USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Chariton Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most official authentic and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 3
USA > Missouri > Chariton County > History of Howard and Chariton Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most official authentic and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 3
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
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Missouri, bat the financial needs of Napoleon afforded our Govern- ment an opportunity to add another empire to its domain.
On the 31st of October. 1803, an act of Congress was approved. authorizing the President to take possession of the newly acquired territory, and provided for it a temporary government, and another act, approved March 26, 1804, authorized the division of the " Louis- iana Purchase," as it was then called, into two separate territories. All that portion south of the 33d parallel of north latitude was called the " Territory of Orleans," and that north of the said parallel was known as the " District of Louisiana," and was placed under the jurisdiction of what was then known as " Indian Territory."
By virtue of an set of Congress, approved March 3, 1805, the " District of Louisiana " was organized as the " Territory of Louis- iana," with a territorial government of its own, which went into operation July 4th of the same year, and it so remained till 1812. In this year the " Territory of Orleans " became the State of Louisiana, and the " Territory of Louisiana " was organized as the " Territory of Missouri."
This change took place under an act of Congress, approved June 4, 1812. In 1819, a portion of this territory was organized as " Arkan- sas Territory," and on August 10, 1521, the State of Missouri was admitted. being a part of the former " Territory of Missouri."
In 1835, the " Platte Purchase," then being a part of the Indian Territory, and now composing the counties of Atchi-on, Andrew, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway and Platte, was made by treaty with the Indians, and added to the State. It will be seen, then, that the soil of Missouri belonged : -
1. To France, with other territory.
2. In 1763, with other territory, it was ceded to Spain.
3. October 1, 1800, it was eeded, with other territory from Spain. back to France.
4. April 30, 1803, it was ceded, with other territory, by France to the United States.
5. October 31, 1803, a temporary government was authorized by Congress for the newly acquired territory.
6. October 1, 1804, it was included in the " District of Louisiana " and placed under the territorial government of Indiana.
7. July 4, 1805, it was included as a part of the " Territory of Louisiana," then organized with a separate territorial government.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
8. June 4, 1812, it was embraced in what was then made the " Ter- ritory of Missouri."
9. August 10, 1821, it was admitted into the Union as a State.
10. In 1836, the " Platte Purchase" was made, adding more ter- ritory to the State.
The cession by France, April 30, 1803, vested the title in the United States, subject to the claims of the Indians, which it was very justly the policy of the Goverment to recognize. Before the Government of the United States could vest clear title to the soil in the grantee it was necessary to extinguish the Indian title by purchase. This was done accordingly by treaties made with the Indians at different times.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The name of the first white man who set foot on the territory now embraced in the State of Missouri, is not known, nor is it known at what precise period the first settlements were made. It is, however, generally agreed that they were made at Ste. Genevieve and New Bourbon, tradition fixing the date of the settlements in the autumn of 1735. These towns were settled by the French from Kaskaskia and St. Philip in Illinois.
St. Louis was founded by Pierre Laclede Liguest, on the 15th of February, 1764. He was a native of France, and was one of the members of the company of Laelede Liguest, Antonio Maxant & Co., to whom a royal charter had been granted, confirming the privilege of an exclusive trade with the Indians of Missouri as far north as St. Peter's River.
While in search of a trading post he ascended the Mississippi as far as the month of the Missouri, and finally returned to the present town site of St. Louis. After the village had been laid off he named it St. Louis in honor of Louis XV., of France.
The colony thrived rapidly by accessions from Kaskaskia and other towns on the east side of the Mississippi, and its trade was largely in_ ereased by many of the Indian tribes, who removed a portion of their peltry trade from the same towns to St. Louis. It was incorporated as a town on the ninth day of November, 1809, by the Court of Com- mon Pleas of the district of St. Louis; the town trustees being Auguste Chouteau, Edward Hempstead, Jean F. Cabanne, Wm. C. Carr and William Christy, and incorporated as a city December 9, 1822. The selection of the town site on which St. Louis stands was highly judicious, the spot not only being healthful and having the ad-
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INSTORY OF MISSOURI.
vantages of water transportation unsurpassed, but surrounded by a beautiful region of country, rich in soil and mineral resources. St. Louis has grown to be the fifth city in population in the Union, aud is to-day the great center of internal commerce of the Missouri, the Mississippi and their tributaries, and, with its railroad facilities, it is destined to be the greatest inland city of the American continent.
