USA > Missouri > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Missouri : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Clinton County in the late war, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 36
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Another extract :
"I arrived here from the mines on Bear River about a week since. D. D. Williams is going into business in the dry diggings, about sixty miles from this place. 'Old man Williams' and myself are going 200 miles up the Sacramento to mine. We are all partners, and carry on mining and merchandising or trading. We have made about $2,000, in cash, since we came, which we have invested, and will make thousands or lose. Samuel Love, Ryan, and Andrews are here and have done well. Any person that will work can make money. You recollect Cornwall, that stayed at Dawsons ?- he is here, and is worth, I suppose, a quarter of a million. Stratton was burned on a pile or stake by the Indians, a short time since. William Nicholson died night before last."
The following extract is dated at Coloma, September 15, 1849:
"I have lived here about one year ; have been engaged in the mines since last spring, and by being prudent and industrious have realized something for my trouble. I cannot say when I will return, perhaps in two or three years, perhaps never, although I will come as soon as I can to see my mother, and prevent her from crossing the Rocky Moun- tains, for I think such a trip dangerous and unnecessary. I would advise my friends and relations to remain where they are."
CALIFORNIA EMIGRANT SONG
" Farewell, farewell, my native land, I leave thee only with a sigh, To wander o'er a foreign strand, Perchance to live-perchance to die.
Adieu my friends whom kindred ties Unite, though distant we may rove, How ardent as time onward flies, Fond memory clings to those we love.
The few admired - the one beloved, Among the living and the dead, Whose constancy we sternly proved. Ah ! whither are those dear ones fled ?
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Some have we left at happy homes, While some, alas ! exist no more, And o'er their graves unheeding roams Each breeze that sweeps Miami's shore.
O'er the broad plains far away, Beyond the Ro.ky Mountain crest,
Our wayward feet awhile shall stray, And press the gold-besprinkled west. But mid the gaudy scenes of strife, Where Gold to Pride enchantment lends,
We'll ne'er forget that boon of life- Companions dear and faithful friends.
And in the lapse of coming years, Should fortune be not too unkind, We'll hope reward for parting tears, In smiles from those we left behind. We go-yet hoping to return, Friends of our youth, to home and you ;
For these do cause our hearts to yearn, E'en when we sigh Adieu-Adieu."
Cholera made its appearance in this section about the last of April, 1849, brought, as supposed, by steamboat from St. Louis, and disappeared in June following. Some of the citizens died with this disease, but it was mostly prevalent and fatal among the emigrants who were at the time encamping in and around the town. During the same summer the chol- era spread among the Indian tribes across the river, and many of them died.
In order to give some estimate of the number of emigrants that passed through this western country during the California gold excite- ment, we will give the number that crossed the river at St. Joseph to June 15, 1849, two months and a half, beginning from April 1st :
The number of wagons that had crossed here at that time was 1,508, which would average about four men to the wagon, making 6,032. At Duncan's ferry, four miles above St. Joseph, 685 wagons had crossed, and at Bontown, Savannah, and the ferries as far up as the Bluffs, 2,000, making the number of wagons 4,193. 10,000 persons had crossed at Independ- ence, making a total of 27,000 persons. There were about eight mules or oxen to each wagon, making the number 37,544 of mules and oxen.
At the time of the treaty of Gaudaloupe Hidalgo, the population of California did not exceed thirty thousand, while at the time of which we are writing, (1850), there were more than one hundred and fifty thousand people who had found their way thither, of which number, at least one hundred thousand were gold-hunters from the states. The evil effects of this gold mania upon the moral status of the United States are still seen and felt, and among all classes of society. It has popularized the worship of Mammon to an alarming extent, and to this worship, in a great measure, is attributed the moral declension of to-day.
CHAPTER XXII.
CIVIL WAR, AND THE EVENTS OF 1866.
SITUATION IN 1860-6 :- MEETINGS-CONVENTIONS-STATE OF FEELING-SOLDIERS-BUSH. WHACKERS-MILITIA-CRIME-BLOODSHED -- ARREST AND MURDER OF REV. A. H. F. PAYNE-PEACE PROCLAMATION-PEACE JUBILEE IN CLINTON COUNTY-OVATION TO RETURNED SOLDIERS-ADDRESS OF THOMAS J PORTER-NAMES AND RANK OF UNION AND CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS-SPEECHES OF GENERALS SHIELDS, BLAIR AND OTHERS-THE TWO TICKETS-"TEST OATH "-REJECTED VOTERS-ELECTION -REPUBLICANS DECLARED ELECTED-JUDGE BIRCH GIVES NOTICE OF CONTEST- VAN HORN TAKES HIS SEAT IN CONGRESS.
