USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 12
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After the regiment was formed it organized by electing Henry O. Nevill colonel, George Burris, Sr., lieutenant-colonel and W. P. Robinson major. The strength of the different companies that reported themselves was as follows : Eagleville Guards, 160; Washington, 64; Salem, 60; Spring- field, 90; Pleasant Ridge, 100; Clay, 78; Mount Moriah, 58; Bethany, 60; "Rough and Ready," 57; Benton, 80; Cainesville, 60.
Several other companies of Home Guards were raised during the summer of 1861, the majority of the members of which subsequently
212
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
went to the front in different regiments, and did valiant service for the Union cause.
All of Companies D and E, Twenty-third Regiment Volunteer In- fantry, were raised in Harrison County in the summer of 1861. Recruit- ing for the regiment commenced in July of that year under the direction of Colonel Jacob T. Tindall and Judge Smith, of Gentry and Lynn Coun- ties, respectively. Company D was mustered September 22, 1861, with the following officers: W. P. Robinson, captain; John A. Fischer, first lieutenant, and Lafayette Cornwall, second lieutenant.
William P. Robinson was promoted colonel of the regiment June 7, 1862, and was succeeded as captain by John W. Moore, of Eagleville, who served as such until the expiration of the term of service, September, 1864. Lieutenant Fischer resigned his commission January 12, 1863, after which time Henry Sweeten filled the position. Lafayette Cornwall resigned the second lieutenancy and was succeeded by James A. Brewer. The latter resigned January, 1863, from which time until May, 1864, the office was held by Joseph H. Ristine. Rustine was promoted first lieuten- ant of Company K in May, 1864, and was succeeded by Meredith Riggin, who held that position until the expiration of the term of service.
Company E, as organized for the service, was officered as follows: Archibald Montgomery, captain ; W. R. Simms, first lieutenant, and George W. Brown, second lieutenant.
Archibald Montgomery resigned his commission October, 1862, and was succeeded by William R. Simms, who held the position until mustered out of the service in 1864. S. A. Thomas was promoted first lieutenant December, 1862, resigned July 30, 1863, and was succeeded by John A. Martin, who served until the expiration of the term. Second lieutenant George W. Brown resigned his commission July 8, 1863. John A. Harper was then promoted to the office, and held the same until September, 1864.
A large portion of Company G was raised in Harrison County ; also portions of Companies H and I.
The officers of Company G were originally Wat E. Crandall, captain ; James S. Todd, first lieutenant, and W. Mccullough, second lieutenant. Officers of Company H: Francis Lisko, captain, and Thomas B. Mikels and Ebenezer West, first and second lieutenants, respectively. Company I: Captain, John Parker; first lieutenant, T. H. Hollingsworth; second lieutenant, Jeremiah Nash.
The Twenty-third was made up from the counties of Harrison, Grundy,
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Livingston, Linn, Putnam, Mercer, Daviess and Carroll. The regiment entered into active service in 1861, but participated in no engagements until the following year, the principal duty in the meantime being pre- serving the peace and protecting the lives and property of Union men in the county, where the command was stationed. On April 1, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, at which place it arrived and its first engagement was at the battle of Shiloh.
In June, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Benton Barracks, and continued on duty there and in the city of St. Louis for some time, when they were ordered southward to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland. On recovering from his wound received at Shiloh, W. P. Robinson rejoined the regiment, and was promoted colonel of the same on June 7, 1862. From that time until the expiration of the term he continued in command, and did gallant service in the campaigns of the Fourteenth Army Corps, participating in a number of engagements, among which were the battles of Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro and other engagements near Atlanta. The Twenty-third Regiment was mustered out of service on September 22, 1864.
Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry, "Merrill's Horse." This com- pany was recruited in the summer of 1861 as the Harrison County Cavalry Company, and, as originally organized, had the following commissioned officers : Eli Hannahs, captain; Elijah Hubbard, first lieutenant; William T. Foster, second lieutenant.
In December, 1861, the company was reorganized at St. Louis, as Company F, and attached to the Second Cavalry, known as "Merrill's Horse," with which it served gallantly until the close of the war.
The captain at the time of the reorganization was Theodore Pierson, who resigned March 4, 1863. His successor, Henry K. Bennett, was trans- ferred in May, 1863, to Company B, and on the first of June of the same year, George H. Rowell took command. Elijah Hubbard commanded the company from the summer of 1863 until mustered out of the service September 19, 1865.
