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 11
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Marcus Williams, the first mayor of the City of Boon- ville, was born in Bath county, Virginia, and when young moved to Kentucky; from thence to Bounville, Cooper county, Missouri. He was a brick mason by trade, and manufactured the first bricks ever made in Cooper county, having opened a lime kiln in the western part of Boonville. At the "Vollrath" Place in 18440, he made the first stone- ware ever manufactured in western Missouri. He emi- grated to California at the time of the gold excitement in I849, and settled at San Jose, where he died about the year 1860.
This township at the time of its first settlement was partly prairie, in the west and southwest, but after the lapse of many years, the prairie became timbered land. Great fears were entertained by the early settlers about the scarc- ity of timber, but it is believed that there is at the present
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time, more timber in the county than there was fifty years ago.
This was the first township of the county which was set- tled, and for many years few ventured outside, or at most, far from its boundaries. The early settlers believed that the prairie land was only suited for grazing and not fit for cultivation. In the year 1830, a few persons ventured to cultivate prairie land, and finding it so productive, many other farmers settled on the prairies, and at this time nearly all of the prairie land is under fence, and is covered with the most valuable farms in the county.
Persons in the early history of the township settled near the river, that affording the only means by which they could ship their surplus productions to market. But the building of railroads has revolutionized everything. Land near the river has become less valuable, and that on the prairies, which a few years ago was considered almost worthless, has now become more valuable. Timbered land is still preferred by many farmers, for the reason that it is much better for the growing of wheat, and equally as good, if not better, for other productions.
The soil of this township is very productive, and is especially excellent for growing fruit. It has also large quantities of coal of a good quality, which could be shipped at large profit.
CLARK'S FORK TOWNSHIP.
From the best information that can be obtained, John Glover was the first settler of this township, he having located there in the year 1813. He built a round log cabin on the south bank of the Petite Saline Creek, and cleared a few acres of ground near where Rankin's mill now stands, but nothing is known of his history.
The next settlers were Zepheniah Bell and John C. Rochester. The last named gentleman was the grandson
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of the founder of the City of Rochester, New York, who having lost a princely fortune by having to pay a large security debt, sought seclusion by emigrating to this country and the society of the people, who required nothing, save honesty and industry, to admit a person into their social circles. He married Miss Sally Kelly, a beautiful and accomplished lady, the daughter of James Kelly, who was an honored soldier of the Revolution. He was well edu- cated, considering the times, and his occupation was that of a farmer. He died in the township many years ago. Mr. Bell was also a farmer, a good citizen, and an honest man. He has been dead many years.
Some of the other old citizens were Joshua H. Berry. William Read, William and Reuben George, Clayton Hurt. Samuel Carpenter, Edward, Andrew and Charles Robert- son, James, Robert and John Johnston, Samuel, Robert and William Drinkwater, Gabriel Fitsworth, William Shipley, Acrey Hurt, Peter Carpenter, George Crawford, George W. Weight and Martin Jennings.
Geo. Crawford was the first Assessor of Cooper county, which office he filled for many years ; he was also a mem- ber of the Legislature from this county. Judge George W. Weight was born in Dutchess county, New York, on the 22nd day of February, 1784. When quite young, having been, by the death of his parents, left alone in the world, he emigrated to West Virginia, and from thence to Ross county, Ohio, where he married Miss Elizabeth Wil- liams. In IS20, he with his family moved to Howard county, Missouri. In 1822 he settled in Clark's Fork town- ship, Cooper county, and lived there until his death, which occurred on the 29th day of January, 1857. He taught school in West Virginia, Ohio and Cooper county ; he was a good violinist, and in his early days taught dancing school. He was Judge of the County Court and County
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Surveyor of Cooper county for many years. He also rep- resented the county in the State Legislature.
It will be observed that some of the old settlers mentioned above, really lived in that part of Clark's Fork township, which was lately annexed to Boonville township. The Petite Saline Creek was formerly the dividing line between the townships above mentioned, and but little information, as to the location of the old settlers, in respect to this dividing line could be obtained; therefore the writers in placing those above mentioned in this township, were com- pelled mainly to rely upon their own knowledge, which may, in some cases, prove to be inaccurate.
