USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 1
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08044158 1
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1
HISTORY
OF
CALDWELL AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES,
MISSOURI,
WRITTEN AND COMPILED
FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE SOURCES,
INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THEIR
TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS AND VILLAGES,
TOGETHER WITH
A CONDENSED HISTORY OF MISSOURI; A RELIABLE AND DETAILED HISTORY O. CALDWELL AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES-THEIR PIONEER RECORD, RE- SOURCES, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS; , GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS OF GREAT VALUE; INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES. 0
LERA
it. Lords
ST. LOUIS : .n upon,
NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMT won of living 1886. (iii)
-
THENEW YORK PUPLIC LIBRARI 147849 ASTOR LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1900.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1885, by O. P. WILLIAMS & CO.,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
St. Louis, Mo: Becktold & Co., Rook- Binders.
PREFACE.
The work of compiling and publishing the History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties and bringing it before the people in its present form has been protracted over a period of nearly one year. Numer- ous difficulties have beset both compiler and publishers, however, and the work has not been as thoroughly well done, as it would seem it should have been.
The destruction of the Caldwell County records, in 1860 ; the dis- appearance of nearly every one of the early settlers of that county ; the long distance between Missouri and Utah, to which latter territory the Mormon settlers ultimately removed ; the almost total absence of publications and official records pertaining to the history of the county in the early periods of its existence, made the work of obtaining data and material relative to Caldwell extremely difficult.
In Livingston county there are some of the first settlers remaining and the county records are nearly complete. Yet the work of com- piling its history has not been facilitated, but on the contrary greatly embarrassed. The memories of the venerable pioneers are uncertain and variable after the lapse of so many years, and seldom agree and often are in conflict with the records. Names, dates, and details as obtained from different sources present nothing like harmony in many instances, but the greatest confusion. In some cases the painful alter- native of rejecting statements altogether has been deemed necessary ; in others it was impossible to decide what was correct.
Yet, generally speaking, the book is what the people of the two counties have made it. But for their co-operation it never would or could have been written. It is they who have dictated, virtually, what is printed in it, by furnishing chiefly the data and details. If there are mistakes of fact it is they who are jointly responsible with the publishers. Their personal histories, what they and their ances- tors and descendants have wrought, their adventures and experiences, are here set forth upon the authority of their statements in great part.
True, all previous publications and all accessible written records pertaining to the histories of the two counties have been drawn upon, but everything has been made to receive the corroboration of living
(iii )
iv
PREFACE.
witnesses when at all practicable. Much information has been re- ceived by letter from former residents of the counties.
The numerous biographical sketches constitute a prominent feature of the book. Here are the personal histories of individuals, rarely to be found elsewhere, and which will be read with interest not only now but in after years. These sketches have been carefully written, and in most instances revised by the subjects themselves.
Certainly no pains have been spared to make the volume what it was promised it should be. Its publication has been long delayed in order that it might be as nearly as possible in all respects a valuable, accurate and interesting history. On careful examination it is con- fidently believed that while it will be deemed to be far from perfect, it will be found to contain much more than was promised. No one who will peruse it thoroughly can fail to obtain a satisfactory know- ledge of the general history of the two counties, which is the prime object of its publication.
The obligations of the publishers to the people for information fur- nished and assistance rendered are so many and so great that no at- tempt will be made to discharge them ; their general acknowledgment must suffice. The old settlers, the county and municipal officials, editors of newspapers, secretaries and custodians of the records of so- cieties and institutions, and many citizens have all contributed assist- ance To mention each one by name would be a voluminous task : yet the general compiler must acknowledge his great obligation to Rev. F. D. Richards, of Salt Lake City, the church historian of the Latter Day Saints ( or Mormons), for his valuable assistance in fur- nishing documentary and testamentary information pertaining to the Mormon occupation of Caldwell county.
Having so far as it was possible accomplished the work to which our continuous time has been given during the past ten months, and in the hope that a cordial welcome and generous approval may be ac- corded this volume, the same is respectfully submitted.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
CHAPTER I.
Louisiana Purchase
1-7
CHAPTER II.
