USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 6
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CHAPTER VI.
EVENTS PRIOR TO THE CIVIL WAR.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1840-CLAY'S PREDICTION-CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF 1846-ELECTION OF 1845-GREAT FLOOD OF 1844-PRICES IN 1846-DIS- COVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA-SOME CLAY COUNTY 49ERS-CHOLERA- NECROLOGY-POLITICAL QUESTIONS OF 1850-MEETINGS HELD-QUESTION OF SLAVERY-KNOW NOTHING PARTY-ITS PLATFORM-TROUBLES IN KAN- SAS-PRO SLAVERY AND FREE STATE AGITATION-KANSAS ELECTION- PRO SLAVERY MEN ORGANIZED-MEN AND MEANS FURNISHED TO MAKE KANSAS A SLAVE STATE-RAILROAD BUILDING-POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN 1860.
From the time the Colonies secured independence from Great Britain no campaign caused so much excitement as the presidential race in the year 1840. The two great political parties were the Whigs and Demo- crats. William Henry Harrison, for President, and John Tyler, for Vice- President, were the candidates of the Whig party, and Martin Van Buren, for President, and Johnson, for Vice-President, were the candidates of the Democrats. Everywhere over the entire country immense meetings were held, where the political issues were discussed, and the merits and demerits of the respective candidates were proclaimed to the people. Be it remembered there were giants in those days, and Clay County had such men. Gen. A. W. Doniphan, Maj. John Dougherty and Judge Wil- liam T. Wood marshalled the Whig forces. Gen. David R. Atchison, Col. John Thornton and Capt. George Wallis led the Democrats. In the political battle that ensued at every gathering for public speaking, log cabins, barrels of hard cider, live raccoons, and other emblems of political heraldry were in evidence. The Whigs were defeated, the vote being
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Van Buren, 649; Harrison, 457; Democratic majority, 192. But in 1844, in the contest for the Presidency between Henry Clay and Frelingheyson, the Whig candidates, and James K. Polk and George M. Dallas, the Demo- cratic candidates, the Whigs were victorious in Clay County, the vote be- ing Clay, 765; Polk, 552. The Whigs rallied largely to Mr. Clay, the "favorite son" of their native state. Polk and Dallas were elected.
It is related of Mr. Clay that when he first heard that James K. Polk, of Tennessee, had been nominated by the Democrats for the presidency, he was in Raleigh, North Carolina. An ardent Whig, and friend of Mr. Clay, rushing up to the great man, said, "Mr. Clay, have you heard the news ? James K. Polk has been nominated by the Democrats; now you will have 'a walk-over.'" Mr. Clay looked thoughtfully at the friend, for a moment or two, and said, "I am a defeated man"! The friend, evincing astonishment, exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Clay, do you say that you are a defeated man?" Clay responded by saying, "Because I have a record, and James K. Polk hasn't." And the result of the election proved that Mr. Clay was correct. Never was a presidential candidate's record more viciously assailed, not even that of Woodrow Wilson's record in 1920.
Rather a unique Congressional election was held in the then Fourth district in 1846, of which Clay County was a part; the district being com- posed of Clay, Platte, Davies, Linn, Grundy, Livingston, Carroll, Ray, Clinton, Caldwell, Buchanan, Holt, DeKalb, Harrison, Nodaway, Putnam, Gentry, Atkinson, Mercer, Adair, Andrew and Sullivan counties, twenty- two in number. Willard P. Hall, a well known lawyer, then a private in service in Capt. O. P. Moss's company from Clay County, then in Mexico, had been nominated by the Democrats, in a convention at Gallatin, for Congress. Judge James H. Birch, of Clinton County, announced himself as an independent Democratic candidate. Although Judge Birch was one of the best stump orators in the state, with no little popularity with the people, he, however, in his canvas cast some reflections on the patriotic motives which induced his opponent to enter the service of his country; this contributed largely to Birch's defeat. A note from Hall, dated at Santa Fe, to the people of the congressional district, in reply to Birch's charges, proved a most effective campaign document.
The vote at this election in Clay County was as follows: Constitu- tion of 1845-For, 809; against, 211. Congress-Hall, regular Democrat, 564; Birch, Independent, 463. Legislature-Coleman Younger. Whig,
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498; Henry Owens, Democrat, 575. The candidates for the Legislature had no opposition. Sheriff-Samuel Hadley, Democrat, 683; H. M. Riley, Whig, 468.
