USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 45
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
Vincent Marmaduke-rose to distinction in the Confederate army and service; his other sons took no part in the war on either side.
During the war, in so great esteem was Col. Marmaduke held by all parties, that Confederates and Federals treated him with the greatest con- sideration. His property was but little molested, and he himself was never disturbed. The regular soldiers of both sides were always regarded by him with respect, but he despised and did not recognize either the thieving militia or the bushwhackers.
March 26, 1864, Gov. Marmaduke died at his old homestead, in Arrow Rock township, at the age of seventy-three. The direct cause of his death was inflammation of the stomach and bowels. He was buried in the Sappington cemetery, according to the rites of Free Masonry, he having been a Mason for a number of years. His funeral was largely attended. He was not a member of any church, but his career was that of the most exemplary Christian gentleman.
In person, Gov. Marmaduke was about five feet ten inches in height, and inclined to corpulency. His weight was about 210 or 215 pounds. His hair was dark, his eyes hazel-gray. No man in the county had more or warmer friends, or better deserved them. As a soldier, a statesman, a citizen, a man, he was the peer of his fellows, and Saline county especially should ever cherish his memory as a precious heritage.
COL. GEORGE W. ALLEN.
George Washington Allen was born near Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, October 4, 1807. He was educated in the schools of his native county. In early life he taught school in Virginia and Tennessee. He was married in Virginia, to Miss Lucy Ann Coiner. He afterward engaged in merchandising. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico he enlisted in Captain Harper's company of a Virginia volunteer regiment, and served two years, with the rank of first sergeant, in Gen. Harney's division.
In 1850, he removed with his family to this county and located on a farm two and a half miles from Marshall, where he engaged in farming for some years. During this period he was elected county surveyor, and was justly regarded as one of the very best surveyors the county ever had. Determining to engage in some other avocation, he quit farming, removed to Marshall, and became a merchant. Upon the establishment of the Saline County Herald, the first paper ever published in Saline county, Col. Allen became its editor. He was an able editor, and was soon recognized as one of the leading politicians of central Missouri. He was an old-line whig, and did very much to maintain the supremacy of his party in this county.
He deprecated civil war, and opposed secession. His earnest hope,
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
after the election of Mr. Lincoln, when there was such intense excitement throughout the south, was, that war might be averted. At a meeting of the citizens of Saline county, in January, 1861, a day of humiliation, fast- ing, and prayer, in view of the impending troubles, the following hymn, composed by Col. A. was sung:
Father, of our fathers, hear,
Lend, oh! lend a listening ear ; Thou, who didst our fathers save, Wilt Thou not compassion have ?
In this hour of deep distress,
Be our strength and righteousness ?
May not rashness, sin, and pride,
Long our favored land divide;
Grant that we again may see,
Brethren everywhere agree.
May our people yet appear,
Banded as our fathers were.
Heavenly Father, grant that we,
Still may highly favored be ;
Hating sin and loving right, Accepted, Father, in thy sight.
When such clouds as now arise,
Darkening all our brightest skies
Bid us fear no lasting ill,
In thy words of " peace, be still,"
Bid our strife forever cease. May we live in bonds of peace.
Then will we our Father bless ; Praise the Lord in righteousness.
But on the breaking out of hostilities, Col. Allen espoused the cause of the south. He joined the staff of Maj .- Gen. Sterling Price of the Mis- souri State Guards, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. At the battle of Oak Hill, or Wilson's creek, August 10, 1861, he was bearing an order from Gen. Price to some subordinate commander, and when riding in front of the Federal line, he was struck in the mouth by a minie ball and instantly killed. He was buried on the battle-field, where his remains yet rest.
Col. Allen was not a member of any church, but he was a man of the highest moral character, and most correct habits. His ability was of far more than common order, and he was considered a leading citizen of the county. He left five children, one, Capt. James W. Allen, being in the service with him; the other four were daughters, two of whom, Miss Mary J., and Mrs. Margaret E. Montague are now living. Capt. Allen now resides in St. Louis.
COL. WM. SAPPINGTON JACKSON.
