USA > Missouri > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Mo. , carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns, and villages > Part 31
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The Aullville Times made its appearance in 1870, edited by W. H. Win- frey, but soon ran its brief career of a year. No other particulars obtained.
The Missouri Thalbote, a German newspaper, was established in Lex- ington in April, 1871, by Wm. P. Beck. It was at first edited and then owned by R. Willibald, Willibald and John G. Fisher, and afterward by Egid Kist. Mr. Kist was succeed in the proprietorship by Daniel Schle- gal, who in turn sold out to Albert Althoff, who subsequently removed the paper to Concordia, where he is still publishing it. The paper was originally independent in politics, but afterwards became republican, and so continues.
The Dispatch .- Messrs. Jack Williams, Ed. Bowman and Cam. B. Wil- son conducted with success, in 1873, a sprightly little daily, named as above, which, however, succumbed to the great financial panic of that year.
The Lafayette County Advance was established at Higginsville July 9, 1879, by George E. King, of St. Joseph, Mo., and for the first year was conducted by Wm. P. King and H. H. Luce. It was then purchased by H. H. Luce and Frank L. Houx, who conducted the business about four months. Houx's interest was then bought by Mrs. Frances M. Venable, of Savannah, Mo., the mother of H. H. Luce, and is now owned by them jointly and conducted by Mr. Luce under the name of the "Advance Printing Company." The paper is democratic in politics, but more espec- ially devoted to the local interests of Higginsville and Lafayette county.
Odessa Herald .- Nov. 13, 1880, the first number of this paper was issued by D. Reddington, formerly of the Mexico Herald. It is a weekly local paper devoted to the interests of Odessa and vicinity.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
ITEMS FROM THE FIRST NEWSPAPER.
The first newspaper ever printed in Lafayette county was issued in 1840 by C. Patterson; but we were unable to find any copies of this paper of earlier date than August 1, 1843. By the kindness of Ethan Allen, Esq., of the Lexington Intelligencer, we had access to a file of Mr. Patterson's paper (The Lexington Express), in part for the years 1843 and 1844. These are the oldest news sheets of this county known to be in existence. They are well filled with politics, general news, miscellany and advertise- ments, but are very meager in the matter of local items. The paper was devoted to the interests of the old Whig party, then under the national leadership of Henry Clay, of Kentucky. The Democrats had no paper of their own in the county then, and so were at the mercy of their oppo- nents so far as any publication of their views was concerned; but there is an occasional notice of their meetings, which serves to show at least that they had an organization in the county, although very greatly in the minority. This Whig paper almost unvaryingly calls them by their bur- lesque nickname of the time, "Locofoco."
We have gleaned from these old papers such items as have a local his- toric interest for citizens of this city and county; arranging them in the order of their date of publication:
August 1, 1843 .- "The steamboat Edna arrived here yesterday, in 2 days, 15 hours and 30 minutes from St. Louis, including all stoppages for wood, to discharge freight, etc. This is the quickest trip ever made by a steamboat from St. Louis to Lexington, if we remember correctly."
"On the Fourth of July, at Harrisonville, Van Buren county, Judge Ryland addressed the temperance society. At the close of the address, 65 persons subscribed the pledge, and during that evening, 5 others; making in all, 70 persons, which added to the society of that county, makes the number about 200. A good 4th of July movement, this. A temperance society was organized at Clinton, Henry county, during the last circuit court. Rev. Wm. Horn addressed the meeting. Judge Ryland also added a few remarks, after which 84 persons signed the pledge. Let the good cause advance."
At a Whig celebration of the Fourth of July, 1843, there were 13 toasts given, from which we take the following:
3d-The Union-When time is wound up, then, and not till then, may its days be numbered. ·
9th-Tom Benton -- In politics about a match for Joe Smith in religion.
11th-The Town of Lexington-Nature has done her part-let the citizens do theirs, and be satisfied with the Dutchman's one per cent. instead of two.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
12th-Our County-Rich, beautiful and healthy-the asparagus bed of Upper Missouri.
13th- Woman -- The jack-screw of creation.
August 8, 1843 .- The population of Lexington, at the present time, is computed to be fully 2,000. Some think it is more. Every boat landing at our wharf adds its quota to this population. The accession by immi- gration, and otherwise, is also considerable. We have no doubt but that one hundred dwelling houses could be rented to new comers between this time and Christmas if they were erected. Nearly every house in the town, suitable for a residence, is now occupied and more demanded. Improve- ments in the way of building, we are pleased to say, are progressing finely, if we take into consideration the tightness of the times. Thirty or forty buildings (ware-houses, stores, shops and residences), it is calculated will be erected here during the present year. Some of them are already completed, others under way and others under contract.
