Daviess County, Missouri - Chapter 5: The War with Mexico and the Rush for California, 1882

A Step Forward

The settlement of the Mormon troubles brought peace and quiet once more to the people of the county, and in future events, and the struggle for a competency, it was not long ere the Mormon War, and the baleful teachings and the passions it engendered passed away. While Daviess county lost several hundred in population by the Mormon exodus, many more "Gentiles"? came to fill their places. The official history tells much of the troubles and the trials of the people in the early and succeeding years, of the wrongful acts and defaleations of county ofhcials, but the domestic and home record is not so clear. A spirit of progress seemed to pervade all classes, and though the entire inhabitants of the county numbered but 2,736 in 1840, they were a unit in the cause of building up the county. The years 1839 and 1840 brought a fair population to the county, in numbers, and they proved an energetic class of citizens,

An Era Of Quiet

Daviess county had little to interrupt the era of quiet which was now upon her people. From the close of the Mormon War their energies had been given to building up the waste places, to increase the area of cultivated lands, to build school-houses and churches, to bring civilization and Christianity to the county, which, but a few years before, was the home of the red man, the buffalo, the deer, and the feathered tribes of the forest. The great fertility of the soil became apparent.

if richness was proven by the splendid crops of corn. The settlers soon began to show a desire to increase their landed estate and to produce larger crops. Stock, even at that early day, began to improve. The scrub cow was improved on, and the long-legged and slab-sided species of hog was allowed to run out, and other and a more profitable breed took its place. Horses and cattle were better cared for, and only the best kept for breeding purposes. Daviess county, while progressing slowly, was on the high road to prosperity. In fact, when this Grand River country was surveyed and placed upon the market in February, 1839, there was an impression strong upon the people that immigration would flow in very rapidly. There was something of a rush, but it was suddenly checked by what was known as the "Platte Purchase," and this last became for several years the agricultural El Dorado of the immigrant. And, in truth, it was a veritable El Dorado. The sun has never shone upon richer or more prolific soil than that found within the limits of what is known as the. Platte Purchase. The rush was very great, and not a few who had taken up lands in the beautiful valley of the Grand River, were so carried away by the glowing accounts given of the " Purchase," that they too broke camp and made for the agricultural heaven. And yet, there are as fine lands, as good soil, and as easy of cultivation in this Grand River Valley, as can be found within the borders of the Platte Purchase. There may not be so inuch of it, but enongh is here and to spare. So far as Daviess county is concerned, her lands will be found the equal of surrounding counties, and few can boast of better or a greater quantity, when her areais taken into consideration. It was during the period of quiet and progress that the new court-house was built, and not only built, but paid for. So, for a few years at least, the people had little to do but to advance their pecuniary interests and enlarge the area of their cultivated lands. Peace and quiet reigned for eight years, and then came the bugle blast that called brave men to arms. Our southern neighbor, not satisfied with the position of our government in regard to the " Lone Star" State, concluded to measure arms with the young giant of the North. It proved asad day tor Mexican pride, and that, coupled with the loss of a good portion of her territory, it seemed that both her pride and her purse met with a severe fall. The Alamo was terribly avenged.

Mexican War

In the spring of 1846, Mexico declared war against the United States, but this excited no unusual commotion at the North, but aroused the hot blood of the South. The bulk of those who participated in that memorable struggle, outside of the regular army, were from the Southern States. It was not until General Taylor's advance upon Mexican soil, and the battles of the Sth and 9th of May, of Palo Alto and of Resaca de la Palma were fought and won that the war fever began to spread, and the whole country became aroused when the couriers arrived at New Orleans and the full details of those terrible battles were given to the people. The sons of Missouri won imperishable renown in that bitter struggle.

The triumphant march and the famous battles fought and won by Gen. A. W. Doniphan and his heroic men, have won a glowing page in the history of our country. Some of that band of gallant men who lived to return, wearing bright laurels of victory, were from Daviess county.

