USA > Missouri > DeKalb County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 55
USA > Missouri > Andrew County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 55
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
In the year 1882 F. W. Riedel began the publication in Stew- artsville of a German paper, the name of which was Das Echo Der Gegenwart Und Der Zeitgeist, which he had previously pub- lished in the city of New Albany, Ind. This was a sixteen-page paper, printed in the German language, and devoted to the dis- cussion of religious, scientific and social questions, with the pro- motion of Christianity as the primary object. Mr. Riedel was educated in Germany, and, being a man of fine scholastic attain- ments and critical research, his articles gained wide publicity for their cogent arguments, clear reasoning and Catholic spirit. He continued the publication of his paper until 1884, when, finding a journal of its character could not be made financially successful, he established an independent local sheet, in the English lan- guage, by the name of the Stewartsville Investigator. After issu- ing the Investigator about one year in Stewartsville, Mr. Riedel moved the office to Osborne, and, changing the name to the Osborne Investigator, has, since 1884, published it at the latter place. As an enterprising local sheet the Investigator is up to the standard of any other paper published in De Kalb County, and as a forcible and elegant writer the editor ranks among the progressive journalists of this part of the State. The paper has a liberal advertising patronage, a constantly increasing circula- tion, and is steadily growing in public favor.
In the year 1883 F. H. Austin established at Osborne an independent paper called the Oracle, the existence of which ter- minated three years later. The Oracle was a small sheet, well edited, and had a good local circulation.
The Tooth Pick is the name of a paper established at the town of Union Star, in September, 1883, by Theodore W. Gulick. The Tooth Pick was a five-column folio, independent politically, and, under the editorial management of Mr. Gulick, an experienced newspaper man and a good writer, soon acquired a remunerative patronage. In December, 1886, John R. Needles became editor. He changed the name to the Union Star Comet, and has continued its publication ever since. The Comet is a sprightly little paper, ably edited and well printed, and is looked upon as one of the town's important business enterprises.
The latest addition to the local press of De Kalb County is
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the Stewartsville Weekly News, established a short time ago by W. T. Randolph. It is an eight-column folio, devoted to the local interests of the town and county, and has already gained a good circulation. Mr. Randolph has displayed considerable ability as a journalist, and although he has had to struggle against much opposition, the paper is steadily coming to the front.
MILITARY RECORD.
De Kalb County has no military history prior to the late great struggle between the Northern and Southern States. It is true that among her early settlers were several men who had partici- pated in the last war with Great Britain and the struggle with Mexico, and perchance some who had been engaged in Indian warfare, but nothing like a military organization had been at- tempted within the county until the secession movement of 1861.
It would be interesting to go back to the beginning, and trace out step by step the cause or causes that led up to this great struggle, but this has been done by abler pens, and the reader is referred to the numerous works giving fair and impartial views of the subject. Though there were many secondary causes, the war had its origin primarily in the introducing of African slavery into the colonies. This institution was the germ seed of the deadly upas, that, planted in the virgin soil of the colonies, grew with the growth of years, and finally spread its blighting shadows over the whole continent. It was the infectious virus, which, in- jected into the veins of that youthful people, ultimately resulted in the poisoning of the whole body politic of the full grown nation; nor is it a question of responsibility as to its introduction, nor as yet to its agitation by the friends and champions of either side. The years of heated agitation of the subject of slavery both in and out of Congress finally brought matters to a culmi- nating point, when, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, as representatives of the anti-slavery party of the North were elected President and Vice-President of the United States. The South looked upon this as an open declaration of hostilities upon its reserved rights and constitu- tional prerogatives, and in the following December the State of 27A
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
South Carolina met in convention at Charleston, and passed an ordinance of secession. This ordinance cited among other rea- sons for the act the fact that the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa (all of which had supported Lincoln and Hamlin) had enacted laws which either nullified the acts of Congress for rendition of fugitives from service or rendered useless any attempt to execute them; and that Iowa and Ohio had refused to surrender fugitives from justice charged with various crimes, and with inciting ser- vile insurrection in the John Brown raid, as well as the danger to be apprehended from the centralizing doctrines and principles of the party soon to come into power in the executive department of the general Government. This act of secession upon the part of South Carolina was soon followed by similar acts upon the part of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. A con- gress of Southern States was called to meet at Montgomery, Ala., on the 14th of February, 1861, and on the same day a peace con- gress in Washington City, by the friends of peace in both North and South, was held.
