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 46
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 46
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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
EARLY SETTLERS.
James Demsey settled ou Salt creek in March, 1841, and was from Howard county. William Johnson and Jackson Allen were also from Howard county and were old settlers.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
The first settlement at White Oak Grove was made by James and Sallie Smith. Irish people, about the year 1836 or 1838.
From all accounts, the first settler in Salt Creek township was a man by the name of Jenkins. He built a cabin on the main road near the centre of the township where he remained a few years and sold to James Dempsey, Sr., above mentioned. Dempsey was a man of considerable note. He occupied Jenkins' eabin and added much to its capacity, finally making out of it a country tavern, which became a favorite stopping place. About the same time came Francis Moss, Hamilton Breeze and William Fox, an Englishman. William T. Guthude, a Virginian, settled Hickory Grove. David Woods, came from Howard county among the early settlers and made a settlement at Hickory Grove. Salt Creek township was one of the best hunting grounds in the county, deer especially being in great abundance until the breaking out of the late civil war.
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CHAPTER XH.
Newspapers -- Public Schools aud Post-offices --- The Reporter -The Brunswicker - Central City - Central City Brunswicker - Weekly Brunswicker - Carriers Ad. dress - The Republican - The News - The Chariton County Union - The Keytes- ville Herold - Chariton Courier -- Chariton County Enterprise - Salisbury Press- Spectator -- Press-Spectator - Salisbury Chronicle - The Gas-Light - Public Schools - Their History and Present Condition - Post-offices.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper that was published in Chariton county was ealled the Reporter. It was a weekly paper and was established in 1847, by J. T. Quesenberry, who, after running it several months, sold to Doctor John II. Blue & Co., who, on the 14th of October, 1847, began the publication of the Brunswicker, and continued to own and edit that paper until 1854, when he sold the same to Casper W. Bell. Soon after Bell purchased the paper Willis II. Plunkett became a part owner and continued as such until the paper was sold in 1856 to O. D. Hawkins, who sold to R. II. Musser. After a little more than a year Musser sold to Dr. H. W. Cross, who consolidated the paper with the Central City, and changed the name to Central City Bruns- wicker, which name was retained until 1866, when the name of Weekly Brunswicker was resumed. Doctor H. W. Cross, in 1858, sold to Robert C. Haneock, who continued to be the owner until 1862, when he sold to Doctor J. F. Cunningham. In the spring of 1864 Cun- ningham sold to Robert C. Hancock, and in the fall of 1865 Hancock sold to Cunningham & Winslow, who continued its publication till the summer of 1866, when it was published by Naylor & Balthis, who ran it together until 1875. At this time J. B. Naylor purchased Balthis's interest and ran the paper until 1880, when he sold to Kinsley, Wal- lace & Taylor. After a short time Taylor withdrew, and from that time until the present ( August, 1883), the paper has been owned and edited by Kinley & Wallace.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
We had the pleasure of examining the tiles of the Brunswicker from the date of its first issue to 1853. It was not only ably edited and sparkling with wit and humor, but its selections from other papers were culled with care and taste. It was neutral in politics.
CARRIERS' ADDRESS.
The following address was prepared by the editor of the Bruns- wicker, and was delivered to the patrons of that paper, by the carrier, on the morning of January 1, 1848. Its antiquity, its literary mer- its and historical references to the current events of that day and time, entitle it to a place in this history.
Good morning, pretty girls, Good morning, ladies fair, Good morning, gentlemen The Brunswicker carrier Wishes a happy New Year to you all, And therefore makes an early morning call.
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There was a death last night - The death of the old year; He was old and full of days; And his memory is dear ; But his loss is little to you and me, When the New Year promises more than he.
From week to week the Brunswicker Has been a faithful chronicler Of how times sped, and how goods sold, And how trade turned itself to gold, Transmuted by the enterprise Of men who toil and advertise.
