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 60
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 60
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 60
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 60
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665
STATE OF MISSOURI.
for the incendiaries, but their apprehension was not effected and hardly desired. Since the destruction of the courthouse the county offices have been in Biggerstaff's building, on the south- east corner of the square, and circuit courts have been held in the opera hall in the same building.
The only jail the county has ever had was built in 1853, and cost about $1,400. It was of brick, and stood a few rods north of the courthouse. It, too, was burned on the night of Decem- ber 24, 1885, within a few hours after the courthouse was de- stroyed.
POOR, AND POOR FARM.
The only poor farm ever owned by the county is the present one, consisting of the east half and the southwest fourth of the southwest quarter of Section 31, Town 63 north, Range 11 west, containing 120 acres more or less. This land was designated as "swamp land," and as early as the year 1859 the county occupied it and appropriated it as a "poor farm," and in the fall of that year the poorhouse was erected by George W. Fulton, under contract for $1,400. The building is a one and a half story frame, about 30x40 feet in size, and has four rooms on each floor. The complete title to the lands of the farm was not ob- tained until November 6, 1869, at which time it was conveyed to the county by the State of Missouri, as evidenced by a deed of that date. Mr. Jeremiah Buckley is the present superintendent of the farm and keeper of the paupers. He pays, under his con- tract, $2 per acre for the use of 100 acres of the farm for one year, and receives from the county $2.50 per week for board- ing each pauper, and $1 per week for washing and mending for each one, and seventy-five cents per week for the extra care of each when such is necessary. For a portion of the time during the year 1887 there have been nine inmates of the poorhouse, and usually there are about as many poor persons furnished re- lief throughout the county as are cared for in the poorhouse. Before this asylum for the poor was established they were wholly cared for by appropriations made by the county court from the county treasury.
BRIDGES.
The first bridge built in the county after its organization
42
666
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
was over the South Fabius, west of Edina. and cost the county $150. Its construction was ordered August 7, 1845. In May, 1846, Medley Shelton was appointed commissioner of a bridge over Salt River, "near Kindred S. Feltz's, where the State road from Philadelphia, in Marion County, crosses said stream." The county court appropriated $100 to build this bridge, the balance of the expense to be contributed by the citizens. This was the "log cabin bridge" which became somewhat noted during the civil war.
A number of other bridges were built in 1846. In February a petition for one across the North Fork of the South Fabius, half a mile north of Edina, " on the road to Milford," was granted, $92 appropriated to build it, and Robert C. Thomas appointed com- missioner. In June Willis Anderson was appointed commis- sioner of a bridge to be built across the South Fabius, "where the State road from the mouth of the Des Moines to Paris and Shelbyville crosses;" and it was expressly provided that William H. Fresh and James Fresh were to pay half the cost of this bridge "in material." In August $43.33, one-third of the total cost, was appropriated in aid of a bridge across Troublesome Creek-the remainder to be raised by subscription-and Walter Ellis was appointed commissioner.
From time to time, as the county grew older, other bridges were built with aid from the public treasury. The streams were difficult of passage at certain seasons, and what little travel there was through the county was often impeded. The authorities did what they were able to remedy the trouble, but in the weak condition of the county finances they could not do much. In February, 1847, James W. Baker was appointed commissioner of a bridge to be thrown over the South Fabius at Howerton's mill. In May, 1849, another bridge was ordered built over the South Fabius, "at the Bee Ford, where the road from Newark to Shelby- ville and Palmyra crosses," and $200 was appropriated; James Lear, commissioner.
Other bridges were built in subsequent years as follows: In February, 1849, one over the South Fabius, at Fresh's mill; public appropriation, $440; Willis Anderson, commissioner. In November, 1850, one across Salt River, "where the road from
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
Tally to Bloomington crosses;" appropriation, $150. Also, one over the Little South Fabius, "near William Everman's;" appro- priation, $200. In December, 1850, a covered bridge, "shingled and weather-boarded," was ordered, "in place of the old bridge," over the North Fork of the South Fabius, east of Edina, and $410 appropriated. In May, 1852, the sum of $140 was appro- priated to bridge Rock Creek, "on the State road from Tully to Bloomington." In August following $212.86 was paid for bridging the South Fabius, " near Joshua Baker's, where the county road crosses," and in September $145 was appropriated to build a bridge over the Little Fabius, "on the road from Newark to Feltz's bridge," on Salt River. Where the amount of the public appropriation was insufficient to complete the bridges, the balance of the necessary sum was made up by pri- vate and individual subscriptions.
