Cooper County, Missouri - Chapter 13: Incidents of the War, 1919

Chapter 13: Incidents of the War

JOSEPH SIFERS KILLED - RELIGIOUS SERVICES INTERRUPTED - PETER MITZEL AND OTHO ZELLER MURDERED - JOHN DIEHL. NICHOLAS AND THOMAS COOPER KILLED - MURDER OF ELLIS AND GRAVES - KILLING OF WILLIAM MAYO BY BILL ANDERSON - THOMAS BROWNFIELD'S EXPERIENCE - McDEARMON AND A SOLDIER KILLED - OTHER DEPREDATIONS AND MURDERS BY BUSHWHACKERS - KROHN AND BASS KILLED - ANDERSON'S MEN AND HOME GUARDS CLASH - JOHN BALLINGER KILLED - TRAGEDIES IN CLARKS FORK AND PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIPS.

The following narration of the incidents and killing during the Civil war, of the citizens of our county, by lawless bands, upon either side, is doubtless correct in the main, yet in view of the considerable lapse of time since the occurrence of these events, the fallibility of the human memory, and many other circumstances which would have their effect, it would not be strange should error exist in some of the more minute details.

Considering in the order of time in which it occurred, we mention first the killing of Joseph Sifers, two miles north of Pilot Grove, which took place about the beginning of the war. He was a Union man, whose house was surrounded at night by unknown men, who demanded of him his firearms. Purporting to have them hidden upon the outside of his dwelling, he went out intending to discover who they were, when, doubtless, under the belief that his life was in danger, he ran, endeavoring to reach a cornfield adjacent, but in the attempt was shot down by a sentinel of the party. It was never known who perpetrated this outrage.

In the summer of 1864, during a revival meeting in the Southern Methodist Episcopal church at Pilot Grove, Captain Todd, one day during the hour of service, surrounded the building with a company of about sixty savage looking bushwhackers, who rudely entered the sacred house, stopped the services, and uncermoniously ej'ected the worshipers. Aftei refreshing themselves with the eatables prepared for the occasion, and selecting such horses as they desired, from the many secured to the trees near by, they departed, taking with them two citizens, Peter Mitzel and Otho Zeller as hostages, as they called them, whose safety would depend on the good conduct of the citizens, in not pursuing, intercepting or informing on them, there being at that time, state militia stationed at various places around.

These two unfortunate men were that night barbarously butchered some miles east of Pilot Grove, near Lone Elm Prairie, and their bodies found a day or two later. Zeller had belonged to the state militia, which fact, to those who knew the character of the guerrillas, accounts for the reason of his being killed. Mitzell was loyal, though a very quiet and inoffensive man he had a short time previous, met a squad of guerrilas and mistaking them for militia, had doubtless, indiscreetly expressed his sentiments, for which offense, in a time when men were killed for opinion's sake, he paid the forfeit with his life.

The same party of bushwhackers, returning a day or two later, passed through the German settlement three miles west of here, and killed two citizens, John Diehl and Vollmer, who, it seems, unfortunately fell into the same error as Mitzell, of mistaking them for Federal troops, as a number of them were dressed in blue.

A Mr. Nichols was killed near Bell Air, in this county, during the same summer of 1864. This act was committed by a band of Hall's state militia. Mr. Nichols was a Kentuckian, a conservative Union man, and very quiet and peaceable. The provocation of this crime, if any, was never known.

Thomas Cooper, of this vicinity, was arrested in the fall of 1864, in James Thompson's store, in Boonville, by militia, taken to a secluded spot, near the fair grounds, and brutally murdered and his body mutilated. Cooper was a southern man, and known to his neighbors as quiet, tolerant and inoffensive.

In 1861, a number of horses were taken from Mr. Richard P. Ellis, by Mulligan's men. Mr. Ellis was then living in Cooper County, on land entered by him in 1839, in Lebanon township, near Syracuse. Some time after the horses were stolen, a soldier in citizen's garb was seen to possess one of the animals, and upon it being recovered from him by Mr. Ellis, he reported to certain soldiers at Syracuse, and a squad made their appearance and committed some depredations in the neighborhood. The family of Mr. Ellis were not at home, but Mr. Ellis, deeming it unsafe to be around, started to Lexington, and placed himself under the protection of General Price's army at that place. His deepest sympathies were with the south, but he did not enter the army, as age and other matters prevented him. He had a son, however, who was in the Confederate army. This was in October, 1861. Matters assuming a more peaceful stage, made it safe for him to return; which he did in 1862. Upon the order calling upon all citizens to apear at the various military headquarters to enroll, he went with his neighbors to the Lamine bridge to obey. Having enrolled, he was returning with his nephew, Mr. Graves, his son, and a Mr. Veulesman, when about a quarter of a mile from the bridge, they were met by a squad of soldiers who ordered them into the woods ahead of them. They did not like either the appearance or the manner of these men, and feeling well satisfied that it was their intention to shoot them, Mr. Ellis objected. When, after some parley, the squad fired into them, killing instantly Mr. Ellis and Mr. Graves, and severely wounding Mr. Ellis' son. Mr. Veulesman escaped unhurt. Thus died Richard P. Ellis, shot down without a cause and without a moment's warning. His untimely death struck sorrow to the hearts of his many friends. He was very popular and great sympathy was felt for his grief-stricken family.

