USA > Missouri > Chariton County > Historical, pictorial and biographical record, of Chariton County, Missouri > Part 8
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In 1820 the tide of immigration was directed toward Chariton county and immigrants from the tobacco regions of Kentucky and Virginia came pouring in and other settlements rapidly followed. Farms were opened, mills and manufacturing establishments erected and the settlement of the county commenced in reality. Finding the soil and climate both well adapted to the growth of tobacco, it soon became the staple product and in fact still holds an important posi- tion in agriculture. At that date transportation facilities were very crude and simple, being carried on by wagons, keel or flat boats. In navigating the Missouri river on their return trips these rudely constructed boats would have to be cordelled up stream. Due to the swiftness of the current and innumerable snags, it was then thought that the river could never be navigated. The fallacy of this argument was soon after proven by the successful trip of a steamboat to this point.
"OLD CHARITON."
Chariton was laid out in the spring of 1817 by Duff Green, one of the most prominent and distinguished citizens of the State, who after- wards acquired a national reputation as a politician, and as editor of the United States Telegraph, at Washington; Government printer, and later as editor of a journal published at New York, called the Repub- lic. He was born in Georgia about 1794 and died at Dalton, of that state, June 9, 1875.
VISITED BY JOHN M. PECK, D. D.
In January, of 1819, John M. Peck, D. D., visited Chariton, the guest of General Duff Green, and in speaking of his visit in his mem- oirs, said the town at that time contained about thirty families, a number of whom were very respectable and intelligent, and several
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unquestionably pious. On January 3rd, he preached at 12 o'clock and again at night. At the latter service he suggested the formation of a Female Mite Society, to assist in spreading the Gospel. The follow- ing week an organization was effected with 22 members, who subscribed $36. The first Sunday School west of St. Louis was commenced at this place in the following spring.
OUTRIVALED ST. LOUIS.
In 1820, Chariton was a very promising city. A historian of the county in speaking of the town says: "Everybody had high hopes of Chariton being a great city, it sprang up as all western towns, by magic; the people being intelligent and enterprising, it soon was looked on as one of the to be 'future great' cities of the state. Persons owning lots in St. Louis exchanged them for lots in the city of the forest. Alas, however, for human expectations, St. Louis is the 'future great' and the city of Chariton is one of the things of the past." At one time the town had a population of 1,200 people.
EARLY BUSINESS MEN.
Among the early business men of Chariton were the firms of John Ross & Co., (composed of John Ross, William Glasgow and John Cull); General Duff Green and Stephen Donahoe. Captain White opened the first saloon. Joseph Brewer was a manufacturer of hats and Fredrick Beanbrick, at that time the only German settler of the county, was the tailor. Lewis Green a slave, who at this time was the property of John Moore, was the blacksmith. The first hotels were kept by Isaac Campbell and Robertson Moore. James Sample, afterwards a United States Senator from Illinois, and a brother-in-law of Duff Green, and Green himself were the pioneer lawyers. James Keytes, afterwards the founder of Keytesville, administered to the spiritual wants of the people as a Methodist preacher. Doctors John Holman, John Bull, (afterwards a member of Congress from Missouri) and Willis Green. (a brother of Duff Green) were the pioneer physi- cians. In 1820 a "Loan Office Bank," with Colonel Henry F. Williams as manager and cashier, was established at Chariton, but collapsed in 1822, occasioning some little excitement among those pecuniary inter- ested in it.
A WOMAN PREACHER.
At a very early day Chariton had two schools, one taught by a Baptist minister by the name of Ebenezer Rodgers, and the other by a gentleman by the name of JJohn Brownjohn. In 1824 a woman came to Chariton and wanted to preach to the people, but the idea of a
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woman preaching at that day and place was so far in advance of public favor, that the people thought her mind was unbalanced and advised her to leave.
FIRST STEAM MILL.
The first steam mill put up in the county was crected near Old Chariton in 1820 by a man named Findly; but was destroyed by fire during the winter of 1823-24, entailing a great misfortune to the peo- ple of that locality.
A THING OF THE PAST.
In 1825, the fortunes of the little town so auspiciously begun in the wilderness, began to wane, due to the Chariton river overflowing its banks and the unhealthy climatie conditions that followed. By 1840 the town was entirely abandoned, since when the onee thriving and ambitions little city has existed only in the imagination.
