Cooper County, Missouri - Continuation of 1834-1847 and Up to 1861, 1919

RISE OP BOOXVILLE - ERA OP PROSPERITY - KEMPER SCHOOL FOUNDED - COUNTY SEAT PERMANENTLY LOCATED - EFFORTS TO CHANGE COUNTY SEAT - MILITARY COMPANIES - TROUBLE BETWEEN COMPANIES - MAJOR FORSYTH 10 KILLED - SECOND COURT HOUSE ERECTED - DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA AFFECTS COOPER COUNTY - McCULLOCH'S COMPANY - TEMPERANCE EXCITEMENT - SLAVERY AGITATION - PRO SLAVERY CONVENTION - CONTROVERSY IN KANSAS - COOPER COUNTY PRO SLAVER V - ELECTIONS OF 1856-1860.

It is not our intention, nor have we attempted to chronicle the events, that make the history of Cooper County, in absolute chronological order. Frequently historical data are so closely correlated, one with the other that we are forced to pass through a series of years to follow the logical chain of events, and are then compelled to "roll back the scroll of time" to take up another line of equally important facts. The preceding chapter deals with the history of Cooper County from 1834 to 1847, yet there are events of that period worthy of historical preservation not recorded therein to which we will now revert.

The period between 1830 to 1847 marks a rapid and increasing tide of immigration to Cooper County. Large wholesale establishments were established at Boonville for the purpose of supplying the great trade of the southwest as well as to outfit and provision the great caravans bound for the Santa Fe trail. Among those who located here at that time are recalled A. L. and C. D. W. Johnson, who, in addition to their mercantile establishment operated a large grist mill which was perhaps the 'first flouring mill erected at Boonville ; J. Mansker and Company ; N. \V. Mack ; Thomas M. Campbell ; Charles W. Smith ; Caleb Jones ; Walter and H. B. Benedict, who were engaged in the sale of dry goods and groceries, etc.

Also Allen Porter, the druggist; H. and J. Rhea, tobacconist; H. W. Crowther, the rope-maker, which at that time seemed to be a profitable and necessary vocation; Jeremiah Rice, tanner; W. P. Roper, a saddler; Hook, a gunsmith; David Andrews, a tinner; George W. Caton, a tailor. John Dade and James Patton were among the principal hotelkeepers, yet at this time there were several others whose names we are unable to give. Isaiah Hanna was one of the blacksmiths yet there were several others at that time in Boonville and Cooper County. George C. Hart, John W. Martin and J. McCutchen are mentioned in the early records among the physicians who were then at Boonville, yet there were a number of other physicians in other sections of the county. The first newspaper in Cooper County was also established during this period, about the year 1834 and was called the "Boonville Herald," reference to which will hereafter be made in the special chapter on newspapers.

The foregoing, located at Boonville, as above stated, between the years 1830-1840. From the years 1840-1850 the county enjoyed an era of prosperity that had not been known "in its prior history. The census of Boonville in 1840 gave the population as 1,660. Other newspapers were established and a number of educational institutions sprang up in different sections of the county. A number of new hotels were erected among which may be recalled the City Hotel, Peter Pierce, proprietor; The Union Hotel, Lewis Bendele, proprietor; The Virginia Hotel, John Dade, proprietor; and Baley's Mansion House. These were located in Boonville. The latter house was the central office of the stage line running from St. Louis to Independence, Mo. At this time Boonville was the most prosperous and flourishing town west of St. Louis and the prosperity and trade of Boonville materially effected and added to the thrift and enterprise of other sections of Cooper County. Business men were attracted and among those who came to Cooper County and settled in Boonville may be mentioned E. F. Gillespie, wholesale and retail dealer in drugs and medicines ; Bremermann and Cuno, forwarding and commission merchants ; Dr. William H. Trigg, forwarding and commission merchant, extracts from whose interesting diary will be found in the preceding chapter; Moseley and Stanley, forwarding and commission merchants ; Hammond and Judd, lumber merchants ; N. Hutchison, wholesale druggist; S. D. Falls, dry goods; Thomas B. Veasey, hardware merchant; Aehle and Kuechelhan, wholesale druggists; Walter and Keill, liquors, dry goods and clothing; Nelson Jones and Com-

In the year 1844, Prof. F. T. Kemper arrived in Boonville and established here a private school laying broad and wide the foundation for the Kemper Family School which through years of prosperity and to meet changing conditions became the Kemper Military School under the superintendency of Col. T. A. Johnston. This prosperous military school has just closed the year and celebrated its 75th anniversary with about 500 pupils and a graduating class of 77.

