USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 1
USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 1
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History
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HISTORY
OF
HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES,
MISSOURI.
WRITTEN AND COMPILED
FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE SOURCES,
INCLUDING A HISTORY OF ITS
TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
TOGETHER WITH
A CONDENSED HISTORY OF MISSOURI; A RELIABLE AND DETAILED HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES-ITS PIONEER RECORD, RESOURCES, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS; GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS OF GREAT VALUE; INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.
ILLUSTRATED.
ST. LOUIS: NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMPANY. 1883.
143612 ASTOI LLUVOX AND TILDEN FOUr DAT ONS 1900.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by O. P. WILLIAMS & CO., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
LIBR
·
R
1899
SE
ON
RIAN COLLEC
St. Louis, Mo .: Press of Nixon-Jones Printing Company.
PREFACE.
What wonderful changes a few years have wrought in this western country ! Less than eighty years ago not a single white man dwelt within the present confines of Howard and Cooper Counties. Their soil, had doubtless, occasionly been pressed by the feet of the reckless hunter and the daring ad- venturer, but their beautifully rolling prairies, their charming timber-fringed streams and enchanting groves were the homes of the antelope, the elk, the deer and the red man. How all has been changed by the hand of progress! To-day the busy hum of industry everywhere resounds, and the voice of culture and refinement echo where once was heard the howl of the wild beast and the war-whoop of the Indian.
These have been years of important events ; events fraught with interest to the sons and daughters from the old firesides of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, and from the more distant homes beyond the Atlantic. The energy and bravery of these hardy pioneers and their de- scendants have made Howard and Cooper Counties what they are. Their labors have made the wilderness to "bud and blossom as the rose ; " and to preserve the story of this won- derful change and to hand it down to posterity as a link in the history of the great country of which these counties form an integral part, has been the object of this book. While the publishers do not arrogate to themselves a degree of accuracy beyond criticism, they hope to have attained a large measure of exactness in the compilation and arrangement of the almost innumerable facts and incidents which are here treated. These facts and incidents have been gleaned from the memory and notes of the old settlers; and, although an error may here and there seemingly occur, the reader must not hastily conclude that the history is in fault, but rather test his opinion with that of others familiar with the facts.
iv
PREFACE.
It only remains for us to tender the people of Howard and Cooper Counties in general, our obligations for the courtesy extended to us and our representatives during the preparation of these annals; without their aid, this history would have been left buried beneath the debris of time, unwritten and un- preserved.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE - BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH
1-7
CHAPTER II.
DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL
.
7-13
CHAPTER III.
GROLOGY OF MISSOURI
13-21
CHAPTER IV.
21-27
CHAPTER V.
27-31
CHAPTER VI.
31-37
CHAPTER VII.
MISSOURI AS A STATE
37-43
CHAPTER VIII.
CIVIL WAR IN MISSOURI
-
43-53
CHAPTER IX.
EARLY MILITARY RECORD OF THE STATE
53-59
CHAPTER X.
AGRICULTURE AND MINERAL WEALTH .
59-65
CHAPTER XI.
EDUCATION - THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM .
65-73
CHAPTER XII.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
.
73-79
CHAPTER XIII.
GOV. CRITTENDEN'S ADMINISTRATION
79-85
.
TITLE AND EARLY SETTLERS
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION
ADMISSION INTO THE UNION
vi
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
CHAPTER I. PAGE.
THE PIONEER - INTRODUCTION, ETC.
87-100
CHAPTER II.
EVENTS FOLLOWING EARLY SETTLEMENT - WAR CLOUDS
100-107
CHAPTER III.
TERRITORIAL LAWS - ORGANIZATION, ETC.
107-128
CHAPTER IV.
PIONEER LIFE
128-140
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP SYSTEMS -GOVERNMENT SURVEYS
140-184
CHAPTER VI.
