History of Cass County, Missouri, Part 7

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 7


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).


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Mastin Burris was a native born Missourian, having been born in St. Charles County in 1812. He came to Cass County in 1834, settling near the present site of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, on what was then called Peck's Creek. He shortly removed from the county and re- turned again in 1837, settling in what is now Camp Branch Township. on the farm now occupied by John A. Dunn and wife. Mrs. Dunn is the daughter of Maston Burris and Aunt Judy Burris, his wife. Aunt Judy was a Methodist in religion and every person who ever met her soon knew it. She sang, she prayed and shouted at all meetings. Her reli- gion was genuine, thorough, and she made it very practical.


William Adams, one of the twenty-three to meet in the old settlers' gathering in 1879, came to the present Cass County in 1842. He was a Kentuckian by birth and rearing, coming from Mercer County, in that State. He was a man of means for that day; he came in a four-horse wagon. The usual method of coming by early settlers was by a single horse, or more common, by a yoke of oxen. He left a pleasant and cul- tured home for the then western wilds of Missouri. The Adams farm was located a couple of miles south of the present site of Gunn City. Of his early associates were Sanford Payne who settled in the present Index Township as early as 1837. Following Payne in 1840 were James, Joseph, William, John and David Bullock, all brothers. Other early neighbors of Adams were Hiram Davis, Enoch Enos, John Tackett, R. E. Gilleland, C. L. Carter, Stephen Burnett, William and Joseph Mason, Maston Hornsby, Thomas Burden, John Bone, Neal Quick, George M. Haymaker and a Mr. Hocker, who taught school near Gunn City.


Alfred Bybee, another of the twenty-three who met in 1879 was a native of Kentucky, born in Clark County in 1810. Bybee came to Cass County in 1840, settling on the farm afterwards generally known as the Pembroke Ryle homestead, in section 15, township 44, range 32, in what is now Grand River Township. Bybee was a strong, determined man, useful in his day, kind at heart, but self-willed. Had he been an educated man he would have been a power in any community. He was


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


a soldier in the Confederate army, entering the service as a private in the company of Captain E. V. R. Hurst (father of Judge H. V. Hurst). In 1863 he served as quartermaster in Col. William Hugh Irwin's regi- ment. After the close of the War of the Rebellion he finally returned to this county and by hard work and thrift became the owner of 700 or 800 acres of Cass County's finest land. In 1836 he was united in mar- riage to Areminta Railsback. He was the father of the late Senator Fielding E. Bybee and Napoleon B. Bybee. He has many descendants in the county today who are among our valued citizens.


William C. Burford settled on the old Burford homestead in section 18, township 44, of range 31, in 1840. He came from Mercer County, Kentucky. He was generally known as "Major" Burford, a name de- rived from his usefulness in drilling at the old musters in his Kentucky home. He was a good natured joker, a fine man and good neighbor. He led the life of a farmer and was a success. He married Denisia McMurey in his native state. His brothers, James C. Burford and Jef- ferson Burford, followed him to this county in after years. He was a useful character to keep alive the good spirits of his associates in times of depression.


Robert A. Brown, the president of the 1879 old settlers' meeting, was born in Roane County, Tennessee, February 8, 1808. He received his education at Tittenshouse Academy, located at Kingston, Tennessee. He was a farmer all his life. He moved to Van Buren, now Cass County, in 1842. He was a man of means when he arrived here and by superior business qualifications added much to his holdings after coming to this county. He owned a number of large and valuable tracts of land. At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion he owned many slaves. Mr. Brown was a Methodist in religion and always a liberal contributor to every worthy purpose of the church. When the Whig party ceased to be, Brown became an ardent and active Democrat. He was a mem- ber of what was known as the Missouri Secession Convention of 1861 as a delegate from Jackson, Cass and Bates counties. On the vote as to whether Missouri should dissolve her connection with the Federal Union, Brown voted against the dissolution. He was what was known in those days as a constitutional Union man. He was opposed to coerc- ing the South, however. His life had been among southern people and his sympathies with the southern cause. During the war there were all kinds of maraudering bands in the country. On one occasion he single


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


handed drove such a band from his home, killing three of them. The military officers in authority, after an investigation, justified Brown's acts and acquitted him of blame. R. A. Brown and Mary J. Gillenwaters were united in marriage in 1836 at Rhea County, Tennessee. This couple were parents of a large family of children, some of whom and many of their descendants are now among the foremost citizens of the county. Brown's life was a useful one among the early settlers in help- ing them in their hardships and privations. The steam saw and grist mill built by him near his home in 1847 was probably the first in the county.


