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 30
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 30
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 30
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 30
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
high. He was placed in a wagon in the open gate and a halter tied around his neck and to the cross timber above, and at four o'clock P. M. the wagon was drawn out and William J. Young was launched into eternity. His last words were, "I am as innocent of that crime as the angels of Heaven!" Innocent, or not inno- cent, how is it with his executioners? Can they lay any claim to innocence ? One crime can never atone for another.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Following the hanging of Young, the coroner, Mr. W. B. Huston, of Alexandria, appeared upon the scene, and authorized Constable Samuel Stevens to summon a jury. And at 1 o'clock the next morning the coroner and jury, with Drs. P. J. Payne and M. L. Stafford, of Luray, assembled at the house, and began an investigation of the matter. After an examination of the body the doctors reported as follows: "We find four gunshot wounds in the breast, near the right shoulder, but have no reason to believe that any shot penetrated the cavity of the breast, and do not think that death would have resulted from those wounds. The gunshot wound in the right arm, below the elbow, is not necessarily of a serious character, as the ball may have lodged in the muscles of the arm." The jury, after hearing the evidence of a number of witnesses, rendered the following:
THE VERDICT.
We, the jury, having been duly sworn to inquire, and true presentment make, in what manner and by whom William J. Young, whose dead body was found at his late residence, on the 29th day of October, 1879, came to his death, after hearing the evidence, and upon full inquiry concerning the facts, and a careful examination of the body, do find that the deceased came to his death by hanging at the hands of a mob, as shown by the evidence herewith annexed.
Given under our hands at Luray, in the county of Clark, this 30th day of October, 1879. [Signed]
1
E. D. RITCHEY, Foreman. GEO. W. THOMAS, HENRY C. MILLER, G. M. HARKNESS, D. A. LAKIN, WM. M. CHANCE, Jurors.
The evidence given to the jury revealed the name of the man who adjusted the halter, and the names of several other active persons in the mob, but the jury found a very convenient way to dispose of the whole matter by saying "at the hands of a mob."
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Subsequently attempts were made to bring the executioners of Young to justice; and at the April term 1880, of the Clark Circuit Court, Judge Anderson, in his charge to the grand jury, called its attention to this matter, and among other things, said that "the circumstances of his killing show it to have been done with the coolest deliberation and premeditation, and therefore such killing was murder in the first degree. *
To say that the man killed was a bad man, that the community is better off by his death, affords neither justification nor excuse ; nor does it even palliate the killing." In concluding his charges, which were specific and full, the Judge enjoined the jury to do their whole duty in order to bring the guilty to justice. But not- withstanding the admonition of the Judge, and the ease with which the grand jury could obtain the necessary evidence to war- rant it in finding indictments against the murderers of Young, nothing of the kind was done. Judge Anderson then transferred the investigation of this matter to the grand jury of Scotland County, and a month later that body found indictments against Lane and one Smith, who assisted in the execution of Young. Lane, after committing other crimes, then ran away, but was ap- prehended at Yankton, Dak., to which point Sheriff Graves went, and brought him back in irons to Scotland County and lodged him in jail. In consequence of the insufficiency of this jail he was removed to Mexico, Mo., and there lodged in a secure jail, where he remained until the following November, when the ยท supreme court of the State pronounced the law under which he had been indicted in another county than the one in which the crime was committed, unconstitutional and void. He was then released and at once disappeared. And thus all engaged in the murder of Young have escaped justice.
State of Missouri vs. Lon Ruble .- On the 20th day of Octo- ber 1884, the defendant, Lon Ruble, while in a fit of intoxication, stabbed and killed Richard Hennessee, at the town of Wayland. He was tried at the January term, 1885, of the circuit court, found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to a term of ten years in the penetentiary.
State of Missouri vs. Thomas Howren,-At the January term, 1886, of the circuit court, this defendant, was tried for the mur-
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
der of an illegitimate infant child. The jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree. A motion for a new trial was then made upon the ground that one of the jurors had previously expressed an opinion regarding the guilt of the prisoner at the bar. This motion was sustained and a new trial granted. The defendant then offered to plead guilty of murder in the second degree. This he was allowed to do, whereupon he was sentenced to the penitentiary for ninety-nine years. After serving about one year he died.
State of Missouri vs. John E. Bryant. On the 10th day of February, 1886, the defendant, John E. Bryant, was arrested for the killing of Elijah Lee, whom he shot with a pistol. He was tried at the October term of the circuit court of that year, found guilty, and was sentenced to be hung. A motion for a new trial was filed and overruled, and an appeal was taken to the supreme court of the State where the case is now pending. Meanwhile the defendant is in jail at Palmyra.
