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 5
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The next churches built, were "Mount Pleasant" and Pisgah, in the south-eastern part of the county, and "New Nebo," at Henry Woolery's mill, the particulars of the building of which, is described above. New Nebo church was afterwards moved about one mile west on to the prairie,
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
and it has always been in a prosperous condition. About this time there was also built a "Cumberland Presbyterian" church, at Lebanon township, of which Finis Ewing was pastor.
The first baptism by immersion took place at "Old Nebo," in the year 1820. At this baptism there happened the following laughable incident : As this was the first thing of the kind that had happened in this part of the country, great crowds of people came from every section of the country, as notice had been given some time before. The banks of the river in which the baptism was to take place, were thronged with people, and many men climbed trees in order to get a good view of the proceedings. One man, by the name of Jake Simons, climbed up a small sappling which stood on the edge of the creek, and which bent over the water with his weight. Another gentleman, by the name of John H. Hutchison, thinking this would be a fine oppor- tunity to have some fun, took out a large pocket knife and commenced cutting away on the tree where it was bent by Simon's weight. Lower and lower bent the tree, weakened by the cutting of the knife, but the victim and those stand- ing near were so engaged in watching the baptism, which, by that time had commenced, that they did not notice this. At last, with one strong blow, the tree was severed, and Simons dropped, with a loud splash, into the water. The crowd shouted and haloed so long and so loud at this. that the minister was almost forced to dismiss the crowd without concluding the exercises. As it was, it took a long time to subdue the confusion which this joke had caused. As soon as Simons, who was a fighter. swam to the shore, he hurled off his coat, and threatened to whip the man who had caused this involuntary ducking. But he did not find out for years who that person was. As soon as the excitement had subdued sufficiently to permit
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
it, the baptism was proceeded with, until all the applicants had been immersed. But the remembrance of this incident remains, to this day, fresh in the minds of all of the old settlers, who tell it again and again to their children, as illustrating the fun-loving disposition of the first inhabitants . of this country.
The first schools in Cooper county were taught by Wm. Anderson, in 1817, near Concord church; by Andrew Reavis, in 1818, about one and three-quarters of a mile east of Boonville, and three-quarters of a mile east of the present residence of Wm. Gibson; by James Donaldson, in the south-eastern part of the county ; by Judge L. C. Stephens at "Old Nebo" church ; by Dr. William Moore in Palestine township, near the present residence of Jenus White, and by Rollins, near Big Lick, in Saline township.
These schools were all held in log school-houses, some without any floor but the earth, the remainder with puncheon floors, and no window-sash in the windows. The windows were made by cutting pieces out of the logs, which open- ings were closed with a plank at night, not so much. as a protection against thieves, as to keep out the wild animals ' which prowled through the forest. Teachers, in those days, seemed to have learned well the maxim, that to spare the. rod, was to spoil the child, for the most trivial offence against the iron rule of the "pedagogue," was visited with a severe thrashing, large and small scholars, alike, coming in for their share of the "dressings." So that the sound of the switch was often heard, as the teacher urged some tardy loiterer along the flowery path of knowledge. The teachers had many difficulties in teaching the scholars, for, from the very first of his life, the youthful settler was taught that self-reliance and independence, which works well, when taught to those of mature years, but which is liable to make the young rebel against any restraint, and which, at that
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
time, tended to interfere seriously with the rule of the schools and the advancement of the scholars.
On the fourth day of July, 1820, the first celebration within the county of Cooper, of the anniversary of the Decla- ration of the National Indedependence, took place at Boon- ville, which then consisted of but a few houses. For some time notice had been circulated among the settlers, all over this portion of the State, and, on the morning of that day, great crowds gathered "from near and from far," to take part in this, to them, great day of thanksgiving, for, at that time in the nation's history, the Declaration of Independ- ence and individual right meant something besides empty words.
The oration of the day was delivered by Benjamin F. Hickox, father of our honored townsman, Truman V. Hickox,
The feast, of which all were specially invited to partake, was spread on the grass and ground north and northeast of the court house. Such was the crowd present, that the table spread for them, reached from the vacant lot north of the court house, to the large mound still standing in the front yard of Mr. Jesse Homan. James Bruffee, a black- smith, then living in Boonville, made a large wrought iron cannon, with which they fired the salutes in honor of the day.