The commissioners to locate the permanent county seat were Robert Wallace, Benjamin F. Hickcox, and James Bruffee. The property above donated to the county is at this time the heart of Boonville and its value would run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Four distinct efforts were made to change the county seat from Boonville. The first attempt was made in 1832, the second in 1838, the third in 1842 and the fourth in 1844. These attempts to change the county seat resulted in spirited campaigns and aroused some temporary bitterness which is usually the result of county seat removal contests.

The third campaign (in 1842) is of some historical interest and was very bitter. The bitterness arose largely from an unfortunate occurrence that gave soul and life to the desire to change the county seat from Boonville. It had its origin in the intense excitement existing between the militia and an organization known as the "Fantastic Company," of which we here give an account.

From the organization of the government of the state until the year 1847 there existed a militia law, requiring all able-bodied male citizens, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, to organize into companies and to muster on certain days. They had, during the year, at different times, a company, a battalion, and a general muster. A company muster was the drilling of the members of one company ; a battalion muster consisted in drilling the companies of one-half of a county ; and a general muster was a meeting of all the companies of a county.

Muster day was, for a long time after the commencement of the custom, a gala day for the citizens, and was looked forward to with considerable interest, especially by the different officers, who appeared in full military dress, captains and lieutenants with long red feathers stuck in the fore part of their hats, and epaulettes upon their shoulders. The held officers mounted on their fine steeds, with continental cocked hats, epaulettes upon their shoulders and fine cloth coats ornamented with gold fringe, rode around among the men and gave orders, making themselves the "observed of all observers." Also the venders of Avhiskey, gingercakes, apples and cider took no small interest in the anticipated muster clay, for on that day, every person being excited, bought more or less of these things. Always on muster days, after the muster was over, the rival bruisers of a neighborhood tried their strength upon one another, thus furnishing a great deal of amusement for those who attended. The little folks were also happy in the anticipation, if not in the enjoyment, of being presented with a ginger-cake and an apple upon that day.

But after a lapse of time these musters became tiresome to a portion of the citizens, as they were obliged to lose so much of their valuable time in order to attend them, or were compelled to pay a fine of one dollar for each failure to attend on muster day; besides they could see no real use in continuing the organization, as there seemed no prospect soon of the state requiring any troops, as all was peaceful and quiet within its borders. Also, at the elections for officers, many of them were chosen on account of their personal popularity, instead of their qualifications to fill the office for which they were elected. Musters, after their novelty had worn off, became very unpopular, the citizens believing them to be an unnecessary burden upon them.

Therefore, some time before the battalion muster, which was to take place at Boonville, during the year 1842, a company, the existence of which was known only to its members, was formed at that place, among the members of which were some of the best citizens of the city. This company was styled the "fantastic company," on account of the queer costumes, arms, etc., of its members, they being dressed in all manner of outlandish costumes, carrying every conceivable kind of a weapon, from a broom-stick to a gun, and mounted upon horses, mules and jacks. The company was intended as a burlesque upon the militia, and to have some fun at their expense.

The regiment of the state militia which was to be mustered out at the above mentioned time was commanded by Col. Jesse T. Turley and Maj. J. Logan Forsythe, and was composed of all the companies then in the north half of the county. On the morning of the muster day Colonel Turley formed his regiment in front of the court house. After they were organized and ready for muster and drill, the fantastic company, which was commanded by John Babbitt, each member dressed in his peculiar costume and carrying his strange weapon, marched up into full view of Colonel Turley's command, and commenced preparations to drill. Colonel Turley, feeling indignant that his proceedings should be interrupted by such a "mob," and believing that it was intended as an insult, ordered his command to surround the fantastic company.

