Greene County, Missouri - Chapter 16: History of the County from 1875, 1883

Chapter 16: History of the County from 1875

1875 - Miscellaneous - Bond Meetings, Chinch Bugs, Floods, Crimes, Casualties, etc. 1876 - Celebrations - The Big Flood - The Political Campaign - Reception of Col. Phelps - A Greene County Man Elected Governor - Representative Districts - Census. 1877 - Suicide of Saml. Fulbright - Murder of Bion Mason - School Statistics - During the Great Strike. 1878 - Miscellaneous - The Murphy Movement - Meeting of the Missouri Press Association - The Grange - Anti-Bond Meeting - The First Train Over the "Gulf" Railroad - The County Bond Litigation - The Greenbackers - Elections. 1879 - Miscellaneous - Transfer of the Springfield and Memphis Railroad to the Kansas City, Fort Smith and Gulf Company - Killing of Alonzo Fagg - Killing of H. C. Roberts, i^.?^' - Miscellaneous Matters - The Great Cyclone - The Political Canvass - The November Election - Census Reports. 1881 - First Train From Kansas City - Indignant Temperance People - Annual Conference - The Drouth - Assassination of President Garfield - Memorial Services - School Statistics, etc., etc.

Bond Meeting. - June 14th there was a hirge public meethig at the court-house in Springfield, to consider the railroad bond question. The county, in its efforts to escape the payment of its bonds, had been defeated, and the county court had refused to appeal the case. Many members of this meeting were among those whose names were signed to petitions asking the county court to issue the bonds in the first instance, and now they wished the county to refuse to pay them, for the reason that they claimed the court had no power to issue them, after being induced to do so by their own prayers and petitions. Hon. S. W. Headlee presided. A committee on resolutions composed of T. A Reed, Ira S. Haseltine, Sol. Cotner, T. J. Whitlock, and H. C. Young, the latter one of the attorneys for the county in the suit decided against it, reported a resolution asking the county court to appeal the bond case of Heidekoper vs. Greene county. After speeches pro and con by Young, Nathan Bray, Garoutte, Haseltine, and Odell, the resolution passed by nine majority.

Chinch Bugs. - This season the chinch bugs were very destructive to the crops of this county, and this also was the "grasshopper year," when such great damage was done in Johnson, Henry, and other counties to the northwest of this. To abate this latter pest. Governor Hardin ordered June 1st to be held as a day of fasting and prayer by the people of the State, and the day was duly observed in Springfield. Later in the same month a concert was given at Springfield for

Stabbing Affray. - June 1st Amos Cooper, in an aff'ray with R.C. Taylor, then the superintendent of the National Cemetery, stabbed the latter very badly, so badly, in fact, that his life was despaired of for a time. The affray occurred in Annie Boyer's house of ill-fame, in the southwest part of Springfield.

Died. - J. S. Garoutte died suddenly at his residence in this county, May 31st, aged 84. He fell while walking across the floor, and immediately expired. Mr. Garoutte was one of the oldest settlers in the county, having lived here since 1837.

The vote on the new constitution (the present), at the November election was very light, only about 800 votes being cast. The majority for the constitution was over 400.

The Stokm Of June, 1875

On tlje 25th of June,. of this 3'ear, an extraordinary rain storm visited this count}'. Every little stream became a river, and the creeks were out of their banks and causing great destruction of property. Wilson's creek in Springfield was 100 yards wide. The wagon factory, the foundry, the gas factor}^, Eversol's mill, Schmook's mill, Raithel's lumberyard, and other buildings and establishments along the creek were flooded and injured, and a store building of Mr. Schmook's was washed down the stream. The damage in Siiringtield was at least $5,000. Two large flouring mills on Sac river, the property of Messrs. Hackney and Evans, were washed away. The storm was general throughout Southwest Missouri. So many bridges and culverts were washed out on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad that the company asked the county courts to give time for the payment of taxes, without interest.

C. B. McAfee and K. W. Fyan, Democrats, and S. H. Boyd and Noah H. Hampton, Republicans. The election resulted in the choice of McAfee and Fyan. The latter gentleman (Fyan), was classed in the convention as a Liberal."

Celebrations. - A grand 4th of July celebration was held at Springfield this year. The exercises were had on the Drury College grounds, which were crowded with the large attendance. Rev. E. B. Cake read the Declaration of Independence and addresses were delivered by W'. W. Ellis, J. W. Mack, Charles Crawford, and Dabney C. Dade. A lengthy and interesting historical sketch of Greene county was read by Col. S. H. Boyd.

On the 5th of August an old settlers' meeting was held in Weaver's Gr^ve, two miles west of Springfield. There was a large crowd. Mr. Junius T. Campbell, the first merchant in Greene county was the president, and Hon. D. C. Dade was secretary. Upon request of the president a large number of citizens enrolled themselves as members of the Old Settlers' Association. Speeches were made and reminiscenses related by John Y. Fulbright, E. M. Campbell, Z. M. Rountree, S. W. Headlee, F. T. Frazier, J. J. Weaver, and S. H. Julian.

The Floods Of 1876

There was a general prevalence of floods in Southwest Missouri this year. Over in Douglas county, in June, the waters were so high and rose so rapidly that many persons living along small creeks were overtaken by them and drowned. Some twelve persons living on Dry, Fox, and Bryant creeks, in that county, lost their lives in this manner, and there was great destruction of property. In this county the most damage was done about the middle of July along Sac river bottom. Hale's, Hackney's, and Appleby's mills were more or less injured, and grain stored in them destroyed, while thv>usands of rails and acres of growing crops in the bottom lands were washed away.

