USA > Missouri > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Missouri : carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ; the Constitution of the United States, and State of Missouri ; a military record of its volunteers in either army of the Great Civil War ; general and local statistics ; miscellany ; reminiscences, grave, tragic and humorous ; biographical sketches of prominent men and citizens identified with the interests of the country > Part 43
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COTTAGE VISITOR.
The first paper issued in Carroll county, was at Carrollton, by Messrs. Hendley & Guinn, in 1856, and was published about one year. Hendley having got the whole in his control, sold to Adolphus Musser. The Visitor was non-partisan politically, and devoted exclusively to local affairs.
CARROLLTON DEMOCRAT.
Adolphus Musser having bought the old Cottage Visitor, in 1857, changed the name of the paper to the Carrollton Democrat, and continued it under that name as a democratic paper, having received a bonus for establishing it as a political paper. It passed into different hands under the same,name. In 1863, it again changed hands, passing into possession of O. J. Kerby, who continued its publication until 1874, under the name of the Carroll Fournal. Passing out of the control of Mr. Kerby, in 1874, its name was changed to the Carrollton Journal, which it still retains, under its present owner and proprietor, Mr. J. J. Farley.
CARROLL RECORD.
The Record was first issued on the 12th day of January, 1868, by Turner & Clark. It is the first and only republican paper ever issued in the county. Twice it was wholly destroyed by fire, and barely escaped
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HISTORY OF' CARROLL COUNTY.
a third time from being consumed. In 1869, it passed by purchase into the hands of Dan. R. Brand, who, in the following April, sold to Capt. M. T. C. Williams. During the year Capt. Williams sold out to Jos. H. Turner, the original founder, who associated with him John Brand, and together they conducted the paper until January, 1878, when it was destroyed by fire. In August following, Capt. Turner secured by pur- chase the whole interest of the concern and has been editor and proprietor ever since.
MISSOURI VALLEY YEOMAN.
The Yeoman was started at DeWitt, sometime during the year 1868, by Hawkins & Hunter. It was neutral in politics and survived only about one year. Its suspension was no fault of the patrons of the paper, and had it been managed properly, would have been a fixture of DeWitt. I. N. Hawkins was a practical printer and the best editor Carroll county ever had. Hunter was also a practical printer, a thoroughly well-read gentleman, and a nephew of Caleb Cushing, of Mass.
CARROLLTON DEMOCRAT.
ยท The Democrat was founded by Alf. S. Kierolf in the spring of 1875 and remained under his control until the fall of that year. Some misun- derstanding having occurred between Kierolf and I. N. Hawkins, in the office of the Democrat, Kierolf shot and killed Hawkins. Kierolf was prostrated with heart disease over the matter, and died soon after Hawk- ins. The paper then came into possession of J. N. Tuley, present owner, who associated with him as editor J. B. Jewell, and it has been conducted under the name of Tuley & Jewell ever since.
TRIPLE LINK.
In connection with the Carrollton Democrat, Messrs. Tuley & Jewell issue, semi-monthly, an Odd Fellows' journal called the Triple Link. It is the only Odd Fellows' journal in the state, and is well liked by the fra- ternity.
NORBORNE INDEPENDENT.
The Independent was founded by Col. Jacob Childs, of Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, a veteran newspaper man, sometime during the summer of 1865. It is conducted on the independent basis, politically, and is well patronized by the community in which it is located. Col. Childs sold his interest to Thos. Irish, who in turn sold out his interest to A. E. McCoub- rie, who conducted it with ability for over two years. McCoubrie's health failing, he sold to J. T. Craig, present owner and proprietor, by whom it is now conducted.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
WEEKLY NEWS.
The News was first issued in the month of May, the present year, in DeWitt, by - Graves. It is as yet but an experiment, so far as its success is concerned financially. Should it prove a failure it will not be for want of patronage, as no part of the county, in proportion to its pop- ulation, is more liberal in encouraging projects of this kind. The News. is independent, politically, and if run in the local interest of the commu- nity in which it is published, it will not only prove a success, but be a pub- lic benefactor.
PROMINENT CRIMINAL CASES.
To give a history in detail of the cases of murder committed in. Carroll county since its organization would fill a volume of itself larger than this. A synopsis of the most infamous of the many infamous, cold-blooded murders that have taken place in late years in this county, is as much a part of the history as its early settlements and improvements, and we propose to refer briefly to such of these as created the most intense excitement and interest at the time of their commission.
GEO. W. THOMAS.
