USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
354,683
Valuation .
$2,632,426
Average per acre
7.42
TOWN LOTS ---
Number
3,450
Valuation .
$ 261,850
Average value per acre.
75.89
Total value of real estate.
2,894,276
LIVE STOCK-
Horses.
8,389
Valuation
$ 268,987
Mules
3,836
Valuation . $ 147,033
Asses and jennets.
5,609
Valuation .
$
5,609
Neat cattle.
22,098
Valuation $
276,886
Sheep.
14,217
Valuation
$
16,565
Hogs.
58,278
Valuation
101,974
All other live stock.
Valuation .
.$
233
FINANCIAL-
Money, bonds and notes. $ 620,291
Brokers and exchange dealers 10,000
Corporate companies. 12,964
All other personal property 350,790
Total personal property 1,811,332
Total taxable wealth
4,715,608
485
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ABSTRACT OF ASSESSMENT RETURNS
of Ray county, for the year 1879, for taxes of 1880, as fixed by state board of equalization:
LANDS-
Number of acres.
355,802
Valuation .
$2,610,546
Average per acre.
7.33
TOWN LOTS-
Number
3,482
Valuation . .
$ 256,002
Average value.
82.13
Total value of real estate.
2,896,542
LIVE STOCK --
Horses. .
8,464
Valuation
$
265,360
Mules.
3,710
Valuation.
$ 143,775
Asses and jennets.
85
Valuation
$
5,150
Sheep.
14,085
Valuation
$
16,049
Hogs.
53,706
Valuation
$
90,207
All other live stock
Valuation
$
375
FINANCIAL-
Money, bonds and notes.
$
669,828
Brokers and exchange dealers
10,000
Corporate companies ...
12,964
All other personal property
408,332
Total personal property
1,919,470
Total taxable wealth.
4,816,012
ABSTRACT OF TAX BOOK
for 1879 and 1880, showing taxable wealth, and state taxes charged to collector of Ray county. (State revenue tax, one-fifth of one per cent; state interest tax, one-fifth of one per cent):
Valuation, 1879
$4,739,949.00
State revenue, 1879.
9,476.98
State interest, 1879
9,476.98
Valuation, 1880.
4,835,833.00
State revenue, 1880
9,666.99
State interest, 1880 9,666.99
·
486
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ABSTRACT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF RAY COUNTY, MISSOURI, FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1880.
JAMES A. DAVIS, Collector, in account with County Revenue Fund. January 1, 1880.
To balance. $10,007.87
To amount merchants' tax books .. 403.40
To amount manufacturers' tax book. 49.14
To amount quarterly collections. 1,942.37
To amount tax books, 1880.
11,607.93
To amount from St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad .. 688.23
To amount St. Joe & St. Louis railroad.
212.30
To amount Western Union Telegraph Company .. . Total $24,920.31
9.07
By amount treasurer's receipts. $12,562.89
By amount commissions . .
390.76
By amount treasurer's receipts for tax, 1879, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad. 670.22
By commissions on same. 20.91
By treasurer's receipt for tax, 1879, St. Joe & St. Louis railroad. 205.76
By commissions on same.
6.19
By treasurer's receipt tax 1880, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad.
666.87
By commissions on same. .
20.65
By treasurer's receipt tax 1880, St. Joe & St. Louis railroad ..
205.60
By commissions on same ..
6.35
By treasurer's receipt Western Union Telegraph tax ..
8.80
By commissions on same.
27
By errors on 1879 land and personal tax books ....
7.43
By delinquent on 1879, land and personal tax books 1,390.03 By errors on 1879 merchants' and manufacturers' tax books. 17.29
By balance.
8,740.39
Total
$24,920.31
JAMES A. DAVIS, Collector, in account with Bridge Fund:
January 1, 1880.
To balance $ 3,335.94
To amount tax books, 1880. 3,869.31
To amount merchants' tax book, 1880 134.47
To amount munufacturers' tax book, 1880. 16.38
409.72
To amount from St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad .
229.41
To amount from St. Joe & St. Louis railroad. 70.77
To amount from Western Union telegraph company Total
3.03
$ 8,069.03
To amount quarterly collections.