The Political Campaign Of 1876

The Democrats had nominated Tilden and Hendricks, the Republicans Hayes and Wheeler when the political campaiirn of this year in this county fairly opened. July 19th Greene county's honored and honorable citizen, Hon. John S. Phelps, was nominated by the Dem- ocrats for Governor, and then the interest in the contest was heightened. The Repnblican candidate for Congress, Hon. H. E. Havens, was also a Greene connty man, and as usual in political contests Greene county was well to the fore.

Upon learning that Col. Phelps had been nominated for Governor, the citizens of Springfield, almost without respect to party, arranged to give him a befitting reception on his return home from the convention. July 22, on the arrival of the Frisco " train at North Springfield a large concourse of people were there assembled to welcome their fellow-citizen and to congratulate him on his certain prospect of elevation to the highest ofiice within the gift of Missouri. A large procession escorted the Colonel to " old town." It was headed by the brass band and then came the *' Hickory Nut Rangers," a Democratic campaign organization, the Springfield fire company, and hundreds of other citizens.

At night Springfield was illuminated, there was a great display of fire-works, and an immense public meeting was held in Market square. Speeches were delivered from the bell tower by Col. Bray, Major J. C. Cravens, Mr. McGowan, of Jasper county. Col. Phelps himself, and others. There was the greatest enthusiasm, and even Republicans, who did not intend voting for him, were warm in their congratulations of their distinguished neighbor and friend. In his brief speech Col. Phelps said he proposed if elected not to be a partisan Governor. He should extend protection to all alike, without regard to their politics, race, or color. He regarded the negro the same as the white man before the law, and should see that justice was done to the highest and lowest in the land.

The Republicans ratified the nomination of Hayes and Wheeler by a large mass meeting, June 24th. ' Hon. S. H. Boyd was the principal speaker. September 15th they held another meeting and went in torchlight procession over to North Springfield, and had a large meeting there. The Democrats held numerous meetings also during the campaign, and made what in political parlance is called a hard fight.

The candidates for Congress in this district were Hon. Chas. H. Morgan (Democrat), of Barton, and Hon. H. E. Havens (Republican), of this county. For representatives from this county the Republicans nominated S. W. Headlee for the eastern district and Jared E. Smith for the western. The Democratic candidates were Sam Woods in the eastern and F. T. Frazier in the western. For sherifi", A. J. Potter was the Republican and H. R. Skeen the Democratic nominee. For treasurer, A. F. Ingram (Republican), and W. G. Porter (Democrat). At the November election the following was the vote by townships on President, Governor, congressman, representatives, and sherifl'.

Congress

The vote on other offices was: For collector, A. H. Wilson 2,415, L. A. Newton 2,228 ; for treasurer, A. F. Ingram 2,435, W. G. Porter 2,175 ; for county judge, Benj. Kite 2,479, Sampson Bass 2,169 ; for county attorney, W. D. Hubbard 2,340, J. R. Waddill 2,317 ; assessor, D. W. Tf^rner 2,338, J. G. DalLison 2,220; surveyor, /. iV. Jones 2,458, H. M. Parrish 2,210 ; public administrator, S. H. Julian 2,423, I. Wilson 2,185 ; coroner, Anthony Fisher 2, 307, Dr. Van Hoose 2,220. Charley Morgan's majority over Havens in this congressional district was 747. The district (then the 6th) was composed of the following counties: Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, Stone, Taney, Vernon, and Webster.

Whereas, under the present Constitution of the State of Missouri, it is made the duty of the court to divide this county into two repreeentative districts, and under which each of such districts will be entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives of this State from and after the general election, to be held in November, 1876., It is, therefore, ordered and decreed by this court that Greene county be, and it is hereby, divided in accordance with the requirements of said Constitution, and for the purpose and object as bel'orementioned the division shall ])e as follows, to wit; All that territory embraced within the present limits of the following townships shall be known as the western representative district of Greene county, viz. : Robberson, Cass, Walnut Grove, Boone, Center, Pond Creek and all that portion of Campbell township embraced within the present limits of the third and fourth precincts of said Campbell township, as defined by an order of record of this court on the 11th day of January, 1873, in Record Book C, page 268.

All that territory embraced within the present limits of the following townships shall be known as the eastern representative district of Greene county, viz. : Buookline, Wilson, Clay, Washington, Taylor, Jackson, Franklin, and all that portion of Campbell township embraced within the limits of the first and second precincts of said Campbell township, and including the town of North Springfield, as defined in said order ot record of January 11th, 1873.

Stock

March 20th Samuel Fulbiight, an okl and well known citizen of Greene county, living just west of Springfield, committed suicide, to the astonishment and horror of his friends and the general regret of the community. A short time previously he had lost by death his devoted wife, to whom he was much attached, and after she had passed away he was extremely low-spirited and seemed brokenhearted. For a few days before his decease he had been slightly ill.