Joseph F. Brooks was at the meeting in 1879 and was a settler here early in the eighteen forties. A part of the time in Harrisonville, but most of his early life was on a farm located about two miles northwest of Harrisonville. Like many of his associates he was too busy keeping food and shelter for those dependent upon him to push himself into the limelight, to make or preserve history. It can be truthfully said of Brooks, he was an honest, industrious man. He accumulated quite a property in the prime of life, but like many another, it parted from him in his declining years when most needed. He served his pioneer days well.


John Coughenour, born on September 1, 1815, in the Old Dominion, came to Harrisonville, Cass County, Missouri, in 1839. This was quite an early date for citizenship in Harrisonville. His work was varied. He traded with the nearby Indians. He drove stock to market to the eastern part of the State, sometimes going to New Orleans with stock and trade. In 1850 he was married to America F. Brady. To this union one child, Mrs. Mary Jordon, was born, to whom and her children Coughenour left a noble legacy-his high character. He served as judge of the county court for a while. While he was not a member of any church he supported the Baptist, the church of his wife. He was, however, a Christian believer. During the War of the Rebellion he was a Union man, but was held in high esteem by both sides. His friendliness with Union officers enabled him to help his old neighbors out of embarrass- ments and troubles.


Wilson Davenport, Peter France, Joshua Flynn, Lawson Ground, Jesse Ragon, E. L. Tuggle, John S. Wheeler and Isaac Woolard all at- tended the 1879 old settlers' meeting. They were settlers of the county early in the forties. These men, while not as renowned as some of their


CASS COMO PIONEERS PRIOR TO 1846.


VIENA


48R1030


ABYBEE


WC HURFCAJ


JESSE BALAN


USHUA FUNN


THOŠTOJONAY


18- ADAMAS


SSERT BROW


PREST


LORO JNO


VASTIN BU


ELTLUSLE


A. EOSLEY, SECY.


ETER FRANS


ISAAC WOOLARD


W PAYNE


JS WHEELER


MASSIMO CO NY


TWENTY-THREE CASS COUNTY PIONEERS, PRIOR TO 1846.


JEGPOUKO


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


pioneer comrades, were each and all pure gold. Their word and honor were first class and each of a character which would be worthy of emu- lation by all. They raised families, some residing in the county and rank among our best people.


Achilles Easley, the secretary of the old settlers' meeting in 1879, came to this county in the forties. He held many offices of trust with honor to his constituency and credit to himself. He was ever modest in his every demeanor and never received credit for his full worth. He was a man of high ideals and superior in character. It was a common saying in an early date, "if Easley surveyed such and such ground, it was correct." He was a surveyor by profession. Some of his children and descendants yet reside in the county. His good name is a great legacy he left them. His character is worthy of emulation.


Hugh Gibson Glenn, another one of the 1879 "twenty-three," was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 11, 1817. His father, Hugh Glenn, was a bold, adventurous, Scotch-Irishman. His mother was a mild, modest, gentle, pure English lady. There was nothing his father would not undertake. The general government in 1812 needed a man by whom provisions and munitions might be sent to General Hull at then Ft. Detroit. Hugh Glenn was selected for the mission and went with ox sleds in midwinter across the State of Ohio and delivered the goods. A company of investors and traders sought a man to go among the Indians of northern Illinois, and as far as Wisconsin, in about 1815, and Hugh Glenn was sent.


He was the first white man to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, and return of his own accord. This he undertook in 1817, returning in 1821. While on this trip he learned the news of the birth of his only child-the subject of this sketch. Hugh G. Glenn at the age of seven- teen years (his father having died and his mother having remarried) went out into the world to seek his fortune. He first stopped at Spring- field, Illinois, and clerked in a store. His education was obtained in the then schools of Cincinnati. In 1838 he moved to Lexington, Missouri. His partner in business at Lexington left the country with all the cash and left Glenn to pay the debts. By this enterprise he lost all he had.


