USA > Missouri > Cooper County > A history of Cooper County, Missouri, from the first visit by white men in February, 1804, to the fifth day of July, 1876 > Part 10
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Her bonds are now at a premium and her debt is only $69,000. which was contracted in honesty and good faith. and will be promptly and fully paid. Rate of taxation in 1875 was only $1. 20 on the $100.
Boonville has at least four citizens, cách of whom could pay the whole debt of the City and have plenty left to maintain their families.
But if in the course of human events our city should go down amidst the general crash of financial ruin. we will bury her decently without a stain of dishonor on her chil- dren ; and if they should inherit no fortune from us, we shall leave them a better inheritance which money cannot purchase-honor and integrity. And if we must, we will go down with our colors flying and these words emblazened thereon.
MANUFACTORIES.
Before closing the history of Boonville, we deem it our duty to say something to her people on the subject of man- ufactories. We frequently hear our citizens wonder why Boonville does not increase more in population and wealth.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
being the most beautiful and healthy city in the State, or perhaps in the West. And it has the M. H. & T. railway extending from the lakes in the North, to the gulf in the South, and the branch road connecting Boonville with the Missouri Pacific at Tipton ; and the Missouri river which will always give cheap transportation to and from Boon- ville. Then she has coal, timber, and cement rock in the immediate neighborhood of the best quality in great abund- ance, and an inexhaustible supply of water from the Mis- souri river, and two small streams on each side of the city. Then, why does not Boonville improve? We answer that it is for the want of manufactories. That before railroads were constructed in our State, Boonvil'e was a great com- mercial point. Every depot is now a commercial point. You can no longer depend upon commerce to build up this or any other city. The secret now in building a town is to create something for laboring men to do that will pay both the employer and employee. You will thereby have a population. and prosperity in proportion thereto. You must establish and maintain in your city manufactories. That is the only hope for the prosperity of this city or any other. The day is past for building cities by commerce alone. If Boonville had work for 20,000 people, she would have them here in one month, and the whole community would prosper. And bear in mind that it is labor that makes the town and country. But you will answer how are we to do this? Have we not tried and failed more than once? We know that is true, but try again, keep trying. and you will succeed. Don't give up the ship as long as a plank is left. If others succeed why not you? You must start right, and have men of experience, energy and hon- esty at the head of affairs. The trouble is that you are waiting for capitalists to come and build up your town. Let us tell you that you will wait forever. You must first put
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
your own shoulders to the wheel. How can you expect strangers to invest their capital in something that you are afraid of yourselves. Providence is always on the side of those having pluck and energy enough to help themselves.
These remarks will apply to. Otterville, Bunceton, Pilot Grove and other towns. If they will follow this advice and Boonville lies still, they will soon find themselves ahead of her. We have tried old fogyism long enough to be fully satisfied with it. Now let us try something else, and if a stranger comes among us to locate, let us take him by the hand and welcome him in his new home, and he will write back to his old home telling his friends what a fine country and clever people he has found, and they will also be induced to cast their lots among us.
OTTERVILLE
Otterville is located on the Missouri Pacific railroad, in the southwestern part of the county. It has an abundance of timber and water, and would be a good location for man- ufactories. It was incorporated in 1857. It has a good public school building, in successful operation for ten years ; also a good select female school, in a good brick building, belonging to Mrs. A. M. Drennan, proprietress ; four churches, a Masonic and Odd Fellows hall, two colored churches, and about fourteen stores. The houses in the business portion of the town are substantial brick structures : its population is about Soo. Lead abounds in large quan- tities in the vicinity. It is the largest and most important town in the county except Boonville. It is surrounded by a rich and fertile country, and an industrious, thrifty and wealthy population. [Sce chapter xv.]
BUNCETON.
Bunceton is located on the Osage Valley & Southern Kansas railroad, fourteen miles south of Boonville. It has one church, a Masonic hall, an excellent flour mill, about
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
six stores, two shoe shops, one tailor shop, two drug stores, three physicians and one lawyer. It is surrounded by excel- lent timber, good coal mines, and cement rock near. It was located in 1869, and has a population of about four hundred. It also has an excellent high school, taught by Prof. Cully, with commendable success.
PILOT GROVE.
Pilot Grove is situated on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway, about twelve miles southwest of Boonville, and was located in 1873. It has a rapid growth, and bids fair to make a very important town. It has one church and Odd Fellows hall. It has about six stores, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one drug store. It is located in a thickly populated country. The soil is excellent and the people prosperous. It has a good flour mill near by. Its population is about 250.
