USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 85
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 85
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130
Capt. N. B. Brown's company, M, of Daviess county, was then sent to Chillicothe, but it, too, was insubordinate, and it was said that it " drank more whisky than both Fortune's and Field's, and they drank a great deal." On the last of December it was also relieved, and by. the 1st of January only two companies, Capt. Tiffin's and Capt. Calvert's, of the 4th Provisional were in service.
After the killing of Joe Hart, there were few or no bands of guerrillas and bushwackers in the county during the year 1863, but the entire country was infested with thieves and robbers and depreda- tions were daily reported. In December, Provost Marshal McIlwrath arrested about thirty citizens of Ray, Carroll and Livingston, charged with thieving and robbery. These men were nearly all said to be Rad- icals and ex-members of the militia. Two of them were guerrillas, and had assisted in the capture of the steamboat Marcella, at Dover Landing, in September, and were participants in the murder of some Federal soldiers, who were taken off the boat and shot. The most prominent of these offenders were sent to St. Louis.
From time to time certain citizens of real or supposed Confederate sympathies were warned to leave this and other counties on pain of loss of life and property, and the military authorities were constantly called for relief and protection. Some arrests were made of " bull- dozers," who invariably pleaded that they had only been retaliating on rebels " for ordering Union men to leave the State in 1860 and 1861." The situation was not at all felicitous.
In December occurred the murder of Brock and Bloom, at Moores- ville, which is fully noted elsewhere. (See chapter on Mooresville township ).
803
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
1864 - MISCELLANEOUS.
During the year 1864 but few events of an important character occurred in the county. The Union troops had full and complete control, and maintained their authority.
On Monday, July 11, a man named Frank Purcell was killed at the house of a Mr. Sullivan, six miles south of Chillicothe. Four balls entered his body within the space of two inches. The coroner's jury decided that he was killed by bushwhackers. A few hours previously the house of a Mr. Dishman, three miles from Sullivan's, where Purcell was killed, was attacked by presumably the same band that killed Purcell. But Mr. Dishman defended his premises so vigorously, wounding one of his assailants, that the cut-throats retreated.
The guerrilla bands of Bill Anderson, Clif. Holtzclaw, Jim Jack- son and George Todd occasionally raided through the counties south of this, murdering, burning and plundering, but seldom came as high up as Livingston. During the Price raid in the fall, there was some alarm among the people that the Confederates were on their way to the county, but they never came. To be sure there were other alarms from time to time, but they were only trying to the nerves.
In August a company was raised in this county for the 44th Missouri infantry, and became Co. G of that regiment. Its officers were A. L. Bowen, captain ; John DeSha, first lieutenant ; Wash Bennett, second lieutenant. The services of the 44th Missouri are detailed in the History of Caldwell County, q. v.
By January 1, 1864, Livingston county had furnished the following soldiers for the Federal army, besides those in the Enrolled and Provisional Militia :-
In U. S. Service.
In Mo. State Militia.
Foreign Regts.
Colored Recruits.
23d
66
66
60
2
6th « ...
63
Misc. ·
4
1st Iowa « « 27
24th
25th
5
27th
29
29th
66
14
30th
66
1
33d
5
35th
2
2d
cavalry
70
7th
4
8th
1
11th
22
12th
2
-
-
Total
253
1st M. S. M.
13
Illinois
. . 221
Iowa
2
2d
.
4 Ist Mo. A. D. 69
2
18th Mo. infantry
36
297
10
98
.
804
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The estimated number of men enlisting in 1864 was 200, making the whole number of soldiers furnished the Union army during the war- enrolled militia and home guards not counted - was, in round numbers, about 850. Under all calls of the President for volunteers previous to December 19, 1864, the county furnished a surplus of twelve. The total number of Confederate soldiers furnished by the county - bushwhackers and guerrillas not included - has been esti- mated at 200.
THREE LADIES DROWNED.
Thursday, July 7, three ladies, Mrs. Akins, Miss Jacobs and Miss Smith, were drowned while bathing in East Grand river, a mile above Anderson's ferry and three miles from Chilheothe. Their bodies rose to the surface the next morning and were taken out.
PUBLIC MEETING.
