History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens., Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 17
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 17

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State Senator-J. H. Layton, W. and A., 929 ; J. T. V. Thomp- son, Dem., 837.

Legislature - John Dougherty, W. and A., 877 ; B. L. Lampton, Dem., 895.

Sheriff-R. A. Neely, Whig, 939 ; Samuel Hadley, Dem., 882.

Craig was elected to Congress and Thompson to the State Senate.

THE KNOW NOTHINGS.

The Native American, or as it was called, the " Know Nothing " party deserves particular mention in these pages, as at one time it was a political organization very formidable in its character, and largely in the majority in this county. It was formed in the United States some time before the year 1840, but did not become strong or very prominent until the dissolution of the Whig party, in 1853.

The party was a strange one, as it was a secret political order, . whose members were oath-bound, and which had its lodges or " coun- cils," its signs, grips, and pass-words, and worked secretly to accom- plish its openly professed objects. It was composed chiefly of old Whigs, although there were many ex-Democrats in its ranks. Its great basic principle was that " Americans must rule America ; " in

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other words, that none but native-born citizens of the United States, and non-Catholics 1 ought to hold office. It also favored a radical change in the naturalization laws, insisting on a foreigner's twenty years' residence in this country as a prerequisite to citizenship.

The following resolutions constituted the first platform of the American party in Missouri : -

2. A full recognition of the rights of the several States, as expressed and reserved in the Constitution, and a careful avoidance by the gen- eral government of all interference with their rights by legislative or executive action.

3. Obedience to the Constitution of these United States as the su- preme law of the land, sacredly obligatory in all its parts and mem- bers - a strict construction thereof, and steadfast resistance to the spirit of innovation of its principles - avowing that in all doubtful or disputed points, it may only be legally ascertained and expounded by the judicial powers of the United States.

4. That no person should be selected for political station, whether native or foreign prince, potentate or power, or who refuses to recog- nize the Federal or State constitutions (each within its sphere) as paramount to all other laws or rules of political action.

5. Americans must rule America ; and to this end native born citi- zens should be selected for all State and Federal offices in preference to naturalized citizens.

6. A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continual resi- dence of twenty-one years an indispensable requisite for citizenship, and excluding all paupers and persons convicted of crime, from land- ing on our shores ; but no interference with the vested rights of for- eigners.

7. Persons that are born of American parents, residing temporarily abroad, are entitled to all the rights of native born citizens.

8. 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 ac- cording to the laws of the United States.

9. That Congress possessed no power under the Constitution to legislate upon the subject of slavery in the States where it does or may exist, or to exclude any State from admission into the Union, be- cause its constitution 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 inflence by Congress with slavery as it exists in the District of Columbia, would be a viola-

1 After a time the clause in the platform against Catholics was stricken out, except in regard to those who held to the supremacy of the Pope in temporal affairs.

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tion of the spirit and intention of the compact by which the State of Maryland ceded the District to the United States, and a breach of the national faith.

10. 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 guar- antee of future peace and fraternal amity.

The organization of the Know Nothing party was begun in Clay county in the fall of 1855. On the 1st of January, 1856, a meeting of the party was held at the court-house in Liberty. Hon. James H. Moss addressed a large audience in explanation of the principles of the new organization. Dr. W. A. Morton was chairman. A commit- tee composed of Thos. McCarty, Simpson McGaugherty, T. R. Dale, Nathaniel Vincent and J. B. Talbott, reported a series of resolutions indorsing the National and State platforms, 1 and adding the follow- ing : -

+ That the Union of these States is the paramount object of patriotic desire. That we re-affirm and most cordially and unchangeably in- dorse the declaration of the lamented hero, sage, and statesman, Andrew Jackson, that, " The Union must and shall be preserved." That, with equal ardor and affection, we re-affirm and indorse the answer of that great national statesman and patriot, Henry Clay, who, when asked when he would be ready for a dissolution of this Union, said, " Never ! never ! never !"

The lodges of the Know Nothings were called " councils." In this county, among others, there were councils at Liberty, Richfield, Smithville, Gilead, and in Washington township. In March, 1856, Liberty Council endorsed the nominations of Fillmore and Donelson, and the other councils subsequently took similar action.

