USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
34
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
county seat, 882; Laclede, 740; Bucklin, 790; Browning, 629; Meadville, 580.
A severe wind and hail storm visited Linn county the night of June 18, 1875. The storm continued throughout the following day and did immense damage throughout the county, especially in the vicinity of Laclede. So terrific was the wind that the people in some of the towns took refuge in cellars and basements. Many roofs were blown from houses and barns and the streets were filled with dismantled trees and foliage. Great damage was done to crops and fencing. Some of those who passed through the storm declare that they found hailstones as large as walnuts.
That same year Missouri was visited by a great drought and hard on the heels of it came the grasshoppers in countless swarms. So great was the disaster wrought to crops by the insects that Governor Hardin, at the behest of a great many good people all over the state, issued a proclamation for prayers. This proclamation was as follows:
"Whereas, owing to failure and loss of crops much suffering has been endured by many of our people during the past few months, and similar calamities are pending upon larger communities, and probably may extend to the whole state, and if not abated will eventuate in sore distress and famine :
"Wherefore, Be it known that the 3d day of June, proximo, is hereby appointed and set apart as a day of fasting and prayer that Almighty God may be invoked to remove from our midst these impend- ing calamities and to grant instead the blessings of abundance and plenty ; and the people and all of the officers of the state are hereby requested to desist during that day from their usual employments and to assemble at their places of worship for humble and devout prayer, and to otherwise observe the day as one for fasting and prayer.
"In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the great seal of the state of Missouri.
"Done at the City of Jefferson this seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-five.
"By the Governor, "C. H. HARDIN.
"MICHAEL K. MCGRATH, "Secretary of State."
The proclamation of Governor Hardin was universally respected throughout Missouri. As a result of the faith shown by the inhabitants the record says:
35
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
"On the very next day heavy rains set in. Up to that time the long continued drought had been general in Missouri, though slight rains had fallen in the spring months of 1875. Since the proclamation and its observance, however, the rains became heavy and frequent.
"The grasshoppers began to go about June 11. A strong south- west wind drove them forth into the interior of the state, but in a day or two the wind swept to the east, and by the 15th the pests, which had so long been threatening the farmers of Missouri, were entirely gone. The next year they came again, but did no damage, and since that time they have not appeared. The farmers began at once to retrieve their losses. They planted the crops again and, the season being favorable from that time on, the yield was bountiful."
The grasshoppers started on their visit to Missouri from the mountains in 1874. It is said that their numbers were so great that they almost darkened the heavens. They quickly overran Colorado, passed on through Kansas, and in the summer of 1875 invaded Mis- souri. The farmers planted their corn, but it was devoured as fast as it came up. They planted it again, hoping that the grasshoppers would leave, but when the corn began to appear above the soil the voracious insects were there and blighted it as if swept by a forest fire. All sorts of expedients were resorted to in the hopes of getting rid of the plague. Trenches were dug around fields, bonfires built so that the heat and smoke would drift against the insects, but still the grass- hoppers held grimly on, the records tell us, until Governor Hardin's proclamation was acted upon.
The back taxes due and uncollected in Linn county on January 1, 1878, amounted to $6,000. This included the taxes left unpaid at the close of the Civil War. Many other Missouri counties were in the same predicament and strong efforts were made to round up the delinquents. As far along as 1882 there was still due quite a sum from the delin- quents' list. Of later years, however, a regular county collector has been put on the job and under an efficient back tax law his work is much more satisfactory than that accomplished in the early days of the county's history.
In a history of Linn county printed in 1882 is this curious state- ment of what was known as the "Rat Plague": "Some five years ago north Missouri was infested with an army of rats. They seemed to exist everywhere and were terribly destructive. The legislature in the winter of 1876-77 authorized the counties which were overrun with them to pay 5 cents per head when presented to the number of fifty and
36
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
upwards. This worked to a charm, some counties paying out from $1,500 to $2,000 each, and it exterminated the rats."
