USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 7
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of the Franklin school building in Clinton. This will be remembered as the central or main part of the old eighteen-room building which stood on the spot where now stands the Clinton High School. Two wings were added later. .
In 1866, was organized the first Presbyterian church of Clinton, the Rev. J. B. Allen being secured to serve as pastor in the year 1870. In the next year, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized with B. L. Owen and B. L. Coyles, as ruling elders. In 1868, the first church was erected, costing $3,000; this was replaced in 1877 by a fine brick structure, costing the sum of $9,000. This building is the one which is now occupied by the first Presbyterian Church.
It seems that the year 1866 was the year for organizing churches in Clinton, for on the first Sabbath in June, under the leadership of Dr. S. Jones, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. The First Baptist Church was organized in September, of the same year, by the Rev. James Wood. The original members included the Barlowes, T. D. Hancock, Will- iam H. Dodge, Sallie Avery, P. S. and Laura Jennings. In the same year, the Christian Church re-organized under the leadership of Elder Birge, although the first meeting of the denomination was held as early as 1854.
In 1869, a group of musicians gathered together the Clinton Silver Cornet Band. The second set of instruments which this band bought is said to have cost $1,000. It was one of many such organizations that sprang up throughout the country. A few years later there appeared in the newspapers the advertisement of W. L. Windsor, a well-known merch- ant tailor, to the effect that he "made a specialty of band uniforms." Few tailors in the country towns such as Clinton was would in these days, waste money by advertising to furnish band uniforms.
The town of Windsor was also hit hard by the Civil War; however, in the last five years of the decade, 1860-1870, it doubled its population, having about 550 people within its limits on the latter date.
In Windsor, these years were noted by the organization of several churches. The Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was moved to Windsor in 1867. It had been organized as far back as 1853. In 1865, the Rev. B. F. Lawler took charge and from that time on, notable progress was made. At this church, the Tebo Baptist Association was formed. 1869 saw the beginning of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Windsor, while the Congregational Church had been in existence nearly a year. The Christian Church of Windsor met and organized in the early part of the
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decade, while the Mount Zion Church of the Cumberland Presbyterian organization came into existence some five years before the Civil War began. Outside of the towns, the Stone Chapel was organized by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1866 in Germantown. In 1869, the name was changed to Camp Branch; in 1871, it became the Montrose Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Another town was incorporated in the year 1870. The petition appear- ing upon the records of the County Court under date of the 10th of February, is as follows :
"Whereas, a petition was this day presented to the court signed by sundry citizens of the town of Calhoun, in the County of Henry, pray- ing to have the said town incorporated and setting forth the metes and bounds thereof, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that two-thirds of the taxable inhabitants of said town have signed said peti- tion, and also that the prayer in said petition is reasonable, it is there- fore ordered by the court that the inhabitants of said town of Calhoun be declared to be incorporated within the metes and bounds as set forth in said petition, towit:
"Beginning at the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section No. 36, township 43, of range 25, run- ning north 320 rods; thence east 320 rods; thence south 320 rods; thence west to the place of beginning, and to be known and styled by the name and style of the 'Inhabitants of the Town of Calhoun.' And the court doth hereby appoint Tower Thomasson, Joseph Hairrell, J. W. Minish, Will- iam Gutridge and J. F. Agnew as a board of trustees for said town. ac- cording to the statutes in such cases made and provided."
The growth of the newly incorporated town of Calhoun was de- pendent upon her pottery business; this continued to be her chief industry until the coming of the railroads and the introduction of machinery made the hand potteries unprofitable. As was done in Clinton, there was a cornet band organized in Calhoun during this decade.
