USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 23
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"Samuel Chesnut, delinquent 1845, State tax, 39 cents; county tax, 78 cents; total, $1.17, paid."
"Edward Williams, delinquent 1845, State tax, 25 cents; county tax, 50 cents; total, 75 cents, paid."
That May term was further noted for cutting all bills against the county down to where it met the bottom point of economy as entertained by the court.
In 1850 three dollars were allowed for taking the census, but there was nothing that could give a clue to just what the census consisted of. Whether this extravagantly paid official just took the enumeration of the population, or included, also, cereals and live stock is not known by any one of this day and generation and must therefore ever remain unknown to history. There was a proposition entertained at the August term, 1850, to sell the old clerk's
A
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office and the sheriff was ordered to sell, but he proved either too slow or else purchasers had become painfully scarce, for the sale had not been effected when the court met again and the order was promptly countermanded. A new order of the court cansed the same to be repaired as follows: "Brick work repaired, new roof, window, sash and glass, under floor repaired, doors and windows painted with two coats of white lead, shingles to be made of good oak or walnut timber, elear of sap, and to show but five inches to the weather, made full eighteen inches long and five-eighths of an inch thick; plastering, two coats overhead and whitewashed; walls, one coat and white- washed; also windows, shutters and fastenings, new door, lock, frame, etc." And thus the old clerk's office was made new and it stood until a fire a few years later consigned it to ashes with most of its contents, and with all the- records of the probate court to that date. In 1850 it was decided to close- the grand jury room and bar all secret societies from its use, and all the benches, tables, etc., taken to be returned at once under penalty of the law. This order seemed to have had the desired effect for nothing more was heard of the matter.
The Circuit Court turned out a batch of indictments at the April term, 1850, and among the number was one against John Forkner, for assault with intent to kill, but the charge not being sustained, the attorney entered a nol. pros.
It was in November, 1850, that grand jurors got tired of serving at fifty cents a day and petitioned to have the salary raised to one dollar per day, but the petition was rejected. No such extravagant salaries would be paid; not, in the language of the day, if the court knew herself, and the unfor- tunate foreman of the grand jury retired, abashed, while the court expressed itself astonished at his presumption. And so a grand juryman was com- pelled to grind out indictments and board himself at fifty cents a day. It will be admitted by the most unprejudiced reader that the bankruptcy of Grundy county was not imminent on the score of high salaries. Still. the. grand jury did its work and in the following spring ground out eight in- dietments for playing and betting on cards, and in the fall turned out twelve- more, seven who had sinned against the law of God and man by betting at cards, three more for not attending to their duties as road overseers and fail- ing to repair roads, and two for assault with intent to kill. This work was all at the usual rate of fifty cents per day and find yourself.
Mr. Jeremiah Snyder of the County Court resigned at this November term, 1852, and Mr. Giles Songer was appointed county judge in his place. The old county road to the upper ferry, from the west limits of Trenton, was vacated, being seldom used. It took fifty days to take the census of" Grundy county in 1853, seventy-five dollars was allowed for the job, and it was paid to W. C. Harvey. That same year Mr. J. T. Tindall was appointed to investigate and to settle the county affairs between Mercer
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
and Grundy counties, there being due some moneys from Grundy on ac- count of taxes, etc. This was satisfactorily accomplished within a reason- able time. There was nothing further of special interest occurred in the county. Matters had become quiet, the returned Californians would now and then report, and many would leave for that far-off land every year.
At the April term of the County Court. 1853, the following order was made in reference to swamp lands:
Ordered by the Court. That John C. Griffin, of Grundy county. Missouri, be allowed as full compensation for his services as selecting agent the sum of four cents per acre for each acre selected, designated and reported by him as overflowed land granted to the State of Missouri by an act of Congress, entitled " an act to enable the State of Arkansas and other States to reclaim the swamp lands within their limits," approved. September 28. 1850, for all such lands situated in the county of Grundy, which may be confirmed to the State and made subject to the management of the County Court of said Grundy county, as provided by an act of the legislature. approved March 3, 1851. to be paid out of the first proceeds of the sales of such lands: prorided, he shall not receive pay for more than 35.000 acres.
