Cooper County, Missouri - Chapter 10: From 1834 to 1847, 1919

NATIONAL AND LOCAL POLITICS - VIGOROUS CAMPAIGNS - CLAY .VXD POLK - "O. K." - INDIAN ALARM - MORMON WAR - FLOOD OF 1S44 - MEXICAN WAR - COOPER COUNTY COMPANY.

The county gave a small majority to Martin Van Buren, in 1836. The county remained Democratic until 1840, when the Whigs made a clean sweep, electing their full ticket. Reuben A. Ewing, a Whig, was elected State Senator over David Jones, Democrat; and Jno. G. Miller, Jordan O'Bryan and Lawrence C. Stephens, Whigs, over John Miller, B. F. Hickox and Henry Crowther, Democrats, by an average majority of about 75 votes. There was great excitement during this election and politics ran very high. The Whigs held public meetings in regular order on each succeeding Saturday in each township, until the full rounds were made. They had a band of music engaged for the occasion, flags and banners, with mottoes inscribed thereon also with songs appropriate for the occasion, and eloquent speakers, the prominent ones among which were John G. Miller, Jordan O'Bryan, John C. Richardson, Robert C. Harrison and others.

The Democrats, however, made little or no display, condemned the tactics of the Whigs as noisy, boisterous and unseemly; pronounced the Whigs as deceivers and humbuggers and taunted them with using cain efforts to win votes by exciting the people. The Democrats held their meetings and had frequent public speakings without any display or show. Their candidates for the Legislature were John Miller, Benjamin F. Hickox and Henry Crowther. The campaign was lively, vigorous, stormy and frequently the personal element entered bitterly in the discussion.

The campaign of 1844 was lively with more parade and ostentation on the part of the Whigs than was exhibited in 1840 or the years before. For President, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was the nominee of the Whig party, and James K. Polk, of Tennessee, of the Democratic party.

During this exciting campaign, many songs were written, but none was more popular than the following, which was the effusion of some Boonville poet. It was written for the Boonville Register during the campaign of 1843.

"The whigs call Henry Clay a coon, And say he'll be elected soon; But James K. Polk will got it alone, And make old Henry walk jaw-bone. So get out of the way, old Kentucky, And clear the track for one more lucky.

"The whigs cried out for 'home perfection,' And think to gain old Clay's election. They hold conventions, shout and sing, 'Huzza for Clay!' he is our king. But get out of the way, old Kentucky, etc.

"The whigs of '40 did invent All schemes to elect their president, And were successful, it is true, But now 'humbuggery will not do. So get out of the way, etc.

"Their coon-skins and barrels of cider Have opened the people's eyes some wider; They cannot now be gulled so soon By this very same old coon. So get out of the way, etc. (11)

"The squatters on the public land Will all unite into one band; Then will the 'lawless rabble' say, You cannot come it, Henry Clay. So get out of the way, etc.

"The people of this mighty nation Will not submit to coon dictation ; So Mr. Clay may rest content, He never can be president. So get out of the way," etc.

Not long ago the following query appeared in the "Evening Post" of Indiana: "People constantly write the letters '0. K.' to say all right. How did this practice originate?" The Post gave the following answer: "The practice got its start in the days of General Jackson, known to the men of his time as Old Hickory. It was said that General Jackson was not as proficient in spelling as in some other things, and so in the abbreviating which he practised, '0. K.' stands for 'all correct' ('Oil Korrect.') This is as near as our data at present allows us to come to the origin of the now wide practice.

Reading this answer, a gentleman who signs his initials J. W. D., addressed the editor of the "Evening Post," the following: "I note what you say about the origin of the practice of using the letters '0. K.' to signify 'correct' or 'all right.' It seems to be that your informant is wrong. I am quite sure that this practice originated during the Clay and Polk campaign. At that time the writer was a boy, living in Boonville, Mo. You all know what a lively campaign the Clay and Polk campaign was. Mr. Clay was the idol of the Whigs, and was affectionately called 'Old Kentucky.' Those who favored his election put up their flags on ash poles, at all the cross-roads, country taverns and wood yards on the river, while the Dmocrats put up hickory poles with poke bushes at the top, the Whigs using for a flag a square of whole cloth with the letters '0. K.' signifying 'Old Kentucky.' The Democrats used a streamer with 'Polk and Dallas,' Oregon and Texas.'

