USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 19
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In 1844 the first tax sales were held in the county. Formerly they were held in Jefferson City, and the change was a great convenience to the people.
During the Mexican war there were few who enlisted from Caldwell County and their names have not been preserved. But this war made a demand for the products of the county, and Fort Leavenworth was the chief depot of the army of the West, and proved a good market for horses,
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corn, flour, bacon, etc., and the inhabitants profited very nicely on the sale of these products and were paid by the government in silver and gold, which was quite an agreeable change in doing business where there had been only trading, with but little money in circulation.
Upon the breaking out of the California gold fever in 1849, many of the people of this county were infected thereby, and it carried off men from almost every neighborhood. It has been estimated that during the years 1849 and 1850 more than 100 men left Caldwell County for Cali- fornia. Some took the northern route, crossing the Missouri River at St. Joseph; others crossed at Weston and Leavenworth.
One such party left the northern part of Caldwell County on May 13, 1850. This writer is indebted to Mr. C. L. Shaw, of Kidder, for a list of the names of those who composed this party, the same having been given him by Daniel P. Doll, who was a boy at the time and among those who traveled to the land of gold. They left the west bank of the Missouri River opposite St. Joseph May 19, 1850, traveled via Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie and Fort Hall. They came to the headwaters of Humbolt River and down to the Humbolt Sink, then across the desert to Carson River, and thence to Carson City, and arriving at Hangtown, Cal., Sept. 24, 1850.
The party was composed of the following persons: Daniel P. Doll, William Place, Squire Place, Asbury Place, Obediah Ramsbottom, John Ramsbottom, James C. McCrea, George Knoch, Casper Knoch, Dan Coyle, William Parrott, Harvey Curtis, John Curtis, Samuel Surface, Isaac Allen, William Bristow, John Bristow, Daniel Hedrick, Edward Kelso, John Kelso, Willis Butterick, Daniel Doll, Hugh Vallandingham, Mr. Yost and Mrs. Yost.
Hugh Vallandingham died en route, and Squire Place, George Knoch, Casper Knoch, and Daniel Doll died in California.
The event of most importance, considered from the point of recon- struction and building up of the county, was the building of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad in the year 1858. It not only put Caldwell County in communication with the outside world, but enhanced the value of lands and other property, and was the cause of building four new towns along the northern part of the county, Hamilton, Breckenridge, Kidder and Nettleton. Thousands of people were brought in by the road, new homes were built, lands improved and a new era of prosperity set in. It is said that it was first contemplated to build this road through the county by way of the county seat, and in such event the county promised to make
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a subscription of $50,000. A survey was made up the valley of Shoal Creek, but was abandoned on account of the general topography of the land, and a new survey made along the northern part of the county, where it was finally located. There was no public subscription to the project and very few private ones. But the railroad was granted every even numbered section within six miles of the right-of-way, which amply paid them for their outlay in this enterprise.
After the building of the railroad settlers came in very rapidly. The majority were from the Northern or Eastern states and were for the most part thrifty and enterprising, and as a class very desirable citizens. They did not confine themselves to any particular part of the county, but settled wherever they could obtain the best location.
Coming as they did from the Northern states, it is not surprising that Caldwell County should have had a strong sentiment for the cause of the Union when that issue began to be talked of, and, also, there being many in the county whose sympathies were with the South, and in fact many in the county who were the owners of slaves, Caldwell County was soon in the throes of dissention and strife, between neighbor and neigh- bor, friend and friend, and the time was now approaching when the most bitter animosities were indulged in. Clouds began to gather on the national horizon that were destined to cover over with gloom and bring deepest sorrow and despair to the hearts of the people throughout the land. Missouri, being a border state, with strong Southern sympathies, was prevented with difficulty from seceding along with the other Southern states, and was a rendezvous for the outlaw and the guerrilla, and people whose sympathies were with either side were the victims of ruthless cruelty.
But in this time, which tried the best of men, Caldwell County did its share toward a just and lasting peace and to preserve the Union.
CHAPTER XIV.
BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR.
ELECTION OF 1860-SECESSION SENTIMENT-"STARS AND BARS" RAISED AT BRECKENRIDGE-GENERAL ORDER No. I-COMPANY DRILLED AT KINGSTON -UNION MEN ORGANIZE-BATTLE OF BLUE MILLS LANDING-CAPTAIN JOHN- SON'S COMPANY-OTHER COMPANIES-TRAGEDIES OF THE WAR.