In April. 1854. the county purchased the "field notes " and " plats " of lands lying in Grundy county of B. F. Thomas and allowed him eighty-five dollars for the same. That year was the first that a temperance move was inaugurated, by petition, and then John H. Shanklin presented a petition signed by a majority of the tax-payers against granting licenses to dram shops for a year. The petition was approved and no lieenses were granted. That year Judge Gamble of the Supreme Court resigned and an election was ordered in Grundy county to come off in January, 1855, to vote for a sue- cessor. An order had been made by the County Court against the occupation of the court-house by the different lodges in Trenton as their place of meet- ing. It seems they had taken possession and had not given a quid pro quo and the court put a stop to it. The lodges felt the loss of their free room, and so lodge No. 111 of Freemasons rented the use of the grand jury room. when not used as such. as their lodge room at an annual rental of twenty- tive dollars.
In February, 1856, Jas. Austin resigned the position of county treasurer and Geo. M. Cooper was appointed, and John C. Griffin was appointed county attorney in place of J. T. Tindall, resigned, in March, 1854.
John M. MeDonakl resigned the probate judgeship and Stephen Peery was appointed his successor. A court of appeals was held Angust 17. Both of these incidents transpiring in 1857.
The attempt in July, 1858, to divide Liberty and Marion townships into three townships failed.
J. HI. Cooper, Thos. J. Proctor and Win. Collier were appointed a com- mittee to superintend the erection of the county jail and were also given the power to select the spot on the public square where it should be placed.
Under an arrangement for the assessment of the county it was, in Jan- nary, 1858, divided into four districts, and the following describes their boundaries as fixed:
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MISTORY OF GRUSDY COCSTY.
It is ordered by the Court, That Grundy county be divided into four districts for the pur- pose of aasememente; to-wit. District No. I commencing at the northeast comer of Grundy county, thence went to the range line dividing rangee 2 and 24, thence sonth to the north- cart comer of township $1, range 24. on said range line, thence cast on the township line dividing township 62, range 23, and township 62. range 22. from township 61. range 2%. and township 61, range 22, thence north to the line of beginning.
The court-house square was ordered enclosed with & paling fence in the fall of 1859, and an oak plank walk ordered laid down. The purchase of two large box stoves was decided upon and they cost the snin of $45.82. This closed the extra expenses for that year.
The year 1860 was a fruitful one as regard, the crop -. Cereals and fruit gave abundant returns, and at no period of our country's history was it more prosperon -. But in the fall and winter of 1860-61 came the first muttering of a storm which was to deinge our land with blood, and to bring grief to the homes and firesides of our glorious and prosperon- land.
THE CONTENT OF 1861.
The year 1561 will go down in history as the opening year in the dark drama where American freemen, instead of nuiting to build up a fraternal brotherhood of States. caused the land to become a battle-field of contending hoste. and our favored and prosperous country to be drenched with the life blood of her people. The angel of peace had taken her flight and the demon of hate held high carnival over the death struggles of brave men. Once more was the "Land of the Free" to seal her devotion to liberty in the blood of her martyred son .. The brave and heroic deeds of the con. of freedom were given an additional luster. but at enormon- cost, while the wails of agony went up from the hearts of millions of people, and the lives of thou,- ands were given freely. a sacrifice upon the altar of their country. The people of to-day can look more leniently upon the action and motives of those who. in the madness of the hour brought dire distres, and sorrow to the land, yet no blush of shame mantles the cheek, for right or wrong. they fought as only brave men fight, and so far as in that fierce conflict man met man in hostile array, it was no crime. The crimes committed lay at the door of those at home. who. while brave men were defending the very portals of liberty, engendered hatred and malice. preached the gospel of hate. and committed those crimes of which history has but imperfect record. and whose appalling atrocities are branded deep in the hearts and memories of the families and friends of the victims.
