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 11
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 11
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 11
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).
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Soon after the death of his wife, the old pioneer marked a place by her side for his own grave, and had a coffin made of black walnut for himself. He kept his coffin under his bed for several years, and would often draw it out and lie down in it, " just to see how it would fit." But finally a stranger died in the community, and the old man, gov- erned by the same liberal motives that had been his guide through life, gave his coffin to the stranger. He afterward had another made of cherry, which was also placed under his bed, and remained there until it received his body for burial.
The closing years of his life were devoted to the society of his neigh- bors, and his children and grandchildren, of whom he was very fond. After the death of his wife, wishing to be near her grave, he removed from his son Nathan's, on Femme Osage creek, where they had lived for several years previously, and made his home with his eldest daugh- ter, Mrs. Flanders Callaway, who lived with her husband and family on Teuque creek, near the place where Mrs. Boone was buried. Flan- ders Callaway removed from Kentucky to Missouri shortly before the purchase of the territory by the United States, and received a grant of land from the Spanish government.
98
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
Frequent visits were made by the old pioneer to the homes of his other children, and his coming was always made the occasion of an ovation to " Grandfather Boone," as he was affectionately called. Wherever he was, his time was employed at some useful occupa- tion. He made powder-horns for his grandchildren and neighbors, carving and ornamenting many of them with much taste. He re- paired rifles, and performed various descriptions of handicraft with neatness and finish.
In December, 1818, Boone was visited by the historian, Rev. John M. Peck, who was deeply and favorably impressed by the venerable appearance of the aged pioneer. Mr. Peck had written his biography, and expected to obtain some additional notes from him, but was so overcome by veneration and wonder, that he asked only a few ques- tions. If he had carried out his first intention he would no doubt have. given a perfectly correct account of the life of this remarkable man, but as it was, a number of mistakes crept into his work, and many events of interest that occurred during the last few years of Boone's life were lost forever.
In the latter part of the summer of 1820, Boone had a severe attack of fever, at his home at Flanders Callaway's. But he recovered suffi- ciently to make a visit to the house of his son, Maj. Nathan Boone, on Femme Osage creek. The children had heard of his sickness, and were delighted to see grandfather again, and everything was done that could be to make him comfortable. For a few days he was happy in their society, and by his genial disposition and pleasant man- ners diffused joy and gladness throughout the entire household.
One day a nice dish of sweet potatoes - a vegetable of which he was very fond - was prepared for him. He ate heartily, and soon after had an attack from which he never recovered. He gradually sank, and, after three days' illness, expired, on the 26th of September, 1820, in the eighty-sixth year of his age.
He died calmly and peacefully, having no fear of death or the future state of existence. He had never made any profession of religion, or united with any church, but his entire life was a beautiful example of the Golden Rule - " Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you." In a letter to one of his sisters, written a short time before his death, he said that he had always tried to live as an honest and conscientious man should, and was perfectly willing to surrender his soul to the discretion of a just God. His mind was not such as could lean upon simple faith or mere belief, but it required a well con- sidered reason for everything, and he died the death of a philosopher
99
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
rather than that of a Christian. His death was like the sleep of an infant - quiet, peaceful and serene.
The remains of the departed pioneer were sorrowfully placed in the coffin he had prepared, and conveyed, the next day, to the home of Mr. Flanders Callaway. The news of his decease had spread rap- idly, and a vast concourse of people collected on the day of the fu- neral to pay their last respects to the distinguished and beloved dead.
The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. James Craig, a son-in- law of Maj. Nathan Boone ; and the house being too small to accom- modate the immense concourse of people, the coffin was carried to a large barn near the house, into which the people crowded to listen to the funeral services. At their close the coffin was borne to the cem- etery and sadly deposited in the grave that had been prepared for it, close by the side of Mrs. Boone.
At the time of Boone's death the Constitutional Convention of Mis- souri was in session at St. Louis, and upon receipt of the intelligence a resolution was offered by Hon. Benjamin Emmons, of St. Charles, that the members wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, in respect to the memory of the deceased, and adjourn for one day. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The Boone family were noted for longevity. George Boone, a brother of Daniel, died in Shelby county, Ky., in November, 1820, at the age of 83; Samuel, another brother, died at the age of 88 ; Jon- athan at 86; Mrs. Wilcox, a sister, at 91; Mrs. Grant, another sister, at 84, and Mrs. Smith, a third sister, at 84. There is no record of the deaths of the rest of Boone's brothers and sisters, except those given heretofore, but they all lived to be old men and women.
