USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 16
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 16
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To many pioneers, it was an endless grind of toil, endurance, plain feeding and solid slumber. His brave, patient helpmeet, likewise, had much of loneliness. Perhaps she spent happy, hopeful hours helping with outside efforts, but in the cabin, alone or with infant children, how many hours of brooding solitude were hers. She too must dream of comforts for which her woman's soul was longing, so little that was con- venient and encouraging, so little beauty, so much plainness. The wild- erness without, frugality within. No neighbors within hailing distance, fewest of books, no magazines, a stray newspaper at odd times. per- haps twice a year tidings came from the old home, or from friends in other settlements. Little wonder that the dear old faces seem engraved with half a century of exile. There was sickness too, also death. Chills and fever, ague, that did not often kill, but always blighted, stealing energy, hope and happiness. It was often the woman's lot. to watch the slow course of disappearing vitality, or with shrinking heart to behold the swift work of malignant disease. At times the able were so few and scattered they could but half attend the unable. At all such times the women, sensing what was lacking more clearly than the man, womankind suffered more.
Again and again in those early years there were lean seasons, spells of scarcity. Something had broken the ordinary run of things. Bad luck would bring the wolf to the door, and encourage him to wait and watch. The reason might be any one of many. The man of the house might be ailing and laid up, at a critical time in the crop season. He might meet with an accident and broken limbs. The sickness of wife and children might consume his whole time and energy. The straying of stock might greatly delay him. Sometimes the strayed stock was not recovered. The result would be tragic. The loss of only one cow, dead, strayed or stolen, would bring a sense of panic to the housewife, and deepest gloom to the children. During such seasons of privation, it is incredible how the craving for certain articles of food would grow in the thoughts of the family as they divided their meagre rations. This craving might be for salt side-meat, for cheese or for butter, or it might be a longing for pickles. But it would be very vivid and terribly persistent. It is related in the chronicles of De Soto's followers, after they had crossed the Mis- sissippi and before they found the salt springs on White River, that a soldier one day cried out, "Oh, if I could only have just one slice of meat
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with salt, I could be patient." He voiced a longing that first, last or between times, has gripped every man, woman and child among the pioneers.
It is' right that these first great costs of our inheritance should be remembered. We are the heirs of a conquest that was truly fine in the elements of labor, patience, and heroic endurance. With a deep sense of the multiplied obligations thus created, we turn with gratitude to all that was pleasurable and prosperous in the experience of these honored fathers and mothers of the early days. When youth, vitality, and energy come face to face with opportunity, hope springs at once to fullgrown strength. Anticipation flushes the heart, and the mind puts the hands to work. The early settler found a wilderness. There was no house, but the family could build a home ; humble as it might be there was the hope of better ahead. There were no fields, but they could enclose and clear. If the labor was heavy, it was for themselves and their children they were working. Hope and faith were shining to cheer them onward.
The first homes were not the log cabin of usual build. They are best described as shelter, whatever the newcomer could devise, what- ever he could throw together with his own hands, a place to stay, tem- porary quarters. The wagon cover might be part with poles and bark, picturesque but not permanent. In some cases there flimsy shelters were used much longer than was first intended. Soon, however, the typical, strong built, permanent log cabin appeared. This meant more than one or two men's work. The settler selected his trees, felled and cut them into lengths. Then a small boy, if one there was, and a yoke of oxen snaked them to the desired location, and all was ready for the "Raising."
"The cabins were of round logs, notched together at the corners, ribbed with poles, and covered with boards split from a tree. A punch- eon floor was then laid down, a hole cut in the end and a stick chimney run up. A clapboard door was made; a window was opened by cut- ting out a hole in the side or end, two feet square, finished without glass, often with greased paper for transparency. The chinking between the logs held the mud with which it was daubed. The roof might be clap- boards, bark or thatch, and the house was ready."
Skill, as always, was at a premium. It was a proud day in the life of a stripling or youth when at a "raisin" he was first allowed to "carry a corner," as the notching was styled. At his first effort he was allowed one misfit, or renotching to make the fit. The second mistake disquali- fied him for that day. The writer, then under 17, carried his first corner to the top, renotching but once.
