USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08192152 4
الحب.
Grundy History
THE
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY, L. U.
MISSOURI.
AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF USEFUL INFORMATION, AND A COMPENDIUM OF ACTUAL FACTS.
IT CONTAINS
A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND ITS CHIEF CITIES- ST. LOUIS, KANSAS CITY AND ST. JOSEPH ; ITS PIONEER RECORD, WAR HISTORY, RESOURCES, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS OF GREAT VALUE, POR- TRAITS OF PROMINENT CITIZENS, AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF MISCELLA- NEOUS MATTER, IN- CIDENTS, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
KANSAS CITY, MO .: BIRDSALL & DEAN. 1881.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 106264A ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R 1923 L
PRESS OF MILLS & COMPANY, DES MOINES.
DEDICATION AND PREFACE.
TO THE MEMORY of those who so kindly assisted the author in his work, and to the city of Trenton, its institutions and enterprises, this volume is dedicated.
While it has been an interesting labor to gather from the oldest citizens their reminis- cences of events occurring in the first settlement of Grundy county, and to carefully search the old volumes of newspapers, whose editors had given a weekly resume of the current events of the times, who had urged forward and joined in many of the enterprises and were con- neeted with the earlier institutions of the county, and like " sea shells found where the ocean had been, to tell that the great tide of life was onee there." The task has been long, tedi- ous and wearisome, with difficulties environing the way at every step, and it has only been accomplished by the exercise of patient research and perseverance.
It has been the earnest aim of the writer to record only such facts as are based on the most reliable and trustworthy authority, and to this end every available source. of creditable infor- mation has been exhausted. No effort has been made at mere rhetorical embellishment ..
There may be a few errors in the book-none are perfect. Typographical errors are found in all works and this will doubtless not prove an exception, but the intelligent reader will find them no obstacle to a elear and easy understanding of the subjects before him.
There will be found biographies of a number of the best and most useful citizens of the county. Future generations will want to know of what composed the manhood and womanhood of an era that tried the stamina of the bravest, the truest and the best.
Much has been given to local matters, and the county's history in all its phases has been brought from the realms of obscurity into the broad light of day. Much more could have been written about very many of the oldest and best citizens of Grundy county who have aided us in securing valuable matter for this history, and to one and all the publishers and author re- turn their sincere thanks for the courtesy extended. They would, however, more especially mention the following, who have been unremitting in their kindness, and carnest in their en- deavor to secure us all available information in their power: Mayor Collier, County Clerk D. C. Pugh, Deputy Clerk E. B. Cooper, the press of Trenton, Judge A. H. Burkeholder, Prof. T. B. Pratt, Preston W. Bain, Jesse Bain, Thomas Torpey, G. P. Hammer, William C. Swayze, Major John C. Griffin, and many of the old pioneers, Dr. and William N. Peery, I. M. White, and the county officials of Livingston county. To the above named gentlemen, who have rendered us invaluable assistance, the publishers and author return their sincere thanks, and to their kind and persevering effort much of the value of this history is duc.
Having objection to extended prefatory remarks, the writer, in making his parting salaam. would adopt the advice of an old author, "Forbear the prelude, and give the contents of thy tale. "
THE AUTHOR.
1
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CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE .- Brief Historical Sketch ... 9-12 CHAPTER II.
DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL .- Name-Ex- tent - Surface - Rivers - Timber-Climate- Prairies-Soil-Population by Counties ...... 13-18 CHAPTER III.
GEOLOGY OF MIS-OURI .- Classification of Rocks -Quaternary Formations-Tertiary-Cretace- ons - Carboniferous - Devonian - Silurian- Azoic-Economic Geology-Coal-Iron-Lead -- Copper - Zinc - Building Stone-Marble- Gypsum - Lime -- Clay- Paints - Springs - Water Power. .18-23
CHAPTER IV.
