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 6
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The next election, for Delegates to the State Convention to frame a Constitution for the State of Missouri, was held on the Ist, 2nd, and 3d days of May, 1820. The follow- ing was the result in this county, viz :
Robert P. Clark, For Delegate, had 557 Votes. -
Robert Wallace,
=
William Lillard,
Charles Woods, 66
=
295
Richard W. Cummins,"
Robert Johnson,
=
106 6.
Robert. Fristoe,
..
97
Henry Rennick,
91
George Sibley,
Peyton Nowlin,
6.
31
Julius Emmons,
..
William Ross,
11
Robert P. Clark, William Lillard, and Robert Wallace, as shown by the vote, were elected. The townships in which this election was held, were as follows :
Arrow Rock Township, which cast 120 Votes.
Lamine =
408 66
Tabeaux 66
150
Moreau
101
Miami . .
40)
395 400
359
6.
Total vote of Cooper County 819
At the time of this election, Cooper county was bounded on the east and south by the Osage river, on the west by the Indian Territory, and on the north by the Missouri river. Lamine Township then, included about all within the present limits of Cooper county, and some territory not now included in its limits.
76
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
The next election was held on the 28th day of August, 1820, to elect a member of Congress, and State and County officers. The following townships voted at this election :
Arrow Rock Township, which cast 57 Votes.
Lamine 66
66
Jefferson 16
66
503 110
Osage
Miami ..
Moreau ..
46
71
..
Tabeaux ،٠
..
.. 125
Total vote of Cooper County,
The following shows the result of this election :
For Congress, .John Scott received 762 Votes.
For Governor, Alex. McNair
766
For Governor, Win. Clark
For Lient. Governor, Nathaniel Cook
For Lieut. Governor, Win. H. Ashley ..
For Representative, James Edgar
139 ..
Thos. Roger-
(a coted.)
Wim. MeFarland "
425 16
.. (elected. )
.. Abram Jobe
5
John Dickson
1.55
. Abel Owens
:10
. .
Sam. D. Reavis ..
David Jones ..
380
. . William Lillard ..
532 .. (elected.)
.. Jason Harrison
.
..
John Corum .
John D. Thomas "
121 ..
..
William Wier
For Sheritt,
Wm. H. Curtis
549
(elected.)
Wm. H. Moore
102
.. Jas. Alexander
1344
..
B. W. Levens
45
..
John Briscoe . .
59
..
For Coroner,
Bryant Sanders ..
.. ( elected )
1.
J. C. Rochester
132
Edward Bradley " 165
6.
Thos. Smiley
78
Wm. Kelly
77
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Of the above list of candidates all have gone to their long homes, not one being left alive. And of the 503 vo- ters, then voting in Lamine Township, which included all · of the present territory of Cooper county, there are only four known to be alive, viz :
William Gibson, Samuel Cole, Henry Corum, and Lewis Edger, all still living within the limits of this county.
The result of the election which took place in the year 1822, was as follows :
For Congress, John Scott received 316 Votes.
Alex. Stewart 132
J. B C. Lucas 72
For Representative, Benj. F. Hickox
364 (elected.)
Jordan O'Bryan 380 (elected.)
Austin K. Longan " 229 (elected.)
Jas. McFarland 211
Thos. Rogers
119
William Ross יר
73
Sam. D. Reavis
65
Wm. Bryant 44
For Sheriff;
Sylvester Hall 328 = (elected.)
David P. Mahan 174
For Coroner, Thomas Riggs 174
William Poor was the first Constable elected for Lamine Township, that officer having been, prior to that time, appointed by the courts.
It will be observed that the vote was much smaller in IS22 than it had been in 1820. This was caused by the territory of the county being much diminished, by the for- mation of Cole and Saline counties from it.
ELECTIONS IN 1824.
Cooper county voted for Henry Clay for president, in 1824. Only four poll books of this election could be found, which show that Henry Clay had 136 votes, and Andrew Jackson 53 votes. It was done as a debt of gratitude to
78
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Clay, for his great services as a member of Congress, in the struggle of the State of Missouri, for admission into the Union.
She was admitted under certain conditions, viz :
"That the 4th clause of the 26th section of the 3d article of the Constitution of the State, shall never be construed to authorize the passage of any law, and no law shall be passed in conformity thereto, by which any citizen of the United States shall be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the privileges and immunities of citizens, to which such citizens are entitled under the Constitution of the United States."
