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1
1800
Class
Book
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
GENERAL HISTORY 1)
OF
MACON COUNTY MISSOURI
CHICAGO HENRY TAYLOR & COMPANY 1 1910
F472 M2 G3
COPYRIGHT 1910 BY HENRY TAYLOR & COMPANY
CCLA268419
FOREWORD
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered by remote descendants .- -Macaulay.
To perpetuate in a graphic and lively form somewhat of the present progressive and interesting epoch in the history of Macon county, Missouri, and exhibit to its people an impressive portraiture of the chief actors, events and items of interest therein ; to show forth in vivid colors the earlier history of the county-the hurry and struggle, the unrest and the labors, the failures and successes, the pleasures and privations of its founders-in accounts of their activities given by themselves or by others who knew them ; to display the present state of progress and prosperity, and the mighty achievements in industrial and commercial life which have followed in the wake of the pioneers, that race of veritable heroes : and to indicate in a measure the trend of action and the results to which it points, is the purpose of this work.
It contains biographical sketches of the progressive men of the county in earlier and later days-those who came hither when all was a wilderness and by their prowess and strength of character bade the opposing forces of Nature "stand ruled." and those who have since carried forward the work of development and improve- ment with such marvelous progress-and is illustrated with portraits of many of them. It indicates comprehensively the various industries and lines of productive energy which have distinguished the people of the county and poured into the world's treasure house wealth of almost every kind and great in its aggregate.
Macon county has at present nothing thrilling or spectacular in its daily history, yet its heroic age has not passed away-only the form of its heroism has changed. Its people are no longer called upon to defend themselves from savage fury of man or beast, or spend their strength in transforming the wilderness into systematic fertility and beauty. They are not now torn asunder by sectional strife or oppressed by relentless war. They have not even the waste from the iron heel of that bloody monster to repair. They have progressed to the higher duties of developing the material bounty around them and making it serviceable to mankind. and of augmenting. elevating and intensifying the moral, intellectual and spiritual agencies at work among them. That they are performing these duties the record contained in this volume will prove. They realize that "Today is a king in disguise." however commonplace and trivial it looks, and they are unmasking the king as he passes by making the most of their opportunities in building up their civil. educa- tional, industrial and commercial institutions to the highest degree and widest expansion of usefulness.
The special thanks of the publishers are due to Mr. Edgar White for his excellent work in compiling and editing the general history of the county contained in the book, and the debt is cordially acknowledged. Without Mr. White's aid the success achieved in the character of the volume would have been impossible.
Grateful acknowledgments are also made to Capt. Ben Eli Guthrie for his valuable assistance in editing portions of the general history. Many other persons have given us valuable help whose names would be mentioned with pleasure but for the reason that they are so numerous. As a whole, the book must speak for itself. and stand or fall on its own intrinsic qualities.
iii
CONTENTS
PAGE
MACON AND BENTON . 1
"'LAST OF THE ROMANS"
CHAPTER I.
"The State of Macon"-Sheriff Had Wide Jurisdiction-Tronble- some Indians-Importation of Bluegrass from Kentucky --- First Cotswold Sheep and Shorthorn Cattle-Organization of Macon County-Rivalry for County Seat-Log House for Court Rooms 7
CHAPTER II.
The Pioneers-James Loe-William Blackwell-Captain William Griffin-Captain William Smith-Squire Holman-Attacked by Wolves-Saved by Blast from a Horn-Major Joseph D. Butler-Levi Cox-Absent from Home 21 Years-R. L. Shackleford-Bill to Run Steamboats Up Chariton River- Clever Election Ruse-Frederick Rowland-Enconnter With Indians-William Morrow-Robert Gipson, Oldest Man in United States-Mrs. Polly Baskett. 10
CHAPTER III.
The Indians-Last Battle With the Whites-"Chief Pumpkins"-
· Retreat of the Whites-A Rear Guard Action-A Second Expedition Planned-Indians Driven Back-A Buried Treasure-Sanguinary Battle Between the Foxes and the Sacs-Search for the Treasure-Stone Tomahawks and Arrowheads on Battlefield-The Indians' Fishtrap-Pioneer Water Mills-Corn as Legal Tender-Death of Anthony Hammock, Head Miller-The Mill on East Fork-Yule-tide in a New Country
V
19
vi
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER IN.
