USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 13
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the morning. They entered from the south by the Paris road, and were dressed in blue uniforms, so that the citizens were used to seeing the blue suits. The dismount was made at the park just south of the depot, and the first man Anderson spoke to was banker Taylor, who he commanded to hold his (Anderson's) horse. Taylor accepted the invitation after glaneing into the muzzle of Bill's six-shooter. Anderson's men set out in squads of two or three and took captive many of the male eiti- zens who chanced to be upon the streets. These prisoners were "lined up" and relieved of all valuables. It is related by some of the old-timers that when one of Anderson's men ealled on Charley King, then a well-dressed young man, King threw them a dollar. The man asked if that was all he had, and on being assured that it was he tossed it back to King. No question was asked as to whether the victim was a Union- ist or Confederate, all met the same fate. After this they began a systematic plunder of the business part of the town. The stores were entered, and after emptying the money drawers they took whatever they wanted in the way of clothes, boots, shoes, silks, dry goods and jewelry. Bolts of fancy dress goods were taken for saddle blankets, and laees and ribbons were taken, with which the hats and clothing of the men were deco- rated and the manes and tails of the horses were elaborately festooned.
The Anderson men, while relieving the citizens of their cash and the merchants of both eash and merchandise, did not harm a hair upon the head of a single person. Several, however, would, more
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than likely, have preferred to have lost all their hair and kept what they were relieved of.
Those who lost heaviest were W. A. Reid, who was relieved of $550 in cash and over $1,000 in merchandise. Ile kicked $500 under the counter and covered it with rubbish and saved it.
J. W. Ford, the city druggist, was loser $157 in cash and quite an amount of goods. The turpentine and oil used in the burning of the depot and ears and the Salt river bridge were taken from his store.
There was also some tobaeco in the cars that were burned, but the owners, Sparks, Hill & Co., were allowed to re- move it. After it had been removed the Anderson men helped themselves to a liberal supply. The stores of S. G. Lewis and List & Taylor were looted.
Anderson's visit lasted only about four hours, but they were exeiting hours to the citizens of the town.
After setting fire to the depot and the ears on the traek, the thirty-four men disappeared as rapidly as they entered. They mounted their steeds and left town, going east. The town was all excitement. Some citizens even wanted to organize a posse and pursue; others thought it best to let them go. The advice of the latter, which perhaps was the wisest, was accepted, and Anderson and his men were allowed to go on their way un- molested. At Lakenan the station building was fired, and then the bridge was made for and soon was in flames. Here the band dismounted and put out piekets to the east and south. They left as soon as they thought the destruction of the bridge was assured, and rode sonth. They took dinner with Mr.
Saunders just south of the bridge, and here one of the men killed one of his comrades in a quarrel over a watch that had been taken at Shelbina. Saunders was forced to bury the body.
Only one end of the bridge was burned, as citizens collected and put the' fire out. "Cabe" Wood had a peenliar experience at this time. He received two severe kiekings over the affair. He was at work trying to put out the fire before the Anderson men had all departed, where- upon one of the men kieked him off the grade. The next day the militia eame up from Hannibal and one of the soldiers asked Wood why he did not put out the fire, and kieked him off the grade again for not extinguishing the flames. It was "be damned if you do and be damned if you don't" with Wood.
The Hannibal militia arrived the next day, under Col. J. T. K. Hayward. They consisted of a portion of the 38tlı regi- ment enrolled militia, known as the Rail- road Brigade. From the bridges they marelied to Lakenan on foot.
A few under Meredith went out to John Henry Saunder's home, where Anderson's men had taken dinner the day before, and demanded Saunder's gun. The latter could not find it, as a nephew had misplaced it the day before; whereupon one of the militiamen struck Mr. Saunders a severe blow over the head with the butt of his musket. The blow knoeked him senseless.
The bridge over Salt river and the depots at Shelbina and Lakenan were soon rebuilt. Trains ran regularly. The mereliants at Shelbina restocked and in the course of time recovered from the shock. They, however, learned a lesson. That was to keep money and valuables
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out of sight as much as possible during war times.
Anderson declared he would like mighty well to go over to Shelbyville and shoot up the militia, but he learned the town was well fortified behind a stockade, and more than likely it was well he did not go. It would not have been as easy picking as Shelbina, at any rate. After leaving Shelby, Anderson returned to Howard county.
