Grundy County, Missouri - Chapter 4, 1908

REMINISCENCES, J. E. CARTER - Peculiarities of Country and People - Manner of Living - Religious Services - With "the Boys" - Amusements - Colored People - The Liquor Question - The Hamlet of Trenton - Game and Fish - Horse Racing - The Days of the Ferry - Sports and Incidents.

HE history of Grundy County would be incomplete did it fail to contain a few personal reminiscences, and the writer, who, if not one of the earliest pioneers, dates back to a period which may entitle him to the distinction of being one of the "old timers.' It was in 1853 when pressed me with the idea that the Creator did not use the same pattern, in his creative work. The broad and fertile prairies of Missouri was a great change from the heavy timbered districts of the Hoosier state, where the tall poplar, walnut, oak and hickory trees, made the seemingly dwarf like forests of Missouri seem insignificant in comparison, first I breathed the pure air of Grundy County, when a boy of sixteen years of age, with others, in a prairie schooner, I was on an exploring expedition. I was a Hoosier boy from near the old battle ground of Tippecanoe in Indiana, and the change of scenery, country and manners and customs peculiar to the people of Missouri, im-

Another peculiarity of this country, or rather its people, they choose to settle along the streams and brakes of the county, ignoring the prairies, as only fit for grazing lands for stock. The wild deer, the turkey and the prairie chicken, made up a large proportion of what enjoyed the unused domain and wild meats and wild honey, to early settlers, was a most providential supply of the necessaries and luxuries of life. I doubt very much if ever a happier condition has prevailed among the people of Grundy Coimty than those primitive times afforded. The log cabin and ordinary shack, which the whip saw and the woodman's ax procured from the timber, were places of unalloyed comfort. The coon skin tacked on the outside, was a most common attraction and denoted that the "varmints" of the country contributed largely, in a commercial way, in supplying "store goods," such as Orleans sugar and molasses, coffee, rice and other luxuries of the cabin home, also ammunition, consisting of powder, caps and lead. It was possible to dispense with coffee and sugar, but the ammunition was an indispensible article. Among the interior decorations of the cabin was the long barrel rifle, in a rack, sometimes made of the horns of a buck deer. That rifle in the hands of a pioneer, was a most unerring weapon, and the bullet, made in the old time bullet moulds, into which the lead was poured, rarely went astray of bringing down the deer or turkey.

My first experience in hearing the gospel proclaimed was at a camp meeting on Tombstone creek, near where Melbourne now is. For several weeks the woods was full of religiotis excitement. At night the most interest seemed to prevail, when the spirit seemed to be the most moving. The singing of the old style hymns was in no sense classical, but seemed to come from sincere and earnest hearts. The interest seemed to grow more intense as the singing progressed and often induced dozens to give vent to their feeling with shouting, amens and praise the Lord. Sometimes these camp meetings, which in the early autumn, were numerous in Missouri, were characterized with an element not so enthusiastically religious, but were of the rowdy nature. Frequently, it was necessary to have a picket guard to protect the camp from toughs, who deemed it great sport to interfere with the services in a way that ended in a battle with clubs and other weapons and I think old pioneers will testify to the fact, that the toughs generally got the worst of it.

It was not until 1856 that the writer became a citizen of Grundy County, and of the little hamlet of Trenton, where I am yet permitted to live. It is hardly necessary to inform the reader that at this date I am no spring chicken, and that I am inclined to look backward, more than for future events. I am reminded of the lines :

"Backward, turn backward, oh time, in thy flight. Make me a child again, just for tonight." The recollection of the times, when Avith other young men of the little town of Trenton, I was one of the boys. Being one of the bo}\s in Trenton in 1856-7-8 and i860, meant more than would be proper to record in a history of Grundy County. In those days, it always paid a peace officer to be on good terms with the "boys." To be otherwise meant trouble. Don't understand me to mean that the Trenton boys of that age were ^-icious or mean in the sense to l^e law ])reakers of a serious character, but were certainly very much alive when it seemed necessary to start something doing for the fun there was in it. To get under the influence of booze was one of the easiest and cheapest efforts one could make. The grocery stores generally kept a "barl" of the stuff to sell by the gallon and treat their customers. A gallon of genuine "sod corn whiskey'* could be had for 25 cents and old "Monongehale" for 50 cent per gallon. The sports peculiar to the loafers of the streets and a few farmers who came to town Saturdays was pitching horseshoes and pitching dollars for the drinks. On the campus of the old court house the game of marbles was a most popular and interesting game of skill. I could name many of the artists whose skill at marbles, horseshoe pitching and dollar pitching was enviable. Poker was not an unknown scientific game in those days and I could name a few old timers, who imagined themselves invincible, until a real scientific poker player from the city came along and taught them that gambling was a science by cleaning them up to the tune of several dollars. Poker chips was an unknown convenience those days.

