The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 99

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Sedalia > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia > Part 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ORGANIZATION .- Cedar township contains thirty square miles, and lies in town forty-six, range twenty-one, and is bounded on the north by Longwood, on the east by Bowling Green, on the south by Sedalia, and on the west by Dresden. Prior to 1872 this was included in Mt. Sterling township, which has been lost 'in the formation of other townships.

The Legislature of Missouri, at its adjourned session, 1872, passed a law which was approved March 18, 1872, allowing counties the right to adopt township organizations, giving the County Court power to divide the counties into townships.

By an order of court at the February term, 1873, " Township No. 7," Cedar, was created.

926

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

After the township law was repealed, in 1877, the County Court ordered that the municipal townships remain as they were, and that they be named instead of numbered, and on the seventeenth day of July, 1877, this town- ship was named Cedar, and bears the name to the present time. The voting precinct is at Georgetown.

Some of the early Justices of the Peace were W. W. Cross, Thomas Wasson, Aaron Jenkins, James Ramey and Reuben E. Gentry. The last named was the first justice. When the last named individual was justice this was Saline County.

CONFIGURATION .- In respect to the physical features the land is some- what rolling in every part of the township, but along the creeks it is very hilly and undulating, and some of its hillsides contain an abundance of limestone. Nearly the whole of the northern half is covered with a fine growth of timber. The soil is of a red and black loam, and is productive of good crops of fruits, corn and wheat.

The largest stream is the Muddy, which rises in the southwest part of the township, making many turns in its course as it flows in a northeast- erly direction. Smelser flows from the northwest and unites with the Muddy in the northern part of section four. This creek bears the name of one of the pioneer settlers, whose daughters cleared a small farm in the woods. Brushy is the name of a small stream in the southwestern part of the township, which takes its name from the abundance of brush along its course. Big Cedar is in the southeastern part of the township, and flows northwest until it reaches a point north of the old village of George- town, where it moves directly north until it unites with the Muddy. The little stream is quite shallow and contains some beautiful shoals. Little Cedar rises near the northern limits of Sedalia and flows north, uniting with Big Cedar just north of Georgetown. Reed's Branch rises near the eastern part of the township and flows northwest and unites with the Muddy in the southern part of section four.

This township has some excellent rock quarries. Mrs. J. W. Wool- dridge has some limestone. quarries which she has leased for the past few years. Richard W. Gentry's land contains some excellent stone deposits. Besides fine lime rock, he has a good quarry of brown and gray sandstone which will, no doubt, prove to be of great value in the future.

On the farm of Maj. Wm. Gentry a living spring furnishes his large pond with water, even in the driest seasons. The land of the township is naturally well drained. The little creeks all flow in a northerly direc- tion.

The woods contain oak, hickory, elm, sassafras and walnut.

The greater part of the township was at an early day brush and tim- ber. The timber land is very productive. Wheat and corn yields annu- ally a good crop on this soil. The prairie land lies principally in the

927

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

southern and eastern parts. The soil is generally of a black mulatto loam and much heavier than the timbered soil. Blue grass grows abundantly on both soils, and large flocks of sheep graze on this grass the greater part of the year without any additional food. The greater part of the land of Cedar Township is under fence.

FIRST SETTLERS .- John Anderson settled here about 1823. He came from North Carolina. Married Amanda Proctor, and improved a small place on the Muddy.

The following is a list of the early settlers who were here prior to the organization of the county: Richard Hurt, W. W. Cross, George McClure, Henry Rector, Capt. O. Kidd, Amos Fristoe, Col. Chas. Cravens, Hiram Scott, John Ellis, Richard Bird, Bethel Allen, Thomas Ferguson, J. W. Beaman, Thomas Beaman, Wm. O'Brien, James Ander- son, John O'Bannon, Martin Sitton, Thomas Wasson, James Ramey, W. K. Ramey, Thomas Martin, Henry Rains and Reuben E. Gentry. The last named gentleman came to this neighborhood prior to the formation of Missouri as a State. The early settlers held the first courts and transacted all their legal business at a place on Muddy, called "Pin Hook." It was first called by this name by an early adventurer from Tennessee, who said it resembled a hard place in his native State by that name. Pin Hook was the center of the first settlement of the county and was for a time the county seat: Here the first courts were held in an old building joined to a log cabin which was used for a store. Whisky was sold in this log part of the building. When men had leisure they spent consider- able of their time in drunkenness and fist fighting. The whisky of the pioneers did not make such cowards of its victims as to persuade them to carry weapons. If a man attempted or threatened to use fire-arms, he was scorned from the neighborhood as a coward. The first store was kept here by Messrs. Marmaduke and Sappington, after which Clifton and Watson Woods kept the store in the same house until they moved their goods to the village of Georgetown. In those days there was but little demand for doctors. The first person who dared to practice the healing art was a pretender by the name of Dr. Bidstrap, a Dane.