TITLE AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS .- Title to Mis- souri Lands -- Rights of Discovery -- Title of France and Spain -- Cession to the United States -- Territorial Changes-Treaties with In- dians -- First Settlement -- Ste. Genevieve and New Bourbon -- St. Louis -- When Incorpora- ted -- Potosi-St. Charles -- Portage des Sioux- New Madrid -- St. Francois County -- Perry --- Mississippi -- Loutre Island-" Boon's Lick " -Cote Sans Dessien-Howard County-Some First Things-Counties -- When Organized .. . 23-28
CHAPTER V.
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION .-- Organization, 1812 -Council-House of Representatives-Wil- liam Clark, first Territorial Governor-Edward Hempstead, First Delegate-Spanish Grante -- First General Assembly-Proceedings -- Second Assembly -- Proceedings -- Population of Ter- ritory -- Vote of Territory -- Ruius Easton- Absent Members -- Third Assembly -- Proceed- ings-Application for Admission. ... .... 28-31
CHAPTER VI.
ADMITTED TO THE UNION. - Application of Mis- souri to be Admitted into the Union-Agita- tion of the Slavery Question-"Missouri Com- promise" .- Constitutional Convention of 1820 -Constitution Presented to Congress-Fur- ther Resistance to Admission-Mr. Clay and his Committee Make Report --- Second Compro- mise-Missouri Admitted. .. 31-34
CHAPTER VII.
MISSOURI AS A STATE .- First Election of Governor and Other State Officers -Senators and Repre- seutatives to General Assembly -- Sheriff's and Coroners -- U. S. Senators -- Representatives in Congress -- Supreme Court Judgea-Counties Organized -- Capital Moved to St. Charles -- Official Record of Territorial and State Offi- cers .35-38
CHAPTER VIII.
CIVIL WAR IN MISSOURI .-- Fort Sumter Fired Upon-Cali for 75,000 Men-Governor Jackson Refuses to Furnish a Man - U. S. Arsenal at Liberty, Missouri, Seized -- Proc amation of Governor Jackson-General Order No. 7 -- Legi lature Convenes-Camp Jackson Organ-
PAGE.
ized-Sterling Frice Appointed Major-general -Frost'e Letter to Lyon-Lyon's Letter to Frost-Surrender of Camp Jackson-Procla- mation of General Harney-Conference Be- tween Price and llarney-Harney Superseded by Lyon-Second Conference-Governor Jack- son Burns the Bridges Behind him-Procla- mation of Governor Jackson-General Blair Takes Possession of Jefferson ( ity-Procla- mation of Lyon-Lyon at ~plingheld-State Offices Declared Vacant-General Fremont Assumes Command-Proclamation of Lieu- tenant-governor Reynolds-Proclamation of Jefferson Thompson and Governor Jackson- Death of General Lyon-Succeeded by Stur- gis-Proclamation of McC'ullough and Gamble -Martial Law Declared-Second Proclamation of Jeff. Thompson-The President Modifies Fremont's Order-Fremont Relieved by Hun- ter-Proclamation of Price-Hunter's Order of Assessment -- Hunter Declares Martial Law- Order Relating to Newspapera-Halleck Suc- ceeds Hunter-Halleck's Order No. 81-Simi- lar Order by Halleck-Boone County Stand- ard Confiscated-Execution of Prisoners at Macon and Palmyra-General Ewing's Order No. 11-General Rosecrans takes Command- Massacre at Centralia-Death of Bill Anderson -General Dodge Succeeda General Rosecrans -List of Battles .. 39.46
CHAPTER IX.
EARLY MILITARY RECORD .- Black Hawk War- Mormon Difficulties --- Florida War -Mexican War. 47-50
CHAPTER X.
AGRICULTURAL AND MATERIAL WEALTH .- Mis- souri as an Agricultural State -- The Different Crops -- Live Stock -- Horses-Wules --- Milch ('owe- Oxen and Other Cattle-Sheep-Hogs- Comparisona-Missouri Adapted to Live Stock -Cotton-Broom-corn and other Products- Fruits - Berries - Grapes -- Railroads -First Neigh of the "Iron Horse " in Missouri- Names of Railroads - Manufactures- Great Bridge at St. Louis ..
.50-54
CHAPTER XI.