The year 1860, was one of great political excitement. The division of the Democracy, and the nomination by the respective elements of Douglas and Breckenridge, rendered the election of Mr. Lincoln abso- lutely certain. The Democracy of Clinton, as appears from the vote of that year, were almost equally divided-the Douglas vote being only a few over that of Breckenridge-while the vote for Mr. Bell was nearly equal to the combined vote for Douglas and Breckinridge, and the vote for Mr. Lincoln being only ten. The secession of South Carolina, fol- lowed by six other states, so intensified the feeling that the Legislature of Missouri passed an act to elect ninety-nine delegates, to take into consideration. &c. The whole question in all its bearings was thus brought before the people. The Union element nominated the late Judge James H. Birch, while the other element nominated the Reverend A. H. F. Payne. Mr. Payne was a highly intelligent gentleman, a large farmer and a minister of the Christian Church, but more conservative than those who put him forward. The difference in the platforms upon which they were placed, was not so positive as were the feelings and sentiments of the leading spirits upon each side. They felt that their duty was as much as possible to keep down and harmonize the feelings of the people-who were largely Southern born-and on all the ques- tions, but the one main question, were of one mind. Hence we find in the platform upon which Judge Birch was nominated, a resolution as follows :
Resolved, That the possession of slave property is a constitutional right, and as such ought to be ever recognized by the Federal Govern- ment; that if the Federal Government shall fail and refuse to secure this right, the Soutern States should be found united in its defense, in which event Missouri will share the common danger of the South.
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It was preceded by some fundamental propositions, as follows :
" That we are warmly attached to the government under which we live ; that we recognize the Federal union as the great preservative of our liberties ; that under it we have, by God's providence, prospered beyond all other people ; that, under this government, we are respected abroad, prosperous at home and fast taking our position as the leading nation of the earth. Valuing as we do, thus highly, the American Union, we should regard its dissolution as eminently disastrous to our country and as tending to suppress the cause of national liberty through- out the world."
This meeting was presided over by William Carpenter, one of the oldest Whigs in the county ; and the committee which reported the resolutions was composed of Thomas E. Turney, Samuel S. Trice, W. G. Biggerstaff, G. B. White, George Funkhouser, Holman Block, and John M. McMichael.
The election for disloyalty in this district resuled in a choice of Hon. George W. Dunn, then as now on the circuit court bench ; Robert D. Ray, of Carroll, now on the supreme bench ; and James H. Birch.
The matter having been submitted to a convention of ninety-nine picked men, the excitement in the country subsided. The action of the convention tended to consolidate public sentiment in peaceful channels. The firing on Fort Sumter, the action of Virginia, the call of the president for troops, the refusal of Governor Jackson to supply Missouri's contingent, the concentration of state troops under General Frost, and their forced surrender to General Lyon, set the people in a furor of excitement. A company was raised in this county, Cunnlow, captain, for service under Governor Jackson's call. This company was principally made up of the young men of the county, who, filled with high resolves, thought their duty lay in supporting, with their lives, the cause of the South. Under an act of the Legislature, Governor Jackson had ordered an enrollment of the able bodied men, preparatory to a draft. This act excited the Union men, who, in their resolve not to be conscripted to fight against their convictions of duty, organized themselves into companies to resist the execution of the law. One company was raised in Cameron, and William H. Edgar, who was afterwards killed at Shiloh, was elected Cap- tain, the Fishing River Company elected Hugh L. W. Rogers captain, the Castile Company elected Archibald Grooms captain, and the Platts- burg Company elected James H. Birch, Jr., captain. John Steel was quietly organizing a cavalry company for United States service.
