USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 4
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The price of products of all kinds was very low. Farmers were only offered from 3 to 5 cents a dozen for eggs. Live stock was also very cheap. The farmers had plenty to eat, but very little ready money. In fact from the date of the organization of the county until far along in the 40s ready cash was very scarce. The country generally had suf- fered severely during the era of wild-cat banks. The generation of today scarcely understands the embarrassment caused in all channels of business by the early day method of banking.
The term "wild-cat" was used because the original issues of doubt- ful currency had a picture of a wild-cat on them. Today the name is frequently heard, but it is applied to mining schemes and other ventures where there is a question as to the genuineness of the enterprise. The early day paper money was also spoken of as "blue pup" and "red
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
dog." Whenever a cashier received a deposit of mixed issues of money he had to consult his bank reporter to learn the standing of the insti- tutions which issued them, or whether such institutions were yet in existence. Some of the money passed the test and was accepted; a great deal was discarded as worthless.
Parties traveling across the country would have to have their west- ern money changed for eastern money, and vice versa.
In the early part of the 19th century Missourians traded with each other by using cattle, hides, pelts, twists of tobacco and bits of lead as legal tender. There was an urgent demand for small change, and it became so necessary that they took the Spanish Real and cut it in half for a half dollar, into a quarter for a quarter of a dollar, and into eighths for a "bit." Many will recall the expressions "two bits," "four bits," six bits," etc. This is the origin of the term "bit." Some- times even a bit was divided and it was then called a "fip."
Along in the later 50s gold dust was handed into the banks of the western states as deposits, and the banks' cashiers became so skillful in handling the gold that they could tell at a glance, not only how much the gold presented to them would assay, but they could judge with almost absolute certainty the mining district from whence it came. They would put the dust in long pans and hold their hands over it while they would blow out the dirt and dross.
Some of the early day banks were chartered and some were not. Capital was required, but no evidence was demanded concerning it. A certain bank went to the wall and the inventory disclosed that it was possessed of one stove, two books, a counter, three chairs, an almanac and $63 in actual cash! Stockholders were personally liable, but there was nothing compelling the bank to state exactly who the stockholders were. There were no resources and no examinations. An annual report was expected, but there was no penalty for a failure to make such a report.
Clement Chase, a well-known western banker, once related to an association of Missouri bankers this incident of wild-cat days.
"A man in Michigan sold a lot of cattle and received for them $1,000 in such money as the country did business with in the early part of the 19th century. The cattleman had at home two books, which he depended upon to settle all his problems for this world and the one to come. One of these books was his bank reporter and the other was the Bible. When he got back home with his money he reached for the reporter and found to his chagrin that $200 of the money that he had received for his cattle was on banks that had gone out of existence. There was nothing
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
in the world behind it and it was not worth the paper it was printed on. While considering this emergency he turned to his Bible and the first thing that met his eye was this: 'Thou shalt owe no man.' So he took that wild-cat $200 and settled a bill he had owed to a party who had not been reading up on the bank reporter."
Here are some prices that ruled in the Locust Creek country during the financial depression that followed 1837: Cows, $7 to $10; horses, $25 to $40; liogs, $1.25 to $1.50; a nice veal calf would sell for 75 cents ; honey from the bee tree was worth 25 cents a gallon in exchange for store goods. Deer hams were quoted at 25 cents each. Farm hands were paid all the way from 5 to 50 cents a day, but that included board and lodging. The prices for splitting rails was 25 cents a hundred.
In spite of the low prices for labor and products of the farm the early settler did not become discouraged. He looked to the future, and clearly saw the era of prosperity which came later. He lived well, whether he had any money or not. He worked hard and was rewarded with a magnificent appetite and splendid health. The finest eating in the world was his, and it didn't cost him a cent. The partner of the pioneer, his noble, industrious wife, deserves to share equally with him the honors that acrue from the building up of this country. It was her patient, uncomplaining toil that produced most of the garments worn by the members of the family, that kept the house in order and made things comfortable and pleasant for everybody. She learned the use of the simple herbs and remedies that could be obtained in the forest, and knew how to apply them to the ailing ones. Her hands were never idle and she brought up her children under a rigid discipline of in- dustry. The Missouri pioneer has made a great name for himself in history, but upon the pedestal that shall be erected for him justice demands that ample room should be left for his patient and loyal wife.
