History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 53

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 53

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" The first marriage I remember, after arriving in Saline county, was that of Claiborne F. Jackson and Miss Sappington, February 17, 1831. The next was Dr. George Penn and Miss Chambers, daughter of Colonel Benjamin Chambers, the first county clerk, and then Judge N. B. Tucker to Miss Smith, daughter of Gen. Thos. A. Smith. The mortality of the county was certainly very slight; there were not many people to die. Samuel Brownjohn, an Englishman, died near Jonesboro, in the year 1830, and was buried near where he died, Jonesboro. The business men of the county, when I first made my appearance here, were Dr. Sapping- ton, Col. M. M. Marmaduke, (afterwards governor), Col. William Lewis, Gen. Thos. A. Smith, Wyatt Bingham, Nathan Harris, Asa Finley, Judge Huston, Benjamin Huston, Nowlin, Hawpe, the Thorntons, the Naves (or Neff's ), the Beattys, the Browns, the Harveys, the Davises, the Law- lesses, Adkinson, Marshall, and a number of others, who were identified with the interests of Saline county. So far as I know, all of these have passed away, except Henry Nave, Andrew Brownlee and Ephraim McClain, all of whom have attained an advanced age.

"The first birth of a male child that I remember was that of Peter Thornton Reynolds. The first female child was a daughter of John Thornton. The first school house I noticed was built before I came to the county, near Wyatt Bingham's. It was not designed by an architect from St. Louis or the east. Five or six men built it in about two days. It was a natural school house, as it was built of round logs with the bark on, and the teachers were pioneers, unaccustomed to any other kind of houses but those built of logs. The first of these at my time were Green Finley, Mr. Adams, and afterward Mr. A. Trigg. About twenty scholars was the largest number those teachers had, and they received about twenty dollars per month. I was one of the pupils of the first two named. The first sermon of which I was an auditor was preached by Rev. Jus- tinian Williams, a Methodist, at the house of Wyatt Bingham, who was

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

absent at that time. There was circuit preaching by ministers of the same denomination, Revs. Ben. Johnson, Millice, and others. There was no regular preaching by other denominations. There were occasional services by the Baptists within the bounds of our community, first by Rev. Peyton Nowlin, and afterwards by Rev. Abner Gwinn.

About that time the Cumberland Presbyterians had preaching by Rev. Archibald McCorkle, Rev. L. Burns, J. L. Wear, and Henry Weedin, at the houses of Asa Finley, W. B. Wear, Wm. Burk, and Robt. Wallace, with an occasional sermon by Henry and Robt. Renick, Robt. Sloan, and Wm. Kavanaugh. A Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized in 1833, either at the house of Asa Finley or at the old Salt Fork camp- ground, near Richard Marshall's, with Wm. Burk and Wm. B. Wear as ruling elders, and Rev. Daniel Buie in charge as pastor. In the course of a very few years a church edifice was built on the south of Blackwater, about two miles from the mouth of Salt Fork, being a hewed-log build- ing, and considered adequate to the wants and demands of the people at that time. This structure remained in a somewhat unfinished condition until about 1847, when it was destroyed by fire from one of our then large burning prairies. Those prairie fires were greatly dreaded by the people. Another church was then built about half a mile east of the line in Cooper county, in the year 1848, at a cost of, say $1,200. This church is hon- ored and respected by all for the good work it has done in elevating the moral tone of society and the promotion of the cause of Christianity in our neighborhood. I am proud to say that I have been a member of this church since 1833. Rev. Robert Crockett is in charge of this church at this time, and has been for several years an honored and an honoring member."

The southern, or southeastern portion of Blackwater township, near Ridge Prairie, began to be settled about the year 1826. The first settler was Stephen Dial, in that year, from South Carolina; he staked his claim on section 12, township 48, range 20. Richard Howard came in 1830, from Virginia, and settled on section 11, township 48, range 20. Dick and Branch Jeffries, and James Bruce, remained a while in the neighbor- hood, but did not locate.