It is said that one of the hailing signs of the Know Nothings was " Have you seen Sam ?"meaning, it is presumed, " Uncle Sam," the mythical personage. supposed to represent the Government of the United States. The American flag was always present in the council rooms, and the Federal constitution was a part of the constitution of the order.

For some years the native American party was a prominent and important factor in politics, but the influence and strength of the foreign and Catholic vote of the country were of course always against it ; the Republican and Democratic platforms condemned its

1 On the Kansas question the National platform declared that " none but those who have a fixed residence in the Territory," ought to vote.

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principles, and so it grew smaller by degrees until 1861. Then the Civil War came on and broke it up. And came near breaking up the country as well.

TRAGEDIES.

In an affray between two brothers-in-law named Farr and Wool- bridge, at Barry, about the 1st of September, 1854, Farr killed Wool- bridge, giving him five pistol shots and several knife wounds.

February 4, 1858, Solomon Binswanger was stabbed and killed in a drunken quarrel at Missouri City. Dr. Geo. C. Tuley, Geo. H. Wallis and Geo. W. Withers were arrested and indicted for murder in the second degree. The case against Withers was dismissed. In May, 1858, Tuley was tried at Liberty, convicted of manslaughter in the third degree, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment in the county jail and to pay a fine of $100. In April, 1859, Wallis was tried, but the jury disagreed, and he was allowed to plead guilty of manslaughter and received the same sentence as Dr. Tuley, but in October following he was pardoned by Gov. Stewart."

September 7, 1858, J. A. S. Major shot and killed Samuel R. Trabue, at Centerville. There was great excitement and indignation in the community over the tragedy. A public meeting condemned it, and extolled the character of Mr. Trabue as that of a " most worthy, tem- perate, mild, peaceful and order-loving citizen."

Richard Moore stabbed and killed Pat Cusick in a drinking house in Liberty, in June, 1859.

THE SMITHVILLE TRADEGY OF 1854.

Monday, August 7, 1854, a terrible melee occurred in Smithville, this county, which resulted in the death of two citizens of the place, John W. Douglass and S. J. Ross, and the lynching of three men ac- cused of their murder, Samuel Shackelford, Wm. Shackelford and John W. Callaway. The following statement of the affair was fur- nished by the surviving ( ?) citizens of Smithville and published in the Liberty Tribune :-

There had been a gang of thieves and outlaws quartered in this vicinity, which fact had been established by a court of inquiry, ac- cording to the laws of the country. These thieves and incendiaries were notified to leave Clay and adjoining counties by more than 100 respectable citizens of this vicinity. Their answers were that they would not leave, and that 50 armed men could not make them leave. Thus the matter passed on until Monday, August 7, the day of the election, when they sent word that they intended to clean out the

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town, commencing on those who had used the most exertions in pro- secuting them with the law, even telling their friends where they wished to be buried if they fell in the conflict.

They then armed themselves with two revolvers each and bowie- knives and dirks. Thus equipped, they made their appearance in town. Their leader, Samuel Shackelford, commencing a conversa- tion, in an insulting manner, with John W. Douglass, and alluded to Wm. Ross, both respectable citizens of this community. Mr. Ross replied in a calm manner, but was dared to the onset by Samuel Shackelford, and at that moment a person, a relation of Shackel- ford's, passed between them for a moment. Shackelford drew a re-

volver, the person passed on, and Shackelford shot Wm. Ross twice, wounding him severely, perhaps mortally. Shackelford then turned

and shot Mr. Douglass twice, and then shot at M. Imhoff twice. Douglass then returned the fire on Shackelford twice, wounding him, and then Douglass drew a bowie-knife, he being the only citizen on the ground who was armed. Wm. Shackelford seized Douglass and got his knife and pistol, and then commenced the work of destruction on Douglass, inflicting several wounds, of which Douglass fell dead. He then shot twice or three times at M. Imhoff, but without effect.

Persons then interfered to stop the effusion of blood. Saml. Shack- elford stabbed every person whom he suspected as his enemy, inflict- ing a mortal wound on S. J. Ross, and also cutting and stabbing Ira Witt, who was a stranger, and only engaged for peace, as also young Ross. John W. Callaway ran in and shot at M. Imhoff and missed him, as did Samuel Shackelford. Callaway then shot Wm. Slater, wounding him slightly in the leg.

