USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 9
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When the panic of 1893 brought the economic issues to the front once more, the old parties lost their magic. The Missourians joined the new People's Populist party by the thousand and in the off year of 1894 in coalition with the Republicans elected a Republican superintendent of schools. Before the next national election, however, the radical or Populist wing had captured the national Democratic party. Its candidate, W. J. Bryan, swept Missouri by tremendous majorities in both 1896 and 1900, carrying with him the Democratic candidates for governor, L. V. Stephens and A. M. Dockery.
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Then came the first substantial Republican victory since 1868. The national Democratic candidate for President, Parker, was an easterner and a conservative, unacceptable to the radical element in the West, while the Republican candidate, Theodore Roosevelt, apart from the currency issue, which renewed prosperity was driving into the background, rep- resented many of the reforms which the radicals desired. At the same time there was a revolt in the Democratic party against the older leaders under J. W. Folk, who secured the nomination on the issue of reform. The election resulted in the success of Roosevelt and Folk and the Repub- lican candidates for the other state offices. The Republicans secured also a majority in the Assembly and sent William Warner to the United States Senate to succeed Cockrell. Four years later the split in the Democratic party still continued. Taft carried the state by a small majority over Bryan, H. S. Hadley, the Republican candidate, was selected governor, but the Democrats captured the other state offices and a small majority in the Assembly, which was held in 1912. The truth is that the older allegiance to the party name and party machinery has broken down, the people more and more are voting intelligently on men and issues, and Missouri, today is a doubtful state.
After 1872 Missouri entered a new stage in her economic develop- ment. The good government land was all taken up and immigrants from the East went farther west in their search of cheap land. From 1890 the increase in population in the ten-year period was about one-fourth, from 1890 to 1900 it fell to one-sixth, and in the next two decades was very small. After 1880 the increase was to be found chiefly in the cities. As far as the agricultural population was concerned the state, and Clay County had reached the limit in rapid growth. The future development of the state and county must be along the lines of manufacturing and varied industries, although scientific farming is already checking the decline of agriculture.
Although the population of Clay County has not materially increased during the last two decades, yet the lines of manufactures and various industries show a very decided increase within the last five years, which inevitably must in the near future very greatly increase the population of the county. Thus far the increase in population has been in North Kansas City, and Excelsior Springs. Probably no place in the state has more manufacturing plants in course of erection, and to be erected in
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1921, than North Kansas City. No question but in ten years, or less, North Kansas City will be the most populous city in the county, and com- posed, principally, of the operatives and families in the various manufac- tories and kindred industries. The assessed valuation of property in Clay County for the year 1920, is as follows:
Real estate, $11,028,820; personal, $5,452,685; merchants and manu- factories, $941,259; railroads, $5,839,306.
The great issue between the two great political parties, Democratic and Republican, in 1920, was the adoption or rejection of the Covenant and League of Nations, as agreed upon by the representatives of the great nations of the world, at Versailles, France. At this election the women in almost every state were permitted to exercise the right of suffrage. Owing to a state constitutional provision the women of Georgia, at this particular election were deprived of the right to vote, yet not denied the right at any future time The Democrats, as a party, were in favor of its adoption; the Republicans were opposed to its adoption. The German- Americans, and the Roman Catholics were opposed to the measure; the former because they thought the victors, in the late world war, were too severe in their demands of the fatherland; the latter because of their dislike of Woodrow Wilson. A vote for James M. Cox, the Democratic nominee for President, was a vote in favor of the adoption of the Coven- ant and League of Nations, while a vote for Warren G. Harding, the Re- publican nominee for President, was a vote against the adoption of that measure.
Harding was elected. The vote at this election in Clay County, for President and Governor was as follows:
James M. Cox (Democrat), 6,621; Warren G. Harding (Republican), 2,788; John M. Atkinson (Democrat), 6,218; Arthur M. Hyde (Republi- can), 2,808.
CHAPTER IX.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
PRESENT BOUNDARIES -- TOPOGRAPHY-WATER SUPPLY-FIRST SETTLERS - OTHER SETTLERS-LIBERTY LANDING-LITTLE SHOAL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH-PROVIDENCE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
Liberty is the south-central municipal township of Clay County and its present boundaries are as follows: Beginning at the northeast cor- ner, at the northeast corner of section 15, township 52, range 31; thence south to the Missouri river; thence up the river to the mouth of Big Shoal creek; thence up and along Big Shoal creek, on the eastern bank, to the southwest corner of section 22, township 51, range 32; thence due north to the northwest corner of section 3, township 52, range 31; thence east to the northeast corner of section 1, same township and range; thence south one mile to the northeast corner of section 7-52-31; thence south one mile to the southeast corner of said section 7; thence east three miles to the beginning.
