Chariton County, Missouri - Chamton Township, 1883 (part 2 of 2)

His tiddle was his inseparable 0(>m[)unioii, ami when spending an eveiiiiitr with his friends, he possessed the happy faculty of discoursing to them the most delightful music, always accompanying his instrument with an unique and improvised song, which was replete with wise and startling hits and felicitous inuendocs, touching the vnlncrahility of some one or more of his entranced and rustic auditors. David was especialh' happy vv'hen playing for a dance. Upon .'^ucii occasions t!ic scintilli'.tions of his wit, were rcsplendently huninnus, and even the instrument itself seemed to he inspired with new life, and gave back its most thrilling notes to the amorous touch of this rustic musician. Never did Troubadour sweep the strings of his harp with half as much jiride and self-assurance as did David, when he sounded the notes of his violin at a country dance, lie played many pieces to the delight of the dancers, but none permeated their very souls, like that old familiar tune, called in yeoman parlance, " Chicken Pie." So irresistibly happyfying in its effects was this tune, that even old age forgot its wonted infii-mities, and was often found threading the mazes of the dance. The words of this remarkable song were very suggestive, the tirst two lines of which ran as follows : -

While " Chicken Pie " was universally liked as a favorite dish, and as a favorite dance song, there was anotiier song that always enlivened the dancers, as they listened to its inspiring measures. This was " Bnftalo Gals," and seemed to be played especially on moonlight nights when the weather would permit of a dance under the bewitching beams of a silver moon.

Mrs. Williams has often counted while standing in her cabin, fifteen and twenty deer, some of them being at times, within gunshot, and at night the wolves would come to the open door, their ver}' i!yes faiily glistening in the darkness without, as they turned their hungry, wolHsh faces towards the ruddy blaze upon the rude and simple hearth.

was laid out April 1, 1867, on the west half of sectiou 2, northeast quarter and south half of sectiou 3, township 53, range 17, on the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Raili'oad by L. Salisbury (after whom the town takes its name), George W. Williams and O. W. Lusher.

There i-i nn town in this section ot" country th:it is move handsomely located tlnui :nid none sui'rounded with a mure beautiful and productive country, 'i'lie town stands ujion an elevated prairie or dividing ridge, iVorn which may be seen rich I'arming lands, stretching tar away in gentle undulations in all directions, constituting the most siijierl) agricultural region to be I'ound almost anyvrht-re iii the great west. U'o tiie west and southwest, at the di-<tancc of four miles, can be seen the dark outline of timber which stands u[>on t!ie banks and the wide bottoms of tlie (-irand Charilon ; while to the east -and southeast, at the distance of two miles, How.-^ the East furk of the same river. Wherever the eye may turn, it is delighted wilh the beauties of a ])rairie landscape, dotted with farm house.'r, cidti\aletl fields and bearing oreliards, the whole presenting a scene of pastnral loveliness which is seldom seen in an^' country.

The original iiroprietor of the town, site was one, Prior Bibo, who was a soldier iu the war of 1812. He drew 320 acres on the scMith side of the railroad, where Salisiairy i;ow stands. Bibo sold to John Bull, Bull sold to James Bennett, and Bicunett sold to Judge Lui'ius SalisburN' in ]85t!, receiving $100 in gold for the two quarters.

Judge Salisbur}' moved on to the land in 18."i8, and erected a boxliouse, in which he liveil temporarily, until he completed the erection of a frame bjiildim;', containing two rooms. This house was located on the "West :side of Broadway - on what is known as the Salisbuiy Square.

The first business of any character was begun by Jolm Culver, who built a blacksmith shop on the southwest corner of Broadway and Second streets, where he worked - his shop being the second house erected in the town. The tif>t i)usiness house - general store - was opened by John II. Thomas. Judge Salisbury was also amoug the pioneer bu.siness men, he oiJerating the next general store.

On June SSth, ]88l\ Salishury ^ntl'erecl from the ravages of another destructive fire, as will be seen fi'om the folK)\ving whieh we tal^e from the Press- Spectator: -