EDUCATION .- Public School System of Missouri -- Lincoln Institute-Officers of l'ublic School System-Certificates of Teachers-University of Missouri -- Schools -- Colleges-Institutions of Learning - Location -- Libraries -- Newspa- pers aud Periodicals -Number of >chool Chil- dren-Amount Expen ed -- Value of Grounds and Buildings-' The Press "
. . 55-61
CHAPTER XII.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS .- Baptist Church-Its History -- Congregational - When Founded- Its History-Christian Church-Its History- Cumberland Presbyterian Church-Its History - Methodist Episcopal Church-Its History- Presbyterian Church-Its History Protestant Episcopal Church-Its History-United Pres- byterian Church -Its Ilistory - Unitarian Church-Its History-Roman Catholic Church Its History
62.63
6
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF ST. LOUIS.
PAGE.
ST. LOUIS. - First Settlement-Arrival of the First Steamboat-Removal of the Cspital to Jeffer- son City -- When Incorporated - Population by Decades-First Lighted by Gas-Death of one
of Her Founders, Pierre Choutesu-Ceme- teries-Financial Crash - Bondholders and Coupou-clippers-Value of Real and Personal Property-Manufacturers-Criticism .. ...... 66-76
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY. MISSOURI .- A Sketch-The New Life-Its First Settlement-Steamboat Events from 1840 to 1846-Mexican War-Santa Fe Trade-Railroads-Commercial Advancement -Stock Market-Pork-packing -- Elevators and
Grain Receipts-Coal Receipts-Buildings- Railroad Changes - Banks - Newspapers - Churches-Secret Societies -Public Schools- Manufacturing Center- Her Position and Trade-Assessed Valuation-Close ...... .... 77-96 *
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI .-- Early Settlements-The First Settlement at Blackstone Hills-Robi- doux-Biographics) Sketch-At the Bluffs- Then at Roy's Branch and Blacksnake Hills-
1834-1836-Robidoux's Home-Employes-Ser- vant-Ferry-From 1837 to 1840-Rival Towns -Wolves .. 97-117
LAWS OF MISSOURI.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION LAW .- Husband not Lia- ble -- Rights of Married Women -- Hedges Trimmed - Changing School house Sites- Marriage License-Purchasing Books by Sub-
1 scription-Forms of Deeds, Leases and Mort- gages- Notes - Orders- Receipts - Valuable Rules-Weights and Measures. .118-129
STATISTICS.
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES .- By Races - Increase-Miles of Railroad in United States - Telegraph Lines and Wires-Cotton Crop-
·
Coal Fields-Cereal Production-Presidential Vote from 1789 to 1880-Dates of Presidents' Births. .130-134
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
INTRODUCTORY. -- Geological Formation -- Surface- Boundaries-Name -- Early Inhabitants-The Home of the Indian-Irresistible March of Civilization-When Grundy County was Set- tled-The Van-guard of Progress-" The Good Old Times "-Reverence for the Pioneer. .. 135-137
CHAPTER II.
PIONEERS .- Early Settlers -- 1833 -- 1834-First Store -- Heatherly Gang-1838-1839 -- New Settlement -Mormon Family-Campaign, 1840-Women Pioneers-Wedding Tours-Marriage Record -First Coffin -- Cheaper Market-Hard Cider Campaign-Names of Old Settlers-Tetherow and Lomax-The Coming County Seat Strug- gle-Poem-1841 ... 137-170
CHAPTER III.
GRUNDY COUNTY ORGANIZED .- Metes and Bounds -First Elections -- First Road-School Lands -First School Organization - Township Boundaries-County Organization-Hon. Felix Grundy-First Sheriff -County Justices -- First Circuit Court-County Seat Imbroglio- Writ of Error-Election of County Officers- New Court-house -- First Deed-Stray Notices -Original Townships -Mexican War-Free- man of Color-Naturalization-In Court .. 170-208
CHAPTER IV.
