Jackson County, Missouri - Miscellaneous, 1920

Miscellaneous

In the summer of A. D. 1913 Elliott W. Major, then Governor of Mis¬ souri, conceived the idea of getting up a sentiment all over the State for making better roads.

Automobiles were fast coming into use, not only in the towns and cities, but into the country as well. Farmers, who at the first sight of the machine on the road, wanted to shoot the driver, were getting accustomed to the sight of them. His horses were also getting used to seeing them and learned that they would not hurt anyone. Just as soon as a man bought a car, he became a good roads booster, and wanted better roads on which to drive his car. The idea spread. Farmers were beginning to buy cars, and just as soon as he did, he commenced a crusade to make the roads better.

The Governor issued a proclamation designating August 20 and 21 of that year, "Good Roads Days," and called upon all the people of the State to donate those two days and turn out and do all the work possible. It was to be a free-will offering by everybody for the general good. Upon -receipt of the proclamation the county immediately fell in with the idea and promised all assistance in their power to carry on the work. The first thing they did was to appoint R. W. McCurdy, president of the Home Deposit Trust Company, general superintendent, and put an automobile and driver at his disposal, and told him "to go to it." With Mr. McCurdy's usual energy he put his whole time and attention to the undertaking. The first thing that he did was to appoint an executive committee, consisting of J. Allen Prewitt, Albert M. Ott, Frank C. Wyatt, C. A. Davis, B. Zick,

Jr., D. C. Herrington, J. L. Cogswell and W. Z. Hickman, The commit¬ tee was called together and elected D. C. Herrington treasurer, 0. C. Sheley secretary, and W. Z. Hickman assistant secretary. The meeting was more to organize for work. Various plans were discussed as to how to proceed in order to get the best results. The plan adopted was to appoint the road overseer in each of the 36 districts as captains of their district. He in turn selected the lieutenants for each sub-division of his district. The lieutenant visited every man in his territory and selected his help to make the undertaking a success. The captains were directed to select the places for the work to be done and assigned as many men he thought best for that particular job.

Mr. McCurdy visited the chamber of commerce and an automobile club of Kansas City and asked their assistance. They responded nobly to the call and made donations of money to buy tools with, for the supply of tools under the control of the overseers were totally inadequate to do the work. Several large manufacturing establishments volunteered to loan tools for use on those days, and the preparations went on as fast as pos¬ sible. The overseers made an estimate of what tools would be needed and sent them into the secretary. It did not take long to find out just what kind, and how many tools of each kind, would be needed. Mr. Mc¬ Curdy appointed a committee, consisting of W. T. Newbank, of Independ¬ ence, Ed. H. Tafft and Thomas King, of Kansas City, as a committee to assemble the tools and send them to their proper locations. Mr. McCurdy then began holding meetings all over the county in the school houses and at the small towns. Enthusiasm took hold of the people and the work began. He organized what he called the "Whirlwind Campaign."

Automobiles were secured and willing workers started war. About a half dozen loads of enthusiasts left Independence and went to Kansas City. There they were joined by about a dozen more, all loaded to capacity, to¬ gether with a band employed by W. R. Nelson, of the "Star," and started south over the Wornall road.

The first stop was made at Martin City, where a good crowd was in attendance. A schedule of stops had been made and published in all of the papers, speeches were made by several persons to the crowd.

The next stops were Grand View, Hickmans Mills, Lees Summit, Greenwood, Lone Jack and Oak Grove, where they were entertained at a fine chicken dinner, prepared as only the ladies of Oak Grove can do. The dinner was prepared at the request of Mr. W. R. Nelson, of the Kansas City "Star," and entirely at his expense. After dinner the march resumed.

The next stops were Grain Valley, Livesay, Buckner Sibley and Atherton, where the line of march was broken and to occupants each took their own route homeward. Mr. McCurdy made eighteen speeches that day, urging everybody to "do your duty."

The next morning the work began, all business was suspended in the public offices, and the clerks went to the country and went to work. In the smaller towns the merchants closed their business houses and did likewise.