When the clock struck twelve last night, The editor sat by the cold fire light, And the forms of the shadowy past Crowded upon his vision fast, As one by one he conned them o'er,- Alas! how many are no more ! And some are afar, and some grown cold, And few appear as they did of old. But the light of their presence lingers still - Their musical tones are on the ear,
Sweeter, as in the distance will The far-off tones of the lute appear.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES,
The old year Forty-Seven Will stand on the historic page, As bright as a star in heaven - The cynosure of the age! The famishing East it has blest - It has given the Mexicans thunder, And the lightning line to the west, And the nations begin to wonder What the Yankees will be doing next. Why if they stick to their text, They may make the next President, The ruler of the Continent.
Scott has the Keyes of Mexico, A kind of St. Peter there, you know, To let in the Yankee race to revel In Montezuma's halls. And keep the Mexicans like the devil, In prison walls! Old Zach is covered with glory, Till the school boy kuows the story ; And the name of Doniphan, Is as famous as Xeuiphon ; And the laurels of Price, so green, Will thieken still I ween, Til! Missouri's chivalry Shall be the watchword of the free.
There is music to-day and mirth, For a new year has its birth ; And well we may calculate Our vast events in Forty-Eight, For the spirit of liberty Ilas revisited sunny Italy, And the good old Pope has spoken As Jesus did, again To the nations, peeled and broken, "YE ARE MEN." And they burst their galling chains, Wherever oppression reigns.
Hail, Republic of Liberia! The germs of our own planting, Where the sons of Africa, No more our sneeor wanting, Have made themselves as free And as promising a home, Upon their native shore, as we Can find in Christendom.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
There is news from Washington - The great men of the nation Have put the big pot on, And Congress is in session.
They'll make a President or two; They'll trot the war horse thro' and thro';
They'll cut and carve for Jonathan
More Buncomb work, thau I can pen.
But take the Brunswicker,
And you shall have it every week,
As fast as the telegraph, And the lightuing can speak.
O yes, take the paper,
You cannot refuse,
For there's not a caper,
But is found in the news. When people marry, Or when they die, Or the mails miscarry, Or politicians lie,
Or a boat blows up,
Or a bank makes a miss,
The press shows up The thing as it is;
And what it does not mention, Is not worthy your attention.
Brunswick city is growing apace, And the Grand river valley is fair As a lovely girl, who has washed her face And combed her silken hair.
The farmer reaps a hundredfold, And the market's not far away, And still the Benton mint-drops of gold Are increasing every day.
The merchant is adding to his store, The mechanic to his wealth, And the lawyer and doctor too, no more Perhaps - than is for our health.
The man who will not believe his eyes, When his Oregon fever cools, Will find he has swapt off a paradise, For the paradise of fools.
I would say more, but can't express All that I would in my first address. Not much is the time I get to play, Not many the dimes for a holiday ; But a quarter would buy me many a toy, And make very thankful the Printer Boy.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
The Republican was started in March, 1875, by D. T. Beatty, who ran it about six months. In October, 1875, the Republican was suc- ceeded by the Vous, with Charles R. Luster as editor and proprietor. The News is Republican in polities, and is an eight column, weekly paper.
The Chariton county Union, Republican in politics, was the first newspaper published at Keytesville. It was established in 1865, by W'm. E. Maynard, who is the present editor of the Moberly Head- light.
The Keytesville Herald, the next paper in succession, was founded by Thomas D. Bogie, in 1871. In 1874, Bogie sold to Win. E. Jones, and Jones sold to J. H. Hudson, who changed the name of the paper, in June, 1878, to Chariton Courier, which is now edited and pub- lished by Vandiver & Collins.
The Chariton county Enterprise was started in June. 1882, by J. H. Groves, who published the same at Keytesville until October, 1882, when he removed to Cunningham, Chariton county, where he now continues to publish the same as the Chariton county Enterprise.
Salisbury Press ( Democratie ), started by J. M. Gallemore June 1, 1871, consolidated with the Spectator ( Democratic ) July 15, 1881, and became the Press-Spectator, which name it now carries under the same management and same politics.