As Linn county was in the "rat belt," the true statement of the rat law and its operations, as given by the author, Judge Samuel Davis, of Marshall, Missouri, may be of interest here:
"Nobody has ever printed that rat story of mine just right," remarked Judge Davis in a recent interview with the writer. "It was bad enough as it was, and I've been trying these many years to help forget it, but every now and then it pops up somewhere, and the writers accuse me of doing things of which no sane man would think of doing. Said I run on a platform, pledging that I would get a law passed making it unconstitutional for a man to have a rat about his place, and that is why I was elected. I plead not guilty. But I was the cause of the rat bill passing, and through my efforts it was the law of this state for eleven years. I was in the house, though, before I framed my bill. Am I talking too fast for you?
"As the boys would say nowadays, the rats were a 'fierce propo- sition' in some parts of Missouri that year. All the plagues of Egypt would be as 'flinch' to poker in comparison. When a man would get up of a morning he would have to shake the rats out of his clothes. They were so thick in the fields that horses would mire to their knees in the holes the rats made. They climbed up on corn stalks, ate the grain; scampered along rail fences and played hide-and-seek around the trees. At nights they chased each other across the floor until sleep was impossible. Even in broad daylight they would gnaw their way into cupboards, kitchen safes and boxes. Housewives had to use the most extraordinary precautions to save the food supplies from them. The least chance to get in the rats were Johnnie-on-the-Spot, and once in they left nothing.
"While the rats were trying to clean out Saline and neighboring counties my friends elected me to the legislature. I was very young then, and, of course, anxious for a chance to do something for my state. Every man down there seemed to have a pocketful of bills to regulate the universe, just as they do now. One day while talking with Senator Sam Majors I said I believed I would put in a bill to wipe out the rats, at the same time explaining how bad they were over my way. Sam laughed good-naturedly and told me to shoot ahead; he didn't like rats much himself. He never thought I'd do it, I reckon.
"It got talked around about the capital that Sam Davis from Saline was going to outlaw the rats and the newspaper boys made a good deal of sport over it. It went on for several days, and then they
3%
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
began to guy me; said I was afraid to introduce my rat bill. I resolved to show 'em. There was an old statute about gophers and I took it and changed it to rats and wrote out my bill. In order that no harm could come to any of the counties I made the bill provide that rat scalps would be paid for at 5 cents per head only when delivered by one person in quantities of fifty and that it was optional with the county courts whether the offer was made or not. If the county court didn't want to go into the rat market it didn't have to; that was the safeguard.
"The bill was referred to the agricultural committee, and I sup- posed that would be the last of it. But lo! and behold, one morning the chairman of the committee came to me and said:
"' 'Sam, we indorsed your rat bill.'
" 'You don't mean it!' I exclaimed.
" 'Sure I do,' said the chairman; 'we think it is a good measure.'
"That put it up to me to get it through. When I prepared it I intended it as a joke, but after the committee had endorsed it, why, of course that meant for me to get busy. So I went to work on the members of the house and the result was my bill went through all right.
"The next fight would be in the senate. I learned from the chair- man that Sam Majors was going to kill the bill by adding a whole lot of amendments to it, providing a reward for the scalps of cockroaches, mosquitoes and all sorts of insects. The president of the senate was a friend of mine and I told him to declare all those fool amendments out of order. He did so and after some little fighting the bill was passed. Then it went to Governor Phelps for his signature.
"I went to see him.
" 'Governor,' I said, 'what are you going to do with my rat bill?'
" 'I am going to kill the dad-burned thing,' he growled; 'ain't you fellows got anything better to do than to pass rat bills?'
" 'Now, look here, Governor,' I said, 'you know I have always been your friend in the house and I have never let them pass a bill over your veto. I am in earnest about this rat bill; the boys have been guying me and I have got to get it through; my people expect it and they must have it. I am going to still be your friend, Governor, but that rat bill wants to become a law.'
"The governor saw I was in earnest. Then he smiled, and when the time came he signed the bill.
"It was about that time 'Gene Field, who was a representative of some paper, wrote that poetry about Sam Davis and the rat. Here it is."
