USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 22
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William Gaut was also an early settler in the vicinity of Mont-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
serrat. He became a large landowner and took a prominent part in early-day politics.
Early Churches .- Lea's chapel and Mary's chapel were the two earliest churches of this township. Lea's chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1840 at the residence of Dr. J. L. Lea and in 1861 this organization erected a building about a mile south of Montserrat near where Dr. J. A. Lea resided. The follow- ing were some of the pioneer preachers who served this congrega- tion : Reverends W. M. Protsman, James Porter, William Brown, Sice- loff. T. Tolbert, W. H. Kelly, L. Pulliam, W. S. Woodard, W. M. Bewley, and M. Duren. The first members of this congregation were : May Hargraves, Robert H. and James E. Lea, W. H. DeArman, Mar- garet Robinson, Dr. J. L. Lea and Mrs. Harriet Lea.
Mary's Chapel, Cumberland Presbyterian church of Montserrat was organized November 5, 1859, by Reverend J. B. Morrow. The first church building which was erected shortly after the organization stood a few miles southwest of the village of Montserrat. The fol- lowing ministers preached here in the pioneer days of this congrega- tion : Reverends J. B. Morrow, J. H. Houx, R. S. Reed, W. Compton. D. M. K. Barnett, S. H. McElvaine, G. D. Gibbons, Levi Henshaw, David Hogan, J. R. Whitsett, and J. Cal. Littrell. The original mem- bers of this congregation were John Mayes, G. Hugh Robinson, J. T. Gillum and J. B. Mayes.
Early Cemeteries .- Lea's cemetery is located about a mile south of the village of Montserrat and Thomas J. Lea was buried here January 2, 1859, which was the first burial in this cemetery. This cemetery originally consisted of one acre which was set apart by order of court for burial purposes. It was donated for that purpose by Rev. H. R. Lea. Another burying ground is located on the southeast corner of section 10, Montserrat township and perhaps the first burying ground in the present borders of Montserrat township is located near the north- west corner of section 25 and was known as the Adams burying ground. This ground was used for burial purposes as early as 1844. Mayes' cemetery, located on section 23, was a private burial ground.
Early Mill-Gallaher's Mill .- One of the earliest mills in the county was Gallaher's mill on Clear Fork, in section 6, in this township. This mill was built by William Cheek in 1830 or 1831 and belonged success- ively to James A. Gallaher. Montville Huff and Colonel Morton Thomp-
298 ยท
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
son. There was a store, mill and gun shop here and it was a favorite resort of the pioneers. It was the voting place for Washington town- ship before Knob Noster was built.
Early Schools .- After the days of the pioneer schools in the old log cabins, Montserrat school in the village of Montserrat was one of the early present schools. It was first erected in 1868. Among the pioneer teachers who taught here were John McKeehan Mrs. D. A. McCormick, J. P. Wallace, A. J. Sparks and John Bryne.
Justices .- The following are the justices of the peace of the town- ship as far back as the county court records show, with dates of their election : 1890, W. H. Anderson, R. O. Hudson; 1892, F. B. Freeman ; 1894, W. H. Anderson, L. J. Hosman; 1896, R. J. Walker; 1898, L. J. Hosman, E. B. Rogers; 1902, John O'Connor, John Murphy; 1904, Walter Hayes; 1906, Walter Hayes, John T. Dofflemyer; 1910, C. F. Scruggs, W. B. Skidmore; 1914, Robert Livergood, Robert Walker.
County Officers .- The following are the county officers who have been elected from the township since its organization in 1890, with dates of their election :
1890-92-Isaiah Hanna (Democrat), county judge.
1900-1902-P. D. Fitch (Democrat), county judge.
1900-1902-R. F. Gillum (Democrat), collector.
1906-Eura J. McCormack (Democrat), circuit clerk.
1914-Charles G. Goodnight (Democrat), recorder.
1916-Joseph F. McGuire (Democrat), surveyor.
Population .- The population of Montserrat township, by United States Census, was :
1900
1910
1,183
965
Personal Property and Products .- Live stock and personal property statistics for Montserrat township, as given by the Johnson county assessors' lists for 1896 and 1916, are:
1896
1916
Horses
576
489
Mules
218
306
Cattle
1,132
1,611
Sheep
1
127
535
Hogs
1,355
1,013
Asses
3
9
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Money and notes $11,655
$ 24,705
Other personalty 9,655
13,900
All personalty
59,930
101,885
County Road Improvements .- County road improvements made by Montserrat township since this system was established in 1911, were up to January 1, 1918, fourteen in number, and aggregated $779 furnished by the citizens of the township, and $777.50 furnished by the county.