The tendency of things in this county was dangerous, and a collision was inevitable. The older heads saw clearly the outlook, and while they divided on the issues, as did the younger ones, yet they were friends and had lived long enough to be very charitable to each other, and tolerant of personal opinions. They therefore met at the college building by
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appointment, and, after discussing the questions, resolved, that while they could not harmonize their feelings or opinions, yet, they would dis- countenance any personal or local violence, and that each side might hold, in peace, their opinions, and join and fight under their respective banners, but keep their peace toward one another at home. This state of feeling predominated until the Ist day of September, 1861. The respective sides engaged in recruiting their armies. Col. Boyd had a confederate regiment encamped in Wharton's pasture, on Castile Creek, ready to march, as it did march, to join Price in his attack on Mulligan, at Lexington, fighting, on its way, the celebrated Blue Mills fight, against the Third Iowa Regiment. It was on that day that some one destroyed the Platte River bridge, on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail- road, which let the passenger train into that river, resulting in the death of many persons, including Cutler, the conductor. Who did it, and what was the motive, has never transpired.
On that day, a company of men belonging to Boyd's regiment were in Plattsburg to bury Young Kelley, who was killed at Wilson's Creek. They were in command of Major Bostwick, and, after the burial services were over, they arrested Colonel John Steel, and a detachment of men under Bostwick proceeded to the residence of Colonel Birch, south of town, to arrest him. Colonel Birch, who had had some intimation of danger, had armed himself heavily, and defied Major Bostwick to arrest him. The major, with great prudence and to avoid the shedding of blood, retired, and shortly returned with an increased force of soldiers. At this turn of affairs, Colonel B., seeing it useless to contend with such a force, mounted his horse, and, reaching Prairie Park, the home of his father, informed him of the condition of affairs, and they both that night pro- ceeded to Cameron, where they were joined by Captain Rogers and his company, Captain Groom and his company, Captain Edgar's company, with detachments of men from Caldwell, Daviess and DeKalb, and soon had a force of 400 men. The camp here established was, for the time being, the headquarters of military operations in Northwest Missouri. Here was organized and mustered into service Major James' battalion, consisting of Edgar's company, from Clinton ; and Plum's company from Caldwell ; also Major Cox's battalion, consisting of Bollington's and other companies. These were state forces, under Governor Gamble, and mustered into service for six months. These irregular and temporary commands were afterwards transmuted into the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, commanded by Colonel E. C. Catherwood. One of the companies of this regiment was composed of the flower of the young men of the county. The roster of Company F showed that its captain was Charles C. Bassett, now one of the leading lawyers in South Missouri. Its first lieutenant was Daniel M. Birch, just fresh from the Virginia University, and afterwards its captain; D. C. McMichael was a lieutenant, and after-
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wards its captain, and who was subsequently killed while leading an attack against the Modoc Indians, in the lava beds of Oregon. Com- pany B stood pre-eminent in the brigade, and its records show that for drill, discipline and behavior, it was the first, while the desperate and gallant charge it made at Pineville, under Captain Birch, proved that it was entitled to rank as first among the bravest.
Captain Edgar's company of infantry, made up, in part, of the Seventeenth Missouri, and it being a part of General Benton's brigade, received the first onset of the Confederate troops, and its commander was among the first to offer up his life in that great battle.
