USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 3
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WILD ANIMALS AND GAME.
The sports and means of recreation were not so varied among the early set- tlers as at present, but they were more exhilarating and more gratifying than the sports of today.
Hunters nowadays would be too eager to find within a reasonable proximity of their home the favorable opportunity en- joyed by the early settlers, deeming it a rare pleasure to spend a vacation on the watercourse or the wild prairies at hand in those days. And the early settler en- joyed it, too, for he had few other sports. He loved his dog and his gun and he found wild game of almost every species found now in our wild western prairies. The woods were full of wild game and were a paradise for hunters. Although the Indians had lived and hunted much here, the saying goes that "wild man and wild beast thrive together," and so as the red man's ranks had been thinning,
the wild beast had been increasing at an alarming degree to the safety of the set- tlers, and he killed not only for pleasure but for his safety. Bears, panthers and wolves abounded. The western and northwestern portion of the county was their principal retreat, because Imunters from Monroe county had driven them in that direction. Bears were abundant in the northeastern portion in 1835-36. They were numerously killed in Tiger Fork and the fierce panther also existed here in large numbers. Many an early settler, as he sat by his hearth, with his family about him, felt his blood run cold as the piercing scream of the prowling panther was borne on the night wind, which whistled through the crevices of his lonely cabin. They were frequently encountered, and many of them slain by hunters. Wildcats and catamounts also prowled through the forest and were a menace to mankind. The early settler must always have his gun at hand, and he was in constant fear when away from his home for his loved one's safety, for the wild animals could often be shot from their cabins.
As late as 1841, two large black bears passed Dumm's school house, west of Shelbyville, on Black creek, going west- ward. They caused great alarm among the children. Near Vienna. Macon county, which was only twelve miles distant, bears were quite numerous at that late date. A large bear was killed near Stice's mill, Bethel, 1840.
The winter of 1835 some enormous ani- mals were killed. John Winnegan, a man of small stature, but who loved to hunt, lived near where the Bethel to Ne- vada road crosses the Tiger fork. He killed two very large panthers that win-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
ter near his home. The neighborhood settlers called them tigers and christened the stream on which they were killed Tiger fork of North river, which name it has since borne.
As for wolves. the county teemed with them. There were at least three varie- ties, the large black, the gray and the coyote or prairie wolf. The first two named made great depredations on the early settlers' flocks and herds, and it was diffient to raise sheep and hogs be- cause of their inroads. Sometimes in a single night a whole herd of sheep or lit- ter of pigs would fall the prey of those vicious animals. As a rule, all stock would be penned at night within a high fence enclosure, the only way to feel any safety. They would snatch np a pig and off with it. However, the hogs often showed fight and sometimes was able to protect their young and drive away the marauders.
In 1841 John B. Lewis was enroute southwest of Shelbyville for his home and was startled to hear what he thought was a person in distress. He hastened to render assistance, thinking perhaps some one had been assailed and waylaid, but found on nearing the spot whence came the cry that it was only the scream of a panther.
In 1840 Kindred Feltz, with some as- sistanee, killed a panther in the northern part of the county that measured nine feet.
In 1845 after the county was compara- tively well settled, while riding through the timber west of Shelbyville, Robert McAfee was attacked by a pack of gray wolves. The animals chased him. snap- ping and biting his legs and injuring his horse considerably.
Deer, turkey, ducks, geese and various other choice game could be had for the killing of it. One could go out and kill his venison steak for breakfast if he so- desired. Wild turkey and squirrels were too abundant to be worthy of mention.
Fur animals existed in large numbers, such as otter, bear, muskrat, raccoon, mink, wildcat, beaver, wolf, fox and pan- ther. The early settlers tell of seeing several herds of deer in a distance of four miles.
Numerons are the stories of the chase, hunting expeditions and adventures with the wild beast of the forest, which would be sufficient to interest the readers, but they would not be historie in their na- ture, only sufficient in detail to impress the reader with the condition of affairs during the early day of the settlers.
Serpents everywhere abounded and of such enormons proportions that but for the abundance of testimony the stories seem almost incredible. Quail. rabbit and grouse were scaree.
