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 53

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308

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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Perhaps the first schoolhouse was built at Edina in 1839 or 1840; elections were held therein, according to the records, in August of the latter year. It was a log building, and stood on the site of the present Methodist Episcopal Church. After the town was laid out a brick schoolhouse was built in the northern part of the original town; the latter building is still standing. Numerous private schools were taught in the early settlements, but the names of the first teachers have been forgotten.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

PIONEER WEDDINGS.

A pioneer wedding in Northeast Missouri, in early times, would not compare, in point of elegance and finish, with one in these days, for there were lacking the paraphernalia of display, and the pomp and circumstances attendant in this age upon affairs of that character. In those days few people wore " store clothes;" their apparel was for the most part of homespun. A "Sunday suit" resembled an "everyday" suit, so far as general appearance went. The material of which the clothing was made was principally cotton or flax and wool. The men wore jeans, cottons and linsey, the women wore linsey and cotton.

A bridal toilet, therefore, was not expensive, neither was it elaborate, fanciful nor very showy, but it was sensible, for it was sufficient, and it was appropriate to the times, the manners and the circumstances. Yet she was as well dressed as the groom, with his coonskin cap, his jeans coat, his linsey or cotton shirt, his jeans or coarse linen trousers, his feet in home tanned shoes, and without a glove to his hand or his name.

But for all the discomforts and disadvantages, the marriages were as fortunate and felicitous, and the weddings themselves as joyous, as any of those of modern times. It is not a matter of silk and satin, this affair of a happy marriage. The wedding was seldom or never a private one. The entire settlement was invited, and uniformly accepted the invitation. To neglect to send an invitation was to give offense; to refuse was to give an insult. There were all sorts of merry making and diversion during the day. A shooting match was quite common. There were foot- races, wrestling matches, and other athletic sports-sometimes a pugilistic encounter. At night a dance was had, in which there was general participation.

In some instances the dancers were barefoot, and the ball room floor was composed of split puncheons, from which the splinters had not all been removed, but the soles of the feet had become so toughened and hardened by exposure that they bade defiance to any fair-sized splinter.

The wedding feast was always worthy of the name. The champagne and claret were good old Kentucky and Missouri whisky, clear and pure as mountain dew, unadulterated by mer-

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STATE OF MISSOURI.

cenary "rectifiers," untouched and untaxed by gauger and Gov- ernment. Then there were venison steaks and roasts, turkey, grouse, nectar-like maple syrup and other edibles, toothsome and elegant, the bare mention of which is sufficient to make an old pioneer's mouth water in these days.

There were no newspapers in those days to chronicle all the details of a wedding in consideration of some of the cake, and- print a list of "presents " including plated tea-spoons, fifteen cent napkins and ten cent salt cellars ad nauseam, and that was one point in favor of the pioneers.

Particulars of the first marriage in what is now Knox County can not now be learned; it is known, however, that in 1836, Absalom R. Downing and Mrs. Susan Kelly, nee Fresh, were married at the residence of the bride's father, James Fresh, near Newark. Up to the year 1845 the marriages occurring in this county are of record in the archives of Lewis and Scotland.

After the organization of the county the first marriage cer- tificate on record is the following:

STATE OF MISSOURI, ¿ COUNTY OF KNOX.

I do hereby certify that I solemnized the rites of marriage, on the 18th day of March, 1845, between William P. Marshal and Sally Harrington. W. P. Marshall being of lawful age, of the county aforesaid. Sally Harrington was formerly a resident of Shelby County, but the ceremony was performed in Salt River Township. A certificate was produced and sworn to according to law, which accompanies this certificate authorizing the marriage of Sally Harrington to W. P. Marshal.

Given under my hand this the 5th day of May, 1845.

WILLIAM SALING, Justice of the Peace. March 18, 1845.

Mr. William Saling, you may solemnize the rites of matrimony between William P. Marshal and Sally Harrington, my daughter.

his JAMES X HARRINGTON. mark

Subsequent early marriages are the following :

May 1, 1845, Cornelius Coe and Elizabeth Collins, by Rev. Martin L. Eads of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

June 23, 1845, John Ferguson and Emily Jane Pollock, by James W. Baker, justice of the peace.

July 3, 1845, John Landsberry and Harriet Bowling, by the Rev. James F. Smith.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

July 13, 1845, William I. Cottey and Nancy Birch, by Rev. M. L. Eads.