The great flood in the Missouri river in 1844, is a part of the history of every county on this river in the state. No such flood since 1826 had been experienced. For days in the month of June the waters of the river extended from bluff to bluff, engulfing and destroying the crops of the farmers; scarcely a vestige of farm produce could be discovered, after the waters subsided, in the valleys near the river, from where it en- tered the state to its mouth, everywhere was desolation. Great distress was the result of the flood, from a pecuniary point of view, for thousands of farmers living in the river bottoms lost their all. The weather con- ditions were exceedingly peculiar. For weeks the days would be clear and beautiful, but when night was approaching dark clouds would arise, and by night mutterings of thunder would be heard, and at about ten o'clock rain would begin to fall in torrents, followed by flashes of light- ning and terrific claps of thunder.
The prices of produce in the summer of 1846, in Clay County, were as follows: Wheat, 45 to 50 cents per bushel; hemp, $2.50 per cwt .; flour, $2 to $2.50 per barrel; hams, 4 cents per pound; dressed whole hog, 31% cents per pound.
Early in the year 1849, the news of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia became known to the country, and great excitement was the result. Among others who determined to go to the land of gold were scores of men in Clay County. Cholera, the deadly contagion, was prevailing in certain parts of Missouri, in Clay and Jackson counties, and reports that the disease was killing hundreds of men. on the plains bound for Cali- fornia gold fields, did not deter a great many men of Clay County to make the journey westward to the land of promises. Among others who started for California that year were Paley Carpenter, Thomas Conington, Daniel Mosby, Dr. Henry B. Hixon, Jasper M. Hixon, W. W. Estes, Thomas Estes, Albert Davis, Taylor Dougherty, John Minter, John W. Collins, William Pixler, John Waller, James Withers, Anderson Chanslor, William Davenport, Perry Keith, Henry B. Ammons and Edward Crapster. A much greater emigration left the county in 1850. The California fever in 1849 and 1850 was so intense that reports as to the hardships to be endured in reaching the gold mines; the numerous deaths from cholera
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and other diseases; the over-rated richness of the mines; the high cost of livining in California, did not abate the fever; but hundreds from the county rushed to the new Eldorado; there to find that reports sent them before they left home were not exaggerations. This exodus of men from Clay County resulted in riches in experience, but little in the accumulation of the precious metal for the Clay Countians, who made the long journey across the plains.
Necrology of Clay County men in California, 1850. Abel King, at Weber, in January; Randolph King, at Hangtown, in February; Daniel Mosby, at Sacramento, in June; Ben Keyser, at Hangtown, in July; Ben Clark, at Sacramento, în August; Rev. Robert James (father of Frank and Jesse), Thomas Pence, -- Albright, and - Maxwell, at Rough and Ready, in August; John Brock, killed at Hangtown, in August; - - McCrorey, at Weber, in November; James A. Walker, at Weber, in Octo- ber; James Ellet, at Weber, in November; George W. Wallis and Samuel M. Gant, at Nevada, in November; Benj. Carpenter, at Hangtown, in Oc- tober; William Morton, at Greenwood, in November; John H. Mosby, near Sacramento, of cholera ; John McCrorey, at Weber, in August; Henry Gill, at Johnson's ranch, in September; Anderson Estes, at Nevada, in August ; George Estes, at Hangtown, in August; William Homer, Samuel Mc- Kneiss, Sanford Bell, George W. Huffaker, Washington Huffaker, two Ellises, and three Graggs, at other places and times.
Political conditions in Missouri, and in all states of the Union, in 1850, had greatly excited the people to an unusual degree. The question of the admission of California into the Union with a constitution prohibit- ing slavery, the passage of a fugitive slave bill by Congress; the com- promise or "Omnibus Bill," and of "Personal Liberty" bills by several Northern states, intended to interfere with the operation of the fugitive slave law, were mainly the causes of this unrest. Public meetings were held in almost all sections of the state and nation. In the meetings held in the Southern states, secession was advocated. Clay County at this time was intensely loyal to the Union, and deprecated a dissolution of the states. The Liberty Tribune issued the following call for a public meeting :
"The friends of the Union of these States, without regard to party, will hold a public meeting on the first Monday in May, 1850, to congratu- late Messrs. Clay. Webster, Cass, and other friends of the Union in Con-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
gress, for the noble stand they have taken against the spirit of secession and disunion. Let there be a full turn-out."
