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 48
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 48
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 48
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Dr. Buckner's father, Judge Richard Aylett Buckner, Sr., became one of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists of Kentucky. Whilst yet a very young man he was honored with the office of county attorney of Green county and afterwards was made Commonwealth's attorney for his judicial district. His deep and comprehensive mind and profound knowledge of the law together with his rare legal acumen, brought him prominently before the people, and public honors were literally showered upon him. He was a number of times elected a member of the Legislature, and in 1822 he was sent to Congress, where he was continued by the people in the service of his State for a period of six years. He was then elevated to the bench of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky, the highest judicial tribunal in the State. He soon resigned this exalted office, however, to resume the practice of his profession, which for him was more lucrative than any public station. Several times afterwards he was elected to the Legis- lature, but always with some important special object in view. Space forbids the mention of the purposes for which he was elected each time. One instance, however, may be given. The Charleston (S. C.) & Ohio River Railroad Company were endeavoring to obtain a charter from the legislatures of South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky, authorizing the construction of their road through these States and particularly conferring upon the company full bank- ing privileges. The latter feature of the proposed charter was strenu- ously opposed, especially in Kentucky, and Judge Buckner consented to serve in the Legislature as the leader of the opposition in order to defeat this gigantic and overshadowing inter-state bank scheme. Gen. Memenger, one of the foremost men of South Carolina, was sent on to Kentucky by the railroad company to work the Legislature for the charter. Judge Buckner opposed the measure in that body in a speech which not only killed the bill for all time, but obtained a wide celebrity for its masterly arguments, convincing conclusions and great eloquence. It was specially printed by the opposition to the bill and scattered far and wide in every city and hamlet, and almost in every home, in the State. In 1833 Judge Buckner was the nom- inee of the Whig party for Governor of Kentucky, but was defeated by a small plurality against him almost exclusively on account of his position on the slavery question. Though a large slave-holder him- self, he had even in that early day warmly advocated the gradual
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emancipation of the slaves. Nevertheless his race for the Governor- ship precipitated one of the most exciting and memorable campaigns ever witnessed in the State of Kentucky, a State famous for the spirit and general interest which characterize its political contests. He was twice Presidential Elector for Kentucky, and for many years adorned the circuit bench of his district by his learning, high charac- ter and courtly bearing. He died at his home in Greensburg, Decem- ber 8, 1847, while still an occupant of the circuit bench. By the bar of the State he was universally regarded as one of the brightest and ablest of the profession, and was especially distinguished for the rare logical and analytical powers of his mind.
Dr. Buckner's mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis Buckner, died at Memphis, Tenn., March 8, 1868, while on a visit at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Allen. She was a lady of rare refinement and culture and a devout Christian. She was a constant attendant of the Presbyterian Church, of which she was for many years an earnest and exemplary member. She was always among the foremost in charitable works, and frequently at the bedside of the suffering, administering to their wants. She was a lady of superior intelligence, and did much to sustain her eminent husband in his social relations.
Dr. Buckner was one in a family of nine children.
The eldest was Hon. Aylett Buckner, a lawyer of eminence who served his county twice in the Legislature, and in 1847 was elected to Congress. He there boldly and fearlessly advocated the "Wilmont proviso," and on account of this, his strong free-soil tendencies were defeated for re-election, which was to have been expected in a district composed largely of slave-holders. He removed then to St. Louis, where he was engaged in the practice of law with success until 1864, when, on account of failing health, he was induced to abandon his profession and make his home with Dr. Buckner, of St. Charles county. But two years later he returned to Kentucky, and died at the residence of his brother, Richard A. Buckner, Jr., after a long and severe illness. He was never married. He was a man of fine talent and great courage.
William Buckner, the next of the family, married Miss Jane Robards, a daughter of Maj. James Robards, of Mercer county, Ky. In early life he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and died at Greensburg, Ky., in 1859, being at the time the leading merchant at that place.
