USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 23
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RULE .- Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quotient will be the gain or loss per cent.
Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be each one's share of the gain or loss.
How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs.
A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs, when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa.
NOTE .- It is generally assumed that the gross weight of hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent. of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by 14 or 25 per cent. of itself equals the gross weight.
To find the net weight or gross price.
Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.)
To find the gross weight or net price.
Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.)
How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed.
RULE .- Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, and point off ONE decimal place-the result will be the correct answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel.
For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and point off one decimal place.
How to find the contents of a corn-crib.
RULE .- Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or by 4} ordinary method, and point off ONE decimal place-the result will be the answer in bushels.
NOTE .- In estimating corn in the ear, quality and the time it has been cribbed must be taken into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the winter and spring. This rule generally holds good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean.
197
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
How to find the contents of a cistern or tank.
RULE .-- Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off ONE decimal place-the result will be the contents in barrels of 312 gallons.
How to find the contents of a barrel or cask.
RULE .- Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length (all in inches) in REVERSED order, so that its UNITS will fall under the TENS; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430; point off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons.
How to measure boards.
RULE .- Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and divide the product by 12-the result will be the contents in square feet.
How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc.
RULE .- Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together, (the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide the product by 12-the result will be square feet.
How to find the number of acres in a body of land.
RULE .- Multiply the length by the width (in rods) and divide the pro- duct by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a remain- der); the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths.
When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width.
How to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall.
RULE .- Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards.
How to find the number of bricks required in a building.
RULE .- Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22}.
The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height and thickness (in feet) together.
Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches thick; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space.
How to find the number of shingles required in a roof.
RULE .- Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the shingles are exposed 42 inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches.
To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by twice the length of the rafters.
To find the length of the rafters, at ONE-FOURTH pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths); at ONE-THIRD pitch by .6 (tenths); at TWO-FIFTHS pitch, by .64 (hundredths); at ONE-HALF pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration.
198
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
NOTE .- By 14 or 13 pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be 1 or X the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters.
How to reckon the cost of hay.
RULE .- Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and remove the decimal point three places to the left.
How to measure grain.
RULE .- Level the grain; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic feet; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to the left.
NOTE .- Exactness requires the addition, to every three hundred bushels, of one extra bushel.
The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by multiplying the number of bushels by 8.
If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2 to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of ear corn to make 1 of shelled corn.
Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments.
In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square yards; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres.
The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes.
To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line stright ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote; and, in walking, keep these objects constantly in line.
Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- trivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard measure.
Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink.
To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given.
RULE .- Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer.
How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods being given.
RULE .- Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, and remove the decimal point two places to the left.
The diameter being given, to find the circumference.
RULE .- Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7.
How to find the diameter when the circumference is given.
RULE .- Divide the circumference by 3 1-7.
199
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thicke ness throughout will contain when squared.
RULE .- Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144.
General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet.
RULE .- Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144.
To find the number, of feet of timber in trees with the bark on.
RULE .- Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches by twice the length in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1.10 to 1.15 according to the thickness of the bark.
Howard's new rule for computing interest.
RULE .- The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left.
Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given.
NOTE .- The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate; thus 8 per cent. per month, inverted, becomes 18 of a month, or ten days.
When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, three ones.
Rule for converting English into American currency.
Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90.
U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE.
A township-36 sections each a mile square.
A section-640 acres.
A quarter section, half a mile square-160 acres.
An eight section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide-80 acres.
A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square-40 acres.
The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner.
The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The description of a forty-acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1, in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be; and sometimes will fall short, and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain.
0
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
SURVEYORS' MEASURE.
7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 25 links
1 rod.
4 rods
1 chain.
80 chains
1 mile.
NOTE .- A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet.
Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barleycorn; three of which made an inch.
Horses are' measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches-called a hand.
In biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches.
The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length.
The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length.
A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches.
A fathom is equal to 6 feet.
A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 stat- ute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a'league.
In cloth measure an aune is equal to 12 yards, or 45 inches.
An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches.
A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches.
A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches.
HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS.
Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic manner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers.
1875. A. H. JACKSON.
DR. CR.
Jan.
10|To 7 bushels wheat ..
at $1.25|$ 8.75|> .... .
17 By shoeing span of horses
2.50
Feb. 4 To 14 bushels oats.
.at $ .45
6.30
....
66
4 To 5 lb. butter ..
at .25
1.25
....
March 8|By new harrow . .
. .
