USA > Missouri > Boone County > History of Boone County, Missouri. > Part 16
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An article by E. W. Stephens, in the Missouri Statesman, of October 8, 1869, says : -
" After the permanent establishment of the seat of justice, the installment of the county officers, and the assumption of all the privileges and functions of a distinct county, Boone grew amazingly in wealth and population, and scarcely a year had elapsed before she was recognized as one of the first counties of Missouri - a position she has never since ceased to sustain. The emigration was largest during the year 1822. A writer of that period asserts that ' the settlers of those twelve months were more numerous and possessed of more wealth than those of all upper Missouri besides.'"
FIRST HORSE AND WATER MILLS.
" Before 1820 there was but one grist mill within the limits of
171
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
Boone county. It belonged to John Copeland, and stood near Moni- teau creek, several miles north of Rocheport. During 1821 another one was built by Durrett Hubbard, about eight miles southeast of Columbia, near the present residence of Judge James Harris. In 1822 the first carding machine was built near the present southern suburbs of Columbia by David Jackson, by whom it was run for sev- eral years. During 1822 the great influx of emigrants occasioned the construction of a considerable number of factories and mills, and by February 4, 1823, there were in the county three manufacturing water mills, ten horse mills and three water saw mills."
POPULATION - WEALTH - ENTERPRISE.
" The rapid increase of the county had, by 1824, become such as to awaken enterprise and start the pulses of trade in every avenue of labor. The forests began to ring with the axe of the woodsman, and the wilderness fast became the scene of active industry and enlight- ened culture. The fertile soil was made to yield an abundant increase, which found a ready demand and sold at exorbitant prices to the new comers. These inhabitants were active, energetic and progressive, and with resoluteness applied themselves to the development and civilization of the country. Log cabins were supplanted by neat frame dwellings, and over the hovels of poverty rose mansions of com- fort and plenty. The haunts of barbarism became the abodes of learning, and the mists of ignorance vanished before the light of intel- ligence. In three years Columbia had grown from a few wretched huts to an emporium of refinement, enterprise and trade. Scholars, lawyers, divines, capitalists, and men of every rank and condition in their pilgrimage to a Western home, attracted by the richness and beauty of the country, cast their fortunes with the frontier village and applied their tastes and energies to its adornment and progress. Columbia was now confirmed beyond cavil as the established county seat, and the large population, as well as the business before the courts, made it necessary that there should be a temple of justice."
" THE HULL OF A COURT-HOUSE.'
The first court house erected in Boone county for the accommoda- tion of the Circuit and County Courts was called in the advertisement of the Commissioners " the hull of a court-house," and those who aided in the administration of justice within its walls, either as judges,
172
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
jurors or other officers, or who, as citizens of spectators, listened with rapture to the forensic eloquence of our early lawyers, will agree that- it was a " hull" in fact as well as in name.
It was a brick structure erected by Minor Neal, and stood until sup- planted in 1848 by the present court-house, where the Baptist Church now stands. The following, copied from the Intelligencer of May 1st, 1824, is the advertisement of the Commissioners for bids to. erect the hull : -
PUBLIC NOTICE.
THE Commissioners of Boon County will, on the first day of the next term of the Circuit Court of said county, at the town of COLUMBIA, on the
Second Monday in June next, LET TO THE LOWEST BIDDER, The BUILDING of the HULL of a COURT HOUSE,
Forty feet square, and two stories high, to be covered with good shingles.
Payment - part cash, and the balance cash notes.
They will also sell, at the same time and place, about
40 LOTS
in said town, at six and twelve months' credit.
Particulars made known on the day of the letting of the house and sale of lots.
John Gray, Lawrence Bass, Jefferson Fulcher, Absalom Hicks, David Jackson, Commissioners of Boon County .. 38-7w
May 1, 1824.
" The building was afterwards let to Judge John Vanhorn, then a resident of Boone, and Isaiah Parks, and built by them during the year 1824. It stood just west of the present court-house, where is now the Baptist Church. It was a brick building of hip roof, two. stories high, with a court room on the ground floor, and grand and petit jury rooms above stairs, the building being fifty feet long by forty wide. Courts were held there until the completion of the pres- ent court-house in 1848.
173
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
In February, 1823, the population of Columbia was 130. See Intelligencer of Feb. 4, 1823.
1824-1881 -- A FINANCIAL CONTRAST.
