USA > Missouri > Lincoln County > History of Lincoln County, Missouri, from the earliest time to the present > Part 22
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PIONEER WEDDINGS.
The first marriage record for Lincoln County begins with November 1825, a quarter of a century after the first settler erected his cabin. During this period, as a matter of course, a number of the children of the early settlers had intermarried, but no public records of their nuptials have been preserved. A pioneer wedding in this "western wild" could not compare in point of elegance and style with one of these days, for there
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were lacking the paraphernalia of display, the pomp and circum- stances of the present day. No artistic cards of invitation were then sent out, but a general invitation was given orally to the few scattered pioneers, who would go many miles to attend such an occasion. In those days but few fine clothes were worn, especially by the young people who were reared, or partially reared, west of the Mississippi. After the "best suits " brought here by the pioneers were worn out, all had to content themselves with homespun clothing. A "Sunday suit " was nothing more than a new " every day suit."
The bridal trousseau did not consist of the most costly apparel -the finest silk dress, the most stylish and latest fashioned head gear, and the whole adorned with costly beads and jewelry, and the outfit of the bridegroom was not made of the finest broadcloth, nor did the silk hat form a part thereof. The bride was neatly attired in a plain homespun dress, all her apparel corresponding, and was admired for her beauty, not for that of her dress. The bridegroom was also attired in homespun goods, and the marriage was as fortunate and felicitous, and the wed- ding as joyous, as any at the present day. The wedding feast did not embrace so great a variety of eatables, champagne and wine, and dessert of ice-cream, strawberries, oranges etc., but the food consisted of the wholesome necessaries, and all were merry with the gay festivities of a humble wedding on the frontier of civilization. In those days there were not so many amusements as now exist, and a wedding was quite a rare thing. The guests being isolated and somewhat lonely would eagerly assemble and participate in the festivities of the day, which often con- sisted of athletic sports, and a dance on the puncheon floor, after the wedding-feast was over.
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 mercenary 'rectifiers,' untouched and untaxed by gauger and government. There were venison steaks and roasts, turkey, grouse, nectar-like maple-syrup and other edibles, toothsome and elegant.
The first marriage recorded in Lincoln County, but not the
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first occurring, was that of John English to Catharine Davis, solemnized August 3, 1825, by Thompson Blanton, a justice of the peace. The next was Richard Wommack to Cinthy Smiley, daughter of Maj. Samuel Smiley, solemnized August 18, 1825, by William Hammock, justice of the peace. Then followed Ephraim Cannon and Dorothy Hunter, November 20, by Rev. David Hubbard. Because of their brevity and peculiar wording the following certificates are given in full.
LINCOLN COUNTY, UNION TOWNSHIP, STATE OF MISSOURI. S
Joined in wedlock John Jimerson and Polly Gillerland agreeable to request, they both being of full age to act for themselves. Given under my hand and seal, this 12th day of November, 1825. THOMAS HAMMONDS, J. P.
John Gilleland and Elizabeth Pressley was married to each other December 25, 1825. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.
DAVID HUBBARD. [Seal] an ordained minister.
Married on the 25th day of December, 1825, Mr. Hary Oakley to Mrs. Susanna Willson, both of lawful age and citizens of Union Township, County of Lincoln and State of Missouri. DANIEL DRAPER, J. P.
I do certify that on the 13th day of October in the year 1825, I Cellebrated the Rite of Mattrimony between Abraham Evans and Linney Shrum, both of lawful age. PHILIP SITTON.
LINCOLN COUNTY, ) MISSOURI. S
I do hereby certify that Thomas Hampton and Sarah Hatfield was married to each other on March the fourth, 1827. DAVID HUBBARD.
I certify that I joined in Wedlock, Francis Henry and Judith Perkins, March 17, 1829. D. BAINBRIDGE, Ordained Preacher of the Gospel.
The marriages recorded for 1826 are: Samuel G. Sitton and Rebecky Porter, February 23, by Jesse Sitton; Edwin Allen and Jane Wade, May 6, by Benjamin Allen, justice of the peace; Eli Hubbard and Kesiah Cannon, July 23, by Rev. David Hub- bard; Samuel Sapp and Millinde Sapp, July 27, by Benjamin Allen, justice of the peace; Thomas Edwards and Mrs. Voughn, July 12, by Samuel Smiley, justice of the peace; Thomas Hopkins and Lydia Beck, October 22, by Rev. David Hubbard; William Humes and Issabellah Howard, November 2, by John Lindsey, justice of the peace; William B. Sitton and Polly Ingram, December 21, by Jesse Sitton.
