History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 37

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 37

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).

"Be it enacted and declared by the general assembly of the state of Missouri, and it is hereby solemnly and publicly enacted and de- clared, That this state has assented and does assent that the fourth clause of the twenty- sixth section of the third article of the consti- tution of this state shall never be construed to authorize the passage of any law, and that no law shall be passed in conformity thereto, by which any citizen, of either of the United

States, shall be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the privileges and immunities to which such citizens are entitled under the constitution of the United States."

This act was transmitted to the president who, on August 10, 1821, made a proclama- tion announcing the admission of Missouri into the Union.

It is evident that this is one of the most remarkable transactions ever made by a leg- islative body. The whole matter of the con- troversy over the admission of Missouri is a striking evidence of the terrible passion that stirred the minds of men over the question of slavery. Prejudices were so strong they seemed to have blinded men's eyes to some very obvious things.

The first of these compromises which is dis- tinctly known as the Missouri Compromise, whose author was Honorable Jesse B. Thomas, provided that the people of the state should be left free to organize a state government, without any restriction as to their action con- cerning slavery. It was well known at the time that, in all human probability, the con- stitution so formed would permit the holding of slaves and in return for this permission, if it may be so considered, the friends of slavery agreed to the exclusion of it from all the vast domain of the Louisiana Purchase north of the parallel of 36 degrees and 30 minutes. It can hardly be called a compromise, for the friends of slavery conceded practically every- thing and gained nothing.

Under the terms of this act the people of the state framed a constitution which allowed slavery, and presented it to Congress, in the full expectation that the state would be ad- mitted. They found themselves opposed by a large number of their original opponents ; this time on the ground that one article in their

241

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

proposed constitution was in opposition to the constitution of the United States. This oppo- sition to the admission of Missouri was strong enough to prevent all aetion upon the bill for a number of weeks. Quite probably, it was strong enough to keep the state out of the Union for an indefinite period. The matter was settled by another compromise. It, too, can hardly be termed a compromise, for it was also one-sided. At this time, however, the opposition conceded practically every- thing. They agreed that the offending clause in the fundamental law of Missouri should remain as it was. This concession they made. provided the legislature of the state should pass a solemn publie act setting aside a clause in the constitution of the state. The legisla- ture evidently had no authority or power to amend or in any way change the constitution and any solemn public act of theirs which at- tempted to do so was a mere farce. The word solemn, indeed, would hardly be applied to an aet having the preamble that this act carries with it. for the legislature of the state quite. evidently regarded the thing they were at- tempting to do as entirely beyond their power and authority.

Out of all the contention and bitterness, out of the conflicting elaims and so-called com- promises, one faet emerges with elearness and distinctness, and that is that Missouri was ad- mitted to the Union and became the twenty- fourth state.

The constitutional convention which elosed its labors July 19, 1820, in accordance with the terms of the act of Congress providing for the organization of the state government in Missouri, framed and adopted an ordinanee which was expressly deelared by its terms to be forever irrevocable and binding on the people of the state. This ordinance had in it Vol. I-16

five sections, which were designed to carry into effeet five different demands made on the people by Congress. The first of these see- tions set aside the 16th seetion of every town- ship in the state for school purposes. The second section of the ordinance dedicated the salt springs of the state, not to exceed twelve in number with six seetions of land adjoining each of these springs, to the state. The third section set aside five per cent of the net pro- ceeds of the state land for the purpose of building roads and canals. The fourth seetion provided that four seetions of land should be set aside at the point afterward to be selected for the state capitol. The fifth seetion pro- vided that one entire township should be re- served and forever dedicated to the purpose of a seminary of learning.

The convention inserted in the ordinance, however, a request that Congress should so modify its demand that five per cent of the net proceeds of the land should be set aside for roads and eanals, so as to permit the fund bonus arising to be used not only for roads and eanals, but also for sehool purposes.

The southern boundary of the state, as sug- gested in the memorial presented to Congress asking for the organization of a state govern- ment, was fixed at the parallel of 36 degrees and 30 minutes north latitude. It was so fixed on the theory that this left 31/2 degrees south of the state for the territory of Ar- kansas.