On May 9, 1840, at the residence of her uncle, a Baptist minister, Rev. James Suggett, of Calloway County, Missouri, he was married to Letitia Breckinridge Suggett. His wife was a daughter of William Sug- gett of Scott County, Kentucky. Glenn's mother entered and bought for (7)


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


him some eight hundred acres of land, including the present "Jack's Addition to Harrisonville," to the west and south part of section 5-44-31, in Cass County, Missouri. In the early forties he again embarked in the mercantile business at Harrisonville, and continued until broken up during the war. The close of the war found him stripped of his prop- erty, save his old homestead of 400 acres, two miles southwest of Har- risonville.


By his marriage aforesaid there were born eight children-seven boys and one girl. Glenn was a deacon in the Harrisonville Baptist church for 45 years and one of the first trustees of the church. He was a charter member of the first Masonic lodge to locate at Harrisonville- the "Old Prairie Lodge."


After the collapse of the Whig party he became and remained an active Democrat to the day of his death-on the 28th day of November, 1888. During the war he was a constitutional Union man. His wife was a cousin of Jeff Davis, president of the Confederacy, and his two older sons followed the fortunes of the south; one of them was killed at Blackwater Bridge, Mississippi, the other served the war through in the confederate army. He was elected sheriff of Van Buren (now Cass) County in 1846, on the Whig ticket, overcoming a large opposition ma- jority. He served as judge of the county court and was respected by all.


In 1858 the county was wild for railroads at any price. What is known as the "Missouri Pacific bloody bonds" were issued by the county, under this desire of roads, at a time just preceding the war. A further history of this matter is given elsewhere in this volume. So far as it is of interest to this sketch Glenn was appointed by the county court to hold these bonds, $100,000, and pay them out as the work on the rail- road progressed. Three bonds of $500 each were earned and delivered, $1,500, to the parties entitled thereto. The war came up with the remain- ing $98,500 in bonds in Glenn's hands. It was a problem as to what should be done. The result, however, was these bonds were hid about the home of Glenn, as the safest place thought of, to keep them from getting into the hands of parties not entitled to them. Glenn took the bonds, climbed to the garret of the dwelling house, tied a rope to them, let them down between the plastering and weatherboards. This was safe until the rat ate the rope in two in 1862, and the bonds fell down and rolled under the house. The writer well remembers how he and his younger brother, prowling around under the house found these


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beautiful papers and took them out on the back porch and spread them out. (What a pity we hadn't burned them.) At night when father, H. G. Glenn, came home from town and saw what we children had, to say he was amazed doesn't express it. We children didn't know what the trouble was, but from the fact of father's attitude we knew there was some great trouble on.


That night, the writer vividly remembers to this day, the quiet but earnest and serious talk between his parents, which in some way had to do with these beautiful papers (the old bonds). Next morning father was gone and never returned for three days and nights. Mother's anx- iety impressed us something was wrong. We afterwards learned father carried those bonds to Leavenworth, Kansas, and delivered them to the commanding officer at that place. These bonds, $98,500, were found at the close of the war where placed by Glenn.


Thomas Holloway, one of the oldest settlers, was a native of Blount County, Tennessee, having been born in that county on the 15th day of April, 1809. After reaching the age of fourteen years, he removed with his father's family to Monroe County, Tennessee, where he lived some twelve years. He was a farmer-raised boy. In 1835 he and his young wife landed in Van Buren (Cass) County, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives, save short intervals during the war, when they were compelled to remove from their farm. The Thomas Holloway homestead is now owned by Mrs. Dr. Elder, located in section 4-43-31.


After his return to Cass County, in 1866, at the close of the war, he opened a grocery store in Harrisonville with his son-in-law, Robert L. Foster. This firm continued until age caused Mr. Holloway to retire. He was a man of sterling worth, loved and respected throughout the county. He acceptably filled the office of justice of the peace for many years. On August 16, 1831, he was married to Martha Secrest, a native of North Carolina. To this union eight children were born. He has today descendants residing in the county ranking among our best citi- zenship. One daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Foster, widow of Robert L. Fos- ter, deceased, yet resides in Harrisonville. Mr. Holloway was a decided factor in shaping the early society of the county. He was a faithful Christian, long an adherent to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Until age caused him to retire he was a faithful attendant upon the meetings of the Masonic bodies of which he was a member. All his life he was a Democrat and while charitable to other opinions did not un- derstand how a person could be anything else.


