A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I, Part 33

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 731

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The arrival of the stage in Columbia was an important event, far surpassing the arrival of a train of cars at the present time. When the stage reached the hill on Broadway just north of Stephens College, which was then the eastern limits of Columbia, the driver would take out his little brass horn, blow a sort of tune, crack his whip and drive his

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horses full speed down Broadway to the postoffice. All at once he would apply the brakes, pull his horses back on their haunches, toss his lines out to one of the many persons there assembled, pitch the mail bags out and walk into the bar room and take a drink. Even in that early day, the stage driver, like the modern politician and so-called reformer, realized the value of blowing his own horn. After sufficiently quenching his thirst, the driver would return to the street and was then ready to talk business, religion, politics or anything else. He knew the news of the neighboring towns along the road, and he always had in stock a lot of interesting stories regarding his trip, many of which were thrilling and amusing. His experiences in crossing the unbridged streams, his efforts to guide his "coach and four" through the muddy, narrow passes, along the rocky cliffs, and up the steep hills were not only interesting to boys and adults alike, but had they been written and preserved, would have been entertaining to us. To say that the stage driver of that day, with his commanding figure and still more commanding voice, his long whip, his hands full of lines, driving his prancing steeds, was the "Admired of all admirers," is but putting it mildly.

The stage driver, after stopping in town, would pitch his reins out to others, and then he would leave the stage. This was true for the stage driver never fed, nor hitched up nor unhitched his horses. That work he left for the stable men; neither did he grease the wheels nor repair the stage while he was in town, leaving that duty for others. The stage driver considered himself far above such menial work; he was a stage driver, he was a letter-carrier, he was a gentleman.

FAIR ASSOCIATIONS

Col. Wm. F. Switzler is authority for saying that agricultural fairs in Missouri had their origin in Boone county, the first one being held in Columbia, on ground just east of Stephens College campus, in Octo- ber, 1835. No amphitheatre, no floral hall, no band stand, no high fence were to be seen on the grounds, and not even a brass band on that occa- sion, but a silver cup was given to each owner of prize cattle, horses, sheep, hogs and mules.

Boone county has had three other fair grounds in Columbia, one on the Fyfer, or Hubbard place, on the south side of Broadway and east of William street; one where Fair Grounds Addition is now located, and one on the David H. Hickman or Mrs. Sarah Young ground, situ- ated at the north end of Fifth street.

But prior to any of these, Columbia had a race track and paid due attention to horse racing, which may be explained by the fact that the early inhabitants mostly came from the blue grass regions of Kentucky. This race track, said by some to have been constructed in 1825, was on ground south of the original town of Columbia. It began at the corner of Hitt and Rollins streets, extended north through the present site of Read Hall, thence west passing to the north of Lowry Hall and going along where the "Old University Columns" now stand. It then turned to the south and passed in front of Lathrop Hall, and on to the present Rollins Athletic Field, thence to the east to the judges' stand, which was seventy-five or a hundred feet north of the Rothwell gymnasium. The writer can remember, when a small boy, of seeing the ruins of this old race track, an embankment across a little ravine in the back campus of the university, and a cut in the hill on the old Gentry place to the south of Conley avenue.

Fair Grounds Addition was used for many years for the county fair, but in 1890 the ground was purchased by Jas. A. Kimbrough, Ben M. Vol. 1-16

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Anderson and F. W. Smith. These gentlemen used it for camp meeting purposes for two or three years, under the auspices of the M. E. church South, and the annual gatherings were called the "Columbia Summer Assembly."

HIGH WATER

In June, 1844, the Missouri river was higher than ever before or since, the waters extending from bluff to bluff. Much damage was done to growing crops and fences, and one young man, John Collier, of this county, was drowned. During this time, Nashville was under water, and most of it was washed away. John Parker and other merchants moved their stocks of goods, and later built Providence, where they opened up their business.

In June, 1903, the Missouri river again overflowed its banks, and again its waters extended from bluff to bluff. While the water was not as high as in 1844, still much more damage resulted, owing to the fact that there were more buildings, fences and crops in the river bottom, and these were washed away. The Wabash, Chicago & Alton, M., K. & T. and Missouri Pacific railroads stopped running their trains entirely, as many of their stations and much of their track was under water. Many people moved out of their houses just in time to see the houses lifted off their foundations, and go floating down the stream. While there was great destruction of property, there was fortunately no loss of life during this overflow.

