Montgomery County, Missouri - Miscellaneous Events from 1870 to 1884, 1885

Miscellaneous Events from 1870 to 1884

The Political Canvass of 1870 - Robbery of Steck's Store on Loutre Island - Organi- "zation of Municipal Townships - Killing of Patrick Cain by James J. Douglass - Census of 1880 Compared with 1870 - Robbery in Loutre Township by the Day Gang - The Trouble with the '' King Boys,"' near Americus, in Loutre Township - Murder of Mrs. Austin - Death of George Baughman, '' The Montgomery County Hermit"? - Principal Elections from and Including 1872 to 1884.

The Political Canvass And Election Of 1870

No more important or exciting political contest ever came off in Montgomery county than that in 1870. The contest was between the regular Republicans or '' Radicals'' on the one side, and the Liberal Republicans and Democrats on the other, and this contest extended throughout the State.

The questions of universal amnesty and enfranchisement, of the repeal of the Missouri '* iron-clad'' test oath for voters, jurors, ministers, lawyers, teachers, etc., were rapidly sowing the seeds of discord and disintegration in the Republican party of the State, and dividing it into two wings, the Radicals and Liberals. The former, led by Charles D. Drake, maintained the extreme and harsh policy, and the latter, headed by B. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz, contended for the more magnanimous policy in regard to those who, by word or deed, or both, had held complicity with the rebellion.

Owing to the test oath prescribed by the Drake constitution, and the very stringent registry laws passed to enforce it, the Democrats were in an almost hopeless minority at the polls, and therefore had little or no voice in the direction of public affairs. As was natural, fewer Confederates or their sympathizers were Republicans ; their disfranchisement by the Republicans kept them from becoming voters, and embittered them against the authors of their condition. There being but two parties, they were forced therefore to sympathize with the Democrats, even had many of them not been at heart of that faith for years before the war.

the disfranchised Confederates, rehabilitated with the elective franchise, through a repeal and destruction of the constitutional and legal (667) barriers which interposed between them, the policy of the Democrats was first to divide and then to conquer the Republicans. To accomplish this, no way seemed so hopeful of favorable results as 'the passive policy'' - or, as it was popularly called, ''the 'possum policy ''? - which signified the withdrawal of the Democratic party as an organization from the canvass of 1870, and the co-operation of its members individually with the Liberal Republicans as allies. It was apparent that, once the disfranchising clause of the constitution should be removed, the Democratic party would come speedily into power, and once in power and place, it would be secure in the possession thereof for an indefinite period, intrenched behind the huge majority it would have.

The Republican State convention met August 31, and of course aere was a split. The Libetals, headed by Carl Schurz, withdrew from the convention and organized another, nominating B. Gratz Brown for Governor and Col. J. J. Gravelly' for Lieutenant Governor, on a platform unequivocally in favor of the adoption of the amendments proposed to the constitution by the previous Legislature, to be voted en at the coming election, and commonly called the suffrage and office-holding amendinents. The Radicals nominated Joseph W. McClurg for re-election on a platform favoring '' re-enfranchising those justly disfranchised for participation in the rebellion as soon as it can bejdone with safety to the State,' and recognizing the right. of any member of the party to vote thereon as he pleased. McClurg personally favored re-enfranchisement. Then the canvass opened.

The amendments carried this county by an overwhelming majority, - only an insignificant vote being cast against them. In the State they 4g were adopted by a majority of more than 100,000. Brown defeated McClurg by 41,038. In this congressional district the vote stood : ay

The Montgomery City Ray, of September 19, 1872, contained the : following account of the robbery of Steck's store, opposite the- Hermann ferry landing, on Loutre Island: MP

The most daring robbery that has alarmed this community since i" the war, was committed in Steck's store on Loutre Island last Saturday evening the 14th. At about molec tyient Steck closed his shane

1 Col. W. E. Gilmore, of Greene county, was at first nominated, but was found to. a be ineligible by reason of his brief residence in the vi ae and went a short distance to his house to supper. While there three unknown men called and asked to be taken across the river. Steck's son started to the river to prepare his skiff, followed by them. They had gone but a short distance before one of the men said he wanted to buy something to eat, and while young Steck was arranging the skiff, they all three went to the store. Steck went in to wait on, as he supposed, three honest customers. One of them stood at the store door and the other two went in and placed their revolvers at Steck's head, saying ' Stand still and be quiet.'' One of them kept in that position, while the other went to a small desk behind the counter and took out a tin box in which there was $675, and then took $25 from the money drawer. When they had about finished their work with him, Dr. Duncan, residing in the neighborhood, came in and called for some quinine, when one of the robbers answered that they wanted quinine also, and at the same time drew a revolver on him telling him to give up hismoney. The Doctor gave them $70 - all he had. And with the sum of $770 the thieves left for parts unknown. The tin box was found next day, about two miles from the store, broken open.

