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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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politicians began a series of maneuvers designed to develop Jackson's views on the main questions before the country, and especially as to which of the two Democratic Presidential can- didates he favored. For a long time the wily Saline County Statesman succeeded in evading the questions, and in defining his position, but at last the Missouri Republican and other Douglas organs "smoked him out." He announced, in a well-written com-
640
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
munication, that he was for Douglas, because he believed him to be the regular and fairly chosen nominee of the party ; but at the same time he announced himself in favor of many of the principles of the Breckinridge party. He was called by some who disliked him "a Douglas man with Breckinridge tendencies," " a squatter sovereign on an anti-squatter sovereignty platform," etc.
When Jackson's letter appeared, soon thereafter the Breckin- ridge men called a State convention, and put in nomination Han- cock Jackson, of Howard, for governor, and Monroe M. Parsons, of Cole, for lieutenant-governor.
Being encouraged by the feuds in the Democratic party, the Bell and Everett men had high hopes of electing their guberna- torial candidate at the August election, and carrying the State for " Bell, of Tennessee," the ensuing November. To this end they did everything possible to foment additional discord, and widen the breach between the two wings of their opponents; but they overdid the business. The Democrats saw through their tactics, and agreeing to disagree as to presidential candidates, practically united in the support of C. F. Jackson and Thomas C. Reynolds, at the August election, and triumphantly elected them by a plurality of about 10,000; C. F. Jackson, Douglas Democrat, 74,446; Sample Orr, Bell and Everett, 66,583; Han- cock Jackson, Breckinridge Democrat; 11,415; J. B. Garden- hire, Republican, 6,135.
Nothing daunted by their defeat in August, the Bell and Everett men in Missouri kept up the fight for their presidential candidates, and came within a few hundred votes of carrying the State for them in November, the vote standing:
For the Douglas electors .58,801
For the Bell electors. .58,372
For the Breckinridge electors. .31,317
For the Lincoln electors. .17,028
Douglas' majority over Bell. 429
Douglas' majority over Breckinridge. 27,484
It is said that many Democrats voted for Bell because they thought he was the only candidate that could defeat Lincoln. In the October elections the Republicans had carried Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and Indiana, and Lincoln's election was almost in-'
641
STATE OF MISSOURI.
evitable. Fusion tickets against the Republicans had been formed in New York, New Jersey and other States, and many thought the Tennessee statesman might be elected after all.
THE CANVASS IN KNOX COUNTY.
In Knox County no political campaign was ever of more in- terest. Political meetings were held by the two factions of the Democratic party, and by the Bell and Everett men. The Re- publican party had its representatives here this year, and even they held one or two meetings.
The leading Republican was perhaps Walter C. Gantt, an at- torney of Edina. He was a native of Maryland, and reared in Washington City, but, although brought up under pro-slavery in- fluence, he was ardently anti-slavery in his views, and an enthu- siastic supporter of Lincoln and Hamlin. He did not hesitate to avow his sentiments on every occasion, and soon brought down upon himself the general detestation, and in some instances the open hostility, of the pro-slavery element.
In the latter part of August an affray occurred in front of the postoffice in Edina, between Mr. Gantt and Dr. Thomas C. Moore, the latter a strong Breckinridge man, and a zealous hater of " Black Republicans." The two had a political disputation a few days previously, and Dr. Moore had been particularly severe on " Lincolnites." On the 28th the Doctor met Mr. Gantt on the street, and in passing struck him with his elbow. Gantt turned. about, followed Moore into the postoffice, and said to him, " Doc- tor, if you struck me just now on purpose, or if you ever repeat what you did, I will knock your d-d head off your shoulders." He then walked out of the postoffice, and was followed by Moore with a hatchet. An altercation resulted, Moore making the as- sault, Gantt whipped out a pistol and shot Moore in the face, the ball entering the left nostril and lodging in the head. The par- ties were then separated. There was great excitement, and threats were made to lynch Gantt. He was arrested, underwent a pre- liminary examination, and was bound over to await the action of the grand jury in his case. His bond for $500 was signed by P. B. Linville, Jacob Pugh, J. F. Biggerstaff, George W. Ful- ton, George W. Wiley, and others among the Bell-Everett and
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Republican citizens. He was never indicted. When the civil war came on he entered the Union Army as lieutenant-colonel of the Third Missouri Cavalry, resigned in 1862, and died in St. Louis in 1863. Dr. Moore became a Secessionist, but did not take up arms. He died a few years since in Illinois.