Organizations .- The following is a complete list of all organizations of every kind in Montserrat township. Full details of each organization are in this book in separate chapters on the different organizations.
Churches-Baptist, Montserrat ; Baptist, Pleasant Point; Baptist, New Bethel: Christian, Oak Hill: Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist South, Montserrat.
1917 War Organizations-Red Cross, Montserrat Branch.
Fraternal Organizations-Modern Woodmen, Montserrat.
Miscellaneous-Homemakers Club, Oak Grove: Homemakers Club, Sunnyside.
Total number of organizations in township is ten.
MONTSERRAT.
"Montserrat" was an old world name given to the town by James A. Gallaher when he laid it out. The township received the same name. Montserrat is on the main line of the Missouri Pacific railroad about six miles east of Warrensburg. It is in section 13. township 46, range 25 and was laid out August 24, 1870, by John A. Gallaher. It is in the midst of a valuable coal field and coal has been mined in this vicinity for a number of years. Mines were first worked about 1863, the first mining being done in drifts along the Clear Fork creek. The first shafts were sunk in this vicinity in 1866 by the Missouri Pacific Rail- road Coal Company and other companies and private individuals have operated here with varying degrees of success for the past fifty years. In the early history of the village of Montserrat, the following were among the first business men: W. H. Anderson, was a carpenter and justice of the peace : C. B. Baker kept a saloon, and was also postmaster ; Thomas Boyd was a merchant and coal operator: John A. Gallaher was a coal operator: Dr. John W. Gallaher was a physician: Dr. J. L. Lea was also a physician; Lea & Gallaher kept a drug store; Lea & Mayes kept a grocery store: S. J. LaRue also kept a grocery store ; H. B. McCracken was a drayman: and D. S. Williams kept a butcher
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
shop. J. C. Cooper (colored, an ex-Union soldier and a good man) was one of the pioneer blacksmiths. There seems to have been a surplus of saloons in the town in the early days. In addition to the postmaster, John Gibson, George James and George Penn kept saloons here at the same time.
Montserrat now has three churches, one negro church, white and negro schools, physician, good stores and blacksmith shop.
Its population in 1910 was 157.
CHAPTER XXIX .- POLITICAL.
POLITICAL TEMPERATURE OF JOHNSON COUNTY-BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR- CIVIL WAR-AFTER THE CIVIL WAR-SPECIAL SERVICE-DEVELOPMENT.
The political temperature of Johnson county has passed through all degrees of intensity, varying from the heat of war-time days when men shot as they thought, politically, to the cool and conservative stage of voting for a candidate purely on account of his fitness for the office which he sought.
Before the Civil War .- When Johnson county was organized in 1834 two great national parties were Democrats and Whigs. The new county of Johnson was made up of a majority of Democrats. The Democratic and Whig parties continued to be the dominant contend- ing political forces from the organization of the county until about 1855. At this time the Know-nothing party became quite a factor and in 1856 Thomas P. Akers of Lexington was elected to Congress from this district on the Know-nothing ticket, and practically the entire Democratic ticket of Johnson county was defeated by the Whigs.
Between 1856 and 1860 the constitutional Union party came into existence, but never attained any great organization in the county. During that period the opposition to the Democratic party in this county consisted of a fusion of the old Whig and Know-nothing parties. In the election of 1860, the National Democratic party was divided into the Douglas and the Breckenridge wings, and the Constitutional Union party carried the county. Abraham Lincoln, candidate of the Repub- lican party, received two votes for President in Johnson county at this election.
Civil War .- When the Civil War broke out, in 1861, all former party lines were obliterated. Some men who had been staunch Demo- crats and pro-slavery men became strong Union men and others who had been Whigs, many of them from the North, took sides with the new Confederacy and became ardent supporters of the South. Even brothers differed on the great question which had finally forced itself
302
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
to an issue. The first election held after the election of Lincoln was for the purpose of electing delegates to a state constitutional conven- tion to decide whether Missouri should secede from the Union. John- son county elected delegates favoring the Union. This election was held in February, 1861.