EARLY MAIL FACILITIES.
Prior to 1833 there were no mails north of the Missouri river, west of "Old Chariton." In that year, however, arrangements were made for carrying the mail from Chariton to Liberty, in Clay county, a distance of one hundred and thirty miles by the route traveled, it requiring six days to make the round trip. A son of James Wilson was the first person to carry the mail, but was soon succeeded by Charles Mann. In Octobes of 1833, the late Judge John M. Davis, of Brunswick, who was then a youth of 15 years, took charge of the mail and performed its duties for three months, his compensation be- ing $9 per month and his board and expenses, he furnishing his own horse.
TOBACCO GROWING.
Tobacco growing in Chariton county virtually dates from 1833, when Judge John M. Feazle, of Virginia, came to Chariton and posted written notices throughout the town promising to purchase all the tobacco the farmers could raise for three years at $2.50 per hundred. Very little tobacco had previously been grown in the county, but since that date Chariton has been one of the banner tobacco growing counties of the State.
FIRST COURTS.
The first circuit court ever held in the county met in the town of Chariton, February 26, 1821, and was presided over by Circuit Judge David Todd. Edward B. Cabell received the appointment of clerk and John Moore that of sheriff. The first trial by jury was a case entitled "John Gaither et al vs. Uriah F. Heuffman," a civil action
OFFETS DO SURONYS
A GROUP OF CHARITON COUNTY'S OLDEST SETTLERS NOW LIVING.
Photographed by F. P. Cummins, Salisbury, Mo.
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appealed from a Justice of the Peace court. The jury failed to agree and were discharged. The grand jury empanelled at this term of court were composed of the following gentlemen: Henry Lewis, James Heryford, Samuel Dinsmore, Able Lee, Absalom McDaniel, Samuel Forest, William Crawford, Isham Douglass, James MeKown, Lewis White, John Gaither, Joseph Brewer, Leonard Brassfield, Abram Lock, Samuel Watson, William JJones, Nathaniel Butler, Archibald Hix, Benjamin Cross, Abner Chapel, Banks Thornton, Robertson Daniel and Charles Harrington. Court met again June 25, 1821. All of the gentlemen mentioned above have long since departed to the great unknown, Nathaniel Butler being the last survivor, who died in 1868 at the age of 74 years. Major Daniel Ashby, James Earickson and J. M. Bell composed the first county court organized. Major Ashby was a prominent personage in the settlement of the county and was honored with a number of positions of distinction and trust. He lived to a ripe old age and his memory is kindly cherished by many now living.
The second term of court met June 25, 1821, and a grand jury impanelled with Daniel Ashley as foreman. The first state case was "The State of Missouri against Seth Boths and John Moore." After the finding of two other indictments the grand jury was discharged.
The third term of court met in October, 1821, and continued for two days, where two or three criminal cases and a number of civil cases were disposed of. At this term of court license to practice law were granted Henry T. Williams, Peyton R. Hayden and Abicl Leonard.
After a space of about eleven years the county seat was moved to Keytesville, (see page 155) where the first court house in the county was erected.
EARLY MARRIAGES.
Below we give the names and dates of some of the earliest mar- riages that occurred in the county. Among those given no doubt some of our readers will recognize the names of their ancestors.
January 13, 1820, occurred the marriage of John Montgomery and Elenor Moore, J. M Fowler, a Justice of the Peace, officiating. Mr. Fowler also officiated at the marriage of Absalom McDaniel and Polly Wolfscale, October 12, 1820.
Samuel Gibbs and Mary Barnes were made one on the 23rd day of July, 1821, by Will W. Monroe, also a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Chariton.
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James Slaytor and Mary McDaniel were married August 2, 1821; by Martin Morgan, another Justice of the Peace.
On the 13th day of August, 1821, the rites of matrimony between William Felltwood and Patscy Ashby were duly celebrated by James Earickson, JJ. P.
Josiah Shockley and Nancy Clark were married October 11, 1821, the ceremony being performed by Henry Lewis.
George Burekhartt performed the ceremony on the 3rd day of March, 1822, that joined in the holy bonds of wedlock John Cooley and Polly Kitchens.
Martin Leary and Matilda Kirby were married December 16, 1821, the ceremony being solemnized by Charles Harryman, a minis- ter of the Gospel.
