USA > Missouri > Scotland County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Lewis County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Clark County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Knox County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 19
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W. G. Downing.
H. R. Parsons.
H P Tate.
G. H. Pratt.
J. M. Miller.
S. P. Osgood.
W. G. Watson.
J. M. Smith.
J. E. Cooksey.
T. W. Furlong.
Dickerson.
254
35
215
52
227
48
250 207
33
31
254 209
28
258
27
Lyon
214
70
172
90
190
74
344
201
219
326
219
328
219
Canton
354
344
293
391
328
354
341
355
360
336
359
338
347
349
Reddish
212
127
282
140
190
133
205
209
126
211
123
212
126
La Belle.
329
113
229
183
281
140
322
131 116
320
118
337
108
329
113
Salem
138
86
122
94
137
87
140
86
140
86
143
83
140
86
Highland
187
153
155
169
182
153
187
150
193
142
190
151
190
149
Totals
2013
1152
1685
1343
1862
1207
1996
1042
2007
1126
2029
1121
2013
1136
71
209
67
Union
325
224
317
224
327
218
70
254 204 327
68
210
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
On restraining sheep and swine, the vote by precincts was as follows :
PRECINCTS.
Yes.
No.
Monticello
153
110
Lyon
132
134
Lewiston
94
50
Durham
41
69
Salem
82
128
Williamstown
73
52
Gilead .
67
123
Deer Ridge
103
91
La Belle.
137
88
Maywood
25
40
Canton
339
291
La Grange
192
249
Totals
1438
1425
PROMINENT OFFICIALS.
Lewis County has been liberally represented in the positions of place and preferment in public life. Her citizens have sat in the councils of the republic, occupied distinguished positions on the bench, and won high renown on the tented field.
In 1844 Hon. James S. Green was chosen presidential elector on the Democratic or Polk and Dallas ticket. In 1846 he was elected to Congress as a Democrat, re-elected in 1848, but defeated in 1850 and in 1852 by Hon. John G. Miller, Whig, of Cooper County. In 1846 congressmen were first chosen from Missouri by districts; prior to that date they were elected on a general ticket, by a majority of all the votes cast in the State. The dis- trict represented by Mr. Green (then the third) was very large in area, including eighteen counties in all, some of which lay south of the Missouri. In 1853 Mr. Green was appointed by President Pierce charge d'affaires to the Republic of New Gra- nada, but after a residence of one year in Bogota he resigned and returned to the United States. In 1856 he was again elected to Congress from this district, and the following winter he was chos- en United States Senator, his term expiring March 4, 1861.
The Hon. James J. Lindley, of Monticello, was elected to Congress from this district, as a Whig, to succeed Hon. J. G. Miller, who had died in office. He was re-elected in 1854, defeating Claiborne F. Jackson, of Howard, but in 1856 he was
211
STATE OF MISSOURI.
defeated by Mr. Green. After the war he removed to St. Louis (where he still resides), where for several years he was one of the circuit judges of that city.
Hon. James G. Blair, of Monticello, was elected to Congress as a Liberal Republican, in 1870, over J. T. K. Hayward, Radi- cal Republican, of Marion. Mr. Blair served one term.
Hon. John M. Glover, then of this county, was elected to Congress in 1872, and re-elected in 1874 and 1876. In 1872 he defeated Hon. John F. Benjamin, Republican, of Shelby; in 1874 he defeated Hon. H. S. Lipscomb, the "Tadpole " or "Peo- ple's" candidate, of Marion, and in 1876 he easily overcame Hon. J. T. K. Hayward, Republican, also of Marion. .
State Senators have been Hon. James Ellison (in 1848), Samuel H. Stewart, Gen. David Moore and William G. Down- ing; the last named is the present incumbent.
Hon. David Wagner was appointed a judge of the supreme court in 1865, elected in 1868, and in 1870 re-elected without opposition, serving until 1872.
Circuit judges have been Addison Reese, James Ellison, H. M. Woodyard, David Wagner and John C. Anderson.
