USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 44
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At one o'clock, the meeting was called to order and on motion of Hon. W. A. Donaldson, George Warren was called to the chair, and on motion of Hon. G. W. Eunn, Col. A. A. King was appointed secretary.
The chairman, taking the stand, announced the object of the meeting, when, on motion of Honorable G. W. Dunn, the chair appointed the fol- lowing committeemen to draft resolutions expressive of the feelings and political opinions of those in the meeting, viz: Honorable George W. Dunn, Governor A. A. King, Honorable W. A. Donaldson, Doctor A. B. Ralph, and Honorable H. P. Settle.
While the committee was retiring, Governor King was called back by the audience, and responded in an able speech, which was the fruitful source of much good, by showing to those that opposed the administra- tion, the danger into which they would take our liberties, if successful.
At the conclusion of his speech, the committee reported the following resolutions, which were read and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we have undiminished confidence in the ability, integ- rity, and patriotism of President Johnson, and we will continue to give a cordial support to his administration.
Resolved, That President Johnson's inflexible devotion to the constitu-
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tion and the Union, now, as in all times past, entitles him to the earnest support of the friends of civil and religious liberty throughout the Union.
Resolved, That we cordially approve President Johnson's veto of the freedmen's bureau bill, his policy of reconstruction, and his defiant oppo- sition to the policy of Sumner, Stevens, and others, who persist in declar- ing that the Union has been dissolved.
Resolved, That the Union has not been dissolved, nor can it be dis- solved; it was not dissolved by secession, because secession was uncon- stitutional and void. It was not dissolved by the armed attempt to take some of the states out of the Union, because the rebellion has been com- pletely overthrown by our gallant armies; and it cannot be dissolved by those who assert that the Union has been dissolved, while President Johnson and his friends, constituting a large majority of the people of the United States, continue true to the Union and the constitution.
Resolved, That we are in favor of repealing the provisions of the new constitution of the state, that conflict with the wise policy of President Johnson's administration, and with the principles of civil and religious liberty transmitted to us by our ancestors, the establishment and preser- vation of which cost so much blood and treasure.
Resolved, That the friends of President Johnson's administration will organize in accordance with the suggestions of the state central commit- tee, contained in a circular signed by General E. B. Brown, chairman of the committee, by formation of liberty clubs, composed of all who agree with the policy of the national administration.
Resolved, That we regard it as our imperative duty to support the civil authorities of the state in the enforcement of the laws; and we propose to get rid of obnoxious laws whether contained in the new con- stitution or in the statutes, by having them repealed, and not by violating them, and that we will to the extent of our power, promote peace and order, and a love of the federal constitution and the union of the states among our fellow citizens.
Resolved, That while we claim the right to assemble and express our views of public policy, we accord to our political opponents the same unquestionable right.
Resolved, That we invite the co-operation of all persons, regardless of former political differences, who agree with us in sentiment, in the good work of upholding the constitution and Union, and the principles of civil and religious liberty.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Missouri Republican, Lexington Express, and in the Richmond papers, and that all papers friendly to our cause be requested to copy them.
After the reading of the resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, Judge Ryland, of Lexington, was called upon, and ably defended the president in his usual terse, eloquent and logical reasonings, at the con- clusion of which, court hour having arrived, the meeting was adjourned.
GEO. WARREN, Chairman.
AUSTIN A. KING, JR., Secretary.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
CRIMINAL CAUSES.
The Conservator, June 16, 1866.]
On the 12th instant, Isaac Odell and James Duvall were brought before David H. Quesenberry, Esq., a justice of the peace of Richmond town- ship, in this county, under a warrant issued by Elisha Riggs, a justice of the peace of Fishing River township. The warrant simply charged the defendants with preaching, and commanded the constable to bring the defendants before the justice of the peace who issued the warrants, or some other justice of the peace of the county of Ray. Judge Dunn and C. T. Garner, Esq., appeared as counsel for the defendants, and the state was represented by Elijah F. Esteb, Esq., the circuit attorney.