July 13, 1845, Eli D. Chadwick and Jane Lane, by James Beck, justice of the peace.

July 21, 1845, James Cockrum and Elizabeth Shaw, by the Rev. Frederick Shoot.

September 18, 1845, Perry Blanchard and Hannah Kenoyer, by Rev. G. D. Turner.

October 7, 1845, Thomas Smith and Eliza C. Toadvine, by the Rev. M. L. Eads.

November 13, 1845, Clement Todd and Catharine Poor, by Rev. F. R. Gray.

John R. Black and Margaret Davis, January 18, 1846, by D. Byrne, Catholic priest.

In early days, under certain circumstances, marriage con- tracts were quite frequently entered into by persons comtemplat- ing marriage. Changes have since been made in the State laws, affording greater protection to individual property, and such articles of agreement are now seldom heard of. The fol- lowing is subjoined as a rather curious and interesting specimen of a marriage contract.

This article of agreement made and entered into between Alfred F. Craw- ley, of Knox County, Mo., and Euphemia A. Whitelock, of Shelby County, Mo., witnesseth:

First-The said parties contemplate being united as husband and wife in the holy state of matrimony.

Second-In view of theintended marriage, and in consideration thereof, the said Alfred agrees to convey and hereby gives, grants and conveys unto the said Euphemia, the following real estate to wit: one tract of land lying in Knox County, Mo., purchased by the said Alfred of the sheriff of Knox County, Mo., supposed to contain 107 acres; one negro boy, John, about eight years old; also three beds and bedding and bedstead; six split-bottom chairs; one sugar desk; one writing desk; one dining-table; one breakfast-table; one pair andirons; two smoothing-irons; five silver tablespoons; six silver teaspoons; one cream-spoon; all the other household and kitchen furniture now belonging to the said Alfred, or which may be belonging to him at his death; also one yoke of oxen and one ox cart, to be purchased by the said Alfred's administrators and executors, if not on hand at his decease; two bay mares and colts; three milch cows; and farming utensils on hand at said Alfred's death; all of which said property, she, the said Euphemia agrees to accept, and does accept to take effect immediately upon the death of the said Alfred, as an estate in the said Euphemia, by way of jointure, and as a provision for the support and maintenance of the said Euphemia during life, and in full discharge of all claims of dower on her part,

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STATE OF MISSOURI.

out of the estate of said Alfred; and if there should be any child of the said contemplated marriage, and the same should survive the said Euphemia, the afore-named property and real estate shall, at the death of the said Alfred and Euphemia, remain and pass to such child or children.

Third-The said Euphemia agrees to convey and hereby does convey, grant and confirm, in consideration of the premises, the following real estate, to wit: Lot 1, in Block 41, in the town of Hannibal, Marion County, Mo .; also the north- east quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 24, Township 39, Range 9 west, ly. ing in Shelby County, Mo., being the same purchased of William White; also cer- - tain slaves, to wit: Jane, a woman, about twenty-two years of age, and Sarah Eliza, her child; Eliza, a woman about twenty years of age, and Hester Eliz- abeth, her child; Josiah, a man about twenty-one years old; also, a man named Robert, about sixty years of age; also all the household and kitchen furniture of the said Euphemia, including her silverware; also, all her stock, and farming utensils; to have and to hold to the said Alfred for his natural life, the use and enjoyment of the same, to be his during life and at his death the same to pass to the said Euphemia, if living, or to any child or children of the comtemplated marriage, if living, and if not, to such uses and purposes, as the said Euphemia may by last will appoint, after the death of the said Alfred, and the children of the marriage, if any.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 29th day of July, 1847 .*

A. F. CRAWLEY, [SEAL]. EUPHEMIA A. WHITELOCK. [SEAL].

HOUSEKEEPING INCIDENTS.

If the newly-married pair were specially fortunate they were able to set up their domestic altars upon their own farm, but usually a cabin was built on a claim or on a portion of the " old man's " land, which was an expected inheritance, and their home life began. Their articles of furniture and utensils were much as their fathers' had been, and they were well content. They had all that was necessary for food and raiment, and each other for happiness. When babies came, as they did come, and as they always will come into every orderly and well-regulated settlement-heaven bless them-they were quite often rocked and lulled to sleep in cradles made after the pattern of a sugar- trough, fashioned by the hand of the fond father and " dug out " of a log, like a miniature canoe, and with seasoned hickory bows attached to them for rockers. Within this little trough there were placed a few folds of flannel or linsey or other kind of cloth, sometimes a pillow, brought hundreds of miles-sometimes soft "hatched " but unspun tow or flax, and into these nests there

*The foregoing marriage contract was written by the distinguished Missouri lawyer, Hon. Samuel T. Glover.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

were snuggled the then innocent, cunning little darlings, that are now the mature and gray old settlers of Knox County.