"The town of Boonville boasted two newspapers, one the 'Observer,' a Whig paper, conducted by one Caldwell, a very brilliant young man, the other the 'Boonville Register,' conducted by one Ira Van Nortrick. Toward the close of the campaign the editor of the 'Register' came out in a very salty editorial, denouncing the ignorance of the Whigs and demanding to know 'What does "0. K." mean anyhow?' Caldwell came back at him with the information that he would find out '0. K.' meant 'Oil Korrect' in November. The expression took like wildfire; the boys yelled it, chalked it on the fences. Like other slang, it seemed to fill a want, and upon the inauguration of the telegraph, in '46, the adoption of '0. K.,' I was informed by one of the first operators in the country, Mr. E. F. Barnes, introduced to the business public, as he was one of the parties organizing the system of signals used by the company. Then it passed into general use. Of course Missouri was not the only place where Mr. Clay was called 'Old Kentucky.' A favorite song of the Whigs, both in Missouri and Kentucky, only a line or two of which I can now recall to mind, sung to the tune of 'Old Dan Tucker,' ran about thus :

An incident of this campaign, illustrative of the attendant excitement, and doubtless bitterness engendered among the thoughtless and reckless class, is referred to in an article we take from the "Boonville Observer." It will be noted that the "Observer" in no mincing or apologetic words condemns the rowdyism mentioned, though evidently committed by one or more persons of its political persuasion:

"One of the most shameful acts that we have ever known perpetrated in any community or on any occasion, was committed in this city on last Friday night, at the Whig gathering in the court-house, where a part of the convention had assembled to hear speaking. Some debased ' tch during the evening cut the Howard and Lafayette banners which had the portraits of Mr. Clay on them. They were cut about the throat of the picture, and also in other places. If a Democrat used the hand and knife that slit those banners, we do not know that it would be much too severe a punishment upon him to be served likewise. No prudent Democrat can object to the Whig party's emblem or banners. It is the privilege of all parties in this country to have them, and an uplifted voice of indignation should chase the wretch who will molest the banner of his opponent when exercising only the same privilege that our insti- tutions guaranteed to him. As a Democrat, we sincerely regret that so mean an act could have been committed here on that occasion. The Club here, we understand, has offered a reward of $100 for the detection of the man who committed this foul stain upon our community ; and the Democrats will do their utmost also, to detect him. In the political point of view it will do no harm, but good citizens want no man who is capable of such a deed among them."

We will at this time continue no further the political history of Cooper County, but will revert to the year 1836. In that year, wild reports and rumors were circulated that the Indians had broken out, and were attacking the settlers living within the present limits of Pettis County, then part of Cooper and Saline counties, and were slaying men, women and children as they went. The excitement was great, and men began to assemble in that portion of the county to aid in the defense of the homes of their neighbors. The place of rendezvous for those who went from Cooper County was Wooley's Mill, on the Petit Saline Creek. Here they organized and elected their officers. After doing so, they marched to the supposed seat of war, but on their arrival, they found no Indians had been there, and that it had been entirely a false alarm. It was a practical joke. It seems that some men, for their own amusement, dressed themselves as Indians, and went down to a cornfield where some men were at work, and giving the Indian yell, shot off their guns, pointed in the direction of the settlers. They, supposing that the disguised men were hostile Indians, endeavoring to slay them, took to their heels, and spread the alarm, which, like a tale of scandal, traveled from mouth to mouth, and gathered momentum and new versions as it went from lip to lip. It is stated that a wealthy farmer of Cooper County, catching the alarm, buried his bacon to save it from the bloodthirsty savages. Then going to a field in which a large number of his negroes were at work waved his hand and shouted at the top of his voice, "Run. run, the Indians will be upon you, the Indians will be upon you." The negroes taking the alarm, stood not on the manner of their going, but scattered in every direction as though the frightful savages with tomahawks and hunting knives were close upon their heels.