487
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
January 1, 1880. $ 3,949.70
By amount treasurer's receipts.
130.25
By amount commissions. .
By amount treasurer's receipt for tax, 1879, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad 223.46
By amount commissions on same ..
6.91
By amount treasurer's receipt for tax, 1879, St. Joe & St. Louis railroad. 68.56
By amount commissions on same.
2.09
By amount treasurer's receipt for tax, 1880, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Northern railroad.
222.29
By amount commissions on same ..
6.88
By amount treasurer's receipt, tax 1880, St. Joe & St. Louis railroad .
68.54
By amount commissions on same.
2.11
By amount treasurer's receipt Western Union tele- graph tax.
2.93
By amount commissions on same.
By amount errors on 1879, land and personal tax books.
2.48
By. amount delinquent on 1879, land and personal tax books 463.34
By amount errors on 1879, merchants' and manu- facturers' tax books 5.77
By amount balance 2,913.62
Total $ 8,069.03
JAMES A. DAVIS, Collector, in account with Poor House Fund: January 1, 1880.
To balance. $ 1,667.87
To amount tax books, 1880. 1,934.66
To amount merchants' tax book, 1880. 67.23
To amount manufacturers' tax book, 1880 8.19
205.48
To amount quarterly collections.
To amount from St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railroad . 114.71
To amount from St. Joe & St. Louis Railroad .
35.39
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany .. 1.51
$ 4,035.04
By amount treasurer's receipts $ 1,975.60
By amount commissions. .
65.12
By amount treasurer's receipts for tax, 1879, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad.
111.73
By amount commission on same. . 3.46
By amount treasurer's receipt for tax 1879, St. Joe
& St. Louis railroad .. 34.26
3.06
By amount commissions on same.
.10
488
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
January 1, 1880.
By amount treasurer's receipt tax 1880, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad.
111.13
By amount commissions on same. 3.45
By amount treasurer's receipt tax 1880, St. Joe & St. Louis railroad . 34.26
By amount commissions on same.
1.06
By amount treasurer's receipt Western Union Tele- graph tax. 1.46
By amount commission on same .
.05
By amount errors on 1879 land and personal tax books.
1.24
By amount delinquent on 1879 land and personal tax books. 231.67
By amount errors on 1879 merchants' and manufac- turers' tax book. 2.87
By amount balance 1,456.62
$4,035.04
JAMES A. DAVIS, Collector, in account with Sinking Fund : January 1, 1880.
To amount balance. $ 1,667.95
To amount tax books, 1880 1,934.65
To amount merchants' tax book, 1880. 67.24
To amount manufacturers' tax book, 1880 8.19
To amount quarterly collection .
205.23
To amount from St. Louis, Kansas City & North- ern railroad . 114.70
To amount from St. Joseph & St. Louis railroad ...
35.38
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany 1.51
Total. $ 4,034.85
By amount treasurer's receipts $ 1,975.69
By amount commissions .
65.13
By amount treasurer's receipts for tax, 1879, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad.
111.73
By amount commissions on same.
3.46
By amount treasurer's receipts for tax, 1879, St. Joseph & St. Louis railroad.
34.26
By amount commissions on same.
1.06
By amount treasurer's receipts for tax, 1880, St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad.
111.13
By amount commissions on same. 3.45
By amount treasurer's receipts for tax, 1880, St. Joseph & St. Louis railroad.
34.26
By amount commissions on same.
1.06
By amount treasurer's receipt from Western Union Telegraph Company tax. 1.46
By amount commissions on same .05
489
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
January 1, 1880.
By amount errors on 1879 land and personal tax books. $ 1.24 By amount delinquent on 1879 land and personal tax books. 231.67
By amount errors on 1879 merchants' and manufac- turers' tax book. 2.80
By amount balance 1,456.40
Total. $ 4,034.85
JAMES A. DAVIS, Collector, in account with Road Funds. January 1, 1880.