On the evening of his death Mr. Fulbright caused search to be made by sundry members of his household, for a vial of strychnine, which had been in the house for some time, saying he wanted the poison to administer to his hogs as a remedy for some disease. It was not found at the time, but after the other members of the family had retired, Mr. Fulbright procured it himself, and took a fatal dose, leaving the vial and spoon on the table by his bedside. After the poison had begun to take effect, his little boy was awakened by his father's struggles, and the family was aroused and some of the neighbors called on. Dr. Means was sent for, but the deadly drug had done its work, and Mr. Fulbright expired about midnight. When the neighbors came in he was yet in condition to admit that he had taken the fatal dose with suicidal intent, as he was tired of life and wanted to join his wife in a better world.

Coroner Fisher held an inquest over the body of Mr, Fulbright, and the verdict of the jury - J. B. Lawson, C. H. Evans, J. H. Caynor, S. Stone, G. W. Fricke and J. J. Weaver - was in accordance with the foregoing statements.

As before stated, Samuel Fulbright was one of the early pioneers of Greene county, being a member of the Fulbright family whose members were among the first settlers. In August, 1854, he was elected sheriff of the county, and one of his very first official acts was to hang old Willis Washam for the murder of his step-sou ; but the silly story that this act had anything to do with his self-slaughter was as false as it is unreasonable and preposterous. (The reader will find full particulars of the Washam case in another chapter).

Burned To Death

On the 3d of April a little girl, four years of age, a granddaughter of Allen Mitchell, was burned to death in a clearing near North Springfield. Her clothing caught fire from the smouldering embers of a brush heap and she was fatally burned before the flames could be extinguished. * in the suburbs of Springfield. The two young men, it is said, had no previous enmity toward each other, but, on the night mentioned, were engaged in drinking and other revelry of a questionable character. Being half crazed with whisky, a quarrel arose between them over a trivial matter - a position in a quadrille - the favor of a siren - or some such thing. A broil took place upstairs in the building where the dance was held, but the young men were separated before either was hurt. Mason then went down stairs whither he was followed by Leighton, who shot him through the heart.

Leighton was arrested, indicted, and, on being arraigned, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder and was sentenced to the penitentiary for life.

Killed By Lightning

August 25th a young man named Wm. Carter, aged about 17, a son of a widow living on Clear creek, while driving his team along Jefi'erson street, in Springfield, nearly opposite Drury College, was struck by lightning and instantly killed. The mule team was knocked down, but soon recovered. The casualty was witnessed by several badly frightened ladies. The remains of the unfortunate young man were taken to Kassler & Paxson's, undertakers, where an inquest was held and a verdict rendered according to the facts above set forth.

School Statistics

According to the report of School Commissioner M. H. Williams, the number of white persons of school age (between 6 and 20) in the county this year was 8,047, as follows : Males, 4,030 ; females, 4,017. Number of colored persons of school age, males, 435 ; females, 509 ; total, 944.

Number of white scholars attending the public schools during the year - males, 2,493; females, 2,640; total, 5,133. Coloredmales, 250; females, 280, total, 530.

Number of teachers employed in the county during the year - male, 62; female, 51; total 113. Average salaries per month - males, $38 ; females, $27. Amount paid for teachers' wages during the year, $12,690. Number of white schools in operation, 105 ; colored, 6. Number of school houses in the county, 105.

During The Great Strike

county. The railroad men held a meeting in North Springfield, resolved in favor of a restoration of wages to a former standard, and appointed a committee to confer with the railroad authorities to that end, but deprecated violence of any sort. A number of the members of the meeting withdrew and organized anew on the outside. Everything passed off quietly.

April 27, in Springfield, Louisa Caroline Turner, wife of D. W. Turner and a daughter of John Ropes, one of the pioneer ministers of the M. E. Church in Missouri. Mrs. Turner was one of the first native white children in Greene county, having been born in 1833. She left an infant, two weeks old.

June 16, Hon. Chesley Cannefax, of apoplexy, aged 69. He was born in Campbell county, Virginia, September 1, 1808. He came to this county with his father in 1831, and was the second sheriff after its organization. Mr. Cannefax's public services are fully mentioned on other pages of this history. He was the last member that petitioned for the establishment of the first Masonic lodge of Springfield. During the civil war he was a Union man, and for some years was a justice of the peace. At the time of his death he was master of the Springfield grange.

In January Alfred Adams (colored) was appointed coroner, in the room of Anthony Fisher, who had removed to Douglas county. Adams was voted for by County Judges M. J. Rountree and Benj. Kite. The other county judge, J. T. Morton, voted for Dr. Van Hoose. Adams was the first colored man to hold a county ofiice in this county, and his first services were to hold an inquest over the body of Joe McKinney, killed by Calvin Eldridge.

The Murphy temperance movement struck Greene county in January of this year and lasted until in March. There was considerable interest manifested. Very many meetings were held in Springfield, Ash Grove, and other places. Those signing the pledge wore a red ribbon as a token of their identity with the great reform movement then sweeping the country. At Springfield over 3,500 persons took the pledge ; and several hundred dollars were raised for the good of the cause. At Ash Grove 600 names were obtained and $1,100 raised. By March 1st the following number of names were reported from other localities in the county. From McCrary's school house, 124; from Kickapoo, do., 120; Ross's do., 120; Rock Springs, do., 132; Hopedale, do., 26; Bellview, do., 76; Ward's, do., 139; Bill's, do., 100; Walnut Grove, 150; Pisgah, 122; Republic, 126; total, 1,135.

During the prevalence of yellow fever at Memphis, Holly Springs, Grenada, and elsewhere in the South this summer Greene county sent down over $700 in aid of the sufferers. More than $600 were sent from Springfield alone.