The next settlement was made at Potosi, in Washington County, in 1765, by Francis Breton, who, while chasing a bear, discovered the mine near the present town of Potosi, where he afterward located.
One of the most prominent pioneers who settled at Potosi was Moses Austin, of Virginia, who, in 1795, received by grant from the Spanish government a league of land, now known as the "Austin Sur- vey." The grant was made on condition that Mr. Austin would es- tablish a lead mine at Potosi and work it. He built a palatial residence, for that day. on the brow of the hill in the little village, which was for many years known as " Durham Hall." At this point the first shot-tower and sheet-lead manufactory were erected.
Five years after the founding of St. Louis the first settlement made in Northern Missouri was made near St. Charles, in St. Charles County, in 1769. The name given to it, and which it retained till 1784, was Les Petites Cotes, signifying, Little Hills. The town site was located by Blanchette, a Frenchman, surnamed LeChasseur, who built the first fort in the town and established there a military post.
Soon after the establishment of the military post at St. Charles. the old French village of Portage des Sioux, was located on the Missis- sippi, just below the mouth of the Illinois River, and at abont the same time a Kickapoo village was commenced at Clear Weather Lake. The present town site of New Madrid, in New Madrid county, was settled in 1781, by French Canadians, it then being occupied by Del- aware Indians. The place now known as Big River Mille, St. Fran- cois county, was settled in 1796. Andrew Baker, John Alley, Francis Starnater and John Andrews, each locating claims. The following year, a settlement was made in the same county, just below the pres- ent town of Farmington, by the Rev. William Murphy, a Baptist min- ister from East Tennessee. In 1796, settlements were made in Perry county by emigrants from Kentucky and Pennsylvania ; the latter lo- eating in the rich bottom lands of Bois Brule, the former generally settling in the " Barrens," and along the waters of Saline Creek.
Bird's Point, in Mississippi county, opposite Cairo, Illinois, was settled August 6, 1800, by John Johnson, by virtue of a land-grant
25
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
from the commandant under the Spanish Government. Norfolk and Charleston, in the same county, were settled respectively in 1800 and 1801. Warren county was settled in 1801. Loutre Island, below the present town of Hermann, in the Missouri River, was settled by a few American families in 1807. This little company of pioneers suf- fored greatly from the floods, as well as from the incursions of thieving and blood-thirsty Indians, and many incidents of a thrilling character could be related of trials and struggles, had we the time and space.
In 1807, Nathan and Daniel M. Boone, sons of the great hunter and pioneer, in company with three others, went from St. Louis to " Boone's Liek," in Howard county, where they manufactured salt and formed the nucleus of a small settlement.
Cote Sans Dessein, now called Bakersville, on the Missouri River, in Callaway county, was settled by the French in 1801. This little town was considered at that time, as the " Far West" of the new world. During the war of 1812, at this place many hard-fought battles occurred between the whites and Indians, wherein womm's fortitude and courage greatly assisted in the defence of the settle- ment.
In 1810. a colony of Kentuckians numbering one hundred and fifty families immigrated to Howard county, and settled on the Missouri River in Cooper's Bottom near the present town of Franklin, and opposite Arrow Rock.
Such, in brief, is the history of some of the early settlements of Missouri, covering a period of more than half a century.
These settlements were made on the water courses ; usually along the banks of the two great streams, whose navigation afforded then transportation for their marketable commodities, and communication with the civilized portion of the country.
They not only encountered the gloomy forests, settling as they did by the river's brink, but the hostile incursion of savage Indians, by whom they were for many years surrounded.
The expedients of these brave men who first broke ground in the territory, have been succeeded by the permanent and tasteful improve- ments of their descendants. Upon the spots where they toiled, dared and died, are seen the comfortable farm, the beautiful village, and thrifty city. Churches and school houses greet the eye on every hand ; railroads diverge in every direction. and. indeed, all the appli- ances of a higher civilization are profusely strewn over the smiling surface of the State.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Culture's hand Has scattered verdure o'er the land; And smiles and fragrance rule serene, Where barren wild usurped the sceuc.