Grundy county, at the outset of the war, was pretty evenly divided in sentiment. but as time passed, the ringing ery of the "Union forever " s001 placed the Federal power in a majority, and when the new- came that Sumter had fallen, the time had also come for the upholders of the Union to express more openly their sentiments and determination. Among the rising men of the day, there came to the front one of those men of which
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
heroes are made. Prompt in action, strong of will, with the spirit of a patriot to draw others to his belief, he promptly took the lead. This man was J. T. Tindall. Then others at once rallied to his standard, and the cause of the Union took new life. Jewett Norris, Geo. H. Hubbell, J. T. Tindall, J. H. Shanklin, R. A. DeBolt and Andrew Shanklin took the stump and traveling over the surrounding counties they addressed the peo- ple, defending the Union with burning words and with matchless eloquence. calling on them to stand by it and prevent its severance.
THE DIVISION.
In May, 1861, two meetings were called, one to be addressed by those favoring the Confederate canse, the other for the Union. The latter showed by far the largest assembly, and from that day the Union advocates took courage. The formation of a regiment was at once determined upon, and the recruiting went briskly on and continned during the last of July and in Angust, 1861. On August 25th seven companies had been raised and were in Trenton on that day, as was, also, a company of Merrill's Horse from Daviess and Harrison connties. An election of officers took place and Jacob T. Tindall, of Trenton, Grundy county, was elected colonel. Jacob Smith, of Linn county, was elected lieutenant-colonel, but was not commis- sioned as he was appointed judge of this judicial circuit, and Quin Morton was selected in his place. John McCullough, of Sullivan county, who proved a brave man and an able officer, was elected major. R. A. DeBolt acting as recruiting officer. In the formation of company B, raised in Grundy county, and numbering ninety-six men and officers, R. A. DeBolt was elected captain; Stephen Peery, first lieutenant, who resigned on being promoted to adjutant; Samuel Rooks, second lieutenant, but promoted to first lientenancy, taking the post vacated by the promotion of Peery. Benj. F. Harding became second lieutenant, and this is the way the com- pany stood at the battle of Shiloh, which so nearly destroyed it .. Captain DeBolt, First Lient. Rooks and Second Lient. Harding all resigned after being exchanged. June 7th, 1862, at the reorganization of the Twenty-third, Win. P. Robinson, of Harrison county, became colonel; J. M. Nash, captain of company B, with Orville Moberly first lieutenant and Robt. A. Collier sec- ond lientenant. August 26. 1861, these troops arrived at Chillicothe, where the election as above stated took place and the regiment named THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF VOLUNTEER INFANTRY of Missouri. From there they went into camp near Brookfield until ordered to St. Louis, where they received their arms and acconterments and were mnstered into service September 1st, 1861. They left St. Lonis for Macon City October 15th, and remained in the latter city until November 1st, and then were ordered to winter at Chillicothe. Recruiting continued, and in January, 1862, their full complement of ten companies and 1,000 men was secured and the
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officers received their commissions. In February, 1862, delegates were elected to the State convention to be held the following June, and Colonel Tindall was the choice of the people of Grundy county to represent them, but it was a position he was never destined to fill. In March Colonel Tindall received orders to report with his regiment at St. Louis, and he arrived there and reported to the commanding officer and took quarters at Benton Barracks. The men were re-clothed and new arms given them, and on April 1st, being in fine condition, they were ordered to Pittsburg Land- ing and reported to General Grant, who ordered them to the brigade of Gen'l B. M. Prentiss, to whom Col. Tindall reported. They had reached PITTSBURG LANDING on the 4th of April, unloaded and prepared to join Prentiss's brigade on the 5th. On the morning of the 6th they were ready for duty and met the enemy on the FIELD OF SHILOH, one of the bloodiest of the war. The scene of carnage was fearful; the demon of war was in his glory, and when the sun set that day it cast its fitful rays of light through the trees upon the body of as brave a man and as noble heart as ever beat in the cause of the Union. Between four and five o'clock the gallant colo- nel of the Twenty-third Missouri, who had been in the heat of the struggle all day, his regiment still fairly surrounded by his foes and sadly decimated, the dead and wounded lying around him, like a stag at bay, was still mak- ing a heroic stand. Begrimed by the smoke of battle, he made one more desperate attempt to fight his way out, and cheering his men on, who stood unflinchingly by their lion-hearted colonel, he led the last charge and fell, pierced by the messenger of death upon the battle-field, and the going down of the sun on the evening of the 6th of April, 1862, upon the field of Shiloh, set while the death-rattle sounded, and the noble spirit ceased its flut- tering and was borne across the dark waters to a brighter and more glorious. day. And thus went ont the life of Grundy's noblest son.
