USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 20
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Anderson was not a large man, and neither was Quantrill. Both rode horses like they were a part of their animals and could shoot on the gallop as well as when taking a rest. The men who rode behind them were equally as expert in riding and shooting, but these two men became leaders because their hatred was the deepest. Like Marat they were fascinating because of their utter implacability.
Anderson, when a boy, went to school at Huntsville, a picturesque old town of northern Missouri. He is said to have been a good scholar, quiet and obedient, but not overly gifted in arithmetic. As was the ease with "Mark Twain," none of his fellow-students thought he would ever start a conflagration on the river by his learning, or anything else. Certainly no one saw in the backward country lad a firebrand of the future.
The boy who has been soundly lieked before the whole school, or who has seen two bright blue eyes he called his own, look love into another's face, generally has one great and overpowering ambition during those dreadful periods, and that is to come back in later years. at the head of a splendid array of pirates, surround the town, and force the citizenship to sue to him for mercy.
If that ambition came to Anderson, as it has to most of us, he realized on it to the full. After blazing the border until his name stood for all that was terrible and pitiless, he lighted on Huntsville in Sep- tember, 1864, with as fierce a crowd of swashbucklers as this country ever produced, and the mayor didn't have time to think where to hide the key to the city. For one short, eventful day the shy school-boy was the whole works of the place. He rode about on a magnificent white horse, roaring out orders and telling his men the best places to loot. The revolvers of the rough riders popped incessantly. and the citizens ran into their cyclone cellars. Anderson wore a big feather in his hat and there was a new sash around his waist where he kept his ever-ready guns. It was the proudest day of his life. Small boys, hiding behind
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barns and houses, would risk a peep now and then to get a sight of the gory chieftain as an example for emulation in later days.
Towards the edge of town lived Hade Rutherford, and some one, hoping to win favor from some of the guerrillas, told them that Hade had hidden away two fine horses to keep them from falling into the hands of Anderson's gang. So they swooped down on Hade, who was then a very young man, just married, put a rope around his neck and asked him about the horses. Mrs. Rutherford, a beautiful young woman, rushed out and begged the guerrillas to spare her husband's life. Every man there had been in such scenes before and they were not affected. The prisoner had spirited away two good horses, according to their information, and that meant death according to the law of the border.
The rope was made taut about Hade's neck, he was put on a horse and then-
"What you got, fellers?"
Anderson, chief devil of the lot, rode up with revolvers still smoking.
"Been hidin' hoses, Cap," said a big man who was handling the loose end of the rope.
"Well, what you waiting on?"
There was no time for prayer, but the condemned man saw a straw, for which he grasped.
"Say. Bill," he said, " 'member the time I helped you work your sums so the teacher wouldn't lick yon?"
Old men who were at that strange assembly, ont under the cotton- woods, say that two long lines stole out from Anderson's cruel mouth, which may have meant a grim smile, a most unusual thing for his hard, fierce face. He said nothing, but by a movement of the arm indicated to the prisoner that he was free. Hade Rutherford, Anderson's school- mate, is now the mayor of Huntsville.
About that time Major Johnson's militia, 300 strong, reached Macon, then the northern terminal of the Northern Missouri railroad. The troops were going south in quest of Anderson, and the citizens of Macon assembled to bid the soldiers God-speed on their errand. Two days later a long train from the south pulled into the depot, and the crew began taking coffins from the baggage cars. They unloaded one car, another and another. The long platform was covered from end to end with ghastly freight. Major Johnson and his brave men had found Anderson. Reports came that the terrible fighters were coming hard on the heels of their victims. The town was panic-stricken. Valuables were buried; many people left town. The governor was implored to rush troops.
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After leaving Huntsville Anderson learned through a leak from some quarter which should have guarded the secret with its life that a train-load of soldiers had left St. Louis en route to lowa. By hard riding across the country the guerrillas reached Centralia ahead of the train. When it came the soldiers fired a few shots from the windows. Then they offered to surrender on terms of civilized warfare. Anderson entered one of the cars, a revolver in each hand. But one voice was raised in rebuke, and that was a woman's. She was large and aggres- sive. Barring Anderson's way in the aisle she looked him in the face and cried :
"I wish I had a few good soldiers behind me to teach you ent- throats a lesson !"
