USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 43
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 43
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 43
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 43
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
Late in the spring or early summer of 1862, a State militia company (Union) was organized in Greenfield, and on the day that the officers were elected and the organization completed, and all were sworn into the service by Enrolling Officer John B. Clark, of Dadeville, it was reported, by a volunteer courier from the country, who came in " under whip and spurs," that a rebel force under Joe Shelby and John T. Coffee were advancing upon the town. At this instant the faithful enrolling officer, Clark,
478
STATE OF MISSOURI.
knowing that he was the one most desired, and likely to receive the harshest treatment by the enemy, went to the home of W. K. Latham, and asked the good lady of the house to hide him. This she did by putting him into a hole under the building - where vegetables were kept- through a trap door in the floor, over which she hastily spread a carpet. The enemy rushed into town and captured all of the new company, except a few who had retired to their homes in the vicinity, and searched eagerly for John B. Clark, but did not find him. All of the militiamen captured were sworn not to take up arms against the so-called Southern Confederacy. Afterward, upon being exchanged, nearly all of them volunteered in the United States service.
Company M of the Eighth Regiment Cavalry Missouri Volun- teers was mustered into the service in August, 1862, about one half of it having been recruited in Dade, and the other half in Polk County.
The first captain of the company was N. S. McCluer, who died at Forsythe, Mo., January 24, 1863. His successor was Capt. Alfred Kennedy, who resigned February 24, 1865. He was suc- ceeded by Capt. N. B. McDowell, who was mustered out with the regiment. The first lieutenant was Samuel G. Appleby, and the second David L. Burnes. The regiment to which this com- pany belonged operated mostly in Southern Missouri and Arkansas and down the Mississippi, and participated in many different engagements. It was mustered out at expiration of service at Little Rock, Ark., on the 20th day of July, 1865, mov- ing thence to Benton Barracks, Mo., where, on the 2d day of August following, it received final pay, and the men dispersed to their respective homes.
Companies E and I of the Fifteen Regiment Cavalry, Mis- souri Volunteers, were raised in Dade County early in 1863. The officers of the former were Capt. Edmond J. Morris and Lieutenants George F. Alder and Joel T. Hembree. The offi- cers of the latter were Capt. John H. Howard, and Lieutenants Robert Cowan and William K. Pyle. All of these officers served until the regiment was mustered out of service. Eight compa- nies composing this regiment were, on the first day of April, 1863, organized at Mt. Vernon, Mo., into what was known as
479
HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY.
the Second Provisional Regiment. On the 10th day of May fol- lowing, it was changed from the Second to the Seventh Provis- ional · Regiment, and, in September and October following, another battalion was added to it. Afterward, under orders of the War Department dated June 10, 1864, the Seventh Provis- ional Regiment was mustered into the United States service as the Fifteenth Cavalry Missouri Volunteers, for the term of twenty months, dating back from November 1, 1863, from which time the men had been doing actual service as State troops, without pay. This regiment did excellent service in Southwestern Mis- souri and Northwestern Arkansas, in fighting and extinguishing guerrillas and bushwhackers. It was mustered out at expiration of service, July 1, 1865.
Effects of the Strife .- Dade County suffered terribly from the ravages of the war. On one occasion, during the early part, while the Union State Militia were occupying Greenfield, a party of guerrillas, in the interest of the Southern cause, and for the purpose of plunder, made a raid upon the town. So sudden was the charge that the militiamen had not time to assemble for defense, but each one, from the several houses where they hap- pened to be; fired upon the enemy, killing one and compel- ling them to fall back. They fled southward, and burned the houses of many Union men on their way. This and other depre- dations so enraged the militia that squads of them, sent into the country, soon surpassed their orders and resorted to desperate measures in retaliation, such as burning the houses of those who harbored bushwhackers, whereupon both sides became infuriated and more or less indiscriminately applied the torch and killed defenseless men. A number of citizens were killed in their fields, or at their homes, or on the public roads, by unknown bush- whackers, and many dwellings and much other property through- out the county was laid in ashes. The capture of Greenfield and burning of the court house has been mentioned elsewhere. Greenfield was occupied a portion of the time during the war by the militia, and at other times by detachments from the cavalry regiments previously noted. The many cruel depredations, the killing of individuals and other atrocities committed in Dade County during the war period would furnish material sufficient in
480
STATE OF MISSOURI.
itself to fill a volume. Time, however, has served to mitigate these evil effects, and those who once fought as enemies, divided by bitter prejudices, have long since ceased to harbor ill feeling, and now work side by side, united in sentiment, with the one sincere ambition of promoting public good.
