USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 44
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The militia of the county were all required to attend these musters, or present a satisfactory reason for a failure, or else suffer a fine. They were also required to bring their arms with them, if they had any, and in early days, these arms must be "in good order." As not every man had a gun, numbers went through the manual of arms with sticks, cornstalks, and other implements. As not every officer had a sword, "daggers of lath," and sabers and rapiers of pine were waved and flourished in direct- ing the movements of the troops.
All the drilling that was done, however, was not of a very effective sort. The drill-masters were not very efficient, to begin with, and their tactics differed very widely from the more modern ones of Hardee and Upton. Then the " troops " were undisciplined, and resented all attempts to force them to become the " machines," which the Duke of Wellington said all men should become, in order to be good soldiers. Indeed, general mus- ters were only kept up and submitted to by the people, for a long time,
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on account of the "fun " that always attended them. The theory was a good one-that in time of peace people should prepare for war, and that a well regulated militia was necessary to the peace and security of a country; but, in practice, musters became troublesome, inconvenient, and unhandy, and productive of no good, and the legislature abolished the militia law about the time of the breaking out of the Mexican war.
The provisions of the militia law were changed from time to time, but as a general rule, company musters were held once a month, battalion musters, twice a year, and general musters, yearly. The men were not uniformed. The officers were compelled to uniform themselves, at their own expense. The state furnished a great many arms and equipments, chiefly holster and dragoon pistols, belts, sabers and the like. At Mar- shall these arms were turned over to Major John W. Bryant, who stored them away, and in 1850, parties going to California, broke into the build- ing and appropriated the most of them.
One thing surely the musters produced-a bountiful supply of military titles. The county was abundantly furnished with captains and majors, and colonels, many of whom, though they never set a squadron in the field, or knew the evolution of a legion, yet were glorious to behold when they were clad in their showy uniforms, and mounted upon their spirited steeds, leading their commands to the drill ground. But though at times the parades were conducted with all the pomp and circumstance of glori- ous war, they came to be considered, as they were, nuisances, and the performances ridiculous and farcical.
There were not drillings and meetings enough to render the militiamen trained soldiers, and there were too much for comfort. Courts-martial convened at the court house quite frequently for the trial of offenders against the militia law, and many a luckless delinquent was fined for his non-attendance at drills or musters, or for other offenses.
. There was always fun at the musters, more or less in quantity and bet- ter or worse in quality. Great crowds attended the general musters. Old darkies were there with spruce beer and ginger cakes; refreshment stands abounded; horse races were made and run; foot-races, wrestling matches, and other athletic sports were indulged in, and many a fisticuff was fought on muster day. At all these things, and at the drilling and evolutions of the militiamen, the crowd stared and admired.
Ah, well ! Though we are disposed to sneer at the old militia musters and training days, there was doubtless more of good than harm in them, and they served in some degree as recreations and " places to go," so scarce in early times.
" The parade is dismissed."
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SALINE COUNTY.
BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The public school system of Saline county, as also throughout the state, is comparatively in its infancy. The new constitution, however, has laid the foundation upon a basis, deep, broad and liberal; and by wise and judi- cious legislation, the system will ripen into maturity, and compare favor- ably with any state in the Union.
In 1874, by legislative enactment, county supervision, which required county superintendents to visit all the schools, deliver lectures, and main- tain a direct influence, was abolished, except in counties adopting the provi- sion of Section 7086, in the revised statutes of Missouri, and only one county in the state has availed itself of the benefits of said provision.
Many friends of the public school system, regarded. this change in its agency, as adverse to the healthy growth, successful progress, and full development of educational interests.
The law creating the system is so comprehensive, its details of execu- tion are so multitudinous, that school officers are not sufficiently skilled as yet to adjust the whole to its parts; but there is some improvement in this direction.
In view of all the difficulties, imperfections and complications connected with the execution of the school system, there has been a gradual and hope- ful progress in the past few years; and while the advance has not been so rapid as might be desired, yet it is worthy of note.
STATISTICS.