SOME FIRST THINGS.
The first marriage that took place in Missouri was April 20, 1766, iu St. Louis.
The first baptism was performed in May, 1766, in St. Louis.
The first house of worship, ( Catholic) was elected in 1775, at St. Louis.
The first ferry established in 1805, on the Mississippi River, at St. Louis.
The first newspaper established in St. Louis ( Missouri Gacette), in 1808.
The first postoffice was established in 1804, in St. Louis - Rufus Easton, post-mastcr.
The first Protestant church erected at Ste. Genevieve, in 1806 - Baptist.
The first bank established ( Bank of St. Louis), in 1814.
The first market house opened in 1811, in St. Louis.
The first steamboat on the Upper Mississippi was the General Pike, Capt. Jacob Reid ; landed at St. Louis 1817.
The first board of trustees for public schools appointed in 1817, St. Louis.
The first college built (St. Louis College), in 1817.
The first steamboat that came up the Missouri River as high as Franklin was the Independence, in May, 1819; Capt. Nelson, mas- ter.
The first court house erected in 1823, in St. Louis.
The first cholera appeared in St. Louis in 1832.
The first railroad convention held in St. Louis, April 20, 1836.
The first telegraph lines reached East St. Louis, December 20, 1847.
The first great fire occurred in St. Louis, 1849.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
CHAPTER V.
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION.
Organization 1812 -- Conucil -- House of Representatives - William Clark first Terri- torial Governor- Edward Hempstead first Delegate - Spanish Grant- -- First General Assembly - Proceedings - Second Assembly -- Proceedings - Population of Territory - Vote of Territory - Rufus Easton - Absent Members -- Third Assem- Uly - Proceedings - Application for Admission.
Congre- organized Missouri as a Territory, July 4, 1812, with a Governor and General Assembly. The Governor, Legislative Coun- cil, and House of Representatives exercised the Legislative power of the Territory, the Governor's vetoing power being absolute.
he Legislative Council was composed of nine members, whose ten- ure of office lasted five years. Eighteen citizens were nominated by the House of Representatives to the President of the United States, from whom he selected, with the approval of the Senate, nine Coun- cillors, to compose the Legislative Council.
The House of Representatives consisted of members chosen every two years by the people, the basis of representation being one mem- ber for every five hundred white males. The first House of Repre- sentatives consisted of thirteen members, and, by Act of Congress, the whole number of Representatives could not exceed twenty-five.
The judicial power of the Territory, was vested in the Superior and Inferior Courts, and in the Justices of the Peace ; the Superior Court having three judges, whose term of office continued four years, hav- ing original and appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases.
The Territory could send one delegate to Congress. Governor Clark issued a proclamation, October 1st, 1812, required by Congress, reorganizing the distriets of St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, and New Madrid, into five counties, and fixed the second Monday in November following, for the election of a delegate to Congress, and the members of the Territorial House of Represen- tatives.
William Clark, of the expedition of Lewis and Clark, was the first Territorial Governor, appointed by the President, who began his duties 1813.
Edward Hempstead, Rufus Easton, Samuel Hammond, and Matthew Lyon were candidates in November for delegates to Congress.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Edward Hempstead was clected, being the first Territorial Dele- gate to Congress from Missouri. He served one term, declining a second, and was instrumental in having Congress to pass the act of June 13, 1812, which he introduced, confirming the title to lands which were claimed by the people by virtue of Spanish grants. The same aet confirmed to the people " for the support of schools," the title to village lots, out-lots or common field lots, which were held and enjoyed by them, at the time of the session in 1803.
Under the act of June 4, 1812, the first General Assembly held its session in the house of Joseph Robidoux. in St. Louis, on the 7th of December, 1812. The names of the members of the House were : -- St. Charles. - John Pitman and Robert Spencer.
St. Louis. - David Music, Bernard G. Farrar, William C. Carr, and Richard Clark.
Ste. Genevieve. - George Bullet, Richard S. Thomas, and Isaac McGready.
Cape Girardeau. - George F. Bollinger, and Spencer Byrd.
New Madrid. - John Shrader and Samuel Phillips.