Descriptive and Geographical
7-13
CHAPTER III.
Geology of Missouri
13-21
CHAPTER IV.
Title and Early Settlements
CHAPTER V ..
Territorial Organization
27-31
CHAPTER VI.
Application of Missouri to be admitted into the Union
31-37
CHAPTER VII.
37-43
Missouri as a State
CHAPTER VIII.
43-53
Civil War in Missouri
CHAPTER IX.
Early Military Record
53-59
CHAPTER X.
Agriculture and Material Wealth
. 59-65
(v)
21-27
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
Education
65-73
CHAPTER XII.
Religious Denominations
73-79
CHAPTER XIII.
Administration of Governor Crittenden 79-85
HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY, MO.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND EARLY HISTORY.
General Description - Topography, Streams, and Economic Geology - Agriculture - Stock, etc. - First Settlers and Settlements -Jesse Mann, Sr., John Raglan, Ben Lovell, Jesse Mann, Jr., and other Early Settlers - Pioneer Life - The Prairies - First Crops Raised - Game and Wild Animals -The "Firsts " - Pioneer Mills - Early Political History - When Caldwell Formed a Portion of Ray - Organiza- tion -- The Organizing Act - For Whom the County was Named 87-106
CHAPTER II. THE MORMON OCCUPATION.
Brief History of Mormonism - The Mormon Bible -Early History of the Mormons in New York and Ohio - Emigration to Jackson county, Mo. - Troubles with the " Gentile " Citizens -The Mormons Mobbed and Persecuted - Expulsion from Jackson County - Settlements in Ray and Clay - The " Mormon Problem " Solved- Caldwell County Created for the Exclusive Benefit of the " Saints " - They Move Up and Take Possession - Settlements Elsewhere - Character of the Settlers in Cald- well - Troubles in the Church - Far West - Salem . 106-124
CHAPTER III. THE MORMON WAR.
Origin of the War -The First Blood Is Shed in Daviess County- The Troubles in that County and Elsewhere - The Mormons Call Out Their Troops - Capt. "Fear Not " and His Company of " United Brothers of Gideon" - The Fight on Crooked River Between Capt. Patton and His " Danites," and Capt. Saml. Bogart and His Com- pany of "Tigers " - Gov. Boggs Calls Out the Militia of the State Against the Mormons- Gens. Atchison, Lucas, Doniphan and Other Commanders Take the Field - Gen. Lucas Moves Upon and Captures Far West and 600 Prisoners -Terms
vii
CONTENTS.
of the Surrender -Full Details - Gen. Lucas Returns Home and Gen. John B. Clark Assumes Command - Gen. Clark's Speech - Suffering of the Mormons - They are Expelled from the County and from the State in Mid-winter . 124-145
CHAPTER IV.
THE MASSACRE AT HAUN'S MILL.
Full and Authentic Details of this Terrible Tragedy - Sworn Statements of Some of Those Who Were Present - The Names of All of the Killed and Wounded - Subse- quent Experiences of Some of the Survivors, etc., etc. 145-160
CHAPTER V.
LEADING INCIDENTS FROM 1832 TO 1860.
The Black Hawk War-The " Heatherly War " - Mormon Claims - Dissenting Mor- mons-A Land Shark - Reminiscences of an Old Settler -Miscellaneous Inci- dents -Two Noted Tragedies of Early Times - Building of the Haunibal and St. Joseph Railroad -- The " Yankees " - Murder of Samuel Stonum . 160-171
CHAPTER VI.
LEADING EVENTS FROM 1860 TO 1863.
The Elections of 1860 -Election of Delegates to the State Convention of 1861 -The Caldwell County Beacon - Beginning of the Civil War -- Secession Flags - Col. Jeff. Thompson's "Order No. 1." -The "Caldwell Minute Men" - The Union Home Guards- Their Part in the Battle of Blue Mills Landing -Roll of Capt. Johnson's Company of Home Guards- Mulligan's Men - Maj. James' Fifth Bat- talion - The " Cornstalk Fight " - A Rebel Raid from Ray - Killing of Judge James Steele. 1862 - Organization of Col. Catherwood's 6th Cavalry, M. S. M. - The Enrolled Militia - During the Poindexter Raid - The Tragedies on the Crab Apple - Killing of Capt. S. M. Longford by the Rebels, and of Four " Rebel Sym- pathizers," Three Out of One Family, by the Militia - House Burning, etc. - The Meaning of Civil War 171-192
CHAPTER VII.