When Col. Boone made choice of a place of burial for himself and family, and was so particular to enjoin his friends, if he died from home, to remove his remains to the hill near Teuque, he did not anti- cipate an event which occurred a quarter of a century after his death and which resulted in the remains of himself and wife finding their last resting place on the banks of the Kentucky river, in the land he loved so well.
The citizens of Frankfort had prepared a tasteful rural cemetery, and, at a public meeting, decided that the most appropriate consecra- tion of the ground would be the removal of the remains of Daniel Boone and his wife. The consent of the surviving relatives was obtained, and in the summer of 1845, a deputation of citizens, con- sisting of Hon. John J. Crittenden, Mr. William Boone and Mr. Swaggat, came to Missouri on the steamer Daniel Boone for the
100
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
purpose of exhuming the relics and conveying them back to Ken- tucky.
The graves were situated on land belonging to Mr. Harvey Gris- wold, who at first objected to the removal, as he intended to build a monument over them, and beautify the place. Mr. Griswold was supported in his objections by a number of influential citizens, who claimed that Missouri had as much right to the remains of Daniel Boone as Kentucky, especially as the old pioneer had selected the location of his grave and had given such particular instructions in regard to his being buried there.
The gentlemen from Kentucky finally carried their point, however, and on the 17th of July, 1845, the remains of Daniel Boone and his wife were removed from their graves. The work was done by King Bryan, Henry Angbert and Jeff. Callaway, colored. Mrs. Boone's coffin was found to be perfectly sound and the workmen had but lit- tle difficulty in removing it; but Col. Boone's coffin was entirely de- cayed and the remains had to be picked out of the dirt by which they were surrounded. One or two of the smaller bones were found afterward, and kept by Mr. Griswold as relics.
The remains were placed in new coffins prepared for their recep- tion and conveyed to Kentucky, where they were re-interred with appropriate ceremonies, in the cemetery at Frankfort, on the 20th of August, 1845. A vast concourse of people from all parts of the State had collected to witness the ceremonies. An oration was delivered by Hon. John J. Crittenden, and Mr. Joseph B. Wells, of Missouri, made an appropriate address.
The graves on the hill near Teuque creek were never re-filled, but remain to-day as they were left by the workmen, except that the rains have partly filled them with dirt, and they are overgrown with weeds and briars. Rough head stones had been carved by Mr. Jonathan Bryan, and placed at the heads of the graves. These were thrown back on the ground, and are still lying there. Recently, pieces of these stones have been chipped off and sent to Kentucky as momentoes.
We have dwelt at some length upon the name of Louis Blanchette, because he was the first white man (though a foreigner) to take up his abode upon the soil of St. Charles county. We have given also a brief sketch of the Boone family, because they were the first American settlers. Blanchette posed as the head and front -the standard- bearer of the first era of civilization, and the Boone family as the advanced guard - the pioneers of the second era which dawned upon
101
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
this land of savage ferocity and indolence. They came at two distinct periods ; the first in 1769, and the latter in 1795, there being an in- terval of twenty-six years between the dates of the first and second settlements. It was not, however, until the Boones had come that the white man dared to isolate himself from the sight of the Spanish flag which floated over the military post at St. Charles. After 1795 the county proper began to settle up, the first pioneers locating in Darst's Bottom in Femme Osage township, and thence in other town- ships, until, in the course of a few years, every municipal and con- gressional township and every inhabitable nook and corner of the county contained a white man's cabin. The old pioneers of Daniel Boone's time have long since crossed the river, and are with their com- rades on the other shore. But few of the veterans and graybeards of a later date are now living ; those remaining may be counted on the fingers of one hand. A few more years of waiting and watching and they, too, will have joined -
" The innumerable caravan, that moves To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death."
Fresh hillocks in the cemetery will soon be all the marks that will be left of a race of giants who grappled nature in her fastness and made a triumphant conquest in the face of the greatest privations, disease and difficulty. The shadows that fall upon their tombs as time recedes are like the smoky haze that enveloped the prairies in the early days, saddening the memory and giving to dim distance only a faint and phantom outline, to which the future will often look back and wonder at the great hearts that lie hidden under the peaceful canopy.
Below we give the names of the pioneers of the county, beginning with those of Femme Osage township : -
No. of Grant.
Acres.
Acres.
John Bell
1,721
382
John Little Johns
No. of Grant. 1,792
640
Daniel Boone
1,646
450
S. Hammond
476
825
Daniel M. Boone
20
510
Joseph Haynes
14
170
Nathan Boone .