But still matters were unsettled. After the capture of camp Jack- son in May, 1861, many who had supported the cause of the Union and voted for the Union delegates in February, immediately became ardent supporters of the Confederacy, and after President Lincoln had delivered his inaugural address, many who had supported the Southern cause up to that time became enthusiastic in their support of the Union. What a man's politics had been in the past was no criterion as to what position he would take now. Democrats, old line Whigs and Know- nothings went side by side into both parties and both armies.
Shortly after the beginning of the war the Republican party was organized in this county. By an act of the Constitutional Convention in 1861 and 1862 Confederate sympathizers were prohibited from voting. and Union men were elected to all of the county offices. Still, there was a division between the Unionists and two parties were known as the radicals and the conservatives. Their chief contention was as to the manner in which the war was to be conducted. The radical element was practically made up of Republicans and the conservative element up of war Democrats, the name given to Democrats who favored the Union. The radicals or the Republicans, owing to the disfranchisement of the Southern sympathizers, were largely in a majority during the Civil War and for some time afterward, and as a matter of course, held poli- cal control over the county.
After the Civil War .- At the close of the war the revised con- stitution of Missouri, July 4, 1865, prohibited voting by those who could not take "the ironclad oath." This oath required the subscriber to " have always been truly and loyally on the side of the United States."
Ministers, lawyers, and teachers could not follow their professions unless they had subscribed to a copy of the oath and filed it with the county clerk. It was also a condition precedent to holding office or serving on a jury.
Some of the most prominent professional men of the county were arrested and prosecuted under this law. One notable incident was the arrest of Reverend J. H. Houx. He was arrested "for preaching the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
gospel." Mr. Houx was one of the prominent pioneer ministers of the county of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith. He was arrested in Sep- tember, 1866, and at the April term, 1867 the prosecuting attorney entered a nolle prosequi, and thus this case never came to trial . At the general election held in November. 1870, the liberal Republican move- ment for the abolition of the test oath carried in the county and in the state and by a proclamation of the governor all disfranchising consti- tutional restrictions were removed.
At the next general election held in Johnson county, in November, 1872, the entire Democratic ticket of the county was elected over the Republicans by majorities ranging from 16 to 300. Since then, with scattered exceptions, the Democrats have prevailed.
Special Service .- In the matter of individual service, the following interesting data is obtained from the official records.
The man who has seen the longest single service, the longest service altogether, and been elected the most times, is Lon Hank, of Holden, who has been councilman over twenty-five years continuously, and still is such. Other long terms have been, as county judges: William Trapp. 16 years and Uriel Murray, 13 years ; as probate judge, W. L. Horn- buckle, 16 years; as justices of the peace, R. B. Wright of Centerview, 24 years, 1886 to 1910, John W. Brown of Warrensburg and J. W. Greenwood and W. W. Gaunt of Holden, each twenty years, and J. A. Black of Columbus, 16 years. Messrs. Greenwood and Black are still serving.
The man who seemed to have held the most different offices was George W. Houts, who was constable from 1846 to 1850, assessor from 1850 to 1854, sheriff from 1856 to 1860, representative from 1862 to 1866, and county clerk from 1866 to 1870. He was the father of O. L. Houts. Judge N. M. Bradley was city attorney, prosecuting attorney, state senator and circuit judge.
Development .- The chief changes that have occurred in the politics of the county have been the weakening of party ties and the growth of independent voting, especially in local elections, the decrease of per- sonal considerations in voting and the increase of fitness for office, as a controlling factor in voting for men, and the increasing weight of moral questions in voting for measures and men. Elections are also steadily increasing in cleanness and absence of corruption, use of liquor, etc.
CHAPTER XXX .- MEDICINE.
WORK OF PHYSICIANS IN DEVELOPMENT OF JOHNSON COUNTY-CHANGES IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL PRACTICES SINCE 1834-NEW METHODS OF COM- BATING DISEASES-EARLY PHYSICIANS-THE JOHNSON COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION-HOSPITALS-OSTEOPATHY.
The physicians of Johnson county have not only devoted themselves to their great profession, but they have taken an active part in the development of the county. There has hardly been a movement for the upbuilding or the betterment of the community in the past in which we do not find that a member of the medical profession has been identi- fied with it in one way or another.
