History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 56

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 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).

On the day of the murder, Capt. Crain's company of militia was sta- tioned at Marshall, and at about the time of the murder was on drill. Some of the members of this company were among the first to discover the bodies, and made active search for the murderers. Years afterward, in the fall of 1875, Levi Hagan and T. B. Fulkerson, two of the members of this company, were arrested and put upon trial, at Marshall, charged with the murder. Hagan was arrested in Texas. His father warned him by telegraph of the charge against him, and advised him to leave the coun- try, but Hagan answered that he was perfectly willing to be put on trial, and accordingly voluntarily surrendered himself to the officers sent after him. The evidence was purely circumstantial and not at all convincing, and both men were honorably acquitted. Who did commit the crime will probably never be known, and what motive there was for its com- mission will likewise ever be a mystery. The pockets of the murdered men were not rifled, and the goods in the wagon were undisturbed. Both bushwhackers and militiamen were charged with the cowardly, cold- blooded crime, but nothing positive could ever be proven against any- body.

COUNTRY CHURCHES.

PISGAH CHURCH.

Pisgah Church, situated one-half mile north of Elmwood, was organ- ized in connection with the Old School Presbyterian Church, August 7, 1845, by Rev. G. Hickman, and Rev. J. L. Yantis, acting under the orders of the presbytery. It is one of the oldest, if not the very oldest, church of that denomination in that part of Saline county. Its first elders were Dr. Thomas Parks and Anderson Fitzpatrick. Dr. Parks, at the advanced age of more than four-score, still lives at-Elmwood. Mr. Fitz- patrick died in 1874. The other elders were elected in the following order: Moses Woodfin (or Wordfin), in 1849, and to him is due, in a great measure, the credit of the erection of the present church building. Samuel F. Taylor was elected in 1855, and during the six years of his eldership, and under the ministration of Rev. James Clark, the church enjoyed its highest prosperity. The name of Samuel Taylor is held in almost sacred veneration by the older members of the church, and is hon- ored by the entire community for the many noble traits which adorn his character. Rev. James Clark died at Clarinda, Iowa, in the year 1879. He removed to the north during the civil war, and was living in the town

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named at the time of his death. In 1860, the following elders were elected: John C. Clark, George Francisco, and Dr. A. W. Reese; in 1875, G. M. Francisco. The last additions reported to this historian were Geo. Wash- burn and Andrew Dysart, in 1876. The following ministers have preached for this church, in the order in which their names stand: G. Hickman, J. L. Yantis, Wm. Paulding, C. Crow, Ralph Harris, Jas. C. Clark, J. L. Yantis, Joshua Barbee. The organization took place in a log school house, which was the only place for public worship in the neighborhood for a number of years. The church increased in numbers and influence until the war, when many of its members were scattered, and great indif- ference upon the subject of religion prevailed throughout the country. The close of the war found the church in a sad condition. A kind Provi- dence, however, smiled upon it in some measure, and its numbers and in- fluence, though not its former condition, have been restored. The church was able, in 1875, to give about thirty of its members to another Presbyterian congregation, which worship seven or eight miles west, and still maintains its usual strength, and have public worship regularly twice a month. Its present membership is between sixty and seventy, and the congregations, upon Sabbath morning services, are generally very fine. The congregations are composed in part of members of other denomina- tions, which Christian courtesy is returned by the Presbyterians, and shows a most friendly feeling existing between the different denominations in the neighborhood. Information concerning this church has been furnished by Rev. Joshua Barbee.

SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

A society of the M. E. Church, or Northern Methodists, called the Salt Springs Society, was organized in 1867, with the following members: Sam- uel, Nancy, James, William, Mary, and Emma McClelland; M. Maupin, Wm. Bray, Maria Bray, Samuel and Elizabeth Brown, and James More- land. It has had for pastors, Wm. Stevens, H. R. Miller. A. P. Salloway, G. T. Smiley, F. Oechsle, Stanford Ing, J. S. Porter, and J. H. Gillespie. Number of present membership, twenty-eight. There is hope for the erection of a church building in the near future.

CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH.

This church, of the Christian demonination, was organized in 1869, with the following members: H. S. Pollard, T. W. and W. L. Hancock, Wm. Beck, Jas. Clay, T. H. Gunnell, Wm. and Jas. Hickman, Alex. Green, M. Beamer, Alf. Hickman. A frame church building was erected the same year . at a cost of $2,434.66. The pastors have been Geo. Plattenburg, T. W. Hancock, T. N. Gaines, Wm. Pinkerton, - Perkins, - Gill, and C. Q. Shouse. Present membership, sev- enty-five.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Church of the Annunciation, was organized in 1843, although there were Catholics here as early as 1841. The first members were Christopher Fitzsimmons, John Clarkin, Patrick Loftus, Michael Lan- gan, Wm. Prior, Martha King, Thos. Caffery, Miss O. Ferrell, now Mrs. Harrison, and others who came from Charleston, South Carolina. The first church building was erected in 1851; it was of wood. The second church was built in 1878, of dressed stone, at a cost of near $5,000. It will be dedicated the present year by Right Rev. John Joseph Hogan, D. D., of Kansas City. The pastors of this church have been: The Rev. Francis De Maria, S. J., in 1845; Rev. James Kinney, S. J., in 1846; Rev. James Murphy, 1847; Rev. Thos. Cusack, in 1850; Rev. Bernard Donnelly, 1854; Rev. Joseph Meister, in 1855; Rev. Bernard Hilmer, in 1856; Rev. Eugene O'Hea, in 1857, and Rev. Edward Hamill, the ven- erable and universally revered present pastor. The present membership is composed of about sixty or seventy families. Michael Finney, Chris- topher Clarkin, and Thos. Langan were here in 1841. John and Chris- topher Clarkin went to California and died there.

The " Irish settlement," so called, which is partly in Elmdwood an partly in Marshall townships, was begun as early as 1843, by a small colony from Charleston, South Carolina. Among the first were the Clarkins, the Gallaghers, the Kings, Loftus, Langan, Prior, Caffery, and the O'Farrells. In this settlement the first Catholic congregation was organized, although there were Catholics scattered over the county prior to that time. At present Catholicity is extensively diffused throughout Saline county. There is a fine Catholic Church at Marshall, one at Frankfort, and there are numerous missions in the county. Father Hamill came to reside at the Annunciation in 1867. Father Murphy, now of Marshall, was his assistant from 1870 for some time.

THE TOWN OF ELMWOOD.

The town of Elmwood was laid out in the year 1867. Its founders were R. F. Canterbury and Dr. George Hereford. The postoffice was estab- lished the same year, and Wm. W. Kennedy was the first postmaster. R. H. Brady built the first house for Canterbury & Hereford, who were proprietors of the first store.

The first school house was built in 1867, and James Parton taught the first school. There were about twenty-five pupils, and the teacher received fifty dollars per month for his services.

The first marriage was that of James Fitzpatrick to Miss Susan Ken- nedy. Rev. Joshua Barbee performed the ceremony. The first male child born was John Kennedy, son of James M. and Maria H. Kennedy, born in 1867. The first female born was Ella Kennedy, in 1868 or 1869, of the

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same parents. The first death was that of the child of John Kennedy, before mentioned.

The first physician was Dr. Thomas Parks, a native of Augusta county, Virginia, but from Todd county, Kentucky, to Saline county. The first religious services were held in the school house where the first school was taught by Rev. Tolbert, a Methodist.

Dr. Parks, the venerable pioneer physician of the place, says of Elm- wood: "Nothing ever happens here."