In response to Gen. Rosecrans' " Order No. 107," calling on the citizens to organize for the suppression of guerrilla bands, a meeting - or rather two meetings-came off in the public square at Chillicothe, July 9. The Radicals and Conservatives each held a meeting. The Conservative meeting, of which Smith Turner was chairman and B. F. Sherman secretary, was addressed by Col. A. M. Woolfolk, who closed by moving that a committee of five be appointed to draft reso- lutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, which was carried, whereupon the chairman appointed Col. A. M. Woolfolk, J. D. Sher- man, S. P. Mountain, Capt. Garvin and Charles Wigely, said com- mittee. The committee retired a few minutes and reported the following resolutions :
WHEREAS, the peace and quiet of our State has been again threat- ened by bands of armed outlaws in some localities, robbing, plunder- ing, and murdering peaceable and inoffensive citizens ; and whereas the commanding general of this department has issued an order call- ing upon citizens irrespective of party distinction to assemble in their respective townships and counties and organize committees of public safety therein ; be it therefore
Resolved, By the people of Livingston county in mass meeting assembled, that we regard the plan of Gen. Rosecrans, as set forth in the General Order No. 107, for the suppression of all and every species of outrage, for the restoration of law and order and the pro- tection of the law-abiding and peaceably disposed citizens, as meet- ing with our hearty approval, if carried out in a non-partisan and proper spirit.
Resolved, That the committee of safety for the county appointed at this meeting be and are hereby instructed to correspond with the
805
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
respective townships in the county and see that committees are appointed in each in accordance with Gen. Rosecrans' order.
Resolved, That in the present quiet condition of our county we do not see any necessity of calling more troops into service, but would urge upon the county committee to be ever vigilant and watchful over the interest and peace of the county, reporting, advising and consult- ing with the local and district commanders when in their judgment necessity requires it.
Resolved, That we select the following committee of public safety for the county of Livingston, to wit : Benjamin Berry, Robt. Will- iams, Dr. B. F. Sherman, Col. Roderick Matson and Smith Turner.
Which were read and unanimously adopted.
MARKETS IN 1864.
Following is a copy of a market report as made by W. S. Crouch & Co., of Chillicothe, and published in the Chronicle of July 14, 1864: -
CHILLICOTHE, July 13, 1864.
Butter - 121/2 cents per pound ; scarce.
Salt -$6 per barrel ; advancing.
Prints - 35@40 cents per yard.
Domestics - 55 to 70 cents per yard.
Spun Cotton - $9.50 per bunch.
Sugar - Brown, 30 cents ; crushed, 371/2 cents per pound.
Coffee - 60 cents per pound.
Tea -$1.50@$2.50 per pound.
Rice - 162/3 cents per pound.
Candles - Star, 30 cents. Tallow, 121/2 per pound.
Flour - $1.50@$12 per barrel.
Meal-75c@80c per bushel ; scarce.
Oats -55c. per bushel : declining.
Corn - $2.50 per barrel.
Rye - 65 cents per bushel.
Tallow - 8 cents per pound.
Hides - Flint, 14 cents ; green, 6c per pound.
Beeswax - 50 cents per pound.
Bacon - Sides, 13c ; hams, 11c ; shoulders, 9c.
Lard-In kegs aud barrels, 10c; loose, 9c.
Eggs - 121/2 cents per dozen ; scarce.
Potatoes - $1.00 per bushel.
Nails-10@101/2c per pound. Feathers - Prime, 50e per pound.
Dried Fruit - Apples, 15c ; peaches, 25c per pound.
Whisky - $2.00@$2.75 per gallon. White Beans - $1.00@$1.75c per bushel.
Hungarian Seed -$1.00 per bushel.
Millet $1.00 per bushel.
Flax Seed - $1.75 per bushel.
806
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
COUNTY COURTS IN WAR TIMES.
No regular term of the county court was held between June 4, 1861, and January, 1862. At the June term, 1861, there were pres- ent the three justices, James A. Davis, A. Wallace and Abel Cox ; Sheriff Saml. L. Harris and Clerk Amos Bargdoll. A brief session of the Court of Appeals from the assessor's report was held in July. Then the soldiers came, and the court " shut up shop " for a season ; for in time of war civil courts are often silent. On the. third Monday in December Judge Davis alone appeared.
By the first of January, 1862, the Provisional Government of Mis- souri was thoroughly established and its authority recognized in every county north of the river, and the civil officers generally throughout the county had taken the oath of allegiance thereto. On the 28th of the preceding October, however, a body calling itself the true Legislature of Missouri, and recognized by Claiborne F. Jackson as such, had, at Neosho, Newton county, passed an ordi- nance of secession, and Missouri was considered in certain quarters to be one of the Confederate States. This consideration only obtained where Gen. Price's army held control, and in Living- ston county the " Gamble government " was alone recognized and obeyed.