We copy the following from the same issue as an illustration of the jokes the whigs had on the democrats:
" A gentleman traveling in the interior of our state, fell in with a rip- roarer from one of the wolf-scalping counties, and commenced discussing politics with him. He inquired who he was in favor of for president? ' Why,' says wolf-scalp, ' I go dead for democracy.' 'Well,' inquired the stranger, ' which one of the democracy?' 'O,' said he, 'thar ain't but one democracy, and that thar's Benton-he's old democracy; the other you want to talk about is spurious. I tell you, stranger, thar ain't but one genuine democracy, and that's the old gold-bug of Missouri; he hums the right tune for these diggins.'"
August 22, 1843 .- The Blue River Association of the Baptist church, commences its session for the present year in this place on Saturday, the 9th day of September.
The Presbytery for the western portion of this state will meet in this place on Thursday the 14th day of September, and remain in session four or five days.
The conference of the Methodist E. Church for the state of Missouri, will convene in this place on Wednesday, the 27th day of September next.
There is but little doubt that the western counties of this state are now more or less infested with horse thieves. The horses, as soon as stolen, are run off towards Texas and Santa Fe.
September 5, 1843 .- The patent hemp brake, owned by Mr. Poyntz, is now fitted up in this place, and is to be put in operation every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, if the days are fair, for the inspection of the hemp-growers of upper Missouri. The farmers are invited to come in and examine said machine.
The fourth electoral district is composed of the counties of Jackson,
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Lafayette, Saline, Cooper, Miller, Morgan, Pettis, Johnson, Henry, St. Clair, Van Buren and Bates.
September 12, 1843 .- We have before us an odd specimen of a beet and potatoe combined. It is in the form of a Mercer potatoe, and has the color and smell of a blood beet. It had no top, and grew in a hill with beets and potatoes. It grew in the garden of our townsman, Mr. Thomas Asberry.
The St. Charles Advertiser says: "The U. S. snag boat, " Sampson," has passed up the Missouri river, drawing out many formidable snags on its route. It is a magnificent sight to see this river monster take hold of a large walnut tree six feet in diameter at the root and more than one hundred feet long, and fifty or sixty feet of which have been deeply imbedded in the mud for five hundred years, and draw it out with more ease than a dentist extracts a tooth; yet, such is its daily business. The largest sycamores, walnuts and cottonwood are pulled out, sawed and set afloat in the stream. Many large trees that appear to have been imbedded for many hundred years, are as sound as when they first fell. These boats should be kept in constant operation."
September 26, 1843 .- The clerks of the steamers Lexington, John Aull, and Ione, are each entitled to our thanks for late papers and other favors.
October 3, 1843 .- The new steamer, Lexington, arrived at our landing on the 24th ult. She was detained several weeks on her way from Pitts- burg, by the extreme low stage of water in the Ohio, for the last two months. At last, however, the boat effected her escape, and made her way westward in good plight. In the name of the citizens of this place, we tender to Capt. Littleton their thanks for the compliment he has con- ferred on us, by giving his boat the name of our town. May success attend the "Lexington, Mo."
November 7, 1843 .- The boats arriving at our wharf from the Ohio river are crowded with emigrants from the older States, all seeking a better home in Missouri. So also an immense immigration overland passes through our streets every day, destined for western Missouri. Let them come. There is room and abundance of everything; and we know that they will add greatly to the whig vote in November. 1
We copy the following to show who were leading citizens and partisans at that time:
Pursuant to a previous notice, a large number of the whigs of Lafay- ette county assembled in the Christian church in Lexington, on the 6th day of November, 1843, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the district convention for the 4th electoral district in Missouri. The meeting was organized by calling Judge Young Ewing to the chair, and appoint- ing C. Patterson secretary. By request, Jno. P. Campbell, Esq., arose
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and explained in a brief but eloquent manner, the object of the meeting, urging diligence and energy among its members and the friends of the whig cause throught the State and Union.
On motion of Mr. James Aull, the chair appointed a committe of seven, one from each municipal township of the county, to draft a preamble and resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting and its purposes. Whereupon the following gentlemen were selected by the chair to consti- tute said committee, viz: James Aull, Wm. Simpson, Col. T. M. Ewing, Strother Renick, A. W. Ridings, W. H. Anderson, and B. F. Tantis.
On motion, J. P. Campbell, Esq., was added to the committee.
During a brief absence of the committee, the meeting was addressed by E. S. Burden and P. D. Hockaday, Esqs., and Major S. T. Neill. [Resolutions omitted.]