The Mormon War, in 1838, created considerable excitement in the State and roused to action the citizens of Cooper County. When the Mormons first came to Missouri, they located in Jackson County, and the citizens, liking neither their doctrines nor their customs, forced them to leave. They then settled in Caldwell County, Missouri, but the citizens in that part of the State, favoring them no more than did the citizens of Jackson County, determined to expel them from the State. They called upon Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs for assistance, and to furnish troops. Governor Boggs called for 7,000 volunteers to assist in driving the Mormons from the territory over which he had control.

In response to this call three companies were raised in Cooper County. One, called the "Boonville Guards," composed entirely of citizens of Boonville this, under the existing laws of the State, was a standing company, and equipped at the expense of the State government. The second, a volunteer company raised at Boonville, composed of citizens of Boonville and the surrounding neighborhood. Of this company, Jessie J. Turley was captain, Marcus Williams, Jr., first lieutenant, and J. Logan Forsythe, second lieutenant. The third was raised at Palestine, the officers of which are not known. Of the forces raised in Cooper County, Joel E. Woodward was brigadier general, Joseph Megguire, inspector general, and Benjamin E. Ferry, aide-de-camp to Gen. Henry W. Crowther.

These companies marched twice towards the Mormon settlement and the seat of war. The first time they marched as far as Jonesborough, Saline County, where the commanders, supposing from reports which reached them that there were sufficient troops already at the scene of war to conquer the Mormons, ordered them to return. They were shortly afterwards again ordered to the seat of war, and marched to Lexington, where they crossed the Missouri River. They then advanced about two miles into the prairie, and there camped for two days. The Mormon troops having in the meantime surrendered to Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., these companies returned home without having the pleasure of meeting the enemy or having the opportunity of testing their valor. On their arrival at Boonville these troops were disbanded.

The Mormons during this short war were commanded by General Weite, an old British officer, who fought against General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. The Mormons, after the conclusion of this war, left the State and located at Nauvoo, Illinois, where they remained for several years. Having had a difficulty with the authorities of the State of Illinois, and their prophet and leader, Joseph Smith, having been assassinated, they again "pulled up stakes" and emigrated to the shores of the "Great Salt Lake." where they have ever since remained, believing and feeling that they are a persecuted people.

Roberts, Higby, and two others. These men were first imprisoned in the jail at Richmond, Ray County, and were afterwards removed to the jail at Liberty, Clay County, where they broke jail, escaped pursuit, and were never tried.

The unprecedented and most disastrous rise in the Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois Rivers occurred in 1844. About the tenth of June, the river at St. Louis commenced to rise rapidly, while intelligence was received of the rising of the Illinois and Missouri Rivers, and by the sixteenth, the curbstones of Front street were under water, and the danger to property and business became quite alarming.

At first it was thought along the Missouri to be merely the usual June rise but the continued expansion of the flood soon convinced the inhabitants of its unprecedented and alarming character. All the bottom lands, or lowlands of the Missouri River overflowed and many farms were ruined, many being as much as 15 feet under water. Houses, barns and fences were swept away, and in many instances human lives were lost. In others, human beings clung to floating dwellings, or immense piles of driftwood, and some of them were rescued by passing boats, and devices improvised especially to save them. The front streets of many of the towns along the river were completely submerged. Between 400 and 500 persons in St. Louis, and vicinity were driven from their homes, and great distress prevailed.

At St. Louis the river reached its greatest height on the 24th of June. It was seven feet seven inches above the city directrix, and in its abatement the water did not reach the city directrix until the 14th day of July.