The first marriage of this old settlement was in the winter of 1821, Miss Malinda Ramey to Thomas Brock. The first death was that of Thomas Brock in 1822.

Some of the first physicians of the township were Doctors Wilkins Watkins, Thomas Steeples, Wm. J. Westefield, Montgomery, Bell and Carter.

Some of the first lawyers: George Heard, John F. Philips, Geo. G, Vest, Abijah Hughes, John Heard, all of whom are living and bear a good record.

G. Heard was the first teacher in the township. He is a devoted member

928

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

of the Christian Church and once engaged in the practice of law. Mil- ton Thomson, who is also a member of the Christian Church, taught the second school, in the house of Reuben E. Gentry. After this he taught several terms in a log cabin. Mr. Thomson was educated at West Point and many of the men and women of to-day feel grateful to him for moral and intellectual instruction. For several years good select schools were supported by the citizens at Georgetown. At present there are several public schools supported in the township. The first county fair was held in Maj. Wm. Gentry's pasture in 1857; Col. Thos. Houston, President, and John F. Philips, Secretary. This was the initiation of county fairs.

Many of the early settlers may be known by their early land entries. The following is a partial list of the original entries, giving the name of the original owner, the situation of the land, and the present owner. Reuben E. Gentry entered the northeast quarter of section eleven, and now owned by N. H. Gentry; George R. Smith entered the northeast quarter of section ten, and now owned by J. Rector, A. McVey, and J. R. Dunlap; Warren Reavis entered the northeast quarter of section five, now occupied by Mrs. C. W. C. Walker; David Thomson entered the southwest quarter of section seven, now owned by Reese Hughes; James Ramey entered the northeast quarter of section twenty, now occu- pied by Mr. Fuller; Mentor Thomson entered the west half of the south- east quarter of section twenty-nine, and still owns it; William Gentry entered the east half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, and still owns the same; Milton Thomson entered the northwest quarter of section twenty-six, now owned by Mrs. Bettie H. Gentry; James Brown entered the northeast quarter of section fourteen, now owned by J. Byrne; Solomon Reed entered the east half of the southwest quar- ter of section ten, now owned by R. J. Gentry and W. Wright. An old grave yard is in the western part of this piece of land. Zadok Powell entered the east half of the northwest quarter of section nineteen, now owned by J. W. Walker; George Heard entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section twenty, now owned by Mrs. Bettie H. Gen- try; James S. English entered the southeast quarter of section twenty- eight, now owned and occupied by John S. Banks; Fielding Wolf entered the southwest quarter of section fourteen, now owned by W. H. Curran, B. Curran, and J. A. DeJarnett.

CHURCHES .- Here the first churches of the county were organized. These primitive Christian people were plain in their worship, meeting often in dwellings or in the groves.

* The first church organization effected was Calvinistic Baptist in faith. Elders Jacob Chism and Wm. Jennings were the pioneer ministers who organized this church. The following is a partial list of the original

929

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

members: James Anderson, John O'Bannon, Solomon Reed, Thomas Wasson, and Adam Scott. A one acre lot was purchased of Solomon Reed, for six dollars, and upon this ground a log cabin was erected, and christened West Liberty Church. This church building was free for all denoninations. Soon after the organiz ition of the Calvanistic Baptists, Revs. Finis Ewing, Rooking, and McCorkle held successful meetings for the Cumberland Presbyterians. The early camp-meetings drew hun- dreds of people together annually in the groves. These meetings con- tinued for several weeks.

