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 54
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This closed the case, and both sides awaited the decision of the justice patiently. They had not long to wait, the decision was that the tenth Mis-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
souri reports being obsolete, had no weight in the case in question, and the court derived jurisdiction in the premises.
To say that the "fine haired " disciple of Blackstone was discomfitted, would be a poor word to express his chagrin and disappointment he felt, and up to this time he relates it to his friends, emphasizing with more force than elegance, his disgust at the justice's decision.
In Van Horn, since the county was organized, the following persons have been Magistrates: 1865, R. B. Claspill; 1870, Silas Vance; 1872, S. S. Bartlett, E. Ruysert; 1873, E. Ruysert, A. D. Axton; 1875, P. B. Young, J. Carmean; 1877, T. P. Taylor, M. M. Miller; 1878, C. J. Buz- zard, W. Johnson; 1881, A. D. Axton, C. J. Buzzard.
SAN FRANCISCO.
This contemplated city was laid out in April, 1858, by J. C. Darcy, and contained nine blocks of nine lots each. It was laid out on section six in the extreme northwest corner of the township and just one mile south of Coloma. Its location adjacent to Coloma looks to the unbiased eye as though it was intended to stop the growth of the former place, Coloma being esteemed a rival. Two or three improvements were made within its boundaries, and its growth stopped, whether from natural causes, or from the more vigorous efforts of its rival to outstrip its growth, is not known. At all events, from some cause its building up was retarded, and within the last few years it has reverted back to its natural adaptation as a first-rate farm.
CHURCHES.
Big Creek M. E. Church, South .- This church dates its organization from 1851, and is located on Section 2. The original members were Chas. L. and Elizabeth Sullivan, J. W., Margaret B., and Mary McLain, B. W., Catharine, J. W., Ely G., and Mary A. Stone, G. G. and Sarah Brown, and Mary E. Sullivan. Their first and present building is a neat and tasty frame, erected in 1876, at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated by Rev. J. P. Nolan on the 4th Sunday of August, 1877. W. M. Sutton, M. G. Gregory, and H. H. Craig have been in charge of the flock. It has prospered under their labors and they have now a membership of fifty-nine.
SUGAR-TREE TOWNSHIP.
Sugar-Tree Township is fractional, and embraces that part of 51 23 and 51 24 in Carroll county. Its southern and eastern boundary being the Missouri river. The character of the country is low bottom, very rich and productive, and with an abundance of timber skirting the river.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Nehemiah and Noah Woolsey were among the first settlers, and although no date is known as to the exact time of their locating, it could not have been later than 1823, and possibly a few years earlier than this. Abra- ham and Alexander Hill, Jas. Lawson, John Hall and Sam'l H. Willlams, located from 1820 to 1824; Bartley Pitts came in 1835, Wm. Haddart and a man by the name of Lothian located in 1834, and Mike McGuire settled in 1836. Jonathan Trober in 1837, Wyatt Arnold, D. J. Thompson and Martin Preble came in 1838.
Most of the settlements were made in the timber near the river, the impression being held by the earlier settlers that the prairie bottom lands were unproductive and of little account except for grass. Late years have taught them differently however, and the prairie bottom lands have proven the richer of the two.
John Monroe located in 1836 or 1837, and remained till 1841, when he left for New Orleans to clerk in a commission house in that city. He became a prominent factor in the improvement of the city, and in 1860 was elected Mayor, making an efficient and able executive officer.
From 1841 to the opening of the war but few settlements were made, at least few as compared with certain other parts of the county. This seemed somewhat strange when it was known that it was one of the most fertile regions of the county, but the low and wet condition of the soil, and the tall, rank nature of the grass, made settlers fear that ague and malarial fevers were prevalent to an extent to make it wholly unhealthy. This fallacy has also been removed, and the fact stands proven that Sugar Tree is as healthy as the townships on the uplands.
The first marriage service was in 1835-Wm: Casner and Sally Wool- sey, but at whose residence and by whom performed, was not learned.
The first child born was a daughter to Noah and Fannie Caton, in 1835, name unknown.
The first death was that of Mahala Pitts in the month of March, 1835, the body being interred close to the Missouri river, the treacherous waters of which are constantly washing inward, and, no doubt, long since have encroached on the narrow house that contained the remains, and washed them into its ceasless current.