HISTORY OF BOONE'S LICK TOWNSHIP
148-157
CHAPTER VII.
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP .
157-176
CHAPTER VIII.
HISTORY OF RICHMOND TOWNSHIP . 176-204
CHAPTER IX.
HISTORY OF CHARITON TOWNSHIP
204-236
CHAPTER X.
HISTORY OF PRAIRIE, MONITEAU, BURTON, AND BONNE FEMME TPS.
236-243
CHAPTER XI.
BENCH AND BAR - CRIMINAL RECORD . 243-258
CHAPTER XII.
THE PRESS OF HOWARD COUNTY
258-264
CHAPTER XIII.
MEXICAN WAR -CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS - WAR OF 1861
264-293
CHAPTER XIV.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES - RAILROADS - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 293-307
CONTENTS.
vii
CHAPTER XV.
PAGE.
POLITICAL HISTORY
.
307-320
CHAPTER XVI.
PHYSICAL AND GEOLOGICAL FEATURES 320-327
CHAPTER XVII.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY .
329-332
CHAPTER XVIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
332-352
CHAPTER XIX.
LIST OF HOWARD COUNTY OFFICIALS FROM 1816
352-358
BIOGRAPHICAL.
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP
358-425
CHARITON TOWNSHIP
425-186
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
486-529
BOONE'S LICK TOWNSHIP.
529-543
MONITEAU TOWNSHIP
543-568
PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP
568-586
BURTON TOWNSHIP
586-602
BONNE FEMME TOWNSHIP
602-610
ADDENDUM OF HOWARD COUNTY
610-617
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION - FIRST SETTLEMENTS
617-629
CHAPTER II.
CUSTOMS OF EARLY DAYS
629-639
CHAPTER III.
ORGANIZATION OF COOPER COUNTY - EARLY COURTS
629-652
CHAPTER IV.
HISTORY OF BOONVILLE TOWNSHIP
652-682
CHAPTER V.
HISTORY OF BLACKWATER, CLARK'S FORK AND CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIPS 682-687
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
PAGE.
HISTORY OF KELLY TOWNSHIP
687-691
CHAPTER VII.
HISTORY OF LAMINE AND MONITEAU TOWNSHIPS
691-694
CHAPTER VIII.
HISTORY OF LEBANON TOWNSHIP
694-700
CHAPTER IX.
HISTORY OF OTTERVILLE TOWNSHIP
700-709
CHAPTER X.
HISTORY OF PALESTINE TOWNSHIP
709-715
CHAPTER XI.
HISTORY OF PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP -
715-721
CHAPTER XII.
HISTORY OF PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIP .
721-725
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF SALINE TOWNSHIP
725-729
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRESS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS .
729-736
CHAPTER XV.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
736-752
CHAPTER XVI.
WAR HISTORY
752-775
CHAPTER XVII.
BENCH AND BAR - CRIME AND SUICIDES
775-789
CHAPTER XVIII.
RAILROADS - MISCELLANEOUS FACTS
789-801
CHAPTER XIX.
CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS -TEMPERANCE EXCITEMENT
801-80 5
CHAPTER XX.
805-813
SAMUEL COLE
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXI.
PAGE.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 813-829
CHAPTER XXII.
OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE COUNTY 829-836
CHAPTER XXIII.
FIRST CELEBRATION OF FOURTH OF JULY IN COUNTY
836-841
CHAPTER XXIV.