It was under the command of the gallant Doniphan that the sons of Daviess county marched to defend their country and uphold its honor. "Doniphan," whose exploits have been compared with those of Xenophon, says the Louisville Courier-Journal, in speaking of the Mexican War, "with the First Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers lett Fort Leavenworth June 18, 1846, and marched across the plains to Mexico, fought three important battles - Brazito, Sacramento and E| Paso - conquered the states of Mexico and Chihuahua, and traveled more than 6,000 miles in twelve months, not a word being heard from him by the government inthe meantime. His return, and that of his command, was greeted at New Orleans with the grandest reception ever given in that city, and Sargeant S, Prentiss, the law advocate and orator, welcomed them jn an impassioned speech, the equal of which, it is said, has never yet passed human lips."

Their march home was one of eqntinued triumph. At St. Louis they were received with another grand ovation, and Thomas H. Benton addressed them in glowing terms, giving the gallant hero and his mena full meed of praise for their great achievements.

Some of Daviess county's men returned to tell of their hardships, their trials, and their great and final success. A few were left to fill a soldier's grave, beneath the chaparral of Mexico, but their memory will ever be green in the hearts of the American people. They gave their lives, their all, to their country's glory as brave men, who knowing their duty performed it, and they fill heroes' graves. Those who returned with the halo of victory encircling their brows, were welcomed with joy and gladness. The brave Ringgold, the gallant Clay, the intrepid Yell, the noble Hardin, left their bones to bleach upon the soil of Mexico, but the laurel wreath of memory entwines their brows, and with the names of Taylor, Scott, Price,and Doniphan, will go down in history, their fame growing broader and deeper as time rolls round. It was a glorious conquest. It added to our country extended mineral lands; it gave usa southern outlet to the Pacific coast below the snow lines; its sea-coast, bays, inlets, and harbors have given much wealth to the country, and made the spirit of enterprise active.

In 1846, a volunteer company was raised in Ray county, and was mus-* tered into service August Ist. This was Company G, Battalion of Missouri Mounted Rifles, and commanded by Captain Israel R. Hindley. In this company quite a number from Daviess county joined, but extended personal effort has failed to get their names. Captain Hendley was killed at the battle of Moro, and the command of the company fell to the first lieutenant, William M. Jacobs, who was promoted to the captaincy. He lived through all that glorious march, but was killed by a cyclone which swept over a portion of Ray county, June 1, 1878. It was a portion of this company which accompanied Colonel Doniphan in his famous expedition.

Ingratitude

A third of a century has passed since the close of this great struggle. Nearly all who participated in the contest, are gone to their last home and reward. Some few are living, and they deserve well of their country - far more than they have received. A pension bill is now betore Congress, and should have been passed, but nine-tenths of those who fought that glorious ficht, which shed undying lustre on the American people, were from the South. Since then hundreds of millions have been given in pensions, but not one dollar to those who fought in the name of their whole country. Should republics show favoritism and ingratitude?

Captain Simons raised a company in the north part of Daviess county, and in Ilarrison and Gentry, being Company H, in a regiment that went from Jackson county. Captain Simons died on the way, and before reachiing the headquarters of the regiment. Benjamin Salmon was elected captain of the company, joined the regiment and marched for Mexico, via the Santa Fé trail. This was in 1847. Ina fight with the Apache Indians and Mexicans, near Toas, Mexico, Captain Salmon received what proved a mortal wound. He was taken to the hospital at Toas, after the battle, in July, and died of his wounds the next February, never leaving the hospital. The following are the names of those who volunteered from Daviess county and belonged to Company H: Nathaniel H. Blakely, private, now living in the county; Greenville D. Sego, James A. Robinson, John M. Conkle, Samuel Gunter, and Henry Johnson, all returned safe and are now living in Gentry county; Jacob Hoover, a private, returned and is now living in Livingston county; Meredith Morris, now living in this county, belonged to the same company.

Another company was raised by William Y. Slack (afterwards a colonel in the Contederate service), in Livingston county, and the following named gentlemen enlisted in the company from thiscounty; viz., John W. Sheets whose tragic death is elsewhere related in this work; Francis Peniston, now dead; Jack Edwards, now a resident of California; Thomas Latham, at present a resident of this county; James Wynn, now living some three miles east of Jameson; and Mr. Comer, of this city. Those who went with General Doniphan did not get back for some time after the war closed. 8. P. Cox, who became a major for gallant service in the Union cause, is a popular merchant at Gallatin. He started for Leavenworth to volunteer in the war, and joined Company D, under Capt. W. H. Rogers, of the Oregon battalion. Major Cox was the only volunteer in that battalion from Daviess and held the position of high private. They were ordered to Mexico, but before they got out of reach were ordered back and sent to keep the In- dians quiet up in Nebraska. These troops were the builders of Fort Kearney, in Nebraska. They were ordered back to Leavenworth, Kansas, and in December, 1848, were mustered out of service.

