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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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*Davis County, Iowa, was named for this Dr. James Davis, and not for Jefferson Davis. Lee County, Iowa, was named for Maj. Albert Lea, and not for Gen. Robert E. Lee; the error in the spelling of Lee County is as singular as it is certain. It should be spelled Lea. It has been often asserted that the two counties were named for the Confederate leaders named.
fAt the eastern end of the line, at the Des Moines River, the difference between the northern boundary as claimed by Missouri and that finally established was eight miles, sixty-three chains and twenty links; at the western end it was exactly eleven miles.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
viz .: 1, The old Indian boundary (surveyed by Col. John C. Sullivan, and often called Sullivan's line) extended west of the Missouri River; 2, The parallel of latitude passing through the old northwest corner of the Indian boundary; 3, The parallel of latitude passing through the Des Moines rapids in the Mississippi River; 4, The parallel of latitude passing through the rapids at the Great Bend (Keosauqua ) in the Des Moines River.
The organic act provided expressly that the northern bound - ary line of the State should " correspond with the Indian boundary line," and it is difficult to understand Maj. Lea's reasons for asserting that any one of four lines might be taken, instead of the old Sullivan line. His survey and report, there- fore, settled nothing, only that they did not confirm the report of the Missouri commissioners and endorse the position and action of the Legislature. The Iowa authorities, however, accept- ing the conclusions of their commissioner, Dr. Davis, declared that the southern boundary of their territory-or the northern boundary of Missouri-was the old Sullivan's line, or as it was now called, "the Indian boundary line," to which the parallel mentioned as "passing through the rapids of the river Des Moines " was required to "correspond." There was therefore a strip of territory about nine miles in width, between the Des Moines and the Missouri Rivers, which was claimed by both the territory of Iowa and the State of Missouri.
August 23, Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs issued a proclama- tion setting forth the condition of affairs, particularly citing the act which had been passed by the Iowa Territorial Legislature, at Burlington, entitled " an act to prevent the exercise of a foreign jurisdiction within the Territory," under which act the sheriff of Clark County was afterward arrested and imprisoned. The Gov- ernor also called upon the proper officers to execute the laws of this State within its boundaries, as they had been defined by our Legislature, and if obstructed to call to their aid the militia of the district if necessary. The officers of the militia were directed to hold themselves and their commands in readiness to assist the sheriffs and other civil officers of this State in discharging their duties. Gov. Robert Lucas, of Iowa, in a counter proclama- tion, denied the title of Missouri to the disputed tract, claiming
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
the same as within the boundaries of the Territory, authorizing the arrest and trial before the judicial tribunals of Iowa, of all persons who should " within such portion of the territory attempt to exercise any official function not granted or secured by the laws of the Territory of Iowa," and calling upon all the citizens of Iowa to be "vigilant in the detection and arrest" of all such alleged offenders.
The relations between the people of this State and those of Iowa now became strained and unfriendly, and in time grew to be positively hostile. At this time (fall of 1839) the only settle- ments on the disputed territory were within what is now Van Buren County, Iowa, then claimed by the Missourians to be a portion of Clark County, Mo. In August, 1839, the sheriff of Clark County, Uriah S. Gregory, commonly called "Sandy " Gregory, went on the debatable land and demanded taxes of some of the people as due from them to the State of Missouri. South of Farmington, at a house-raising, he called upon half a dozen men there present, but they greeted the demand with great con- tempt, not only refusing to pay, but advising Sandy to "get back to his own State as quick as possible " and never again at- tempt to exercise authority in Iowa by virtue of a commission issued in Missouri. The sheriff returned to Waterloo, reported that he was resisted and obstructed in the attempt to collect the revenues, and asked for instructions, whereupon Gov. Boggs, hav- ing been advised of the facts, issued a strong proclamation, urging all officials to do their whole duty.
Another incident occurred at this time which intensified the feeling. A Missourian cut three bee-trees on the disputed tract, and the owner, an Iowan, sought to have him arrested and tried before a magistrate holding an Iowa commission. The arrest was not effected, but a judgment for about $1.50 was rendered against the Missourian, and the constable, with a strong posse, was on the watch to collect it.
