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 80
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 80
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Opposed to these and others whom space forbids us to mention were Gen. Atchison, Gen. Denver, Col. Stringfellow, Col. Sutton, Hon. Bela M. Hughes, Col. James N. Burnes, Col. Morin and several more on the Democratic side. Col. Atchison was the recognized leader and Col. Morin was regarded as an organizer of superior ability.
Of the elections between 1840 aud 1856, the most exciting one by far was the election of 1844. The Whigs adopted the " passive pol- icy," or refused to make nominations, hoping thereby to divide the Democrats, which they succeeded in doing. Two Democratic tickets were run. One called the " Hards " (regulars) and the other the " Softs " (the irregulars or independents ). The Whigs quietly sup- ported the latter and the " Softs " succeeded. Bela M. Hughes and Achilles Jasper were elected to the Legislature.
Hughes was a son of Gen. Andrew S. Hughes, of Clay county, and a nephew of Gov. Metcalf of Kentucky. He afterwards went West and attained eminence at the bar. In public affairs his reputation became national.
Probably, doubtless, the best speaker on the Democratic side was Col. Burnes. He is now the representative of this district in Congress, and is always a psychological study. A volume could be written of him, all of it interesting, and none of it displeasing, notwithstanding the many inconsistencies of life and of everything else it would neces- sarily present. He is always pleasant, agreeable, cordial, overflowing with courtesy, consideration, and warm, personal solicitude for those around him. In his presence one feels, every one near him feels, that he has no such friend on earth as Col. Burnes. In conversation, manners and conduct he is fascinating and captivating. To dislike such a man, it matters not what he may do out of your sight, or to think that everything he does is for self, is impossible. He may regard those around him as creatures to be played upon as instruments, to be used by an able and ambitious man for his own advancement, but if he uses them he does it so kindly and pleasantly, and with such touching and eloquent protestations of fidelity and love - devotion true and unfaltering-and always not for himself but for their welfare and
765
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
happiness, that they feel it a pleasure to be deceived and imposed upon - it is like the spell of a delightful dream.
Col. Burnes is in Congress now, and one of the leading men of the nation. If the South had succeeded, and established her independence, with Missouri included, he would now be the representative of this district in the Confederate Congress, and would vote for such pensions to the Confederate soldiers, and for appropriations for such monu- ments, as were never heard of before. It would be touching and overcoming to read his wonderful eulogies on Lee and Stonewall Jackson, delivered in the Confederate Congress.
But if, on the other hand, all the Southern men of Missouri and all the Democrats had been exterminated and their lands and prop- erty given over to the truly loyal ; if Missouri and this district were as thoroughly Republican as they are Democratic, he would still be the representative of the district in Congress. There is no such thing as keeping such a man down. He lives for the time in which he lives and for the people among whom he lives, let them be Greeks, Mohammedans, Missourians or Hottentots - it is all one to him. He is for the people and for whatever they want - Democracy or Radi- calism, the Dred Scott Decision or the underground railroad, the grape- vine or the Marseillaise of John Brown ; he has been for each in turn in the past when the exigencies of the times seemed to demand it, and it need not be proved that he will prove unequal to any future emergency.
Col. Burnes looks on differences in politics with the same broad philosophy and liberality that he regards differences of religion with ; he thinks they are matters of education and prejudice more than any thing else, and that a man 'has not advanced far in Darwin's series of de- velopment who can not look upon them all and with philosophic indiffer- ence and smile, adjust himself and his interests to any political faith or religious creed that may be uppermost in the bailiwick where he resides.
VOTES OF THE COUNTY SINCE 1856.
In 1860 the leading candidate for office in this county was Judge Norton, who ran for Congress and was elected. The vote in Platte county stood, Norton, 1,788; John Scott, 812. Judge Norton received the Douglas and Breckinridge vote.
L. M. Lawson and J. P. Dorriss were elected to the Legislature, the former a Whig or Bell and Everett candidate, and the latter a Doug- las Democrat. Their election was accomplished by a combination of the friends of both. Lawson received 1,960, G. P. Dorriss, 988, Mil- ler, 620, and Dr. Coffey, 637.
766
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
The election being the one just preceding the war was character- ized by great excitement, and a full vote was polled.
At the Constitutional Convention election of February, 1861, the county voted largely for a compromise for the preservation of the Union. This election is cited further in the chapter on the Civil War.
