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 13
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"The town of Otterville was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Missouri, on the sixteenth day of Feb- ruary, 1857.
"About the year 1860, for a short period, a considerable wholesale business was done here. Among the wholesale establishments, were the following : W. G. Wear & Son. Cloney, Crawford & Co., from Jefferson City ; Clark & Reed ; Concannon ; the Robert Brothers : Lohman & Co .. &c., &c.
"About this time the Mansion House' was built by a man named Pork ; the .Embree House' by George W.
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HISTORY OF COOPER . COUNTY.
Embree and Chris Harlan. The latter was quite a large hotel near the depot, and was afterwards moved to Sedalia by George R. Smith, and about the same time several other houses were moved by different parties to that place. There was, after this time, a considerable business done in a retail way around the old public square. Among the most prominent merchants here, were W. G. Wear & Son, and Cannon & Zollinger, who carried on a large and prof- itable trade for many years.
"But having already extended these notes far beyond what I had at first anticipated, I am admonished to close them rather abruptly, lest they become wearisome. They were prepared at a very short notice, and might have been made much more interesting, had sufficient time been given the writer to arrange them with some regard to order.
"I hope that due allowance will be made by an appreci- ative public for this defect in this hastily-written memo- randum.
"In conclusion, I will take occasion to say, that one hun- dred years ago, where we meet now to rejoice together, at the happy coming of our first Centennial, this part of Cooper county, nay, even Cooper county itself, was a howling wilderness. The hungry wolf and bear; the elk and the antelope ; the wild deer and the buffalo, roamed about undisturbed, save by the feeble arrows of the red man.
"To-day, through the little village of Otterville, within a very few yards of this spot, a double band of iron, stretch- ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, connects San Francisco with the city of New York. Over these lines of metal rails ponderous trains are almost continu ally passing to and fro, freighted with innumerable articles of commerce; the rich merchandise of the east ; the varied productions of the west ;
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the teas and silk of China; the silver of Arizona, and the gold of California.
"Let us, therefore, rejoice and be merry, for we have abundant reason for these manifestations of joy."
THOMAS J. STARKE. [Signed. ]
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XVI.
Early history of the Different Townships, &c , Continued.
PALESTINE TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM MOORE and Joseph Stephens were the first settlers of Palestine township. Wm. Moore emigrated from North Carolina, and settled about eight miles south of Boonville, in the timber close by a good spring, north of and adjoining the farm where Jenus White, Esq., now re- sides. His family consisted of Geo. W., Wm. H., James, Andrew, John, Thomas, Robert and Joseph H. Moore, and Margaret, Sallie and Mary Moore ; seven sons and three daughters. Margaret married Judge Lawrence C. Stephens, in 1818. Sallie married Col. John H. Hutchison, and Mary married Harvey Bunce. Col. Hutchison was Sheriff of this county for four years, and Representative for two years. Judge Stephens was Representative for four years, and County Judge for one term, and Harvey Bunce was Sheriff for eight years, Representative for two years, and a member of the State Convention in 1865. There are only two of the Moore children now living, viz : Joseph H. Moore, and Margaret Stephens, widow of the late Judge L. C. Stephens.
Mrs. Margaret Stephens says that in the fall of 1816, after her father settled in this county, she went to Boonville, with her uncle, a Mr. McFarland. and on their arrival, she asked her uncle where Boonville was, thinking she was com ng, to something of a town. Her uncle pointed to
*
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Robadeaux's store, a round log cabin, with the bark on the logs, and said. "There's Boonville." They then alighted from their horses, and after making some purchases, they returned home. That store-house was the only building which she then saw at Boonville. It is also certain, from other good evidence, that the place on which Boonville now stands, was called "Boonville." before any town was built or located here.
Mrs. Stephens also tells of the first church she attended in the neighborhood, which was held at the house of one of the settlers. Luke Williams, the preacher, was dressed in a complete suit of buckskin, and a great many of his audi- ence were dressed in the same style. She was so dissatis- fied with the appearance of the state of things. in this back- woods county, that she cried during the whole of the services ; but she soon became accustomed to the new order of things, and was well contented. At that meeting, grease from the bear meat, stored in the loft. above the congrega- tion, dripped down and spoiled her nice Sunday shawl, which was a fine one, brought from North Carolina. and which could not be replaced in this backwoods country.