On the 20th of November, Sheriff Gregory went again upon the debatable ground to collect taxes and was at once arrested by Sheriff Henry Heffelman, of Van Buren County, who with a strong posse, was in watch for him. The charge was " usurpation of authority." The prisoner was taken to Farmington, where a
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
large crowd had assembled and where there was much excitement, and from thence to Burlington, the then capital of the Territory, and Muscatine, and here he was confined in jail a brief time, be- ing released on his own recognizance.
The news of the arrest and incarceration of Sheriff Gregory occasioned great excitement in Missouri. The Clark County Court convened in special session at the tavern of John S. Lapsley, in Waterloo, on November 23, Judges John Taylor and Jesse McDaniel present. The action taken may best be understood by the following abstract of the record:
It being proved in open court, by the oath of John Whaley, that U. S. Gregory, sheriff of Clark County, was forcibly seized on the 20th inst. by the sheriff and citizens of Van Buren county, Iowa Territory, and brought to trial in said Van Buren county on the 21st inst., when he was condemned of hav- ing violated the laws of said Territory, by collecting and attempting to collect, taxes on the disputed ground between this county and said county of Van Buren, which, by the laws of this State, is in the organized limits of this county; and that said Gregory was detained in custody.
Wherefore, it is, on mature consideration, ordered by this court, that Gen. O. H. Allen, of the Second Brigade, Fourteenth Division of Missouri Militia, be and he is hereby required to muster the forces at his command to aid in sustain- ing the civil authorities of this county in exercising exclusive and unmolested jurisdiction within the boundaries of this county, and especially on the disputed ground above named contained within the same. It is further ordered that David Willock, major-general commanding the Fourteenth Division of Missouri Militia, be and he is hereby likewise required to muster the forces at his command, or as many as he shall think necessary, also to aid the authorities of this county in maintaining their jurisdiction over said disputed ground, and demanding reparation from the Territory of Iowa for the misconduct of its officers and citizens as above mentioned, if sanctioned by its government.
Meanwhile public meetings were held in Clark, Lewis and Marion Counties to consider the situation, and resolutions were adopted to enforce the laws of the State against the Iowans at all hazards. These meetings were usually gotten up and managed by aspirants for political preferment, anxious to precipitate a difficulty, and be on the side of the war party, knowing full well that the troubles would be settled without serious consequences to themselves. A local satirist (John I. Campbell) hit off the situation very neatly with a bit of doggerel verse in the Palmyra Whig of October 26. Portions of this poem (?) which was en- titled " The Honey War," are here given:
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
THE HONEY WAR.
TUNE- "Yankee Doodle."
Ye freemen of the happy land, Which flows with milk and honey, Arise! To arms! Your ponies mount! Regard not blood or money. Old Governor Lucas, tiger-like, Is prowling 'round our borders, But Governor Boggs is wide awake- Just listen to his orders,
Three bee-trees stand about the line Between our State and Lucas. Be ready all these trees to fall, And bring things to a focus. We'll show old Lucas how to brag, And seize our precious honey ! He also claims, I understand. Of us three bits in money!
Conventions, boys, now let us hold, Our honey trade demands it; Likewise the three-bits, all in gold, We all must understand it! *
* *
*
Why shed our brother's blood in haste, Because "big men " require it. Be not in haste our blood to waste- No prudent men desire it. * * * * * *
Now, if the Governors want to fight, . Just let them meet in person. And when noble Boggs old Lucas flogs, 'Twill teach the scamp a lesson, Then let the victor cut the trees, And have three-bits in money,
And wear a crown from town to town, Annointed with pure honey.
And then no widows will be made, No orphans unprotected: Old Lucas will be nicely flogged, And from our line ejected. Our honey trade will then be laid Upon a solid basis, And Governor Boggs, where'er he jogs, Will meet with smiling faces.