Although the country is naturally broken and hilly throughout the greater part of the township, some of the best farms in Missouri are here to be found. Without the least exaggeration some of the manor lands in Liberty are equal in point of development and improvement to many of the best estates in the famed blue grass region of Kentucky, or the much lauded farms of Central Ohio. To be sure many of the Liberty township farms have been cultivated for sixty years, but their possessors have not been slothful or unenterprising.
The tributaries of Fishing river, Rush creek, Big Shoal and all of Little Shoal creek, furnish abundant water supply and adapt the township
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to stock raising, and this natural advantage is thoroughly well improved upon. The bottom lands along the Missouri are of course of the highest fertility.
As to the first settlers in what is now Liberty township, it is probable that they were Richard Hill, Robert Gilmore, James Gilmore, Samuel Gilmore and Elijah Smith, who settled on Rush creek, in the southeastern part of the township, in 1820. The two first-named Gilmores, Hill and Smith came first in the spring and built cabins and put out small crops, leaving their families down in Petite Osage bottom (commonly called Tete Saw) in Saline county. In the fall of the year they returned with their families.
Richard Hill settled on section 9, nearly two miles east of Liberty ; the others were lower down the creek. All of these families were re- lated. Samuel Gilmore was the father of Robert and James, and the father-in-law of Hill and Smith. Mrs. Mary Poteet, a widow lady, who was the sister of Elijah Smith, and the mother-in-law of James and Rob- ert Gilmore, came with the party and made her home with her brother. She raised Mary Crawford, an orphan, who became the wife of Cornelius Gilliam, and was the first white woman married in Clay county.
Other settlers came in quite numerously and located in the south- ern portion of the township in 1821, and in 1822, when the county was organized and Liberty laid out and made the county seat, there were still other additions made to the settlements in what is now the Liberty muni- cipal township-then about equally divided between Gallatin and Fish- ing River, the two original townships of the county. Anthony Harsell said that in 1821 there was but one house north of Liberty-that of James Hiatt, who lived a little more than a mile from town, due north (section 31-52-31), now known as the Baker farm.
Liberty Landing, on the Missouri, three and a half miles south of the city of Liberty, was established many years ago. The site was for many years a place of importance. All merchandise for Liberty and other interior towns north was put off the steamboats here for many years. From 1858 to 1862 a large hemp factory, owned and operated by Arthur, Burris & Co., was conducted at this point. The machinery iu this establishment cost about $30,000, and the firm handled thousands of tons of hemp. The business was broken up by the war and the machin-
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ery sold to McGrew Bros., of Lexington. At present there is a railroad station on the Wabash road at the Landing.
Little Shoal Creek, Old School Baptist church has the distinction of being the first church organization in Clay county. It was constituted May 28, 1823, by the well known pioneer minister, Elder William Thorp. The constituent members were: William Monroe, A. Monroe, Enos Vaughn, Patsy Vaughn, A. Groom, Daniel Stout, Ailsey Hall, Patsey Stout, Elisha Hall, Elizabeth Monroe, Sally Stephens and Jane Groom. The first church building was a log house, erected in the year 1824. In 1881-82 the congregation built a good substantial brick house, costing about $2,300. The first pastor was Elder William Thorp, who served the church for twenty-eight years. After him came Elder D. Bainbridge for six years; Elder Henry Hill, three years; Elder James Duval, 21 years; Elder Lucius Wright, two years.
Providence Missionary Baptist Church was organized April 29, 1848, at the house of Peyton T. Townsend by Revs. Robert James and Franklin Graves, P. N. Edwards being the first clerk. The organization commenced with a membership of 44 persons, but has increased until at present writ- ing there are 190. The first church building was erected in 1850, and was destroyed by fire in February, 1880, but was rebuilt the same year at a cost of $2,000. The pastors have been Revs. Robert James, John Major, I. T. Williams, A. N. Bird, W. A. Curd, G. L. Black and A. J. Emerson. The church is a brick building, and is situated in Liberty township, on the southeast quarter of section 15. Present pastor, Rev. Ward Edwards.
CHAPTER X.
LIBERTY.
