USA > Missouri > A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I > Part 56
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Still another road was the old stage road from Glasgow and Boonville northward, and, as years passed by, reaching the Iowa line and finally on to Des Moines. It passed through Bloomington, the county seat, thence on to LaPlata and to Kirksville.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
The territory above described was originally a part of that Mother of Counties, Old Howard, and when her daughter, Randolph, was sep- arated by legislative hand, Randolph county then extended to the Iowa line. As a matter of course, the pioneer, with his natural restlessness and his shyness of the restraints and limitations of civilization, slipped up these roads and left no record behind him of the date he crossed the south line of Macon county. Doubtless it was away back in the '20s.
But Randolph was not the only county to the south. The present Monroe county was there and its people would naturally follow up the Salt river into Macon county. The same is equally true of Ralls and Marion counties. To the southwest was Chariton county, and its people would follow the Muscle fork into Macon county.
The southeast corner of the county, now known as Middle Fork town- ship, was one of the earlier settlements, and at a very early date the country to the southwest was settled by the Morrows and others who pre- ceded them. However, Mr. James Loe had made a settlement just south of Callao and some time thereafter built a mill on the Chariton river. It was claimed it was a considerable time before the Loe family saw any human being save the Sioux Indians on their hunting expedi- tions. Somewhat earlier, possibly, the Blackwell settlement near Moc- casinville, which was about five miles north of Macon and just west of the Bee Trace, was started. Mr. Blackwell was quite a prominent man and gave the name to the settlement. Farther to the west and north, over in range 15, there was a settlement known as the Owenby settle- ment. This was largely developed in the early '30s. West of the Char- iton. in township 57, sprang up, somewhat early, the Lingo settlement. These settlements on the south, like Topsy, just grew to the north.
In range 13 there was a very considerable settlement on Ten Mile creek and also on Bear creek, coming chiefly from Marion and Ralls counties.
The early settlers from necessity followed the usual course and located in the timber along the streams. There water was near, timber at hand for their cabins and comfort was found at the least outlay of labor and money. The wild turkey infested the woods. The deer had his run through the timber and, not far distant, the prairie chicken had his habitat. The riffe could be trusted for meat and a few acres of cleared ground could produce the necessary bread.
The settlers, like in all the counties to the south, were largely Virginians and Kentuckians. North Carolinians and Tennesseeans were
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also found in goodly numbers, and, not infrequently, these came through the old Northwest Territory. Natives of that territory likewise were in the number and New England was not without its representatives. A very considerable number were slave owners and brought their slaves with them and acquired land and commenced the opening of large farms. These were not numerous and were found more largely in the southern part of the county, though they were spread to the northern part in the early '50s.
ORGANIZATION
The general assembly in the winter of 1836-37 organized the county, extending from the north line of Randolph county to the Iowa line. The act appointed Joseph Baker and Henry Lassiter as commissioners to select a county seat. They located it in the Owenby settlement, in what was then known as Box Ankle and later Bloomington. It was the fifty- seventh county to be organized in the state.
The county court convened for the first time on the 1st of May, 1837, at Joseph Owenby's. The court consisted of John S. Morrow, Joseph Owenby and James Cochran. Daniel C. Hubbard was the clerk and Jefferson Morrow was the sheriff appointed by the governor. They righted up the old township bounds that had been made by the Randolph county court, and ordered an election for justices, and, among other things, appointed a commission to open a road commencing at Jones' mill on Middle fork of Salt river and running by way of Centerville. Fred Rowland's and Dan Crawley's and intersecting with the Bee Trace on the grand prairie, meaning, no doubt, to go to Moccasinville and on to the old county seat. The second meeting of the court was held on the 3d of July at the house of Dabney C. Garth, which became the capitol of the county. .
The first term of the circuit court was not held until August 17. Judge Thomas Reynolds, being the judge of the second judicial circuit of the state, presided. Circuit court had seventeen civil and ten crim- inal cases on its docket the first year. The criminal cases were one mur- der case and various misdemeanors, such as marking hogs and gambling.
