Clay County, Missouri - History Of. the County from 1822 to 1830, 1885 (part 1 of 4)

History Of. the County from 1822 to 1830

General Historical Sketch from 1822 to 1830 - First County Courts - First Circuit Courts - Three Indian Horse Thieves - First Murder Case - Execution of tlie Murderess - The County in 1822 as Described by Dr. Beck - Martin Palmer, the "Ring-Tailed Painter" - Miscellaneous Items - Liberty Township - Roads and Ferries - Important County Court Proceedings in 182(i ^Miscellaneous - Valuation of Property in 1829 - The Indian Alarm of 1828 - The Expedition into the Platte Country.

Upon the organization of Chw county, in January, 1822, the population was about 1,200. The area of the county at that time was very much larger than at present, but the population was abiiost entirely confined to the territory embraced within the present limits. The numlier of voters was 240.

Liberty was laid out and made the county seat in the summer of 1822, and the same year a dozen houses - nearly all log cabins - were built. Six small stores were in the county this year, two of which were Essex & Hough's and Robert Hood's. These Avere at Liberty. A few Indian tradei's were at the mouth of the Kansas and across the river at Fort Osage.

Other merchants in Clay county from 1822 to 1830 were William Samuels & Co., Ely & Curtis, Hickman & Lamme (afterward Hickman, Lamme & Ilingo), Joshua Fallen, F. P. Chouteau, James Auil, James M. Hughes; & Co., and Moore, Samuels & Croysdale. Some of the grocers^ were James Aull, Hiram Rich, Gershom Compton and Laban Garrett. Noah Richards had a licensed dram-shop in 1828. All these were in Liberty.

From the records of the county court - indisputal)le evidence - it appears that among other industries Lewis- Scott had a tanyard in 1825 ; Ely & Curtis operated a distillery in 182(5 ; and John Baxter had a saddle and harness shop in Liberty in 1827.

Mills followed the first settlers. Smith's sketch in the Atlas says the first horse-mill was built near Lil)erty in 1821, l)y Samuel Tilfoni

1 At that date a "grocer" sold more wliisky tlian coffee and sugar, and a "grocery" was understood to be a place where ardent spirits were retailed.

" and ground only corn." Probably there was nothing else to grind. The buhrstones of this mil! were made of " lost rocks," as are sometimes called the granite boulders scattered over the county, relics of the glacial period. Four other mills were in existence certainly as early as 1826 - Manchester's mill, on Shoal creek; William and Joel Estes' mill, on Fishing river; Smith's mill, on Smith's fork, and Hixon's mill.

A serious obstacle to the settlement of Clay county was the difficulty of crossing the Missouri, then more so than now a turbid, troublesome stream, with its shifting currents and channels, its treacherous bars and shoals, and, when at a high stage, its almost irresistible tides. Trifles and insignificant circumstances often directed a settler's location, and many a man located on the south side of the Missouri l)ecause of the difficulty of crossing to the north side. The first ferries whose owners lived in this county were Joseph Boggs', established in 1825 ; Richard Linville's the same year; John Thornton's in 1826, ;ind Frost's about the year 1828. Linville, in 1826, disposed of his ferry to an old Frenchman named Calisse Montargee, commonly called "Calisse" (pronounced Cahece). He ran it until in 1830, when he sold it to Beuj. Hancock.

Old Calisse was an eccentric character. He was one of the first settlers in the county, coming here soon after the War of 1812, first as a trapper and voyugeur. He had a landing on the river, kuowu as Calisse's landing, on fractional section 18 - 50-32, or a mile south of the present site of Moscow. He ran his ferry from tliis landing.

Aaron Overton had a ferry over the Missouri, at the mouth of Rose's branch, in May, 1830. It and all the other ferries were propelled bv oars, or sweeps, and it was a good half day's work to take the boat over to the south side and bring back an emigrant wagon.

Schools were established early. Smith's sketch states that a few steps south of the Baptist Church, in Liberty, was built a log schoolhouse as early as 1821, the first in the county, and that the first school was taught there by Judge Sibron G. Sliced. There may be and probably is a mistake in the statement that this house was built as early as 1821, but ther-e was certainly a school-house in Liberty in 1823. In 1825 there was a good school-house near Benjamin Sampson's in the southwestern portion of the county (elections were held in it), but the name of the first teacher can not here and now be driven.

Upon the first settlement of the county Government land was $2 per acre, and the nearest land office was at Old Franklin, in Howard county. In about 1825 the price of land was reduced to $1.25 per acre, and the land office was removed not long afterward to Lexington.^ A number of the farms in this county were taken as " New Madrid claims."

The term " New Madrid claim " may thus be explained to thoae who do not understand it : After the great earthquake at and in the vicinity of New Madrid, in December, 1811, Congress passed an act for the relief of the settlers who had been injured by that great convulsion of nature, giving each of them certain favors and privileges in regard to re-entering or locating laud in other parts of the State. In some instances this relief amounted to an absolute grant of land. The act was passed February 17, 1815, and was entitled," An act for the relief of the inhabitants of the late (?) county of New Madrid, in Missouri Territory, who suffered by earthquakes."

In 1827 a United States militar}' post was established on the site of the present Fort Leavenworth, an incident of importance to this county, since it furnished a market for horses, mules and supplies, and also gave employment to a number of our citizens, contractors and others. In a letter to the compiler. Gen. E. C. Drum, Adjutant- General of the United States, says: "It appears from the records of this office that Cantonment Leavenworth, on the site of the present Fort Leavenworth, was first established by Cos. B, D, E and H, Third Infantry, under' Col. Henry Leavenworth (who was its first commandant, and for whom it was named), about April 1, 1827."

In the summer of 1826 came the first " big rise " in the Missouri. The bottom lands were overflowed and the settlers thereon were forcedto remove to higher ground. Though there was some inconvenience and even damage and distress at first, the flood proved a blessing in disguise to the county in general. Many of the pioneers were afraid of the highlands, and especially of the prairies, but now they preferred them to the bottoms, which, as they could see, were liable annually to be submerged l)v tiie mighty, tawny waters of the Missouri, bringing destruction and devastation and leaving malaria and pestilence. So now, the uplands of the county were tested and found to be good, and thus the whole county began to settle up.

Upon the first settlement of the country many of the pioneers shared the expressed opinion of Dr. Beck, given on another page, and held that the prairies were and always would he practically valueless ; but there were others who knew good soil when they saw it, and did not hesitate to say tiiat the Clay county prairies were fertile and would produce well. There was a serious obstacle in the way of their cultivation, however. At that day there were no plows strong enough to tear up the thick, tough sod. The plows then in vogue were light att'airs, with small iron (chiefly cast-iron) points, and wooden moldboards. These were wholly insufficient for prairie breaking. After a time stronger plows were introduced, the prairie sod was trodden and became less substantial, and prairie farms became very popular.

February 11, 1822, the first county court of Clay county convened at the house of John Owens, which stood on what is now lot 18(3, on the iKU'thwest corner of Water and Mill streets, in the city of Liberty. There were present the county justices, John Thornton, Elisha Camron^ and James Gilmor, who exhibited their commissions, signed by Gov. Alexander McNair, and took their seats. (Thornton and Camrou had previously been justices of the county court of Ray county). William L. Smith was appointed county clerk, with Col. Shubael Allen and John Shields as secretaries. Smith had been clerk of Ray county.

The court first proceeded to the appointment of certain other officers of the county for the year 1822, viz. : William Hall, assessor ; Jesse Gilliam, collector; Samuel Tilford, John Hutchings, Howard Averatt,^ Richard Linville and Benjamin Sampson, commissioners " to preserve from waste the school lands lying in this county." All of these, except William Hall, were present in court and took the bath of office. John Harris was sheriff; he had lieen sherifl' of Ray county.

It is said that the court room was Mr. Owens' sitting room, vacated by the family for the occasion. Old Zadock Martin was present, and seemed to hold the entire proceedings in contempt, and so the first order of the court was the imposition of a fine of $1 on Mr. Martin for his said contempt. Whereupon Zadock awoke to a realization of

1 Judge Camron died in this county June 2, 1853, aged sixty-nine. As he wrote it himself his name was spelled as here printed, but latterly it is spelled with an c. The city of Cameron was named for him.

the fact that this really was a court, with power to protect its dignity and punish affronts thereupon, and so he made apology, and the fine was subsequently remitted. Martin was afterward a county judge himself, and he it was who is said to have been the first American actual settler in Platte county, whither he removed in 1827, and established a ferry on Platte river, at the crossing of the military road from Liberty to Fort Leavenworth.

On the second day of the term the newly appointed assessor, Wm. Hall, appeared and took the oath of office. The court determined to establish a precedent for economy in the administration of the county government and made the following order: -

Ordered, That the sum of one dollar only per day be charged by the justices of this court for their services ; and it is further ordered that the same economy be observed by all persons who shall have claims against the county.

Money was scarce that day, and the judges wisely determined that the county ought to live within its income. Mr. Owens was allowed $2 for the use of his house as a court room during the two days' session, and then the court adjourned.

The court made no order dividing the county into municipal townships - at least none is to be found. It seemed to accept the division which had previously been made by the Ray county court - of two townships. Fishing River and Gallatin. The line between these townships ran north and south, dividing the county neai'ly into halves.

A special session was held at Owens' March 9, 1822, at which Judges Thornton and Gilmor were present. Jesse Gilliam gave bond as collector, and Wm. Hall was appointed assessor in Gallatin township, and Pleasant Adams assessor of the State taxes for J'ishing River.

