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 48
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479
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Bishop Marvin had been invited to be present upon that occasion, but owing to his ministerial duties, which called him elsewhere at that time, he could not attend. He, however, wrote the following letter to Col. James N. Burnes, the President of the Old Settlers Reunion, which will doubtless be read with great interest by all who knew the Bishop and who are familiar with the incidents of that early day :
2719 LUCAS AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, September 3, 1874.
JAMES N. BURNES, ESQ .:
Dear Sir and Brother: I have just returned from a tour, and find yours of August 27th, inviting me to participate in the reunion of the "old settlers" of the Platte Purchase. I regret that I did not know of the reunion a month earlier. In that case I could have arranged my appointments so as to enable me to be present. As it is, I have an engagement in Dent County, which, for special reasons, it is necessary to meet. You may assure your board that no circumstances of a trivial character would prevent my acceptance of their invitation.
For the early settlers of Northwest Missouri I feel a regard that amounts to enthusiasm, and increases with time.
The early years of my ministry were spent in that part of the state. In 1842, I passed the present site of St. Joseph, on my way to a field of labor quite on the frontier. It embraced all the country west of Noda- way River. You will remember at that time there was no St. Joseph. In subsequent years I labored in Clay, Platte and Buchanan Counties. I shall never forget the uncalculating, unbounded hospitality of the "old settlers." Many of them were in their first rude cabins, but those cabins had the rarest capacity for entertaining both friend and stranger of any houses of their size I ever saw. I often saw them crowded, but to the best of my recollection I never saw one of them full ; there was always room for a fresh comer. I recollect once in the Platte Purchase, I was wedging myself into a bed already occupied by five children, when one of them waked sufficiently to exclaim, " Mamma, mamma, he's a scrougin me !"
You will yourself remember that I was more than once a guest at the house of your honored father. Bear with me while I say I can never forget the model Christian mother, mistress and hostess, who presided over the domestic scene there.
At that time I knew many men who did not know me, for I was a mere youth. I knew they were great as compared with other men I knew, but I had a fancy that the great men were in the east. But after many years of extended observation I have come to the conclusion that I heard as fine a specimen of political speaking in Liberty, in 1844, by Colonel Doniphan, as I have ever heard since, and that the country would be happy if the balances were everywhere held by hands as intel- ligent and firm as those of the pioneer jurist, David R. Atchison.
Among my own class there was the laborious Redman, the scholarly Tutt, the impetuous and saintly Roberts, and many others, now dead. Nor can I omit the name of the incorruptible and courageous Roberson. Some are.still living: Holmes, Perry, Ruble, Jordan, Rush, Spencer, Barker and others.
480
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
There was a man, a minister of Christ, a large portion of whose pub- lic career belongs to the Platte Purchase, of whom I must say, he was in some respects the most remarkable man I ever saw. I refer to W. G. Caples. He was another "Agamemnon, King of men." He was a first- class wit, a man of the finest social feelings, having positive ideas, and a great end to accomplish. That end was the extension of the kingdom of Christ and the salvation of men. In his view, a high standard of popular education would contribute to this. He did much for Northwest Missouri in establishing schools under Christian auspices, and although they did not survive the war, they did much to elevate public sentiment, and have left an influence behind them that must be permanent.
Now I proceed to say that the old settlers of Platte have heard as great preaching as any other people on the American continent, and from the lips of the man, Caples. I have heard more scholarly men, men whose sermons evinced higher cultivation and a better classical finish ; but for power of argumentation, for philosophical breadth and sweep, for grandeur of conception, for greatness of imagination, for force and pungency of popular appeal, for originality, variety and opulence of thought, and for pathos, my conviction is his superior has not appeared in the American pulpit.
I make no doubt that the ministry and church have done more to quicken thought and create a thirst for knowledge in the west, than is generally understood. Ministers of the gospel in the new communities, being above the average of people in culture, and dealing in truths of a character to elevate the mind and provoke inquiry, have, as an incident of their calling, toned up the popular mind, encouraged a taste for read- ing and created a demand for schools. Such a man as Caples cannot mingle with people without elevating them.
But pardon me. I had no thought of becoming so garrulous. I am getting to be almost an old man, and thoughts of the old times have awakened the talking mood in me, until it seems a real hardship and self-denial not to be with you at the reunion. It is thirty years since I heard Doniphan. How I would like to listen to his utterances on this occasion, when old memories will mellow his voice, and since, as I doubt not, Christian sentiments will exalt and irradiate his conception.