The first marriage was performed on April 30, 1837, by the Rev. Wm. Sears, of the Primitive Baptist church, and united in matrimony Joseph P. Owenby and Nancy Garrett.
The court house was ordered built at the August term of the county court in 1838 a wooden concern. But the county court had some ambition, and. in November, 1839, ordered a brick court house, forty-five feet square, two stories in height and at an estimated cost of $30,000. The house was completed in 1852.
RAILROADS
As stated above, the great stage road from Hannibal to St. Joseph ran through the center of Macon county. So in 1853 when the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was located it naturally fell within the boundaries of Macon county and runs through township 57.
The North Missouri Railroad was projected in 1853. Among its incorporators were some Macon county men.
After the war the Missouri & Mississippi Railroad was projected, running northeast from Glasgow, Howard county, through Macon, Knox and Clark counties to the Mississippi river. This road was located through Macon City. The county made two subscriptions, amounting to $350,000. The road was not completed and in the panic of 1873 it was abandoned. Later on the St. Louis, Macon & Omaha air line was pro-
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jected, running from Macon in the direction of Omaha. This road had some work done on it. Its location touched old Bloomington. Hudson township subscribed $60,000 and Liberty $40,000. These bonds were defaulted and finally compromised and settled.
PIONEER LIFE
The dwellings of pioneers in Macon county were copies of the well- known pioneer cabin. It is easy to see that this is a matter of necessity. He brought his axe with him, and maybe, occasionally, had a crosscut saw, and sometimes some fortunate fellow had an ill-assorted kit of tools, including an adze or broadaxe, possibly. Poles were at hand, growing in the timber. These were straight and could be found of desired lengths, from sixteen to twenty feet.
Doubtless the modern housewife would scare at the idea of a dirt floor and the immense amount of dirt that would go with it. Well, that depends somewhat. The dirt of the floor became packed until it often glistened in a way, and when brush brooms were used, as in some in- stances, and other brooms when broom corn would grow, the deft art of the pioneer housewife made those floors look clean and refreshing.
One wonderful thing about one of these cabins was its capacity to take care of people and house strangers. The latch-string was on the outside and no questions were asked, but the invitation was : "Come in, be seated and welcome."
The furniture of these houses was as varied as the tastes and inge- nuity of the owner and his wife. A pioneer bedstead would be some- thing interesting were there space to describe it. There is a little insti- tution that existed in every home in those days that seems almost to have passed from memory. That is the trundle-bed. If it was not brought along, it was not hard to construct one. It was placed during the waking hours under the other bed and consequently occupied but little room and could be pulled out when occasion required.
The following story is told of the distinguished Methodist Bishop Marvin : Stopping one day in one of these cabins, he was put to bed at night with the children in the trundle-bed. In the night the little fellow beside him wakened him by crying and saying: "Mother, mother, this man's a scrougin' me." The good bishop moved over and is said to have wondered if he had "scrouged" anybody else during his life. But there has been many a fellow "scrouged" in trundle-beds, as well as other places, in Macon county. These primitive devices for furniture gradually but slowly gave place to better.
But the round-pole cabin, while persisting in many places, eventually gave way to the hewed log house. It subsisted with some persistency, but gradually gave way, as the sawmill and the carpenter and a little money came, to the dignified frame buildings. These, setting back in great lawns, were signs of prosperity and wealth and gradually sprang up here and there over the county. Occasionally the brick residence raised its substantial form above the lawns and outbuildings of the thrifty farmer.
The early Macon county citizen was not without his diversions, not- withstanding the monotony of a new country. He found many direc- tions where he could give vent to his surplus energies.
