USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
1800
Glass
Book
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
GENERAL HISTORY 11
OF
SHELBY COUNTY MISSOURI
CHICAGO HENRY TAYLOR & COMPANY 1911
HENRY TAYLOR, JR.
W. H. BINGHAM
F452
: .
COPYRIGHT 1911 BY
HENRY TAYLOR & COMPANY
CM.A28370S
FOREWORD
History is the essence of innumerable biographies .- Carlyle.
The invasion and conquest of a wilderness ; the wresting of a vast domain of hill and valley, forest and prairie. from its nomadic and unproductive savage deni- zens ; its transformation into an empire rich in all the elements of modern civiliza- tion,-basking in the smiles of pastoral abundance, resounding with the noise of fruitful industry, busy with a mighty volume of multiform and far-reaching com- merce, and bright with the luster of high mental, moral and spiritual life-the home of an enterprising, progressive, all-daring people, as they founded and have built it, is the theme of this volume.
Its pages teem with biographies of many of the progressive men of Shelby county-those who laid the foundations of its greatness and those who have built and are building on the superstructure-and is adorned with portraits of numbers of them.
It also gives a comprehensive survey of the numerous industries and lines of productive energy which distinguish the people of the county at the present time and those in which they were engaged in all past periods since the settlement of the region began. And so far as past history and present conditions disclose it, the work indicates the trend of the county's activities and the goal which they aim to reach.
How trite, oft-told and well-worn seems the story herein briefly chronicled ! And yet how full of suggestiveness, interest and ineitement is it all! It opens impressively to view the mighty field for earnest endeavor and successful striving there is in the boundless realm of opportunity that is called "The Great American Republie," and has been aptly pronounced "The last great charity of God to the human race." It emphasizes anew the value of courage, self-reliance. industry, devotion to duty and firm and sturdy manhood and womanhood.
The story might well be taken as that of Man himself in his contest with Nature on a gigantie theater of action. Poetry sparkles, Heroism glows, Comedy gambols. Tragedy darkens in its texture, and the golden thread of sentiment runs brightly through its woof. It is, in all essentials, an epitome of American history, too. Wide gulfs of time and space are compassed in its range and made as naught. Since the morning hymn and the evening anthem first rose in hope from its primeval solitudes, distant countries have become near neighbors, the Atlantic has been reduced to a narrow frith across which the Old World and the New shake hands ; the Pacific has been bound to it with hoops of steel, and our own East and West have been brought so close together that they look into each other's windows.
The life herein sketched began with the goose quill ; it continues with the type- writer; it came in under the tallow dip; it goes forward under the electric light ;
iii
1
iv
FOREWORD
it dwelt at first by well and springhouse; it now abides with cold storage, artificial ice and liquid air ; it has quit the stage coach for the palace car, the sail boat for the ocean greyhound, the post rider for the telegraph and telephone, the saddle horse and the gig for the automobile. And now, condemning all more solid and sub- stantial elements of intercommunication, it even dares make the atmosphere its medium in wireless telegraphy and aerial navigation. In all this vast development and progress Shelby county has borne no childish, but a soldier's, part, and it is the aim of this work to preserve in a permanent form the record which proves that fact.
The special thanks of the publishers are due and are warmly tendered to Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Simmons, of Clarence, for their masterful preparation of the general history of the county which enriches the volume; to Mr. Vernon L. Drain, of Shelbyville, for his excellent chapter on the "Bethel Colony" and his sketch of the Shelby County Railroad ; to Mr. W. O. L. Jewett for the chapter on "Shelbina"; to Rev. John H. Wood for assistance on the history of the churches in the county; to Gen. J. William Towson for help in reviewing portions of the work, and to many other persons whose aid is highly appreciated but who are too numerous to be men- tioned specifically by name. Without the valuable and judicious assistance of all these persons, those who are named and those who are not, it would have been impossible to compile a history of the completeness and high character this one is believed to have. The book is now submitted to the judgment of the public with no other voice to proclaim its worth save that of its own inherent merits, whatever they may be. THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Discovery and Early Settlements-Log Cabin Days-Settlers of 1833-A Sur- veying Party-Cholera Epidemics-The First Election-A Postoffice and Store Installed-Shelby County Formed and Organized and Some Events Which Followed-Indians-Wild Animals and Game-The Pioneer Wed- dings-Pioneer Ministers-First Settlements Made in Timber-Pioneers, Pioneer Homes and Comforts-Agricultural Implements-Fishing. 1
CHAPTER II.