Nothing, perhaps, will so clearly or in so interesting a manner.dis- close the progress made in the county as a comparison of its receipts and expenditures in 1824 with its receipts and expenditures in 1881, nearly sixty years afterwards - the receipts during the first year being only $855.75, and the last year $121,794.22 ; expenditures in 1824 only $743, or $112.75 less than the receipts, while in 1881 the receipts were $121,794.22, and the expenditures $53,381.01.
The following tabular statements - the first from the Franklin Intelligencer of January 1, 1825, and the last from the records of our County Court - will exhibit these facts in interesting and suggestive contrast :
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1824.
[From the Franklin Intelligencer, January 1, 1825.] A STATEMENT
1
Of the Receipts and Expenditures of Boone County during the Year 1824.
RECEIPTS
Of the Collector, it being the net amount of the county levy for the said year, the sum of .. $734 71
Of Constables, on fines assessed by Justices of the Peace. 31 67
Of the Sheriff, on fines assessed by the Circuit Court. 89 36
Total receipts. $855 75
EXPENDITURES.
To William Lientz, as a Justice of the County Court. 28 00
" Lawrence Bass, as a Justice of the County Court. 32 00
" Silas Riggs, as a Justice of the' County Court ... 26 00
" James Barns, Sheriff 169 54
" Harrison Jamison, Deputy Sheriff. 26 00
" Roger N. Todd, Clerk of the Circuit Court ..
72 49
" John T. Foster, for furnishing a seal press, three chairs for the Court, and for other services.
13 68
" Richard Gentry, for furnishing a room for the Circuit Court at February term ... 2 00
Gabriel Davis, for services rendered the county. 2 00
" Hiram Wilburn, for services rendered the county. 3 00
" Joshua Gillum, for services rendered the "county 4 00
" Samuel Wickersham, for services rendered the county 1 41
" Hugh Silvers, for services rendered the county. 3 00
174
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
To Richard Riggs, for services rendered the county 6 60
" Warren Woodson, Clerk of the County Court, for furnishing stationery for his office, making out county tax-lists, performing the duties of County Treasurer for said year, and for other services rendered the county .. 89 14
" Appropriation made said Woodson for furnishing record books, seal of office, seal for branding measures, and half-bushel measure 71 75
" Tyre Harris, Esq., for services rendered the county
" Adam C. Rayburn, keeper of stray pound, and for services rendered the county ... 6 50
" Samuel Jamison, for the rent of a house to hold courts in.
38 00-
" David Jackson, as County Commissioner.
" Jefferson Fulcher, as County Commissioner
" John Gray, as County Commissioner.
10 00
" Robert Hinkson, for services as overseer of road in 1822 2 00
" Bazzel Brown, for bearing poll-book to Columbia. 1 40.
" Roger N. Todd, for acting as clerk to a sale of lots in the town of Columbia 11 00
8 00
" John Henderson, Esq., for services rendered the county. 2 50
11 50
" Peter Kerney, Constable, for services rendered the county
8 75
" Adam C. Rayburn, for services rendered the county ..
10 87
" Sampson Wright, collector for certain advertisements.
4 00
" Appropriations made to Wm. Lientz for furnishing one-gallon, half-gallon, quart, pint, and half-pint standard measures .. 10 00
" Henry Cave, Sr., as commissioner to view a road in 1822.
5 00
" R. N. Todd, for making repairs to a house for the use of the courts. 26 75
" Moses Batterton, his semi-annual allowance for keeping Alfred Batterton, a per- son of unsound mind. 10 00
Total amount of expenditures. $743 00.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
COUNTY OF BOONE, Sct.
As Clerk of the County Court in and for said county, I certify that the above and forego- ing statement contains a correct account of the receipts and expenditures of said county dur- ing the year 1824.
Given under my hand, with the seal of said Court affixed, at Columbia, this 15th day of December, 1824.
WARREN WOODSON, Clerk.
[L. S.]
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1881.
RECEIPTS.
$26,243 93
County revenue .
25,543 90.
County interest
12,032 81
Valid indebtedness
26,825 47
State tax
28,228 84
Public School tax
1,575 75
Railroad tax - Rocky Fork Township
1,343 52
Railroad tax - Perche Township
Total receipts .
$121,794 22:
2 00
10 00
10 00
" Johiel Parks, for acting as clerk to a sale of lots in the town of Columbia
" Harrison Jamison, for services rendered the county.
175
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
EXPENDITURES.
Bonds redeemed
$7,000 00
Interest on bonds redeemed
106 20%
Coupons on bonds redeemed
21,893 00
Judges' salary
365 60.
County Clerk's salary
2,396 21
Sheriff's fees
227 84
Prosecuting Attorney's salary
750 00.