Shortly after the Civil War, the postoffice in Shawnee was moved from a place about three miles west of the present little village of Shaw- nee Mound, where it was first established about 1860, to its present loca- tion, and called by the present name of Shawnee Mound. In 1869, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Shawnee Mound was organized. The other village in this township became the voting precinct on the 11th of November, 1865, when the polls were moved from Kimseyville to Hunt-
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ingdale. The first house built in what is now Huntingdale, was built by Aaron Kahn, in the year 1855. The first physician was Doctor Royston; the first postmaster, B. L. Quarles, for many years county clerk of Henry County. No history of this part of the county, nor in fact, of the county itself, would be complete without at least a mention of "Squire" William Paul, as he is known to all the present generation, who was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1820, and who came to the, land on which he is now living at this writing, in 1842. Squire Paul built the house in which, on January 1, 1919, he was still living. The stories which he tells of early pioneer life should be printed in a book; many a time he has driven cattle from near his present home to Boonville to ship them by boat to St. Louis. He would return on the train to Sedalia and then walk home. He relates as the biggest sale which he ever attended, the sale of negroes for which he served as auctioneer; the total sale amounted to $22,500; the highest price of $1,330 being paid for "Big Jim." For his work as auctioneer, he was given $2. He made of walnut logs the bed on which he slept for sixty years. He bought four hundred of the walnut logs for $1 per hundred. He was a justice of the peace for fifty years and many a time held court under the shade tree in his yard.
The first church at Huntingdale was the Mount Zion Presbyterian Church, the organization of which was effected in 1855; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1869, while the Methodist Episcopal Church appeared in 1871. In Davis township, the La Due Chris- tian Church was organized in 1866. The year 1867 was marked by the establishment of Consville by Captain J. L. Consollis, who was the first postmaster. Two years later, Consville was joined to Brownington, which was first located in 1869 by William M. Doyle.
From 1870 to 1880, the growth of Henry County was steady, but marked by no unusual events except as are described elsewhere in this volume. The year 1871 marks the purchase of an improved farm for county purposes. One hundred and sixty acres, including twenty acres of woodland, was purchased for the sum of $7,200, the same to be paid in three equal installments of $2,400 each. Robert Allen was put in charge as superintendent and J. W. Stewart as county physician. D. A. Henry became the first farm manager.
The first city of the fourth class to be organized in the county was the city of Clinton. It may be of interest to know the town officers prior to the organization as a city of the fourth class. The list for 1876 is therefore given:
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Trustees, William H. Lawrence, chairman; R. C. McBeth, Frank S. Gobar, Henry Reihl, Martin W. Mann; collector, Ernest Snyder; city at- torney and city clerk, Samuel E. Price; assessor, Charles Snyder; treas- urer, Harry S. Leonard; marshal, Asa Smith; census taker, Samuel B. Orem; engineer, James B. Burgen. In 1872, J. G. Middelcoff was chair- man of the board of trustees, and Dr. P. S. Jennings in 1874 and 1875. The latter year the following constituted the board: Trustees elected, P. S. Jennings, J. B. Colt, John Oechsli, James Brannum, Dr. G. Y. Salmon.
On February 14, 1878, an election was called at which by a practically unanimous vote-only one vote being cast in opposition-Clinton decided to incorporate as a city of the fourth class. The following April, the first election was held. It resulted in the election of S. Blatt as mayor, defeating Mr. Bollinger by thirty-eight votes. Doctor Britts, Mr. Brannum, who built the Brannum Mills; Mr. M. A. Fyke, who is now assistant city coun- sellor of Kansas City, were three of the six aldermen elected. C. A. Calvird, now circuit judge of the judicial circuit composed of Henry, Bates, St. Clair and Benton Counties, became the first city clerk.
The year 1875 saw the erection in Clinton of the Catholic Church, it being one of the last organized in the town. During the decade, 1870 to 1880, two citizens of Clinton were singularly honored in the State, Harvey W. Salmon being treasurer of the State in 1872 and B. G. Boone, afterwards attorney general, being chosen as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1874.
The year 1876 witnessed one of the most destructive fires in the his- tory of the town. It destroyed several buildings on the northeast corner of the square, east side, the Fulkerson and Parks building being one of the finest in Clinton. Fulkerson and Parks lost on building about $15,000 and on drug stock $7,500, insurance $15,800; Doctor Dimmitt, surgical instruments and library, $800; Clinton Cornet Band, instruments, $300; furniture, etc., Odd Fellows, insured $500; furniture, etc., Ancient Free and Accepted Masons $1,200, insurance $800; Heckler's saloon $300, insured; the building belonging to Doctor Williams $500, insured for $300; Samuel Williams' loss, $500, no insurance. Goods in the express office were destroyed upon which were charges amounting to $75; value of goods not known. This was the principal damage. The heat broke some glass and other light damages were sustained, but not of any great value. The fire was believed to have been the work of an incendiary.