While some officers and ministers joined the happy aspirants
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in wedlock, Rev. Hubbard always married them "to each other. " The spelling of the names and words in these certificates is given as they appear on record, though some of them are evi- dently incorrect. For want of space, the list of early .marriages cannot be further continued.
OLD SETTLERS' RE-UNION AT ELSBERRY.
In compliance with previous arrangements, a re-union of old settlers of Lincoln County was held at Elsberry, in August, 1882. A stand was erected for the use of the speakers, and a platform or floor for the use of those who wished to "trip the light fantastic toe." It is presumed, however, that the old set- tlers did not indulge much in the latter exercise, but were, no doubt, amused to see their children and grandchildren engaged in it. The music was furnished by the Prairieville Band. The dinner was served after the old barbecue style; two beeves, twenty-seven sheep and several hogs were dressed and roasted for the occasion, besides an abundant supply of bread, pyramids of cake, lemonade and other good things in proportion. The tables were spread in a leafy grove, and from them the multitude of people fed, from the gray-haired and venerable pioneer, down to the little child in its mother's arms. Speeches of a miscellaneous character, full of rehearsals and reminiscences of "ye olden time," were delivered by Col. N. B. Minor, and D. A. Ball, of Louisiana; Judge Thomas, J. C. Fagg and T. J. Forgey of St. Louis; Hon. H. S. Parker of Troy, and others. Many old settlers were present, and the meeting was claimed to be the largest ever held in the county up to that time.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' lang syne?
OLD SETTLERS' ORGANIZATION IN TROY.
On Saturday, June -, 1883, a number of old settlers of Lincoln County assembled in Troy, and organized an Old Settlers' Association, with the following as officers: Capt. William Miller, president; W. T. Thurmond, secretary ; H. F. Childers, corresponding secretary ; vice-presidents: Dr. M. H. McFarland,
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Bedford Township; Judge Henry T. Mudd, Millwood Township; John Downing, Nineveh Township; O. N. Coffee, Waverly Town- ship; Judge Alex. Wilson, Union Township; Duncan Ellis, Hurricane Township; Jonathan Crume, Snow Hill Township; B. F. Roberts, Burr Oak Township; Judge Charles Martin, Mon- roe Township; I. B. Lynn, Clark Township; Alex. Kennedy, Prairie Township.
The meeting then adjourned to June 23d, at which time a much larger number assembled. On motion, a committee on programme and general arrangements was appointed, as follows: T. J. Nalley, John M. Ellis, Capt. Colbert, Dr. McFarland and A. V. McKee. A committee on invitations, consisting of one from each township and the editors of the local newspapers, was then appointed as follows: J. M. Wilson, of Clark; J. A. Elmore, of Prairie; Judge Shaw, of Nineveh; James Wilson, of Waverly ; Judge H. T. Mudd, of Millwood; Isaac Ellis, of Union ; Robert Elsberry, of Hurricane; Elijah Myers, of Snow Hill; Frank Withington, of Burr Oak; William Lindsay, of Monroe; and Jordan Witt, of Bedford; J. W. Powell, of the Elsberry Advance; H. F. Child, of the Free Press; and W. T. Thurmond, of The Herald.
The following were then appointed as a finance committee: Frederick Wing, W. T. Powell, H. M. Brown, Jeff. Wray, T. K. Nichols, Ben. Elliott, Rufus Hall, P. G. Shelton, John W. Wilson, Levi J. Garrett, W. A. Woodson, W. T. Thurmond and H. W. Perkins. The committee of arrangements met subse- quently, and among their deliberations extended a special invita- tion to the following named non-residents, some of whom had formerly been residents of the county, to attend the re-union at Troy, on the 31st day of August following, viz .: Judges Gilchrist Porter, Thomas J. C. Fagg, N. P. Minor, Elijah Robinson, Hon. A. H. Buckner, Col. J. E. Hutton, Hon. Charles E. Peers, Hon. D. P. Dyer, Hon. James A. Rollins, Hon. James O. Broadhead, J. S. Besser, of Texas, Seneca W. Hammock, and Hon. J. B. Henderson.