1,794
680
John Lindsay
59
425
G. Buchanan
1,72
340
William Hays
1,670
510
Jonathan Bryan
301
527
H. Mclaughlin
44
510
James Clay .
138
279
McCourtney
475
340
Jeremiah Clay
300
382
J. McMitchell
384
595
John Crow
438
382
Adam Martin
1,673
510
Henry Crow
62
340
Thomas Smith
303
680
David Darst, Sr. .
18
510
Perceley's Representatives 937
640
David Darst
1,643
224
John Watkins .
1,735
680
James Davis
970
340
Isaac Van Bibber
19
340
Joshua Dodson
208
340
James Van Bibber
1,793
362
Isa Darst.
1,644
297
John Zumwalt
1,246
640
102
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP.
No of Grant.
Acres.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
Louis Baby
2,943
160
James Green
29
680
Bernard Etrenne
762
425
A. Janis
30
. . .
John Cook .
291
640
John Journey
743
510
Peter Chouteau
1,779
640
Peter Lewis
2,610
204
Peter Chouteau
2,982
1,396
James Mitchell
1,806
547
John Coontz
285
510
William McConnel
292
. . .
T. Coulk
311
340
Pepin Etrenne
.
3,277
1,361
Thomas Coulk
127
255
James Piper
1,775
680
T. Cerre
23
· . .
Michael Rybolt
979
640
Jacque Clamorgan
1,198
907
Robert Spencer
1,799
640
T. Coulk .
312
340
William Stewart
16
340
Francis Duquette
308
221
G. Spencer
165
382
Francis Duquette
1,668
340
Francis Smith
280
. .
Francis Duquette
35
240
Francis Saucier
3,281
850
Francis Duquette
1,667
340
John Tayon
205
340
George Girty
3,138
640
Peter Teaque
1,784
680
James Flaugherty
64
. . .
Nick Tirart
2,580
170
Elisha Goodrich
657
340
DARDENNE TOWNSHIP.
No. of Grant. Acres.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
Perry Brown
296
493
Milton Lewis
1,771
299
J. Beatty
991
640
David Miracle
168
340
Warren Cottle
. 354 & 753
640
William McConnel
292
680
Coontz
739
640
John McConnel
1,785
640
Ira Cottle
353
340
John Rourke
3,225 & 260
640
Nich. Coontz
58
340
Rutgers
1,669
5,908
Grojean
460
170
John Scott
1,690
428
George Hoffman
293
340
John A. Smith
735
640
P. Hoffman
57
255
Teaque
174
640
George Hoffman
1,787
640
Joseph Weldon
280
340
John Howell
453
344
John Weldon
1,796
425
Newton Howell
279
Christ Wolf
948
640
James Kerr
1,641
1,020
John Walker
67
340
Godfrey Krah
424
510
Joseph Voisard
1,786
640
George Gatty ·
290
382
Ad. Zumwalt
296
493
CUIVRE TOWNSHIP.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
J. Baker
2,573
212
Silvanus Cottle
756 (arp.) 500
David Conrad
1,783
640
G. Fallis
456
350
Bernard Praft and J.
Wm. Farnsworth
754
640
Beauchemin
. .
1,361
August Giles
888
640
Jacob Cottle .
755
640
Benjamin Jones
935
640
Lewis Crow
1,777
640
A. Keithley
1,781
(arp.) 300
William Craig
889
640
S. Lewis
1,782
· 640
P. Chouteau
1,704
433
Na. Simmonds
1,776
255
Francis Howell
887
640
Joseph St. Mary
2,526
160
103
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
M. Lewis
929
552
J. Wealthy
11
340
C. A. Macay
8
429
H. Zumwalt
413
737
Redenhour McCrow
149
. . .
Ad. Zumwalt
294
510
Fr. Hostetter
·
425
C. Zumwalt
54
167
Daniel McCoy
386
300
J. Zumwalt
287 (arp.) 350
CALLAWAY TOWNSHIP.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
David Baldridge
738
640
J. Baldridge
931
340
Robert Baldridge
1,807
640
M. Baldridge
297
640
William Crow .
891
640
Leonard Price
61
552
Andrew Edwards
738
640
John Parett
552
David Edwards
1,807
640
Arend Rutgers
1,669
5,908
David Kichlie
947
640
P. Zumwalt
53
300
David Keishler
418
510
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP. -
No. of Grant.
Acres.
No. of Grant.
Acres.