TOWN SITE ON LAND OF JOHN OWENS-COUNTY SEAT SELECTED-FIRST SALE OF TOWN LOTS-FIRST HOTEL AND STORES-TOWN INCORPORATED-LIB- ERTY IN 1846-REINCORPORATED IN 1861-EARLY INDUSTRIES-WATER AND LIGHT-LODGES-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-URBAN LAKE-ODD FELLOWS HOME -ADVANTAGES OF LIBERTY-PROGRESS.
Upon the organization of Clay County, in January, 1822, the land on which the city of Liberty now stands was owned by John Owens and Charles McGee. Owens had built a house on what is now the northwest corner of Water and Mill streets some time the previous year, and kept a sort of tavern, or house of entertainment. His house was a rather large and roomy affair, and, as elsewhere stated, was used to hold the first courts in, and for other public purposes. McGee and Owens donated 25 acres to the county for county-seat purposes, which donation was ac- cepted, and soon after the town was laid out.
The legislative act creating the county appointed John Hutchins, Henry Estes, Enos Vaughan, Wyatt Adkins and John Poage commis- sioners to select a "permanent seat of government" for the county, and provided that, until such selection, courts should be held at the house of John Owens. William Powe was afterward appointed on the commission. In their report to the circuit court July 1, 1882, as a reason for their selection, the commissioners say: "That, in pursuance of the object of their appointment, they assembled together on the 20th of March last, to examine the different donations offered the county, and continued in session three days examining the sites for a town; that after mature de-
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liberation and minute investigation the tract of land owned by John Owens and Charles McGee was thought best adapted for the object for which it was designed, as being more central for the population, sur- rounded with good and permanent springs, lying sufficiently elevated to drain off all superfluous waters, in a healthy and populous part of the county, and entirely beyond the influence of lakes, ponds, or stagnant waters of any kind; they, therefore, unanimously agreed to accept of the proposition of Mr. Owens and Mr. McGee of a donation of 25 acres each for the use of the county."
As soon as the town was laid out, which was in the early summer of 1822. improvements began to be made. The first sale of lots was on the 4th of July, and at that time nearly all of those fronting on the public square were disposed of. But up to about 1826 there were not more than a dozen houses in the place, and these, with perhaps one exception, were log cabins.
Early hotel-keepers were Leonard Searcy, who had a licensed tavern in the fall of 1826, and continued in the business for six or seven years ; Laban Garratt, who opened a licensed tavern in December, 1827, and John Chauncey, who began in about 1832. These hotels, or "taverns," as they were universally called, were simple affairs, but were comfortable enough, furnished plenty of good, wholesome food, and were adequate to the demands of that day.
Probably the first store in Liberty was kept by Wm. L. Smith, the county clerk, who brought up a few goods with him from Bluffton in 1822, and sold them in his dwelling-house.
Liberty was first incorporated as a town by the county court May 4, 1829, on the petition of "more than two-thirds of the citizens," under the name and style of "The Inhabitants of the Town of Liberty." The following were declared to be the metes and bounds:
Beginning at the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 7, in the line of the New Madrid claim; thence due west along said Madrid line to the southwest corner of said quarter section; thence due north along the line of said quarter section to the northwest corner there- of; thence due east along said quarter section line to the northeast cor- ner thereof : thence due north along the line dividing sections 7 and 8, to the beginning corner at the mouth of the lane between Andrew Hixon, Sr., and said town tract.
88
ODD FELLOWS HOME, LIBERTY, MO.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
This incorporation really included 160 acres of land, being the north- east quarter of section 7, township 51, range 31. The first board of trustees was composed of Lewis Scott, John R. Peters, Eli Casey, Samuel Ringo and John Baxter.
Describing Liberty in 1829, the year of its first incorporation, a writer in the Tribune in 1846, says:
The public square in Liberty then had two houses on the south side, one on the west, two on the north, and two or three on the east. Hixon's Wilson's, Bird's and Curtis' addition to the town were then in old Mr. Hixon's corn field. There was one tavern (the same now [1846] occu- pied by Judge Hendley) kept by Leonard Searcy. Parties and balls were frequent, and often times attended by ladies and gentlemen from Fort Leavenworth, Richmond, Lexington and Independence. Preaching was uncommon-at least 1 never heard much of it. There was no church in town, but I think the Baptists had two or three in the country ; perhaps at Big Shoal, Little Shoal and Rush Creek.
