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MISSOURI'S HALL OF FAME.

MISSOURI'S HALL OF FAME
LIVES OF
EMINENT MISSOURIANS

BY
FLOYD CALVIN SHOEMAKER, A. B., A. M.
Secretary of The State Historical Society of Missouri
Editor of The Missouri Historical Review
Author of "Missouri's Struggle for Statehood."

" When a man ot action dies, the world wiK pause a moment,
pay tribute to his work and achievment, and pass on; but the
leveiberation of that man's impact with the world continues.
It must be great to be a pioneer, to be a guifling star, to point
the way. Men of this type can not die. They make their own
path and they leave a trail." — C. V. Mosby.

Published by
THE MISSOURI BOOK COMPANY
Columbia, Missouri
1918

Copyrighted, 191 8
BY
THE MISSOURI BOOK COMPANY
Columbia, Missouri
All Rights Reserved

TO
MY FATHER AND MOTHER
Whose Sacrifices in my Early Youth and Precepts in Boy*
hood Days Guided my Ambitions and Education,
This Book, in Affection and Grati
tude, it Dedicated,

PREFACE
EVERY state has its hall of fame. These halls of
fame are not built of rock and mortar but exist
in the hearts of the people. They are more endur
ing than hardest granite because they are part of
the history of this nation. In them are enshrined the
lives of those great men and women who have helped
civilization. Missouri can well be proud of her sons and daugh
ters who have won fame. She ranks high in the num
ber and the character of her famous men and women.
She has sent to Congress statesmen of national re
nown. She has produced artists and authors of worth.
More than any other state did she send forth her
hardy men to explore and settle the West. She gave
to the nation journalists of ability and courage. She
has borne reformers and scientists, whose work will
live. Her soldiers have cast glory on their patriotic
people. The lives of these men should be familiar to every
Missouri schoolboy and girl. Missouri is truly great
in men and women. No state excels her considering
years, for she is not a century old.
It seems regrettable that the lives of these men
are not more widely known. . No book devoted ex
clusively to this subject has been published for use
in the public schools. To partially remedy this, has
"Missouri's Hall of Fame — Lives of Eminent Mis-
sourians" been written.
The author is indebted to the following persons
who have kindly aided him: Dr. Walter B. Stevens,
vii

viii Preface
of St. Louis; Dr. Fern Helen Rusk, of Columbia;
Ivan H. Epperson, of Columbia; Mrs. Nelle G. Bur
ger, of Clark (Mo.) ; Hon. Louis Houck, of Cape
Girardeau; Harper and Brothers, of New York;
and W. L. Webb, of Independence.
The sketch of the life of Joseph B. McCullagh was
specially compiled for this book by Dr. Walter B.
Stevens, President of The State Historical Society
of Missouri.
To Hon. Uel W. Lamkin, State Superintendent of
the Public Schools of Missouri, the author is in
debted for suggestions of value.
To Mr. E. M. Carter, Secretary of the State Teach
ers' Association of Missouri, and Prof. W. W. Chart
ers, formerly Dean of the School of Education of the
University of Missouri, the author is indebted for
their suggestion regarding the need of such a book
in the public schools of the state.
The name "Missouri's Hall of Fame" was first
used by Dean Walter Williams in one of his public
addresses.
Floyd Calvin Shoemaker.

CONTENTS
Authors Page.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, "Mark Twain"  3
Eugene Field  19
Abtists Carl Wimar  29
George C. Bingham  '.  36
Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark  49
Inventor and Scientist
James B. Eads  59
Journalists Joseph B. McCullagh  70
Wm. R. Nelson  78
Walter Williams  89
Reformer Clara C. Hoffman . . .,  •  95
Soldiers Alexander W. Doniphan  104
John J. Pershing  115
Statesmen Edward Hempstead  124
Rufus Easton  128
John Scott  0  132
David Barton  137
Thomas Hart Benton  148
Lewis F. Linn  153
David R. Atchison  172
James 3. Green  , 177
James S. Rollins  184
Edward Bates  190
Frank P. Blair  197
James Shields  207
John B. Henderson  213
Carl Schurz  218
Francis Marion Cockrell  226
George G. Vest  232
Richard P. Bland  246
William Warner  256
Champ Clark  263
(1)

ILLUSTRATIONS Page
Barton, David  139
Bates, Edward  193
Benton, Thomas Hart  145
Bingham, George Caleb  37
Birthplace of Mark Twain  6
Blair, Frank P  198
Bland, Richard P  '.  247
Clark, Champ  264
Clark, William  52
Cockrell, Francis Marion  229
County Election, by Bingham  40
Doniphan, Alexander W  107
Eads, James B  60
Easton, Ruf us'   128
Emigration flf Daniel Boone, by Bingham  48
Field, Eugene  ,  21
Green, James S  178
Hempstead, Edward  124
Hoffman, Clara C  97
Jolly Flatboatmen, by Bingham  44
Lewis, Meriwether  51
Linn, Lewis F  158
Mark Twain in His Library  1
Mark Twain Unveiling Tablet on House Where Eugene
Field Was Born  20
Monument to Richard P. Bland, Lebanon, Missouri  252
Order No. 11, by Bingham  46
Pershing, John J  116
Rollins, James S  186
Schurz, Carl  219
Shields, James  209
Two of Mark Twain's Homes in Hannibal  8
Verdict of the People, by Bingham  42
Vest, George Graham  234
Warner, William  257
Williams, Walter  91
(2)

SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS, "MARK
TWAIN," 1835-1910
America's Greatest Humorist. '
OEVERAL years ago a Missourian was traveling in
^ the Hawaiian Islands. It was in November but
all the children were out of school. The streets were
crowded with boys and girls who were joyously run
ning around covered with flowers. The traveler
asked one of the boys why he was not in school. The
boy was surprised by such a question and replied:
"Why don't you know?"
The man shook his head.
"This is a holiday in Hawaii," said the boy.
"What are you celebrating?"
"We are observing the birthday of Mark Twain,
whom we love more than any American," said the
boy. The traveler learned that the boy spoke the truth,
for of all the Americans who have visited the Ha-
waiin Islands, Mark Twain was one of the most be
loved. Missouri has produced many great men, — states
men, orators, explorers, scientists, artists, and au
thors. Of all these, however, one stands out as the
most widely known over the earth, the most beloved,
and in some ways the most famous. This man is
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his
pen-name, "Mark Twain" — America's greatest humor
ist. (3)

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

(From A. B. Paine's "Mark Twain: A. Biography: copyrighi
1912, by Harper & Brothers.")

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 5
Born in Florida, Monljroe county, Missouri, on
November 30, 1835, he came of good Virginia-Ken
tucky parents. They were poor but educated. His
father was a lawyer but kept a store to make a liv
ing. When Mark Twain was three years old, the
family moved to Hannibal, a thriving town on the
Mississippi River where many steamboats passed
each day.
Mark Twain was a delicate boy and he was sent to
a farm for his health. He was soon like other Am
erican boys, happy and full of life.
He never liked school. He was good in spelling
and liked to read history, but was poor in other stud
ies. He liked to go down to the river and see the
steamboats come and go. He liked to talk to the
negro helpers, the travelers, and the pilots. But
best of all did he enjoy getting a few companions
and explore caves or get in a boat and row to an
island out in the river. Here these young boys would
plan to be pirates, just like boys still do.
He had his sweetheart but the love affair never
went farther than love-notes. He was just a plain,
average American boy, full of life. Frequently he
played tricks, but fortunately nothing serious hap
pened except a whiping. Once he scared his mother
by jumping out of a two-story building. Again, he
pretended to be talking in his sleep when he asked
some of the strangest questions. One day a circus
came to town and he gave the elephant a plug of
tobacco. He never waited to see what happened but
slipped out of the tent.
One of the best stories told on him was about his
winning a prize Bible from the Sunday-school for

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THE BIRTHPLACE 01 mark twain

From A.

B Paine's "Mark Twain: A. Biography: copyright 1912, by Harper &
Brothers ")

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 7
memorizing the most verses from the Bible. Any
one who memorized ten verses was given one blue
ticket. A red ticket was given for ten blue ones;
a yellow ticket for ten red ones; and a fine Bible
for ten yellow tickets. This meant that one had to
memorize ten thousand verses to get the Bible. Al
though Mark Twain had not memorized a single
verse, he presented ten yellow tickets! He had
traded with the other boys and won the prize.
For several years Mark Twain worked for his
brother, Orion Clemens, who owned a Hannibal news
paper. He then left for St. Louis and went East.
For four years he set type in New York, Philadelphia
and Washington.
Returning to Missouri with little money but with
much experience he again worked with his brother
on a newspaper in Keokuk. He soon became tired
of this. Reading of Brazil, he decided to (explore the
Amazon River! Finding a fifty dollar bill in the
streets of Keokuk one day, he picked it up and ad
vertised for the owner. No one claimed the bill and
after three days, he left town as he said "to takei
that money out of danger."
He went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and then went by
boat to New Orleans. He gave up his plan to go to
Brazil and began training to be a pilot on the Missis
sippi River. In those days, pilots received large
salaries and were considered important men. After
several years Mark Twain was given charge of
a steamboat. He became a good pilot. He not
only learned the river with its dangerous shags,
caving banks, stones and sandbars, but met all kinds
of men. His spare hours he employed in conversation,

g
CO
Oa fa

>
F
O

TWO OF MARK TWAIN S HOMES IN HANNIBAL
The house in the center of the picture, known as the Mark Twain home, was built by John Marshall
Clemens in 1844. In the house on the left John Marshall Clemens died, in 1847

(From A. B. Paine's

"Mark Twain: A Biograpny:
Brothers.")

copyright 1912, by Harper &

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 9
in playing the piano and singing. His life as a pilot
was of greatest value to him, and in later years
when he became an author, he wrote a book, "Life
on the Mississippi," which told of his experiences.
During the Civil War, he enlisted as a Confederate
and was captured. Escaping, he decided to join
his brother, Orion, who had been appointed Secretary
of Nevada Territory. His trip across the plains and
mountains he never forgot, and later wrote a book,
"Roughing It," about his experiences in the West.
In Nevada Territory he tried mining but failed.
He then tried reporting for a newspaper and succeed
ed. While here he adopted his pen-name, "Mark
Twain." On the Mississippi River when a steam
boat approached a sandbar, a line. with a lead weight
was thrown into the river to measure the depth of
the water. The man holding the line would cry out,
"Mark Twain," "Mark three," etc. — meaning that
the water was two fathoms or three fathoms deep.
From Nevada he went to San Francisco and wrote
articles for newspapers in California. He visited
some of the islands in the Pacific, and wrote articles
of his trip. His writings soon attracted attention.
He wrote one good article which he sent to an east
ern magazine. He signed it "Mark Twain" and wait
ed anxiously to see it printed. Imagine his disgust
when he read the magazine to see his article signed
"Mike Swain" — his signature had been so poorly
written that the editor of the magazine had made the
mistake. While in California, Mark Twain wrote one story,
"The Jumping Frog of Calaveras," that was copied
all over the United States. It made him famous

10 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
in a day. Mark Twain had first heard the story in
one of the mining camps.
Here is the story as Mark Twain told it:
The Celebrated Jumping Frog op Calaveras
County
(From Mark Twain's "The Jumping Frog; copyright 1903, by Harper
& Brothei-.")
Well, thish-yer Smiley had rat-tarriers and chicken
cocks, and tomcats, and all of them kind of things,
till you couldn't rest, and you couldn't fetch nothing
for him to bet on but he'd match you. He ketched
a frog one day, and took him home, and said he cal'-
lated to educate him ; and so he never done nothing
for three months but set in his back yard and learn
that frog to jump. And you bet he did learn him,
too. He'd give him a little punch behind, and the
next minute you'd see that frog whirling in the air
like a doughnut — see him turn one summerset, or
may be a couple if he got a good start, and come
down flat-footed and all right, like a cat. He got
him up so in the matter of ketching flies, and kep'
him in practice so constant that he'd nail a fly every
time as fur as he could see him. Smiley said all a
frog wanted was education, and he could do 'most
anything — and I believe him. Why, I've seen him
set Dan'l Webster down here on this floor — Dan'l
Webster was the name of the frog — and sing out,
"Flies, Dan'l, flies!" and quicker'n you could wink
he'd spring straight up and snake a fly off'n the
counter there, and flop down on the floor ag'in as
solid as a gob of mud, and fall to scratching the side
of his head with his hind foot as indifferent as if he

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 11
hadn't no idea he'd doin' any more'n any frog might
do. You never see a frog so modest and straight-
for'ard as he was, for all he was so gifted. And
when it came to fair and square jumping on a dead
level, he could get over more ground at one straddle
than any animal of his breed you ever see. Jump
ing on a dead level was his strong suit, you under
stand; and when it came to that, Smiley, would ante
up money on .him as long as he had a red. Smiley
was monstrous proud of his frog, and well he might
be, for fellers that had travelled and been anywheres
all said he laid over any frog that ever they see.
Well, Smiley kep' the beast in a little lattice box,
and he used to fetch him down-town sometimes and
lay for a bet. One day a feller — a stranger in the
camp,- he was — came acrost him with his box, and
says: "What might it be that you've got in the box?"
And Smiley says, sorter indifferent-like, "It might
be a parrot, or it might be a canary, maybe, but it
ain't — its only just a frog."
And the feller took it, and looked at it careful,
and turned it round this way and that, and says,
"H'm— so'tis. Well, what's he good for?"
"Well," Smiley says, easy and careless, "he's good
enough for one thing. I should judge — he can out-
jump any frog in Calaveras County."
The feller took the box again and took another
long, particular look, and give it back to Smiley, and
says, very deliberate, "Well," he says, "I don't see
no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any
other frog,"

12 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"Maybe you don't," Smiley says. "Maybe you
understand frogs and maybe you don't understand
'em; maybe you've had experience, and maybe you
ain't only a amature, as it were. Anyways, I've
got my opinion, and I'll resk forty dollars that he
can out-jump any frog in Calaveras County."
And the feller studies a minute, and then says,
kinder sad like, "Well, I'm only a stranger here, and
I ain't got no frog, but if I had a frog I'd bet you."
And then Smiley says: "That's all right — that's
all right; if you'll hold my box a minute, I'll go and
get you a frog." And so the feller took the box and
put up his forty dollars along with Smiley's and set
down to wait.
So he set there a good while thinking to hisself,
and then he got the frog out and prized his mouth
open and took a teaspoon and filled him full of quail /
shot — filled him pretty near up to his chin — and set
him on the floor. Smiley he went to the swamp and
slopped around in the mud for a long time, and final
ly he ketched a frog and fetched him in and give him
to this feller, and says:
"Now, if you're ready, set him alongside of Dan'l,
with his forepaws just even with Dan'l's, and I'll
give the word." Then he says, "One-two-three-git!"
and him and the feller touched up the frogs from
behind, and the new frog hopped off lively; but
Dan'l give a heave, and hysted up his shoulders-so-
like a Frenchman, but it warn't no use — he couldn't
budge; he was planted as solid as a church, and
he couldn't no more stir than if he was anchored out.
Smiley was a good deal surprised, and he was dis-

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 13
gusted, too, but he didn't have no idea what the mat
ter was, of course.
The feller took the money and started away; and
when he was going out at the door he sorted jerked
his thumb over his shoulder — so — at Dan'l, and says
again, very deliberate: "Well," he says, "I don't see
no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any
other frog."
Smiley he stood scratching his head and looking
at Dan'l a long time, and at last he says, "I do
wonder what in the nation that frog thro wed off for
— I wonder if there ain't something the matter with
him — he 'pears to look mighty baggy, somehow."
And he ketched Dan'l by the nape, of the neck, and
hefted him, and says, "Why, blame my cats' if he
don't weigh five pound !" and turned him upsidedown,
and he belched out a double handful of shot. And
then he sees how it was, and he was the maddest
man — he set the frog down and took out after that
feller, but he never ketched him.

From 1867, the year the famous frog story was
written, Mark Twain rapidly grew in public favor.
He traveled extensively and observed closely. He
wrote many books and these were read by hundreds
of thousands. Some were translated into other lan
guages, and their author became known in both
hemispheres. Turks read his books in Constantinople,
Chinese in Canton, and Australians in Sidney. North
and South Americans, Europeans, people of the
lislands of the seas, enjoyed his quaint humor. His
wit pleased the boy of sixteen and the man of sixty.
They were written for all people.

14 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Mark Twain was equally successful as a lecturer.
He was considered one of the best in America.
Wherever he spoke, large crowds listened to him.
He settled in the East, first in New York and
later in Connecticut. Noted travelers from Europe
thought it a privilege to visit his home. He was as
interesting in conversation as in writing.
His wife was Olivia L. Langdon, whom he married
in 1870. She was a highly cultured woman and was
the literary adviser of Mark Twain until her death.
Their married life was peaceful and happy except
for the death of their children. Mrs. Clemens
greatly loved her husband. Instead of calling him by
his first name, Samuel, she always called him "Youth."
Mark Twain was a man strongly built, of ruddy com
plexion, light hair and light twinkling eyes. He had
a hearty manner.
He was a constant smoker. Every hour of the day
he sat puffing a cigar or a pipe. He was a great
reader. He spent much of his time in the morning
sitting propped up in bed. Here he would write his
books and lectures.
His health was good. At the age of seventy-five
years he began to fail, however, and died in Con
necticut, on April 21, 1910. Some of his best known
books besides those that have been mentioned are:
"Tom Sawyer," "Huckleberry Finn," "A Tramp
Abroad," "Innocents Abroad," "Prince and Pauper,"
"The Guiled Age," "The Man that Corrupted Hadley-
burg," and "Pudd'nhead Wilson."
As a humorist Mark Twain ranks among the great
est the world has produced. He was always ful] of
good, hearty fun and never seemed to grow old.

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 15
This is shown so well by his wife calling him
"Youth." No exageration was too absurd for him.
He not only made fun of other people but took
pleasure in joking about himself. Here is one of his
stories on himself.
He said that while sleeping one day, two monkeys
came to his room. On awakening, one of the monkeys
was brushing his hair before a looking-glass. The
other was crying. He observed the monkey who
was weeping and saw that he had just read one of his
(Mark Twain's) best jokes. The joke was so poor
that the monkey couldn't keep back the tears.
In writing and speaking, Mark Twain used small
words. He was a fine story-teller. A joke always
appealed to him and he was not above playing jokes
on others. Once he went to Washington, D. C, and
was invited to the White House, where the President
of the United States lives. Mrs. Cleveland,- wife of
President Cleveland, was at home and she and Mark
Twain enjoyed their conversation. Before leaving
Mark Twain asked Mrs. Cleveland to sign her name
and write these two words on the back of a card:
"He didn't."
Mrs. Cleveland did this and Mark Twain left. On
reaching his own home he showed this card to Mrs.
Clemens. On turning the card over she read what
she herself had written before her husband left for
Washington. She had known that Mark Twain
would probably visit the White House and that he
was very forgetful of his personal appearance. Sc
she had written on the card this sentence:
"Don't wear your rubbers."

16 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Mark Twain prepared his lectures with care. He
rehearsed each word and gesture. Although he
prepared everything, he was still a good speaker
without preparation.
A reporter once asked Mark Twain's advice as to
what he should write his paper, which had erroneosuly
printed that the great humorist was dead.
"Say that the statement of my death is greatly
exaggerated." Mark Twain said that compliments were always
embarrassing. One never knew how to receive them
naturally., Besides, one always felt that the person
had not said enough.
One day while in London, Mark Twain was taken
by a friend to the studio of a famous artist. After
being introduced, the artist showed him one of the
pictures he was painting.
After looking carefully at the painting, Mark
Twain said he didn't care much for that cloud, and
appeared to be on the point of rubbing the cloud
with his gloved finger.
"Don't touch it, the paint's wet," cried the artist,
fearing his visitor would ruin the picture.
"Oh, that's all right," drawled Mark Twain, "these
aren't my best gloves anyhow!"
Mark Twain had many "doubles" over the world.
The number kept increasing. Once a month on an
average, he received a letter from a new "double,"
enclosing a photograph in proof of the resemblance.
The thing became tiresome to Mark Twain. He
once wrote to one of these doubles as follows:
My dear Sir:

"Mark Twain," 1835-1910. 17
Many thanks for your letter, with enclosed photo
graph. Your resemblance to me is remarkable. In
fact, to be perfectly honest, you look more like me
than I look like myself. I was so much impressed
by the resemblance that I have had your picture
framed, and am now using it regularly, in place of
a mirror, to shave by. Yours gratefully,
S. L. Clemens.
He was witty on all subjects. He once said that a
cauliflower was nothing but a cabbage with a college
education. As a world-famed genius no man has become more
widely known. They say that even the Turkish
guides in Constantinople, the Arab guides in Egypt,
and the Italian guides in Rome, try to get customers
by saying they had known Mark Twain when he
visited there.
One day while visiting in a foreign country, Mark
Twain was introduced at the palace to the king.
The king complimented the great American on his
books, said that he had read them, and that he had
greatly enjoyed them. On returning to his room
that evening, the janitor of the house stopped him
and said he also had read his books with great
pleasure. Here was a compliment from a ruler and
a servant on the same day in a distant land.
As a philosopher, Mark Twain is also worthy of
mention. He saw the truth in persons and things.
He also saw the shams. When he wrote he made
fun of the shams whether it was a millionaire, a
king or a statesman. He sympathized with the poor
and the ignorant. He pitied them for their lack of

18 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
opportunity. Nothing made him so indignant as to
see injustice. Beneath much of his writing which
most persons looked upon as mere wit and fun, lay
serious thoughts.
It was this serious, practical and philosophical
side of Mark Twain as well as his' great genius as a
humorist, that made universities confer honors on
him. A mere joker, a fun maker, may be a good
companion, a widely read author, a man popular with
the people, but his fame will soon fade. If beneath
his wit and humor, however, are found true state
ments on the life and habits of man, he will live.
Oxford University in England recognized the true
greatness of Mark Twain by conferring on him a
Doctor's degree. This was the first time that this
university had so honored a humorist. The University
of Missouri also honored him in a similar way.
Before the world, Mark Twain stood recognized by
both the man on the street and the professor in the
college as an author of distinction.

I 'I

EUGENE FIELD, 1850-1875
Poet Laureate of Children
/^OOD poets never lack lovers. Their writings
^* endear them to mankind. This is especially true
of poets of children. They may not make us richer,
frame good laws, explore countries, or make dis
coveries, but they do brighten our lives. They give
us pleasant memories, and make us appreciate better.
the joys and sorrows of childhood. Ranking high as
a children's poet is a native of Missouri. Schools and
libraries have been named for him. Holidays have
been observed in his honor. His lovers are numbered
by the thousands. He has been called the "Poet
Laureate of Children." His name is Eugene Field.
He was born in St. Louis on September 3, 1850.
His parents were natives of Vermont. His father was ¦
a lawyer and came to Missouri in 1839. He became
prominent in this state and on his death left a
large estate. There were two sons, Eugene — the
elder — and Roswell. Their mother died when Eugene
was six and he was sent to a relative in Massachu
setts. Eugene was reared in Massachusetts until
he was about seventeen, when his father died. He re
ceived a good education and attended college. He
then went to Knox College in Illinois but stayed
there only a short time.
His brother, Roswell, was attending the University
of Missouri in Columbia and Eugene joined him.
The life of Eugene Field, or "Gene" as most
persons called him, at the Univeristy of Missouri,
(19)

20

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

is interesting. He entered it in 1871 and left in
1873. During these two years his college days were
filled with activity. He cared little for study but
enjoyed writing, singing and playing jokes. He was
the leader of the students w.io worshipped him.
Although he caused the professors considerable

Mark Twain Unveiling Tablet
On House Where Eugene
Field Was Born
trouble with his pranks, they could hardly keep
from smiling at him.
He was six feet tall. The students called him
"Field I" and his brother "Field II." 'Gene was a
good actor. He had a voice, rich and deep. He was
a fine speaker and singer. He won a medal for
oratory. In theatricals given by the students he
trained the others and was always the star.

Eugene Field, 1850-1875.

21

He did not take his college days very seriously.
He was wealthy and did not care for study except
just before examination. He liked to get a crowd of
boys around him and tell stories. He also enjoyed
writing. He was literary editor of the* first student
publication, called the University Missourian. He
helped found this
paper in 1871; it
lived two years. It
was really a fine
paper of its kind.
All of Field's early
writings, both po
etry and prose were
printed in it.
While in the Uni
versity he made
friends with every
body in Columbia.
He played the gui
tar and enjoyed
going with his com
panions to SOme EUGENE FIELD
-fair larlw'a Vimnc (From Walter B. Stevens' "Missouri; The
ldir ictuy S. IlUIIlfc Center State.")
and serenading her.
He was a great favorite both for his singing and his
conversation. Next to his guitar in his heart 'Gene Field
was a little black rat terrier called "Penny." He took
"Penny" with him in the morning to his classes, to
the table at noon, and to his girl's house in the
evening. Since 'Gene was leader of the students he
attended their councils. Sometimes when the stu
dents' council was trying to solve some problem,

BM«^P

M'i-. '"•B" Mm
.^BTli
' '¦ ^B^SS- ' i '^l
22 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
'Gene would get down on the floor and have a great
time with "Penny," until his friends stopped him.
He was this way all the time. Full of life, he
enjoyed making others laugh. The jokes he played
during his college days would fill a good sized book.
Here are only several of the best known ones.
The president of the University was Doctor Reed,
who owned a fine, large carriage horse. One night
'Gene Field slipped into the pasture, roached the
horse's mane and shaved his tail. The next morning,
disguised as a horse-trader, Field went to Doctor
Reed and asked what he'd take for "that big gray
mule out there." The Doctor said that he hadn't any
mule and that the one in the pasture must belong to
some other person.
Another night he took Doctor Reed's horse and
painted it. The owner never recognized it the next
day and marked it a "stray."
Again, Field borrowed a donkey and tied it near
the Doctor's window where it kept the president of
the University awake all night with its braying.
There are dozens of stories like these told about
Field's days in Columbia. He may have been a poor
student but he was certainly an active one.
On reaching the age of twenty-one he inherited
sixty thousand dollars left by his father. Eugene
Field decided to travel. Taking a companion, he
went to Europe. He must have enjoyed himself
while abroad. He returned in a year, having spent
all of his fortune. He said in later life that he never
regretted what that year cost him.
He now worked as a reporter in St. Louis. His
career as a journalist had begun. He continued as

Eugene Field, 1850-1875. 23
a writer for city newspapers until his death in
Chicago on November 4, 1895.
Soon after working in St. Louis he married a
St. Joseph girl, the sister of his companion abroad.
The story of his wedding is not so well known but
it shows his peculiar love for children, that makes
him today so dearly beloved.
The wedding ceremony was to take place at a
certain hour. The guests and the bride arrived on
time but no groom appeared. The ceremony was
delayed and still no groom. A messenger was sent
and found that Eugene Field had stopped on his
way to settle a quarrel between two boys in the
street. And there was 'Gene Field in his best suit,
down on his knees in the dirt playing marbles!
After his marriage Field worked on the news
papers in St. Joseph. He said that those first two
years of his marriage were the happiest in his life.
Altho he wrote about the other years of his life,
he never wrote a line about those first two years.
He said they were too dear and precious and sacred.
We love a man who has such ideals.
After leaving St. Joseph, he worked on newspapers
in Kansas City, Denver and finally in Chicago. In
the latter city he worked on the Chicago "News" and
"Record" until his death. On these papers he filled
from one to two columns daily under the heading
"Flats and Sharps." These later appeared in book
form. He gained much prominence by his articles
as well as by his books.
His first writing to appear in book form was "The
Tribune Primer," written while he was on the
Denver Tribune. In 1889 he published two volumes,

24 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
one entitled "A Little Book of Western Verse," and
the other "A Little Book of Profitable Tales." These
were widely read and at once gave him a national
reputation. Another book of verse appeared in
1892. This was followed by "The Holy Cross, and
Other Tales." In 1893, he and his brother, who was
also an author and a journalist in Chicago, published
"Echoes from the Sabine Farm." "Love Songs of
Childhood" were published in 1894. After his death
were published "The House" and "The Love Affairs
of a Bibliomanic." All of his works have since been
published in a set of ten volumes and have had a
large sale. . They are read by the old and the young,
and. give pleasure to both. His most widely read
poems are those on children.
His own love for children made him appreciate
them. Although he had a grave countenance and
rarely smiled, children loved him from the start.
He was so joyous and playful that they felt that he
was just like they were. He liked dolls! In his
home he had a case with shelves that was filled with
all kinds of dolls and toys. Whenever he went to a
friend's home, the children flocked around him.
Some would get on his knees and others at his side.
Then he would tell them the funniest stories and ask
the queerest questions. The children would laugh
all the time, but Field wouldn't smile.
Once he went to the house of a prominent preacher
who happened to be out. Of course, the children
had read his "Little Boy Blue" and other poems, and
they gathered around him. He asked them where
the "kitchen" was. They understood, and led him
to the kitchen. There they found part of a roast

Eugene Field, 1850-1875. 25
turkey and other good things. Taking these into
the dining room, they all had a fine feast. The
celebrated preacher learned that evening at the
supper table that Eugene Field had been there.
Eugene Field was a queer man. He liked to
write with different colored inks. Over his desk
hung a sign: "This is my busy day." He made
money easily but was always poor. Whenever he
saw an old vase, an ax, or any old curio, he bought it.
His home was filled with these things. It looked
like a curiosity shop or a secondhand store. Persons
wondered how Mrs. Field endured having this old
junk around, but. his four little girls must have
greatly enjoyed fingering his collection.
Eugene Field was always without money. He
decided to ask the editor of the Chicago News for
an increase in salary. Each morning as he entered
the newspaper building he walked to the private
office of the editor, and each time his courage failed
him. On morning a tramp with four poorly clad
children appeared in the editor's office. They stretch
out their hands and said:
"Please, sir, won't you raise my father's salary?"
The editor was astonished until the ragged man
took off his slouch hat, when there stood Eugene
Field! Of course, the editor enjoyed the joke and
"my father's salary" was raised.
Many stories are told of Eugene Field's love for
men and children. These two stories are by another
Missouri poet, Lee Shippey, to whom they were told
by a reporter friend of Field's when they both worked
on the Kansas City Times:

26 Missouri's Hall of Fame.

A Child's Friend
"He was a poet and a child, a man of great tender
ness and generosity. His love for children was one
of his strongest characteristics. One cold night I
went up to The Times office to see him. When we
came out together we saw the office boy, a tiny,
thinly clad youngster, waiting in the draughty hall •
for midnight, when it was his duty to go to the
postoffice for the mail. 'Gene saw him and. patting
him on the shoulder gave him a quarter and sent
him home to his mother. Then 'Gene and I went
to the postoffice and lugged back to the Times office
four big sacks of mail. As we puffed up the stairs
'Gene said: 'This is pretty tough, but I'll bet that
boy's mother was glad to see him. ' "
A Tramp's Friend.
"One day Field came into my place with a ragged
tramp whose teeth chattered and whose flesh showed
blue through the rents in his clothing. 'Here,
Gaston,' he said, 'come and buy this chap a suit of
clothes. It's an outrage that a man should not be
decently clad in this sort of weather.' . I put on my
coat and we took the tramp to a clothing store.
'Gene picked out a suit worth twenty-five dollars,
as good as he wore himself, and the best shirt and
socks in the place. I objected to buying the tramp
such expensive clothing, saying that a cheaper suit
was good enough, and after a long argument he
compromised on a suit for twelve dollars, for which
I paid, advancing the money for Field.

Eugene Field, 1850-1875. 27
"One day he had his salary and I met him in the
street. He showed me the money and said it would
take every cent of it to pay his rent. As we walked
up the street we came to a china store and stopped
to look in the window. There was a beautiful cup
and saucer imported from France and elaborately
decorated. We both admired it and 'Gene turned
to me and said: 'Do you like that, George?' I re
plied that it was very beautiful. When I got home
that night I found the cup and saucer. It was a
present from 'Gene and the rent was not paid that
time." In some ways Eugene Field was like Mark Twain.
He hated sham and hypocracy. He was never afraid
to expose pretense and dishonesty. He once told a
fellow reporter:
"I've always made war upon shams. I've stood
always in my work for decency and manliness and
honesty. I'm not much physically, but morally, I'm
not a coward."
His poetry on children is read more today than
when it was first printed. He was not a great poet
but he was a poet that boys and girls, men and
women, love.
Perhaps his most widely known poem is his
"Little Boy Blue." He had a little son who died.
Mrs. Fields gave her husband the key to the closet
where the boy had kept his toys. She told Eugene to
lock the closet without disturbing any of the toys.
Years later she said that he might unlock the
closet and see what was in it. Here is what Eugene
Field found as he told it in his poem, "Little Boy
Blue:"

28 Missouri's Hall of Fame.

LITTLE BOY BLUE
The little toy dog is covered with dust,
But sturdy and stanch he stands,
And the little toy soldier is red with rust,
And the musket molds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was new
And the soldier was passing fair,
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.
"Now don't you go till I come," said he,
"And don't you make any noise!"
So toddling off to his trundle bed
He dreamt of the pretty toys.
And as he was dreaming, an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue —
Oh, the years are many, the years are long,
But the little toy friends are true.
Aye, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand
Each in the same old place,
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
The smile of a little face.
And they wonder, as waiting these long years through,
In the dust of that little chair,
What has become of our Little Boy Blue,
Since he kissed them and put them there?

CARL WIMAR, 1829-1862
Missouri's Great Painter of Indians
A MERICA has produced a number of famous art-
¦* *¦ ists. A hundred years ago she had painters
who studied art in Europe under European teachers.
When they came back to America they painted
European pictures. There were as many interesting
things to paint in this country as there were in
Europe, but for some reason these American artists
did not paint them. Here were old forts, big rivers,
lofty mountains, and prairies and woods where roamed
the buffalo and Indian. No finer subjects could an
artist wish to paint than these. What could be more
picturesque than the savage American Indian on his
wild pony hunting a herd of buffalo! Or, a tribe
of Indians attacking a white settlement and carry
ing off prisoners! Still, the American artist did
not appreciate his opportunities in his own country.
Then came one who saw and loved these things;
who when a boy roamed through the woods and
made friends with the Indians. This boy was not
born in Missouri but he lived and died here. His
name was Carl Wimar, Missouri's great Indian
painter. Born in Germany on February 19, 1829, Charles
Ferdinand Wimar, or Carl Wimar as he always
signed his name, came to America at the age of
fifteen years. With him came his mother and her
family. His step-father had emigrated several years
(29)

30 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
before and had settled in St. Louis, where they all
made their new home.
St. Louis was then a frontier town. It was the
headquarters of the American Fur Company. Every
year many Indians came to St. Louis to trade their
furs for guns, powder, lead and other things. The
Indians always camped at the edge of town near
young Wimar's home.
The shy German lad had never seen Indians before
and he was greatly interested in them. He would
go to their camp and ask them questions about their
wars, hunting parties and escapes from wild animals.
He soon became a great favorite with his new
friends. One big Indian warrior had a special fancy
for young Wimar, and would take him into the
woods and teach him how to use the tomahawk, the
spear, and the bow and arrow. In a short time
Wimar loved his Indian friends and they were
always welcomed to his home. They would go to
his home, open the door softly, and glide without
noise into the living room. Then they would startle
the. family by saying, "How?"
During this time the young boy was filling his
memory with pictures of greatest value to him in
later years. He observed closely the dress of his
Indian friends, he studied their half-naked bodies
and he never forgot. He was naturally an artist and
everything appealed to him. Man, clouds, sunshine,
mountains, streams and woods were observed by him
and stored away in his mind.
Wimar's parents were poor and it was necessary
that he find work to help make a living for the
family. It was decided that he should learn a trade

Carl Wimar, 1829-1862. 31
and he said he wanted to become a painter. He
first worked with a common painter of houses and
steamboats but he had a higher ambition. He soon
found a sympathetic friend named Pomarede, who
saw that young Wimar had great talent as an artist.
Pomarede was an artist and soon entrusted Wimar
with more important work than painting houses and
steamboats. He permitted him to paint picture
signs, and decorate wagons with pictures. Wimar
became a good workman and was original. He was
always prompt and cheerful, and worked hard. He
was reliable except when a new band of Indians
visited St. Louis. Then the old desire would come
over him and forgetting everything he would visit
his red men friends.
At this time occurred the most romantic incident of
his life. In the humble home of his parents a poor
traveler, sick and homeless, rested one day and begged
for shelter and food. Poor as was the family, they
took pity on him and offered to share their frugal
home. The needy one was of refined appearance and
good education. The parents asked no questions of
their guest, who soon became very ill. They nursed
him until he had been brought back to health. While'
recovering he took a great interest in the artistic,
gentle lad and sympathized with his love for art.
The stranger spoke to the boy and to his father of
the opportunities that Carl would have if he could
only study art in Europe, but this was impossible,
for the father was too poor. On regaining his
health, the stranger, whose name they had never
asked, thanked them for their great kindness and
left their home. For years no tidings came from

32 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
the stranger. Young Wimar continued to paint
signs and decorate wagons, and forgot the refined
stranger. One day on coming down the Missouri River from
a sketching trip, young Wimar was told that he had
fallen heir to a small fortune.
The stranger on returning to his own country had
inherited some money. He was soon stricken with
a fatal illness, and made his will in favor of Carl
Wimai, whose parents had sheltered and fed him
when he lay sick without money in St. Louis. The
kindhearted act of Wimar's parents finally made
possible the training of one of the greatest Indian
artists of America.
Wimar set out for Germany in 1852 and studied
under several of the greatest German artists for
four years. They called him the Indian painter.
He had great ability and studied hard. While in
Germany he painted a number of fine pictures, before
he was twenty-five years old. Among these were
"The Captive Charger," "Attack on an Emigrant
Train," and "Abduction of Daniel Boone's Daughter
by the Indians." All these were Indian subjects and
were well painted.
Wimar returned to St. Louis in 1856 and during
the next six years painted a large number of excel
lent Indian pictures, the most famous being: "The
Buffalo Hunt," "The Buffalo Hunt by Indians,"
"Billy Bowlegs" (a Seminole Indian Chief), "The
Wounded Buffalo," "Buffalo Crossing the Yellow
stone," "Lost Trail or War Trail," "Buffalo Cross
ing the Platte River," "Indians Pursued by American
Dragoons," and "Buffalo Dance."

