USA > Missouri > Mercer County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 18
USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 18
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The annexed table shows the population of the State by the counties in ex- istence at the several periods mentioned. The population of the Territory in 1810 was 20,845.
COUNTIES.
1821.
1830.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
Adair
2,342
8,531
11,449
15,190
Andrew
9,433
11,850
15,137
16,318
Atchison.
1,648
4,649
8,440
14,556
Audrain
1,949
3,506
8,075
12,307
19,732
Barry
4,795
3,467
7,995
10,373
14,405
Barton
1,817
5,087
10,332
Bates ..
3,669
7,215
15,960
25,381
Benton
4,205
5,015
9,072
11,322
12,396
Boone ..
3,692
8,859
13,561
14,979
19,486
20,765
25,422
Buchanan
6,237
12,975
23,861
35,109
49,792
Butler .
1,616
2,891
4,298
6,011
Caldwell.
1,458
2,316
5,034
11,390
13,646
Callaway
1,797
6,102
11,765
13,827
17,049
19,202
23,670
Camden
7,852
7,430
9,359
13,912
15,547
17,558
20,998
Carroll.
2,433
5,441
9,763
17,445
23,274
Carter
4,693
6,090
9,794
19,296
22,431
Chariton
1,426
1,776
4,746
7,514
12,562
19,135
25,224
Clark.
2,846
5,527
11,684
13,667
15,031
Clay
5,342
8,282
10,332
13,023
15,564
15,572
Cole.
1,028
3,006
9,286
6,696
9,697
10,292
15,515
Cooper.
3,483
6,910
10,484
12,950
17,356
20,692
21,596
Crawford
1,709
3,561
6,397
5,823
7,982
10,756
Dade
3,648
5,892
8,383
9,263
Daviess
2,736
5,298
9,606
14,410
19,145
De Kalb.
2,075
5,224
9,858
13,834
Dent ...
2,414
3,915
7,753
Dunklin ..
1,220
5,026
5,982
9.604
Franklin
1.928
3,431
7,515
11,021
18,035
23,098
26,534
Gasconade.
1,174
1,548
5,330
4,996
8,727
11,093
11,153
Gentry
4,248
11,980
11,607
17,176
Greene
5,372
12,785
13,186
21,549
28,801
Grundy.
3,006
7,88
10,567
15,185
Harrison.
2,447
10,626
14,635
20,304
Henry .
4,726
4,052
9,866
17,401
23,906
Hickory
2,329
4,705
6,452
7,387
Holt ...
3,957
6,550
11,652
15,509
Howard
7,321
10,314
13,108
13,969
15,946
17,233
18,428
Howell.
3,169
4,218
8,814
Iron.
2,822
7,612
14,000
22,896
55,041
82,325
Jasper.
4,223
6,883
14,928
32,019
Jefferson
1,838
2,586
4,296
6,928
10,344
15,380
18,736
Johnson
4,471
7,467
14,644
24,648
28,172
4,975
6,108
7,266
Cedar.
6,637
9,474
10,741
Christian
5,491
6,707
9,628
Clinton
2,724
3,786
7,748
14,063
16,073
12,557
Dallas
5,654
6,357
10,646
Douglas.
4,246
7,072
8,683
2,168
Cass.
3,361
1,235
1,455
11,130
Bollinger.
7,371
8,162
2,338
Cape Girardeau.
5,842
6,278
8,183
Jackson
196
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
POPULATION OF MISSOURI BY COUNTIES .- Continued.
COUNTIES.
1821.
1830.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
Knox
2,894
8,727
10,974
13,047
Laclede.
2,498
5,182
9,380
11,524
La Fayette.
1,340
2,921
6,815
13,690
20,098
22,628
25,710
Lawrence
4,859
8,846
13,067
17,583
Lewis
6,040
6,578
12,286
15,114
15,925
Lincoln
1,674
4,060
7,449
9,421
14,210
15,960
17,426
Linn.