Arthur McCoy, a celebrated scout, belonging to the Confederate Gen. Jo Shelby's command during the war, was suspected of having planned this robbery, but was never tried for the offense. He lived at the time in the lower part of the township, near the scene.

A year or two later some men came to McCoy's to arrest him for alleged complicity in the train robberies of the Jesse James gang. He contrived to ''get the drop'' on them, however, made them lay down their arms and get away. Some time afterward McCoy himself left the country.

January 17, 1872, the county court proceeded to divide Montgomery county into six municipal townships. Previously there had been but five, but now a new one was created out of Danville, Upper Loutre and Prairie, and called Montgomery. As fixed by the county court, the boundaries of the several townships were as follows: -

Prairie Township. - Beginning at the north-east corner of section 5, township 50, range 3, running thence west along the county line 'between Montgomery and Pike county, and Montgomery and Audrain county, to the north-west corner of section 4, township 50, range 5; thence south to the south-west corner of Scelion 4, township 49, range 5; thence east to the south-east corner of section 5, township 49, range 3; thence north, along the county line between Montgomery and Lincoln county, to the place of beginning.

Montgomery and Audrain county, to the north-west corner of section 6, township 50, range 6; thence south along the county line between f Montgomery and Audrain, and Montgomery and Callaway county, to the south-west corner of section 7, township 49, range 6; thence east to the south-east corner of section 12, township 49, range 6; thence north to the north-east corner of the same section; thence east to the south-east corner of section 5, township 49, range 5; thence north to the beginning.

Bear Creek. - Beginning at the north-east corner of section 8, township 49, range 3; thence west to the north-west corner of section 7, township 49, range 4; thence south to the south-west corner of section 7, township 47, range 4; thence east along the county line between Montgomery and Warren county to the south-east corner of section 8, township 47, range 3; thence north along the county line to the beginning.

Montgomery. - Beginning at the north-east corner of section 12, township 49, range 5; thence west to the north-west corner of section 7, township 49, range 5; thence south to the south-west corner of said section ; thence west to the county line between Montgomery and Callaway county ; ; thence south along said county line to the southwest corner of section 6, township 48, range 6; thence east to the south-east corner of section 1, township 48, range 5; thence north to the beginning. '

Danville. - Beginning at the north-east corner of section 12, township 48, range 5; thence west to the Callaway county line; thence - south along said line to the south-west corner of section 19, township - 47, range 6; thence east to the south-east corner of section 24, town- ~ ship 47, range 5; thence north to the beginning.

Tite eae aianine at the north-east corner of section 25, township 47, range 5; thence west to the Callaway county line; thence - south along said line to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence down the middle of said channel. to where the - same is intersected by the county line between Warren and Montgom- ~ ery county ; thence north along said line to the beginning. f

On September 1, 1873, the first day of the fair of the People's - Association at Montgomery City, Pat Cain, a bar keeper for H: ~ Spinsby, of Spinsby's Hotel, was shot and killed by J. J. Douglass. The shooting took place in the bar-room where Cain was employed. Robert Hayden, a brother-in-law of James Douglass, was with his relative at the time, and was implicated in the affair. Both were indicted and arraigned December 1, 1874. ; a

The case was called December 1, 1874, and at the instance of defendant the cause was severed, for the purposes of trial, and after some controversy about the record of a continuance, and also an application for a new continuance, the case was taken up, as to Douglass, and a trial entered into.

For the State appeared E. M. Hughes, prosecuting attorney, and Judge W. O. Forist, of Audrain, and for the defendant appeared Capt. Stuart Carkener and Hon. Jeff Jones, of Callaway.

The following jurors were selected from a new panel summoned by agreement to try the case: William Smith, Garland Gibson, William Loyad, Thos. Jones, H. H. Atterbury, John D. Poindexter, William Penn, J. B. Shelton, William Webb, J. B. Culpeper, Fred Davault, Renk Renkin.

The defendant admitted the killing of Cain, but claimed that he did it in self-defense, believing that the deceased made an assault upon him with a deadly weapon - billiard cue upon about to do him some great bodily harm.

Testimony

There was scarcely any substantial difference about the material facts in the case, but as in all such cases there was some conflict as to the position and demeanor of the parties, immediately before and at the time of the commencement of the affray, which proved fatal to | Patrick Cain.

