History of Cass County, Missouri, Part 2

Author: Glenn, Allen
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Topeka, Kan : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 904

USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 2

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).

Williams, Thomas C. 466

Wilson, J. B. 729

Wilson, Jot M. 786

Wood, Albert W. 738

Wooldridge, Francis M. 449

Wortham, C. J.

434

Wyatt, George W. 469

Yankee, Sam 488

Yoder, Christian D. 618

Yoder, Isaac Z. 622

Yoder, John B. 632

Yoder, S. K. 613

Yoder, S. R. 629

Young, Frank

753

Yost, W. E. 668

Ziegler, E. P.

758

Ziegler, J. G.

799

CASS COUNTY COURT HOUSE, HARRISONVILLE, MO.

CASS COUNTY HOME NEAR HARRISONVILLE, MO.

History of Cass County

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY

CASS COUNTY AS RELATED TO STATE AND NATION-SOURCES OF HISTORY- SPANISH AND FRENCH OCCUPATION-LOUISIANA PURCHASE-NAPOLEON'S INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSIONERS-LOUISIANA BECOMES PART OF THE UNITED STATES-ADVANTAGES OF ACQUISITION-DESCRIPTION LAWS REGULATING.

The history of Cass County, Missouri, is necessarily connected with the history of the State and country around us. We will refer in a gen- eral way to the elements and conditions of our common country, so far as in the writer's opinion effects our county. Truths come to us from the past, by history, as gold is washed from adjoining mountains or ridges in precious particles. Common decency demands we should hold in reverence the memory of those who served and occupied before us, whose deeds of valor, and still more important whose persistent push in the new countries, made it possible for us to have and enjoy what we now possess.

History, of a country, State, county or community is but the per- petuating events and biography of those who lived and occupied prior to our advent. Biography is history individualized. It takes the episodes and events, illustrative of the character and accomplishments of the peoples of a community, State or nation to tell us the why of their pro- gress or decay. What effect had the lives and character of individuals

(3)

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

in shaping these events. In writing our county history we will endeavor to give events as we get them from other pens and writers and the mem- ory of persons. This last source from which we gather past history has been too long neglected.

Biography of families who early settled this county, who have added their influence to shape the local affairs of our county, ought to impress us who enjoy the fruits resultant from their privations, labors, hard- ships, disappointments and successes. We reflect that there was a time when the vast domain west of the Mississippi was inhabited by wild men and wild beasts. We are even told it was, upon a time, an inland sea. When man came to America, however, there were great possibilities for him in this country of the west, out of which Cass County was carved. In the early part of the eighteenth century to France and Spain fell this western domain to bring into civilization. France seems to have ceded to Spain, Spain recedes to France, and France in turn cedes to the United States. It isn't the province of this history to elaborate upon these transfers, yet we will refer to them to recall dates so far as they effect the ultimate carving the present boundaries of this county out of this domain, Louisiana Territory, and State of Missouri.

October 30, 1795 (some have put it 1763), the French Government ceded to Spain what was known as Louisiana. On the first day of Octo- ber, 1800, by the treaty at St. Defonso, Spain retroceded the same terri- tory to France. A very interesting history is of these dates. The great Napoleon was embarrassed by war. Practically all then nationalized Europe had drawn their swords. Napoleon needed money. Jefferson, President of these, then, United States, saw the disadvantage of the west Mississippi being held by another power, opened negotiations with Napo- leon, for Napoleon was France at that time, for the purchase of the Louisiana territory. So far the treaty of Paris, on the 30th day of April, 1803, the commissioners from the French republic, and the commis- sioners from the United States signed a treaty ceding to the United States for the consideration of fifteen million dollars "the colony or prov- ince of Louisiana." (See Laws of Missouri 1804-1824, volume one (1) page one and following.)