EDUCATIONAL.
Early Education. - Under the meager school system of Missouri, the public schools of Dade County in the early days of its existence were of the most ordinary character. The only sources of public revenue for their support were the small sums of money received as interest on the amount for which the school lands, consisting of the sixteenth section in each congressional township in the county, were sold, and a small distribution from State school funds. As the school lands were not disposed of for many years after the settlement of the county began, and, as only a small sum was obtained for them when sold, it follows that the . early schools had to be supported almost wholly by subscription. Whole townships were incorporated into a single school district, and many of the children of the pioneer settlers had to go several miles to school, or stay at home and grow up without an educa- . tion. Even when permitted to attend school, the terms were so short and the instruction of such an ordinary character that the pupils were not much benefited thereby.
Permanent School Funds .- Of these there are two belonging to the county, the township school fund and the county school fund. The township fund consists of the proceeds derived from the sale of the school lands, and the amount belonging to each congressional township in Dade County, as shown by the records, is as follows:
Township 30, Range 25 $ 848.39
Township 30, Range 26
400. 19
Township 30, Range 27 935.50
Township 30, Range 28 3,701.46
Township 31, Range 25
1,147.03
Township 31, Range 26.
602.30
Township 31, Range 27
650. 19
Township 31, Range 28.
460.00
Township 32, Range 25.
747.64
Township 32, Range 26
384. 15
Township 32, Range 27.
1, 195.89
Township 32, Range 28.
2,031.22
Total.
$13,103.96
48 1
HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY.
The county school fund is composed of " the net proceeds from the sale of estrays; also, the clear proceeds of all penalties and forfeitures, and of all fines collected in the several counties for any breach of the penal or military laws of this State; and of all moneys which shall be paid by persons as an equivalent for exemption from military duty." The proceeds from the sale of swamp lands donated by Congress to the State, and by the State to the counties, usually augment this fund; but, as Dade County did not secure title to any swamp lands, her school fund derived nothing from this source. The amount of this fund, as shown by the last annual report of the county clerk, was $7,809. 11. The township school fund can never increase after the school lands are all sold, but the county school fund will, for obvious reasons, for- ever continue to increase.
The State school law was radically changed soon after the close of the Civil War, an almost entirely new system being inaug- urated, and it has been changed and improved from time to time until the present more efficient educational system has become established. During the existence of slavery, there were no schools for the benefit of the colored children; but a revolution has taken place, and now the children of all classes, rich or poor, white or black, are provided with free public schools. To show the practical working of the school system in Dade County, the following statistics are taken from the last published report of the State Superintendent of Public Schools, it being for the year ending June 30, 1888:
Statistics .- Scholastic Population - White: male, 3,029; female, 2,789; total, 5,885. Colored: male, 62; female, 44; total, 106. Total white and colored, 5,991.
The number enrolled in the schools includes, white: males, 2,529; females, 2,528; total, 5,057; colored: males, 37; females, 31; total, 68. The total white and colored, 5,125.
Number of white schools. SI
Number of colored schools. 2
Number of rooms occupied 135 Seating capacity 7,434
Number of teachers employed. I35
30.85
Average salary of teachers per month $ Cost per day per pupil. .051
482
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Value of school property.
39,559.00
Paid for sites, building and furnishing. 1,266.00
Paid for incidentals.
2,545.00
Paid teachers
14,765.00
From these figures, it will be observed that eighty-five per cent, and a fraction over, of the white children enumerated for school privileges, attend the public schools, and that about sixty- four per cent of the colored children enumerated attend the public schools. Taken as a whole, this is a very creditable showing, as it proves that the public schools are patronized and appreciated. Unfortunately, however, the per cent of attend- ance by the colored children is very low, but this is accounted for by the fact that some of them reside so far from the colored schools that they cannot attend.
Financial .- The receipts and expenditures on account of the public schools in Dade County, as shown by the same report, were as follows:
Receipts.
Cash on hand July 1, 1887.
$ 6,890.44
State moneys.
6, 187.30
1
County moneys.
875.38
Township moneys
1,400.86
Railroad tax
1,704.33
Direct tax.
19,060.45
Total receipts.
$33,118.76
Total expenditures.
22,180.72
Cash on hand July 1, 1888.
$10,938.04
The permanent county school fund was augmented during the year by receipts from fines, penalties, etc., to the amount of $315.50.