In September, 1905, the Missouri river again got out of its banks, and again crops and fences were washed away, and train service crippled on various roads; and the same thing occurred in June, 1908, to some extent.

FONDNESS FOR CELEBRATING

The people of Boone county have ever been fond of celebrations and public displays. In fact, the announcement of such an event has always brought throngs to the place of celebration. Especially were they fond of celebrating the Fourth of July. On such occasion, military proces- sions would be formed and marched, patriotic speeches would be deliv- ered, the Declaration of Independence be read and the day made noisy by the firing of cannon, guns, torpedoes and firecrackers. The night would be illuminated by Roman candles, sky rockets, pin wheels and colored fire. It is to be hoped that our patriotism will always lead us to join in celebrating important events and in showing our sympathy for a cause that we believe to be a proper one.

JULY FOURTH AT SMITHTON

July 4, 1820, was celebrated in appropriate style in Smithton. Such toasts as United States of America, George Washington, Thomas Jeffer- son, James Madison, James Monroe and Henry Clay were responded to. Reuben Cave spoke on "Col. Daniel Boon, the Pioneer of the West- may his last days be his happiest, and may his posterity prosper." Thomas Duly, afterwards one of the first trustees of Columbia, responded to the toast, "the Hon. David Todd, the enlightened judge and accom- plished politician ; may the citizens of Howard county ever appreciate his worth." Judge Todd was afterwards the Whig nominee for governor of Missouri, and the Whigs of Boone and Howard counties supported him and were constantly sounding his praises.

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WHIG MEETING AT ROCHEPORT

The largest political gathering ever held in Boone county, and one of the largest ever held in any town in Missouri, was the Whig meeting at Rocheport in June, 1840. Harrison and Tyler were the Whig candidates for president and vice president, and Van Buren and Johnson were the Democratic candidates. The meeting at Rocheport lasted three days, and addresses were delivered by Fletcher Webster (a son of Daniel Webster), Gen. Alexander W. Doniphan, Gen. Geo. C. Bingham, Judge Abiel Leonard, Judge David Todd, Maj. Jas. S. Rollins and others. Many counties in Missouri sent delegates to this meeting, some of them travel- ing for miles and miles on horseback. Three steamboat loads of jubilant Whigs came from St. Louis, bringing with them several cannon, plenty of flags and pictures of Harrison, and perhaps other things that were then considered necessary for such a celebration. The Whigs of Boone and Howard counties had constructed a log cabin, with a live coon chained to it and a barrel of cider just inside of the door. As delegations would arrive, they were invited to enter the log cabin and take a drink of hard cider, using a gourd for a drinking cup. At night the delegates paraded the streets and roads in the vicinity of Rocheport, carrying ban- ners with the words, "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and a float with a log cabin on it, each delegate wearing a coon-skin cap. It was at first said, by way of ridicule, that General Harrison was born and raised in a log cabin and that he wore a coon-skin cap, but soon such statements created sentiment in his favor, hence the log cabin and coon-skin cap became the party emblems. Between six and ten thousand people attended this meet- ing. They camped on the hill to the east of Rocheport, and they created a sentiment for "Old Tippecanoe" that was lasting.

Among the visitors who attended this Rocheport meeting was Miss Mary Todd, a niece of Judge David Todd, who a few years later married Abraham Lincoln.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE FOURTH

The Fourth of July, 1876, was observed by celebrations in two places in Boone county. The people of Columbia celebrated at the university, it being commencement day and the day on which President S. S. Laws was inaugurated. One hundred students of the military department dressed in costumes similar to that worn by the Continental soldiers, paraded on the campus and around Columbia. At the close of the exer- cises in the university chapel, the artillerymen fired the cannon one hundred times.

At Ashland, on the same day, one hundred citizens, dressed in the costumes worn a century before, represented the members of the Conti- nental Congress. Speeches were made in favor of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the motion was put by the speaker and the vote was unanimous. Then the impersonators of John Hancock and others signed the paper, amid cheers from the audience, and the ringing of an imitation of the Liberty bell.

JEFFERSON'S MONUMENT ON THE FOURTH

On July 4, 1883, a celebration was given in the chapel of the old university, and on the university campus, under the auspices of Christian College and Stephens College. The Declaration of Independence was read by Col. Wm. F. Switzler, and appropriate addresses delivered by Maj. Jas. S. Rollins, President S. S. Laws, of the university, President T. W.