BENCH AND BAR.
On the 1st day of October, 1883, a well deserved tribute was made by the members of the Clark County bar to Hon. Nathaniel F. Givens. Through the efforts of the son-in-law of Mr. Givens, Hon. Ed. R. McKee, of Memphis, a portrait of the old gentleman was obtained. This was sent to Mr. Stark at Keokuk, Iowa, who copied from it and executed a life-size bust in crayon. This was quietly brought to Kahoka, and placed in the courtroom at the right of the judge's stand so as to face the original when he came in. Court being in session the Judge and members of the bar were early at their places awating the arriv- al of Mr. Givens, after which Hon. C. B. Matlock addressed the Judge, and referring to Mr. Givens said: "For forty-five years he has been the leading lawyer of this and adjoining coun- ties, with a name spotless and unblemished, an influence marked and irrisestable; a soul broad and comprehensible; a heart ten- der and liberal; a nature sweet and sensitive; a composition modest, refined, elegant and learned-he was master of our hearts. In practice he never sought a technical advantage; he despised personal conflicts; he tried cases upon their merits; he was kind
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and liberal in practice, correct in pleading, and powerful and persuasive in argument; indulgent with younger lawyers. With such virtues as these it is not strange that our admiration is strong and universal. He was little in nothing but fees. We must ask him to allow us to indulge in these reflections, although they may seem to him to sound in praise; yet to us they are the characteristics of a character we seek to attain."
At this moment Mr. Givens was overcome with feelings of emotion, and briefly replied, disclaiming title to the honor thus bestowed upon him. Judge Turner then accepted the portrait on behalf of the court and in honor of Mr. Givens, and ordered it to be hung upon the wall of the courtroom. He then said "We are fortunate in having before us to-day the Nestor of the bar of Northeastern Missouri. This man was the companion and coun- selor of our fathers and grandfathers. He is the friend and associate of ourselves. He is a golden link that binds the genera- tion that has passed away with the present. We have all met him in many an honorable conflict, yet he has been the associate, advisor, and at all times a friend to the members of the bar here." This venerable practitioner was admitted to the bar at the home of his youth in Kentucky, in 1830, hence at the present writing he has been in active practice fifty-seven years. [ See his biogra- phy elsewhere in this work. ]
Hon. Ben E. Turner, judge of this judicial district, resides at Kahoka. Comparatively speaking he is yet a young man, but so well versed in law, and so well liked by the people, that at the last election he received nearly all the votes cast in the county for the office which he now holds. The other members of the Clark county bar are C. W. Meryhew, C. B. Matlock, William L. Berk- heimer, T. L. Montgomery, John W. Howard, Col. H. M. Hiller, John M. Wood, C. S. Callahan, O. S. Callahan, W. H. Robinson, Burt Gridley, John A. Whiteside, J. L. Greenlee, G. G. Childers, E. B. Christy, D. D. Schuebley, N. C. Cherry and F. A. Rebo. For further individual mention of these professional men the reader is referred to their biographies.
LANCASTER.
This town was surveyed and platted June 26, 1830, by Jacob
1
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Weaver, the first settler of Clark County. It was the first town laid out in the territory composing the county, and at a time, too, when said territory belonged to Marion County. The plat of the town was recorded in Marion County June 26, 1830, in Lewis County December 25, 1833, and in Clark County May 14, 1838. The town as laid out contained twelve blocks of eight lots each, and a few fractional lots. It was located on the Des Moines River, in the northeast quarter of fractional Section 5, Township 65 north, Range 6 west; being just above the present village of St. Francisville. This, however, was only a "paper town," as it never was improved, and has never had an existence except on paper. Several other "paper towns " exist in Clark County, the mention of which will be mostly omitted on account of their non-historic interest.
ALEXANDRIA.