To balance $4,580.26
To amount tax books, 1880. 4,267.38
To amount merchants' tax book 1880. 38.57
To amount manufacturer's tax book 1880 5.13
To amount quarterly collections
451.56
To amount from St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad . 253.28
To amount from St. Joseph & St. Louis railroad. . .. 82.33
To amount from Western Union Telegram Company 3.78
To interest on collections 3.83
Total $9,686.12
By amount treasurer's receipts . $ 702.15
By amount road overseer's receipts, 1879. 3,462.12
By amount commissions on road receipts. 7.75
By amount treasurer's receipts, 1879, tax St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern railroad. 256.70
By amount commissions on same .
7.94
By amount treasurer's receipt, 1879, St. Joseph & St. Louis railroad.
79.86
By amount commissions on same .
2.47
By amount treasurer's receipt Western Union Tele- graph tax
3.67
By amount commission on same
11
By amount errors on 1879 land and personal tax books. .
8.17
By amount errors on 1879 merchant and manufac- turer's tax book.
7.76
By amount delinquent on 1879 land and personal tax book .
499.16
By amount delinquent on 1879 merchant and manu- facturers tax books 1.57
By amount balance 4,646.69
Total
$9,686.12
31
490
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
JAMES A. DAVIS, Collector in account with Remley Lake Fund. January 1, 1880.
To amount quarterly collection $ 87.00
To amount tax books 1880 252.35
Total $ 339.35
By amount treasurer's receipts. $ 103.40
By amount balance 235.95
Totals $ 339.35
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Collector, in account with County Revenue Fund. January 1, 1880.
To amount balance $15,098.70
To amount from James A. Davis, collector .
12,562.89
To amount from Thos. McGinnis, sheriff, costs returned to treasurer . 26.70
To amount from J.A. Davis, collector, taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R. (1879).
670.22
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. Joe, & St. L. R. R. (1879).
205.76
To amount from Western Telegraph Company, (1879) taxes 9.06
To amount from from Geo. W. Trigg, overplus fees returned to county 372.23
To amount from Thos. McGinnis, sheriff, sale of stove . .
3.00
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R.'(1880) 666.87
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. Joe & St. L. R. R. (1880). 205.60
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, (1880) taxes
8.80
Total . $29,829.83
By amount settlement with county court. .$22,502.75
By amount balance 7,327.08
Total $29,829.83
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in account with County Bridge Fund. January 1, 1880.
To amount balance $ 9,366.76
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector . 3,949.70
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, (1879) taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R . 223.46
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, (1879) St. Joe & St. L. R. R. 68.56
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany (1879) taxes 3.02
491
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
January 1, 1880.
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, (1880) taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R $ 222.29 To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, (1880) taxes · St. Joe. & St. L. R. R. 68.54
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, (1880) taxes 2.93
Total $13,905.26
By amount settlement with county court $ 5,618.12
By amount balance 8,287.14
Total $13,905.26
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in Account with County Sinking Fund: January 1, 1880.
To amount balance $ 3,257.30
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector 1,975.69
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St.
L. K. C. & N. R. R. (1879) 111.73
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. Joe & St. L. R. R (1879). 34.26
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, tax (1879) 1.51
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R. (1880) 111.13
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. Joe & St. L. R. R. (1880) 34.26
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, tax (1880). 1.46
Total $ 5,527.42
By amount settlement with county court $ 4,166.54
By amount balance 1,360.88
Total $ 5,527.43
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in Account with County Poor House Fund :
January 1,1880.
To amount balance $ 2,499.23
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector 1,975.60
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. L., K. C.& N. R. R. (1879). 111.73
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes, St. Joe & St. L. R. R. (1879). 34.26
To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, tax (1879). 1.51
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R. (1880) 111.13
492
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY .
January 1, 1880.
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. Joe & St. L. R. R (1880). . $ 34.26 To amount from Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, tax (1880) 1.46
Total $ 4,769.18
By amount settlement with county court $ 4,290.67
By amount balance. 478.51
Total $ 4,769.18
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in account with County Road Fund: January 1, 1880.
