USA > Missouri > Johnson County > The history of Johnson County, Missouri : including a reliable history of the townships, cities, and towns, together with a map of the county; a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; an abstract of the most important laws etc > Part 76
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The vigilance committee of the county had its first branch in this town- ship in 1866. At that time the condition of the county got to such a pitch that the citizens took the law into their own hands and held it so till they had rid the county of marauders and thieves who had grown to be an eating cancer in almost every community by the demoralizing effects of
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the war which closed the spring of 1865. Several of these rascals were swung by the vigilence committee to the first limb they met. More than six hundred citizens are said to have been engaged in the vigilance com- mittee. They went irrespective of party or past affiliation and helped to restore the county to peace and good order. After restoring peace and quiet to the county they gave the law back to the civil authorities and disbanded and no one knows to this day who they are, except their own members. In this township Dick Sanders was lynched and hung for being the leader in the Sweitzer tragedy. Sweitzer, a German emigrant was stopping with his family on the old Joel Walker farm where Judge Ames now lives. One night three men rode up and demanded of the old man his money. The old man resented and they killed him and took his money, but lost it near by in getting away. These villains turned out to be neighbors, and when one was lynched and hung the others fled the country. Mrs. Sweitzer and family went back east. Wm. Cleveland came here in 1852 from Kentucky, and is engaged largely in farming and stock-raising. He is a member of the Christian church. Judges W. B. Ames and Wm. McMahan have the best selection of books. We get the following from Bedford Brown, Esq .: " At an early day when we were settling the deer was as plentiful as the sheep of to-day. Once I wounded a deer and the dog caught him. The dog and I fought the buck. The deer fought too well and I took to my heels and the old buck following, but just as he was ready to plunge his horns into me and strike with his feet, the dog caught him by the nose and saved my life. I once killed three very large bucks without getting out of my tracks." Rube Field, the mathematical prodigy and most noted illiterate character in the town- ship, was born in 1851, April 17th, Bath county Kentucky. His father, Skidmore, was a native of Kentucky, and a prominent man of limited edu- cation. His mother was also a native of the same state and a woman of fair education. Rube never went to school a day in his life and cannot read or write. He came to Johnson county when 17 years of age. He is a medium sized man of a sluggish temperment. He is a perfect fool on everything except mathematics. He is a never failing time piece. He can tell the exact time at any hour. He claims it to be a peculiar gift. He is passionate, suspicious, and does not mingle with the people. Up to 1880, he drank, occasionally, alcoholic liquors to excess. As all math- ematicians, he wears an " awful" ugly brow, but otherwise his physiog- nomy is quite obtuse.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIII .- COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP.
Introductory-Name-Location-Physical Features-Creeks-Soils-Mineral Spring- Statistics-Assessment-Early Settlers-Pleasant Rice-Nicholas Houx-Hon. James M. Fulkerson, M. D .- Whigs-Democrats-Greenbackers-Columbus-Blackwater- Postoffices-Churches-Cemeteries-Schools-Incidents-A Woman that Fasted Forty Days-Agriculture.
Scarcely a greater tribute of respect can be paid any family than that of noble parentage. Honesty gives confidence and trust; education gives refinement and qualifications; and wealth may buy a name, but blood will give a prestige to the quality of the man. The old Romans moved in a circle peculiar to themselves, which kept the stock true to its noble proclivities. The Hebrews, the purest of the ancient people, considered the subject of stock in the human family of so much importance that laws were enacted and held binding under their theocratic government, that they should not take wives nor husbands from the pagan nations. In this age as in all the past periods, the best families among all nations have sought the high and noble incentive of improving the race. It is God's plan that the human family should be improved physically and spiritually. It is not wealth nor the glittering of treasures that make the man. When good health is added to a sound body the symmetry of form gives superiority, and culture and refinement will be the outcome.
The pioneer settlers who settled this township were mostly of the very best families of the older states. Many of them of the royal " F. F. V's" who can look back to their ancestry with pride and satisfaction, worthy to be esteemed.
Fifty years have passed since the first settler built his rude log cabin in the edge of the beautiful wild forest. Now in many cases an elegant mansion stand on the site of the old log cabin, and all its surroundings show that it is the abode of wealth and refinement. The streams are now spanned by substantial bridges, but were then ugly and dangerous to cross. In fine, a change is written on all that we behold.