-' It was midniglit's solemn liour, and our little city lay wrapt in profound sluml.icr. The gentle breeze loyecl ^vith. the iaugliing leaves, making mellow cadenee to wno the god of sleep. But list I A Imrrid crv rings out on the still nigiit air, faintly at first, but anon clear and more distinct, till the arms of Morpheus loosencl their gra~p and the bewildered sleeper sprang from his couch, a< he heard now too plainly to be mistaken, tlie cry of ' Fire,' - -a cry once heard never to be forgotten. Tlie shout is taken up and rapidly passed from mouth to rnoutli till the whole city is aroused. Bells ring, guns tire, wldstles scream, and pandemonium seems to reign. All this time ]irecious moments are passing, and a red glare piercing the blackness of night shows }Dlainly the location of the fire. Men may now be seen running from all directions towards the point of attraction, where the fiery liend is detiantly devouring e^ervthing in its \vaA'. The first gleam told the fearful doom (jverhanging the west side of Broadv/ay. Tlie l)uildinL's must go. but their contents can be saved. Willing hamls seize upon e\'ervthing movable, and. in an incredibly short time the street is strewn with a conglomerate mass of njerchandise - the work goes on - men work as men never worked before. Then comes n cry for water. The flames must be stayed. 'Slew and women vied with each other in trying to com.bat with the demon, nor was there any dinmnition of etl'ort till the flames were stayed. The (U'igin of the tire is unknown, but is supposed to be the work of an incendiary, or t!u> result of some careless smoker.

" The lirst man to discover tlie tire, so far as is known, was Doctor ^Vilson, who had lieen attending a patient in tlie country, and was returning to town about one o'chxdv in the morning, when he noticed a blax.e in the rear end of Blakey s giocery store, :ind immediately gave the a.larni. L'.y almost superhuman ellbrt the Dickson House was saved, but ill ii diiiuuged condition. The massive wall of Coleman's brick withstood the tlanies and checked them in that direction. Thourrh .somewhat damaged, tlie wall is considered sale, and will not be taken down. Fortunately the cisterns and wells were nearly lull of water, ajid furnished a bountiful supply. Tlic only one to fiil in the time of need was tiie public well on the corner, and in a short time it tilled up airaiii, and is now all light. Below will be found a conijilele list of tlie losses, with the insurance tiioreon : -

" The several stocks of Geo. N. Bnrrus, J. F. Welch & Co., L'Hommedieu & Kistner, C. il. Rumsey, and Clark & Robinson, were more or less damaged bj- removal, most of which was fully covered l)y insurance.

".I. B. ILIlington was one of the heaviest sufferers by the tire, his loss amounting to about twcj thousand dollars, on which there was no insurance. He lost his entire library and many valuable papers, including notes, etc.

" The insurance on^'. C. Blakey's stock of groceries had expired only a few days before the fire, and he had failed to have it renewed. Many of our business men are out of employment by this disaster, but most of them will find places temporarily, and continue business as soon as they can settle up with the insurance companies. While the loss of so many business houses will be seriously felt for a time, and the loss on some individuals is hard to bear, vet we venture to predict that a stately row of buildings ^vill soon be erected on what will now be called " the burnt district," and in time be an ornament to the town. The aggregate loss will reach $20,000; the insurance about half that sum."

We have already spoken of the tornado that occurred in the township in September, 18.30. F(Uty-two years afterwards, another tornado f)r wind stoi'm sweiH over a portion of tlie same township, this time taking t!)e town of Salisliury in its course.

On the night of June li, 1872, and at the hour of eleven o'clock, the wind blew fiercely from the soutllwe^t, Vihnving in the direction of the northeast, accompanied by lightning, hail and rain, the rain jiouring down in sluices. The aniphitlieatre at the fair irrounds, located southwest of town, and just outside tiie corporate limits, was completely destroyed. This structure cost $3,000, and, being almost ue'.v, it was a great loss - so much so, that the fairs which had been held for several years preceding that time were discontinued.

The Cumberland Presbyterian church (the south end of it) was blown about the distance of ten or twelve feet from the foundation. The Baptist church also was damaged to some extent. Allois h^tecker's dwelling house was blown down, and, in fact, many persons sustained more or less damage in having their fences, chimneys, sidewalks, and other things destroyed.

Official statement of the financial condition of the Bank of Salisbury. Salisljury, Chariton county, State of ^lissouri, at the close of business on the thirty-first day of .\ugust, 1882. Resources -

We, T. II. Walton, president, and W. II. Hayes, cashier of said bank, and each of us, do solemnly swear that the above statement is true to the best of our knowledge and l.)elief.

^Vitness my hand and notarial seal hereto affixed, at otEce in Salisbury the date last aforesaid (commissioned and qualitied for a term expiring :May 14th, 1882).

Incorporated

Salisbury was incorpoi-aled as a city of the fourth class in June, 1882. The first mayor and councilmen were: Phillip B. Branham, mayor; Joseph Baier, F. M. Clements, \V. H. Tindall, John Clark, councilmen.