Early Courts and Records-First Indictment for Murder-Some Quaint Court Orders-Negro Sentenced to Terrible Punish- ment-The Mormon Trial at Moccasinville-Aet of Legis- lature Repealed by County Court-Last Replevy of a Slave in Missouri
29
CHAPTER V.
Official Weather Bureau at Maeon-Hottest Day in Ten Years- The Great Drought of 1854-January 1, 1864, Coldest Day on Record-Ground Warmed to Dig Graves-Grasshopper Plagne and Governor Hardin's Proclamation for Prayers- High Water in the Chariton Valley-Cyclone at Macon- The Drought of 1901-Water Sold at 10 Cents a Bucket- Reservoir Empty and City Supplied from Blees Academy Lakes-The Flood of 1909
41
CHAPTER VI.
Early State Roads in Missouri-Era of the Stage Coach-Pony Rider in Macon County-When Bloomington Was a Stage Division-A Railroad Convention-Queer Opposition to Railroads-"Bob" Stewart-George H. Davis-I. N. Wil- ber-W. C. Brown-P. Il. Houlahan-A Fast Mail Run- The Pony Express-Railroading in War Time-First Great Disaster on the "Joe"-Block Houses-Engineer Jim McIntosh-The North Missouri Road-The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe-A Big Suit Over Hardpan-Great Idea of Two Young Railroad Men. .53
CHAPTER VII.
The Printing Press-Salutatory of First Macon County Paper- Reminiscenees of Captain Lacy, Macon's First Editor-The Mulligan Guards-Some of the Pioneer Papers-Major Frank M. Daulton-Macon Paper Awarded Medal for Superior Typography-The Man Who Subscribed for 500
CONTENTS
vii
PAGE
Papers-1. Jeff Buster, Who Introduced Country Corre- spondence-Eugene Field's Owl Club-Improvement in Country Journalism-"Stories of a Country Doctor," by Willis P. King, M. D .- "Love vs. Law, " by Mary Anderson Matthews-A Cireuit Rider's Quaint Book-Oldest Bible in State Owned by Macon County Man.
82
CHAPTER VIII.
Mines and Mining-The Pilgrimage to California-Phil Armour and Ned Croarkin-A Miner's Dream-Discovery of Coal in Macon County-Alexander Reetor-Thomas Wardell- Strikes, Panies and Then Prosperity-"Shooting Off the Solid"-Riots of 1899-A Mine Disaster-A Journey Through Gloomy Avenues-A Mining Town That Died- Miners Are Long Lived-Statistics from State Mining Report-Early Gold Excitement in Chariton Valley-Devel- opment of Valuable Ore at New Cambria. 97
CHAPTER IN.
Schools and Academies-The Blue Back Spelling Book-Singing Geography-An Instructor Who Taught Manners-W. A. Mathis-F. Theo Mayhew-McGee College-St. James Military Academy-Colonel Blees's Magnificent Enterprise -Consolidated School at Elmer-The Maeon High School- School Statistics 133
CHAPTER X.
The Churches-Strenuous Revivals-"Gabriel" as Prosecuting Attorney-Debate Between Dr. Anderson and the Rev. "'Jimps" Dysart-Hollis and Dysart-Baptists Chagrined Over Result-Primitive Baptists-Yellow Creek Association -McGee Presbytery-Organization of the Churches- Bishops Talbot and Hendrix-"Father" Gay-The Holi- ness Campmeetings-Institution at College Mound-The Tenth Legion
153
viii
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER XI.
Wars and Soldiers' Reunions-Macon County's Fighting Men- Trek of the Mormons-Call to Arms in '61-Macon as a Military Post-Martial Law-A Victim's Tombstone-The Harris House Prison-Battle of Painter Creek-Ordered to Burn Bloomington-Raid of the Guerrillas-A Courier's Ride for Life-Augustin Bradsher Drafted-Men of the Black Flag-Veterans of 1812-State Encampment at Macon-Daughters of the Revolution 176
CHAPTER XII.
The Law-The Line of Circuit Judges-Strange Murder Case, Yet Unraveled-The Tracy Killing-A Gold Brick Game and a Trial at Macon-Board's Criticism of a School Teacher- "The Unwritten Law"-Why Did George Anderson Kill His Wife ?- Judge Ellison's Sentence of Death-The First Legal Execution-Incidents on the Day of Hanging-A Noted Trial from Shelby County-Whitecotton's Remark- able Appeal to the Jury-Birth of the Three-Fourths Jury Rule-A Hanging Withont Trial-Two Thousand Words Without a Punctuation Mark-A Noted Steer Case-La Plata Circuit Court. 197
CHAPTER XIII.