REMINISCENCES OF HON CHARLES J. CABELL, DECEASED).
At a reunion of the old settlers of Chariton county, held during the progress of the Keytesville Fair in 1877, Hon. Charles JJ. Cabell, deceased, read an interesting and instructive paper upon the carly settlement of the county, from which we glean the following infor- mation:
In October, 1818, Edward B. Cabell, father of Hon. Charles J. Cabell, W. W. Monroe and Daniel Duvall, accompanied by their fam- ilies, settled at the town of Chariton and united their destinies with the people of Chariton county. At that time the town of Chariton was the rival of St. Louis, and the home of good society and men of excellent literary attainments. James Semple, who afterwards repre- sented a district of Illinois in Congress for six years, conducted a large tannery on a small creek near by, while a Mr. Clements operated a a pottery in the same locality. Half a mile or more above the pottery was a distillery owned by the Camerons, while another was operated about a mile below the town. In 1819, Col. Joseph J. Monroc, grandfather of Hon Charles J. Cabell and a brother of the then Presi- dent, located at Chariton. Among some of the most distinguished gentlemen who attended the carly courts of Chariton county were Archibald and Hamilton R. Gamble, JJudges MeGirk, Wash, Tomp- kins, Ryland, Lconard, Gen. John B. Clark, John Wilson and others.
In speaking of the people of that day, Mr. Cabell says, no one was ever turned from their doors hungry; their doors were always open and they kept no locks. There was no law-breaking, no violence or rush for money-making beyond their wants judicionsly indulged. They were a band of brothers having a common interest and home.
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To relate here the various incidents in the lives of these pioneer settlers, the hardships and privations they endured and the grand achievements they accomplished under adverse circumstances, in trans- forming a howling wilderness, abounding with baffilos, beurs, deer, panthers, wolves and wild turkeys, into a civilized, intellectual commu- nity, would make a work far more voluminous than our purpose to issue, nor would it accomplish the desired end of the publishers in presenting to the world the grand opportunities and possibilities afforded here to-day.
LOCATION.
Chariton county is centrally located on the north side of the Mis- souri river, 80 miles east of Kansas City and 160 miles west of St. Louis; is bounded on the north by Linn and Macon counties, on the cast by Macon and Randolph, on the south by Howard county and the Missouri river, and on the west by Carroll and Livingston counties. According to the census of 1890, has a population of 26,254, which has been materially increased during the past six years.
WATER.
Truly this is a well watered county, the streams of which flow generally south and are well distributed through the county. With the Grand river on the western border, the Chariton flowing peacefully through the center and the East Fork on the eastern boundary, and the country between them intersected by the Middle and Muscle Forks, the country has not a lack for streams. In fact the farmers of Chariton county give themselves little concern for water, after hav- ing dug a well to a depth of 15 to 30 feet. Many large farms are supplied with but a single well of this kind and never lack for water, always finding an abundance which is both healthy and palatable. With streams above mentioned and their many tributaries, the wells and artificial ponds, together with innumerable springs that gush as cooling fountains, we say Chariton is truly a well watered county.
SURFACE.
The general surface of the county is an undulating plane, though by no means flat, having a perfect system of natural drainage. The uplands of the county are mainly prairies, from three to ten miles wide, and from eight to twelve miles long, slightly rolling though not enough to wash, yet sufficient to afford good drainage. The soil is a dark, friable, alluvial, from one to four feet deep, very fertile and easily handled and especially adapted to the raising of corn, wheat,
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tobacco, oats and timothy. The bottom banks along the rivers are composed of a black, rich imperishable alluvial soil, from one to eight feet in depth, and capable of producing anything the farmer could wish. Less than thirty years ago these lands were a wet and swampy district, considered unfit for habitation or cultivation. But, a great change has since taken place and these marshy swamps have become dry, tilable land. As the hills have been cultivated, the low places of the bottomis have been filled up by the alluvial deposits brought down to them from the roads and cultivated fields and the land rendered more compact, by the tramping of stock, and being covered with a thick sward of blue grass as fast as they become dry enough. In speaking of the soils of Chariton county, a recent historian says: "The entire superficial soils of the county are underlaid by strong, consistent, silicious clays and marls, so rich in lime, magnesia, alumna, organic matter and other valuable constituents, that centuries of deep cultivation will prove them like the kindred LOESS of the Rhine and Nile valleys, absolutely indestructible. Everywhere, about the rail- way cuts, ponds, cisterns, cellars and other excavations, where these clays and marls have had one or two years' exposure to the frost and air, they have slacked to the consistency of an ash heap, and bear such a rank growth of weeds, grass, grain, vegetables and young trees, that in the older and less fertile states, they might readily be taken for de- posits of the richest compost."