Circuit Clerk and criminal costs
1,405 34
Treasurer
650 00
Assessor
688. 80
Surveyor
276 50
School Commissioner
41 75
Road Overseers .
1,400 25
County Physician
146 00.
County Poor-house expense
3,485 09
Pauper support and coffins
389 72
Bridge expense .
6,806 92
State Lunatic Asylum expense .
1,389 18
Stationery and books
732 70
Public printing .
276 60
Repairs and furniture public buildings
521 52
Fuel public buildings .
171 60.
Inquest fees
139 05.
Jail expense
903 17
Repairs public roads .
100 00
Insurance public buildings
26 65
Rebate on taxes .
48 91
Miscellaneous
43 05
Total
$52,381 01
THE TOWN OF "PERSIA." 1
" Columbia did not secure the seat of justice of Boone County wholly without effort. There was at least one other point that contested her claims stoutly and with strong prospects of success. This was near the intersection of the old " Boonslick Trace," or St. Charles Road, and Perche Creek, and close by the farm now owned by
A town was there laid out in 1820, and called " Persia." Who chose the locality or promulgated the idea of proposing it for the county seat, is unknown. Some of the persons who lived in and near this. town, were Moses Batterton, Jonathan Barton (cousin of Hon. David Barton ), William Callaham, James Davis, Reuben and Eppa Elliott, Isaac Freeman, Benjamin Ferguson, James Fenton, William Goslin,. Nicholas Gentry, Tyre Harris, Joseph M. Little, James and John Payne, William and Barnett Rowland, William Ryan, Peter Stivers,
1 Properly spelled Perche.
176
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
John Skinner, George and Isham Sexton, John Slack, Enoch Taylor, O. Babett, J. Tefft and Elisha Stanley.
" In 1820 many reasons seemed to indicate that Persia would grow to be a thriving and populous town, but it obtained its maximum at fifteen or twenty houses, and after the location of the county seat at ·Columbia, gradually declined, till it sank from existence, and is now almost wrapt in oblivion.
" The advertisement of a sale of lots in "Persia," which we copy from the Franklin Intelligencer of April 1, 1820, will be interesting reading : -
THE TOWN OF PERSIA, .
Situated on the Rocher Perce Creek, on the main road leading from Franklin to St. Charles, about 28 miles from Franklin, and generally supposed to be in the centre of the contemplated county, in a rich and fertile tract of country, rapidly populating with wealthy and respectable citizens: The local advantages of this place are not sur- .passed, perhaps, by any for a town in the territory - there being a number of never- failing springs; and the Rocher Perce contains a sufficient quantity of water to keep mills of any description in operation at any season of the year. Two of the proprie- tors will commence building a Saw and Grist Mill immediately, near the town, and a Bridge across the Creek. There will also be erected a Brewery, Distillery, Carding Machine, & Fulling Mill, which will certainly aid very much in facilitating the improve- ment of the town, as purchasers will be able to obtain materials for building cheaper than they can obtain thiem at any other place in the territory. The subscribers hope this will be an inducement to purchase and improve their lots at once.
The proprietors of this town do not wish to exhibit it on paper, for purposes of speculation, as is too frequently the case, but wish purchasers to improve their lots and realize their value.
50 LOTS
will be given to Merchants, Mechanics, and persons wishing to improve in the above town, on stipulated terms, viz. : A lot out of each block, or in proportion to the num- ber of blocks in said town. On each corner lot a building, frame, brick or stone, not less than two stories high, and eighteen by twenty-five feet, which is to be enclosed by the 20th Sept. next. If of brick or stone, the body to be up by the 4th July next; if a frame, the frame to be erected by that time - and on each middle lot a comfort- able dwelling-house, not less than 18 feet square, of any kind of materials, to be finished by the 4th of July next.
. The Lots in the above town will be offered at PUBLIC SALE, on the premises, on the FOURTH OF JULY next- and at FRANKLIN on the 10th.
Terms of payment - one-tenth in three months from the day of sale, and the remain- der at the expiration of three years.
1- A plot of the town may be seen at the town, and at the store of Stanley and Ludlow and the Printing Office, Franklin.
O. BABBITT,
J. TEFFT,
E. STANLEY, N. PATTEN, Jr.,
Agents for the above Town.
April 1, 1820.
177
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
The " saw and grist mill " spoken of in the above was afterwards built and owned by Elisha Stanley.
THE TOWN OF ROCHEPORT.