Prominent among the Douglas men of the county were Collen M. Campbell, Joseph Fetters, John T. Davis, H. R. Parsons and Warner Pratt. The Breckinridge men were not very numerous, but made up in zeal what they lacked in this particular, repre- sented by Dr. Moore, W. G. Bryant, Andrew Biggerstaff and others in the country. Leading supporters of Bell and Everett were E. V. Wilson, Dr. Wirt, James C. Agnew, P. B. Linville, Jacob Pugh and John M. Glover. Another ardent Republican was Dr. Sherwood, of Edina.
At the August election the vote for governor stood: For C. F. Jackson, 844; Sample Orr, 526; Hancock Jackson, 3; J. B. Gardenhire (Republican), 8. The vote for county officers re- sulted:
Representative-Joseph Fetters (Democrat), 759; John M. Glover (B .- E.), 649.
Sheriff-Collen M. Campbell (Democrat), 1,122; Lafayette Minter, 204.
Treasurer-John Winterbottom, 1,154.
School Commissioner-W. R. Bennington, 944; John L. Taylor, 294.
In this Congressional district the candidates were John B. Clark, of Howard County, who had been nominated by the Demo- crats, and received the general support of both factions of that party, and M. C. Hawkins, of Lewis County, the nominee of the Bell and Everett party, and who was supported by the Union
The vote in party, the Republicans, and all anti-Democrats.
Knox was 845 for Clark, and 563 for Hawkins. In the district, which was then composed of Adair, Chariton, Clark, Grundy, Howard, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Put- nam, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Sullivan Coun- ties, the vote was for Clark, 14,822; Hawkins, 10,276. Clark was already the sitting member. He entered the rebel army, was wounded at Wilson's Creek, entered the Confederate Con-
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
gress, and served in that body through the war, having pre- viously been expelled from the Federal Congress for disloyalty. Hawkins, as noted in the history of Lewis County, was an ardent Unionist, and so remained.
The vote for President in Knox was for Douglas, 687; Bell, 520; Breckinridge, 301; Lincoln, 161. The Republican vote was a general surprise. It was known that there were a few Lin- coln men in the county, but the number was not believed to ex- ceed twenty-five or thirty, or at the most, fifty, until the election came off. Even now it would hardly be believed by many par- ties that the number was so considerable if the records did not. prove it.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1864.
PRESIDENT
Lincoln.
Mcclellan.
Home vote
497
345
Soldier vote
172
3
Total.
669
348
CONGRESS
Benjamin.
Glover.
Home vote.
485
348
Soldier vote
.166
3
Total
651
351
Governor-Thomas C. Fletcher, 494; Thomas L. Price, 344.
Lieutenant-Governor-George Smith, 495: Luke W. Burris, 343.
State Senator-Elias V. Wilson, 490; Frederick Rowland, 220.
Representative-William M. Beal (Republican), 480; George W. Hogan (Democrat), 322.
Sheriff-George W. Fulton (Republican), 451; John W. Thomas (Democrat), 355.
County Judge-William F. Plumer (Republican), 466; Cas- per Fetters (Democrat), 323.
Treasurer-D. W. Brewington ( Republican), 444; Alfred Cooney (Democrat), 340.
Assessor-Jacob S. Bennington (Republican), 474; Jonathan Fowler (Democrat), 323.
Convention-For, 330; against, 330.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
THE "DRAKE " CONSTITUTION.