This meeting was very largely attended, by men representing all shades of political views, Whigs and Democrats, Benton and anti-Benton; there being but few, if any, in favor of disunion. Resolutions were unanimously passed reviewing the political situation and with this re- solve, "That our thanks are especially due, and are hereby tendered to Henry Clay, of Kentucky ; Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts; Lewis Cass, of Michigan ; Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York, and John Bell, of Tennes- see, for the noble and patriotic stand they have taken in defense of the Union, and the noble spirit of compromises which they have evinced in the settlement of the agitating question of slavery."
The people of Clay County were unquestionably for the Union; but they stated in their resolutions that "We regard the Wilmot proviso and all kindred measures with the most perfect abhorrence." Ten years there- after these "kindred measures" had become so numerous and threatening as to change a large majority of those participating in this meeting into ardent secessionists.
The Legislature of the state, in 1851, elected Hon. Henry S. Geyer, a distinguished lawyer, of St. Louis, to be United States Senator, the vote standing: Geyer, 80; Benton, 55; Benj. F. Springfellow, 18, and 4 scattering.
From 1851 to 1860, the Whigs and The America, or as it was gen- erally called, the "Know Nothing" party, was in the ascendency in Clay County. At this day the rising generation, and many older persons, know nothing of the American or Know Nothing party, a political organization which grew mightily in its numbers from 1854 to 1856, so as to elect governors of states and members of Congress, and which was a dominator of political power in Clay County, the platform of the party as adopted in Missouri being practically the same in all other states, was as follows: * * *
A full recognition of the rights of the several states, as expressed and reserved in the Constitution, and a careful avoidance by the general government of all interference with their rights by legislative or execu- tive action.
Obedience to the Constitution of these United States as to the supreme law of the land, sacredly obligatory in all its parts and members-a strict
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construction thereof, and steadfast resistance to the spirit of innovation of its principles-avowing that in all doubtful or disputed points, it may be legally ascertained and expounded by judicial powers of the United States.
That no person should be selected for political station, whether native or foreign prince, potentate or power, or who refuses to recognize the Federal or State Constitition (each within its sphere) as paramount to all other laws or rules of political action.
Americans must rule America; and to this endnative born citizens should be selected for all State and Federal offices in preference to natural- . ized citizens.
A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continued residence of twenty-one years an indispensable requisite for citizenship, and exclud- ing all paupers and persons convicted of crime, from landing on our shores ; but no interference with the vested rights of foreigners.
Persons that are born of American parents, residing temporarily abroad, are entitled to all the rights of native born citizens.
An enforcement of the principle that no State or Territory can admit others than native born citizens to the rights of suffrage, or of holding political office, unless such persons have been naturalized according to the laws of the United States.
That Congress possessed no power under the Constitution to legis- late upon the subject of slavery in the States where it does or may exist, or to exclude any State from admission into the Union, because its consti- tution does or does not recognize the institution of slavery as a part of its social system and expressly pretermitting any expression of opinion upon the power of Congress to establish or prohibit slavery in any territory ; it is the sense of this meeting that the territories of the United States and that any influence by Congress with slavery as it exists in the District of Columbia, would be a violation of the spirit and intention of the com- pact by which the State of Maryland ceded the District to the United States, and a breach of the national faith.
That we will abide by and maintain the existing laws on the subject of slavery as a final and conclusive settlement of the subject on spirit, and in substance, believing this course to be the best guarantee of future peace and fraternal amity.
This party was composed chiefly of Whigs, although many Demo-
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crats joined its ranks. The slogan of the party was that "Americans must rule America." At the first organization of the party, there was a proscriptive plank in their platform to the effect that Roman Catholics ought not to be permitted to hold office of honor, trust or profit in the government. Soon, however, this plank was eliminated. For a few years the native American party was a factor to be reckoned with, but the op- posing parties, Democratic and Republican, in their respective platforms, condemned its principles, so that by degrees the party grew smaller until the election in the fall of 1860, when it ceased to exist. Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, in his race for governor of that state, gained the credit of having given the Know Nothing party its mortal wound.