E. W. Stephens, Assistant Editor of the Statesman, November 19, 1869 : " The ground on which the town of Rocheport stands was originally obtained under a New Madrid certificate (the nature of which has been heretofore explained ) by David Gray. It comprised a tract of 191.40 acres. It was afterwards sold by Gray to William Kincheloe, who had possession of it but a brief period, when it was purchased by John Gray. The latter had resided upon the land prior to the date of purchase, and in 1821 obtained a license to run a ferry across the river at that point. About the same time a warehouse was established there, which was kept by Robert Hood. The locality was designated " The mouth of the Moniteau."
" On March 2, 1825, one-third of this tract was sold by John Gray to Abraham Barnes, and one-third to Lemon Parker and John Ward, for $2,000. These persons immediately laid out a town there. The survey of the plat was made by our aged and much esteemed fellow citizen, William Shields.1 Arrangements having been perfected for a sale of lots, the following publication was made to that effect in the Intelligencer of September 2, 1825 : -
TOWN OF ROCHEPORT.
This town is situated on the Missouri River, at about an equal distance from Franklin and Columbia, at the mouth of the Grand Moniteau. Its site is not equalled by any on the Missouri from its mouth to Fort Osage. Its harbor is'very superior, having nearly half-a-mile of deep still water in front of the town, occasioned by bluff of rocks above, projecting into the river, which renders it perfectly secure for boats during the breaking up of ice. The tract is well watered, having several large springs of fine soft water. As it respects the advantages of this point for business, to those who have resided any time in Boon's Lick country nothing need be said, its superiority being generally acknowledged; but for the information of emigrants, who feel disposed to settle in or near a town of some promise, it may be proper to make a few remarks. The business of this section of country necessarily includes in some degree the expor- tation of its surplus produce; and, as emigration ceases, and cultivation and improve- ments are extended, it will then constitute a considerable portion of our cominerce. For a business of this kind, its situation is peculiarly favorable, having in its rear the largest connected body of good country in the State, and its settlements, though good at present, are rapidly progressing, and of a wealthy and enterprising class. Its com- munication with the back country is easy and free from those difficulties which
1 Mr. Shields died in Columbia on September 7, 1870, aged 83 years.
12
1
178
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
generally exist with towns situated on the Missouri, viz., bad roads. In almost every direction, from this point, good roads are and may be had with but little labor. The traveller from St. Louis to Columbia, Boonville, Lexington, Liberty, or Fort Osage,. will no doubt shortly adopt the route by Rocheport, there crossing the Missouri, by which he will save in distance ten or twelve miles, have a much better road, and avoid several creeks and extensive bottoms, which, in a wet time, much impede his progress on the old route.
A good warehouse and ferry are already established at Rocheport, both of which are. at present well supported.
The title to the town tract is indisputable, the proprietors being in possession of the. patent from the United States.
LOTS
will be offered for sale on the premises, on the seventeenth day of November next -and' as it is the desire of the proprietors rather to promote improvement than to realize cash from the amount of sales, no lots will be sold except subject to certain improve -- ments, to be made within eighteen months from purchase, say at least a log house eighteen by twenty feet on each lot. To merchants or mechanics, who wish to become. settlers and make extensive improvements, donations of lots will be made. A bond: will be given to purchasers to make a warrantee, and so soon as the purchase money- shall be paid.
Six and twelve months will be given on sales.
September 2, 1825.
THE PROPRIETORS ..
" Judge John Vanhorn was the agent for the proprietors of the' town in the sale of lots. The one-third part of this tract owned by John Gray after his sale of the two-thirds to Barns, Ward and Parker,. was sold by him to Joshua Newbrough, on September 6, 1828, for- $700, from whom it was purchased on December 15, 1832, by William Gaw and Lemon Parker for $1,300.
" The adaptiveness of Rocheport as a shipping point, and the rich. country surrounding it, attracted immediate notice from emigrants. Very soon storehouses were established by Caleb Harris, John G. Philips, - Brewster, and others, a tavern by Thomas Hudson, and several private dwelling houses. Rocheport soon promised to be one- of the largest towns on the Missouri, and to rival, if not surpass, Columbia in trade and population. Indeed, it was only the central. position, capital, and indomitable energy of the latter that subsequently prevented it."
THE SHOOTING MATCH.
Our pioneer civilization was characterized by athletic and other sports, Some of them were more or less rude, but all of them com- paratively innocent and calculated to develop the traits of character held in esteem by the people. Wrestling, foot-racing, fishing, hunt-
.
179
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
ing, ball and marble-playing, and shooting at targets may be men- tioned as among the recreations of the period.
