USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens > Part 13
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On occasions of special interest, such as election, holiday celebra- tions, or camp-meetings, it was nothing unusual for a few settlers who lived in the immediate neighborhood of the meeting to entertain scores of those who had come from a distance.
Rough and rude though the surroundings may have been, the pio- neers were none the less honest, sincere, hospitable and kind in their relations. It is true, as a rule, and of universal application, that there is a greater degree of real humanity among the pioneers of any country than there is when the country becomes old and rich. If there is an absence of refinement, that absence is more than compensated in the presence of generous hearts and truthful lives. They are bold, indus- trious, and enterprising. Generally speaking, they are earnest thinkers, and possessed of a diversified fund of useful, practical information. As a rule they do not arrive at a conclusion by means of a course of rational reasoning, but, nevertheless, have a queer way of getting at the facts. They hate cowards and shams of, every kind, and above all things false- hoods and deception, and cultivate an integrity which seldom permits them to prostitute themselves to a narrow policy of imposture. Such were the characteristics of the men and women who pioneered the way to the country of the Sac and Fox Indians. Many of them yet remain, and although some of them are among the wealthy and most substantial of the people of the county, they have not forgotten their old time hos- pitality and free and easy ways. In contrasting the present social affairs with pioneer times, one has well said :
"Then, if a house was to be raised, every man 'turned out,' and often the women, too, and while the men piled up the logs that fashioned
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the primitive dwelling-place, the women prepared the dinner. Some- times it was cooked by big log fires near the site where the cabin was building ; in other cases it was prepared at the nearest cabin, and at the proper hour was carried to where the men were at work. If one man in the neighborhood killed a beef, a pig or a deer, every other family in the neighborhood was sure to receive a piece.
" We were all on an equality. Aristocratic feelings were unknown and would not have been tolerated. What one had we all had, and that was the happiest period of my life. But to-day, if you lean against a neighbor's shade tree he will charge you for it. If you are poor and fall sick, you may lie and suffer almost unnoticed and unattended, and prob- ably go to the poor-house ; and just as like as not the man who would report you to the authorities as a subject of county care would charge the county for making the report."
Of the old settlers, some are still living in the county, in the enjoyment of the fortunes they founded in early times, " having reaped an hundred- fold." Others have passed away, and many of them will not long sur- vive. Several of them have gone to the Far West, and are still playing the part of pioneers. But wherever they may be, whatever fate may betide them, it is but truth to say that they were excellent men, as a class, and have left a deep and enduring impression upon the county and the state. "They builded better than they knew." They were, of course, men of activity and energy, or they would never have decided to face the trials of pioneer life. They were almost invariably poor, but the lessons taught them in the early days were of such a character that few of them have remained so. They made their mistakes in business pur- suits like other men. Scarcely one of them but allowed golden oppor- tunities, for pecuniary profit, at least, to pass by unheeded. What are now some of the choicest farms in Nodaway County were not taken up by the pioneers, who preferred land of very much less value. They have seen many of their prophesies fulfilled, and others come to naught. Whether they have attained the success they desired, their own hearts can tell.
To one looking over the situation then, from the standpoint now, it certainly does not seem very cheering, and yet, from the testimony of some old pioneers, it was a most enjoyable time, and we of the present live in degenerate days.
At that time it certainly would have been much more difficult for those old settlers to understand how it could be possible that thirty-five years hence the citizens at the present age of the county's progress would be complaining of hard times and destitution, and that they them- selves, perhaps, would be among that number, than it is now for us to- appreciate how they could feel so cheerful and contented with their
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meagre means and humble lot of hardships and deprivations during those early, pioneer days.
The secret was, doubtless, that they lived within their means, how- ever limited, not coveting more of luxury and comfort than their income would afford, and the natural result was prosperity and contentment, with always room for one more stranger at the fireside, and a cordial welcome to a place at their table for even the most hungry guest.