In the meantime Maj .- Gen. David Willock, pursuant to the orders of Gov. Boggs, called for 2,200 men from his division
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
(the Fourteenth) of militia. The General himself, with twelve men, rode from his home in Palmyra to the border, and found the Iowans under arms. With rare good sense he did nothing to precipitate matters, but remained up in Clark, watching and waiting. Brig .- Gen. Allen was, however, a touch-and-go sort of man, hasty and impetuous. Ordered into service, he hastily set his squadrons in the field and by the 7th of December had Col. Chauncey Durkee's Lewis County regiment en route for the seat of war, without tents, almost destitute of blankets, and only imperfectly supplied with arms and ammunition. At La Grange some men of this regiment broke into the store of Mr. Charles S. Skinner, and helped themselves to his stock of groceries, blan- kets and other supplies to the amount of some hundreds of dol- lars. Mr. Skinner had recently come to the country, and his goods were new and fresh. The appropriation of his stock was approved by Gen. Allen, and he was afterward wholly or par- tially reimbursed.
The Lewis County regiment, with Col. Dedham's Clark County battalion, went into camp on Fox River, near Waterloo. The snow was deep and the weather very inclement. A reinforce- ment from what is now Knox County, then a part of Lewis, was received, and perhaps 600 men were in camp.
On the other side of the line preparations for war were mak- ing. The territorial militia of Iowa was mustered, 300 men were under arms at Farmington, and an encounter seemed immi- nent. Gov. Lucas proposed to command his own forces. Among his captains was James W. Grimes, afterward United States sen- ator. Mounted pickets were stationed to herald the advance of the Missourians, and emissaries sent over to observe their move- ments, and if possible to learn their plans. At a public meet- ing in Farmington resolutions were adopted, " that we act on the defensive, that we will neither aggress nor be aggressed upon, and we will defend our soil and our rights against any invasion at any cost of blood and treasure!"
The plan of the Missourians was to assemble an army of militia in Clark County; then to send up the sheriff again into the disputed territory, at the head of this army, as his posse, and let him renew his duties as tax gatherer. If interfered with
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
in any way, there was to be a fight, and the blood of the slain would be upon the Iowans and not upon the Missourians, who would be within the peace of the law. On the 2d of December the Clark County Court, in special session, ordered that Col. John Dedman of the Seventy-fifth Regiment of Missouri Militia "detail so many men as he shall deem necessary to accompany the sheriff of Clark County to the northwestern boundary of said county in order to enforce the civil laws of the State of Missouri therein." But on the 4th of December the Clark County Court took steps to prevent actual conflict by the appointment of a commit- tee to confer with the Iowa Territorial Legislature and ascertain whether or not a peaceable and equitable adjustment of the con- troversy might be effected. This committee was composed of Robert P. Mitchell, Abraham Wayland, William Mc.Daniel *. Rev. Andrew Broaddus and Mays Johnson. The object of the conference, the court declared, was:
To procure, if possible, an amicable adjustment of the difficulties now existing between the Territory of Iowa and the State of Missouri in relation to the subject of jurisdiction over a certain tract of country lying on the southern limits of said territory and the northern limits of Missouri, commonly known as "the disputed territory," and that all hostile operations may cease on both sides, and that the mutual friendly relations heretofore existing may be re-es- tablished.
To the Legislature of Iowa the court asserted its pacific desires and laudable disposition by the declaration that:
This court entertains toward your honorable body, and the citizens of Iowa generally, the most friendly feelings, and would express their sincere hope that all obstacles may be removed that tend to intercept the exercise of those feelings.
The delegation then set out for Burlington, where the Iowa. Legislature was in session, followed by the best wishes for the success of their mission on the part of all right thinking men.
Meantime the citizens of Marion County had moved to bring about a sensible termination of the troubles. A large public meeting held at Palmyra on the 9th of December, adopted reso- lutions deprecating the existing excitement and prospective strife, and calling for a suspension of further action on the part of the Missouri authorities until the question in dispute could be settled
* Mr. McDaniel was a prominent Democratic politician, and known by his sobriquet, " Billy Mac, the Buster." In 1846 he was elected to Congress from the State at large to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Sterling Price, who resigned to enter the Mexican war.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
by either Congress or the Supreme Court of the United States. Thomas L. Anderson, William Carson, Francis H. Edmondson and S. M. Grant were appointed a committee to repair to Waterloo, and present to the authorities of Clark County the pro- ceedings of the meeting, and to urge upon them the propriety of a suspension of hostilities or measures looking thereto.
