USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 32
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Real and personal property, Marion township 245,474
Real and personal property, Wilson township. 226,991
Real and personal property, Madison township 213,271
Real and personal property, Liberty township. 195,578
Real and personal property, Jackson township. 188,991
Real and personal property, Jefferson township 185,195 Real and personal property, Myres township. 174,930
Real and personal property, Franklin township. 119,801 ·
Real and personal property, Harrison township 124,035
Real and personal property, Washington township 112,480
Real and personal property, Taylor township. 71,373
$2,764,079 Total
R. a. DEBolt.
301
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
From 1874 there has been s ome considerable variation in the assessment of property in the county. Undoubtedly much of the valuation was high, but Grundy county was in debt, yet she was prospering and while crops were good and prices fair, it was sound economy to lessen the debt and save the drain of interest, which is ever a clog to the financial advancement of any business, let it be of a person or a municipal corporation. There is no disputing the point that a public debt is a curse, and the sooner the books can be brought to a final balance-sheet the better for the people in the aggregate. The assessment of 1875 fell short of that of 1874, being put down at the sum of $2,728,649, and the same year the assessed valua- tion of railroad property within the county was $321,393.59. The railroad company could not see the exact justice of that assessment, claiming that it was at least one hundred per cent too high, in fact, they had previously returned a valuation of the same property at about $125,000, yet it was clear to all that they had erred far more than the assessor in giving in that sum. They strove for a reduction of this valuation, and were in a measure successful. The valuation of railroad property per mile having since been reduced.
The year 1879 culminated the high assessment, it being the heaviest ever known, and the present year's assessment (1881) still falling short over $131,000 of the valuation of that year.
In the assessment of 1879 we find that the returns were made in a differ- ent form, and we therefore give it in full. The number of acres taxed, as per tax book, was 276,280.27 acres. The real number of acres of land in the county is 273,357.39. The excess taxed being added to from sections which by rivers were cut short in actual acres; the difference in favor of the tax book being nearly 3,000 acres. The stock assessment was placed under the head of "all other property."
ASSESSMENT-1879.
Land, 276,280.27 acres
$ 1,601,960
Town lots, 1,056.
357,180
Money, bonds and notes
237,012
Banks and dealers . 39,500 All other property . 668,897
C., R. I. & P., and I. S. & M. N
189,141
Insurance companies
5.938
Western Union Telegraph Co
1,849
Total $ 3,101,477
The amount of tax realized on this assessment was in
State and State interest tax . $12,381.90
County, including school, railroad, and railroad sinking 48,488.90
fund, etc.
Total
$60,870.80
19
302
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
VALUATION, 1881.
The assessment the present year has been returned, and the assessors' books show in gross the following valuation:
Valuation of land . $1,552,005.00
H. &. St. Joe Railroad 3,520.00
" Town lots. 376,445.00
" Real estate total 1,921,970.00
66
Personal property 1,037,159.00
Total $2,969,129.00
The valuation placed upon the land and machine-shops outside of the right of way, was $50,000. The total difference in the valuation of the rail- road property within the county is as follows for the years 1875 and 1881, the latter year's assessment being satisfactory : Valuation, 1875, $321,393.59; valuation 1881, $215,979; being a reduction of $105,414.59.
IMMIGRATION.
To persons seeking homes in the West the county of Grundy offers many advantages over any other portion of the State. Lying in one the northern tiers of counties, the climate is a blending of Northern winters with South- ern summers, inviting in its healthful results alike to the new-comer from any portion of this country. Good health and the pleasurable enjoyment of life is the rule in Grundy county.
The soil is rich and fertile, well watered by running streams. The stran- ger has his choice of acres of rolling prairie or well-grown woodland. The first is unsurpassed as a grazing land, and offers extra inducements to the stock-raiser, whose labor in this direction yields a handsome income. Sheep raising may be attended with a success not attainable in many sheep grow- ing States. The finest breeds may be said to attain their highest perfection in this county, the fleece growing in silky luxuriance, while the meat is firm and solid. Horses and cattle are bred with little trouble. The fine blue-grass pasture lands aiding in the superiority of Grundy county stock. Persons wishing to engage in stock raising will find this county very attractive.