Number of schools: white, 125; colored, 20. Teachers, 160: white, 140; colored, 20. Number of children of school age, 10,156: white, male, 4,385; female, 4,286; colored, male, 744; female, 741. Attending school: male, white, 2,001; female, 2,268; colored, male, 472; female, 351. Num- ber of days attendance by all, 325,666. Value of school property, $92,000. Teachers' wages, $25,000. Expended last year, $20,000, for building purposes .*
*Accompanying the above report was the following letter :
"I regret, much, that it is a matter of impossibility to obtain the correct history, with statistics, of the public schools of Saline county. During the late civil war, the court house at Marshall was burned (1864), and the records of public schools were also consumed, at least, their statistical history. So far from its being any trouble to me to have written a correct and continuous history of public schools in Saline county, for your coming history, I would have esteemed it a pleasure and public benefit, if it were possible, but in the absence of such facts as we want, it cannot be done. The schools, during the war, were generally suspended. I can only give a correct account of public schools since 1873. When I came into the office of superintendent of public schools, of Saline county, I received no records, except a record of teachers' names, from my predecessor.
Very respectfully yours, OLIVER GUTHRIE.
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STEAMBOAT DISASTERS.
Mr. J. H. Pickett, an old steamboat man, has furnished a list of all the steamboats lost in the Missouri river, within the boundaries, or on the borders of Saline county.
Commencing at Arrow Rock, there the steamer Tom Rogers was burned. One mile above, the New Sam Gaty was burned, after the war. Still above, the Dart was sunk many years ago. Next, the f. H. Oglesby was sunk, in the year 1850. Just below Glasgow, the Euphrasia, said to have been one of the best boats of her time, was lost, in the year 1840. At the Glasgow levee, the fine steamer, West Wind, was set on fire by Confederate partisan rangers, during the war, and entirely destroyed. Below Frankfort lies the wreck of the Little Missouri. The Waverly was sunk at the head of Keytesville bend; the George C. Wolf above; the Wakenda at the foot of Wakenda prairie, the latter steamer hav- ing gone down in the spring of 1846. Next above was the large side- wheel steamer, Columbian, sunk in 1870. Below Brunswick is the wreck of the R. W. Duggan, a stern-wheeler. Half a mile above the last named wreck, in 1857, there was lost the palace steamer, New Lucy. She belonged to the " Lightning" line of steamers, running from Weston, in connection with the Pacific railroad at Jefferson City. In the winter of 1857, she was frozen in, at a point opposite De Witt, and while ice-bound, was, by the carelessness of the watchman, burned. At Scott's Island, the stern-wheel steamer, Mary Bell, sank, in the year 1878. The Gov. Allen went to the bottom in Thomas' bend, seven miles above Miami, in 1876. In the year 1835, the Malta found a watery sepulchre for herself and some of her crew, in the bend which has since borne the name of Malta bend, near the town of that name. At Gilliam's landing, the steamer Mary McDonald, burned in the year 1873. The Tropic, rendered somewhat famous by its connection with the great humorist, "Mark Twain," him- self a steamboat pilot, sank just west of the confines of Saline county, in 1856. About thirty lives were lost. The previous spring she had met with a disaster, inside the boundaries of Saline county, "picking up " a snag, which passed through her engine room, severing a steampipe, by which several lives were then lost. Two of the Tropic's captains- Glime, who commanded when the first mishap occurred, and McMillan, her captain when she was destroyed-were victims of the burning and explosion of the gigantic St. Nicholas, on the lower Mississippi, in 1858, both losing their lives. The family of Capt. Glime also perished in the last disaster.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
WEST POINT CADETS.
In 1874, Mr. Heber M. Creel was appointed, though Hon. John B. Clark, Jr., a cadet at West Point. With seven others he stood the exam- ination, mental and physical, and entered the academy that year, and graduated in 1878 with high honors. He now holds the office of lieuten- ant U. S. A., and has served over three years, four years being the required time of service. In 1879 he was sent by the war department on special duty to the Indian frontiers-to learn their language and write a grammar and dictionary for them. Before he had completed any but the latter, he was ordered to rejoin his regiment in Dakota. He is now at Devil's Lake, Fort Totten, Dakota. He is a lieutenant in Custer's old regiment, 7th U. S. Cavalry.
In March, 1881, through the instrumentality of Hon. John B. Clark, Jr., who is still the member from this congressional district, Wilson Porter Boyd, son of Samuel Boyd, Esq., of Marshall, was also appointed by the war department a cadet at the West Point Military Academy.
