Buchanan County, Missouri - Prefatory, 1881

Prefatory

Over two score years have passed since the first white settlement was made within the bounds of that territory now known as Buchanan County, Missouri.

A little more than half a century since, the uncivilized aborigines roamed the prairies wild and free, unfettered by the restraint of common or statutory law, and uncircumscribed by township boundaries and county lines. The transformation which has taken place in the physiognomy of the country alone is beyond the comprehension of the finite mind ; luxuriant groves where there was the wide stretching prairie ; cultivated fields where was the primeval forest ; orchards, vineyards and gardens where waved the tall prairie grass. So marked has been the change in the physiognomy of the country that there has been a decided ' change in the climatology. The elements themselves seem to have taken notice of the great change and have governed themselves accordingly. While the annual rainfall and the mean annual temperature remain the same in quantity, they are now entirely different in quality, and although imperceptible and independent of man's will, they have nevertheless come under the same civilizing power which has changed the wilderness into a fruitful land.

- The great change which has taken place in the development of the material resources of the country is more noticeable, as man can more readily discern the changes which take place by detail in his own cLr- cumscribed field of activity than he can those grand revolutions in the boundless domain of nature. The changes which have occurred in social, intellectual and moral conditions are still more marked, mind being more swift to act on mind than on matter.

Then the material resources of the country consisted simply in the streams of water which quenched the thirst of the aborigine, wherein was found the fish which he ate, and upon which floated his frail canoe ; the forest where he procured his fuel, material for the construction of his rude weapons, and which sheltered the game which afforded him a meagre and uncertain sustenance. Such were the material resources made available to the owner of the soil. The social condition of the people was scarcely more advanced than is that of certain orders of the lower animals, whose social attainments are comprehended in the ability to unite for mutual offense or defense. In intellect and morals, there was a people somewhat above the brute, but on the lowest round of the ladder.

Now the material resources of the country include in their number the soil, with every useful and ornamental product known to the temperate zone ; the forest with every species of manufacture, useful and ornamental, known to the civilized world. The water in the streams, and the currents of air above us, are alike trained to do man's bidding, while from the depths of the earth beneath our feet is brought forth the hidden wealth, which was hoarded by the turmoil of ages. A city with its tens of thousands of people, a country with its thousands of inhabitants, while in city and country the lofty spires of churches and school houses are evidences of the social, moral and intellectual conditions.

All this change in material things has been brought about by the incoming of a new people from the far off East and South, and that, too, within the space of half a century. History furnishes no parallel to the rapid development of this western country ; it has been a chain whose links were ever recurring surprises, and among the astonshed, there are none more so, than those whose thro"bbing brains have planned, and whose busy hands have executed the work.

" Westward the course of empire takes its way, The four first acts already past, The fifth shall close the drama of the day; Time's noblest offering is the last."

The settlement of the new world, alluded to by the. writer, has, as a* whole, fully mejt the conditions of that prophecy, but not till the past half a century, did the onward march of empire culminate in the settle-

of Northwest Missouri. With the exception of a few mining towns in the gold regions of California and the silver districts of Colorado, nothing has been like it before, and it will not be exceeded in time to come.

This has not been an accident. All kinds of material development follow recognized and well-established laws, and in nothing does this fact more reveal itself than in the settlement of a country.

Whoever has made it his business to study the " Great Northwest,'.' as it has unfolded itself in history during the last quarter of a century, has doubtless met with ever returning wonders. The story of its unparalleled growth, and' almost phenomenal development, has so often been repeated that it has become a common place platitude ; but a careful study of the country will suggest questions, which have thus far not been answered, and cannot be. Why, for instance, have some sections filled iup so rapidly, and certain cities spring up as if by magic, while others seemingly no less favored by nature, are still in the first stages of development ? These question cannot in all cases be answered ; but whoever ihas studied the matter carefully cannot fail to have discovered a law of growth, which is as unvarying as any law of nature.

The two leading factors in the problem of municipal growth are location and character of first settlers. The location of Buchanan County was most favorable, and what is true of Buchanan County is true of the whole state. Almost surrounded, as it is, by two of the most renowned water-courses of the world, one will readily see that it possessed advantages enjoyed by no other state in the Union. These conditions, so favorable to the past and future development of the country, are beautifully illustrated by an ingenious little poem entitled "Two Ancient Misses," written by a gentleman who has won a widespread reputation at the bar. We here quote it, as it well illustrates our point, and is of sufficient merit to be preserved :

Two Ancient Misses

Who ever onward go, From a cold and rigid northern clime, Through a land of wheat, and corn and wine, To the southern sea where the fig and the lime

Among the beauteous-hills; They never cease their onward step, Though day and night they're dripping wet, And oft with the sleet and snow beset,

The one is a romping, dark brunette, As fickle and gay as any coquette ; She glides along by the western plains, And changes her bed every time it rains ; Witching as any dark-eyed houri. This romping, wild brunette, Missouri.

