Daviess County, Missouri - Chapter 1: The Grand River Valley - the White Man's Advent and Red Man's Enit, 1882

Chapter 1: The Grand River Valley - the White Man's Advent and Red Man's Enit

Geological Formation - Surface - Boundaries - Karly likabitants - The Home ot the Indian --Irresistible March of Civilization - Whea the County Was Setiled - The Van-quard of Progvess - ""The Good Old Tinws " - The Planeers - 1830-183 1 - F uets - - Bluck Hawi: Wer - Marksmanship - Peace - Suivide.

"Lift we the twilight curtsius vf the past And, turning from familiar sight and sound, Sad and full of reverence let us cust A glance upon Tradition's shadowy ground

Geological Pormation

There is, perhaps, no portion of the temperate zone showing a more desirable climate than that which we have in the State of Missouri, or one wherein the demands of an advanced and progressive civilization are so well met. While all portions of the State have their separate or local advantages, we are inclined to think that in such comparison Daviess county and central north Missouri hold their full share. The geology of the State shows that the carboniterous period gave to Missouri much of that magic element of which the soil is composed, and at the age of man, or quaternary age, developed her most valuable resourees. The coal of the former period, and the soil, sand, marl, peat, clay, and gravel of the latter, formed the gronndwork of the State of Missouri for the habitation of mau. Much might be given from the geologieal history of the State that would interest the reader, but in this work it would be of little practical valne.

When this continent rose from its waste of waters, it left its rmgged surface to be worn by the elements for ages betore it beeame habitable for man: but with that we have little to do.

Home Of The Indian

Missouri in her magnificent proportions and unlimited productive wealth, her mild and salubrious climate, and that part of her municipal corporation bounded by the lines forming Daviess county, is what we have at present to record,

That year the first white man gave to civilization a habitation and a name within its border. At that time it was a part of Ray county, but still the home of the red men - a home with whieh they were Joth to part, and whieh for years after they continued to visit and occupy asa hunting ground, God had given then this beautiful valley of the Grand River as their home. It was a migratory field for the restless buffalo; the elk and the bear roamed its wooded hills; the deer and the wild turkey made it their home; the yalleys and the uplands were filled with smaller game; fish sported in the cool, pellucid waters of her rivers and ereeks; and in shady nooks and near bubbling springs the aborigines built their wigwams, Tt was a paradise for the hunter, and the red man was the lord of all.

Nature had indeed been lavish of her gifts. The tribes of Saes, Foxes, Pottawattamies, and Musquakies who inhabited this magnificent country were loth tu leave it, and itis no wonder that many, very many, of these warriors were more willing to join their departed braves, in the happy lmnting-vrounds of the "Great Spirit," than give to the pale-faces the lands of their fathers. But manifest destiny knew no obstacle. The Saxon and Gallic races had decreed that this should be their home and that of their posterity. They came as the leaves of the forest in number; they pressed forward, and the gallant, heroic, and vengeful struggle of the Indian for his home is written in letters of blood, in burning cabins and wide-spread desolation, but all gave way before the irresistible mareh of civilization. The cabins of the hardy pioneer took the place of the wigwams of the savage; the war-whoup and the war-danee gave way to the woodman's ax; the stealthy tread of the Indian hunter, to the sturdy walk of the pioneer; and civilization and Christianity walked arm in arm to the glorious future of today. Let us drop a silent tear to the memory of the red man. He had a beautiful home and was des spoiled of it; he had the hunting-ground of his father, it became his burial-place. We ean rejoice in the glory of our country, but the fate of the eriginal possessors of the soil is a dark and bloody ehapter in the record whieh vives the history of the onward mareh of civil. ization. Tlowever, when Davi less county was first settled the struggle tor supremacy had ceased, and the Indians had given way to the pale- faces, whi had full possession of 'the country. The remnants of the different tribe fonnd here beeame the friends of the whites, and they roamed the country at will. There is no record of anght but friendly grecting between the whites and Indians when this county assnmed a place upon the page of history.

Then the Grand River Valley, with its wealth of forest and stream, with its high and rolling prairie, its bold bluaffs and nestling valleys, became the property of the pale-faces and that which had stood in its wild and rugeed grandeur was, ere long, to assume a prominent place in the fature of our State.

