Linn County, Missouri - Chapter 7, 1912

Hoiv Linneus TVas Named - First Sale of Town Lots - Original Court House - A Smoky Cabin and a Scrap - "Where's the Fightf" - Jesse Bowyer's Ferry - Sale of Slave Property - Highland County - Division of Townships - Appropriation for New Court House - Built Inside Amount Appropriated - First Talk of Railroads - Jail Building to Be "Proof Against Breaking Out" - Col. Robert M. Stewart - Sketch of His Career - His Work for the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad - A Hot Campaign for Governor.

When the county seat was first laid off it was called Linnville. On November 5, 1839, the county court formally adopted that name, and on 30th an order was made by the same body "that Linnville be the permanent seat of justice of the county of Linn."

The name was changed to Linneus by order of the county court on February 4, 1840. This was done at the suggestion of Senator Lewis F. Linn, for whom the county had been named.

Judge James A. Clark wrote to Senator Linn that the county and its capital had been named in his honor and asked for his endorsement of that action. Senator Linn replied that while he did not wish to dictate in a matter of that character, yet he rather preferred the name of Linneus to Linnville. Judge Clark laid the senator's letter before the county court, which body instantly made the change suggested. A great rhany people suppose that Linneus was named after the great Swedish scientist, Karl Von Linne, who was commonly called Linnaeus. The Swedish savant was the greatest botanist of his age. He was born in Eashult, Sweden, May 13, 1807; was the son of a clergyman, who had him educated at the grammar school in the Gymnasium of Wexio. As a result of his extensive investigation along botanical lines, Linnaeus was made a Eaiight of the Polar Star, with the rank of nobility. In his day his successful researches had made him a recognized authority along the lines of his study and he was looked up to as a world benefactor.

But the people who named Linneus and Linn county were desirous of honoring a man nearer home in the person of the state's noted senator, whose biographical sketch appears in the first part of this history.

Some question was raised regarding the legality of the procedure in the location of the county seat. Other commissioners than those appointed had acted and the time set for the location had been changed. Also to make the matter absolutely certain the state legislature in December, 1840, passed an act to legalize the location of the seat of justice of Linn county.

"Be it enacted, etc., 1. That all the proceedings and acts which may be had or transacted by the commissioners of the seat of justice of the county of Linn, or by the county court of said county, in selecting, locating, or establishing the seat of justice of said county, in naming or altering and changing the name of the same, be and the same are hereby legalized and rendered as effectual as if the same had been done in all respects in conformity to law.

"2. That all acts and proceedings wherein either 'Linneville' or 'Linnaeus' is used or occurs as the name of the seat of justice of said county shall be as binding and effectual as if the name so used or occurring had at all times been the regular name of the seat of justice of said county. ' '

On November 5, 1839, John D. Grant, the first county commissioner, was ordered to advertise by three weekly insertions in the Fayette Democrat, of Howard county, the sale of "one- third of the town lots of Linnville, Linn county, Missouri, on a credit of six, twelve and twentyfour months, of equal installments." The sale was to take place December 2. The commissioner was instructed "to lay out one acre of ground in the public square, to be laid out in a square, to commence at a stake and run an equal distance from said stake, the Public Square to be on the west of said line ; one main street on each side of the Public Square running north and south, 51 feet and 6 inches wide; to back streets 30 feet wide each. Two main cross streets 49-feet, 6 inches wide, each adjoining the Public Square; one back cross street on each side of the Public Square, 30 feet wide ; and that he lay out 16 lots to each block around the Public Square, running back 80 feet, and the balance of the lots to be laid out agreeable to a plat rendered to said commissioner."

Commissioner Grant was aided in this duty by K. W. Foster, a surveyor. The work was done in the latter part of November, 1839. For his services in laying off the town Grant charged the county $200, but the bill was cut down by the county court to $77. Soon after the first lot sale Mr. Grant died and E. W. Foster, his assistant, was appointed in his place on December 28. Later the governor appointed Foster as county surveyor, which position he held until February, 1842.

