Lafayette County, Missouri - Chapter 5: County Government, Buildings, Etc, 1910

Chapter 5: County Government, Buildings, Etc

After the county was organized, then came the setting in motion of the machinery for its government and the regulation of its financial and internal improvement affairs, which in those early days, as well as at even a much later date, was no small undertaking. Officers had to be selected by the voters and property owners, and a place had to be provided' for the holding of county courts and circuit courts, as well as a safe place provided for the keeping of public records and money, as collected for the running expenses of the new county, which had hitherto been attached to other, older sections of the state. But pioneer men ever have been equal to such emergencies, and they faltered not at the task before them, but went manfully about their duties as county citizens.

The first mention of official appointments was at the first term of county court, held at the house of Samuel Weston, January 22, 182 1, when John Stapp, John Whitsett and James Lillard, Sr., had been commissioned by Governor McNair, under date of St. Louis, December 8, 1820, as justices of the court of Lillard county. Henry Renick was then justice of the peace for the county, and he administered the oath of office to the new justices. Young Ewing was the first clerk of the county court, and he gave bond for the sum of twelve hundred dollars, with William Y. Young and Joel Campbell as sureties. This was the April term of the county court. The January term did no business other than to swear into office the justices above named. The first case in this court was that concerning the will of Amasa Crain, deceased, and the appraisers were appointed to place value on the slaves and all personal property of the estate and report the same into court as provided by law.

On July 24th of the same year, John Stapp was appointed to be president of the court and the first bill of county expenses was made out at that date, the same amounting to fifty-five dollars and twenty-five cents, which included rental for county offices, sheriff's fees and other expenses incurred up to that time.

At the October term of county court, Braxton Small was appointed deputy clerk of the county court. On the same day, the first report of the county's first tax collector was made to the court, and the amount due from his collections was eighty-three dollars and seventy cents.

At the March 12, 1822, term of county court, as before mentioned, the court appointed the commissioners to select a county seat site and they gave bonds in the sum of two thousand dollars ; they were to also see to getting a proper location on which to erect county buildings.

Concerning the first election held in the county, the minutes of the county court state that on July 9, 1822, Solomon Cox, Legard Fine and James Lillard, Jr., were "appointed judges of election to be held at Mt. Vernon, in Tabo township; and Julius Emmons, David Ward and Thomas Swift were appointed judges of the election to be held in Sniabar township, at the place of preaching near Henry Renick's." These appear to have been township elections for the election of constables.

The contract to erect public buildings was let to Henry Renick, and on June 27, 1825, appears an account of eight hundred and seventy-five dollars and fifteen cents paid him on the contract. For the next two or three years there appear various items and small partial payments on the construction of a court house and jail, but the total cost is unknown and of little consequence today; it may be stated, however, that the jobs were not well done and only served their purpose a few years, when other provisions had to be made for a permanent set of county buildings. It seems that this building - the first court house - was accepted by the court on November 23, 1825, and the commissioners were then discharged.

First Court House Sold

Being unfit for further use, the old court house (built in 1825) was ordered to be sold, except the stone in its foundation. This sale took place August 1, 1832, after which the county rented accommodations for a number of years. (This was built in Old Town.)

Second And Third Court Houses Erected

In 1835 Messrs. Rollins and Thomas completed a new three-story building for the county's use. This was used until 1847, when the present court house was completed, and in its early day was looked upon as among the finest, most classic public buildings in Missouri. The second building was in the old town, but the present temple of justice stands in the public square, facing Main street on the north. The new court house was erected by Hunter & Alford, contractors. The second court house was eventually sold to the Baptist Female College, and by that institution used until the coming on of the great Civil war, during which turmoil it was used by the United States troops as a hospital, and finally as a pest-house for smallpox cases; hence, after the war it was abandoned for school purposes and torn down, the brick being sold.