Drs. Folger and Walling for a number of years, were the regular prac- ticing physicians of the township, neither of whom were residents here, however, and not until several years later did a permanent physician locate in the township.
These early settlers were by nature primative in many of their ways, and they were primative to a great extent because they could not be oth- erwise. They all lived in log cabins because they had nothing better to to live in, lumber being unknown among them, markets being distant,
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
transportation slow and costly and money scarce, compelled them to prim- itive ideas and primitive modes of living.
The following named persons have served as magistrates, in Sugar Tree township, since the organization of the county: 1852, S. W. Mobley; 1854, Thomas J. Dunkle; 1866, Joseph Allen; 1872, Henry Neal, R. A. Black; 1873, Henry Neal, R. A. Black; 1875, James Prunty, Thomas J. Dunkle; 1876, Thomas J. Dunkle, Henry Neal, J. M. Calloway; 1881, O. L. Dun- kle, John Moore.
MOSCOW.
The project of building a city to be called after the famous city of Rus- sia, burned during Napoleon's campaign, was conceived in somebody's brain, and the site was selected on the southeast quarter of section 7, and in that part of the township known as 51, 23.
What its dimensions were to be is not recorded, but it is evident that it was not to be of any great extent, as no improvement was ever made on the site, and is therefore classed as still another of the "lost cities " of Car- roll county.
ELDERTON.
The site.of the city of Elderton was the south half of the southeast of the northwest of section 16, and in that part of the township known as 51, 24. J. T. Kelly and Paul Alden were to have been its founders and builders, and its dimensions were to embrace eight blocks of eight lots each. No improvement was made on the site of the expectant city, and well it was so, as the city would have shared the fate of the ground on which it was to have been builded. Its fine buildings, lofty churches palatial residences and splended mansions would have been covered by the treacherous encroachments of the " big muddy." This also is num- bered as one of the " lost cities " of the county.
WAKANDA TOWNSHIP.
Wakanda township derives its name from the Wakanda, formerly Wy-a-con-da Creek, a turbid, muddy stream that courses through the northern portion of the township. It embraces thirty-one full and five fractional sections of as fine a body of rich level bottom lands as can be found in the Missouri river valley. The bluffs of the Wakanda are covered thickly with scrub, black and white oak, hickory, walnut, syca- more and various other kinds of timber.
It is bounded on the north by Carrollton township, and on the south by Sugar Tree township and the Missouri river, being just five miles from the north line of the township to the river.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
A portion of the town of Carrollton, the county seat, is in Wakanda, not, however, any part of the original town, but of that portion of the extended limits that has been added since the original site was located. A little distance west of the range line and in section thirteen, and on the banks of the stream bearing the township name, Nathaniel Carey located in 1818. In the same year in the same part of the township, John May- berry located, and John Riffe settled on section one. John Curl settled near Nat. Carey, and his brother William located in the western part of the township.
In 1828 Hardin Cary located on section fourteen. About the spring of 1833 Noah Caton started a landing on the Missouri river near where Capt. Charles Baker resided. Capt. Wm. Hill obtained Caton's interest in the landing and it has been known as Hill's landing ever since.
Bartlett Pitts located in 1835 in sections thirty-two and thirty-three, the greater part of which land is now in the river. William Drake settled on the Wakanda near Nat. Carey's in 1836. Wm. Crockett, Tilfred Busby, John Thomas and Joseph Johnson all settled on the Wakanda. One Wel- don located at an early day about one mile southwest of the county seat, near to where the old fair was held.
About 1866 the channel of the Missouri changed from the south side of the river, where it had washed the Saline county bluffs for years, and worked over to the north or Carroll county side. The land being mellow bottom, the encroachment of the river soon became a matter of serious consideration, thousands of acres of the finest bottom lands were washed and several valuable farms with all their improvements carried away by the treacherous waters of the river .. These encroachments still continue, and year by year the channel approaches the bluff and may eventually reach it.
Many people are of the opinion that the channel of the Missouri at one time washed the bluffs of the Wakanda. How long ago this may have been none appear to have any idea.