EVENTS OF 1863-1864.
Miscellaneous Events in 1863- Miscellaneous Events in 1864-The Rebel Raid of Thrailkill and Taylor - Full Details and Particulars - The County Treasury Robbery - The 44th Missouri Infantry -Some Tragedies of the War-Killing of Certain Alleged Rebel Sympathizers, John C. Myers, Rev. Frazee, R. S. McBeath, Absalom Harpold, H. D. Whiteneck, and Henry Gist . . 192-222
CHAPTER VIII.
SOME LEADING EVENTS SINCE 1865.
The New County Seat Scheme -- Railroad Subscriptions to the Chicago and Southwest- ern and to the Northwestern Branch of the Tebo and Neosho Railroad - Opinion of Hon. Willard P. Hall as to the Validity of the Latter -The Grangers - Notable Tragedies in the County since 1865 - Killing of Robert Bradley, Lou Marley, James R. Rogers, Pete Lewis, Sam Rogers, George Bohannan, Nathan B. Middaugh, Peter L. Boulton, John Q. Gray and Isaac N. Hemry 222-241
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
STATISTICAL MATTER RELATING TO THE COUNTY SINCE 1865.
Elections since 1865 - Census Statistics of the County - Property Assessments Since 1865- Abstract of Connty Expenditures for 1884 -Assessed Valuation of the County in 1884 for the Taxes of 1885-The Public Property of the County -- Court Houses, Jail and Poor Farm 241-255
CHAPTER X.
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP.
Position and! Description - Streams - Stone - Coal - Early History - First Land Entries - Organization - General History of the Town of Kingston - Incorpora- tion - Present Situation - Churches - Secret Orders - Biographical 255-314
CHAPTER XI.
MIRABILE TOWNSHIP.
Position and General Description - Early History - First Land Owners Before the Mormons - The Mormon Settlements - Early Gentile Settlers - Items - Official History - The Village of Mirabile -General Historical Sketch - Churches - Secret Orders -Cornet Band - Biographical .
314-341
CHAPTER XII.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.
General Description - Origin of the Name of Poor Tom Creek - Coal - The Hamilton Coal Company's Works -Early Settlement - First Land Entries - Organization - The City of Hamilton - General Historical Sketch -The "Firsts " - Miscel- laneous - Incorporations - Churches - Secret Orders - District Fair Associa- tion - Biographical 341-426
CHAPTER XIII.
GOMER TOWNSHIP.
General Description - Early Ilistory - First Land Entries - Organization - The Town of Nettleton 426-444
CHAPTER XIV.
NEW YORK TOWNSHIP.
Position and General Description - Mineral Springs - Early Settlers - First Land Entries -Tragedies of the Civil war - Killing of George Irvin - Wm. Hawks - Organization - IIistorical Sketch of Bonanza and Its Spring - Church Organiza- tions
444-476
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.
Description - Streams - Early History - First Land Entries - White's and Haun's Mills - First Schools and Churches - Rev. Witten's Experience - Items - Organ- ization - Villages, Procterville and Catawba - Procterville M. E. Church - Bio-
476-512 . graphical
CHAPTER XVI.
ROCKFORD TOWNSHIP.
Description - Streams -- The Flat Rock Ford - A Pre-historic Indian Battle -Early History - First Land Entries-First Settlers After the Mormons - Items -- Organization - Christian Union Church - Biographical 512-525
CHAPTER XVII. LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description -Early Settlers -First Land Entries - Miscellaneous - Glassville - Country Churches - Biographical 525-550 .
CHAPTER XVIII. KIDDER TOWNSHIP.