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


David and Isham Majors, brothers, who attended the 1879 meeting, came to this county (then Van Buren) in 1840. They came from Ten- nessee and settled on farms on the middle fork of Grand River. On these places they resided all their lives. They raised families, some of which are yet useful citizens of the county. They were Presbyterians in faith and old-line Democrats in politics. They were honorable, unob- trusive men and reliable, useful citizens. Their influences were always for the uplift of their country and betterment of humanity. Useful pioneers, and held to that quiet action of life conducive to the best wel- fare of all.


James H. Williams settled in Cass County, then Van Buren County, in 1844. He was born in east Tennessee, October 18, 1816, and emi- grated with his father, Joseph Williams, to Missouri and settled in Buchanan County, near a place then known as Sparta. This was in 1836 or 1837. He was married in Platte County, Missouri, to his first wife, Henrietta Son, in the year 1839, and they continued to live in Buchanan County until they moved to Cass County in 1844. Joseph Williams, the father, died on his way to California in 1849.


After the settlement of James H. Williams in Cass County in 1844 he entered the mercantile business, in which he continued up to the breaking out of the Civil War. He was not an enthusiastic politician, frequently voting the independent ticket. During this time he filled some of the county offices at different times, at one time county assessor and at one time county treasurer.


When the war broke out he was what was known as a Union Dem- ocrat. He was one of the organizers of the Christian Church in 1856, and also a member of its reorganization after the war in 1867, and from the organization of this church until the day of his death, he was an ardent and enthusiastic member, being one of the elders of the church almost the entire time from its organization and during the latter years of his life engaged in voluntary evangelistic work for the church.


Mr. Williams' first wife died during the war, in the year 1863. He afterward married Armina Son, a sister of his first wife. There was born of his first wife seven children, three girls and four boys. Only two of the boys are now living, C. M. Williams, of Hutchinson, Kansas, and W. W. Williams, of Sioux City, Iowa. There was born of his second marriage four boys, three of whom are still living, Robert, at Sacra- mento, California; Jessie G., of Chicago, and George H., Sedalia, Mis- souri.


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


He died March 4, 1882, at his home adjoining the city of Harrison- ville, Missouri. He continued to live in Cass County without change from the date of his settlement in 1844 to the date of his death.


In the foregoing pages we have endeavored to speak again espe- cially of the "twenty-three who in 1879" attempted to, and did, rescue much of our county history from oblivion. These men are, without excep- tion, dead and can no more tell their story. When we read the story left by them in 1879, reaching far back beyond 1846, it's like visions of the past. Sweet to recall. Wonderful in recalling memories, long for- got.


"I was roused by sudden shock, Though still to sleep I strove, I knew that it was seven o'clock When father shook the stove.


"To human voice I never stirred, But deeper down I dove Beneath the covers, when I heard My father shake the stove.


"Now that he has gone to rest, In God's great slumber grove, I often think those days were best, When father shook the stove."


CHAPTER XV.


ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY.


CASS PROBABLY FIRST INCLUDED IN ARKANSAS COUNTY-INCLUDED IN HOWARD -COOPER - LILLARD-JACKSON-VAN BUREN - BECAME CASS IN 1849- BOUNDARIES-COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT- LOCATED AT PRESENT SITE OF HARRISONVILLE.


By Act of Congress, approved April 29, 1816, St. Louis was fixed as the place of meeting of the General Assembly, and the time of meet- ing was fixed as "the first Monday in December unless they shall by law appoint a different day," subject, however, to be convened by proc- lamation of the Governor. It is an open question as to whether the southwestern part of Missouri Territory was not included in Arkansas County. It is also questionable whether or not the boundary lines of St. Louis County, made by act of the Territorial Legislature, approved December 31, 1813, did not include Cass County. It depends on where the "Osage boundary" really was (laws 1804-1824, page 293). Be that as it may, we do find by act of the Legislature, approved January 23, 1816, (laws 1804-1824, page 460), the county of Howard was organized with boundaries including our county. By said territorial laws, page 594, section 1, we find Cooper County was organized from part of How- ard County by act approved December 17, 1818, so as to include this county.