2,245
4,058
9,112
15,900
20,016
Livingston
4,325
4,247
7,417
16,730
20,196
McDonald
2,236
4,038
5,226
7,816
Macon
6,034
6,565
14,346
23,230
26,222
Madison
2,371
3,395
6,003
5,664
5,849
8,876
Maries
1,907
4,839
9,623
12,230
18,838
23,780
24,837
Mercer
2,282
3,834
6,812
6,616
9,805
Mississippi
3,123
4,859
4,982
9,270
Moniteau ..
6,004
10,124
11,375
14,346
Monroe
9,505
10,541
14,785
17,149
19,071
Montgomery
2,032
3,900
4,371
5,486
9,718
10,405
16,249
New Madrid.
2,445
2,351
4,554
5,541
5,654
6,357
7,694
4,268
9,319
12,821
18,947
2,118
5,252
14,751
29,544
Oregon
6,704
7,879
10,793
11,824
Ozark
2,294
2,447
3,363
5,618
Pemiscot.
2,962
2,059
4,299
Perry
1,599
3,371
5,760
7,215
9,128
9,877
11,895
Pettis
2,677
6,122
10,646
13,609
18,417
23,077
26,715
Platte
8,913
16,845
18,350
17,352
17,366
Polk.
8,449
6,186
9,995
12,445
15,734
Pulaski.
6,529
3,998
3,835
4,714
7,250
Putnam
1,657
9,207
11,217
13,555
Ralls . . .
1,684
4,346
5,670
6,151
8,592
10,510
11,838
Ray .
1,789
2,658
6,053
10,353
14,092
18,700
20,190
Reynolds.
1,849
3,173
3,756
5,722
St. Charles
4,058
4,822
2,856 7,911
2,830
3,747
3,175
5,377
St. Clair. .
3,556
6,812
6,747
14,125
St. Francois
2,386
3,211
4,964
4,249
9,742
13,822
St. Louis.
8,190
14,909
35,975
104,978
190,524
351,189
382,406
Saline . .
1,176
2,182
5,258
8,843
14,699
21,672
29,911
Schuyler.
3,287
6,097
8,820
10,470
Scotland
3,782
8,873
10,670
12,508
Scott. .
2,136
5,974
3,182
5,247
7,317
8,587
Shannon
1,199
2,284
2,339
3,441
Shelby
3,056
4,253
7,301
10,119
14,024
Stoddard
3,153
4,277
7,877
8,535
13,431
Stone. .
2,400
3,253
4,404
Sullivan.
2,988
9,198
11,907
16,569
Taney
3,264
4,373
3,576
4,407
5,599
Texas.
. .
. .
2,313
6,067
9,618
12,206
ยท
4,407
4,650
8,202
8,434
10,132
Nodaway.
1,432
3,009
3,287
5,721
2,930
5,150
9,392
18,706
27,271
Phelps
5,714
10,506
12,568
Pike.
Randolph
2,942
7,198
9,439
11,407
15,908
22,751
Ripley .
11,454
16,523
21,304
23,065
Ste. Genevieve
3,181
2,000
3,148
5,313
8,029
8,384
10,390
Newton.
3,790
2,691
9,300
11,557
14,673
Miller
. .
4,901
5,916
7,304
Marion
Morgan
Osage
197
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
POPULATION OF MISSOURI BY COUNTIES .- Concluded.
COUNTIES.
1821.
1830.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
Vernon.
4,850
11,247
19,369
Warren.
4,253
5,860
8,339
9,637
10,806
Washington
3,741
6,779
7,213
8,811
9,723
11,719
12,896
Wayne
1,614
3,254
3,403
5,518
5,629
6,068
9,096
Webster
7,099
10,434
12,175
Worth
5,004
8,203
Wright.
3,387
4,508
5,684|
9,712
Total
70,647
140,304
383,702
682,043
1,721,295 2,168,380
CITIES AND TOWNS.
The following table shows the population of cities and towns in the State with a population of 4,000 and upward in 1880, compared with the census of 1870:
TOWNS.
1870.
1880.
TOWNS.
1870.
1880.
Carthage
4,167
Moberly
1,514
6,070
Chillicothe
3,978
4,078
St. Charles.