Douglass and Hayden are brothers-in-law, and in the forenoon of the day the killing occurred, went to the billiard hall and commenced playing at a game called '* pin-pool.'' Patrick Cain, bartender, and Thomas McDonald, assistant bartender, joined in the game for a time and withdrew. After several drinks Hayden became so much intoxicated as to be disagreeably noisy, and in the afternoon Cain took the balls from the table, but after some parleying gave them back and the game was resumed. After a short time Douglass sat his cue down by the counter, and Hayden apparently became '' vexed with his luck,'' commenced knocking the balls about the room and out through the door ; and at this Cain told them to get out of there, that he had been troubled with them long enough, and then took the cue that Douglas had put down, and struck Hayden on the head, and then commenced with the same weapon on Douglass. After striking two blows, Douglass drew a revolver and fired two shots at Cain, and they clinched and in the skirmish fell to the floor. Hayden came to the relief of Douglass and caught Cain by the throat and commenced choking him.. McDonald caught Douglass and took him away. Maj. Spinsby, the proprietor of the hotel came in and told Hayden to ** let go,'' that Cain was dying, but Hayden held on until Spinsby knocked him loose with a billiard cue. Cain died in about 15 minutes.

There wasa slight conflict in testimony only as to whether Douglass advanced on Cain after Hayden was struck; also as to the effect of the blow Cain struck Hayden; the State claimed that it was harmless, and the defense that it felled him to the floor. A wound on Hayden's head, which was dressed by Dr. Caldwell, showed that a severe blow was given him, and the State contended that it was the ; effect of the blow that Spinsby gave him when knocking. him off the | dying man. One witness, L. Dow Hendershott, said that when the balls were taken off the table Hayden started home, and Douglass went to the door and called him to come back, that he (Douglass) had money to pay their way, and if the bulls were not returned he had something that would make livelier times than were usual in that hall, and at the time drew from his pocket a revolver which he exhibited, whereupon Hayden returned and the balls were put back on the table, and five minutes later trouble commenced. And McDonald said that he thought the parties, Douglass and Hayden, were * itching for a difficulty.'' But the statement of Hendershott was contradicted by Thomas Skinner, who was present waiting for a train to return home.

On Thursday, December 3, the jury reported that they were unable to agree, and were consequently discharged and the case continued until the April term, 1876, when, April 28, it was again tried by another i jury, who returned a verdict of '* guilty,"' fixing the time of impris- a onment at five years in the penitentiary. 'ae

A motion for a new trial was made and sustained. The main cause - aa urged, was the fact, as alleged, that Wm. J. Sanders, of Middletown, - a one of the jurors that decided the case, had expressed an opinion publicly as to the merits of the case. Of this fact there were several affidavits, depositions and other testimony. ®

A change of venue was taken October 24, 1876, and the case sent to Boone county, where, on trial, Douglass was acquitted. Douglass" and Hayden are both still residents of the county.

In 1880 the foreigners were born in the following countries: British America, England and Wales, 147; Ireland, 172; German Empire, 507; Switzerland, 51; France, 22; miscellaneous, 29.

German, living south of Americus, in Loutre township, was robbed by two masked men of a silver watch, two $20 gold pieces and $530 in greenbacks. Mr. Wolferman was not at home at the time, and the only persons at the house were his wife and daughter. _ Suspicion fell upon a number of men living on Big Tavern creek, Callaway county, called '"'the Day gang.'' They were Wm. Day, Jackson Day, Truman Day, Fred Neff, Fred Moody and Marion Walters. At the October term of the circuit court they were indicted for the robbery of Mrs. Laura Wolferman, the wife of Martin, of the property above described. It was believed that while only two were the actual robbers, the others were accessories.

The ''gang'' fled. Prosecuting Attorney John M. Barker won quite a reputation for his conduct of the case, in his efforts to secure 'the arrest and conviction of the alleged offenders. Three only of those named above were ever apprehended. Marion Walters was caught in Northern Illinois, brought back, tried and acquitted. Fred Neff was-arrested in Wright county, Mo., arraigned, and on a plea of _ guilty was sentenced to the penitentiary for four years. The case

In the latter part of the year 1881 occurred the celebrated collision in Loutre township between the King brothers and some German citi- 4 zens, which resulted in the killing of one of the King boys and of the ; mother-in-law of another, Mrs. Nancy Austin. A correspondent of | the Montgomery City Standard furnished the first intelligence of the trouble ina communication which was substantially as follows: The King boys, three in number, were men of anything but enviable reputation, and were suspected of numerous crimes in the vicinity of - - where they lived, though not sufficient evidence had been obtained to make a certainty of the perpetrators. John Nellison, a German, as was the custom with that class of foreign-born citizens, kept on hand a supply of wine for private use. On the evening of December 29, 1881, the King boys, in passing Nellison's residence, demanded liquor, which was refused them. They then began an assault on the house, upon which action Nellison fired three shots, killing Jack King and wounding one brother. Subsequently, as the body of the deceased was being » prepared for burial, one bright moonlight night, a mob of from 25 to 50 men approached the house and fired into it. In the indiscriminate shooting which followed Mrs. Austin, the mother-in-law of Thomas King, received a ball through her breast and several shots in her back, and yas found dead on the steps when the melee was over. Joe King was wounded, as was also Mrs. King. Warrants were sworn out against eight men, charging them with the murder of Mrs. Austin, some of whom were afterwards arrested. But little attention would have been paid to the affair save for the killing of Mrs. Austin, as the bad reputation of the King boys caused many persons to think that oe had met a deserving fate. sg