The festivities continued through the day and the following night. After the speaking and the reading of the Declara- tion of Independence had been concluded, the people sep- arated into groups, the young ones to dance and to play different games, and the old ones to watch the pleasant sports of the children, and to talk over the current gossip of the day, for it was very seldom that they ever met in a large crowd. This day is still remembered with pleasure by the old settlers, for many of them, on that day, met for
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
the last time their friends who lived at a distance, and who soon became separated from them, and died without ever seeing them again.
During the year 1821, John V. Sharp, a soldier who had served in the Revolutionary war, and who was living in Cooper county, became paralyzed and as helpless as a child. He soon, not having any means of his own, became a charge upon the county. The cost to the County Court was two dollars per day for his board and attention to him, besides bills for medical attention.
After having endeavored in vain to raise sufficient funds to take care of him, the County Court, in the year 1822, petitioned the General Assembly of this State to defray the expenses of his support, stating, in the petition, that the whole revenue of the county was not sufficient for his maintainance. This may sound strange to persons living in a county in which thousands of dollars are levied to defray its expense. But the whole revenue of the county for 1822, as shown by the settlement of the collector, was only $718, and the support of Mr. Sharp, at two dollars per day, cost $730 per year, besides the cost for medical attention, which left the county, at the end of the year 1822, in debt, without counting in any of the other expenses of the county.
The petition not having been granted by the General Assembly, the court levied, for his support, during all the years from 1823 to 1828, a special tax of fifty per cent. of the State revenue tax, being an amount equal to the whole of the general county tax ; and in 1828, ten per cent. of the State revenue tax was levied for the same purpose. He must have died sometime during that year, as no farther levy for his support appears upon the records of the county, thus relieving the county of a burdensome tax. If these facts were not matters of record, they would seem too in- credible to be believed.
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII.
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History of all the Newspapers that have been issued in Cooper County.
THE first newspaper, in Cooper county, was established at Boonville, about the year 1834, and was called the Boonville Herald. It was owned by James O. Middle- ton, and edited by Benj. E. Ferry, who was afterwards County Clerk of Cooper county. In the year 1838, Rob- ert Brent bought one-half interest in the paper from Jas. Middleton, and on the 8th day of April in that year, they changed the name of the paper to that of The Western Emigrant. On the 7th day of March, 1839, C. W. Todd purchased Brent's interest in the paper, and the paper was edited about one year, by Messrs. Middle- ton and Todd. On the 30th day of April, 1840, C. W. Todd purchased Middleton's interest in the paper and changed its name to that of the Boonville Observer : C. W. Todd continued as sole proprietor of the paper, until the 3rd day of February, 1842, when he sold one-half inter- est in it to T. J. Boggs. On the 29th day of March, 1843, F. M. Caldwell and J. S. Collins purchased the paper from Todd & Boggs ; they continued to edit it in partnership only until June 7th, 1843, when F. M. Caldwell purchased the interest of Collins, and became sole proprietor. Caldwell soon sold one-half interest in the paper to Allen Hammond, and it was edited under the firm name of Caldwell & Ham- mond, until the 9th day of June, 1846, when Caldwell sold out his interest to Allen Hammond, and returned to Virginia,
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
on account of the feeble health of his wife. Hammond contin- ued to edit it alone, until Nov. 7th, 1850, when F. M. Cald- well returned from Virginia and again purchased a half in- terest in the paper. They continued to edit it in partner- ship for several years, when they sold the paper to Augus- tine W. Simpson, who remained publisher of it, until it ceased publication in 1861, on account of the excitement in- cident to the war. In politics this paper was Whig, un- til the year 1854, when the Whig party ceased to exist ; it then became Democratic, and remained so until it ceased publication.
The next newspaper established was the Missouri Reg- ister, published by William T. Yeoman. The first number of it appeared in July, 1839. It was the first Democratic paper published in western Missouri, and was established mainly to aid in the campaign of 1840. On the 22d day of April, 1841, Yeoman sold one-half interest in the paper to Edgar A. Robinson, and the paper continued to be pub- lished by Yeoman and Robinson until the 9th day of Aug-, ust, 1843, when Ira Van Nortwick purchased it from them. It was afterwards successively owned by Quisenberry, Price, Ward & Chilton, the last named of whom continued to publish it until the great temperance excitement broke out in 1853. The paper had previous to this time, been taken up almost exclusively by political discussions, but it was then purchased by a man named Bowie, who filled its columns exclusively with discussions in regard to the great question of Temperance, which was then agitating the pub- lic mind. Bowie soon sold out the paper to Allen Ham- mond, and soon after this, the paper ceased publica- tion, for want of patronage.