On the 5th of February, 1873, the County Court granted the petition
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, SCHOOL AND RECTORY, MONTROSE, MO.
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of the City of Windsor to be incorporated and from that date, the town of Windsor ceased to be a village. The trustees appointed by the County Court were as follows: C. C. Morse, J. W. Gray, W. J. Colbow, W. J. Living- ston and W. B. Pomeroy.
This board met on the 8th of February and elected W. J. Colbow as chairman and appointed W. J. Clark as clerk and A. Cliff Clark, marshal. This organization continued until 1878, when by act of the board of trus- tees, Windsor was incorporated as a city of the fourth class. The first mayor was James M. Burress. At the same election, E. N. Jerome was elected marshal. E. Bass, M. A. Owen, David Black, Frank Ham, M. L. Stafford and J. C. Beatty were elected aldermen.
In the census of 1870, Deepwater township was the second township in the county in point of population. In 1872 it was divided into two voting precincts, Montrose having been founded in 1871; it was located on land belonging to Joseph Patton and D. C. Cross. Brad Robinson was the first resident and built the first house, but he was soon followed by the business houses of the town of Germantown. Twice in the history of the county have towns moved as wholes-the second time being when the town of Urich moved from what is now known as Old Urich, to the present site on the railroad.
In 1875, Montrose suffered what is known as "The Big Fire." All told, eleven business houses and their contents were destroyed; the total loss running up to $75,000. The town had been organized but a year, the petition for incorporation being presented to the court on the 23rd of July, 1874. In 1882, the town was organized as a city of the fourth class and George W. Dunn elected as first mayor, with a salary of fifty dollars per year. Other churches were organized during this decade; the Hickory Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, being organized in Tebo township, in 1874 by the Rev. John A. Murphy. The Brownington Presbyterian Church came into existence in 1873, although no building was erected until 1880. The first pastor was Rev. J. F. Watkins. The Mt. Zion Methodist Epis- copal Church erected a building in 1872 within about a mile of the St. Clair County line. While the building was not built until this late date, yet it was one of the oldest churches in the county, its history extending back to the fifties.
Calhoun also suffered a great fire, on December 3, 1877, an entire block of buildings being consumed.
In April, 1871, H. C. McDonald built the first house in the old town of Urich.
CHAPTER XVI.
CIVIL WAR HISTORY
MASS MEETING IN CLINTON-PETITION TO GOVERNOR STEWART-ENLISTMENTS IN BOTH ARMIES-EVENTS IN THE STATE-SURRENDER OF CAMP JACKSON -FLIGHT OF GOVERNOR JACKSON-RETREAT OF PRICE THROUGH HENRY COUNTY-BATTLES OF CARTHAGE AND WILSON'S CREEK-GENERAL OR- DER No. 11.
It is hard to determine from official records, the part played by Henry County and its people in the war between the States. It would be very interesting to have all of the historical data gathered and a connected story written telling accurately and well the history of this struggle within the borders of the county, and the part played by resi- dents thereof in other parts of the State and Nation. The opening of the war, as far as this county was concerned, antedated the firing on Sump- ter by some months and it would seem from the following official record, that the war began in southwest Missouri, long before the Star of the West was turned back in Charleston Harbor and the Confederate batteries compelled Major Anderson to haul down his flag at Fort Sumpter.
At the opening of the session of the Legislature, in 1860-1861, the then Governor of the State, Clayborn F. Jackson, submitted the following document, with the recommendation that the Legislature should take such steps as the good of the commonwealth demanded, the first document showing results of the action of the people of Henry County in mass meeting assembled :
"At a meeting of the citizens of Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, held at the court house on the night of the 20th of November, 1860, the following, among other proceedings, were had, towit:
"After a speech from Judge Williams, of Kansas Territory, and other gentlemen, the following resolutions were adopted:
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"Whereas, We have received indisputable evidence of the fact that the notorious Montgomery, of Kansas, has lately been receiving large supplies of arms, money and provisions from the East, and he has erected a fort and has supplied the same with munitions of war, and that he has collected a large band of outlaws around him, and that he has pub- lished that the United States District Court should not convene at Fort Scott; that the several United States officers in that portion of Kansas Territory should leave the territory or be killed; that these officers have been compelled to abandon their official duties and flee for their lives ; that several citizens of the county have actually been murdered, property plundered, negroes stolen and the border counties threatened with in- vasion, and open and extensive preparations made to carry the threats into execution, for the purpose of murder, plunder and negro stealing.