All kinds of agricultural pursuits are well adapted to this county, and the farmer may feel reasonably sure of reaping a generous harvest for his labor. All cereal crops grow here in a greater or lesser degree. Wheat and corn are never failing crops, and as many bushels are produced to the acre as in any part of the State. Oats, rye, barley and buckwheat attain a like success.
Fruits of every variety grow in the greatest abundance and perfection. Orchards are almost as common as pasture lands. Trees growing on the
303
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
rich soil of either hillside or valley are very prolific. Fruit culture is one of the most profitable sources of investment in the county, the soil and climate being naturally suited to the work. The cultivation of the grape may be attended with large profit at a very small outlay. Wine making is exceptionally attractive and the extra quality which may be manufac- tured from Grundy county grapes finds a sure market at very remunerative rates. The horticultural products of this county stand as high as any in the State.
Coal mining is carried on within the limits of Trenton, the county seat. The best quality of soft coal may be purchased at very low rates. Trenton has direct railroad connections with all the large cities east and west, thus offering extra facilities for the shipment of any kind of produce. These roads utilize the abundance of oak timber for bridge purposes and for rail- road ties, thus making the forests a source of income.
There are good schools in every district. The buildings are properly equipped and paid for. The county debt only amounts to $155,000, thus making the taxation light. In fact, all the inducements of splendid farm- ing lands at cheap rates and easy terms, with none of the hardships attendant upon pioneer life are here found. The people are sociable and hospitable. and extend a cordial welcome and helping hand to all new-comers. Your politics and religion are your personal property, and you have perfect lib- erty to express your opinion on any subject without fear or hindrance. The people are progressive, industrious, and mind their own business and give everybody else the same privilege.
To those seeking homes in the towns or villages, here again Grundy county steps forward with superior inducements. Those who wish to en- gage in commercial enterprises will find an ample field for their capital and talent. Trenton, the county seat, is the commercial metropolis, and is an energetic, bustling little city of some 3,500 inhabitants, always offering lib- eral encouragement to all worthy enterprises. Opportunities for profitable investment may be found at almost any time. Two railroads, excellent hotels, churches, good schools, three newspapers, all kinds of business, neat residences, with room for more, are among the attractions of Trenton.
Then in the northern part of the county, on the line of the railroad, is Spickardsville, a flourishing village of three hundred and thirty inhabitants. In the eastern portion of the county is situated Lindley, a thriving town with a population of two hundred and seventy. West of Trenton, Edin- burg, the seat of the Grand River College, one of the leading educational institutions in the West, is situated, and has a population of one hundred and seventy-four. Alpha, in the southern part of the county, closes the list, a pretty country hamlet of one hundred and twenty-eight inhabitants.
In conclusion it can be truthfully said that in Grundy county may be found suitable locations with pleasant surroundings for almost any pursuit
304
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
a man wishes to follow. He has only to come, view the country, investigate its adaptability to his calling, make his choice and settle down to a life attended with many pleasures to lighten his labors and brighten his pathway.
CHAPTER II.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Election in 1842-Sheriffs -- Defalcation-Circuit and County Clerks-Missing Funds -- Cost of Suit-Circuit Clerks -- County Treasurers-Probate Judges -- Salaries-Members of the Legislature -- State Senators-Circuit Judges -- Circuit and County Attorneys -- Judicial, Senatorial and Congressional Districts-Congressmen-County Judges -- County Officers, 1881.
The first election for county officers, outside of the justices of the peace, took place in 1842, the appointments by the legislature holding until that time.
SHERIFFS.
Wm. Thrailkill was elected sheriff in August, 1842. He held his office by appointment at that time; was reelected in 1844 and was followed in 1846 by Ashley Gulley. Gulley appointed Win. Metcalf his deputy, who attended to about all the business the last year of Gulley's term, Mr. G. being in the Mexican War. William Metcalf, at the end of Ashley Gulley's term, was elected sheriff, this being in 1848 and was again elected in 1850. Mr. W. C. Harvey came next and having been reelected served two terms, ending January 1st, 1856. James S. Estes then came in for two terms, 1856 and 1858, and right after him came E. P. Harding in 1860 and 1862.
DEFALCATION.
At the August term of the County Court, 1865, Mr. Harding had a final settlement with the county as sheriff and ex officio collector, and a warrant was drawn in his favor for $428 as a balan ce due him on settlement, which was certified to by the presiding justice of the court. There seems to have been an error in regard to the whole matter, and at the October term of the said court the order of settlement was rescinded and a deficiency was found against Mr. Harding for the sum of $433.75, as shown by the following pro- ceedings of the Grundy County Court, 1865:
"GRUNDY COUNTY COURT, OCTOBER TERM, 1865.