Richard Aylett Buckner, Jr., after completion of his primary edu- cation was sent to Centre College at Danville, Ky., and afterwards St. Joseph's College, Bardstown, Ky., graduating with high honors at the latter institution in 1831. Shortly after his admission to the bar he settled in Lexington, Ky. He was appointed Commonwealth's attorney for the district, which position he held for several years, gaining considerable reputation as a fearless and able prosecutor. He also received the appointment of circuit judge, and for nine years fulfilled the arduous duties of this office with great ability and learn- ing. In 1859 he was elected to the Legislature, and took an active
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and distinguished part in the exciting and memorable transactions of that body, and to him as much as any other man in the State, is due the credit of having prevented Kentucky from seceding from the Union. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of his State in 1861. He was a strong Union man during the rebellion, and waged a bitter and successful war in the Legislature of 1859 against men who attempted to draw Kentucky into the rebellion. He has never sought any political honors since that time. He was one of the commissioners appointed by Gov. Leslie in 1876 to edit the code of practice of Kentucky. No man in Kentucky is more highly esteemed as an accomplished lawyer and learned jurist than Judge Buckner.
Arthur Presley Buckner, the fourth son, graduated at St. Joseph's College, of Bardstown, Ky., in the same class with his older brother, Richard, attaining the highest honors of the class. He studied law with his father, and immediately after obtaining his license to prac- tice, removed to Benton, Yazoo county, Miss., and whilst engaged in the practice of his profession at that place, died in 1833, in the twentieth year of his age. He was regarded as one of the brightest and most talented men of his age in that day.
Anthony Thornton Buckner, the fifth son, studied law with his father, and after several years of practice in his native place received the appointment of major in one of the Kentucky regiments, and landed at the seat of war about the time the City of Mexico was sur- rendered, and he went from that place to California, landing there in the gold excitement of 1849. He was, for a time, judge of the cir- cuit court, but died soon after election to office. He was a man of intellect, great force of character, and had he lived a few years longer would undoubtedly have attained an exalted position in his profession.
Luther Arthur Buckner, the sixth son, also studied law with his- father, and began the practice of his profession in his native county. He was, also, the proprietor of Green Spring Furnace, in Green county, Ky., but disposed of the business and removed to St. Louis, Mo., but after a short stay in that place as a partner of his elder brother, Aylett, in their profession of law, he left for California. Losing his riding horse on his way out he traveled the last six hun- dred miles of the distance on foot and landed at Sacramento after a long and tedious trip in 1852. After several years' residence in that State engaged in his profession and mining, he removed to the State of Nevada, where he is now a prominent and distinguished lawyer, having recently been Attorney-General of that State and now engaged in the practice of his profession and in managing a mine which he owns in that State.
Maria L. Buckner, the oldest sister, married Dr. Richard F. Barret,. of Green county, Ky. ; he removed first to the State of Illinois and some years after to St. Louis, Mo., and engaged in banking. He was. a man of rare executive ability and amassed a large fortune. Though he had ceased to practice his profession to aid in building up the
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institution, he accepted a professorship in the McDowell School of Medicine in St. Louis, the duties of which he discharged with marked ability.
Elizabeth Robards Buckner, the youngest sister, married Dr. John R. Allen, who was also a native of Green county, Ky. Dr. Allen represented his native county in the Legislature in 1843. While there he was appointed one of a committee to visit the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, at Lexington, Ky., becoming much interested in cases of the insane, he was appointed by the Legislature superintendent of that asylum. From a prison for the insane - for at that time it could be regarded as nothing better - he raised the institution into a great State Asylum, and in place of the harsh and vigorous treatment of the inmates he inaugurated a system of kindness and humanity, accompanied with his skillful medical treatment and care, which rapidly increased the number of patients who were cured, making the asylum a source of pride to the State. From Lexington he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he filled a chair as professor in the medical col- lege. He removed to Memphis, Tenn., where he rapidly rose into distinction as a physician and acquired a large and lucrative practice. He died in Memphis in 1877. He was a man of fine talent, a grace- ful speaker, and a learned and accomplished physician. His widow is now residing in Memphis with her son-in-law, Judge M. J. Green.