Col. W. S. Jackson died at his home in Marshall, August 31, 1880. The following biographical sketch appeared in the Marshall Daily News of that day, and was written by Chas. G. Patterson, Esq. No improve-
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY. .
ment can be made upon it in the particulars of completeness of detail, exactness of description, accuracy of composition, or beauty of style, and it is incorporated in history as it was written:
He had been ill only a short time, and his sudden departure from life, in the zenith of manhood and usefulness, casts a gloom over this county and his numerous friends in this state, that will linger many a day. He had just returned from Jefferson City, where he went as a delegate to the democratic state convention, and it is thought that the excitement there . and his feeble health induced by long and close attention to the duties of county clerk, brought on the sickness which was so fatal. He died as he had lived, a brave man, his last words being about the great civil strife, and the smile that has played upon his countenance so often in the hour of battle was there again to his last breath, as when the lurid blaze of can- non and musketry lit it up in days of yore, and it lingered there until and even after the gallant Colonel had joined his old comrades in the bivouac of eternal life, beyond the silent river. Col. Jackson was a perfect type of manhood-generous, kind hearted, just and true. He had the politeness of a Chesterfield, and everyone that knew him became his friend, as his magnetic smiles always inspired confidence and the suavity of his manners and his noble magnanimity created esteem. He has often been honored by his fellow-citizens with positions of trust, and the tenacity with which he has held on to his honors and the firmness with which his friends have always stood by him, reveal the true character of one of the best, kindest and truest men God ever made. He was not a religious man, yet he res- pected religion. He had his faults, but they injured himself only. Since he has been a public officer not a stain or a blemish has been stamped on his reputation, and he died-an honest man. The following brief history of his lite will be of interest to all, especially those who wish to keep his memory green in hearts that have loved him as a father, husband and friend:
Col. Jackson was born July 13, 1834, in Arrow Rock, Saline county, Missouri, and had passed his 46th year when death called him away. His father was Governor C. F. Jackson, and grandfather Dr. John Sap- pington. He was educated principally at the Howard high school, and went from that institution, with the highest recommendations as to schol- arship, to the university of Virginia, then as now one of the most celebra- ted colleges in the United States, where he was matriculated in 1853, and remained in the law department one year to prepare himself for that pro- fession. When his father was elected governor he was appointed the governor's private secretary, which position he held until the war broke out. On the 21st of May, 1861, he was commissioned as aid-de-camp for the sixth military district of Missouri, with the rank of colonel. In May, 1861, he left with the Confederate troops for southwest Missouri, and in July took an active part in the battle of Carthage, the first of importance in this state. Then we see him on his way to Richmond, Virginia, with his father and Gen. D. R. Atchison, where he arrived just after the first battle of Bull Run, and received his papers as recruiting officer, "Partisan Rangers " being assigned to Missouri, in which service he remained, with short interruptions, during the year 1863. After this he went to Mata- moras, Mexico, for medical supplies for the Confederate army, during the remainder of the war.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
At the close of the war he surrendered to Col. A. F. Denny, at Glasgow, Missouri. After this he was arrested by the civil authorities and incar- cerated in the Cooper county jail for about three months, when he was released on bail, and subsequently entirely cleared from the four indictments against him. He has been called a " bushwhacker," but was not one in the common acceptation of the term. He was too generous to be nnmer- ciful, and the little band which followed him in this county, considered themselves the guardians of their property and friends, then exposed to the ruthless Federal soldiers who infested this portion of the state. But the name of Gen. Jackson was as terrible to his enemies who had once met him as that of any other man. He was married on the 29th of March, 1866, to Miss Lutia G. Vandever, who survives him, with two children, one having died about a year ago. He was appointed deputy county clerk by Capt. C. M. Sutherlin, in January, 1875, who resigned May 20, 1876, when Col. Jackson was appointed to fill the vacancy until the next November election. At that election, one of the bitterest canvasses Saline county has ever experienced, the office was conferred upon him by the overwhelming majority of 1,762. Up to this date he has held the office of county clerk three terms, having met with very little opposition, and was the nominee of the Saline county democracy at the coming November election. He has passed out of life, but his deeds will live after him.
GEN. THOS. A. SMITH.