The other is placid, mild and fair, With a gentle, sylph-like, quiet air, And a voice as sweet as a soft guitar ; She moves along the meadows and parks Where naiads play ./Eolian harps - Nor ever go by fits and starts - No fickle coquette of the city, But gentle, constant Mississippi.

In entering upon the work before us, we have not underestimated the difificulty and importance of the task. The chief difficulty lies in the fact that the events to be treated, while they have to do' with the past, are so intimately interwoven with the present that they are properly a part of it. The writer of history, as a general thing, deals, wholly with the affairs of past generations, and his aim is to pause when he arrives at that realm bounded by the memory of men now livings The whole field of our investigation lies this side of that boundary line,, as there are many who) will doubtless peruse this work who' from the . first have witnessed and taken part in the events we shall attempt to relate.

While there are a few who came to Buchanan County as early as 1836,. its permanent settlement did not properly begin until 1837-8. Assuming 1837, to be the beginning of the history proper, there have elapsed but forty-four years, and many who came at that time, or shortly afterward, still live in our midst. And such, while they have grown prematurely old in body by reason of the hardships and privations incident upon a life of more than ordinary activity and trial have not grown old in spirit. Each one of siich knows the history of the county, and be it said, with due reverence for their hoary heads and bended forms, each one knows the history better than anyone else. Such readers are very uncharitable critics ; and a work of this kind, absolutely accurate in all its details and particulars, were it within the scope of human possibility to make such a work, would undoubtedly be pronounced by many wellmeaning and honest person.?, faulty and untrustworthy.. This results.

from the fact that forty-three years, though act. a long period In the history of the world, is a long time m the life of an individual. Events. occurring at that length of time in the past, we think we know perfectly well, when the fact is we kn»w them very imperfectly. This is proved and illustrated by the reluctancy and hesitation manifested invariably by old settlers, when called upon, to give the details of some early transaction ; the old settler usually hesiiates before giving a date, and afterhaving finally settled down upon the year and the month, when a certain event occurred, will probably hunt you. up^ in less than a day, and request the privilege of correcting the date. In the meantime, you have found another old settler, who was aru eye witness of the act in question,, and the date he will give you does not correspond with the first date,, nor the corrected date as given by the fixst old settler. There are some marked exceptions, but as a rule the memory of the old settler is not trustworthy ; his ideas of the geaeral outlines are usually comparatively correct, but no one who has the grace to put the proper estimate upon his mental faculties when impaired by age and weakened by the manyinfirmities of years will trust it to the arbitrament of questions of particulars and details.

The stranger who comes into the county with none of the information which those possess who have resided here for years, works at a great disadvantage in many respects. He does not at first know whom tointerview, or where to find the custodians of important records. However, he - possesses one great advantage which more than makes up for this : he enters upon his work with an unbiased mind ; he has no friends, to reward, and no enemies to punish ; his mind is not preoccupied and prejudged by reports which may have incidentally come into his possession while transacting the ordinary affairs of business ; and when in addi-- tion to this, he is a person whose business it is to collect statements and weigh facts of history, he is much better qualified for the task, and to discriminate between statements, seemingly of equal weight, than thosewho either immediately o.r remotely are interested parties and whose regular employment lies in other fields of industry. This is true, even though the former be a total stranger and the latter have become familiar with men and things by many years of intercourse and acquaintanceship. He is best judge and best juror who is totally unacquainted with both plaintiff and defendant, and he is best qualified to arbitrate between conflicting facts of history who. comes to the task without, that bias which is. the price one must pay for acquaintanceship and familiarity. The best, history of France was written by an Englishman, and the most authentic account of American institutions was written by a Frenchman, and it. remained for an American to write the. only authentic history of the. Dutch Republic.

The American people are much given to reading, but the character of the matter read is such, that, with regard to a large proportion of them, it may truthfully be said that "truth is stranger than fiction." Especially is this the case in respect to those facts of local history belonging to their own immediate county and neighborhood. This is, perhaps, not so much the fault of the people as a neglect on the part of the book publishers. Books, as a rule, are made to sell, and in order that a book may have a large sale its matter must be of such a general character as to be applicable to general rather than special conditions - to the nation and state rather than to county and township. Thus it is that no histories heretofore published pertain to matters relating to county and neighborhood affairs, for such books, in order to have a sale over a large section of country, must necessarily be very voluminous and contain much matter of no interest to the reader. After having given a synopsis of the history of the state, which is as brief as could well be, we shall then enter upon the history of the county. The physical features of the county and its geology, will first engage our attention ; then the Platte Purchase and treaty with the lowas. Sacs and Fox Indians ; then the act under which the counties of Platte and Buchanan were organized ; the location of first county seat ; then we shall gLve something of the history of the Platte country, and the incidents which led to its annexation to the state ; then speak of the first settlers, treating of them as accurately, definitely and fully as warranted by the facts at our disposal, giving the date when each one came to the county, from what state . or country, and where now located, if still living. Pioneer times will then be described, . and incidents related showing the trials and triumphs of the pioneer settler. Then county organization, courts and first records, removal of county seat, the early bench and bar, Mexican war, Oregon expedition, California emigrants, old settlers' reunions, etc. A history of St. Joseph from date of earliest settlement, its growth and prosperity, manufactures, newspapers, schools, churches, railroads, public buildings, enterprises, citizens, etc. We shall give a biographical directory, the value of which will increase with years, and conclude with a chapter of facts and miscellaneous matter.