May 21st the Missouri Press Association convened in annual session at Springfield. About 150 editors, members of the association, and 50 ladies from abroad were in attendance. The citizens met them at the Frisco depot and escorted them into town in carriages. A formal reception was given in the opera house. Mayor H. F. Fellows and Hon. John S. Phelps made reception speeches, which were responded to by Col. J. E. Hutton, of the Mexico Intelligencer, who was the president of the association at that time. Other addresses before the association were delivered I)y J. B. McCullagh of the St. Louis Globe- Democrat \ Col. T. S. Case, of Kansas City; and T. W. Park, of the Platte City Landmark (the latter a humorous address, subject "Babies").

The session lasted three days, beginning on Tuesday. Wednesday was devoted to business. In the evening there was a ball in the opera house hall, which had been profusely and appropriately decorated. A banquet was spread in the Odd Fellows Hall, and 200 guests sat down. Hon. John S. Phelps presided. Numerous toasts were proposed and responded to, and a poem was read by J. H. Turner, of the Carrollton Record. Thursday there was a railroad excursion to Ash Grove and return, and then, after passing highly complimentary resolutions to the citizens of Springfield for their great generosity and kind treatment, the association adjourned.

The Grange

This year the Grange organization, or order of Patron's of Husbandry, flourished more than in any other year of its existence. Its county secretary, Mrs. N. M. McKibben, was active in pushing for- ward its interests, in publishing its proceedings, and in various other ways keeping it in the public view. Numerous meetings were held, several picnics given, and various other assemblages of the order were had. But in this year, alao, the Grange went into politics. The doctrines of the Greenback party were indorsed in the meetings, and other questions of party politics became topics of discussion. The majority of the Grangers were Greeenbackers.

Deaths Of Prominent Citizens In 1878

February 15th, Junius T. Campbell died. Mr. Campbell is mentioned on other pages of this work as the first merchant in Springfield, the first postmaster, etc. He was a native of Tennessee and came to Greene county in 1830.

Mrs. Mary E. Phelps, wife of Hon. John S. Phelps, died January 25th, of pneumonia. A biographical sketch of this noted and noble lady appears elsewhere.

April 7th, Joseph H. Goodin, died in Cass township, near Cave Spring, at the age of 80. Mr. Goodin came to Greene county in 1842. He was one of the 42 Republicans that voted for Lincoln in. 1860.

Anti-Bond Meeting In Springfield

This year the opposition to the collection of taxes for the payment of either principal or interest of the county's railroad bonds took the form of a large public meeting, held at Springfield, May 21st, under the auspices of the National Greenback party. Numerous suits had been instituted against parties who had refused to pay their railroad taxes, pending the decision of what were regarded as test cases in the Supreme Court. The beginninnj of these suits had caused great dissatisfaction.

The Greenback party had openly declared its hostility toward the payment of the county's bonds, and to it were soon gathered, as to King David when he went up to the cave of Adullam, - '* every one that was in distress, every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented," At the meeting in Springfield, speeches were made by W. B. Garontte, F. J. Underwood, Ira S. Haseltine, and John McCabe. The Adullamites were numerous and enthusiastic.

amounting to $123,000, which had never been issued or sold should be destroyed, and that Judge Geiger should allow some ^^ impartial judge " to sit in his place in the trial of any and all railroad cases.

While the meeting was in progress in the hall two young men named Cunningham, who were outside, were arrested by a policeman and incarcerated in the calaboose. A few minutes later their father obtained from the marshal an order for their release, and at the head of a wild crowd went down College street to the calaboose, and extricating his sons, with threats of tearing down the building if the door was not opened "d - d quick," a sentiment that the crowd applauded.

In the spring of this year track-laying began from Springfield westward on the Springfield & Western Missouri railroad, now called the Gulf road. Iron was brought over the Frisco road to Junction City and from thence the work proceeded. As Mr. Escott, in his " History of Springfield," says, this was the first railroad track ever laid within the limits of Springfield, and the first road that could really be claimed by this city ; so it is not strange that more than an ordinary degree of interest was felt by the citizens in the laying of the last few rails, which should connect the city with the great net-work of railroads of the country.

About 3 p. m., on the 20th day of May, 1878, the people of Springfield were startled by the prolonged whistling of the engines in the wagon factory and the iron works, and by the ringing of the alarm bell in the bell tower in the center of the public square. Nearly all at first thought it was a fire alarm, but in a few moments word was passed from one to the other that it was the signal announcing the approach of the first regular train on the Springfield & Western Missouri railroad.

This discovery, however, did not check, but rather added to the excitement which prevailed upon the streets, and hundreds of people - men, women and children, white and black, old and young - were seen hastening toward the depot, or gathering in groups along the brow of the hill which commands a view of the track. When the whistles began to blow in town they were answered by the shrill whistle of the " Thomas A. Scott," the locomotive which was bringing ill the train, and a halt was made near the bridge over Wilson creek to give the crowd sufficient time to secure suitable places of observa-

For a few year>< the train only ran as far as Ash Grove, and it was not until in the fall of 1882 that trains ran through to Kansas City, and the track was extended eastward from Springfield towards its final terminus, Memphis, Tennessee.