In the latter many notable speeches were made by representa- tive men of both sections, but that which produced the profound- est sensation throughout the South was delivered by Salmon P. Chase, the accredited Secretary of the Treasury of the incoming administration. Speaking for the party that had just elected Mr. Lincoln, he declared among other things that the North would never consent to the decision of the supreme court in reference to the extension of slavery in the Territories, nor yet to the constitu- tional provisions for the rendition of " fugitives from service," where such fugitives sought asylums within their jurisdiction. The effect of this declaration was a confirmation of the fears of the more moderate slave holding States, and measures were ac- cordingly taken by nearly all of them to follow the example of the other seceding States.
In the meantime the feeling throughout the North rose to a fever heat, and the action of South Carolina was looked upon as a movement to dissever the Union not to be tolerated. All party dis- tinction was in a measure lost sight of in the one common cause,
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to coerce the rebellious States, and when the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter was telegraphed over the country, followed by the President's call for troops from every State, county, city and hamlet throughout the North, patriotic and determined men vol- unteered their services in defense of the national union.
The Congress was held at Montgomery, and a constitution for one year adopted, with Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as presi- dent, and Alexander H. Stevens of Georgia as vice-president of the new confederation. The State of Missouri was rent and torn by conflicting opinions. Three parties sprang up-the South- ern feigning secession, the Northern feigning union at all hazards, and the neutrality party opposing both. The action of the State, touching the great questions of the day, will be found in another part of this volume, and need not be mentioned in this connection.
Intense excitement prevailed everywhere; towns, cities, com- munities, churches and even families were divided in sentiment, giving rise to bitter animosities, and in many cases to scenes of violence and bloodshed. Both Northern and Southern sympa- thizers rushed to arms, and both established their camps of in- struction and rendezvous in various parts of the State.
The people of De Kalb County partook largely of the general excitement, and many of them being in sympathy with the Con- federacy were not slow in preparing for the struggle, and repaired at once to the Southern camps. Others organized into companies for home protection, with a view of maintaining Southern supremacy in the county, a fact which gave rise to much bitter feeling and animosity. The population of this county, however, being largely composed of Northern people, the Union sentiment predominated, and, in order to counteract the influence of South- ern sympathizers, Union meetings were held in various parts of the county, addressed by able speakers, who urged upon the citizens to stand fast in their allegiance to the national cause. One of the first of these meetings was held at Maysville in the spring of 1861. It was attended by a large and enthusiastic concourse of people, who, after listening to an address, raised a Union flag in the courthouse square. The same day the Confederates met for military drill not far from the town, and no sooner had the
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Union meeting dispersed than they marched to the public square, tore down the flag, and took possession of the town in the name of the Confederacy.
It is related that some of the men, more determined in their hatred toward the Union than others, tore the flag into strips, chewed and spit pieces of it upon the ground, and actually danced upon the colors, accompanying their actions with boister- ous merriment and bitter imprecations.
In the summer of 1861 occurred the first bloodshed in the county caused by the war, the occasion being the death of Mal- colm McDonald, a Southern man, at the town of Stewartsville.
