USA > Missouri > St Charles County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 108
USA > Missouri > Montgomery County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 108
USA > Missouri > Warren County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 108
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1018
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Rummons & Morsey, who ran the paper but a few months, when Mr. Morsey sold his interest to Mr. Rummons, who shortly thereafter transferred one-half of his interest to R. B. Speed. Mr. Rummons disposed of his remaining interest to George W. Morgan, and the paper was successfully edited and managed by Messrs. Speed & Morgan until Mr. Morgan retired, Mr. Thomas M. Morsey acquiring a half interest. In 1882 Mr. Speed sold his interest to Samuel B. Cook, who in company with Mr. Morsey conducted the paper until the fall of 1884, when Mr. Cook retired, disposing of his interest to Mr. Morsey and Mr. Frederick L. Blome. The Banner is ably edited, its local columns containing a weekly resume of Warren county occurrences, and a well selected synopsis of the week's tele-, graphic news, arranged with great taste and presented in a very at- tractive form. The proprietors also conduct a model job printing department, doing work of a high order of merit.
In 1869 a stock company was organized at Warrenton, and under its management the Chronicle was established. Mr. A. Ackerman was the publisher, and soon acquired full ownership of the property. After a precarious existence of two years the paper again passed into the hands of a stock company, who rechristened the sheet, calling it the Citizen, and publishing a German edition, both under the editorial management of Mr. Frank T. Williams. In 1875 the property was purchased by Maynard & Co., who-suspended the publication of the German edition. The Citizen discontinued publication in 1881.
In 1872 the Wright City Visitor was founded by Mr. Laudon Rum- mons, a gentleman of fine literary taste and scholarly attainments, who conducted the paper for about one year, when he became one of the proprietors of the Banner at Warrenton, at which time the ma- terial of the office and its subscription lists were consolidated with the Banner.
The first German paper established was the Der Buerger, which was published for a short time at Warrenton. From 1869 to 1875.a German edition of the Warrenton Citizen supplied the German readers of the county, and after this edition was discontinued the Union was published for about four years, finally giving place to the Volksfreund, which made its first appearance in 1880 under the joint management of T. A. Bochmer and George Bartholomaeus. The paper is still in existence, and is an ably edited publication. Its circulation is about 1,000.
1019
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
EDUCATIONAL.
Residents of Warren refer with pardonable pride to the excellence of its school system. The history of the county since 1833 is full of evidences of liberality and good judgment on the part of both the tax payers and public officials who have had control of its educational facilities. Warren county is, upon the whole, populated by a very intelligent class of people, who fully appreciate the necessity of good schools, and throughout its history every possible facility has been provided for the education of the young.
Taxes for this purpose, while extremely low, have been at all times amply sufficient to guarantee the best of instruction, and the cheer- fulness with which the people indorse all the improvements suggested by those who have in charge the public school affairs of the county indicate a degree of appreciation rarely equaled.
The first superintendent of public schools was Rudolph Ritter, who was elected in 1868. In 1870, by act of the Legislature, the office of superintendent was abolished, and the position of school commissioner was created. Mr. Ritter served one year under the new law, being superseded by Byron Taylor, who filled the office until the fall election of 1876, when the present incumbent, Hon. Virgie A. Hughes, took charge of the department. Under his administration the schools have materially improved, and are now in a very flourishing condition. From his last report to the State Superintendent the following data is taken, the figures given being for the year ending June 30, 1884 : Number of white persons in county over 6 and under 20 years, male, 1,709 ; female, 1,495. Number colored, over 6 and under 20 years, male, 131 ; female, 113. Number white persons attending school during year, male, 1,056 ; female, 853. Number colored persons attending school during year, male, 93 ; female, 82. Number teachers employed, male, 40 ; female, 24. Average pay, male, $35.20 ; female, $29.08. Number of schools in county, white, 55 ; colored, 7-62. Value of school property, $11,701. Assessed valuation of property in the county, $1,826,656. Average rate per $100, levied for school purposes, .45. Amount of unexpended school funds at close of year, $1,637.53.
