USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 5
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A few months after Thackery Vivion came to the county Joli MI. Fullerton, also a native of Tennessee, came to the Sarcoxie Spring and settled near Mr. Vivion. Mr. Fullerton lived on a farm near Sarcoxie for eighteen years, dying in 1850.
Samuel Powers, another Tennesseean, came to the neighborhood in 1832. Jackson Mills and A. Hodge both from Kentucky. also came to the settlement in 1832.
During 1833 a dozen families joined the colony and gave it an air of permanency.
Among the settlers who came in 1833 were the following-E. W Beasley. Joseph and Samuel Melugen, Dr. Abner Wilson, J. P. Boyd, Ephraim Beasley. Iliram Handford, E. Jenkins, Thomas Boxley, Tyron Gibson. William Gibson: Abraham Onstott, the father of "honest John Onstott." who won this title during the Civil war by his acts relating to
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
the county treasurer's office; and J. N. U. Sealey. Mr. Sealey still re- sides in the county and is the oldest living settler.
Jenkins ereek is named for Ephraim Jenkins who settled at the head of that beautiful little stream. Tyron Gibson made his home on the present site of the High Hill schoolhouse. The Onstotts settled in Jackson township on Center creek.
1834 saw a considerable growth; among the new comers were Will- iam Tingle of Maryland and Ben F. Massey from Kentucky, both of whom exerted an influence in a business way which gave the new settle- ment importance as a trading eenter.
Messrs. Massey and Tingle opened a general store at Sareoxie which catered to the trade for miles around. They bought the Vivion log mill and greatly enlarged its grinding facilities. The old mill was used up to 1872 when the Victor mills were erected on the old mill site. Mr. Tingle built the first lead furnace in the county. He was a busy. active man up to the time of his death.
CAVE SPRINGS
In the early settlement of the county, Cave Springs, east of Sar- eoxie, was the great camping point, and sometimes as many as twenty families would be eamped there while the head of the family went in search of a good location for the new home.
A FEW OF THE "FIRSTS"
The first marriage celebrated in the county was that of Moses Pow- ers and Miss Boyd whiel occurred in 1834.
The first child born in the county was John Powers, a son of Sam- uel Powers.
The first minister was Andrew Buekhanon, a member of the Chris- tian denomination. The first church to be organized, however, was the Freedom Baptist church in Union township. A more extended mention of this ehureh will be found elsewhere.
The first lawyer was John R. Chenault. Mr. Chenault became eir- cuit judge in 1857. During the agitation which preceded the Civil war he was an advocate of the eause of the south. He was a member of the convention ealled to consider the relations of the state with the Federal Government. During the war he espoused the eause of the Confederacy.
The first store was kept by Dr. Abner Wilson and the first post- office was opened at Sareoxie in 1833. Mail was brought at long inter- vals from Little Pliny on the Gaseonade, one hundred and fifty miles away. ! It is hard for us who are aeenstomed to the railroad, the elec- trie cars and automobile to comprehend what a journey of one hundred and fifty miles across the country in those days meant. Then, with only a trail for a road, no bridges, and streams sometimes impassable
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
except to swim, with only the patient oxen or the faithful horse, a trip to the county seat and return was a week or ten days' journey.
Up to this time Sareoxie was ealled Centerville, being then at ahnost the geographieal center of old Barry county.
When the application was made for the establishment of the post- office it was found that there was another town in Missouri ealled Cen- terville, and that it would be necessary to select another name.
The old spring was known as the Sarcoxie spring, and the old Chief Sarcoxie had lived there before the days of the white man's supremacy ; so it was thought to be an appropriate name for the new town, which was accordingly christened Sarcoxie.
PIONEER LIFE
There is something romantie about the life of the pioneer.
Here noble deeds and unobtrusive acts of bravery are counted the standard by which men are measured.
Here, as a matter of necessity, neighbors are friends and the eom- radeship which comes of having braved dangers together is warmed into a bond of sympathy which makes friendship akin to love.
