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 28
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 28
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 28
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The place was of some importance during the War of 1812. A force was stationed here to intercept the enemy on their way to St. Louis. Along the river below the town stood a fort, the site of which disappeared in one of the inundations of the Mississippi. There was also a block-house at the head of the island below the town.
An Indian village, belonging to the tribe of Kickapoos, stood about two and a half miles south-west of the town; and another called Lassowris, from the name of an Indian chief, was below on the Mississippi. The treaty of peace between the United States govern-
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
ment and the confederate tribes, who had engaged in the war under Tecumseh, took place at Portage des Sioux in 1815. Tribes from the Mississippi, the Missouri and Illinois were present in large num- bers. General Clark acted in behalf of the United States government. The flat below the town was the place for holding the council.
The name of Portage des Sioux had been given to the place by the Indians, and was adopted by the French settlers. Here the distance between the Missouri and Mississippi is scarcely two miles. Bands of Indians on their journeys were accustomed to disembark, carry their canoes across the narrow neck from one river to the other, and thus save the long journey of twenty-five miles around the point of land, which runs up from the confluence of the two rivers. For many years after the settlement of the country the old trail could be dis- tinctly traced. Perhaps an incident, which tradition still preserves, was of service in establishing the name, particularly in reference to the tribe of Sioux.
The Osage Indians occupied a village on the Missouri, at or near the mouth of the Kansas. The Sioux lived on the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moines. A hunting party of the Osage wan- dered over towards the country of the Sioux, and fell in with some hunters of that tribe, and killed one or more of their number. This greatly incensed the Sioux, and they resolved on Indian revenge. They formed a war party, fitted out a fleet of bark canoes, descended the Mississippi to the mouth of the Missouri, and ascended the latter river to the neighborhood of the Osages. Here they secreted their canoes and made a night attack upon their unsuspecting enemies, of whom they massacred a large number. Their revenge was signal, terrific and complete.
The Sioux then returned to their canoes and fled, but in less time than Roderick Dhu could marshal his ready clansmen, a strong war party of Osages was formed, who, panting and thirsting for vengeance, launched their canoes upon the dark waters of the Missouri, and gave chase to their retreating foes. Both tribes were distinguished for their skill in water craft. The race was a contest for life and death. On they sped, the pursued and the pursuers. Each party employed all its skill and strength and cunning - the fugitives prompted by the love of life and hope of escape - the pursuers urged on by the desire for revenge and thirst for blood. The Sioux made great speed down the muddy river, but the Osages gained on them. The signs of the chase freshened ; neither party stopped to rest, nor flagged ; on, on they sped for days, the Osages still gaining, until, in one of the long
12
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
stretches of the river, they came in sight of the Sioux. A loud, wild cry of exultation from the pursuers rang out upon the welkin, and was echoed back by a shout of defiance from the Sioux. The last trial of strength and skill was now inade, and every nerve strained to its utmost capacity. On they sped until a certain bend of the river concealed the fugitives from their pursuers. Under this cover they soon reached a point on the Missouri, about twelve miles above its mouth and only a mile from the Mississippi, nearly opposite a point on the Mississippi where Portage des Sioux stands, and, taking advantage of this sudden turn of fortune, disembarked, withdrew their canoes from the water, and concealed them- selves from their pursuers. Soon, however, the party of Osages came, noiselessly, yet swiftly as an arrow in its flight, gathering new life and fresh courage from the glimpse of a broken paddle, as it glided by them on the turbid waters, or some useless article of which the Sioux had disencumbered themselves in their flight.
A moment of breathless suspense, into which was crowded an age of hope and fear and anxiety, is now experienced by the fugitives as their pursuers near the place of their concealment - another moment and their pursuers are passed and lost to view in the next curve of the river. Manitto has smiled on the Sioux - the Osages are foiled.
Hastily gathering up their canoes they bear them on their shoulders across the narrow portage, relaunch them in the Mississippi and re- sume their flight up that river, while the Osages continue down the Missouri to its mouth and then up the Mississippi. This successful strategem enabled the Sioux to gain on their pursuers some 20 or 30 miles, and secured their escape. The point where they re-embarked is the sight of Portage des Sioux, the portage of the Sioux, by which name it has ever since been known.