The same day the Clark County Court met in regular session, and its first order directed Gen. Allen to call together the Seventy- fifth Regiment of militia in order that the delegation sent to Iowa might make known their proceedings. (Further proceedings of the county court in this connection are to be found on pp. 114-15, book " A," Clark County Court Records.) It was soon learned that the Iowa Legislature had met, and welcomed in the kindliest manner and most generous spirit the overtures of the Missourians. Resolutions of a very pacificatory character had been adopted, a committee sent to bear them to the authorities of Clark County, and Gov. Lucas was ordered to transmit a copy of the same to Gov. Boggs.
On the 12th of December "peace" was established and declared. The Clark County Court convened at Waterloo in special session; all three of the judges, John Taylor, Jesse McDaniel and David Hay were present. There were in attend- ance the Marion County delegation, Col. Thomas L. Anderson at the head; the Clark County delegation and certain prominent citizens, and Col. William Patterson, Dr. J. D. Payne and L. B. Hughes, the commissioners from Iowa. The latter presented the following preamble and resolutions of the Territorial Legis- lature, which were, on motion of Col. Anderson, ordered to be spread upon the records:
WHEREAS, An unfortunate crisis has arrived in the difficulties hitherto existing between the State of Missouri and the Territory of Iowa, in relation to the boundary line between the two governments; and,
WHEREAS, The Territory of Iowa would, under any circumstances, depre- cate any military collision between the forces of the said State and the said Territory, fully believing that the most friendly feelings exist between the great mass of the citizens of the respective parties; and,
WHEREAS, The organic laws of said Territory render it impossible for the constituted authorities of said Territory to accede to the proposition]hitherto made by the citizens of Missouri, although they fully reciprocate the kind feel- ings evinced by the late delegation from the county court of Clark County; therefore,
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
Resolved, By the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, that the officers now on duty on the part of the State of Missouri be respectfully requested to suspend all further military operations on the part of the said State, until these resolutions can be submitted to His Excellency, Gov- ernor Boggs.
Resolved, That His Excellency, Governor Boggs, be requested to authorize a suspension of hostilities on the part of the State of Missouri until the first day of July next, with a view of having the unfortunate difficulties now existing between the State of Missouri and the Territory of Iowa adjusted by the action of Congress.
Resolved, That His Excellency, the Governor of Iowa, be requested to sus- pend all further military operations until the decision of His Excellency, Gov. Boggs, may be obtained to the propositions herein contained.
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward a copy of these resolu- tions to the Governor of Missouri, one to the county court of Clark County, Mo., and copies to the officers in command on the disputed ground, to be by them presented to the officers of the Missouri forces.
STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD,
President of the Council. ED. JOHNSTON, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The resolutions were presented by Col. William Patterson, who, in behalf of his delegation and, as he said, of the people of Iowa, made a very acceptable address to the court and the audi- ence. He was followed by Col. Thomas L. Anderson, on behalf of the Marion County delegation, and William McDaniel spoke for Clark County. Col. Anderson's speech, it is said, was in sentiment very eloquent, and in depicting the horrors of war very terrifying. His auditors were moved by his earnest words, and were by turns frightened and in tears! He showed very clearly that war was entirely unjustifiable on the part of either the State or Territory; that it would settle no question involved, decide no principle at stake, produce nothing but ill conse- quences; that if the forces then in the field should fight until all were slain, the boundary line would still have to be established by the authority of the general Government, since neither contending party had jurisdiction over the matter. Drawing a picture of the horrors of internecine strife, as contrasted with the blessings of peace and the delights of brotherly love and neighborly friend- ship, he pleaded earnestly for concession, conciliation, and peace. Alluding to the condition of the men of Gen. Allen's command, then shivering about their camp-fires on Fox River, the ther- mometer below zero, and themselves half fed, insufficiently clad, and not at all properly provided for. "Send them home to their
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
families," said he, " send them to those who at this inclement sea- son need them, and who are watching anxiously for them, and praying for their safe and speedy return. And, in the name of the God of Mercy and Justice, gentlemen, let this monu- mental piece of absurdity, this phenomenal but cruel blundering, have an end!"