Gen. Thos. A. Smith was a native of Virginia. He joined the regular army and at the close of the war of 1812, and at the time of his resigna- tion, in 1818, he had risen to the rank of brigadier-general, and out- ranked Generals Scott and Gaines. Shortly after he left the army he came to Missouri, and was appointed receiver of the general land office at Old Franklin. Having entered about 5,000 acres of land in this county, Gen. Smith removed thereto and established a farm place on the Salt Fork, about eight miles from Marshall. As this farm was composed principally of prairie land, the successful cultivation of which had long been doubted, the general named his home place " Experiment." It became, perhaps, the most beautiful home in the county. Gen. Smith planted a great many evergreens and other trees, and in summer " Experiment " bloomed and blossomed almost like an Eden. It was a favorite place of resort for the " quality " people of those days. Gen. Smith first came to this county in 1826.
Gen. Smith was a fast friend of Col. Thos. H. Benton, for thirty years United States senator from this state. The pistols with which Benton fought and killed Lucas, belonged to the general, and are now in the pos- session of his son, Dr. Crawford Smith, of St. Louis county. It is much to be regretted that fuller details of the life of Gen. Smith cannot here and now be given; but those written to, for them, have failed to respond.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
JUDGE BEVERLY TUCKER.
Beverly Tucker was born in Virginia. He was a half brother of the famous and notorious John Randolph, of Roanoke. In about the year 1830, Judge Tucker came to Saline county, and shortly afterward mar- ried a daughter of Gen. T. A. Smith. In 1836, he returned to Virginia, and engaged in literary and legal pursuits. He wrote a novel "George Balcomb," the plot and scenes of which were laid in this county, while he lived here, and, after his return to Virginia, wrote "The Partisan Leader."
GEN. JOHN S MARMADUKE,
a son of ex-Gov. M. M. Marmaduke, of Saline county, was born March 14, 1833, at the old homestead near the town of Arrow Rock, in Saline. Though in his early years his father was a large slave owner, he was trained to work upon the farm, as a matter of principle. At the age of seventeen he entered Yale College, but after two or three years spent in Yale and Harvard, he was appointed by Hon. John S. Phelps a cadet in the military academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1857, and was assigned as lieutenant in the 7th Infantry, a portion of which, under Gen. A. S. Johnstone, was then marching against the Mormons in Utah. He joined the command, and served two years in Utah, after which he was ordered to New Mexico. He returned to Missouri on leave in 1860. When the great conflict of the sections became inevitable, he resigned his commission, and upon his acceptance cast his fortunes with the Confederate side. He was elected captain of one of the first (if not the first) companies raised in Saline county, and tendered his services to Gov. Jackson, and was accepted under the governor's call for troops to defend the state. At Jefferson City, in June, 1861, he was elected colonel of a regiment, in which his old company was included. On the hostile approach of Gen. Lyon with a well-equipped army from St. Louis, Gen. Price being sick, Col. Marmaduke assumed command. Against his own urgent convictions, and in obedience to positive orders from the governor, he marched his command of raw, half-armed recruits, about 600 strong, down the river about six miles below Booneville, and admirably posted them upon the bluffs where the river road ascends from the bottom and crosses another road. The battle between 600 raw, half-armed recruits and 2,500 completely appointed and equipped and disciplined soldiers, could have no other result than that predicted by Col. Marmaduke-dis- astrous in the extreme to the state troops.
After the disaster at Booneville, Col. Marmaduke, believing that poli- ticians were controlling military affairs in Missouri, resigned his state commission, and, in company with Capt. J. H. Eakin, and Charlie Bell, all of Saline, proceeded to Richmond, and tendered his sword to President Davis, of the Confederate states. He was immediately commissioned as
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
first lieutenant, and ordered to report to Gen. Hardee, then on the White river, in Arkansas. He was assigned to duty on Hardee's staff, but soon after was promoted to a lieutenant-colonelcy, and put in command of a battalion of infantry. In the fall of that year (1861) he was made colonel of the Third Confederate infantry, which, under his command, won laurels on many battle-fields. In the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, Col. Mar- maduke's regiment was given the honor of bearing into battle the guiding colors of the first line of battle, and at day-break his regiment began the terrible conflict, by firing the first gun. Col. Marmaduke won many laurels in that fierce and bloody conflict. On the next day's fight he was carried, wounded, from the battle-field, and for gallant services, was pro- moted brigadier-general. In the spring of 1862, Gen. Marmaduke was ordered west of the Mississippi, and reported to Gen. Holmes, at Little Rock, and was ordered to relieve Gen. Raines, and take command of his division, then in northwest Arkansas. In the latter part of November, 1862, he was attacked, at Cane Hill, by Gen. Blunt, with seven or eight thousand men. The fighting continued through the entire day, as they fell back in the face of greatly superior numbers, to Dripping Springs. At the battle of Prairie Grove, Gen. Marmaduke also bore a conspicuous part; and in December, 1862, he made a movement on Gen. Blunt's com- munications, which compelled that general to let go his hold on the Arkan- sas river, and fall back to Springfield, Missouri. Returning from this raid, his troops, after great suffering, and a short, but bloody battle, at Hartsville, reached Batesville, Arkansas, and went into winter quarters.