Carl Wimar, 1829-1862. 33
During these six years Wimar made several trips
to the Upper Missouri River and visited the Indian
tribes on the plains. His first trip was in 1858.
He took with him a camera, oil paints, crayons
and pencils with which to reproduce the Indians and
their homes.
The steamboat he went on had a calliope (steam
organ). When this began to play, the Indians were
greatly frightened and thought it the voice of some
monster. The Indians were also afraid of Wimar's camera.
They refused to have their pictures taken unless
Wimar gave them presents. Some of the Indian
tribes thought that the camera would give them the
smallpox. Wimar carried a number of toys and trinkets
with him to trade with the Indians. With these he
obtained from them, Indian weapons and costumes.
He had a double looking-glass. One side made a
true reflection of a person's face, and the other
side made a face much larger th&n it really was.
Wimar showed this to one Indian chief who was so
scared when he saw the big face that he threw it
down and ran away. Wimar picked it up and show
ed .the true side of the looking-glass to another.
All was well until Wimar mischeviously turned the
glass to the other side. The Indians thought Wimar
was a magician. Finally he traded the wonderful
glass for a fine bow and a pack of arrows.
On later trips the Indians came to know Wimar
better and all loved him. The squaws made him
head-dresses, tobacco-pouches, and other articles and
gave them to him. He was gentle to all and never

34 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
had an enemy. When the Indians learned of his
death, they mourned for him the same as if he had
been one of their tribe.
His- many trips to the Indians on the Upper Mis
souri River not only furnished him with material for
dozens of pictures but also hundreds of Indian
articles. He had a large museum in St. Louis, and
the best collection of Indian weapons in America.
Wimar looked like an Indian. He had prominent
cheek-bones, small eyes, and the pigeon-toed walk
of the American savage. One of his companions, for
years, said that he had always thought Wimar was
part Indian.
He was gentle, shy and reserved. He loved his
mother and said he always wanted to be able to buy
her a home. Towards his later years he contracted
tuberculosis. He was sick most of the time but
continued painting. His paintings sold well and he
was beginning to make a fair income. One day he
said: "Mother, if I last long enough, I shall be so rich
that I can have a bank account."
He married in 1861 and one child was born, but
it died in infancy.
His last work was painting and decorating _ the
dome of the St. Louis Court House. He asked five
hundred dollars for this work but was given one
thousanu dollars, which was indeed very cheap for
such fine paintings. His health continued failing
and he had to be carried to and from his work.
On returning home one night he said to his wife:
"This is my last work, when the dome is finished
I shall be finished too."

Carl Wimar, 1829-1862. 35
His words were only too true for on finishing the
dome, the paint brush fell from his hands and he
died on November 28, 1862, at the age of thirty-
three years.
Carl Wimar was more than an ordinary artist. He
had genius both in imagining pictures and in paint
ing pictures. He saw clearly the great field for the
artist in the Indian and his surroundings. His
paintings of the Indian and the buffalo have never
been surpassed. He was one of the first to enter
this distinctly American field of art. Wimar was
a Western painter. He was reared and received
his impressions in Missouri. His name and his
work do honor to his state.

GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM, 1811-1879
The Missouri Artist
A HUNDRED years ago the most important western
¦**• town in Missouri was old Franklin in Howard
county. It lay on the north bank of the Missouri
River. In a few years it had over a thousand in
habitants and rivaled St. Louis. Some of Missouri's
greatest lawyers settled there. It had a large trade
with the pioneer settlers nearby and everything
pointed to it becoming a large city. In ten years,
however, the Missouri River changed its course and
cut into the town. Today part of old Franklin lies
in the center of the bed of the river.
When Franklin was in its glory, a certain family
of Virginians settled there in 1819. The father was
poor and tried to make a living by raising tobacco
and later by keeping a tavern. He had seven chil
dren, one a boy eight years old. This lad was
remarkable. When only four years old he drew
good pictures on his slate. Before he was eight
years old he had covered the pump, fences and out
buildings of his old Virginia home with paintings of
men and animals. Of course his pictures were
crude, but good for a boy of his years. He was a
born painter. His name was George Caleb Bingham,
Missouri's first artist.
Born in Virginia on March 20, 1811, George spent
his first eight years on a large plantation in the
"Old Dominion" State. His father was Scotch, his
mother German. Both were well educated and
(36)

George Caleb Bingham, 1811-1879. 37

GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM
(From Fern Helen Rusk's "George Caleb Bingham: The Missouri
Artist.")

38 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
cultured. George's father lost nearly all of his
property and decided to come to Missouri where
land was cheap and fertile. Things did not go well
in his new western home, and in 1823 he died,
leaving a large family. George was then only
twelve years old.
Mrs. Bingham was a remarkable woman. She
moved her family to a small farm she owned near
Arrow Rock in Saline county, and taught school in
her own home. She had a good library and George
studied hard. He afterwards became a good speaker
in public, all of which he owed to his mother's train
ing. Although George was a good pupil, he enjoyed
painting much more. He could not buy good paints
for his mother was too poor, so he made his own
paints. He mixed axle grease, vegetable dyes, brick-
dust and oil.
His mother soon sent him to work and he was
employed to make cigars. His spare hours he put
in drawing and painting.
In his sixteenth year his mother apprenticed him
to a cabinet-maker in Boonville, in Cooper county.
George soon became the best wood-carver in the shop.
He was so artistic that all admired his work. He
did not enjoy wood-work, however, and at odd
hours painted on boards. He also studied law and
religion in the evenings, and was undecided whether
to become a lawyer or a preacher. Fortunately for
Missouri, before he made up his mind, a traveller
came to Boonville who changed young Bingham's
career.

George Caleb Bingham, 1811-1879. 39
This stranger was the celebrated artist, Chester
Harding. Bingham had met Harding in Franklin
seven years before. This time he showed Harding
his pictures, painted on boards, and the great artist
was interested in the young boy. He gave Bingham
lessons in painting and advised him to go to St.
Louis some day and study art. v Harding's encourage
ment made Bingham decide to become an artist.
Three years later, at the age of nineteen, he set
out on foot for St. Louis, one hundred and fifty
miles away. He had no money and all his personal
belongings Were in a bundle strapped to his shoulders.
He became ill with the measles. In a deserted old
log cabin he lay for weeks, attended by a kind
young doctor and an old negress. The negress was
afraid to go near him and pushed his food and
drink to him through the door. He was finally
cured but lost all his hair, and was bald the rest
of his life.
He went home and set up a studio in Franklin.
Here he painted portraits of different persons in
the town. Although he used common house paints
and had only some stumps of brushes, he painted
remarkably good portraits.
He worked fast, often putting out a portrait in a
day. He visited other towns close by and had much
work. In Columbia he painted a number of portraits
and made many friends. Among these was Major
James S. Rollins, a noted lawyer and a man of
wealth. Major Rollins took a great interest in Bingham and
loaned him one hundred dollars to go to St. Louis
and study art.

40

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

George Caleb Bingham, 1811-1879. 41
Bingham went to St. Louis and studied hard. He
was very poor and slept, rolled up in a blanket, in
an unfinished attic. His friends in St. Louis were
always of the better class, cultured and educated.
After finishing his studies in art in St. Louis, he
returned to Boonville, where he married. With his
own hands he built a brick house in Arrow Rock for
his wife, and then visited a number of towns in
Central Missouri, painting portraits.
He painted so many portraits of Missourians that
someone said:
"Almost every family had its Bingham portraits."
He spent several years in the East, especially in
Philadelphia, and studied art in the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts. Here he met America's
greatest artists. All this did much to help him.
His pictures became better and his paintings were
more accurate and artistic.
In 1840 Bingham returned to Missouri and became
interested in politics. He was a good speaker and
attended political meetings. At these gatherings he
observed closely the way the men dressed, talked,
and acted. He later used these impressions for
pictures. After spending four years in Washington, D. C,
where he painted portraits of the leading American
statesmen, he returned to his home in Saline county
and was elected to the Missouri Legislature. His
election was contested and he lost. Two years later
he was elected again and kept his place. While in
the Legislature he was able and honest.
Bingham now began painting pictures of Missouri
life as well as portraits. He painted election

42

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

George Caleb Bingham, 1811-1879. 43
scenes, where the voters came to give their votes.
He called one of those pictures, "County Election;"
another, "Verdict of the People." He painted other
political pictures, as, "Canvassing for a Vote," and
"Stump Speaking." Another picture was a "Puzzled
Witness" — a court room painting.
In all these paintings, the persons represented the
typical Missourians of that day. They were true to
life. He painted Missourians as they actually were.
This is why Bingham has been called "The Missouri
Artist." He also painted scenes on the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers. One of these was the "Jolly
Flatboatmen." In all his pictures of groups or of
crowds of men, Bingham always painted a dog some
where in the picture. The only exception was the
"Jolly Flatboatmen." He was asked why he had left
out the dog in this picture. He replied:
"I have not, the dog is in the hold." (i. e., beneath
the deck out of sight.)
He made several trips East to New York and other
cities where he set up his studio and painted. For
two years he studied in Germany. He was absent
minded, and one day, while in Germany, he put on
his coat wrong-side-out. The coat had a Scotch
plaid lining and when Bingham walked down the
street, a crowd of German children followed him.
He didn't know what was wrong until his wife met
him at the door and pointed to his coat.
Bingham lived in several Missouri towns. Besides
Franklin, Arrow Rock and Boonville, he resided in
Jefferson City, St. Louis, Independence and Kansas
City. While living in Columbia, the waitress one

xn
oa w

>f
o >

JOLLY FLATBOATMEN
(From Fern Helen Rusk's "George Caleb Bingham: The Missouri Artist.")

George Caleb Bingham, 1811-1879. 45
day caught her sleeve in Bingham's wig and carried
it half way down the table before she noticed it. All
were embarrassed until Bingham wittily remarked:
"I was not able to keep my own hair on my head;
how could I hope to keep the artificial?"
When the Civil War broke out, Bingham enlisted
and was elected a captain in the Union army.
In 1862, General Thomas Ewing of the Union
army issued "Order Number 11," which commanded
the people in several western Missouri counties to
leave their homes within a certain time. In these
counties a number of robberies and murders had
taken place, and General Ewing said they were caused
by men who were sheltered by the inhabitants.
"Order Number 11" meant great loss of property to
all, and Bingham protested to General Ewing. The
Union general refused to revoke the order, and
Bingham resolved to paint a picture of the effects
of the order. This was his famous painting, "Order
No. 11 or Martial Law." He painted this on a table
cloth and it was one of his most famous works. The
man on horseback in the center of the picture is
General Ewing. The old man is the owner of the
home being destroyed by Union soldiers. The crowds
in the background are fleeing from their homes.
Another famous painting is the "Emigration of
Daniel Boone." This shows Boone coming over the
mountains into Kentucky.
Bingham's first wife died in 1848. He married
twice afterwards.
He held several public offices besides serving in
the Legislature and being State Treasurer. In 1874

46

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

George Caleb Bingham, 1811-1879. 47
he was appointed on Kansas City's first Board of
Police Commissioners and in 1875 was appointed
Adjutant General of Missouri.
He served as professor of art in the University
of Missouri in 1877 and delivered lectures on art.
He died in Kansas City on July 7, 1879, and was
buried there.
Bingham was not a great artist compared to the
celebrated painters of the world, but he did have
genius. He tried to do too much, both in painting and
in living. He was a public official as well as an
artist, and this took much of his time. As a
painter he made his livelihood. He painted scores
of portraits, but his pictures would have been better
had he painted fewer. However, Bingham's name
and his art will always live. He was the first to
portray the picturesque scenes of a western election,
a court room, a steamboat deck, and other similar
representations of western life. For this alone he
will not be forgotten. Besides, Bingham was a man
of ability. He was also honest and detested injustice.
He was deeply loved by his friends, and hated by his
enemies. He did much to p^ bis state as well as
encourage the study of art in Missouri.

00

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Od

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EMIGRATION OF DANIEL BOONE
CFrom Fern Helen Rusk's "George Caleb Bingham: The Missouri Artist.'

MERIWETHER LEWIS, 1774-1809,
WILLIAM CLARK 1770-1838
Explorers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 180U-
1806
\I7'HEN people talk of exploration today, they
** usually mention the North and South Poles,
Central Africa, the Amazon River, or perhaps Thibet.
The United States is not thought of. Even elemen
tary school geographies show the boundaries of every
state, the source of each river, the mountain ranges,
and the location of thousands of towns. Today this
country is fairly well known from ocean to ocean
by every school-boy and girl. A little more than a
hundred years ago, however, no white man could
have accurately told where the Missouri River began,:
how long it was, how wide or how high the Rocky
Mountains were, or how far it was from these
mountains to the Pacific Ocean. In fact, nearly all
the country between the Mississippi River and the
Pacific Ocean was an unknown land except to a few
traders and trappers, and the Indians. . None of
them had more than a vague idea of its extent and
their information was generally untrustworthy.
For years President Thomas Jefferson had desired
to have this great western country explored. Altho
it did not belong to the United States at that time,
President Jefferson was interested in it. In 1803
Congress approved the plan and the same year
France sold this western land to this nation. Pres
ident Jefferson wanted to send an exploring party
up the Missouri River, across the mountains, and to
(49)

50 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
the Pacific Ocean. The main problem was to select
the right man to lead such an expedition. The
success of the undertaking depended on its leader.
Such a leader must be educated, brave, resourceful,
and a careful observer. President Jefferson regarded
his private secretary as such a man. He according
ly appointed Captain Meriwether Lewis. Captain
Lewis selected as his companion, who should also be
equal in command, his friend, Captain William Clark.
Their expedition is known in history as the "Lewis
and Clark Expedition" — the greatest of its kind in
this country.
Meriweather Lewis was born in Virginia on August
18, 1774. He came of a distinguished family. His
father having died early, the boy was reared by his
mother. As a child he was active, brave and
studious. When only eight years old he would go
alone to the woods at night and hunt opossums and
raccoons. He received a good education. At the age
of eighteen he returned to his mother's farm. Here
he not only worked hard, but he carefully observed
and studied the different plants and wild animals of
his state. When he was twenty years old he ^lun-
teered in the militia and at twenty-three was a
captain. He was later appointed private secretary
to President Jefferson, which position he held for
two years. President Jefferson carefully watched the
young man and saw how resourceful and industrious
he was. Young Lewis completely won the respect of
the great man and his reward was the leadership of
the western exploring party. Before assuming com
mand Captain Lewis went to Philadelphia to learn
more about the scientific names of plants and animals,

Lewis, 1774-1809— Clark, 1770-1838.

51

astronomy and civil engineering, and other things
that might be useful to him in the west.
On account of the dangers of the trip thru tribes
of hostile Indians and over unknown rivers and
mountains, Captain Lewis desired to select some one
who could command the expedition if anything
happened to him. He thought at once of his friend,
Capt.William Clark,
a man of experience
and power. Captain
Clark accepted the
invitation. Altho
Lewis was the offi
cial head of the ex
pedition, he gave
Clark equal author
ity. In fact the ex
pedition is always
called the Lewis and
Clark Expedition.
Captain William
Clark was born in
Virginia on Angust meriwether lewis
1 1770 TTo olr.nfFrom Walter B. Stevens' "Missouri; The
J., HIV. ne dl^U Center State.")
came of a good
Virginia family and was born not far from the birth
place of Lewis. He was the ninth child in a family of
ten. One of his brothers was the celebrated George
Rogers Clark, who led the American soldiers into
Illinois and Indiana during the Revolutionary War. At
the age of fourteen, the family moved to Kentucky
where young Clark was reared. He received little educa-

52

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

tion in books, but had a wide experience with frontier
life. At the age of eighteen years he entered the
regular army and
in two years was
a captain in the
militia. He was
forced to resign
in 1796 on account
of ill health. Be
fore resigning he
met Lewis, who
was a private un
der him. The
closest friendship
developed between
these two men,
which lasted un
til their death.
On receiving Cap
tain Lewis' invita
tion to share tine
command of the
western expedi
tion, he left his
farm in Kentucky
william clark and joined his
(From Walter^StevensJ ^'Missouri: The frjend &t ^^
ville.
Captain Lewis received from President Jefferson
detailed instructions regarding the expedition on
July 30, 1803. He and Clark were to go four thou
sand miles over a country that no white man had
explored. They were to leave St. Louis and follow

! b> «*.
jg ..'- A
¦ .jd^M Am
¦1 Am
WnlmAm
Lewis, 1774-1809— Clark, 1770-1838. 53
the Missouri River to the mountains. They were to
cross the mountains and go down the Columbia
River to the Pacific Ocean. On arriving at the
coast they were told to return either by land or
ship. A map was given them as a guide but it was
of no help. This map showed that the Missouri
River rose in central California. And it failed to
show any mountains!
They were told to take the latitude and longitude
each day. They were to keep a journal of their
trip. In it were to be described the Indian tribes
they met, their numbers and names, the land they
held, their relations with other tribes, their language,
customs, occupations, religions, food, clothing,
diseases, and many other things. These two young
men were also to make maps of the country, show
ing rivers, mountains, and altitude of the land. They
were to describe the animals and plants of the
country. In fact, they were to observe and study
everything they met on their journey.
Lewis left Washington, D. C, in July, 1803.
Clark joined him at Louisville. The two went to
St. Louis where they made preparations for the
journey that winter. On May 14, 1804, they left St.
Louis. There were forty-five persons in all — soldiers,
hunters, boatment, workmen, an interpreter, and a
negro servant of Clark's. They had one boat fifty-
five feet long with twenty-two oars and a big square
sail, and several open boats. The horses were led
along the banks of the river. The ascent of the
Missouri River began without an accident.
On June 26th, the expedition reached the mouth
of the Kansas River, where they camped several

54 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
days. It had taken them forty-three days to cross
what is today the State of Missouri. On July 26th,
they reached the mouth of the Platte River, six
hundred miles above St. Louis. Along the trip they
held conferences with the Indians, making treaties
of peace, distributing a few presents, and buying
supplies. On August 19th, one of the party, Sergeant
Floyd, died. This was the only death. There was
also one desertion. By the last of October, the
expedition had traveled sixteen hundred miles from
St. Louis. A fort was built on November 20th,
which was called Fort Mandan, from the Mandan
Indians. Here the party encamped all winter.
Among the Mandan Indians was a squaw named,
"Sacajawea," meaning the "Bird Woman." When
a child among her people — the Snake Indians — she
had been captured. She married a Frenchman,
named Chaboneau, and they had one son. On learn
ing that Lewis and Clark were going farther west
to where the Snake Indians lived, the "Bird Woman"
and her husband decided to go along. She was
later to be of the greatest help to Lewis and Clark.
On April 7, 1805, the expedition left Fort Mandan,
having sent fourteen men back to St. Louis. On
April 26th, they reached the mouth of the Yellow
stone River, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-
eight miles above St. Louis. They were now near
tne country of the grizzly bear. On May 26th, they
first saw the Rocky Mountains, and on June 13th, the
Great Falls of the Missouri. At the latter place,
Captain Lewis had an experience that shows some of
the dangers of the trip from the wild animals alone.

Lewis, 1774-1809— Clark, 1770-1838. 55
One day Captain Lewis left the main party and
went on ahead. On returning he forgot to load his
gun and met a large grizzly bear. Being unable to
escape, he was forced to enter the river. He stoqd
in the water, facing the bear on the bank, resolved
to fight with his knife if the animal followed. After
a few minutes the bear slowly walked away, much
to the young man's relief. Proceeding until night
fall, he met a wolverine, which showed fight. A
little later three buffalo attacked him but he escaped.
The next morning on awakening, he saw a large
rattlesnake coiled by the trunk of a tree under
which he had slept!
From now the journey became more difficult.
After a hard day's work in rowing the boats or
traveling by land, the men would gather around
the camp fire and dance to the music of an old
violin that one of the party had brought. Most of
the time, however, they were too tired to do any
thing. On July 25, 1805, they reached the three forks
of the Missouri River, which were named by Captain
Clark the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin. Food
was getting scarcer every day. They were now in
the high mountain country and glad to obtain a
wolf, eagle or even an owl for meat. The men were
slowly starving. On August 12th, they came to the
source of the Missouri River and on the same day
reached the source of the streams that flowed into
the Columbia River. They were on the crest of the
Continental Divide which separates the waters that
flow into the Gulf of Mexico from those that flow into
the Pacific.

56 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
The men had already killed their horses for meat
and for several days were without food. When the
men had given up hope of life, the expedition arrived
in the country of the "Bird Woman." Her brother
was chief of the Indians there and was glad to see
her again. The travellers were well fed and rested
here several days. The Indians sold them new
horses and they left for the coast in September.
Their journey was day after day of hardships,
starvation, cold, and weariness. For weeks their
only food was some dried berries and powdered fish.
They were again forced to kill their horses. Meet
ing another tribe of Indians they bought some dogs,
which they ate. These Indians called them, "Dog
Eaters." Finally on November 6, 1805, they sighted
the Pacific Ocean. They built a fort and spent the
winter on the coast. No ship passed and on March
23, 1806, they started on their return trip. After
equal hardship, they reached St. Louis on September
23, 1806.
No word had been received from Lewis and Clark
for nearly two years. They had been given up as
lost. On arriving in St. Louis they were greeted
everywhere with highest honors. • Congress passed
a law giving each man double pay for his service
and three hundred acres of land. To Captain
Lewis was granted- fifteen hundred acres and to
Captain Clark, one thousand acres. Captain Lewis
protested against this, for he thought they should
have received equal amounts.
The expedition was a success. It had discovered
a new land and through its journals had mapped
and described this land. It had traversed four

Lewis, 1774-1809— Clark, 1770-1838. 57
thousand miles of an unknown country and had
returned — making a journey of eight thousand miles!
It had discovered new rivers, mountains and
mountain passes. It showed the vastness of the
great Northwest where today are the states of the
Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
All of these the expedition had accomplished and
had preserved in a clearly written journal. No in
land expedition in this country has done so much
considering the equipment, difficulties and the times.
On March 3, 1807, President Jefferson appointed
Captain Lewis Governor of Louisiana Territory (Up-
er Louisiana) with headquarters at St. Louis. He
held this office two years. He died on October 11,
1809, in Tennessee, while on a trip to Washington.
The cause of his death has never been definitely
known. Some said he killed himself, others that he
was robbed and murdered. His early death at the age
of thirty-five years was lamented by his hundreds of
friends. On March 12, 1807, Captain Clark was appointed
brigadier-general of the territorial militia in Louisi
ana Territory and also Indian agent. As Indian
agent he had charge of making peace and war with
the Indians. He was fearless but because he was
also a man of his word, the Indians loved and res
pected him. They called him "Red Head," because
of the color of his hair. "Red Head" was always
welcomed by the Indians, who knew that he was just
and fair.
After the death of Captain Lewis, the completion
of the journals of Lewis and Clark Expedition was
left in Captain Clark's hands. In 1813, Captain Clark

58 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
was appointed Governor of Missouri Territory by
President Madison. He served until Missouri became
a state in 1820. In 1822 President Monroe appointed
him Superintendent of Indian Affairs, a position he
held for sixteen years. He died at the home of his
eldest son, Meriwether Lewis Clark, in St. Louis on
September 1, 1838.

JAMES B. EADS, 1820-1887
Missouri's Greatest Engineer and Inventor
A HUNDRED years ago on the streets of St. Louis,
-**¦ a small sickly looking boy of thirteen was selling
newspapers. No one paid special attention to him.
People bought their papers from the frail lad and
then passed by.
His parents were poor and he was helping his fa
ther make a living for his mother and his two sis
ters. Altho he had gone to school only three years,
the poor newsboy wanted an education. He determin
ed to educate himself. He read books at home in the
evening. His father and mother were educated and
encouraged him.
When he was fourteen, he clerked in a store. The
storekeeper had a large library from whom he bor
rowed many books. He read about inventions; steam-
engines and steamboats; building bridges and dig
ging canals; and all kinds of mechanical work. He
would go down to the shore of the Mississippi River
and for hours look at the machinery on the steam
boats. He visited the sawmills. He watched men us
ing big derricks to lift the heavy logs. These were
the things he liked.
His father saw how interested his son was in
machinery, and encouraged him. He let him use the
basement for a workshop. Here the boy constructed
small engines, sawmills and other things. He made
these so well that they looked like real ones. One
day he decided to make a steamboat that would sail.
(59)

©

COUIod B

>
o ?
3 H

James B. Eads, 1820-1887. 61
He built one six fe*et long and made a little engine
out of old pieces of iron. After it was finished, he took
it down to a pond, started the engine, and sure enough
the boat sailed. It went around the pond and was a
success. The boy who did this was then only fifteen years
old and had been to school only three years. His
name was James B. Eads. He became Missouri's
greatest engineer and inventor, and one of the most
famous in America.
His parents were from old Virginia. His father
was a Welchman. At one time they were wealthy
but later lost all they had. They moved to Indiana
where young Eads was born on March 23, 1820.
Thirteen years later they came by boat to St. Louis.
Before reaching their new home in Missouri, their
steamboat was burned. They lost all their household
goods and barely saved their lives. On the very spot
where young Eads landed at St. Louis, he began
building his famous bridge across the Mississippi
River thirty-four years later.
Besides selling newspapers and clerking in a store,
the lad did odd jobs. He worked hard in the daytime
and read books in the night. He had a genius for
engineering. He was a natural inventor.
Besides reading books on machinery and surveying.
he studied arithmetic. His ambition was to be an
engineer and he was determined to educate himself,
since he could not go to college. He borrowed books
and read them carefully. With his spare money he
bought books. In a few years he had made great
progress.

62 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
After clerking in a store, he became a clerk on a
Mississippi River steamboat. The great river with its
mass of water, its snags and sand-bars, its windings
and curves, had always fascinated him. He observed
everything about it with the closest and keenest at
tention. He watched it cut into the soft earth banks
and make a new channel here and there. He saw
it rage during high waters and flood the rich lands
for miles. He saw how powerful it was, how good it
was to man in carrying on its waves the hundreds
of steamboats between St. Louis and New Orleans,
and how destructive it could be when not confined in
its channel. He learned its whims and fancies, but
saw that it really obeyed certain laws of nature.
This knowledge that young Eads obtained, was to be
of the greatest aid to him in later years.
When only twenty-two years old, Eads invented a
diving-bell to recover cargoes of sunken steamers in
the river. Altho he was small, seemed frail and weak,
he had great endurance. He frequently went down in
the diving-bell when other men were afraid. In a
few years he made much money, which he carefully
saved. With this money he built a glass factory, the first
in the Mississippi Valley. Unfortunately this was a
failure. He lost all his money and was in debt
$25,000. He borrowed $1,500 and went back to
his old work of recovering sunken cargoes.
He then invented a large boat for pumping the
sand and water out of sunken ships, after which the
ship and cargo could be raised to the top. He soon
paid off his debts and made over a half million dol
lars for himself.

James B. Eads, 1820-1887. 63
His health failed and for several years Eads was
an invalid. He was now being recognized as a re
markable engineer.
On recovering, he proposed to the United States
Government to remove the snags from the Mississippi,
Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas rivers. In these rivers
were thousands of rocks and stumps of trees just
below the surface of the water. These snags were
objects of terror to steamboat pilots. Hundreds of
boats were sunk by striking these snags which made
great holes in the bottom of the boat. Thousands
of dollars and scores of lives were lost. Eads wanted
to remove these dangerous obstacles. The United
States Government, however, refused to take up this
great work.
When the Civil War opened, President Lincoln
telegraphed Eads to come at once to Washington. The
Confederacy of the South controlled the Mississippi
and Tennessee rivers. They had forts on these rivers
that prevented the Union troops from being trans
ported on them. The only way to open these rivers
to the Union was to build armored boats with which
to capture the Confederate forts. But where get such
boats? President Lincoln asked Eads to build them.
He wanted eight fast boats, fully equipped in one
hundred days!
Few thought this was possible. Such a thing had
never been done in so short a time. Eads said he
could and would do it. And he did. In forty-five
days he finished the first "iron-clad" or armored
boat. Ten days later six more were completed, and be
fore the one hundred days had passed the eight iron
clads were on the river at St. Louis. It was these boat?

64 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
that enabled the capture of Forts Donelson and
Henry, and Island No. 10.
During the war, Eads built fourteen heavily ar
mored boats, remade seven ordinary boats into gun
boats, and constructed four mortar boats. This fleet
of iron-clads opened the Mississippi River to the
Union soldiers, and helped Farragut win his victory
in Mobile Bay.
In 1867, James B. Eads began one of his greatest
pieces of work. This was the construction of the
world famous Eads Bridge across the Mississippi
River at St. Louis. This steel arch bridge, in some
ways the greatest in the world up to that time, was
completed in 1874. It stands today a lasting monu
ment to its maker. So permanent is it that even
Wear and weather cannot destroy it if properly taken
care of.
Eads Bridge rests on solid rock piers. The foun
dation of one of these piers is one hundred and thirty
six feet below high water. To dig this, the workmen
cut through ninety feet of sand and rock. The
Bridge has three spans. The central one is five hun
dred and twenty feet long ; the two side-spans are
each five hundred and two feet long. Twenty-eight
leading engineers said at the time that such long
spans could not be built. Eads said they could, and
he built them. These spans stretch over the river
fifty feet above its waters. All steamboats can pass
under the bridge without trouble.
In constructing the bridge, Eads met hundreds of
problems. His mind solved them all. He invented
new machines to raise and place the tons of iron. He
invented a sand-pump to help excavate. Some of his

James B. Eads, 1820-1887. 65
plans and inventions were used in building the fa
mous Brooklyn Bridge.
Greater bridges have been built since Eads built
the one that bears his name. At that time, however,
it was perhaps the greatest bridge in the world.
Eads' next great work was deepening and widening
the mouth of the Mississippi River. Below the Mis
souri River, the water of the Mississippi River is full
of fine particles of dirt and sand, which gives it a
muddy color. At the mouths of the river much of
this dirt and sand had been deposited for years until
the channel was becoming too narrow and shallow for
ships to pass thru. Sand-bars formed and were
a menace to commerce. The United States Govern
ment investigated and, after considerable opposition
from the army civil engineers, agreed to let Eads
remove these sand-bars, deepen and widen the chan
nel. This was a great undertaking. Eads' enemies said
that new sand-bars would form as soon as the old
ones were removed. This did not discourage Eads
for he had a new plan that he felt certain would be
a success. Eads proposed to make the river do the
work of carrying away the old sand-bars and of deep
ening and widening its own channel. He was simply
going to harness the river like a man harnessed a
team of horses. Instead of using leather straps and
buckles, he intended to use willow-mattresses, stones
and concrete.
Eads knew the habits of the river like a farmer
knows his horse. He knew how to make it remove
a sand-bar by narrowing or changing its channel,
and how to make it form a sand-bar by obstructing

66 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
its channel. He employed hundreds of men to cut
down willows and weave them into thousands of big
willow-mattresses. He sunk these willow-mats or
mattresses in the river where he desired. Some
times he built a new bank out of them and the river
formed sand-bars around them and made these new
banks solid. Again he sunk them near a bank to
protect it from being carried away by the river.
Always he made the river do the big work. Of
course, Eads had plenty to do in harnessing the
river, for it was worse than a balky horse, a million
times stronger, and was never worn out. Finally,
however, after working several years he accomplished
his object. He also built jetties of concrete out into
the Gulf of Mexico to protect his jetties of willow mat-
work from the action of the ocean. This work is
known over the worjd as the Mississippi jetties. It
made Eads even more famous than he had been before.
Eads now wanted to deepen the channel of the
Mississippi River from the mouth of the Ohio to the
Gulf. The United States Government at first favored
this but the work was finally abandoned. This was
a great disappointment to Eads who desired to im
prove the entire Mississippi Valley. If he had been
employed, there is little doubt but that he would have
succeeded. Eads was now in demand over the world. He was
called from seaport to seaport to advise in regard
to protecting and deepening harbors. He went to
England, Mexico, Canada, Florida, California, and
Texas. For his advice he was highly paid. His sug
gestions were followed and proved successful.

James B. Eads, 1820-1887. 67
He traveled widely. He visited most of the
countries of Europe and examined the river and har
bor work of all the important cities. What he learned,
he never forgot. All this he applied and improved
upon. He was now recognized as the leading civil
engineer in America. ,
In 1884 the famous "Albert Medal" of England
was given him by the "Society for the Encourage
ment of Art, Manufacture and Commerce." He was
the first American to obtain this medal. In 1877 he
had received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the
University of Missouri. This shows he was apprecia
ted both at home and abroad.
His health, which had always been poor, now began
to fail him. This did not stop his work. He fre
quently worked all night on some problem. He now
conceived the plan of building his third great work.
This was a railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuante-
pec for carrying ships from one ocean to the other.
He thought such a railroad could be built more quickly
than a canal and could be kept in repairs cheaper.
Today we have the Panama Canal, owned by the
United States Government.
Eads worked hard to get his plan approved by the
United States Government. The Mexican Govern
ment was in favor of it. Everything pointed to his
beginning this work as soon as the United States
Government endorsed it. A company of bankers was
formed to furnish the money in 1887. Eads took
sick, and in a few days died on March 8, 1887.
James B. Eads was one of the most remarkable
men this state has produced. Without any schooling
except three years in the elementary branches, with-.

68 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
out a college education, Eads succeeded in making
himself one of the leaders in a line of work that usu
ally requires many years of training in a university.
In this respect James B. Eads stands almost alone
in American history. He was a self-educated man.
Others have succeeded in other professions without
a college education, but few in engineering.
James B. Eads was more than a great engineer,
he was a genius as an inventor. During his short
life, he invented over fifty important machines and
devices. Some of these are still used today.
He was a master of details. Before trying to do
anything he informed himself of all sides of a prob
lem. He was a slow writer and his plans for bridges
and harbor deepening were carefully put down. He
went over his written plans many times and checked
his figures to find errors. After he approved a plan,
he had great faith in it. He was never discouraged,
in the face of either problems or bad health.
In manner he was cordial and pleasant. He never
showed haste. He was never self-conscious or egotisti
cal. No matter how hard worked he was, Eads never
passed a friend without stopping to shake hands. He
sympathized with the failures and griefs of his friends
and was generous to a fault. He was truly a great man
as well as a great scientist and inventor. He did
much for man. When he built the Eads Bridge he
made travel easy, quick and cheap across a mighty
river. When he erected his jetties at the mouth of
the Mississippi River he made a path for the ships
of the world to bring their cargoes direct from the
ocean to New Orleans and beyond, without unloading.

James B. Eads, 1820-1887. 69
The man who cheapens travel and makes it safer;
who cheapens freight and makes commerce safer;
who makes water for a city cleaner and more whole
some; or who cheapens gas, electricity, heat, clothing
and food — such a man is just as truly great as a
statesman, orator, or soldier. James B. Eads was
such a man.