THE GOLD FEVER .- New El Dorado-A Deficiency -Contest of 1861-Union and Confederate Meetings-The Twenty-third Missouri-Pitts- burg Landing -- Field of Shiloh-Death of Tin- dall - Tribute to his Memory - Eulogy of
Woolfolk-Roll of Company B-Confederates -Grundy County Battalion-The Forty-fourth -- Peace-The Blue and the Gray-The Dark Days of the Civil War, 1862-65 .... 209-233
CHAPTER V.
COMING DAWN. - Miscellaneous - Railroads - "Look Out for the Cars"-First Officers- Description -- County and Town Subscription -- Economy-The Jail-The Most Accomplished Unfortunate-Iron Bridge-New Townships -Metes and Bounds-Towuship Registration -Election-Low Assessment of Railroad Prop- erty - Poor-farm -The Centennial Year- Hail, Rain and Wind Storm-New Judicial Districts-Wool-Growers' A sociation-First Marriage License-The County Debt ... .. 234-25!
CHAPTER VI.
RESOURCES. - Central Location-Surface - Coal- Building Stone-Timber and Prairie -- Climate- Soil-Cereals -- Tobacc :- Average Crop -- Fruits and Vegetables-Vintage -- Grasses - Stock- Number of Head of Live-stock. .. 252-264
CHAPTER VII.
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION .- Organization-Incorporators-First Officers- New Organization-Board of Directors-Con- stitution and By-laws-Grounds ... 267-274
CHAPTER VIII.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. - When Organized- First Officers-List of Granges-Declaration of Purposes-200 Wagons and 10,000 Bushels of Wheat .. .. 274-280
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER IX.
SCHOOLS OF GRUNDY COUNTY .- Educational-Ex- ploring the Records-School Organization- Enumeration in 1847-Number of Children. 1853 and 1854-School moneys-Progress from 1865-School Commissioners-New Era-Su- perinteude: t's Report-School Fuud, 1874- Steady Growth -Letter from State Superin- tendeut-School Fund by Townships, 1875 -- 1876-County Superintendent's Report, 1879 --- 1880 - Value of school Property and Report for 1881-" The Men Who Have Guided ". . 281-291 CHAPTER X.
MISCELLANY .- County Map -- Cyclone, 1880-Po- litical -- Population and its Increase-Censns of 1880- Comparison-Official Vota of Grundy County, 1880-Tenth District for 1880-Valua- tion of Property-Assessment by Townships, 1874-Assessment, 1879-Valuation, 1881-Im- migration-Grundy County's Advantage ... 292-304
CHAPTER XI.
COUNTY OFFICIALS .- Election in 1842-Sheriff's- Defalcation-Circuit and County Clerks-Mis- sing Funds-Cost of Snit-Circuit Clerks- County Treasurers-Probate Judges-Salaries - Members of the Legislature-State Senators -Circuit Judges-Circuit and County Attor- neys-Judicial, Senatorial and Congressional Districts- Congressmen - County Judgea -- County Officers, 1881.
304-314
CHAPTER XII.
. TRENTON TOWNSHIP .- Description-Boundary- First Election -- Steady Progress-The Com- ing Storm -- Railroad Fever-Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad -- $40,000 Raised-Rejoicing -Schools, etc .- Biographies .... . . . . . . 314-340
CHAPTER XIII.
CITY OF TRENTON-Commanding Situation -- New Life-Business-Second Railroad -- Manufac- turing -- Deed of the Town Site -- The City Charter -- Plat of Trenton -- Incidents --- Con- tinued Progress -- Milk Wagon -- " Iron Horse and Joy Unspeakable"-Crossing the Line -Machine-shops-Close of 1871 341-360
CHAPTER XIV.
SOMETHING OF A BooMr .- Onward March, 1872 -- First Fire-company-Building Association- Brewery -- Financial-Crash - Railroad Busi- ness-Public Library-Gas Works-Hotels- Banks-Trenton Silver Cornet Band -- Passing Events - Prehistoric -- Gala Day -- Depot Burned -- Telegraph -- Trenton's Business Houses .. .. 360-377
CHAPTER XV.