By this time the fight became general. Stones and clubs were in order. The Shackelfords and Callaway retreated, and in doing so attempted to kill others whom they considered their enemies. Samuel Shackelford's pistol, which he drew with the intention of shooting Mr. Payne, missed fire, and he then threw the pistol at him. They then entered a drug store and locked themselves up for defense ; but owing to Samuel Shackelford being wounded, and the people threaten- ing to fire the house, they surrendered to the populace.

The people were frenzied. Ropes were called for, guns and pistols procured, and all hands calling for immediate vengeance on the mur- derers. Thus it passed on, until the people were alarmed in all di- rections, and notified of the circumstances. They came from Platte county. Ridgeley was a precinct, and it being a public day the people flocked in gangs to the place.

The cry was "Lynch them ! hang the thieves and murderers !" Two or three hundred persons were present. Wm. Shackelford was then hung. John W. Callaway was next hung. He stated, before his death, that Samuel Shackelford was to blame for all the trouble ; that Sam. Shackelford had induced him into stealing horses; that Sam. Shackelford stole the mule that he was arrested for, and he took it and sold it in St. Joseph ; that. they had concluded not to kill the people of Smithville and vicinity [and would not have made the at-

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tempt] but for the over-persuasion of - - that he would stand up to them and see them through. The same was affirmed by Mrs. Shackelford, although they had agreed among themselves to go into the massacre before came. Sam. Shackelford was hung next, all to the same limb.

The peace officers made speeches against mob law, and used every exertion for the civil authority to have its proper course, but all to no effect. Order was confounded ; confusion reigned. Men paraded the streets like dragoons in military service. The whole of this resulted from an effort on the part of the citizens to bring these thieves to justice according to law, for the commission of crime, their guilt of which they acknowledged. The people are satisfied with what they have done, so far as civil authority is concerned.

MANY CITIZENS.

P. S. - There had been an attempt made to assassinate Douglass at the dead hour of night, supposed to have been by these murderers, and he was threatened by them, which was the reason why he was armed.

Callaway, at the time of his lynching, was under $1,000 bond to answer a charge of stealing a mule from Calvin Smith, in the fall of 1852. The Shackelfords and Callaway were hung on a sugar tree, near the bridge across Smith's fork ; the tree is still standing. The mother of the Shackelfords, and the wives of Callaway and one of the Shack- elfords were present and witnessed the execution. They wailed, moaned, screamed, entreated, cursed and prayed by turns, striking the lynchers with their hands and with sticks, and striving frantically with all their might to rescue them. At the time he was hung, Sam. Shackelford's skull was crushed in, the wound having been inflicted some time previously, but he was " game " to the last.

MURDER OF WM. O. RUSSELL BY "PETE " LIGHTBURNE - LYNCHING OF " PETE."

On the night of February 12, 1855, Mr. Wm. O. Russell, a citizen . of the county, living three miles southeast of Liberty, was mortally wounded by a negro slave named " Peter," the property of Maj. A. Lightburne. The circumstances, as best remembered, are that Mr. Russell owned Pete's wife, and for some offense she had given, had whipped her severely. This she told her husband and he vowed revenge. On the night and question " Pete " called at Mr. Russell's, after the latter had retired, and calling him up said he had been sent for a bill of lumber. Russell admitted the negro and asked him if he had brought a bill. The latter answered " yes." Mr. Russell stooped over to stir up his smoldering fire, when suddenly the negro drew a

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

short but heavy corn-knife, which he had concealed in his bosom, and assaulted Mr. Russell so savagely and with such effect that he died two weeks later from his wounds.

" Pete " was arrested and imprisoned in jail. A mob of excited men gathered and were about to hang him, but his owner, Maj. Light- burne, spoke to them in such an earnest, remonstrating manner, that the design was abandoned at the time. "March 5, the crowd reassem- bled, determined to lynch the criminal. Rev. Moses E. Lard and others addressed them, and urged them to allow the wretch to be pun- ished according to law, but they dragged him from his cell and hung him to a tree in the court-house yard, before the sound of the speak- ers' voices had hardly died away.