In November, 1861, a concerted movement was understood to be in progrees to arrest the members of the convention, who had assumed the right to rule the state-had deposed Governor Jackson and placed H. R. Gamble in his place. In furtherance of this object the late Judge James H. Birch was arrested and taken to General Price's camp on Sac River. If the movement was intended to arrest the whole convention, it failed, as Judge Birch was the only one who was arrested. About the same time General Halleck had arrested Major David Wright, who was also a member of the convention, and the two being of equal rank and civilians, they were exchanged for one another. Judge Birch was taken from his residence, about three o'clock in the morning, by a band of armed men, and taken to Platte County, thence through Clay and Ray, and across the river at Lexington. His arrest caused great excitement, and numerous arrests were made in retaliation by the Federal troops, and, for a while, it was feared that serious consequences would result, as it was not known what the object of his arrest was. But such men as Judge Robert Johnson and Dr. (now Senator.) Bland-southern men- penetrated into Clay County and were enabled to report from Judge Birch himself that no personal violence need be feared, when the citi- zens who had been arrested as hostages were discharged. As the winter of 1861-'62 progressed, the feelings that had separated the citizens began to subside, and those who had been forced to flee, to return. Col. James H. Birch, Jr., who had in the meantime been placed upon the staff of Governor Gamble with the rank of colonel, returned home and resumed the practice of the law. A great many of the Confederates, whose term of enlistment had expired, came home under the proclama- tion of Governor Gamble and took the oath of allegiance, and resumed their duties as citizens. The year of 1862 was marked with no outbreak. The citizens were peaceably attending to their personal affairs. Those who had military desires joined the flag which they preferred to fight under, and quiet and peaceful desires were the order of the day. The year 1863 opened in the same spirit, and but for the appearance of cer- tain parties in our midst, would have continued. The county was thrown into the most violent commotion and fear by two of the most
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fearful and bloody murders of the war. A detachment of Colorado troops had penetrated the county and had plundered our merchants, Mr. John E. Shawhan being robbed of more than ten thousand dollars. A portion of the Twenty-fifth Missouri succeeded them, and were induced to kill Captain John Reed, one of the oldest, most respectable and peaceable citizens of the county. His death was consummated with peculiar atrocity. At the same time the Rev. A. H. F. Payne, who had been the opponent of Judge Birch for the convention, was taken from home, and after being kept for two days, brutally shot. Mr. Payne was quietly pursuing his avocation as a farmer and minister, and had protec- tion papers in his pocket from Governor Hall and Major Bassett. It was understood that others had been marked for destruction, but it was hard work to induce the Missouri soldiers to carry out the bloody purposes of those who had originated these murders, and it was arranged for another Colorado regiment to come into the county, but General Schofield promptly ordered them from the state, which order reached them when taking dinner three miles south of Plattsburg, and thus was frustrated what might have been one of the bloodiest chapters of the whole war, as several prominent Union men had been marked, because they had given voice to their indignation at the murders which had been committed. The result of this style of warfare brought its natural results, for it was not long before a band of bushwhackers, being a part of Quantrell's band under Lieutenant Gregg, put in their appearance, and took the town, robbed the treasury and set fire to the records in the court house. This band being unable to catch the men whom they believed had caused the death of Captain Reed and Mr. Payne, were prevailed on to leave the town with- out doing any one any personal violence. Judge Culver and the late Mr. Winslow Turner were the spirits which prevented any violence. The advent of these guerrillas brought a great many of the militia from other counties, and for a while the earth seemed turned into a place of torment. No one felt that he was safe, either in person or property. The militiaman for the time being was king, and all subordinate powers took their cue accordingly.
The Rev. A. H. F. Payne, to whom reference has been made in this chapter, was a native of Mason County, Kentucky, where he was born on the 4th day of April, 1807. In 1836, he settled in Clay County, Mis- souri, and in 1854, he became a resident of Clinton County, locating near Plattsburg, where he resided at the time of his death. He had been a minister of the gospel for twenty-nine years, and was regarded as one of the most eloquent, successful and acceptable preachers belonging to the Christian Church. Below we give the circumstances of his death, as narrated by his gifted and highly accomplished daughter :
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MISS LUCILLA PAYNE'S ACCOUNT OF THE ARREST AND MURDER OF HER FATHER, AUGUSTUS H. F. PAYNE.