The Van-Guard Of Progress

The advance-guard of civilization, the heroic and self-sacriticing band of pioneers, now took possession of the country. They - whose place is ever to the tront of progress - hevan blazing the way (in the light of burning cabins, and oftentime the vietim of the scalping-knite} which was to guide the grand army Of occupation, an army imbned with the spirit of true religion, and a faith which builds and populates a country and makes it great and prosperous. We hear mueh of the good old times in the early history of our country, but the people of to-day have little knowledge and less realization af the troubles, trials and privations of the early settlers. The meu and women of the present generation may feel thankful that they know, by bitter experience, nothing of the lives of those who gave a score or more of years in their struggles to make a home tor their 'childven, and their ebildren's children, froc fromm the cares, the trials and vexations of a pioneer's lite. These people of to-day should reverence the people of a past half century, and those who are spared to us at this late day should have all the care that loving hearts can give. Years of devotion is but a small recompense for the heroie sacrifices made by the pioneers in the early settlement of the county.

This country then was the great unknown West. Adyenturons spirits had traveled over but a portion of its vast domain, but those who had trod these wilds returned with wondrous stories of this favored country. These reports soon began to tell upon the restless sons of toil, and they longed to start for a country whieh was then called that of the "Setting Sun," and only a few months had elapsed betore the light of civilization cast its cheering rays over this beautiful eountry,

The Pioneers

The carly settlers are entitled to a high and honored place in the pages of history. Many, many days of toil have been devoted to gathering the facts which shall embalm the memory of this band of civil heroes who gave to Daviess county its first step in the progress of civilization, and who, in all the phases of life, have proven themselves not only true sons of toil but noble men and respected citizens. If the time spent in trying to secure facts and reliable information necessary to make this history complete has beer one of incessant toil to the author, it has, also, been no less a work of love on his part, for in the records of the past, and when the light of civilization and progress first dawned upon this section of our common country, and in the early reminiscences which have been secured, he has found much which brought to mind many bright and glowing incidents of early days, and of those who taught him what life was and is, and what might be in the vista of the far off future, but who have now gone to the home beyond.

Memory is ofttimes treacherous, and a contusion of dates has not been the least of the troubles which has fallen in the pathway of the compiler. Reliable dates of the early settlement of the county are all-important to those who take an interest in the progress of events, and who desire of its early days a correct and succinct history.

Many of the old settlers have removed to other States and climes; very many have crossed the "dark river" to the impenetrable and mysterious beyond; while those who are lett are weak in body, with memory sadly at fault on many facts of deep interest. Nevertheless, they have been willing, so far as health and memory would permit, to impart all the incidents and trials of early years, and with a spirit of cheerfulness that makes it a pleasure to record them. They are to-day, as in olden times, the same self-saerificing people. It is well that in the sordid, grasping avariciousness whicly characterizes so many of the present generation, that they should have yet within them, by consanguinity, the leaven which made the grand old pioneer stand out so prominently in unselfish and heroic sacrifices as "God's. noblest work."

It was in the early spring of the year 1830 that the first white settlers trod the soil of Daviess county. Hunters and trappers had plied their voeations through this Grand River country as early as 1826, but no log cabin reared its front until the spring of the year above mentioned. It was a grand country for game and wild honey, and venturesome spirits passed to and tro ere the Indians had ceased to be jealous of the encroachments of the white man. Indeed, ali was not peace in 1830. A year later the celebrated Black Hawk War raised its fearful visage, and many daring spirits passed over to the land where eternity reigns, their way lighted by burning cabins, and the last sound wafted to their ears the agonizing shrieks of loved ones.

The first man to raise his cabin within Daviess county was John Splawn, and with him was his son, Mayberry Splawn. The eabin was erected near the Rock Island depot, but was soon after removed to what was known as Splawn's Ridge, about three miles east of Gallatin, and near what afterward became the town of Millport, and just south of the site of that old but now plowed up town. They came in January, 1830. Who built the second cabin has not been determined, but it probably was raised soon after the above date. The third cabin in Daviess county was put up by John Tarwater. John, and Nancy, his wife,and Naney, his daughter (afterward Mrs. Nancy Nation), lived in the cabin. They settled on section thirty-four, in township number fifty-nine, of range number twenty-seven, just above the mouth of Honey Creek. Stephen Roberts settled the same month. These men were the first settlers in the county and came in January and February, followed by Daniel Devaul and others in April of the same year.