CHAPTER IV
The Era of Prosperity-Development of Schools and Churches-Death of Senator Linn-Presidential Election of 1844-Shadow of the Mexican War-Call for Volunteers-Quick Response from Linn County-Incidents of the Campaign in New Mexico-A Veteran's Interesting Narrative-The Enemy Burned American Soldiers- Grim Retaliation by the U. S. Forces Under Sterling Price-List of Linn County Veterans in War of 1846-The Rush to the Gold Lands-More Wealth in Missouri than was Found in California.
From the year 1840 dates the most material progress of Linn County. In an election taken two years before, 168 votes were cast. The voting population was possibly somewhat in excess of that number. There had been some advancement along all lines of endeavor, but from 1840 on the development of the county was more systematic. Schools and churches were established in all the settlements and considerable attention given to the improvement of the highways.
In 1843 occurred the death of Senator Lewis F. Linn, for whom Linn county and its county seat had been named. The Senator died at Ste. Genevieve. The general assembly appropriated $900 for a monument to his memory.
The presidential election of 1844 caused much excitement through the country. Texas had knocked at the door of the United States for admission, and was accepted by an act passed March 1, 1845, the ad- mission into the Union to take effect December 29, 1845. Mexico, strongly averse to losing this great domain, appealed to the sword. United States troops hurried to the Rio Grande. Volunteers from Linn, Boone, Chariton, Carroll, Livingston, Randolph and Monroe counties in Missouri, rushed to the nation's standard in response to a call made by Governor Edwards in May, 1846. Sterling Price, who afterwards became a noted Confederate leader in the Civil war, resigned his seat in congress and was given a colonel's commission by President Polk, with authority to raise a regiment to reinforce the Army of the West. The volunteers concentrated at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., in August, where an election by the troops endorsed Sterling Price's com-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
mission as colonel and D. D. Mitchell was chosen lieutenant-colonel. The Missouri troops proceeded to Santa Fe, arriving there September 28, 1846. New Mexico had recently been seized by the United States troops under General Kearney, and Santa Fe, the capital, was surren- dered to them. So when the Missouri troops arrived the American flag floated over the citadel of that famous old town. Howard H. Rich- ardson, who is still living, was a member of Company O, Missouri Vol- unteers. The Linn county volunteers composed Company N. A de- scription of the campaign by Mr. Richardson, which was given to the writer not long ago, covers events in which the Linn county volunteers took part or witnessed.
"We were armed with old-fashioned flint-lock rifles," said Mr. Richardson. "You pulled the trigger and the hammer came down with a noise something like this-'chwack!' Then in a little while the pow- der ignited and went 'swang!' An ounce ball and three buckshot then began traveling over the hills hunting for some gilt-spangled greaser. The country was full of Mexicans and their red-skinned allies. Neither were worth much as soldiers. The guns of the Mexicans were a great deal more ornamental than useful, and they didn't know how to shoot straight with them. The plan of campaign pursued by the enemy seemed to be to try to strike terror into the hearts of the people by all sorts of atrocities. You might call it a sort of guerrilla warfare.
"We were reconnoitering about 15 miles out of Santa Fe one day when our scouts came in and reported that 12 greasers had caught three detached Americans, and were burning them at the stake in Indian style. We had heard about that manner of fighting and were prepared for it. The main body rushed forward, and the terrible tale was only too well authenticated by the awful sight. We caught six of the tor- turers, but the balance got away. The prisoners were taken back to Santa Fe, and given a fair trial. Their guilt was established abso- lutely and they were sentenced to hang. They asked to have a priest, and I was appointed as one of their guards during the services attend- ing the forgiveness of their sins. At the time of this ceremony a rope was around the neck of each of the condemned. I understand Spanish very well, but they talked in a tongue unknown to me. While the execution was pending word reached Colonel Price that 15,000 Mexicans were headed for town to rescue the prisoners and slay the garrison. If the information had any effect on the commander he did not show it. Then Thuston, the interpreter, told Colonel Price that certain parties -mentioning men of high degree-would pay $50,000 for the release
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
of the prisoners. I was standing alongside the Colonel when he made his reply, and this is what he told the interpreter:
" 'Señor Thuston, you tell those people that these prisoners killed and burned my men; they have been fairly tried and sentenced to hang and hang they shall! Your whole government hasn't got money enough to buy them !'