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

No statistics received from this church, although promised by the authorities.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

Elmwood Lodge, No. 215, I. O. G. T., was organized April 6, 1879, by Dr. Holland, of Marshall. The charter members were S. N. Beatie, Mrs. S. E. Hays, W. L. Beatie, S. T. Dysart, Mrs. M. D. Francisco, G. T. Martin, Joe Francisco, Robert Green, G. T. Nichols, J. W. Garrard, Mary and Belle Beatie, W. H. Ireland, W. A. Smith, and others. The first officers were S. N. Beatie, W. C. T .; Mrs. S. E. Hays, W. V. T .; W. L. Beatie, W. C .; G. T. Martin, secretary; S. T. Dysart, W. F. S .; Mrs. M. D. Francisco, W. T .; Joe Francisco, N. M .; Robert Green, I. G .; G. T. Nichols, O. G. The present officers are S. N. Beatie, L. D .; G. T. Martin, P. W. C. T .; T. J. Dysart, W. C. T .; Mary Kennedy, W. V. T .; A. Hunter, secretary; G. R. Davis, F. S .; Belle Beatie, treasurer; J. A. Halley, C .; George L. Harris, M .; Florence Kennedy, D. M .; Mattie Kennedy, I. G .; H. G. Dysart, O. G .; Sallie Parks, assistant secretary; Mollie Hays, R. S .; Virgie Davis, L. S. The present number of mem- bers is 113. The hall is over the Methodist Church, South, built by the members of that church, and sold to Elmwood Grange, No. 210, and is now owned by the grange. It is rented for the use of this lodge at $+ per quarter. It is a frame, and cost the grange $500. The P. W. C. T. states that when this lodge was organized this neighborhood was noted for the number of its dissipated young men, and the village of Elmwood sold more whisky than any other town in the county of twice its size. Soon after the organization of the lodge the liquor dealers closed up, and there has been no whisky sold in the place since. "Now," says the gen- tleman referred to, "we have as orderly and well-behaved a community as there is anywhere."

THE TOWN OF BLACKBURN.

Seventeen miles west of Marshall, on the C. & A. R. R., is situated the thriving village of Blackburn, about midway between the northern and southern boundaries of Saline, on Quality ridge. Upon the completion of the C. & A. R. R. to that point, F. H. Blackburn, in whose honor the 33

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town is named, and P. H. Rea, of Marshall, laid out the city's boundaries. This was in 1879. Now the tall spires and the noisy din of business remind the stranger that Blackburn is not merely a railroad station, but a live business town. In the spring of 1879, George A. Alkire built a house and opened the first store, keeping general merchandise.

The first church was the Episcopal, built in 1880, Rev. Woodruff, rec- tor. In 1881, the Christian Church was built.

Blackburn, though yet in its infancy, is quite a business point. Trent & Palmer have a large dry goods and clothing store on Main street, and are doing a splendid business. Trent, the resident member, is a young man of fine business qualifications, and very popular among his customers.

Thomas C. Maupin, hardware and implement merchant, is a whole- souled, energetic townsman, and deeply interested in the place.

H. C. Spencer is running the drug store business in a strictly legitimate way; is a young man of popular turn and decided character.

A. H. Shindler & Co. are live men, from Waverly, who have brought their trade with them, and are handling an extensive line of dry goods, clothing, and staple groceries. Their reputation for straightforward deal- ing and honesty will always insure them a lively trade.

The lumber business is in the hands of the enterprising young Catron Bros., who are handling all the lumber for that point, and of course are doing a good business.

J. H. Handley, mayor of the city, is proprietor of a mammoth livery stable, on south side of railroad; runs a daily hack line to Waverly and Sweet Springs.

The beef market is supplied by A. Tilton, who is also proprietor of the large city hotel.

A first class news depot and barber shop is being run by M. M. Biren.

