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 42
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On January 8, 1863, Capt. Houts, Company A, marched with 100 men, in the night, to Berryville, forty-five miles, surprised a camp of guerrillas, killing ten men and losing none. At 11 o'clock, P. M., on the 11th of January, 1863, the regiment marched to the relief of Springfield, then infestad by rebels under Marmaduke, reaching Springfield on the night of the 12th, having marched eighty miles. From there it marched in pur- suit of rebels towards Hartsville, in mid winter, weather intensely cold, without tents or transportation. Returned to Springfield on the 18th of January, having marched 100 miles.
On the 20th of January, regiment moved to Greenfield, Missouri, where its headquarters remained until 28th of May; one battalion, under Maj. Suess, being encamped at Linden, Christian county, one at Carthage, under Lieut. Col. Crittenden. On 13th of February, five companies of 3d Missouri state militia were consolidated with the regiment, making it a twelve company regiment. During February, March, April and May, the regiment had a number of heavy engagements with guerrillas, killing a large number.
On the 1st of June, headquarters of regiment were changed to Newtonia, where 1st and 3d battalions joined. During June and July this command killed, in several engagements, seventy guerrillas. In June had heavy encounter with guerrilla chief, Maj. Livingston. On the 28th of July, entire command marched toward Cow Skin Prairie to break up rebel camp under Coffey; failed to find him, returned to camp; distance marched, 100 miles.
On the 1st of August, 1863, the regiment was transferred from south- west district to central district, Missouri, where it remains to this writing. In August and September it had several engagements in Lafayette, John- son and Morgan counties, with bushwhackers, having killed thirty or more in all. From the 6th of October to the 18th of October, the regi- ment was in pursuit day and night of rebel forces under Gen. Shelby, and skirmished and fought with his rear guard for four days, until general engagement with him at Marshall, Missouri, on 13th of October, in which the regiment largely participated, driving the enemy from the ground, scattering and dispersing him in much confusion. And on the 14th, this regiment captured his train and ambulances, and three wagon loads of ammunition. Since which raid the regiment has been distributed at various stations in Central Missouri. It is difficult to compute the aggregate distance traveled by the regiment, much of its marching hav- ing been done in detachments. Proximately, I will fix the distance at five thousand miles.
I am, Colonel, with much respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN F. PHILIPS, Colonel 7th Cavalry, Missouri State Militia.
383
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
SEVENTH CAVALRY, MISSOURI STATE MILITA.
DATE.
NAME.
RANK.
TO RANK FROM.
ACCOUNTED FOR.
DATE.
May 1, 1862 John F. Philips.
6
Thos. T. Crittenden Emery S Foster
Major.
66
July 12, 1862 J. B. Rowland.
July 12, 1862 Resigned
Sept. 24, '62
Dec. 16, 1862 Henry Suess.
Dec. 16, 1862
Mar. 27, 1863 Thomas W. Houts.
Feb. 16, 1863
Dec. 24, 1869
Joseph W. Pennock Oct. 14, 1862 Samuel K. Hall. .
Adjt .. Q. M. Comy
Oct. 1, 1862
Nov. 5, 1862 John R. Moore. ...
Nov. 5, 1862
May 17, 1862 Charles C. Tibbetts Surgn
66
June 18, 1863
Mar. 4, 1862 Charles C. Tibbetts As. Sn Mar. 4, 1862 Pro'd to Surg. 6th Cav. 06
May 14, 1862 Fayette Clapp
April 14, '62 Resigned
Sept. 24, '62
Nov. 14, 1862 James L. Edwards
Nov. 14, '62
April 25. '63 Mills T. Chastain. May 15, 1862 Robert A. Foster. .
Chap .
May 15. 1862
COMPANY "A."
Mar. 13, 1862 Thomas W. Houts.
Capt .
Jan. 11, 1862 Promoted to Major. ..
Feb. 16, '63
April 10, '63 Joseph Peak.
April 4, 1863
Mar. 13, 1862 John M. Jewell.
1st Lt.
