Greene County, Missouri - Chapter 5: History of the County from 1856 to 1860, 1883

Chapter 5: History of the County from 1856 to 1860

1856 - Miscellaneous Official Business - Items - Statistics - Prohibition - Fatal Accident - The Political Campaign - Col. Benton in Springfield Again - He Replies to TomNeaves - Dr. Larimore's Candidacy - The County Canvass - Official Vote at the August Election - The Know Nothings Sweep the County - The Presidential Election - Greene County and "Bleeding Kansas" - The "K. G. C." - Going to Kansas to Vote - The First Agricultural Fair in Greene County - Crop Failure - Some Advertisements. 1557- Miscellaneous - Appointments - Bank Items - The Land Office - Effects of the Crop Failure - A Famine in the Land - Necrology - Assessed Values - The "Peculiar Institution " - Runaway Slaves - The Auction Block - Fatal Casualties - The Fair of 1857 - Springfield in"l857 - A "Boom" - The Political Canvass - A Forged Letter - The Liquor Question - White River Improvement - A Steamboat at the Mouth of the James - Miscellaneous. i555 - Miscellaneous - The First Grange Meeting - Items - Springfield in 1858 - Arrival of the First Coach on the Butterfield Overland Stage Line - Statistics - The Political Canvass - The "Union" Meeting - August Election - The Fair of 1858 - Building the New Court House - Deaths - Review of 1858 - Statistics. i555 - Miscellaneous - The Court House - Formation of Christian County - Items - Organization of Pond Creek, Wilson, and Clay Townships - "Pike's Peak or Bust! " - The August Election - Springfield Matters - Hanging of "Martin Van Buren" Danforth, a Negro Ravisher.

of Judge W. B. Farmer, at that time a membe(r of the court, but absent when the new township was named. Afterward, upon motion of Judge Farmer himself, the name was changed to Center township.

Greene county's share of the State school fund this year was $5,236. The capital of the general county school fund amounted to $1,294 93, which amount was apportioned among the several school townships of the county.

Taxes were uncommonly high this year. In July a tax of I6V3 cents on the hundred dollars was levied for county purposes, and 80 cents on the hundred dollars for railroad purposes. The sheriff was ordered not to collect the last named tax until further orders from the county court, which he afterward received, and in November Judge Farmer, who had been appointed agent for the purpose, was ordered to pay the balance due on the first installment of $20,000 on the county's subscription to the stock of the Pacific railroad.

October 6, Sylvester Black well was made overseer and superintendent of the county poor farm. John Lair, E. P. Gott, and Benj. Kite, were each paid $55 for twelve months' services as patrols in Campbell township. In this month a tax of $200, half State and half county, was levied on dram shops by the county court, licenses to run for only six months, making the annual tax $400 for each dram shop. Such a vigorous remonstrance was made, however, that a few days later the court reduced the license from $200 to $60 for each six months. Previously, in December, 1855, the Legislature had passed the following act: " Be it enacted, etc., That hereafter no application for license as grocer, dramshop, or tavern-keeper, in the city of Springfield, shall be entertained by the county court, unless the court shall be satisfied that at least one-half of the taxable inhabitants thereof have signed the same. This act to be in force after its passage. Approved December 4, 1855."

Miscellaneous Items

On the 23d of January snow fell in this county to the depth of fourteen inches. - In April John D. Brown was appointed county school commissioner until the next regular election. - The number of persons in the county this year owning property liable to taxation was

2,430. - The population of Springfield was 721. - October 23, Joshua Davis, a prominent citizen of the county, died of flux, aged 63 years. - In December Larkin Payne was president of the Springfield bank. - The total value of the taxable property of Greene county in 1856 was $2,012,928, as folloAvs : Number of slaves, 1,420, - value, $704,975, or $496 apiece. Land 217,131 acres - value, $1,449,895. Town lots, $105,907. Money, notes etc., $239,926; other personal property, $512,725. The amount of the county tax levied was $5,259.96 ; State, $6,733.11 ; total tax, $11,993.07. - About the 1st of June an old lady named Goss living in the eastern part of the county, committed suicide by hanging herself. - In the fall of the year a daily mail line was established from Jefferson City to Springfield. - In the latter part of December Mr. Thos. Edmondson, an old and respected citizen, was at work engaged in covering a shed, when the scaffolding gave way and he fell to the ground, shivering his leg at the ankle joint. Amputation was resorted to, but after a few days of intense suffering Mr. Edmondson died.

The Political Campaign Of 1856 The August Election

A most intensely exciting political contest was that of this year, especially in Missouri and Greene county. It was not only a Presidential year, but a Gubernatorial year, and besides there were a Congressman and county officers to elect. Only two Presidential tickets were voted in the county - the Democratic, headed by James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, and John C. Breckenridge, of Kentuck}'^, and the Native American or Know Nothing, headed by Millard Fillmore, of New York, and Andrew Jackson Donelson, of Tennessee. This year the Republican party ran its first Presidential ticket, with Fremont and Dayton as candidates, but it received no votes in this county, and but few outside of the Northern States.

For Governor there were three candidates. Trusten Polk, was the regular Democratic nominee for Governor, with Hancock Jackson for Lieutenant Governor; Thos. H. Benton was an Independent Democratic candidate for Governor, with J. W. Kelly, of Holt county, for Lieutenant Governor; the " American " candidates were Robert C. Ewing, of Lafayette, and Wm. Newland, of Ralls county. Col. Benton was making his last fight for political existence, and bravely he fought and well. He made a canvass of the State, visiting the principal cities and towns, and came to Springfield, July 8. He spoke in a grove then standing where the city lots and city buildings now are. His speech, while it was a good one, did not equal his former effort. It was somewhat vindictive and malevolent. Mr. T. B. Neaves had said that if Benton abused him as he had abused other anti-Benton Democrats in a speech at Bolivar, he would " bounce a rock off his head. " To this Benton alluded in his speech. "As if I were afraid to speak my mind about such a fellow as Neaves, " he said, contemptuously, and then rising to his full height and s^ieaking with all of his wonderful volume of voice, - '* tvhen 1 have faced and fought And7'ew Jackson/ " O. B. Smith introduced Col. Benton to the audience. A barbecue was had on the grounds.

The American candidate, Robert C. Ewing, also spoke in Springfield, May 25, and the Democratic candidate, Hon. Trusten Polk, delivered a speech here June 29.

Thomas H. Benton had hosts of strong friends in this State and in this county, some of whom even yet cherish his memory with great fondness. Men name their boys for him, hang his portrait in their parlors, and never tire of talking about him. Perhaps it was well that Benton died when he did, for had he lived longer, doubtless he would have become a Republican, as man}'^ a one of his henchmen did, and this would have disgusted many of those who admired him to the last.

The candidate for Secretary of State with Benton was John M. Richardson, a lawyer of Springfield and the former editor of the Hag. He ran largely ahead of his ticket in this county.

The straight-out Democrats and the "Americans" also held mass meetings in the county, and by reason of the split in the Democratic ranks, the latter succeeded in obtaining for R. C. Ewing a plurality of the votes cast for Governor. Polk ran a few votes ahead of Benton .