At the regular May term, 1822, all the justices were present, and John Thornton was made presiding judge. George Halfacre and James Williams were nominated to the Governor as suitable persons to be commissioned as justices of the peace for Fishing River township. Preparations were made for holding the August election in the two townships, as follows : -

In Fishing river, the house of James Munker was designated as the voting place, and Thos. Officer, Howard Averatt and Bailey George were appointed judges of the election. In Gallatin township, the house of John Owens, in Liberty, was named as the voting place, and the judges of election were James McClelland, John Evans and John McKissick.

The first roads established hy tlio Clav coiuitv court were oixlered surveyed or reviewed at this term. Those already in use had heca make by the Ray court. The first road establisiied ijy our court wa.s one from Liberty to the intersection of a road leading to Blutfton, on the Missouri river, which was then the county seat of Ray county. This road was directed to be surveyed " from the county line, where the road leading from Bluffton strikes said line ; from thence by Col. [Martin] Palmer's, taking the dividing ridge between Fishing river and the Missouri ; thence with the said ridge to the line ranges 30 and 31, and from thence to the county seat by the nearest between and most })racticable route." The commissioners were Joseph Hutchings, Jacob McKoy, Thos. Estes, Elisha Hall and Elijah Smith.

Other roads were established as follows: A road leading from the north end of Main street, in Lil)erty, " the nearest and best way to the prairie in the direction of Magill's." Commissioners, John Owens, Eppa Tillery, Ezekiel Hutt'man and John Hall. A road "leading from the court house [John Owens'] in Liberty, the nearest and best way to Andrew Russell's, from thence to the [State] boundary line." Commissioners, Mitchell Poage, South Malott, Aaron Roberts and Andrew Russell. The settlers had already begun to push out as fur as possible, or was safe, and settlements were being made on the western frontiers, and roads were needed for communication with the outer world.

At this term David Manchester was appointed county surveyor, and Joshua Adams assessor for Fishing River township. Mr. Adams was selected to assist Mr. Hall, the county assessor, who, owing to the size of the county at that time, could attend to his duties in but one township, Gallatin, in time for the June levy.

Some idea of the character of the county at this time can be gained from the report of Jesse Gilliam, the county collector, who stated tr> the court that he had issued six retail licenses (at $5 each), thus shoAving that there were six retail stores in the coimty in the spring of 1822. These, of course, were not comparable with the establishments of to-day, but their stocks were limited to the necessaries of pioneer life at that day. Some of the merchants in the county this year were Essex & Hough and Robert Hood.

First Circuit Court

Smith, clerk; Hamilton R. Gamble, circuit attorney/ and John Harris, sheriff'. The court was in session two days, and had for grand jurors: Richard Linville, foreman; Zachariah McGree, Benj. Sampson, Robert Y. Fowler, Zachariah Averett, Howard Averett, John Ritchie, James JMuidver, John Evans, Thomas Estes, Andrew Robertson, Richard Hill, David Magill, Walker McClelland, Robert Poage, Samuel Tilford, David Gregg, Wm. Allen, Elisha Hall and James Williams. There was no trial jury until the July term, in the case of "The State fs. Jonathan Caniron." Indictment for alTray. The jurors were : Abijah Means, Richard Chane3s Abraham Creek, John Bartleson, James Gladdin, Francis T. Slaughter, Enos Vaughn, Andrew Copelin, John C'arrell, Matthew Averett, Eppa Tillery and Samuel Magill. Verdict, "Not guilty." There was no fixed place for holding court, it being sometimes held under the arbor of a tree, until 1832, when the first court house was built.

Judge David Todd was born in Fayette county, Ky., in 1790. He came to Missouri at an early day and located at Old Franklin, Howard county. He was well known and long remembered as an able and upright judge and a pure man. Judge Todd died at Columbia, Boone county, in 1859. Hamilton R. Gamble was born in Winchester county, Va., November 29, 1798; came to St. Louis in 1818, and in 1819 to Old Franklin ; was appointed prosecuting attorney in 1822 ; Secretary of State in 1824, and Supreme Court Judge in 1851. In 1861, when Claib. Jackson was deposed, he was made Provisional Governor. He died in 1864.

Three Indian Horse Thieves

In the month of May, 1823, a roving band of Iowa Indians passed through this county on their way down to the Grand river country. Three of these Indians stole three horses from Ezekiel Huffman and other citizens of this county, and carried them oft' to the encampment on Grand river, above where Brunswick now stands.

The chiefs of the tribe gave information to the authorities, and on an affidavit of John P. Gates, the Hon. David Todd, then judge of the first judicial circuit, issued a warrant directed to the sheriff of Chariton county, where the Indians then were, directing him to arrest the

1 At this term Mr. Gamble was not present. Hon. Abiel Loonard, then deputy circuit attorney for tlic first circuit in the counties of Clay, Ray, Lillard, Saline and Cole attended.

throe culprits, whose names wore <j;iven as Cha-pa-har-Jar, or Buffalo Nose ; Mon-to-kar, or White Briar, and Ton-tar-ru-rJiue-che, or Where ho is Crossing. Subpoenas were also issued for War-sen-nee, or The End of Medicine; War-hu-kea, or Moccasin Awl; Monk-she -kon-nah, -a Valiant Man, Won-chee-mon-nee, ^'^ chieis of the said loway nation of Indians."

Tiio Indians were duly arrested,' and broiioht before Judge Todd, at Fayette, on the 5th of July. Their preliminary examination resulted in their commitment to the Howard county jail. On the 7th they were again brought before Jutlge Todd by Slieritf Ben B. Rav, of Howard county. The judge ordered " tlie said Indians committed to the custody of the sheriff of Chariton county, to be forthwith remanded to the sheriff of Clay county, to await theirfurther trial before the circuit court of Clay county on the first day of the next term, in defiiult of giving bail in $200 each.". -

But on the night of the 8th of July the prisoners contrived to escape from their guai'ds, as witness the following return of the deputy sheriff of Chariton county, in whose custody they were : -

On the 7th of July the within named Indians were delivered into my custody. I summoned Thos. Smith, Joel King and Thos. Jack as a guard, who kept them under custody until the night of the 8th inst., when the said Indians made their escape and have not since been apprehended. Alexander Trent,

Tlie Indians were never recaptured, i)ut it is understood that the stolen horses were recovered by Huffman and his neighbors. This is the only instance now to be found where the Indians committed any serious offense against our people after the year 1822, or the organization of the county.

Woman

Some time in the summer of 1828 ( probably in June ) , a slave Avoman named Annice murdered her children, and the crime having been discovered she was arrested and indicted. At the July term of the circuit court following she was arraigned and tried before a jury

' The arrest was effected by a posse composed of Maj. Daniel Asliby, John M. Bell, Peregrine Earickson and Christian Houser, who, the return says, were "on the search for three days."

composed of Charles English, Benedict Weldon, Ma3'berry ^litchell, David Bevins, Abraham Creek, Josiah Thorp, John Hardwicke, Ednuind Mnnday, David Hamilton, James Gray, Lewis Sheltou and Nathan Chaney. Of these David Bevins and Josiah Thorp are yet living.

Annice Ijelonged to a Mr. Prior, who lived near Greenville, in the northeastern part of the county. The family went away from home, and the negress decoyed her children to the woods and to a small stream, a branch of Fishing river. In a deep pool formed by asmall water-fall she threw two (or tiiree) of her youngest children and drowned them. She was chasing another, her oldest, when she was discovered.

The proof was positive as to the guilt of the accused, and Judge David Todd sentenced her to be hung on the 23d day of August following. There was no appeal of the case, no pardon, no commutation, no postponement of the execution, and the wretched creature was hung on the day appointed, by Col. Shubael Allen, the then sheriff. The execution came off in the northern part of Liberty.

Dr. Beck Describes Clay County In 1822

Clay county was erected from Ray in 1822. It is bounded north and west by the Ijoundary lines of the State, east i)y the county of Ray, and south by Lillard. Its form is that of a parallelogram, about 100 miles in length, and 21 in breadth; containing an area of about 2,000 square miles. The southern boundary is washed by the Missouri river; the interior is well washed l)y Fishing river, and several other small streams, running in a southerly and westerly direction. The lands arc generally elevated, and in the northern part approaching to hilly. Of the fertility of this county and the inducements which it offers to emigrants, I need not adduce a more convincing proof than the fact that but two or three 3^ears since it was a complete wilderness without a single white inhabitant; while at present its population is not less than 1,000. The country north and west is owned and inhabited by hordes of Indians.

Clay county is attached to the first judicial circuit; sends one member to the House of Representatives, and with Ray, Lillard and Chariton, one to the Senate.

wild and uncultivated ; yet such is the enterprise of the American citizens - such the immigration to the West, that it ahnost amounts to presumption to hazard an opinion on the subject. Perhaps before the expiration of ten years, instead of beino- bleak and desolate, they may have been converted into immense grazing fields, covered with herds of cattle. It is not possible, however, that the interior of the prairies can l)e inhabited ; for, setting aside the difficulty of obtaining timber, it is on other accounts unjileasant and uncomfortable. In winter the northern and western blasts are excessively cold, and the snow is drifted like hills and mountains, so as to render it impossible to cross from one side to the other. In summer, on the contrary, the sun acting upon such an extensive surface, and the southerly winds, which uniformly prevail during this season, produce a degree of heat almost insupportalile.

It should not, by any means, l)e understood these objections appl}^ to ail the prairies. The smaller ones are not subject to these inconveniences ; on the contrary, they are by far the most desirable and pleasant situations for settlement.

There arc those of this description in the county of which we are treating, surrounded by forests, and containing here and there groves of the linest timber, watered by beautiful running streams, presenting an elevated, rolling or undulating surface, and a soil rarely equaled in fertility.