The one legged bedstead could only be made in a corner of the
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cabin, but the two legged table could be adjusted most any place. Shelves were easy and pegs abundant, while the cross poles which sus- tained the floor of the loft were made to do duty for whatever might be hung up. Peg-leg benches took the place of chairs. Pots, pans and skil- lets were hung about the fireplace, all without nails or bolts. The auger was mighty in those days. Thus was the home made ready.
The raising of the cabin was a social event for the entire neighbor- hood. Every man and boy wanted to be present. They gathered early and with much chaffing and up to date slang, they got busy. It was the aim of all that the "heft" of the work should be completed in time for a one or two o'clock dinner, at least the unskilled labor should be finished ; only the deft finishing touches were left for after dinner. The main body of the gathering must be free for play. Always there were wives and sisters in numbers sufficient to make the big dinner a matter of easy and merry achievement for the ladies assembled. The day recalled happy memories in the hearts of the older ones, while the younger were laying the foundation of future memories of their own. The bashful youth had his moment of supreme daring, and the clever damsel found her chance for sweet graciousness in a manner so casual as to deceive the very expert. If, in the main, human happiness is pretty evenly bal- anced, so is wisdom pretty evenly distributed. "Wisdom is justified of her children," measured by this standard, the generation that built log cabins, classes right along with almost any other.
The cabin raising was a typical occasion. It was just one phase of that community spirit which was more fully shared by all the inhabi- tants than is possible in the fuller development which follows pioneer life. They had so much in common. They were all poor together, all working for a similar purpose. Each one needed the support of all the rest. Only as they gave mutual assistance could any of them succeed. For peace, for protection, for happiness, for success, none of them lived, or could live, unto himself. This community of interest and of sentiment, produced a hospitality and a fellowship, which is the admiration of the generations that follow.
A writer forty years closer to these first things puts the case with great clearness. "It was a time of self reliance and brave, persevering toil, of privations cheerfully endured, and the experience of one settler was practically that of every other; all faced the same hardships. They stood on an equal footing. There were no castes. Aristocratic preten- tions did not exist and would not have been tolerated. The only nobility was the nobility of generosity. The bond of sympathy was the con- sciousness of common hardships." They were sensitive to each others
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needs and misfortunes. They needed no urging to help in time of trouble. The victim of storm or fire was speedily and cheerfully re- stored to the general equality in all he had lost. The restoration was as prompt as if ties of blood were in force.
Neighbors were on the best of terms; envy, jealousy and strife had no place among them. They were a little world, or a large family, far removed from the great world of the East. To quote again: “This general state of feeling among the pioneers was by no means peculiar to Gentry County, although it was strongly illustrated here. It prevailed generally throughout the West, during the time of early settlement. The very nature of things taught the settlers the necessity of dwelling together in all good will. It was their only protection. They had come far away from a well established reign of law, and entered a new country where the civil authority was still feeble and totally unable to afford protection and redress grievances. Here the settlers lived some little time before there was an officer of the law in the country. Each man's protection was in the good will and friendship of those about him, and the thing any man might well dread was the ill will of the community. It was more terrible than law. It was no uncommon thing in the early times for hardened men who had no fears of jails or penitentiaries to stand in great fear of the indignation of a pioneer community." This community spirit was intensely practical. If one neighbor killed a beef, a pig, or a deer, he shared with the rest. A writer of 1882 laments the speedy passing of this communal interest, and disparages the cold, selfish, calculating orderliness which had even then taken place. In 1922 his criticism is better understood. In the early times there was the occasional ne'er-do-well who failed to kill his beef, pig, or deer, in his turn, and it was a joke to be winked at. But progress and industry while tolerating such individuals, cannot encourage them. Such people make a visible difference between themselves and the gen- eral run of which they are usually the first to complain.
The common heart of Gentry County is as kind and generous today as it was in 1850. The unfortunate and afflicted, receive sincere sympa- thy and ready assistance, and the care of them is more effectual and con- tinuous than was possible seventy years ago.