LIST OF COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Circuit Judges .- Priestly H. McBride, from 1833 to July, 1836; Ezra Hunt, from July, 1836 to March, 1837; Priestly H. McBride, 1837-44; Addison Reese, 1844-59; Thomas H. Rich- ardson, 1859-61; James Ellison, 1862-64; H. M. Woodyard, 1864; David Wagner, 1864-65; Elias V. Wilson, 1865-75; John C. Anderson, 1875-81; Ben E. Turner, 1881. Judge Richardson was murdered in December, 1861, and was suc- ceeded by Judge Ellison, who was elected in February, 1862. Judge Woodyard was elected in November 1863, and died at Memphis in April following.
Circuit Clerks .- James H. McBride, 1833-38; Joseph H. Blair, 1838-47; James G. Blair, 1847-53; Charles R. Ma Gee, 1853-65; Thomas B. Jeffries, 1865-75; Charles R. Ma"Gee, 1875- 83; James M. Miller, 1883.
County Clerks .- Robert Taylor, first clerk; James H. Mc- Bride, from 1833 to 1837; Joseph H. Blair, 1838-47; W. G. Watson, 1847-65; N. D. Starr, 1865-71; W. G. Watson, 1871.
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Sheriffs .- Chilton B. Tate, from 1833 to 1838; V. A. Sublett, 1838-42; Chilton B. Tate, 1842-46; Benjamin W. Stith, 1846- 47; James A. Richardson, 1847-52; John P. Caldwell, 1852-56; George B. Nelson, 1856-60; W. J. Burnett, 1860-62; John Sisler, 1862-66; Lewis Sells, 1866-72; W. G. Allen, 1872-74; W. M. Moore, 1874-76; William S. Richardson, 1876-80; Lance W. Summers, 1880-84; Jacob E. Cooksey, 1884.
Benjamin W. Stith was elected in August, 1846, and died in April, 1847, succeeded by J. A. Richardson.
Assessors. - W. J. Duncan, appointed in 1833; Stephen Cooper, appointed in 1835; W. T. Staples, elected in 1836; William Cummins, elected in 1838; C. R. Ma Gee, appointed -; Washington J. Burnett, elected in 1844; A. L. Hatfield, elected in 1846; Milton Million, from 1848 to 1854; Washington J. Burnett, elected in 1856; N. C. Richardson, elected in 1860; Thompson F. Anderson, appointed in 1862; Frederick Graff, elected in 1864; Frederick Graff, elected in 1866; W. I. Cox, elected in 1868; August Schoppe, elected in 1870; August Schoppe, elected in 1872; M. M. Buford, elected in 1874; M. M. Buford, elected in 1876; S. R. Ray, elected in 1878; Ed. S. Lillard, elected in 1884.
Prosecuting Attorney .- W. G. Downing, elected in 1876; O. C. Clay, elected in 1882.
Treasurer .- John Bowles, -; John T. Staples, 1884, re-elected in 1886, died in December, 1886; C. S. Orcutt appointed.
Probate Judge .- George Ellison, elected in 1874; Joseph Fuqua, elected 1878-82; B. F. Thompson, elected 1882.
Public Administrator .- William J. Norris, 1836-37.
County Court Justices .- Gregory F. Hawkins, John Taylor and James A. Richardson, appointed in 1833; Dr. Robert Croughton, elected in 1836; William C. Sublett and Robert Croughton, in 1837; William C. Sublett, William Hagood and John Baker, in 1838; William C. Sublett, William Hagood and H. Roberts, in 1842; John Lafon, Martin E. Green and Hiram Yates, in 1846; H. Roberts, L. C. Hawkins and John G. Nunn, in 1850; William Ellis, John G. Nunn and J. A. Moffett, in 1854; Elijah S. Patterson, appointed in 1855; S. H. McKim,
1
213
STATE OF MISSOURI.
appointed 1856; Martin E. Green, J. G. Nunn and Ralph Smith, elected 1858; William Ellis, W. S. Bohon and J. P. Mitchell, elected 1862; George T. Ray, elected 1864; Thomas Pryce, elected 1865; Lloyd Reese and George W. McClain, elected 1866; S. B. Gibson, elected 1867; W. S. Bohon, elected 1868; J. F. Bumbarger, elected 1870; Jacob Halderman, elected 1872; W. G. Ewing, elected 1874; Joseph Patterson, elected 1876; W. C. Jones and George Tompkins, elected 1878; George Tompkins and J. H. Bradshaw, 1880; E. G. Gill and J. C. Hottel, 1886. Elijah S. Patterson was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge J. A. Moffett in 1855.