Meredith Brown was the purchaser of lot 1, block 1, which was the first lot sold. The price paid for the lot is not known, but it is supposed to have been at least $5, because the county court in advertising the sale served notice that no lot should be sold for less than that sum. The lot sale continued two days, December 2 and 3. Still there were other lots remaining to be sold and another sale was advertised for May 6, 1840, on which day one-half of the remaining lots were sold to bidders.

Affairs in Linn county had reached that point where it was deemed necessary to have a court house building in which to transact the business of the county. These are the specifications by the order of the county court, at the February term, 1841, for the first court house that was built in Linn county :

"The house to be built on the southeast corner of Lot 3, Block 19, of hewed logs, 36 feet long and 20 feet wide, (the house to be 20 feet wide, not the logs, of course,) from out to out ; the wall to be fifteen feet high from the bottom of the sill to the top of the plate, with a wall partition to be carried up from the bottom to the top of the plate so as to make the front room twenty -three feet long in the clear ; the logs all to be of sound oak; the sills to be of white oak or burr oak; the sleepers to be of good white oak or burr oak of sufficient strength, two feet from center to center ; the joice to be of good sound oak, three feet by ten inches, put in two feet from center to center, to extend through the wall; . . . The house to be covered with good oak shingles; . the end of the house is to front the Public Square, with one door in tbe center of the end of the house; one fifteen-light window on each side of said door, 8 by 10 inches; one door in the center of the partition wall; one door and one window in the end of the back room so as to leave room in the center for a chimney; The window to be 12-light of eight by ten inch glass, the doors and windows to be finished in plain batten order, with good black- walnut plank; . . . The whole building to be chinked with stone suitably tamped ; the lower floor to be laid down roughly, with square joints; the upper floor rough-tongued and squared, the plank to be of good sound oak timber well dressed, with an opening left in the southwest corner for a staircase ; the whole

The building of the temporary court house was let to David Jenkins and Goldsby Quinn, $400 having been appropriated for the purpose Februarj' 5, 1841, and was superintended on the part of the county by William Hines. It was not completed by the time specified. In November Mr. Hines was ordered to have a brick chimney erected in the building, to contain two four-feet fireplaces below and two two-feet fireplaces in the upper story. The building finally cost, when completed, $516.50, and long stood in Linneus and is well remembered by the older settlers.

Before the court house was erected the various officers kept the books and records of the county at their respective homes. Sometimes - very frequently - a man having business to transact with the county officers would have to seek him out in the field or the forest and get him to walk back to the house to look up the records wanted for the matter in hand.

Court was held at the residences of Barbee, Fore and Holland, whichever place happened to be the most expedient. Judge Clark held the first court at Mr. Holland's. Holland's cabin was the first erected in the place and it boasted of an enormous fireplace, but a somewhat inadequate chimney. On one occasion when the court was proceeding at its business the old chimney became stopped up and the room was filled with smoke. Holland did not know how to repair the defect right then and court had to adjourn until something was done. There was quite a crowd of people in town that day and as the judge was leaving the smoky cabin the sheriff ran up and told him that a fist fight was in progress between a couple of farmers, and he wanted to know what his duty was under such circumstances.

The first ferry license was a free grant to William and Jesse Bowyer, and tliey were allowed to charge 121/2 cents for feriying a man and horse across the stream ; 50 cents for a loaded wagon and team, and 614 cents for pedestrians. The license was granted at the December term, 1837, the year the county was organized.

At the May term of the county court, 1838, Benton township was formed, being taken from the central part of Locust Creek township. John Pierce and William Gibson were elected justices of the peace.

Augustus W. Flournoy was appointed county treasurer on May 7, 1838, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Thomas Barbee. The first meeting of the newly elected county judges in 1838 occurred at the house of John Holland, the man who deeded the site for the county seat.

