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 26
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 26
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252
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
rado men and the Kansas, turned themselves loose upon the citizens and committed the wildest excesses. The Kansas men were especially bad. They stole whatever they could, and openly plundered hen- coops, pig-pens and smoke-houses, and abused the citizens with the foulest language. In Liberty many of them robbed the merchants of considerable amounts of goods. The next day Ford issued the follow- ing order in regard to all this robbing and stealing : -
HEADQUARTERS, FORD'S BRIGADE, LIBERTY, July 16, 1864. GENERAL ORDERS. ]
The colonel commanding desires to remind the officers and soldiers of his command that stealing, robbing and pillaging from the citizens of these counties must not be allowed. You are soldiers engaged in upholding the laws of your country, and protecting the lives and property of loyal citizens, and your conduct should be such as to in- spire the belief that your object in visiting this country is not to destroy but to save. Battalion and company commanders will see that all such breaches of discipline are promptly and strictly pun- ished. By order of
ROBERT S. ROE,
Lieut. and A. A. A. G.
JAMES H. FORD, Colonel Commanding.
Fortunately the Coloradoans and Kansans did not remain long in the county. They left in three days, to everybody's joy. Between them and the bushwhackers it was six of one and half a dozen of the other.
On the 10th of August a Mr. Columbus Whitlock, who lived in the northern part of the county, and was considered a harmless, inoffen- sive Union man, was murdered by the bushwhackers. He was on his way to Smithville for a physician to attend his sick mother, when the bushwhackers caught him at Bill Hall's, took him with them to a point on Wilkinson's creek, within a mile of Smithville, and there shot him to death and stripped the body of a portion of the clothing. Three days before Mr. Whitlock had married a Miss Angeline Cox, of Platte county. He was buried at Mrs. Rollins'.
About the 10th of August the noted guerrilla Bill Anderson came into the county from a successful raid as far east as Shelbina, Shelby county. He had but a dozen men left, however, out of twenty-five, although not all had been killed. Instantly four or five little bush- whacking bands ran out of their coverts and joined the noted leader, who soon had a company of sixty-five men. At Mr. Creek's, in the eastern part of the county, a reorganization was effected, and Ander- son given command.
About the 11th of August this company started eastward towards
-
253
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Ray and Carroll to form a junction with some Confederate recruits under Col. J. C. C. Thornton (" Coon " Thornton ) and a force of bushwhackers under George Todd and John Thrail. The first day out a squad of militia from a company stationed at Fredericksburg, Ray county, was struck at Mr. Ford's, two miles east of Prathers- ville, and chased to their quarters.
Capt. Patton Colly, of Ray, who commanded the company of mili- tia referred to (Co. E, Fifty-first E. M. M.), set out at once at the head of not more than thirty men. Anderson, after the first en- counter, moved eastward until he struck the county line, when he moved down the road along the line a little over a mile on the farm of Mrs. Summers and went into ambush, leaving a rear guard behind to give him warning if the Federals should follow him, as he expected they would.
Within an hour or two Colly came up and at once proceeded to de- liver battle. He attacked the rear guard and drove it, and Anderson then came forward and decided the fight very shortly. The Federals were routed and driven off in a hurry. Anderson himself killed Capt. Colly,1 shooting him out of his saddle with a dragoon revolver. Two other members of Colly's company, named George Odell and Philip Sigel, were killed in the fight.
A short time before the fight came off Anderson's men had cap- tured two members of Colly's company, Smith Hutchings and John Hutchings, who lived in the southeastern part of the county, and were returning to their company from a visit to their homes when captured. When the firing began Anderson killed these two at once, without mercy, and it is said that after the fight their bodies were mutilated.
In response to repeated calls for reinforcements, Gen. Fisk, in command of this district, sent Col. E. C. Catherwood with several companies of troops into this county. Catherwood's old regiment, the Sixth M. S. M., had been partly disbanded, and he had entered the U. S. service and was recruiting a regiment which was known as the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry. Catherwood relieved Capt Kemper, who left the county with his company August 9, for Parkville. Cath- erwood arrived at Liberty August 3, and encamped in Steven's pas- ture.
Learning of the fight and death of Capt. Colly, Capt. Catherwood led a strong force after the guerrillas, too late to accomplish anything.
1 According to the testimony of Ninian Letton, now City Marshal of Liberty, who was present as a member of Anderson's company, and says he saw the shot fired.