Mr. Edward H. Harris, of Pilot Grove, Missouri, has given the writer the facts relative to the killing of William Mayo. It will be seen from the account to follow that Mr. Harris had a very good reason to remember the details of this incident, though nearly eighty-eight years of age, Mr. Harris' mind is strong and active, and his memory especially good.

It was in the spring of 1864. There was no town or village of Pilot Grove at that time, yet the post-office had been given the name Pilot Grove. Samuel Roe served Uncle Sam as postmaster, and received and distributed the mail at his log residence on his farm, in what is now Pilot Grove. William Mayo was a polished gentleman, a man of considerable means, who came from Kentucky, and located within a few miles of Pilot Grove. On a beautiful spring morning, he passed by Mr. Harris' house about a mile from Samuel Roe's residence, and together he and Mr. Harris started for the mail at Samuel Roe's. They were horseback. Mr. Mayo told Mr. Harris that a few days before, a man had come to his house and demanded a horse from him, which he refused to give. Mayo seemed to think little of the incident at the time. Mr. Hams said that he thought at the time it might be some of Bill Anderson's men, and that trouble might arise therefrom. Arriving at the postoffice, they joined other neighbors, who had gathered upon that bright day sitting on the front porch, awaiting the arrival of the mail, and discussing the events of the day, as neighbors then did when gathered together on such occasions.

Presently some one called attention to about twenty men on horseback, beyond where the M. K. & T. depot is now located. At this time where the depot is now located was but a pond, or small lake. Mr. Harris remarked that they did not appear to be Union soldiers. Union soldiers, however, were not far from the neighborhood.

Presently the horsemen rode up, and then it was discovered that they were Bill Anderson and his men. Those sitting upon the porch were ordered out and lined up. Anderson then called upon them for their valuables. Mr. Harris says that he remembers distinctly that a boy about fifteen or sixteen years of age passed down the line to relieve them of their possessions. When he came to him, Mr. Harris said to him, "Son, don't take that money, I had to work for it." The boy immediately responded, taking his pocket-book, "Well, you can work and get some more." Mr. Harris said then, "Do not take my papers." The boy then returned the papers, and at the same time handed him a dollar, saying, "This will give you a start." William Mayo wore at that time upon his person, a gold watch and chain. This he objected to giving up, when Bill Anderson fired at him with his pistol, or rather fired at his feet, evidently not intending to hit him. At this, Mayo turned, and immediately fled, running behind Roe's house, where he was joined by Thomas Brownfield, who had been hiding, and had not lined up with the others.

Bill Anderson and another man on horseback pursued them, and when Anderson got to the rear of the house, he asked an old nei woman which direction they went, and she, waving her hand, said, "T way." Anderson, then on horseback, started in pursuit of Mayo, who was going in the direction of what is now known as Robert Ma farm, evidently attempting ot reach a thicket of plum tret-s. Brownfield, however, veered off to the right, and went towards Mr. Hai i ;- ' farm, seeking some brush, and low shrubbery to hide in.

When Mayo had reached the point about where, or a little beyond Otto Kistenmacher's present residence, he turned his head, at which time Anderson, in close proximity fired at him, and shot him in the middle of the forehead, killing him instantly. The other man in pursuit of Brownfield was not so successful. After having emptied his revolver at Brownfield's fleeing figure, Brownfield immediately turned, and with cool courage, pointed his pistol at the trooper, which caused him to nalt. Brownfield did not shoot, knowing full well that the other men would search the country, and wreak their vengeance upon him. Instead, he fled for his life, and in the meantime, the man who was pursuing him, reloaded his revolver, and started in pursuit. When Brownfield was climbing over a fence into Mr. Harris's farm, the pursuing horseman shot at him several times, and finally wounded him in the hand. Brownfield, however, succeeded in reaching the brush, and in its friendly shelter, concealed himself.