"It was the first time I ever saw the Colonel real angry. His fine face actually blazed. There was no more talk of clemency. The execu- tion was in the public square. When the condemned took their places on the scaffold one man looked piteously around and cried :
" 'O Americanos! Americanos! Forgive us !
"The necks of five were broken by the drop. The knot slipped on the sixth one and Colonel Price directed. Corporal Sam Richardson, a St. Louis man, to fix it. Richardson gave the knot a twitch and said:
" 'Now, see if that will suit you, damn you!'
"Colonel Price heard the remark.
" 'Corporal Richardson,' he said, 'not another word out of you, sir!'
"In the winter of 1846-47 the Mexicans who held Taos, up on the Rio Grande, fortified the place, and sent down a black flag. It was the government's object to hustle the Mexicans out of New Mexico as fast as possible and we went up there with 600 men and five cannon. The town was on a hillside and you had to cross the stream to get to it. There was a heavy snow on the ground and the soldiers had to walk ahead and tramp down a road for the cannon. The enemy garrisoned an adobe church and by a brisk fire held us back until we got our cannon in action. Colonel Price himself lent a hand at the gun wheels while getting them in position. He wore shoulder straps and a belt made out of buffalo hide. Mexican balls struck him three times that day on his accoutrement, but he stayed in the fight. The cannon soon knocked holes in the church and other buildings and the Americans went in with a rush. The first man to enter was blown to pieces by a bomb, but the others followed closely, with bayonets and swords ready. The garrison was killed or scattered. It had initiated the black flag and did not ask quarter. That fight ended regular warfare in New Mexico, and our troops had no more battles. But we were busy for some time looking after guerrilla bands.
"In September, 1847, we started home, in obedience to orders, and while on the way we encountered a provision train headed for the soldiers further south. Before meeting the train we had heard there was a teamster in it who had been scalped and left for dead by the
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
Indians. The teamster had loitered off from the company to hunt and the Indians, who always hung around waiting for such chances, had promptly assailed the isolated man. When the caravan approached. Captain Jackson, our commander, rode up to the boss driver and asked :
" 'Have you got a "bareheaded" man aboard?'
" 'Yes,' said the driver.
" 'Where is he ?'
" 'Back a ways in one of the wagons.'
" 'Dead ?'
" 'Not by several years.'
"Then what do you think our captain did? Why, he got the boss driver to pull back the skin on the poor fellow's head, and then propped him up in the wagon so all could see, and made us file slowly past.
"The captain stopped his horse and grimly saw to it that not a trooper failed to view the spectacle.
" 'Next time you boys want to stroll off on a hunt by your lone- some,' said he, 'just think about this poor chap here.'
"Then we understood the purpose of his ghastly object lesson.
"It was almost impossible for one or two men to get any distance from the camp without hearing an arrow whiz. Yet there wasn't a man in the troop who was not always wildly anxious to try his luck by himself.
"' 'I'll watch out, Captain,' an over-confident soldier would say; 'I just want to go across the hills there to hunt a little game. I'll divide with you.'
"But it was generally the red-skinned hunters who got the 'game,' for they were marvelous shots and cunning as death."
ROSTER OF VOLUNTEERS FROM LINN COUNTY
Under the command of Col. Sterling Price was Capt. Thomas Barbee's mounted volunteers from Linn county. They were known as Company N, Second Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers. Fol- lowing is a list of the officers and privates :
Captain, Thomas Barbee.
First lieutenant, T. G. West.
Second lieutenant, John G. Flournoy.
Third lieutenant, M. H. Hamilton.
Non-Commissioned Officers-John N. Barr, William Bowyer, John M. Neece, Thomas Monroe, John M. Pratt, William Barbee, Robert Morrow, Chapman Lightner.