Dimcan was the next township organized, the order being made June 24, 1839. The voting precinct was designated at the house of John Holland. Eobert W. Holland was elected justice of the peace for Duncan township. Samuel K. Smith was the first constable of that township. The first school lands sold by order of the county court occurred the fourth Monday in December, 1839. The sixteenth sections of Township 58, Eange 18 west, and Township 58, Range 20 west, were sold in eighty-acre tracts. Those sections were in what is now Locust Creek and the north part of Bucklin township.

This sale laid the foundation of Linn countj-'s school fund, which has been so satisfactorily kept through all the following years, and it might here be remarked that the education feature of Linn county has kept pace with its industrial development.

1841. This township's southern line was the township line between 62 and 63, which is now Sullivan county. The first bridge built in the county was across Locust creek, near William Bowyer's, on the state road running from Palmyra, Marion county, to Plattsburg, Buchanan county. About the same time two other bridges were ordered to be built across the east and west forks of Yellow creek. Thomas H. Pearson was directed to superintend the construction of the two last bridges. William Bowyer was ordered to superintend the building of the bridge near his place.

E. W. Foster, county surveyor, reported $707.10 on hand November 8, 1841. At this time money was needed to complete the court house and for other necessary county work. To meet this demand for additional money the court issued an order that "the treasurer of Linn county be authorized to borrow $200, at any per cent per annum, not to exceed 10 per cent, for a term of not less than 6 months nor more than 12 months, to be paid, (if borrowed) out of the town lot fund in the town of Linneus. ' ' laying our new roads, appointing reviewers, overseers and commissioners. The county was developing and it was appreciated then, as it is now, that country roads were highly responsible for the prosperity of the county. Bridge work was prosecuted as fast as the revenue permitted. A bridge then didn't cost as much as it does now. The material was close at hand and labor was cheap. Stephen McCoUum was allowed $325 for building a bridge across Yellow creek and $10 for some extras. John E. Baker received $292 for constructing a bridge across East Fork.

The temporary court house, as it was called, was completed in February, 1842. Superintendent Hines was directed to place the key of the establishment formally into the hands of Jeremiah Phillips, the sheriff, who by order of the court was placed in charge of the building. The original plans for this court house had been considerably altered. There were four windows, several brick chimneys and the structure was weatherboarded. In the court room were eight wooden benches, furnished by Goldsby Quinn, who was paid $66.54 for them.

Pleasant Hill township was organized May 3, 1842. This township was also located in what is now Sullivan county. The voting place was at Mathew Kidd's house. Linneus Davis was appointed road districting justice for the township.

The first and onlj^ slave property mentioned in the records of Linn coimty up to the year 1845 was found in settling the estate of Capt. Daniel Flournoy. In December, 1842, the court made this order:

"It is ordered by the court that Robei-t C. Combs, WilUam Burt and James Carson be appointed commissioners to divide the estate of the late Capt. Daniel Flournoy, consisting of four slaves, named as follows: Frank, Phil, Anna, and Edith, as coming to a part of said legatees, to wit: Virginia Ann Williams, formerly Virginia Ann Flournoy. And it is further ordered that the clerk deliver a copy of this order to John G. Flournoy, agent for the guardian of the said Virginia Ann Williams."

The territory north of Linn county to the Iowa line was attached to Linn county for all civil and military purposes, and had no particular name until 1843. At the session of the general assembly, in the winter of 1842-43, an act was passed defining the territorial limits of a county of the territory above mentioned, which included the present county of Sullivan. This was Highland county, but it was not organized into its municipal, government until two years later.

The act provided that "the revenue levied and collected by the county of Linn, for county purposes, within the aforesaid county of Linn, after deducting the expenses of assessing and collecting the same and all the expenses which may arise from criminal prosecutions originating in the county of Highland, shall be reserved for the use of Highland county and shall be paid over to said coimty by the county court of Linn county whenever the said county of Highland may be organized." The act was approved February 17, 1847.