The manufacturing business is carried on by Thos. J. Doyle, who is daily turning off wagons, spring and farm, and all styles of buggies.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The congregation of the Church of the Mediator was first organized at St. Thomas, now Waverly, February 17, 1856, and was called St. Thomas' Parish. In 1880, the present church building was erected at Blackburn, and the name of the association was changed to its present name, the Church of the Mediator. The original members were Rev. D. G. Estes, Jacob Fackler, Geo. J. Fackler, D. Creel, H. S. Davis, R. H. Creel, W. A. Richards, D. Trigg, J. Major, Wm. Ashford, J. S. Harding. The church building, at Blackburn was built in the spring of 1850, and was dedicated, September 14, following, by Rt. Rev. C. F. Robertson, bishop of Missouri. It is a frame, and cost about $800. The present rector is Rev. M. S. Woodruff, of Marshall. The rectors in past years have been

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Reverends D. Gordon Estes, J. W. Dunn, and Olcott Bulkley. The pres- ent membership is about thirty ..

GOOD TEMPLARS' LODGE.

Blackburn Lodge, No. 315, I. O. G. T., was organized Nov. 21, 1879, by T. J. Hutchinson, The charter members were E. Marshall, H. E. Mandorf, Thos. Doyle, M. Blackburn, T. Maupin, Wm. Washburn, Henry Miles, Y. Anderson, M. Welch, Phelps and Gregory, Misses Bet- tie Miles, Laura Davis, Owens, and Jones. The first officers were: E. Marshall, W. C. T .; Bettie Miles, W. V. T .; T. Maupin, P. W. C. T .; H. E. Mandorf, W. C .; C. Bulkley, Sec'y; M. Blackburn, W. F. S .; Laura Davis, W. T .; H. Miles, W. M .; Mrs. Jones, W. D. M .; O. Gregory, W. S .; Mrs. Owens, W. I. G. The present officers are: Chas. Bulkley, W. C. T .; Laura B. Davis, W. V. T .; A. Davis, P. W. C. T .; Thos. Doyle, L. D .; M. Welch, W. Sec .; T. B. Small, W. Chap .; M. Biven, W. F. Sec .; Ella B. Davis, W. Treas .; Spencer Small, W. M .; Belle Welch, W. D. M .; P. Welch, W. Sec .; Ella Welch, W. I. G. The present number of members is 36. The lodge meets in Doyle's hall, a frame building erected in 1880.

MT. LEONARD.

[No report has been received from this place although solicited from, and blanks furnished to, parties best acquainted with its history, and most interested in its welfare. Enough is known, however, to state that the town was laid out in the latter part of 1877, upon the completion of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and named in honor of the Leonard brothers, principal proprietors of the place.]

CHURCH.

There is a Methodist Church building in process of erection. No report received.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

Mt. Leonard Lodge, No. 1938, K. of H., was organized December 20, 1879, by James Drowns of St. Louis. The charter members were Geo. L. Goulding, Wm. and Abiel Leonard, Leveritt Leonard, John and David Hancock, J. B. Carthrae, J. U. Fountain, D. U. Pinkerton, John Lynd, - Entrecan, N. Richardson, John Bradley, E. Magoffin, Chas. Bulk- ley, John Edwards, C. Deathreage, J. K. Finnell, John Cherry, R. James, Dr. Harrison. The first officers were E. Magoffin, Dictator; J. B. Carth- rae, V. D .; Abiel Leonard, A. D .; D. U. Pinkerton, R .; John Bradley, F. R .; Dr. Harrison, J .; W. M. Leonard, Chaplain; Nat. Richardson, T .; David Hancock, Guardian; John Wallace, S .; L. Leonard, John Wallace and N. Richardson, Trustees. The present officers are: Wm. Leonard, Dictator; E. Magoffin, V. D .; Taylor Entrecan, A. D .; John Cherry, R .; John Bradley, F. R .; John Lynd, G .; John K. Finnel, Chaplain; Nat.

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HISTORY OF . SALINE COUNTY

Richardson, T .; J. U. Fountain, Guardian; D. U. Pinkerton, S .; Abiel Leonard, Nat. Richardson, and John Edwards, Trustees. Present mem- bership, about 30. The lodge meets in a frame hall, erected in 1880, at a cost of $700.