In 1826 the first State Senator for the district composed of Eay and Cla}^ was elected. Hitherto the district had been represented by Gen. Duff Green, of Howard. The successful candidate in 1826 was Martin Parmer (or Palmier), of Clay, who lived on Fishing river, in the southeastern part of the county. Parmer was a "statesman" somewhat of the David Crockett species, uneducated, illiterate and uncultivated, but possessing natural good sense, a considerable amount of shrewdness, and an acquaintanceship with the ways of the world. An incident that occurred during Palmer's career as State Senator is thus described in Wetmore's Gazetteer: -

When the time approached for the meeting of the Legislature, Palmer loaded a small keel with salt on the ^Missouri, above Hardeman's plantation, and having taken the helm himself, manned the vessel with his son and a negro. Uniting, as he did, business and politics, while afloat on the river he stood astride of the tiller, with a newspa))er in hand (not more than six weeks old), out of which he was spelling, with all his might, some of the leading points of a political essay. At this critical period the assemblyman was reminded by his vigilant son in the bow of the break of a " sawyer head." " Wait a minnit," said he, "until I spell out this other crack-jaw ; it's longer than the barrel of my rifle gun," but the current of the Mis- souri was no respecter of persons or words, the river " went ahead," and the boat ran foul of the nodding obstruction, and was thrown on her beam ends. The next whirlpool turned her keel uppermost. The cargo was discharged into the bowels of the deep, and there his " salt lost its savor." The negro, in a desperate struggle for life, swam for the shore, but the steersman, who, like a politician, determined to stick to the ship as he would to his party, as long as a timber or a fish floated, continued to keep uppermost.

Having divested themselves of their apparel, to be in readiness for swimming, the father and son continued astride the keel, until the, wreck was landed at the town of Franklin. Here the old hunter, who was a lean citizen, was kindly supplied by a stout gentleman with a su't of his own clothes, which hung, like the morals of the politician, rather loosely about him. The suflerers by shipwreck were invited into the habitation of a gentleman who dwelt near the shore on which they had been cast.

While recounting their perils at the breakfast table, the lady, who was administering coflee, inquired of the politician if his little son had not been greatly alarmed. "No, madam," said he, "I am a real ring-tail painter, and I feed all my children on rattlesnakes' hearts, fried in painter's grease. There are a heap of people that I would not wear crape for if they was to die before their time ; but your husband, marm, I allow, had a soul as big as a cow-t house. When we war floating, bottom uppermost (a bad situation for the people's representative), past Hardeman's garden, we raised the yell, like a whole team of bar-dog on a wild cat's trail; and the black rascals on the shore, instead of coming to our assistance, only grinned up the nearest saplin, as if a buck possum had treed. Now, madam, I wish God Almighty's yearthquakes would sink Hardeman's d - ned plantation - begging your pai'don for swearing madam, with ni}"^ feet on your beautiful kiverlid here. May be you wouldent like me to spit on this kiverlid you have spread on the floor to keep it clean ; I'll go to the door - we don't mind putting anything over our puncheon floors. "The river, marm," continued the guest, " I find, is no respecter of persons, for I was cast away with as little ceremou}', notwithstanding I am the people's representative, as a stray bar-dog would l)e turned out of a city church; and upon this principle of Democratic liberty and equality it was that I tolcl McNair, when I collared him and backed him out of the gathering at a shooting match, where he was likeh' to spoil the prettiest kind of a fight. 'A Governor,' said I, ' is no more in a fight than any other man.' I slept with Mac. once, just to have it to say to my friends on Fishing river that I had slept with the Governor."

Miscellaneous

A special session of the county court in June, 1822, was devoted to arranging for the collection of taxes. A levy of 50 per cent of the amount of the State tax was made for county purposes, and it was ordereil th;it " ;ill taxes collected for county purposes be paid in gold or silver coin." In August following, however, this order was rescinded, the court saying that they " doubted tire legality " of making nothing but gold and silver receivable for taxes. The collector was ordered to pay hack what specie he had already received on the receipt of its equivalent in loan office or county certificates.

At the August term, 1822, the court made an order for the erection of the first public structure built by the county. This was a " stray pen" or pound for the restraining of animals running at large under certain circumstances. It was 60 feet square, built of posts and rails, l)y Jonathan Reed, and cost the county $29 .87^! .

Road commissioners, to lay off roads and allot hands to work the same, were appointed, viz. : For Fishing River township, John Hutchings and Thomas Officer; for Gallatin, John Thornton and James Gilmor. Chesley Woodward was appointed overseer of the road leading from Liberty to the prairie, " in the direction of Magill's."

In November, 1822, Jesse Gilliam, the county collector, made his first report. The total tax list of the county was $142. 77i, and of this he had collected $140. 27J, leaving a delinquent list of but $2.50. What the delinquent list would have been had the court insisted on the payment of gold and silver can only be conjectured, but doubtless it would have been much larger.

At this term the first guardians were appointed: Richard Linville and Thomas Frost were appointed guardians of Gilbert, Thomas, Josiah, Joshua, Benjamin, Polly, Ann and Hannah Frost, children under fourteen, of Elijah Frost, deceased.

In November, 1824, the court appointed the first patrol, one company for the entire county, as follows: Captain, Leban Garrett; privates, Claiborne Rice and Charles Magee. There were only enough slaves in the county at the time to justify the ajipointment of but this one conii)any.

In February, 1825, six saloons or dram-shops and one billiard table were licensed in the county. The latter was charged $50 for the privilege of running one year. Our first settlers were men like some of their descendants and loved their toddy. But while Clay county, in 1825, with a i)opulation of 4,000 had six saloons, in 1885, si.xty years

In the fall of the previous year (1824) a road had been established through the county leading to " the Council Bluffs," and in the early spring of this year another was laid out from Liberty to the Missouri river, " at u certain blue bank."

Under an act of the Legislature, passed the previous session, the justices of the peace of the county constituted the county court, and at the March term, 1825, there assembled at Liberty George Burnett and Sebron G. Sneed, Esqs., of Gallatin township, and George Hnffaker and Howard Averett, of Fishing River. They paid Benj. Simms " for repairing the court house and for furnishing benches " and also paid Nathaniel Patton, of Old Franklin, Howard county, for publishing in his paper, the Boone's Lick Democrat, the receipts and expenditures of the county for the year 1824. At that time the Democrat was the paper published nearest to this county.

Thornton Strother and Sebron G. Sneed were recommended to the Governor for commissions as justices of the peace of Gallatin township, at the August term, this year. At this time Sneed's house, in Liberty, was used to hold courts and elections in, and was called a court house. It is said that it was a vacant building owned by Judge Sneed.

All that part of this county whicii lies between the line dividing Ray and Clay counties to the sectional line running north and south, dividing sections 9 and 10, in the tier of townsliips in range 31, be aud constitute Fishing River township.

All that part of the county which lies between said sectional line dividing sections 9 and 10, in townships 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56. and 57, in range 31, to the first sectional line running north and south in range 32, be and constitute a new township, to be called and known as Liberty township.

All of that part of the county which lies west of said sectional line dividing sections 1 and 2, in townships 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 5(J, and 57, in range 32, to the western boundary of the county constitute and hereafter be known and design;itcd as Gallatin township.

western boundary of Fishing River was made the section line between sections 2 and 3, in range 31, which is now (1885) tiie eastern line of Liberty. The western boundary of Liberty was made the line between sections 2 and 3, in range 32, a mile west of the present boundary of the township. Gallatin township comprised the western portion of the county. All the townships extended northward from the Missouri river to the northern boundary of the State.

The previous year, at the August term, a petition was presented for the creation of Liberty townshij) out of Gallatin, but the court refused to grant the prayer of the petitioners, saying: -

* * * Upon consideration, it appears to the court that the signers to said petition, or a large majority of them, reside in or near to the town of Liberty, the county seat, and therefore can not labor under much inconvenience in consequence of the size of the township ; and it moreover appears that said petition, being presented so soon after the election, has been gotten up on improper grounds, and is, therefore, rejected.

Li May a road was laid out from Liljerty to Thornton's ferry, on the Missouri, " at or near the Blue Inink." Another from Liberty to the Missouri river, " at the boat landing at the town of Gallatin." Another from Liberty " to the mouth of the Kansas river."

In September Joseph Boggs was licensed to keep a ferry across the Missouri river, " from the bank near where Wyatt Adkins lives." He was allowed to charge the following rates : " For a loaded wagon and team, $2 ; empty wagon and team, $1.50 ; loaded cart and team, $1 ; for a dearborn and horses, or gig and horses, 62^ cents; man and horse, 37i cents; single person, 18| cents; horses, each, 18| cents; sheep, hogs, and cattle, 3 cents each." In November Richard Linville was licensed to keep a ferry on the Missouri, from a point in section 18, township 50, range 32, " where Louis Barthelette now lives," a mile south of the present site of Moscow. Judge Linville was allowed to charge the same rates as Boggs.

In the spring of 1825 Philip Logan and Wm. Murray engaged in an affray, or fisticuff, one day, in Liberty, and were arrested and convicted before Esq. Seron G. Sneed, who sentenced them to pay a fine and costs. Not having any money they were sent to Lillard county jail. When they had served " in gaol " a sufficient time to liquidate the fine they were released upon making oath that they were unable to pay the costs and the county court ordered their release. Thomas Young, another convicted and imprisoned fighter, asked for his release, l)ut the court said he should remain in confinement " the time prescribed by the verdict of the jury." Logan and Murray were arrested the same summer charged with arson.

Elections in 1825 were held: In Gallatiu township, at Beuj. Sampson's ; judges, Zadock Martin, Sr., Harmon Davis and Benj. Sampson. In Liberty, at the town ; judges, John Evans, George Lincoln and John Bartleson. In Fishing River, at James Munker's ; judges, Wm-. Miller, Thos. Officer and Jeremiah Rose.