The seal of this town is a circle with two bands encircling a field, with an extended view representing a portion of that plane of country immediately above the junction of the rivers. The " armorial chieve- ment " is simple, yet highly suggestive, and commemorates the inci- dent above related. It consists of a party of Sioux with canoes on their shoulders, courant, comme le diable, and is surrounded with the words " Seal of the town of Portage des Sioux." 1
Ebenezer Ayers came from one of the Eastern States and settled on what is known as " the point " in St. Charles county at a very early date. He built the first horse-mill in that region of country. He was
1 Atlas Map of St. Charles County.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
also a large fruit grower, and made a great deal of butter and cheese. He lived in a large, red house, in which the first Protestant sermon in " the point " was preached. In 1804 he and James Flaugherty and John Woods were appointed justices of the peace for St. Charles dis- trict, being the first under the American government. Mr. Ayers had four children, one son and three daughters. Two of the latter died before they had grown. The son, Ebenezer Davenport Ayers, mar- ried Louisiana Overall, and settled where Davenport, Iowa, now stands, the town being named for him. His surviving sister, Hester Ayers, married Anthony C. Palmer, who was a ranger in the company commanded by Capt. James Callaway. Mr. Palmer was afterward elected sheriff of the county, and served one term. He had a good education, was an excellent scribe, and taught school a number of years.
Samuel Griffith, of New York, settled on the point below St. Charles in 1795. He was therefore one of the very first American settlers in the present limits of the State of Missouri. Daniel M. Boone had been here previous to his arrival, and the rest of the Boone family must have come about the same time that Mr. Griffith did. They all came the same year at any rate. Mr. Griffith was married in North Carolina, and had four children : Daniel A., Asa, Mary and Sarah. Daniel A. married Matilda McKnight, and they had five children. Asa married Elizabeth Johnson ; they had five children. Mary mar- ried Wilson Overall, and Sarah married Foster McKnight.
Alexander Garvin, of Pennsylvania, married Amy Mallerson, and settled in St. Charles county, Mo., in 1819. His cabin was built of poles, and was only 16x18 feet in size, covered with linden bark weighted down with poles. The chimney was composed of sticks and mud. The house was built in one day, and they moved into it the next. Mr. Garvin and his wife had seven children: Amy, Mar- garet, Permelia, Alexander, Jane R., Julia A. and Fannie D. Amy, Julia and Permelia all died single. Margaret was married first to Thomas Lindsay, and after his death she married Joles Dolby, and is now a widow again. Alexander married Elizabeth Boyd. Jane R. married Robert Bowles. Fannie D. married Robert Roberts.
POINT PRAIRIE PRYSBYTERIAN CHURCH,
situated in section 13, range 48, was organized July 13, 1873, a frame church building being erected the same year at a cost of about $4,000. Its original members were : Thomas H. Barwise and wife, Joseph H. Barwise and wife, Asa Barwise and wife, E. K. Barwise and wife,
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
William B. Greene and wife, Alfred B. Payton and wife, George Henry and wife, Joshua Vincent and wife, Albert and Norman Bar- wise. The present membership is about 30. The following are the names of those who have served in the capacity of pastor : Rev. Dr. J. H. Nixon, S. S. Watson, B. A. Alderson, Dr. W. Ferguson, Her- man Allen, J. G. Venable and H. L. Singleton. There is a thriving Sunday-school attached to the church, superintended by William B. . Greene. This church was organized with members from St. Charles Presbyterian Church, T. H. Barwise now being its clerk.
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH.
The membership of this church is composed of 200 families, its rectors having been Fathers Schroeder, Mehring and Rensman. This is a brick church, and was built in 1879 at a cost of about $15,000. It is located in Portage Des Sioux township.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JUDGE THOMAS H. BARWISE, SR.
(Farmer, Post-office, St. Charles).