Joseph Stephens. Sen., was the next settler of what is now called Palestine township. He emigrated from Ken- tucky, and stopped one and one-half years, near Winches- ter. East Tennessee, in the fall of 1817: he. in company with several others, started for Cooper county, and landed at Boonville on the 15th day of November. 1817.
Before they arrived here, they had bought land in what is now Palestine township. They remained at the place called " Boonville," and were piloted to their new home by Maj. Stephen Cole. They crossed the Petite Saline Creek at the McFarland ford, at the place where Rankin's mill is now situated. The only persons at that time, living in that part of the county, were William and Jacob McFarland
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on the north, and John Glover on the south side of the creek. After crossing the creek they soon entered the Lone Elm prairie, and on the evening of the same day, they arrived at their new home where they camped for the night.
A hunter by the name of Landers, had made his camp in the bottom, near the present residence of Joseph Steph- ens, jr., and had an acre of growing corn and 15 hogs, which were purchased by Joseph Stephens, Sr. Mr. Lan- ders then "pulled up stakes" and moved farther west. The next spring James D. Campbell settled on the hill, south of Bunceton, Peter Stephens, one half of a mile north of Old Palestine, and William Stephens and John Kelley three and one-half miles southeast of Joseph Stephens, near the Moniteau creek. These men were the sons and the sons-in- law of Joseph Stephens, Sen., and emigrated to Cooper county with him.
The next year, ISIS, Samuel Peters settled about two miles north of Joseph Stephens, at a place now called Peters- burg, on the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad. He also had a large family of boys and girls ; Samuel and Newton C. Peters were his sons. One of his daugh- ters married Mr. McFarland, one James Hill, who was Sheriff of this county for eight years ; one Harvey Harper ; one Katie Peters, Thomas Patrick, and afterwards, Samuel Cole ; and Sallie, the younger, James Gallagher.
When Samuel Peters raised his dwelling, he invited his neighbors to come and help him, stating that he would, on that occasion, kill a hog and have it for dinner. As this was the first hog ever butchered in this part of the State, and as very few of the settlers had ever tasted pork, it was no little inducement to them to be present and assist in dispos- ing of such rare and delicious food, for the settlers, previous to that time, had subsisted entirely upon wild game. Al-
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ways on such occasions they had a little "fire water" to give life to the occasion.
In the winter of ISIS, Miss Rhoda, the daughter of Jos. Stephens, Sr., was married to Dr. B. W. Levens, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Luke Williams. On the same evening Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of Sam- uel Peters, and James Hill were united in marriage by the same minister. The two last mentioned had been engaged for some time, yet did not expect to be married so soon. But Mr. Peters declared that if they intended to marry, they must do so that night or never. So the parson imme- diately went down to Mr. Peter's house, and in accordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided, pro- nounced them husband and wife.
Col. Andrew and Judge John Briscoe settled in the same township in ISI8. They were both very prominent men. . and prominent leaders in their respective parties, Andrew being a Whig, and John a Democrat.
Some of the other early settlers were Henry, Hiram, Heli and Harden Corum. Mr. Tevis, the father of Capt. Simeon Tevis, Thomas Collins, Jacob Summers, Michael, James and William Son. John and Joseph Cathey, James David, and John HI. Hutchison, Nathaniel Leonard, John and Andrew Wallace, Henry Woolery. Holbert and Samuel Cole, James Bridges, James Simms, Russell Smallwood, Thomas Best, Greenberry Allison, Wm. C. Lowery, An- thony F. Read, and others not recollected. No better citizens than those mentioned above ever settled in any community.
Mr. Greenberry Allison dug the first cistern in the county. which proved to be a great success, and caused many of his neighbors to imitate his example, as they had, previous to that time, been compelled to depend for water upon springs and wells.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Palestine township, from the beginning, took the lead in education. The first schools were taught by Lawrence C. Stephens, Dr. William H. Moore, and a young man from Virginia by the name of William H. Moore, who was considered the best scholar in his day, in this part of the country. The teachers of a later day were Mr. Huff, Green White, Josiah Adams, now residing in California, Missouri, and Philip A. Tutt. The first grammar school was kept by a Mr. Rodgers, at the residence of John Wallace.