The first marriage was that of Jas. Campbell and Lucy Ann Rucker, one-half mile west of Ridge Prairie, by Rev. W. B. Wear.

The first male child born was Watson Dial, in 1826, a son of Stephen and Deborah Dial. The first female child is believed to have been Eliza- beth Bruce, daughter of James and Jane Bruce.

The first death was that of "Old Mr. Head," who lived on section 16, or 17, township 48, range 20. He was buried on his farm.

The first regular physician was Geo. W. Rothwell, from Virginia, who now lives near Sedalia, Pettis county.

The first minister was Rev. W. B. Wear, a Cumberland Presbyterian, who first held services in his own house.

The first school was taught near Richard Howard's, in the grove, by Rev. Thornton Rucker, now dead. He had about thirty-five scholars, at

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

one dollar per scholar, per month. Many of them were boarders, and lived from four to eight miles away.

The first school house was built by the neighborhood, in 1839, near Richard Howard's. It was composed of logs, and one end was " flared " and converted into a huge fire-place. Its roof was fastened by weight- poles, instead of nails. No money was expended in its construction.

Regarding the first manufacture of cloth in the neighborhood, it is stated that Mrs. Deborah Dial, having no loom, and there being no artisan in the community sufficiently skilled to make one, she took her warp and woof to Harmon Bailey's, in Cooper county, eight miles away, and there wove her web.

The mill used by the settlers was on Muddy creek, in Pettis county, sixteen miles away. Supplies were drawn from the river, ten or twelve miles off. Economy was everywhere inculcated, enjoined, and practiced.

When Uncle Dick Marshall's daughter was married, her father called her to him, after the wedding supper, and said: "Now, Linda, you hear -don't let your face be seen in a store for six years! Do you under- stand? "

At Judie G.'s wedding, just over the Cooper county line, the most prominent dish was a large pot, brim full of hard-boiled eggs!

The chimney to Richard Howard's first cabin pulled the smoke in instead of sending it out. On windy days the children, which all told numbered only sixteen, were sent under the bed to save their eyes from the smoke!

There were not many doctors, and no lawyers, no taxes, and no divorces. Nearly all the first settlers, by dint of industry and economy, amassed a competency and some of them gained wealth, and their mere word was worth as much as their descendants' "bond and security."

Among the many incidents narrated of Blackwater township history, it is said that when Judge W. B. Napton was building his place, "Elk Hill," he directed the carpenters to shingle the roof from the "comb " down, and , grew indignant because they would not obey him! The judge is one of the most profound lawyers and able jurists that ever sat on a supreme bench, but one of the workmen remarked, "he don't know everything."

RIDGE PRAIRIE.

A historical sketch of this place and its neighborhood has been fur- nished by Mr. S. W. McCorkle, and is here given. The town is in the southern portion of Blackwater township:

Ridge Prairie gets its name from our first postoffice, which was at 'Squire Hancock's, and by " pony purse," was brought weekly from Arrow Rock. The office got its name from the prairie which extended from the Sappington farm, one-half mile west of our village, to the Sam Bridge-

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

water farm on the east, being a little over a mile wide, and about three miles long.

Stephen Dial was the first settler on the prairie, about 1830. James Bruce began a settlement about the same time, where F. Plumer now lives. Two years later Richard Howard settled, one-half mile north of the present village. About this time Dr. Sappington, Uncle Dick Mar- shall and Ben. Jones settled between Blackwater and the river, in the direc- tion of Arrow Rock.

This almost entire, beautiful prairie, remained unentered for the next ten years, owing to the conviction in the minds of the immigrants, that there was "not timber enough in the country to fence it." They also thought the timbered land much richer. These ideas have been exploded long since, and hence every nook of prairie land is eagerly utilized.

The village sustains two mercantile houses, one drug store, two black- smith shops, and several dwelling houses. Our growth has been retarded, by several influences: First, our people had the habit of going to the river to buy their goods, and hence, were slow to patronize a village, home merchant. Second, the merchant failed to buy their produce, hence necessitated their going to the river.