Representatives .- 1834, James D. Owens; 1836, Thomas Gray, a Whig; 1838, Ad. Reese, a Democrat; 1840, W. Ellis, a Whig; 1842, James Ellison, a Democrat; 1844, William Ellis, a Whig; 1846, Chilton B. Tate, a Whig; 1848, H. M. Wood- yard, a Whig; 1850, E. S. Patterson, a Democrat; 1852, Joseph A. Hay, a Whig; 1854, Martin E. Green, a Democrat; 1856, E. S. Patterson, a Democrat; 1858, A. C. Waltman, a Democrat; 1860, A. C. Waltman, a Democrat; 1862, Milton Million, a- Republican; 1864, C. H. Howe, a Republican; 1866, C. H. Howe, a Republican; 1868, F. L. Marchand. a Democrat; 1870, J. W. Barrett, a Democrat; 1872, C. B. Tate, a Democrat; 1874, W. W. Kendrick, a Democrat; 1876, W. M. Moore, a Democrat; 1878, John J. Louthan, a Democrat; 1880, R. M. Wallace, a Dem- ocrat; 1882, R. M. Wallace, Democrat; 1884, Horace P. Tate, a Democrat; 1886, Horace P. Tate, a Democrat.
County Collectors .- Previous to 1874 the offices of sheriff and collector were held by one and the same person, but in that year, the people seeming desirous of separating the offices, John P. Caldwell became a candidate for the office of collector alone, and was elected, serving till 1877; William H. Graves, 1877-81; Benjamin H. Stewart, 1881-83; James T. Hutton, 1883-87; Willis T. Ball, 1887.
TOWNS OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Canton .- The town of Canton is the oldest in the county. It was regularly laid off in the winter of 1830, by Edward White, Robert Sinclair, and Isaac Bland. The plat was filed in the office
214
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
of the circuit clerk of Marion, to which county this territory then belonged, on the 15th of February. Edward White built the first house, which was used as a tavern. A Mr. Block had the first store, which stood on the levee, somewhere near the foot of Lewis Street. Thomas Gray had the second store, a one-story log building, above Block's. The original plat comprises part of the east half of Section 35, and part of fractional Section 36, Township 62, Range 6.
The records show that Gray's store was in existence in June, 1833, and that John Carnegy had a grocery in Canton in Decem- ber following. The first settler near the site of the town was Capt. William Pritchard, who came to the country in 1819, from Ohio. In 1833, when Judge Hagood came to the county, the town had two stores ( Block's and Gray's), a tavern kept by a Mr. Trotter, two grocery establishments, a blacksmith shop, a gun- smith, and perhaps twenty-five dwelling-houses.
The town grew slowly until 1851, the year of the high waters. Prior to that date, Tully, a mile north, was the more considerable town, but the flood practically destroyed Tully, and Canton came rapidly into prominence. From 1851 until the outbreak of the civil war it grew rapidly and yet substantially. In 1860 it had a population of over 2,000. The large brick buildings on the levee were up, extensive mercantile establishments were in exist- ence, and the place was the seat of a large and valuable trade. In the boating season steamers landed daily, discharging and re- ceiving tons of freight. Country merchants from the interior received their goods here, and there were two or three commodi- ous warehouses which were commonly filled with produce and merchandise.
During the war, owing to the general depression incident to the military occupation of the country, the prosperity of the town received a complete check. The Christian College suspended its sessions, and the Bloomfield Railroad was torn up. The business interests hardly held their own. Many business men left. There was some trade, of course, but no general advancement.