Anderson took off his hat, and glancing at the doomed men about him remarked, with gentle irony :
"Madame, you certainly deserve better backing."
The poor soldiers, hoping for honorable treatment, gave up their arms and left the cars. They were lined up and shot down to the last man. Not a soldier on the train escaped. The revolvers of the exe- cutioners were still smoking when Major Johnson arrived at the head of his force from Macon. Before engaging the enemy he dismounted and lined up his men ! Then he challenged the guerrillas :
"Come on! We are ready for you!"
Riding with Anderson that day were George Todd, Frank and Jesse James, and a score or so of the swiftest pistol fighters the world has ever produced. They came on with the rush of a whirlwind. The guerrillas charged with their bridles in their teeth, a revolver in each hand. After one round by the militia the balance of the fight was like a shamble. Less than fifteen men got out of it alive, and Johnson was not among the fifteen. His life paid the penalty of not knowing the sort of men he was fighting against.
But Nemesis was awaiting the guerrilla chief. It came to him in Ray county not long afterwards. The Centralia affair had stricken the state with horror. The federal anthorites instructed the troops to capture or kill Anderson at any cost. The state was soon swarming with large bands hunting him down. Anderson knew he could make no terms, and it is very likely he would not have asked for any. At last they hemmed him in. He fought like a bull-dog, discharging revolver after revolver, and hurling the empty weapons into the faces of the men shooting at him. When he fell his body had been struck a dozen times. Twenty of his men were shot down in trying to recover the
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remains of their chieftain, which were finally left in the hands of the enemy.
With Anderson's death came the end of guerrilla warfare in Missouri. The people were no longer aroused from their slumbers by the sinister tread of death-riders who seemed to be in a dozen places at once. The man had passed unscathed through so many desperate affrays that superstitious ones had come to believe he had signed a compact with the Evil One, and that he could not be killed until the time of his bond had expired.
There are many good people who claim that Anderson's record was no worse than that of some of the militia detachments operating in Missouri at the time, the only differences being that Anderson rode harder, and killed in larger numbers. But this will ever be debatable ground.
One or two attempts were made by ambitious leaders to take tlie dead guerrilla's place, but they lacked his granite nerve, and soon went down. There was only one Bill Anderson, and that was enough.
The last reunion of the veterans of the War of 1812 occurred at Macon in Angust, 1871. There were present 28 soldiers from Macon, Monroe, Marion, Boone, Randolph, Audrain, Shelby, Livingston, and Linn counties
Among the interesting characters present was Robert Gipson, the old man who has been referred to in another chapter. The meeting was held in a grove north of Macon. Colonel John F. Williams, who had served in the Union army during the Civil war, was the main speaker. Short addresses were made by Judge John W. Henry and others. There was a drum and fife corps composed of the old veterans. Nearly every man present was over seventy years of age. The occasion was somewhat pathetic, as it was realized it was the last meeting of the sort that would be held in Missouri. The visiting soldiers were the gnests of the city, which provided them with an excellent dinner and other comforts. A picture was taken of the group of soldiers. A copy of this picture is now held by a family in Montgomery county. Others are scattered here and there, possibly many of them are lost.
It is not definitely known when the last veteran of the second war with England died. Hosea Brown, who lived in Worth county, lived to be 100 years of age, and it is said that he was among the last to pass away. It was said of him that after his hair had been gray for half a century, it began to turn black and when he died there was not a gray hair on his head.
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The citizens of Macon and Macon county turned out largely to wel- come the soldiers at the last reunion. Following is a list of the veterans of the War of 1812 who attended the meeting :
Thomas Kirkpatrick, Macon, born in Virginia, 1790, served in the Virginia Volunteers.
Dr. William H. Snelson, Macon, born in Virginia, 1790, served in Virginia Volunteers.
Fielding Combs, Monroe county, born in Kentucky, 1791, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
L. C. Bronson, Marion county, born in Vermont, 1792, served in regular army.
John Davenport, Boone county, born in Kentucky, 1792 served in Kentucky Infantry.
B. C. Wright, Macon county, born in Kentucky, 1785, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
William Royalty, Macon county, born in Kentucky, 1794, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
J. B. Butler, Macon county, born in Virginia, 1792, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
John Rowe, Macon county, born in New York, 1785, served in New York Volunteers.