In 1846, Jack Harmon shot Geo. W. Thomas with a rifle. Harmon met Thomas and said, "What were you doing on my doorstep last night?" at the same time raising his rifle and fired. Thomas lived about twelve hours. The excitement over the murder ran high. At first, no motive being found for the killing, it was presumed that Harmon was insane. When the trial came on, owing to the excitement that was manifest, Har- mon's lawyers asked a change of venue and got it. The case was taken to the Ray county court, Harmon was found guilty, and received a life sentence to state's prison, where he died a short time afterward. This was perhaps the first murder committed in the county after its organiza- tion.
JUDGE THOMAS PLEMMONS.
On the 5th day of October, 1855, a negro slave in the employ of Judge Thomas Plemmons, while in the field, struck the judge on the head with a hoe and killed him. He hid the body in a corn shock, until night, when he carried the body on horseback about a mile on the prairie, hid- ing it in the grass, first placing it in a position as though it had been thrown from a horse. The friends of the judge made diligent search for his whereabouts, but failed to find him. Suspicion finally fell upon the negro, and being pressed he confessed to the murder, assigning as a rea- son for the act, that the judge had struck him with a switch. The
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negro was forced to guide the searching party to where he had concealed the body in the grass, and it was taken up and carried to the Plemmons residence. About two hundred men had assembled when the negro con- fessed to the crime, and on conclusion of the confession, a jury of twelve men was selected to assess the punishment, and the verdict was unani- mously death, which wasinflicted by hanging on the limb of a tree standing by the gateway. The following day the body of Judge Plemmons was buried with masonic honors, at which, the whole immediate country and many from a distance attended.
WILLIAM LYKES.
At the March term, 1872, Font. Goodman was tried for the killing of Wm. Lykes. The parties were living with F. G. Flournory, and quar- reled about feeding a pair of mules. Both the men had been drinking during the day, and the quarrel culminated in Goodman shooting Lykes to death. The usual indictment and trial followed, the result being, the finding of a verdict against Goodman, and a sentence of three years to states prison assessed.
ENOCH MUSSER.
At the March term 1868, Samuel B. Winfrey was put on trial for the killing of Enoch Musser. The evidence in the case satisfied the jury that Musser had approached Winfrey and was about to strike him with a heavy bludgeon of some kind. Winfrey fell back and drew his revolver, deliberately aiming it he pulled the trigger and Musser fell. He died in a short time. The jury returned a verdict of acquittal.
JIM ALLEN.
At the August term 1874, George Dooly stabbed and killed Jim Allen. Circuit court was in session at the time, the grand jury having been discharged the day before the killing .. Judge Jonas Clark, presiding judge of the district, saw the affray, and on Wednesday morning following, the killing having taken place on Tuesday, he summoned a new venire of grand jurors who indicted Dooley the same day, Wednesday, tried him on Thursday, returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree on Friday morning, and on Saturday he was on his way to state prison, the jury assessing a penalty of twenty-four years in prison.
EDWIN BAKER.
In 1869 Thomas Linoney shot and instantly killed Edwin Baker, a son of Capt. Charles K. Baker, near what was known as Baker's Landing. After the usual vexatious delays, the case was tried in the Livingston county court and the prisoner found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. Having served about sixteen months he was dis-
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charged under the good behavior rule, and is now practicing law in this county.
JOHN F. BUTCHER.
In 1869 the most atrocious and cold-blooded murder in the annals of crime in the county took place in Mandeville, Without provocation to justify even harsh words, one Abe Lee shot to death John F. Butcher in cold blood. Butcher was an educated gentleman and had some property. Lee, on the other hand, was a shiftless and worthless character. Butcher was respected by the whole community in which the parties lived, while Lee was looked upon with suspicion and had not the respect of a single neighbor.
The case was tried and the perjured evidence introduced shocked the whole community, especially that portion of the people who lived in the immediate vicinity of the murder. It was sufficient, however, to acquit the criminal. The deepest indignation prevailed on the verdict being made known, and had it been in a less law-abiding locality, Lee would have been lynched.
Two of the attorneys for the defense shamelessly boasted afterward of the unprofessional advantages they had resorted to in order to win the case. One vowed that he suggested the evidence that acquitted, while the other asserted that he got the prosecuting attorney drunk in order to weaken the 'case for the state. These boasts were facts, however, which gave back to the community a criminal of the most devilish character, and if his acquittal through the instrumentality of these honored gentlemen of the law is a feather in their caps individually, it is not a matter of credit by any means to the profession of which they claim to be leading mem- bers. When such means are used to defeat the aims of the law, and the fact becomes known, it is as cordial an invitation to outlaws and desper- ate men to locate among us as could be given, and is in a measure the cause of the increase of high crimes among us, and the terrible unsafety of human life.
