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 9
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XII.
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Character, Manners and Customs of the Early Settlers of Cooper County.
THE people in the early history of Cooper county, were industrious, hardy and honest; a better class of people never emigrated to any country. What they lacked in education, they made up in hard, common sense. Crime was very rare. They were social, clever and honest. Selfish or dishonest persons were not countenanced in society. There were then only two classes of people : The honest and industrious, and the dishonest and lazy. Persons who did not work for a living, were looked upon with suspicion, and always shunned by the better class. The neighbors were always ready to assist one another when needed. They assisted each other in house-raisings, log-rolling, (not political,) shuckings and reapings, with the sickle. No person thought of performing such work with- out calling in his neighbors to help him, and frequently, at the same time, the women would be called in and have a quilting. After the work was completed, all would engage in a lively dance, consisting mostly of Virginia reels.
At that time, people cared very little about accumulating wealth. Their families devoted a portion of their time to social and innocent amusements. They were very jocular, very fond of getting and making jokes on one another, and as to slander, they rarely resorted to it; if they did, they would soon have had no friends or neighbors, and would have been shunned by the good people as vipers.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
If two men had a quarrel, they would meet and fight it out, then make friends and take a drink, thus quickly and easily settling their difficulty. Most persons kept whisky at their homes, and used it with moderation at public gath- erings. Drunkenness was very rare, and was so very dis- graceful, that few persons would venture to get drunk a second time.
The slaves were universally well treated, being con- sidered almost as one of the owner's family, the only difference being, that they ate their meals from the kitchen and lived apart from the family. They were allowed to have their own parties and gatherings the same as the whites, and in all things enjoyed life about as much as their owners.
At the time of the organization of the county, the people had great respect for old age, or persons older than them- selves, even greater than they have at present, and listened to, and often profited by their advice and counsel. The maxim then was. "Old men for counsel, and young men for war." If an aged person was imposed upon, insulted. injured or assaulted by a young man, there was always some person who was ready to rise up and assist in defend- ing him.
Children had great respect, love and reverence for their parents ; and obedience to their slightest commands was con- sidered the first thing that should be taught them. There was, at that time, a much more strict government over children than there is at present. They were taught habits of industry and economy, and were under the complete control of their parents until they became of age, and seldom left their parents until that time. It was then dis- graceful not to follow some useful and honest employment. and children were raised with that idea in view, and given
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
to understand that the citizens had no use for a lazy, trifling man.
COURTSHIPS AND WEDDINGS.
Under the old customs governing courtships, and the settlers were pretty strict about matters of this kind, when a young man had "serious intentions" on the subject of marriage, his first action was to ask the privilege of setting up during the night, with the object of his affections, to whisper love into her ear. When this took place, it was generally supposed that the young man meant business. When house room was very scarce, the two young folks, after permission had been granted, as above, often sat up in the same room in which the parents of the young lady slept, such being the necessities of the times.
The people, at that time, universally traveled on horse- back, and the gentleman who had been granted the privilege . of the company of a young lady, rode with her to church, parties and elsewhere, and during these journeys she was under the young man's charge until they returned home. This custom still prevails, to some extent, but the practice of sitting up all night with a lady has been long since abolished in this county.
The weddings generally took place at one o'clock, P. M., at the residence of the bride's father. After which, dinner , was served, and then the dancing and the playing games, such as "Old Sister Phebe," "Come my love and go with me," commenced, and were generally continued until late in the night. After breakfast, on the following morning, the company would form into double file on horse-back, the bride and groom in advance, the bride on the left and the groom on the right side. Immediately following them came their attendants, then the parents, brothers, sisters, and last of all, the other ladies and gentlemen who were in- vited guests. In this order they proceeded to the "infare"
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
dinner at the residence of the father of the groom. After dinner, playing and dancing would commence, and con- tinue as at the wedding. Thus showing that they con- sidered weddings as one of the few things which being worth doing at all, was worth doing well.
HOUSEKEEPING.
Young men at that time did not generally venture to marry without having a home to which he could take his young wife. Unlike the young married men of this fast age, he would build and furnish his house in accordance with his means. The young couples would live plainly and economically, and thereby increase in wealth by degrees. They were proud of what they had, because it was their own, what they had obtained by industry and economy, and for which they were not in debt. When by this course of life they had amassed sufficient means, they would build a better and more stylish house, stock their farm better, and purchase more improved farming imple- ments. To be plain and use a common phrase, they would "take things as they could stand them." and never attempt to reach beyond their height. They did not commence at the top of the ladder to ascend, but at the foot, from whence there was some chance to improve their condition.