Anderson, in the meantime, joined the other man, and together they sought to find Brownfield, but Anderson, being apprised by his companion that Brownfield was nervy, and was well-armed, they desisted from further search, and returned to their men.

This band had evidently been operating in the county several days, despite the presence of militia or Union soldiers. A day or so before the killing of Mayo, this same band appeared at Nathaniel Leonard's, the father of the late Capt. Charles E. Leonard, near Bell Air, and had it not been, for the timely intercession of Miss Minnie Corum, who was known to be of southern sympathies, would have doubtless have done much wanton damage, if not committed worse crimes. Capt. C. E. Leonard belonged to the State militia. Mr. Harris thinks that this band came direct from Leonard's to Pilot Grove with purposes of robbing those whom they knew were accustomed to gather at the postiffice at Samuel Cole's.

The facts of the following incident were given by Dave Brownfield, the nephew of Thomas Brownfield. This is the same Thomas Brownfield that escaped Bill Anderson's ire, on the occasion .iust above related.

At the close of the war, Thomas Brownfield was living where one of the Wittmans now lives, in a three room log cabin with a loft. His half-brother, Abraham Brownfield, was with him on this occasion, and was sleeping in the front room, whereas the family was sleeping in the room to the rear.

It was in the winter time, and after all had retired, Thomas Brownfield thought he heard some men in front of his cabin. After listening a while, he concluded that they were there for no good, and he judged that they were marauders bent on mischief. Stepping into the front room, he climbed a ladder into the loft, and -with his gun, from the opening of the loft, commanded the door leading into the room from the outside.

the door was forced, and as a man entered, who proved afterwards to be a Mr. Brownlee, Mr. Brownfield from the opening of the loft, shot him, and he fell to the floor. He struggled to get out of the door, but Abraham Brownfield seized him, and pulled him back, and slammed the door.

Thinking their leader was dead, the others upon the outside set fire to the house. Brownlee, however, was not dead. Realizing his condition, and that he would be burned, rather than to save the house and lives of others, he shouted to his men to put out the fire - not to burn him up. This they did after some difficulty.

Then Thomas Brownfield entered into a parley with the men upon the outside, and promised them if they would leave, that he would send for a doctor, and have Brownlee properly attended to, would not turn him over to the authorities, and when he had recovered would release him. This agreement was entered into. Brownfield was not only cool and courageous, and a man of great discretion, but of rectitude as well.

As soon as possible, he sent for Doctor Pendleton, who came and dressed the wounds of Brownlee, and in every respect, Thomas Brownfield faithfully carried out his agreement.

A few days after the tragic event of the death of Peter Mitzel and Otho Zellar at the hands of rebel bushwhackers, who took them from the old Pilot Grove Methodist Church during a "protracted" revival meeting in the summer of 1864, and killed them at camp near Old Palestine the same night, Thomas Cooper and Robert Magruder, citizens of Pilto Grove neighborhood, were in Boonville together. Cooper and Magruder were at the church the day Mitzel and Zellar were taken from the congregation, but it happened that they were not in the house but were lying together under the shade of a tree in sight of the open windows, when the squad of bushwhackers rode up. They were surrounded by the squad, who engaged them in conversation, which fact was observed by some persons in the congregation.

It seems that this incident led to a report which had come to the ears of the Home Guard militia of Boonville, that Cooper and Magruder informed the bushwhackers that Mitzel and Zellar were in the church, thereby implicating them in the apprehension and killing of the latter.

Cooper was shot and killed in a drug store on Main street in Boonville by members of the Home Guard, and diligent search was made for Magruder, who would have met the same fate, if they had found him. Magruder's life was saved by the effort and presence of mind of Colonel

St. Joseph'S Hospital, Boonville, Mo

Magruder was lying on a lounge in the office of the hotel when several militiamen entered and inquired of Pierce whether a man named Magruder had been there. Having heard of the shooting of Cooper a little while before, Pierce, with rare presence of mind, assured the soldiers that Magruder had been there, but had gone away. Not knowing Magruder personally, the soldiers were deceived, and left to continue their search. After they were gone, Pierce searched Magruder and later smuggled him on board of a river steamboat bound down the Missouri River, and he left Cooper County to return only after the end of the war.

Our fellow county man, Walter Barron, gives us the following incident in the killing of a soldier whose name he does not now recall, and Frank McDearman: In the winter of 1861, the 37th Illinois Infantry was then stationed near Boonville. The regiment to which the infantry belonged, and to which our friend, Mr. Barron, was a member, was located on the Lamine River near Otterville, during the winter of 1861.