The speakers, the commissioners, and the county justices all protested that they did not want war or bloodshed, and the attain- ment of complete peace was easily and speedily accomplished. By a unanimous vote the county court published the following statement and accompanying order:
A committee from the County of Marion produced to this court, a preamble and resolutions from the citizens of said county, relative to the difficulties exist- ing between the State of Missouri and the Territory of Iowa; also, there was presented a copy of certain proceedings on the part of the Legislature of said Territory, in relation thereto, by a special delegation of said Legislature, request- ing on the part of the State a cessation of hostilities, for certain reasons stated in said resolutions, and deeming said request reasonable, we therefore order that Maj .. Gen. D. Willock and Brig .- Gen. O. H. Allen be and they are hereby in- formed that we do not desire longer the aid of the militia of the State in the enforcement of our laws. It is further ordered that the clerk of this court forth- with forward a copy of the foregoing proceedings to His Excellency, the Gov- ernor of the Territory of Iowa, one to Maj. Gen. D. Willock, and one to Brig .- Gen. O. H. Allen.
There was a general and hearty fraternization of all the parties, and mutual congratulations that the troubles had been settled. Gen. Allen and a few of the military officers, who were drawing respectable pay so long as they were in active service, received the order for the withdrawal of the militia with much dissatisfaction, but their men were more than satisfied. On their return to Monticello, Gen. Allen, Col. Durkee, Addison Reese, and a few other warriors and bellicose gentlemen assembled at Pemberton's Hotel, organized what they called a "public meet- ing," and passed sanguinary resolutions threatening fire and sword and denouncing everybody that had been instrumental in bringing about peace and preventing strife and bloodshed. Gen. Allen was especially "disgruntled," and not until he and his asso- ciates were duly sober did they consent to be comforted and to be reconciled to the fact that the war was over.
Gen. Allen disbandoned the Clark County regiment, the Seventy-fifth, at Waterloo; Col. Durkee marched the Lewis
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
County regiment, the Fifty-eighth, back to Monticello, where it was discharged.
Meanwhile the Fifty-sixth Regiment of Missouri Militia, com- posed entirely of men from Marion County, and commanded by Col. John Lear, had been called on for 200 men. That number refusing to volunteer, a draft was ordered, and the 200 secured after a great deal of protesting, remonstrance, and some hiring of substitutes. The men assembled at Palmyra on the 12th of December, and took up the line of march for Waterloo. The first night the detachment went into camp over the Fabius, several miles from Palmyra. There was great distress. A deep snow fell and the weather was bitter cold; the men suffered severely, being without tents, and for the most part without blankets. Only the large fires built and kept up saved them from freezing. The next morning the detachment was divided into four com- panies of fifty men each (a less number to the company would have prevented the captains from drawing pay) and the march was resumed through the cold and snow. The second night camp was pitched in Lewis County, not far from Monticello.
This night, too, news reached the camp that peace had been declared and that the Marion County men were to return to their homes the following morning. A great cheer, half derisive, half joyful, went up. In a little while the men resolved to end their campaign with certain contemptuous proceedings toward the two governors, who, as they believed, were the cause of what had happened, and the ridiculous termination of the threatened " war." Accordingly a haunch of venison was cut in two, one piece labeled "Gov. Lucas of Iowa," the other "Gov. Boggs of Missouri," and both hung up and fired into with rifles. Then they were taken down and buried with mock funeral solemnity, and with burlesque honors of war.
Before starting on the return trip for home the following res- olutions were adopted at an impromptu meeting of the militia- men:
Resolved, That as this is the third winter in succession that the troops have been ordered from Marion, and had to furnish their own tents and blankets- therefore, we who have them now will keep them for the war next winter, as our notice has hitherto been so short.
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to furnish us with guns by next fall.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Resolved, That we think it high time we had our pay for the Mormon cam- paign, last year.
The men then marched for home. Some of them turned their coats and wore them inside out when they reached home in honor they said, of their distinguished services in and safe return from the " honey war."
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