The school buildings are all frame structures, yet sufficiently large and comfortable. Warren, although one of the smallest counties in the State, is, from its geographical location, destined to be a commu- nity remarkable for its advanced ideas on the subject of education. Situated near St. Louis, and convenient to all the great institutions of
1020
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
learning, populated by a thrifty and intelligent class of people, its future in this regard is indeed a bright one. History has chronicled its position as a seat of learning (reference to which will be found in another chapter, in which are given the details relating to Warrenton's college facilities ), and the broad views advanced by its leading citizens upon this subject have elicited the hearty co-operation of all classes.
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
Warren county is extremely fortunate in having no bonded indebt- edness. Her people have always enjoyed immunity from the slightest public extravagance on the part of their servants, and in consequence, beyond the yearly levy for actual public expenses, the people are entirely free from assessment. The taxes in the county are, there- fore, very light, as compared with many localities in the State. The only debt which the county has ever incurred since its organization was made in 1862, when it became necessary to procure a fund to pay the bounties due to the soldiers. For this purpose, and by the authority of the county court, the sum of $8,029.50 was borrowed from the county school fund. Upon this loan the county pays inter- est, which is divided proportionately among the various school districts of the county. The bonds given for security upon this loan are deposited with the county court, so that practically the county has no debt. It was deemed safer to borrow this money, with the security of the county, than to assume any risk in loaning the surplus of the school fund to outside purties.
The assessment of 1882 was as follows : Number of acres assessed in 1882, 250,110; valuation, $1,033,505 ; number of town lots, 820 ; total valuation of real estate, $1,114,800; taxable wealth for 1882, $2,141,865 ; amount collected from merchants and manufacturers, $931.01 ; number of dram-shops in the county, 7; rate of dram-shop license, county, $500; State, $50; total, $550; rate of wine and beer license, county, $50; State, $25; total, $75; total tax assessed against railroad and telegraph property for 1883, $3,247.53.
Warren county voted the sum of $50,000 to aid the construction of the North Missouri Railway. The tax for this purpose was levied direct upon the people, the agreement with the company being that tax certificates to the amount of $100 would entitle the holders to a stock certificate of the company. As these tax certificates accumu- lated in the hands of the citizens, many wealthy persons bought them up, paying as high as 80 cents on the dollar for them. As time passed by and the difficulties of the company rendered their stock
1021
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
practically worthless, the shrewd financiers of Warren county found to their chagrin that their purchases were ranked among those stocks that pay no dividends to their holders. The farmers as a class, how- ever, were not the losers, and the debt was paid as rapidly as assess- ments could be collected, and has long since been obliterated among the county's obligations.
The United States census of 1880 shows the population of Warren county to have been as follows : Elkhorn township, 2,531; Hickory Grove township, 2,140; Charrette township, 3,170; Bridgeport town- ship, 1,236 ; Pinckney township, 1,094 ; Camp Branch township, 999 ; total, 11,170.
In Elkhorn township the enumeration found the following persons, who had reached the age of 80 years or over. Laura Adams, who was 90 at that time ; Aunt Nancy Camp, who was 83 and is yet liv- ing. Edmund Garrett, or as he is familiarly called " Old Uncle Ned," is the oldest colored person in the county, being yet alive at 89. Mrs. Mary A. Kent had at that time reached the age of 88. She is yet alive, aged 92, and is undoubtedly the oldest living inhabitant of Warren county. Thomas Wright, an old colored man, is booked in the census returns at 80.
In Hickory Grove township were the following : Jessie Colman, aged 80; Dicie Thurmond, colored, aged 85 ; J. L. Hubbard, aged 80; Nancy Logan, aged 85; Abraham Welsh, colored, aged 80.
Mr. Coleman is the father of W. T. Coleman, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and is now 84 years of age, yet as rugged as many men at 50. Abraham Welsh is yet alive, and known through- out his vicinity as quite a famous colored preacher.
In Charrette the following returned their age at 80 years or over : John Schilier, 83; Herman Dickhaus, 80; Henry Mische, 84; Fred- erick Muench, 81 ; Mary Wyatt, 82 ; Chas. Winkelmeyer, 81; Chas. Wehlking, 83.
Frederick Muench attained considerable distinction during his long life in Warren county. His son, the Hon. Adolphus Muench, is the present Representative of Warren county in the State Legislature. Pinckney township furnishes the name of Christian and Henrietta Wilmsmeyer, aged respectively 80 years, both of whom have since died ; while Camp Branch included the names of Abraham Fine, aged 83, and his wife aged 82. Mr. Fine died in 1883. Mrs. Dorcas Yeater, probably one of the oldest inhabitants of the county, yet lives in Camp Branch, at the advanced age of 86.
