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 46
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Josiah Timmons
. July 25, 1877
Jas. C. Garner
. Dec. 4, 1877
R. N. Bannister
Dec. 7, 1878
E. N. Edwards.
. July 31, 1879
Jno. Blankendrig
. Dec. 14, 1880
O. B. Holliday
Dec. 13, 1880
Geo. Templeton
Dec. 13, 1880
J. W. Lebree.
Township Histories.
TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED.
On the 6th day of August, 1872, by virtue of the adoption of township organization by a majority of the qualified votes cast at an election held in the county under a provision of the statute law of the state, the county court made an order of record, "that the following names be given the several townships in this county, and that they hereafter be known and designated by their respective names, etc.," the court prior to this, having made the boundary line, sub-dividing the old townships into twenty-three distinct and separate bodies. They were named respectively:
Smith .: 53-20
Miami ..
52-21
Dewitt . .53-21
Rockford . .54-21
Compton
55-21
Eugene 51-52-22
Combs. .53-22
Ridge.
54-22 . Leslie. .54-24
Hurricane. . 55-22
Cherry Valley 51-25
Prairie. . . .
53-25
Washington .
55-25
Wakanda . .. 52 - 23-e$ 51-23
Carrollton
53-23
Van Horn. . . 54-23
Stokes Mound. 55-23
Sugar Tree. ... 51-24-w} 51-23 Moss Creek 52-24
Trotter
53-24
Hill. 55-24
Egypt.
52 -- 25
Fairfield 54-25
CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP.
Carrollton township derives its name from the village of Carrollton, Carroll county, Maryland, the residence of Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It comprises thirty-six full sections, of 640 acres each, or in the aggregate 23,040 acres. It is almost exclusively uplands, consisting of rolling prairie, and timber, all suscepti- ble of the highest cultivation.
The first settlement was made on the 13th of November, 1819, just south of what is known as Timmons' addition to the town of Carrollton, and by John Standley and his sons James, Elihu, Larkin, Hugh, Wil- liam, Joel and Uriah, and John Trotter, who made his home at that time with the Standleys, being then unmarried.
408
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
From information received from Mr. William Standley, a grandson of John Standley, we are enabled to locate the exact spot on which the first im- provement was made in the limits of what is now the corporate lines of Carrollton. Immediately north of the section line between sections fifty- two and fifty-three, and on the east side of Standley's branch 'about fifty yards distant, in what is now known as Trotter's pasture, and within the present corporate limits, can at this late day be found remnants of these first improvements. This ought to settle what has hitherto been a ques- tion of doubt, and any of our citizens can satisfy themselves of the truth of the statement as to the location of the first improvement in the present limits of our city. These early settlers were from Wilkes county, North Carolina. At the time of their arrival there was not a white settlement north or west within the limits of what is now Carroll county. In the following year, 1820, came William Turner and three sons, Samuel, Manly and Benjamin and one daughter, Emily, from Tennessee. They located in the northern part of the present town of Carrollton, near to where is the present residence of Samuel Turner, who is a son of the William Turner who located in 1820. A few years after followed Lewis N. Rees, C. A. Powell, Chestine Allen, Levi Clinkscales, Owen Rogers and others, locating in different parts of the township, and commenced building and improving. Dr. Geo. W. Folger came in 1832 and is said to have been the first physician who located permanently in the county. Reuben Har- per, Dave Thomas and Joseph Dickson came in 1833, and Edward War- ren in 1834. John W. and S. H. Clinkscales, sons of Levi Clinkscales, came here . with - their father in '1837, and located on section 20, and in 1840 . moved on section seven, about six miles north of Carrollton. Wesley Gentry, John Glaze and Ebenezer Casner, about 1839, settled north of the town, and Joel Curtis in the east part of the township. The first marriage took place in 1824, between John Trotter and Miriam Standley, but by whom performed is not known. The marriage of Joshua Clements and Miss Hardwick took place in an early day, but no dates are given.
It is related of Uncle Jimmy Standley that in 1819, he was appointed a justice of the peace, the first in the county. In this year occured the first law suit after the settlement of the county was commenced. A Mrs. Cas- ner had some little grievance against a man named P. Irons, and Uncle Jimmy was appealed to, to act as justice in the premises. He demurred at first saying that his duty was to post estrays and many people said he did not want to get complicated in a law suit. He was at last induced to go up in the bottom somewhere southeast of the present town of Nor- borne and try to compromise the matter. On arriving there he earnestly besought the parties to settle the matter without litigation, and at last was successful in making a compromise.