ELIJAH HALEY.
In 1874 a double tragedy occurred in the killing by Robert A. Austin of his wife and Elijah Haley. Mr. Austin acted deliberately, and first found out to his entire satisfaction.the truth of certain rumors at that time in circulation, regarding the infidelity of his wife. Placing himself in a position to observe, he saw Haley in his wife's chamber at an unseemly hour, and as the destroyer of his honor and happiness, Haley, got into bed, Austin fired several shots killing Haley almost instantly, and wound- ing his own wife so seriously that she died shortly after.
The case was so plainly justifiable that the first grand jury refused to
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investigate it, and at the next session of the grand jury, at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Austin and his friends, the case was returned for rial, Austin having been indicted at his own request. On trial of the case the jury rendered a verdict of not guilty, without dissent, and in the shortest possible time.
WILLIAM PILE.
On the 14th day of August, 1876, one W. Glaze shot and fatally wounded William Pile, colored. Pile was passing at the northwest corner of the public square, when Glaze, who was on horseback, deliberately shot him down, and made his escape. Pile died the following day. Glaze left the county and has not been heard from since.
CHAS. B. TURPIN.
At the March term, 1877, Mark Leftwich was, tried for shooting to death one Charles Turpin, in a saloon on the south side of the square Leftwich was deputy marshal of Carrollton, and Turpin was drunk on the streets. Leftwich arrested Turpin and presented him to the mayor. During the trial Turpin called Leftwich a liar, and Leftwich replied with a blow. After the trial Turpin bought a revolver, and Leftwich, knowing the reputation of Turpin, kept on the lookout. They met in Slack's saloon, a few moments after the trial, Turpin entering the door with his revolver in his hand. As Turpin raised his hand to shoot, Leftwich fired, and fol- lowed up firing several shots, killing Turpin in his tracks. The evidence being in substance as above, acquittal followed.
. JOHN GODWIN.
On the 5th of July, 1878, one Ed. Forsythe, shot and almost instantly killed John Godwin. Both parties had been drinking during the day, and got into a quarrel in Slack's saloon. During the difficulty, Godwin got out of, the door, and as he stepped on to the sidewalk, Forsythe fired. Godwin ran to the southwest corner of the square, and fell, dying in a few moments. The case was never tried.
HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTE OF CARROLL CO.
On the morning of April 20, 1871, in the chapel of the public school building of Carrollton, Carroll county, Mo., a body of teachers and friends of education, met in obedience to the call of county Superintendent Roy, for the purpose of organizing a teachers' institute. Superintendent Roy called the house to order, and the institute proceeded to elect as president, Col. L. H. Waters, vice-president, Mr. A. C. Blackwell, and secretary, James H. Baker.
A committee to draft a constitution and by-laws was appointed as fol-
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lows: Miss S. D. Heston, Prof. O. Root, Jr., and Mr. Geo. B. Highsmith; who reported the following constitution, which was adopted.
CONSTITUTION.
We, the teachers and friends of education, in Carroll county, state of Missouri, desiring to encourage improvement in the science and art of teaching; to diffuse information on common school education; to promote harmony of feeling, and a general advancement of knowledge, do organ- ize ourselves into an association, and adopt the following constitution:
ARTICLE I. This association shall be known as the Carroll county teachers' institute.
ART. II. Its object shall be to promote by any proper means, the objects expressed in the preamble.
ART. Ill. Any teacher or friend of education, may become a member of this institution by subscribing to the constitution.
ART. IV. The regular meetings of this institute shall be held twice in each year, at such times and places as shall be fixed by the executive com- .
mittee.
ART. V. The regular officers of this institute shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and treasurer, and an executive committee of three members.
ART. VI. The duties of these officers shall be those of other delibera- tive bodies, unless specific provisions shall be herein made.
ART. VII. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to fix the time and place for holding the institute, giving at least three weeks' notice through the county papers, or by other means; to secure su itable instruc- tors, singers and lecturers for conducting the exercises, and to prepare a programme for such exercises.
ART. VIII. All regular officers shall hereafter be elected by ballot, upon the first day of each semi-annual session. A majority of members present, and voting shall elect.
ART. IX. This Constitution may be amended, altered or enlarged, at any regular meeting, after one day's previous notice, of the proposed amendment or addition; provided two-thirds of the members present vote in favor of such amendment or addition.
To this Constitution has been added two amendments:
ART. V. . The regular officers of the Institute shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five members, of which the Co. Supt. shall be the Chairman, who shall be elected as hereinafter provided, and a Critic who shall be appointed for each exercise by the President.