For Congress there were but two candidates regularly in the field - John S. Phelps, straight Democrat, and B. H. Emerson, of Hickory county, Benton Democrat. The latter carried Greene county by nearly 500 majority, being supported by the Americans and the Benton men. The vote in the district resulted: Phelps, 9,818; Emerson, 6,911 ; Lurimore, independent, 110. The irrepressible Dr. Larimore frequently possessed the hallucination that he was a candidate for office, but the delusion was never held by any considerable number of the voters. He always called himself an "independent candidate of the people." His favorite method of canvassing was the

Gents, please be so kind as to give my respects to your wives and all the ladies, and tell them that I love children, and that my opponents are all lawyers, who have but little sympathy for the ladies, in any way ; and that I am the doctor, who has the respect of all the ladies within my acquaintance ; and that I am the ladies' friend, in health and in sickness. Yours truly, P. B. Larimore.

The county canvass was lively. Three tickets were in the field - Democratic, Benton and American. On the 10th of May the latter party met in convention in the female college at Springfield, and nominated a full county ticket as follows: For representatives, Wm. McFarland and George W. Kelly ; sheriff, P. C. King ; assessor, Allen Mitchell ; treasurer, Wilson Hackney. Afterward the straight Democrats nominated W. H. Graves and John W. Hancock for representatives ; Samuel Fulbright for sheriff; David Kenney for assessor. The Benton candidates were : For representatives, F. T. Frazier and Larkin Payne ; for sheriff, C. S. Bodenhamer ; for assessor. Berry Moore. The following was the vote of the county by townships : -

August Election, 1856

It will be seen that the Americans, or " Know Nothings," made a clean sweep of this county at this election, being successful in electing every candidate on their county ticket. It showed conclusively that the men in the county who " knew Sam," luiew something else besides - how to keep their opponents divided and thus slip between them and bear off the prizes. The result of the Gubernatorial election in the State was as follows: Polk, 46,993; Ewing, 40,589; Benton, 27,(318. It was charged by both Americans and Benton Democrats, that Wm. Newland was fairly elected Lieutenant Governor, but " counted out " by the anti-Bentons.

Presidential Election, 1856

As previously stated but two Presidential candidates were voted for in Greene county at this election - James Buchanan and Millard Fillmore. Fremont, "Benton's son-in-law," as certain Democrats were fond of denominating him, received no votes. The result of the election showed that very many men Avho had voted as Democrats in August voted for Fillmore, the Know Nothing candidate. The election called out a full vote, more ballots being cast than at the August election. It was charged by the Mirror, the American organ, that " the Democrats set a barrel of whisky in the streets of Springfield for electioneering purposes." Be this as it may, the Democrats carried the county, but by the small m:ijority of 26. The following is, by townships, the

From the first to the last of the troubles in the territory of Kansas, the result of attempting to decide whether or not there should be slavery in the State upon its admission into the Union, the people of Greene took a more or less conspicuous part therein upon the pro-slavery side. For some time many of those interested in the institution of slavery, believing- their interests to be in danger, and that the end would justify the means, had been members of a secret jjolittcal order looking to the preservation, extension and pei-petuation of he " peculiar institution." This organization had many members in this count}^ and three or four lodges or " camps," These were in communication with other camps in other States, and performed an important part of one division of the work for which the order was created.

The order had its hailing signs, its grips, its pass-wortls, and was near akin and auxiliary to the famous Knights of the Golden Circle. It did what it could to make Kansas a slave State. Some of its members, as well as some other citizens of the county who w^ere not members, went from time to time to Kansas and voted every time a territorial Legislature was to ])e chosen or a constitution adopted, and as regularl}'^ returned to their Missouri homes after the election ! But the Free-Soilers of the North were pursuing the same tactics, and there was that sort of excuse for the Missourians - if it be proper to. call it an excuse. Sharp's rifles and brass cannon and powder and shot were bought with the proceeds of Northern church collections, and sent in charge of men who would use them " to consecrate the soil of Kansas to freedom," as the abolition sentimentalists expressed it, and there was a great deal of fraud and other wrong perpetrated by both the Free-Soil and pro-slavery factions.

As stated, from the start the pro-slavery men of Greene county had taken great interest in the aflairs of Kansas. The proximity of that territory to this county, its likeness of soil and climate, had made it a desirable objective point of emigration for people here, when they should become tired of their homes and desire a change, and those who had slaves wished, of course, to take them along. Then there was a strong desire to have Kansas made a slave State for the reason that the politicians of the South had made this the measure of the devotion of Southern men to " Southern rights." It was not until September 1, 1856, that any open demonstration of consequence was iiuide by the pro-slavery men of this county in favor of lending a helping hand to the brethren in Kansas. On that day a large and enthusiastic meeting was held at the court-house in Springfield. Resolutions of the strongest character were adopted, denouncing free-soilism and abolitionism in the severest terms, and pledging aid of a substantial character to the pro-slavery people of Kansas. A financial committee was raised to secure funds to be used in aid of the cause, and a considerable sum of money was raised on the spot. Stirring speeches were made by Hon. Wm. C. Price, of Springfield ; R. W. Crawford, of Mt. Vernon, and W. H. Atter, of Bolivar. A number of men enrolled themselves to go to Kansas at a minute's warning, and " fight the abolitionists." A day or two before a large meeting was held at Greenfield, Dade county, which was presided over by John P. Shields and addressed by Col. John T. Coffee ; Dr. S. M. Sproul was appointed captain of a military company.

In the latter part of the month of August, " Judge " R. G. Roberts, formerly of Cedar county, then of Ft. Scott, Kansas, delivered a speech at Springfield in the interest of the pro-slavery party of Kansas, which speech excited great interest, and really was the first of the kind that stirred up the people here to active exertion in behalf of their brethren across the border. Judge Roberts canvassed Southwestern Missouri in the interests of the pro-slavery party in Kansas.

Some time in July a company of armed Missourians started from Dade and Polk counties for Kansas, intending to go into the Fort Scott region and assist in defending that country against the " Free- State men. There joined this company a dozen or more citizens of Greene county, who were armed and mounted, chiefly at their own expense, and who, for the most part, left their homes at night. The Greene county men were led by a distinguished citizen of the county, now dead, and went out in defense of what they believed to be right. They started to fight, but, happily, when they reached the border, they found there was no occasion for their services, hostilities having ceased in that quarter, and very soon the most of them had returned to their Greene county homes.

The Southwest Missouri fair of 1856, the first in Greene county, was held at Springfield about the first of October. It lasted three days and drew a large crowd of people. Seven counties participated - Greene,

Taney, Dade, Lawrence, Polk, Webster, and Barry. Premiums for the best horses were awarded to " Scipio," owned by P. B. Owen ; -* St. Charles," owned by I. B. Rickets; "Zephyr," by T. c! Rainey; "Kate Donelson," by Dr. T. J. Bailey. The sweepstakes premium for best bull was received by C. A. Haden & Go's " Lexington," and John Wells's bull. The best cows were those of C. A. Haden and R. P. Faulkner. The best buggy horse was the one owned by Wm. McAdams. The best span of mules were those of T. G. Newbill.

Li choosing new officers for the fair association. Col. Marcus Boyd was elected president ; T. G. Newbill was the vice president for this county, and the Greene county directors were N. R. Smith, J. W. Hancock, S. C. Nevill, John H. Miller, and R. B. Weaver. The fair was held on the grounds of the association, (called the Southwest Missouri District Fair Association) about a mile and a half west of Springfield. Many of the visitors from other counties camped out during the fair, having brought everything with them, tents, provisions, negro servants, etc., in order to have a good time.

Crop Failure

This year, owing to the wet weather in the spring and drouth in the fall, there was a failure of crops. Corn especially was light, and everything was " short." The effects of this crop failure were more plainly visible the following spring.