In this year fairly began that long period of litigation over the railroad bonds of the county issued in aid of the Springfield & Western railroad, with other aliases. In November Judges Kite and Dil- Ini-d, of the county court (Judge Roiuitree dissenting) employed Messrs. Thrasher & Young, attorneys, of Springfield, to assist the prosecuting attorne}^ in defending the county in a suit brought against it by J. Weil, one of the holders of the county's bonds. The compensation of Messrs. Thrasher & Young was to be $5,000, " and in addition to said $5,000 the additional sum of five per cent on all sums they may relieve and save the county from paying, whether it be bonds or unissued subscriptions, and pay said five per cent when any part of said subscription of bonds may be defeated," as well as all of certain traveling expenses.

There was great dissatisfaction at the employment of additional counsel on the terms named, and the judges were roundly denounced for their action. But the contract was made and signed and the attorneys went to work.

The Political Campaign Of 1878

The political fight this year in Greene count}'^ was a three-sided one, and no longer only between the Democrats and Republicans. The Greenback party had come to the fore with its demand for the abolition of national banks ; that the general government alone should issue the money of the country, which money should be of sufficient volume to meet the demands of all regular and legitimate Imsiness ; that the bonds of the country should be retired as rapidly as possible and no more issued, and taking a liberal stand generall}^ in favor of what it called " the masses of the people and against their oppressors, the gold-grabbers and Shy locks of the country. " of Greeiibackers had increased somewhat ; in 1878 they were very formidable, and, taking a bold stand against the payment of the county's railroad bonds, attracted to their ranks numbers of men, who were not wholly in sympathy with their financial theories generally. All three of the parties had full State, district, and county tickets in the field, supported by their respective stump orators and newspapers, and the canvass was of considerable interest. Greene county, as has been customary, had a Congressional candidate in the person of Hon. J. R. Waddill, the Democratic nominee. The follo"wing was the general result of the November election in the county : It will be seen that the successful candidates on the county ticket were pretty evenly divided in numbers among the three parties.

January 1st, Paul Crender, a German, committed suicide by shooting himself through the brain. The tragedy ha[)pened at the house of Mrs. Walters, on Bopnville street, in Springfield.

May 1st, a young man named Leroy Berry, a son of James A. Berry, living eight miles northeast of Springfield, was accidentally killed. He was engaged in hauling logs In comins: down a hill the wagon came apart, tlie young man fell and a log and one wheel of the wagon were dragged over him. His father ran to him and picked hhii up, but life was extinct.

Decoration Day was well observed at the National Cemetery this year. A profusion of flowers was provided and the soldiers' graves bountifully strewn. There was singing by a (juartette of male voices ; a prayer by Kev. Bushong, and an address by Capt. W. D. Hubbard.

Deaths. - March 18th, Judge Nathan Bray, a prominent lawj^er of Springfield, died. Judge Bray Avas a native of Ohio, born in 1827, and ^ came to Springfield in 1871. - August 11, Wirt Ellis, a promising young lawyer of Springfield, died at St. Paul, Minn. - Dec. 18th, Col. Henry Sheppard died at New Orleans, aged 58. Col. Sheppard was a native of New Jersey, and had been a resident of Springfield since 1844. (See biography elsewhere.)

Kansas City, Fort Scott And Gulf

About the 1st of June, 1879, negotiations were completed for the transfer of the Springfield & Western Missouri railroad, then running from Sprnigfield to Ash Grove, to the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad company. It was known that the latter corporation would arrange for the speedy completion of the road from Ash Grove to Fort Scott, and thus effect railway communication between Springfield and Greene county and Kansas City without change of cars, a consummation much desired and long striven for b}^ the people of the county.

As soon as it was known in Springfield that the railroad negotiations were closed, there was great rejoicing. The booming of Mr. Sam ' Odell's artillery summoned the peo])le together. A huge bonfire was kindled ; rockets were sent up from the bell tower ; speeches were made by several prominent citizens ; music was rendered by the colored cornet band, and there were great cheering, congratulations, etc. Springfield was now sure of another first-class railway, destined to connect Memphis and Kansas City - to bring into communication the land of magnolias and orange blossoms with the region of prairie roses and corn-flowers - and Springfield would be, by all odds, the most important town between the two great termini of the important thoroughfare. Cause enough for joy and exultation, and for self-congratulation on the part of those who had labored so long and so zealously for this result.

April 1:9th a young man named Alonzo Fagg was fatally stabbed by another young man named Samuel Means, both of Springfield, and both of highly respectable families. From the testimony, as published, of Will N. Smith, it would seem that there was no immediate quarrel between the parties, but that both were under the influence of liquor. The aftair happened late at night, on South street, in Springfield. Fagg and Smith were going home, when Means came up out of an alley and assaulted Fagg, chasing him a short distance and coming up with him inflicted the fatal wounds. Fagg w^as carried into Kirby's saloon and died in a few minutes. Means was arrested and lodged in jail. At the ensuing November term of court he was tried and to the general surprise of the community was acquitted. There was much imfavorable comment upon the manner in which the case was managed and upon the jur}'^ that rendered the verdict.