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Barrett, of Stephens College, President W. A. Oldham, of Christian Col- lege, Col. E. C. More and Judge Chas. E. Peers, of Warren county. Pa- triotic music was furnished by Mrs. E. C. More and Mrs. L. E. Thompson. A telegram was received from Prof. A. F. Fleet, of the university, who was then visiting in Virginia, that he had secured the old Jefferson tomb- stone from the members of the Jefferson family and that he had shipped it on that day to Columbia. This telegram was read by President Laws, amid applause; and thus another Fourth of July was added to the history of Thomas Jefferson. The Jefferson monument soon reached Columbia, and has been on the university campus ever since, an inspira- tion to the young men of the largest state that was formed out of the Louisiana purchase, which might well be termed the Jefferson purchase.

On the evening of the Fourth of July, a committee in charge of the fireworks had erected a platform some eight feet high, and intended using it as a place to send up the fireworks. Unfortunately some one dropped fire into the package, and all of the sky rockets were discharged at once. They shot in every direction, but fortunately just over the heads of the frightened crowd. Marcellus Dimmitt, a druggist, was on the platform at the time, and in the excitement jumped off, injuring his foot and ankle, and causing him to go on crutches for a long time.

A. O. U. W. CELEBRATION

The next celebration of the "Illustrious Fourth" occurred in Cen- tralia on July 4, 1884, under the auspices of the Select Knights of A. O. U. W. The Declaration of Independence was read by Prof. L. J. Hall, whose ability as a reader has since been appreciated by the Missouri legis- lature of 1911, and by the United States congress under the leadership of Speaker Champ Clark. Owen T. Rouse, of Randolph county, delivered an address, and thirty-eight little girls, dressed in national colors, rode in the procession, representing the thirty-eight states that then consti- tuted the Union. One of the cannon on the university campus was bor- rowed and taken to Centralia, where the Centralia Light Guards fired the national salute, under the command of Capt. J. W. Kneisley, then representative from Boone county. By mistake of some one, the cannon was prematurely discharged and two men, D. W. Conger and John Finks, were killed.

CLEVELAND CELEBRATION IN 1884

Some days were necessary to determine the result of the election between Cleveland and Blaine in 1884, but when it was definitely set- tled that Cleveland and Hendricks had been elected, the Democrats of Boone county had a monster celebration in Columbia the Monday fol- lowing. Large delegations from every township, every town and almost every neighborhood in the county attended, all carrying flags and many of them carrying tin horns, which were used at every turn. Many ladies rode on horseback and in wagons and carriages in this procession, some of them dressed in red, white and blue costumes. At night, a torch-light procession paraded the streets of Columbia, headed by a brass band, and local orators sounded the praises of Grover Cleveland, and predicted that the much needed reforms were now at hand. The university students joined in the celebration, and it is hardly necessary to say that they had a good time, and, by their stunts, added to the enjoyment of the occasion. The crowd, although unusually large, was a well-behaved one, and no acci- dents resulted from this overflow of Democratic patriotism.

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DEMOCRATIC JUBILEE AT ROCHEPORT

In 1884, one week following the Democratic meeting at Columbia there was held a Cleveland Democratic celebration at Rocheport, which was also noted for its size, harmony and good feeling, crowds being pres- ent from Boone, Howard, Cooper and Moniteau counties. Col. Wm. F. Switzler and E. W. Stephens, who were rival editors and had previously belonged to two warring factions, shook hands, buried the hatchet and promised ever afterwards to be political friends. Jno. M. Samuel, a very successful Democratic office-holder of this county, in making a speech, said that the old radical party had seen the handwriting on the wall, and that the words, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin," had forever sealed its doom. As soon as his speech was finished, he was taken to task by a certain politician from Columbia, who said that those were the words on the cross on Calvary. The two men agreed to leave it to a certain' preacher, the Rev. J. McBarron, to decide. After he was asked the mean- ing of those words, Mr. Barron said: "Well, it is difficult to give a literal translation of those words, but the substance is that the Lord is tired of a man where he is, and sends him out in the woods to eat grass like an ox. "

THE FOURTH AT ROCHEPORT

July 4, 1895, was celebrated by the good people of Rocheport; and, in addition to a baseball game, the usual amount of noise from firecrack- ers, a picnic dinner and a balloon ascension, the people were entertained by oratory. State Treasurer Lon V. Stephens made a speech, and was introduced by Editor Willard J. McQuitty, of the Rocheport Commer- cial, as the "next governor of Missouri." His words proved prophetic, for Mr. Stephens was elected governor the next year. Col. Wm. F. Switz- ler made a speech on "Betsy Ross and the Flag."