Alexandria is situated on the Mississippi River a short dis- tance below the mouth of the Des Moines, and at the junction of the St. Louis, Keokuk & North Western Railroad with the Keo- kuk & Western Railroad, and fifteen miles from Kahoka. The original name of the town was Churchville, the survey and plat of which was made by Francis Church, in September, 1833. This plat contained four public squares, and seventy-three blocks. It was nicely laid out on a large scale preparatory for a commercial city. The first addition to Churchville was laid out by said Church in November, 1834. It contained a public square and sixteen blocks. Sanford's addition to Churchville was made in April, 1835. It contained a public square and sixteen blocks. Another addition to Churchville was made by Francis Church in May, 1836. It contained two public squares and sixty-four blocks. Wilcox's addition to Churchville, which lies between the original plat and the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers, was laid out in July, 1845, by J. M. Charles, administrator of the estate of John R. Wilcox, deceased. The first plat by the name of Alexandria was surveyed and laid out in April, 1839, by J. W. S. and L. B. Mitchell. It contained twenty-six blocks, the full ones having sixteen lots each, and the fractional ones a less number, and was in reality an addition to Churchville. For the
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
tract donated to the county in 1848 as a site for the county seat the reader is referred to the subject of the county seat. About this date, or prior thereto, the name of Churchville was dropped by the common consent of the people, and that of Alexandria adopted for the whole town. This change of name was made on account of alleged improper domestic relations of the original proprietor of the town. Central addition to the town of Alexan- dria was laid out by Thomas D. Ford, in September, 1855; and Wright's addition by Rosina M. C. Wright and P. C. Wright her husband, and Edward Johnson, in September, 1857. Rose's addition, containing one block of nine lots, was laid out by Solo- mon Rose, in April, 1858. Thus it may be seen that enough ter- ritory was platted into town lots to make a large city.
The first cabin in Alexandria was built by a man, who was attending a ferry there as early as 1832, and a license was granted in December, 1833, to John R. Wilcox to keep a ferry at that point, and the rates of ferriage were established as fol- lows, to wit: for a four-horse wagon, $2; for a two-horse wagon, $1.50; for a man and horse, 50 cents; for a single horse, 18 cents; footman, 25 cents; for each head of cattle, hogs and sheep, 122 cents. In March, 1835, John Montague was granted license to keep a ferry across the Des Moines at its mouth; and in June, following, his license was so amended as to allow him to keep a ferry across the Mississippi, " at the mouth of the Des Moines," and the license to John R. Wilcox to keep his ferry at Alexandria was renewed. Among the first merchants of the town were Robert Henning and George Gray; and during the fifties the principal merchants were Brown & Bishop, Ed. Harper, Moore & McCoy. Just before the civil war Maxwell & Johnson, C. L. Becker, August Hoppe, J. B. Keeney, Cunningham & Mitchell, Quisenberry & Foster, Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Taylor Beard were the leading business men of the town. From about the year 1858 to 1872 Alexandria was famous for the large amount of pork packed and shipped annually, and at one time it ranked as the greatest pork-packing and shipping point on the river above St. Louis. Maxwell, Roe, Fitz Henry and Pritchett were the leading men engaged in this business. The largest number of hogs ever slaughtered at Alexandria in any single
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
year was killed by Pritchett, Fitz Henry and Maxwell, in the season of 1869-70-the number reaching 42,557. The hogs, labor, salt, cooperage, etc., for that year, cost about $1,250,000 The price of pork then went down, and caused a failure of nearly all of the pork packers. Pritchett, Gartrell & Co. did a mercan- tile business from 1867 to 1872 which amounted to over $250,000 per year, exclusive of their interest in the pork-packing business. They owned a large five-story brick block facing the river, worth $12,000, and they had invested in the porkhouse $27,000. About the year 1875, and after this firm had disposed of its large brick block, it, and about six other business houses were consumed by fire. The pork-packing business was abandoned in 1872, or as soon thereafter as the business could be closed up, and this loss was a serious drawback to the commercial prosperity of the town, and the great fire which followed added very much to its com- mercial depression.
The original proprietors of Alexandria anticipated a large future commercial city, and in many ways the site chosen for it was very favorable toward the fulfillment of their anticipations; being located, as it was, just below the mouth of the Des Moines, which flows into the great central highway of the Mississippi Valley. It was then supposed that the Des Moines River would, by State appropriations, be made a navigable stream for many miles toward the interior of Iowa, and bring from that country its rich products and trade to the young city. But the failure to make the Des Moines navigable, and the still more serious failure to prevent the occasional inundation of the site of Alexandria, has defeated the greatest anticipations of those who once thought it would become a large city. The present business and business houses of the town are as follows: Dry goods and groceries, Million & Mason; groceries, Morgan Mason, William Everhart, R. Rebo and C. Spicer; drugs, R. C. Ander- son; hardware, Thomas Roe; agricultural and grain store, Ech- bohm, Dross & Co .; grain house, Million & Mason; hotels, Thomas E. Palmer and Ed. Dedman; restaurant, Mrs. McIntire; W. H. Pritchett is a general commission merchant and dealer in agricultural implements.