In 1862 James H. Birch, for Congress, received 877 votes, and Austin A. King 583, the vote showing a falling off about 1,000, on account of the war ; John Doniphan, for the State Senate, received 1,157 votes, no opposition. For the House, John Wilson received 881 ; Col. Wolf, 1,002 ; W. S. Briggs, 611 ; A. G. Brown, 434. Wilson and Wolf were " Conservatives," as were also Birch and Doniphan. The others were Radicals.
In 1863 the county went for the Conservative ticket for Supreme Court judges by an overwhelming majority, the vote standing : Bar- ton Bates and his associates on the Conservative ticket, 1,329. Arnold Krekel and the other Radical candidates, 412.
In 1864 McClellan carried the county by a vote nearly double that of Lincoln's vote, namely : Mcclellan 882; Lincoln 488, in the lat- ter of which was the vote of Phelps' company of militia at Sedalia, in the Fourth Missouri State militia. For Governor, Thomas Price received 960, Thomas Fletcher, 507. For Representative, Wil- son received 908 ; Brown, 444.
In 1866 John H. Williams, Democrat, for Congress, received 781, and Jas. H. Birch, 653. In the meantime, the war had closed, and a large percentage of the Democratic vote of the county had been dis- franchised. But little more than half of the full vote of the county was cast, on account of disfranchisement.
In 1868 the same state of affairs existed, and only about 1,300 votes were cast, of which Phelps, Democrat, for Governor, received 790, and McClurg, Republican, 543; Grant, Republican, for Presi- dent, received 792 ; Seymour, Democrat, for the same office, received 756.
In 1870 the voters of the county generally were permitted to vote. The result stood Brown, Liberal (or Democrat), 2,160; McClurg, Radical (or Republican), 493. This was the election at which the repeal of the disfranchising clause of the so-called Constitution of the State was voted upon. But six votes in the county were cast for con- tinued disfranchisement.
In 1872 Greeley received 2,148 ; Grant, 936, and O'Conor, 264. In 1874 Hardin, for Governor, received 2,127, and Gentry, 727. Two years later (1876) Tilden received 2,648 ; Hayes, 864.
767
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
In 1878 the Democratic vote was 2,686 ; the Republican vote, 758. In 1880 Hancock received 2,693 ; Garfield, 945.
In 1882, 2,385 votes were cast for the Democratic ticket, and 854 by the Republican. The vote of 1884 was substantially the same as that of 1880.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
Following is a list of the public officials having to do with Platte county : -
Judges - Austin King, David R. Atchison, Henderson Young, Sol- omon L. Leonard, 1 W. B. Almond, E. H. Norton, 2 Silas Woodson, William Herren, Walter King, P. Lucas, Geo. W. Dunn, present in- cumbent.
Prosecuting Attorneys - W. T. Wood, Jas. Craig, James M. Bas- sett, Thos. Thoroughman, Joseph P. Grubb, Isaac P. Parker, 3 E. F. Esteb, John G. Woods, S. C. Woodson, J. L. Carmack, John E. Pitt, J. W. Coburn.
Sheriffs -Jones H. Owen, James Kuykendall, M. N. Owen, L. Shepard, W. H. Spratt, W. K. Bryant, G. W. Hood, W. T. Woods, N. P. Ogden, George W. Belt, E. McD. Coffey, W. H. Hunt, W. J. Overbeck, R. W. Pack.
Circuit Clerks - Jesse Morin, Ira Norris, W. C. Remington, Geo. W. Belt, F. M. Tufts, R. L. Waller, W. H. Roney.
Probate Court - Up to March, 1849, the county court had pro- bate jurisdiction, when, by act of the Legislature, the system was changed and a probate court established. James Kuykendall was first judge ; James G. Spratt, second; Robert P. Clark, third ; H. Clay Cockrill, fourth ; Samuel A. Gilbert, fifth ; William P. Chiles, sixth and present judge.
Representatives in the Senate -Capt. Andrew Johnson, Col. Lewis Burnes, Dr. A. M. Robinson, Jesse Morin, John Doniphan, George S. Park, John R. Keller, R. P. C. Wilson.
Representatives in the Lower House - Dr. David R. Holt, Col. D. A. Sutton, Bela M. Hughes, Achilles Jasper, Bethel Allen, John A. White, Thompson Ward, James B. Martin, Hall L. Wilkerson, Dr. A. M. Robinson, D. D. Burnes, E. P. Duncan, C. A. Perry, L. M. Law- son, Geo. P. Dorris, John E. Pitt, Dr. McGuire, Henry Brooks, John W. Forbes, John Wilson, John Doniphan, H. J. Wolf, R. D. John- son, Adison Burge, Thos. Quinn, Wm. H. Ballard, R. P. C. Wilson, James Adkins, Wm. C. Wells.