Jan. 11, 1862 Dd. of wds. recd in ac. Mar. 27, '62 April 7, 1862 Promoted to Captain .. April 4, '63 April 4, 1863
April 4, .'63
April 10, '63 George P. Chiles. .
COMPANY " B."
April 25, '62 R. L. Ferguson. Capt Henry Suess. .. . . 1st Lt. .6
Mar. 24, 1862
Promoted to Major.
Dec. 16, '62
Jan. 16. 1863 Sam'] H. McGuire
Jan. 6, 1863
April 25, '62 Geo. W. McGuire. 2d Lt.
Mar. 24, 1862 Resigned
July 3, 1862
July 16, 1862 Sam'l H. McGuire Jan. 16, 1863 Ambrose Daly ..
66
Jan. 6, 1863
COMPANY " C."
Capt . April 8, 1862 Mustered out.
Feb. 7, 1863 Dec.14, 1863
Resigned.
Dec. 31, '62 Oct. 22, 1863
April 26, '62 Johu Coalter .. . . . July 16, 1862 HIenry T. Dodson. Dec 22, 1862 Nathaniel J Bailey Feb. 19, 1863 Francis Pharis .... April 26, '62 H. A. Waltermire. [2d Lt.
1st Lt.
April 8, 1862 Resigned
July 3, 1862
July 12, 1862|Resigned
Nov . 18, 1862
Dec. 15, 1862 Died
Dec. 25, 1862
Feb. 7, 1863
Nov. 9, 1862
Dec. 26, 1862 Francis Pharis. ... Mar. 23, 1863|Wm. P. Baker .. Dec. 17, 1863 .James L. Couch.
Dec 15, 1862 Promoted to 1st Lieut. . Mar. 16, 1863 Promoted to Captain .. Dec. 13, 1863
Dec. 14, '63
COMPANY " D."
April 13, '62 Jesse J. Turley.
Capt.
April 2, 1862 Died
May 18, 1862
May 29, 1862 James M. Turley.
May 23, 1862
1st!Lt. April 2, 1862 Promoted to Captain. .
May 23, 1862
April 13, '62 James M. Turley May 29, 1862 George A. White .. July 26, 1862 Freder'k W. Becker April 13, '62 George A. White .. May 29, 1862 James Ramey ... July 26, 1862 George N. Heaton. April 10, '62 Alex'der McGoffie.
May 23, 1862 Resigned July 19, 1862
June 30, '62
2d Lt. April 2, 1862 Promoted to 1st Lieut. May 22, 1862
May 23, 1862 Resigned
July 8, 1862
July 19, 1862 .6
Jan. 7, 1863
April 4, 1863
Aug. 19, '63
=
Col ... Lt Col
May 1, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1862
May 1, 1862 Died at Bloomfield, Mo May 19, '63
June 18, 1863 T. J. Montgomery .
April 25, '62
May 5, 1862 Joseph Peak
April 10, '63 Allen H. Christian
Mar. 13, '63 Allen H. Christian 2d Lt.
Jan. 11, 1862 Promoted to 1st Lieut. April 4, 1862
July 12, 1863 Promoted to 1st Lieut. . Jan. 6, 1863
April 26, '62 W. W. Miller Feb. 19, 1863 Hiram C. J. Fewell Dec 17, 1863 Wmı. P. Baker
April 5, 1862 Died
Feb. 7, 1863
384
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
SEVENTH CAVALRY, MISSOURI STATE MILITIA .- CONTINUED.
DATE.
NAME.
RANK.
TO RANK FROM.
ACCOUNTED FOR.
DATE.
COMPANY " E."
April 26, '62 Owen D. Havely ..
Capt . 66
April 12,1862 Died
Oct. 5, 1862
Nov. 18. '62 Abraham Darst ..
Nov. 8, 1862
April 26, '62 John B. Rowland.
1st Lt Mar. 16, 1862 Promoted to Major.
July 12, 1862
July 26, '62 Abraham Darst ...
66
July 19, 1862 Promoted to Captain ..