The timber of the county is found along the streams and consists of a number of varieties, of excellent growth, principally among which will be found oaks of all kinds, ash, sycamore, cottonwood, willow, locust, hickory, walnut and maple.
MINERAL RESOURCES.
Chariton county has many resources, and though not the greatest of all, yet of vast importance, are her coal mines. Still in its infancy, with development just beginning and even the work of exploration hardly more than well begun, her coal mining industry alone is a sufficient guarantee of the county's continued growth and development throughout the coming century. The entire country, with the excep- tion of the alluvial districts, is underlaid with good veins of bitumi- nous coal and the day is not far distant when the mining industry will constitute an important element of the county's wealth. While imper- fectly prospected the conclusion of its vast abundance is just, due to numerous outeropping strata surface veins throughout the county. Investigations in various localities have been highly satisfactory, always
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finding sub-strata veins of sufficient thickness to be profitably worked. Veins ranging from three to five feet thick have been found at a depth of about 60 feet and are now being successfully worked 2 miles cast of Salisbury. Sandstone formations are found at a number of points in the county, which furnishes an admirable quality of stone for building purposes. In the southeastern part of the county, near For- rest Green, is an inexhaustible mine of fire-clay, which has never been fully developed, far superior to the ordinary fire-clays found elsewhere for the manufacture of pottery.
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BENEDICT OF CO.CHI.
COUNTY COURT HOUSE, KEYTESVILLE, MO.
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GOVERNMENT.
Chariton county is under township organization, being divided into sixteen minor civil divisions, with a population according to the census of 1890, as follows: Bee Branch, 1290; Bowling Green, 1413; Brunswick, 3989; Chariton, 1122; Clark, 1225; Cockrell, 1011; Cun- ningham, 1341; Keytesville, 3394; Mendon, 735; Missouri, 887; Mussel Fork, 1158; Salisbury, 4310; Salt Creek, 992; Triplett, 1256; Wayland, 1068; Yellow Creek, 1065. Each township has its own board of di- rectors, who have jurisdiction over their own roads, and bridges cost- ing less than one hundred dollars. Each township also has its own assessor and collector. The government of the county is under the supervision of county officials, who are recognized as gentlemen. of ability, highminded, intelligent painstaking officials. While the county officials are all democrats, the citizens of Chariton differ in pol- ities as in religion, and though the majority favor the principles of the democratic party, there are many able and intelligent thinkers who count themselves in the Republican, or Third Party ranks. The pres- ent officials of the county are as follows: Circuit Judge, W. W. Ruck- er; Presiding Judge County court, Loyd HI. Herring; Judge Eastern district, Henry Hayes; Judge Western district, Charles E. Allen: Judge of Probate, Henry C. Minter; Clerk of Circuit court, Henry B. Richardson; Recorder of deeds, Benjamin H. Smith; Clerk of County court, Raymond D. Edwards; Prosecuting attorney, James C. Wallace; Sheriff, James E. Dempsey: Treasurer and ex-officio collector, Alonzo L. Welch; Coroner, Geo. M. Dewey; Public Administrator, Benj. F. Moore; Surveyor, Samuel J. Carter; School Commissioner, Orville L. Dines.
AGRICULTURE.