For nearly forty years Judge Barwise has been a resident of St. Charles county. From time to time he has occupied different official positions from that of county judge to local township offices. He is a man who has had a successful career as a farmer and in material affairs and at one time was one of the leading land-owners in the county. He has given off his lands, however, to his children, as they grew up and married and desired to settle down in life, so that of 1,760 acres he once owned he has now reserved to himself only a comfortable home- stead with about 160 acres, He is well and favorably known to the people of the county as one of its useful and highly respected citizens. Though a man who has been active and industrious all his life and done a great deal of hard work, he is still well preserved mentally and in physical strength at the advanced age of 83. He is quite active considering his age and bright of mind and clear of memory. His conversation is animating, entertaining and instructive. All things considered Judge Barwise is one of the remarkable men of the county as well as one of its old and valued citizens. He is a native of New York, born in Brooklyn October 4, 1801. His father was Thomas Barwise, originally from London, England, who became after coming to this country a prominent stage line owner and manager, and suc- cessful dealer in horses, etc. He married after he came over Miss Mary Elsworth, of Long Island, New York, and they reared a family
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
of seven children, of whom Judge Thomas H. Barwise was the second. When he was about 13 years of age the family removed to Cincinnati, O., away back in 1814. The father died there four years afterwards. Judge Thomas H. had attended school before leaving New York, but had little or no school advantages after the family came West. At the age of 16 he commenced learning the carpenter's trade and worked at it some years. He then engaged in the grain business at Cincin- nati. He continued to reside there until he was about 32 years-old, and in the meantime held several local city offices. In 1822 he was married in Cincinnati to Miss Julia, a daughter of Prof. Norman Col- lins, formerly of Connecticut. In the year after his marriage (1833) he removed to Franklin county, Indiana, where he engaged in farm- ing. He continued farming in that county and with good success for about 10 years, and then returned to Cincinnati, and in 1847 re- moved to Missouri. Here he settled in St. Charles county, where he bought a large body of land and resumed farming. His farming career here has also been successful. At an early date Judge Barwise was appointed justice of the peace and subsequently he was elected to that office, and continued in the office by re-election for many years. In 1861 he was appointed a judge of the county court by Gov. Gamble. At the election of 1876 he was elected to that office. Judge Barwise's first wife died in this county in 1863. She left him six children : E. K., Joseph H., Thomas H., John E., Asa T. and Laura, his daughter, and now the widow of Alfred B. Peyton, de- ceased, who left her three children at his death : Henry, Edward and William. To his present wife Judge Barwise was married in January, 1865. She was a Mrs. Anna McCormack of Cincinnati, O. Judge Barwise's second son, Joseph H. Barwise, is now judge of the county court of Wichita Falls, Tex. Edward is a farmer in St. Charles county, and Asa S. is a merchant of Wichita, Kas.
THOMAS H. BARWISE
(Farmer, Post-office, Portage des Sioux).
The subject of this sketch is a grandson of Judge Thomas H. Bar- wise, one of the old and highly respected citizens of this county, whose sketch appears on a preceding page, and is a son of Judge Joseph H. Barwise, now a judge of the county court at Wichita Falls, in Wi- chita county, Tex. Judge Joseph H. Barwise removed from this county to Texas in 1877. He has since been twice elected to the office of county judge in Wichita county, that State, and is one of the prominent citizens of the county. He was principally reared in Indi- ana, but came to St. Charles county with his father's family before reaching majority, in 1847. Here he was afterwards married to Miss Lucy A. Hansel, also formerly of Indiana. He became a substantial and well-to-do farmer of this county, and his removal from the county was greatly regretted. He and his good wife have reared a family of five children : Thomas H., Jr., the subject of this sketch, Frances, Joseph H., Jr., Lula and Marshall. Thomas H., the eldest of the
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
family of children, was born on his father's farm in this township, January 9, 1856. His father being a man in well-to-do circumstances and intelligently appreciating the advantages of education, had the liberality to give his children good opportunities for mental culture. Thomas H., Jr., attended the district and intermediate schools avail- able in the county and was then sent to Blackburn University at Carlinville, Ill., where he took a somewhat advanced course in the higher branches, continuing there for two years. After quitting the university, he resumed farming in this county, to which he had been brought up, and which he has ever since followed, not without sub- stantial success. He has a neat, well improved place on a tract of 100 acres of land, which is largely devoted to fruit growing. About 65 acres of the place are set with a good bearing orchard of apple trees, the annual yield of which is very large. Mr. Barwise owns about 40 acres of the place in his own right, the balance being still in his father's name. He also owns a good tract of land in Texas. He is not yet married, but there is no insurance company that would be willing to take a risk against his marrying at an early day, or that he, too, will not be a judge of the county court when age and industry shall have given him the appearance of wisdom and dignity and made him a substantial property holder and representative citizen and tax- payer of the county.