The Spectator was established in November. 1880, by R. M. Wil- liams and Whitfield Williams and continued by them until July. 1881. when the consolidation above referred to occurred. .
The Chariton county Enterprise ( Democratie ) was established by J. II. Groves March 15, 1882, who continned the same for a period of six months, when he moved his paper to Keytesville.
The Salisbury Chronicle was commenced February 1. 1883, by W. A. Thompson, who continued it for three months, when it suspended. Democratic in politics.
THE GAS LIGHT.
The above was the name of a paper published in manuscript form, in Keytesville, in June, 1850. The paper was neutral in religion and politics, and was edited by Timothy Timbertoes and Samuel Sugar- stick. Of course the names of the editors are fictitious, but the Gas Light was a living reality and survived for nearly a year, to the eu- tertainment and amusement of scores of persons who read it. The
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHIARITON COUNTIES.
happenings and sayings and doings of the little town and neighbor- hood were all faithfully garnered and published by the Gas Light. If there occurred a dance in that locality, a record of it was made in the Gas Light. If a quilting party or shooting match came off, the particulars were given in the Gas Light. If a wedding took place, it was mentioned in a recherche manner in the Gas Light. The bride was the special theme for highest eulogium, and the wedded pair al- ways elicited the Gas Light's warmest wishes for their future happi- ness. In fact, the Gas Light, like the good mirror, reflected not only the redoubtable editors' views of matters and things, but reflected as well on popular subjects, the will of the people.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Our State Constitution lays down as the very foundation of society and good government the following principle : " Schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged in this State. One school or more shall be established in each township, as soon as prac- ticable and necessary, where the poor shall be taught gratis."
Thus we find, in the fundamental law of Missouri, the plain and unequivocal announcement of the principle that every State is bound to see that its citizens are educated. It is a voluntary avowal of the fact that the happiness, wealth and prosperity of a nation must de- pend on the intelligence and virtue of the people.
In the act of Congress ( 1820) authorizing the people of Missouri territory to form a constitution and State government, the sixteenth section of each township, or its equivalent, was devoted to the pur- pose of supporting schools in each township.
Twelve salt springs, with six sections, or thirty-eight hundred and forty acres of land adjoining each, were also granted to the State, and those were afterward devoted by the Legislature to the same oh)- ject.
The first act passed by the Legislature of the State on the subject of education was on the 17th of January, 1825. This law enacted that each congressional township should form a school district, to be under the control of the county court in all matters pertaining to schools. It also declared that all rents ( of school lands ), fines, pen- alties and forfeitnres aceruing under provisions of this act, should be ' set apart and appropriated exclusively to a school fund, and in no case should it be otherwise applied.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
January 28, 1833. the Legislature authorized the Governor to ap- point three suitable persons, whose duty it should be to prepare a system of primary school instruction, as nearly uniform as practica- ble, throughout the State, and to make report for the next meeting of the Legislature.
By aet of June 23, 1836, the office of Superintendent of Common Schools was first created. Peter G. Glover was the first to fill this office. He was required in the month of January of each year, to make distribution of the " school moneys" amongst the several counties in which there may be any school, based upon the number of white children between the ages of six and eighteen years.
During the session of 1858, a committee composed of Acock, of Polk county ; Hickman, of Boone ; and Kelley, of Holt county, by authority of the Legislature, matured and presented to that body the law in force on the statute book, up to the passage of the second State Constitution, and with some modifications substantially the same as exists to-day ( 1881). The first distribution of State school moneys was made in January, 1842, when only thirteen counties received any portion of the fund. These were Benton, Boone, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Greene, Lafayette, Livingston, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, Saline and Shelby. The aggregate amount of this apportion- ment was $1,999.60. The number of children in the report here fails to appear. In 1859, the number of children reported was 367,- 248, and the amount appropriated, $253,401.12.
