USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 5
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In 1843 an order was received to organize the militia in these settle- ments. Prior to that time the settlers had not felt any particular need of a military organization but they did not know what emergency migh arise and they thought the Governor might know more about matters than they did. And they were growing in importance when they attracted enough sufficient notice to be taxed and formed into a military department. There were a great many Indians in the southwest part of Iowa and though they were friendly and peaceable the settlers did not know what might occur to change this pleasant state of affairs, therefore they talked the matter over like good citizens and concluded to meet together and organize the militia. The women were particularly well pleased at the idea of that the militia would be organized and their protection fully secured.
Of course the important consideration was in reference to the proper persons for the officers of their little army. It was agreed that they would need a colonel and a major and they set about the selection of these officers. It was the general opinion that these officers must be men of judgment
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and courage, especially the colonel must be a man of stamina. At last it was determined that C. L. Jennings was the proper man for colonel. He had come to the county in 1841, reared a large cabin on the farm (later known as the Jacob King farm) some four miles northeast of Bethany. He had shown himself to be a good commander of an ox team and was good looking and the tallest man in the settlement and the squatters being Bible readers knew how Saul was selected for king because "he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders up."
S. C. Allen was elected major. He was not so tall as the colonel but that was not considered so important a matter for the lower officers. No roll or roster of the men enrolled has been preserved. It has been stated that there were two companies but it is not known how many men there were in each company as they were divided according to the convenience of the settlers.
The Killyan War.
Shortly after the militia were organized they were called into service by the colonel under the following circumstances: A settler on the edge of the prairie a few miles south of where Eagleville now is, by the name of Charles Killyan took a few bushels of corn to Phil Harris' mill on Big Creek west of Bethany. While he was there a heavy rain fell, raising the creek so that it could not be crossed; there were no bridges or fences on Big Creek at that time. The mill was on the west side of the creek and as it appeared the creek would continue too deep to ford for two or three days, Killyan concluded to go up the creek on the west side until he could cross it. Accordingly he started north to head the creek and go home. As he did not return home for a week and had always been a good, industrious citizen of no bad habits, his family and the neighbors became alarmed at his protracted absence. Neighbors were sent to the mill to see if any tid- ings could be gained of him. It was learned he had been to the mill, ob- tained his grinding and started home in due time, but nothing further was known or could be heard of him.
The settlers became aroused, the matter was discussed. It was con- sidered that he had started for home in a northwest direction toward the Indian settlements in southwest Iowa and no doubt was entertained but that he had been captured by the Indians. Was he killed and scalped or
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was he held as a captive and hostage? These were questions that excited various comments.
If Killyan was captured by the Indians it was the duty of the settlers to punish the Indians or there would be no safety for any other settler that might be out alone and it was considered a matter of prudence as well as sound statesmanship to show the Indians the strength and courage of the settlement.
The idea of war upon the frontier with the wild and merciless savages excited the liveliest apprehensions. They had often read of Indian war- fare and had early been taught that their mode of warfare was the indis- criminate murder of men, women and children and that the Indians were cunning and liable to dash down upon them without any notice or sign of their coming. All such thoughts had a tendency to intensify the situation.
Upon consultation it was decided proper to call out the militia and follow after the trail of Killyan. It was true the Indians had always been peaceable and friendly and had never appeared to show any desire to make trouble with the white settlers but once and that was after the Indians had lost some ponies and thought the whites had taken them, or harbored those who did; but upon investigation the Indians were con- vinced that the squatters in this county were not to blame and thereupon friendly relations had been more firmly established than before. There was no telling but what some thief or thieves had again stolen some of their ponies and the Indians might have concluded to take their revenge upon Killyan.
Some of the more timid could almost see poor Killyan tied to a tree or stake with a pile of wood around him ready to have the torch applied. Everybody was excited, especially the women and children. Killyan's poor wife became almost distracted. She would cry and say : "My poor husband has been captured by the Indians. Oh! I will never get to see him again."
