Macon County, Missouri - Chapter 11, 1910

Wars ano SoLorers" Rruxions - Macox Couxty's Fiagmrixo MEN - TREK or THE MoRMONS - CALL ro Arms 1N "61 - Macox as a Miurrary Post - Marrian Law - A Vicrim's Tomsstone - THEe Harris House PRIsox - BATTLE or PAINTER ÜREEK - ÖRDERED TO Burn BLOOMINGTON - RAID or THE GUERRILLAS - A Covnren's Rive ror Lire - Avevs- TIN BrapsHer Drartep - MEN or THE BLACK FLAG - VETERANS OF 1812 - Srare Encampment AT Macon - DAUGHTERS or THE Revo- LUTION,

In every war in which this nation has been engaged since Macon county was organized, a fair proportion of her sons have gone forth to battle. From the county's birth the citizens have been keenly interested in politics. In the early years great statesmen came here frequently and met the people from a wide scope of country north, east and west. The assemblies were at Bloomington. That martial spirit, so manifest in the Civil war, germinated at these great gatherings, where public questions were discussed. ''All roads led to Bloomington, the capital of northern Missouri," was the way a writer expressed it, and with a fair degree of accuracy. There was a beautiful May day, in 1861, when Bloomington was alive with thousands assembled to pledge their fealty to the Southern cause. It was on the eve of the gathering of the clans, and the assemblage was typical of Macon county's initiative in time of war. Her people did not wait to be dragged in on either side; they were impatient to ''fall in" at the first command.

overstepped the bounds of fair play, and no man can presume to strike the balance. It shall not be the purpose to dwell on those things which caused bitter denunciation at the time. Yet there is much in the great war of the states which can be told without arousing resentment from either side. The old history, a copy of which lies close at hand, gives a long and pathetic account of a military execution at Macon. We shall touch that but lightly, and more particularly direct attention to those incidents to which the grizzled soldiers refer with a smile.

throughout the Civil war. At times its military population was as great as its entire citizenship is now. There was a military prison here, the Harris house. Troops were quartered in tobacco barns, churches and store-rooms. The general operations over a wide territory were directed from this point. Each sunrise was greeted with the roll of drum, and during the day the streets echoed with the tramp of marching squadrons. Parties arrested in adjoining counties, charged with activities against the Federal cause, were brought to Macon for military trial. In the midst of the war the county capital was removed from Bloomington to Macon, because Bloomington was regarded as the seat of disloyalty. It was one of the very few instances in Missouri where a county seat was removed from one town to another without a fierce fight. Very likely, the people of Bloomington strongly opposed the move, but their opposition was not considered.

'The Indians had hardly been driven out of Missouri when there was talk of war with the Mormons. In 1838 Governor Boggs issued an exterminating order against them and they were driven out, of Missouri. They went to Illinois, locating at Nauvoo. Joe Smith was the **prophet." Nauvoo flourished and soon became a town of 2,000, with a beautiful temple built, according to plans which Smith claimed he had received in a vision. In 1844 a discontented member of Smith's church issued a newspaper at Nauvoo assailing the prophet and threatening to expose him for various misdeeds. The eity council at Nauvoo passed an ordinance declaring the printing office a nuisance. It was destroyed by the officers of the law. Smith was put under arrest, and taken to Carthage. On June 27, 1844, a mob attacked the jail, overpowering the guard, killed Smith and his brother Hiram, and wounded others of the prophet's party. In 1846 Brigham Young and a party left Nauvoo for the west, and was soon followed by another company of Mormons. It was while passing through Missouri and other states that war was declared against the Mormons, some of whom showed a disposition to settle in certain counties of northern Missouri. There was a call for troops and two companies were raised in Macon county to suppress the Mormon uprising, as it was called, in Jaekson, Caldwell and Daviess. One of these companies was commanded by Capt. Lewis Gilstrap, the other by Capt. John H. Rose. General Joseph Shelby, who later beeame a noted Confederate leader, was one of the first to respond to the call for service in this campaign. The Mormons, however, decided to evacuate the state and there was no real fighting.

ized however; those from Macon county who went to the front joined Captain Hancock Jackson's company, which was formed in Randolph county. Following are the names of some of those who went from Macon county to the Mexican war: J. B. Clarkson, Robert Myers, T. A. H. Smith, O. P. Magee, Benjamin F. Heater, Pleasant Richardson, Samuel Love, Thomas Barnes, John Peyton, Daniel G. Sweeney, Hardin Butler, Wilson Fleteher, Dennis D. Wright and Ellis Wilson.