The county officials took the oath of allegiance to the latter government, and in January there were present Justices Davis, Wal- lace and Cox, Clerk Bargdoll and Sheriff Harris. The last named official resigned, and in February David R. Martin was appointed acting sheriff. Thos. Brooks was appointed assessor.
Thereafter, with but one exception, the county courts were held at the regular terms and the county's business regularly transacted during the war. In March, 1864, the court was held over Crouch & Co.'s store in Chillicothe, where the clerk's office had been removed. The court-house in the center of the square was virtually aban- doned, and in a year or so was torn down. At this term C. H. Mansur was appointed the agent of the county to prosecute the claims of soldiers and soldiers' widows and orphans growing out of military services.
In August, 1864, the county court offered a bounty of $100 to every soldier enlisting in the Federal service for at least one year, provided such enlistment was made prior to the draft, which went into operation September 5. No court was held from September, 1864, to February, 1865.
807
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
ELECTIONS DURING THE WAR - 1862.
Notwithstanding the presence of hundreds of the Federal soldiery in this county in the year 1862 and the many shocks to law and order incident to " war's alarms," courts were held and other public proceedings had according to the forms and rules of law ; and the vote at the November election, while not very large, or full, was fair, and free, and the election itself was conducted without intimidation or any overawing on the part of the military.
Hundreds of men whose homes were in the county were absent from them, and in one or the other of the armies in the far South, and of course could not and did not vote. Provision had been made for the holding of elections in Missouri Federal regiments then in the field, but it would seem that comparatively few of the men from Livingston voted. Only about twenty-five soldier votes were reported. Of these those stationed at points in the county were not allowed to vote at the ordinary polling places, but each military troop had a ballot-box of its own, presided over by three sworn judges and two clerks, and this polling-place was required to be separate and away from where the civilians voted, in order that the presence of the soldiers might not intimidate the citizens. So far as this county was concerned, the bayonet protected the ballot-box and did not attempt to control it.
The only issue involved in the election of 1862 in Missouri was the question of emancipation. Two years before, the advocate of eman- cipation did not resid@in this county - at least he did not make him- self known - but now the idea was seriously considered, and in many quarters was favorably considered. At that time the emancipationists favored paying all loyal owners of slaves a reasonable compensation for all slaves freed ; it was not until a year or two later that the idea of forced and uncompensated emancipation became generally popular. The anti-emancipationists were slightly in the majority in this county. They opposed the agitation of the question of abolition in any form while the war lasted. They sought to keep the negro ques- tion and the Union question separate and apart.
No voter was allowed to cast a ballot without first taking and sub- scribing to the " Gamble Oath," to support the United States government, and the "Gamble" or provisional government of the State, and that the subscriber had not since December 17, 1861, willfully taken up arms or levied war against either. The date referred to was that on which Gov. Gamble issued a proclamation, indorsed by Presi- dent Lincoln, promising amnesty and pardon to all persons who
46
808
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
had taken up arms against the Federal or provisional government if they would lay down their arms and come forward and take an oath of loyalty. In many portions of the State men who fought under Price at Wilson's Creek and Lexington were voters at home in 1862.
Following was the result of the election in this county in Novem- ber (4) 1862 : -
Congressman-J. P. Bruce,* 376; Ben. F. Loan, Rep. E., 179 ; H. B. Branch, Rep. Anti-E., 127.
State Senator - W. H. Brownlee,* Rep. 214; J. Mccullough,* 225 ; J. H. Ellis, E., 161; R. D. Morrison, 65.
Representative -J. T. Gudgell,* 334; John Barnes, R., 221; S. P. Mountain, E., 136.
Sheriff-Ed. Gudgell,* 550; L. S. McCoy, R., 127.
Those marked with a star (*) were Democrats or Anti-Emancipa- tionists. Other county officers chosen were John Stone,* county judge; W. I. Lumpkin,* county clerk ; R. F. Dunn, circuit clerk ; R. B. Williams,* coroner ; J. B. Bell,* treasurer; Z. N. Goldsby, R., assessor ; A. Fauqueran, public administrator. About twenty-five soldier votes were cast - 17 from Cos. E and D, of Merrill's Horse, and 5 from Co. H, 6th Missouri cavalry.
NOVEMBER ELECTION, 1863.
