Cooper County, Missouri - Chapter 21, 1876

Chapter 21

Complete List of County Officers who have served from the Organization of the County to the present time, . . . 221 Those to Whom we are under Obligations for Assistance, . 228 Abstracts 229-231

GentlExMEN - We are making arrangements for celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration ot Independence, and in order to do so with credit to our people, we propose to enlist the cordial efforts of our citizens. Knowing your thorough acquaintance with the history of Cooper county, we respectfully solicit a contribution from you in conformity to a resolution of Congress and proclamation of the President, to be read upon the above occasion, at least such portions as you may deem of special interest to our people. We are aware that we are asking a great deal to be done in so short a time, but the circumstances, we think, justifies the appeal, and our confidence in your willingness to respond favorably.

Gentlemen - Yours of 5th inst., requesting us to write a short histor}^ of Cooper county, &c., received. In reply would say, that we will comply with your request to the best o{ our ability. Very Respectfull}^

Introduction

In compliance with a resolution of Congress, and the Proclamation of the President of the United States, the Committee of Invitation for the Celebration of the *' Centennial" 4th day of July, requested us to write a brief historical sketch of Cooper county, Missouri, to which we, with considerable mistrust, as to our ability to meet the expectations of the people, consented, and undertook to perform.

After reading the same on that occasion, the multitude there assembled, unanimously passed a resolution, offered by Maj. Henry M. Clark, Chairman of said Committee, requesting us to complete said history, and have the same published in book or pamphlet form, which has accordingly been done.

3d. The Political History of the County, containing the names of all of the voters at the first election for delegates to Congress on the 2d day of August, 1819, who lived within the present limits of the county ; and, also, the names of the candidates for ofiice at several of the early election^ and the number of votes given.

6th. A description of the first churches, and schools, ministers of the gospel and school teachers, showing that the first school was taught upon a log in the open air, and the names of the pupils attending the same.

7th. A list of all of the State and County officers elected and appointed, from the formation of the State and county government to the 4th day of July, 1876; their terms of office, when the same commenced and w^hen expired.

8th. A table showing the progress of schools, the taxable wealth and taxes at different periods and other useful statistics, in regard to the advancement of the county.

loth. A brief history of each township, with the names of a number of its earliest settlers, from the best information which could be obtained from the records, and the recollecti®ns of the old citizens still living. A large majority of those mentioned were here and voted at the August election, in 1820, and but few are included, who arrived subsequent to that date. These lists are, we think, in the main correct, but some of the earl}^ settlers have, no doubt, been omitted, for the want of proper information. It will be noticed that the histories of some of the townships are more full and complete than others, their citizens having taken more interest in giving the desired information.

We expect our history to be severely criticised by some, but they must bear in mind, that it is a difficult and laborious task to write a detailed history, reaching over a period of sixty-six years, when there are so few of the old settlers j]Qvy living from whom information could be obtained,

Introduction- Ix

We have, merely in a plain old-fashioned style, recorded the facts, as they were learned from others, and from the State and county records. We undertook the task, not because we thought that we could perform it better than any one else, but because we felt that it should be done, and no one else showed a disposition to put his shoulder to the wheel.

For these and other reasons, we have undertaken this responsible duty, hoping that our efforts, in that behalf, may meet the expectations of a generous .public ; and that the following pages may be the means of perpetuating the memories of at least some of those who braved the dangers of the savage foe, and whose privations and toil were the means of opening to civilization one ol the most productive and best counties, upon which the sun has ever shone. Many of them, whose remains are sleeping in the sacreji soil of old Cooper have been long since entirely forgotten, and all recognize the fact that this should not be.

We should honor their memories, and imitate their virtues, their moral courage and their heroic bravery. We have few such men among us now. Those glorious days of simplicity have passed away, and only the memory of them remains. We live during the fast age of steamboats, railroads and telegraphs. Whether these things have increased our happiness and prosperity is left to others to determine.

But one thing is certain, and that is, the fact that crime has increased to an alarmincr extent. The records of our county show that no person was indicted or punished for crime, during the twelve years subsequent to its first settlement. This proves that the first settlers were, with hardly an exception, honest men and law abiding citizens,

To Captain Samuel Cole and Mrs. Jennie Davis, his sister, the only two persons now living in Cooper county, who were among the first company of settlers who put their feet upon its sacred soil - this work is respectfully dedicated. May they live long, and be forever blessed, and may their latter days be as peaceful and happy as their former ones have been honorable and glorious.