SCHOOLS-PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
For many years after the settlement of Knox County began there were no public free schools. True the State provided, in a manner, for the establishment of public schools by an act ap- proved March 19, 1835. This act provided that whenever school lands, in any township, were sold to the amount of $800 the county court should establish school districts therein, not exceed- ing four, and it also empowered the school trustees to employ teachers and maintain a school six months in each year, in each school district thus formed, to which all white children between the ages of six and eighteen years should be free to enter. And the act further provided that, when the income, which consisted of the interest only on the principal for which the school lands were sold, was insufficient to sustain the schools, the trustees should collect the balance from the patrons of the school in pro- portion to the number of pupils in attendance. This was the origin of the free school system in the State of Missouri, and it was slightly improved by subsequent acts of the Legislature, but never became sufficient to maintain free schools for a sufficient length of time in each year until it was established, since the late civil war, upon a firmer basis and a provision made for its sup- port by direct taxation upon all taxable property. The first
668
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
schools of the county were maintained entirely by "subscription," and were known as "subscription schools;" and in fact all the common schools, prior to and up to the inauguration of the pres- ent school system, were mainly sustained on the subscription plan. The first schools of the county have been mentioned in connection with its settlement.
The public school funds controlled by Knox County are designated as the "County Public School Fund," and the "Town- ship Public School Fund." The former of these funds was derived from fines, penalties, forfeitures, estrays, and a portion of the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands donated by the gen- eral Government to the State for the benefit of the schools and other purposes. The latter of these funds was derived from the proceeds of the sale of the school lands, which consisted of Sec- tion 16 in each congressional township, and which was also donated by the general Government to the State solely for the benefit of common schools. These funds, or the principal thereof, remain a perpetual fund, the annual interest thereon only being distributed for the support of the schools. It is to be regretted that, owing to the incomplete manner in which some records of Knox County have been kept, the writer is unable to state how much money has been realized from the sale of each school Sec- tion, and how much of the swamp land fund has been paid into the school fund. The county public school fund will continue to increase as long as courts exist and men commit crimes. The following shows how much it has increased in Knox County from fines, penalties, forfeitures, swamp land sales, etc., for each year during the ten years ending with 1886, to-wit: 1877, $588.20; 1878, $159.25; 1879, $207.45; 1880, $190.70; 1881, $111.75; 1882, -; 1883, $786.85; 1884, $320.00; 1885, $344.95; 1886, $611.93; total for the ten years, $3,321.08. The aggregate of the principal of these permanent school funds, as shown by the State superintendent of public schools in his report for the year ending June 30, 1886, is as follows:
County public school fund. $41,970 72
Township "
$21,766 45
Total principal. $63,737 17
Though the records, which ought to give a history of the
669
STATE OF MISSOURI.
items composing these funds, have not been as well kept as they might have been, and though several thousand dollars of these funds have been misappropriated and lost, as shown by the report of the late investigating committee of the county finances, the fact still remains that out of the 114 counties in the State only twenty-three have as large a principal of permanent school fund as Knox.
The scholastic population of Knox County for the year ending June 30, 1886, was as follows: White-male, 2,208; female, 2,060; total, 4,268. Colored-male, 25; female, 20; total, 45.
The number enrolled in the public schools for the same year was as follows: White-male, 1,582; female, 1,591; total, 3,173. Colored-male, 25; female, 13; total, 38.
The foregoing figures show that 74 per cent, and a fraction over, of the white school children, and 84 per cent, and a fraction over, of the colored school children of the county, attended the public schools. The report also shows that there are 80 white and 3 colored schools in the county, and the cost per day per pupil during the aforesaid school year was 4 cents. There were also 90 school rooms occupied, and 100 teachers employed at an aver- age salary of $30 per month, and the assessed value of taxable property in the county was $3,105,063, and the average levy thereon for school purposes 41 cents on each $100, and the school property in the county was estimated to be worth $30,000.