Privates-John Walkup, W. R. Monroe, Daniel Monroe, Benjamin Ralson, J. H. Calaway, Green Calaway, William Mays, M. H. Davis,
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
Albert Nickerson, James W. Talley, T. L. Watson, H. D. Watson, Jesse Watson, John Nagle, R. W. Foster, David De Mastes, H. S. Bragg, B. T. Tolson, David H. Allen, M. M. Bryant, Henry S. Findley, Alex- ander Findley, G. W. Neece, R. Siglits, M. Crossman, James Agle, James M. Clarkson, E. S. Moore, Robert McCollum, Isaac McCollum, Jesse Yocum, Thomas B. Moore, George W. Zinn, John E. Porter, A. J. Wilson, James Heron, James M. Heron, James M. Hughes, James Whorter, Jesse W. Lowe, John Carson, Johnston D. Gamble, Arnold Chance, Isaac D. Enfield, James Enfield, Andrew Estes, James A. Findley, Robert N. H. Gray, Robert Gray, Harrison Hawkins, W. T. Hancock, Charles Lemmont, Fred Maize, J. J. McCown, Perry McCollum, Calvin Rose, J. M. Spriggs, J. J. Sights, Frederick Schweiss, E. T. Taylor, W. B. Thompson, Calvin Vanbeber.
The greater number of these have passed into the beyond. They did their work as loyal soldiers and as faithful citizens. They were engaged in many exciting battles, and bore the United States banner aloft to victory. When the Linn county troopers returned they were given an ovation by the folks at home. There was a grand barbecue, speechmaking and a very happy day to all concerned.
With the close of the Mexican War the soldier threw away his sword and took up the plow. The next few years were busy and fruitful ones in Linn county. Missouri was filling up rapidly, towns were springing up everywhere and land was being industriously cultivated. Right in the midst of all this activity came the news of the discovery of gold in California. Linn county was just eleven years old when the workmen at Colonel Sutter's sawmill at Colma, California, in January, 1848, struck some curious stuff in the channel, which turned out to be gold. For a while an effort was made to keep the discovery hidden. Sutter began building a mill and a load of the ore was sent to Sacramento to be tested. The amazing result of the test was made known in San Francisco and from there the news spread all over the world, growing richer in color the further it traveled. This soon became the main topic of conversation in the nation. No legend from California was too wild to be believed. Men supposed that the hills and valleys were literally capped with gold, and that one might go out with pick and spade and enrich himself forever. The idea is not at all exaggerated. Mark Twain, who went west long after the gold excitement in 1849, tells how he separated himself from his old mining companions and hurried out into the hills to find a gold mine all by himself. He returned with his pockets laden with curious stuff that glittered and he complacently awaited the enthusiastic confirmation of his more experienced comrades.
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They glanced over the stuff, smiled contemptuously and said it was nothing but mica, not worth 10 cents a ton. Mark Twain's idea about gold in the West was pretty much shared by nine out of every ten men in those hopeful days of 1849.
It was a hard and dangerous journey to the gold coast. Insur- ance companies charged a stiff rate, more than they did on soldiers who went to war. For this reason the argonauts assembled them- selves into bands or companies, elected a captain and lieutenants and traveled westward with all the precaution that military parties exer- cised in time of war. Oxen were used to haul the heavy wagons, with their precious freight of bacon, meal, beans, canned goods and ammuni- tion. The further west the caravan traveled the greater the prices advanced on these commodities. If a caravan run out of supplies it cost a small fortune to renew them after getting west of St. Joseph. Some men made more money by selling provisions to the gold seekers than they would have made in mining. At the fords of streams the travelers had to pay toll to the man who claimed to own the crossing. At night regular sentinels would be put out to guard against surprises by hostile Indians and roving bands of bad men. The wagons would be located in a circle, with the horses and oxen in the center, forming a sort of fort to resist attacks.
From dawn to nightfall along the Linn county highway the white- winged prairie schooners could be seen wending their way westward. The men journeying with them were a hopeful lot. They were all going to mine gold and enrich themselves.
This great westward trek of the Americans in 1849 caused the real development of the western coast and the great country between. Although much gold was taken from California at the time, that was insignificant as compared with the immense good done in opening up the western country to civilization and settlement.