There was a high fence on the eastern side of the vacant lot on which they were mustering, and Colonel Turley's command surrounded the "Fantastic Company." by approaching on High street, on the alley between Fifth and Sixth streets, and on Sixth street, thus hemming them in on the vacant lot. The latter, being closely pressed, retreated back across the fence, and then commenced a fight by throwing brickbats. The fight immediately became general and promiscuous, and resulted in serious damage to several members of the State militia. Col. J. J. Turley was struck in the side by a stone, and two or three of his ribs broken. Maj. J. Logan Forsythe was struck by a brickbat in the face, just below

The death of Major Forsythe caused great excitement throughout the county, and great indignation was felt against the citizens of Boonville, so much so, that a- petition was immediately circulated, asking that the "county seat of Cooper County be removed from Boonville," to a more central point of the county." So great was the excitement that some persons living within three miles of Boonville signed this petition. But the county seat, after a severe struggle before the County Court, was retained at Boonville.

The death of Major Forsythe was greatly regretted by all parties, for he was an excellent citizen and a very popular officer. It produced an ill-feeling throughout the county, which lasted many years. After the fight was oVer, the militia went through with their usual exercises, under the command of their subordinate officers, as Colonel Turley and Major Forsythe were unable, on account of their wounds, to drill them.

The last effort was as stated, in 1844, by the people of Palestine township. The citizens of that township held a meeting in March of that year, and agreed to submit the question of changing the county seat to a vote of the people, which was accordingly done at the succeeding August election. The question was decided adversely to those who favored the change.

The second court house erected was completed in the year 1840. The County Court at its May term ordered that the public square be laid off into lots and sold to raise money to build a new court house and at the same time it was ordered that the old court house (the first court house) be sold. The money, however, realized from the sale of these lots and the sale of the old court house was not sufficient to erect the new building. The first appropriation made in money for this purpose by the court was the sum of $10,800. Other appropriations were made from time to time until the completion of the building, the entire amount appropriated being about $30,000. This building, now wrecked and upon whose site stands the present handsome court house, was the scene of many political gatherings of the past and spirited legal contests by the best legal minds of the state. It will be cherished in the memory of the present generation. A picture of this building appears in this volume, as well as one of its successor, the present elegant structure. We can but wonder how those that come, after us will look upon our last effort in (12) erecting a court of justice. In 50 years will they consider it as inadequate, as antiquated, as dangerous and unsanitary, as we of today considered its predecessor? Doubtless more so, for the human race, not with mincing steps but with giant strides, is moving forward.

There are few living at the present time who recall the intense excitement of the years 1849 and 1850 caused by the discovery of gold in California. At this time, the period of its greatest excitement, the people generally throughout the American Union became deeply interested and thousands upon thousands were filled with the lust for gold. It would be strange indeed, if this mania did not penetrate Cooper County and arouse to action the hardy and adventurous settlers of that day. While it may not be a beautiful sentiment, yet in a measure mankind responds to the expression of the poet,

Cooper County sent forth to the gold fields of California many of her sons, some of whom were past the middle age with silvered locks, others were boys still in their teens, all animated with the hope and strong desire that their labors, their sacrifices, their dangers, and their bravery would be rewarded with an abundance of the glittering and precious ore. The desert plains over which they traveled to reach the gold fields were littered with broken wagons and carcasses of beasts of burden and here and there the mouldering remains of men. Joaquin Miller, the poet of the Sierras, has said, "The coward never started and the weak did not arrive." We are unable to give the names of all those hardy seekers after gold who left our county at this time, however, we here give the names of a portion of the companies of Capt. Robert Mc- Culloch and Solomon Houck:

Upon the eve of his departure for California, one of the Cooper County boys thought to be the late Col. Horace A. Hutchison penned the following beautiful and touching farewell:

Farewell, farewell, my native land, I leave thee only with a sigh, To wander o'er a foreign strand, Perchance to live, perchance to die. Adieu, my friends, whom kindred ties Unite, though distant we may rove, - How ardent as time onward flies,

O'er the broad plains, far away, Beyond the Rocky Mountain's crest, Our wayward feet awhile shall stray, And press the gold-besprinkled west. But 'mid the gaudy scenes of strife, Where gold to pride enchantment lends, We'll ne'er forget that boon of life - Companions dear and faithful friends.

