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 2

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 2
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 2

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

CHAPTER XVII.

CHURCHES AND LODGES.

Churches in Carroll Township-In Fair Township-In Green Township- In Lee Township - In Marshall Township - In May Township - In Pettis Township-In Preston Township -In Waldron Township-In Weston Township - Lodges in the County-A. F. &. A. M. - I. O. O. F. - Legion of Honor, Etc. . . 803-829

CHAPTER XVIII.

NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALISTS.

The Eagle and the Argus - The Atlas - The Tenth Legion -The Sentinel -- The Bor- der Times - The Chronicle- Parkville Papers -The Luminary - The Courier -The Independent - Later Platte City Papers - The Reveille - The Landmark -The Demo- crat - The Advocate-The Argus - Edgerton Courier 829-838

CHAPTER XIX.

PETTIS TOWNSHIP.

Boundary and Physical Features - Population - Early Settlers, and Names of Those First Associated with the Township - Present Condition - Hampton -Location Etc .- Parkville, the Principal City in the Township - Reminiscences - First Mer- chants, Etc .- History of the Town - Its Outlook Now -Business in the Place - Biographical 838-872

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XX.

MAY TOWNSHIP.

Boundary - Physical Features -Early Settlers - Barry -Pioneer Preachers and Church Members - Linkville -Principal Business Houses of the Place - Its Con- dition as a Business Center - Biographical . 872-885

CHAPTER XXI.

WALDRON TOWNSHIP.

Formation, Boundary, etc. - Physical Features - Early Settlers - Waldron - Where Located - By Whom Laid Out-Present Business - Biographical. · 885-894

CHAPTER XXII.

PRESTON TOWNSHIP.

Boundary - Physical Features -Early Settlers - Ridgely -Early Merchants in the Town - Business Outlook - Edgerton - One of the Most Important Towns in the County - Present Business Interests -Early Churches- Union Mills and Dis- tillery - Biographical 894-910

CHAPTER XXIII.

CARROLL TOWNSHIP.

Location, Area and Boundary -Physical Features - Early Settlers - Who They Were and Where From -Platte City -Its Situation -- Known as the Falls of Platte River - Originally called Martinsville, after Zadoc Martin-A Sketch of Him - First Court Held in Tavern of Mike Faylor1-First Sale of Lots After Town Was Laid Out-Charter Obtained - Sketches of a few Pioneers -Early Build- ings - Churches, Etc. - Schools Established - Chronological Annals from 1862 to 1878-Postmasters of Platte City - Other Items - Public Schools - Business of the City - Exchange Bank of Wells & Co. - Biographical . 910-977

CHAPTER XXIV.

LEE TOWNSHIP.

Territory and Boundary - Water Courses - Pioneers in the Township - Farley - Population, Etc. - East Leavenworth, also called City Point - Biographical 977-990

CHAPTER XXV.

FAIR TOWNSHIP.

Territory and Boundary - Physical Features - Early Settlers - Tracy - By Whom Surveyed -For Whom Named -- Early Merchants -Present Business in the Town -Beverly - Settle Station - Biographical 990-1011

xvi

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVI.

GREEN TOWNSHIP.

Boundary and Area -Nature of the Soil -Its Adaptability for Agricultural Pur- poses - Timber - Stock-raising Industry - Early Settlers -New Market - When and by Whom Laid Out - Originally Called Jacksonville - Buena Vista - Camden Point - Location, Etc. - Atchison Junction - Dearborn - Sketch of Singleton Woods - Biographical . 1011-1037

CHAPTER XXVII.

WESTON TOWNSHIP.

Boundary - Peculiarities of the Soil - Location of the Most Highly Improved Lands -Early Settlers -City of Weston- Situation - When Platted - First Female in the Place -Early Business Men - Her Foreign Trade - Hemp Growing - Present Outlook - Commercial and Industrial Interests - Apple Shipments - Weston's Great Men -Pony Express and Overland Mail - Lodges - Miscel- laneous 1037-1086

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

Boundary - Stock and Fruit Interests - Pioneers -Iatan -Present Business Men - Sugar Lake and Bean's Lake - Biographical . 1086-1121

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

CHAPTER I.

LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The purchase in 1803 of the vast territory west of the Mississippi River, by the United States, extending through Oregon to the Pacific coast and south to the Dominions of Mexico, constitutes the most im- portant event that ever occurred in the history of the nation.

It gave to our Republic additional room for that expansion and stupendous growth, to which it has since attained, in all that makes it strong and enduring, and forms the seat of an empire, from which will radiate an influence for good unequaled in the annals of time. In 1763, the immense region of country, known at that time as Louisiana, was ceded to Spain by France. By a secret article, in the treaty of St. Ildefonso, concluded in 1800, Spain ceded it back to France. Napoleon, at that time, coveted the island of St. Domingo, not only because of the value of its products, but more especially because its location in the Gulf of Mexico would, in a military point of view, afford him a fine field whence he could the more effectively guard his newly-acquired possessions. Hence he desired this cession by Spain should be kept a profound secret until he succeeded in reducing St. Domingo to submission. In this undertaking, however, his hopes were blasted, and so great was his disappointment that he apparently became indifferent to the advantages to be secured to France from his purchase of Louisiana.

In 1803 he sent out Laussat as prefect of the colony, who gave the

(1)

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

people of Louisiana the first intimation they had that they had once more become the subjects of France. This was the occasion of great rejoicing among the inhabitants, who were Frenchmen in their origin, habits, manners, and customs.

Mr. Jefferson, then President of the United States, on being in- formed' of the retrocession, immediately dispatched instructions to Robert Livingston, the American Minister at Paris, to make known to Napoleon that the occupancy of New Orleans, by his government, would not only endanger the friendly relations existing between the two nations, but, perhaps, oblige the United States to make common cause with England, his bitterest and most dreaded enemy; as the possession of the city by France would give her command of the Mississippi, which was the only outlet for the produce of the West- ern States, and give her also control of the Gulf of Mexico, so neces- sary to the protection of American commerce. Mr. Jefferson was so fully impressed with the idea that the occupancy of New Orleans, by France, would bring about a conflict of interests between the two nations, which would finally culminate in an open rupture, that he urged Mr. Livingston, to not only insist upon the free navigation of the Mississippi, but to negotiate for the purchase of the city and the surrounding country.

The question of this negotiation was of so grave a character to the United States that the President appointed Mr. Monroe, with full power to act in conjunction with Mr. Livingston. Ever equal to all emergencies, and prompt in the cabinet, as well as in the field, Na- poleon came to the conclusion that, as he could not well defend his occupancy of New Orleans, he would dispose of it, on the best terms possible. Before, however, taking final action in the matter, he sum- moned two of his Ministers, and addressed them follows : -

" I am fully sensible of the value of Louisiana, and it was my wish to repair the error of the French diplomatists who abandoned it in 1763. I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk of losing it ; but if I am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more to those who force me to part with it, than to those to whom I shall yield it. The English have despoiled France of all her northern pos- sessions in America, and now they covet those of the South. I am determined that they shall not have the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but a trifle compared to their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexation they have mani- fested on seeing it return to the power of France, I am wkain that

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

their first object will be to gain possession of it. They will proba- bly commence the war in that quarter. They have twenty vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, and our affairs in St. Domingo are daily getting worse since the death of LeClerc. The conquest of Louisiana might be easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an at- tack upon it. Such a measure would be in accordance with their habits ; and in their place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to deprive them of all prospect of ever possessing it, to cede it to the United States. Indeed, I can hardly say that I cede it, for I.do not yet possess it ; and if I wait but a short time my enemies may leave me nothing but an empty title to grant to the Republic I wish to con- ciliate. I consider the whole colony as lost, and I believe that in the hands of this rising power it will be more useful to the political and even commercial interests of France than if I should attempt to retain it. Let me have both your opinions on the subject."