Nov. 8, 1862
Nov. 18, '62 James H. Crawford
66
Nov. 8, 1862
April 26, '62|Benj. B. Edwards 2d Lt.
July 26, '62 James S. Carelton.
July 15, 1862
Sept. 21, '63 T. H. B. Mitchell.
Sept. 1, 1863
COMPANY "F."
Capt .
April 17,1862 66
66
John S. Crane .. . ..
2d Lt.
COMPANY " G."
April 25, '62 Melville U. Foster. Capt .
6
Richard M. Box ...
1st Lt
Promd. to Capt. Co. H. Aug. 24, 1863
Dec. 26, '63 Wm. L. Christian
Dec. 23, 1863
April 25, '62 Sandy Lowe .. .
2d Lt.
April 21,1862 Resigned
Sept. 23, 1862
Jan. 12, 1862 David V. Marr
6.
Oct. 9, 1862
COMPANY "H "
April 26, '62 Elias Slocun
Capt . April 21,1862 Resigned
June 2, 1863
Sept. 2, 1863 Richard M. Box ..
Ang.24, 1862
April 26, '62 John Atkisson.
1st Lt
Feb. 3, 1862 Resigned
Nov. 18, 1862
Feb 19, '63 Gustavus Westheff
Feb. 7, 1863
April 26, '62 Joseph W. Pennock 2d Lt.
April 3, 1862 Promoted to Adjutant. Dec. 24, 1862
May 16, '63 George W. Houts ..
66 May 9, 1863
COMPANY "I."
April 23, '62 Squire Ballew .. . ..
Capt . April 4, 1862
.. Resigned
May 30, 1863
June 22, '63 George W. Calvin. ]
June 14, 1863
April 23, '62 George T. Hamlin. 2d Lt. April 4, 1862
COMPANY " K."
Aug. 8, 1862 Wm. B. Ballew. . .
Capt July 28, 1862
66
Elisha Horn ... 1st Lt
Nov. 3, 1862 William D. Wilson
2d Lt. Aug 13,1862
COMPANY "L."
April 23, '62 Murline C. Henslee Capt . April 5, 1862
Dec. 2, 1862 William Argo. .. Aaron McIntosh .. . COMPANY " M."
1st Lt Nov. 27, 1862 2d Lt. 66
April 23, '62 James Mc Murtry ... Capt April 12,1862 Resigned
April 10, '63
April 29, '63 0. B. Queen ....
April 18,1863
April 23, '62 Charles Holtzinger 1st Lt Mar. 18, 1862 Resigned
Mar. 23, '63 O. B. Queen ....
May 14, '62 Reuben T. Berry.
Mar. 16, 1863 Promoted to Captain ... May 1, 1863
April 23, '62 A. A. McElhany .. 2d Lt. April 12,1862
May 2, 1862 Saml K. Hall 1st L A. C. Marvin 41
B. Ajt May 1, 1862 Mustered out.
Oct. 1, 1862 July 29, 1862
April 12,1862 Resigned
June 24, 1862 |Jan 7,1863
April 25, '62 Benj. H. Wilson. .
Rush J. Learning.
1st Lt
April 21,1862
Geo. T. Prichard. 1st Lt
Mar. 3, 1863 April 18, '63
385
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
40TH REGIMENT ENROLLED MISSOURI MILITIA.
DATE OF COMMISSION.
NAME.
RANK
TO RANK FROM.
ACCOUNTED FOR.
DATE.
Sept. 25, '62 R. R Spedden. . . .
Col ...
Sept. 10, '62
66
James H. Brown. .
Lt Col
Resigned
Aug. 20, 1863
66
William Gentry . .
Major
C. P. Townsley
Adjt.
Nov. 28, '62 John Hancock .. .
Q. M.
Aug. 8, 1862 Resigned.
Dec. 5, 1862
Dec. 13, 1862
Wilkins Watkins. .
Surgn
Dec. 8, 1862
COMPANY "A."
Sept. 6, 1862 Milton D. Berry . .. Capt.
Aug. 28, '62
Wm. F. McGuire. . |1st Lt.
