History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 54

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220

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Being fully satisfied of his guilt, he was indicted at the April term, 1877, of the Boone circuit court, and here the matter rested until in July, 1882, when he was captured in Jasper county, Mo., and brought back to this county and lodged in our county jail. The Leader says that a man named John Pittman once resided in Marshall county, Kansas, and was a near neighbor to the Shroyers and became well ac- quainted with Mike. Subsequently he moved to Jasper county, Mo., and settled near Joplin. He was living there when he read in the pa- pers accounts of the murder of Mrs. Shroyer by her husband, nearly six years ago, but the matter had almost entirely left his mind until about July 20, 1882, when he suddenly came upon Mike Shroyer, who was at work as a grader on the Webb City Extension of the Kan -. sas City, Ft. Scott & Gulf Railroad. Pittman then wrote to an old friend of his in Marshall county, Kansas, inquiring about Shroyer. But in the meantime he told some parties about the report that

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Mike Shroyer had murdered his wife somewhere in Missouri but he did not remember where. It so happened that John Esry, Jr., and John Jester, former residents of Sturgeon, were present and heard Pittman's story. They remembered well all the circumstances con- nected with the finding of the body of the murdered woman, and at once the sheriff of the county (Roberts) was notified and Shroyer was arrested and lodged in jail. He afterwards brought the prisoner to Columbia and committed him to the safe keeping of Mr. Stone, the sheriff of Boone County, who will retain him for trial.

SHOOTING OF ROWLAND.

A difficulty occurred in Bourbon township, at Union church, in 1879, between two prominent members named Wade and Rowland. They were brothers-in-law, and it seems had quarrelled over the set- tlement of an estate in which they were both interested. The affair got into the church, necessitating a church trial for adjustment. It was while the members were meeting for that purpose that Wade shot Rowland. The courts have not yet finally passed upon the case, and it is not for the historian to anticipate the action of the councils of justice.

OLD PETERSBURG.

On the east half of the southwest quarter of section 31, town- ship 51, range 12, where is now a corn field, once stood a little village, called Petersburg. It was, laid out in the year 1836, or perhaps in 1837, and was a noted little village, on Silver's Fork of Perche, at one time with a population of say fifty souls. There were two stores in the place, a mill, a tanyard, blacksmith shop, etc. Gen. Geo. Dorris, now of St. Louis, put up the first store in Petersburg. Gen. D.'s wife, who was murdered in the fall of 1881, by her grandson, Russell Brown, is well remembered by the old citizens. The wife of Gen. John A. Logan, now U. S. senator from Illinois, was born in Petersburg. Her maiden name was Mary Cunningham. Many of her relatives now reside in the vicinity.

The mill at Petersburg belonged to H. Brink, who was really the founder of the little town.

Old Petersburg, like other frontier towns in an early day, was a great place for frolicking, dancing, fun and fighting. Many an old stager with gray beard and bald head will feel young again as he recalls the delightful scenes through which he passed when in his youth he was wont to visit and recreate in Petersburg. But the

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town, like the days of his youth, has passed away forever, and its memories at last are bitter as well as sweet.

Among the many incidents related of Old Petersburg is this one : Long ago there was an individual in the vicinity who was known as " Tasty " Jones. He was probably ironically so called, from his taste in the selection of his wearing apparel. On one occasion " Tasty " had come to town and bought a pound of gunpowder, which he had put in the pockets of his pantaloons, a bran-new tow- linen pair. He went into a blacksmith shop to swap news with the village smithy. While standing carelessly about, a livid spark from the anvil flew against his linen unmentionables, and set them on fire. The fire communicated with the powder, and then there came a burst of thunder sound - poor Jones ! Oh, where was he? It is solemnly averred that the explosion blew "Tasty " fairly through the roof, which was a low one, and badly demoralized the roof itself; that it knocked the blacksmith galley-west and crooked, and frightened the townspeople into thinking an earthquake was upon them. Jones was laid up for some days, but finally recovered. His pants were a total wreck, and perished in the great catastrophe.

M'CAULEY'S MILL.

This mill stands on Perche creek, on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 7, township 51, range 13. It was built in the year 1867, by John Peacher, Curtis Gentry, and J. R. and H. W. Jackson. Its first cost was about $1,200, but its present value is about $1,500, as estimated by Mr. McCauley. The mill is a saw and grist mill com- bined, and grinds both wheat and corn. It uses the patent process for purifying middlings. During the fall and winter seasons it runs regularly. In the spring, and subsequently, it is usually operated but one or two days in the week.