"Resolved, That a volunteer company be organized for the purpose of defending our own homes, and, if necessary, the western borders of the State.
"Resolved, That a messenger be immediately sent to the Governor of the State with a request to provide for the purpose.
"Resolved, That Thomas E. Owen, Norval Spangler, J. C. Alexander, J. Davis, A. M. Tutt, B. L. Dozier, T. W. Royston, S. P. Ashby and Burt Holcomb be appointed to enroll such names as may be willing to join a volunteer company and to effect an organization of the same.
"Resolved, That D. C. Stone and W. A. Duncan be appointed a com- mittee to wait upon the governor and represent to him the emergency of the case, and, if possible, to procure a supply of arms.
"Resolved, That a committee of fifteen be appointed to inform the citizens of the County of Henry of the meeting and its purposes, of the 22nd instant and devise means for the same: Tebo, A. C. Avery, J. Davis; Springfield, R. K. Murrell, E. J. Warth; Osage, A. T. Bush, N. S. Spangler; Deepwater, B. L. Dozier, L. Cruce; Big Creek, B. L. Quarles, J. G. Dorman; Bogard, Jesse Nave, B. G. Boone; Grand River, S. P. Ashby, W. H. Cock, J. H. Vance.
"Resolved, That a messenger be sent to Warsaw, Osceola, Lexington and Warrensburg, and take with them a copy of the proceedings of this meeting and ask their co-operation: Lexington, A. Raney, Hampton Winew; Warrensburg, T. A. Hust, M. W. Lowry; Osceola, B. F. Cox, H. C. Tutt; Warsaw, H. S. Marvin, R. L. Burge.
"I. M. CRUSE, Chairman.
"B. L. QUARLES, Secretary."
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"Clinton, Missouri, November 20, 1860.
"Governor Stewart:
"Sir-I am here to inform the citizens of this place of the following facts; and I have been requested to present them to you as Governor of the State:
"The Abolitionists, under the command of Montgomery and Doctor Jennison, to the number of from three to five hundred, armed with Sharpe's rifles, dragoon sabres, navy revolvers and bowie knives each, have sud- denly commenced a war of extreme ferocity on the law-abiding citizens of southern Kansas, in the counties of Linn and Bourbon.
"These arms arrived by the wagon load at or near Mound City, about one month since, in boxes marked as donations for Kansas sufferers. They are all new.
"Montgomery had been at Boston during part of the summer, and returned with plenty of money to enlist recruits. Many of his men are freshly imported. He has taken possession of Fort Scott and other towns on the border near the Missouri line. He has murdered Mr. Moore, a grand juror; Mr. Harrison, Mr. Samuel Scott, Mr. Hindes, and obliged all of the United States officers, including myself, to fly for our lives. His openly expressed design in a public speech, as he said, 'Without conceal- ment,' is to keep possession of Fort Scott and other places near the State line, to preent 'a fire in the rear," while he cleaned out 'southern Missouri of slaves.' So far, he has carried out literally his declared pro- gram.
"The citizens of Missouri on the Osage, Marmaton, and in Bates and Vernon, are flying from their homes into the interior.
"He boasts that he has money and arms to sustain one thousand men. These are facts. 'Omne pars fui.'
"My court was broken up by them-the United States Court for the Southern District. I expect they have seized the records, and also the records of the land office, as he publicly declared he would do so.
"I send this in haste to accompany the proceedings, etc., of a meet- ing of the citizens here. Yours, etc.,
"J. WILLIAMS,
"U. S. District Judge, 3rd Judicial District of the Territory of Kansas."
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"Warsaw, Missouri, November 22, 1860. "To D. C. Stone:
"Montgomery is at Ball's Mill-stole a number of negroes and mur- dered six or eight men. Williams is here. Great excitement-meeting to be held tonight-company formed.
"J. H. LEACH."
"Warsaw, Missouri, November 22, 1860. "To General Hackney:
"Is it possible to get the military from Saint Louis, say five hundred men, armed and equipped? Montgomery has actually invaded the State, and is now near Taberville. Reply immediately.