John Burnett, Linn county, born in Kentucky, 1795, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
John Ellis, Macon county, born in Kentucky, 1785, served in Ken- tucky Volunteers.
Abraham Goodding, Randolph county, born in Kentucky, 1794, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
Robert Boucher, Randolph county, born in Kentucky, 1795, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
Robert Powell, Audrain county, born in Kentucky, 1794, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
William Greathouse, Marion county, born in Kentucky, 1793, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
Elijah Williams, Randolph county, born in Kentucky, 1795, served in Kentucky Infantry.
John Graves, Livingston county. born in Kentucky, 1785, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
John F. Fowler, Macon county, born in Kentucky, 1791, served in Indiana Volunteers.
W. B. Woodruff, Linn county, born in Kentucky, 1788, Kentucky Volunteers.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
M. M. Johnson, Livingston county, born in North Carolina, 1790, North Carolina Infantry.
A. J. Miles, Macon county, born in Virginia, 1796, served in Vir- ginia Volunteers.
William McCann, Randolph county, born in North Carolina, 1795, served in North Carolina Volunteers.
John Buster, Macon county, born in Virginia, 1793, Kentucky Volunteers.
John W. Perrin, Macon county, born in Virginia, 1791, served in Kentucky Volunteers.
Henry Sipple, Linn county, born in Virginia, 1791, served in Virginia Volunteers.
Frederick Nestor, Linn county, born in Virginia, 1799, Virginia Volunteers.
George Brown, Macon county, born in Kentucky, 1799, Seventeenth Regiment.
The biggest military event at Macon since the Civil war was the state encampment of the G. A. R., which occurred in April, 1895. It was the 14th Annual Encampment of the Department of Missouri. The town was full of visitors. F. A. Jones Post, the home organization, under the direction of Commander C. P. Hess, Quartermaster N. S. Richardson and Major S. G. Brock, acted as host to the visitors. Among the notables who attended the Encampment on this occasion were Major William Warner, Colonel Lew Waters, Commander-in-Chief Lawler and staff, Past-Commander Charles G. Burton, Nevada ; Colonel J. P. Tracy, Springfield ; T. B. Rodgers, Blair Post No. 1; Lonis Benecke, Brunswick. Chaplain-in-Chief Haggerty, St. Louis ; W. H. Luck, Jeffer- son City, E. D. Cannan, Clinton ; Past-Commander Whitehead, Kansas City ; Commander Louis Grund, Post No. 13, St. Louis, and J. L. Briggs of Joplin.
The town was gorgeously decorated in honor of the visiting soldiers. There were numerous bands and places of refreshment.
Senator John J. Ingalls of Kansas City was one of the speakers. The opera house was crowded when he was introduced. Mr. Ingalls described his first experience with a hostile cannon. He said the only reason he didn't get behind a tree was because every tree in sight was taken by several of his comrades. Referring to Missouri he said :
"I am glad to have this opportunity of appearing today before the people of Missouri, a state which has a magnificent history, a state which is rich in every element that goes to make prosperity, by far
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richer in every prophecy of future greatness and renown; a state which I believe has the peculiar felicity of having contributed its full quota to both contending armies in the great Civil controversey."
A procession of the veterans was headed by the cadets of the St. James Military Academy, with Colonel Blees in full uniform leading. An auxiliary organization which met with the veterans was the Ex- Prisoners of War Association. The officers of this were John S. Fer- guson, Keokuk, president; Samuel S. Kelso, Mussell Fork, Missouri, vice-president ; Joseph Meyers, Kidder, Missouri, chaplain; W. E. Montgomery and Cyrus Gurwell, Macon, color-bearers.
Elijah Harp, of Macon, who carried a musket in Company B, 42d Missouri Volunteers, has the distinction of being the youngest soldier of the Civil war. Mr. Harp was born October 23, 1849. Some years ago the matter was decided by a St. Louis firm which offered a prize to the one who would prove his claim to the distinction of having gone to the war at the earliest age, and after a careful consideration of the reports the prize was awarded to Mr. Harp. His closest competitor was C. B. Duncan, of Shelby county, who was born February 6, 1849.
