USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 10
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 10
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The report of the state superintendent of schools for the year 1854 contains much detailed information regarding the schools.
At that time the effort from Daviess County showed that out of the
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2,345 children between the ages of five and 20, 1,084 were enrolled in the schools. The average attendance was, however, much lower than this. 30 teachers were employed, 23 of whom were men. The average salary per month for the men was $19.12, while the women had to content themselves with an average of $10.60. The average length of the school year was four months, seven days. The sum of $442.00 was reported raised for building and repairing school houses.
The school system continued to grow until the Civil War. During that period many of the schools were suspended. By 1886 the system had been somewhat reorganized and the report for that year showed that there were in the county 61 primary schools and three private or select schools, with an average school term of four and one third months and an average atten- dance of 29.
For the school year ending in June, 1821, the reports show that the enumeration for that year was 4,105. The decreases in enumeration are to be accounted for in decrease in the whole population of the county. The average daily attendance was 3,538. Two schools have less than a six months term. 16 have between six and eight months. 60 have eight months, and seven have a nine months term. 297 pupils were graduated from the common school course in 1921.
There were 153 teachers employed in the schools, 25 men and 128 women, while in 1854, only seven of the 30 teachers employed were women. There still remains, however, considerable differnce in the average salary paid men and women. In 1921 the average salary per month for the for- mer was $110, for women $80. Of the 153, 18 held state, 41 held normal and 94 held county certificates. The estimated value of school property in the county is $250,000, while equipment is valued at $35,000.
Hight Schools .- High Schools were early established in the county. The report of the state superintendent in 1910 showed that Gallatin main- tained a first class, Plattonburg a third class and Jamesport an unclassified high school.
In the last 11 years great progress has been made. By 1915 there were three first class high schools. Gallatin, Jamesport and Pattonsburg; two third class high schools, Coffey and Jameson. The schools at Altamont Lock Springs and Winston were on the unclassified list. Which schools of Coffey, Jameson and Lock Springs, had been added to the list of first class high schools in 1921. There were third class schools at Altamont, Winston, Blake and Carlow.
Two high schools provide training for teachers-Gallatin and Pattons- burg. At Gallatin the class is taught by Mrs. Clara Wills, at Pattonsburg by R. F. Wood.
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Vocational agriculture is taught at Jameson and Gallatin.
The Winston opera house is being remodeled for use as a high school. The building is so located that the city park can be used as a play ground.
The Jamesport high school building was erected in 1914. The Galla- tin building was completed in 1910.
The first consolidated high school in the county was built at Jameson. The district being formed by the union of Jameson, Laswell, Brown, Brushy Creek and the Grant schools. The first week in February, 1914, a petition signed by 36 taxpayers, asking for consolidation was presented to I. J. Vogelgesang, county superintendent. The election was held later in the month and was carried by a vote of 142 to 69. The question of providing transportation for school children which was presented as a separate pro- position carried by a vote of 154 to 15. Two weeks later the new district voted a bond issue of $20,000 for the erection of a school building. Early in March the district acquired four acres for a campus, and the contract let for the building. Seven new school wagons each accommodating 25 pupils were also contracted for.
Suit was then made to disorganize the district; was made a test case before the Supreme Court. The auditor declining to register the bonds. The court decided that the consolidation was legal and the new directors proceeded with the work.
Two elections were brought to disorganize the district but both failed. School opened Oct. 4, 1915, with B. F. Brown as principal.
In 1916 the county court ordered school districts known as Prairie Val- ley 63 and Mann 64, to be hereafter designated as Blake school district No. 63-64. An attractive building was erected. In addition to the elementary school work, two years of hight school work was offered.
Approved Rural Schools .- In 1909 the state superintendent formulated a plan for the approval of rural schools. In 1910, Daviess County had ten approved schools-Barnett, Johnson, Haw Branch, Madison and Swisher with Bert E. Morgan, F. W. Williams, Edna Offield, Blanche Ayres and Orpha Leabo as teachers.
By Jan. 1, 1916 the number had a little more than doubled, 11 schools : Everly, Virginia Ridge, Barnett, Prairie Hall, Splawn's Ridge, Prairie Hill, Castor and Madison being on the approved list.
The schools placed on the standard list in 1921 and their teachers are, Liberty, James I. Ray ; Netherton, Mrs. Irvin Schapaugh; Goodbar, Mary Croy ; Fairview, Orla Olsen; Prairie Hall, Gertrude Parmley ; Pleasant Grove, Bernice Miller; Blake, Mrs. Alvin Nebelsick; Island No. 10, Ferm Meloy ; Wooderson, Ora Quitmyer; Allen, Mary Temple.