The streams abounded largely with fish and the only drawback was hook and line and net. These were costly, but, when once possessed, were stored with the jewels of the family. The squirrel inhabited the forest and was wont to chatter in his season. The rabbit infested the paths, roads and fields and could be taken by dog or gun. The wild tur-
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key made the timber his habitat. The deer roamed the prairies and bivouacked in the timber and knew every crossing from branch to branch and from timber point to timber point. The early comers in Macon county occasionally found the bear, especially in the southeastern corner. The wolf howled and robbed. When he could find the time, the settler was found in pursuit of game. It filled his smokehouse and made his table rival the viands of the nobility. Major William J. Morrow claimed that for years, from the early frosts of October to the coming of the spring rains, his smokehouse was never without from two to a half dozen saddles of venison and from three to a dozen turkeys, to say nothing of smaller game.
In the spring after the crops were in and before corn plowing began, the farmers, or at least the young people, were liable to go on fishing expe- ditions to the nearest river and spend at least one night. Again, in the fall, after the wheat was sown, there was a hunting excursion. Macon- ites usually went to the Chariton river and those expeditions often lasted a week or ten days. All the young bloods of the neighborhood got into the company and there were scenes of social enjoyment, feats of physical strength, as well as exhibitions of pluck and marksmanship.
An incident will serve to illustrate : Old "Uncle" James Dysart was a pious Presbyterian elder and a dominant figure in his neighborhood and he believed in a hunt on the Chariton in the fall and the neighbors were much pleased to send their boys with him, because of the somewhat restraining influence of the old gentleman's presence. The old gentle- man was given to keeping up his devotions, even in camp. One Sunday morning, however, the boys slipped out before the old gentleman awoke and got away, all except his young son, Jimps, who was quite a character and lived and died in Macon county. Young Jimps did not dare to breach the parental discipline and stayed in camp. When the hour for the morning service came, and while right in the midst of his father's prayer, Jimps heard the hounds a short distance from camp. He knew exactly where that deer was going to cross the branch and he quietly took his gun and slipped away while his father was still engaged in his devotions. In due course "crack" went Jimp's rifle and in a reasonable time he appeared with the saddle of the deer, which he hung on a pole. The old gentleman came out and said: "Jimpsy, Jimpsy, Jimpsy !" The boy threw up his head and said: "Father, no deer's a going to run over me in the path, if it is a Sunday morning." The story followed the boy to his grave and he even laughed and told it himself long after he had become an ordained Presbyterian minister.
Another fall sport that was somewhat largely followed was shooting for beef. The neighborhood assembled and shot for the right to choose the pick of the beef. Dear as powder and ball must have been, it was not thought illy spent when used in this sport. It not only developed the rifleman, but it brought food for the family as well, and the winner was as proud as the victor at some modern state tournament would be.
QUILTING PARTIES AND LOG ROLLINGS
The surroundings explain the necessities for much bedding. Con- sequently quilting parties were active industries of the women. The quiltings brought together all the dames and daughters of the neighbor- hood. When the dinner hour came the quilt was hoisted above the heads, the table was spread and a sumptuous dinner laid thereon and there was room and to spare for all. So the wagging tongue, the laugh- ing mouth and the sparkling eyes had their opportunity, whether they got to the first table or the second or third. And the boys and men
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always made it convenient to be around more or less at meal hours at least. With the sinking sun the quilt would go up among the rafters for the night, and while fathers and mothers, at least the older ones. may have wended their way home, the younger ones stayed to dance 'til morning's light.
Cupid plied his art with assiduity in Macon county and the records show that his dart was as fatal here as elsewhere. Weddings were grand social events. The friends were invited, or, failing invitation, came. and where it was at all possible the infare must follow, and the bride- groom's family must be just as liberal as the bride's. These were fre- quently followed by the dance and made much for the social development, as well as diversion, of the people.
Another phase of the social life is represented by house raisings, where the men assembled to help a neighbor build a log house. This may have lasted for one day or more, though generally for one day. It was hard work, but they were a jovial lot of men and workers, and the joke went 'round and the news was retailed and the questions of the day were discussed and the men swapped ideas. All this called for cooking. and, consequently, the good women of the neighborhood came in to assist and the men and women all met at the noon, if not at the evening meal.