From the fact that at any point on these bottom lands, water can be found within a few feet of the surface, and in almost any quantity, together with the universal opinion that these are made lands from over- flows of the Missouri from time to time, it is argued and with force, that the same elements that made can unmake, and the process of unmaking is constantly and surely going on. This being taken as a matter of fact, the question of time as to when the bed of the river will be at the foot of the Wakanda bluffs, is easily computed by mathematical calculation.
The following named persons have served as justices of the peace since the organization of the county, in what is now known as Wakanda town- ship: 1833, J. H. McMurtry; 1835, Thomas Booth; 1850, Wm. Rea; 1850, Stephen Hager; 1873, Asa Maxfield; 1875, Wm. D. Cox; 1875,
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Asa Maxfield; 1877, Asa Maxfield; 1877, W. D. Cox; 1881, W. B. Rog- ers. For several years Carrollton and Wakanda townships were embraced in one, under the name of Wakanda.
SOUTH CARROLLTON.
In 1868 Hiram and Jackson Wilcoxson laid off the town of South Car- rollton. The line of railroad about being completed suggested to these gentlemen that a place of considerable importance might be built up. The depot grounds being located one mile from the public square in Carroll- ton, it was supposed that the distance would draw much of the trade from Carrollton, and possibly stampede the whole business of the old town to South Carrollton. . Accordingly the town was laid out on the north part e { ne section 8. The survey being made and plat filed, a sale of lots took place, and almost fabulouos prices were paid for corner lots. For a few months it looked, at least to those engaged in speculating in town lots, that by the close of the year the old town would be deserted. Not so, however, for when the first flash had faded, little headway had been made against the old town so far as business was concerned. Quite a number of buildings went up in the new town, and two or three business places opened up. In time three elevators were erected and the town became a heavy shipping point. Beyond this fact it did not realize the expectations of those who predicted its future. The trade outside of shipping fell off in a short time, and to-day, while it is a point of heavy shipping, its local trade is meagre, and lots sold at the first sale that could to-day be purchased at one-sixth the price paid for them in 1868.
REEDSBURG.
At an early day a company consisting of James and David Reed, O. S. W. Callahan, B. S. Rankin, L. P. Marshall, Joseph M. Baker, H. Shu- gant, Thomas Wallace, R. S. Lockridge, Ben Williams,. T. Simpson and John T. Thompson, was formed for the purpose of building a town at Hill's Landing, some improvement was made, a store started, etc., but it ended in accomplishing literally nothing, and in a very few weeks the project was abandoned, and the improvements made fell into decay.
CARROLL CITY.
On the 7th of September, 1857, a company was organized, with Capt .. Wm. Hill as president, the object being to lay off and build a town to be called "Carroll City," located on section 26. It was laid off into 35 blocks of 12 lots each, 6 blocks of 8 lots each, 12 blocks of 6 lots each, and 2 blocks of 4 lots each, with center block for a public square. It was laid out at right angles with wide streets, alleys, avenues, etc., and was designed to be a place of great importance. Several buildings were put up and other improvements made, a large number of lots sold, and at one
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
time its success seemed assured. The exact cause of its final abandon- ment is not known, but we are informed that one of the main causes was a misunderstanding as to the relative interests of the different members of the company. Be the cause what it may, the project was abandoned, and Carroll City can be classed as another of the "lost cities" of Carroll county.
ROCKFORD TOWNSHIP.
Rockford township embraces but a few full and fractional sections, and is one of the most extreme eastern townships in the county. Its whole eastern boundary is washed by Grand river. Contiguous to the river and embracing a strip, from a half to one mile in width, is bottom land, skirted by heavy timber, the balance being upland rolling prairie, rich and fertile as nature could lavish. Rockford township dates its settlement more of recent than of early. date; yet some early settlers located along the river, and among whom were William Jenkins, John B. Winfrey, Nathaniel and Win. Banks, Elisha Hudson and one or two others whose names cannot be learned. · Elisha Hudson was a man of very limited education, of little or no information, but withal as ambitious as many men of the present day. Conceiving that his ability was of an order that ought to be appre- ciated, in 1852 he offered himself as a candidate for the lower house of the general assembly of the state. He made the canvass of the county, visit- ing every settlement and giving them the benefit of his views in politics. He supposed his enlightened explanations to the dear people would boost him in, but alas,
" The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee,"
and when the canvass was over and the votes counted, Elisha Hudson had but 12 votes. The name of the township is derived from the ford across the river, being designated Rock ford.