This boundary was not at all satisfactory to people who lived in Little Prairie, now ealled Caruthersville. The settlements along Black river and White river were also dissatis- fied with the suggested boundary. They did not wish to be attached to the territory of Ar- kansas. Another petition was presented to Congress in March, 1818, asking that the ter-

242

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

ritory south of Missouri river be formed into a separate state. It was to be extended further to the west than the proposed western boun- dary of Missouri which, at that time, was fixed at the western limit of the Osage Purchase.

In 1818, on November 22nd, the territorial legislature adopted a memorial to Congress for the admission of Missouri as a state, and proposed new boundaries for the state. It is probable that the agitation over the southern boundary was carried on in the legislature by Stephen Ross of New Madrid county, in the house of Dr. Robert D. Dawson, also of New Madrid county, in the legislative council, and by the members from Laurence county, as it was then constituted, which were: Perry Magness, Joseph Harden and John Davidson. It was their desire that the boundary should be moved far enough south to include the prin- cipal settlements on the Mississippi and also on White river. Owing, doubtless, to their influence, this memorial fixed the southern boundary as follows: "Beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Mis- sissippi river at the 36th degree of north lati- tude and running in a direct line to the mouth of Black river, a branch of White river; thence in the middle of the main channel of White river to where the parallel of 36 de- grees and 30 minutes north latitude crosses the same; thence with that parallel of lati- tude due west."

This memorial, with its proposed boun- daries, was the subject of considerable debate in Congress, and after this discussion, the southern boundary was fixed as it now stands, that is to say, running west from the Missis- sippi on the parallel of 36 degrees to the St. Francois river ; thence up and in the middle of the main channel thereof to a parallel of 36 degrees and 30 minutes, and thence west.

There can be no doubt that the man most in- fluential in securing the joining of the terri- tory now included in Dunklin and Pemiscot counties to Missouri, was J. Hardeman Walker. He was at that time a most influen- tial, energetic resident of Little Prairie and he carried on a vigorous agitation to secure the extension of the southern boundary to in- clude this territory. It is quite probable that he had the assistance of other representatives from Southeast Missouri, including John Scott, the territorial delegate, Alexander Buckner, John James Evans, Judge Richard S. Thomas and Dr. Dawson.

Those who were interested in this extension of the boundary and the inclusion of the ter- ritory in Missouri were actuated by a number of motives: one was the feeling that Little Prairie and the other settlements in what is now Pemiscot county were really a part of Missouri. They had been made about the same time of the Missouri settlements, they had practically the same population, and were engaged in the same general industries. Their trade and association had been very largely with Missouri, and for this reason they re- garded themselves as a part of the territory of Missouri. It was natural, too, for them to wish to be a part of a territory which was about to be admitted into the Union as a state. The advantages of state government over territorial government are obvious, and it was felt that it might be some years before the territory of Arkansas would be admitted as a state. These reasons, along with others of a similar nature, moved the men mentioned to vigorous effort to fix the boundary of the state as it now stands.

The only other boundary dispute directly concerning Southeast Missouri occurred at a

243

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

later date, but is here given as it rounds out the story of the state's boundaries in this section.

One of the longest boundary disputes in the history of the United States was carried on between Kentucky and Missouri over the possession of Wolf Island, which lies just be- low Belmont and is the largest in the Missis- sippi river, having an area of 15,000 acres. The main channel of the river lies east of the island and it is separated from the west bank by a narrow channel so that it seems to belong to Missouri. When the state boundaries were defined in 1820 Wolf Island was left as a part of Kentucky because at that time the channel of the river was west of the island. After a time, however, the channel shifted to the east and the island came to be claimed as a part of Missouri. Most people regard it as belonging to New Madrid county and at one time a man living on the island was elected sheriff of New Madrid county. Kentucky, however, claimed jurisdiction over the island and finally the state of Missouri, by its attor- ney general, brought suit in the supreme court of the United States for possession of the island. The case was tried by a number of distinguished lawyers on each side and was before the court for eleven years. Kentucky was represented by John J. Crittenden, Gar- ret Davis and Henry Stanberry. Missouri was represented by Governor Blair and F. A. Dick. During the course of the trial a great

