which was thought to have been one of the largest panthers ever killed in the State of Missouri. Not only were the settlers and their families thus well provided with food by nature, but also their animals were furnished with everything necessary to their well-being. The range was so good during the whole year that their stock lived without being fed at all by their owners. Even when the ground was covered with snow, the animals, taught by instinct, would in a few minutes paw from under the snow enough grass to last them all day. Their only use of corn, of which they planted very little, was to make bread, and bread made of corn was the only kind they ever had. After the first settlement of what is now Cooper county, the settlers remained here nearly two years without any neighbors nearer than the opposite side of the Missouri river. For nearly two years they encountered alone the dangers of the forest, and lived in peace and quietness, although they at times feared an attack from the Indians who lived south and west of them. But in the latter part of the year 1811 some more adven- turous spirits moved to this side of the river, and began to settle around and near the present site of Boonville. They settled near one another, so that in time of danger they could readily gather at one place. This timely arrival revived the spirits of the settlers, for already could be heard the dim mutterings in the distance, which foreshadowed a long and bloody conflict with the Indians who had been in- duced by the emissaries of the British government to take sides with that country against the United States of America. HISTORY OF BOONE'S LICK COUNTRY CHAPTER II. Peaceable condition of the "Boone's Lick Country" previous to 1812. — ■ Arrivals in 1811 and 12. — First Fort Built. — .Savage Killed. — Kemoval of the Settlers to Kincaid's Fort. — Killing of Jonathan Todd and Thomas Smith. — Samuel Cole et al. pursued by Indians.— Killing of Samuel Campbell. Hitherto the life of the settler had been passed in com- parative peace and quiet. Supplied by nature with all that he wished to eat or to drink, he had nothing to induce him to labor, except to provide a shelter to cover his famil}'. This completed, he could spend his time in hunting and fishing, and by his pleasant pastime he could provide all the necessaries for those dependent upon him. He had no care about his stock, for in winter, as well as in summer, they were bountifully fed by the grass and other things which grew luxuriantly on every side. And except an occasional encounter with some wild animal, such as a bear or panther, the life of the pioneer was one devoid of incident or excitement. During the winter of i8ii and the spring of 1812, several families of adventurous frontiersmen came into what is now Cooper county, and settled near the present site of Boon- ville. The names of those who arrived previous to the commencement of the Indian war, were as follows : Joseph Jolly, Joseph Yarnell, Gilliard Rupe, Muke Box, Delany Bolin, William Savage, John Savage, James Sav- age, Walter Burress and David Burress ; and these, together with Captain Stephen Cole and Mrs. Hannah Cole, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 21 included all who had moved into the "Boone's Lick Country," south of the Missouri River, and west of the Osage river previous to the summer of 1812. At this time the settlers became satisfied from reports which reached them from time to time, that the Indians were making preparations to attack the settlements along the Missouri river, and they determined to be ready to re- ceive them properly when they did appear. So they soon commenced the building of a fort. The first fort in the present limits of Cooper county was built by Stephen Cole, his neighbors assisting, in the year 1812, and was called "Cole's" fort. It was situated in the north part of what is now known as the "old fort field," about one and one-half miles east of the City of Boonville, north of the road from Boonville to Rocheport. As soon as it was completed, all the families living around, gathered at the fort for protection from the savages. As their meat consisted entirely of the wild game which they killed, they had to send out parties from day to day to kill it. And it happened that a couple of parties were out hunting when the Indians attacked the fort. A few months after the fort was built, a band of about four hundred Indians suddenly made their appearance in the neighborhood. When they appeared before the fort, there were two parties out hunting, in one of which were two men by the name of Smith and Savage, who, on their return to the fort, were pursued by the Indians. The sav- ages shot at them several times ; in the first fire. Smith was severely wounded, but staggered on to within fifty yards of the fort, where the Indians shot him again, two balls taking effect and hurling him to the ground. As soon as Savage saw him fall, he turned to assist him ; but Smith handed him his gun, and told him to save himself, as be knew he wag mortallj vi^ounded, As the Indians were in close pur- 22 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. suit of them, Savage was forced to leave his unfortunate companion and attempt to make his escape. He reached the fort unhurt, although he had been shot at some twenty- five times. The Indians after having scalped Smith, and barbarously multilated his body, withdrew to the adjacent woods, and laid siege to the fort. As the Indians who were in pursuit of Savage came in full view of the fort, several of them could have been killed, Indeed, Samuel Cole, who was in the fort at the time, begged his mother to let him shoot an Indian. But she re- fused, telling him that as the Indians had as yet shown no disposition to fire upon the fort, the inmates did not wish to arouse their anger by killing any of them ; hoping that be- fore they did attack, those settlers, who were out hunting, would arrive, and they perhaps get a chance to escape. During the following night the remaining settlers, who were outside of the fort, returned. The next day the settlers captured a French boat which came up the river loaded with powder and balls, to trade with the Indians at Council Bluffs. They crossed their families and all their stock, furniture, &c., over the river in this boat, to Kincaid Fort, or Fort Hempstead, which was located in what is now Howard county, about one mile from the north end of the great iron bridge over the Missouri river at Boonville. It will be seen from this, that these settlers were not only brave men, but fit to lead an army in time of danger, as when they made this retreat, the fort was sur- rounded by the Indians on all sides except that protected by the river. And yet in the face of all this they saved everything from the fort. After they had crossed their families, &c., in the cap- tured boat, and taken possession of the twenty -five kegs of powder and five hundred pounds of balls which the boat contained, the settlers let the Frenchmen return down the iitSTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 23 river with their boat with the admonition, that if they ever came up the river again with supplies for the Indians, they would hang them, as they could not permit their enemies to thus obtain supplies. Previous to the capture of this boat and the ammunition wiih which it was loaded, which was sufficient to last the settlers a long time, Joseph Jolly had supplied them with powder, manufacturing it himself, saltpetre being found in a cave near Rocheport. The first white men killed by the Indians in the "Boone's Lick Country" were Jonathan Todd and Thomas Smith, who, early in the spring of 1812, had started down the river to pick out a piece of land on which to settle. The Indians attacked them not far from the present line between Howard and Boone counties, and after a long struggle in which several Indians were killed, Todd and Smith were slain. The savages after killing them, cut off their heads and cut out their hearts and placed them by the side of the road on poles. As soon as the news of the killing of Todd and Smith was brought to the fort, a party of men started out to get their bodies. After they had gone several miles, they cap- tured an Indian warrior who seemed to be watching their movements, and started to take him to the fort alive, in order to get information from him. As they returned after finding the bodies of the settlers, when they arrived within two miles of the fort, the Indian prisoner suddenly broke away from them and attempted to escape. The settlers pursued him about one-half of a mile, when they finding that they could not overtake him and capture him alive, they shot him, killing him instantly. Immediately after the killing of Todd and Smith, the settlerjs living on both sides of the Missouri river, being desirous of finding out the true state of affairs, sent out 24 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. James Cole and James Davis on a scouting expedition to see whetlier or not the Indians were really upon the war path. After looking around for some time, and not being able to hear anything of the plans of the savages, they were preparing to return to the fort, when they discovered a large band of Indians in pursuit of them, and directly between them and the fort, in which M-^ere their families and friends, unconscious of their danger. As retreat to the fort was cut off, and they could not with- stand the attack of the large body of Indians in the open woods, they started for what was then called Johnson's Fac- tory ; a trading post kept by a man named Johnson ; it was situated on the Moniteau Creek in what is now Moniteau county, about 200 yards from tiie Missouri river. They reached the Factory that afternoon and the Indians imme- diately surrounded the place. As Cole and Davis knew that their friends, at the different forts, would fall an easy prey to the savages, if nut warned of their danger in time to prepare for the attack which they seemed certain to make upon the tort, the hardy rangers determined at all hazards to escape and bear the tidings to them. But here the main diffi- culty presented itself. As long as they remained at the trading post they were safe from the shots of the enemy ; but as soon as they left that protection they knew they would be slain. But knowing the imminent danger of their families and friends, they resolved to make a desperate effort to reach them. So at 12 o'clock that night, they took up a plank from the floor of the "Factory," reached the creek, and find- ing a canoe, floated down to the river. But just as they reached the river, an unlucky stroke of the paddle against the side of the canoe discovered them to the Indians, who started in pursuit of them in canoes. They pursued the settlers to "Big Lick," now in Cooper county, where, being HISTORT OF COOPER COUNTY. 2^ closely pressed, Cele and Davis turned and each killed an Indian. The Indians then left off pursuit, and the two men reached Cole's Fort in safety, to announce to the set- tlers, that they were indeed, on the verge of a long and bloody war. From there the melancholy tidings were con- veyed to the other forts, and filled the hearts of the settlers with dismay, as they considered how few of them there were, to withstand the attacks of the whole of the Indian nations living around them. In the summer of 1812, while all the settlers living on the south side of the Missouri river, were at Kincaid's Fort, Samuel Cole, Stephen Cole, and Muke Box, started from the fort on a hunting expedition, crossed the river where Boonville now stands, and penetrated the forest to the Petite Saline Creek. After they had hunted and fished for two days, they were preparing to return upon the third, when they heard firing in the direction of the river, where they had left their canoe. They immediately started to- ward the river, knowing that the shots were fired by Indians as there was not at that time any white persons except themselves, south of the Missouri river. When they arriv- ed at the residence of Delany Bolin, at or near where the present residence of Mrs. Maria Muir stands, they discover- ed that a band of Indians was in pursuit of them ; and the settlers not knowing their number, but supposing them to be very. numerous, immediately separated and took to the woods to meet at the place where they had left their canoe. When they met there they found the canoe gone, the In- dians having stole it. As the Indians were still in hot pur- suit of them, they lashed three Cottonwood logs together, placed their guns, clothing, &c., upon this raft, swam over, pushing it before them and landed in Howard County, about two and one half miles below the City of Boonville. That evening they reached the fort in safety, and report- 26 MISTORI' OF COOPES. county. ed their adventure with the Indians, at the same time ad- vising the inmates of the fort to be prepared for an attack at any time. Next morning the settlers discovered tracks of the Indians near the fort, and found it had been reconnoitered during the night by a band of eight Indians. They immediately sent to Cooper's &McLean's forts for reinforcements, as there were at that time very tew men in the fort, and they supposed that this band of eight was but the scouting party of a large band of Indians. Reinforcements, to the number of 42, soon arrived from the other forts, and they, together with the men belonging to Kincaid's Fort started in pursuit of the Indians, whom they had by this time discovered to be but a small band. After pursuing them some distance they surrounded them in a hollow, near Monroe's farm, about four miles west of the present site of New Franklin. The Indians concealed themselves in the brush and thickets and behind the timber, and not being able to see them the firing of the settlers was a great deal at random. The fight continued for a long time ; four Indians were killed and the remaining four, though badly wounded escaped. None of the settlers were killed and only one, named Adam Woods, was severely wounded, but he afterwards recovered. Night coming on they were forced to defer the pursuit of the surviving Indians. The next day not satisfied with their work the day before, the rangers started on the trail of the Indians, which was plainly marked with blood. They followed it totheriverandtherefoundthe canoe which the savages two days before had stolen from Samuel Cole and his companions. The sides of the canoe were covered with blood, showing that the Indians had attempted to push it into the river, but, on account of being weakened by loss of blood, could not. After hunting them, for some time in vain, the party returned to the fort. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 27 In July 1812 some Quapa Indians disguised as Sauks and Foxes, killed a man named Campbell — commonly call- ed "Potter," from his trade, about five miles north-west of Boonville, in Howard county, under the following circum- stances : He and a man named Adam McCord, went from Kincaid's Fort to Campbell's home, at the above mentioned place, to tie some flax, which they had been forced to leave longer than they wished, through fear of an attack by the Indians. While they were at work they discovered moc- casin tracks around the farm, as though a party of Indians were watching them and seeking a favorable opportunity to slay them. So they started around in order to see whether they had injured anything or not. While they were search- ing for them, the savages who were concealed in some underbrush, fired upon the party and shot Campbell through the body, killing him almost instantly, but he ran about one hundred yards, climbed a fence, and pitched into the top of a tree which had blown down, and the Indians, though they hunted for his body, never succeeded in finding it. Adam McCord escaped without injury, and going to the fort, re- ported the death of Campbell, and the circumstances under which he was killed. Immediately upon his arrival, Col. Benjamin Cooper and Gen. Dodge with a company of about five hundred men, composed of frontiersmen and regular soldiers, started in pursuit of the Indians who numbered one hundred and eighty. The Indians not being able to recross the river, threw up breastworks in order to repel the attack of the soldiers. When Cooper and Dodge appeared before the intrenchments, the Indians after some parley, surrendered themselves as prisoners of war. After the Indians had surrendered. Col. Cooper and Gen. Dodge had their memorable quarrel in regard to the dis- posal of the prisoners. Col. Cooper inaisted that although 28 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. they had surrendered as prisoners of war, they, as the n?Ur- derers of Campbell, were not entitled to protection as such prisoners, and that in accordance with a long established custom of the western country, they should all be hung. But Gen. Dodge insisted that as they had surrendered to him, he being the superior officer, they were entitled to his protection. So fiercely did they quarrel, that at one time the two forces, for Cooper commanded the frontiersmen and Dodge the regulars, came very near having a fight in order to settle the controversy. Finally a peaceful disposition of the matter was made, by Gen. Dodge being permitted to take the prisoners to St. Louis. HISTORY OF BOONE'S LICK COUNTRY. CHAPTER III. Return of the Settlers from the North Side of the River. — Situation of the Settlers for the following Two or Three Years. — "Killing of Braxton Cooper, jr., Joseph Still, AVm. McLane, Sarshell Cooper, Samuel McMahan and a Negro Man. — Building of Hannah Cole's Fort. First School Taught in Cooper County. — Fashions, &c., when First Settle- ment was made. — Territorial Laws extended over the "Boone's Lick Country." In the spring of 1813, not having seen any signs of In- dians for about three months, and being desirous of raising crops during that year, as they had failed the year before, all of the settlers who had gone to Kincaid's Fort the previous spring, returned to their homes south of the Missouri river. As soon as they arrived they put in their crops of corn, but in order to be advised of the approach of an enemy, they stationed a guard at each corner of the field in which they were at work. During the following two or three years the settlers were kept continually on the watch against the savages, for every month or two some small band of Indians would suddenly attack and slay some unsuspecting settler who had for the moment forgotten his usual caution, or who feeling secure from attack because the Indians had not appeared for some time, suffered this severe penalty for his negligence. The Indians never after this marched a large band against these settlements, but came in small scouting parties, the members of which had only sufficient courage to shoot down some unsuspecting man, or murder unprotected women and chil- dren. They never, except in overwhelming numbers, and 30 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. then very seldom, made an open attack upon even a lone farmhouse, but stealing up in ^he darkness of the night they would set fire to the house and slay the inmates as they rushed from their burning dwelling; or as in the case of the killing of Sarshell Cooper, shoot the dreaded enemy of their race, as he sat in the midst of his family. Is it any wonder, in view of these facts, that when an Indian was captured, 'twas not many minutes before his lifeless body would be hanging from the nearest bough? After all their treachery, woe to the savage who fell into the vengeful hands of the settlers, for they would make short work of him ; and they knew they were justified in doing this, for they acted only in self-defense. During the two or three years following the return of the settlers from Kincaid's Fort, several men were killed by the Indians in the "Boone's Lick Country." The following are the names of all of them of which there is any record ; no doubt there may have been some killed whose tragic death has never had a place on the page of historv, and which will never be known : Braxton Cooper, Jr., was killed two miles noi-th-east of the present site of New Franklin, in September, 1813. The Indians attacked him as he was cutting logs to build a house. As he was well armed and a very courageous man, they had a long struggle before the Indians succeeded in killing him. The broken bushes and marks upon the ground showed that the struggle had been very fierce. The settlers who first arrived to take away the body of Cooper, found an Indian's shirt which had two bullet holes in the breast of it, but whether the Indian died or not they never knew. They followed the trail of the Indians for a short distance, but soon lost it, and were forced to abandon the pursuit. Joseph Still was killed or the Chariton river, in October, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 3^ 1813, but the cirumstances attending his kiting are un- known. Wm. McLane was killed by the Indians in what is now Howard county, near the present site of Fayette, in Octo- ber, 1813, under the following circumstances: He, Ewing McLane and four other men, went from McLane's Fort to pick out a piece of land on which some one of them ex- pected to settle. When they arrived at a short distance southwest of the present site of Fayette, they were attacked by a band of about one hundred and fifty Indians. As soon as McLane and his companions saw them, they re- treated towards the fort, and just as they were ascending a slant from a long, deep ravine leading to the Moniteau Creek, the Indians fired a volley at them. One shot struck William McLane in the back of the head, and he dropped dead from his horse. After satisfying themselves that he was dead, his remaining companions left his body and con- tinued their retreat to the fort, which they reached in safety. The Indians scalped McLane, cut out his heart and literally hacked him to pieces. As soon as possible, a large party of settlers, started out to recover his body, and if possible, to avenge his death ; but they found that the Indians had retreated, and left no trace of the direction which they had taken. From the cleared place around the body and the beaten appearance of the earth near, it was supposed that the Indians had, in accordance with their custom, danced their "war dance" there to celebrate their victor}^. After getting the body they returned sorrowfully to the fort. Of the many murders committed during the war, none excited so much feeling or caused such a cry of vengeance in the hearts of the frontiersman as the tragic death of Captain Sarshell Cooper, who was the acknowledged leader of the settlers north of the Missouri river. On a dark and 32 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. stormy night on the 14th day of April, 1814, as Captain Cooper was sitting by his fireside with his family, his youngest child upon his lap, the others playing at different games around the room, and his wife sitting by his side sewing, an Indian warrior crept up to the side of his cabin and picked a hole between the logs just sufficient to admit the muzzle of his gun, the noise of his work being drowned by the storm without. He shot Capt. Cooper, who fell from his chair to the floor, among his horror stricken family, a lifeless corpse. His powers and skill were well known to the Indians whom he had often foiled by these means. He was kind and generous to his neighbors, whom he was always ready to assist in any of their undertakings. There- fore his loss was deeply felt by the settlers whose homes he had defended by his powers, and whose prosperity was owing largely to his advice and counsel. On the 14th day of December, 1814, a man named Samuel McMahan, living in what is now Lamine township of Cooper county, was killed near Boonville, not far from the present residence of Scott Benedict, under the following circumstances : He had been down to the settlement at Boonville to bring his cattle, as he intended to move down the river, and as he was returning home he came upon a band of Indians who were lying in ambush for some men who were cutting down a bee tree not' far away. The savages fired upon him, wounding him and killing his horse. He jumped up after his horse fell, and although severely wounded, ran down a ravine leading to the river. The Indians started in pursuit of him, and as he was weak from the loss of blood, they soon overtook him and killed him, sticking three spears into his back. They afterwards cut off his head and scattered his entrails over the ground. The In- dians knowing that the vengeance of the settlers would be sudden and terrible, then scattered, and made their way out of the country the best way they could. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 33 The next day, for the settlers, not knowing the number of the Indians, waited for reinforcements from the opposite side of the river, a party of men went out to get the body of McMahan. James Cole, the brother of Samuel Cole, carried the body before him on his horse, and David Mc- Gee brought the head wrapped in a sheep skin. The set- tlers buried McMahan under the Linn tree, which formerly stood in the centre ring at the old fair grounds. A child of David Buness, which was burned to death, was also buried under this tree. A negro man named Joe, belonging to Samuel Brown, of Howard county, was killed by the Indians near Mr. Burkhart's farm, about three quarters of a mile east of Es- till Station, on the M. K. and T. Railroad. The above embraces the name of all of the men of whom we have any record, who were killed in the "Boone's Lick Country" during the Indian war, from 1812 to 1815. The peculiar atrocities attending the killing of most of them, makes the stoutest shudder. But they were so cemmon those days, that the settlers did not fear to remain here, al- though they knew these things might happen to them at any time. Yet they were not daunted by these continued murders, but lived on their lands, making the best defense they could against the Indians. The next day after the killing of McMahan, all the set- tlers living near the present site of Boonville, rushed into the house of Hannah Cole, which stood on the Bluff, in what is now "East Boonville," as this place was the most suitable of any near, to defend against an attack ®f the Indians. All of these men came with their teams, cut down trees, dragged logs to build a fort at that place. They completed the building of the fort in about one week, al- though all of the men could not work at one time, as it was necessary to station a guard on every side to watch for the approach of the enemy, whom they expected every hour. 34 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The fort was built on the edge of the bluff, and as the bluff "was very steep at that point, it was well defended en that side from the Indians. Another reason for building it in that place was because the inmates of the fort could ob- tain a constant supply of good water from the river. They had a long log running out over the edge of the bluff, and a windlass and rope attached to it, so that it was an easy matter to draw up water, even during an attack of the Indians. As soon as the fort at Hannah Cole's was completed, the old fort at Stephen Cole's, situated on the bluff near the river, one mile below the new fort, was abandoned, and all fhe families gathered into the new fort, so as to be a pro- tection to each other. But this precaution proved to be unnecessary, as the killing of McMahan was virtually the end of the war, in this part of the country, and the settlers had no more open fights with the Indians, although small bands of savages occasionally roamed through the country running off stock, and committing other depredations. The Indians had found out that the men who had pierced the wilderness, and brought their families with them, were ready to lay down their lives in defense of them and their homes, and the "savages deserted their hunting grounds, and moved farther west. Major Stephen Cole, the acknowledged leader of the settlers living south of the Missouri river, survived the war, and after making every effort for their defense, his love of wild adventure led him to become a pioneer in the trade with Santa Fe in 1822. He was killed by the Indians, during the same year, about sixty miles southwest of San- ta Fe, on the Rio Grande river. There was also killed at the same time, Stephen Cole, the brother of Samuel Cole. The first school in the Boone's Lick Country within the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 35 present limits of the county of Cooper, was taught by John Savage, in the year 1813, about one mile east of Boonville, on Lilly's Branch, about one-half of a mile from its mouth. The scholars numbered fifteen children of the settlers living in the neighborhood of Hannah Cole's fort. The names of the scholars who attend the school, were as follows : Ben- jamin, Delany and William Bolin, Hiram and William Savage, Hess and William Warden, John and William Yarnall, John and William Jolly, Joseph and William Scott, and John and William Rupe. The scholars sat upon one log in the open air, they then having no school house, and the teacher upon another log facing his pupils. The price of tuition was one dollar per month, payable in anything which the settlers had that was worth one dollar. The school progressed very finely under the able management of the teacher who appears to have had some experience in teaching. But it continued only for one month, as it was caused to cease through fears of an attack by the Indians, who about this time commenced a series of depredations upon the settlers, which continued until the year 1815, the close of the war- At this school, where all the surroundings were of the most primitive character, and there was nothing except what was furnished by the kind hand of nature, were planted the first seeds of knowledge in the minds of the young settlers. Here they learned the lessons of honesty and integrity, which even at the present day is a distinguish- ing characteristic of the generation which grew up at that day. The next school, of which we have any record, was taught by Abiel Leonard, in the Franklin bottom, near tMe Bonne Femme Creek, Howard county. Teaching was not con- genial to his nature, and it is recorded that he said, the happiest day of his life was when his school closed. Although many of the settlers were religious persons and 36 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. members of the church, there was no regular preaching in the county until the year 1815, yet occasionally service was held by some wandering missionary in the house of some one of the settlers. But in the year 1815, Luke Williams, who afterwards preached at Concord church, held service at Hannah Cole's Fort. Soon after this, a minister named James Savage preached at the fort. The denomination which he represented^the Baptist — was at that time the prevailing one, although every denomination aided in sup- porting the ministers who preached at the fort, as no one unaided was able to do so. In those days they worked not so much for the success of the denomination as for the suc- cess of the cause. When the settlers first came to Cooper county, the women all wore calico dresses, and the men homespun suits of clothes. But the clothes which they brought with them soon wore out, and not having any place at which to buy new ones, they were forced to resort to some expedient to supply the place of the clothes which they were compelled to cast off. For the next few years all the clothes which the settlers had, were made out of knettles. The low flats along the river, creeks and branches were covered with a thick growth of knettles about three feet high, sometimes standing in patches of twenty acres or more. These were permitted to remain standing until they became decayed in the winter, when they were gathered. They were then broken up, spun into long strings and woven into cloth, from which the garments were made. This would be a very tedious job at the present day, when a ladies dress requires from twenty to thirty yards of cloth, but in those old times five or six yards was as much as was ever put into a dress. Little children usually wore a long leathern shirt over their tow shirt. For several years dur- ing the early settlement of this country, the men and women wore garments made out of the same kind of material. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 27 m The Territorial laws were not extended over this part of the country until the year i3i6. Until which time they had no government or laws except such they themse-lves nnade for their own protection, and which, of course, had no effect outside of ihe boundaries of their narrow Territory. With them, the single distinction was between right and wrong, and they had no medium groiind. As the result shows, they really needed no laws or executive ofBcerg, for it is a well known fact, that during the early period of this settle- ment there were no serious crimes committed within its limits. As the men each depended upon the other, and knew that in time of attack by the Indians, their only safety lay in union, each endeavored to preserve the good will of his neighbor, and as the best way to obtain the good Tvishes and assistance of a man, is to act honestly and friendly with him, each did this, and in this way they needed no law, except their own judgments. During the early period of the colony they never had any occasion to punish any one updpr their law, which was an unwritten one. Although 'tis true, some few crimes were committed, as the nature of man has not entirely changed since then, yet they were uniformly of such a trivial character, as hardly to be worthy to be class- ed as crimes. Another reason of the almost entire freedom from crime, was the certainty of punishment. Then there was no "le- gal technicalities" by which a prisoner could escape. No sooner was the criminal caught and his guilt established — no matter what his crime — than the law-makers took t^e' matter into their own hands, and hung him to the nearest tree. The following anecdote is related of Mark Cole, son of Stephen Cole, who is still living in St. Clair county, Mis- souri. One evening, some young ladies visited his father's family at their fort, and remained until pretty late, when 38 they returned home. The road which led to their homes, passed the place where a man had been lately buried ; a pen was built around the grave, and covered with logs like a roof, raised about a foot or two from the ground. As most of the persons in those days were superstitious, Mark determined to frighten the young ladies as they passed the grave. So he got a large sheet, and slipping out of the house, went to the grave, no doubt laughing, as there ap- peared before him a picture of the terror, that his sudden appearance in his strange costume would cause the young ladies, and took his station upon the top of it tu await their arrival. But he had not been there long, when suddenly several deep groans issued, seemingly from the bowels of the earth, and the poles on the top of the grave, began to move about, as though the departed spirit was trying to get out, and wreak vengeance upon the profaner of its solitude. Hearing and seeing these things, Mark "did not stand upon the order of his going," but dropping the sheet, he took to his heels, and never stopped until he reached his home, when he fell unconscious upon the door step. He was so badly frightened that he did not fully recover for a month, and even to the present day he will never travel at night alone. The explanation of the noise was very simple, yet the settlers did not let Mark into the secret. One of the men at the fort, who had heard Mark whisper to his brother where he was going, had slipped out of the fort and hastened to the place, just in time to crawl under the poles, and lie down upon the earth, when Mark made his appearance and took his seat. ORGANIZATION OF HOWARD COUNTY. CHAPTER IV. Howard County Organized. — First Court held in New County, and pro- ceedings of same. — Judge Barton and Stephen Cole Fine one Another for Contempt of Court.