5,570
5,014
Hannibal
10,125
11,074
St. Joseph
19,565
32,431
Jefferson City
4,420
5,271
St. Louis
310,864
350,518
Joplin .
7,038
Sedalia ..
4,560
9,561
Kansas City.
32,260
55,785
Springfield.
5,555
6,522
Louisiana .
3,630
4,325
Warrensburg.
2,945
4,040
CONCLUSION.
Such, in brief, is the History of Missouri, one of the foremost of the States of the Union in everything that goes to make up our Commonwealth. While there may be spots and flaws in the early records of its pioneer settlers, yet with them all this early and later history is one that must stir the blood and quicken the pulse of him who reads. Its institutions of civil and religious freedom, guaranteeing the rights of citizenship, education and worship, extending the blessings of beneficent law silently and extensively as the atmosphere about us, demand our love. Then, too, it is a State of innumerable and as yet undeveloped resources. Its soil yields almost an infinite variety of production. Within its bosom lie hid many minerals, and its forests are rich in ex-
198
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
haustless stores of timber, while its prairies are made to " bud and blossom like the rose." It is a State of the free school, the free press and the free pulpit, a trio the power of which it is im- possible to compute. The free schools, open to rich and poor, bind together the people in educational bonds and in the common memories of the recitation-room and the play grounds. The free press may not always be altogether as dignified or elevated as the more highly cultivated may desire, but it is ever open to the com- plaints of the people; is ever watchful of popular rights and jeal- ous of class encroachments. The free pulpit, sustained not by legally exacted tithes wrung from an unwilling people, but by the free-will offerings of loving supporters, gathers about it the thousands, inculcates the highest morality, points to brighter worlds, and when occasion demands will not be silent before po- litical wrongs. Its power simply as an educating agency can scarcely be estimated. These three grand agencies are not rival but supplementary, each doing an essential work in public cult- ure.
Above all this is a State of homes. Here there is no system of vast land-ownerships, with lettings and sub-lettings, but, on the contrary, the abundance and cheapness of land gives a large proportion of the population proprietary interests. To all this, add the freedom of elective franchise which invests the humblest citizen with the functions of sovereignty, and is there not reason for loving such a State ?
The Missouri of to-day is not the Missouri of a decade ago. A dark period followed the close of that bitter internecine strife, so fatal to this locality, but notwithstanding all this, prosperity and progress beyond former precedents are now her portion. The area of land under cultivation is greater than ever before, and the census of 1890 will exhibit an astounding increase in every department of material industry and advancement; in a great in- crease of agricultural and mechanical wealth; in new and im- proved modes for production of every kind, in the universal activity of business in all its branches; in the rapid growth of cities and villages; in bountiful harvests, and in unexampled material prosperity prevailing on every hand. Colleges and schools of every class and grade are in the most flourishing con-
199
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
dition; benevolent institutions, State and private, are well main- tained, and, as one has aptly said, "In a word our prosperity is as complete and ample as though no tread of armies or beat of drum had been heard in our borders." Surely these are not the ordinary indices of exhaustion! As to resources for the future struggle, the resources of the State will meet each legitimate call. Guiding all these is the intelligent purpose of a people whose ambition, laudable indeed, is to make Missouri in reputation what she is in reality-one of the very richest States of the Union.
PART II.
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
13
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
TOPOGRAPHY .*
H ARRISON COUNTY is a little more than 30 miles long, north and south, and 24 miles across east and west; it contains some- thing over 720 square miles or sections of land, or about 264, 000 acres. It is centrally located in the celebrated Grand River country, joins Iowa on the north, and is the fourth county east from the Missouri River.
Timber .- Originally about three-fourths of the land of this county was prairie and one-fourth timber. The timber was mostly situated along the numerous streams of water. The principal kinds of native timber are white oak, black oak, burr oak, hickory, walnut, cottonwood, elm, ash, linn, maple, sycamore, buckeye and locust. Perhaps over half the timber was oak, and much the greatest part of the oak was of the burr oak variety. The trees were generally not very tall except along the larger streams, where many trees were over 100 feet high.
