USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 8
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before, and at once communicated his suspicions to his neighbors. In order to test Colley, Mr. Dale sent him to watch by the corpse of Dr. Fisk and help prepare it for burial. Colley, although he had helped prepare a number of bodies for burial before, could not look at the body and begged to be excused saying that he was sick. He was at once arrested and for a time declared that he was innocent, but after a day made a full confession in which he told the details of the awful crime. The money was found, as he said it would be, in the corn crib.
A posse at once started in pursuit of Bart who, being ignorant of the country, had made little progress toward his escape. In traveling at night and on unknown roads and not daring to ask anyone the way, he had never gotten beyond the confines of Jasper county and was cap- tured in the brush near where Georgia City was afterward built.
An examination was had before a committee of citizens, the infuriated people not being willing to wait for the law to take its course and await the convening of the court. It was agreed to put the two negroes to death. Some were in favor of hanging them, while others thought they should be burned at the stake as a warning to others. A vote was taken on the public square in Carthage and fully two to one voted to burn them. The day of execution was fixed as three days from the date.
The largest crowd of people that had ever gathered at Carthage up to this time came to witness the execution. Farmers came for many miles bringing their slaves with them. About 2:30 on the day set, the two negroes were brought out and chained to a stake. The burning took place in a hollow in the northwestern part of the town. About a cord of dry faggots were piled around the men, reaching up to their waists. Two colored men lighted the fire and in a short time the two culprits were burned to death.
Mr. Dale's negro, Colley stood the test bravely and sang songs while the flames leaped about him, and continued to do so until he was suf- focated by the smoke. Bart, the other negro, however, screamed and begged for them to liberate him and shortly fainted away and died long before Colley did.
The incident was long after talked of and perhaps caused more ex- citement than any other event prior to the Civil war.
GOING TO MILL
In the pioneer days every farmer took his wheat and corn to the mill to be ground and waited until the grist was turned out, the miller receiving for his pay a portion of the flour or meal.
At the mill every one had to take his turn and during the busy sea- son would sometimes have to wait all day. At the mill the settlers swapped yarns or discussed the public affairs of the day. The following description of the old Sarcoxie mill is given us by one of the early set- tlers: "When a very small boy I used to carry a bag of corn or wheat on horseback every week to the old Sarcoxie mill to have it ground for bread. The house in which the grain was ground stood a little east of the present commodious mill. It was a frame building sixteen by
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eighteen feet, weatherboarded by rough oak plank, neither ceiled, plas- tered or painted, and was one story high. It set east and west and opened on the south side fronting on the pond. The east and west corn- ers on the south side rested on the bank of the pond. The east and west corners of the north side rested on pillars made of stone built down in the water. By this arrangement the house was so high above the water that one could easily ride horseback .under it."
SOCIAL AMUSEMENTS
Until after the war there were no large towns in Jasper county and the community was strictly an agricultural one, save the two little mining camps of Leadville and Minersville. The social amusements consisted principally of spelling, apple and husking bees.
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It is hardly necessary to describe the spelling bee, or spelling match, as it is more properly called in our day, because we have all participated in these during our school days; but it might be said that the spelling was better mastered perhaps by our fathers and mothers than it is in our day. Webster's Blue Back Speller was the standard in those days, and many a boy and girl mastered it so completely that it was a difficult task to spell them down. There was great rivalry among the communi- ties over the championship at a spelling bee and it was no uncommon oc- currence for people to go ten and sometimes twenty miles to attend a spelling bee.
The apple and husking bees occurred in the fall and were great events.
At a husking bee the people gathered together and helped each other husk the corn and, of course, this function took place in the big log barn or corn shed near by. Both men and women attended and as they husked the corn stories and jokes were told, songs were sung and a spirit of jollity prevailed.
The finding of a red ear entitled the finder, if a man, to kiss the pret- tiest girl at the bee and, of course, the finding of a red ear was the occa- sion of great excitement and mirth, especially if the girl was bashful, for then it frequently happened that the man had to chase her around the barn several times, or perhaps sprint half over a forty-acre field before he could claim his reward.