But before going further, the following facts may be mentioned: The first deaths in Daviess county were the two children of Stephen Roberts. They both died on the same day and were buried in the same grave. This was in Mareh, 1830. Very few neighbors, for there were but few, attended the mournful ceremony. The Splawns and Tarwaters came over and a rough box was made with an ax, the best they could do, and the little ones were laid away in their lonely bed, there to lie until the great trump shall sound that time has ceased and eternity begun. The grief of the parents was great; the sad loss of their little ones made their home intolerable, and they moved back whence they had come.

The first birth in Daviess county was that of Elizabeth Tarwater, who was born January 8, 1832. She was the daughter of John and Ruth Tarwater, the former being the son of John and Naney Tarwater.

The Word of the Lord was first expounded in Daviess county under an oak tree, very near where Robert Peniston built his first mill a couple of years after. The sermon was preached under that tree Angust 25, 1830, by the Rey. James MeMahon, and therefore also may be added that Mr. Me- Mahon was the first preacher in the county.

The second preacher in this section of country was the Rev. William Michaels. He was a Baptist divine and preached at the house of Mr. Atkinson, and at the houses of several others. He removed to the south part the State.

The first physician was Dr. William P. Thompson, who came originally from South Carolina, but when he came to this part of the country was from Richmond, Ray county. He was the first physician in all the country reaching from the Missouri to the Lowa State line. He did not settle in Daviess county, but on the west or main branch of the Grand River (from whom that branch takes its name), and settled in Madison township, in Grundy county, just above the confluence of the Thompson and Weldon forks, and was accompanied by John Scott and Harvey Meek. He built his cabin the last week of October, 1833, and it was occupied the first week in November. He had not been long in the country before his services were called for, and in all this country few men were better known or more widely esteemed than Dr. William P. Thompson. His name was a household word for years.

One of the first marriages took place in the month of June, 1834. The happy couple were Mr. Jacob Rogers, Jr., and Miss Martha Wilson, and they were joined in holy wedlock by Rev. Thomas Auberry, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As there were no brown stone fronts, patent cooking stoves and costly furniture to invest in at that time, Jacob and Martha went to honsekeeping at once. Their house had all the latest improvements. Puncheon floor was laid on the parlor end of the mansion, and a tire-place, with mud and stick chimney, graced the other end, joined to a floor of mother earth; a few pegs in the wall, a pot or two, a few chairs made after the most approved fashion of three-legged stools, and Jacob and Martha started out as: happy as any young couple dared to be and live and grow up with the country. They were too practical to take the cars and rush off to St. Lonis ona foolish wedding tour, but remained at home and made their wedding tour around their cabin and over the farm. This was the style in those early days, and Jacob and Martha lived right up to it.

It was about this time that the first mill was put up in this county. Mr. Robert P. Peniston was the owner, and Milford Donaho was the architect, assisted by " Uncle Jake" Peniston, a slave owned by Mr, Robert Peniston. This was a " horse-iill," a triumphant piece of mechanical ingenuity and a splendid success.

There settled near the forks of Honey Creek in the spring of 1830, Daniel Devaul, John Stokes, Christopher Stone and his sons, James, Hardin, Robert and William Stone. Daniel Devaul had a son, James R. Devaul, at that time some fourteen or fifteen years old, who came with him. Daniel Devaul preémpted 40 acres of Jand and the others ten acres each and staked off their claims. This was some two miles below the present site of Gallatin. Devaul and others had hunted through this country the year before and liked it so well that they concluded to settle in the county. The: Indian wigwams were located close by that summer, and the Indians had already learned the exhilarating effect of the '+ fire-water."

The same year other venturesome spirits, pleased with the beauty of the country, settled in Ilarrison, and the south part of Jackson, township, about eight or ten miles south and southeast of Devan] and Stokes. These were Benedict and James Weldon, ILumphrey Best, Benedict Weldon's father-inlaw, and a few others. Ilumphrey Best removed in 1835 to what is now known as Madison township, Grundy county. Daniel Devaul, with his: family, followed the same year and settled on the town site of the present city of Trenton, Grundy county. James Weldon also moved to Grundy county in 1837, and settled on the east fork of the East Fork of Grand River, which was named the Weldon Fork, by Dr. Wim. P. Thompson. The place where Benedict Weldon settled in Harrison township, is still known as the old Weldon Farm; he was quite a prominent man in the early days ot Daviess county history. Ie was the second man elected to the legislature from Daviess county, was the commissioner to settle the "Dam question" on McCrosky dam across Grand River in Livingston county, was the backer of J. L. Nelson in the contract for building the court-house, and in many other ways took a prominent part in Daviess county affairs.

