History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 7

Author: Leopard, John C
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1164

USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 7
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

This incident is related by Mr. Jordin in his "Memories":

"In November, 1863, George and Frank McCue and a comrade named Markham left the Confederate army, undertook to make their way north in order that Frank, who was suffering with serious wounds, might be properly cared for. As the boys reached the old neighborhood, a cold driz- zling rain set in, turning into sleet. They went into camp at a place near Uncle Isaac's, known as the 'rock house.' They had made the trip thus far on horseback but Frank was now thoroughly exhausted by the suffer- ing and exposure incident to their long and tiresome journey. The weather continued to be inclement and George decided to go to Uncle Isaac and make their condition known. He did so and uncle at once directed them to bring Frank to the house, which they did at once. George and Markham con- tinued their journey, but Frank remained for some days resting and recup- erating his strength. Then one night Tom Bradshaw came with a covered wagon and took Frank to Iowa where he was cared for at the home of a friend until some time during the following year, when he died.

"Uncle was not ignorant of what the probable consequences of this act would be. He knew that in giving food and shelter to Frank McCue he was violating the military law, which forbade the giving of aid and com- fort to those in rebellion. He knew that to reach out the hand of mercy and try to save this battered piece of flosam cast up by the waves from the crimson sea of war was an offense so grave that he who committed it en- dangered his liberty, perhaps his life. But knowing all this, be it said to his credit, he never hesitated for a moment. 'Let the consequence be what they may,' said he, 'it shall never be said that I turned one of my neighbor's children from my doors when he was hungry, sick and without shelter.' There was a committee in each township, composed of three members, whose duty it was to promptly report offenses of this kind. The names of the men composing these committees as I write but I have no desire to open old wounds. The matter was, however, promptly reported to Lieut. Col. S. P. Cox, at Gallatin. But Col. Cox possessed that generous nature that always characterizes the truly brave man and friendly warning was given and uncle bade farewell to his home, and left, never to return."

120

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

In account of Jefferson Kelley, a jack-of-all-trades who made a meager living by doing odd jobs for the neighbors, Mr. Jordin tells the following story :

"It was the custom during the war to hold prayer meetings at private residences, and a man's welcome more often depended upon his political faith rather than his religious convictions. Here the gray-haired father invoked the divine protection for his boy who was battling at the front, and for the ultimate triumph of the cause he believed to be just. While Kelly had neither boy nor political convictions he always rose to the spirit of the occasion and if prayer could have saved the day and turned the tide of bat- tle the Southern Confederacy would have won hands down. At one of these meetings, held at Uncle Isaac Jordin's, Kelly was called on to lead in prayer. He opened up all right and got through with preliminary mat- ters in his usual felicitious manner, but somehow when he came to discuss political issues he seemed to lose his grip. Isaac Oxford and I were small boys at the time and were devoutly kneeling in a dark corner of the room. It occurred to us that Jeff needed encouragement and we began to supple- ment his feeble petitions with hearty 'Amens,' 'Do, Lord,' and 'God Grant It.' Kelley did not know the source of the endorsement which he was re- ceiving, but it revived him at once, and he fairly outdid himself, much to the delight of two small boys. But the sequel for one of us at least was not so amusing. Mother was present, recognized my voice and gave me one of the worst whippings that I ever received. That settled the matter so far as I was concerned. I never encouraged Kelley after that. He might have got stuck in the middle of a prayer, and stayed there, for all I cared."

Irresponsible bands of militia frequently went about the county sub- jecting the Southern sympathizers to petty annoyances. During a meeting at Ketron Chapel a group of these men passed and decided it would be great sport to put a flag over the door, so that those coming out of the church had to pass under it. The people were indignant, but were wise enough not to protest. But when one young woman walked out, she seized the flag and tore it in two. She was arrested and taken to Chillicothe, where she was forced to take the oath of allegiance. Having taken the oath to support the Union, she turned to the authorities and announced, "I'll keep that if I want to."

Jonathan Oxford was an avowed Southern sympathizer, and made no effort to conceal his feelings. He was arrested and taken to Breckenridge. He was paroled by the military authorities and ordered to report again in 30 days. A few days later, on April 3, 1863, a group of armed men came to the house and told him he must go to Breckenridge to answer his parole. Since it then lacked about 15 days until he was supposed to report, he ob-

121

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

jected, but was forced to go. Next morning he was found dead by the roadside, his body riddled by bullets and no clue was ever found as to the identy of the murderers.