Public Schooi

The public school was organized in Salisbury in Fcl)ruary, ]8()7, with the following trustees : L. Salisbury. John E. "Weber, W. (). Wilhite, F. B. Thomas, Eli Wayland, and AV. E. Kite. Tlie fii.^t principal was Professor O. 1*. Davis. The school is taught in a frame buiUling, whicli contains four rooms. The number of pupils enrolled. white and colored, is about oOO ; average attendance, about "200.

The public school of Salisbury was organized under the citv organization April, 1867, having at that time two teachers and an enrollment of 108. Tlic board of education liave taken mucli interest in the school, and have, from time to time, made nianv prutitable changes, till at present (Sejitember K!, 1883), the school opened with 241 pupils, and has five teachers. Tlie present board of education is as follows: W. R. Slaughter, president; Doctor F. M. (."lements, secretary : J. W. Eedding, treasurer ; C. J. Via, Major "Walton, Doctor F. B. Philijott. The present corj)s of school teachers, several of whom have been in the school four veais, and all of whom for the jiast two years, are as follows: L. B. Coates, principal ; Mrs. F. A. Crau), room No. 2 ; ^liss Edmonia ^^'right, room Xo. 3 ; ^liss Gnssie Redding, room No. 4; Miss Pattie Woodson, room No. 5. Salary of teachers as follows : Principal, $100 per month ; rooms Nos. 2 and 3, $40 per month ; rooms Nos. 4 and 5, $35 per mouth. I^ast April the board of education adopted a course of stud}', consequeutiv the present school is properly and strictly a graded school of five grades, and composed of fifteen classes, three of which are in each room. Tliere is also a set of printed regulations governing the board and school. Last April the board voted $50 more with which to purchase apparatus for the school. These stejis, with the body of teachers now in the school, and with other changes Ijiat have been made, wai-i-ant us in saying the school stands on a solid foundation and has a brighter and more inviting future. Mr. J. AV. Redding and Mr. C. J. Via have been on the board during its oi-ganization. The following gentlemen have at different times been meml)ers of the board of educa-

Thomas Knox, John Wood, A. C. Vandiver, Pettit, C D. Ratlif}", P. A. Frederick, Jacob Adams, W. C. McMelan, J. J. Bnchanan, and L. B. Coates, the present principal. " Our public school is now organized according to tlie course of stud}' adopted. It is in good working order and has the most flattering prospects for a successful 3'ear' s wor k . ' ' - I^rc-^s- Sj)er/a lor .

July 4th, LSOT. Thomas H. Allen killed W. F. Maupin on the corner of Thinl and Broadway streets. Tiie [>arties li-\ed about six miles south of the town, and were neighbor.--; they had, however, had a ditUculty some time previously, which aro?e from an altercation between the fathers of tlie two men. .Mauinn wa< sliot in the breast with a pistol and instantly killed. Allen had a trial i)efore a justice of the [leace and was actpiittcd on the ground of self-defence.

July 5th, L"^?!. Anio^ Lewis killed James Morrissev. Lewis was a policeman, and was doing special i-iuty - it being circus-day in the town, Morrissev is said to have been drinking at the time, and attempted to resist Lewis, who tried to arrest him. ^lorrissey was instantlv killc-d and Lewis was cleared before a justice.

John Stranb, who was in l)usiness, shot and killed John IJouse l>etween one and two o'clock at niuht. Rouse was shot at Straul)'.s money-drawer. Straul) was examined before a justice and discliarged.

A man t)y the name of Loper, who was slightly demented, and out on the street on a Sunday night, was killed by some one of a crowd of boys and men, who were following him. It was not known who committed the crime.

S. R. Robinson was shot by accident. Marshall Jones was trving to arrest J. H. Hunt whom he shot and mortally wounded. Robinson was present during the time of the arrest, and there being several shots tired, it was never known who killed him.

Uistoky Of Iioward And Charitox Counties Business Houses Ano Pkofessions

Boundarj - Physical Features - Old Seltleis - First School Taught in the Township - Tlie First Mill Erected - The First Church - Dalton - Its History - General Sterling Frict-'s Farm - Bu^itiess Houses of Dalti.n - A. 0. U. W. - Keytesville Landing - Its History - Large Farmers and Stockmen - A Coon Story - General Sterling Price.

This is one of the smallest towuships in the county and has been recently tormecl. It is bounded on the north by Brunswick and Keytesville tov.'nships, on the east by Keytesviile township, on the south by [Missouri township, and on the west by the Missouri river and Brunswick tuv.nship.