FIFTY-ONE KILLED AT CENTRALIA, MO.
The Centralia massaere, as it has been called ever since the dreadful event took place, happened on September 27, 1864.
The only object we have in referring to this event in the history of the Civil war is the fact that Company G. 39th Missouri Infantry, which was annihi- lated, all being killed except three, were nearly all from Shelby county.
The names of these Union soldiers who lost their lives at Centralia, accord- ing to the adjutant-general's office, are as follows: Sergeants David N. Dunn, John Donahoe, William Lair, George W. Miller; corporals Leander P. Burt, James S. Gunby, William Lear, David Riggs, L. D. Sherwood, Jacob R. Wexler ; privates George W. Adams, Charles M. Jenkins, Charles Bishop, William Knep- per, Samuel Bell, Anthony Labus, Philip . Christian, Louis F. Marquette, William Christian, Charles Masterson, Oscar Collier, John Moore, Jolin J. Christine, John C. Montgomery, Horner M. Dun- har, William A. Ross, William Drennan, Robert E. Spires, Sylvester H. Dean, J. G. Sellers, James S. Edwards, Edward Strachan, Eleasor Evans, James Stal- eup, Robert P. Elston, William T. Smith. William G. Floor, Peter T. Simmernon,
James Forsythe, James W. Trussell, Robert Greenfield, George W. Van Os- dall, William P. Golary, Jasper N. Vaden, Henry T. Gooch, A. M. Vandiver, Joseph S. Glahn, Jonathan Webdell, John W. Hardin, William T. Whitelock and Elijah Hall.
Only three of the bodies were returned to the county for burial. They were the remains of Lonis Marquette, David N. Dunn and William Lair, whose bodies were identified by James C. Hale at Sturgeon the following day and sent home for interment. Mr. Hale went to Sturgeon for the purpose of identifying the bodies and had the remains shipped home to relatives. The other unfortunate Union soldiers who met death at this time were buried in a trench by the citi- zens of Centralia. B. F. Dunn and other citizens of Shelby county made a trip to Centralia for the purpose of identify- ing others and bringing home the re- mains, but they were unable to recognize any of them and left them buried in the trench.
In 1873 the remains were all taken up and removed to the National Cemetery at Jefferson City.
It would not be proper in writing a history of Shelby county to pass this incident withont a brief review of the manner in which these fifty-one men met so horrible a death and how these Shelby county Federal troops came to be identi- fied with the incident.
The horrible affair took place just two months after the raid of Bill Anderson upon Shelbina. Much had been the talk on this affair, and the Unionists of the county were somewhat anxious to get after Anderson and his noted followers. As usual, many feared him ; others pro-
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fessed to be anxious to engage him in were twenty-two Federal soldiers, chief- battle. Now was the opportunity.
Word had been sent to the county that Anderson had crossed the North Mis- souri railroad (now the Wabash) at a point near Moberly. He was thought to be headed northeast, and the people began to prepare for an attack, or rather to defend themselves. The Confederates were commanded by Maj. John Thrail- kill and were divided into squads and companies. These squads or companies, which varied in number, were com- manded by George Todd, Bill Anderson, Dave Poole, Tom Todd and Si Gordon. Tom Todd was a Baptist preacher. The Confederates numbered about 400. George Todd was the man who planned all movements, and the daring Bill An- derson was relied upon to execute all plans. Ater crossing the North Mis- souri, as stated, the Confederates learned that Paris was strongly forti- fied by Union soldiers, and they there- fore resolved to turn south and join Price, who was known to be in southern Missouri. They therefore recrossed the railroad just three miles east of Cen- tralia and went into camp on the farm of Major Singleton, in the edge of the timber some three miles east of Cen- tralia. Bill Anderson with some seventy- five or a hundred men was sent into Centralia on the morning of September 27th by Todd to do some reconnoitering.
It was found there was a Federal detachment at Sturgeon and another at Columbia, only sixteen miles away. Be- fore departing, Anderson set fire to the depot, burned some freight cars on the sidetrack, and looted a passenger train that was passing through. On this train
ly from the 1st Iowa Cavalry, on their way home after being furlonglied and discharged. These soldiers were taken from the train and all executed except one, Sergt. Tom Goodman, who was spared by the express order of Ander- son; why, no one knows to this day. An old German who chanced to be on the train, and who unfortunately for himself wore a blue blouse uniform. was executed alongside the unfortunate sol- diers. After the execution Anderson and his men returned to camp and reported.