But while the village failed to build up, the surrounding country has steadily improved. The last acre of land will soon be enclosed, to pro- duce either grain or grass, for private use. Stock and grain raising are quite remunerative. Lands remain very low, selling from three dollars to thirty dollars per acre, the minimum for unimproved, the maximum for highly improved farms, including elegant mansions, barns, &c.

Schools .- For many years, owing to the scarcity of people, and their great distance from each other, our educational facilities were exceed- ingly limited. Our first school was taught by a widow lady, Mrs. Lavina Howe, just over in Cooper county, in her dwelling house. This was in 1834. Our next was taught by Rev. Thornton Rucker, a Baptist min- ister of sacred memory, in a small cabin built for the purpose in a grove, three-quarters of a mile northeast of our village location. He taught two winters-1838 and 1839. Our next school, the following winter, was taught by Rev. Wm. B. Wear, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, also of sacred memory, in his own house, who settled and then lived on the splendid farm now owned by S. R. Cockrell, and the widow of the late R. V. Harvey. The next two winters, by way of accommodation, the school went back into the edge of Cooper county, and was taught by another minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Rev. A. McCorkle. Next winter, by compromise, it was taught in a deserted cabin, on the farm now owned by L. M. Nelson, midway between the extremes of the settlement. Thus our school was portable until the year 1846, when a log cabin, of diminutive dimensions and humble pretensions, was reared near the site of our rather commodious house, which sup- planted it in 1857 or '58. This last is located in West Ridge prairie, and the upper story owned and occupied by the Odd Fellows.

Churches .- Owing to the fact that our churches out-rank our village in years, we have no village church. And because there are services all around us, at convenient distances, nearly every Sabbath, we rarely enjoy a sermon in our school house. On the east, two and a half miles, stands Salt Fork Church, the oldest in the country, built in 1848. On the west, one mile, stands a Baptist Church, of thirty years standing.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

Heath's creek was named from Mr. Heath who made salt from the springs along its bank at an early day, and sold it wet and dripping for $1.50 ber bushel to the settlers. Elk Lick white sulphur springs, is situ- ated on Heath's creek, near the county line, and before the war was some- thing of a watering place and resort, to which people came from a dis- tance. The proprietor, Jas. Witcher, erected a comfortable hotel for the accommodation of his guests. It was a noted place for political meetings, " stump speakings " and other political gatherings.

Upon one occasion, an old line whig relates, Frank Mitchell, whig can- didate for congress, kept his opponent and Gov. C. F. Jackson at bay all day, at this spring. Another time, according to the same authority, Gov. Jackson made a speech against know-nothingism, at the same place. James Harris, described as a "little, slow sleepy-looking man, a school teacher and a relative of the Boone county Harrises," replied, and did it so well that his friends raised a big hurrah for "the little sleepy man" when he had finished.

In the eastern portion of the township, according to Mrs. Wood, Gervas Smith, and other pioneers, the early settlers in that portion of Salt Fork were Wyatt Bingham, Gen. Smith, Maj. Milton Wood, P. Thornton, Asa Finley, Gen. W. B. Miller, Nathan Harris, Col. Wm. Davis, Thos. Gaines, Judge Napton, R. P. Shelby, James H. McAllister, James Hunt, and John B. Dedrich. Some of these settled in what is now Blackwater.

Early marriages were those of Madison Wood and Angeline Thornton, Mr. Herron to a daughter of Maj. Wood, Judge W. B. Napton and Miss Malinda Williams, John G. Miller and Miss Margaret Williams, daughters of Judge Williams, of Tennessee.

The first child born was Ed. Wood, in 1831, a son of Milton and Johanna Wood.

The first deaths were a man named Wilhelm, who was buried on Major Wood's farm, and a child of Mr. Bingham, that was buried in the old family burying ground on the Trigg farm.