.ART. VIII. All regular officers shall hereafter be elected by ballot upon the first day of each session, except the Executive Committee, which shall be appointed by the President on the last day of the same.
Article V was amended on the 22d of April 1871. Article VIII was amended on the 27th day of July, 1881. The amendment to article V was, on the same day, changed as follows:
Resolved, That the Constitution be so amended as to provide for a Treasurer, to be elected in a manner provided for the election of other officers.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
This session lasted but three days; the attendance was 54, the interest manifested was good and the Teachers' Institute of Carroll'Co., became'a county institution. This year another session of three days was held on the 30th and 31st days of August, and the 1st and 2d of September. The attendance was not as good as that of the previous session; but the inter- est seems to have been quite as good. Prof. J. Baldwin visited the Insti- tute and delivered a lecture in the evening of September 1st on "Govern- ing Power."
For the year 1872 two sessions were held, the duration of each being three days. The first beginning on the 18th of April and the second on the 28th of August. The attendance of neither session was as good as of the first session.
In 1873 but one session of three days was held, viz :- August 25th, 26th, and 27th. This session was remarkable for nothing but having the least number of teachers present of any session yet held. The year of 1874 is a noticeable one in the history of the Institute as being one in which no session of the Institute was held.
In the year 1875, Prof. J. C. Anderson was elected to the office of Co. Supt. of schools and with his election the Institute entered upon.a new era of its existence. In the early part of the autumn he issued a call for a session of the Institute to be held on the 22d, 23d, and 24th of December 1875. We can say nothing better of this session than to quote Prof. Anderson's words. At the close of the session he wrote in the Secre- tary's book the following:
I am pleased to say that this session of the Institute has been the most pleasant and interesting we have ever had in the county. Sixty teachers were present during the Institute. One of the most encouraging features of the Institute was to see several school directors present, some of whom enrolled as members of the Institute.
This successful session paved the way for the seventh session which was held on the 23d, 24th and 25th of August 1876. This session was not in all respects as good as the sixth, having an attendance of 58, and being held in the hottest season of the year.
The eigth session began on the 22d day of August 1877, closing on the 24th with an attendance of 77. Thus far no session of the Institute exceeded four days in duration; and the exercises in the different branches were confined to discussions, essays, lectures, etc., many or nearly all being extemporaneous efforts. Much valuable time was lost on account of there being no permanent programme or method of work. There was a great lack of system. To supply all these defects more time, and consequently a longer session was demanded.
On the 12th day of August 1878, assembled the first Normal Institute of Carroll County which continued five days, closing on the 16th with an
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HISTORY, OF. CARROLL COUNTY.
enrollment of 78 teachers. This. session fully demonstrated to the teachers, the benefits to be derived from a Normal Institute, and at the session of 1879 Prof. J. C. Anderson proposed that the duration session of 1880 be extended to four weeks; and that a competent instructor be employed to conduct the work, which should consist of regular daily class drills in each subject. To defray the expenses of the Institute a tuition fee of $2.50 was to be charged in place of the former registration fee of 25 cts, The plan was heartily endorsed by the Institute and a committee was appointed, by President J. C. Anderson, to receive names to an agreement binding themselves to attend or help to defray the expenses of the Insti- tute. This work was energetically prosecuted; and on the 26th of July, 1880 the Institute met at Carrollton, with. Prof. J. C. Anderson as presi- dent. Vice President Prof. C. H. Schreiber, Secretary and Treasurer, R. E. Brakey. Assistant Secretary, J. F. Ford. The services of Prof. R. C. Norton had been secured by the Committee as instructor, assisted by, Prof.'s J. C. Anderson, C. H. Schreiber and J. T. Buchanan, together with the following county teachers: T. M. O'Byrne, R. E. Brakey, M. F. Stepes and J. F. Ford.