At the AGA term of the Circuit Court, 1882, indictments for ce. murder in the first degree were found against John, Henry and Ed- - ward Elsinradt, Henry Westworth, Fritz Hestenbach, Henry Fehlings, " Philip Schroff, Matthias Keep, and five or six other German residents of the township. The majority of these had been discharged on preliminary examination; the sympathy of the community was with - . them, and none of them have ever been arrested. Henry Westworth - te died, and it is understood that the others left the country and no one- a | knows or cares to know their whereabouts. The killing of Mrs.

Austin was purely accidental ; the German citizens of Loutre are not so heartless and cruel as to kill an aged woman purposely and in cold blood. _ Abbie King and Thos. Austin, the latter a son of the murdered woman, were indicted for assaulting the wife of Fritz Gloe, another German citizen of the township. They were arrested but gave bond with G. H. Kallmeyer as surety. They ran away before trial, however, and their bond was forfeited.

After leaving the county farm the Kings lived at Montgomery City and Wellsville, at both of which places they had trouble with the citizens. Their present whereabouts are unknown.

About the 20th of February, 1882, a singular character named George Baughman died in Danville. He was known far and near as '¢the Montgomery county hermit.'' The following from the Montgomery City Standard, of February 24, 1882, gives a correct history of the old hermit and of the circumstances attending his death : -

Everybody in Montgomery county, no doubt, has either heard of or seen Geo. Baughman, the hermit, who for nearly thirty years has lived a solitary life in a cave near Danville, and during all that time has been searching for gold which he claimed was hidden in the hills surrounding his abode. His history is briefly as follows : -

Baughman was 65 years of age, and came to this county in 1852 from Carbondale, Ill., where he formerly resided, and where he owned a good farm. In the spring of that year he in company with two boys - nephews - started from his home in Illinois in a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, for Pike's Peak, where gold had been discovered, and on reaching Loutre Lick, west of Danville, finding plenty of wood and water, concluded to camp there for a few days to rest. During his stay there, one yoke of his oxen died, and one animal of the remaining yoke strayed away. In his search among the hills for the missing animal, he found the cave since made famous by his labors, and concluded to remain there.- It is situated one and a half miles south of Danville, near a branch running into Loutre, known as Town branch. He at once took up his abode in the cave, and commenced his long and fruitless search for gold which he believed was hidden in the hills. He claimed to be commissioned by the then Emperor of the French to dig up the gold hidden there, and said the depression in the rocks in the cave answered the description of the place given by the French government. One of his nephews soon tired of this mode of living, and returned to Illinois. The other one remained some two or three man was a monomaniac on the subject of gold, but on every other subject conversed rationally. The amount of work done by him during his long residence in the cave is surprising. He sank some thirty or forty shafts ranging in depth from 15 to 75 feet, one of them being 75 feet deep through solid rock, with no tools save an old ax anda shovel,

When he had reached to 75 feet he stopped his work in that shaft, saying that he had gone to within three feet of the gold and that he would not take it out until the French Emperor sent troops to protect him and the money. He then began sinking other shafts, claiming that other quantities of gold had also been secreted by the French, but he did not know the exact spot in which it was placed. At one time he brought to this office a long petition to the Emperor of the French asking for troops for his protection, and wanted it printed, but the foreman told him the office was not prepared to do such work, and he failed to get it printed. His deep shaft at the cave is, and has been for several years, filled with water. He claimed to have a farm in Chariton county in this State, and for many years made periodical visits to that section.

He was ofa jovial, sociable disposition, loved company, and was passionately fond of playing cards - euchre being his favorite game. He subsisted by hunting and fishing, and raised nis own vegetables and considerable fruit, and was independent in his mode of living, and absolutely refused to receive anything as a gift. For several years past his health was so bad that he was unable to work, and the 7 county took him in charge, but before he would consent to become |) the recipient of the county's aid it was necessary for his guardian, : D. F. Graham, to inform him that the county was only loaning him the means of subsistence, and that as soon as he took out his gold he could repay the loan. Mr. Graham visited him regularly three times a week for several years, when he resigned his charge and the court appointed C. M. English, of Danville, to take his place.

After nearly 30 years of toil and privation the troubled spirit of the Hermit of Loutre went to. rest on Tuesday night last. He died in Danville where he had been removed by his cuardian i in order that he might be better cared for. His remains were buried near the cave | where he had. so long lived, and which will long remain as a monu- a ment to his industry, patience and perseverance in search of what has wrecked the mind of many others - bright, glittering gold. ifs

Presidential Election, 1884

Position and Description - Early Settlement - Murder of Turner Gooch - During the Civil War - First Troops, Union and Confederate - Country Churches - Middletown - Location, etc. - Early History - Miscellaneous - Killing of Wm. Dillon - Incorporation - Newspapers - Churches - Secret Orders.