Advertising In 1856

The magnificent advertisements to be seen in the Springfield papers of to-day are in strange contrast with those which appeared in the Mirror, the Lancet, and the Advertiser along in the 50's. The business men of that day contented themselves with inserting a standing advertisement of a few lines, or of but one-fourth of a column at the most, which was usually set as solid matter, without display lines. Some of the advertisements were models of plainness and simplicity. The following are extracts from the advertising columns of the Springfield Mirror in 1856.

By The Editor

Those of our friends who have promised to pay their subscriptions mmeal&ndi -fiour, will confer a favor by bringing it along. Wood will also be taken for all debts due "the office.

Whisky By The Barrel

Having bought the mill and distillery 5 miles east of Springfield, of K. P. Haden, I am now prepared to fill all orders with the best quality of whisky by the barrel at 40 cents a

Western Hotel

The undersigned begs leave to inform his old friends and the public generally that he is now prepared to receive and entertain travelers and all others who may favor liim with a call. He will be able to keep a man and his horse all night for 75 cents. He will also board at from $1.75 to $2 per week. Stage passengers and transient sojourners will be charged 25 cents per meal. His table will at all times be supplied with the BEST the market affords, and his stable well filled with good provender. Travelers maj' rely on themselves and horses faring well. Hotel on St. Louis street, opposite Lair's blacksmith shop.

Apjwintments . - At the August election, 1856, Allen Mitchell had been elected county assessor, but failing to file his bond in time, could not take the office on January 1 of this year, and the county court was forced to appoint him, which it did, January 27. - At the same time J. W. D. L. F. Mack was appointed deputy county clerk. - March, 12 Hon. W. C. Price resigned as State Senator, and was appointed by Governor Polk to the judgeship of this circuit made vacant by the death of Judge Yance3^ - In August John M. Richardson was appointed the agent of the county to look after its swamp and overflowed lands. He was instructed to visit Washington, to obtain patents for all the lands to which the county was entitled (about 18,000 acres) and was to receive $200 for his services, which sum w^as to be paid out of the proceeds of the sale of the swamp lands. - November 2, B. H. Bills was appointed county school commissioner, for two years from date. - December 5, Elisha Headlee Avas appointed, under the law, the first public administrator of the county.

Bank Items. - In January the following were chosen officers of the Springfield bank : President, John W. Hancock ; cashier, J. R. Danforth ; clerk, D. C. Smith; directors, R. J. McElhaney, N. R. Smith, and Charles Sheppard ; attorneys, S. H. Boyd and J. H. Mc- Bride. - By June 18 stock to the amount of $50,000 had been subscribed to the branch bank - securing its permanent location at Springfield.

Tlie Land Office. - On the 20th of March the office was closed for want of a register, that functionary's time having expired and his successor not having been appointed. Thos. J. Bishop had been the last register. A few days later W. H. Graves, the editor of the Advertiser, was appointed. From the 1st of May until the oOth of November there were 666,280 acres of land entered at this office, and 175,072 acres sold for cash, amounting in all to 841,352 acres. This was the largest amount of land ever before disposed of at the office in one year. It was not all sold to hona fide settlers, however, much of it having been bought by speculators on a venture. At the close of the year over 2,000,000 acres remained unsold in this land district, much of which was worthless.

Effects of the Crop Failure. - Early in the spring of this year the effects of the crop failure of last year began to be most keenly felt by the people of the county. Seed of all kinds was very high. Seed sweet potatoes brought $7 per bushel ; Irish potatoes, $2 ; seed corn, $1.50; common spongy, unsound corn and "nubbins," $1. Other articles of grain and provender were corresponding!}^ scarce and dear. Many of the farmers were unable to buy corn and hay, and numbers of their cattle and hogs starved to death. Horses became very poor and thin. Those attached totheMt. Vernon stao-e could not be urared into a trot, and even provoked the ridicule of the newspa^Dcrs. The sprmg was very backward, and fruit was greatly damaged thereby. The latter portion of the season was so favorable, however, that a most bountiful crop of wheat was raised. Notwithstanding the hard times, many families left the county for California in the spring. Corn was poor and sjDoiled by frost, and on Christmas sold at from $1 25 to $1.50 per bushel.

The season of the spring of 1857 will long be remembered in Southwest Missouri, on account of the famine that prevailed. The situation in other counties was far worse than in Greene. There was real suffering in the counties of Barry, Lawrence, Webster, Polk, Dallas, Laclede, Ozark and Taney. In Ozark county, of which Rockbridge was then the county seat, the May term of the circuit court was adjourned, l)ecause of the scarcity of provisions in the town and country - the people not being prepared to feed themselves well, to say nothing of feeding a crowd of hungry lawyers, witnesses, jurymen, etc.

Deaths. - February 7, Judge Charles S. Yancey died, after an illness of two months. Only a few months previously his wife and sister had died, and afterward his own health was very poor, until the fatal illness came upon him. - July 6, Rev. Jonathan Carthal died. - Larkin Payne, a prominent politician, died in October. - Dr. T. W.

Booth, well known to the people of Greene, died in Newton connty on the last day of the year. - Mrs. Sarah Hornbeak died August 11, and Mrs. Eliza J. Alexander died a week later.

Assessed Values. - The assessor's books for this year showed 2,824 names assessed. The total assessed value of property in the county was $3,468,103. The number of polls was 2,076 ; number of slaves, 1,436. The county tax levied was $4,594.63. The total delinquent tax was only $43.01 - a remarkable showing, considering the hard times, failure of crops, etc. In December, in order to facilitate assessments, the county was divided into five districts.

The ' ' Peculiar Institution. ' '

Slaves were worth a good price in Greene county this year. About the first of January there was an auction sale of this species of property in Springfield. One "likely" negro man, 35 years of age, brought $1,000. Two women were put upon the block and sold fairly ; one, 26 years of age, brought $830 ; the other, aged 30, brought $715. March 30, a negro woman, 40 years old, with a child of two years, sold for $900 ; another, about 30, with a two-year-old child, brought $860.

Occasionally slaves escaped from their masters about these days, and struck out toward the north star, or for the abolitionists in Kansas, or for the Indians in the western part of the Indian Territory. One or two were said to have been spirited away by interested parties and taken to California. In May, 1856, the following advertisement appeared in the Springfield papers and those of Southwest Missouri generally : -

Three Hundred Dollars Eeward ! - Uah away from the subscriber, on the 21st of April last, two negro men - LOGAN, 45 years of age, bald-headed, one or more fingers on the right hand crooked, or else so stiff he cannot bend them. DAN, 21 years, six feet high; his toes were frost-bitten last winter, so that it is perceivable by examining the naked foot; there is also a scar on his body. Both negroes are black. I will pay .$ 100 for the apprehension and delivery of Logan, or to have him confined so that I can get him. I will pay $200 for the apprehension of Dan, or to have hira confined so that I can get him. John S. Doak.

Mr. Doak was a negro trader, living a few miles from Springfield, who bought and sold slaves for the Southern market. It would seem that he was not an easy master, and that it was not strange his slaves should run away, when he described them by their " crooked and stifle fingers," their *' frost-bitten toes," and the " scars " on their bodies. The negroes were afterwards caught in southern Kansas, below Ft.

Scott, while on their way to California, and were returned to their master. Accompanying thein was another Greene county runaway slave, belonging to the Danforth estate.