Here, too, nature is seen in all of its grandeur. The broad prairie with its wealth of fragrant flowers and sweet scented grasses; the hun- dreds of little friends in feather and fur; the forest with its monarch oak and its stately pine; the pure air and the clear waters, all lend a charm and a beauty that compensate for the lack of the comforts of the old home and give an individuality to the life of the new settler, which eul- tivates a love of freedom and at the same time makes him more loving and tender because of the kindness of his friends.
Until the 'forties not a single house in Jasper county had been built more than two miles from the timber; this was very natural, as there was no lumber with which to build; the houses were built of logs and as a matter of convenience were erected near the timber.
Ordinarily the log house of the 'thirties and 'forties consisted of two large apartments with a large fireplace in each room. The fire- place was an immense affair and before the advent of stoves was used for both heating and cooking purposes. Every woman was a good cook and the corn bread was the delicacy which every housewife prided her- self on being able to make; so good that it would tempt even the gods.
In the home was found the loom where a very good quality of but- ternut jeans was woven, and this was the eloth of quality.
Every man and most of the women were expert shots, and in the first season before the erop was raised almost the entire family sub- sistenee consisted of the wild game which was abundant and con- veniently brought itself to the door. During the 'thirties there were no schools or churches. What little learning was had was by private instruction, and the Gospel was preached at intervals, either in the home of some good man or at an occasional camp-meeting.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
The Indians, during the 'thirties, were plentiful but were for the most part friendly, and made war on nothing except the smoke-house and the eorn-erib.
LOG RAISING
As a matter of necessity the people of the pioneer period were sociable, and it was customary among the old timers to help the new- comer build his home. These occasions were called "log raisings," and at these the neighbors assembled at the place where the house was to be built and helped eut the trees and hew the logs that were to go in the structure. When they were put in form they helped raise the logs in place. Up to as late as the 'fifties these gatherings were popu- lar, and many a man felt kindlier to his neighbor for these demonstra- tions of good will.
THE SPANISH CARAVAN
The following little story is one of the traditional incidents which has been handed down to us from the pioneers and although unauthen- tieated by any written evidence is still interesting because it illustrates, in a way, the dangers that were encountered by the explorers who first invaded the hunting grounds of the Indians.
During the rule of Delassns, the last of the Spanish governors for the Louisiana Territory, a party of fortune hunters was organized at St. Louis for the purpose of making a trip to Mexico hoping to secure some of the wealth of the Montezumas.
The caravan left St. Louis in great pomp and made its way to Mex- ico, passing through the Country of the Six Bulls en route.
The expedition was successful and a goodly sum of the Mexican gold was secured. after which the party started on its return trip. Arriv- ing in the southwest country in the early spring. they stopped for a while to rest and refresh themselves by one of the picturesque springs near the present site of Sarcoxie and believed by many to be the beau- tiful spring on the farm of Stephen Hood in Sarcoxie township.
While here the explorers were attacked by a large band of Indians and almost exterminated, only a few escaping with their lives. This stop in the Country of the Six Bulls was one of many such rests. it being necessary at times to halt and seeure food and repair the equip- ments. It was the custom on these stops to secrete the treasure and it is believed by many that it was buried or safely hidden in one of the numerons ledges overhanging the Big spring. The few who made their eseape. after weeks of perilous journey on foot, made their way back to St. Louis and there told the story of the awful massacre. In 1837 a party came from St. Louis to hunt for the gold but none was ever found and Mr. Hood, who owns the farm. never gave credence to the story, believing that the Indians took all of value that was left in the camp.
The Spring on the Hood farm is one of the most romantic and pie-
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IHISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
turesque spots in the county and its location could easily be described ; it is an ideal place for a camping party-the cool water from the spring running out from the hillside forming the headwaters of one of the numerous spring-fed streams that flow into Center ereek; the great trees making a veritable canopy of green overhead and the steep embankment rising on the south and west making a cool and quiet re- treat ; while the wide platean sloping away to the southwest makes an excellent place for the sentinel to guard against the approach of an enemy from that direction.
