USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 5
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Judges .- 1878, W. McMahan (H. H.), J. B. Mayes (Wash.), J. Um- stadt (Mad.) : 1879, W. McMahan (H. H.), J. B. Mayes (Wash.), Arch. G. Beard: 1880, W. C. McClung (Mont.). C. H. Bothwell (R. H.), Wm. McMahan (H. H.); 1881, Wm. McMahan (H. H.), C. H. Both- well (R. H.), J. B. Mayes (Mont.) ; 1882-83, W. P. Hunt (Wbg.), D. L. Sutherland (Jeff.), R. T. Fryer (King.) ; 1884-85, W. P. Hunt (Wbg.), R. T. Fryer (King.), Sidney Jarvis (Jeff.); 1888, R. T. Fryer (King), Sidney Jarvis (Jeff.), H. Long (King.): 1888. Isaiah Hanna (Mont.), H. Long (King.); 1890, William P. Gibson (King.), Isaiah Hanna (Mont.), Jas. A. Anderson (Col.); 1892, Isaialı Hanna (Mont.), Jas. A. Anderson (Col.): 1894, Jas. A. Anderson (Col.), Geo. R. Hindman (Chil.), Jas. A. Wingfield (Jeff.); 1896, W. H. Burford (P. O.), R. H. Tatlow (Mad.); 1898, Jas. A. Anderson (Col.). W. H. Burford (P. O.), Robt. B. Graham (Cent.); 1900, P. D. Fitch (Mont.), Robt. B. Graham (Cent.): 1902, Wm. A. Stephens (4)
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
(P. O.), P. D. Fitch (Mont.), I. J. Farnsworth (R. H.); 1904, I. J. Farnsworth (R. H.), R. H. Wood (Simp.); 1906, R. H. (Wood.), Wm. B. Pemberton (Jack.); 1908, B. F. Summers ( Wash.); Wm. B. Pemberton (Jack.) ; 1910, E. F. Tracy (H. H.), B. F. Summers (Wash.) ; 1912, Edw. S. Harte (Wash.); 1914, Edw. S. Harte (Wash.) C. C. Atkins (R. H.); 1916, T. L. Kimzey (Jeff.), C. C. Atkins (R. H.).
Note .- From 1836 to 1872 the sheriff was also collector. From 1873 to 1877 there were township collectors.
Collectors .- 1835, Richard Hancock; 1877. Wm. P. Hunt (King.), appointed by county court; 1878 to 1880, W. P. Hunt, elected; 1880 to 1884, S. P. Williams (Wbg.); 1884 to 1890, G. W. Lemmon (Wbg.); 1890 to 1892, Wm. L. Embree (Wbg.); 1892 to 1896, E. T. Pennington (Wbg.); 1896 to 1900, Franklin Miller (Wbg.); 1900 to 1904, Robt. F. Gillum (Mont.); 1904 to 1910, M. C. Draper (Jeff.); 1910 to 1918, Grover C. Gillum (Mont.). [Note .- From 1836 to 1872 the sheriff was also collector. From 1873 to 1877 there were township collectors.]
County Clerks .- 1835, John H. Townsend; 1836 to 1840, J. D. War- ren; 1840, Dr. W. Calhoun; 1841 to 1847, Zachariah T. Davis; 1848 to 1859, J. McCowan; 1860 to 1861, Marsh Foster, E. S. Foster (Wbg.) ; 1862 to 1864, Emory S. Foster; 1865 to 1870, Geo. W. Houts (Wbg.); 1871 to 1873, S. P. Sparks (Wbg.); 1874 to 1882, R. B. Har- wood (P. O.); 1882 to 1894, Jno. M. Rice (Col.); 1894 to 1898, Geo. G. Valentine (King.); 1898to 1906, C. A. Boyles (Wbg.); 1906 to 1914, J. R. Grinstead (P. O.); 1914 to present, Theo. Hyatt (Wbg.).