THE SAPPINGTON SCHOOL FUND,
Now amounting to more than $40,000, was originally a donation by Dr. John Sappington for the schooling of the indigent orphan children of this county. The fund was placed in the hands of the following gentlemen, as a perpetual board of trustees, with the power of filling vacancies in the board: Claiborne F. Jackson, William Price, Erasmus D. Sappington, William B. Sappington, A. M. Davidson, R. E. McDaniel, William H. Lewis, John W. Bryant, Ossimus Hurt and John Lynch. The design of the donation was that the fund should be put at interest, and continue in existence for all time.
The fund has been so judiciously managed and appropriated that it has served to educate a large proportion of the poor orphans of Saline, and many other poor children, who would, otherwise, have lacked the benefits of education; and has likewise been steadily increased in the amount of its principal, until now it nearly doubles the original in amount. The officers of the board of trustees are a chairman, a secretary and treasurer. The present treasurer, Mr. Wm. B. Sappington, has held the office with- out interruption for twenty-four years, since 1857. By a provision of the instrument creating the "Sappington school fund," no officer of the board of trustees is permitted to receive compensation for his services. The board meets annually on the second Monday of August, and by the pro-
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visions of its creation no portion of the fund is to be loaned upon any security less than real estate, of three times the value of the money loaned-except that sums of $500 and less may be loaned upon the per- sonal security of three responsible parties, the interest to be payable annu- ally. The first meeting of the board was held on the first Monday in March, 1854, and C. F. Jackson was first treasurer, and acted until July, 1857, when the present treasurer, Wm. B. Sappington was chosen in his place.
DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS OF SALINE COUNTY.
The following biographical sketches of prominent citizens, now dead or absent, of the county, are entitled a place in this work. Indeed, no history of the county would be complete without them.
GOV. CLAIBORNE F. JACKSON.
Claiborne Fox Jackson, son of Dempsey and Mary (Pickett) Jackson, was born near Flemingsburgh, Fleming county, Kentucky, April 4, 1806. His father was a hardworking farmer, in moderate circumstances, and only able to give his children, of whom he had ten, a common school edu- cation. When a boy, young Claiborne was weak and sickly, and his mother, who did her own weaving, taught him to weave on a small loom, an article of furniture to be found in every household in that day, and it is said that he became quite a proficient weaver. As he grew older, how- ever, he grew stronger, and was able to work on his father's farm in the summer and attend school in the winter. When not at work or in school he nearly always had a book in his hand, and was soon regarded as a young man of more than average information and of great promise.
At an early age young Jackson left Kentucky and came to Old Franklin, Howard county, Missouri. Here he procured a situation as clerk in the store of Heckman & Lamb, dealers in general merchandise. After a time, in company with Caleb Jones, now of Booneville, he bought out his employers and succeeded them in business. In 1830, Jackson & Jones established a branch store at Arrow Rock, and Mr. Jackson removed to that point to take charge of it. Samuel Miller succeeded Jones, the firm becoming Jackson & Miller. He was also in business a portion of the time with his father-in-law, Dr. John Sappington.
In 1836, Jackson & Miller sold out their store in Arrow Rock to Barnes & McMahan, and Mr. Jackson went into politics. He ran as a Jackson- Benton democrat for the legislature, and was elected by a majority of six votes over his whig competitor, Judge Hayes. In 1837, he was appointed
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the first postmaster of the new postoffice at Arrow Rock. The govern- ment refused to establish this office unless Mr. Jackson would give a bond to pay all expenses. This he did. In 1854, the postoffice department brought up an account against him for this sum, about $600. Fortunately the contract was "to pay all expenses and receive all receipts." Upon this being pointed out, the matter was soon settled with the department. Upon the establishment of the branch bank of the state of Missouri, at Fayette, Mr. Jackson was given the position of cashier, which he accepted, and removed with his family to a farm which he had purchased near that place. He remained here some years, when he returned to Saline county. In a short time he again went to Howard. Here he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature, about the year 1846. Upon the expiration of his term as representative he was elected to the state senate, and became the leader of the anti-Benton democrats upon the floor. He presented the famous "Jackson resolutions," and championed them through the legislature, succeeding at last in having them adopted. In 1852 or 1853 he returned to his Saline county farm near Arrow Rock, which he ever after considered his home.