While the men were working the ladies were not idle. They prepared meals and at noon the working men found themselves confronted with a feast fit for a king. The second day was a repetition of the first, and when night came each and everybody felt that something had been accomplished that was never thought of before. The captain of each district had been notified to keep an accurate account of the work done in his tv'^o days, and when completed to send same to the secretary for compilation. When they had all been sent in and figured up, Mr. McCurdy made the follow¬ ing report:

It gives me great pleasure to be able to give you the general result of the grand work done in this county on August 20 and 21, last, by the good people of this county. The following is the summary of the total amount of work done on the public roads of the county during those two days.

I want to express my sincere thanks to one and all for their great assistance in the big undertaking and in a special manner to the members of the committee that assembled the tools for the work. It was a hard and tiresome job and they deserve the thanks of the whole people for their un¬ tiring loyalty. Upon examining the machine in which I rode, I find that I travelled 1,432 miles. While the work was arduous and partly demanded the neglect of my own business at times, I feel myself amply repaid when I consider the vast amount of good that has been done. I have learned that the good people of Jackson County can always be depended on to do their whole duty when called upon. To the members of the executive com¬ mittee who so ably assisted me at all times I return my grateful thanks. Take it all in all, every one did their whole duty from the start to finish. I also wish to state that during all the time that I was driving over the country I was greatly assisted by Mr. W. Z. Hickman, assistant secretary. His thorough familiarity with all the roads of the county enabled us to reach all parts of the county by the shortest routes. We spent the two working days going into every road district.

Col. Eugene Irwin

Eugene Erwin was the son of Emma Clay Erwin, youngest daughter of Henry Clay, the statesman. Of his father I have no knowledge. Upon reaching his majority, young Erwin moved to Missouri and married Josephine Russell of Boonville. He afterwards moved to Independence and built a home on North Liberty street.

When the Civil War came he espoused the cause of the South and became active in organizing for the strife that he felt would sweep the country. He gave valuable aid to Col. Thomas H. Rosser in organizing a battalion of infantry for the Confederate army.

In April, 1865, Col. Rosser was assigned to command of Memphis, Tennessee, and Erwin, then a major, succeeded to the command of the battalion and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The bat¬ talion participated in the operations around Corinth, Miss, and upon the evacuation of that place retired to Gunntown, where the summer was spent in outpost duty and drill.

Col. Erwin was fortunate enough to add three additional companies to his command which brought it up to a regiment and it became desig¬ nated as the 6th Regiment of Missouri Infantry, C. S. A. It was at luka.

but did not take part in the battle. It was furiously engaged in the bat¬ tle of Corinth, where it suffered a heavy loss. Capt. F. M. Kinney and Lieut. Caleb Parish, both of Jackson County, were killed. Col. Erwin was painfully wounded. At the battle of Port Gibson, at the opening of the Vicksburg campaign, Col. Erwin maneuvered his regiment with such daring, courage and skill that he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, but was never apprised of the fact, being killed before the word could come from Richmond. His death came in this wise:

General Grant failing to carry the Confederate defense at Vicksburg by assault, resorted to a system of mining and blowing up salient points. One of these was at Fort Hill, which projected four hundred feet to the front of the Confederate main line. Erwin was assigned to defend this point. All were expecting the explosion, for the work of the miners had ceased. It came on the afternoon of the 25th of June. As soon as the explosion had subsided Grant rushed 2,700 picked men into the breach. These were as promptly met by Col. Erwin and his regiment of less than 300 men. For an hour the battle raged along the rim of the crater that had been made by the explosion. As soon as he realized that his picked men could not get over the top. Grant recalled his men. Not compre¬ hending what the sudden silence portended, Col. Erwin clambered to the crest of the rim and was immediately shot through the heart. He fell back dead into the arms of Nathan Lipscomb, one of his most faithful soldiers. Thus was lost one of the most promising young men of the army.