In the spring of 1863, Marmaduke led his division of 4,000 men into Missouri and extricated Gen. Carter from his extremely perilous position at Cape Girardeau, and successfully withdrew the command across the St. Francis river in the face of Gens. McNeil and Vandever with a com- bined army of 10,000 men. Gen. Holmes, after his disastrous and foolish attack on Helena, fell back to Little Rock, leaving Marmaduke's cavalry division, which resumed its headquarters at Jacksonport. Gen. Steele continuing to advance upon Little Rock, Gen. Marmaduke was ordered to join Gen. Walker at Brownsville, where he covered the retreat before Gen. Steele, and fought stubbornly until reaching Bayou Metre, where a determined stand was made, and a desperate battle fought, Steele's advance driven back, and he forced to choose another route to Little Rock. Soon after this occurred the duel between Gens. Walker and Marmaduke, in which Gen. Walker was killed. Upon the evacuation of Little Rock by Gen. Price, Marmaduke covered the retreat and greatly retarded Gen. Steele's advance. In 1864, he was ordered to maneuver against Steele and to delay his advance long enough to enable Kirby Smith to defeat Banks on the Red river. So admirably did he perform this duty that with 4,000 men he compelled Gen. Steele to occupy three
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
weeks in moving from Little Rock to Camden. Unable to hold Camden, Steele retreated to Little Rock, hotly pursued by Marmaduke, to Jenkens' Ferry, where he was forced to give battle by Kirby Smith, and was beaten and demoralized.
For distinguished services in the campaign against Steele, Marmaduke was made a major-general, and in the summer of 1864 established his headquarters at Lake Village, Chicot county, Arkansas, and by his extreme activity succeeded in checking the navigation of the Mississippi river and breaking up the illicit trade between the Federal traders and the citizens.
In Gen. Price's last great raid into Missouri, Gen. Marmaduke com- manded a cavalry division, and did most excellent service in all the fight- ing that was done, until they reached the Little Osage river, where, after desperate fighting, he was surrounded and captured on the 24th of Octo- ber. He was held a prisoner until August 1865, when he was released. His health being greatly broken, after his release, he visited Europe, remaining until the spring of 1866, when he returned to Missouri. In May, 1866, with Dr. W. M. Brown and D. W. Marmaduke, he established the commission house of Marmaduke & Brown, in St. Louis. In the fall of 1869, he retired from the firm, and accepted the special agency of the Life Association of America for all the southern states, which he gave up on account of ill health in April, 1871. Soon after this, he became con- nected with the Journal of Commerce, and shortly after, with his two brothers, Vincent and Leslie, and Messrs. Walcott & Hume, established the Evening fournal in St. Louis. Later on he was connected with the Journal of Agriculture. In 1873, he disposed of these interests, and accepted the secretaryship of the state board of agriculture, which he held two years. In 1875, he was appointed by the governor, one of the rail- road commissioners of the state, and in November, 1876, he was elected to the same office for four years, the term of which expired in 1880. Gen. Marmaduke has a splendid physique, and is a true soldier and gentleman. In 1880, Gen. Marmaduke, at the urgent solicitations of many friends, scattered over the state, announced himself as a candidate for the demo- cratic nomination for governor, which, in this state, is equivalent to elec- tion. Col. T. T. Crittenden, of Warrensburg, and Hon. John A. Hocka- day, of Callaway, were also candinates. A warm canvass ensued, result- ing in the nomination of Col. Crittenden-Marmaduke receiving the next largest number of votes. Since the canvass of 1880, Gen. Marmaduke has resided quietly in St. Louis.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
JUDGE W. A. WILSON.
