Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 6: Missouri's Representatives in the United States Senate from Benton and Barton to the Present. - First Members of the Lower, 1900

MISSOURI'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE FROM BENTON AND BARTON TO THE PRESENT. - FIRST MEMBERS OF THE LOWER HOUSE OF CONGRESS. - MEMBERS WHO HAVE REPRESENTED THE DISTRICT TO WHICH BUCHANAN COUNTY WAS ATTACHED FROM HALL (1846) TO COCHRAN (1898). - STATE SENATORS FROM VARIOUS DISTRICTS TO WHICH BUCHANAN COUNTY HAS BEEN ATTACHED SINCE 1840. - BUCHANAN COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE FROM 1840 TO THE PRESENT TIME.

The first two men to represent Missouri in the United States senate were David Barton of Howard County, who served 1820-30, and Thomas H. Benton of St. Louis, who served 1820-51. They were elected by the legislature, which met in its first session at St. Louis in September of 1820, but were not permitted to take their seats until 1821, because the state was not yet formally admitted into the Union.

Mr. Barton was a native of ennessee and a soldier of the war of 1812. He was Cjuite a popular public man in the state when elected, but during his last term lost prestige because of his preference of John Ouincy Adams over General Jackson for the presidency, General Jackson being a great favorite with the Missourians. He was stricken with insanity and died at Boonville in 1837.

Senator Benton was not elected without opposition, because of a difficulty he had had with Andrew Jackson, who attempted to horsewhip Benton in the streets of Nashville, and was shot in the arm by Benton's brother. Benton afterwards killed Charles Lucas, at that time United States attorney for Missouri, in a duel, and was regarded by many as a murderer. He served thirty years, and became unpopular because of his domineering disposition. He represented St. Louis one term in Congress in 1852-54, and was defeated for reelection by Luther M. Kennett, a Know-Nothing. He then made an independent effort to become governor, and was also defeated. He was a man of strong character; in fact, one of the remarkable men of the nation.

Senator Barton was succeeded by Alexander Buckner of Cape Girardeau, who served 1830-33, and died of cholera. Governor Dunklin appointed Dr. Lewis F. Linn of Ste. Genevieve to the vacancy, who served until 1843, and died in office. Dr. Linn was a most useful man to Missouri, and it was largely through his efforts that the Platte purchase was made. LTpon his death Governor Reynolds appointed Judge David R. Atchison of Platte County, who was at that time judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and who held court regularly in Robidoux's store and at the house of Richard Hill, in Buchanan County.

Senator Benton was succeeded in 1851 bv Henry S. Geyer of St. Louis. Senator Geyer was a Marylander, who came to Missouri in 1815, and who was speaker of the House for the first five years after the admission of Missouri into the Union. He was a famous lawyer and did much to systematize the Missouri code. He was the only avowed Whig ever elected to the United States senate from Missouri. He died in 1859.

In 1855 the legislature balloted in vain for a successor to Senator Atchison and the election went over to the next session. In 1857 there were successors to both Senators Atchison and Geyer to choose. Governor Trusten Polk and James S. Green of Lewis County were elected.

Governor Polk was a native of Delaware and a graduate of Yale College. In 1862 he was expelled for disloyalty, and died in St. Louis in 1876. James S. Green was a Virginian, and a strong state's rights man. He was a powerful debater and had few peers. He, like Polk, was expelled in 1861 for secession utterances.

Waldo P. Johnson of Osceola, St. Clair County, was elected to succeed Senator Green. He cast his lot with the South and resigned his seat soon after taking it.

Lieutenant-Governor Hall of St. Joseph, who was acting for Governor Gamble, appointed John B. Henderson of Pike County and Robert Wilson of Andrew to fill the vacancies. In November of 1863 the legislature elected Mr. Henderson to serve until March 4, 1869, and elected B. Gratz Brown for a term expiring March 4, 1867. Senator Brown was elected governor in 1870 and served two years. In 1872 he was a candidate for Vice-President with Horace Greelev.