GAME AND WILD ANIMALS.

Upon the first settlement of Knox County, the woods were full of game of all kinds, and the country was a paradise for hunters and fishermen. Bears, panthers aud wolves abounded. In the northern portions of the county bears were quite numer- ous in early days.

Up in the northern part of the county, bears were killed as late as in 1838. Down on Salt River, in the winter of 1839, a large black bear chased a Norwegian for half a mile, frightening him half out of his wits; Squire Saling and others chased and killedit. Forbs Henry, his father, and a negro man killed three bears in one day. A story is tolerably well authenticated that the last wild bear killed in the county was shot in the Millport region after the year 1850, but it is generally maintained that none of these animals were seen here after 1840.

A few elk were still in the county upon its first settlement. Forbs Henry, who lived in what is now Colony Township at the time, says, that in the fall of 1834 he saw a large and fine black elk in the northern part of the county. A year later a drove was chased over the prairie north of Hurdland by some hunters from the Salt River settlement.

In the winter of 1843 R. H. Downing and two or three others, of Fabius Township, killed twenty-seven full grown wolves. Oftentimes wolves were caught in a chase or " circle hunt." One Friday afternoon, in the winter of about 1844, a band of hunters in the southern part of the county started a large gray wolf near the site where afterward stood Bee Ridge postoffice. They had a large pack of hounds, and chased the wolf all day without over- taking it. The next morning the chase was renewed with forty- eight dogs, but after a day's hard run the animal was left near the point where it was first started. Perhaps the chase was not continued on Sunday, and perhaps it was, but on Monday it was renewed, and on the evening of that day, the wolf was caught and killed in the southern part of the county. It had been hunted and run more than 200 miles.

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STATE OF MISSOURI.

Deer were very plentiful. They could be found on every section. A settler could kill a deer almost anywhere and almost any time before breakfast, if he wanted to, and the juicy ven- ison steaks of the old time were long remembered. Wild tur- keys, squirrels and other edible game were so numerous, and so easily obtained as scarcely to be worthy of consideration, while lynxes, wild-cats and even the genuine catamount were occasion- ally found.

A famous character often hunted along in the forties was the "long-toed deer," so called from the circumstance of its having one prong of its forehoof longer than the other. The animal was a large buck. Its peculiar track was well known. It ran with such swiftness that it defied all attempts at capture for years, and the best marksmen could not hit it. Some of the superstitious declared that it possessed a "charmed" existence, and was in fact a wizard in the form of a deer. It roamed almost at will through this county, the northern part of Shelby and Macon. At last it was killed in the southern part of the county.

CONCLUSION.

Thus has been sketched in general terms the life of the old pioneers, and some of the incidents of early days in Knox County. Not all are here given, for it would take many more pages than the limits of this book will allow to record them; but, while there may be numerous omissions, enough is here written to show the present generation how the old settlers, in the early history of the county, worked to improve their lands and secure a competency for old age. And so the country grew and prospered under the strength of the brawny arms of her noble old pioneers. Civilization advanced, and material pros- perity could be seen on every hand. Such has been, in a meas- ure, the history of the early pioneers of this beautiful country, and those who are living can look back with interest to the times which tried the nerves, the muscle, and the indomitable will of the fathers and mothers who had the future of Knox County in their keeping.

The early pioneers made history, but took no care to preserve it. This is a sad loss to the county. Those years, and the lives

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and actions of the heroes and patriots then living, were of the greatest importance. Then it was that the foundation was laid, and a noble and enduring superstructure was to be reared, upon which the moral, physical and political future of the country was to rest. While there were no stirring events or remarkable happenings, it was a time of self-reliance, of persevering toil, of privation, that was endured with heroic fortitude, believing in a future reward of successful labor, of the good time com- ing, when the woods and the open prairie should resolve them- selves into well-cultivated farms, and their humble cabins into residences befitting their improved financial condition. They had come into the boundless wilderness poor in purse, but rich in faith and powerful in endurance, and their future was before them.