Early History-The Name-Important Dates of Public Notices-Important Proceedings 1836 County Court-First Circuit Court-The First Attorney Fisticuff in County Court-Miscellaneous News from Early Court Dock- ets-The First Shelby County Election-August Election, 1836-August Election, 1838-August Election, 1839
21
CHAPTER III.
List of 1835 Settlers-Naming of the Streams-First Coroner's Inquest-A Lost Man-"New York" Shelby County-The New Courthouse-Pioneer Mills-The First Roads-"Bee Trails"-Settlers in Shelby, 1837-The First Bridge-The First Homicide.
29
CHAPTER IV.
Crops in Early Forties-Chinch Bug Year-The Sixteenth Section-German Settlement-Change of County Line-Mail Facilities Improved-A Few Things that Interested the Settlers-Civilization's Sure Advance-Sec- ond Homicide in the County-The First County Conviction-Jefferson Shelton-Jonathan Michael-George Liggett-Miss Alcina Upton-Stock Raising and Shipping-First Jail-California Emigrants-Elections, 1840 -Presidential Election-August Election, 1844
39
vi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER V.
PAGE
Heterogeneous-Election of 1852-Political Campaign of 1856-Presidential Election, 1856-The "Know Nothings"-Election of 1858-Slavery Days- 1860 Presidential Campaign-The Situation in 1860-Stirring Times After the Election-Incendiary Talk
52
CHAPTER VI.
The County's War Record-The Mormon War-The Iowa War-The War of 1861-Governor Jackson Refuses to Respond-The Hunnewell Meeting- The Flag Raising Period-The First Federal Troops-First Union Com- pany Organized-Salt River Bridge Burned-Join Green's Company- Green Takes Shelbina-Report of Colonel N. G. Williams, Third Iowa Infantry-What the Kansas Officers Said-Second Burning of Salt River Bridge-Shelby County Confederate Troops-Movement of Union Forces -General Grant in Shelby-Secession of Missouri-County Court Meeting -Changes in County Officials. 64
CHAPTER VII.
Missouri State Militia Organize-Bushiw hacking in the County-The Bush- whacking Near Walkersville-Stockade Built Around Courthouse-"Spe- cial Order No. 30"-Several Changes in Positions-John L. Owen Killed- Shelby County Men Executed-The 1862 Election. 84
CHAPTER VIII.
Many Join Porter's Command-Federals Hold the County-Bill Anderson Visits Shelby-Fifty-one Killed at Centralia, Missouri-The 1864 Election 92
CHAPTER IX.
Ousting the Officers-Murders and Homicides-Murder of George Queary- "The Dale-Phelps Tragedy"-Bruce Green Kills Calvin Warren-A Negro Murder Case-The Robber Johnson-The Great Benjamin Will Case-The Will-Indicting Rebel Preachers-Registration of Voters- News From Headquarters-The War is Over-The Drake Constitution- After the War-Robbery of the County Treasury-Politics and Election of 1870-Registration in 1870-Census of 1880-Flood of 1876. 102
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER X.
PAGE
The Agricultural Society of Shelby County-The Shelby County Agricultural and Mechanical Association-The Shelbina Fair Association-Local Op- tion and Temperance-Transportation Facilities-The Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad-The Building of the Shelby County Railway-The First Elec- tric Railroad-Chief Pursuits and Surplus Products. 119
CHAPTER XI.
Government Surveys-Original Townships-County and Township Systems- Organization of Townships-Municipal Townships of Shelby County- Tiger Fork Township-Salt River Township-Clay Township-Taylor Township-Bethel Township-Jefferson Township-Black Creek Town- ship-North River Township-Lentner Township. 136
CHAPTER XII.