And in the lapse of coming years, Should fortune be not too unkind, We'll hope reward for parting tears, In smiles from those we left behind. We go - yet hoping to return, Friends of our youth, to home and you, For these do cause our hearts to yearn, E'en when we sigh Adieu - Adieu.

There are few now living in Cooper County who were old enough in 1853 to remember the intense excitement and the bitterness incident thereto, caused by the temperance movement inaugurated by the Crystal Fount division of the Sons of Temperance in that year.

Sixty-six years ago saloons were common in Boonville, and in all probability, there were four times as many as at the present time. Whiskey was cheap, and its use was common. The "worm of the still" could be found wherever the thirst demanded. As a rule drug stores, grocery stores, general merchandise stores, dry goods stores, and nearly all mercantile establishments carried their barrel or barrels of whiskey. Although a merchant may have depreciated the sale of intoxicating liquors, he was practically forced to yield to the common custom by reason of the practise of his competitors.

The Sons of Temperance secured the services of Rev. William Ross, Deputy Grand Worthy Patriarch of Missouri, who delivered a number of stirring lectures in the Methodist, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in this city. The Reverend Ross was pugnacious, possessed of fervent eloquence, and used a trenchant tongue. Like the woodman he cared not where the chips flew. He was more belligerent than discreet, but withall, his methods were well calculated to arouse intense interest and excitement in his hearers. He was radical in his views, and by the bold and denunciatory manner in which he spoke of the liquor traffic, and those who drank, incurred the resentment and displeasure of the saloon-keepers of the town, as well as those who patronized them.

The interest in his subject by his listeners deepened and continued to increase from day to day until it reached its culminating point on July 17, 1853. Upon that Sunday, a meeting of the friends of temperance was advertised to be held at the Presbyterian Church, where Rev. William Ross would deliver one of his interesting lectures.

H. D. Benedict was the mayor of the city of Boonville at that time. Fearing serious results from the bitterness manifested on both sides, on the 16th of July, the day preceding the day of the lecture, he had published the following proclamation, which speaks for itself:

"Whereas, a certain itinerant lecturer, calling himself "Billy Ross," has been disseminating discord and dissention in this community, by vituperation and abuse, under the guise of temperance lectures; and, whereas, it is said that sundry persons have armed themselves and threatened to assemble for combat - some to encourage and others to stop said Ross in his course - these are therefore to forbid all such riotous and unlawful assemblages. And the police of this city are hereby required to suppress and disperse all riotous and unlawful assemblies in this city.

In testimony whereof, I, H. B. Benedict, mayor of the city of Boonville, have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the city, at office, this 16th day of July, 1853.

Following his proclamation by action, the mayor immediately organized a force numbering 62 men, of which he was the leader, and marched to the Presbyterian Church on the 17th of July, where he took possession of the church and premises. Many came to the church, at the appointed hour, but were prevented from entering the building by the mayor and his force, and the assembled crowd was quietly dispersed. No resistance was offered nor was there any riotous demonstration. The partisan of the respective parties to the controversy commended and condemned in turn the action of the mayor, according to the respective inclinations, and their interest in the imbroglio.

However, a committee was appointed by the temperance organization of Boonville, and in the following language., gave vent to their feeling, and thus expressed their views of the action of the police force:

"Who made up that (so-called) police force? Everybody in Boonville knows. Whisky traders, grog-shop keepers and their bloated customers, black-legs, infidels - some known long and truly, to be infidels alike towards all that is divine in Christianity, and pure and sacred in the principles of a well-ordered domestic and social life. When Mr. Ross together with his peacable, forbearing, but deeply outraged audience, assembled at the church-yard gate, around the church enclosure, and looked over, they saw men who for weeks before had been breathing "threatenings and slaughter" against Mr. Ross (for no other reason than this only; that he had assaulted within the walls of the churches of this city, the Hydra monster whisky), herded together, all who heartlessly trade in, and fatten upon the profits of the poison.