ANOTHER CENTRALIA CELEBRATION

On July 4, 1902, Centralia "remembered the Fourth," and her people showed their patriotism in various ways, a free dinner, patriotic decora- tions and public speaking. J. Kelly Pool presided, and speeches were delivered by A. M. Dockery, then governor of Missouri, Col. Wm. F. Switzler and Senator Chas. J. Walker.

SANE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

The first "sane Fourth of July celebration" occurred in Columbia, under the auspices of the Columbia Commercial Club, and the exercises · were held on the university campus, July 4, 1912, just twenty-nine years after the accident to Mr. Dimmitt. As advertised, no cannon, no fire- crackers, no fireworks nor explosives of any kind were used. Prof. John R. Scott, of the university, read the Declaration of Independence to the large crowd on the campus; and Mrs. Luella W. St. Clair-Moss, of Chris- tian College, delivered an address on "True Patriotism." A number of boys and girls sang patriotic songs, and danced around the May pole, using red, white and blue ribbons. These exercises were in charge of Misses Frances L. Denny and Julia Sampson. Different business men in Columbia offered prizes to the boys and girls, who would best represent colonial and revolutionary characters; and the young people appeared, dressed in proper costumes. After the crowd had been entertained by looking at the different contestants, the judges announced that they had awarded the prizes as follows: George Washington, Benton Banta ;

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Thomas Jefferson, Harold Greene; Daniel Boone, Norman Trenholme; Paul Revere, William Taylor; Powhatan, Harold Meyer; Goddess of Liberty, first prize, Sarah Steenbergen, second prize, Emma Davis; Martha Washington, Aletha Pemberton; Dolly Madison, Marion Babb; Pocahontas, first prize, Catherine Tandy, second prize, Aldeah Wise; Priscilla, first prize, Mary Gentry, second prize, Mary Banks; Molly Pitcher, Marion Stephenson; Betsy Ross, Rosemary Belcher. It is needless to say that no accident resulted from such a satisfactory cele- bration of our Nation's birthday.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

For many years the Boone county courthouse was the place for hold- ing public meetings of various kinds. Not only have the various courts been there held, but railroad meetings, gravel road meetings, water works meetings, fair association meetings, farmers alliance and grange meet- ings, local option meetings, anti-local option meetings, old settlers reun- ions and political meetings of nearly every character. In order to secure the relocation of the university in Boone county, after the fire of 1892, the citizens of this county held a meeting there and raised the sum of fifty thousand dollars, which was paid to the State of Missouri.

On February 8, 1866, David H. Hickman and James L. Stephens pre- sented a petition to the county court which was the longest petition ever filed in any proceeding in this county. It contained a double column of signatures, and the petition, when spread out on the floor, extended across the courthouse from east to west. It was a petition, asking the county court to appropriate money with which to build a railroad from Columbia to Centralia, and also to appropriate money with which to con- struct a gravel road from Columbia to Claysville by way of Ashland, another gravel road from Columbia to Rocheport, and a third gravel road from Columbia to Cedar creek, the Callaway line. A crowd of anxious citizens had assembled in the courtroom, and for once in the history of this county, proceedings in court were greeted with applause. The court on that day decided to appropriate two hundred thousand dollars to be used in paying for the Columbia branch to connect with the North Mis- souri Railroad (now the Wabash) at Centralia, and also decided to appro- priate one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be used in paying for the three gravel roads above mentioned. Bonds of this county were then issued for those sums, and every dollar has long since been paid.

On May 20, 1871, another meeting was held in the county courtroom and another petition presented to that court, asking it to appropriate eight thousand dollars to aid in the construction of the Columbia and Blackfoot gravel road. The court made the order; and that road also stands as a monument to the wisdom of our fathers and our grandfath- ers.

In 1899, another meeting was held in the courthouse and the sum of twenty thousand dollars was raised and donated for the construction of the Missouri Midland Railroad, a road eight miles in length. now the Columbia branch of the M., K. & T. system.

In 1906, still another meeting was there held, and the sum of sixty thousand dollars was raised, by the sale of town lots, and the money donated to the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company in consideration of the location of a shoe factory in Columbia.