In 1860 the county was composed of five townships, viz: Blythe, Rock- ford, Davis, Grand River and Elm.
At the August election of that year the Union nominee, Sample Orr, for Governor, carried the county by 39 votes, while the Democratic candi- dates for representative in Congress and in the State Legislature, sheriff and county clerk, won over their opponents by a still more narrow margin.
At the presidential election in November of that year, the vote in Caldwell County resulted as follows: For Bell and Everett, 367; Douglass and Johnson, 263; Breckenridge and Land, 186; Lincoln and Hamlin, 43: Although not all the Republicans in the county had voted, enough did so to make it evident that there was a considerable Free Soil element here. As many had voted for Orr for Governor to defeat Jackson, so many had voted for Bell to prevent Douglass from carrying the state. It was also true that many Democrats, not only in this county, but throughout the state, and even in the Southern states, voted for Bell in order to defeat Lincoln.
This writer is indebted to the "History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties," published in 1886, for much of the material used regarding the Civil War period, for the reason that it was most readily available and was considered authentic.
In October, 1860, the first newspaper in the county, the Caldwell County Beacon, was established at Kingston. The editor was Wilbur F. Boggs and the paper was Democratic in politics and radically secession in sentiment. Before the firing on Fort Sumpter it had been more conserva-
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tive, but after that event it gave all its influence toward creating public sentiment in favor of the Southern cause. When war finally began the people were not long in taking sides. The Union men were largely in the majority, but the Secessionists made up in spirit and demonstration what they lacked in numbers. The "Beacon" newspaper was stoutly in favor of "arming to resist the despot Lincoln," and every issue teemed with edi- torials tending to incite its following to action and denouncing the opposi- tion in no uncertain terms. The following is a fair sample of the matter that appeared in its columns :
"In the name of their honor, their chivalry, their devotion to justice, and, if incorrigible upon these points, in the name of their self-interest, which would arouse even Black Republicans to battle, we appeal to Mis- sourians whether they will lie suppinely upon their backs crying 'peace, peace,' while the instruments, the grappling irons of their destruction and degradation, are being fixed upon them? Or will they rather, as freemen, men who cherish the principals fought for and obtained by their Revolu- tionary sires, say to the Negro-loving autoerat, who disgraces and pollutes the helm of state, that although they are devoted to the Union, and are willing to make sacrifices (pecuniary) for the perpetuity of this glorious experiment of self-government, yet they will not be trodden under the feet or made the tool of a Black Republican military tyrant. That they will not stand with their arms folded and see their commerce destroyed, their prosperity retarded, and their notions of decency and propriety insulted by the quartering of an army of abolition, Negro-thieving, sub- jugating, mercenary troops in their midst, although it it done in the hallowed name for the professed protection of the Union. Missourians have but to act as becomes men to be free, but by inaction they will become what they then deserve to be-slaves."
In Breckenridge a pole was raised on which floated the "Stars and Bars," by the "Breckenridge Guards," a company commanded by Capt. E. R. A. Stewart. Miss Sallie Napier, on behalf of the ladies, made a spirited address calling the men of the community to rally to their defense against the "Lincoln invaders." But when the Federal troops came, a secessionist cut down the pole and secreted the flag.
The state authorities being in sympathy with the rebellion, and pre- paring all the time to throw Missouri into the Southern cause, the Union men were at a great disadvantage. They could not organize regularly and legally under the state laws and orders of the Governor unless they placed
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
themselves in an attitude of hostility toward the national government. Governor Jackson ordered the militia of the state into encampments and the inspector of this (the Fourth) district issued the following order :
General Order No. 1, Division No. 17.
St. Joseph, Mo., April 23, 1861.
To the People of the Fourth Military District of Missouri, Atchison, Noda- way, Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Daviess, DeKalb, Andrew, Holt, Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, Platte, Ray and Clay Counties:
Fellow Citizens: Through the dark and troublous times which now overshadow our country, it is necessary, if we desire to live as freemen and maintain our rights, that the most perfect order, accountability and discipline that can possibly be maintained under the circumstances should be observed. Therefore,
1. Do not act from misjudged impulse or on partial information, for there are statesmen and soldiers guarding our interests.
2. While you exercise untiring energy and display eternal vigilance, let your action be guarded by dignity, prudence and chivalry.