Mr. Barron knew the soldier well, although at this time he does not recall his name. He was reputed to be reckless, and of a desperate character. He was also well acquainted with and was a friend of Frank McDearmon, who then lived in Boonville.

In the winter of 1861, a dance was given, in a two story frame building, in east Boonville, known as the Ainsle house, although Ainsle was not occupying the house at the time, he having been drowned in the Missouri River many years before.

The elite of the city and surrounding country were not invited nor expected to attend this dance. The attendance was rather made up of those who desired a jolly, reckless and rip-roaring time, rather than the refinement of a gathering of the best society. The character of those who attended was not closely scrutinized. There were whisky and liquor in profusion, and many participated in the flowing bowl until they became not only loquacious, but argumentative, jealous and pugnacious.

Frank McDearmon and the soldier had some controversy, and heated argument. After the same, when Frank McDearmon entered the room where the dance was being conducted, he met the soldier, and at once with a pistol, shot him, inflicting a wound that proved fatal. However, before expiring, the soldier, with a knife, cut McDearmon nine times, (14)

In the fall of 1864, numerous small bodies of men, supposed to be guerillas from the north side of the river, made incursions into Cooper County, committing many depredations, and in some cases, murdei-s. During this year a small body of men attempted to capture Tom Mercer, and followed him to the Widow Careys' home. Mercer and some five or six men were in the house at the time, and seeing the approach of these marauders, Mercer called upon the men to defend the house. They were well armed. As the marauders approached the house, Mercer picked out one, and told one of the other men to pick out another. Aiming their guns they fired. Mercer succeeded in killing his man, but the other, so far as known, was not as successful. Mercer and the men in the house then made their escape through a cornfield.

On Aug. 31, 1864, a tragedy occurred seven or eight miles south of Boonville on the farm known as the Major Moore place, in which then lived Christian Krohn. Krohn was assisting his wife and little ten months old son to dismount from a horse when a party of horsemen, supposed to be guerillas, rode up. Mr. Krohn was commanded to go into the house. He turned the child over to its mother and started to do as he was bid when a volley was fired into him and he fell dead at his own threshold. In innate brutality the men proceeded to set fire to the house and the widow was commanded to get what articles she wanted to save. Tom with grief and desperate, she replied, "You have killed my husband so you might as well burn my house too." At this some pity must have touched the heart of one of the men for he returned to the house and extinguished the fire, whereupon they rode away. The ten months old infant mentioned in this incident has grown to manhood and is now our popular county man, John F. Krohn.

Radford Bass, a Southern sympathizer, was killed in the fall of 1864, near the Lutheran Church, two and one-half miles southeast of Gooch Mill. He was captured by a band of men and held in captivity a short time according to one version, and was turned loose. After he had left and traveled but a short distance he was followed by a boy, who belonged to the capturing band, of about 17 years of age who came upon him and shot him in cold blood. Another vei*sion is that a rope was put around his neck and he was dragged by a man on horseback until he was exhausted and was practically choked to death and shot.

by a squad of men who left him in charge of one of their number. A short time afterwards this man joined the squad and upon being asked what had become of his prisoner, said that he objected to being held in captivity and that he had disposed of him. Different versions have been given of this affair, one is that the man who had charge of this prisoner, desiring to join the squad, had killed the prisoner, as the easiest method of ridding himself of an unwelcome charge.

On the same day that Radford Bass was murdered the same squad, consisting of nine men, killed Squire Handshaw. Squire Handshaw was a man of about 80 years of age. This gang of men went to his home about two and one-half miles southeast of Gooch Mill and called him out of his house, made him get upon a fence and then shot him. He immediately expired.

It will be noted that most of these crimes and depredations were committed during the end of the Civil War and the excuse as given in many instances was that of reprisal. On the north . side of the river were Anderson's men under various captains. In the earlv fall of 1864 it was reported, whether true or not, that numerous crimes had been committed by the Home Guards upon Southern sympathizers in Saline township. At this time the sentiment of the people on both sides of this cause were as seething cauldrons and men seemed to have lost their reason. Rumors were not thoroughly investigated and irresponsible talk was plentiful. In any event, Captain Todd, with a squad of Bill Anderson's men swam the Missouri River on horse-back and entered Cooper County in Saline township in quest of the Home Guards. About noon on Oct. 7, 1864, they saw coming up the hill by Granville Smiths, about one and one-quarter miles south of Gooch Mill, a squad of men of the militia under command of Capt. Bernhardt Deidrich, consisting of the following: Frank Hafferburg, Henry Weaver, Erhardt Blank, John Blank, Jacob Blank, Mr. Deil (grandfather of Theodore Deil, of Wooldridge), Mr. Hute (grandfather of Peter Hute of Prairie Home), Mr. Ader, Ernest Speiler and Otto Speiler. Todd's men were upon the brow of the hill and as these men approached coming up the hill got in close proximity, they at once attacked them and succeeded in killing Capt. Bernhardt Deidrich, Frank Hafferburg, Henry Weaver, who was said to have been scalped and brained. He was an old man. Erhardt Blank, Deil, Hute, Ader, were also killed. Ernest Speiler, who was shot through the arm. Otto Speiler, John Blank and Jacob Blank escaped.