A farmer who lived in the bottom about a mile south of New Franklin by the name of Lloyd, waited during the rise, thinking every day that the river would reach its highest point, and did not leave his cabin, until he was compelled one morning to make a hasty exit through the roof. While getting out some of his household plunder, he spilt some corn meal on the roof of this cabin. The third day after leaving, Lloyd returned, and found to his surprise that the roof of his cabin had been transformed into a menagerie of birds and animals. Among these were a cat, a dog, a coon, a fox, a rat, two chickens, and a turkey. He observed that the meal was gone and was greatly surprised to find these animals living together in amity and perfect harmony. A common misfortune had created among them a sympathetic feeling. The presence of the great flood had seemingly overawed and overpowered their antagonistic natures, and like the lion and the lamb, of prophetic history, they were dwelling together in peace.

Another farmer who resided in the bottoms, lost a very valuable horse. The day he left his cabin, this horse was driven, with other horses, and stock, to the hills for safe keeping. Some days afterwards the horse was missing, and was not found until the waters had receded, when he was discovered, or at least such portions of him as were left, hanging by one of his hind feet in some grape vines fully fifteen feet above the ground, having on the same halter that he wore when he left. The rise of 1844 obtained a greater elevation.

History records three great disastrous floods prior to this one. The great flood of 1785, known as "L'anee des Grandes Eaux,' and the floods of 1811, and 1826; the latter being that which set the seal of fate upon the future prosperity of Franklin, now referred to as Old Franklin.

Again the tocsin of war was sounded, in 1846. In the month of May of that year, the President of the United States called for volunteers to assist in the Mexican War. One company from Cooper County was called upon to join the troops in Mexico.

The alleged cause of the declaration of war by Mexico against the United States in April, 1846, was the annexation of Texas, but the more immediate cause was the occupation by the American army of the disputed territory lying between the Nueces and Rio Grande River.

The call for one company from the fifth division has been promptly responded to. Forty-three volunteers were raised by General Ferry on Monday in Boonville, and on Tuesday, at Palestine, under the direction of Generals Ferry and Megguire, the number was increased to 61. They then elected their officers, and the following gentlemen were chosen:

Joseph L. Stephens, captain, without opposition, who delivered to the volunteers on that occasion a spirited and handsome address; first lieutenant, Newton Williams; second lieutenant, H. C. Levens; first sergeant,'John D. Stephens; second sergeant, William T. Cole; third sergeant, Richard Norris ; fourth sergeant, James S. Hughes; first corporal, Tipton Prior; second corporal, A. B. Cele; third corporal, Wesley Amick; fourth corporal, A. G. Baber. The company, thus organized, assembled in Boonville on Wednesday, where they were exercised in military duty by their accomplished and gallant young captain.

They departed today (Thursday) on the steamer L. F. Linn for St. Louis, where they will be armed and equipped, and immediately transported to the army of occupation on the Rio Grande. Our best wishes attend them. May victory ever perch upon their banners, and may they all return to their friends full of honors, with the proud reflection that they have served their country faithfully.

When the steamer Louis F. Linn, Eaton, captain, Jewell, clerk, arrived in Boonville, on her downward trip, the company formed in line on the upper deck and many friends passed along the line, bidding farewell and shaking each volunteer by the hand. The landing was crowded with people. The boat soon started, with cheers from the multitude, and waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies.

The steamer laid up for the first night at Nashville, which is about fifteen miles below Rocheport. The members of the company were all jolly fellows, and jest and laughter made the time pass pleasantly and quickly. The most of them, had never been from home, and longed, with the anxiety of children, to see new countries and to take part in other than every day affairs of their lives.

Lieutenant Levers being on watch the latter part of the night after they had left Boonville, heard a terrible splash in the water, and on inquiring for the cause discovered that one of his men had fallen overboard. The deck-hands rescued him, and soon afterwards one of the company folowed the example of his comrade, and was rescued by the same men. The lieutenant becoming alarmed for the safety of the men of the company, waked up the captain, informed him of what had happened, and told him that if he did not take measures to prevent it he might have his company considerably diminished before they reached St. Louis, if the men continued to fall overboard as rapidly as they had commenced. The captain was greatly surprised at such unexpected accidents, and placed out a strong guard, which prevented any more occurrences of the kind. The trouble was that some of the men before leaving Boonville had imbibed rather freely of intoxicants, and having never been on board of a boat before, imagined they were on land and walked off without being aware of their changed circumstances.