Phtsical Featukes

The southwest corner of this township touches the Missouri river. Much of the township is bottom land and remarkably productive. The upland is also very fertile and constitutes tine farming land. One-fourth the area of the to\vuship is timbered. There are several Indian mounds along the line of the bluffs, and many relics of a prehistoric race have been found in them. The streams are Palmer creek, Lake and Lost creeks. There are a number of sloughs and lakelets. Coal has been mined to some extent at Dalton. Sandstone has been quarried in the township and is very hard in its character.

Samuel Williams, who was from Jetlerson county, Virginia, came to the county in 1818, for the purpose of attending the land sales which occurred that year, and after purchasing land in what is now kin)\vii as liuwling Greoii township, he went to Kentucky, where ho left his fumily, and returned in the fall of 1819, and settled on Iho edge of Bowling Green [)rairie, where he continued to reside until his death, wliich took place in 1822. He left a wife and four children. T!ic names of his children, were John P. Williams, Thomas "Williams, Eliza Willijims and Harriet Williams. John P. AVilliams, who came with his father in 1819, was horn in Jetl'erson county, Virginia, in 1810 ; he is no^v and has been eontiiiuonsly a resident of Piowling Green lowii-liip - a period of slxt\'-f()ur years. He is the oldest living jiioneer in Chariton countv, and has resided in the county longer than any man now living in the same, except Captain William Heryford, wIkj was l)orn here April 14, 1818. ]Mr. Williams, although seventy-three years of age, is strong in mind and body and possesses a remarkably clear and accunite memory of the events which transpired more than three score j^ears ago.

Among the pioneers in the township were also Henry Lewis, from Virginia ; James and Perry Earickson, from Kentucky ; John M. Bell, from Georgia; Archiliald Hix and Alexander Trent, from Virginia; William Monroe and James Leeper, from Kentucky ; John W. Price, James Price, John Conlson, Chanpion Turpin, old man Eleetwood, John. Harris, Abraham Sportsman, ,lt)hn Ellison, John Rilev and John Sportsman.

The first school teacher to exercise his calling in the township was Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers, whom we have mentioned in our chapter on Cli.iriton township. The school building was located on section o2, township 53, range 19, in 1821.

Among the pupils who attended this first school were John 1'. Th(Mnas, Eliza and Flarriett Williams, Benjamin Monroe, ^Martha and Eliza Bell, Xaucy Stucky, John Stucky, Richard and Gustavus Earickson, .John Ish, who now resides in Saline county, Missouri, and Charles J. Cabell.

William Monroe I)uilt the first mill in the township on the edge of Bowling Green prairie, in 1819, on section 32, township 53, range 19. This was a band mill.

The Methodists built the first house of worshiii, near John W. Price's ; the church was called the " Blutf Church," and was erected al)out the year 1836. It was a frame building, and was afterwards moved into Brunswick township, and is now known as " Prairie Chapel."

Dortor John BuJl was the pionofr Metliodist pi'cachfr in the townsiliip, holding services there as early as 1819, at the house of Samuel Williauis. The doctor was a man of many sterling traits of ch;iracter, was an earnest and eloquent preacher, and was afterwards a Representative in the United States Congress from Missouri. Among the constituent nuMnbers of this original organization were : "William Dalton and fainilv, Jane Browder, Betsy Iludnell, and Tabitha EwiniT.

was laid out by William Dalton, on the southwest corner, northeast quarter, northwest corner, southeast quarter, and northeast corner, southwest quarter, section 13, township 53, range 1'.', in 1867. The town site was the home of William Dalton, after whom the village was named, many years before it was laid out. It is located at the base of the bluffs, overlooking a broad and fertile bottom towards the south - the Missouri river being some three miles distant. To the south of Dalton, and a little to the west, may now be seen some of the out-buildings, which still stand upon the farm which was for manv vears the home of General Sterling Price. Travellers upon the railroad, when jiassing Dalton, ask to have the farm of General Price pointed out to them. The few remaining old citizens who reside in tliis vicinity-, and who knew the General and loved him. always brighten up, with a glow upon the chpek and in the eye, when talking of him as a man, a citizen and as :i neighbor. One of bis" old neighbors, while in conversation with the author in reference to the General, said : " Mr., he was the politest man I ever saw - would even touch his hat to a colored man."

The first business house in Dalton was erected by Vcach Ov. flyers. The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacitic Railroad Company put up a good and commodious depot ; the ground upon which it stands, including about forty acres in the town, was donated to the railroad company by Mr. Dalton.