1 Circuit Judge in Buchanan.
2 Now U. S. District Judge, Federal District of Arkansas.
3 Now U. S. District Judge in West District, Arkansas.
CHAPTER XIV.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND LITERARY CULTURE.
Public School System of Missouri - Public Schools in Platte County - County Com- missioner's Report for Year ending June 30, 1884 - Private Schools and Colleges - Camden Point Female Academy - Historical Sketch -The Institution at Present - Female Orphan School-Conditions of Admission - Male Academy at Camden Point -Platte City Male College - Pleasant Ridge Academy -Platte City Female College - Weston High School - Mental Culture and Literature.
That Missouri has been grossly misrepresented as to her attitude toward public education, does not admit of question by those who are informed of the facts of her history. It is represented upon one hand that she is indifferent, and upon another, that she is hostile to this great vital interest. Yet nothing is hazarded by the statement that notwithstanding her grievous failures to accomplish what ought to be done, and what no good citizen can cease to desire or labor for, she stands among the foremost, if she is not the first of the States, in her devotion to the cause of popular education and the provisions made for its maintenance.
The Constitutions of 1820, 1865 and 1875 all make this subject one of first importance, and guard the public school funds with zealous care, while the Constitution of no State contains more liberal provis- ions for popular education than the Constitution of Missouri, adopted in 1875.
Not a sentiment inimical to the cause can be found in any of her statute books for the sixty-four years of her existence. No political party has been in the ascendancy in all her history which has arrayed itself against free schools, and her Governors, from 1824 to the pres- ent time, have been earnest advocates of a broad and liberal system of education. In 1839 she established a general school law and sys- tem, and in 1853 she dedicated one-fourth of her revenue annually to the maintenance of free schools.
Her people have taxed themselves as freely as the people of any State, and much more liberally than the people of a majority of the States.
In the amount of her available and productive permanent public school funds she surpasses every State in the Union, with the single
(768)
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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
exception of Indiana ; and if those funds had been managed as the Constitution and laws require, it is demonstrable that to-day she would have the largest in the Union.
The State of Indiana levies a tax for school purposes of 16 cents on the hundred dollars of taxable values, and does not permit a local tax exceeding 25 cents on that amount.1
The State of Missouri levies a tax of 5 cents, and permits a local tax of 40 cents, without a vote of the people, or 65 cents in the coun- try districts and $1.00 in cities and towns, by a majority vote. of the tax-payers voting.
For the year ending last April, only two counties in the State reported a less rate of local taxation than the maximum allowed in Indiana, only one the amount of that maximum, and the average rate of all the counties reported was about 39 cents, or 14 cents more than the possible rate of that State.
Missouri has more school houses to the population than Massachu- setts. The amount she expends annually for public education is nearly double the rate on the amount of her assessed valuation that the amount expended by the latter State is on her valuation; while our public school funds exceed those of Massachusetts $5,405,127.09.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PLATTE COUNTY ..
The first immigrants of Platte county were sturdy pioneers. They brought with them the ax and the primitive plough. The forest had to be felled and the prairies broken. The settlers were a hardy race, and the luxuries and refinements of society were almost unknown. Their cabins had to be made comfortable before school-houses could be built.` The boys had heavy work to do upon the farm, and the girls found no time nor opportunity to enjoy society. There were no means of mental culture, and even the rudiments of knowledge were but little sought. There was scarcely a school house in the county prior to 1844. Religious meetings were held chiefly in groves. A rude platform was constructed for the preacher and logs were dragged together for seats. After the lands were entered in 1843 and 1844, hundreds sold out and removed to newer countries, and those who re- mained had to erect comfortable buildings and open their farms. But in 1845-46 school-houses of logs covered with clapboards arose in all parts of Platte county, and the youths of the land were instructed in
1 From an article in the Cyclopedia of Education, written by Hon. J. H. Smart, State Supt.
770
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
the rudiments of an education. The towns were the first to build school-houses. In Weston, Parkville and Platte City small houses were erected.