Under these circumstances the colonel of the militia issued his orders to have the settlement placed on a war footing and all the militia were ordered to meet at the house of the colonel the next morning by sun- rise to start upon an armed expedition in search of the missing squatter or to discover his murderers. Such a bustle, excitement and hurry had never before been known in the territory. Riders were sent in all directions to notify the militia to turn out on the morrow with ten days' provisions.
The women in their patriotism forgot their fright for the time being and flew to cooking rations for the campaign. The men brightened up
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their guns and "run" bullets and prepared their ammunition and such a general rubbing and cleaning up old guns was not common.
The militia had been organized under orders but had drawn no arms, ammunition or rations. On such an expedition it was necessary to go as cavalry and each soldier must be supplied with a horse. They were all good hunters and experienced marksmen, having brought down many a deer and felt safe when at the breech of their guns.
The next morning early the militiamen might have been seen riding to the residence of the colonel until the regiment numbered about forty faithful troopers. All things being ready the gallant colonel brought out his war horse and gave the order to mount and they soon dashed off double file for the fray. They stopped to feed and water at noon on Big Creek and shortly after starting again they struck a trail showing that numerous ponies had recently traveled to the north.
After traveling some distance they came to a place where the Indians had evidently camped and they found meal scattered upon the ground and tracks that indicated one large horse among the ponies, all of which they interpreted to mean that the Indians had the horse and meal, but where was Killyan ? Perhaps a poor captive and far removed from family and friends or perhaps worse, left as food for wolves.
Here a few of the army wanted to go back, claiming that further search was useless and that they had enlisted for only one day and their families were not well and their stock required their attention and other similar trivial excuses, The colonel said it was no time to desert the post of duty in the hour of danger and when the country demanded every man to do his duty, but if any of his command would publicly acknowl- edge that he was a coward and would surrender his gun and ammunition he would be dishonorably mustered out of the service and could return home. No one would do that and the morale of the forces was fully re- stored. And they boldly pushed forward into the enemy's country.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, when they gained the summit of a ridge and looked far to the north they saw men on horseback. "Indians, boys," said a gallant trooper, as he gazed through a spy-glass. "Indians, by thunder," said the colonel as he gazed through the spy-glass, "and coming this way, but only a small squad." Was it the advance guard, or a decoy to deceive the militia ? But our colonel was not to be decoyed. He ordered his men forward to suitable grounds, where they were dis-
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mounted and formed a line of battle and awaited the approach of the enemy.
"Now, by thunder, let every man stand his ground, and all stick to- gether," said the colonel. With bated breath they awaited the approach of the enemy. They were in an open prairie and could not be ambushed and did not much fear an attack at that place, but it was a good point for observation. Presently two Indians and a white man emerged from the brushy hollow before them. "That is Killyan," said the man with the spy- glass. As they came nearer the men saw that it was Killyan and he was received with joy.
He then explained that he had started up the west side of Big Creek to the head of the stream, that he had done so, but the weather being bad and cloudy, he had lost his course and gone too far east and gone down on the east side of Grand River, which he could not cross on ac- count of the high water and had to go back north again. Falling in with some friendly Indians that also were going to Fort Des Moines, two of them were sent to assist him in finding his way home as they understood the country better than Killyan.
The Indians received the thanks of the big warrior and the grateful acknowledgments of Killyan and departed to seek their tribe, and Killyan was returned to his family who were almost overwhelmed with joy. The war was declared over, the victory won, the lost restored and the valiant militia dismissed by the colonel with praises for their bravery in turning out in defense of their imperiled country.
The peaceful and happy termination of this campaign gave renewed confidence to the settlers that they need not fear any trouble from the Indians north of them. And it is worthy of remark that there never was any hostile troubles or scarcely any ill feeling between them. This in a great degree was owing to the good will kept up and fostered at all times by the early settlers.
CHAPTER VII
THE MORMON WAR.