PLEASANT GREEN is located on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway, about eighteen miles from Boonville ; has two stores and one drug store. It is in a good timbered country ; has one church and school house convenient to the town, and is an important shipping point.
NEW PALESTINE is situated on the Osage Valley & South- ern Kansas railroad, about twelve miles south of Boonville. It has one store and one blacksmith shop, and about one hundred inhabitants.
BELLINGSVILLE is a station on the Boonville branch, about six miles south of Boonville, and has one store. It is in a heavily timbered country, and has an abundance of excellent cement rock.
BELL AIR, two and one-half miles west of New Palestine, has one store, a school house and church, a blacksmith shop and post office, and is located in one of the most wealthy and educated portions of the county.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CLARK'S FORK postoffice is situated nine miles southeast of Boonville, and has one elegant mill and one store, sur- rounded by a good wheat country.
CLEAR CREEK postoffice, sixteen miles southwest of Boon- ville, has one store, two churches and two school houses.
CONNER'S MILL postoffice, eight miles east of Boonville, is situated in a good wheat growing country.
GOOCHE'S MILL postoffice, twelve miles east of Boon- ville, has one store and one blacksmith shop. It is cele- brated for its salt lick near by, and mostly called Big Lick, which is the place James Cole and James Davis killed two Indians in 1812.
HARRISTON, a station and postoffice on M. K. & T. R. R., fifteen miles southwest of Boonville, was located by Dr. N. W. Harris in IS73 : has two stores and one blacksmith shop. It is in a very fertile and beautiful prairie country. and is an important shipping point.
LAMINE postoffice, fourteen miles west of Boonville, has two stores, and is surrounded by a very fertile country set- tled 64 years ago.
LONE ELM postoffice has one store and a blacksmith shop. It is located in very fertile prairie land, and the people are in a very prosperous condition.
OVERTON, situated eleven miles east of Boonville, has a post office, several stores and a blacksmith shop. It is sit- uated on the Missouri river opposite Rocheport. It has a ferry across the Missouri river. It is an important shipping point, surrounded by heavily timbered land, soil very rich. Wheat of the very best quality is successfully raised on the hills South of the town.
PRAIRIE HOMES postoffice, eighteen miles southeast of Boonville, has one store and two schools- one public, and one a private boarding school, kept by Prof. Slaughter. It is also surrounded by a very fine wheat country. Prof.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Slaughter is one of the most successful teachers in the county.
VERMONT, a station and postoffice on the Osage Valley & Southern Kansas railroad, three miles south of Bunceton, and seventeen miles south of Boonville, has one s.ore and one blacksmith shop. It is located on high prairie, which is not surpassed in fertility and beauty by any portion of the county.
CLIFTON, a station and postoffice on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway, is located near the Pettis county line, surrounded by a timber and prairie country, has one store and blacksmith shop. It is an important shipping point.
PISGAH is located in the southeast part of Cooper county, about seventeen miles from Boonville. It is the oldest town in the county except Boonville; located about 1830. The Hon. David Jones being the first settler. It has two churches, the Christian and Baptist. It has two or three stores and blacksmith shops, two physicians and one lawyer. It has heavy timber on the south, and beautiful and fertile prairies on the north. It and its vicinity has long been noted for the intelligence and refinement of its inhabitants, and its early, moral and religious training. There, in early days, at the Pisgah church, the gospel was preached by such good old Christians, as the Revs. John B. Longden, Kemp, Scott, and others, who have long since been gathered to their fathers, but their words of wisdom and religious influence are not lost. It is there where Richard D. Bons- field, an English gentleman, one of the oldest and most suc- cessful merchants in Central Missouri, resided, having fol- lowed that business in Old Franklin, Boonville and Pisgah, in a very early day. He has long since retired on a princely fortune, honored and respected by all who know him.
OLD PALESTINE.
Old Palestine was laid off by Michael Son in the year
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
1833. It was located about one mile west of New Pales- tine, and twelve miles southwest of Boonville. It was for many years the voting precinct of Palestine Township, and always voted the Whig ticket.