There was but little use for doctors at that time, as the chills and fever were unknown. except in the Missouri bottoms, where but few persons had then settled. I recollect that the first case of chills and fever that occurred in the uplands excited great alarm and astonish- ment. It occurred, I think, in Platte township. Liberty was always healthy. Not a death took place for several years after I came to it, except one or two persons who came to it laboring under consumption. Once a physician, Dr. Conway, was sent for to see a sick man at the Council Bluffs It was regarded as a most hazardous undertaking, bemg in the winter season, and the doctor received a fee of about $250 There was no other physician nearer at that time; now there are perhaps a hundred, and a trip to Council Bluffs is as little regarded as it formerly was to the falls of the Platte.
The first settlers of Liberty were as clever, as sociable, and as good people as ever walked the earth. Many of them have gone to "that bourne from whence no traveler ever returns," and many of them are now still living. * There was a kind of brotherhood existing among the people of Liberty and Clay County when I first came among them; nothing like envy or jealousy existed. They are perhaps more united yet than any other people in the state. This arose from the fact that the
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
first settlers were almost entirely from Kentucky, and either knew each other, or else each other's friends before they came here.
A contribution to the Tribune, in December, 1846, in an article hith- erto quoted from, describes Liberty as it was at that date:
Liberty now contains three taverns, a printing office, three black- smiths, eight stores, three groceries, two drug stores, one hatter's shop, one tinner's shop, four tailors, three saddlers, three shoemakers, one car- riagemaker, two wagonmakers, one tanyard, one bagging and rope fac- tory, five physicians, six lawyers, three cabinetmakers, two milliners, 1 oil mill, 1 carding factory, a Methodist Church, a Reformer's Church, with neat brick buildings, and a Catholic Church under way; also a Bap- tist Church of stone; one school, kept by a Mr. Harrel, and a male and female school, under the superintendence of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham. Our schools are equal to those of any town in the state in the ability of the teachers. Good houses to teach in are all that are lacking. The Mis- sionary Baptists are making efforts to erect a church, and I doubt not will be successful. Efforts are also making to erect a large college, and judging from what has already been accomplished in the way of procur- ing subscriptions, it will go up on a scale commensurate with the wants of the surrounding country.
If there is a healthy spot in Missouri, it is in Liberty. It is finely watered, society is good, and in point of morals it is equal to any other place, and rapidly improving in that respect. There is stone enough in the streets to pave the whole town, and then enough left to macadamize the road to the Landing. These things will be done in due time. We have a "Union" Sunday School, numbering eighty scholars, and quite a re- spectable library attached to it. The day will come, if good colleges are erected speedily, when Liberty will be to Western Missouri what Lexing- ton is to Kentucky-the focus of intelligence and literature. When once improved as it should and will be, no place will be more handsome.
Two or three good coopers and a chair-maker would do well to settle in Liberty. The want of such mechanics is seriously felt by merchants' families and farmers.
March 28, 1861, the Legislature re-incorporated the town as "the City of Liberty," describing its site as "all that district of country con- tained within one mile square, of which the court house in Clay County is the center, the sides of said square being respectively parallel to the
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
corresponding sides of said court house." The city is still governed under this charter and certain amendments.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Liberty was a flourishing town, with numerous well filled stores, a good woolen mill, rope-walks, hemp factories, etc., and was well known throughout the country. Its schools gave it something of favorable notoriety, as well as its commercial ad- vantages. A branch of the Farmers' Bank of Lexington had been located here.
The Liberty Insurance Company, with E. M. Samuel, Michael Ar- thur and Gen. Doniphan as its leading spirits, existed for some years after 1850.
The Civil War left the town much the worse for its experience, but during the four years of strife and demoralization business was kept up and the ordinary municipal affairs received proper attention. The build- ing of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was an epoch of importance, giving an outlet by rail to the marts of the world and swift communica- tion by mail and express with important commercial centers. Yet it is maintained by many that in another sense the building of the railroad injured Liberty more than it benefited it, as it gave facilities for going away from town to trade, and caused sundry small towns to be built, thus diverting business away from the county seat, and affecting its material prosperity considerably.
Liberty owns its water plant. Water is pumped from South Liberty four miles in the greatest abundance. Also is lighted, houses and streets, by electricity. The electric lights are furnished by a power house in Kansas City, Mo.