The war shed a luster upon American arms and those who lived and returned to their country received the plaudits of the people. Those who died in defense of their homes can have uo higher tribute paid to their heroic deeds than the cherished memory that is ever in the hearts of the

Tie Land Of Gold

It was not long after the war with Mexico closed, that astounding news came in fitful gusts from the Pacific coast. The report was that gold had been found in that western land, that the waters of the Pacific actually washed a golden shore, and that among mountains and on the plains, on hilltop and in gulches, the golden ore was found. All this came to the ears of the people, and by and by, when corroborated, created the wildest excitement. Talk of frenzy, the madness of the hour, the surging of the wild sea waves when the storm-king lashes them to rage, listen to the clamor of contending hosts when the God of battles urges on the serried ranks to slaughter and to death! Think of all these combined in one terrible onset, and you can have only a faint conception of that mighty throng who truly proved the madness of the hour, and whose pathway became a charnel house of sorrow and death, while the road became whitened with the bones of the victims who had failed to realize their dreams and never reached the golden shore. In that tar distant land, where the white-capped waves kissed the pebbly beach on the Pacitfic's sunlit coast, and sang the soft Inllaby of a murmuring sea, or when the storm-king in his wrath goaded the grand old ocean to fury, there gold, bright yellow gold had been found. The rush was as the charge of a mighty host. In wagons, on foot, on horseback everywhere the tide set to the western border of our State, and there the vast throng "crossed the Rubicon," until the plains were whitened with their covered wagons and tents, and they entered the dark portals of an unknown beyond, some to pass the arid waste, others to leave their bones to mark the pathway for those who followed. It was many days, days of terrible suffering, before those prisoners of a trackless plain saw the light breaking and the golden land appear in view for which they had longed with yearning hearts, and looked for with eyes dimmed by expiring hope, but seen at last. Despair gave way to joy too great for utterance. The El Dorado had been reached, would their hopes be realized' That hegira has left terrible footprints upon the pages of time. History has recorded in words of burning intensity the hardships and sufferings of the thousands who sought fame and fortune on the shore of that distant land. How many succeeded, or how many, after suffering and enduring all in the hope of a brighter day, failed, will never be recorded.

The stream of surging humanity kept on for years, for many had gained a fortune, and California became to the poor man a veritable land of promise, but in reaching it many weary days and nights were passed, and many dropped by the wayside - crossing not the plains which bordered the land of their hope and desire, but over the "dark river," with their fate unknown, until Gabriel's trump shall sound.

The Rush From Daviess

Daviess county, too, felt the gold fever striking at her vitals; many of her hardy sons gave token that the fever had taken hold of them and that it was of a form violent enough to carry them off. These men had blazed a pathway in this then distant West and the car of progress and civilization had followed closely in their wake, but while reports of suffering and death had reached them, they gave it no heed. They had entered the wilderness, and it had given way before their strong arms and steady endurance, and was California any more difticnlt¢ They expected to work as man never worked before, but believed they would realize greater results, and so joined the army ot hope and lett for the promised elysium. Some returned happy with acompetency, others sank by the way, while others became residents of the country, making it their choice for a future home. Those who returned well supplied with the 'root of all evil,' were very willing to make it known that they had ''made their pile,' but the size of said "pile" was one of those things 'tno feller' ever could tind out. They, however, spent their money and business assumed a more active shape. Some wanted farms and stock, some had these already but were goingto improve them, and an era of prosperity began to dawn, where before it had drooped and become almost lifeless. The return travelers began to arrive in 1854 and 1855, and they kept dropping home one at a time. The money they brought helped wonderfully to give a substantial bottom to the rapidly growing business interests that were starting up. Daviess county secured her share of the wealth found and gathered in the golden West, and she, also, had her sufferings and her losses of that wonderful period.