JOSEPH B. McCULLAGH, 1842-1896.
By Walter B. Stevens
rT* IAT little Irish boy," he was to the Methodists of
-*¦ St. Louis who worshiped at Broadway and
Pine streets about the middle of the fifties. He had
come from Dublin to this country, — "before the
mast." His school days had ended when he was eight
years old, and his education had been continued as a
cabin boy. At eleven he became an apprentice, — a
"printers' devil", — on the Freeman's Journal in New
York City. Five years later he came to St. Louis and
set type for Rev. Dr. McAnally on the Christian Advo
cate which was published on Pine street, back of the
church. It was unusual to see a printer boy of six
teen not only regular in attendance at the Sunday
school but studious as well. When "that little Irish
boy" began the study of shorthand in order to be able
to "report sermons", the Methodists took notice. They
said he "would make his mark." Professor William
T. Harris, the public school teacher, afterwards of
more than national fame as an educator, opened a
school, as a side line, to give instruction in stenogra
phy. Many years later, when he was at the head of
the Bureau of Education at Washington, he recalled
"that little Irish boy" as the pupil who became more
apt than the teacher at making intelligible "pigeon
tracks." The Methodist young men took the printer boy into
their church literary society. The Rev. Mr. Babcock,
who had charge of what is now the public library of
(70)

Joseph B. McCullagh, 1842-1896. 71
St. Louis, made the boy a member of his family and
fed an omnivorous appetite for books. One day the
foreman of the Missouri Democrat wanted a proof
reader. Mr. Babcock told of the Irish boy. The
foreman gave the boy a galley to try him out. "After
looking over that proof," said the foreman, "I con
cluded he knew more about proofreading than I did."
The sole reporter on the Democrat went away on
vacation. The boy proofreader was called down
stairs to "sub" for the reporter. And thus Joseph B.
McCullagh broke into daily journalism. His first day
on the street he filled the column and a half which
was the space alloted to local news. The next day
he brought in two columns and the third day his copy
was set in smaller type to get it into the paper.
There were stormy times at Jefferson City the
winter of 1859-60. The Missouri Legislature was
rent in factions on the issue of Secession. The young
reporter was sent up to do the correspondence. He
wrote so vividly of those turbulent scenes that he was
in danger. The owners of the paper were advised to
recall him, and it is another tradition that he did not
take the train at the capital but walked to the next
station east.
The presidential campaign of 1860 gave the oppor
tunity for the acquired facility with shorthand. The
young reporter made such good use of it that he at
tracted the attention of the political orators and was
recommended to other papers. There came from Cin
cinnati the offer of something better than the thirteen
dollars a week which the St. Louis position paid. Then
came the Civil war. Over the pen name of "Mack,"
the letters from the front were copied far and wide.

72 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"That little Irish boy" was in the thick of the fight at
Fort Donelson. He floated past the Confederate bat
teries at Vicksburg. He risked his life again and again
to get the war news.
The last half of the sixties was passed in Washing
ton. Then interviewing was invented. A president
in the White House spoke repeatedly to the country
through the correspondence of "Mack". He said no
body read his messages to Congress, but everybody
read the interviews.
In 1871, after a brief experience in Chicago, where
the great fire destroyed the paper which his friends
and he had started, Joseph B. McCullagh was back in
St. Louis, on the paper where his journalistic career
began. For twenty-five years, almost to the month,
he gave his life to the creation of a great newspaper.
"Creation" is the word, for the beginning was some
what worse than nothing. After a brief struggle to
determine the survival of the fittest, the Globe and the
Democrat were consolidated with a debt of $200,000.
Mr. McCullagh was given the editorial management
on a contract, as. he said, "to stay as long as the cir
culation keeps up."
From 1870 to 1880 was a decade of journalistic
strenuosity. St. Louis had eight morning newspapers,
four English, four German. Mr. McCullagh entered
joyously upon his contract "to keep the circulation
up." In three years the Globe-Democrat paid off the
debt, a large one for that day, and accumulated a
bank balance of $90,000, with which to enter upon a
course of expenditure for news which broke all pre
cedents. Not only did the circulation "keep up" but it
increased to such a degree that the Globe-Democrat

Joseph B. McCullagh, 1842-1896. 73
became "the only paper in the city or country willing
to keep its press room open to the world while the
edition is being run off, — Daily or Weekly." Soon
thereafter the Globe-Democrat began the publication
of sworn statements of circulation with frequent ban
ters to rival papers to show their figures.
"He gave his life to the creation of a newspaper."
To Mr. McCullagh the Globe-Democrat became home,
family, recreation, as well as work. A clocklike routine
governed the physical, to the neglect of the laws of
health. But the mind worked at high pressure long
hours to make the newspaper great. In the lives of
the eminently successful there is often warning as well
as inspiration for the young. "That little Irish boy"
achieved his ambition. He lived to see the Globe-Dem
ocrat a great newspaper but, with health shattered,
the end came when he should have been in his prime.
The new journalism of the Globe-Democrat attracted
country-wide comment. One high newspaper authori
ty in the East said that "whatever may be thought
of the Globe-Democrat's peculiar tactics, politically,
or otherwise, there is no gainsaying the fact that it is
a firstclass newspaper and popular with the masses."
This verdict was accepted by Mr. McCullagh who re
plied: "A firstclass newspaper and popular with the
masses" is the highest praise that can be given any
journal, and as long as our contemporaries render
this verdict in our favor they are welcome to their
own estimate of all the rest. On these two hang all
the law and the profits."
Mr. McCullagh had no creed, no church connection.
But the Globe-Democrat never scoffed or made light
of the fundamental truths of religion. When Inger-

74 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
soil came to St. Louis, his lectures were reported by
the Globe-Democrat more fully than by any other
paper. But the editorial page carried such antidotes
as this :
"An ex-priest of the Catholic church, after having
been mobbed a week ago, was allowed by the presence
of several companies of militia, to lecture in Toledo
yesturday on why he left the Catholic church. In St.
Louis Bob Ingersoll was allowed to tell why he left
the Presbyterian church, and not only was he not
disturbed, but he got $1,600 f-r telling it. We like
the St. Louis plan best, although in a country where
salvation is free it seems a little high to charge a
dollar for reserved seats for damnation."
Mr. McCullagh recognized "eternal verities" in his
Globe-Democrat policies. He caused the readers to
talk and laugh with his paragraphs. He introduced
no end of novelties which make people take notice
and marvel. But he could be serious and scathing.
He did not fail to strike the major key when occasion
demanded. He called the Globe-Democrat "The Great
Religious Daily", which was truthful as well as
striking. As a matter of fact no other daily news
paper gave so much space to religious news and dis
cussion. "The Great Controversy" carried on for
months in the columns of the Globe-Democrat is a
chapter in the history of Missouri journalism which
will live while the newspaper files endure.
The editorial paragraph was a feature which Mr.
McCullagh cultivated with much care.
"How is it, Mr. McCullagh," one of the editorial
writers asked, "that when I give you a long editorial
you pass it along to the printers almost without read-

Joseph B. McCullagh, 1842-1896. 75
•
ing, while if it is something short, or a paragraph,
you .revise it with great care?"
"Because," the chief replied, "people read the short
editorials, and they don't care a whoop for the long
ones." Mr. McCullagh made no secret of his newspaper
ideals. He repeatedly defined his ideas of what con
stituted a great newspaper, illustrating them after
this manner.
"A Cincinnati paper of last Thursday devoted two
of its broad pages to the New Orleans prize fight
of the day before and two more to a religious revival
in that city, thinking it thereby gratified all classes
of readers. But it did nothing of the kind. All
classes of readers are not embraced in two classes —
those who love prize fights and those who want the
details of revival meetings. Between these two ex
tremes there are a dozen different classes who care
nothing for prize fights and who are indifferent to
revival meetings, and the newspaper that neglects the
tastes and wishes of the people comprising these
classes is false to its mission or printing current his
tory. The Globe-Democrat reports prize fights and
reports them quite fully, but it does not fill its pages
with them to the exclusion of other matters which
interest the public quite as much, if not more. The
best newspapers of the present day are the many
sided newspapers in which current history is collected,
condensed and presented so as to exclude nothing of
real interest, and not allow any special class interest
to monopolize its contents. A good newspaper is like
the bill of fare at a metropolitan hotel, — nobody is ex
pected to call for or consume everything it contains,

76 Missouri's Hall of Fame. «
and yet it should contain something suitable to every
taste. It is because the Globe-Democrat is conducted
on this idea that it flourishes like a green bay tree,
and that every year of its history finds it more pros
perous than the year before."
The decade 1880-1890 brought an evolution in Mr.
McCullagh's newspaper policies. Previous to that he
had aimed to make the Globe-Democrat talked about
and to win circulation. He had carried on a score of
crusades. He had warred on the Missouri State Lot
tery, the gamblers, the New Years' custom of a grand
drunk, and so on. He had originated "the Grant
Boom" and had carried it so nearly to success that
newspapers all over the country were amazed. The
Globe-Democrat was showing annual dividends with
out precedent in western journalism. Now came a
new era in the upbuilding of a great newspaper ac
cording to Mr McCullagh's ideals. The local per
sonal journalism was abandoned except at rare inter
vals. The editor was building for permanence. The
Globe-Democrat became more metropolitan. New
features, the influence of which would be felt beyond
the borders of the city, and in the years to come,
were planned with care. More frequently Mr. Mc
Cullagh gave out through the columns of the paper
his theories of newspaper character and lasting suc
cess. Many times and in varying forms he declared
that the best newspaper was that which most accurate
ly, most comprehensively, most attractively recorded
current history. "Current history!" That became a
favorite expression with him.
A general welfare clause found an important place
in the Globe-Democrat's policy. Mr. McCullagh car-

Joseph B. McCullagh, 1842-1896. 77
ried this above partisan consideration in politics, be
yond personal prejudices and above bigotry in creed.
When the panic of 1893 came, with a Democratic
President, Mr. McCullagh announced:
"The Globe-Democrat declines to join the ignoble
army of partisan pirates who are trying to make po
litical capital for the Republican party out of the
present financial stringency because it Occurs under a
Democratic administration. We yield to none in our
dislike of Democracy and Democratic Presidents, but
just at present, if we had to choose between two suc
cessive Democratic presidents and one financial panic
we would take the Democratic Presidents. We can
all recover, in time and by fumigation, from a Demo
cratic President, but a financial crash would leave be
hind it much distress from which there would be no
recovery. Let us all stand together as good citizens,
and by hoping for the best do much to bring the best
about. The Rev. Dr. William G. Eliot, founder and head
of Washington University, probably espoused more
movements for the moral and intellectual uplift of
of St. Louis and Missouri than any other man in his
two generations. He said :
"Whenever the pinch comes, McCullagh is always
found on the right side."

WILLIAM R. NELSON, 1841-1915
A Story of a Man, a Newspaper and a City.
THERE once lived a man in Kansas City, Mo., who
labored for thirty-five years for the good of the
people. He was not an orator, a politician, a preach
er, or an author; he never made an address in pub
lic; was seldom seen in public, and attended a theater
only once; still he sent two daily messages to two
hundred thousand families and weekly messages to
three hundred and fifty thousand homes. His life
influenced the building of a city and the making of
laws for three states. He stood for industry, honesty
and progress. He believed in the people and labored
for their welfare. He was one of the great men of
this state. His name was William R. Nelson, editor
of The Kansas City Star.
William Rockhill Nelson was born in Indiana on
March 7, 1841. His ancestors for three generations
had helped to lay the foundations of his nation. His
grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War
and afterwards served as one of the first Congressmen
from Indiana. He was a large farmer. Mr. Nelson
often remarked that his grandfather was the first
man in the world to plant a thousand acres of corn.
His mother was of Quaker descent.
Between the young lad and his father existed great
confidence. When his pranks brought him into trou
ble, he always went first to his father who helped him
through his difficulties. His father never believed
(78)

William R. Nelson, 1841-1915. 79
in giving his son money unless he worked for it. He
once asked for money to pay his way to a circus.
"You should earn the money," his father said.
"No person should have money that he has not earn
ed." Then with a twinkle in his eye, he added:
"Your mother wants that wood carried in. Do
that and I will pay you fifty cents."
This he did and afterwards said that he enjoyed
that circus all the more because he "worked his way
in." As a boy he attended college but failed to realize
his opportunities and left school early. He decided
to become a lawyer and before he was twenty-one
had been admitted to the bar. But not law alone
appealed to him. He with a partner made a venture
in raising cotton in Georgia. This proved a failure
and he was ruined financially. Altho a young man
with no brilliant prospects, Mr. Nelson was not wor
ried. He later spoke of the affair in these words:
"Lack of self-confidence was never one of my fail
ings. I don't suppose I ever lost a minute's sleep
over the affair. I knew I was going to win in the
end." Leaving his cotton business, he returned to Indiana
and built roads, bridges and buildings. He became
a successful contractor. But only when he bought
an interest in a Fort Wayne newspaper, did he real
ize he had found his calling. He was convinced, how
ever, that he needed a wider field than in this small
Indiana town. He began looking for a new location.
After visiting cities in the East and as far west as
San Francisco, he decided to go to Kansas City.

80 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
This was in 1880 when Kansas City had only
sixty thousand inhabitants. "It was a town of no
pavement and only a few plank sidewalks. A few
street cars bobbed along behind tired mules. Every
thing was yet to be done to make the town into a
great and beautiful city." But to him, Kansas City
was the best place in the world. He once said:
"I never come back to Kansas City that I do not
find the sun shining as it never shines in the places
where I have been."
He considered nothing too good for Kansas City.
Thus believing he had found his life's work, to be
done in a place he loved, he began the dedication of
his life, when he, with his partner, Samuel E. Morss,
founded The Star.
The first issue, called The Kansas City Evening
Star, appeared September 18, 1880. It was a paper
of four small pages of six columns each. The paper
was welcomed by Kansas City people, who kindly
called it the "Twilight Twinkler." The price was two
cents while other newspapers sold for five cents. At
that time the nickle was the smallest coin in general
circulation in Kansas City and the newsboys had
difficulty in making change. To relieve their trouble
Mr. Nelson brought from the United States mint,
a keg full of pennies. When in 1901 the paper grew
to be two issues a day besides a Sunday edition, the
price still remained ten cents a week, no more than
when it was the small four page paper. In this way
the editor felt that he was giving his readers some
thing better than the comic sheet, which was appear
ing in many city papers. Mr. Nelson regarded the
comic section as vulgar and inartistic. For many

William R. Nelson, 1841-1915. 81
years he did not use illustrations because he thought
newspapers could not do them well. Instead he used
line drawings. He used no big headlines and no ex
aggerations. He wanted his paper to be always entertaining and
always looked forward to with pleasure. He seldom
wrote anything for the paper with his own hand but
rarely a day passed that he did not outline some
thing to be written. He asked to be referred to as
"editor" and not as "editor and owner." As he
became older he was convinced that the liquor busi
ness was one of the country's great evils. For this
reason he refused to take liquor advertisements.
This cut off a large source of income, but his only
comment was: "I guess we are making money fast
enough without them."
Mr. Nelson established The Weekly Kansas City
Star in 1890. It was an eight page paper for farm
ers. It was sold for only twenty-five cents a yean
In twenty-five years its circulation reached three
hundred and fifty thousand. It went to every state
in the Union and to many foreign countries.
As an editor, William R. Nelson occupies a unique
position in journalism. He was not a writer. Even
his own paper contained few sentences written by
him. Still The Star was regarded by others as one
of the six best newspapers in the United States!
It expressed the ideals and thoughts of its editor.
In fact The Star was William R. Nelson. He once
said : "The Star is my life." The paper and the man
cannot be separated. They were one.
The Star marks three important things in Ameri
can journalism. It was first to furnish seven papers

82 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
a week for ten cents. It was first to furnish thirteen
papers a week for ten cents. It was first to issue
a complete farmers' weekly for twenty-five cents a
year. "The Star," said Mr. Nelson, "must be a gentle
man. What the other fellow does doesn't interest me.
We are running The Star for our readers, not for
other newspapers." To make The Star a better paper
was its editor's purpose. He used larger type so it
could be more easily read. He copied from books and
magazines, articles of interest and value. Art,
science, literature, politics, news, religion, law, and
scores of other fields of knowledge were set forth in
the columns of The Star. It was an educator as well
as a newspaper.
As an editor, William R. Nelson regarded "the
reporter with the nose for news" as the most valuable
man on the paper. He thought that a good reporter
with industry was a paper's great blessing. He
always emphasized industry and once said: "Often
a good pair of legs makes a good reporter." He had
great faith in a reporter's honesty. He said that he
had often placed confidence in new reporters and had
seldom been deceived. He was a reporter's friend
and stood by him thru trouble. All he demanded
was honesty and industry, he was big enough to over
look mistakes.
His paper became the guide of thousands in Mis
souri, Kansas, Oklahoma and the great Southwest.
By its honesty and aggressiveness, its fearlessness in
attacking evil and promoting progress, it made
enemies, but its editor never worried over them.

William R. Nelson, 1841-1915. 83
This story is told in the life of "William Rockhill
Nelson" written by the members of the staff of the
Kansas City Star. *****
One day while motoring in Colorado, Mr, Nelson
stopped at. an out-of-the-way inn. After lunch, an
old man arose and put out his hand: —
"My name is (so and so) from Chandler, Okla
homa." "Glad to meet you, sir; my name is Nelson of
Kansas City."
"Not Mr. Nelson of The Star?" exclaimed the man
in astonishment.
"Yes, I am Mr. Nelson."
"Well, sir," said the man as he shook his hand
again, "I am proud to meet you, Mr. Nelson. I have
taken your paper for twenty-five years. I've read
everything you ever wrote and I never knew you to be
wrong yet. Your paper is the best paper in the world
and I've always wanted to meet you."
At that the others on the veranda got up and
came forward. A woman shook his hand and said: —
"I am from Beloit, Kansas, and we take The Star,
and it is our favorite paper."
Then, in turn, a man from Springfield, Missouri,
a woman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, a man from Gar
den City, Kansas, and a man and his wife from some
place in Nebraska, each shook hands, and each as
sured him that they were Star subscribers, liked it
better than any other paper, and believed in his
politics. Each person in that group, from widely separated
places, was a reader of The Star.

84 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"Well," said Mr. Nelson, beaming with delight,
"we are not strangers after all, but friends."
As an editor, Mr. Nelson made The Star a model
of city journalism. Its reading matter was always
refined and instructive. It never degenerated to
printing family scandals. It stood for the things
that are best and highest in civilization. It labored
for the good of mankind. It fought for the right and
the truth regardless of results. It never acknowledged
defeat. "Nothing much is gained by a single battle,"
said its veteran editor. "The Star never loses."
As a citizen, William R. Nelson used his paper
to represent him in his many battles against evil.
He hated whiskey and fought the liquor business.
He told why The Star so strongly opposed the saloon.
"If they will bring one man, just one, that whiskey
has ever benefited, I will give up my fight against it;
and they can have the whole country to search in for
that one man," he said. "Some of the dearest friends
I ever had were ruined and done to death by whiskey."
As a citizen, he pulled Kansas City out of the
mud. He printed hundreds of articles on paving.
The people were finally convinced and the streets
were paved. He worked equally hard for sewers,
good lights, fire protection, bridges and substantial
public buildings. Finally was built Kansas City's
beautiful union station costing six million dollars,
for which he had labored for years.
In 1881, Mr. Nelson began his battle for public
parks in Kansas City. For fifteen years thru The
Star the people of Kansas City had parks and

William r. Nelson, 1841-1915. 85
boulevards for supper every night. Then came the
first park, then a second, and today Kansas City
boasts of having the finest system of parks and
boulevards in the nation. All this was a hard
struggle, for parks cost money. But The Star was
victor. Mr. Nelson studied trees, grasses and sods,
and thru his paper told the people which trees were
best fitted for Kansas City's soil and climate. He had
rows of elms planted along some of the streets. He
imported squirrels from other states. He did every
thing to obtain the most accurate information and
then gave it to the people.
He also advocated and obtained public bath houses,
a convention hall, and city owned water-works.
Whenever he found that he was wrong, Mr. Nelson
was not afraid to change his opinion.
"The Star," he said, "is the only paper in the
world, I suppose, without a 'fixed policy.' "
He advocated flood protection, lessening of the
smoke and noise nuisances, preservation of natural
scenery, advancement of the schools, protection of
birds, and the cultivation of back gardens. Anything
that concerned the people, concerned him as a public
citizen. "When a farmer's wife in Western Kansas
was awarded first prize in a butter-making contest,
he sent a reporter there to get her story of how she
did it." Then he told the story to the people.
As a citizen, he not only attacked the saloon but
fought all forms of gambling and wickedness. He
did much to run the lottery swindles, the quacks, and
the loan sharks from Kansas City.
He stood for good government when it was danger
ous to attack the organized forces of corrupt govern-

86 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
ment. Thieving politicians he detested and hated.
He knew their power, their influence, and their
criminal methods, but he never ceased battling with
them. He worked for the people and relied on the
people. "You can always trust the people to do what is
best when they know what is best," he said.
He thought it was his business as a citizen to tell
the people thru The Star what he regarded as the
best in government. He sent his men to other cities
and to other states to study government and he
printed their reports in his paper. He thereby kept
his readers informed on this subject not only as it
might be written in books but as it was in practice.
Above all in government, he placed free elections and
free justice. He thought no 'man should be made
to pay part of the cost of running for office. The
public should pay this. He also thought that the
state should pay the lawyers in lawsuits. Neither
of these reforms he advocated has been adopted.
As a man, William R. Nelson was remarkable for
his love of his fellow men. All of his many gifts to
those in need will never be known. He aided not
only his friends but hundreds who never knew him
except by name. He was as kind to his servant,
Ben, as to his own relatives. When he died the
servant said: "I feel that I am an entirely different
man from knowing Mr. Nelson."
Many of his old employees on The Star he pension
ed, and after their death he continued to help their
families when in need. This story is told by one who
knew its truth.

William R. Nelson, 1841-1915. 87
One of the reporters who had been with The Star
a long time died suddenly of heart disease. After
the funeral Mr. Nelson said to one of his men: "You
go out and see his widow and find out how they are
situated." The man came back and said that they owed
on a house they were paying for, and that the three
children were not yet thru school, but would be in
a year or two. Mr. Nelson ordered that the name of
that reporter be kept upon the pay-roll for two
years, which would give time for the house to be
paid for and the children to finish school. One of
the children came every pay-day and took home her
father's salary." This was done so quietly that the
printing of it was news to even the majority of
reporters on The Star.
He gave much, but he never mentioned it. Here
is an example: Some fifteen or twenty years ago
Mr. Nelson discovered one of his old school-teachers
living in poverty in Kansas City and too aged to do
anything. Mr. Nelson supported the family until
the old teacher died, and then he paid the funeral
expenses. He kept on supporting the son and
daughter until the son died, and he ¦ paid for his
funeral. The daughter is still being supported, and
will continue to be, because Mr. Nelson laid the
solemn injunction upon his secretary: "No matter
what happens, you always see that she is cared for."
As a friend of man, Mr. Nelson aided every move
ment to help the poor. He started "The Santa Claus
Fund" in 1886, and later the "Good Fellow" move
ment. Both of these were formed to persuade men
and women of means to contribute something in food,

88 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
clothing or presents to the poor women and children
of Kansas City at Christmas time. A big Christmas
tree was placed in Convention Hall and the poor of
Kansas City were invited to attend the distribution
of baskets filled with food and presents to make
happier their lives.
After an illness of several months this great man
died at his home on April 13, 1916. Two states.
Kansas and Missouri, mourned his death. For five
minutes every wheel in Kansas City stopped running
by order of the officials. His funeral was one of the
largest held in Kansas City. Public buildings were
draped and all flags were at half-mast. But it was
when his will was printed that Kansas Citians
learned how much he loved them. He left the in
come from his wealth to his wife and daughter dur
ing their lives. After their deaths, his estate was
given to the public of Kansas City for collecting
paintings, engravings, sculptures, tapestries and rare
books. He had labored during his life for the educa
tion of the people, he determined that this education
should continue after his death.

WALTER WILLIAMS, 1864-
First President of the Press Congress of the World
MOST persons regard the editor of a city news
paper as a greater journalist than the country
editor. The city paper is larger, has more news,
and is sold to tens of thousands, while the country
press reaches only a few hundred subscribers. When
Missouri newspapers of importance are mentioned
they are usually such big city dailies as the Kansas
City Star and Times, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch or
the Republic and the Globe-Democrat. The small
country weekly is seldom thought of as a rival of
these metropolitan newspapers. Still many of Mis
souri's greatest editors were country editors. Rep
resentative of these is one who is the most widely
known Missouri editor in the state. At the early
age of twenty-three years he was president of the
Missouri Press Association; eight years later, he
was president of the National Editorial Association;
and in 1915, was elected the first president of the
Press Congress of the World. He is a native of
Missouri, was born and reared in a Missouri country
town, and has always edited a Missouri country news
paper. His writings have been widely read, his
Speeches rank high, and his friends are many. His
name is Walter Williams, Missouri's country editor.
Walter Williams was born at Boonville, on July
2, 1864. He received a high school education and
learned the printer's trade. At the age of twenty
years he was editor of the Boonville Advertiser,
(89)

90 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
which he edited for five years. From 1890 to 1908,
he was editor of the Columbia Missouri Herald.
During part of this time he was also editor of The
Country Editor, the St. Louis Presbyterian and the
Daily State Tribune, at Jefferson City.
Since July 1, 1908, he has been dean of the School
of Journalism, and professor of the history of journal
ism, at the University of Missouri. This was the
first school of its kind in the United States. It is
also the largest. Its graduates have edited papers
over the nation, in China, Japan, Australia, the
Hawaiian Islands and Canada.
In cooperation with the Misouri Press Association,
Walter Williams also founded "Journalism Week" at
the University of Missouri. During "Journalism
Week" hundreds of Missouri editors gather in
Columbia and for five days discuss the problems of
running a newspaper. How to get news, the cost
of ink and paper, and the best printing machines
are some of these problems. Editors and speakers
of note from other states deliver addresses. The
week closes with a banquet. The last three banquets
were, a "Made-in-Missouri Banquet," a "Made-in-
America Banquet," and a "Made-in-Japan Banquet."
These unique banquets are widely known and have at
tracted much interest. For example, at the "Made-in-
Japan Banquet" all the food and decorations came
from Japan.
As an editor, Walter Williams is the most widely
known Missourian of his day. He has visited more
foreign newspaper offices than any other American.
Not only in England, France, Germany and Italy has

Walter Williams, 1864-

91

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WALTER WILLIAMS

92 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
he traveled, but he has been in Russia, Turkey,
Egypt, India, Australia, China and Japan, to learn
how other people edit newspapers. He was commis
sioner at the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposi
tion to the foreign editors. In 1902 he was presi
dent of the North American Press at the International
Press Congress, held in Switzerland. He was or
ganizer and secretary of the ' World's Press Parlia
ment at St. Louis and was director of the Inter
national Press Congress at San Francisco. These
positions of honor have come to this Missouri
country editor because of the important place he
holds in the field of journalism. The beginning of his
fame as a journalist was when he became editor of
The Columbia Missouri Herald.
During the eighteen years Walter Williams was
editor of this paper, he established a reputation.
When he took charge of this newspaper in 1890,
Columbia was a little country town of four thousand
inhabitants. The young editor was only twenty-six
years old. He was a stranger to his own subscribers,
having lived previously in Boonville. He had neither
wealth nor influence. Scores of Missouri editors had
had more experience, had more friends, had more
subscribers, and were located in towns as good as
Columbia. In less than ten years, however, The
Columbia Missouri Herald was the best country
newspaper in Missouri. It was issued weekly. Some
copies contained from fifty to seventy pages! In less
than a decade the number of subscribers had increased
from two thousand to five thousand and everyone paid
in advance for his paper.

Walter Williams, 1864- 93
The Columbia Missouri Herald became not only the
most widely read country newspaper in Columbia and
Boone county, but the most quoted one in the State
of Missouri. Containing interesting articles on
Missouri history and biography, literature and art,
science and invention, public affairs and current
opinion, it represented a high type of journalism.
It was a magazine and a newspaper combined. Even
today the old issues of this publication are interest
ing reading. Little wonder is it that the editor
became famous.
It was but a step from managing The Columbia
Missouri Herald to directing the School of Journalism
at the University of Missouri. The editor now be
came the educator. As an educator, Walter Williams
became even better known than he had been as an
editor. The Missouri School of Journalism was
founded to train men and women for journalism so
that they might be better able to serve their state
and country. During the ten years of its existence,
one thousand two hundred students have received
instruction, and one hundred and eighty have grad
uated. Of the graduates ninety per cent are today
actively engaged in journalism.
As an educator, the methods of instruction adopted
by Walter Williams have been the model for other
schools of journalism that have been founded since
1908. The Missouri School of Journalism is known
over the world. Its graduates and former students
are highly regarded. Its success as an institution
of learning is greater than any other of its kind in
the world.

94 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
As an orator, Walter Williams is also widely
known. Most orators are either preachers, lawyers,
or statesmen. Walter Williams is a plain country
editor, still he has delivered more- public addresses
on invitation than any other man in the state con
sidering his years. His speeches have imparted
advice to graduating classes in country schools and
universities. His addresses have entertained and
instructed literary and commercial clubs. He has
spoken at good road meetings and public celebra
tions. He has addressed press associations and
church conventions. He has been the orator of the
day at the dedication of buildings and the marking
of historic spots. But he is at his best as an after-
dinner speaker. He is one of the most entertaining
and delightful toastmasters in Missouri. His stories
and jokes are original and his manner of speaking is
usually hesitating. His charm lies in the beauty of
his language, his modest courteous manner, his
natural way of speaking and his ideals of thought.
He is always a gentleman.
It may have been the educator and the orator
who made his Sunday-school class the largest in the
world, but it was probably Walter Williams, the man,
who drew men and women by the hundreds to listen
to his Sabbath morning talks. In the midst of bis
many duties, of his family cares when his wife lay
sick for weeks, he still preserved the calm manner
and courtesy of the Christian gentleman. He will
live in history as the country editor and the educa
tor, he will be remembered as an author and orator,
but he will be loved as a citizen, neighbor and
gentleman.

CLARA C. HOFFMAN, 1831-1908
Missouri's Great Heart
LESS than forty years ago any woman who attempt
ed to take an active part in public affairs was
frowned upon by the people and was generally
regarded with suspicion and disfavor. This seems
almost unbelieveable today when it is common to
hear women speakers; to read of women voting in
some states; to learn of women on school boards;
and to see women everywhere organized in clubs
and lodges trying to help the poor, clean the back
yards and the alleys, or drive out the saloons. There
is even a woman "Congressman" in Washington, D.
C, representing the third largest state in the union,
Montana. Forty years ago, however, all this was different.
Woman was the mother of the home and the leader
in society, but outside of these she was permitted to
do little except teach school, attend church and
furnish the good old church dinners, and occasionally
run a store, postoffice or tavern. If she had even
dared to ask to serve on school boards, people would
have laughed at her. If on election day, she had
gone on the streets and asked men to vote against
the saloon, they would probably have thought she
should be home "tending to her business." And if
she had made a speech in public asking that women
be permitted to vote, many would have said that she
was insane. (95)

96 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
All this has changed or is rapidly changing today.
Now we see not one but a thousand women on the
streets on election day when people are voting on
having saloons or closing them. At other times they
go from house to house, and from store to store,
raising money to build a public library building, or to
buy food and clothing for the poor, or to help the
Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. Although they do not have
the vote in Missouri, they are very powerful in
public life. They are still the mothers of the homes,
they still teach more children than all the men in
the nation, they still form two-thirds of a church
congregation on a Sunday morning, they still cook the
church dinners and serve the sandwiches and ice
cream, but they are now doing a hundred other
things to help both man and woman.
This change in woman's work was gradual. It
took years. Even today it is not ended. Some say
that it will never end, others say that it will when
woman is regarded as the equal of man, has the
same privileges, is given the same opportunities. One
of the first and greatest leaders in Missouri who had
the courage to begin this fight for woman was Clara
C. Hoffman— Missouri's "Great Heart."
The life of Mrs. Clara Cleghorn Hoffman covers
seventy-seven years. In dates it is brief, in work
it is without end. A single paragraph could easily
give every important date in her life. This is also
true of nearly every woman. She is born; is educat
ed; marries, is the mother of so many children,
(sometimes she teaches school) ; if fortunate, takes
a trip; and dies. A great poet once said that the

Clara C. Hoffman, 1831-1908.

97

annals or history of the poor is brief. This is also
true of the life of a woman, or rather it was true
until the last few years.
Clara Cleghorn was born in New York, January
19, 1831, of Scotch parents. She was the twelfth child
in a family of thirteen. Educated in New York and
Massachusetts, she
went west to Keokuk,
Iowa to live with one
of her brothers. She
then taught school in
Illinois and in 1862
married Dr. Goswin
Hoffman, a German
physican and a uni
versity graduate. They V"v^S
moved to Warrens-
burg, Missouri, in
1869 and two years
later to Kansas City.
Doctor Hoffman died
in 1893 and the elder clara c. hoffman
of their two sons died in 1896. For ten
years Mrs. Hoffman was principal of the Lathrop
School in Kansas City, resigning in 1882 to serve
as the first president of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union of Missouri. She filled
this position for twenty-five years, and for twelve
years was recording secretary of the national W.
C. T. U. In 1895 she was elected a delegate to the
world's temperance convention in London, England.
After the convention, Mrs. Hoffman traveled and
lectured for eight months in England, Germany,

98 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
France and Switzerland. Her health failing, she
suffered an attack of pneumonia in 1908, and after an
illness of four weeks, died on February 13, 1908.
By her long service of a quarter of a century as
president of the Missouri Woman's Christian Tem
perance Union, Mrs. Hoffman was recognized over
the nation as one of the leaders of that body. Or
ganized to oppose the manufacture and sale of all
liquor — beer, wine, and whiskey — the W. C. T. U.
has been one of the most powerful forces in the
nation in the cause of prohibition. To drive out the
saloon and to stop the sale of liquor, has been its
battle cry. It covers the nation, having a central
or national organization and also an organization in
each state. In Missouri work was completed for or
ganizing a Missouri W. C. T. U. in 1882.
In May of that year the W. C. T. U. members
living in the state, met at Hannibal and formally
organized. At this meeting Mrs. Hoffman first met
the national president of the W. C. T. U., Miss
Frances E. Willard. They formed a friendship that
grew in love and helpfulness as the years passed.
Miss Willard was a remarkable woman. She did
more for the temperance or anti-saloon movement
in the West than any other person. She is the
only woman in the nation whose statue is in Statuary
Hall in Washington — being one of the representatives
selected by the State of Illinois.
At the meeting of the National W. C. T. U. in
Louisville, Kentucky, in the fall of 1882, Mrs. Hoff
man was elected president of the Missouri W. C. T.
U. by the six Missouri women present. Her election

Clara C. Hoffman, 1831-1908. 99
was confirmed by the national body. Mrs. Hoffman
was not present at the Louisville meeting. She
resigned her school position to take up the great
work before her in the cause of prohibition.
The first annual meeting of the Missouri W. C. T.
U. was held in September, 1883. Work was begun
at once to free Missouri from the saloon. This
work is not yet finished, but the Missouri W. C. T. U.
was instrumental in making most of Missouri's
counties dry by vote of the people.
At first little encouragement was given Mrs. Hoff
man and her "White Ribbon" workers — as they were
called from the white ribbon badges they still wear.
Many churches even refused to permit them to
deliver speeches in their cause. People were then
indifferent to the saloon question. Altho some
persons looked upon the saloon as an evil, it was not
regarded as a menace. They thought that since
America had always had saloons, America would
always have them. Besides nearly all the men and
women of that day did not think it was proper for
women to take up this kind of work.
People made fun of the little band of women who
said that some day they would close up the saloons
of Missouri. In those days saloons were everywhere.
Young boys and old men were frequently seen
drunk on the public streets of Missouri's towns and
cities. Thousands of men spent their weekly wages
for beer and whiskey and then went home to their
wives and children without money to buy bread,
meat and clothing. The saloon not only made
physical wrecks of many men thru its intoxicating
liquors, but it ruined homes, made paupers of women

100 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
and children, and even corrupted the government.
Today it seems strange that such a business as a
saloon was permitted to do tnis in nearly every town
in the nation for years and years. What is even
stranger, however, is that tne people in general
opposed anyone, man or woman, who tried to drive
out of existence such an evil.
In spite of little help, Mrs. Hoffman and her
"White Ribbon" workers toiled year after year.
First a town, then a county voted dry. Other counties
joined the movement. Finally it spread over the
State of Missouri.
Much of the credit for this work is due to Mrs.
Hoffman. She led the hundreds of determined
Missouri women who fought against the saloon.
Without their help nothing could have been done;
without her leadership success would have been de
layed. Miss Frances E. Willard said this of Mrs Hoffman :
"Mrs Hoffman is the Thomas H. Benton of the
prohibition movement. She is every whit as able as
was the great senator from Missouri and brings to
her plea for protection of the Christian fireside a
logic as powerful, a pathos far more tender, and a
personality vastly more homelike."
Miss Willard loved this Missouri woman with deep
affection. She gave her a name that will always be
remembered by the temperance women of this state.
This name, somehow, seems to tell the very life work
and soul of Clara C. Hoffman. She was called the
"Great Heart."
In the reading room of The State Historical
Society of Missouri, at Columbia, is a beautiful,

Clara C. Hoffman, 1831-1908. 101
marble bust statue of Mrs. Hoffman. It was made
by the noted St. Louis sculptor, Prof. George J.
Zolnay. Professor Zolnay said that in all his career
he had never done a piece of work that had meant
so much to him, that had been so much of an inspira
tion, as the study of the life and soul of this great
woman. Below the statue are these words:
"Missouri's Great Heart"
Clara C. Hoffman
¦• • - - President Missouri
Woman's Christian Temperance Union For
Twenty-five Years
Mrs. Hoffman is said to have been a fine speaker.
Her voice was rich and melodious. She had a re
markable mind and a deep sense of justice. She was
brave, resourceful and persistent as all great leaders
are. She made friends by the thousands. Her in
fluence reached far beyond the boundaries of Mis
souri. Her life was bound up in her work. To a
friend she once wrote these words:
"When I am lying cold in my coffin, written above
my heart in letters of living fire will be the words,
'Missouri Woman's Christian Temperance Union.' "
She believed that the temperance and prohibition
movement should have the support of all Christians.
She thought of evil as something that Christianity
should fight against. The saloon she regarded as a
great evil.
Clara C. Hoffman not only wanted to free man
from the saloon but also hoped to free woman from
her limited field of mental and physical activity.
She wanted woman to read widely on public ques
tions, to inform herself on what the government is

102 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
doing as well as on the latest style in dresses. She
hoped that some day woman would be permitted to
vote. When that day came, she said the saloon
would go.
Such a person, be it man or woman, naturally
makes enemies. Mrs. Hoffman was no exception.
Although she had friends by the thousands, she also
made enemies. Many of the latter, however, have
joined in praises of her work since her death. She
did not work for herself but for others. The saloon
was no menace to her, except as is might have
taken her husband and her two boys from her some
day. To her, the saloon was a menace ever present
to all men, women and children. She wanted to
destroy that menace.
The sayings of Mrs. Clara C. Hoffman have been
collected by Mrs. Nelle G. Burger, from which these
have been selected: What Clara C. Hoffman Said
Reformers have never waited for public sentiment.
The W. C. T. U. was not formed for a mutual ad
miration society, nor yet for mutual benefit, but for
the destruction of the liquor business.
Whoever touches politics touches men, women and
children; touches our purses, our morals and our
homes. Woman may forget herself, but can she forget her
children or be indifferent to what affects them?
Will the liquor traffic pay for the homes it has
ruined, the lives it has cursed, the industry it has
crippled, the men it has destroyed?