The Legislature of Missouri assented to the conditions on the twenty-sixth day of June, 1821, and by proclamation of the President, James Monroe, the State was admitted on the tenth day of August, IS21.
The Constitution of the State of Missouri was adopted on the nineteenth day of July, IS20. without submitting it to the people. David Barton was president of the Con- vention. He died at the house of William Gibson. about one mile east of the City of Boonville, on the - day of September, 1837, and was buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, at Boonville.
The question of the admission of Missouri into the Union. created great excitement in Congress, and all over the United States. The main point of difference, between the opposing factions, being the slavery question, which gave rise to what was called "The Missouri Compromise."
The following is the result of the election held in August, I824 :
For Congress,
John Scott received 507 Votes.
G. F. Strother " £
Robt. Wash
Frederick Bates received 212 vales Wm. IL. Ashley
For Governor,
-
79
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
For Lieut. Governor,
Benjamin F. Reavis received 501 votes.
16
Nath'l. Cook
38
Wm. C. Carr
9 ~
James Evans
3 =
For State Senator,
George Crawford received 513 votes.
James Miller
78
James McCampbell
24
For Representative,
Benj. F. Hickox received 473 votes. (elected)
Geo. W. Weight - 404 (elected.)
Jordan O'Bryan 333
Jos. Billingsley =
289
For Sheriff,
Marcus Williams
389
(elected.)
J. H. Hutchison
222 66
Hugh Allison 204
For Coroner,
Constable Boonville Twp., Wm. R. Paine
87
Wm. C. Porter
Hugh Allison
23
Owen Ruble
14
Wmn. W. Adams
4
IS25.
On the eighth day of December, 1825, there was held a special election for Governor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frederick Bates. David Todd, John Miller, Wm. C. Carr and Rufus Easton were the candidates. David Todd received a large majority in Cooper county.
IS26.
At the election on the first Monday in August, IS26, John Scott and Edward Bates were candidates for Congress. Scott had a majority of one hundred and twenty-four in the county.
Michael Dunn, Jordan O'Bryan, James L. Collins and John H. Hutchison were candidates for Representatives. Michael Dunn and Jordan O'Bryan were elected. W. H. Anderson and David P. Mahan were candidates for Sheriff. Anderson was elected by fifty-three majority ; and Hugh Allison was elected Coroner.
66
=
80
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
IS28.
This was the first election in which party lines were closely drawn, for before that, men had voted for the man whom they considered best qualified ; and not because he belonged to any party. The poll books of the presidential election could not be found, but the August election for Representative in Congress and county officers, having the same principles at issue, will show pretty clearly how the Presidential election went. There were two tickets, viz : Adams and Jackson, and the tickets on which the men were, who were elected is marked opposite their names.
The following is the result of the August election :
For Congress,
Edward Bates (Adams) received 258 votes. Spencer Pettis (Jackson,) 492
John Miller (Jackson,) .. 662 ..
For Lieut. Governor,
Samuel Perry (Adams,) 1. 201
Daniel Durklin (Jackson) .. 381
=
-
Alex. Stuart 4.
Alex. Buckner 11
Felix Leatt
42 ..
For State Senator,
Jordan O'Bryan (Adams)
John Miller (Jackson )
.
455
For Representative,
=
David Jones "
DOS
Michael Dunn (AAdams,)
210
Geo. W. Weight, "
263 ..
For Sheriff"
David P. Mahan
926
11
Jos. S. Anderson (Jackson.) "
435
For Coroner,
Hugh Allison ..
122 .
At the election in November, 1828, the county voted for Jackson over Adams, by a majority of about two hundred and thirty votes ; and also in 1832, Jackson was re-elected. and received a large majority in this county.
The county also gave a small majority to Martin Van- Buren, in 1836. The county remained Democratic until 1840, when the Whigs made a clean sweep, electing their full ticket. Reuben A. Ewing, a Whig, was elected State
For Governor,
16
Archie Kavanaugh " ..
199
SI
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Senator, over David Jones, Democrat ; and John G. Miller, Jordan O'Bryan and Lawrence C. Stephens, Whigs, over John Miller, B. F. Hickox and Henry Crowther, Demo- crats, by an average majority of about seventy-five votes. There was great excitement during this election, and politics ran very high. The Whigs held public meetings in regular order on each succeeding Saturday in each township, until the full rounds were made. They had a band of music engaged for the occasion, flags and banners, with mottoes inscribed thereon ; also with songs appropriate for the occasion, and eloquent speakers, the prominent among which were John G. Miller, Jordan O'Bryan, John C. Richardson, Robert C. Harrison, and others.