The defendants moved the court to dismiss the cases, for the reason that the warrants charged no criminal offense against the defendants. The cases were ably argued before the justice, the counsel for the defend- ants taking the position that even if the section in the constitution, upon which the prosecutions were founded, possessed any validity after the decision of the supreme court of the United States (not yet published), holding it null and void, three things were necessary to constitute the offense charged, to-wit: That the party charged was a bishop, priest, elder, minister or clergyman, as required by the constitution; 2d, that as such bishop, priest, elder, minister or clergyman, he preached; and, 3d, that the party so charged preached without taking the oath of loyalty required by the constitution.
The warrants in the cases under consideration only charged the parties with preaching, without charging that they preached as bishop, priest, elder, minister or clergyman, and without charging that they had failed to take the oath of loyalty. They maintained that preaching was not of itself an offense against the constitution and laws of the state; that to constitute the offense punishable under the constitution, the party charged must preach as bishop, priest, elder, minister or clergyman, and must so preach without having taken the oath of loyalty.
Mr. Esteb, the circuit attorney, replied, in his usual able, fair, and gen- tlemanly style. The circuit attorney represents the state, and not any political party or religious sect.
Justice Quesenberry sustained the motions, dismissed the cases, and dis- charged the defendants, holding that preaching, instead of being a criminal offense, is in the highest degree commendable. This decision does honor to the head and heart of the justice, who is a worthy member of a different religious denomination from that of the parties accused. Messrs. Odell and Duvall are elders of the regular Baptist denomination, commonly called " Old Iron-side Baptist."
This result may be mortifying to Drake, Strong, Fletcher, and Bab- cocke, but the best way to avoid similar mortification in the future, is for them to join the friends of civil and religious liberty in repealing this relic of bigotry and barbarism, which ought never to have been placed in the constitution of a free people.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
CITY OF RICHMOND.
The land on which the original town of Richmond is located was donated to the county of Ray, May 5, 1827, by John Woolard, Isaac Thornton, William B. Martin and William Thornton, the proprietors thereof.
The donation was made in consideration of the selection, by a commis- sion legally appointed by the county court, of the site as a place on which to locate the permanent seat of justice of Ray county.
On the 20th day of July, A. D. 1827, the county court in session at Bluffton, ordered an election, that the proposition to remove the county seat to the place selected by the commissioners, and by its owners donated to the county of Ray, might be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection, as the law required.
On the 20th and 21st of August following, the election was duly held, and resulted in one hundred and eight votes being cast for the proposition and fifty-five against it; and in due course of time, as already fully stated, the county seat was removed, and public buildings erected, etc. Hence, Richmond owes its existence to the fact of the land on which the original town is located having been selected first by commisioners, and then by a majority of the qualified voters of the county as a site for the permanent seat of justice of the county of Ray.
Richmond was, when laid out, the county seat of territory since divided into eight counties, having the following seats of justice, to-wit: Carroll- ton, Chillicothe, Trenton, Princeton, Bethany, Gallatin, Kingston and Richmond.
Richmond was surveyed and laid out into blocks, lots, streets and alleys by Thomas N. Aubry, Esq., under the direction of William S. Miller, commissioner of the seat of justice, between the 24th of September and the 15th of October, A. D. 1827.
The town site was divided into one hundred lots, and these, with the exception of those reserved for the use of the county, were sold at public vendue, the sale commencing Thursday, October 25th, 1827, and continu- ing from day to day. The sale was made by beginning with lot No. 100, and selling each alternate lot till lot No. 1 was reached.
When the county court convened in special session, Monday, October 22, 1827, it changed the boundaries of lots 8, 9, 40, 41, 72, 73 and 100, by taking off of each the space of twenty-five feet. The space thus taken off was reserved from sale.
The first jail in Richmond was located on lot No. 62, and the "prison bounds " thereof was as follows: Sixty rods square, with the jail in the
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
centre; said space accurately laid off, and the distances marked by plant- ing in the earth, to the depth of at least eighteen inches, at each of the four cardinal points of the compass, well charred, white-oak posts, nine inches square, rising four feet above the earth's surface. The jail itself, and also the first court house have been described.
Richmond was first incorporated November 19, 1835; and the follow- ing gentlemen constituted the first board of trustees: Berry Hughes, C. R. Morehead, H. G. Parks, William Hudgins and Thomas Mckinney.
The first county road leading to and from the town of Richmond was established by the county court in November, 1827. It extended to Jack's Ferry, on the Missouri river.