Recollection Of Judge James B. Yager

Jackson County has been the home of a great many able strong men, both by selection and birth. Those of them that were in the vigor of ' manhood, were men of strong character and resolution. In those times it took strong men to break away from home ties back East and go to a new, untried, undeveloped wilderness, and hew out their own fortunes. Those that did, had the nerve to stand any and all hardships that they might encounter. I wish that I had the data and history of each and all of them so that I might, in my feeble way, leave to posterity the deeds and works that these men and women did in their early struggles and pri¬ vations, while they were subduing the wild country to which they had come to build their homes for their children and their children's children.

descent, but his ancestors had lived in Virginia. Like most of the boys of that day and time, he was put to work early and kept at it until he was a full grown man. He had few advantages to acquire an education, al¬ though a man of a great deal of natural ability. He married in Kentucky and brought his young wife to Jackson County in 1837, to make a home. They settled in Washington township, about four miles southwest of where the town of Grandview now stands. Although that township of land had never been surveyed or opened for settlement a number of people were coming in and occupying it. They were anticipating the time when it would be opened for settlement. On an old government map, now in the county surveyor's office in Independence, is the report of the United States Surveyor, made in 1843, as they ran the section line, they frequently ran through the farms of the settlers and noted it on the map. There are many entries on it, such as "Wilson's Farm," "Shelton Farm," "Abston's Farm" and so on. It happened that the section corners to four section was about in the middle of Mr. Yager's farm, and after the sur¬ vey he had to adjust his lines to conform to those of the government.

In 1842, Mr. Yager was elected a member of the County Court, and served two years. In 1844, he resigned the office of County Judge, and was a candidate for the Legislature on what was known as the anti- Benton ticket, but was defeated. In 1850, he sold that farm and bought one at what is now Troost avenue and Seventy-seventh street, Kansas City. In the year 1854, he was again elected a member of the County Court, and served four years. At the election in 1858, he was elected to the Legislature, and served two years. In 1868, he was again elected a judge of the County Court, and served six years. He was elected again in 1874, and owing to a new law reorganizing county courts, the members elected at that time drew lots for the length of their terms. It fell to his lot to get the two-year term. At the election, held in 1876, he was re¬ elected for a term of six years.

In the years 1870 and 1871 a great boom for railroad building came over the State of Missouri. Under the existing laws at that time, county courts would issue bonds and use the proceeds in aiding the construction of any railroad they saw fit, without the vote of the people. New rail¬ road companies sprang up all over the State, almost in a night, and began scheming and working to get counties along the proposed line to sub¬ scribe to their capital stock for just about enough to build the road. One of these schemes was called the Clinton and Kansas City Branch of the Tebo and Neosho Railroad. It was to start at Kansas City, and run south to some point, the Lord knows where, nobody else did. A great majority of these schemes were nothing more or less than straight out steal, and were intended to fill the pockets of the promoters. Judge Yager objected to the County Court subscribing stock to the so-called Clinton and Kansas City Branch of the Tebo Noeosho Railroad. They could not convince him that they had the financial ability to build and equip the road. The other two members of the County Court overruled him and made the subscription. It was not long until the officers of the company came into court and asked for the bonds, although scarcely a single term of the contract had been complied with. When the other members of the court would make an order in regard to turning over the bonds to them, Judge Yager would file a written protest and have it spread upon the record. As soon as his protest would go on records, the newspapers would get hold of it and publish it to the world. Whenever one of his protests went on record, it was like throwing a hammer into a thrashing machine, it upset the whole machine. Thus things went on, the bonds had been printed and signed, but never delivered until the elec¬ tion of 1872. At that time the whole county was stirred up over the transaction. The taxpayers sided with Judge Yager. Joshua Petty, the member of the court whose term was expiring, but owing to his stand on the bond question, he was afraid to go before the people for re-election, and declined to be a candidate. The people who were opposed to the issue of the bonds to the railroad company cast about for a candidate who would side with Judge Yager, knowing that with two or three judges op¬ posed to the issue, they would not be turned over. Luther Mason, a farmer of Prairie township, was agreed upon for the proper man. He was a large land owner and a heavy taxpayer, and was an honorable man in all of his dealings. He was elected and took his seat Jan. 1, 1873. The people now felt easy and thought the fight had been won, but at last the hopes of man are often blasted when they least are expected.

