History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 91

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

USA > Missouri > Boone County > History of Boone County, Missouri. > Part 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

936

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

in the halls of congress and elsewhere in behalf of the union. He was an active and able supporter of the bill to provide for agricultural colleges in the different States by a grant of public lands. February 5th, 1862, he introduced a bill to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri river to the Pacific. This bill, with some

amendments became a law in July, 1862, and under its provisions the Union Pacific, Central Pacific and Kansas Pacific railroads were built across the continent. He voted for and advocated the adoption of the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slav- ery in the United States, although at the time he was probably the

RESIDENCE OF CAPT. J. H. ROLLINS, COLUMBIA, MO.

937

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

largest slave owner in Boone county. This amendment had been in- troduced in the United States senate by Hon. John B. Henderson, of Missouri. Maj. Rollins delivered a powerful speech during this ses- sion in favor of freedom of speech and in opposition to the expulsion of Mr. Long, of Ohio, for expressing disunion sentiments in the House of Representatives. Major Rollins declined a reëlection to congress in 1864, and returned to his home in Columbia. In 1866 he was again sent to the legislature, and during this session was engaged in revising the statutes of the State, to adapt them to the new Constitu- tion adopted in 1865. He was also greatly interested in perfecting the common school system of the State and the rehabilitation of the State University upon a firm and enduring basis, it having been broken up during the war. He introduced and secured the passage of a bill establishing a normal department in the State University, and to pro- vide for rebuilding the president's house, which had been destroyed by fire. In 1867 President Johnson appointed him a director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, which he accepted, but resigned in 1868. In the latter year he was again elected to the State senate, re- ceiving a very decided majority of the votes cast, but his seat was contested. After a long and severe contest he was seated, notwith- standing a majority of senators were opposed to him politically. During this session of the senate Maj. Rollins introduced a bill to es- tablish an agricultural and mechanical college, endowed with 330,000 acres of land granted by the general government to the State for that purpose. This measure, after extended and animated discussions in two legislatures, became a law after being amended so as to give one-fourth of the lands to the School of Mines at Rolla. He is also the author of the law cutting down the initiation fees to the State Uni- versity, making that institution substantially free to the sons and daughters of Missouri.

Aside from being one of the largest subscribers to the fund to se- cure the location of the University at Columbia, Maj. Rollins has been the author and chief advocate of every important bill passed by the legislature providing for or adding to the maintenance and advance- ment of Missouri's greatest school. No wonder he has received the title of " Father of the University of Missouri." The history of the University, given on other pages of this volume, sets forth, in part, his services in behalf of the institution. Mr. Rollins is also the author of the laws creating the State Normal Schools at Kirksville and Warrensburg, having reported them, when chairman of the com-

938

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

mittee on education, to the legislature, and warmly advocated their passage.

Space forbids the enumeration of the many public acts and services of Maj. Rollins in behalf of his country, his State, his county and his town. Suffice it to say that he has been foremost in every . good work, and that his hand, his purse and his brain have ever been at the service of his people in every laudable undertaking. Mr .. Rollins is now in the sere and yellow leaf of life -

And that which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,

He has in great abundance. He spends his time chiefly in retirement in his elegant home in the suburbs of Columbia, a view of which is shown elsewhere, and his chief delight is the entertainment of the many friends who call upon him. Two of his sons, Curtis B. and George Bingham, and an accomplished daughter, are at home with . their father and mother, and there is not a happier household in all Missouri than the one whose honored head bears the name of James S. Rollins.

Look where he sits, this man of peace,

Upon the sward, under a linden.

Mark you, his hair and beard all gray, His face a-wrinkled, and his hand half-palsied that doth clutch his staff; But yet his eye is bright and lights as when he led his legion. *

* * O! what a change in him and all!

And yet to him it seemeth better.