Description - First Settlements-First Land Entries -The Yankees - Organiza- tion - Sketch of M. E. Church at Barwick Chapel - The Town of Kidder -Con- gregational Church - Historical Sketch of Kidder Institute - Biographical 550-587
CHAPTER XIX. DAVIS TOWNSHIP.'
Position and Description - Economic Geology - Coal - Early History, First Settle ments, First Land Entries, etc. - Settlements by the Davises and Others After 1840 - Organization - Black Oak - Biographical 587-614
CHAPTER XX. GRANT TOWNSHIP.
Description - Principal Physical Features - First Settlements - First Land En- tries - Organization - Polo - County Churches
of Grant Township - Bio- graphical . .
- . 614-635
CHAPTER XXI.
BRECKINRIDGE TOWNSHIP.
General Description, Physical Features, etc. - Pioneer History - First Land En- tries - After the Mormons - Organization -The Town of Breckinridge - Early History - First Lot Sales, etc. - In War Times-The Adventure and Death of George Crews and Tom Peery -After the War-Institutions of Breckinridge - Newspapers -Public Schools -Churches - Biographical . 635-672
X
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MO.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS OF THE COUNTY.
General Description - Topography -Timber and Prairie - Streams - Description and Historical Mention of Grand River - Economic Geology -Coal - Gravel - Building Stone- General Description of the Soil -Statistics of Population - Voters -Abstracts of Recent Assessments - Schools - Manufacturing Establish- ments - Banks, Etc. . 673-685
CHAPTER II.
FARLY HISTORY AND FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The First Caucasians-The Early French Occupation - The French Hunters, or " Chasseurs du Bois "- Daniel Boone -The French Traders, Blondeau and Chouteau - Robidoux's Post - Early Indian Alarms - The "Big Neck " and Black Hawk Wars -Martin Palmer, the First American Settler in the Grand River Valley - Other Early Settlements-First Settlement of Livingston - The Indians -Organization of the County . 685-696
CHAPTER III.
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO 1840.
First County Courts-Early Elections, Etc. - First Circuit Courts-During the Mormon War - The First Court-House - Second Court-House-First Bridges, Fer- ries, Stores, Physicians, etc .- Early Marriages - Improving the Wilderness - The Famous " Heatherly War " 696-714 .
CHAPTER IV.
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY FROM 1840 TO 1850.
Census of 1840-The Political Canvass of 1840; the "Log Cabin and Hard Cider " Campaign - Hard Times - Polk and Clay in 1844 - Livingston County Soldiers in the Mexican War - Detailed Account of their Services - Roster of Co. L, 2d Mis- souri Mounted Rifles - Old Militia Muster . 714-731
CHAPTER V. FROM 1850 TO 1861.
The California "Gold Fever " - First Homicide; Killing of Benj. Collins by Joseph Slagle - Politics and Politicians -The " Know Nothings" - Building of the Han- nibal and St. Joseph Railroad -Sketch of the Institution of Slavery - The Political Campaigns of 1860-After the Election of Lincoln -The Case of Rev. J. E. Gardner . 731-751
xi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
LEADING EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1861.
The Missouri Legislature of 1861 -Election of Delegates to the State Convention Called to Consider the Question of Secession - Up to the Firing on Sumter - After - Preparing to Fight-Gen. Slack's Cannon - The Missouri State Guards - The Federal Troops Appear - The Secession Forces Disappear - Federal Military Movements - Trouble in "The Forks " - The Skirmish at Hale's Branch, Etc. - First Union Military Companies Raised in the County - The Home Guards, " Mer- rill's Horse," the 23d Missouri, Etc. - Lewis Best's Exploit - "Prentiss' Pets " - Three Noted Tragedies in 1861 - Killing of Kirk and Curtis - Murder of Wm. Avery -The McWilliams and Snead Tragedies . 751-775
CHAPTER VII.
LEADING EVENTS DURING THE YEAR 1862.
The 1st and 3d Reglments M. S. M .- Assassination of Col. Wm. O. Jennings -The Attack on the Medicine Creek Bridge - Poindexter's Raid -The Fate of Some Confederate Partisans-Joe Kirk and his Operations- Organization of the En- rolled Militia- List of the "Disloyal " - First Emancipation Meeting . 775-794
CHAPTER VIII.