Early in 1861 a Confederate company was raised in Stewarts- ville and vicinity, of which Robert Clark was elected captain and Mr. McDonald, lieutenant. Shortly after its organization they repaired to a Southern camp in Andrew County, preparatory to joining the Confederate forces of Gen. Price near the central part of the State. While the company was in camp, young McDonald returned to his home in Stewartsville, and was there when a detachment of Iowa troops passed through the town on their way to St. Joseph. Before reaching Stewartsville, however, a lieutenant of one of the companies, who had formerly edited a Stewartsville paper, informed his comrades that he could show them a rebel flag upon a certain house in the town, viz .: the one occupied by the McDonald family. When the train stopped two men asked and obtained the Colonel's permission to secure the flag, and proceeding at once to the place they found the flag floating from the building, but were met by young McDonald, who, with drawn revolver, forbade them entering the yard. The soldiers then requested that the flag be delivered to them, but the sturdy young Southerner replied that it could not be taken without first going over his dead body, presenting his weapon at the same time. Before he could fire, however, one of the soldiers shot him dead, his revolver exploding as he fell. The news of the killing spread through the town like wildfire, causing the most intense excitement, as the young man was well and favor- ably known, having always borne a most excellent reputation. His death was greatly deplored by both Union and Southern men, but under the circumstances the soldiers were justified in what they did.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
The ordinance of 1861, which provided an oath of loyalty to be taken by all county officers in the State, affected De Kalb County to the extent of causing the county and circuit clerks' office to become vacant, the incumbents of which were at the time in hearty sympathy with the Confederacy. About this time a second company of Confederates was recruited, but of its history as a body little is known, the men having subsequently served in different regiments.
After 1862 there was little trouble in the county, and from that time until the close of the war the Union cause maintained the ascendency. The presence of Home Guards had a salutary effect in repressing anything like an armed outbreak, and the subsequent disarming of all those suspected of being in sym- pathy with the South was the means of maintaining comparative quiet until the cessation of hostilities. Some of the home troops, however, occasionally transcended the limits of their authority, by arbitrarily arresting suspected persons, and subjecting them to much humiliating treatment. Among these were some of the best citizens of the county, and men who had taken no part directly or indirectly in aiding or abetting the Southern cause. Various arrests were made, meetings were broken up, and ministers who had not taken the required oath were imprisoned or otherwise summarily dealt with. The organization of what was known as the Paw Paw militia in the latter part of the war had a whole- some effect in allaying much of the excited feeling, while the efforts of the peaceably disposed citizens were not barren of good results.
The number of Federal soldiers furnished by De Kalb County is variously estimated at from 600 to 800 men, the majority of whom did valiant service in defense of the national Union. These men enlisted in various regiments, but few companies having organized wholly in the county. The first of these was Company H, First Cavalry Missouri Militia, organized in the spring of 1862. The following were the officers of this company : Capt. Charles C. Harvey, served from April 4, 1862, until his death at Lexington, Mo., November 22 of the same year. His successor was William Meredith, whose period of service lasted from December 3, 1862, until mustered out at expiration
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of the term, March 30, 1865. Mr. Meredith at the organization of the company was elected first lieutenant, and served in that capacity until promoted captain in the year above mentioned. The second lieutenant was S. M. Williams, of Gentry County, who was promoted first lieutenant to succeed Capt. Meredith. His successor was James E. Teal, who held the position of second lieutenant from December 3, 1863, until the expiration of his term of service, March 30, 1865.
The First Regiment Cavalry Missouri Militia was organized on the 9th day of April, 1862, and was recruited from the coun- ties of Daviess, Sullivan, Putnam, Gentry, Linn, De Kalb, Harri- son and Grundy. Subsequently companies were attached from Andrew, Buchanan, Worth, and Gentry Counties. This regiment was commanded by Col. James McFerran, of Gallatin, Mo., ex- judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and its first scene of action was a small engagement with a detachment of Confederates, under the command of Capt. Cash in Chariton County, Mo. During the first year of service, the regiment was engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes, among which were Newark, Kirksville, Panther Creek, Walnut Creek, Lee's Ford on the Charleston River, and a guerrilla warfare in Linn and Livings- ton, Lafayette, Jackson, Johnson and Henry Counties. During the fall and winter of 1862 the regiment was stationed at Sedalia, and the following year was mainly spent in an irregular warfare with guerrilla forces. The following were among the engage- ments in which the First participated: Battle in Bates and Vernon Counties with Marchbank's guerrillas; battle with Quantrell's men in different places; engagement with guerrilla forces in Lafayette County commanded by Blount, Graves and Peery, and other skirmishes not noted.