The county court records show that on March 25, 1849, the court ordered "that the public square in the town of Lexington (commonly called Old Town), together with the buildings thereon, be sold to the highest bidder, on the first Monday of August next; and also the lot on which the old jail stood." Louis W. Smallwood was the commissioner to manage the sale.

The commissioners to oversee the construction of the new court house were Silas Silver, John Carton and Robert Aull, with Henderson Young as their attorney for legal counsel on any contracts drawn. William Spratt was subsequently added to the board. In April a plan was submitted by William Daugherty for the court house to be built. It was accepted and called for a twelve-thousand-dollar structure, and Daugherty received forty dollars for his specifications and plans - not modern prices for such expert work. The following appear as having had part in the real construction of this, the present court house of Lafayette county : Elijah Littlejohn, Alexander McFadden, John Alford, William Hunter, G. F. Brown, Samuel Ball and Cyrus Osborn, the latter doing the painting on the building.

In the eighties a wing or addition was made to the court house, which gives the present court house accommodations. In the days of the Civil war a cannon ball shattered one of the immense columns in front of the main structure, near its top, and it still remains in view, a relic and reminder to the passerby of those days when brother fought against brother.

In December, 1865, the county jail was burned down. There was an insurance of three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars on the same, which was promptly paid. The jail was rebuilt by a Mr. Hackett in 1866-67, and accepted by the county court. This is the present jail, with slight changes and additions.

Here, as in other counties, a part of the county's business is transacted in an office building, situated close to the court house proper, and upon the east side of the public square. This building was originally constructed in 1854, by an appropriation of four thousand five hundred dollars, the same to be used by the clerks of the circuit and county clerks. It was William Morrison who superintended the construction of this building, in which, under the present order of things, are the offices and fire-proof vaults occupied by the clerks above mentioned, together with the county auditor and treasurer.

The first recorded mention of any county jail was in May, 1823, when the court record reads : "That the jail be received for public use, but the commissioners are to go on and have it finished according to contract; and it is further ordered that all persons liable to be sent to jail be confined in the same."

About 1845, Eldredge Burden, William Boyce and Alexander McFadden were jail commissioners appointed by the county court, and on October 6, 1846, it is recorded that two thousand seven hundred dollars was paid to Gabriel F. Brown, contractor for jail building. This is the jail that is still in use, with some additions made thereto, which have been built of brick, the original section being of rough stone.

The poor house for Lafayette county is situated in Clay township, about six miles west of Lexington. It comprises a fine modern brick structure, with hot and cold water, baths and closets. It was first occupied in the autumn of 1906. Its cost was about twelve thousand dollars. The average number of inmates is from twelve to twenty unfortunate poor. They are cared for by a superintendent, who receives a certain sum per capita for boarding the persons, all of whom are aged and unable to labor. In addition to this means of caring for the poor, the county court provides for upon an average, now, of about fifty-five persons, by allowing them from two to eight dollars per month, and they have their homes with friends or relatives in the various townships.

First Highways, Ferries And Licenses

The first mention in the county records of a public road occurs April 24. 182 1, when Abner Graham was appointed overseer of a road leading from Fort Osage through Sniabar township. This road was to be kept clear and in good repair for twenty feet in width. At the same term of county court, James Young was appointed overseer of the road from Little Sniabar to James Connors' ; William F. Simmons overseer of the road from the Tabo creek, crossing near Mt. Vernon, to the range lines 26 and 27.

On the same day were appointed commissioners to view the best and nearest route for a road leading from Jack's Ferry to intersect the road leading from Fort Osage to Mt. Vernon. Fort Osage stood near the present town of Sibley in Jackson county. This fort was simply a United States military post with soldiers to protect the settlers from intrusion by the Indians.

Early-Day Ferries

In 1 82 1 a license was granted by the county court to Adam Lightner to operate a ferry across Tabo creek, for which he paid the sum of two dollars. The rate of toll to be charged was fixed at : One passenger, three cents ; horse, three cents ; cattle, three cents each ; hogs or sheep, two cents each ; carriage or cart, twenty-five cents ; wagon and team, thirty-seven and a half cents.