The Bond Indebtedness-First Subscription to Missouri and Mississippi Railroad-Mandamus by Supreme Court C'om- pelling Issue of Bonds-Mass Meeting Approves Court's Order-The Second Subscription-General Protests-Deter- mined Efforts to Find Money to Build Road-Litigation Scares Financiers Off-The Growing Debt-Efforts to Compromise-County Court Against It in 1894-Proposition Overwhelmingly Defeated-Mr. Gary's Plan for a Settle- ment in 1904-Strong Campaign For and Against-Views of Both Sides-Advocates of Settlement Defeated by Small Majority-Present Status of the Debt-The Legal Phase of the Case 227
ix
PAGE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIV.
The Geology of Macon County-Tobacco-Agriculture-The Dairy -Stock Raising-A Town Lot Auction at Hudson-"The City of Maples"-Modern Municipal Improvements- Ladies Civic League-Macon Charity Society-Drainage Work in the Chariton Valley-Wealth of the County-Some Noted Characters-Pioneer Coal Operator-John Jones and His Cave House-Why Mr. Beach Wouldn't Wear a Hat- Patriot Who Wouldn't Cut His Hair Until a Democratic President Is Elected-John Henry Griffin-"Depot" Smith -Two Lively Rival Towns-The Postal Service. 245
Biographical 271
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The Reileigh
148
Macon County Railroad Bond 199
John Jones (The Hermit) 199
Boyhood Home of Dr. A. T. Still. 251
Tom Robinson 264
PORTRAIT INDEX
A
Allen, Dr. Francis W. (Deceased) .. 309Y MeDavitt, Asa W. 435 :- MeKim, Joseph M., Jr., D. D. S. 136 V Mason, Lee O., M. D
Babbitt, Deloss II B
60v Massengale. John
501
Barker, John T.
627 Matthews, Otho F.
Biggs, William J
476Mayhew. F. Theo. ( Deceased ) 327
Miller, Jesse Marion. 8134
Miller, Rudolph 613
Cook, William D
C
642 Morrow. Johnson 400
F
Newton, Francis HI., M. D 8-11
Foster, John P., M. D 444
Nortoni, Hon. Albert D. 118 -
G
Gansz. Philip 899 v
Gary, Theodore
351V
Powell, Henry M. 684-
Gates, Judge Edward .1
Gates, Erskine M.
485t Rowland, Thomas 1
Gieselman, Frederick W
Gilbreath, William T
371 / Rubey, Harry M.
362 V
Gilbreath, Hugh P.
5210
S
Gooch, Willard IL., M. D.
$69 L
Scovern, John 280 4
Goodson. Walter C.
Guthrie, Capt. Ben Eli 299 V
H
llastings, George II
Hayner, Lon 335
Hess, Judge Charles P
868-
T
119 4
Houghton, James H.
Hughes, John G. 5341
Hughes, Daniel R
Hunt, James Robert, M. D. 698 4
163 - Wardell, Charles 1. 428 V Wardell, Thomas ( Deceased )
Welch. William A., M. D. 669 V
White, Edgar S90 v
Jones, Ives B
561 v
Williams, Barnett R. 856
Wright, Robert T. 454
L
Leffler, John F.
803V
Y
Leist. Marcus B
480/ Yager, Gustave A
917
V
xi
P'
, Parke, Joseph :094
Gash. Samuel L. 654 V
R
4924 Reed, D. J. 909-
ears, Joseph F 835 V Shelton, Hon. Nathaniel Meacon 317 Stone, Benjamin F. 881 V Still. Andrew Taylor, D. () 408 ₺
Surbeck, John Michael 382 4
511L Tainter, Paul R., M. D
5924
5800 Matthews, Judge Richard S. 392 -
Brown, Andrew J
GENERAL INDEX
PACE
A
Abbott, Dr. James W 924
Allen, Dr. Francis W. 875
Allen, Dr. F. W. ( Deceased ) 309
Anstine. William W. 286
Asbury, Andrew J. . 864
Atterberry, Philander 732
Atterberry, Albert MI. 228
Atterberry, David E 726
Avers, John William 539
Ayers, Charles S. 531
B
Babbitt, Deloss H. 602
Bailey, James 465
Bailey, William T 460
Bailey, George W' 426
Baity, James Lewis. 488
Barnes, Charles O.