The 39th Missouri, under Col. E. A. Kutzner, a regiment which had seen per- haps thirty days' service, mostly camp service, was stationed at Paris. They were armed with Enfield muskets and hayonets and were inexperienced and poorly mounted.
As soon as the news reached them that the Confederates had crossed the rail- road and were headed towards them, Maj. A. V. E. Johnson with the detach- ments of Company A, G and H set out to meet them and engage them in battle. Johnson had, officers and all, abont 200 men. Company G, from Shelby county, was commanded by Lieuts. Thomas Jaynes and Isaiah Gill. The captain of this company, William Glover, was sick at his home in Shelbyville. Lient. Thomas Jaynes is still living at Hunnewell, and is one of the three men who made the hairbreadth escape from Anderson's men. Company H, from Lewis and Marion counties, was commanded by Capt. Adam Theis, who died only a couple of years ago, and who was for many years and up to the time of his death grand treasurer of the Grand
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Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Missouri. Company A, from Adair county, was commanded by Capt. James A. Smith. The men, as stated, were poorly armed and still more poorly mounted. They rode upon mules, mares and plow horses. In fact, any kind of an animal that could be pressed into service from the citizens for the occasion. Johnson was soon upon a warm trail and followed the Con- federates to where they had crossed the railroad the day before. Here they saw the smoke from the burning depot in Centralia and marched up to the town, of then some twenty-five houses. Here they heard the story of what Bill Ander- son had done, which set their blood to boiling. Johnson reached Centralia about three o'clock in the afternoon of September 27th, and after listening to the story of Anderson's raid that morn- ing, in company with Dr. A. G. Sneed, a citizen of Centralia, repaired to the loft or garret of the town hotel to gain as good a view as possible of the Con- federates under Todd, Anderson and others. They had not been long in the garret until they saw a squad of Ander- son's men galloping pell mell toward the city. Johnson, followed by Sneed, has- tened down to inform his men and to prepare to withstand the attack of the Confederates. He informed his men of what he had beheld with his own eyes. Ife also warned them of the peril in front of them and told them of the des- perate foe they were abont to encounter ; but his men were eager to measure steel with Anderson, and, after detaching Captain Theis with his company of thirty-six Marion and Lewis county sol- diers to guard the town, he mounted and
led his 110 men to the front, or, as it might be said, into the very jaws of death.
The Confederates did not come into Centralia, as was expected, but wheeled about and dashed across the prairie in full view of the Federals returning to their cover, crossing a fallow field to the southeast, on the farm of one by the name of Captain Fullenwider. The Con- federates had laid a trap for Johnson, and he with his 110 men were soon within the jaws of the trap. Johnson mounted and gave his men orders to follow. He rode south into the field and then turned to the east to face the enemy. Here he stood with 110 men between the setting sun and 400 of the bravest and most skilled marksmen of the time. Here he halted, dismounted and detailed every fourth man to hold horses. The remain- der advanced on foot until within some- thing like thirty rods of Anderson's men, who had retired to the edge of the woods. Behind Anderson's company were Poole's men, and behind the fallow cornfield was a ravine densely filled with underbrush. Johnson could not see the position of the enemy. Thrailkill occu- pied a position on the north with Gordon and Tom Todd; on the sonth was George Todd, in the center was Bill Anderson, and to his rear was Poole. Johnson could see only Anderson and Poole. After the Federals has dismounted and marched down the slope of the field toward their foes, Johnson, who re- mained mounted, halted his men and advanced alone some twenty yards. Here he halted and for a few moments sat motionless upon his steed. The trap had been set, the prey had entered, and all
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that was left now to be done was to spring the trigger. As planned when George Todd had arranged his men, he lifted his hat to Anderson, which was the signal to charge the enemy. No sooner was Todd's hat in the air than Anderson led his men up the hill before the enemy. The dash which carried death to so many Federals was made with one foot in the stirrup and the body swinging to the side of the horse. The Confederates were going up a hill, so the volley fired by Johnson's men passed over them without a single shot taking effect. Not so, however, with Anderson's shots. His men were the best-trained pistol-shots in America, and perhaps in the world, and as they dashed toward the enemy a Federal fell at nearly every crack of the pistol, until not a one re- mained of those who had left their horses and marched with Johnson toward the timber. Following Anderson up the hill came Todd, Thrailkill, Gordon and Poole. In a moment-in less time than it takes to relate the story-the sad event in the field of battle had closed. Jolison had led his men into the trap over the protests and advice of the citi- zens of Centralia, and every man, ex- cepting three, who had followed him out of Centralia lay dead or dying upon the , withered September grass of Boone connty. Major Johnson fired three shots from his revolver and fell dead from his horse, being shot through the head. Cap- tain Smith, of the Adair county com- pany, was killed, and the only three to escape were Lientenants JJaynes, Gill and Moore, who were mounted. Ander- son and Poole went on for the fourth men detailed to hold the horses, and had
soon annihilated the entire number. They still kept on and swept into Cen- tralia, where they completed the mission of destruction by completely routing the men who were left by Captain Theis to guard the town. Those who remained in Theis's company set out for Sturgeon, but fifteen lost their lives in trying to escape.