CONCLUSION - COOPER COUNTY OF 1883 841-856
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BOONVILLE TOWNSHIP
856-937
BLACKWATER TOWNSHIP
937-940
CLARK'S FORK TOWNSHIP
940-958
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP
958-965
KELLY TOWNSHIP
965-979
LAMINE TOWNSHIP
979-1002
LEBANON TOWNSHIP
1002-1012
MONITEAU TOWNSHIP
1012-1029
OTTERVILLE TOWNSHIP
1029-1048
PALESTINE TOWNSHIP
1048-1089
PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP
1089-1115
PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSINI'
1115-1135
SALINE TOWNSHIP
1135-1166
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
(1)
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 Frenchmen 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 : -
" I am fully sensible of the value of Louisiana, and it was my wish to repair the error of the French diplomatists who abandoned it in 1763. I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk of losing it ; but if I am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more to those who force me to part with it, than to those to whom I shall yield it. The English have despoiled France of all her northern pos- sessions in America, and now they covet those of the South. I am determined that they shall not have the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but'a trifle compared to their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexation they have mani- fested on seeing it return to the power of France, I am certain that
3
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
their first object will be to gain possession of it. They will proba- bly commence the war in that quarter. They have twenty vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, and our affairs in St. Domingo are daily getting worse since the death of LeClerc. The conquest of Louisiana might be easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an at- tack upon it. Such a measure would be in accordance with their habits ; and in their place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to deprive them of all prospect of ever possessing it, to cede it to the United States. Indeed, I can hardly say that I cede it, for I do not yet possess it ; and if I wait but a short time my enemies may leave me nothing but an empty title to grant to the Republic I wish to con- ciliate. I consider the whole colony as lost, and I believe that in the hands of this rising power it will be more useful to the political and even commercial interests of France than if I should attempt to retain it. Let me have both your opinions on the subject."
One of his Ministers approved of the contemplated cession, but the other opposed it. The matter was long and earnestly discussed by them, before the conference was ended. The next day, Napoleon sent for the Minister who had agreed with him, and said to him : - " The season for deliberation is over. I have determined to re- nounce Louisiana. I shall give up not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, withont reservation. That I do not undervalue Lonis- iana, I have sufficiently proved, as the object of my first treaty with Spain was to recover it. But though I regret parting with it, I am convinced it would be folly to persist in trying to keep it. I commis- sion you, therefore, to negotiate this affair with the envoys of the United States. Do not wait the arrival of Mr. Monroe, but go this very day and confer with Mr. Livingston. Remember, however, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, and I do not wish to com- mence it by levying new taxes. For the last century France and Spain have incurred great expense in the improvement of Louisiana, for which her trade has never indemnified them. Large sums have been advanced to different companies, which have never been returned to the treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for these. Were I to regulate my demands by the importance of this territory to the United States, they would be unbounded ; but, being obliged to part with it, I shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must have fifty millions of francs, and I will not consent to take less.
4
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
I would rather make some desperate effort to preserve this fine country."
That day the negotiations commenced. Mr. Monroe reached Paris on the 12th of April, 1803, and the two representatives of the United States, after holding a private interview, announced that they were ready to treat for the entire territory. On the 30th of April, the treaty was signed, and on the 21st of October, of the same year, Con- gress ratified the treaty. The United States were to pay $11,250,000, and her citizens were to be compensated for some illegal captures, to the amount of $3,750,000, making in the aggregate the sum of $15,000,000, while it was agreed that the vessels and merchandise of France and Spain should be admitted into all the ports of Louisiana free of duty for twelve years. Bonaparte stipulated in favor of Louisiana, that it should be, as soon as possible, incorporated into the Union, and that its inhabitants should enjoy the same rights, privileges and immunities as other citizens of the United States, and the clause giving to them these benefits was drawn up by Bonaparte, who presented it to the plenipotentiaries with these words : -
" Make it known to the people of Louisiana, that we regret to part with them ; that we have stipulated for all the advantages they could desire ; and that France, in giving them up, has insured to them the greatest of all. They could never have prospered under any Euro- pean government as they will when they become independent. But while they enjoy the privileges of liberty let them remember that they are French, and preserve for their mother country that affection which a common origin inspires."
Complete satisfaction was given to both parties in the terms of the treaty. Mr. Livingston said : -
" I consider that from this day the United States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she has entirely escaped from the power of England," and Bonaparte expressed a similar sentiment when he said : " By this cession of territory I have secured the power of the United States, and given to England a maritime rival, who, at some future time, will humble her pride."