Will you have the goodness to present to the "old settlers" my pro- found regard, and express to them my deep regret that I cannot greet them on this pleasant occasion, for there are many whom I shall never meet again. As ever,
E. M. MARVIN.
Bishop Marvin died in 1878.
During his pastorate in one of the St. Louis churches, he delivered his famous lectures on Catholicism, which have ever since been accepted as a standard defense of the Protestant faith. In 1876, he sailed as one of the missionaries of his church to visit the missions in foreign fields, and returned in 1877. While on his death-bed he finished his book, the most important of his writings, entitled "To the East by Way of the West," which gives an account of his voyage around the world, and describing the field of labor in heathen lands. About the same time that Bishop Marvin came to Nodaway County, or soon after, another
4
481
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
minister of the gospel, the Rev. W. G. Caples, of the M. E. Church, did missionary work in Northwest Missouri, extending the field of his labor to Nodaway County. Mr. Caples was an earnest, sincere and eloquent preacher, and did much for the cause of Christianity. Bishop Marvin speaks of him in laudatory terms in the above letter. Mr. Caples went to St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1852, and took charge of the M. E. Church South, where he remained for several years.
Among other ministers, who officiated at an early day in the county, was the Rev. Shyves, who was also of the M. E. Church.
The Rev. E. A. Carson was the first Presbyterian clergyman to conduct services in the county. The place where he held meetings was known as the Saunders' school house, located about three miles west of Arkoe, in White Cloud Township. Mr. Carson is a Virginian by birth, and now resides at Savannah, Andrew County, Missouri, at the advanced age of eighty years.
31
CHAPTER XXXIII.
FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
POLITICS BETWEEN 1845 AND 1860-CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION OF 1860-THE CONDITION OF PARTIES-ELECTIONS OF 1862, 1866 1868 1870, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1880-CONCLU- SIONS.
FINANCES.
Below will be found a concise statement of the finances of Noda- way County during the years 1850, 1860, 1870, 1881, prepared by John Miller, the county clerk. Anything like a complete financial history of the county would alone fill a large volume. Did we, however, desire to give this history, we could not do so, as the records are too imperfect. What is here presented will show the financial condition of the county for the decades mentioned.
Valuation of property in Nodaway County, Missouri, in the year 1850 :
Real Estate
$266,228
Personal
90,819
Total in county.
357,047
Tax for county purposes in 1850 :
County revenue
$645
Poor fund
244
Grand jury fund
104
Total levy for county
$993
Valuation for year 1860 :
Money and notes
$140,947
Number of slaves, 135 ; value
60,500
All other personal property
224,989
Total personal property
$426,436
Real Estate :
Resident- Number acres
158,75I
$ 763,224
Non-resident-Number acres
348,440
980,945
Total in county
$2,170,605
483
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Valuation for 1870 :
Number of horses
7,337
$ 406,095
Number mules and asses
1,125
74,575
Number neat cattle
17,491
264,020
Number sheep
11,182
8,830
Number hogs.
46,024
125,755
All other personal property
632,665
Real estate.
$1,511,940
Number acres
560, 17 I
4,161,114
Total in county
$5,673,054
Assessed value of county for 1880:
Number horses
14,229
$ 433,265
Number mules
2,200
83,910
Number asses and jennets
56
2,895
Number neat cattle
55,249
580,354
Number sheep
25,046
27,336
Number hogs
85,606
112,439
Money, notes, bonds and cther credits
666,839
All other personal property
506,998
Corporate companies.
7,753
Total personal property
$2,421,789
Real estate :
Number acres
557, III
$4,606,800
Number town lots
5,500
677,760
$7,706,549
Merchants' statements
332,95 I
Railroad and telegraph companies
641,430
Total valuation for 1880
$8,680,930
An aggregate abstract of the receipts and expenditures of Nodaway County, Missouri, for the year ending December 31, 1881, showing the condition of the several funds at that date :
I-PAUPER FUND.
Receipts from all sources
$5,261 79
Expenditures . $ 3,866 45
Outstanding December 31, 1880 1,048 20 4,914 65
Balance in treasury, December 31, 1881. $347 14
484
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
2-ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND.
Receipts from all sources. $15,463 78 Expenditures $11,775 00
Outstanding December 31, 1880
8,822 96 20,597 96
Outstanding December 31, 1881
$5,134 28
3-SALARY FUND.