Grand River College .- Grand River College, then located at Edinburg,
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in Grundy County, was organized and opened to the public in 1850. It was a co-educational institution, and is said to have been the first college in the state to admit women on equal terms with men. It was first called Grand River College Association. It had its inception in the enterprising spirit of the Baptists of Grundy and adjoining counties. Several years later the name of the organization was changed and the institution incorporated as Grand River College. For 40 years this unpretentions college maintained a record of faithful and efficient work. Its faculty included some of the ablest educators in the state.
Edinburg was an inland town, and in 1892, the trustees decided that in order to make the college more accessible, enlarge its facilities and increase its usefulness, its removal to another location was desirable. Gallatin was selected. The citizens of Gallatin agreed to furnish the college site and to erect a building, to cost when completed, including furnishings, not less than $15,000, and when completed, to convey the site and buildings to the six Baptist Associations, Mt. Moriah, West Fork, North Grand River, Gen- try, Livingston and Linn County. The gift was made with the understand- ing that a college in all its appointments to the educational demands of the age should be maintained. Any surplus remaining from the sale of town lots in the College Addition to Gallatin, after appropriating the $15,000 for the building, was to be added to the permanent endowment fund. The cit- izens further agreed to raise within two years after the opening of the col- lege an amount which when added to this surplus would be $5,000.
The college started out under very favorable conditions. Dr. W. Pope Yeaman, a prominent Missouri educator, who had formerly been chancellor of William Jewell College and president of the Board of Curators of the Uni- versity of Missouri, was secured as president.
The college had seven departments, philosophy, languages, mathe- matics and astronomy, natural science, literature and history, art, and preparatory. It conferred the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Master of Arts, and certificates of graduation were given in any department upon the completion of the studies in that department.
The college opened its first session at Gallatin, Oct. 3, 1893. During the first year, 106 students were enrolled, 60 others being enrolled in the pre- paratory department, taught in the old college building at Edinburgh.
On Jan. 16, 1893, the charter of the college was approved by the county court, the Board of Trustees being C. P. Brandon, W. L. Merritt, I. H. Bo- hannon, Joseph Koger, J. N. Brassfield, I. S. Lowry, E. A. Excun, F. P. Bain, Jasper Shoemaker, S. R. Dillion, E. D. Isbell, George Tuggle and Gab- riel Feurt.
The second year a law department was added, the work being conducted
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by J. W. Alexander and President Yeaman. The total enrollment that year reached 137.
Dr. Yeaman resigned in 1897, and the school was taken over by the Hatton brothers, J. H. Hatton being president, M. W. Hatton, vice-president and R. E. Hatton, secretary.
In 1902, J. H. Hatton resigned and H. E. Osborn of Warrensburg was chosen as his successor. In November of the same year, President Osborn resigned. A successor was not secured until August, 1913, when the Rev. James Rice, of Bolivar, Mo., was chosen. Under the agreement with him, the college was to be endowed and put upon a permanent basis. The trus- tees, were, however, unable to endow the college, and after a rather long struggle, the work was abandoned temporarily.
Grand River Academy .- Some time after the closing of Grand River College, an offer was made by William Jewell College, of Liberty, to take over the property and use it as a preparatory school. In February, 1905, the trustees of the college met in Gallatin, and voted to accept the offer, upon the condition that William Jewell College would provide for the mort- gage indebtedness of Grand River College, amounting to about $1200. The proposition made by William Jewell College was to take over the property, changing the name to Grand River Baptist Academy of William Jewell College, and to provide an endowment for the institution.
In May, 1906, the Board of Trustees of Grand River College decided to accept the offer, with some slight modifications, and arrangements were then made to open the Academy under the principalship of Rev. O. L. Wood, on Sept. 19, 1906.
At the first commencement, three were graduated in music, Blanche Deem, Charity Macy and Helen Weiser. Bessie Fannin, Lennis Downing, Etta Fox, Claude Fannin, Jessie Wilson, Irene Stout and Frances completed the business course.
The enrollment increased during the second year, reaching 100 in Jan- uary, 1908 ..
In the summer of 1908, plans were set on foot to erect a new dormitory, since the main building did not furnish accomodations for all the students. To meet the growing demands of the school, several cottages near the Academy were rented.