In less than a month after the fall of Fort Sumter there was a largely attended meeting at the Court House in Bloomington for the purpose of endorsing the Governor's eourse in refusing to furnish troops to President Lincoln. The meeting was held May 11, 1861. A delegation went out from Macon, headed by a brass band; waving over it was a Southern flag, containing 15 stars. Captain William Griffin was Chairman of the meeting and Web M. Rubey, now living in Macon, Secretary. Hon. John S. Green and E. C. McCabe of Palmyra addressed the assembly. Strong resolutions were passed against the "Republican" Abolition administration. Governor C. F. Jackson was upheld as ''a true patriot, and one who will stand by the rights of Missouri and of Southern rights at all hazards." The "Silver Grays," and the ''Macon Rangers," were the names of two companies first organized and drilled for service in the Confederate army.

Two companies of volunteers were raised for the Federal army by Captain William Forbes and C. R. Haverly. About the same time a company known as the ** Home Guard" was enrolled.

The first Union troops to reach Macon were composed of Iowa and Illinois regiments under the command of Brigadier General Stephen A. Hurlbut. "The first thing the troops did on reaching Macon in June, 1861, was to eut down a ''Rebel'' flag pole. When this pole fell Dr. F. W. Allen was hearing a Latin class in the Macon College. Stopping the lesson, he rushed down into town and denounced the proceedings.

A company of the Sixteenth Illinois was sent to Bloomington to disarm the eitizens there. Those disarmed were arrested, but afterwards released. Quite a number of Union regiments were organized at Macon. At one time 7,000 Federal troops were quartered there. Breastworks were thrown up in the east part of the city and occupied by the State M. S. M.

A company of Confederate met at Penny's Bridge in August, 1861, and eleeted Ben Eli Guthrie, late a student of MeGee College, as captain. The company joined General Price and took part in his Missouri operations during the fall and winter, 1861-62, Colonel Robert S. Bevier, for whom the town of Bevier was named, commanded a regiment under General Price, in which regiment were a large number of men from Macon county. This regiment was actively engaged in most all the large battles of the West. Colonel Bevier has written an interesting volume of the war, including the part taken by the Macon county volunteers. The work is entitled "The First and Second Missouri Brigades." Colonel Bevier was an enterprising, public spirited citizen, a spendid comrade and an ideal soldier.

During the occupancy of Macon by the Federal troops, when General Lewis Merrill was in command, a court martial was held to try ten prisoners charged with capital crimes against the government. The defendants were Frank E. Drake, Dr. A. C. Rowe, Elbert Hamilton, Wiliam Searcy, J. A. Wysong, J. H. Fox, Edward Riggs, David Bell, John H. Oldham and James H. Hall.

All of the men were found guilty and sentenced to death. The execution occured in the presence of a large crowd on September 25, 1862. In the cemetery at Kirksville, Missouri, is a monument at the head of Oldham's grave containing this inseription:

"John H. Oldham, son of J. G. and P. A. Oldham; born March 15, 1839, a citizen prisoner, who was murdered by being shot to death September 25, 1862, by order of Merrill, a Federal officer at Macon, at the instance of others well known to his father.''

William Searey who was among the exeeuted ones, was eaptain of an irregular band operating in the northern part of the state. He and a part of his foree were captured while making an attack on Lancaster. Searcy was wounded by parties firing from the court house. He was taken by his men and carried out of town, but it was soon apparent that he could not be taken far, and he was left at the home of William C. Ray, a mile and a half north of Lancaster. Searcy's men, fearing pursuit, moved on, leaving their captain to his fate. In the evening some Confederate officers were informed by a woman that the noted Captain Searey was lying wounded in a farm house near town, and they took a force out, fearing an ambush. Searcy was found badly wounded with every indication that he would die. Some men who had been attending him were made prisoners. A pallet was provided in the court house at Lancaster, for him to die on. But he fooled the doctors and got well. Then he was taken to Macon, where he was tried and convicted of being a bushwhacker.

was situated a short distance south of the Hannibal and St. Joe tracks. It was a two-story frame strueture, of ample dimensions. When put up it was the leading hotel of the town. The Federal occupancy caused Harris to abandon his property, and go South, as he was an ardent Confederate. The east part of the building was used by the Federal authorities as a military prison. A great many prominent and well-todo citizens, whose loyalty to the Union side was questioned, were confined here from time to time. General Merrill's headquarters were close to- the prison. At one time there were 144 military prisoners in the Harris House.