EARLY METHOD OF FILING LAND
The first settlers who came to the county could not perfect title to their lands on which they settled because the land had not been sur- veved by the government, nor offered for sale to the public. In 1836 a partial survey of the county was made which included the land as far west as range 30, about three miles east of Carthage; thereupon quite a bit of land was entered in the eastern portion of the county and in due time the title perfected.
The survey was completed in 1844 and it was at this date that the settlers began in great numbers to make the proper filings to seenre title to their lands.
The government land office was at Springfield and to go there and back required from a week to ten days, depending on the weather, the streams to be crossed, and the condition of the roads which were then hardly more than trails.
In order to save expense and time the people in a neighborhood would join together and select one of their number to make the trip and file on all of the lands selected. On his return he would execute the proper release or deed to the rightful owner who would pay to the government the appraised price of the land and perfect the title. The patent from the government would be issued to the party who did the filing and subsequently to the party who paid the money. The price paid for the land at the time of the first entries ranged from twenty- five cents to one dollar twenty-five cents an aere according to the loca- tion and worth, the appraisements being fixed by an officer appointed by the land department for that purpose.
GAME AND WILD ANIMALS
Up until the later 'fifties southwest Missouri was the hunters' para- dise. There was an abundance of wild game such as deer, turkey and wild geese. and these furnished half the living for the first settlers. There also were many wild animals not so desirable and often the sturdy pioneers were obliged to leave their work to fight some wild beast which was terrifying the neighborhood. Wolves eame in packs and killed the sheep and other small domestie animals. Wild eats and panthers eame lurking around at night and so in every home the trusty rifle always
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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. OF. 0064
To all to whom theer presents shall comt, Greeting?
Whereas Bennett Wellman, of Harry County, Nejsoure
ha o deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Ofice at
whereby
-- according it appears thot full payment has been made by the said Bennet Wellman
to the provisions of the art of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled " An Act making further provision for the sale of the Public Land," for the Martin List Quarter of the South west quarter of Section ten, er. Township seventy seven, of Range twenty eight West, in the District of Savas subject to sale at Springfield, Missouri, containing forty acres.
according to the official plat of the surrey of the said Lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyat General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Bennett Wellman
NOW KNOW YE, That the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. in consideration of the premises, and in conformuy with the several acts of Congress. in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT unto the said Bennett Wellman.
and to his heirs, the said tract zohore described : TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appartenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said On welt Welman and to Ats heirs and assigns forever.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I. Jane SJU. FCK
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these letters to be made PATENT, and the SELL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto offered. GIVEN under my hand at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the Hevet day of funs. in the year of our Lord ane
thousand eight hundred and ' ( Trece and of the INDEPENDENCE OF THE DAITED STATES the S. l. By the President: Farmed to Pock!" Ckner Hacker Sec'y.
4 :
RECORDER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
RECORDED, VOL. / ... PAGO 196.
LAND PATENT ISSUED TO BENNETT WELLMAN IN 1845
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
was loaded and ready for use. Everybody old enough to carry a mus- ket was taught to shoot and learned to brave danger.
The following little story, told the writer by A. W. Onstott, illustrates the common cause which all the neighborhood made against these ene- mies of mankind which made life a burden to new comers.
One morning, during the early 'fifties, John Onstott saddled his horse intending to go to Carthage on some business and, taking his little son Abe up with him, started on his journey. After traveling a few miles he noticed his neighbor, John Dale, chasing a wolf across the prairie and, perceiving that his friend's horse was nearly winded from a long run, put spurs to his horse and took out after the animal. His steed was a most sensible one and after a few miles of racing with the wolf overtook it, and jumping on it with his fore feet, knocked it to the ground. Quickly dismounting Mr. Onstott unfastened the stirrup from the saddle-one of the old iron stirrups so much used in that day -and with one or two well directed blows killed the wolf.