About the first of September, three more negroes, belonging to Henry McKinley, ran away. In an advertisement offering $300 for their return or lodgment in jail, Mr. McKinley thus described them ;

" Campbell, a black boy about 33 years old, five feet ten inches high, with a blemish in his right eye caused by being snagged, stutters in talking; Jim, a mulatto, about 26 years old, five feet seven inches high; King, a black boy, about 22 years ©Id, stoopshouldered, with some beard on his face. Said negroes left my house on the 1st inst., to go to meeting at Mr. Allen Edmondson's, in this county. "

In July there was a sale of eleven negroes belonging to the estate of Nathan Boone, deceased, a son of Daniel Boone. The sale took place on the Boone farm, about four miles from Ash Grove, in Boone township. The negroes were said to have been " well sold." In December,- a negro girl ten years of age, was sold in Springfield for $552.

Fatal Casualties

John Ellison, who lived four miles east of Springfield, was struck by lightning, June 20, and instantly killed. In the first week of November, a Mr. Foster, of Springfield, was drowned in the James. He was subject to fits or partial derangement, and it was supposed that while in one of these he attempted to cross the stream, and fell in and was drowned. When found the body had evidently been in the water some days.

The second fair of the Southwest Missouri Agricultural and Mechanical Association was held on the grounds near Springfield, Oct. 3-6, 1857. Notwithstanding the fact that the weather was very gloomy and unfavorable generally, there was a large attendance, a great number of entries, and many important premiums awarded. The following were the officers of the association chosen for another year : President, Marcus Boyd ; secretary, Charles Sheppard ; treasurer, J. W. D. L. F. Mack; directors, John W. Hancock, C. A. Haden, T. G. Newbill, W. M. Horton, of Greene ; E. M. Campbell, of Polk; James S. Rains, of Jasper ; Peter Hogle, of Dade ; P. A. Dudley, of Lawrence; J. G. Hollis, of Webster; A. Hooker, of Laclede.

Springfield Matters In 1857

were chosen : Mayor, John S. Kimbrouo'li ; council men, W. B. Logan, W. G. Evans, and N. K. Smith ; recorder, eTohn S. Bigbee ; marshal, Josiah Leed}'.

In the latter part of June, occurred the examinations in the Springfield schools, of which there were two at the time, the Springfield Female College, Rev. Charles Carleton, superintendent, and the Springfield Female High School, Miss Sarah Bailey, principal. The exercises were witnessed by good audiences, and the examinations were said to have reflected credit on both teachers and pupils.^ In the same month the female college property was sold by Mr. Carleton to a joint stock company, that made arrangements with Mr. C. to continue the school. August 21, the examination in the Springfield Male Academy came off successfully.

Two circuses exhibited in Springfield this year - Lent's on August 22, and okl John Robinson's, Sept. 14. Both shows attracted large crowds, from miles away. ^

November 18, the first number of the Weekly Missouri Tribune, was issued by John M. Richardson. It was devoted to " Union Democrac3^" Motto: " The people of Missouri love the Union, and will maintain it at all hazards."" - In the first week in May there was no flour on sale in Springfield, " Qr to be had for love or money." Corn meal was $1.50 per bushel. The same condition of afiairs existed in the first part of the month of August.

In the fall of this year there was a " boom " for Springfield. In September considerable building was done. The Presb3^terian Church was well under way, work on the Methodist Church was begun, and many dw^clling houses went up. In November there had i)een so many accessions to the population that no empty dwelling houses - " not even a shed," the papers said - could be rented.

The Canvass Of 1857

January 12, 1857, Gov. Trusten Polk was elected U. S. Senator to succeed Senator Geyer, his term to begin March 4, following. A new Governor was to be chosen. The anti-Bentons, or regular Democrats, nominated Hon. Robert M. Stewart, of Buchanan county. The " Americans" nominated Hon. James S. Rollins, of Boone county, who was indorsed by the majority of the Benton Democrats.^ The candidates made a joint canvass of the State and spoke at Springfield June 29 ; a large crowd, nnmbering- 2,000, was present, and each crowd, Know Nothings and " Sag Nichts," as the Democrats were called, claimed the victory for its leader.

In February the Democrats of Greene held a connty convention, which was presided over by F. T. Frazier, hitherto a Benton man, and which sent the following delegates to the Democratic State convention : W. C. Price, Dr. N. A. Davis, John Kinney, F. T. Frazier, and Matthew Chapman. The delegates were instructed to vote for the nomination for Governor as follows : First choice, John W. Hancock, of this county ; second choice, Waldo P. Johnson ; third choice, Claib. Jackson ; fourth choice, George W. Hough.

Upon Judge Yancey's death, as before stated, Wm. C. Price was appointed circuit judge. Price was State Senator at the time, and, resigning, a vacancy was created, which was to be filled at the August election. John S. Waddill, of Springfield, was the American candidate and W. H. Riley the Democratic nominee.

For circuit judge there were four candidates, Wm. C. Price, the then incumbent ; Littleberry Hendrick and J. H. McBride, of Springfield, and J. R. Chenault, of Jasper county. A strong fight was made for and against Judge Price in this county.

Forjudge of the probate court and of the court of common pleas of Greene county there were three candidates. Sample Orr, J. D. Brown and H. R. Jarrett.

The election in this county resulted as follows : - For Governor. - Rollins, 1,135; Stewart, 748. For State Senator. - Waddill, 1,065 ; Riley, 587. For Circuit Judge. - Hendrick, 658 ; Price, 630 ; McBride, 415 ; Chenault, 47.

Waddill was elected Senator by 889 majority, carrying four counties, Greene, Webster, Dallas and Ozark, out of the five composing the district. The fifth county, Wright, gave Riley a majority.

Chenault was elected circuit judge over Hendrick, the next highest, by about 600 majority, but it is possible Hendrick' s defeat was accomplished by a forged letter sent out from Springfield to certain counties, stating that Hendrick had withdrawn in favor of McBride. One of these forged letters is still in existence, and a copy is herewith appended : - county in this judicial circuit, in regard to the rehitive strength of Mc- Bride and Hendrick, and having relial)lc assurance from each, we, the following Americans and Benton men, together with the mass of each of the above parties in this county, have concluded to center upon McBride in order to defeat Price. In union of action there is harmony, and, in accordance with the above, we shall act. Old Greene will be sound to the core for the defeat of Price and his Phelps coadjutors. (Signed) Joseph Moss, Stephen Bedford, John Dade, Elijah Gray, Larkin Payne, Hose a Mullings, T. J. Bailey.

The vote in the State this year, as canvassed, stood : Stewart, 47,- 975 ; Rollins, 47,641 ; Stewart's majority, 334. The Rollins men, however, declared that their candidate was fairly elected, but was cheated in the count by " doctoring" the returns from certain counties in this quarter of the State. The truth of this declaration was never fully established.

In January Representative McFarland, in compliance with a promise made in the canvass of 1856, introduced a bill in the Legislature to repeal the Springfield liquor law, noted on a previous page. The ladies of Springfield sent up a remonstrance, and the gallant legislators, by a large majority, refused to repeal the law. During the discussion in the House many eloquent speeches were made by Wilson, of Platte, Switzler, of Boone, and others. In February a petition was circulated in Robberson township praying the Legislature to pass a law prohibiting the sale of liquor in that township. A remonstrance was also circulated. Both petition and remonstrance came before the Legislature in a few days, the former signed by 114 ladies and 109 gentlemen, and the result was the passage of an act prohibiting the sale of liquors in "the 30th congressional township."

In April John Young, commissioner for the improvement of White river, was paid $198, or $3 per day for 66 days' service as such commissioner, having expended in that time only $371 of the county's appropriation. Some time this spring a small light-draft steamboat came up the river as far as the mouth of the James, discharged some freight, took on a few bales of cotton, and returned to Memphis. The first night out on her return trip she tied up at a point in Stone county, five miles from the mouth of the James, and in the night there was a stabbing affray between the mate and a deckhand.