It may be safely stated, that the average farming land within this township is equally as productive as that of any other in the county. There is a little poor land in the town- ship, and the farmers are generally prosperous. There is no town located within its limits.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Among the early settlers of this township, were James Taylor, who had three sons, William, John and James. He emigrated from the State of Georgia to New Madrid, Missouri, where he witnessed the long series of earthquakes which occurred in ISII ; from thence he moved to Cooper county, in the year 1817. He had a large plantation, raised and always had on hand large quantities of corn, upon which, when cribbed, he placed a certain price, and would not dispose of until he could get for it what he demanded. He was a very eccentric, plain, matter of fact kind of man, and was charitable to such as would work, but he had no patience with a lazy, trifling or profligate man. He was also a good judge of human nature.
, At one time when corn was very scarce throughout the county, and very little could be had for love or money, two men came to Mr. Taylor's house asking to purchase some
.
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corn, of which he had a large quantity, on credit, as neither of them had any money with which to pay. One was very poorly dressed, with his pants torn off below his knees, and what there was remaining of them, patched all over. The other was almost elegantly dressed. Mr. Taylor sold the poorly dressed man, on credit, all the corn he wished. He told the other one that "he could get no corn there, unless he paid the money for it, and that if he had saved the money which he had squandered for his fine clothes, he would have had sufficient to pay cash for the corn.
He had a large number of negroes, and' required them, during the day, to perform a great deal of work. Shovel plows were mostly used in his day, and the wooden mole board just coming into use. It is related, that the shovels of Mr. Taylor's plows had, at one time, worn off very blunt, and he was very averse to buying new ones. So that one negro man plowed once around a field before he discovered that he had lost the dull shovel to his plow, the plow running just as well without as with it. He was a leader in the Baptist church, and was a devoted member. a kind neighbor, and a strictly honest man.
Jordan O'Bryan, a son-in-law of James Taylor, was also one of the early settlers of this township. He was born in North Carolina, moved to Kentucky when young, and to Cooper county in 1817. As will be seen from the abstract, he was elected to the State Legislature in 1822. 1826, 1834 and 1840, eight years in all; in 1844 he was elected State Senator for four years. He was a fluent speaker, a man of no ordinary talents, and an uncompromising Whig. In about 1830 he removed to Saline township, where he re- mained until his death.
Charles R. Berry, the father of Finis E. Berry. Isaac Ellis and Hugh and Alexander Brown, are among the old- est citizens ; others of a later date, were Herman Bailey.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
William Ellis, Samuel Walker, A. S. Walker, H. R. Walker, Finis E. Berry, James and Samuel Mahan, the Rubeys, Jeremiah, William G., and Martin G. Phillips, Samuel Forbes, Ragan Berry, Hiram Dial, Samuel and Rice Hughes, and Willis Ellis.
Lamine river, the bottom lands of which are very fertile, forms the boundary line between this and Black Water townships. The greater part of the population are Ger- mans, who have proved themselves to be a very industrious and thrifty people. They have mostly settled on the hills which the Americans thought too poor to cultivate, and have made them "blossom as the rose." They have suc- ceeded in raising good crops, made good livings, and have been generally prosperous and happy. In the hills they cultivate the grape very successfully, and a large amount of wine is manufactured here every year. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad runs about five miles through this township, furnishing the inhabitants transportation for their surplus productions.
KELLY TOWNSHIP.
This township, from the best information which can be obtained, was settled early in the spring of 1818. The first settlers were John Kelly, William Stephens, James D. Campbell, James Kelly, William J. Kelly, Caperton Kelly, William Jennings, Gen. Charles Woods, Philip E. Davis, Rice Challis, Hugh Morris, Jesse White, Hartley White, Jeptha Billingsley, Joshua Dellis, and William Swearingen.
James Kelly, who was one of the first settlers in this township, and the father of the other Kellys mentioned above, was a revolutionary soldier, and died in 1840 at an advanced age. John Kelly, Charles Woods, and James D. Campbell served as soldiers in the war of 1812. The Kellys came from Tennessee, and James D. Campbell from Kentucky.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
William Jennings, who was the first preacher in the township, emigrated from Georgia to Cooper county in 1819. He had a large number of slaves, owned a large tract of land and was quite wealthy. He was for many years pastor of "Old Nebo" church, and was an honest man in his dealings with his neighbors.