Burr oak was the most valuable timber for general purposes, as from it most of the rails, posts, and framing timber were made; it is more lasting especially when connected with the ground than almost any other of the native timber, and it was very good for fuel. Whilst it did not grow very tall, yet nearly every tree would make one or two rail cuts, and the remainder of the tree would make excellent firewood.
In some localities there was considerable hickory timber. It was good for fuel, but most varieties would not last well in rails, or when exposed to the weather. Recently it has been and is highly prized for making farm implements, wagons and buggies, as when painted it lasts well. Originally there was considerable walnut timber in the county, but from 1870 until 1885, nearly all that was large enough for use was
* Contributed by D. J. Heaston.
204
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
cut and shipped out of the country to be used in Eastern manufactories. The other varieties of timber were very limited, and generally not of much value. There has always been and still is sufficient timber in this county for fuel, fencing and most building purposes.
Streams. - The streams of water nearly all flow in a southerly di- rection, the rainfall and springs generally finding an outlet to the Mis- souri River. The Middle Fork, or what is usually called Thompson's Fork of Grand River, rises some 40 or 50 miles in Iowa, and enters this county near the northeast corner, and runs in a southerly course through the east part of the county over 20 miles in a direct line, but a much greater distance by the meanderings of the stream.
East of Grand River is a large scope of excellent timber, many places miles in width, but most of this timber is in Mercer County, as the river is so near the county line. West of the river almost the entire distance through the county is a nearly level prairie, generally known as the "Grand River Bottom," a narrow fringe of timber occurring along the immediate bank of the river and at the foot of the bluffs west of the "bottom." This bottom varies in width from a half mile to two miles; a portion of it is subject to overflow occasion- ally when the river is very high. This prairie bottom in many places is lower back a distance from the river than it is along the immediate river bank, indicating that the banks forming the channel of the river have been raised and built up gradually by deposit of dirt and debris from the rises and overflows. For many years after the first settling of the county there were no improvements made on these bottoms, as it was generally considered that it was too wet for cultivation, or the danger of overflow which occurred every few years was too great to risk fencing and loss of crop, but recently nearly all this bottom has been fenced and put in cultivation, and the deep black soil has proven it the best corn producing portion of the county, and richly repaying for all the labor bestowed upon its improvement. The principal streams that run into Grand River on the west side in Harrison County are Indian Creek, Brush Creek, Hickory Creek, Panther Creek, Trail Creek, Cat Creek, Fox Creek, Sugar Creek and Tombstone. Nearly all these streams flow in a southeasterly direction into Grand River. It is estimated that Grand River and its tributaries drain about one-third of the area of the county. Grand River is a slow flowing or sluggish stream, its bottom and banks being mostly clay, black loam or sandy. The immediate banks of the river are generally from ten to twenty feet high, and so steep as to render the crossing difficult without improve- ment. During low water the river can be forded at many places, but it
205
STATE OF MISSOURI.
is often too full to be easily forded. After the first settling of the county ferries were maintained at several places on the river, but these have been superseded by bridges.
Big Creek rises in Iowa about twenty or thirty miles from the Missouri line, and enters Harrison County on the north line some two or three miles west of the center, and flows through the county in a southerly direction, passing all the way through the county in and near the center of Range 28. East Big Creek also starts in Iowa, and flows into Harrison County a few miles east of the center, and runs in a southerly direction bearing west, forming a junction with West or Main Big Creek, three-fourths of a mile west of Bethany. The main tributaries to Big Creek are Little Creek, Shain Creek, Polecat, Crab Apple and Long Tom. It is estimated that Big Creek and its tribu- taries drain about one-half of the area of the county. Big Creek empties into West Grand River near Pattonsburg, a few miles south of Harrison County.
About one-sixth of the west part of the county is drained by small streams that flow in a south or westerly direction, and empty into West Grand River. The principal of these streams are Lot's Creek, Muddy Creek, Panther Creek, Sampson and White Oak. Thus it will be seen that the streams of the county all run in a south- erly direction, or the surplus water is drained toward the south, from which it is easily perceived that the general surface of the country faces toward the south, the better to receive the warm rays of the sun.