The Democrats did not make much display, but con- demned the same as humbuggery, and trying to win votes by exciting the people. They held their meetings and had frequent public speakings without any display or show. Their candidates for the legislature were John Miller, Ben- jamin F. Hickox, and Henry Crowther.
A State convention for Harrison and Tyler, was held at Rocheport in June, 1840. It lasted three days, and seven steamboats were chartered by the delegates for the occasion, each of which had its band of music, two cannons, a log cabin and hard cider, and made a fine display of flags and banners with mottoes inscribed thereon. The most distin- guished Whigs of the State were there, and many noted speakers from other States, among whom was the son of Daniel Webster.
Their line of march was the grandest display ever wit- nessed in Missouri. They had in the procession long ca- noes on wheels, and in them some of those who were en- gaged in the battle of Tippecanoe, in the act of paddling the canoes as they marched along. Every delegation had a large flag or banner, and many smaller ones with mottoes appropriate to the occasion. .
.
82
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
The cause of this extraordinary campaign was. that times were and had been very hard for several years past, and as people are prone to lay their ills and misfortunes to the charge of somebody or party other than themselves, they then charged that Martin Van Buren and the Demo- cratic party were the authors of their misfortunes.
The cry was reform, a national bank with a branch in every State, and a protective tariff. The result was that Harrison and Tyler were elected by a large majority. Harrison died within one month after his inauguration, and John Tyler became president. Several national bank char- ters were passed by Congress. but the president vetoed them all. Times continued hard until the Mexican war : from that time till 1857 they gradually improved, and from IS6I to 1873, times were good and money plenty. But since 1873, history has repeated itself, times have been very hard, and money of any kind hard to get and hard to keep. "Tis a repitition of the old saying, "money close, but not close enough to get hold of."
The county remained Whig as long as the party lasted. The last candidate on the Whig ticket was General Scott. who was defeated by Franklin Pierce.
The campaign of 1844 was very lively, with not so much display and show on the part of the Whigs as in 1840. For President, Henry Clay was the nominee of the Whig party, and James K. Polk of the Democratic party. Clay in IS44, Taylor in ISAS, and Scott in 1852 received a majority of the votes cast in this county. Taylor was elected in 1848, but he died in about one year after his in- auguration, and Millard Fillmore, Vice-president, became the President, and history will certainly give him the credit of making an excellent chief magistrate.
About 1854, the American or Know-Nothing party sprang nto existence. This party was short-lived. being first
S3
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
defeated at a State election in Virginia, and many members deserted it, as rats would a sinking ship. Many old line Whigs joined the Democratic party, and the Democrats, who were quite numerous in the Know-Nothing party, re- turned to their first love, and some aspiring ones denied that they had "ever been there."
It is said that one prominent office holder who resided in Howard county, who was noted for having joined every party that ever sprang into existence, while on a visit to a "Know-Nothing" lodge, at Boonville, made a speech, shed tears, and said, "that he had found the right party at last," but was the first man in this part of the State to desert that party when it commenced to go to pieces.
A large majority of the "old line Whigs" formed an opposition party, and voted for Millard Fillmore for Presi- dent, in 1856. At that time there were three candidates for President in the field, viz : James Buchanan, Democrat, Millard Fillmore, American, and John C. Fremont, Re- publican. There was no ticket in Cooper county for Fre- mont. Millard Fillmore carried Cooper county over James Buchanan by about eight votes, so nearly even were the two parties.
At the next Presidential election in 1860, the candidates were Stephen A. Douglass, Union Democrat, James C. Breckenridge, Southern Democrat, Abraham Lincoln, Re- publican, John Bell, Union. Douglass carried Cooper county by a small majority, Bell running him close. Breckenridge had but a small vote, and Lincoln but twenty votes. The names of those who voted for Lincoln were afterwards published in the newspapers as an item of curiosity.
Abraham Lincoln, Republican, and Geo. B. McClellan, Democrat, were the candidates for President in 1864. Lin- coln carried Cooper county by a large majority. No great
S4
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
interest was taken in this election in this county. There was no restriction as to voters at that time, but many Demo- crats did not vote, and the Republicans, generally, turned out in full force. The Republicans carried the county at every election till 1872 ; the restrictions and the "test oath" having been almost unanimously abolished in 1870 by a vote of the people. The Democrats have been ever since in the majority in the county, their majority being about eight hundred.