The first dancing school was opened in 1832, at the resi- dence of B. W. Levens, about one-quarter of a mile east of the present site of Bunceton, by a gentleman named Gibson. He was a polished gentleman, and an excellent teacher, and was the first to introduce "cotillions," which were, until that time, unknown in this part of the country. Mr. Gibson at that time had two other schools; one at Boonville, and the other at Arrow Rock, and he taught, during the week, two days at each place.
The names of a few of the dancers who attended the school at B. W. Levens' residence who are at present re- membered, are as follows: Newton C. Peters, David Hutchison, Andrew B. Moore, John M. Briscoe, Mr. Huff, Daniel Ogle, Thomas and Bonaparte Patrick, Thomas and Luther Smith, James Corum, Joseph S. Anderson, Green White, Andrew Collins, and Tobe Briscoe. Misses Mar- garet and Elizabeth Hutchison, daughters of James Hutch- ison ; Elmira Ann and Sarah Ardell Hutchison, daughters of John H. Hutchison ; Zerilda and Emarine Levens, Mary and Patsy Briscoe, Katie and Sallie Peters, Susan and Rhoda Campbell, Parthena Kelly, Julia Collins, Annie Best, and a Miss Ramsey.
Most of the persons mentioned above have been dead many years. Among the gentlemen, Mr. Huff was alive a few years ago, though he may be dead at this time, as he
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
has not been heard from for some time. So far as is known none of the other gentlemen are alive. Of the ladies. Margaret, Elmira Ann and Sarah Ardell Hutchison, Mar- garet Stephens, Zerilda Levens, Patsy Briscoe. Katie and Sallie Peters, and Rhoda Campbell, are still alive-the others are all dead.
On the first day of January, 1845, Henry C. Levens was employed at Lone Elm, John D. Stephens in Palestine dis- trict, Joseph L. Stephens in the Harrison district, in the Bunceton neighborhood, and George H. Stephens in the Round Grove district, to teach the respective schools for three months. All these districts are now in school town- ship 47, range 17. These teachers found that the people were not sufficiently aroused on the great importance of of giving their children a good education, and for some time had been studying to discover some plan by which to arouse the patrons of the school to a full knowledge of their responsibility.
They had found that the parents could not be forced to perceive the vast importance of education, by merely tell- ing them of its benefits : but that in order to produce this change, inducements must be placed directly before both parents and pupils ; something tangible, sufficiently inviting to arouse them from their lethargy. They thought that they must determine upon some plan to create and keep up an excitement, so as to induce the patrons to continue their schools for a longer period than three months, thereby benefitting both teachers and pupils.
They finally agreed upon the plan of offering a banner to the school, which, taking all of the classes into consider- ation, had made the most progress at the close of the school. The examination for the awarding of the banner was to take place at Old Palestine. On the first day Arithmetic. Geography and Grammar were to be examined, and on the
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
second day the four schools were to have a joint exhibition consisting of speeches and dialogues.
The above named teachers, in accordance with an agree- ment among themselves on the opening day of their schools, placed the whole subject before the scholars, and gave them until the next day to decide whether they were willing to enter the contest or not ; and the members of each school unanimously voted in favor of their teacher's proposition.
This produced a greater excitement than was contem- plated or wished for by the teachers, so much so, that it was more difficult to control than to create. All classes of the people took a deep interest in the progress of the schools, and they received frequent visits from trustees, parents and others.
On the days of the examination at Old Palestine, the scholars of the different schools marched in double file to the place of examination, with music and banners, with appropriate mottoes, in advance. The girls of each school were dressed in the same colored dresses, and the boys wore badges of the same color as the dresses of the girls of the school to which they belonged. On each day there was a very large attendance to witness the examination and exhibition.
The excitement became so great that the teachers in- structed the judges not to make any award, particularly, as the scholars of all four schools had acquitted themselves so well, that it would have been almost impossible to decide between them. After it had became known, that because of the general excellence of the schools, no award would be made, the excitement attending the contest soon quieted down. The examination and exhibition gave universal satisfaction, and although when the schools closed it was spring and the busiest time of the year, all four of the teachers were offered schools again at the same places.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
After this, schools were well attended and supported in Palestine township, and has continued so even to the present day.