3. All information must be sent to and received from the headquar- ters of this district, at St. Joseph, through Maj. F. M. Smith, commanding First Battalion, except when otherwise ordered from the quartermaster at Jefferson City, Mo. By these means, system, efficiency and safety, so much to be desired, can be obtained.
4. It is requested that your colors be for the present a plain white flag, with the coat of arms of Missouri emblazoned thereon, and we can hereafter paint as many stripes as we please with the blood of our invaders.
5. All in my district who desire to enter into the legally constituted military organization of Missouri will find me ever at their call night and day to muster them into the service of the state, and no other organization should be encouraged.
6. It is particularly desired that infantry and rifles companies should be formed.
M. Jeff Thompson,
Colonel and Inspector of the Fourth Mil. Dist. of Mo."
During April, 1861, the "Caldwell Minute Men," a company of seces- sionists, was formed in the county, with S. T. Bassett as captain, and A. A. Rial orderly sergeant. The members came from different parts of the
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
county and the following notice was posted in Kingston and published in the Beacon:
"Minute Men Attention !
The Caldwell Minute Men are hereby ordered to rendezvous at Kings- ton on Saturday, the 4th day of May, 1861, at 1 o'clock, for the purpose of completing the organization of said company, and to transact other im- portant business. Every one being requested to bring whatever arms they have.
A. A. Rial, U. S.
Done by order of the Captain."
This company numbered 75 men and met frequently and drilled at Kingston, on the bottom land just north of Shoal Creek, and continued their warlike preparations until in June, when it was mustered into the state service as Company D of Col. John T. Hughes' regiment, and was attached to and did service in General Slack's division. There was 65 men in the company when it left the county, obedient to the orders of Governor Jackson, and marched to Lexington, where it became a part of the State Guards, and was placed under the command of Gen. Sterling Price. The company went East with Price and was at the seige and battle of Corinth, Miss., and in the Vicksburg campaign. It was captured with Pemberton's army at the fall of Vicksburg, and nearly all were sent to a parole camp until exchanged, and continued until the close of the war.
The Union men organized in Kingston on June 15, 1861, at a big meeting held there. The Stars and Stripes were raised amid cheers and Hon. James M. Birch made a stirring Union address. It is said that while the Union men were organizing, the secession company was drilling close to the town. Thus it will be seen the tense situation that was developing in the county.
The next day the secessionists had quite a scare by receiving a report that Federal troops had been landed from the train at Hamilton and were marching toward Kingston, 1,500 strong, with the avowed intention of making prisoners or killing all "secesh" men they could find. The result was a hurried departure and they did not return until the next day. It was afterward learned that the body of troops were on their way to join Price's army at Lexington, and were, in reality, friends and Southern sympathizers. The Caldwell secessionists left soon after to join the same army and the county was in complete control of the Unionists, and Fed- eral troops appeared at Breckenridge, Hamilton and Kidder.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
In June, 1861, two companies of "Home Guards" were organized in the vicinity of Mirabile, but their members were from different parts of the county. These companies were commanded by E. D. Johnson and Moses L. James. The former was an infantry company, and the two com- panies were among the very earliest to enroll on the Union side in north- west Missouri.
James' company was mounted and consisted of 56 men. It remained in the Home Guard service until Sept. 24, 1861, when it was regularly mustered into James' battalion of Missouri militia.
The Caldwell County Home Guards participated in the battle of Blue Mills Landing, on the Missouri River, in Clay County, Sept. 17, 1861, where they attacked a very much larger force and suffered the loss of 10 men killed and 75 wounded, among the latter being Capt. E. D. Johnson and William O. Dodge, the latter remaining a cripple to the day of his death.
Capt. Edward D. Johnson's company was enrolled at Mirabile June 18, 1861, the muster roll being composed of the following men, viz:
Capt. E. D. Johnson First Corp. J. Q. A. Kemper
First Lieut. William Crawford
Second Corp. Robert Grant
Second Lieut. William Partin
Third Corp. Ashley W. Holland
Fourth Corp. William Clifton
First Sergt. Thomas K. Smith Second Sergt. Dempsey B. Wyatt
Musicians William Shurtz and
Third Sergt. Robt. F. Johnson Fourth Sergt. Winfield Early
Noah T. Frederick
Privates.