Until very recently no newspaper man had ever developed the story of the battle of Painter Creek, in west Macon eounty. It was, possibly, one of the most curious engagments of the Civil war. Not a man was killed or injured by ball or bayonet, though the ''fight''? began before noon and continued until dark. One man - a Confederate - was drowned while trying to swim his horse aeross the stream. "That was the only casualty.

The encounter between Colonel Joseph Porter's Confederates and some Federal regiments under General Wolfolk was part of a widespread plan to surround and capture Porter with the 2,000 reeruits he was trying to get southward for service in the Confederate army.

Porter was only coneerned in breaking through the Union lines. He knew the greater number of his men couldn't fight; had no discipline and had never been under fire. But he was in the heart of a section swarming with Federal militia and government troops, and it was impossible to get out without a battle. Some 500 of his men were seasoned, and could be relied on to exeeute orders under fire. The balance were mostly young farmers, good riders, but not used to posing as targets.

'There had been a pretty severe encounter between MeNeil and Porter at Kirksville on August 6, 1862. Many Confederates were killed and eaptured, but Porter drew off his men and hurried southward through the rough wilderness of Macon county. The vigilant MeNeil, learning his route, ordered a strong force to move westward and intercept the fleeing Confederates.

Charley Coleman was then a farmer lad living about the hills bordering Painter Creek bottoms. Some one informed the Federal authorities that he had piloted Porter and his shattered army through the woods, and he was summoned to Maeon and put under a heavy bond to refrain from further friendly acts towards the **rebels.?"

"It was two days after the fight at Kirksville, in which Porter got the worst of it," said Mr. Coleman. "I was living with my stepfather on the second bottom of Painter Creek, in Valley township. Mart and John Souther and myself learned that Porter was coming south and we went up toward Goldsberry to meet him. We met old Mr. Bradley and he said he had seen *an awful big army" pass north of him; he supposed they were Federals. We rode on in the direction of the army, and learned instead of Federals they were Confederates, Porter's men. The whole prairie seemed to be covered with soldiers. It appeared to me there were enough men to put the whole government out of business. It didn't occur that there might be several times as many of the other fellows, but I learned something before the day was over.

We were very cordially received by the officers, and rode on southward with the troopers. A great many of the men were wounded, had their arms in slings and handkerchiefs tied around their heads. It was so elose to the Kirksville fight that the raw reeruits were still in a state of panic, looking about at every sound, as if expecting an enemy. All were terribly hungry and weary. When we reached my stepfather's the women folk got busy cooking things to eat and passing out food as fast as they eould. Some of the troops were so hungry that they seized the meat before it was done and began devouring it.

There was no apparent attempt at discipline. The soldiers just seattered over the place, eating and resting, their guns lying wherever they happened to throw them. While in this unprepared state a courier, on a foaming horse, galloped in shouting:

"Tt was worse than if he had warned them of an approaching cyclone. The terrible Federals had licked them at Kirksville, and now, many miles back in the wilderness, they were still pursuing. They imagined Federals rained from the clouds; they seemed to be everywhere. In a moment the camp was in the wildest confusion. Some of the reeruits fled without waiting to see what a Federal soldier might look like. One youth in his eagerness to get away jumped his horse into the ereek and was drowned.

**But the panie didn't extend to Porter and his seasoned officers. They shouted orders across the fields and soon had the force whacked into line, and positions were taken where the creek embankment could be used as a breastwork. I thought of a couple of horses I had, and in order to save them from the Federals I started down on the bottoms, intending to hide them behind a bluff. When I got there, however, I found the place taken by Porter's frightened recruits, and women and children, all anxious to get out of gunshot range.

"The Federals had taken their position on the bald knobs, and were pouring into the Confederates what seemed destructive fire. Porter replied, his men fighting stubbornly, not giving an inch. Once or twice the Federals started to rush them, but a hot fire sent them skeltering back to cover. It was pretty evident that all of Porter's men were not panic-stricken. His fire seemed to be the most effective and I believed if he had rushed the Federals he would have sent them flying back on the jump. But his objeet was to save his recruits, and he couldn't afford to take chances.

" At one time a rider rushed up to the settlement and announced that the Confederates had been 'cut to pieces;' that Porter was a prisoner and the survivors were scattering over the prairie.

"But I noted the firing kept on steadily, growing hotter from the Confederates' side as the sun went down, and slackening over on the hills where the Federals were.

"Nobody did anything that day but watch the battle. From the terrific discharges of musketry we imagined the ground must have been covered with slain. I didn't see how human flesh and blood could last a minute under such a riot of smoke and fire. The woods were canopied with smoke and the smell of gunpowder filled the air clear out to where the terrified speetators were. We supposed the war was being settled right then and there; that history was being made same as at Naseby, Waterloo and Yorktown.