The clamor of his goats and sheep, the noise of plows and groaning wains,

Doth please him more than did aforetime the plaudits of galleries,

The acclaim of multitudes, the rumble of a thousand chariots and triumphal cars. That babbling youngster - his grandchild, mayhap,-

Who climbs upon his seat and plucks his beard, And gets a hug and kiss, then shouts in triumph, Climbs clumsily down, runs away and, tumbling,

Sprawls upon the grass, then shouts again,-

That romping elf can his attention gain

(Hear him; he cries, "Come help me up ! ")

Sooner and surer than we, who sat in senate with him

And heard his voice when it counseled and proclaimed our country's policies. Look you, so should all good men end their days.

DR. A. W. ROLLINS, DECEASED.

Dr. Anthony Wayne Rollins was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., March 5, 1783. His father, Henry Rollins, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to America during the Revolution- ary war, in which he took a part on the side of the Colonies. Among

939

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

other engagements in which he participated, he was at the battle of Brandywine.

Dr. A. W. Rollins was reared amidst the disadvantages of poverty, and was thrown at an early period upon his own resources to fight the battle of life. Possessing a firm physical constitution and good na- tive intellect, he went resolutely to work with a strong purpose" to 'achieve success and to win a respectable position amongst men. By alternately working on a farm and attending such primitive schools as were at that early day to be found in the country, he gained the rudi- ments of a good common school education, which enabled him to be- come a schoolmaster himself. In this useful and honorable employ- ment he was engaged until he got sufficiently ahead with ready means to enter Jefferson College, at Connonsburg, Pennsylvania, where he successfully completed his education. In 1803 or 1804 he went to Kentucky and lived successively in the counties of Bourbon, Fayette and Madison, engaging in school teaching and pursuing the study of medicine. He engaged in practice as a physician in Richmond, the county seat of Madison county, which he made his permanent home for twenty-five years.

On the 18th day of April, 1811, he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie Harris Rodes, the second daughter of Judge Robert Rodes, a prominent and distinguished citizen of Madison county, and a sister of the venerable Colonel William Rodes, of Richmond, and also of Major Clifton Rodes, now residing at Danville, Kentucky. She was a lady of refined and beautiful character, and the union was one which bought great contentment and happiness to the parties. By this mar- riage there were seven children, of whom only two are now living - the eldest, the Honorable James S. Rollins, of Columbia, Missouri, and the youngest Mrs. Sarah H. Burnam, the elegant and accom- plished wife of the Honorable Curtis F. Burnam, graduate of Yale College, and a distinguished lawyer of Kentucky.

In the spring of 1830, his eldest daughter, Eliza, having made a mar- riage engagement with Dr. James H. Bennett, then residing in Colum- bia, Missouri, and the health of Dr. Rollins failing, he determined to emigrate with his family to Missouri. Having purchased a fine body of land, partially improved, in the western part of Boone county, about four miles north of the Missouri river, he came and took possession of it in the spring of 1830, and pursued steadily thereafter the profession of agriculture until his death, which occured at Richland, his residence in Boone county, on the 9th day of October, 1845, in the sixty-third

940

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

year of his age. He was buried at the family cemetery with Masonic honors, of which ancient order he had been a life-long member ; but his remains, with those of his affectionate wife, were afterwards removed to the Columbia Cemetery, where they now rest.

Dr. Rollins took great interest in the establishment of schools, in building churches and in all other enterprises calculated to improve the social and physical condition of the people among whom he lived. His services in behalf of the State University are set down in the history of that institution, on other pages of this work. What is known as the " Rollins aid fund" was created by him pursuant to the following provision of his last will and testament:

Item 7th .- Having felt the great disadvantages of poverty in the acquisition of my own education, it is my will that my executors, hereinafter named, shall, as early after my death as they may deem expedient, raise the sum of $10,000 by the sale of lands of which I may die seized, and which I have not especially bequeathed in any of the foregoing items, which sum of $10,000 I desire may be set aside for the education of such poor and indigent youths of Boone county, male and female, as are not able to educate themselves.

The principal of this sum, by careful management under the direc- tion of the County Court of Boone county, has increased to $30,000, three-fourths of the annual interest upon which sum is annually ex- pended in giving aid to such young men and women as desire to ob- tain an education at the State University, and the remaining one- fourth of the interest is added regularly to the principal. Already some hundreds of pupils have received substantial aid from this source, without which they would not have been able to prosecute their studies.