"Large numbers of ladies, with the general multitude, lingered around the gate, and gazed with mingled feelings of pity, suppressed indignation and contempt upon the motley mass of disgusting, animan and moral putrescence that made up almost the entire number of the legalized mob that invested, by barbarian, bacchanalian authority the peaceful premises of that deeply dishonored sanctuary."

From the past, we often learn the present. Thus it is seen that in those years long past, the men and the women who passed their brief hour upon the stage, and whose memory we honor and revere, gave vent to their feelings and convictions, in language at times virile, vigorous and bitter, much as we today are wont to do, losing sight of the sentiment and the poet's vision,

As heretofore stated, the admission of Missouri into the Union aroused such intense and bitter agitation throughout the whole country that it was feared by some of the wisest statesmen of the day that it would disrupt the Union. Thi-oughout the years succeeding the admission of Missouri until the close of the Civil War, the pro-slavery and anti-slavery agitators were busy and active. In 1855 the feeling became intensified. Cooper County at that time was settled mostly by people from the southern states and their deep sympathy was with the proslavery cause. At this time the German population of Cooper County was not large, yet not being slave holders nor attached by tradition to the slave holding cause, they were not in sympathy with the pro-slavery movement.

At a meeting of the citizens of Cooper County, held at Bell Air, on Saturday, June 30, 1855, for the purpose of appointing delegates to attend the pro-slavery convention to be held at Lexington, Mo., on the 12th day of July, 1855, the following delegates were appointed: Boonville township. J. L. Stephens, W. Douglass, A. W. Simpson, J. M. Nelson, J. W. Torbert, W. N. Ragland, Isaac Lionberger, John Combs, T. V. Hickox, Benjamin Tompkins; Lamine township, Freeman Wing, Jesse B. Tiuiey, S. W. McMahan; Saline township, John L. O'Bryan, W. T. Thorton, J. K. Ragland, A. W. Lucky; Clarks Fork township, Robert McCulloch, Henry Mills, A. Greenhalgh, Charles Q. Lewis; Moniteau township, A. K. Longan, D. Jones, D. P. Swearingen, J. Baughman, Dr. William H. Ellis: Kelly township, W. McCurdy, A. Nelson, Dr. E. Chilton; Palestine township,

About this time great efforts were being made by both the contending forces in the slavery controversy to settle the State of Kansas with their respective adherents. It would be difficult and it is not the purpose in this volume to portray the unreasonable bitterness arising therefrom, but that our old citizens of Cooper were active in the controversy and the Kansas troubles of 1856 is evidenced by the fact that on Aug. 20, 1856, a call was made in Boonville for men and money from the citizens of Cooper County to aid the pro-slavery party in Kansas. One of the posters announcing the call is as follows: "A meeting of the citizens of Cooper County will be held at the court-house, in Boonville, on Saturday, the 23rd, for the purpose of raising men and money to aid the law and order men in Kansas. Let every pro-slavery man attend. Bring your guns and horses. Let us sustain the Government, and drive back the abolitionists who are murdering our citizens." The above was signed by some of the prominent citizens of the town, who sent men and money to Kansas.

The practical unanimity among the citizens of Cooper County as to the slavery issue was manifested in the elections of 1856 and 1860. In 1856 there were three candidates for President in the field, namely: James Buchanan, Democrat; Millard Fillmore, American; and John C. Freemont, Republican. There was no ticket in Cooper County for Freemont. Millard Fillmore carried the county over James Buchanan by about eight votes, so nearly even were the two parties, but so small the adherents of the Republican pai'ty that no ticket was in the field.

At the next presidential election in 1860 the candidates were Stephen A. Douglas, Union Democrat; John C. Breckenridge, Southern Democrat; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; and John Bell, Union.

So strange it seemed at that time that any one should vote for Lincoln that the names of those who voted for him were afterwards published in the newspapers as an item of curiosity. The result of the foregoing elections demonstrates that while the citizens of Cooper County were for slavery, yet they were against secession and loyally in favor of the Union.