In giving a sketch of this township we shall aim to touch upon the most interesting facts accessible. We are sorry to say we cannot give a more elaborate narrative of the old settlers, from the fact that many have either moved away or died; but what facts we give have been fur- nished us by worthy old settlers who still live to tell the story of a fron- tier life. There may be some events that have not come within the writer's possession, hence will be left for the historian of another genera- tion.
Name .- Every name has weight. The name of every place and object bears an influence according to its fame. The Jews look to Jerusalem and the Mohammedans to Mecca as the place worthy of veneration. Let
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
come what will, many names in history will continue to bear signifi- cant meaning as long as they are understood. The ancients gave signifi- cant names to all objects and persons, according to the function and relations they held to others. God himself regarded this and his people kept up the same custom for centuries. In this age it is different. We name objects and persons for others, often regardless of what they can do or what they are. Ever since the birth of the Savior, the name Mary has been given to thousands to honor her who was most blessed among women. Adam has not been forgotten and his name lives in thousands, who look to him as their progenitor. The Irish Catholics will not forget St. Patrick, neither will protestants forget Martin Luther. To many a mother the name of her child, although passed into history, as a man of usefulness, or as a vagabond, bears with it a thousand sweet memories that only a loving mother can retain. Around the name of Columbus cluster many incidents that belong closely to the discoverer of America, and remotely to a few places that honor his name. This township was named in honor of Christopher Columbus, the great discoverer of the new world.
.. Columbus township is bounded on the north by Lafayette county, on the east by Hazel Hill township, on the south by Centerview and Madi- son townships, and on the west by Jackson township. It contains all of congressional township 47, range 27, and in addition six square miles of territory from northwest corner of township 46; viz., sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18. The municipal township does not extend as far north by two miles as Hazel Hill, Simpson and Grover townships. In size it is the same as Madison township, containing forty-two square miles. It is seven miles from the county seat at the nearest point, and twelve to fourteen miles at the farthest point. The municipal township of Columbus was first defined by an order of court, May 12, 1870 ..
Physical Features .- The surface is quite rolling, being drained by numerous creeks. Excellent timber lies along these streams, while that portion between is rich, rolling prairie land. For some time after the organization of the county this section was included in Jackson township. The township is well-watered, Honey Creek running southeast, flows through the northeastern part. Houx' branch and Rice's branch are little streams flowing through the central part of the township. Little Black- water extends through the western part. Little Blackwater is some- times called North Blackwater. It is quite crooked and is bordered with fine woods, containing oak, hickory, elm, walnut, and other excellent tim- ber. Lizard Creek is a small branch which sluggishly flows east and enters Blackwater just below the peninsula, in section 28. Snail Creek is a slothful stream, as its name indicates, having its source in section 32, it flows east and unites with Blackwater in the eastern part of section 33.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Spanish Oak is a little brook. James' branch has its source near the Lafayette county line, and flows due south and unites with Blakwater. Honey Creek, the largest stream except Blackwater, received its name from the fact that so many bee-trees were found in the woods along its banks. The stream enters the county in the northeastern part of sec- tion 4, and flows southeast through sections 3, 4, 11, 13, and 24, where it enters Hazel Hill township. In the eastern part of the township the sur- face is diversified with hill and dale, and the soil is a rich loam. In the southern part the soil a deep black limestone and produces well. In the western part the soil is of an ash hue, underlaid with marl, which will make the land productive for a lifetime. In the northwestern part the soil is of a red color, mingled with deep black limestone soils. This soil is generally covered with post oak brush, and might be called post oak land. The surface easily washes, but the beds of clay prevent the cutting of deep gullies in the land. Limestone beds are found in various parts of the township. The timber is thickly set in the forests, and the township sur- passes any other in its beautiful groves. The fire has been kept from the forests for upwards of twenty years, and one can now see the bless- ings accruing from it. It is said a bed of limestone underlies the greater part of the township. An excellent mineral spring breaks out near the village of Columbus. One has said of this spring; "Here is the fountain of life fully tested." The mineral water from this spring is said to have performed some wonderful cures.