New merchants this year were Joshua Fallen and F. P. Chouteau, the latter a well known trader. This year, 1825, the county court records mention "a meeting house, near Benj. Sampson's," in the southwest part of the county.

Court Proceedings In 182G

In February, township 51, range 31, including Liberty and the country east and south for five or six miles, was incorporated as the first school township in the county under the act of the Legislature of 1825.

At the same session the court provided for a seal of the following design: - A plough and rake, with the sun immediately over the plough, the rays of which point in every direction." The words : " Seal of Clay county, Missouri," were to be " on the outer margin and circle."

In May the first steps were taken to l)uild a court house ; Wm. Averett was allowed $30 per year for the support of his insane son ; and Abraham Lincoln (uncle of the "martyr President"), Reuben Tillery and Abraham Creek were appointed reviewers of a road from Liberty to Estes' mill, on Fishing river.

Elections were held this year in Gallatin township, "at the school house near Mr. Sampson's, in said township;" judges, Wm. Todd, Benj. Sampson and Hermon Davis. In Fishing River, at James Munker's ; judges, Peter Writesman, William Miller and Travis Finley. In Liberty, at the court house ; judges, James E. Hale, John Evans and Samuel Tilford.

lette. In Gallatin, Hiram Fiigate, captain; Robert Cain, John Gumm, Daniel Hughes, John S. Mallott. In Liberty, Thos. Estes, captain ; David Lincoln, Lewis Scott, Robert Johnson. Their duties required them to patrol at last 24 hours in every month.

The Legislature of 1827 repealed the law providing that the justices of the peace should be ex-officio county judges, and in June, pursuant to this act, the county court of Clay assembled, being composed of Elisha Camron, Samuel Tillery and Joel Turnham, all of whom presented commissions signed by Gov. John INIiller, appointing them county judges for a term of four years.

The first deeds of emancipation were issued in 1828. In February Henry Estes emancipated " Tom, a man of color," and John Evans set free " Sylvia, a woman of color." In May Joseph Collett, who was himself a " man of color," but free, purchased and emancipated "Hannah," a slave woman, and her two children, " America " and " Eliza." It is quite certain that the woman was or became Collet's wife. In 1836 Collet and his wife were granted license to remain in the State as long as they should be of good behavior. No other cases of emancipation arc recorded until 1834, when John Robidoux, the founder of the city of St. Joseph, gave freedom to one Jeflrey Dorney.

Wm. L. Smith, county clerk, resigned in January, 1831, and Wm. T. Wood (afterwards the distinguished lawyer and jurist of Lexington) was appointed in his stead. David R. Atchison and Andrew S. Hughes were licensed to practice before the county court at this time.

Valuation Of Property In 1829

Perhaps a definite idea of the value of personal property in Clay county in early days may be obtained from the appraisement of Archibald Holtzclaw's estate, in 1829, and the prices at which the property was sold. Mr. Holtzclaw's estate was very large and valuable, and his property was divided among his children at the following values : -

Other personal property had the following sworn values : A horse and side-saddle, $40 ; cow and calf, $7.50 ; sow and five pigs, $1.50 ; sheep, each, $1 ; a flax wheel, $3 ; a cotton wheel, $3 ; flag-bottomed chairs, 50 cents each ; Bible and hymn-book, $1.50 ; skillet, $1.25 ; a good horse, $25.

The Indian Alarm Of 1828

In the summer of 1828 there was another Indian ahirni in this county. Some white men up in what is now Clinton county had sold some whisky to a band of Iowa Indians. The latter became uproariously drunk, and in the absence of a town, began to paint the prairies red. Of course, an alarm spread that the Indians were on the warpath, and were about to descend on the settlements in Clay.

Capt. Wm. Stephenson, of near Liberty, at the head of 63 armed and mounted men set out at once for the scene of the reported troubles, intending, if the Indians were really advancing, to meet them at least half way. The men furnished their own horses, rifles, provisions and equipments. Some of the members of this company were Anthony Harsell, Alex. B. Duncan, Thos. Vanghan, Wm. Campbell and " Pelig " Ellington.

The company was organized at Liberty, and rendezvoused the first night out at John Owens', three miles north of Sinithville. Fi'om thence it went up on Big Platte - being accompanied by Gen. Andrew S. Hughes - then north of where Plattsburg now stands, and over on to Crooked river ; from here it went as far back as the waters of Grand river, and then turned back and returned home, after an absence of 14 days. Not an Indian was seen. The men were afterwards declared to be entitled to 40 acres of land each for their services.

About the same time Capt. Leonard Searcy, the well known tavernkeeper of Liberty, took out a company for the protection of the cantonment and garrison at Fort Leavenworth. This company, like Stephenson's, accomplished nothing but the fatigue of its members and their loss of time. On its return it encountered a band of 15 peaceable, friendly Iowa Indians and brought them to Liberty, where they were released.

An incident that occurreil during the stay of these Indians in Liberty is remembered by some of the old pioneers, as it was one instance wherein an Indian " phiyed ofi'" on a white man, Mr. Gill E. Martin, a young son of old Zadock Martin, being the victim. The Indians were excessively fond of sugar, and were known to consume inordinate quantities when they could get it.

Young Martin accosted a strapping "buck," and told him that if he would eat three pounds of sugar he would buy it for him. With extravagant demonstrations of joy and delight, the Indian accepted the proposition, and Martin bought the sugar. The savage set to work with great gusto and ate handful after handful. Martin and some companions stood watching him, eagerly awaiting the time when the limit of his appetite should be reached, and he should become first satiated and then sickened.

But when the Indian had eated a pound or so, he coolly wrapped up the remainder and thrusting it under his blanket and prepared to take his leave. "Hold on !" exclaimed Martin, " you agreed to eat all of the sugar - stand to your bargain, sir!" With something of a shrewd look the " untutored savage " rejoined : " Ugh ! All right - me eat him all - maybe some to-day - maybe some to-morrow - maybe some one odder day - Injun no lie - me eat him all - good-bv ! "

Chaptee Iii

General Sketch of the County from 1830 to 18-10 - Early Days in Clay County - The Deep Snow of 1830 - Building the First Court House - The First Jail - During the Black Hawk War - Origin of the Platte Purchase - The "Hetherly War " - Cliy County in 1836 - The Mormon War.

In about 1830 steamboats began to make regular trips from St. Louis up the Missouri as high as Liberty Lauding, and occasionally a boat laden with government freight ascended as high as Ft. Leavenworth, or even up to Council Bluffs. Landings were established at divers available points on the river in this county. Col. Shubael Allen established a landing on his plantation in about 1830. He had a licensed warehouse and near by Wm. Yates had a ferry in the spring of 1831. In the fall of 1831 Col. Allen obtained the ferry, and operated it from his warehouse. One informed on the subject thus writes of Allen's Lauding in the Missouri volume of the U. S. Biographical Dictionary, p. 313: -

From 1829 until Col. Allen's death (1841), Allen's Landing was the main point of exit and entrance of nearly all the l)usinoss and travel of Northwest Missouri, in its communication with the outer M'orld by 'the river, and hence there were visible at that point a degree of activity and a multitude of conuiiercial transactions utterly unknown in these days of the degeneracy of the river traffic in iMissouri. It was also for many 3'ears the starting point of a large number of the employ s of the American Fur Company in their expeditious to the plains and mountains of the great Northwest. The scene presented annually on the assemblage of these empioA^es - embracing, as it did, swarthy French voyageuvs ; tall, half-breed Indians, straight as arrows, and dressed iu wild garbs ; the display of arms of all kinds, the tents scattered over the lawn, the picketed animals, the many-colored garments - this scene was unique, semi-barbarous, but animated and highly picturesque.

Liberty Landing, in the boating season, was a point of some activity. Joel Turnham built a tobacco warehouse here in the winter of 1830- 31, and had it licensed in February of the latter year; James Roberts was inspector. A great deal of freight was shii)ped from St. (118)

Some of the grocers in the city in 1S34 were S. & A. S. Ringo, Shnl)ael Allen, Charles Carthrae, Abraham Croysdale, George WuUis, J. & R. Aull, and Arthur, Turnham & Stephens.

The first public l)ridge, that is, built by authority of the county, was erected across Fishing river, at the crossing of the State road, in the spring of 1836. Reuben Long, Solomon Fry and Littleberry Sublette were the commissioners. Soon after, another bridge was built by the county across a small branch near Uriel Cave's, on the Big Lick road ; init as it cost but $37 it could not have been a very elaijorate or important structure. To be sure, there were other bridges prior to these, but they were built by private subscriptions.

As the county was now pretty well settled, and roads were nearly as numerous as now, it became necessary to systematize the matter of establishing new roads and keeping them in repair. In February, 183(3, the county court divided the county into 42 road districts, and appointed overseers.

The nearness of Fort Leavenworth to the county and the desire for military life, induced some of our young men to visit the barracks and enlist in the regular army. They imagined, from what they could see from the service, that the life of a soldier was one of smart uniforms, dress parades, and an easy time generally, with $8 a month and "board, clothes, and doctor's bills." Some of them who enlisted soon grew disgusted and desperate at the drudging, menial life they were compelled to lead, and deserted. Others sought to back gracefully out. In March, 1836, our county court took upon itself the responsibility of ordering one Charles D. Stout discharged forthwith from the U. S. service ! Whether or not the military authorities obeyed the order can not here be stated.

Daniel Ferrill volunteered in Capt. Sconce's Ray county company, in 1837, and served in the P^'lorida War. It is believed that two or three more Clay county men enlisted with Ferrill.

The following were the post-offices and their respective postmasters in the county in 1836 : Liberty, John Hendly ; Barry, P. Flemmino; ; Elm Grove, James Duncan ; Platte, W. Turner.