CHAPTER VI.

DURING THE KANSAS TROUBLES UP TO 1861.

The Kansas Troubles - Clay County's Interest in Kansas Affairs - Sketch of the Situation in Kansas Territory Upon its Organization -The Election in 1854 - Clay Furnishes Her Quota of Voters -The "Sons of the South" -Election in the Spring of 1855-The Parkville Mob Indorsed -The " Wakarusa War " - Seizure of the Liberty Arsenal by the Clay County Volunteers - Maj. Leonard's Report - The Arms Returned Minus What Were Retained -County Seat Fight in Kansas - Emigrants to Kansas Turned Back - End of the Fight- The Free Soilers Win - Explanation of the Course of Clay County. Up to 1861 - Census - Miscellan- eous -The Present Court-House -The Kansas City and Cameron Railroad - The Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaigns of 1860 - After the Election -Trouble Brewing.

DURING THE TROUBLES IN KANSAS.

From the first to the last of the troubles in the Territory of Kansas, the result of an attempt at a decision of the question whether or not slavery should exist in the State upon its admission into the Union, the people of Clay county took a conspicuous part therein upon the pro-slavery side. The proximity of that Territory to this county, its likeness of soil and climate, made it a desirable objective point of emi- gration for people here when they should become tired of their homes, and those who had slaves wished of course to take them along. Then there was a strong desire to have Kansas made a slave State among slaveholders everywhere ; and the politicians of the South had made this desire the measure of the devotion of Southern men to " South- ern rights." Much was expected from Missouri generally, and a great deal from Clay and other border counties.

In the summer of 1853, when the Kansas-Nebraska bill was under discussion, the border counties of Missouri prepared for the conflict - for the conflict of ballots, and the conflict of bullets if necessary. A · military company was organized in Liberty in July, with A. J. Cal- houn as captain, John Dunn, N. S. Prentiss, Lewis Bennett, lieuten- ants, and R. Fisher, orderly sergeant. There was not much attempt at concealing the fact that the services of this company were to be called into requisition if necessary in the settlement of the political questions in Kansas.

By the provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, which repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, slaveholders might, or might not be per-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

mitted in Kansas, as the people thereof should decide. " The true intent and meaning of the act" was declared to be " not to legislate slavery into any State or Territory, or exclude it therefrom," but to leave the people thereof free to form and regulate their domestic in- stitutions in their own way, subject only to the Constitution of the United States." Under this declaration the pro-slavery men claimed they had a right to settle in the Territory with their slaves; but this was denied by the anti-slavery men or Free Soilers, who claimed that " the normal condition of the public territories was freedom."

The full history of the Kansas troubles belongs to other volumes ; but it will be necessary to refer to certain incidents in that history in order to understand clearly the part taken by Clay county. Under the first Territorial government an election for delegate to Congress was ordered to be held November 29, 1854. The candidates were : Whitfield, Pro-Slavery, and Flenniken, Free Soil. Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, had been appointed Territorial Governor by President Pierce, and arrived in October. It was decided that all the voters on the border of Missouri who could possibly do so should go over to Kansas and vote ! The law regarding the eligibility of voters was differently construed ; the Free State men claimed that only bona fide settlers could vote, and the Pro-Slavery men that any man was entitled to vote if he had been in the Territory " an hour."

The people along the Missouri border from Andrew county to Jasper, and as far east in the State as Randolph, Callaway, and Cole, organized and prepared to set out for Kansas to cast their votes. Numerous meetings were held in this quarter. Senator David R. Atchison and others stumped the counties of Buchanan, Clay, Platte, and Jackson. A few days before the election Atchison spoke in Liberty. He had previously addressed the people of Platte county at Platte City, and said to them : " When you reside in one day's journey of the Territory you can, without exertion, send 500 of your young men who will vote in favor of your institutions." This he repeated to the people of Clay in his speech at Liberty.

