USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 17
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 17
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I, W. Bentley, a justice of the peace, within and for the county afore- said, do certify that on the first day of May, 1845, I joined in marriage An- drew Keer and Jane Castor.
Given under my hand this first day of May, 1845.
W. BENTLEY, J. P.
I, W. Bentley, a justice of the peace, within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 29th day of May, 1845, I joined in mar- riage Samson Castor and Martha Ross.
Given under my hand this 29th day of May, 1845.
W. BENTLEY, J. P.
This is to certify that the undersigned, ordained minister of the gos- pel, did, on July the 14th, 1845, solemnize the rites of matrimony be- tween Mr. Daniel M. Thomas and Miss Susan Jane Low.
TIMOTHY MORGAN.
I, Abraham S. Weese, a justice of the peace, within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 7th day of August, 1845, I joined together in marriage Alexander Smith to Susan Adams.
Given under my hand this 7th day of November, 1845.
A. WEESE, J. P.
I hereby certify, that on the 3d day of November, A. D. 1845, I sol- emnized a marriage between Rev. Timothy Morgan and Miss Belinda J. Patton, both of said county.
Given under my hand this 3d day of November, 1845.
E. A. CARSON,
An Ordained Minister of the Gospel.
This is to certify that I, Zachariah Linville, an ordained minister of the gospel, did, on the 19th day of June, 1845, unite in matrimony James S. Leverich and Elizabeth Burton, according to law.
Given under my hand this 24th day of December, 1845.
ZACHARIAH LINVILLE.
During the year 1845, fourteen marriages were recorded.
The original real estate records are still in existence. The book in which they are recorded contains 413 pages, and although its leaves have become yellowed and soiled by time, it is in a good state of preser- vation. Here are found, promiscuously recorded, mortgages, bills of sale, chattel mortgages, powers of attorney, indentures of apprentice-
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND.GENTRY COUNTIES
ship, warranty deeds, etc. The character of the penmanship and the or- thography are generally good. Bills of sale, mortgages, and deeds, were in early times usually drawn up by justices of the peace, who, while they were men of good judgment, of unimpeachable integrity, were fre- quently unlearned and unlettered, as nearly all the early records testify, yet the early records of Gentry County are generally an exception to this rule. The fact must not be lost sight of, however, that the early officials of the newly organized counties in this western county, were hardy back- woodsmen, whose continual struggle for a livelihood precluded the pos- sibility of devoting any time to self culture.
CHAPTER VII.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
COURTHOUSE-JAIL-COUNTY FARM BUILDINGS.
The second Court House was wrecked by a violent windstorm from the north on July 13, 1883, a storm of considerable extent and destruc- tion. The uper story collapsed and the lower rooms were a wreck of brick and mortar. Fortunately the various records were not seriously injured and a watch was kept over the ruins until all valuable papers could be placed in safety.
On July 16th an order of the Court placed the records of the circuit court, the probate court in the sheriff's office in the block at northeast corner of court house square. At the same time the records of the county clerk were placed in the Peery Block at northwest corner of court house square. These buildings being deemed safe as well as convenient.
Immediately agitation began for the removal of the seat of justice to the center of the county. As a result, the first petition, Sept. 4, 1883, for a new court house to be built in Albany, came to nothing.
On May 7, 1884, the county court made an order for the erection of a court house and appointed L. H. Peery and S. W. Clark to procure plans and specifications and estimates of costs for approval of the court, and when so approved to proceed to have the buildings erected. In the meantime a large number of citizens were working vigorously for the removal of the county seat, and on June 2, 1884, a motion was filed ask- ing that the court order of May 7th be annulled. This motion was over- ruled by the court.
On June 3, 1884, L. H. Peery and S. W. Clark reported progress in accordance with the court order of May 7, 1884. The report was made of record and is as follows: Comes now L. H. Peery and S. W. Clark, superintendents, appointed and qualified at the May term, 1884, of this court, to build a court house at the established seat of justice, Gentry County, and submit plans and specifications, and the court approves the plans prepared by the architects.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
The superintendents, the said Peery and Clark, advertised the let- ting of the court house on June 26, 1884, in the Albany Ledger, the Al- bany Memoranda, St. Joseph Daily Gazette, the St. Joseph Daily Her- ald and the Omaha Bee, said letting to be in parts. At the letting Rufus K. Allen of St. Joseph, was the lowest and best bidder for enclosing, roofing and finishing the outside of said building for $22,000.00 and the work was let to him to be completed on or before Dec., 1, 1884; $15,- 000.00 to be paid by Gentry County, and the balance of $7,000.00 to be paid by the citizens of Albany, L. H. Peery and S. W. Clark, Superin- tendents. All of which was considered and approved by by the Court. The contract and bond were also approved and placed on file.