The business interests of the town are divided as follows: Three general stores, one grocery, one drug store, one lobticco factory, one harness and saddler's shop, two blacksmiths, one hotel, one elevator, and livery stable. There are two church buildings, one white and one colored. The white is a union church, where several different denominations worship.

T'lis was located on section - , townshi[) - , range - , on the ^I'nsouri river. It was never laid out as a town, but was a business point from alxjiil 1832 to LSG'J, when it was tinallv abamUnied on account of the Missouri changing its bi'd, leaving the place a long tlistance from its banks.

The river now (1883) is about two miles from the landing. When the town of Keytesville was established, in 1832, Keytesvillc landing came into existence as a place of some prominence, because the goods which were shipped to the merchants of the former place were brought up tlie ilissouii I'iver liy boats and put off at this point, whence they were transported to Keytesvillc by wagons, it being about six miles away. This place was for nniny years an elegant steamboat landing, and was the highest point of land on Bowling Green prairie, and was the only portion of that prairie bordering u[)nn the river that was not overflowed by the high water of L'^44.

General S^terling Price owned and operated a large tobacco warehouse here i)efore the war. A store of general merchandise was run for several ve:irs. In 18G4, Clinton Basey had a store at the landing ; he sold the same to C. S. Forqiieran, who sold in 18(58 to General Edward Price. No business is done now at this point. In 18(>l), a steamlioat struck a snag near the hmdiug ;urI sank, but no lives were lost. The caliiii was taken oti' and much of the lumber was used in

Historv Of Howaud And Chariton Counties. -475

Prominent among the farmers is General E. W. Price, the piojn-iotor of the celel)ratcd Green Valley farm, hunted on Cowling Green ])rairie, four miles south of Dalton, ten miles east of Brunswick, and eight miles from Ke\tesville, the eouuty seat. This, tlio home farm, embraces an area of 800 acres of tlie finest agricultural land in the State. The soil is a rich, dark loam, from eight to fifteen feet deep, and is simply inexhaustible. Of tlie entii'c area of this splendid domain it is not exaggeration to say that there is scarcely a foot not susceptible of tillage. Tlie ordinal}' yield of wheat here is twenty-live bushels to the acre, and corn produces from seventy-tive to one hundred bushels per acre. GeneiTil Price grew, in 1880, on his farm 500 acres of wheat, which gave a magnificent yield, besides a lai'geareaof corn. His extensive [tastures tuid meadows of blue grass, clover and timothy are among the tiuest in the State. Ho also operates a saw mill located on a 200 acre tract of timber laud, which turns out from 5,000 to 7,000 feet per day of lundjer. His tobacco factory is one of the finest in the State. It is a building three stories high, and 200x1^0 feet ai'ea. The drying capacity of this factory is 200,000 pounds. His stud includes twehe thoroughbreil Kentucky racers, among which are the celebrated Bill Bass, Kusticus, an.d Adclade : Irene, a gray fill}" out ot Adclade, Don and others of wide reputation, making up one of the most valualde collections of thoroughbreds in the State. The General's spacious and elegant mansion is in correspondence with the character of its splendid surroundings. General E. W. Price attained the rank of brigadier-general in the Confederate service. He i? a sou of the distinguished General Price, formerly Govei-isoi- of the State of Missouri, and w hose name is intimately interwoven with our national history. As a polished gentleman and a popular citizen, no man is better or more favorably known throughout the State than General E. \V. Price.

Adjacent to the estate of the General, in Bowling Circen prairie, lies the splendid -i'26 acre farm of (jeo. Chapman. The character of its soil is identical with that of the farm just referred to. ^Ir. Chapman has 32."> acres in cultivation, and gives !iis attention especially to the culture of corn, tobacco, wheat and live stock. He raised, last year, from an eighty acre tract, 5,000 bushels of corn. His tobacco