Clara C. Hoffman, 1831-1908. 103
There is no community so dense and dark where
the combined church could not drive out the saloon.
Whatever touches men, women and children — ¦
whatever touches their morals and their welfare, — is
the vital concern of the church.
Oh, men of Missouri! for very shame sake vote to
protect the home, or give woman the vote that she
may protect it herself.
Every state shows more crime and misery caused
by the use of liquor obtained at the saloons than by
any other agent.
. Two-thirds of our church members are women —
while they form less than one-fifth of our criminals.
All reforms must come thru agitation and educa
tion. We have no ballot? True, alas, too true! But we
have or should have intelligent opinions on all public
questions — We have arguments — We have convic
tions ... we have voices . . . for the ask
ing, we may have more and more.
If we love God, then must we love humanity.
* * * *
No one can ever write the history of Missouri and
leave out of that writing the patient, tender, sacri
ficing, enduring love and labor of Missouri's White
Ribbon Army.

ALEXANDER W. DONIPHAN, 1808-1887
Soldier, Lawyer and Orator
A PEOPLE wonderful in deeds are the citizens of
Missouri. Native born, nine out of ten, they are
true types of the patriotic American. Missouri's
first American settlers came largely from Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee and the two Carolinas. These
pioneers were of hardy stock. They had fought
Indians and had endured the hardships of the fron
tier. They were born soldiers, large of frame, keen
of eye and not afraid of death. They found Missouri
a wilderness, where roamed the savage Indian, except
for a few settlements along the Mississippi River
Their first task was to blaze trails thru the country,
build forts and establish frontier settlements. This
was hard work and took years to do. Battles with
the Indians were many. Subduing the wilderness
with its dense forest and brush, its wild animals, and
frequently its unhealthy climate, required courage
and toil. It was these hardships, however, that
trained the pioneer Missourian to overcome all ob
stacles, to fear neither man nor beast, and to wil
lingly give his life for what he thought was right.
It produced a race of such dauntless men as Gen.
Henry Dodge, who defeated the great Indian chief,
Black Hawk; Kit Carson, the great guide of tht
West; General Richard Gentry, who with his band
of Missouri soldiers, waged war in Florida against
the Seminole Indian chief, Osceola; and scores of
other early heroes. Among the greatest and most
(104)

Alexander W. Doniphan, 1808-1887. 105
renowned of these was one who came to Missouri a
young man, lived and married here, and whose
remains today rest in Missouri soil — Col. Alexander
W. Doniphan, soldier, lawyer, statesman, orator and
gentleman. Born in Kentucky on July 9, 1808, Doniphan was
the youngest of twelve children. His father died
when young Doniphan was only six years old. His
mother, who was a remarkable woman, gave him a
fine education. He had the best of teachers and
later graduated with honest honors from college.
His ambition was to be a lawyer and he studied
under several of the best lawyers in Kentucky. At
the age of twenty-one he was admitted to the bar
and began to practice law.
This following year he came and settled in Lexing
ton, Missouri. Altho only twenty-two ' years old, he
was soon looked upon as a good lawyer. He had
neither friends nor funds at first, and had to com
pete against some of the best lawyers in the state.
Instead of being discouraged, he worked harder. It
was not long until he had built up a large practice.
He moved to Liberty in 1833 and lived there thirty
years. He was elected a member of the Missouri
Legislature three times, altho he belonged to the
minority party in Missouri — the Whigs. These elec
tions were due to his great popularity.
He married a Clay county girl, and to them were
born two sons. One of Colonel Doniphan's greatest
disappointments in life was the early death of these
two boys. One died of accidental poisoning, the
other of drowning.

106 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Colonel Doniphan was made a brigadier-general in
the Missouri militia and commanded a brigade at the
time of the Mormon troubles in this state. In 1846-
7 he led an expedition of one thousand Missourians
during the Mexican war and returned with highest
honors. He he'd other public offices, with credit to himself
and his country. During the Civil War, he took the
side of the Union. He made his home in St. Louis
for a few years, and in 1868 moved to Richmond,
Missouri. His wife died in 1873. Her loss greatly
depressed him with grief. For twenty-eight years
he was a member of the Christian church. On
August 8, 1887, when in his eightieth year, he died at
his home in Richmond. He sleeps today by his wife's
side in a grave in Liberty. A fine statue of him was
erected in Richmond by the State of Missouri.
The story of the life of Col. Alexander W. Doni
phan is classic in Missouri history. The influence of
his life was felt all over the state. His life story
reveals a great man, equipped mentally and morally
to conquer, but not ambitious to hold public office.
His greatness is also shown in the many different
lines of work that he did well.
As a lawyer, he stood in the front rank of his
profession. As a statesman, he had the confidence of his
people. As an orator, he was the equal of Missouri's most
eloquent speakers.
As a soldier, he won fame that will last forever.
And as a citizen and gentleman, he was honest,
courteous and public spirited.

Alexander W. Doniphan, 1808-1887. 107

108 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
In all these, he won distinction and served well his
State. As a lawyer, Colonel Doniphan was very success
ful. This was due to his fine education and his
training in law. He knew literature and history —
both American and English — as well as a professor.
It is said that before he was twenty-five years old
he was known as a great lawyer over all Western
Missouri. Colonel Doniphan was a criminal lawyer, i. e., he
took lawsuits regarding robbery, murder and theft.
He never prosecuted, but always defended the person
on trial. He made the closing speech for his client
and it was then that he frequently moved men and
women, juries and judges, to tears. He could ex
plain a law so simply that even a school-boy or girl
could understand it. He reasoned everything out
accurately. His speeches were never prepared be
forehand but delivered extemporaneously. These
speeches won the praise of even his opponents. His
language was beautiful and his gestures graceful.
He also had a magnetic presence that drew people
to him. He never talked long sometimes his speech
before a jury was only fifteen minutes in length.
One of his most famous cases was the Turnham
case. In this case he defended the son of Major
Turnham who was accused of crime. After Colonel
Doniphan had finished, Major Turnham was asked
what he thought of it. He answered:
"Sir, Aleck Doniphan spoke only forty minutes,
but he said everything."
It is one of the regrettable things that few of
Colonel Doniphan's speeches have been preserved.

Alexander W. Doniphan, 1808-1887. 109
As a statesman, Doniphan achieved distinction.
He was not ambitious to hold public office, but his
sense of duty forced him to accept several. He did
this at a loss in money, for he had to give up his
profitable law practice. He was able and honest as
a statesman and was highly regarded by all.
He went to Washington, D. C, in 1861 to attend
a celebrated conference of men from other states.
Here he met President Lincoln. On being introduced.
President Lincoln said:
"And this is the Colonel ' Doniphan who made the
wild march against the Comanches (Indians) and
Mexicans! You are the only man I ever met who
in appearance, come up to my expectations."
As an orator, Colonel Doniphan was one of the
most eloquent in Missouri. Senator David R. At
chison, who had heard Webster, Clay, Benton, and
other American speakers, said:
"I knew Aleck Doniphan well, intimately, since
1830, and I tell you, sir, when he was at his best, I
heard him climb higher than any of them."
Colonel Doniphan's appearance was imposing. In
height, he was six feet and four inches. He had a
fine head and his forehead was high. His eyes were
hazel and his lips always smiling. When young his
complexion was fair and his hair sandy.
Colonel Doniphan told a friend that he never be
gan a speech without feeling bashful. Many great
orators have said the same thing about themselves.
Col. D. C. Allen, of Liberty, knew Doniphan well,
and this is what he says:
"What an orator he was! Men who had been in
Congress used to say that Webster and Clay could

110 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
not sway men as could old Alex Doniphan. He may
have been bashful before he began, but once under
way he was on fire. The whole man was like a flame.
His burning eyes, his gestures, his tall figure — every
thing about was like fire. I think perhaps I cannot
give you a better idea of him than to tell you what
an old woodsman, Adam K. McClintock, told me once.
He was describing a barbecue on the Clear Fork of
Fishing River at a place called Hawkin's Mill.
McClintock, a young man, was helping serve the bar
becue, and at first he paid no particular attention to
the speaking. There were several speakers.
Charmed Birds and Squirrels
" 'Finally it came around to Doniphan,' the woods
man said, 'and instantly there was a great rush of
people from all around to the speakers' stand. At
the very first I paid no particular attention to it.
As he went on he charmed not only the people, but
the birds and the wild animals. I discovered that the
trees around the speakers' stand were full of birds
and squirrels, chattering and barking away. He
had even charmed the birds and squirrels out of their
lairs. I never saw such an affect produced on people
as he made that day. He was young, very tall and
splendid looking, with a voice very keen, which rang
through the woods, and an eye that flashed lightning.' "
While Colonel Doniphan won fame as a lawyer,
statesman and orator, it was as a soldier that he at
tracted the attention of the nation. No Missourian
has a more premanent place in history than he. It
was as a soldier that he won greatest distinction.

Alexander W. Doniphan, 1808-1887. Ill
His first military campaign was in 1838 and wars
against the Mormons at Far West, in Caldwell county,
Missouri. He commanded the First Missouri Brigade
and was ordered to proceed to the storm center of
the Mormon troubles. A battle was expected but
Colonel Doniphan induced the Mormons to surrender
their arms, give up their leaders, and leave the state.
So ended successfully and without the loss of a man
on either side, his first campaign.
The second and last campaign of Colonel Doniphan
was made in 1846-7 during the Mexican War. This
campaign was the famous Doniphan's Expedition of
One Thousand Missourians. This expedition was
completed in twelve months, during which time the
men traveled four thousand miles by land and two
thousand five hundred miles by sea. It returned
laden with spoils and lost less than one hundred men.
Doniphan's Expedition of One Thousand Missouri
ans is classic in history. It left its base of supplies
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, crossed the plains of
Kansas and Colorado, and the mountains and deserts
of New Mexico and northern old Mexico. Its path
was contested by bands of Indians, large Mexican
armies, and by nature's weapons of heat and cold,
hunger and thirst. It conquered two powerful tribes
of Indians, won two battles against the Mexicans
where the Missourians were outnumbered four to one,
and subdued several hundred thousand hostile Mex
icans. It captured many cities, three capitals, and
four Mexican states.
The route of the Expedition was from Fort Leaven
worth to Santa Fe, New Mexico. From Santa Fe,
the army went into the mountains and conquered

112 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
some Indian tribes. The men had received no pay
for their services since leaving home and their clothes
were in bad condition. Their spirits were high, how
ever, and they were full of fight.
Leaving Santa Fe in December, 1846, they marched
to the Rio Grande River. The cold wind and snow
on the desert caused the men to suffer greatly. They
had neither winter clothing nor tents. On part of
the march they were without water for ninety miles.
They reached the Brazito river, a small stream,
on Christmas day and prepared to camp. Colonel
Doniphan sought recreation over a game of cards.
He was playing with his officers for a stake. The
winner was to have a fine Mexican horse, which had
been captured earlier in the day. But the game was
not to be finished. A messenger stood before the
Colonel :
"There is a big cloud of dust to the south, which
must be the Mexicans approaching." he said.
"Then we must stop the game long enough to whip
the Mexicans," Colonel Doniphan said rising. "But
remember, I have the biggest score, and we will play
it out as soon as the battle is finished."
The troops under Colonel Doniphan were soon look
ing into the fire-spitting muzzles of the enemies guns.
The Missourians did not fire. They waited. It was
the order of their commander.
The fire of the Mexicans grew fiercer. But the
Missourians only waited the order to fire. At last
it was given. The Mexicans had reached within one
hundred and fifty yards of the Missourians when
they were fired upon. The enemy was checked, the

Alexander W. Doniphan, 1808-1887. 113
horses reared upon their haunches, and many of the
Mexicans fled in a panic. The others were soon de
feated by the keen aim of the Missourians. Over
fifty Mexicans were killed and one hundred were
wounded, while only seven Missourians were injured,
none fatally. The victors obtained many spoils in
horses, ammunition, cannon, and food. That Christ
mas night Doniphan's soldiers celebrated their vic
tory, known in history as the battle of Brazito.
From Brazito, Colonel Doniphan marched to El
Paso, which he captured. From there he entered
northern Mexico and won against four thousand
Mexicans in the Battle of Sacramento. He then cap
tured cities in northern Mexico. His troops embarked
on ship for New Orleans and came on to St. Louis.
At home they were received with dinners and speech
es. Missouri was indeed proud of Colonel Doniphan
and his One Thousand Missourians.
As a citizen, Colonel Doniphan represented the best
and highest ideals. His private and social life was
perfect. He was a loving husband, a just and liberal
father. He was a pleasant neighbor, honorable in all
his dealings with men. He was generous, and helped
many young men with his advice and money. He
was a true friend of education. He was often seen
visiting the grade and the high schools.
He encouraged the children. For years he served
on the school board in Liberty and in 1854, when at
the height of his Mexican War fame, he accepted the
humble position of commissioner or superintendent
of the public schools of Clay county. He said he
ought to do so because the people of the county had
done everthing they could for him. He held this office

114 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
one year and brought honor to it and to himself by
establishing the first Teachers' Institute held in a
Missouri county.
Colonel Doniphan's greatest work for education was
his securing the location of William Jewell College
at Liberty. When this question came before the Gen
eral Baptist Convention, the principal rivals for the
school were Boonville, Columbia, Fayette and Liberty.
Few thought that Liberty had a chance of getting
the college, because it was situated so near the west
ern frontier. Boonville, the meeting place of the
Convention, had certain advantages. Fayette was
also favored. Columbia had the best chance since
it was the home of Dr. William Jewell. Doctor Jew
ell offered a bonus of $10,000 in land if Columbia
was given the college.
Clay county was represented by Colonel Doniphan,
who was not even a member of the Baptist church.
Colonel Doniphan spoke for Liberty and by his elo
quence won the college for his town. Colonel Doni
phan saw that Dr. William Jewell was deeply dis
appointed and so he arose and proposed to the Con
vention that the college be named "William Jewell."
This was agreed to, and in gratitude, Doctor Jewell
publicly donated the $10,000 in land.
Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan was a conquering
genius. He was a friend of education and religion.
He was an orator and a lawyer of note. His career
as a soldier, while brief, will ever live. He was a
kind father and husband, a true neighbor and friend,
and a model gentleman in all things.

JOHN J. PERSHINGr I860- r" ' • j
America's Commanding General in France
EpXACTLY seventy years after Colonel Doniphan
-* led his famous Expedition of One Thousand Mis
sourians into northern Mexico in 1846-47 — the first
American military expedition to cross those sandy
deserts — another United States army in Mexico cam
paigned over the same ground. But more remark
able still was the fact that the leader of the second
expedition, like that of the first, was a Missourian.
"Colonel. Alexander W. Doniphan, who led the
expedition in 1846-47, was a Clay county lawyer;
General John Joseph Pershing, Missouri's Doniphan
of 1916-17, was also a lawyer, although his experience
at the bar had been brief. Pershing became a cavalry
man by accident, but he rose to the rank of general by
sheer merit. That series of Indian uprisings which be
gan in the Southwest during the late eighties — was the
accident which turned his career into a military chan
nel." When the first American soldiers landed in France
in the summer of 1917, they were also led by Gen
eral Pershing. "Black Jack" Pershing he is called by
his friends. The high position occupied by this great
soldier, should be the pride- of every Missourian. His
life should be known by every schoolboy and girl. He
is a leader of world-wide fame. The story of his life
reads like a fairy tale, only his good fairy was hard
work and determination. By these he won success.
(115)

116

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

A A

JOHN J. PERSHING
(From Missouri Historical Review, State Hist. Soe. of Mo.,
Columbia.)

John J. Pershing, 1860- 117
General Pershing was born in Linn county, Mis
souri, near the town of Laclede, on September 13,
1860. He was a quiet lad, ambitious and' self-pos
sessed. He had a complexion as fair as a girl, and
his hair was almost white — the boys called him
"tow-head." He was not a bully but was also not
afraid to fight. He was a typical American boy, full
of life and courage.
His father was a foreman or "boss" of a railroad
section "gang" and later owned a store in Laclede.
His father being poor, young Pershing had to work.
He taught school for a time in order to earn enough
money to finish his education.
Altho he never sought a quarrel, the young lad
was known even at this time to be a good fighter, who
never acknowledged defeat. This story is told of
the fighting young school teacher.
One day at noon hour a big farmer with red
whiskers rode up to the schoolhouse with a revolver
in his hand. Pershing had whipped one of the farm
er's children and the farmer was going to give the
young school-master a good flogging. One of Persh
ing's pupils tells the story as he recalled it thirty-
eight years later:
"I remember how he rode up cussing before all
the children in the school-yard and how another
boy and I ran down a gully because we were afraid.
We peeped over the edge, tho, and heard Pershing
tell the farmer to put up his gun, get down off his
horse and fight like a man."
"The farmer got down and John stripped off his
coat. He was only a boy of seventeen or eighteen

118 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
and slender, but he thrashed the big farmer sound
ly. And I have hated red whiskers ever since."
Pershing saved, enough from teaching school to
attend the Kirksville State Normal School. He
graduated there in; 1880. He wanted to go to college
and study law. Luck favored him and he was ap
pointed to West Point, where the United States train
ed the officers of her national army. Pershing first
had to pass a competitive examination and won by
only one point over another young man. He gradu
ated from West Point in 1886 with the rank of
senior cadet captain, the highest honor West Point
confers. The next ten years he spent fighting Indians in
New Mexico, Arizona and the Dakotas. Here he
was noted as a brave and cool fighter and was highly
complimented by his officers.
For four years he was military instructor at the
University of Nebraska, where he completed the
course in law.
Ten years of Indian fighting and desert hunting
had toughened his body and sharpened his wits. He
was tall, deep-chested, slim-waisted, and graceful
from life in the saddle. He was fully prepared
for the great work now just ahead of him.
When the Spanish-American war broke out in
1898, Lieutenant Pershing went to Cuba. Here he
was in the battle of ElCaney, where he fought well.
His Colonel said this of him:
"I have been in many fights and was all through
the Civil War, but on my word he (Pershing) is
the bravest and coolest man under fire I ever saw."

John J. Pershing, I860- 119
After the war in Cuba, Pershing went to Washing
ton, D. C, where he aided the government in handling
the new island possessions of the United States —
Porto Rico and the Philippines.
He soon tired of desk work and early in 1899 left
for the Philippines to help conquer the natives, who
were still fighting the United States.
In the Philippines, Pershing was very successful
as a soldier. He was also successful in making
peace with the natives, who were called Moros
Pershing returned to the United States in 1903.
and then went to Japan. In that country he saw
the great war between Japan and Russia in 1905.
'He was with the Japanese army much of the time
and observed many things that were to greatly help
him later.
In 1906, he was again called to the Philippines
and was made commander of one of the large islands
and governor of a Moro province. He stayed there
eight years. During these years he won the respect
of all. The natives learned they could not impose
on him and that he could be depended on to aid them.
He was honest and just to all. Finally the natives
grew to love him.
This native love for him was often embarressing
to the young officer, whose modesty was as great
as his courage.
One morning he awoke to find himself the father
of a fine eighteen year old boy. The real father
of the lad was a Sultan, and had honored Pershing
by giving him his heir.
When the United States began having trouble
with Mexico in 1915, General Pershing was sent

120 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
to the border. In 1916, he was given command of
an American force of 10,000 soldiers to invade
Northern' Mexico and capture the Mexican bandit
leader, Villa. Villa escaped but the expedition was
well led in every detail.
When the war was declared against Germany by
the United States in 1917, General Pershing was
given command of the American soldiers. At the
writing of this article (1918) General Pershing is
still in France with his army of brave, American
boys, fighting for the democracy of the world.
Many are the stories told of General Pershing.
This one is by Aunt Susan Hewett, an aged widow
of Laclede, who has known General Pershing since*
he was a boy:
"Law, yes, I remember John when he wasn't more
than two or three years old. We used to run a hotel
when my husband, Captain Hewett, was alive and
when John was big enough to put on trousers ht
used to eat more pie in our kitchen than any other
boy in town.
"He was back here ten years ago. It was on the
twenty-fourth day of October that Uncle Henry
Lomax came up to my door and said, 'Aunt Susan,
there's a gentleman outside that wants to see you.'
When I stepped out and saw a tall young man, Uncle
Henry asked me if I knew who it was.
" 'Yes,' I says, 'I can see his mother's features
in his face. It's John Pershing.' He came to me
with arms open and he embraced and kissed me and
we both cried. 'Aunt Susan,' he says — and I'll never
forget his words as long as I live — 'Aunt Susan, it
does my very heart good to meet my mother's dear

John J. Pershing, I860- 121
old friends. The place seems like home to me and
it always will. I've been away a long time and there
have been many changes but this is home.'
"The chrysanthemums were in bloom and after
we had talked a while in the parlor I went out and
picked a boquet for him to take away.
" 'They are going to have some kind of a reception
for me tonight, and I want you to come, Aunt Susan,'
he says. I told him I'd try to be there, but that I
was tired and worn out because I had been working
in the garden. 'You won't have to walk, Aunt Susan,'
he says, 'I'll come after you myself.' About five in
the afternoon he came in a buggy.
"We went to the reception together, and my! what
a crowd. The whole house was packed and people
were standing in the yard. Johnny shook hands
with everybody and talked to them, and he finally
made a speech, which I didn't hear because there
were so many people around. John Pershing always
did have talent."
Besides being brave, General Pershing is a wit.
This good story, by Ivan H. Epperson, shows he is
well able to take care of himself.
"He was invited to a stag dinner party one evening
where a jolly story-telling lot of good fellows was to
be present and he went primed with his best stories,
a memorandum in his vest pocket to aid him in telling
them. The memorandum was accidently dropped on
the floor and was picked up by one of his friends,
who immediately saw what it was and decided to
have his little joke at the General's expense. The
finder got an opportunity to spring the first story
and promptly started off with the first story on the

122 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
list. Pershing said nothing and laughed — he always
does when a good story is told, and makes you laugh
too — but when the second one of his list was told he
felt in his pocket for the memorandum and discovered
its loss. A few minutes later the General, after a
consultation with a waiter, announced that he had
just received a message which would require his
absence for a few minutes on important business.
"Jumping into a car he was hurried to a hotel.
From the clerk he secured the names of half a dozen
travelling men — drummers — who were stopping there
and announced that he wanted to see these men at
once on important business. The drummers responded
and in twenty minutes the General was back at the
banquet, before the coffee had been poured, with a
new stock of yarns. Then ensued a battle royal be
tween the two famous story-tellers, much to the
amusement of the guests, until his friend played out
the string and left the General victor in the humor
ous contest.
"Just at this juncture one of the drummers, made
up as a police officer, arrived, arrested the jokei,
searched him and found the General's memorandum,
which he exposed to the hilarious guests with the
significant comment :
" 'General Pershing has really been the only enter
tainer this evening, but lots of people are making
reputations with the public on the General's ideas.' "
A friend of General Pershing, who has known
him many years says this of Missouri's greatest
soldier :
"You should meet him at a dinner party and listen
to his stories. You should stand with him before

John J. Pershing, I860- 123
his tent in the field, in the sunshine — he loves the
sunshine and the wide out-of-doors — and hear him
tell stories of campaigning at his best. You should
meet this big man with the heart of a little child,
this man who, by befriending his enemies has made
them his companions, this man who stands up erect
and faces the horrors of disaster with a smile, while
he prays in his heart for the relief of the sufferers.' "

EDWARD HEMPSTEAD, 1770-1817

First Delegate to Congress from Missouri Territory
WHEN Upper Louisiana was ceded by France to
the United States in 1804, hundreds of Ameri
cans came to the new land. Missouri was a part of
Upper Louisiana and had nearly all the white popula
tion. At this time Missouri had only about 10,000
persons, who lived along the west bank of the Missis
sippi River. There were a few
towns but they were mere villages.
The people spoke French and were
of French blood. They were a
peaceful, happy people who loved
their customs, plays and their life
here in the West. In 1804, however,
the Americans came in from the
Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and
the two Carolinas, and a few from
the old states of Pennsylvania, New
York and Connecticut.
Among these new-comers or im
migrants was a man a little over
thirty years old, poor but able. He had left his home
in Connecticut miles away, and traveled by horse
back to Indiana. From Indiana he walked to Mis
souri with all his personal property tied in a bundle,
which he carried on his back. This was the manner
in which Edward Hempstead, our first Delegate in
Congress, came to his adopted home, Missouri.

EDWARD
HEMPSTEAD
(From Louis
Houck's "History
of Missouri.")

(124)

Edward Hempstead, 1770-1817. 125
Born in Connecticut on June 3, 1770, he was a
boy when the Revolutionary War opened. Together
with that great Connecticut patriot, Nathan Hale,
his father and uncles fought for American freedom,
but the education of young Edward was not neg
lected. He had private teachers and later studied
law. He became a lawyer and spent three years in
Rhode Island, where Roger Williams had founded his
colony for religious freedom nearly two hundred
years before.
On coming to Missouri in 1804, then called Upper
Louisiana, Hempstead first settled at St. Charles on
the Missouri River. He later moved to St. Louis
where he made his home for years. While out riding
one day he was thrown from his horse and died from
the effects of the fall on August 10, 1817, a little over
forty-seven years of age.
During his short life in Missouri, Edward Hemp
stead held several important public offices. He was
first Deputy Attorney-General for the large districts
of St. Louis and St. Charles and then became At
torney-General for all Upper Louisiana. In 1812
when the name of Louisiana Territory was changed
to Missouri Territory, he was elected Delegate to
Congress from 1812 to 1814 — the first man west of
the Mississippi River to hold this office. Afterwards
he went upon several expeditions against the Indians
and was a captain. He was elected to the Missouri
Territorial General Assembly and was leader or
Speaker in the House of Representatives.
Edward Hempstead was a man of ability, pure and
honest, and his death was deeply lamented. His
great work in Congress will always be remembered.

126 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
In this work he was aided by his friend, Thomas. F.
Riddick, a prominent citizen of St. Louis. Every
schoolboy and girl should know the story of Riddick
and Hempstead. These two men were the real "Fath
ers of Education" in Missouri.
For many years the towns and the villages in
Missouri owned great tracts of land which every
body could use to cultivate or to pasture his horses
and cattle. These tracts were called commonfields
or commons, and each village owned its commons
just like today towns own parks. No one man could sell
his part because the commons belonged to all the
people. Most of these old Missouri French villages
also owned many lots inside the villages. In those
days land and lots were cheap and nobody paid much
attention to these commons and village-lots except
to use them.
When the Americans came in 1804, life changed
in the old French towns. Business boomed and
everybody bought land and lots cheap. _ Some Ameri
cans bought not to farm the land or build houses
but in order to later sell high and make money as
more people moved to Missouri. These men were
called land speculators. They didn't do Missouri
very much good, for they were really land grabbers.
It began to look like they would even get some of
these French villages to sell the large common-fields
and village-lots.
There were some Americans, however, who deter
mined this should not happen. Missouri had no pub
lic schools in those days, and these few good Ameri
cans thought it would be wise to have a law passed
by Congress giving these common-fields and village-

Edward Hempstead, 1770-1817. 127
lots to these towns forever to rent out for the support
of public schools. Of course, the land was worth
little then, but it would be very valuable some day.
The leader of this scheme, a man who loved educa
tion and public schools, was Thomas F. Riddick.
He told his friends that the commons in St. Louis,
then a town of only several hundred persons, would
some day be worth thousands of dollars. Riddick
said that St. Louis would become a large city and
wanted her to have plenty of money to spend for
education. Of course, the big land speculators knew Riddick
was right but they wanted the commons and village-
lots for themselves. So they bitterly opposed Rid-
dick's scheme.
Edward .Hempstead had gone to Washington City
as a Delegate and was trying to have Congress
pass the law he and Riddick wanted. Hempstead
was not given a vote in Congress because he was
only a Delegate and not a full Congressman, but he
could talk before Congress, and he did.
For a while it looked like the land speculators would
defeat Hempstead, so Riddick mounted a horse and
traveled alone all the way to Washington, six hundred
and ninety miles from St. Louis. And he did this
at his own expense. Together these two unselfish
men had the law passed. Today the value of these
lands owned by just one of these old towns, the City
of St. Louis, is millions of dollars. This was the
great work done by Hon. Edward Hempstead and
the public spirited Thomas F. Riddick, a work every
Missourian should be proud of and whose authors
should ever be honored.

RUFUS EASTON, 1774-1834

Second Delegate to Congress From Missouri Territory
/CONNECTICUT, gave Missouri her first two Del-
^-> egates in Congress, Edward Hempstead and Ru-
fus Easton. The latter was born in 1774, a year be
fore the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill were
fought. Young Eas
ton received a good
education and studi
ed law when only
seventeen years old.
He became a good
lawyer and prac
ticed in Connecti
cut and New York.
When he was
thirty years of age
he moved in 1804
to St. Louis in Up
per Louisiana, or
Missouri as it was
later called. He be
came the first post
master of St. Louis
and held other public offices. He was a judge, United
States attorney, from 1814 to 1816 Delagate from
Missouri Territory in Congress, and from 1821 to 1826
Attorney-General for the State of Missouri. In all of
these high positions Easton preformed his duties well,
both to the credit of himself and Missouri.

RUFUS EASTON
From Walter B.Stevens' "Missouri;
The Center State.")

(128)

Rufus Easton, 1774-1834. 129
Rufus Easton was Missouri's second Delegate to
Congress. Like Edward Hempstead, he did not have
the right to vote but he did have the right to speak
on the floor of Congress. He was an able orator
and a convincing speaker. He performed one great
thing while in Congress. This was the passage of a
law in 1815 settling what was called the New Madrid
earthquake claims.
Beginning in 1811 all. Southeast Missouri, lying
along the Mississippi River, was shaken with earth
quake shocks. The earthquake was terrible. It
began at midnight and not only destroyed houses and
fences, but killed persons and cattle. People fled
from their homes into the black night and some were
swallowed up in the big fissures or ditches that the
earthquake made. Some of these fissures were many
feet wide and deeper than wells, with water at the
bottom. All nature seemed to be in battle against
the monster force of the earthquake. The land was
shaken like a blanket and the fields rolled like the
waves of the ocean. Hills were made where before
it had been level, and long lakes were formed where
there had been tall forests. Even the Mississippi
River rocked its waters like in a tempest. People
prayed and tried to escape. Few were killed but all
who lived feared to stay where the ruin had been.
Their farms were destroyed and their homes were
wrecked. The earthquake would last a few minutes
and then return in a month or two. This was kept
up for several years, the shocks lessening in force.
The center of the shocks was in the New Madrid
district but the effects were felt for miles up and
down the river.

130 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
The poor settlers asked Congress to help them
and Rufus Easton presented their claims. The United
States Government then owned millions of acres of
land in Missouri Territory. Easton asked the govern
ment to give the New Madrid people new land located
elsewhere in Missouri in exchange for their ruined
farms. These were called the New Madrid claims,
some of which were very hard to settle. Congress
finally passed a law settling the New Madrid claims
and many of these early Southeast Missouri people
settled along the Missouri River and in the great
Boone's Lick country, where are today the counties
of Howard, Boone, Callaway and others. Rufus
Easton did a great piece of work for Missouri when
he had this law passed. His name should be remem
bered by all who love the history and people of this
state. Great as he was as a lawmaker or Delegate to
Congress, he was even greater as a lawyer. In those
days, a hundred years ago, Hon. Rufus Easton was
looked upon as one of the ablest and most learned
lawyers in Missouri. He had many clients and made
much money practicing law. His mind was well
trained and he could express himself clearly and to
the point. He was a strong debater and was a
hard man to defeat in a lawsuit.
He had a kind heart and gave much of his time
and money to help the poor. Many a young man who
wanted to become a lawyer studied in Easton's office.
He liked company and with his wife frequently en
tertained his friends. Few strangers of note visited
St. Louis without being invited to his home. He

Rufus Easton, 1774-1834. 131
was very absent-minded and once this caused him
great embarresment.
He had invited a widely known general of the
army, who was on a visit to St. Louis, to dine with
him on a certain day at three o'clock. The officer
came promptly on the hour, but the family had al
ready dined. Easton at the time was writing in
his office and had entirely forgotten the invitation
and had not even told Mrs. Easton a word about it.
Colonel Easton, as he was often called, was a
man of fine appearance. He was greatly admired
foi* his ability, honesty and goodness. Unlike most
public men and lawyers of his day, Colonel Easton
hated and detested the duel. In those days if a
man felt that another had insulted him, he would
send a note challenging the other to fight with him.
They fought usually with pistols, and many a brave
man was killed over some small thing he had said
or done. Of course, today the duel is not allowed
by the law. Colonel Easton thought it was a foolish
and wicked thing. One day Colonel Easton was
challenged by the Hon. John Scott to fight a duel
because Scott had heard that Easton had said some
thing about him. Colonel Easton refused in these
words :
"I don't want to kill you, and if you were to kill
me, I would die as a fool dieth."
Hon. Rufus Easton moved to St. Charles in later
life and died there on July 5, 1834. His grave is in
Lindenwood cemetery.

JOHN SCOTT, 1782-1861
Missouri's First Congressman
FEW public men in Missouri have had more interest
ing stories told about them than the Hon. John
Scott, the man who challenged Colonel Rufus Easton.
Unlike Colonel Easton, Scott approved the duel.
Taking offense at some newspaper article printed
against him, Scott challenged five men one day, before
breakfast. Not one of the duels was fought, but it
wasn't because John Scott refused. He was a fear
less man and was deeply loved by many. As a lawyer,
for all public men in those days practiced law, Scott
was one of the best in Missouri. His personal in
fluence over a jury was wonderful. Once he defended
a man who was in the wrong. Everybody knew the
man had done what he was accused of, but somehow
contrary to all the evidence and proof the jury
brought in a verdict for Scott's client and the man
was freed. One of the jurors was asked how in the
world he could do such a thing. The juror innocently
replied: "Didn't John Scott tell us to bring in a ver
dict that way?"
There are a dozen stories like this about this re
markable lawyer.
Born in Virginia in 1782, he received a fine college
education at Princeton University. His father was
a weaver and moved to Pennsylvania and then to
Indiana. John Scott helped his father rear his large
family. While in Indiana he taught school, studied
law and became a lawyer. He came to Missouri in
(132)

John Scott, 1782-1861. 133
1805 and was the first lawyer to permanently settle
in Ste. Genevieve, the oldest town in Missouri. He
soon became the leading lawyer in his part of the
country, and in the 1817 election defeated Colonel
Rufus Easton as Missouri's Territorial Delegate to
Congress. He was re-elected and when Missouri
became a state in 1820, he was elected Missouri's
first Congressman. He was re-elected several times
and was finally defeated by a brilliant young lawyer
named Edward Bates. Scott was defeated because
in the presidential election of 1824 he had voted for
John- Quincy Adams for president of the United
States and against General Andrew Jackson, some
times called "Old Hickory." "Old Hickory" was very
popular in Missouri because he was a brave man,
a good soldier and honest. He was a Tennessean
and was loved by the West. His victory over the
British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 and
his battles with the Indians, made him a popular
hero. John Scott thought, however, that Adams was
a better man and so he voted for him when the
election was held in Congress. So in 1824 Missouri
really elected the President of the United States, for
the votes were so even that if Scott had voted for
Jackson, Adams would have been defeated. This
vote of Scott's, however, defeated him the next
election, but he had then served nearly ten years in
Congress. As soon as he was out of office, Scott again took
up the practice of law. He was a great lawyer and
had many clients. One of these was a man known all
over the West.