Daughters of the American Revolution. Ann Helm Chapter, Macon, Missouri. A number of the ladies of Macon, filled with ardor and enthusiasm, met at the home of the appointed Regent, Mrs. John T. Doneghy, on October 20, 1908, for the purpose of organizing a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The State Regent, Mrs. Samuel MeKnight Green, of St. Louis, was present to assist in this effort, and the formal organization took place November 20, 1908. The officers appointed for the first year were as follows:
Regent Mary Craddock Doneghy
Vice-Regent . Jennie Marsh Rubey
Secretary Susan Mitchell Guthrie
Treasurer Mary Van Cleve
Registrar Maud Dysart Brock
Historian Mary Anderson Matthews
The name of "Ann Helm Chapter" was chosen by the members of the society as an honor to the Regent, Ann Helm, who was the great- great-great-grandmother of Mrs. Doneghy and was the mother of three boys, all of whom won honors in the Revolutionary war. One had the rank of lieutenant, and was commended for bravery by Colonel Mar- shall; the other two were captains. Her grandchildren also fought in the Revolutionary war, the Indian war, and the Civil war. It can
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be truthfully said her descendants were devoted to the cause of the country, and were indeed patriotic.
The objeets of this chapter are the same as those of the National Society, as stated in the constitution of that organization, to-wit:
"To perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence, by the acquisition and protection of historical spots, and the erection of monuments; by the encourage- ment of historieal research in relation to the Revolution and the publi- cation of its results; by the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of celebrations of the patriotic anniversaries.
"To carry out the injunetion of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, 'to promote, as an object of primary import- anee, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge,' thus devel- oping an enlightened publie opinion, and affording to young and old sneh advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens.
"To cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty."
Acting under this article the Ann Helm Chapter has accomplished effective work in the year and a half since its organization.
A contribution has been sent to Miss Berry's school in Georgia, where a great many mountain children are being educated by funds from the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Ozark fund, which is used for the same work in the Ozark mountains, has also received an appropriation from this chapter.
A reward of $5 for high honors, and $2.50 for second honors, has been awarded both years to pupils of the high school in Macon, for writ- ing essays on historieal subjects. The title for that of the first year was "The Causes of the American Revolution"; the second year, "Why the Americans were Vietorions in the Revolution." This has, of course, instilled enthusiasm and brought information and knowledge to these pupils, who have responded heartily to the offer.
Letters have been written, and the support obtained of our state and national legislators for the passage of the bills to mark the Santa Fe trail in Missouri, and the building of the road from Washington, D. C., to Jamestown, Virginia.
Contributions have also been sent to assist in preserving the old historie Hungerford Tavern in Maryland, and to Continental HIall
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at Washington, D. C .; a larger amount being appropriated for furnish- ing the Missouri room in Memorial Hall.
The graves of two Revolutionary soldiers have been ascertained by the Chapter, and steps are being taken to have these marked with appropriate marble headstones, which are furnished by the government. One of the graves is that of James Howell, who was buried on the old homestead, in the family burying ground, near Elmer, in this county. He belonged to the well known "Count Pulaski's Legion," Continental troops. The other grave is that of Nicholas Tuttle, who was also buried on the old homestead, south of Bevier, Macon county, near Antioch church.
The Ann Helm Chapter now has fifty-six members. The local list contains fifty names, which is the present limit of local members permitted under the constitution. There are twenty-four charter members.
The Ann Helm Chapter hopes and expects to be a permanent organ- ization of Macon county, and that much good for the cause of patriotism will be accomplished, is the assurance of the members.
CHAPTER XII.
THE LAW-THE LINE OF CIRCUIT JUDGES-STRANGE MURDER CASE, YET UNRAVELED-THE TRACY KILLING-A GOLD BRICK GAME AND A TRIAL AT MACON-BOARD'S CRITICISM OF A SCHOOL TEACHER-"THE UNWRITTEN LAW"-WHY DID GEORGE ANDERSON KILL HIS WIFE? -JUDGE ELLISON'S SENTENCE OF DEATH-THE FIRST LEGAL EXECU- TION-INCIDENTS ON THE DAY OF HANGING-A NOTED TRIAL FROM SHELBY COUNTY-WHITECOTTON'S REMARKABLE APPEAL TO THE JURY-BIRTH OF THE THREE-FOURTHS JURY RULE-A HANGING WITHOUT TRIAL-TWO THOUSAND WORDS WITHOUT A PUNCTUATION MARK-A NOTED STEER CASE-LA PLATA CIRCUIT COURT.