many persons were examined and a great many old books and maps produced in evi- dence in order to determine the location of the channel of the river in the early days. It was shown by most of the maps that the main channel was east of the island and witnesses said that from 1850 back to 1830 the main channel was east of the island and that from 1830 to 1794 both channels were navigable. It was shown also that the land was surveyed by United States surveyor in 1821 as part of Missouri ; other witnesses, however, introduced by Kentucky, testified that the channel of the river was west of the island during most of this period and that about the year 1830 there was enough water for boats between the island and Kentucky; it was also shown that Ken- tucky had exercised continuons authority over the island since 1792 when it came into the possession of the title formerly held by Virginia. The court also heard evidence to show that the soil and the plant life of the island were similar in character to those of the Kentucky side and dissimilar to those on the Missouri side. It was also shown that the level of the island was the same as that of the second bottom of the Kentucky side and four or five feet higher than the western bank. These considerations, together with the fact that Kentucky had had jurisdiction over the island for a great number of years, decided the question in favor of Kentucky.

SECTION IV

Period 1820-1860-Town Histories

CHAPTER XVI

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT

ANALYSIS OF POPULATION, 1820-1830-COMPARATIVE CENSUS TABLE, 1820-1860-FRENCH AND GERMAN ELEMENTS-PERIOD OF TOWN GROWTH.

In 1820, when the state was organized, just before its admission to the Union, the popu- lation of Southeast Missouri was as follows:

Cape Girardeau county .5,968

Jefferson county . 1,835

Madison county . .. 2,047

New Madrid county 2,296

Ste. Genevieve county 4,962

Washington county 2,769

Wayne county. 1,443

Of this population, the greater part were white people, but there were a few free negroes and several hundred slaves. The pop- ulation grew very rapidly for a number of years after the admission of the state into the Union. Southeast Missouri still had all the advantages which had attracted men to it in the earlier days and, added to this now, was the fact that it was part of a regularly organ- ized state which had been admitted into the Union. The people were, as far as possible, under our republican form of government, self-governing, and from every part of the Union there was a movement toward the new state.

In 1830 the population of the counties in the southeast was as follows :

Cape Girardeau county 7,445

Jefferson county 2,592

Madison county 2,371

New Madrid county .2,350

Perry county .3,349

St. Francois county 2,366

Scott county

2,136

Washington county . 6,784

Wayne county 3,264

Ste. Genevieve county 2,186

ANALYSIS OF POPULATION, 1820-1830

It will be observed that in this decade the principal growth of population was in Wash- ington county. This was due, largely, to the development of the mining industry in this county. Some of the counties, notably Ste. Genevieve, decreased in population, but this was owing to a cutting off of some of the territory in order to form new counties and not to an actual loss of population in the county itself.

The population of Southeast Missouri in- creased steadily during this period of its his- tory. This is especially true of the counties along the Mississippi river and the settlements in adjoining counties. Those which lay fur-

247

248

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

ther back and were, consequently, more diffi- cult of access, as was the case in Carter, Rip- ley, Butler and Dunklin counties, grew in population much more slowly. They were separated too far from river transportation, and they were unprovided with either rail- roads or ordinary roads over which traveling could be easily made and were, therefore, al- most cut off from any easy or regular com- munication with the different parts of the country. It is true that even in these coun- ties settlements were made during this period and that by the close of it there were consid- erable numbers of people to be found in their limits, but their growth was nothing like the rapid growth of the counties along the river. The same causes which operated to increase rapidly the population of the section after the purchase of Louisiana operated with even more force to increase the population after the admission of the state into the Union. More and more people were attracted by the richness of the soil, the advantages of the cli- mate and the possibility of earning a living and a competence which was offered to rich and poor alike. Most of the settlers who came were farmers who scattered themselves over the territory, opening up new farms and clearing away the wilderness. The section was distinctly agricultural in its life, with the exception of the mining region, and even there, as we have noted, most of the people depended in part at least upon farming for a living. A table is here inserted showing the population of each of the counties in the southeast at each of the census periods from 1820 to 1860, and also the total population at each date:

COMPARATIVE CENSUS TABLE, 1820-1860

Counties.