Before the close of 1846 the reports of directors showed that there were twenty-seven school districts organized, in all of which schools were kept for from three to ten months. The average terms were nearly six months of the year. The reports of the directors also showed that, as a rule, a good class of teachers were employed, and that the progress of the pupils was satisfactory. The text-books used were Webster's Spelling Book ; McGuffey's First, Second, Third and Fourth Readers ; Pike's Arithmetics; Smith's Grammar, and Geographies. The salaries of teachers were low, some not exceeding $13 per month.
The organization of school districts, which commenced in 1843, though but little progress was made for two or three years after- wards, was continued, as population increased, until in 1854 there was hardly a neighborhood without one, where there were enough children to form a school.
As the building of school-houses in the county followed the build- ing of houses for the people to live in, so with the progress and pros- perity of each community within the borders of the county the cause of education has steadily advanced. The class of school-houses has greatly improved, and the grade of teachers and of the studies taught is much higher than in former years. Population considered, no county in the State has a better class of public schools than this one has.
The following report of the county commissioner of schools for the year 1884 shows the condition the schools were in at that time : -
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884.
Male. Female. Total.
Number of white persons in the county under 6 and over 20 years old
3,026
3,450
5,416
Number of colored persons in the county under 6 and over 20 years old . . . Number of white persons attending the schools during cur- rent year.
251
233
490
2,600
2,800
5,400
Number of colored persons attending the schools during cur- rent year.
70
80
150
Total number of days' attendance by all pupils
228,660
Average number of days' attendance by each pupil.
41 1-5
summer term
·
1,600
Total number of days schools have been taught ! winter term .
8,000
771
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Average number of pupils attending each day male . 51
39
Number of teachers employed during the year
male .
female
50 30
Average salaries per month male
female
39 00
Number of pupils that may be seated in various schools
5,690
Number of white schools in operation.
74
Number of colored schools in operation
3
Average cost per day of tuition
.053
Value of school property in county
$ 36,100 00
Assessed valuation of property in county
. 4,286,595 00
Average rate per $100 levied for school purposes
40
Amount on hand at beginning of school year
. $ 4,863 07
Amount received for tuition fees .
. (not stated)
Amonnts received from public funds, State, county and township
6,332 30
Amount realized from taxation
· 22,536 44
$ 33,731 81
Amount paid for teachers' wages in the county .
. $ 23,255 75
Amount paid for fuel for schools in county.
1,100 00
Amount paid for repairs or rent during year
2,000 00
Amount paid for apparatus and incidental expenses
900 10
Amount paid for erection of school-houses or purchase of sites
1,800 000
Amount paid as salaries for district clerks .
350 00
Amount of unexpended school fund in county at close of year . 4,426 06
The annual receipts of the county for school purposes, aside from the amounts raised by local district taxation, are as follows : -
From the State
$4,626 95
From the county permanent fund
.
206 61
From the township fund
1,514 68
From tax on railways .
3,135 72
From county tax .
19,982 31
Total
$29,466 27
The largest schools in the county are the ones at Weston, Platte City and Parkville.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
Soon after the inauguration of the public school system in this county attention began to be directed to the necessity of providing facilities for the higher education of the youth of the county. Be- tween the beginning of 1849 and the close of 1860 a number of
Amount paid in defraying past indebtedness
$ 29,305 75
female
$57 00
772
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
excellent private schools and higher institutions of learning were estab- lished in different parts of the county, some of which have survived the vicissitudes of time, even including the shocks and misfortunes of war; and they to-day hold enviable and useful positions among the successful and popular schools of the State.
The following are the names of the principal institutions established in the county during the period named: The Camden Point Female Academy, by H. B. Todd, in 1849; the Weston Male and Female High School, by J. Scott, in 1849 ; the Camden Point Male Academy, by - Donnelley and . - Farnum, in 1850; the Platte City Male Academy, by Prof. Gaylord, in 1850 ; the Pleasant Ridge Male and Female College, by A. L. Allen, in 1852; the Weston High School, by A. C. Redman and C. C. Huffaker, in 1854 ; the Platte City Male Academy, by H. B. Todd, in 1857; the Young Ladies' Select School at Weston, in 1858 ; and Union College at Weston, by P. R .. Kendall, in 1860.
All of these, with perhaps one or two exceptions, had prosperous careers until after the outbreak of the war, and each of them per- formed a service of inestimable value to the public. As we have said, several of these schools survived the misfortunes of the war, and two of them are still in flourishing conditions.