The receipts and expenditures on account of the public schools for the year ending June 30, 1886, were as follows.
RECEIPTS.
Amount on hand July 1, 1885. $ 5,021 95
Tuition fees.
200 00
Interest from the permanent school funds. 7,343 07
Received from direct taxation. 14,336 35
Total amount received. $26,901 37
EXPENDITURES.
Amount paid teachers. $19,771 52
Amount paid for fuel 1,235 72
Amount paid for repairs and rent. 725 09
Amount paid for school apparatus.
1,012 18
Sinking fund and interest 470 00
Salary of district clerks.
500 00
Total amount expended. .
$23,714 51
Balance on hand June 30, 1886 3,186 86
670
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
There is but one graded public school in Knox County, and that is located at Edina.
The statistics of the Edina School District as given in the aforesaid report of the superintendent of public schools, are as follows: Scholastic population-White, 355; colored, 35; total, 390. Enrollment-White, 172; colored, 21; total, 193. This shows that less than one-half of the school children in the district attended the public school for the year reported. . This is a bad showing, but it can be excused in part for reason that some of the public scholars attend the Knox Collegiate Institute. The number of days taught in the Edina public schools during the year was 157. There were five teachers employed, at an average salary of $40 per month. The salary of the principal, J. T. Magee, who is still at the head of this school, was $520, and the daily cost per pupil was 5 cents and 1 mill. There are two schools in the Edina District - one white and one colored, both under the same management. The assessed value of the taxable property in the district for the aforesaid school year was $293,217.00, and the levy thereon for the support of the schools was 50 cents on each $100. The school property in the district is estimated to be worth $20,000.00. The receipts and expenditures of the Edina School District for the year ending June 30, 1886, were as follows:
RECEIPTS. $ 1 50
Tuition
Interest from permanent funds.
650 67
From direct taxation
2,325 08
Total receipts.
$2,977 25
EXPENDITURES.
Paid teachers $1,450 00
Paid district officers. 31 00
Paid janitor 160 00
Paid for fuel 110 00
12 00
Repairs.
Incidentals
175 00
Total expenditures. $1,938 00
The amounts on hand at the beginning and close of the year are not stated in the official report. A lack of patronage of the public schools in Knox County is clearly shown by the large percentage of the enumerated school children who are not in attendance. There is room for improvement.
671
STATE OF MISSOURI.
THE KNOX COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.
This school was founded in the town of Edina, in Knox . County, in September, 1878, by Prof. Edwin W. Fowler, who taught it for the first three years in the room known as the Winterbottom Hall. Here he established a good school, and was very successful as a teacher, but, not being satisfied with his room, he purchased a beautiful site, consisting of about one and a half acres of land, adjoining the corporation on the east side of the town, and in 1881 he erected the present large, handsome and commodious school building thereon. In order to enable him to obtain funds with which to complete the building, he prepared and sold certificates of scholarship signed by himself as principal, and attested by the signatures of Elias V. Wilson, president, and Benjamin Bowen, secretary of the board of school trustees. The cost of a certificate of scholarship for one year was $30. Then on the 15th day of July, 1881, Fowler and his wife executed a trust deed on the said school property to Will- iam R. Ringer, and to all other holders of paid up scholorships to the Edina Seminary, as it was then called, conditioned for the completion of the building and for the rendering of the year's instruction, promised in the certificates of scholarship. Afterward, on the 7th day of February, 1882, Fowler and his wife executed a trust deed to Mrs. Ida E. Gifford, to secure the payment of $2,250. Not being able to pay this sum of money when it became due, Fowler forfeited the property; and, omit- ting intermediate transfers, it was finally sold on the 4th day of June, 1886, to its present owner, the Canton Saw Mill Company.
Prof. Fowler remained at the head of the Edina Seminary until the close of the sixth school year. He was then succeeded by Arthur V. Francis, A. M., who changed the name of the school to that of "Knox Collegiate Institute," and who commenced the seventh school year in September, 1884, and has continued at the head of the institute ever since. This school is pleasantly located at the thriving town of Edina, in the midst of a beautiful and fertile country. The grounds are handsome, and the build- ing, which contains ten rooms on the first floor and a chapel and four other rooms on the second floor, is very suitably ar- ranged for the convenience and comfort of both teachers and
-
672
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
pupils. The board of curators are W. C. Hollister, Griffin Frost, P. B. Linville and Mrs. Martha Gifford. A goodly num - ber of pupils are in attendance, and the school is progressing finely under President Francis and his able corps of assistant teachers. The school offers many advantages, which are fully set out in its tenth annual catalogue.