Receipts from all sources $ 8,717 04 Expenditures $ 7,526 13
Outstanding December 31, 1880 1,462 30
8,988 43
Outstanding December 31, 1881 $271 39
4-JURY FUND.
Receipts from all sources $3,092 79 Expenditures $ 1,932 30
Outstanding December 31, 1880
666 95
2,599 25
Balance in treasury December 31, 1881 $493 54
5-CONTINGENT FUND.
Receipts from all sources $3,879 34
Expenditures $ 5,223 23
Outstanding December 31, 1880
675 71 5,898 94
Outstanding December 31, 1881 $2,019 60
6-COUNTY ROAD FUND.
Receipts from all sources $1,564 47
Expenditures 1,569 66
Outstanding December 31, 1881 $5 19
RECAPITULATION.
Total receipts for year ending December 31, 1881 $37,979 21
Total expenditures for year ending December 31, 1881 31,892 77
Receipts over expenditures $6,086 44
Floating debt December 31, 1880 $12,676 22
Floating debt December 31, 1831 7,430 46
Reduction for the year $ 5,245 76
485
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
BONDED DEBT.
When due. Amount. September 8, 1886, at 6 per cent. int., payable semi-annually. . $32,000
September 8, 1887, at 6 per cent. int., payable semi-annually. ... 8,000
September 8, 1888, at 6 per cent. int., payable semi-annually ... 8,000
September 8, 1889, at 6 per cent. int., payable semi-annually ... 8,000
September 8, 1890, at 6 per cent. int., payable semi-annually ... 8,000
September 8, 1891, at 6 per cent. int., payable semi-annually . .. 8,000
$72,000
Court house and jail bonds, principal and interest payable at the County Treasurer's office issued September 8, 1881, sold at three per cent. premium.
The above constitutes the entire bonded debt of the county.
In relation to the floating debt of the county, the present tax levy made for the year 1881, will amply provide for the payment of said debt, and leave a handsome balance in the treasury to pay current expenses of the county. At this writing, January 7, 1882, the county collector has in his hands county revenue to the amount of over $30,000. This will be paid into the treasury at once, and will place our funds all in good shape-entirely out of debt with a good balance to start on for the ensuing year.
Expenditures for 1878 :
County expenditures
$16,731 OI
For county bridges 3,447 11
For county poor
613 67
Total expenditures for 1878 $20,791 79
Receipts for 1878 :
County revenue
$18,207 40
County bridges
1,377 18
County poor fund
363 92 $19,948 50
Expenditures over receipts $843 29
POLITICAL HISTORY.
" There is a mystery in the soul of state, Which hath an operation more divine, Than breath or pen can give expresions to."
From 1845 to 1860, or during the first fifteen years of the county's history, party politics wielded but a slight influence in the local govern- ment of the county. While it is true that many of the first settlers from
486
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
the earliest days, possessed well defined political views and tenets, and were thoroughly partisan upon all questions pertaining to national or state elections, an indefinite number of candidates were usually per- mitted to enter the race for the respective county offices, and the one possessed of superior personal popularity, generally led the field, and passed under the wire in the advance of all opponents.
In the early days it was not at all unusual to meet the energetic candidate for the sheriff's office, the treasurer's office, or who aspired to represent his people in the State Legislature, astride his horse, going from settlement to settlement, to meet with the voters of his county at their own firesides, to sleep beneath their humble roofs, and sup with them at their family boards, to compliment their thrifty housewives, and to kiss the rising generation of little ones.
The historian would not dare draw upon his own imagination to supply the stock of rich, rare and racy anecdotes, moulded and circulated by these ingenious canvassers, or to describe the modes and methods by them adopted to increase their popularity with the people. There was then no press, as now, to perpetuate daily events as they transpired. Many of the maneuvers and capers, successes and failures, with their pleasures and sorrows, of twenty and more years ago, in this county, are hidden from us by the shadows of time. Darkness intervenes between us and many sayings and doings of bygone days, which, could we but penetrate that darkness and gather them in, would shine out upon the pages of this history " like diamond settings in plates of lead." In vain have we tried through the lens of individual recollection to ferret them out. We could not do it. Our discouraged fancy dropped the pencil, and said 'twas no use. We could not paint the picture. A little conso- lation may be found in the lines,-
" Things without all remedy,
Should be without regard ; what's done, is done."