"During all this frightful hubbub, this earnival of death and destruetion, Miss Lizzie MeKittrick, who taught the distriet school in the neighborhood, was the only quiet and self-controlled person in the zone of shot and shell. She kept her students steadily at their books, and went about her school room tasks same as if nothing more exciting than a Sunday-school pienie was happening over on Painter Creek. She could hear the sound of musketry, the cries of the soldiers and the roar of the cannon same as we could, but she didn't worry a bit. Her duty was to keep her scholars out of gunshot range, and she did that by closing the doors and refusing to let anyone go out.

"Tt was getting towards dusk when we heard a bugle sound amid the bald knobs, and soon the news came that the Yankees were retreating. Then we went ont to bury the dead, and what do you think? There wasn't a man killed on either side except the young Confederate who jumped his horse in the stream! The two armies had shot enough lead at each other to sink a battleship, and yet there were absolutely no injuries.

"Next day the Federals, considerably reinforced, trooped by on his trail, determined to bag the fleeing *Rebs' at all hazards. They took with them Johnnie Williams and Mart Souther as guides.

"Porter, learning of the determined pursuit, and knowing he eouldn't hope to get away without showing his teeth, erossed the Chariton river at See's ford, and arranged an ambush on the other side. There's always plenty of water in the Chariton, and the only place to eross thereabouts was the ford.

"The Federals, hot on the trail, and spurred on by peremptory commands from headquarters, charged into the stream blindly. Porter had eoneentrated his fighting men at the ford and when the leading troops of the enemy were mid-stream they poured a terrifie fire upon them at short range. "Those who could retreated from the water in a hurry. Several were killed outright and a great number wounded. It stopped the pursuit and next day I hid myself in some brush and saw the Federals riding southward, away from Porter. "They had all they wanted of him. Porter then made his way eastward, got safely through the line in Missouri, and I presume managed to deliver his recruits to Price."

The late William H. Sears was one of Miss McKittrick's scholars during the Painter Creek fight. He said his teacher had quite a job enforcing order that exciting day, but that she was as calm and unruffled as a May morning during all the roar of strife, and kept the best of discipline. Mr. Sears saw the dead soldier referred to by Mr. Coleman. He heard of no others being killed in the singularly noisy but harmless battle.

In 1862 Major Thomas Moody, who is yet living in Macon, was the commander of an enrolled militia force, and was of course subject to the orders of General Lewis Merrill, commander of the post at Macon. Most of Major Moody's men were Missourians, and had been reared in these parts. Major Moody himself had been a Missourian since 1840. General Merrill ordered Major Moody to select from his men a firing squad for the execution of the ten men under sentence of death by the court martial. Major Moody promptly and earnestly protested, and

That was not the only time Major Moody took issue with his chief on a matter of military duty. Because of its known sympathy with the Southern cause, General Merrill decided that he would wipe Bloomington off the earth. He gave Major Moody orders to take his men over there and burn up the town, leaving not one building. Major Moody never intended to obey sueh a harsh order, but on the moment he had no answer ready for the unexpected command. He thought over the matter for several hours and next morning went to his chief with this idea: j

"There will be an election this year and I will run for the legislature," said Major Moody. ''If I am elected I will have a bill put through to remove the county seat from Bloomington to Macon; that will do as much good as to burn the town."

"That is a great head you got, Major. We'll run you for the legislature and see to it that enough of the boys get out to eleet you. If I find any man scratching you I'll run him in the guard house!"

Major Moody was elected and in 1863 he secured the passage of the bill which resulted in the county seat being removed from Bloomington to Macon. It was recorded that this was done as ''an act of military necessity." The land donated to the county for public buildings at Bloomington by Cochran and Hubbard reverted baek to the heirs, Poor Bloomington could raise no effective protest, beeause at that time it was virtually **outside of the Union."

It was during the year the aet was passed removing the county seat that Bloomington was raided by a company of guerrillas. At that time there was a depository, known as the Bloomington branch of the Western Bank of Missouri. George Shortridge was cashier and Dr. JJ. B. Winn, one of the directors. During the raid the bank was robbed of about $16,000. The commander of the raiders was not known. Dr. Winn said that the leader claimed to be Quantrill, but there was no record of Quantrill's ever having been as far as this up the state. Tt may have been Anderson or some others who confined their operations to central and northern Missouri.