Accordingly, at the appointed time, August 31, 1883, the people assembled in Troy and made a memorable day in the his- tory of Lincoln County. The day was splendid in its bright
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HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY.
sunshine. H. W. Perkins, marshal of the day, at the request of President Miller, called the meeting to order at 11 o'clock, A. M. Prayer was offered by Rev. T. J. McDonald. The choir sang "Auld Lang Syne," and was followed by music by the Winfield Band. The address of welcome was then delivered by Dr. J. W. Welch, who reminded the people that many had settled in this county long before the first steamship crossed the ocean, and before railroads and telegraphs had been constructed. The next speaker was Judge N. P. Minor, of Bowling Green, who con- trasted the educational advantages then enjoyed by the youth, with those of his boyhood days, when he had to walk six miles to school, following hog paths through gigantic grass, infested with ticks and snakes. The meeting then adjourned for dinner, and the immense mass of people separated into groups about the tables and on the lawn, and ate and related the trials, hardships and pleasures of pioneer life with general satisfaction. The first exercise after dinner was the " May Pole " dance by little girls and boys of Troy, A. S. Buchanan skillfully touching the violin and calling. Charles E. Peers was the next orator, and gave an interesting history of the courts and county officials, interspersed with amusing anecdotes. Col. D. P. Dyer then appeared upon
the stand. His venerable mother, ninety-two years old, was seated near him. His was an acceptable speech for the occasion, full of paternal feeling, with allusions to his school experience, under John M. Ellis as teacher, and many other amusing inci- dents of early times.
Hon. Jeptha Wells, in behalf of the young men of Troy, then presented a silver cup to the lady who had lived the longest in Lincoln County. Mrs. Nancy Daniels, who had lived in the county from her birth in 1804, was the happy recipient. A silver cup was then presented by O. F. Busswell, of the Laclede Hotel, to the gentleman who had lived longest in the county. This was received by John S. Null, aged nearly seventy-seven years, who settled here in 1808. L. R. Downing, of the Clarksville Sentinel, in behalf of Thomas P. Miller, proprietor of the St. James Hotel, St. Louis, presented a silver cup to the mother of the largest number of children. This present fell to Mrs. Frances Williams, aged fifty-six, and the mother of sixteen children. She had resided in the county forty-nine years.
16
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
The decorations of the town on this occasion are worthy of es- pecial mention. On the courthouse majestically waved a mammoth flag thirteen by thirty feet, and in the windows were ninety-seven smaller ones. Over the door was this. " 1819-Welcome- 1883." The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank presented a hand- some appearance, with its magnificent new vault and time-lock safe which cost $1,300-its " 1873-Welcome-1883," and the life- size pictures of President Walton Perkins and his wife. The Laclede had shady green oaks in front, and posts festooned handsomely. The Planters House was similarly decorated, and above the door were the suggestive words, "Come Again." At the Laclede Hotel stables was a hanging card, decorated with green leaves, running thus: "We'll feed the old horse as well as the old man." Over the postoffice door were the letters "O. S. R." On an ornamental card, in front of J. J. Cheely's, were the words, " We'll smoke to the health of the old settlers." The word " Welcome" in evergreen, was very handsomely arranged in the door of James A. Jackson. Joseph Hart had swinging, a
decorated card with this inserted:
" Hearty Welcome. Estab-
lished in 1858. Oldest merchant in Troy." "Troy Herald," in evergreen, was suspended across the street in front of the office, and " Welcome " in evergreens over windows of the front wall, and several mottoes in the entrance. Cheneworth & Hutchinson's drug store had over the door a deer head with two stalks of corn crossed under the chin, just under an arch of green oak, and at the top of it the word " Welcome." Bragg Brothers had " Welcome " dis- played in large letters on the front wall, and an oat stack in their front, with the sign " Grain Wanted," and on a card: "To the old settlers: May you live long and prosper, and be happy and jolly in your old age, which is a certain boon, if you buy your goods of Bragg Brothers." R. A. Trail's saloon had green oaks in front and huge ears of green corn suspended around the awn- ing, suggestive of corn juice. Sturgeon & Co. had, in front, " Welcome, Old Settlers." Alexandria & McNalley, milliners, had " Welcome " handsomely displayed in their show window. Free Press had " Welcome " in large gilt letters suspended across the street. " Eureka " in large red letters was suspended from M. Sedlacek's saddlery establishment. H. Havercamp, A.
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HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY.
F. Winn & Co., T. W. Withrow, Bragg & Kabler, A. Kuhne, Henry Bros., I. W. Clark and others had green oaks in front and almost all the stores were profusely decorated with flags. A shooting contest was held at the fair ground, and was enjoyed by both old and young. The number of people at the re-union was estimated at from 6,000 to 8,000.
SECOND RE-UNION AT TROY.