James D. Campbell was an early Justice of the County Court and acted in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a prominent politician, always voting the Democratic ticket.
Gen. Charles Woods was for many years the leading Democrat in his neighborhood. He was a man of no or- dinary ability, of pleasing address, and a liberal, high-toned gentleman. He died in IS74, at the advanced age of 78 years.
Joseph Reavis settled in this township in the year 1823. He, together with his sons, Lewis, William T., Jackson, and Johnston, for many years carried on the business of manufacturing wagons. They turned out excellent work, and their trade extended for many miles around ; their wag- ยท ons even being purchased by the Santa Fe traders.
Of the persons mentioned above, all are now numbered with the dead, except Johnston and William P. Reavis, and they were quite young when their father settled in the township.
There was no church within the limits of this township for many years, and the settlers attended the services at Pisgah and "Old Nebo."
The first school within this township of which there is any knowledge, was taught by Joseph S. Anderson, who came there about 1824. He was a young man with more than ordinary education, whose only earthly possessions were a horse, saddle and bridle, and a moderately good suit of clothes. A good school teacher being very much
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needed, he soon succeeded in making up a large school, and taught with great success until 1828, when he was elected sheriff of Cooper county. In 1830 he was re- elected sheriff, and in 1832, he was elected to the Legisla- ture from Cooper county. Previous to his death, he be- came a large land holder and quite a wealthy man. His residence was on the hill north of Bunceton. The place at which he taught school was near the ground on which Hopewell church is located.
For many years afterwards a school was taught at the same place, by Mr. William Robertson, who was a very successful teacher. He has been for many years a very zealous minister of the Baptist church.
The first mill in this township was built by Robert Mc- Culloch, the father of Judge Robert A McCulloch.
Rice Challis was a prominent Whig, and in respect to his politics stood almost alone in his neighborhood. He was a carpenter by trade, and resided near the present resi- dence of Joseph Reavis. He died a short time ago.
The land of this township is at least three-fourths prai- rie, which is under fence and in a high state of cultivation. The soil is very productive, and the farmers are generally in good condition, many of them being very wealthy. The Pacific railroad lies a short distance south of the township, and the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad runs eight miles directly through its center, affording the inhab- itants easy facilities for the shipping of their productions.
Corn, grasses and oats are the principal productions, the farmers being principally engaged in raising stock, which affords them lucrative profits. It has, within its limits, several good public schools, which are taught from four to ten months in each year.
Kelly township always was and is now strongly Demo- cratic, never having voted any other ticket from the time
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
it was headed by Gen. Jackson to the present day. This township received its name from John Kelly, the first settler within its limits, and was formed from Moniteau and Pales- tine townships, in the year 1848.
LAMINE TOWNSHIP
was settled first in 1812, by a few pioneers. The very first settlers were David Jones, a revolutionary soldier, Thomas and James McMahan, Stephen, Samuel and Jesse Turley, Saunders Townsend and some others, who came soon afterwards.
Those who arrived later were John Cramer, Bradford Lawless, John M. David and William Reid, Hezekiah Harris, Elijah Taylor, John, Peter, Samuel and Joseph Fisher, William, Jesse and Moon, Rudolph Haupe, Isaac Hedrick, John Smelser, William McDaniel, Wyant Parm, Harmon Smelser, Samuel Larnd, Pethnel Foster, Julius Burton, Ezekiel Williams, and some others at present unknown.
In the year 1812 or 1813 there was a fort, called " Fort McMahan," built somewhere in this township, but the ex- act location could not be ascertained.
The soil of this township is excellent, and the inhabitants are in a prosperous condition. It is noted as one of the most wealthy townships in the county. It is bounded on the north by the Missouri river, on the east by the Lamine river, on the south by the Black Water river, and on the west by the Saline county line. It is noted for voting always almost unanimously in one way ; it was anti-Democratic, until 1864, since which time it has been almost as strongly Democratic as it was Whig in days gone by.