1022
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
BANKS.
The first bank organized in the county was the Warren County Savings Bank at Warrenton. The institution .was incorporated in 1872 with a capital stock of $60,000. Rudolph Ritter was president and Henry Parker secretary. The affairs of the bank were wound up in -, and Warrenton was without banking facilities until Novem- ber 1, 1883, when the " Bank of Warren County " was organized, with a capital stock of $10,000.
Samuel B. Cook was elected president and T. J. Fariss cashier, with the following stockholders: S. B. Cook, William Kamp, L. J. Dryden, George J. Berg, Henry Bohnmeyer, C. A. Peers, W. M. Morsey, H. H. Schaper, John H. Koelling, John H. Middlekamp, F. C. Drunert, T. J. Fariss and H. H. Kamp.
The Warren County Bank is noted as one of the sound financial institutions of this part of the State, is carefully managed and doing a lucrative business.
On November 3, 1874, the Wright City Savings Bank was incor- porated by the following named persons, who were the stockholders : H. T. Pendleton, T. J. Fariss, E. F. Ordelheide, C. E. Bird, John E. Ball, Marshall Bird, John B. Bird, S. P. Bird, Martha Pendleton, Mrs. Nancy Taylor, J. H. Koelling, Werner & Miller, A. C. Hudson, C. W. Pringle, Wm. Rossiter, T. L. May, Henry Blattner, F. Blatt- ner, E. Schowengerdt, Landen Rummons, W. Middlekamp & Bro., W. Kamp, D. Heitmann, G. Buckhorst, H. Buckhorst, Thomas Hughes and R. J. Kennedy. The bank carried on a general baking business until the fall of 1877, when its affairs were wound up.
OTHER INCORPORATIONS.
On the 1st of January the residents of Holstein applied for and were granted a charter for the " Private Benevolent Association of Hol- stein." The organization was organized "for the purpose of mutual assistance among its members in case of loss or damage by fire." The first board of directors were H. A. Schoppenhorst, Henry Hack- mann, Gerhard Hackman, Henry Oberhellman and William Strubbe. The association is yet in existence, and has been very successful.
A similar association exists in the northern part, of the county, in- cluding in its membership farmers residing in Charrette, Hickory Grove and Camp Branch townships.
1023
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 1
CALIFORNIA GOLD EXCITEMENT.
The news that Sutter had discovered gold in paying quantities in California in 1848 reached Warren county during the summer of that year and had the effect to create a genuine gold fever. Parties were at once organized whose objective point was the Golden State and whose dreams of sudden wealth inspired them to brave the dangers and hardships of the journey. Before winter had set in a number of Warren county residents had departed for the land of gold and addi- tional parties were making arrangements to follow in their wake.
Among those who sought their fortunes on the far Western coast were William J. Teass, James A. Harnett, Edwin O. Rountree, P. G. Rountree, James A. Stewart, Joseph L. Fant, James L. Howell, P. S. Woodland, Joseph S. Allen, James Preston, Peter Archer, Charles Archer, Edward A. Teass, Adam Z. Keat, Wilton J. Young, Heath Woodland, Benjamin Howell, Henry Justus, Isaac Oaks, John Jones, Dr. W. W. Farrow, William Finney, A. J. Hoake, W. A. Dike, H. A. Skinner and William Long.
Several of the early California pioneers returned home and now reside in the county, while a number died in the Western country.
The first commission signed by the Governor of the State to any Warren county official, was that of Carty Wells, first clerk of the circuit court, whose authority was affirmed by Gov. Daniel Dunklin, in the form of a regular commission, signed at Jefferson City on April 21, 1833.
The first indictment returned to the circuit court was against Geo. W. Wenz, who was charged with stealing corn, valued at 121/2 cents. William J. Vreeland was foreman of the first grand jury. Wenz was tried and found guilty, and sentenced by the court on September 6, 1833, to receive one stripe on the bare back, and to stand in the pil- lory two minutes.
The first naturalization papers issued in the county were given to John William Tappe, a native of Bruggen, kingdom of Hanover, Germany, who filed his application to become a citizen at the Feb- ruary term of the county court, 1834.