134 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
He had come from Tennessee and he called him
self "John Smith T." The "T" stood for Tennessee.
He said he had to do this because there were so many
John Smiths in Missouri. John Smith T. was a
character. He was tall, slender and wiry; mild and
courteous in manners; but terrible when angered.
He had fought many duels and always killed his
rival. He was fearless, cool, and a fine shot. He
even had two slaves to make his pistols and rifles for
him, the best in the West. Whereever he went he
was always well armed. John Smith T. had some
trouble with John Perry, of Washington county.
One day, while Perry was on his way to Ste. Gene
vieve, he was overtaken by Smith, who told him that
he regretted any trouble with him, and that they were
now alone and could settle the matter, saying that he
had a couple of friends (meaning his pistols) with
him. "There, take your choice, Mr. Perry," said Smith.
Mr. Perry politely thanked him, and refused the
offer, as he had special business to see to at Ste.
Genevieve in person. Smith said that he regretted
that their trouble could not be settled in this sensible
way (meaning a duel). After that, however, the
two travelled on together to Ste. Genevieve, talking
on different matters like old friends.
John Smith T. once became involved in trouble
for which he came very close to being hanged, and
if it had not been for the Hon. John Scott such would
have been the case. One day Smith came to Ste.
Genevieve and stopped at an inn kept by Mrs. Mc
Arthur. While drinking with another man, named

John Scott, 1782-1861. 135
Ball, a quarrel started and Smith killed Ball. They
were at that time the only persons in the bar-room.
Mrs. McArthur, a brave woman, hearing the shot,
came in and saw Ball lying dead on the floor. She
demanded the pistols Smith held in his hand. Smith
gave them to her and said : "Take them, my daughter."
He was arrested and put in jail. Of course, he em
ployed his friend, John Scott, to defend him. So
well did Scott plead with the jury that John Smith
T. was freed.
Hon. John Scott was queer looking. He was of
short stature, his complexion clear and healthy, his
walk rapid, and was quick in all his movements. In
later years he wore his long white hair in a queue,
which fell gracefully over his shoulders, and at times
was fastened in a bunch and kept together with a
comb. At court, as well as at other places, he wore
on one side of his breast a beautiful carved dirk or
dagger, and on the other side a pistol, both of which
he carried to his death from habit. Even on his
death-bed, in 1861, when nearly eighty years old,
he arose one day and grabbing a pistol, yelled : "Show
me the man who wants to destroy this Government."
He was very eccentric and frequently indulged in
profanity. He could hardly say a sentence without
uttering an oath. This was only a habit with him
but a very bad habit, which many times greatly
embarrassed him in the presence of ladies.
While in Congress he had passed the law that per
mitted Missouri to adopt a state constitution and
become a state in the Union. He also persuaded
Congress to give Missouri many thousands of acres
of land for public schools, a State university, and a

136 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
place to build a capitol. He was a believer in educa
tion and public schools. In fact, all the big men of
Missouri were lovers of education. John Scott was
also one of the forty-one men, called the "Fathers
of the State," who framed Missouri's first constitu
tion. He wrote the part of that constitution that
provided for free public schools and a State university.
Hon. John Scott was a brave and honest man. In
attending courts in different counties he rode on
horseback. His saddle was covered with sheep skin
and upon that was placed a pair of large saddle bags,
filled with books and papers. He traveled this way
several times to Washington City, and also over a
great extent of country. No weather stopped him and
nothing prevented him from crossing creeks and
rivers. While on his travels over the country he
was often given large sums of money to hand to
other persons. He never touched this money even
when sometimes he found himself without a dollar in
his own pocket. In attending court he always carried
a green bag, filled with papers and books. He even
carried this bag with him to the table. Some of the
lawyers in those early days also carried green bags,
among whom was the great Edward Bates.
In 1861, the Hon. John Scott died at his home in
Ste. Genevieve. He was greatly beloved, highly
regarded and respected by all.

DAVID BARTON, 1783-1837
Little Red
Missouri's First United States Senator
SEVERAL years after Missouri was admitted to
the Union in 1821, an old pioneer from the west
ern part of the state went to Washington City to look
after some business. He knew Missouri's Congress
man and her two United States Senators, so one day
he visited the Senate chamber to listen to the debates.
The chamber was crowded for everybody had heard
that there would be a great speech delivered against
Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory." Even the galleries
were full and hundreds of persons stood in the aisles
and doorways. The old frontier backwoodsman from
Missouri finally forced himself in. There he stood
with head high and erect above the others, clad in his
homespun clothes. The speaking and debating began.
The orator, who had the floor, was a Missouri Senator
and the old pioneer knew and loved him. The speech
was wonderful, full of wit and sarcasm, pathos and
story. It swept the audience off its feet. Sometimes
funny and again bitter, it aroused the crowd. The
old pioneer could hardly hold himself in, and finally
shouted at the top of his voice, "Go it, My Little
Red! Go it, My Little Red!" Everybody looked at
the tall, fearless Missourian, but he didn't notice
them. When the speech was over, and the crowd
was struggling to leave, he called out again and
again at the top of his voice, which was heard
above everything: (137)

138 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"Hurrah for my little Red!"
"Hurrah for my Little P.ed!"
These sudden shouts astonished and for a moment
startled everybody in the Senate chamber. The eyes
of all were directed to this strange man, dressed so
queerly. Even after he had left the Capitol build
ing, and was on the streets, he kept yelling, again
and again, at the highest pitch of his powerful voice :
"Hurrah for the Little Red!"
Many thought the man was insane. When asked
by some one why he said this, he explained that he
was from western Missouri, and that he had indulged
in the sport of fighting chickens. He said that one
time he had owned a little red rooster, which could
whip any chicken that could be brought against it,
and that when he saw that United States Senator
from Missouri, an old friend of his, "putting his
licks into them fellers in the Senate, and bringing
them down at every flutter," it reminded him of his
old cock-fighting days, when his little red rooster
used to clean out everything in the ring. So he
yelled again, "Hurrah for my Little Red!"
The United States Senator, "Little Red" as he
was afterward called by many, was David Barton,
Missouri's United States Senator from 1820 to 1830.
Born in North .Carolina on December 14, 1783,
David Barton was reared on a farm. He received a
college education and then studied law. Coming
to Missouri in 1812 he soon attracted attention by his
ability as a lawyer and made many friends. He
fought against the Indians in Missouri and in a few
years was appointed circuit judge. He was the first

David Barton, 1783-1837.

139

DAVID BARTON
(From Floyd C Shoemaker's "Missouri's Struggle For State
hood.")

140 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
circuit judge to hold court west of the Mississippi
River. In 1818 he was Speaker (presiding officer)
of the Missouri Territorial House of Representatives
and in 1820 was elected president of Missouri's first
constitutional convention, composed of forty-one
delegates. These forty-one men or "Fathers of the
State," framed and adopted Missouri's first constitu
tion in 1820. David Barton perhaps wrote more of
that constitution than any other man.
When Missouri became a state in 1820, a year be
fore she was admitted to the Union, Judge David
Barton, as he was called, was the most beloved public
man here and was elected Missouri's first United
States Senator. He held this high office with credit
to himself and his people, for ten years. He also
brought about the election of his friend, Thomas H.
Benton, to the United States Senate hi 1820, but in
1824 Benton became his enemy because Barton had
voted for Adams for President of the United States
instead of voting for Jackson. In 1830 Barton was
defeated for re-election but held other public offices,
being elected once to the State Senate of Missouri.
Judge Barton was able and honest. He was not so
well versed in the law as Rufus Easton, but was a
much better speaker. He had the power to move
a jury or a crowd, could deliver off-hand an after
dinner speech or a public address. His personal
magnetism was wonderful, and his voice was soft
and well controlled. He was a master of sarcasm
and wit, and could tell stories that made his audience
laugh one minute and cry the next.
He was usually grave and sedate. He always
spoke in simple language and short sentences. His

David Barton, 1783-1837. 141
gestures were few and he carried his point by the
force of his reasoning. He could explain a difficult
problem until it seemed simple. He was a small man,
of low stature, with broad shoulders and high fore
head, and an intellectual face. Although he did not
have a fine education, he had a good command of
language. Many stories are told about Judge Barton and his
love of a joke.
Upon one occasion he was arguing a question of
law before the Supreme Court, when Judge Tomkins
said: "Stop, Mr. Barton. Do you call that law?"
"A7o,may it please Your Honor," replied Mr. Bar
ton, respectfully bowing, "but I did not know but
that the court would take it for law."
An old friend and great admirer of Judge Barton.
who was about to get married while Barton was
judge, insisted upon Judge Barton coming to the
wedding and performing the ceremony, as he was
authorized by law to do. Barton attended the wed
ding, and performed the ceremony after his manner:
The parties be:'ng present, stood up on the floor, where
all the guests were assembled. The Judge asked,
"John Smith, do you take Lucy Jones to be your
wife?" He answered, "I do." "Lucy Jones, do you
take John Smith to be your husband?" she answered,
"I do." The Judge then said, "The contract is com
plete. I pronounce you man and wife."
Judge Barton esteemed men for their own and
not their ancestral merits. Once, at a public table
in old Franklin, Judge S  , of old Virginia, was

142 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
fluently exhibiting his pride of ancestry, as only a
Virginian can, when Judge Barton, who sat some
distance off, turned to an acquaintance opposite, and
addressing him in a tone loud enough to be heard
by all, said:
"Bill, do you know my horse, Pomp?"
"Oh, yes," replied Bill.
"Well, sir, he is the finest horse in the United
States. I have tried him under the saddle, and I have
tried him to the carriage; I have tried him in the
plow and I have tried him in the wagon; and in
none of these places is he worth a whoop! But he
is the finest horse in the United States. It is in the
blood, sir, it is all in the blood!"
Judge Barton was by no means tidy in dress, and
when visiting among friends, carried with him no
extra clothing — not even a change of shirt. On one
occasion, in Boone county, a friend with whom he
was stopping brought him a clean shirt, which he
took into an adjoining room to put on. The gar
ment had a cottom back and a linen bosom, and this
struck Barton's sense of propriety. He at first
hesitated about putting it on at all, but then concluded
to put it on back in front. Having effected the change
he came out adjusting the colar, and said: "Look
here, Mr. Black, this shirt is a big fraud, and T
don't mean to be a party in it."
Judge Barton, while on the bench, lived for a time
at old Franklin, and held one of his courts there.
In the same place lived an old magistrate by the
name of Cole, for whom Cole county was named.
Esquire Cole was a great admirer of Judge Barton.

David Barton, 1783-1837. 143
Upon one occasion, while the Judge was holding the
court in an old log house, it was raining very hard
and the roof leaked, and the rain came dripping
down upon the judge. Esquire Cole saw it, and
climbed up in the loft and attempted to turn the
leak. In doing so a board . dropped from his hand,
and he commenced swearing. The Judge directed the
clerk to enter a fine of $1 against Esquire Cole for
contempt of court in swearing in his presence. This
offended the Esquire very much, and a few days
afterwards the Judge was passing the house where
the Esquire was holding his court. Cole called him
in, saying:
"I want to tell you how I have decided a case,
and I want your opinion upon it," stating the case.
Judge Barton replied: "You are nothing but a big
fool." "I fine you $5, Judge, for swearing in my court,"
said Esquire Cole.
The Judge laughed, acknowledged the hit, and their
friendship was renewed.
Judge Barton spent the latter year of his short
life at Boonville. He was never married and in his
last days his mind became clouded and eventually he
went insane. He died on September 28, 1837, and
was buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery. The State
of Missouri honored him by erecting a monumen!
over his grave in 1853. This monument is now
placed on the campus of the University of Missouri,
and a larger, finer, marble shaft was placed over the
grave in Boonville.

144 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Judge Barton was a great and honest man, an
eloquent orator, and an able public servant. No
man was more loved in Missouri in 1820 than David
Barton, and when he died in 1837 his friends were
many.

THOMAS HART BENTON, 1782-1858
The Greatest Statesman of the West
\X7-HEN gold was discovered in California, men
from all parts of the world rushed to the new
ElDorado. Fortunes were made in a few weeks. Many
Missourians crossed the plains and mountains to
become wealthy. Among these was a man from St.
Louis, named Colonel John Wilson. The story of
John Wilson is now almost forgotten.
Colonel Wilson was a bitter enemy of Missouri's
statesman, Senator Thomas Hart Benton. One day
Colonel Wilson came to Washington, D, C, and
asked the great New England Senator, Daniel Webs
ter, for a letter of introduction to some prominent
person in California.
"I am an old man and very poor," said Colonel
Wilson, "and want to make money in California.
"But I know no big man there," replied Mr. Web
ster. "Senator Benton has many friends on the
Pacific coast and his son-in-law, General Fremont,
almost controls California. Let me ask Senator
Benton for such a letter for you."
"Do you not know that Benton and I have been bit
ter enemies for thirty years? That I hate him and he
hates me?" replied Colonel Wilson.
"I know all that," said Mr. Webster, "but we are
all getting old and Senator Benton will be happy now
to help. you. He feels that age is coming upon him
and he wants to make friends with his bitterest
foes." (145)

146 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
After much coaxing, Colonel Wilson promised to
hand the following note to Senator Benton:
Dear Sir:
I know of your quarrels with the bearer of this note, Col. John
Wilson, but he is now an old man and is going to California, and
needs a letter of recommendation. I know nobody in California,
you know everybody, and you can do Colonel Wilson much good.
I have told Colonel Wilson that you will be glad to help him and for
give and forget your past quarrels. I have persuaded him to carry this
note to you. Sincerely,
Daniel Websteb.
Colonel Wilson delivered the note and was met at
the door by Senator Benton himself. He took Col
onel Wilson by both hands and said: "Wilson, 1
am glad to see you; this is the happiest meeting
I have had for thirty years. Give me your hand.
Webster has done me the kindest thing he ever did
in his life."
Senator Benton led Colonel Wilson directly to the
dining-room, where he met Mrs. Benton, and they
all had supper together. Finally, Senator Benton
said: "You and I, Wilson, have been quarreling for
thirty years. We have been calling each other bad
names, but really we both had respect for each other.
It has been a foolish fight, and let's wipe it out of
our minds. Everything that I have said about you
I ask your pardon for."
Then Colonel Wilson asked Benton's pardon and
they became good friends. They talked over old times
until the clock struck the hour of midnight. Nothing
was said about the letter.
The next morning, Senator Benton came to Colonel
Wilson's room and said:

Thomas Hart Benton, 1782-1858. 147
"Wilson, I have prepared some letters for you to
my son-in-law and other friends in California."
And the letters covered nine pages of writing ask
ing all his friends in California to do everything
they could for "His dearest friend, Colonel John
Wilson, of St. Louis." ¦;-. :
Senator Thomas H. Benton was not only a good
man, but a great man. Bprn in the hill country of
North Carolina on March 14, 1782, he-was reared on
a farm. His mother, was a widow bit gave her son
a good college education. Young Benton read and
practiced law in Tennessee and served a term in the
state Senate. He quarreled with Andrew Jackson,
called "Old Hickory," who was a very popular man,
and came to Missouri about 1816.
He published a newspaper in St. Louis for several
years, called the Enquirer. This was the second
paper west of the Mississippi River. In 1817 he
fought a duel with another young lawyer, Charles
Lucas, and killed him. He always regretted this
and never spoke of this duel again to his closest
friends. When Missouri became a state in 1820, she elected
two United States Senators. One of these was David
Barton, the other Thomas H. Benton. The election
of Benton to this high office is interesting.
The law-making body of Missouri, called the Gener
al Assembly, had ' the power of electing two United
States Senators. There were fifty-two law-makers
voting. It took a majority, or one more than half
of these fifty-two, to elect. Barton's election was
assured, but Benton had only twenty-six votes prom-

148

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

VA/ \J\

Thomas Haet Benton, 1782-1858 149
ised him and needed one more. A French-Missourian,
named Leduc, was going to vote against Benton.
Some of Barton's friends, however, finally persuaded
Leduc to help Benton. The election was held Monday
afternoon at 3 o'clock October 2, 1820. One of
Benton's voters, Daniel Ralls, was sick in bed. Four
stout negroes carried Ralls into the place where the
General Assembly was voting and he voted for Benton.
He died in a few hours and Ralls county was named
in his honor.
When Senator Benton took his seat in the United
States Senate he was soon looked upon as a great man.
He was an orator and a debater. Standing six feet
tall, with large head and massive body, he typified
the bold, fearless spirit of Missouri and the West.
His voice was rich and far-reaching. He was honest
and faithful to the people. Benton went to the
Senate poor, and came out poor; not a dollar passed
through his hands that was not honestly earned.
He woud not even have a relative of his appointed
to office. He was a hard worker and in his thirty
years as Senator, he never had a clerk or copyist.
To Thomas H. Benton, Missouri and the West
owe more than to any other statesman, He fought
for her with courage and honor in the Senate for
thirty years. He stood for sound money. He op
posed whipping for crimes and imprisonment for
debt. He fought for cheap land for the pioneers,
and had a law passed selling the public lands at one
dollar and a quarter an acre. He favored the
building of railroads and encouraged the first one
to be built to the Pacific Coast. In a great speech

150 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
at St. Louis he pointed out the riches of the West and
the great trade this nation would have someday on the
Pacific Ocean. Pointing to the setting sun, he closed
his speech with these words, which are today written
on his statute:
"There is the East, there is India."
He debated and pled for the Oregon country when
few in America realized its importance. He, among
a very few men of his day, saw the great future of
the West. Speaking once in Boonville, he said that
some day one of the great cities of this nation would
built at the mouth of the Kaw River. That city is
today, Kansas City. To him his country meant not
his state or his section, but the entire United States.
He did not work to hoard money, but to give the
people a better and a bigger chance to live well.
He was an author and his books are still read.
In his private life he was pure and just. He loved
his family, and adored his wife. Mrs. Benton was
afflicted with paralysis and Senator Benton would
take her in his arms like a child and carry her to
the parlor to let her enjoy the society of his friends
and visitors. He was master of his home, but was
a kind husband and father, and a sociable companion.
He often said that he was "a home lamb and a
street lion." Even in the midst of pressing public
duties, he continued to instruct his children and
grandchildren in French and Spanish. He played
the guitar and was fond of good music. Like all
good Missourians he enjoyed a big dinner, but once,
being worried over some debate, he sat down at the
table and forgot to carve. He kept biting what he

Thomas Hart Benton, 1782-1858. 151
thought was bread, until his daughter laughed and
said: "Father, that's a claret cork you are trying to eat."
He always stopped at the same hotel in his speaking
campaigns over Missouri, even tho kept by one of the
opposite political party. A friend once remonstrated
with him for going to a hotel kept by a Whig, and
he replied:
"Sir, do you think Benton takes his politics in his
stomach?" He was once invited to share a bed in a crowded
hotel but refused, saying:
"Benton sleeps in the same bed with no man."
He always rose at four o'clock in the morning and
took a cold bath. He was thick skinned and had a
negro servant curry him down to the hips in the
morning with a stiff horse-hair brush, and from the
hips to the feet in the afternoon. Being asked why
he used such a brush which would have injured the
skin of an ordinary person, he said:
"The Roman gladiators did it , sir."
His vanity and egotism were supreme and a friend
told him his enemies made fun out of it. Benton
replied :
"Benton has an Ego, they have not."
Many stories are told to illustrate the egotism of
Thomas H. Benton. Perhaps the best known is his
reply to a question as to the probably sale of his
great work "Thirty Years in the United States Sen
ate." The printers asked him his view as to the
number of copies they should publish of this work.
Having presented the case to Senator Benton, he
loftily replied:

152 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"Sir, you can ascertain how many persons there
are in the United States who can read, sir."
This was the only reply that he would make. He
believed his book would be purchased by everybody
who could read it.
From early manhood to old age he was "a steam-
engine in breeches."
Someone asked him his age, and he said :
"In years Benton is about sixty-eight; but if Ben
ton's country or Benton's friends want anything done,
Benton is forty-five."
On the street when anyone spoke to him, instead
of turning his head, he always turned his whole
body at right angle. His walk was more of a strut,
and he always wore the double-breasted frock coat.
In his speeches he never referred to himself, as
"I did this" or "I think this," but always as
"Benton did this" or "Benton thinks this."
He never permitted anyone to introduce him to
an audience. He usually drove or walked direct from
his hotel to the place of speaking, mounted the plat
form and began his speech. He never began his
speech like other orators with "Fellow-citizens" or
"Ladies and Gentlemen" or "Friends," but always
plain "Citizens."
Once while speaking in old Bloomington, Macon
county, Missouri, he had difficulty in making himself
heard above the strong wind that was blowing.
Someone in the audience yelled:
"Louder!""Louder!" screamed Benton in a rage. "Are you
so wanting in sense that you think Benton can throw
his voice a mile against the Lord Almighty's wind?"

Thomas Hart Benton, 1782-1858. 153
Although he had no personal magnetism, he was
striking in appearance. One day in the woods of
Central Missouri a boy ran to his mother and told
her he had just seen the President of the United
States. The mother went out and saw passing along
the road Senator Benton seated on a big horse.
He was a reader of men and had much foresight
in politics. He believed the common people wiser
than most politicians. He believed in honesty in all
things and told the people the truth. This is why
they kept sending him to the United States Senate
for thirty years. During these years he was offered
many important positions. President Jackson offered
to make him Minister to Russia, President Polk
offered to make him Minister to France, and Presi
dent Van Buren wanted him to be Secretary of War,
but he refused them all.
Benton regarded himself and the people as one.
He often said:
"Benton and the people, Benton and democracy,
one and the same always."
He was beyond question a great man, his faults
were mainly those of vanity and egotism, but his
virtues and merits were many.
As a public speaker he was remarkable for his
great memory of facts and his ready wit. When he
hated, he hated deeply. If a man was his enemy, he
gave him no mercy. You were either Benton's
friend or his enemy — you could not be on the fence.
This story is told on Senator Benton, which shows
his bitter hatred as well as his ready wit:

154 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
In a public speech, Senator Benton attacked the
New York Tribune and its editors, Horace Greeley
and Richelieu Robinson, both of whom were his
enemies. "Horace Greeley," he said, "wears a white hat, his
hair is white and his skin is white and I give it to
you as my candid opinion that his liver is the same
color." Then Senator Benton turned his attention to
Greeley's assistant, Richelieu Robinson.
"Robinson is an Irishman, an Orange Irishman,
a red-headed Irishman, and  ," but seeing
several red-headed men and women in his audience,
he closed his comments thus:
"When I say that Robinson is a red-headed Irish
man, I mean no disrespect to persons whose hair
is of that color, I have been a close observer of
men and affairs for forty years and I can on my
veracity declare that I never knew a red-headed
man who was not an honest man nor a red-headed
woman who was not a good woman, and I give it
as my candid opinion that had it not been for Robin
son's red hair he would have been hanged long ago."
Upon one occasion a shrewd Yankee, while on a
visit to Washington City, became somewhat reduced
in his pocket-book and thought upon an odd plan
to make money. He learned that in some part of
Maryland there was a horse that had a most heavy
coat of hair, long, shaggy and looking like wool. He
bought him, brought him to Washington, and showed
him under a tent within two blocks of Senator
Benton's residence. Over the door of the tent was a

Thomas Hart Benton, 1782-1858. 155
large sign stating: "This woolly horse was caught
in a wild state on the plains by General Fremont,
and is the greatest living curiosity of the age. Ad
mittance 25 cents; children half-price." Thousands
called to see the woolly horse captured by General
Fremont, and the Yankee began to think that he had
struck a gold mine, when out came a card from
Colonel Benton denouncing it as a gross fraud. This
only increased the public curosity to see the wonder
ful animal, and the tent was crowded from morning
till night. The Senator could stand it no longer, and
had the Yankee arrested and thrown into jail, and
this put an end to the exhibition of the woolly horse.
Senator Benton served Missouri thirty years in
the United States Senate. He died on April 12, 1858,
from the effects of cancer of the stomach.
He was buried in St. Louis and forty thousand
persons attended the funeral. Benton county, Mis
souri, was named in his honor.
Senator Benton was generally referred to as "Old
Bullion." He was called this because of his fight for
metal (or bullion) money, i. e., gold and silver. He was
opposed to paper money because in those days so
much paper money had been issued by hundreds of
"wild cat" banks that it was frequently not worth
anything. Benton wanted metal or bullion . money
which always had value. As a result of Benton's
position on the question, Missouri stood for metal
money ^nd has been called the "Bullion State."

LEWIS F. LINN, 1795-1843
The Model Senator of Missouri
npO be loved by the citizens of his own state, to be
¦*¦ claimed as a senator of two, to be regarded as
the father of another, and to be mourned in death by
four, is the story of the life of Dr. Lewis F. Linn,
"The Model Senator of Missouri." No man in
Missouri history and few in the history of other
states, has been so highly regarded or held in such
esteem as this remarkable physician of Ste. Gene
vieve. He was loved as no other public man was of
his day. He was fearless and courageous. To him
life meant service to his fellow men. No task was
too hard, no peril too great, to daunt him. And
under all conditions and at all times, he was a
gentleman above reproach, courteous in manner, fair,
honest and upright. He was a model man as well as
a model senator.
Born near Louisville, Kentucky, on November 5,
1795, Lewis F. Linn was blessed with parents of
high character. His father, Asael Linn, showed
those courageous and sacrificing qualities that were
later observed in his son, Lewis F. Linn.
Even more remarkable was the mother of Lewis
F. Linn. Her maiden name was Ann Hunter and she
came of sturdy pioneer stock. Her first marriage
was to Israel Dodge and their son was Henry Dodge.
Henry Dodge lived in Missouri over twenty, years,
his home being at Ste. Genevieve. He was an Indian
fighter of renown, an army officer, and was one of
(156)

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 157
the forty-one "Fathers of the State," who framed
Missouri's first constitution in 1820. He later
became Governor of Wisconsin and then United
States Senator from that state. Shortly after the
birth of Henry Dodge, his mother was separated
from Israel Dodge, and married Asael Linn. Ann
Hunter thus became the mother of two United States
Senators. Her grandchild, Augustus Caesar Dodge,
son of Henry Dodge, also became a United States
Senator from Iowa.
Lewis F. Linn lost his father while still an infant
and his mother died when he was only twelve years
old. His guardian and guide was his half-brother,
Henry Dodge, who then lived at Ste. Genevieve, Mis
souri. The deepest love existed between these two.
Young Linn in early manhood showed an inclina
tion to become a doctor. He studied in Louisville,
Kentucky, and Philadelphia. When the war with
England in 1812 broke out, he acted as surgeon to the
Missouri troops under the command of General Henry
Dodge. His health which had become impaired
by close study was soon restored and at the early
age of twenty years he established himself as a
physician in Ste. Genevieve.
His services as a doctor were in demand all over
Southeast Missouri. He possessed rare medical skill
and kept up with the advances made in his profession
by studying the latest books published on it. He
practiced with unwearied devotion and derived the
greatest pleasure in bringing relief to poor suffer*
ing humanity. He served the poor and the rich with
the same zeal. The widow and orphan obtained his

158

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

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LEWIS F. LINN
Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 159
medicine and attention, although he knew they would
never be able to pay him. In his home, Doctor Linn
had a large chest filled with medicines which he
called "the closet for the poor." He gave from this
to those unable to provide for themselves. One day,
a wine merchant said to Mrs. Linn:
"Does your family use all the wine your husband
buys during the sick season? I should think you
would have enough to bathe in, but I believe every
drop of it goes to the sick who are not able to buy it
for themselves."
This was but one of the many excellent qualities of
Doctor Linn. He was in demand everywhere and
was frequently called to St. Louis to visit the sick.
Night and day he watched over his patients and many
times on returning home he was so exhausted as
to require assistance. Such men are always loved.
Doctor Linn was almost worshipped by the thousands
whom he had served.
In those days owing to lack of proper sanitation,
the entire world was sometimes swept by a plague or
epidemic that carried off millions of lives. One of
these scourges was the dreaded Asiatic cholera. It
had spread over Europe and Doctor Linn knew it
would soon reach the people of the Mississippi Valley.
He at once wrote to the eminent doctors in Europe,
asking them how the epidemic should be met and
what precaution should be taken. Doctor Linn pre
ferred if possible to prevent the disease instead of
waiting until his people were on their death beds.
As a result of this farsighted policy, when the Asiatic
cholera appeared on the Atlantic coast, Doctor Linn

160 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
published a pamphlet which he sent broadcast over
Missouri and Illinois. This pamphlet told the history
of this disease, its effect on a person, and told how
it could be arrested in its progress and how lives
could be saved. Owing to these investigations and
counsels, the pestilence was stopped on both sides of
the Mississippi River, and the loss of life was small
compared with what it would have been. For years
Doctor Linn received thousands of letters thanking
him for what he had done for his fellow man in this
one instance. Doctor Linn not only warned his people
of the cholera, but he was willing to risk his life in
helping them when attacked by it.
One cold October morning in 1832 a gentleman
came riding fast to the door of Doctor Linn's house
and told him that a steamboat had left a stranger
very ill on the bank of the river. The stranger was
suffering intensly from cramps and cried for relief.
No person would go near him, for all thought he was
a victim of the cholera.
"Now, good Doctor Linn," said the gentleman,
"if you decline doing anything for the stranger, no
other person will go to aid him. It is dreadful to
think of his dying on the cold, wet earth without
any assistance and so many persons near him."
Without hesitation, the Doctor replied that he
would see the stranger. Looking with great love on
his wife and children, he said:
"My dear wife, the time is at hand when you must
take the children and flee to the country to avoid this
awful scourge. My duty is to remain here and do
all I can for the sick."

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 161
Looking with affection on her noble and self-sacri
ficing husband, Mrs. Linn replied:
"The time has indeed arrived when I also must
do my duty. That duty is to stay with my blessed
husband and help him all in my power in watching
over and nursing the sick."
Doctor Linn fondly embraced his wife, saying:
"Such words are worthy of you, my beloved wife,
and I should have expected them from you. Now
let us make haste to do something for the suffering
stranger whom God has entrusted to our keeping."
In vain were all their efforts to get any person
to bring the sick man to their house. The inhabit
ants of Ste. Genevieve were seized with a panic.
They could not think of Doctor Linn going near the
diseased person or that he should be brought to town.
The Doctor, finding all his servants had left on hear
ing his intention, requested one of his students to help
bear the patient in a blanket to his home. While
they went to the river's bank, Mrs. Linn prepared
a room for the stricken stranger, but she was inter
rupted by a number of persons who surrounded the
house and begged her not to let her husband bear the
sick man into their midst. She saw the people were
wild with excitement and feared they might hurt
Doctor Linn and his kind hearted student. Her fears
were increased when she saw one of her own friends
with a torch in his hand and heard him exclaim:
"Mrs. Linn, let me see the Doctor turn the corner
of that street and I will apply the torch to this office
and burn it to its foundation."
Another called out:

162 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"Let us tear down the house and save the com
munity from the pestilence."
In vain Mrs. Linn attempted to reason with the
crowd but it was useless. While talking with them,
a colored boy informed her that Doctor Linn and
the student were approaching, bearing the sick man.
This struck the crowd with panic, which as if by
magic scattered in every direction stricken with
terror. When the Doctor arrived no one remained
to prevent his entrance into his home.
The sick stranger, whose name was Mr. Hamlin,
received all the attention that could be given him, but
the disease had gone too far, and death ended his
suffering. The cholera soon broke out in Ste. Gene
vieve but owing to the tireless efforts of Dr. Linn, it
was soon under control. The good people of the
town never censured Doctor Linn for helping the
dying stranger, because they knew he was risking
his own life and those of his family more than the
lives of others. They soon realized the kind deed he
had performed when they had feared to do this them
selves. Doctor Linn was frequently urged by friends to
become a candidate for Congress. His popularity
would have made certain his election. He refused,
however, saying that he had no political aspirations.
Only once was he persuaded to serve one session in
the Legislature of Missouri, and this for the purpose
of passing a law beneficial to the southern part of
the State.
In 1833 at the early age of only thirty-eight years,
his reputation as a physician had become so great

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 163
and the demands on his time were so constant that
his health became impaired. His friends were alarm
ed and induced him to accept an appointment ten
dered him by President Jackson to act as one of the
three commissioners appointed to settle the old French
land claims in Missouri. The change of work was
beneficial to Doctor Linn, whose health was soon
restored. In his work as land commissioner, he gave
satisfaction to all parties. In the same year he moved
to St. Louis to better attend to his duties, and a
month later the cholera again broke out in that city.
Doctor Linn at once devoted himself night and day
to helping the sick. His friends in Ste. Genevieve
were also stricken and begged him to return to them.
They declared "that if mortal man could save them
from the cholera, Doctor Linn could." Concealing
from his family the cause of his departure, the
Doctor left for Ste. Genevieve. On his arrival one of
them said:
"The very sight of Doctor Linn inspired hope and
confidence and they felt he was like an angel of
mercy come to restore health and happiness to them,
thru the blessing of God."
Taking little rest for twelve days and nights, the
Doctor attended constantly to the sick and dying.
At length he was seized with the scourge himself.
Believing he would die, he sent for his wife. With
great haste Mrs. Linn set out for Ste. Genevieve.
The rains had made streams and rivers almost im
passible and Mrs. Linn had great difficulty in her
journey. Coming to the crossing of the Mississippi
River, the ferryman refused to help her because the

164 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
night was so dark and the river so rough. In her
distress she exclaimed:
"Is there no one here who for the love of the Bles
sed Virgin will assist me across the river to my
dying husband?"
Immediately a young girl arose from the bedside
of one of the dying persons, and said:
"Mrs. Linn, I will take you over if you will go in
a skiff."Her father, the ferryman, objected. The young
girl turned to her father and said:
"My father, do you not remember all that good Doc
tor Linn did for us when my mother died, and the great
trouble he underwent when my brother, James, was
so long sick, and that he never charged us for what
he did? I cannot refuse to take his wife to him
when he may be dying."
"Go, Margaret," said her father, "and may the
saints protect you."
Mrs. Linn reached the bedside of her husband,
who treated himself with turpentine bandages after
other doctors had given him up. He recovered from
his sickness and lived to serve his state and nation
for ten years.
The day before Doctor Linn was taken ill, Col.
Alexander Buckner, one of Missouri's United States
Senators, and his wife died of the cholera. Im
mediately many petitions from all South Missouri
were sent to Governor Dunklin, urging him to ap
point Doctor Linn to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the death of Colonel Buckner. A large number of
Whigs signed these petitions, even tho Doctor Linn

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 165
was a Democrat. Before he had regained his health,
Doctor Linn received notice of his appointment to
the United States Senate. When the Missouri Legisla
ture met in 1834, Doctor Linn was unanimously
elected to this office, was re-elected in 1836, and again
in 1843.
The election of Doctor Linn to the United States
Senate greatly pleased him. It came unsolicited and
as a token of the high esteem in which he was held
by Missourians. He was the first and only man
Missouri has sent to the United States Senate who
had never been a politician, lawyer, or a soldier.
Political foresight he had, however, to a marked
degree. As early as 1823, when only twenty-eight
years old, he had predicted the election of General
Andrew Jackson as President of the United States.
His political friends laughed at him and Judge Pope
of Illinois remarked:
"You never will be able to find seven votes in
Missouri or Illinois that would sustain General Jack
son for that high office."
Doctor Linn replied that he would be willing to
pledge his life that before ten years had passed,
no political man in Missouri or Illinois would De
supported by the people who was not in favor of
General Jackson for the presidency. In five years
from that time, the Doctor's prediction was verified.
As a statesman, Lewis F. Linn, attained even
higher rank and performed even greater service to
his state and nation than he had as a doctor. During
the first few years in the United States Senate he
rarely made a speech, but devoted his attentions to

166 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
the private land claims of Missourians. In this he
was successful, for of the many bills he presented
he never lost one. He possessed the respect and
esteem of every member of the Senate of both
political parties. He was resolute, courageous, and
studious. A decided party man, he afterwards en
gaged largely in the debates in the Senate, but his
kindness and courtesy toward all turned aside any
feeling of ill-will. He had political opponents in the
Senate, but not an enemy. Senator W. C. Preston, of
South Carolina, once said of him :
"Doctor Linn is the only Democrat I should be
distressed to hear had become a candidate for the
presidency; for, good Whig as I am, I could not
bring myself to vote against such a noble patriot as
I know him to be, and one who loves his country
with a zeal rarely equalled and never surpassed."
Senator Linn was equally well loved by his other
political opponents. The great Whig Senator from
Kentucky, Henry Clay, once wrote to Mrs. Linn :
"The greatest boon you can ask from Heaven, my
dear madam, is that your son may resemble his
father, who commands the admiration and gains the
love of all that know him."
If such were the sentiments of Doctor Linn's politi
cal opponents during exciting debates in the Senate,
what may be imagined were the feelings of his own
political friends? He felt, with all the sensibility
of his noble nature, the kindness with which they
had treated him. His great love for Missouri had
made him ask much for his state, but not a Senator
felt inclined to vote against him on such measures.