John B C. Lucas, one of the Territorial Judges, administered the oath of office. William C. Carr was elected speaker, and Andrew Scott, Clerk.
The House of Representatives proceeded to nominate eighteen per- sors from whom the President of the United States, with the Senate, was to select nine for the Council. From this number the President chose the following :
St. Charles. - James Flaugherty and Benjamin Emmons.
St. Louis. -- Auguste Chouteau, Sr., and Samuel Hanmond.
Ste. Genevieve. - John Scott and James Maxwell.
Cape Girardeau. - William Necley and Joseph Cavenot.
New Madrid. - Joseph Hunter.
The Legislative Council, thus chosen by the President and Senate, was announced by Frederick Bates, Secretary and Acting-Governor of the Territory, by proclamation, June 3, 1813, and fixing the first Monday in July following, as the time for the meeting of the Legis- lature.
In the meantime the duties of the executive office were assumed by William Clark. The Legislature accordingly met, as required by the Acting-Governor's proclamation, in July, but its proceedings were never officially published. Consequently but little is known in refer- ence to the workings of the first Territorial Legislature in Missouri.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
From the imperfect account, published in the Missouri Gazette, of that day ; a paper which had been in existence since 1808, it is found that laws were passed regulating and establishing weights and meas- ures ; creating the office of Sheriff; providing the manner for taking the census ; permanently fixing the seats of Justices, and an act to compensate its own members. At this session, laws were also passed defining crimes and penalties ; laws in reference to foreible entry and detainer ; establishing Courts of Common Pleas; incorporating the Bank of St. Louis ; and organizing a part of Ste. Genevieve county into the county of Washington.
The next session of the Legislature convened in St. Louis, Decem- ber 6, 1813. George Bullet of Ste. Genevieve county, was speaker elect, and Andrew Scott, clerk, and William Sullivan, doorkeeper. Since the adjournment of the former Legislature, several vacancies had occurred, and new members had been elected to fill their places. Among these was Isracl MeCready, from the county of Washington.
The president of the legislative council was Samuel Hannuond. No journal of the council was officially published, but the proceedings of the house are found in the Gazette.
At this session of the Legislature many wise and useful laws were passed, having reference to the temporal as well as the moral and spiritual welfare of the people. Laws were enacted for the suppres- sion of vice and immorality on the Sabbath day ; for the improve- ment of public roads and highways ; creating the offices of auditor, treasurer and county surveyor; regulating the fiscal affairs of the Territory and fixing the boundary lines of New Madrid, Cape Girar- deau, Washington and St. Charles counties. The Legislature ad- journed on the 19th of January, 1811, sine die.
The population of the Territory as shown by the United States census in 1810, was 20.845. The census taken by the Legislature in 1814 gave the Territory a population of 25,000. This enumeration shows the county of St. Louis contained the greatest number of in- habitants, aud the new county of Arkansas the least - the latter hay- ing 827, and the former 3,149,
The candidates for delegate to Congress were Rufus Easton, Samuel Hammond, Alexander McNair and Thomas F. Riddick. Rutas Easton and Samuel Hammond had been candidates at the preceding election. In all the counties, excepting Arkansas, the votes aggre- gated 2,599, of which number Mr. Easton received 965, Mr. Ham-
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
mond 746. Mr. MeNair 853, and Mr. Riddick ( who had withdrawn previously to the election ) 35. Mr. Easton was elected.
The census of 1814 showing a large increase in the population of the Territory, an appointment was made increasing the number of Representatives in the Territorial Legislature to twenty-two. The General Assembly began its session in St. Louis, December 5, 1814. There were present on the first day twenty Representatives. James Caldwell of Ste. Genevieve county was elected speaker, and Andrew Scott who had been clerk of the preceding assembly, was chosen clerk. The President of the Council was William Neeley, of Cape Girardeau county.