The troubles in Kansas began in 1853, when the Kansas-Nebraska bill was being discussed in the halls of Congress; this bill was passed by Congress, and repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The law left to the people of the territory to decide whether slavery should exist or be excluded therefrom. "The true intent and meaning of the act" as therein expressed, to be "not to legislate slavery into any state or territory, or exclude it therefrom," but to leave the people form and regulate their domestic relations as they pleased, subject only to the Constitution of the general government. The Free Soilers claimed that all public territories were to be admitted into the Union, as free States, and that slavery was to be excluded therefrom; on the other hand, this was denied by pro- slavery men; that under the Kansas-Nebraska bill, they had the right to vote in the territory of Kansas, there being no restrictions denying them the right. The Free State men claimed only actual settlers had the right to vote in the territory. Yet it became a notorious fact that "Emigrant Aid Societies" from New England, and parts of the North, sent hundreds of men, "armed with the Bible in one hand, and a Sharp rifle in the other," as expressed by a noted Northern preacher, for no other purpose than to vote to make Kansas a free state. This was known to the people of the Southern states, and was the cause of great excitement to Missourians, and particularly so to those living in the Western part of the state, who determined if the Free State men intended to import voters into the terri- tory, certainly the Missourians or any other persons had the right to ex- ercise suffrage at the same polls, to determine whether the territory should be admitted as a state, with or without slavery.
No subject for years had caused so much talk during 1854, and winter
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
of 1855, as the Kansas question. Organizations, not only in Missouri, but the Southern States, were made to take suitable action in the premises. Western Missouri was very active. The border counties on the North side of the Missouri river, next to Kansas, held meetings and men were urged to go to Kansas, and be there by March 30, 1855, for an election was to be held to choose members of the Territorial Legislature. On the South side of the Missouri, and in counties bordering on Kansas, like meetings were held, and resolutions passed pledging the people to go to Kansas.
The people of Clay county were thoroughly aroused. A large and enthusiastic meeting assembled at the court house, and many of the best men of the country were enrolled into companies, and started for Kansas. Many who did not go in person, furnished horses, arms and provisions. Gen. David R. Atchison was the leader, chief adviser and commander of the men living in Northwest part of the state. These men crossed the river at Leavenworth, and on the day of election cast their votes at the various polling places in that section. The Missourians from the Southern and Western part of the state, south of the Missouri river, were under the leadership of Congressman Samuel H. Woodson, at Tecumseh, and points in that part of Kansas, to cast their votes. The result of this, the first, election in Kansas, was that the pro-slavery candidates were elected by an overwhelming majority.
" During the entire troubles in Kansas until it was admitted as a state into the Union, Clay County furnished men and means to aid the pro- slavery cause whenever called upon. On one occasion when the young men of the county were preparing to go to Kansas in aid of the pro-slavery cause the following subscriptions were obtained to pay their expenses : Col. James H. Moss, $20.00; J. T. V. Thompson. $50.00; John Purley, $10.00; A. G. Reed, $20.00; F. R. Long, $20.00; W. E. Price, $20.00; E. M. Samuel, $50.00; R. C. Thompson, $10.00; A. Withers, $20.00; David Lin- coln, $10.00; John Dougherty, $50.00; John Holbert, $5.00; W. H. Wymore, Bird & Co., $50.00; Joel Turnham, $50.00; W. E. Rhea, $10.00; R. M G. Price, $50.00; John Mosby, $10.00; Garrard Long, $20.00; William Mc- Neely, $10.00; Francis Henshaw, $25.00; J. M. Watkins, $10.00; Joseph Pfester, $5.00; John Arthur, $10.00; Spencer Anderson, $20.00; R. H. Miller, $10.00; William Onan, $10.00; M. Haines, $10.00; David Roberts, $25.00; Edwin Bell, $10.00; G. W. Gerden, $20.00; Thomas McCarty, $10.00; William Davenport, $10.00; Simpson McGaghey, $5.00; Capt.
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PIONEER MOTOR POWER
A PIONEER HOME
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Anthony Harsel, $20.00; A. Lightburne, $50.00; Thomas Routt, $10.00; George Stone, $10.00; Thomas Fields, $50.00; Bernard Mosby, $10.00; A. J. Calhoun, $10.00; John Estes, $10.00; Wade Mosby, $50.00; Robert Ad- kins, $10.00; D. J. Adkins, $50.00; J. J. Moore, $10.00; S. R. Shrader, $50.00; John B. Talbott, $20.00; R. A. Neely. $20.00; John Berry, $10.00; M. Arthur, $50.00; Robert Reardon, $20.00; John Ecton, $20.00; Joseph Anderson, $50.00; David D. Miller, $10.00; M. V. Wymore, $10.00; Bland, Fisher & Co., $20.00; A. B. Everett, $10.00; M. Estes, $10.00; Andrew Robertson, $25.00; Elisha Cravens, $5.00; Samuel Homes, $5.00; Strother H. McGinniss, $25.00; O. P. Moss, $20.00; Fountain Waller, $25.00; Thomas C. Gordon, $50.00; Presley Gray, $10.00; Robert Thomason, $5.00; John D. Hall, $25.00; James Chanslor, $25.00; Gen. A. W. Doniphan, $40.00; William J. Stark, $10.00; J. D. Davidson, $20.00; John D. Ewing, $10.00; William Collins, $20.00; Joseph Lewis, $20.00; James Fleming, $25.00; T. J. Young, $10.00.