Charles D. Drake, the author of the Drake constitution, was elected to succeed Senator Brown. He served until 1871, when he resigned to become judge of the court of claims at Washington, and was succeeded by Daniel I7. Jewett of St. Louis, who served one year and who was in turn succeeded by General Frank P. Blair, who served out the remainder of the term, until 1873.

Carl Schurz was elected to succeed Senator Henderson for a term of six years, 1869-75. He was succeeded by Francis M. Cockrell of Johnson County, who has succeeded himself continuously until the present.

Lewis Y. Bogy of St. Louis was elected to succeed Senator Blair and served 1873-77, dying in office. Governor Phelps appointed David H. Armstrong of St. Louis to serve until the legislature met. The legislature elected General James Shields of Carroll County for the unexpired term, and George Graham Vest of Warrensburg, the present incumbent, for the full term.

Up to 1845 the congressmen from Missouri were elected at large. The last member from this section under the old system was fames M. Hughes of Clay County, a nephew of General Andrew S. Hughes and the father of Mrs. Calvin F. Burnes of St. Joseph.

The first man to be elected when the state wras divided into districts was Willard P. Hall. T his was then, as now, the Fourth Congressional district, though it has undergone several transformations since the first organization.

General Hall was the regular Democratic nominee in 1846, and against him was pitted James H. Birch of Clinton County, a brilliant man, but one who vacillated politically. Judge Birch was the independent candidate. General Hall, who was plain Willard in those days, left the campaign to take care of itself and went with General Doniphan's expedition to Mexico. The people liked his spirit and patriotism, and elected him in his absence.

After serving two terms General Hall was succeeded by Mordecai Oliver, a Whig, wdio was then living at Richmond. Judge Oliver wras afterward secretary of state, and in 1884-6 served as police judge in St. Joseph.

In the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (1857-61) the Fourth District was represented by General Tames Craig, Democrat, of St. Joseph. Judge Elijah IT. Norton of Platte County, Democrat, succeeded General Craig and served one term.

The state had meanwhile been redistricted and St. Joseph was in the Seventh Congressional District. General Ben F. Loan of St. Joseph, Republican, represented the district in the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses (1863-69).

Judge Isaac C. Parker, Republican, of St. Joseph represented the district in the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (1871-75). During the last term of Congressman Parker the state was again redistricted and Buchanan County fell into the Ninth Congressional District.

Judge Parker was succeeded by Judge David Rea, Democrat, of Andrew County, who served two terms (1875-79). Hon. Nicholas Ford, Greenback, of Andrew County, succeeded Judge Rea, defeating General Craig, and served two terms (1879-83).

In 1881 the state was again redistricted and the entire Platte Purchase - Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Nodaway and Atchison Counties - formed into the Fourth Congressional District. The first man to represent the new district was the late James N. Burnes, Democrat, who defeated Morris A. Reed of St. Joseph, Republican, and Nathaniel Sisson of Maryville, Greenback-Labor, in November of 1882 by a majority of 569. In 1884 Colonel Burnes defeated Judge Henry S. Kelly, Republican, then of Andrew County, by 2,176 votes. In 1886 Colonel Burnes defeated Byron A. Dunn of Maryville, Republican, by 3,087 votes. In 1888 Colonel Burnes defeated H. R. W. Hartwig of St. Joseph, Republican, by 3,177 votes.

Colonel Burnes died January 24, 1889, at Washington. He had yet to serve his unexpired term in the Fiftieth Congress. Governor Francis ordered a special election to be held February 21, 1889, to fill the vacancy in the Fiftieth Congress and also for the election of a successor to Colonel Burnes in the Fifty-first Congress. The Republicans nominated Francis M. Posegate of St. Joseph for both places. The Democrats nominated Charles F. Booher of Savannah for the short term and Robert P. C. Wilson of Platte County for the long t^rm. Captain Posegate was defeated by 618 votes. Mr. Booher served only about two weeks.