" WHEREAS, At the August special term A. D. 1865 of this court, the fol- lowing appears of record among the proceedings of said court; to-wit, On
305
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
a final settlement with E. P. Harding, late collector of Grundy county, Mo., there was found to be due said collector $428, said settlement embracing all the years for which the said collector was liable, embracing the years 1860 up to 1864 inclu sive.
(Signed)
JAS. G. BENSON, Pres. Co. Crt.
"WHEREAS, Edson P. Harding, late collector of Grundy Co., Mo., has failed to make settlement with this court according to law and the orders of the County Court, the court proceeds to make settlement, which is as fol- lows; to- wit, Balance due county $433.75."
Nothing satisfactory resulted from the above, and it appears that Mr. Harding refused to take any notice of the new order of things, and on the 6th of November, 1865, the following proceedings from the record show that the county immediately began suit against Mr. Harding's bondsmen for the amount alleged due Grundy county, as given below:
"GRUNDY COUNTY COURT, NOVEMBER TERM, 1865.
"Be it ordered by the court that whereas Edson P. Harding, late collector of Grundy county Mo., having neglected and refused to render true ac- counts and settle with the court, the court did at its October term, 1865, adjust the accounts of said Edson P. Harding, collector as aforesaid, ac- cording to the best information they could obtain, and found the balance due by said Harding as such collector to be $433.75, and whereas the said Edson P. Harding owes the sum of $433.75 with thirty per cent per annum until paid and that execution issne immediately.
"Ordered by the court that Daniel Metcalf, county attorney, bring suit against the securities in the Grundy County Circuit Court on the official bond of Edson P. Harding, late collector of Grundy county, Mo."
The case came up in regular order on the next day, Nov. 7th, and was continued over until the 15th, as per the following entry on the record of said date:
"GRUNDY COUNTY COURT, NOVEMBER TERM, 1865.
In the case of Grundy County v. Edson P. Harding the motion came to be heard, the parties appeared by their attorneys and the court doth order that the judgment rendered yesterday be set aside and that the cause be continued until Wednesday, November 15th, 1865."
On the 16th day of November the case of Mr. Harding still hung fire, and a further investigation of the acounts ran the deficiency up in the neighborhood of $2,000, and said sum not having been paid ten per cent was added to the amount ten days after date, where the case stood until again brought before the court at the December term when the matter was turned over to the Circuit Court. The proceedings from the records are as follows:
306
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
"GRUNDY COUNTY COURT, NOVEMBER TERM, 1865.
"On a final settlement with Edson P. Harding, late collector of Grundy county, Mo., the court finds said collector to stand indebted to the county and State as follows; to-wit, To the county $1,925.45 and to the State of Missouri $62.98. Also $50 balance on school funds recovered by execu- tion v. John T. Hughes and ordered same certified."
"In vacation Nov. 26, 1865, said Harding having failed to pay the amount due within ten days from settlement, ten per cent is added."
"GRUNDY COUNTY COURT, DECEMBER TERM, 1865.
"Edson P. Harding, late collector of Grundy county, Missouri, having failed to pay over the money found due the county on final settlement, it is ordered that the clerk make ont and certify an abstract of any and all set- tlements made with the said collector since September, 1865, and deliver the same to clerk of the Circuit Court of this county and immediately on receipt of said abstract, the circuit clerk will issue execution for the amount vs. the said Edson P. Harding, drawing 30 per cent from this date, Decem- ber 5th, 1865."
On the first of January, 1864, Orville Moberly took possession of the office and continued until the 1st of January, 1868, then came N. A. Win- ters for two terms, and following him in 1872 and 1874 was R. E. Boyce. S. J. Atkinson was sheriff from January 1st, 1877, to January 1st, 1881, and the present sheriff is W. H. Wilson, who was elected in November, 1880. This closes the list of sheriffs.
CIRCUIT AND COUNTY CLERKS.
