USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 34
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
"From Miller's, the next place was that of Scott Bland. Mr. Bland, himself, was away from home in Kansas, and the sole occupants of the house were his aged mother and sister, who reside with him. His sister saw the storm coming and told her mother that they had better get into a cave just by the house. The old lady rather objected, but in a moment yielded to the persuasions of her daughter, and they were no sooner in the cave than the house was carried away, twisted up and jammed to pieces. Everything in its sweep. orchard, fences, outbuildings, here as elsewhere, was entirely swept away.
"Continuing on in a southeastern direction, it next struck the place of Zach Davidson. His house shared the fate of others mentioned, but before the general falling to pieces it was blown some ten rods across a ravine. He and his wife and two boys and a hired man were in the house. Mr. David- son told our reporter that about the only impression he remembers having while the house was being carried away, was that he thought he was still alive. As soon as that part of the house in which the members of the fam- ily were came down, Mr. Davidson remembers looking about to see if all were there, and the feelings of all on learning that not one of their number was missing or seriously hurt can be imagined better than described. It was almost a miracle, and probably could not occur again in one case out of a thousand. His stable was all blown to pieces and two fine horses were lifted up and carried by the storm nearly a quarter of a mile, one of them being blown through a wire fence. still remaining attached to the halter and that to a log of the stable to which he had been tied while the stable was intact. Strange to relate, the horses received but little injury. Mrs. Davidson was quite painfuly bruised.
"The tornado next passed over a part of the farm of Frank Morehouse. removing fences and doing other damage, as in the instances above men- tioned.
"Its course from here was due east a half mile, down a lane. The north fence of the lane was entirely destroyed, not a rail or post being left. The south fence-wire and rail fence-was badly scattered, the rails nearly all being carried away and the wire twisted into ugly snarls. Half a mile down the lane from the point last named, to the north side. stands a tenement house belonging to Sam Wood. around which there is a large orchard, to the west and north of which is a beautiful willow fence, which the storm did not hurt. A strange feature of the storm to be seen here is that while the willow fence remained intact, the orchard and house which it enclosed on the west and
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PAST AND PRESENT
north were ruined. Fine looking, noble trees in the orchard and some shade trees were torn out by the roots, limbs and branches twisted off. the house demolished, and the fence to the south blown away, and yet the willow fence was left apparently uninjured.
"Its course from here was southeast, down a hollow or draw for about half a mile. It took a stable and barn of Sam Wood in its sweep and made a fearful pathway through about thirty-five acres of beautiful timber. His house was just without the edge of the storm and the principal injury it sus- tained was the blowing down of the flues.
"Less than half a mile east from here was the farm and residence of John Grabill. The house was destroyed, as were the orchard, fencing and everything within the scope of the all-powerful whirling wind. At this point a stone which would have made a good lift for three men was carried a dis- tance of some thirty feet. Mr. Graybill's family were badly injured, as will be seen in the list of injured.
"From here the tornado rather bore to the southeast. While the por- trayal so far is sad and gloomy. yet we now come to the point where death was wrought. James Young and wife, a couple somewhat aged. together with their family, lived probably half a mile from Graybill's. The family were absent except this aged pair. Here the tornado struck in all its force and fury, seemingly determined to even outdo all it had previously done. The house was demolished, the old gentleman and lady being blown away some distance. Mr. Young was found some fifty yards from the house in a patch of brush. The wind snatched from the poor old body every shred of clothing, except a piece of one pants leg. Both legs were broken, both arms broken, a gash cut across his forehead, and something struck him so that his entrails protruded. In the sudden fury and unrelenting violence of the storm, while his mortal frame was being thus badly mutilated. his spirit. let us trust, passed tranquilly into the presence of its Maker, where storms never come. What a sight it must have been to those who first discovered his body. Mrs. Young was blown in a somewhat different direction, and was severely injured, probably fatally.
"The next work of destruction, so far as buildings were concerned, was the McMackin mill, on the One Hundred and Two river. This was former- ly known as the Jones mill. It was made an entire wreck. Three young men were in the upper story at the time. How they escaped is a mystery to themselves as well as others.