Although the object of these teachers was partly selfish, in that they wished to procure. constant employment, they conferred innumberable blessings upon that and following generations, by creating among the settlers a desire to give their children every opportunity of acquiring a good edu- cation.
PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIP.
This is a small township lately organized and taken from the territories of Clark's Fork, Saline and Moniteau town- ships. It is mostly prairie, and the land is generally very fertile. The oldest settlers according to the best informa- tion that can be obtained, were James McClain, Lacy Mc- Clanahan, Adam McClanahan, Jacob Carpenter, Absalom McClanahan, Michael Hornbeck, Samuel Carpenter, Wm. H. McClanahan, Wm. G. McClanahan, and Jeremiah Smith.
It appears that these men were located in this township, previous to 1820, as their votes were recorded in that year. Some of them may not be confined to the limits of the township, but they were not far distant from the line.
The history of this township is so closely connected with that of the three townships mentioned above from which it was taken, that it will not be repeated at this place. For its history, the reader is referred to that of the three above named townships.
PILOT GROVE,-POSTOFFICE, TOWNSHIP AND TOWN.
The town of Pilot Grove is situated on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, about twelve miles southwest of Boonville. It was located in 1873. It has had a very rapid growth and bids fair to make a very important town. It is located in a thickly settled country. The soil of the
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
surrounding country is excellent, and the inhabitants pros- perous.
TOWNSHIP.
Among the earliest settlers of the township were Manty Hatfield, John Miller, the father of Judge George W. Mil- ler, Samuel Roe, Sr., John McCutchen, the father of Judge John M. Mccutchen, William Taylor, James Taylor, Jr., John, George, Nicholas and Mathias Houx.
This township in early times was celebrated for its camp meeting grounds, there being two within its limits ; one held by the Presbyterians, and the other by the Methodists. These camp meetings which were held by each denomina- tion once a year, were largely attended, many persons coming from great distances. Many camped on the grounds, entertaining "without money and without price" the people who attended, and were particularly hospitable to strangers from abroad.
For a more full history of this part of the county, the reader is referred to the following letters of Mr. William G. Pendleton, a young gentleman living in Pilot Grove township, viz :
PILOT GROVE, Mo., July 14, 1876.
Messrs. H. C. Levens, & N. M. Drake, Boonville.
Gentlemen .- A letter of late date, to Mr. E. H. Harris, has been placed in my hands by that gentleman, with the request that I respond to the same. This I shall proceed to do to the best of my ability, assuring you that the following information is at least authentic.
As you are probably already aware, Pilot Grove, as a postoffice and place of rendezvous, for the surrounding in- habitants, is one of the oldest in the county, and takes its name from an ancient grove of Hickory trees, located upon the high prairie in the immediate vicinity. In early days before well defined trails had been marked out, this grove
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served as a "pilot" to persons traveling from Boonville and Old Franklin to points in the southwest. The name "Pilot Grove" came thus to be applied to the postoffice established near by, and kept by Samuel Roe, Sr.
This gentleman, now the patriarch of our community. aged ninety years, continued to fill the position of post master until the close of the war of the Rebellion. Twas while he was acting in this capacity, and at his residence. where the neighbors had gathered upon a bright afternoon in the spring of 1874, awaiting the arrival of the mail, that the dreaded "Bill Anderson" suddenly appeared with his guerrilla troupe, and forming the trembling citizens in line. proceeded to divest them of their personal valuables.
Mr. Wm. Mayo, one of the citizens, refused to deliver up his elegant gold watch, and started to flee : passing the house he was joined by Mr. Thomas Brownfield, now of our community, and who had kept concealed. The guer- rillas, of course, gave pursuit, and overtaking Mr. Mayo. who had became separated from Mr. Brownfield, they killed him by a pistol shot in the face.