Coroners .- 1866-68, D. P. Bigger (Wbg.); 1868-72, A. W. Reese (Wbg.); 1872-74, C. W. Robinson (Wbg.); 1874-78, Geo. R. Hunt (Wbg.);1878-80, W. V. Smith (Wbg.); 1880, J. W. Wright (Wbg.); 1881, T. J. Wright (Wbg.); 1881-85, W. V. Smith (Wbg.); 1885-90, James I. Anderson (Wbg.) 1890-92, L. F. Murray (Mad.) ; 1892-94, G. W. Bennett (King.); 1894-96, Dr. J. A. Houston (Wbg.); 1896-1900, Dr. L. M. Horn (Mad.) ; 1900-04, Dr. R. L. Bills (Chil.) ; 1904-06, Dr. G. L. Calloway (Wbg.); 1906-12, Thos. L. Bradley (Wbg.) : 1912-16, Emery Thompson (Mad.) ; 1916 to present, S. A. Murray (Mad.).
Prosecuting Attorneys .- 1870, John W. Brown; 1872, A. M. Geer (Wash.); 1874, A. W. Rogers (Wbg.); 1876, W. H. Brinker (Wbg.) ; 1878, W. H. Brinker (Wbg.); 1880, Wm. H. Brinker (Wbg.); 1882, W. W. Wood (Wbg.); 1884, W. W. Wood (Wbg.); 1886, R. M. Robertson (Wbg.); 1888, J. W. Suddath (Wbg.); 1890, J. W. Suddath (Wbg.) ; 1892,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
T. C. Hornbuckle ( Mad.) ; 1894, Frank B. Fulkerson ( Mad.) ; 1896, Nick. M. Bradley (Wbg.); 1898, Nick M. Bradley (Wbg.); 1900, Chas. E. Morrow (Wbg.) : 1902, Chas. E. Morrow ( Wbg.); 1904, Ewing Cock- rell (\'bg.); 1906, Ewing Cockrell (Wbg.): 1908, W. L. Chaney ( Mad.); 1910, W. L. Chaney (Mad.); 1912, Walter C. McDonald (Wbg.); 1914, Walter C. McDonald (Wbg.): 1916, Jas. R. Rothwell (Wbg.).
Public Administrators .- 1856 to 1859, A. M. Perry ; 1864-65, W. Zoli (Wbg.); 1868-1871, Josiah Smith (Jeff.); 1874-75, Joseph Logsdon (Wbg.); 1876-78, W.W. Wood (Wbg.); 1880-81, O. D. Hawkins (Wbg); 1892, B. F. McCluney (Wbg.) ; 1896 to 1904, S. J. Caudle (Wbg.) ; 1904 to 1916, A. M. Craig (Wash.); 1916, E. A. Williams (Wbg.).
Probate Judges .- 1866 to 1870, G. Will Houts (Wbg.) ; 1871-1872, J. K. Farr (Wbg.); 1874 to 1890, W. L. Hornbuckle (H. H.) ; 1890 to 1894, Robert N. Warnick (P. O.); 1894 to 1902, W. P. Gibson (Wbg.); 1902 to 1910, C. A. Harrison (H. H.) ; 1910 to 1918, P. D. Fitch (Wbg.).
Recorders .- 1866 to 1872, C. Snow (Wbg.) ; 1874 to 1882, J. R. Kelly (Col.); 1882 to 1886, G. W. Patton (Mad.) ; 1886 to 1890, W. A. Porter (Cent.) : 1890 to 1896, Jerome B. Pemberton (R. H.): 1896-98, Mary A. Pemberton (Wbg.); 1898 to 1902, E. D. Frost (H. H.); 1906 to 1914, Jas. L. Robinson (Wbg.); 1914 to present, Chas. G. Goodnight (Mont.).