The sturdy race of men that had settled in Linn county caught the gold contagion as naturally as the sparks fly up. Human nature couldn't resist chasing such a rainbow as that which graced the gold coast. About 120 citizens of Linn county took part in this memorable pilgrimage. They had the same fortune that came to others with like ambitions. Some few died in the far west, others made fair strikes in California and returned with some of the precious metal for which they had sacrificed so much. The majority, perhaps, came back empty- handed but in no sense discouraged, and went to work to build up Linn county. They found on her fruitful acres much greater gold mines than they had dreamed of in California.
CHAPTER V
The Great Drought of 1854-Development Between 1840-60-Increase in Tax Levy-Plan to Create Grant County Abandoned-Disas- trous Prairie Fires-Census of Leading Towns-Severe Wind and Hail Storm-The "Locust Plague"-Governor Hardin's Procla- mation for Prayers-Linn County Overrun by Hordes of Rats- Story of the "Rat Law" by Its Originator-A Humorous Poem by 'Gene Field-The "Biggest Thing" About the "Rat Law."
The year 1854 brought to Missouri the greatest drought recorded in her history up to that time, and only one approaching it in severity has occurred since.
There was no official weatherman at that time, but the old settlers still living in Missouri will never forget the experiences of that year. Crops were almost a total failure. The streams became dry and in some communities there was a serious question as to whether or not human life could be sustained. The rainfall of the year was about the middle of June, either the 16th or 17th. From that time on the sun shone with undimmed fierceness all through the summer and even until late in the fall. Even the birds left the country for a more congenial habitation. The highways were deep in dust and the stage coaches came in covered as if they had been out in a snowstorm. Each day seemed to increase the heat and misery. In some parts of the state the settlers became discouraged. They moved to other locali- ties. They did not want to live in a country where such blighting droughts occurred. They didn't know but what those things were a common experience in Missouri.
Nothing could be done on the farms. People sat around, hoping for rain or something to relieve the situation. In some counties mass meetings were held to pray for relief. The drought continued right up to winter. Even the early snows seemed rainless with the dust and failed to furnish moisture to the parched earth.
But nature atoned for the chastisement the following year. In 1855 there was one of the largest crops ever produced in Missouri. Garden vegetables thrived lustily, and the old inhabitants will tell you
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that never before nor since had fresh vegetables tasted quite so good. Since that time Missouri has had dry years and wet years, but nothing as devastating as the summer of 1854. That was the supreme test, and those who lived in Missouri from that time to this have long since forgiven the old state for its one great blunder.
The wooden bridges built across the streams of Linn county failed to stand the test of a tremendous heavy rainfall that occurred in the year 1856. With one exception every bridge in the county was washed down stream. The loss was not great, because the structures were cheap affairs, but the experience taught a valuable lesson in bridge building and thereafter the County Court adopted a policy of builing stronger bridges.
From 1840 to 1860 Linn county kept abreast of other counties in Missouri in development and increase of population. In 1840 the tax levy was a little over $700, and in 1860 it was over $9,000. The county's progress was steadily onward up to the Civil War. That unfortunate event retarded the growth in all communities, and Linn county suffered with the rest.
There was a proposition advanced in 1867 to organize a new county, to be known as Grant county and to be formed from portions of Linn, Macon and Chariton counties. Bucklin, a thriving village, was designated as the county seat. There were many friends to the scheme, but it was never carried through.
The fall of that year was noted for many prairie fires occurring in various parts of the county. These fires were particularly destruc- tive in the neighborhood of Brookfield. Many farmers sustained heavy losses on hay, grain, fences, etc. John Ryan, who lived near Bucklin, lost his house, barn and much other property from these disastrous fires. The railroad company also suffered greatly because of them, as it was hard to keep the locomotives from emitting sparks on the grades, and many suits were brought against the company for fire damage.
From the year 1870 Linn county's growth was in about the same ratio as that of the state. Brookfield, from a town of 1,156 in 1868, has developed into an important railroad center with a population of 5,749 (census 1910). It is the commercial metropolis of the county.
Marceline, a town which sprang into life with the building of the Santa Fe railroad in 1887, is the division point of the great Santa Fe double track system between Kansas City and Ft. Madison, and has a population of 3,920. The population of other important towns of Linn county, according to the census of 1910, is as follows: Linneus, the
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