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 70

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1166

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 70
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 70
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 70

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).

Madison Filkins was chased into John Gill's door yard and there killed. This was the same Filkins who was one of the militia that shot John Marlow at the time of the Anderson raid.

Gentry and Barker had a hand to hand fight, and Gentry was worsted. When Barker presented his revolver Gentry caught it, and a struggle resulted. Gentry secured the pistol but was dismounted, and on the ground was shot in the hand and forced to drop it. Gentry then started to run across a field, but before he reached the woods and a safe retreat was struck by balls -in the back, head, arms, hands, and shoulders. He made his way to Martin Huddleston's, where his wounds were dressed and attended to by Dr. Mills, who had been a surgeon in the Confederate army.

The bodies of Hutz, Miller and Filkins were cared for by a party of five returned ex-Confederate soldiers, who were also out in pursuit of the bushwhackers and horse thieves, and came up soon afterward. The friends of the dead men then came and took them away.

After the encounter was over the bushwhackers took their solitary prisoner, Laban Ford, and repaired to Garrell's mill, where they re- mained till dark. The leader then demanded that Ford should guide them across Montgomery county that night. Ford now lives in Dan- ville, but refuses to give any particulars for publication - whether from motives of modesty or of another character is not known - but he has stated to others that he led the bushwhackers across Loutre at Bibb's farm, below Mineola, and came into the Boone's Lick road, just east of Danville, at Marion Baker's farm. They then passed east to near New Florence, when they took the old Troy road and went over in the Elkhorn bottom, where they told Ford he was at liberty to go home. But instantly they began riding about him in a circle and presently opened fire on him. He rode a fractious mare, and the animal " bucked " and threw him into the Elkhorn. He was badly wounded in the thigh, and his fall into the water saved him. The bushwhackers thought he was drowned ; but it was dark, and catching

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

to some roots in the bank he held his head above water until the brigands left.

Barker, who stated to some persons that he was Jim Anderson, a brother of Bill Anderson, led his band down into St. Charles county, then around through Lincoln and back through the northern part of Montgomery, crossing the North Missouri below Wellsville, still going westward.

ENCOUNTER WITH BARKER'S BUSHWHACKERS AT SAYER'S MILL - KILLING

OF SERGT, BUNCH.

It was two weeks after Gentry's encounter with Ab. Barker before the latter crossed the railroad below Wellsville, going westward. Monday, May 22, his band, now numbering but 11, crossed the North Missouri a mile and half south-east of town, and took dinner at Mr. Winder's. As soon as they had gone a messenger ran to Wellsville and gave the alarm.

Fifteen citizens of Wellsville formed a party at once, armed them- selves, and under the leadership of Ben F. Waters started out at once in pursuit. This party was composed of Ben F. Waters, J. B. Clarkson, T. M. Clarkson, Ollie Duff, H. W. Hawker, G. W. Pigg, Wm. Wilson, James Wilson, - - Steiner, George Mudd, Robert Winder, John McIntyre, S. P. Hayes, Henry Branstetter and Sergt. James Marion Bunch, who had recently been discharged from Co. D, Ninth Missouri State militia. There were fifteen in all, but half a dozen were mere boys not more than 15 or 16 years of age.

The party took the trail at Bent. Lewis', struck the Jefferson City road at the crossing of Little Loutre, and came upon the bushwhack- ers at Mrs. Sayers' mill, six miles west of Wellsville, in Callaway county. The bushwhackers had gone into camp in Mrs. Sayers' barn, which was a double log structure, with an entry between, and stood on top of a commanding hill. They barricaded this entry with feed troughs and fence rails on the approach of the citizens. The latter formed and charged at once, but without much system or manage- ment and a hot fire being opened on them they were easily repulsed.

The majority of Waters' party retreated and opened a harmless fire on the log fort of the brigands. Sergt. Bunch, however, fell back only a short distance and fired only once or twice, when a desperate guerrilla ran out from the barn and shot him in the groin, giving him a mortal wound. He was taken to the house of Stephen Manning, two miles from the fight, and died the next day, leaving a wife and children. After the shooting of Bunch, and seeing he could effect

661

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

nothing, Waters drew off his party, and they returned to Wells- ville.

The guerrillas kept on westward, and at Price's, near Stephens' Store, on Cedar creek, they were met, a few days later, by a detach- ment of 25 of Co. M, Ninth Missouri State militia, sent across from Mexico to intercept them, and were totally defeated and routed. Five of them were killed, five captured, and Gentry's and Ford's horses were recovered and returned to them.