Newspapers of Shelby County-The Shelbyville Spectator-The Shelby County Weekly-The Shelby County Herald-The Shelby County Times -The Shelbyville Guard-The Shelbina Gazette-The Shelbina Index and Torchlight-The Shelbina Democrat-First Paper in Clarence-The Clar- ence Courier-The Clarence Republican-The Hunnewell Enterprise-The Hunnewell Echo-The Enterprise Resumes Publication-The Hunnewell Bec-The Bethel Sun-The Missouri Sun.
148
CHAPTER XIII.
Some Shelby County Murders and Suicides-William Switzer Murdered in 1864 -Pat McCarty Assassinated-The Buford Tragedy-Murder of Nicholas Brandt-Judge Joseph Hunolt Assassinated-A Leonard Tragedy-Shel- bina Mayor Dies Suddenly-M. Lloyd Cheuvront Shot-Suicide at Clar- ence-The Stacy Murder and Suicide. 155
CHAPTER XIV.
Shelby County-Census of Shelby County-Clarence-Shelbyville-Shelbina- Hunnewell-The Temple of Justice-Courthouse Burned-Three Clarence Fires-Shelby County Congressman
162
viii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XV.
PAGE
Schools, Colleges and Churches-Shelbina Collegiate Institute-Shelbina Pub- lic School-The Macon District Academy at Clarence-College at Leonard -- The Independent Holiness School at Clarence 178
PORTRAIT INDEX
B
Mc
PAGE
1
Burckhardt, John G 518 MeBride, Elias A., and wife 556
582 v McCully, Dr. John M.
M
Christine, John A., and wife .. 590
Manuel, Theodore P. 309
Churchwell, Francis M., and wife. 510
295L
Moore, John H., and wife. 432
Crawford, George W 487
Morgan, David .. 373
Morgan, John R. 396
D
Dimmitt, Dr. Philip 199
N
Dimmitt, Frank. 271
Dimmitt, Lee.
440
Dimmitt, Prince. 319v
Drain, Vernon L.
337¥
P
L
F
Parsons, S. G. 379
Forman, Thomas W
4494
Piekett, Hedgeman, and wife. 464
Freeland, Arthur L.
605
Pollard, Dr. Henry M
406
Funk, Henry S.
526
G
Garrison, Thomas E. 503
Greenfield, Geo. W 4944
H
S
Hawker, Wm. M., and wife. 534
Selsor, Hiram, and wife. 541
Hirrlinger, William A. 565
Shelton, Hon. N. M. 387
Holliday, James L. 573
IFowell, William.
600
Simmons, Mrs. H. J. 416
Hughes, William A. 345
Stribling, James 0.
253
Humphrey, Sen. Geo. W 3556
J
Jewett, Hon. W. O. L. 368
Towson, Gen. J. William. 215
L
Lasley, Charles H. 328
Will, Henry. 472
Lloyd, Hon. James T.
281
Wood, Rev. J. H. 243
Lyell, J. R. 300
Woodward, Crayton. 610
ix
479
Noll, Melchior
Phillips, Eugene C. 456
R
Reed, Thomas W. P 362
Reid, William A.
206
Simmons, Hon. H. Jeane 4144
T
Burnett, Alexander C
PAGE
Merrin, Jacob H .. 548 ª
Cooper, J. T.
INDEX OF VIEWS
PAGE The Old Mill at Walkersville ( Facing) 34 The Old Colony Church at Bethel 173 Type of Block House Erected on Salt River 72 Residence of John A. Christine. 592
Home of Dr. William Keil at Bethel 176
GENERAL INDEX
A
PAGE
Adams, Judge Newton
257
Capp, Robert E.
611
Alexander, Edward P 640
Carmichael, Robert L. 560
Allgaier, James F 213
Carroll, Hansford S.
498
Arnold, Henry. 507
Carson, Dr. William 335
Chinn, John S. 512
590
B
Bailey, John T 229
Bailey, Tilmon 256
Bair, Harry C. 360
Bair, Samuel .J 361
Cockrum. Joseph F 640
553
Baker, Sanford. 571
Baker, James R 651
Collins, Hiram
234
Bank of Lentner 305
259
Barker, James S.