409
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
In reckoning up the costs, none of. the parties made any charge except the constable, a man by the name of Woolard, he representing that he had ridden eighteen or twenty miles through the woods and grass in the heat, threshing flies, and he ought to have twenty-five cents for his labor, An inventory of the available cash of the whole party revealed the fact that Larkin Standley, a son of the justice, had a silver dollar, the only money in the crowd.
" Uncle Jimmy " proposed to make the change by making four quar- ters of the dollar with an axe. In cutting the dollar it was somehow divided into five instead of four pieces. The constable took one of the pieces for his fee, and Lark Standley his money (four quarters) back again. This was good enough for true primitive days, but constables now-a-days would hardly be satisfied with a settlement of this kind.
Uncle Jimmy's law library consisted of an old farmers almanac, which had a constitution in it, but whether of the United States or of some single. state was never known. In it, of course, there was no provision for appealed cases, and Uncle Jimmy, therefore, never allowed any, and for many years after no appeal was allowed from his decision.
The first birth was to John and Lucy Standley, a son named Thomas, in 1823, and the first death is reported to have been that of Wm. Stand- ley, on the 8th day of August, 1824, just east of Carrollton.
The first physician was Dr. Geo. W. Folger, of Howard county, who practiced in this as well as several of the adjoining townships, and died in 1874 in Carrollton.
The first religious services were held by Rev. Daniel Patton, Cumber- land Presbyterian, at Jas. Curl's house, about five miles southeast of Car- rollton, and by Rev. Harris, Methodist, at the house of John Standley.
The first school taught was by Robert Owen, and the first school house built was a small log affair put up by the neighbors, about half a mile west of Carrollton. No facts are extant as to the number of pupils, but the tuition was three dollars per quarter.
At this time, and for years after, the settlers raised the flax and made their own linen, spun cotton and performed their domestic labor them- selves, or superintended the same.
The roads were kept in order by a tax levied on each man between the ages of 18 and 45. He was to work the assessed number of days, or pay at the rate of one dollar per day for the number of days he was . assessed.
At that day the principle trading was done "at. Richmond and in Char- iton.
The first stock of goods ever brought to Carroll county was brought by L. N. Rees, and was retailed in this township about five miles east of the county seat, and near the residence of James Curl.
-410
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
In 1834 the ridge or bluff adjacent to and extending along the western lines of the corporate limits of Carrollton, was covered with tall grass, six feet high, with but a few scattering trees, mostly white oak, while the ravine at its foot, was covered with a dense growth of underbrush. To-day, incredible as it may appear, this same ridge is covered with a. thick growth of timber. . In early days, portions of this land were culti- vated in corn and a little small grain. When the grass was burned, as it was yearly, many a deer was felled at three hundred yards range, with not a sprig to impede the bullet from the hunter's unerring rifle. On the grounds where the Wilcoxson premises are located, northwest of the square, a wolf pen was located, and many a black and a few gray fellows lost their liberty and their life at the same time. A wolf pen was also located near the premises of Mrs. G. W. Jones, one mile north of Carroll- ton, that aided in. lessening. the number of. these pestiferousbeasts.
Panthers were numerous in the timber, and Wm. Turner and one of his sons killed a fine large fellow, where the county town is located.
About 1826 in Brush Creek, near to where the brewery now stands, the first baptism by immersion took place, the subject being Mrs. Uriah Standley. Not only was this the first baptism by immersion, in the county, but is more than probable that it was the first baptism of any mode administered in the county.
CHURCHES.
Mount Zion Baptist .- Organized December 5, 1863, at Findley's school house, with W. C. Ligon, Gabe McDaniel, Thos. Morris, Hannah Morris, Owen Rogers, Eliza Rogers, Lewis and Hannah Rees, as char- ter members. Their church building is a neat frame delightfully situated ·on section 6, and put up in 1867, costing about $1,200. No date is given of its dedication, nor are we certain that it ever was dedicated. The pas- tors who have officiated are Revs. W. C. Ligon, Geo. Kinnard, W. S. Huff, G. W. Hatcher, C. Bullock, Geo. A. Crouch and F. Menifee. Present membership, 135.
Pleasant Hill Christian Church was organized in 1879, at Taylor's school house, with about thirty-five original members. Their church building was finished in 1880, and is a frame, 32x50 feet, and 16 feet high; was dedicated in May, 1880, by Elder Love, the present pastor, and has now a membership of 110. W .. A. Berry and F. A. Buzzard, elders; R. Nichols and D. Perry, deacons. The original organization was effected by a union of members from Mt. Zion, Rock Branch and Big Creek. F. A. Buzzard and wife, Bren Pulliam and wife, Zach. Bridgman and fam- ily, Buck Berry and wife, Wm. Rigsby, Ed. Reed and wife, Mrs. Kiser, Albert Buntin and Robert Nichols and wife and others.