There were not so many changes in this office as in that of sheriff. It is an office, or was at that time, that required a knowledge of the routine bus- iness of the court and when once learned the court or conrts seldom wanted a change. A clerk well qualified and thoroughly knowing his business was a valuable person to have around either circuit or county judges, and espe- cially when the many changes in the county judges took place an able and willing clerk made the new judges feel at home. In fact, he would show them how it was done. The first circuit and .county court clerk was Thos. W. Jacobs and his name is pretty often found in this history because he held the position for several years and in the early records which have been liberally copied from, his name, so far as the clerk's office is concerned, was always attached. He held the office from the date of his first appointment in 1841, to January 1st, 1848. The Hon. Geo. H. Hubbell was then elected and took charge of the office at the latter date. He proved a model clerk and held the position for nearly seventeen years. In 1865 the offices throughout the State were vacated by law, and in this county the offices of circuit clerk and county clerk were divided, each having its own clerk, in-
307
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
stead of one to fill both offices. Gov. Thos. C. Fletcher appointed N. T. Doane circuit clerk and E. P. Harding county clerk.
FUNDS MISSING.
The appointment of E. P. Harding was not satisfactory, and it was also said to be illegal, and the case was brought before the Circuit Court; that court decided against the appointment, and Gov. Fletcher withdrew the name and gave the office to R. P. Carnes, who held and filled its duties acceptably until 1870. In this latter year Win. H. Roberts was elected clerk, and was again elected in the election of 1874. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Roberts was found to be short in his accounts, failing to pay over to the county treasurer sundry fees, amounting in all to $1,917.95. Besides this, certain dram shop and billiard licenses were not to be found of record, and it appeared pretty clearly to the County Court that a serious defalcation had taken place. Mr. Roberts resigned, and the court employed counsel to assist the county attorney to recover from the bondsmen of Roberts the amount lost, stolen or missing. The net result was not, it seems, very encouraging. The suit of record stands as follows:
Total debt due by Roberts
Amount short on licenses, not known.
$1,917.95
EXPENSES OF SUIT.
Retainer fee, Shanklin, Low & McDougal.
$ 50.00
This firm's account was $700, allowed. 450.00
One fee bill of .. 111.25
Another fee bill of. 114.30
A discount on the original bill
215.95
941.50
Net amount.
$976.45
This was the net amount received by the county, and in addition to this the court received a letter of resignation and apology from the defaulting clerk, which was placed upon the records.
On receiving the resignation of Mr. Roberts, Mr. E. B. Cooper was appointed temporary clerk for that session, and the court elected D. C. Pugh to fill the vacancy. However, Mr. Pugh failed to get the seat warm, as S. L. Harvey was appointed by Governor Hardin. It might be mentioned here by way of explanation that Governor Hardin and Clerk Harvey were Democrats, and the genial Pugh wasn't. Mr. Pugh vacated the office, but promised his friend and successor, Mr. Harvey, that he would see him again. Mr. Pugh fulfilled his promise, and made a new year's call on Mr. Harvey January 1, 1877, which was duly acknowledged, and Mr. Pugh took his seat as county clerk by and with the consent of the people of Grundy county. Mr. Pugh was again elected for four years in 1878, and few counties in the State can boast of a better officer or a more perfect gentleman than D. C. Pugh.
308
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
CIRCUIT CLERK.
The separation of the circuit clerk and county clerk's office, and forming two in place of one, resulted, as before stated, in Governor Fletcher ap- pointing N. T. Doane to the position of circuit clerk, who held the same until January, 1867. The election of 1866 being in favor of A. K. Sykes, who held the office for four years, and was again elected in 1870. In 1874 Mr. J. B. Berry was elected to succeed Mr. Sykes, and in 1878 he managed to "pull through " and succeed himself. Mr. Berry proved a trifle more popular than was supposed, for it was intended that four years would end his clerkship. But mistakes will happen, and this particular mistake was perfectly satisfactory to Mr. Berry, and to this gentleman we are under obligation.
COUNTY TREASURER.
The first county treasurer of Grundy county was one of the old pioneers, Mr. James R. Merrill. He held the office from the organization of the county, in 1841, until September, 1846. George W. Moberly was then ap- pointed by the County Court as treasurer, and performed the duties accept- ably to the court until his resignation, in August, 1848. Mr. James Austin was appointed to succeed Mr. Moberly, and held the same until February 1, 1856, when he, too, resigned. Then followed in the order named: first, George M. Cooper, appointed February 1, 1856; S. Isom, elected August, 1858; James R. Merrill, appointed April, 1862; Houston Renfro, elected November, 1862; William C. Benson, appointed February 3, 1863; William C. Benson, elected November 1, 1866: William C. Benson, elected Novem- ber, 1868; Robert A. Collier, elected November, 1870; Hugh S. Carnes, elected November, 1872; R. E. Boyce, elected November, 1874; William P. Lafferty, elected November, 1878; John E. Carter, elected November, 1880, present treasurer.