Lee Ballenger
Martin Brooks
Thomas Brown
Joshua A. Carver
John Brown
Mattias Crouse
James W. Browning
Patrick Deneen William M. Early
William H. Cross David E. Cross
William H. Green
John A. Cross
William L. Grant
James Church
John C. Holland
Albert J. Clampitt Alonzo Carr
James A. Cochran William B. Cochran
A. F. Hutchings George Henderson
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
William S. Henry
John Renfrew
William Spivey, Jr.
Reuben M. Spivey
George F. Sackman
Andrew J. Seeley
John Miller
Aaron H. Sloan
Stewart B. McCord
John Smith Warren A. Smith
Joel McLaughlin Martin W. Moore
George Smith, Jr.
Daniel Martin
Martin Shriver
Henry H. Robinson
Stephen D. Sloan
Henry Hipple, Sr.
Samuel H. Sturgis
John C. Spencer
Seymour R. Scovil
Henry Swigart, Sr.
Franklin Swigart
Henry Swigart, Jr.
James M. Vaughn John S. Wyatt
Anderson Creason
Samuel Montgomery
William Crouse
Nathan Middaugh
Theodore Dudley
John P. Platt
John N. Early
John Pollard
John T. Green
John Robinson
Van Henry Grove
Greenup B. Wilhoit
Reuben Rice
Thomas Ward
Joseph T. Rice
James Ward
Jesse D. Ross
Daniel Strope
John P. Reynolds
Quite a number of this company was transferred to Capt. M. L. James' company of cavalry.
In the early spring of 1862 the organization .of the Sixth Regiment, Missouri State Militia (cavalry), Col. E. C. Catherwood commanding, was begun at Cameron. In this regiment a great many men from Caldwell enlisted. Maj. M. L. James, having been mustered out of the six months' service, became major in the Sixth M. S. M., and eventually Capt. William Plumb and Capt. George W. Murphy were advanced to the same rank. Three companies were from Caldwell County, viz:
Company B-Captains, William Plumb, promoted to major Sept. 25, 1863; then Elias Lankford, from Dec. 25, 1863, to expiration of term of
James Hockenberry John Lockhart Aurelius S. Love George W. Latimer
Jasper Jones
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
service, Feb. 28, 1865. Lieutenants, Isaac Cook and William Logan. The company was mustered in at Cameron, March 1, 1862.
Company E-Mustered in at Cameron, March 28, 1862; captains, George W. Murphy, promoted to major, Jan. 13, 1864; Calvin S. Moore, Dec. 3, 1864. First lieutenants, Calvin S. Moore, promoted to captain April 15, 1864; Lewis B. Clevenger, mustered out in 1865.
Company C-Mustered in at Mirabile, March 15, 1862. Captains, E. D. Johnson, dismissed Aug. 16, 1862; J. G. Quinn, from Sept. 16, 1862, to Dec. 28, 1864, when he became quartermaster of the Thirteen Missouri Cavalry Volunteers. Lieutenants, James Mylar, resigned Aug. 25, 1862; Daniel Campbell, mustered out July 18, 1865; Thomas J. Shinn, entered Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry Sept. 13, 1864.
The total number of men in the M. S. M. up to January, 1864, was 268. They took a prominent part in the war in Missouri, Companies B and E taking an active part in the desperate little battle of Lone Jack, in Jackson County, where 800 Union men engaged 3,000 Confederates. About 75 men were killed on each side, the Union troops holding the field after the battle, but retreating to Lexington soon after. There were quite a number wounded, among whom was A. F. McCray, now living at Cowgill, who lost a leg. Caldwell men served with credit in many skirmishes and ยท small engagements in different parts of the state, many not being mus- tered out until 1866.
In July, 1862, three companies of enrolled militia were organized in Caldwell County, and were as follows:
Company E-John Phillips, captain, resigned Oct. 22, 1862; then William D. Fortune, to March 12, 1865; Joshua Orem and R. S. Robinson, lieutenants. The latter was removed in August, 1864, and William F. Wheeler was then commissioned second lieutenant, and served until the company was dismissed.
Company F-G. W. Noblett, captain; W. T. Filson and E. T. Cox, lieutenants.
Company G-Stephen M. Lankford, captain, killed on Crab Apple Creek, in Caldwell County, Sept. 11, 1862; then John T. Ross, until August, 1864, when his commission was vacated. Jacob H. Snider and George W. Crouse, lieutenants.
Company E had 81 men, Company F 97, and Company G 75.