The amount of taxes levied by the county during 1832, the first year of its organization, was $422.281/8.
The first license issued by Warren county was to Abiba A. Will- iams to keep a grocery at the house of Caleb Williams, at Warren ton, for which he paid $5.
1024
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The first ferry license was issued to Mrs. Nancy Hart to operate a ferry opposite her house on the Missouri river.
The following is a description of the Warren county seal, adopted by the circuit court, on September 6, 1883 : -
" A bust of a man with two swords, the hilts downward, and the points pointing diagonally upwards till they cross directly over the center of the crown, surmounted with a scroll inscribed with the words, ' Warren Circuit Court Seal ' in Roman capitals. The word, Missouri and 24 stars under the bust, within the inner scroll, the said seal to be equal in circumference to a Spanish dollar."
The following interesting document explains itself, and is a matter of record in the circuit court : -
WAR DEPARTMENT - REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM :
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Michael Glass, of the State of Missouri, who was a private of dragoons in the army of the Revolution, is entitled to receive one hundred dollars and - cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year.
Examined and countersigned.
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this twenty-fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.
[SEAL ]. (Signed ) LEWIS CASS, Secretary of War.
Attached to the document is an affidavit signed by Glass, in which he states that he has for 17 years been a resident of Warren county.
A similar entry on the record shows that one Thomas N. Graves, of Warren county, was a sergeant in the Revolutionary army.
THE FIRST DEED.
This indenture made and entered into this 25th day of January, in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty-three, between Guyon Kennedy and Betsey P. Kennedy, his wife, of the county of Lincoln, and State of Missouri, of the one part, and Sarah Kennedy, of the county of Montgomery, and State aforesaid, of the other part, witnesseth : That the said Guyon Kennedy and Betsey P. Kennedy, his wife, for and in consideration of six hundred and forty dollars in hand paid by the said Sarah, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged, have bargained and sold unto the said Sarah Ken- nedy, a certain tract of land, situate, lying and being in the county
1025
1
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
of Montgomery, and State aforesaid, being the south-west quarter of section 13, range 2 west, and township 47, north, by estimation con- taining 160 acres, with all its appurtenances, to the said Sarah Ken- nedy and her heirs forever, to have and to hold, use and occupy, pos- sess, peaceably enjoy, all and singular, the said land and premises hereby granted unto her, fee simple, and lastly the said Guyon Ken- nedv and Betsey P. Kennedy, his wife, doth by these presents, bind ourselves and heirs forever hereafter to warrant and forever defend the right and title of the before mentioned tract of land, and prem- ises to the said Sarah P. Kennedy and her heirs, against the claim of all and every person or persons whatsoever.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and attached our seals, the day and date above mentioned.
(Signed. )
GUYON KENNEDY. BETSEY P. KENNEDY.
This instrument was acknowledged and filed for record on the 6th day of August, 1833, and was entered by Carty Wells, the first re- corder of the county.
Three miles north of Holstein, on the farm of Ernst Liermann, is located a cave to which curiosity seekers are always directed. The cave was discovered by Jno. Wyatt, one of the earliest settlers of the county, who while on a hunting expedition tracked a bear to the en- trance The cave is near the top of a very high hill. Its entrance is about two and a half feet square. Inside are rooms from 30 to 40 feet in diameter, and in the early days, the cave used to be the hiding place of bears, panthers and other wild beasts. There is one cham- ber in this cave that has never been explored. Daring adventurers quail before the fact, that rocks thrown into this chamber, have never been heard to strike bottom, and the impenetrable darkness of the room is fearfully suggestive, and sufficient to deter the bravest of in- vestigators. In the same vicinity, peculiar sounds are heard in the month of May, every year, emanating from a high bluff, located on the farm of Rudolphus Kierker.
This phenomena has continued ever since the country was discov- ered, and no one as yet has attempted to explain it. The sounds are usually accompanied by a swaying motion of the earth, similar to an earthquake shock and at times people in the vicinity, have expressed great alarm, on account of these curious occurrences. This immedi- ate vicinity is remarkable for the large number of petrifaction, that are constantly being found
On the farm of John Northcutt, in the main Charrette creek, is a pond, 60 by 30 feet in size, into which a plumb line has not yet been found long enough to find the bottom.