470
Cooper, John T.
225
Barton, John S. 442
377
Bayliss, Dr. W. M.
393
Bean, Thomas A 420
Bethards, Kim ..
555
Bodwell, Forrest G
589
Bonnel, Henry H.
629
Bostwiek, William H
653
D
Dale, John D. 334
Dale, Francis M.
647
Damrell, Edwin M.
340
Bower, Theodore L.
366
Bower, Walter C.
374
Davis, John T. 453
Davis, Dr. Eli C. 270
Dempsey, Hugh 469
484
Dimmitt, Frank.
271
Dimmitt, Walter A.
350
Dimmitt, Dr. Philip.
199
Dimmitt, Lee. 440
Dimmitt, Prince. 319
Dimmitt, Marvin. 627
Douglass, Hardin 313
Drain, Vernon L.
337
xiii
C
Cadwell, Eugene M 338
Callison, Elisha A
339
Crawford, George W 487
Crow, James F 425
Bower, John C 359
Bower, August 363
Bower, David.
364
Bower, Carl E. 365
Damrell, Theodore B.
Daniel, Dr. Joseph A 561
212
Browne, Sidney H., Jr 459
Brown, John .. 475
Buckman, Martin S. 427
Dempsey, Mark.
Bue, John H. 604
Burckhardt, John G 518
Burckhardt, John F 316
Burnett, Alexander 582
Churchwell, Francis M. 510
Citizens' Bank of Clarence. . 391
Citizens' Bank of Shelbyville. 322
Clarence Savings Bank.
387
Claussen, William 516
Baker, Wesley. 461
Coe, Edward M
Collier, Richard.
317
Baker, Isaac N. 645
Commercial Bank of Shelbina.
292
Connaway, J. Polk.
467
Barker, Charles S
Cooper, Alonzo 333
Cotton, William J
613
Cox, Matthew M. 288
Cox, Charles T. 289
Craigmyle, Ferd.
529
Blackford, James G 480
Bauer, John G.
PAGE
Calvert, Ceeilius C. 611
Ayers, Mort. D. 430
Christine, John A.
xiv
GENERAL INDEX
Drennan, Henry C.
630
Graves. Charles A.
454
Duncan, William L
489
Greenfield, Geo. W.
494
Dunlap, Andrew B
265
Griswold. Alonzo L.
412
Dunlap, Robert H.
286
Dunn, Preston. B., Sr.
568
H
Hall, Geo. W. 577
Hammond. Dr. Harry B.
528
Hamilton, James A.
413
Hamrick, Wm. L.
384
Hardy. Jesse T 246
Harrison, James F 314
Hart, William T. 670
Harvey. George W 663
Hawker, Wm. M
534
Hawkins. James W 637
Heinze, Theodore. 505
Herron. William B. 268
Hershey, Michael 638
Hewitt. John J. 320
Hickman, Charles A. 291
Hickman. Joseph H 293
Hickman, Jesse H. 295
Hiles. James J. 501
llirrlinger. William F 421
Feely. Charles R. 552
449
Forman. John. 592
Fox, William S. 473
Freeland. Arthur L. 605
Hoofer, Jacob.
594
Howe, James W. 455
Howell. William. 600
208
Hughes, William A. 345
Humphrey, Sen. Geo. W 355
G
Gable. Jacob. 657
Gamble, William. 443
Garner, Charles B 504
Garner, George B. 602
Garrison. Thomas E. 503
Gerard. Edward N. Jr., M. D. 634
Gibson, William T 547
Gillaspy, John A .. 597
Gillaspy, Richard W. 603
Gillaspy. William L. 579
Gillispie, William II 219
Gilman, George T.
422
Glalm, Christian P
583
Glahn. Ilenry F.