Humanity, with all its ills, is, nevertheless, fortunately characterized with remarkable flexibility, which enables it to accommodate itself to circumstances. After all, the secret of happiness lies in one's ability to accommodate himself to his surroundings.
It is sometimes remarked that there were no places for public enter- tainment till later years. The fact is, there were many such places, in fact, every cabin was a place of entertainment, and these hotels were sometimes crowded to their utmost capacity. On such occasions, when bedtime came, the first family would take the back part of the cabin, and so continue filling up by families, until the limit was reached. The young men slept in the wagons outside. In the morning, those nearest the door arose first, and went outside to dress. Meals were served on the end of a wagon, and consisted of cornbread, buttermilk and fat pork, and occasionally coffee, to take away the morning chill. On Sundays, for a change, they had bread made of wheat "tramped out" on the ground by horses, cleaned with a sheet and pounded by hand. This was the best, the most fastidious, they could obtain, and this only one day in seven. Not a moment of time was lost. It was necessary that they should raise enough sod corn to take them through the coming winter, and also get as much breaking done as possible. They brought with them enough corn to give the horses an occasional feed, in order to keep them able for hard work, but in the main they had to live on prairie grass. The cattle got nothing else than grass.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
An interesting comparison might be drawn between the conveni- ences which now make the life of a farmer a comparatively easy one, and the almost total lack of such conveniences in early days. A brief descrip- tion of the accommodations possessed by the first tillers of this soil will now be given.
Let the children of such illustrious sires draw their own compari- sons, and may the results of these comparisons silence the voice of com- plaint which so often is heard in the land.
The only plows they had at first were what they styled "bull plows." The mould-boards were generally of wood, but in some cases they were half wood and half iron. The man who had one of the latter description
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
was looked upon as something of an aristocrat. But these old "bull plows" did good service, and they must be awarded the honor of first stirring the soil of Nodaway County, as well as that of all the first class counties of this state.
The amount of money which some farmers annually invest in agri- cultural implements would have kept the pioneer farmer in farming uten- sils during a whole lifetime. The pioneer farmer invested little money in such things, because he had little money to spare, and then again because the expensive machinery now used would not have been at all adapted to the requirements of pioneer farming. The "bull plow" was probably better adapted to the fields aboundings in stumps and roots than would the modern sulky plow have been, and the old-fashioned wheat cradle did better execution than would a modern harvester under like circumstances. The prairies were seldom settled till after the pio- neer period, and that portion of the country which was the hardest to put under cultivation, and the most difficult to cultivate after it was improved, first was cultivated ; it is well for the country that such was the case, for the present generation, familiarized as it is with farming machinery of such complicated pattern, would scarcely undertake the clearing off of dense forests and cultivating the ground with the kind of implements their fathers used, and which they would have to use for some kinds of work.
MILLS AND TRADING POINTS.
Notwithstanding the fact that some of the carly settlers were ener- getic millwrights, who employed all their energy, and what means they possessed, in erecting mills at a few of the many favorite mill-sites which abound in the county, yet going to mill in those days, when there were no roads, no bridges, no ferry boats, and scarcely any conveniences for traveling, was no small task, where so many rivers and treacherous streams were to be crossed, and such a trip was often attended with great danger to the traveler when these streams were swollen beyond their banks. But even under these circumstances, some of the more adven- turous and ingenious ones, in case of emergency, found the ways and means by which to cross the swollen streams, and succeed in making the trip. At other times, again, all attempts failed them, and they were compelled to remain at home until the waters subsided, and depend on the generosity of their fortunate neighbors.