In brief, this township is most noted for its picturesqueness. Many of the old places are time-worn. Here it was verified that the " goves were God's first temples." Fine wild crab-apple orchards skirt the woods and are scattered along the ravines and little valleys, and beneath their boughs grow fine swards of blue grass that furnish good pasturage a great part of the year. These trees variegate the forests skirts with a beautiful pink dress in the spring, when in full bloom. In the spring the beautiful wild roses, interspersed with hundreds of brilliant flowers, open to the admir- ing eye of nature a lovely landscape.
The land is well drained, naturally, and farmers are seen almost imme- diately after a rain working the soil, so complete is the drainage and porosity of the soils. The broken lands are principally along the creeks and with this exception there is no sterile land in the township. This township produces some of the tallest trees of the county. In these woods and along their borders the hardy old pioneers pitched their tents and erected their long cabins, which have now passed away in the ravages of time. Here old roads are cut several feet in the soil by the successive years of travel since the day the pioneer set his foot in this county and commenced to delve in the soil.
Statistical .- The population, as taken by Mr. Rice, United States cen-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
sus enumerator for 1880, is 1,308. The state census for 1877, has the fol- lowing: Voters, 252; whites, 912; negroes, 124; horses, 626; mules, 240; cattle, 1,226; sheep, 646; hogs, 2,976; bushels of wheat, 12,515; corn, 243,080; oats, 6,705; barley, 80; rye, 832; pounds of tobacco, 17,250; pounds of wool, 2,992; tons of hay, 397; gallons of wine, 22; sorghum molasses, 3,224.
The following are the assessments for 1881: 674 horses at $21,449; 8 asses, $430; 182 mules, $7,382; 1,647 cattle, $17,707; 1,205 sheep, $2,410; 3,485 swine, $5,127; notes, $23,304; all other personal property, $31,415. The land sells at present from $12 to $40 per acre, according to the situation and improvements. Some of these fine farms are owned by well to-do farmers who love home too well to sell; however, in some localities excellent unimproved land may be purchased yet at reasonable prices. Except in the brush land, this is one of the best townships. The well improved farms and beautiful homes, owned by the very best class of citizens of the county, render this spot one of the most attractive in the whole region.
Early Settlers .- The first settlers, by right of custom, in any country, lay claim to the historian's affections. Those who first set the tent stakes in the wild brush about the ancient town of Columbus, should long be remembered by their descendents. It was by their patient endurance that the county rose to so eminent a rank early in its history. Several writers have disagreed concerning the date of the first settlement. We have, by close investigation, searched every avenue for a correct record of the first man who settled in the county. For a long time the honor of the first settlement has been given to Columbus township, and a few, from his prominence, have believed the esteemed pioneer, Nicholas Houx, to have been the first permanent settler. Not plucking any honors from this honored and respected pioneer, we find that PLEASANT RICE settled in this township in the spring, and Nicholas Houx came with his family the fol- lowing fall. This was in the year 1828. It has been reported that a few hunters had camped in various parts of the county prior to this time, and that a hut by John Leeper was erected in the woods on Walnut creek, in the part of the county now called Grover township. Even if this be so, Indian like, they passed away before permanent settlements were made. The honor of being the first permanent settler belongs to PLEASANT RICE. He is still living and shows proof of his precedence. He is a gentleman who has always lived as his name implies, and may it be said of him-
PLEASANT RICE was the first To build on Johnson soil, In poverty, hunger and thirst, A home by patient toil.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Soon after PLEASANT RICE came, his bosom friend, Nicholas Houx, followed, who was a well to-do, plain man and a noted hunter. Around him no poor pioneer suffered for charity. In the quiet little log cabins these pioneers enjoyed life. Several old settlers still live, and when inter- rogated concerning Nicholas Houx, they exclaim with tears trickling down their wrinkled cheeks: "God bless his soul, there never was a better man."
PLEASANT RICE, the first permanent settler, in 1818, before the state of Missouri was admitted as a member of the Union, visited this spot on a hunting expedition, and was favorably impressed with the locality; and the next fall, 1819, he made a second visit in company with Dangerfield Rice, Capt. Hugh Brown, Cicero Brown, Hugh Brown, Jr., and John
THE LOG CABIN OF THE PIONEER.