Dr. Rollins was a man of fine presence and noble mien, and cordi- ally admired for his genial manners and high character. The engrav- ing on another page is from a portrait by Bingham, now in the library of the University,and is said to be a good likeness of the destin- guished subject.

COLONEL FRANCIS T. RUSSELL.

Col. Francis T. Russell, lawyer and prominent business man of Columbia, Missouri, was born in Cabell county, West Virginia, April 24th, 1821, and was raised on a farm. He received his education at the Ohio University, under Drs. Read and McGuffey. Studied law and was licensed to the bar in Virginia. Removed to Missouri in the fall of 1841, and settled in Columbia, Boone county, having been influ- enced to do so by the location of the University at this place. Com- menced the practice of law, which he kept up at intervals until the close of the late war. Was married May 6th, 1846, to M. Caroline Lenoir, a native of North Carolina, with whom he has raised seven

941

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

children, all living. Shortly after his marriage he settled at his pres- ent home, in West Columbia, where he has resided ever since. Crossed the plains to California in 1849, with a Boone county company, and remained in the mines until the winter of 1850, when he returned and led an expedition of his own on a second trip of great exposure, sick- ness and loss. He returned to Columbia in the winter of 1851, and resumed his law practice. For the next ten years he was engaged in a mixed business requiring great labor and energy. In addition to the law, he managed his farms, a saw-mill, and attended to the duties of public administrator. He was also a trustee of Christian College, and gave that institution a large share of his time and money. At the breaking out of the civil war he became and remained a decided Union man. He organized the Union clubs of the county. . Was com- missioned a lieutenant-colonel of the 61st regiment Enrolled Mis- souri Militia, by Gov. Gamble, and went at once into active local service. During the same year he was commissioned by President. Lincoln one of the Home Guard commissioners for Missouri. His associates were Charles T. Sherman, of Ohio, brother to Gen. Sherman, and George R. Taylor, with Col. James H. Moss as U. S. attorney. The duties of this office lasted for nearly seven months, and nearly $1,000,000 of claims for services and material were audited and al- lowed against the United States, in favor of early, irregular service in Missouri. After fulfilling the duties of this position he returned to active military service at home in the autumn of 1863, but early in the winter following he was detailed for duty as provost marshal at Columbia, in which position he remained until the office was closed in 1864. He was elected to the legislature in 1868 on the Repub- lican ticket and served two sessions. He was chosen to this service - with Hon. James S. Rollins in the Senate - with special reference to the Agricultural College being located in Boone county, and so com- pletely did this matter absorb their time and attention that the Boone members could take no part in any other legislation, scarcely even by voting. The desired result was finally achieved at the end of the second winter, but not without great labor and skilful management on the part of both the Boone members and their friends. It may be said that with less ability, energy and perseverance than were dis- played by Col. Russell and Maj. Rollins, and the earnest cooperation of a number of enterprising citizens of Boone county, the Agricultural College would never have been located at Columbia. Col. Russell voted for the emancipation ordinance. From 1860 to 1880 he was a

942

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

curator of the State University, and as such was justly entitled to the credit of placing his old preceptor, Dr. Daniel Read, at the head of that institution, and whose earnest and devoted labors in behalf of the University are well known and universally recognized by all true friends of the institution. He organized and carried through the present system of cheap club boarding houses for poor students. He also procured the appointment of Prof. Ficklin to his present position in the University. Was also one of the committee to locate the School of Mines, and to visit all the agricultural colleges in the United States in the interest of the Missouri school. R. L. Todd, of Columbia, and A. W. Matthews, of Springfield, were also members of the committee. For the last ten years Col. Russell has devoted his time to domestic life and private business affairs.

JOHN BEDFORD ROYALL AND FAMILY.