One Anderson Martin was the first town constable of the town of Rich- mond. The town was again incorporated by act of the general assembly, approved November 9, 1857.
Richmond was laid out in the midst of a broad field of the "bright ever beautiful maize;" that is to say, where Richmond now stands, John Wool- ard, in 1827, cultivated a field of corn. John Woolard was an unlettered man, somewhat eccentric, but a kind neighbor, a warm-hearted friend, and an enterprising, public spirited gentleman. He has been dead many years, but has sons yet living in the county, who are upright and useful citizens.
Richmond, so named by the county court, Monday, September 24, 1827, is situated in sections thirty and thirty-one, township fifty-two, range twenty-seven, and on the northeast quarter of section thirty-six, township fifty-two, range twenty-eight, on the St. Joseph branch of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railway, forty-four miles east of Kansas City, two hundred and thirty seven miles northwest of St. Louis, and sixty-seven miles southeast of St. Joseph.
Richmond is simply a fine old town, whose people are remarkable for urbanity, kindness, and genuine, old-fashioned hospitality; and in which a stranger, no matter whence he comes, so he conducts himself as a gentle- man, is soon made to feel himself at home, and in the midst of friends.
It is surrounded by a country exhaustless in natural resources; pictur- esque and beautiful in surface configuration; rich, productive, and pleasant to see. It is the attractive business and social centre of an intelligent, enterprising, Christian community, and-to borrow the language of Paul, the apostle-it is " a city of no mean importance."
The main or central portion of Richmond stands upon the crown of a graceful swell, and the suburban portions are located upon the slopes of a succession of beautiful wooded hills that nearly surround the central town. The slopes abound in the most attractive building sites that com- mand fine city and open valley views in almost every direction. It has scores of fine cottages, villas, and dignified old mansion homes, represent-
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ing the hospitable southern style of architecture so common in the south. The spacious veranda, or porch, is an almost universal accompaniment to these pretty, inviting home places, and the ample, shaded lawns and broad walks are in more pleasant contrast with the closer and more severely artistic surroundings of the average northern home. There is every- where in this little, half-rural city an air of amplitude, ease, freedom and home comfort that is thoroughly enjoyable to the visitor. The business town expresses solidity and permanency, rather than any effort at archi- tectural display, being built in the plain fashion of the old time. Among the public buildings are a handsome court-house, two very pretty churches, and a plain, but massive and stately, high-school building. Two more churches are projected. Of late, a good many very pretty homes in the modern styles have been added, and, altogether, Richmond may be named among the most attractive towns of its class in the west. The business town is in keeping with the wealth and thrift of the country that fosters it. If it ever had a speculative period, is has long since passed. The business men are characterized with steady, sensible, practical and well defined methods of commercial life, and evidently prefer solvency and high credit to the exciting, spasmodic, and speculative ways of too many western towns. They have the confidence of the community, and preserve it as if it were their best "stock in trade." They never seem hurried or fretful, but move straight on from year to year with the greatest deliberation and confi- dence. A list of the business houses, manufactories and industries of Richmond in April, 1881, will, it is believed, be found of interest in after years, if not at present; such a list is therefore subjoined, as follows:
C. D. Sayre, dealer in groceries, queensware, and produce.
A. J. Bopps, hardware, stoves, tinware, etc.
Ford Bros., fancy groceries.
W. M. Marshall, manufacturer of and dealer in boots and shoes.
A. J. Dresler, merchant tailor.
Smith & Patton, druggists and pharmaceutists.
Keel & Bro., dealers in groceries, queensware, and country produce.
Grow & Abbott, carpenters and builders.
Powell & Sons, blacksmithing, and wagon and carriage manufac- turers.
W. R. Jackson, furniture and hardware.
Exchange and banking house of J. S. Hughes & Co., J. S. Hughes, president; Burnett Hughes, cashier.
Fowler & Ewing, dry goods, boots, shoes, notions, etc.
S. R. Crispin & Co., dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, etc.
M. F. McDonald, staple and fancy dry goods, piece goods and hosiery.
Mrs. M. E. Burhop, milliner.
Mrs. S. Strader, confectionery and groceries.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Hudgins House, William B. Hudgins, proprietor.
Warriner & Monroe, stoves, tinware, and furniture.
Daniel T. Duval, saddles and harness.