The same incidents attended the great corn huskings, when the farmer was behind with his work and his corn had to be shucked. These were especially attractive to the younger element, and when the negro came in. as he very frequently did, his rich melody and jingling songs added to the interest and entertainment of the occasion.
Log rollings were not infrequent. Great trees that could not be split into rails were cut into proper lengths, because the land had to be cleared. These logs were rolled into great heaps to be burned. Even tobacco cut- tings and strippings occasionally fell into the same line. The pioneer did not throw these opportunities away, but gathered them up and car- ried them home for reflection.
In the early days of Macon county musters were still in vogue. While intending to keep the militia in training, they served a far better pur- pose. It was the mixing and mingling of men, the sharpening of wits and the development of ideas and thought, as well as the dissemination of news and information. There is always in all new communities and settlements a "bully." He is liable to attend any large gathering, and. next to the county court days, the muster was his favorite resort. But it was rather a fatal place for him to attend, because the sense and brawn. as well as the moral forces of the community, was felt at such places.
The following story may illustrate: One year the Macon muster was held at Huntsville. Among other Maconites was Basil Powell, a stalwart man, weighing 200 pounds, without a surplus pound of flesh-a North Carolinian-and as peaceable a man as a new settlement ever contained. The "bully" appeared, looked the field over and chose Mr. Powell for his victim. He jibed, taunted and teased in a way, but got no response or recognition. Powell simply ignored him. So, taking advantage of some circumstance, he taunted Powell in a way that touched the quick and brought rapid and unexpected action Powell arose from his knees. where he had been fixing his fire, seized the "bully" by the neck and with Herculean strength laid him flat on his back and sat on him. Then, holding his hands with iron grip and without breaking the skin or inflicting a blow, he simply sat there until the man begged to be released.
One of the early amusements in Macon county was horse racing. Man likes a horse and likes to see him run. Moreover the horse likes to run. Man is a plunger and will bet on a horse-race. Macon county was
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not very old when she made a record in the courts which shows that the passion for horse racing, if not ruling, was at least active in the commu- nity. The race was run near old Bloomington. They disagreed about the payment of the stakes and suit was instituted which was finally carried to the supreme court. (Humphreys v. McGee, 13 Mo. 436.) Some nice things cannot be said about horse racing. Nevertheless, they played their part in the advancement of men and horses.
The Humphrey-McGee race was run in November, 1847. There still remains in Macon county a witness of the race-Isaiah Lewis, who seems to have reached Bloomington in 1835 before the county was organized. He locates the track a mile south of Bloomington on a quarter-stretch.
PRAIRIE FIRES
A peculiar dread of the settler, especially in the fall of the year, was the dread of the prairie fire. The old settler expatiates in most vivid terms upon the grandeur and fearfulness of those wild agencies of destruction. One of Dr. Willis King's most famous oratorical efforts was his description of a fight against a great prairie fire. There was nothing equal to it. By the way, Doctor King was a Macon county man, and the prairie fire he described a Macon county incident of pioneer life.
PEACE AND ORDER
Taking the traditions that come down to us, as well as the records, in the early days of Macon county peace and order seemed to prevail to a remarkable degree. The above is true up to the war. That period from 1861 to 1870, however, was a period of revolution. All her rail- road towns were garrisoned. Negroes rushed into large garrisons, in- cluding the county seat. Her citizens became greatly divided on the questions at stake and were losing property by the strong arm of military rule, as well as the hand of the guerrilla and the robber. Strife was engendered and turbulence reigned on every hand. Everything was confusion and chaos and the old saying, inter arma, silent leges, was fully illustrated and exemplified. Not only the regular forces, but inde- pendent commanders, responsible to nobody, made the highways dan- gerous and the night hideous. Death, as a matter of course, followed, and famine and vendetta raised their reeking hands.
It must be said, however, to the credit of the county and its inhab- itants, that, considering the circumstances, when we look at it at this distance. the damage and destruction was much less than it might have been. With the coming of peace, civil authority regained its power and the people settled down face to face with one another and began to take in the situation and slowly to accommodate themselves to the basis of peace and quiet and good order. There were here and there occa- sional outbreaks with telling consequences.