The reformation introduced by Alexander Campbell was proclaimed to the pioneers of Georgetown neighborhood by Elder Allen Wright, who carried the Bible with him, and brought conviction to many hearts. Elder Allen Wright was a pure-hearted plain man of great native ability, a min- ister who was greatly respected by his congregations. It was here he sowed the seed from which the prosperous Christian Churches of the county have sprung into existence. Elder Joseph Wright is a son of Elder Allen Wright. The old organizantion of the Christian Church at Georgetown has been moved to Sedalia, and will be treated under the head of Sedalia Churches. The following is a brief sketch of the only church organization of the township:

THE M. E. CHURCH OF GEORGETOWN was organized by Rev. Oech- sli, in about 1866. . The pastors of the congregation have been Revs. S. Alexander, Oechsli, A. P. Salloway, Hanson and Hannum. The names of the original members are: W. S. Deardoff, James Austin, Mrs. J. Aus- tin, Susan Schreiber, C. H. Elliott, Lizzie Elliott, Mary Fairchild, Alex. Dow, Louisa A. Dow and E. G. Ashwell. The present membership is sixty. The average number attending Sunday School is about sixty scholars. C. H. Elliott is Superintendent and Sarah Austin, Secretary. During and since the organization of this church three important revivals have been held. The influence of this little Sunday School and church is tempering the morals of the young people for better citizenship.

STATISTICAL .- The population, according to the census of 1880, showed the village of Georgetown to contain 300 inhabitants, and the township, including the village, 1,179. The following is the assessed valuation of personal property for the year 1882: 275 horses valued at $9,700; 9 jacks and jennets valued at $540; 224 mules valued at $9,535; 1144 neat cattle valued at $21,180; 3,071 sheep valued at $6,140; 1129 hogs valued at $2,620; bonds and notes valued at $13,665; value of other goods, $12,585; 98 dogs without any value.

The valuation as taken above is but a small estimate of the personal property of this township. Only about one-third of the dogs have been listed. This property generally belongs to the poorer classes. During the past year there have been upwards of $1,000 dollars worth of sheep

930

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

killed by the dogs of the township. More than fifty dogs have been poisoned or shot, and yet the dog nuisance continues.

ENTERPRISES AND INDUSTRIES .- The business of the township is prin- cipally farming and stock-raising. The largest farmer and stock-raiser is Major Wm. Gentry. He keeps about 3,000 acres in grass pasture and equally that amount in cultivation. He has on hands 800 prime blooded Merino and Cotswold sheep, 550 marketable mules, and fine Durham cows. He owns the Baron of Richmond, by the celebrated imported Duke of Richmond. Baron of Richmond took the first premium at the fair when exhibited. Major Gentry finds sale for his fine cows, sheep and horses as fast as he can raise them. He owns a fine Norman horse and has some of the best draft horses in the State. A wind-mill supplies his stock with water from a depth of upwards of eighty feet. The build- ings, barns and well-arranged stock-yards cover several acres: There is no shoddy work about the premises. The gates and buildings are all in good repair. An orchard of about eight acres of choice apple trees has proved to be a complete success. He sold one year $1,030 worth of apples to one man, had eighty bushels made into eighty gallons of brandy, besides giving to neighbors and friends a great amount and retaining plenty for his own use. He said, "I think sheep the most profitable branch · of stock-raising. I fine ready sale for fine calves when a year old." Major Gentry has been engaged in the cattle trade for upwards of forty years, giving special attention to fine stock for about thirty-eight years, and his experience is worth a great deal to one starting in the stock business. The interest that he has taken in county and State fairs has won for him a National reputation. He was Marshal of the first State fair held at Boonville, and has been President of several fair associations, though against his desire to hold public office. Owning stock and exhibiting the same has no doubt lessened his desire to fill an office in the fair association. In fine, Major Gentry is always found ready to assist in any enterprise that will facilitate activity, beautify home and improve the breed of stock.

Mr. N. H. Gentry is taking great pride in breeding fine swine. He has some good imported stock, perhaps the best in the State. R. W. Gentry is the principal grower of fine registered Merino sheep. He is one of the most promising wool growers of the State, a man of intelli- gence, and one whose reputation as a successful breeder of pure blooded sheep is fast becoming among the foremost. Lime kilns and stone quarries are enterprises of the township which yield a fair profit. W. K. Taylor. successfully manages a greenhouse.