66
Alex. A. Porter. . ..
2d Lt.
COMPANY "B."
Sept. 6, 1862 =
William K. Ramey Capt.
Aug. 28, '62 66
James A. Ramey . . |1st Lt
J. M. Van Reagan. 2d Lt
Mrch 14, '63 William Kellerm'n
=
Feb. 28, 1863
Sept. 6, 1862 John D. Crawford. Capt.
66
C. C. Crawford. 1st Lt
John F. Yankee .. . 2d Lt
COMPANY "D."
Sept. 6, 1862 John M. Sneed .. . .
Capt 1st Lt
July 28, 1862 Resigned 66
Mrch 21, '63 Nov. 11, 1862
Feb. 3, 1863 Robert Funk.
Sept. 6, 1862 John G. Reisler.
2d Lt
July 28. 1862 Resigned
Dec. 27,1862
COMPANY "E."
Nov. 25, 1862 R. R. Spedden. .. .
Capt.
Ang 17, 1862 Promoted to Colonel .. . Sept. 27, '62 Aug. 17, '62 Dismissed 66
Sept. 10, '62 Mrch 20, '63
Oct. 14, 1862. William H. Cross. 60
John W. Christian 1st Lt
Wm. J. Satterwhite 2d Lt
COMPANY "F."
Sept. 6, 1862 John P. Thatcher. . Capt.
Aug. 28, '62 Resigned
.
Feb. 1, 1863 Feb. 28, 1863 Feb. 28, 1863
COMPANY "G."
Sept. 6, 1862 S. D. Foulke. . Capt.
66
C. Bondurant. ... 1st Lt W.H. P. Thompson 2d Lt
COMPANY "H."
July 29, 1862
Sept. 6, 1862 Theodore Bloess. Capt. C. F. Fisher .. 1st Lt 2d Lt
Fred. J. Kissel.
..
Benj. F. Yankee. . 2d Lt
66
Aug. 18, '62 .6
66
Died.
COMPANY "C."
Aug. 18, '62
66
James B. Roberts.
Dec. 1, 1862
P. A. Thatcher 1st Lt
Dec. 6, 1862
Hilory R. Dobyns.
386
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
40TH REGIMENT ENROLLED MISSOURI MILITIA-CONTINUED.
DATE OF COMMISSION.
NAME.
RANK
TO RANK FROM
ACCOUNTED FOR
DATE.
COMPANY "1."
Dec. 23, 1862 J. B. Hopkins, ...
Capt.
Nov. 5, 1862 Resigned.
.
July 9, 1863
Feb. 25, 1863 Samuel H. Brown
Feb. 10, 1863
Nov. 17,1863 J. B. Hopkins ...
1st Lt
Aug. 7, 1862 Promoted to Captain. .
Nov. 5, 1862
Dec. 23,1862
Samuel H. Brown
Nov. 5, 1862
Feb. 10, 1863
Deb. 25,1862 Nath. G. Brown ..
Feb. 10, 1863
Feb. 23, 1862 Nath. G. Brown ..
2d Lt
Nov. 5, 1862 Promoted to 1st Lt ... . . Feb. 10, 1863
COMPANY "K."
Aug. 15, '62 William L. Houts Capt.
July 28. 1862
John W. Brockman 1st Lt William J. Pace. . 2d Lt
The following are the orders relating to the 7th regiment:
HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF MISSOURI,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, ST. LOUIS, May 1, 1862.
General order No. 15.
The following regimental organizations of the Missouri State Militia have been perfected, viz:
The seventh regiment of cavalry, composed of company A, captain, Thomas W. Houts; company B, captain, Richard L. Ferguson; company C, captain, William H. Miller; company D, captain, Jesse J. Purley; com- pany E, captain, Owen D. Havely; company F, captain, Benjamin H. Wilson ; company G, captain, Melville N. Foster; company H, captain, Elias Slocum.