The citizens of Dade County are in favor of and are sustaining the public free school system, as proven by this system.
Institute .- A teachers' institute, continuing twenty days, was held at Greenfield in the summer of 1888, under the management of Prof. W. S. Zeñor, assisted by W. Travis and G. Melcher, instructors. There were eighty-three teachers in attendance, and the tuition paid by each was only $2.50.
Ozark College is centrally located in a large and beautiful campus in the city of Greenfield. For several years previous to
.
483
HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY.
its location, the city had enjoyed the advantages of a prosperous school known as Ozark Seminary, which was conducted by Prof. W. J. Hawkins. It became necessary to erect a new building for the benefit of the institution. Ozark Presbytery, of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, having been desirous of locating an institution within her bounds, appointed a board of commission- ers to take into consideration propositions from competing points for the same. After due deliberation, the board decided to place the institution at Greenfield. The commissioners were, Rev. R. L. Vannice, G. W. Rinker, Rev. J. B. Ely, B. C. Pemberton and Rev. W. W. Brannin. The presbytery, at its first subsequent meeting, accepted the report of the commissioners, and enlarged the board to thirteen, by adding the names of the following gentlemen: Rev. G. W. Brown, J. W. Howard, John A. Ready, L. W. Shafer, T. E. Bell, Dr. A. C. Davis, L. M. Murphy and J. E. Garrett. The above-named persons were constituted a board of trustees.
Rev. W. J. Garrett was appointed financial agent, and directed to proceed at once in the collection of funds for the erec- tion of a much-needed college building. After some delay, coupled with perseverance and hard work, a neat, commodious and substantial two-story brick building was completed, costing, with the campus, $12,000. Rev. R. L. Vannice was the first president after it became a chartered institution, in the fall of 1881. The college has had its difficulties such as are attendant upon most all schools in their infancy, but it is now on a solid basis. It has had reasonable success, and, with the sympathy of its friends, the board confidently look for enlarged success and prosperity. Being located as it is, in a town of moderate size, with five churches, and no saloons, where board is cheap and society is refined and cultured, away from the temptations of larger places, it is a most desirable place to send pupils to obtain a higher education.
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
Cumberland Presbyterian Churches .- The Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, now of Greenfield, was organized in 1839, by Rev. J. D. Montgomery, with A. M. Long and wife, Joseph
484
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Lemaster and wife, M. H. Allison and wife, J. L. Allison and wife, Rev. J. Weir and wife, Leann Dycus and Rev. J. D. Montgomery and wife as constituent members. These were among the pioneer settlers of the county, and the church was organized in the vicinity of the site of Greenfield before the town had an existence. The church prospered until during the latter part of the war period, when it was without preaching, and the membership became scattered by removal and death. In the spring of 1866, the members remaining in the community were gathered up and the church reorganized. The present frame church edifice was erected in 1868-69 at a cost of $2,500, and was dedicated by Revs. J. N. Edmiston and , P. G. Rea. The pastors have been J. D. Montgomery, W. W. Brown, W. J. Garrett, B. F. Logan and R. L. Vannice, Rev. W. J. Garrett being the present pastor. The membership at present numbers 100.
Hickory Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church, three miles south of Arcola, was organized May 14, 1868, by Rev. John W. Bell. This congregation meets alternately at Hickory Grove and at the church building belonging to the Sunday School Union, three miles southwest of Hickory Grove. Rev. W. E. Shaw. was pastor of the congregation for four years, ending October 12, 1888, since which time Rev. J. R. Adkins has been pastor. The membership at this writing is sixty-seven. A great revival was conducted in 1886 with this congregation by Rev. Shaw, during which there were ninety confessions and from seventy to eighty accessions to the general church.
The Everton Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized March 6, 1884, by Rev. W. J. Garrett, with eleven constituent members. The frame church edifice belonging to this society, costing $1,200, was dedicated in March, 1888, by Rev. W. H. Wilson. The pastors have been W. J. Garrett, W. H. Stephens and W. R. Russell, and the present membership is forty-five in number. The names of the constituent members are W. Y. McLemore, Tennie Stephenson, Pinie Wilson, G. W. Wilson, Mary Nixon, A. M. Galbreth, Jane Carlock, Mrs. E. J. Holman, J. S. Pemberton, T. J. Bell and Mary Bell.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Sylvania was organ-
485
HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY.
ized in the spring of 1887, by Rev. W. H. Stephens, with a small membership, which has since increased to over thirty. A frame church edifice has been erected for the society, but it is not yet finished. When completed, it will cost from five hundred to six hundred dollars. The pastors have been Revs. W. H. Stephens and W. E. Shaw.