In the beginning we find them active in the establishment of the early highways, postoffices and roads. We find their influence in the establishment of the early schools, churches and lodges, and we find them elected to offices of trust and responsibility at various times in the history of the county.
Great have been the changes in medicine and surgery since 1834, when Johnson county was organized. The science has been revolu- tionized, and physicians have had to be students and thinkers to keep in touch with this wonderful advancement. The pioneer doctor generally rode on horseback to visit his patients, and his "calls" were, as a rule, a long distance away, as settlers were few and scattered over a wide scope of the then new country. The doctor carried his medicines and surgical instruments in the saddle bags. Many long night as well as day rides are credited to the pioneer doctor. In severe weather and on bad roads they often made long trips to administer to some poor suffer- ing pioneer when they knew that remuneration was only a remote possibility.
These trips were made into the country where there were no roads. The doctor followed the "trail," and frequently the end of the "trail" was reached before the patient was. There was no such a thing as a "town or city practice." There were no towns or cities. Later, as the country became more thickly settled and roads better, the doctor
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
could drive a team and buggy, and as a rule his drives were not so long. Towns became more plentiful and many of them had their doc- tors. Yet, the method of travel was "tiresome from slowness" until the automobile was introduced, and it is a fact worthy of note that physicians were among the first class of men to give the "horseless carriage" a practical tryout. The perfection of the automobile has not only been a great step in advance for the medical profession as a matter of speed and convenience, but it is a godsend to suffering human- ity when the aid of a physician is promptly needed in the more remote districts.
With the doctors it has been always live and learn. Where the law- yers are still following practices that have become a hindrance instead of a help to justice, the doctors have changed much of their practice as they have learned more from year to year. Some of the old remedies that were given most commonly, chiefly calomel and quinine, are still stand- ard and well proved. In other matters the practice has been reversed. Today, the patient is kept well nourished in all kinds of cases, except certain ones involving the alimentary tract, and in most fevers cold drinks and ice are freely used. But in the early days one of the old sayings was to "feed a cold and starve a fever." Patients with fevers of all kinds were given the minimum of food. and usually nothing cool- ing.
Frequently the patients rebelled against such unnatural treatment, took matters into their own hands, and got well. Mr. John M. Crutch- field tells of an aunt with a fever one winter, whose situation was so serious that her doctor was to bring back two more physicians the next day. During the day she had her family bring her a lot of ice from outdoors, which she ate with much relish, and put some of it next to her. The next day she hid the ice from the doctors, and when they came she was so much improved that the two physicians called congratu- lated the family doctor on his treatment. She never told about the ice, but continued to use it and was soon well.
Undoubtedly the greatest advance has been in the discovery of the germs and the resulting weapons to combat them. Vaccination for smallpox had long ago been proved a sure preventive, but it stood alone. Today the various kinds of anti-toxins, vaccines, serums, antiseptics and aseptics have saved the lives of literally thousands of Johnson county people. This is specially true of diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw) and all'
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
kinds of blood poisoning, and to a less degree of typhoid fever, pneu- monia, and whooping cough. In all these matters Johnson county physi- cians are steadily going ahead.
W. B. Moody, one of the prominent early citizens of Warrensburg (father of Mel. P. Moody, editor of the "Johnson County Democrat") was very sick with typhoid pneumonia. Old Doctor Pinkston, the family physician, said he couldn't possibly live and asked Mrs. Moody to break the news to him. She would not, so the doctor himself told Mr. Moody his condition and that he had better prepare his affairs accordingly. Mr. Moody replied that he was not going to die. Dr. Pinkston said he was-he couldn't possibly get well and was sure to die. Mr. Moody insisted he was not and they had quite an argument. Presently the doctor left and Mr. Moody said as long as the doctor had given him up, he was going to have that pitcher of cool buttermilk out on the porch that the doctor wouldn't let him have. He proceeded to get up out of bed, get the buttermilk and drink it. He began to improve and finally recov- ered. Mr. Mel. Moody remembers Dr. Pinkston afterward telling it around as a great joke on himself that Mr. Moody, Sr. had not treated him right and damaged his reputation very seriously by getting well.