"It is ordered by the court that Frederick Hester be appointed guardian for Daniel Franklin Clary, minor and heir of Henderson Clary, and that the said guardian bind the said minor to Levi Moore upon the following conditions, towit : The said Moore is to school the said minor to read and write, and in arithmetic to understand the 'Rule of 3,' to clothe said minor with sufficient clothing, lodging and diet until he shall become 21 years of age. At which time the said Moore is to furnish said minor two suits of common clothing and one suit of fine clothes which is to be worth $20, and one horse, saddle and bridle to be worth $60. ' '

The remainder of the LLnneus town lots were ordered to be sold by the then county commissioner, Charles A. Fore, who had charge of the county seat property. A commissioner had been appointed to appraise all the unsold lots, and the order stated that the price to be paid must measure up to the appraisement, otherwise they were not to be sold. The commissioner was authorized to make the sale of the lots. The terms of the sale were two equal installments at twelve and twenty-four months from date of purchase, 10 per cent interest, with security. The deeds were to be given when first installment and interest were paid in full. The report of the sale was filed February 7, 1845.

The first contested election case in Linn county was between William J. Cornett and John Spencer. Both were candidates for justice of the peace in February, 1844. The court decided in favor of Cornett.

seven municipal townships, and that Hiram E. Hurlbut, James W. McCormack, Thompson K. Neal, Stephen McColhim and Samuel Baker be appointed commissioners to lay off said county into seven municipal townships, and that the said commissioners shall meet at the Court House in Linneus the second Monday of July next in order to make said townships, and that said commissioners designate the township's boundaries by water courses, range lines, township lines and sectional lines, referred to in Acts of the 26th of January, 1845, and that they make report to this Court at the next regular term thereof, and that the sheriff notify them of their appointment. ' '

"Yellow Creek Township - Commencing at the southeast corner of township 57, of range 18 west, thence west with said line to the section line dividing 34 and 35, township 57, of range 19 ; thence north with said line to the line dividing sections 15 and 22, in township 58, of range 19 ; thence west with said line to the line di^dding sections 21 and 20, township 58, of range 19; thence north to the township line dividing townships 58 and 59; thence east on said line to the county line between Linn and Macon counties ; thence south along said line to the beginning.

"Baker Township - Commencing at the southeast corner of township 59, of range 18 ; thence west to the section line dividing 32 and 33, in township 59, in rai^ge 19; thence north to the County line between Linn and Sullivan coimties; thence east to the county line between Linn and Macon counties ; thence south along said line to the beginning.

"Benton Township - Commencing at the southeast corner of section 8, in township 59, of range 19; thence west along said line to the middle of the channel of the main Locust Creek; thence up said creek to the mouth of the west fork of said creek, thence up the said west fork in the middle of said channel thereof north to the county line between Linn and Sullivan counties; thence east along said line to the section line dividing sections 8 and 9, township 60, range 19; thence south along said line to the beginning.

"Jackson Township - Commencing in the middle of the channel of main Locust Creek where the township line divides townships 58 and 59, of range 21; thence west along said line to the county line between Linn and Livingston counties ; thence north to the coimty line dividing Linn and Sullivan counties ; thence east along said line to the middle of the channel of the west fork of Locust Creek; thence down the same to the main Locust Creek to the beginning.

"Parson Creek Township - Commencing in the middle of the channel of main Locust Creek on the county line between Linn and Chariton coimties; thence west to the southwest corner of Linn county; thence north along the county line between Linn and Livingston counties to the township line dividing townships 58 and 59; thence east along said line to the middle of the channel of main Locust Creek; thence down the same to the place of beginning.

"Jefferson Township - Commencing at the southeast corner of section 34, of township 57, of range 19; thence west along the county line to the middle of the channel of the main Locust Creek ; thence up the middle of the channel of said creek to the section line dividing sections 14 and 23, in township 58, of range 21 ; thence east along said line to the section line between sections 22 and 23, in township 58, of range 19; thence south along said line to the place of beginning.

"Locust Creek Township - Commencing at the southeast comer of section 17, in township 58, of range 19 ; thence west along said line to the middle of the channel of the main Locust Creek; thence up the same in the middle of the channel to the section line dividing sections 11 and 14, in township 59, of range 21; thence east along said line to the northeast corner of section 17, of township 59, of range 19; thence south to the place of beginning."