The South Greenfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in April, 1887, by Rev. W. E. Shaw, with a small membership, which has since increased to about twenty-four in number. Rev. Shaw has been the only pastor of this congregation. As yet they have no church edifice, but hope soon to build one.
Presbyterian Churches .- Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, at Greenfield, was organized June 4, 1842, by Rev. G. W. Bell, of Boonville, with the following constituent members, viz .: John M. and Polly Rankin, Nathan Wilkinson, Sr., Nathan Wilkin- son, Jr., Rebecca and Jane Wilkinson, Nancy Morris, John and Mary Tarbott, Jacob, Rachel and Ann A. Montgomery, Nancy S. Davidson, W. W. and Margaret D. Rankin, Margaret Gardner, James Sharp, Alfred and Jane Cowan, Mary Weir, Sr., Betsey and Sarah Wilkinson, Mary Bowers, Thomas and Sarah C. Ross, George and Margaret Rutledge, and Hannah, a colored woman and slave. The first church edifice belonging to this society - a brick house - was erected in 1854. In 1884 it was removed, and the present handsome brick edifice was erected in its place, at a cost of $4,500, and was dedicated April 2 of that year, by Rev. George H. Williamson. The brick of the old church were used in the construction of the new parsonage. The first board of elders were: Nathan Wilkinson, Sr., Jacob Montgomery, and John M. Rankin. Their successors have been: J. A. Strain, A. M. Wilson, W. W. Rankin, W. L. Scroggs, M. A. Garrison, J. T. Rankin, J. M. Mitchell, J. E. Mills, R. C. McMinn, H. Merrill, H. C. Mead and A. Kennedy. The pastors have been as follows, viz .: V. Pentzer, 1844-46; John McFarland, 1848-60; William R. Fulton, 1861-78; B. F. Powel- son, 1879-82; G. H. Williamson, 1882-85; John Foy, 1886, April to November; D. R. Crockett, 1887; January to April; W. G. Banker, present pastor, since October, 1887. The present membership is about 100 in number.
486
STATE OF MISSOURI.
This was the first Presbyterian Church organized south of the Osage River - the nearest one of the same denomination being then at Lexington, 150 miles north. At the dedication of the new church edifice, in 1884, there were, on the roll of members, 268 names, 75 of whom were dead, and 125 of whom had been dismissed, thus leaving a membership of sixty-eight.
Another church of this denomination was organized Decem- ber 13, 1883, at Lockwood, by Rev. George H. Williamson, with nineteen constituent members. The membership has since increased to thirty. The frame church edifice belonging to this society was erected in 1884, at a cost of $1, 500, and was dedi- cated in September of that year by Rev. J. J. Marks, D. D. The pastors have been George H. Williamson, G. T. Thompson and the present one W. G. Banker.
Reformed Presbyterian Church .- A few Reformed Presby- terians settled in Dade County about the years 1866 and 1867, and on the 10th of August, 1871, they were organized into a congregation by Revs. James Wallace, of St. Louis, Mo., and W. W. McMillan and Elder James Hutcheson, with forty-nine members - fourteen of whom were received from other churches. W. M. Edgar and Thomas McDermit were elected and ordained ruling elders, and Isaac Taylor and Thomas Reed, deacons. For nearly five years the congregation was supplied with preaching by the presbytery. Rev. Josiah Dodds commenced preaching for them in 1877, and in May, 1878, he was installed pastor, and resigned the charge in June, 1888, since which time they have been without a pastor. This church is located near Sylvania, and, until recently, it has held its meetings in a school-house one and a half miles north of that place. The building of a church edifice is contemplated.
Baptist Churches .- Grassy Hollow Missionary Baptist Church, located five miles east of Greenfield, was organized about the year 1844, with eighteen members, of whom John Campbell is the only one living at this writing. This was the first Baptist Church organized in Dade County, and their first church edifice was a log house. About the year 1865 the name was changed to Liberty Church, and the location to a point one mile west of Everton, where the present frame church was afterward con-
487
IIISTORY OF DADE COUNTY.
structed. The membership is now composed of sixty-six indi- viduals, and W. Z. T. Kimbler is the pastor.