Colored people of those times, were regarded as an inferior animal and of a commercial value, rated according to age, gender and physical development. A good male negro, sometimes was valued at from $1,000 to $1,500. The selling of a negro was of rare occurrence in Grundy County, and it was generally due to misbehavior of the colored man or woman, that the master would dispose of them for a consideration. Colored people were not privileged to roam the streets later than 9 o'clock. A

The temperance question in the latter part of the fifties, had its friends, and I well remember, when the "Sons of Temperance" was an organization instituted by good temperance people, with a view of bringing about a great reformation. The order prospered and became a power in one sense - that is, joiners came in by the dozens and old time inebiates were welcomed in the order with a cordiality that should have had l^etter effect, but it seems, onlv curiosity prompted many to join, with perhaps a desire to break up the order by burdening it with members who were not sincere in taking the obligation. Anyway, the time arrived when it was impossible to expel a recreant member for the reason that those were in the majority, who had not reformed. I well remember on one occasion when the chair officer (the w^orthy Patriarch) was so intoxicated he could hardly sit up straight in his chair. I believe it was in 1857 that a temperance wave struck the town, that seemed likely to wreck the liquor business. It was when William Ross, a great temperance lecturer and reformer, came at the solicitation of the temperance peo])le, and lectured on temperance in the old Baptist church on South Water street. He was a most fearless advocate of the cause, and gave it to the rummies in italics. One night he made a proposition, in one of his lectures, to buy out all the liquor sellers in the town and said : "Where are you, Air. Liquor Sellers, are you here tonight? Wliat will you take for your stuff?" One liquor seller arose and said: "I'll take cost and car- riage for mine." "Wliat!" said Ross. "Bring hell and damnation into a community and offer it for cost and carriage?" From that on Ross had a target for his abuse, and wit, sarcasm, etc., was the ammunition he used. The next night, while Ross stood on the floor, in front of the large pulpit, pouring out hot vindictive abuse for the lic[Uor dealers, a half brick came through the rear window with force enough to bury it in the plastering in the front end of the church. Had Ross been in the pulpit his lecture w'ould have ended at that moment if the brick bat had struck him. Pandemonium reigned for a moment and to find the man who threw the brick was the next move. Ross's voice was heard above the roar, sa3nng, "Let the devil outside alone, nobody is hurt." I mention this incident, illustrative of the fact that temperance waves are not of modern times only, but date back for many generations, and that wave was the first to strike Trenton since I became a citizen.

In the year of 1856, the first year of my adoption of Trenton as my home, the mercantile business, so far as I remember, was as follows: AA\ H. Robertson, on lot I, block i, on the corner, directly west of the court house; the next door southwest down Water street, a Mr. Maupin, then Austin and Cooper, then Dr. J. H. Short, drug store, then on the corner, Jas. H. Cooper's hotel, across the street. Nelson, Brooks & Taylor, then on up the street Arbogast & Renfro's grocery, store in front and saloon in the rear, next came Ison Morris and Froman, and on the corner Samuel Ells' saloon. Not one of those l)usiness houses is standing today to testify to the commercial enterprise of that day. On the block opposite the court house, south, was WiUiam Blew's blacksmith shop and plow factory - an old log edifice, now only a memory. Across the street, where now stands the old Winters hall, was the Smith shop of Socrates England, and immediately north was a restaurant kept by an old colored man, Jeff VVaterford, whose wife. Aunt Jane, was a cook unsurpassed in any country or age. A carding machine, located a few blocks south on Water street, run by oxen on a large inclined wheel, owned and operated by George W. Moberly, was an enterprise patronized by customers coming forty or fifty miles, with loads of wool who sometimes were compelled to wait for days to get their turn. Colliers' brick yard, near the old Jennings & Flemming mill, was another enterprise of great import to Trenton. I believe that was about all of the business of a mercantile and factory nature of the town.