James Weldon had served in the Confederate army, but had returned home, taken the oath and was a member of the Home Guard. A captain from Caldwell County, with a group of his men, was passing through the country, and knowing that Weldon had once been a Confederate, had him taken from his home and murdered.

No less tragic was the death of William Crews, which occurred in 1866, but was the direct outgrowth of Civil War enmities. A debate concerning the doctrines of the Universalist church was being held at Clear Creek church and a large crowd was in attendance. During the noon hour, Crews was standing with his back to a tree talking to a group of girls. A man approached and offered him an apple, which he laughingly accepted. Two men were waiting for the signal, and now approached with drawn revolvers. Miss Ann Weldon, seeing them, gave a warning cry to Crews and struck the pistol so that it was discharged in the air and injured no one. The other man, said to have been Broomfield, fired and Crews fell dead. The murder- ers rode away unmolested and no effort seems to have been made to arrest them. The events which lead up to the murder go far back into the Civil War. The father of William Crews was a strong Southern sympathizer, and was compelled to leave home. Crews, at that time, a youngster of about 14, said and did a good many things calculated to arouse the ire of the military authorities. He was arrested and taken to Breckenridge, but was soon released. Later he was again arrested. His mother became anxious about him and induced his brother and Thomas Perry to attempt his rescue. The plan was discovered and when the attempt was made, George Crews and Perry were killed. The boy saw the killing and vowed to avenge their deaths. He made no secret of his intention and it was no doubt because of these threats that he was sought and murdered by men who had reason to fear him.

Among the persons arrested after the ironclad oaths provided for in the Constitution of 1865 went into effect, was the Rev. B. F. Kenny, a well known Baptist minister. He was charged with preaching without having taken the oath. Justice Daniels held that he was not guilty because he did not take a text-that he did not preach but simply stood at the side of the pulpit and talked to the people.

CHAPTER VIII.

PIONEER AND MODERN TRANSPORTATION.

STAGE LINES-FERRIES-NAVIGATION-ROADS-RAILROADS.

Stage Lines .- Before the building of the railroads, the people depend- ed largely upon river transportation. The people of Daviess County and adjoining territory when making a journey of any length had to go to some point on the Missouri River-Richmond Landing, Brunswick or Lexington, usually-to take the boat. Where river transportation was im- practicable, the people depended upon stage lines. The Missouri Register of 1855, published a time card for Gallatin and St. Joseph Coach Line, which left Gallatin on Monday at six A. M. and arrived at St. Joseph on Tuesday at 1 P. M. It returned to Gallatin on Wednesday at 6:00 P. M. Only one round trip was made a week.

M. T. Green owned one of the early stage lines. His line operated between Gallatin, Hamilton and Richmond. One of his drivers was George W. Runnells. After the building of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, hacks were run from the nearest points, Chillicothe and Hamilton, to points to the north. The line from Chillicothe to Bethany passed through Jamesport. In 1865 Captain John Ballinger was running a passenger hack between Hamilton and Gallatin every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. At the same time, Major S. P. Cox was operating a tri-weekly hack from Gallatin to Bethany.

As late as 1976, the Valley House at Elm Flat advertised the "Gentry- ville and Albany stage line to and from this house daily". But after the extension of the railroad beyond Elm Flat, this line was discontinued.

Ferries .- The first ferry license recorded is one issued to James Hunter. He was granted the privilege of keeping a "public ferry" on the west fork of the Grand River at the mouth of Honey creek for six months. His license for the six months cost him $2.50.

Jacob S. Rogers was granted a license in 1837. When the license was renewed later in the year, the rates which he might charge were fixed by the county court as follows :

123

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

Eight horse or ox team and wagon. $1.00

Six horse or ox team and wagon .75

Four or five horse or ox team and wagon 62

Three horse or ox team and wagon. 37

One horse or ox team and wagon

Man and horse

Footman

.06

Loose cattle, horses and mules

.06

Hogs and sheep 03

In 1839 Jacob S. Rogers was granted the right to operate a ferry in Grand River Township. In the same year James Taylor and John Cravens were granted ferry licenses, the first in Grindstone Township, the latter at Adam-ondi-Ahmon. After a few years bridges were built and there was no longer the same necessity for ferries. As late, however, as 1864, a license was granted to Joseph H. Herndon to operate a ferry at Shriver mill on Grand river, and one to Francis W. Payne to operate a ferry at Peniston Crossing on Grand river.