After the creation, by the Lewis County Court, of Benton Township (in 1834) and of Allen Township (in 1836), which was the first political division of the territory afterward consti- tuting Knox County important to be noticed, a correct map of this territory would have been interesting.

At that time, it must be borne in mind, Lewis County in- cluded what is now the east three miles of Adair, and so held the territory until the organization of the latter county in 1841. In 1840 the territory now included in Knox had been divided into municipal townships. The towns of Newark and Edina, and the hamlet of Milford, existed, and at least two mills and a dis- tillery were in operation. The east three miles of Adair were still included in Lewis.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.

The first classes of the original Methodist Episcopal Church in Knox County, prior to the division, were formed in the vicin- ity of Newark and Colony in the years 1835 and 1836. In the winter of 1835 a class was constituted at Samuel Manning's; in 1836, as noted on a preceding page, another class was organized, and a sermon preached by Rev. George C. Light, at the house of Hugh Henry, in the Colony settlement .* Later, at a very

*The statement that this was "the first" class in the county has been ascertained, since it was made and printed, to be a mistake of fact. The class at Manning's was doubtless the first.

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STATE OF MISSOURI.

early period, other classes were organized, but the dates and other circumstances can not now be given.

The Methodist Episcopal Church South assumed an organi- zation in the county immediately after the division in 1844. The first official meeting, of which there is any record, shows the number of church organizations, or classes, in the county at that time; also the amount of money given to the support of the Gos- pel. The meeting was held at the residence of Stephen Sharp, eight miles southwest of Edina, December 5, 1846. Rev. J. Lanius was presiding elder, and Rev. E. Sears, pastor. Martin L. Eads was elected secretary, when after other business the fol- lowing report of contributions was submitted:

Sharp's class. $5 10

Cottey's class.

.No report.

Eads' class.

Newark class

Martin's class 66

Brewer's class

2 15

Sand Hill class

No report.

Public collection

Total amount. $7 95

The money was apportioned: To J. Lanius, presiding elder, $3.50; to E. Sears, pastor in charge, $4.45.

From this it may be seen that the ministers of the gospel, in those days, received very little money, but, no doubt, the defi- ciency in this particular was more than made up by an abundance of hearty good cheer, and the free hospitality which the pioneers understood in its perfection. The first church building was a log structure erected at Colony in 1847, and called Wesley chapel. At that time there were but two Sabbath-schools in the county, one at Edina, with a superintendent, three teachers, and twenty regu- lar scholars; the other, at Wesley Chapel, was large enough to require the services of five teachers, and an assistant for the super- intendent. The church increased in strength, and, from 1852 until the commencement of the war, was, by far the most pros- perous Protestant Church organization in Knox County. At Franklin schoolhouse, in 1857, there was a Sabbath-school of sixty regular scholars, with a library of 160 volumes. Other classes in the county were fairly prosperous. During the war,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY,

and for a year or two after its close, the ministers of this church labored against many difficulties; in many instances they were arrested while preaching from the pulpit, and made to give bonds for their appearance at court, their offense being that of preach- ing without having first taken the oath of loyalty. Owing to these troubles the church grew very slowly from 1861 to 1866. Since then a "brighter day has dawned," and in point of church property, membership and influence, the Methodist Episcopal Church South will now compare favorably with any other Protest- ant denomination in the county. The church now comprises three circuits entire, viz .: Edina, Novelty and Colony. There are also other churches in the county embraced by circuits belong- ing to adjoining counties.

Edina Church .- This church was organized in 1847, with Rev. E. Sears, pastor, and Rev. J. Lanius, presiding elder. No list of the original members can now be given, as the records of the church, at that time, either were not written or have been lost. In 1863, the Edina Circuit comprised the classes at Newark, Wes- ley Chapel, Cottey's, at Bee Ridge schoolhouse, Stephen Sharp's, Price's Class, and the class at Edina. A frame church costing $2,000, was erected at Edina, in 1856. It stood in the southeast part of the town, and had a graveyard attached, which has since been converted into the Free Cemetery. The trustees of the church were P. B. Linville, A. Van Orman, C. M. Campbell and two others. During the war the class at Edina suffered greatly in loss of membership, and from a strong, influential organization dwindled to such weakness, that it was hardly able to pay its necessary expenses. The Federal militia took possession of the church building at intervals, and used it for quarters. The report of the trustees, made July 9, 1864, shows its condition at that date. The report said: "The house is in good repair, except the inside furniture. Some of the seats are gone; lamps. and Bible are gone, and the Sabbath-school library is in the pos- session of the Union School at the Methodist Episcopal Church house." The building was never again used as a house of wor- ship, but after the war was torn down, and, in 1870, incorporated into the church built in the Sharp neighborhood, nine miles southwest of Edina, which is now known as Mount Carmel. For