Wallace, and took back with him 260 gallons of wild honey. Mr. Rice states that he found in one day twelve bee trees, averaging from four to sixteen gallons of honey each. Henceforth, the little creek was. christened "Honey creek." At this time hundreds of Indians had wigwams and villages near their suitable hunting grounds. MR. PLEASANT RICE states that he has seen as many as 2,000 Indians within four miles of his log cabin. PLEASANT RICE, the worthy and honored pioneer of Johnson county, was born March 7, 1803, of Dutch-English extraction, near the city of Nashville, Tennessee, and is living with a sound mind and moder- ate health. His devoted, loving wife, nee Miss Virlinda G. Ray, daughter of Senator Ray, of a prominent and good family, was born May 13, 1809, of English ancestry, in Warren county, Kentucky. She is living and enjoying the companionship of her husband. These aged people have led
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
a model life. The result of a congenial and a happy conjugal union of souls. God has blessed them in their marital relations. They were united in holy wedlock August 26, 1826. He at the age of twenty-four and his mate eighteen. The result of this union has been thirteen children; ten grew to maturity, four sons and six daughters. The youngest of the sons is a faithful bachelor, about thirty-six years of age. The father of PLEASANT RICE was a revolutionary soldier, and one of the twenty brave men that defended Buchanan's station, where Mrs. Buchanan run bullets for the soldiers while they fought. PLEASANT RICE brought his family and settled, in the spring of 1828, on Honey creek, section 10, town 47, where Capt. John Kelly now lives. The first building he put up was a log cabin, 14 feet square, covered with long clap-boards and weight poles, the chinking of mud and blocks, the door swung on wooden hinges, and was fastened by a wooden latch, whose string always hung out. The chimney was built of mud and sticks, and around that old fire-place Mrs. Rice can distinctly remember preparing her meals. This old hut was erected by PLEASANT RICE, a negro, and a hired hand, and is still stand- ing, and is used on the old place for a kitchen. The logs are of white oak and will last a century. Here he entered the first eighty acres of land in the county at $1.25 per acre, in the spring of 1828, and the U. S. patent was issued the 6th of March following, 1829.
THE FIRST CHILD born in the county was Mrs. James S. Gaut, nee Miss VIRLINDA ANN RICE, daughter of PLEASANT RICE. She was born April 7, 1829, and died October 6, 1870.
The first death was Mrs. Chitwood, of a poor family. The lone grave was in a field and now there is but little trace of it.
Nicholas Houx, one of the hardy pioneers, was of Dutch ancestry. It is said that he could make 250 rails a day, and then visit and chat his neighbor till ten o'clock at night. The old settlers say that he killed nine panthers in one week, and from their skins had a suit of clothes and a cap made. The pathers' tails hung from the borders of his coat, and one tail hung down behind from his cap. For this suit he refused $150. It is said that he was the first man of any wealth and prominence in the county. He came here in the fall of 1829 with his family and several negroes. He was the first slaveholder, and his blacks the first slaves in the county. His first buildings were log cabins. It was not long until he erected sub- stantial dwellings. He put up the first brick residence in the county. He died about 1834, and was the first to sleep in the old cemetery at Col umbus.
The following is a list of the early settlers: PLEASANT RICE, NICHOL HoUx, Rob't King, Dr. Rob't W. Rankin, John Whitsett, Thos. Evans, John Evans, David Norris, Samuel Ramsey, John Kelley, Urial Jackson (who had the first horse-mill in the county), Moses Pinkston, Jesse
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Marrs, Thomas Windsor, Richard D. Bradley, Sr., John Furguson, Elmore Douglas, Morgan Cockrell, Jonathan Fine, B. H. Fine, Prince L. Hudg- ins, Wm. Logan, Isaac Garrison, James Morrow, Urial Murray, David Morrow, Wm. Davidson, Joseph Cockrell (the father of Hon. F. M. Cockrell, U. S. senator, who may also be counted an early settler of the township), Josiah Beaty, Wm. Kincaid, J. Washam, James C. Francis, Col. Ambrose Toombs, Benj. Runnels (who was a soldier under Gen. W. H. Harrison in his Indian campaign), Benj. Matthews, C. D. Cobb, Love S. Cornwell, James Perdee, Rob't Craig, N. W. Lowry, James C. Strange, a gentleman by the name of Edwards (who was a tailor in the town of Blackwater, and who is the father of Senator Edwards, of Lafay- ette county), Peter Drace, Levi Simpson, Wm. C. Baker, T. Simmerman, Jesse Kelley, Rob't D. Morrow, Wm. Horn, I. Reese (who was sher- riff at one time), Thos. Claunch, J. H. Miller, J. W. Henderson, Dr. E. D. Schreiner, R. R. Dalton, Abel Gilliland, Rev. Wm. Horn, Reason Off- nit, Wm. E. Cocke, R. Sanders, J. P. Murray, R. Rudolph, P. H. Drace, John Kitchen, J. Kinder, Wm. Ramsey, W. T. Herndon, M. Davis, J. Harner, B. W. Boiseau, J. Fickel, C. Gautt, Z. T. Davis and James M. Fulkerson, the first physician in Johnson county.