254
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
He followed into Ray county and turned back. Here the pursuit had been taken up by Capt. Clayton Tiffin with a company of militia, and he was joined by Capt. Calvert's company, and the two, on the 14th, fought a severe skirmish with Anderson on the Wakenda, in Carroll, losing ten men killed, while Anderson lost but one killed.
In the first week of September, and up to the 15th, a considerable force of guerrillas under Todd and Thrailkill operated in portions of Clay, Platte, Clinton, Caldwell and Ray counties, before starting for Boone and Howard. About the 15th they passed through the eastern portion of Clay, and Garth's and Younger's companies of home militia and some of Catherwood's men were sent after them.
After Bill Anderson was killed, October 27, 1864, many of his com- pany deserted and some made their way into Clay, where forming into small squads, they continued to disturb the quiet of the country.
Sunday, November 13, a band of bushwhackers fired on some mil- itia who were in the door-yard of Lieut. Smith, in the northern part of the county. Lieut. Smith and his little son were severely wounded. The militia returned the fire and the bushwhackers left. Eight days later- or, to be exact, on the night of the 21st-a band of them went to the arsenal, south of Liberty, and forced Maj. Grant to give them his uniform. The next morning, Lieut. Rhea, with a detach- ment of Catherwood's regiment, surprised five of the band in a house in the bottom, five miles below the arsenal. The bushwhackers re- treated with one of their number wounded and leaving three saddles. One Federal was mortally wounded, dying the next day.
During the Price raid, in. the latter part of October, and while the battles of Independence, Little Blue, and Westport were in progress, the excitement and alarm in this county were intense. Many of Con- federate sympathies hoped that Gen. Price would defeat the Federals and cross the river and wrest the county from the Federals. The militia of the county were on the qui vive constantly, watching the fords or crossings, and guarding the towns. In Liberty the "curb- stone brigade," an improvised company of militia, was called out on two occasions when the alarm was given that the raiders were coming.
But Gen. Price was defeated at Westport and on the Little Blue and turned southward, and soon after his entire command was disas- trously defeated, Gens. Marmaduke and Cabell and 1,500 men taken prisoners, and then his retreat became a straggling disordered rout into Texas, his train destroyed, his men starving, and his army saved from annihilation only by the hard fighting of Gen. Jo. Shelby's di- vision at Newtonia. Then the hearts of our people of Confederate
.
255
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
sympathies sank low and only the most sanguine among them had hopes of the triumph of their cause ever afterward.
CENSUS OF 1864.
A census taken in December, 1864, showed the total white popula- tion of the county to be 9,421, of which 4,671 were males and 4,740 females, showing a preponderance of females at that time owing to the absence of so many men in the war or in Montana and Idaho. The total number of slaves was 1,756, of whom 1,013 were females ; free colored, 58. Total population, 11,235.
THE POLITICAL CANVASS OF 1864.
Amid all the turmoil of war, the political canvass of 1864 went on about as usual. Gen. George B. McClellan and Hon. George H. Pendleton were the national candidates of the Democratic party, and Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, the nominees of the Repub- licans. For Lieutenant-Governor on the Democrat ticket, with Gen. Thos. L. Price for Governor, was Hon. Luke W. Burris, of Clay. This fact gave the canvass something of interest to our people. Bur- ris had been a Whig, but was now a cordial supporter of the Demo- crat party and policy, for Whigism was no more.
A short time before the election, during the Price invasion, when the Confederates had advanced as far as Lexington, Mr. Burris and Gen. Tom Price addressed a large audience composed very largely of soldiers and militia, whose presence and whose half-uttered threats to suppress the meeting did not prevent the speakers from uttering their sentiments - " Copperhead " sentiments although they were called.
The result in this county of the November election was as follows, the Democrats carrying the county by a large majority : -
President - McClellan, 777 ; Lincoln, 206.
Congress - E. H. Norton (Dem.), 635 ; R. T. Van Horn (Rep.), 157 ; Austin A. King (Dem.), 111.
Governor -Thomas L. Price, 786 ; Thos. C. Fletcher (Rep. ), 195. Convention - Against, 766 ; for 169.
Representative - Thomas C. Gordon (Dem. ), 747; J. M. Jones (Rep.), 140.
Sheriff-F. R. Long, 232; Darius Gittings, 488; S. S. Clack, 134.
Assessor - T. R. Dale, no opposition.