After the war there was some improvement. Business houses were constructed on the streets back from the river, additions
215
STATE OF MISSOURI.
were made to the town, new houses were built, and new enter- prises established. When the railroad came, in the spring of 1871, the interests of the town were greatly aided. Since that period Canton has become one of the most important towns in Northeast Missouri. It is well and substantially built, contains numerous well filled stores, many shops and small manufacturing establishments, excellent schools, and indeed all of the institu- tions which go to make up a thriving and prosperous community. The present population is believed to be more than 3,000.
Canton was first incorporated as a town by the county court, January 28, 1851. The first board of trustees was composed of Henry F. Hughes, John N. Puckett, Harrison Munday, William Eagon and M. C. Hawkins. The order of incorporation was amended by the Legislature successively February 28, 1851, when the chairman of the board of trustees was made ex-officio recorder; January 13, 1853; November 4, 1857; November 14, 1857, when the trustees were declared to have the same rights as the mayor and councilman of the town of Palmyra; March 20, 1871, when the office of recorder was created, and was finally amended March 19, 1873, when the municipal control was vested in a mayor and board of trustees.
Hamilton Johnson was the last recorder and acting mayor to April 1873. Succeeding him the mayors proper have been as follows: 1873-75, John T. Lewis; 1875-76, J. W. Barret; 1876- 77, Nicholas Wolflin; 1877-78, J. W. Barret; 1878-80, Aaron D. Lewis; 1880-82, A. F. Poulton; 1882-83, August J. Miller; 1883-84, Hamilton Johnson; 1884-85, A. F. Poulton; 1885-87, L. H. Condit. The present mayor is William H. Graves.
The financial condition of the little city is fairly good. In July, 1880, pursuant to a vote of the people, the city debt, amounting to $31,900, was refunded in ten-year 6 per cent bonds. Of this amount only about $17,000 remains unpaid. The entire indebtedness will doubtless be discharged at maturity. Of the original debt, $3,480 was for the purchase of a fire engine and apparatus.
The original plat of the town was bounded by the Mississippi River on the east, Fifth Street on the west, Panama (the first street north of Clark) on the north, and Marion (the sixth south
216
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
of Lewis) on the south. Judge William Ellis made the first ad- dition-north of Panama-and filed his plat January 31, 1850. Subsequent additions have been Green & Hawkins', by James S. Green and M. C. Hawkins, January 6, 1852; Bland's, by Charles H. Bland, Augus 30, 1853; White's, by Halsey White, April 26, 1853; Durkee's 1st, by Gen. Chauncey Durkee, Septem- ber 15, 1852; Durkee's 2d, by same, October 4, 1856; South Canton, by George W. Cordell, September 7, 1857; Reese & Hawkins', by Thomas O. Reese and M. C. Hawkins, September, 1857; Gregory's, by Sarah C. and Martha S. Gregory, March 26, 1858; Hawkins & Davis', by M. C. Hawkins and Henderson Davis, July 9, 1858; Jones', by L. C. Jones, March 7, 1866; Bandhauer's, December 6, 1866; University, February 28, 1868; Northwest, by Edward Morse, November 2, 1869.
The first newspaper in Lewis County was the Canton Express, which was established at Canton in 1843. Capt. Halsey White was the proprietor, and Israel Sanderson, editor. In 1848 the Missouri Plebeian was started by Hon. Stephen P. Vannoy. In 1850 the name of the paper was changed to the Northeast Reporter. In 1856 Mr. Vannoy was elected a member of the State Board of Public Works, and left the Reporter, which was thereafter conducted by A. Dangerfield Rector until its suspen- sion, in the early fall of 1861. The Canton Press was started in the summer of 1862 by Hon. J. W. Barrett; since his decease the paper has been regularly issued by his sons. The town now has two papers-the Press, Democratic, and the News, Repub- lican.