A preliminary meeting of the Old Settlers' Association was held at the courthouse in Troy, on the evening of July 7, 1886. Committees were appointed, and instructed to make arrangements for accommodating 10,000 people, on the occasion of the Old Settlers' Reunion, to be held at Troy, on the third day of August following. When the day came, the weather was pleasant, and an immense crowd of people assembled to participate in the festivities of the occasion. By some, the number of people as- sembled was considered greater than the number at the first re- union three years before. The meeting was called to order at 11 o'clock A. M., by President William Miller, and prayer was offered by Rev. I. A. M. Thompson. The address of welcome was then delivered by W. T. Thurmond. Prof. M. S. Goodman, of the Pike County Democrat, was then introduced to the audience, and after a short speech the meeting adjourned for dinner. After dinner, Dr. Cook, president of the LaGrange College, was intro- duced to the re-assembled audience. He addressed the people in an able and instructive manner, and was followed by Rev. Thompson, who gave an interesting talk of "ye olden time. " The next speaker was Hon. Charles E. Peers, who spoke of the changes since his boyhood days. The music furnished for the occasion, by the Eolia Band, was excellent. The town was decorated similarly as it was on the occasion of the first re-union, and all seemed well pleased with the exercises of the day.
LETTER FROM JOHN H. BROWN, OF TEXAS.
After the last re-union a letter from John H. Brown, of Texas, referring to early settlers of this county, was published in one of the Troy papers. Omitting the introductory part, it reads as follows:
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
" Though not a native of Lincoln, I was born in Pike, within a mile of the line, and about two and a half miles north of Louisville, and knew in childhood an equal number of persons in each county. It is a singular fact that Pike County furnished but three of the early settlers in Texas, viz .: Arthur Burnes, Josiah Wilbarger and my father, Capt. Henry S. Brown, while Lincoln furnished a large number. It occurs to me that a few facts on this subject will be interesting to many old ' Lincolnians. ' My parents lived in the Missouri Point, in St. Charles County, from 1808 to 1819-20, when they removed to Pike. In 1824 my father entered Texas from New Orleans, as an Indian and Mexican trader. Returning home in the winter of 1826-27, his description of Texas, to his old friends in St. Charles and Lincoln, created a lively interest, and determined many to emigrate. He returned to Texas in the beginning of 1828. About the same time Wilbarger, after marrying Miss Barker, of Lincoln, came with the Barker family. In 1833 he was wounded, scalped and left for dead by Indians, but recovered, lived twelve years and died wealthy. One of his sons was killed by Indians about 1851.
"Of citizens of Lincoln who came to Texas from 1827 to about 1833 may be named James, a son of Capt. Christopher Clark, an excellent man, who reared a large family and died, at an ad- vanced age, since the Civil War; Alum B. Williams, whose wife was a daughter of Capt. Clark; Job Williams, his brother, both with large families, Mrs. Turner, their sister, also having a large family; Samuel Highsmith, then single, who became a gallant soldier and died in 1849; the Cottle family, of whom George W. became one of the 182 martyrs of the Alamo, March 6, 1836; Andrew Kent, from St. Charles, was another martyr, and we have a county named for each. The numerous family of McCoy, all good Indian fighters, came from Lincoln-Daniel, Joseph, 'Devil ' John and others. The wife of Joseph was an- other daughter of Capt. Clark. 'Devil' John, who killed a fellow- soldier near Stout's Fort, in Lincoln, after the War of 1815, drifted into Arkansas, and entered Texas, several years before any of the others. He had quite a history, and was a clever man unless excited by liquor. The Collards, also quite numerous, were from Lin- coln. David Clark, a son of Capt. Christopher, came later, and
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HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY.
was killed by Indians in 1837. In that same year, in the wilder- ness, in the extreme northeast corner of the State, young McFar- land and Turner, en route to Texas from Troy, were murdered by two robbers, father and son, both of whom were hung. Thacker Vivion, from about Auburn, came from Arkansas at a late day, but had a son killed by the Indians in 1848. From 1830 to 1834, Samuel Gibson and two of his sons, George and 'Big' Jim, from near Auburn, made several trips to Texas, but only the latter finally remained. He, 'Big Jim,' was a gallant soldier in my father's company, in the bloody battle of Velogeo, June 26, 1832. From St. Charles, in those days, came several families of the Zumwalt stock, representatives from the families of Baldridge, Burkett or Burgett, etc.