SCHOOL HOUSES IN BOURBON.

Barrett School House. - Stands on the southeast quarter of section 29, township 51, range 13. The site, one acre, was donated by J. H. Alexander, including the timber, although he was childless. He was a trustee for one year after the house was built. The house was built in the summer of 1877, at a cost of $300. The average term of school in this district for the past year or two has been low on ac- count of indebtedness. Average attendance, twenty-five. Present trustees, Geo. W. Gulick, Wm. B. Prowell, and John H. Graves.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

Dinwiddie School House. - Northeast quarter of section 11, town- ship 51, range 12. The site comprises two acres. The house was built about 1872, at a cost of $300. Average term of school, six months ; average attendance, twenty ; average wages per month paid teachers, $32.50. Present teacher, Miss Ella Patterson. Present trustees,L. W. White, president ; Zadok Kelly, secretary and clerk ; Wm. Dinwiddie, treasurer.

Turner School House .- Northwest quarter of section 12, town- ship 51, range 13. The site, one acre, was donated by J. Turner. The house was built in 1876, and cost $340. Average term of school, six months ; attendance, fifteen ; teacher's wages, $35 and $40. Last teacher, Miss Rose Ann Seymour.

Woods School House. - Near the centre of section 26, township 51, range 13. The house was built about 1857, and cost $400. Av- erage school term, seven months ; teacher's wages, $35.00.

White School House. - Southeast quarter of section 7, township 51, range 13. The site, an acre, was donated equally by J. T. and Thomas White. The house was built in the summer of 1876, and cost $410. Four or five months of public school are held during the year besides a private school term of two or three months. The average wages paid teachers is $37.50. Miss Addie White was the last teacher. Present directors, J. T. White, James M. Chaney, J. R. Jackson.

Robinson School House- Is on the southeast quarter of section 25, township 51, range 14. The house was built near the year 1872 ; cost, $325. The average attendance is about thirty-five. The salary is from $30 to $40. Directors, Geo. Hombs, John Robinson, Han- sen Smith. Robinson school house is noted for its spelling matches and debating schools.

The Tucker School House. - This school house is located on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 20, township 51, range 12. It was built about the year 1869. The site contains about an acre of ground. The building cost from $400 to $450. B. F. Tucker, Thos. Palmer, and Y. E. Riggs are the present directors. Mr. Tucker superintended the building of the house. The district has about eight months school in the year, with an average daily at- tendance of twenty-eight.

COUNTRY CHURCHES - MT. HOREB, BAPTIST (EXTINCT).

This church was situated on the southwest quarter of section 8, township 51, range 12. The date of its organization is March 3,

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

1853. The original members were Saml. M. and Margaret Riggs, Jno. and Rebecca Hawkins, Jesse and Mary Ann Copher, Parmelia Winn, Gerald, Serena, and Elizabeth Angell, Thos. L. and John D., Eze- kiel V., and Margaret Hawkins, Peter G. and Margaret Booth, John S. Parmer, Francis M. Brink, James, Paulina, and Elizabeth Haw- kins, Elizabeth Gibson, Joseph H. and Mary E. Keithley, Priscilla Ann Taylor, Mary Ann Bentley, William and Sally Summers, Jame A. and Lou Ann Quisenberry, and Jonathan Bogarth. Rev. Wms Thompson was really the founder of the church.

The building, a frame, was erected in the summer of 1855. Its cost exceeded $1,200. Of this sum $1,100 was subscribed at the start, and the remainder added afterwards. When the frame of this church was up it was blown down by a severe storm. It was again put up and all completed but the plastering, when it was struck by lightning and shivered so badly that it was torn down and built over the third time. During the war soldiers encamped in it and injured it very considerably. At present it is not used, being an old wreck and fast crumbling into complete decay.

During its existence the pastors of this church were: Rev. Dr. Wm. Thompson, W. R. Wigginton, P. T. Gentry, W. K. Woods, B. S. Woods, W. R. Wigginton (again ), Green Cary, Wigginton ( again, 1866), Green Cary (again, from 1868 to 1871, the last regular preacher ).