"Crossing the river, its course was still southeast, and while it did great damage to timber. fences, etc., it seems not to have struck any houses.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
"As showing the tremendous power of the wind, it is only necessary to allude to the fact that on its course it was noticed in several places that posts were twisted right out of the ground and carried away. Iron beam plows were seen twisted terribly. Fearful and terrible indeed are such storms, not only because of the destruction of property, but on account of the loss of human life. All who saw the course of this one agreed on the fact that its width was not uniform, but that it spread out at some points in its course much wider than at others. The edges were well defined, and the indica- tions point to the greatest severity in the center. Its track was from one hundred yards to a quarter of a mile in width, and its length from west of the One Hundred and Two rivers some three or four miles. East of that stream it also continued two or three miles, but with less force and, from the situation and surface of the country, with much less damage, according to all reports which we have been able to gain.
"One feature noticeable along the track of the wind was that almost everything that was left was bedaubed with mud. It doubtless gathered up the mud off of the ground and hurled it through the air, thus sending it against everything in its way.
"This is probably the severest storm which ever passed over any part of our county, as it is thought to surpass the one in the south part a year ago, and we hope it will never devolve on us again to chronicle another so dreadful and destructive in its consequences.
"The killed and wounded were: James Young, aged about sixty, killed outright.
"Mrs. Young, aged about fifty, forearm fractured and badly cut about the head.
"Susan Goodin, aged about fifty, leg and collar bone fractured.
"John Graybill, aged about forty, spine injured and bruised about the head and shoulders.
"Susan Graybill, aged fifteen years, arm fractured and two ribs broken.
"Clark Graybill, aged eight years, collar bone fractured.
"Jack Graybill, aged six years, collar bone broken.
"Maggie and Alice Graybill, twins, aged three years, badly bruised.
"The following physicians were in attendance on Monday, and did all in their power to alleviate the sufferings: Drs. Heckedorn and E. T. Moore, of Maryville : Drs. Gerard Hughes and Sergeant. of Hopkins. and Dr. Wallis, of Pickering."
The general meteorological disturbance of June 12, 1881, resulted in several other tornadoes, one at Rosendale, Andrew county, and three in Gen- try county and De Kalb counties.
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Soon after this terrible storm, the following appeared in print and was from an eye witness of many such storms, and will be well for the reader to remember in case such a storm ever overtakes them :
"Now, if tornadoes move east by about twenty degrees north, one can escape when they approach by running north or south, as the case may be. Some persons, not knowing this fact, have run directly into the tornado and been killed. It is well also to remember tornadoes occur late in the after- noon, when the atmosphere is sultry, and in this latitude on the last few days of May, or the first days of June, being drawn backward or forward, as the season is early or late, and that they are increased in intensity proportionately as the season is dry. Tornado caves are a safeguard in prairie countries. The only effectual remedy for tornadoes is found in planting forests, which drive these terrible storms into the open air. Tornadoes seldom do much damage in forest states."
CIRCUS TENT CALAMITY.
On September 18, 1905, a terrible windstorm passed through Maryville. at a time when the great Ringling Brothers circus tents were pitched just to the east of the city limits, and during the show when thousands of people were within the tent. The result was the collapsing of the tent and breaking down of seats and poles, which accident maimed more than one hundred per- sons and killed two outright, including one of the showmen. Many damage suits were brought against the company and. as usual, the great show corpora- tion secured able attorneys to defend on the plea that the storm was in the nature of a cyclone or tornado, and the test case was brought this spring at the federal court at St. Joseph, where the showmen were entirely exoner- ated, but it is believed that the case will be taken to the supreme court.
EARLY MARRIAGE RECORD.
In the settlement of every new country there is always more or less of interest connected with the first marriage records, hence in this connection will be given a few of the pioneer marriages, with some of the facts con- nected therewith :
"This is to certify that I, William Davis, an acting justice of the peace of White Cloud township. Nodaway county, state of Missouri, on April 3d A. D. 1845, lawfully married Archibald Prather to Rebecca Atkinson.
"Given under my hand, this 27th day of June, A. D. 1845.
"WILLIAM DAVIS, Justice of the Peace.
"Filed for record 30th Oct., A. D. 1845.
"AMOS GRAHAM, Recorder."
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI. 367
Other marriages were: Robert J. Gray and Jemima Irwin, May 22. 18.45, by Henry Eppler, C. P. M.
Dunkin McA. Vinsonhaler and Elizabeth Criberly, by William .A. Steph- ens, justice of the peace. June 26, 1845.