.40
66 13 By new double-tree
2.25
27 To cow and calf
48.00
....
April
9 To half ton of hay
6.25
...
66
9 By cash . .
25.00
May
6 By repairing corn-planter
4.75
66
24 To one sow with pigs.
17.50
4|By cash, to balance account.
35.15
$88.05 $88.05
18.00
8 By sharpening 2 plows
...
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
1875.
CASSA MASON. DR. CR.
March 21|By 3 day's labor
.at $1.25|
$ 3.75
March 21 To 2 shoats.
.at
3.00 $ 6.00
....
March 23 To 18 bushels corn
at
.45
8.10
. . . .
May
1 By 1 months labor
25.00
May 1 To cash
10.00
. . .
June
19 By 8 days mowing
. at $1.50
12.00
June
26 To 50 lbs. flour
2.75
F ....
July
10 To 27 lbs. meat
at
$ .10
2.70
.
July
29|By 9 days harvesting
.at 2.00
18.00
Aug.
12|By 6 days labor
at 1.50
9.00
Aug.
12|To cash.
20.00
....
Sept.
1 To cash to balance account
18.20
....
$ 67.75 $67.75
INTEREST TABLE.
A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.
Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 tthe number of days in the interest year) by the per cent of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest.
ILLUSTRATION. Solution.
Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multiplied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent of interest) gives 60, and 222.0000 divided by 60 will give the exact interest, which is $3.70. If the rate of interest in the above example were 12 per cent, we would divide the $222 .- 6(360 ) 0000 by 30 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent, we would divide by 90; - if 8 per cent, by 45, and in like manner for any other per cent.
$462.50
.48
370000
185000
60) $222.0000
180
420
490
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.
12 units or things, 1 dozen.
12 dozen, 1 gross.
-
196 pounds, 1 barrel of flour. | 24 sheets of paper, 1 quire. 200 pounds, 1 barrel of pork. 20 qn,res of paper, 1 ream.
20 things, 1 score. 56 pounds, 1 firkin of butter. 14 .. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8ft. long, 1 cord wood.
. . .
202
NAMES OF THE STATES AND THEIR SIGNIFICATION.
NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS.
Virginia .- The oldest of the states, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region.
Florida .- Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoraticn of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers."
Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country.
Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest."
Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River."
Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." Its pre- fix was really arc, the French word for "bow."
The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called " Carolana," after Charles the Ninth of France.
Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732.
Tennessee is the Indian name for the "River of the Bend," i. c., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary.
Kentucky is the Indian name for "at the head of the river."
Ohio means "beautiful;" Iowa, "drowsy ones;" Minnesota, "cloudy water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel."
Illinois is derived from the Indian word Illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men."
Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap.
Missouri is from the Indian word "muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it.
Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river.
Cortez named California.
Massachusetts is the Indian for " the country around the great hills."
Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying " Long River."
Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of Eng- łand.
New York was named by the Duke of York.
Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its original owner.
Delaware after Lord De la Ware.
New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was gov- ernor of the island of Jersey, in the British channel.
Maine was called after the province of Maine, in France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province.
SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. 203
Vermont, from the French words vert mont, signifying green mountain. New Hampshire, from Hampshire county, in England. It was formerly called Laconia.
The little state of Rhode Island owes its name to the island of Rhodes, in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble.
Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.
SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUB- SCRIPTION.
The business of publishing books by subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possi- ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- lowing statement is made:
A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the pros- pectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the pros- pectus and sample, in order to bind the principle, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same.
All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore importas t that all persons contemplating sub- scribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the sub- scription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.
Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can- vassers They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a pre- scribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They cannot extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business.
It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- mem, would examine carefully what it is; if they cannot read themselves, call on some one disinterested who can.
UNITED STATES CUSTOM-HOUSE AND POST-OFFICE, AT KANSAS CITY .- 1881.
History of Pettis County.
CHAPTER I .- INTRODUCTION AND NAME.
Signification of History-Kinds of History-Value as Instruction-Object of this Work- Task of the Historian and His Fitness-How and by Whom Collected and Compiled- Mistakes-Criticisms-Signification of a Name-How Pettis County got its Name- Sketch of Hon. Spencer Pettis. -
History, in its most general signification, is a narrative of events. It includes a record not only of national events and affairs in the world at large, but also an account of small districts, families, and of the lives and acts of individuals. History is of two kinds-narrative and philosophical. The former mere statement of facts as they occur, one after another; while the latter also comprehends deductions from those facts, and the relation of cause and effect. At first, history took the form of tradition, which is oral opinions or memorials handed down from father to son, or from ancestor to posterity, assuming the form of religious belief, much of which was obscure and mythical.