The founder of Mt. Horeb, Dr. Wm. Thompson, was one of the ablest divines ever in Missouri. He was a native of Scotland, and a graduate of Edinburg University. He was a thorough scholar and especially an accomplished linguist. He afterward became president of Wm. Jewell College, Liberty, and died there not many years ago. A monument has been erected to his memory.

When Dr. Thompson first came into Bourbon township, many years ago, he was regarded as a " tramp." He called at the residence of Mr. Hawkins, a prominent church member, and, as he was not at home, started away. Mr. H's son, Andrew J. Hawkins, then a boy, followed Dr. Thompson and inquired his business with his father. Being informed that it was regarding church matters, the doctor was invited back to the house to remain over night. Meeting was being held in the neighborhood. Dr. Thompson stated that he sometimes preached and he was invited to attend. While in church he was called on to pray. The worshippers had viewed him with some suspicion and distrust, but when he began to pray he " astonished

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the natives." After the meeting he was invited to preach and became the founder and first pastor of Mt. Horeb. Under his ministrations the church prospered greatly. It is said that the learned divine was. " cranky" at times. On these occasions he would never speak a word - nothing could induce him to. Furthermore it is stated that he could repeat from memory and by rote every word of the New Testament.

FAR WEST - CHRISTIAN.

This church'stands on the northeast corner of section 22, township 51, range 12. The congregation was organized sometime in the year 1858. Three of the original members were Jesse Roberts, Alfred Wainscott, and Wm. Denham.

The first church building, a log structure, was built either in the fall of 1852 or the spring of 1853. It was proposed by James Hen- dricks to raise a subscription for the building of a church before any organization of any denomination was formed. The people believed, that if they would build a house in which to hold meetings that they could obtain the help of a minister and have regular services, and thus improve the moral tone of the community. Mr. Hendricks headed the subscription list and the money was raised and the building completed several years before the organization of the Christian church.

The present church building, a frame, was completed in the fall of 1880. Its cost was about $700 ; a great deal of the work of construc- tion was done gratis by the community. The land on which the building stands was deeded to the use of " the Methodist, Christian, and Baptist churches," although the Christian church was the only denomi- nation holding regular meetings. Rev. Stephen J. Bush was the first preacher in the new church. The present membership is about 45.

PERCHE CHURCH.

This church is owned and controlled by the Baptists and Christians jointly. It is situated in the center of section 19, township 51, range 13. The Christian organization was formed June 14, 1835. The original members were Wm. White and wife, Silas Riggs and wife, James Williams and wife, Alfred Johnson and wife, Thomas McBride and wife, John White and wife, Joel Bradley and wife, Gabriel Bradley and wife, Durrett Bruce and wife, Nancy D. Sanford, Mar- garet Clayton, Elizabeth Roberts, Mahala Ann Roberts, Caleb Woods, Nancy Swezer, Willis Clayton, Nicholas Roberts, Sarah White,

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Joel White and Emily Bradley. The first house of worship was a log with a big fire place and chimney in each end. The first elders were Durrett Bruce, Wm. White and John White. Among the pastors were William and John White, John McCune, Silas Naylor, and Minter Bailey. The present church building is a fine frame structure, 34x50 feet in size, and was built in the year 1880 at a cost of $1,200. It has not been dedicated. The old church was built about the year 1835 or 1836.

The Baptist organization was constituted in 1881, and has but re- cently gone into partnership with the Christians. The first organiza- tion was composed of 22 members, as follows : Sam'l Jackson, J. B. Lyon, Wm. Prowell, G. W. Gulick, and -Brown, and their wives ; James W. Robinson, wife and daughter; Hewson Smith, wife and daughter ; Wesley Holmes, Mary E. Holmes, John Robinson, Wood- son Tisdel, Elizabeth Tisdel, and J. A. Carr. There have been four additions since the organization. Rev. Green Carey is the pastor.

UNION CHURCH.

This is the only Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the county, and is located in the northern part of section 35, township 51, range 13. As nearly as can be ascertained, it was organized in about 1832. The original members were Robert Rowland and wife ; Robert School- ing and wife ; Edward Graves and wife ; James, Nancy and Susannah Schooling ; and Barnabas S. Woods and wife. The first building erected was a log structure, which answered for a meeting-house for several years. They next built a frame, which, however, was burned in the summer of 1879. The fire was a mysterious affair, and is supposed by some to have been the work of incendiaries. A tragedy connected with this church is elsewhere given in this chapter.