664
Goodwin, Richard D 609
Gorby, Samuel 648
Gose, John T. 221
Grant, George C. 249
Jackson. Robt. T 351
Jacobs, John W. 401
Jacobs. William L. 403
Janes, William P. 276
Janes. Roy. 299
Janes. Thomas 301
Jarrell. Jonathan. 538
Jarrell. James Wesley 539
Jewett. Hon. W. O. L 368
651
Johnston, Lafayette J. 599
Jones. Wade II. 204
Jordan, Arthur E. 476
Jordan, William A 446
K
Keith, John T 136
Keller, Peter 531
668
E
Eaton, Harrison. 307
Eaton, Henry M. 311
Echternacht, Justus F
656
Edelen, James.
348
Edwards. John D. 667
Ertel, John. 485
F
Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Hun- newell . 261
Farmers' Bank of Emden 609
Farmers' Bank of Leonard. 635
Farr, Fred'k M. 343
Farr. Dr. Geo. E.
344
Farrell, Judge Rufus 410 Feely. Theodore W' 550
Feely, Silas M
551
Forman. Thomas W.
Holliday, James L.
523
Holliday, James MI 563
Ilollyman, Jolin ,I 615
Freeman, James M 325
Frye. Edwin A. 267
Frye, John W. 331
Funk. Henry S. 526
PAGE
PAGE
Gunby, William K
Huggins, Albert F.
lirrlinger, William A 565
XV
GENERAL INDEX
PAGE
Keller, Philip, Jr. 533
Kelso, John L. 515
Kemp, Luther 587
Kesner, W. J .. 642
Kimbley, F. M. 632
Krauter, Valentine. 537
0
PAGE
Oaks, Milton P 639
O'Bryan, J. L. 311
O'Bryan, George W 447
O'Daniel, John A. 272
O'Donnell, Richard. 433
Old Bank of Shelbina 263
Oliver, Andrew J 626
Orr. James C. 652
Osburn, Morris
576
P
Parsons, S. G. 379
Peoples. Jolın . 585
Peoples, William Z. T 635
Perry, Judge John T. 323
Perry. Benjamin F. 521
Perry, Oliver Commodore.
650
Peterman, Lewis ,J
418
Phipps, William H.
514
MeAtee, James A. 280
McBride, Elias A. 556
MeCully, John M., M. D. 423
M
Magruder, Willis J. 445
Mannel, Theodore P 309
Martin. Charles Boggs 241
Maupin, Hon. Rice G
235
Maupin, William A. 223
Maupin, Marion M. 439
646
Mears, Samuel H. 660
Melson, James HI
305
Merrin, Jacob H 548
Miles, John S. 228
Miller, Henry G. 558
Million. Burrell. 395
Mitchell, Thomas D 478
520
Moore, John II 432
Moran. Judge James FF 572
Morgan, J. R 396
Morgan, David 3:3
Morgan. William W. 202
Morgan, David. Jr 203
Morgan, James H. 204
N
Nenschafer, John 523
Noll, Melchior .. 479
Nothnagel, Valentine. 519
Quigley, Jolm L.
499
R
Ragsdale, James E. 226
Rathjen. Henry. 511
Rathjen, Harman 536
Raines. William C. 631
Ray, Elmer B. . 620
Reardon, Peter J. 298
Reed, Thomas W. P 362
Reid, William A. 206
Rice, Thomas ,J. 218
Rickey, John C. 390
Ridge, Joseph R. 232
Ridings, Joseph L 408
Roff, George. 2.44
Roff. Thomas.
255
Roy, Dr. James E. 392
Rutter, Michael E. 46
Lasley, Charles II 328
Lewis, Minus H. 401
Lewis, Aaron 401
Libby, Harry J. 222
Lloyd. Hon. James T
281
Lloyd. Oliver Jerre
625
Lowman, John B. 490
Lowman, Samson B.
491
Lyell. J. R ..
300
Lyell, Dr. Thomas W 211
Mc
Phillips, Eugene C ..
456
Pickett, Hedgeman.
464
Pollard. Dr. Henry M. 406
Powell, Hugo. 450
Prange, Harry H. 546
Priest, Thomas E 524
Priest, John C.