In the winter of 1862, when Major-General Halleck's order No. 29 appeared, my father became convinced he could not stay at home with- out molestation ; consequently he went to St. Joseph, to effect an arrangement with the military authorities by which he could remain at home in peace. General Loan, who was in command at St. Joseph, required him to file a bond in the penalty of four thousand dollars, con- ditioned for his good behavior, etc., but through the influence of W. P. Hall, then Lieut. Governor of the State, it was reduced to two thousand dollars. He at first, by the terms of this bond, was confined to six counties, but finding his sacred duties required a more extended field, he applied for, and obtained, a pass from Major J. M. Bassett, Provost Mar- shal, to go any where in the Federal lines, and with this he went to and fro, unquestioned. During the summer of 1863, a band of bushwhackers, under Hart, kept all northwest Missouri in a state of fermentation. Whenever a Radical became alarmed at their daring raids, or wished to wreak his personal malice upon an enemy, and rid himself of a danger- ous rival, all he had to do was to go before some petty officer, state his life or property was in danger, and thereupon the enemy or rival was selected as a victim, and murdered. My father was such a victim. A league, more dark and terrible than that of the'Inquisition, sped the bolts of death. Private soldiers were used as instruments in the hands of radical citizens, and officers steathily guided the fatal messenger of death to their victim's heart. Jo. Hart, knowing, by some means, that the militia of Clinton County were withdrawn to Clay County, on a scout, took advantage of their absence to make a raid on Plattsburg- robbed the county treasury, a few individuals, and left at his leisure, without hurting anybody except one citizen, who was accidentally shot. The greatest excitement followed, and everybody expected the defense- less citizens would, in some way, be made to pay the penalty of the neg- ligence of those in power. My father was in Buchanan County, holding a meeting, when the raid occurred. A few days afterward, my brother, then a mere boy, was sent to Plattsburg, on business. Whilst there, he was arrested and kept under guard all day, accused of being with bush- whackers, which he stoutly denied and defied them to the proof. Find- ing he would not be frightened, he was released and sent home with a verbal order from the provost marshal, for my father to report to him the following Wednesday. The citizens were ordered to meet and devise some means to suppress bushwhackers. Well knowing that they were unarmed, and being violently opposed to bushwhacking, my father had no objection to expressing his true sentiments, especially if by so doing he could be instrumental in restoring quiet. In connection with Judge Birch and other conservative men they passed and signed a series of anti-bushwhacking resolutions. After the meeting adjourned, a squad of soldiers surrounded my father and endeavored to force him into a drink- ing saloon to treat them. He firmly refused, but finally, to escape their insults, went into a store and bought them some tobacco.
A company of the Missouri Twenty-fifth (Colonel Harding's regi- ment), under Captain Coleman, was stationed in Plattsburg about ten days afterward, and the great excitement in consequence of the raid had
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in a great measure subsided. My father went in and out of town, when- ever business or inclination prompted, unmolested. He received in the meantime a letter from Nashville, stating that a dear niece had been sentenced to Alton prison under the persecution of General Rosecrans. He determined to make an effort for her release. With this view he went to St. Joseph to obtain the influence of the resident authorities, and received from General W. P. Hall a letter of introduction to Major General Schofield, then commanding the Department of the Missouri. He also saw Colonel Harding at St. Joseph for the purpose of obtaining pay for six wagon loads of corn which had been taken from him and vouchers given for only fifty bushels, at twenty cents per bushe., which account Colonel Harding refused to have paid.
My father reached home on the morning of the 3d of June. After finding the family well, and spending some time with us, he left the house without telling any one where he was going. But, as his usual custom was to walk over the premises after being several days absent, we supposed he was somewhere on the farm. He had been gone but a short time when we saw a large squad of soldiers advancing toward the house. My mother, without waiting to see what they wanted, sent my little brother in quest of him, to acquaint him with the fact. They halted at the fence, and a lieutenant with two men came to the house. I met them at the hall door. The lieutenant asked if that was the resi- dence of the Rev. Mr. Payne. I replied that it was. He then asked for him. I told him I did not know where he was, and inquired what he wanted with him. He refused to answer. but asked for my mother. When mother came he made the same inquiries of her that he had of me, but told her he had an order for her husband's arrest, and that he would search the house. She told them he was welcome to search ; that my father was not in it ; that had he known of their coming he would not have left ; he had done nothing to lead him to fear them or any other soldiers; that he was well known to the military authorities of the dis- trict, and had "protection papers" from General Hall and Major Bassett. He replied that neither Hall nor Bassett were any authority to him; that he belonged to the United States service and not to the state militia. He then ordered his men to search the house, saying that if my father gave himself up it would be well, and if not he would shoot him, intimating that he was hiding from him. Before searching the house I asked him to let me see his orders. He said he never showed them to. ladies. I then asked by whose orders he was acting. He said, "Colonel Harding's." "When did you receive the orders? "The evening before." I then told him I thought it exceedingly strange that Colonel Harding did not detain my father in St. Joseph the day before ; that he had just returned from there ; had seen Colonel Harding, and transacted business with him; that it would have been more expeditious as well as more certain to have kept him when he had him, rather than take the trouble of sending thirty-five miles for him. He grew very angry, and said it was none of my business to question him. I replied I claimed to be a lady, and I hoped he would treat me as one; that he had said he was here for the purpose of arresting my father, and that what concerned him concerned me ; that in questioning him I only mani- fested a daughter's interest in a father's welfare. He seemed some- what mollified, and apologized for the roughness of his speech, say-
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