The chair appointed the following gentlemen, in pursuance of the res- olution above reported as delegates to the district convention to be held in Warrensburg on the 20th day of the present month, viz:
Clay township-Col. W. Y. C. Ewing, Strother Renick, Fountain Livesay, James Pearson, Dr. Wm. Ward, Peter Wolfe, Wm. L. Evans, Jas. W. Renick, Judge Nath. Price, John D. Richardson, Reuben E. San- ders, and Jas. M. Halloway.
Lexington township-John P. Campbell, P. D. Hockaday, Geo. H. Gordon, H. Lightner, C. Patterson, H. C. Boteler, Jas. Aull, Wm. Mus- grove, Dr. Letton, B. Sanders, C. Osborn, H. Smock, and on motion the chair was added to the list.
Dover towship-Dr. Jas. Warren, Geo. W. Hillman, Dr. J. B. Vivion, M. W. Obannon, W. Hall, John G. Ridge, Thos. J. White, John Tearby, James S. Plattenburg, and A. S. Harris.
Sniabar township-James Walton, James W. Manion, Alex. Cheatham, Wm. Bullard, Archibald Scott, and A. W. Ridings.
Davis township-James Drummond, S. T. Neill, Joseph H. Bledsoe, Nathan Corder, Geo. B. Warren and Alfred Nicholas.
Freedom township-W. H. Anderson, John Walker, James Atterburg, T. J. Hawkins, A. Hargrove, and H. C. Davis.
Washington township-Capt. Wm. Bryant, Major J. H. Fulkerson, Col. Wm. P. Walton, N. W. Letton, Major L. H. Renick, and Col. T. M. Ewing.
On motion of Col. T. M. Ewing, Messrs. Jas. Aull, John P. Campbell, John T. Richardson, Henry C. Boteler, V. Burgess, and Arnold T. Win- sor, were appointed delegates from this county to the Young Men's Con- vention to be held in Baltimore in May next.
November 7, 1843 .- Distances from St. Louis to places on the Missouri River: From St. Louis to Fine's Landing, (a few miles above the present town of Waverly) 329; Dover Landing, (about two miles below present
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
town of Berlin) 334; Lexington, 344; Wellington, 350; Wolf's Landing, 359; Napoleon, 375.
December 19, 1843 .- The annual meeting of the Lexington Temperance Society, will be held on the 25th inst., (Christmas Day,) at the Baptist church in this place. The Rev. Mr. Ligon is expected to address the meeting.
December 23, 1843 .- Last Monday about 100 wagons came into this place, loaded with the produce of the surrounding country.
Never, since we have noticed the seasons and their changes, has a milder and more agreeable December passed over our heads-the weather for three weeks has been delightful. The sun, to-day, is shining bright and clear, and under foot the earth is dry and dusty. How long this fine weather will last is another matter. The river is now low, but we think there is water enough for the smaller boats.
February 10, 1844 .- Notice is hereby given to the citizens of the north side of the Missouri River, that an arrangement has been entered into with the Messrs. Pomeroys, of the Lexington Ferry, by which all traders from the north side, together with their produce and teams, will be crossed and recrossed free of charge for twelve months. The only items excluded under this contract, are fire wood, rails and loose cattle.
The subject of debate for the Lexington Lyceum next Tuesday even- ing, will be: " Should the fine imposed on Gen. Jackson by Judge Hall at New Orleans, be refunded." The ladies and gentlemen are respectfully invited to attend.
April 6, 1844 .- The logs for the " Cabin " have been cut, and arrange- ments made for their delivery on the bank on the upper end of Water street. Due notice will be given of the " raising." Subscriptions to meet the expenses in building the "Cabin," making the " Flag," and procuring a " cannon," are still wanted. [A log cabin was the peculiar emblem of the Whig party] .- HISTORIAN.
The materials for the new Presbyterian church are being prepared, and the body of the building will be completed during the coming summer.
Houses are now in demand, and we know of no point on the Missouri where capitalists. could make more profitable investments in the line of building. Every store, house and dwelling in the place is now occupied.
A stage passenger yesterday morning, direct from Jefferson City, brings the intelligence that the Locofoco Convention, which assembled there on the 1st, have nominated John C. Edwards, Esq., for Governor, and Col. James Young, of this county, for Lieutenant-Governor.
Last week upwards of $11,000 in cash was paid out for hemp by the merchants of this place; and for this week we are within bounds in stat- ing that $10,000 have been paid. The highest notch to which the article
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has gone since the opening of navigation, was $3.50. We quote for this. day, a good article of hemp at $3.372; for second rate $3.25.
April 13, 1844 .- We are authorized to announce Lillburn W. Bogg, Esq., as a candidate for the office of Governor of the State or Missouri, at the approaching August election.