To amount balance $ 2,887.10
To amount from James A. Davis, collector 702.15
To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. L., K. C. & N. R. R. (1879) . 256.70 To amount from J. A. Davis, collector, taxes St. Joe & St. L. R. R. (1879). 79.86
To amount from Western Union Telegraph, taxes (1879). 3.78
To amount from Western Union Telegraph taxes (1880) 3.67
Total $ 3,933.26
By amount settlement with county court
2,200.27
By amount balance 1,732.99
Total $ 3,933.26
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in account with Railroad Fund:
January 1, 1880.
To amount balance . $ 6,647.12
To amount from Jas. A. Davis, collector. 1.32
To amount from railroad funds (paid in principal and interest) 1,972.25
Total $ 8,620.69
By amount receipt of clerk United States district
court . 5,081.92
By amount balance 3,538.77
Total $ 8,620.69
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in account with Road and Canal Fund :
January 1, 1880.
To amount balance $ 25.76
By amount balance . .
25.76
493
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
WILLIAM A. HOLMAN, Treasurer, in account with Remley Lake Fund : January 1, 1880.
To amount balance . . $ 237.14
To amonnt from James A. Davis, collector 163.75
Total .$
400.89
By amount settlement with county court. 307.14
By amount balance . 93.75
Total. $ 400.89
ABSTRACT OF THE EXPENDITURE OF RAY COUNTY, FOR THE YEAR 1880.
Amount expended on county roads.
$ 1,153.97
Amount paid road overseers ..
2,070.68
Amount expended on county bridges.
4,489.71
Amount expended on courthouse, county jail, and merchandise furnished county .
720.08
Amount expended for blank books and stationery
448.71
Amount expended on account of poor house, lunatic asylum and paupers . ...
2,737.83
Amount expended on account costs in criminal cases.
1,545.64
Amount expended on account coal furnished county
100.98
Amount expended on account of sheriff's fees .
951.35
Amount expended on account of county clerk's fees
2,988.76
Amount expended on account of circuit clerk's fees.
155.21
Amount expended on account of road and bridge commission- er's fees.
151.00
Amount expended on account of county treasury commissions (part of 1879 and 1880)
856.93
Amount expended on account of salary county judges
432.76
Amount expended on account salary county attorney .
600.00
Amount expended on account salary county school commis- sioner .
43.00
Amounty expended on account county assessor's fees
619.82
Amount expeoded on account of board of equalization .
126.00
Amount expended on account of costs in U. S. district court . .
89.16
Amount expended on account county printing and publishing . .
553.50
Amount expended on account scrip issued to grand jury wit- nesses, by circuit clerk.
331.00
Amount expended on account of script issued to grand jurors by circuit clerk . 437.20
Amount expended on account script issued petit jurors, by cir- cuit clerk
836.95
Amount expended on account of inquests .
160.36
Amount expended on account judge and clerks, general and special elections.
299.30
Amount expended on account cost and judgment civil case. . 42.76
Total amount of expenditures $ 22,742.66
494
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
EXHIBIT OF THE RESOURCES AND LIABILITIES OF RAY COUNTY ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY, A. D., 1880.
RESOURCES.
Amount due by collector $ 19,449 67
Amount due by treasurer .
22,844 88
Amount delinquent on tax-books.
18,116 92
Total resources. $ 60,411 47
LIABILITIES.
Amount unpaid bonds for arming militia $ 5,412 07
Amount interest due on same. 541 21
Total
$
5,953 28
Amount resources in excess of liabilities $ 54,458 19
COUNTY RAILROAD BONDED DEBT.
Amount bonds issued to St. Joseph and St. Louis railroad .. . $ 200,000 00 Amount interest due on same. 150,047 60
Total
$ 350,047 60
Amount railroad funds in county treasury . $ 3,538 77
Amount railroad funds loaned by county court
2,850 00
Amount interest due on same. . 130 00
Amount paid on judgment in U. S. court
12,851 03
Total
$ 19,369 80
STATE OF MISSOURI,
COUNTY OF RAY. SS
I,Geo. W. Trigg, clerk of the county court, within and for the county of Ray and state aforesaid, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and complete statement of the receipts and expenditures of said county, for the fiscal year ending December, A. D. 1880, as the same appears of record in my office.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Richmond, this 12th- day of March, A. D. 1881. GEO. W. TRIGG, Clerk.