The vote on the adoption of the constitution of 1865, generally known as the "Drake" constitution, the election being held June 6, 1865, resulted: For, 541; against, 197-a large majority for it. The third section of the second article of this instrument, which disfranchised the disloyal element of the State, was in these words:
ARTICLE II .- RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
SEC. 3. At any election held by the people under this constitution, or in pursuance of any law of this State, or any ordinance or by-law of any municipal corporation, no person shall be deemed a qualified voter who has ever been in armed hostility to the United States, or to the lawful authorities thereof, or to the government of this State; or has ever given aid, comfort, countenance or support to persons engaged in any such hostility; or has ever, in any manner, adhered to the enemies, foreign or domestic, of the United States, either by contributing to them, or by unlawfully sending within their lines money, goods, letters or information; or has ever disloyally held communication with such enemies; or has ever advised or aided any person to enter the service of such enemies; or has ever, by act or word, manifested his adherence to the cause of such enemies; or his desire for their triumph over the armies of the United States, or his sympathy with those engaged in exciting or carrying on rebellion against the United States; or has ever, except under overpowering compulsion, submitted to the authority, or been in the service of the so-called "Confederate States of America;" or has ever left this State, and gone within the lines of the armies of the so-called "Confederate States of America," with the purpose of adhering to said States or armies; or has ever been a member of, or connected with, any order, society or organization inimical to the government of the United States, or to the government of this State; or has ever been engaged in guerrilla warfare against loyal inhabitants of the United States, or in that description of marauding commonly known as "bushwhacking;" or has ever knowingly or willingly harbored, aided, or countenanced any persons so engaged; or has ever come into, or has ever left this State for the purpose of avoiding enrollment for, or draft into, the military service of the United States; or has ever, with a view to avoid enrollment in the militia of this State, or to escape the performance of duty therein, or for any other purpose, enrolled himself, or authorized himself to be enrolled, by or before any officer as disloyal, or as a Southern sympathizer, or in any other terms indicating his disaffection to the government of the United States in its contest with the rebellion, or his sym- pathy with those engaged in such rebellion; or having ever voted at any election by the people of this State, or in any other of the United States, or in any of their Territories, or held office in this State, or any other of the United States, or in any of their Territories, or under the United States, shall thereafter have sought or received, under claim of alienage, the protection of any foreign govern- ment, through any consul or other officer thereof, in order to secure exemption from military duty in the militia of this State, or in the army of the United States; nor shall any such person be capable of holding in this State any office of honor, trust or profit under its authority; or of being any officer, councilman,
645
STATE OF MISSOURI.
director, trustee or other manager of any corporation, public or private, now existing, or hereafter established by its authority; or of acting as a professor or teacher in any educational institution, or in any common or other school; or of holding any real estate or any property in trust for the use of church, religious society, or congregation. But the foregoing provisions in relation to acts done against the United States, shall not apply to any person not a citizen thereof, who shall have committed such acts while in the service of some foreign country at war with the United States, and who has, since such acts, been naturalized, or may hereafter be naturalized under the laws of the United States, and the oath of loyalty hereafter prescribed, when taken by any such person, shall be considered as taken in such sense.
The "oath of loyalty" to be taken pursuant to the foregoing sec- tion was as follows:
I, A. B., do solemly swear that I am well acquainted with the terms of the third section of the second article of the constitution of the State of Missouri, adopted in the year 1865, and have carefully considered the same; that I have never, directly or indirectly, done any of the acts in said section specified; that I have always been truly and loyally on the side of the United States, against all enemies thereof, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and alle- giance to the United States, and will support the constitution and laws thereof as the supreme law of the land, any law or ordinance of any State to the contrary notwithstanding; that I will, to the best of my ability, protect and defend the Union of the United States, and not allow the same to be broken up and dis- solved, or the goverment thereof to be destroyed or overthrown, under any cir- cumstances, if in my power to prevent it; that I will support the constitution of the State of Missouri, and that I make this oath without any mental reservation, or evasion, and hold it to be binding upon me.
1866.
Congress-John F. Benjamin, 639; John M. Glover, 345.
State Senator-Eugene Williams, 643, Levi J. Wagner, 345.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1868.
This was the first presidential election since the war, and although hundreds of men were disfranchised, it was largely par- ticipated in by all classes. The Republicans, owing to the oper- ation of the Drake constitution, were largely in the majority, but the Democrats were zealous and plucky. The Democratic- candidates were Horatio Seymour and Gen. Frank P. Blair, and the Republican nominees were Gen. U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax. The Democratic National Convention had resolved in favor of the payment of the 5-20 bonds of the Goverment in " law- ful money," or greenbacks, and this idea, called "the Pendleton plan," from its author, Hon. George H. Pendleton, was combated by the Republicans.
T
646
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
The Republican candidate for Congress in this district was Hon. John F. Benjamin, of Shelbyville, who was elected; his opponent was Hon. John F. Williams, of Macon City. The gubernatorial candidates were Hon. Joseph W. McClurg, Re- publican, of Camden County, and Hon. John S. Phelps, Democrat, of Greene. The vote for leading candidates in Knox County was as follows:
President-U. S. Grant, 759; Horatio Seymour, 342.
Governor-J. W. McClurg, 744; John S. Phelps, 356.