500
Pritchard, Walter M. 385
Puckett, Thomas L. 237
Q
Maupin, John Henry
Moore, George W
L
Lair, John W 278
xvi
GENERAL INDEX
S
PAGE
PAGE
Taylor, Reuben Lee 643
Sass, James.
509
Teachenor, Monroe. 617
Schofield, Frank L.
368
Terrill, Engene M. 341
Schwada, Henry. 662
Terrill, John M.
346
Schwieters, Charles N. 428
The Shelbyville Bank 570
Selsor, Hiram.
541
The Hunnewell Bank 263
Shale, John B.
397
Thiehoff, William B 264
Shain, Edward C.
381
Threlkeld. Siłas. 251
Tolle, John D. 371
Shelby County State Bank of Clarence.
383
Towson, Gen. J. William 215
Shelton, Judge Nat. M. 387
Turner, Win. R.
353
Simmons, Hon. H. Jeane 414
Turner, James William 378
616
Singleton, Judge A. E.
327
Singleton, Benjamin H
330
Smith, Dr. Jacob D
210
Smith, Andrew J
284
Smith, J. Sidner
417
Smith, James A.
492
Smith, Lewis.
596
Snider, Peter A
460
Snider, Henry F.
463
Snider, Marion F
465
Spalding, James A
296
Sparks, John F
434
Spencer, James A.
458
Wheeler, Julian A. 274
654
Staleup, William. 641
Whitby, Marvin . 622
Stalcup, George W. 482
White, Stephen A. D 659
Wiggins, John. 488
Will, Henry . 472
Stewart, George E. 535
Williams, Newton E. 231
Willis. H. T., M. D.
239
Stribling, James O. 253
Wilson, Rev. James Jolly
607
Swearingen, William T. 248
Wood, Rev. J. H. 243
Wood, Dr. A. G 302
566
Wood, Hugh W.
451
Woodward, Crayton. 610
Wright, George A 431
Ziegler, Wm. T. 375
Tarbet, James H. 543
Taylor, Robert Edgar 557
Z
542
Vaughn, Albert L. 262
Van Vaeter, Benjamin F
586
Von Thum, Henry 531
Von Thum, John G
545
Warren, William H 201
Way, John. 437
Werr, John H. 506
Speyerer, Frederick G. 481
Wheeler, Lanius L.
Steinbach, William. 357
Steinbach, Albert W 358
Swift, Byron L .. 466
Swinney, Emmett D. 619
V
Van Osdol, Luke 575
Vanskike, James H
Shelbina National Bank. 234
Singleton, Jacob H. 581
Turner, James W
Slover, Lewis Cass 666
Wood, John M.
T
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
DISCOVERY AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS-LOG CABIN DAYS-SETTLERS OF 1833-A SUR- VEYING PARTY-CHOLERA EPIDEMICS-THE FIRST ELECTION-A POSTOFFICE AND STORE INSTALLED-SHELBY COUNTY FORMED AND ORGANIZED AND SOME EVENTS WHICH FOLLOWED-INDIANS-WILD ANIMALS AND GAME-THE PIONEER WED- DINGS-PIONEER MINISTERS-FIRST SETTLEMENTS MADE IN TIMBER-PIONEERS, PIONEER HOMES AND COMFORTS-AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS-FISHING.
DISCOVERY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Ever since the day that Lot and Abram divided- and the former chose for him- self all the plain of Jordan, which was fertile and well watered, and Abram journeyed in the opposite direction, hath the son of man been looking for fertile plains, rich valleys and ever-flowing streams of pure water. Indeed, through- out all ages hath man endured hardships of every description and denied himself all the joys of society in order that he might find broader acres of more fertile land and an abundance of water. This desire burning in the breasts of strong men is what prompted them to turn their faces westward from the coasts of the Atlantic and seek new homes in the in- terior of the then wild and nnenltivated portion of the United States bordering the great Mississippi river. Many were the men who traveled from Virginia and the Atlantic sea-coast states westward
into the bluegrass sections of Kentucky and Tennessee and from thence followed the course of the setting sun across the Father of Waters into Missouri - all seeking fertile soil and fountains of living water where the toil of their hands would yield greater return. Thus it was that Missouri was placed upon the map and became inhabited by men and women of noble blood, and thus it was that Shelby county became a part of this glorious and imperial commonwealth.