During the heat of the campaign of 1840, the editors of the Missouri Register, Messrs. Ward & Chilton, started a weekly campaign sheet, which advocated the claims of
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Van Buren for President, as soon as the campaign was over, and Van Buren defeated, the paper ceased publication.
On the 31st day of December, 1850, Messrs. Caldwell & Hammond, proprietors of the Boonville Observer com- menced the publication of a sheet called the Tri-Weekly Observer, which was printed three times a week. But it did not continue long, as it was forced, for lack of patronage, to cease publication March 8th, 1851.
The next paper was the Boonville Patriot, which was established by a gentleman by the name of Gill, in the year 1856. It was afterwards sold to F. W. Caldwell, who con- tinued to publish it until the year 1861, when the materials, presses, &c., belonging to the office, were seized by Gen. Worthington, in command of some federal forces at Jef- ferson City, and taken by him to the latter place.
Soon afterwards, F. M. Caldwell went to Jefferson City, and with the assistance of some of the most influential federals, succeeded in gaining possession of the materials belonging to this office which Gen. Worthington had seized, and brought them back to Boonville. Immediately upon his return, Messrs. Caldwell and Stahl commenced the publi- cation of the Boonville Advertiser, the first number of which appeared on the 15th day of June, 1862. After publishing it for some time, they sold out to Messrs. Drury and Selby, who published the paper for a year or two, when Messrs. F. M. Caldwell & Co. again got possession of it, and have continued proprietors of it to the present time. The editors of this paper, during this period, have been J. G. Pangborn, H. A. Hutchison, George W. Frame, Geo. W. Ferrel and Chas. E. Hasbrook; the last named, is editor at the present time. In politics, this paper is now and always has been democratic.
On the 25th day of October, 1875, the proprietors of the Boonville Advertiser, commenced the publication of a
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HISTORY OF COOPER OOUNTY.
daily edition of the same, under the name of the Boonville Daily Advertiser. It is still published, and seems to have met with very good success.
The Boonville Eagle, a weekly paper, was established in September, 1865, by Milo Blair. On the 28th day of September, 1875, he took Chas. H. Allen into partnership with him, and the paper is still published by Messrs. Milo Blair & Co. In politics it has always been Republican.
The Wachter Am Missouri, a paper published in the German language, was established in 1867, by L. Joachimi. It was purchased in 1874 by F. W. Ludwig, who changed its name to The Central Missourier. F. W. Ludwig is. the present proprietor. In politics it is Republican.
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII.
The "Fantastic Company," and the Killing of J. L. Forsythe.
FROM the organization of the government of the State, until the year 1847, there existed a militia law, requiring all able-bodied male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, to organize into companies and to muster on certain days. They had, during the year, at different times, a company, a battallion, and a general muster. A company muster was the drilling of the members of one company ; a battallion muster consisted in drilling the companies of one-half of a county ; and a general muster was a meeting of all the companies of a county.
Muster day was, for a long time after the commencement of the custom, a gala day for the citizens, and was looked forward to with considerable interest, especially by the differ- ent officers who appeared in full military dress, captains and lieutenants, with long red feathers stuck in the fore part of their hats, and epaulettes upon their shoulders. The field officers mounted on their fine steeds, with continental cocked hats, epaulettes upon their shoulders, and fine cloth coats, ornamented with gold fringe, rode around among the men and gave orders, making themselves the "observed of all observers." Also the vendors of whisky, ginger cakes, apples and cider, took no small interest in the anticipated muster day, for on that day, every person being excited. bought more or less of these things. Always on muster days, after the muster was over, the rival bruisers of a neighborhood tried their strength upon one another, thus
ยท
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furnishing a great deal of amusement for those who at- tended. The little folks were also happy in the anticipa- tion, if not in the enjoyment of being presented with a gin- ger cake and an apple upon that day.
But after a lapse of time these musters became tiresome to a portion of the citizens, as they were obliged to lose so much of their valuable time in order to attend them, or were compelled to pay a fine of one dollar for each failure to attend on muster day ; besides they could see no real use in continuing the organization as there seemed no pros- pect soon of the State requiring any troops, as all. was peaceful and quiet within its borders. Also, at the elec- tions for officers, many of them were chosen on account of their personal popularity, instead of their qualifications to fill the office for which they were elected. Musters, there fore, after their novelty had worn off, became very unpop- ular, the citizens believing them to be an unnecessary bur- den upon them.