These townships were all in Linn county proper. Sullivan county was organized February 15, 1845, out of the territory of Linn county. Previous to that Sullivan county had been known as Highland county. The report of the commissioners was approved.

After 1846 dawned the growth of Linn county and its increased official business demanded a more adequate court house. The pressure upon the county court became so strong that on March 4 Thomas Barbee was appointed to prepare and submit to the court a plan for the building of a court house in Linneus, fixing the dimensions, naming the materials and estimating the cost of such a structure.

An appropriation of $4,000 was made for the new building July 1. It was specified that the court house should be built in the center of the public square at Linneus. William Sanders, Hiram E. Hurlbut, and Daniel Grace were appointed to superintend the construction. After the August election a new county court took charge and at its session in September an order was made relieving Hiram E. Hurlbut and Daniel Grace from acting as commissioners.

William Sanders was appointed bridge commissioner to superintend the construction of a bridge across Long Branch, on the state road to Macon county, and one across Big Muddy creek, on the state road to Brunswick. Mr. Sanders, who still acted as court house commissioner, reported plans and specifications for a new court house. They were approved and placed on file. The county court made an order on March 14, 1847, giving the necessary directions to Sanders, who was appointed superintendent, for the building of the court house and providing for its payment.

The county court ordered a final sale of the town lots of Linneus on the first Monday in May, 1847, with instructions to continue from day to day until all the lots were sold. In May, $1,504.45 was realized from the sale and in August $98.25 additional.

Enoch Kemper, county clerk, filed his reports of the county's receipts and expenditures for the year 1846, as follows: Receipts, $1,189.38; expenditures, $1,075.17; balance on hand, $114.20. The tax levy of May 31, 1847, was one-half of 1 per cent additional for county purposes, while the state tax was about double what it had been the year previous. The increase of the coimty tax was necessitated by the building of the court house. This tax levy gave the county a revenue of $1,464.71, and yielded to the court house fund $742.86. It was supposed that this with the receipts from the Linneus town lot sales would be enough to meet the demands for building the new court house.

William Sanders resigned as superintendent of the construction and Augustus W. Flournoy was appointed to supervise the completion of the court house.

Having disposed of all the lots in Linneus as shown on the original plat, and the court house project still requiring more funds, the commissioner for the county seat, Charles A. Fore, was ordered to lay off the residue of the town tract, to make a plat and have it attached to the original plat. This was done February 12. 1848.

The foundation of the court house building having been laid, and the brick work well under way, a committee was appointed to examine the material and workmanship. Owen Eawlings, Samuel S. Swope and G. Walker were chosen on this committee. The committee made its report, which was received and approved by the county court.

two-tliirds of the work on tbe court house had been credited, that the material was good and the work well done. On June 5 the contractor was given an additional warrant for $1,330.

Commissioner Fore having completed the platting of the addition to the original town of Linneus, was ordered to sell the six lots embraced therein for $45,971/2-

On October 16 Superintendent Flournoy reported to the county court that the new court house had been completed according to contract, and recommended that the same be received. The court accepted the report and ordered another warrant for $1,330 to Contractor Nelson as balance due. The total cost of the building was $3,894.85, including some slight alterations made in the contract.

That was in the year 1848. Today counties of Missouri with no greater population than Linn county has are building court houses that cost all the way from $50,000 to $100,000.

A notable thing about this pioneer court house building was that it was built inside of the contract price. It seems from all the data obtainable that the commissioners and others appointed to look after the building exercised the utmost vigilance to see that not a cent of money was wasted and that the material was fairly up to specifications.

At the August term, 1849, the county court made an order that no greater sum than $100 should be loaned to any one person out of the road and canal fund. Two hundred and $300 loans had been made, and if this was continued it was found that there wouldn't be enough money to go around.