June 15, 1845, George Washington Hardee and Kesiah Thomison, cere- mony by Justice of the Peace Jonathan Lavering.
November 17, 1845. by Justice of the Peace George P. Kerns, Jesse Blakely and Jane Blackeley.
August 13, 1845, by William A. Stephens, a justice of the peace, James WV. Black and Sarah Williams.
June 12, 1845, by Jonathan Shepherd. a justice of the peace. David Barbour and Sarah Martin.
By Justice of the Peace John Lowe, March 16, 1845, Henry Miller and Elizabeth Lowe.
March 27. 1845. by Moses Allen, minister of the gospel. James K. Allen and Drusilla Lanham.
Hiram J. Cuberly and Jane M. Vinsonhaler, on May 22. 1845, by Justice of the Peace William A. Stephens.
April 24, 1845, by Thomas Blakely, a justice of the peace, Stephen Graves and Sarah Harper.
Jesse H. Stoner and Miss Emily Trasper, January 25. 1845. by James Vaughn, a justice of the peace.
"November 9. 1845. by Isaac Harris, a justice of the peace, George Bow- man." The record is silent as to who the bride was.
One of the last marriages during the year 1845-the first year of the organized county's history-was recorded in the following language :
"This is to certify, that I. Caleb Kauble, an acting justice of the peace of Dallas township, did on the 27th day of November, 1845, solemnize the bands of matrimony betwixt William Wilson and Miss Sarah Jane Guill, this 13th day of December, 1845.
"CALEB KAUBLE, Justice of the Peace. "AMOS GRAHAM, Recorder."
During the year 1845 there were recorded eighteen marriages, in 1880 there were two hundred and ninety-two and in 1909 only two hundred and thirty-nine marriages. Whether marriage has become more unpopular or whether this was an off year, the record sayeth not.
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PAST AND PRESENT
HUNTING IN NORTHWEST NODAWAY.
What was styled many years ago "Hunter's Paradise." was the vicinity in which Lincoln township is now defined. At an early day-in the forties fifties and even sixties-there were deer, elk, bear, wild turkeys, coons, wild- cats, catamounts, mountain wolves, a large wolf of two varieties, black and gray, small prairie wolves, of a yellowish brown, beaver, otters, minks, musk- rats and other small game. The roaming Indians killed three elk within a half mile of pioneer Hutson's cabin. One of these animals was of such im- mense size that when his horns were reversed and set up on the ground, an ordinary man could easily pass under them. Buffalo were seen about ten miles to the north of Hutson's place and on the east side of the Missouri river. The droves on the west side of the river were large, so numerous that frequently one might have counted as many as five hundred in one drove. Turkeys were thicker than prairie chickens were twenty years later. In winter time the forest trees about the first settlers' houses were literally black with countless numbers of fat wild turkeys.
An early settler cut ten bee trees in one day and procured a large quan- tity of excellent wild honey. Other recorded statements of that reliable frontiersman. Mr. Hutson, states that he killed sixty-two deer one autumn time ; a son of his killed one hundred and thirty-three. When the ice had formed over the river and lakes, one fall and winter, just sufficient to bear a man's weight, hunters would chase the muskrats out of their houses and where the water was shallow. the fur-bearing animals would run under the ice, when the hunters would pursue and spear them through the ice, which was thin, yet clear and strong enough to hold their weight. One man cap- tured a hundred muskrats in one day's hunting expedition.
In the early forties there were many Indians yet hanging around the timber in this part of Nodaway county (northwest portion) and eleven hun- dred were encamped in the bottoms of the Nodaway river one mile distant from Mr. Hutson's place. Three hundred more camped a half mile to the north of his cabin. These Indians were here for the purpose of hunting and to bid a long farewell to their old hunting grounds, as by treaty they had relinquished this territory a few years prior to this.
POPULATION BY PRECINCTS.
According to the United States census of 1900, the enumeration of Nodaway county, in the various townships, cities and villages was as follows :
369
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Atchison township, including Clearmont village 1,696
Grant township, with Barnard village 1,677
Green township, with village of Quitman 2,032
Hopkins township, with city of Hopkins 1,886
Hughes township. with village of Graham. 1,883
Independence township, with village of Parnell 2,122
Jackson township, with village of Ravenwood 2,142
Jefferson township, with village of Clyde 1,652
Lincoln township 2,236
Monroe township, with Skidmore village 1,610
Nodaway township, with Burlington Junction city 1,849
Polk township, with city of Maryville 7,740
Union township 1,645
Washington township, with Guilford village 1,334
White Cloud township
1,434
Total.