MEMORIAL MEETINGS

On four occasions our people have been called together, and. in the old courthouse, without regard to political ties, have given expression

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to their sorrow over the death of our national officials, Presidents Lin- coln, Garfield and Mckinley, and Vice-Presidents Hendricks and Hobart. Similar meetings have been held on occasions when some of the prominent citizens of our county have died, John H. Lathrop, Warren Woodson, John W. Harris, James Harris, John M. Samuel, James S. Rollins, John Hinton, Robert L. Todd, James L. Stephens, B. McAlester, W. Pope Yea- man, Wm. F. Switzler, Odon Guitar and others. And there, the law- yers have always met after the death of a brother lawyer, and, laying aside whatever differences they formerly entertained, have taken appro- priate action regarding the loss of one with whom they labored. And there, the lawyers have also prepared memorials and adopted resolutions regarding the deaths of Judge David Todd, Judge Wm. A. Hall, Judge Geo. H. Burckhartt and Judge Jno. A. Hockaday.

FLAG POLES

In 1876 the Democrats of Boone county, and especially of Columbia township, erected a flag pole, dedicated to Tilden and Hendricks; in 1880, they erected one to Hancock and English ; in 1884, they erected one to Cleveland and Hendricks; in 1888, they erected one to Cleveland and Thurman; and in 1892, they erected one to Cleveland and Stevenson. These flag poles were placed in front of the old courthouse, a few feet south of the curbing. Of course a flag was fastened to the top of the pole, and usually the names of the candidates for president and vice presi- dent were painted on it in large letters. A large crowd, a brass band and local orators would be on hand on the day when a pole was raised and the pole would be allowed to remain till about two months after the election.

Perhaps the largest one of these poles was the one erected in 1892; it was one hundred feet tall and twelve inches across at the lower end, and cut from a sycamore tree that grew on the river near McBaine. When Walnut street was paved with brick in 1906, it became necessary to do a little grading in front of the courthouse, and the butt ends of these flag poles were found, silent witnesses of the political glory of the past.

THE FIRST COURTHOUSE

In 1824 the county court let the contract for building the first court- house in Boone county, in pursuance of the following, which was pub- lished in the Missouri Intelligencer:

PUBLIC NOTICE.

The commissioners of Boon county will, on the first day of the next term of the circuit court of said county, at the town of Columbia, on the second Monday in June next, let to the lowest bidder, the building of the hull of a court house, forty feet square, and two stories high, to be covered with good shingles. Payment- part cash, and the balance cash notes. They will also sell, at the same time and place, about forty lots in said town, at six and twelve months' credit.

Particulars made known on the day of the letting of the house and sale of lots. JOHN GRAY, LAWRENCE BASS, JEFFERSON FULCHER, ABSALOM HICKS, . DAVID JACKSON, Commissioners of Boon county.

May 1, 1824.

This courthouse was a two-story brick, and the floors of both circuit and county courtrooms were of brick. The prisoner occupied what was called the prisoner's dock, and was seated across the room from and oppo- site the witness chair, presumably in order that he might "confront his

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accusers." At the first term of circuit court held in this building, Judge David Todd presided, and Roger North Todd was clerk, and James Barnes was sheriff. This building stood where the present (1909) court- house stands, and north of the ground for many years thereafter occu- pied by the Columbia Baptist church.

THE COURTHOUSE OF 1846

Shortly after the location of the State University in Boone county, the people of this county began agitating the question of a new courthouse. In December, 1845, the contracts for such a building were let, and the work was begun in 1846. Larkin Richardson did the stone work, Henry Kenne the brick work, B. McAlester the wood work, Rolly Asberry the plastering, and Dr. William Jewell was superintendent. This building was a two-story brick structure and consisted of a circuit courtroom, grand and petit jury-rooms on the second floor, and county courtroom, sheriff's office, collector's office and ladies' waiting-room on the first floor. Having some sentiment, our people erected the university building at the south end of Eighth street, and the courthouse at the north end of that street. The center door of the courthouse was due north of the center door of the university, and the two were just one-half mile apart. The courthouse, as erected, had a cupola, but no clock in it. So in 1859, Jas. L. Stephens undertook to raise the money to buy a suitable clock, but he made a failure of it. He thereupon contributed that sum himself, and bought the town clock, and the people of Columbia and Boone county had the benefit of that timepiece for just one-half a century.

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A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I, Part 33

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 731

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 731