Napoleon realized his losing a great prize in disposing of Louisiana, is shown in his address to his commissioners prior to the ceding of the country, viz .: "I am fully sensible of the value of Louisiana, and it was my wish to repair the error of the French diplomats who abandoned it

1142772 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

in 1763 (?), I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk of losing it, but if I am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more to those who force me to part with it, than to those to whom I shall yield it. The English have despoiled France of all her northern possessions in America and now they covet those of the South. I am determined that they shall not have the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but a trifle compared to their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexation they have manifested on seeing it return to the power of France, I am certain that their first object will be to gain possession of it. They will probably commence the war in that quarter. They have twenty vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and our affairs in St. Domingo are daily getting worse since the death of LeClere. The conquest of Louisiana might be easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting it out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an attack upon it. Such a measure would be in accordance with their habits and in their place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to deprive them of all prospects of ever possessing it, to cede it to the United States. Indeed, I can hardly say that I cede it, for I do not yet possess it; and if I wait but a short time my enemies may leave me nothing but an empty title to grant to the republic I wish to conciliate. I consider the whole colony as lost, and I believe that in the hands of this rising power it will be more useful to the political and even commercial interests of France than if I should attempt to retain it. Let me have both your opinions on the subject."

These ministers or commissioners failed to agree and Napoleon fur- ther said: "The season for deliberation is over. I have determined to renounce Louisiana. I shall give up, not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, without reservation. That I do not undervalue Louisiana I have sufficiently proved, as the object of my first treaty with Spain was to cover it. But though I regret parting with it I am convinced it would be folly to persist in trying to keep it. I commission you therefore to nego- tiate this affair with the envoy of the United States. Do not wait the arrival of Mr. Monroe, but go this very day and confer with Mr. Living- ston. Remember, however, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, and I do not wish to commence it by levying new taxes. For the last century France and Spain have incurred great expense in the im- provement of Louisiana, for which her trade has never indemnified them. Large sums have been advanced to different companies, which have never been returned to the Treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for these. Were I to regulate my demands by the importance of this ter-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

ritory to the United States, they would be unbounded; but, being obliged to part with it, I shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must have fifty millions of francs, and I will not consent to take less. I would rather make some desperate effort to preserve this fine country."

Within eighteen days from the speaking of these words Louisiana became a part of the United States. The treaty provided amply for the protection of the rights of settlers and it was a pleasure to the great Bonaparte to congratulate his late subjects upon their new relation. Upon completing the treaty Mr. Livingston, one of the commissioners on behalf of our country, is reputed to have said: "I consider from this day the United States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she has entirely escaped from the power of England." Bonaparte is further quoted as saying: "By this session of territory I have secured the power of the United States and given to England a maritime rival, who, at some future time, will humble her pride." These prophetic words have been verified fully. Amos Stoddard took actual possession for the United States of upper Louisiana on March 9, 1804. The authority of the United States over Missouri dates from this day. The purchase of Louisiana was known to embrace a great empire and secured a heritage to the peo- ple of our country for all time, but its grandeur, its possibilities, its inex- haustible resources and the important relations it would occupy among nations, never entered the brain of the wildest dreamer nor the pro- foundest statesman. The pioneer, who in early days pitched his tent upon these broad prairies, or penetrated the lonely forests of this country little thought of the mighty tide of physical and intellectual progress so soon to flow in his footsteps, to populate, build up, and enrich this vast domain which he conquered. We will never know the debt we owe these hardy forerunners, who year after year lead civilization further and further across the valleys, plains, hills and mountains of this new purchase.

"The district of Louisiana," composed of the country so ceded by France to the United States, lying north of the thirty-third degree of north latitude, was organized as a territory of the United States by an Act of Congress approved the 24th day of March, 1804. By the same act said "District of Louisiana" was put under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory for governmental purposes. (See chapter two of Laws of Mis- souri, 1804-1824, page 5.) The "District of Louisiana" was changed to the "territory of Louisiana" by Act of Congress approved March 3, 1805, (same laws, chapter 3, page 6). The name of Louisiana Territory was

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

changed to Missouri Territory by Act of Congress approved June 4, 1812. By the same act the "executive power was vested in a Governor, who should reside in the said territory." This act has a very interesting pro- vision for the selecting a legislature. It provides the representatives shall "be convened by the Governor, in the town of St. Louis on the first Mon- day in December next." (Same laws, chapter 4, page 8.)

CHAPTER II.

WHENCE CAME WE

MISSOURI, "THE CHILD OF THE STORM"-SOURCES OF EARLIEST SETTLERS- MORE AMERICANIZED SETTLERS-THE MISSOURIAN OF TODAY-HIS RECORD-DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS OF THE BORDER AND CIVIL CON- FLICTS-EARLY SETTLEMENTS FOLLOWED THE RIVERS-LEWIS AND CLARK'S EXPEDITION.