It is not intended in this sketch to give a complete record of the public life of Gov. Jackson. His name and his fame are too well known to the readers of these pages to need such a mention. Only those details proper to one of his prominent connection with the history of his county, his state, and his country, ought to be given. No fulsome adulation of his character is attempted. He would not suffer such a thing, were he alive, and respect for his memory is due him, now that he is ashes and dust.
In 1860, he was elected governor of the state, on the Douglas and Johnson ticket, over Sample Orr, the Bell and Everett candidate; Han- cock Jackson, the nominee of the Breckenridge and Lane democrats, and Gardenhire, the republican candidate. Before his inauguration angry clouds darkened the political sky, and everything was portentous of a ter- rible storm. Gov. Jackson was, in every sense, a southern man, and had been for years. He believed in the right of secession, but doubted its practicability at the time. He knew that all of the people of Missouri, or even a considerable majority of them, were not ready to secede and join the Southern Confederacy, and he deprecated taking any action in that direction until they were-until succeeding events, which he believed would happen, should occur. He did not wish to make a "bungle," or a failure. The south and her institutions had no warmer or better friend than Claiborne Jackson, and Missouri no citizen more devoted in his alle- giance to her, or more jealous of her rights and privileges, or more sen- sible of the violent encroachments upon them by the northern states; yet
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he deemed the time most inopportune for the extraordinary remedy of secession, however much he may have desired it.
Gov. Jackson's connection with the beginning of the civil war is detailed on other pages. After being driven from the capitol, in June, 1861, he accompanied his state guards to Booneville, and was present at the fight between them and Lyon's troops, and followed them to the southwestern part of the state. He was present at the engagements at Carthage and Drywood, not at the rear, but at the front, in the midst of his troops, whom he stimulated and encouraged by his example to deeds of courage and bravery. At the time of the action at Oak Hill, or Wilson's Creek, Gov. Jackson was at Richmond, in consultation with the Confederate authorities. At the battle of Lexington, and capture of Mulligan and his forces, he was present, and when the army retreated he followed it, with his family, sharing all the toils, privations, and discomforts of the private soldiers. At Neosho, he stopped with the army, and re-convened the legislature-the legislature which he recognized as the legitimate one- and approved the ordinance of secession passed by that body. He went on to Arkansas, and was in various parts of the south during the spring and summer of 1862. In October, he returned to Little Rock. In the meantime he had purchased a tract of land in Texas, whither he had sent his family.
Shortly after his arrival at Little Rock the last time, Gov. Jackson was taken with a severe cold. He had long been troubled with an affection of the stomach, and was soon prostrated. After an illness of some six weeks, at 9 o'clock on the evening of the 6th of December, 1862, he died. At the time of his death he lay in a boarding house on the bank of the Arkansas river, opposite the city of Little Rock. His wife, his daughter Annie, and his son, Col. Wm. S., were present at his bedside in his dying moments. He was perfectly conscious to almost the last moment. He expressed his firm faith in the triumph of the Confederate cause, and desired much to live to see it. He assured his wife and daugh- ter of his lasting affection for them, and that they would be cared for by their country upon the restoration of peace. He was at first buried ir Little Rock cemetery, but in July, 1867, his remains were transferred to the Sappington graveyard, in this county, where they now lie, beside those of his wife, who died in Red River county, Texas, July 5, 1864.
Governor Jackson was thrice married, his wives being sisters, the daughters of Dr. John Sappington, His first wife was Jane Breathitt Sappington, to whom he was married February 17, 1831. She lived but a few months. His second wife was Louisa Catherine Sappington, whom he married September 12, 1833. By this marriage he had three children - Col. S., born July 13, 1834, died July 31, 1880; John Breathitt, born April 25, 1836, died October 6, 1865; Andrew, born February 21, 1838, died
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June 10 of the same year. Mrs. Jackson died May 9, 1838. November 27, 1838, Gov. Jackson married his last wife, Mrs. Eliza W. Pearson, nee Sappington. To this union were born three children-Claiborne F., Jr., born September 30, 1839, died March 23, 1864; Louisa Jane, born April 22, 1841, now wife of Dr. C. L. Lamb, of Hannibal; Annie Eliza, born May 13, 1844, now wife of John B. Perkins, Esq., of Marshall.