Representatives .- 1836, Dr. J. M. Fulkerson ; 1838, Dr. J. M. Fulker- son; 1840, Dr. J. M. Fulkerson; 1842, John Price; 1844, Nathaniel B. Holden; 1846, Nathaniel B. Holden; 1848, J. B. Greer; 1850, Reuben B. Fulkerson: 1852, N. B. Holden: 1854, Logan Clark; 1856, Love S. Cornwell; 1858, Aikman Welch; 1860, Aikman Welch; 1862, G. W. Houts (Wbg.) : 1864, G. W. Houts (Wbg.) (resigned), Thos. M. Houts (Wbg.); 1866, Wells H. Blodgett (Wbg.); 1868, Nicholas B. Klaine (Wbg.); 1870, W. F. Ralston (Mad.); 1872, Wm. P. Greenlee (Jeff.); 1874, R. T. Fryer (King.); 1876, M. C. Draper (Jeff.), C. C. Tevis, (Mad.); 1878, Finis C. Farr (Wbg.), C. C. Tevis (Mad.); 1880, John P. Harmon (Mad.), Samuel P. Sparks (Wbg.), W. J. Workman (Wash.): 1882, John P. Harmon (Mad.), A. W. Rogers (Wbg.); 1884, T. J. Whitsett (Cent.); S. G. Kelly (Wash.): 1886, H. G. Conner (Mad.), S. G. Kelly (Wash.); 1888, H. B. Coleman (Mad.), S. G. Kelly (Wash.); 1890, Jas. H. Parker (Simp.), Robt. McLin (Mad.);
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
1892, Geo. N. Hocker (P. O.); 1894, R. M. Robertson (Wbg.); 1896, Wm. M. Hamilton (Wbg.); 1898, Wm. M. Hamilton (Wbg.); 1900, Geo. S. Young (Mad.); 1902, Geo. S. Young (Mad.) ; 1904-1906-1908, Wallace Crossley (Wbg.); 1910, Alex C. Crank (Jack.) ; 1912-14, W. A. Stephens (Wbg.), Jas. O. Sutherland (Jeff.).
School Commissioners .- 1853-55, M. Thompson ; 1856-57, J. T. Gib- son ; 1858 to 1861, Z. T. Davis ; 1866, W. P. Parker; 1868 to 1870 M. Henry Smith (Wbg.); 1871, G. H. Slack (Wbg.); 1872, W. T. DeWitt (Col.) ; 1875, J. W. McGiven (Wbg.); 1877, A. VanAusdol (Jack.) ; 1879-80, J. W. McGiven (Wbg.); 1881, W. L. Berry (P. O.) 1881-85, W. L. Berry (P. O.); 1885-89, Robert L. Dunn (Wbg.); 1889-93, B. F. Pettis (Wbg.); 1893-96, A. VanAusdol (Jack.); 1896, W. Selvidge (6 months) (Wash.) ; 1902-11, W. L. Shipp (Cent.) : 1911, R. H. Boston (R. H.).
Sheriffs-1835, J. Cockrell; 1836-1840, W. Smith; 1840-44, Isham Reese ; 1844-48, John Price; 1848-52, Benj. W. Grover; 1852-56, Philip S. Houx; 1856-60, G. W. Houts; 1860-61, Jonathan Graves; 1862, Chas. E. Cunningham ; 1863-64, A. M. Christian (Wbg.); 1865-67, Thos. W. Williams (P. O.) : 1868-70, B. F. Griffith (Wbg. ) : 1871, J. H. Smith, (Wbg.); 1872-76, O. D. Williams (Wbg.); 1876-80, Z. H. Emer- son (Wbg.) ; 1880-81, John A. Shaw ( Mad.) : 1882-86. Henry H. Rus- sell (H. H.); 1886-90, David M. Baker (Chil.); 1890-94, W'm. H. H. Collins (Simp.) ; 1894-96, W. S. Dunham (Mad.): 1896-1900, Robt. M. Lear (P. O.); 1900-04, Jas. H. Koch (Wbg.) ; 1904-08, H. H. Hudson (Jeff. ) : 1908-12, Robt. L. Faulconer (H. H.); 1912-16, J. W. Millar (Wbg.); 1916 to present, Jno. F. Norman (Wbg.).
State Senators from Johnson County .- 1844-48, Dr. Wm. Calhoun; 1852-56, Benj. W. Grover; 1858-62, M. C. Goodlet; 1868, Wells H. Blodgett ; 1888-92, S. P. Sparks; 1900-04, N. M. Bradley ; 1912-16, Wallace Crossley.