MORMON EXODUS FROM NAUVOO-TRAVELED WESTWARD-STOP IN IOWA-RU- MORS OF THEIR INTENTIONS-UNWARRANTED EXCITEMENT AMONG SET- TLERS-MILITIA MOBILIZED-MARCHED AGAINST THE MORMONS-MEETING WITH BRIGHAM YOUNG-A BETTER UNDERSTANDING-TREATY.
In the year 1846 occurred what is known by the early settlers as the "Mormon War." After the Mormon settlement at Nauvoo, Illinois was broken up, and Joseph Smith, their leader and prophet was killed, Brigham Young came forward as the successor of Joseph Smith and assumed the leadership as such prophet, and with the greater portion of the adher- ents of the strange doctrine, started out west to seek a country beyond civilization-some lone and pleasant dell, some valley in the West-where free from toil and pain the weary Mormons might rest and live according to their doctrines, without molestation by civil authorities.
The Mormons traveled westward through the southern portion of Iowa. This portion of that state was not settled at that time and as the Mormons swarmed along the border many of them stopped in what is now Decatur County, Iowa, and commenced improving land at a place they called Mount Pisgah, and also at Garden Grove.
All sorts of rumors were in circulation in reference to the intentions and designs of the Mormons. Many thought they intended to return to Missouri and buy up their old possessions and those they could not buy out they would in some way force out, and this would lead to disturb- ances and perhaps break up the settlements and bring great trouble to the settlers.
It was thought they were waiting upon the borders for other Mormons to arrive and as soon as they received sufficient force they would make a raid upon Missouri. These reports greatly excited the settlers, as they were weak in numbers and would be the first to be over-run by the Mor- mons from the north as there were only a few settlers north of Bethany.
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The militia had been drilled but little and had no experience in the field save that of the "Killyan War," but still had the same gallant colonel to look to and lead them to victory. In consequence of the alleged prepara- tions of the Mormons and rumored threats, the settlers thought it best to carry the war into the enemy's country and to attack them while they were yet unprepared.
Accordingly war was determined upon and Colonel Jennings called his regiment together and they struck north on the line of march with banners flying and guns shining in the blazing sun, determined to give the muchly married men one trial at least. The colonel never felt prouder than he did on that day as he reviewed the regiment of about fifty valiant warriors, each of whom could knock out a squirrel's eye at 100 yards, and who had never been defeated.
After a two-days' march the colonel and his army came upon the Mormon settlement when the colonel demanded the whereabouts of Brig- ham Young. The Mormons appeared to very much excited and were not at all prepared for war, only bent on peaceful pursuits and waiting for other stragglers to join them. In the surprise and alarm of seeing an armed force in their front some concluded that it was the Illinois troops inter- cepting their westward journey. The women retreated to their tents, the children huddled together in herds and the men stood around in groups as if expecting to be taken prisoners.
The colonel ordered his men to remain in line and on no account to break ranks. Presently the Mormons ran up a white flag. As Brig- ham Young did not appear for some time, the colonel sent a guard for him and in a few minutes Brigham came out bowing and scraping as politely as a French dancing master and asked: "What is wanting, Sir? What do you want with me?" The colonel rose in his stirrups to his full stature and said: "We want to know what in thunder you are doing here." Brig- ham said very meekly: "We are simply traveling peaceably toward the west." The colonel spoke out, very bodly and said unto him, "Our people in Missouri, including my regiment, became uneasy at your appearance and maneuvers here and supposed you were intending to move on Missouri, and have come to see about it. Brigham smiled and said very obsequiously, "You need give yourselves no uneasiness, gentlemen. We have been driven from our homes in Illinois by the wicked Gentiles and some of our people are so poor they had to stop and raise something to live on and will then move ahead." The colonel thereupon entered into a treaty of peace with
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Brigham that he was not to enter Missouri except for trade and com- mercial purposes.