The Camden Point Female Academy. - This institution, now known as the Female Orphans' School, was established in 1849. Wm. M. Kincaid is entitled to the honor of taking the lead in founding it. Some ten leading citizens subscribed each $200, and smaller amounts were collected in all parts of the county. The original projectors and the most liberal subscribers, were Phineas Skinner, Wm. M. Kin- caid, A. L. Perrin, Wm. Perrin, John W. Forbis, Frank Forbis, Wm. M. Paxton.
The institution was to be placed under the control of no denomina- tion, and no minister of the gospel was to be allowed to have charge of the school. These terms are found in the original deed. A fine two- story brick house was built and placed under the charge of Prof. H. B. Todd, who taught a flourishing school for several years, when the academy was burned. Through the untiring industry and the indom- itable zeal of Prof. Todd a new and superior house arose out of the ashes. After Prof. Todd resigned the school it was placed successively under the charge of Profs. Campbell, Lard, P. K. Dibble and Wm. C. McKinnis.
Some sixteen years ago the trustees transferred the property to the Christian Church, and it was turned into a denominational Orphan
773
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
School. An endowment of some $10,000 was raised, and under the successive superintendence of Prof. Broadhurst.
The following historical sketch of the institution is taken from one of its early catalogues.
RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE INSTITUTION.
For a number of years it had been in the hearts of quite a number of the members of the Christian Church to establish a school for the education of the destitute female orphans of this State; therefore, at the State meeting held at Columbia, in the year of 1868, a commit- tee, consisting of Elders Francis B. Palmer, Thomas M. Allen, Allen B. Jones and Joseph J. Wyatt, was appointed to select a site for the school, and take the preliminary steps towards founding it. After viewing the various localities throughout the State, they had a con- ference with Elder P. K. Dibble, who then owned Camden Point Fe- male Academy, and for a stated sum verbally purchased the buildings and grounds.
In the ensuing October a meeting was held at Camden Point, and a board of incorporators was elected, consisting of the following per- sons : Elder Thomas M. Allen, Elder Alexander Proctor, Elder Joseph J. Wyatt. Elder Allen B. Jones, Dr. Thomas Beaumont, John M. Railey, James J. Hitt, Aytchmond L. Perrin, William F. Perrin, Miles Harrington, James W. Steele, John C. Harris, Joseph E. Mer- ryman, Andrew Tribble, William C. Wells and Archie T. Leavel.
Articles of association were drafted, and duly filed, as the law directs, and a meeting was appointed to be held by the board of incor- porators at Weston, on the first day of June, 1869, at which meeting the articles of association were unanimously adopted, and the first election of officers made, viz. : Dr. Thomas Beaumont, president ; Aytchmond L. Perrin, treasurer ; William C. Wells, secretary ; John M. Railey, James W. Steele, William F. Perrin, Archie T. Leavel, directors. This completed the organization of the association.
The board of incorporators officially instructed the board of direc- tors to confirm the action of the committee by purchasing the Camden Point property, which they did for the sum of five thousand dollars.
The directors then took possession of the building and put it in a proper condition for conducting the school.
The directors, as soon as practicable, secured the services of Elder Thomas P. Haley, as solicitor for the endowment of the institution, and on the first day of November, 1869, he entered upon the discharge of the duties of his office.
Considering the circumstances, he met with remarkable success, and by the next annual meeting of the incorporators he had raised sufficient means to satisfy every one that the enterprise was a success.
The second annual meeting of the incorporators was held at Camden Point, on the first day of June, 1870, and the officers were all re- elected for the ensuing year. At this meeting a resolution was unan-
.
1
774
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
imously adopted, requesting the directors, if within their power, to open the school in September for the admission of orphan girls ; con- sequently, the directors determined to open the school on the third Monday of September, 1870, and admit such a number of destitute orphan girls as they or their friends were able to procure means to support.
A question arose as to who should be selected to take charge of the school, it being peculiar in its nature, so that every one qualified to teach was not prepared to take charge of a school of the kind; but after considerable correspondence with brethren throughout the country, and especially with Prof. Robert Augustus Broadhurst, of the Kentucky Female Orphan School, at Midway, Miss Talitha Burnes, of Cynthiana, Ky., was elected as principal for the first scholastic year, and Prof. Broadhurst was elected as principal, to take charge at the expiration of that time, which position he now occupies. Elder James Randall was employed to assist in soliciting funds for the endowment, and his wife, sister Elizabeth Randall, was elected as matron.
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