John Scott, the delegate from Missouri Territory, in Congress in 1819, referred to Missouri as "The Child of the Storm." Very aptly was this name applied to the territory he represented. Not only viewing it from the stormy political questions raised when she sought admission to the Union, but also from the class of its early settlers.

The earliest settlers, coming as they did from three distinct sources, each possessing racial peculiarities, habits, prejudices and principles. When this blood was mingled there is no wonder why the offspring should be turbulent, courageous, and at the same time reasonably lovable and firm in their convictions. Convictions with these early adventurers was synonymous with action. The Spaniard came to this new world from his home then deluged with war, reaching the lower Mississippi his adven- turous spirit leading him up the "Great River" to our shore. The French- man coming by way of the great lakes to the Mississippi River and down to our shores. He, too, came from a country then in the throes of a bloody war.

Then there came a more Americanized people across our eastern mountains, forests and plains to settle beyond the "Great River." These were from the eastern shores of the United States, made up of a people out of the old English and other stocks. These had mingled their blood for quite a century and so amalgamated had become quite a different stock from any of the originals.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

Take the offspring of such peoples so mixed in blood, brawn and brain and you have a Missourian. Is it any wonder that today we ask to be shown? Is it any wonder such a peoples met and mastered such political and physical storms as came to them? It was such peoples that furnished soldiers to all the wars of our nation. Scarcely a half century after these early settlers had made their homes west of the "Great River," we see Missourians under Donavan traversing thousands of miles to bat- tle for a common country; making marches and fighting battles unpar- alleled elsewhere in the history of any country. In the War of the Rebellion the legions from Missouri were marshalled on either side of the struggle. Their deeds of valor are written high in the history and poetry of our country. The character of the early settlers is portrayed in the histories we have of these events. We have a striking description of the hardships endured as well as the social enjoyments of early settlers in two writings of fiction, coming from different views. We refer to Mrs. C. A. Stanley's "Order No. 11" and Mrs. M. H. McCarter's "Walls of Men." One was from a Missouri lady, telling the story from a Southern · sympathizer's standpoint, the other from a Kansas lady telling it from a Northerner's standpoint. Each contains much that is purely fiction and both leave much of the truth, plain and simple, not told. Yet each gives enough of the statement from their respective points of view to show the character of their respective people participating in the stirring events of the early war of 1856 on the Missouri-Kansas border. By reading these two books of fiction the present day inhabitant among us can get a clear idea of the character of the western Missouri and eastern Kansas settlers of 1856. Neither were wholly right, yet both honest in their convictions and determined with life and property to uphold their respect- ive opinions.

These settlers of Cass County and surrounding country, like their predecessors in the eastern part of our State, followed the rivers. They came up the Missouri River and up the Osage River and their tributaries. This accounts for part of our early settlement coming north from the Osage River region to meet the southward bound from the Missouri river, meeting in their onward march for new homes on the high plane between the two rivers.

Coincident with the purchase of this vast region by the United States was Lewis and Clark's expedition to the Pacific Ocean. On their way up the Missouri they established (in 1804) a fort at the present site of

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

Sibley, between Kansas City and Lexington. The name Clark was given to honor one of the leaders of the expedition. When a treaty was made by the government with the Osage Indians, the name was changed to Fort Osage. In time the name was changed to Fort Sibley in honor of George C. Sibley, an active army officer of his day. So Fort Clark, Fort Osage and Fort Sibley refer to one and the same place.

CHAPTER III.

MISSOURI STATE

EVENTS OF ITS ADMISSION INTO THE UNION-PLAN OF ADMITTING FREE AND SLAVE STATES-COMPROMISES-MISSOURI ADMITTED BY PROCLAMATION- STRIFE OF SETTLERS-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY-SELECTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS-BARTON AND BENTON SELECTED SENATORS-CIVIL WAR-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-EXECUTIVES OF COUNTY AND STATE FROM 1770.

The events of Missouri's admission to the Union as a State has much to do with the formation of the character of early settlement of the county. When Delegate Scott, from Missouri, introduced in Congress in 1819 his resolution preparatory to the admission of our State into the Union, there was a story raised relative to slavery. Jefferson is quoted as saying, "The Missouri controversy sounds like a fire-bell at midnight." The statesmen from North and South had been in the habit of admitting States into the Union by pairs. One to be slave, the other free. In 1818 Illinois and Mississippi were admitted, one slave, the other free State.