ADOPTION OF THE "DRAKE " CONSTITUTION.

On the 18th of April, 1865, the State Convention, by a vote of 38 to 13, framed an entirely new constitution of the State, which was to be presented to the voters for adoption on the 6th of June. For this constitution, Dr. W. B. Adams, the delegate from Montgomery voted. The canvass which succeeded was one of great bitterness. All of those who had participated in, or given any sort of voluntary aid or encouragement to the rebellion or the Confederate cause, were, by the third section of the proposed new constitution, debarred from voting or holding office, as well as from teaching, preaching, practic- ing law, etc. And all such were prohibited from voting for or against the adoption of the constitution. Hundreds of our tax-payers, many of them old and honored citizens, non-combatants during the war and men of education and influence, were disfranchised by the third section, and denied the privilege of the ballot in the decision of the great issue before the State - that issue being the adoption or rejection of an organic law, which was to govern them and their children after them.

On the other hand, the Radicals and friends of the new constitution maintained that citizens who, by overt or covert acts, had attempted to destroy their government; who had, by fighting against the Fed- eral government, " committed treason," or in deeds, words and sym- pathy, given encouragement to those who had, were not and could not be proper recipients of the ballot. It was further alleged that, had the Confederate armies succeeded, and Missouri become in fact and indeed one of the Confederate States, then every Union man in the State might have considered himself truly fortunate if he had been allowed to live in Missouri ; that no Union soldier, or militiaman, or those who had sympathized with either, would have been allowed a vote ; and that, in all probability, Gen. Price's threat, made in the fall of 1861, would have been carried out-and the $250,000,000 worth of property belonging to the Union people of the State would

662

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

have been confiscated for the benefit of those who had remained loyal to the Confederate cause, and suffered thereby, etc., etc.

In the whole State only 85,478 votes (including soldiers' votes) were cast at the election adopting the new constitution, as follows : For, 43,670 ; against, 41,808; majority for, 1,862-a very small majority, indeed, to decide so important a question. The constitu- tion went into effect on the 4th of July following.

TRIAL OF ONE OF ANDERSON'S GUERRILLAS FOR THE MURDER OF DR. SAM'L J. MOORE.

In the fall of the year 1865 John T. Hubbard, one of Bill Ander- son's guerrillas, who was present at the time of the burning and sacking of Danville, was arrested and placed in confinement here. In November (29th), 1865, he, " with others unknown," was indicted for the murder of Dr. Samuel J. Moore, October 14, 1864 - the time of the Danville raid. . It was rather clearly shown that he was one of the parties that shot the doctor and then beat him over the head. Benjamin Palmer, who was shot through the shoulder at the time of the raid, was foreman of the grand jury which found the bill. Really two bills were found, both for the murder of Dr. Moore.

Hubbard was arraigned at the time of the finding of the indict- ment, pleaded " not guilty," and on his motion a change of venue was granted him and the case was sent to St. Charles county. Hon. T. J. C. Fagg was the circuit judge and E. P. Johnson the circuit attorney at the time. Upon the trial of Hubbard at St. Charles he was acquitted.

HELP FOR THE SUFFERING SOUTH.

In the spring and summer of 1866 there was considerable destitu- tion and suffering in Alabama, Mississippi and other Southern States over which the fire of war had passed, and relief was furnished the people from abroad. Associations were formed in the country, having for an object the aid of the indigent in the stricken Southern dis- tricts. In some quarters there was an extra sympathy felt for these unfortunates, because it was known that their misfortunes had in part befallen them by reason of the part they had taken in behalf of the Southern cause.

In Montgomery county an association, called the Southern Aid Society, was formed by a meeting held first at Montgomery City, in July. The proceedings of this meeting are still of record. Another meeting was held at New Florence on July 28 following, at which time

663

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

it was resolved that a county fair should be held at Montgomery City on the 17th of September following, to be continued from day to day until the work was completed, for the purpose of raising funds for the purpose indicated by the name of the society. The fair came off at Montgomery City, in the college, in September, and realized about $900.

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1866.

In the political campaign of 1866, in Montgomery county, the first after the war, the parties were the Radical Republicans and the oppo- sition to them which took the name of Conservatives. The latter were chiefly old Democrats or pro-slavery men, war Democrats and mode- rate Republicans.