The wreckage of the old court house including the foundation, was removed, and the work of building a new court house on the same ground was commenced July 18, 1884. The work was carried forward as rapidly as possible.
The opposition was also busy. On August 6, 1884, C. M. Gorman and others in sufficient numbers filed a petition for an election, for the purpose of submitting a proposition to remove the seat of justice to the center of the county. Accordingly, the court made an order that the proposition be voted on at the next general election, Nov., 4, 1884, and that the county clerk give notice thereof by advertisement according to law. The result was so decidedly against the proposition as to be con- sidered a final settlement of the question. The order for an election did not delay the work, and on the 24th of August, about one month after the brick work was begun, the corner stone was laid in the presence of the greatest crowd assembled in Albany up to that time.
For the first time in the history of Albany, the Missouri Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. was called to order by Hon. A. M. Dockery at 12:30 o'clock in the Albany lodge room. The following were the officers of the Grand Lodge acting on this occasion: A. M. Dockery, G. M .; Hugh Ste- venson, G. S. W .; J. T. Dunn, G. J. W .; G. P. Bigelow, D. D. G. M. The Lodge was formed in the hall, and marched down to the street, when it was joined by the Commandery, G. A. R. Post, the A. O. U. W., and the Knights of Pythias. The line of march was taken up, and headed by the Bethany band, the procession mover around several adjacent squares, marching into the court house yard at the southeast corner, forming as near as possible a hollow square at the northeast corner of the new building.
The stone had been swung into position by a derrick, and after prayer by Rev. J. A. Blakey, the ceremonies proper were performed, and the stone lowered into its resting place, there perhaps to remain for
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
many generations to come. Although the crowd was large there was not a jar of discord to mar the occasion. A cavity was cut out of the stone, into which was fitted a copper box, as a receptacle for articles to be de- posited as historical relics of future generations.
The following was a partial list of the deposits: A list of the sub- scribers and the amount subscribed by each for the erection of the court house; cards of invitation to the corner stone ceremony ; a history of the Girls Wide Awake Club; a copy of the city ordinances of the City of Al- bany; a copy of the Albany Weekly Ledger; archives of the Albany M. E. Church ; copies of the orders of county court, pertaining to the build- ing of the court house ; silver shield pin, by J. R. Saunders ; coin of S. W. Clark, marked "S. W. C."; family record of C. S. Canaday ; copy of the Albany Sun, containing an account of the storm that destroyed the old court house by J. M. Davis; by the A. O. U. W., a silver anchor and shield, and constitution and by-laws and list of members; archives of the Christian Church, Albany; English coin by R. L. Whaley; card by C. B. Hinkley; list of members of the Gentry County Bar Association; copy of King City Chronicle; premium list Gentry County Fair Associa- tion, 1884; list of members of Island City Lodge, No. 109 A. F. & A. M., at Stanberry; archives of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Al- bany ; copy of the Home Guide, by Hubbard and Hubbard ; list of mem- bers and by-laws of Lodge No. 195, I. O. O. F., Albany ; engraved silver coin by L. H. Peery : archives of the M. E. Church, South, at Albany ; sentiments of Dr. J. L. Coffey ; list of members of Athens Lodge No. 127, A. F. & A. M., Albany; archives of the Presbyterian Church, Albany ; copy of American Freeman ; copy of the Bethany Broad Axe; copy of Stanberry Sentinel; Bible by Athens Lodge; card, C. Crossan; card, S. P. Larmer; card by W. E. Alexander ; archives of Gentry Post, G. A. R., Albany; engraved silver coin by J. W. Barkley; silver coin by C. C. Byrne; family record by R. A. Scarborough; archives of Captain Little Post, G. A. R .; history of Gentry County, Missouri; card of Patton, Cra- mer and Austin ; copy of memoranda; card of Thomas, Mccullough & Peery; by-laws of Bethany Commandery, K. T., Royal Arch Chapter and A. F. & A. M. Lodges; Cumberland Presbyterian paper by C. M. Boshart; coin by G. F. Peery; card by Jno. T. Haynes; card of G. W. Combs; family record, Geo. Carlock ; coin by C. T. Lyttle; coin by J. F. Culp, Jr .; list of workmen employed in building court house.