"Rest on! embalmed and sainted dead! Dear as the blood ye gave; No impious footsteps here shall tread The herbage of your grave; Nor shall your glory be forgot While Fame her record keeps, Or honor points the hallowed spot Where Valor proudly sleeps."
The gallant Twenty-third had made a glorious record upon that gory field, and when night came on, little was left to tell the tale of its dire destruc- tion. Of company B, what few who were not killed upon the field of bat- tle were prisoners in Confederate hands, and the Twenty-third was known no more until late in the fall of 1862, when it was reorganized. It went into the battle fully 1,000 strong on the morning of the 6th of April. It was attached to Prentiss's brigade, which stood the first shock of battle, the
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
terrible onset of the Confederates, and when night came not three hundred men could be found to answer roll-call.
A TRIBUTE.
The State convention which was held at Jefferson City, commencing June 2, 1862, paid a glowing and manly tribute to the memory of the gal- lant Tindall, who was a member-elect of that body. Col. J. H. Shanklin, elected to take his place as a member of the convention, after his death with the gifted and eloquent Woolfolk, Breckinridge and Stewart, all spoke of him, who knowing his duty performed it so nobly and well. Below is given the resolutions passed by the convention, and the beautiful, glowing, but just tribute of the impassioned Woolfolk to the memory of the lamented dead.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
On the 3d day of June, 1862, at the afternoon session of the Missouri State convention, Mr. Woolfolk, of Livingston county, presented the fol- lowing resolutions in reference to the death of Col. Tindall:
WHEREAS, The calamities of war have deprived this convention and the country of the services on this floor of Col. Jacob T. Tindall, who fell at the head of his regiment on Sunday, the 6th day of April, 1862, on the battle- field of Shiloh; therefore, be it
Resolved, That in the death of Col. Tindall this convention has lost a valued member, whose intellect and energy, patriotism and conservative views rendered him an able and efficient member of this body. That by his untimely fall the nation has lost a devoted patriot in the hour of her peril, the army a prudent commander, the society in which he moved an ornament, and his family an affectionate husband and father.
Resolved, That in testimony of our appreciation of the deceased and from due regard to his memory, this convention will now adjourn until to- morrow morning at 9 o'clock, and that the members wear the usual badge of mourning during the present session.
Resolved, That we tender the condolence of the members of this body to the family and immediate friends of Colonel Tindall in their sad bereave- ment; that these resolutions be spread upon the journal of this convention, and that a copy thereof be prepared by the secretary and forwarded to Mrs. Emeline Tindall, the wife of the deceased.
MR. WOOLFOLK'S REMARKS.
" Mr. President-It has become my sad and unexpected duty to present these resolutions upon this floor. I deem them only a proper tribute to the memory of one of this body who has gone from our midst-who has fallen in the discharge of his duty as a patriot and soldier.
" The deceased united in himself many of those qualities which win our admiration and love. He was sincere, honest and generous, and full of that noble modesty which, united to a proper self-respect, lends such a charm to
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merit. Born in Kentucky, in 1825, his parents removed to Howard county, Missouri, during his early youth, and afterward removed to Grundy county when he reached the age of eighteen years. As a youth he was much loved in the county in which he lived. He was quiet, unassuming and diligent in the prosecution of his studies.