The ministers that have served this church since 1873, to this writ- ing, are R. C. Mansfield, T. G. Pool,-Johnson, and G. W. Dysart. The present building was erected in 1881, at a cost of about $1,100. The number of members at this writing is about 100.

CEMETERIES.

Palmer Graveyard. - This is probably the oldest burying ground in the township. It was laid out by James Palmer about the year. 1837, and contains about an acre of land. The first interment was that of John Palmer. Others of the Palmer family are here buried.

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There are probably twenty graves in the cemetery. Its location is in the southeast quarter of section 20, township 51, range 12.

The Robinson Graveyard. - This cemetery, a private one, is in section 8, township 51, range 13, on the farm now owned by J. B. Robinson. It was laid out about the year 1849, by Tandy Robinson, father of the present owner of the land. It contains about twenty graves.

THE CITY OF STURGEON.

EARLY HISTORY.

Many years ago a town called Buena Vista stood on the range line between ranges 12 and 13 and between section 6, township 51, of the former, and section 1 of the latter, the site being about half way of the section line from north to south. The place was also called Bour- bonton. At one time it contained about 150 inhabitants, two stores, two blacksmith shops, a saloon, etc. The place was renowned chiefly for horse-racing, whisky-drinking, and fighting. It is not important that a full history of Buena Vista be given here, since the place that knew it once knows it now no more forever. It is remembered, how- ever, that on one occasion in a row over a horse-race, a Mr. Hudson shot four men and cut the throat of another. None of the men were killed, but all were placed hors du combat. This was known as the Hudson-Perkins-Angell fight.

Lemuel Dill was a noted house-mover, and when old Buena Vista was removed to where Sturgeon now is, he moved the houses, using a huge wagon with axles and coupling-pole long enough to hold a good- sized house.

LOCATION AND SURVEY OF THE TOWN.

The town of Sturgeon was laid out in July and August, 1856, by the Sturgeon Town Company whose trustees were J. D. Patton, James E. Hicks, and Archie Wayne. The site was purchased from John Rochford, N. B. Burks, and J. B. Smith. Only a short distance away, on the northwest quarter of section 5, township 51, range 12, the town of Prairie City was laid out but swallowed up by the town of Sturgeon, because the railroad company refused to locate a . depot therein. John Rochford owned the principal portion of the land on which Sturgeon was laid out. He was an engineer and a contractor on the North Missouri Railroad, and built about twenty miles of that important thoroughfare.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

The town was named for Hon. Isaac H. Sturgeon, then the super- intendent of the North Missouri Railroad, and was contemplated to be a station on the road from the start. The little bit of " taffy " ten- dered the railroad magnate was probably not without its effect in causing the location of a depot at the town bearing his name, but it took something more substantial to effect the location finally and absolutely. Six worthy citizens of the vicinity, including Messrs. Rochford, Burks, and Smith, obligated themselves to pay to the rail- road. company $6,000, contingent upon the location of the railroad station as aforesaid. The following is a copy of the obligation : -

We hereby obligate ourselves to pay to the North Missouri Railroad Company three thousand dollars on the. 1st day of December next, and the further sum of three thousand dollars on the 1st day of August, 1857, provided said railroad company locate a depot on said railroad between station No. 5772 and station No. 5790, being on the east end of section 1 129 and the west end of section 1 128, west of Salington creek; and further provided that no depot be located within five miles of this point. Given under our hands and seals this the 3d of July, 1856.

JOHN ROCHFORD. [SEAL] JOHN B. SMITH. [SEAL] PETER G. BOOTH. [SEAL]

N. B. BURKS. [SEAL] JOHN M. BOOTH. [SEAL] S. M. RIGGS. [SEAL.]

As will be seen the railroad company agreed not to locate another depot " within five miles of this point," i. e. the town of Sturgeon,. and this agreement gave Prairie City its quietus.

When first laid out the founders of Sturgeon had in view a great future for their town. Not only was it intended to be a great railroad town and shipping point, but it was intended, and so advertised, to be the county seat of the new county of " Rollins," then in contenipla- tion of formation. As " Rollins county " was never formed, Stur- geon never became a county capital. The projectors were very profuse of promises at the first to give tracts of land for churches, academies, etc., but it is said that not all of these promises were ful- filled.

THE "FIRSTS."