Lead has been found and worked in paying quantities in this township. It has an abundance of timber of the very best quality, and a large quantity of lumber and cord- wood is shipped every year by means of the Black Water
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
and Lamine rivers. These streams abound with fish of very fine quality, and the Boonville market is principally supplied by them.
MONITEAU TOWNSHIP.
This township takes its name frome Moniteau Creek, which runs through the entire length of the township. Moniteau township has always, since its organization, voted the Democratic ticket.
It was first settled in ISI8. It is uncertain who was the very first settler. But among the early settlers, were Thomas B. Smiley, Seth, Joseph, Waid and Stephen How- ard, William Coal, James Stinson, Hawking Burress, David Burress, Charles Hickox, Samuel McFarland, Carrol George, James Snodgrass, Martin George, Mathew Bur- ress, Jesse Martin, Alexander Woods, William Landers, Jesse Bowles, James Donelson, William A. Stillson, Samuel Snodgrass, James W. Maxey, Job Martin, James Jones, David Jones, Augustus K. Longan, Patrick Mahan, Valen- tine Martin, John Jones and John B. Longan.
Thomas B. Smiley was elected to the Legislature from Cooper county in 1820, with Thomas Rogers and William Lillard. He was a man of considerable information, a good historian, and possessed with more than ordinary education. He raised a large family of children, and died about the year 1836. He was honest and industrious, a strong friend to education, and an uncompromising Demo- crat.
David Jones settled at Pisgah at an early date, but the precise time is not known. Yet it was previous to the year 1820, as his vote was recorded in that year. He, with Archibald Kavanaugh, was elected to the State Legislature in 1828. He was re-elected Representative in 1830, 1832 and 1834; in 1836 he was elected State Senator for four years. He was defeated for this office by Reuben A.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Ewing in 1840; but in 1848 he was again elected to the State Senate, this making him a member of the General Assembly during a period of sixteen years. He was a Democrat, a prominent member of the Baptist church, a good citizen, and noted for his hospitality. He died about the year IS59, loved and respected by all who knew him.
Pisgah and Mount Pleasant churches were built by the Baptists at an early day, and were presided over by John B. Longan and Kemp Scott, who were both able preachers.
Augustus K. Longan moved to Cooper county in the year ISIS, and was elected to the State Legislature in 1822. He was re-elected in 1844 and 1852, and served in that capacity for six years. He was the father of George Lon- gan, the talented and distinguished minister of the Christian church.
The first school in this township as far as can be ascer- tained, was taught by James Donelson. He only professed to teach arithmetic as far as the "Double rule of Three."
The first mill was erected by a man named Howard, at what was afterwards known as "Old Round Hill." Judge C. H. Smith, and an Englishman named Summers, also kept a store at that place.
At a later day Patrick Mahan built a tread mill, which was a great improvement on the old style "Horse Mill." Mr. Richard D. Bonsfield kept a store at Pisgah at an early time. He first merchandised at Old Franklin, then at Boonville, and finally at Pisgah. He is still living at an advanced age.
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CHAPTER XV.
Early History of the Different Townships, &c., Continued.
OTTERVILLE AND LEBANON TOWNSHIP.
The following history of the townships of Otterville and Lebanon was written by Mr. Thomas J. Starke, of Otter- ville, and was read by him on the 4th day of July, 1876, at a meeting of the citizens of that town. By his kindness, and at the request of many of the leading citizens of the above mentioned townships, the whole of the history, as read by Mr. Starke, is here inserted :
"At the solicitation of a few leading citizens of Otterville, the undersigned has prepared the following brief history of this place and vicinity since its first settlement up to the present time ; embracing short biographical sketches of the lives and characters of some of the older citizens, together with facts and incidents of interest which have transpired in this county during the first period of its existence.
"It is not pretended by the author that the production possesses any peculiar merits of its own as affording infor- mation, other than of a strictly local character. Nor is it designed otherwise than for the entertainment and amuse- ment of those who are more or less familiar with the history of the people, and incidents pertaining to this immediate neighborhood, and who, with many others of our inhabi- tants, of a later period, meet with us to-day, on this joyful and happy occasion-the one hundredth anniversary of the Independence of our common country.