This company performed gallant service in Missouri during the first two years of the war, and with the regiment participated in a number of battles and skirmishes, besides effectually checking the guerrilla raids in various parts of the state.
Company A, Thirty-fifth Missouri Infantry, was organized in Har- rison County, in the summer and fall of 1862, and officered as follows:
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Horace Fitch, captain; James B. Brower, first lieutenant, and Calvin Til- ton, second lieutenant.
The organization of the Thirty-fifth was perfected December 3, 1863, and immediately thereafter it took the field. During the greater part of that year it was stationed at Helena, Arkansas, and participated in the battle at that place, on the Fourth of July, of the same year, and lost heavily in the engagement. In June, 1864, the regiment with others, under the command of General N. B. Buford, "proceeded down the Mis- sissippi River ; up the White, to cut off through that into the Arkansas; up the last mentioned river into the neighborhood of Arkansas Post, for the purpose of ascertaining the strength of a Rebel force then organizing under Shelby, Daubin and others." Having accomplished their mission they returned to Helena, June 26. The following month the regiment engaged in a decisive battle with a portion of Shelby and Daubin's forces, breaking the enemy's lines three successive times, with the loss of their leader, three officers and thirty-seven men. During the fall of 1864 and the spring and early summer of 1865 the Thirty-fifth was engaged in guerrilla warfare, picket and garrison duty. It was honorably discharged from the service on June 28, 1865, at Little Rock, Arkansas.
Company E, Forty-third Infantry. This company consisted of Har- rison County men only, and was recruited in the fall of 1864. The organ- ization was effected with the following commissioned officers: Simeon Sutton, captain ; William Canady, first lieutenant, and Daniel D. Boyce, second lieutenant.
The Forty-third was organized as a regiment on September 22, 1864, and mustered out of service June 30, 1865. Several companies participated in the battle of Glasgow, October 15, 1864, after which, until discharged in 1865, the regiment was actively engaged in an irregular guerrilla warfare.
Company H, Twelfth Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers, was organized in Harrison County in January, 1864, by Preston Sharp, and numbered about sixty men. The officers were S. S. Vansyckle, captain, served from Febru- ary, 1864, to April 29, 1864. His successor, John Collar, served from the latter date until the regiment disbanded in 1865. The Twelfth Cavalry was assigned to duty in Saint Louis in 1864, and later was attached to the First Division Cavalry District of West Tennessee, commanded by Brigadier General Hatch. Its first battle was an engagement an the Talla-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
hatchie River, near Abbeyville. After performing various kinds of duty in northern Mississippi and other parts of the South, the regiment was ordered to report to General Dodge, commanding the department of Mis- souri, and later was detached and assigned duty in the West. During the summer of 1865 the regiment engaged in Indian warfare on the Powder River and Yellowstone, in which the men behaved with characteristic gallantry.
Missouri State Militia. Company I, First Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, was raised in Harrison County in the spring of 1862. Officers: Milton Burris, captain ; John H. Smith, first lieutenant, and Daniel Shu- mate, second lieutenant, all of whom served until honorably discharged in April, 1865. The First Cavalry was commanded by Colonel James McFarren, and was engaged principally in guerrilla warfare in various counties of Missouri.
Company E, Third Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, was organized April, 1862, with Captain Charles B. McAfee in command. Colonel Walter A. King commanded the Third Cavalry, and the principal duty performed was operating against guerrillas and bushwhackers, and preserving the peace in various counties of the state.
Company G, Sixth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, Captain John A. Page, was organized in the spring of 1862. William Newby was first lieutenant and James C. Baker second lieutenant. Under the command of Colonel E. Catherwood the Sixth Cavalry performed gallant service against guerrillas during the years 1862 and 1863; also operated in Arkansas and the Indian Nation, and participated in the attack and rout of Generals Steele and Cooper, at Perryville, Choctaw country, battle of Backbone Mountain and capture of Fort Smith. During the years 1864 and 1865 the Sixth participated in a number of engagements, and in the campaigns against General Price, among which were the battles of Jeffer- son City, Russellville, Boonville, Dover, Independence, Big Blue, Osage, Newtonia and others.
Enrolled Missouri Militia .- In July, 1862, Governor Gamble issued an order (No. 19) requiring the loyal men subject to military service to organize into companies and regiments.
In pursuance of this order eleven companies were organized in Har- rison County, and formed into what was known as the "Fifty-seventh Regiment Enrolled Militia." The first commissioned officers were D. J.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Heaston, colonel ; James M. Nevill, lieutenant colonel; William G. Weldon, major. Colonel Heaston resigned in a short time, and was succeeded by James Neville, and he in March, 1864, by William G. Lewis.