W. H. Darneal, dry goods, notions, and clothing.
W. H. Garner, groceries and queensware.
G. E. Niedermeyer, barber.
J. C. Brown & Co., dry goods, notions, and clothing.
Miss L. Ford, millinery and notions.
Richmond Conservator, Jacob T. Child, editor and proprietor.
Baber & Shoop, groceries and queensware.
Shoop & Son, undertakers.
Kemper Marble Works, Ed. W. Kemper, proprietor.
Sam. McDonald, confectioner.
Alex. A. McCuistion, livery and sale stable.
Garner & Jacobs, druggists and pharmacists. Hubbell & Son, general merchandise.
B. J. Menefee, hardware and agricultural implements.
Holt & Son, general merchandise.
Richmond Democrat, Thomas D. Bogie, editor and proprietor.
Ray County Savings Bank, Thomas D. Woodson, president; H. C. Garner, cashier.
Delmonico Restaurant, D. W. Farris, proprietor.
L. Megede, watch-maker and jeweler.
W. W. Mosby & Son, druggists, booksellers, stationers, etc.
Farris & Co., groceries and queensware.
R. L. Jacobs, saddles and harness.
F. W. Joy, meat market.
W. D. Rice & Sons, hardware and groceries.
E. Spear, groceries, queensware and tinware.
Kiger & Wertz, dry goods and notions.
M. C. Jacobs, druggist and apothecary.
A. H. Jacobs, watches and jewelry.
I. P. Quesenberry & Co., hardware and groceries. Whitmer & Co., livery and feed stable.
R. D. Asbury, blacksmithing and horse-shoeing.
W. P. Strader, carriage and wagon manufacturer.
McDonald Lumber Company.
Brown & Wiggington, carpenters and builders.
Hamacher Steam Flouring Mills, J. H. Hamacher & Bro., proprietors. O. T. Dickinson, livery and feed stable.
Jackson & Patton, lumber yard, and wagons and agricultural imple- ments.
Richmond Wagon Factory, Powell & Son, proprietors.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Wasson & Baum, dealers in live stock.
Richmond Coffin Company.
Title Abstract Office of Lavelock & Trigg.
William Fisher, photographer.
Wasson House, George I. Wasson, proprietor.
Burgess Brothers, blacksmiths and wagon-makers.
Ax-Handle Factory, J. M. Parker, proprietor.
The Olympic Hall, completed in December, 1880, is substantially built, convenient, and commodious. It is well ventilated, tastily and comfort- ably furnished, and has a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty. The seats are well arranged and command a full view of the stage from any part of the hall. Olympic Hall does credit alike to its proprietors, Doctor W. W. Mosby & Son, and to the city of Richmond.
The Richmond Opera House, owned by a joint stock company, under the corporate name of Richmond Hall and Library Association, was built . in 1880, and cost seven thousand dollars. It is fifty feet in width by one hundred feet in length, and will seat about eight hundred persons. The hall is thoroughly ventilated, well furnished, and provided with attractive scenery. Perhaps no town in the west has a more capacious or better hall for public entertainment, than is the Richmond. Opera House.
The old cemetery, due north of town and just within its corporate limits, was laid out in 1845. It is the burial place of many distinguished persons.
The remains of Bill Anderson, the notorious desperado, were deposited in the old cemetery. The people, of course, without exception, depre- cated the man and his dastardly and revolting acts, perpetrated in the spirit of diabolical revenge, indiscriminately directed, and dishonoring alike himself, his followers, and the cause he claimed to defend; they knew, however, that in death, he was harmless, and that, as a fellow mortal, he was entitled to decent burial.
This fact is not mentioned on Anderson's account, but simply to show that in the hearts of the Christian people of Richmond, the spirit of resent- ment perishes, when the ability of the culprit to do further harm has ceased, and, sharing the common lot of mankind, he lies powerless in the embrace of death.
The new Richmond cemetery, near the west end of South Main street, on the north side thereof, was laid out in 1871. It contains three acres and is situated on a high hill commanding an extensive and beautiful prospect of the surrounding country.
The dead are everywhere, and the last kind offices in their behalf are to accord them burial in conformity to established custom, and to place above them some testimonial of the esteem in which they were held while among the living, or that may at least " implore the passing trib-
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ute of a sigh." In this respect the Richmond cemeteries are enduring monument, not alone to the dead, but likewise to the humane and tender promptings that govern the hearts of the living.