The pleasures of those early days were carried with a whole hearted enthusiasm, almost beyond our present comprehension. The shooting match when it occurred had the whole field to itself. The last quilting was over and gone, the nest fish fry was not yet dated. The same was true of each recreation in its turn. For the time being each was all in all. The question is often asked why we do not have such
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spelling schools and such religious revivals as in the early days. The answer is this. No one bit of knowledge can now enthuse the whole people. We are learning scores of things. Neither can any one senti- ment, no matter how sacred, ever again dominate the emotions of an entire community. Progress implies an increasing number of interesting aims and purposes. In the nature of things they compete one with another. The result should be a well balanced civilization.
Physical well being no longer means a periodic abundance of good things after long periods of scant tables; but a sane and continuous enjoyment of sufficient food in comfortable homes. Education no longer means an occasional triumph of memory, but a universal distribution of useful and entertaining knowledge that sweetens and dignifies every day life. Religion no longer means a season of annual exalted emotion, but a settled conviction of endeavor after righteousness, with an abiding sense of God's power and goodness, and daily offerings of praise and gratitude.
Anything, which offered to break the monotony of pioneer isola- tion, was welcome, and the most was made of it. They even invented diversions which had no other purpose. One community had this annual custom, sometime during roasting ear season. The whole family would load up and drive for miles, until they found a corn field whose owner they did not know. There they would camp, gather corn for a roasting, carefully extract a rail or two without greatly harming the fence, and preceed to feast. If the owner happened along, he "threw in" with them and got acquainted.
The settlers had game and fish in abundance and variety. Turkey, geese, duck, prairie chickens, pheasants, quails. Also butter, honey, and lard. Of what use are the latter without bread ? Above many things, they wanted bread. As roasting ear season passed, they grated corn and made fritter cakes. Lard for the griddle, butter for the fritter cake, and honey for the trimming. They had hand mills, and hominy blocks and horse mills. All these meant bread more or less, before water grist mills came into use. No doubt it tasted fine and went well with flesh, fowl and fish. Beeswax, coonskins and other peltry were their first trade commodities. Money was not; trade was everything; even the postmaster accepted coonskins for postage.
Let no one imagine that pioneer life lacked established customs. The game, whether of work or of play, had its rules, and those who took part must mind the rules. The Anglo-Saxon spirit of fair play pervaded all activity. At quilting bees, each man must pay a dollar in money, or split a hundred rails. As dollars were scarce, the men usually worked
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on the logs while the ladies quilted. The party in the evening would be full of life and zest. Music and dancing might last till day break. Then came the hazardous task of seeing the ladies "safe home." The "mitten," a pet among some of the young ladies, was dreaded by the young men as a most vicious varmit. Strange to say, if a youth caught one, he never boasted.
"The smith, a mighty man is he," was not written of any pioneer and for some reason earlier histories have neglected him. There can be no doubt that the blacksmith's shop was an early fact, ranking with grist mills and trading posts. The implements of the early farmers in their many imperfections must often have gone to the smith. Happy was that neighborhood when the mill, the store, and the shop were grouped. Such was not always the case, and the pioneer less favored had before him the possible necessity of a journey in two or three direc- tions. Going to mill or the store might be postponed during spells of bad weather. When it could no longer be put off, the weather might even turn worse. Many are the tales told of long waiting at the mill or the smithy, of high water, and lost bridges, and of all-night drives.
As time passed "Old Settlers Day," came into vogue, specially designed to cherish these memories. They were also preserved in many other ways. As the number of pioneers diminished, the survivors be- came notable persons at all picnics and community gatherings. Each one representing something particular and personal. As more time elapsed the sons and daughters of first settlers had their place in help- ing to perpetuate these lovable traditions of early experience.
CHAPTER VI.
FIRST COURTS.
MET IN 1845-OFFICERS APPOINTED-BUSINESS TRANSACTED-CREATED SIX MUNIC- IPAL TOWNSHIPS-FIRST PETITION FILED IN CIRCUIT COURT-EARLY RECORDS -RECORD BOOK STILL IN EXISTENCE.