The following field and staff officers of the seventh regiment of cavalry, Missouri state militia, have been appointed, viz:
John F. Philips, to be colonel from May 1, 1862. Thomas T. Critten- den, to be lieutenant colonel from May 1, 1862. Samuel K. Hall, to be first lieutenant and regimental adjutant from May 1, 1862. Emery S. Foster to be major from May 1, 1862. A. C. Marvin, to be first lieutenant and quartermaster from May 1, 1862. Charles C. Teb- betts, to be surgeon from May 1, 1862. B. F. Hughes, to be assist- ant surgeon from May 1, 1862. Col. John F. Philips, commanding the seventh regiment cavalry, Missouri state militia, will report for duty to Brigadier General James Totten. By order of the commander-in-chief.
W.M. D. WOOD, Colonel and acting Adjutant General.
The following is an exhibit showing the number of men who volun- teered from Pettis county into the U. S. service for three years, or during the war, as obtained from the official records up to December 31, 1863, under the different calls of President Lincoln:
4th U. S. Reserve Corps, 8; 3d Infantry, 5; 7th Infantry, 2; 12th Infantry, 6; 17th Infantry, 4; 21st Infantry, 1; 33d Infantry, 46; 1st U. S.
387
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
Cavalry, 15; 4th Cavalry, 1; 6th Cavalry, 76; 7th Cavalry, 25; 10th Cavalry, 2; 11th Cavalry, 15; Engineers of the West, 1. Total, 206.
1st Infantry, M. S. M., 2; 6th Cavalry, M. S. M., 2; 7th Cavalry, M. S. M., 623. Total, 627.
It was by the prompt and early organization of her citizens into militia bands that Pettis county was saved to the Union, and escaped much of the sad experience which fell to the lot of many counties of the state. The officers of the 4th Regiment, E. M. M., will be found elsewhere. This regiment was stationed at Warrensburg, during the winter of 1862- 63, Col. Spedden commanding the post. The field of operation was, for the most part, confined to Central Missouri. In the fall of 1863 a portion of the force was detailed to serve in what was called provisional regi- ments. John D. Crawford, captain of company C, took command of com- pany K, 5th Provisional Regiment, and was stationed at Clinton, Henry county. Many of the soldiers enlisted in the 45th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Some went to the artillery, while others entered the cavalry service.
June 13, 1864, John D. Crawford was commissioned as colonel of the 40th Regiment, and on the 23d day of September following, was ordered by Maj. Gen. Rosecrans to report the effective strength of his command to headquarters, holding himself in readiness, together with his command, for immediate active service. September 26th, three days later, he was ordered to report his command to Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown, for duty. At this time, besides Col. Crawford, there were only three commissioned officers in the regiment and about two hundred men subject to military duty.
Gen. Sterling Price, of the Confederate forces, had entered the south- eastern part of the state, and all of the available forces of the govern- ment west of the Mississippi river were concentrating in that direction. The post at Sedalia had been abandoned. Col. Crawford took command of the post at Sedalia, and organized the citizens of that place and sur- rounding outposts for duty. There were many citizens who refused to enter the service or do any military duty, at that time, principally owing to the fact that guns and ammunition could not be had of such quality and quantity, as to effectually arm the command. They relied chiefly upon themselves for equippage. Earthworks were thrown up tempora- rily about town. The citizens enrolled and elected their officers and a strict discipline was enforced as the circumstances demanded.
About the 11th of October the army of Gen. Price crossed the Missouri Pacific railroad west of Jefferson City, where they cut the telegraph wires and burned the bridge at Otterville. Other bridges were burned. The garrison at Sedalia was ordered by Brig. Gen. Brown to immedi- ately abandon the post. Scouts were out constantly, and the mounted
3SS
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
portion of the garrison were frequently engaged with squads of the enemy's forces.