Position And Description

Prairie township is well watered. The Elkhorn, Coon creek, and other branches of the Cuivre river, flow through in a general direction from west to east. Bordering the streams the land is broken and relling, but generally the soil is good.

Early Settlement

Cuivre in Lincoln county, as early as 1800. In the year 1804, when Licut. Z. M. Pike (afterward Brig.-Gena eral, and for whom Pike county was named) ascended the eee there were as many as twenty-five families living on the Cuivre. 'As is perhaps well known, the word Cuzvre is the French word for Copper, and Cuivre (pronounced '* quiver'') river really ought to be and so named it. In 1817 Geo. W. Jameson and Edward Cottle left Clark's Fort, in Lincoln county, crossed west Cuivre, and settled about two and one township 49, range 3 and has there lived continuously. Although - aged 88 years at this time, it is said that in the summer of 1884 he ~ pian corn nearly all season.

Samuel Crutcher, living two miles east of Middletown, Thos ct Crouch, three miles north, in Pike county, and Richard Cox (colored), a mile and a half north, are among the old settlers of the township - now living. 4

The Murder Of Turner Gooch

On the night of October 7, 1848, a mysterious assassination was perpetrated near Middletown. 'Turner Gooch, a prominent citizen and farmer, living north-west of Middletown, was the victim, but who the ~ perpetrator was has never been definitely ascertained.

Mr. Gooch was riding on horseback, on his way home from Middle- Wg town, when, at a point a mile or more north-west of town, he was ambushed and fired upon. It seemed that after he was shot and had fallen his assassin or assassins placed him on his horse and conveyed. j the body some distance from the path through the woods, until a grape vine was encountered stretched across the route. Over this vine the horse probably stumbled, pitching the body to the ground, where ~ it was found. When he left town Mr. Gooch was bearing his rifl gun, but this was not found atthe time. The murderers took Gooch' horse a mile away and hid him in a dense thicket, tying him fast. A week later the poor brute, half famished and emaciated, wore his halter in two and came home, and the place where he was tied was discovered afterward. The body of Gooch was found the next even ing after his murder, but what is believed to have been his gun wasn found until a year or so since, when some fragments of a gun were discovered a mile north of the scene of the tragedy.

Charles Angell, a neighbor of Turner Gooch's, was accused of th murder and arrested. On a preliminary examination he was boun over, but was discharged on a writ of habeas corpus. Not long afte on both sides. In the early fall of 1861 a number of Union men fro Middletown and vicinity went to Louisiana and joined Capt. McElre : company (H) of Col. Fagg's regiment of six months' militia. In 186 some men enlisted in Capt. Hardin' s company (B), Thirty-se

Missouri infantry, and in the Thirtieth Missouri. In 1864 Capt. Israel W. Stewart's company (B), of the Forty-ninth Missouri infantry, was made up very largely, almost entirely, from this township, and chiefly organized at Middletown. Many of those who enlisted in these regiments died in the far South, and their graves lie in Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and elsewhere. Among them may be named John C. Cowan, Burke Cowan and William C. Tully, of the Thirty-second Missouri. Capt. S. W. Hammack's company, of the Sixty-seventh Enrolled militia; was formed in this township in

The first Confederate or secession troops from this township joined Col. J. Q. A. Burbridge, of Pike county, when he came through the township with his battalion on his way to Price's and Jackson's army in June, 1861. Col. Burbridge's men camped one night at Sheet's mill, on the Cuivre, three miles south-east of Middletown. Capt. M. V.B. Mosely, of Lincoln county, came through Middletown a fow days later, and camped west of town, with asmall company.

Capt. Jo. Payne, of Audrain, and Capt. Bill Myers, of Lincoln, had men in their companies from this township. Sixteen men from the vicinity of Middletown joined Myers' company June 11, 1861. Some of his exploits in this county are narrated on other pages.

Jo. Payne went off to the regular Confederate army, but Bill Myers stayed in Missouri, and at last was drowned in the Auxvasse in Callaway county, in the summer of 1864. His body was recovered and afterward buried at Louisville, in Lincoln county, by the side of his _ brother George, who was a captain in the Federal service (Co. F, ' Sixty-seventh E. M- M.).

- ' Among the Prairie township men who fell fighting for the lost + cause were Joseph Brooks, of Payne's company, killed at Pea Ridge, and John B. Bowles, then a captain, who was killed late in the fall of 1864, at Vera Cruz, Douglas county, while attempting to reach the Confederate lines under Col. Caleb Dorsey.