The apple bee was a trifle more dignified than the husking bee, for the reason that it was held in the house, and it mattered not whether the weather was fair or stormy because the fire in the massive fireplace drove away the cold and lent a comfort and a cheer to the participants.
The apple bee resembled the husking bee in that the neighbors gath- ered to help the good house-wife prepare the apples and care for the dried fruit and preserves.
Sometimes as high as ten or twenty bushels of apples would be emp- tied on the floor and all hands would peal and slice the apples and make them ready for drying. After the apples were sliced they were spread out on boards and the next day, provided the sun was shining, carried
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LADY'S HOOD
ORGANDY SUIT
THE DIEGO
A WELL-DRESSED WOMAN OF THE FIFTIES
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out to dry; usually three days were required to thoroughly dry the ap- ples, after which they were packed away in boxes, barrels or other con- venient receptacles.
The only part the neighbors took in the process was paring and slicing the fruit and making it ready to dry.
After the apples were cut and sliced, then came the fun. Old-fash- ioned games were played until the wee small hours of the morning, when the party went home only to repeat the same thing at another neigh- bor's house at a near date in the future.
A SCHOOL TEACHER TARRED AND FEATHERED
Sarcoxie was perhaps the strongest proslavery settlement in the county, practically the entire community favoring the holding of slaves. We are informed that there were but six families in the entire town who were not southern sympathizers.
In 1858 a man from Kansas was employed to teach the Sarcoxie school and he, being a strong abolitionist, expressed himself freely on the great question. He read the story of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" to his pupils and in many ways taught the evil of slavery. He was asked to resign but did not do so, and one night a body of citizens waited on the teacher and ordered him to leave. On his refusal they escorted him to the woods and gave him a coat of tar and feathers.
FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTY
In 1859 a publication entitled The Star of the West and Southwest News was commenced at Carthage and at the breaking out of the war had, for that date, a good circulation, exerting quite an influence in molding public opinion. C. C. Dawson was the editor.
The paper advocated the cause of the slave-holding interest. During the campaign of 1860 it took a unique position, endorsing all candidates except Abraham Lincoln. At that election there were three factions of Democrats in the county and for policy's sake it antagonized no one save the great champion of the Anti-slavery movement.
After the battle of Carthage the printing press of this paper was turned over to General Price and his army and was used by the Confed- eracy in printing enlistment contracts, muster rolls and other forms used in the southern army.
OLD SHERWOOD
Among the historic old towns of Jasper county which were destroyed during the war, and are now remembered only for what they once were, is the town of Old Sherwood which was built at the junction of the main traveled road running west from Webb City and the road running north from what is now called Bell Center. This town was founded in 1847. In 1856 it was formally platted and at the beginning of the Civil war had perhaps two hundred inhabitants, several good stores and a good brick school house in course of erection. The town of Sherwood,
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or Rural as it was first called, grew up around the farm and store build- ings of Judge Andrew McKee, who came to the county in an early day and wielded great influence in making the western part of the county a commercial as well as an agricultural center.
A few words about the life and acts of Judge McKee will show the reason for Sherwood's making such an exceptional growth and the rea- son why it was at one time the chief commercial center of Jasper county. Mr. McKee, who was a native of Tennessee, like most new comers, on coming to Jasper county, first settled at Sarcoxie, but soon moved to the western part of the county and homesteaded the land on which the town of Old Sherwood was afterward built. And it was here that he built up a large fortune. Shortly after coming to the western part of the
TYPICAL COUNTRY HOME OF THE 'FIFTIES
county he erected a large brick store and put in a complete line of gen- eral merchandise. He also secured the appointment as Indian agent, or "Major Domo" as they were then popularly called in the west, for five tribes of Indians. This brought to his place at certain times during the year large numbers of Indians who traded with the settlers, and this made Sherwood the scene of great activity. We are informed that as high as a thousand Indians have been camped in and around Sherwood at one time.