In January the first real effort of the Legishitiire to organize Christian county was made. The people of Greene were hostile to the organization of the new county, as it was to take off a strip of territory seven miles in width and running east and west across the southern part of the county, and in this territory was some valuable taxable propert3^ The county had a railroad debt of $80,000 which it was very desirable this property should be taxed to pay. The owners of the property had helped to create the debt and care was to be taken that they should help to pay it. The Greene county legislators were able to stave off the creation of Christian county two years from this year.

Miscellaneous

About New Year's day Mr. E. C. Davis, superintendent of common schools, well known in Greene county, was arrested in Jefferson City and committed to jail on a charge of forgery. Afterward he was sent to the penitentiary for two years. - In July the county court ordered notice to be given that no interest on county warrants would be paid after that date, as there was sufficient money in the treasury to pay all demands against the county. A tax of only I2V2 cents on the $100, and a poll of only I2V2 cents a head were levied this year. - About the last of May Prof. G. C. Swallow and the corps of the State Geological Survey were in Springfield and Greene county ensrao-ed in their work. - In the month of Jnne, notwithstanding the famine, lands in the vicinity of Springfield sold at from $75 to $100 per acre. R. P. Faulkner sold his farm of 250 acres for $40 per acre. The county school fund this year amounted to $7,235.52, of which $4,664.40 was from the State, $2,229.94 from the county, and $341.18 from the townships. - On the 19th of June a severe hailstorm passed over a portion of the Grand and Kickapoo prairies, doing considerable damage to fruit and the growing crops. - During the year there was considerable discussion among the people regarding the building of a railroad from Cape Girardeau to Springfield. Meetings were held in this part of the State in favor of the project, and plenty of substantial aid was promised. November 28 a bill chartering the " Springfield and Cape Girardeau Railroad" passed both Houses of the Legislature. - November 28 Greene county was attached to the 14th judicial circuit, Hon. P. H. Edwards, judge. Hitherto it had belonged to the 13th district. The times of holdiuix court were fixed as the first Mondays in March and Octol)er. - In August four prisoners, named Lee, Smith, LeDuc, and McAlpin, escaped from the county jail. Sheriff King offered $200 reward for their capture. - The great financial crash of 1857 affected Greene county no little. The merchants were put to great sti'aits to pay their wholesale creditors in St. Louis, and the people of the county had but little money with which debts could l)e discharged, owing to the numerous bank failures throughout the country.

In January the county court appointed H. R. Jarrett, John Murray, L. A. Rountree, A. H. Payne, and John Elani, district assessors, under the new law, and John M. Richardson county attorney. At the same session a dramshop license was refused J. F. Fagg & Co., of Springfield, because a majority of the citizens of Campbell township, including about three hundred ladies, had remonstrated against granting any more licenses in the township. There was not a licensed dramshop in Springfield at that time.

On the last of January one Arthur Blankenship, of Barry county, who had poisoned his wife, a sister of Enoch Jessup, of this county, and who had shortly thereafter married another woman and then fled the country, was arrested in Searcy county, Ark., and returned to the jail at Cassville. Mr. Jessup had been especially active in procuring the arrest of Blankenship, oftering $500 reward for his capture. In March thereafter Blankenship, with some other prisoners, escaped from the Cassville jail, but Blankenship returned and surrendered himself to the sheriff. His trial coming on in April, he took a change of venue to Lawrence county, and in September following he broke jail at Mt. Vernon and again escaped.

Owing to the numerous failures of banks of issue about this time there was great financial depression throughout the country. The people of Greene had to contend not only against this adverse circumstance, but against a great scarcity of produce, owing to the failure for two seasons of the corn crop. Many farmers became discouraged, and in the spring of this year sold their lands for low prices and removed to Kansas and elsewhere.

of Ozark, then in this county. In tliis year the improvement of White river by public aid practically ceased. Occasionally thereafter, even up to the present time, a steamer wends its way as far up as Forsyth.

July 3, a meeting of farmers and others was held at Ozark, Linden township, to consider the situation of afiairs generally. The chairman was John Collins, of Taney county. Resolutions were adopted that, in view of the stringency of money matters and the extortions of " middlemen, " it was the duty of those composing the nleeting to start a " co-operative store." The resolutions were similar to some of those adopted by the Patrons of Husbandry fifteen years afterward, and this was doubtless the first" grange " meeting ever held in Greene county.

March 20, a child of Mr. Hargiss, living in the northern part of the county, was burned to death b}'- its clothes taking fire. In August a little son of R. B. Coleman, of Springfield, fell from a horse and fractured his skull, making a dangerous wound. October 20, a man named Gillmore was caught in the machinery of Nowlin's mill and literally crushed to pieces.

In February Mr. Stephen Bedford killed a gray eagle in this county which measured six feet between the tips of its wings. - In March, at a negro sale in Springfield, one negro girl, aged 18 or 20, brought $875 ; another, aged 30, brought $552 ; a " boy," of 22, sold for $1,- 615; a small boy, $1,000; another, $1,100; one woman and three children, $2,125. - A "grand" 4th of July celebration was held in Mr. Haun's yard, in Springfield ; orations were delivered by Revs. Woods and Morrison. - This year the county court imposed a license tax on " menageries" of $50 a day; on "smaller affairs," $25 per day. - ^ August 21, J. D. Hade completed his new steam mill at Springfield. - In October Thos. J. Whitlock's steam mill, six miles from Springfield, was put in operation. - On the fourth of September there was a considerable frost in portions of this county and the weather Avas cold enough for fire. - A Mr. Coleman picked an apple from his orchard in the autumn of this year, measuring nearly five inches in diameter and weighing two pounds. - November 20, Mr. Richardson's Tribune newspaper, at Springfield, died, aged one year. - The corn crop was short this year again, and in December sold for $1 a bushel : corn meal was worth $1.25. - A tax of 30 cents on the $100 for county purposes was levied this year.

In the winter of 1857-8 a h)cal dramatic organization, called " The Thespian Society," gave a series of entertainments at Temperance Hall, which were well attended. The proceeds of one evening were donated to the Springfield Female College.

Upon the removal of the post-office to the house occupied by Drs. Wooten & Goodall, in January of this year, the Mirror remarked that, if one or two more removals had occurred, every house in town would have been the post-office at one time. In September it was again removed to a new building on South street.

Two lodges of Good Templars were in good condition in the town this spring. "Eureka" lodge had for officers: N. F. Jones, W. C. T. ; Mrs. J. M. Morgan, worthy vice; E. P. Faulkner, secretary; J. R. Danforth, treasurer; Chas. Fox, inside guard; J. B. Perkins, outside guard. " Pride of the West " lodge was officered as follows : R. J. Beal, worthy chief; Jane Gott, worthy vice ; John Ricks, secretary; Jasper McDonald, treasurer; Benj. Gott and J. P. Bailey, guards.

The Odd Fellows celebrated their anniversary this year by a procession and a supper in the evening at Temperance Hall. Hon. Sample Orr delivered an address. The Masons made a similar observance of St. John's Day, June 24.

June 17 Mr. Ingram's foundry was fairly opened at Springfield. This was the first institution of the kind in Southwest Missouri, and its inauguration was a matter of much interest to the people. Mr. Wm. Massey had the first piece of casting made.

The sum of $5,000 was subscribed for a male academy in the place, (such an institution being imperatively demanded at that time), in July, and by the 1st of September there were two such academies in the town, besides five female schools and two music schools, all of which were well attended.