Many tragedies were enacted in the county during this time. Men who had been neighbors and former friends were now the most bitter
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enemies. In the southeastern part of the county was a settlement which contained many southern sympathizers and these were surrounded, cap- tured and some of them shot, their houses and other property burned. In other parts, Confederate men would surround the house of a Union man and deal out vengeance, and a sort of guerrilla warfare was carried on from which each side suffered.
CHAPTER XV.
EVENTS OF CIVIL WAR, CONTINUED.
PARTY FACTIONS AND CONTROVERSIES-RAID OF THRAILKILL AND TAYLOR- MAJOR COX IN PURSUIT-THE JAMES BOYS-LOSS OF COUNTY FUNDS-BACK TO PEACE.
A vast majority of the Union men of the county were radical Repub- licans and were heartily in favor of the abolition of slavery throughout the Union, and received Lincoln's proclamation with approval and endorsed it. There was a minority, however, whose loyalty had been demonstrated and could not be doubted, who were opposed to emancipation, while some favored the freeing of the slaves of disloyal men without compensation but insisted that all loyal men should be reimbursed for the loss of their property.
A controversy arose between the two factions, the Republicans called the pro-slavery man "Copperheads" and "rebel sympthizers" and the feel- ing became intense and it is said that many a pro-slavery man was mur- dered by the radical members of the militia charged with being a rebel or Southern sympathizer.
Perhaps the most exciting event of the war times in Caldwell County was the raid of Thrailkill and Taylor in the month of July, 1864.
John Thrailkill and Chas. F. Taylor were Confederate men, or had been in that service, and had organized a company of 300 men in Clay County and determined on a raid through the northern part of the state and into Iowa. While they claimed to be Confederate troops they were in reality guerillas and had among their number such characters as Jesse James and his band of followers. They came up through Ray County plunder- ing various places, and killed some men belonging to the militia. South of Knoxville they met and robbed the stage, destroying the mail and tak- ing the stage horses. At that time the stage operated between Lexing- ton and Hamilton. They were pursued as far as Knoxville by Major Pri-
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
chard with 400 militia, but he refused to follow them further, and although he knew the enemy was in camp only three miles away, he set out for Liberty and thus avoided a fight with the guerillas, who were a smaller force and not so well armed. He was severely censured for this action.
After leaving Knoxville, Thrailkill and Taylor came up the Kingston road and camped on Crooked River where they remained until the next day, being July 19, about three o'clock in the morning when they advanced to Black Oak Grove, near where the village of Black Oak was afterward located.
From Black Oak a detachment of Taylor's company, in command of Frank James went to the northwest seeking for straggling militia, and they came upon Joseph Cain and John Phillips, two residents of the county, and members of the militia. Both Cain and Phillips were taken from their families and killed. Phillips was not a radical Union man, in in fact his loyalty was doubted, but he met the same fate as though he was loyal to the Union.
Meantime the militia had begun to gather and coming upon about 30 militia the guerrilla band captured them without a. gun being fired. Thrail- kill told them they were fortunate that he captured them instead of Taylor, as Taylor seldom asked nor gave quarter to anyone. Taylor arrived soon after and his men made threats and demonstrations against the prisoners but were restrained by Thrailkill who placed a strong guard about them. They were afterward released on their parole to not again take up arms against the Confederate forces until regularly exchanged.
Thrailkill moved into Carroll County, then turned westward going into camp at Elk Grove in this county a little east and north of Black Oak. That night Maj. M. L. James, James Ray and John Esteb and two or three others, who had come down from Kingston to observe the move- ments of the enemy, slept within Thrailkill's lines and the next morning took their breakfast within 400 yards of their pickets.
With Taylor's company in advance, they came on toward Kingston, striking the Richmond road two miles south of Kingston. They over- took John McBride, then the county treasurer about a mile south of Kingston. Thrailkill inquired if there were any soldiers in Kingston to which McBride replied that they had all gone to join the force of Major Cox at Breckenridge, to operate against the bushwhackers. After crossing Log Creek, McBride turned eastward to his home while the raiders dashed up into the town. They already had been seen coming and there had been
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a mad scramble by all able bodied men, some going on horseback and others taking to the brush and seeking the shelter of the timber along Shoal Creek.
The raiders came into town, stopped before the court house, where the stars and stripes were flying from the cupola, and two men dismounted and took the flag down. They visited all the stores and drank all the whiskey they could find, helped themselves to whatever they wished and made themselves at home, but did not enter but one or two dwellings.
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