Another profitable recreation for the old settler was the linnting of bee trees. The forests along the water course were prolific. They were found on Salt river and all her tributaries and, in fact, along all the rivers in this and adjoining coun- ties.
During the late summer, many hunters would go into camp for days at a time for the purpose of securing wild honey, which was very abundant and rich and commanded a good price in the home market.
Trapping wolves became a very profit- able pastime after the state offered a re- ward for wolf scalps. The wolf became so daring was the reason of the bounty. At night they would make the forest ring
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
with their barks, and if dogs ventured out to drive them away they would be driven baek by the wolves chasing them to the very cabin door.
No, music was cheap to the pioneers. They could be Inlled to sleep any night by the screeching of the panther and the howling of the wolf, and deer was daily seen trooping over the wild prai- ries, a dozen or more in the drove, and it is said 'twas a pretty sight often seen when half a hundred or more were graz- ing together.
THE PIONEER WEDDINGS.
The pioneer wedding of the early period was not the display of elegance and planning as the wedding of the twen- tieth century. The fine points of display and finish were not at their command, and the tastes of the pioneers were plain and unselfish, hence no pomp nor display of paraphernalia was worth the while to consider. In those days there were few "store clothes," unless it was that brought in by the emigrant as he came in, but their clothes were for the most part homespun. The material was prin- cipally cotton or flax and wool. The women wore linsey, cotton and buckskin and the men the same with some jeans added.
A bridal outfit did not include a linen shower and a handkerchief and hosiery shower, a crystal nor a miscellaneous shower. Her toilet was plain, inexpen- sive and but little more than she other- wise would possess. It was all sufficient, it was sensible and in harmony with the manners and cirenmstances of the day, and she was just as sweet, as affable and as unselfish as the bride of our day. And the groom, in his jeans or homespun linen
trousers, his linsey shirt, his jeans coat and his coonskin cap, was just as gallant, as kind and no more domineering than the groom, all diamond besparkling, of today. Though the weddings did not hear the pomp and display, were not snel brilliant society events, the union was as fortunate and felicitons and the event as joyous as of modern days. There was always a wedding and it was for their friends. All the neighbors had an invi- tation and all ever accepted most gra- ciously.
There was all sorts of fun and merry making during the day. You were not invited to come in hat and gloves, to keep them on. It was a day's outing. Foot- racing, wrestling, shooting matches and any other diversion was the order of the day and dancing extended far into the morning hours. True, some of the guests came barefoot and the dancing hall was sometimes of the variety which had split puncheons substituted for the wax floor, from which the slivers had not been smoothed away, but the hardened sole of the foot was searcely penetrable by an ordinary sliver. And then the wedding feast is worthy the consideration of man. There were venison steaks and delicious roasts-pig, turkey, grouse and mutton ; there was corn pone with wild honey and delicious home-made maple syrup. and always the good old Missouri and Ken- tucky whiskey, pure and unadulterated, sueli as "we'uns" never sip. The ban- quet was all cooked in the old "Pilgrim mothers'" style, toothsome and savory to a degree.
And no newspaper, to which the family must cater, that the wedding may be chronicled as elegant to a degree, the bride the most beautiful and accom-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
plished and the groom as possessing the most sterling qualities. Only the neigh- borhood to tell it abroad and express their good will.
And the dear little babies that came to brighten the lonely hours, to bring sunshine and music and mirth into the densest forest, the home of the bear, the wolf and the panther. True, their lay- ette was not as superb and as white and silky as today, but the babies were just as good, just as strong, as bright, as happy and as welcome as the twentieth century babe. Yes, it was cuddled by its mother, not in a little outfit bought at a large department store, but she did weave the very material and was pains- taking in the making thereof, while the proud father Inlled it to sleep in a cradle fashioned by his own hand, with sea- soned hickory bows for rockers. Within this little trough are laid some folds of homespun, or some soft, hatcheled but unspun flax, as soft as down, and into this little nest is cuddled the innocent lit- tle darling.