In September, there having been great complaint made of certain nocturnal disturbances and disorderly conduct, the city council passed an ordinance directing the marshal to arrest all persons found on the streets or "loitering or wandering about" at unusual hours. White persons so offending were to be imprisoned until 8 o'clock the next morning; negroes were to be soundly whipped. "So shall ye put away evil from among you," etc.

Notwithstanding the hard times following the crash of 1857, and the partial iiiilure of crops in this county for three years, property in Springfield advanced to fair prices this fall. In September some lots in the south part of town sold for $200 per acre. A house and lot on South street sold at sheriff's sale for $2,000 ; another on St. Louis street brought $2,052. A lot adjoining Temperance Hall brought $1,000. The corner lot on the west side, known as the Haden property, but bought of Sheppard & Kimbrough, was purchased by the county for the present court-house site for $3,000. A large lot of land near town and in other parts of the county was sold, even at sheriff's sale, for fair prices.

In the fall of this year the Butterfield stage company decided to run a line of stages from St. Louis to California via the southern route, through Kansas, New Mexico, Utah, in order to avoid the snows and the fierce Indians to be encountered on the northern route. September 17th the first outward bound overland mail stage for California passed through Springfield, which had been made a station on the line, three hours ahead of time. It was a great event to be sure ! When the driver came bounding in on the square on the top of the huge old Concord stage, loaded down Avith mail bags and baggage and crowded with passengers, and cracked his whip like a rifle shot, then drove up in front of Gen. Smith's hotel, and brought up all six of his gaily harnessed and spirited steeds with a pull of the lines that set them back on their haunches, and yelled " Who-o-o-a there, blame your hearts: all you tl link about is ruimiii' ! ^ '' - when all this happened, as it did, Springfield took off its hat and cheered heartily and lustily. There was great rejoicing. That night the event was celebrated by letting off sky-rockets, throwing fire-balls, reducing dry goods boxes to ashes, hurrahing, and violating the prime obligations of the Good Templars ! October 22, the first overland mail stage from California - 23 days out from San Francisco - passed through town having on board five passengers, the mail, some treasure, etc. One of the passengers is said to have been Gen. J. W. Denver, from Pike's Peak. Denver City was named for Gen. D.

nually that aggregated $300,000 ; two drug stores, one cabinet shop, one furniture store, seven blacksmith shops, two tin shops, two saddle and harness shops, three hotels, three wagon shops, three jewelry establishments, two printing offices (Ihe 31 h'i'or and the Advertiser) three churches, five schools, ten lawyers, five doctors, four clergymen, four secret orders (Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, and Good Templars), three tailor shops, two milliners, a daguerrean gallery, Capt. Julian's carding machine, a gunsmith shop, three butcher shCps, a hatter's sho}), three confectionery stores, one livery stable, three boot and shoe shops, one dentist, a land office, a bank, land agents, twenty carpenters, house and sign painters, two brick masons, and one saloon, the latter institution being located beyond the "Dead Sea. "

During the year 1858 300,000 feet of lumber had been sold in the place. Smith & Graves were engaged in putting up a planing mill, which was completed the following spring, Mr. Ingram was engaged in repairing and adding to his foundry. Hitherto the foundry had not been able to do good work ])ecause of the presence of so much sulphur in the coal used. Four hundred bushels of dried fruit were shipped to St. Louis in 1858. J. H. Caynor & Co. had a tobacco manufactory which emploj^ed thirty hands, and invested $15,000. It had consumed 175,000 pounds of toI)acco, and turned out 800 boxes of the manufactured article. A Mr. Fao-tj; was also eno;ao;ed in tobacco manufacturing. The city authorities began, at about the close of the year, to take the first steps for the permanent improvement of the streets, alleys, sidewalks, crossings, etc, which hitherto had been in a deplorable condition. The majority of the business houses around -the square were temporary structures, and all, or nearly 'all, were frame buildings, a sample or two of which could recently be seen.

Abstract Of The Assessors' Books For 1858 The Political Canvass Of 1858

On the 5th of April there was held in the court-house at Sprin<rfield what was called a - Union meeting. " It was presided over by Joseph Goodin, and Z. M. Rountree was secretary. The object of this meeting was to put on record the fact that those composing it were opposed to the dissolution of the Federal Union, and to do everything possible to prevent such a thing. Already the best men of the count try feared for the fate of the republic. Northern fonatics and Southern fire-eaters were striving to rend it asunder. The former did not want to live in a country (so they said) whereof one-half depended for prosperity on the begetting and bringing up of children for the slave market, and so the constitution which permitted slavery was denominated an instrument of infamy, and the flag of the stars and stripes was denounced as a flaunting lie. The fire-eaters of the South were blustering and complaining that their "rights" had been or were about to be trampled on by the North, and therefore they were for seceding and breaking up a government which they could not absolutely control:

With neither of these factions had the " Union " meeting of 1858 any sympathy. Resolutions denouncing the intemperate polTticians of all parties for the injuries they were working were unanimously adopted The attempt of Congress to fasten the Lecompton constitution upon the people of Kansas against their will was denounced as an act of tyranny, oppression, and injustice. " The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill and the repeal of the Missouri compromise the meeting believed to answer the intention of their authors as " enterinowedges for the detestable plot of severing the American Union. ^' The people, irrespective of party, were invited to join with the members of the meeting in forming a new organization, having for its object and motto the preservation of the Federal Union under the constitution. The members of the committee on resolutions were Elijah Gray, Hosea Mullings, Simon Bird, Joseph Headlee, George Howard, James H. Edwards, A. H. Leslie, H. R. Jarrett, J. W. Boren, Marshall Murray, J. L. McCraw, R. B. Owen, and Joseph Burden.

Hon. Marcus Boyd and Hon. Sample Orr addressed this meeting in strong Union speeches. It was agreed to call a nominating conv^'ention on the 17th of May to select county ofBcers and a " vigilance committee " was appointed for each township.

bled. Its members were chiefly old Whigs and Americans, although many former Democrats participated. Judge Sample Orr presided ; " Alphabet" Mack was secretary. Col. Marcus Boyd and Oscar B. Smith were nominated for the Legislature, Henry Matlock for sheriff, Joseph Burden for treasurer, and James W. Gray, John R. Earnest, and Samuel Hall for justices of the county court. R. B.Owen,E. Headlee, James Murray, R. W. Donnell, George McElhaney, John Elam, J. R. Weaver, Dr. Frazier, R. Teague, J. L. McCraw, and I. N. Jones were appointed an executive committee.

Speeches were delivered by Sample Orr, Stephen Bedford, John M. Richardson, ot Springfield, and John W. Payne, of Mt. Vernon. All of the speakers warned the people of the danger of the dissolution of the Union and civil war, and declared that a national success of either the "National Democrats" or the " Black Republicans " would be dangerous to the life of the republic.

The Democratic convention, composed principally of anti-Benton democrats, and called "antics," " Sag Nichts," etc., by their opponents, held their convention May 8. Resolutions professing devotion to the old Union, " formed by Washington, Jefferson, and the patriots of '76," were adopted and the following ticket nominated: For Representatives, W. C. Price and Henderson Greene ; for sheriff, Joseph K. Gibson ; for county justices, Joseph Rountree, Greenberry Robberson, and John T. Boles.

About the 1st of June F. T. Frazier, of this county, was nominated for the State Senate, by the Democratic senatorial convention, at Ozark. Mr. Frazier had formerly been a strong Benton man and hostile to the " anties," who now nominated him. Hon. John S. Waddill, also of this county, was his opponent, being then in office and a candidate for re-election. He was an old Whig and received the support of old Whigs, Know Nothings, Benton men (if it can be said that there were Benton men after the death of Col. Benton in the previous April), and " Union men."