THE EARLY BAR, ETC .-- Early History-Bar of 1841-Juries-Important Case -- The Present Bar-Trenton High School History-Its Rise and Progress-Its Present Condition-Coal- Trial Shaft-The First Company-The New Organization-Depth of Shaft-The Coal Vein -- Woolen and Flouring-mill - Cost-Weather and Crops-Below and Above Zero -- Crops In- jured-A Review of its Effects-Trenton's Officials, 1857-1881-Places and Distances .. 378-387
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PRESS OF TRENTON .- Trenton Pioneer- Herald-Christian Pioneer-Trenton Re- publican-Its Changes of Name and Proprie- tors-Its Political Course-Incidents in its Career-Grundy County Times-Organ of the Democracy-More Wood-Daily Bazar- Trenton Weekly Star-First Appearance- Monthly Star-Daily Star-Its Principles- " What Becomes of Editors?"-Daily Eren- ing Republican-A Forward Movement .. . 388-397
CHAPTER XVII.
CHURCHES, LODGES, ETC .- Presbyterian-Meth- odist-Catholic- Christiau-Baptist-Colored Baptist-Colored Methodist-When they were
PAGE ..
Organized- When Bullt-Names of Pastors- Membership-General Hlstory-Trenton Post- office-The First Portmanter-Names of all the Postmasters Quarterly Returns -- Money Order Department Ita Receipts-Secret Or- ders and Societles- Odd Fellows-Knights of Pythias-Order of United Workmeu-Kolghts of Honor-Golden Spray Tabernacle . .. 897-413
CHAPTER XVIII.
MEDICAL SOCIETY, CRIMES, ETC .- Trenton C'ol- lege-When Incorporated- Medical Society -- When Organized-Qualification of Members- Railroad and Machine-shop =-- Number of Em- ployes - Expenditures - Coal Consumed - Waste and Oil Used-Managers -- Crimes-The War Period-Robbery and Murder-Burglar Shot and Captured-Blographies-Alphabet- ical List of Sketches -- Prominent Citizens of Trenton 413-491
CIIAPTER XIX.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP .- Its Location-One of the Group of Seven -- Its Soil, Creeks, Woodlands spd Prairies-Its First Settlers-The First "Corn-cracker " - The First Cabin -- Early Events - Elections -- Churches - Schools - Spickardsville-Its Incorporation-Mayor and Trustees-Additions-A Shipping Point-Its Schools and Churches -- Its Business in 1581- Names of its Business Men -- Biographical Sketches. 492-519
CHAPTER XX.
MARION TOWNSHIP .- Its Boundary Lines-1838 to 1842-The Heatherly War-The Redskins- $70,000 Cost-Thomas's Grove-Churches- Schools-The First School-house-An Elope- ment-Preparing for Battle, an Incident-The Indian Outhreak of 1842 The Gulliver War- Assassination-Description-First Elections- 'Township Officers- Lindley-Its First Settlers -Incorporation-Business Houses-Its Fa- mous Mineral Spring-Biographies. .. . . . 520-555
CHAPTER XXI.
MADISON TOWNSHIP .- Metes and Bounds-Acres of Land-When Settled-The First Birth in the County-Old Settlers-The Fright-Saved Their >calps-The First School-The First Wedding-Mi'ls-Edinburg-Grand River Col- lege-When First Started-A Complete His- tory-Business-Petition for Incorporation- Incorporated-1881-Biographies .... . . . .556-601
CHAPTER XXII.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP .- Its Municipal Boundary- Woodland, Prairies and Running Waters-Its First Settlers-The Bain Settlement-Death of Riason Bain-Union Church -- Trading with the Indians -- The First School and School- house-The First Church-New Settler -- War Period -- When Organized-Public Servants Incidents-A Memorable Tramp-A Solid Note -Assessed Valnation-Biographies ..... 601-633
CHAPTER XXIII.
WILSON TOWNSHIP .- Early Settlement -Silken Bonds Into the World, and Out-Schools and Churches-First Universalist Church-Orgau- ization - Population, etc .- Tragic Events- Town of Alpha-Petition to Incorporate - Present Officers -- Business Directory-Biogra- phies
.640-656
CHAPTER XXIV.