There was a State Convention called in 1845 for the pur- pose of framing a new constitution, and Dr. F. W. G. Thomas was elected a delegate from this county. In 1846. the convention submitted the constitution which they had framed to the people of the State, and it was voted down by a large majority.
In 1861, a convention was called to consider the relations of this State to the United States, and to take such action in regard to the existing troubles, the late war of the Union having then commenced, as they should deem best for the interests of the State. The candidates for delegates to the State Convention were. William Douglass and Benjamin Tompkins, of Cooper county ; Charles Drake, of Moniteau county, and J. P. Ross and William Tutt, of Morgan county ; these three counties then comprising the 28th Sen- atorial district. William Douglass, Charles Drake, and J. P. Ross were elected. The history of the action of this convention is so well known, and having been incorporated in other general histories, has been so widely circulated that it is unnecessary to repeat it here.
Another convention was called in 1804. Two delegates were allowed to each Senatorial district. Harvey Bunce. of Cooper county, and Joel F. Humes, of Monitean county. were elected delegates for the 28th Senatorial district. The delegates met at St. Louis, and on the 11th day of January.
85
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
1865, declared "that slavery or involuntary servitude shall no longer exist in Missouri." They framed a new consti- tution which has always been known as the "Drake consti- tution," submitted the same to the voters of the State, and it was adopted by a small majority.
It is a well-known fact that, from 1853 to 1860, party spirit did not prevail in elections, except as to State, Con- gressional, and Legislative candidates. In the elections in 1853 and in 1859, for the election of Judges and Clerks, and other officers, party was scarcely mentioned. Every candidate had to stand upon his own merits; and that was generally the case as to county officers from the organiza- tion of this county to the election in 1860. It is true, local questions would sometimes interfere and govern the votes of some, yet they seldom nominated party candidates for county officers, partizanship being confined almost exclu- sively to the nomination of National and State tickets.
At a Whig convention, in 1840, at "Old Palestine," after nominating candidates for the Legislature, it was proposed to make a nomination for Sheriff. After considerable de- bate, this proposition was voted down, for the reason that the office was not considered a political one. This state- ment may sound strange to some, considering the way nominations and elections are governed at the present day, but it is nevertheless true. And, in proof of this, the rec- ords show, that while the Democrats were in power, John H. Hutchison was twice elected Sheriff, James Hill, Sheriff, once, John Crawford, Assessor for several years, and Rob- ert P. Clark, Circuit Clerk ; all of these men were uncom- promising Whigs. And while the Whigs were in power, Isaac Lionberger and B. E. Ferry were each elected Sheriff two terms, making eight years; B. E. Ferry was, also, twice elected County Clerk, Robert Turner, Assessor, and William Shields, a member of the State Legislature ; and
-
.
86
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
all of these men were strong Democrats. It is true, the citizens would vote for the candidate of their own party, if they deemed his qualifications for filling the office equal to those of his opponent ; and some, though the number was small, always "stuck to" the nominee of their own party when opposite partisans were running.
Great interest was generally taken in elections. There was much more interest in and excitement over elections be- fore than after the war. But, previous to the war, elections did not partake of that bitter personal feeling, which has characterized them since the war. Those in opposition could be political enemies and personal friends. Men were not, then, as now, proscribed for their political opinions. But, the people of this section of the country are proud to say, that, animosities, which were naturally engendered during the war, are gradually dying away, and, if left un- disturbed for a few years, will only be things of the past, and have no real existence, except upon the pages of his- tory.
WAR HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY. CHAPTER X.
Indian Scare on Flat Creek, in Pettis County, in the Year 1832, and the Part the Citizens of Cooper County took in Same .- Mormon War, in the year 1838, and Companies Raised in Cooper County, at Call of Governor, to Assist in the Same .- Company Raised in Cooper County to Take Part in the Mexican War of 1846, and the Actions of Same, Names of Officers, Privates, &c.
