USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon 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 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
The most sensational proceeding of an official nature in the early days was the trial of a party of Mormons who were passing through Missouri after the exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois. This exodus began in 1846, and followed some highly exciting proceedings in the Illinois town. The western states were much stirred up over the Mormons, and in many sections they were looked upon as outlaws. This party which came through Macon county comprised twelve men and four women. They camped at Moccasinville, where it was charged that they became very boisterous. They were constantly firing their guns and pistols, and proclaimed loudly what they had been doing and were going to do. Their captain, LaFollette, was an aggressive sort of a man, and seemed to defy the anthorities. It was decided to arrest him. The constable of Liberty township, Samuel Parker, was commissioned to bring LaFol- lette before the court, which he did. William Blackwell was the jus- tice. LaFollette pleaded not guilty. He secured as his counsel A. L. Gilstrap and another attorney of Bloomington. The formal charge was disturbing the peace and dignity of the state. Samuel Fox and J. N. Brown, of Bloomington, conducted the prosecution. During the trial there was a great deal of excitement lest the Mormons should attempt a rescue of their leader. Capt. W. C. Smith of Narrows town- ship marched into Moccasinville one day at the head of a strong mili- tary company, and camped in town during the trial, so as to be on hand
38
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
in case of an emergency. The Mormon leader introduced by oral testi- mony some of the articles of his faith, which he said gave his people the right to discharge artillery or weapons of any sort that would make a noise at sunrise and sunset each day, except Sunday. He said that in doing so he and his men were simply performing a religious rite, a right guaranteed them by the constitution of the United States.
The jury in Justice Blackwell's court, however, was not in sym- pathy with such religious ceremonies and they fined the pugnacious Captain LaFollette $75, a tremendous penalty in those days. However, Judge Blackwell agreed to remit half the fine if Captain LaFollette and his noisy crew would take themselves out of the country in a hurry. This agreement was made and the Mormon pilgrims lost no time ill obeying the order of the court.
The following entry in the minutes of Macon County Circuit Court, made on March 30, 1864, is said to be the final official order in Missouri recognizing the right of slaves:
"J. D. Vaughn, plaintiff, vs. Ewing Littrell, defendant. At this day comes the parties herein, by their attorneys and by mutual consent of the parties judgment is rendered against the defendant for the negro woman sued for, and the plaintiff pays costs of this suit, for which execution is ordered."
The controversy between Vaughn and Littrell over the possession of a woman slave arose during the winter of 1862. The slave's name was Mary. She escaped from Vaughn's plantation near College Mound and came to Macon. There she met and hired to Littrell as a domestic. Littrell was a strong abolitionist, and, feeling certain at that stage of the war, that the government would uphold him in his efforts to pre- serve the fugitive's freedom he decided to hold her at all hazards. A good negro was worth considerable money, and Vaughn felt like he couldn't afford to lose so much property. So he immediately set out on the hunt of his slave. It was not a hard matter to trace her to Littrell's house. When the owner of the negro arrived there, Littrell told him that Mary had decided to stay and he defied Vaughn to take her. Vaughn consulted Major B. R. Dysart, then a young attorney who had just moved from Bloomington to Macon along with the county seat. Vaughn insisted that the attorney should get out for him a writ of replevin for his slave. At that period President Lincoln had given his word that all negro slaves should be liberated, the Emancipation Act to go into effect January 1, 1863. Major Dysart knew that it would be treading on thin ice to do as his client demanded, and naturally he hesitated. For the purpose of carefully feeling his way he consulted
39
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
with Col. R. J. Ebberman, who was the provost marshal, and asked him if civil writs would be executed. Colonel Ebberman said that such were his instructions from Governor Gamble. He told Major Dysart to "go ahead and get your nigger."