— Town of Old Franklin laid oflf, and Land Office Established There. — Wm. Gibson appointed Constable, and Re- signs. — Samuel Cole's Bull Eide. — Joseph Stephens and Family arrive at Boonville. — Visit of Samuel Cole to their Camp. — Discovery of the body of a British Officer. Buried in a Mound. On the 23rd day of January, 1816, that portion of the State of Missouri, lying north and west of the Osage river, and west of Cedar creek, and the dividing ridge between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and which formerly had been known as the "Boone's Lick Country," was or- ganized under the territorial laws, and was called "Howard county." Previous to this time, the settlers of this part of the country had made their own laws, and executed them rigorously when occasion demanded, which, it is true, was very seldom. Although the eastern portion of the State, had been, previous to this time, organized into counties; and the territorial laws, by means of the territorial courts, had been extended over them, still the "Boone's Lick Country" had not been sufficiently thickly settled to justify its organization, and the expense of holding terms of court within its limits. But even during the war with the Indians, the country adjacent to the forts was settled very rapidly, although few ventured to locate, except near enough to reach the fort at the first approach of danger. So that, at the time of the 40 HISTORY OF COOPER COUKTY. organization of Howard county, it contained a considerable number of settlers, although they lived in what was then called "neighborhoods," so as to be of protection to one another in times of danger from their savage foes. The act under which the county was organized, located the "seat of justice" at Hannah Cole's fort. The first court within the territorial limits of Howard county, was held at Hannah Cole's fort, which was situated in what is now "East Boohville ;" on the 8th day of July f8i6, aiid discharged, under the territorial laws, all the du- ties of the circuit, county and probate courts. The officers of this court were David Barton, Judge ; Gray Braynum, Clerk; John G. Heath, Circuit Attorney; and Nicholas S. Burkhart, Sheriff. The attorneys who attended this court, were Edward Bates, Charles Lucus, Joshua Barton, and Lucius Easton. The following were the proceedings of this first term of the court : John' Muroe waS a:ppointed coroner of Howard county, and Benjamin Estill, David Jones, David Kincaid, William Head, and Stephen Cole were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat, which was first located by the terri- torial legislature at Hannah Colo's fort. On the i6th day of June, 1816, the above mentioned commissioners settled upon Old Pranklin as the most suit- able place for the location of the county seat, and to that place the records, documents, &c., were removed, in the yeAr 181 7. The county seat remained at Old Franklin until the year 1823, when it was removed to Fayette. During this term of the court, Maj. Stephen Cble was filled, by Judge Barton, one dbllar, for contempt, for mis- conduct in the presence of the court. Cple objected to pa}'- ing-the fine, but supposing he Would be able to retaliate sometime, at last paid it. And his time for retaliation came HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 4I sooner than he expected. That afternoon, Cole, who was a justice of the peace, organized his court on a log in front of the fort. As Judge Barton was returning from dinner, he stopped in front of Cole and leaned against a tree, watching the proceedings of the justice and smoking his pipe. Cole looked up, and, assuming the stern look of in- sulted dignity, said, "Judge Barton, I fine you one dollar for contempt of my court, for smoking in its presence." Judge Barton smilingly paid his fine, and went to open his own court, acknowledging that he had been beaten at his own game. The town of Old Franklin was laid off opposite the present site of Boonville, during the year 1816. It was located on fifty acres of land, donated by different individ- uals for that purpose. It grew very rapidly, soon became very populous, and commanded a large trade. It was for a time the largest and most flourishing town in the State, west of St. Louis, and the starting point for all the Santa Fe traders. But in the year 1826, the waters of the turbulent Mis- souri river commenced encroaching upon this beautiful and populous city, and despite the utmost endeavors of its citi- zens, house after house was swept away, until, in a few years afterwards, the current of the river rolled through her streets, and the whole of the city was engulfed in its hungry waters. Within the last few years, a small village still called "Old Franklin," has sprung up just back of the site of the old town, but not a single house or any other mark remains to suggest to the traveler that he stands near the site of a once large city. The land office for, this district of Missouri was located at Old Franklin, in the year 1818, Gen. Thomas A. Smith was" appointed receiver, and Charles Carroll, register. The first land sales west of St. Louis took place here during 42 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. the year 1818. Great crowds attended this sale from all parts of the State, and lands in every part of the district was sold at that time. Sometime during the year 181 7, William Gibson, now living a short distance east of the City of Boonville, was appointed by the Territorial court constable of that part of Howard county lying south of the Missouri river. His jurisdiction extended from the Missouri river, on the north, to the Osage river on the south. Soon after his appoint- ment, there being some trouble down on the Osage, he was sent there with a warrant for the arrest of the man who had caused the trouble. The distance was between sixty and seventy miles. After arresting the man, he returned to Boonville with his prisoner. As he was on his journey back, having an execution against a man who lived on the road, he stopped at his house and proceeded to levy on the feather beds, as nothing in those days was exempt from levy under execution. But, as soon as he made his pur- pose known, four women, who were the only persons at home, threatened to give him a thrashing, so he was forced to retire as fast as he could, and return the execution unsat- isfied. To add to this, the court only allowed him, for his journey of one hundred and forty miles, which occupied four days, the magnificent sum of twenty-jive cents. . Mr. Gibson thinking the office not quite lucrative enough to justify him in devoting his whole time to its duties, and not wishing to risk his life at the hands of angry women, quietly sent in his resignation, thus furnishing the example of one officer who resigns, although few have the same induce- ments. While Samuel Cole was living at his mother's fort in East Boonville, in the year 1817, there was a dance at William Bartlett's boarding house, on the flat near the ferry landing, at the mouth of Ruppe's Branch. Although Samuel wished HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 43 very much to a^ttend, his mother refused to permit him, as his wardrobe at that time was entirely too limited to permit him to associate with the "elite." He had no pants, his sole garment consisting of a long tow shirt, which reached entirely to his heels. But Samuel, although a.]ways, Jrom his o-wn statement, an obedient son, was not to be deprived of so great a pleasure, by this, to him, very trivial excuse. So he determined to attend that dance, and then make the best arrangement he could to meet the "wrath to come." Not having any horse, he bridled a tame bull, which was at the fort, and thus mounted, rode up to the door of the house in which they were dancing. After looking in for some time, and by. his strange looking steed and attire, at- tracting a large crowd around him, he drove his bull down to the river, and riding in, he slid back over its haunches, and caught hold of its tail. In this way they swam down the river to Hannah Cole's Fort, when he and his strange companion came out of the water and sought their homes. This story has often been published, but never correctly, as all former accounts represented him as swimming the river to attend a wedding, but our version is correct, as it was obtained directly from Samuel Cole himself. About the 15th day of November, 1817, Joseph Stephens with his large family and several friends, crossed the river where Boonville now stands, and camped near the foot of Main street. The next day after they crossed, Samuel Cole, who was then a boy of sixteen years of age, appeared at their camp and asked Mrs. Stephens if she would like to have some venison. Upon her replying that she would, as she was nearly out of meat, Samuel shouldered his gun and marched off into the woods, telling her to wait a few minutes and he would kill her some. Samuel Cole, at that time, although there was a slight snow on the ground, was bare-foeted and bare-headed, his breeches reached only to 44 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. his knees, the collar of his shirt was open, and he carried an old flint lock rifle. About fifteen minutes after he left the camp, Stephens and his family heard two shots in the direction in which he had gone. Pretty soon Samuel ap- peared, and told them that he had killed two fine deer, that they must go out and bring them to the camp, as he could not by himself bring in even one of them. So they started out and found the two deer lying on the side of the hill just north of the present residence of William H. Trigg. After they skinned them and cut them up, the, party brought them to the camp and presented them to Mrs. Stevens. This shows what little exertion was necessary at that day to obtain meat. A few days afterwards, Joseph Stephens moved, with his family, to the farm which he had bought about, one-quarter of a mile north of the present site of Bunceton. About Christmas, in the same year, Samuel Cole rode up to Joseph Stephens' camp, and Mrs. Stephens asked him to alight and take dinner. He asked her whether she had any honey, and she told him she had not. He said he could not eat without honey. And although she insistedthat he should remain, he still refused. In the meantime, Larry and Joseph, two of her sons, and a negro man named Basil, came up to the camp carrying their axes, as they had been cutting wood. Samuel turned to them, and told them to go with him and get some honey for dinner. They at first, supposing him to be joking, refused to go. But as he still insisted, they consented. After going some two hun- dred yards east of the camp, Samuel suddenly stopped, and pointing to a tree, told them to cut it down. The others not seeing anything about the tree that would induce any- one to think that it contained honey, yet willing to accom- modate company, cut it down, and it was found filled with nice honey. While they were cutting down this tree, Sam- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 45 uel. found another a short distance away, and having cut down this one also, they returned home with six buckets of fine honey, having taken nothing but the clear part. Be- fore he left, Samuel taught them the way in which he found the trees. He told them, that if they would examine the ground around the tree, they would find small pieces of bee- bread, and occasionally a dead bee. This was an infalli- ble sign of a bee tree. They afterwards, following his direction, searched and found, in a small space, thirteen trees which were filled with honey ; and as they had no sugar, this was a great help to them. They sometimes had as much as four hundred pounds of honey on hand at one time. In the year 1818, Joseph Stevens, who died in 1836, Major Stephen Cole and Wm. Ross, the hatter, started west on a hunting and exploring tour, and traveled as far as the present site of Knob Noster. At that time, all the country west of the present boundary line of Cooper county, was a wilderness, no person living in it. About six miles southeast of the present site of Sedalia, in Pettis county, on the farm now owned by a man by the name of Warren, near Flat Creek, they discovered what appeared to be a large, high and peculiarly shaped Indian mound. They examined it pretty closely, and found on one side that the wolves had scratched an opening into it. After enlarging it, so as to admit them, they beheld a remarkable sight. They found themselves in what resembled a room, about eight feet square, with a ceiling of logs, just high enough to permit a tall man to stand erect. On the side opposite where they had entered, sat an officer dressed in full mili- tary uniform, with gold epaulettes upon his shoulders, gold lace fringing every seam of his coat, cocked military hat, knf e breeches, lace stockings and morocco slippers. As he sat erect upon a seat hewed out of a log, nothing but the 46 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. ghastly hue and leathery appearance of his skin would have suggested but that he was alive. By his side stood a heavy gold-headed cane. His features were complete, and his flesh free from decay, though dried to the consistency of leather. The place in which the body was found, was very peculiar. A place about eight feet square and two feet deep had been dug in the earth. The sides had been walled up with sod, until it was high enough for the purpose, reach- ing several feet above the surface of the ground. The top was then covered with poles, which ran up to a point in the center like the roof of a house. Then the poles and the surrounding walls were covered with sod two or three feet deep, cut from the prairie near by, thus excluding entirely the rain and air. When they left the place, William Ross, being the oldest man of the party, took the cane as a me- mento, but nothing else was touched. Who this officer was, from whence he came, what he was doing in this part of the country, what was the cause of his death, and when and by whom he was thus singularly entombed, has not, and perhaps never will be known. But he was supposed, by many, to have been a British officer, who, during the war of 1812, passed around by way of Canada into the Indian country, to incite the In- dians against the whites ; yet this is only conjecture, though those who discovered his body, account for him in that way. Soon after this, Joseph Stephens, Sr., now living near Petersburg, on the O. V. & S. K. Railroad, in company with James D. Campbell, went into that part of the country bee hunting, and visited the burial place of this officer. They found that part of the roof had fallen in, and that the wolves had eaten all of the flesh off" the body, so that nothing but the skeleton and clothes remained. Joseph Stephens took the epaulettes, as a memento, but nothing else was disturbed. As his mother objected to hie keeping the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. -^ 47 epaulettes, he melted them into a large ball, which was worth fifteen or twenty dollars, as it was solid gold. This descrip- tion of the burial place, &c., was obtained from the last mentioned Joseph Stephens, and is correct, although sev- eral different accounts have been published. The first newspaper published within the present limits of Howard county, was established at Old Franklin, by a gentleman by the name of Nathaniel Patten, in April 1819. This newspaper was called the Missouri Intelligencer. ORGANIZATION OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER V. Cooper County Organized. — Its Boundaries. — Present Counties Included in Cooper at the Time of Its Organization.— Seat of Justice Located at Boonville, and Courts to be Held There. The First Court in New- County, and its Proceedings.— Proceedings of the Court at the July and November Terms, 1819, and March Term, 1820. Cooper County was organized on the 17th day of De- cember, 18185 comprising all that part of what had been Howard count)', lying south of the Missouri river. It was bounded on the north by the Missouri river, on the east and south by the Osage river, and on the west by what was then called the Territorial line. At the time of its organization, it included the Territory now embraced in the whole of the counties of Cooper, Saline, Lafayette, Jackson, Cass, Henry, Johnson, Pettis, Morgan, Moniteau and Cole; and part of the counties of Bates, St. Clair, Benton, Camden and Miller ; eleven whole counties and part of five others. The act under which Cooper county was organized, located the seat of justice at the town of Boonville. This place was designat.;d as the place for holding court, by the act under which the county was organized, which was adopted by the Legislature, and approved during the year 1818, and entitled an "act establishing a part of Howard county into a separate county, by the name of Cooper." The commissioners to locate the county seat, appointed by the Legislature, were Abel Owens, William Wear, Charles Canale, Luke Williams and Julius Emmons. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 49 The first couri in the newly organized county of Cooper, was held in the present limits of the City of Boonville, on the first day of March, 1819. It was held at the boarding house of Wm. Bartlett, which was situated on the flat just east of the mouth of Rupe's Branch, near the present site of the "Boonville Furniture Factory." This court, under the Territorial laws of Missouri, exercised the present duties of the County, Probate and Circuit Courts. The duties of these three courts continued to be exercised by this one court until the year 182 1, when the duties of the Probate and County Courts were separated from those of the Circuit Court, and a new court, called the "County Court," was organized. As it was to be supposed that every one would be inter- ested in reading of the actions of the first court, and to compare the mode of procedure with that of the courts of the present day, it has been thought advisable, as being of great interest to the general reader, to insert, at this place, the full proceedings of this first court held in Cooper county after it was organized. The following are the full proceedings, as appears from the record of the court : The officers of this first court were, David Todd, Judge; R. P. Clark, Clerk ; William McFarland, Sheriff", and John S. Brickey, Prosecuting Attorney. The grand jury at this term of the court were, Samuel Peters, foreman; Muke Rose, John Savage, James Cham- bers, Britton Williams, John Roberts, Carroll George, John Davis, James Savage, Clayton Hurt, Joseph Smith, William Gibson, Eli N. Henry, Frederick Houx, Thomas Twenty- man, William Noland and Delany Bolin ; John Cathey, Zepheniah Bell, Henry Guyer, George Cathey, Daniel Du- gan and James Campbell, were summoned on the same jur}', but did not appear ; process was ordered to be issued, for them to show cause why they should not be fined for their non-appearance. 50 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The commissions of David Todd, as Judge ; of William McFarland as Sheriff, and of John S. Brickey, as Prose- cuting Attorney, were recorded by the Clerk. The above named grand jury, after having been sworn, retired and returned into court, when, having nothing to present, they were discharged. The next day, March 2nd, 1819, the following proceed- ings \vere had by the court : By order of the court, the whole of the county of Cooper was divided into the following five townships : Moreau, Lamine, including all of the present county of Cooper, Arrow Rock, Miami and Tebo. The following judges of election were appointed, viz : For Moreau Township. — Wm. Wear, John Verian and John Alexander. For Lamine Township. — James BrufFee, Robert Wallace and Benjamin F. Hickox. For Arrow Rock Township. — William Lillard, Benjamin Chambers and James Anderson'. For Miami Township. — John B. Thomas, Joel Estes and John Evans. For Tebo Township. — ^Julius Emmons, Gilliard Ruppe and Abel Owens. The election, at which the foregoing men were to act as judges, was ordered to be held at the following places in each township : at the house of William Bartlett, in Lamine township ; at the house of William Cooper, in Arrow Rock township ; at the house of Andrew Rupels, in Miami town- ship ; at the house of Paul Whitley, in Moreau township, and at the house of Mathew Coxes, in Tebo township. The following constables were appointed : of Moreau township, Paul Whitley ; of Lamine township, John Potter ; of Arrow Rock township, Jacob Ish ; of Miami township, Elisha Evans; and of Tebo township, Green Macaiferty. > HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 5 1 Stephen Turley was granted a license to keep a ferry across the Lamine river. B. W. Levens, Ward and Parker, and George W. Kerr, were granted a license to keep a ferry across the Missouri river, at the present site of Overton. The following were the rates fixed, by the court, to be charged at B. W. Levens' ferry, viz : For man and horse, fifty cents ; for either, twenty-five cents ; for horses and four wheeled wagon, two dollars ; for two horses and four wheeled carriage, one dollar ; for horned cattle, four cents each ; and for meat cattle, two cents each. William Curtis was appointed under-sheriff of Cooper county. The first petition for a public road, was presented on this day, by B. W. Levens. It asked for the location of a road leading from Boonville to the mouth of Moniteau Creek. The court appointed Richard Stanford, David Trotter, Wil- liam George and Benjamin Clark, commissioners, to re- view the road, as asked for, and report to the court their opinion as to the location, &c., of the same. Bird Lockhart and George Tompkins, who were ap pointed to examine as to the qualifications of candidates for the office of county surveyor, having filed their report, the court recommended Wm. Ross to the governor, as a fit sub- ject for said appointment. The next petition for the location of a public road, was filed by Anderson Reavis on the same day. The road petitioned for, ran from the mouth of the Grand Moniteau to the Boonville and Potosi road. The commissioners ap- pointed to review this road, were Francis Travis, Wm. Lewis and John Savage. John Potter filed his^'bond as constable of Lamine town- ship, in the sum of $i,qoq, with Asa Morgan 'and William Ross as his securities, 52 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. James Bruffee, Benjamin F. Hickox and Robert Wallace were appointed commissioners to superintend the buildmg of the court house. The court then adjourned until the regular July term. JULY TERM, 1819. Monday, July 5th, 1819. The first indictment by the grand jury in Cooper county, was presented on this day. Stanley G. Morgan being then indicted for assault and battery. It then being the law that every offense, however trivial, should be tried by indictment before the Circuit Court. R. P. Clark, this day, produced his commission as clerk of the Circuit Court of Cooper county ; also Peyton R. Hayden was admitted to the bar, as an attorney and coun- sellor at law. John Cathey, Henry Guyer, George Cathey and Zephe- niah Bell, against whom process was issued at the March term, were each fined one dollar and costs, for contempt of court, for not appearing as grand jurors at the said term, after having been summoned as such. The first civil suit on record, was an action for debt, brought by George Wilcox against R. P. Clark and Sam- uel S. Williams, which is entered among the proceedings of this day. Tuesday, July 6th, 1819. — Jesse McFarland appeared before the court, and took the oath of office as county sur- veyor. William Bartlett was granted a license to keep a tavern near the mouth of Rupe's Branch, in Boonville. Wednesday, July 7th, 1819. — Stephen Cole appointed deputy county surveyor of Cooper county. The first account presented against Cooper county was allowed on this day. It was an account of William Bart- lett, for six dollars for the rent of his house, it having been HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 53 used by the court as a court house. On the same day, four men were fined, by a jury of twelve men, five dollars each, for gambling. Thursday, July 8th, 1819. — Asa Morgan was granted a license to keep a ferry across the Missouri river at Boon- ville, November Term, 1819. — Andrew S. McGirk was en- rolled as an attorney and counsellor at law. James Wil- liams was granted a license to keep a ferry across the Osage river, on the road from Boonville to Potosi. March Term, 1820. — The following men were indicted by the grand jury for swearing, viz: Jesse Mann, Isaac Renfro, William Warden, William Bryant, Thomas Brown, Stephen Tate, John S. Moreland and David Fine. These indictments were afterwards dismissed by the court for want of jurisdiction. On the 6th day of March, 1820, Abiel Leonard produced his license, and was admitted to the bar ; also January 23d, 1821, Hamilton R. Gamble was admitted to the bar. The following is a list of the attorneys who at this time were enrolled and practicing in this court : George Tompkins, John S. Brickey, Peyton R. Hayden, Cyrus Edwards, John S. Mitchell, Hamilton R. Gamble, Andrew McGirk, Robert McGavock, Abiel Leonard, John F. Ryland, Arinstedd A. Grundy, Dabney Carr, William J. Redd arid John Payne. Among these we find the names of many who afterwards occupied offices of trust in Ihe State of Missouri. Indeed, all of them are noted as being fine lawyers and honorable men. The following is a copy of the record 6f the first verdict rendered by a jury in Cooper county. It is taken from the proceedings of the November term, 1819 : 54 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. United States, Plaintiff, vs. Stanley G. Morgan, Defendant. This day comes as well the defendant, in discharge ot his recognizance, as the prosecuting attorney. Whereupon, the said defendant, being arraigned upon the indictment in this cause, plead not guilty, and, for his trial, put himself upon God and his country, and the circuit attorney also. Whereupon came a jury, viz : Wm. Burk, William Black, Gabriel Fitsworth, Michael Hornbeck, Nicholas Houx, William Reed, Alexander Dickson, David Reavis, Fred- erick Houx, David McGee and Samuel Peters, who, being elected, tried and sworn, the truth to say, as and upon the issue joined, upon their oaths do say, that the defendant is guilty of assault and battery, whereof he is indicted. Whereupon it is considered by the court, that the said defendant make by the payment of the sum of five dollars and pay the costs hereof, and may be taken, &c. There was, as shown by the records, but four peddlers and six merchants within the limits of the county of Cooper, during the year 1819. The total amount of county revenue, on the tax book for 1819, as charged to William Curtis, sheriff, at the July term of this court, was $488.34. All these terms of court were held at William Bartlett's boarding house, called on the records, the "Tavern of Boonville." There is embraced in the foregoing, the full proceedings only of the court held on the first and second days of March, 1819 ; extracts only being made from the other terms of the court referred to, of those proceedings each day which were supposed would be of most interest to the general reader. The proceedings of the court held March ist, 1819, cover only seventeen pages of a very small record HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 55 book; for July term, forty-one pages, and for the Novem- ber term, thirty-three pages. The proceedings of the Cir- cuit Court, alone, for the April term, 1876, covers eighty- four pages of the largest record made, which is equal to about 250 pages of record, such as was used for the first court. "When it is taken into consideration, also, that the proceedings of the County and Probate Courts, now sepa- rate from the Circuit Court, were included in the record of the Circuit Court for 1819, it can easily be perceived what a vast increase has been made in this part of the business of the county. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER VI. First County Court held in Cooper County, and the Proceedings of same. — First and Second Court Houses Built. — Three Attempts to Remove the County Seat from Boonville, and the Causes. — First Church Built in County.— First Baptism in County, and Involuntary Immersion of Jake Simons. — First Schools Taught in County. — Cele- bration on July 4th, 1820. — The whole Revenue of the County not SuflBcient to Support John V. Sharp, a Pauper, &c. The first County Court within the county of Cooper, was held on the eighth day of January, 1821, at the house of Robert P. Clark, on the lot where Adam Eckhard now resides, on High street, in the City of Boonville. This court exercised the powers, and performed the duties of the present County and Probate Courts, which had, previous to this time, been under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. The County Court continued to perform the duties of both County and Probate Courts, until the year 1847, when, by act of the Legislature, the Probate Court was separated from the County Court, and continues separate to the present time. James BrufFee, James Miller and Archibald Kavanaugh were the justices of this court, appointed by James McNair, the then Governor of the Territory of Missouri. Robert P. Clark was appointed by the court as its Clerk, and Wm. Curtis, Sheriff. And on the 9th day of April, 1821, Robert P. Clark produced his commission from the Governor as Clerk of the County Court, during life or good behavior. George Craw- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 57 ford was appointed Assessor, and Andrew Briscoe, Collector of Cooper County. On the same day, the will of Thomas McMahan, de- ceased, was probated, it being the first will proven before this court and in this county. Also constables were ap- pointed for the different townships in the county, as follows : Boonville tewnship, John Potter ; Lamine township, Bryant T. Nolan ; Moniteau township, Martin Jennings, and Clear Creek township, James C. Berry. George C. Hart was appointed commissioner to run dividing line between Cooper and Saline counties ; and B. W. Levens, to run dividing line between Cooper and Cole counties. The first court house was completed at Boonville, in the year 1823. Previous to that time, the court had either been held at the house of the clerk or at one of the boarding houses. But when Messrs. Morgan and Lucus laid out tihe town, they donated fifty acres to the county, on condi- tion that the commissioners would locate the county seat at Boonville. As soon as thp county seat had been located at Boonville, and part of this land sold by the county, the county court commenced the building of a court house, which was located on the land donated to the county, and in which they could hold court, and also have the offices of the different clerks. It was a small two story brick build- ing, pretty much the style of the present one, although much smaller. It was torn down at the time the present one. was built, and some of the brick was used in the con- struction of the new house. The present court house, which is situated ©n the same spot on which the old one was located, was completed in the year 1840. It is a large and commodious two story brick building, situated on a high piece of ground overlooking the river, from the cupalo of which an excellent view can $8 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. be had of a part of Cooper and Howard counties. It is built upon the old style, and will very likely have to be soon replaced by a new one. There have been three several attempts to remove the county seat from Boonville. The first attempt was made in 1832, the second in 1838, and the third in 1842. The first two attempts were caused by some of the citizens wishing to remove the county seat to a more central portion of the county. But they have, it is unnecessary to relate, been unsuccessful, only resulting in creating an ill-feeling between the diiferent portions of the county, which it took years to remove. The third was caused by the excitement resulting from the fight between the militia and an organization of the settlers, known as the "Fantastic Company," which will be more fully described hereafter. Previous to the year 1817, there were no regular churches in Cooper County, but services were held, from time to time, either in the houses of the settlers, or whenever convenient, in some school house. But in that year the first church in the county was built. It was called "Concord Church," and was located about six miles south of the City of Boonville, near the present residence of John Crawford. Its denomi- nation was Baptist. The first minister who preached there, was Luke Williams, who was also the first regular preacher located in Cooper county. It has always been stated and believed by many to be the fact, that Concord church was the first church built in Missouri, outside of St. Louis and St. Genevieve, but of the truth of this the authors are not informed, th,erefore they cannot vouch for same. But is certain, that there could have been but few churches then built in the State, and it is probable that they were all in those two cities, as no HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 59 neighborhoods in this part of the State were strong enough to be able to build one. "Old Nebo Church," located about one-half of a mile north of the present site of Bunceton, near the residence of the late Judge L. C. Stephens, at the place where the Dub- lin school house now stands, was built in 1820. It was built by subscriptions from the settlers ; and as there was very little money in circulation in the country, each one contributed his share either in work or materials furnished. William Stevens and Joseph Stevens, Sr., now living near Bunceton, in this county, sawed all the planks for this church ; others furnished the shingles and logs ; and others still, assisted in putting up the house and other work about it. Its denomination was Baptist. The ministers, who, during the next few years, preached at this church, were Peter Woods, William Jennings, Jacob Chism, Luke Williams and John B. Longan. This church was very prosperous until about 1826, when there arose a division in it, on account of the difference of sentiment on the question of paying ministers and sending missionaries among the heathen nations. After consider- able excitement, and several stormy meetings, the two fac- tions separated. John B. Longan, who was leader of the faction who favored paying the ministers and sending abroad missionaries, drew off a large majority of the members of the congregation, and built a church at Henry Woolery's mill, which was called "New Nebo Church." The oppos- ing faction continued in possession of "Old Nebo Church," and held service regularly in it. The next churches built, were "Mount Pleasant" and Pisgah, in the south-eastern part of the county, and "New Nebo," at Henry Woolery's mill, the particulars of the building of which, is described above. New Nebo church was afterwards moved about one mile west on to the prairie, 6o HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. and it has always been in a prosperous condition. About this time there was also built a "Cumberland Presbyterian" church, at Lebanon township, of which Finis Ewing was pastor. The first baptism by immersion took place at "Old Nebo," in the year 1820. At this baptism there happened the following laughable incident : As this was the first thing of the kind that had happened in this part of the country, great crowds of people came from every section of the country, as notice had been given some time before. The banks of the river in which the baptism was to take place, were thronged with people, and many men climbed trees in order to get a good view of the proceedings. One man, by the name of Jake Simons, climbed up a small sappling which stood on the-edge of the creek, and which bent over the water with his weight. Another gentleman, by the name of John H. Hutchison, thinking this would be a fine oppor- tunity to have some fun, took out a large pocket knife and commenced cutting away on the tree where it was bent by Simon's weight. T^ower and lower bent the tree, weakened by the cutting of the knife, but the victim and those stand- ing near were so engaged in watching the baptism, which, by that time had commenced, that they did not notice this. At last, with one strong blow, the tree was severed, and Simons dropped, with a loud splash, into the water. The crowd shouted and haloed so long and so loud at this, that the minister was almost forced to dismiss the crowd without concluding the exercises. • As it was, it took a long time to subdue the confusion which this joke had caused. As soon as Simons, who was a fighter, swam to the shore, he hurled off his coat, and threatened to whip the man who had caused this involuntary ducking. But he did not find out for years who that person was. As soon as the excitement had subdued sufficiently to permit HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 6l it, the baptism was proceeded with, until all the applicants had been immersed. But the remembrance of this incident remains, to this day, fresh in the minds of all of the old settlers, who tell it again and again to their children, as illustrating the fun-loving disposition of the first inhabitants of this country. The first schools in Cooper county were taught by Wni. Anderson, in 1817, near Concord church; by Andrew Reavis, in 1818, about one and three-quarters of a mile east of Boonville, and three-quarters of a mile east of the present residence of Wm. Gibson ; by James Donaldson, in the south-eastern part of the county ; by Judge L. C. Stephens at "Old Nebo"' church ; by Dr. William Moore in Palestine township, near the present residence of Jenus While, and by Rollins, near Big Lick, in Saline township. These schools were all held in log school-houses, some ■without any floor but the earth, the remainder with puncheon floors, and no window-sash in the windows. The windows were made by cutting pieces out of the logs, which open- ings were closed with a plank at night, not so much as a protection against thieves, as to keep out the wild animals which prowled through the forest.* Teachers, in those days, seemed to have learned well the maxim, that to spare the }-od,was to spoil the child, for the most trivial offence against ;the iron rule of the "pedagogue," was visited with a severe thrashing, large and small scholars, alike, coming in for their share of the "dressings." So that the sound of the switch was often heard, as the teacher urged some tardy loiterer along the flowery path of knowledge. The teachers had many difficulties in teaching the scholars, for, from the very first of his fife, the youthful settler was taught that self-reliance and independence, which works well, when taught to those of mature years, but which is liable to make the you;jg rebel against any restraint, and which, at that 62 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. time, tended to interfere seriously with the rule of the schools and the advancement of the scholars. On the fourth day of July, 1820, the first celebration within the county of Cooper, of the anniversary of the Decla- ration of the National Indedependence, took place at Boon- ville, which then consisted of but a few houses. For some time notice had been circulated among the settlers, all over this portion of the State, and, on the morning of that day, great crowds gathered "from near and from far," to take part in this, to them, great day of thanksgiving, for, at that time in the nation's history, the Declaration of Independ- ence and individual right meant som'ething besides empty words. The oration of the day was delivered by Benjamin F. Hickox, father of our honored townsman, Truman V. Hickox, The feast, of which all were s-pecially invited to partake, was spread on the grass and ground north and northeast of the court house. Such was the crowd present, that the table spread for them, reached from the vacant lot north of the court house, to the large mound still standing in the front yard of Mr. Jesse ^oman. James Bruffee, a black- smith, then living in Boonville, made a large wrought iron cannon, with which they fired the salutes in hpnor of the day. The festivities continued through the day and the following night. After the speaking and the reading of the Declara- tion of Independence had been concluded, the people sep- arated into groups, the young ones to dance and to play different games, and the old ones to watch the pleasant sports of the children, and to talk over the current gossip of the day, for it was very seldom that they ever met in a large crowd. This day is still remembered with pleasure by the old settlers, for many of them, on that day, met for HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 63 the last time their friends who lived at a distance, and who soon became separated from them, and died without ever seeing them again. During the year 1821, John V. Sharp, a soldier who had served in the Revolutionary war, and who was living in Cooper county, became paralyzed and as helpless as a child. He soon, not having any means of his own, became a charge upon the county. The cost to the County Court was two dollars-per day for his board and attention to him, besides bills for medical attention. After having endeavored in vain to raise sufficient funds to take care of him, the County Court, in the year 1822, petitioned the General Assembly of this State to defray the expenses of his support, stating, in the petition, that the ■whole revenue of the county was not sufficient for his maintainance. This may sound strange to persons living in a county in which thousands of dollars are levied to defray its expense. But the whole revenue of the county for 1822, as shown by the settlement of the collector, was only $718, and the support of Mr. Sharp, at two dollars per day, cost $730 per year, besides the cost for medical attention, which left the county, at the end of the year 1822, in debt, without counting in any of the other expenses of the county. The petition not having been granted by the General Assembly, the court levied, for his support, during all the years from 1823 to 1828, a special tax of fifty per cent, of the State revenue tax, being an amount equal to the whole of the general county tax; and in 1828, ten per cent, of the State revenue tax was levied for the same purpose. He must have died sometime during that year, as no farther levy for his support appears upon the records of the county, thus relieving the county of a burdensome tax. If these facts were not matters of record, they would seem too in- credible to be believed. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER VII. History of all the Newspapers that have been issued in Cooper County. The first newspaper, in Cooper county, was established at Boonville, about the year 1834, ^^'^ ^^^ called the Boonville Herald. It was owned by James O. Middle- ton, and edited by Benj. E. Ferry, who was afterwards County Clerk of Cooper county. In the year 1838, Rob- ert Brent bought one-half interest in the paper from Jas. Middleton, and on the 8th day of April in that year, they changed the name of the paper to that of The Western Emigrant. On the yth day of March, 1839, C- W. Todd purchased Brent's interest in the paper, and the paper was edited about one year, by Messrs. Middle- ton and Todd. On the 30th day of April, 1840, C. W. Todd purchased Middleton's interest in the paper and changed its name to that of the Boonville Observer ; C. W. Todd continued as sole proprietor of the paper, until the 3rd day of February, 1842, when he sold one-half inter- est in it to T. J. Boggs. On the 29th day of March, 1843, F. M. Caldwell and J. S. Collins purchased the paper from Todd & Boggs ; they continued to edit it in partnership only until June 7th, 1843, when F. M. Caldwell purchased the interest of Collins, and became sole proprietor. Caldwell soon sold one-half interest in the paper to Allen Hammond, and it was edited under the firm name of Caldwell & Ham- mond, until the 9th day of June, 1846, when Caldwell sold out his interest to Allen Hammond, and returned to Virginia, HISTORY OF COOPER. COUNTY. 