From the organization of the county to the present year, the following
411
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
named persons have served as justices of the peace within the limits of what is now Carrollton township: 1833, George W. Folger; 1834, Thomas Minnis; 1836, George W. Folger; 1838, John A. B. Garland; 1840, T. H. Freeman; 1842, James H. Savage; 1842, Reece Paynter; 1844, John R. Harris; 1844, Reece Paynter; 1844, Samuel Turner; 1847, H. B. Roy; 1848, H. B. Roy; 1848, Z. A. Redwine; 1848, Reece Paynter; 1852, David H. Walker; 1852, Reece Paynter; 1856, Jackson Jewett; 1856, N. Bannister; 1856, H. B. Roy; 1860, H. B. Roy; 1860, H. A. Cox; 1862,. H. H. Brand; 1862, H. H. Brand; 1866, B. F. Smith; 1870, B. F. Smith; 187.0, Thomas W. McGuire; 1871, J. P. Hurd; 1872, V. Sanford; 1872, C. A. Cunningham; 1872, Thomas Brandon; 1872, Asa Maxfield; 1872, T. W. McGuire; 1873, H. J. Kelly; 1873, T. W. McGuire; 1873, C. A. Cunningham; 1874, T. L. Montgomery; 1875, R. E. Buchanan; 1875, J. R. McNutt; 1875, C. A. Cunningham; 1876, H. J. Kelly; 1877, R. E. Buchanan; 1877, C. A. Cunningham; 1877; H. J. Kelly; 1877, C. A. Cun- ningham; 1877, R. E. Buchanan; 1877, J. P. Hurd; 1878, R. E. Buchanan; 1878, T. L. Montgomery; 1878, C. A. Cunningham; 1879, J. P. Hurd; 1880, J. W. McGuire; 1881, T. L. Montgomery; 1881, R. E. Buchanan; 1881, T. W. McGuire.
CITY OF CARROLLTON.
Carrollton, the county seat Carroll county, is located on the line of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railroad, 209 miles north-west of St. Louis, and 66 miles east of Kansas City. It is located on a high bluff overlook- ing the Mirrouri river bottoms, and contains a population of nearly 4,000 souls. Statistics can be produced showing that her annual trade is far ahead of any towns on the line of the railroad or river, and is constantly increasing. She can boast of more fine, large business houses than any town outside of the metropolis of the state, and probably St. Joseph and Kansas City. She has more large hearted, public spirited citizens, more energy, more git-up and go ahead than half a dozen ordinary county. towns.
The first improvements made in the present limits of the city, was by John Standley, the report of which is found in the history of Carrollton township. The next was by Morgan P. Ellis, on lot 5, block 9, corner of Main and Benton streets, and now occupied by the commodious store- house of Baum & David. About this time John Trotter put up a log house near where the African M. E. church is located.
The improvement of the county seat, its present advantages, its early history, etc., should be a matter of interest to every inhabitant of the county, so that a history of the fullest details will be a history of facts as. near as can be procured.
412
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
At a special term of the county court held December 2d, 1833, John Morse, Felix Redding and John D. Llewellyn, commissioners for select- ing permanent site for county seat, were allowed by the court $50.00 for services. John Standley having donated the site, was made commis- sioner to sell lots, and entered into bond in $3,000 for faithful discharge of duty. At this term a petition was presented to the court and laid on the table, asking the removal of the county seat. On December 10th it was ordered that petition be rejected on the ground that only 79 signers out of 161 tax payers asked for removal.
A plat of the town was furnished and filed with records as the law directs, and the town ordered to be laid off conformably thereto, and that block 13 be reserved for county buildings.
The first sale of lots took place the 31st of March, 1834, and was to continue from day to day till every alternate lot was sold.
At the April term Dr. Folger ,was ordered to survey and lay off in lots, blocks, streets, and alleys, the county seat, receiving $40 therefor. John Trotter and Eben . Casner were chain-carriers.
At the July term, 1834, Morgan P. Ellis was granted license to keep a grocery or dram shop, at a cost of $5.
At the February term, 1835, John Standley, commissioner, was ordered to sell all timber on the streets and public square.
At the term of court held in August, John Trotter donated to the county ten acres, on the south end of that given by John Standley, the court accepting and taking deed for same.