The candidates for Congress were Hon. John S. Phelps, Democrat, and Hon. John M. Richardson, Whig, Benton, Union, etc., both gentlemen of this county. They stumped the district, then largely Democratic.

So far as the county ticket was concerned, but one Democrat, Joseph Rountree, was elected to any office, but Frazier beat Waddill for the Senate in the district by a majority of 273, and Phelps' majority over Richardson in the Congressional race was 5,280. This year the Emancipationists ran tickets in portions of Missouri, and their candidate for the Legislature in Gasconade county, Mr. Sitton, was elected.

The third annual fair of the Southwestern Association was held at Spnngfield, in September, lasting four days. There were laro-e crowds present each day. In addition to the ordinary attractions of first-class agricultural fliirs, there was a -grand tournament" one day, wherein a number of the young men of the county took a tilt with wooden lances and mounted on horseback, at a suspended rinc.' and he who displayed the most dexterity and exhibited the best horsemanship was to receive a gold chain and cross, which he was to bestow on some -maiden fair," who thereupon was to be considered - queen of beauty." Mr. J. A. Foster wielded his hickory lance and managed his horse most successfully and was awarded the prize, which he presented to Miss Mattie C. Nevill. Ou the last day of the fiiir five young ladies rode for a prize sid^isaddle. The contest was decided in favor of Miss Clem Ware, of Dade county; but there was great dissatisfaction at the award, and some ladies speedily raised a purse of $60 to buy a fine saddle for Miss Sue Moore. At the close of the fair T. G. Newbill, Esq., was chosen president of the society for another year.

Building The New Court-House

August 28, 1858, the first steps were taken by the authorities to build the present court-house. W. B. Farmer, Warren H. Graves, and Josiah Leedy were appointed a board of commissioners on publicbuildings to select a suitable location for the erection of a new courthouse and jail and to select plans and report the probable cost. On the 4th of October the commissioners made their report, and the same day the county court appropriated $3,000 to pay for the site of the building, which was purchased of Chas. Sheppard and J. B. Kim- broiigh. The same day an appropriation of $40,000 was made for the building of tlie court-house and jail, according to the plans and specifications drawn by Josiah Leedy, who was paid $163.25 for his work. In the latter part of December sealed proposals for completing the new structure were opened by the court, and on Christmas day the contract was awarded to Josiah Leedy for $36,000 ; the highest bid made was $45,000.

Deaths During 1858

May 8, Gen. Nicholas K. Smith died at his residence in Springfield, aged - . May 23, Mrs. Marion S. McGown, wife ofH. C. McGown, died at her home on Leeper prairie. S. G. Headlee died some time in June. A. W. Maupin, of Springfield, died June 15, aged 50. The wife of R. E. Blakey, of Springfield, died Nov. 16. Wm. Abernathy, of Springfield, died December 1. Mrs. Mary A. McClure, ^wifeof Dr. M. M. McClure, of Springfield, died Dec. 24, aged 30.

Review Of 1858

During the year 1858, notwithstanding the "hard times," some money was made by the people of the county, or at least considerable amounts were brought in. Over 1,000 yoke of oxen were sold to parties outside of the county, chiefly to those interested in the Santa Fe and Utah trade. The average price paid was $75 per yoke. About 1,450 horses and mules were sold; the most of them going south to the planters of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, although many were sold to Butterfield and the Overland Stage Company. The average price at which these animals sold was $140, and the agofreirate amount realized from the sale of oxen, horses, and mules was not far from $275,000. Owing to the shortness of the corn crop no hogs were fatted and sold to any considerable extent. Pork was scarce at $5 per hundred. At the close of the year there were more than 250,000 pounds of tobacco on handj, which, it was expected, would be manufactured and worked up in the county by the four tobacco factories then in successful operation, whose sales for the current year had not been far from $50,000.

Besides Springfield, the other towns of the county were in thriving condition. Ozark and Linden were flourishing, and confidently expected soon to cut loose from Greene and form a part of a new county. Ebenezer had two stores, sundry mechanical shops, and considerable village population. There were 17 post-offices in the county. At

Springfield there were 35 regular arrivals and as many departures of the mail each week. Improvements of all kinds were going on, and the county had undertaken to build a $40,000- court-house. The Pacific railroad company claimed 168,000 acres of land within the boundaries of Greene, and there were 15,000 acres of unsold swamp land belongin2:to the countv.

On the 5th of January a military company was formed at Springfield under the laws of the State. The company was organized at a meeting held at the court-house, presided over by J. A. Foster. The following officers of the company were chosen : Captain, H. R. Jarrett ; 1st lieutenant, John Hursh ; 2d lieutenant, J. A. Foster; 3d lieutenant, R. E. Blakey. A uniform for the company was adopted, to consist of a blue frock-coat, light-blue pants, and a stiff cloth cap, five or six inches high, with a plume. Col. Jarrett, the captain, forwarded a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the company to Gov. Stewart for approval, together with a petition for arms and for admission into the service of the State.

In January a remonstrance of the citizens of Linden township, against granting a dramshop license for that township, was granted. In Finley township there had been no whisky or other intoxicants sold for four years, and on the 15th of January there was not a single "grocery" or dramshop in Greene county. In October application for dramshop license for Springfield was made but refused, and an order made that no such license should issue for Campbell township for twelve months.

January 29, an act incorporating the " Springfield Male Academy" passed the lower house of the Legislature, and February 12, C. B. Holland, J. Robinson, R. P. Faulkner, J. M. Bailey, and Littleberry Hendrick, trustees, advertised for sealed proposals to build a brick college building in the southwestern part of the town of Springfield - to be 30x65 feet in area, and two stories high. March 28 the incorporation act became a law.

About January 20, State Senator Frazier introduced a bill in the Senate house of the Legislature, which passed that body, for the abolition of the common pleas and probate court of this county.

southern jDart of this county, including the greater portion of the townships of Fiuley and Linden, had been made a part thereof. This cut down the area of the county very considerably, and lessened the value of taxable property very materially - so much so, indeed, that the county found itself in very straightened circumstances toward the close of the year, as it had paid out an extraordinarily large sum for costs in criminal prosecutions, notably in the prosecution of numerous parties for violations of the liquor law during the year.

The New Court-House

In January the sheriff was ordered to sell the building then used as a court-house to the highest bidder, the proceeds to be applied on the new court-house, and the purchaser to remove the property off the square, and "clear away all the rubbish." W. H. Graves was appointed commissioner of public buildings, in place of Gen. N. R. Smith, deceased. The county court made an order to loan the sum of $8,000, without interest, to Josiah Leedy, the contractor for the new court-house, on his giving proper security. The money was to be applied to building the new county structures. Work progressed fairly at the start and through the summer- of this year, but in the fall it began to lag, owing to the failure of the court to comply ' with the contract in respect to payments as fast as the work proceeded.

In December the county court ordered that, whereas the contract for building the new court-house had been let December 25, 1858, the work to be paid for as it progressed, the last payment to be made December 31, 1861, and whereas, since the letting of the contract, the county had lost a large portion of its most valuable territory, by the formation of Christian county, ^ which territory contained a large share of its taxable wealth, and whereas, by reason of unusually large payments of costs in criminal cases, the county treasury was well nigh depleted, leaving theordinary expenses of the county unprovided for - therefore, the county's representatives were instructed to ask the Legislature to pass an act allowing Greene county to borrow $16,000. The representatives, Boyd and Smith, introduced the bill, prepared by County Attorney Richardson, and the Legislature passed it January 10, 1860.