On July 23, 1 82 1, license was granted to Thomas Stokely to keep a ferry across the Missouri river about three miles below Fort Osage. Abel Owens went on his bond for two thousand dollars. The following toll rates were charged : Passengers, twelve and a half cents ; man and horse, twentyfive cents ; cattle, ten cents each ; hogs or sheep, three cents each ; carriages, thirty-seven and a half cents; carts, fifty cents; wagons, one dollar; lumber, or goods not in vehicle, six cents per hundred weight. A road was also authorized laid out from the bridge on Fire Prairie creek to this ferry landing on the Missouri river.

Just where "Jack's Ferry" was and when authorized is not now a matter of record, but many years since it was stated by General Graham to have been located at the original steamboat landing, which later became the foot of Commercial street in Lexington, although there was a strip of solid land for a half mile out from the old "landing more than twenty-five years ago.

First Licenses Issued

On July 9, 182 1, was issued the first license for the sale of merchandise to be sold in Lafayette county. It was given to Robert Castles to retail merchandise, and for such he paid the amount of thirty dollars per year. Just where his store was located is not now positively known.

On July 24, 1 82 1, Adam Lightner was granted license to keep a tavern; the fee was twelve dollars per year. Michael Ely was granted merchandise license on the day last named.

On August 6, 1822, Alfred K. Stevens was given a permit to build a warehouse on the Missouri river, on the northwest fractional quarter of section 24, fractional township 51. This was for the storage and proper inspection of tobacco, and it is related that this was the first real industrial enterprise promoted in Lafayette county.

The liquor license in those early days amounted to only five dollars for six months, while to sell the necessaries of life six times this amount was charged the retail merchant - but times have changed in ninety years and more.

First Marriages

Here in Lafayette county, as well as in all parts of the West, the young frontiersman saw the need of a good wife to share his fortunes with him, and the record shows that the first to take advantage of the matrimonial pledge was James Keeney, who married "Anney"' Ramsey, February 8, 1821.

During the same year additional marriages were recorded as follows : George Shelby to Margaret Tunage, by Rev. Martin Trapp; William Cox to Sary Cantrel, by the same minister; William Ferguson to Polly Heard, by Samuel Weston, a justice of the peace; Wallace McAffee to Susanna Givens, by John Heard, justice of the peace; Robert McAffee to Mary Gladden, by the same officer; Walter Burril to Lydia Cox, by the same. These constituted all the marriages within this county for the first year of its organization - 1 82 1. There were sixty-one marriages from February 8, 1821, to August 1, 1825. The first marriage actually within this county was that of John Lovelady and Mary Cox, in 1818, before the organization of the county, hence it does not appear of record here.

County Line Surveys

A paragraph in the county court's minutes, dated September 2, 1846, states that a report was made to the court by John C. Bledsoe, surveyor of Lafayette county, and A. H. Perry, surveyor of Johnson county, regarding an official survey of the line between these two counties. The cost of this joint survey was six hundred and ninety-six dollars and thirty-five cents, of which Lafayette county paid one-half. The twenty-two-page report is found from pages 131 to 152 of the County Record Book No. 8.

On September i, 1851, the county surveyor was ordered to resurvey and establish the boundary line between Lafayette and Saline counties. On October 10, 1854, appears a similar entry with reference to Lafayette and Johnson counties again.

Through some ill-worded instruments, and a misunderstanding in late years, the defining of the territory embraced in Clay and Lexington townships is not quite clear, and out of it has grown some litigation concerning the collection of taxes, especially those of railroad corporations. This has come about by reason of the supposition that the Sni creek was to be the boundary to its mouth into the Missouri, which with passing years and topographical changes is a mixed question. The matter is not fully settled as yet.