The war having met with this favorable conclusion, the gallant colonel with his conquering army returned home without the loss of a man. They reported the Mount Pisgah treaty to the inhabitants of Bethany and all seemed satisfied with the result of the expedition. After that the settlers enjoyed a lucrative trade with the Mormon travelers.
These were the only wars in which the militia of the territory en- gaged. They served at their own expense without the hope of fee or reward. It is said that they never received any bounty, back pay, warrant, pensions or bonus. The gallant colonel resided in this county many years, respected as a veteran by all the early settlers, and in 1887 was a dairy- man at St. Joseph.
CHAPTER VIII
INCIDENTS OF EARLY DAYS.
GAME PLENTIFUL-ALSO WILD FRUITS AND NUTS-HUNTING BEE TREES-BEES- WAX AN IMPORTANT COMMODITY-HONEY, BEESWAX AND FURS-TRADING POINTS HONESTY OF PIONEERS FIRST POSTOFFICE-CHARACTER OF ยท SETTLERS-EARLY DAY CABINS-HUNTING WOLVES-ROBIDOUX TRADING POST-AN INCIDENT OF LIVING UP TO A CONTRACT.
When the county was first being settled game was plentiful, such as deer, turkeys, prairie chickens, quail and there were some elk. There were also a great many wolves, coons, squirrels and a few panthers. Wild plums, grapes, cherries, blackberries, strawberries and gooseberries were abundant in the timber, as were also hickory nuts, walnuts and acorns. Patches of hazel nuts skirted and dotted all the prairies and there was most nearly every fall enough to fatten all the hogs the settlers had.
Bees were found in many hollow trees with large amounts of honey and the amount of beeswax that could be made was measured by the wants and industry of the settlers. As stock was low priced, and really the settlers had none to spare, and their tillable land was limited in acreage, the principal sources of income were from the honey, beeswax, furs and venison taken to market.
For a few years after the first settling of the county the principal market place was at Liberty, Clay County. The settlers then co-operated together, meeting together at some convenient place and bringing their surplus products with them, would together load a wagon and splice team and send one of their number to Liberty, about eighty miles away, to sell their produce or trade it, and to get coffee, tea, salt, calico, do- mestic and ammunition and such other absolute necessaries as they could not raise or make themselves. Upon the return of the teamster they would meet again and make division of their goods and the money, if any remained, and the young lady who was so fortunate as to reecive a calico dress was made happy as a queen just receiving a crown.
Beeswax, made in cakes, was generally called "the yellow boys,"
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and often was used as currency, passing from one to another at twenty- five cents per pound.
These early settlers bore the reputation of great honesty and fair dealing, yet there were even among their number some whose greed for gain and littleness induced them to take undue advantage, and it is said the yellow cakes were sometimes counterfeited with cheaper alloy. At one time when the teamster arrived at the trading post a cake of beeswax was found with a corner broken off, exposing an inside filling of tallow. This counterfeit was returned to the dishonest owner, and so indignant were the honest settlers at his conduct and its tendency to bring their settlement into disrepute that no teamster would after- wards convey his produce to market and the small stream upon which he lived became known and was called "the tallow fork of beeswax," and is so known yet in that neighborhood.
Coon skins also passed current at fifty cents each, and mink skins at twenty-five cents. The state then paid fifty cents for wolf scalps and the small taxes were mostly paid with that currency.
There were at this time no postiffices or post roads in the county and what few letters were written by the settlers had to be sent to Cravensville, a small postoffice in Daviess County five or six miles north of Gallatin. This was a place that had been built by the Mormons and occupied by them, but after they left the village went to decay and the postoffice was discontinued.
The first postoffice in the county was established at Bethany in 1845. For several years it went by the name of Bethpage, and David Buck was appointed postmaster. The mail was carried on horseback to and from Cravensville once each week.
The settlers took but few newspapers and therefore as might be expected were not well and freshly posted upon all that was going on in the busy outside world, but they knew how to trail the deer or find the rich bee tree.