Murder Of H. C. Roberts By John Vaughan

About one month after Sam Means had been acquitted, or on December 26, 1879, one John Vaughan, recently from Texas, shot and killed H. C. Roberts, a saloon-keeper, in North Springfield. The killiiig was wholly unprovoked, and was committed, as most murders are, while the perpetrator was drunk. Vaughan exhibited his revolver in Roberts' saloon while quarreling with one Appleby. Roberts called his attention to the law regarding the carrying of deadly weapons. Immediately afterward, while closing his door, Roberts was shot. Vaucrhan then presented his revolver at Appleby, who beat a hasty retreat bv the rear door. Then Vaughan lit his pipe and left the saloon. Out of doors he shot at a negro woman, but missed her. He was arrested, lodged in jail and held to await the action of the grand

Vauofhan was indicted and at the June term, 1880, of the circuit court put on trial. The jury failed to agree, standing ten for acquittal on the ground of insanity, one for murder in the second degree, and one for murder in the first degree. At a subsequent trial he was acquitted on the ground of insanity.

About the 1st of Janiuuy the Southwestern Missouri Teachers' Association convened in Springfield and continued in session some days. Quite a number of teachers was in attendance.

On the 28th of February certain public spirited citizens of Springfield held a meeting to select delegates to represent Greene county at the meeting of the State Board of Immigration at St. Louis. Mayor McAdoo was chairman. Delegates were appointed and then an association was regularl}'^ formed for the building and improvement of a public' road from Springfield to Harrison, Arkansas. The latter project was designed, of course, to facilitate communication with our Rackensack neighbors, and to draw their trade to Springfield. It engaged the attention of the merchants and business men for sometime.

On the 27th of September the wife of Col. James Dumars, of Springfield, fell down a cellar and was fatally injured. The stairway leading from a room in the dwelling house into the cellar had been removed to allow of some repairs. Mrs. Dumars unthoughtedly stepped into the opening where the stairs had been, with the dreadful result.

Died. - Sept. 13th, Hon. John S. Waddill, whose name appears so frequently in former pages of this history. Judge Waddill was a native of East Tennessee, born in 1805. He came to Greene county in 1835, and first bought a farm at the mouth of Wilson's creek, but the next year came to Springfield, which was his home till his death. In December, Hon. Joseph J. Weaver, another old citizen of the county.

The Cyclone Of 1880

Sunday evening, April 18, 1880, a violent and very destructive cyclone visited Southwest Missouri, destroying not only thousands of dollars' worth of property, but scores of human lives. The town of Marshfield was prostrated and more than (10 persons killed. A dozen more lives were lost in other parts of Webster county. The people of Springfield, the physicians and many ladies went up to the stricken city as soon as they heard of the fearful cahimity that had befallen it, and ministered to the victims for several days.

In Barry, Stone, and Christian counties, the same storm did considerable damage, and a great man}'^ persons were injured. There seemed to be two cyclones, one of which went through the northern part of Christian and eastward through Texas county, and the other,

The house of J. L. McCraw, sr., in Taylor township, had the roof blown off, and on the same farm 120 acres of valuable timber was blown down, 200 bearing fruit trees destroyed, fences blown away, and other property injured. The house of J. L. McCraw, jr., was blown down and some stock killed.

Volney Galbraith's house was blown down. Mrs. E. Turner's house was unroofed and her farm generally devastated. The houses of W. A. Gault, and his son-in-law, N. Ellis, were blown down and several farm animals killed. Mr. Gault had his shoulder mashed and several of his ribs broken. Mrs. Gault's leg was broken. Three or four children were hurt.

Other results of the cyclone were more serious. The residence of Thos. Kershner was blown down, his farm devasted, he and his wife were badly hurt, and his little son was killed. Maj. Gallaway's house, in Clay township, was prostrated, the farm damaged, and Mrs. Gallaway was killed. T. J. Scott's house, in Clay township, was blown to pieces, his son Walter and his daughter Mary were both killed outright; he was mortally injured, dying afterwards; his daughter " Donny " lost a leg. Miss Nichols, residing at Kershner's, was injured.

Mrs. Elizabeth R. Thompson, widow of James M. Thompson (who was murdered in October, 1864), was killed. She and ten other persons were at her home, in Clay township. The cyclone blew out the side of the house, letting the upper floor above fall on her. The other inmates were saved by the upper floor being held up by a bedstead on the opposite side of the room from the position occupied by Mrs. Thompson. Her son Abner lived in the house with her at the time, but neither he nor the other inmates were seriously hurt.

S. N. Ingram's mill, on the James, was blown down. James Roberts had an arm broken. The widow Simpson's fiirm was mined. A Mr. Lee (known as "Sheep" Lee), who lived on the Hampton place, lost 1000 bushels of wheat, which was scattered over the country, and 3,000 pounds of bacon, which was distributed over considerable territory, and Mr. Lee himself was badly injured.

Other incidents of the fearful force and destructive eflects of the storm are omitted for want of space. There are few more notable events in the history of Greene county than that of the great cyclone of 1880.

The Political Canvass In 1880

The candidates for President and Vice President most prominently before the people this year were James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur, of the Republicans; Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock and Wm. H. English, of the Democrats ; Gen. James B. Weaver and B. J. Chambers, of tlic National Greenbackers. In this Congressional district there were at first three candidates for Congress - Hon. R. C. McBeth, of Henry county. Republican; Hon. J. R. Waddill, of Greene, Democrat, for re-election, and Hon. Ira S. Haseitine, also of Greene, Greenbacker.

Two years before the contest had been triangular and Waddill had been elected by a large plurality. The combined Republican and Greenback vote in the district, however, largely exceeded the Democratic. Should tlie opposition to the Democratic party, therefore, be able to unite on a candidate, his election was certain. Many Republicans and many Greenbackers, too, opposed a coalition, and such a combination could be effected only with difficulty. But the party managers brought it about. Acting, it is said, on orders from W^ashington, the Republicans, after vainly endeavoring to induce the Greenbackers to come over to their candidate, procured a letter to be written by Mr. McBeth withdrawing from the contest, and leaving the Republican voters free to vote for Haseitine (a former Republican) if they should so choose.