As an evidence of the late settlement of the township, it is known that less than thirteen hundred acres was in cultivation prior to the war, and with the exception of the residences of Mr. John Warnock and Reuben Winfrey, every house in the township was built of logs.
.. Being one of the best hunting portions in the county, it seems as though a mutual understanding was had to reserve it for that purpose, deer and turkeys being so abundant. Up to the spring of. 1866 not a public road was known in the township.
John Warnock, of Belmont county, Ohio, located on section six in 1859, and was one of the oldest settlers. Reuben Winfrey was one of the older settlers, also, the exact date of his coming not being known. Mr. Witt
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
was one of the first settlers, but like Winfrey, the date of his locating is lost. . :
From 1866 to the present, the township has filled up rapidly and improve- ment has kept pace with the settlements. About this time came Nelson Gosnell and settled on the southwest of section 20. Gosnell was elected county judge under township organization of 1872, from Rockford town- ship. During the first sitting of the court under this organization, some wag, in. order to have some fun at the expense of the court, slyly laid on the clerk's desk a petition setting forth a charge and specifications against Gosnell. Two or three of the judges had been apprised of the intended joke in order to stop proceedings if they should assume a serious outlook. When the court assembled after dinner, the clerk was ordered to read the petition, which on being done, it was found in regular order, and signed by the requisite number of persons, and specifying the exact crime or misdemeanor of which Judge Gosnell was guilty. The petition seemed · to throw the court off their guard, except those who had cognizance of the joke, and every face presented an elongated appearance, and feeling that a solemn duty devolved upon them, they at once assumed criminal jurisdiction. With the dignity that so well becomes a presiding justice, but without the knowledge that the affair was a joke, the presiding judge asked the gentleman from Rockford the usual interogatory asked crimi- nals when charged with an offense, "guilty or not guilty." Hesitating a moment the representative from Rockford hung his head, finally refusing to plead one way or the other. The question of the proper mode to pro- ceed to trial was discussed pro and con, and the matter growing serious, and the perpetrator of the joke fearing that the court was about to send one of their number to state's prison or probably hang him, gave the sig- nal to those who were posted, and on motion of one of their number, the petition was laid on. the table, as matter not coming within their jurisdic- tion. The cloud passed from the faces of the court, and a wise look of understanding usurped its place, saying plainly; " sold." Judge Gosnell, while a member of the court, suggested some wholesome advice to the court that is still followed, and has been of great benefit to the people of the county.
Church of God .- Organized 1873, at school house on section 8, where the congregation still meet for worship, never having been able to build a church house.
The original members were Saml. Huffman and wife; Joseph Frock and wife; I. N. Frock and wife; G. G. Funk and wife; Jacob Frock and wife; Mrs. M. Funk, Mrs. M. Agen, M. Maddock and wife; B. Hudson, B. Bowers, A. Bowers and wife, Mrs. L. Hacker, M. Stingeon and Mrs. N. Beck.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
William A. Prosser has been in charge of the congregation since its organization.
Present Membership 24.
Since the county was organized, the following persons have served as magistrates in Rockford: 1850, W. Winfrey; 1856, F. S. Cropp, J. B. Walker; 1862, W. Underwood, John Frock; 1868, P. A. Standley; 1872, Jacob Funk; 1873, G. W. Jenkins; 1875, N. Gossnell; 1876, Col. Jenkins.
COMPTON TOWNSHIP.
Compton township is the most north eastern portion of the county, and embraces a few full and fractional sections. Grand River bounds it on the east and Livingston county on the north. Big Hurricane creek runs through the southern portion of the township and Lick Branch, a small tributary of Grand River flows through the north eastern portion It is principally rolling prairie adapted to high cultivation. The streams are skirted with timber, some of it being a very heavy growth, and of a quality that in the near future will be of value.
Our information leads us to the belief that William Barbee was the first settler in the township, having located near the boundary line between Carroll and Livingston counties, on Grand River about the spring of 1833. The following fall Elihu Compton settled. One of the oldest settlers Col. William Compton who established the ferry known as Compton's ferry, on Grand River, was a portly fine looking man, eccentric and somewhat whimsical, but a man of sound judgment and considerable ability. He represented the county two terms in the lower house of the legislature and made a fair reputation. Owing to the popularity attained by Col. Compton, the township was honored with his name.