As his business grew Mr. McKee became a wholesale as well as a retail merchant, and during the winter bought great quantities of hogs and similar produce for shipping to the south in the spring. His sales were usually made at either Fort Smith or Little Rock, Arkansas. One dollar and fifty cents was the standard price paid for hogs delivered at the store, killed and cleaned.
Mr. McKee had at times as high as twenty helpers who cut, salted and packed this pork away in a building constructed solely for that pur- pose. In the spring two or three flatboats were constructed and floated in Center creek which, at that point being so near to its mouth, could
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. be floated on to Spring river and thence, by way of the Grand and Ar- kansas rivers, to the point of destination. The boats were loaded with pork, tallow, hides, etc. When the boats were loaded and on their way Mr. McKee traveled overland and usually arrived at the point of des- tination several days before the cargo and arranged with some commis- sion merchant for its sale. The entire cargo was usually disposed of in bulk, flatboats and all. The cargo disposed of, it was necessary for the men who had brought the boats down stream to walk home. One of the hands, Harrison Jackson, was so fast a walker that he would beat Mr. McKee (who was on horseback) home a full day.
Mr. McKee was elected a member of the county court in 1846 and held this position until 1850. He was also interested in the develop- ment of the mines at Minersville, now called Oronogo.
A GREAT EXHIBITION OF FRATERNITY
An incident which occurred at the time of his death, shows the high esteem in which Judge McKee was held. He was a member of the Springfield Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and was a great lover of the order, having many times stated that he desired his Masonic lodge to bury him. His death occurred in August, 1852, and a trusty slave Reuben, who had been all his life in the Judge's family, at once saddled the fastest horse and rode to Springfield to advise the craft of the event. It so happened on the day that Reuben arrived the lodge had arranged to go to a distant part of Greene county and bury another member. Knowing that the body could not be kept until after the other funeral, the master of the lodge told Reuben to return and request the widow to make a temporary burial and that on a certain day the lodge would be present and perform the last sad rites over the body of the deceased. Reuben hastily returned and the body was given temporary interment.
On the day fixed the lodge was present, having come a hundred miles overland, and the impressive Masonic ceremonies were performed at the grave in the presence of friends and neighbors who had come for miles around to show their respect for their old neighbor. This cer- tainly was a most extraordinary exhibition of fraternalism.
Sherwood continued to thrive until 1862, when it was completely destroyed, a mention of which will be made in the Civil war chapter.
TOWNS IN JASPER COUNTY BEFORE THE WAR
From the time that Thackery Vivion built his cabin near the Sar- coxie Spring, in 1831, until the breaking out of the war in 1861, a period of three decades, seven towns were founded in the order named. Sarcoxie-The first settlement.
Carthage-1842.
Sherwood-1846, platted 1856.
Minersville-1848, platted 1856.
Medoc-1848, not platted until after the war.
Avilla-1856, platted 1858.
Preston-1860, platted 1860.
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There was no organized form of municipal government in any one of the towns, the peace being preserved by the constable of the town- ship and the justice of the peace therein. As there were no municipal regulations, there was no uniformity in building. The streets were not graded or sidewalks built, except where some enterprising and beauty- loving property owner did so. In short, each of the several towns were country villages, Carthage being the only place that made a pretense at being a city.
Since the several towns had no municipal government, they were not recognized by the United States census officers as separate divisions, and hence were not enumerated separately in the census of 1860.
The population of the several towns is estimated in 1861 to have been as follows :- Carthage, 500; Sarcoxie, 400; Sherwood, 250; Avilla, 100; Minersville, 100; Medoc, 50; Preston, 50.
THE FIRST CENSUS OF THE COUNTY
The census of 1850, taken nine years after the organization of the county showed the population to be 4,223; the second census, in 1860, indicated 6,883. The population of Marion township, including Car- thage, was 1,177. Sarcoxie township, with the town of Sarcoxie, num- bered 1,405.