THE SALT SPRINGS.

The hamlet and postoffice of this name is situated about eight miles west of Marshall. It consists of a postoffice, a dry goods and grocery store, a blacksmith shop, etc. It is situated within one-fourth of a mile from either of the two large salt springs, in the beautiful Salt Springs valley.

The great Salt Springs constitute one of the most important and inter- esting features of the county. The water of one of them contains fifteen per cent of salt; of the other, seventeen per cent. By a little improvement, invalids and health-seekers could here have the benefits of a sea-bath. The springs are large, and very beautifully situated. The splendid and delightful Salt Springs valley contains ninety, or more, of these smaller springs of salt water, besides many soft water springs. One of the latter discharges 125 gallons per minute. It is situated on Mr. Langan's farm.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

This township, being almost destitute of timber at the time, was not settled when Miami, Cambridge, Clay, and the other townships border- ing on the river were.

In the vicinity of where the railroad station of Norton now is, the first settlements were made, in 1839, by Robt. Brown, Matthias C. Gwinn, Elias Wilhite, Dudley Cooper, David Ford, Thos. Duggins, H. Swisher, John Pulliam, Samuel Wall, and Owen T. Willis, from Virginia and Ten- nessee, and by Cuth. Hickman, from Kentucky, in 1840.

The first marriage was that of Wm. N. Oliver, of the Platte purchase, and Miss Mary Ann Jackson, near Mt. Horeb Church, about the year 1843. The first death occurred in the fall of 1843, and was a son of Thos. C. and Elizabeth W. Duggins.

The first physicians, always excepting, of course, Dr. Sappington, were Drs. Long and Hicks, of Marshall. Dr. Long died at Lexington, and Dr. Hicks at Marshall, the latter of cholera, in 1849.

The first minister remembered was Rev. Dodds, a Methodist, who first held service at Richard Durrett's residence, near Rock Creek. The first school was taught by Capt. Ruxton, about three-fourths of a mile west of the present site of Norton, about 184 -. It was a small subscrip- tion school. Thos. C. Duggins opened his school in 1841-2, at Pink

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

Booker's place. The first school house was built half a mile southeast of Mt. Horeb.

Mrs. Jackson, wife of Thomas Jackson, had the first weaving done by her servants. There were, in the first settlement, no mills nearer than Jonesboro. Groceries were brought from Miami and Old Jefferson. Pota- toes and peas were often used when the people could not get meal. The latter was often ground in hand-mills, or grated upon the old-fashioned tin graters.

Out in the Rock Creek Church neighborhood, the first settlers were Jesse Lankford and John Piper, from Virginia; -- Goff, Elias Wilhite, M. C. Gwinn, James Smith, Henry Weedin, Tolman Weedin, and Richard Durrett.

The first female child born in the neighborhood was Margaret Pember- ton, danghter of Thomas and Sarah Pemberton. The marriages of Misses Goff and Nancy Durrett were the first.

Drs. Price, Penn, and Sappington were the first physicians. Thos. Fris- toe was the first minister. The people went to hear him preach away down to Zoar Church at Jonesboro.

West of Marshall, A. F. Bruce and Col. Lewis were among the first settlers.

Near the town site of Marshall, was Jerry Odell, Henry Simmons, and others.

The history of Marshall township is so largely blended with that of the county in general that no separate mention of it need here be made. As soon as the county seat was permanently located at the town of Marshall, the township began to settle up rapidly, and even before 1839, many of the best tracts of land were occupied.

The boundaries of this township have been considerably expanded since its first survey, and many of the settlements and settlers upon its borders are named in the history of other townships.

MT. OLIVE CHURCH.

It is due to the many memories clustering about this church that extended mention of it should be made. It is situated about five miles south of Marshall, and is the joint property of the Old School and the Cumberland® Presbyterians. The two denominations have walked and worshipped together in the spirit of unity and in the bonds of peace for more than a quarter of a century, forgetting, in a great measure, the grounds and points of difference between themselves.