April 20, 1844 .- We stated a short time since, that a deputation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri, I. O. O. F., was expected to visit this place, to establish a lodge of the Order, &c. This duty, we understand, was performed on last Thursday evening by William S. Stewart, of St. Louis, Deputy Grand Sire of the United States for this district.
May 7, 1844 .- The steamer Western Belle lay at this landing all day yesterday, receiving freight. We are informed that between 120 and 130 tons of hemp were shipped on board of her to St. Louis by one house. The first number of the Harry of the West was issued last Friday.
The new steam flouring mill recently erected in this place, by Messrs. Waddell and Hudson, we understand, will commence operation about the first of July. The mill contains four run of French burs.
May 21, 1844 .- The steamer Western Belle will take the Lafayette county delegation to St. Louis and back, and board while in St. Louis, for six dollars each, the boat to furnish a good band of music and a gun.
The army worm is now doing much damage to the growing crops and gardens in this vicinity. They are very severe on the gardens in this place. The only remedy for them is a change of weather; dry weather and a warm sun will destroy them. Much hemp will have to be resown and corn replanted.
May 28, 1844 .- MR. PATTERSON: Please publish the following list of names of the ladies who subscribed to the Whig Banner: Mesdames L. Stratton, Boulware, E. Bullard, Bliss, Alvin Chadwick, George Thomas, Eliza Robinson, E. Wiley, Russell, Andsrson, Bennett, Whelan, H. Chad- wick, Martha Royle, Fitzpatrick, Fall, Stone, Ligon, Aull, Henderson, A. Mundy, R. H Renick, Lucinda Day, M. Soister, Silver, N. Waddell, B. G. Chinn, M. M. Hockiday, Warren, Wentworth, J. P. Bowman, S. P. Patterson, M. Spratt, Mary Gaunt, Georgietta Gaunt, Locke, E. C. Wal- lace, Mary Donohoe, Catlett, Sawyer, M. B. Waddell, Asbury, Mary Stone, Abigail Warder, Ellen Waddell, Sarah Jones, M. B. Williams, Pomeroy, Susan Waddell, H. Bledsoe, Misses J. Hale, Elizabeth Aull, C. Wilson, K. M. Renick, E. A. Waddell, M. A. Buckner, A. G. Wallace, M. Royce, S. S. Blackwell, Lavina Letton, Ann Asbury, Scott, Mary Livesay.
Fune 4, 1844 .- We are pleased to say that several new buildings are now under way in this place. We hope the improvements will advance sufficiently to supply the demand for houses.
Lexington races-Second Day -Two mile heats; purse, $200, won by
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
James Shy's gr. c. Billy Tonson, four years old, by Mons. Tonson, beat- ing Wendover, by Medoc, Magdalen, by Medoc, Isola, by Bertrand, and distancing three others. Time, 3:58, 3:533
Third Day-Mile heats; won by Farris' ch. f. Liz. Tillett, three years old, by Frank, beating b. c., by Gray Eagle. Time, 1:51, 1:542.
Fourth Day -- Two mile heats; sweepstakes, $50 entrance; silver pitcher, valued at $50, added. Won by J. R. Smith's ch. c. Gold Eagle, beating Edward Eagle, by Grey Eagle, and distancing two others. Time, 3:58, 3:50.
Fune 11, 1844 .- [This paper contains an account of a grand rally of all the Clay clubs in the state at St. Louis, on June 4, 1844. It was the grandest thing of the kind that had ever been held in the state up to that time. Twenty-one organizations with banners took part in the proces- sion. The St. Louis Republican has this to say of the Lafayette county club's banner: " This banner is deserving of more than a passing notice. It was worked by the fair ladies of Lexington, and by them presented to the club, who bore it in the procession. The whole banner was got up with a taste characteristic of their ladies, and their handiwork in this, as in every similar case, bore off the palm. The Lexington Banner was unan- imously pronounced the most beautiful in the procession."
EVENTS AND INCIDENTS BY YEARS. LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN 1837.
Wetmore's Gazetteer of Missouri was published in 1837, (printed by Harper & Brothers, N. Y.,) and it contains some items of historic interest for Lafayette county which we quote.
