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 39
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 39
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
FIRST GERMAN SETTLEMENT.
We have already stated in this chapter that Frederick Beanbrich was the only German settler in Chariton county from 1820 to 1835. The first German settlement proper was made in 1838, four miles north of Glasgow, in the forks of the Chariton river, by Louis Cole- man, John Zollah and Doctor Louis Myer.
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CHAPTER VI.
KEYTESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Boundary - Physical Features - Old Settlers-John G. Moore Killed by a Negro - Keytesville - Its Location and Early History - Its Business Men -Town Pros- pered Between the Years 1832 and 1842 -- Fires -- Colonel Thomas H. Ben ton -- Incorporation - Secret Orders - Public Schools - Banks and Bankers - Public Buildings - Old Court House - New Court House - Jail - Poor House - Keytesville Cemetery - Postmasters - Business - Keytesville and Other Towns in 1837 - Antiquities. .
KEYTESVILLE TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
This township is bounded on the north by Salt creek, Muscle Fork and Bee Branch townships, on the east by Wayland and Salis- bury townships, on the south by Chariton and Missouri townships, and on the west by Bowling Green and Brunswick townships .
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Keytesville township embraces seventy-five square miles, and is greatly diversified. The southeast portion of it comprises a large section of excellent farming land known as the forks of the Chariton. A considerable portion of the township, however, is too steep and broken for successful cultivation: Many of the peaks rise to an alti- tude of many feet, and have a number of Indian mouuds on their summits. All of this region was originally in timber, but it has been partly eleared and the rest culled to supply the saw-mills, of which there are several in this part of the county. The portion of the township lying on the west side of the Muscle fork contains some of the finest upland prairie in the county. The northeastern part of the township is of a medium fertility, is very thickly settled and beauti- fully diversified with fields and groves. About two-fifths of the entire township is wooded. The streams are the Grand Chariton river, the Muscle fork of the Chariton, South Puzzle ereek, Long Branch creek, running into the Muscle fork, Long Branch creek run- (422)
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
ning into the Chariton, Cottonwood creek, and many nameless streams.
There has, as yet, been no discovery of coal in the township. Sand and limestone abound and have been quarried to some extent.
OLD SETTLERS.
Among the early settlers of Keytesville township were John Moore, Richard Cocke, E. B. Cabell, James Kyle, James Yates, W. C. Halley, Benjamin Lane, John Harris, Laton Lisk, James Ryan. James Heryford, Charles Heryford, William Heryford, James Parks, R. S. Davis, James Gutheridge, John Gutheridge, Jacob McDonald, Squire MeDonald. A. Warhurst, Joseph Halsey, John L. Llewellyn Levi D. Blankenship, St. Clair Chrisman, Robert Guthrie, James Capper, D. N. Wheeler, James Wheeler, William Breeze, David Petticrew, George W. Temple, A. J. Walker, Pugh W. Priee, Ster- ling Price, Henry Ashley, Felix Bedding, N. A. Grubbs, R. S. Hyde, and Richard Long.
The following account of the death of John G. Moore was pre- pared hy H. H. Hamner, of Keytesville township : --
JOHN G. MOORE KILLED BY A NEGRO.
On the night of December 24, 1863, I was living at my father-in- law's, John G. Moore, deceased, about one and one-half miles west of Keytesville, Chariton county, Missouri. About nine o'clock of that night I was called by Mrs. Moore, she telling me that something was going on wrong about the premises, and asked me to go out and see what was the matter. I did so, but discovered nothing unusual. Returning to the house, I stayed there some time, when Mrs. Moore asked me to go out and see after Mr. Moore, as she felt very uneasy about him. In company with a Mr. Binford I went out and around the premises when we met with Mr. Moore who asked us to go to the cabins with him. Going into one of the cabins, we found a lot of ' negroes around the fire and Louis standing up who, upon our entrance saluted Mr. Moore very cordially, saying : " How are you, Massa Johnny." Mr. Moore replied to him and at the same time remarked to him : " Louis, what is that you have in your hand there?" Ou the instant Louis said : " I belong to the United States army," drew his pistol and fired hitting Mr. Moore. Louis then sprang through the door. Mr. Binford and myself pursued him ; when some little
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
distance from the-eabin we caught him by each arm, he throwing himself forward with such force as to eause him and myself to fall to the ground. Mr. Moore, while we were down, came up and fired one shot when Louis sprang up and ran around the house, myself and Binford pursuing, while Mr. Moore went the other way to head him off. When Mr. Moore met him he fired again, when Louis sprang over a fence and made his escape. Upon returning to the house we found Mr. Moore was hit, and becoming weak upon enter- ing the door fell forward upon his face. I then went for Dr. Dewey, of Keytesville, who, upon his arrival and examination of the wound, said that he was fatally shot and could not live over two or three hours ; he died during that night. The next morning I went to Keytesville and got a warrant and placed it in the hands of the sheriff', Mr. Carman, who failed to capture Lonis. The next we heard of Louis he was at some point in Iowa, and we were informed that if we would pay the reward, $500, we could get him. We applied to General Rosenerans for military protection, and expected to go after Louis and bring him to Missouri, but being refused by him the needed protection, all efforts to capture and punish Lonis were abandoned.