Some of these have not passed away with our pioneer civilization, but have come down to the more advanced conditions of refinement and culture which characterize our times. Others, however, have gone into disuse and are unknown to the younger portion of this gen- eration. Among these is the shooting match, which was a very popu- lar recreation with the early settlers of the West, and very frequently called them together on Saturday afternoon as a befitting and pleasant termination of the labors and business of the week. It was popularly called " shooting for beef," and is well described in the following article from the Franklin Intelligencer, Sept. 2, 1825 : - -
For the Intelligencer.]
THE SHOOTING MATCH.
Among the sports which the Western freemen engage in during their hours of relaxa- tion, the shooting match holds the first place. In a republic where regular soldiers are held in such indifferent estimation that they abandon the hope of uniform good treatment, it is important that every citizen prepare himself for the high destiny of self-defence. To establish the truth of this position, we have only to refer to the for- tunes of Generals Lafayette and Wilkinson -both officers of the Revolution -the former a foreigner, the latter a native citizen. Their services have been as nearly equal as it is possible to conceive. Each staked his all for our country. The former was an adventurer, the latter a patriot. The first comes to our shores to receive our embraces and our bounty, and deservedly, too, while the last is doomed to exile -to seek an humble grave in a foreign land, after enjoying the stranger's donation for a .. brief period. I will mention no more instances of neglect, although they occur to me by hundreds, less I am deemed ill-natured, but solace myself with the belief that there will never be found men enough in this republic to increase our army establishment, who will so far disgrace themselves as to become the mercenaries of a government that will look with indifference on them when age or infirmities shall have unfitted them for usefulness. It is with proud satisfaction then, that we turn to the indepen- dent yeomen, whose pastime fits them to defend their native soil without hope of reward, or fear of degradation. Though Missourians inhabit a remote section of the Union, they claim to hold those unerring rifles that will, when our country shall un- happily need them, be truly aimed " in the front of the battle."
Besides field sports in a new country where game is abundant, shooting matches on almost every Saturday evening, tend to perfect our riflemen in the use of their hair- splitting weapons. Many of these guns are so unpromising in appearance that one of them might be mistaken for a crowbar tied to a hand-spike; but when in the hands of a marksman, its value is ascertained. At our shooting match for beef, a steer is divided into five parts, and the hide and tallow is termed the fifth quarter. This last is the most valuable, and it is for the fifth quarter that the most skilful marksmen contend. The shots are generally so thickly planted about the centre of the target as to require great scrutiny in determining the conquerors-the " fifth quarter winner," " second
180
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
choice," etc. When this is known, great exultation is not unusual, but the winners sometimes betray a little vanity in bestowing encomiums on their rifles; and there are few who are not polite enough to attribute their success to the excellence of their arms.
If the gunsmith be present, he is not a little flattered by his acknowledgment of his skill. Many of the most distinguished guns acquire names of most fearful import, by which they are known in sporting circles, and small bets are sometimes made on " Black Snake," "Cross Bunter." "Hair Splitter," "Blood Letter," and "Panther Cooler." In short, there are very few of our rifles that would not put to shame the arrow that sent a messenger "to Philip's eye." I am likewise disposed to believe that if "Natty Bumpo" himself were to attend one of our shooting matches "for beef," he might stake his last ninepence to no purpose. MOSS BUCKET.
INDIAN TROUBLES ON THE CHARITON.
It can hardly be imagined at this day that, as late as the summer of 1829, eight years from the admission of the State into the Union, and thirteen years after the organization of Howard County, serious troubles occurred with hostile Indians so near the centre of civilization as on the waters of Chariton, in the county of Randolph. Never- theless, it is historically true that in June, 1829 a roving band of Iowas, Sioux and Winnebago Indians made an attack on a settlement in the region mentioned, killing three white citizens - John Myers, James Winn and Powell Owensby, and wounding several others. The news of these depredations set the country ablaze, and in a short time armed volunteers from Howard, Boone and Callaway counties, num- bering in the aggregate more than a thousand men, concentrated at the point of danger. Those from Howard County were under the command of Col. Major Horner, the father of our fellow-citizen John P. Horner. All descriptions of citizens in each of the counties mentioned flew to arms with alacrity, amongst others, in Howard County, Col. Benj. H. Reeves, late Lieutenant-Governor, and father of Mrs. Abiel Leonard ; Gen. I. P. Owens, Abiel Leonard, John B. Clark, Samuel Moore, Sinclair Kirtley - the last four lawyers - and Drs, William Jewell and Alexander M. Robinson, of Columbia. About two hundred volunteers went from Boone County, under the leader- ship of Rev. James Suggett, who had hitherto been engaged in the Indian wars of the country, and Capt. Overton Harris.
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