32,938
POPULATION OF CITIES AND VILLAGES.
Barnard village 362 Maryville city 4,577
Burlington Junction city 750 Parnell village 432
Clyde village 250
Quitman village 35€
Conception Junction 248
Ravenwood. 285
Graham village
384
Skidmore village
561
Guilford village
235
Hopkins city
907 Total urban population . .7,118
The coming (1910) census will show great increase, especially in the villages and cities of the county. The city of Maryville now has a population of 6,100.
The county's population in 1860 was 5,252; in 1870, 14.751; in 1880. 29.544 : in 1890. 30.781, and in 1900, 32.938.
PIONEER GATHERINGS.
While it is to be deeply regretted that the sturdy pioneer band and later comers to this county have never taken advantage of the great benefits de- rived from a regularly organized "Old Settlers' Reunion Society," however.
(24)
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PAST AND PRESENT
it may be recorded that at various times in the history of the county. holiday occasions have been made the time for holding reunions of the early settlers and their families. To old and young, these green spots on life's rugged way are still fresh in the memory of many who participated in them. In 1880. thirty years ago, the thoughtful citizens of Burlington Junction bethought themselves of the pioneers of the Platte Purchase, and- determined to offer prizes or tokens of their regard. These awards were to be made on the Fourth of July, as a part of the Independence Day features. First, a silver tea set to the oldest couple of the pioneer settlers of the Platte Purchase who should be present on the grounds ; second, a silver table castor to the oldest female settler; third, a silver-headed cane to the oldest male settler. These articles were handsomely presented with appropriate remarks to the gray- haired veterans of pioneer days in Nodaway county and the "Purchase" in general. The spokesman was Prof. B. A. Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Al- bright, of Nodaway county, received the tea set. They came to the country in 1837. forty-three years before this reunion took place. Silver castors were awarded to two ladies, both of whom came in 1837. Mrs. Samuel T. Kennedy and Mrs. Mary Jackson. Two silver-headed canes were presented to the men coming to the Purchase in 1835. Benjamin R. Holt, of Andrew county, and John Grooms, of Nodaway county.
Again, at the county fair in 1881 similar prizes or tokens were awarded on the second day of the annual exhibit of farm products. These consisted of a silver-headed cane to the pioneer who had lived the longest within a radius of fifty miles of Maryville, and a china set to the lady who had re- sided within the same radius of the city. A Mr. Irwin, of Andrew county, carried off the cane, while Mrs. John Riggin took honors with the china set. The former had lived forty-nine years in one place in Andrew county, while the latter had resided in the same county for forty-three years. On this in- teresting occasion the presentation addresses were made in a splendid man- ner by Hon. Lafayette Dawson, who, among other things. said :
"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : The task before me, assigned by the association, is to present this beautiful set of chinaware to the lady whom the committee selected for that purpose decided should be entitled to receive it. This committee has reported that Mrs. Riggin, of Andrew county, has resided within a radius of this place for a period of forty-three years and longer than any other lady. This is a long time, and many, very many before me had not been born at the time Mrs. Riggin took upon herself the duties of a housewife. The Platte Purchase was, at that date, a howling wilder-
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ness. Very few traces of civilization could then be found. Mrs. Riggin tells me that forty-three years ago everything around her early home assumed a radiance and splendor that she had never seen before. She says when springtime came the scenery was simply indescribable. Flowers as full and perfect as if they had the attention of the skilled botanist and florist, with all their sweet and captivating odors, and with all the variagated charms of color that nature could produce, were here in the lap of elegance and beauty decorating the smiling groves. The sweet songsters of the forest appeared to feel the influence of the genial clime, and in more soft and modulated tones * * warbled their tender notes in unison with love and nature.