They arrived at St. Louis without further accident, and were quartered at the court-house without any blankets to cover them, or any place except the naked benches on which to sleep. Most of the company expecting to draw their clothing and blankets at Jefferson barracks, had nothing but the shirt and pants which they had worn from home.

Captain Stephen's company was mustered into service by Gen. Robert Campbell. General Taylor, having gained an important victory over the Mexicans, and it being thought that he would be able to conquer his enemies without any further reinforcements, Captain Stephens' company was ordered back, and directed to report to Adjutant General Parsons at Jefferson City, whither they hastened on the same boat, expecting orders from him to join Doniphan's expedition to New Mexico. General Parsons informed the captain that he had nof requisition for Cooper County, but to hold his company in readiness to march when called on. The members of the company were very much disappointed at being thus summarily dismissed to their homes, and felt very indignant at what they considered such shabby treatment; and though the company was ready and willing, during the whole of the war, to go to the field of battle on the shortest notice, it was not called upon. Some of the members of the company were so determined to go that they joined other companies of General Doniphan's command. The company, although gone from home only a short time, had a rough introduction to military life, having been forced to live on "hard tack" on the trip to St. Louis and return, without bedding of any kind, and many of the men without a change of clothes. Mrs. Andrews, an estimable lady of St. Louis, treated the company to as many pies as the men could eat, for which they felt always grateful to her.

city, and it was a pleasing and wonderful sight to these men, who had, during all of their lives, been accustomed only to the quiet scenes of their every-day life. The company, as it passed through the streets, seemed, from the numbers who stopped to gaze at it, to attract as much attention as a fantastic company, on account of the queer costumes, arms and manners. As the company expected to draw its uniforms at the "Great City," and as the men expected to throw their citizen's suits away, they were not particular what they wore when they started from home. Most of them, being dressed in backwoods style, without uniform or arms, made a rather ludicrous appearance to city folks. But the men cared little for that, and some of the city gents were made to measure their lengths upon the pavement for their uncalled-for remarks in regard to the personal appearance and manners of the strangers.

Some of the men of the company, while in St. Louis, had a row with some merchants on Water street for insulting one of their number. After some little quarreling, the merchants threatened to have them arrested and confined in the calaboose; but they were told if that threat was executed, they would level the calaboose, and if that was not sufficient to show their power, they would level the whole city, and that they had sufficient men to accomplish that undertaking. So, the merchants, becoming alarmed, did not attempt to have the threat executed, and the difficulty was finally arranged without any serious consequences. On their return up the Missouri River, on the same boat on which they had gone down to St. Louis, a finely dressed "gentleman" unthoughtfully made the .remark that "these soldiers were a» rough set." The officers of Captain Stephens' and Captain Reid's companies demanded that he should be put ashore, and at the next landing he was made to "walk the plank," amidst shouts and cheers from the crowd. They thus gave him an opportunity of traveling on the next boat, where, perhaps, he might meet with passengers more congenial to his nature, and where he would not be forced to associate with those whom he considered beneath him in the social scale.

After this they proceeded without further incident to Boonville, where they were met by crowds of their friends and acquaintances, who, with loud cheers, welcomed them home. Soon after they arrived, the company was disbanded by the captain, with orders to be ready to assemble and march to the seat of war on very short notice. From that time to the close of the war the members of the company were prepared at all times to march to the front, whenever their services should be

This is the only part the citizens of Cooper County took in the war of 1846, and though they did not partake directly in the struggle, they showed their readiness to do so, by organizing and keeping in readiness to march a company composed of some of the best citizens.