The physicians of Alexandria have been as follows: for a
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few years following 1850, Dr. Wortham; then about 1855 came Dr. Carpenter. He was followed during the late war by Dr. Frank Wayland, who remained a few years. Dr. C. Lahew began to practice there during the war, and continued it until about 1883. Dr. A. G. Brown practiced from 1867 to about 1870, and Dr. C. J. Hagen, the present physician of the town, began his. practice there in 1867.
The town contains a public schoolhouse and the following churches: Southern Methodist, Baptistand Catholic. The Baptist Church society is the strongest, and Rev. J. A. Minter is the resident pastor. The attorneys of the place are N. C. Cherry and J. D. Rebo. The Alexandria College was established about- the year 1870 by Prof. T. J. Musgrove, and continued about five years, when it was discontinued on account of the inundation of the college site, which prevented the attendance of the pupils .. Notwithstanding the drawbacks to the town of Alexandria, it still continues to be a place of considerable commercial interest ..
GREGORY'S LANDING.
Gregory's Landing, on the Mississippi, was established about the same time that Alexandria was, but it has never grown to be- a town of much importance. At the present writing it contains one general store, postoffice, a large grain warehouse, a church, a schoolhouse and a few dwellings.
ST. FRANCISVILLE.
The original town of St. Francisville was laid out by Francis Church and William Clark on the 9th day of April, 1834. It contained a public square and sixteen blocks. "Church's addi- tion " thereto was laid out October 8, 1835; and " Church's sec- ond addition " was laid out March 13, 1836; and "Wayland's addition " was laid out by Jeremiah Wayland, April 6, 1837; and " Wayland's second addition " was laid out September 26, 1848. This beautiful and romantic village is situated on the south bank of the Des Moines River, in Section 4, Township 65 north, Range 6 west. It has the most beautiful site of any town in Northeastern Missouri, and the grandeur and magnificence of the natural scenery around it is unsurpassed. The first postoffice
.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
in Clark County was established at this place, in the spring of 1835, and George Haywood was the first postmaster. " The mail came over the line of the State road, from Lewis County, was received only once a month, and every letter cost 25 cents on delivery. The second postoffice in the county was established soon thereafter at Sweet Home, an Indian trading post a few miles further up the river. Robert Taylor opened the first store in St. Francisville, and about a year later Lever- ing & McPherson opened another store, and Thomas E. Palmer soon became a member of this firm. Next came Robert McKee & Brother, and Lyon & Garnes. These firms supplied the wants of the people for a number of years. Then came Hezekiah Mills a boot and shoemaker, and Samuel Roberts a blacksmith, and John Bryant and Smith Tinsley carpenters, and William H. Pritchett & Co., cabinet makers.
At the December term, 1838, of the county court, Richard S. Small was licensed "to keep a tavern at St. Francisville." for this license he paid $10 into the State fund, and the same amount into the county fund. Joseph Wayland taught the first school, it being also the first school taught in the county. He was followed by A. M. Faxton, who taught for a number of years, with marked success; and since then Profs. Piper, Sharon, Jackson, Dinsmore, Welch, Kerrick, Mclaughlin and Kelly have filled the position of principal of the school. The old stone schoolhouse built in the early days is still standing. In 1840 John Hancock and others erected a saw mill, which paid well for a number of years. It was afterward converted into a flouring-mill by Campbell Emery, but, not giving satisfac- tion, it was soon abandoned. After the close of the civil war, a Mr. Hershler became its owner, and converted it into a distillery, which was kept in successful operation for a number of years, during which time it was the cause of a good market for the farmers' grain. Isaac R. Campbell was for many years a leading merchant of St. Francisville, and William H. Pritchett sold goods there from 1850 to 1861. During the last four years of this time he was engaged in the pork-packing business, and in the last year that he was thus engaged he slaughtered 3,672 hogs, and packed the pork of the same. In those days this was the
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principal town of the county, where nearly all the grain of the county was marketed. The varied products of the county, which were marketed here, together with the supply of pork, were shipped to Southern markets, on flat boats, down the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers. But the day of railroads was ushered . in, and St. Francisville was "left out in the cold," and then came the decline of this once flourishing town upon the banks of the romantic Des Moines.
" To be sure the natural beauties of location remain unchanged, and, perhaps as a suitable expression of our reverence for auld. lang syne, we have augmented the resources of the scenery, with the most beautiful cemetery in this part of the State. The unchanging white of its rich tombstones and monuments con- trasts solemnly with the periodical luxuriance of its floral offer- ings, and blend harmoniously with the equally changeless hues. of its evergreens.