One of his Ministers approved of the contemplated cession, but the other opposed it. The matter was long and earnestly discussed by them, before the conference was ended. The next day, Napoleon sent for the Minister who had agreed with him, and said to him : -

" The season for deliberation is over. I have determined to re- nounce Louisiana. I shall give up not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, without reservation. That I do not undervalue Louis- iana, I have sufficiently proved, as the object of my first treaty with Spain was to recover it. But though I regret parting with it, I am convinced it would be folly to persist in trying to keep it. I commis- sion you, therefore, to negotiate this affair with the envoys of the United States. Do not wait the arrival of Mr. Monroe, but go this very day and confer with Mr. Livingston. Remember, however, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, and I do not wish to com- mence it by levying new taxes. For the last century France and Spain have incurred great expense in the improvement of Louisiana, for which her trade has never indemnified them. Large sums have been advanced to different companies, which have never been returned to the treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for these. Were I to regulate my demands by the importance of this territory to the United States, they would be unbounded ; but, being obliged to part with it, I shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must have fifty millions of francs, and I will not consent to take less.

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

would rather make some desperate effort to preserve this fine I country."

That day the negotiations commenced. Mr. Monroe reached Paris on the 12th of April, 1803, and the two representatives of the United States, after holding a private interview, announced that they were ready to treat for the entire territory. On the 30th of April, the treaty was signed, and on the 21st of October, of the same year, Con- gress ratified the treaty. The United States were to pay $11,250,000, and her citizens were to be compensated for some illegal captures, to the amount of $3,750,000, making in the aggregate the sum of $15,000,000, while it was agreed that the vessels and merchandise of France and Spain should be admitted into all the ports of Louisiana free of duty for twelve years. Bonaparte stipulated in favor of Louisiana, that it should be, as soon as possible, incorporated into the Union, and that its inhabitants should enjoy the same rights, privileges and immunities as other citizens of the United States, and the clause giving to them these benefits was drawn up by Bonaparte, who presented it to the plenipotentiaries with these words : -

" Make it known to the people of Louisiana, that we regret to part with them ; that we have stipulated for all the advantages they could desire ; and that France, in giving them up, has insured to them the greatest of all. They could never have prospered under any Euro- pean government as they will when they become independent. But while they enjoy the privileges of liberty let them remember that they are French, and preserve for their mother country that affection which a common origin inspires."

Complete satisfaction was given to both parties in the terms of the treaty. Mr. Livingston said : -

" I consider that from this day the United States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she has entirely escaped from the power of England," and Bonaparte expressed a similar sentiment when he said : " By this cession of territory I have secured the power of the United States, and given to England a maritime rival, who, at some future time, will humble her pride."

These were prophetic words, for within a few years afterward the British met with a signal defeat, on the plains of the very territory of which the great Corsican had been speaking.

From 1800, the date of the cession made by Spain, to 1803, when it was purchased by the United States, no change had been made by

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

the French authorities in the jurisprudence of the Upper and Lower Louisiana, and during this period the Spanish laws remained in full force, as the laws of the entire province ; a fact which is of interest to those who would understand the legal history and some of the present laws of Missouri.

On December 20th, 1803, Gens. Wilkinson and Claiborne, who were jointly commissioned to take possession of the territory for the United States, arrived in the city of New Orleans at the head of the American forces. Laussat, who had taken possession but twenty days previously as the prefect of the colony, gave up his command, and the star-spangled banner supplanted the tri-colored flag of France. The agent of France, to take possession of Upper Louisiana from the Spanish authorities, was Amos Stoddard, captain of artillery in the United States service. He was placed in possession of St. Louis on the 9th of March, 1804, by Charles Dehault Delassus, the Spanish commandant, and on the following day he transferred it to the United States. The authority of the United States in Missouri dates from this day.

From that moment the interests of the people of the Mississippi Valley became identified. They were troubled no more with uncer- tainties in regard to free navigation. The great river, along whose banks they had planted their towns and villages, now afforded them a safe and easy outlet to the markets of the world. Under the pro- tecting ægis of a government, republican in form, and having free access to an almost boundless domain, embracing in its broad area the diversified climates of the globe, and possessing a soil unsurpassed for fertility, beauty of scenery and wealth of minerals, they had every incentive to push on their enterprises and build up the land wherein their lot had been cast.

In the purchase of Louisiana, it was known that a great empire had been secured as a heritage to the people of our country, for all time to come, but its grandeur, its possibilities, its inexhaustible resources and the important relations it would sustain to the nation and the world were never dreamed of by even Mr. Jefferson and his adroit and accomplished diplomatists.