EDWARD K. BARWISE (Farmer, Post-office, St. Charles).
Mr. Barwise is a son of Judge Thomas H. Barwise, whose sketch appears on a preceding page. and an uncle to Thomas H. Barwise, Jr., the subject of the sketch preceding this. Mr. Barwise is a worthy representative of the old and respected family of this county whose name he bears. He was born while his parents were yet resi- dents of Cincinnati, March 27, 1825, and was the eldest of their fan- ily of children. As they removed to Indiana a few years afterwards, and remained there until after he had grown to majority, he was prin- cipally reared in the latter State. He received an education in the ordinary schools of Trenton, Indiana. In 1848 he returned to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and was there married to Miss Matilda E. Wilson, a daughter of William Wilson, of that city, and a large commercial trader in Cincinnati and New Orleans by the river route. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Barwise came to Missouri with his father's family and located in St. Charles county. Here he was favored by his father with a quarter of a section of land, which he improved and . where he engaged actively in farming. For many years his farming experience was highly successful, and from time to time he added to his landed estate, until at one time he was one of the leading land- holders of the county, having about 1,700 acres of choice land. Through kindness of friends, however, in becoming sponsor of their liabilities which he was compelled to answer for in several instances out of his own means, and through other misfortunes, he lost the bulk
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
of his property. He still has, however, an excellent homestead of 360 acres, which is well improved and one of the choice farms of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Barwise have five children : Albert, Emma T., Norman C., Ella, the wife of J. A. Vincent, now a farmer of Ari- zona Territory, and Laura B. During the war Mr. Barwise served for a time in the State militia, and held the position of orderly sergeant. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he holds the office of elder in the church.
STEPHEN W. BEST, (Farmer, Post-office, Black Walnut).
Mr. Best's father, Stephen Best, Sr., died in this county October 18, 1874, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was a Missourian by nativity, one of the respected citizens of this county. In young man- hood he was married to a young lady, formerly of Virginia. They had a family of seven children, of whom Stephen W., Jr., was the seventh. One other is now living in this county. Stephen W. Best was born December 1, 1858, and was reared to a farm life. In Jan- uary, 1881, he was married to Miss Maria, a daughter of John and Ellen Dwiggins, formerly of Indiana. Her father died June 5, 1883, but her mother still resides in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Best have one child, Mary E. They have lost one, Stephen. Mr. Best has a neat small farm, well improved, and for a young man has a good start in life. With his industry and good management, he can hardly fail of taking an enviable position among the substantial farmers of the community ..
JUDGE JOHN F. BEUMER, (Farmer, Post-office, St. Charles).
Judge Beumer was born in the city of St. Louis June 12, 1840, and was the fifth of ten children (only three now living) of Casper H. Beumer, a native of Prussia, who came to America in 1838, and located in St. Charles two years afterwards. The father was a carpen- ter by trade and followed that occupation for many years. He is still living, a respected citizen of this county, at the age of 76. The mother died in 1882. The other two of their family of children living are Louisa, the wife of John Wilke, and Caroline, the wife of Will- iam Willbrandt, all living in this county. Judge John F. Beumer was reared in this county, being brought up on a farm, his father having engaged in farming as well as the carpenter's trade. At the age of about 21, he went to work at the wagon maker's trade at Wentzville, which he followed for some two years at that point and then moved to St. Charles township. In the fall of 1869 he settled on the farm where he now resides. While in St. Charles township, at Boscherttown he was engaged in buying and shipping grain, principally wheat and corn, in which he did not meet with good success. In 1882 he was elected a judge of the county court, a position he filled with credit to himself
1
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
and to the general satisfaction of the public. In 1863 Judge Beumer was married to Miss Anna Willbrandt, of this county. Her father died in Prussia and her mother is now the wife of Fritz Nole, of Saline county. Judge Beumer's first wife died in 1865. His present wife was a Miss Minnie Eggerman, a daughter of Frederick Eggerman, who died in St. Louis in 1849. Her mother died there in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Beumer have eight children : Herman H., Maggie, Louisa, John H., Ernst W., Henry F., Minnie A. and Adah. They lost one, John H., the eldest. Mr. B. has one child by his first wife, Anna C. He has resided on the place where he now lives, a farm of 140 acres, for the last fifteen years.