The county was now getting close to the railroad era - that is, to the talk that preceded the actual constructions. On October 10, 1849, the court made this order :

"It is ordered by the Court that there be $200 appropriated out of the internal improvement fund of this county for the purpose of surveying the track for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Eailroad, subject to the order of the president of the Board of Commissioners of said road. ' '

This order marked an epoch in the development of Linn county. It was the initial step in the inauguration of the movement which has done much for the prosperity and development of the county. In that distant day it was not dreamed, possibly, what railroads would eventually mean to this county. The ambition was to secure a line across the county which would furnish an easy method of reaching the two great rivers bordering the state, where the produce of the county would then be transferred to steamboats and carried to the great market centers. Today Linn county has three great lines of railroad traversing her bosom and two important division points, Bi'ookfield and Marceline. Laclede is a junction and an important railroad center, also Bucklin. Doubtless the county court of 1849 thought $200 was a liberal appropriation for railroad enterprises, because in those days the layman had but small comprehension of the great costs of railroad facilities.

That $200 appropriation got the people to talking railroad. It crystallized public sentiment in favor of better means of communication. It made the iron horse a reality. Yet it was ten years in the future before the connections were made and the trains running.

The first primary election that ever occurred in Linn county was ordered to be held the fourth Saturday in January, 1850. It has been stated that this was in reality the first primary election in Missouri. Thomas K. Neal had resigned as assessor and it became necessary to fill the office. There were plenty of candidates. The election was carried out strictly by the order of the county court, which read as follows :

"It is ordered by the Court that the legal voters in and for Linn county may meet on the fourth Saturday of January next, 1850, at the several election precincts in said county for the purpose of electing an assessor to assess Linn county for 1850, and that the Court will appoint the person receiving the highest number of votes."

Linn county's first jail was built under an order made March, 1851. The sum of $1,100 was appropriated for that purpose. It was specified in the order that the jail was to be "double wall of brick and logs, fitted with iron, located on Lot 6, Block 22." Hiram E. Hurlbut was appointed to supervise the construction and he was enjoined by the order to see that the jail was made proof against the most accomplished unfortunate to regain his liberty on being confined therein, without some help."

Another $500 was appropriated for the location of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Eailroad through Linn county, April 14, 1851. An election was also ordered for the third Saturday in May so that the people

In September, Colonel Eobert M. Stewart, promoter of the railroad company, appeared before the county court and requested that body to take stock in the railroad. This is the order of the county court on that proposition :

' ' On motion of Colonel Robert M. Stewart, agent for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Eailroad Company, it is ordered by the court here that the county of Linn take 250 shares in the stock of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Eailroad, at the sum of $100 per share. ($25,000.) And that the court reserve to themselves the power to pay over the installments as they may be called for by said company on said stock, either by payment in cash, or by issuing her bonds as it may be required ; and also, if the bonds which may hereafter be issued by the county for the purposes aforesaid shall be disposed of by said company at a discount, the said county is to bear no loss on account thereof. Said bonds to bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, payable annually."

Colonel Stewart, referred to in the court's order, was one of the famous men of his day. The successful construction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Eailroad is probably due more to his indefatigable energy than to that of any other man.

Because of his eternal optimism for the road, there are many who tliink that "Mark Twain" took his character of "Colonel Sellers" from "Bob" Stewart. It is stated, but without any particular authority, that a railroad enthusiast of the 50 's started an ox team at Hannibal and plowed a furrow clear across the state, and that Stewart, who assisted in the survey of the Hannibal and St. Joseph road, followed this primitive survey almost exactly. For fifty years following the road's construction the inhabitants of northern Missouri have spoken of this ox team survey and its wonderful practicability. Truth is, it was originally intended to run the road through Shelbyville, Blooming-ton and Linneus, and Bloomington made a large donation on the strength of an agreement to strike that town. Afterward the line was moved southward and Bloomington 's money was refunded.

Eobert Morris Stewart, to whose untiring energy and faith the building of the Hannibal and St. Joseph road is ascribed, was born at Truxton, Cortlandt county, New York, March 12, 1815, and died at St. Joseph, Mo., September 21, 1871, a poor man. He was never married. His remains rested in an unmarked grave in Mount Mora cemetery, until 1908, when the state had erected a handsome and imposing monument to his memory.