F. M. Jackson was promoted lieutenant-colonel in August, 1863, and served till expiration of term in 1865. The other regimental officers were as follows: H. J. Skinner, adjutant; Howard T. Combs, adjutant, suc- ceeded the former July, 1863; Elliott P. Bunch, quartermaster; R. H. Vandivert, surgeon; Jonathan U. Lewis, surgeon.
Company A-F. M. Jackson, captain ; succeeded subsequently by John S. Hall; A. J. Allen, first lieutenant; George Burris, Jr., second lieutenant.
Company B-Simeon Sutton, captain; F. R. Quigley and Richard W. Handy, lieutenants.
Company C-Benjamin S. Ramey, captain ; Benton Salmon and L. G. Spuefin, first and second lieutenants, respectively.
Company D-Captain, J. C. Frisby ; first lieutenant, Daniel D. Boyce : second lieutenant, William H. Eades.
Company E-William J. Prater, captain; David Wright and D. S. Miller, lieutenants.
Company F-Stephen C. Allen, captain. The lieutenants were Joseph Miller and H. R. Badger.
Company G-Preston Sharp, captain ; J. C. Anderson, first lieutenant, succeeded September, 1862, by Jacob Koontz. The second lieutenant was J. C. Anderson.
Company H-William Canady, captain; John Canady, first lieutenant ; Henry H. Nevill, second lieutenant.
Company I-James H. Lynch, captain; Felix Randall and Americus Bunch, lieutenants.
Company K-William W. Harper, captain; O. T. Graham, first lieu- tenant; William J. Nevill, second lieutenant.
Company L-James P. Anderson, captain; James Stanbrough and George W. Nevill, lieutenants.
This regiment was organized ostensibly for home protection and police duty, subject to be called upon whenever needed. It was called out upon three occasions, and in all performed about two months' service.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE PRESS.
FIRST NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN IS59-EARLY EDITORS-MEN WHO BECAME FAMOUS-HARRISON COUNTY PRESS-BETHANY REPUBLICAN-W. J. WIGHT- MAN-BETHANY BROAD-AX-OTHER NEWSPAPERS IN THE COUNTY-BETH- ANY CLIPPER-TRIBUTE TO EDWIN R. MARTIN-COMPLETE FILES.
The following article, written by Ada L. Wightman, one of the founders of the Bethany Clipper and now deceased, was published in the History of Northwest Missouri: "The honor of establishing the first news- paper in Harrison County belongs to Edwin R. Martin and Samuel Allen, who in 1859 came from Memphis, Missouri, and started the Bethany Star, an independent local sheet, the first number of which made its appearance August 4, 1859. Martin and Allen were practical printers. The paper was a six-column folio. William A. Templeman purchased the Star in 1861 and changed the name to the Weekly Union. The circulation at this time was about 600. In 1863 Henry Howe purchased the office and changed the name to the Weekly Union of States. The next year Mr. Howe's sons, Ed and James Howe, took charge of the office, and con- tinued the publication until 1865. Ed Howe is the well-known editor, writer, lecturer and traveler, now of Atchison, Kansas. Thomas D. Neal then purchased the office and established the North Missouri Tribune. He continued the publication until 1872, at which time it was purchased by William T. Foster, and was regularly issued until 1875, when John H. Phillebaum purchased the office. Mr. Foster now lives in Washington, District of Columbia, and is well known over the country as a weather prognosticator. Mr. Phillebaum changed the name of the paper to Harri- son County Herald, and published it until 1876, when the office was pur- chased by Al. S. Hickman and James P. Berry. The publication was soon suspended for want of proper financial support.
In 1868 the Harrison County Press, a weekly independent sheet, was
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
established by a stock company, with Colonel W. P. Robinson as editor. Mr. Robinson was succeeded by Paul Conner, who failed to make the paper financially remunerative. D. J. Heaston purchased the paper in 1870 and changed the name to the Bethany Watchman. In 1873 the office was purchased by a stock company and moved to Grant City.