Prairie. - As already stated, about three-fourths of the area of the county was originally prairie, the timber being principally located along the water courses and in the valleys. It is supposed the reason that timber was mostly confined to the streams or low lands was because the fires that burned over the prairies were checked and stopped by them, thereby saving the young timber and giving it a chance to grow. It is stated that, sometimes, the tall luxuriant grass would accumulate two or three years upon the prairie without being burned off, then in some dry time, perhaps a windy day, fire would break out and sweep rapidly over the country, consuming everything in its course, only being stopped by some stream or want of inflammable material. In the course of time, the timber being saved along the streams would kill out or prevent the growth of prairie grass under the shaded and sheltered ground, and thus make the timber the more secure from prairie fires. It is thus the early settlers account for the fact that the upland was principally prairie.
In the eastern part of the county, between Grand River and Big
206
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
Creek, is a large and nearly level prairie. It is high, dry, rich, and very productive. This beautiful prairie extends from the south part of the county nearly to the Iowa line. The western part of the county is more broken and rolling, and the soil generally is not so good, but there is some beautiful and productive prairie in the west- ern part of the county. The surface soil is mostly a good black loam, from one to five feet deep. Upon the prairies under this loam is gen- erally found a hard pan, several feet in thickness, nearly impervious to water. It prevents the soil suffering greatly from drouth. The farmers also take advantage of this quality of the soil by constructing pools at convenient places, thereby constantly keeping ready for use bountiful supplies of water for stock. In the timber land the loam is usually not so deep as on the prairies, and is underlaid by yellow clay of good quality for making brick and tiling.
Stone, Coal and Mineral Water .- The principal stone is of the limestone variety. Along Big Creek and Polecat Creek stone of excellent quality for building purposes is found in great abun- dance. Recently a fine quality of stone was found near Bethany, which is capable of receiving a beautiful polish. If it is found to be as extensive as is usually supposed, it will add quite a factor to the wealth of the county. The jail building was erected in 1863 of stone procured from a quarry on Polecat Creek, about two miles southeast of Bethany. There stone can be procured in almost any desired size in inexhaustible quantities. They are easily dressed, and stand exposure. The jail was erected of stone dressed so as to weigh from one to two tons. They have been in the building twenty- five years, and yet show no signs of crumbling, decay or discoloring from the changes or inclemencies of the weather. Sand of excellent quality for plastering and cement is found in abundance in numerous places in the county. Good water is found at nearly all parts of the county at the depth of from ten to thirty feet.
The soil is well adapted for raising corn, oats, rye, wheat, clover, timothy, blue-grass, potatoes, turnips, and nearly all kinds of garden products. From the first settlement of the county corn has been con- sidered the main crop. When the corn crop is good, the farmers pros- per and are happy, but when the crop is light, times are hard and business generally dull. On the best farms, with favorable seasons and good cultivation, corn frequently yields one hundred bushels to the acre, but usually about fifty bushels per acre is considered an average crop.
Oats and rye are also considered sure crops, and yield from
207
STATE OF MISSOURI.
twenty-five to forty bushels per acre. Wheat is not so sure a crop on all kinds of soil. It is usually considered a safer crop from fall sowing on good bottom or timber land. Under favorable circum- stances it yields from twenty to thirty bushels per acre. Timothy yields from one to two tons per acre, and when clover is mixed with it, the yield is immense, and the crop sure. Blue-grass appears to be well adapted to the soil, and has spread over almost all the county.
This is a fine county for stock raising, and the best farmers now urge that there is more money made here with less exertion by raising grass and cattle than any other way of farming. It is readily per- ceived that grass is easier to raise and take care of than corn or any other kind of crop, and at the same time is easier upon the soil.
The geological reports represent Harrison County as being in the coal belt. Coal crops out on the farm of Mr. Gray near Trail Creek, and several hundred bushels of coal of a fair quality have been dug out; the vein is only about eight inches thick, and soon runs back so deep under the surface as to render its mining unprofitable. Signs of coal have also been discovered in other parts of the county. Sev- eral individual efforts have been made to find coal, but no systematic effort was made until 1885.