The early physicians were Drs. Sappington, Penn, Hutchinson, Todd, Hicks, Hall, and Lawless. The latter was the first that moved into the neighborhood.

The first minister was Gary Hickman, of Maryland, Old School Pres- byterian, who preached first at Marshall. The Methodists and "Camp- bellites " had held camp-meetings in the vicinity previous to Hickman's meetings.

The first school was taught on the Bingham farm, by a teacher named Parsons. Here was one of the first school houses; another was near the James Smith place, and was a small frame building.

Jonesboro and Oliver's mill were early milling points. Some of the first settlers went to "Pin Hook," Pettis county, to mill, the trip requiring

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

two days, over the rough roads and unbridged streams. Game of all kinds was plentiful. Major Thomas Gaines killed 110 deer in one season. Wild turkey became so tame as to come around the cabin door of Mrs. Wood.

CHURCHES IN BLACKWATER TOWNSHIP.

BETHLEHEM CHURCH. .

This church, of the Christian denomination, was organized in 1870. The original members were C. G. Clark and wife, Rufus Clark, Burr Harris, D. S. Merry, wife and daughter, A. H. Hanley and wife, Samuel and Agnes Barley, W. W. Woodson and wife, Elisha Woodson and fam- ily, Thomas Settles and wife, Samuel McDaniel and family, James R. McDaniel and wife, Angeline Garrel, Kittie Bauldin, J. M. Jones and wife, and Lizzie Hurt. A frame church, 40 by 36 feet in size, was built in the fall of 1871, at a cost of $2,400. It was dedicated by Elder James Wright. The pastors have been James Wright, Samuel McDaniel, Pink- erton, Hancock, Phillips, Chappel, Schouse and Hudson, and Bro. C. Q. Shouse, the present preacher. The present membership is about eighty. This church has had preaching regularly since its organization, and Sun- day-school during the summer season.

SALT FORK CHURCH.

This church, under the control of the Cumberland Presbyterians, and in the new Lebanon Presbytery, was organized at an early day. Its first members were Asa, James, Dabney and Wallace Finley; Mollie, Eliza- beth, Mary and Margaret Finley; Thomas, Rhoda, Porus and Nancy Finley; Rhodes and Polly Marshall; James and Lorena Burke; Margaret Wallace, K. J. Steele, W. H. and Mary C. Finley, and Miss Margaret Wallace. A frame church, costing $1,200, was built in 1848; the inform- ant states that it was "built before dedications had come in fashion in this region." The pastors have been Wm. Barnett Wear, Archibald McCor- kle, W. E. Burke, Robert Crockett, with many others as assistants. Number of members at present, 100. The first and second camp-meet- ings of this congregation were held on the north side of Blackwater, about one mile northeast of the Marshall bridge, in 1840-41. In 1842, Rev. A. McCorkle deeded and dedicated two or three acres of land to the church, where the Salt Fork church now stands, and the annual camp- meetings were held there ever after. But few years have since passed in which the members have not had their annual communication and revival meeting. "Many hundreds of persons," says the chronicler, "old and young, black and white, have there dedicated themselves to God, a large percentage of whom have died triumphantly and joined the church on high."

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

SALINE CHURCH,

Missionary Baptist, was organized in 1861, and re-organized in 1869. The original members were P. I. Parsons and family, Mr. H. Sellers and wife, J. C. Hansborough and daughters, B. F. Lyon, Mrs. Hansborough, John T. Woodson, J. M. Yager and wife, Wm. Murphy and wife, and others. The congregation as yet has no church building, but services are held in a school house in the neighborhood. The pastors have been B. T. Thomas, N. T. Allison, I. B. Dodson, J. L. Tichenor, E. T. Shelton. Rev. Tichenor is the present pastor. Number of members at present, 41. Have had regular preaching once a month, since the re-organization. The organization of 1861 was broken up by the war, and not re-organized until 1869.

HEATH'S CREEK CHURCH.