KEYTESVILLE.
Keytesville, the county seat of Chariton county, was laid out in 1832, and located originally on the North 3, North-West } seetion 4, township 53, range 18. Caleb Woods was the original proprietor of a portion of the land upon which the town is located. Woods went frem Chariton county to Oregon at an early day. In 1830, James Keyte, an Englishman, and a Methodist preacher, purchased the land upon which the town was located, and in 1832 donated fifty aeres to the county, upon which the court-house and other public buildings were erected in 1833-34. The county seat was moved from Chariton in 1833, the first term of the Circuit Court being held in Keytesville on July 16th, 1833. As early as 1831 Mr. Keyte erected a log-cabin near the bank of Musele Fork, where the residence of Hugh Bartz now stands. At the same time, or soon after, he built a small business house, in one corner of his yard, and put it in charge of his sister, Miss Sarah Keyte, who not only attended to the store and post-office, but often carried the mails between Old Chariton and Keytesville.
After the town was laid out, a small log-house was put up east of the court-house by Thomas Givens, designed as a business house, with Wm. A. Wilson in charge. The next business firm was that of the
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
Hackley Brothers (W. E. and G. W. Hackley), who came from Howard county in 1832. They dealt much in furs, honey, ete.
The pioneer hotel-keeper was Isaac W. Redding, who finished his double-log house in the summer of 1832. On the first day of August he opened his hotel with a grand dinner, to which he invited a uum- ber of guests. John B. Anderson operated the next house of enter- tainment.
James Keyte erected a mill ( water mill) on the old sight of the present mill, and sold a half interest to John B. Anderson above named. The original blacksmith was Peter Lassin, a Dane. Theodore Crane started a pottery. The first physician was Doctor David Petti- grew, who died in 1847. The first lawyer was Wm. F. Davis, brother of Judge Jolm M. Davis. 'Squire MeDonald was the first tailor.
Pugh Price, father of General Sterling Price, came from Randolph county, Missouri ( but originally from Virginia ), in the fall of 1831, and settled on a farm, about a mile south of Keytesville. His two sons. Sterling and John R. Price, who had attained their majority, eame with him. In 1832 these sons married, John marrying a daughter of General Owen, of Howard county, and Sterling a Miss Head. of Randolph county. Soon after their marriages the old gentleman gave to each son a share of his property. John moved to Fayette, and Sterling remained here. John, however, before leaving, had erected a hotel in Keytesville - a frame building. This he sold to Ster- ling, who soon after, in 1835, embarked in the mercantile bu-i- ness with Walter G. Childs, his brother-in-law ; in the meantime he operated the hotel. General Priee remained in Keytesville till 1846. when he went to Mexico, in command of a regiment. (See history of State. ) He returned to Chariton county in 1847, and in 1848 moved to Bowling Green prairie, where he owned a large farm. Here he lived until his death, which occurred in 1867.
General Price was one of the most talented and distinguished men of Missouri. He represented Chariton county in the General Assem- bly, was Governor of the State, and a member of the United States Congress. He was a gallant soldier in the Mexican war, and when the war of 1861 was inaugurated, he espoused the cause of the South, and elung to her failing fortunes with the tenacity of a brave and true soldier. Although he has been dead quite a number of years, his memory is still fragrant in Chariton county, and especially among the old settlers of Keytesville, who knew him long and well. A bio- graphical sketch of General Price will be found in the history of Bowling Green township.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
Among other old merchants were Givens & Abel, O. S. Lyford, Applegate & Salisbury, J. R. Horsley, R. G. Beasley, and others. John Doss opened a hatter's shop in 1832. He finally moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was killed. Win. Breeze was the first saddier in the town, and Wm. R. Allen, Colonel Nathan A. Grubbs, and Josiah Price were among the first builders and carpenters.