Not all of the Republicans could be made to vote for Mr. Haseitine. Col. D. C. Leach's paper at Springfield, the Patriot-Advertiser, opposed him, as did many Republicans and a few Greenbackers. The result of the contest, which was very close and very exciting, was the election of Mr. Haseitine by a small majority over Mr. Waddill - a result which some Democrats still claim could have been avoided by the latter.

During the canvass there were meetings and pole-raisings at Springfield, Brookline and at other points in the county, and some prominent speakers visited us. The Republican candidate for Governor, Hon. D. P. Dyer, spoke in October to what his party papers called a '* rousing " meeting. The Democrats were in good spirits until after the October elections in Ohio and Indiana, and felt confident of electing Gen. Hancock, but when Ohio and Indiana both went Republican at their State elections, they became confused, dispirited, and panicky, and their defeat in November, while a matter of great chagrin and mortification, was not altogether unexpected to them. The Greenbackers held numerous meetings, and numbering some 1,200 voters were important factors in the fight, it being apparent that they held the balance of power, at least. The Greenback candidate for Lieutenant Governor this year was Homer F. Fellows, of Greene county. It was amusing to witness the eflforts of the Republican and Democratic party managers to " capture " Greenback voters, and also to observe Garfield men trying to induce Democrats to vote the Greenback ticket, and Hancock men trying to induce Republicans to do the same !

The Republicans were generally successful this year in Greene county, the following being an abstract of the votes cast at the November elections : -

Co. Treasurer

The Republicans elected both Representatives to the State Legislature, W. W. Langston and W. H. Wade. Haseltine's majority over Waddill in the district was 107, the vote standing, Haseltine, 22,787 ; Waddill, 22,680. Four Greenback Congressmen were elected in Missouri this year by fusion with Republicans, viz. : Ira S. Haseltine, Theron M. Rice, Joseph G. Burrows, and Nichohis Ford.

Census Reports Of 1880

Boone township, including the village of Ash Grove, 2,160; Ash Grove village, 500. Brookline township, including the following towns, 1,821 ; Brookline town, 143; Republic town, 81. Cami)l)ell township incUiding the following places, 10,775 ; North Springfield village, 997 ; Springfield city, 6,524 ; 1st ward, 1,426 ; 2d ward, 1,681 ; 3d ward, 2,152 ; 4th ward, 1,265. Cass township, including the village of Cave Spring, 1,945 ; Cave Spring vilhige, 78. Centre township, including the village of Bois D'Arc, 1,746 ; Bois D'Arc village, 72. Clay township, 852. Franklin township, 1,464. Jackson township, including the village of Fair Grove, 1,725 ; Fair Grove village, ^

72. Pond Creek township, 1,009. Robberson township, 1,299. Tayk)r township, 896. Wahmt Grove township, inchiding the village of Walnnt Grove, 921 ; Walnnt Grove village, 264. Washington township, 1,094. Wilson township, 1,110. Total, 28,817.

On the 25th of May of this year the first through train from Kansas City to Springfield arrived at the latter station. The special car composing the train had for passengers the general manager of the road, Mr. Geo. H. Nettleton, the general superintendent, Mr. L. W. Towne, and other officials, some newspaper correspondents, and a few invited guests.

On the arrival of the train at Springfield bells were rung, cannon (anvils) fired, and an impromptu reception and jollification meeting combined were held at the Metropolitan Hotel. Speeches were made by General Manager Nettleton, Hon. J. R. Waddill, Mr. Sam. Odell, and one or two others. Regular freight and passenger trains from Kansas City to Springfield began running June 6th. The road began building eastward from Springfield in the early fall of this year.

Indignant Temperance People

In June and July, 1881, there was considerable feeling among the temperance people in regard to the action of the county court in granting certain liquor licenses. When applications for license were made the temperance people, through their attorneys, Mr. J. R. Vaughan and Mr. D. C. Dade, presented remonstrances and urged other reasons why the permits should not be granted. They claimed that the court, in flagrant violation of law, and against all considerations for the public weal, had pandered to the " whisky interest," to the great injury and shame of the community. Several indignation meetings were held in Springfield, Brookline, and perhaps elsewhere, strongly censuring the county court for its action.

Annual Conference

session until October 3d. Bishop Pierce, of Georgia, presided. A large number of delegates were present, as were many eminent divines of the church from Missouri and from other States. The occasion was one of great interest to the Southern Methodists of Southwestern Missouri.

The Drouth Of 1881

The drouth of the season of 1881 will not soon be forgotten by the farmers of Greene county, nor indeed of Missouri, Eastern Kansas, and Soutliern Illinois. In this county no rain fell from the middle of July until about the 10th of September. Corn shriveled up in the fields, and, taking the county through, was not half of an average crop. Fruit of all kinds was "short," and i)otatoes and other root crops were almost an entire failure. A few fields of early planted corn yielded tolerably, but there were very few of such fields. Greene county fared much better than many other localities in this State and in Illinois, where there was actual destitution, in many instances, and grievous want.