In his early life Stewart taught school and studied law in his native state. He came to Missoi;ri in 1839 and located in St. Joseph. Stewart served as prosecuting attorney of Buchanan county and two terms in the legislature, once in each branch. In 1848 he was appointed registrar of the Land Office at Savannah, which position he resigned in order to engage in the preliminary survey of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Eailroad. He superintended the entire work, in spite of the fact that a part of the time he was compelled to go about on crutches as result of an injury. His earnest and indomitable energy overcame all the embarrassing obstacles confronting the enterprise. Shortly after the completion of the survey Stewart went to the national capital and secured the land grant referred to in the report of the Chillicothe convention. [See railroad chapter.]

Stewart served as president of the road after its completion, and labored incessantly to make it a popular means of travel. It is related that a baby was disturbing the sleep of the passengers one night. The weary mother was unable to quite the little one. Finally, President Stewart, who was on the coach, took in the situation. He walked over to the mother and remarked: "Madam, my name is Stewart." I am president of this road and its my duty to look after the comfort of the patrons. Hand that baby to me."

Not knowing whether he was going to throw the child out of the window or otherwise murder it, yet fearing to disobey the "president of the road," the frightened mother handed her infant over. Stewart, who never had a child of his own, clumsily took the little passenger in his arms and walked as steadily as he could up and down the swaying aisle. The compound motion seemed to be just what the youngster wanted and it fell asleep in the president's arms. Then it was handed back to the mother, with the admonition to send for the president if it kicked up any more fuss.

Stewart aided in the construction of the St. Joseph and Denver Eailroad and projected the St. Louis & St. Joseph road. He was the author of the "Omnibus Bill," imder which the railroad system of the state was built up. To every enterprise or measure calculated to help the state he was an earnest friend and worker.

In politics Stewart was always actively interested. This campaign is characteristic of the man: Trusten Polk (Democrat), of St. Louis, was elected governor at the election in 1856. Soon after his inauguration Polk was elected United States Senator to succeed Henry S. Geyer, deceased. He accepted the senatorship and resigned as governor. A special election was held in August to fill the gubernatorial vacancy.

An exciting contest followed the lining-np of the rival candidates. Rollins was well-known as a campaign orator of power. He was alert, quick to see a point and take advantage of it, and of attractive personality.

Stewart, less skilled in oratory, had considerable ability. The rivals met in joint debate several times. On each occasion there were large and tumultnons crowds. The dynamic subject of slavery was up, with all its direful portent. State enterprises, various internal improvements, etc., were the less sinister issues trailing along with that of the black man. The battle waged fiercely. After a meeting some said Rollins had the better of it ; others insisted Stewart had flattened his opponent out. At times bloodshed between the heated partisans was narrowly averted. At Gallatin a personal encounter occurred between Rollins and Stewart on the platform. This came near participating a riot among the shouting multitudes, but quiet was finally restored and nobody was carried home on a stretcher.

The contest was marked by bitter sarcasm, withering denunciations and dramatic defiance. Whenever the candidates were billed to appear it was no trouble to get out a crowd. An edict of the mayor wouldn't have kept the people at home.

Rollins was beaten by 334 votes in a total of 96,640. Stewart was inaugurated in January, 1858. His first official act was to pardon "William Langston out of the penitentiary, where he had been sent for complicity in a killing. Langston had at one time nursed Stewart through a long and serious illness. Stewart was never the man to forget anyone who had done him a kindness.

Not long after Stewart became governor of Missouri, Rollins went to Jefferson City and registered at the Madison House. Governor Stewart met his old antagonist, extended a friendly hand and invited him to be his guest at the executive mansion while in town. Rollins accepted, and all the animosities of the campaign were wiped out at the governor's hospitable board.

In the fall of 1858 Govenor Stewart issued the first Missouri proclamation for a day of fasting and prayer in recognition of the Divine Blessings to the state and its people.