George Robards Buckner was the seventh son and ninth child of R. A. Buckner, Sr., and Elizabeth Lewis Buckner. He was born in Greensburg, Green county, Ky., on the 16th day of May, 1823. After education in that place, in his sixteenth year he attended Centre College at Danville, Ky., and from that place went to the private residence of Dr. Lewis Marshall, of Woodford county, Ky., to take a course of study under that eminent teacher, who had but recently re- tired from the chair of professor of languages in Transylvania Uni- versity at Lexington, Ky., a position he filled for many years. He was the father of the great Kentucky orator, Thomas F. Marshall, and a younger brother of Chief Justice Marshall. After the return of Dr. Buckner to his native place he studied law with his father. However, after he obtained his license and before he began the practice he abandoned law for medicine, and studied with Dr. John Hardin, who was a professor in the Louisville Medical College at Louisville, Ky., where Dr. Buckner attended his first course of lectures. After the close of the session he returned to Greensburg, and in the same year on the 17th day of September, 1845, he married Harriet A. Creel, the daughter of Elsy Creel, a merchant of Greensburg, with branch stores at Columbia in the adjoining county of Adair, and also at Creelsburg on the Cumberland river, Cumber- land county, Ky. A few weeks after his marriage he was appointed clerk of the circuit court for Owen county, the largest county in the northern part of Kentucky, by Judge Mason Brown, the father of B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri. A short time before he returned from this office which he filled for about six years, he took his second course of medical lectures at the school in Lexington, Ky., and immediately
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thereafter he began the practice of medicine in Owenton, Owen county, where he continued until November, 1859. Shortly previous to this time from typhoid fever his health was shattered, and in March, 1857, he left Kentucky with his negroes and white foreman and settled them on a rented farm at the head of Loutre Island in Montgomery county, Mo. After a short stay with them he returned to Kentucky, and in the fall and following spring he spent several weeks on his farm in Missouri, and in the fall of 1858 he purchased a farm of about 900 acres of land in Dardenne township, St. Charles county, Mo., to which he removed his negroes in charge of the foreman, and returned to Kentucky, and in the latter part of the succeeding year he gave up his residence in Kentucky and with his white family and house servants removed to the farm in St. Charles county. He brought with him a large number of horses and other stock purchased in Ken- tucky, devoting his farm almost entirely to raising stock, especially trotting horses, which were greatly in demand at that time. He paid for his farm $17,500, and after the liberation of the negroes, finding the occupation unpleasant, he sold his farm in three parcels for about $34,000 ; the last parcel of 652 acres he sold for $2,600. He had a large number of fine horses and other stock at the time he sold, and to the purchaser of the land he disposed of $10,000 worth, including three at $1,000 each.
After Dr. Buckner sold his farm he removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained about a year and in April, 1870, he removed to the city 'of St. Charles where he now resides. He was appointed postmaster of St. Charles, Mo., in December, 1870, and continued in office until the expiration of his commission in May, 1881, continu- ously for more than 10 years. He was again appointed to the same position and took possession of the office in April, 1883, which he now holds. Dr. Buckner was the owner of a large number of slaves (32), but he was a stanch Union man from the inception of the war. He had been so thoroughly inculcated with the Whig doctrine by a father, prominent in politics in Kentucky, that he immediately joined the Republican party and has acted with that party up to the present time.
He has been noted in politics in Missouri and has held many places of honor. He was the first person named in the act of the Legislature of Missouri establishing the State Board of Agriculture, and he served his people as curator of the State University, supervisor of registra- tion, member of the State Republican committee and in other public duties, all of which have been administered with ability and marked integrity. His wife was a woman of fine attainments, well educated, devoted much of her time to reading and educating her children in their younger life. She was a woman of great energy and ambition, looking forward to a high degree of attainments of her children, to whom she devoted much of her time in instructing. She died at Denver, Col., on the 1st day of September, 1882, while on her way to visit her youngest son ; he resided at the time at Eagle Rock,
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in Idaho Territory. Her remains were interred in the cemetery at Kansas City, Mo.