Died. - June 8th, Martin Ingram, at his home, six miles from Springfield, aged 78. Mr. Ingram was a native of North Carolina, and came to Greene county in 1834. He was the lather of A. F. Ingram, ex-count}'^ treasurer. Mr. J. B. Townsend, another old settler and prominent citizen, died September 26th.

Assassination And Death Of President Garfield

Upon receipt of the news in this county of the assassination of President Garfield (July 2) there was the greatest indignation among all classes of people. And when he died, September 20th, there was universal regret and sorrow. The mayor of Springfield, Mr. James Abbott, at once called a public meeting, which was held at the courthouse, and over which he presided. A committee, composed of Col. D. C. Leach, Geo. M. Jones, H. F. Fellows, and Judge W. F. Geiger, reported resolutions strongly denouncing the crime of Guiteau and deeply deploring its sad effects, and highl}^ eulogistic of the character of the dead President. Speeches were delivered by Hon. H. E. Havens, Hon. J. R. Waddill, Capt. Geo. M. Jones, O. H. Travers, and Rev. Mr. Berry.

September 26th memorial services were held in the Christian church the M. E. South church, and in other churches of Springfield, including two colored. At the (Christian church there were the most important services. President Garfield having been a member of that denomination. A lengthy and able memorial address was rendered by Col. D. C. Leach, and briefer speeches were made by President N. J. Morrison, J. R. Waddill, and D. P. Putnam. At the M. E. Church South the speakers were Revs. Marks and Bond, Hon. H. E. Havens, Maj. J. C. Cravens, and Capt. Geo. M. Jones, all of whom spoke very feelingly and with much earnestness and ability of the real worth of the distinguished dead and " the deep damnation of his taking off." Perhaps it ought to be borne in mind that Maj. Cravens and Capt. Jones were gallant Confederate soldiers during the civil war.

Memorial serrices were also held in the churches of North Springfield, and business was generally suspended in both towns. Many stores and other buildings were draped in mourning.

School Statistics For 1881

From the report of County Commissioner Jonathan Fairbanks, made in August, 1881, it is learned that at that time the total number of white persons in the county, between the ages of 6 and 20, were - males, 4,717; females, 4,295. Total number of white children enumerated in the county, 9,012. Total number of colored children - males, 480; females, 483. Total, 963. Total children of school age enumerated 9,975. Number of white scholars attending the public schools during the year - males, 3,563; females, 3,223. Total, 6,786. Number of colored scholars attending the public schools during the year - males, 287 ; females, 325. Total, 612.

Number of teachers employed during the year - males, 77 ; females, 59 ; males and females, 136. Average salaries of teachers per month - males, $33.60; females, $31,66 ; all $32.46. Amount paid for teachers' wages during the year, $22,289.95.

Number of school houses in the county, 95 ; number rented, 3. Numberof scholars that may be seated in all the school houses, 7,399. Number of white schools in operation, 116 ; colored 13. Average cost per day for tuition for each child, 5 1-5 cents. Value of school property in the county, $68,053. Average rates per $100 levied for school purposes, 50 cents. Assessed valuation of property in the county, $5,237,711. Amount paid for fuel for schools during the year, $934.37. Amount paid for repairs or rent of school houses during the year, $1,346.19. Amount paid for apparatus and incidental expenses for the year, $2,575.69. Amount paid for the erection of school houses or purchasing of sites, $889.11. Amount expended in defraying past indebtedness. $8,202.18. Amount paid for salaries of district clerks, $483.74. Total receipts from all sources during the year, $50,776.00. Total expenditures for all purposes during the year, $36,747.92.

Children of school age enumerated 1879, 9,648 ; 1880, 9,953 ; 1881 , 9,975. The colored children enumerated were, 1879, 1,002; 1880, 1,009 ; 1881, 963, showing a decrease in colored children of 46 in the past year. Of the white children enumerated in 1881, there were 422 more males than females in the county. In the country districts, the males predominated, in the cities, the females. In Springfield there were of school age, 60 more females than males, and in North Springiield, 19. There were in the county, 340 more boys attending school than girls, and 18 more male teachers employed than females.

There were in the county 30 summer schools averaging 29 pupils each, and 106 winter schools averaging 41 pupils each. The schools of the city of Springfield averaged 55 to the teacher. The above was the average daily attendance. Average length of summer schools, 67 days; winter, 86 days.

Some of the school districts were reported to own property to the following amounts: - Springfield, $1,757,197; North Springfield, $229,279 ; Ash Grove, $117,426 ; Hazel Dell, district No. 3, township 29, range 22, $98,971 ; Edmison school house, district No. 2, township 29, range 21, $82,767 ; Oak Grove, district No. 4, township 29, range 21, $77,234; Fair Grove, district No. 2, township 31, range 20, $70,251. There were in the county including above, fifteen districts worth over $50,000 ; twenty-six districts worth over $40,000 ; forty-six districts worth over $30,000 ; seventy-seven districts worth over $20,000 ; and there were in the county thirteen districts worth less than $20,000. One hundred districts are included in the report. The following districts made the smallest levies : District 3, township 31, range 22, 6 cents on the $100; district 1, township 28, range 22, 7 cents on the $100 ; district 2, township 28, range 23, 8 cents on the $100; district 2, township 28, range 20, 11 cents on the $100; district 4, township 30, range 23, 12 cents on the $100 ; district 2, township 30, range 20, 12 cents on the $100. Several districts levied as high as $1.40 on the $100, while one levied $1.50 to the $100.