In 1819 when Alabama and Missouri applied for statehood, both ask- ing to be admitted as slave states a great hue and cry was raised through- out the Union and the strife never ended indeed until at Appomattox. The tempest was stilled for a while by cutting Maine off from Massa- chusetts and admitting her as a free State and Alabama and Missouri as slave states. Thus peace was held for a time. After furious debates both in Congress and on the hustings the peacemakers procured what was known as the first Missouri Compromise. This compromise left no ad- vantage to the slave, or pro-slavery party, and only left the country, par- ticularly Missouri, in a state of agitation. In 1820 Delegate Scott called up his resolution for the admission of Missouri. Her constitution so

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

presented called for slavery. The storm burst forth with renewed fury. This all resulted in what is known as the Clay or Second Compromise. This was as meaningless as the first Missouri compromise. It had the effect, however, of James Monroe, by proclamation bearing date of the 10th day of August, 1821, declaring Missouri one of the States of the Union. The significant fact, revealed in our histories, is that all these eventful contests admitting Missouri into the Union were all accom- plished without a vote of the people.

All this wrangle, turmoil and strife left Missouri for the years fol- lowing in a mind not at all peacefully inclined. Not this alone but fur- ther brought to our shores a citizenship from the North and the South, bringing with them the bitterness and combativeness of each. It was this restless class who generally claim his home on the frontier. Statehood settled, we would expect quiet, if not peace, to reign. Not so in Missouri. Her first General Assembly meeting, even before the admission of the State, was in an apparent deadlock over the selection of the first senators to the United States Senate. David Barton was selected with little oppo- sition. Then followed a complete tie-up over the selection of his "sen- atorial yoke fellow," as we term it today, his associate in the Senate. After much acrimonious strife, it was proposed Senator-elect Barton should name his mate. This he did by the choice of Col. Thomas Hart Benton. Mr. Benton hailed from Tennessee, having been born in North Carolina. He had settled in Missouri during her territorial days.

During the period of seeking statehood, we had a government, in a way. The position of our State was fairly portrayed in the message of the then Governor, McNair. He said, "Since the organization of this gov- ernment (referring to the State organization) we have exhibited to the American people a spectacle novel and peculiar-an American republic on the confines of the Federal Union, exercising all the powers of sovereign government, with no actual political connection with the United States, nothing to bind us to them but a reverence for the same principles and an habitual attachment to them and their government." It would seem we were then in the Union, but not of the Union.

The lucky strike seems to have thus early turned to Mr. Benton. Mis- souri, it was assumed, was entitled to two senators, one for a four-year term and one for a six-year term. This was determined between David Barton and Thomas H. Benton, by casting lots. In this Mr. Benton re- ceived the six-year term. The man who really made him a Senator had

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

to take the short term. This long term gave Benton great power and enabled him to fix firmly his power over the fighting democracy of Mis- souri. With prestige and his great force of character Senator Benton was enabled to keep himself in the Senate of the United States for thirty years. From that day to early eighteen sixties, Benton ruled Missouri. Between our admission to the Union and the Civil War many brilliant men appeared on the political horizon. As we look back to it, we see with a degree of shame, many of these useful men throwing away their usefulness in falling victims to dueling. Thanks be to the masses of the people this vile practice was put to an end.

The horrors of our Civil War are too fresh in memory to profit in rehearsing its bloody and cruel happenings. That war raged in Missouri from 1856. The border counties, of which Cass was one, had their share in the doings of those awful days. These scenes of the whole state had a mighty influence on the character of the early settlers of this county and for that reason is here briefly referred to.

So from the early settlements about St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau and the eastern border of the State, this turbulent spirit of the hardy pioneer pushed his way west, up the Missouri and Osage rivers. From the Osage they wended their way northward and from the shores of the Missouri River they gradually pushed their way over hill and plain southward. From these differing sources came the early settlers of the fertile plains of this county. The people were as different in tempera- ment, too, as they were from their source of springing. The French and his blood were ever pushing out in quest for lead, zinc and mines of other ores, about which the Indian had told fabulous stories. The Spanish and his descendants came to these plains from a purely adventurous spirit and an all absorbing desire to find new game to hunt and new places of discovery. On the open plains, forty miles south of the mouth of the Kaw as it entered the great Missouri, both found as good a land as the sun shines upon, now Cass County, Missouri.