Some stories are related with regard to the danger, perils and hard- ships of forced travels to mills, and for provisions, which remind one of forced marches in military campaigns, and when we hear of the heroic and daring conduct of the hardy pioneers in procuring bread for his loved ones, we think that here were heroes more valiant than any of the renowned soldiers of ancient or modern times.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
During the first two years, and perhaps not until some time after- ward, there was not a public highway established and worked on which they could travel ; and as the settlers were generally far apart, and mills and trading points were at great distances, going from place to place was not only very tedious, but attended sometimes with great danger. Not a railroad had yet entered the state, and there was scarcely a thought in the minds of the people here of such a thing ever reaching the wild west ; and, if thought of, people had no conception of what a revolution a railroad and telegraph line through the county, would cause in its pro- gress. Then there was less than 5,000 miles of railroad in the United States, and not a mile of track laid this side of the Ohio, while now there are over 100,000 miles of railroad, extending their trunks and branches in every direction over our land.
Supplies in those days were obtained at White Hall, Andrew County. Mail was carried by river and wagon transportation, and telegraph dis- patches were transmitted by the memory and lips of emigrants coming in, or strangers passing through.
William A. Cox came from Ohio in 1840, and built the first mill in Nodaway County, on the One Hundred and Two River, eight miles south of Maryville. The place was afterward called Bridgewater. It was a grist and saw mill combined, and the burrs were set on the saw- frame. At first the mill only ground corn which had to be sifted after it was ground, as there were no bolts in the mill. There was only one run of burrs which, as well as the mill irons, were brought from St. Louis. They were shipped up the Missouri River. There was a brush dam thrown across the One Hundred and Two, and rock piled in upon the brush which were covered with dirt. The mill cost about $1,500. This is the best mill site in Nodaway County, the river having a rock bed and rock banks. The mill had no gearing, the burrs being located over the wheel, and running with the same velocity as the wheel. It was a frame mill, one story high, and had a capacity of 150 bushes a day. People came from far and near, attracted by the reports of the comple- tion of the mill, with their grists, so that, for days before it was ready for work, the creek bottom was dotted over with hungry and patient men, waiting until it was ready to do their work, so that they might return with their meal and flour to supply their families and those of their neighbors, thus enduring the hardships of camp life in those early days, in order that they might be able to secure the simple necessaries of life, devoid of all luxuries.
HUNTING AND TRAPPING.
The sports and means of recreation were not so numerous and varied among the early settlers as at present, but they were more enjoy- able and invigorating than now.
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Hunters now-a-days would be only too glad to be able to find and enjoy their favorable opportunity for hunting and fishing, and even travel many miles, counting it rare pleasure to spend a few weeks on the water courses and wild prairies, in hunt and chase and fishing frolics, where not half so good hunting and fishing sport are furnished as was in this vicinity twenty-five and forty years ago. There were a good many excellent hunters here at an early day, who enjoyed the sport as well as any can at the present time.
Wild animals of almost every species known in the wilds of the west were found in great abundance. The prairies, and woods, and streams, and various bodies of water, were all thickly inhabited before the white man came and for some time afterward. Although the Indians slew many of them, yet the natural law prevailed here as well as else- where-" wild man and wild beast thrive together."
Serpents were to be found in such large numbers, and of such immense size that some stories told by the early settlers would be incredible were it not for the large array of concurrent testimony which is to be had from the most authentic sources. Deer, turkeys, ducks, geese, squirrels, and various other, kinds of choice game were plentiful and to be had at the expense of killing only. The fur animals were abundant ; such as the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, panther, fox, wolf, wild-cat and bear.
An old resident of the county told us, that in 1841, while he was traveling a distance of six miles, he saw as many as seventy-three deer, in herds of from six to ten.
HUNTING BEE TREES.
Another source of profitable recreation among the old settlers was that of hunting bees. The forests along the water courses were espec- ially prolific of bee trees. They were found in great numbers on the Platte, Nodaway, One Hundred and Two Rivers, and Honey Creek. Many of the early settlers, during the late summer, would go into camp for days at a time, for the purpose of hunting and securing the honey of the wild bees, which was not only extremely rich, and found in great abundance, but always commanded a good price in the home market.