During the summer of 1909, plans were completed for the erection of a $6,000 dormitory. The site selected was just west of the main building. Work was begun in August and was practically completed, when the Academy closed in 1910.
After again remaining vacant for several years, another attempt was made to revive Grand River College. In February, 1914, Dr. E. W. Dow
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begun negotiations with William Jewell College for the purchase of the building. The Commercial Club invited Dr. Dow to visit Gallatin to inves- tigate the proposition. He came in April. He proposed to open a school for girls and asked the citizens of Gallatin to subscribe $500 annually for five years, payable at the end of each school year.
Arrangements were made for the opening of the school in September. At first it was called the Dow College for Girls, but it was later decided to retain the name of the original institution. The faculty was composed of Dr. and Mrs. Dow, Miss Helen Dow, Miss Mary Dow, in the Academic De- partment, Prof. Dunwoody, Music Miss Ruth Early, Art, and Miss Eliza- beth Reneau, Commercial Department. The enrollment during the first year was near 50. The next year the standard of the college was raised, and a full four years' course offered. In 1916 the A. B. degree was confer- red upon Miss Ethel Ramsbottom.
The third year there were three graduates from the preparatory de- partment, Mary Moore, Lucille Netherton and Ruth Ramsbottom, and Georgia O'Hare from the collegiate department.
In 1918, the graduates were Cecil Burns, Fay Croy, Esther Foley, Mary Croy and Edna Merritt.
During the fall of 1918, an attempt was made to make Grand River College an accredited military school for the Students Army Training Corps. Negotiations were well under way and promised to be successful, but before the petition was acted upon by the government, the college burn- ed. The dormitory, built in 1909, but which was never used, is all that is left to show for this institution of higher learning.
Gallatin Academy .- The State Legislature of 1849 passed an act in- corporated the Daviess County Female Academy, pursuant to the provi- sions of which, the county court, in July, 1849, appointed as the first board of trustees Jonathan E. Mann, Volney E. Bragg, Francis M. Estes, Joseph L. Nelson, John D. Williams, Benedict Weldon and John D. Coulson.
Six years later the legislature passed an act incorporateing the Daviess County Academy and Masonic Hall, naming as the first directors: John Cravens, Samuel Bryan, John D. Coulson, Thomas T. Frame, Nathan Gil- lilan, James McFerran, and Edgar C. Kelso.
Just when the Academy opened is not known. The first principal was a Mr. Tuttle, and Miss Addie Cauthorn, later Mrs. W. M. Givens, was its first teacher of Latin and Greek.
Others who taught at the Academy were J. S. Huffacre, R. M. Messick, Arthur C. Weston, John C. Vertrees, Miss Carrie Smith, Mrs. Ann Givens Cauthorn, and Miss Hattie Atchison, (Mrs. A. M. Irving).
CHAPTER XI.
BENCH AND BAR.
THREE CIRCUIT JUDGES FROM DAVIESS COUNTY-FIRST TERM OF CIRCUIT COURT HELD IN 1837-FIRST BUSINESS TRANSACTED-CHANGES IN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT- CIRCUIT JUDGES-LAWYERS IN 1860 -- LAWYERS WHO CAME AFTER THE CIVIL WAR-ATTORNEYS IN 1882-PRESENT DAY ATTORNEYS-THE TRIAL OF FRANK JAMES.
In the little more than 85 years of its existence, Daviess County has furnished three Circuit Judges, James McFerran, Samuel A. Richardson and Joshua W. Alexander.
The first term of the circuit court was held at the home of Elisha B. Creekmore on the first Thursday after the fourth Monday in July, 1837. Judge Austin A. King presided. Thomas C. Burch acted Prosecuting At- torney, James B. Turner as Clerk, and William Bowman, Sheriff. The county was then a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The court lasted one day, disposed of two petitions in debt and continued a third. The grand jury returned one indictment, for manslaughter. The third session of the court, in March, 1838, was more exciting. It had been discovered that bet- ting on and playing at cards were indictable offenses, and the grand jury proceeded to do its duty. It returned 43 indictments for these offenses, trespass, peddling without a license, and similar offenses which the free- dom loving pioneer had regarded as among his inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The session lasted several days. The 40 persons idicted for betting at cards were each fined $5.00. All paid but William Cates, who insisted upon a trial by jury of his peers. This being granted, he was fined One Cent by said peers. It might be remarked in- cidently that this was the first term of court which paid expenses.