Population

1820

1830 1840

1850

1860

Bollinger

7,371

Butler

1.616

2,891

Cape Girar-

deau

5,968 7,445 9,359 13,912 15,547

Carter

Dunklin

...

1,229

5,026

Iron

....

. .. ....

5,842

Jefferson

.1,835

2,592

4,296

6,928

10,344

Madison .

2,371

3,395

6,003

5,664

Mississippi ..

3,123

4,859

New Madrid2,296

2,350

4,554 5,541

5,654

Pemiscot

. ..

2,962

Perry

3,349

5,760

7,215

9,128

Reynolds

1,849

3,173

Ripley

2,856

2,830

3,747

St. Francois

2,366

3,211

4,964

7,249

Ste. Gene -

vieve ..

4,962 2,186

3,148 5,313

8,029

Scott

2,136 5,974 3,182

5,247

Stoddard

3,153

4,277

7,877

Washington.2,769

6,784 7,213

8,811

9,023

Wayne .... 1,443 3,264 3,403 4,518

5,629

...

Total .... 21,320 34,843 56,322 81,311 130,497

FRENCH AND GERMAN ELEMENTS.

These figures show that increase in popula- tion had been both steady and rapid. The greater numbers of those who came to the ter- ritory came from other states, so that the pop- ulation of Southeast Missouri, outside of the older settlements, was largely American. In a few counties there was a considerable sprinkling of other settlers. The greater number of French were to be found in Ste. Genevieve county, though there were consid-

....

1,235

249

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

erable numbers of them in New Madrid county.

German settlers were found in Cape Girar- deau county in large numbers, and in some- what smaller numbers in Seott, Bollinger and Perry counties. Of course, there was a sprink- ling of foreigners in other counties, but the population, with the exception of the counties noted, was very largely Ameriean in char- acter. It is to be noted that the presence of large numbers of Germans and other foreign settlers in Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties was one of the things which deter- mined the action of Missouri at the outbreak of the Civil War. If it had not been for the presence of these people who were loyal to the Union, it is highly probable that the movement for seeession in the state would have been suc- cessful, and Missouri would have aligned herself with the Confederate States govern- ment.

The German element in the population of Southeast Missouri is found largely in Perry and Cape Girardeau counties. There were a few German families in Ste. Genevieve in its early years; the most prominent German fam- ily in Ste. Genevieve county was a family named Ziegler; there were three brothers of this name, Martin, Francis and Sebastian, who settled in the vicinity of Ste. Genevieve quite early in its history. About 1840 the German settlers eame to New Offenburg and Zell ; these German families were mostly Catholics.

In 1839 a colony of Germans made their home in Perry county. These were Luther- ans and came to America largely on account of dissatisfaction with religious teachings at home. Their leader was Martin Stephan. They came from a number of places in Ger- many and numbered more than seven hundred at the time of their sailing from Bremen. One of the five ships on which the party

sailed was lost at sea. The others arrived at New Orleans in January, 1839, and continued their travels until they reached St. Louis on February 19th of the same year and remained there until the following June. Before sail- ing from Germany the colonists had eolleeted a common fund of more than $100,000, and after reaching St. Louis they purchased lands in the southeastern part of Perry county out of this fund; they secured 4,400 aeres for the sum of $10,000, and most of the colonists removed to this place from St. Louis. They suffered very great hardships for a num- ber of years, as the land had to be cleared and some of it was of very little value. Be- fore they succeeded in building houses they lived in tents and log cabins and the exposure resulted in sickness and death. Stephan, who as their leader, had control of affairs, proved to be ineapable and had to be deposed. Some- what later the land which had been held in common was distributed among the colonists and this lead to very great improvements in their condition.

About 1840 another lot of colonists to the number of 75, under the leadership of Rev. Maximilian Oertel, established themselves at Wittenberg. They were Lutherans, also, but their leader, Oertel, soon afterward returned to New York and there became a Catholic priest.