The Indians have ever regarded the honey-bee as the forerunner of the white man, while it is a conceded fact that the quail always follows the footprints of civilization.
The following passage is found in the "Report of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the year 1842, by Captain John C. Fremont," page 69:
" Here on the summit, where the stillness was absolute; unbroken by any sound, and the solitude complete, we thought ourselves beyond
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the regions of animated life ; but while we were sitting on the rocks, a solitary bee came winging his flight from the eastern valley, and lit on the knee of one of the men. We pleased ourselves with the idea that he was the first of his species to cross the mountain barrier, a solitary pioneer to foretell the advance of civilization."
Gregg, in his "Commerce of the Prairies," page 178, Vol. I, says : " The honey-bee appears to have emigrated exclusively from the east, as its march has been observed westward. The bee, among western pioneers, is the proverbial precursor of the Anglo-American population. In fact, the aborigines of the frontier have generally corroborated this statement, for they used to say that they knew the white man was not far behind when the bees appeared among them."
There were other recreations, such as shooting matches and quilting parties, which obtained in those days, and which were enjoyed to the fullest extent. The quilting parties were especially pleasant and agree- able to those who attended. The established rule in those days at these parties was, to pay either one dollar in money or split one hundred rails during the course of the day. The men would generally split the rails and the women would remain in the house and do the quilting. After the day's work was done the night would be passed in dancing.
"All the swains that there abide, With jigs and rural dance resort "
When daylight came the music and the dancing would cease, and the gallant young men would escort the ladies to their respective homes.
WOLVES.
One of the oldest pioneers tells us, that for several years, after he came to what is now known as Nodaway County, that wolves were very numerous, and that he paid his taxes, for many years, in wolf scalps. His cabin was in the edge of the timber, that skirted White Cloud Creek, in the western portion of the county, and, at night, the howls of these animals were so loud and incessant, that to sleep, at times, was almost impossible.
Often at midnight, all
" At once there rose so wild a yell, Within that dark and narrow dell, As all the fiends from heaven that fell, Had pealed the banner cry of hell."
At such times the whole air seemed to be filled with the vibrations of their most infernal and diabolical music. The wolf was not only a midnight prowler here, but was seen in the daytime, singly or in packs, warily skulking upon the outskirts of a thicket, or sallying cautiously along the open path, with a sneaking look of mingled cowardice and cruelty.
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CHAPTER VII.
NODAWAY COUNTY ORGANIZED.
LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS- FIRST COUNTY COURT - PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST COURT-FIRST RECORDS-DEEDS AND MORTGAGES-FIRST CIRCUIT COURT-FIRST CASES-EARLY MARRIAGES-NUMBER OF MARRIAGES FOR 1845-NUMBER OF MAR- RIAGES FOR 1880.
The six counties composing the Platte Purchase were organized respectively as to date, as follows : Platte, December 31, 1838 ; Buchanan, February 10, 1839; Andrew, January 29, 1841 ; Holt, February 15, 1841 ; Atchison and Nodaway, on the 14th of February, 1845.
The organization of Nodaway County was effected by an act of the General Assembly of Missouri, which we here give :
" Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows :
SECTION I. All that portion of territory bounded as follows, viz .: Beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Nodaway River, opposite the line dividing townships 61 and 62 ; thence up the middle of the main channel thereof to the mouth of the brook, in what is now known by the name of Roland Grove; thence due west to the dividing ridge, dividing the waters of the Big Tarkio and Nodaway Rivers ; thence north upon the top of said dividing ridge to the state line ; thence with the state boundary line to the old western boundary of the state ; thence with the same to the township line, dividing townships 61 and 62 ; thence west with said township line to the place of beginning, is hereby organized into a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the name of Nodaway.
SEC. 2. Amos Graham and William M. Sitton, of the County of Andrew, and Daniel Hunsucker, of the County of Holt, are hereby appointed commissioners, to select the permanent seat of justice of said county ; said commissioners shall meet at the house of I. N. Prather, on the first Monday of June next.