The first county court of Gentry County met on the 5th day of May, 1845, at the house of Daniel Sanders. The record is as follows: "May 5th, A. D. 1845.
Be it remembered, that on the first Monday of May and the fifth day of said month, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. the county court of the county aforesaid, met in pursu- ance of law, at the house of Daniel Sanders, in Sandsville, in said county, the place designated by law for holding courts in the County of Gentry aforesaid. Present, Michael Maltsberger, William Steel and Samuel Collins, Esq'rs, county justices of said county, James M. Howell, sheriff and George W. Birch, clerk; when and where the following pro- ceedings were had and done, to wit; Michael Maltsberger, William Steel and Samuel Collins present their commissions from the Governor, under seal of the state, appointing them justices of this court, who thereupon took the oath of office required by law.
Whereupon the court was opened by proclamation by the sheriff; then the said court proceeded to elect Michael Maltsberger, Esq., one of their body as president of the said court.
The court appoints George W. Birch as clerk pro tem of this court, who thereupon enters into bond according to law, for faithful per- formance of said trust, in the sum of five thousand dollars with Peter Culp, Daniel Sanders, John Culp, Gideon Wright and Christopher F. Bartlay as his security, which is approved by the court, and thereupon said George W. Birch takes the oath of office required by law.
James M. Howell, the sheriff, filed his bond as collector of the county. John Huggins was appointed assessor; John Plaster, surveyor; John B. Hundley, treasurer, and Elisha Perkins, coroner.
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It was ordered by the court that the county seat, which had been located by the commissioners, Ebenezer H. Wood and Armstrong McClintock, be called Athens. The court then adjourned from the house of Daniel Sanders to the house of William Daily, in the town of Athens.
The above constituted the business of the county court the first day. The other county commissioner was Stephen Jones.
On the 6th day of May, 1845, the court met again at the house of William Daily in the town of Athens. The county was then divided into six municipal townships, which were bounded and named as follows:
Commencing at the southeast corner of the county proper, thence running west with the county line to the southwest corner of said county; thence north with said county line nine miles; thence east across the county to the east boundary of said county; thence south nine miles to the place of beginning, to be known and called Miller Township ; place of voting at Gay's Mill.
Commencing at the northeast corner of the first township; thence run- ning with said township line to the west boundary of the County of Gentry ; thence nine miles north, with the county line; thence east across the county to the east boundary of the county ; thence south nine miles to the place of beginning, to be known and called Athens Township; place of voting at the seat of justice of said county.
Third Township-Commencing at the northeast corner of Athens Township; thence west with the line of said township to the bank of the East Fork of Grand River; thence with the meanders of said river to the north boundary of the said county proper ; thence east with the county to the northeast corner of said county; thence south with the county line to the place of beginning, to be known and called Howard Township; place of voting at Lacy Carter's.
Fourth Township-Commencing at the southwest corner of the third township; thence with the line of the second township, to the west boundary of the county; thence with the county line to the north bound- ary of the third township; thence down the river with the meanders of said river, to the place of beginning, to be called and known as Bogle Township ; place of voting at Jason Bogle's.
The territory on the east side of the Middle Fork of Grand River, to be known and called Allen Township; place of voting at Sweems' Mill.
The territory on the west side of the Middle Fork of Grand River, to be called and known as Green Township; place of voting at Philip Norris'.
These townships have undergone many changes, since first organ-
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ized in 1845; two of them now constitute a part of Worth County. Since then, the County of Gentry has been divided into eight municipal town- ships, the names and boundaries of which we give when treating of the history of the history of the townships proper.
Ebenezer H. Wood and Armstrong MeClintock were allowed, respec- tively, the sum of twenty-eight and twenty-four dollars, for their services as commissioners in locating the county seat.
Elisha Cameron was appointed county seat commissioner.
Ebenezer H. Wood was appointed county attorney for twelve months.