The following year was spent by the different companies in scouting after straggling parties of guerrillas that infested the country; and numerous engagements took place in which the regiment lost quite a number of men. Subsequently it took part in the battles of Independence, Big Blue and Osage. In the latter and in the gallant 'and decisive victory of the campaign. the regiment had the advance in bringing on the engagement, and occupied the right center of the line, and sustained the
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severest losses of the Federal forces engaged. On the 1st of January, 1865, the regiment was stationed in the Central district of Missouri, and was engaged in exterminating the band of guerrillas that infested that region of country, and performing guard and escort duty until mustered out.
Company H, Fourth Cavalry Missouri Militia, was organized at Stewartsville in April, 1862, and was made up principally from De Kalb County. As organized, E. T. Howard was captain; Michael Ryan, first lieutenant, and E. D. Bowen, second lieutenant. Howard served from April, 1862, until his death at Springfield, September 6 of the same year, and was succeeded by E. D. Bowen, who resigned December 31, 1862. January 13, 1863, Michael Ryan was promoted captain, and served until his dismissal from the service, February 1, 1864. C. J. Messimer then took command of the company, and served as such until the expiration of the term, April 18, 1865. After Messimer's promotion, J. W. Chambers became first lieutenant, and held the position from April, 1864, until mustered out of service in 1865. The successor of E. D. Bowen as second lieutenant was Charles W. Skelton, who resigned the office August 9, 1864. The following is a brief historical memo- randa of the part the Fourth Cavalry took in the war. Until May, 1862, the companies of the regiment had not been together, but in that month they were consolidated at Kansas City, and equipped for active service. The regiment then joined the com- mand of Brig .- Gen. E. B. Brown in Southeast Missouri, and the following summer took part in a number of engagements with guerrillas and irregular Confederate forces. In January, 1863, the regiment participated in the battle of Springfield, later took part in the battle with Shelby's raiders, at Marshall, engaged with the enemy at Huntsville, Ala., besides fighting a large number of skirmishers of which no accounts have been preserved. During 1864 the regiment saw a great deal of active service, and it is estimated that the average distance marched by the different companies from January till December of that year was 2,500 miles. The field of service was central Missouri, and the duty consisted in ridding the county of guerrilla bands. The com- panies were divided among different towns and sections, com- pany H being stationed during a part of the summer at Jeffer-
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
son City. In June, 1864, the headquarters were removed to Sedalia; thence July 30 to Warrensburg; August to Tabo, La- fayette County, and during the month of September to points as follows: Georgetown, Boonville, Otterville, Tipton and Sedalia; thence via Tipton to Russell. In June, July, August and September the regiment was constantly on the march, scouting the country extending from the northern boundary of Lafayette county to the mouth of the Osage, and was during this time in frequent fights and skirmishes with guerrillas. In the latter part of September, 1864, the regiment was concentrated at Sedalia, and in connection with other troops under Gen. Brown, moved to the defense of Jefferson City against the rebels under Gen. Price. From that time until the expiration of the term of service the regiment was engaged in guerrilla warfare, and lost quite a number of men.
During these periods of activity the company from Stewarts- ville bore itself creditably, and performed distinguished service in the various battles and campaigns. The loss of the company is not now known, though the ranks were considerably depleted upon the return of the boys in 1865.