"The gang first went to the house of the cashier and made him go over to the bank with them. A guard was left at the cashier's house to prevent anyone from leaving to give the alarm. With drawn revolvers, the robbers forced the cashier to open the vault, from which they took about $16,000; a large portion of the money was the bank's paper, in big, uncut sheets.

- the aid of a company of Federal soldiers and pursued the robbers to a point between Bloomington and Bevier. "There a place was found where they had evidently halted and divided the money, as there was several pieces of paper scattered about. The soldiers were unable to get any

**Not long after this there was another alarm. The rumor was that an outlaw band was headed for Bloomington for the purpose of robbery. The directors of the bank hurriedly met and decided to remove all the specie that night. Every man took a portion of the money, leaving a receipt for it and was responsible for its return.

- "T put my apportionment in my old-fashioned saddle-bags, which I used in carrying medicine to my patrons. Arriving home in the dead hour of night, I dug a hole in the center of the barn floor, where my horses stood, deposited the money and carefully covered it up. I

Dr. Winn told of his having buried some of his private gold in quinine bottles, which he permitted to remain underground all through the war. He thought he removed most of this, but in 1901, after his farm had been sold to other parties the idea oeeured that he might possibly have overlooked some of his hidden trensure. He went out to Bloomington and made a search for it, but never succeeded in finding any more. He decided that time had obliterated the landmarks and that if any of the gold was ever recovered it would be through chance exeavation made by plows or shov

One of the most dramatic incidents of the Civil war occured September 17, 1864. General Lewis Merrill was still commander of the North Missouri department, with headquarters at Macon. George Washburn, Amos Long and Thomas Reeves had been tried on the charge of being spies, and were sentenced to be shot. Long and Reeves were young married men. Waiting the day of execution the three condemned men were confined in the college building at Huntsville. They made their escape on one oceasion, but were re-captured and guarded with extra vigilance.

Twenty-four militiamen were ordered to draw ballots from a hat, which was passed to them by an officer. Twelve ballots had upon them a capital S. That meant, **shoot." The other ballots were blanks.

The execution hour was two in the afternoon of the day mentioned. The condemned men were lead out to face the firing squad. They started to blindfold Washburn, but he protested.

They took off the bandage and ordered him to kneel. Again he protested and again they humored him. He was shot standing, looking clear-eyed into the rifles. Washburn was thirty years of age, a native of Shelby county, Missouri.

Long and Reeves were next ordered to face the squad. It seems the eaptain knew something of the earnest efforts being made to secure from General Merrill a pardon for Long and Reeves. He looked up and down the road, expeeting every moment to see a messenger upon a foaming horse. Many little strategems were resorted to to delay the execution, but at last the captain concluded no reprieve was coming and he ordered the men to get their guns ready for firing. The two condemned Confederates were blindfolded. The captain walked leisurely from them to the the head of the firing line and was just about to call out the fatal order when he observed dust down the road and knew that somebody was riding hard towards him. It proved to be the long expected courier from Merrill carrying the reprieve. So hard had the horse been ridden that it staggered and fell to its knees as the courier dismounted and handed the order from the general to the captain of the firing squad.

Then oceurred the drama of the afternoon. The wives of the two men, who were among the crowd assembled to witness the execution, threw themselves hysterically into their husbands' arms and cried out for very joy. The people acted like mad, shouting, jumping and hugging one another. They were so happy that these two young men had been called back from the grave. But suddenly there was a hush as they thought of one man for whom no reprieve had come. Poor George Washburn was lying on the ground waiting the services of the undertaker. He could respond to no hand-clasps; could open his eyes to his loved ones no more. Many remarked the firm lines of the soldierly face as it lay on the green sward, under the slanting rays of the September sun. And all knew that whatever his wrongs George Washburn had died like a man.

William Wisdom, a Randolph county man, has in his possession a draft issued from the provost marshal's office at Macon November 16, 1864. Those were the days when the war had assumed tremendous proportions and it was hard to get men into the army. Some people made it a business of providing substitutes for those who were drafted. It is stated that Mr. Bradsher, the party who was the subject of the draft set out below, had to pay $900 for a substitute to go to the war in his place. :

** Provost Marshal's Office, Eight Distri tate of Missouri, November 16, 1864, to Augustin Bradsher, Salt Springs township, Randolph eounty, Missouri. Sir: You are hereby notified that you were, on the 16th day of November, 1864, legally drafted in the service of the United States for the period of one year, in accordance with the provision of the aet of Congress 'for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes,' approved March 3, 1863, and the aet amendatory thereof, approved February 24, 1864. You will accordingly report, on the 30th day of November, 1864, at the place of rendezvous, in Macon, Missouri, or be deemed a deserter, and be subject to the penalty preseribed therefor by the Rules and Articles of War.