For an " off year " the political canvass in Montgomery was very spirited. The Conservatives had " Johnson clubs " at Montgomery City, New Florence, and Middletown, and during the summer they secured the attendance of Gen. Frank P. Blair, who delivered a speech at Montgomery City. The following were the county tickets : -

Radical Union Ticket -For Congress, G. W. Anderson, of Pike ; for Senator, W. B. Adams, of Montgomery ; for Representative, L. A. Thompson ; for Sheriff, William McCormack ; for Circuit Clerk, S. T. Sharp ; for County Clerk, John W. Ellis ; for County Judges, A. F. Trainer, G. Lensing, T. McIntyre ; for Assessor, W. P. Fisher ; for Surveyor, H. Greer ; for Treasurer, L. H. Riggs ; for Registrar, D. M. Draper ; for Supt. Com. Schools, J. T. Gleason.

Conservative Union Ticket - For Congress, W. F. Switzler, of Boone ; for State Senate, R. A. Campbell, of Pike ; for Legislature, George Dillon ; for Sheriff, John Cope; for Circuit Clerk, S. W. Hammack ; for County Clerk, J. T. Hunter ; for County Judges, G. W. Hammett, J. B. Johnson, B. F. Clark ; for Assessor, James B. Adams ; for Supervisor, Sol. Hart ; for Supt. Com. Schools, J. R. Hance ; for Treasurer, D. R. Knox ; for Coroner, Thompson Bunch.

The number of registered voters in the county was 960. The Repub- licans carried the county by a large majority of all the votes cast. The following was the result of the election, Radical candidates marked R., Conservative candidates marked D., for Democrats, as they all were : -

GENERAL ELECTION, 1866.

Congress - Geo. W. Anderson, R. 573; W. F. Switzler, D. 302. State Senate- W. B. Adams, R., 571; R. A. Campbell, D., 298. Representative - L. A. Thompson, R., 564; Geo. Dillon, D., 304. Circuit Clerk - Sam T. Sharp, R., 590; S. W. Hammack, D., 288.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

County Clerk -Jno. W. Ellis, R., 546; Benj. Palmer, D., 319. County Judges - Republicans : A. F. Trainer, 569; James McIntire, 520; T. B. Dutton, 575. Democrats : S. W. Hammett, 297 ; J. B. Johnson, 296 ; B. F. Clark, 278. Sheriff - Wm. McCormack, R. 594; Jno. C. Cope, D., 284. Assessor-W. P. Fisher, R., 581; James A. Adams, D., 291. County Treasurer - L. H. Riggs, R., 572 ; D. R. Knox, D., 304. School Commissioner -J. T. Gleason, R., 587 ; J. R. Hance, D., 285. Register of Voters - D. M. Draper, R., 576 ; Sol. Hart, D., 396.

In the congressional district the vote stood as follows, by counties :-

Anderson.

Switzler.

Anderson.

Switzler.

Audrain

242

578

Monroe

165

234

Boone .

178

636

Pike

maj. 252

Callaway

163

1,463

Ralls

maj. 75

Lincoln

481

483

St. Charles

1,244

954

Montgomery

573

302

Warren

794

310

Totals

3,837

4,987

Anderson's vote

3,837

Switzler's official majority

1,150

But notwithstanding Switzler's majority on the face of the returns the Secretary of State, then Francis Rodman, threw out enough of his votes, on the ground of illegal voting, to declare that he was not elected, and the certificate of election was given to Hon. Geo. W. Anderson. Switzler contested, but the seat was retained by Ander- son.

1867 - FATAL AFFRAYS.

During the year 1867 two fatal affrays occurred in the county, the particulars of which were reported in current numbers of the Mont- gomery City Independent. The first was the killing of Peter Gren- nan, July 4, under the following circumstances : -

Grennan had been divorced from his wife the previous fall, and on the day of the tragedy went to her father's to persuade her to return home with him. She was at Jno. C. Flood's house, and learning of this fact, Grennan went there, but was met with a refusal upon the part of his wife to listen to his request. After some trouble between Grennan and Flood, the latter left, with his wife, for Alvin Cobb's and upon his returning found Grennan endeavoring by force to get Mrs. G. from the yard. Cobb interfered to protect Mrs. Grennan when Grennan fired two shots, wounding Cobb in the leg and hand. Cobb then threw Grennan and while holding him down Flood secured the

665

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

pistol and shot Grennan through the neck, from the effects of which he died in a few moments. Flood and Cobh were both acquitted on the ground of justifiable homicide.