These were the old fashioned ways, that were good then, are none the less good now because of their age, and should never have been abolished. In the present customs and fashions, people are truly and surely taking a step back- wards, which generally leads those, who practice them, to almost certain distress, and, in most cases, to financial ruin. This is the cause of many of the crimes committed in high life, among the "Upper Ten," as they are erroneous/y called.
A young married couple in our present high and fashion- able life, are not content to live in such homes, have such
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
furniture, and clothe themselves as their means will per- mit. But they must commence with a fine, costly house, elegantly furnished, with a fine piano and other finery in proportion ; but they shortly find themselves at the foot of the ladder, too proud to beg and too lazy to work. What then is the result? Some resort to stealing, robbery, arson or murder, and are sent to the penitentiary or the gallows. While others, in desperation, seek refuge in death, and commit suicide rather than reform. There is no doubt that this fast living produces more crimes, murders and suicides than any other single cause.
Young married people who are much too poor to afford it, yet for the sake of being fashionable, take an expensive bridal tour instead of saving the money which they spend in that way to enable them to commence housekeeping. Such things as these will do for the wealthy, but it is man- ifest, that the poor cannot afford to "put on such airs." 'Tis an old adage, but nevertheless a true one, that it is "hard for an empty sack to stand upright," and if you con- tinue taking out of the meal tub without putting into it, you must soon come to the bottom.
We would, therefore, earnestly endeavor to impress upon the minds of our young readers, the necessity of following our advice before financial ruin overtakes them, and of com- mencing at the foot of the ladder, and slowly and carefully ascending, as this is the only safe road to fortune and re- spectability. It is true, for human nature is a strange compound of good and evil, that many of their old time friends will pass them by unnoticed, but they must have the moral courage to disregard such persons, and to per- severe in the course which they have mapped out. They will soon have cause to be thankful that such pretended friends, for they are no other, have withdrawn from their
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
society, for they are only parasites, which live by taking from others the life-blood which sustains them.
The solid, sensible, wealthy people will never cast you off for using economy and living within your means, but will give you credit for your financial ability, and your wise and judicious actions will secure their confidence and re- spect, and they will be only too proud of your society.
PARTIES.
The women, in old times, had "quiltings" and "cotton pickings," and when the work was completed, the young men of the neighborhood would come in. They then engaged, until late at night, in a jovial dance and the old fashioned plays. Corn-shuckings, log-rollings, house- raisings and reapings took place at their proper seasons People living in a new country are more dependent upon one another than the inhabitants of an old country, and this caused them to be more accommodating and unselfish than they are at the present time.
Corn-shuckings were lively times with the colored men. who would amuse themselves. during their work, by singing "corn songs." They would frequently separate the corn into two piles, and dividing the company into two parties, each party would choose a captain, and have an exciting race. The party which first completed the shuck- ing of their pile, would claim the privilege of carrying the owner around the house on their shoulders, and place him at the head of the supper table.
At all of these frolics they usually had whisky to enliven the occasion, and some of the men would occasionally get quite lively, but very little drunkenness ever occurred. Many married people would engage in the dances, and seem to enjoy themselves as much as the single ones. They had colored musicians who most of the time played upon the violin, making music which was quick and lively.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
Christmas was duly celebrated, the whole week being occupied in such sports as hunting, dancing and playing, at parties given in the neighborhood. The colored people, Christmas week, being a holiday to them, turned themselves loose, and enjoyed themselves as much as their owners.
The people at that day, as at the present, had their fash- ions. They were different, it is true, but the fashionable class, especially in the towns, adhered as closely to them as they do at the present time. Although pictures and descriptions of the old fashions appear queer and almost laughable to the people of the present day, yet we have often been assured that they were more comfortable and pleasant in every respect than those which curse the country now.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIII.
Different Towns in Cooper County, and Description of Each.
BOONVILLE.
BOONVILLE, the county seat of Cooper county, is located on the south bank of the Missouri river, about 230 miles west of St. Louis by water, and 187 miles by rail. It is surrounded by a beautiful and fertile country, inhabited by an intelligent, enterprising and thrifty population, and it has a very good local trade. It is celebrated for its educa- tional advantages, its healthy location and its "vine clad hills." It has a large and commodious public school build- ing and grounds, costing about $40,000, where the public school has been in successful operation for the last ten years. Also a good colored school, taught in a separate building. It has two małe and two female schools where the higher branches of education are taught with commendable success. There are, besides, a good Catholic school and several other select schools for smaller children. Here children can obtain a good education and moral training without the expense of going away from home.
The Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway crosses the river here, on the great iron bridge, putting the city in direct communication with the lakes at Chicago, and the Gulf of Mexico at Galveston, Texas. And the Osage Valley & Southern Kansas railroad connects Boonville with the Missouri Pacific railroad at Tipton.
This town was laid off by Asa Morgan and Charles Lucus, and the plat filed on the first day of August, 1817.
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
It was surveyed by William Ross. The first lots were sold in 1819. A donation of fifty acres was made by Morgan and Lucus to Cooper county, was accepted by the commissioners, and the county seat located thereon. The first donation lots were sold in IS21.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF BOONVILLE.
Mrs. Hannah Cole, mother of Capt. Samuel Cole, made the first settlement on a part of the land on which Boon- ville is located, in the year ISIo, and took a pre-emption, which she sold to Bird Lockhart and Henry Carroll, Janu- ary 25th, 1819, for a trifle. The first settler in the old limits of Boonville was Gilliard Roupe, who built his resi- dence on the lot now owned and occupied by Capt. James Thompson, on the south side of Spring street, near the cement factory. (This information was obtained from Samuel Cole, William Gibson and Judge McFarland.) The stream in the western portion of the "old town" was called from his name, "Roupe's Branch." The next was a ferry house, built by Roupe, at the mouth of the above branch, where he had a ferry landing. The first ferry was kept by the widow Cole's boys. There were several houses built on the flat below the branch, extending south as far as the corner of Morgan and Second streets, before the town was located.
A Frenchman named Reubadeaux kept the first store in Boonville, in a cabin built of poles. Shortly afterwards a man named Nolin kept a grocery on the flat, at the mouth of the branch ; Mrs. Reavis and William Bartlett kept boarding houses in the same locality ; and Thomas Rogers built a house on the corner of High and Second streets, and used it as a residence, hotel and store.
This part of the town was mostly built in 1816 and IS17.
From the best evidence that can be had from old citizens, the first houses built after the town was laid off, were two
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
brick houses still standing on Morgan street, one east of the jail, and the other east of and near the Central National bank, built by Asa Morgan. Some other old houses, now standing, are Dr. Triggs, on Morgan street, and a log house on the north side of High street, on the corner of Seventh street, occupied by a colored woman by the name of Car- ter ; also a brick house on High street, northeast of court house, built by Hon. R. P. Clark, and now owned by Joseph and William Williams.
The next merchants after Renbedeaux, were Jacob Wyan and Archie Kavanaugh, who had a store and residence. north of the court house square. The other early mer- chants were Mckenzie, Bonsfield, Col. Thornton, Mrs. Dobbins, Thomas M. Campbell, and Judge C. H. Smith. The next hotel was built by Justinian Williams, afterwards sold to John Dade. It is still standing, and used as a hotel. Mr. Secongost being the present proprietor. There was also a hotel on the lot north of the jail, now occupied by the residence of C. W. Sombart.
Among the earlier lawyers were, Peyton R. Hayden, Wm. S. Brickey, John B. Clark and Littleberry Hendricks. Robert P. Clark was the first post master. He was also Circuit and County Clerk. County Treasurer, School Com- missioner and Executor. Administrator and Guardian of a number of estates ; and last, but not least, a delegate to the Barton Convention, in IS25. All these offices he held at the same time, which the records will show, and they would not much more than support himself and family at that time.
Divine service was held then in private and school houses, having no churches. The first church built was the Methodist, about 1831 ; then the Presbyterian. both of them still standing. The first school house was a brick house. built near the residence of Dr. M. McCoy : and there was
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
a populous graveyard near the same place. The remains of most of the dead were removed to other cemeteries. The early school teachers were Judge Abiel Leonard, Wm. H. Moore, Dr. Edward Lawton, and others. The ministers were Luke Williams. a Baptist ; Justinian Williams. a Methodist ; and Chamberlain, a Presbyterian.