The court house block is 200 feet square. The building is of substan- tial build and symmetrical architecture with cupola, of usual brick with stone pointing and slate roof, three stories high. The interior finish was also let to R. K. Allen. The first floor is complete with halls and com-
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
modious office rooms with vaults. The second floor has the circuit court room with all appropriate adjuncts. On its completion the new building was accepted June 5, 1885, at a total cost of $29,100.00.
The block was also enclosed with ornamental iron fence, but in time this gave place to permanent concrete walls with the 10 feet of concrete pavement at their base, thus giving to the court house grounds a pleasing elevation of several feet. In 1904 during the mayorality of R. M. McCammon, the fair way of 60 feet around the court house square, with its four intersections, was paved with vitrified brick.
As early as 1891, W. F. Greenlee and others proposed raising money to equip the cupola with a first class town clock, and some money was raised. But the proposal was not carried far at that time. About 1900, the young ladies formed the "Town Clock Club." This club in several agreeable ways raised most of the money needed. The city furnished a small sum, and in 1902, the clock was installed, which strikes the hours upon a splendid bell.
In 1906 the "White Way," with more than four score globes, was extended around the Public Square; thus assuring all desirable illumi- nation.
Our court house and surroundings are complete, permanent and pleasing.
The first court house of Gentry County was built in 1845. The plan was submitted by Isaac Cameron, the commissioner of the county seat, on the 2d day of June, 1845, as follows:
"A wall of hewed logs, twenty-four feet by twenty feet, of good durable timber, two stories high, logs to be eight inches thick, and to face ten inches in the middle; the upper story to be divided into three rooms, to be covered in with joint shingle roof; a brick chimney with two fire places; a stairway to the second story; two floors, the lower laid with square joints, and the upper tongued and grooved ; two doors and two windows in the lower story, and one window and one door in each of the upper rooms; to be pointed with lime mortar, and a circle bar and judge's bench made in the lower story ; all to be done in a good, workmanlike manner."
The building stood upon lot number four, in block number two. It was afterwards sold with the lot, to Judge Elias Parrot, for about $275.
On the 7th day of December, 1852, the county court made the fol- lowing order in reference to the building of the second court house :
"It is ordered by the court here that a court house be built in the town of Athens, the seat of justice of this county, and that the sum of $5,000 be appropriated for the building thereof."
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
William M. Albin was appointed superintendent of the building.
On the 7th day of March, 1853, the court ordered that an additional sum of $1,000 be appropriated toward the building of a court house.
The court also ordered that the county court borrow so much of the road, canal, county improvement and common school fund as was neces- sary to build the court house. This order was made in pursuance of a petition, signed by a majority of the voters of the county, asking that body to use the funds named above, and was authorized by an act of the legislature, approved Feb. 24, 1853.
On the 5th day of July, 1853, the court ordered the levying of a tax of one-fifth of one per cent., and a poll tax of 37} cents on all persons subject to state tax, to aid in the construction of the court house. Oct. 25, 1853, the court borrowed $621.61 from the internal improvement fund, to pay the two first installments due on the court house. Dec. 6, 1853. the court borrowed $700. Miller R. Craig and Joseph Selecman were paid the above amount of $700, as sub-contractors. March 6, 1854, court borrowed $500. June 5, 1854, court borrowed $500. Nov. 15, 1854, court borrowed $500. July 13, 1855, court borrowed $500. Nov. 6, 1855, court borrowed $276. July 6, 1858, court borrowed $300. Dec. 23, 1858, court borrowed $741.25.
The court house was a brick building, 45x60 feet, and two stories in height, the first story being 15 feet high and the second ten feet,, and a portico on the south end 12 feet in width, extending the whole height of the building. The court room was at first in the lower story, 40x45 feet, with two small rooms at the south end, and a hall between. The upper story was divided into four rooms for public hall and jury rooms. In 1875 the court house was remodeled, so as to arrange the second story for the court room, with the offices below. Connected with the county and circuit clerks offices was a fire-proof vault, in which are kept the records.