We have resurrected some of the ear- liest marriage dates. Doubtless the first marriage in Shelby county, after its or- ganization, was Bradford Hunsucker and Miss Diey Stice. The ceremony was per- formed by Esquire Abraham Vandiver, at the residence of Peter Stice, the father of the bride, near the present site of Bethel. The date of the marriage, as duly recorded, was April 30, 1835. The next was William S. Townsend and Ede- na A. Mills, May 10, 1835, Esquire Wil- liam J. Holliday officiating. November 12. 1835, Gilbert Edmonds and Minerva J. Vandiver, also Tandy Gooch and Susan Duncan, Rev. Richard Sharp officiating on both occasions. February 18, 1856,
Charles Kilgore and Catherine Coch- rane, Esquire Abraham Vandiver offi- ciating; February 28, 1836, Samuel S. Matson and Mary Creel, Rev. Richard Sharp officiating; March 31, 1836, Wil- liam Holliday and Elizabeth Vandiver, Rev. Sharp officiating; April 7, 1836, Fantley Rhodes and Sarah Stice, Rev. Sharp officiating; May 24, 1836, James Shaw and Eliza Beavens, Judge A. E. Wood officiating; October 20, 1836, Ben- jamin F. Firman and Sarah Rookwood, Rev. Henry Louthan officiating; Novem- ber 17, 1836, Baptist Hardy and Martha Davidson, Richard Sharp officiating ; De- cember 1, 1836, James Rhodes and Mary Musgrove, Rev. Sharp officiating.
PIONEER MINISTERS.
The lot of early settlers was accompa- nied by many hardships, but the lot of a minister on the frontier would be harder still if he tried to subsist on the income directly from his calling, but every new country and elime needs a minister and his shadow follows close upon the foot- print of the earliest settlers.
They labor without money and without price. If he attempts to board, his liabil- ities will exceed his assets, and so he turns to the practical side of life and he toils as does his neighbor. In that day there existed no fund to support minis- ters on the frontiers, but he felt his call, he knew his duty and he dodged it not be- cause it was hemmed in with hardships and strivings, with disappointments and with danger. They went to the front, they gained their substance as did their neighbor by their rifle and by their daily toil in the field and in the forest. The frontier preacher was an expert with the rifle, as was his laity.
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Religious service was held in a neigh- bor's cabin. Notice of the service was promptly and widely circulated, and the people generally attended for protection and to secure game going and coming. The secret of a good attendance was two- fold-some attended worshipping their creator in all their simplicity, and others went for the social side of the occasion. Here they told of their hunts, the latest news from everywhere, who was going back home and who had come, bearing some message from their loved ones at home.
In the fall of 1837, there was not a church nor school house in the county. The Methodists held a camp meeting during the season about a mile north of Oak Dale (N. W. 32-58-9.)
A circuit had been established connect- ing with the southeastern portion of the county. Rev. Richard Sharp, a local preacher, who lived at Sharpsburg, Ma- rion county, frequently preached in this county. Rev. Henry Louthan, a Baptist, settled in this county at an early day, and sketches say he labored at his call- ing. Rev. Jeremiah Taylor, another Bap- tist, who lived in Marion, preached in this county prior to 1840, and other pio- neer preachers are mentioned in town- ship history.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS MADE IN TIMBER.
The early settlers always chose the timbered land as a necessity and con- venience. The emigrants almost inva- riably came from Kentucky and Tennes- see, some from New York, indirectly. These states in their primitive days were almost covered with forests, and the set- tlers there chose timber lands, cleared off what they wanted to cultivate and al-
ways reserved a portion which they called the woods, and "the woods" was the most important part of the farm, and wholly indispensable. When he came to Missouri, one drawback was the bleak prairies, and so he always hunted out the wooded district. Living without the for- est, with the pioneer, was like living with- out his gun-it was a prime requisite. Then he must have a house to live in, rails for his fencing, wood for his fuel. In that day there was no railway to haul his fuel, no coal mine within reach or sight, and so we may little wonder at the prime importance of timber in that age. Along the various water courses which flowed across the country, on either side was a belt of timber. At certain places, usually near the outlets of the tributa- ries, the timber belt widened, forming a grove, and at these groves the settle- ments were usually made. Here started up the machinery which turned a wilder- ness, teeming with its wild animals, into macadamized streets and highways, planting here and there a seat of learn- ing, or a candle on the hillside which lighteth all about it.