They often visited each other and related their successes and disap- pointments, rejoicing together over their prosperity and good fortune or sympathizing with each other in their troubles. Hypocrisy and deceit were almost unknown among them and honesty and hospitality dis- tinguished them, and although often scant in basket and in store, there was no time that each would not have readily shared his provisions with a neighbor.
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Their cabins were rude and diminutive but their latch strings, like their generous hearts, hung on the outside. Occasionally a thief would pass through and take a horse and then the whole settlement would be aroused. Fortunately such losses did not occur often and there is no record of a horse thief being caught by the settlers of the county. It was a rule among them of the very highest authority that no settler should knowingly harbor a horse thief. There is a case reported of one man who violated this excellent rule and he was made to suffer the penalty, which was "linting." Of course lynching is not to be encour- aged in well regulated communities, but among the early settlers it appeared to be the dernier ressort. It was too far away to take the offenders to court, would occupy too much time and incur too great ex- pense. The settlers found "linting" so much easier, speedy and eco- nomical and in this case it worked so admirably in making a good citizen of the victim that it was in very high favor.
There was very little sickness among the early settlers. This may have been owing to the fact that it was only the stout and hearty young people who had the hardihood to venture out upon the wild and unsubdued frontier, or it may have been that the open air life and rustic cabins were conducive to health. Most likely both reasons operated to produce the result.
Hunting and chasing wolves in the winter was a cheerful sport and a delightful pastime. About the year 1844 Dr. Hardin Oatman settled in the new country. He did not come, however, so much to practice his profession as to open out a farm. In cases of severe sickness he was usually called, but his calls for several years were not frequent, although he was a good physician and a clever gentleman and it is said his bills were not heavy.
About the year 1843 St. Joseph was first laid off and began to attract attention as a trading point. Up to that time the place had been merely an Indian trading post conducted by Joseph Robidoux, and was known as the Blacksnake Hills. It soon became a business place and as it was about twenty-five miles nearer than Liberty the settlers early commenced making paths and roads in that direction. The Grand River currency passed as readily and at as good rates there as at Liberty, hence the honey, wax and pelt trade soon turned almost exclusively to St. Joseph. No more attempts at counterfeiting were brought to light and the mer-
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chants of St. Joseph soon acquired great confidence in the Grand River squatters.
An incident illustrating that this confidence was not misplaced is related of a certain Grand River settler. He was at St. Joseph doing some trading at the store of Bob Donnell, later a New York banker, and the goods he happened to want being more than his "produce" would pay for, he agreed to bring more honey and wax by a given day. The settler felt proud and elated that the merchant would take his word for the delivery of the honey, but Donnell was a pretty good judge of human nature and thought the settler had an honest face and would do to trust for a barrel of honey.
The squatter hastened home, told his wife of his good fortune, felt like a man of consequence and vowed that he would make his promise good. He accordingly struck out to hunt the bee trees and find his honey. He hunted all day and continued his search by moonlight, searching hollow trees and listening for the buzzing of bees. In a few days he had secured his barrel of honey, and returned home to prepare for his journey to St. Joseph.
Upon counting up his time he found he had only three days and his time would be out on Sunday, so he hurried up but failed to get to St. Joseph on Saturday. He hesitated about moving forward on the holy day, but thought that would not be so bad as failing to keep his promise, so he entered the city on Sunday and inquired for Bob Donnell, and was informed that he was at church. He hastened to the church and arriving just as the minister had commenced his sermon, he ad- dressed him rather abruptly with "Hello, stranger! Will you hold on a minute ? I want to inquire if Bob Donnell is in the house." Bob saw him and walked out, when the squatter in a loud voice told him, "Well, Bob, I have brought you that barrel of honey." At this every one in the house laughed, but the honest settler felt a proud consciousness of having made good his financial obligation that no mirth could remove. Since that time the reputation of the Grand River settlers for prompt- ness and punctuality.
CHAPTER IX
LAND OPENED FOR ENTRY.
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