The vote for President in this county in 1832 can not here be given, but in 1836 it stood : For Van Buren, Democrat, 347 ; for Harrison and Hugh M. White, Whigs, 282.

In contrast with the present public opinion of the county, I will relate the history of the first Sunday-school established in Lil)crty. At the request of an aged minister of the gospel, I had purchased some Sunday-school books in Philadelphia, and when they arrived a school was opened in the court-house, and I consented to be one of the teachers. The news spread over the county that such an institution was established, and that I had taken part in it. Several of my friends advised me to quit - that it was calculated to " unite church and State," and that I would lose my custom if I persisted. I did quit, and the school soon broke up, the old minister not being able lO procure help to carry it on.

Intercourse with Fort Leavenworth was frequent and quite intimate. Many parties, balls, and merry-makings in Liberty were participated in by Gen. Bennett Riley, Lieutenants Nate, Cady, Cooke, Walters, Wicklitle, and others. Liberty was noted for its dancing parties, which were frequently attended by e.xcursionists from Lexington, Richmond, Independence and Leavenworth.

In 1834, Gen. A. S. Hughes brought to Liberty the old Indian chief, White Cloud, and his daughter, Sally. They attended a party at Leonard Searcy's tavern, and the next morning Miss Sally purchased a new leghorn bonnet, trimmed with flaming red ribbon. Her father bought for himself a fur hat, with the crown 15 inches high, but with a narrow brim. The father and his daughter paraded the streets in their now clothes, prouti of tiieir new acquisitions, and the observed of all observers.

A writer in the Liberty Tribune of December 19, 1846, under the head of " Clay County 17 Years Ago," thus narrates certain incidents in the early history of this county. AVho this writer was can not here be stated, as he signed himself " Old Settler," and his name can not now be identified : - county by the way of Meek's (then Jack's) ferry, and I had not ridden more than a mile or two before I saw an opossum, and I got off my horse and killed it.

What changes have taken place since that day ! The whole Platte country was then inhabited by the Iowa, Sac and Fox Indians ; there were only one or two families in what are now Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Caldwell, Daviess and Harrison counties. Clay county was the ultima tlmle of Western emigration, and Liberty was regarded as the very paradise of Western towns. Compared to the neighl)oring towns it was so, for Richmond, Lexington and Independence scarcely deserved the name of towns, and Plattsburg was not then in existence.

In these davs Liberty was a thriving town. It was the iieadquarters of the Upper Missouri, and Liberty Landing was the head of navigation, except that occasionally steamboats would go up to Fort Leavenworth. There was no warehouse then at our landing. The arrival of boat was announced by the firing of a cannon four or five miles below, and by the time it reached Col. Allen's all the merchants would be there, as well as half the town and neighborhood. Freight was high but money was plenty, and everybody thought that there was no such a place as Clay county. The thought of ever being in want of a market for the surplus i)roductions of the county never once entered into any of our minds.

The change is wonderful in this and the surrounding country since 1829. The Indians have left the Platte country, and now there are at least three counties in it that contain as heavy a population as Clay, viz. : Buchanan, Platte and Andrew.

In 1830 an election for Senator, Representative and sherifi" took place. I attended a muster at Judge Elisha Cameron's and heard the candidates speak. Jacksonism at that time was in its zenith, and rode over everything else. A candidate had but little else to say besides declaring himself " a Jackson man." That was enough to defeat the best men who were opposed to Jackson. I recollect the speech of the

^^ Fellotv-citizpns - I am a Jackson man up to the hub. I have killed more wolves and broke down more nettles than any man in Clay county. I am a candidate for sheriff, and I want your votes."

He then dismounted, and a " Hurrah for Neil " was given by the crowd. In 1832 the Jackson spell was somewhat broken, as the Clay men succeeded in electing the lamented Woodson J. Moss to the Legislature, along with Col. Thornton. The Whigs have been in the ascendancy ever since.

The Deep Snow Of 1830-31

October 29, 1830, the memorable " deep snow " commenced falling, covering the ground to a depth of 20 inches on the level, and drifting in many places twelve feet deep. A week or so afterwards another snow fell of about the same depth, and actually covering the ground, without drifting, to a depth of two feet in most places. January '6, 1831, another snow fell, which added to that already on the ground made a depth of nearly three feet. The situation may be imagined. Travel was almost impossible. The few roads were blocked, and no one pretended to go abroad except on horseback. In a short time there came a thaw, then a freeze, the latter forming a crust through which the deer would break, while wolves and dogs passed over in safety. Large numbers of deer and turkey perished, and could be cauglit with but little difficulty. The snow lasted till the first of March following, when it went off with a warm rain, and there were great floods resultant.

The season of 1831 was unfavorable for the settlers of this county. Corn was the chief staple then raised - the principal dependence of the people - and the corn crop of that year was a failure. Much of it was planted late, and the season turned out backward and cool and the summer was full of east winds. At last, in August there came a frost, " a killing frost," and nipped the corn so severely that it did not ripen. The grains were so imperfectly developed that but few of them would germinate and the next spring seed corn was very scare and very dear. Certain vegetables were also injured by the frost, and to many the situation was actually distressing.

Building The First Court-House

Up to 1828 there was no attempt made to build a court-house for the county. There was no money in the treasury to build a suitable one, nor could a sufficient amount be raised by taxation, within a reasonable time, on the property then in the county. In May, 1826, Enos Vaughan was allowed $4.50 " as commissioner of the courthouse and jail," but it does not appear what services he performed.

Temporary houses in which the courts were held were rented of John Owens and John Thornton up to 1828, and afterwards of Stephen A. St. Cyr, J. T. V. Thompson and others. In May, 1838, AVm. L. Smith, who as county commissioner had superseded Wm. Powe, Henry Estes and Wyatt Adkins, was authorized to contract for 100,000 bricks, and also for digging the foundation in the center of the public square, " 44 feet 4 inches square from out to out."

A large portion of the expense of building the house was borne by the citizens. In May, 1829, when Commissioner Wm. L. Smith resigned, he had expended $672.11, of which sum $415.11 had been subscribed by the people. Joel Tunihaiii succeeded Smith, and let the contract for laying the brick and for the greater portion of the wood work. The architect of the building was Judge George Burnet.

The work dragged along until in May, 1831, when Richard C. Stephens was appointed commissioner, and it was under his supervision that the work was finally completed. Although some of the lower rooms were occupied in 1831, it was not until the spring of 1833 that the entire building, {jlastering, furnishing, etc., was finished. Joseph Bright did the carpenter work for $691.50 ; the lathing and plastering were done by John Dyke, Hezekiah Riley and Robert Burden. The tables were made by George C. Hall.

The court-house was of brick, two stories high. The first story was 14 feet and the second nine feet " in the clear." It was well lighted and had four doors or entrances on the ground floor, one at each cardinal compass point. As it was erected before the days of heating stoves the rooms were warmed by fire places, at least for many years. In 1836 lightning rods were placed u])on it. This building was burned down in 1857, standing about 25 years, and was replaced by the present handsome, commodious and valuable structure.

In May, 1836, the public square was enclosed by post and squarerail fence, the rails being set in the posts " diamond position." There were four gates in the center of the four sides opposite each door of the court-house, and two stone steps led up to each gate.

The First Jail

For about ten years after its organization Clay county had no jail, or gaol, as it was commonly called. Prisoners were sent to the Lillard or Jackson county jail for safe keeping. In April, 1833, ' our county court let a contract to Solomon Fry for the building of the substantial stone structure still standing in Liberty. Elisha Camron was commissioner. The building was completed and ordered paid for the following December, and it is said that it cost less than $600.

During The Black Hawk War

Details of the Black Hawk War, which broke out in Wisconsin in the spring of 1832, between the whites and the Sacs, Foxes and Winnebago Indians, belong to other histories. It is only with the part

The news that the war had broken out reached here in due season. Various circumstances contributed to form a belief on the part of many prominent men well versed in the characteristics of the savages that a general Indian uprising from the Lakes to Mexico was imminent. In this part of Missouri many of the people were acquainted with the Sacs and Foxes and knew that they were formidable enemies if they once vfeut on the war path. Knowledge of the events taking place iii Wisconsin and Illinois coming to the people of this county, there was considerable alarm and apprehension. Some of the more adventurous of the early settlers who had pushed out on the frontiers into where is now Clinton county, retired in good order to this county, fearing that the Indians would swoop down upon them from Iowa unawares and leave none to tell the tale.

Fearing for the northern frontier and the settlements in this and other portions of the State, Gov. John Miller early adopted precautionary measures. About the 10th of May, 1832, he ordered the generals commanding the Missouri militia to warn the members of their commands " to keep in readiness a horse, with the necessary equipments, a rifle in good order, with an ample supply of ammunition," etc. On the 25th of May, 1832, he ordered Maj.-Gen. Richard Gentry, of Columbia, to raise, without delay, one thousand volunteers for the defense of the frontiers of the State, to be in readiness to start at ;i moment's warning. Accoi'dingly, on the 29th of May, 1832, orders were issued by Gen. Gentry to Brig. -Gens. Benjamin Means, commanding the seventh, Jonathan Eiggs, eisjhth, and Jesse T. Wood, ninth brigade, third division, to raise the required quota, the first named 400, and each of the last 300 men.

Two conqjanies of militia belonging to Gentry's division - a company from Pike county, commanded by Capt. Mudd, and a company from Ralls county, under Capt. Richard Matson, were sent to the northeastern border of the State about the 1st of July.