" But to get back to its living inhabitants, of whom there are now about 400. Uncle Sam is represented here by his postmaster, the polite J. W. Bibb, who deals out mails for his august employer, and dry goods, boots, shoes, drugs, etc., on his own account .. Mr. Bibb is quite a successful merchant, and is well liked.
" Harvey I. Wilsey is also engaged in the dry goods busi- ness; also handles groceries and runs the ferry. He is a mer- chant of two years' standing, an old citizen and very popular.
" Adam Bailey sells groceries, and also runs a farm adjoining town, thus providing for his fellow man the staff of life in a double capacity.
" George H. Wayland keeps the old time hostlery, a vener- able inn of many years' standing, and the biggest institution of the kind in the county. Never was a 'mine host' more popular with a hungry public.
" Mathias Nichols attends to the wants of his fellow mortals in the way of boots, shoes and harness.
" Two village blacksmiths, J. B. Wolf and H. H. Toops, with their assistants, keep their forges merrily tinkling early and late. They also do something in the way of wagon-making and repair- ing. They are firms of long standing.
" A broom factory, operated by Mr. Hendershot for several years past, adds considerably to the industrial value of the place.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
" Dr. L. D. McKee has been engaged for fifteen years, very successfully, in prolonging the period of human life and allevi- ating the suffering of the afflicted, while in all cases where 'phy- sicians prove in vain,' V. F. Hill furnishes suitable lodgings for the remains.
" Just south of town, James Driskell conducts a very large business in very small fruits, such as blackberries, raspberries, etc., which he delivers all over the county. He employs from fifteen to twenty pickers ; also raises Jersey cattle.
" Levi Culver builds houses when they are of wood, finishes them up in good shape if they are of brick or stone. James McConnell spreads the plastering on all kinds in a first-class manner, and Loyd, the painter, gives them the final and artistic touches.
" Everybody goes to church and Sunday-school on the Lord's Day, and attend to their various pursuits with energy and cheer- fulness the balance of the time."*
The Des Moines Lodge, No. 16, of the I. O. O. F., was organ- ized at St. Francisville in 1846, by Robert McKee, John Bowen, E. C. Hyde, Thomas E. Palmer and Thomas E. Wilson. Robert McKee was the first presiding officer, and they held their first meetings in a one-story log hut, which stood on the hill behind Campbell's store. They built a hall prior to the civil war, near the Baptist stone church; it burned down in 1869, and since that time they have met in the hall over Bibb's drug store. The present officers are as follows: Charles Fore, N. G .; H. Mahler, V. G .; H. L. Wilsey, R. S .; S. W. Springer, P. S., and J. L. McKee, Treasurer.
WATERLOO.
The original site of the county seat at Waterloo was estab- lished in 1836, and for a portion of its history the reader is referred to the subject of the " County Seat." In the fall of that year Asher Ousley opened the first store in the place, and during the following winter he took Marion Wilson in as a partner. He afterward sold his interest to Robert Taylor, who soon obtained from the county court a license "to keep a grocery in the town
* For a portion of the facts contained in the history of St. Francisville, the writer is indebted to citizens who have from time to time published historical sketches in the county press.
STATE OF MISSOURI. 343
of Waterloo for six months." This license cost Mr. Taylor $16, one-half of which went into the State, fund and the other half into the county fund. It should be borne in mind that a license to keep a grocery in those days meant a license to sell liquors. Evidently it was a paying business, even though the country was sparsely settled, otherwise the persons engaged in it could not have paid such prices for a six month's permit to sell it. It was, as may be seen elsewhere, the first business of some of the pioneer towns. The second store in Waterloo was estab- lished near the close of the year by Peake & Watson. The latter, William G. Watson, was a single man, and usually slept on the counter in their log-cabin store. He would place his bed upon the counter, tack the covers to each side of the same, and then " slip in under the covers at one end," as he has expressed it to the writer. This pioneer settler and merchant of the old town of Waterloo has outlived his generation, and is at the present writ- ing the county court clerk of Lewis County. The third store in Waterloo was opened by Stephenson & Luke, about the year 1837. The year before Johnson & Alexander had built a small grist-mill, on Fox River, at this place. John S. Lapsley "kept tavern " at Waterloo during the time of the Iowa war, the history of which is given elsewhere in this work. Either he or John Dead- man were the first tavern keepers in this once noted town. John Roberts was the first postmaster, and the office was established about the year 1837.
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