Among the oldest examples of written history are sculptured inscrip- tions and records of acts of rulers, especially their victories, and are found on temples and pyramids of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Phœnicia. Herod- otus, the father of history, was born about the close of the fifth century, B. C., and his writings, so far as known, are the earliest that can be traced of his- tory, aside from the collections of Moses. Thucydides was the second great historian, but his writings approached more nearly the philosophical style than the writings of Herodotus. The ancient historians of Greece and Rome usually confined themselves to plain narrative, as Xenophon in his Anabasis, Cæsar in his Commentaries, and Livy in his History of Rome. Tacitus showed his in portraying tyranny in its blackest colors. Eusebius was the first great ecclesiastical historian.
Modern history has the tendency of critical rather than merely narra- tive. Many of the histories written within the last half century are won- derful monuments of critical research. In these days the historian is no longer a mere reporter, he must be prepared to analyze character, and to weigh events. He must seek his materials at the fountain head, must compare the private with the public actions of the characters he portrays, and present to his readers a picture of men and women which shall be
1
206
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
accurate in minute detail, and yet embrace the remoter consequences of their actions.
Annals are a chronicle divided into distinct years; biography, the his- tory of the life and character of a particular person; memoirs, an account of transactions in which the narrator bore a part; a romance, a fictitious tale; and chronicle, the narration of events when time is considered the chief feature. All these are closely related to and fall within the province of history. The writer of history includes within his subjects more, and a greater variety of, material than any other literary man, and history is a more fruitful source of practical instruction than any other branch of liter- ature. The pleasure and profit derived from careful perusal of the pages of history is unlimited. Histories are multiplying as the popular demand increases, for the chief object in making a book is its sale. All books, except, perhaps, the Bible, are made with the prime object of profit. Scientific works, works of fiction, histories, school books, books of poetry, newspapers, and all other periodicals, are issued with the full expectation of pecuniary profit to the publisher, and it is right that they should receive reward, for, in the strife for wealth and power, men would otherwise neg- lect the cultivation of the mind, and the production of hidden truths. No man would publish a newspaper for the sole purpose of conferring a ben- efit on his fellow; no man would publish a history for the sole object of glory, or through a philanthropic act, desiring to confer a blessing upon those into whose hands it chanced to fall. Literature, like all other occu- pations, must be suitably rewarded. It is not at all probable that the pub- lishers of this work would have undertaken such a great task unless they rightfully expected suitable remuneration.
The history of Pettis county will be found to contain all, and far more than the publishers have promised or their friends expected. Mistakes and inaccuracies will occur. No history, nor any other book, not even the Bible, the best of all books, has yet been written without them. Books of the character of this history have been known in older States for several years. County, township, city, neighborhood, and even family histories have been compiled in most of the eastern States, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, and many western districts. The history of one of these counties combine the good qualities of many histories in one book, besides furnishing a personal sketch of rare worth and gratification. A short history of the State, which also relates to many national affairs, then a detailed history of the county under many different heads, in such a manner that if the reader will make it a careful study he will be greatly pleased and profited.
The historian should be a man of broad and generous views, free from prejudice. Such is a stranger who goes into a county to place in order its history. True, he meets with many obstacles which would not present
207
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
themselves to one who has long resided among the scenes he desires to narrate; but the advantages possessed by the stranger are far greater than those possessed by the resident. The stranger has no friends to reward, and no enemies to punish. He enters upon his task free to select from the best and most reliable sources, those items of history which will interest the greatest number, without having his mind pre-occupied with a special subject or particular class of citizens.
Just as in an important trial at law, he who enters the jury box least prejudiced by former knowledge of the case, makes the best juror; so the intelligent stranger can most impartially decide what is acceptable history, and what is not. The corps of historians who furnished this record of such facts as they have been able to obtain by diligent work, did so with no other motive than performing their task well; and fulfilling their promise to their patrons. That persons will harshly criticise this work, and that too, when the greatest array of facts testify to the correct- ness of the book, is conceded; but the value of a record like this will only be appreciated in future years, when a greater portion of its pages would have been lost or forgotten, had not a laudable enterprise rescued them from oblivion. To attempt a criticism on another is thought, by some, to show wisdom and culture; to such the following lines of Pope appro- priately apply:
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