In 1890 Mr. Wilson defeated Nicholas Ford, Republican, of Andrew County, and W. H. Whipple, Populist, of Buchanan County, receiving a majority of 1,118. In 1892 Daniel D. Burnes, Democrat, defeated George C. Crowther, Republican, of St. Joseph, and J. B.

Wilcox, Populist, of Andrew County, receiving a majority of 1,259. In 1894 Mr. Crowther defeated William C. Ellison of Maryville, Democrat, and William S. Missemer of St. Joseph, Populist, his majority being 1,661. In 1896 Charles F. Cochran of St. Joseph, Democrat, defeated Mr. Crowther, his plurality being 3,829.

The act authorizing the erection of Buchanan County attached it to the 1 welfth State Senatorial District, which was represented at that time by Cornelius Gillam and James T. V. Thompson. Subsequently Buchanan County was a part of the Tenth District, which, in 1842, was represented bv Cornelius Gillam, and in 1844 by Jesse B. Thompson. In 1846 it was part of the Seventh District and was represented by Robert M. Stewart, who served until 1858 and was succeeded by John Scott. Buchanan County was then in the Twelfth District. Senator Scott was succeeded in 1862 by Colonel John Severance, who in 1864 was succeeded by J. N. Young. Colonel Thomas Harbine succeeded Senator Young, the county having meanwhile become part of the Second District. Senator Harbine served until 1871, and was succeeded by Daniel Ransom, who served one term, and was succeeded in 1875 by Waller Young, who also served one term. Ahira Manring of DeKalb County succeeded Senator Young and served two terms. In 1882 Randolph T. Davis was elected and resigned, his unexpired term being filled by Waller Young, who was succeeded in 1886 by Michael G. Moran. Senator Moran was succeeded in 1890 by Charles F. Cochran, the present member of Congress, who served four years and was succeeded by Arthur W. Brewster. During Senator Cochran's term the state was redistricted and Buchanan County now constitutes the Twelfth District alone. The senatorial term is four years.

The first man to represent Buchanan County in the house was Jesse B. Thompson, who served 1840-44 The second was Richard Roberts, who served 1844-46. Then came James B. Gardenln're, who served two years, and was followed by John Bretz, who served until 1850.

Everett, who served in the session of 1854. In the session of 1856 Buchanan County was represented by John Bretz and Alexander Davis, and in the session of 1858 and the special session of 1859 by Cornelius Day and Alexander Davis. In the session of i860 J. C. Roberts and J. FI. Ashbaugh were the representatives, and in 1862 J. L. Bittinger and Robert Brierly. I11 1864 Buchanan County was represented by Robert Brierly and Joseph Thompson.

Three years elapsed between the Twenty-third and Twentyfourth general assemblies, and when the latter met in 1867 Buchanan County was represented by Charles B. Wilkinson and Washington Bennett, who were succeeded in the session of 1867 by Samuel Hays and Oscar Kirkham. In the session of 1871 our representatives were J. L. Bittinger and William Randall, and in the following two sessions, in 1873 and i&75» they were J. L. Bittinger and W. S. Wells of Rushville.

For the Twenty-ninth general assembly, which met in 1877, Buchanan County elected three representatives - W. S. Wells, George W. Sutherland and Dr. E. A. Donelan. In the session of 1879 our representatives were Thomas Cro wither, John T. Riley and John Saunders. The session of 1881 found Dr. Donelan, John T. Riley and Benjamin J. Woodson representing Buchanan County, and the following session, 1883, Alex. D. Vories, Michael G. Moran and A. A. Whittington. In the session of 1885 our representatives were William H. Haynes, Dr. Donelan and William S. Wells; in the session of 1887, William H. Haynes, Dr. Donelan and G. W. Johnson; in 1889, Waller Young, Abraham Davis and B. F. Stuart; in 1891, Abraham Davis, Dr. E. A. Donelan and B. F. Stuart; in 1893. Abraham Davis, Granville G. Adkins and B. F. Stuart; in 1895, John L. Bittinger, James Moran and Oliver P. Smith; in 1897, John L. Bittinger, Joseph A. Piner and James Shewmaker.