Congress-John F. Benjamin, 743; John F. Williams, 345.
The canvass for circuit judge and circuit attorney was of more than ordinary interest, as the successful candidates, E. V. Wilson and William C. Hillis, were both of Knox County. The result of the election in this county, including county officers, was as fol- lows:
Judge, Fourth District-E. V. Wilson (Republican), 734; M. C. Hawkins (Democrat), 345.
Circuit Attorney-William C. Hillis (Republican ), 715; C. L. Allen (Democrat), 348.
Representative-Anthony Perry (Republican), 725; Andrew J. White (Democrat), 346.
County Judge-W. F. Plumer (Republican), 740; B. F. Northcutt, 320.
Sheriff-H. R. Parsons (Republican), 746; William E. Edens (Democrat), 330.
Treasurer-J. F. Biggerstaff (Republican), 746.
Negro Suffrage-For, 625; against, 446.
William S. Berry was elected assessor, and David E. Shartle, school commissioner, without opposition.
THE POLITICAL CANVASS AND ELECTION OF 1870.
Although not a presidential year, this was one of the most exciting political campaigns that ever came off in the county. The contest was between the Regular Republicans or "Radicals " on the one side, and the Liberal Republicans and Democrats on the other, and as it was a gubernatorial year excitement pre- vailed throughout the entire State.
The questions of universal amnesty and enfranchisement, of
.
647
STATE OF MISSOURI.
the repeal of the Missouri "iron-clad " oath for voters, jurors, ministers, lawyers, teachers, etc., were rapidly sowing the seeds of discord and disintegration in the Republican party of the State, and dividing it into two wings, the Radicals and Liberals. The former, led by Charles B. Drake, maintained the extreme and harsh policy, and the latter headed by B. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz, contended for the more magnanimous policy in regard to those who had held complicity with the Rebellion.
There was a growing sentiment among the people that the war was over; that the time for expurgatory oaths of all sorts had passed; that taxation without representation was unjust; that since, by the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment this year negroes who formerly were slaves were allowed to vote, it was but equitable that their former white masters should be given the same privilege; that public sentiment, inside and outside of the State, was making largely against the condition of things in Missouri, as illiberal, proscriptive, unjust and tyrannical, and that circumstances demanded a change.
Owing to the test oath prescribed by the Drake constitution, and the very stringent registry laws passed to enforce it, the Democrats were in an almost hopeless minority at the polls, and therefore had little or no voice in the direction of public affairs. As was natural, few ex-Confederates or their sympathizers were Republicans; their disfranchisement by the Republicans pre- vented their voting, and embittered them against the authors of their condition. There being but two parties, they were forced, therefore, to sympathize with the Democrats, even had many of them not been at heart of that faith for years before the war.
Hoping to gain the ascendancy in the State by the acquisition of the disfranchised Confederates, rehabilitated with the elec- tive franchise, through a repeal and destruction of the consti- tutional and legal barriers which interposed between them, the policy of the Democrats was first to divide and then to conquer the Republicans. To accomplish this no way seemed so hopeful of favorable results as "the passive policy," or, as it was prop- erly called, "the possum policy," which signified the withdrawal of the Democratic party as an organization from the canvass of 1870, and the co-operation of its members individually with the
1
648
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Liberal Republicans as allies. It was apparent that, once the disfranchising clause of the constitution should be removed, the Democratic party would come speedily into power, and once iņ power and place, it would be secure in the possession thereof for an indefinite period, intrenched behind the huge majority it would have.
The Democratic State Central Committee, Hon. D. H. Arm- strong chairman, refused in March to call a State convention, tacitily binding the party to the support of the Liberal Repub- lican nominees, whoever they should be. The counties were to be left to take care of themselves.
The Republican State Convention met August 31, and of course there was a split. The Liberals, headed by Carl Schurz, withdrew from the convention and organized another, nominating B. Gratz Brown, for governor, and Col. J. J. Gravelly, for lieu- tenant-governor, on a platform unequivocally in favor of the adoption of the amendments proposed to the constitution by the previous Legislature, to be voted on at the coming election, and ' commonly called the suffrage and office-holding amendments. The Radicals nominated Joseph W. McClurg, for re-election, on a platform favoring "re-enfranchising those justly disfranchised for participation in the rebellion as soon as it can be done with safety to the State," and, recognizing the right of any member of the party to vote thereon as he pleased, McClurg personally favored re-enfranchisement.