One guerrilla had pursued Mr. Brownfield, who was endeavoring to reach a thicket of brush some rods distant. The guerrilla fired repeatedly upon Mr. Brownfield, wound- ing him in the hand, when, upon a near approach. Brown- field, who was armed, and a man of nerve, suddenly turned. and covering him with his revolver, compelled the guerrilla to retreat. This act doubtless saved his life, since it en- abled him to reach the coveted thicket, from which con- cealment he defied his foes, who dared not penetrate the his retreat, and who, after surrounding the thicket, and be- ing several times fired upon by the desperate man within. sought less dangerous fields of conquest.
After the war this postoffice several times changed hands. and was once removed several miles from its ancient local- ity, still, however, retaining its old name.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Upon the construction of the M. K. & T. railroad through our community, in 1873, a depot was located near the ancient site of Pilot Grove, upon the land of Samuel Roe, Sr. This gentleman's son and business agent, Mr. J. W. Roe, superintended the laying off of a town and disposal of lots, which were at once in demand. The place was christened "Pilot Grove," and from the alacrity with which tradesmen and mechanics moved in, was seen the appreci- ation the people had of the brief prospects of the future village. Thinking men clearly saw that Pilot Grove occu- pied a position which would insure to enterprising trades- men and mechanics a permanent and profitable business.
The village is located on the M. K. & T. railroad, eleven miles southwest of Boonville, in the township of Pilot Grove, one of the best in the county. Its situation is ele- vated and very healthful, surrounded on every hand by a beautiful and fertile stretch of country, having an extensive prairie on the east and south, and timber on the north and west.
The timber in the immediate vicinity is young, though vigorous and of valuable varieties, such as black and white oak, walnut, hickory, elm, with a small percentage of ash, wild cherry, &c.
The farm products embrace the varieties of grains and grasses, as corn, wheat, oats, timothy, blue grass and clo- ver, with the character of live stock, which such a com- bination of crops would suggest ; especially large numbers of prime cattle and hogs are annually produced and mark- eted from this vicinity.
Good brick-clay is to be found adjacent to the town. The nearest worked mines are two coal mines ; one three miles north, the other one mile south, and the Collin's lead mines eight miles north. Fine indications of lead in paying quantities are found several miles west.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
The town of Pilot Grove has at present three dry goods and grocery stores, one well appointed drug store, three blacksmith and wagon maker shops, one gunsmith shop. one tin shop, one saddler shop, one shoe shop, one milin ยท ery establishment, and one barber shop, two agricultural depots and one lumber yard ; there are also two public schools near this town.
Of dwelling houses there are twenty-three, with the usual number of out-buildings ; one private and no public school, one church of the Methodist Episcopal South denomina- tion, established many years ago. A Cumberland Presby- terian, a Baptist and a northern Methodist Episcopal church within convenient distance. A good flouring and saw mill one mile south.
The professional men living here are Dr. J. W. H. Ross, M. D., and Dr. Blevens, present pastor of the Meth- odist church. The number of inhabitants is computed at about 150; and it is believed that the books of the M. K. & T. freight office at this place, will show in the amount of freight shipped from and received at this point, more business done than at any other town in the county ex- cept Boonville. This town was surveyed in July 1873. by Surveyor W. W. Trent, of Boonville.
The town is accessible from all directions by good roads. and it is the outlet of all the produce of its surrounding territory, and also of a large district lying west and north- west which is attracted here by a good road, opened for them by the enterprise of our citizens.
Your most obedient servant.
W. G. PENDLETON
PILOT GROVE, Mo .. August 7th. 1876. Messrs. H. C. Levens & N. M. Drake :
Gentlemen. - The following narration of the killing dur-
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
ing the late war, of citizens of our community, by lawless bands, upon either side is doubtless correct in the main, yet in view of the considerable lapse of time since the occur- rence of these events, the fallibility of the human memory, and many other circumstances which would have their ef- fect, it would not be strange should error exist in some of the minuter details.
Considered in order of time in which it occurred, I men- tion first the killing of Joseph Sifers, two miles north of Pilot Grove, which took place about the beginning of the war. He was a Union man, whose house was surrounded at night by unknown men, who demanded of him his fire arms. Purporting to have them hidden upon the outside of his dwelling, he went out intending to discover who they were; when, doubtless, under the belief that his life was in danger, he ran, endeavoring to reach a cornfield adjacent, but in the attempt was shot down by a sentinel of the party. It was never known who perpetrated this outrage.
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