Company I, Eighty-seventh Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia was organized in De Kalb County in 1862. Captain, O. G. McDonald; first-lieutenant, William H. Sifers; second-lieu- tenant, George W. Howard. O. G. McDonald was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in October, 1864, at which time William H. Sifers became captain. He served until the office was vacated March 12, 1865. Upon the promotion of Sifers, Charles C. Vance was chosen first lieutenant, and as such served from October, 1864, until March 12, 1865. George W. Howard resigned his commission as second lieutenant on the 20th of April, 1864, and was succeeded by A. J. Culbertson, who served until the expiration of the term.
Company K, same regiment, was recruited at Stewartsville, and as originally organized had the following officers: G. M. Brown, captain; George Shuckman, first lieutenant, and Edward L. Titcomb, second lieutenant. The latter was promoted to the command of the company on October 20, 1864, and served in that capacity until mustered out March 12 of the succeeding year.
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These companies were engaged principally in guarding the county against the depredations of guerrillas and bushwhackers, and preventing the Confederates from recruiting in the country. They were subject to be called wherever needed, however, and held themselves in readiness to move at a moment's notice. At one time they were engaged in guerrilla warfare in several of the Northern Missouri counties, but do not appear to have partici- pated in much active service, or in engagements of any impor- tance.
In the latter part of the war, 1865, the Fifty-fourth Regiment Missouri Militia was organized in De Kalb County for home pro- tection, and consisted of three companies. The officers were Levi Pritchard, lieutenant-colonel; O. G. McDonald, major; and Daniel Ransom, quartermaster. This was only a partial organization, and had an existence but a few months. Company A was commanded by William H. Sifers, captain; Robert Smith, first lieutenant, and William G. Frouns, second lieutenant. The only officers of Company C were William Henry and Daniel M. Albright, first and second lieutenants, respectively. The officers of Company D were Alhira Manring, captain; Cyrus J. Hunt, first lieutenant, and Samuel Leach, second lieutenant.
The above constitute the companies organized in De Kalb County for the Federal service. The close of the war was hailed with delight by the people of the county, at which time an era of good will was inaugurated, which still exists. Due forbearance was exercised by the returned soldiers of both sides, who, differ- ing in opinion, wisely permitted the difference to be buried with the dead past. Had other portions of the State been guided by the same wise counsels, they would have been spared on many occasions the bitterness and humiliation that frequently fell with heavy hand upon person and property. All honor to both Union and Southern men of De Kalb for their moderation and forbearance.
CRIME.
Notwithstanding the fact that De Kalb has always been noted for its good order and the peaceableness of its inhabitants, several transactions of a sanguinary nature have at different times occurred within the county. As the rough and turbulent
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spirits of the pioneer period drifted away before the benign in- fluence of civilization, the society began to improve materially. But the history of all countries, from the earliest colonization, has shown bad men mingled among the early settlers, and that as law and order are established, these characters are weeded out. So it was here. Shortly after the county was formed, and the different branches of the court were organized and put in opera- tion, De Kalb County became as law abiding a community as any in the State. And with the great mass of the population this has ever since been the case. But there was a period dating back, when not only this, but surrounding counties were affected with a species of lawlessness, that to the better class of citizens was extremely annoying. Horse stealing became quite common, like- wise petty theiving, and occasionally burglarious attacks of an alarming nature varied the monotony of the times, and led to the general belief that there was an organized band of men who made robbery their chief occupation. For a time the greater part of Northern Missouri seemed to have been troubled in this way.
Depredations were connected in rapid succession at points widely separated, and yet with such characteristic skill as to. create the belief that they were done by the same inspiration if not by the same person. Such a conclusion involved a belief in a widespread conspiracy, which so covered the country with abettors and sympathizers that the ordinary official felt powerless- to thwart their plans, or arrest the offenders against the law.
Happily this state of affairs did not exist in De Kalb County for any great length of time, but in the early history of the country a number of daring robberies and other crimes were committed with apparent impunity. Later, several crimes were committed, the details of which are not remembered sufficiently to give a full account of the transaction.
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