PROBATE JUDGE.
The first record or entry upon the records for probate judge was August 7, 1849, and William Renfro was so designated. Just how long he held the office is not stated, but J. H. Shanklin was his successor, and Mr. Shanklin resigned June 5, 1855. Mr. Richard H. Musser was appointed to the vacancy, which he held until the August election of 1855, when Jolin B. McDonald was elected for six years from date of said election. He, how- ever, held the office only about two years, when he resigned, and the County Court appointed as his successor Mr. Stephen Peery. Mr. Peery filled out the unexpired term and was elected probate judge August 6, 1861. Following Mr. Peery came William Metcalf, elected in 1863; D. C. Gibbs in 1865, and A. H. Burkeholder in 1866. During Judge Burkeholder's term the probate judge was made, January 14, 1867, ex officio president of the County Court, but the same was discontinued in 1870. Judge Geo. Hall was elected
309
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
in 1870, succeeding Judge Burkeholder, and Judge Hall held until the election of 1878, when the Hon. P. C. Stepp was elected as his successor, and is the present incumbent in this, the year of our Lord 1881.
SALARIES.
The salaries of the county officers are sufficient for a comfortable living, but not to warrant any extravagant enterprises, such as opening banks (un- less with a jimmy), or building palatial residences. The county clerk gets fifteen hundred dollars, if his fees amount to that much, and he is allowed a deputy at six hundred; the circuit clerk also gets wages to the amount of fifteen hundred dollars a year, provided the fees of the office amount to that sum, if they do not the circuit clerk falls short just that amount. All over fifteen hundred dollars he has to return to the county, the same as the county clerk, but if it fall short the county, for the people's interest, makes no provision to make up the balance, and it never does. The circuit clerk is also allowed a deputy at six hundred dollars a year.
The collector, sheriff, assessor, and judge of probate, all receive fees or per cent, while the county attorney gets a salary of six hundred dollars and fees. The question of economy on the part of the several county courts, since the inception of Grundy as a county, has been a marked character- istic, and in many instances their prudence, caution and economy have been, it might be said, reduced to a science. The only way anyone connected with managing county affairs can get rich, is either by stealing or resign- ing, and there have been one or two notable examples of each.
MEMBERS OF TIIE LEGISLATURE.
The next in order to congressmen and State senators, comes the members of the lower house, and this member particularly represents the people. He comes directly from them and is their local servant to look after their pecuniary, social and political rights, and to secure to them the full priv- ileges of a citizen of the Commonwealth.
The first election for the legislature, and in fact for any county office, excepting justices of the peace, and they may be styled more correctly as · township officers, was August 2d, 1842. Major John C. Griffin, yet living in the city of Trenton, had the honor of being the first representative to the legislature from Grundy county. Major Griffin has held many other offices in the gift of the people, and in all has he done justice to them and reflected credit upon himself. Major Griffin served two terms, and was succeeded by Dr. James Livingston in 1846, serving also two years, and giving way to the brave and gallant Jacob T. Tindall, in 1850. Edson P. Harding was elected in 1852 and reelected in 1854, and was followed in succession by the following gentlemen, each holding but one term and in the order named: Wm. H. Nelson, John Cullers, Win. D. McGuire. E. L. Winters, Lewis
310
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Myers. J. B. Freeman was elected in 1866 and reelected in 1868. Then followed Geo. H. Hubbell, who was the author of the township law, which has proven of so much practical use to the people. He was, also, highly complimented in the Kansas City Times, as one of the most prompt and efficient legislators in the session in which he served. E. F. Horton sne- ceeded Mr. Hubbell in 1872, followed by R. C. Young in 1874. In 1876 Mr. Paris C. Stepp stepped to the front, but concluded to remain only one term, Mr. Benjamin Lockhart taking the position of the late incumbent in 1878, when he declined to serve longer, as the election count of 1880 had proved that Thomas J. Taylor was elected, and he is now the member-elect.
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