In some of these carly campaigns the various candidates for a sin- gle office, and sometimes those running for the different county offices, would travel together from settlement to settlement throughout the county. Every camp meeting, log raising, shooting match and even horse race occurring in the county during the season preceding election, was a favorite resort of the electioneer, and every honorable device was adopted by each candidate to develop his full strength at the polls.
From 1845 to 1860, no political conventions were held in the county. During this period the county was largely Democratic, perhaps two to one ; but, notwithstanding this fact, occasionally a Whig, on account of his fitness and popularity, was elected to office. All records and certifi- cates of elections held in the county prior to the year 1860, having been
487
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
misplaced or destroyed, it is impossible to here insert the names of the respective candidates who ran for office at such elections, or the number of votes cast on such occasions. Little more can be said of this period of the county's history, than to give the list of county officials, which has been done in succeeding pages.
The first record of election returns preserved in the county is as follows :
"Abstract of the vote cast in the county, in 1860, for Congressman:"
Candidates.
Votes received.
E. H. Norton 1,084
John Scott 241
Harrison Branch
IO
Total number of votes cast at this election was 1,335
No record has been preserved of the votes cast for county officers at such election.
Shortly after this election the civil war broke out, during which all political differences were forgotten, or were held in abeyance by the excitement generated in the friction of contending armies and military movements.
The election held in the fall of 1862 will be seen in the following official returns :
Official vote of county, year 1862 :
Candidate. Office. Votes received.
Benjamin F. Loan
Congressman 589
John P. Bruce
Congressman 270
H. B. Branch.
Congressman 5
William Herren State Senator 582
Perry H. Talbott State Senator
274
Alonzo Thompson Legislator
585
Stephen Morehouse
Legislator
239
*A. P. Morehouse
Legislator
3
William Swinford Sheriff
582
N. H. Watson Sheriff 212
John Lieber Coroner 27
L. T. Ellis
Justice County Court 422
J. P. Carver
County Treasurer 450
T. L. Robinson
County Treasurer III
John Lieber County Treasurer 222
The total number of votes cast at this election was 864.
* There was perhaps an error made in the name of the candidate; but two candidates were running for the Legislature at this election.
488
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Many were absent from the county in the army, and the vote was thus reduced.
No records or returns of the election held in 1864 have been pre- served.
The close of the war left the county government in the hands of the Republican party. For the first two or three years after the war, little opposition was manifested against the reign of this party.
Many citizens of the county, under the state constitution adopted in the year 1865, were disfranchised on account of their participation in, or sympathy with the rebellion. Numbers of the oldest citizens in the county, for several years, could not take the test oath by the state con- stitution made requsite to complete citizenship. The interest in gov- ernmental affairs of those thus situated necessarily abated. During the period of this political status, the Republican party held conventions and placed candidates in the field for the different county offices. The election held in the county in the fall of 1866, will be seen in the follow- ing official returns :
Official vote of county, year 1866 :
Candidates. Office. Votes Received.
Benjamin F. Loan.
. Congressman. 710
G. A. Hawley.
. Congressman. 254
N. Harris Congressman. 3
I. C. Parker Circuit Attorney
734
D. Bonham
State Senator
573
S. M. Dunn
State Senator
38 1
William A. Jones
Legislator
665
B. K. Davis.
Legislator 329
I. N. Wray
Sheriff.
590
William Swinford Sheriff.
359
A. J. Wray . Sheriff
47
Joseph Jackson
County Clerk 818
J. C. Terhune
Circuit Clerk 585
Henry Graves
Circuit Clerk. 445
W. L. Johnson.
County Treasurer. 630
John Lieber.
County Treasurer.
392
William H. Stewart
County Assessor. 604
William Allen
County Assessor. 3II
N. Smith
County Assessor 57
A. Royal
Probate Judge. 644
J. E. Alexander.
Probate Judge .343
Solomon Shell
County Court Commissioner 569
William Leeper County Court Commissioner 576
P. R. Cooper County Court Commissioner 303
489
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Candidate. Office. Votes received.
M. D. Nobles
County Court Commissioner 357
T. Fakes
County Court Commissioner 16
I. N. Albin
School Commissioner 696
H. J. Bickett.
School Commissioner
277
John Bainum
Commissioner of Registry. 588
Robert R. Patridge.
Commissioner of Registry 400
George Lucas.
Coroner 632
J. S. Jobe .. Coroner 315
The total number of votes cast at this election was 967. Though the war was over, a great number of citizens of the county could not qualify under the registration law, then in force, and were not allowed to vote.