INCIDENTS .-- During the days of negro-slavery, Mrs. John Rains and her two children were murdered in a most heinous and brutal manner by

931

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

a negro man owned by Henry France, while John Rains was attending church on Sunday. The atrocious deed was committed about two o'clock in the afternoon. One child recovered sufficiently to relate how the black fiend had dispatched his work. When Mr. Rains returned home from church he found his wife and one child lying dead in his yard. Mrs. Rains was a daughter of Shepherd Williams, a good family of Kentucky. The negro was arrested and brought to Georgetown for trial, before Samuel A. Lowe, Hiram Thornton and W. W. Cross, magistrates. Geo. G. Vest, a young attorney, who had lately arrived from Kentucky, was employed as counsel in defense of the negro. While the trial was in pro- gress a mob, headed by George Anderson, Chas. P. Farris, and others of Heath's Creek, where the crime was committed, took the prisoner from the officers of the law, and it was only by the influence of the best citizens that they were prevailed on to return him, but he did not remain in jail longer than fifteen days before the same parties took him from the officers of the law again, and carried him about one-half mile from town where they tied him to a walnut sapling and built a circular heap of shavings, wood, and other combustible materials around the victim, and then set it on fire. It was not long till the villain was willing to confess his crime. He was soon scorched to a cinder, after which the sheriff buried the remains on the spot. This mob had invited all the negroes of the sur- rounding country to witness the death of their fellow companion. This was the end of negro crime.

The following account of burning a negro is given by H. C. Levens, of Sedalia, formerly a prominent resident of Cooper County, and author of a history of the same:

A negro man was burned to death by a mob of about one hundred men, at Georgetown, in July, 1853. I was then residing in Cooper County, and while traveling around over the county, came to Otterville the evening before, and hearing that such a tragedy was going to take place, I went there with a number of other men to see what was going to be done. When we arrived at Georgetown I found the town crowded with people, and among them a large number of the colored race, their masters wishing them to witness the execution in order to deter them from com- mitting a like crime. As well as I can recollect his crime was committing a rape upon the person of a white woman, and afterwards murdering her and one or two of her little children. This negro was suspected of the crime, arrested and put in jail, and afterwards made a full confession of one of the worst crimes ever committed in the country. A short time after I arrived, the mob rode up on horseback, took the negro from the county jail to the Court House. I recollect that General Smith, the - founder of Sedalia, made a speech, giving the history of the crime to the public. But do not think that he gave any expression of his opinion as to whether the negro should be killed by the mob; and perhaps it would have been unsafe for any person to express themselves contrary to their

932

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

designs. The only question put to the people was as to whether they would burn or hang the prisoner. And the vote for burning was, as far as expressed, nearly unanimous, only two in favor of hanging. They then took one end of the rope with which he was tied, and trotted him to the place of execution already prepared for him, about three hundred yards north of Georgetown. The kindling wood was placed in a circle around a hickory sapling, (the circle being about the size of a large wagon wheel,) the prisoner was chained to the sapling, and the fire was started, which soon enveloped him in the flames. He made considerable noise, begging to be released, after he felt the torture of the flames: The chains around his wrists soon cut through the flesh to the bones, and being no longer able to stand, swung by the chains in a doubled up condition. There were a great many people present at the burning, but many after the fire was set turned and walked away, and I have afterwards regretted that I had witnessed such a horrible sight, and never would again. No doubt the prisoner deserved severe punishment and death, but I dislike to see any human being, or brute suffer, however much they may deserve it. This prisoner could have been convicted and hung according to law by his own confession, but many seemed to think that such punishment was not suffi- ciently severe for his crime. I do not remember in what part of the county this horrible crime was committed, but my impression is it was on Heath's Creek. I cannot with certainty remember the name of his victim, but think it was a Mrs. Rains.

In the settlement of this country the Indians held to their hunting grounds with great tenacity, and did not leave until crowded out by the settlers. Game was here in abundance. We get the following story from Captain Ramey.

A bet was made between Captain W. K. Ramey and a half-breed Indian by the name of Tow Rogers, in which the former put a fine horse against two ponies of the latter, that the one who could bring in the greater number of hides at the end of four months should have the horse and ponies, and the loser should pay for the pasturage and care of the animals while the contest was going on. The hides counted as follows: Deer, one; wolf, one; wild cat, one; fox, one; elk, three; panther, three; bear, three; result: The Indian brought in 364 hides, and the Captain, 442. The latter won the bet.