Surveyors .- 1836, G. Tibbs; 1838-41, J. Stirling: 1841, J. Gibbons : 1842-43 N. B. Holden; 1844-50, Joseph L. Gaut; 1850-51. J. G. Gibbons ; 1853-57. Amos M. Perry; 1857-63, John Craig: 1863-66. Geo. Gallaher (Washı.): 1866-68, Lott Coffman (Wbg.); 1868-70, Jesse Trapp (H. H.); 1870-72, Geo. Gallaher (Wash.): 1872-76. Lott Coffman (Wbg.) : 1876 to 1881, Jasper N. Ferguson (Jack.); 1888 to 1900. Geo. Gallaher (Wash.): 1900-08, Wm. H. Burford (P. O.): 1908-16. David Mohler (P. O.): 1916 to present, Jos. F. McGuire (Mont.).
Treasurers .- 1835, P. L. Hudgins; 1836-44. John Evans: 1844-48.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
J. S. Raynols ; 1848-56, W. H. Anderson ; 1856-63, W. S. Hume; 1863-66, D. W. Reid (Wbg.); 1866-68, J. H. Smith (Wbg.); 1868-72, G. S. Grover (Wbg.); 1872-76, Joseph P. Henshaw (Cent.); 1876-80, H. Y. Hughes (R. H.); 1880-84, Jas. K. Tyler (Grov.); 1884-88, Geo. R. Hunt (Wbg.); 1888-92, Robt. F. Dalton (Wbg.); 1892-96. Y. W. Whitsett (Wbg.); 1896 to 1900, Jno. B. Lampkin (King.); 1900-04, Henry H. Russell (Wbg.); 1904-08, Pleasant L. Ferguson (Mad.) ; 1908-1914, Wm. E. Seamonds (Wbg.); 1915-16, Lida B. Seamonds (Wbg.); 1916 to present, R. L. Howard (Jack.).
The following is a complete list of county officers with their sal- aries, or approximate fees :
Assessor, fees about $3,300 gross; circuit clerk, $2,000; collector, fees about $5,000 gross; county clerk, fees equal $3,750 gross; county judges. $5 a day ; probate judge, fees about $3,000 gross; prosecuting attorney, $2,500; public administrator, fees about $500; recorder, fees about $3,000 gross; representative, $5 a day, about $350; school super- intendent, $1,500; sheriff, fees about $1,600 net; surveyor, fees about $400; treasurer, $1,500. Out of above "gross" fees all officers must pay their deputies or clerks.
The county also participates in the election of the following officers (in addition to the regular state administration): Circuit judge, $3,200; state senator, $5 a day, about $350 for two years; United States repre- sentative, $7,500; United States senator, $7,500.
CHAPTER VI .- RAILROADS.
RELATION OF RAILROADS TO DEVELOPMENT OF WEST-CONSERVATISM OF A CENTURY AGO-RAILROAD CONVENTION AT ST. LOUIS IN 1836-ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS AFFECTING JOHNSON COUNTY-FIRST LOCOMOTIVE ON PACIFIC RAILROAD-FIRST RAILROADS IN MISSOURI-LEGISLATION AFFECT- ING JOHNSON COUNTY IN 1852-EXTENSION OF PACIFIC RAILROAD IN 1865- OPPOSITION-INFLUENCE OF COLONEL B. W. GROVER, MAJOR N. B. HOLDEN, AND W. H. ANDERSON-BONDS-"THE QUARRY SWITCH"-ST. LOUIS & SANTA FE-ST. LOUIS & SAN FRANCISCO-MISSOURI, KANSAS & TEXAS-CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC --- "WILD-CATTING"-PROPOSED ROAD FROM WAR- RENSBURG TO MARSHALL.
No single agent of modern civiliation has had more to do with the development of the west than the building of railroads. The question of transportation has always been an important one and while Missouri was better supplied with great national water ways along her borders and across the state, yet we find that it was one of the first western states to agitate the question of railroad building.