Michael Son built the first house in Old Palestine, and in it kept what was then called a "grocery." Judge John Briscoe and his son Wm. M., built the second house which' was used as a storehouse. Michael Son. Isaac Lionberger, Ward and Parsons, Dr. Samuel J. Tutt and T. P. and Jas. Bell were the earliest merchants of this town. At this place James Taliaferro had a saddle shop, and Jacob Schutler. Taylor, Hammer and some others had blacksmith shops. Alexander Evans. Judge J. Hazell. and Sebrom, who were mechanics, were among the very early settlers. J. Law- rence Stephens. R. J. Parrish and Chas. F. Moore were among the last merchants. Old Palestine was indeed, for many years a good business place.
At this place in the early history of the county, the polit- ical conventions and meetings of the county were frequently held ; also justice's court, and company; regimental, genera! and drill musters. The sporting classes of the community had at different times during the year horse and foot races.
The citizens at that day were very lively, gave much of their time to enjoyment and had their jokes and their fun. They were generally accustomed to meet at Old Palestine on Saturday, and after their week's work was completed. and had a good time generally. They would sometimes settle disputes by going in on their "muscle," and after the fight had been finished, the two contestants would make friends.
Two of the best fighters of the neighborhood. were "Bill" Hedrick and Joseph Wrench. They "locked horns" at last. "Bill" was a large, tall, rawboned man. and Wrench was low and heavy set. Wrench got the
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
better of the fight, which was terrible while it lasted. The best citizens of the neighborhood were in sympathy with Wrench, for he was a very quiet, peaceable man, and would fight only in self-defense; but Hedrick was inclined to be overbearing in his conduct towards others, in other re- spects, a jolly, clever fellow.
One day while Hedrick was sitting on his horse in Old Palestine, a number of those with whom he had fought, clubbed together and gathered around him with the inten- tion of giving him a good thrashing, and became quite noisy in their threatenings against him. He remained quiet until they had somewhat subsided, when he remarked : "Gentlemen, are you going to whip me?" "Yes, we are," they answered. "Well," said he, "if that is the case, I'll not remain to see it ; so I bid you good bye !" He then put spurs to his horse, pulled off his hat, waved it in defiance. and galloped away.
Another anecdote : A. and B. were about to fight. A. was making for B., and B. was backing all the time, keep- ing out of striking distance, yet appearing greatly excited. At this time his friends came up, and said, "Go it, B., pitch into him, B., and we will back you !" B then re- marked, "I'm not afraid of any man, if I am, - - me." This caused a general laugh from the crowd, and broke up the fight.
A drill muster which lasted for three days took place at Old Palestine some time during the year 1841. On the first day, one of the officers imbibed pretty freely, and com- menced cutting up and quarreling with some of the citizens. Some of those who had gathered to see the muster, con- cluded that he would be a good subject out of whom to have some fun. So they organized a mock court, making Dr. William Moore, judge, and another one of the citizens, constable,
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
The officer, who by this time had become pretty tight. was arrested by the pretended constable, with what appeared to be a regular writ, on a charge of attempting to kill some of the citizens. He thinking all this a terrible reality. engaged one of the bystanders to defend him, and tremb- lingly asked his lawyer if he thought he could save him. The attorney replied. that it was a hard case. and that he feared that nothing could save him, as the evidence against him was so strong. although he promised to use his best efforts in his defense.
The "Prosecuting Attorney" commenced the testimony for the State, and the "Judge" asked the first witness if he thought the accused had any intention of killing any per- son, and casually remarked : "If that was the case, ke would have him hung before night. This remark caused the prisoner to turn pale, and tremble with fear. After the taking of the testimony was concluded, the attorney for the State made his speech, asking in it, that the prisoner be hung without delay, as they had clearly proved that he was guilty as charged. While the defendant's attorney was speaking, strongly pleading for his client's life, some one. under the guise of friendship, whispered to the prisoner. that the only way to save his life, was to jump out of the back window and make for the woods. He accordingly. while, as he supposed. the attention of the audience was directed towards his attorney, jumped out of the window. mounted his horse which happened to be standing near by. and galloped away as fast as his horse could go, with the crowd shouting after him. Along the road. on his way home, he was seen passing several houses under whip.
Although he was afterwards told that all that had passed was intended as a joke, it had so much the appearance of reality that he could not be persuaded that it was a joke. and never returned to that part of the country again,
N. WALZ,
DEALER IN
DRY GOODS, GROCERIES,
CARPETS, OIL CLOTHS, HATS, CAPS,
BOOTS, SHOES AND NOTIONS.
Bliys all kinds of Produce.
1852
ESTABLISHED 1852
ONE PRICE
CLOTHING HOUSE
- OF - A. SUMMERS, Number 88 Fifth St.,
BOONVILLE, MO.