65 on account of the feeble health of his wife. Hammond contin- ued to edit it alone, until Nov. yth, 1850, when F. M. Cald- well returned from Virginia and again purchased a half in- terest in the paper. They continued to edit it in partner- ship for several years, when they sold the paper to Augus- tine W. Simpson, who remained publisher of it, until it ceased publication in 1861, on account of the excitement in- cident to the war. In politics this paper was Whig, un- til the year 1854, when the Whig party ceased to exist ; it then became Democratic, and remained so until it ceased publication. The next newspaper established was the Missouri Reg- ister, published by William T. Yeoman. The first number of it appeared in July, 1839. I' was the first Democratic paper published in western Missouri, and was established mainly to aid in the campaign of i8ao. On the 2 2d day of April, 1841, Yeoman sold one-half interest in the paper to Edgar A. Robinson, and the paper continued to be pub- lished by Yeoman and Robinson until the 9th day of Aug- ust, 1843, when Ira Van Nortwick purchased it from them. It was afterwards successively owned by Qj.iisenberry, Price, Ward & Chilton, the last named of whom continued to publish it until the great temperance excitement broke out in 1853. The paper had previous to this time, been taken up almost exclusively by political discussions, but it was then purchased by a man named Bowie, who filled its columns exclusively with discussions in regard to the great question of Temperance, which was then agitating the pub- lic mind. Bowie soon sold out the paper to Allen Ham- mond, and soon after this, the paper ceased publica- tion, for want of patronage. During the heat of the campaign of 1840, the editors of the Missouri Register, M-essrs-WaiVd. & Chilton, started a weekly campaign sheet, vi^hich advocated the claims of 66 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Van Buren for President, as soon as the campaign was over, and Van Buren defeated, the paper ceased publication. On the 31st day of December, 1850, Messrs. Caldwell & Hammond, proprietors of the Boonville Observer com- menced the publication of a sheet called the Tri- Weekly Observer, which was printed three times a week. But it did not continue long, as it was forced, for lack of patronage, to cease publication March 8th, 1851. The next paper was the Boonville Patriot, which was established by a gentleman by the name of Gill, in the year 1856. It was afterwards sold to F. W. Caldwell, who con- tinued to publish it until the year 1861, when the materials, presses, &c., belonging to the office, were seized by Gen. Worthington, in command of some federal forces at Jef- ferson City, and taken by him to the latter place. Soon afterwards, F. M. Caldwell went to JeiFerson City, and with the assistance of some of the most influential federals, succeeded in gaining possession of the materials belonging to this office which Gen. Worthington had seized, and brought them back to Boonville. Immediately upon his return, Messrs. Caldwell and Stahl commenced the publi- cation of the Boonville Advertiser, the first number of which appeared on the 15th day of June, 1862. After publishing it for some time, they sold out to Messrs. Drury and Selby, who published the paper for a year or two, when Messrs. F. M. Caldwell & Co. again got possession of it, and have continued proprietors of it to the present time. The editors of this paper, during this period, have been J. G. Pangborn, H. A. Hutchison, George W. Frame, Geo. W. Ferrel and Chas. E. Hasbrook ; the last named, is editor at the present time. In politics, this paper is now and always has been democratic. On the 25th day of October, 1875, ^^^ proprietors of the Boonville Advertiser, commenced the publication of a HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. dj daily edition of the same, under the name of the Boonville Daily Advertiser. It is still published, and seems to have met with very good success. The Boonville Eagle, a weekly paper, was established in September, 1865, by Milo Blair. On the 28th day of September, 1875, he took Chas. H. Allen into partnership with him, and the paper is still published by Messrs. Milo Blair & Co. In politics it has always been Republican. The Wachter Am Missouri, a paper published in the German language, was established in 1867, by L. Joachimi. It was purchased in 1874 ^7 ^- ^ • Ludwig, who changed its name to The Central Missourier. F. W- Ludwig is the present proprietor. In politics it is Republican. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER VIII. The "Fantastic CJonipany," and the Killing of J. L. Forsythe. From the organization of the government of the State, until the year 1847, there existed a militia law, requiring all able-bodied male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, to organize into companies and to muster on certain days. They had, during the year, at different times, a company, a battallion, and a general muster. A company muster was the drilling of the members of one company ; a battallion muster consisted in drilling the companies of one-half of a county ; and a general muster was a meeting of all the companies of a county. Muster day was, for a long time after the commencement of the custom, a gala day for the citizens, and was looked forward to with considerable interest, especially by the differ- ent officers who appeared in full military dress, captains and lieutenants, with long red feathers stuck in the fore pai-t of their hats, and epaulettes upon their shoulders. The field officers mounted on their fine steeds, with continentei cocked hats, epaulettes upon their shoulders, and fine cloth coats, ornamented with gold fringe, rode around among the men and gave orders, making themselves the "observed of all observers." Also the vendors of whisky, ginger cakes, apples and cider, took no small interest in the anticipated muster dajs for on that day, every person being excited, bought more or less of these things. Always on muster days, after the muster was over, the rival bruisers of a neighborhood tried their strength upon one another, thus HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 69 furnishing a great deal of amusement for those who at- tended. The little folks were also happy in the anticipa- tion, if not in the enjoyment of being presented with a gin- ger cake and an apple upon that day. But after a lapse of time these musters became tiresome to a portion of the citizeiis, as they were obliged to lose so much of their valuable time in order to attend them, or were compelled to pay a fine of one dollar for each failure to attend on muster day ; besides they could see no real use in continuing the organization as there seemed no pros- pect soon of the State requiring any troops, as all was peaceful and quiet within its borders. Also, at the elec- tions for officers, many of them were chosen on account of their personal popularity, instead of their qualifications to fill the office for "which they were elected. Musters, there fore, after their novelty had worn off, became very unpop- ular, the citizens believing them to be an unnecessary bur- den upon them. Therefore, sometime before the Battallion muster, which was to take place at Boonville, during the year 1842, a * company, the existence of which was known only to its members, was formed at that place, among the members of which were some of the best citizens of the city. This company was styled the "Fantastic Company," on account of the queer costumes, arms, &c., of its members, they be- ing dressed in all manner of outlandish costumes, carrying every conceivable kind of a weapon, from a broom-stick to a gun, and mounted upon horses, mules and jacks. The company was intended as a burlesque upon the militia, and to have some fun at their expense. The regiment of State Militia, which was to be mustered ■at the above mentioned time, was commanded by Col. Jesse J. Turle.V and Major J. Logan Forsythe, and was com- posed of ,a31 of the companies in the north half of the coun- yo HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. ty. On the morning of the muster day, Col. Turley formed his regiment in front of the court house. ' jAfter they were organized and ready for muster and drill, the Fantastic Company, which was commanded hy John Babbitt, each member dressed in his peculiar costume and carrying his strange weapon, marched up into full view of Col. Turley's command, and commenced preparations to drill. Col. Turley, feeling indignant that his proceedings should be interrupted by such a "mob," and believing that it was in- tended as an insult, ordered his command to surround the Fantastic Company. There was a high fence on the eastern side of the vacant lot on which they were mustering, and Col. Turley's company surrounded the "Fantastic Company" by ap- proaching on High street, on the alley between Fifth and Sixth streets, and on Sixth street, thus hemming them in on the vacant lot. The latter being closely pressed, re- treated back across the fence, and then commenced a fight by throwing brickbats. The fight immediately became general and promiscuous, and resulted in serious damage to the several members of the State militia. Col. J. J. Tur- ley was struck on the side by a stone, and two or three of his ribs broken. Major J. Logan Forsythe was struck by a brickbat in the face, just below his right eye, and died the next day of his wounds. The members of the Fantastic Company then dispersed and scattered in every direction. The death of Major Forsythe caused great excitement throughout the county, and great indignation to be felt against the citizens of Boonville. So much so, that a petition was immediately circulated, asking, that the "county seat of Cooper county be removed from Boon- ville," to a more central point of the county. So great was the excitement, that some persons living within three miles of Boonville signed this petition. But the county seat, aftex* ^ HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 7 1 a severe struggle before the County Court, was retained at Boonville. The death of Major Forsythe was greatly regretted by all parties, for he was an excellent citizen and a very pop- ular officer. It produced an ill-feeling throughout the coun- ty which lasted for n^any years. After the fight was over, the militia went through with their usual exercises, under the command of the subordinate officers, as Col. Turley and Major Forsythe were unable, on account of their wounds, to drill them. POLITICAL HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER IX. First Election Held in Cooper County, List of Men who Voted at, and Result of it. — Result of Elections Held in May and August, 1820, and August, 1822.— Result of Elections Held in 1824, 1825, 1826, and 1828. — Change of Political Aspect of Cooper County in 1840. — State Whig Convention Held at Eocheport, in 1840. — Organization of the Know Nothing Party. — Members of the Different State Conventions from Cooper. — Politics Not Entirely Considered at Elections for First Thirty Years, &c., &c. The first election after Cooper county was organized, ■was held on the second day of August, 1819, to elect a del- egate to Congress, from the territory of Missouri. John Scott and Samuel Hammond were the candidates. John Scott had 117 votes, and Samuel Hammond 21 votes, mak- ing total vote of county, 138. The townships which voted at said election were. Arrow Rock, Miami, Tabeaux and Lamine, which included the town of Boonville ; but the votes cast in Tabeaux town- ship were thrown out, because the poll book of said town- ship did not state for whom the votes were cast, and this poll book was not put on file with the others. Therefore, the only votes counted were those cast in the other three townships. Robert P. Clark, County Clerk, called to his aid James Bruffee and Benjamin F. Hickox, two Justices of the Peace, to assist him in counting the votes. As some of the read- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 73 ers may have some curiosity to know the names of those who voted at this first ele(^tion, we give them as follows : ARROW ROCK TOWNSHIP. Baker Martin, William White, .Jacob Catoon, Samuel Clevenger, James Wilhite, John Ingram, vote rejected. Judges of Election were, James Anderson, WiUiam Cooper and William Jobe ; and Clerks, John Ingram and James Wilhite. 5IIAJII TOWNSHIP. William Jobe, William Hay?, Simon Odle, Phavess Clevenger, ■Tack Clevenger, Jesse Voves, John Chapman, William Cooper, William Jobe, .James Anderson, Andy Russell, Daniel McDowell, John D. Thomas, William Shaw, Joel Nowlin, Christopher Martin, Henry Estus, William Estes, Charles English, Henrv Hide, William Warden, William Gladin, John Evans, .Jesse Gilliam. The Judges of Election were, John D. Thomas, John Evans and Jesse Gilliam ; and Clerks, Charles English and William Gladin. Jonn H. Moore, Joseph Smith, Frederick Conor, William Gibson, Humphrey Gibson, Stephen Cole, Jr., Muke Box, Jacob EUer, William H. Curtis, William Moore, James Turner, -Jr., Robert P. Clark, Joseph Dillard, John J. Clark, John Hiburn, David Burress, Jr., LAMINE T01V5:SHIP. Robert Boyd, Robert Wallace, Dedrick Ewes, Samuel Smith, Jordan O'Bryan, Abraham Jobe, Lewis Letney, Ephr&iam Marsh, Eli N. Henry, .James Reid, .James Hill, David Ward, Samuel Peters, Littleton Seat, James Scott, Drury Wallace, Joseph Cathey, George Cathey, Jr., Levi Odeneal, John Cathey, Gabriel Tittsworth, Stephen Cole, Sr., Charles B. Mitchell, .James Long, George Houx, Fleming F. Mitchell, John McClure, David Trotter, Mathias Houx. William Chambers, David MoGee, Thomas Rogers,' 74 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. James MoCarty, Sr., David Fine, William Dillard, George Fennile, Lawrence C. Stephens, James Snodgrass, William D. Wilson, Nicholas M. Fain, Frederick Houx, Jacob Thomas, Jr., William Fraser, Nicholas Houx, Anderson Demesters, Peyton Hurt, Zepheniah Bell, Job Self, William Bartlett, Jacob McFarland, Andrew A. Reavis, William Savage, James McCartj', Jr., Luke Williams, Frederick Thomas, John Roberts, Geo. Cathey, Sr., Asa Morgan, William George, Sr., John Green, vote rejected, Thomas Brown, vote rejected Joseph Byler, Frederick Shirley, Joseph Westbrook, John Grover, Edward Carter, Abraham Shelly, Wm. Burk, Wm. Snodgrass, Peter Carpenter, Thomas Butcher, David McFarland, Alexander Brown, Jesse F. Roiston, Nicholas McCarty, John Swearingen, George Potter, John Potter, David Burress, Sr., Joseph Scott, Mansfield Hatfield, Wm. Deakins, John Nunn, Wm. II. Anderson, James Bruffee, Eli Roberts, Charles Force, John Miller, Larkin Dewitt, Peter Stephens, Joseph M. Bernard, Samuel D. Reavis, James A. Reavis, Wm. Warden, Samuel Snodgrass, Delany Bowlin, ■Tacob Thomas, Sr., Wm. Bowlin, Ephraim Ellison Benj. F. Hickox, William McFarland, George Crawford, William Ross, John Savage, John Ross, Hiram Musich, vote rejected. William Mitchell, vote rejected. The Judges of Election were, James Bruffee, Benjamin- F. Hickox and William McFarland ; and Clerks, George Crawford and William Ross. It will be observed, that the first vote cast within the present limits of Cooper county, was cast by John H. Moore, who died many years ago ; and the fourth vote by William Gibson, who is the only one who voted at that election who is still alive, that is, so far as is known to the authors. Yet this may be a mistake, as many of them, years ago, moved from this county, and have not been heard from since then, although they may still be alive. That election took place fifty-seven years ago, therefore, a HISTORY OF COOPER OOUNTY. 75 man would have to be, at the present day, seventy-eight years of age to have cast a legal vote then. The wives of but two of them are still living, viz : Mrs. L. C. Stephens and Mrs. Frederick Houx. The next election, for Delegates to the State Convention to frame a Constitution for the State of Missouri, was held on the 1st, 2nd, and 3d days of May, 1820. The follow- ing was the result in this count}', viz : Robert P. Clark, For Delegate, had 557 Votes. Robert Wallace, " " " 395 " William Lillard, " " " 400 " Charles Woods, " ■' " 295 " Richard W. Cummins," " " 359 " Robert Johnson, " " " 106 " Robert Fristoe, " " " 'J7 '• Henry Rennick, " " " 91 " George Sibley, " " " 45 " Peyton Nowlin, " " " 31 " Julius Emmons, " " " 2 " William Ross, " " ' 11 " Robert P. Clark, William Lillard, and Robert Wallace, as shown by the vote, were elected. The townships in which this election was held, were as follows : Arrow Rock Township, which cast 120 Votes. Lamina " " " 408 " Tabeaux " " " 150 " Moreau " " " 101 " Miami " " " 40 Total vote of Cooper l/ounty 819 At the time of this election. Cooper county was bounded on the east and south by the Osage river, on the west by the Indian Territory, and on the north by the Missouri river. Lamine Township then, included about all within the present limits of Cooper county, and some territory not now included in its limits. 76 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The next election was held on the 28th day of August, 1820, to elect a member of Congress, and State and County officers. The following townships voted at this election : Arrow Rock Township, which cast 57 Votes. Lamine Jefferson Osage Miami Moreau Tabeaux 503 110 78 2S 71 125 Total vote of Cooper County, 972 The following shows the result of this election : For Congress, John Scott received 762 Votes. For Governor, Alex. McNair ' For Governor, Wm. Clark ' For Lieut.Governor, Nathaniel Cook ' For Lieut.Governor, Wm. H. Ashley ' For Representative, James Edgar ' " Thos. Rogers ' For Sheriff, For Coroner, Wm. McFarland Thos. Smiley ' Abram Jobe ' John Dickson Abel (Jwens Sam. D. Reavis David Jones William Lillard ' .Jason Harrison .lohn Coi-um John D. Thomas William Wier Wm. H. Curtis ' Wm. ri. Moore Jas. Alexander B. W. Levens Wm. Kelly John Briscoe ' Bryant Sanders J. C. Rochester Edward Bradley 766 196 573 295 139 549 425 528 5 158 310 157 380 532 94 30 121 8 549 102 134 45 67 59 332 132 165 (e'.ected.) (elected.) (elected.) (elected.) (elected ) HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 11 Of the above list of candidates all have gone to their long homes, not one being left alive. And of the 503 vo- ters, then voting in Lamine Township, which included all of the present territory of Cooper county, there are only four known to be alive, viz : William Gibson, Samuel Cole, Henry Corum, and Lewis Edger, all still living within the limits of this county. The result of the election which took place in the year 1822, was as follows : For Congress, John Scott received 316 Votes. , Alex. Stewart " 132 J. B C. Lucas " 72 For Kepresentative, Benj. F. Hickox " 364 " (elected.) Jordan 0' Bryan " 380 " (elected.) " Austin K. Longan " 229 " (elected.) " Jas. McFarland " 211 Thos. Rogers " 119 " William Ross " 73 " Sam. D. Reavis " 65 " Wni. Bryant " 44 ForSljeriff, Sylvester Hall " 328 " (elected.) David P. Mahan " 174 For Coroner, Thomas Riggs " 174 William Poor was the first Constable elected for Lamine Township, that officer having been, prior to (that time, appointed by the courts. Ii will be observed that the vote was much smaller in 1822 than it had been in 1820. This was caused by the territory of the county being much diminished, by the for- mation of Cole and Saline counties from it. ELECTIONS IN 1824. Cooper county v@ted for Henry Clay for president, in 5:824. Only four poll books of this election could be found, -which show i^at Henry Clay had 136 votes, and Andrew Jackson 53 voJi^^s. It was done fis a debt pf gratitude tq 78 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Clay, for his great services as a member of Congress, in the struggle of the State of Missouri, for admission into the Union. She was admitted under certain conditions, viz : "That the 4th clause of the 26th section of the 3d article of the Constitution of the State, shall never be construed to authorize the passage of any law, and no law shall be passed in conformity thereto, by which any citizen of the United States shall be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the privileges and immunities of citizens, to which such citizens are entitled under the Constitution of the United States." The Legislature of Missouri assented to the conditions on the twenty-sixth day of June, 1821, and by proclamation of the President, James Monroe, the State was admitted on the tenth day of August, 1821. The Constitution of the State of Missouri was adopted on the nineteenth day of July, 1820, without submitting it to the people. David Barton was president of the Con- vention. He died at the house of William Gibson, about one mile east of the City of Boonville, on the • day of September, 1837, ^"^ was buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, at Boonville. The question of the admission of Missouri into the Union, created great excitement in Congress, and all over the United States. The main point of difference, between the opposing factions, being the slavery question, which gave rise to what was called "The Missouri Compromise." The following is the resuU of the election held in August, 1824: For Congress, Jolm Scott received 507 Votes. G. F. Strother " 81 " Eobt. Wash " 5 " For Governor, Frederick Bates rgceived 249 votes, " " Win. H, Ashley " 34^ ". HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 79 For Lieut. Governor, For State Senator, For Representative, Benjamin F. Eeavis received 501 votes. Nath'l. Cook " 38 " Wm. C. Carr " 9 " James Evans " 3 " George Crawford received 513 votes. James Miller " 78 James McCampbell " 24 " Benj. F. Hickox received 473 votes, (elected) (elected.) (elected.) " " Geo. W. "Weight 404 ' " " Jordan O'Bryan " 333 ' • f (i Jos. Billingsley 289 ' For Sheriff, Marcus Williams " 389 • (1 (C J. H. Hutchison 222 For Coroner, Hugh Allison " 204 Constable Boonville Twp.,Wm. E. Paine 87 ■ 11 tt " "Wm. C. Porter 80 U (( " Hugh Allison 23 ' a .< Owen Ruble ' 14 (( (1 " Wm. W. Adams 4 1825. On the eighth day of December, 1825, there was held a special election for Governor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frederick Bates. David Todd, John Miller, Wm. C. Carr and Rufus Easton weve the candidates. David Todd received a large majority in Cooper county. 1826. At the election on the first Monday in August, 1826, John Scott and Edward Bates were candidates for Congress. Scott had a majority of one hundred and twenty-four in the county. Michael Dunn, Jordan O'Bryan, James L. Collins and John H. Hutchison were candidates for Representatives. Michael Dunn and Jordan O'Bryan "were elected. W. H. Anderson and David P. Mahan were candidates for Sheriff. Anderson was elected by fifty-three majority ; and Hugh Allison was elected Coroner. So HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1828. This was the first election in which party lines were closely drawn, for before that, men had voted for the man whom they considered best qualified ; and not because he belonged to any party. The poll books of the presidential election could not be found, but the August election for Representative in Congress and county officers, having the same principles at issue, will show pretty clearly how the Presidential election went. There were two tickets, viz : Adams and Jackson, and the tickets on which the men were, who were elected is marked opposite their names. The following is the result of the August election : For Congress, Edward Bates (Adams) received 258 votes. Spencer Pettis (Jackson,) " 492 " For Governor, John Miller (Jackson,) " 662 For Lieut. G-overnor, Samuel Perry (Adams,) " 201 " " " " Daniel Durklin (Jackson) " 381 Alex. Stuart " 7 " "■ " Alex. Buckner " 87 " Felix Leatt " 42 " For State Senator, Jordan 0' Bryan (Adams) " " 292 " John Miller (Jackson,) " 45.5 " For Eepresentative, Archie Kavanaugh " " 499 " David Jones " " 508 " Michael Dunn (Adams,) " 240 " Geo. W. Weight, " " 263 " For Sheriff David P. Mahan " " 326 " " " Jos. S. Anderson (Jackson,) " 435 " For Coroner, Hugh Allison " 122 " At the election in November, 1828, the county voted for Jackson ever Adams, by a majority of about two hundred and thirty votes; and also in 1832, Jackson was re-elected, and received a large majority in this county. The county also gave a small majority to Martin Van- Buren, in 1836. The county remained Democratic until 1840, when the Whigs made a clean sweep, electing their full ticket. Reuben A. Ewing, a Whig, was elected State HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 01 Senator, over David Jones, Democrat ; and John G. Miller, Jordan O'Bryan and Lawrence C. Stephens, Whigs, over John Miller, B. F. Hickox and Henry Crowther, Demo- crats, by an average majority of about seventy-five votes. There was great excitement during this election, and politics ran very high. The Whigs held public meetings in regular order on each succeeding Saturday in each township, until the full rounds were made. They had a band of music engaged for the occasion, flags and banners, with mottoes inscribed thereon ; also with songs appropriate for the occasion, and eloquent speakers, the prominent among which were John G. Miller, Jordan O'Bryan, John C Richardson, Robert C. Harrison, and others. The Democrats did not make much display, but con- demned the same as humbuggery, and tr3'ing to win votes by exciting the people. They held their meetings and had frequent public speakings without any display or show. Their candidates for the legislature were John Miller, Ben- jamin F. Hickox, and Henry Crowther. A State convention for Harrison and Tyler, was held at Rocheport in June, 1840. It lasted three days, and seven steamboats were chartered by the delegates for the occasion, each of which had its band of music, two cannons, a log cabin and hard cider, and made a fine display of flags and banners with mottoes inscribed thereon. The most distin- guished Whigs of the State were there, and many noted speakers from other States, among whom was the son of Daniel Webster. Their line of march was, the grandest display ever wit- nessed in Missouri. They had in the procession long ca- noes on wheels, and in them some of those who were en- gaged in the battle of Tippecanoe, in the act of paddling the canoes as they marched along. Every delegation had a large flag or b'anner, and many smaller ones with mottoes appropriate to the occasion. 82 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The cause of this extraordinary campaign was, that times were and had been very hard for several years past, and as people are prone to lay their ills and misfortunes to the charge of somebody or party other than themselves, they then charged that Martin Van Buren and the Demo- cratic party were the authors of their misfortunes. The cry was reform, a national bank with a branch in every State, and a protective tariff. The result was that Harrison and Tyler were elected by a large majority. Harrison died within one month after his inauguration, and John Tyler became president. Several national bank char- ters were passed by Congress, but the president vetoed them all. Times continued hard until the Mexican war ; from that time till 1857 they gradually improved, and from 1861 to 1873, times were good and money plenty. But since 1873, history has repeated itself, times have been very hard, and money of any kind hard to get and hard to keep. 'Tis a repitition of the old saj'ing, "money close, but not close enough to get hold of." The county remained Whig as long as the party lasted. The last candidate on the Whig ticket was General Scott, who was defeated by Franklin Pierce. The campaign of 1844 was very lively, with not so much display and show on the part of the Whigs as in 1840. For President, Henry Clay was the nominee of the Whig party, and James K. Polk of the Democratic party. Clay in 1844, Taylor in 184S, and Scott in 1852 received a majority of the votes cast in this county. Taylor was elected in 1848, but he died in about one year after his in- auguration, and Millard Fillmore, Vice-president, became the President, and history will certainly give him the credit of making an excellent chief magistrate. About 1854, ths American or Know-Nothing party sprang nto existence. This party was short-lived, being first HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 83 defeated at a State election in Virginia, and many members deserted it, as rats would a sinking ship. Many old line Whigs joined the Democratic party, and the Democrats, who were quite numerous in the Know-Nothing party, re- turned to their first love, and some aspiring ones denied that they had "ever been there." It is said that one prominent office holder who resided in Howard county, who was noted for having joined every party that ever sprang into existence, while on a visit to a "Know-Nothing" lodge, at Boonville, made a speech, shed tears, and said, "that he had found the right party at last," but was the first man in this part of the State to desert that party when it commenced to go to pieces. A large majority of the "old line Whigs" formed an opposition party, and voted for Millard Fillmore for Presi- dent, in 1856. At that time there were three candidates for President in the 'field, viz : James Buchanan, Democrat, Millard Fillmore, American, and John C. Fremont, Re- publican. There was- no ticket in Cooper county for Fre- mont. Millard Fillmore carried Cooper county over James Buchanan by about eight votes, so nearly even were the two parties. At the next Presidential election in i860, the candidates were Stephen A. Douglass, Union Democrat, James C. Breckenridge, Southern Democrat, Abraham Lincoln, Re- publican, John Bell, Union. Douglass carried Cooper county by a small majority, Bell running him close. Breckenridge had but a small vote, and Lincoln but twenty votes. The names of those who voted for Lincoln were afterwards published in the newspapers as an item of curiosity. Abraham Lincoln, Republican, and Geo. B. McClellan, Democrat, were the candidates for President in 1864. Lin- coln carried Cooper county by a large majority. No great 84 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. interest was taken in this election in this county. There was no restriction as to voters at that time, but many Demo- crats did not vote, and the Republicans, generally, turned out in full force. The Republicans carried the county at every election till 1872 ; the restrictions and the "test oath'' having been almost unanimously abolished in 1870 by .a vote of the people. The Democrats have been ever since in the majority in the county, their majority being about eight hundred. There was a State Convention called in 1845 for the pur- pose of framing a new constitution, and Dr. F. W. G. Thomas was elected a delegate from this county. In 1846, the convention submitted the constitution which they had framed to the people of the State, and it was voted down by a large majorit}^ In 1861, a convention was called to consider the relations of this State to the United States, and to take such action in regard to the existing troubles, the late war of the Union having then commenced, as they should deem best for the interests of the State. The candidates for delegates to the State Convention were, William Douglass and Benjamin Tompkins, of Cooper county ; Charles Drake, of Moniteau county, and J. P. Ross and William Tutt, of Morgan county ; these three counties then comprising the 28th Sen- atorial district. William Douglass, Charles Drake, and J. P. Ross were elected. The history of the action of this convention is so well known, and having been incorporated in other general histories, has been so widely circulated that it is unnecessary to repeat it here. Another convention was called in 1864. Two delegates were allowed to each Senatorial district. Harvey Bunce, of Cooper county, and Joel F. Humes, of Moniteau county, were elected delegates for the 28th Senatorial district. The delegates met at St. Louis, and on the i}.th day of January, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 85 1865, declared "that slavery or involuntary servitude shall, no longer exist in Missouri." They framed a new consti- tution which has always been known as the "Drake consti- tution," submitted the same to the voters of the State, and it was adopted by a small majority. It is a well-known fact that, from 1853 to i860, party spirit did not prevail in elections, except as to State, Con- gressional, and Legislative candidates. In the elections in 1853 and in 1859, ^^^ ^^^' election of Judges and Clerks, and other officers, party was scarcely mentioned. Every candidate had to stand upon his own merits ; and that was generally the case as to county officers from the organiza- tion of this county to the election in i860. It is true, local questions would sometimes interfere and govern the votes of some, yet they seldom nominated party candidates for county officers, partizanship being confined almost exclu- sively to the nomination of National and State tickets. At a Whig convention, in 1840, at "Old Palestine," after nominating candidates for the Legislature, it was proposed to make a nomination for Sheriff". After considerable de- bate, this proposition was voted down, for the reason that the office was not considered a political one. This state- ment may sound strange to some, considering the way nominations and elections are governed at the present day, but it is nevertheless true. And, in proof of this, the rec- ords show, that while the Democrats were in power, John H. Hutchison was twice elected Sheriff*, James Hill, Sheriff", once, John Crawford, Assessor for several years, and Rob- ert P. Clark, Circuit Clerk ; all of these men were uncom- promising Whigs. And while the Whigs were in power, Isaac Lionberger and B. E. Ferry were each elected Sheriff* two terms, making eight years; B. E. Ferry was, also, twice elected County Clerk, Robert Turner, Assessor, and William Shields, a member of the State Legislature ; and 86 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. all of these men were strong Democrats. It is true, the citizens would vote for the candidate of their own party, if they deemed his qualifications for filling the office equal to those of his opponent; and some, though the number was small, always "stuck to" the nominee of their own party when opposite partisans were running. Great interest was generally taken in elections. There was much more interest in and excitement over elections be- fore than after the war. But, previous to the war, elections did not partake of that bitter personal feeling, which has characterized them since the war. Those in opposition could be political enemies and personal friends. Men were not, then, as now, proscribed for their political opinions. But, the people of this section of the country are proud to say, that, animosities, which were naturally engendered during the war, are gradually dying away, and, if left un- disturbed for a few years, will only be things of the past, and have no real existence, except upon the pages of his- tory. WAR HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER X. Indian Scare on Flat Creek, in Pettis County, in the Year 1832, and the Part the Citizens of Cooper County took in Same. — Mormon War, in the year 1838, and Companies Eaised in Cooper County, at Call of Governor, to Assist in the Same. — Company Raised in Cooper County to Take Part in the Mexican War of 1846, and the Actions of Same, Names of Officers, Privates, &c. Sometime during the year I832, a report became circu- lated that the Indians had broken out, and Avere attacking the settlers living within the present limits of Pettis county, then part of Cooper and Saline counties. The report that they were slaying men, women and children as they went, spread like "wild fire," and men rushed towards that part of the county to aid in the defense of the homes of their neighbors. The place of rendezvous for those who went from Cooper county, was "Wooley's Mill," on the Petite Saline Creek, where they organized by electing their offi- cers. After they had organized they marched to the sup- posed seat of war ; and on their arrival they found that no Indians had been there, and that it had been entirely a false alarm. These valiant soldiers then returned to their homes, and for a long time it was impossible to find any one who would acknowledge that he had been on that expedition. The origin of this report was as follows : Some men, for their own amusement, dressed themselves and painted their faces, so as to resemble Indians, went to a corn field where some men were at work plowing, and, giving the Indian yell, shot off their guns, pointed in the direction of the set- tlers. They, supposing that the disguised men were hostile Indians endeavoring to slay them, took to their heels and 88 HISTORY OF COOPER dOUNtV. spread the alarm, which, like a tale of scandal, traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood,' gathering new items of horror as it went from lip to lip. This originated several anecdotes, among which is the following : A wealthy farmer of Cooper county catching the alarm, buried his bacon to save it from the blood-thirsty savages ; then going to a field in which a large number of his negroes were at work, waved his hand and hallowed at the top of his voice, "Put out ! Put out ! The Indians will be upon you ! The Indians will be upon you !" The Afri- cans taking the alarm, stampeded and scattered in every direction, as though the savages with their tomahawks and scalping-knives were already close upon their heels, when in reality th«re was not, at that time, an Indian within one hundred miles of the place. THE MORMON WAR. The Mormon war took place in the year 1838. The Mormons when they first arrived in Missouri, located in Jackson county, and the citizens not looking with favor on their customs, and being incensed at the many crimes which they committed under the guise of their religious views, . soon drove thfem from that place and they located in Cald- well county, Mo. The citizens of that part of the State being determined to drive them entirely from the State, but not having suf- ficient force to accomplish the desired end, called upon the Governor to send them troops sufficient to expel these false teachers. Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs issued a call for 7,000 volunteers to assist in driving the Mormons from the terri- tory over which he had control. In response to this call three companies were raised in Cooper county. One, called the "Boonville Guards," com- posed entirely of citizens of Boonville ; this, under the ex- isting laws of the State, was a standing company, and tMSfORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 89 equipped at the expense of tlie State government. The second, a volunteer company raised at Boonville, composed of citizens of Boonville and the surrounding neighhorhood. Of this company, Jessie J. Turley was Captain, Marcus Williams, Jr., First Lieutenant, and J. Logan Forsythe, Second Lieutenant. The third was raised at Palestine, the officers of which are not known. Of the forces raised in Cooper county, Joel E. Woodward was Brigadier General, Joseph Megguire, Inspector General, and Benjamin E. Ferry, Aid de Camp to General "Henry W. Crowther. These companies marched twice towards the Mormon settlement and the seat of war. The first time they marched as far as Jonesborough, Saline county, where the commanders, supposing from reports which reached them that there were sufficient troops already at the scene of war to conquer the Mormons, ordered them to return. They, were shortly afterwards again ordered to the seat of war, and marched to Lexington, Avhere they crossed the Missouri river. They then advanced about two miles into the prairie, and there camped for two days. The Mormon troops hav- ing in the meantime surrendered to Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., these companies returned home without having the pleasure of meeting the enemy or having the opportunity of testing their valor. On their arrival at Boonville these troops were disbanded. The Mormons during this short war were commanded by Gen. Weite, an old British officer, who fought against Gen. Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. The Mormons after the conclusion of this war left the State and located at Nauvoo, Illinois, where they remained for several years. Having had a difficulty with the authori- ties of the State of Illinois, and their prophet and leader, Joseph Smith, having been assassinated, they again "pulled up stakes" and emigrated to the shores of the ^o HisTOiir OF cooper county. "Great Salt Lake," where 'they have ever since remained, believing and feeling that they are a persecuted people. The prisoners taken and retained in jail as the leaders of the Mormons were Joseph Smith, Lyman Weite, Hiram Smith, Sydna Regdon, Roberts, Higby, and two others. These men were first imprisoned in the jail at Richmond, Ray county, and were afterwards removed to the jail at Liberty, Clay county, where they broke jail, escaped pur- suit, and were never tried. THE MEXICAN WAR. In the month of May, 1846, a call was made for one company from Cooper county to join troops in Mexico, and assist in subduing that people. On the 21st day of that month the following bulletin extra appeared, and of which the following is a verbatim copy : "Thursday, May 21st, 1846. Volunteers. — A proper spirit seems to animate the citi- zens of our county and especially the young men. The call for one company from the Fifth Division has been promptly responded to. Forty-three volunteers were raised by Gen. Ferry on Monday in Boonville, and on Tuesday at Palestine, under the direction of Gen.'s Ferry and Megguire, the number was increased to sixty-one. They then elected their officers, and the following gentle- men were chosen : Joseph L. Stephens, Captain, without opposition, who delivered to the volunteers on that occasion a spirited and handsome address. 1st. Lieutenant — Newton Williams. 2d. Lieutenant — H. C. Levens. 1st. Sergeant — ^John D. Stephens. 2nd. Sergeant — William T. Cole. 3rd. Sergeant — Richard Norris. 4th. Sergeant — ^James S. Hughes. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 91 1st. Corporal — Tipton Prior. 2nd. Corporal — A. B. Cole. 3rd. Corporal — Wesley Amick. 4th. Corporal — A. G. Baber. The company, thus organized, assembled in Boonville on Wednesday, where they were exercised in military duty by their accomplished and galHnt young Captain. The following is a list of the privates, from which it will be seen a few more have been added : Thomas Bacon, Sanj'l D. Burnett, Jacob Duvall, Charles Salsman, Ewing E. Woolery, Heli Cook. Joel Coffee, Joel Epperson, .Jesse Epperson, Hiram Epperson, John McDowell, J. E. P. Wilcoxson, T. T. Bowler, William SuUans, Horatio Bruce, William J. Jeffreys, James M. Jeffreys, Hiram Burnam, Edward S. D. Miller, John Whitley, Benj. P. Ford, Phillip Summers, George W. Campbell, Samuel R. Lemons, John R. Johnson, Thompson Seivers, Charles F. Kine, Je^se Nelson, John Colbert, Robt. Rhea, Edniond Gr. Cook, John B. Bruce, Jaa. P. Lewis, Benj. C. Lampton, Oliver G. Ford, U. E. Eubey, W. B. Rubey, W. H. Stephens, John M. Kelly. George Mock, Samuel Elliott, Alpheus D. Hickerson, Edmond Eubank, Henderson C. Martin, Spague White, Wm. Woolsey, Martin Allison, Henry Francis, Robt. H. Bowles, Justinian McFarland, Nathaniel T. Ford, James H. Jones, James C. Ross, Richard Hulett. They departed to-day (Thursday) on the steamer L. F. Linn, for St. Louis, where they will be armed and equipped, and immediately transported to the army of Occupation on the Rio Grande. Our best wishes attend them. May vic- tory ever perch upon their banners, and may they all return home to their friends full of honors, with the proud reflec- tion that they have served their country faithfully." When the steamer Louis F. Linn, Eaton, Captain, Jewell, Clerk, arrived at Boonville, on her downward trip, the com- pany forrned in line on fhe upper deck and many friends pa HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. passed along the line, bidding farewell and shaking each volunteer by the hand. The landing was crowded with people. The boat soon started, with cheers from the mul- titude, and waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies. INCIDENTS OK THE VOYAGE. Our steamer laid up for the first night at Nashville, which is about fifteen miles below Rockport. The members of the company were all Jolly fellows, and jest and laugh made the time pass pleasantly and quickly. The most of them had never been from home, and longed, with the anxiety of children to see new countries, and to take part fn other than every day affairs of their lives. Lieutenant Levens being on watch the latter part of the night after they had left Boonville, heard a terrible splash in the water, and on inquiring for the cause discovered that one of his men had fallen overboard. The deck-hands rescued him, and soon afterwards another of the company followed the example of his comrade, and was rescued by the same men. The Lieutenant becoming alarmed for the safety of the men of the company, waked up the Captain, informed him of what had happened, and told him that if he did not take measures to prevent it he might have his company considerably diminished before they reached St, Louis, if the men continued to fall overboard as rapidly as they had commenced. The Captain was greatly surprised at such unexpected accidents, and placed out a strong guard, which prevented any more occurrences of the kind. The trouble was that some of the men before leaving Boonville had imbibed rather freely, and having never been on board of a boat before, imagined they were on land and walked off" without being aware of their changed cir- cumstances. They arrived at St. Louis without further accident, and were quartered at the Court House without any blankets to HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 93 cover them, or any place except the naked benches on which to sleep. Most of the company expecting to draw their cloth- ing and blankets at Jefferson Barracks, had nothing but the shirt and pants which they had worn from home. Captain Stephens' company was mustered into service by Gen. Robert Campbell. Gen. Taylor having gained an im- portant victorj' over the Mexicans, and it being thought that he would be able to conquer his enemies without any further reinforcements, Capt. Stephen's company were or dered back, and directed to report to Adjutant General Par sons at Jefferson City, whither they hastened on the same boat, expecting orders from him to join Donaphan's expe- dition to New Mexico ; General Parsons informed the Cap- tain that he had no requisition for Cooper county, but to hold his company in readiness to march when called on. The members of the company were very much disappointed at being thus summarily dismissed to their homes, and felt very indignant at what they considered such shabby treat- ment ; and though the company was ready and willing during the whole of the war, to go to the field of battle on the shortest notice, they were not called on. Some of the members of the company were so determined to go, that they joined other companies of General Donaohan's com- mand. The company, although they were gone from home only a short time, had a rough introduction to military life, having been forced to live on "hard tack" on their trip to St. Louis and return, without bedding of any kind, and many of them without a change of clothes. Mrs. Andrews an estimable lady of St. Louis, treated the company to as many pies as they could eat, for which they will always feel grateful to her. But very few of the company had ever seen St. Louis or any other city, and it was a pleasing and wonderful sight to these men, who had during ^11 theitf livesj been aecua* 94 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. tomed only to the quiet scenes of their every day life. The company, as it passed through the streets, seemed from the numbers who stopped to gaze at them to attract as much attention as a fantastic company on account of their queer costumes, arms and manners. As they expected to draw their uniform on their arrival at the "Great City," and as they expected to throw^ their citizen's suits away, they were not particular what they wore when they started from home. Most of them being dressed in back woods style, without uniform or arms, made a rather ludicrous appearance to "city folks." But the men cared little for that, and some of the "city gents" were made to measure their lengths upon the pavement for their uncalled for remarks in regard to the personal appearance and manners of the strangers. Some of the company while in St. Louis had a row with some merchants on Water street for insulting one of the men. After some little quarreling, the merchants threat- ened to have them arrested and confined in the calaboose ; but they were told if that threat was executed, they would level the calaboose, and if that was not sufficient to show their power they would level the whole city, and that they had sufficient men to accomplish that undertaking. So the merchants becoming alarmed, did not attempt to have the threat executed, and the difficulty was finally arranged without any serious consequences. On their return up the Missouri river on the same boat on which they had gone down to St. Louis, a fine dressed "gentleman" unthought- edlv made the remark, that "these soldiers were a roupfh set." The officers of Capt. Stephen's and Capt. Reid's companies demanded that he should be put ashore, and at the next landing he was made to "walk the plank," amidst shouts and cheers from the crowd ; they thus gave him an opportunity of traveling on the next boat, where perhaps, he. might meet with passengers more congeniel to his nature, ttlSTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 9$ and where he would not be forced to associate with those whom he considered beneath him in the social scale. After this they proceeded without further incident to Boon ville, where they were met by crowds of their friends and acquaintances, who, with loud cheers, welcomed them home. Soon after they arrived, the company was disbanded by the captain, with orders to be ready to assemble and march to the seat of war on very short notice. From that time to the close of the war the members of the company were prepared at all times to march to the front, whenever their services should be required, but they were never ordered forward to take part in the great struggle which had then been transferred to the enemy's country. This is the only -part the citizens of Cooper county took in the war of 1846, and though they did not partake directly in the struggle, they showed their readiness to do so, by organizing and keeping in readiness to march a company composed of some of the best citizens. WAR HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER XI. The late "War of the Eebellion" in Cooper County. — Battle below Boon-ville. — Movements of the "Home Guards" in Cooper County. — Defeat of Captain Parks by Wm. Anderson. — ."Shelby's Raid into Cooper County, and his Engagements with the Federal Troops. — Price's Raid into Cooper County, and the Battles Fought near Boon- ville. — Bitter Partisan Feeling Engendered During the War, &c. We would like to pass the history of this war, and leave it to be recorded by future historians, when the passions and bitter feelings engendered shall have passed away and been forgotten ; but it is certain that it is not wise for the recorder of events to omit to tell the simple truth for fear that it may grate harshly upon the ear of some one. He must, impar- tially, write the facts as they occurred, without showing favor to either side. It is not intended here to give a detailed account of all that transpired during the unhappy conflict of the late war ; but the following pages only pro- fess to give, without any comment, some of the main facts as they occurred : Cooper county suffered a great deal during the late war. Her territory was nearly all the time occupied either by one party or the other, and her citizens were called upon to con- tribute to the support of first one side and then the other. The first of the actions which took place within Cooper county, and indeed the second engagement of the war, was the BATTLE BELOW BOONVILLE. Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price, on the nth day of June, 1861, left Jefferson City, where the Legislature was in ses- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 97 sion, sought an interview with Gens. Lyon and Blair, and made propositions for a compromise, on the basis of neutrality, &c. The two last mentioned Generals refused to make any compromise whatever, but claimed the "unre- stricted right to move and station the troops of the United States throughout the State, whenever and wherever that might, in the opinion of the officers, be necessary, either for the protection of loyal citizens of the federal govern- ment, or for the repelling of an invasion."' Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price, after this unsuccessful en- deavor to bring about peace, returned to Jefferson City, and the governor issued a proclamation, calling into the active service of the State, 50,000 men. Gen. Lyon, a few days afterwards issued a counter proclamation, in justification of his course in refusing to compromise with Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price. Gen. Lyon then moved his troops to Jefferson City, and on his arrival at that place, he found that Gov. Jackson had moved his forces fifty miles above, to Boonville, cutting the telegraph lines, and destroying the bridges on the railway as he proceeded. Gen. Lyon, leaving Col. Boemstein in command of a small force at the capitol, on the afternoon of the i6th day of June, 1861, embarked his forces on three steamers, and ascending the Missouri river, they arrived at Rocheport about six o'clock on the following morning. There he ascertained that the State troops, under General Marmaduke, Price at that time being sick, were in full force a few miles below Boonville, and that resistance might be expected from them, should he attempt to reach Boonville by that road. Leaving this place and taking the steam ferry boat, Paul Wilcox with them. Gen. Lyon's command ascended the river, to the island, eight miles below Boon- ville, which they reached at about seven o'clock, A. m., and on the southern shore of which they disembarked. pS HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. No enemy being in sight, and the scouts reporting no signs of any, the troops at once marched up the Missouri river towards Boonville, and followed the road about a mile and a half, to the place where it ascends the bluffs, from the river bottom. At this place several shots from Gen. Lyon's scouts announced the driving in of Col. Marma- duke's pickets. Gen. Lyon then advanced for nearly a mile, and found Gen. Marmaduke well posted at the brow of the ascent. Capt. Totten opened the engagement by throwing a few nine pound bombshells into the entrench- ments of the State troops, while the infantry commenced a heavy volley of musketry, which was well replied to, the balls flying thick and fast among the ranks of the troops and wounded several on both sides. The State troops, under the command of Col. Marma- duke, were posted in a lane running from tlie Rocheport road in the direction of the river, and west of the residence of Wm. M. Adams, on the north-east corner of the junction of the two roads. During the fight, a couple of bombs were thrown through the east wall of Mr. Adams' house, causing the inmates to retreat to the cellar for protection. A heavy fire from Col. Shaefer's German infantry, Gen. Lyon's company of regulars, and part of Col. Blair's regi- ment, which were stationed on the left of the road, com- pelled the troops of Col. Marmaduke to retreat. His force then clambered over the fence into a field of wheat, and again formed in line just on the brow of the hill. They then advanced some twenty steps to meet the federal troops, and for a short time the artillery of Capt. Totten was worked with great rapidity. Just at this time the State troops opened a galling fire from a grove just on the left of the federal center, and from a shed from beyond and still further to the left. What had been before this a skirmish, now assumed the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 99 magnitude of, a battle, which continued only about one half of an hour. The State troops finding^ the federals too strong and too well armed and drilled to be successfully opposed by raw recruits, most of whom had never been under fire, and having no artillery with which to return the fire from Gen. Lyon's batteries, abandoned the fight and re- treated. Captains Cole and Miller took possession of "Camp Bacon,'' ■where the State troops for two days had been encamped. Gen. Lyon continued his march towards Boonville. He was met on the hill near the residence of T. W. Nelson, by James H. O'Bryan, acting mayor of Boonville, Judge G. W. Miller and other prominent citizens, who formally surrendered the town to him, and he immediately marched into and took possession of it. Col. Marmaduke commanded the State troops on this oc- casion, Gen. Price was in ill health, and on the day on which the battle occurred he left Boonville on a steamboat for Lexington. Governor Jackson was on the battle-ground in the forenoon, but left Boonville on the Georgetown road about eleven o'clock of that day. In this engagement two of Lyon's men were killed and nine wounded. Among the State troops three were killed and several wounded, but the number of these is unknown. Kelly's was the only well organized and well drilled company under the command of Col. Marmaduke, and it did not participate in the battle. It was said that General Price was opposed to making a stand against Gen. Lyon at that time, as all of his troops, e.xcept Kelly's company, were raw recruits, and very poorly armed and drilled, hav- ing rallied at Boonville during the preceding three days. There was considerable controversy among the officers and men, whether considering the circumstances a stand or retreat should be made ; but some of the most enthusiastic. 100 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. whose counsel prevailed, said, that they had come to fight, and they intended to do so There were several prisoners taken by Gen. Lyon, but ttiey were afterwards released on parole. The next day after the battle Gen. Lyon issued a procla- mation offering full pardon to all who would lay down their arms, return to their homes', and relinquish their hostility to the United States government ; and persons who did this were assured that they would not be molested for past occurrences. Many who had taken part in the battle, availed themselves of the opportunity offered by Gen. Lyon, and some of them never took up arms again during the war. Gen. Lyon remained at Boonville for several weeks, during which time he purchased a large outfit of wagons, horses and mules, paying fair prices for them, no pressing or forced sales being made ; he also captured every steam- boat that passed down the river. On the third day of July, having received reinforcements of an Iowa regiment, he took his departure for the south-west, his objective point being Springfield. A short time before, Gen. Blair left for Washington, to take his seat in Congress, he having been elected a representative from St. Louis. This being the first battle of the rebellion which was fought on land, the takingof Fort Sumpter having occurred only a short time before, produced great excitement through- out the United States, and Gen. Blair, on his way to Wash- ington, was met by great crowds of his friends, and lion- ized, feasted and toasted, as the "hero of the hour." Gen. Lyon, before he left Boonville, organized two com- panies of hoihe guards, composed entirely of Germans, commanded by Major Joseph A. Eppstein, and threw up strong foi'tifications at the "Old Fair Grounds." When he moved to Springfield) he left Maj. Cully, who was shortly HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. lOI afterwards succeeded by Col. John D. Stephenson, in com- mand at the fortifications. Dr. Q^iarles was among the killed of the Slate troopf. His body was found in the wheat field late in the evening after the battle, he having been severely wounded in the thigli, and not being discovered, he had bled to death. Young McCutchen was also wounded in the thigh, and was properly cared for, though all their efforts could not save him, and he died in a few days after the battle. The death of these two gentlemen, so young, so promising and kind-hearted, cast a gloom over the entire community, and their loss was universally regretted by all parties. The other gentleman killed, who was from Pettis county, was shot in the head, and his, name is not recollected. Gen. Parsons, with the artillery belonging to the State troops, arrived too late to engage in the battle. He came in on the Boonville and Tipton road, via Wilkins' bridge, and halted at the top of the hill, south of Boonville, near Dr. Wm. H. Trigg's present residence, vvliere, learning the result of the batUe, that Col. Marmaduke had been defeated and was retreating, took the road leading from Boonville to Prairie Lick, in a south-west direction, and soon formed a junction with Gov. Jackson's State troops. Geni Lyon, two days after the battle of Boonville, sent a detachment of his force south-west, by way of Syracuse, as far as Florence, Morgan county, in pursuit of Gov. Jack- son. But finding that the Stale troops had moved still far- ther south, the command returned to Boonville without meeting any of Jackson's command. MOVEMENTS OE THE HOME GUARDS IN COOPER COUNTY. Gtn. Nathaniel Lyon, on the twentit-lh day of June, 1861, organized and mustered into service a company of German "Home Guards," consisting of 135 men. Of this company 1P2 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Joseph A. Eppstein was elected captain, Emil Haas, ist lieutenant; Ernest Roeschel, 2nd lieutenant, and John A- Hain, orderly sergeant. This company was, on the fourth daj' of August, ordered to Jefitrson City for the purpose of aiding in the protection of the capitol. They, together with Col. Brown's 7th Missouri regiment, were, a short time afterwards, ordered to Otterville. They went by rail to S3Tacuse, and marched on foot the balance of the way to Otterville, which they immediately occupied. ^ large number of southern men living in the vicinity had organized a company, and under the command of Capt. Alexander, James B. Harris, and others, were camped near by. These two commands, not, for some reason wish- ing to attack each other, made the following compromise which had been suggested by the southern commanders, and after some parley, accepted by Col. Brown. It was agreed, that if the federal troops would withdraw from Otterville, Capt. x\lexander would disband his forces, and Col. Brown ordered his command back to Jefierson City. Afterwards, the home guards, with part of Col. Worth- ington's command, were ordered to Boonville. They ascended the Missouri river in a steamboat, and arrived at Boonville very early on the morning of the da^' following ,their start frc^m Jefferson City. The morning was very fogy, so that the boat could hardly be seen from the shore. It passed Boonville under cover of the darkness and the fog, and landed at Haas' brewer}', situated about one-half of a mile west of the city. Here the "home guards" dis- embarked, and from thence marched around and surrounded the town before the citizens were aware of their presence. Col. Worthington, with the men of his command, dropped down on the steamboat to the landing at t1ie foot of Main street, and marched up into the town. He then took a num- ber of pronjiijent citizens prisoners, and confiscated the con- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTV. IO3 tents of two tin stores and one shoe store, the owners of which were charged with selling goods to the Confederates ; he also tdok possession of the Advertiser printing establish- ment, then owned by Messrs. Caldwell & Stahl, and had the presses, type, &c., boxed up and shipped to Jefferson City. This was all done under the orders of Col. U. S. Grant, now president of the United States, who was then in com- mand at Jefferson City. The "home guards," together with Col. Worthington's command, on the afternoon of the same day. taking with them the prisoners and the property which they had confiscated. The prisoners were afterwards re- leased, and returned home ; but most of the property, except that belonging to the printing establishment, was never again seen by its owners. On the twenty-eighth day of August, in the same year, the "home guards" were ordered to reinforce Col. Mulligan at Lexington, Missouri. Two days before, the 12th Illi- nois regiment of cavalry had been ordered to the same place, and had ttarted. When Col. Eppstein, the commander of the "home guards" arrived at Tipton, he heard that a part of the I2th Illinois cavalry were at Boonville, and concluded to go there also, and reported to headquarters, tliat if they had any orders for him, to forward them to him at that place. Col. Eppstein was ordered by Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, then stationed at Jefferson City, to remain at Boonville, and occupy the breastworks, which he did. On the first day of September, 1861, the troops around Boonville formed themselves into a battalion, consisting of two and one-half companies; companies "A" and "B," infantry, and one-half of a compan}' of cavalry. The officers of the battalion were Joseph A. Eppstein, Major; Emil Haas, Surgeon, and John A. Hayne, Adjutant; of company "A" infantry, were John B. Keiser, captain; John 104 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Reatherd, ist Lieutenant, and Charles Kock, 2nd Lieuten- ant ; of comp iny *'B" infantry, were Cii irles B^ihle, cap- tain ; Joseph Weber, ist Lieutenant ; Jolin Fessler, and Lieutenant. The half company of cavalry was commanded by Peter Ostermeyer. About four days afterwards, this battalion received infor- mation that they would be attacked by the confederates from several surrounding counties. Col. Eppstein imme- diately arrested a number of the most prominent southern men in Boonville, viz : H. N. Ells, Rev. Painter, Wm. E. Burr and J. W. Drafl'en, and held them as hostages, hoping thereby to prevent the conlempLited attack. But about six o'clock on the morning of the i3ih day of September, 1861, while Eppstein's command was at breakfast, the pickets having all come in, the breastworks were attacked by a force of about eight hundred men under the command of Col. Brown, of Saline county. The fortifications were attacked on the west, southwest and southeast sides. The first attack was from the soathvvest, the next through Lilly's field on the south-east, and finally extendtd around to the west side. At the first the firing was very rapid from the southwest and southeast, and soon afterwards from the west side of the fortifications, the balls falling thick on every side. Col. Brown led tiie attack on the southeast, and made two charges upon the breastworks, but was compelled to fall back each time under the heavy fire from the intrench- ments. In the second attack Col. Brown was mortally wounded, and fell within fifty feet of the breastworks; a short time afterwards, his brother, Capt. Brown, was also mortally wounded, and fell about ten feet behind him. The Browns were both brave men, and fouglitwith desperation, and with utter disregard of their own safety. After the two Browns had fallen mortally wounded, and Major Poindex- ter been left in commsind of the confederates, Mr. Curr, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I^S who was one of the prisoners at the breastworks, having become satisfied that the intrenchments could not be taken, asked, and was granted permission to visit the confederates, under a flag of truce, in order lO see what arrangements could be made so as to brinrr about a cessation of hostilities. The two commanders finally agreed upon an armistice for six da)-s, Major Poindexter's troops to be withdrawn from the breastworks and city. The home guards numbered about one hundred and forty effective men. Their loss was two killed and seven wounded^ The names of the killed were John A. Ilayne, adjutant, and Kimball, «a private. The number of Colonel Brown's command who were killed and wounded is not known. .Col. and Capt. Brown, were, after the battle, taken to hospital at Boonville. The Colonel died of his wounds the same evening ; the Captain lingered until the next day, when he too died. Their bodies were taken to Saline county for burial. At the commencement of the battle, messengers were dispatched by three different routes, viz : by wajf of Tipton, Jefferson City road, and down the river in a skiff, asking for reinforcements. Of these messengers, none reached Jefferson City except Joseph Read and Joseph Reavis, who went down the river. Those who went by the way of Tip- ton and the Jefferson Cit}' road, were captured by Col. Crown's men while they were on the way. On the 14th, at ten o'clock, p. m., the force at Boonville was reinforced by the 5th Iowa regiment, under the com- mand of Col. Wonhington, which came up the river on a steamboat. After the armistice had expired, Major Poin- dexter drew off his men, and marched up the river to join Gen. Price at Lexington. In November, 1861, a scouting party of three men. be- longing to the "home guards," started out to gain informa- I06 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. tion in regard to a band of bushwhackers, who were thought to have their headquarters somewhere in Clark's Fork township, in this county. Whiieapproaching the house of William George, in said township, they were fired upon from the house, and one of their number killed. The scouts then retreated to Tipton, and having obtained reinforce- ments, reiurned and burnt William George's house. On the i6lh day of September, 1861, Col. Eppstein's battalion was commanded by Col. Worthington to take possession of and guard the bridge across the Lamine river on the road from Boonville to Arrow Rock. Before their arrival at the bridge, they heard the firing of several minute guns behind them, which were intended to warn the State troops of the approach of Col. Eppstein's men. They reached the bridge in the night, and were fired upon from the opposite side of the river by the State troops, who seemed to have taken possession of the bridge. Col. Epp- stein returned the fire, and mortally wounded a young man named Herndon, who lived in Lamine township, in this county. He was taken to the house of Mr. Wm. Higger- son, where he soon afterwards expired. The State troops soon retreated and left Col. Eppstein's troops in possession of the bridge, where they remained until the 19th day of September, when they were ordered to return to Boonville. Soon afterwards. Col. Worthington ordered Col. Epp- stein to take his command with him and burn this same bridge, it having been reported that Gtn. Price's army was marching towards Boonville from that direction, and would probably cross the Lamine at that point. Col. Eppstein endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose, by telling him that this would only delay Price a single day, as he could cross a short distance above ; but Col. Worthington replied that it must be done, as he deemed it to be a mili- tary necessity. So the bridge was burned in accordance HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 107 Tvith his order. Yet this proved to be a false alarm, as Price was not on his >vay to Boonville, and did not attempt to march in that direction. Under a speci-il law of Congress, passed on account of a general dissatisfaction among the "home guards" all over the State, Col. Eppstein's battalion was reorganized, and became a part of the Missouri State militia. Six companies were raised and organized at Boonville, and to these were added two companies from St. Louis, thus forming the 13th regiment of the Missouri State miUtia cavalry. The com- pany of infantry which was commanded by Capt. Charles Beihle, joined the ist Missouri State militia infantry. Afterr wards, the 13th regiment was consolidated with four com- panies of the I2th regiment, and Skofield's "Bazars," and from that time formed the 5th regiment, the old 5th having previously been disbanded. The officers of this regiment were, Albert Seigel, Col., Joseph A. Eppstein, Lieut. Col., John B. Kaiser, Major, and John Fetzer, Surgeon. This regiment after being first thoroughly organized and fully drilled and equipped, was ordered to Wayn-esville, in the RoUa district, where they remained and from whence they mostly operated during the war. Part ot this reciment was under the cnmmand of Col. Brown, during his pursuit of Shelb}', when in October, 1863, he made his raid through the State in the direction of Boonville. price's raid. Six companies of the 5th regiment, under the command of Col. Eppstein, composed a portion of the forces of Gen. Sanborn during his operations against Gen. Price in his raid through Missouri in the fall of 1864. Gen. Sanborn at first suppo.sing that Gen. Price would march in the direction of Rolla, concentrated his forces at that place, but finding that Gen. Price was making for Jefferson City, I08 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. he moved his command to the latter place ; on the way, marching nearly parallel with the confederates, for while he was crossing the Osage river at Castle Rock, General Price was crossing the same stream eight miles below. Col. Eppstein's command had a slight skirmish with the confederate advance guard, between the Osage and the Moreau Creek, but he succeeded in reaching Jefferson City first. Gen. Sanborn had concentrated at that place, 3.000 in- fantry and 4,000 cavalr}', most of them regulars, and all of thtm well-armed and drilled. Gen. Price's army numbered about 20,000 men, 3'et there were thousands of them who had no arms, and had never seen anything like a battle. Neither had his troops been organized and placed under commanders, as many of them had flocked to his standard as he marched through the State, and as he was continually on the march, he had no opportunity to effect organization in the ranks at this time, though shortly after- wards he had triem under perfect control. Price only made a slight attack on Jefferson City with a small portion of his forces, then withdrew without a general battle, and marched across the country in the direction of Boonville. Gen. Sanborn, as soon as he learned the true state of affairs, started his cavalry in pursuit of the confed- erates. The cavalry had skirmishes with the confederate rear guard, which was commanded b}' Gen. Fagan, at Stringtown, Russelville and California, on the loth day of October, 1864. During these skirmishes, three of Colonel Eppstein's men were killed and thirteen wounded. The loss of the confederates is unknown. Price camped, on the night of the loth, on the Moniteau Creek, just within the limits of Cooper county, and on the ne.\t day marched to Boonville. The federals moved west and camped on the upper Tip- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. lOp ton road, about eleven miles south of Boonville, at Cren- shaw's farm. On the I2th of October, Col. Graveley, with about four hundred mounted men of Sanborn's command, advanced by way of the upper Tipton road to within about one-half of a mile of Boonville, to test the strength, and if possible, to find out the contemplated movements of Gen. Price's command. At what is known as the Vollrath Place, about one-half of a mile south of Boonville, Col. Graveley came upon some confederate companies in camp, and some lively fighting ensued, but finding the confederates too strong for them, the federals retreated to the main army. On the i2th, Col. Eppstein, with about three hundred and fifty men of his command, moved towards Boonville, and camped at Bohannon's farm, about seven miles south of Boonville. Early on the morning of the 13th, he was ordered to advance as far as he could in the direction of Boonville, and reconnoitre Gen. Price's position. Imme- diately upon receiving this order, he commenced his march with the above mentioned number of men and two mountain howitzers, and on arriving at Wilkin's bridge, across the Petite Saline creek, his command was fired upon by a band of about four hundred men under the command of General Fagan, who were guarding the bridge. Col. Eppstein re- turned the fire, and ordered four mounted companies to dismount and deploy as skirmishers. After some little skirmishing, along the banks of the creek. Gen. Fagan leisurely retreated towards Boonville. After going north about one half of a mile, to where a lane crosses the main road south of Mrs. McCarty's house. Col. Eppstein, who was in pursuit, found that Gen. Fagan had barricaded the road with trees, &c. Here Miller's and Murphy's com- panies had a close fight with the confederates, even using swords and bayonets. These two companies were surr rounded at one time and ordered by the cdnfecjerates to no HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. surrender; but the other two companies of Col. Eppstein's command coming up to their aid, Gen. Fagan again fell back. At this place two of the federals were wounded, but none hurt upon the other side. Gen. Fagan next made a stand at Anderson's branch, and here they had a more severe battle. Three of the federals were killed and seven wounded. The killed were, Fred. Hoecher, a man named Jones, and the name of the other is not ^mown. The loss of the confederates, as was afterwards learned, was considerable. Gen. Fagan by this time had brought up four pieces of artiller}% and commenced shelling the woods along Ander- son's branch in which Col. Eppstein was stationed. The federals then received orders to fall back, and retreated to California, Moniteau county, and there to obtain supplies. They soon afterwards returned to Crenshaw's farrn, and there halted and took dinner. There Gen. Sanborn learned that Price had left Boonville, so marching west he camped for the night at New Nebo church. The next morning he continued his march in the direction of Georgetown. In Augusts 1864, Capt. Parks, with two "companies, of which Franklin Swap was ist Lieutenant and Provost Mar- shall, being a part of the Iowa cavalry, had command at of the post at Boonville. Finding but little to do on this side of the river, they crossed over into Howard county, in search of "Anderson's bushwhackers,"' passed through New Franklin, and took the road east leading to Roche- port. Although warned by the citizens of his danger, as Anderson was known to be in full force in the neighbor- hood, Capt. Parks marched on. When about one mile east of New Frankljn, his com- pany was suddenly attacked by Anderson's men, and cut into two parts, seven of them being killed by the first fire. The greater part of the conarnand retreated to a house in HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Ill the Missouri river bottom, and kept Anderson at bay by- firing through the cracks of the house. Capt. Parks, at the outset, became separated from his men, and retreated towards Fayette until he met Major Leonard's command, which happened to be marching in that direction. With this he returned to the relief of his company, and Anderson having learned of his approach, drew off his men and re- tired. The part of Capt. Parks' company which had been be- sieged in the house, finding that Anderson had drawn off his men, mounted horses, came back to Old Franklin in the night, and crossed the river in safety, although several men were missing. This part of the companj'^ knew noth- ing of Capt. Parks until the next day, when he made his appearance. They then recrossed the river, and having re- covered the bodies of their companions who had been killed, buried them in one grave at the city cemetery in the southwest part of Boonville. In the winter of 1862 and 1863, Col. Pope was the com- mander of several companies of home militia, with head- quarters at the fair grounds at Boonville. They disbanded in 1863, and Col. D. W. Wear formed a battalion, and was commander of the post at Boonville. The battalion did considerable scouting, the details of which are not suffi- ciently known to be given. Lieut. Col. Reavis, while under Col. Pope, learning that some confederate recruiting forces had crossed the river, making their way in a southern direction, he immediately started in pursuit,, and overtook them while in camp in the brush, near Thomas Tucker's house, about two miles east of Bunceton, in Cooper county. He fired upon them, kill- ing two men and wounding one. The recruits then separ- ated, and made their way out of the country by different routes. The names of the confederates who were killed. 