In May, 1846, the county court ordered the building of a jail, and Elisha Cameron was appointed commissioner to let and superintend the building of the same, and he not qualifying, E. H. Wood was appointed in his place. The jail was built in 1846 and 1847, and was a log building about 24 feet square, built of hewn logs, with double walls, a space be- ing left between the walls and timbers placed in an upright position therein. It was two stories high, with an entrance from the ground to the second story, and a trap-door in the floor of the second story as an entrance to the first story. The jail cost about $500, and was burned in 1850. The county had no jail thereafter till 1859, when a second jail was erected on the northeast corner of the public square, Redmond
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
Whitton being the contractor, for the sum of $3,230. This building was about 20 feet square, the outside being brick and inside timber two inches thick, and covered with iron bars, crossing each other and spiked to the timber. It was two stories high, with same character of entrance as the first jail. It was not a safe jail for prisoners. In the fall of 1874, the county erected a third jail, at a cost of $11,500, the size of which is 96 feet square, built of brick, two stories high, with a basement.
The County Farm-The history of 1882 closed with Walter Glad- stone, superintendent of the recently acquired farm in Bogle Township, and its thousand dollar home for indigent poor.
Mr. Gladstone remained in charge for some time. By good manage- ment he restored the run-down farm and produced most of the home sus- tenance. By careful economy, he was able to keep the average number of inmates in reasonable comfort. It was a great improvement on the sys- tem of contracting or allowancing, which so long prevailed to the humilia- tion of the county.
Wm. Loyd, C. A. Kennedy and other following superintendents effi- ciently carried on the poor home until December, 1906, when it was burn- ed. The inmates were then installed in a large hotel at Siloam Springs. In December, 1908, this hotel was burned and again the unfortunate ones were homeless. However, public sentiment was now fully arroused, and the building of a suitable and permanent home had already been decreed, which this second fire only served to hasten. The Albany Canning Fac- tory was leased for a temporary home.
The farm in Bogle Township had been disposed of and on July 7, 1908, a county farm was bought from Mary R. Monroe for $7500.00, in Section 36, two miles south of Albany, a splendid location.
At the general election Nov. 3, 1908, $20,000.00 bonds were voted for building a county home. Nov. 1, 1911, $15,000.00 ten-year bonds were sold. Dec. 13, 1911, the bid of Chas. Harrison for the building, except plumbing and heating, was accepted at $11,995.00. F. B. Thompson se- cured contract for plumbing and heating. Geo. R. Williams was super- intendent of construction.
The members of the county court for 1911-'12 deserve great credit for their zeal in providing funds and pushing the work of construction, and for the intelligent care with which they looked after the county poor from the time they took office until the opening of the new home in the fall of 1912. They were untiring, first, in having the money provided by direct issue of bonds in accordance with the vote of 1908, instead of taking it from the road and bridge funds, and second in their painstaking decisions
Santa Fe Trail
EARLY DAY TRANSPORTATION
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
regarding plans, material and workmanship, by which Gentry County se- cured one of the best constructed, most conveniently arranged, perfectly equipped, and most comfortable homes for its indigent charges that can be found in the state of Missouri.
Sept. 17, 1912, the county court made a tour of inspection. The work was then practically complete, ready for the adjustment of a few minor items, and a general cleanup for permanent occupancy.
The following description is as apt in this good year of 1922, as it was in 1912 ..
The two-story section of the new home has been arranged for the living rooms of the superintendent and his family, and the one-story wings to the north and south are cut off into dormitories, sitting rooms and special sleeping rooms for the inmates, while the west section of the building has been especially erected for the kitchen and dining-rooms. In the west section are also bath rooms for both male and female inmates and in the main wings are separate toilet rooms for men and women.