We, of this age, can hardly conceive of a people being so conserva- tive that considerably less than a century ago they regarded railroads as impossible, or at least impracticable. Yet as late as 1828, the school board of Lancaster, Ohio, replied as follows to some young men who asked for the use of the school house in which they desired to debate the railroad problem. "You are welcome to use the school house to debate all proper questions in, but such things as railroads and tele- graphs are impossibilities and rank infidelity. There is nothing in the Word of God about them. If God had designed that his intelligent creatures should travel at the frightful speed of fifteen miles an hour, by steam, he would have foretold it through his holy prophets. It is a device of Satan to lead immortal souls down to hell."
As early as 1836 a railroad convention was held at St. Louis. A committee consisting of Messrs. Rollins, Bates and Gamble was appointed to negotiate with Congress for grants of land to aid proposed railroads.
Resolutions were adopted ; that it was expedient to adopt measures for a railroad from St. Louis to Fayette and beyond, also from St.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Louis, in a southwestern direction, to the valley of Bellevue in Wash- ington county to traverse the rich mineral regions there and to extend through Cooper county to a point on the Missouri river in Jackson county. The proposed railroad to Fayette was to cross the Missouri river at the town of St. Charles, and go through or within one mile of Warrenton, Danville, Fulton, and Columbia.
The first locomotive west of the Mississippi river was operated on the Pacific railroad at St. Louis late in 1852. Three years later the Pacific railroad had almost reached Jefferson City. In 1861, when the Civil War broke out, it was built as far west as Sedalia. The first rail- road to reach the western boundary of the state was the Hannibal & St. Joseph which was completed to St. Joseph in 1859. However, the Pacific railroad was the first road that was in operation in the state, because as it was built westward from St. Louis it was put in operation as fast as it was completed and the terminal of an actively operated rail- road followed the construction gang, as it were, across the state to Kansas City.
The state Legislature located the Pacific railroad through Johnson county in 1852, and shortly afterward the construction of this line was started westward from St. Louis. It was built as far west as Warrensburg in 1864. For about one year Warrensburg was the end of the division and also the terminus for about a year. This being the nearest railroad connection it was the shipping point over a wide scope of country during that time. Six or eight cars of merchandise per day were received here and twenty or more freight teams could frequently be seen hauling freight from the Warrensburg station to trading points farther west and south, including Clinton, Butler, Harrisonville, Nevada, Fort Scott, and other points.
In 1865 the railroad was extended on west through Centerview, Holden and Kingsville and was completed to Kansas City, Missouri, in the fall of that year.
Thus the Pacific railroad was the first railroad to be completed in Johnson county. Like all other railroad projects in the early days in the West, the question as to the location of this road aroused fierce opposition between the towns along different proposed routes. The question of the location of this road began to agitate the people as early as 1850. There was a fierce struggle which developed much animosity and bitterness. The fight was carried to the state Legislature to decide
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
whether the road should be located where it now is, which was called the inland route or through the river counties north of the present route, which was called the river route.
Col. B. W. Grover, of Warrensburg, who at the time was a mem- ber of the state senate, is perhaps entitled to more credit than any other man for giving Johnson county the Pacific railroad. Among others, the work of Major N. B. Holden, a member of the lower house, and W. H. Anderson was vigorous and effective. Mr. Anderson was the father of Dr. James I. Anderson. He made several trips to St. Louis for the road and helped much to get Col. Grover elected a director of the road. Col. Grover and Major Holden were both victims of the Civil War. Colonel Grover became a Union colonel and was mortally wounded at the battle of Lexington and died at St. Louis, October 30, 1861. Major Holden was called from his bed and assassinated at his resi- dence in Warrensburg, September 21, 1862.
Johnson county voted $50,000 bonds to have. the Pacific railroad built through this county but owing to the intensity of the struggle which the river counties made to get the railroad, Johnson county citi- zens subscribed to $100,000. This was necessary to complete the million dollars required to be subscribed by the counties of the state through which the railroad was to run.