Therefore, sometime before the Battallion muster, which was to take place at Boonville, during the year 1842, a company, the existence of which was known only to its members, was formed at that place, among the members of which were some of the best citizens of the city. This company was styled the "Fantastic Company," on account of the queer costumes, arms, &c., of its members, they be- ing dressed in all manner of outlandish costumes, carrying every conceivable kind of a weapon, from a broom-stick to a gun, and mounted upon horses, mules and jacks. The company was intended as a burlesque upon the militia, and to have some fun at their expense.
The regiment of State Militia, which was to be mustered at the above mentioned time, was commanded by Col. Jesse J. Turley and Major J. Logan Forsythe, and was com- posed of all of the companies in the north half of the coun-
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ty. On the morning of the muster day, Col. Turley formed his regiment in front of the court house. After they were organized and ready for muster and drill, the Fantastic Company, which was commanded by John Babbitt, each member dressed in his peculiar costume and carrying his strange weapon, marched up into full view of Col. Turley's command, and commenced preparations to drill. Col. Turley, feeling indignant that his proceedings should be interrupted by such a "mob," and believing that it was in- tended as an insult, ordered his command to surround the Fantastic Company.
There was a high fence on the eastern side of the vacant lot on which they were mustering, and Col. Turley's company surrounded the "Fantastic Company" by ap- proaching on High street, on the alley between Fifth and Sixth streets, and on Sixth street, thus hemming them in on the vacant lot. The latter being closely pressed, re- treated back across the fence, and then commenced a fight by throwing brickbats. The fight immediately became general and promiscuous, and resulted in serious damage to the several members of the State militia. Col. J. J. Tur - ley was struck on the side by a stone, and two or three of his ribs broken. Major J. Logan Forsythe was struck by a brickbat in the face, just below his right eye, and died the next day of his wounds. The members of the Fantastic Company then dispersed and scattered in every direction.
The death of Major Forsythe caused great excitement throughout the county, and great indignation to be felt against the citizens of Boonville. So much so. that a petition was immediately circulated, asking, that the "county seat of Cooper county be removed from Boon- ville," to a more central point of the county. So great was the excitement, that some persons living within three miles of Boonville signed this petition. But the county seat. after
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a severe struggle before the County Court, was retained at Boonville.
The death of Major Forsythe was greatly regretted by all parties, for he was an excellent citizen and a very pop- ular officer. It produced an ill-feeling throughout the coun- ty which lasted for many years. After the fight was over, the militia went through with their usual exercises, under the command of the subordinate officers, as Col. Turley and Major Forsythe were unable, on account of their wounds, to drill them.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
First Election Held in Cooper County, List of Men who Voted at, and Result of it .- Result of Elections Held in May and AAugust, 1820, and August, 1822 .- Result of Elections Held in 1824, 1825, 1826, and 1828 .- Change of Political Aspect of Cooper County in 1840 .- State Whig Convention Held at Rocheport, in 1840 .- Organization of the Know Nothing Party .- Members of the Different State Conventions from Cooper .- Politics Not Entirely Considered at Elections for First Thirty Years, &c., &c.
THE first election after Cooper county was organized. was held on the second day of August, 1819, to elect a del- egate to Congress, from the territory of Missouri. John Scott and Samuel Hammond were the candidates. John Scott had 117 votes, and Samuel Hammond 21 votes, mak- ing total vote of county, 138.
The townships which voted at said election were, Arrow Rock, Miami, Tabeaux and Lamine, which included the town of Boonville; but the votes cast in Tabeaux town- ship were thrown out, because the poll book of said town- ship did not state for whom the votes were cast, and this poll book was not put on file with the others. Therefore. the only votes counted were those cast in the other three townships.
Robert P. Clark, County Clerk, called to his aid James Bruffee and Benjamin F. Hickox, two Justices of the Peace. to assist him in counting the votes. As some of the read-
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
ers may have some curiosity to know the names of those who voted at this first election, we give them as follows :
ARROW ROCK TOWNSHIP.