38
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
The judge fished in his pocket and pulled out an old scrap of paper, which he carefully unfolded. This is what was on it:
"Sam Davis, member from Saline, A-plodding home one night was seen By two old rats-forlorn and gray, Too shrewd to venture out by day. But with the moonlight's doleful hour They sought what they might best devour. .
"Sam Davis paused, as well he might, And viewed the touching mournful sight: Two rats, two aged rats forlorn, A-browsing in the early morn! Said he, 'My friends, how comes it so, That through the streets you rambling go?
" 'Have you not heard the mandate hurled Down from the house into the world ? That sets a price upon your head ? That pays a bonus for rats dead ? How comes it, then, that up and down You saunter through this hostile town?'
"One old rat the solon eyed And in a squeaking voice replied : 'Why question us? The law applies To rats of every age and size. Now tell me, is there-answer true- An older, bigger rat than you?' "
"So you see," his honor went on, "it would never have done to let go my bill under fire like that, and what others were printing. I intended to show 'em they couldn't laugh my bill out of court.
"The bill became a law, and, do you know, before the first copy of the Revised Statutes landed in Saline county every blamed rat picked up his grip and lit out! It's a fact, and our county court never paid out a nickel for scalps! But over in Bates and Andrews, where the rats were just as thick as they had been in Saline, the courts took the law as mandatory, and issued a notice offering a reward of 5 cents per. People quit farming to kill rats. Boys by the hundreds began chasing
39
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
down the little terrors, killing and scalping them for the county. They said it got so bad in the court houses, where the evidence was stored, that people across the street had to keep their front doors shut and windows down. Then with characteristic thrift the Jayhawkers began raising rats for scalps and selling 'em to the Missouri county courts as the home-grown article. They even fetched rat scalps down from Towa so as not to let the market go unsupplied. I guess in time they'd have started rat farms in China, but the two counties offering the bounty went broke, and that killed the industry. When next election rolled around they sent representatives to Jefferson City pledged to kill my rat bill-or me. They didn't do either. My reputation was at stake on that bill, and I didn't propose to have it declared unconstitu- tional. I went to the capital and labored with my friends until they became convinced the rat law was altogether proper and a vitally neces- sary act of legislation. It was pointed out to those sent to annihilate it that they didn't have to buy rat scalps unless they wanted to- information rather late to be useful, but yet it was at hand when the bill passed had they looked closer. Here's the way the bill read:
" 'It is hereby lawful for any county court in the State of Missouri to offer a reward not exceeding 5 cents per scalp for the destruction of rats. . Provided, that no reward shall be paid for any number of rats less than fifty.' Revised Statutes '79.
"It simply meant that it was lawful to offer the bounty if the county court desired to do so. It didn't have to do it. The scalps were to be delivered to the county clerk, who after counting them would issue a voucher on the treasurer.
"Champ Clark finally got in the legislature and he put my rat law out of business. It had been on the books eleven years, however, and I was satisfied.
"The rat bill gave me a reputation I've been trying to live down. The story that I started to brain a man who called at my house one day and tried to sell a 'Sam Davis Rat Trap' is a campaign lie. He never got that close to me-more's the pity. He lived in Vermont or some other foreign country and wrote to state that he had invented a sure- death-to-rats trap, the best thing ever made, and if I would let him name it after me I would get a royalty on the sales. He was wise in writing.
"One day a farmer friend of Ed Barton's visited the state capital and was shown through all the buildings of interest. Barton took him to the state house, the governor's mansion, the penitentiary and every
40
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
place he could think of and finally brought him back to the hotel. The farmer looked unsatisfied.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Barton; "haven't you seen everything you could see ?"
"No, I ain't!" said the farmer; 'the biggest thing you got here you have not showed me yet.'
" 'What is it?'
" 'That feller Davis what put through the rat bill; where's he at?' "'
CHAPTER VI
First Linn County Fair- List of Officers-Articles of Association-A Remarkable Meteor-The Killing of Willie Mckinley-Efforts to Get Slayer Pardoned-Governor Crittenden's Reply to Petition- A Vigorous Condemnation of Drinking and Pistol Carrying- Organization of Linn County-John Riley, Ransom Price and Levi Blankenship Named as Commissioners to Select County Seat-The Act Designating Boundary Line-Metes and Bounds-The Original County Court-Deed to County Seat.