Judge King held court in the county until 1839, when he was succeeded by Thomas C. Burch. The same year Daviess County became a part of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, composed of Chariton, Ray, Daviess, Livings- ton, Macon, Linn, and Graundy counties with James A. Clark of Chariton County, as Judge, B. F. Stringfellow, of Chariton, Circuit Attorney. The
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following lawyers were members of the bar: Philip L. Edwards and Amos Reese, of Richmond; Benjamin F. Tarr and William Y. Slack, Chillicothe; Anderson S. Harris, of Brunswick, Wesley Halliburton, of Bloomington; and Ebenezer H. Wood, of Trenton. From 1841 until 1848, Austin A. King was again Circuit Judge, with George W. Dunn as Circuit Attorney. The first resident attorneys were admitted to the bar in March, 1845; The- odore Peniston, George W. Poage, and Gabriel M. Keene, Volney E. Bragg and James H. B. McFerran located in Gallatin in 1848. Other attorneys who practiced in the early courts of the county were: Mordecai Oliver, Christian Garner, John C. Griffin, John H. Shanklin and Joseph T. Tindall, all non-residents.
George W. Dunn became judge in 1848, and served for the following ten years. Mordecai Oliver was Circuit Attorney. He was succeeded in 1852 by Christian Garner. In 1855, James H. B. McFerran became the first county attorney.
Daviess County now became a part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, and in 1859 James H. B. McFerran was elected judge, serving until 1864. James Clark, of Livingston County, became Judge in 1864.
A change was again made in the circuits in 1872, Daviess County being made a part of the 28th circuit, composed of Gentry, Worth and Harrison counties. Samuel A. Richardson was made judge, serving until 1880.
The next circuit judge was John C. Howell, of Bethany.
A Missouri State Gazeteer and Business Directory, published in the year 1860 lists the following lawyers in Daviess County: B. M. Butler and S. B. Gutherie, of Cravensville ; J. K. Cravens, R. L. Dodge, R. E. Douglas, J. H. Kinkead, John A. Leopard and Samuel A. Richardson, of Gallatin. This list is probably quite incomplete.
During and following the close of the Civil War, a number of lawyers came to the county. Among these were William A. Hargis, John Conover, Wm. A. McDowell, Madison A. Ballinger, Frank Ewing, Henry C. Mc- Dougal, D. L. Kost, W. T. Sullivan and others.
Of those who were practicing in the county in 1882, the history pub- lished in that year makes the comments found below : '
"Marcus A. Low, now in Trenton, one of the best corporation lawyers in the State".
"Judge Samuel A. Richardson, oldest and most successful pract- itioner here."
"William M. Rush Jr., a fluent speaker, logical and convincing."
"Joshua F. Hicklin, a close student, with unblemished character and a reputation for honesty and fairness that is universally admired by both the bar and the people of the county.
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"H. C. McDougal, a successful young lawyer and genial gentlemen."
"William C. Gillihan, by untiring energy he has succeeded in his pro- fession."
"Samuel T. Brosius, a young lawyer of great industry, is making a success."
"Loren G. Rowell, a lawyer of tact and talent."
"D. L. Kost, has been an editor and much of a politician."
"William N. Richardson, a member of the bar, but finds more money in stock-raising."
"R. A. Vance, practices in this court, but gives his attention chiefly to speculation."
"Adams Ballinger, is a young and promising lawyer, just commencing to practice."
"John A. Keck has been admitted, but is now merchandising."
"Boyd Dudley, youngest member of the bar, now in Socorro, New Mexico."
"William M. Bostaph, a strict and careful business man."
"William D. Hamilton, endowed with sense, energy and pluck."
"Thomas R. Shaw, the present judge of probate, practiced success- fully before going into office five years ago."
"Oscar Saylor, now singly and surely succeeding."
"J. A. Holliday, making commercial law a specialty."
"Joshua W. Alexander, is young and his future is full of bright pros- pect for honor in his profession."
"Milt Ewing, a young man of ability and learning."
"Edward E. Yates, a promising young man, a good talker, good student, splendid business qualifications."
"G. A. Chapman, E. A. Huson and W. W. Snider are young and prom- ising attorneys at Winston."
"Thomas A. Gaines, at Jameson, has long been in the practice, and re- ceives his share of the legal business."
"Wm. G. Gallison, at Jamesport, practices successfully, but gives more time and attention to cattle-raising."