It is difficult to decide whose was the first house in the town. Claib. Thompson says that he put the first building in the place, an old log cabin, which he removed from Buena Vista. This structure is now weatherboarded and is still standing in the southeast part of town, south of the railroad. John F. Fisher framed one house in the old town and brought the parts to Sturgeon and put them together, and it is claimed for this building that it was the first in the place.

1 Referring to railroad sections.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

Again it is alleged that the first building erected entirely in the town was built by E. S. Hawkins for Smith & Burks and used by them as a store. This building, it is said, was completed before the one framed by John F. Fisher, but this point is one hard to decide. Mr. Haw- kins lived near Sturgeon before the town was laid out. This building went up in the fall of 1856, the year the town was laid out. The first brick house in town was commenced by J. S. Lockridge. He was afterward joined by Maj. John F. Rucker, and they completed it. It is claimed that this was also the first brick house in the township.

The first male child born in the town was David A. Mayer, son of Daniel and Ann Eliza Mayer, who was born November 11, 1857. The first female child was Mary A. Murphy, born June 16, 1857. She was a daughter of Michael and Mary Murphy, and is now Mrs. J. A. Dyer, of Centralia.

The first death was that of Miss Mary Hukle, who departed this life in April, 1857, aged 18. Her disease was erysipelas. Her burial place has not been ascertained, but it is believed to have been in some one of the country grave yards. J. B. Smith died in June, 1857.

The first family in the town was either that of M. B. Tompkins or of Michael Murphy. It is claimed that Tompkins was the first inside of the corporate limits. He came in February, 1857, and located on lot 10, block 29. Mr. Tompkins kept the first hotel, on lot 16, block 26.

The first store was a small supply store for the railroad men while the road was being built. In it were kept a few necessaries of life, such as whisky, tobacco, etc. The first store worthy of the name was that of Smith & Burks before mentioned. It stood on lot 34, block 28. The first lot sales are said to have come off in November, 1856, and the store was built prior to that time. Smith & Burks kept a good stock of general merchandise. Daniel Mayer moved to Stur- geon from Buena Vista in the spring of 1857, and is now in business in the former place, the oldest merchant in town.

As to the other pioneer business men, mechanics, etc., it may be stated that Dr. J. S. Lockridge was the first physician ; - Henry, the first lawyer ; Rev. James Barnes (Baptist ), the first minister who held religious services ; Thos. L. Hawkins, the first shoemaker ; T. H. Patterson, the first tailor, and the first barber ; John M. Burks, Richard Harwood, Wm. Marshall, and Mr. Smith the first black- smiths ; and either James Bishop or Purdy the first photographer. Bishop went off into the Union army during the civil war and was an

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army photographer. While at Ft. Pickering, Memphis, Tenn., he was shot and killed by a negro soldier, whom he had offended. The first section boss was a Mr. McCormick.

The first mayor was Housen Canada ; the first postmaster Adam Gosline ; 1 the first newspaper was established in 1858 by Col. Wm. A. Strawn and called the News.

The first church building was the M. E. South, with the Masonic Hall above, built in 1859. Previous to the building of this church religious meetings had been held in the summer time in arbors erected by the people. Political meetings were wont to be held in Daniel Mayer's store, on lot 1, block 36.

The first school-house was built in 1857.

Daniel Mayer is the oldest merchant now in town, having been here 25 years. E. S. Hawkins and J. F. Fisher, both carpenters, are the only men now in the place who were here when the town was origin- ally laid out, in 1856.

ITEMS.

When the town of Sturgeon was first started its moral tone was not the most elevated. Rows were very frequent, and melees, during which knives and pistols were flourished, and sometimes used, were quite frequent. In time this state of affairs was removed, and the community became more tractable and peaceable.

In the spring of 1857 a cyclone or tornado passed over the young town, and blew down several houses. Among them was a new build- ing, 50 by 60 feet in size, and three stories high, which was totally demolished. This building was intended for a hotel, and was being erected for Claiborne Thompson, by E. S. Hawkins, Esq. It stood on lot 7, block 28.

The town grew with reasonable rapidity after the railroad was com- pleted, and in a year after it was started had a population of from 200 to 300 inhabitants. Considerable business was transacted. Sturgeon was the leading shipping point for a large area of country tributary to St. Louis. The railroad was a new thing in these parts, and Stur- geon and Centralia were the only stations thereon in this county. The former was the recognized leading point, and received and dis- charged considerable quantities of freight, not only from Boone, but from Randolph, Monroe and Audrain counties, as it does to this day.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 54

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1220

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220