The work of the Institute. was thoroughly systematic. Classes were organized and teachers assigned to take eharge of them, who assigned lessons and conducted recitations daily, each recitation being a normal drill under the direct supervision of Prof. Norton. The utmost harmony prevailed, and the enthusiasm was unprecedented in the history of the Institute. The enrollment reached the number of 107 teachers. The ses, sion was a complete success in every respect. Prof. Norton received $135 in compensation for his services. The other teachers being mem- bers of the profession in the county served without any compensation whatever. The session was visited by Prof. J. Baldwin, President of Kirks- ville State Normal School, and J. U. Barnard, Prof. of Elocution of the same place; both pronounced the session second to but few other Institutes in the state in numbers, and to none in enthusiasm and practical work. On the last day of the session a sufficient number of teachers enrolled their names for the next session to insure a full attendance at the meeting for the year of 1881. For this session the services of Prof. R. C. Norton could not be secured and the committee employed Prof. W. D. Dobson Supt. of Carrollton Schools, to conduct the session of 1881, which opened with the following officers: President, Prof. J. C. Anderson, Vice President Miss Ida F. Steele, Treasurer, Prof. C. H. Schreiber, and Sec- retary, J. F. Ford. The assistant teachers were Prof. J. C. Anderson, Prof. C. H. Schreiber, Prof. J. T. Buchanan and M. F. Stipes, J. F. Ford, A. P. Smith and J. T. Smith. The session met on July 26, 1881, with. an enrollment of 69 teachers, which number was increased before the close of the session to 110, the largest enrollment of any session of the Institute.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
The Institute was visited by Prof. J. Baldwin who gave three days' valu- able work in the Institute. He pronounced the Institute in point of prac- tical work second to none he had visited in the state.
We have now traced the history of the Carroll county teachers' insti- tute from its infancy to its present growth. Whether it has reached its full size or not remains to be ascertained by future events; but, on the past record of the institute, we may predict a useful and an honorable, if not a brilliant, future.
The normal institute, at the last days of the session of 1881, adopted a plan for the organization of seven institutes, to be held in Carroll county during the coming winter, beginning in October. These institutes to report to the president and executive committee of the county normal. Each district has a president, appointed by the president of the normal.
The following plan, uniting several townships into one district for insti- tute purposes, was adopted:
No. 1 .- Compton, Hurricane and Ridge. Place of meeting, Batts- ville; time, third Saturday in each month; chairman, L. H. Woodyard.
No. 2 .- Smith, DeWitt, Miami and Rockford. Place of meeting; De Witt; time, second Saturday; chairman, J. D. Hignight.
No. 3 .- Combs and Eugene. Place of meeting, Wakanda; time, first Saturday; chairman, Miss M. H. Davidson.
No. 4. - Moss Creek, Carrollton, Wakanda, Trotter and Sugar Tree. Place of meeting, Carrollton; time, fourth Saturday; chairman, Prof. W. D. Dobson ..
No. 5 .- Hill, Stokes' Mound and Van Horn. Place of meeting, Coloma; time, second Saturday; chairman, R. M. Truessell.
No. 6 .- Washington, Leslie and Fairfield. Place of meeting, Mande- ville; time, first Saturday; chairman, J. T. Smith.
No. 7 .- Prairie, Egypt and Cherry Valley. Place of meeting, Nor- borne; time, third Saturday; chairman, M. F. Stipes.
LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
The following is a list of all the county officers of Carroll county from its organization until the present time. The first officers were:
Sheriff, John Curl; clerk, Joseph Dickson; county judges, Thomas Hardwick, William Curl, William Crockett; collector, John Curl; asses- sor, James Trotter, and upon his resignation, Claiborn Palmer; surveyor, John Eppler, Jr .; coroner, Rial Bryant.
The first county court of Carroll county convened at the house of Nathaniel Cary, on the fourth of February, 1833. The judges of the
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
court from the time of the organization of the county to the present are as follows: :
February, 1833, Thomas Hardwick, William Curl, William Crockett; December, 1833, Thomas Hardwick, William Crockett, Reuben Harper; October, 1834, William Crockett, George W. Folger, George Mckinney; June, 1835, William Crockett, George Mckinney, William Barbee; November, 1836, William Crockett; Thomas Arnold, John Standley; November, 1838, Thomas Arnold, John Standley, Edmund J. Rea; November, 1840, Thomas Arnold, Edmund J. Rea; Joseph Winfrey; September, 1846, Thomas Arnold, Joseph Winfrey, Thomas Minnis; September, 1848, Thomas Arnold, Thomas Minnis, Thomas Hardwick; June, 1850, Thomas Arnold, Thomas Minnis, Joseph Winfrey; Septem- ber, 1852, Thomas Minnis, Benjamin Ely, James Trotter; October, 1854, Thomas. Hardwick, James Trotter, Benjamin Ely; . October, 1856, Thomas G. Dobbins, James Trotter, John Guillet; March, 1857, Thomas G. Dobbins, James Trotter, Thomas Minnis; December, 1862, James Trotter, Henry Hulse; March, 1863, James Trotter, Henry Hulse, James M. Farris; December, 1866, Francis F. Audsley, Charles M. Minnis, Simon M. Lauck; December, 1867, James Trotter, Charles M. Minnis, Simon M. Lauck; January, 1871, James Trotter, Simon M. Lauck, John Gray.
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