CHAPTER XI.
SOME LEADING INCIDENTS FROM 1865 TO. 1885.
Miscellaneous Military Incidents in 1865 - The Last of the Bushwhackers - Surren- der of Oll. Shepherd's Band-The Drake Constitution - Robbing of the Clay County Savings Bank -Political Canvasses - The Railroads of Clay County - Hanging of Sam Walker - Census Statistics - The James Brothers.
In January, 1865, a band of bushwhackers from Jackson county kept the county in a constant state of disquietude by their predatory operations against the people. This band was led by " Wild Bill," a desperado who aped the character of Anderson in some respects and imitated the practices of Jennison in others.
About the 1st of January, " Bill " and his band robbed a Mr. Stone of what pleased them, shot at him and abused him and his wife, then went to A. Withers', in the bottom, and took a horse and some clothing. From here they visited other houses in the neighbor- hood robbing and plundering, finally retiring to their lair in the Sni hills over in Jackson. Three weeks afterwards they robbed the mail three miles below Richfield. A company of militia went out from Liberty after them, skirmished with them and drove them back into Jackson.
A battalion of the Third Missouri State Militia, under Maj. Angus Bartlett, was stationed in the county during the winter months. In April, under the militia law, a company of militia was organized in the county with John W. Younger as captain, and Ben. Cooper and David Smith as lieutenants.
In February, the following families in this county were served with notices of banishment from the county for " treason and notoriously disloyal practices," said the order ; John Ecton's, Dr. Reuben Sam- uels', Mrs. J. H. Ford's, Wesley Martin's, Mrs. Rupe's and Kemp M. Wood's. The sentence of banishment against Mrs. Winfrey E. Price was revoked by Maj. Bartlett.
On the 29th of March, Wm. T. Reynolds, a prominent merchant of Liberty, and well known as a Union man, having served in the militia under Col. Moss, was shot in his store by a Federal soldier, and died from the wound April 20.
March 30 a skirmish occurred in the northern part of the county
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257
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
between Oll. Shepherd's band of a dozen bushwhackers and a com- pany of citizens organized as militia. Shepherd's band was routed at the residence of Mrs. Fox and pursued some distance. Two of the bushwhackers were killed - Alexander Dever and his brother Arthur. The militia lost none. The Devers were both buried in one grave.
The news of the surrender of Gen. Lee and his army to Gen. Grant at Appomattox caused the hearts of the Southern sympathizers of this county to sink heavy within their bosoms. It was now evident that a bad investment had been make when stock was taken in the Confed- eracy, for it was clearly apparent that defeat, utter, complete and overwhelming, would soon overtake the cause of those who followed the stars and bars. The Confederate people of the county became resigned to the inevitable, and waited patiently for the end.
The news of the assassination of President Lincoln was received in Clay county with general regret. In Liberty the stores were closed, the town generally draped in mourning, and a large public meeting held to give expression to the prevailing sentiment of sorrow. A com- mittee composed of A. J. Calhoun, F. Givinner, S. H. Hardwick and John Broadhurst reported a series of resolutions deploring the death of the President as a " great national calamity," condemning the act itself, and declaring that " under any circumstances we are devoted to the flag of our country."
THE LAST OF THE BUSHWHACKERS.
Sunday, May 28, the remnants of Oll. Shepherd's band of bush - whackers, which had been operating in various portions of the county for some time, came in and surrendered to Lieut. Benj. Cooper, of Capt. Younger's company of militia. The band numbered but five, as follows: Oll. Shepherd, captain ; " Ling " Letton, James Corum, Alfred Corum and Milton Dryden. Previous to the surrender the following correspondence passed between Shepherd and the militia officers : -
MAY 25, 1865.
Capt. Younger, SIR: - I understand that peace is made. Myself and my little band, wishing to quit fighting and obey the laws of the country, I will send you these few lines to show you the terms that we are willing to surrender on : we must keep our side arms -for you know we have personal enemies that' would kill us at the first oppor- tunity. We have three revolvers that we captured from your men, which, if they belong to your company, we are willing to give up if you require it. I also have horses in my outfit that belongs to citi- zens of this county, that we are willing to return to their proper own-
258
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
ers, for we did not take them for our profit- we took them to save our lives. I have a horse that I rode from Texas, that there is no use in a man talking about me giving up. When my men surrender, they expect to leave the State.