Accordingly, Capt. Matson's company set out for the northern part of the State, and after some days of scouting and marching reached a point eight miles from the Chariton river, in what is now Schuyler county, and began the erection of a fort, which, in honor of the captain of their company, the Ralls county men named Fort ]Matson. This fort commanded what was then known as the Chariton river trail, which led from Iowa down to the settlements near Kirksville. Three vears before - that is to say, in 1829 - a party of Iowa Indians had made a raid on these settlements and killed a number of men and two women. It was believed that should the Indians come into the State one line of invasion would be over the Chariton trail, and in that event Fort Matson was designed as the first formidable obstacle they would encounter.

The Pike county company marched to the extreme northeastern part of the State, and built a fort ton miles from the mouth of the Des Moines river, within the present limits of Clark county ; this fort, in honor of their county, Ca[)t. Mudd's men called Fort Pike. The two companies were keptpre£ty busy for some weeks scouting, picketing and fort building, but not fighting, for they saw no hostile Indians. These companies were afterward relieved by Capt. Jamison's and Hickman's companies of Callaway and Boone respectively, as narrated on page 53 of this volume, which see for a summary of the events that took place in the northeastern portion of the State.'

Coining now to the [nirt taken in the Black Hawk War by Clay county, it may be stated that two companies, commanded by Capts. Geo. AVallis and Smith Crawford, took the field in August. Crawford's com[)any was from the northern and northeastern portions of the county ; Wallis' was from Liberty and the adjacent neighborhoods. Each company numbered about (30 men, who were all mounted, and every man furnished his own horse, arms, ammunition, and rations. The battalion was under command of Col. Shubael Allen, who marched it northeast into the Grand river country, scouting that region thoroughly. From Grand river the battalion went westward to the boundary lino, down which they marched to near Smithville, and came back by way of that village to Liberty, which they reached after an absence of 32 days. Not a hostile Indian, or, indeed, no Indians of any sort, were encountered on the entire march, which was void of interesting adventure or incident worth mention.

Mr. Anthony Harsell is now the only survivor of the Black Hawk AVar expedition from Clay county, known to the compiler, and from him much of the information contained in this article has been obtained.

Origin Of The Platte Purchase

^ Note. - By an omission, too late to be corrected, no mention is made on pages 53-54 of the only real important services performed by Missouri militia during the Black Hawk War - those performed by Capts. Matson's and Mudd's companies - and so they are inserted in the history of Clay county.

it was in this county that the idea of the acquisition of that purchase originated, and where the plans for the same were fully matured. Moreover it was Clay county men who carried out these plans.

As Col. Switzler, in his History of Missouri says, many intelligent citizens of Missouri have often propounded the inquiry, without having it answered, - When, where, and by whom was the suggestion first made that Missouri, a State already among the largest in territorial area in the Union, should extend her boundary so as to embrace what is now known as the " Platte Purchase? " The idea originated in the summer of 1835, at a regimental militia muster at Weekley Dale's farm, three miles north of the town of Liberty, in Clay county.

After the morning parade and during recess for dinner, the citizens present were organized into a mass meeting, which was addressed, among others, by Gen. Andrew S. Hughes, who came to Clay from Montgomery county, Kentucky, in 1828, and who soon afterwards was appointed Indian agent by President John Quincy Adams. Gen. Hughes was a lawyer by profession, a gentleman of acknowledged ability, and in wit and sarcasm almost the equal of John Randolph.^ At this meeting, and in this public address, he proposed the acquisition of the Platte country ; and the measure met with such emphatic approval that the meeting proceeded at once, by the appointment of a committee, to organize an eflbrt to accomplish it. The committee was composed of the fcllowing distinguished citizens : William T. Wood, afterwards judge of the Lexington circuit ; David R. Atchison, ex- United States Senator ; A. W. Doniphan, too well known to be mentioned more fully ; Peter H. Burnett, afterwards Governor, and one of the supreme judges of California, and Edward M. Samuel, afterwards president of the Commercial Bank in St. Louis, and who died there in September, 1869, - all of them, at the time of the appointment of this committee, residents of Clay county.

An able memorial to Congress was subsequently drafted by Judge Wood, embracing the facts and considerations in behalf of the measure, which all the committee signed, and it was forwarded to our Senators and Representatives at Washington.

Pursuant to the prayer of this memorial, in 1836, a bill was introduced into Congress by Senator Benton, and ardently supported by his colleague. Senator Linn, namely, an act to extend the then existing boundary of the State so as to include the triangle between the cx- isting line and the Missouri river, then a part of the Indian Territory, now comprising the counties of Atchison, Andrew, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway and Platte, and known as the "Platte Purchase." The difficulties encountered were threefold: 1. To make still larger a State which was already one of the lai-gest in the Union. 2. To make a treaty with the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians whereby they were to be removed from lands which had but recently been assigned to them in perpetuity. 3. To alter the Missouri Compromise line in relation to slave territory and thereby convert free into slave soil. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the two first mentioned serious, and the last formidaldc, the act was passed and the treaties negotiated, and in 1837, the Indians removed west of the Missouri river, thus adding to our State a large body of the richest land in the world.

In the summer of 1836 occurred in Northern Missouri certain incidents known in the aggregate as the " Hetherly War." With these incidents it is proper to deal in this volume, since two companies of volunteers from Clay county took part in the war, and at the time the entire population was greatly excited ami at times apprehensive.

From the official records of Carroll county, from the statements of living witnesses, and from other sources of information, it is learned that in the spring of this year a baud of desperrdoes, robbers and thieves lived in that part of Carroll county known as the Upper Grand river country, and now included in Mercer and Grundy counties. This band had for its principal members a family named Hetherly, from Kentucky, composed of the following persons : Geo. Hetherly, Sr., the father; Jenny Hetherly, the mother; John Hetherly, Alfred Hetherly, George Hetherly, Jr., and James Hetherly, the sons, and Ann Hetherly, the daughter.

The Hetherlys lived far out on the frontier, and their cabin was a rendezvous for hard characters of ail sorts. The antecedents of the family were bad. Old George Hetherly was regarded as a thief in Kentucky, and Mrs. Hetherly was a sister to the notorious Kentucky murderers and freebooters. Big and Little Harpe. The women of the family were prostitutes, and the men were believed to be villians of the hardest sort. One of Mrs. Hetherly's children was a mulatto, whose father was a coal black negro, that accompanied the family from Kentucky to Missouri. Bad as they were, however, the Hetherlys wore perhaps not as black as they were painted, and many crimes were attributed to them of which, in all probability, they were innocent.

Living with the Hetherl^'s as boarders, visitors or employes, were three or four young men whose reputations were none of the best, and who had doubtless drifted westward from the older States as they fled from the oflicei's of the law from crimes committed.

Old Mrs. Hetherly is said to have been the leading spirit of the gang, prompting and planning many a dark deed, and often assisting in its execution. Tales were told of the sudden and utter disappearance of many a laud hunter and explorer, who visited the Upper Grand river country and was last seen in the neighborhood of the Hetherly house. These stories may or may not have been true, but all the same they were told, and gradually gained credence.

Early in the month of June, 1836, a hunting party of the Iowa Indians from southern Iowa came down on the east fork of Grand river on a hunting expedition. As soon as the Hetherlys heard of the proximity of the Indians they resolved to visit their camp, steal what horses they could, and carry them down to the river counties and sell them. Taking with them James Dunbar, Alfred Hawkins, and a man named Taylor, tlie four Hetherlys visited the scene of the lowas' hunting operations and began to steal the ponies and horses which had been turned out to graze. Fortune favored them and they managed to secure quite a lot of ponies, and escaped with tliem to the forks of Grand river. Here they were overtaken by a pursuing party of the lowas, who demanded a return of their property. The demand not being either refused or instantly complied with, the Indians opened fire on the thieves. The first volley killed Thomas. Other shots being fired, the Hetherly gang retreated, leaving the ponies in the hands of their rightful owners.

Upon the defeat of their scheme the Hetherlys returned home, and began consulting among themselves as to the best course to pursue under the circumstances. Being much alarmed lest the Indians should give information of the affair to the whites and have the true story l)elieved, it was resolved to anticipate a visit to the whites on the river, and go first themselves and tell a tale of their own. Dunbar had for some time sliown symptoms of treachery to the party, or rather of a desire to break away from his evil associations. Soon after he was murdered and his body found.

In a day or two the Hetherlys made their appearance in the settlements raising an alarm that the Indians were in the country murdering and robbing, and claimed that they had killed Dunbar and other white men in the Upper Grand river country. The news was at first believed, and there was great excitement throughout the country. A part of the story - that the Indians were in the country - was known to be true, and the rest was readily believed. Carriers were sent to Ray, Clay and Clinton, and the people were thoroughly aroused.

Gen. B. M. Thompson, of Ray, commanding the militia forces in the district, ordered out several companies, and at the head of a regiment from Ray,^ and Carroll moved rapidly to the scene of the reported troubles. The whole country north of Carroll county was thoroughly scoured. An advance scouting party penetrated the section of country where the Indians were, visited tiieir camp and found them quiet and perfectly peaceable, and wondering at the cause of the visit of so many white men in arms.

Two companies from Clay were ordered out by Gen. Thompson. These were commanded by Capts.Wallis and Crawford, the same who had led the Clay militia in the Black Hawk War. Campbell's Gazetteer states that one of these companies was the "Liberty Blues," commanded by David R. Atchison, but W. A. Breckenridge, who belonged to Wallis' company, assures the writer that the " Blues " were not out.'' The battalion, numbering about 150 men, was again commanded by Col. Shubael Allen. There accompanied the militi^ some volunteers, among whom were A. W. Doniphan and O. P. Moss.

Obedient to orders Col. Allen marched his battalion almost due north, nearly along the then western boundary of the State to a point in what is now DeKalb county, and then turned east to the reported scene of the troubles. This was done to discover whether or not there was a movement of the savages from that quarter or to flank the supposed hostile band reported to be advancing down Grand river.