The Bethany Republican was established by Thomas D. Neal, May 22, 1873. He continued as editor until the winter of 1875, when he sold out to Walter J. Wightman, who changed the name to the Harrison County Republican. Mr. Wightman had previously published a paper, the Harrison County Eagle, at Eagleville, moving an office to that town in 1874 from Garden Grove, Iowa. Later a co-partnership was effected with Mr. Neal, who subsequently purchased the entire interest, and ran the paper until 1881, when Frank H. Ramer became proprietor and editor. In 1887 Mr. Ramer disposed of the office to a stock company. The Bethany Clipper, which W. J. Wightman conducted in Bethany from January, 1883, to December 12, 1887, was consolidated with the Bethany Republican, and Mr. Wightman was made business manager and editor, which position he held until his death, December 3, 1903. Mr. Wightman had estab- lished and published the Eagleville Clipper in 1877 and the Blythedale Clipper in 1880. Since 1887 Nelson Church, Colonel W. P. Robinson, Millard F. Stookey, S. G. McDowell, Alex Reid and W. H. Crouch have been on the editorial staff.
The first number of the Bethany Broad-Ax, the democratic organ of the county, appeared March 8, 1877, edited by D. J. Heaston and B. F. Meyer. In 1881 Mr. Heaston purchased the latter's interest and con- tinued the publication alone about one year. He then sold a half interest to W. L. Robertson, now of the Gallatin Democrat. J. H. Cover purchased the paper in January, 1884, being in charge until 1893, when he sold out to John and Will Templeman. Since then the paper has been owned by W. S. Van Cleve, D. S. DeMotte, and Dudley Reid. At present the editor and owner is S. B. Strock.
The Eagleville Enterprise was established in 1880 by J. Frank Ward and was continued two years.
The Cainsville Signal was started at Cainsville in 1885 by C. A. Brannon, and existed about a year.
The Cainsville News was established by J. H. Rockwell, of Iowa, in April, 1885. S. P. Davidson bought the office in 1887, and later sold to J. D. McDaniel, who is now in charge.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
In 1882 M. A. Thorne established the Ridgeway Blade, which existed two years.
The Ridgeway Free Press, by C. C. Bartruff, was started in 1884, and continued until 1886.
The Ridgeway Journal, established by J. F. Jaqua, was afterwards purchased by his brother, C. M. Jaqua, who is now editor of the War- rensburg Standard Herald. Mr. Jaqua sold to Frank Dougherty; Mr. Dougherty to F. M. Spragg and sons, and Messrs. Spragg to Harry Jones, who is now in charge.
One of the first editors of the Gilman City Guide was J. Bowen. The paper is now edited by Albert L. Pratt.
The New Hampton Herald was established by James Graves, who also edited a paper at Eagleville. It is now published by B. W. Lanning.
The Bethany Clipper was established October 14, 1905, and is owned and managed by W. Sam and Ada L. Wightman.
Not often is it recorded that a monument is erected to the memory of a printer. But Harrison County paid this tribute to her veteran printer, Edwin R. Martin, who died in 1889. Mr. Martin had written a book of poems entitled, "Pansy Wreath and Quiet Hours." After his death his close friend and co-worker, W. J. Wightman, had these poems published in book form and from the sale of the books realized the sum of $250, which purchased a substantial and beautiful monument, now marking the last resting place of Edwin R. Martin in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany.
Colonel D. J. Heaston, who at different times was connected with the newspaper of the county, took a special interest in keeping copies of each paper published, and up to the time of his death had complete files of all the newspapers published in the county, including the Bethany Star, the first paper. The fifty volumes were purchased of the estate by W. Sam and Ada L. Wightman, of the Bethany Clipper.
CHAPTER XXIV
QUESTION OF COUNTY SEAT REMOVAL.
REASONS FOR LOCATING COUNTY SEAT-EFFORT TO REMOVE COUNTY SEAT IN 1870-THE VOTE BY TOWNSHIPS-MEASURE DEFEATED-DESTRUCTION OF COURT HOUSE BY FIRE IN 1874-EFFORT TO REMOVE COUNTY SEAT TO LORRAINE-AGAIN DEFEATED-SUBMITTED AGAIN IN 1880 AND DEFEATED- REMOVAL TO RIDGEWAY SUBMITTED AND DEFEATED IN 1892-DEFEATED AGAIN IN 1912-BOND ISSUE FOR NEW COURT HOUSE DEFEATED IN 1912.
The county seat had been located a few miles south of the geographi- cal center of the county. The early settlements were generally made with reference to timber and water, hence the southern and central parts were sought by the pioneers. This in connection with the fact that the Iowa boundary line was a matter of dispute between the states in 1845 probably induced the commissioners to locate the seat of justice as they did south of the center of the county.