Compton's ferry in early days was on one of the main highways to the west, and was largely used by those bound westward.
But very few settlers located in this part of the county prior to 1842. During that year Ambrose Calloway located on section 19 two miles west of Grand river. The following year Dr. J. W. Lumpkin entered into the practice of medicine and remained several years. In 1841 Benjamin Mid- gett located on Grand river about 1841 or 42 John Riffe came about the same time. John Bennett and George Shell were early settlers, their exact location not being known.
After the arrival of B. and B. C. Woods in 1847, but few persons came into the Township. Occasionally a settler would locate, but not until about 1867 or a short time prior to that date, did the Township fill up rapidly. From this time up to the present time, Compton has kept pace with other portions of the county.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Col. Compton contemplated, or actually did lay out a town to be called "Little Compton" on section 16 on Grand River. For some cause no improvement was ever made, and the place can be said to be, so far as that location is concerned, lost. Afterward, however, Leven Comer laid out what is now Little Compton in section twenty. This was in August 1869, the site embracing six blocks of six lots each.' Its trade is limited to the immediate locality of the village, and there is little prospect of it extending.
The first marriage was Wm. Bennett to Malinda R. Compton, by whom performed is not now remembered.
The first male child born was Reese, a slave, belonging to Col. Comp- ton, and the first female child was born in 1837 to W. W. and R. C. Compton, named, Nancy Ann.
The first deaths,three children, names not mentioned, in 1835.
The first religious service was by the Cumberland Presbyterians, at Col. Compton's residence, by Revd's John Curl, Abbott Hancock and Sarshell Woods.
The first school was taught by a man named Goode. He had thirteen pupils, and taught on section 16. W. P. Dulaney, now a resident of Compton, boarded the teacher and gave him a present of a pair of new buckskin breeches. The first school house was built on section 8 by citi- zens, and cost about $250.
Billy Dulaney also informs us that their supplies were drawn from the timber and prairies principally, and that the early residents had a hard "wrestle" with the chills and fever. He and his step-sister, on the same horse, Billy behind, went four miles for fire, carrying it home by igniting the end of a rope.
Bill Anderson, during his raid through the county, on section 31, killed. John Rukers. It appears that Anderson was surprised by eleven Militia men, Anderson having twenty-five men. After killing Rukers, they cut off his head, scalped him and then mashed his skull. Rukers had been in the three months service, the only cause for his death. This is on the authority of the wife of Rukers who has since re-married with Mr. McCain.
In August 1862, on section 18, John Bailey was killed by the Brecken- ridge Militia. He lived in Livingston county, and was taken from his bed at home, brought to this side of Grand River and shot, leaving the body in a cornfield. The same morning they entered the residence of William Barbee, took Mr. Barbee prisoner and while preparing to hang him one of their number broke open his trunk and took out a masonic apron. On seeing the apron, the Lieutenant in charge of the command, gave orders for the men to leave the house, and on their going he inter-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
rogated Mr. Barbee, releasing him finally and charging his men to touch nothing about Mr. Barbee's house. .
In section 16 there is a vein of iron ore said by experts to be very fine. It runs in the bluff and is about six inches in thickness. No effort has ever been made to work the vein or trace it. Coal croppings are numerous and one vein on the farm of Ralph Fan, is being worked. A vein from two feet to thirty inches in thickness of bituminous coal of the "Peacock" variety finds ready sale with blacksmiths, persons coming as far as thirty miles to procure it.
CHURCHES.
Hurricane Baptist .- Oranized January, 1868, with the following orig- inal members: Thomas H. Ballew and wife, Sarah Munson, Mary C. Owen, Elsey Creel, Green Shumate and wife, and Grenup W. Hubbard and wife. Their first and present house of worship is a frame costing about $700, but at this time is not dedicated. The pastors who have officiated at the altar are Revs, T. H. Graves, W. S. Huff, F. M. Wadley, W. W. Waldron and F. W. Wadley, present pastor. Present membership, one hundred and twenty-six. Thomas Robinson gave one-half acre for the church, and two acres were bought of Mr. Robinson for a cemetery. A Sabbath-school connected with the church has a membership of fifty.
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