"Standing by her side is Mr. Riggin, who has journeyed with her all these long ( still short) years. His team then consisted of a blind ox and a muley cow, which, together with a rickety old lynch-pin wagon and a wooden mould-board .plow, made up his farming outfit. This outfit he valued at five thousand dollars and his wife at twenty thousand dollars-she who to- day is to receive this beautiful china set. They have reared a large and inter- esting family and prospered beyond measure and have preserved their char- acters unsullied. Mrs. Riggin, you will now receive this token of friendship on the part of our people, and as an evidence of the gratitude we bear those who battled with the obstacles of nature forty years ago and converted a wilderness into a garden."
It is a pity that with the rush and pell-mell of business and greed. that these reunions of old settlers could not have been kept alive, but this was about the last of them. Long since, the Platte Purchase pioneers have been chambered in the silent halls of death.
MARKETS BY PERIODS.
Without a complete file of weekly or daily papers from which to draw the facts concerning market quotations in Nodaway county, it is no easy task to handle this subject as the author would like to. However, by diligent re- search the following quotations will be read with some interest and curiosity. showing how fickle have been the prices prevailing in this section. The earlier newspaper files having long since been destroyed, we necessarily quote from those published in later years, adding what old settlers recall of current prices.
Before the Civil war the prices paid for produce were extremely low as a rule, while all that had to be purchased from stores was very high. Ma- chinery had not then been invented to the extent of later decades, hence prices
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of manufactured articles were high. Then, being far from market points and factory centers. this had a tendency to make high-priced products and low-priced farm produce.
During the Civil war period prices generally went skywards-both mer- chandise and farm products, as is usually the case in war times. Sheeting ( factory cloth) was sold as high as fifty cents per yard for several years ; calico from eighteen to forty cents; bed ticking, fifty to ninety cents; seam- less ".\" grain sacks were worth one dollar a piece. cotton being at that date one dollar per pound. Boots and shoes were correspondingly high-priced and many went barefooted in weather quite severe. Tea sold at two dollars and a half for the best grades of Gunpowder, and the cheapest Japan sold at one dollar and a quarter. But little was used. Coffee sold at fifty cents for two years in war times and many substitutes were invented and used, including chickery. rye. or parched corn, and tons of the well-remembered "Thomp- son's Coffee Extract" was sold at twenty-five cents a box. The weekly news- paper sold the country over up to the close of the war at from two dollars to three dollars per year in advance. Nails were twelve cents a pound.
On the other hand. corn sold at from sixty cents to one dollar and a half : wheat from one dollar to two dollars : flour as high as fifteen dollars per bar- rel. Sorghum molasses sold at seventy-five cents to one dollar and sugar (dark brown stuff ) at four pounds to the dollar. Harvest hands required from three dollars to three dollars and a half per day.
Coming down to later years, the files disclose these prices: In 1877 the Democrat quoted wheat at one dollar and a half; corn, twenty to twenty- eight cents : oats, eighteen to twenty cents; hogs, four dollars and a half ; cattle. four dollars and a quarter to four dollars and a half.
Tu 1889-90 the same paper quoted as follows: Cattle, three dollars and seventy-five cents : hogs, four dollars and a half : wheat, seventy cents ; oats, twenty cents : corn, twenty-six cents.
In 1901. prints ( calico ) sold in Maryville at from four and a half to six cents per yard. unbleached muslin at six cents, grain bags at twenty-three cents.
At this date ( spring of 1910) for some reason unknown either to the people or political party workers, prices are unusually high on many articles. Especially is it true of livestock, hogs selling as high in the packing districts as ten dollars and seventy cents per hundred weight. more than Civil war-day prices : cattle from seven dollars to eight dollars and thirty cents : bacon from twenty-four to thirty-three cents, while corn is only about sixty cents in the
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ear, and wheat about the dollar mark. Groceries, as a rule, are not propor- tionately high, however. Labor is in good demand and farmers are hunting men to work at twenty-five dollars and unable to secure them. The subject of high-priced provisions has come to be so serious that Congress has taken it up and ordered an investigating committee to try and determine if it has been occasioned by trusts and combines. Strange to say, just at this time neither political party tries to convince the "dear people" that it is occasioned by reason of the "robber tariff," or. on the other hand, by some free-trade articles. All seem at sea as to the problem. The farmer is best pleased of all. for he is, and has been for years, reaping wealth from his fields, whereas a few years ago the prices paid him were ruinous to him. Yet he objects when merchants ask high prices for articles he has to purchase, notwithstand- ing the great prices he obtains for his produce.
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