Thomas Reynolds was the first judge of the circuit of which Macon county was a part. He afterwards became governor of Missouri, and committed suicide while in the Executive Mansion, at Jefferson City, on February 9, 1844. Judge Reynolds was born March 12, 1796, in Bracken county, Kentucky. But very little is known regarding his early edu- cation, but it was no doubt as good as could be obtained in the schools where he resided. He certainly was not a classical scholar, though he had some knowledge of Latin. He was admitted to the bar in Ken- tucky about the time he became of age. In early life he removed to Illi- nois, where he filled the several offices of clerk of the House of Rep- resentatives, speaker, attorney-general and chief justice of the Supreme Court. In 1829 he came to Missouri and located at Fayette, Howard county. His high reputation as a jurist had preceded him, and he soon enjoyed a good legal practice. He was sent from Howard county to the Legislature, and became speaker of the House. After serving for some time in the Legislature, he was appointed judge of the circuit comprising the counties of Howard, Boone, Callaway, Randolph and Macon. In 1840 the Democratic party met in state convention at Jeffer- son City and Judge Reynolds was nominated for governor.
Judge Bay, who attended the convention, wrote of Judge Reynolds in "The Bench and Bar of Missouri":
"It was at this convention that we made Judge Reynold's acquaint- ance, and formed a very high estimate of him, as not only a man of ability, but of undoubted integrity and honesty of purpose. As a dele-
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gate in the convention we gave him our support, and had occasion fre- quently afterwards to meet and transaet business with him, as we were in the Legislature during most of the time he was governor. He was elected over J. B. Clark by a handsome majority."
The following appeared in "The Bench and Bar," concerning Judge Reynold's death :
"Shortly after breakfast, on February 9, 1844, a report of a gun was heard from the Executive Mansion in Jefferson City, and some persons passing by at the time went into the Governor's office to ascer- tain the cause of it, and there found the governor lying in his blood, dead. Just previous he had sent out for a rifle. The muzzle of the rifle he had placed against his forehead, and by the aid of a strong twine he discharged the weapon. On a table near where he fell was a letter addressed to Colonel William G. Minor, an intimate friend, which read as follows:
" 'In every situation in which I have been placed I have labored to discharge my duty faithfully to the public; but this has not pro- tected me for the last twelve months from the slander and abuse of my enemies, which have rendered my life a burden to me. I pray God to forgive them and teach them more charity. My will is in the hands of James L. Minor, Esq. Farewell .- Th. Reynolds.'
" 'Col. W. G. Minor.' "
Following Judge Reynolds came Judges Burch Clark Leland and William A. Hall, the latter of Randolph county, and then George H. Burekhart, of Huntsville, Randolph county. Many attorneys of the Macon bar remember Judge Burekhart distinctly when he presided on the bench here and in after years, when Macon was separated from the Randolph county district.
Judge Burckhart was born on the family homestead, six miles southeast of Huntsville, September 11, 1823. In his early manhood he taught school. In 1862, having had considerable experience as a lawyer at that time, he was elected judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, which included Macon county then, and was re-elected in 1864. Subsequently he was appointed judge of the circuit by Governor Fletcher, when the convention of 1865 ousted all the judges in the state, and was again re-elected in 1868.
He held the office of Circuit Judge up until the time of his death, which occurred April 21, 1890.
Judge John W. Henry was on the 27th Judicial Bench, as it was then called, from 1872 until 1876, when he was elected as one of the judges of the Supreme Court. Judge Henry was born in Cynthiana,
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Kentucky, January 29, 1825. He died while occupying the circuit bench at Kansas City, Missouri, December 12, 1902. Judge Henry was on the bench here in the beginning of the litigation over the Missouri & Missis- sippi railway bonds. His decision was favorable to the county. Judge Shelton gives this description of the late Judge Henry :
"He was a remarkable man in many respects. At first the lawyers of the circuit did not take to him kindly, but when they got better acquainted with him they learned to love him. Judge Henry was not a man to be trifled with at any time. He was plain, almost blunt in expressing his opinion of things. but at all times guided by a keen sense of justice and honesty. He could listen to the statements of both sides of the case and, while doing so, would form a clear-cut theory between the two, which was nearly always right. He was one of the most conscientious and fearless men I ever saw on the bench."
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