SCHOOL FUND.
Twenty-five per cent of the state revenue, and also certain fines and penalties, are set apart for the support of the public schools. The county is the custodian of this fund, and it is loaned at ten per cent interest, pay- able annually.
The amount expended in support of the public schools of Ray county for the school year ending on the first Tuesday in April, 1881, was $30,- 657.19.
1
495
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
BANK STATEMENT.
Official statement of the financial condition of the Ray County Savings Bank, at Richmond, state of Missouri, at the close of business the 30th day of April, 1881:
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security. . $ 105,188.45 Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security.
Overdrafts by solvent customers. 22,239.72
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price ... 9,625.00
Due from other banks, good on sight draft 92,259.13
Real estate at present cash market value
6,007.17
Furniture and fixtures
817.80
Checks and other cash items.
2,310.42
Bills of national banks and legal tender U. S. notes.
5,480.00
Gold coin.
2,845.00
Silver and other fractional coin and currency.
121.00
Total
$ 246,893.69
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in.
. $ 27,176.00
Surplus funds on hand . 17,907.60
Deposits subject to draft at sight.
201,810.00
Deposits subject to drafts at given dates
Due other banks and bankers.
Total.
$ 246,893.69
STATE OF MISSOURI,
COUNTY OF RAY. S
We, T. D. Woodson, president, and H. C. Garner, cashier of said bank, and each of us, do solemnly swear that the above statement is true, to the best of our knowledge and belief.
-
T. D. WOODSON, President. H. C. GARNER, Cashier.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 11th day of May, A. D. eighteen hundred and eighty-one.
Witness my hand and notarial seal hereto affixed, at office, in Rich- mond, the date last aforesaid.
(Commissioned and qualified for a term expiring January 19, 1885.)
Correct-attest :
JOSEPH E. BLACK, Notary Public. A. W. DONIPHAN, - C. T. GARNER, J. W. SHOTWELL. ) Directors.
Official statement of the financial condition of J. S. Hughes & Com- pany, private bankers, at Richmond, state of Missouri, at the close of business on the 30th day of April, 1881:
496
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security ... $ 83,685.65 Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security 16,735.98 7,208.54
Overdrafts by solvent customers.
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price
United States bonds on hand.
Due from other banks good on sight draft
118,281.24
Real estate at present cash market value
15,028.10
Furniture and fixtures ..
Checks and other cash items ..
5,905.61
Bills of national banks and legal tender United States notes ..
10,507.00
Gold coin .
1,866.00
Silver and other fractional coin and currency
562.40
Exchange maturing and matured.
Total.
$259,780.52
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in.
$ 20,000.00
Surplus funds on hand. 25,525.35
Deposits subject to drafts at sight.
203,992.04
Deposits subject to drafts at given dates.
Due other banks and bankers.
10,263.13
Total.
$259.780.52
STATE OF MISSOURI, COUNTY OF RAY. S
We, Joseph S. Hughes and Burnett Hughes, two of the partners in, or owners of, said banking business, and each of us, do solemnly swear, that the above statement is true to the best of our knowledge and belief.
J. S. HUGHES, BURNETT HUGHES. 1
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 12th day of May, A. D., eighteen hundred and eighty-one.
Witness my hand and notarial seal hereto affixed at office, at Richmond, Missouri, the date last aforesaid.
(Commissioned and qualified for a term expiring January 17, 1883.) D. P. WHITMER, Notary Publie.
POPULATION.
The population of Ray county in 1821, was 1,789; in 1830, 2,657; in 1840, 6,553; in 1850, 10,373; in 1860, 14,092; in 1870, 18,700, of whom 16,867 were white and 1,833, colored; 9,780 were males and 8,920 were females; 18,135, natives; 11,864 were born in Missouri; 1,562, in Ken- tucky; 527, in Ohio; 415, in Illinois; 1,081, in Tennessee; 947, in Vir- ginia and West Virginia; 1,739, in other states; 565 were foreign-born. The population June 1, 1880, as shown by bulletin of the tenth census, was 20,193; that of each township being as follows:
497
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Camden township.