EVENTS OF THE YEARS 1863 AND 1864.
Murder of Wm. P. Frazer- Killing of Joe Hart -The "Radicals " and the "Con- servatives" -1864 - Miscellaneous - Markets in 1864 - County Court in War Times - Elections during the War 795-810
CHAPTER IX.
ELECTIONS SINCE THE WAR.
Adoption of the Drake Constitution - The Third Section of the Drake Constitu- tion -November Election, 1866 - The Presidential Election of 1868-The Political Canvass and Election of 1870 - The Presidential Election of 1872 - Election April 29, 1873 - The " Tadpole " Campaign - Special Election in 1875- Presidential Election 1876-1878-1880-1882-1884 . 810-829
CHAPTER X.
MISCELLANEOUS CRIMINAL AND TRAGIC INCIDENTS.
Murder of James Gordon - Miscellaneous Cases of Homicide, Including D. Morrison,
Festus Joyce, Geo. Cross, "Nigger Sam," Thos. M. Boyles, Thos. K. Conn and Thos. Florence -The Case of Wm. Curtis, - Killing of Henry Gamble - Newton J. Eads-Green Shepherd -The Attempted Robbery of the People's Bank and Death of Smith Rambo - Miscellaneous Tragedies and Casualties - Suicides - Killed by the Railroads . . 829-842
xii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
THE RAILROADS OF THE COUNTY.
Historical Sketch of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad -The Charter - The First Great Railroad Convention at Chillicothe in June, 1847 - What the County did in Aid of the Road -Complete Sketch of the Road until the Present -General His- tory of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad - Other Projected Roads which were never Built -The " Chillicothe and Des Moines " Railroad -The " Chicago and Southwestern " Railroad - The " Ottumwa, Chillicothe and Lexington " Rail- road, the " Utica and Lexington " Railroad, the "Chicago, Burlington and Quiney
Extension " - The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad . . 842-859
CHAPTER XII. WIIEELING TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description - County Schools - First Settlers and First Land Entries - Organization - Sketch of the Town of Wheeling, Its History, Business Interests, Church, Societies, Etc. - Biographies of Certain Citizens of the Township 859-884
CHAPTER XIII. GREENE TOWNSHIP.
Position and General Description - Economic Geology - Grand River - First Set- tlers - Original Land Entries Prior to 1840 - Organization - Items - The Town of Utica - Complete Historical Sketch of the Town, with Notes of Its Leading Institu- tions, Churches, Lodges, Schools, Newspapers, etc. - Biographies of Some of the Old Settlers and Leading Citizens . 884-904
CHAPTER XIV. GRAND RIVER TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description - Archeology - First Settlers - Dates and Description of the First Land Entries - Items of Early History - The Town (?) of Astoria - Sketch of Grandville or "Coonville" - The Township in War Times -- Historical Sketch of the Town of Bedford - Biographical Sketches of Many Old Settlers and Citizens 904-926
CHAPTER XV.
MEDICINE TOWNSHIP.
General Descriptive and Historical Sketch of the Township - Early History - Organ- zation - Churches, etc. - Biographical 926-937
CHAPTER XVI.
CREAM RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
Position - Early History- Original Land Entries - Organization - Some Incidents of the War Period - Country Churches - Farmersville - Miscellaneous Notes -- Bio. graphical . 937-961
xiii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
MOORESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description - Coal - Stone - Soil - Early History - First Land En tries -Tragedies of the Civil War - Organization - The Town of Mooresville - General Historical Sketch - Murder of Brock and Bloom - Churches - Secret Orders - Mineral Springs - Biographies . 961-984
CHAPTER XVIII.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
Boundary - Physical Features - Land Entries -The Name Monroe - Killing of Austin -- Future Outlook of Monroe Township - Biographical . , 984-990
CHAPTER XIX.
JACKSON AND SAMPSEL TOWNSHIPS.