The first night on the march after leaving the county, Col. Allen's battalion encamped at Joel Burnam's, in the southwest corner of Clinton county, near where Union Mills or Edgerton now stands. Here 30 or 40 Indians, Sacs and lowas, were encountered on a hunting expedition, all friendly. Col. Allen held a council with them - it is not clear why. During the delil)erations he stated to the savages that they would do well not to go on the war-path against the whites, whose soldiers, he assured them, " outnumbered the blades of grass on all these prairies ! "

After thorough examination and investigation of the situation and the circumstances, Gen. Thompson became perfectly satisfied that the Indians were not and had not been hostile - wei'e innocent of the olfenses alleged against them, but, on the contrary, had been preyed upon by the Hetherly gang in the manner heretofore described. After consultation the officers returned the men to their homes and disbanded them, and the great scare was over. The Clay count}' men mai'ched to Liberty, via where Haynesville and Kearney now are.

The depredations and crimes alleged against the Indians were now' traced directly to the Hetherlys. A warrant for their arrest was issued, and July 17, Sheriff Lewis N. Rees, of Carroll county (yet living), with a strong posse, apprehended them, and their preliminary examination came off before 'Squire Jesse Newlin, who then lived at Knavetown, now Spring Hill, Livingston county. The examination attracted great attention and lasted several days. The result was that the accused were found to be the murderers, either as principals or accessories, of James Dunbar.

There was strong talk of lynching them, but on the 27th of July they were given into the custody of the sheriff of Ray county for safe keeping, until the October term of the circuit court. Old man Hetherly, his wife, and their daughter, Ann, were released on bail.

October 27, 1836, in obedience to a writ of habeas corpus, issued by Judge John F. Ryland, in vacation, the sheriff of Ray county brought into the circuit court, at Carrollton, the old man, George Hetherly, his wife, Jenny Hetherly, their sons, George, Jr., John, Alfred and James Hetherly, and Alfred Hawkins, all charged with the murder of James Dunbar. The accused were returned to the custody of the sheriff.

The grand jury found bills of indictment against the Hetherlys, and a separate indictment against Alfred Hawkins. Austin A. King took his seat on the bench, as judge of the circuit, in the room of Judge Ryland, at this term. Thos. C. Birch was circuit attorney, but having been of counsel for the accused in the preliminary examination, was discharged from the duties imposed upon him by the law in this case, and Amos Rees was appointed by the court special prosecutor.

On Tuesday, March 7, 1837, John Hetherly was acquitted. There being no sufficient jail in Carroll county, the Hetherlys were sent to the Lafayette county jail, and Hawkins to the jail of Chariton county, for safe keeping. Bills to the amount of $530 were allowed certain partiesfor guarding the prisoners.

It being apparent to the prosecutor that no conviction could be had of the Hetherlys, nor of Hawkins, unless some of his fellow-criminals would testify against him, at the July term, 1837, before Judge King, a nolle pros, was entered against the Hetherlys, and they were discharged. Whereupon Hawkins was placed on trial, and the Hetherlys testified against him. He was ably, and vigorously defended by his counsel, wlio induced some of the jury to i)Glieve that the Hetherlys themselves were the guilty parties, and the result was, that the jury disagreed, and were discharged.

At the November term 1837, Hawkins was again tried, at Carrollton, and this time convicted of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to death. The sentence was afterwards commuted to twenty years in the penitentiary, whither he was taken, but, after serving about two years of his time, he died, and thus terminated " the Hethei-ly War." What eventually became of the Hetherly family is not known.

This county, on the left bank of the Missouri river, is bounded on the south by it and west l)y the old State line, which is now changed by the addition of the territory recently acquired by Missouri. When the State was admitted into the Union, there was not a house in Clay county.^ It is now one of the best settled tracts of country in Missouri or elsewhere. The liigli cultivation of the numerous and large farms, the substantial buildings, and the tasteful arrangements about the domiciles of the old settlers, would lead the visitor to suppose, if he were governed by appearance, that he was in the heart of the best settlements of one of the older States.

The pioneers who explored this region of country found the land so rich and the face of the country so attractive, that swarms of good citizens of Kentucky and elsewhere poured in, and the county was speedily settled and densely populated. Great wealth was carried to the country, and more has been acquired by the enterprise and industry of the inhabitants. They have not failed to avail themselves of the advantages jiresented in the frontier market, which they enjoy in common with their neighbors of Jackson county. This market the settlers of Clay at first enjoyed exclusively, having been cultivators before any settlements were made in Jackson.

1 This is an error so palpable that it is a matter of wonUerment how Wetmore made it. In 1821 there were a number of houses in this county. - Compiler.

vantageous. They have, however, the fashion of making prairie, where there is any deficiency, with the Knous' or Collins axes. The timber of Clay is good, and the county abundantly supplied with a variety of oak, black walnut and black ash. The bee hunters (a people rather less industrious than the insects which they destroy) have made sad havoc with the timber of Missouri. [?] They go ahead of the settler, and find honey in the to})s of the tallest trees in the forests. These are necessarily felled to obtain the honey ; and thus some of the best timber on the public lands is destroyed. Where the bee hunter is followed up by the tanner, much additional waste is committed on the public domain. But, after all these depredations, enough generally remains for all the purposes of the farmer ; and heavy log-rollings are common occurrences. Fields of corn filled with bare and leafless trees are found in various parts of the count}', and are among the surplus possessions of the farmers of Clay, as well as their countrymen of other counties.

The inhabitants of Clay are at i)resent dependent upon the East fork of the Platte and Fishing river and some smaller mill-streams for their water power. But when the great mill sites on the main branch of Little Platte shall he improved, the western part of the county will be happily situated for milling facilities. These sites are in the territory recently acquired by the State. Limestone and sandstone abound in Clay, and the " lost stone" is used for milling purposes in oi'dinary or country work milling.

There are eleven grist mills that are run with water power in Clay, which are not suflicient for grinding bread stufls for all the inhabitants of the county, and horse-mills are therefore still in use. There is likewise a steam mill a few miles from Liberty, on the iMissouri river.

In 1832 the Mormons, under their Prophet, Joe Smith, came into Jackson, where the previous year large tracts of land had been entered and purchased for their benefit, and began to occupy and possess the land, with the intention, as they said, of remaining for " all time." But their years in that land were few and full of trouble. They were in constant collision with their Gentile neighbors, who frecjucntly tied them up and whip[)cd them with cowhides and hickory switches, derided their religion, boycotted them where they did not openly persecute them, and at last engaged in a deadly encounter with them, tarred and feathered their bishop, threw their printing press into the river, and finally drove them from their homes and out of the county.

Affrighted and terror-stricken, many of tiie Mormons took refuge in Clay. Every vacant cabin in the south half of the county was occupied by the fugitives. Many of them among the men obtained employment with the farmers ; some of the women engaged as domestics, and others taught school. A few heads of families were able to and did purchase land and homes, but the majority rented. The Clay county citizens received them kindly, ministered to their wants and rendered them so many favors that to this day, away out in Salt Luke, the old Mormons hold in grateful remembrance the residents of the county of 1834-3().'

The Jackson county people were indignant at the reception given the Mormons by the citizens of Clay, and stigmatized some of our people as "Jack Mormons," a term yet used. On one occasion a delegation of eleven Jackson county citizens, led by Maj. Sam. Owens and James Campbell, came over to Liberty to hold a council with the Gentile citizens and Mormons of Clay in regard to the lands from which the Mormons had been driven. The title to these lands was in the hands of the Mormons, but the Gentiles wished to extinguish it by purchase, if it could be obtained at their - the Gentiles' - price. Accordingly they offered the Mormons an insignificant sum for their lands and farms, many of which were already in possession of certain citizens of Jackson, but this offer was refused. The Clay county people generally indorsed the refusal.

Returning home that night, in great ill humor with their neighbors on this side of the river, the delegation of Jackson met with a sad misfortune. As they were crossing the river at Ducker's ferry, when about, tlie middle of the river the boat sank and five of them were

1 An old citizen of Iiidepeudence has recently published in the Kau.sas City Journal an interesting article ou the Mormon troubles in Jackson county. One paragraph of this article is as follows: -

True history, however, must record the fact that the deluded followers of the socalled prophet, Joseph Smith, in their first effort to organize and establish a religious socialistic community in Jackson county, Mo., were unjustly and outrageously maltreated by the original settlers, that is seen in the tragic and pitiful scenes which occurred during the last part of their sojourn in this, their promised inheritance, their Zion, and New Jerusalem. With scarcely one exception, the settlers were aggressors so fur as overt acts of hostility were concerned. During the last year of their stay the continued persecutions to which they were subjected excited the sympathy of many outside of the county, especially of the people of Clay county, who gave them an asylum and assistance for a year or two after their expulsion. Indeed, material aid and arms were furnished them by citizens of Clay before their expulsion; a wagon with a quantity of guns was stopped near the south part of Kansas City and seized by parties on the watch.

drowued. Three of the unfortunate men were Ihe Job, James Campbell, and Everett. The casuality increased the indignation already felt against the people of Clay.

By the year 1838, all, or nearly all, of the Mormons had left Clay county and joined the Mormon settlement, at or near Far West or at other points in Caldwell and Daviess counties, and in October of that year the " Mormon War" broke out. Among the troops dispatched to Far West during that month were some companies of militia from (ylay, belonging to Gen. Donii)han's lirigade of Maj.-Gen. D. R. Atchison's division. Two of these companies were commanded by Capts. Prior and O. P. Moss.

Of Capt. Prior's company Peter Holtzclaw was first lieutenant. He, with 25 men from the northern part of the county, became separated from the main command and did not leave with it. The detachment marched across into Ray county and fell in with the Jackson county regiment which had refused to march through Clay, owing to the animosity existing, and had crossed the river at Lexington.