. 3,353
Crooked River township.
1,883
Fishing River
.1,961
Grape Grove
3,091
Polk
1,534
Richmond 66
6,070
Total
20,193
Thus it is demonstrated that since the meeting of the first county court, in April, 1821, Ray county has steadily moved "onward and upward" in the scale of greatness. Though only cne-twelfth as large in area, her population is twelve times as great, while her increase in wealth-the result of material developments, accomplished by personal energy, indus- try and enterprise-is more than an hundred fold.
The county has grown, not only in material prosperity, but in all the elements of social refinement-in civilization, and in everything that con- tributes to the education, elevation and happiness of the people.
Her superior natural advantages and great resources, though not yet fully developed, have been utilized to the comfort, convenience and profit of thousands of her citizens; besides inviting others, in less favored lands, to come and make their homes within the limits of the richest county in one of the most fertile and charming regions on the continent of America.
The untrodden wilderness in which John Vanderpool was the first to settle, in the summer of 1815, has been converted into a veritable garden of wealth and beauty, interspersed with attractive homes and smiling villages, and has become the abode of a prosperous, happy and charitable people.
A delightful climate, productive soil, and unbounded resources, nature has done her part toward making old Ray the peer of any of her sister counties; the people have done the rest, and go on prospering and to prosper. Yet, much as has been done in the past, a great deal remains to be accomplished in the future. It will not do to be idle. While our prospects are roseate, let us
Pause not to dream of the future before us;
Pause not to weep the wild cares that come o'er us;
Hark ! how Creation's deep musical chorus, Unintermitting, goes up into heaven!
Never the ocean wave falters in flowing;
Never the little seed stops in its growing;
More and more richly the rose heart keeps glowing,
Till from its nourishing stem it is riven.
Biographical Sketches.
ALEXANDER W. DONIPHAN.
The Louisville Courier- Journal, speaking of the Mexican war, says:
Doniphan's exploits have been compared with those of Xenophon. Doniphan, with the first regiment of mounted Missouri volunteers, left Fort Leavenworth on June 12, 1846, and marched across the plains to Mexico, fought three important battles-Brazito, Sacramento and El Paso- conquered the states of Mexico and Chihuahua, and traveled more than 6,000 miles in twelve months, not a word being heard by the government from him in the meantime.
Alexander William Doniphan was born near Maysville, Mason county, Kentucky, July 9, 1808. He is of English descent, though his paternal English ancestors immigrated to America in the latter part of the seven- teenth century, and settled on the Potomac river, below Fredericksburg, Virginia, where the family name is still preserved by other descendants. His father, Joseph Doniphan, was the second son of Alexander Doniphan, in honor of whom Colonel Doniphan was named. By the law of primo- geniture, which then prevailed in Virginia, Joseph Doniphan inherited no real estate, and what he subsequently acquired was the result of his own industry and frugality. When the war of the revolution began, he was about seventeen years of age, and as King George county, where his father resided, was one of the first sections of that state to be overrun by the British army, both he and his brother George enlisted in the Colonial army. George was killed at his brother's side, but Joseph served with honor till the close of the struggle. The activity and excitement of the war aroused in young Doniphan a spirit of adventure, and, as he had to carve out his own fortune, he was attracted to the far west by the stories of its wonderful beauty, its fabulous fertility and its climatic salubrity. Soon after the declaration of peace and the cessation of hostilities, he accompanied that grim old pioneer, Daniel Boone, to the wilds of Ken- tucky, encountering hardships and perils for which the life he had pre- viously led had given him a relish. After a short stay in Kentucky, he returned to Virginia, and there married Miss Ann Smith, a daughter of Captain William Smith, of Fauquier county. He removed with his fam- ily to Mason county, Kentucky, in 1790, and died there in March, 1813, after a residence of twenty-three years, leaving his wife and seven chil- dren, three sons and four daughters, of whom only two, Mrs. Susan Frazee, widow of Dr. E. S. Frazee, of May's Lick, Kentucky, at present
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.