There was the most intense excitement throughout the country, and it was thought that the interests of Missouri, and especially the inter- ests of slavery, demanded the most radical efforts to prevent the Abolitionists from winning the first battle in the conflict over Kansas. Whatever the means employed, it was believed that the ends would justify them. Scores of citizens of this county, well armed and furn- ished with provisions and money by those who " could not go," went over into the Territory, voted " early and often," and returned home

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within a few days ! Hundreds of other Missourians did the same, and Whitfield was elected by a large majority !

All through the winter of 1854-55 nothing much was talked of in the county but the Kansas question. A regular organization of the Pro- Slavery men - a secret order called the " Blue Lodge," the " Social Band," the "Friends' Society," or the " Sons of the South," being known by different names - had been organized in Missouri and other Slave States, and " camps" were established in Clay county. The object was the preservation, perpetuation, and extension of the " peculiar institution," and the order had its hailing signs, grips, and passwords, and was near of kin and auxiliary to the " Knights of the Golden Circle." It took a leading part in the Kansas question.

March 30, 1855, an election was held in Kansas to choose members of the Territorial Legislature, or Council. Extraordinary efforts were made by both parties to carry this election. The Free Soilers had come in in considerable numbers the previous year, under the aus- pices of the "Emigrant Aid Societies" of the North, and fears were felt among the Pro-Slavery men that by some chance a majority of Free State men might be chosen to the Council, and a Constitution forbidding slavery chosen by that body. All Western Missouri was on the stir. The following notice was printed on handbills and circu- lated through this county, and published in the Liberty Tribune :-

Friends of the South ! - The first election of members of the Terri- torial Legislature in Kansas comes off Friday next, the 30th inst. Friends of the South, the crisis has arrived, and now is the time for you to determine whether or not that rich and fertile Territory shall be governed by the miserable hirelings sent thither from the dens of Abolitionism in the East to rob you of your rights and your property. We must act! We must act! A meeting will be held at Liberty on Thursday, the 29th inst., to take such measures as may be considered proper under the circumstances. Let every friend of the South and her institutions attend.

A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at the court-house pur- suant to the call, and numbers of our best citizens enrolled themselves into companies, and set out at once for Kansas. Those who could not go furnished arms, provisions, horses, and money to those who needed such assistance and were willing to go. All the men were armed.

At this election the men from Clay went into the Sixteenth district (immediately across the river, or in which Leavenworth was situated ), or into the Third district - Tecumseh. Some were in other districts and at various polling places. A considerable company that went into the

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Sixteenth district did not arrive until late in the day of the election. At Stinson's, or Tecumseh, the Missourians were under the leadership chiefly of Hon. S. H. Woodson, of Independence. The pro-slavery men were armed and organized, but not uniformed; many wore badges of hemp or white tape tied in their button-holes to designate them from the Free State men. A great deal of promiscuous voting was done, and the Pro-Slavery candidates were declared elected by overwhelming majorities. On the face of the returns this was true.1

Upon the return of the Clay county "voters" their acts were universally approved and indorsed. It was determined to keep in readiness a strong force of " minute men " for future emergencies.

April 14, 1855, a large force of the citizens of Platte county assembled at Parkville, threw into the river the press and material of the Indus- trial Luminary, a newspaper owned and published by George S. Park and W. J. Patterson, and with decided Free Soil tendencies. Its first issue after the Kansas election had contained an article severely denunciatory of the proceedings of the Missourians in their interfer- ence with the election. Mr. Park was absent at the time, but Mr. Patterson was seized, and was about to be tarred and cottoned (or as some say lynched ) when his wife threw her arms about him and could not be prevailed upon to leave him, and by a small majority it was voted to release him on condition that he leave the State and never return.

The citizens then held a meeting and passed a set of resolutions, declaring, among other sentiments, " That George S. Park and W. J. Patterson are traitors to the State and county in which they live, and should be dealt with as such ; that we meet here again on this day three weeks, and if we find G. S. Park or W. J. Patterson in this town then, or at any subsequent time, we will throw them into the Missouri river ; and if they go to Kansas to reside we pledge our honor as men to follow and hang them wherever we can take them." It was further declared that no Northern Methodist preachers should be allowed to preach in the county under penalty of " tar and feathers for the first offense and hemp rope for the second," and the meeting declared its intention to " attend to some other Free Soilers not far off. "

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Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156