Sometimes hunting parties would be formed to search for panthers or other carnivorous beasts which ventured too near to civilization. Nearly all of the wild animals were exterminated before the war.
Among the popular amusements for the pioneer hunter were the shooting matches, the prizes for which being usually either a steer, a good fat hog or a sheep. When the animal contended for was as small as a hog or sheep a number of matches were arranged. When the prize was a steer or a heifer the plan of the match was as follows: A number of the best shots would enter for the contest, each one paying so much, depending on the value of the game, for his right to enter. Usually each contestant had five shots in which to display his skill.
Every man brought with him to the shoot a board from which all marks were erased save the "bull's eye" or mark and these were placed at a certain distance, fifty, one hundred or two hundred yards away, according as the rules for the day were made, and served as targets. After the shots were fired the judges inspected the targets and decided which of the shooters had won the honors.
At a match for a steer there were five winners, the four best shots having the choice of one of the four quarters of the beast and the fifth man taking as his part the hide and tallow.
CHAPTER II
CIVIL AND POLITICAL
THE ORIGINAL JASPER COUNTY-FIRST TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS- COMMISSION TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT-COURT HOUSE BUILT-FIRST CARTHAGE HOUSES-EARLY PROVISION FOR GOOD ROADS-NO SNAP TO HOLD OFFICE-FIRST SESSION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT-CONSPIRACY OR RIOT CASE-A NEW COURT HOUSE BUILT-EARLY POLITICAL HIS- TORY-COUNTY OFFICERS, 1841-61.
The bill authorizing the organization of the county passed January 29. 1841, contained the following general provision: "All that terri- tory ineluded within the following described limits. to-wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of section one, in township twenty-seven. of range twenty-nine: thence running parallel with the line dividing townships twenty-seven and twenty-eight, westwardly to the western boundary of the state: thence north on the line of the state to the line dividing townships thirty-three and thirty-four; thence east on said line to the northwest corner of section one, in township thirty-three of range twenty-nine; thence south to the place of beginning, is hereby created a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the name of Jasper county."
THE ORIGINAL JASPER COUNTY
It will be noted that the original limits of the county contained all the territory now in Barton county but did not extend as far south as the present southern limits, the base line dividing townships twenty- seven and twenty-eight being the southern limit.
The territory which includes the greater part of Joplin, Duenweg, Scotland and Sarcoxie was not in the original Jasper county.
In 1845 three miles was added to Jasper county on the south, and in 1855 Barton county was taken from its northern sections.
Pursuant to the provision of the above bill the Hon. S. M. Cooley. Jeremiah Cravens and Samuel B. Bright, who had been appointed men- bers of the county court, and -lohn P. Osborne, who had been appointed sheriff. met at the residence of George Hornback on Spring river, took the oath of office and entered upon their duties.
Elwood B. James was appointed county clerk and the bonds of the sheriff and clerk were approved. The court then adjourned to meet March 8. 1841.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
At the meeting of the county court on March 8th, the following of- ficers were appointed : Assessor. John Haskins; public administrator, Chas. Robinson: treasurer, George Hornback and county surveyor. John Chenault.
Justice Samuel M. Cooley was chosen as president of the court and by virtue of that office became the first probate judge.
FIRST TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
At the meeting of the county court on March 8th the county was divided into three townships: North Fork township, which included all of the territory north of the North and Dry forks of Spring river; Spring River township, the east half of the county south of the Dry fork and Center Creek township, which included the western half of the county south of the North fork. Officers for the townships were also appointed. On March 14th North Fork township was divided, the western half being designated as Newton township. On November 3rd of the same year Marion township was organized and included in its territory the east half of Center Creek township and the west half of Spring River. No further changes were made in the township fimits until Angust, 1847. when a portion of the North Fork and Spring River townships was stricken off and Jasper township organized. Marion township was divided into a north and south township, the southern township being called Robinson. On March 29, 1848, the name of Roh- inson was changed to Jackson. In 1854 MeDonald township was carved out of the northeast portion of Spring River township and the northern part of the county (now Barton county) was organized as Barton town- ship. It remained thus until after the war, except that township ( Bar- ton county) was stricken off of the northern part of Jasper county.