Liberty Lodge, No. 31, A. F. & A. M .- At Liberty, has been in exist- ence for eighty years. The dispensation was issued June 26, 1840, on petition of A. Lightburne, E. M. Spence, Josiah C. Parker, Lewis Scott, John M. McLain, Thos. M. Bacon, Henry Coleman and Henry C. Melone. The first master, under the dispensation, was Josiah C. Parker, who was installed July 18, 1840, by three past masters, Thos. C. Case, Henry C. Melone and E. M. Spence, and resigned August 29th following because of certain "unmasonic conduct." A. Lightburne was made senior warden August 15, 1840. The charter was not issued until October 9, 1840, the first principal officers being Josiah C. Parker, master, and A. Lightburne and H. C. Melone, wardens The officers under the dispensation were
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Josiah C. Parker, master; A. Lightburne and H. C. Melone, wardens; Thos. M. Bason, secretary; Henry Coleman, treasurer; Andrew McLain and Edward M. Spence, deacons, and John Gordon, tyler. On the seventy- fifth anniversary of the organization of the lodge a celebration of the event; speeches were made by Hon. D. C. Allen and Col. W. H. Woodson, the oldest living members who were made Master Masons in Liberty Lodge, No. 31, A. F. & A. M.
Liberty Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M., was first organized under a dispen- sation, issued April 18, 1842; the charter was not issued until September 13, 1844 Some of the first members were: Alvin Lightburne, Frederick Gorlich and J. M. Hughes. The chapter meets in the Masonic Hall.
Knights Templar .- Liberty Commandery. No. 6, K. T., was insti- tuted by Geo. W. Belt, R. E. P. Gr. Com. of Missouri, under a dispensation issued October 16, 1865, to Samuel Hardwicke, Rev. Ed. G. Owen, John S. Brasfield, Dan Carpenter, W. G. Noble, S. H. Masterson, L. W. Ringo, G L. Moad and Thomas Beaumont. Of the first officers Samuel Hard- wicke was commander, Ed. G. Owen, generalissimo, and John S. Brasfield, captain-general. (These were appointed by the state grand commander.) Under the charter, which bears date May 21, 1866, the first officers were: Samuel Hardwicke, commander: E. G. Owen, generalissimo; J. E. Bras- field, captain-general; A. Lightburne and W. W. Dougherty, wardens; Dan Carpenter, prelate; Peter B. Grant, recorder; W. A. Hall, standard bearer; D. C. Allen, sword bearer; W. W. Dougherty, warder.
The charter members of Liberty Lodge No. 49, I. O. O. F., were Madison Miller, who was also one of the first members of Baltimore Lodge, No. 1, the first lodge in the United States, Larkin Bradford, T. K. Bradley, Geo. W. Morris, T. Leonard, O. C. Stewart, Wm. Lamborn and J. W. Wetzel. The charter bears date March 5, 1851. The first officers were: Madison Miller, noble grand; Geo. W. Morris, vice-grand: T. K. Bradley, secretary ; John Neal, permanent secretary; Larkin Bradford, treasurer.
The Knights of Pythias have a flourishing lodge and own their Castle Hall.
Christian Church .- Two small organizations formed in 1837 formed the Christian Church in Liberty. One of these societies was denominated the "Church of God," of whom were the following named persons ; Thomas Swetnam, Caroline Swetnam, Mason Summers, Marie Summers. Howard
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Everett, James Everett, Anderson Everett, Polly Everett, John Reid, Sally W. Reid, Martitia Young, Jas. Hedges, Nancy Hedges, Walter Huf- faker, W. F. Grigsby, Thos. M. Chevis, Frank McCarty, John Thompson, Sally Thompson, A. H. F. Payne, Nancy Turner, and others, making a total of about thirty-five members. The first officers were chosen on De- cember 24, 1837. The deacons were John Thompson, Thomas M. Chevis and James Hedges. Bishops, T. T. Swetnam and Mason Summers. It is not known who the officers of the other organization were. In the month of May, 1839, the two organizations united, forming the present Church of Liberty. The minutes of the "Church of God" of August 13, 1837, show the church selected Liberty for the purpose of building a meeting house, and Thomas M. Chevis, Jonathan Reed and James Hedges were chosen trustees, to superintend the erection of the building. The church building was completed about 1839. Adding to and remodeling of the building has produced one of the most commodious and elegant church buildings to be found anywhere. A few of the pastors are here men- tioned: Revs. A. H. F. Payne, Moses E. Lard, W. J. Pettigrew, Allen B. Jones, Josiah Waller, R. C. Martin, William H. Blanks, Francis R. Palmer, R. C. Morton, J. A. Dearborn, R. Graham, Frank D. W. Moore. Among these names are the names of mighty men in the pulpit, second to no men of similar calling in zeal and ability.
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