On January 7, 1863, Major Dysart procured the following writ of replevin from the Macon Circuit Court, Hon. George H. Burekhartt, judge:
"No. 3039. Joseph D. Vaughn, plaintiff, vs. Ewing Littrell, defend- ant: Order of delivery. The state of Missouri to the sheriff of Macon county : You are hereby commanded to take the following slave, to-wit : Mary, age about thirty years, of the value of $500, from the possession of the defendant if same be not delivered you by him, and deliver her to the plaintiff upon his giving the bond required by law, and you will make return of this order before the Judge of our Circuit Court on the fourth Monday in March, 1863, certifying how you have executed the same. And you are further ordered to summon the defendant to appear on said day to answer the petition of the plaintiff for the unlawful detention of said property."
Littrell promptly heard of the issuance of the writ and began studying how to thwart it. There was a company of Iowa troops in Macon on their way southward. They were camped in the west part of the city. Littrell went out and had an interview with the commanding officer, and asked him if he wouldn't assist him in protecting Mary from falling back into the hands of a slave owner. The Union officer turned to his men and asked them what about it. They unanimously agreed to stand between Mary and slavery. Littrell was told to go home and rest content-that Mary should not be disturbed by any efforts her "Rebel" owner might make. Littrell sent word to the sheriff, William Holman, that he would not surrender Mary. Holman understood that his authority would be resisted by the Towa soldiers. He went to Colonel Ebberman, the provost marshal, and asked his guidance. Colonel Ebberman said :
"That writ is issued under the authority of the laws of Missouri, under which you and I are acting. How many soldiers will you need to enforce it?"
Holman stated as near as he could the number of Iowa troops who had pledged themselves to support Mary. Colonel Ebberman detailed a like number from his own command to assist the sheriff. Holman was a Union man, but not an abolitionist. It is said that the job to retake Mary was entirely agreeable to him. He carefully selected his men from the provost marshal's guard, mounted his horse and led the way to
17
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Littrell's house. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the approach can tionsly made, as it was supposed a pitched battle would ensne with the lowa troops. However, not a gun was in sight : not a soldier appeared to challenge the sheriff's posse. Holman knocked londly on the door and Littrell came out. He was somewhat disappointed over the failure of his lowa friends to redeem their promise, but thought maybe they had another pian and would resene the negro later on. Mary was found hidden away in an old barn. She accompanied her captors without mich fuss, merely expressing her opinion that as long as " Massa Lin kum sot de niggahs free. Ah's gwine to run away gin de fust chanet Al gits. "
Mary was placed between two soldiers. The sheriff then turned and led the march up the road. passed the lowa soldiers and on to the jail. With his posse was a drummer boy, who vociferousby pounded all the way in order that the lowa troops might be awake and make such objections as they cared to.
The parade attracted a good deal of attention as it passed through the city. Many people thought the slave was going to be publicly flogged and some prepared to get up a vigorous protest. When at last the sheriff directed the soldiers towards the jail a crowd of several hundred followed to learn what the trouble was. The sheriff placed Mary safely behind the bars, turned the key and then went ont and made a speech to the crowd. in which he thanked the soldiers for their assistance in "upholding the law of the land." and admonished the spectators to be good citizens and not to take too much interest in things which did not concern them. The crowd apparently was with Hohan, as they cheered him repeatedly.
Vaughn came to Macon and claimed his property after paying all the financial costs of procedure. It was not long after that. however. before Mary was given her freedom again under the general proclama- tion. She remained with her former master quite a while. receiving wages for her work.
CHAPTER V.
OFFICIAL WEATHER BUREAU AT MACON-HOTTEST DAY IN TEN YEARS- THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1854-JANUARY 1, 1864, COLDEST DAY ON RECORD-GROUND WARMED TO DIG GRAVES-GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE AND GOVERNOR HARDIN'S PROCLAMATION FOR PRAYERS-HIGH WATER IN THE CHARITON VALLEY-CYCLONE AT MACON-THE DROUGHT OF 1901-WATER SOLD AT 10 CENTS A BUCKET-RESERVOIR EMPTY AND CITY SUPPLIED FROM BLEES ACADEMY LAKES-THE FLOOD OF 1909.