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 167
So fortunate was Doctor Linn in passing bills for
the benefit of Missouri, that one day when in his
usual happy manner he was presenting a number of
bills to the Senate, his friend, Senator Buchanan,
remarked jestingly, "that it would save much time
to the Senate, and a great trouble to the Doctor in
reading these bills, to put them in a pile, and say,
'These bills are Doctor Linn's for the benefit of
Missouri,' and thus let them pass as they are sure to
do." This suggestion was in the same spirit of
pleasantly seconded by Mr. Clay and the bills were
passed. Besides taking care of private interests of Missouri
ans in Congress, Doctor Linn took equal pains that
Missourians at home should be informed on what
Congress was doing. In those days Misouri had few
newspapers and congressional news was hard to get.
Doctor Linn tried to remedy this by having the sheriff
of each county in Missouri copy the list of names on
the poll-tax books. Doctor Linn arranged these
names in a large book so he could send all the citizens
of Missouri some papers and news during the sessions
of Congress.
Doctor Linn also took pains to inform the rest
of the nation regarding the resources of Missouri.
The great Iron Mountain of Missouri was at that
time laughed at in the East and was regarded as a
fable. The Doctor accordingly had a lump of iron,
weighing two tons, taken from the mountain and sent
to Paris, France. In Paris the iron was carefully
examined by men of science, who reported that it
was of superior quality. This report was published

168 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
over the United States and was a service to Missouri.
The Doctor also took to Pittsburg, Pa., a sample of
the pure white sand found in great quantities near
Ste. Genevieve, to be tried in the glass works there.
This sand was found to make the most beautiful
glass and for years was used exclusively in the great
manufactures of glass along the Ohio River.
The different mines of metals in the southern part
of Missouri had long interested Doctor Linn and he
greatly desired to see them worked to better advanta
ges. He accordingly made a trip to Europe to study
the mines there. What he learned, he told to his
fellow Missourians. So, while serving as Missouri's
United States Senator, he also served her in other
equally valuable ways.
Not as the successful author of private bills, or
as a developer of Missouri's resources, however, is
Doctor Lewis F. Linn best known in Missouri history.
His greatest service to his state was the Platte Pur
chase in 1836.
When Missouri became a state in 1820, her bound
aries were the same as today except on the northwest.
Instead of following the Missouri River in its north
westward course, the boundary line continued north
ward in a straight line from the mouth of the Kaw
or Kansas River. The present counties of Platte,
Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Atchison and Nodaway,
were not included in Missouri. This triangular tract
of land, containing three thousand square miles or
about two million acres, was at that time occupied
by Indians. There were three great tribes, the Sau-
kees or Sacs, the Foxes, and the Pottawatomies. The

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 169
land was rich and the white settlers across the line in
Missouri wanted it. Contrary to law, some of these
settlers crossed over, and frequently fights with the
Indians resulted. The Missouri Legislature in 1831
petitioned Congress to make a more definite boundary
line there but no action was taken until Doctor Linn
became interested. He was the author of the bill
providing for the acquisition of this land, called the
Platte Country, by Missouri. The great Missouri
Senator, Thomas H. Benton, introduced the bill in
Congress in 1836 and it became a law. Senator
Benton said however, that the Platte Purchase bill
would never have passed had it not been for Lewis
F. Linn.
By the Platte Purchase bill, the Platte Country
was added to Misouri, the Indians' title was paid for
by the United States Government, and the Indians
were moved westward. The Platte Purchase rounded
out Missouri's boundaries. To Lewis F. Linn is the
honor of being its author and its successful advocate.
Missourians can never pay too much honor to the
man who performed this service to his state.
Greater than this service to his state, however,
was the work of Doctor Linn in his bill for the
settlement and occupation of Oregon Territory. His
efforts for this measure carried it thru the Senate
when even Senator Benton admitted that he, Benton,
would have failed. This monumental piece of states
manship in its results gave to the United States the
vast Oregon Country, which today forms the states
of Idaho, Oregon and Washington. If this bill of
Doctor Linn's had failed, these states would today

170 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
probably be part of Canada. No wonder that Sena
tor Linn was hailed as the "Father of Oregon."
While serving Missouri, Senator Linn was interested
in all the nr.tion and especially the West. He did
so much for Iowa Territory, that Iowa called him
her Senator. He advocated military posts on the
frontier against the Indians, the establishing of post-
roads, the draining of swamps, and other progressive
work. He was a patriot who loved to see his country
advance. He was not provincial, absorbed alone in
the interests of- Missouri, but a broad-minded states
man whose eyes saw the entire nation as well.
As he served in the Senate, he grew mentally. His
views and opinions broadened. His eloquence as a
speaker matured. He had a natural gift for speaking,
which he improved with practice. Some said that his
later speeches were inspired. His influence in the
Senate was remarkable and became stronger each
session. How unfortunate to his country that after
serving her only ten years when just reaching the
maturity of his powers at the age of forty-eight years,
this great man should suddenly be called away. With
little previous illness, Senator Lewis F. Linn, "The
Model Senator of Misouri," died at his home in Ste.
Genevieve on October 3, 1843. Public meetings
were held over Missouri, eulogies on the deceased were
delivered, and resolutions of sympathy for Mrs. Linn
and her family were adopted. The United States
Senate and the House of Representatives adopted
similar resolutions. In the former body, Senator
Thomas H. Benton in a speech full of feeling and
conviction said in part: "He was my friend, but I
speak not the language of friendship when I speak

Lewis F. Linn, 1795-1843. 171
his praise ... A sagacious head and a feeling
heart were the great characteristics of Doctor Linn.
. . . Brilliant as were the qualities of his head
the qualities of his heart still eclipsed them. . . .
What a heart had Lewis Linn! The kindest, the
gentlest, the most feeling, and the most generous
that ever beat in the bosom of a bearded man! And
yet, when the occasion required it, the bravest and
the most daring also. . . . Who amongst us all,
even after the fiercest debate, ever met him without
meeting the benignant smile and the kind salutation?
. . He had kindness and sympathy for every human
being. . . Here is a man in whose hands I could
deposit my life, liberty, fortune, honor."
The Legislature of Iowa and of Wisconsin paid
official tribute to the life and services this remarkable
man, and men in public life over the nation sent
messages of condolence to the bereaved family.
A beautiful marble monument was erected over
his grave by the Legislature of Missouri on which
were carved these words.
Here rests the Remains
of
LEWIS F. LINN
The Model Senator
of
Missouri
During his own lifetime, however. Senator Linn
had been honored by the Legislature of Missouri in
Linn county being named in his honor. The States
of Iowa, Kansas and Oregon later honored his memory
in establishing a Linn county in each. Truly a great
man, a gentleman, a model man and senator was
Lewis Fields Linn.

DAVID R. ATCHISON, 1807-1886
United States Senator from Missouri, 184-3-1855
T TPON the death of Lewis F. Linn, Governor
^ Thomas Reynolds against the advice of friends
appointed David R. Atchison to the United States
Senate. Governor Reynolds was severely criticized
for this selection. Missouri's historian, William F.
Switzler, thus tells the sad story :
"The Governor appointed Atchison, which was
unexpected and opposed by many of the Governor's
political friends. In fact, it was roundly denounced,
and the Governor was severely criticized for making
it. Altho a man of large experience in official life
and of recognized ability, Governor Reynolds was
acutely sensitive to public criticism, and therefore
possessed the weakness of being rendered very un
happy by it. It was the cankering plague spot of
his existence. When, therefore, he committed suicide
by a rifle shot in his office on February 9, 1844, many
supposed that the chief, if not the only cause of the
sad catastrophe, was the abuse he had received,
principally on account of the appointment of Atchi
son. The Thirteenth General Assembly met on
November 18, 1844, Claiborne F. Jackson, Speaker;
M. M. Marmaduke, Acting Governor. On the next
day the two houses met in joint session to elect a
United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Dr. L. F. Linn and also a Senator to
succeed Thomas H. Benton, whose term expired
March 4, 1845. All objections to the contrary, At-
(172)

David R. Atchison, 1807-1886. 173
chison was elected for four years, the remainder of
Doctor Linn's term."
The criticism of Governor Reynolds' appointment
was political. No one charged David R. Atchison of
being unqualified for the high office of United States
Senator. At the time of his appointment he was
circuit judge and for years had established a high
reputation as a lawyer. He had served two terms
in the Missouri Legislature and was well known over
all Western Missouri. A man of education, great
force of character and of public spirit,' was David
R. Atchison, and eminently fitted to represent Mis
souri in Congress. He was in the United States
Senate for twelve years.
Born in Kentucky on August 11, 1807, David R.
Atchison was reared in a family of wealth and culture.
His father was a large land owner and a farmer. David
R. received a good education and in 1825 graduated
with high honors from Transylvania University. He
then applied himself to the study of the law and
was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-two
years. In 1830 he came to Missouri and settled at
Liberty, where he soon established a large and profit
able law practice. At that time there was only one
other lawyer in Liberty, Judge William T. Wood.
Atchison was appointed Major General of the North
ern Division of the Missouri State Militia shortly
after this. He was also elected to represent Clay
county two terms in the Missouri Legislature.
In 1841 he moved to Platte City, having been
appointed circuit judge there, and made many friends
in his new home. He had held this office only two
years when he was appointed to the United States

174 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Senate and his appointment was confirmed by elect
ion by the next Missouri Legislature. He served
two terms, the last expiring on March 4, 1855.
Two years after this, he moved to Clinton county
and established his residence in a large brick man
sion in the midst of a magnificent farm of seventeen
hundred acres, a mile and a half from Gower.
His beautiful home was destroyed by fire in 1870
and with it his extensive library and records. After
the close of the Civil War, he lived a life of seclusion
on his farm. He never married.
The career of David R. Atchison in the United
States Senate was not spectacular. He was not a
great man but he was a man of strong convictions.
He predicted the Civil War years before it opened.
He saw the inevitable conflict coming. A strong
Calhoun Democrat, he favored the Slave States in
their contention for States' rights. Until 1848,
Senator Atchison worked in harmony with his col
league, Senator Thomas H. Benton. In 1849 he
helped elect Mr. Calhoun, President pro tem. of the
Senate, and he and Benton became bitter enemies.
In 1850 he led the Democrats and Whigs opposed to
Benton, and brought about the defeat of "Old Bullion."
While in the United States Senate, Atchison was
for a large part of his two terms its presiding officer.
It was while serving as President pro tem. of the
Senate that he became acting President of the United
States for one day  the only Missourian to hold
this office. It happened this way: President Polk's
term expired on March 3, 1849, and as the next day
was Sunday, the inaugeration of the new President

David R. Atchison, 1807-1886. 175
was postponed until Monday, March 5th. Thus by
virtue of his office as President of the Senate, Mr.
Atchison became the acting President of the United
States. When Senator Atchison entered the United States
Senate in 1843, his position was a difficult one. He
not only was succeeding the beloved and gifted Linn,
but was becoming the colleague of the great Thomas
H. Benton, who had been Missouri's Senator for
nearly a quarter of a century. Moreover, Senator
Atchison was not an eloquent orator but spoke his
thoughts direct and without high, rounded sentences.
He was honest and sincere, plain and frank. He
never achieved the prominence nor the influence
attained by Benton, but he was highly regarded by
friend and foe.
He was "a man of imposing presence, six feet two
inches high, and straight as an arrow, florid com
plexion, and would weigh about two hundred pounds."
He was a fine conversationalist and possessed an
excellent memory. As a citizen he was plain, jovial
and simple in his dress and language. He was not
an aristocrat in spite of his great wealth, but lived
the life of a democrat by nature and education. He
regarded himself as one of the people and was al
ways near to them. To the poor he dispensed food
and clothing; to his friends, favors; and toward
all, he was a gentleman.
After his retirement from the United States
Senate, Senator Atchison was active in the Kansas-
Missouri border troubles. He was regarded as the
pro-slavery leader in these affairs and several times

176 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
led forces on Kansas soil. During the* Civil War he
served with the Missouri troops in the Southern
cause and was present at several battles. He died
at his home in Clinton county on January 26, 1886,
lamented by all who knew him.
During his own life Atchison county, Missouri,
was named in his honor, as was also the city of
Atchison, Kansas.
Senator David R. Atchison was a simple, plain
man, who, altho not great, occupied a remarkably
influential position as United States Senator and
as one of the leaders of the pro-slavery forces in
Missouri before the Civil War. He was a fair and
just man. Even in his speeches to the peoplemgainst
Thomas H. Benton, he always referred to his enemy
as "your most distinguished Senator." This courtesy
was more than "the distinguished Senator" would
probably have shown toward David R. Atchison. He
never degenerated to personal abuse in his speeches
and was always cool and fair. As a private citizen
he was honest, upright and public spirited; as a
statesman, he wielded influence without stoo- iWg'to
petty trickery, and openly stood by and acted on his
conYictions; and as a man, David R. Atchison was
just, courteous, hospitable, and above suspicion.

JAMES S. GREEN, 1817-1870
United States Senator from Missouri, 1857-1861
A MONG the able public men of Missouri during the
-^*- middle of the nineteenth century, no one enjoyed
a higher reputation for ability than James S. Green.
Today a1 most forgotten except to the older generation,
this man in 1850-1860 was easily one of the foremost
statesmen in Missouri and was her greatest orator
and debater. He was one of the few men in the
nation who, like Abraham Lincoln, could successfully
debate with Senator Stephen A. Douglass, the "Little
Giant" from Illinois. He was a natural leader of
men, a polished speaker and a great lawyer, and he
owed all his success to his own efforts and industry.
Born in Virginia on February 28, 1817, he received
little education except in the three "Rs." Coming to
Missouri in 1838 he worked on a farm in Lewis
county. Altho not a college man, he soon had an
education that was broad and deep, and which
fitted him for a legal and political career. He was
his own teacher and it was his custom to have a
book in his hand when not working. What he read,
he told to others and in the telling learned much
himself, "for the best way to learn is by teaching
others." . He also loved to mix with all' sorts of per
sons, poor and rich, educated and ignorant, and in
this way received many ideas. Even as a boy he
had a fondness for discussion and he soon became a
skilled debater and orator. (177)

178

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

James S. Green, 1817-1870. 179
After studying law several years he was admitted
to the bar at Montieello, Missouri, in 1840, at the
youthful age of twenty-three years. One of his
first cases was before Judge Arphazed Musgrove,
a justice of the peace in Clark county. Years later
Justice Musgrove told this story about Green's first
case: "I didn't know him. He (Green) said he was a
lawyer. I sized him up for a chap who might have
a license to practice law, but who could never land
a case in his favor. But he did land to beat anything
I ever saw. He talked to beat the band. He didn't
look very good to me when he started, but as he got
along he began to look better. Before he was thru
I thought he was fine looking. I decided the case in
his favor and said: 'Young man, stick to law. It's
your right business.' "
Mr. Green was tall and impressive in appearance,
and very courteous in conversation. He was quick
witted, a good story-teller and highly gifted in re
partee. His brightness was noticed in Missouri from
the time he came to the state. "Some of his early
'smart' sayings were made when he was working on
a farm, others when he was with his brother, Martin,
running a threshing-machine in Lewis county and
operating a saw and grist mill on the Wyaconda river,
and others when he was clerking in a grocery store
at Montieello."
He was a States' rights Democrat and disliked the
great United States Senator from Missouri, Thomas
H. Benton. In 1845, Green was elected a delegate
to the state constitutional convention of 1845 and

180 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
in 1846 was elected a Representative to Congress.
In both bodies he was soon recognized as a young
man of ability. In those days, as in these, it was
the custom for a new member of Congress to keep
himself in the background and say little or nothing
for his first year or two. Such a custom, however,
could not bind James S. Green. He was efficient, a
sound lawyer, and a polished speaker. He loved to
debate but never took the floor until he had prepared
well his subject.
In Congress, Green served four years, two terms,
and delivered many speeches of worth. In 1850 he
was defeated for re-election owing to his speaking
tour of Missouri in 1849, in which he denounced
Thomas H. Benton. He succeeded in defeating the
great Benton, but made many enemies who deeply
loved "Old Bullion."
The great statesman, James G. Blaine wrote of
this as follows:
"Green had done more than any other man in
Missouri to break down the power of Thomas H.
Benton as a leader of the Democracy. His arraign
ment of Benton before the people of Missouri in
1849, when he was but thirty-two years of age, was
one of the most aggressive and successful warfares in
our political annals."
Green was again defeated for congress in 1852, and
in 1853 was apopinted charge d' affairs to Columbia,
South America. He soon tired of this office, and
returned to Missouri the following year. In 1856 he
was elected to Congress but before he could serve,
he was elected United States Senator from Missouri,

James S. Green, 1817-1870. 181
January 12, 1857, to fill an unexpired term of four
years. Senator Green at once became one of the great
leaders in the United States Senate. No one could
surpass him as a reasoner or excell him as an orator,
and few equal him. Even the great Illinois states
man, Stephen A. Douglass, feared him. He was a
leader of the Southern Democrats and was chairman
of one of the most important committees. He at
tracted the attention of the newspapers of the United
States and the following clipping gives some idea
of the high regard in which he was held:
"Senator Green is regarded as one of the master
spirits of the Senate, and on this occasion (a debate)
gave evidence that his mind is capable of great in
tellectual efforts. We congratulate Missouri and the
country upon this clean exposition of the fallacious
arguments of the 'Little Giant,' who is now in con
cert with the men whom he twelve months ago de
nounced as traitors and disunionists.
. . . He fairly reviewed the argument of Judge
Douglass ... he pointed out the fallacy, and
so strong were the positions that they could not be
controverted. The Senator from Illinois was sur
rounded by a wall of fire from which there was no
escape. He floundered, begged the question, raised
a new issue and finally tried to lead Green astray
by bald assertions and oratorical displays. But it was
of no avail. Green had the vantage ground — he felt
it and would not let the Judge escape. . . The
running fire between them was exceedingly interesting
and exciting and it was easy, to be seen that Mr.

182 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Douglass felt that he had a 'foeman worthy of his'
steel.' "
One of America's greatest statesmen wrote this
regarding Senator James S. Green:
"None of his contemporaries had made so pro
found an impression in so short a time. He was a
very strong debater. He had peers but no masters
in the Senate."
During his four years service in the United States
Senate, Green by his remarkable success in that body-
naturally gained the high esteem and love of his
fellow citizens in Missouri. They felt that a worthy
successor had stepped in the place made vacant by the
able Benton. When he returned home after a session
in Congress, Senator Green was congratulated on
all sides. Neighbors and people from the surround
ing country poured into his home in Canton. Here
it was that Green was at his best, in his response
from the porch of his residence with his wife and
children at his side. His career in the Senate was
thrilling and considering its shortness of only four
years, was remarkable. In almost every contest he
held his own against the most veteran statesman in
the nation. But he never entered into a discussion
without first making himself master of the subject.
In all of his debates Senator Green was noted for
his thoroness. Apparently on every position he took,
he got at its fundamental basis. His familiarity
with the law, combined with ease of delivery and
quickness at reply, made him an adversary to be
feared by even the ablest.
Unfortunately for his political career Senator Green
espoused the cause of the South and entered the

James S. Green, 1817-1870. 183
Southern army shortly after the outbreak of the Civil
War. He achieved no success worthy of note and when
the war ended, settled in St. Louis. His health gradually
gave way and he died on January 9, 1870. He was
buried in Canton.
In St. Louis, Senator Green had a large practice and
was regarded as a remarkable lawyer. One of the
ablest lawyers in St. Louis, Samuel T. Glover, once
said that in a certain lawsuit, Senator Green made
one of the finest, legal arguments he had ever heard.
In presenting the case to the court and jury, Sena
tor Green had neither notes nor books in front of
him. He cited references and gave the volume and
page and quoted constitutional provisions by article
and section. He was clear and logical and his argu
ment convincing. Combined with these qualities of
worth, Senator Green had a personal magnetism that
made him an orator with scarcely a peer. A former
Lieutenant GQvernor of Missouri, Robert A. Campbell,
once said that he had never before or since listened
to such a fine voice and such thrilling eloquence as
Green possessed. He was Missouri's greatest pro-
slavery champion. Considering his short career and
his limited advantages, Senator James S. Green, also
stands out as one of Missouri's remarkable statesmen
and orators.

JAMES S. ROLLINS, 1812-1888
Father of the University of Missouri
MISSOURI has produced few men who stand high
er in history today as a public man without
having held a position greater than a seat in the
lower house of Congress, than James S. Rollins. Not
only as a statesman but as a benefactor of all pub
lic enterprises and especially as a patron of education,
was Major Rollins known over the state. Perhaps
his fame rests more on his public ability as an orator
and statesman. His name will be remembered as
long as Missouri's public school system exists for he
was called the "Father of the University of Missouri."
Born at Richmond, Ky., April 19, 1812, James
Sidney Rollins was descended from ancestors of
Scotch-Irish and English blood. His father was a
doctor and was a self-made man. Hejjave his son
an excellent education at one academy, a college and
two universities. At one of the latter he was val
edictorian of his class. He prepared himself for the
law and began the practice of his profession at the
age of twenty-two years.
His father having removed to Boone county, Mis
souri, James Sidney followed. He read law in the
office of Judge Abiel Leonard, of Fayette, an eminent
lawyer of his day, who later became a member of the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Soon after his arrival
in Missouri young Rollins took charge of a farm. In
1832 he volunteered as a soldier in the Black Hawk
Indian War and rose to the rank of major.
(184)

James S. Rollins, 1812-1888. 185
Major Rollins built up a large law business but
he disliked the confinement of office work. In 1836
he purchased a newspaper and established the Colum
bia Patriot. He was a Whig in politics and favored in
ternal improvements. At the youthful age of twenty-
four he was elected a delegate to the first railroad
convention held west of the Mississippi River, at
St. Louis. He was chairman of the committee that
asked Congress to aid the construction of railroads
with grants of land. This kind of request was later
frequently made and finally resulted in the United
States Government giving many millions of acres of
land to help build railroads over the nation.
From this year, 1836, Major Rollins devoted his
energies to a number of activities instead of con
centrating on the law. He became a man of affairs,
a public man, statesman, politician, orator, builder
of industries and patron of education.
In 1838 he was elected to the Missouri Legislature
and spoke in favor of the bill establishing the Univer
sity of Missouri. This bill passed on February 8,
1839, and marks the actual beginning of this great
school. Missouri's first constitution of 1820 provided
for the establishing of a State University, but as
the years went by nothing was done. As a State
University is part of the public school system, it
seems strange that nearly two decades passed before
such an institution was established, but people were
different in those days. In fact many persons at that
time did not favor free, public education. Private
schools and academies were established and the well-
to-do sent their children to these, paying tuition.

186

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

James S. Rollins, 1812-1888. 187
Of course, the poor people could not do this since
money was scarce. Many of the wealthy citizens
did not want public schools since these would have
to be supported by taxation. So it is easily seen
why some of the leading people of the State opposed
the establishment of a State University.
Major Rollins was not, however, one of these.
Altho his father was in good circumstances, both fath
er and son were willing to pay taxes so that all the
children of Missouri could obtain an education. The
law providing for the University was finally passed
and provided that it should be located in one of these
six counties — Cole, Cooper, Boone, Howard, Callaway
or Saline.
Each county at once tried to raise the largest
amount of money in order to get the University
located in it. Public meetings were held in churches,
at cross roads and hotels. Boone county won with a
total of $117,000. This large amount of money is
remarkable since Boone county at that time had only
13,300 persons — an average of $9 for each man,
woman and child. Some men gave more than they
were worth and borrowed the money. Major Rollins,
although a young lawyer, gave $2,000 and his father
$1,500. The corner stone of the main building of the
University of Missouri, was laid July 4, 1840, and
was formally dedicated and opened on July 4, 1843.
During these three years, however, classes had been
instructed and several young men graduated. The
first president of the University was Prof. John H.
Lathrop.

188 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Major Rollins was again elected to the Missouri
Legislature in 1840 and to the state Senate in 1846.
He was now one of the leaders of the Whig party in
Missouri, but since his party was in the minority in
this state, Major Rollins was defeated for Governor
in 1848 and again in 1857.
In 1854 he was elected to the Missouri Legislature
and in 1860 was elected Congressman from Missouri,
serving four years.
While in Congress he was a strong Unionist and
a supporter of President Lincoln. He introduced
a bill for building a transcontinental railroad from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast, and secured
the passage of a law providing for state agricultural
colleges through donations of public lands. Under
this last law the Missouri State Agricultural College
was established at Columbia, and is now a part of
the University of Missouri.
In 1864 Major Rollins declined a third term in
Congress, in order to attend to his private business,
but in 1866 was again in the Missouri Legislature.
While serving in the latter body he devoted himself
toward aiding the public school system of Missouri
and securing state appropriation for the University
of Missouri. Being elected to the State Senate in
1868, he continued to labor for the public good and
did much to establish the State Normal Schools at
Kirksville and Warrensburg, provide aid for Lin
coln Institute at Jefferson City, and establish the
Fulton State Hospital, so besides the University of
Missouri he aided in the founding of five state
institutions.

James S. Rollins, 1812-1888. 189
Not only in advocating laws founding and building
up the University of Missouri, but also for his
unselfish private acts, was Major James S. Rollins
in May, 1872, formally called the "Father of the
University of Missouri." That he had won rare and
great honor, all agreed.
On January 9, 1888, Major Rollins died at his
home, lamented by the citizens of Columbia and
Missouri. His life was one of helpfulness. "It is
what we do for others — not ourselves — that lives
after us." So it was with Major Rollins. For half
a century he was a public man. He labored for
others, worked for the public good, and led the
ideal life of a sincere and noble minded citizen. He
helped the poor and the needy, labored for better
schools and churches, and was beloved by all.
He was tall in stature, lithe in form and courteous
and pleasing in address. He was cultured and highly
educated. As an orator he was convincing and elo
quent, his voice was musical and his gestures grace
ful. His love for his country and her welfare was
his passion. He was a statesman. In all relations
he was a model Christian gentleman.

EDWARD BATES, 1793-1869
Missouri's and the West's First Cabinet Officer
"^T EARLY a century ago a young lawyer sat in
-^ his office in the little town of St. Louis. Busi
ness was not rushing, and the young lawyer was
studying a law book. He was a small man, had bright
eyes and was dressed in the queer clothes of that
day — ruffles, blue broadcloth coat and gilt buttons.
Altho not yet thirty years old, this young man was a
leading lawyer and usually won his cases in court.
He was a hard student, was kind and sociable, and
a great orator. When he addressed a jury in the
court room, he could make them laugh or weep with
his stories and pleadings. He was popular, loved
by boys and girls, and was greatly liked by nearly
everybody who knew him. When anyone had a big
lawsuit he usually wanted to employ this brilliant
young man.
As this young lawyer was reading this morning in
his office, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in, sir," called the lawyer.
"Mr. Bates, I want to employ you to start a law
suit against Mrs. B.  She has one hundred and
sixty acres of land that belongs to me and I want it.
I've got enough papers and legal proof to win, and
I want you to take the case," said the visitor.
"Who is this Mrs. B  ?" inquired the lawyer.
"Oh! she's the widow of old Captain B  who
was killed by the Indians in the war of 1812," an
swered the man. (190)

Edward Bates, 1793-1869. 191
"How did she get these one hundred and sixty
acres, Mr. S  ?"
"Why, the government gave them to her as a
bounty for what old Captain B  did fighting
the Indians."
"Well, what is wrong with her title to the land?'
questioned young Bates.
"You see, Mr. Bates, the old lady didn't know the
law very well and so she didn't do all the things she
should have done to make her title clear. I found
out the things she failed to do and bought some
claims to her ground pretty cheap, and I think I can
oust her off these one hundred and sixty acres,"
answered Mr. S  .
The young lawyer's eyes flashed fire but he calmly
looked his visitor in the face and said:
"Mr? S  , I do not want to take your case.
You will have to employ another lawyer."
"But, Mr. Bates, I'll pay you mighty well for your
services. Just name your fee and I'll pay it."
Mr. Bates arose and walking over to his visitor
with every muscle set, pointed to the door and said:
"There's the door, Mr! S  . I wouldn't take
your case to rob that poor widow of her home if you
gave me all the gold of the Indies."
The next week a poorly clad woman knocked at
the same door and was told to enter. She wore the
homespun clothes of the hard working pioneer and
by her side were two children, a boy and a girl. She
was nervous and almost crying.
The young lawyer arose from his desk, bowed and
held out his hand. After the woman had sat down,
the lawyer asked what he could do for her.

192 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"You're Mr. Bates, aren't you?" inquired the
woman. "Yes, madam," replied the young man.
"They all say you're a smart man and a mighty
good one. I'm only a poor woman but I'm in a lot
of trouble and seems like nobody will help me because
I haven't money," and. the poor woman began to cry
and put her arms around her children.
"What seems to be wrong, madam? Maybe I can
help you a little," asked Mr. Bates.
"There's a lawsuit been brought against me to
take all I've got away from me. I've seen several
lawyers and they all say I'll lose and none of them
would take my part unless I paid them more money
than I have. And, Mr. Bates, I havn't much besides
a little ground except a cow, an old horse and cart,
and a few chickens, but if you'll help me, you can
have all of them."
"Madam, I know nothing of your case, whether
you are in the right or wrong, not even your name."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that my name is Mrs.
B  —, widow of Captain B  ," and the
woman again burst into tears.
Hastily taking his handkerchief from his pockets
and wiping his eyes, Mr. Bates walked over to the
widow, and taking her hand said softly:
"Mrs. B  , it will be a great pleasure for me
to take your case and my fee is only the happiness
I shall get in helping you. Don't worry about this
suit." And Mrs. B  didn't worry, for the judge of
the court decided in favor of the young lawyer.
This was Edward Bates, one of the greatest and
best public men Missouri has ever had.

Edward Bates, 1793-1869.

193

194 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Born in Virginia, on September 4, 1793, of Quaker
parents, Edward Bates was reared in a large family.
He was educated at home and later attended an
academy. When twenty-one years of age, he came to Mis
souri where his brother Frederick, was secretary to
Governor Clark. Edward studied law under the
great lawyer, Rufus Easton, and was admitted to
the bar in 1816. Altho young he was held in high
regard by other lawyers. In 1820 Missourians
elected forty-one delegates to frame the first con
stitution of the state. These men were called "The
Fathers of Missouri" and Edward Bates was one of
them. He was one of the main authors of Missouri's
first constitution, altho one of the youngest delegates,
being only twenty-six years old.
He held many public offices and high positions,
and did his duty well in all. He was Missouri's
first Attorney-General, and was later elected to the
General Assembly and also served in Congress.
President Filmore appointed him Secretary of
War of the United States, but he refused this great
office. Later in 1861 he was appointed Attorney-
General of the United States in President Lincoln's
cabinet — the first man west of the Mississippi River
to hold a cabinet position.
Edward Bates was a great lawyer, a brilliant
orator, a good citizen, a loving and faithful husband
and father, and a Christian gentleman. He lived part
of his life on a farm in St. Charles county and
practiced law at the same time. He often joked
about his experience as a farmer and once said: "It
took all the money Lawyer Bates could make to
support Farmer Bates."

Edward Bates, 1793-1869. 195
He had winning ways, a big heart, was gentle and
loved by all. He was no ordinary man but a truly
great one. He never used any public office he held
to make money out of it on the side.
He was a natural orator and gifted with all the
graces of a speaker. He had a sweet, musical voice
and was never at loss for words. Always polite and
sociable, he would salute you with a pleasant word
if he met you even a dozen times during the day.
Altho a hard student and a very learned man, he
enjoyed a joke. This story is told on him, which
shows he had much of the boy in him.
In early times Mr. Bates and Elijah Bettis, of
Wayne county, were members of the same Legislature.
Mr. Bates stood first on the roll, and Bettis next.
They differed in politics, and a further difference
was that Bates was full of mischief, and Bettis knew
as little how to vote as any member in the Legis
lature. This annoyed Bettis, and he was advised
whenever a political question was up, to watch
Bates and vote just the opposite way. This came to
Bates' ear so he often voted wrong on purpose, and
was followed by Bettis, who made it a point to be "agin
Bates." Then, when the call of the roll was through,
Bates would rise and obtain leave to change his vote
and Bettis in turn would ask leave to change his.
Bettis was asked to explain why he changed his vote
and he answered that his "id-e-e was so he voted
agin Bates it was sartin to be Dimocratical."
At the age of seventy-five years, after a long ill
ness, Edward Bates died in St. Louis, in March,
1869. He was one of the most distinguished and
refined men who has honored the State of Missouri.

196 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
He was perhaps more universally beloved than any-
other man of his day in Missouri.
His brother, Frederick Bates, after whom Bates
county was named, died in 1825, being the second
Governor of the State of Missouri. The Bates
family was a remarkable one. It produced many
great men who held high positions in Missouri.

FRANK P. BLAIR, 1821-1875
Statesman, Soldier and Leader of Men
TN Statuary Hall in Washington, D. C, each state
A is represented by statutes of her two greatest
citizens. It would seem to be a difficult matter to
select two men out of the many men Missouri has
produced and honor these two above others. Few
states have been so favored by truly great men as
Missouri. This book on "Missouri's Hall of Fame"
shows how high her leaders stand. But when Missouri
was asked to place two statutes in Washington, D.
C, there was no delay in making the selection. All
Missouri approved. Both men had been dead for
years, but their greatness had grown as the years
passed. Both men had done all in their power for
their state and country. Both men were known over
the nation. One was Thomas Hart Benton — the
greatest statesman of the West; and the other was
Frank P. Blair— statesman, soldier, and leader of
men. Francis Preston Blair, or Frank P. Blair, as he was
usually called, was born in Kentucky on February
9, 1821. His parents were well educated and were
related to the best families of Virginia and Kentucky.
The father of Frank P. Blair was a writer of ability.
He was editor of one of President Andrew Jackson's
newspapers in Washington, and was a devoted friend
of "Old Hickory." He was also a close friend of
Senator Benton, and later of President Abraham
Lincoln. (197)

198

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

Frank P. Blair, 1821-1875. 199
As a boy young Blair met all these statesmen.
This meant much for the young man. He resolved
to try to serve his country as they had done. He
always kept this ambition before him.
Young Blair was educated in Washington and
then went to Princeton College in New Jersey. He
decided to be a lawyer and after studying under
several noted lawyers, he graduated at a law school.
He was then only twenty-two years old. Probably
on the suggestion of Senator Benton, Blair moved
to St. Louis and began practicing law. His health
being poor, he joined a party of trappers to the Rocky
Mountains in 1845. The next year he enlisted as a
soldier under Colonel Doniphan and served in* the
Mexican War.
Having recovered his health he returned to St.
Louis and soon had a large law practice. He spent
much of his time in politics and became one of the
leaders of the Democratic party in Missouri.
During these years he was' a follower of Senator
Benton. Both men hated slavery altho each owned
slaves. Both men believed in the United States as
one nation and did not want to see it divided into
two nations — one a slave nation, and the other a
free nation. When Benton was finally defeated in
Missouri for reelection to office, Blair took up the work
of his former leader.
This was in the '50s, just a few years before the
great Civil War. People were beginning to get
excited over the great question of slavery. Some of
the nation's great men feared that war would finally
break out. Among these was Frank P. Blair.

200 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
The Republican party was formed in the '50s. It took
a decided stand on the slavery question. It did not
oppose slavery in the states that already had slaves,
but it did oppose slavery being introduced into new
territories. The Democratic party was divided, but
as a party it favored slavery. This was natural,
since the main strength of the Democratic party was
in the slave states.
Blair was one of the leaders of the Democratic
party, but he opposed its stand on slavery. He left
that party and joined the Republican party, altho the
latter was much weaker. He did this because his
conscience made him do what he thought was right.
In, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President
of the United States. He was the first Republican
President. Blair and President Lincoln were close friends.
The Civil War broke out in 1861 and both the
North and the South made every effort to get the
aid of the "Border States." The "Border States"
were those states that lay between the great slave
states of the South and the free states of the North.
These "Border States" had slaves, but many of their
citizens did not and were opposed to slavery.
Missouri was one of these "Border States."
In Missouri the people themselves were divided.
One man favored slavery, his neighbor opposed it.
Sometimes even father and son, brothers, husband
and wife, were opposed to each other. Nobody knew
how Missouri would finally go, whether with the
North or the South. Nearly all, however, hoped that
there would be no war in Missouri and that the
state would not take sides.