this incident from Mr. Fred J. Boiler. On the day above mentioned, John Henry Boiler was coming to Boonville, on the public road riding in a buggy when he passed what was then known as the Miller place. Three men, to-wit: Bill Stewart, Carter and Sloan, were resting under the shade of a tree. When Mr. Boiler had passed, one of the men asked Sloan who he was. Sloan told him. The three men then followed Boiler to near what was known as the Ripley place, and stopped him and demanded his money. Mr. Boiler complied with their demand by showing them his watch, but evidently not anticipating trouble, drove on. When he did so, they immediately began to fire upon him, shooting him four or five times. After they had robbed him, old man Kiele came along and they robbed him.

Mr. Boiler came to Boonville and as he neared the Missouri Pacific station, Mr. Back, noticing his bloody and weakened condition, took him into his house to administer to him. Mr. Boiler died immediately.

The militia was then stationed at Boonville. It was notified of the killing of Boiler, and started at once in pursuit of the murderers. In the Labbo neighborhood, they came upon Sloan, whom one of the militia succeeded in shooting in the side of the head. Although Sloan recovered from this wound thereafter he was blind. Carter and Stewart were not found at the time, and it is not known what became of Carter. Bill Stewart, however, was killed in 1865 at Franklin, north of the river. A cattleman had stopped at a hotel at Franklin and the landlady in charge of the same, seeing Bill Stewart approaching, told the cattleman that the notorious desperado, Bill Stewart, was coming to the hotel, and for him to be on his guard. The cattleman closed the door, Stewart came and being unable to open the door, demanded admittance. Not receiving the same, he broke open the door, and as he entered, the cattleman, who was; armed with a revolver, shot him dead in his tracks.

As illustrative of the conditions that existed in the county during and at the close of the Civil War, the following incident is given: Ross Montgomery, a bad negro lived in Saline township during the war. and was formerly a slave belonging to the late H. B. Hopkins. He was rightfully accused of burning several barns and residences of Southern sympathizers and threatening the lives of several prominent Southern men.

At the close of the war, the boys returned home. This negro was engaged in cutting cordwood near Overton on a certain day. When quitting work on the evening of that day, he started home by way of an abandoned well in the woods. He disappeared, no one knew where. Several years afterwards, John Wainwright, having built a cabin in the woods, went to this well to clean it out to supply water for his family, and after getting a lot of stumps out of the well, he found the skeleton of a man, and by the shoes and clothing, which were identified by Ross' wife as belonging to the negro, they solved the mystery of his disappearance.

In Clarks Fork township on the farm where Henry Schubert now lives, in the fall of 1864, Chris Fricke, uncle of Henry F. Fricke and Henry Schultz were killed by a small band of four or five men supposed to be querillas.

In the winter of 1861 and 1862, two members of the Home Guards, seeking to impress wagons to haul soldiers to Tipton, rode up to William George's house in Clarks Fork township on their mission. Mr. George was not at home at the time. John Oakman, however, was there, and doubtless mistaking their purpose, shot and killed one of the Home Guards. The other, the late Albert Muntzel, was not injured.

A man by the name of Charles Wagner was killed near Pisgah in the early part of the war. We are unable to give any further details of this incident.

At the time of Price's raid, Captain Shoemaker was the head of a Provisional Militia company. When Price's- army left Boonville and vicinity, Shoemaker could not be found and was never heard of again. His disappearance has never been accounted for. The supposition, however, is that he was killed, although the body was never found.

Jeremiah Good and father were killed between Big Lick and Prairie Home shortly after the Civil War. A small party of four or five men were approaching the house. When the Goods started from the barn to the house they were immediately shot down. It is stated that a small boy of about fifteen, a Good, was in the house at the time, and shot one of the men. It seems that John Good, a brother of Jeremiah Good, during the war had shot a man at a blacksmith's shop at Big Lick and it was supposed that these men were seeking John Good when they approached the Good house. John Good, however, was not here at the time when his father and brother were killed.