On the 14th of October, 1864, Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, U. S. cav- alry forces, commanding, passed through Pettis from east to northwest at noon, at Georgetown, three miles north of Sedalia. His sick and dis- abled were reported to the post, and the march continued to Lexington. On the following day, October 15th, the small garrison at Sedalia was attacked by a portion of Price's army, estimated at 2,000, and three pieces of artillery, under General Jeff. Thompson. The artillery of the Confedrates was planted north of town, and the cavalry advanced from east to west. . After a short engagement, the rebels took possession of the town. During the fight the Union forces lost three killed, and about forty taken prisoners. The rebels reported five killed and thirteen wounded. At this time the U. S. infantry forces were on the march from Jefferson City to Tipton, in the rear of Price. The cavalry were mostly in advance, and forty miles northwest of Sedalia, in Lafayette county. Several merchants lost heavily in goods; but few horses, and but little ammunition was captured. It was not long till the town was again occupied by Union soldiers.
Virtually, the war in Missouri closed with the departure of Gen. Price, in the fall of 1864, and after this date the 40th regiment was released from active service.
The following concise account of the capture of Sedalia, by Gen. Jeff. Thompson, was written by Miss Emma Crandall, of Sedalia Public School:
THE CAPTURE OF SEDALIA.
In the fall of 1864, General Sterling Price, at the head of 30,000 Con- federates, invaded Missouri. The Federal troops stationed in Central Mis- souri, not being sufficiently strong to contend against so large an army, were withdrawn from the western part of the state, and concentrated at Jefferson City; thus leaving the inhabitants of all the country west of Jef- ferson to the mercies of the roving band of guerrillas, who constituted the advance guard of Price's army.
Sedalia, at that time being a small, but important place, on account of its being the western terminus of the Missouri Pacific R. R., was made the object of attack by the Confederate forces. The citizens, for the pur- pose of defending the place against the depredations of the enemy, organ- ized a force of about six hundred men, which were placed under com- mand of Col. J. D. Crawford. Prominent among the officers were Capt. F. L. Parker, Lieut. Frank McCabe, Lieut. B. B. Lyon, and Capt. Wash- burn.
Among the high privates who are now residing in Sedalia, were Louis
389
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
Kumm, Elias Laupheimer, J. G. Tesch, John Hall, B. H. Ingram, W. E. Bard and O. A. Crandall, and many others whose names I am unable to learn.
These men having no artillery and being poorly armed, determined to defend the town to the very last. To enable them to better defend them- selves, they dug a trench and threw up an embankment around the place. In what was then the eastern part of the city, where Goodwin's livery stable now stands, they built a dirt fort, in the center of which was raised a flag staff, with a Union flag on it. This fort was placed in command of Capt. Parker, while other companies were stationed in different parts of the town. For two weeks this brave band defended. Sedalia against all attacks of the enemy, although peremptorily ordered (by Gen. Brown, district commander,) to give up the post, and it was not until they were attacked by overwhelming forces and heavy artillery, that the place was taken. On the afternoon of October 15, 1864, a detachment of Price's army of about two thousand men, with three pieces of artillery, under command of Gen. Jeff. Thompson, attacked the place. His artillery was planted where the cemetery now is, and his main army drawn up in line of battle along that ridge. Parker's company of the Union forces, under command of Lieut. Frank McCabe, was stationed near the Catholic church. The balance of the infantry was west of that, while the mounted men, under the immediate command of Col. Crawford, were drawn up in line south of the earthworks, and a portion of them went out and met the enemy and found out his full strength. The first attack was made by about one hundred Confederates, who dashed into the town, supposing it would be very easily taken. But they were immediately repulsed by Lieut. McCabe's command, with the loss of five of the Confederates. They, finding the place bravely defended, then opened their artillery, and kept up a steady fire of shot and shell for more than an hour. Col. Crawford after the capture of several squads of his command and having no artillery, and his men being poorly armed, found he could not contend against so large a force and reluctantly withdrew his forces, and retreated with the main body of his men to a division of the Union army, which was passing, under command of Gen. Sanborn, then in pursuit of Price. As soon as Crawford with the mounted men retreated, the remainder of the army surrendered to Gen. Thompson. The Confederates then took possession of the place, and took two hundred prisoners. They remained in town about four hours. About sundown they paroled all the prisoners and left Sedalia to join Price's main army.
1
390
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
1
CHAPTER XVI .- NEWSPAPERS.