CLOTHING !
CLOTHING ! CLOTHING ! CLOTHING
CLOTHING !
For Men. Youth. Boys. and Children, Retailed tor Cash at Wholesale Prices. Plain Figures and no Devintioy.
OUR FURNISHING GOODS DEPARTMENT,
Neckwear, Underwear, Shirts, Hosiery, Suspenders, Gloves, Etc., also a Full Line of Hats, Caps, Trunks, Vallscs and Shawl Straps.
Clothing and Shirts Made to Order In the Latest Styles and Guaranteed to Fit !
As in Foriner Years, so we do Now. the Best Goods ut the Lowest Prices Que Morro : ... " Raise the Standard and Lower the Price."
MONEY CHEERFULLY REFUNDED IF COODS DO NOT SUIT
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Another anecdote will suffice for Old Palestine. There came to this place a fast young man from some of the Eastern States, whom we will call "Curtis W." One day he had a fight at that place with another young man ; got the better of him, and then said : "Gentlemen, I have fought over fourteen States, and this is the first man I ever whipped." Many other like occurrences which took place at this famous old town might be related, but no more space can be spared from the general history for that purpose.
Old Palestine was laid off on a high, beautiful prairie, almost surrounded by timber, and its location is considered very healthy. D. E. Putnam, Alexander Evans, Darius Day, Daniel Hickerson, Lovel Patterson, and two other families are all that are left in this once populous village, D. E. Putnam being the mayor, and Daniel Hickerson city clerk.
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XIV.
Early History of the Different Townships in Cooper County, which could not be included in the General History of the County.
BLACK WATER TOWNSHIP.
This township is a peninsular, being almost entirely sur- rounded by the Lamine and Blackwater rivers. The soil is rich and exceedingly productive. The bottom land is low and swampy, and the ridge land fertile and susceptible of early cultivation. In the bottom, corn and timothy are grown in large quantities ; on the ridge land, corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, potatoes, and all kinds of garden vegetables are produced in great abundance. The different kinds of wood are ash, beach, black oak, black walnut, cherry, cot- tonwood, elm, maple, hickory, redbud, sugar tree, white oak, and white walnut.
The minerals which are found in this township, are iron. which appears in large deposits, and lead which crops out on every hillside.
There are, in this township, six salt and a great number of fresh water springs. Salt was successfully manufactured at these springs as early as ISOS, and from that time till 1836 the manufacture of it was carried on pretty extensively by Heath, Bailey, Christie. Allison and others. There are four public schools for white, and one for colored children. supported by the inhabitants of this township.
There are two churches in this township ; one a Cumber- land Presbyterian church, established in IS50; and the other a Baptist church, established in I853.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
There is at this time no store or mill in the township, although both are much needed by the citizens. There are two warehouses, from which the surplus productions of the township are shipped.
There is one physician, Dr. Thomas E. Staples, and three ministers of the gospel, viz: N. T. Allison, Jr., Baptist, Robert Crockett, Cumberland Presbyterian, and C. Q. Shouse, Christian.
William Christie and John G. Heath temporarily settled in this township in 1808, but only remained long enough to manufacture a small quantity of salt, when they returned down the river. James Broch, the first permanent settler, arrived in 1816; Enoch Hambrich came in 1817 ; David Shellcraw, in ISIS, and planted an acre of cotton which yielded very well. George Chapman, the father of Mrs. Caleb Jones, in ISI8 ; Nathaniel T. Allison, Sr., in 1831 ; Fleming Marshall and Robert Clark, in 1832; Nathaniel Bridgewater, in 1835, and Edmund M. Cobb and Larkin T. Dix, in 1838.
The above information was obtained from N. T. Allison, Sr., and his son, the Rev. N. T. Allison, Jr., for which we are grateful.
BOONVILLE TOWNSHIP.
As an extensive history of the City of Boonville has already been given, it is exceedingly difficult to give a sep- arate history of the township without a repetition of some- thing which has appeared in the history of the city. The first settlers of the township were Stephen and Hannah Cole, who settled there in the year ISI0.
The settlers who arrived previous to the year 1815, were Giliad Rupe, Muke Box, Delany Bowlin, William Savage, James Savage, John Savage, and Walter Burress ; and in 1815, Umphrey and William Gibson.