Early Physicians .- Perhaps the first physician to practice in John- son county was Dr. J. M. Fulkerson. He located at Columbus in 1834. He was a Virginian, born in Lee county, March 15, 1811. Shortly after the War of 1812 the Fulkerson family removed to Tennessee . In 1829 they came to Missouri, settling in Ray county, near what was then the Cherokee Nation. Doctor Fulkerson attended medical college at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in 1831-32.
When Doctor Fulkerson located at Columbus he made his home with Nicholas Houx, and on January 5, 1836, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth C., daughter of Nicholas Houx. To this union were born six children, who lived to maturity.
Doctor Fulkerson accumulated considerable wealth during his time and when the Civil War broke out he was the owner of over three thousand acres of land and a number of slaves. He was active in early politics and was a recognized leader in the Democratic party until 1876. when he became a green-backer. He served one term in the state Legislature and three years as commissioner in bankruptcy. He served as surgeon in the Osage Indian War and in the Mormon War. He
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
practiced his profession until he reached quite an advanced age. He spent the last few years of his life at Warrensburg in retirement.
Dr. William Calhoun, one of the pioneers, practiced his profession for many years at Warrensburg. He was not only a successful physi- cian but prominent in the early affairs of the county.
Doctor Calhoun was a native of Ireland. His parents died in their native land when the Doctor was quite young, and he came to America to live with an uncle, who was an extensive stock dealer and merchant. Doctor Calhoun was an exceptionally well-educated man, having received a university education before taking up the study of medicine. In 1837 he went to Lexington, Kentucky, and was engaged in the hospital work for two years, and in 1839 he came to Missouri, locating at Warrens- burg. He immediately engaged in the practice of medicine and was considered a very successful physician. He took an active part in poli- tics. He was a member of the first city council of Warrensburg, after the town was incorporated in 1856. In 1844 he was elected state senator from the district composed of Lafayette and Johnson counties. At the close of his first term he was re-elected, serving two terms. He had an active career. He was widely known for his honesty, integrity and broad charity. The last few years of his life were spent in retirement from active professional work. He never married.
Dr. J. H. Warren was an early-day physician of the county. He was a native of Lee county, Virginia, born December 27, 1818, a son of Martin and Nancy (Hubbard) Warren, both natives of Virginia. The Warren family came to Missouri in 1819, when the doctor was about one year old. In 1832 they came to what is now Johnson county. settling on Clear Fork, where the father improved a farm, where he remained until his death in 1840. Doctor Warren's grandfather. Martin Warren, was one of the first settlers on the present site of Warrens- burg, and the city took its name from him.
Dr. J. H. Warren was one of the pioneer teachers of Johnson county. following that vocation for three years. He then read medicine under Dr. William Calhoun, and later graduated from the St. Louis Medical College. In 1848 he practiced in Cass county, Missouri, where he remained until the Civil War broke out. He then entered the Union army as surgeon of the Fifth Missouri State Militia, and served until 1863. He then engaged in the practice at Knob Noster.
Doctor Warren was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
daughter of John Warren, of Lafayette county. His second wife bore the maiden name of Sue Young. Doctor Warren was a capable physi- cian and a highly respected citizen.
Dr. B. F. Dunkley practiced medicine at an early day in Grover township. He settled on section 1, township 47, in 1846. In 1848 he started a store in connection with his profession and this was the found- ing of the town of Dunksburg, which took its name from Doctor Dunk- ley.
Doctor Dunkley was a native of London, England, born February 26, 1809, and when a boy his parents immigrated to America, settling in Washington, D. C. Here he received both his preparatory and medi- cal education. He went from Washington to Ohio, and in 1846 came to Johnson county. During the war he continued to practice medicine at Dunksburg, and was the only physician for a radius of several miles. He married a Miss Porter, of Tennessee, and they were the parents of three children. Dr. Dunkley was successful in a financial way and was actively engaged in the practice of his profession until within a few years of his death.
Dr. J. L. Lee was a pioneer doctor. He came here in 1844 and practiced at Montserrat, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a native of Tennessee, born in 1829. His father, Rev. Robert H. Lee, was a native of North Carolina.
Doctor Lee married Miss Tandy, a daughter of Roger Tandy, of Virginia, and three children, who grew to maturity, were born to this union: Mary Jane, married Mr. Tandy; Mrs. W. J. Mayes, of War- rensburg, Missouri, and Mrs. John S. Mayes.
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