A Coon Storv

During the winter of 1819-20, Samuel Williams, who had just emigrated to the county from Virginia, was needing some stock troughs, and ordered his servant Eli, a negro who was then ahout twenty years of age, to go to the woods and get then). Eli was accompanied to the woods Ijy John P. Williams, who now resiiles in Dowling (ireeu township, and who was then a lad of fifteen years, and two dogs named respectively, Kuler ami Joler, which were the pro[)erty of Eli. liefore the parties arrived in the locality where they were to cut and make the troughs, the dogs had tracked in the suow aeooii, which had gone up a tree ne.ir \)y. (iuided by the bark of the dogs, Eli and his companion were soon upon the grouml. and while looking into the top of the tree around which the dogs weie standing, Eli beheld, what appeared to be to him an extraordinary large coon. The tree was large, and Eli thinking that he did not have tlie time to spare to cut it down, sent tlohn to the house after the gun (;in old tlint-lock ritlc), intending to siioot the coon. John soon returned with the gun and hau'lcd it to I'^li, who laid down Itehind a cottoii-wooil log, and after taking a long and deliberate aim, tired. The coon, however, failed to show any signs of being hit, or even frightened. Eli liad never shot a gun before and this may account for the fict of his missing. John having forgotten to firing the shot-})oueh with him, Eli's chance for another shot was cut off; being determined, however, to secure the coon, he concluded to cut the tree down and went to work with his axe in good earnest. He had been chopping some little time, when the animal came down the tree, and after aj)proaching within ten feet of the parties below suddenly sprang away out over the hea<1s of all and ran up a leaning tree near by, pursued by the dogs. The dogs were brave little fellows (both beiniz small). Ruler being especially courageous and tenacious, and greatly esteemed l)v Eli for his many virtues. Jolerwasgood and true, orat least had been so heretofore, and both dogs seemed to be readv and an.\ious to iirove their courai^e and tidclitv.

Joler h:i()|>ened to be in advaiit-c of Kuler as thoy approaehetl the coon on llie loaning tree (the tree inclining to >nch an extent that the <loc:^ cciuld ascend and descend without an\' diriiculty), and ^^'llcn he got near enough to take hold of the animal, the coon struck the dog on the top of his head with one of his fore pa\\>, which sent him reeling and ivhirling to tlie grouiul. It was noticed that the scalj> of the dog's head was oil", as he struck the ground and as soon a« he regained his feet, he heat a rapid retreat foi- the house, where he was afterwards found under Eli's hed in one of tlie cabins. Joler attempted to engage with the coon and bring him down. i)ut every time he got near enough the animal woidd apparently sla[) him in the face and on the head, and send him turning over and over to the ground. The dog was tin:dl\- worried so lie could (Jo nolhing more and Eli left to tlu- resuurcf of striking the .animal "with his axe, proviiled he could get in strikin;:- distance. "\A'hile attempting to climb the tree with hi^ axe, and betbre he had reached the coon, it s[irang out of the tree to the ground and made its escape. Eli and .John after tin'shing their wui-k returned to the house and related their c(H)n story to Mr. AA'illiams, who after hearing it, told them that the animal they saw and attempted to capture was a panther. The next day the panther was seen again, and finally killed in the spring of 1820. It measured ten feet in length and was the largest one ever seen in the country.

Eli has been dead but a few years. He took great delight in telling the coon story. lie had never seen a panther, and believed the one he saw firstto be a coon. He said, however, whenever he related the circumstances connected therewith, that he thought all the time ho was trying to kill it that it was the biggest coon he oversaw, and had never seen any as big in Virginia or Kentucky.

Bowling Green township, having been the home of General Sterling Price for many years before the war of 18G1, we deem it jnopi r to given in this connection a brief biographical sketch of the G'mieral's life, believing that every man in Chariton county will j)eruse the same with peculiar interest.

was born in Prince Edward county, Vii'ginia, September 14, 1 ?(-!'. His foniily were, as their names indicate, Welch, but thev had spread into various parts of England and Franco, as well as into Viririnia. Thev were evidentlv old settlers in Prince Edward county, for tlie father of the suhject of this sketch, Pucfh W. Price, was tlie youngest of a family of twenty-tive children, and child of the second wife of his father.

Genera! Price was the third of four son!< and a daughter who lived to maturity. The eldest brother was Doctor Edwin Price, who died in Brunswick, Missouri, in 1858. The next eldest was Major Eolicrt Iluph Price, who died in Galveston, Texas, in 1873. The only sister is Mrs. Pamelia Koyal, widow of Captain John Eoyal, formerly of Virpjiuin, and mother of Colonel William Roval, of the United States army. Mrs. Royal resides in Columbia. Missouri. John R. Price, late of California, but now of Texas, is the only surviviug brother of the famil}'. At a suitable age Sterlina: was sent to Hampden-Sydney College where, after completing his education, he, at the age of twenty years, entered the clerk's office at Prince Edwards court-house, with a view of being bi-ed to the bar. Here, however, he did not remain long, for in the fall of the year 1831 his father move to ^Missouri taking with him his sons Sterling and John. They spent the winter in Fayette, in Howard county, and in the spring following settled in Chariton county, near Keytesville, in which neighborhood the subject of this sketch remained for a number of years, engaged in keejiing a hotel, in merchandising and in agricultural pursuits, after which he removed some tive or six miles south * and settled on a faru) in Bowling Green prairie, on which he remained until the breaking out of the war in 18131. In 1840, General Price was first elected to the lower house of the Missf)uri Legislature, at which session he waf< elected speaker of the same. In 1842 he was re-elected to l>oth })ositions. In 1846 he was elected to a seat in the Congress of the United States from the State of Missouri, on the gener;il ticket system. War with ^lexico having broken out soon aftei' he took his seat in Congress, he resigned and was commissioned by President Polk to raise a regiment of Missouri volunteers. Upon thisservice he retui'ned to Missouri, and in due time organized his command of which he was elected and commissioned colonel, and with which he marched into northern ilexico and the State of Chihuahua. In 1847 he wa< promoted for gallant and meritorious conduct to the rank of brigadier-general, and assigned to command in New Mexico, where he remained until the close of the war. He fought the battle of Santa Cruz which, like the battle of New Orleans, occurred after a treaty of peace had been made. In that battle the Americans captured General Angel Trias, the Mexican commander