Inasmuch as the material growth and prosperity of any locality depends upon the production of the soil, let us look at that of this county, for after all, the only true monarchs that walk the earth are the tillers of the soil, and the farmer is the hand and stay of human society the world over. And this is no less true in Chariton county. If they should fail, the race would soon become extinct. Had we no advantages to offer to these, the most important factors in building up a country, we would despair for the future of this county and seek our fortune in a more favored clime. As we have already stated, we have two classes of land. First, the prairie, with all the advantages that this kind of land offers. A prairie that in its topography nothing could be added which would make it more desirable. Lying in gentle undu-
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lating swells, with exposures to suit every demand, and with the best of natural drainage, it needs only to be seen to be appreciated as a land of beauty and its products need only to be examined that the ver- dict of valuable may be added that of beautiful. Our products on these prairie lands are as diversified as could be wished for by the most exacting. In mid-summer, when nature seems to try to outdo all former efforts, we look out on the broad expanse and view with pleasure the scene spread out before us, of fields studded with their shocks of golden grain, bordered with that dark green that shows forth the coming beautiful harvest of corn. And so, ever and anon, the scene changes, first one product and then another following until it seems as though the bountiful Giver would lay upon us more than we could bear away. We say golden grains, for is not any country more enriched by its golden grains than by its grains of gold. Grains of gold will not sustain life, but golden grains will. When the indomita- ble Walker commanded the city of Londonderry, during the seige, he was walking around "The Maiden Walls" one morning to see if a breach had been made during the preceding night's bombardment, hunger, like a famished wolf, gnawing at his empty stomach. He plunged his hand into his pocket, and, pulling out a handful of golden guineas, he flung them from him with the exclamation. "What's good of gold? A piece of leather has more sustenance in it!" But what do we produce in lieu of gold? We answer, wheat; a staple the world over. How much per acre is the yield on the fertile plains, you ask. The answer is that though some years find us counting, in glad surprise, the bushels at an average of thirty, ordinarily we have an average of about twenty bushel per acre that will grade No. 2 in the St. Louis markets. Again, we raise corn. Our lands are adapted to the grow- ing of corn, as is shown at each annual harvest, as the garners are filled to overflowing with this important grain, and at each succeeding harvest the farmer's face brightens as he tells of the bountiful crop of from fifty to seventy-five bushels per acre. Of other grains we will say: Oats are a safe and profitable crop, while rye, though not much grown, produces well. Barley is not grown here because other grains are more remunerative. Grasses of all kinds are sure, blue grass, as a pasture, being the favorite, there being no trouble in getting a stand. Where wild prairie land if pastured for a short time, this kind of grass fast takes the place of the wild grass. Tobacco is one of the chief crops, and has long since been proven to be a very valuable one. Of fruits we may say that all kinds flourish here, and it is no uncom-
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mon sight in the fall and early spring to see ear after car of fine apples shipped from this county to the various markets of the world. Yearly the limits of the orchards are being extended by the farmers, who are quick to see the profits aceruing to those who have invested in this im- portant branch of husbandry. Plums of the several different varieties are produced here in great abundance, and the profit aceruing to those having plum orchards has been very encouraging. Cherries grow nearly everywhere, and have here a permanent place in the eata- logue of fruits. Gooseberries, currants and strawberries are fruits of certain bearing and good profit. Blackberries are not cultivated much, but grow in abundance wild. Raspberries are grown for home con- sumption, but might profitably be grown for the Kansas City and St. Louis markets. The splendid growth of grapes has encouraged the farmers in some cases to set small vineyards, which will, no doubt, prove to be the starting point of large and successful vineyards.
STOCK RAISING.
Stoek raising, an industry always to be commended, where there is suitable grass lands, is by no means neglected here, but, on the con- trary, is profitably prosecuted by a large majority of our best farmers. Rich returns from this business are showing throughout this section, and effects are constantly being made to improve the stock of various kinds, and, no doubt, in a few years any of the stock-raising districts would be benefitted by having stock which is bred here. Already some of the best registered stock has been brought to this county, and our farmers all seem bound to handle only the best. With this spirit of improvement and the natural advantages offered, it is no boasting to say that the famous blue grass regions of Kentucky will, in time, here find a rival for the honors now so generally conceded her. Why we thus prophesy is obvious to all who have seen both countries. First, blue grass is here what might be termed a natural grass, and but two to three years are now required to get a good stand that can be profita- bly pastured. And, again, lands for this purpose have not yet become so high as to bar those who have not a pasture with which to start in this business. When we speak of stock-raising we do not mean to confine it to any single branch of the business, as all the various branches are profitably followed here, and there is ample room for others, yes, many others, whose taste is for stock farming. Not, as on the ranches of the far West, but after the more profitable modes followed by the stoek raisers who have given their attention to the better grades. Aside from the grass-producing prairies already
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