A branch locally called "The Quarry Switch" runs two miles north of Warrensburg to the Sandstone quarries.
The Pacific railroad is now part of the Missouri Pacific system and is its main line between Kansas City and St. Louis.
The second railroad to be built in Johnson county was constructed under the name of the St. Louis & Santa Fe railroad. This road runs from Holden southwest through parts of Madison, Kingsville and Rose Hill townships, and through Harrisonville to Paola, Kansas. This road was built in 1870 and for a number of years was operated by the Missouri Pacific and is now a part of the M., K. & T.
The next road to pass through Johnson county was the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad. This road passes through the southwestern corner of the county and Rose Hill is the only township which it intersects. It was built in 1886. There are two stations on this line in Johnson county, Latour and Quick City.
The next railroad was the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad, which was built from Holden to the main line of the Missouri, Kansas
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
& Texas at Bryson in Pettis county. This road runs in a south- easterly direction from Holden to Chilhowee and thence east through Leeton into Pettis county. It was built in 1895. It now joins the old St. Louis & Santa Fe railroad at Holden. Thus the Missouri, Kansas & Texas has a line across the county from east to west. Its stations in this county are Holden, Magnolia, Chilhowee, Leeton and Sutherland.
The last railroad to be built in this county was the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific which runs from St. Louis to Kansas City. This road enters the county on the west in the southern part of Kingsville town- ship and runs in an easterly direction through the townships of Rose Hill, Chilhowee, Post Oak, and Jefferson, leaving the county in the lat- ter township, where it crosses into Henry county at Bowen. It was completed in 1906. Its stations are Medford, Denton, Chilhowee, Lee- ton and Bowen.
This makes six railroad lines in the county. Of the fifteen townships in the county, ten of them are intersected by one or more railroads and of the other townships not one is more than five miles from a railroad.
Johnson county, like many other sections of the West, had its epi- demic of railroad projects. In the days of railroad "wild-catting" there were many railroad rumors and railroad booms that never reached the stage of steel rails and many of them never even got as far as the preliminary survey.
One of these projects seemed a probability. This was a railroad from Warrensburg to Marshall. in Saline county. In 1870 Johnson county voted $100,000 for the construction of this road. The road was surveyed and graded from Warrensburg northeast, for a distance of thirteen miles. It was then discovered that the balance of the money necessary to complete the construction of the road could not be raised and the project had to be abandoned. There was also $40,000 raised in the county by private subscription.
The old grade running down Post Oak creek and thence north- east along the north side of Blackwater bottom still remains and is a well-known landmark in that part of the county. At some places its cuts have been dammed and make fine ponds, and at one place in the bottom the public road runs on one of its fills.
CHAPTER VII .- MILITARY.
THE MORMON WAR-THE CIVIL WAR-TWO PHASES OF THE MILITARY HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY: (1) JOHNSON COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE MAIN UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES-THE FIRST COMPANIES-CON- FEDERATE ORGANIZATIONS-UNION ORGANIZATIONS-(2) THE WAR IN JOHNSON COUNTY-BLACKENED POST MARKS FOUR SOLDIERS' GRAVES- SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
The Mormon War .- The first record of Johnson county in war is one but little known. This was the "Mormon War."
In 1831 the Latter Day Saints under what was claimed by their leader, Joseph Smith, as divine revelation began coming to Jackson county. There trouble arose between them and the other settlers, and they moved to Caldwell county. Trouble arose again and by 1838 both sides were armed, and an anti-Mormon army of 450 men had come in from outside counties, and later Governor Boggs called out the state militia against them. Eventually, on October 30, 1838, eight- een of the Saints were killed or massacred by the militia, and the balance of the large and prosperous settlement in Caldwell county driven from the state. During this trouble Johnson county's participa- tion is shown in the following record copied from the Johnson county history of 1881, page 508:
"In 1837, during the Mormon war in Missouri, Lieutenant Colonel Jehu Robinson commanded a battalion. James Warnick was captain. The following constitutes a list of his privates: William Thornton. Jerome B. Greer, Henry Hayes, Daniel Marr, Elmer Marr. William Marr, Joseph Dixon, James Borthick, Charles Oglesby."