Wm. M. Farr had authority to cultivate lot six, block eight, but at the following term of court, in February, 1836, the order was rescinded.
August, 1837, Lewis Rees filed petition of citizens of Carrollton, pray- ing for incorporation, and asking that the east half of the southeast quarter of section 32, township 53, range 23, be included in said incorporation. Court granted petition, and ordered that the inhabitants thereof be a body politic, and corporate under the name and style of the "Town of Carrollton," and that Lindsay Harmon, Ed. V. Warren, Hiram Wilcoxson, John Espey, and L. N. Rees be and are hereby appointed trustees.
Up to this year, and in fact up to 1847, the town improved slowly, little if anything of particular interest transpiring. On the 8th of December, 1847, Rees Paynter presented a petition to the court, asking incorporation and police protection for the town of Carrollton. The court granted prayer, and appointed F. B. Atwood, W. J. Herndon, W. M. Corby, Joseph Freet, and William Walker trustees, until a legal election could be held.
From this fact it appears that the first incorporation was inoperative, and the court was called on to revise their former order, which they did.
From the date of this last incorporation up to the excitement of 1860,
413
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
the town made some progress, and quite a little city was the result. The war coming on about this time, not only impeded the progress of the place, but through the bitterness engendered by the sentiments for and against the established government, many of the citizens left, and the town in a measure became deserted. Excitement ran higher as the war came on and the town gradually lost its vigor. Demoralization and delapida- tion followed. Legal authority was defied, and a spirit of lawlessness took the place of obedience.
Carrollton although passing through the war apparently unscathed, was several times the scene of more than ordinary excitement and interest, the first of any note being the raid of Capt. Mirick in July 1862. They destroyed the fournal office, throwing into the street every case of type except one, and breaking the press. Barricades and breastworks were thrown up in places through the town and the citizens that were able being enrolled as militia for its protection.
On the morning of Oct. 17th 1864, Maj. Diegel commanding the post, learned that a large force of rebels were approaching, and knowing the force under his command was insufficient to hold the place if attacked, having only about 130 men and but little ammunition, by order he sent to Chillicothe for reinforcements and ammunition. This order was sent to St. Joseph, and reinforcements and ammunition were sent, but did not reach him when the demand was made by Col. Williams for surrender, with the threat that if not surrendered, he would bombard and burn the town. Maj. Diegel called a council of the officers and principal citizens of the town to consider the situation. Being nearly out of ammunition, and having only a force of about 130 men it seemed like madness to undertake to hold the place. Major Diegel explained these facts to the council, and the result was, that surrender was agreed on, and the rebels took possession of the place, Maj. Diegel naming as conditions of surren- der, that his men be allowed to go home, and the business men and citi- zens be protected. These conditions were to a certain extent violated by the command of Col. Williams and some unwarranted excesses took place. The force remained in possession of the town one night only, taking up their line of march by orders received from Genl. Price.
Some question arising as to the policy of the surrender, Maj. Diegel called for and obtained a court of inquiry on his act of surrender, Gen'l. Fisk being in command of the district. All the facts being placed before the court, the surrender was justified as a necessity and Maj. Diegel exon- erated from all blame. When it is considered that the effective force in the town was only about 130 men, poorly armed and equipped and out of ammunition it should not seem strange that they should surrender to a dis- ciplined force much superior to their own; well armed and equipped, and
N
414
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
under the control of an efficient officer, with everything necessary to seige and capture the place.
In the spring of 1864, O. J. Kerby presented to the county court a peti- tion, praying the incorporation of the town under an act of the General Assembly of the State, which prayer was granted by the court, and the fact ordered of record. The court appointed O. J. Kerby, W. M. Cosby, W. B. Minnis, Jas. O'Gorman and Sam. Turner, Trustees of the town for the term of one year.
The board met for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, and the first thing in order being the choice of a head to the board, Saml. Turner was nominated and elected president and acting Mayor and the city government went into effect. Whether this govern- ment carried out their functions is a question of doubt as the unsettled state of everything rendered it a matter of impossibility almost to execute its ordinances: Roving bands of lawless men, sometimes federal, some- times confederate, would visit the town weekly, sometimes oftener, and ride through the streets firing revolvers and threatening the lives of the citizens, causing every business man to lock up his premises for hours. This state of affairs lasted so long that the charter of the town was for- feited, and there was scarcely the shadow of a town government known or respected.