It is ouly within recent years that anything like a systematic attempt has been made in Macon county to keep track of the weather. In consequence there is more or less good-natured disputing among the older citizens as to the coldest and hottest days, and when it rained the hardest. It is only when something far out of the normal oceurs that recollection agrees. At the ouset the compiler wishes to state that where some of the information here gleaned from an "oldest inhab- itant" runs counter in any particular to the memory of some other "oldest inhabitant" the latter is entirely at liberty to blue-pencil his copy of the history in accordance with his own recollection.
In order to secure a landmark for comparisons it is necessary to set out first with the absolute official data of the Macon weather bureau, which was established by the government August 24, 1899. John Cook was placed in charge, and since that period has recorded his daily obser- vations of heat, cold, rainfall, wind and clouds. He has approved instruments for securing all this data accurately. The hottest days in the ten years were July 12 and 24, 1901, when the thermometer reg- istered 111. Instruments around town road as high as 116, but they were in places exposed to the reflection from the sun. That was known as "the dry year," which will be treated later. The coldest day was February 13, 1905, the reading being 27 below. The dry month in this section is August. August, 1909, was the driest mouth ever officially recorded here, though the sunnner of 1901 was much drier, generally, than the sunner of 1909. Following is a table indicating the tempera- ture and rainfall for August during the last ten years :
41
42
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Date.
Days above 90°.
Rainfall.
August, 1900.
26 1.68
August, 1901.
23
.69
Angust, 1902
9. 3.92
Angust, 1903
9.
5.17
August, 1904
S.
3.84
August, 1905
16.
4.75
August, 1906
17 4.20
Angust, 1907
12
.3.15
August, 1908
12
2.27
August, 1909.
25.
0
It may be that the weather gods, learning some one is keeping tab on them, are less inclined to indulge in freaks than they were in the old days. Certain it is that they introduced some marvelous per- formances, else our good friend, "the oldest inhabitant," is sadly mistaken.
The year 1854 is said to have been the hottest and driest ever expe- rieneed in Macon county. There was not only an almost total failure of crops, but all the streams became dry and it was a serious question in some localities whether life could be sustained. Many of the settlers became discouraged and sought to return to their native states. For a description of this dry year we are indebted to Joel H. Wright, presi- dent of the bank of Callao. In that year Mr. Wright was a young man of nineteen.
"Remarkable stories had been coming to Missouri concerning the extent and fertility of Texas," said Mr. Wright. "These incited a large party of ns to journey there for the purpose of taking up elaims. We left Macon county in April. On June 16 or 17, while in camp on Red river, near Preston, there was a heavy rainfall. This rainfall was general throughout the country, extending through Missouri, as well as other states to the north. I remember distinctly, because it was the last rain that fell that year. Up to that time the weather had been very favorable, and prospects for erops in Macon county were excellent. "But as the summer went on without rain the exiles from Missouri began to get disheartened with the new land. We remembered old Macon county as being in bloom, and it never occurred to us that the blight extended there. So we started on the homeward track. There were seven families, each with a wagon to itself. As we plodded along day after day through the dronght-strieken country the problem of the water supply became serions. We traveled one day through the Indian
43
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Territory with only five gallons, which was less than a gallon to the family, to say nothing of the horses. The heat and dust became fearful, and as the afternoon wore on our thirst was intolerable. Instead of camping at nightfall, as had been our custom, we pressed on to a place where a splendid spring was said to exist. Some of the teamsters were in a very ugly mood; others were becoming delirious. My heart failed me as I thought what the consequences might be in the event that spring had played out. We reached it at ten at night, and there was a mighty yell from the thirsty pilgrims as they rushed towards the water. Strong men, women and children fought and struggled for places near the little stream, and it was necessary to form a guard of the cooler headed captains to keep the people from drinking themselves to death. I never knew until that time how sweet a thing a dipper of cool water was.