THE FIRST LINN COUNTY FAIR
While this enterprise did not continue long, it taught the people the importance of such an annual event, and now the Brookfield Fair is one of the most thriving institutions of the county.
In its efforts to establish and make permanent the first fair the county court appropriated $150 annually to be used as premiums. The officers were as follows:
Joseph Schrock, president; C. J. Hale, vice-president ; L. H. Hig- gins, treasurer; J. V. Martin, secretary.
Directors-Joseph Schrock, W. H. Benefiel, C. J. Hale, E. Ches- round, M. Cave, J. H. Tharp, E. Spokefield, J. T. Rawlins, P. Pound.
Marshal, W. F. Alexander ; assistant marshal, Joseph Combs.
Following were the constitution and by-laws:
"Article 1. The officers of this society shall consist of nine direc- tors, one of whom shall be elected president of the society, to be elected annually, and he together with the other directors shall constitute a board of managers for governing and conducting the affairs of the society. The board of directors shall elect a secretary and treasurer,. who shall hold their office during the pleasure of the board.
"Art. 2. The annual meeting of the society shall be held here- after on the first Saturday in January of each year, for the election of officers and the transaction of general business. The election shall be by ballot. Term of office to expire when successor is duly qualified.
"Art. 3. The treasurer, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall execute a bond which shall be satisfactory to the directors,
41
42
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
for the faithful discharge of his duties and the paying of all of the moneys by him received, in such sums as the directors may direct.
"Art. 4. No person can be an officer who is not a member of the society, and a resident of Linn county.
"Art. 5. Members of the society shall be residents of the state.
"Art. 6. The annual exhibition of the society shall be held in the month of September or October.
"Art. 7. All articles offered for premiums shall be produced from the farm of the exhibitor, and by the persons offering the same, or by members of their families. All products must be raised in this state.
"Art. 8. The membership fee shall be $2 each, payable by the first of August to the treasurer of the society.
"Art. 9. No eating houses or stands as such shall be permitted upon the grounds, except by permission of the Board.
"Art. 10. No spirituous, malt, or vinnous liquors will be per- mitted to be sold or given away, or in any way disposed of on the grounds, or in the vicinity of the fair grounds during the fair.
"Art. 11. All fast riding or driving is positively forbidden within the enclosure, and this rule shall be strictly enforced; and no luckster- ing or gambling of any kind shall be permitted within the enclosure.
"Art. 12. No person shall have access to the secretary's books to ascertain who have made entries in any ring, nor shall the secretary give such information in any case.
"Art. 13. Two auditors shall be chosen, one by the directors, and one by the society, to audit the society's accounts at each annual meeting.
"Art. 14. Nine public notices shall be posted by the directors in the most public places, at least 10 days before each annual meeting.
"Art. 15. This constitution may be altered or amended at any annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present."
A brilliant meteor passed over Linn county the night of December 21, 1876. It burst forth from the southwest and was vividly clear to people all over the county for nearly half a minute. This beautiful heavenly visitor was said to have journeyed eastward, where it landed with a tremendous explosion near Bucyrus, Ohio. It recalled to the minds of many of the older inhabitants the shower of stars or meteors in November, 1833, and many thought it presaged the return of such a display. Quite a number of Linn county citizens and those of other
43
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
sections as well, maintained an all night vigil after the meteor had passed.
Chronologically the next event that excited a great deal of dis- cussion throughout Linn county was a killing at Laclede. This occurred in July, 1878. James Edwards, a young man with respectable connec- tions, became intoxicated and shot into a crowd of small boys. The bullet struck and killed William Mckinley. As the verdict of the jury was the first one returned in Linn county in connection with a murder case it is here set out in full :
"We, the undersigned jurors, impanelled by A. Carroll, Coroner of Linn county, Mo., to view the body of Willie McKinley now lying be, fore us, do find that said William Mckinley came to his death by being shot in the breast by a ball fired from a pistol held in the hands of James Edwards on the 4th of July, 1878, between the hours of 7 and 8 p. m., in the public square in the town of Laclede, Mo.