It is pleasant to record the fact that none of the sickening tragedies so frequent in Missouri during the war were perpetrated in this county. _ Capt. Hammack's company of Federal militia did much to preserve the peace, and the captain and his men are yet remembered _ for their-uniform good conduct. In the fall of 1864 some of Col. Dorsey's Confederates robbed Isaac H. Dillon, living five miles south- 4 east of Middletown, of $800. This was while Dorsey was in this - country recruiting during the Price raid.

Country Churches

Walnut Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Was organized May 20, 1881, by Revs. J. R. Patton, E. P. Farr and S. M. Bransteter. Its constituent members were A. J. Pew, America Pew, J. M. Davidson, N. E. Davidson, Campbell Maxwell, M. E. Maxwell, T. A. Pew, Orpha M. Pew, S. K. Cowan, Nancy J. Cowan, Thos. Davidson, M.E. Davidson, E. G. Stipp, M. A. Stipp, Eliza Pointlow, G. W. Pew, Kate Pew, W. M. Sanders, Susan Sanders, Katie S. Pew, Barbara Cowan, Wm. Fitzgerald, Margaret Fitzgerald, J. A. Brown, Cynthia Brown, Effie K. Pew, Elizabeth Rogers, C. Cunningham, Samuel Hasler andJ. W. Nally. Thereare at this writing 438 members. In 1880 the present church building, a frame, was erected at a cost of $1,000. The ministers who have served this church are Revs. Alex. . Douglas, E. P. Farr and Philander Ingram, who is the present pastor. The Sabbath-school in connection with the church has 30 scholars, Campbell Maxwell being its superintendent.

Brush Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Located in section 35, township 50, range 4, was- organized in 1849. The church building is frame and was erected in 1852 at a cost of $1,000. The membership numbers 117. The pasters who have served this congregation are Revs. E. Downing, William Crockett, George Rice, Jesse Rodgers, E. Farr, H. Boyd, J. R. Patton, Reuben Williams and E. L. Uptegrove. The Sunday-school has 40 scholars, its superintendent being William T. Roley.

Macedonia O. S. Baptist Church - On section 30, towmiahin 50, range 3, was organized in about 1880, with William Triplett, Hannah Triplett, William Wells, Mary Wells, Elijah Parsons, Sallie Parsons, Abram Parish, Ann Parish, Thomas Glenn and Lucinda Glenn as its original members. 'The present membership is 44. The pastors who have served this congregation are Jabez Ham, Amos Beck, William - Jones, Rev. Powell and James E. Lee, who is the present pastor. The present church building was erected in 1870, costing about $700.

It is claimed that this village is now the oldest town in Montgomery county, coming into existence some time before Danville. It stands in a healthful location on the north bank of 'Coon ereek, on the south-east quarter of section 1, township 50, range 5. The town is well supplied with pure water, easily obtainable. |

Middletown is the center of trade of a considerable section, and being located within one mile of Pike county anda few miles from Audrain and Lincoln, it enjoys patronage from people of four counties ; and this although it is on no railroad or navigable water-course. A daily mail from St. Louis, and a daily stage line to Wellsville, places it in communication with the outer world. Itis a quiet, cosy village, of a kind that year by year grows rarer in Missouri and the Great West - without a railroad, but with the attractions of peacefulness, sobriety, opportunities for becoming thrifty and with institutions or enterprises of value and importance.

Perhaps the best account now obtainable of the early history of Middletown is the following sketch, written by C. Pearson, Esq., the editor of Chips, the Middletown newspaper, and published in that journal June 5, 1884, a few days before the meeting of the old settlers, at Frank Graham's, near Mineola. Mr. Pearson deserves especial mention and thanks for the sketch, the first of the kind ever published ina Montgomery county newspaper : -

As the old settlers' reunion of our county comes off this week, we thought it.a very opportune time to give a short sketch of our part of the county, the early settlement of Middletown and the vicinity adjoining, and with that end in view, we cast about us for a person likely to be familiar with the early history of this neighborhood. As luck would have it, '' Uncle'' Jimmie Keith, who lives eight miles east of here, was in town on Thursday last, and as he is indeed an early settler, and a man of remarkably good memory, we invited him into our office for a chat upon the early history of our town,

_ Mr. James R. Keith was born in the State of Kentucky, July 23, 1805, * * * and it was in this county that he found his wife, a Miss Pew, sister to Capt. George Pew and the late Jackson, Dow and James Pew. Mr. Keith moved to Missouri in 1824, settled on Indian creek the same year, and has lived there ever since [three miles in Pike county]. As this country was at that time a wilderness, the early -settlers would visit a long way off, being thrown together in

' growth of Middletown from the time of the first log hut up to the : present date, having lived all that time within ten miles of the town _ and doing much of his emi' here.