The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was completed between Han- nibal and St. Joseph in the spring of 1859. It was deemed necessary to build a railroad from Kansas City to Cameron, in Clinton County, a small town located on the H. II. St. J. Railroad ant shortly after the road had been finished between Hannibal and St. Joseph, Clay County was thoroughly canvassed requesting the people to ask the county court to subscribe $200,000 to aid in building this branch road. The most influen- tial citizens of the county favored the project and became enthusiastic on the subject, particularly after the ablest men in the county had made speeches in its advocacy. A special election was held in June, 1860, and out of a vote of 2,032, 1,200 voted for the subscription to be made by the court. An additional sum of $25,000 was afterwards made to aid in the con- struction of the road. Delay from one cause or another, principally on account of the difficulties incident to the war between the states issued and this branch was not finished until 1867.
The Democrats in 1860 were divided into two factions: One faction placed in nomination Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson for President and Vice-President ; the other, John C. Breckenridge and Joseph Lane for President and Vice-President. The first faction claimed they were the "regulars", while the others claimed also to be "regulars". The Republicans placed in nomination Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin for President and Vice-President. The Union party, consisting of the
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
remnants of the American or "Know Nothing" party and the disaffected of all other parties, placed in nomination John Bell and Edward Everett for President and Vice-President. Clay County gave Bell and Everett a majority of its votes. Missouri gave its electoral vote to Douglas and Johnson. Lincoln and Hamlin were elected, but did not receive a vote in Clay County.
CHAPTER VII.
CIVIL WAR PERIOD.
BEGINNING OF WAR-ARSENAL IN CLAY COUNTY SEIZED-ARMS AND AMMUNITION TAKEN-MASS MEETING AT LIBERTY-COMPANIES ORGANIZED-GOVERNOR ISSUES ORDERS-THE ROCK CREEK AFFAIR-TROOPS TO LEXINGTON- FIGHT AT BOONVILLE-CARTHAGE-BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK-SIEGE OF LEXINGTON-BLUE MILLS LANDING-FIGHT SOUTH OF LIBERTY-LEGIS- LATURE MEETS AT NEOSHO-FEDERAL TROOPS AT LIBERTY-STATE GOV- ERNMENT REORGANIZED-SOLDIERS AT LIBERTY-CONSERVATIVE UNION MEN-RAID ON MISSOURI CITY-BUSHWHACKERS-ORDER NO. 11-RAIDS BY BUSHWHACKERS-END OF WAR.
The firing on Fort Sumpter, April 12, 1861, precipitated the Northern and Southern states into war. No sooner than had the President made his call for volunteers and Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson's refusal to comply with the President's demand for troops from Missouri, this state was intensely excited and in many quarters hurried preparations were made for war. In no county in the state was the excitement greater than in Clay. Immediate conference was had with the leading men whose sympathies were with the South, living in Jackson, Buchanan and other counties to seize the arsenal near Liberty and secure guns and ammunition there stored and arm volunteers for the conflict which every one could see was imminent. Accordingly, quietly and without the least publicity, armed men from Jackson County as well as men from Buchanan and other counties, on April 20, 1861, seized the arsenal, four miles south of Liberty. It has been charged that Governor Jackson gave his personal sanction to this seizure. Such was not the case. The governor knew
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nothing of it until after the seizure had been made. Other gentlemen of prominence were fully aware that the seizure would be made. It was the suggestion of Hon. Samuel H. Woodson that the seizure should be made and concurred in by Gen. John W. Reid and M. Jeff Thompson, and certain men at Independence, Kansas City, St. Joseph and Liberty. Col. Nat Grant, who was in charge of the arsenal at the time, was powerless to prevent the munitions of war from being taken. He could only protest. Not a gun was fired. Everything that could be used in the way of cannon, small arms of every description, powder, etc., was carried away and subse- quently distributed and used by companies in the Missouri State Guard and in the Confederate army. This was the first act Missouri showed aganst the United States government. This act created consternation throughout the country. Even the President was concerned and tele- graphed to constituted authority for explanation. Captain Lyon in com- mand at Jefferson Barracks doubled his guards, fearing an attack on the arsenal at the barracks.
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