Barker, John T. 627
Barrow, Robert W 943
Beal. Robert R .. 339
Beal, Thomas E. L. 893
Beatty, Samuel G 380
Bevan, Rees J. 355
Biggs, William J 580
Blew, Logan S. .
:84
Boulton, William J 287
Bunch, Henry
304
Butler, George W
519
Bradley, B. Dennis.
Bradley, Dr. Willis E.
374
Bradley, Joshua ( .*
446
Branham, John F. L.
376
Brewington, Dr. George F. 624
Bricker, James M 572
Bricker, William W. 926
Bridgeford, Joseph L., D. D. S. 644
Broek, F. M. 931
Brock, Sidney G., A. M., Ph. D. 676
Brockman, Wilbert Il. 295
Brown, Andrew J. 476
Brownson, Charles () 288
Browning, Jacob T
813
Bruce, Jacob N 438
xiii
C
Campbell, Patrick W 935
Campbell, Henry MI 920
C'arpenter, John C. 405
Casey. Joseph T. . 418
Citizens Bank of Macon 345
Chope, Jolm J. 675
Clements, Dr. Edward B.
Clymans, Austin A 594
Clymans, William . 595
Cook, William D. 642
Corbin, William V 388
Cox. Andrew S. 852
Curtis, Francis M. 713
Crawford, Albert J 297
Cromwell, John S 527
Crysta, John J 523
D
Dale. Hemmit 469
Davis, George N 605
Davis, John 490
Dearing, William J 499
Decker, Peter N. 5.51
Denison, John M. 414
Dohring, Frederick W 313
Doneghy, John 'T 693
Dowell. D. D. 346
Dunham, Edwin 1. 442
Drew. Francis W., MI. 1) 358
Dysart, Benjamin R 246
E
Easeley, Harvey S. 903
Easeley, Arley E. 918
Edwards, John B 933
Edwards, James G 618
Edwards, Waldo 623
Edwards, Thomas 620
Elias, Edward 629
Elliott, James H 406
Elsea, John M. . 294
England, Willard M 556
England, John M. 558
English. Aubert B.
565
Epperson. Simeon H
159
369
xiv
GENERAL INDEX
l'ACE
Hlavner. Lon 335
Heaton, James R 360
Evans, Thomas O. 349
F
Farmer, James W. 302
Farmer, John T. 49%
Farrar, Charles L. 647
Featherston, E. C. 263
Ford, James HI . 907
Foster, John P., M. D
444
Franklin, Ben 278
Francis, Thomas 621
G
Gansz. Philip 899
Gary, Hunter L. 651
Gary, Theodore 351
Gates, Erskine MI
485
Gates, Edward Allen 123
Gates, Josiah. M. b) 419
Gash, Samuel L. 654
Gellhaus, John W 611
Gibson, A. Frank.
Gieselman, Frederick 492
Gilbreath, William T 311
Gilbreath, Hugh P' 521
Gilleland, John E. 547
269
Goodding, Roscoe E 496
Goodding, A. C. 433
Goodding Bros. 285
Goodrich, Nat. L.
543
Goodson, Walter C. 459
514
Guthrie. Capt. Ben Eli 299
Guthrie, Robert Allen. 696
Graves, G. H. 421
Graves. George W
833
Graves, William G.
839
Graves. Lysander L. 838
Graves, Robert M.
842
Green, Wilson R. . 456
Greenstreet. James 412
Grigsby, John A 905
Gross, John Henry 879
Gross, J. F., M. D. 383
Grove, Victor 564
Gwinner. John W 499
Gwinner, George ( Deceased ) 923
H
Hale, Charles F. 610
Hall. Henry Willard 408
Lile. J. Frank.
451
Hastings. George HI. 548 Lindley, James W 560
J
Jackson. William Pitts 323
James Bros.
Jenkins, Thomas L. 782
Johnson, Dr. Nat. L. 431
Jones, David W.
