Cooper County, Missouri - Chapter 18, 1876

Chapter 18

Celebration of July Fourth, 1876, at Boonville, and Synopsis of the Exercises which took place on that Day. - Poem of H. A. Hutchison, read at Boonville, July Fourth, 1876,

Since the "late war," Cooper county has gradually increa:sed in population and wealth. The bitter feelings engendered during the war are slowly dying away ; and it can with truth be said, that there is no county in the United States, where life, limb and property are better protected than in Cooper county. The people are generally intelligent, moral, hospitable, kind hearted and enterprising.

Perhaps there is no better climate in the west, east of the Rocky Mountains, than this part of Central Missouri, and it is not like other parts of the west, subject to severe storms.

As this history is intended to close on the one hundredth anniversary of our National Independence, it is only necessary, in conclusion, to give a description of how^

The 4Th Day Of July, 1876

The celebration at Boonville commenced on the evening of the 3rd day of July, with the firing of cannons and a grand illumination of the principal streets, and a very long torchlight procession. Main street was in a perfect blaze of light, with gas jets, candles and lanterns, and every busi« ness house was decorated with flags and banners having appropriate mottoes; in fact, with hardly an exception, the people participated in the grand display.

The streets were crowded with people during the whole of the evening, and it was frequently remarked, * 'Where did so man}^ people come from?" A great many attended from different parts of this and surrounding counties, Howard county being especially well represented in the procession. The procession was considered a great success, even beyond the most sanguine expectations of the committee of arrangements.

It could perhaps be here remarked, that the celebration at Boonville of the ''nation's birthday," was not, in proportion to its population, excelled in any respect by that of any other city or town in the United States. The property holders and occupiers seemed to strive with one another as to whose premises should make the best appearance both in the illumination and the display of flags, lanterns, &c. The citizens were very quiet, and made no boast of what they intended to do, but when the signal was given for "lighting up," they astonished ev^ery body else, and even themselves. It will not be undertaken to give an adequate description of the display on this occasion, for it would have to be seen to be appreciated.

On the evening of the 3d, the procession was formed by Judge T. M. Rice, Chief Marshal, with Col. Robert Mc- Culloch and Capt. George Meller, Assistant Marshals. In front was a large wagon, containing thirteen young ladies, who represented the thirteen original States of the Union. Then followed twelve men dressed in Continental uniform, who represented Washington, Jefterson, Lafayette, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and others, among the most prominent men who took part in the Revolutionary struggle, Then camu men bearing flags and torches, in all forming a procession more than one-half of a mile long. Twelve men on horsebackdressed in Indian costume, rode several times pell-mell through the streets, yelling and giving the Indian warhoop. This was a ludicrous, attractive and prominent feature of the procession. Three bands of music marched at different places in the procession ; the Boonville Silver Cornet, the Clark's Fork and the Pilot Grove bands. After the procession had marched and counter marched through the principal streets of the town, it halted at the Thespian hall^, where the assembled multitude was entertained by an address prepared for the occasion, and delivered by Mr. Malcolm McMillan, of Boonville ; and last, as the closing exercise of this the first day of the great celebration, the crowd witnessed several of the best tableaux ever seen in Boonville, the principal characters of which were the young ladies w^ho represented the thirteen States. It was past eleven o'clock before the exercises of the evening were concluded, and the people dispersed to seek rest, to prepare for the duties and pleasures of the following day, for the greatest efforts had been expended to make that the "crowning glory" of the celebration.

The morning of the 4th was dark and gloomy ; rain fell in torrents, and the heavy boom of the "artillery of heaven," drowned that of the "feeble sons of earth." But this day had been set aside by the people for enjoyment, and early crowds of people thronged the principal thoroughfares of the town, seeking the place where the closing exercises of the celebration were to take place. At 4 o'clock in the morning all the bells in the city were rung, and thirty-eight shots were fired by the cannon, one for each of the present States of the Union.

As the morning was very disagreeable, although the rain had ceased falling about eight o'clock, the procession was not formed until about 11 o'clock, when it proceeded to

Lilly's Grove, about one-half of a mile east of Boonville, there to listen to the reading of the Declaration of Independence, and to the speeches and addresses prepared for the occasion.

Episcopal church at Boonville, the Declaration of Independence was read by Prof. J. P. Metzger. He was followed by Col. H. A. Hutchison, who read an excellent and appropriate poem written expressly for the occasion, and which will be found in full at the clos^of this chapter.

Col. William Preston Johnson, of Virginia, was then introduced and delivered a most eloquent speech, which was received with loud cheers by the assembled crowd.

After this, Mr. N. M. Drake read a sketch of the history of Cooper county, w^hich had been prepared for the occasion in accordance with the request of the Committee of Arrancrements.

It was then, on motion of Major H. M. Clark, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, unanimously resolved by the assembled multitude, that Messrs. H. C. Levens and N. M. Drake, by whom the above mentioned sketch w^as written, be granted further time to prepare a complete history of Cooper county, and that they be requested to have the same published in book or pamphlet form. At the close of each of the above exercises an appropriate chorus was sung, by a choir composed of lOO voices ; also frequently during the afternoon, the dull boom of the cannon was heard, seemingly to remind the forgetful of our citizens that that was indeed the "Centennial Fourth."

pared at great expense. And It is not exaggeration to say, that this was the finest display which has ever taken place in Central Missouri. At ten o'clock the last ''bouquet of flowers" was fired into the air, and the heavy boom of the cannon notified the assembled multitude that the great celebration of the 4th day uf July was over, and the people retired to their homes satisfied with the success of their endeavors to make memorable, the birthday of three millions of "Sons of Liberty."

At the request of niany of the citizens of this county, the poem which was composed by Col. H. A. Hutchison, of Boonviile, and read by him at the celebration on the 4th day of July, 1876, is here appended in full.

July Fourth, 1876

The mother and sister, and fond hearted wife, Restrained not their dear one from ioining the strife ; The maiden surpressing a sorrowful sigh, Her lover sent forth with a "cheerful good bye," And though they were few and their enemies strong, Yet striking for freedom, and maddened by wrong,

They struggled and suffered thro' dark weary j'ears Of want and privation, of hopes and of fears, Till tyranny fled and oppression was past, And victory perched on our banner at last.

That banner unfurled to the sun and the breeze, As proudly it floats o'er the land and the seas, The beautiful emblem of freedom and right, To-day we will hail with a shout of delight ! And let the grim cannon be brought forth once more Not death from its red mouth in anger to pour, But only to blend the deep tones of its voice With shouts of the people who meet to rejoice O'er this the return of the glorious day. On which, just a century now passed awaj'-, Our patriot fathers proclaimed them prepared To die, or sustain Independence declared !

Now let the wild tones of the jubilant bells, Be mingled with music, as sweetly it swells ! And may the soft winds, as they wander afar. Breathe gently to-day, on each stripe and each starj

And bear the glad tidings all over our lands, There's uxiox of hearts, there is joining of hands, In north and in south, in the west and the east, Where gather the people, at church or at feast, On liberty's altar their garlands to cast, And cover with roses the thorns of the past.