At the general election in Missouri in 1863, but two tickets were . voted for, both claiming to be "Union." One ticket, headed by Barton Bates, W. V. N. Bay and John D. S. Dryden for Supreme Judges, was called the Conservative ticket; the other, headed by H. A. Clover, Arnold Krekel and David Wagner, was denominated the Radical, or " Charcoal" ticket. The latter was supported by the immediate emancipationists.
There being large numbers of the military under arms in the State, and the excitement running high, apprehension was felt that in many quarters they would attempt to influence the election by the intimida- tion of voters, etc. To prevent anything of this sort Maj .- Gen. Schofield, the commander of this department, issued an order (No. 101) from his headquarters at St. Louis, under date of Sep- tember 28, in which he declared that no interference with the right of the people to peaceably assemble for lawful purposes, and to express their will at the polls, would be tolerated. The severest pen- alties were threatened against any officer or soldier who should inter-
809
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
fere in any manner with the peaceable assemblage of the people ; and -
Any officer, soldier or civilian, who shall attempt to intimidate any qualified voter in the exercise of his right to vote, or who shall attempt to prevent any qualified voter from going to the polls, or voting, shall be punished by imprisonment or otherwise, at the discretion of a court martial or military commission.
This election is remarkable for being the first in Missouri, under a general law, where voting was done by ballot, and not viva voce, or by word of mouth. Following was the vote in Livingston county : -
Supreme Judges -Conservatives, 656; Radicals, 306.
Circuit Judge -Col. J. M. McFerran, Cons., 629 ; Jonas J. Clark, Radical, 292. Clark was elected.
State Senator - A. S. Harris, Cons., 648 ; I. V. Pratt, Rad., 269.
It will be noted that the Conservatives carried the county by a vote of more than two to one.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1864.
The vote of Livingston county at the Presidential election in 1864 is given below. The Democratic Presidential ticket was composed of Gen. George B. McClellan and George H. Pendleton, and the Republican national nominees were Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.
President - Lincoln, 342; Mcclellan, 297.
Governor - Thos. C. Fletcher, R., 507; Thos. L. Price, D., 459. Congress - H. B. Branch, R., 474; Ben. F. Loan, Rad. R., 450. Representative - J. W. McMillen, R., 424 ; B. F. Sherman, D., 410. Sheriff- Garrison Harker, R., 412; Ed. Gudgel, D., 408.
County Clerk - B. J. Wiley, 425 ; R. L. Williams, 416.
S. B. Deland and R. B. Moss, both Republicans, were elected county justices ; S. B. Bell, treasurer ; J. W. Anderson, assessor ; E. H. Bement, coroner.
-
CHAPTER IX.
ELECTIONS SINCE THE WAR.
Adoption of the Drake Constitution -The Third Section of the Drake Constitu- tion -November Election, 1866- The Presidential Election of 1868-The Political Canvass and Election of 1870 - The Presidential Election of 1872 - Election April 29, 1873 -The " Tadpole " Campaign -Special Election in 1875 - Presidential Election 1876 -1878 -1880 - 1882 - 1884.
ADOPTION OF' THE DRAKE CONSTITUTION.
On the 18th of April the State Convention, by a vote of 38 to 14, adopted an entirely new Constitution of the State, which was to be presented to the voters for adoption on the 6th of June. The canvass, which succeeded, was one of great bitterness. Although the war was practically over, all of the regular Confederate armies having sur- rendered, and the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, a close prisoner, yet a few guerrillas and bushwhackers continued in exist- ence in this State, to the detriment of the peace and safety of the sections which they infested. The presence of these villains furnished an excuse for keeping bands of the military in the field in many coun- ties to " preserve the peace," hold the guerrillas in check and punish them for disorders.
All those who had participated in, or given any sort of voluntary aid or encouragement, to the rebellion or the Confederate cause were, by the third section of the proposed new Constitution, debarred from voting or holding office, as well as from teaching, preaching, practicing law, etc. And all such were prohibited from voting for or against the adoption of the Constitution ! A spirit of unrest and malevolence, hatred and ill-will prevailed among our people, and the character of the issues discussed, to say nothing of the discussions themselves, was not calculated to restore an era of good feeling, or cause the two factions to make haste to clasp hands over the bloody chasm. Hundreds of our tax-payers, many of them old and honored citizens, non-combatants during the war, and men of education and influence, were disfranchised by the third section, and denied the privilege of the ballot in the decision of the great issue before the State - that issne being the adoption or rejection of an organic law, which was to govern them and their children after them.