In March, 1866, Dan R. Brand and James Malone, secured the names of a sufficient number of citizens, by promising them secrecy, to pray the Legislature to revise the charter. No record being in existence of the doings of the Town government of that day, it is not known what disposition was made of the petition. It is presumable, however, that from the fact that an election took place the month following the circulation of the petition, that some kind of authority was given the citizens; and they held their election in accordance therewith, resulting in the choice of H. H. Brand, Mayor, a marshal and full set of councilmen. From that time up to the present, the lawlessness of that day has been a matter of the past, the citizens lending their aid and influence to the officers in quelling mob spirit.
The first post office established in Carrollton, was in the log house now occupied by A. R. Barrier, and located on the premises just east of the residence of Mrs. Wyatt Arnold, with Joseph Dickson, as postmaster, in 1834.
One of the first marriages was that of Joseph Dickson to Miss Parmelia Warren.
The first birth is said to have been a daughter to Wm. Freeman and wife, living only about three weeks.
The first death was that of Parmella Dickson, wife of Joseph Dickson,
415
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
whose body was the first deposited in the graveyard adjoining the present location of the Presbyterian church.
Geo. W. Folger was the first phyiscian and located in 1832. He was a native of North Carolina, and died here in 1874.
One of the first ministers who officiated was Rev. Pat Darsey, of the Baptist persuasion.
The first school opened was by Mrs. Nancy Folger in a log house located near the northeast corner of Block 17. She had about thirty pupils; one of whom, Mr. William is still a resident here. The first school house was located in the northwest part of town, near the old residence of Jas. L. Briscoe, and was built of logs, and first occupied by Henry Roy, Esq.
In 1871, and the year following, certain amendments were proposed to the charter of the city, and submitted to the State Legislature for adop- tion. They were favorably considered and approved by the Legislature, and became part of the charter of the town. About the same time the corporate limits were extended half a mile, taking in a population equal to if not greater in number than the original town contained, so that at present the town and vicinity claim a population of about 4000, while the limits of the corporation extend a half mile each direction of the compass, from the public Square, just double the area it contained prior to the extension.
As an evidence of the extent of trade, and the amount invested in stock, we need only refer to a partial business directory of the town. The heavy stock carried by the various firms, is the only criterion by which an inland town can be judged as to the extent of its trade, and while we have every assurance from published statistics, that Carrollton stands at the very head, neverless, the following is additional evidence of the fact:
General Merchants .- Baum & David, $35,000; Day & Clinkscales, $30,000; Ely & Brown, $20,000; Birkenwald & Rosenstock, $20,000; Painter, Minnis & Shanklin, $20,000; John Guitar, $10,000; Thomas Orch- ard $10,000; Orlando Ellis, $8,000; J. E. January, $5,000.
Groceries .- Aaron Quick, $10,000; F. Thomas, $5,000; C. A. Scott, $5,000; T. E. Willis, $3,000; C. T. Burgess, $850; Chas. Jackson; $800; Chas. R. Simpson & Co., $10,000; Tatham & Grace, $3,000.
Druggists .- Geo. W. Smith, $3,500; J. B. Smith, $2,000; Heitz & Hol- liday, $3,500; A. G. Rogers & Co., $4,000.
Furniture .- Hubbell & Co., $3,500; Kelly & Son, $2,000.
Book and News .- Gittings & Bro., $3,000; Queen & Bro., $1,000.
Jewelry .- Fred Steadley, $7,000; W. H. Kelly, $1,000.
Lumber and Machinery :- W. S. Crouch, $10,000; Roy & Creel, $7,000; McDonald' Lumber Co., $3,000; Jas. Malone, $2,000.
Hardware and Stoves .- W. A. Hatcher, $6,500; Cole & Stillwell, $6,000; Ed. Devine, $5,000.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Harness .- Fred Miller, $4,000; H. A. Saeger, $3,000.
Restaurant and Confectionaries .- Hossick & Son, $800; Shiller Cra- ver, $800.
Millinery .- Mrs. Hopkins, $1,000; Mrs. Queen, $500; Mrs. Dunkle $500.
Carriage Repository .- John Derry, $2,500.
In addition to the above, we have all the smaller business of an interior town, besides 15 lawyers, 9 physicians, 3 dentists, 2 photograph galeries 3 hotels, 4 boarding houses, 2 banks, 3 flour exchanges, 2 livery stables, 2 abstract offices, + dress makers, 4 butchers, 8 blacksmith shops, 2 machine shops and founderies, 2 cooper shops, 5 boot and shoe shops, 1 gun smith, 2 nurseries, 2 flouring mills, 1. woolen mill, 3 newspapers, etc.
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