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CHAPTER V
PRECEDING ACTUAL WARFARE
CIVIL ORGANIZATION DESTROYED-MOLDING INFLUENCES-ARMED NEU- TRALITY URGED-VOTES TO REMAIN IN THE UNION-DIVIDED SENTI- MENT AND ACTION-THE BORDER GUARDS-FRUITLESS CONFERENCES- FIRST ENGAGEMENT AT BOONVILLE
Jasper was one of the counties in the state where sentiment on the slavery question was divided and as the great strife came on, old friend- ships were broken, neighbors and frequently families took different sides on the question which was soon to plunge the nation into the War between the States.
It is estimated that at least eight hundred men in Jasper county took up arms during the Civil war, some of them in the Union army and others following the fortunes of the Confederacy.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION DESTROYED
One great battle and numerous small engagements and skirmishes were fought within its confines. The county during the first three years of the war was occupied alternately by the armies of both the north . and the south and in securing substance for their soldiers each took a liberal share of the crops that were raised, so that those who stayed at home had a hard time to exist; and when it is remembered that many of the families were political enemies, holding allegiance to different governments, it will be readily seen that the people during this period were in a constant state of excitement. As a result the civil organization of the county was completely destroyed.
MOLDING INFLUENCES
In order that the reader may have in mind the condition in Mis- souri at the breaking out of the war and therefore be better able to understand the reasons why southwest Missouri came to be the theater of action at the beginning of hostilities, we give here a brief recital of the important events which transpired in the state and helped to mold public opinion and influenced the acts of its citizens.
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On December 20, 1860, South Carolina, through her legislature, passed an ordinance of secession, and almost within a month, six other states-Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas- withdrew from the Union and a call was made for the formation of the Confederate States of America. The other southern states were invited to join with them and help organize the proposed Southern Union.
At this time Missouri was the largest in population of the slave- holding states and it was very much desired by the promoters of the organization of the Confederacy that she should cast her lot with the new government.
When the news came that South Carolina had seceded, Governor Stewart, who was bringing his administration to a close, sent a special message to the legislature and expressed himself as sincerely desirous of keeping Missouri in the Union, but as opposed to the use of force to ' bring South Carolina back into the Union. He also opposed sending troops into Missouri, either to wrest her from the Union or to keep her in it, and gave it as his opinion that the only proper course for Mis- souri to pursue was to maintain "an armed neutrality."
ARMED NEUTRALITY URGED
Governor Stewart, who had been born and reared in New York state, sympathized with the north, but, living as he did in a slave-hold- ing state and having heard the arguments put forth by the leaders of the south, he desired if possible to avert war and bring about a solution of this great question in some other way. He was very much respected by the people of the state and his idea of maintaining an armed neutrality met with popular approval.
Governor Claiborne Jackson, who took his seat as the chief executive of the state January 3, 1861, unlike Governor Stewart had been reared in the south and believed that Missouri's interest was with the Con- federacy. He did not, however, think it proper for the south to take the aggressive and held that they should not fight until the Federal gov- ernment attempted to force them back into the Union. His plan was for Missouri to be prepared to repel invasion from the north, but to make no aggressive movement unless attacked. He declared that if the Federal government attempted to force South Carolina and other south- ern states back into the Union, the proper course for Missouri to take would be to secede and join the Confederacy.
Governor Jackson at first advocated secession, but after the state decided to remain in the Union took Ex-Governor Stewart's position of an "armed neutrality" and urged that Missouri defend herself but take no part in the conflict between the states.
Lieutenant Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, who presided over the senate and through the appointment of committees helped in a large way to mold the sentiment of that body. favored secession, believing that an armed neutrality was impossible. He urged an enlargement of the organized militia and a complete equipment of the state's troops in order to be in a position to fight should occasion demand it.