Navigation .- It will be noticed that the first town in the county was located on Grand river, and was called Millport. Its founders evidently had hopes that the new city would become an important port. Before the days of railroads the people had to depend much more upon river transportation than at present and Grand River was regarded as a decided asset to the new county. Accordingly, the residents of the Grand river country obtained the passage of an act of the General Assembly declaring "all that portion of north Grand river from its mouth to where the township line dividing Townships 62 and 63 north crosses the east and west forks of the said river shall be and the same is declared to be a public highway to be navigated by all perons whatsoever." The act was approved Feb. 13, 1839.

At the session of the Legislature which met in 1840 and 1841, the Board of Internal Improvements reported that a survey of north Grand river had been made and stated rather fully what improvements would have to be made before navigation on this river would be profitable. The board seemed to think the project altogether practicable.

Two years later this board again reported on the proposition and con- cluded with this paragraph (See Appendix, House Journal, 1842, 1843, page 624).

"By improving its navigation in the matter contemplated by the bill herewith reported, a large territory would be greatly benefitted, including not only the counties through which it runs and on which it borders, but also that of Grundy and the extensive back country attached to these coun- ties, a space sufficient for the erection of four additional new counties,

124

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

making in all a territory comprising more than three thousand square miles".

The Grand River Association was incorporated by the 1848-1849 ses- sion of the General Assembly. By it the counties of Chariton, Carroll, Livingston, Daviess and Grundy "and such other counties as shall invest funds in the association hereby established" were incorporated. The object of the Asociation was "to enter upon north Grand river in this state and to improve the navigation thereof from its mouth to the mouth of Big creek on the west fork thereof and to the town of Trenton on the east fork of said river for steamboat, vessels, rafts and other crafts". The Association was capitalized at $200,000, divided into shares of $20 each. Each county in- vesting in the organization was to appoint a director to represent the county, such director to hold office for the term of one year. Full power to carry out the objects of the Association was granted.

Nothing came of these plans for the navigation of Grand river. A few skiffs made trips up and down the river, but the improvements contemp- lated were never made, and larger boats have never been seen.

In 1847, Robert P. Peniston built a large flatboat, loading it with hoop- poles, wheat, bacon and hemp, he started for St. Louis. At Compton's Ferry on Grand river, the boat sunk and all the cargo was lost, except a portion of the hemp. The cargo was valued at $1500, and no insurance was carried. This was probably the only flatboat to attempt the trip to St. Louis.

Roads .- A map of Missouri showing early Indian trails shows that one trail extended through Daviess County. Major H. S. Long says that it skirted the east side of Grand river and was 60 miles long, and that when he followed it in 1819 it was known at "Fields trace". At the upper end (in what is now Worth County) it joined another trail running north- west. This trail to the headwaters of Grand river was a favorite warpath by the Sankees, Foxes and Pottawatomies into the Osage country.

Soon after the organization of the county, the county court took steps toward laying out a system of roads. In 1837 road commissioners were ap- pointed for each of the three townships, Adam Black for Grand River, Elijah Foley and Philip Covington for Honey Creek, and John Wright for Grindstone Township. No record has been found showing the roads laid out by these commissioners.

Mitchell's map of 1844 shows only one road in Daviess County, which ran from Gallatin to Far West and on to Macon Court House. This road was built by the Mormons and was said to have been an unusually good thoroughfare compared with the other roads in the vicinity.

In 1849 -- 54 road overseers were appointed. It would seem that with

125

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

so many, no one person would have his business interests seriously interfer- ed with by the duties of the office.