Keytesville prospered from 1832 to about 1842, when the rising town of Brunswick began to attract attention, and gave much pro- mise of becoming a great business point. Keytesville has had several small tires. The largest occurred on the 18th of April, 1880, when almost the entire block on the north side of Bridge street was destroyed.
COL. THOMAS H. BENTON.
In the fall of 1849 Keytesville was honored with the presence of the distinguished gentleman whose names stands above. He was advertised to speak at Brunswick, but learning that the cholera was in town, he went to Keytesville, where he remained two days, and ad- dressed the people upon the political issues that were then before the country.
INCORPORATION.
Keytesville was incorporated under an act incorporating towns and villages, February 3d, 1868, with the following named trustees : John Gaston, Andrew Mackay, Jr., M. G. Holcomb, F. M. Redburn and E. M. Burr. In March, 1883, it was incorporated as a city of the fourth elass. The following were the officers chosen : -
J. M. De Moss, mayor : D. B. Kellogg, D. N. Wheeler, Hugo Bartz, Richard Lowery, councilmen ; O. F. Smith, city attorney and clerk ; John D. Butler, treasurer ; John Gaston, marshal.
LODGES.
Warren Lodge No. 74, A. F. & A. M., Keytesville, Chariton county, Missouri. Charter members -Jas. A. Clark, P. W. Price, W. C. Hal- ley, Thos. B. Edgar, Geo. A. Adams, O. S. Lyford and Alfred Mann. Organized under dispensation in January, 1845, with the following first officers : Alfred Mann, W. M. ; Thos. B. Edgar, S. W. ; Wm. C. Halley, J. W. ; Jas. A. Clark, secretary and treasurer; Geo. A. Adams, S. D. ; O. S. Lyford, J. D. ; P. W. Price, tyler. Charter bears date October 20th, 1845.
Officers for 1883 - John Cheviers, W. M. ; M. W. Anderson, S. W. ; Jno. D. Butler, J. W. ; M. H. Holcomb, treasurer ; L. M. Ap-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
plegate, secretary ; E. B. Kellogg, S. D. ; A. S. Taylor, J. D. ; H. Hawkins, tyler ; J. J. Kendrick, J. W. Cox, stewards.
Chariton Lodge No. 177, A. O. U. W., instituted January 5th, 1880, composed of the following names as charter members: J. A. Hudson, P. M. W. ; M. T. Furcher, M. W. ; G. R. Stuart, fore- man ; D. N. Wheeler, overseer; H. Heateh, recorder ; J. P. Tippett, receiver ; Wi. P. Jared, financeer ; J. Whiteman, guide ; Ed. Wal- ter, I. W .; Chas. Schell, O. W .; M. T. Fulcher, M. E. ; L. M. Leonard and D. Victor.
Present officers - M. W. Anderson, M. W. ; R. H. Tisdale, re- corder. Regular meetings second and fourth Tuesdays in each month. Present membership, fifty-five. One death occurred since organized, five withdrawn and two suspended.
Keytesville Legion, S. K. A. O. U. W., No. 29, instituted and held its first regular meeting July 14th, 1882. Names of charter members as follows: H. Veatch, A. B. Hughes, J. D. Butler, D. Vietor, J. J. Moore, Geo. II. Applegate, John Whitesides, J. L. Um- barger, C. T. White, D. N. Wheeler, L. W. Leonard, John Carroll, Chas. Sehell, Ed. Walters, W. P. Jared, C. T. Holland, J. Whiteman, W. W. Rucker, L. M. Applegate, Oscar Wood, R. H. Tisdale, John P. Tippett, Geo. C. Martin, Albert Hunter, E. B. Elliott, Wm. B. Sneed. Present membership, forty-four. Two have been suspended. Officers : Jackson Whiteman, select com. ; Richard H. Tisdale, se- leet recorder.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF KEYTESVILLE.
The public school of Keytesville was organized after the war of 1861, and has been increasing in interest and publie favor ever since. The average attendance of pupils is 300. The enrollment numbers about 500, which includes the school children of the district. Que hundred of this number are colored children, about half of whom attend school.
Present teachers in charge of the school are, G. W. Newton, prin- cipal ; Miss Anna Miller, Miss Addie Veatch, Miss Ettie V. Hays, J. R. Austin.