"All along our homeward route we read desolating stories of the unusual drought. There were fields of stubble. Trees without leaves and dust-white roads. There were no birds singing, and scarcely a sign of animal life in sky, tree or earth. This continued for 700 miles. We crossed the line into Missouri about the middle of August. As we advanced up the state we kept hoping that things would be different here, but they were not. It was the same distressing spectacle we had seen all along our journey. The corn which had looked so promising in the early summer was ent for fodder, and this is all that saved some of the stock. Truth is, that a great many horses and cattle died for want of water and food. There were no railroads in North Missouri then. It was impossible to get anything in the way of vegetables, flour or cereals. Corn meal cost $1.50 a bushel when brought from Glasgow or Hannibal into Macon county. We lived on bacon and corn bread. Coffee and molasses were purchased at the towns mentioned. A great many farmers moved their stock over to the Chariton river, which ran until late in the fall.
"There was nothing to be done on the farm, and people just sat around and looked at the blazing sky. Many of the settlers who had taken up claims in Macon county abandoned them under the impression that the dronght was a regular summer event in Missouri.
"Towards the latter part of August mass meetings were held, one at Antioch church, and three ministers, who had come a long ways for the purpose, prayed to the Almighty to send us rain. It was on this occasion that Unele Jimps Dysart made use of an expression which has since become famous. He said: 'Brethren, I tell you there ain't a bit of use praying for rain, because the wind is in the wrong direction.'
"I guess he was right, for the rain never came. At last winter
44
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
set in and it was hoped early snows would furnish water. One right good storm did come up, but the snow was so dry that it blew away with the dust, hardly dampening the earth.
"The dust on the highways was frightful on a windy day. You could hardly see a vehicle just ahead of you. The old Glasgow stage coach would roll through on its way to Bloomington with everything about it-horses, driver, passengers-nearly as white as snow. Some- times travelers' throats would become so badly choked that they could not talk until they took a drink of water. It was the gloomiest year I ever experienced in Missouri.
"The spring of 1855, however, was very seasonable and erops sprang from the ground with fierce energy, as if to atone for the failure of the preceding year. What I remember most distinctly of that year was the way we enjoyed our first meal with home-grown vegetables. I don't think I ever tasted anything since that has seemed quite so good. That season was one of the most productive that has occurred from that day to this, and then we all knew that old Missouri was a good land to live in."
The coldest day in these parts, within the memory of those who were here before the Civil war, was January 1, 1864. It is stated that the mercury dropped to 28 degrees below zero. The blizzard came at the end of a mild December, and it was so sudden that suffering was very great. A military gentleman, who was with the Union forces in Macon at that time, says the soldiers were quartered in the Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic churches, and that they were compelled to tear up the flooring and to burn the pews to keep from freezing.
There was but little fuel in town, the people being entirely unpre- pared. Old barns and outhonses were chopped into fire wood and fed to the hearths and stoves. The commander of the forces succeeded in getting in from Bevier a car of coal, for which the government had to pay 25 cents a bushel.
A citizen described New Year's day this way :
"You could not see an object ten feet away while the storm lasted. The snow, which really was small particles of ice, was carried by a gale from the northwest, running fifty miles an hour. It was like fine sand. At certain places in the county the snow was piled up over stake-and- rider fences, across which sleds were driven with ease, so tightly was the snow packed.
"The old Buffalo trails, many of which were ten feet deep in the center, and probably sixty or seventy feet wide, on the prairie, were
45
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
packed so tightly with the snow that teams were driven over the same as on level ground."
Hogs about Macon died by the hundreds. One man says that he saw 500 dead hogs waiting shipment to St. Louis, where they were used for some purpose, he did not know just what. Vast numbers of stoek en transit on the railroads were frozen to death.
While the weather was at its severest a Mrs. Threlkeld died at Macon. The regular sexton said the ground was too hard to dig a grave, and two devoted citizens volunteered to do it. They began by building a huge fire over the spot and thawing the earth a little ways. Then they worked with pick and spade, getting down a few inches, after which they built another fire, and so proceeded until the grave was deep enough. It took them four days of continuous work to complete the grave. The weather was so severe that nobody attended the interment at the cemetery except those immediately connected with the work.