' The- first settler here was a man by the name of Charley Wells, - who, Mr. Keith says, built a c: ae on the south bank of 'Coon erent _ just opposite and above the present site of the Myer mills. One of 9 our local historians, however, says that the Wells cabin was afterward the building occupied by Stewart Slavens; while still another con- _ tends that Wells built on the point now occupied by the Myer mills, and that that point was called '' Charley's Camp,'' when he came here built the first cabin here, and the best information we can get as reeards the date locates it at 1817. There were any number of Indians and buffalo here at that date, and as Wells was a pioneer - and a bachelor - he followed the game and the red man toward the setting sun, leaving the neighborhood before the town was really located.

The first farm opened in this vicinity was in September, 1824, and is the homestead now occupied by the heirs of the late John Johnson [sec. 7-50-4]. This place was located by one James Smith, and he was followed the next April (1825) by his father-in-law, one Keel, who settled the Milt. Johnson place in the south-eastern part of town feast half, north-east 12-50-5], now occupied by Mr. John Robinson.

Another early settler was the late Richard Cox - familiarly known as *' Uncle Dickey'' - who settled one mile south-east of town [east half sec. 11-50-5] on the Wellsville road, in 1829. The farm is now occupied by Thomas Keithley.

The first house built in the town proper was the cabin occupied at an early day by the Slavens, and which was bought and afterward weather-boarded over by the late Dr. C. Pearson. The structure is still standing, and is the east room of the building now occupied by Mrs. J. H. Ray and family. ;

The first business house was built on the site of the present Arcade Hotel, and, we believe, was occupied by one Josiah Willbarger, the gentleman who surveyed the town and laid it off into lots for the original owners. Right here we would remark, by way of parenthesis, that, from the shape of our buildings, we are led to believe that diz smonds must have been trumps with the sur veyor, or that he was somewhat '** out of kelter'' at the time, as he left our streets in rather a bad shape. Mr. Willbarger sold out about three years afterward, and went to Texas. At the time of surveying - in 1834 - the site of Middletown was owned by James Lynn, John Dudgeon and Stewart Slavens.

About the earliest male settler in this vicinity, who is still living, is Mr. Samuel Crutcher, who located some time in the 30s on the farm where he still resides [sec. 5 - 50-4]. a

Next to Mr. Crutcher comes Messrs. Thomas Crouch and Greaiis : Parker, both of whom are still living near town, though in Audrain ~ county. Among the ladies still living we might mention Mrs. John - Tully and Mrs. 'Lucretia Veech, both of whom came here some time. in the 30s.

The next earliest settlers of the town were Sait th Whiteside, James M. Crosthwaite, Shelton B. Farthing, James H. Ray and Dr. C. - Pearson, all of whom have passed away, though whose widows and children are still living in this vicinity - except those of the second - named, who moved to Ralls county about twenty years ago. They - all located here some time in the 40s.. < j

The next in the list would include such names as John Tully, - Capt. S. W. Hammack, Squire John Vermillion, L. B. Love, A. D.- Slack and others, who registered in the 50s. All of the last named

| early settlers of the township, though they were not of the immediate vicinity of our town. Such were Presley Anderson, who made the first settlement on West Cuivre [sec. 7-49-3] that was made in the county, and which was in 1818, and of Reuben Pew, father to the gentlemen referred to in this article, who moved to Montgomery county in 1818, and who was elected colonel of the first militia [2] ever organized in the county. Other settlers by name of Glover, Gray, Stewart and Asa Manning were living over on Bear creek as early as 1830.

We are informed by one of the old settlers that Mr. Wm. Baugh, living near the mouth of Wolf creek, is perhaps the oldest living early settler in this township. Mr. and Mrs. John Crutcher, now of Denison, Tex., are another couple that should receive honorable mention in this connection. They came here at an early day, and have quite a number of descendants and relatives residing in this county.

McCleary's sketch in the Montgomery Adlas states that Middletown was surveyed by old Lewis Jones, the then county surveyor, instead of by Josiah Willbarger; that the first house was built by Stewart Slavens, and that Mathias Willbarger opened the first store. Mr. McCleary, however, does not give his authority for his statements,

__ which controvert those made in the article above quoted from Chips. The Aélas sketch further states that the town ' derived its name from its location at the crossing of the roads leading from east to west and from north to south.'' e In 1855, the farthest date back when any of the present citizens of y Middletown were here, - James M. Barker was landlord of the Acade Hotel; James M. Crosthwaite and Pearson and Haff had general stores. Dr..C. Pearson and Dr. F. S. Clare were physicians, and Volney Suggett was running the steam saw and grist mill, on 'Coon _. ereek, now the farthest up stream. The latter was built in about 1850, by Spencer J. Ball and James N. Hicks. It ground and sawed ' from the first... In about 1860 a stage line was established from Louisiana to Wellsville, via Bowling Green and Middletown. The -- xoute was maintained substantially until the building of the Chicago and Altona Railroad. The town, however, was not of much importance until after the war.