Frank P. Blair, 1821-1875. 201
There were a few, nevertheless, who believed
Missouri could not remain neutral, that she must go
one way or the other — that there would be war and
bloody battles fought on Missouri soil. One of these
men was Frank P. Blair. He acted accordingly.
Blair loved the Union for which the North was
fighting, and determined that Missouri should not
go with the Confederacy for which the South was
fighting. Early in 1861, Blair drilled four regiments
of German soldiers in St. Louis. These were all
of Union soldiers enlisted in Missouri, and aided
Union men. He was captain of the first company
in arming and clothing them.
The Missouri State Government was at this time
controlled by pro-slavery men. When President
Lincoln called on Missouri for four regiments of
soldiers, Governor Jackson refused. Blair promptly
wired President Lincoln that he had four regiments
he could use. He later offered six regiments more.
President Lincoln offered Blair a high military title —
a bridgadier's commission — but he modestly refused.
He requested that this title be given to the Union
commander then in St. Louis — Nathaniel Lyon. Few
men are so unselfish.
General Lyon was put in command of the Union
troops in St. Louis and guarded the United States
arsenal there. This arsenal had thousands of rifles,
many cannons and much ammunition. The Missouri
State Government wanted to seize the arsenal to get
arms for the southern cause. Lyon and Blair knew
this and determined to prevent it. Lyon accordingly
marched his soldiers to Camp Jackson where the
Missouri State troops were and captured them.

202 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Blood was shed and the Civil War in Missouri had
begun. During the War, Blair served the Union cause as
a Congressman at Washington and as a soldier in
the battlefield. He led his men in many battles. He
fought with courage. He finally rose to the rank
of major-general. General Grant said Blair was one
of the two best volunteer officers in the Union
army. He was the most illustrious soldier Missouri
gave to the Union.
While the War was being waged, Blair had great
influence in Missouri. President Lincoln looked to
Blair more than to any other man for advice on
Missouri questions.
After the war, instead of seeking political honors
to advance himself, Blair took up the unpopular
work of protecting his late enemies from injustice.
The men who controlled the affairs in Missouri at
that time were determined that the old Democratic
party should never again control the State. They
were radical men and were called Radical Republicans.
They passed laws forbidding a man to vote if he had
even helped a Confederate soldier. Such a man
could not even preach, or practice law, or teach, or
serve on a schoolboard. Of course, this wholesale
exclusion was unjust. The War was over, why
arouse bitterness by such laws? The Radical Re
publicans thought it was necessary, but many Re
publicans, and of course all the Democrats, opposed
these laws. One of these Republicans was Frank
P. Blair — a Union soldier. He became the leader
of the Conservative Union (Republican) party in
Missouri in 1866.

Frank P. Blair, 1821-1875. 203
Blair went up and down the State of Missouri
delivering speeches against these unjust laws. Many
of the Union soldiers thought he had turned traitor
and his life was in danger all the time. At this
time men's passions ran high and bloodshed was not
uncommon. But Blair was used to danger and was
always cool. The following story by Hon. Champ
Clark shows Blair was able to take care of himself:
"Before the War, Blair went to Hannibal to speak
against slavery. A mob gathered to break up the
meeting. While he was speaking some one hit him
squarely in the forehead with an egg. He wiped it
off with his finger, flipped it on the ground, and
coolly proceeded, making not the slightest mention of
the incident. His marvelous nerve charmed his
audience, hostile tho it was, and those who had come
to stone remained to applaud."
After the War, instead of seeking political honors
Blair had equally hard experiences. Hon. Champ
Clark tells of some of these:
"In the outskirts of Louisiana, Missouri, stand
four immense sugar trees. They form the corners
of a rectangle about large enough for a speaker's
platform. Beneath their gratful shadow, with the
Father of Waters behind him, the blue sky over his
head, in the presence of a great and curious crowd
of people, Frank Blair made the first Democratic
speech delivered in Missouri after the close of the
Civil War. Excitement was intense. Armed men of
all shades and opinion were on every hand. When
Blair arose to speak he unbuckled his pistol belt and
coolly laid two large navy revolvers on the table. He
began as follows:

204 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
" 'Fellow-citizens, I understand that I am , to be
killed here today. I have just come out of four years
of that sort of business. If there is to be any of it
here, it had better be attended to before the speak
ing begins.'
"There was silence deep as death; and the boldest
held his breath for a time.
"He then proceeded with his speech, but had not
been going more than five minutes until a man of
gigantic proportions started toward him, shaking his
hugh fist and shouting,
" 'He's an arrant rebel! Take him out! Take him
out! "Blair stopped, looked the man in the face, crooked
his finger at him, and said,
" 'You come and take me out!'
"This put an end to that incident, for the man
who was yelling knew that Blair's finger would soon
be pressing the trigger of one of those pistols.
"He got thru that day without bloodshed; but when
he spoke at Warrensburg, Missouri, a little later, he
had not spoken a quarter of an hour before a
prominent citizen sitting on the speaker's stand
started toward Blair, with a pistol in his hand and
with a mighty oath, yelling:
" 'That statement is a lie!
"This started a free fight, in which one man was
killed and several severely wounded. Blair went on
with his speech. I know an aged, mild-mannered,
Christian statesman, who for two hours of that speech
stood with his hand upon his revolver ready to shoot
down any man that assaulted Blair."
"Afterwards Blair was advertised to speak at Mar
shall, in Saline county. On the day of his arrival

Frank P. Blair, 1821-1875. 205
an armed mob was organized to prevent him from
speaking. An armed body of Democrats swore he
should. A collision occurred, resulting in a regular
pitched battle. Several men lost their lives and
others were badly injured. But Blair made his
speech." "One night he was speaking in St. Louis, when a
man in the crowd not twenty feet from the stand,
pointed a revolver directly at him. Friendly hands
interposed to turn the aim skyward."
" 'Let him shoot, if he dares,' said Blair, gazing
coolly at his would-be-murderer; "if I am wrong, I
ought to be shot, but this man is not the proper
executioner.' "
"The fellow was hustled from the audience."
"Amid such scenes," says Hon. Champ Clark,
"Blair toured the state from the Des Moines River
to the Arkansas line and from the Mississippi to the
mouth of the raging Kaw. The man who did that
had a lion's heart in his breast."
Hon. Frank P. Blair held several high public
positions. In 1867 Blair was instrumental in re
organizing the Democratic party in Missouri. He
was the Democratic "condidate for Vice-President in
1868. In 1869-1870 he became a Liberal Republican
in the State election, and in 1871 was elected as a
Democratic United States Senator. He served four
terms in the House of Representatives in Washington.
In 1871 he was elected United States Senator from
Missouri and served two years. He died in St.
Louis on July 9, 1875. His death was lamented by
the entire State of Missouri for all saw that he had
worked not for his own success but for the good of
the people.

206 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Blair was brave in war. He served in two, the
Mexican War of 1846-7 and the Civil War. But he
was greater in peace. The life and services of
Frank P. Blair would fill volumes if all were written.
He did more for the Union in Missouri just before
and during the Civil War than any ten men.
"Blair was five feet eleven inches in height, straight
as an Indian, of slender, wiry frame, hazel eyes,
auburn hair, ruddy complexion, and aquiline nose.
He was of nervous temperament. He was an optimist -
by nature and had unbounded confidence in himself
and in Missourians."
He was a natural leader. He feared no man or
body of men. He was of the stuff that martyrs are
made. Gladly would he have given his life for what
he thought was right. While others argued, he acted.
Altho fearless, he was as tender as a child.
One of the strangest things in Blair's life is his
success in politics in spite of the fact that he deserted
his party twice. Usually when a man deserts his
party, he rarely is popular and seldom elected to
office. Blair was born a Democrat, he served as a
Republican Congressman, then as a Democrat United
States Senator, and died a Democrat.
What is even more remarkable is that in spite of
all the enemies he had made, before his death
Frank P. Blair was loved by all. He had fought in
the Union army, and the old Union soldiers later
named a Grand Army camp after him. He had fought
against the Confederates but later saved them after
the war from the unjust laws against them. Many
of these old Confederate soldiers proudly named their
boys "Frank Blair."
He said to all, "We are brethern."

JAMES SHIELDS, 1810-1879
Soldier and Statesman.
HANGING in the Capitol at Washington is one of
the notable battle pictures of the world. It
tells the story of the battle of Chapultepec and the
capture of the City of Mexico by the American
Army during the Mexican War. In the thick of the
fight, where he always loved to be, is a general
standing in his shirt sleeves. That man is General
James Shields, a veteran of three wars and a United
States Senator from three states.
General Shields was once asked if the picture was
true and he replied:
"Yes, we were taken just as we stood by a photo
grapher who followed the army. An interesting
story lies back of the picture. General Scott, • the
American commander, had planned that my army
should merely attack the Mexicans at Chapultepec
and that another general should capture the City of
Mexico. My army advanced rapidly putting the
Mexicans to flight. General Scott saw that my men
were making rapid progress and sent a messenger to
stop me. I saw him coming and suspected his
message. I didn't want any message from General
Scott at that moment. When the messenger came
within speaking distance, he began:
" 'General Scott sends his compliments to General
Shields.' "I hollowed out, 'All right, but I haven't time to
talk with you now; wait a bit.'
"General Scott, seeing that my men still pushed
(207)

208 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
on, sent an officer to me. My horse having been shot
under me, I was on foot. I told the officer it would
be madness for us to stop and that General Scott
never would have ordered it if he knew how gloriously
we were advancing. The officer was a gallant soldier
and a generous one. Instead of ordering me to go
back, he told me to go ahead. So on we went, and
in less than twenty minutes we entered the city gate
and unfurled the first American flag in the City of
Mexico. The picture was taken as I was talking to
the officer, so I can say it is true."
Another story of the famous battle of Chapultepec
is also interesting to Missourians. There were some
Missourians in this battle and one was a man named
Palmer, who was later a harness-maker in Columbia
(Mo.) Years later a native of Columbia visited the
City of Mexico. There he saw the steep, rocky heights
of Chapultepec, up which Shields' army had gone in
the face of the Mexicans' fire. On returning to
Columbia, this man asked Palmer how he and his
fellow-soldiers ever ascended those heights. The old
harness-maker modestly replied: "Why, we just dumb
up." Not only in this battle did General Shields show
courage and ability, but in others he also proved
himself a brave general. At Cerro Gordo he was
severely wounded but refused to quit. He advanced
to the charge when he was struck in the chest by an
iron grape-shot which passed through his lungs. He
fell apparently lifeless. When some of his men were
about to remove him from the field, he said:
"I am of no further use to my country. You are.
Lay me down and let me die ; I might as well die here
as to be taken off to die. You are strong, able-

James Shields, 1810-1879.

209

JAMES SHIELDS

• v v

210 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
bodied men able to do your country some service. For
our country's sake, lay me down and go to your duty."
These are the words of a brave man. For his
services he was made a major-general and four
months later led the soldier boys from South Carolina
and New York in another battle. After the war the
State of South Carolina presented him with a
diamond hilted sword which cost $5,000.
Few men have had a more eventful life than this
man. Born in Ireland on May 10, 1810 (same say
1806) he was of Scotch-Irish blood. His father died
when James was only six years old and his mother
reared him well. He liked books and read widely.
He knew French and had a fine classical education.
In Ireland he took lessons in sword exercises from
some of the Irish soldiers who had fought against
Napoleon. He was named after an uncle who lived in America
and who had fought for this nation in the Revolu
tionary War and the War of 1812. This uncle asked
James to come to America. At the early age of six
teen years he set . sail but was shipwrecked off the
coast of Scotland. His next attempt succeeded but on
reaching the United States he learned that his uncle
had died. James then became a sailor and was soon
an expert seaman. In an accident he had both legs
broken but recovered.
When war broke out in Florida against the
Seminole Indians, Shields enlisted. He displayed
bravery and was wounded.
He had chosen the law as his profession and had
settled in Illinois. At first he taught school. In
1832 he was admitted to the bar. He opened a law

James Shields, 1810-1879. 211
office and soon became popular. He had a fine per
sonal, appearance and engaging manners. He was five
feet and nine inches tall. He was ,frank and
resolute. In 1835 he was elected a Representative in the
Illinois Legislature and served four years. He was
then appointed State Auditor and held this office until
he accepted the position of Judge of the Supreme
Court of Illinois. He knew such great men as
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglass and was
respected by them. In 1845 President Polk appointed
him to the general land office in Washington and the
next year he was appointed a bridgadier-general in
the War with Mexico.
After the conquest of Mexico, General Shields
returned to Illinois to practice law. He was still
feeble from his wounds. Illinois presented him with
a sword which cost $3,000. When he died thirty-one
years later, the Illinois and South Carolina swords
were left to his widow and children.
President Polk now appointed him Governor of the
Territory of Oregon, but his election to the United
States Senate from Illinois prevented his acceptance.
General Shields' popularity was great in Illinois.
While in the United States Senate from 1849 to 1855,
he favored grants of lands for founding agricultural
colleges, building railroads and making homes for
settlers. On leaving the Senate he settled in Minnesota. He
was elected to the Legislature and later again elected
to the United States Senate. He represented Min
nesota two years as Senator and then moved to
California.

212 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
At the opening of the Civil War he offered his serv
ices to the Union and served with his usual courage
and ability. He was a good general and won several
battles. At the close of the war he settled at Carrollton,
Missouri,, where he owned a farm. This was in
1866. He made Carrollton his home until his death
on June 1, 1879. He served two terms in the
Missouri Legislature and in 1878 was again elected
United States Senator to represent Missouri. This
made the third time he had been elected to the
United States Senate and each time he served a
different state.
His private life was model. He was a cultured
gentleman, a true husband, a loyal and patriotic
citizen. He gave freely of his wealth. He was too
generous to be thrifty. He lectured in many states,
giving the proceeds to some charity. In politics he
was a Democrat, in religion he was a Catholic.
In the city of Carrollton, Missouri, where he lived
the last sixteen years of his life, two monuments
have been erected in his honor and memory. His
grave was marked in 1910 by a monument provided
by authority of Congress. In 1914 the State of
Missouri erected a beautiful monument which stands
at the east door of the court house.
Three states claim this man who came to America
a little, friendless Irish lad. Illinois, Minnesota and
Missouri do him honor. The veterans of three wars
claim this man. Such is the life of General James
Sheilds, who stands in history as a soldier and a
statesman.

JOHN BROOKS HENDERSON, 1826-1913
Author of The Thirteenth Amendment Abolishing
Slavery in the United States
T^ROM orphan to statesman is the career of some
-*- of America's greatest men. This country is the
land of opportunity. To him who labors and studies
with care, greater prospects of success are found in
the United States than in any other nation. Here
men are given a chance. If they fail, it is usually
their own fault. Among those who took advantage
of their opportunity, is John Brooks Henderson —
lawyer and statesman.
Born in Virginia on November 16, 1826, John
Brooks Henderson came of southern parentage. His
father and mother moved to Missouri in 1832 and
both died before John was ten years old. They left
him small means with which to educate himself.
He attended the common schools of Lincoln county,
Missouri, and was a good student. He earned his
first money teaching school, but his ambition was
to be a lawyer.
He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and began his
practice law in Louisiana, Missouri, the following
year. He lived in Louisiana until 1861 and built up
a fine law practice.
At the early age of twenty-one years he was elected
to represent Pike county in the Missouri Legislature
and was again elected in 1856. In 1860 he was a
candidate for Congress but was defeated by the more
experienced and older politician, James S. Rollins.
(213)

214 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Up to this time John Brooks Henderson had been
a Democrat. Altho born and reared in the South,
he opposed slavery. At the outbreak of the Civil
War he became a Republican and gave his services
to the Union. He was elected to the Missouri State
Convention in St. Louis in 1861 and was one of the
leading Unionists in that body. The same year he
was appointed brigadier-general in the Missouri
Militia and labored for the Union cause in the five
Northeast Missouri counties in his district. He was
appointed United States Senator in 1862 and was
elected to that body from Missouri in 1863. His
term expired on March 4, 1869, when he was succeed
ed by that other well known and patriotic statesman,
Carl Schurz.
On retiring from the Senate he made his home in
St. Louis. In 1872 he was a candidate for Governor
of Missouri, but being a Republican, was defeated.
He was also defeated in 1872 for the ofiice of United
States Senator from Missouri. He served as As
sistant United States District Attorney in 1875 by
appointment of President Grant, and in 1884 was
president of the National Republican Convention.
He retired from the practice of law in 1887 and
the following year moved to Washington, D. C,
where he lived until his death on April 12, 1913.
While he lived in Washington he held several honor
ary positions and was a favorite in social circles
in his advanced age.
As a lawyer, Senator Henderson was one of the
ablest and most widely known members of the Mis
souri bar. He was successful, able and honest. He
always charged a client a high fee, having begun
this practice as a young man. He regarded his

John Brooks Henderson, 1826-1913. 215
services as valuable and he impressed this point on
people by his charge. They were few, however, who
criticized this practice, because his clients knew
that they could rely upon him. Altho his opponents
were frequently of the highest ability, he was their
equal in the courts of the land. He always studied
a case thoroly, read all the books and records bearing
on it, and then usually obtained a verdict in his
favor. He was not a good jury lawyer and did not
enjoy trying to arouse sympathy or enthusiasm by
appeals of oratory. He was not an orator but a
cool logical speaker. He did not move men by humor
and pathos but by facts. This is one reason why he
confined his practice to the higher courts, where
logic and not sympathy is supreme.
Successful as he was as a lawyer, Senator Hender
son will live in history as a statesman. There is
this similarity, however, between his career as a
lawyer and as a statesman — he always influenced
his fellow-men by statements of facts, and was al
ways guided by principles of honesty. Altho his serv
ices to the state and nation as a statesman were per
formed during a period of only eleven years, they
left a permanent impression on the laws of this
country. He served two terms in the Legislature of
Missouri and during these four years he was active
in framing railroad and banking laws for the state,
some of which are the foundations of our present
system of laws on these subjects.
His career as a United States Senator, covering
seven years, would fill a volume if all were written.
He was one of the leaders in the United States Sen
ate and was a member of a number of important
committees. He was instrumental in having adopted

/
216 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
the general policy of making peace treaties with the
Indian tribes over the nation. He was also able to
have the National Government reimburse the State of
Missouri for war expenditures. His most conspicu
ous piece of legislation was the Thirteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution abolishing slavery in this
country. Senator Henderson wrote this amendment
and introduced it in the United States Senate.
' He was also one of the advocates of the clause in
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, which stated that the right to vote
should not be denied on account of race, color, or
previous conditions of servitude.
Perhaps his most unpopular act as a statesman
was when he voted for the acquittal of President
Andrew Johnson on the impeachment charges which
had been preferred against him. Henderson voted
for his acquittal and Johnson was not convicted.
This act of Henderson's cost him re-election to the
United States Senate and ended his public career in
Missouri. History, hbwever, has endorsed the un
popular stand that was taken by Missouri's United
States Senator.
John Brooks Henderson does not rank with the
greatest men Missouri has produced. His career as a
public man was short. His influence on political
conditions in Missouri was short lived. Belonging to
the opposite political party in control in Missouri,
his opportunity for service was limited. His removal
to Washington D. C, ended his public career. During
these few years, however, he achieved much. As
the author of the Thirteenth Amendment alone his
name will be remembered. To this single distinction

John Brooks Henderson, 1826-1913. 217
will be added his patriotic stand for the Union in
1861. his leadership in the United States Senate on
many public questions, and his high position as a
lawyer in Missouri.
Pike county, Missouri, has been the home of many
eminent men and not least of these is John Brooks
Henderson.

M

CARL SCHURZ, 1829-1906
Statesman, Orator and Journalist
EN of foreign birth have usually not been elected
¦to the highest political positions in this country.
While many have sat in state Legislatures, some have
become Governors, and others have been elected
Congressmen in the House of Representatives, very-
few have risen to the United States Senate. This
is especially true with regard to men born and
educated in non-English speaking countries like
Germany and France. Altho such men may become
great lawyers, writers or journalists, they seldom
learn the English language well enough to be able to
deliver polished addresses in public without disclosing
the language of their youth. They fail as English
orators. This handicaps them in obtaining the high
est public offices.
Perhaps the most remarkable exception to this
in the history of the United States during the last
century is Carl Schurz. Born in Germany, March
2, 1829, Carl Schurz came of highly respectable
parents. He received a fine education, studying in
several of the universities in Germany. He was a
good student and was loved by his many friends.
While in school he grew to hate the autocratic
government of his native land. He loved democracy
and longed to see his fellow men under a republican
form of governmenut similar perhaps to the United
States Government.
At the early age of twenty years he joined in an
uprising of the people to free Germany of her power-
(218)

Carl Schurz, 1829-1906.

219

ful kings and petty rulers. This was in 1849. Un
fortunately the rulers with their drilled armies
were able to put down the insurrection and Schurz
was imprisoned in a fortress. He managed to escape
and for three days and nights concealed himself in
a sewer. He remained in this hiding place without
food or drink and
finally managed to
reach the river
Rhine, He succeeded
in finding his way to
Switzerland where
he secluded himself
for a year.
Many of his
friends, however, had
not been so fortun
ate. Hundreds had
been killed and thou
sands placed in pris
on. One of these was
confined in Berlin. CARL schurz
Schurz went secretly (From Waltece^terrti™teJ'"?Ilssouri The
to Berlin and after
considerable planning managed to aid his friend in
escaping. He then went to Paris, France, where he cor
responded for several German newspapers, and in
^1852 went to London. In the latter city he obtained
his livlihood by teaching languages and music.
He decided to come to the United States and landed
here in 1852. For three years he resided in Phila-

220 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
delphia where he studied with care the English
language as well as the. law and history of his adopted
country. Having succeeded in mastering the English langu
age he moved to Wisconsin. Here he became a
politician of prominence and was soon one of the
leaders of the Republican party in that state. In
1857 he was candidate on the Republican ticket for
Lieutenant-Governor of Wisconsin, but was defeated.
Having been admitted to the bar he began to practice
law, but his new profession was of less importance
to him than his activities as a politician.
He made his first public speech in English in
Chicago in 1858. This speech was delivered for
Abraham Lincoln, who in two years became President
of the United States. It soon became widely known
and people recognized that a new orator had develop
ed. From that year the reputation of Carl Schurz as
an orator increased. He delivered a series of public
lectures and addresses in New England in 1859 and
1860, which were quoted over the nation. He spoke
English with remarkable fluency and had no superior
if any equal among men of German descent in ad
dressing an. English speaking audience. This is the
more remarkable considering that Carl Schurz had
been born and reared on foreign soil and received
his education in a foreign language with only a few
years of instruction in the English tongue. Every
language has expressions that are peculiar to that
language. They are called idioms, which are difficult
for the foreigner to master. Carl' Schurz, however,
thru diligent study, was able to master such diffi
culties.

Carl Schurz, 1829-1906. 221
Owing to his lectures in behalf of Abraham Lin
coln, and because of his public service for the Republi
can party, Carl Schurz was appointed United States
Minister to Spain. He took up his residence in
Madrid, but soon after the outbreak of the Civil War
he resigned this post of high honor, and returned to
the United States to enter the Union army. He was
in a number of campaigns in the South and finally-
rose to the rank of major-general.
During the last year of the War and immediately
following the War Schurz traveled extensively. He
observed people and conditions closely and had a
memory that forgot nothing. He was not only-
familiar with the conditions in Wisconsin, but had a
grasp on affairs in the North, East, South and Mid
dle West. His view was a national one, and it greatly
aided him in his writing and addresses.
He settled in Detroit in 1866 and became editor of
the Daily Post.
The following year, 1867, he moved to St. Louis
and became editor-in-chief of a German paper, the
Westliche Post. This paper had great influence
among the thousands of German citizens in St. Louis.
Thru it Schurz became a power in Missouri politics
and in two years became the leader of the Republican
party in this state. In January, 1869, he was chosen
United States Senator from Missouri and served
until 1875. While in the United States Senate he
was regarded as a leader. His position on all public
questions was broad and enlightened. He opposed
using army force in the Southern states after the
war had ended. Altho he had been one of the chief
supporters of the Republican party and had been a

222 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
loyal Union man during the Civil War, he refused to
oppress the brave people of the South after they had
been defeated. He took a similar stand on local
politics in Missouri during this period, and helped
organize the Liberal Republican party in this State.
He later assisted in organizing the People's party
movement. Succeeding his retirement from the Senate in 1875,
Schurz was appointed United States Secretary of
Interior under President Hays. While filling this
position he brought about several progressive re
forms as well as performing the duties of his office.
Without waiting for a law to be passed, he introduced
the merit system in his own department. Before
this it had been the custom for persons to obtain
salaried positions in the Department of the Interior
and in any other department, largely on the basis of
influence of friends or on the basis of work as
politicians. Schurz decided that this was wrong
and that the practice should be stopped. He accord
ingly filled subordinate positions on the basis of worth
and qualifications of the man. He also labored hard
to prevent a group of rich men from getting posses
sion of the vast timber resources belonging to the
government. He was also interested in improving
the conditions of the Indians in this nation. Thru
his work as Secretary of Interior he accomplished
much. Some of his work did not meet with the ap
proval of many at that time but today, forty years
later, the government is trying to carry out many
of the reforms which Carl Schurz tried to inaugurate.
He retired from this office and moved to New York
in 1881 where he became editor of the New York

Carl Schurz, 1829-1906. 223
Evening Post. This may be said to mark the begin
ning of the last half of his career as a United States
citizen. Prior to this he had held public offices in
this country and had been more or less before the
eyes of American people as a politician and states
man. After taking up his residence in New York,
he never held another public office, but he was still
a man of wide influence up to the time of his death
on May 14, 1906.
Altho he had been a Republican in politics, he
favored the election of the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency, Grover Cleveland, in 1884, but
in 1896 he opposed the Democratic candidate William
Jennings Bryan. He did not believe in the financial
policy of Bryan in 1896 in regard to silver. In 1900,
however, Schurz gave his support to the Democratic
candidate because of that party's advocacy of anti-
imperialism. Aside from the question as to whether
Carl Schurz was right or wrong in the stands he took
in the field of politics, it is not denied by even his
opponents that he always did what he thought was
right. Frequently he suffered loss of influence by-
deserting one party and taking up with another and
then in a few years going back to the original party
that he had deserted. People in those days could
not understand such actions. Men voted the party-
ticket right or wrong, as a rule. Political lines were
strickly drawn, and anyone who stepped over them
did so at the cost of influence and power. Today-
men of the type of Schurz are not so censored, for
the people are now paying more attention to the
ability and honesty of a man and the correctness of
principal than they are to party.

224 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
During the latter years of his life, Carl Schurz
became editor of Harper's Weekly and spent all of
his time in writing. His two most important works
were the "Life of Henry Clay" and his own "Auto
biography." His style of writing is interesting,
which, combined with his scholarly attitude for
accuracy of statements made his works valuable.
Carl Schurz was not a genius but was a man of
great mind and high morals. He was a student all
his life, but unlike most students he read not only
books, but men and public affairs. With his fine
educational training, his extensive reading, and trav
els at home and abroad, he was able to study a ques
tion with more knowledge than most men. His
intellect was, however, no more highly developed
than his morals. He was honest in his dealings with
men. Principles meant everything to him. His offer
ing his life to bring about democracy in Germany at
the early age of twenty years is typical of his activi
ties during his entire career. Altho not an aggres
sive fighter, always ready to pick a quarrel, Schurz
was not afraid to battle for what he thought was
right. At the cost of money and influence he stood
for progress.
It was this high moral attitude of Carl Schurz
that made him a national figure of first importance
in American affairs. Of few persons of foreign birth
and education can this be said so truly as it can in
the case of this Democratic statesman. In partial
recognition of his life's work of fifty-four years
as a citizen of the United States, there was erected
to his memory a monument in New York.

Carl Schurz, 1829-1906. 225
He was a citizen of Missouri only fourteen .years
and resided here only a part of this time. His im
pression on the state, however, was great. He ranked
high as an editor, as an orator, politician and states
man. He was Missouri's United States Senator for
six years, and performed well his duties. He is
truly claimed by three states — Wisconsin, Missouri
and New York. His greatest service was in Missouri
and he will always occupy an important place in her
history.

FRANCIS MARION COCKRELL, 1834-1915
United States Senator from Missouri for Thirty Years
/~PHE story is told that the throwing of an old
-*- slouch hat to the ceiling of the Hall of Re
presentatives in Jefferson City, made Francis Cockrell
Missouri's United States Senator. It happened back
in the summer of 1874. There were two Democratic
candidates for the nomination of Governor — Charles
H. Hardin and Francis Marion Cockrell. The Demo
cratic State Convention, consisting of several hun
dred delegates, had met to decide which man should
be the choice of the Democratic party in Missouri.
Excitement was high and feeling strong. Finally
after much speaking, Cockrell lost the nomination
by a majority of one-sixth of a vote. The result
of the vote had scarcely been announced when a
tall figure arose from his chair, walked down the
aisle, and mounted the platform. Every voice was
still; all waited in expectancy. The man was
Cockrell. A moment more and a voice rang out:
"No man will more loyally support the choice pf
this convention than I. No man will throw his hat
higher for Charley Hardin than will I." And away
to the ceiling went the old slouch hat of Cockrell.
The convention was frantic in honoring the noble
act of the defeated candidate. They told him "you
have lost the Governorship today, but you will win
the United States Senatorship next winter." So when
the Missouri Legislature met in Jefferson City six
months later its choice for the highest political
office was Gen. Francis Marion Cockrell. He held
(226)

Francis Marion Cockrell, 1834-1915. 227
this office five consecutive terms and his seat was
never contested by a Democratic candidate during
this period of thirty years. No man in Missouri
history served Missouri so long in the Upper House
of Congress, excepting the great Benton.
Missouri did well when she elected this man to
the United States Senate. It is true he had never
before held a political office but he soon showed his
ability as a statesman, the same as he had shown
his courage as a general.
In Washington he was respected by both Democrats
and Republicans. He was a great worker and master
ed every detail of any proposition in hand. He served
on important committees and his statements of facts
were never disputed. He was a true patriot who
loved his country and watched over her interests. He
was never forgetful of his state and no Missourian
came to him for a favor but what he granted it,
if it was just and right. Altho he served his state
for thirty years in the United States Senate, Francis
Marion Cockrell was poorer when he retired from
office than when he entered it. No dishonest money
passed thru his hands and not once was the finger
of suspicion pointed at him. Every act of his will
bear the closest examination, and none will reveal dis
honesty. When Missouri in 1904 elected a Republican
Legislature in the Lower House it meant the retire
ment of Cockrell from the Senate at the end of his
term on March 3, 1905. Curiously enough, however,
a Republican President was determined that the
nation should not lose the services of this well trained,
patriotic and honest statesman. President Roosevelt

228 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
said that the people of Missouri had lost a faithful
servant, but that the government would not lose him,
and he accordingly appointed Cockrell a member ol
the Interstate Commerce Commission. He served on
the Commission until 1910 and later served the nation
in other important public posts. His death on Decem
ber 13, 1915, was commented on by the city papers
of the nation. He was widely known and great
confidence was reposed in him. He was clean-handed
and clean-hearted. He was gentle, simple and hos
pitable. He inspired confidence in other men.
Here in Missouri, where he was born on October 1,
1834, he was loved by all. When he went over the
state on his political campaigns, it was more like
visiting friends than stumping for votes. . He had a
remarkable memory and could call his acquaintances
by their first name without hesitating. He was com
manding in appearance, being over six feet tall and
and weighing two hundred pounds. Simple in man
ner and dress, his figure was a familiar one in every
county in the State. He usually wore a linen duster
and preferred a corn-cob pipe. He was not democra
tic in manner in order to obtain votes, but was plain
and simple by nature. His dinner always consisted
of two apples, and when traveling on the train he
preferred a common passenger coach or smoker to
a Pullman.
His early rearing as a lad on the farm perhaps
instilled these simple habits of life. His education
was obtained in the country schools and he later
attended a college in Lafayette county. He was a
native of Johnson county, Missouri, and after he had
read law several years, he began the practice of his
profession in Warrensburg.

Francis Marion Cockrell, 1834-1915. 229

FRANCIS MARION COCKRELL

230 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he allied himself
with the Southern cause and enlisted as a private.
His company elected him captain and he arose rapidly
to the rank of brigadier-general. He was present
in many of the important battles of the Civil War
and fought courageously for the cause of the Con
federacy. When not in battle, he drilled his troops
so well that "Cockrell's Brigade" of fighting Mis
sourians was said to be one of the best drilled and
most courageous brigades in the Southern army.
After the war, Cockrell returned to Missouri and
again began the practice of his profession in partner
ship with Governor Thomas T. Crittenden. The
firm was known as "Crittenden and Corkrell." This
firm and the firm of "Philips and Vest," of Sedalia,
were known all over the State as the "Big Four."
They were powerful in politics in Missouri and were
regarded as among the most able lawyers and speak
ers in the state. While Cockrell was not the orator
that Vest was, nor had he the statesmanship of Ben
ton, he was more secure in the hearts of the people
than either during his political career of thirty years.
There was something about the man that drew
people to him and made them repose confidence in
his integrity, honesty and ability. Even his political
opponents in Washington were glad to grant him any-
personal favor; while here in Missouri he was idol
ized. It is said that when the Democratic National Con
vention met in St. Louis to nominate a candidate
for the Presidency, that on the mention of the name
of Cockrell, ten thousand persons rose and cheered
in acclamation. The nomination of Cockrell was made

Francis Marion Cockrell, 1834-1915. 231
by that beloved Missourian, Hon. Champ Clark, and
seconded by William J. Bryan. The latter said that
if Cockrell were nominated, he would be willing for
him to write the Democratic platform with his own
hand. The confidence his friends reposed in him was
never violated.
He had many opportunities to become a wealthy-
man without perhaps, violating even the law of the
land, but he was honest both by principle and by-
nature. It is said that he had not a single vice or
even a bad habit, except smoking. He was deeply
religious and a strong supporter of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. He took an active part in
Sunday-school work and during his long political
career aided in every way the work of the church.
He died as he had lived — a fearless, patriotic honest
man.

GEORGE GRAHAM VEST, 1830-1904
Missouri's Little Giant
/^\NE evening in the fall of 1881 a small company
^^ of men from New York City were dining in a
western frontier hotel. They were drinking wine in
celebration of something concerning which they
talked loudly and with careless tongue. Others in
the dining room soon learned that this gaiety was the
result of a tour from which the New Yorkers had
just returned. They had been promised the lease
of a large and rich part of the public land of the
United States. Before, they saw it, they knew that it
was valuable. Now that they had seen it, hey realized
it was a prize much greater than they had dreamed
and that it meant a fortune for each of them.
At a table in a corner of the dining room sat a
small, stern man with iron-grey hair and military
mustache. The noisy New Yorkers did not observe
him and he was trying not to observe them until he
heard one of them utter two words : "Yellowstone
Park." Taking advantage of the ignorance of the people
of the United States this crowd of New York finan
ciers had persuaded the United States Department
of Interior to help them obtain quietly from the
Government a practically perpetual lease of the
nation's magnificent park — 5,500 square miles of
invaluable property. For a small sum the Yellow
stone Park was to be turned over to these few private
persons and they were to have free hand in enriching
themselves. (232)

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 233
The small, stern looking man had come to this
little out-of-the-way South Dakota village to say a
last good-bye to a dying friend. It was mere chance
that he was in the dining room.
As soon as Congress assembled, this man, who
was a newly elected United States Senator, arose
and performed his' first great service to the nation.
He demanded the documents in relation to the pro
posed lease of Yellowstone Park. He exposed the
men who were trying to enrich themselves at the
expense of the nation. In an outburst of oratory
based on undisputed evidence, he revealed to the
, Senate and the nation the proposed robbery. The
New Yorkers wondered how the thing had leaked out
until one of them recognized in the new Senator the
small, stern figure who sat in the corner of the din
ing room out in South Dakota. The victory was easy,
but was none the less valuable. It showed the
country the character which this new statesman
possessed — alertness, keenness, courage and honesty.
By going to the land grabbers, he would have made
a fortune. He preferred public service.
Such was the first appearance and first service of
importance of Senator George Graham Vest, who
represented Missouri in the United States Senate from
1879 to 1903.
One bitter cold day in the winter of 1903, the
United States Senate sat spell-bound listening to
this same small, stern man who was now in his
seventy-fourth year. He was one of the leaders ¦ of
the helpless Democratic minority party, and was so
feeble that he weighed barely ninety pounds. A man
stood by to support him in case he collapsed. He

234 - Missouri's Hall of Fame.