Jones. Thomas E. 342
694
Jones, Theophilus 402
Jones, William E. 640
Jones, Christopher H 449
Jones, Owen W. 416
174
Jones. John O. 545
Jones, Emvln G. 563
Jones, William T 510
Jones, Ives B. 561
Jones, William T. :88
Jones. John Ingh, Jr 941
Jones & Cramer
5:1
K
Kale, Alexander S 827
Kasey, Singleton L. 366
Ketcham, John M 311
La Plata Savings Bank
491
Lacy, Nathaniel MI 650
Landree, Ernest D $34
Landree, James
292
Lane, Joseph V
415
Leffler, John F 803
Leist, Marcus B.
Herrin, Clark 386
Hess. Judge Charles P 868
Helton, John Jefferson 455
licks, Oswald 682
ITibler, Joseph Albert. 811
Houghton, James II. 511
Howe. Orloff Willian 318
Howlett, A. C. 93
Hughes, Daniel R 463
Hughes, John G. 534
Hughes, John R.
Hunt. James Robert. M. D. 698
Huntsman, Henry MI 860
Hyatt, Jesse E., D. O.
N'ACE
390
Epperson, John D
Jones, Francis D.
Gooch, Willard H., M. D.
Jones, Edward Seward.
Gordon, Volkert D. .
XV
GENERAL INDEX
PACE
Lloyd, William W 910
London, John M. 325
Lunday, John W. 118
Lyda, James Willard 504
Lynch. William 457
PAGE
N
Neel, John W. ~60
Neet, Charles C. 430
Newton, Dr. Henry O. 483
Newton, Francis H., M. D 844
Niekell, Joseph 886
Niekell, Davidson 887
Nisbeth, John W. 611
Norfolk. John L.
30
Nortoni, Hon. Albert D 418
Nowlan, Lewis 608
0
Owen, John William 329
Owen, Richard E 364
Owings, W. J 251
P
Parke, Joseph 409
Payson, Charles HI. 664
Payson, Dwight H. ( Deceased) 663
Patterson, Silas A. 666
Patterson, James C
461
Pierce, Charles C.
262
Mapes, George E. 808
Mapes, Walter S. 809
Mason, James P. 667
Mason, Lee O., M. D 821
Massengale, John
501
Matthews, Judge Richard S 392
Matthews, Otho F. 592
Mathis, William 1.
Mathis, James Thomas. 394
Mayhew. F. Theo. ( Deceased )
Mayhew, lvy G. 604
Melvin, Louis J .. Sr :39
Reese. Thomas II 35%
Rees, John
:96
Reynolds, F. L. 397
Reynolds, Hiram MI. 841
Reynolds, Ebenezer E. 846
Reynolds, George 848
Rice, Fisher H. 403
596
Richards, John ( Deceased ) .
59%
Richards, Robert
938
Richards. John E
940
Richardson, John B. ( Deceased ) 822
Richardson, John B. 820
Richardson, William
896
Riggs, Harvey G
567
Riley, Andrew E. 661
Riley, George W. 801
Morse, Wilbur F 143
Moss, William E. 691
Randall, James MI .. 401
Reagan, Charles W., M. D. 586
Reed, D. J .. 909
Menefee, John R. 332
Mettes, John S. 290
Miller, William Henry 398
Miller, Henry 462
Miller, Alfred B., M. D. 659
Miller, Charles A 4:1
Miller, Jesse Marion 813
Miller, Rudolph 613
Miles, William 1 506
Miles, Joseph D. 508
Mingus, W. A 921
Morgan, Charles 30G
Montgomery, James H 901
Morris, Samuel R 537
Morrow, Johnson 400
Morrow, Jefferson :54
Robuck, James P
850
Roberts, William De Wiit
541
MacRac, William 516
McCully, William E. 635
MeCully, Henderson ( Deceased ) 638
MeDavitt, Dr. Basil C. 490
McDavitt, Leo W
491
MeDavitt, Fred N 112
MeDavitt, Asa W' 435
McDuffec, George R. 245
McGhee, John W 892
MeKenzie, Martin V. ( Deceased ) . 883
McKim, Joseph M., Jr., D. D. S. :36
MeNeal. Willis A
894
Manning, Thomas
922
Mangus, William H 423
Manhart, John 944
Pool, Claude L. 667
Pohlman, George, Jr 320
Pohlman, George 321
Posey, James Weldon. 316
Powell, Robert
343
Powell, Robert E.
915
Powell, Henry MF 684
Richards, John F.