PIONEERS.
The early pioneers of our country were too busy making history to stop to pre- serve it. Practically speaking, the early years of the county, her cornerstone and her foundations, were most important to hier future welfare. However, historic events were naturally slow, the life of the pioneers simple and uneventful.
The experience of one settler differed little from that of his neighbor. Nearly all of them were poor, and those who brought with them some riches faced about the same inconveniences and hard-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
ships as his neighbor, and stood gener- ally on the same footing. It was a time of self-reliance and bravery, persevering toil, of privations endured through faith of a "good time coming."
It is common to indulge in flattering adulations in chronieling the lives of early settlers. Their virtues are extolled immoderately, their vices seldom hinted at, but we must remember that they were human and humanity is not all grace nor all virtue. It is both strong and weak, sometimes one and both at the same time, and so it follows that our forerunners were men and women with all the virtues and graces and all the vices and frailties that you find in the human race in any community. They may have been stronger in ways than their descendants, perchance they may even have had more weaknesses. They were hospitable and generous, yet they would (some of them) swear, get drunk and fight. Do not their successors do even so?
Good works were wrought, good deeds rendered, but there existed also cheating at a "hoss swap" and betting on the cock fight. There was diligence and per- severance, but there was also laziness and shiftlessness, there was good and bad, and if they were poor they were rec- ompensed by being free from the burden of pride and vanity, free from the anx- iety and solicitude which always accom- panies the possession of wealth. Though they had few neighbors, they were in love ' made comfortable. and fellowship with those they had.
Envy. covetonsness and strife had not crept in to mar their free intercourse. A common interest and common sympathy bonnd as one family. There was no aris- tocracy, no caste. In this one point they towered above the present generation,
though aristocracy, generally speaking. is comparatively foreign in our county. Our people today are plain, as was the simple frontier life of the pioneer, and in all, good and bad, the life of the frontier in 1835 was about as good and as bad as the inhabitants of 1911. The log cabin people dressed plain, fed on humble fare, but they lived comfortably, happily, abundantly and justly. Many a pioneer declared the happiest days of his life was when he lived in his log cabin home, when every man was on an equality, when aris- tocratie feeling was not tolerated, when what one had they all had. And they must have meant it, every word, for many a pioneer, when this county became pretty well settled, moved on west, to live again the pioneer life their few re- maining years. They were men of activ- ity and energy, or they would never have faced the ills and hardships of frontier life, and when their forms were bent with the storms they had faced, they still yearned for "other worlds to conquer," and they again turned their face toward the setting sun.
PIONEER IIOMES AND COMFORTS.
The first buildings in the county were a cross between the "hoop cabins" and Indian bark huts. As soon as there were enough men in the county to raise a log cabin, they were in style. While the cabins were homely, yet they could be
A window with glass was a rarity and signified an aristocracy which few could afford. They often built a window open- ing and covered it with greased paper, which let in some light, but often there was nothing over the opening, letting in the air and light, but more often the erev-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
ices between the logs without thinking or daubing was more than sufficient for both light and air.
The doors were fastened with old-fash- ioned wooden latches, and for all man- kind passing that way the lateh-string hung out-thence the origination of the old-time hospitality and the saying "the latch-string hangs outward." It is no- ticeable the reverence with which the pio- neer always speaks of those log cabin homes, and it canses one to feel that it is indeed doubtful if palaces even sheltered happier hearts and more gladsome days than the log cabin homes. They were dif- ferent, yea ! a description may enlighten us on many points, and a very good one of the average log cabin, landmarks of other days, follows. This home was to be occupied by a bride and groom :
"The logs were round, with notched corners put together, ribbed by poles and sheeted up with boards split from a tree. A puncheon floor, which was split trees, not smoothed down, was then laid ; a hole was then ent in one end and a stick ehim- ney run up. A window two feet square is cut in one end, without any covering. A clapboard door is made with the old-time lateh-string. The cabin is then daubed with mud and is ready for occupancy."
A "one-leg" bed is moved in by the young people. It was made by cutting a stick the proper length, boring holes at one end one and half inches in diameter at right angles, and the same sized holes corresponding with those in the logs of the cabin, the length and breadth desired for the bed, in which are inserted poles.