It is said Johnson left Paris with 147 men, of whom but 23 escaped. Com- pany A. from Adair county, lost 56 men ; Company G, from Shelby, 51; and Com- pany H, 15. The remains of Colonel Jolinson were sent to Marion county and buried near his home.
Frank James was with Anderson in the Centralia massacre, as it is termed, and told the writer the story as written above as near as we can remember. The figures and names of the Federals, of course, were obtained from the adjutant- general's office.
THE 1864 ELECTION.
Abraham Lincoln carried Shelby county for president in 1864 by 150 majority over MeClellan. The vote was Lincoln 366, MeClellan 216. At this election John F. Benjamin, of Shelbina, was elected to congress on the Republican ticket. He was the first man ever elected to congress from the county, and was re- elected at two successive elections, serv- ing three terms. He served in congress from 1865 to 1871. The honor of fur- nishing a congressman was not again conferred upon Shelby county until 1896, twenty-five years later, when Richard P. Giles was elected, but died before he was indneted into office. Mr. Giles was a great favorite in the county, which
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stood by him loyally in three successive campaigns for the nomination, and there was universal grief and sadness over his untimely death just as he realized the ambition of his life. As a successor to this distinguished son of Shelby county,
James T. Lloyd, the present incumbent, was selected by the Democrats and was re-elected by a large majority. A fuller account of the lives and incidents to the election of each will appear later, in the political history of the county.
CHAPTER IX.
OUSTING THE OFFICERS-MURDERS AND HOMICIDES-MURDER OF GEORGE QUEARY- "THE DALE-PHELPS TRAGEDY"-BRUCE GREEN KILLS CALVIN WARREN-A NEGRO MURDER CASE-THE ROBBER JOHNSON-THE GREAT BENJAMIN WILL CASE-THE WILL-INDICTING REBEL PREACHERS-REGISTRATION OF VOTERS- NEWS FROM HEADQUARTERS-THE WAR IS OVER-THE DRAKE CONSTITUTION- AFTER THE WAR-ROBBERY OF THE COUNTY TREASURY-POLITICS AND ELECTION OF 1870-REGISTRATION IN 1870-CENSUS OF 1880-FLOOD OF 1876.
OUSTING THE OFFICERS.
The convention on March 17, 1865, passed an ordinance vaeating the offices of the judges of the Supreme court and of all the Circuit courts and all the county offices. It was to take effect May 1st, and was never submitted to the people. It gave the governor power to fill all these offices by appointment. The terms of many of the officers who had been elected by the people had not expired; notably, the supreme judges, who had been elected for a term of six years, and some of whom had served only eighteen months. The reason as- signed for the removal was that only loyal men should be in office. They found no little trouble in store when it came to enforcing the ordinance. The American people have always been quick to resent any interference by a legislative body with the judiciary, especially so when it partakes of partisan polities, and the "ousting business" was no exception to the rule; but his excellency Governor Fletcher proceeded to fill the offices the ordinance vacated and to place therein some of his political friends.
In this county the appointments were : W. J. Holliday, county clerk, vice T. O.
Eskridge, removed; John S. Duncan, cir- cuit elerk, vice W. L. Chipley, removed ; James Bell, treasurer, vice C. K. Cotton, removed. County Court Justice Samuel Huston gave way to Lewis F. Carothers. The other officials remained.
In this judicial circuit John I. Camp- bell was appointed judge in the room of Hon. Gilchrist Porter.