It appeared that James Maxwell, the absent member of the Council, and Seth Emmons, member elect of the House of Representatives, were dead. The county of Lawrence was organized at this session, from the western part of New Madrid county, and the corporate powers of St. Louis were enlarged. In 1815 the Territorial Legisla- ture again began its session. Only a partid report of its proceedings are given in the Gazette. The county of Howard was then organized from St. Louis and St. Charles counties, and included all that part of the State lying north of the Osage and south of the dividing ridge between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. ( For precise bounda- ries, see Chapter J. of the History of Boone County. )
The next session of the Territorial Legislature commenced its ses- sion in December, 1816. During the sitting of this Legislature many important acts were passed. It was then that the . Bank of Mis- souri " was chartered and went into operation. In the fall of 1817 the " Bank of St. Louis " and the "Bank of Missouri " were issuing bills. An act was passed chartering lottery companies, chartering the academy at Potosi, and incorporating a board of trustees for superintending the schools in the town of St. Louis. Laws were also passed to encourage the " killing of wolves, panthers and wild-cats."
The Territorial Legislature met again in December, 1818, and, among other things, organized the counties of Pike, Cooper, Jetier- son, Franklin. Wayne, Lincoln, Madison, Montgomery, and three counties in the Southern part of Arkansas. In 1819 the Territory of Arkansas was formed into a separate goverment of its own.
The people of the Territory of Missouri had been, for some time. anxious that their Territory should assume the duties and responsibilities of a sovereign State. Since 1812, the date of the organization of the Territory, the population had rapidly increased, many counties had
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
been established, its commerce had grown into importance, its agri- cultural and mineral resources were being developed, and believing that its admission into the Union as a State would give fresh impetus to all these interests, and hasten its settlement, the Territorial Legis- lature of 1818-19 accordingly made application to Congress for the passage of an act authorizing the people of Missouri to organize a State government.
CHAPTER VI.
Application of Missouri to be admitted into the Union - Agitation of the Slavery Question - " Missouri Compromise " - Constitutional Convention of 1:20 --- Con- stitution presented to Congress - Further Resistance to Adinission - Mr. Clay and his Committee make Report - Second Compromise - Missouri Admitted.
With the application of the Territorial Legislature of Missouri for her admission into the Union, commenced the real agitation of the slavery question in the United States.
Not only was our National Legislature the theater of angry disens- sjons but everywhere throughout the length and breadth of the Re- public the " Missouri Question " was the all-absorbing theme. The political skies threatened,
" In forked flashes, a commanding tempest,"
Which was liable to burst upon the nation at any moment. Through such a crisis our country seemed destined to pass. The question as to the admission of Missouri was to be the beginning of this crisis, which distracted the public counsels of the nation for more than forty years afterward.
Missouri asked to be admitted into the great family of States. "Lower Louisiana," her twin sister Territory, had knocked at the door of the Union eight years previously, and was admitted as stipu- lated by Napoleon, to all the rights, privileges and immunities of a State, and in accordance with the stipulations of the sune treaty, Missouri now sought to be clothed with the same rights, privileges and immunities.
As what is known in the history of the United States as the ". Mis- souri Compromise," of 1820, takes rank among the most prominent
32
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
measures that had up to that day engaged the attention of our National Legislature, we shall enter somewhat into its details, being counceted as they are with the annals of the State.
February 15th, 1819. - After the House had resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to authorize the admission of Mis- souri juto the Union, and after the question of her admission had been discussed for some time, Mr. Tallmadge, of New York, moved to amend the bill, by adding to it the following proviso : -
" And Provided, That the further introduction of slavery or involun- tary servitude be prohibited, except for the punishment of erime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. and that all chil- dren born within the said State, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be free at the age of twenty-five years."
As might have been expected, this proviso precipitated the angry discussions which lasted nearly three years, finally culminating in the Missouri Compromise. All phases of the slavery question were pre- sented, not in its moral and social aspects, but as a great constitu- tional question, affecting Missouri and the admission of future States. The proviso, when submitted to a vote, was adopted - 79 to 67, and so reported to the House.
Hon. John Scott, who was at that time a delegate from the Terri- tory of Missouri, was not permitted to vote, but as such delegate he had the privilege of participating in the debates which followed. On the 16th day of February the proviso was taken up and discussed. After several speeches had been made, among them one by Mr. Scott and one by the author of the proviso, Mr. Tallmadge, the amendment, or proviso, was divided into two parts, and voted upon. The first part of it, which included all to the word " convicted," was adopted -- 87 to 76. The remaining part was then voted upon, and also adopted, by 82 to 78. By a vote of 97 to 56 the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
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