Now, Capt. Younger, these words I write in earnest ; there will be no use in talking about myself and band coming to Liberty if you don't allow us our side arms, and give us an honorable parole. We are willing to blot out the past and begin anew. If I come to Liberty, will let you know distinctly that I and my men intend to behave our- selves, and not throw out any insinuations nor insults to soldiers nor citizens, nor we don't intend to take any from them. Understand me, we blot all out and begin anew. Now, sir, Capt. Younger, if you wish peace and prosperity in this county, you will accept these prop- ositions. Drop me a few lines in answer to this. Yours, respectfully, OLIVER SHEPHERD, Captain.
To Capt. John Younger.
HEADQUARTERS, POST OF RICHFIELD, RICHFIELD, MO., May 25, 1865. S Mr. Shepherd - SIR: I have just received a letter from you in which you state you are desirous of surrendering your forces. Sir, in reply to your proposition, I will say that the terms upon which you are willing to surrender can not be accepted by me. You wish to retain your arms - this you can not be permitted to do under any circumstances. If I accept your surrender it must be upon the same terms that others of your " profession " are being accepted ; upon which is a return of all arms and other property which may have been taken by you during your operations, and all arms which you may have had before, or which you may now have in your possession. With this, sir, I will close.
Yours, etc., B. F. COOPER,
First-Lieutenant, Capt. Younger's Company, commanding Post.
LIBERTY, May 26, 1865.
Oliver Shepherd, James Corum, Alfred Corum, James Dever and others - Understanding from Tilman Bush that you have expressed a desire to surrender to the military authorities here, if such terms as you wish were granted you, I have but to say that your surrender must be unconditional. You will be required to give up your horses, arms and military equipment of every description, and upon doing so you will be guaranteed military protection, but you are not to suppose that you will be shielded from the civil law if it should be enforced against you for any offenses you have committed. I have no power nor disposition to assure you of such immunity, and it would mani- festly be wrong to do so.
DAVID SMITH, Lieutenant Commanding.
The bushwhackers surrendered their horses and arms, notwith- standing Shepherd's assertion that there was " no use in talking " in
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
regard to surrendering the latter. It is said, however, that some of the men hid two or more revolvers each before coming to town. Lieut. Cooper was faithful to his word, and protected his prisoners from some of the county militia who threatened to kill them. All of the bushwhackers left the county, for a time at least. Oll. Shepherd was killed by a vigilance committee in Jackson county, in 1868. "Ning " or "Ling " Letton is the present city marshal of Liberty, a reputable citizen, a worthy and faithful official, and since his surrender universally respected.
Under the " ousting ordinance " of the Drake constitution Gov. Fletcher, in May, removed the then county officers and appointed in their places James Love, circuit clerk, vice A. J. Calhoun, removed ; county clerk, William Brining, vice E. D. Murray, removed ; sheriff, James M. Jones, vice Darius Gittings, removed ; county court justices, Joseph T. Field, John Chrisman, and Milliner Haynes, vice Alvah Maret, Isaac Wood and James M. Jones.
.
VOTE ON THE DRAKE CONSTITUTION, JUNE 6, 1865.
Townships.
For.
Against.
Liberty
31
528
Fishing River
25
102
Washington
1
121
Platte
33
26
Gallatin
.
.
. .
113
Total
90
890
Majority against the constitution, 800.
ROBBERY OF THE CLAY COUNTY SAVINGS BANK.
On Tuesday, February 13, 1866, the bank of the Clay County Sav- ings Association, at Liberty, was robbed of about $60,000 by a band of brigands, presumably from Jackson county, although it has since been ascertained that some of the members resided in Clay. At the same time, and incident to the robbery, a young man named George Wymore, a student on his way to a school, was without any sort of provocation whatever, inhumanly and mercilessly shot down by the robbers and instantly killed. The following account of the affair was given by the Tribune of February 16, 1866 : -
Our usually quiet city was startled last Tuesday by one of the most cold-blooded murders and heavy robberies on record. It appears that in the afternoon some ten or twelve persons rode into town, and two of them went into the Clay County Savings Bank, and asked the clerk (Mr. Wm. Bird) to change a ten dollar bill, and as he started to do so, they drew their revolvers on him and his father, Mr. Greenup
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Bird, the cashier, and made them stand quiet while they proceeded to rob the bank. After having obtained what they supposed was all, they put the clerk and cashier in the vault, and no doubt thought they had locked the door, and went out with their stolen treasure, mounted their horses and were joined by the balance of their gang and com- menced shooting. Mr. S. H. Holmes had two shots fired at him, and young Geo. Wymore, aged about 19 years ( son of Wm. H. Wymore), one of the most peaceable and promising young men in the county, was shot and killed while standing on the opposite side of the street at the corner of the old Green house. The killing was a deliberate murder without any provocation whatever, for neither young Mr. Wy- more, nor any of the citizens of town, previous to the shooting, knew anything of what had taken place. Indeed, so quiet had the matter been managed, if the robbers had succeeded in locking the bank vault on the clerk and cashier, and had retired quietly, it would likely have been some time before the robbery would have been discovered.