GENERAL INDEX
PAGE
L'AGE
Robinson, Henry D 425
Thompson, Logan M., M. D. 613
Romjue. Milton _1. 680
Thompson, John
Ross, Alexander MI. 314
Thornburg. Frank C., M. D. 582
Rowland Bros. 630
Thompson. Alanzo C., M. D. 831
Rowland, Thomas
:92
Thurman, John W. 404
Rubey, Harry M. 362
Ryals. Luther W 599
Tutt. Paul W 646
S
Underwood, Mark L., M. D. 568
Salyer. John 152
Samuels, Isaac 348
Sandusky, Oscar
588
Sandusky. Samuel 589
Scovern, John 280
Sears. Francis Marion
333
Sears, Joseph F
S35
Sears. William C.
580
Sears. William H.
576
Waddill. John W. ( Deceased ) 885
Shay. Charles P.
866
Walker, William G. 689
Shelton. Hon. Nathaniel MI. 312
Walker, Isham MI. 858
Sheetz, Robert Karl
805
Walker. Charles O. 8:1
Sheetz, Henry C. 806
Walters, George L. 862
Shoush, Eugene
411'
Wardell. Thomas ( Deceased )
211
Simmons. Bloom J
:03
Wardell, Charles .1. 428
Skinner, Arthur C
829
Ward, Joseph :30
Wares, Augustus :19
815
Smith. Alfred .1 341
Watkins, Jolm D., D. D. S.
601
Smith, Albert F.
439
Weaver, Jacob F
486
Smith, Theophilus, D. D. S.
481
Webb, Dr. William E ..
656
Smith. Philip R
525
Wells, George
825
Smith. Dr. Edward S
653
Welch, Dr. William .
669
Snow. Charles T. 396
Wendt, George A.
817
Snow, Edgar G.
437
West. Charles Owen, M. D.
533
Snow. Edwin O.
513
White. Dorian D.
425
Southwick, Horace R Strode. Addison P. 929
554
White. Charles
818
Switzer, Frederick R. 529
Wiggans, John Wesley.
410
State Exchange Bank. 291
Williams, Benjamin E
332
Still, Andrew T .. D. O 408
Williams. John L.
573
Stone. Benjamin F. SS1
Williams, Barnett R
856
Surbeck, John Michael 382
Williams, James F. 600
Williams, David M. 615
Williams, David E 195
Williams, John J 293
:17
Tate. Richard S. (Deceased) :41
Wisdom, Thomas E
634
Tedford. Frederick 11. 699
Terrell, John L. 330
Wolf, Charley .\
416
Tooley, John 836
514
Wright, James M.
4.52
Thomas, T. D 591
Thomas, Richard S
:37
Thompson, John W 584
Yager, Gustave .1 912
Vancleve, William M 686
Vancleve, Gen. Wm. M. (Deceased). 682
Vansickle, Andrew B. 854
Van Pelt, Wilbur F. 888
Vertrees, Isaac H. . 421
Slaughter, Gen. G
706
Smiley. Clement F
912
Warner, James E.
White, Edgar
890
Surbeck, Henry Clay. 509
Tainter, Paul R., M. D. $49
Wilson, Greenup
Wright, John A 368
Thomas, William S
Wright, Robert T. 454
Trader, Harley E. 552
U
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
MACON AND BENTON.
"Citizens, Macon county was named for one of the most distin- guished statesmen this country ever produced. You should be proud of that name!"
No need to tell the older residents of Macon county that Senator Thomas H. Benton's stentorian voice gave utterance to the words. The use of the term, "citizens," was peculiar to Benton. Those who knew him declared that he never said "fellow citizens." Some say his reason was that he refused to acknowledge the intimacy. In spite of that, from all aeconnts, Senator Benton was very courteons to the large crowd he addressed in the grove at Old Bloomington that day, in the year 1856, when he was making his campaign for governor, the last political fight of his life. Two years later the nation mourned at his bier.