The compiler of a history of a county has a task which may seem to be comparatively easy, and the facts which come within the legitimate scope of the work may appear commonplace when compared with national' events ; the narration of the peaceful events attending the conquests of industry as may seem tame when compared with accounts of battles and sieges. Nevertheless, the faithful gathering, and the truthful narration of facts bearing upon the early settlement of this county, and the dangers, hard- ships and privations encountered by the early pioneers, engaged in advancing the standards of civilization is a work of no small magnitude^ and the facts thus narrated are such as may challenge the admiration and arouse the sympathy of the reader, though they have nothing to do with the feats of arms.

The Name

It has been intimated by one that there is nothing in a name, but a name sometimes means a great deal. In this case it indicates, in a measure, the character of the people who settled the county, and have given to it its distinctive characteristics. Names are sometimes given to towns and countries by accident ; sometimes they originate in the childish caprice of some one individual, whose dictate, by reason of some real or imaginary superiority, is law. However, in this instance the county and its chief city did not receive a name by accident ; neither did they originate in the vagaries of one man, but the christening took place after mature deliberation and by general consent.

During the period when the "Platte Purchase" was made, and divided into counties, the man after whom the county was named, had, at that time, not only distinguished himself in the council chambers of the nation, as one of the leaders of the two great parties which were then struggling for the mastery, but had won a more extensive and enduring^ fame in a foreign field.

The Russian government had, theretofore, refused all intercourse of a commercial character with the United States. The effort had been repeatedly made on the part of our government, through its foreign ministers, but all attempts had been futile, until James Buchanan was. appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to St.. Petersburg.

By his adroitness and talents, the commercial intercourse and friendly relations between the two nations were successfully and permanently established. His services in that behalf were so signally meritorious that he grew in favor and popularity with his countrymen, until in 1856, he was elected President of the United States, by one of the largest popular majorities ever received by any man for that place. At the time, therefore, of Mr. Buchanan's rising fame, when his name was being mentioned with admiration by all, the small area of territory now known as Buchanan County was then christened. Whether or not the policy of naming counties after illustrious politicians and famous generals be a good one, it has, nevertheless, been followed to a greater or less extent in the various states throughout the Union, and in none more so than in Missouri, as is illustrated by the following named counties : Atchison, Barton, Bates, Benton, Clay, Clark, Clinton, Dallas, Lewis, Pike, Polk,

Taney, Randolph, Washington, Webster and many others, but in no case was the selection of a nanie more appropriate than that of Buchanan County.

He was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1791. His father was an Irishman, who had eight years before emigrated from Donegal, and was a farmer. James Buchanan completed his education at Dickinson College, Carlisle, graduating in 1809. Studied law and was admitted to the bar in 18 12, and located at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1812 he joined a party of volunteers who, under command of Judge Shippen, marched to the defense of Baltimore, against the British. In 1 8 14 he was elected to the State Legislature, and was re-elected the following year, and in 1820 became a Member of Congress. While in Congress he uttered grave warnings against alliances with Mexico and the South American Republics. In 1828 he supported General Jackson for President, and was at the same time re-elected to Congress. During the following year he succeeded Daniel Webster as the head of the Judiciary Committee, and in that capacity he conducted the trial and impeachment of Judge Peck, He retired from Congress in 1831, and in 1832 was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to St. Petersburg. His mission was marked by the treaty of commerce between the United States and Russia. Returning home, he was elected to the United States Senate, and retained his seat till 1845. In the struggle between Calhoun and Jackson, he strongly defended Jackson. He advocated the independence of Texas, and also her annexation. He supported the establishment of an independent treasury. In 1845 was Secretary of State under President Polk, and during President Pierce's administration was Minister at Great Britain. He was the originator of the Ostend Conference, and one of its three members. In that conference he advocated the seizure of Cuba.

Thus much have we deemed proper to be said with regard to the person for whom the county was named. So much every boy or girl, whose home is within the bounds of the county, should know, and less than that certainly would be unsatisfactory to one, whose mind has ever been led to the investigation of the county's history.