The Cumberland congregation was organized, February 22, 1852, by P. G. Rea. Some of the original members were Harry Buie and wife, Wm. and A. E. Burke and their wives, and John Buck and his wife. The ministers who have preached for the church are P. G. Rea, James Mar-

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tin, Warren Compton, Robert S. Reed, W. E. Burke, Abner Lansdon, Samuel McCorkle, P. G. Rea, W. H. Duff, and Abner Lansdon, present pastor.

It was organized with Wm. Burke and John Buck as elders. Mr. Burke is still living, now seventy-five years of age, and discharging faith- fully the duties of his office. His services have been very valuable to his church and community. The following elders have been since added: Bolivar G. Doyle, in 1860; Wm. Corum, in 1861; W. K. Mahard, in 1868. The membership is between forty and fifty.

The Old School branch of the church was organized in 1853; the same year in which the house was built. The ministers that have preached for this church from its organization, are Rev. G. Hickman, William Pauld- ing, George C. Crow, James C. Clark, James Morton, George Cameron, James C. Clark, J. L. Yantis, and Joshua Barbee. The elders which con- stituted its first session were Joseph Laury, and-

In a few years Thompson G. Miller was made an elder. Just after the war, in 1866, Dr. Wm. Fisher and Robert Stuart were added to the session And in 1875, Isaac Sydenstriker was elected as an additional elder. The membership numbers between forty and fifty. The two denomina- tions worshipping in the same house, has been a great advantage to the neighborhood, affording public worship almost every Sabbath, and mak- ing the interest of one identical with the other. The cemetery, which is enclosed in the same grounds with the church, has been an object of con- siderable pride and attention upon the part of not only both churches, but the entire community. Nature has made the location more than ordi- narily attractive, but the noble dead that live beneath its sod have rendered it more sacred to the hearts of many. It is to be hoped that the same care and attention will be shown to these grounds to the latest generation, and the blessings of Providence always attend these churches, and broth- erly love continue and abound in every heart.

The church building, a frame 28x46, costing about $1,100, was built in 1853. It was dedicated in a year or two by Dr. Nathan Hall, of Lexing- ton, Kentucky. During the war there was regular preaching at Mount Olive throughout all of those dark and bloody years, an uncommon cir- cumstance. People of all denominations attended, some coming for miles. It was visited regularly by the people of Marshall.

The cemetery has been used by all of the surrounding country. Many former citizens of the town of Marshall sleep within its sacred precincts.

THE TOWN OF MARSHALL.

The origin, formation, and very much of the history of the town of Marshall, are set forth in the general history, on other pages of this work.

Jeremiah Odell donated the sixty-five acres upon which the original

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town was laid out. The location had been sometimes known as the Elk Hill, so-called from the droves of elk which frequented the site itself, and the adjacent country.

Henry C. Simmons built the first house, in 1839. It was a one-story frame and was used as a saloon! It was situated on the west side of the northwest corner of the public square. Thomas Davis built the first two-story house, and sold the first goods; Col. Wm. Lewis put up the second store, and was the second merchant in the place. Alexander Skillen built the first hotel, or tavern stand; Col. Wm. Lewis, the next. The first public school house in the place was built in 1849 or 1850. It was a frame, and stood on lots five and six, in block forty-three. Its cost was about $250. The first church building was put up by the Methodists, on the lot where the Bap- tist Church now is. Mr. John McCowan was the builder. It was partly completed-the frame being put up-when the work stopped for a while, for the want of funds. It was dedicated by Rev. T. P. Akers.

Prior to the building of the first church and school house, religious ser- vices had been held in Skillen's tavern, and in the court house, and schools had been taught in private houses and in the court house. Probably the first religious services were held in Skillen's tavern, by the Cumber- land Presbyterians, and it is claimed that Henry Gaines taught the first private school. Mr. Barbee was one of the very first teachers.

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 56

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