The German settlers of Cape Girardeau county began to come to the county in 1834; the first of these were Otto Buehrman, Will- iam Cramer and Rev. Frederick Pieker. They located on farms in the Big Bend. The Cramers and Picker came from Hanover and Buehrman from Brunswick. Shortly after his arrival, Rev. Mr. Pieker removed to the settlement on Whitewater and Cramer and John Anthony removed to Cape Girardeau and engaged in the manufacture of cigars.

250

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

George H. Cramer, who was the son of Will- iam Cramer, lived in Cape Girardeau for a number of years and was a very highly re- spected citizen, holding the office of mayor on several occasions. Hon. Wilson Cramer of Jackson, is a son of George H. Cramer. Of the family of Otto Buehrman there are still descendants living within the county and until within a few years one of his grandsons was a merchant in Cape Girardeau. In 1835 William Bierwirth, with his family, Daniel Bertling, Henry Friese and Chris Schatte came to Cape Girardeau county from Ger- many and since that time there has been a stream of German immigration. The settle- ment in the neighborhood of Dutchtown was made about 1835-36 by families from Switz- erland. It was among these families that the German Evangelical church was organized in 1838.

GROWTH OF TOWNS

We have said that the period was prin- cussing.

cipally one in which the population of the country increased and farms were opened, but there was also a growth of the towns. With the coming of larger numbers of people, trade increased and therefore the trading centers grew rapidly in population. More and more men became interested in buying and selling goods, in the establishment of banks, and in a few cases, the establishment of factories of various kinds. These things were concen- trated in the towns of the section and, accord- ingly, we find all of these towns having a prosperous history, and the new towns con- stantly springing up in every part of the dis -. trict. We have previously referred to the his- tory of more important towns in the section, and it will be the purpose in this to continue the story of these towns, and to trace the founding, and history of those whose story begins within the period we are now dis-

CHAPTER XVII

STE. GENEVIEVE AND ST. MARYS.

SHIPPING CENTER OF MINERAL REGION-STE. GENEVIEVE-IRON MOUNTAIN PLANK ROAD- 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED-U. S. SENATORS FROM STE. GENEVIEVE-STE. GENE- VIEVE OF TODAY-ST. MARYS.

Ste. Genevieve, the oldest town in the state, continued its period of prosperity during the greater part of these years-1820 to 1860. The successful application of steam to the propulsion of boats on the Mississippi river added very greatly to the river commerce and all the towns situated on the river reaped the benefit of this increase. Ste. Genevieve in particular was fortunate in this matter.

SHIPPING CENTER OF MINERAL REGION.

Until the construction of the Iron Mountain railroad, Ste. Genevieve was the shipping point for almost all the mineral region. The lead from Washington and Jefferson coun- ties, and the iron from Iron county was all brought to Ste. Genevieve to be reshipped upon boats. From 1846, when the iron indus- try became very important, until the year 1858, when the Iron Mountain Railroad reached that region the quantities of iron which went by Ste. Genevieve were very large, indeed. The town became one of the greatest commercial centers of the state. The lead and iron traffic was like a living stream cf prosperity that poured by the town. The building of the railroad, however, and the consequent change in the shipping point from St. Genevieve to St. Louis marked the begin-

ning of the town's decline. It is hardly too much to say that had the railroad been built from Ste. Genevieve to the mining region, rather than from St. Louis, the probabilities are that Ste. Genevieve, rather than the latter town, might have become the great commer- cial city of the state.

As is set out in the chapter on schools and education, one of the principal things which marks the history of the town during these years was the establishment and conduct of schools. The Ste. Genevieve academy, which was established by a corporation in 1808, was for many years a flourishing institution. The public schools were not neglected either, the first board of directors being chosen in 1846 and a public school conducted from that time until the present.

The first telegraph line in Missouri was the line which connected Nashville with St. Louis. It passed through Ste. Genevieve and was con- structed in the year 1820. Its use, however, was abandoned after a short time.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 37

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844