The most ardent imagination never conceived of the progress which would mark the history of the " Great West." The adventurous pioneer, who fifty years ago pitched his tent upon its broad prairies, or threaded the dark labyrinths of its lonely forests, little thought .that a mighty tide of physical and intellectual strength, would so rapidly

HISTORY OF MISSOURI,

flow on in his footsteps, to populate, build up and enrich the domain which he had conquered.

Year after year, civilization has advanced further and further, until at length the mountains, the hills and the valleys, and even the rocks and the caverns, resound with the noise and din of busy millions.

"I beheld the westward marches Of the unknown crowded nations. All the land was full of people, Restless, struggling, toiling, striving, Speaking many tongues, yet feeling But one heart-beat in their bosoms. In the woodlands rang their axes ; Smoked their towns in all the valleys; Over all the lakes and rivers Rushed their great canoes of thunder."

In 1804, Congress, by an act passed in April of the same year, divided Louisiana into two parts, the "Territory of Orleans," and the " District of Louisiana," known as "Upper Louisiana." This district included all that portion of the old province, north of " Hope Encampment," on the Lower Mississippi, and embraced the present State of Missouri, and all the western region of country to the Pacific Ocean, and all below the forty-ninth degree of north latitude not claimed by Spain.

As a matter of convenience, on March 26th, 1804, Missouri was placed within the jurisdiction of the government of the Territory of Indiana, and its government put in motion by Gen. William H. Har- rison, then governor of Indiana. In this he was assisted by Judges Griffin, Vanderburg and Davis, who established in St. Louis what were called Courts of Common Pleas. The District of Louisiana was regu- larly organized into the Territory of Louisiana by Congress, March 3, 1805, and President Jefferson appointed Gen. James Wilkinson, Gov- ernor, and Frederick Bates, Secretary. The Legislature of the ter- ritory was formed by Governor Wilkinson and Judges R. J. Meigs and John B. C. Lucas. In 1807, Governor Wilkinson was succeeded by Captain Meriwether Lewis, who had become famous by reason of his having made the expedition up the Missouri with Clark. Governor Lewis committed suicide in 1809 and President Madison appointed Gen. Benjamin Howard of Lexington, Kentucky, to fill his place. Gen. Howard resigned October 25, 1810, to enter the war of 1812, and died in St. Louis, in 1814. Captain William Clark, of Lewis and Clark's expedition, was appointed Governor in 1810, to succeed Gen.

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

Howard, and remained in office until the admission of the State into the Union, in 1821.

The portions of Missouri which were settled, for the purposes of local government were divided into four districts. Cape Girardeau was the first, and embraced the territory between Tywappity Bottom and Apple Creek. Ste. Genevieve, the second, embraced the terri- tory from Apple Creek to the Meramec River. St. Louis, the third, embraced the territory between the Meramec and Missouri Rivers. St. Charles, the fourth, included the settled territory, between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The total population of these dis- tricts at that time, was 8,670, including slaves. The population of the district of Louisiana, when ceded to the United States was 10.120.

CHAPTER II.

DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL.

Name - Extent - Surface - Rivers -Timber -Climate - Prairies - Soils -Popula- tion by Counties.

NAME.

The name Missouri is derived from the Indian tongue and signifies muddy.

EXTENT.

Missouri is bounded on the north by Iowa (from which it is sep- arated for about thirty miles on the northeast, by the Des Moines River), and on the east by the Mississippi River, which divides it from Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, and on the west by the Indian Ter- ritory, and the States of Kansas and Nebraska. The State lies (with the exception of a small projection between the St. Francis and the Mississippi Rivers, which extends to 36°), between 36° 30' and 40° 36' north latitude, and between 12° 2' and 18° 51' west longitude from Washington.

The extreme width of the State east and west, is about 348 miles ; its width on its northern boundary, measured from its northeast cor- ner along the Iowa line, to its intersection with the Des Moines

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

River, is about 210 miles ; its width on its southern boundary is about 288 miles. Its average width is about 235 miles.

The length of the State north and south, not including the narrow strip between the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers, is about 282 miles. It is about 450 miles from its extreme northwest corner to its southeast corner, and from the northeast corner to the southwest corner, it is about 230 miles. These limits embrace an area of 65,350 square miles, or 41,824,000 acres, being nearly as large as England, and the States of Vermont and New Hampshire.