There is a difference of opinion among former history writers of Shelby county as to whether or not the county was ever a part of Marion county. In this con- nection Judge James C. Hale, in writing the historical sketch contained in the atlas published by Edwards Brothers in 1878, says :
"We know that some of our respected old citizens hold to the belief that Shelby was once a part of Marion, but this view,
1
2
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
however, cannot be a correct one, for in 1826 Marion county was taken from Ralls by legislative act and its boundary lines fixed. The western boundary of Marion was fixed where it remains today, on a range line between ranges 8 and 9, and in 1831 Monroe county was organ- ized from Ralls, with its northern boun- dary line fixed within two miles of where it remains today, still leaving all the territory between Marion, Monroe and the Iowa line unorganized: so we con- clude that Shelby was until its organi- zation as a distinet and separate county a part of Ralls. Under the old terri- torial organization, citizens of unorgan- ized territory may have been required to pay taxes at the nearest county seat ; of this we cannot speak authoritatively, because the records and books at our command furnish us no certain informa- tion on the subject.
"In the early organization of this state into counties, the object of the legislature seems to have been to make as many counties as the population of the county would permit. And this may have been the reason for restricting Marion to its present limits. Be this as it may, however, we cannot agree that Shelby was ever a part of Marion after the organization of Marion into a county."
From information at our command, and from as thorough an investigation as it is possible for us to make, we can agree with the judge in part only.
The territory embraced in Shelby was not ineluded by the legislative enact- ment creating Marion county in 1826, as Judge Hale says; but what was later and is now Shelby county was, as the records of Marion county show, attached
to Marion, at some date, for military, civil and judicial purposes. In this con- nection, however, we will begin at the beginning and bring the history down from the discovery of the country to the organization of the county. The title to the soil of Missouri, including Shelby county, was, of course, primarily vested in the original occupants who inhabited the country prior to its discovery by the whites, or civilized nations. The aborigines, or Indians, being savages, possessed but few rights that civilized nations considered themselves bound to respect; so, therefore, when the white men found this country in the hands of the savages, they claimed it by right of discovery. The discoverer of Missouri was Fernando De Soto, in 1541. De Soto was a Spaniard. He came as far north as New Madrid county and then moved west across the Ozark mountains. De Soto died in the spring of 1542 and was buried in the Mississippi river.
The Spanish, however, were not the first to settle Missouri. The French pushed westward, and in 1682 La Salle formally took possession of the whole country in the name of Louis XIV and called the country Louisiana, in honor of the reigning king of France. Spain acquired all the territory west of the Mississippi by the treaty of 1763. The territory was, however, ceded back to France in 1800. The country remained in the possession of the French until April 30, 1803. This is the date of the memorable "Louisiana Purchase." The contraet was made by Livingston and Monroe for the United States, and Napo- leon for France. The signing of the contract took place May 2, 1803, and was ratified by the United States senate,
3
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
October 17th of the same year. The con- sideration for this vast amount of land was fifteen million dollars, one-fourth of which was remitted on account of dam- age done to the trade of the Ohio country after Louisiana had been transferred from Spain to France. (For further information on the subject, see "Early History," Chapter II.)
LOG CABIN DAYS.
It is impossible to state definitely, · without chance of error, who really was the first settler of Shelby county as its territory is now limited. In the primi- tive days of 1812 came a party of hunts- men from Kentucky. Edward Whaley, Aaron Foreman and three others entered the county from the west, hailing from Boone's Liek country, on the Missouri river, en route to the Mississippi. Hunt- ing for the head of Salt river, they be- came lost on North river, instead, and followed it to its mouth. They explored this country in a degree, but finally set- tled in Marion and Ralls county. Even before these eame hunters and trappers wandering along Salt river, then called Auhaha, or Oahaha, finding the forest desolate unless they found the red man in his primeval home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.