Sinking Creek United Baptist Church was organized August 28, 1847, by Elder Thomas J. Kelley, with Michael Grisham, William Williams, Martha Grisham, Elizabeth Lawrence, Demsey Owen and seventeen other early settlers of the county as assist- ant members. The following year the society, in connection with other denominations, erected a hewed-log church edifice. The present house in which they worship is a large frame edifice, belonging to the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and the pub- lic. The pastors have been Elders Thomas J. Kelley, Josiah Stogsdill, John H. Tatum, Burrow Buckner, H. H. Williams, James Small, John Tatum, John D. Shelton, Calvin Bradley, Z. T. Eaton, G. W. Black, J. T. Rich, W. F. Parker, John Campbell and S. W. Brookens - the latter being present pastor. During the war period the church became disorganized, and was reorganized in 1866. The present members number sixty-three. The church is located in School District No. 5, Township 30, Range 25.
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church was organized September 9, 1848, by Elders David Stiles and S. L. Beckley. Among the original members were Jeremiah and Rebecca Court- ney, Hugh and Mary Gilmore, Anna Hastin, Susan McBee and Thomas Moore. Their first church - a frame building - was erected in 1855, near the farm of Joseph Killingsworth. It was afterward burned down. The present church - also a frame - was built in 1868, costing about $500. It was dedicated by Thomas Caska and E. M. Hunt. The pastors have been S. L. Beckley, David Stiles, John Satterfield, J. B. Box, John Ford, Alex. Lovall, W. H. Rate, James Cole, T. S. Caska, E. M. Hunt, C. Ingram, Lewis Hine, J. W. Hains, D. G. Young, S. L. Collins and James Meacham. Present membership, eighty-two.
Limestone Missionary Baptist Church was organized Sep- tember 14, 1849, by Elder S. L. Beckley, with N. Rutledge, E. Bowles, D. B. Rook, T. H. Jones, Lucinda Rook, Elizabeth Bowles and others. The first church edifice was built of logs, and the second was a frame building situated on Section 25, Town- ship 30, Range 27. Both of these were burned. The present
488
STATE OF MISSOURI.
edifice is a well finished frame structure, located on Section II, same township and range. The pastors have been mostly the same as for Pleasant Grove church. The membership numbers fifty-four. The second church building was burned in February, 1862, by United States troops, because it was thought to be a refuge at nights for the bushwhackers. T. H. Ragsdale is the church clerk.
Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, in the southeastern part of the county, was organized September 18, 1858, by Elders John H. Tatum and James Small, with Samuel Wheeler, Hugh H. McMillen, Lucy McMillen, Houston Wheeler and several other Wheelers and others as constituent members. About the same time a building was erected for church and school purposes, in which the congregation worshiped for some years. Latterly, a frame church edifice costing about $800 has been erected. The membership at present numbers 100. The pastors have been Elders J. H. Tatum, James Small, Elder Shelton, Lewis Hine, W. A. Dyson, S. W. Brookins and the present one, W. F. Parker. -
Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, located five miles southeast of Greenfield, near Pilgrim, was organized in 1866 or 1867, and a few years later their present frame church edifice was erected. The membership now numbers sixty-six, and the pastor is Elder Minor Gentry.
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church was organized August 6, 1871, by Elder Flemming, with about thirty constituent mem- bers. A frame church building erected afterward, was subse- quently burned. In 1882-83 the present frame edifice was erected, and on the third Sunday in May, 1886, it was dedicated by Elder M. D. Raimy. The pastors have been Revs. Harman, D. G. Young, Flemming, C. Ingram, Parker and M. D. Raimy. The membership numbers fifty-four.
Concord Baptist Church was organized November 23, 1872, by Elder B. F. Meek and A. C. Bradley, with the Bradley, Knowls, Claypool, Burney and other families among the constit- uent members. Their present frame church edifice, costing $500, was erected in 1876, on Section 29, Township 31, Range 24, which is in the edge of Greene County, the membership being
489
HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY.
mostly in Dade County. This church was dedicated May 28, 1876, by Elder G. W. White. The pastors have been A. C. Bradley, G. W. White, T. N. Horner, R. C. Gilmore, W. F. Parker and J. C. T. Wood. The membership numbers fifty-one.
Cedarville Missionary Baptist Church was organized August 3, 1873, by Elders S. L. Collins and S. M. Hunt, with a small num- ber of members, which has since increased to forty-seven. The house in which they worship - a frame church -built in union with other denominations, was erected in 1880, at a cost of about $800. The pastors have been Elders S. L. Collins, D. M. Flem- ming, J. W. Hains, Lewis Hine, A. C. Bradley, J. B. Horn, Charles Ingram, Robert Dryscal and Elihu Lee.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.