(810)
,
811
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
On the other hand, the Radicals and friends of the new Constitution maintained that citizens who, by overt or covert acts, had attempted to destroy their Government, "committed treason," or in deeds, words and sympathy, given encouragement to those who had, were not and could not be proper recipients of the ballot. It was further alleged that had the Confederate armies succeeded, and Missouri become in fact and in deed one of the Confederate States, then every Union man in the State might have considered himself truly fortunate if he had been allowed to live in Missouri ; that no Union soldier, or · militiaman, or those who had sympathized with either, would have been allowed to vote, and that in all probability, Gen. Price's threat, made in the fall of 1861, would have been carried out, and the $250,000,000 worth of property belonging to the Union people of the State would have been confiscated for the benefit of those who had remained loyal to the Confederate cause, and suffered thereby, etc., etc.
In the whole State only 85,478 votes (including soldiers' votes) were cast at the election adopting the new Constitution, as follows : For, 43,670 ; against, 41,808 ; majority for, 1,862- a very small majority, indeed, to decide so important a question. The Constitution went into effect on the 4th of July following.
The vote in Livingston on the adoption of the Constitution was 431 for and 155 against. There were only 36 votes cast against adoption outside of Chillicothe, as follows : Chillicothe, 119 ; Spring Hill, 9; Grand River, 8; Mooresville, 7; Monroe, 5; Cream Ridge, 3; Blue Mound, 3; Greene, 1.
THE THIRD SECTION OF THE DRAKE CONSTITUTION.
" The third section," frequently mentioned in these pages, referred to section 3, of article 2, of the Constitution known as Drake's Consti- tution,1 or the Constitution of 1865. This section was as follows : -
ARTICLE II - RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
SEC. 3. At any election held by the people under this Constitution, or in pursuance of any law of this State, or any ordinance or by-law of any municipal corporation, no person shall be deemed a qualified voter who has ever been in armed hostility to the United States, or to the lawful authorities thereof, or to the Government of this State ; or has ever given aid, comfort, countenance or support to persons engaged
I So called because the leading spirit in its construction was Hon. Chas. D. Drake, of St. Louis, who, prior to the war, was a strong pro-slavery man.
812
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
in any such hostility; or has ever, in any manner, adhered to the enemies, foreign or domestic, of the United States, either by con- tributing to them, or by unlawfully sending within their lines money, goods, letters, or information ; or has ever disloyally held communi- cation with such enemies, or has ever advised or aided any person to enter the service of such enemies; or has ever, by act or word, mani- fested his adherence to the course of such enemies, or his desire for their triumph over the armies of the United States, or his sympathy with those engaged in exciting or carrying on rebellion against the United States ; or has ever, except under overpowering compulsion, submitted to the authority, or been in the service of the so-called " Confederate States of America ;" or has ever left this State, and gone within the lines of the armies of the so-called " Con- federate States of America" with the purpose of adhering to said States or armies, or has ever been a member of, or connected with, any order, society or organization inimical to the government of the United States, or to the government of this State ; or has ever been engaged in guerrilla warfare against loyal inhabitants of the United States, or in that description of marauding known as " bushwhack- ing ;" or has ever knowingly or willingly harbored, aided or coun- tenanced any persons so engaged ; or has ever come into, or has ever left this State for the purpose of avoiding enrollment for, or draft into, the military service of the United States ; or has ever, with a view to avoid enrollment in the militia of this State, or to escape the performance of duty therein, or for any other purpose, enrolled him- self, or authorized himself to be enrolled, by or before any officer as " disloyal" or as a " Southern sympathizer," or in any other terms indicated his dissatisfaction to the Government of the United States in its contest with the rebellion, or his sympathy with those engaged in such rebellion; or having ever voted at any election by the people of this State, or in any other of the United States, or in any of their territories; or held office in this State, or any other of the United States, or in any of their territories; or under the United States shall thereafter have sought or received, under any claim of alienage, the protection of any foreign government, through any consul or other officer thereof, in order to secure exemption from military duty in the militia of this State, or in the army of the United States. Nor shall any such per- son be capable of holding in this State any office of honor, trust or profit under its authority ; or of being any officer, councilman, director, trustee, or other manager of any corporation, public or private, now existing or hereafter established by its authority ; or of acting as a professor or teacher in any educational institution, or in any common or other school; or of holding any real estate or any property in trust for the use of any church, religious society, or congregation.
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.