When the campaign of 1868 opened, in the spring of that year, the Democracy of the county began to partake of the spirit of enthusiasm kindled throughout the country by the approach of the coming National election. Strenuous efforts were made by some of those most thoroughly aroused to organize the Democratic party in the county and to place it upon a proper footing to contend with the Republican party.
Early in the summer A. P. Morehouse and Joseph E. Alexander were chosen as delegates from the county to attend the first Democratic State Convention which had been called in the state since the war.
This convention was held in St. Louis. On their return all efforts were doubled to effect a perfect organization of the party in this county ;. a convention was called and a Democratic county ticket was placed in the field. During the summer the Democrats held a grand rally at Maryville, which was attended by members of the party from all parts of the county. Foreign speakers were procured, and every step was taken to arouse the partisan spirit, and effect a unity of action upon the part of the Democracy.
The Republican party was also wide awake during this canvass, and seemed to be nettled to greater exertions by the movements of the opposition. This party also held a grand rally at Maryville during the campaign. Though there appears to have been no well defined plan of canvassing the county adopted by either party, both sent speakers into the field to address the people. Among those who addressed the people in behalf of the Republican party in this canvass, may be men- tioned B. K. Davis, M. G. Roseberry, A. B. Cornell, Spencer, Stark and others. Among those who stumped for the Democracy may be named A. P. Morehouse, Lafayette Dawson, Stephen Morehouse, Perry H. Tal- bott and others. The result of this canvass is shown in the following official returns of the fall election :
490
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Official vote of county, year 1868 :
Candidate. Office.
Votes received.
+U. S. Grant
President 1,104
*H. Seymour
President 587
+J. W. McClurg Governor 1,082
"John S. Phelps Governor
609
+Joel F. Aspen Congressman
1,075
*M. Oliver Congressman
618
+I. C. Parker
Circuit Judge 1,056
*William Herren
Circuit Judge
628
+B. K. Davis
Circuit Attorney 1,032
*D. Rea.
Circuit Attorney 627
+M. G. Roseberry
State Senator .. 1,063
*Pat Frawly.
State Senator. 44
ĮW. M. Coston
State Senator. 2
+
Vanbuskirk
State Senator
4
+ Hubbard
State Senator.
2
+William A. Jones Legislator 1,063
*R. G. Hubbard
Legislator 614
+John Ham Sheriff
1,000
*Jos. M. Cooper Sheriff
655
+Samuel Lutes.
County Treasurer 1,063
*William H. McLain
County Treasurer 625
tSpencer Starks
County Assessor 1.038
*Elias Pitman County Assessor 636
+Elijah Shelton.
County Court 1,077
*James A. Forest
County Court
611
+S. C. McClusk:
School Superintendent. 1,074
*L. T. Ellis School Superintendent. 612
+Jos. Miller. County Surveyor 1,072
*William Brady.
County Surveyor 619
+I. V. McMillan . .
County Attorney. 1,072
*H. J. Bickett
County Attorney. 606
Total number of votes cast in the county at this election was 1,691. The Republican party elected the entire county ticket by majorities ranging from 345 to 466.
Notwithstanding the defeat of 1868, the Democratic party main- tained its organization. In the year 1869 a Democratic paper was established in the county, and from this time a constant opposition was maintained to the party in power.
+Republican. ¿ Independent. * Democrat.
49
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Long before the opening of the campaign of 1870, mutterings of discontent, characteristic of Republican institutions and American citi- zenship, began to be heard around the borders. An element of the Republican party began to chafe in its stall, as it were, and long for the chains which bound a portion of the citizenship of state and county to be broken, and to put to flight forever all the advocates of political pro- scription. This movement was denominated the Liberal Republican movement. It called to its aid all men whose former political principles were at variance with the original Republican party. This party was avowedly in favor of the constitutional amendments submitted, to be voted upon at the election in 1870.
The Democratic party and the Democratic paper of the county favored the movement, and joined with the Liberal Republicans in the campaign of 1870.
A dissension arose in the ranks of the Republican party of this county at this time which favored the Liberal movement. A. B. Cornell, who at the time edited the Maryville Journal, a newspaper which had theretofore been the organ of the Republican party, bitterly opposed the constitutional amendments. This gave rise to an opposition in his own party, for many of the Republicans of the county favored the amend- ments. A new paper was established, the Maryville Republican, edited by M. G. Roseberry. This paper advocated the cause of the Republican party, yet, at the same time expressed itself in favor of the consti- tutional amendments.
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