FRANCIS M. BLANKENSHIP
(Farmer and Fruit Grower, Post-office, St. Charles).
March 5, 1837, was the date, and his father's homestead, in Fay- ette county, Tenn., was the place that the subject of the present sketch was born. Seven children of the family preceded him in the order of births, and eight followed, making in all, including himself, 16 children in the family. His father was Caleb T. Blankenship, and his mother was a Miss Rachel H. Hunter before her marriage. Both were originally from Virginia. The family came to Missouri in 1853 and settled in Montgomery county. The father died there in 1856, but the mother survived him until 1882. Francis H. remained at home until he was 21 years of age, and was then married to Miss Lacitia Tanner, a daughter of John Tanner, deceased, formerly of Virginia. After his marriage he engaged in the saw mill business at High Hill, and his wife died there the following year, leaving a son, Marcellus. He then went to work at the painter's trade, and in 1862 was married to Miss Sallie, a daughter of John Jennings, of Mont- gomery county. Two years after his marriage he removed to St. Charles, where he ran the American house for about a year. He then resumed the painter's trade. Subsequently he was alsoin the hotel business again. In 1869 he returned to Montgomery county, where he followed carpentering, but came back to St. Charles in 1879. ' For three years prior to 1869, or rather following 1865, he followed the painter's trade in Kentucky. After locating in St. Charles, in 1879, he worked at his trade here until 1882, when he took charge of G. H. Clark's fruit farm. His tract of land contains 1,100 acres, 340 acres of which are set with apple-bearing trees. They yield au average of about 8,000 barrels of apples a year. From 10 to 60 men are employed in caring for the fruit. The apples are mainly shipped to Northern markets. Damaged fruit is made up on the place, when not too badly injured, for cider, vinegar, or other products. Mr. Blankenship has two children by his last marriage, Samuel and Susan. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church, and he is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Knights of Honor.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
FRANCIS BOSCHERT,
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, St. Charles).
Mr. Boschert may be justly termed one of the self-made men of St. Charles county, as he is well known to be one of its most highly re- spected citizens, a true gentleman in every best sense of the word. He commenced for himself a poor young man and, notwithstanding he has sustained some heavy losses, he has succeeded in making himself one of the substantial men of the community. He was born in Ger- many in October, 1821, and when about ten years of age was brought over to America by his parents, David and Josephene Boschert, who immigrated to this country in 1831, landing at New Orleans, and came thence directly to St. Charles county. The father died here in 1846 and the mother in 1849. Francis was the third youngest of nine children, and grew to manhood in this county. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage which was January 31, 1843, when Miss Barbara Leible, a daughter of Raymond and Frances Leible, formerly of Baden, became his wife. He then settled on a farm in Cul De Sac, where he improved a place and was getting along well until the flood of '44 came, when everything he had was swept away by that mighty cataclysm of waters. He got out with his family and settled in this township, where he has ever since resided. Here his industry and good management soon prospered him again. His home farm contains 350 acres, which he has finely improved and well stocked. In easy circumstances, he is an open, hospitable, generous man and is kind and accommodating as a neighbor and friend, and is gentlemanly and courteous in manners and conversation as he is agree- able and hospitable about his place. Mr. and Mrs. Boschert have seven children; Mary, the wife of Anton Saale, a farmer of this county ; Frank D., William J., Raymond I., Barbara E., now in a convent at Milwaukee ; John A. and Martha N. They have lost eight children. Daniel died at the age of 35 years in Carroll county, Mo., in 1833, leaving a wife and five children. The others died in child- hood. He and wife are members of the German Catholic Church of St. Charles, Mo.
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