:uul GnvcriKjr of Chihii;ilia;i, ;iiid several tlioiisand of his troops ami twent^'-fouf pieces of aitiliory, altlinnirli the Mexican forces nearly ijiiadniplod that of the Americans. The artillery and arms were promptly retiii'ned to the Mexicans as soon as knowledge of the treaty of peace readied the jreneral commanding. Yet it was ever with him a matter of regret tliat he could not l)rinir to Missouri the artillery as trophies of the war. After the ^Icxican war. General Price returned to his fa rP! in Gharitoii county which, during his al(?ence, had heen manatred with great prudence and skill by his excellent witc- Here he devoted himself to agriculture and the genial and elegant hospitalities of that time - a conspicuous trait of all the people of that section, or wherever Virginians h;id immigrated. He was surrounded by a large i;olony of farmers, many of then) of his own name and kindred, and by neighbors who held him in great respect, not c-nly for his civic and military services, but who esteemed and admired him as a good neighbor aiid honest num. From this beautiful retreat at Bowling Green prairie he was railed again, in 1.S,')'2, into public life. He was nominated bv the Dcin'icratic parly and elected by a large majoi'ity as {governor of the State. He entcn-ed upon thi> duties of the office at a time \vhcu the great corporations of the State, especially the railroad companies, were liei^inninir to become formid;d)lo.

Sutbcient cucoiiragemcnt had been given them during the administration of Governor l^ing, liis immediate predecessor, to embolden them in the most extravairant demands, and so plausible did the elofjuence of their supporters in the Legislature m.akc these demands ai)pear, that large extravagant a[)propriations were voted them by the assistance (if the " lobby" and omnibus " l)ills, and when opposed by the veto of the accompanied by the strong logic of his mastermind, and the jjrophetic warnings that have since l>een so fearfully fulfilled, these bills were passed against his earnest protestations. Finding the salary of the Governor iuadecpuite to the su[)}iort of that officer in a manner suitable to the dignity of tlie office, in a message to the Legislature, he called their attention to the fact ; recommending an increase for the l)enetit of his successor. Tmo vears before the expiration of his term, a law was passed in accordance with the recommendation, i)ut to take etl'ect from and after its passage, and notwithstanding the o[)inion of tlie attorne^'-general and several mend)ers of the Sufireme Court iu favor of the constitutionality of its a[)[jlication to the incumbent, yet he persistently ret'useii to receive a dollar more salary than lie took under the law in force at the lime ot' his ia-iuiriiratioii. Consequently there is a hirge hahmce still due him from the State. In 185fi, General Pi'ice returned to his t'iirui, devoting hinisL.'H" to agrieulture and hreeding of fine stock, where he remained with his family till the nomination of Clail)orne F. Jaekson for Governor, when upon his resignation of the office of hank commissioner, (leneral Price was induced to accept the ofiice. In 1857. he interested himself in the canvass for a county subscription of $J50.()00, to secure a railroad through this ctjunty, which is now a part of the St. Louis, Kansas Citv and Northern Eailroad, and by his effcprts, mainly, the project was carried l>y a vote of 341 mnjority. In the triangular contest for the Presidency in I'SfJO, General Price espoused the cause of Stephen A. Douglas, as a conservative between the extreme views represented by Abraham Lincoln of the North, and John C Bieckenridge, of the South. When the results of the election were known and the tremendous excitement consecpient thereupon cau~od the State Legislature, upon its assembling in January following, to call a convention of ninetA'-nine members or of three from each of the thirty-three senatorial districts, to consider the relations of Missouri 'o the L'Vderal Government, Governor Price, with Thonnis Shackelford, of Howard, and William Hall, of Randolph county, were elected Ijy a large majority, as Union members to represent their district, and upon the asseud)ling of the convention in Feln'uary, Governcn- Prii-e was elected president of the body. It was the tlesign of the ]ieoide of Missouri, if possible, to avoid the war that ensued, and tor that p'urpose determined to occupy a position of "armed neutrality." For this they were denounced as traitors and as such treated l)y the I'ederal authorities and their armies. Goveru(U' Jackson tendered to General Price the command of the State forces, with the rank of major-general, which he accepted and henceforth, after all hopes of averting a conflict were crushed by the capture of " Camp Jackson," where General Price's eldest son was with the com[iauy, which he had raised under the laws of the State, and of which he had been elected captain, his energies were expended in the interest of the South. 'J'his is not the time or place to enter into a detailed history of his militaiy career while the sanguinary conflict la-ted, for to do so wcjiild extend the sketch beyond our limits and involve a liistorv of the war, which is not designed. Suffice it to say, that either t'roni ignorance of his merits (which is the most charitalde if not the most complimentary reason), or from jealousy of his great popidarity (which is the most probable), by the Richmond