112 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. were Joshua Lampton and Jones, from Boone county. They were buried at the "Vine" or "Concord" church. The wounded man, after recovering, was paroled by Col. Pope, and returned to his home in Boone county. Shelby's raid. Gen. Joseph Shelby, of the confederate army, made a raid into Cooper county during the month of October, 1863. He passed through Otterville on the night of the 9th of said month, and burned the Pacific railroad bridge near that town. On the night of the loth he camped near Bell Air, in a pasture belonging to Mr. Nathaniel Leonard, and on the next day he marched to Boonville. His movements becoming known in Boonville the night before, a meeting of the citizens was called by Mayor McDearmon. After some delaj"-, the conclusion was reached, that the only alter- native was to surrender the city to Gen. Shelby. Citizens were sent out to meet him, who returned without being able to gain any information as to his whereabouts, and conveyed the impression that he would not pay his compliments to the city during this expedition. Therefore his arrival at Boonville on the nth day of October was quite a surprise to the citizens. Several of tlie citizens had crossed the river into Howard county the night before, having concluded that discretion was the better part of valor, that their presence in Boonville would accomplish no good, and that there would be more safety in making themselves scarce. Justas Gen. Shelby marched into Boonville from the south. Major Leonard, with about two hundred and fifty fed- eral troops, appeared on the north side of the river, and com- menced crossing his men. The first boat load had almost reached the Boonville shore, when some one called to those in the boat that the town was full of confederates, and that they had better retreat. The pilots immediately turned the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. II^ boat around and made for the Howard shore. At this time some of Shelby's men appeared and commenced firing upon the boat with muskets. But the boat having gotten out of reach of this fire, the confederates brought up some artillery and' opened fire upon the boat, two shots striking it before it reached the shore. As soon as Maj. Leonard landed his forces, the artillery was turned upon them, and they were soon forced to retire beyond the reach of the shells. At the same time. Col. Crittenden, with about one hun- dred men, was seen steaming up the river in a boat, but on learning the situation of affairs at Boonville, he dropped back down the river, and landed a short distance below, in Howard county. Gen. Shelby remained in Boonville the balance of the afternoon of that day, and encamped for the night west of the city on the Georgetown road. He came here to obtain supplies, such as clothing and provisions, which they found in great abundance, and which they took, wherever found. M. J. Werthumer, and Messrs. Lamy & McFadden were the greatest sufferers, each losing about $4,000 in clothing. The confederate troops did not molest any person during their stay, not a single man was killed or wounded, and they were very polite and gentlemanly to every person. While the confederates were in Boonville, the federals, under Gen. Brown, were close behind them, and on the nth day of October, were within eight miles of Boonville, on the Bell Air road. On that day Gen. Brown moved a portion of his troops west to the junction of the Sulphur Springs and the Boonville and Georgetown roads, which is about seven miles southwest of Boonville. But during the night he marched his command back again to the Bell Air road, and camped near Bellingsville. The next morn- ing aft(uch of their time to enjoyment and had their jokes and their fun. They were generally accustomed to meet at Old Palestine on Saturday, and after their week's work was completed, and had a good time generally. They would sometimes settle disputes by going in on their "muscle," and after the fight had been finished, the two contestants would make friends- Two of the best fighters of the neighborhood, were "Bill" Hedrick and Joseph Wrench. They "locked horns" at last. "Bill" was a large, tall, rawboned man, and Wrench was low and heavy set. Wrench got the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I 39 better of the fight, which was terrible while it lasted. The best citizens of the neighborhood were in sympathy with Wrench, for he was a very quiet, peaceable man, and would fight only in self-defense ; but Hedrick was inclined to be overbearing in his conduct towards others, in other re- spects, a jolly, clever fellow. One day while Hedrick was sitting on his horse in Old Palestine, a number of those with whom he had fought, clubbed together and gathered around him with the inten- tion of giving him a good thrashing, and became quite noisy in their threatenings against him. He remained quiet until they had somewhat subsided, when he remarked: "Gentlemen, are you going to whip me?" "Yes, we are," they answered. "Well," said he, "if that is the case, I'll not remain to see it ; so I bid you good bye !" He then put spurs to his horse, pulled off his hat, waved it in defiance, and galloped away. Another anecdote : A. and B. were about to fight. A. was making for B., and B. was backing all the .time, keep- ing out of striking distance, yet appearing greatly excited. At this time his friends came up, and said, "Go it, B., pitch into him, B., and we will back you!" B then re- marked, "I'm not afraid of any man, if I am, me." This caused a general laugh from the crowd, and broke up the fight. A drill muster which lasted for three days took place at Old Palestine some time during the year 1841. On the first day, one of the officers imbibed pretty freely, and com- menced cutting up and quarreling with some of the citizens. Some of those who had gathered to see the muster, con- cluded that he would be a good subject out of whom to have some fun. So they organized a mock court, making Dr. William Moo"e, judge, 3pd another oqeof the citizens, constable? 140 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The officer, who by this time had become pretty tight, was arrested by the pretended constable, with what appeared to be a regular writ, on a charge of attempting to kill some of the citizens. He thinking all this a terrible reality, engaged one of the bystanders to defend him, and tremb- lingly asked his law3'er if he thought he could save him. The attorney replied, that it was a hard case, and that he feared that nothing could save him, as the evidence against him was so strong, although he promised to use his best efforts in his defense. The "Prosecuting Attorney" commenced the testimony for the State, and the "Judge" asked the first witness if he thought the accused had any intention of killing any per- son, and casually remarked : "If that was the case, he would have him hung before night. This remark caused the prisoner to turn pale, and tremble with fear. After the taking of the testimony was concluded, the attorney for the State made his speech, asking in it, that the prisoner be hung without delay, as they had clearly proved that he was guilty as charged. While the defendant's attorney was speaking, strongly pleading for his client's life, some one, under the guise of friendship, whispered to the prisoner, that the only way to save his life, was to jump out of the back window and make for the woods. He accordingly, while, as he supposed, the attention of the audience was directed towards his attorney, jumped out of the window, mounted his horse which happened to be standing near by, and galloped away as fast as his horse could go, with the crowd shouting after him. Along the road, on his way home, he was seen passing several houses under whip. Although he was afterwards told that all that had passed was intended as a joke, it had so much the appearance of reality that he could not be persuaded that it was a joke, and never returned to that part of the country again. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I4I ' Another anecdote will suffice for Old Palestine. There came to this place a fast young man from some of the Eastern States, whom we will call 'iCurtis W." One day he had a fight at that place with another j^oung man ; got the better of him, and then said: "Gentlemen, I have fought over fourteen States, and this is the first man I ever whipped." Many other like occurrences which took place at this famous old town might be related, but no more space can be spared from the general history for that purpose. Old Palestine was laid off on a high, beautiful prairie, almost surrounded by timber, and its location is considered very healthy. D. E. Putnam, Alexander Evans, Darius Day, Daniel Hickerson, Level Patterson, and two other families are all that are left in this once populous village, D. E. Putnam being the mayor, and Daniel Hickerson city clerk. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER XIV. Early History of the Different Townships in Cooper County, which could not be included in the General History of the County. BLACK WATER TOWNSHIP. This township is a peninsular, being almost entirely sur- rounded by the Lamine and Blackwater rivers. The soil is rich and exceedingly productive. The bottom land is low and swampy, and the ridge land fertile and susceptible of early cultivation. In the bottom, corn and timothy are grown in large quantities; on the ridge land, corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, potatoes, and all kinds of garden vegetables are produced in great abundance. The different kinds of wood are ash, beach, black oak, black walnut, cherry, Cot- tonwood, elm, maple, hickory, redbud, sugar tree, white oak, and white walnut. The minerals which are found in this township, are iron, which appears in large deposits, and lead which crops out on every hillside. There are, in this township, six salt and a great number of fresh water springs. Salt was successfully manufactured at these springs as early as 1808, and from that time till 1836 the manufacture of it was carried on pretty extensively by Heath, Bailey, Christie, Allison and others. There are four public schools for white, and one for colored children, supported by the inhabitants of this township. There are two churches in this township ; one a Cumber- land Presbyterian church, established in 1850 ; and the Other a Baptist church, established in 1853, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 43 There is at this time no store or mill in the township, although both are much needed by the citizens. There are two warehouses, from which the surplus productions of the township are shipped. There is one physician, Dr. Thomas E. Staples, and three ministers of the gospel, viz: N. T. Allison, Jr., Baptist, Robert Crockett, Cumberland Presbyterian, and C. Q^. Shouse, Christian. William Christie and John G. Heath temporarily settled in this township in 1808, but only remained long enough to manufacture a small quantity of salt, when they returned down the river. James Broch, the first permanent settler, arrived in 1816 ; Enoch Hambrich came in 1817 ; David Shellcraw, in 1818, and planted an acre of cotton which yielded very well. George Chapman, the father of Mrs. Caleb Jones, in 1B18; Nathaniel T. Allison, Sr., in 1831 ; Fleming Marshall and Robert Clark, in 1832 ; Nathaniel Bridgewater, in 1835, and Edmund M. Cobb and Larkin T. Dix, in 1838. The above information was obtained from N. T. Allison, Sr., and his son, the Rev. N. T. Allison, Jr., for which we are grateful. BOONVILLE TOWNSHIP. As an extensive history of the City of Boonville has already been given, it is exceedingly difficult to give a sep- arate history of the township without a repetition of some- thing which has appeared in the history of the city. The first settlers of the township were Stephen and Hannah Cole, who settled there in the year 1810. The settlers who arrived previous to the year 1815, were Giliad Rupe, Muke Box, Delany Bowlin, William Savage, James Savage, John Savage, and Walter Burress ; and in 1815, Umphrey and William Gibson. Those who settled in this township between the years t44 HISTORV OF COOPER COUNTV. 1815 and 1820, were William McFarland, John S. and Jesse McFarland, George, Samuel and Alexander McFarland, William Mitchell, James Bruffee, Robert P. Clark, Joseph and William Dillard, Littleberry Hendricks, Wm. Bartlett, Jesse Ashcraft, Russell Edgar, John M. Bartlett, Abram Gibson, Thomas Twentyman, James Dillard, Jacob New- man, William Potter, Frederick Houx, William Poston, George Potter, Benj. L. Clark, John J. Clark, Kyra Dunn, K. McKenzie, Marcus Williams, James, Robert and Alex. ander Givens, Jacob Chism, John B. Lucus, Charles B. Mitchell, Nicholas McCarty, Lewis Edgar, John B. Seat, Jacob McFarland, James McCarty, William Ross, Abiel Leonard, Joseph W. Bernard, James McFarland, Ephraim Ellison, John Roberts, Thomas Mitchell, Reuben George, Fleming G. Mitchell, Jesse Thomas, Asa Morgan, Peter B. Harris, James Chambers, Benj. F. Hickox, William H. Curtis, William W- Adams, John D. Thomas, William Lillard, James H. Anderson, Peyton R. Hayden, John S. Brickey, Peyton Thomas, David Adams, Luke Williams, John Potter, Andrew Reavis, David Reavis, Jonathan Reavis, Jesse Homan, John H. Moore, Green B. Seat, W. D. Wilson, Thomas Rogers, Mrs. Mary Reavis, William Chambers, James Chambers and Justinian Williams. There were, no doubt, many others not mentioned above, who resided in this township between the above years, but their names are unknown, and perhaps some few of those mentioned above resided in some other township. The above list was taken from the poll books of the township for 1820, and of course those who lived there at that time, but did not record their votes, are not included in the same. From the best information that can be obtained, all the persons mentioned in the foregoing list of early settlers are dead, except William Gibson, John S. and Jesse McFar- land, Lewis Edgar, Jonathan Reavis and Jessie Homan. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I45 Mr. John Kelly and Mrs. Tibitha Kelly were there frequently between 1818 and 1820. They then resided in Old Franklin, but are now living in Boonville. Of the ladies now living who resided in Boonville township previous 1820, are Mrs. Jesse Homan, Mrs. Frederick Houx, Miss Mary Reavis, Mrs. B. F. Hickox, Mrs. Jennie Wadley and Mrs. Dikie Dallas, the two last mentioned being the sisters of Samuel Cole. Wm. McFarland, the first Sheriff of Cooper county, was born in Buncome county. North Carolina, in the year 1778. He emigrated to St. Genevieve, now St. Francis county, Missouri, in 181 1, and from thence to Cooper county, and on the i6th day of October, 1816, he settled on the north side of the Petite Saline Creek, where Joseph Byler now resides. He had two neighbors living on the south side of the creek whose names were John Glover and Warden. He had no other neighbors nearer than the immediate neigh- borhood of Boonville. He was in 1818 or 1819 a member of the Territorial Legislature from the southern district of Howard county, which included that pa-rt of the county lying south of the Missouri river. He was a farmer, a man of great energy, an aifectionate husband and father and a good neighbor. He died in the year 1834. Benjamin F. Hickox was born in the State of New York, and emigrated to this country at an early day. He was elected a member of the Legislature from Cooper county in 1822, 1824 and 1838, and County Court Justice from Sept. 24, 1844, to Nov. 2, 1846. He was also one of the Com- missioners to superintend the building of the first court house at Boonville. He was a successful farmer, an affec- tionate husband and father, an honest, upright man, an excellent neighbor, and very charitable to the poor, never turning them away from his door without relieving their wants. He died about twenty years ago, beloved and re- spected by all who knew him. J^6 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Luke Williams, a Baptist preacher, was a farmer, and resided about five miles west of Boonville. He is cele- brated as being the first preacher in Cooper county, having located there several years before the county was organized. Justinian Williams was born in Bath county, Virginia, and while young emigrated to Kentucky and there mar- ried. He then moved to Howard county, Missouri, from thence to Cooper county, and settled at Boonville in the year 1818. In this year he located the first Methodist church in Cooper county. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and followed that business for several, years, preach- ing and organizing churches at intervals. He was also the local preacher at Boonville for several years. In the year 1834 he built a steam boat called the "Far West," about two miles above the mouth of the Bonne Femme Creek, in Howard county, and was the commander of the same for some time. During that year he emigrated to Tennessee, where he died. Marcus Williams, the first mayor of the City of Boon- ville, was born in Bath county, Virginia, and when young moved to Kentucky ; from thence to Boonville, Cooper county, Missouri. He was a brick mason by trade, and manufactured the first bricks ever made in Cooper county, having opened a lime kiln in the western part of Boonville. At the "Vollrath" Place in 1840, he made the first stone- ware ever manufactured in western Missouri. He emi- grated to California at the time of the gold excitement in 1849, and settled at San Jose, where he died about the year i860. This township at the time of its first settlement was partly prairie, in the west and southwest, but after the lapse of many years, the prairie became timbered land. Great fears were entertained by the early settlers about the scarc- ity of timber, but it is believed that there is at the present HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I47 time, more timber in the county than there was fifty years ago. This was the first township of the county which was set- tled, and for many years few ventured outside, or at most, far from its boundaries. The early settlers believed that the prairie land was only suited for grazing and not fit for cultivation. In the year 1830, a few persons ventured to cultivate prairie land, and finding it so productive, many other farmers settled on the prairies, and at this time nearly allpf the prairie land is under fence, and is covered with the most valuable farms in the county. Persons in the early history of the township settled near the river, that affording the only means by which they could ship their surplus productions to market. But the building of railroads has revolutionized everything. Land near the river has become less valuable, and that on the prairies, which a few years ago was considered almost worthless, has now become more valuable. Timbered land is still preferred by many farmers, for the reason that it is much better for the growing of wheat, and equally as good, if not better, for other productions. The soil of this township is very productive, and is especially excellent for growing fruit. It has also large quantities of coal of a good quality, which could be shipped at large profit. Clark's fork township. From the best information that can be obtained, John Glover was the first settler of this township, he having located there in the year 1813. He built a round log cabin on the south bank of the Petite Saline Creek, and cleared a few acres of ground near where Rankin's mill now stands, but nothing is known of his history. The next settlers were Zepheniah Bell and John C. Rochester. The last named gentleman was the grandson 148 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. of the founder of the City of Rochester, New York, who having lost a princely fortune by having to pay a large security debt, sought seclusion by emigrating to this country and the society of the people, who required nothing, save honesty and industr}^ to admit a person into their social circles. He married Miss Sally Kelly, a beautiful and accomplished lady, the daughter of James Kelly, who was an honored soldier of the Revolution. He was well edu- cated, considering the times, and his occupation was that of a farmer. He died in the township many years ago. Mr. Bell was also a farmer, a good citizen, and an honest man. He has been dead many years. Some of the other old citizens were Joshua H. Berry, William Read, William and Reuben George, Clayton Hurt, Samuel Carpenter, Edward, Andrew and Charles Robert- son, James, Robert and John Johnston, Samuel, Robert and William Drinkwater, Gabriel Fitsworth, William Shipley, Acrey Hurt, Peter Carpenter, George Crawford, George W. Weight and Martin Jennings. Geo. Crawford was the first Assessor of Cooper county, which office he filled for many years ; he was also a mem- ber of the Legislature from this county. Judge George W. Weight was born in Dutchess county. New York, on the 22nd day of February, 1784. When quite young, having been, by the death of his parents, left alone in the world, he emigrated to West Virginia, and from thence to Ross county, Ohio, where he married Miss Elizabeth Wil- liams. In 1820, he with his family moved to Howard county, Missouri. In 1822 he settled in Clark's Fork town- ship. Cooper county, and lived there until his death, Avhich occurred on the 29th day of January, 1857. He taught school in West Virginia, Ohio and Cooper county ; he was a good violinist, and in his early da^s taught dancing school. He was Judge of the County Court and County HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I49 Surveyor of Cooper county for many years. He also rep- resented the county in the State Legislature. It will be observed that some of the oM settlers mentioned above, really lived in that part of Clark's Fork township, which was lately annexed to Boonville township. The Petite Saline Creek was formerly the dividing line between the townships above mentioned, and but little information, as to the location of the old settlers, in respect to this dividing line could be obtained ; therefore the writers in placing those above mentioned in this township, were com- pelled mainly to rely upon their own knowledge, which may, in some cases, prove to be inaccurate. It may be safely stated, that the average farming land within this township is equally as productive as that of any other in the county. There is a little poor land in the town- ship, and the farmers are generally prosperous. There is no town located within its limits. CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. Among the early settlers of this township, were James Taylor, who had three sons, William, John and James. He emigrated from the State of Georgia to New Madrid, Missouri, where he witnessed the long series of earthquakes which occurred in 1811 ; from thence he moved to Cooper county, in the year 181 7. He had a large plantation, raised and always had' on hand large quantities of corn, upon which, when cribbed, he placed a certain price, and would not dispose of until he could get for it what he demanded. He was a very eccentric, plain, matter of fact kind of man, and was charitable to such as would work, but he had no patience with a lazy, trifling or profligate man. He was also a good judge of human nature. At one time when corn was very scarce throughout the county, and very little could be had for love or money, two men came to Mr. Taylor's house asking to purchase some 150 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY." corn, of which he had a large quantity, on credit, as neither of them had any money with which to pay. One was very poorly dressed, with his pants torn off below his knees, and what there was remaining of them, patched all over. The other was almost elegantly dressed. Mr. Taylor sold the poorly dressed man, on credit, all the corn he wished. He told the other one that "he could get no corn there, unless he paid the money for it, and that if he had saved the money which he had squandered for his fine clothes, he would have had sufficient to pay cash for the corn. He had a large number of negroes, and required them, during the day, to perform a great deal of work. Shovel plows were mostly used in his day, and the wooden mole board just coming into use. It is related, that the shovels of Mr. Taylor's plows had, at one time, worn off very blunt, and he was very averse to buying new ones. So that one negro man plowed once around a field before he discovered that he had lost the dull shovel to his plow, the plow running just as well without as with it. He was a leader in the Baptist church, and was a devoted member, a kind neighbor, and a strictly honest man. Jordan O'B.ryan, a son-in-law of James Taylor, was also one of the early settlers of this township. He was born in North Carolina, moved, to Kentucky when young, and to Cooper county in 1817. As will be seen from the abstract, he was elected to the State Legislature in 1822, 1826, 1834 and 1840, eight years in all; in 1844 he was elected State Senator for four years. He was a fluent speaker, a man of no ordinary talents, and an uncompromising Whig. In about 1830 he removed to Saline township, where he re- mained until his death. Charles R. Berry, the father of Finis E. Berry, Isaac Ellis and Hugh and Alexander Brown, are among the old- est citizens ; others of a later date, were Herman Bailey. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 151 William Ellis, Samuel Walker, A. S. Walker, H. R. Walker, Finis E. Berry, James and Samuel Mahan, the Rubeys, Jeremiah, William G., and Martin G. Phillips, Samuel Forbes, Ragan Berry, Hiram Dial, Samuel and Rice Hughes, and Willis Ellis. Lamine river, the bottom lands of which are very fertile, forms the boundary line between this and Black Water townships. The greater part of the population are Ger- mans, who have proved themselves to be a very industrious and thrifty people. They have mostly settled on the hills which the Americans thought too poor to cultivate, and have made them "blossom as the rose." They have suc- ceeded in raising good crops, made good livings, and have been generally prosperous and happy. In the hills they cultivate the grape very successfully, and a large amount of wine is manufactured here every year. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad runs about five miles through this township, furnishing the inhabitants transportation for their surplus productions. KELLY TOW^NSHIP. This township, from the best information which can be obtained, was settled early in the spring of 1818. The first settlers were John Kelly, William Stephens, James D. Campbell, James Kelly, William J. Kelly, Caperton Kelly, William Jennings, Gen. Charles Woods, Philip E. Davis, Rice Challis, Hugh Morris, Jesse White, Hartley White, Jeptha Billingsley, Joshua Dellis, and William Swearingen. James Kelly, who was one of the first settlers in this township, and the father of the other Kell3'^s mentioned above, was a revolutionary soldier, and died in 1840 at an advanced age. John Kelly, Charles Woods, and James D. Campbell served as soldiers in the war of 1812. The Kellys came from Tennessee, and James D. Campbell from Kentucky. 152 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. William Jennings, who was the first preacher in the township, emigrated from Georgia to Cooper county in 1819. He had a large number of slaves, owned a large tract of land and was quite wealthy. He was for many years pastor of "Old Nebo" church, and was an honest man in his dealings with his neighbors. James D. Campbell was an early Justice of the County Court and acted in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a prominent politician, always voting the Democratic ticket. Gen. Charles Woods was for many years the leading Democrat in his neighborhood. He was a man of no or- dinary ability, of pleasing address, and a liberal, high-toned gentleman. He died in 1874, ^t the advanced age of 78 years. Joseph Reavis settled in this township in the year 1823. He, together with his sons, Lewis, William T., Jackson, and Johnston, for many years carried on the business of manufacturing wagons. They turned out excellent work, and their trade extended for many miles around ; their wag- ons even being purchased by the Santa Fe traders. Of the persons mentioned above, all are now numbered with the dead, except Johnston and William P. Reavis, and they were quite young when their father settled in the township. There was no church within the limits of this township for many years, and the settlers attended the services at Pisgah and "Old Nebo." The first school within this township of which there is any knowledge, was taught by Joseph S. Anderson, who came there about 1824. He was a young man with more than ordinary education, whose only earthly possessions were a horse, saddle and bridle, and a moderately good suit of clothes. A good school teacher being very much HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 153 needed, he soon succeeded in making up a large school, and taught with great success until 1828, when he was elected sheriff of Cooper county. In 1830 he was re- elected sheriff, and in 1832, he was elected to the Legisla- ture from Cooper county. Previous to his death, he be- came a large land holder and quite a wealthy man. His residence was on the hill north of Bunceton. The place at which he taught school was near the ground on which , Hopewell church is located. For many years afterwards a school was taught at the same place, by Mr. William Robertson, who was a very successful teacher. He has been for many years a very zealous minister of the Baptist church. The first mill in this township was built by Robert Mc- Culloch, the father of Judge Robert A McCulloch. Rice Challis was a prominent Whig, and in respect to his politics stood almost alone in his neighborhood. He was a carpenter by trade, and resided near the present resi- dence of Joseph Reavis. He died a short time ago. The land of this township is at least three-fourths prai- rie, which is under fence and in a high state of cultivation. The soil is very productive, and the farmers are generally in good condition, many of them being very wealthy. The Pacific railroad lies a short distance south of the township, and the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad runs eight miles directly through its center, affording the inhab- itants easy facilities for the shipping of their productions. Corn, grasses and oats are the principal productions, the farmers being principally engaged in raising stock, which affords them lucrative profits. It has, within its limits, several good public schools, which are taught from four to ten months in each year. Kelly township always was and is now strongly Demo- cratic, never having voted any other ticket from the time 154 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. it was headed by Gen. Jackson to the present day. This township received its name from John Kelly, the first settler within its limits, and was formed from Moniteau and Pales- tine townships, in the year 1848. LAMINE TOWNSHIP was settled first in 1812, by a few pioneers. The very first settlers were David Jones, a revolutionary soldier, Thomas and James McMahan, Stephen, Samuel and Jesse Turley, Saunders Townsend and some others, who came soon afterwards. Those who arrived later were John Cramer, Bradford Lawless, John M. David and William Reid, Hezekiah Harris, Elijah Taylor, John, Peter, Samuel and Joseph Fisher, William, Jesse and Moon, Rudolph Haupe, Isaac Hedrick, John Smelser, William McDaniel, Wyant Parm, Harmon Smelser, Samuel Larnd,.Pethnel Foster, Julius Burton, Ezekiel Williams, and some others at present unknown. In the year 1812 or 1813 there was a fort, called "Fort McMahan," built somewhere in this township, but the ex- act location could not be ascertained. The soil of this township is excellent, and the inhabitants are in a prosperous condition. It is noted as one of the most wealthy townships in the county. It is bounded on the north by the Missouri river, on the east by the Lamine river, on the south by the Black Water river, and on the west by the Saline county line. It is noted for voting always almost unanimously in one way; it was anti-Democratic, until 1864, since which time it has been almost as strongly Democratic as it was Whig in days gone by. Lead has been found and worked in paying quantities in this township. It has an abundance of timber of the very best quality, and a large quantity of lumber and cord- wood is shipped every year by means of the Black Water HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 155 and Lamine rivers. These streams abound with fish of very fine quality, and the Boonville market is principally supplied by them. MONITEAU TOWNSHIP. This township takes its name frome Moniteau Creek, which runs through the entire length of the township. Moniteau township has always, since its organization, voted the Democratic ticket. It was first settled in 1818. It is uncertain who was the very first settler. But among the early settlers, were Thomas B. Smiley, Seth, Joseph, Waid and Stephen How- ard, William Coal, James Stinson, Hawking Burress, David Burress, Charles Hickox, Samuel McFarland, Carrol George, James Snodgrass, Martin George, Mathew Bur- ress, Jesse Martin, Alexander Woods, William Landers, Jesse Bowles, James Donelson, William A. Stillson, Samuel Snodgrass, James W. Maxey, Job Martin, James Jones, David Jones, Augustus K. Longan, Patrick Mahan, Valen- tine Martin, John Jones and John B. Longan. Thomas B. Smiley was elected to the Legislature from Cooper county in 1820, with Thomas Rogers and William Lillard. He was a man of considerable information, a good historian, and possessed with more than ordinary education. He raised a large family of children, and died about the year 1836. He was honest and industrious, a strong friend to education, and an uncompromising Demo- crat. David Jones settled at Pisgah at an early date, but the precise time is not known. Yet it was previous to the year 1820, as his vote was recorded in that year. He, with Archibald Kavanaugh, was elected to the State Legislature in 1828. He was re-elected Representative in 1830, 1833 and 1834 ; in 1836 he was elected State Senator for four years. He was defeated for this office by Reuben A. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I56 Ewing in 1840 ; but in 1848 he was again elected to the State Senate, this making him a member of the General Assembly during a period of sixteen years. He was a Democrat, a prominent member of the Baptist church, a good citizen, and noted for his hospitality. He died about the year 1859, loved and respected by all who knew him. Pisgah and Mount Pleasant churches were built by the Baptists at an early day, and were presided over by John B. Longan and Kemp Scott, who were both able preachers. Augustus K. Longan moved to Cooper county in the year 1818, and was elected to the State Legislature in 1822. He was re-elected in 1844 and 1852, and served in that capacity for six years. He was the father of George Lon- gan, the talented and distinguished minister of the Christian church. The first school in this township as far as can be ascer- tained, was taught by James Donelson. He only professed to teach arithmetic as far as the "Double rule of Three." The first mill was erected by a man named Howard, at what was afterwards known as "Old Round Hill." Judge C. H. Smith, and an Englishman named Summers, also kept a store at that place. At a later day Patrick Mahan built a tread . mill, which was a great improvement on the old style "Horse Mill." Mr. Richard D. Bonsfield kept a store at Pisgah at an early time. He first merchandised at Old Franklin, then at Boonville, and finally at Pisgah. He is still living at an advanced age. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER XV. Early History of the DifTerent Townships, &c., Continued. OTTERVILLE AND LEBANON TOWNSHIP. The following history of the townships of Otterville and Lebanon was written by Mr. Thomas J. Starke, of Otter- ville, and was read by him on the 4th day of July, 1876, at a meeting of the citizens of that town. By his kindness, and at the request of many of the leading citizens of the above mentioned townships, the whole of the history, as read by Mr. Starke, is here inserted : "At the solicitation of a few leading citizens of Otterville, the undersigned has prepared the following brief history of this place and vicinity since its first settlement up to the present time ; embracing short biographical sketches of the lives and characters of some of the older citizens, together with facts and incidents of interest which have transpired in this county during the first period of its existence. "It is not pretended by the author that the production possesses any peculiar merits of its own as affording infor- mation, other than of a strictly local character. Nor is it designed otherwise than for the entertainment and amuse- ment of those who are more or less familiar with the history of the people, and incidents pertaining to this immediate neighborhood, and who, with many others of our inhabi- tants, of a later period, meet with us to-day, on this joyful and happy occasion— the one hundredth anniversary of the Independence of our common country. "The writer does not lay claim to entire originality in the 158 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. production of these brief sketches, although he has been an eye witness to most of the occurrences presented, and personally acquainted with nearly all of the characters mentioned. "He takes pleasure in acknowledging himself indebted to Messrs. Samuel Wear, George W. Smith, James H. Cline, John W. Parsons, Thomas C. Cranmer, and other old settlers who are here among us to-day, for much of the subject matter embraced in these pages of local history, and he refers to it for its authenticity. "While it is apparent to all who may read this manuscript that this is only an obscure and insignificant village, situated in a remote corner of old Cooper, whose very existence is scarcely known beyond our own immediate neighborhood, yet to many of us who meet here to-day together, some of whom are descending the western slope of human life, Otter- ville does f assess a name and a history, dear to us, though unknown and unnoticed by others. "In presenting these sketches, it will perhaps be necessary to glance back at the first settlement of New Lebanon , six miles north of Otterville, as this neighborhood was peopled some time anterior to the settlements south and west of the Lamine. "About the fall of 1819 and the spring of 1820, the fol- lowing named persons moved to New Lebanon and into that neighborhood embracing a portion of the territory now known as Lebanon township, in Cooper county. This county then extended south to the Osage river, to wit : "Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. James L. Wear, John Wear, James H. Wear, who was the father of William G. Wear, of Warsaw, and Samuel Wear, now of Otterville; Alex- ander Sloan, Robert Kirkpatrick, Colin C. Stoneman, William Stone, Frederick Castell, Reuban A. Ewing, Jas. Berry, Thomas Rubey, Elizabeth Steele, sister of Alexan- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I59 der Sloan's wife, a man named Smiley, Rev. Laird Burns and his father John Burns, John Reed, Silas Thomas, Jas. Taylor, Hugh Wear, who "was a brother of James L. and John Wear, James McFarland and Rev. William Kavan- augh. "The Rev. Finis Ewing was a distinguished minister of the gospel, and one of the original founders of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. He was from Kentucky ; was ordained a minister in the year 1803, and in conjunction with Samuel McAdam and Samuel King, founded this church in 18 10. "The cause which gave rise to the establishment of this branch of the Presbyterian church was, that the mother church required her ministers to possess a classical education before ordination, which was by the new church not regarded as absolutely indispensable, though its ministers were re- quired to cultivate a knowledge of the elementary branches of the English language. "At this place these early pioneers pitched their tents, and soon began the erection of a rude building as a sanct- uary, which, when completed, they called "New Lebanon," in contradistinction to the house in which they had sung and worshipped in the State from which they had formerly emigrated. "It was built of hewed logs, and the settlers of this little colony united in the project, each furnishing his proportion- ate quota of the logs requisite to complete the building. "These logs were double; that is each log was twenty- four feet in length, being joined in the middle of the house by means of an upright post, into which the ends were mortised, thus making the entire length of the church forty- eight feet, by thirty feet in width. ( "This building served as a place of worship for many years, until about the time of the War, When the new and l6o HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. neat brick church of the present day, was erected on the site of the old one which was torn away. "The members of this church constituted the prevailing religion of the neighborhood for many years ; and most of the characters portrayed herein were connected with this denomination. "The Rev. James L. Wear, was also for many years a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. He was a good man, and lived close to New Lebanon, where Frank Asberry now lives. He died at the old mansion about 1868. He was a brother of John Wear, who first lived at New Leba- non at the place now owned by Mr. Majors ; and afterwards at Otterville where Mr. Anson Hemenway now lives. The first school taught in Otterville, or in Otterville township, was taught by his son, known by the "sobriquet" of "Long George." They were originally from Kentucky, moved to Howard county in 181 7, and afterwards to New Lebanon at the date above indicated. "Samuel Wear, Sr., and James H. Wear were brothers, and came from Tennessee ; the latter being the father of Wm. G., and Samuel Wear, Jr., as before stated, and lived at the place now occupied by William Walker. He was a successful farmer, and died in good circumstances. "Samuel Wear, Sr., lived where Wesley Cook now lives, and sold a large farm there to Samuel Burke, late of this county. "Alexander Sloan was from Kentucky, and settled the place now owned by Peter Spillers. He was the father of William Sloan, who died at Otterville several years ago, and also of the Rev. Robert Sloan, who was an eminent minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and who married a daughter of the Rev. Finis Ewing. "Robert Kirkpatrick was a Kentuckian, and lived near the New Lebanon graveyard. He died many years ago. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. l6l He was a Revolutionary soldier, and had a son named Da- vid, who was an able minister of the Cumberland church. David met his death by accident ; he was thrown from a carriage, severely wounded, and afterwards died from the amputation of his leg. "Colin C. Stoneman was from Kentucky, and lived at the old cabin still to be seen standing near Andrew Foster's place. He was a practitioner of medicine of the Thomsonian school, and died many years ago. "William Stone was a Kentuckian, a plain old farmer, and lived on the farm now owned by the Rev. Minor Neale. He was a good man, and died at an advanced age. "Rev. Frederick Casteel was a minister of the gospel of the Methodist church, and lived near the place now owned by Mrs. Abram Amick. "Reuben A. Ewing, and his brother Irving Ewing, were Kentuckians, and lived east of Lebanon. The former was a successful farmer, a good man, and died at an advanced age, honored and respected. "James Berry was also a Kentuckian, and one of the oldest settlers of this new colon}-. He lived where his son Finis E. Berry, now lives. "Thomas Rubey was from Kentucky, and lived at Pleasant Green. Henry Small lived at the Vincent Walker place. "Mr. Smiley was also a Kentuckian, and settled where Mr. Thomas Alexander now lives. Rev. Laird Burns was a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, and lived where Mr. Jfflhn P. Downs now lives, in what is known as the Ellis neighborhood. "John Burns was his brother and lived close to New Lebanon- He was a soldier in the war with Great Britain, was present at the battle of New Orleans, and would often talk with pride about that great event ; of the fearful roar- l62 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. ing of the cannon, of the sharp whistling of the bullets, and the thrilling echoes of martial music, which stirred the hearts of the soldiers to deeds of valor, and enabled the brave army of General Jackson to achieve the glorious victory which ended the war with ^Old England.^ "Rev. John Reid was also another minister of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, a Kentuckian ; he first lived on Honey creek, and afterwards at so many different places, that for want of space in this brief sketch I dare not under- take to enumerate them. Suffice it to say, that he settled more new places in the neighborhood than any half dozen pioneers of the infant colony. He was a very eccentric character in his younger days, would fight at the "drop of a hat," and was never known to meet his match in a hand to hand combat. The writer of this sketch was intimately ac- quainted with him for many years, during the latter period of his life however, and can truly say he never knew a man of steadier habits, nor one more remarkable for strict recti- tude of conduct, or exemplary piety. An anecdote is re- lated of him and the Rev. Finis Ewing, which occurred in his younger days. It was told to me by Mr. Samuel Wear. "Reid was driving a team for some man who was mov- ing to this county with Mr. Ewing, who had ear bells on his six horse team. The young man liked the jingle of these bells so much that h^ begged Mr. Ewing to allow his team- ster to divide with him, in order that he might share the music ; but Mr. Ewing 'could not see it' and refused to make the division as requested. Whereupon Reed bought a num- ber of old cow bells and hung one on each horse in his team, which soon had the effect of bringing the preacher to terms. He was so much annoyed with the discord produced by these coarse bells, that he soon proposed a compromise HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 163 by giving Reid his sleigh bells, provided he would stop the cow bell part of the concert. "Silas Thomas was anotlier Kentuckian, and lived on Honey Creek, near where Lampton's saw mill stood a few years ago. "James Taylor, better known as 'Old Corn Taylor,' lived in an old log cabin which may be still seen standing a short distance west of the Anthony Walker place. He was another remarkably eccentric character. He had a host of mules and negroes; always rode with a rope bridle, and raised more corn, and kept it longer than any half- dozen men in Cooper county. This he hoarded away in pens and cribs with as much care as though every ear had been a silver dollar, in anticipation of a famine, which, for many years he had predicted, but which, happily, never came, though the neighborhood was several times visited with great scarcity of that valuable commodity. Although he was miserly in this respect, yet during these times of scarcity, he would generally unlock his granaries, and, like Joseph of old, deal it out to his starving brethren, whether they were able to pay for it or not ; that is, if he thought a man was industrious, he would furnish him with what corn he considered necessary ; but tradition informs us that he invairiably refused the required boon to a man, who was found, on examination, to wear "patched breeches," especially if the patch happened to be in a particular local- ity, which indicated laziness. "Hugh Wear was from Kentucky, and lived in the Ellis neighborhood. He was the father of the Rev. Wm. Bennett Wear, another Cumberland Presbyterian of con- siderable distinction. When his father, who was a Rev- olutionary soldier, enlisted, Hugh, although too young to enter the army, was permitted to accompany his father, and served, during the war, as a soldier, notwithstanding he 164 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. was under the age prescribed for military duty. Tliis was done to prevent his falling into the hands of the tories. "Rev. William Kavanaugh was a Kentuckian, and an- other Cumberland Presbyterian minister of considerable note. It was said of him, that he could preach louder and longer than any of these old worthies. "William Bryant was a Kentuckian, and was with Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. He first settled at New Lebanon, at the place which he afterwards sold to Finis Ewing ; the old brick house where Mr. Kemp now lives. He then moved to the farm now occupied by Wm. B. Harlan. "Samuel Miller was from Kentucky, and settled on the place now owned by Green Walker. He was a farmer, and afterwards moved to Cold Neck. "There yet remains but one other man to notice who be- longed to New Lebanon. He was a member of the nu- merous family of Smith, whose christian name I cannot now recall. He settled at a very early period on what is known as the Cedar Bluff, at a nice, cool, clear spring, not far from the place where Mrs. John Wilkerson now lives. Here he erected what was then called a 'band mill,' a spe- cies of old fashioned horse mill, so common in those days. It w as connected with a small distillery at which he manu- factured a kind of 'Aqua mirabilis,' with which the old folks in those da}'s cheered the drooping spirits in times of great scarcity. But Mr. Smith never 'ran crooked.' He paid no license, and sold or gave away his delicious bever- age without molestation from revenue agents, just as he deemed fit and convenient. Revenue stamps and revenue agents were unknown then, and good whisky (there was none bad then,) was not only considered harmless, but drinking hottoddiesi eggnog and mint julips was regarded as a respectable, as well as a pleasant and innocent kind of amusement, and quite conducive to health. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. igf I have thus briefly glanced at the early settlement in the vicinity of New Lebanon, and come now to treat of the colony which was planted south and west of the Lamine and which was peopled at a subsequent period, known as Otterville township, and which will perhaps embrace a portion of the adjoining territory, included within the limits of Morgan and Pettis counties. "Thomas Parsons was born in the State of Virginia in the year 1793 ; moved to FrankHn, the county seat of Simpson county, Kentucky, about the year 1819, emigrated to this county in the fall of 1826, and settled at the place now owned by James H. Cline, northwest of Otterville. About the last of October of that year Parsons sold his pre-emption right to Absalom CHne, the father of James H. Cline. In 1826, at the time Mr. Parsons came to this neighborhood, there were only three families living west of the Lamine in this vicinity. These were James G. Wilker- son, William Reed, and William Sloan. "Mr. Parsons established the first hatter's shop south of Boonville, and was an excellent workman in that line. He was an honest, upright citizen, lived to a ripe old age, and was gathered to his fathers, honored and respected by all who knew him. At the time of his death, on the 7th day of September 1875, he was the oldest free mason in Cooper county, having belonged to that institution nearly three score years. "William Reed mentioned above, was, perhaps, the first white man who settled in this neighborhood. He was a Tennesseean, and lived near the old camp ground, a little west of what was then known as the 'camp ground spring ' in the old field now owned by George W. Smith, a short distance southwest of the old graveyard. He was the grandfather of A. M. Reed, now of Otterville. He was femarkable for his strict integrity and exemplary piety. l66 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. "James G. Wilkerson was from Kentucky, and settled the farm now owned by George W. Smith, one mile west of Otterville. The old mansion stands, though almost in a complete state of dilapidation, to remind the passer by of the perishable character of all human labor. He sleeps with several other members of his once numerous family, on a gentle eminence a few yards south of the decayed and tottering tenement in which he spent many years of honest toil. "William Sloan was the son of Alexander Sloan, men- tioned in the notes pertaining to New Lebanon, was the last of the three mentioned above. He first settled the place where Charles E, Rice now liveg, in 1826, but after- wards lived, until his death, at the place now owned by Joseph Minteer. He was always remarkable for his scru- pulous honesty and piety. "Elijah Hook was from Tennessee, and settled near where Henry Bender now lives, in 1827. He was a hunter and trapper, and obtained a subsistence for his family after the manner of Nimrod, his ancient predecessor, mentioned in the Bible as 'the mighty hunter.' "James Brown was a Kentuckian, a farmer, a hard working man, and settled where T. C. Cranmer lives, in 1827. He also was a 'Nimrod,' and hunted with Daniel Boone. "James Davis was a Tennesseean, and settled the place now known as the McCulloch farm, in 1827. He was an industrious farmer, and a great rail splitter. "James Birney was a Kentuckian, and married the daughter of Alexander Sloan, of New Lebanon. He was a farmer, and a man of some note. He settled, in 1827, the farm where John Harlan now lives. He had a grand- son, Alexander Birney, who was formerly a lawyer at Otterville. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 67 "Frederick Shurley, the mightiest hunter in all the land round about Otterville, in 1827, settled the place now owned by his son Robert Shurley, southeast of Otterville. He was with General Jackson in the Creek war, and was present at the memorable battle of the Horse Shoe Bend, where the Indians, by the direction of their prophets, had made their last stand. He used to recount, with deep in- terest, the thrilling incidents connected with this muzzle to muzzle contest, in which over half a thousand red-skins were sent, by Jackson and Coffee, to their happy hunting grounds. "Nathan Neal was a Kentuckian, and settled the old place near the Lamine, two miles north of Otterville, in 1827. He was an orderly, upright and industrious citizen. "George Cranmer was born in the State of Delaware in 1801, moved to near Paris, Kentucky, while young, and to Boonville, Missouri, in the year 1828. He was a mill- wright and a very Ingenious and skillful mechanic. He settled at Clifton in about 1832, and shortly afterwards he and James H. Glasgow, now living on the Petite Saline Creek, built what was known as Cranmer's, afterwards Corum's mill, precisely where the M. K. & T. railroad now crosses the Lamine. Cranmer named the place 'Clifton.' The principal mechanics who helped to build this mill were Ben Gilbert, Jim Kirkpatrick, Nat Garten, son-in-law of William Steele, Esq., a blacksmith named John Toole, Noah Graham and the renowned 'Bill' Rubey, known to almost all the old settlers south of the Missouri river. Cran- mer lived first at the mill, and afterwards at what was long known as the John Caton place, where Thomas C. Cran- mer was born in 1836. The old log cabin is still standing, as one of the very few old land marks yet visible, to remind us of the distant past. Cranmer died at Michigan Bluffs, California, in 1853. l68 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. "Another man will perhaps be remembered by some of our old citizens. He was crazy, and though harmless, used to wander about to the great terror of the children of those days. His name was John Hatwood. "Clifton was once a place of memorable notoriet_v. In those early days it was not unfrequently called the 'Devil's Half Acre.' There was a grocery kept there, after the people began to manufacture poisoned whisky, which had the effect very often of producing little skirmishes among those who congregated there. It was not uncommon for those fracases to end in a bloody nose, a black eye, or a broken head. Happily, however, these broils were gener- ally confined to a few notorious outlaws, whom the order- loving people would have rejoiced to know had met the fate of the cats of Kilkenny. "There are many amusing incidents connected with the history of the place, but space forbids allusion to only one or two. A man by the name of Cox, who was a celebrated hunter and trapper in this neighborhood, was known as a dealer in tales, connected with his avocation, of a fabulous and munchausen character. There is a very high bluff just below the old mill ; perhaps it is nearly five hundred feet high. During one of his numerous hunting excur- sions, Matthew met with a large bear, which, being slightly wounded, became terribly enraged, and attacked the hunter with his ugly grip before he had time to reload his rifle. This formidable contest between Bruin and Matthew occurred just on the vei-ge of the fearful precipice above described, and every struggle brought them nearer and nearer, until they both took the awful leap, striking and bounding against the projecting crags every few feet, until they reached the bottom of the terrible abyss. You will now naturally say, "Farewell, Matthew !" but strange to relate, he escaped with a few slight scratches. The bear HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 169 had, fortunately for Matthew, been on the under side every time they struck, till they reached the bottom, when he loosed his hold of the hunter and closed his eyes in death. "Matthew Cox's tales were generally much like this, al- most always' terminating favorably to himself, and fatally to his adversaries. This anecdote gave the name of 'Mat- thew's Bluff,' well known to everybody in this neighborhood. "Some time during the year 1832, the people of this neighborhood became terribly alarmed by the report that the Osage Indians were about to attack and massacre all the settlers in this vicinitj'. This report started first, by some means at old Luke William's on Cold Camp Creek. The people became almost wild with excitement. They left their plows in the fields, and fled precipitately in the direction of the other settlements towards Boonville. Some of them took refuge in a fort at Vincent Walker's, some at Sam Forbes', and others at Collin Stoneman's and Finis Ewing's. Hats and caps, shoes and stockings, pillows, baskets and bonnets might have been seen along the old military road to Boonville, lying scattered about in beauti- ful confusion all that day and the next, until the excitement had ceased. Fortunately the scare did not last long, as it was soon ascertained that the alarm was false, and that the Osage Indians had not only not contemplated a raid on the white settlements, but that thejr had actually become fright- ened themselves, and fled south of the Osage river. But the panic was complete and exceedingly frightful while it lasted. A fellow by the name of Mike Chism lived near the Bidstrup Place. Mike had a wife and two children. They were already preparing for flight. Mike's wife was on horseback and had one child in her lap and one behind her, and Mike was oti foot. "At this moment, a horseman came galloping up in great trepidation, and informed the little family that the Indians lyo HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. were coming by the thousands, and that they were already this side of Flat Creek. On receiving this intelligence, Mike, in great terror, said to his wife, 'My God! Sallie, I . can't zvait for you any longer^ and suiting his actions to his words, he took to his scrapers in such hot haste that at the first frantic jump he made, he fell at full length, bleed- ing and trembling on the rocks. But the poor fellow did not take time to rise to his feet again. He scrambled off on 'all fours' into the brush like some wild animal, leaving his wife and children to take care of themselves as best they could. He evidentl}^ acted upon the principle, that 'It is better to be a live coward, than a dead hero.' "Reuben B. Harris was from Kentucky. He was a country lawyer ; had no education, but was a man of good natural ability. He settled the place where Montraville Ross now lives, on Flat Creek. He settled here in 1827. He was also a great hunter. "Hugh Morrison was a Kentuckian. In 1827 he settled the place where the widow of Henderson Finley now lives. "John Gabriel was also from Kentucky. Settled at Rich- land, at a place two and a half miles east of Florence. He moved there at a very early period in 181 9 or 1820. He had a still house, made whisky and sold it to the Indians. He was a rough, miserly character, but honest in his deal- ings. He was murdered for his money, in his horse lot, on his own plantation. He was killed by a negro man be- longing to Reuben B. Harris. The negro was condemned and hung at Boonville. Before his execution, this negro confessed that he had killed Gabrrel, but declared that he had been employed to commit the murder by Gabriel's own son-in-law, a man named Abner Weaver. This villain escaped punishment for the reason that the negro's testi- mony was then, by the laws of the United States, excluded as inadmissible. Justice, however, overtook him at last. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 171 His crime did not stop at the instigation/ of Gabriel's mur- der. He was afterwards found in possession of four stolen horses somewhere in Texas. In endeavoring to make his escape, he was shot from one of these horses, and thus ended his villainy. "The first church erected in this neighborhood was built by the Cumberland Presbyterians. It was of logs, and stood near the old grave yard. It was built about the 5'ear 1835. Here, for many years, this denomination annually held the old fashioned camp-meetings, at which large numbers of the old citizens were wont to congregate, and here many of them would sometimes remain for days, and even weeks, on the ground in camps and tents, engaged in earnest devotion. But this order of things and this manner of worship have long since gone into disuse. Not a hawk's eye could now discern a single mourner's track, and every vestige of the old church and camp have vanished like the mist before the morning sun, and the primitive religious customs have been entirely abandoned. "In the foregoing sketches I have briefly glanced at the lives and characters of most, in fact, nearly all of the ofder citizens who figured in the history of New Lebanon settle- ment, which then comprised our own township, ar.d included the country betA'een the Lamine and Flat Creek. Most of them belonged to a class of men which have passed away. "It is not my purpose to make inviduous comparisons between them and those of the present day. It is but jus- tice, however, to say, that with few exceptions, they were men of great moral worth, true and tried patriotism, and scrupulous integrity. "I come now to take a brief survey of matters connected with a later date. The town of Otterville was first called Elkton. It was laid out by Gideon R. Thompson, in the year 1837. The first house built,, stood where Jud^e 172 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Butler's house now stands. The public square occupied the space of ground now lying between Butler's and Geo. W. Smith's, extending east to a line running north and south, near the place where Frank Ami's house formerly- stood. William G. Wear entered the forty acres on .which Elkton was built, in the year 1836, and sold it to Thomp- son in 1837. About that time Thompson built the first house as before stated, and he and George Wear built a storehouse directly east of Thompson's dwelling, and little George Wear built a dwelling house on the present site of Colburn's house. James Allcorn built on the north side of the square about the same time. 'Long' George Wear built the first house within the present limits of Otterville proper, where W. G. Wear's house now stands. 'The town of Otterville was regularly laid out by W. G. Wear in 1854, though several houses had been built pre- vious to that time within its- present limits. "There was no postoffice at Otterville until about 1848. The mail for this neighborhood was supplied from Arator postoffice kept by GeneraUHogan, where Van Tromp Chil- ton now lives. W. G. Wear was the first post master. He held the office until 185 1, when the writer of these sketches was appointed, who held the office about ten years. The mail route was a special one from Arator, and was carried on horse back. W. R. Butler was the first contractor, and employed James H. Wear, son of W. G. Wear, to carry the mail twice a week. The mail carrier — then a small boy — now one of the leading merchants of St. Louis, made the trip twice a week, riding a small grey pony called 'Tom,' which had been bought of Tom Milam, who was then a well known character of the neighborhood. About the time the town was first established, several houses were built on or near the public square. "Among these were the Masonic hall | the dwelling house HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 73 built by George W. Embree, north of the hall; one by Samuel Wear, now occupied by John D. Strain ; one by Harrison Homan, in which he now lives; and about this time Robert M. Taylor built an addition to the 'Taylor House.' The brick storehouse known as the •Cannon & Zollinger' storehouse, was not built until about the year 1856. "The Masonic Lodge, called 'Pleasant Grove Lodge No. 142, A. F. & A. M.,' was established on the 15th day of July, A. D. 1854, -^' •'-'• 5^54* ^^e dispensation was granted by the M. W. G. M., of Missouri, L. S. Corn- well, on the 6th day of November, 1854. This dispensa- tion was granted to the following named persons : Wm. E. Combs, Harrison Homan, S. H. Saunders, Wm. Devine, Tarleton T. Cox, Strawther O'Rourk, Moses B. Small, Aaron Hupp, Wm. A. Reed, Wm. R. Butler, Robt. M. Taylor and Geo. W. Embree. The charter was granted May 31st, 1855, and signed by L. S. Cornwell, G. M. ; Oscar F. Potter, D. G. M. ; J. W. Chenoweth, D. G. W. ; Henry E. Van Odell, J. G. W. The first officers were as follows : S. H. Saunders, W. M. ; Aaron Hupp, S. W. ; H Homan, J. W. ; R. M. Taylor, Treasurer; W. R. But- ler, Secretary, George W. Embree, S. D. ; Strother O'Rourk, J. W., and R. J. Buchanan, Tyler. "The Odd Fellows Lodge was established in October, 1856, under the name of Otterville Lodge, No. 102, I. O. O. F. "The first officers were as follows : W. G. Wear, Noble Grand; H. A. B. Johnston, Vice Grand; Samuel M. Homan, Secretary, and John S. Johnston, Treasurer. "The present Cumberland Presbyterian church was built by Milton Starke, in the year 1857. "The old Presbyterian church was built by John D, Strain, in 1866, and isi now owned by the Baptists, 174 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. "The Methodist and Christian churches were built about the same time in the year 1872. The former was built by M. C. White, and the latter by T. C. Cranmer and T. M. Travillian. They are both neat brick buildings, and orna- ments to our village. "The public school building was erected in 1869, costing $6,000. "The Pacific railroad was completed to Otterville from St. Louis in i860, and this place for a short time became the terminus. Whilst the road remained here, and in fact for a long time previous, Otterville commanded quite a brisk trade, presented a yery active and business like ap- pearance, and indeed for a time it flourished like a "green bay tree." But it was not destined to enjoy this prosperity long. The railroad company soon pulled up stakes and transferred the terminus to the then insignificant village of Sedalia, which, at that time, being in its infancy, had scarcely been christened, but, though young, it soon rose like magic, from the bosom of the beautiful prairie, and in a few years Sedalia has become the county seat of one of the richest counties in the State, and a great railroad centre, while truth compels me to say that Otterville has sunk back into its original obscnrity. "The town of Otterville was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Missouri, on the sixteenth day of Feb- ruary, 1857. "About the year i860, for a short period, a considerable wholesale business was done here. Among the wholesale establishments, were the following : W. G. Wear & Son, Cloney, Crawford & Co., from Jefferson City; Clark & Reed; Concannon ; the Robert Brothers; Lohman & Co., &C-, &c. "About this time the 'Mansion House' was built by a pian named Pork ; the 'Embree House' by George W, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I75 Embree and Chris Harlan. The latter was quite a large hotel near the depot, and was afterwards moved to Sedalia by George R. Smith, and about the same time several other houses were moved by different parties to that place. There was, after this time, a considerable business done in a retail way around the old public square. Among the most prominent merchants here, were W. G. Wear & Son, and Cannon & Zollinger, who carried on a large and prof- itable trade for many years. "But having already extended these notes far beyond what I had at first anticipated , I am admonished to close them rather abruptly, lest they become wearisome. They were prepared at a very short notice, and might have been made much more interesting, had sufficient time been given the writer to arrange them with some regard to order. "I hope that due allowance will be made by an appreci- ative public for this defect in this hastily-written memo- randum. "In conclusion, I will take occasion to say, that one hun- dred years ago, where we meet now to rejoice together, at the happy coming of our first Centennial, this part of Cooper county, nay, even Cooper county itself, was a howling wilderness. The hungry wolf and bear ; the elk and the antelope ; the wild deer and the buffalo, roamed about undisturbed, save by the feeble arrows of the red man. "To-day, through the little village of Otterville, within a very few yards of this spot, a double band of iron, stretch- ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, connects San Francisco with the city of New York. Over these lines of metal rails ponderous trains are almost continually passing to and fro, freighted with innumerable articles of commerce ; the rich merchandise of the east ; the varied productions of the west ; 176 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. the teas and silk of China ; the silver of Arizona, and the gold of California. "Let us, therefore, rejoice and be merry, • for we have abundant reason for these manifestations of joy." [Signed.] Thomas J. Starke. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER XVI. Early history of the Different Townships, &c , Continued. PALESTINE TOWNSHIP. William Moore and Joseph Stephens were the first settlers of Palestine township. Wm. Moore emigrated from North Carolina, and settled about eight miles south of Boonville, in the timber close by a good spring, north of and adjoining the farm where Jenus White, Esq., now re- sides. His family consisted of Geo. W., Wm. H., James, Andrew, John, Thomas, Robert and Joseph H. Moore, and Margaret, Sallie and Mary Moore ; seven sons and three daughters. Margaret married Judge Lawrence C. Stephens, in 1818. Sallie married Col. John H. Hutchison, and Mary married Harvey Bunce. Col. Hutchison was Sheriff of this county for four years, ai;d Representative for two years. Judge Stephens was Representative for four years, and County Judge for one term, and Harvey Bunce was. Sheriff for eight years. Representative for two years, and a member of the State Convention in 1865. There are only two of the Moore children now living, viz : Joseph H. Moore, and Margaret Stephens, widow of the late Judge L. C Stephens. Mrs. Margaret Stephens says that in the fall of 1816, after her father settled in this county, she went to Boonville, with her uncle, a Mr. McFarland. and on their arrival, she asked her uncle where Boonville was, thinking she was com ng to something of a town. Her uncle pointed to 178 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Robadeaux's store, a round log cabin, with the bark on the logs, and said. "There's Boonville." They then alighted from their horses, and after making some purchases, they returned home. That store-house was the only building which she then saw at Boonville. It is also certain, from other good evidence, that the place on which Boonville now stands, was called "Boonville," before any town was built or located here. Mrs. Stephens also tells of the first church she attended in the neighborhood, which was held at the house of one of the settlers. Luke Williams, the preacher, was dressed in a complete suit of buckskin, and a great many of his audi- ence were dressed in the same style. She was so dissatis- fied with the appearance of the state of things, in this back- woods county, that she cried during the whole of the services ; but she soon became accustomed to the new order of things, and was well contented. At that meeting, grease from the bear meat, stored in the loft, above the congrega- tion, dripped down and spoiled her nice Sunday shawl, which was a fine one, brought from North Carolina, and which could not be replaced in this backwoods country. Joseph Stephens, Sen., was the next settler of what is now called Palestme township. He emigrated from Ken- tucky, and stopped one and one-half years, near Winches- ter, East Tennessee, in the fall of 1817 ; he, in companj' with several others, started for Cooper county, and landed at Boonville on the 15th day of November, 1817. Before they arrived here, they had bought land in what is now Palestine township. They remained at the place called "Boonville," and were piloted to their new home by Maj. Stephen Cole. They crossed the Petite Saline Creek at the McFarland ford, at the place where Rankin's mill is now situated. The only persons at that time, living in that part of the county, were William and Jacob McFarland HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 79 on the north, and John Glover on the south side of the creek. After crossing the creek they soon entered the Lone Elm prairie, and on the evening of the same day, they arrived at their new home where they camped for the night. A hunter by the name of Landers, had made his camp in the bottom, near the present residence of Joseph Steph- ens, jr., and had an acre of growing corn and 15 hogs, which were purchased by Joseph Stephens, Sr. Mr. Lan- ders then "pulled up stakes" and moved farther west. The next spring James D. Campbell settled on the hill, south of Bunceton, Peter Stephens, one half of a mile north of Old Palestine, and William Stephens and John Kelley three and one-half miles southeast of Joseph Stephens, near the Moniteau creek. These men were the sons and the sons-in- law of Joseph Stephens, Sen., and emigrated to Cooper county with him. The next year, 1818, Samuel Peters settled about two miles north of Joseph Stephens, at a place now called Peters- burg, on ihe Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad. He also had a large family of boys and girls ; Samuel and Newton C. Peters were his sons. One of his daugh- ters married Mr. McFarland, one James Hill, who was Sheriff of this county for eight j'ears ; one Harvey Harper; one Katie Peters, Thomas Patrick, and afterwards, Samuel Cole ; and Sallie, the younger, James Gallagher. When Samuel Peters raised his dwelling, he invited his neighbors to come and help him, stating that he would, on that occasion, kill a hog and have it for dinner. As this was the first hog ever butchered in this part of the State, and as very few of the settlers had ever tasted pork, it was no little inducement to them to be present and assist in dispos- ing of such rare and delicious food, for the settlers, previous to that time, had subsisted entirely upon T\ild game. Al' l80 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. wa3-s on such occasions they had a little "fire water" to give life to the occasion. In the winter of 1818, Miss Rhoda, the daughter of Jos. Stephens, Sr., was married to Dr. B. W. Levens, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Luke Williams. On the same evening Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of Sam- uel Peters, and James Hill were united in marriage by the same minister. The two last mentioned had been engaged for some time, yet did not expect to be married so soon. But Mr. Peters declared that if they intended to marry, they must do so that night or never. So the parson imme- diately went down to Mr. Peter's house, and in accordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided, pro- nounced them husband and wife. Col. Andrew and Judge John Briscoe settled in the same township in 1818. They were both very prominent men, and prominent leaders in their respective parties, Andrew being a Whig, and John a Democrat. Some of the other early settlers wereHenrj-, Hiram, Heli and Harden Corum. Mr. Tevis, the father of Capt. Simeon Tevis, Thomas Collins, Jacob Summers, Michael, James and William Son, John and Joseph Cathey, James David, and John H. Hutchison, Nathaniel Leonard, John and Andrew Wallace, Henry Woolery, Holbert and Samuel Cole, James Bridges, James Simms, Russell Smallwood, Thomas Best, Greenberry Allison, Wm. C. Lowery, An- thony F. Read, and others not recollected. No better citizens than those mentioned above ever settled in any community. Mr. Greenberry Allison dug the first cistern in the county, which proved to be a great success, and caused many of his neighbors to imitate his example, as they had, previous to that time, been competed to depend for water upofj spi"ings and wells. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. l8l Palestine township, from the beginning, took the lead in education. The first schools were taught by Lawrence C. Stephens, Dr. William H. Moore, and a young man from Virginia by the name of William H. Moore, who was considered the best scholar in his day, in this part of the country. The teachers of a later day were Mr. Huff, Green White, Josiah Adams, now residing in California, Missouri, and Philip A. Tutt. The first grammar school was kept by a Mr. Rodgers, at the residence of John Wallace. The first dancing school was opened in 1832, at the resi- dence of B. W. Levens, about one-quarter of a mile east of the present site of Bunceton, by a gentleman named Gibson. He was a polished gentleman, and an excellent teacher, and was the first to introduce "cotillions," which were, until that time, unkncKvn in this part of the country. Mr. Gibson at that time had two other schools ; one at Boonville, and the other at Arrow Rock, and he taught, during the week, two days at each place. The names of a few of the dancers who attended the school at B. W. Levens' residence who are at present re- membered, are as follows : Newton C. Peters, David Hutchison, Andrew B. Moore, John M. Briscoe, Mr. Huff", Daniel Ogle, Thomas and Bonaparte Patrick, Thomas and Luther Smith, James Corum, Joseph S. Anderson, Green White, Andrew CoUins, and Tobe Briscoe. Misses Mar- garet and Elizabeth Hutchison, daughters of James Hutch- ison ; Elmira Ann and Sarah Ardell Hutchison, daughters of John H. Hutchison ; Zerilda and Emarine Levens, Mary and Patsy Briscoe, Katie and Sallie Peters, Susan and Rhoda Campbell, i'arthena Kelly, Julia Collins, Annie Best, and a Miss Ramsey. Most of the persons mentioned above have been dead many years. Among the gentlemen, Mr. Huff was alive a few years ago, though he may be dead at this time, as he l82 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. has not been heard from for some time. So far as is known none of the other gentlemen are alive. Of the ladies, Margaret, Elmira Ann and Sarah Ardell Hutchison, Mar- garet Stephens, Zerilda Levens, Patsy Briscoe, Katie and Sallie Peters, and Rhoda Campbell, are still alive — the others are all dead. On the first day of January, 1845, Henry C. Levens was employed at Lone Elm, John D. Stephens in Palestine dis- trict, Joseph L. Stephens in the Harrison district, in the Bunceton neighborhood, and George H. Stephens in the Round Grove district, to teach the respective schools for three months. All these districts are now in school town- ship 47, range 17. These teachers found that the people were not sufficiently aroused on the great importance of of giving their children a good education, and for some time had been studying to discover some plan by which to arouse the patrons of the school to a full knowledge of their responsibility. ■ They had found that the parents could not be forced to perceive the vast importance of education, by merely tell- ing them of its benefits ; but that in order to produce this change, inducements must be placed directly before both parents and pupils; something tangible, sufficiently inviting to arouse them from their lethargy. They thoughtthat they must determine upon some plan to create and keep up an excitement, so as to induce the patrons to continue their schools for a longer period than three months, thereby benefitting both teachers and pupils. They finally agreed upon the plan of offering a banner to the school, which, taking all of the classes into consider- ation, had made the most progress at the close of the school. The examination for the awarding of the banner was to take place at Old Palestine. On the first day Arithmetic, (geography and Grammar were to be examined, and on the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 183 second day the four schools were to have a joint exhjhition consisting of speeches and dialogues. The above named teachers, in accordance with an agree- ment among themselves on the opening day of their schools, placed the whole subject before the scholars, and gave them until the next day to decide whether they were willing to enter the contest or not ; and the members of each school unanimously voted in favor of their teacher's proposition. This produced a greater excitement than was contem- plated or wished for by the teachers, so much so, that it was more difficult to control than to create. All classes of the people took a deep interest in the progress of the schools, and they received frequent visits from trustees, parents and others. On the days of the examination at Old Palestine, the scholars of the different schools marched in double file to the place of examination, with music and banners, with appropriate mottoes, in advance. The girls of each school were dressed in the same colored dresses, and the boys wore badges of the same color as the dresses of the girls of the school to which they belonged. On each day there was a very large attendance to witness the examination and exhibition. The excitement became so great that the teachers in- structed the judges not to make any award, particularly, as the scholars of all four schools had acquitted themselves so well, that it would have been almost impossible to decide between them. After it had became known, that because of the general excellence of the schools, no award would be made, the excitement attending the contest soon quieted down. The examination and exhibition gave universal satisfaction, and although when the schools closed it was spring and the busiest time of the year, all four of the teachers were offered schools again at the same places. 184 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. After this, schools were well attended and supported in Palestine township, and has continued so even to the present day. Although the object of these teachers was partly selfish, in that they wished to procure constant employment, they conferred innumberable blessings upon that and following generations, by creating among the settlers a desire to give their children every opportunity of acquiring a good edu- cation. PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIP. This is a small township lately organized and taken from the territories of Clark's Fork, Saline and Moniteau town- ships. It is mostly prairie, and the land is generally very fertile. The oldest settlers according to the best informa- tion that can be obtained, were James McClain, Lacy Mc- Clanahan, Adam McClanahan, Jacob Carpenter, Absalom McClanahan, Michael Hornbeck, Samuel Carpenter, Wm. H. McClanahan, Wm. G. McClanahan, and Jeremiah Smith. It appears that these men were located in this township, previous to 1820, as their votes were recorded in that year. Some of them may not be confined to the limits of the township, but they were not far distant from the line. The history of this township is so closely connected with that of the three townships mentioned above from which it was taken, that it will not be repeated at this place. For its history, the reader is referred to that of the three above named townships. PILOT GROVE. POSTOFFICE, TOWNSHIP AND TOWN. The town of Pilot Grove is situated on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, about twelve miles southwest of Boonville. It was located in 1873. It has had a very rapid growth and bids fair to make a very important town. It is located in a thickly settled country. The soil of the HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 185 surrounding country is excellent, and the inhabitants pros- perous. TOWNSHIP. Among the earliest settlers of the township were Manty Hatfield, John Miller, the father of Judge George W. Mil- ler, Samuel Roe, Sr., John McCutchen, the father of Judge John M. McCutchen, William Taylor, James Taylor, Jr., John, George, Nicholas and Mathias Houx. This township in early times was celebrated for its camp meeting grounds, there being two within its limits ; one held by the Presbyterians, and the other by the Methodists. These camp meetings which were held by each denomina- tion once a year, were largely attended, many persons coming from great distances. Man}^ camped on the grounds, entertaining "without money and without price" the people who attended, and were particularly hospitable to strangers from abroad. For a more full history of this part of the county, the reader is referred to the following letters of Mr. William G. Pendleton, a young gentleman living in Pilot Grove township, viz : Pilot Grove, Mo., July 14, 1876. Messrs. H. C. Levens, & N. M. Drake, Boonville. Gentlemen. — A letter of late date, to Mr. E. H. Harris, has been placed in my hands by that gentleman, with the request that I respond to the same. This I shall proceed to do to the best of my ability, assuring you that the following information is at least authentic. As you are probably already aware, Pilot Grove, as a postoffice and place of rendezvous, for the surrounding in^ habitants, is one of the oldest in the county, and takes its name from an ancient grove of Hickory trees, located upon the high prairie in the immediate vicinity. In early days before well defined trails had been marked out, this grove l86 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. served as a "pilot" to persons traveling from Boonville and Old Franklin to points in the southwest. The name "Pilot Grove" came thus to be applied to the postoffice established near by, and kept by Samuel Roe, Sr. This gentleman, now the patriarch of our community, aged ninety years, continued to fill the position of post master until the close of the war of the Rebellion. 'Twas while he was acting in this capacity, and at his residence, where the neighbors had gathered upon a bright afternoon in the spring of 1874, awaiting the arrival of the mail, that the dreaded "Bill Anderson" suddenly appeared with his guerrilla troupe, and forming the trembling citizens in line, proceeded to divest them of their personal valuables. Mr. Wm. Mayo, one of the citizens, refused to deliver up his elegant gold watch, and started to flee ; passing the house he was joined by Mr. Thomas Brownfield, now of our community, and who had kept concealed. The guer- rillas, of course, gave pursuit, and overtaking Mr. Mayo, who had became separated from Mr. Brownfield, they killed him by a pistol shot in the face. One guerrilla had pursued Mr. Brownfield, who was endeavoring to reach a thicket of brush some rods distant. The guerrilla fired repeatedly upon Mr. Brownfield, wound- ing him in the hand, when, upon a near app"oach, Brown- field, who was armed, and a man of nerve, suddenly turned, and covering him with his revolver, compelled the guerrilla to retreat. This act doubtless saved his life, since it en- abled him to reach the coveted thicket, from which con- cealment he defied his foes, who dared not penetrate the his retreat, and who, after surrounding the thicket, and be- ing several times fired upon by the desperate man within, sought less dangerous fields of conquest. After the war this postoffice several times changed hands, and was once removed several miles from its ancient local- ity, still, however, retaining its old name. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 1 87 Upon the construction of the M. K. &T. railroad through our community, in 1873, a depot was located near the ancient site of Pilot Grove, upon the land of Samuel Roe, Sr. This gentleman's son and business agent, Mr. J. W. Roe, superintended the laying off of a town and disposal of lots, which were at once in demand. The place was christened "Pilot Grove," and from the alacritv'with which tradesmen and mechanics moved in, was seen the appreci- ation the people had of the brief prospects of the future village. Thinking men clearly saw that Pilot Grove occu- pied a position which would insure to enterprising trades- men and mechanics a permanent and profitable business. The village is located on the M. K. & T. railroad, eleven miles southwest of Boonville, in the township of Pilot Grove, one of the best in the county. Its situation is ele- vated and very healthful, surrounded on every hand by a beautiful and fertile stretch of country, having an extensive prairie on the east and south, and timber on the north and west. The timber in the immediate vicinity is young, though vigorous and of valuable varieties, such as black and white oak, walnut, hickory, elm, with a small percentage of ash, wild cherry, &c. The farm products embrace the varieties of grains and grasses, as corn, wheat, oats, timothy, blue grass and clo- ver, with the character of live stock, which such a com- bination of crops would suggest ; especially large numbers of prime cattle and hogs are annually produced and mark- eted from this vicinity. Good brick-clay is to be found adjacent to the town. The nearest worked mines are two coal mines ; one three miles north, the other one mile south, and the Collin's lead mines eight miles north. Fine indications of lead in paying quantities are found sey^raj {nile^ we§tr 1 88 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The town of Pilot Grove has at present three dry goods and grocery stores, one well appointed drug store, three blacksmith and wagon maker shops, one gunsmith shop, one tin shop, one saddler shop, one sh6e shop, one milin- ery establishment, and one barber shop, two agricultural depots and one lumber yard; there are. also two public schools near this town. Of dwelling houses there are twenty-three, with the usual number of out-buildings ; one private and no public school, one church of the Methodist Episcopal South denomina- tion, established many years ago. A Cumberland Presby- terian, a Baptist and a northern Methodist Episcopal church within convenient distance. A good flouring and saw mill one mile south. The professional men living here are Dr. J. W- H. Ross, M. D., and Dr. Elevens, present pastor of the Meth- odist church. The number of inhabitants is computed at about 150 ; and it is believed that the books of the M. K. & T. freight office at this place, will show in the amount of freight shipped from and received at this point, more business done than at anjr other town in the county ex- cept Boonville. This town was surveyed in July 1873, by Surveyor W. W. Trent, of Boonville. The town is accessible from all directions by good roads, and it is the outlet of all the produce of its surrounding territory, and also of a large district lying west and north- west which is attracted here by a good road, opened for them by the enterprise of our citizens. ***** * * * Your most obedient servant, W- G. Pendleton Pilot Grove, Mo., August 7th, 1876. Messrs. H. C. Lev ens & N. M. Drake: *» »* ** ** Gentlemen. — The following narration of the killing dur- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 189 ing the late war, of citizens of our community, by lawless bands, upon either side is doubtless correct in the main, yet in view of the considerable lapse of time since the occur- rence of these events, the fallibility of the human memory, and many other circumstances which would have their ef- fect, it would not be strange should error exist in some of the minuter details. Considered in order of time in which it occurred, I men- tion first the killing of Joseph Sifers, two miles north of Pilot Grove, which took place about the beginning of the war. He was a Union man, whose house was surrounded at night by unknown men, who demanded of him his fire arms. Purporting to have them hidden upon the outside of his dwelling, he went out intending to discover who they were; when, doubtless, under the belief that his life was in danger, he ran, endeavoring to reach a cornfield adjacent, but in the attempt was shot down by a sentinel of the party. It was never known who perpetrated this outrage. In the summer of 1864, during a revival meeting in the southern Methodist Episcopal church at Pilot Grove, Capt. Todd, one day during the hour of service, surrounded the building with a company of about sixty savage looking "bushwhackers," who rudely entered the sacred house, stopped the services, and unceremoniously ejected the wor- shippers. After refreshing themselves with the eatables prepared for the occasion, and selecting such horses as they desired, from the many secured to the trees near by, they departed, taking with them two citizens, Peter Mitzell and Otho Zeller as hostages, as they called them, whose safety would depend upon the good conduct of the citizens, in not pursuing, intercepting or informing on them, there being, at that time. State Militia stationed at various places around. These two unfortunate men were that night, barbarously butchered some miles east of here, near Lone Elm prairie, igO HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. and their bodies found a day or two later. Zeller had be- longed to the State Militia, which fact, to those who knew the character of the guerrillas, accounts for the reason of his killing. Mitzell was loyal, though a very quiet and inoffen- sive man ; he had, a short time previous, met a squad of guerrillas, and mistaking them for militia, had, doubtless, indiscretely expressed liis sentiments, for which offense, in a time when men were killed for opinion's sake, he paid the forfeit with his life. The same party of bushwhackers, returning a day or two later, passed through the German settlement three miles west of here, and killed two citizens, John Diehl and Vollmer, who, it seems, unfortunately fell into the same error as Mitzell, of mistaking them for federal troops, a number of them being dressed in blue. A Mr. Nichols was killed near Bell Air, in this county, during the same summer of 1864. This act was committed by a band of Hall's State militia. Mr. Nicholas was a Kentuckian, a conservative Union man, and very quiet and peaceable. The provocation of this crime, if any, was never known. Thomas Cooper, of this vicinity, was arrested in the fall of 1864, in James Thompson's store, in Boonville, by militia, taken to a secluded spot near the fair grounds, and brutally murdered and his body mutilated. Cooper was a southern man, and known to his neighbors as quiet, toler- ant and inoffensive. These gentlemen are the only cases of which I can learn, f- * *■ « * « * * Yours very truly,' W. G. Pendleton. SALINE TOWNSHIP. Saline township was settled as early as 1812, by Joseph Jolly, who had only two children, John arid William, He HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I9I settled in the upper part of what has ever since been known as "Jolly's Bottom," and which received its name from him. He remained in this township until 1826, when he removed to the "Stephen's" neighborhood, in Palestine township. He there set out the first apple orchard in that part of the country, and erected a horse mill which would grind a bushel of corn an hour, and this was considered by the people of that day as a great achievement. He peddled apples, cider and ginger-cakes at all the musters and elections. William Jolly was a gunsmith, a wheelwright, a black- smith, a cooper, a miller, a distiller, a preacher, a doctor and a farmer. John Jolly kept a ferry across the Lamine river, on the lower ferry road, which is still known as "Jolly's Ferry." The next settlers of this township were William Lamm, James and John Turner, Joseph Pursley, Levin Cropper, Henry Levens, B. W. Levens, (the grand- father and father of Henry C. Levens, of Boonville,) Josiah Dickson, Charles Force, John Farris, Thomas Farris, Jesse Wood, David Fine, Joshua and Lacy McClanahan, George Dickson, Frederick and James F. Conner, John Calvert, Adam and Absalom McClanahan, Elverton Caldwell, Nod- ing Caldwell, Joseph Westbrook, Alexander Woods, Robert Givens, Leonard Calvert, August McFall, Alexander R. Dickson, William Calvert, Jr., James Farris and Robert Dickson. At what time these men settled here is not known to the present generation, but they certainly arrived between 1816 and 1820, for they all voted at Boonville at the August election in the latter year. William Lamm settled in the bottom in 1816, and Henry and B. W. Levens and Levin Cropper came here in 1817 or 1818, as they voted in 1819, and the law required that a person should reside in the county one year before he could vote. 193 HISTOfty OF COOJ'BR. COtrNTV. Henry Levens was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1774, married at Hagerstown, Maryland, and emigrated to Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, where all his children were born. He afterwards emigrated to Randolph county, 111., and lived there about fifteen years. His wife being dead, and all his children of age, he emigrated with his son, to Cooper county. He died at his old home in Illinois, in 1838. He was a soldier during the whole of the Revolu- tion, and received a pension for same till his death. Big Lick church, belonging to the Baptist denomination, was built at a very early time, and is now, and has been for many years, in a flourishing condition. John B. Longdon was the first pastor of this church. The first school in the township was taught by one Still- man, an eastern man, a place now occupied by the Higland schoolhouse. The first school recollected by one of the writers, he be- ing one of the pupils, and in his youth having lived in this township, was taught by a man named Rogers. He was a very fair scholar, for the times, and pleased his patrons with the advancement which was made by his scholars. Just before Christmas in the year 1818, the boys of this school had determined to "turn the teacher out," and force him to treat the scholars, by taking him to the creek and ducking him. This proceeding, though showing little re- spect for the dignity of the teacher, generally had the desired effect. The fear of it, in this case, had the desired effect, for the teacher, hearing of the plans of the scholars, voluntarily gave them a week's holiday, and on New Year's day treated them to a keg- of whisky. This, no doubt, will sound strange to most of our citizens at this day, but it is nevertheless true. It must not be thought from this that that was a terribly demoralized community, for it certainly was not, but on the HISTORY OP COOt>fetl COUKtY. 193 contrary, one of the most refined in the county. It was customary, at that time, to find whisky in every house, and a man who did not take his dram, was the exception and not the rule. But drunkenness was then considered very disgraceful, and on that account was rarely heard of. Peo- ple then ceuld drink without taking too much. It is not to be understood, that even considering the cus- toms of the settlers, at that time, the teacher was justified in treating his pupils to whisky, and the people for suffering it to be done. It was wrong then, and at the present day would not be tolerafed in any community. To the credit of the patrons and teachers of the schools of the past, it may here be said, that there is only one other instance known of a proceeding of this kind being allowed. It was considered at -that day that it was not so much the use as the abuse, which made whisky so objectionable and demoralizing. If at that day, a young gentleman, the least bit intoxicated attempted to wait upon a respectable young lady, he was told that his company was not absolutely required at that house, and that the sooner he left the bet- ter it would be for all concerned. How is it now ? Our readers live in the present, and are capable of passing judgment upon present customs. There was a town called "Washington," laid off by B. W. Levens, about one mile below Overton, near the Mis- souri river, on the farm lately occupied by Timothy Chand- ler. Several lots were sold, houses built, and for a while considerable business done. But the site of the town has long since disappeared, and the spot on which it was lo- cated cannot be designated by any persons living. Indeed, but few in that locality are aware of the fact that such a town was ever located and inhabited. Another town called "Houstonville," was laid off by B, W. Levens and John Ward at the ferry landing, opposite 194 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. Rocheport, and some lots were sold, but not much improved. The site of the town has long since disappeared under the encroaching waters of the Missouri river. Another town, the name of which is now unknown, was located at the "cross roads," north of Conner's mill, near the late residence of Judge Jesse Ogden, but was soon abandoned. Only two of the old pioneers are now living, viz : Wm. Lamm and James F. Conner. Mr. Lamm was born in Roan county. North Carolina, twelve miles from Saulsberry, and is 8i ye^rs of age. His parents removed with him to Tennessee, in 1796, taking him with them. He came to and settled in Saline township in the fall of 1816, and has remained there ever since. Mr. James F. Conner was a small boy, when he, with his parents, settled in Saline township. He is the proprietor of the Conner's mill, situated on the Petite Saline Creek, about nine miles east of Boonville, which was erected by Charles Force, and until it was purchased by Mr. Conner, who changed it into a steam mill, it was run entirely by water power. This mill was built at a very early day, and has proved of great benefit to the inhabitants of this township, as it gave them a market at home for their surplus products. This township is one of the best wheat districts in the county, probably not finer wheat being raised in the State. It also produces, with little cultivation, all other kinds of grain, fruits and garden vegetables. This township, as well as the rest of the county, had its troubles in the late civil war. There were nine Union and three southern men killed within its borders. The southern men who were killed were, Benjamin Hill, William Hen- shaw and Radford Bass. These men were murdered at or near their homes, about the last of September, 1864, by a scouting party of Union soldiers, being a part of the com- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I95 mand of Col. Hall, Missouri State militia. They were not belligerents, and the cause of their being slain is unknown. The Union soldiers who were killed, were slain by "bush- whackers" from Howard and Boone counties, seven of them on the 7th day of October, 1864, and two of them on the 27th day of May, 1865. The following is a list of them : Henry Weber, Franz Haffenburg, Jacob Eder, David Huth, Bernhard Deitrick, Gerhardt Blank, Peter Diehl, Jacob Good, Sr., Jerry Good, Jr. There was also a "bush- whacker," whose name is unknown, killed on the 27th day of May, 1865. This township has always been strongly Democratic in principle since the organization of the county, and still re- mains the same. For this information the authors are under obligations to Dr. T. H. Winterbower and David Schilb. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER XVII. Biographies of some of the Old Citizens, wliioii were not placed in the History of the Township in which they lived. ROBERT P. CLARK, JOSEPH STEPHENS, SR., JOHN MILLER. Robert P. Clark was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in the year 1791, and whilst 3'et a youth, emigrated with his father and family to Clark county, Kentucky. He was there placed as an apprentice in the clerk's office, with his uncle, David Bullock, and after serving the usual time and passing the customary examination, he was appointed to the clerkship of Estill county, Kentucky. He held this posi- tion until about the year 1816, when he resigned, and with his father and other members of the family, emigrated to Howard county, Missouri, where he arrived in the year 1817. The next year he moved to the present site of Boonville. On the first day of March, 1819, he was appointed clerk of the Circuit Court of Cooper county, by Hon. David Todd, judge of said court. In May, 1820, he was elected a member of the "Missouri State Convention," which framed the' first constitution for the State, and which was presided over by Hon. David Barton. He held the offices of clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, and also postmaster of Boonville, from the forma- tion of the county until the year 1835, when he resigned the office of postmaster. During this year the clerks of the different courts having become elective, he was a can- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. I97 didate for, and was elected to the office of clerk of the Cir- I cuit Court, which office he continued to hold until his death. He also held the offices of County Treas- urer and Commissioner of School Lands until the year 1832. He was called by the old settlers, on account of his inti- mate knowledge of the statute laws applying to the county, and of his being general adviser in matters of this nature, "The Father of the county." He first with his family, resided in a log cabin, contain- ing only one room, which stood southwest of the present residence of Capt. James Thompson, and was a very un- pretending round log affair. In these more refined days it would seem impossible for a family like his, with the late Judge Abiel Leonard, Peyton R. Hayden, Charles French, and John S. Buckey, then constituting the bar of Boon- ville, as his boarders, to live in a house having only one room, but such were the necessities of the times, and every thing flourished. He built a house on High street, on the lot where Adam Eckhard now resides, and moved there in the fall of 1820. In this house the first County Court was held, on the 8th day of January, 1821. He afterwards built a large two story brick house on the corner of High and Sixth streets, now owned by Joseph and William Williams. It is still standing, and was, at the time it was built, considered a very fine and elegant structure. Joseph Stephens, Sr., was born in Wythe county, Vir- ginia, in 1763, and was there married to Miss Rhoda Cole, the sister of Maj. Stephen Cole, and in 1801 emigrated to Wayne county, Kentucky, where he remained until the year 1815. In the last mentioned year he moved to Ten- nessee, and from thence, in November, 1817, to Cooper county, Missouri. The company of which he was a mem- 198 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. ber, came overland in wagons, and crossed the Mississippi river above Alton, and the Missouri river at Boonville. He settled about fourteen miles southwest of Boonville, his house being located in the bottom, one-quarter of a mile north of the present site of Bunceton, a few yards west of the railroad leading from Boonville to Tipton. He and his family lived during the first winter in a half face camp. All his children came with him except Mary Weatherford, who remained in Kentucky. He was married twice. The names of the children of his first wife were William, Peter,- Lawrence C, Joseph and James Madison — five sons, and Nancy, Nelly, Mary, Johanna, Frances, Rhoda and Zilpha — seven daughters ; there were also three other chil- dren who died when infants, whose names are not known. Nancy married Thomas B. Smiley; Nelly, James D. Campbell; Mary, Archibald Weatherford; Johanna, John Kelly ; Rhoda, B. W. Levens, and Zilpha, Pemberton Cason. Joseph Stephens' first wife died in 1822, and in 1824 he married Miss Catherine Dickson ; this union was blessed with four sons : John D., George D., Andrew J., and Thomas H. B., and five daughters: Margaret, Alpha, Harriet, Isabella and Lee Ann, making in all twenty-four children of which he was the father. Of the children of Joseph Stephens who emigrated to Cooper county with him, Joseph, James M., Nelly and Zilpha are still alive. Joseph Stephens was the first set- tler in that part of the county. At the time of his settle- ment, his nearest neighbor being seven miles distant. He was a very prosperous farmer, and an excellent manager in business aff'airs, never went in debt, and advised his children to follow his example. He was economical and saving, and just in all his dealings with others. He was a generous, good neighbor, a man of good moral character, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTV. I99 and of unquestioned veracity, and his word was considered as good as his bond or his oath. He gave all his sons a tract of land, and his daughters a negro slave, and to each of his children he also gave a horse, saddle and bridle, a cow and calf, a sow and pigs, a flock of sheep, and a bed and bedding. He then warned them to take care of and add to this property, as it was all he ever intended to give them. His precepts and example are not lost, but live in the hearts of his descendants and neighbors to this day. He died in May, 1836, at the age of 73 years. He was always a strong Jackson man, and took considerable inter- est in politics, but never would become a candidate for or accept any office. John Miller, the father of Judge George W. Miller, was born in South Carolina, and raised in McLanburg, North Carolina. When he was 20 years old, he moved to Knox county, Tennessee, where he married and resided for a few years. About the year 1805, he emigrated to Christian county, Kentucky ; and in 1818, he came to Missouri, then a territory, and settled near Glasgow, in Howarii county. He was elected from that county to the House of Represen- tatives in 1S22 and 1824. The other members of the Leg- islature from that county in 1822, were Alfred Bayse, the father of Judge George W. Miller's wife, Nicholas S. Burk- hart, Ignatius P. Owings, and Stephen Trigg ; and in 1824, Alfred Bayse, William J. Redd, William Ward, and Ed- ward V. Warren. He always said that he would keep out of politics if he remained in Howard county, although it might keep him poor all his life. He moved to Cooper county in the fall of the year 1825, and settled within the present limits of Pilot Grove town- ship. In the previous spring he had sent his son, George, W., accompanied by a hand, to make a crop at his future 200 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTlf. home, and as young George was an industrious boy, loving work so well that he could lie down and sleef by it, of course they must have succeeded well with their under- taking. But history will show that Mr. Miller did not keep out of politics as he had intended, when he moved from Howard county, as he was elected to the State Senate in 1828, on the Jackson ticket, and re-elected to the same office in 1832, having served in that capacity for eight 3'ears. In 1836 he was selected to carry the returns of the presidential election of this State, for that year, to Washington City. In 1838 he was again elected to the House of Representatives. He was also appointed Indian agent at Omaha by president Polk. The father of John Miller was of Scotch-Irish decent, and came from Ireland to this country a short time be- fore the Revolution. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution during the whole time it continued, until he was killed in the battle of Utau Springs. He belonged to a company of cavalry, and fell by the side of his friend and comrade in arms, Mr. Johnston, the great grandfather of James H. Johnston, the present Prosecuting Attorney of Cooper county, who gave the following account of his death : "As the battle was about being closed, Mr. Miller was heard to shout, 'They are fleeing,' and at that instant he was shot from his horse. This happened about four months before the birth of John Miller, and about one month after his birth the Tories set fire to the house in which his widowed mother resided, and burned it to the ground. As it was then winter, and the weather very cold, Mrs. Miller became sick from the ex- posure, and died in a few days, leaving John and his three little brothers in destitute circumstances, and without any known relatives in the United States. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 201 Mr. Johnson, who was with their father when he was killed, took charge of the little orphans, and, in due time, they were bound out, and raised separate from each other. John Miller survived all his brothers, and died in this county at the advanced age of eightj^-five years, honored ■and respected by his countrymen, with the consolation that the world had been bettered by his having lived in it. He was an earnest, zealous member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church. In politics he was always a Democrat. Peyton R. Hayden was born in Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, on the 22d day of February, 1796, and came to Old Franklin, Howard county, Missouri, in 1817, and there married in December, 1819, Miss Maria Adams, daugh- ter of the Hon. John Adams, sister of Judge Washington, and Mr. Andrew Adams, of Boonville, and the niece of Judge John Boyle, of Kentucky, and then settled with his family the same month in the village of Boonville, where he remained up to the time of his death, which took place on the 26th day of December, 1855. He was the first at- torney admitted to the Boonville bar — in March, 1819. He first taught school in Howard county for twelve months, for a livelihood, being a poor young man who had cast his lot among strangers in what was then almost a wilderness, and there was not then sufficient practice to support one la^yyer. He practiced law in all the courts in western Missouri, and in the State Supreme Court with Hamilton R. Gamble, Edward Bates, Charles R. French, Abiel Leonard, John F. Ryland and others, who afterwards became eminent. He was a leading and successful lawyer, having accummu- lated considerable property. He was noted for his zeal in advocating the cause of his client, and for his great energy and untiring industry. He was a man of affable manners, kind hearted and charitable, and always took undisguised pleasure to aid by counsel and advice, the efforts of the 202 HISTORY QF COOPER COUNTY. young members of the har, struggling for practice. Judge Washington Adams and Emmett R. Hayden his son, were law students under his teaching who became eminent in their profession, both of whom are yet practicing law in Boonville. His yopnger son, Henry C Hayden, studied law under Judge Washington Adams, and practiced the same success- fully in Calloway county, Missouri, until 1870, and then removed to Saint Louis and engaged in the practice in part- nership with the Hon. John B. Henderson, until the ist of August, 1873, when he died at Long Branch where he had gone to spend the summer with his familj'. Peyton R. Hayden was a Whig in politics, but never made a political speech nor was he ever an aspirant for office. He was a kind and indulgent father, a good neighbor and citizen, and died honored and respected by all who knew him. His funeral was attended and his memory honored by all the citizens. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTS. CHAPTER XVIII. Celebration of July Fourth, 1876, at Boonville, and Synopsis of the Exercises which took place on that Day. — Poem of H. A. Hutchison, read at Boonville, July Fourth, 1876, Since the "late war," Cooper county has gradually increased in population and wealth. The bitter feelings engendered during the war are slowly dying away. ; and it can with truth be said, that there is no county in the United States, where life, limb and property are better protected than in Cooper county. The people are generally intelli- gent, moral, hospitable, kind hearted and enterprising. Perhaps there is no better climate in the west, east of the Rocky Mountains, than this part of Central Missouri, and it is not like other parts of the west, subject to severe storms. As this history is intended to close on the one hundredth anniversary of our National Independence, it is only nec- essary, in conclusion, to give a description of how THE 4TH DAY OF JULY, 1876, was celebrated by the citizens of Cooper county, arid a synopsis of the exercises which took place at Boonville on that day. The celebration at Boonville commenced on the evening of the 3rd day of July, with the firing of cannons and a grand illumi nation of the principal streets, arid a very long torch- light procession. Main street was in a perfect blaze of light, with gas jets, candles arid lanterns, and- every bu'si- 204 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. ness house was decorated with flags and banners having appropriate mottoes ; in fact, with hardly an exception, the people participated in the grand display. The streets were crowded with people during the whole of the evening, and it was frequently remarked, "Where did so many people come from?" . A great many attended from different parts of this and surrounding counties, Howard county being especially well represented in the procession. The procession was considered a great success, even be- yond the most sanguine expectations of the committee of arrangements. It could perhaps be here remarked, that the celebration at Boonville oT the "nation's birthday," was not, in propor- tion to its population, excelled in any respect by that of any other city or town in the United States. The property holders and occupiers seemed to strive with one another as to whose premises should make the best appearance both in the illumination and the display of flags, lanterns, &c. The citizens were very quiet, and made no boast of what they intended to do, but when the signal was given for "lighting up,'' they astonished every body eke, and even themselves. It will not be undertaken to give an adequate description of the display on this occasion, for it would have to be seen to be appreciated. On the evening of the 3d, the procession was formed by Judge T. M. Rice, Chief Marshal, with Col. Robert Mc- CuUoch and Capt. George Meller, Assistant Marshals. In front was a large wagon, containing thirteen young ladies, who represented the thirteen original States of the Union. Then followed twelve men dressed in Continental uniform, who represented Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and others, among the most prominent men who took part in the Revolutionary struggle. Then came men bearing flags and torches, in all forming a HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 205 procession more than one-half of a mile long. Twelve men on horseback dressed in Indian costume, rode several times pell-mell through the streets, yelling and giving the Indian warhoop. This was a ludicrous, attractive and prominent feature of the procession. Three bands of music marched at different places in the procession ; the Boon- ville Silver Cornet, the Clark's Fork and the Pilot Grove bands. After the procession had marched and counter marched through the principal streets of the town, it halted at the Thespian hall, where the assembled multitude was entertained by an address prepared for the occasion, and delivered by Mr. Malcolm McMillan, of Boonville ; and last, as the closing exercise of this the first day of the great cele- bration, the crowd witnessed several of the best tableaux ever seen in Boonville, the principal characters of which were the young ladies who represented the thirteen States. It was past eleven o'clock before the exercises of the even- ing were concluded, and the people dispersed to seek rest, to prepare for the duties and pleasures of the following day, for the greatest efforts had been expended to make that the "crowning glory" of the celebration. The morning of the 4th was dark and gloomy ; rain fell in torrents, and the heavy boom pf the "artillery of heaven," drowned that of the "feeble sons of earth." But this day had been set aside by the people for enjoyment, and early crowds of people thronged the principal thoroughfares of the town, seeking the place where the closing exercises of the celebration were to take place. At 4 o'clock in the morning all the bells in the city were rung, and thirty-eight shots were fired by the cannon, one for each of the present States of the Union, As the morning was very disagreeable, although the rain had ceased falling about eight o'clock, the procession was pot formed uptil about i; o'clock, whew it proceeded tq 2o6 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.' Lilly's Grove, about one-half of a mile east of Boonville, there to listen to the reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and to the speeches and addresses prepared for the occasion. After an appropriate prayer by Rev. Curtis, of the Episcopal church at Boonville, the Declaration of Inde- pendence was read by Prof. J. P. Metzger. He was fol- lowed by Col. H. A. Hutchison, who read an excellent and appropriate poem written expressly for the occasion, and which will be found in full at the close of this chapter. Col. William Preston Johnson, of Virginia, was then introduced and delivered a most eloquent speech, which was received with loud cheers by the assembled crowd. Then Mr. G. Reiche delivered an address in German ; he was followed by Mr. John Cosgrove, who delivered the "Oration of the Day." After this, Mr. N. M. Drake read a sketch of the history of Cooper county, which had been prepared for the occa- sion in accordance with the request of the Committee of Arrangements. It was then, on motion of Major H. M. Clark, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, unanimously resolved by the assembled multitude, that Messrs. H. C. Levens and N. M. Drake, by. whom the above mentioned sketch was written, be granted further time to prepare a complete history of Cooper county, and that they be requested to have the same published in book or pamphlet form. At the close of each of the above exercises an appropriate chorus was sung, by a choir composed of lOO voices ; also frequently during the afternoon, the dull boom of the can- non was heard, seemingly to remind the forgetful of our citizens that that was indeed the "Centennial Fourth." On the night of the 4th, the citizens wef-e, (jailed together to -witness the display of fireworks, which had been pfq- HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. lO'J pared at great expense. And it is not exaggeration to say, that this was the finest display which has ever taken place in Central Missouri. At ten o'clock the last "bouquet of flowers" was fired into the air, and the heavy boom of the cannon notified the assembled multitude that the great cel- ebration of the 4th day of July was over, and the people retired to their homes satisfied with the success of their endeavors to make memorable, the birthday of three millions of "Sons of Liberty." At the request of many of the citizens of this county, the poem which was composed by Col. H. A. Hutchison, of Boonville, and read by him at the celebration on the 4th day of July, 1876, is here appended in full. JULY FOURTH, 1876. BY H. A. HUTCHISON. The goddess of liberty, sent from above, On mission of mercy, on errand of love, Eejected of empire, discarded by throne, Through kingdoms and monarchies wandered alone. Till taking her flight to a land o'er the sea, She found there a people who sighed to be free. She breathed oa the hearts, of our patriot sires, And kindled within them those burning desires Which ne'er would be quenched or would slumber again, Until the fair goddess triumphant would reign. Sustaining the weak and inflaming the cold She strengthened the doubtful and cheered on the bold, And giving our banner the stripe and the star, She bade them go forth in her service to war! The mother and sister, and fond hearted wife. Restrained not their dear one from joining the strife ; The maiden surpressing a sorrowful sigh, Her lover sent forth with a "cheerful good bye," And though they were few and their enemies strong, Yet striking for freedom, and maddened by Wrong, 208 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. They struggled and suffered thro' dark weary years Of want and privation, of hopes and of fears, Till tyranny fled and oppression was past, And victory perched on our banner at last. That banner unfurled to the sun and the breeze, As proudly it floats o'er the land and the seas. The beautiful emblem of freedom and right, To-day we will hail with a shout of delight ! And let the grim cannon be brought forth onoe more Not death from its red mouth in anger to pour, But only to blend the deep tones of its voice "With shouts of the people who meet to rejoice O'er this the return of the glorious day, On which, just a century now passed away, Our patriot fathers proclaimed them prepared To die, or sustain Independence declared ! From England and Scotia and Erin so fair, From Germany's shore, from the Alps bold and bare, From sunny Italia and beautiful France, From Spain whose fair daughters win hearts with a glance, ■ From regions of snow and from tropical isle. Where summer time reigns with perpetual smile, Our country's adopted, from all o'er the earth, To-day will rejoice with her children by birth ; And though they oft dream of the fatherland yet, Sometimes it may fee with a sigh of regret. Beneath our proud flag to the breezes unfurled, They'd stand by our country against the whole world ! Tho' menlory brings up, in dreadful review. The armies of gray and the legions of blue, The heroes who once met in hostile array, Will mingle together as brothers to-day ; And if the invader should come to our shore, I know they would rush to the battle OEce more, Fach veteran's heart to our whole country true, Though one wore the gray and another the blue ! Now let the wild tones of the jubilant bells. Be mingled with music, as sweetly it swells I And may the soft winds, as they wander afar. Breathe gently to-day, on each stripe and each star, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 2O9 And bear the glad tidings all over our lands, There's uniok of hearts, there is joining of hands, In north and in south, in the west and the east, Where gather the people, at church or at feast, On liberty's altar their garlands to cast. And cover with roses the thorns of the past. May heaven protect, as in days that are gone, The old ship of state riding gallantly on, And be we united, whatever befall — Our cousTRT I Our country! the watchword of all. HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER XIX. PRESENT CONDITION OF COOPER COUNTY. Present Boundaries of Cooper County. — Population of the County at Each Census. — Character of the Soil. — Chief Kinds of Wood, Grain, &c.. Produced. — Woodlands Settled First. — Present Condition of the Sokools and Churches of theCounty.^ — Men Hung in County, &c., &c. Cooper. County as it now exists, is bounded as follows : On the north by the Missouri river, on the east by Moni- teau county, on the south by Moniteau and Morgan coun- ties, and on the west by Pettis and Saline counties, and contains 567 square miles, or 355,172 acres of land. Since its first settlement it has increased very rapidly in population and wealth. Although during the first few years after the Coles arrived, they lived here almost alone, their only neighbors being the Indians, on the south side of the Missouri river, and the Whites, in what is now Howard county. Yet about the close of the war of 1812, settlers commenced, arriving very fast, for by this time, reports of the rich and almost unsettled country lying south of the Missouri river, had reached the thickly settled portions of the United States, in the north and east. The flattering reports of the fertility of the soil and the healthfulness of the cHmale, caused many persons to leave a home where they were from year to year, barely obtaining the necessi- ties of life, and seek a country which promised abundant harvest with little labor. The population of Cooper county in 1828, was 6,959 ; in 1830, 6,904; in 1840, 10,484; in 1850, 12,950; in i860, HISTORY OF COOPBR COUNTY. 211 17,356; and ^n 1870, 20,692. In taking the census of 1870, twelve square miles of the county were omitted by mistake, so that, had the census for that year been taken correctly, the inhabitants of the county would have been found to number at least 23,000. It contains by estimation on the 4th day of July, 1876, 25,006 inhabitants. The reason of the seemingly small increase of popula- tion, between the dates of taking the census for the first few times, is explained by the fact that every year or two some new county was cut oft' from Cooper, thus taking away some part of her territory and population. So that, in fact, from the time of the taking of one census to that of another, the increase must have been very great, as notwithstanding the fact, that large portions of the county were detached from it, each census shows an increase in population over the preceding one. Some of the main advantages which Cooper county holds out to the persons seeking homes, are the excellence of its educational institutions, the fertility of its soil, the health- fulness of its climate, the splendid facilities which it offers for the erection of manufactures, and the fact, that being crossed by three railroads through Its central portion, and skirted on the north by the Missouri river, the products of the county can be placed upon the markets with small cost to the producer. The soil of most parts of the county is well adapted to the cultivation of almost every kind of grain, as also tobacco and everything of that kind which any country with this climate could produce. Of all the counties of Missouri, and Missouri Is noted for having as rich soil as can be found anywhere, Cooper stands in the front rank as to quality and quantity of grain, &c., raised, as also for hav- ing the greatest amount o^ soil adapted to cultivation, for there is hardly any part of Its soil but whaf can l?e ci^lt^-, yated with advantage, 212 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The face of the country is divided between prairie and woodland, about one-half prairie, balance woodland. The southern portion of the county is mostly prairie, and as it nears the Missouri river^ the country gradually rises into heavily wooded hills. The western portion of the county is drained by the Lamine and Blackvv'ater rivers ; the central portion by the Petite Saline creek and its numerous tributaries, and the southeastern part by the Moniteau creek. There are many mineral and fresh water springs in the county. Among the former, the most noted are the Choteau Springs, situated about ten miles west of Boonville. Although there are no improvements there, yet they are resorted to by many per- sons, for the water of these springs are noted for their fine medicinal qualities. The chief kinds of wood which grow in Cooper county, are walnut, hickory, oak of all kinds, ash, Cottonwood, red- bud, and many others. The soil of the county is generally very fertile, being well adapted to agricultural pursuits. Nearly every species of grain can be raised here with profit, as has been abund- antly proven in the past. The bottom lands are well adapted to the cultivation of corn and hemp ; the u'plands to the cultivation of corn, wheat, oats, rye, &c. Peaches, apples, and all kinds of small fruits grow in the greatest abundance. Grapes are cultivated extensively, especially around Boonvilk, and a great deal of excellent wine is manufactured here every year. It is estimated that at least three-fourths of Cooper county is under cultivation. Coal is found in the county in the greatest abundance. Also lead and iron, which appear in heavy deposits in the northwestern portion. The wealth of the county, as appears from the census of j8yo, was about v'^io.ooo.pQg, HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. 213 There are three railroads running through the county ; one a branch road, called the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad, connecting Boonville with the Pacific Railroad at Tipton ; the Missouri, Kansas and Texas rail- road, running diagonally across the county from Boonville to the Pettis county line; and on the south, the Pacific railroad runs about six miles through the county, making in all, fifty-four miles of railroad within the limits of Cooper county. The exports of the county are corn, wheat, oats, flour, tobacco, stoneware, wine and woolen goods, which are pro- duced here in the greatest abundance. From 1820 to 1830 the population of the county increased very rapidly, consisting mostly of settlers from Kentucky and Tennessee, also from Pennsylvania and New York ; from 1830 to 1840, mostly from Virginia and North Caro- lina ; since which time the emigration has mainly come from the eastern and northeastern states. From the time of the first settlement until 1830, the cultivated lands were confined exclusively^ to the timbered parts of the county, the settlers not deeming prairie lands fit for cultivation. Another reason for not settling the prairie, was on account of the lack of water, it then being considered necessary to settle by the side of a spring — cisterns, ponds, and even wells not having been much used. "When the people com- menced making ponds and cisterns, the prairies settled very rapidly, thus proving that they were better civilizers than even steamboats or railroads. Education in Cooper county is now in a very flourishing condition, there being in the county about 102 schools, 90 white, and 12 colored, which are taught from four to ten months in every year. Education is more generally dif- fused among the masses, and receives more attention in this county than in most any county in th? St^te, 214 HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. The churches throughout the county are very numerous i have their pulpits filled with able ministers, and are well attended by the greatest part of its citizens. The prevail- ing denominations are the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyte- rians, Christians and Episcopalians. . There have only been two men hung in Cooper county by a due process of law, which speaks well for her good morals. They were both negroes ; one named Luke, and the other Jack. Luke was hung in 1826, at Boonville, for killing his master, named Harris, who lived in what is now Lamine township ; Jack was hung about the year 1830, for killing a man named Gabriel, who kept a distillery on Haw Creek, about six miles from Florence, which is now Mor- gan county, but was then in Cooper county. CHAPTER XX. Complete list of State officers, who have served from the organization of the State to the present time. ST^TE OFFICERS OF MISSOURI. GOVEENOES. Alexander MoNair. Frederick Bates . . . Abraham I. Williams John Miller John Miller Daniel Dunklin Lilburn W. Boggs Lilburn "W. Boggs . . . Thomas Eeynolds. . . . ii. M. Marmaduke. . . John C. Edwards. . . . Austin A. King Sterling Price TrustenPolk Hancock Jackson . . . Epbert M. Stewart. . . C. F. Jackson Hamilton E. Gamble "Willard P. Hall Thomas C. Fletcher. . Joseph W. McClurg. . B. Gratz Brown Silas Woodson Charles H. flardin... DATE OP ELEO N OR APPOINTMENT Sept., 1820 . . . . Nov. 21, 1824.. Aug. 4, 1825... Jan. 20, 1826.. Nov., 1828 Nov. 21, 1832.. Oct. 1, 1836.... Nov. 23, 1836.. Nov. 18, 1840... February, 1844. Nov. 20, 1844. . August, 1848.. August. 1852.. August, 1856. . February, 1857. Oct. 22, 1857... 1861 July 30, 1861.. Nov. 8, 1864.... Nov. 3, 1868.. . . Nov. 8.1870.... Nov. 5, 1872.... Nov. 3, 1874.... TIME FOK WHICH ELECTED, KTC. For 4 years For 4 years. Died Aug. 4, 1825. Vice, F. Bates, deceased V'e A. I, Williams, abs't f m St'e. For 4 years For 4 years , .■ . . Vice, D. Dunklin.'resigned For 4 years For 4 yeaxs. Died Feb., 1844. . . Vice Eeynolds, deceased For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years Vice, Polk, resigned 4 years. Vacated by conv'n ord. Elected by convention Vice, Gamble, deceased ^ . For 4 years For 2 years For 2 years For 2 years...... . .. . ., For 2 years. 2l6 MISSOURI STATE OFFICERS. LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS. William H. Ashley. . . Benjamin H. Reeves. Daniel Dunklin Lilburn W. Boggs Franklin Cannon . . . . M. M. Marmaduke.. . James Young Thomas L. Price Wilson Brown Hancock Jackson Thomas C. Reynolds. WillardP. Hall George Smith E. 0. Stanard J. J. Gravelly Charles P. Johnson.. Norman J. Coleman.. DATE OP ELEO N OB APPOINTMENT August, 1820. August, 1824. August, 1828. August, 1832. August, 1836. August, 1840. August, 1844. August, 1848. August, 1852. August, 1856. August, 1860. August, 1861. Xov. 8, 1864.. Nov. 3, 1868.. Nov. 8, 1870. . Nov. 5, 1872.. Nov. 3, 1874.. TIME FOK WHICH ELECTED, ETC. For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years For 4 years. . . .* Elected by convention. For 4 years For 2 years For 2 years For 2 years For 2 years SECRETARIES OF STATE. NAMES. DATE OF ELEC'n OR APPOINTMENT TIME FOR WHICH ELECTED, ETC. Joshua Barton 1820 For 4 vears William G PeHSau ;5 p » so " o 2. C5 i. C3 S Em 503 S 2, ns g,j e.r" SB' B.CO o • 2 £. p3. £*rt'S'5'S-ai o', _-. O CD fP Hj iT' f& i s. il*. rp n 03 CD iPiP ID a 02 220 MISSOURI STATE OFFICERS. re fD„ E ^ Cj-O (b . «-*■'» <=: CD-, CD re ■^. : : >§: ; : : 2.; i : g-S; ; : ■ i^i . . a p . . . . - . - . S I—. . . - H ■ : : !"g: : : ; g: : : : g : : : : jj-: . . . !r' ... re . ... o ... . a.. :::?::::.•: : : Wc!: ow: : : : : g s : S 5 : • : . . &C5 : B.*^ ■ : : : f*: : 03 d a o S a CHAPTER XXI. Complete List of all the County Officers who have served from the organization of the County to the present time. CIRCUIT JUDGES OF COOPER COUNTY. David Todd William Scott James W. Morrow. George W. Miller . . T. M. Rice George W. Miller . . DATE OP ELECT ff OE APPOIKTMENT March 1, 18)^9.. January, 1837.. August 14, 1841 August, 1851.... January 1,1869 January 1, 1875 DATE OF EETIBING PROM OFTICB. January, 1837 August. 1841 .',. August, 1851 January 1, 1869 January 1, 1875 Still in office. Term will expire January 1, 1881 STATE SENATORS, From the District of Missouri in which Cooper County is situated. YEAR OF ELECTION 1820.... 1824.... 1828.... 1832.... 1836... 1840. . . . 1844.... 1848.... 1852. .. 1856.... I860.... 1862.... 1866.. . 1869. .. 1870.... 1873.... J8T4,,,- NAMES OP SENATOKS. Cooper and Clark George Crawford John Miller John Miller David Jones , Reuben A. Ewing Jordan O'Bryan , David Jones > , Wm, Dunlap. - ,,, James B. Harris Thomas Monroe , = , Frank W. Hiokox, , , George W. Boardman , ,, M. MoMillen, to fill vacancy , John Pappin , , S. S. Abney, to fill vacancy , S. S, Abpey, Term gxpires November, 1878, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. 222 COOPER COUNTY OFFICERS. EEPRESENTATIVES. YEAB. 1820. 1822. 1824, 1826. 1828. 1830. 1832. 1834. 1836. 1838. 1840. 1842. 1844. 1846. 1848. 1850. 1852. 1854. 1856. 1858. 1860. 1862. 1864. 1866. 1868. 1870. 18T2. 1874. NAMES or BEPBESBNTATIVBS. Thomas Bogers, Thomas Smiley and Wm. Lillard. B. F. Hickox, Jordan O'Bryan and A. K. Langon. B. F. Hiokox and G. W. W^ght ,. - M. Dunn and Jordan O'Bryan ' A. Kavanaugh and D. Jones A. Kavanaugh and D. Jones t D. Jones and Joseph S. Anderson D. Jones and Jordan O'Bryan William Calvert and John H. Hutchison John Miller, B. F. Hickox and L. Hall J. O'Bryan, John G. Miller and L. C. Stephens Wm. Shields and John G. Miller A. S. Walker and A. K. Langon Thornton P. Bell Benjamin Tompkins and David Jones L. C. Stephens and Benjamin Tompkins A. K. Langon and Benjamin Tompkins. Robert C. Harrison and W. C. Ewing John M. McCutchen and Robert C. Harrison A. J. Barnes and Reuben A. Ewing G. G. Vest and A. S. Walker W. G. Wear and Harvey Bunce Henry Elliott and Alfred Mathews J. A. Eppstein and D. K. Steele .' Daniel Clark and D. K. Steele M. McMillan and D. K. Steele Daniel Hunt J. G. Roberts. Term will expire November, 1876.. CIRCUIT CLERKS OF COOPER COUNTY. NAMES, Robert P. Clark Bennett C. Clark Benjamin Tompkins.. Justinian Williams.. W. W. Taliaferro Horace A. Hutchison, DATE OF ELECT N OE APPOINTMENT Mar. Nov. Sept. Jan. Jan. Jan. 1,'19. '41... '53... '60... '67... '75.... DATE OF EETIEIKG FSOM OFFICE. November, 1841 September, 1853 January, I860,. , January, 1867 January, 1 875 .... , Still in office, term ex, Jan. '79. COUNTY CLERKS OF COOPER COUNTY. NAMES. Robert P. Clark Samuel S. Kofield. . . . Benj. Emmons Ferry, Henry C. Levens. . . . Jacksoa Monroe, . , , , DATE OF ELECT N| OE APPOINTMENT Jan. 8, '21... Jan. 1,'36... Aug. 8, '37... Jan. 1, '54.. , Jan. 3, '75... DATE OP EETIEING FEOM OFFICE. January 8, 1836 August 1, 1837 January 8, 1854.. January 3, 1875 Still in oflSce, term ex. Jan. 1, "7§ COOPER COUNTY OFFICERS. SHEBIFFS OF COOPER COUNTY. 223 William McFarland. . William H. Curtis... .Tames L. Collins Sylvester Hall Marcus Williams William H. Anderson .Joseph S. Aijdersora. John H. Hutchison . .Toel E. Woodward. James Hill Isaac Lionberger. . . James Hill Harvey Bunce B. B. Ferry Harvey Bunce C. B. Combs A. J. Barnes Wm. J. Woolery. . . . Thos. E. Rochester. . R. B. Newman F. A. Rogers F. A. Rogers DATE OF ELECT K OR APPOINTMENT. March 1, '19. July 24, '19.. July 24, '22.. Nov. 24, '22.. July 26, '24.. August '26... August '28... August '32... Augast '36... August '38... August '42... August '46. . . August '50 August '54... August '58... Dec. ], '62... Jan. 6, '63... Jan. 11, '65.. May 2, '65... July ],'70... Nov. '72 Nov. '74.. .. TATE OP KETIEING FEOM OFFICE. July 24, 1819 July 22, 1822 November 24, 1822 July 26, 1824 August 1826 August 1828 August 1832 August 1836 August 1838 August 1842 August 1846 August 1850 August 1854 August 1858 November 5, 1861 January 6, 1863 September 5, 1864 May 2, 1865 June 23, 1870 November 1872 November 1874 Term will expire Nov. 1876. COUNTY COLLECTORS OF COOPER COUNTY. Andrew Briscoe. . . John C. Rochester. William H. Anderson David P. Mahan Joseph S. Anderson. . Martin Jennings John H. Hutchison. . J. E. Woodward James Hill Isaac Lionberger .lames Hill Harvey Bunce B. F.Ferry Harvey Bunce C. B. Combs A. J. Barnes Wm. J. Woolery Thomas E. Rochester, R. B. Newman Robert McCulloch... Robert McCulloch. . . . DATE OF ELOT N OR APPOINTMENT. April 11, '21... Feb. 9, '22.... Feb. 18, '24... Aug. 2, '26.... June 11, '29... Feb. 6, '32.... Feb. 11, '33... Aug. 14, '36... Aug. 9. '38.... Aug. '42 '46 '50 '54 '58 Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Dec. 1, '62... Jan. 6, '63... Jan. 11, '65. May 2, '65.. July 1, '70. . Nov. 3, '72.. Nov. '74.... DATE OF EETIKINO FROM OFFICE. February 19,1822 February 18, 1824.... August 2, 1826 June 11, 1829 February 6, 1832 February 11, 1833.... August 14, 1836 August 9, 1838 August, 1842 August, 1846 August, 1850 August, 1854 August, 1858 November 5th, 1861 . , January 6th, 1863... September 5th, 1864. May 2nd, 1865 June 23d, 1870 February 3d, 1875 IStill in office, term exp's Feb. '77 224 tOOT?BTi (JOUifTy O^'PiCHitg. JUSTICES OF THE COUNTY COURT OF COOPER COUNTY. A. S. Walker. . . Lawrence C. Stephens Benj. F. Hickox John H. Hutchison. , JohnS. McFarland.. Robert Stuart Philip A. Tutt Jeremiah Rice Ignatius Hazell William R. Butler. . . Thomas L. Williams. Leonard Calvert Jesse Odgen Bennett C. Clark. . . . Isaac Lionberger James H. Baker William E. Baird .... John A. Trigg ......= Wm. J. Woolerly C. W. Sombart Jesse G. Newman .... Jacob Baughman . Joseph Feland __(2anstantine Heim. . . James Bruffey Archibald Kavanaugh James Miller James D. Campbell. . Robert F. Howe John Briscoe Charles Woods Thomas McMahan.. Joseph Byler James L. Collins Green Seat David Jones Samuel Turley William Bryant John Briscoe Marcus Williams... Joseph Byler , Eice Hughes Robert Hood , Anthony F. Piead. . . . Green Seat Joseph Patterson .... George W. Weight... John Briscoe C. H. Smith A. H. Neal DATE OF ELECT N OR APPOINTMENT '58. '58. '62.. '62.. '62.. '66. '66.. Nov. 21, '42. Aug. 5, '44.. Sept. 24, '44. Apr. 14, '45., No5t. 2, '46.. Aug. 3, '47... Sept. 13, '48. Apr. 5, '50... Nov. 4, '50... Nov. 4, '50.. Aug. 28, '54. Aug. 28, '54.. May 5, '56..., Aug. 16, '58 Aug. 16, Aug. 16 Apr. 7, June 2, '62 Dec. 19, '62 Dec. 19, Dec. 16, Nov. 27, Nov. 27, Nov. 30, Jan. 8, '21... Jan. 8, '21... Jan. 8, '21.... Jan. 10, '22.. Aug. 16, '24.. May 2, '25... May 2, '25.... May 2, '25. . . . May 2, '25.... Feb. 6, '26... Feb. 6, '26.... Feb. 6. '26 Feb. 6, '26 Feb. 6, '26 May 7, '27... May 7, '27 May 7, '27 Aug. 3, '29.... June 17. '30.. May 2, '31.... May 2, '31 Nov. 6, '32.... .Sept. 8, '34.... Sept. 8, '34.... Feb. 7, '37.... Nov. 21, '42... DATE OF KETIRING FROM OFFICE. May 16th, 1844 September 24th, 1844. November 2d, 1846 August 7, 1848 November 4th, 1850.... February 19, 1850 November 4th, 1850 August 28th, 1854 August 16lh, 1858 August 28th, 1854 August 16th, 1858 February 16th, 1856. ... August ieth, 1858 February 3d, 1862 February 3d, 1862 November 2nd, 1866 December 19th, 1862 November 6th, 1864 December 19tb, 1864 . . . November 27th, 1866 November 30th, 1868 December 16th, 1872 December 5th, 1870 December 14th, 1874 January 10th, 1822..,, ., August 16th, 1824... . -. . May 2nd, 1825 '7 February 6th, 1326 May 6th, 1825 February, 6th, 1826 February 6th, 1826 February 6th, 1826 , February 6th, 1826 May 7th, 1827 May 7th, 1827 ■jMay 7th, 1827 IIMay 7th, 1827 May 7th, 1827 May 17th, 1832 June 17th, 1830 August 3d, 1829 May 2nd. 1831 May 2nd, 1831 September 8th 1834 September 8th, 1834. . ... August, 1836 November 21st, 1842 November 21st, 1842 June 5th, 1847 September 24th, 1844 fioOPER COUNTY OFFICERS. JUSTICES OF COUNTY COURT-Contikded, 225 James H. Walker, present presiding Justice of County Court, elected November, 1870; term will expire November, 1876. JoHn M. McCuTOHEN, at present Associate Justice, elected November 1872; term will expire November, 1878. Robert A. McCnLLocH, present Associate Justice, elected November, 1874; term will expire November, 1880. COUNTY TREASURERS. NAMES. TIME ENTERING OFFICE. DATE OF RETIRING FROM OFFICE. Robert P. Clark. . . . Jacob Wyan, CD. W.Johnson.. Wm. P. Speed James Thomson. . . Wm. P. Speed.. .. H. E. W. McDearmon Christian Keill .... * Wm. E. Baird... C. Keill James Thomson . . . James Thomson . . . Jan. June Feb. Aug. Aug. Dec. Aug. Feb. Jan. Nov. Nov. Nov. 8, '21... 4, '33... 17, '42.. 12, '53., 1 1, '56.. 19, '62.. 3, '63... 10, '65 . 5. '70... 15, '70. 14, '72.. 7, '74.. January 4, 1833 February 17, 1842 August 10, 1853 . August 10, 1856 December 19, 1872 July, 1863 February 7, 1865 January 5, 1870 November 15, 1870 November 14, 1872 November 7, 1874 •. Still in office, term ex. Nov. '76. * William E. Baird was appointed County Treasurer in the place of Christian Keill, on account of his being rendered unfit to discharge the duties of his ofiSce, by what afterwards proved to be temporary insanity. But in the suit which Keill brought after his recovery, for his salary as County Treasurer while the office was occupied by Baird, the Supreme Conrt decided that the office was illegally held by Baird, because Kiell had not been declared insane by the proper tribunal. But at the time of the appointment of Baird, the interests of the county would have greatly suffered by the office being left vacant. COUNTY ATTORNEYS OF COOPER COUNTY. Wm. S. Brickey James Winston J. L. Stephens Wm. Douglass John Trigg D. Wj^Wear D. A^illan John Cosgrove James H. Johnston . . DATE OF ELECT N OR APPOINTMENT March 3, '19.. June 26, '40. May 9, '51.... July 25, '64... Ap'nt'd prot'm June 5, '65 Nov. 28, '66.,. Jan. 1, '73.. . Jan. 1,'75.... DATE OF RETIRING FROM OFFICE. June 26, 1840 May 9,1851 Julv25, 1864 May 30, 1865 During term Circuit Court November 10, 1866 January 1, 1873 iTanuary 1, 1875 IStill in office. Termex, Jan. 1,'77 There was, we think, a small space of time between 18—, and 18 -, during which time William D. Muir acted as County Attorney for Cooper county, ex-offieio, he being at that time State Circuit Attorney for this district of Missouri ; but the records of the county do not show the facts. 226 C60PER COUNTY OFFICERS. dOUNTY ASSESSORS OF COOPER COUNTY. NAMES. Geo. Crawford, for Co. J. Dixon, Boonville 'J J. Briscoe, Clear Creel* S. D. Reavis, Moniteau L. Cropper, Saline T. . John C. Rochester. . . William Allison Lawrence Hall Joseph B. Steele Joseph Patterson Howard Chism George Crawford A. S. Walker W. H. Anderson John Ogden Thomas L. O'Erjian. . William R. Butler... George Crawford A. H. Roads Harvey Bunoe George Crawford James Hill Robert H. Turner Thomas McCuUoch . . Josiah E. Eubank James T. McCuUoch. Joseph C. Koontz.. . . Thomas E. Rochester. Jesse McFarland R. B. Stoneman James L. Bell N. T. Allison D. E. Drake J. E. Eubank B. E. Waller Thomas E. Rochester D. A. Melvin Thomas E. Rochester. M. F. Kemp R. B. Newman R.W. Whitlow J. H. Orr James F. Adams DATE OF ELECT H OR APPOINTMEKT '40. '41. "46. '48. April 9, '21. Feb 20, '22. Feb. 20, '22., Feb. 20, '22. Feb. 20, '22. , Feb. 19, '23., Feb. 18, '24., Feb. 22, '25.. Feb. 6, '26... Feb. 6, '28... Feb. 9, '32... Feb. 6, '33... Feb. 6, '3.5.. Feb. 6, '36.. Feb. 6, '37... August, '38. August, August, August, August, August, '50. August, '51. August, '52.. Feb. 16, '53.. Dec. 22, '53.. Dec. 8, '56... Jan. 5, '58. . . Jan. 5, '58... Tan. 5, '58... Feb. ],'58... .Fan. 5, '58... Jan. 5, '58... Jan. 3, '59... Jan. 3, '59... Feb. 6, '60... August, '60 . Oct. 6, '62.... Feb. 21, '65.. May 3, 1865.. -Sept. 4, '65... July 2, '70... Jan. 1, '73 .. Jan. 1, '75.. . DATE OF RBTIEING FROM OFFICE. February 20, 1822 February 19, 1823 February 19, 1823 February 19, 1823 February 19, 1823 February 18, 1824 February 22, 1825 February 6, 1826 February 6, 1828 February 9, 1832 February 6, 1833 February 6, 1835 February 6, 1836 February, 1837 February. 1838 August, 1840 August, 1841 August, 1846 August, 1848 August, 1850 August, 1851 August, 1852 February 16, 1853 December 22, 1853 ; December 8, 1856 January 5, 1858 February 6, 1860 February 6, I860 February 6, 1860 January 3, 1859 i January 3, 1859 February 6, 1860 February 6, I860 Februaiy 6, 1860, August, 1860 October 6, 1862 ... = February 21, 1865 May 1, 1865 September 4, 1865 July 1, 1870 January 1, 1873 January 1, 1875 Still in oflBce. Term ex. Jan. 1, '77 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. John M. MoCutchen. H. A Hutchison ElishaN. Warfield...' Harvey Bunce Viet Bppstein DATE OF ELECT N ]0R APPOINTMENT Jan. 6, '48... May 4, '57.... Feb. 13, '60;.. Oct., '62 Nov. 20, '72.. EXPIRATION. May 4, 1857 February 13, 1860 October 18, 1862 November 20, 1872 El' ted 4 y'rs. Term ex. Nov., '76. COOPER COUNTY OFFICERS. COUNTY SURVEYORS OF COOPER COUNTY. 227 TIME OP ENTEE- ING OFFICE. TIME or EETIEING FEOM OFFICE. William Ross...... Baxter M. Ewing. . .John Dixon George T. Boyd.. . George W. Weight P. A. Tutt C. H. Allison Charles Atkinson.. W. W. Trent W. W. Trent March 1, '19.. July 9, '21.,.. Feb. 22, '22... Sept. 12, '33... Feb. 3, '36.... August 3, '43.. Nov. 8, '59.... Dec. 1,'61.,.. Dec. 8, '72.... Dec, '74 2 1829 February 22, '1822! .'. September 11, 1833 February 3, 1836 August 3, 1843 Novembers, 1859 Decembers, 1868 December 18, 1872 December, 1874 Still in office. Terra ex. Dec, '78. Those to Whom we are under Obligations for Assistance. The greater part of the information concerning the "Hiistory of the Boone's Lick Country" south of the Mis- souri river, was obtained from Capt. Samuel Cole, who, with the exception of his sister, Mrs. Jennie Davis is the only living witness of the events which transpired from the first settlement of the county to the year 1815. They, at the age of nine years, came to the county with their mother, and have resided within the same ever since'. The information concerning that part of the country lying north of said river, was mostly obtained from Col. N. G. Elliott, who is now living in Howard county. His history, which is no doubt reliable, was obtained from the first settlers when living. We also acknowledge assistance from the "Annals of the West," "Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri," and other able histories. The next living witness is William Gibson, who emi- grated to this county in the year 1815. In 1816 we have Mr. Jesse McFarland, who was in 1819, Deputy United States Surveyor of Cooper county, Judge John S. McFar- land and Mrs. Margaret Stephens ; in 1817, Joseph Steph- ens, son of Joseph Stephens, Sr. ; in 1818, Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Homan, Jonathan and Miss Mary Reavis, all of Boonville. Also at later dates, Messrs. William L. Scott, N. T. Allison, Sr., Peter H. Ferrel, Judge Bennett, C. Clark, and Dr. Waid Howard. Those who rendered assistance in compiling the history of the different townships of the county, were Messrs, Thomas J. Starke, William Q^ P§ncJlgton, David Schilb, POPULATION OF COOPER COUNTY. 229 Dr. T. H. Winterbower, William Lamm, and Rev. N. T. Allison, Jr. Those who assisted us in the war history of the county, were Col. Joseph A. Epp^'tein, David Schilb, Marcus Williams, Capt. Joseph L. Stephens, and some few others, to all of whom we return our sincere acknowl- edgments. We are also under many obligations to Mr. John W. Pattison, Clerk in the department of the Secretary of State at Jefferson City, from whom we obtained much valuable information, and who was untiring in attending to our sim- plest requests. Also Col. H. A. Hutchison, Circuit Clerk, and Jackson Monroe, County Clerk of Cooper county, for their kindness extended during our examinations for record history in their respective offices. POPULATION OF COOPER COUNTY, AS SHOWN BY EACH CEN- SUS, FKOM THE YEAR 1820 TO THE PRESENT TIME. Tear White Popolation. Colorefl Population. Total Population. lB-,n ' 6,31)7 652 ti,969 liso"" 5,876 1,0-28 6,9U4 1840 ... 8,312 2,172 10,484 iSsX 9,837 3,113 1'2,9S0 jsea 13,528 3,828 17,356 \m.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.... 17,340 3,352 2D,B9a The reason of the seemingly small increase in popula- tion between the dates of the taking of the census for the first few times, is explained by the fact that every few years some new county was cut off from Cooper, thus taking some part of its territory and population. In taking the census of 1870, twelve square miles of the county were left out by mistake, so that, had the census for that year been taken correctly, the population would hav^ been found to have been several thaiusand more. 236 Abstracts. ABSTRACT OF APPORTIONMENTS TO THE CHILDREN OF COOPER COUNTY FROM THE DIFFERENT SCHOOL FUNDS. Tear. Children in Connty . .State Ap- Ijortionru't Towhshi]! Appor'm't County Appor'mH Total Ap- por'ment. 1854 3,8.50 4,085 4,185 4,498 4,787 5,065 5,068 5,104 3,698 5,6.35 3,971 4,. 599 5,024 7,028 7,177 6,94 7,198 7,436 $3.722. .58 2,737.li4 3,246.70 3,508.44 3,350.9'! 3,494.85 3,461.68 ""2;2i6]i3 $1,154.14 2,882.58 699.46 2,057.30 2,450.47 2,3.56.60 2,740.21 1,164.73 2,992.27 1,066.41 2,816.26 2,679.82 2,416.81 17,5.50.36 1,876.21 2,. 592. 30 8,113.48 3,482 46 2,4.'8.76 2,684.64 2,462.29 2,421.69 $ 729.80 ' 699.16 264 80 ],»i89.76 1,214.50 606.. 50 ,362.01 467.20 521.36 ,531.. 55 1,165.58 495.99 1,1102.90 844.47 1,066 14 2 144.63 2,385.11. 1,599.13 2,407 58 3,633 9r' 731.62 638.40 $6, 606.. 52 6,318.78 1856 4,210.96 1857 6,655.50 18.58 7,015.87 18,59 6,037,95 liSS'l 6, .564. 10 1861 . 1,631.93 1863 3,513.83 1864 4 738.09 1865 3,981.84 1866 594.44 ""'3,720;78 4,148.31 3,758.00 4.747.03 3,961.97 3,901.19 4,477.89 5,154 93 4,796.52 3,770.25 1867 3,419 71 ISriS 22,105.60 1869 7, -096 63 1870 8,494.93 1871 9,245.61 1872 8,043.56 1873 8.737.53 1874 1875 1876 6/2il 10,796.48 8,348.84 7,856.11 In the above abstracts, from i866 to 1876, both years in- clusive, the number of colored children and the apportion- ment of the above funds to them, is included in that of the white children. ABSTRACTS OF THE SCHOOL TAX BOOKS OF COOPER CO. Year. District Tax. Township Tax. Total Taxes. 1870 $39,343.89 36,984.67 ,56,313.25 $2,037.51 690., 38 $42,031.40 1871 37,615.05 56,313.25 33 208 27 1872 1873 . , . 32,186.72 29,155.19 26,787.75 25,406.34 1,021. .55 410. .56 2,162.31 470.85 1874 1875 1876 29,565.74 28.9,50.06 25,877.19 Previous to the year 1870, the school taxes were levied and collected by the different township clerks, so that the aggregate for years previous to 1870 cannot be given. Abstracts. 23r ABSTRACTS OF TAXABLE WEALTH AND TAXES OF COOPEE COUNTY. Year. Vulue 01 Real Estate. Vulue of Pers'l Pro'y To'l Yal'a'ulstate Tax. "^"S^'^jT"'! ^'"^^^ 1819 ... $ $ $ "i,734!04 7-26,32 867!li2 363.16 $ 1820. ... 1821. . 1822 1823. . 1824 1825. 1826 1,269.06 1,-242.96 1,457.18 634.53 621.48 728.59 1827. . 1828 1829. 1830 1,729.96 864.98 1831 1832 1833 1834 . . 1835 1836 ^ 1837 1838 1839 1840 1S41.... 1842 1843 1844 .593,899 803,1.33 918,640 1,141,773 1,098,646 1,386,126 1,265,934 .371,948 639,442 817,073 742,267 1,077,663 1,091,997 700,109 1,167,847 1,502, ,596 1,733,72-2 1,984,04-) 2,176,311 2,431,123 1,956,04S 2,012,63S 2,093,366 2,216,031 2, 062,. 541 2,209,811 2,290,983 2, -.193, 238 2,098,342 2. 737, -227 2,730,628 1,189,21 1,. 509. 16 2,027.41 2,715.64 3,154.01 3,4.35.69 3,1»91.01 3,749,60 4,227.66 4,103. to 4, 833. {1-2 5,4-26.62 5.115 86 6,200.04 5,996 30 6,143.72 6,141.11 1,189.21 2,3110.76 3,331.08 4,0-29.06 3,604.63 3,455..'-,9 2,318.25 2,812.20 4, '2-27 86 4,103.06 4,720.50 6,088.91 6,116.85 5,188.16 11,992 72 7, .5-22. 46 11,022.61 2,378.42 3,809.92 ,5,958.49 6,744.60 6,7.58.66 0,911.18 5,409 26 6,661.80 1845 8,456 72 1846. 8,206 12 1847 6.561.52 1848 1849 13.50 1851 18.52 1833 .... 1854 1,288,322 1,101,795 1,232,740 1,237,993 1,264,695 1,177,850 921,494 1,189,188 1,060,518 1,460,437 1,492,531 1,652,778 10,486.63 10,231.70 10,369.10 17,989.08 13,666.18 17,163.62 1855,... 1856 1857.... 1858.... 18.59 1860 1861 1862 1,6116,680 2,634,645 2,249,160 3,383.821 3,672,333 8,603,872 2,679,385 1,531,650 2,316,195 2, 618, .330 3,4.38,683 3,428,789 3,186,838 2,621,210 3,138,3,30 4,930,840 4,767,490 «,S44.6P4 7,101,327 6,790,61)2 5,400.596 3,894,000 3,437,301 3,066.051 2,9.36,861 3,690.-564 5,933;3.i6 6.094,20.'! 4,856,161 5,856,362 5,349,6?!- 5,3-28,81^ 6,590,4 t 6,. 57 3, 40(1 5.140,2-25 5,565,155 7,046.34 10,682.43 10,289,48 15, .588. 13 23,330.2r 22,402.81 18,046 l.S 12,777.51 20,086.91 23,126.31! 23,607.16 41,219.67 38,609.8« 31,243.51 29,280.80 29,281.81 27,747.84 24,879.68 27.542.H3>i 25,814.65 23,131.01 22,174.42 12,563.32 19,803.36 10,289.48 21,671 03 18,923.24 21,720.67 17,679.27 13,334,91 12,663.38 35,871.98 13,812.08 3-2,291.07 3.'f,609.8H 76, .580. .16 84,03,5 76 111,684.47 130,325,14 107.966.26 129,198. 9] J-S 113,186 oeji 71,834.81 92,472.12 19.599.64 20,485.79 20,678.96 37,260.18 42, '263. ,33 44,123.48 33,723.40 26,112 41 1863 1864.... 1865 1866 1867 1863 1869 1870 1871 .... 1872 1873 1874 1875. . . . 1876 1,917,230 1,976,390 2,047,280 2,662,7.37 4,.588,978 4,929,762 4,782,080 4,787,165 4,384,041 4,27S.973 4,226,1.50 4,226,1.50 3,773,740 3,773,605 1,540,070 l,