That day, when Benton spoke to an audience largely hostile, belongs to the history of Macon county. He was the most forceful character the state of Missouri, the mother of many strong characters, ever prodneed. He had his fighting harness on. He knew his enemies were everywhere, sowing the seeds of discord. And the sword of the old gladiator was unsheathed. Benton was greatest when there was pro- nouneed opposition. His eyes flashed, his great voice thundered. Bloom- ington was an important center. The shadows of a great Civil war were darkening the horizon. People came to the meetings there from far and near. Benton keenly appreciated the importance of that gath- ering. He knew what he said would be repeated for 100 miles or more. The populace fired questions at him ; had he done this or that; "answer direet, sir!" And direet as a rifle shot came the answer. There was
1
2
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
no equivocation; no evasion. The statements of the veteran states- man were not buried amid a cloud of qualifying observations. If he did a thing, he said so, and told why. If he didn't, he denied it like the roar of a cannon. There was no mistaking where he stood on any proposition. If the people didn't like his position, it was their misfor- tune; he would not change to suit them. Primarily and essentially, Benton must be right. That was his trait for which his friends loved him and his enemies hated him. His absolute self-satisfaction; his belief in Benton.
Nathaniel Macon must have been a great man to receive that com- pliment from the lips of Benton. Had he not been a big man Benton would have said so, regardless of what the people of Macon county thought about it. It was his way.
"LAST OF THE ROMANS."
Scarcely less prominent than Benton was the great statesman after whom Macon county was named, the man whom President Jefferson spoke of as "The Last of the Romans," Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina.
Twelve towns in the United States perpetuate the name of Macon. Macon, Georgia, is the largest and Macon, Missouri, comes next. Macon, North Carolina, is but a village, a fourth class office. The other states having a municipal monument to the eminent North Carolinian are: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Olio, Tennessee and Virginia.
Nathaniel Macon was born in Warren county, North Carolina, in 1757, and died on his plantation there June 29, 1837, the same year Macon county, Missouri, was organized within its present lines. His ancestors were from Virginia, people of a high respectability and more than ordinary wealth. He was educated at Princeton, New Jersey, and was there at the opening of the war of the revolution. In 1777 he left college, and served for a short time as a private in a com- pany of volunteers. Returning at the expiration of this service to North Carolina, he entered upon the study of law, but soon enlisted again as a volunteer, and, though divers offices were urged on him, served as a common soldier under the command of his brother, John Macon. He continued in the army till the provisional treaty of peace in 1782, and was present at the fall of Charleston; the rout at Camden, and during the pursuit of Green across Carolina by Lord Cornwallis. For his military services he steadily refused any pay; nor, after that
3
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
provision had been made by the government, would he accept a pen- sion. While yet in the army, in 1780, he was elected, in his 24th year, a member of the senate of North Carolina, in which post he continued to serve through 1785. Young as he was, he was employed on the most important committees of that body. The great questions then agitated arose from the financial difficulties of the state, and the depre- ciated value of the currency. It was characteristic of the man that he advocated the scheme of pledging the credit of state to redeem her paper issues at their depreciated rates, maintaining the injustice of allowing a set of speculators to gain what the soldiers, to whom the paper had been paid, must lose. But he held that the promise of the state must, at any rate, be redeemed. During this period he was mar- ried to Miss Hannah Plummer, and soon afterwards settled on a plan- tation which he owned on the bank of the Roanoke, in Warren connty, and made this spot his home for the remainder of his life. Here his main occupation and enjoyment were in the cultivation of his farm, in which he displayed singular skill and met with great success. Both in private and public he showed much of the Stoie in temper, disregard- ing style and pleasure, studying strict economy, and holding fast his opinions, and carrying them into practice, to whatever odium or unkind remark they might expose him. When the constitution of the United States was first submitted to the vote of the people of North Carolina, he firmly opposed it as conferring too much power on the new govern- ment, as making it in effect independent of the states, and so of the people, and tendering to corruption. He retained this dislike to the end of his life, and in the times of "nullification" he boasted of the accuracy of his forebodings. He was elected a member of the United States house of representatives in 1791, and continued in that office by successive elections till 1815, and was the speaker of the house from 1801 to 1806, when he would not be a candidate for re-election. From the lower honse he was transferred, in 1816, to the senate, where he served till 1828, being elected the president pro tem in 1825-7. Twice during Mr. Jefferson's administration he declined the postmaster- generalship. At the general election in 1824 the state of Virginia cast for him her twenty-four electoral votes for the vice-presidency of the United States. In 1828 he resigned his seat in the senate and all the other public offices which he held, as trustee of the University of North Carolina, justice of the peace, etc. At that time he had been a member of congress for thirty-seven successive years, a longer term of continuous service than has fallen to the lot of any other legislator in our country. It was then his purpose to withdraw finally from every
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