:\uthoritios he was subordinated to those who were greatly liis interiors, and denied the i>rominence and position to which his talents and abilities entitled him, so far that the cause for which he suffered so much, was greatly the loser by the manner in which he was treated by those who had the authority over him, and who ought to have known lietter. Notwithstanding all this the patience with which he endured and the brilliant qualities exhibited whenever the occasion presented itself so endeared him to the pi'O'.de of the South that with the exception of Lee and possibly of Jack';(3n, no name among their cherished heroes is remembered with a more ardent and sincere affection, and in Missouri, es[)ecially, will the memory of his name and deeds be fresh and fragrant long after those of his maligners have faded and perished from the earth. After the surrender, with a number of Missouri exiles, General Price made his way to the city of the Montezumas, with a view to the formation of a colony at Cordova, where a large grant of land had been made by the Emperor ^laximilian. The unsettled condition of the country, the waning fortunes of the empire aud more th:in all, the unfavorable action of the climate upon his shattei'ed ronslitutiou, notv.ithstandiug Mrs. Price and his children, with the excejitiou of his eldest son, had joined him in ile.xico, seemed to render his return to Missouri a necessity.

In the winter of isGi; they returned to St. Louis : the General suffering with chronic disease of the iniwels, first contracted in Mexico some twentv years previous. Here he engaged in business as a commission merchant, and established a prosperon.'s house. His health continued to decline, and all efforts to restore it were unavailiuir, and on the 29th of September, 1867, he died at peace with all mankind. After the body had lain in state in the church, at the corner of Eiirhth street and AVashingtun aveijue, for several tiays, where thousands took their farewell look at their l)eloved and honored chieftain, he was buried in Bellefontaiue cemeterv, on the 3d of October, tlie anniversary of one of his greatest battles, followed by one of the largest funeral processions that had ever been known in St. Louis. Endowed with rare graces of person, and a presence full of diirnitv aud Ijenignity, General Price was a natural soldier ; capable of huidimr troops under tire, and ot inspiring them with his own hi^h couratrc he had also the faculty of tilling them with a love of his person, amounting almost to adoration. His were the qualities which beritted him for battle and the tlizzy fascination of danger seemed to exalt him with and he could dilTuse his great soul into an aimy. He Vius not so niiioh the ireiierulas the chieftain. He ^vas the chiv.ilrons leader of a gallant and adoring people. The magistrate and ruler, the statesman and citizen. Frugal v.-ithout avarice, he was generous without prodigality, and always just. At the battle of Lexington, Missouri, ho captured from Colonel Mulligan, the federal commander of the post, a million dollars, belonging to the Farmers' .bank, every dollar of which he returned to the rightful owners. It was an act of heroic justice, but "it was not war." On the 14th of ilay, l?oo. General Price was married to Martha, daughter of Captain John Head, of Randolph county, Missouri, who had emigrated to Missouri from Orange county, Virginia, about the same time the Prices did from Prince Edward, and who settled in the corner of Randolph, near the lines of Howartl and Chariton. Mrs. Price, as before intimated, was a most excellent lady, possessed of many amiable traits of character, which endeared her to all with whom she was associated. Only four of their children are living : General Edwin W. Price, Colonel Celsus Price, Martha Sterling Price (now Mrs. Willis), and Quintus Price.