General History - Early Settlers -First Land Entries -Pioncer Religious Services - Mills - Sam Thompson - In War Times - Peace - Spring Hill - Country Churches - Sampsel Township -Town of Sampsel - Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church - Biographical . 990-1042
CHAPTER XX.
1
CHILLICOTHE TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description - Coal - Early Settlements -Sketch of Jamestown - In the Civil War- Capt. Spickard's Encounter with Joe Kirk - Pleasant Grove Church - City of Chillicothe - Laying Out of the Town -First and Second Sales of Lots - Appointed the County Seat - Incorporations - John Graves, The Founder of Chillicothe -First Newspaper in the County - Directory of 1855 -The " Thes- pians " - Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad - Seminary - During the Civil War - Condition of Chillicothe Since the War-The Sisters' Academy - Churches - Lodges - Biographical . . 1042-
CHAPTER XXI.
RICH HILL TOWNSHIP.
Physical Features - Organization - Early History - Land Entries - Coxville - Mis- cellaneous - Churches - Biographical . 1174-1187
xiv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXII. BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description- Early History - First Land Entries -- Items -The Cy clone of 1883-County Churches - General Historical and Descriptive Search of the Town of Dawn - Church - Secret Orders, Etc. - Biographical . 1887-1220
CHAPTER XXXIII.
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.
Geographical and Physical Features - Early History - Land Entries - Organization Avolon - Situation - Miscellaneous - Historical Sketch of Avolon College
1220-1227
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
CHAPTER I. LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The purchase in 1803 of the vast territory west of the Mississippi River, by the United States, extending through Oregon to the Pacific coast and south to the Dominions of Mexico, constitutes the most im- portant event that ever occurred in the history of the nation.
It gave to our Republic additional room for that expansion and stupendous growth, to which it has since attained, in all that makes it strong and enduring, and forms the seat of an empire, from which will radiate an influence for good unequaled in the annals of time. In 1763, the immense region of country, known at that time as Louisiana, was ceded to Spain by France. By a secret article, in the treaty of St. Ildefonso, concluded in 1800, Spain ceded it back to France. Napoleon, at that time, coveted the island of St. Domingo, not only because of the value of its products, but more especially because its location in the Gulf of Mexico would, in a military point of view, afford him a fine field whence he could the more effectively guard his newly-acquired possessions. Hence he desired this cession by Spain should be kept a profound secret until he succeeded in reducing St. Domingo to submission. In this undertaking, however, his hopes were blasted, and so great was his disappointment that he apparently became indifferent to the advantages to be secured to France from his purchase of Louisiana.
In 1803 he sent out Laussat as prefect of the colony, who gave the
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2
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
people of Louisiana the first intimation they had that they had once more become the subjects of France. This was the occasion of great rejoicing among the inhabitants, who were Frenehmen in their origin, habits, manners, and customs.
Mr. Jefferson, then President of the United States, on being in- formed of the retrocession, immediately dispatched instructions to Robert Livingston, the American Minister at Paris, to make known to Napoleon that the occupancy of New Orleans, by his government. would not only endanger the friendly relations existing between the two nations, but, perhaps, oblige the United States to make common cause with England, his bitterest and most dreaded enemy ; as the possession of the city by France would give her command of the Mississippi, which was the only outlet for the produce of the West- ern States, and give her also control of the Gulf of Mexico, so neces- sary to the protection of American commerce. Mr. Jefferson was so fully impressed with the idea that the occupancy of New Orleans, by France, would bring about a conflict of interests between the two nations, which would finally culminate in an open rupture, that he urged Mr. Livingston, to not only insist upon the free navigation of the Mississippi, but to negotiate for the purchase of the city and the surrounding country.
The question of this negotiation was of so grave a character to the United States that the President appointed Mr. Monroe, with full power to act in conjunction with Mr. Livingston. Ever equal to all emergencies, and prompt in the cabinet, as well as in the field, Na- poleon came to the conclusion that, as he could not well defend his occupancy of New Orleans, he would dispose of it, on the best terms possible. Before, however, taking final action in the matter, he sum- moned two of his Ministers, and addressed them follows : --
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