The subject of this sketch-the youngest of four brothers, John, Robert, ert, David and Wm., sons of Wm. Wilson-was born, December 17, 1807, in Augusta county, Virginia. He, with his brothers, came to this state, locating in Howard county, in 1825. He afterwards located in this county. His brother David died many years ago, and Gen. John Wilson removed to California, filled quite a number of high official positions, and died in San Francisco, some two years since. Robert located in St. Joseph, Mis- souri, represented his county and district for many years in the state leg- islature and senate, and other offices, and served out the unexpired term of one of our U. S. senators.
In June, 1835, Judge Wilson married Miss Mary E. Reeves, daughter of the late ex-Governor Reeves, of Missouri. His wife survives him and resides on the old homestead, in Marshall, Missouri. The result of this marriage was five sons and two daughters, all living, except Martha C., who married Dr. Grove, of this county, and died in 1865, in Fayette, Indiana, the present home of her husband; Annette married the Hon. John R. Vance, and now resides in Marshall, as does also Leonard Wil- son, our present efficient postmaster. Col. Ben. H., Hon. W. A. and Bird L. Wilson now reside in Colorado; and Horace E. Wilson resides at St. Joseph, Missouri.
Judges Wilson and Leonard, having located in Howard county about the same time, and having married sisters, there sprang up between them a very strong social, personal and political attachment, which lasted dur- ing their lives. Both were staunch whigs, and both consistent, firm and uncompromising Union men, and cordially supported the national govern- ment during the late conflict.
In 1835, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of militia, by Gov. Dun- klin. In August, 1836, he moved to Saline, and in 1838 was elected county judge, serving with Judges Brown and Field. On February, 6, 1850, appointed county and circuit clerk, and ex-officio recorder, vice John A. Trigg, resigned, and in March following was elected to said offices for unexpired term, extending to 1854, when he was re-elected and filled said offices for the term of six years.
In 1862, Judge Wilson was appointed by Gov. Gamble, circuit and county clerk of the county, and in same year, provost marshal, with rank of major. When the 71st regiment, E. M. M., was organized, he was made lieutenant-colonel of same. It is not saying too much to say, that no one in this county was better or more favorably known at Union or Federal headquarters of this state, or at Washington City,than Judge W. A. Wilson. He filled the clerkships of the county up to the time of his death, August 18, 1865. Judge Wilson was a lawyer by profession, and,
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
except while in office, practiced that profession. He was, for a time, law- partner of Col. T. W. B. Crews and Hon. W. H. Letcher. He, like his brothers, Robert and John, was a man of more than ordinary ability, and possessed, in a remarkable degree, that foresight and confidence, so well calculated to lead and inspire any party with which he might become connected. In the discharge of all his official duties, he was honest and efficient, and never betrayed the trusts confided to him. For more than twenty years prior to his death, perhaps, no man was more generally or prominently known to the people here. As a public spirited citizen, he was ever ready to contribute to every laudable enterprise. A man of excellent judgment-having once made up his mind, was determined and invincible. Duty and right outweighed all other considerations with him. He was a Union man in the broadest sense of that term It is not saying too much, when we say, he formed the nucleus around which the Union element of this county rallied, more, perhaps, than any one else. Of a pure, positive and unsullied character, his opinions were ever sought and respected by his friends. He was faithful in all the relations of life; as a husband, parent, friend, the same integrity of character and goodness of heart were manifested, and gained for him that love and confidence he
. possessed to such an eminent degree. He was unswervingly true to his principles and to the instincts of his generous and manly nature. In his friendship he was faithful; in his susceptibilities, tender and emotional; in disposition and temperament, genial in a very high degree. In all the relations of life, he bore himself as "a man among men." His memory to us is precious, and his virtues remain a legacy to his surviving co-laborers in the cause to which he gave the strength and power of his manhood. Upon that brow, now cold in death, honors thick had clustered; and as he went forth from our ranks, many eyes were dim with tears, and many hearts were full of sighs. In the cemetery, at Mount Olive, "may his ashes requiescat in pace."
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