Introduction .- Guttenberg, the First Printer-Sketch of the Early Printing-First Papers of the United States-First Paper of Missouri-The First Paper of Pettis County-Pettis County Independent, of 1857-Quotations from the Independent and Journal, Bazoo and Democrat-Other papers of the County.
Here shall the press the people's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain ; Here. patriot Truth"her glorious precepts draw, Pledged to religion, liberty and law. Story.
The newspaper world is a sphere of improvement. Wherever litera- ture is circulated through the press of a country freely we are sure to find intelligence. The needs of the intellect are various and the newspapers of the country supply those needs. The circulation of wholesome litera- ture has much to do in elevating the thoughts of the human race. Intel- lectual living is constantly seeking higher and purer truth. It is not eru- dition that makes the successful editor or the intellectual man, but vigor- ous and beautiful thinking. . Many of our purest and brightest newspaper writers never entered college or handled an English grammar. Emerson has well said:
If you would learn to write 'tis in the street you must learn it.
Now-a-days whoever is able to read is richer in the aids to culture than Plato was in his age. The humblest scribbler of the reportorial corps has easier access to sound learning than either Solomon or Aristotle. It is by coming in contact with the various objects of the world that the rough corners of the ruder natures of the man are worn off, polishing him for his profession. The independent life of the journalist is one of constant progress and labor for the welfare of his readers, and very rarely has he been pecuniarily blessed. Most of the mental and pen pictures drawn by newspaper writers spring from the unwasting fullness of nature. Every- thing that is best and most original in the writings of an editor is invari- ably either an account of what he has seen is his own independent inimita- ble way, or else a criticism of the accurate or defective sight of others in the many walks of life.
In the early history of the world people mingled and talked together, and disseminated the news from morn till night, each one a kind of news- paper. Then the people assembled in gardens, in halls, and on the banks of streams and discussed the various topics that this age would have in the columns of the daily press.
If the history of the achievements of the printing press were swept from the annals of the world, leaving men to their oral communications, the brightest splendors of learning and science would forever be lost and buried in the succeeding eras.
391
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
Step by step the fire of ambition had been kindling in the minds of the people for the " Art Preservative," till in 1626, when printing in colors was invented, and three years subsequently the first newspaper was issued. Prior to this date many literary productions had been made by the stylus on the papyrus. In 1247 the first concordance of the Bible was made by hand and pen. The invention of printing is due to Guttenberg, who, in 1440, was assisted in improving it by Schofer and Faust. In 1444 he commenced the publication of the earliest edition of the Bible, and finished it in 1460. John Guttenberg, the inventor of movable types in printing, who was, for a long time, partner of the famous Faust, of the city of Mentz, in Germany, was born about 1400. In 1450 he entered into partnership with John Faust, a citizen of Mentz, in conjunction with whom he printed a vocabulary, called a " Catholicon," by means of letters cut on blocks of wood. Types of copper and tin were soon after substituted for wood; and with these a Latin Bible was printed, with great difficulty and expense. In 1455, owing to some disagreement in pecuniary matters, Guttenberg and Faust separated, after having had a lawsuit. The former being unable to pay the sum awarded to Faust by the judge, was obliged to give up to him his printing materials and his invention. Sub- sequently, Guttenberg practiced his art in Mentz, and was appointed by the archbishop elector of that city and one of the nobles of his court, and obtained other preferments. He died in 1468, when about 68 years of age. A bronze monument, by Thorwaldsen, was erected to his memory in 1837. Faust, the associate of Guttenberg, the inventor of printing, was a very wealthy citizen of Mentz, and by some writers, on account of his affluence, is supposed to have shared in the invention of printing. By the means of his wealth and the assistance of his son-in-law, Peter Schoffer, great improvements were made during the time of his life. He died in Paris about 1463, whither he had gone to sell some Latin Bibles from his press. Long before printing was invented by Guttenberg, paper was made from the papyrus, a kind of reed growing in many parts of the world, especially in Egypt, but it was not till in 1302 that paper was made from linen.
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