All the Clay county men were present in line confronting the breastworks when the Mormon camp at Far West was surrounded, and witnessed all the proceedings. They saw the white flag pass back and forth from the Mormons, and saw the robber, Capt. Bogard, of the Missourians, fire on it ; saw the cannoneers stand with lighted matches beside their pieces, having sent word to Gen. Doniphan that they were ready to fire : saw suddenly a white flag go up ; saw the Mormon battalion march out with " Gen." G. W. Hinkle, brave as a lion, at its head, and form a hollow square and ground arms, and then saw Hinkle ride up to Doniphan, unbuckle his sword and detach his pistols from their holsters and pass them over to his captor, who quietly remarked, " Give them to my adjutant." Then they saw Hinkle dash the tears from his face, and ride back to his soldiers.

The Mormons agreed fully to Doniphan's conditions - that they should deliver up their arms, surrender their prominent leaders for trial, and the remainder of them, with their families, leave the State. As hostages, Joe Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, G. W. Hinkle, and other prominent Mormons, delivered themselves np to be held for the faithful performance of the hard conditions.'

1 Col. Lewis Wood, of this count}', vvlio was present, states to the compiler tliat at a council of tlie leading militia officers held the night following the surrender, it was voted by nearly three to one to put these leaders to death, and their lives were only saved by the intervention of Gen. Doniphan, who not only urged his authority as brigadier, but declared he would defend the prisoners with his own life.

The Mormon leaders were taken before a court of inquiry at Richmond, Judge Austin A. King presiding. He remanded them to Daviess county, to await the action of the grand jury on a charge of treason against the State, and murder. The Daviess county jail being poor and insecure, the prisoners were brought to Liberty and confined in the old stone jail (still standing) for some time. Many citizens of the county remember to have seen Joe Smith when he was a prisoner in the old Liberty jail.

In due time indictments for various offenses, treason, murder, resisting legal process, etc., were found against Joe Smith and his brother, Hiram Smith, Sidney Rigdon, G. W. Hiukle, Caleb Baldwin, Parley P. Pratt, Luraan Gibbs, Maurice Phelps, King Follett, Wm. Osburn, Arthur Morrison, Elias Higbee and others. Sidney Rigdon was released on a writ of habeas corjms. The others requested a change c)f venue, and Judge King sent their cases to Boone county for trial. On the way from Liberty to Columbia Joe Smith escaped ; it is generally believed that the guard was bribed. Parley Pratt escaped from the Columbia jail. The others were either tried and acquitted, or the cases against them were dismissed. The entire proceedings in the cases were disgraceful in the extreme. There never was a handful of evidence that the accused were guilty of the crimes with which they were chai'ged. Those that were tried were defended by Gen. Doniphan and James S. Rollins.

The Political Canvass of 1840 and 1844 - Elections of 1S4G - The Great Flood of 18-44 - Miscellaneous - Negro Killing - Tom Haggerty's Case - Clay Countyin the Mexican War - List of Capt. Moss's Company, and Sketch of its Services - The Political Canvass of 1848 - The Jackson Resolutions - Benton's Appeal - His Meeting at Liberty.

The Political Canvass Of 1840 And 1844

The Presidential campaign of 1840 was one of the most exciting in the history of the country. It marked the advent of the Whig party into power under Harrison and Tyler, and the Democrats, under Van Buren and Johnson, were overwhelmingly defeated. Even iu Missoui'i, where the Whigs were iu a minority, they were extremely active and held numerous monster meetings, at which their best speakers orated, and where they paraded log cabins, barrels of hard cider, live raccoons, and other emblems of their political heraldry. One meeting at Rocheport, Boone county, lasted three days. Gen. Doniphan was one of the speakers.

In Clay the Democrats were led by Gen. D. R. Atchison, Col. John Thornton and Capt. Geo. Wallis. The Whigs were marshalled by Gen. A. W. Doniphan, Maj. John Dougherty and William T. Wood. Notwithstanding that there is a recollection that in this canvass the Whigs carried the county, the records show they did not, the vote standing: Van Buren, 649; Harrison, 457; Democratic majority, 192.

But in 1844 the Whigs swept the polls by a good majority for Henry Clay and Frelinghuysen over Polk and Diillas hy the following vote: Clay, 765 ; Polk, 552. The canvass had been full of interest, and the old Keutuckians i*allied largely to the " favorite son " of their native State. The political hosts were under the same leadership as in 1840.

Hi8Tory Of Clay County

of ii " 8()lid " Democratic delegation. The Whigs were growing in mimbcrs, however, and as there was a tendency to bringing out Independent Democratic candidates, thus dividing the Democratic vote, the chances that Whigs might thereafter be chosen caused the majority in the LegisUiture to adopt the district plan, care being taken that each district be surely and safely Democratic.

The district in which Clay was situated (the Fourth) was composed of the counties of Adair, Linn, Grundy, Livingston, Carroll, Ray, Caldwell, Clay, Platte, Daviess, Clinton, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, De Kalb, Harrison, Nodaway, Putnam, Gentry, Atchison, Mercer and Sullivan, all of Northwest and a jjortion of Northeast Missouri.

Hon. Willard P. Hall, then a private in Capt. Moss' Clay county company, of Doniphan's regiment, and in service, was the regular Democratic nominee (nominated at Gallatin), and opposed to him was Hon. James H. Birch, of Platte, who announced himself as an Lidependent Democratic candidate. The Whigs, largely in the minority, brought out no candidate, and a strong effort was made to practically unite them in the support of Birch. The latter stumped the district, denouncing his opponent as having enlisted not wholly out of patriotic impulses, but as a stroke of demagoguery, to excite sympathy and win admiration.

But Hall, who was already a noted lawyer and politician, marched along with his company toward Santa Fe, and wrote his reply to Birch and sent it back to his district, where it was printed and circulated and proved a most effective cami)aign document. When the election came otT Hall was elected by nearly 3,000 majority.' Many Whigs voted for him. He and Birch had, however, in the early spring canvassed a portion of the disti'ict together, to secure the Democratic nomination.

Constitution of 1845 - For, 809 ; against, 211. Congress - Hall, regular Democrat, 564; Birch, Independent, 463. Legislature - Coleman Younger, Whig, 498 ; Henry Owens, Democrat, 575. Two members were chosen, and there was no opposition to Younger and Owens. Sheriff" - Samuel Hadley, Democrat, 083: H. M. Riley, Whig, 468.

' Though Hall was duly informed of his election he did not at once return home, bu with four others of the Clay company volunteered to accompany Gen. Kearney from Santa Fe to California, and was commissioncda lieutenant in Capt. Iludsou's company.

in November a special State election was held to fill the vacancy. The candidates were Hon. Wm. M. McDaniel, of Marion county ("Billy the Buster " ), and Hon. Wm. :M. Kiiicaid, of Platte county, the former a Democrat, the latter a Whig. Hon. J. T. V. Thompson, of Clay, was an Independent candidate, but was voted for in but a few counties. McDaniel was elected by about 500 over Kincaid, although the vote was small, and some 30 counties in the State did not hold an election. In this county the vote stood: Kincaid, 421; Thompson, 184; McDaniel, 30.

The Great Flood Of 1844

The extraordinary high water of 1844 will long be commemorated in the history of the Missouri valley. The river was higher in that year than in any other now known, exceeding the great overflow of 1826. The " June rise " of that year was extraordinary, and it was reinforced by the unprecedented flood in the Kansas river.

Judge Eansom, of Kansas City, an old settler, says that the rise in the Kansas was caused by heavy rains along the Republican and Smoky Hill forks, and other tributaries of the river in Kansas. The depth of fall of the Kansas at Kansas City, where it empties into the Missouri, is much greater than that of the Missouri at that point. Discharging great volumes of water day and night, the Kansas cut square across the" Big Muddy and broke in huge breakers on the banks on the opposite side^ and at last over into the Clay county bottoms, doing great damage. The weather was very peculiar ; it rained a veritable ^' forty days and forty nights." Every evening, out of a clear sky, just as the sun went down, there arose a dark, ominous looking cloud in the northwest. Flashes of lightning and the heaviest thunder followed, and about ten o'clock the rain would begin to fall in torrents. The bridges were ueariy all washed away. The next day the sun would rise clear and beautiful, and not a cloud would fleck the sky as a reminder of the disturbed elements of the night.

In Clay county the days on which the flood was the highest were June 14, 15 and 16. The river was over its banks everywhere, and all the low bottom lands were submerged everywhere.

The crops of that season were well advanced, and promised a glorious harvest ; vast flelds of wheat, oats, rye and corn were sul)merged, and the waters receded to leave them a desolate waste. Great suflering necessarily followed. The corn in the bottoms was especi.iUy luxuriant, and many persons were dependent upon the successful cultivation of that staple for a living. When it was destroyed their only resource for the necessities of life was the charity of the people.

Ill the summer of 1846 the prices of produce were as follows : Hemp, $2.50 per cwt. ; wheat, 45 and 50 cents per bushel ; flour, $2 and $2.50 per barrel ; hams, 4 cents per pound ; " hog round," 3^ cents. Shipping rates to St. Louis from Liberty Lauding were, for hemp, $6 and $7 per ton ; wheat and corn, 16| cents per bushel ; bacon, $2 per hhd. ^

About April 1 the steamer Wakendah struck a rock at the mouth of Fishing river and sank to the bottom. The boat and cargo were a total loss. A few days later the Tobacco Plant was snagged near Richfield and sank, but was soon after raised, brought down to Liberty Landing and repaired.

On May (3, 1846, a hurricane passed over the central part of the county, from southwest to northeast. Three miles south of Liberty it blew down a double log house belonging to a Mr. Simuis and prostrated trees, fences, etc.