In 1828 Lafayette county had not yet been provided with an official seal, and Markham Fristoe, the county assessor, and County Clerk Young Ewing affixed an improvised seal, known as "a private seal," consisting of a four-rayed star cut out of white paper, the rays measuring three inches from point to point, and stuck it onto the document with a red sealing wafer, such as was common in the early days for sealing letters and documents of various kinds.

The seal of today is a circle a little larger than a silver dollar coin, with the word "SEAL" in its center, while around its outer rim are the words "Lafayette County, Missouri - County Court."

It is not the aim to go into a detailed statement of the finances of this county by years or even decades, but to give the reader a general idea of the county's finances from the date of its organization to the present time - 1910.

While the county was yet known as "Lillard county," William Y. C. Ewing, on April 23, 1821, was appointed assessor of the county. The first tax collector was Markham Fristoe, appointed at the same time, his bondsmen being Isaac Clark and Thomas Fristoe. William Christie is also named in the records as being the "auditor of public accounts." He was really a state officer to whom all county financial matters had to be certified. On July 23d, the same year, Young Ewing is mentioned as county treasurer, but there seems to be no record now of when or how he was elected to such office. It appears on the date just mentioned that W. Y. C. Ewing received the sum of thirty dollars for his services as county assessor. It is here that the first mention is made of a county fund.

The total tax assessed for 1822 amounted to one hundred and sixtyeight dollars and seventeen cents. This seems to have all been collected except eight dollars and ninety-seven cents.

The record shows that in 1821 there were one hundred and eighty-eight resident and seven non-resident tax-payers, and the total taxable property was as follows :

At the time the county was organized the state of Missouri levied a special tax on "unmarried white males above twenty-one years and under fifty years." During .the time Lafayette was called Lillard county the following bachelors were thus taxed for their "single blessedness" : Aaron Bryant, Thomas Blakey, John Bastic, David Blevins, James Ball, Solomon Catron, Gabriel Chineth, William Wallace, Joseph Cox, Isaac Tribble, Elijah Demasters, Isaac Dunaway, Moses Day, Alexander Dunbar, Robert Ewing, Green Hughes, William Hall, William Young, Jr., Amos Horn, Elijah Tate, John Ingram, Zachariah Linville, Green McCafferty, Thomas McCafferty, Hugh McCafferty, Robert Renick, George Stevens, James Young, John Sallady, Henderson Wheeler.

Tax List Abstract For 1828

There was but forty-two dollars and twenty-six cents of a non-resident tax at the above date. Forty-two years later, 1870, the total number of acres of land taxed within this county was three hundred eighty-seven thousand six hundred and seventy-eight ; number of town lots in county, three thousand eight hundred and forty-six; valuation of landed property, five and threequarters million dollars ; personal property assessed, two and a half million dollars ; this made a total valuation of all property of eight and a quarter million dollars.

The Various Taxes In 187O

In 1870 the records show that the county received from all revenue sources the amount of $26,772.62, and after paying all current expenses had a balance in the treasury of $4,509.63.

Ten years later, 1880, the books show that the county had $280.72 of a balance on hand, which was turned over to the state treasurer and credited with the same.

In the case of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad bonds, at that time, the amount compromised was $578,900; amount outstanding, $44,900; amount in litigation, $11,000; amount paid and canceled, $131,900. Of county funding bonds, compromised, $95,000; amount outstanding, $65,000; amount in litigation, $41,000; amount canceled and paid, $81,250. Of the compromise bonds outstanding, $611,900 and $19,200 paid. The Lexington & St. Joseph railroad bonds had then been declared unconstitutional by the United States supreme court, but were in 1880 still out in claimant's hands. All township bonds were then still outstanding, with accrued interest from date of issue.

In 1880 the county had twenty-eight dram-shops, as reported to the state authorities. From the same the county received a revenue of two thousand five hundred and ninety-three dollars, while Missouri received license money amounting to one thousand two hundred and ninety-five dollars. The state license was then fifty dollars, while that imposed by the county was one hundred dollars. In 1909 there were twenty-six dram-shop licenses in force in Lafayette county.