The Civil War .- When the Civil War broke out all shades of opin- ion on union and secession could be found in Johnson county. Lincoln well expressed it when he said, of the political situation at that time in Missouri, "It was a perplexing compound of Union and slavery, even for those who were for the union, to say nothing of those who were against it." There were "those who were for the union, with but not without slavery; those for it without, but not with; those for it with or without, but preferred with; and those who were for it with or
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
without, but preferred it without. Among these, again, was a sub- division of those who were for the gradual but not for immediate, and those who were for immediate, but not for gradual, extinction of slav- ery." The above fairly represented Johnson county at that time.
At the election in February, 1861, to elect delegates to a state constitutional convention to declare Missouri's status in the union, the union sentiment prevailed and Aikman Welch of Johnson county was elected delegate.
The military history of Johnson county during the Civil War is really divided into two parts: I. That of the organizations and men who enlisted in the regular armies and fought outside of Johnson county, and II, that of the war as it was fought by regular and irregu- lar organizations and individuals within Johnson county.
I. Johnson County Organizations with the Main Union and Confederate Armies.
The First Companies .- Early in 1861, Emory S. Foster organized a union company, and F. M. Cockrell, a confederate one.
Thomas W. Houts was first lieutenant of the Union company. They had no military clothing, and wore for a uniform black pants and red shirts, and came to be called the "Red Shirt Company."
A remarkable condition existed in regard to these two companies. The following fact was personally stated to the writer by Captain George S. Grover, who was a member of Foster's company at the time, and also by Dan D. Williams, of Warrensburg, who was an eye- witness. Foster's company drilled on the east side of town, and Cock- rell's company on the west side, each preparing itself for the time when they would perhaps be in mortal combat with each other. At different times, Foster and his men went over and drilled with Cockrell and his company, and the latter came over and drilled with Foster and his company. Men who were fighting for principle and what they believed to be right could do this. (It was this same spirit that after the war led the union colonel, T. T. Crittenden, and the confederate general, F. M. Cockrell, to become partners in the law practice.)
Confederate Organizations .- Another confederate company was organized early in 1861, which was commanded by Lieutenants Barney Atkinson and William McCarty, and Captain King and then by O. A. Waddell. A third confederate company was organized in June, 1861,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
by Captain H. Mize, at Holden, in response to Governor Jackson's call for state militia. B. Jeanes, Robert Pruitt and W. J. Lea were first, second and third lieutenants. It had fifty men.
These three companies (Cockrell's, Waddell's and Mize's) in- cluded the bulk of all those that early went into the regular confederate service. These three companies were together in the battle of Car- thage, the camp and mobilization at Cowskin Prairie and the battles of Wilson's Creek and Lexington. All went south then.
Some of Cockrell's company were also men who enlisted under Colonel Elliott in February, 1862, fought in Elk Horn battle and then joined Company H. William H. Drue, the only Confederate now liv- ing in Hazel Hill township, was among this number.
The lieutenants of Cockrell's company were: James Selby, 1st lieu- tenant, killed at Corinth, Mississippi; James Douglas, 2nd lieutenant, and Samuel Rice, 3rd lieutenant, all now dead.
Waddell's company became Company "A", Fifth Missouri Regi- ment, and Cockrell's company, "H", Second Missouri Regiment. Both went east of the Mississippi river, and were in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Champion Hills, Big Black and were captured in the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863.
After the surrender at Vicksburg and their subsequent exchange, the men in Company "A" (Waddell's company ) divided and about half the men crossed the river and served the balance of the war under ' General Marmaduke, and finally surrendered June 5. 1865, at Shreve- port, Louisiana. The remainder of the company and also Company "H" remained east of the river and served there till the end of the war. They were under Gen. Joe Johnston in his retreat before Sherman and the battles accompanying, in the bloody battles of Franklin and Nash- ville, and were finally captured at Fort Blakely, Alabama, several days after Lee's surrender, but before the news had reached them.
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