Sometime during the year 1832, a report became circu- lated that the Indians had broken out, and were attacking the settlers living within the present limits of Pettis county, then part of Cooper and Saline counties. The report that they were slaying men, women and children as they went, spread like "wild fire," and men rushed towards that part of the county to aid in the defense of the homes of their neighbors. The place of rendezvous for those who went from Cooper county, was "Wooley's Mill," on the Petite Saline Creek, where they organized by electing their offi- cers. After they had organized they marched to the sup- posed seat of war; and on their arrival they found that no Indians had been there, and that it had been entirely a false alarm. These valiant soldiers then returned to their homes, and for a long time it was impossible to find any one who would acknowledge that he had been on that expedition.
The origin of this report was as follows : Some men, for their own amusement, dressed themselves and painted their faces, so as to resemble Indians, went to a corn field where some men were at work plowing, and, giving the Indian yell, shot off their guns, pointed in the direction of the set- tlers. They, supposing that the disguised men were hostile Indians endeavoring to slay them, took to their heels and
88
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
spread the alarm, which, like a tale of scandal, traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood, gathering new items of horror as it went from lip to lip.
This originated several anecdotes, among which is the following : A wealthy farmer of Cooper county catching the alarm, buried his bacon to save it from the blood-thirsty savages ; then going to a field in which a large number of his negroes were at work, waved his hand and hallowed at the top of his voice, "Put out ! Put out ! The Indians will be upon you ! The Indians will be upon you " The Afri- cans taking the alarm, stampeded and scattered in every direction, as though the savages with their tomahawks and scalping-knives were already close upon their heels, when in reality there was not, at that time, an Indian within one hundred miles of the place.
THE MORMON WAR.
The Mormon war took place in the year 183S. The Mormons when they first arrived in Missouri, located in Jackson county, and the citizens not looking with favor on their customs, and being incensed at the many crimes which they committed under the guise of their religious views, soon drove them from that place and they located in Cald- well county, Mo.
The citizens of that part of the State being determined to drive them entirely from the State, but not having suf- ficient force to accomplish the desired end, called upon the Governor to send them troops sufficient to expel these false teachers. Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs issued a call for 7,000 volunteers to assist in driving the Mormons from the terri- tory over which he had control.
In response to this call three companies were raised in Cooper county. One, called the "Boonville Guards," com- posed entirely of citizens of Boonville ; this, under the ex- isting laws of the State, was a standing company, and
89
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
equipped at the expense of the State government. The second, a volunteer company raised at Boonville, composed of citizens of Boonville and the surrounding neighborhood. Of this company, Jessie J. Turley was Captain, Marcus Williams, Jr., First Lieutenant, and J. Logan Forsythe, Second Lieutenant. The third was raised at Palestine, the officers of which are not known. Of the forces raised in Cooper county, Joel E. Woodward was Brigadier General, Joseph Megguire, Inspector General, and Benjamin E. Ferry, Aid de Camp to General Henry W. Crowther.
These companies marched twice towards the Mormon settlement and the seat of war. The first time they marched as far as Jonesborough, Saline county, where the commanders, supposing from reports which reached them that there were sufficient troops already at the scene of war to conquer the Mormons, ordered them to return. They were shortly afterwards again ordered to the seat of war, and marched to Lexington, where they crossed the Missouri river. They then advanced about two miles into the prairie, and there camped for two days. The Mormon troops hav- ing in the meantime surrendered to Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., these companies returned home without having the pleasure of meeting the enemy or having the opportunity of testing their valor. On their arrival at Boonville these troops were disbanded.
The Mormons during this short war were commanded by Gen. Weite, an old British officer, who fought against Gen. Jackson in the battle of New Orleans.
The Mormons after the conclusion of this war left the State and located at Nauvoo, Illinois, where they remained for several years. Having had a difficulty with the authori- ties of the State of Illinois, and their prophet and leader, Joseph Smith, having been assassinated, they again "pulled up stakes" and emigrated to the shores of the
90
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
"Great Salt Lake," where they have ever since remained, believing and feeling that they are a persecuted people.
The prisoners taken and retained in jail as the leaders of the Mormons were Joseph Smith, Lyman Weite, Hiram Smith, Sydna Regdon, Roberts, Higby, and two others. These men were first imprisoned in the jail at Richmond, Ray county, and were afterwards removed to the jail at Liberty, Clay county, where they broke jail, escaped pur- suit, and were never tried.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
In the month of May, 1846, a call was made for one company from Cooper county to join troops in Mexico, and assist in subduing that people. On the 21st day of that month the following bulletin extra appeared, and of which the following is a verbatim copy :
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