The educational institution of Trenton was under the management of Joseph Ficklin, in an old log structure, where now is located the jail. Prof. Ficklin afterward became prominent in the state, as a professor of mathematics, and indeed was recognized as an author and teacher of that educational branch of national repute. Prof. Terrence Bradley came about 1857 and built up a splendid school and built a two-story edifice, where now stands the Farmers" Store. Many prominent men of the county and state, first drank at this fountain of learning, and the name of Bradley became famous as a teacher, but his enviable career as an educator ended with his death, which occurred in 1859 or '60.

Baptist church, ah'eacly referred to, where Mr, Ross lectured on temperance. It was there I first attended Sunday school, of which W. H. Robertson w-as superintendent. His words of admonition, on our first interview, impressed me in a way I never will forget them. Said he: "Come and go with us and we will do thee good." He was one of the pioneer merchants of the village, well remembered by old timers as a most exemplar)^ , upright Christian gentleman. He died near Laredo, Mo., in 1905, loved and mourned by all who knew him. In 1856 the foundation of the Christian church building was laid and is yet standing and is in a dilapidated condition, on the next block southeast of the court house. William Collier, Sr., was the prime mover in this worth}^ enterprise, who lived many years to enjoy the fruits of his labor, in attending religious services in the same.

It was dedicated by Rev. T. P. Haley, now a superannuated minister, living at Kansas City. Those tw'O churches had plenty of material out of which to make a good membership. Religious controversies in those days were of more frequent occurrence than now. Debates on doctrinal differences kept alive a degree of sectarianism hardly consistent with the spirit of Christianity. I remember a debate in the old 1)rick church, between Dr. Ben. Franklin of Cincinnati, representing the Christian church, and Dr. Bush of Missouri, representing the M. E. church. South. It held several days and when ended it is questionable if any one was changed in his or her way of thinking and only served to fortify those holding to their opinions more intenselv, in their sectional faith.

A game and fish law, such as we have today, would have been an outrage on the liberties of the people, that would have been "killing" to the political popularity of the author of the bill, and to all who voted for it. The hunter of that period did not look in vain for the deer, turkey and prairie chicken and to shoot a (|uail was deemed a waste of ammunition when they could be caught in the net by the dozens. The boys of this age will never know what success means in hunting compared with the hunter with a squirrel rifle in 1856. That was a time too when the fisherman on the banks of Grand river, was repaid for his bait and patience. Fish in Grand river were of a size and variety that would make a fish story discounting anything the modern fisherman could fabricate. A catfish weighing 150 pounds was caught in the wheel of the old water mill. Buffalo fish were often shot with the rifle when "rooting" along the banks of the river and when "floating" near the surface, as they often did in the summer months. The "Jack Salmon" was also a variety quite plentiful in those days and many caught weighed ten or twelve pounds. I remember distinctly of a peculiar "catch," which in a fish story might be considered rather "fishy," but nevertheless is true. An old colored man, Randall Darnaby, baited his hook on a "trot" line, for catfish. During the night a catfish about a foot long was caught on the hook. The fish, before Darnaby came to take it off, tempted a very large fish, weighing 70 pounds, to take a nibble. It swallowed the fish head foremost, and that ended the career of the larp-e fish which was taken ashore next morning by the fisherman, \\-ith great difficulty, and it was no easy mat- ter to pull the smaller fish from the larger one. Fish stories may not be just the proper thing to be written in a county history, but in these reminiscences of the events of the county, a "true" fish story is certainly admissible.