An examination of Mitchell's "New Travellers Guide Through the United States" of 1849 shows the stage roads through Missouri. This shows a road from Gallatin to Chillicothe, and from north to Cravensville, where it divided, one road going to Sandsville and the other running north and a little east until it met another road just this side of the Iowa line. Thre was also a road from Gallatin to Plattsburg, Far West and Mount Refuge. From Far West and Plattsburg, roads led directly to Richmond.

In June, 1859, the following road district were formed: Grand River road district Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4; Jackson road districts Nos. 5, 6 and 7; Salem road district Nos. 8, 9 and 10; Benton road districts Nos. 11, 12 and 13; Jefferson road districts Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18; Gallatin road dis- tricts Nos. 19, 20, 21 and 22; Harrison road districts Nos. 23 and 24.

The General Assembly of Missouri established a number of state roads prior to the Civil War. Among those passing through Daviess County were:

(1) A road from Pattonsburg to St. Joseph, approved Feb. 22, 1845. Repealed in 1853.

(2) A road from Camden to Taylor's Ferry in Daviess County, ap proved March 24, 1845.

(3) A road from Gallatin to St. Joseph, via Maysville, approved Feb. 23, 1853.

(4) A road form Bethany to Gallatin, approved Feb. 24, 1853.

(5) A road from Spring Hill to Bethany, to run "through or near Auberry and Pilot Grove in Daviess County", approved Feb. 27, 1857.

(6) A road from Richmond to Trenton, via Kingston and Gallatin, approved March 20, 1860.

In 1860, the Legislature passed an act for opening and repairing roads and highways in the County of Daviess. The County Court was given power to make and enforce all orders necessary. All county roads must be not less than twenty nor more than 40 feet wide. Section 4 provides that "all county roads shall be cleared of trees and limbs of trees which may in- commode horsemen or carriages, and no stump shall exceed eight inches in height, and wet grounds and small watercourses shall be causewayed or bridged in such manner as to enable horsemen and carriages to pass with safety".

All able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 45 who had resided in the state sixty days and in the district one month were subject to work on the roads, and when called by the road overseer were obliged to respond or forfeit and pay One Dollar for each day he might fail to attend, or Two

126

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

Dollars for each day he should attend and fail to work with due diligence.

The overseer was required to erect a post at every cross-roads or fork, "unless a suitable tree be found at the proper place, to which shall be af- fixed a finger board containing a legible inscription directing the way and noting the distance to the next remarkable place on the road".

Overseers were to be paid from the road and canal fund. The law provided making out new roads and altering old ones, for the formation of road districts, and contained prvisions necessary to carry into effect the provisions of the law.

It was not, however, until after 1900 that much interest was taken in the improvement of roads. Interest had previously been centered largely upon securing the most convenient route and in the building of bridges across the streams. Soon with the introduction of the motor car, the im- provement of highways became a necessity.

The road drag came into use. The Daviess County Good Roads As- sociation was organized with James Tuggle as President and C. M. Harri- son as Secretary. A county convention was called by them for May 2, 1903, which resulted in aroused interest in the movement.

To mention all of the road meetings which have been held and to dis- cuss the preliminaries leading to the location of the various trails through the county would take much more space than is available. Only a few of the events will be mentioned, as indicative of the work done in the county.

All the townships but one sent representatives to a meeting held in Gallatin in March, 1914, to discuss the joint purchase of power road outfits. A committee was appointed to further consider the matter. Nothing was done in the matter, Union Township, however, later purchasing a crusher to supply rock for its roads.

In August of the same year, Governor Major issued a proclamation asking all citizens to work on the roads on two days. Many Daviess Coun- tians responded to the call.

A big road meeting and banquet was given at Pattonsburg in March, 1914, for the committees on cross-state highways.

In June, 1914, the Omaha and St. Louis Highway was, after consider- able discussion, located through Gallatin, Lock Springs, Jameson and Pat- tonsburg, and in December the St. Paul, Des Moines and Kansas City trail was fixed from Bethany to Pattonsburg, and through Winston to Cameron.

A law of the General Assembly passed in 1913 provided for highways between every county seat. On July 3rd, the commission met in Gallatin and located these thoroughfares-from Gallatin to Maysville, Gallatin to Albany, Gallatin to Bethany, Gallatin to Trenton, Gallatin to Chillicothe,

127

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

and Gallatin to Kingston. There was considerable rivalry between various neighborhoods to determine the road to be used for this purpose.