The executives of this county and State from 1770 are as follows:

Pedro Piernas, under Spanish rule.

1770

Francisco Cruzat, under Spanish rule. 1775

Fernando de Leyba, under Spanish rule 1778 1 1

Francisco Cruzat, under Spanish rule I 1 1 I 1780

Manuel Perez, under Spanish rule. 1787 1 I

Zenan Trudeau, under Spanish rule 1792 1 1 1 I 1

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

Carlas Dehault, under Spanish rule 1799

William Henry Harrison, Governor of Indiana 1804

James Wilkinson, Governor Louisiana Territory 1805

James Brown, acting Governor Louisiana Territory 1806 Frederick Bates, Governor Louisiana Territory 1807

Meriwether Lewis, Governor Louisiana Territory 1807

Frederick Bates, acting Governor Louisiana Territory 1809

Benjamine Howard, Governor Louisiana Territory 1810

Frederick Bates, acting Governor Missouri Territory 1812

William Clark, Governor Missouri Territory 1813

Alexander McNair, Governor Missouri State (?)

1820

Frederick Bates, Governor Missouri State

1824

Abraham J. Williams, acting Governor Missouri State 1825

John Miller, Governor Missouri State 1825

Daniel Dunklin, Governor Missouri State 1832

Lilburn W. Boggs, Governor Missouri State. 1836

Thomas Reynolds, Governor Missouri State.

1840

M. M. Marmaduke, acting Governor Missouri State 1

1844

John C. Edwards, Governor Missouri State

1844

Austin A. King, Governor Missouri State

1848

Sterling Price, Governor Missouri State.

1852

Trusten Polk, Governor Missouri State

1856

Hancock Jackson, acting Governor Missouri State

1857

Robert W. Stewart, Governor Missouri State

1857

Claiborne F. Jackson, Governor Missouri State

1861

Hamilton R. Gamble, acting Governor Missouri State

1861

Willard P. Hall, acting Governor Missouri State 1864 1

Thomas C. Fletcher, Governor Missouri State 1865

Joseph W. McClurg, Governor Missouri State 1869 1 1

Benjamin Gratz Brown, Governor Missouri State 1 1

1871

Silas Woodson, Governor Missouri State. 1873 1 I

Charles H. Hardin, Governor Missouri State 1875 I

John S. Phelps, Governor Missouri State 1877

Thomas T. Crittenden, Governor Missouri State I

1881

John S. Marmaduke, Governor Missouri State 1885

Albert P. Morehouse, acting Governor Missouri State 1887

David R. Francis, Governor Missouri State 1889

William J. Stone, Governor Missouri State. 1893

1 1

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

Lon V. Stephens, Governor Missouri State.

1897 Alexander M. Dockery, Governor Missouri State 1

1901 1 Joseph W. Folk, Governor Missouri State. 1

1 1 1 1905 Herbert S. Hadley, Governor Missouri State 1

1909

Elliott W. Major, Governor Missouri State. 1913

Frederick D. Gardner, Governor Missouri State 1913

CHAPTER IV.

- -

GEOLOGY.

READING THE ROCKS AND HILLS-CHANGES OF STREAMS-SHALE FORMATIONS AND GLACIAL DEPOSITS-NATURE'S PROCESS-CONSTANT CHANGES-LOCAL MOUNDS-CASS COUNTY RICH IN MINERALS-COAL DEPOSITS-LEAD-POT- TER'S CLAY-SULPHUR SPRINGS-OIL.

In its final analysis geology includes all soil developments and topo- graphy. These matters are dealt with elsewhere in this volume. Here let us read the rocks and hills-we gather from reports to the general government our county is of carboniferous formation, subdivision Pleas- anton shale. It is within these formations generally is found the coal measures. There are some rocky formations along the northern part of the county, largely limestone.

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History of Cass County, Missouri, Part 2

Author: Glenn, Allen Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Topeka, Kan : Historical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 904

Author: Glenn, Allen
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Topeka, Kan : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 904