There was very little moving about. People just sat around their hearthstones and tried to keep warm. There was an immense amount of suffering throughout the county, and the sum total of the loss of stock was very large.
The cold spell seemed to be widespread, as it was reported here that soldiers had perished in their tents as far south as the Georgia line. Some claim that in February, 1905, the cold was just as severe, but the older inhabitants who went through the blizzard of 1864 will not admit that it has ever been approached in this latitude.
Up to the year 1909 the greatest flood on the Chariton valley occurred during the summer of 1875. A mile and a quarter of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railway's track was washed away. Until the track was rebuilt trains were run to the water's edge. Passengers and baggage were ferried across on rafts and small boats. The greatest loss from this flood was by the sweeping away of bridges. It was estimated by a paper of that period that it would cost $5,000 to repair and rebuild the bridges of the county. An extra levy of 5 cents on the hundred dollars was ordered by the County Court for bridge purposes. The damage to grain and stock along the flooded districts was not great, as the farmers did not use the bottoms extensively then for agricultural purposes.
The year 1875 was known in several states of the west as the grasshopper year." Many states suffered a total loss of crops because of the visitation. Governor C. N. Hardin of Missouri proclaimed June 3 as a day of fasting and prayer that the Almighty might remove the
46
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
plague. The proclamation was generally observed. Several largely attended meetings were held in Macon county in conformity with the executive proclamation. Perry Rayder's History of Missouri chron- icles this result of the governor's faith and of the people of the state : "About this time, in fact, on the very next day, heavy rains set in. Up to that time the long-continued drought had not been abated, though slight rains had fallen in the spring months. Following the proclama- tion they became heavy and frequent. It was the deliverance from the terrible pests. The grasshoppers began to move about June 11. A strong southwest wind drove them further into the interior of the state, but in a day or two the wind shifted to the east, and by the 15th the grasshoppers were entirely gone. The next year there was a bounti- ful harvest."
Governor Hardin's proclamation was as follows:
"Whereas, owing to failure and losses 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 possibly 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 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 herunto 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. MeGrath,
"Secretary of State."
A disastrous cyclone and hurricane went through the southern part of Macon on July 13, 1883. Nearly every house in its path was more or less damaged, and many buildings were totally wrecked. Four per- sons were instantly killed, Mrs. John Clarkson, Mrs. Elizabeth Banta, Charles Ross and Alonzo Harp. Quite a number were seriously injured.
47
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
It was Sunday afternoon, the storm beginning a little after three and continuing with ever-increasing violence for an hour. While at its height the sky was covered with a dense cloud, making it so dark that one could scarcely see to go about in a room. The rain fell in blinding sheets. The heaviest loss in the city was to St. James Academy, which was some distance north of the center of the storm. A large and impos- ing three-story wing was nearing completion. This was completely leveled by the storm. Dr. Ethelbert Talbot, now Bishop of Pennsyl- vania, was the rector of the St. James church here at the time and the president of the academy.
The Macon Times got out an extensive extra the morning following the storm. Many columns were devoted to the losses and personal injuries. Among the curious incidents the Times cites the following :
"Henry Bragg, a colored boy, was struck by a flying tree, picked up and carried a distance of seventy-five yards and landed in a yard, sustaining no injury but a few slight bruises on the face and about the ribs.
"A large barrel, half-filled with mortar, was blown up into the air a distance of 100 feet, striking edgewise on the roof of a house, cutting a hole in the house and knocking out the end of the barrel.
"The bedstead on which a Mr. James was lying was carried away, and he left on the ticking on the floor where the bedstead had been. Mr. James had been ill, but was not injured by the removal of the bed-stead from under him.
"A colored woman named Irving was hung up in a large oak sap- ling, where she remained for an hour, so badly frightened that she was unable to come down or help herself.
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.