The officers of the railroad company did not intend to give up their prey if it could possibly be avoided, so they put their heads together, and had a bill prepared quietly, increasing the number of County Court judges from three members to five members, and providing that the addi¬ tional two members should be from Kaw and Westport townships. Then they slipped down to Jefferson City, where the Leglislature was in ses¬ sion, and had the bill rushed through both houses and had the bill signed by the Governor before the rest of the county was aware of their inten¬ tions. An election was immediately called, in those two townships, and resulted in the election of A. L. Harris, of Kaw township, and W. R. Bernard, of Westport township. Among the very first acts of the court after the new members took their seats was to turn over the bonds to the railroad company. The road was never built, as Judge \ager predicted, but Jackson County paid out over $1,000,000 principal and interest of the peoples money before the last bond was paid. The County Court con*- sisted of five members until the year 1877, when the Legislature repealed the law of 1873, and returned it to three members, where it has remained ever since. It was during that period before the increase of five members of the court, an incident occurred that showed what manner of man Judge Yager was, that I wish to relate. The railroad company, in order to create impression that they were really in earnest about building the road, had bought a section of land in Cass County, where the town of Belton now stands. And had the town laid out and platted, and were offering lots for sale. After they had tried every means they knew of to overcome the opposition of Judge Yager to their plans, finally concluded to try the last resort - buy him. One morning while I was deputy clerk of the court, I was at work in the office alone. Judge Yager walked in, and the moment that he stepped in the office I saw that he was greatly agitated about something. Handing me a long envelope that had been opened he said to me, "Will, read that, and see what those dirty scoundrels are trying to do with me.'' I took out the contents of the envelope and it was a warranty deed made to him by the company for an undivided one-fourth interest in all of the lots of the town of Belton, as well as the same interest in the unplatted part of the 640 acres not platted. Ac¬ companying the deed was a nicely written letter, requesting him to accept the deed as a small token of the friendship and esteem the railroad com¬ pany entertained for him. He immediately called for pen, ink and paper and sat down to a desk and began to write. After a while he got up and came into my desk and said to me, "WTll, you know I am not a good pen man at best, and I am so excited I can scarcely hold a pen. I want you to copy this letter, exactly as I have written it." Although it has been nearly fifty years ago since I copied that letter, I can almost give it ver batum.

"Independence - Sir: Yours of yesterday came this morning. If I had any doubts of your intended rascality before, I have none now. I am returning the deed you sent me, and want you to know, I am not for sale. As far as this world's goods are concerned I am a poor man, but I am rich in the knowledge of the fact that I am trusted by my con- stituents. I would rather die, and fill a pauper's grave, than to accept one dollar of your ill-gotten gains. Respectfully, (signed) James B. Yager."

When I had finished copying, I read it to him. He picked up a pen and signed his name to it, then he said, "Get a large envelope, put the letter and deed in it, and back it to this rascal at Kansas City." I did so, and then he said, "Put a stamp on it and take it down to the postoffice and mail it yourself, and make a record of the day you do it, so that here¬ after, should anything ever be said about it, you can give the public the facts in the case." I did so and mailed it as he directed. A few days afterward, L met the man on the street, to whom I had directed it in Kan¬ sas City. I said to him, "I mailed you a letter a few days ago from Inde¬ pendence, did you get it?" A blush passed over his face immediately, and he replied, "Yes, I go it. That old fool is to d - n honest, he had just as well be rich as not."

Judge Yager joined the Masonic lodge early in life, and brought his demit with him when he came to Jackson County. He was a charter member and was made master of the first Masonic lodge in Jackson County, his picture now occupying a place of honor in the lodge room of Independence. When the Masons living around Raytown decided to or¬ ganize a lodge there, they asked him to come out and help. He took his demit from Independence and put it with that lodge. The members elected him master, and he devoted his energies in helping them to get it into good working order.