The distinguished family whose history is briefly outlined in this sketch originated in Virginia, the grand " Old Dominion" from whence so many of the finest families of the land have come westward and southward. John Bedford Royall, whose immediate family are associated with the history of Boone county, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, May 23, 1788. He was reared in his native county, and finished his educational course at Hampden-Sidney College. He was commissioned a captain of cavalry in the war of 1812, and therein, as all through his long and useful life, did creditable service. He was a man of great literary tastes and æsthetical turn of mind; and he gratified his desires in this particular by much close and constant reading. He was admitted to the Virginia bar and practiced law in that State for some years. He removed to Boone county, Missouri, in 1840, though he only lived four years after settling in this hospitable clime. Mr. Royall was married, January 29, 1817, to Miss Pamelia Williamson Price, daughter of Pugh W. Price, of Prince Edward County, Virginia. Mr. Royall had been long connected with the Presbyterian church, and died firm in that faith, departing this life in Columbia, Missouri, August 24, 1844. Mrs. Royall, who still survives at this writing, is living in Columbia with her son and daughter. She was born August 11, 1800, and is a sister of the lamented Gen. Ster- ling Price of Confederate fame, John' R. Price, Maj. Robert Pugh Price, and Dr. Edwin Price. Her brothers all became more or less distinguished. The generous and noble-hearted Pugh, though less famous than some of his brothers, has never been publicly mentioned

943

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

in such a manner as his many estimable qualities entitled him to. Mrs. Royall was educated at Reed's Academy in Virginia. She was married young, and became the mother of six children. Elizabeth died at fifteen years old, while at school at Danville, Va., Academy. Mary Jane Royall became the wife of Col. William F. Switzler, of Columbia, and died September 11, 1879. Wm. Bedford Royall is at this writing a colonel in the regular United States army. He had served in the Mexican war, and was a first lieutenant in Captain McMillan's Boone county company. He was in Texas at the out- break of the civil war, and remained loyal to his government, doing most of his service in Virginia. He was six times wounded in an engagement with "Jeb." Stuart's Confederate cavalry. This took place in Virginia, and was a hand-to-hand fight, in which Captain Lataine was killed. Capt. L. was in command of a Confederate detachment that assailed Capt. Royall. At the close of the war Wil- liam B. came out with the rank of major. He distinguished himself in June, 1876, in a fight with Sitting Bull at Rosebud, Dakota Terri- tory. He now holds the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and is with his regiment in Arizona Territory. John Price Royall, still another son, and now teacher of book-keeping in the State University, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, July 11, 1831. He married Miss Nancy C. Wells, of California, June 4, 1868. Prof. Royall went out to California in 1850, and there became assistant State superintendent under O. P. Fitzgerald, D. D. He was engaged in teaching mining and farming during his long residence in that State, and also taught book-keeping in the San Francisco city schools. He returned to Columbia in 1880, and went in the University as stated above. Victoria Regina resides in Columbia with her mother and brother, while Virginia Lafayette (now Mrs. J. A. Henderson, wife of Judge Henderson, of St. Louis county ), is now a resident of Clayton, that county.

COL. WILLIAM F. SWITZLER.

Col. Switzler was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, March 16, 1819. His paternal grandparents were natives of Switzerland, They emigrated to America, settling near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, subse- quently removing to Orange county, Virginia, where Simeon Switzler, the father of Col. S. was born. In 1826 Wm. F. came with his father to Fayette, Howard county, Missouri, and here resided until 1832, when the family moved to a farm about midway between Fayette

944

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

and Boonville. He attended school at Mt. Forest Academy and read law at home, his instructors in law being Col. J. Davis and Judge Abiel Leonard.

Col. Switzler early evinced a decided taste for politics. In 1840, when but twenty-one years of age, he was a strong Whig, and wrote a series of able articles in the Boonslick Times (then published at Fayette) advocating the election of Gen. Harrison. January 8, 1841, he came to Columbia and read law in the office of Hon. J. S. Rollins. In 1841 he was selected to deliver a public address on the occasion of the death and in commemoration of the life and services of Gen. Harrison. In the same year he became editor of the Patriot. His admission to the bar occurred in 1842. In July he retired from the Patriot, but in December following he purchased a half interest in the office, and again became its editor (see history of Columbia Patriot). Col. Switzler's public services in behalf of his county and State are set forth on other pages of this volume and need not again be men- tioned here.