"Five saw mills and five gristmills are driven by water power, in the county of Lafayette." The region about Dover village was called Tare Bean (beautiful land) grove; in this grove was a grist mill driven by the water from a large spring, but owner's name is not given. At Lexington there was a United States land office, and the author further says:
Lexington is one of the towns from which outfits are made in mer- chandise, mules, oxen, and wagons for the Santa Fe or New Mexico trade. The fur traders who pass to the mountain by land make this town a place of rendezvous, and frequently are going out and coming in with their wagons and packed mules, at the same period of going and coming that is chosen by the Mexican traders. Lexington is therefore, occasion- ally, a thoroughfare of traders of great enterprise, and caravans of infinite value. The dress and arms of the traders, trappers, and hunters of these caravans, and caparison of the horses and mules they ride, present as great diversity as the general resurrection itself of all nations and ages can promise for the speculations of the curious.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Wetmore's book contained a table of the population of the state by counties, from which we quote:
Lafayette county population in 1821, 1340; 1830, 2912; 1836, 4683.
Lexington is given as 319 miles by river from St. Louis. Fine's Land- ing (in Lafayette county,) is put at 15 miles below Lexington. There were at this time only three postoffices in the county:
Lexington, James Aull, postmaster; Dover, Benjamin F. Yates, post- master; Pleasant Grove, W. H. Ewing, postmaster.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN WAR-1846.
In May, 1846, a company was formed at Lexington to join Col. Doni- phan's regiment, and was mustered as company B. The following were the men from Lafayette county, and their present locations are as follows:
Capt. William Walton, deceased; 1st Lieut., Booth Barnett, deceased; 2d Lieut., - Kirkpatrick, killed at the battle of Sacramento; 1st Ser., Thomas Hinkel, unknown; H. J. Mallory, lives in Dover township; G. W. Vivion, lives in Davis township, at Higginsville; Baxter D. Kavanagh, lives in ray county; Isaac Braden, lives in Clay township; George King, deceased; John Boykakin, wounded at the battle of Bracito; John Ridge, deceased; Wm. Osborn, deceased; B. W. Coffee, deceased; Jacob Ridge, deceased; Wm. Cromwell, lives at Fort Worth, Texas; Upton Winsor, deceased; Jere Bear, lives in Kansas City; John Musick, deceased; W. B. Tyrce, deceased; H. M. Bledsoe, lives in Cass county, was commander of " Bledsoe's Battery," so famous in the late war; Wm. Nelson, lives in Car- roll county; Joseph Chinn, jailor at Lexington; Buck Chinn, deceased; Alex. Green, resides in Saline county: Daniel Horn, deceased; Thomas Hughes, deceased; John McDougal, now resides in Dover township; Wm. Hale, lives at Lexington; Wm. Chancellor, lives at Lexington.
Col. Doniphan's command consisted of 1,000 mounted men; they marched over land from Fort Leavenworth, by the way of Sante Fe, to the city of Mexico. They took with them quite a number of cattle and sheep. The Indians kept up a continuous raid upon them to get posses- sion of their stock, and at one time stole away 1,000 sheep; they pursued the Indians for three days, but failed to recover the mutton. They were at the battles of Bracito and Sacramento, and numerous skirmishes on the march. At the battle of Sacramento a Major Campbell of Lafayette county was with them, though not belonging to any command. He appears to have been in Mexico on some trading enterprise. Col. Doni- phan's regiment received very high praise from Gen. Taylor, and also from Gen. Wool for its gallant action and brilliant success at Sacramento, part of which of course belonged to our Lafayette men. [See article headed "Lafayette men's first battle," 1861, for an account of a famous cannon captured at Sacramento by Col. Doniphan.] There was a com-
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.
pany of ninety men from Saline county. When the regiment's time (one year) was out, a detail was made of three men from each company, 30 in all, to bring back their horses, numbering about 700, over land from Camargo to Missouri, while the rest took steamboat at New Orleans, where they were mustered out, and came up the river. The Lafayette men who came over land with the horses, were Vivion, Braden and Kav- anaugh.
James Aull of Lexington went out with Col. Doniphan's regiment, not in the capacity of sutler, as has been believed by many, but merely as a private trader. While the troops were at Chihuahua (pronounced she- wah-wah) he opened a store; and when they moved on to join Gen. Tay- lor the Lexington men advised Mr. Aull not to stay back there alone, for the Mexicans would kill him; but he decided to take the risk, and did stay, and in a short time the Mexicans did kill him. This was in the spring of 1847.
EVENTS IN 1847.
February 3, 1847, John F. Ryland, Street Hale, Wm. T. Wood, Hen- derson Young, Wm. Early and James Crump were appointed commis- sioners to propose a plan for a new court house to be erected in the city of Lexington.
February 2, 1847, John Payne was appointed overseer for a road in Freedom and Davis townships, commencing at Christopher Mulky's sign board, and running by Nathan Corder's saw mill, and intersecting the salt works road at the northwest corner of Wm. C. Barns' farm. This shows the rude style of waymarks and boundaries at that time.
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