COMMISSION TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT
John Plummer, George Barker and Abel Landers, all of the county of Newton, were appointed commissioners to select the permanent seat of justice for the county. The bill provided that the said commissioners should make their location as near the center of the inhabitable part of the county as practicable, without a survey, due regard being had to the situation. Abel Landers and George Barker qualified as com- missioners to select the permanent seat of justice and after making a most thorough canvass of the situation chose the site where now stands beautiful Carthage, for the future county seat. Mr. Landers was paid twenty dollars and Mr. Barker fifteen dollars for their services as con- missioners.
At a meeting of the county court held March 28, 1842, the county seat was formally named Carthage.
James Nichols, the surveyor who made the first temporary plat of the county seat, was paid ten dollars for his work.
The land on which Carthage was built was at the time of its selec-
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
tion as the county seat a part of the public domain, being then unsur- veyed by the government. In 1844 a survey was made by the govern- ment and the corners regularly located. The county court then ap- pointed George Hornbaek as commissioner to enter and perfeet title to the land for the county, and the section where the town was being built was bought from the United States for the county at the regular price, one dollar and twenty-five eents per aere, and thus the deeds which had already been made by the county to purchasers of lots were made good.
At a meeting of the county court April 10, 1842, Pelig Spencer was appointed commissioner of the seat of justice and superintendent of public buildings and as such was authorized to contract for the build- ing of a suitable court house which was to be paid for as follows: One hundred dollars when the building was completed and the balance in bonds received in payment for the lots sold in the town of Carthage.
The commissioner was also authorized to employ a surveyor to lay off the new town. The plat of the future Athens of southwest Missouri was exhibited to the court May 15th and formally approved and or- dered placed on record.
COURT HOUSE BUILT
The superintendent of buildings contracted with Levi H. Jenkins to build the court house, the contraet price being three hundred and ninety-eight dollars and fifty cents. It was a one-story, one-room build- ing, on the north side of the publie square. The door faced the sonth and at the north end of the room was a large old fashioned fireplace.
The first sale of the lots took place on the 13th day of June, 1842, and twenty-eight lots were disposed of, ranging in price from $10.50 to $44.00. The highest priced lot was No. 24, the corner where now stands the Harrington Ilotel. The first man to pay for his lot was William Kerr who purchased lot 3 on the east side of the square, paying $18.50 in the coin of the realm.
The court house was completed and formally turned over to the county, June 29, 1842, and the official records were ordered moved to the new county seat.
FIRST CARTHAGE HOUSES
The first house built within the present limits of Carthage was erected by Henry Pierce in 1833 near the Big spring by the old wool- len mill, this was of course in the days of squatter sovereignty. The first house ereeted in Carthage after it became the county seat was by Dr. Gabe Johnson in 1842 on the lot just east of the Harrington Hotel. George Hornbaek built the next house, a two-story frame, situated on the north side of the square which served as a residence and store com- bined.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
EARLY PROVISION FOR GOOD ROADS
At the first session of the county court after the court house was completed that body transacted a large volume of business, one of the most important acts being the taking of steps toward establishing a system of roads.
A commissioner was appointed in each township to map and plat the county roads necessary for the public travel, and the court also took steps leading to the building of three great roads, one leading from Carthage to Springfield, another leading from Carthage to Greenfield, and the third from Carthage to Neosho.
This was a most important act and showed that the members of the first county court were far-seeing in their judgment for good roads, and convenient modes of transportation are as essential in the building of a state as a system of education.
NO SNAP TO HOLD OFFICE
The reports of the several offices for 1842 show that it was no snap to hold a county office in that day-that is, as far as remuneration is concerned.
The total revenue collected from tax on property was $437.47, for state and county purposes, of which sum the county received two- thirds or $291.62. The amount received for merchants' licenses was $20.00, thus bringing into the county treasury $311.62.
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