GEORGETOWN .- This village, which was a flourishing trading place in ante bellum days, is in section sixteen, and was laid out in 1835, by David Thomson, father of Martin Thomson. The name was given it by David Thomson, who came here in 1833 from Georgetown, Scott County, Ky. David Thomson and his two brothers-in-law, Geo. R. Smith and Lewis R. Major, were camped on the Lamine River, on the night of Nov. 12, 1833, and witnessed the meteoric showers, which produced great conster- nation among the ignorant classes of those times. Mentor Thomson, son of the founder of Georgetown, served twenty-years as county surveyor of Pettis County.

933

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

The land on which the town is built is high and rolling, and was a beautiful place when the town was in its glory. The old brick court house stood on the public square. The following streets appear on the plat:

Pin Oak, Flint, Boonville, Post Oak, Franklin, Walnut, Saline and Cedar. The additions were known as Ramey and Wasson's, David Thomson's, Geo. R. Smith and Hughes.

The first lawyers of this village were Wm. H. Field, Reese Hughes, John F. Philips, Geo. G. Vest, Alda A. Glasscock, Wm. Ford, Curtis Field and Chas. A. Hardin. .

No building was ever erected here for church purposes exclusively. The citizens contributed sufficient however of their money to own the second story of the school building for church purposes. The third story of this brick school building was used by the A. F. & A. M. W. W. Cross was Justice of the Peace in this town for twenty-two years. In politics he was a Democrat till the rebellion, since which time he has been a Republican.

The post-office was established here co-existent with the town. For several years the mails were weekly and monthly. In those days there was but little correspondence, and the great power of the press did not weigh upon the people then as now.

The following is the list of the postmasters: Albin Robinson, Amos Fristoe, Samuel A. Lowe, James P. Walker, Wm. W. Cross, Thomas Hill, M. Hunt, James Austin, John E. Rector, Charles W. Barrick.

For several years Georgetown was the center of trade for many miles around, but when the line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad was laid its death knell was sounded. Now, only two small stores are kept in the place: One by J. E. Rector and another by Charles W. Barrick. W. K. Taylor keeps a green-house. The public school is small, and is taught by two girls, who receive a very meager salary.

JAMES ALLIN, M. D.

Dr. Allin, who resides on a farm north of Sedalia, was born in Har- rodsburg, Ky., March 9, 1826, and is the son of Thomas Allin, one of the noted pioneers of that State. It is said that Thomas Allin built the first clerk's office in Mercer County, Ky., and held the office for fifty years. In politics he was a Henry Clay Whig, and in religion a member of the Christian Church. The subject of this sketch is one of fourteen child- ren. William Allin is a farmer in Kentucky ; Thomas Allin is a lawyer, who married a daughter of Dr. Price, a brother of Gen. Sterling Price ; John Allin is a farmer in Kentucky ; Henry Allin is a physician in Max- ville, Ky. Dr. Allin, for whom these notes are written, is a graduate of the Louisville Medical College, and has practiced the healing art for about fourteen years. In 1847 he came to Brunswick, Mo., where he practiced

934

HISTORY OF CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

for several years. He was united in marriage to Miss Lillie Burgess, daughter of J. V. Burgess, in 1877. One child, Eulia, was born in 1879. The Doctor is now a retired physician, and is engaged in farming and stock trading. He owns three excellent farms in the township. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

CHARLES W. BARRICK.

The subject of this sketch is a young merchant, and postmaster of Georgetown. He was born in the State of Illinois, June 17, 1854, and is a son of William Barrick, a native of Maryland, who was a First Lieuten- ant of the Illinois Volunteers, during the late war. Mr. Barrick is a member of the M. E. Church and a worker in the Sunday School. Charles W. Barrick came here with his parents in 1867, and was educated in Sedalia. In April, 1881, he was appointed postmaster at Georgetown, where he is engaged in selling goods. The subject of these notes is one of fourteen children, four boys and ten girls, eight of whom are now (1882) living. His father is a mechanic of Sedalia, and a devoted member of the M. E. Church, of that city.

E. CLARK BOULDIN.

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

The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 99

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [n.p.] Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148