James Bruffy was the first blacksmith. He made a can- non of wrought iron for the celebration of the 4th day of July, IS20, which was held in front of the present residence of Jesse Homan, on an old Indian mound still standing in his front yard. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Homan were present at the time, and from them we have received the full par- ticulars of the celebration, but there is not room enough to insert at this place. They also gave the details of a fight on Christmas day ISI9. between the young men of Old Franklin and the Boonville boys. The former crossed the river on the ice for the express purpose as they termed it. "of cleaning out Boonville." The fight was a bloody one and lasted a long time. The old men of Boonville had to come to the rescue of their young men, and the contest for some time remained in doubt ; but at last Boonville had to give way to superior numbers, there being but few inhabi- tants here then. There was no one killed or mortally wounded. But where is old Franklin now? Then the metropolis of Western Missouri. The seat of commerce, wealth, fashion and power, swept away by the turbulent waters of the Missouri river. The only house left is now owned by Mr. Wm. Smith, built in the suburbs of that once populous city. If the present generation were to go over there now, there would be nobody left to tell of the her former greatness and grandeur. The most of them have left this world of trouble, strife and turmoil, and gone, it is hoped, to a brighter and better world beyond the vale. Alas, time will tell. It waits for no man. Peace to their
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
ashes. But their heroes will live in history and in grateful remembrance as long as time shall last.
The early physicians of Boonville were George C. Hart, N. Hutchison, Parks. Mccutchen, Gale. Martyn, and others.
Some of the fashions worn by the gentlemen, were high stiff coat collars, padded with buckram, reaching half way up the back of the head, and five or six cravats covering the neck, and tall stove pipe hats, wide at the top tapering downwards. And the ladies wore large leghorn, and long sun bonnets, projecting about ten inches in front of their faces, so that you could not see a lady's face without plac- ing yourself immediately in front of her, securely protect- ing their delicate faces from sunburn, and large tortoise shell combs, making a semi-circle on the back part of the head. They wore very long hair of their own growth. generally reaching half way down from the head to the ground. From five to six vards of calico were sufficient for a dress.
In the winter of 1818. while Dr. Hutchison and Mrs. Kelly (then Miss Lawless) were crossing from Old Franklin to Boonville on foot. when half way across, the ice broke and they both fell in. Another young gentleman close by helped her out, and the Doctor got out himself. Their condition was so perilous that the occurrence still lives in the memory of Mis. Kelly. the only witness now living to what might have ended seriously.
MODERN HISTORY OF LOONVILLE.
Before the Missouri Pacific railroad was built, Boonville commanded the wholesale trade, and was the principal shipping point of Southwest Missouri, and Northern Ar- kansas-and Boonville is now no doubt, the best point for the location of manufactories in the West, having an abun- dance of timber suited for making furniture. farming im-
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
plements, and all kinds of machinery, and also bountiful supplies of coal and cement rock of the best quality in the vicinity.
Boonville has a very large furniture factory, not now in operation, sufficient for the employment of fifty hands ; also two furniture stores, and a cement factory. It has three potteries making large quantities of stone and earthenware. One of them has been in successful operation for many years. It has a large and extensive tobacco factory, man- ufacturing the very best chewing and smoking tobacco. These wares and tobacco are sold by wholesale, extending their trade over the west, half way across the continent. and down south into Arkansas and Texas. A woolen factory with an extensive trade ; a glass factory, a machine shop, two gun smith shops, three flour mills, a foundry. not now in operation, several shoe shops, and stores, two cigar stores, five clothing stores, three tin stores, two jew- elery stores, four drug stores, three breweries, ten dram shops, two dry goods stores, a large number of grocery and staple dry goods stores, four bakeries, six confectioneries, two restaurants, four notion stores, large number of bonnet and dress makers, one marble yard, three lumber yards, six carpenter shops, four brick yards, four wagon and two carriage shops, four plow manufactories, one agricultural store, about ten blacksmith shops, two abstract of titles. one saw mill, two banks, one National and one State. An excellent steam ferry across the Missouri river at Boonville. About twenty school teachers, about six music teachers, ten physicians, fifteen lawyers, eleven ministers of the gospel. The United States land office for this district of Missouri is located here. The public buildings are the court house. Thespian hall, City hall, a Masonic and Odd Fellows hall, county jail, city calaboose and workhouse. The Thespian hall is one of the largest and most substantial public build-
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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY.
ings west of St. Louis. It has eleven churches : Methodist South, Presbyterian, Baptist, German Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal. Methodist colored, and two Baptist colored. The grape is cultivated very extensively. It has about seven wine gardens. Boonville is noted for its graded and macadamized streets, its extensive paved sidewalks, its orchards, gardens, shade trees and beautiful front yards. decorated with flowers and evergreens, and last, but not least, its substantial buildings and its solid wealth. It has never had a mushroom growth, but has slowly and steadily increased in population and wealth, and has never taken a step backwards. She has lavished her money for internal and local improvement, and has always promptly paid her honest debts even before they became due.
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