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Governor Jackson urged the calling of a convention to determine the relations of the state to the Federal government and, acting on his advice, a bill passed the legislature January 18th calling for a conven- tion of ninety-nine delegates to meet and determine the question of secession. A majority of the members of the legislature favored it. The vote in the house on the bill was 105 for and 18 against. The law provided that should the convention pass an ordinance of secession that it should not become effective until it was ratified by a majority of the voters at an election held for that purpose. It will be observed that whatever might have been the individual wishes of the members of the legislature they did not want to take Missouri out of the Union with- out the people of the state by their vote declaring in favor of that act. The election was held on February 18th and the convention was called to meet at Jefferson City on the 28th of that month.
The people divided into three parties, Secessionists, Conditional Union and Unconditional Union men. The Secessionists desired to see Missouri join the Confederacy. The Conditional Union men favored Missouri remaining in the Union, providing the Federal government did not attempt to force the southern states back into the Union, General Sterling Price, who afterward joined the Confederate army, and John S. Phelps of Springfield, who raised a regiment for the Union army, were among the leaders of this party. The Unconditional Union party was headed by Frank P. Blair of St. Louis.
Among the prominent Conditional Union men in Jasper county were J. R. Chenault; identified with the Unconditional Union men, Norris Hood, Colonel McCoy, J. R. Stemmons (although a slave holder), J. A. Hunter, John Crow, Samuel B. LaForce and others. The leaders of the secession movement were Colonel A. J. Fallion, Tom Livingston, A. J. Talbott, C. C. Dawson, General Raines and William Cravens.
Judge John R. Chenault was elected to represent Jasper county in the convention. He thought very much on the subject as General Jack- son did and favored, if possible, Missouri taking no part in the ap- proaching conflict, but in the event of being drawn into a war between the states for her to secede.
VOTES TO REMAIN IN THE UNION
The convention met at Jefferson City on February 28th, and after electing General Sterling Price, ex-governor of the state, president, ad- journed to meet in St. Louis on March 4th, the day on which Lincoln was to be inaugurated president. Lincoln's inaugural address appealed very much to the delegates, imbued them with a spirit of his fairness and had much to do with influencing the action of the convention. On March 8th that body by an almost unanimous vote decided against seces- sion, and determined that Missouri should remain in the Union.
DIVIDED SENTIMENT AND ACTION
Excitement now subsided until the fall of Fort Sumter, when Presi- dent Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers. Missouri's quota of this call
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was four regiments, and the secretary of war telegraphed Governor Jackson to enlist these for service in the Union army. Jackson de- clined to do so and declared that Missouri would not furnish a dollar or a man for the war.
Frank P. Blair, of St. Louis, and Captain Lyon (afterward General Lyon) began recruiting men at St. Louis, tendered their services to the government and soon had ten regiments enlisted and drilling daily ; nine of these were recruited almost entirely from the German citizens and Colonel Franz Sigel's regiment took part in the battle of Carthage which will be mentioned more fully hereafter. On account of the refusal of Governor Jackson to furnish the four regiments called for by President Lincoln when Fort Sumter was fired upon and his subsequent acts re- lative to the state troops, there was no organized effort put forth in Jas- per county to enlist volunteers for the Union army until after Hamilton R. Gamble assumed charge of the governor's office.
Many Union men, however, went to Kansas and enlisted with the troops from the Sunflower state, others went to the larger towns in the state where recruits were being enrolled, and quite a few returned to their former homes in other states and there enlisted with the soldiers from their home towns.
A considerable number of Jasper county Union men enlisted in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, which was mustered into the service at Fort Scott.
The southern sympathizers began organizing companies of minute men and began drilling for active service. Companies were drilling nightly at Sherwood, Medoc, Minersville and other places.
On April 20th the government arsenal at Liberty, Missouri, was captured by a company of southern sympathizers organized in Clay county and 15,000 stands of arms and 11,000 pounds of powder carried away, and it was believed that Governor Jackson secretly desired the United States arsenal at St. Louis seized and the 40,000 stands of arms held for emergency.
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