" Among late comers from Lincoln, were John S. Besser, Shapley P. Ross and others, besides additional kinsmen of the families first named. Taken altogether, enough is shown to form a kindly tie between Lincoln County and Texas, which has been strengthened by occasional recruits down to this time, covering a period of sixty years. I have omitted, strangely enough, for they were lifetime friends, the married daughters of Mrs. Riggs, near Troy, Mrs. James Shaw and Mrs. N. C. Ray - mond, all now dead, and their brother, Sam Riggs. These hasty reflections, the work of a moment, might be extended, but might also be wearisome."
HARDSHIPS, DISADVANTAGES, ETC.
As is common in all newly settled countries, the early settlers of Lincoln County labored under many disadvantages, being deprived of highways and bridges, saw and grist-mills, postoffices, blacksmith, and other mechanical shops, and the conveniences and luxuries that their posterity now enjoy ; yet, with all, they had some luxuries. They had choice venison, wild turkeys and wild honey, in great abundance, and with their "hoe cake" to sop in the meat gravy, or swim in the honey, they had food fit for a king. Wild game was then so plentiful, and so easily obtained, that the first settlers supplied their families with all the wild meat they could consume, and so many hollow trees in the forest were filled with wild honey, that that article was also easily ob-
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tained in great abundance. The price of grain and all kinds of farm produce was then so low, and the markets so distant, that there was no inducement for raising a surplus. Consequently many of the early settlers were content, after having cleared a few acres on which to raise corn to make meal for their families, and to feed their horses, to raise a home supply of vegetables, and a patch of flax, which they manufactured into clothing. Spinning-wheels and the loom were then common articles of household furniture. A little cotton was also raised, and all cloth for wearing apparel, such as cotton, linsey, jeans, flax-cloth, etc., was manufactured and made into clothing at home. Buttons were made out of wood or other hard substances, and covered with the same kind of cloth as that of which the garment was made.
Uncle Walton Perkins, before his death, published some reminiscences, in which he said: "The women thought they were dressed in the height of fashion when arrayed in fancy plaid linsey ; and we men were regular dudes in our own estimation when dressed in a new suit of flashing blue homespun jeans, trimmed in brass buttons." Then of the amusements incident to those days, he said: "We had our log-rollings, our puncheon-floor dances, our game hunts, and lastly, our corn shuckings. The latter was a popular pastime. We would gather at a neighbor's, and the first thing would be to choose captains. Then the captains would 'throw heads or tails,' to decide who should have first choice of men; the choosing would then continue until all were chosen, and-well, if corn-shucks ever flew, it was then." Add to these amusements, the "quiltings" and the "apple cuttings," "corn shellings," etc., and the reader can have an idea of the life of the pioneer settlers.
Samuel Howell, an old settler of 1826, wrote that in 1828 corn was worth 15 cents per bushel, wheat 30 cents, bacon 12 cents per pound, best horses $30 to $40, best cows $5 to $7, all in trade. All money that then came into the county was horded up and taken to the land-office to pay for lands that had been entered. Stock required but little feeding the grass and mast being sufficient for their support. The mast was so plentiful that in many places it could be scooped up with shovels. It would so
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fill up the ruts or wagon tracks that in driving over the roads the wheels kept up a continual popping of the acorns.
One of the sources through which the early settlers obtained merchandise was the following: Wagons would come up from St. Louis at stated times, filled with such goods as the people needed. These goods would be exchanged for game and peltry. When it was known that a wagon had arrived in a neighborhood, the settlers would turn out with their rifles, and in a short time have it filled with deer, turkeys, etc.
A BEAR HUNT.
On one occasion, Eli Perkins, brother of Walton Perkins, while looking for deer in the neighborhood of the present poor house, saw a big buck cross the road. He fired at him, and in another instant he discovered a big black bear approaching him with savage intent. His gun being empty he reloaded and started on the retreat. The bear gave chase, and for some time it was a pretty tight race, but the bear finally stopped and returned to the woods. Walton Perkins went to Troy the next morning and mustered up a few boys, and together they set out for the bear. On entering the woods where Eli last saw Bruin, they soon dis- covered a bear's nest containing a dead cub, and three young bears about the size of a grown raccoon near by, and took after them. They retreated a short distance, and then took refuge in a tall oak tree. The boys then held a council to determine who should climb the tree, and shake the bears down. The task fell to Walton. It was not a pleasant job, as the cubs showed fight, and Walton was not certain whether he should get the bears or they him. He finally succeeded in shaking them down, and when they reached the ground, his associates pounced upon them, captured two and let the other one escape. Zadock Woods and Walton Perkins took possession of the bears. Walton's hung himself soon after, and the other lived to be grown. When the boys were enjoying the sport of capturing the cubs, the old bear was not around, otherwise this narrative might have been different.
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