Monticello .- The town of Monticello was laid out in the fall of 1833 by the authorities appointed to locate the county seat. of Lewis County. Following is a copy of the report of the com- missioners in the premises:
To the Honorable Circuit Judge of the County of Lewis, State of Missouri:
The undersigned, commissioners for selecting a site for the location of the. seat of justice for said county, do hereby report that we have discharged our duties, to the best of our judgments, by traveling and viewing each and every situation showed to us by the citizens of said county, and after examination of all of the most desirable sites in and around the center of said county, we agreed to locate on the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 6, Town- ship 61, Range 7, a donation of sixty acres being made 'to the county for that
217
STATE OF MISSOURI.
purpose by Mr. Andrew P. Williams. We herewith enclose, for your Honor's inspection, the bond taken by us and the certificate of purchase of the land by Mr. Wilson, which is all the evidence of title the donator has to deliver to us. Very respectfully we subscribe ourselves your humble servants,
STEPHEN CLEAVER, JOSHUA FEASEL.
September 29, 1833.
The town was not surveyed until a year later. Silas Reddish was the commissioner of the seat of justice, and superintended the surveying. At the term of the county court held in Decem- ber, 1834, Judge J. A. Richardson was appointed to "select a lot on which to build a gaol, and another on which to build a church and schoolhouse." At the same time the streets were named. The first north and south street was called Jackson; the second, Perry; the third, Washington, " in honor of Gen. George Washington, first President of the United States of America;" the fourth, Decatur, and the fifth Water. Beginning on the north side of town, the first east and west street was called Clay; the second, Lafayette; the third, Jefferson; the fourth, Greene, and the fifth, Benton.
At this term it was "ordered that the lot on which the town spring is situated, below the present temporary courthouse, is reserved and appropriated exclusively to public utility." No one can now be found who remembers just what lot is here referred to, but it is believed that reference is made to the present public square, on which the original " town spring " once existed. The name of the town, which is Italian, and signifies "Little Mountain," is supposed to have been given in honor of the country seat of President Jefferson, although, from the natural situation of the place, it may have been given out of regard for its natural fitness and appropriateness.
The first houses in Monticello were built by William Graves and William Smith. Among the first merchants were William Ellis, Thomas and William P. Richardson and James H. McBride. The first hotel was by William Ellis. The old Pemberton Hotel, on the brow of the hill, west of the courthouse, was built by W. S. Pemberton in 1836, and is still standing. The first school was taught, during the winter of 1835-36, by a Miss Bradley. In January, 1836, the county court made an order that " so soon
14
218
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
as Miss Bradley's school, now being kept in the courthouse, is discontinued, the sheriff shall keep the door of said house locked, nor suffer any school to be taught there in the future." The courthouse in which the school was taught was the first one built in the county. It was a rather small one-story log building, with but one room, and stood about a hundred yards northwest of the present courthouse. The identity of the "Miss Bradley " referred to has not been learned.
For a number of years after the town was laid off it improved very considerably. It was the only depot of supplies for a large extent of country. People came from the Cooper settlement, and from other portions of Knox and Scotland to trade. The town, too, was a favorite resort. It was the county seat, the postoffice, the trading point, the market for hundreds of the pioneers. Here were the lawyers, the politicians, the " leading men," and here, too, was plenty of whisky, strong and cheap. The old taverns, with all their good cheer, plenty of well cooked and toothsome fare, comfortable beds and ample bar-rooms were the scenes of many an hour's revel and happy season in the olden time. When the courts were in session the best legal minds in the State were wont to congregate at Pemberton's and the other taverns, and pass the time merrily during the hours of recess.
Senator Green was admitted to the bar, and for years had his office here-a little frame building on the northeast corner of the square. Here was the scene of his first triumphs at the bar and in the political field. Hon. James J. Lindley, too, virtually began his honorable and distinguished career at Monticello. When he was first elected to Congress, in 1853, he was a resident of the town, and so overjoyed were his fellow-citizens upon the reception of the intelligence of his triumph that a great and noisy and something of a riotous demonstration was indulged in. There was a big bonfire and speech-making and much cheering, and at last some of the more zealous and enthusiastic Whigs seized their champion and bore him through the streets astride of a rail !