"Provost Marshal's Office for the Eighth Distriet of Missouri; Hannibal, November 16, 1864. To the North Mo. R. R. Co. Please furnish transportation from Allen to Macon, Missouri, at government rates for Augustine Bradsher. Distance, twenty miles.

Tn the stories of the warfare on the border, the fierce feud between Jayhawker and Missourian, it was claimed by those who seemed to speak with authority that Quantrill now and then spared, but Anderson never. Of all the sombre, merciless men who rode under the black flag, Anderson was counted the most relentless. Some said the man's heart only thawed when he saw the blood running. His apologists - and he had some able ones - urge that two of his sisters were slain by the Jayhawkers, and say that the day the news reached him he began eutting notches on his revolver. Not only were blue-coats waylaid and ridden down, but the man who hid a horse, or failed to furnish feed, or reported his movements to the opposing forces was executed without compunction. Even Southern sympathizers dreaded the name of the man, because he drew but faint lines between those of one side or the other when the mood to kill was on.

Anderson was not a large man, and neither was Quantrill. Both rode horses like they were a part of their animals and could shoot on the gallop as well as when taking a rest. The men who rode behind them were equally expert in riding and shooting, but these two men became leaders because their hatred was the deepest. Like Marat they were fascinating because of their utter implacability.

Anderson, when a boy, went to school at Huntsville, a pieturesque old town of northern Missouri. He is said to have been a good scholar, quiet and obedient, but not overly gifted in arithmetie, As was the case with ** Mark Twain," none of his fellow-students thought he would ever start a conflagration on the river by his learning, or anything else. Certainly no one saw in the backward country lad a firebrand of the future.

The boy who has been soundly lieked before the whole school, or who has seen two bright blue eyes he ealled his own, look love into another's face, generally has one great and overpowering ambition during those dreadful periods, and that is to come back in later years, at the head of a splendid array of pirates, surround the town, and force the citizenship to sue to him for merey.

If that ambition came to Anderson, as it has to most of us, he realized on it to the full. After blazing the border until his name stood. for all that was terrible and pitiless, he lighted on Huntsville in September, 1864, with as fierce a crowd of swashbucklers as this country ever produced, and the mayor didn't have time to think where to hide the key to the city. For one short, eventful day the shy school-boy was the whole works of the place. He rode about on a magnificent white horse, roaring out orders and telling his men the best places to loot. The revolvers of the rough riders popped incessantly, and the citizens ran into their eyclone cellars. Anderson wore a big feather in his hat and there was a new sash around his waist where he kept his ever-ready guns. It was the proudest day of his life. Small boys, hiding behind

Towards the edge of town lived Hade Rutherford, and some one, hoping to win favor from some of the guerrillas, told them that Hade had hidden away two fine horses to keep them from falling into the hands of Anderson's gang. So they swooped down on Hade, who was then a very young man, just married, put a rope around his neck and asked him about the horses. Mrs. Rutherford, a beautiful young woman, rushed out and begged the guerrillas to spare her husband's life. Every man there had been in sueh scenes before and they were not affected. The prisoner had spirited away two good horses, according to their information, and that meant death according to the law of the border.

Old men who were at that strange assembly, out under the eottonwoods, say that two long lines stole out from Anderson's eruel mouth, whieh may have meant a grim smile, a most unusual thing for his hard, fieree face. He said nothing, but by a movement of the arm indieated to the prisoner that he was free. Hade Rutherford, Anderson's schoolmate, is now the mayor of Huntsville.

About that time Major Johnson's militia, 300 strong, reached Macon, then the northern terminal of the Northern Missouri railroad. "The troops were going south in quest of Anderson, and the citizens of Macon assembled to bid the soldiers God-speed on their errand. Two days later a long train from the south pulled into the depot, and the erew began taking coffins from tlie baggage cars. They unloaded one car, another and another. The long platform was covered from end to end with ghastly freight. Major Johnson and his brave men had found Anderson. Reports came that the terrible fighters were coming hard on the heels of their victims. The town was panic-stricken. Valuables were buried; many people left town. The governor was implored to rush troops.