Jamesport has always been active in the movement for better roads. The following clipping from a 1915 paper tells something of the work done in that section of the county :

"The Commercial Club and Jamesport Township officials put in some good work the past summer. Money to be used on the Jamesport-Ash Grove road to almost $1500 was subscribed. 3 A little more than a like amount was subscribed for the Jamesport-Olive Church road. A requisi- tion was made for state aid for both roads and for Jamesport Township. When the state funds for permanent road work reached Gallatin, it was found that the State Auditor had sent to this county about $2079.69. Of this amount Jamesport Township received $240.33, Ash Grove road $379.90 and the Olive Church road about $383. This makes a total of $1009.23, or almost half the amount sent in for the whole county."

The citizens of Colfax Township made arrangements for an election to be held on June 6, 1916, to vote on a $15,000 road bond issue, bonds to run for twenty years. A petition signed by at least sixty citizens was pre- sented to the county court in May, and the election was authorized. Be- fore the date of the election, however the leaders, among whom were H. L. Buck and F. E. Warner, decided to call it off. The time was not ripe, in their estimation. Some were indifferent, and the proposition was not gen- erally understood.

The latter part of April, 1916, the Pattonburg Commercial Club enter- tained over 700 Jefferson Highway boosters at a banquet given at the M. E. Church, South. This is probably the largest road meeting ever held in the county. Representatives from Bethany, Ridgeway, Coffey, Jameson, Maryville, McFall, Hamilton, Altamont, Winston, Gallatin, Santa Rosa, Civil Bend and St. Joseph were present.

After the McColluough-Morgan amendment to the Hawes law went in- to effect there was a great rush to get applications for State and Federal aid before the State Highway Commission. By Dec. 1, 1920, the commis- sion had approved 184 projects. Among these were two in Daviess County, one a 24 foot graded earth road 8.87 miles in length, running east and west through the Gallatin-Jamesport district. It was estimated that the road would cost $139,664.83, of which $69,832.41 would be paid by the Federal and $4,440.00 by the state government.

The second project approved was a 24 foot earth road 7.64 miles in length between Jamesport and the Grundy County line, with an estimated cost of $41,634.56, with Federal aid amounting to $2,817.28, and state aid amounting to $3,820.00.

128

HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES

The reports of the State Highway Board show that at the close of the biennial period in 1920, a total of $6,770.65 had been paid Daviess County for dragging the inter-county seat roads, $1,213.58 in 1917, $2,045.17 in 1918 and $549.20 in 1919, $2,962.70 in 1920.

For the four years ending in 1920, the summary of the State High- way Board shows that for Daviess County $5,460.00 has been paid to state surveys, $16,720.22 had been paid on road work by the State Highway De- partment, and that $98,909.69 in State and Federal aid had been allotted the county. The figures show that $71,297.11 had been paid and allotted in excess of the automobile licenses paid into the state road fund during the same period.

Under the new highway law, Daviess County will have 82.6 miles of road. The bulletin published in March 1921 by the State Highway Depart- ment, "Tentative Designation of State Roads", described these as follows:

Sec. 8a Road-Beginning at the DeKalb-Daviess County line near the southwest corner of Daviess County, thence in a northeasterly direction through Winston, Altamont and Gallatin to the Grundy-Daviess County line a distance of approximately 42.5 miles.

Sec. 8b Road-Beginning at Gallatin, thence south to the Daviess- Caldwell County line. A distance of approximately 12.1 miles.

Sec. 10 Road-Beginning at the Daviess-Harrison County line north to Pattonburg, thence in a southerly direction through Pattonsburg to Altamont. A distance of approximately 21 miles.

Sec. 10 Road-Beginning at the DeKalb-Daviess County line near Weatherby thence south and east to a point on the state road near Winston. A distance of approximately 7 miles.

The state is divided into six districts. The first district is composed of, Atchison, Andrew, Clinton, Clay, Caldwell, Carroll, DeKalb Daviess, Grundy, Gentry, Holt, Harrison, Jackson, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway ; Platte, Ray and Worth Counties. A. C. Lingley, St. Joseph, is the division engineer.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 7

Author: Leopard, John C Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1164

Author: Leopard, John C
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1164