TAYLOR TOWNSHIP .-- When Organized-Old Zack -The Early Pioneers-The First Cabinet- shop in Grandy County-The Silent Dead- Schools and Churches-Old Mrs. Duncan-Its First Officers-The Mormon Troubles-Dark Deeds and Darker Crimes-Biographies ... . 656-663
CHAPTER XXV.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP .- An Original Township -Organized by Livingston County Court in 1$30-Its Present Boundary-First Settlement
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
-The Old Pioneers-Prairies and Timber-Its Living Waters-Its First Church and Minis- ter-The Old Log School-bonse-Its Present Officers-Au Accident-Noble Effort - A Mem- ber of the Legislature-Biographies ... .669-676
CHAPTER XXVI.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP .- Its Early Settlement-From Indiana, Illinois and Virginia-Trading-point -Forest and Streams-Prairie-Births and Deaths- First Physician-Wedding Bells- Christianity and Education-Extent of Do- main-First Township Officers-Where they Met-Population-Present Township Board -- Biographies 677-689
CHAPTER XXVII.
MYERS TOWNSHIP .- Its Location -- Organized in 1872-Running Streams-Undulating Prairies -Forests of Timber-When Settled -- Indians and Wild Game -- 1840-41-Institutions of Learning-Methodist and Christian Churches -- The First Baby -- Cartmill Rickets Nuptials -Spinning-wheel and Loom-Its First and Present Township Officers-Biographies ... 689-704
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PAGE.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP .- Settled in 1838-Named in 1845-The Old Pioneers - Marriages -- Births and Deaths-Ministers and Doctors-Schools -The First Divorce in Grundy County-Val- uation-Railroad - Town of Gault-Biogra- phies. . 705-709
CHAPTER XXIX.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP .- When it was Organized - Acres of Land-Boundaries-Population-Its Schools and Churches-History of the Church- ex-The Old Pioneers-How They Lived, What They Saw and How They Conquered-Early Marriages and Deaths-Its Political Status- Township Officers-Biographies ... .709 726.
CHAPTER XXX.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP-How Situated-Area in Acres-When Organized - Its Metes and Bounds-Early Settlers-Fancy Sketch-First Election, 1837-Pioneer Incidents-Schools and School-houses-The Cost of the First School-house - Pioneer "transportation-Cli- " a'e, Soil and Prosperity-Township Officers, 1881-Biographies. 727-739
PORTRAITS.
Col. John H. Shanklin .. 145
163
Judge George Hall.
401
Col. W. B. Rogers. 197
Hon. George H. Hubbell.
231
M. G. Kennedy 469
Hon. A. H. Burkeholder.
265
Luther Collier 503
Hon. R. A. De Bolt. 299
Judge Stephen Peery 333
Hon, E. F. Horton. 367
Col. Jacob T. Tindall.
Gilbert D. Smith 435
Judge George A. Spickard. 537.
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
CHAPTER I.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The purchase 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 important 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, one hundred and eighteen years ago, 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 under- taking, however, his hopes were blasted, and so great was his disappointment, that he apparently became indifferent to the advantages to be derived to France from his purchase of Louisiana.
In 1803 he sent out Laussat as prefect of the colony, who gave the people of Louisiana the first intimation that they had had, that they had once more become the subjects of France. This was the occasion of great rejoicing among the inhabi- tants, who were Frenchmen in their origin, habits, manners and customs.
Mr. Jefferson, then President of the United States, on being informed 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 Western States, and give her also
10
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
control of the Gulf of Mexico, so necessary 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 con- junction with Mr. Livingston. Ever equal to all emergencies, and prompt in the Cabinet, as well as in the field, Napoleon 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 summoned two of his Ministers, and addressed them as 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 possessions 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 com- pared to their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexation they have manifested on seeing it return to the power of France, I am certain that their first object wi be to gain possession of it. They will probably 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 it out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an attack 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 conciliate. 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."
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