Thursday, December 12, John Burton killed James Wooley, near Price's branch. The Independent gave the following particulars : -

We are informed that the cause of the difficulty was Mr. Wooley had used Mr. Burton's horse in his wagon to New Florence, and returning home in the evening, Burton accused him of driving the horse too fast. He denied it, and the lie passed between them, when Burton struck Wooley with a stake from a wood rack, breaking the skull just over the ear ; Wooley died next morning at five o'clock. Burton saddled his horse and left immediately. His brother started after, and found * * *

him at Marthasville and brought him back.

Since the above was written we have learned that he has been bailed out in the sum of $2,000 for his appearance at the next Circuit Court.

BUILDING THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE.

In the fall of 1865 the county court took steps to build the present court house at Danville. October 12th the contract was let by A. C. Stewart, commissioner of public buildings, to James Getty, of St. Louis, for the completion of the entire building for the sum of $27,700, payable quarterly. The architect was Gustave Bachmann. The building was completed and occupied by the county officials about the 1st of August, 1867. Owing to certain modifications of the original plans, the sum of $388 was deducted from the contract price. The building is a very creditable job, and considering the time when it was built the price was not at all unreasonable. The jail, which is within the court-house building, was built by. T. R. Pullis & Son, of St. Louis, for $709.

1868 - THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

This was the first Presidential year since the war, and, although hundreds of men were disfranchised, it was largely participated in by all classes. The Republicans, owing to the operation of the Drake constitution, were largely in the majority, but the Democrats were zealous and plucky. The Democratic candidates were Horatio Sey- mour and Frank P. Blair, and the Republicans nominated Gen. U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax.

This year the greenback question came to the fore. The Democratic National Convention had resolved in favor of the payment of the 5-20 bonds of the government in greenbacks or " lawful money," and the idea was popular in this county.

666

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

The Democrats knew that they were hopelessly in the minority un- less they could induce the Republican registrars to give them what they termed a " liberation registration," when, possibly, enough ex- Confederate sympathizers (or those accused of being such) might be allowed to vote to give them the victory. Certain individuals, in- censed at being disfranchised, threatened the registrars with violence, and sometimes trouble was feared.

The following was the vote of this county at the Presidential Elec- tion, 1868 : -

President - Grant,* 708 ; Seymour, 476. Governor - McClurg,* 688 ; Phelps, 491; Congress - Dyer,* 697; Switzler, 492. State Senator -W. B. Adams,* 649 ; Thos. M. Carroll, 502 ; Representa- tive - L. A. Thompson,* 601 ; John D. Sharp ( anti-Negro Suffrage Radical), 363 ; John S. Plunkett (Ind. ) -. Sheriff and Collector - R. J. McCormack,* 641; D. F. Knox, 512. Negro Suffrage - Yes, 403 ; No, 727. Removal of County Seat to Montgomery City - Yes, 611; No, 496.

T. B. Dutton, Radical, was defeated by B. F. Clark, Democrat, for county judge, by 120 majority.

It will be noted that the Radicals carried this county, electing all but one of their candidates. It will be noted, furthermore, that the majority against negro suffrage was over 200, showing that many Radical{Republicans were at that time opposed to granting the right of the ballot to the black man. The amendment to the constitution to strike the word white from the article on suffrage was proposed by Senator Winters, of Marion county, February 12, 1868. It passed the Senate 12 days later by a vote of 19 to 7, Adams, of Montgomery, favoring. March 7th it passed the House, 74 to 46, Thompson, of Montgomery, favoring. In the State this year the Radical majority on the vote for Governor was 19,327, and the majority against striking the word " white " out of the constitution was 18,817. Grant's ma- jority over Seymour was 25,883.

Switzler received a majority of the votes of the district over Dyer, but was again counted out, on the ground that his majority was com- posed of " rebel " votes. A second time he contested, but the case was decided against him in the Republican Congress.

Radical candidates.

CHAPTER XI.

MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS FROM 1870 TO 1884.

The Political Canvass of 1870 - Robbery of Steck's Store on Loutre Island - Organi- zation of Municipal Townships - Killing of Patrick Cain by James J. Douglass - Census of 1880 Compared with 1870- Robbery in Loutre Township by the Day Gang - The Trouble with the " King Boys," near Americus, in Loutre Township - Murder of Mrs. Austin - Death of George Baughman, " The Montgomery County Hermit" -Principal Elections from and Including 1872 to 1884.

THE POLITICAL CANVASS AND ELECTION OF 1870.

No more important or exciting political contest ever came off in Montgomery county than that in 1870. The contest was between the regular Republicans or " Radicals " on the one side, and the Liberal Republicans and Democrats on the other, and this contest extended throughout the State.