The town was soon all excitement, and as many as could procure arms and horses went in pursuit, but up to this writing nothing is known of the result. Our citizens exhibited a commendable willing- ness to do all they could to assist in the capture of the robbers and their booty.
Thus has our city and people been grossly outraged by a band of thieves and murderers, and that, too, when the people thought they were in possession of permanent peace ; and a worthy young man murdered, one of our most successful and ably managed monied insti- tutions, and many private individuals, have been heavy losers. We hope to God, the villians may be overhauled, and brought to the end of a rope. Indeed, we can not believe they will escape.
The murderers and robbers are believed by many citizens, and the officers of the bank, to be a gang of old bushwhacking desperadoes who stay mostly in Jackson county. But it makes no difference who they are, or what they claim to be, they should be swung up in the most summary manner. Robbing and murdering must be stopped, and if it requires severe medicine to do it, so be it. Desperate cases require desperate remedies ; and we believe our people are in a humor to make short work of such characters in the future. The people of Clay county want peace and safety and they are going to have it.
The robbers obtained about $60,000 in gold, currency and 7:30 U. S. bonds ; - about $45,000 of the amount was in 7:30's.
The Clay County Savings Association issued hand-bills, which were sent throughout the county, and of which the following is a copy : -
$5,000 Reward.
The Clay County Savings Association, at Liberty, Mo., was robbed on the 13th inst., of SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, by a band of bushwhackers, who reside chiefly in Clay county, and have their ren- dezvous on or near the Missouri river, above Sibley, in Jackson county.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
The sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS will be paid by the As- sociation for the recovery of the stolen money or in that porportion for the sum recovered. Every citizen, who values his life or property, will be expected to give his aid in capturing the thieves, as they are thoroughly organized and will no doubt continue to depredate on life and property, as they did here yesterday. Done by order of the Board of Directors.
February 14, 1866.
JAMES LOVE, Pres't.
A heavy snow fell within a few hours after the robbery, covering up the tracks of the robbers completely, and rendering it impossible to follow their trail far. It was learned positively, however, that. they crossed the river into Jackson county and scattered themselves through the " Cracker's Neck " region and amid the almost impenetrable fast- ness of the Sni hills. It was almost wholly a matter of conjecture who they were ; one man who met them declared he knew some of them, but afterward he refused to swear to his statement. This was in all probability really the heaviest bank robbing that occurred during the " reign of the robbers," in Missouri, Iowa and Kentucky, from 1866 to 1881. Despite assertions in sensational publications to the contrary, it is quite certain that no other bank was ever robbed by the Missouri bandits of so large a sum as even $50,000.
The robbery caused the temporary suspension of the savings bank, but the officers finally settled with their creditors by paying 60 cents on the dollar, a settlement that was satisfactory to all.
In August, 1866, one J. C. Couch, of Gentry county, was exam- ined before a magistrate under a suspicion that he was one of the rob- bers, but he was discharged. A fellow named Joab Perry, who was lying in Independence jail on another charge, was taken out by the Clay county officials and brought across the river for examination, but escaped from custody and was never afterward arrested.
POLITICAL.
At the Presidential election, 1868, the vote in Clay county stood : Seymour, Democrat, 313; Grant, Republican, 291. For Governor- John S. Phelps, Democrat, 320 ; Joseph William McClurg, Republican, 284. For Congress-Gen. James H. Shields, Democrat, 319; R. T. Van Horn, Republican, 286.
In 1870, when the question of re-enfranchising the ex-Confederate sympathizers was before the people, and the candidates for Governor were B. Gratz Brown, Liberal Republican, T. W. McClurg, Radical Republican, the total number of registered voters in the county was 955.
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