William Jobe,
Baker Martin, Jesse Voves,
William Hays,
William White, John Chapman,
Simon Odie,
Jacob Catoon, William Cooper,
Phavess Clevenger,
Samuel Clevenger, William Jobe,
Jack Clevenger,
James Wilhite, James Anderson,
John Ingram, vote rejected.
Judges of Election were, James Anderson, William Cooper and William Jobe ; and Clerks, John Ingram and James Wilhite.
MIAMI TOWNSHIP.
Andy Russell, Christopher Martin,
William Warden,
Daniel McDowell,
Henry Estus,
William Gladin,
John D. Thomas,
William Estes,
John Evans,
William Shaw,
Charles English,
Jesse Gilliam.
Joel Nowlin,
Henry Hide,
The Judges of Election were, John D. Thomas, John Evans and Jesse Gilliam ; and Clerks, Charles English and William Gladin.
LAMINE TOWNSHIP.
Jonn H. Moore,
Robert Boyd,
Joseph Cathey,
Joseph Smith,
Robert Wallace,
George Cathey, Jr.,
Dedrick Ewes,
Levi Odeneal,
Frederick Conor, William Gibson, Humphrey Gibson, Stephen Cole, Jr., Muke Box, Jacob Eller,
Samuel Smith,
John Cathey,
Gabriel Tittsworth,
Stephen Cole, Sr.,
William H. Curtis,
Eli N. Henry,
George Houx,
William Moore,
James Reid,
Fleming F. Mitchell,
James Turner, Jr., Robert P. Clark Joseph Dillard, John J. Clark, John Hiburn, David Burress, Jr.,
James Hill, David Ward, Samuel Peters,
John McClure, David Trotter,
Mathias Houx.
Littleton Seat,
William Chambers,
James Scott,
David McGee,
Drury Wallace,
Thomas Rogers,
Jordan O'Bryan, Abraham Jobe, Lewis Letney,
Charles B. Mitchell, James Long,
Ephraiam Marsh,
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
James McCarty, Sr.,
David Fine,
Wmn. Deakins, John Nunn,
William Dillard,
George Fennile,
Lawrence C. Stephens, James Snodgrass,
Win. H. Anderson, James Bruffee,
William D. Wilson,
Joseph Byler,
Nicholas M. Fain,
Frederick Shirley, Joseph Westbrook,
Jacob Thomas, Jr.,
John Grover,
William Fraser,
Edward Carter,
Nicholas Houx,
Abraham Shelly,
Anderson Demesters,
Win. Burk,
Peyton Hurt, Zepheniah Bell, Job Self,
Thomas Butcher, David McFarland,
William Bartlett,
Jacob MeFarland,
Alexander Brown,
Delany Bowlin, Jacob Thomas, Sr ..
William Savage,
Nicholas MeCarty,
James McCarty, Jr.,
John Swearingen,
Win. Bowlin, Ephraim Ellison
Luke Williams,
George l'otter,
Benj. F. Hickox,
Frederick Thomas,
John Potter,
William McFarland,
John Roberts,
David Burress, Sr.,
George Crawford,
Geo. Cathey, Sr.,
Joseph Scott,
William Ross.
Asa Morgan,
William George, Sr.,
John Green, vote rejected,
Thomas Brown, vote rejected,
Mansfield Hatfield, John Ross,
John Savage,
Hiram Musich, vote rejected. William Mitchell, vote rejected.
The Judges of Election were, James Bruffee, Benjamin F. Hickox and William McFarland; and Clerks. George Crawford and William Ross.
It will be observed, that the first vote cast within the present limits of Cooper county, was cast by John H. Moore, who died many years ago : and the fourth vote by William Gibson, who is the only one who voted at that election who is still alive, that is, so far as is known to the authors. Yet this may be a mistake, as many of them. years ago, moved from this county, and have not been heard from since then, although they may still be alive. That election took place fifty-seven years ago, therefore, a
Andrew A. Reavis,
Jesse F. Roiston,
Joseph M. Bernard, Samnel D. Reavis, James A. Reavis, Wmn. Warden, Samuel Snodgrass,
W'in. Snodgrass, Peter Carpenter,
Eli Roberts, Charles Force, John Miller, Laikin Dewitt, Peter Stephens,
Frederick Houx,
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HISTORY OF COOPER OOUNTY.
man would have to be, at the present day, seventy-eight years of age to have cast a legal vote then. The wives of but two of them are still living, viz : Mrs. L. C. Stephens and Mrs. Frederick Houx.
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