Those who settled in this township between the years
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
1815 and 1820, were William McFarland, John S. and Jesse McFarland, George, Samuel and Alexander McFarland, William Mitchell, James Bruffee, Robert P. Clark, Joseph and William Dillard, Littleberry Hendricks, Wm. Bartlett, Jesse Ashcraft, Russell Edgar, John M. Bartlett, Abram Gibson, Thomas Twentyman, James Dillard, Jacob New- man, William Potter, Frederick Houx, William Poston, George Potter, Benj. L. Clark, John J. Clark, Kyra Dunn. K. Mckenzie, Marcus Williams, James, Robert and Alex_ ander Givens, Jacob Chism, John B. Lucus, Charles B. Mitchell, Nicholas McCarty, Lewis Edgar, John B. Seat, Jacob McFarland, James McCarty, William Ross, Abiel Leonard, Joseph W. Bernard, James McFarland, Ephraim Ellison, John Roberts, Thomas Mitchell, Reuben George, Fleming G. Mitchell, Jesse Thomas, Asa Morgan, Peter B. Harris, James Chambers, Benj. F. Hickox, William H. Curtis, William W. Adams. John D. Thomas, William Lillard, James H. Anderson, Peyton R. Hayden. John S. Brickey, Peyton Thomas. David Adams, Luke Williams, John Potter, Andrew Reavis, David Reavis, Jonathan Reavis, Jesse Homan. John II. Moore, Green B. Seat. W. D. Wilson, Thomas Rogers, Mrs. Mary Reavis, William Chambers, James Chambers and Justinian Williams.
There were, no doubt, many others not mentioned above. who resided in this township between the above years, but their names are unknown, and perhaps some few of those mentioned above resided in some other township. The above list was taken from the poll books of the township for 1820, and of course those who lived there at that time. but did not record their votes, are not included in the same.
From the best information that can be obtained, all the persons mentioned in the foregoing list of early settlers are dead, except William Gibson, John S. and Jesse Mc Far- land, Lewis Edgar, Jonathan Reavis and Jessie Homan.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Mr. John Kelly and Mrs. Tibitha Kelly were there frequently between ISIS and IS20. They then resided in Old Franklin, but are now living in Boonville. Of the ladies now living who resided in Boonville township previous 1820, are Mrs. Jesse Homan, Mrs. Frederick Houx, Miss Mary Reavis, Mrs. B. F. Hickox, Mrs. Jennie Wadley and Mrs. Dikie Dallas, the two last mentioned being the sisters of Samuel Cole.
Wm. McFarland, the first Sheriff of Cooper county, was born in Buncome county, North Carolina, in the year 1778. He emigrated to St. Genevieve, now St. Francis county, Missouri, in ISII, and from thence to Cooper county, and on the 16th day of October, IS16, he settled on the north side of the Petite Saline Creek, where Joseph Byler now resides. He had two neighbors living on the south side of the creek whose names were John Glover and Warden. He had no other neighbors nearer than the immediate neigh- borhood of Boonville. He was in ISIS or 1819 a member of the Territorial Legislature from the southern district of Howard county, which included that part of the county lying south of the Missouri river. He was a farmer, a man of great energy, an affectionate husband and father and a good neighbor. He died in the year 1834.
Benjamin F. Hickox was born in the State of New York, and emigrated to this country at an early day. He was elected a member of the Legislature from Cooper county in IS22, 1824 and IS38, and County Court Justice from Sept. 24, 1844, to Nov. 2, 1846. He was also one of the Com- missioners to superintend the building of the first court house at Boonville. He was a successful farmer, an affec- tionate husband and father, an honest, upright man, an excellent neighbor, and very charitable to the poor, never turning them away from his door without relieving their wants. He died about twenty years ago, beloved and re- spected by all who knew him.
·
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Luke Williams, a Baptist preacher, was a farmer, and resided about five miles west of Boonville. He is cele- brated as being the first preacher in Cooper county, having located there several years before the county was organized.
Justinian Williams was born in Bath county, Virginia, and while young emigrated to Kentucky and there mar- ried. He then moved to Howard county, Missouri, from thence to Cooper county, and settled at Boonville in the year ISIS. In this year he located the first Methodist church in Cooper county. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and followed that business for several years, preach- ing and organizing churches at intervals. He was also the local preacher at Boonville for several years. In the year 1834 he built a steam boat called the "Far West," about two miles above the mouth of the Bonne Femme Creek, in Howard county, and was the commander of the same for some time. During that year he emigrated to Tennessee. where he died.
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