OAKLAWN COLLEGE.
This institution of learning is situated at the village of Nov- elty, in Knox County, Mo. The village, which contains about 300 inhabitants, lies in a beautiful and healthy country, twelve miles south of Edina, the county seat. The college was founded in 1876 by Prof. W. N. Doyle, who first established it in the upper hall of the public school building. Here it be- came prosperous, and the number of pupils so increased that more room soon became necessary. Accordingly a tract of land containing about ten acres was procured in the extreme eastern part of the village, and the college building, consisting of a boarding house, two dormitories and a college finished in panel, grain and fresco, mottoes, designs, etc., erected thereon. The college contains nine rooms, and has verandas extending along the full front, also an observatory 10x40 feet commanding a de- lightful view of the surrounding country. The grounds consist of a beautiful rolling blue grass lawn, amply shaded with the natural forest oaks. The college from its infancy to the present writing has been very successful. Eighty-six young ladies and gentlemen have been graduated from the literary and com- mercial departments, and a number of others have been fitted for the better performance of life's duties. Prof. Doyle, the owner of the college grounds and buildings, continued at the head of the school until the close of its eleventh year. The twelfth school year was commenced September 6, 1887, by Prof. Charles Cornelius, a graduate of the State Normal School at Kirksville. There are eighty-five pupils enrolled in the several departments, and the faculty is constituted as follows: Prof. Charles Cornelius, pro- fessional branches and higher mathematics; Mrs. Charles Cor- nelius, elocution, language and literature; Mr. J. E. Ray, assistant in several departments; Mr. J. W. Farmer, teacher of penman-
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
ship; Miss Nellie Hunter, teacher of music; Mr. Edgar Vanos- dol, principal of commercial department. This institution has many advantages, among which are its quiet and healthful loca- tion, away from the temptations and vices so common in large towns and cities, and the low rates at which board can be ob- tained. It embraces seven departments, namely: the literary, the commercial, the normal, the music, the art, and the departments of penmanship and oratory. It has also two literary societies which are open to all students, and an extensive library to which the pupils have access.
MILITARY HISTORY.
Coming to the period of the civil war, it is proper to state that from the beginning Knox County was largely on the side of the Union. At the election to choose delegates to the State con- vention, February 18, 1861, the sense of the people was taken on the Crittenden resolutions, then under discussion throughout the country, and the vote was practically unanimous in their favor. This county was then in the Macon senatorial district, and the delegates chosen to the State convention were Frederick Rowland of Macon; John D. Foster of Adair, and Joseph M. Irwin of Shelby, all unconditional Unionists.
After Fort Sumter, a conflict of arms was expected, and as the crisis approached it was prepared for. In the spring or early summer a company of Secessionists was organized at Edina, with John T. Davis as captain. This company numbered about sixty men, and was rather handsomely uniformed. ยท Capt. Davis, com- monly called " Crockett " Davis, was an attorney, and a law part- ner of E. V. Wilson, a strong Unionist.
In July the organization of Union Home Guard companies was begun. In a few days several hundred men had enrolled themselves into companies, and were drilling. The companies regularly organized and reported were the "Edina Legion," Elias V. Wilson, captain; Joseph H. Cell, Tobias McQuoid and James A. Reid, lieutenants; aggregate strength in the company, 108. The Millport Company, Nicholas W. Murrow, captain ; Jacob Bennington and Cunningham Wilford, lieutenants; number of men, 64. The Antioch Company, Benjamin F. Northcutt, captain ;
674
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Robert McMillen and A. M. Hutchinson, lieutenants; number of men, 98 .*
The " Edina Legion " drilled on the same ground, and in the immediate presence of "Crockett" Davis' secession company. The members of the two companies chaffed each other, good naturedly, without collision or riot. Perhaps it was felt that there would be fighting enough in time. The citizens were divided in opinion, and the diversity of sentiment extended among the ladies, than whom there were no stronger partisans. They made uniforms and other equipments for the men, and were never happier than when engaged in stitching flags and banners.