As stated, he was an old line Whig, and as such voted for and supported Gen. Harrison for president in 1840 ; Henry Clay in 1844 ; Gen. Taylor in 1848; Gen. Scott in 1852 ; Millard Fillmore in 1856 ; and John Bell in 1860. In the latter year he was a candidate for presidential elector on the Bell-Everett ticket and made a thorough canvass of his district. During the war he was a decided but con- servative Union man. Since 1863 he has acted with the Democratic party. He supported Gen. McClellan for president in 1864; Hora- tio Seymour in 1868 ; Horace Greeley in 1872; Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, and Gen. Hancock in 1880.

In 1866 and also in 1868 Col. Switzler was the Democratic nominee for congress in his district. Notwithstanding the disfranchisement of a very large number of Democrats, he was both times elected by large majorities over his Radical competitors. The Radical secretary of state " went behind the returns," however, and each time gave the certificate of election to Col. S.'s competitor. Each time the case was carried up to congress, and on both occasions a majority of the committee on election, largely Republican, reported in favor of Col. Switzler. The Radical majority in the house, however, refused to ratify the actions of the committee, and both times awarded the seats to the sitting members. On both occasions Col. Switzler presented his case to the house in speeches of great ability and power, which

945

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

attracted attention and comment throughout the Union. Previous to the war-in 1846, 1848 and 1856- he was elected to the legisla- ture from Boone county.

Col. Switzler was a member of the State constitutional convention of 1865, in which he took a very prominent part against disfranchise- ment and other extreme measures adopted by the Radical majority of that body. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of 1875, and was chairman of the committee on education. To him the people of the State are largely indebted for the article on that subject in the present constitution.

January 1, 1878, leaving the Statesman newspaper under the edito- rial control and business management of his brother, Lewis M. Switz- ler, a lawyer of Columbia, and of his eldest son, Irvin Switzler, he assumed half ownership and chief editorial charge, in conjunction with M. B. Chapman, of the St. Joseph Daily Evening Chronicle, but in April following disposed of his interest, returned to Columbia and resumed control of the Statesman, which he yet maintains. His history discloses the remarkable fact of more than forty years' editor- ship of the same paper in the same town.

A few days after he left Columbia for St. Joseph, as it was supposed, there to make his permanent home, his old neighbors and countymen held a public meeting in the court-house, which was presided over by the late Elder J. K. Rogers, and which was addressed by Hon. J. S. Rollins, Robert L. Todd, Prof. G. C. Swallow, Rev. W. T. Ellington, Capt. H. C. Pierce and others, each bearing testimony to the high character, ability and services of Col. Switzler, with personal regrets at his leaving Columbia. Resolutions were passed by the meeting eulogistic of him as a journalist, legislator and citizen - such resolu- tions as few men of any State live to see passed and published in commendation of them by their old friends and countymen.

In 1877 Col. Switzler wrote "Switzler's History of Missouri," universally regarded and adopted as the standard history of our State. Being for so long a time in public life and blessed with a phenomenal memory, he is a perfect animated cyclopedia of facts pertaining to the history of Missouri and Boone county, and has the full capacity to put them on paper, as is evidenced by the "History of Missouri," and by this volume, the general history in which was chiefly written by him.

In August, 1843, Mr. Switzler was married, in Columbia, to Mary Jane .Royall, a daughter of John B. Royall, of Halifax county, Vir-

946

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

ginia. Mrs. Switzler died September 11, 1879, leaving three grown children, two sons and one daughter. One of the sons, Irvin Switz- ler, is now proprietor of the Columbia Statesman. Col. Switzler himself remains unmarried.

It may further and in conclusion be said of Col. Wm. F. Switzler that he is a self-made man, who has won honorable distinction by industry, self-reliance, personal purity and worth. As a journalist he ranks high, the Statesman being regarded as a powerful and influen- tial journal which in each issue is filled with matter conducive to good taste, good morals, and good government. Although always sur- rounded by those who made, sold and drank spirituous liquors he has never tasted of an intoxicating beverage. He has been always a steady, unflinching advocate of total abstinence, and is known as a leading worker in the cause of temperance and prohibition in this State. He is the G. W. C. T. of the order of Good Templars for the fourth time.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 91

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