With the increase of the population in the northern part of the county, and the settlement of the boundary dispute, a feeling began to grow among those in the northern part of the county desiring a re- moval of the county seat to a point nearer the geographical center.
The first definite action was taken in the year 1870 when a peti- tion signed by a large number of citizens in the central and northern parts of the county was presented to the County Court asking that the proposition for removal be submitted to a direct vote of the people. In accordance with the law relating thereto the court at the October term, 1870, entered the following order :
"Whereas it appearing to the County Court within and for Harrison County in the State of Missouri, that at least one-fourth of the legal voters of said county have this day submitted a petition to the County
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Court of said county in words and figures following, to-wit:
"To the Honorable County Court for Harrison County, State of Missouri :
"We, the undersigned legal voters of Harrison County in the State of Missouri, respectfully petition your honorable body for a removal of the seat of justice of said county from Bethany in said county, to the geographical center of said county, and for an order submitting a proposition for such removal to be voted upon by the voters of said county at the next general election to be held November 8, 1870, and for such other orders and proceedings in such case as the law directs.
"It is therefore ordered by the County Court of said County of Harrison in the State of Missouri that at the next general election in said county to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 1870, at the usual places of voting in said county, the proposition to remove the seat of justice of said County of Harrison, from the city of Bethany in said county, to the geographical center of said county, the place named in the petition, be submitted to the qualified voters of said county."
Pending the election the friends of removal put forth all their efforts in behalf of same, while those opposed made a determined fight to keep the county seat at the original location.
The election was held in November with the following result, by townships :
For Removal. Against Removal
Union Township
181
1
Bethany Township
39
346
Cypress Township
4
162
Sugar Creek Township
160
Trail Creek Township
93
56
Madiscı Township
125
12
Clay Township
116
2
Marion Township
168
130
Lincoln Township
54
5
Washington Township
43
3
Dallas Township
1 32
33
White Oak Township
2
89
Butler Township
93
Totals
857
1,097
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
I
1
I
I
1
1
1 1
J
1
I
1
1 1
1
I
1
1 I
1
1
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
This, of course, registered the defeat of the petitioners as by Section 30, Art. 4 of the Constitution (1865) "two-thirds of the qualified voters of the county" was necessary to a removal. See also Wagner's Statutes, Vol. 1, Art. 2, Chap. 40, Sec. 22, "two-thirds of the legally registered voters of such county" required for removal of county seats.
The destruction of the court house in January, 1874 served to revive the controversy and in January, 1874, a large meeting to consider the county seat removal was had in Eageville. Committees were appointed to circulate petitions asking for another submission to vote upon removal and a subscription of $3,000 raised to help defray the expense of erecting the necessary public building provided the removal be effected.
Those in favor of removal selected as the site to which removal was asked, the town of Lorraine, situated at the center of section 12, township 64, range 28, Jefferson Township. It was surveyed into lots, which were offered gratuitously to any persons who would erect thereon buildings to cost at least $250.
The citizens of Bethany to counteract these movements raised by sub- scription the sum of about $10,000 and put their greatest energy forth to secure the rebuilding of the court house.
The petition asking for the removal was signed by 1,850 voters. Under it the court, under the law, ordered the submission to election to be held Tuesday, November 3, 1874.
The election was held accordingly, resulting in a majority in favor of removal, but less than the requisite two-thirds. The vote standing for removal 1,508, against removal 1,150. It will be noted that whilst those for removal had a majority of the votes cast, they had much less than the number signing the petition.
At the general election of 1880 the question of removal of the county seat from Bethany to Lorraine was again submitted to vote, resulting in 1,310 votes for removal and 2,347 votes against removal.
At the November election, 1892, action was again had on removal of the county seat from Bethany. This time to Ridgeway, located on sec- tion 3, township 64, range 27, Grant Township. The result of this election was 1,480 votes for removal and 2,472 votes against.
Thus the matter remained at rest until the year 1912 at which, upon petition therefor, the County Court again submitted to a vote of the people the question of removal of the county seat to Ridgeway, resulting this time in 2,304 votes for removal and 2,708 votes against removal. As
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
this was the last submission to date, battle-scarred old Bethany still flies Old Glory from a flag pole on the court house.
By order of the County Court a special election was had on July 9, 1912, for the purpose of voting whether there should be an issue of bonds for the sum of $100,000 for the building of a new court house. The issue of bonds was defeated, the vote standing for the bonds 1,119; against the bonds, 2,812. This was the last attempt to build a new court house in the county.
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