When the Civil War commenced. Judge Yager was a freighter over the plains, and had several trains on the road hauling goods from Kan¬ sas City to Mexico. One of the trains was in charge of his son, Richard, or "Dick," as everyone called him. When "Dick" came home from one of his trips, he found that Jennison's Red Legs had paid his father's farm a visit and stripped it of everything they could carry off. He immediately quit the train business and joined the Bushwhackers. He became one of the leaders and was a desperate man. He was killed at Arrow Rock, in Saline County, just at the close of the war. While "Dick" was in the bush a company of soldiers were sent out to Judge Yager's home and arrested him. He was taken to Kansas City, kept in close confinement for a few days, and was sent to St. Louis, which at that time was the headquarters of this department. He was thrust into a dungeon in the old Gratiot street prison. He was not allowed to see or speak to anyone for nearly a month. One day the guard came and took him before the provost-marshal. When he got there he was put through a terrible ques¬ tioning. There was at that time a secret organization, known as the "Knights of the Golden Circle," in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio; they were supposed to be in sympathy with the South and the Southern Confederacy. Finally the marshal asked him if he was a member of any secret order or organization. He replied, 'T am." "What order is it," asked the mar¬ shal. "I have been a member of the Masonic fraternity for over 30 years," replied Mr. Yager. Immediately the whole manner of the mar¬ shal changed. "Are you a member of any other secret organization," he asked. "I am not," replied Mr. Yager. Instead of being sent back to the dungeon, he was sent to a nice, clean, well-lighted room, and told his case would be attended to tomorrow. The next morning he was sent to Gen¬ eral Schofield, the commanding officer of the department. After many questions were asked, and answered by Mr. Yager, General Schofield said to him, "Mr. Yager, I am satisfied that you are a loyal citizen of the United States, and I think your arrest was entirely uncalled for. I am going to give you papers that will protect you and your property from all Federal soldiers, and send you home. If you are again molested, just let me know, and I will attend to the men that do it." He came home and moved his family into Westport, and remained until the close of the war. He was never molested after his return from St. Louis.

The Civil War ruined him financially, the last years of his life being spent on a farm of 50 acres that belonged to his son-in-law, Mr. H. C. Harper, about three miles southwest of Independence, that is now owned by Mr. Chris W. Witthar, on the Blue Ridge boulevard. One grand thing about him was that financial reverses never soured him, or made him lose confidence in his fellow man. I do not know that any relatives ot Judge Yager will ever read a line that I have written about him, but in doing it, I want to pay tribute to a man that I loved and admired. As clerk and deputy clerk of the County Court I served under him for 14 consecu¬ tive years, and in all that time, I never saw him do any act, by work or deed, that was not that of a high-minded, honorable, Christian gentleman. He was a devoted and faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church for over 50 years. The life of such a man is an inspiration for young men to follow, and I wish that all young men that read this will make an honest endeavor to make his life a pattern for them to follow.

Just before the close of the last term of court in which he was to act as judge, a lot of his friends determined to make him a present that would show their appreciation of his untiring effort in behalf of his con- stituents. A subscription was raised on which no person was allowed to give more than $1. An elegant gold-headed can was purchased and prop¬ erly inscribed. The amounts donated were clipped off the subscription list, and only the names of the donors remained. On the morning of the last day of court, and at 10 o'clock quite a concourse of people filed into the court room. Col. John N. Southern, of Independence, had been selected to make the presentation speech. As soon as opportunity afforded he advanced to the court and said: "Judge Yager, some of your friends have been watching your actions on this bench for a long time, and have concluded that you have done things for which they think that you should be caned, and it becomes my duty at this time to do the caning." Then he unwrapped the gift and handed it to the astonished judge, saying, "I hope that you will accept it as a very small token of the appreciation that we feel for your faithful performance of your duties as judge of the County Court during the last 14 years. May it be a momento and remembrance to you in your declining years. May you be the recipient of heaven's choicest blessings is our wish and prayer."

Before Mr. Southern was through talking the tears were falling from the venerable judge's eyes. His heart was too full for words. He could only say: "Friends, I have only done what I thought was right at all times. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." It was a scene never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. This venerable old man that had served his people for 20 years - first and last - as a judge of the County Court, and during all that time holding the confidence and friend¬ ship without even a hint of anything except strict honesty and integrity. When the list of donors was handed him he scanned it closely, folded it carefully, and placing it in his pocket remarked, "That, to me, is one of the most valued documents that I ever owned."