Many of these old settlers left for other parts of the country soon after they came here. They were mostly Kentuckians. These settlers, with some others whose names we failed to get, settled here prior to the year 1840.
The hospitality of these old pioneers was unbounded. They did not know what it was to be selfish. To those that are living, the historian extends his sincere thanks to the many good friends who welcomed him to their homes and aided in giving historical facts. They may pass away, but this record of their magnanimous and liberal deeds will be kept through ages to come, and be read with deeper interest by their descend- ants.
The first mill was erected in 1830 by Urial Jackson. This was a two- horse mill. The old settlers say that one could mash the corn about as fast as it would grind. To improve his mill he went to the Osage river, where millstones could be cut from the rock, and brought back a pair of burs. The next was Wade's mill, on Blackwater. It was turned by water-power, and stood near the present iron bridge.
The first hog thief is said to have been fined $100 and put in jail, but the jail not being much better than a pole pen he made his escape. The first horse thief stole a horse from Nicholas Houx and Jonathan Fine in 1832. The thief was pursued by these valorous pioneers and caught in the Gasconade hills and given 256 lashes on the naked back.
Dr. J. M. Fulkerson, the first physician of the county, was born in Lee county, Virginia, March 15, 1811. He was one of eleven children, and
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
though possessed of no very favorable circumstances, his parents having so many to provide for, he pushed forward to the position in life he now occupies. His father settled near Tabo Grove, in Lafayette county, in 1829, when James M. was only eighteen years of age. In 1831-2 he attended a series of lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1834 he came to Johnson county, and made his home at the residence of Nicholas Houx, and it was not long till he won the hand and heart of Miss Elizabeth C. Houx, and on January 5, 1836, they were united in marriage, and soon commenced house keeping for themselves. The old log cabin in which they spent their honeymoon during 1836, is now used as a chicken house. This couple have led a happy life together, still living to enjoy prosperity given them hy the hand of Providence. By strict economy the doctor accumulated considerable wealth. In the year 1860 he owned a large number of slaves and about 3000 acres of fine land. He served one term as state representative of the county. He has, for a long time been a prominent man. He served as surgeon in the Osage Indian war. He was also in the Mormon war of 1834. Six of his children are living and four dead. Two of his daughters are yet under the parental roof. Polit- ically he was a staunch democrat till the greenback party began to take prestige, in 1876, when he joined heartily in the ranks of the "rag baby" party and has ever since showed his allegiance to this new party. To illustrate the wonderful pluck of the doctor in his declining years he rode thirty miles to Lone Jack and back to an anniversary celebration, and on the following day rode to Warrensburg to a greenback meeting and remained at night to hear the speeches and returned home that night. This was horseback riding and the doctor did not complain of being fatigued. This was in August 1881. Dr. Brooks practiced medicine here at an early day. The only physician often had a circuit of twenty to thirty miles to visit his patients.
The first piece of land owned was that belonging to PLEASANT RICE. He entered 80 acres in the spring of 1828, as follows: The wz nez sec- tion 10, township 47, range 27. The patent was issued from the general land office, March 6th, 1829, Independence of the United States, fifty- third, signed by Andrew Jackson, president, G. W. Graham, commis- sioner of the general land office; Certificate 780, vol. II, page 327. The piece of land was entered May 1, 1828. Nicholas Houx erected his house on the west half southwest quarter section 22, township 47, range 27, land also entered May 1, 1828. John H. Ingram entered west half southwest quarter section 5, township 47, range 27, also May 1, 1828. Eld. W. C. Duncan once resided within the limits of this township. He was born in Amhurst county, Virginia, January 1, 1827, of Scotch extraction. His parents came from Lincoln county, Kentucky, to Johnson county, Mis-
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