"JAMES ATKISSON."
The following extract from a letter written from Papinville, Bates County, Missouri, December 2, 1860, to Gen. G. A. Parsons, was also pre- sented by the governor to the Legislature with the others. The extract is as follows :
"They have been in the State in parties, evidently for the purpose of stealing negroes and other property, and to murder some of our citizens ; they have also threatened the Democratic Banner, a newspaper published at West Point, Bates County, Missouri; and wherefore we would state that our county is virtually besieged, our lives and property being en- dangered by this band of outlaws, compelling us to be armed to repel an invasion, with which Montgomery has threatened us in public speeches. Our State has been invaded and is now in imminent danger of being again visited by Montgomery and his hired band. We would further repre- sent that on account of the present state of affairs, general distress now prevails. Slave owners have sent their negroes to the interior of the State.
"All honest and law-abiding men of southern Kansas have either left or are leaving the territory, abandoning their all to save life.
"In conclusion we would repeat to you, that we deem this section of Missouri in danger, which we are but poorly prepared to resist suc- cessfully. We also believe that they will attack us before spring; that this border has been selected as battle ground of the two great parties, the one for the Constitution and the Union, and the other for Abolition and Disunion.
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"The leaders-Montgomery and Jennison-of the latter party openly and defiantly state that their object is to steal and liberate negroes in southwest Missouri, and to hang or shoot every man who opposes them, being well armed with new and superior arms, and money supplied from the East; they have now possession of Fort Scott and other important places near the State line, and if not crushed, we may soon meet them in our State with sufficient force to carry out their programı."
The people of Missouri began to see that if something was not done blood and carnage would soon begin its terrible work. Union meetings were held in almost every county of the State, but the people while favor- ing union to the last degree, had no love for the abolition fanatics who were doing all that devils incarnate could do to precipitate a deadly con- flict. In Henry County strong Union sentiments were expressed as above and another meeting called. The proceedings are here given:
Democratic Meeting.
"Pursuant to a previous notice, a large number of the citizens of Henry County met at the court house at Clinton on the 9th of January, 1860, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the Democratic State Convention, which convened at Jefferson City on the 9th of April next, when the following proceedings were had:
"Major William M. Wall was made chairman and R. K. Murrell ap- pointed secretary of the meeting.
"On motion of R. L. Burge, it was resolved that a committee of six be appointed to draft resolutions expressing the sense of this meeting; whereupon the following gentlemen were selected, towit: R. L. Burge, L. Cruce, John A. Bushnell, J. G. Dorman, G. F. Warth and James Swindle.
"During the absence of the committee the meeting was addressed by Messrs. Marvin, Williams, and Murrell upon the political questions of the day. The committee returned and reported the following preamble and resolutions :
"Whereas, The United States have advanced more rapidly than any other nation in all the elements that constitute greatness; and whereas, the administration of the general government has been in the hands of the Democratic party for the greater portion of that time; therefore
"Be It Resolved, That we have entire confidence in the principles of the Democratic party ;
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"Resolved, second, That we regard the so-called Republican party of the North as a sectional and fanatical one, whose avowed principles are directly subversive of the Constitution, and whose ultimate triumph would be a national calamity-greatly endangering the Union of the States ; and that we look with extreme reprobation at its attempted organi- zation in our own State.
"Resolved, third, That in the Democratic party we recognize a truly national party, unwaveringly devoted to the rights and interests of every section of our common country, and to the preservation and perpetuity of the entire Union.
"Resolved, fourth, That we hereby pledge ourselves unanimously and cordially to support the nominee of the Charleston convention, and of our State convention, which convenes at Jefferson City on the 9th of April next.
"Resolved, fifth, That we endorse the Cincinnati platform, adopted June, 1856, and the principles enunciated in the Dred Scot case.
"Resolved, sixth, That having full confidence in the ability and integ- rity of the Hon. Waldo P. Johnson, of Saint Clair, we hereby instruct our delegates to the State convention to cast the vote of this county for him as our first choice for governor.
"Resolved, seventh, That having entire confidence in the qualifications, and fitness of our esteemed fellow-citizen, Major Daniel Ashby, of Henry, for the office of State Treasurer, we hereby instruct our delegates to cast the vote of this county for him as first choice for said office.
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