Sec. 3. The county courts of said county shall be held on the first Mondays of February, May, August and November, and the first meet- ing of said court shall be at the house of I. N. Prather, and shall continue to be there held, until the permanent seat of justice is established, unless otherwise ordered by the court."
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
The above act, under which the county was organized, was intro- duced as a bill in the General Assembly of Missouri by a member of the Lower House from Andrew County, Missouri.
An act defining the boundary and naming the County of Nodaway, was passed by the General Assembly as early as January 29, 1841, the territory of which at that time embraced the present County of Holt.
On the 15th of February, 1841, the same General Assembly passed a supplemental act, amendatory to the act above referred to, changing the name of Nodaway County, which had just been created, to Holt. That enactment is as follows ;
" That portion of territory included within the following described limits, to wit : Beginning in the main channel of the Missouri River, at a point where the range line dividing range thirty-six and thirty-seven would intersect the same; thence north, with said range line, to the middle of the main channel of the Nodaway River ; thence up the middle of the main channel of said river, to the northern boundary of the state ; thence west with said boundary line, to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River ; thence down said river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the place of beginning, shall be called and known by the name of Holt, in honor of David R. Holt, Esq., late representative from Platte County, any law to the contrary notwithstanding."
The David R. Holt, after whom the County of Holt was named, was one of the most prominent men at the time in Western Missouri. The General Assembly of the state appropriated the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to the erection of a tomb over his grave, and for a suitable inscription. At the request of Mrs. Holt, a place was reserved by the side of his remains for her interment after her decease.
APRIL SPECIAL TERM, 1845.
STATE OF MISSOURI, SCT,
COUNTY OF NODAWAY,
Be it remembered, that the County Court of Nodaway County, in the State of Missouri, met at the house of I. N. Prather, in obedience to an act of the Legislature, on the first Monday in April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, and seventh day of said month. Present : Hon. Thomas A. Brown, James M. Fulkerson and John Lowe, justices of said court-when and where the following pro- ceedings were had and done, to wit :
Ordered, That John Lowe be and he is hereby appointed president of this court.
Ordered, That Amos Graham be and he is hereby appointed clerk of this court, until the next general election, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Whereupon he took the oath of office, and
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gave bond to the State of Missouri, in the sum of five thousand dollars, which is approved by the court.
Ordered, That Green McCafferty be and he is hereby appointed county surveyor of Nodaway County, Missouri, until the next general election, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. And thereupon he gave bond to the State of Missouri, in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, with John E. George and James W. Parman as his secu- rity, which is approved by the court.
Bartlett Curl comes into court and gives bond as sheriff and collec- tor of Nodaway County, Missouri.
Atchison Township was then bounded and defined, and Lebbins Manley presented his bond as constable of the same.
This constituted the business of the first day of the court.
I. N. Prather, at whose house the three justices met and organized the county court, died in 1859. Colonel Prather was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, and emigrated to what is now known as Nodaway County in 1841, and located in the White Cloud settlement, on the stream known by that name. His widow still survives him, at the advanced age of seventy-four years.
Judge Thomas A. Brown, now lives in Buchanan County, and is one of the judges of that county. Judge Fulkerson went to Oregon in 1852, where he now resides. Judge Lowe moved to Taylor County, Iowa, and still lives.
Court met again April 8, 1845, and proceeded to lay off Buchanan, Hughes, White Cloud and Washington Townships, and then appointed the following alloting justices for the same :
John Lowe for Buchanan, Jonathan Shepard for Atchison, William A. Stephens for Hughes, William H. Moore for White Cloud, and Thomas Blakely for Washington Township.
Daniel McCarty was appointed assessor of the county, and the clerk was instructed to procure such books, stationery, etc., " as he may deem expedient, on as good terms to the county as he can." This was all the business transacted on the second day. The court then adjourned to meet at White Cloud school house on the first Monday in May following.
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