The questions of universal amnesty and enfranchisement, of the repeal of the Missouri " iron-clad " test oath for voters, jurors, min- isters, lawyers, teachers, etc., were rapidly sowing the seeds of discord and disintegration in the Republican party of the State, and dividing it into two wings, the Radicals and Liberals. The former, led by Charles D. Drake, maintained the extreme and' harsh policy, and the latter, headed by B. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz, con- tended for the more magnanimous policy in regard to those who, by word or deed, or both, had held complicity with the rebellion.

Owing to the test oath prescribed by the Drake constitution, and the very stringent registry laws passed to enforce it, the Democrats were in an almost hopeless minority at the polls, and therefore had little or no voice in the direction of public affairs. As was natural, fewer Confederates or their sympathizers were Republicans ; their dis- franchisement by the Republicans kept them from becoming voters, and embittered them against the authors of their condition. There being but two parties, they were forced therefore to sympathize with the Democrats, even had many of them not been at heart of that faith for years before the war.

Hoping to gain the ascendancy in the State by the acquisition of the disfranchised Confederates, rehabilitated with the elective fran- chise, through a repeal and destruction of the constitutional and legal

(667)

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

barriers which interposed between them, the policy of the Democrats was first to divide and then to conquer the Republicans. To accom- plish this, no way seemed so hopeful of favorable results as "the passive policy " -or, as it was popularly called, " the 'possum policy " - which signified the withdrawal of the Democratic party as an organization from the canvass of 1870, and the co-operation of its members individually with the Liberal Republicans as allies. It was apparent that, once the disfranchising clause of the constitution should be removed, the Democratic party would come speedily into power, and once in power and place, it would be secure in the possession thereof for an indefinite period, intrenched behind the huge majority it would have.

The Republican State convention met August 31, and of course here was a split. The Liberals, headed by Carl Schurz, withdrew from the convention and organized another, nominating B. Gratz Brown for Governor and Col. J. J. Gravelly 1 for Lieutenant Gov- ernor, on a platform unequivocally in favor of the adoption of the amendments proposed to the constitution by the previous Legislature, to be voted on at the coming election, and commonly called the suffrage and office-holding amendments. The Radicals nominated Joseph W. McClurg for re-election on a platform favoring " re-en- franchising those justly disfranchised for participation in the rebellion as soon as it can be done with safety to the State," and recognizing the right of any member of the party to vote thereon as he pleased. McClurg personally favored re-enfranchisement. Then the canvass opened.

The amendments carried this county by an overwhelming majority, only an insignificant vote being cast against them. In the State they were adopted by a majority of more than 100,000. Brown defeated McClurg by 41,038. In this congressional district the vote stood : Blair, 11,682 ; Hayward, 9,143.

ROBBERY OF STECK'S STORE ON LOUTRE ISLAND.

The Montgomery City Ray, of September 19, 1872, contained the following account of the robbery of Steck's store, opposite the Her- mann ferry landing, on Loutre Island :

The most, daring robbery that has alarmed this community since the war, was committed in Steck's store on Loutre Island last Satur- day evening the 14th. At about mid-twilight Steck closed his store

1 Col. W. E. Gilmore, of Greene county, was at first nominated, but was found to be ineligible by reason of his brief residence in the State.

669

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

and went a short distance to his house to supper. While there three unknown men called and asked to be taken across the river. Steck's son started to the river to prepare his skiff, followed by them. They had gone but a short distance before one of the men said he wanted to buy something to eat, and while young Steck was arranging the skiff, they all three went to the store. Steck went in to wait on, as he supposed, three honest customers. One of them stood at the store door and the other two went in and placed their revolvers at Steck's head, saying " Stand still and be quiet." One of them kept in that position, while the other went to a small desk behind the counter and took out a tin box in which there was $675, and then took $25 from the money drawer. When they had about finished their work with him, Dr. Duncan, residing in the neighborhood, came in and called for some quinine, when one of the robbers answered that they wanted quinine also, and at the same time drew a revolver on him telling him to give up his money. The Doctor gave them $70 - all he had. And with the sum of $770 the thieves left for parts un- known. The tin box was found next day, about two miles from the store, broken open.

Arthur McCoy, a celebrated scout, belonging to the Confederate Gen. Jo Shelby's command during the war, was suspected of having planned this robbery, but was never tried for the offense. He lived at the time in the lower part of the township, near the scene.

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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 70

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company Number of Pages: 1166

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1166