All the new appointees were radical Republicans. Office-holding in those days was a biased affair, and a Democrat need not aspire to any such pinnacle, and Shelby county submitted to the inevi- table; but some of the supreme judges in St. Louis were not so easily passed ont. Judges Bay and Dryden elaimed the law was not vested with the proper authority, was unconstitutional, and they refused to vacate. Governor Fletcher ordered the police to arrest them and eject them from the court. It was done and they were taken before a criminal court of St. Louis and fined for disturbing the peace.
MURDERS AND HOMICIDES.
But fonr homicides oeenrred in this county during its early history, and. comparatively speaking. it has been a
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county free of tragedies. It has ever been a home-loving, law-abiding people.
MURDER OF GEORGE QUEARY.
September 4, 1873, George Queary, a colored barber, was shot and killed by George Ashby, colored. The shot dis- emboweled the vietim. He relocated the dismembered organs and held them in place with one hand, clinging to the lamp post with the other, until shortly he fell to the pavement and was carried home and died that night. The trial brought out the evidence that they had quarreled a couple of hours previously. Queary had gotten the better of Ashby, who left him, vowing vengeance. It also came out that Queary had a "self-protector" and had called to the crowd to "get out of the way" before Ashby fired. In his trial at Shelbyville, May, 1875, Ashby was found guilty of murder in the second degree and sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary. He was defended by Jewett & Hale, able lawyers assigned him by the court.
THE DALE-PHELPS TRAGEDY.
On the night of the 1st of May, 1875, there was a most desperate affray in Clarence, resulting in the death of one man and the serious wounding of two others.
John and Jonah Phelps, brothers, were two young men who lived on a farm six miles south of Clarence, whither they had moved from Roanoke, Howard county. Their cousin, James Phelps, lived on a farm adjoining town.
In Mr. Dale's restaurant some men had eaten some oysters and had fallen on the floor in a drunken sleep. John Phelps was teasing them. Mr. Dale's
son, John D. Dale, then a boy fifteen years of age, was attending the restau- rant, and remonstrated with Phelps. James Phelps came in and said to young Dale, "What is it your d-d business?" In a short quarrel that resulted Phelps struck the boy and knocked him down and the two clinched. The boy's father sought to interfere, but John Phelps caught and held him. Jonah caught up a chair and used it when and where he could.
Jim Phelps and John Dale were on the floor, and Phelps was stabbing and cutting the boy fearfully. He made eight severe wounds. Jonah Phelps struck at Dale with a poker, but missed him and the blow fell upon Jim Phelps, stunning him. Young Dale then sprang up, all bleeding from his stab wounds, and ran behind the counter and secured a revolver. Jim Phelps recovered and again advanced, when Dale shot him through the upper portion of the body from side to side. He staggered to near the door and fell dead. As he was walk- ing off, Dale again fired, or the pistol was accidentally discharged, and wound- ed him in the heel. At the first eraek of the pistol John Phelps released old man Dale and started towards young John, who fired and shot him fairly through the body, the ball passing through one lung. Jonah ran away and escaped unhurt.
Young Dale was arrested while lying in bed suffering from his numerous wounds, and upon preliminary examina- tion was bound over. He was indicted soon after and at the November term following (1875) he was tried on a charge of murder. Prosecuting Attor- ney Dobyns made most strennons efforts
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to convict him, going, as some thonght, beyond his duty in his zeal; but the jury acquitted him withont leaving their seats. Indeed, they announced that they were ready to render a verdict as soon as the evidence in the prosecution was in and before that of the defense had been introduced.
John Phelps recovered from his severe wound. John Dale grew to manhood here and is the present clerk of Shelby county.
It is perhaps just to say that it is universally considered that there was not the least element of erime in what he did. Indeed, there are many who think that for a fifteen-year-old boy he ex- hibited remarkable courage and proved himself a hero instead of a criminal, and that he should never have been indicted or even arrested .- Shelby County His- tory, 1884.
BRUCE GREEN KILLS CALVIN WARREN.
In the summer of 1880 a fatal stab- bing occurred at Lakenan. Calvin War- ren and a young man, Bruce Green, had been to Shelbyville with a load of pot- tery, which they disposed of, and re- turning by way of Shelbina, on the road home, being intoxicated, they quarreled over a trivial matter. After reaching Lakenan the quarrel was renewed, and Warren, who was the aggressor, made an assault upon Green, who stabbed him so badly he died in a few hours.
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