This church was first organized in the year 1843, at the house of Nathaniel Bridgwater, in Cooper county. The first members were Mr. Bridgwater and his family of eight children; Nick Harlow and his wife, son, and daughter; Rev. J. F. Clark; Jesse Allison, wife and daughter; Rev. Thornton Rucker, wife and two sons; Carter, Martha, and Eliza- beth Dix. A frame church, costing about $500, was built in the year 1848 or 1849, by Mr. Grear. The house was newly sided, ceiled, roofed, and painted, in 1879. The pastors of this church have been Thornton Rucker, Abner Gwinn, Isaiah Williams, J. F. Clark, Rev. Sands, Wm. Gentry, A. P. Williams, Rev. Hudson, J. B. Dodson, I. B. Payne, W. R. Green, and Sheldon Whipple.

THE GERMAN BAPTIST.

This church, called the Blackwater arm of the German Baptist church -often termed the "Tunker" or "Dunkard" church-was organized, July 17, 1873. The first members were David L. Williams, Leah C. Williams, J. and C. Smith, J. T. Shores, S. Evans, N. Evans, H. Evans, H. Van Buskirk, M. Turner, and Amanda Turner. No house of wor- ship has ever been built. The pastors have been D. L. Williams and John Umphlet. The present number of members is thirty-four. The informant states, that this is a branch of the " Brethren " or German Bap- tists, commonly called Dunkards. "Their peculiar tenets are that they take the New Testament for their guide in theology, church government, and disciplinary rule; and they believe that the Master meant, in all things, just what He said; that all of His commands are to be observed; that there are no 'non-essentials,' and that we are accountable in proportion to our loyalty or disloyalty to God."

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

SALT FORK CHURCHES.

SMITH'S CHAPEL.

This is one of the oldest Methodist churches in Missouri, and the old- est in Saline county. It was organized in 1824. Some of the first mem- bers were Wyatt Bingham and wife, Adam Steele and wife, Walker Adkinson and wife, and Benj. Brown. A frame church, costing about $2,000, was built in the year 1857. Dr. C. E. Smith donated the land and $300. The site was in the brush. J. T. and D. A. Stouffer were the contractors. The brush was cleared off and located, and the work was paid for when completed. The pastors have been Revs. Mr. Pace, Lee, Millice, Ben. Johnson, Best, Nichols, Lacy, Anderson, James and Thos. Wallace, Tom. Finney, Wm. Protsman, Joseph Dines, J. D. Reed, War- ren Wharton, Nathan Talbot, Lowe, A. M. Rader, Josiah Godby, W. B. McFarland, J. D. Blevens, John R. Bennett, J. F. Hogan, M. Duren, W. M. Bewley. The first presiding elder on this district was Rev. Redmon. During the war there was no regular preaching for about four years.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

It was in this township, on Finney's creek, where Renault's French Argonauts, in 1720, made search for precious metals, and delved in the earth, and erected rude smelting furnaces. They probably visited portions of Blackwater township also, as noted in the first pages of this history. It is not certain who were the first actual settlers in the township, as it is now constituted. Robert Fitzgerald. F. Lockney, Chas. Beasley and Caleb Witcher were the first of whom it has been possible to obtain information regarding the early settlement. They are said to have come about the year 1838. Histories of neighborhoods, early schools, etc., although solicited and promised, have not been obtained.

The early settlers shared the same fortunes, however, and had the same ups and downs as did their neighbors in other townships. Indeed, a sketch of early life in one township in Saline, will very nearly answer for any other. Jonesboro, Arrow Rock and Brownsville were the trading points for the first settlers. Drs. Penn and Sappington, and Dr. Parks were the first physicians. A portion of the history of this township may be found in that of Blackwater.