1026
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Throughout the country in the vicinity of the various creeks, are many caves, that afford natural shelter for stock, and there are also countless natural curiosities that attract attention from the traveler.
A novel method of receipting for taxes, was that adopted upon one occasion by Absalom Hays, the first sheriff and collector of the county. In many cases it was his custom to pay the taxes of people with whom he was well acquainted, and collect the money when his friends came into town. One Joe Dyer strode into the office one day, and inquired what amount was assessed against him. Hays told him " two dollars and a bit." Dyer demurred to paying it, claiming the amount was excessive. Hays informed him that he had payed the amount, the debt thus becoming a personal matter between the parties. Dyer showed no disposition to liquidate, and the sheriff made it a practice to dun him every time he saw him. The two men met one day and as the result of a heated discussion, the sheriff, who was a cripple and walked with a cane, resented some remark of Dyer's by striking him over the head with his stick, Friends rushed in and quieted the fracas, but the next day they again met, and Hays asked Dyer to pay him. Dyer inquired the amount, and the sheriff told him " one dollar and a bit." Said Dyer : "How's that? yesterday you said ' two dollars and a bit.' "
" Well," replied the sheriff, " yesterday I gave you a receipt for one dollar, and if you will turn your head my way, I'll soon give you one in full." He made a dash for Dyer, struck him over the head, say- ing : " Now you don't owe me a cent." Hays was perfectly cool, and afterwards positively declined to receive any money on the debt, claiming that he had been fully paid in the manner related.
In the early days of Camp Branch township one Jones, renowned for his hot temper and readiness to engage in personal encounter,- was elected justice of the peace. It had been the custom to crowd the court room when cases were being heard, and the dignity of the justice was apt to be forgotten upon these occasions, by raising demon- strations on the part of the spectators. Jones determined to suppress these interruptions, and at first adopted a conciliatory tone, politely requesting the crowd to keep quiet. Finding that nothing but heroic treatment would suffice to maintain quiet and sustain the dignity which he held should surround the office he was so proud to occupy, in the midst of quite an important trial, he roared out in a stentorian voice, " Will you keep order in this court." No attention was paid to his request, the noise increasing as the trial progressed. Becoming en- raged beyond measure, he jumped from his seat, whipped off his coat,
1027
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
yelling, " By the eternal, I'll see if this m ob will be still," appar- ently ignoring the case on trial, he jumped into the crowd and began kn ocking down every man within reach. There was a rush for the do or, but the indignant justice just kept up the pounding process until he had floored a dozen or more of the crowd and cleared the room. The effect of the salutary treatment was to popularize the justice, who was retained in office for years, and was never afterwards troubled by unruly crowds during the session of the court.
WABASH, ST. LOUIS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY.
The line of this road extends through the three counties, the his- tory of which is given in the present volume. Mention of the road, so far as St. Charles county is concerned, has been made elsewhere. Through that county the road extends almost due west from the eastern border of St. Charles, quitting the county at Foristel, where it enters Warren county. Thence it runs nearly in the same general direc- tion, curving a little northward, however, from Warrenton westward, and leaving Warren county a little north of west of Pendleton. From Pendleton it passes on in to Montgomery county, and through that county takes nearly a due north-west course, leaving Mont- gomery county about two miles and a half south of the north-west corner.
The main line of the Wabash Railway, west of the Mississippi, ex- tends from St. Louis to Omaha. It also has an extension beyond Omaha and a large number of tributary lines in this State, as well as beyond Missouri.
The main line of its Eastern division, or that part east of the Mississippi, extends from Toledo to St. Louis. That division has even a larger number of tributary lines than the Western division.
The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway is the outgrowth of two original independent trunk lines - the old Toledo and Illinois and the North Missouri. They were chartered April 25, 1853, and March 1, 1851, respectively, the first by the Legislature of Ohio and the latter by the Legislature of Missouri. The building of each was slow, and they were repeatedly made the recipients of State and municipal aid. Their completion was effected only after long and hard struggles, passing, in the meantime, through many vicissitudes of fortune and mutations of names. Some philosopher, who flourished in mytholog- ical times, declared that where one has a hard struggle for existence it is an evidence that his life gives offense to the gods and he ought to die. If this were true and were applied to the Wabash, it would long
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