SURFACE.

North of the Missouri, the State is level or undulating, while the portion south of that river (the larger portion of the State ) exhibits a greater variety of surface. In the southeastern part is an extensive marsh, reaching beyond the State into Arkansas. The remainder of this portion between the Mississippi and Osage Rivers is rolling, and gradually rising into a hilly and mountainous district, forming the out- skirts of the Ozark Mountains.

Beyond the Osage River, at some distance, commences a vast ex- panse of prairie land which stretches away towards the Rocky Moun- tains. The ridges forming the Ozark chain extend in a northeast and southwest direction, separating the waters that flow northeast into the Missouri from those that flow southeast into the Mississippi River.

RIVERS.

No State in the Union enjoys better facilities for navigation than Missouri. By means of the Mississippi River, which stretches along her entire eastern boundary, she can hold commercial intercourse with the most northern territory and State in the Union ; with the whole valley of the Ohio; with many of the Atlantic States, and with the Gulf of Mexico.

"Ay, gather Europe's royal rivers all -

The snow-swelled Neva, with an Empire's weight On her broad breast, she yet may overwhelm; Dark Danube, hurrying, as by foe pursued, Through shaggy forests and by palace walls, To hide its terror in a sea of gloom; The castled Rhine, whose vine-crowned waters flow, The fount of fable and the source of song;

The rushing Rhone, in whose cerulean depths The loving sky seems wedded with the wave; The yellow Tiber, chok'd with Roman spoils.

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

A dying miser shrinking 'neath his gold;

The Seine, where fashion glasses the fairest forms;

The Thames that bears the riches of the world;

Gather their waters in one ocean mass,

Our Mississippi rolling proudly on, Would sweep them from its path, or swallow up,

Like Aaron's rod, these streams of fame and song."

By the Missouri River she can extend her commerce to the Rocky Mountains, and receive in return the products which will come in the course of time, by its multitude of tributaries.

The Missouri River coasts the northwest line of the State for about 250 miles, following its windings, and then flows through the State, a little south of east, to its junction with the Mississippi. The Mis- souri River receives a number of tributaries within the limits of the State, the principal of which are the Nodaway, Platte, Grand and Chariton from the north, and the Blue, Sniabar, Lamine, Osage and. Gasconade from the south. The principal tributaries of the Missis- sippi within the State, are the Salt River, north, and the Meramec River south of the Missouri.

The St. Francis and White Rivers, with their branches, drain the southeastern part of the State, and pass into Arkansas. The Osage is navigable for steamboats for more than 175 miles. There are a vast number of smaller streams, such as creeks, branches and rivers, which water the State in all directions.

Timber. - Not more towering in their sublimity were the cedars of ancient Lebanon, nor more precious in their utility were the almug- trees of Ophir, than the native forests of Missouri. The river bottoms are covered with a luxuriant growth of oak, ash, elm, hickory, cotton- wood, linn, white and black walnut, and in fact, all the varieties found in the Atlantic and Eastern States. In the more barren districts may be seen the white and pin oak, and in many places a dense growth of pine. The crab apple, papaw and persimmon are abundant, as also the hazel and pecan.

Climate. - The climate of Missouri is, in general, pleasant and salubrious. Like that of North America, it is changeable, and sub- ject to sudden and sometimes extreme changes of heat and cold ; but it is decidedly milder, taking the whole year through, than that of the same latitudes east of the mountains. While the summers are not more oppressive than they are in the corresponding latitudes on and near the Atlantic coast, the winters are shorter, and very much milder,

HISTORY OF MISSOURI.

except during the month of February, which has many days of pleas- ant sunshine.

Prairies. - Missouri is a prairie State, especially that portion of it north and northwest of the Missouri River. These prairies, along the water courses, abound with the thickest and most luxurious belts of timber, while the " rolling" prairies occupy the higher portions of the country, the descent generally to the forests or bottom lands being. over only declivities. Many of these prairies, however, exhibit a grace- fully waving surface, swelling and sinking with an easy slope, and a full, rounded outline, equally avoiding the unmeaning horizontal sur- face and the interruption of abrupt or angular elevations.

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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