Dr. Buckner has three sons and a daughter. Richard Aylett Buck- ner, the oldest son, resides in Greensburg, Ky., where he is engaged in the practice of law ; he married Anna C. Crenshaw, a daughter of R. A. W. Crenshaw, a commission merchant, of St. Louis, Mo. In the court district ( circuit ) in which he practices, and especially at his home, he is regarded by the profession as equal to any. He is a man of marked ability. His wife died at Greensburg, Ky., in the month of June, 1884, leaving an infant daughter, only a few days of age. She was a graduate of a Catholic school, in St. Louis, " Sisters of the Visitation." She was a woman of fine mental and social cul- tivation.
Charles Creel Buckner, the second son, is a resident of Arkansas City, Ark., and now engaged in the practice of medicine at that place ; he is also engaged in cotton planting with his younger brother, Luther Arthur Buckner, also a physician, who resides at Dermott, Chicot county, Ark., near which place they own a plantation of 800 acres of land. Charles graduated in dentistry in St. Louis, Mo., and in medicine in Louisville, Ky. Luther graduated in dentistry and medi- cine in St. Louis, Mo.
Elizabeth Allen Buckner, the only daughter and third child, was educated at the " Convent of the Visitation," in St. Louis, Mo. She married George Fielder Ballingal, now residing in Kansas City, Mo., where he is engaged in the practice of law. He is one of the leading men in his profession of that place and has acquired a considerable fortune in real estate at Kansas City. He was recently a Senator of his State from Kansas City, and is at this time attorney for the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway. He is a man of ability and untiring energy and zeal in his profession. His wife is a woman of rare social and mental attainments. She is a natural artist. She has the walls of her residence covered with a number of oil paintings the production of her own genius.
CHAPTER XIII. HISTORY OF DARDENNE TOWNSHIP.
Area - Early Settlers - Autobiography of Mr. Howell - O'Fallon - St. Peters - Mechanicsville - Hamburg - Weldon Springs - Cottleville - Gilmore - Peruque Fort -Churches - Biographical.
This township occupies the central position of the county, and extends from the Missouri to the Mississippi rivers, embracing about 100 square miles.
Peter Audrain was a native of France, but came to America at an early date, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married Margaret Moore. He subsequently moved to Detroit, Mich., where he became an influential citizen and was marshal of the Territory at the time of his death. He had seven children, three of whom, James H., Peter G. and Margaret, settled in Missouri. James H. was born in Penn- sylvania, December 29, 1782, and was married to Mary E. Wells, of Louisville, Ky., December 23, 1806. He settled at Fort Wayne, Ind., and engaged in merchandising. During the War of 1812 he was commissioned captain of volunteers, and saw some hard service. He was afterward appointed colonel of militia. In 1816 he moved his family to Missouri in a flat boat, and after remaining a short time at St. Louis he settled on Peruque creek, in St. Charles county, where he soon after built a mill and a distillery. The mill was run by a tread-wheel, on which he worked young bulls, and he often had as many as 20 of these animals at one time. This led a loquacious citi- zen of the community to give it the name of " Bull's Hell Mill," by which it became generally known. In 1830 Col. Audrain was elected a member of the Legislature, and died November 10, 1831, at the house of Gov. Clark, in St. Louis. His remains were conveyed to his home in a hearse, which was the first hearse ever seen in St. Charles county. When Audrain county was organized, in 1836, it was named in honor of Col. Audrain. Mrs. Audrain died about three years after the death of her husband. Their children were : Samuel W., Peter G., James H., Margaret, Benjamin O., Ann A., Francis B., Thomas B. and Mary F. The latter was born on the flat-boat, in 1816, while they were ascending the Mississippi river. Col. Audrain and his wife were baptized in Peruque creek below his mill. The Colonel was a
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
very stout man, and won a wager of $10 in St. Charles one day, by carrying eight bushels of wheat, at one time, up three flights of stairs. Randall Biggs settled in St. Charles county, in 1799. He mar- ried Susan Perkett. They were both of German descent. Their children were : William, Malinda, Lucretia, Elvira, Mary and Silas P.