In the spring of that year the enterprising citizens of Bethany and vicinity made a contract with the Diamond Drill Company, of Chicago, to bore for coal in the vicinity of the town. The Drill Com- pany was to sink a hole at least 500 feet deep, unless coal in satis- factory quantity was sooner discovered. The hole was to be three inches in diameter and a core was to be taken out and preserved one and one-fourth inches in diameter. The boring was done in the bottom on the east bank of Big Creek, about one mile west of Bethany, at the place where the present mineral spring is. The following is the record of the boring kept at the time:
No. Character.
Thickness, eet.
Depth, feet.
1 Earth and clay.
.45
.
2 Hard gray limestone.
11
56
3 Dark slate.
8
64
4 Limestone.
12
76
5 Dark slate.
5
81
6 Gray limestone.
17
98
7 Sand shale.
81
179
8
Limestone.
5
184
9
Soapstone
4
188
10
Sand shale
32
220
11 Slate shale. 18
238
12 Black slate. 1
239
208
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
No.
Character.
Thickness, feet.
Depth, feet.
-13
Coal.
9 inches 240
14
Gray slate.
14
254
15
Limestone.
3
257
15
Gray slate.
4
261
-16 Coal
4 inches
. .
17 Dark gray slate.
.15
276
18
Limestone.
5
281
19
Slate.
4
285
20
Fire Clay.
.10
295
21
Limestone.
.16
311
22
Slate.
30
341
-23
Coal.
1 inch
. .
24
Slate
29
370
-25
Coal.
15 inches ..
26
Slate
32
403
27
Sand shale.
11
414
28
Slate.
27
441
29
Sand shale.
9
450
30
Black slate.
11
461
31
Blue clay.
3
464
82
Gray slate.
3
467
33
Sand shale.
3
470
34 Slate (mixed)
64
534
35
Dark sandstone.
2
536
36
Black slate
16
552
-37
Coal
7 inches
. .
38
Clay
2
554
39
Slate (mixed).
20
574
40
Sand shale
62
636
41
Boulder.
8
644
42 Sand shale.
10
654
.
From this it will be observed that in going to the depth of 654 feet five small veins of coal were passed through, the thickest being only fifteen inches, and that at a depth of 370 feet. It was thought this vein was too light and at too great a depth to pay for opening and working.
It will be seen, too, that at the depth reached the same coal confor- mation still continued, and it is claimed that as long as the slate and shale continues there is still hope of finding coal.
Some believe that coal exists here in sufficient quantity to pay for opening and developing mines. It might be that at other points the veins would be much thicker.
In boring for coal near Bethany as above stated, at the depth of about 200 feet a vein of water was struck which has continued to flow ever since. Upon examination this water was found to contain some
209
STATE OF MISSOURI.
valuable mineral properties. No analysis of it has yet been made by a competent chemist, but those who have been using it for diseases are unanimous in their verdict that it is a mineral water of very excel- lent qualities. A gas pipe has been sunk through the loam and clay about forty-five feet to the point where rock was struck, and in this manner an opening has been preserved to secure the continual flow of the water. The flow of water has continued about the same as when first discovered, being about five gallons per minute.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In writing the history of the early settlement of Harrison County we have to rely very much upon the statements made to us by the oldest inhabitant and other old citizens. There was no newspaper published in the county until the year 1859. Since that time the files of the papers have been examined so as to get correct dates and full and reliable reports of the matters herein written. In preparing this article, we are under many obligations to Elder J. S. Allen and Col. D. J. Heaston, each of whom has heretofore written valuable articles upon the early settlement and history of the county from which, with their kind consent, we have drawn very largely.
As a general rule, all new countries are settled by poor, but hardy pioneers; men who desire homes for themselves and families, and are too poor to obtain them in the older States, strike out for the western border, where lands are wild and unoccupied, determined to face the dangers and inconveniences of the new country, in order to have a little farm they can call their own. The early settlers of Harrison County were of this class; poor, but honest yeomanry, brave, industri- ous and generous. A new country is generally a poor place for a lazy man, a dude, or a thief.
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