"J. L. REYNOLDS, Foreman. "VIRGIL TRUE. "W. B. CATHER. "J. H. WILSON. "O. W. ELLIOTT. "JOHN BRINAGER.
"LACLEDE, MISSOURI, July 5, 1878."
It is said that Edwards, when be became sober was much horrified over the tragic results of his reckless action. He was given a trial, found guilty of murder in the second degree and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. An effort was made in December, 1881, to have him pardoned. The application was sent to Governor Thomas S. Crit- tenden. In stating his reasons for refusing to grant the pardon Gover- nor Crittenden carefully reviewed the testimony and also the plea made by friends in behalf of young Edwards. The opinion of Governor Crittenden on this application, which he felt bound to deny, is a notable document. After referring in detail to the testimony of the witnesses, and speaking in the kindliest manner of Judge Burgess who tried the case, the Governor said:
"The boy killed was about thirteen years old and small for his age, as said one of the witnesses. Enough of the evidence has been given to show how and by whom the little boy was killed and the condition of the man who did it. Before a defendant is convicted in court he is pre- sumed to be innocent, and it devolves on the state to remove that pre- sumption. After the conviction he is not only presumed to be, but is
44
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
adjudged to be guilty, and before I will exercise clemency in any case the action and judgment of the court must be shown to be erroneous by invincible facts or by such mitigating circumstances as would have modified the judgment if known at that time.
"What is there in this case in the light of this rule that requires me to interfere with the sentence of the court? Is it because he (Ed- wards) was drunk and discharged his revolver with great recklessness, to say the least of it, into a crowd of innocent boys who had gathered in the park for social amusements? If so when would society be safe from the actions of bad men, who would often put themselves in that evil condition to accomplish their premeditated deeds? Drunkenness is not now, never has been, and I hope never will be, an excuse for crime in this state.
"This defendant was also guilty of another violation of the law before he killed Young Mckinley; that was in carrying a concealed weapon. This is a great and growing crime in this state, against the law of God and of society, and should be punished without sympathy and without favor.
"Drunkenness and revolvers cause more crime, more executions, more penalties, more sorrows to innocent mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and wives, than all the other causes combined, and both should receive the strongest reprobation from the social, religious and moral community.
"Society should have some way in protecting itself against such evils. It can only be done by education and legislation. Legislation will not do it if clemency is extended to the offenders without regard to the crime. They must know there is power and meaning in the law ; that there is an iron will as well as justice in the courts; that there is a determination in society to protect itself against the lawless; that a sentence of the court means an execution; that 'the way of the trans- gressor is hard,' and will remain so until reformation comes.
"I am asked to pardon Edwards on the ground of mercy and to gratify the hearts of his parents, who are old Christian people calmly awaiting the last summons.
"It is not always judicious to exercise mercy at the expense of the many. Society must be remembered as well as the individual. I have a profound sympathy for the good old people, but that sympathy must not prevail against the obligation I owe to the preservation of good society in this state. If men will get drunk against common decency, if men will carry revolvers against the law and the rule of propriety, and will, under the evil inspiration of the one use the other, they must
45
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
suffer for it on the gallows or in the penitentiary. My sympathy and mercy are for the industrious and lawabiding people of the state; not for the thieves, murderers and robbers inside of the prison walls. I will see that justice is done them; beyond that I am not expected to go. I see no reason why I should pardon Edwards; the application is therefore refused.
"Thomas T. Crittenden."
December 13, 1881.
As originally organized Chariton county extended northward to the Iowa line, including what afterwards became Linn county. Chari- ton county was organized November 16, 1820. At the session of the general assembly of Missouri, in the winter of 1836-37, an act was passed creating the county of Linn from the territory attached to Chariton county, and extending Linn county's government to the Iowa line. That act was passed January 6, 1837. From that time Linn county has had a corporate existence. The same act establishing Linn county also created Livingston, Macon and Taney counties.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.