These were prophetic words, for within a few years afterward the British met with a signal defeat, on the plains of the very territory of which the great Corsican had been speaking.
From 1800, the date of the cession made by Spain, to 1803, when it was purchased by the United States, no change had been made by
5
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
the French authorities in the jurisprudence of the Upper and Lower Louisiana, and during this period the Spanish laws remained in full force, as the laws of the entire province ; a fact which is of interest to those who would understand the legal history and some of the present laws of Missouri.
On December 20th, 1803, Gens. Wilkinson and Claiborne, who were jointly commissioned to take possession of the territory for the United States, arrived in the city of New Orleans at the head of the American forces. Laussat, who had taken possession bnt twenty days previously as the prefect of the colony, gave up his command, and the star-spangled banner supplanted the tri-colored flag of France. The agent of France, to take possession of Upper Louisiana from the Spanish authorities, was Amos Stoddard, captain of artillery in the United States service. He was placed in possession of St. Louis on the 9th of March, 1804, by Charles Dehanlt Delassus, the Spanish commandant, and on the following day he transferred it to the United States. The authority of the United States in Missouri dates from this day.
From that moment the interests of the people of the Mississippi Valley became identified. They were troubled no more with uncer- tainties in regard to free navigation. The great river, along whose banks they had planted their towns and villages, now afforded them a safe and easy outlet to the markets of the world. Under the pro- tecting ægis of a government, republican in form, and having free access to an almost boundless domain, embracing in its broad area the diversified climates of the globe, and possessing a soil unsurpassed for fertility, beauty of scenery and wealth of minerals, they had every incentive to push on their enterprises and build up the land wherein their lot had been cast.
In the purchase of Louisiana, it was known that a great empire had been secured as a heritage to the people of our country, for all time to come, but its grandeur, its possibilities, its inexhaustible resources and the important relations it would sustain to the nation and the world were never dreamed of by even Mr. Jefferson and his adroit and accomplished diplomatists.
The most ardent imagination never conceived of the progress which would mark the history of the " Great West." The adventurous pioneer, who fifty years ago pitched his tent upon its broad prairies, or threaded the dark labyrinths of its lonely forests, little thought that a mighty tide of physical and intellectual strength, would so rapidly
6
HISTORY OF MISSOURI
flow on in his footsteps, to populate, build up and enrich the domain which he had conquered.
Year after year, civilization has advanced further and further, until at length the mountains, the hills and the valleys, and even the rocks and the caverns, resound with the noise and din of busy millions.
" I beheld the westward marches Of the unknown crowded nations. All the land was full of people, Restless, struggling, toiling, striving, Speaking many tongues, yet feeling But one heart-beat in their bosoms. In the woodlands rang their axes; Smoked their towns in all the valleys; Over all the lakes and rivers Rushed their great canoes of thunder."
In 1804, Congress, by an act passed in April of the same year, divided Louisiana into two parts, the "Territory of Orleans," and the " District of Louisiana," known as "Upper Louisiana." This district included all that portion of the old province, north of " Hope Encampment," on the Lower Mississippi, and embraced the present State of Missouri, and all the western region of country to the Pacific Ocean, and all below the forty-ninth degree of north latitude not claimed by Spain.