By act of the General Assembly approved the 16th day of Novem- ber, 1820, Lillard County was organized so as to include Cass County (same laws, page 646, section 1). By an act of the General Assembly approved February 16, 1825, Jackson County was organized so as to include the present Cass County. A provision in this act left Cass County "to be attached to and form a part of Lafayette County for civil and military purposes" (laws of Missouri, 1825, page 242, section 30).


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


This act also provided "the laws relating to Lillard County should apply to the new county of Lafayette." By section 47, Revised Statutes of 1835, page 140, Van Buren County was organized out of Jackson County and included the present county of Cass. Section 93, R. S. 1845, page 284, and act of 1840-1, page 46, changed the boundary lines of the county.


About this time Martin Van Buren, after whom our county was named, displeased his former political adherents. So by the act of the General Assembly, approved February 19, 1849, at page 30, section 1, the name of our county was changed from Van Buren to Cass. What a change from address to Martin Van Buren. Act 1841, page 331. The name Cass coming from Lewis Cass, then Senator from Michigan.


By an act of the Missouri General Assembly approved February 17, 1851, at page 188, the boundary lines of Cass County were changed by the cutting off of Bates County on the south. By the act of said legis- lative body of the state, approved February 22, 1855, at pages 11 and 12, some changes in the south line of Cass County were made. This was necessitated by the organization of Vernon County formerly en- acted, having been by the Supreme Court of the State declared uncon- stitutional. (See State ex. rel. &c. vs. Scott, 17 Mo., page 521.) R. S. 1855, page 473, section 51, established the boundary lines of Cass County, Missouri, as they are to this day, viz .: Beginning in the middle of the main channel of Grand River where the range line between ranges twenty-eight and twenty-nine intersects the same; thence north to the northeast corner of section thirty-six of township forty-four, range twenty-nine west; thence west with the subdivisional lines to the south- west corner of section twenty-seven of township forty-four, range twenty-nine west; thence north with the subdivisional lines to the north- west corner of section three of township forty-six, range twenty-nine west; thence west with the township line, between townships forty-six and forty-seven, to the western boundary line of the State; thence south with said boundary line of the State to where the line between town- ships forty-two and forty-three intersects the same; thence east with said township line to the middle of the main channel of Grand River; thence down said river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the place of beginning.


When Van Buren County was organized the General Assembly in the act of organization, provided that David Waldo, of Lafayette County,


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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY


Samuel Hink and William Brown, of Jackson County, be appointed as commissioners to select the permanent seat of justice, and directed the same be selected near the geographical center of the county, not exceed- ing five miles from the center thereof. (See act approved May 3, 1835). It is stated in the history of Cass County, Missouri, issued in 1883, at page 171, that by the act of the Legislature during the winter of 1836, Francis Prine, Welcome Scott and Enoch Rice were appointed to locate the county seat. The first commission may have failed to act. We are unable to determine which is correct. Be that as it may, the seat of justice was located at the present site of Harrisonville. It is located on the northwest quarter of section four in township forty-four of range thirty-one. The patent was issued to Fleming Harris, commissioner of the seat of justice. The town site was located in the year 1837, on land preempted by James Lackey. Lackey, at the time of the location, had constructed a small cabin in the western part of the original town, where he had enclosed and cleared a field. After the location the streets and alleys, lots and blocks were surveyed off by Martin Rice. On June 12, 1837, the county court made an order to sell lots. The record itself reads: "On motion of the county court it is ordered that the town com- missioners of the town of Harrisonville shall go on this day selling lots as follows: sell all front lots facing on the public square at twenty dol- lars each; if not sold at that price to be retained by the county; all other lots to be sold for ten dollars each, or reserved by the county."


-


7.1


VIEW OF PUBLIC SQUARE, HARRISONVILLE, MO.


CHAPTER XVI.


TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS AND STREAMS.


SOURCES OF DATA-SCOPE OF SUBJECT -LOCATION AND BOUNDARY-EIGHTEEN TOWNSHIPS-SIGNIFICANCE OF TOWNSHIP NAMES-TOWNS AND THEIR NAMES-NAMES OF STREAMS.


At this late date it is no easy task to write the story of a county whose history, if properly written, is so intensely interesting. We expect criticism. Some will find errors; that is expected. Do not censure, but gather the facts as best you can. Thereby the future occupants of our beloved county, between our joint efforts, may discern and gather the truth.




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