The school is taught in a frame building, located south of the court-house, and is in a flourishing condition.
BANKS AND BANKERS.
There have been but two banks in Keytesville, the Bank of Keytes- ville, established in 1871, and the Farmers' Bank of Chariton county, both of which are still in existence.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
Official statement of the financial condition of the Bank of Keytes- ville, on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1883 : --
Resources -
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security
$15,324 50 . Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security 3,102 20
Overdrafts by solvent customers 1,872 00
Due from other banks, good ou sight draft
60,025 75
Furniture and fixtures .
750 00
Bills of National banks and legal tender United States
notes
2,153 00
Gold coin
600 00
Silver coin
172 45
Total
$83,999 90
Liabilities -
Capital stock paid in
$ 5,000 00
Deposits subject to drafts - at sight
78,999 90
Total
$83,999 90
William E. Hill, owner and cashier.
Farmers' Bank of Chariton county, commenced business Decem- ber 1, 1880. Officers: L. M. Applegate, president ; Judge J. B. Hyde, vice-president ; J. C. Miller, cashier. Statement made on 10th day of May, 1883 : -
Resources. -
Cash and sight exchange
$65,028 94
Loans and discounts
20,217 67
Banking house . 6,221 49
Furniture and fixtures
1,704 79
Overdrafts by solvent customers
1,436 31
$94,609 20
Liabilities -
Capital stock paid in
$10,000 00
Surplus funds
3,567 28
Deposits
81,041 92
$94,609 20
ยท :
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Notwithstanding the fact that a large number, probably a majority of the people in every county, have very little practical experience in the courts, and although they have the legal capacity to sue and he sued, never improve their opportunities, and never appear in court, unless it be on compulsion as witnesses and jurors : yet as the one great conservator of the peace, and as the final arbiter, in case of individual or neighborhood disputes, the court is distinguished above and apart from all and every other institution of the land, and not only the proceedings of the court, but the place of holding the court, is a matter of interest to the average reader. Not only so, but in many counties, the court-house was the first and usually the only public building in the county. The first court-honses were not very elaborate buildings, to be sure, but they are enshrined in memories the present can never know. Their uses were general, rather than special, and so constantly were they in use, day and night when the court was in session, for judicial, educational, religions and social purposes, that the doors of the old court-houses, like the gates of gospel grace, stood open, night and day, and the small amount in- vested in those old hewn logs and rough benches, returned a much better rate of interest on the investment, than do the stately piles of brick or granite which have taken their places. The memorable court-house of early times, was a house adapted to a variety of pur- poses and had a career of great usefulness.
School was taught, the gospel preached and justice dispensed within its rude, but substantial walls. Then it served frequently as a resting place for weary travellers, and, indeed, its doors always swung on easy hinges.
If the old settlers are to be believed, the old court-houses, when first erected in this Western country, often rang on the pioneer Sab- bath with a more stirring eloquence, than that which enlivens the pul- pits of the present time. Many of the earliest ministers officiated in their walls, and if they could but speak, they would doubtless tell many a strange tale of pioneer religion, that is now lost forever.
To those old court-houses, ministers came of different faiths, but all eager to expound the simple truths of a sublime and beantiful religion, and point out for comparison the thorny path of duty, and the primrose way of dalliance. Often have the walls of the old court-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
house given back the echoes of those who sang the songs of Zion, and many an erring wanderer, has had his heart moved to repentance thereby more strongly than ever by the strains of homely eloquence. With Monday morning, the old building changed in character, and men went thither, seeking not the merey of God, but the justice of man. The scales were held with an even hand. Those who presided knew every man in the county, and they dealt out substantial justice and the broad principles of natural equity prevailed.
Children went there to school and sat at the feet of teachers, who knew little more than themselves ; but, however humble the teacher's acquirements, he was hailed as a wise man and benefactor, and his lessons were heeded with attention. The old people of the settlement went there to discuss their own affairs and learn from visiting attor- neys, the news from the great world so far away towards the East. In addition to the orderly assemblies which formally gathered there, other meetings no less notable occurred. It was a sort of a forum, whither all classes of persons went for the purpose of loafing and gossiping, and telling and hearing some new thing.