Gov. Jackson was not a member of any religious organization, although a man of excellent morals and the highest integrity of character. His word was never doubted, his honor never impeached. His strongest ene- mies, in the heat of bitterest political contests, never assailed his personal character. He died as he had lived, resigned to the will of his Maker, and fearing nothing for his future. He was an affectionate father, and of a kindly, chivalrous nature, born of his nobility of character. When inaugurated governor, among his first official acts was to discharge every female inmate of the penitentiary, no matter what her offense had been, for the reason, as he said, that the penitentiary was not a fit place for a woman.
In person, Gov. Jackson was six feet one and a half inches in height, and weighed about 170 pounds. His hair was coal-black, his eyes dark-gray, his complexion fair. His voice was strong and well adapted to public speaking. He was a natural orator and speaker, and the best portion of his life was spent in the service of his country and his fellow-men.
GOV. M. M. MARMADUKE.
Meredith Miles Marmaduke was born in Westmoreland county, Vir- ginia, in 1791. His ancestors were quite prominent in England, the Mar- madukes especially being members of the best families. The subject of this sketch belonged to about the third American generation of this family. He received his education in the common schools of his state and at a high school.
At the age of 22 he was commissioned colonel of the Westmoreland county regiment, and served with it in the second war with Great Britain or the war of 1812. After the war he was clerk of the county court of Westmoreland county, and also United States marshal for that district of Virginia.
In 1821 he came to Missouri, settling first at Old Franklin, and engag- ing in the Santa Fe trade, making trips to and from that renowned old Spanish city, now in the United States. After his first trip to and return from Sante Fe, he was married to Lavinia Sappington, the second child of Dr. John Sappington, a native of Nashville, Tenn., who was educated at the Mrs. Keats' seminary, in southern Kentucky.# Col. Marmaduke was the father of ten children, nine of whom are now living, six sons and
*See " Early Marriages."
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three daughters-Col. Vincent, Gen. John S., Meredith M., Jr., Darwin W., Henry H., Leslie, Mrs. Jane B. Harwood, Mrs. Sarah Yerby, and Mrs. Lavinia Bruce.
Col. Marmaduke continued in the Santa Fe trade about six years. He was very successful. He then settled on his farm, five miles west of Arrow Rock, at which place his son Vincent now lives. He was one of the best practical and most successful farmers in the state, and accumu- lated a large fortune. He was greatly interested in agricultural pursuits, and took an interest in everything affecting their welfare. He was presi- dent of the first agricultural society of the county, and of the district fair association.
Soon after his settlement in this county, Col. Marmaduke was elected county judge, and afterwards county surveyor. For many years he was in some official capacity in the county, but never upon his own seeking. In 1840, he was elected lieutenant-governor on the democratic ticket, with Thomas Reynolds as governor. Upon the death of the latter, in 1844, he became governor, and filled the office during his brief term to the entire satisfaction of the people of the state. In 1847, he was a member of the convention to revise the constitution of the state.
When the troubles of 1860-61 came, he opposed, with great strength, the plans of the secessionists, and declared himself, at different public meetings, a constitutional Union man, inflexible and unalterable, devoted to the old Union, under whose flag he had served, and wished to live and die. In speeches made to the people of Saline county, from the stone steps of the old hotel in Marshall, early in 1861, he prophesied the woes that should come upon this county and country, should men allow their passions, rather than their reason, to govern their action, and suffer the country to be plunged into civil war. He depicted many of the horrors that afterward came, so distinctly and so vividly, that it seemed, in later days, as if he must have spoken by inspiration. He was then seventy years of age, and was physically unable to take any part in the war that did come, but it is doubtful if he would have done so had he been in his prime. He always abhorred even the thought of war between fellow- citizens of a common country-especially between Americans, whose ancestors had mingled their blood, in order that the Union might forever live, and not die. Though he did not endorse all the acts of the Federal authorities,-had no sympathy in common with the northern fanatics- he yet desired that the Union should be preserved. While sympathizing deeply with the southern people, he had no affection for the Confederate cause and remained a constitutional Union man to the end of his days. Before the war he was known as a strong Benton democrat, and in this faith he never wavered. Two of his sons-Maj. Gen. John S. and Col.
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