"The writer does not lay claim to entire originality in the
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production of these brief sketches, although he has been an eye witness to most of the occurrences presented, and personally acquainted with nearly all of the characters mentioned.
"He takes pleasure in acknowledging himself indebted to Messrs. Samuel Wear, George W. Smith, James H. Cline, John W. Parsons, Thomas C. Cranmer, and other old settlers who are here among us to-day, for much of the subject matter embraced in these pages of local history, and he refers to it for its authenticity.
"While it is apparent to all who may read this manuscript that this is only an obscure and insignificant village, situated in a remote corner of old Cooper, whose very existence is scarcely known beyond our own immediate neighborhood, yet to many of us who meet here to-day together, some of whom are descending the western slope of human life, Otter- ville does possess a name and a history, dear to us, though unknown and unnoticed by others.
"In presenting these sketches, it will perhaps be necessary to glance back at the first settlement of New Lebanon, six miles north of Otterville, as this neighborhood was peopled some time anterior to the settlements south and west of the Lamine.
"About the fall of 1819 and the spring of 1820. the fol- lowing named persons moved to New Lebanon and into that neighborhood embracing a portion of the territory now known as Lebanon township, in Cooper county. This county then extended south to the Osage river, to wit :
"Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. James L. Wear, John Wear. James H. Wear, who was the father of William G. Wear, of Warsaw, and Samuel Wear, now of Otterville : Alex- ander Sloan, Robert Kirkpatrick, Colin C. Stoneman, William Stone, Frederick Castell. Reuben A. Ewing. Jas. Berry, Thomas Rubey, Elizabeth Steele, sister of Alexan-
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der Sloan's wife, a man named Smiley, Rev. Laird Burns and his father John Burns, John Reed, Silas Thomas, Jas. Taylor, Hugh Wear, who was a brother of James L. and John Wear, James McFarland and Rev. William Kavan- augh.
"The Rev. Finis Ewing was a distinguished minister of the gospel, and one of the original founders of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. He was from Kentucky ; was ordained a minister in the year 1803, and in conjunction with' Samuel McAdam and Samuel King, founded this church in ISI0.
"The cause which gave rise to the establishment of this branch of the Presbyterian church was, that the mother church required her ministers to possess a classical education before ordination, which was by the new church not regarded as absolutely indispensable, though its ministers were re- quired to cultivate a knowledge of the elementary branches of the English language.
"At this place these early pioneers pitched their tents, and soon began the erection of a rude building as a sanct- uary, which, when completed, they called "New Lebanon," in contradistinction to the house in which they had sung and. worshipped in the State from which they had formerly emigrated.
"It was built of hewed logs, and the settlers of this little colony united in the project, each furnishing his proportion- ate quota of the logs requisite to complete the building.
"These logs were double ; that is each log was twenty- four feet in length, being joined in the middle of the house by means of an upright post, into which the ends were mortised, thus making the entire length of the church forty- eight feet, by thirty feet in width.
"This building served as a place of worship for many years, until about the time of the war, when the new and
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neat brick church of the present day, was erected on the site of the old one which was torn away.
"The members of this church constituted the prevailing religion of the neighborhood for many years ; and most of the characters portrayed herein were connected with this denomination.
"The Rev. James L. Wear, was also for many years a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. He was a good man, and lived close to New Lebanon, where Frank Asberry now lives. He died at the old mansion about IS68. He was a brother of John Wear, who first lived at New Leba- non at the place now owned by Mr. Majors ; and afterwards at Otterville where Mr. Anson Hemenway now lives. The first school taught in Otterville, or in Otterville township, was taught by his son, known by the "sobriquet" of ". Long George." They were originally from Kentucky, moved to Howard county in 1817, and afterwards to New Lebanon at the date above indicated.
"Samuel Wear, Sr., and James H. Wear were brothers, and came from Tennessee; the latter being the father of Wm. G., and Samuel Wear, Jr., as before stated, and lived at the place now occupied by William Walker. He was a successful farmer, and died in good circumstances.
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