Que of the earliest educational conventions, held in Northwest Missouri, was during the year 1844, in Buchanan county. Its object was to discuss the benefits aceruing to the teacher from teachers' in- stitutes and associations, and to devise the best means for the mutual improvement of teachers. The remarks made at that meeting by a Mr. Stratton, a teacher himself, upon the subject of teachers' con- ventions will, doubtless, be read with interest by those who are engaged in the same pursuit now (1883). Mr. Stratton said :
How shall teachers become better prepared for their profession? How can they be continually improving their minds and their systems of instruction? And how shall every teacher receive the light which the more experienced are constantly throwing upon the subject of instruction? We know of no means so common to all, and so favor- able, as county conventions of teachers. Heretofore there has been but little communication between teachers. The improvements which one has made have not been made known to others; the in-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
competency of teachers, and the bad effects of teacher have not been made to elevate and honor their profession. Other classes of men have had their conventions - men of science, ministers and statesmen, to insure enlightened and united operations, appoint their conven- tions to redress wrongs, to correct errors, and make known the im- provements and able suggestions that may be discovered or proposed by any one of the party.
The wisdom and experience of these conventions not only enlighten the people and sit in judgment upon their errors, but produce through- out the whole country similarity of feeling and harmony of efforts for the peace of the church, the advancement of science and the prosper- ity of the country.
Such conventions are absolutely necessary, but are not conventions of teachers equally as necessary for the prosperity of our schools? Does not the difficulty and responsible position of teaching require all the light and knowledge that can be obtained on the subject? Does not the incompetency of teachers invite all the aid that can be obtained on this subject? Does not the incompeteney of teachers invite all the aid that can be furnished from those who are better qualified by experience and from other literary men?
" Certainly ! " every one will say, "such assistance is highly im- portant ; it would afford that necessary aid which teachers now have no means of obtaining."
Yet so great is the apathy of the people that we seldom hear of a teachers' convention. The introduction of a teachers' convention, it seems, has but just found its way into Missouri. Hence but a small number of our teachers have been profited by them. But how shall teachers improve themselves, if not by such conventions?
Works on education have a very limited circulation. Not one teacher out of a hundred reads anything on the subject : nor will they read before the living voice exercises their attention. There are but few seminaries for educating teachers, and rarely a lecture delivered on school-keeping. Teachers are seldom qualitied when they enter into the profession, and they have neither the assistance of teachers in the vicinity nor intelligence from abroad, either from books or the speaking lecture. This should not be so. There are many means which teachers may use to prepare themselves for their profession and for improving themselves while engaged in their duties ; and we know of none so advantageous to teachers, and that is attended with so little expense and within reach of all, as frequent county conventions.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
If these are generally announced and faithfully attended, they will not only be highly interesting to teachers, but of the greatest benefit io our schools. They should be attended not only by teachers, but by all the friends of education ; each individual should go prepared to contribute to their interest and usefulness and with a hearty desire to promote the general cause of education. Each county association should have a correspondence with similar associations in adjacent counties and so throughout the United States. By this communica- tion all the improvements or changes which have been made may be made known. It should be the object of these conventions and com- munieations with other associations to discover the origin of the defects in the present system of instruction, to ascertain the actual condition of schools throughout the United States, who are in school, and the number who do not use the means of education. To aseer- tain the true interest which parents are taking in educating their children, to convince the people of the necessity of general intelli- genee in a free government, and to make known the duties which every one owes to the free institutions of his country. The mutnal improvement of teachers is one of the first objects of these conven- tions. To render this mutual instruction each teacher before the con- vention should describe his system of instruction and his form of government. From this interchange of views on the best methods of teaching and governing many valuable suggestions will be elicited and many evils and defects disclosed. Individuals should be appointed to deliver lectures before these conventions, the object of the lectures being either to illustrate or simplify the branches which are taught in our schools, or to make known the best methods of instructing. These, with many other advantages, too numerous to mention, are the happy results of county teachers' conventions. .