Forty years has wrought many changes in the personal of the bar. Of those above mentioned, only two are new practicing actively-J. W. Alexander and Boyd Dudley. W. C. Gillihan, while still living, has been compelled because of ill health to retire almost completely from the prac- tice. Some have left Gallatin and attained eminence in the practice else- where, among whom are Ed. E. Yates, who has for many years maintained a foremose place among the lawyers of Kansas City ; H. C. McDougal, who also removed to Kansas City, where he died a few years ago; and M. A.
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Low, whose remarkable career as a corporation lawyer was brought to close with his death at Topeka, Kansas, only a few months ago. With the pass- ing of the years, the youth of the bar of 1882 has become the veteran of the present, and Boyd Dudley, then referred to as the youngest member is now probably the oldest in point of continuous active practice within the county. The period of practice of J. W. Alexander has been divided by a term of highly honorable public service, in which he served successively as Circuit Judge, Congressman and Secretary of Commerce. Thomas R. Shaw still resides at Gallatin, but does not practice. S. T. Brosius resides at Alton, Missouri, and D. L. Kost at Gentry, Arkansas.
In the later eighties John C. Leopard and J. A. Selby were admitted to practice, and have resided and practiced in Gallatin continuously since that time. Others admitted since that time and who complete the ranks of the present bar are Nathaniel G. Cruzen, Lewis B. Gilliam, O. C. Mettle, Dean H. Leopard, Charles D. Brandom, and S. W. Brandom, of Gallatin ; George B. Padget and M. E. Pangburn, of Pattonsburg.
While it is not the purpose of this history to recite in detail all trials for murder and robbery that have taken place in the county, it might be of interest to give some space to what was probably the most noted case ever tried in Daviess County-the trial of Frank James.
On Dec. 7, 1869, between twelve and one o'clock, two men entered the office of the Daviess County Savings Association. One of them asked the cashier, Captain John W. Sheets, to change a hundred dollar bill. Cashier Sheets went into the back room to get the money, when he was shot. Hear- ing the shot, Mr. McDowell, the only other person in the bank, turned quickly and was immediately covered. He managed however to get out of the door and gave the alarm, although pursued by one of the bandits who shot at him several times. Hastily gathering up what funds they could get quickly, they mounted their horses and rode away, closely pursued by citi- zens who had heard the alarm. They managed to escape. One of the horses escaped and it was afterwards proved that it had at one time been the prop- erty of Jesse James. In a letter to Governor McClurg, dated June, 1870, Jesse James stoutly denied that he had anything to do with the robbery and murder, and said that while the horse captured had belonged to him, he had sold it prior to this time. A number of people testified that they had seen him at other places during the time of the robbery ,
On the night of July 15, 1881, the Rock Island train was robbed by seven men, who boarded the train at Winston, and began work as soon as they were out of town. When the order of "Everybody down" was not obeyed by Conductor Westfall, he was promptly shot down. Other shots
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were fired, Frank McMillan also being killed. Two of the men took charge of the engine, while others entered the baggage car and forced the mes- senger to open the safe. The amount secured was estimated from $3,000 to $15,000. Again the James gang was suspected of the robbery and murder, but again nothing could be proved.
In 1882, Frank James gave himself up upon the promise of the Gover- nor that he would be given a fair trial. He was brought to Gallatin in December, and was confined in the stone jail which was on the northwest corner of the public square. The trial was begun Aug. 20, 1883, Judge Goodman, of Albany, presiding. Dr. A. F. McFarland was Circuit Clerk, and his deputy was William Sheets. George T. Crozier was sheriff and his deputy was Gabe W. Cox. Major S. P. Cox, A. P. Shour, John Bowen and William Hamilton were also deputies and jury attendants.
The attorneys for the State were William H. Wallace, of Kansas City, John H. Shanklin, of Trenton, William D. Hamilton, Prosecuting Attorney of Daviess County, and J. F. Hicklin, Gallatin. Frank James had as his attorneys, Charles P. Johnson, John M. Glover, of St. Louis, John M. Slover, of Independence, Mo., J. W. Alexander and Wm. Rush, Jr., of Gallatin, and Judge John F. Phillips, of Kansas City.
The jurors were J. B. Smith, age 26; Charles R. Nance, 45; Jason Win- burn, 39; Richard E. Hale, 24; James Snider, 37; Benjamin Feurt, 37; Lorenzo Gilbreath, 46; W. F. Richardson, 53; William Merritt, 33; Oscar Chamberlain, 31; A. B. Shellman, 37; James Boggs, 57.
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