During the civil war, the people of this bailiwick were mostiy Union . men. Portions of two companies of Missouri state militia were from Liberty township; Capt. B. H. Wilson's company, of the 7th M. S. M., had for its lieutenant, John S. Crain, of this township; and Capt. W. L. Corum raised his company here. Capt. C. seems to have been a gallant

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soldier, well liked by both parties. A skirmish or two occurred in this township, between the Federal militia and the bushwhackers, and, on the Price raid, in the southern partjof the township, some of Jeff. Thomp- son's men came on a party of militia, and, it is said, killed three out of eight or ten.

Since the war, the material prosperity of the township has largely increased, and the country is now well settled. There is an abundance of churches, schools, etc., within its boundaries, and Liberty township is now one of the best, in all general respects, in the county.

In April, 1881, Elijah Keyton, a prominent farmer and well known citi- zen, was murdered at his home in this township, by Charles Phelps, a young man in his employ. Phelps had formed an attachment for a young daughter of Keyton's, which was very distasteful to Mr. Keyton, and the latter had threatened to send the young man away in a short time. Phelps watched his opportunity, and one evening, unobserved, killed Keyton with an ax. He was arrested and confined in jail, and his case is yet to be dis- posed of.

TOWN OF HERNDON.

The town of Herndon was laid off by T. C. Elliott in The first house was built by Edward S. Herndon, and is the storehouse now occupied by Fenwick & Surbaugh, harness and saddlery establishment. The next business house built was one for general merchandise, by Jesse McMahan, of Arrow Rock, who put his son in charge of the store, but sold out to Herndon & Hall, of which firm Mr. Herndon has continued in business to the present time. At this time there are general merchandise stores, Herndon, Huston & Holmes; two saddle and harness establish- ments, two blacksmith shops, one carpenter shop, one flouring mill, with two run of stones, and two physicians, one wagon shop, postoffice estab- lished in December, 1875, Mr. Herndon being the present postmaster. The population is eighty-five souls. The town was named for Mr. E. S. Herndon, who established the first store, the first dwelling house and the postoffice.

COUNTRY CHURCHES.

BETHLEHEM CHURCH (CHRISTIAN),

was organized about the year 1860, and at first held meetings in a school house. The original members were C. J. Clark, A. Hanley, Samuel Bar- ley, E. S. Merry, Dr. Farris, Alex. Hamilton, James Witcher. A frame · church building was erected in 1872. The real cost value of the building was about $2,000, but the members all worked at its construction, and made the actual cash cost about $900. It was dedicated the same year by elder Samuel McDaniel. The pastors have been Dr. Farris, Elgin A. Wright, G. W. Langdon, - Hancock, Peter Donan, and - Robinson,

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before the war; since the war, Samuel McDaniel, Bro. Joseph Wright, Wm. Pinkerton, - Chappel, G. W. Phillips, R. H. Hudson, C. Q. Shouse. Present membership, near eighty. During the war preaching was suspended for some time. Tom Woodson and his band of bush- whackers were at the church on one occasion when services were in pro- gress. The congregation was badly frightened at first, for the bush- whackers were greatly feared, and the pastor dismissed the audience somewhat unceremoniously. Woodson assured him, however, that he had no intention of hurting any one, and he did not, although, perhaps if he had found those for whom he was looking, there would have been a fight.

ANTIOCH CHURCH (BAPTIST).

Antioch Church was organized about the year 1851. The first mem- bers were J. Fulkerson, Thos. Miller, J. K. Farris, John Smith, Samuel Scott, John Dickerson, Zinc Maupin, and L. B. Williams. A frame church, costing $1,200, was built in 1866. It was dedicated by Rev. Birchfield, the Rev. Thompson preaching the dedicatory sermon. Names of pastors-Birchfield, Spurgin, Gott, Cleaveland, DeRacken, Dodson, Hudson, Burgess. Number of members at present, 150. For the last year or two the organization has been somewhat demoralized. The Chris- tian Church owns one-third interest in the building, and the German Bap- tists, or "Dunkards," hold meetings there. Many of the members of the Baptist Church have joined other organizations.

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 53

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company
Number of Pages: 1008