1 All the printed authorities consulted show that Christian county was not organized until March 8, 1860. See Campbell's Gazetteer (ed. of 1874), p. 137 ; Switzler's History of Missouri, pp. 495 and 592 ; Missouri Hand-book, etc.

January 12 occurred the examination at Ebenezer High School, Mr. Avery, principal. Boarding could be had in the place for $1.50, which included lodging, washing, fuel, and lights. - February 12 the stage coach between Springfield and Tipton was stopped near the northern line of this county, in Polk county, and an attempt made to rob it by a band of highwaymen, who were after the " treasure box " from California, carried by the coach. - About the 1st of March W. R. M. Campbell killed what was known as a " Washington eagle," measuring seven feet from the point of one wing to the tip of the other. - The tax for county purposes was twenty cents on the $100 this year. - There was considerable excitement among the people when the news of John Brown's insurrection at Harper's Ferry, Va., reached the county, and many declared that the first gun had been fired in what would prove to be a bloody civil war. - ^^In January the post-office called Pond Creek was changed to Little York.

In April, 1859, after the formation of Christian county, and a loss of a portion of Greene county territory, included in the townships of Linden and Finley, it became necessary, for our county court to adapt itself to the circumstances, and so there were created three new townships in the southern part of the county, Pond Creek, Wilson, and Clay.

The boundaries of Pond Creek were a line beginning at the northeast corner of section 2, tp. 28, range 23 ; thence south with the section line to the south boundary of the county ; thence west to the Lawrence county line ; thence north to the northwest corner of township 28, range 24 ; thence east with the township line to the beginning. Elections were to be held at Wade's Chapel.

Wilson township was bounded by a line beginning at the northwest corner of Pond Creek township ; thence east on the township line between townships 28 and 29 to the range line between ranges 21 and 22 ; thence south with said line to the Christian county line ; thence west along the county line to the southwest corner of Pond Creek township ; thence north to the beginning. Elections to beheld at J. M. Rountree's school-house.

on the section line south to Christian county ; thence west on the county line to the southeast corner of Wilson township ; thence north to the beiijinninoj. Elections to be held at II, Hollin<!;sworth's.

During the fall of 1858 there was some interest felt in this county in the reported discovery of gold in vast quantities, at and in the vicinity of Pike's Peak, Colorado, In the spring of 1859 there was considerable emigration from this county to the alleged " new Eldorado," but in the fall of the year many who went to find fortunes at *' Pike's Peak or bust," returned, somewhat disappointed and crestfallen, and " busted, by thunder." For some time the excitement over Pike's Peak ran as high as it did over California in 1849 and 1850, but, as the real truth was sooner learned, it did not last so long. It made a good market for work cattle and horses during the year, and the ill wind, that it proved to be, blew somebody good after all.

The August Election, 1859

At the August election, 1859, "Alphabet" Mack was elected circuit clerk over James Bond ; Frank J. Abernathy, county clerk, over A. M. Julian, W. B. Farmer, H. D. Trantham, and J. M. Rainey ; R. B. Owen, clerk of the probate and common pleas courts, over S. D. Galbraith ; and J. L. McCraw, county surveyor, over G. W. Mitchell. This being " an off year," there was not much interest felt in the result of the election and party lines were not much regarded in voting for candidates.

Springfield Matters

In the winter of 1859 there were two first-class music teachers in Springfield. Mr. E. B. Narcross taught a - vocal class, and Mrs. Burden gave instruction in instrumental music.

In April the citizens complained of the authorities for allowing certain of the streets and sidewalks to go without certain badly needed improvements, and called upon the authorities to show what had become of the money paid into the city treasury the past year. Whereupon the treasurer, W. McAdams, Esq., published a statement, from which it appeared that the receipts of the treasury from all sources from July 2, 1858, to March 31, 1859, had been $673.89, of which there had been paid out $256.50 for improving streets and alleys, fencing and shrubbing the graveyard, taking the census, etc.

At the city election, April 5, S. H. Boyd was elected mayor; Josiah Leedy, marshal ; John S. Bigbee, recorder, and R. P. Faulkner, N. F. Jones, and Benjamin Pegram, councilmen.

Early in March J. E. Smith and W. H. Graves started their new steam planing mill, the lirst of the kind ever in the county. The first lumber in the town had been sawed with a whipsaw.

In August of this year occurred a most horrible affair in this county, long remembered and not yet entirely forgotten. A Mr. John Morrow lived five or six miles south of Springfield with his wife, a most estimable lady, and one or two children. Mrs. Morrow was a sister of the Hunt brothers, well known in the county.

At the time in question, Mr. Morrow had been absent from home on business, and his wife was left alone in the house, which was in an isolated quarter, remote from other houses. A negro man named Martin, belonging to the Danforth estate, had been engaged in hauling past the residence of Mrs. Morrow and knew that she was alone. Takino; advantao-e of her condition the black villain came to the house, fought his way in, despite the frantic eiforts to repulse him on the part of the poor woman, who threw hot water on him and resisted him as best as she could until her strength gave out, and at last succeeded in perpetrating that nameless crime for which there is no adequate earthly punishment.

As soon as possible Mrs. Morrow gave the alarm, and soon a dozen or more negroes upon whom the least suspicion fell were apprehended and brought before her for identification. It seems that she was unacquainted with the brute who had dealt so cruelly and outrageously with her. At last " Mart." Danforth was brought to her and she at once recognized him. There were other circumstances tending to connect him with the offense, and he was at once arrested and taken to Springfield, and placed under guard in a room on the east side of the square. Here he confessed his guilt in the presence of the officers and others, and exhibited the wounds on his breast made by the scalding water thrown by Mrs. Morrow. There was not the slightest doubt of his guilt, without any mitigating circumstances whatever.

Court was in session at the time, and '* Mart." alias '* Martin," was promptly indicted. Before he could be tried, however, or even arraigned for trial, a mob of men made their way up to the room where the negro was confined, on the east side of the square, took him away from his guards, hurried him down the stairs and through the streets to a tree which stood on the north side of Jordan, west of where the cotton factory now stands, and strung him up. In a few minutes he was dead. The body was cut down and given hasty burial. Afterwards it was " resurrected," and dissected by a Springfield physician. No attempt was ever made to punish those composing the vigilance committee, and, August 19, the circuit attorney dismissed the case against Martin, without stating the reason why, and so the matter ended.

In view of all the circumstances, without justifying mob violence in general, it is proper to state that there was excuse for this one act of lawlessness on the part of those who hung Mart. Danforth. Negro men were prone to commit ofienses of the most terrible character upon unprotected and defenseless white women, and it is said that many a crime of this description was perpetrated in this quarter of Missouri that went unpunished, because of the unwillingness of the poor victim to make public her horrible misfortune. Women were afraid to be left alone or to travel unprotected, and this was a state of afi*airs not to be borne with complacency. The law then provided no punishment, save a mutilation that rendered the commission of a second offense of the kind impossible, and this was not considered a penalty at all adequate to the gravity of the offense.

This same year in Saline county, three negroes were hung for outrages upon white women, and one was burned for murder. A few years before, in Jasper county, two negroes had murdered a physician, outraged his wife, then murdered her and burned her body, and that of her children in the house where she lived. The perpetrators were cauo-ht and burned to death in the Diamond Grove. Greene county people were not alone in taking the law into their own hands in extreme cases. Nine years thereafter it was deemed necessary to apply the same remedy for the perpetration of rape - in the case of "Bud" Isbell's takinir oft\