After leaving Huntsville Anderson learned through a leak from some quarter which should have guarded the secret with its life that a train-load of soldiers had left St. Louis en route to Iowa. By hard riding across the country the guerrillas reached Centralia ahead of the train. When it came the soldiers fired a few shots from the windows. Then they offered to surrender on terms of civilized warfare. Anderson entered one of the cars, a revolver in each hand. But one voice was raised in rebuke, and that was a woman's. She was large and aggressive. Barring Anderson's way in the aisle she looked him in the face and cried:

The poor soldiers, hoping for honorable treatment, gave up their arms and left the cars. They were lined up and shot down to the last man. Not a soldier on the train iped. The revolvers of the exeeutioners were still smoking when Major Johnson arrived at the head of his foree from Macon. Before engaging the enemy he dismounted and lined up his men! Then he ehallenged the guerrillas:

Riding with Anderson that day were George Todd, Frank and Jesse James, and a score or so of the swiftest pistol fighters the world has ever produced. They eame on with the rush of a whirlwind. The guerrillas charged with their bridles in their teeth, a revolver in each hand. After one round by the militia the balance of the fight was like a shamble. Less than fifteen men got out of it alive, and Johnson was not among the fifteen. His life paid the penalty of not knowing the sort of men he was fighting against.

But Nemesis was awaiting the guerrilla chief. It came to him in Ray county not long afterwards. The Centralia affair had stricken the state with horror. The federal authorites instructed the troops to capture or kill Anderson at any cost. The state was soon swarming with large bands hunting him down. Anderson knew he could make no terms, and it is very likely he would not have asked for any. At last they hemmed him in. He fought like a bull-dog, discharging revolver after revolver, and hurling the empty weapons into the faces of the men shooting at him. When he fell his body had been struck a dozen times. Twenty of his men were shot down in trying to recover the

With Anderson's death eame the end of guerrilla warfare in Missouri. The people were no longer aroused from their slumbers by the sinister tread of death-riders who seemed to be in a dozen places at once. The man had passed unscathed through so many desperate affrays that superstitious ones had come to believe he had signed a compaet with the Evil One, and that he could not be killed until the time of his bond had expired.

There are many good people who claim that Anderson's record was no worse than that of some of the militia detachments operating in Missouri at the time, the only differences being that Anderson rode harder, and killed in larger numbers. But this will ever be debatable ground.

One or two attempts were made by ambitious leaders to take the dead guerrilla's place, but they lacked his granite nerve, and soon went down. "There was only one Bill Anderson, and that was enough.

¿The last reunion of the veterans of the War of 1812 oceurred at Macon in August, 1871. There were present 28 soldiers from Macon, Monroe, Marion, Boone, Randolph, Audrain, Shelby, Livingston, and Linn counties

Among the interesting characters present was Robert Gipson, the old man who has been referred to in another chapter. The meeting was held in a grove north of Macon. Colonel John F. Williams, who had served in the Union army during the Civil war, was the main speaker. Short addresses were made by Judge John W. Henry and others. There was a drum and fife corps composed of the old veterans. Nearly every man present was over seventy years of age. The occasion was somewhat pathetie, as it was realized it was the last meeting of the sort that would be held in Missouri. The visiting soldiers were the guests of the city, which provided them with an excellent dinner and other comforts. A picture was taken of the group of soldiers. A copy of this picture is now held by a family in Montgomery county. Others are scattered here and there, possibly many of them are lost.

Tt is not definitely known when the last veteran of the second war with England died. Hosea Brown, who lived in Worth county, lived to be 100 years of age, and it is said that he was among the last to pass away. It was said of him that after his hair had been gray for half a century, it began to turn black and when he died there was not a gray hair on his head.

The citizens of Macon and Macon county turned out largely to welcome the soldiers at the last reunion. Following is a list of the veterans of the War of 1812 who attended the meeting:

The biggest military event at Macon since the Civil war was the state encampment of the G. A. R., which occurred in April, 1895. It was the 14th Annual Encampment of the Department of Missouri. The town was full of visitors. F. A. Jones Post, the home organization, under the direction of Commander C. P. Hess, Quartermaster N. S. Richardson and Major S. G. Brock, acted as host to the visitors. Among the notables who attended the Encampment on this occasion were Major William Warner, Colonel Lew Waters, Commander-in-Chief Lawler and staff, Past-Commander Charles G. Burton, Nevada; Colonel J. P. Tracy, Springfield ; T. B. Rodgers, Blair Post No. 1; Louis Benecke, Brunswick. Chaplain-in-Chief Haggerty, St. Louis; W. H. Luck, Jefferson City, E. D. Cannan, Clinton; Past-Commander Whitehead, Kansas City; Commander Louis Grund, Post No. 12, St. Louis, and J. L. Briggs of Joplin.