Antoine Barada, assignee
Louis Lebaume
1,838
9,752
Alex. Clark
1,810
262
James Piper
21
382
H. Crosby
309
510
Eleazar Patterson
2,442
640
Samuel Griffith
17
340
Antoine Pricur
1,692
680
Samuel Griffith
744
640
G. S. Spencer .
454
212
W. Gilbert
307
425
Francis Saucier
1,703
850
John Ferry
1,671
680
John A. Scitz .
1,730
680
Isaac Fallis
455
510
Chas. Sanguinette
1,765
3,692
John Ferry
1,667
680
THE GERMAN IMMIGRATION.
In 1824-25 an educated and intelligent German named Gottfried Duden, came to America and traveled extensively over our country , observing our climate, soil and productions, and taking notes of our manners, customs, laws, etc. He spent nearly a year in the region of country embraced in the counties of St. Charles, Warren and Mont- gomery, traveling under the guidance of Daniel M. Boone and others, whom he paid liberally for their services.
He was highly pleased with the country and the people whom he found here, and upon his return to Germany wrote and published a book of 350 pages, giving a complete history of our laws, forms of government, etc., with a thorough description of the portions of country that he had visited. The book had an immense sale and he became wealthy from the proceeds.
In a few years the effect of his writings began to be manifest by the
2
of Thos. Guinn
1,741
680
Thomas Mitchell .
1,806
547
John McCoy
145
382
104
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
arrival of German immigrants, preceded by a few educated and wealthy men who came in advance to prepare the way for them. Each family had a copy of Duden's book, and so accurate were his descriptions of places and names that they knew the farms and the names of their owners as they came to them.
They expected not only to find an abundance of game and wild animals of all kinds -in which they were not disappointed - but also to be under the necessity of defending their homes against the attacks of the savages ; and hence they came prepared with swords, muskets, pistols, etc. It was no uncommon thing to see a stout burgher marching at the head of his family with an immense saber buckled around his portly form and a musket or portentous yager resting upon his broad shoulders. But they soon beat their swords into plowshares and used their fire-arms to kill squirrels, turkeys, deer and other game with which the country abounded.
The Americans rejoiced at their coming, and extended to them a hearty welcome, for they brought with them money, which the coun- try greatly needed just at that time, bought lands, and proved to be honest, industrious, thrifty citizens. They also introduced the me- chanical arts of an older country, and manufactured many useful articles that had before been unknown to the Americans.
Louis Eversman came with Duden, traveled with him, and remained when the latter returned to Europe; so that he was the first German settler in this part of Missouri. He married a Miss McLane, bought a farm in Warren county, raised an intelligent family, and became a prominent and influential citizen.
Most of the first immigrants were from Hespers, Germany, and they arrived in 1833. They came in societies or companies, which bore the names of their native places in Germany. The Berlin Society was composed of the following families : Charles Madler, Charles A. Miller, William and Ferdinand Roach, Henry Walks, Henry Seitz, Louis, William and Conrad Haspes, August Rixrath, Jerry Schieper, Daniel Renner, Justus Muhnn and his two brothers, Charles Lipross, Philip Renner, Jacob Sack, Henry Schaa, Harmon Stuckhoff, and Charles V. Spankern. Most of these settled in the western part of St. Charles county, in the vicinity of Augusta. Other families came about the same time, amongst whom were : Charles Wincker, George H. Mindrup ( who served as judge of the county court of St. Charles county four years ), Frederick Wincker (who was postmaster at Augusta for some time), Bernhard and Henry Stuckhoff, Arnold Vaelkerding, William, August and Julius Sehart, Francis Krekel
105
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
(father of Judge Arnold Krekel), and Julius, Emile, Herman and Conrad Mallinckrodt. The Mallinckrodts were all well educated, and became influential citizens in the communities where they settled. They studied the English language before they came to America, but the pronunciation was incorrect, and when they arrived in this country they were mortified to find that they could not converse with our people until they had unlearned the English which had been taught them in Germany. When Julius Mallinckrodt arrived in St. Louis, he met a man in the street, and desiring to make some inquiries of him, he addressed him in what he supposed to be the English language, but the man could not understand him. He then addressed him in German, and then in Latin, but he still could not understand. By this time they were both excited and beginning to grow angry, when Mallinckrodt exclaimed in a fit of desperation, " Parles-vous Français, Monsieur?" Instantly the man threw his arms around his neck and embraced him, while tears of joy ran down his cheeks. He proved to be a Frenchman who had just arrived in the city, and, like Mal- linckrodt, could not find any one with whom he could converse. The latter spoke French almost as fluently as he did his mother tongue, and a warm friendship, which lasted for years, at once sprang up between the two strangers in a strange land.