" When the Mexican War broke out he at once enlisted and served with honor in the position of sergeant-major and acting adjutant of his regiment. When the war was over he commenced the practice of law in his own county of Grundy, and soon won for himself a proud name in his own and adjoining counties. His integrity, his close application to business, and his fine, discriminating intellect made him one of the most successful advocates in the Grand River Valley. The masses possessed entire confidence in his honesty, and this fact gave him a power before juries which few others pos- sessed. He had for several years prior to our national difficulties stood at the head of his profession in the Grand River Valley. At the very com- mencement of this revolution he took a bold stand in favor of the Union, and when the convention was called he was elected by an overwhelming majority to this body. When Sumter fell and the American nation was called to arms, he was among the first to rally at the call of his country. I well remember an evening passed with him about this period. It was just after the Camp Jackson affair. The military bill had been passed and Union men were falling away by hundreds. Everywhere in the State con- fusion was reigning. False reports as to the policy of the government were flying over the country. No Union man felt secure. The iron hand of rebellion was upon us; and a rebel government had been erected in our midst. I was gloomy-almost despondent. In my own city of Chillicothe two-thirds of the citizens had suddenly become avowed secessionists, and the remaining one-third, with but few exceptions, occupied ambiguous posi- tions. Tindall came to our city just at this period, on his way to St. Joseph. He came to my office and announced that the time had come when we must fight on one side or the other. The Union men must abandon their principles and enlist under the military bill as passed by the legisla- ture, or they must organize to resist it. Brigadier-general Slack had just offered him the position of brigade inspector, with the proviso that if he did not like the place he should have any other he desired. But Tindall, true to his principles, unhesitatingly refused his offers. 'I have made up my mind,' said he to me, 'to resist this military bill and battle on the side of my government, but I dislike to be alone in my opposition. I am going to St. Joseph for the purpose of seeing if the Union anen there and else- where will act with me in my resistance to treason.' I admired his bold, decisive conduct. I felt that nature had destined him for a leader, and I unhesitatingly pledged him my support, even if I should stand alone.
" After raising his regiment, he was for several months stationed in the
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. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
city of Chillicothe, and his conservative conrse had a great influence to- ward restoring peace to that distracted section. The ultras who desired to use the strong arm of military power for the purpose of gratifying revenge- tul passions, found in him no friend, and he pursued unwaveringly the path of conservatism, regardless of the clamor of men who called for acts of violence and wrong. The ultras endeavored for a time to weaken his influ- ence by charges that he was courting favor with the secessionists, and I shall never forget his noble reply when he heard these charges. 'They may call me what they please, but they shall not induce me to do what I believe to be wrong.' He was loved by all good men, regardless of party; all felt secure under his anthority as long as they respected the constitution and the laws. And when his bleeding remains were borne from the battle-field of Shiloh, good men of all parties followed him weeping to the grave. He was one of those noble men whom we often meet during these struggles, aud whom I always admire. Born in the South, he was not a Union man from any hostility to slavery, or from any sympathy with Northern States in opposition to Sonthern States. He was a Union man from principle and patriotism. He abandoned his section for the sake of his country; but by his country he meant his whole country-not the northern half of it-and he loved it all, from ocean to ocean and from the lakes to the gulf.
"He has given the noblest proof of his patriotism, for he has made the last only sacrifice a patriot can make for his country. He led his gallant regiment upon the bloody field of Shiloh, and belonging to Prentiss' bri- gade, they stood the first shock of battle. During the entire day of the 6th of April, the gallant men of the Twenty-third Missonri were in the thickest of the fight and nobly stood their ground against superior numbers. About 4 o'clock in the evening Tindall fell, at the head of his regiment. I mourn his loss but I could not ask for him a nobler fate.
' Dulce et decorum, pro patria mori.'
" If there was a spot upon the green earth where the patriot should desire to breathe out his spirit, that spot should be the battle-field of Shiloh. It will live in history as one of those fields
' Where life is lost, or freedom won';
and around it will cluster those imperishable memories that gather about such names as Bunker Hill, Thermopylæ and Marathon. Life is nothing; it is the manner we spend that life. The patriot never dies too soon who falls in the defense of his country; but lives too long, if he survive to wan- der amid its ruins. No: I could ask no nobler fate for the lamented dead! He knew no feeble sunset; no slow wasting away of life; no emaciated form; no dismal chamber of disease; but he fell at once in the pride of his strength, like some green oak shivered by the lightning's touch. He sank upon the tented field, with the blue sky above him and the starry banner for his
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
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