Senator John J. Ingalls of Kansas City was one of the speakers. "The opera house was erowded when he was introduced. Mr. Ingalls deseribed his first experience with a hostile cannon. He said the only reason he didn't get behind a tree was because every tree in sight was taken by several of his comrades. Referring to Missouri he said:

"I am glad to have this opportunity of appearing today before the people of Missouri, a state which has a magnificent history, a state which is rich in every element that goes to make prosperity, by far richer in every propheey of future greatness and renown; a state which I believe has the peculiar felieity of having contributed its full quota to both contending armies in the great Civil controversey.""

A procession of the veterans was headed by the cadets of the St. James Military Academy, with Colonel Blees in full uniform leading. An auxiliary organization which met with the veterans was the Ex- Prisoners of War Association. The officers of this were John S. Ferguson, Keokuk, president; Samuel S. Kelso, Mussell Fork, Missouri, viee-president; Joseph Meyers, Kidder, Missouri, chaplain; W. E. Montgomery and Cyrus Gurwell, Macon, color-bearers.

Elijah Harp, of Macon, who carried a musket in Company B, 42d Missouri Volunteers, has the distinction of being the youngest soldier of the Civil war. Mr. Harp was born October 23, 1849. Some years ago the matter was decided by a St. Louis firm which offered a prize to the one who would prove his elaim to the distinction of having gone to the war at the earliest age, and after a careful consideration of the reports the prize was awarded to Mr. Harp. His closest competitor was C. B. Dunean, of Shelby county, who was born February 6, 1849.

Daughters of the Ameriean Revolution. Ann Helm Chapter, Macon, Missouri. A number of the ladies of Macon, filled with ardor and enthusiasm, met at the home of the appointed Regent, Mrs. John T. Doneghy, on October 20, 1908, for the purpose of organizing a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The State Regent, Mrs. Samuel McKnight Green, of St. Louis, was present to assist in this effort, and the formal organization took place November 20, 1908. The officers appointed for the first year were as follows:

AS IA Mary Craddock Doneghy Vice-Regent . ....Jennie Marsh Rubey [S fos I erase sir aioisio arma al Susan Mitchell Guthrie di nU RER Renate Sa <b: s]a/a's EE CU Dac Mary Van Cleve VT nC S een 0: S. Maud Dysart Brock Hiton latas e Mary Anderson Matthews

The name of ** Ann Helm Chapter" was chosen by the members of the society as an honor to the Regent, Ann Helm, who was the greatgreat-great-grandmother of Mrs. Doneghy and was the mother of three boys, all of whom won honors in the Revolutionary war. One had the rank of lieutenant, and was commended for bravery by Colonel Marshall; the other two were captains. Her grandchildren also fought in the Revolutionary war, the Indian war, and the Civil war. It can

"To perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence, by the aequisition and proteetion of historical spots, and the erection of monuments; by the encouragement of historieal research in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results; by the preservation of documents and relies, and of the records of the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of celebrations of the patriotie anniversaries.

"To carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the Ameriean people, *to promote, as an objeet of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge,' thus developing an enlightened publie opinion, and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens.

"To eherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty."

A contribution has been sent to Miss Berry's school in Georgia, where a great many mountain children are being educated by funds from the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Ozark fund, whieh is used for the same work in the Ozark mountains, has also received an appropriation from this chapter.

A reward of $5 for high honors, and 50 for second honors, has been awarded both years to pupils of the high school in Macon, for writing essays on historical subjects. The title for that of the first year was "The Causes of the American Revolution"; the second year, **Why the Americans were Vietorious in the Revolution." "This has, of course, instilled enthusiasm and brought information and knowledge to these pupils, who have responded heartily to the offer.

Letters have been written, and the support obtained of our state and national legislators for the passage of the bills to mark the Santa Fe trail in Missouri, and the building of the road from Washington, D. C. to Jamestown, Virginia.

The graves of two Revolutionary soldiers have been ascertained by the Chapter, and steps are being taken to have these marked with appropriate marble headstones, which are furnished by the government. One of the graves is that of James Howell, who was buried on the old homestead, in the family burying ground, near Elmer, in this county. He belonged to the well known "Count Pulaski's Legion," Continental troops. The other grave is that of Nicholas Tuttle, who was also buried on the old homestead, south of Bevier, Macon eounty, near Antioch church.

The Ann Helm Chapter now has fifty-six members. The local list contains fifty names, which is the present limit of local members permitted under the constitution. There are twenty-four charter members.

The Ann Helm Chapter hopes and expects to be a permanent organization of Macon county, and that much good for the cause of patriotism will be accomplished, is the assurance of the members.