An orphan boy, named John Gay, was brought before the court and Jonathan Mosier was appointed his guardian.
James M. Howell was appointed administrator of the estate of James Baker, deceased.
A license to sell goods and merchandise was granted to E. P. Howell.
The court met again on the 7th day of May, when the following pro- ceedings were had :
John Plaster was appointed a justice of the peace for Athens Town- ship.
Elisha Cameron was ordered to advertise and sell a portion of the town lots of Athens, on the 16th day of June, 1845, and was further ordered to lay the town of Athens off into a public square, into lots, avenues, streets, alleys, etc., the number of lots to be ninety-six.
The court then adjourned to meet on June 2, 1845.
Among other things done at the June term of court were the fol- lowoing :
Ordered by the court that Elisha Cameron be appointed superintendent for the County of Gentry, to superintend a final settlement between the County of Clinton and the County of Gentry.
Elisha Cameron was also appointed to superintend the building of the county jail at Athens.
William Bentley was made justice of the peace of Howard Township, as was also John C. Williams.
John Plaster was appointed justice of the peace of Athens Township; Walter Savage, also of Athens Township; Charles Claggett and John Fox, of Athens Township; Aristippus Brown, of Mills Township; Jesse Lewis, of Green Township; O. H. Sweem, of Allen Township.
John Plaster was allowed ten dollars for surveying a portion of the county seat.
Levi Baldock was allowed three dollars, as axman, in the survey of the county seat.
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Elisha Cameron was allowed four dollars, as flagman, during the sur- vey.
Samuel H. O. Irvin was appointed constable of Athens Township; William McNatt, constable of Miller Township; Archibald Ross, constable of Howard Township.
The first Circuit Court was held at Athens, on March 12, 1846. Hon. Solomon L. Leonard was the judge presiding. James M. Howell was sher- iff ; Elijah P. Howell, clerk; and Isaac N. Jones, circuit attorney.
The first petition filed in the Circuit Court of Gentry County, was that of William Smith vs. A. Higgins, and reads as follows : Gentry Circuit Court, September Term, A. D., 1845.
William Smith, by his attorney, Ebenezer H. Wood, complains of Al- fred Higgins in a plea of trespass, for that the said Alfred Higgins, on the 7th day of July, A. D. 1845, at the County of Gentry and State of Missouri, with force and arms in and upon the said William Smith, made an assault, and him then and there beat, bruised, wounded and evil entreated and other enormities to the said William Smith, the said Alfred Higgins then and there did against the peace and to the damage of the said William Smith, fifteen hundred dollars, and thereupon he brings his suit, etc. By his at- torney. E. H. WOOD.
On the back of said petition are the following endorsements :
"William Smith vs. A. Higgins. Trespass. Damage, $1,500.
Filed August 18, A. D. 1845. E. P. HOWELL, Clerk."
"The clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County of Gentry and State of Missouri, will please issue a summons, returnable at the next term of this court, August 18, 1845. E. H. WOOD,
Attorney for Plaintiff."
I certify that I executed the within writ and declaration, by leaving a copy of the same with the wife of the defendant, at the residence of Al- fred Higgins, as the law directs, on the 21st day of August, A. D., 1845.
JAMES M. HOWELL, Sheriff."
The first case that came before the grand jury for investigation was the State of Missouri vs. John K. Kennedy, charged with the murder of his wife, in Athens Township. The papers in the case were filed March 12, 1846.
The first grand jurors were Richard Cheneworth, Elijah Carter, Wil- liam Green, Isaac N. Carson, Nathaniel Mothersead, John Q. Smith, David Buckridge, James C. Patton, Abel Yates, Jefferson Taliaferro, James M. Marrs, John Job, Adam Black, Henry P. Hiller, Franklin W. Seats, and John Plaster.
The following is a record of some of the first marriages in the county :
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I, W. Bentley, a justice of the peace, within and for the county afore- said, do certify that on the third day of April, 1845, I joined in marriage Abraham Peppels and Barbara Rhudy.
Given under my hand this 3d day of April, 1845.
W. BENTLEY, J. P.
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