GEORGE GRAHAM VEST

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 235
was a mere mite of a human being. His body was
so small and shrunk that his head was scarcely a
a foot and a half above the desk. His hair was
white and his skin had a waxen pallor. His mouth
seemed to be set in the rigor of death.
Such was the astonishing spectacle which the
United States Senate watched with amazement.
The man was Senator Vest, and he was demanding
the repeal of the duty on coal. His speech was calm
and simple, a protest backed with unanswerable
facts against a tariff monoply on coal, for which the
people would have to pay. The protest seemed hope
less because directed against the very foundation of
principles of the Republican party which was then
in control of the United States Senate. Statesman
afte'r statesman attempted to answer the speaker.
Their statements were met with unanswerable facts
and arguments by the "Little Giant" from Missouri
until finally the majority party receded from its
position and no tariff, duty was laid on coal at that
session. This was the last public service of this remarkable
man. They typify his life's work as a public ser
vant. Honesty and ability marked his entire career.
Few men in Missouri history have had more in
teresting career than George Graham Vest. He was
one of the most successful lawyers of his day. He
was an orator who swayed men's reason and sympa
thy as few speakers could. As a statesman he re
presented Missouri in the Confederate Senate for
two years and later in the United States Senate for
twenty-four years. He helped shape the policy of
the Southern states during the Civil War and then

236 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
forwarded the Union's welfare for nearly a quarter
of a century. Altho a Democrat, his law partner and
many of his friends were Republicans. With op
portunities to become wealthy if principles were
sacrificed, he preferred to die a poor man. His first
speech in the United States Senate was a success —
his last was a triumph over a majority party. His
training as a student, his great ability, courage and
honesty, would have enabled him to have succeeded
in perhaps any one of a half dozen professions. He
tried three — law, oratory and statescraft — and gained
distinction in each; as a writer, journalist and actor,
he would also have been prominent. His was a re
markable mind such as few men possess.
George Graham Vest was born in Frankfort,
Kentucky, December 6, 1830, and died at the town of
Sweet Springs, Missouri, on August 9, 1904. His
parents came from Virginia and were of Scotch-Irish
stock. Both were God-fearing members of the Pres
byterian church. His father was a carpenter and
builder, and was highly respected. Altho in poor
circumstances, his ambition was to give his children
a good education. He died, however, when his son
was very young. George was reared by his mother.
His education was directed by her and much of his
later success in Jife was due to this' thoro training.
He became a deep student of the Bible and in most
of his public speeches quoted from that book.
He had a remarkable memory and read widely-
even as a boy. At the age of ten years he had read
every one of Sir Walter Scott's novels and to the
end of his days could quote pages from the works of
that great novelist.

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 237
He entered college and was a brilliant student. He
then taught school and for a while was a newspaper
correspondent. His ambition, however, was not in the field of
letters but in the field of law. He entered Transyl
vania University in Kentucky and graduated at the
early age of twenty-one years. He was now ready-
to practice law.
With his sheep-skin in his pocket he decided to
go West, and in 1853 set out for California. He
proceeded no farther than Missouri, however, and
in 1853 settled at Georgetown, Pettis county, Missouri.
Three years later he removed to Booneville where he
entered into competition with the leading lawyer of
the Missouri bar. Until 1860 he was a strong sup
porter of the Union, but at the outbreak of the Civil
War he joined the Southern cause and served the
state, first as a Congressman in the Confederate
Congress, and then as her Senator in that body.
After the war he returned to Missouri and resumed
the practice of his profession at Sedalia, where he
formed a partnership with Judge John F. Phillips.
He was elected to the United States Senate in 1879
and served continuously for four terms.
Vest was truly" a remarkable man. He was five
feet and six inches in height and weighed about one
hundred and ten pounds. He had fiery red hair, his
fair face was sprinkled with boyish freckles, and his
neck was very short. His eyes were blue with a
tinge of gray. Judge Henry Lamm says that Vest
had a form of the singular make-up of being almost
as tall when sitting as when standing. He had an
exceptionally large head and very broad shoulders,

238 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
such as would have marked him as a prominent per
son in any crowd.
Many are the stories told of this Missouri states
man. Few of his speeches have been preserved in
writing but many of the old settlers and lawyers
can tell stories by the scores that were related by
this man.
He married a Kentucky lady and brought her
first to his boarding house in Georgetown. It is said
that his landlord had frequently been nettled by the
remarks Vest made regarding the food. When Vest
proudly introduced his wife to the landlord, the latter
thought it was an excellent opportunity to have
some fun. So when he young lawyer asked him
what he thought of his wife, the old gentleman
replied :
"By gum, George, you must have cotched her in
a pinch for a husband."
Mrs. Vest did not like her surroundings as well
as her husband did. She saw that life was too easy
and that Vest was not force to exert himself to make
a living. He was the best lawyer in the town but
this was due to the small number in the profesison.
Vest was too much inclined to hunt and fish, so his
wife wanted him to go where he would have to strug
gle to be successful. She persuaded him to move
to Boonville and here he met some of the great
lawyers of Missouri. The effect on Vest was to make
him study harder and exert himself more. It was
not long until he was recognized as one of the most
brilliant in the state.
He had no superior before a jury. His voice was
well modulated and he knew how to present either
reason or sentiment to move men. At no time was

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 239
he at loss for a word and never taken back by any
questions or remark. He knew how to effectively
defeat an opponent's proposition and how to break
the force of a hostile witness testifying. In one case
one witness, who was a very small man, testified
that Vest's client was drunk. This damaging state
ment was easily answered by Vest in addressing the
jury. He asked them what so little a man as the
witness could possibly know about drunkenness.
"Why, said Vest, "he is so slight he would get
drunk in sitting on a rotten apple."
The next witness was a three hundred pound
policeman, and he also testified that Vest's client
was drunk.
"Listen; when you pass, gentlemen of the jury,"
said Vest, "and you will hear the beer splash in him
like water in a shaken rain-barrel."
In another case a man by the name of Warner
was charged with killing his son-in-law. His daugh
ter testified that her husband had prowled around
her father's house in the dead of night presumably
for hostile purposes.
"Did you see him?" asked the prosecuting attorney.
"No."
"How, then did you know it was your husband?"
"By his foot-fall on the plank," said the wife.
This statement was ridiculed as being unnatural
and unreliable. Here Vest triumphantly sustained
the lady by a single sentence.
"Not know her husband's foot-fall? Why, gentle
men of the jury, my wife not only knows me when
my foot strikes the walk to my house at night, but,
she knows where I have been and what I have been
doing."

240 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
These stories and many more are told by Judge
Henry Lamm, of Sedalia, who knew Vest well. Judge
Lamm also relates how there once lived in Sedalia a
rather pompous and stilted lawyer whom Vest greatly
disliked. One day Vest described this lawyer in these
few words :
"If  had a few turkey feathers stuck in the
right part of his body, he would strut himself to
death." Vest was an orator of power. He could sway a
crowd as easily as a jury. He delighted in public
speaking and his pathos and humor never dulled.
He employed figures of speech, sarcasm, reason and
fancy, and made use of each tool in his great store
house of knowledge. His speeches were never long,
there were no repetitions and no dry details. His
language was pure and he was never at a loss for
the right word. He rarely made a speech outside
of Missouri, except in Congress. The fact that he
was elected to the United States Senate for four
consecutive .terms and sat in that body for nearly
a quarter of a century, is sufficient proof of his
power over the public. He hated the city and loved
the country, where he knew people with whom he
had been reared since his boyhood days. He was
fascinating in conversation and eagerly sought after
in the court room, the legislative chamber, and in his
own humble cottage at Sweet Springs.
Nothing better illustrates the remarkable power
of the man as an orator and conversationalist , than
the following story told by Judge John F. Phillips,
his law partner for years.
During the Civil War the Missouri soldiers under
the command of General Jo Shelby were to elect a

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 241
Representative in the Confederate Congress. They
were down in the hills of Arkansas, having been
forced to retreat before the Union troops. Vest
was a candidate for the place. His only military
service was as staff officer with General Sterling
Price and he was not regarded by the soldiers as of
their class. So when he appeared before Shelby's
men in camp to present his claims for their support,
his eloquence did not create the enthusiasm desired.
Col. George Rothbon was a prominent candidate.
He commanded one of the fighting regiments of Shel
by's brigade and was greatly admired by the soldiers.
Tho he was no match for Vest as a speaker and did
not possess Vest's magnetism, he had the love of his
fellow-soldiers. John T. Crisp was captain of a
company in Rothbon's regiment. He was an ex
perienced politician and the soldiers did whatever
he directed. He was an outspoken supporter of
Rothbon and Vest felt that Crisp could alone gain
the votes of the soldiers.
After the war, Vest told in his peculiar way how
he went about winning the support of Crisp. He
asked Crisp one morning to take a walk in the woods
just to enjoy the sweet odor of the trees and hear
the birds sing. Finding a log for a seat, Crisp who sus
pected Vest's plan, said:
"Vest, while I hope I misjudge you, allow me to
say at the outset, once and for all, I am committed
to Rothbon for our Confederate Congressman. He
is colonel of a regiment, a splendid soldier, and a
lawyer of worth. He deserves the honor and I must
support him, and every man jn my company is for
him."

242 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Turning his keen blue eyes on Crisp, Vest replied:
"My dear captain, you entirely misconceive my
purpose in this talk. What I wish to say to you is
that I have just returned from a visit at Richmond
where I learned many inside things. Among these
I learned that the Confederacy is soon to be recognized
by the countries of Europe. President Jefferson
Davis asked me to suggest someone to be sent as
ambassador to Italy. John" said Vest, dropping his
voice to a whisper, "have you ever read much of
Italy?" Crisp's big toe was boring a hole in the ground
under fallen leaves.
"Yes, George," he said with enthusiasm, "yes, yes,
go on."
"I knew it," said Vest, with a sigh of relief, "1
knew a man of your scholarship would not be ignorant
of the history and romance of that wonderful land.
Think," he said, letting his hand rest on Crisp's
knee, "think of the charms of Rome, the matchless
climate, the blue sky, and the flowers that bloom
thruout the year. Think of the beautiful women and
dreamy music. You are a man of genius, of splendid
personalty, a diplomat by nature. Your present
position is unworthy of a man of your ability. Here
you are down in the Arkansas hills, half naked, ab
solutely in tatters, your hair cropping out thru the
top and sides of a dilapidated straw hat, sockless,
your tees out of your worn-out shoes, while you have
the spirit of a knight errant, and the eloquence and
address of an accomplished courtier. You ought to be
at the court in Italy."
Vest said that he could see Crisp's big toe, work
ing outside of the shoe, plowing deeper and deeper

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 243
in the ground from nervous excitement. He leaned
over Vest's shoulder —
"George," he said, in a choking voice^ "what is
the salary?"
"The salary," said Vest musically, "is seventy-five
hundred dollars a year, payable in gold."
"George," said Crisp, laying his arm affectionately
around Vest's shoulder, "Rothbon is not fit to go to
Congress. He is no orator and is no statesman.
Rothbon is a soldier and he should be kept with the
army in the field and you should be sent to Richmond."
"John," said Vest, grasping his hand, "I was not
deceived. You are a born diplomat. Italy is yours."
They clasped hands and walked back to camp. The
result was that every man voted for Vest, but no
ambassador of the Confederacy was ever sent to
Italy. Crisp never enjoyed this story.
By many Vest was regarded as being merely a
brilliant man. That he was brilliant is admitted by
all, but he was a student and believed in industry.
He said that these magic words should be placed
above the doorway of every university, college and
school, and over the hearthstone of every home: —
"Self-control and continous effort."
He was a wide reader and selected at will from
his fund of knowledge that his memory retained to
beautify and make instructive his many addresses.
He was a leader of men whether in private conversa
tion with a few companions or before an assemblage
of thousands. His store of stories was inexhaustible
and he possessed the happy faculty of being able to
invent new ones on the moment. He was never at
loss for an argument or a reply. He dominated in

244 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
a kindly way whatever undertaking he began. He
was as fascinating in "conversation in his little cot
tage home as he was in his great public speeches
in the Senate. He was frank and honest and this
combined with his wisdom made him a man much
sought after.
Few of his addresses have been preserved. Those
that are still accessible, however, are jewels of
thought. One of the most classical speeches was
delivered in a lawsuit over a dog. While attending
court in Warrensburg he was suddenly called upon to
assist in a law suit for damages over the wrongful
killing of a hound. He took no part in the trial
until the evidence was in, when rising he broke into
one of the most remarkable eulogies on the dog that
is preserved in the English language today. Judge
Henry Lamm says he has studied this as preserved
in print, and considers it fully equal to any piece of
writing ever penned on the dog. The following is a
copy of this beautiful speech that has been printed
far and wide over the nation:
Eulogy of the Dog
"Gentlemen of the Jury: The best human friend
a man has in the world may turn against him and
become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has
reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those
who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we
trust with our happiness and our good name may
become traitors to their faith. The money that a
man has he may lose. It flies away from him,
perhaps, when he needs it most. A man's reputation
'may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action.
The people who are prone to fall on their knees to

George Graham Vest, 1830-1904. 245
do us honor when success is with us may be the first
to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its
cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish
friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the
one that never deceives him, the one that never proves
ungrateful and- treacherous, is his dog.
"A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in
poverty, in health and in sickness. , He will sleep on
the cold ground where the wintry wind blows and
the snow drifts fiercely, if only he may be near his
master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no
food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that
come in encounter with the roughness of the world.
He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he
were a prince. When all other friends desert he
remains. When riches take wings and reputation
falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as
the sun in its journey thru the heavens. If fortune
drives the master forth an outcast in the world,
friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no
higher privilege than that of accompanying, to guard
against danger, to fight against his enemies, and
when the last scene of all comes and when death takes
the master in its embrace and his body is laid away
in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends
pursue their way, there by the graveside may the
noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his
eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and
true even in death."

RICHARD PARKS BLAND, 1835-1899
An American Commoner
/TAHE lives of great men are the best guides for
¦*- young and old. We are all hero worshipers.
The career of a great man, his speeches and acts, has
shaped many lives. This is true in religion, science,
politics, business, art, and in other fields of knowl
edge. When our hero is both good and great, honest
and strong, pure and loyal, simple and modest, — then
we are fortunate in making his life our guide.
Such a man was Richard Parks Bland. He was
not a great orator, he was not highly educated at
college, he was not a wealthy man, and he was not
a politician with magnetism, but he possessed those
higher qualities of mind, such as honesty, loyalty,
sincerity, sympathy, and courage, that made his
friends love him and his' opponents respect him. He
was a public man for over a quarter of a century,
but not once during those years were his honesty
and ability questioned. His life was clean and pure.
He was a man of the common people and he labored
for them. He has been called the "American
Commoner." Richard Parks Bland was born in a log cabin in
Kentucky on August 19, 1835. His parents were
also natives of that state. They were poor in worldly
goods but rich in those priceless qualities of honesty
and courage. His father died soon and the care of a
large family fell on the shoulders of his mother.
Young Dick as he was called when a boy and also
later when he was a Congressman, worked hard on
(246)

Richard Parks Bland, 1835-1899. 247

248 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
a farm in the summer. He received only six dollars
a month but from this he saved enough to obtain
an education. He attended the country schools in his
district and then entered an academy. This was all
the schooling he received. At the early age of
seventeen years, he taught school and two years
later came to Missouri. After teaching a term in
this state, he went to Nevada, one of the richest
mining centers in the world. Here he was admitted
to the bar, practiced law, and was elected a county
official. In 1865 he returned to Missouri, and settled at
Rolla, where he practiced law with his brother.
Four years later he moved to Lebanon, Laclede
county. He bought a farm near Lebanon and made
this his home until his death on June 15, 1899.
Shortly after settling in Laclede county, his friends
persuaded him to run for Congress. He was elected
in 1872 and was reelected every two years except in
1894. He served twelve two-year terms in Congress —
a period of twenty-four years — and on his death had
been elected for his thirteenth term. During these
years his congressional district had included about
thirty counties, stretching from the Missouri River
to the Arkansas line. To have given satisfaction to
such a large number of counties is proof of his
popularity. The story is told that while he was serving his
ninth term several bright young men were sitting
around an old-fashioned fireplace in a Jefferson City
hotel, discussing Mr. Bland. They agreed among
themselves that Mr. Bland was a man of one idea,
that he was not a great man or even a superior man.

Richard Parks Bland, 1835-1899. 249
A stranger stepped forward and they asked him:
"What do you think about it?"
"Well," said the stranger, "I want to ask you a
question or two. Mr. Bland is serving his eighteenth
year in Congress. Do you know of a single public
speech which he has made or a single vote which he
has cast that has been criticized by the voters who
elected him to Congress?"
They all agreed that they did not. Then the
stranger continued:
"First and last Mr. Bland has represented nearly
thirty counties, and a man must have something
superior in him, he must certainly have stood for the
things the people believe in, or in all these years he
would have received some criticism."
As a statesman, R. P. Bland made a name that will
live in history. His work in Congress, his public
speeches and his writings, made him an authority
on all matters pertaining to money. He was read not
only in America but in Europe and in other lands.
He was the greatest advocate of the silver dollar
that the world has seen. In fact he was better
known as "Silver Dick" Bland than as, R. P. Bland.
He believed that this country should have more metal
money, that is, gold and silver money. He believed
that silver should be coined into money as freely as
gold. The United States Government by a law
passed in 1873, had stopped the coinage of silver.
After bitter struggling in Congress, Bland succeeded
in 1878 in having passed a law that restored the
coinage of silver to some degree. It provided that
there should be coined not less than two and not more
than four million silver dollars each, month. This is

250 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
called the Bland-Allison act. It did not provide for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver and did not
satisfy Bland, but it was the best he could do. He
continued to work for his cause. He became the
greatest authority on the silver question. After
many years of exciting and courageous struggling the
Bland act was finally repealed.
The fight had now become a national question. The
Republican party opposed the free coinage of silver.
It stood for a single-standard metal money and that
metal was gold. It presented to the people of the
United States the reasons that gold alone should
measure the value of money. Its leaders said that
the principal countries of the world had a gold
standard and that the United States must have one if
it continued to trade with them. They said that if we
placed gold and silver on an equality as money, the
European countries would pay in silver for our pro
duce that they bought but would make us pay in gold
for what be bought of them. If this were done, they
said we would soon have all the silver in the world and
little of the gold. They said that panics would come
and finally we as a nation would become bankrupt and
be unable to pay our debts.
The Democratic party stood for double-standard
metal money and those metals were gold and silver.
They said that if the United States adopted these
two metals, other countries would follow. They
said that the people needed more money and that
more money meant higher prices and higher wages.
When the Democratic national convention met in
Chicago in 1896, it adopted Bland's silver principles
but instead of nominating this greatest leader of the

Richard Parks Bland, 1835-1899. 251
Democratic party for President, it chose W. J. Bryan,
of Nebraska. Bland was not present at the conven
tion, he remained on his farm near Lebanon. He re
fused to seek the office, the office must seek him.
He even telegraphed his friends in Chicago this
remarkably unselfish message:
"Put the cause above the man."
The famous campaign of 1896 was on. In some
respects it was one of the most bitter Presidential
campaigns. Without the least regret or hard feel
ing, Bland worked for the election of Bryan. The
noted Nebraskan said shortly after Bland's death
that in this , campaign no man gave him more earnest
and sincere support. The defeat of his party at this
election combined with the previous repeal of the
Bland act, was a bitter blow to the silver champion.
He looked with distrust on the Eastern financiers.
He saw in them the power to make or unmake the
prosperity of this nation. They controlled the
money, but, said Bland, if you make money plentiful
no man or set of men can control it. It is only
because money is scarce and dear that the Eastern
financiers are able to control it, said Bland. The
man on the farm, in the shop and the store, is
dependent on the Eastern bankers, but he would be
freed if money were plentiful.
Conditions have changed since the days of '96.
Bland lies in his grave which the State of Missouri
has marked with a monument. Men's opinions on the
money question have changed. Today money is
plentiful, and money is cheap, and prices and wages
are high. In these last twenty-five years corn has
increased in price from fifteen- cents to one dollar

252

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

Monument to
RICHARD PARKS BLAND
At Lebanon, Missouri.

Richard Parks Bland, 1835-1899. 253
and a quarter a bushel, wheat from fifty cents to two
dollars, but shoes have also increased in price from
one dollar and fifty cents to five dollars a pair.
Men still disagree on whether Bland was right or
wrong, but all men, both Republicans and Democrats,
bow their heads in reverence to the honesty and the
courageous convictions of Bland.
Bland was a man of the common people. He
believed in them and trusted them, they believed in
him and trusted him. One who knew him said this
of Bland:
"I have never known a cleaner and more upright
man in public life."
His honesty was unquestioned. Once he was pre
sented with a rich silver dinner set by his admirers
in Colorado. He loved those friends, he respected
their kind gift, but he refused it, saying that some
might find fault with him if he accepted. He would
not have even a suspicion of dishonesty or bribery on
his fair name.
His opportunities to make money and still do it
legally were many, but not once did he yield to the
temptation when he thought that it was wrong or
that he had not earned it. When he first went to
Washington in 1873, he had some money and a farm ;
when he died in 1899, he left only his farm. After
twenty-four years of service as a public official, he
was poorer than before.
Bland was not a member of any church. His
parents were Methodists and his wife was a Roman
Catholic. Some small politicians in '96 publicly
censured him because of his wife's religion and also
because she was educating her children in that
faith. Bland's answer touched the heart of all:

254 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
"Yes," he said, "my wife is a Roman Catholic and
I am a Protestant, and shall live and die one; but
my great regret is that I am not half such a Christian
as the woman who bears my name and is the mother
of my children.
Bland was not an orator, but he was a convincing
speaker. His presence was not commanding, being
of medium height. His voice was usually low and his
manners were simple. He was modest and bashful.
One never would have thought that he could succeed
as a public man. His strength lay in another direc
tion. Altho neither wit nor oratory graced his
speeches, he was one of the most convincing speakers
in Congress. He used simple and direct language.
He went to the heart of his subject. Serious, honest,
and courageous, he feared no man, no argument, no
debate. Every public speech of his breathes love of
truth and devotion to principle. Some of the great
est orators in Congress feared this plain-spoken man
more than the most polished speaker. He read
widely and studied hard. As a result of his thoro
preparation on every subject and of his convincing
honesty, the words of Bland carried weight. More
over, all admired him for his consideration of the
feelings of others. He never tried to hurt, but always
tried to help.
The soul of this man was big enough to include both
children and adults. Boys and girls loved him, arid
he loved them. He would lie down on the floor or
in the yard, and romp and play with his sons and
daughters. He also loved the children of others.
One day in Washington while Bland was riding in a
street car, a lady entered with her baby. The

Richard Parks Bland, 1835-1899. 255
Congressman looked at the baby, smiled, took it on
his lap, and began playing with it. The mother paid
no attention to her child, until Bland said:
"Madam, here is your baby. I must get off here."
One could tell story after story about this big-
hearted man. He stood for the highest and the best
in public life. He was a broad-minded man, a man
of keen intellect, and a hard working man. Above
all, however, he was an honest man who labored for
the common people and not for himself.

WILLIAM WARNER, 1839-1916
Soldier, Statesman and Public Citizen
T^VERY Missouri boy can read the life of Major
-*-' William Warner with profit. Few men have
started in life under greater difficulties and have
risen by their own efforts to higher positions. His
career reveals what industry and ideals can ac
complish. He was a worker and a student, a states
man and a gentleman, a soldier with the heart of a
brave man and the sympathy of a child. The name
of this man will long be remembered. He fought
fearlessly, whether on the battlefield or in a political
campaign. He stood for honesty and progress. That
his work was appreciated, is shown by the public
positions he held. He did much good for his city,
state and country — they honored him for his services.
Born in Wisconsin on June 11, 1839, little Willie
Warner — as he was called — was left an orphan at the
age of six years. His five brothers and sisters were
poor. He had no friends. His parents had left him
neither money nor land. He was homeless, friendless,
and in poverty. Too young to be employed by others,
Willie began to work for himself. He lived in tht
lead mine district of Wisconsin. Around the mines
were large piles of refuse. He picked over these
refuse heaps for the lead ore that had been thrown
away. He sold his findings to the mine owners and
made a living. This work did not last long, for the
mine owners learned from the shrewd lad and soon
employed cheaper labor to do this.
(256)

Wilham Warner, 1839-1916.

257

WILLIAM WARNER

258 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Willie then began driving the old mine horse. He
did this for three years. The horse at the mine shaft
was an intelligent animal. It did its work with little
prompting from the boy. It had learned that when
the miners in the shaft rattled the chain, the bucket
was full, and it started without word from its
driver. When the bucket reached the top the horse
stopped and backed. Willie noticed this and studied
the situation.
One day he reasoned, "That horse knows just- as
much as I do. He really could do this work without
me and might just as well be driving me as I driving
him. I am going to learn to read and write and
then I will know more than he does."
That night he told the keeper of a country store
of his desire to get an education, and then he bought
a primer. The merchant helped him with his first
lesson and encouraged him. From that moment the
primer and the boy were inseparable. He studied
in his room until long after bed time and took the
book to the mine shaft so he might learn more in
reading. When he was ten years old he had learned to read
fairly well and could write some. The store-keeper
approved the boy's energy and ambition and employed
him to sell goods, giving him slightly higher wages.
In five years he had saved enough money to pay his
way two years in school. At the end of that time
he was without funds but his education was fairly
underway. During the next four years he taught school,
reading law at night. He also attended the Univer
sity of Michigan. So well did he apply himself that

William Warner, 1839-1916. 259
at the early age of twenty-one years he was admitted
to practice law in Wisconsin.
The Civil War broke out and young Warner re
sponded quickly. He enlisted as a private and served
thruout the war. He. rose in rank and received a
major's commission.
At the close of the war he came to Missouri and
after visiting St. Louis, St. Joseph and Kansas City,
he decided to locate in the latter place.
With a young lawyer friend from Wisconsin,
Warner opened a law office in a little room, eight by
ten feet in the old city hall. Their equipment was
only thirty-four volumes of books and three chairs,
bought second-hand.
Their first year was a hard one. They received
few cases. It was not long, however, until Major
Warner had made many friends. He was sociable
and obliging, besides having an exceptional mind.
In the spring of 1867 he was elected city attorney
and the following year was elected circuit attorney.
After holding this position two years, the Republican
party, of which he was a member, nominated him for
mayor of Kansas City in 1870. In spite of the fact
that Kansas City was Democratic, Major Warner
was successful — being the only Republican elected.
He served as mayor with honesty and capacity. He
gave Kansas City a good administration and did
everything in his power to upbuild the town.
At the end of his term he worked for the election
of the Democratic candidate for mayor. He did this
because he thought this man was more honest and
more capable than the candidate of the Republican
party. This shows the character of Major Warner.

260 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
He held other positions of worth and importance
and performed his duties well. He was appointed
United States District Attorney for the Western
District of Missouri in 1882 and was re-appointed in
1898 and 1902. He was elected to Congress in 1884
and was active in that body advocating good laws.
In 1892 he was candidate on the Republican ticket
for Governor of Missouri, but was defeated. In 1905
he was elected United States Senator by the Missouri
Legislature and held this office for six years. He died
at his home in Kansas City on October 4, 1916.
Major Warner was not an ordinary man. He stood
for honesty and progress and had a remarkably-
broad and keen mind. He saw the possibilities of
Missouri River transportation and labored to arouse
sentiment on developing water navigation. He advo
cated military preparedness, believing that a nation
should always be sufficiently armed to repel any
attack made on it.
Having fought in the Civil War as a Union soldier,
his friends among the veterans of the North were
thousands. He was twice elected Commander of the
Department of Missouri of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and in 1888 was elected Commander-in-
Chief of the National G. A. R. He helped the old
Union soldiers in many ways. It was largely due to
him that the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth, Kansas,
was established. His office in the Federal Building
in Kansas City was a regular meeting place for the
old soldiers. None of them appealed to him for help
without receiving assistance. Even some of the
"wearers of the grey" came to know and love Major
Warner. He had the reputation of never turning
away an old soldier who was in distress.

William Warner, 1839-1916. 261
He was remarkably kind hearted and frequently
rendered assistance to others when he could ill
afford to do so. His opportunities to become rich were
many, but he died a comparatively poor man.
Although he engaged long in politics and was always
a man of decided opinions, he seldom made personal
enemies. His opponents respected him; many came
to love him. Some called him a "fire-eater" because
he was so vigorous in his speeches. He had rugged
oratory and was a popular speaker. Frequently dur
ing his political fights, persons on the other side took
offense at what he said in his open, frank way. One
of the most bitter fights on Major Warner occurred
in the late 90's. The person making it was a man
Major Warner practically had made, politically. After
the battle when the Warner forces had won, it was
told the Major that this former friend, but bitter per
sonal opponent in the campaign just lost, was in pover
ty. Some of Warner's friends expected him to take
satisfaction in the plight of the man who had been so
unfaithful to him. To the surprise of many, Warner
said, "Well, we will have to take care of him." He then
proceeded to obtain for the man a good position.
He never cherished hatred or revenge. When a fight
was over whether the battle was for or against him.
he forgave his opponents. He always said in this
respect; "I never keep books on men," — meaning that
he never remembered or tried to renumber the
things that had been said or done against him by
others. It was this lovable and forgiving part of his
nature that did much to win him a high place in the
minds of friends and foes.

262 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
Major Warner could always be depended on to
fight for the best interests in his city, state and
nation. Age did not lessen his interests and loyalty.
He was always on the side of the people and this
strengthened him in popular regard. There was no
kinder or more sympathetic man in Kansas City.
His heart was touched by every pitiful story and he
would always listen to the troubles of others and
help in any way he could. His life will be a guide
to many young men.

CHAMP CLARK, 1850—
Missouri's First Speaker of the House of Representa
tives.
"IV/flSSOURI has produced many eminent men.
-*-*-¦- More leaders and greater ones has she sent to
Washington than have come from any other state
west of the Mississippi River. Missouri gave Benton,
the greatest of western statesmen; -Linn, the most
beloved of United States Senators ; Bates, the first
western cabinet officer; Green, one of the ablest
western orators; Bland, the first and one of the
greatest western advocates of the new democracy;
and Champ Clark, the second western speaker of the
United States House of Representatives. These mer
are only a few of the many whose names are written
in Missouri's Hall of Fame. Of these, however, not
one has reached the President's chair, nor has any
state west of the Mississippi River given the United
States a President. They have tried but failed.
Two men have come nearest success. One from
Nebraska, who was the choice of his party three
times. The other from Missouri, who in 1912 failed
to be chosen as the leader of his party by only a
few votes, altho several times he received a majority
of the votes. If this Missouri man had been chosen
as leader, he probably would have been elected by the
Democratic party as President instead of Woodrow
Wilson. He came nearer the White House, where
the president lives, than any man from the West.
His name is Champ Clark.
The life of this man is a story of poverty, industry,
ambition and success. It shows what can be done in
(263)

264

Missouri's Hall of Fame.

this land of equal opportunity if one is willing to
study and determined to rise. Champ Clark succeed
ed as a statesman, but he would have succeeded also
as a lawyer, teacher, preacher, author, or journalist.
His life is interesting,
his career is not yet
ended, and to Miss
ourians his name will
long be remembered.
Born in Kentucky
on March 7, 1850, he
came of good Ameri
can ancestry. His fa
ther was born in New
Jersey, his mother in
Kentucky. His mother
died when young
Clark was only three
years old, but he was
well reared by his fa
ther and relatives.
His father was a poor
man, a devout Chris
tian and a staunch
Democrat. His grand
mother was a Whig
and was determined
that young Clark
should be a Whig.
She would bribe him with maple sugar to say:
"I am a Whig."
Then his father would take him out to -the barn,
show him a pony that the boy wanted, and ask:

CHAMP CLARK

Champ Clark, 1850- 265
"Now, my son, are you a Whig or a Democrat?"
Of course the boy said he was a Democrat and this
is what he later became.
The young lad had to work hard first on a farm
and later in a country store. He loved books and
wanted to get an education. After receiving some
instruction in the schools at home, he attended the
University of Kentucky. While here and at Bethany
College, he paid his own expenses, cooked his own
meals, and lived as cheaply as possible. To obtain
money he taught school.
At college he dropped half of his name. His full
name was James Beauchamp Clark. He thought this
was too long so he shortened it to plain Champ
Clark. ^He was a hard student and loved history and the
lives of great men. When he graduated from
Bethany College, he won highest honors, having made
the best grades ever recorded in that school.
He now became a college professor and was
chosen president of Marshall College. He was only
twenty-three years old and was the youngest college
president in the United States.
His ambition was to be a lawyer, so he entered the
Cincinnati Law School where he again graduated
with highest honors. He now turned toward the
West and settled at Witchita, Kansas. Here his
affairs turned out poorly. He had no law practice
and his money was soon gone. All that remained was
his clothes. He had farmed as a boy, so the young
lawyer again worked by the day as a common farm
laborer. He took off his plug hat and his shoes,
rolled up his long Prince Albert coat in a bundle,

266 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
and bareheaded and barefooted followed the plow-
out on the Kansas plains. He was determined to make
his living honestly and was not too proud to work.
A friend asked him to write an essay. He did this
and received twenty-five dollars. With this money-
he started for Missouri.
He first settled at Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri,
where he was principal of the high school one year
at a good salary and later made his home in Bowling
Green. He was a fine teacher here, as he had been
in Kentucky and West Virginia. The next year he
opened a law office. While waiting for business, he
edited a newspaper. He soon showed the people that
he was a good lawyer and a fine speaker.
One of the ablest lawyers in Louisiana was David
A. Ball, a small man in size but a big one in brains.
Ball liked the young Kentuckian, and they formed a
law partnership. They became the closest friends
and are to this day. Either would sacrifice all he had
for the other. Clark's ambition was some day to be
elected to Congress, Ball's ambition was to be
Governor of Missouri.
The first test of their friendship came soon.
Ball had begun a lawsuit against a certain farmer
and this man had two sons, each six feet tall and
powerful. They came into the little law office to
whip Ball. When they entered, Clark was at his
desk and hardly noticed them until both struck at
Ball, who tried to dodge their blows. Clark pulled
out a drawer of his desk, took out a big Colt's six-
shooter revolver and said :
"Here, you fellows! I'm the fighting man of this
firm."

Champ Clabk, 1850- 2fi7
One of the big fellows jumped through the window.
The other climbed over a table and left quickly.
It wasn't long until Clark was in politics. He was
elected prosecuting attorney and was a good one.
He stopped the professional gambling that was then
common in Pike county. He was the terror of all
law-breakers. He was then elected to represent Pike county in
the Missouri Legislature. Here he was prominent
in debate and was recognized as a leader of men.
He was the author or supporter of several important
laws that are still in force. One of these is the
Australian Ballot law, another an anti-trust law.
He made such a fine record that he ran for election
to Congress two years later.
He was defeated in 1890, but was successful in
1892. He has been reelected every since except in
1894. Today Champ Clark is serving his twenty-
fourth year in Congress. Prior to 1912 the Republi
can party was in control of Congress, so Champ
Clark as a member of the minority party — the Demo
crat — had little influence in making laws. He was
one of the leaders of the Democrats and finally became
the chief leader. His greatest work was his fight
on taking from the Speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives the power he had to appoint all committees
and to virtually control all law-making.
When the Democrats gained control of the House
of Representatives in 1912, Clark was elected Speaker.
He still holds this high office and by both Democrats
and Republicans is regarded highly. His friends are
many.

268 Missouri's Hall of Fame.
One of the most eventful years of his life was the
year 1912. The Republican party was divided into
two parties — the Republican and the Progressive.
Under such conditions, it was not probable that
either would be able to elect its leader President of
the United States. This meant that whoever the
Democrats chose (or nominated) as their leader
would probably be elected President.
Champ Clark was a candidate for nomination.
The Democrats sent delegates to their national
convention. These delegates were to select the
Democrat leader who would run for president. More
delegates were at first for Champ Clark than for any
other man. In fact he received a majority of the
votes. The Democrat party has a rule that no man
can be nominated President unless he receives two-
thirds the votes of the convention delegates. Clark
failed to obtain two-thirds of the votes. After many
votes were taken, Clark was finally defeated, and
Woodrow Wilson was nominated. That November
in 1912, Woodrow Wilson was elected President of
the United States. This shows how close Champ
Clark came to being President of this nation.
Many are the stories told of this truly interesting
and able statesman. He is a man of fine appearance,
large and well built. He is a good speaker and an
excellent debater. He loves children and he is a man
of wide sympathy. Altho his first born child has
been dead over a quarter of a century, he still mourns
and remembers with sorrow.
He has always been a lover of books and is a deep
student of history. He is not a rough man but is a
forceful one. Good natured, frank and loyal, it is
little wonder that his friends are many.

Champ Clark, 1850- 269
He hates shams and loves simplicity. In speaking
he is direct and sincere. His lectures have carried
him over the nation and his magazine articles have
been read by thousands. He is a member of the
Christian Church and a loyal supporter of that body.
A college graduate, he has the highest regard for a
college education. His stories and sayings are widely
known. These are some of the latter, which show
his character:
"I am not going to help any man plunder the
American people because he happens to live in
Missouri." "He serves his party best who serves his country
best," "The worst enemies, of our race are those who
debauch public opinion."