The Irish population of the county was almost unanimously on the side of the Union. All Democrats, and strong in their political faith, and disliking Republicanism, there had been con- siderable uneasiness among the Union leaders over the position they were likely to take. But when the time came for showing of hands, and men were called upon to choose sides, they came squarely out for the county to which they had sworn allegiance. The priest of the parish, Rev. Father Bernard McMenomy, was an enthusiastic Unionist, and lent all of his great influence for the cause.
The secession element was largely in the minority, but was zealous and active. In the southeastern part of the county the majority was probably of the secession sentiment. Elsewhere throughout the county, in almost every neighborhood, men were getting ready to fight for the South. And to get ready meant to acquire a thorough belief in the righteousness of the secession cause, as well as the putting in order rifles, revolvers, and shot-guns.
The preparation for war had begun as early as in May. Sometime about the 1st of June, Dr. S. M. Wirt, of Edina, was in correspondence with Gen. Lyon, at St. Louis, in regard to the organization of Home Guard companies. During the Price-Harney treaty Dr. Wirt wrote to Dr. D. B. Hillis, of Keokuk, giving information of the situation in Knox County. The letter was to be forwarded to Frank P. Blair. It stated that the rebels were organizing and arming, and begged that the Gov-
* Adjutant-general's Report, 1863, p. 114.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
ernment might be induced to arm the Union men, "or else," said the letter, "we will be driven out." The activity of the rebels, and the raising of secession flags in this and adjoining counties, were mentioned, and the condition described as forebod- ing and threatening. Dr. Wirt desired that all correspondence to him should be sent through Dr. Hillis, " as the postmaster at Edina is a Secessionist, and not to be trusted."*
Each side held meetings to educate the masses. About the 1st of May the Unionists held a meeting at Jeddo. J. V. Strode was chairman, and Abel Hamlin, secretary. John M. Glover and Dr. John L. Taylor were the speakers. The meeting had been called by the " Southern rights " men, and a secession flag was to be raised, but the Union men assembled in such numbers that they were able to " capture " it and divert it from its orig- inal purpose. From time to time meetings were held at Edina, Newark, and other points, even at country schoolhouses.
In the latter part of July, when Martin E. Green was in camp with his "State Guards," in Lewis County, there was a concen- tration of the Union Home Guards at Edina. Companies were present from both Knox and Adair. From Knox there were the "Edina Legion," Capt. Wilson; the Antioch Company, Capt. Northcutt; the Millport Company, Capt. Murrow; the Greens- burg Company, Capt. Murray, and the Goodland Company, Capt. Cupp. From Adair came the Wilmothville Company, Capt. Joe Story, and in all there were at least 500 men. The men were armed with the common hunting rifles, and fowling-pieces of the country, and every man furnished his own ammunition. The Government had been appealed to for muskets, and two or three trips had been made to Macon City to obtain a supply, but the authorities would not furnish them to men not regularly in the United States service. Provisions were furnished by themselves and donated by friends.
The greater number of armed Secessionists had joined Green or were on the way to his camps. On the 30th of July Green had reached Bridge Creek, ten miles east of Edina. He had a considerable force, with two pieces of cannon. (His previous movements have been noted in the Lewis County division of this
*"Lyon and Missouri in 1861," p. 214.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
volume.) He was menacing the Unionists of Edina with attack, and there was much reason to believe he was in earnest. His force was reported at 1,200 men, nearly all mounted, and armed with shot-guns, rifles and revolvers. His entire equipment was similar to that of the Home Guards.
There was no real leader or commander of the Home Guards at Edina. There was no officer with a commission, rank, or any power to enforce authority. The men even were not bound to obey the orders of anybody; their obedience was a matter of their own choice. Their service was purely voluntary, without pay or hope of reward, and really without recognition, save what had been made by Gen. Lyon. By common consent Capt. E. V. Wilson, of the Legion, was made a sort of "colonel " or com- mander of the forces pro tem., and the second in command was Capt. Murray, of the Greensburg Company, who was styled " Major."
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