These institutes have been continued down to the present time ( 1883), and have accomplished great good. They have not only been the means of bringing together the teachers from the different see- tions of the county for an interchange of thought and feeling, thus binding them more closely in the bonds of sympathy and social feel- ing, but they have materially aided in the practical methods of im- parting instruction and simplifying the lessons of the school-room and economizing time.
Perhaps no county in the State possesses a larger public school fund than is to be found in Chariton county, or a better system of free schools, extending through all the rural districts of the county. The
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
extensive land grants made by the general government to the State of Missouri for free school purposes, including each sixteenth section of land, together with all the lands known as swamp and overflowed lands, which, under the laws of Missouri are given to the counties in which they lie, furnishes a fund sufficient to maintain a good free school in each school district in the county for at least four months in each year, and under our law the public school in each district may be continued as much longer as may be desired by a vote of the people in each district at their annual meeting, fixing the time and rate of taxation required for that purpose.
There are in Chariton county 114 school districts, including two village schools, one at Brunswick and the other at Salisbury. Our people, fully recognizing the inestimable importance of the education of their children, have erected suitable school-houses in all the school districts in the county, in which there are now about 8,890 children being educated.
The principal of the school fund of the county now amounts to the sum of $150,030.11, which, by the laws of the State, is held under the management of the county court, and required to be loaned at the highest legal rate of interest on prime real and personal security, the proceeds derived therefrom to be applied annually to the support of the public schools.
Chariton county has reason to be proud of her public school fond. There is but one county in Missouri, that has a greater amount to the credit of this fund than Chariton. This is the county of Jasper, which has $240,387.21. The city of St. Louis has $1, 328,531.07.
The total amount of public funds received from all sources and dis- bursed by Chariton county for public school purposes last year was $38,066.65.
In addition to the public school fund now held by the county court of Chariton county in bonds and money, the county holds thousands of aeres of lands donated for school purposes, as well as other valuable lands received on the foreclosure of mortgages for debts due to the public school fund, any of which can be bought at reasonable prices and on casy terms, a general rule of the court being that when the purchaser pays one-fifth of the purchase money down, and property secures the remainder, he can have as much time in which to pay the balance as he may desire, by promptly paying the interest annually for the support of the public schools in the very township bis land may be located. Much of the school lands thus held by the county is of the very richest quality, and scarcely a meeting of the court
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
passes without selling more or less of these lands on the terms above indicated, to actual settlers as well as to speculators.
The first school commissioner of public schools for Chariton county was appointed by the county court, in 1854. B. F. Crawley was the appointce and was reappointed in 1856 (the term of service being two years ), and served until 1860, when the law made the office an elective one. Crawley was succeeded by John Hannah, who was elected in 1860, but did not serve out his teri, on account of entering the army. During the continuance of the war, the office and its duties devolved upon the county clerk. In 1866, Jackson Boek was elected and served two terms. The county clerk then filled the office from 1870 to 1872, when Alfred Mann was elected and has since served continuon-ly, he being now the school commissioner of the county.
The enumerations for 1882 is as follows :
Number of white persons between 6 and 20 years of age. -
Male ( white) .
3,928
Male ( colored )
635
Female ( white )
3,720
Female ( colored )
587
Total
8,890 Cash on hand in April, 1882. -
Amount of revenue received from State by auditor's war-
rant of 1882
$6,515.15
Amount received from county fund in 1882 (interest on notes and bonds ) . · 9,080.42 Amount of revenue received from township funds in 1882, (interest on notes and bonds ) . 3,082.01 .
Amount received from district tax in 1882 as per settle- meut with county treasurer in April, 1883 ·
. 17,473.39 Amount received from all other sources as per settlement with county treasurer in April, 1883 1,015.68
' Total .
. $38,066.65
Principal of various school funds
$98,348.98
Amount of county public school fund . 34,313.04
Other special funds
14,755.30
Total .
$147,417.32
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
(The school fund for 1883 is now more than $150,030.11). Amount received for fines and penalties Transferred to county fund.
$1,015.68
No. of male teachers employed
51
No. of female teachers employed .
Total number of teachers
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