But with the upbuilding of the river towns, and especially upon the construction of the railroads of the county, the glory of Monticello, in a great measure, departed. It is now merely the
219
STATE OF MISSOURI.
county seat, which, by reason of its central location, it will doubtless always be. An attempt made a few years since to remove the capital of the county to Canton was a failure. It now has but one good general store, two grocery establishments, two drug stores, a bank, a hotel, three church buildings, a fairly good public school building, and a population of 400.
The Lewis County Journal at Monticello was established by John Moore. The press and material were removed from La Grange, and the first number was issued December 18, 1872. The present editor and proprietor is R. S. Orcutt.
Williamstown .- The village of Williamstown was laid off by Minus Williams September 29, 1856. The surveyor was J. P. Mitchell. The site (on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 63, Range 8), was well chosen, sit- uated on the old Canton, Monticello and Memphis State road, in the center of an unsurpassed farming region. Mr. Williams, the founder, was a preacher of the Universalist denomination, and somewhat remarkable in many of his characteristics. He removed from the State many years since.
When the war came on the place was little more than a small hamlet, with but one or two stores, and perhaps a dozen houses. The Union element predominated very largely in the neighbor- hood, and in the summer of 1861 a strong company of home guards was organized here, with William B. Moody as captain. During the war the village was visited on two or three occasions by the rebel detachments, and much oftener by the Federal forces, but no considerable damage was sustained at any time.
Although without a railroad, and without reasonable prospects of any, the village increased after the war in proportion to the development of the country. In February, 1874, Aaron Martin laid off an addition, and in March following, Lewis McLain platted another; both were soon occupied. In 1880 the popula- tion was 289; it is estimated at present to be 400, more or less. Considerable business is transacted, and the village has an ex- cellent reputation as a trading point.
One of the institutions connected with the village, and which has given it much favorable notoriety, is the Williamstown Fair
220
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Association, which was organized years since, and has been in continuous successful operation from the first. The association owns well appointed grounds and buildings, and its exhibitions attract large crowds annually. Surrounded by a fine agricult- ural country, Williamstown is appropriately located for the pur- poses of the association, and the fairs are patronized by exhibit- ors and spectators from the counties of Lewis, Knox, Clark, and Scotland, and even from localities more remote.
The Williamstown Banner, a small newspaper, was started in the spring of 1887.
La Belle .- The land on which the greater portion of the town of La Belle was built was entered by Hudson Bourne prior to 1840. The origin of the town can hardly be accounted for. In the year 1857 William Triplet established a general store in what is now the southeastern part of town, and to him attaches the distinction of having been the first actual resident nearest the present town site. Triplet's location (which was on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quar- ter of Section 4, Town 61, Range 9 was made at a time when the future existence of a town near by was hardly contemplated, and was really not on the present plat, but about half a mile to the southeast. In the same locality, too, all of the very first build- ings were put up. A man named Heaton owned and had lived on the land, comprising the greater part of the town, but near him was a Mr. Robinson.
After Triplet the next to come was John Lyon, who was a farmer, and occupied the old Heaton house. In about 1858 a postoffice was established at Triplet's store and named La Belle ("the beautiful"), perhaps from the natural aspect of the sur- rounding country. Mr. Triplet was the first postmaster, and held the office until Lincoln came in to the presidency, in 1861, when he resigned, and Robert Quail served a short time. Mr. Triplet was then reappointed, and held the office until during Arthur's administration, when Ed. Ware was appointed .* Robert Quail and Mr. Chapman came to the site in 1859. During the war the locality was well known, but no improvements were made.
In March, 1865, Thomas Calhoun came to the place, and put
* Ware was succeeded by his widow, and she by the present postmaster, Robert Bagley.
221
STATE OF MISSOURI.
up a blacksmith shop. A year later Dr. J. K. Musgrove came, and practiced his profession until 1870, when he established a drug store. Other early business men were Jacob Weber and Thomas Barney, who came in 1871. The first child born in the place was Lydia Calhoun, daughter of Thomas Calhoun, the blacksmith, and the date of her birth is given as May 24, 1866.
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