There was a dram-shop, or, perhaps, we might say a jug of " spirituous comfort" kept by Weldon which would occasionally find its way down the throats of the Indians, making them most gloriously drunk. When they partially recovered and began to feel the depressing effects of their spree, it was their custom to call on Devaul and ask him to bleed them, saying they were sick. Devaul had an old, dull lancet with which he managed to do the bleeding satisfactorily and they lett satisfied.

There were quite a number of settlers who came in 1831. Josiah and Jesse Morin, who settled what afterwards became Millport and were merchants there; John Edwards, who came the year before, was followed in 1831 by Thomas Edwards, his older brother; Lewis Linnville came the same year, and with John Stokes and John Edwards, was a son-in-law of Christopher Stone; and Philip Covington and Elisha B. Creekmore came in the fall of 1831 or in the spring of 1832. These all settled on Honey and Marrowbone creeks.

Andrew McHaney was not far off, and his place was known as * Coon Grove," and there was more coon hunting going on in that grove than in all the rest of the county put together, and it was proved that generally the hunter was caught and not the coon. To explain matters, Mr. Andrew Me- Haney had two very charming, grown daughters, and they could by a smile drive out all thought of coons from the heads of the young men, who always managed to get as far as "* Coon Grove" but it was seldom they got any farther. The voung ladies were amiable and vivacious, and had many friends and visitors.

Then there was Merriwether T. Green, for a Jong time a prominent character in the official life of Daviess county, holding many important offices, such as sheriff, county judge, comiissioner, etc., who died but a few years since at his home in Monroe township, mourned by many, for a brave old pioneer, and a landmark in the early days of the county had gone never to return. Jacob S. Rogers, L. Brookshear, William Runnels, Thomas Auberry, and William Morgan were all settlers that year. Rogers settled below the mouth of Honey Creek, and the river crossing was known as Rogers's Ferry. The last named persons, with the Splawns, Edwardses and others, settled east of the river, while the Devauls, Weldons and others settled west of the river, south, southeast and southwest of Gallatin.

Richmond, Ray county, in 1830, and William P. Peniston, his only grown son, came out this way, met Mr. John Splawn, who had settled the year before, and liking the country, concluded to locate on the site which was known for a number of years and for miles around as Millport, and the house of Mr. Robert Peniston was the first house built in that once noted town. William P. and the slave, Jake, put up the house. The rest of the family were Robert P., Jr., Thomas, Francis, and Theodore, the last the only one living of the original family. Mr. Theodore Peniston lives about one and a half miles from the old homestead, nearly east and just over the line in Jackson township. The old homestead and site of the town of Millport, if not sold, is the property of the Savings Bank Association. That was the largest settlement in the county.

Adam Black, long a county judge, with several others located in Jamesport township. Benjamin Sampson, Elijah Frost, H. W. Enyart, Benjamin Vasser, Willian Prewett, Benjamin Burns, Willey Cope and his family, Russell and Solomon Frasier, Jerry Burns, and John McCully, all settled in Grindstone township, some on Grindstone Creek, in the years from 1831 to 1833. They lived in what is now known as Marion and Benton townships.

Black Hawk War

In the fall of 1831 a large number of the settlers took their families back to the southern part of Ray county near the Missouri River. Most of those who lived south of the river and had friends left temporarily. Some left at the first sound of alarm; others waited until the scare had assumed a menacing shape. Daniel Devaul was one of those who proposed, with first alarm, to remain and fight it out. He pulled up the puncheon floor of his cabin and made a heavy door to take the place of the thin slab one he had, and eut holes to shoot through. A few of his neighbors stood by him, and they arranged the cabin to stand an ordinary siege, when the second alarm came. This last report was of such a gory character that flesh and blood couldn't stand it, so Mr. Devaul and two others, both single men, packed up their traps and started in the wake of their fleeing neighbors who had gone before. The settlers on the east side and north of the river also prepared to stand by their homes and firesides, and erected a block-house, surrounding it with palisades, to give the foe a warm reception. Scouts were sent out and a picket force was stationed to keep a lookout for the expected raid; but nothing happened to the settlement. In fact, the Indians came not, and all was peace.