Several beautiful and costly shafts are reared in the new grave-yard, and, for a "silent city of the dead," it is perhaps as neat and inviting a place as one could desire to see.
It becomes necessary in writing the history of Richmond to record some events of melancholy interest.
At half past three o'clock, Thursday, May 23, 1867, a band of brigands, eleven in number, heavily armed with navy pistols, entered the city from the east, by three different streets. One detachment came in by the first street south of South Main street, running parallel thereto, and passing up that street to its intersection with College street, turned north to South Main; another party passed up the latter street, while the third came into the city by North Main street. The bandits concentrated in the vicinity of the M. E. Church South, and all but one dismounted, and repaired immediately to the banking house of Hughes & Wasson. Four of the party entered the bank, and with pistols presented, demanded the money therein. The other six remained outside, in front of the bank building, and kept up a continual fire upon citizens who dared to show themselves on the streets. Immediately upon entering the bank, one of the bandits fired at the book-keeper, Willis Warriner, Esquire, as he retreated in the direction of the vault. At the report of the pistol, Mr. Warriner fell to the floor and continued prostrate so long as the robbers remained in the bank, though he was uninjured.
There happened to be only thirty-five hundred dollars in the bank, and when that amount was seized, the robbers turned upon Mr. George I. Wasson, the cashier, and covering him with their pistols, commanded him to get more. But upon Mr. Wasson's assuring them that they had taken all the money on hand, they dismissed him without further molestation.
The robber who remained on his horse, tcok a stand in the middle of the street, near the bank. He was mounted on a very fine and well- trained horse. Having wound the bridle-reins around the bow of his sad- dle in such a manner as to give greater tension to one rein than to the other, the horse continued to move round in a circle, thus enabling his rider to see about him in every direction. With a navy pistol in each hand the horseman fired up and down the street, while the robbery was going on in the bank.
The citizens began to rally to drive the bandits out of town. Frank Griffin, from his position behind a tree in the court-house yard, was dis- charging his gun at the man on the horse without effect; when the latter discovered Griffin's head from behind the tree he fired at it, with unerring aim. The ball penetrated the brain, and Griffin instantly expired.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Young Griffin's father, William Griffin, after the killing of his son, ran up to the bank, supposing the robbers had vacated it. Upon stepping within he was confronted by the robbers, and started to run out of the house, when he was fired upon; the ball, taking effect in the back, passed through his heart.
John B. Shaw, a highly respected gentleman, and at that time mayor of the city, was in the middle of the street, near the Shaw House (now Wasson House), of which he was proprietor, endeavoring to rally the citizens, when he was shot in the abdomen. He lived but a few hours. He also was killed by the man on horseback.
After the robbery, the bandits rode rapidly out of town. They were followed by a posse of citizens a distance of about nine miles, but none of them were captured.
The pursuing party fired upon the robbers near Holt Station, on the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, wounding one of their horses, which was left behind and died next day.
One of the robbers, whose name was supposed to be William McGuire, was captured in St. Louis the following winter, brought to Richmond, and lodged in jail; and a few months after his capture, the man who sat on his horse in front of the bank and killed John B. Shaw and young Griffin, was apprehended in Kentucky, by John W. Francis, then sheriff of Ray county. This bandit's name was supposed to be Devers. He was also confined in the Richmond jail.
McGuire had a preliminary trial before a justice of the peace, and was held to await the ensuing session of the circuit court. They were both taken from the jail, however, by a vigilance committee and hanged.
What became of the other participants in this atrocious robbery and murder, is unknown.
The following persons were in the bank when the robbers entered: Geo. I. Wasson, cashier ; Judge Willis Warriner, book-keeper, and Major Rob- ert Sevier, Ephraim January, and Ben Chipeze. The three last named were in no way connected with the bank. None of the above named gentlemen were injured.
A TERRIBLE CYCLONE.
On June 1, A. D. 1878, the city of Richmond was visited by one of the most violent and destructive cyclones that ever passed over this section of the country. Nearly every thing in its pathway was utterly demolished. Huge trees were torn up by the roots, buildings swept away, and human and animal life destroyed.
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