As a matter of convenience, on March 26th, 1804, Missouri was placed within the jurisdiction of the government of the Territory of Indiana, and its government put in motion by Gen. William H. Har- rison, then governor of Indiana. In this he was assisted by Judges Griffin, Vanderburg and Davis, who established in St. Louis what were called Courts of Common Pleas. The District of Louisiana was regu- larly organized into the Territory of Louisiana by Congress, March 3, 1805, and President Jefferson appointed Geu. James Wilkinson, Gov- ernor, and Frederick Bates, Secretary. The Legislature of the ter- ritory was formed by Governor Wilkinson and Judges R. J. Meigs and John B. C. Lucas. In 1807, Governor Wilkinson was succeeded by Captain Meriwether Lewis, who had become famous by reason of his having made the expedition up the Missouri with Clark. Governor Lewis committed suicide in 1809 and President Madison appointed Gen. Benjamin Howard of Lexington, Kentucky, to fill his place. Gen. Howard resigned October 25, 1810, to enter the war of 1812, and died in St. Louis, in 1814. Captain William Clark, of Lewis and Clark's expedition, was appointed Governor in 1810, to succeed Gen.
7
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Howard, and remained in office until the admission of the State into the Union, in 1821.
The portions of Missouri which were settled, for the purposes of local government were divided into four districts. Cape Girardeau was the first, and embraced the territory between Tywappity Bottom and Apple Creek. Ste. Genevieve, the second, embraced the terri- tory from Apple Creek to the Meramec River. St. Louis, the third, embraced the territory between the Meramec and Missouri Rivers. St. Charles, the fourth, included the settled territory, between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The total population of these dis- tricts at that time, was 8,670, including slaves. The population of the district of Louisiana, when ceded to the United States was 10.120.
CHAPTER II.
DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL.
Name - Extent - Surface - Rivers -Timber -Climate - Prairies - Soils - Popula- tion by Counties.
NAME.
The name Missouri is derived from the Indian tongue and signifies muddy.
EXTENT.
Missouri is bounded on the north by Iowa (from which it is sep- arated for about thirty miles on the northeast, by the Des Moines River), and on the east by the Mississippi River, which divides it from Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, and on the west by the Indian Ter- ritory, and the States of Kansas and Nebraska. The State lies (with the exception of a small projection between the St. Francis and the Mississippi Rivers, which extends to 36°), between 36° 30' and 40° 36' north latitude, and between 12º 2' and 18° 51' west longitude from Washington.
The extreme width of the State east and west, is about 348 miles ; its width on its northern boundary, measured from its northeast cor- ner along the Iowa line, to its intersection with the Des Moines
8
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
River, is about 210 miles ; its width on its southern boundary is about 288 miles. Its average width is about 235 miles.
The length of the State north and south, not including the narrow strip between the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers, is about 282 miles. It is about 450 miles from its extreme northwest corner to its southeast corner, and from the northeast corner to the southwest corner, it is about 230 miles. These limits embrace an area of 65,350 square miles, or 41,824,000 acres, being nearly as large as England, and the States of Vermont and New Hampshire.
SURFACE.
North of the Missouri, the State is level or undulating, while the portion south of that river (the larger portion of the State ) exhibits a greater variety of surface. In the southeastern part is an extensive marsh, reaching beyond the State into Arkansas. The remainder of this portion between the Mississippi and Osage Rivers is rolling, and gradually rising into a hilly and mountainous district, forming the out- skirts of the Ozark Mountains.
Beyond the Osage River, at some distance, commences a vast ex- panse of prairie land which stretches away towards the Rocky Moun- tains. The ridges forming the Ozark chain extend in a northeast and southwest direction, separating the waters that flow northeast into the Missouri from those that flow southeast into the Mississippi River.
RIVERS.
No State in the Union enjoys better facilities for navigation than Missouri. By means of the Mississippi River, which stretches along her entire eastern boundary, she can hold commercial intercourse with the most northern territory and State in the Union ; with the whole valley of the Ohio ; with many of the Atlantic States, and with the Gulf of Mexico.
"Ay, gather Europe's royal rivers all -
The snow-swelled Neva, with an Empire's weight On her broad breast, she yet may overwhelm; Dark Danube, hurrying, as by foe pursued, Through shaggy forests and by palace walls, To hide its terror in a sea of gloom; The castled Rhine, whose vine-crowned waters flow, The fount of fable aud the source of song;
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