There is little of the poetic and romantie in the make up of Western society and the old court-house, after the building of the new one, ceased to be regarded with reverence and awe. In a new country, where every energy of the people is necessarily employed in the prac- tieal work of earning a living, and the always urgent and ever present question of bread and butter is up for solution, people cannot be ex- pected to devote much time to the poetic and ideal. It therefore follows, that nothing was retained as a useless relic, which could be turned to some utility ; but it is a shame that the people of modern times have such little reverence for the relics of former days. After these houses ceased to be available for business purposes, they should have been preserved, to have at least witnessed the semi-centennial of the country's history. It is sad, in their hurry to grow rich, so few have care even, for the work of their own hands. How many of the early settlers have preserved their first habitations? The sight of that humble cabin would be a source of much consolation in old days, and its presence would go far toward reconciling the present genera- tion with their lot, when comparing its lowly appearance with the modern residence whose extensive apartments are beginning to be too unpretentious for the enterprising and irrepressible " Young Ameri- cans."
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
OLD COURT-HOUSE.
Chariton county has had bat two court-houses. The first courts were held at Old Chariton for the space of about eleven years, but no court house was built. The first court-house, which we have called the " Old Court-House." was erected in 1832-33, at Keytesville. It was built of brick, and was two stories in height, and square in shape. The building contained four rooms, one below and three above - the court-room below, the jury and other rooms above. This building was destroyed during the war of 1861, an account of which we have already given in this chapter.
NEW COURT-HOUSE.
The new court-house is one of the largest and handsomest buildings of its kind in the State, and was erected upon the sight of the old house in 1866. It is also of brick, is 110 by 62 feet, two stories high, and cost nearly $75,000. It is located in the southwestern part of the town, on a commanding elevation -- overlooking a large section of country towards the west and south.
JAIL.
The present jail was erected in 1872, at a cost of $11,000. It is a brick structure, two stories high and substantially built, the sher- iff's residence being connected therewith.
POOR-IIOUSE
is located on section 11, township 53, range 19, four miles nearly west of Keytesville, and two and a half miles northwest of Dalton. It was built in 1868, the building and farm costing originally about $35,000.
KEYTESVILLE CEMETERY.
" Beneath those rugged elms, that yew trees shade, Where heaves the turf iu many a mouldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
The cemetery is just north of the town. It is enclosed with a fence, but the older portion of the burial grounds are grown over with weeds, briars and undergrowth. Many of the graves are in a neglected condition ; the head and foot stones are moss-covered, and a number of them are broken and lie in pieces among the leaves and weeds. Among the earliest inscriptions which are now scarcely decipherable, we noticed the following : -
Mrs. Martha Ashby, born February 27th, 1798 ; died, June 25th, 1847.
Robert S. Davis, born September 14th, 1783; died November 7th, 1850.
David Pettigrew, born August 12th, 1807; died February 22d, 1847.
Charles White, born in 1811 ; died September, 16th, 1861.
There are many nice monuments scattered over the grounds, some of which are of the finest marble, and have carved upon them beauti- fully wrought images, either suggestive of the character of the departed one, or simply beautiful as designs, symbolizing some one of the passions of love. hope, purity, ete.
By far the most attractive monument now to be seen in the ceme- tery is the statue of Willie Amos Hill, son of Wm. E. Hill, who was born May 31st, 1855, and died October 17th, 1870. This statue was made in Curacus, Italy, by Muldoon, Doyle & Co .. and cost $1,000. It is fashioned out of the whitest and purest of Italian marble, and being in a prominent place, near the entrance to the grounds, it is at onee seen and admired by the stranger. The statue surmounts a block of marble, which is about five feet in height. The figure itself, is in a standing position, life size, with the right arm resting upon a pedestal. The left. foot is casually erossed over the right, and the left hand is quite naturally thrust into the pocket of his pants. Every thing about the figure seems to be easy, graceful and perfect. The eoat, vest and pants, look as natural as though they were before you on the person of a living man. So true to nature has been the artist, that he has chiseled the very wrinkles in the arms of the coat and the legs of the pants, not even omitting the seams of the clothes and boots which had been worn by the deceased while living. The head of the statue is uncovered, with hair smoothly parted, and the face, which is said to be a fac-simile of the original, is looking towards the east. Although this exquisitely wrought picture is nothing more than eold and lifeless marble, it is an exact image of him for whom it was fash-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
ioned, and when gazing upon it, one feels like he was in the presence of a living, breathing soul.
POSTMASTERS.
James Keyte, Sterling Price,
J. Gibbs,
Robert White,
Liston Applegate.
William Maynard,
L. Salisbury,
Robert Chandler.
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