After an exciting canvass the Liberals and Democrats suc- ceeded in carrying Knox County for only two of their candidates. The vote was as follows:
Governor-McClurg (Radical Republican), 649; Brown (Liberal Republican), 598.
Congress-James G. Blair (Liberal Republican), 615; J. T. K. Hayward (Radical), 613.
Representative-Albert G. Dodd (Liberal), 680; James Gibson (Radical), 520.
County Judge-William P. Glover (Radical), 720; William J. Cottey (Liberal), 467.
Egbert O. Mallory (Radical) was elected to fill a vacancy.
Circuit Clerk-Russell R. Smith (Radical), 736; W. H. Motter (Liberal), 371.
649
STATE OF MISSOURI.
County Clerk-Enoch Rinehart (Radical), 661; Robert White (Liberal), 454.
Sheriff-Henry R. Parsons (Radical), 669; George Boon (Liberal), 366.
Treasurer-Joseph F. Biggerstaff, 1183 (on both tickets).
Assessor-Aaron Oldfather (Radical), 620; H. P. Crawford (Liberal), 613.
School Commissioner-M. D. Hollister (Radical), 605; Hosea Northcutt (Liberal), 601.
The vote on the most important constitutional amendments . resulted: For the second (abolishing the "oath of loyalty for . jurors"), 1,027, against, 187. For the fourth (abolishing "test oath for voters"), 877, against, 241. For the fifth (removing certain disqualifications on account of "race, color, or previous .. condition of servitude," and on account of "former acts of disloy- - alty"), 834, against, 271.
In the State the amendments carried by overwhelming major- . ities. Brown was elected over McClurg by a majority of 41,038. In this congressional district J. G. Blair, of Lewis County, received 11,682 votes, and Col. J. T. K. Hayward, of Hannibal, received 9,143.
The Liberal candidate for State senator was Gen. David Moore, of Lewis, the rugged old soldier, who had been among the very first to draw the sword against the "rebels" in 1861, and was now among the first to stand for their enfranchisement and complete restoration to citizenship. His position on the ques- tions at issue was defined in a circular letter, of which the follow- ing is a copy:
TO THE VOTERS OF THE TWELFTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, COMPOSED OF THE COUNTIES OF LEWIS, CLARK, SCOTLAND AND KNOX:
Fellow Citizens Having been unanimously nominated for State senator by the Liberal Republican Convention, held in Fairmont, on the 12th day of October, 1870, I accept the nomination, and, therefore, desire to say to the peo- ple of this senatorial ditrict, that, after arduous services in the South, I am con- vinced, and have been for a long time, that the restoration of the elective fran- chise of those lately in the rebellion is demanded as an act of justice.
I fully endorse the principles and platform laid down by the B. Gratz Brown wing of the Republican party.
I favor the entire abolition of all the test oaths and impediments to a free ballot, and for the repeal of the registration laws, which have been used for the basest of partisan purposes.
41
650
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Our present constitution is full of inconsistencies, and was made at a time when passion ruled the day. I therefore deem it advisable, and shall favor a new convention, when all the people can vote, and make such a constitution as will make the great State of Missouri the Empire State of the Union.
It is unnecesary that I should say anything further. These are my views, and I appeal to the liberal men of this Senatorial District for their suffrages and support.
DAVID MOORE.
Canton, Mo., October, 1870.
Eugene Williams, of Scotland, was the Radical candidate, and defeated Moore in Knox County, the vote being as follows: Williams, 624; Moore, 612. The vote in the district resulted in the election of Col. Moore by a considerable majority.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1872.
As the political campaign of 1872 was the first in Missouri after the removal of the proscriptive clause of the Drake con- stitution, which left all voters free to vote that had ever been entitled to the privilege, there was great interest manifested. The nomination of Gen. Grant and Henry Wilson was acceptable to the great mass of the Republicans, and they were enthusiastic for them. The Liberal Republicans, at Cincinnati, in May, nomi- nated for president Horace Greeley, the veteran editor of the New York Tribune, a life-long enemy of the Democratic party, and perhaps its most caustic assailant.
The Democrats of Knox County were very forgiving. His bitter denunciations of them and their party were perhaps not forgotten, but they were put aside for the time, and, although he may not have been universally recognized as a proper Demo- cratic candidate for the presidency, he was almost unanimously accepted by the party in this county. Following is the result of the election :
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