RELIGION
In no small sense, possibly, the above conditions resulted from the deep religious sense that animated the early inhabitants of the county. They were, as stated, largely from Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. They were only fifty years from the great Revival of 1800, and many of them brought with them the impulses received in that wonderful move- ment, and, when they found themselves in the wilderness of Missouri, away from every religious movement, they were a little lonesome and felt the loss of a great privilege. The consequence was that the missionary
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was looked for-longed for-and hailed with welcome when he came and his meetings were attended by throngs. The Baptists of various kinds. the Methodists and the Presbyterians got an early start in Macon county, as well as the Disciples (so-called Campbellites), and all stayed with us and have given us moral power and religious tone and have been a chief factor in making us what we are.
EDUCATION
Macon county was some time getting its public school system under way. But it should not be inferred that it was indifferent to education. That by no means followed. The private subscription school was soon in vogue in many neighborhoods. The teacher was abroad and stirred up sentiment in favor of education. It may be well here to correct a not uncommon idea in regard to the pioneer, and especially the Missouri pio- neer. He gets credit for being a dullard and an ignoramus. He is entitled to no such credit. He may have been dull, and often was; he may have been more or less ignorant, and sometimes was. But he was a man with nerve. He was a man whose contact with the world had made him dissatisfied with his own condition and that dissatisfaction had sent him into the wilderness to better himself and he knew that dullness and ignorance were not going to stay in that wilderness simply because he was there. He understood that his children would meet the children of learning and intelligence and he made this venture to get a vantage ground by which he might prepare his offspring to meet the coming wave of culture and refinement. Consequently, the intellectual, as well as the religious, culture of his children lay next to his heart and inspired him to sacrifice. The pioneer was a man of enterprise He had the sagacity to see visions and the nerve to attempt their realization.
At present there are 139 school districts in Macon county.
Macon county years ago adopted by popular vote the system of superintendents in lieu of the old commissioners when that was a matter of option, and the common schools of the county are fulfilling to as large a measure as in any county in the state the object of their creation.
There were many private teachers in different parts of Macon county to supplement the public schools. Religious denominations lent their aid in this direction, and we find Bloomington Academy, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in a very thriving condition and disseminating knowledge at the county seat and thus over the whole county.
In 1853 McGee College was opened by the Cumberland Presbyterians at College Mound in the county, and the early settlers, such as the Dy- sarts, McCormicks, Sharps, Caldwells, Pattons, and many others, were throwing their influence to build it up, so that in 1861 when the long roll of war was sounded through the land it had an attendance of some 250 students, and its graduating class for the year numbered ten or more. Several of its students have spent lives of usefulness in Macon and ad- joining counties, among whom may be mentioned Maj. A. W. Mullins. the distinguished attorney of Linn county, Maj. B. R. Dysart of Macon county, no less distinguished as a lawyer, Capt. B. F. Stone of Macon county and the Rev. H. R. Crockett and many others. That institution was stopped by the exigencies of the war, but opened again in 1865.
In 1867 there was established in Macon under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal church an institution known as Johnson College. It ran for several years and was well managed and did good work. But the necessities of the early '70s following the great panic put it out of commission and it was never reopened.
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In the early '80s the Reverend Ethelbert Talbot, rector of St. James Episcopal church in Macon, opened a school which he called St. James Academy. Mr. Talbot was well known for his energy, diplomacy and ability. The school was opened in a modest way and grew possibly beyond his expectations. Later on the school was conducted by Mr. Davis, a successor of Mr. Talbot as rector, and he did good work. In about 1890 Col. Frederick William Blees became the principal of the school and developed with considerable rapidity the military feature which had been introduced by some of his predecessors. He continued the school until about 1895. About that time Colonel Blees came into a fortune and in 1897 built, just south of the city of Macon, in a most beautiful location, what became known as Blees Military Academy, said to be the best designed military school building in the country.
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