In 1834 the Gissen Society arrived. It was under charge of Hon. Frederick Muench, who still resides in Warren county, and besides being a man of great local influence, is a writer and author of some renown. He has been a member of the Legislature and State Senate several times, and is everywhere recognized as a man of ability and a pro- found thinker and philosopher. He was born and raised in the prov- ince of Upper Hesse, in Prussia, and educated for the ministry. He was pastor of a Protestant Liberal Church in Germany 13 years, and in 1834 he organized the Gissen Society from among the members of his congregation, and came to America. In the Society were the fol- lowing families : Gotlieb Beng, John Kessler, Jacob Jeude, Frederick Reck, Dr. Frederick Kruge, Henry Becker, Charles Kesel, Jonathan Kunze, Mr. Guhlemann, Frederick Feach, Andrew and Louis Klug, Pressner Goepel (whose son Gelt afterward represented Franklin county in both houses of the Legislature), Frederick Bruche (whose son Henry represented Cape Girardeau county in the Legislature ), and Augustus Kroell, who was pastor of a German Protestant Church in Cincinnati at the time of his death. The above families settled in the eastern part of Warren and western portion of St. Charles counties, where they and their descendants still reside. Their religious
106
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
belief is rational. They discard all miracles and the doctrine of atonement through the blood of Christ, believing that we make our own future condition by the life we live here, receiving punishment for our evil deeds and rewards for our good ones. They accept Christ as a good man and a great teacher, but do not believe that he was divine.
Some time after the arrival of the Gissen Society, the following families came : Jacob and Frederick Ahmann, Charles Winkelmeir, Frederick and Erasmus Hieronymus, Ulmfers and Frederick Blantink, Erastus Grabbs ( who became a merchant, postmaster, and justice of the peace in Marthasville, Warren county ), William Barez ( who was a banker in Berlin and a very intelligent man ), George Muench, Henry and George Berg, Mr. Fuhr and his five sons, John Miller, Henry Dickhouse, Harmon Lucas and his brother, Henry and Luke Hermann, Mr. Tuepperts, and Mr. Oberhellmann.
In 1833 the following families settled in St. Charles county, in and near Dog Prairie, all of whom were from Prussia : Antone Arens (whose wife was Amelia Ostoman, and the names of their children were Joseph, Sophia, Antone, Amelia and Theodore ), Joseph Floar, Joseph and John Shoane, Francis Moledor and his two sons, Frank and Casper, Anton Stahlsmidth, John Freymuth, Mr. Mescheda (who came in 1837), Alexander Arens, Joseph Stahlsmidth, John Heidel- mann, Frederick Loebecke, Andrew Sali, and Baltasar Vetsch, who came from the province of Alsace.
Most of the Germans who came to America with money, lost it by injudicious speculations in lands, but those who came poor generally prospered on their small beginnings, and soon became money-loaners and land-owners. Many of them became wealthy, and left large fam- ilies in affluent circumstances. No other race of people ever did more for the development of a country, or made better or more thrifty citizens. They caused barren hillsides to blossom with grape vines and fruit trees, and opened large farms in the midst of dense forests. Swamps and marshes were drained, and fertile fields took the place of stagnant ponds that for years had sent out their miasmas to poison the atmosphere of the surrounding country and breed fevers, chills and pestilence. Villages and towns sprang up where solitude had previously reigned, and the liberal arts began to flourish. The country received a new impetus, and prosperity smiled upon the people.
Many of the descendants of those early German families have be- come influential and leading men, in politics, letters, sciences, arts
107
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
and commerce. Among this class may be mentioned the children of Francis Krekel, several of whom have become distinguished through their own efforts and perseverance. Judge Arnold Krekel, of the United States District Court, has gained a reputation that is national, and when we consider the difficulties that he had to contend against, we can not do otherwise than accord to him an unusual degree of talent and energy.
He was about 16 years of age when his father arrived in Missouri, his mother having died of cholera on the route. He could neither speak nor understand a word of the English language, but at once began the study of it, and was soon able to converse intelligibly with his American neighbors. He worked as a farm hand, and made rails at 25 cents per 100, until he obtained money enough to pay his ex- penses at school, when he went to St. Charles and became a student in St. Charles College. He graduated at that institution, studied law, and began to practice in the city of St. Charles. He was successful from the start and soon gained both distinction and wealth. His sub- sequent history is familiar to the people of the State, and need not be given here.
His father was a devout Catholic, and several of his brothers are · members of that church, but he embraced liberal views in religious matters at a very early age, and though perhaps not an infidel in the real meaning of that word, he does not believe in the divine origin of the Bible or the biblical account of creation.
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