"Hoss racing" was among the sports of the fifties and the race horses and jockies would cause a smile on the countenances of the sports of this age. Charles Cullers, on his old mule, on the track of a Grundy County fair, would discount the races of that age. The race hoss was not cared for, as is now a blooded courser. To plow all week, with harness marks cjuite visible, the racer and its owner would meet on the l:)Ottoms south of Grand riA-er, with several others of the sporting fever. The race track was a quarter of a mile in length and straight as an arrow and when the signal was given no "jockeying" was indulged in for an advantage in the start. It was "go" and was as exciting and perhaps more so, than the races of modern times. Only a few of the sporting men of that day yet live in (irundy and prominent among them, who was then and is yet a splendid judge of "hoss" flesh and muscle, is Capt. Alex Tate, who will testify to the fact, than anything l)ut a square deal in a "hoss" race was deemed an outrage and the man that suggested any thing unfair was put off the track.

Another popular sport of the fifties was that of the "shootin' " match for turkeys and beef. A group of sportsmen, with the long eight-squared barrel, assembled for the "shoot" would make a splendid picture. "Champion shots" or marksmen were sure to be on hand, and it sometimes happened one of these would win the whole beef and drive it home. I have in mind one of these whose name was James Pratt, father of Al. Pratt of Trenton. As a hunter and "sharp shooter" with his old time rifle he was deemed hard to excel. Athletic sports were also a most popular amusement, and then as now, this county was well stocked with "home talent" in that line. The "sprinter" then, a name unknown to the foot racer and the "jumper" was a character of repute. Occasionally a professional from other states would arrive in our village, (which Trenton was then) and challenge the town for a contest and leave it with more than ordinary respect for our home athletes.

I remember on one occasion a professional athlete from "furrin" parts, swelling with important mien, boasting of his phenomenal feats at jumping, challenged the town to "trot" out its best athlete, and see him make him feel small. The town boasted of no champion, but it was know that William Collier, Jr., a well known citizen who died in Trenton a few 3^ears ago, possessed superior powers as a jumper. Mr. Collier expressed a willingness to test the agility of the professional, conditionally, that no wager be made on the result. That condition, so far as he knew was agreed to, but on the side it was believed a stake was made unkno\Mi to Mr. Collier, w^hose convictions of right and wrong, regarding betting were very strongly opposed to that species of immorality. When the contest came off the professional came out behind almost a foot and left town, convinced of his inferiority to an unprofessional of Trenton.

was then a back water, caused by a dam, which furnished the power, to run the mill, a few hundred yards below, was crossed by a ferry boat of very ordinary design and build. To get on or off the ferry boat was sometimes a most hazardous undertaking. The fee for crossing was 5 cents for a footman and 10 cents for a horseman and 15 cents for a wagon or carriage. A large rope from bank to bank, with ropes and pulleys attached to the boat, served to keep the boat in position for passage, one end of the boat inclined up stream, the current serving to propel the boat across. To bail the boat with a scoop shovel about every other trip, gave the ferry man plenty of exercise, while waiting for a fare. An amusing suggestion by Henry Parberry, a well known celebrity of "Poosey," (Jefferson Twp.) on one occasion, is entitled to space in these reminiscences. The ferry man was bailing out the old boat, throwing the water over the "gunnell," up stream. Henry said, "You ain't doing that right." "Why ain't I," said the ferry man. "Because, when you throw the water up stream it will all run back in yer darned old boat." The possibility of ever building a bridge across Grand river was a very remote proposition. A rivalry in the ferry business sprang up, when a ferry was established where is now the bridge at the water works pumping station. The road to Edinburg then, was to cross at the lower ferry and thence over the bridge at Big Rock. To change the course of travel and make more business for the upper ferry the bridge at Big Rock was destroyed by fire, which was followed by the arrest of one Joshua Epperson, on suspicion of burning the bridge. While many believed Epperson guilty, the

These reminiscences are only a few of the many I might relate of the fifties, under my observation, but to impose further on the pages of this history of Grundy County might impair its interest so will close by saying I have never had cause to regret that in 1856 I found a home I never felt inclined to leave and a companion who has contributed to my happiness, as only a true wife can and not the least of all my pleasures is the consciousness of the fact that in Grundy County I have been associated, religiously, socially and politically with the best people on earth, and with them I hope to sojourn so long as life shall last, and trust when the end does come I can leave the world, at peace with all mankind, and that Trenton and Grundy Countv may be no worse for myself having been a citizen in it from boyhood to a ripe old age. Resp.,