Upon these poles the elapboards are laid or linn bark is woven back and forth from pole to pole. Upon this foundation the bed is laid.
A cook stove was out of the question, but in lieu of a eook stove the cooking was done in pots and skillets on or about the fireplace. These fireplaces were usu- ally built in chimneys composed of mud and sticks or undressed stone, if any was near at hand. And meals thus prepared were both good and healthful. The out- door life called for a substantial diet, and it is said that dyspepsia was unheard of in that day.
Before mills had been supplied or were near at hand, the early settlers used what was called hominy blocks for hominy and meal. To make these the early settlers seleeted a tree about two feet in diameter and felled it to the ground. If a eross- cut saw was in the neighborhood, the end was sawed off smooth, if not, it was smoothed down as best they could with sharp axes, then four or five feet was sawed or eut off square. When this was finished it was raised on end and a hol- low eut in the end. This was done with
an ax-sometimes a small one used. This done, a fire was built in it and watched carefully till the jagged edges were burned away. When completed, it some- what resembled a druggist's mortar. Then a crusher was necessary. It was made from a suitable piece of timber, with an iron wedge attached, the large end down. This completed the hominy crusher and one usually accommodated the neighbors for miles about.
And so with hominy, honey, maple syrup, vegetables and all kinds of game, they could readily satisfy inner man.
Every settler had his truek patch, where he raised potatoes, corn and some vegetables, and if enough corn was raised johnny cake and maple syrup was always appetizing.
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
The first farms were always opened backs. It would shrink, and so the pio- neer could go out in his long buckskin up in the timber. This was cut down and utilized for cabins, fencing, and what , trousers, but if he got wet or had to wade they did not need was rolled together and burned. The saplings and stumps were grubbed up and then plowing be- gun. Some farmers used a plow made from the fork of a tree, some a wooden mold-board with sometimes an iron point.
The land in the bottoms was very mel- low and almost anything would answer for a plow there.
Corn was the principal erop. There was little wheat. Flax stood among the first erops and was one of the necessi- ties. The seed was rarely sold, but the bark was used to make linsey and family linen. Nearly every family had their flax and their sheep for clothing sup- plies for the family.
The style of dress was in keeping with the style of living. When the women could procure enough calico to make a cap for their head, they were important and happy, or we would say today, very swell, and she who possessed a dress made entirely of store goods was the envy of all her sisters. They usually went barefoot in summer and in inclem- ent weather they wore on their feet shoes made of home-tanned leather. It is said when pioneer woman came into posses- sion of the first calfskin shoes she was very painstaking to preserve them, and when she was going to a wedding or church on state occasions, she would walk barefoot until almost there and then don her pretty shoes.
Very often, 'tis said, the pioneer wore knee breeches on other than state occa- sions. Buckskin was a favorite for pan- taloons, but even buckskin had its draw-
a stream, his trousers would begin to climb up until they would reach his knees. On the following day, after they were dry, he would take them out and tie one end to the logs in his house and pull from the other end until he thought them all sufficient, and his buckskins were fully as good as new.
The settlers manufactured and raised nearly everything they used. Once es- tablished, they had their own meat, milk and butter. Very little coffee, tea or sugar entered into their menus. High livers had coffee possibly Sunday morn- ing for breakfast. Cattle, sheep and hogs lived on the wild mast, and as there was no market for these, they kept an abun- dance in the smoke house.
There were few tools and vessels and articles for the household were hewn out of timber, and the family were just as content in their use as the family of to- day, with the multiplied modern con- veniences. Coffee, sugar and tea were high, and they used very little, some fam- ilies using none, while a cow would only bring about $10, a horse $25, a good hog $1.25; wheat, when they had it, 25e per bushel ; honey 20e per gallon and venison hams 25e each, and split rails 25e per hundred. They had to get economy down to the fine point, if anything was hid away in a savings bank for a rainy day. In the remote settlements, the neighbors depended on one another for help, and necessarily so. A house raising would start all the neighbors for a dozen or more miles around, and a new settler was always welcomed and a source of curios- ity. The host first ent his logs, hauled
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