The true history of the war showed that there was not the least cause for alarm then. The western Towa Indians were peaceable, and so were the Indians who roamed these woodlands or prairies of the Grand River Valley in search of game.

fought that seemingly opened the struggle with the Indians. The forces were led by Black Hawk and Keokuk, and the battle was fought in Illinois. near Dixon's Ferry. Governor John Miller,fearing the State of Missouri might be raided by hostile bands, ordered Major-General Richard Gentry to raise aregiment of volunteers of one thousand men tor the defense of Missouri soil. Five companies were raised, principally from the eastern part of the State. Two of these companies. commanded respectively by Captain Jolin Jamison, of Callaway county, and Captain David N. Hickman, of Boone county, were mustered into service in July, 1832, for thirty days, and placed under the command of Major Thomas W. Conyers.

This detachment, accompanied by General Gentry, arrived at Fort Pike, on the Mississippi River, on the 15th of July. Finding that the Indians had not crossed the river into Missouri, General Gentry returned to his home, leaving Major Conyers in charge of the fort. They remained thirty days, the time of their enlistment, and were relieved by two other companies under the command, respectively, of Captain Sinclair Kirtley, of Boone county, and Captain Patrick Ewing, of Callaway county. Colonel Austin A. King, who was in 1841 elected judge of the Circuit Court of this judicial district, condueted these two companies to Fort Pike, and leaving Major Conyers still in charge, reconducted the two first companies of volunteers back to Columbia, Missouri, where they were discharged, retiring to their homes. As the soil of Missouri was not likely to be trodden by the hostile Indians, Major Conyers and his command were mustered out of service in September. The Indians continued the contest in Hlinois and Iowa until the spring of 1833, when Black Hawk was finally defeated and captured and this ended the war.

From Mr. Joseph MeGee we learn, that "Many young inen joined a company of rangers under Colonel Skonts, of Ray county, who acted as scout, and thoroughly scoured the country for the approach of the expected Indians. Among those who joined were Hardin Stone, Theodore Peniston, and Miltord Donaho, the latter acting as hunter for the company of rangers. It was while scouting on the head-waters of the Chariton River that the rangers met acompany from IToward county on a similar warlike mission. During the meeting a question of marksmanship came up, and a shooting-match was arranged between the two companies. A Mr. Josiah Davis was selected by the Howard county boys to show Daviess county youngsters how to handle shooting-irons, while the gallant hunter and ranger Miltord Donaho was selected as the Ray and Daviess county representative to show the Tloward county boys that, while they could hold a full hand at brag, when it came to a sharp eye and a steady hand, the rangers were at home to all comers. It was reported a close mateh, but Mr. Donaho was declared the winner." Just what constituted the stakes was not mentioned, but as the spirit of emula-

Peace

The war alarms had ceased, and those who had sent their families away now brought them back. The people quieted down and the avocations of peace were pursued with diligence and energy. Farms were iinproved, new settlers began to come in and a town began to make an appearance around the site of what afterwards became Peniston's Mill, for this was in 1832, before the mill was erected or the place Millport had a name.

The thorongh defeat of the Indians satistied the settlers and the people of the whole country that henceforth there would be no more Indian wars in this section, and the county gained in population. The Grand River country began to have a name - for the great beauty of its topography, the richness of its soil, salubriousness of its climate. No part of the county seemed to escape the settler. The Smiths settled in what is now Jefferson township, near Allen Cope and others. This was in the west, while on the east side, beyond the Splawns and Penistons, were the Liggetts, Alexander and Jonathan Black (whom we have before mentioned), Elijah Foly, the Trospers and Blakelys, Freeman Cox, and others from Kentucky, in Harrison township in 1836 and 1837, Ira Morris, and at least a score of others, reaching over into Madison and Jefferson townships in what is now Grundy county. These settlers, many of them, came from Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky, while many others were from adjoining and more southerly counties in the State. We tind many other names from every section of the county: William Roper, James Hunter, John Roland, John Webb, Jereba Stone, John Gethens, Reuben Macey, James Moss, Eleazer McOlure, and many others who had found their home in Daviess county previous to 1834. Greorge and James Brown also settled in Grindstone township. The former moved to Texas and the latter died some years ago.

Suicide

The first attempt at suicide was made by aman named Compton. He had been given to drinking for some time and at last concluded that the best thing he could do for himself and family was to stop breathing. A tree which fell across Muddy Creek was the scene of his operation. He secured a rope, placed it around his neck, and jumped off. It didn't choke him to death nor could he get loose from the trap he had placed himself in. He was found some hours after and eut down. He lived for two years after and gave no reason for his attempt on his life. However, in 1834, he, remembering probably his failure in the hanging line, adopted another mode of ending a lite which to him seemed wretched, and without again saying anything or hinting at a seeond attempt on his life, he took a loaded shot-gun