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STATE OF MISSOURI.

a number of years after the war, the Edina class worshiped in the churches of other denominations, in the courthouse, and, just prior to the erection of the present church, in Winterbottom Hall, rented for the purpose. In 1879 Ed. M. Randolph do- nated a lot in fractional Block 3, of the county addition, on which to build a church, and the present neat frame building was erected at a total cost of $2,113.95. It was dedicated in the winter of 1880 by Dr. John D. Vincil, who preached a series of very interesting sermons, and admitted several new members. A convenient frame parsonage was built in 1875. The class now has eighty members, is out of debt, and in a better condition than at any time since the war. The Edina Circuit at present com- prises the churches at Mount Carmel, Edina, Salem and Rock Creek. The last named was organized about 1877. The church was built a year or so later, and is situated three miles east of Hurdland. The Salem organization is the successor of the orig- inal "Cottey" class, and its house of worship was erected in 1872. The pastors who have served the church at Edina since its organization have been the following: 1847-48, E. Sears; 1848-49, Walter Toole; 1849-50, H. M. Turner ; 1850-51, William M. Wood; 1851-53, William H. Saxton; 1853-54, E. K.Miller; 1854-55, Lewis Baldwin; 1855-57, Lorenzo Newnam; 1857-58, J. McDaniel; 1858-59, G. W. Rich; 1859-60, William Sutton; 1860-61, A. P. Linn; 1861-63, Lilburn Rush; 1863-65, D. R. Shackelford; 1865-67, Joseph Metcalf; 1867-68, Thompson Penn; 1868-69, S. K. Fowler; 1869-70, C. Babcock; 1870-71 Edward Buck; 1871-72, C. A. Shearman; 1872-74, Thomas De Moss; 1874-75, H. W. James; 1875-77, Elmore Carlyle; 1877-78, D. L. Rader; 1878-80, H. P. Bond; 1880-81, R. P. Jones; 1881-83, J. O. Edmonston; 1883-85, S. H. Milan; 1885-86, J. M. Settle; 1886, L. Rush.

Newark Church .- According to the best information that can be obtained, as early as the winter of 1835 a Methodist class was or- ganized at the house of Samuel Manning, in the vicinity of where Newark now is. The members of this early class were Samuel Manning and wife and daughter Emeline, Jabez Barnes, Thomas Dines and wife and son Tyson, Stephen D. Fresh and William M. Kaylor. L. B. Stateler was the first preacher. At first meet-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ings were held at Samuel Manning's house, and afterward in a schoolhouse. In 1836 a log church was built three-fourths of a mile south of Newark, in which preaching was had until 1851, when the use of the Presbyterian Church was secured for month- ly services. Prior to this time, in 1844, on the division of the original Methodist Episcopal Church, this class had become Meth- odist Episcopal South. During the war the Southern Methodists moved to the Baptist Church, and later preaching was had in Ran- dolph's hall, and after 1870 in the new Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1883 a new Presbyterian Church was built, in which the Southern Methodists now hold services. During the war this class suffered in loss of membership by the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but sufficient members were left to keep up the organization, and preachers were regularly sent. Since that time the church has never been very strong, and at present has a membership of only fourteen. Revs. L. B. State- ler and John Monroe were among the earliest ministers of this church. From 1847 to 1868 it was a part of the Edina Circuit, and the names of pastors during those years may be found by reference to the list of preachers at Edina. At later periods it be- longed to the Newark and La Belle Circuits, and to the Novelty Circuit since its organization in 1884. The pastors since 1868 have been Revs. H. P. Bond, H. W. James, George Hillins, D. L. Rader, Tanquary, Rush, Carney, Wainwright; Davis, 1884 to 1885; Utter, 1885 to 1887, and W. O. Medley, the present pastor.

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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 53

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.) Publication date: 1887 Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 1308

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308