A large boiler and pressure tank in the basement forces hot and cold water to all parts of the building, and all the rooms and halls are heated by the modern steam-heating plant which has been installed in the basement. There is also a large laundry room in the basement, together with ample storage room, should it ever be needed, some excellent rooms for inmates could be arranged on the basement floor. The plumbing work and the steam-heating plant are the best that the court could buy, and has been in- stalled with the utmost care. Under the careful superintendency of Geo. R. Williams, the carpentering, brick work and other details of construc- tion have been so carefully handled that it is safe to say there is not a public building in north Missouri that can show more careful workman- ship that the new home. The large barn and chicken house have been built with a view to permanency, and none of the work about the place has been slighted.
The new home should be ample for the care of Gentry County's pau- per charges for fifty years to come. It is located on one of the best tracts of ground in this section ; is only about a mile from the geographical center of the county ; is convenient to both the railroads and the county seat, and, standing on one of the highest spots in this part of the county, commands a view for miles in all directions.
Mr. Walter Brown is now the efficient superintendent.
CHAPTER VIII.
TOWNSHIPS.
ATHENS-BOGLE-COOPER-HOWARD-JACKSON-HUGGINS-MILLER-WILSON.
Athens Township, is bounded as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of section 1, township 63, range 30; thence west about seven miles to the east fork of Grand River; thence following the meanderings of said river to the north line of section 23, township 63, range 31; thence west about two miles to the middle fork of Grand River ; thence down said river to the south line of section 13, township 62, range 31; thence east to the Harrison County line; thence north nine miles to the place of beginning. It contains 73.05 square miles.
Some of the early settlers of Athens Township were the following: J. B. Kingsborough, Iri Orton, Alfred Orton, Robert Dubois and William Green, all from Richland County, Ohio. In 1836, two of these parties passed through this section, seeking a location, and had selected a mill-site near the town of Gentryville. Being pleased with this western country, they returned to Ohio, where they remained until the spring of 1838, when they again left their homes in the East, in company with Dubois, Green and Kingsborough above mentioned. Orton and Kingsborough came thru on horseback to Peoria, Illinois, where they were rejoined by the others, who had traveled by water. Here they purchased an outfit, coming the balance of the way by land, in a two-horse wagon. The men were all young and single, except Dubois, who was married, but left his family in Ohio. They reached the neighborhood of Gentryville, on the evening of June 12, 1838, stopping with William Martin, one of the earliest pioneers of the county. Here they sojourned during the summer, rented a few acres of ground from Martin and planted it in corn. They afterwards lo- cated in Athens Township, one and one half miles north of Albany, or where the town of Athens was located-Kingsborough opening a farm.
Michael Maltsberger came from Tennessee, before the county was or- ganized, and located three miles southeast of Albany, where he continued
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
to reside until his removal to Texas. Maltsberger was commissioned by the Governor one of the first county court justices, and was one of the three persons elected to that position at the election of 1846, the first elec- tion held in the county. It was at his suggestion that the county seat was called Athens, for the town of Athens, in McMinn County, Tennessee.
George K. and Benjamin Culp came from Kentucky in the spring of 1835, and located on and near Jacob Miller's place, two miles west of Al- bany. They came to Clay County, Mo., where they remained about one year, and came from that county to Gentry, bringing all their worldly goods on a horse.
Kelse and David Culp came about the same time, settling also near Albany.
Levi Baldock, another Kentuckian, settled one mile south of Albany. Daniel Saunders, from North Carolina, located two miles south of Albany, at Sandsville which was named after him. The county court of Gentry County met for the first time in his cabin, and organized in May, 1846. Daniel Saunders was the first postmaster in the county, being appointed to that position about the year 1838. James, Simon and Stephen Lever- ich, from Virginia, were among the early settlers, stopping in the neigh- borhood of Sandsville.
Henry P. Miller was also from Virginia, and opened a farm adjoining the townsite of Albany.
George Smith said when he and his brother came to Gentry County, the Indians were here in large numbers, for two or three years, and that wild game was in great abundance in every portion of the county. He killed a large deer on the spot where the courthouse now stands.
John Q. Smith, from Kentucky, located about one mile northeast of the town. Andrew J. Bulla, from Virginia, settled two miles northeast, and Thomas Peery, also a Virginian, three miles northeast of Albany.
Samuel McKillen, from Scotland, Gideon Wright, from Clay County, James B. Hunter, from New York and Ohio, Benjamin and Joseph Twedell from Illinois, and Charles Rund from Austria, all located in the township at an early day, and near the town of Athens, as it was then called.
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