Boyd came from the Northern part of Ireland, and settled in Vir- ginia at a very early date. In 1772, he was killed by the Indians and left a widow and three children : William, Margaret and John. Will- iam was appointed Indian agent for the State of Mississippi, where he lived and died. Margaret married Garvin, and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where they raised a large family of children. Three of their sons, Alexander, John and Benjamin, settled in St. Charles county. in 1822. Alexander married Mattison, and their children were : Mar- garet, Anna, Permelia, Jane, Alexander and Fannie. John Boyd was quite young when his father was killed, and he was raised by a Mr. Gordon of Virginia. During the Revolutionary War he served as a ranger and scout in the American army. He was married in 1800, to Elizabeth Davis of Virginia, and they had nine children : Gordon D., Cary A., William A., Margaret E., James H., Mary S., John N., Amasa P. and Maria. Gordon D. was a physician and moved to Mississippi. He died of cholera, in New Orleans, in 1832, while on his way to Texas. Cary A. married Elizabeth Bailey, and settled in Pike county, Mo. William A. settled in St. Charles county, in 1837. He married Elizabeth Poague, of Kentucky, and she died, leaving eight children. Her father was a justice of the peace in St. Charles county for ten years. Margaret E. married Maj. James G. Bailey, a soldier of the War of 1812, and they settled in St. Charles county, in 1830. She died leaving four children. James H. lived in Jackson, Miss., where he engaged in mercantile business, and was elected Mayor of the town. Mary S. married Edmond P. Mathews, of Ken- tucky, and they settled in St. Charles county, Mo., in 1836. She had five children, and is still living in Pike county, Mo. John N. settled in St. Charles county in 1839. He married Mahaley Hughes, and they both died, leaving two children. Amasa died in Missis- sippi. Maria died while a child.
The Baughs were doubtless of German descent ; but there is no au- thentic record of the origin of the family, beyond the fact that three brothers of that name settled near Jamestown, Va., at an early date. Abram, a son of one of these brothers, married Judith Colman, of Powhatan county, and by her he had Joseph, Thomas M., Edsa, William, Alexander, Abram, Jesse, Mary, Judith and Rhoda.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
Joseph married Nancy Gentry, and settled in Madison county, Ky., in 1781, and in 1816 removed to St. Charles county, Mo. He served five years in the Revolutionary War. His children were : William, Benjamin, Judith, Alsey, Nancy, Mary, Patsey and Lu- cinda. William married Susan Carter, of Kentucky, and settled in St. Charles county, Mo., but removed from there to Montgomery county in 1832. His first wife died, and he was married the second time to Mrs. Nancy S. Haslip, whose maiden name was Chambers.
Robert Baldbridge was a native of Ireland, but emigrated to America and settled in Kentucky, where he married Hannah Fruit. He subse- quently moved to Missouri, and was one of the first settlers of St. Charles county. He obtained the Spanish grant of land on which Pond Fort was built. His children were Daniel, James, Malachi, John, Robert, Jr., Alexander, Elizabeth, Mary, Grace and Nancy. Malachi and two companions, Price and Lewis, were killed by Indians while hunting on Loutre Prairie. Shortly after, Daniel, in order to have revenge for his brother's death, tracked a party of Indians to their camp at night and shot their chief as he sat by the camp fire. He then concealed himself in the tall grass and watched the Indians searching for him; but they failed to find him. James and John . were successful business men, and always had money to loan. A man named Hutchins once borrowed $300 in silver quarters from John, and carried the money home in a calico bag. Finding that he would not need it, he returned the money at the end of three months and offered to pay interest. But Balbridge said he could not think of accepting interest from a man who had kept his money safe for him that length of time ; " because," said he, " if I had kept it some rascal would have stolen it." When James died he had several boxes filled with gold and silver money. Robert, Jr., planted a cherry tree, and when it grew large enough, he had it manufactured into lumber, from which he had his coffin made, and when he died, he was buried in it. Robert and John were rangers in Callaway's company during the Indian War. After the close of the war John moved to the Gas- conade country and built a large saw mill in the pineries ; but it did not prove to be a paying investment and subsequently passed into the hands of other parties. Elizabeth Balbridge married John Scott, and their son, Hiram, was killed at Callaway's defeat. He was a man of great daring, and Callaway placed much confidence in him. Daniel married Kate Huffman ; James, Margaret Zumwalt ; Robert, Jr., married Peggy Ryebolt; Grace married John Howell, and Nancy married Frederick Price.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
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