Middletown. This was the killing of Wm. Dillon by Wm. Strank, on July 25, 1863. Both men were in Middletown on the day named, and were friendly enough until they began drinking, when it is said they quarreled over a ten-cent riding-whip !

Strank was arrested and underwent a preliminary examination before Esqs. James and Bruner (the latter of Montgomery). He was bound over in the sum of $3,000. The same fall he was indicted for murder, and in April, 1864, put upon trial at Danville, before Judge Fagg. The jury failed to agree. On hearing the conclusion of the trial, Strank left the court-room, ostensibly to procure new bondsmen, but once outside he mounted a horse, galloped by short routes to his home, where, procuring a fresh steed, he kept on eastward and crossed into Illinois. Ina few months Bil Anderson come into Danville, burned all the court records, and wiped out the case against Strank with a flame of fire. He was never re-indicted. After the war he returned home, went to work, and has since been known as a quiet, peaceable citizen. At present he manages the lower steam mill at Middletown.

Incorporation

Middletown was incorporated as a town by the county court, February 17, 1864. The first board of trustees was composed of John Tully, James A. Haff, Walter Caldwell, A. D. Slack and W. D. Gooch. The town is still running under this incorporation. There is no indebtedness and the treasury has an unappropriated balance of $100.

The first publication in Middletown was a small eight-page' journal called The Hecho, which was established by John McKilvey in the summer of 1873. Each page was 8x16 inches in size and contained three columns. The Hcho was issued semi-monthly for some months. McKilvey had a small jobbing outfit, and did what printing he could eet. 3 |

In June, 1879, W. W. H. Jackman began the publication of the North Missouri Sentinel, a six-column folio, half printed at home. This he continued until February, 1882, when he removed to Lad- - donia, Audrain county, and establishedl a paper called the Hnterprise.

In August, 1882, Mr. C, Pearson issued the first number of the Middletown Chips, a seven- column folio paper, still in publication. This paper - as were the others - is independent in politics. Its

Churches And Sabbath-Schools

M. E. Church South. - The M. E. Church South, in Middletown, was organized as early as the year 1848. Some of the original members were Joseph Paxton, Pauline Paxton, Natban Veech and wife, Amanda Whiteside, Sarah Parker, Mrs. Polly Paxton, Mrs. M. A. Pearson, Mrs. Mary A. Rice and Mrs. Rose Hoff. The pastors that have served this church have been Jesse Sutton, George Sexton, Demott, Sears, MecNeiley, George Craig, Thompson Penn, Meyers, Sherman, Taylor, Jones, Henry Kay, W. H. Lewis and others. The church building is a frame and was first erected in 1848, but was rebuilt in 1871 at a cost of $1,000. The present membership is 56.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - This church was organized in 1863. The original members were Christopher Pearson, Sr., Martha Pearson, Dr. Christopher Pearson, T. H. Conklin, Susan Conklin, Elizabeth Gooch, Richard Gooch, Ellen Gooch, Clarinda Gooch, W. G. Rice, Sarah Rice, Julia White, L. T. Taylor, Sarah H. Taylor, Sarah A. Johnson, Hester Parkey, Nancy Kisner, Robt. Bethel, J. T. Jones, W. T. Pennéwell and eight others. The-church building is a frame structure, and was erected in the years 1870-71 ata cost of $1,600. The pastors have been N. Shumate in 1863; William Demott, John

The. present number of members is 100. The Sabbath-school, with Geo. White as superintendent, has an attendance of 45. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. - In 1867 this church was or- ganized at which time M. S. Price, John W. McQuie, Jas. F. McQuie, Geo. A. McQuie, Wm. D. Gooch, Nannie C. Gooch, Luannah Price, Martha A. Moore, James F. Cobb, Martha J. Cobb, Wm. A. White, Elizabeth Cornett, Molly Adams, Maggie M. Robb, Bettie A. E. Robb, Elizabeth Cobb, Isabella J. Myers and Jennette McQuie, composed the membership, though it now numbers 75. The church house is a brick structure erected in 1869, and cost $1,468.40. The pastors have been Rev. E. P. Farr, W. W. Crockett, Geo. A. Middleton, Jas. W. Duvall, T. Barnard, J. R. Patton and E. L. Uptegrove. M. S. Price superintends the Sabbath-school of 27 scholars.

Secret Orders Of Middletown

Odd Fellows' Lodge. - Middletown Lodge, No. 256, was chartered in June, 1871, with the following members: R. M. Hendershott, Charles Elliott, E. Worrell, R. J. W. Trainer, E. Fallet, Jacob' Marion, William Richard and William H. Johnson. 'The first officers were R. W. Hendershott, noble grand ; Chas. E. Elliott, vice-grand ; R. J. W. Trainer, secretary; Wm. Rickard, treasurer. The lodge now numbers 60 members, and owns a brick hall, valued at $3,000.

Triple Alliance. - A camp in the Triple Alliance, with 18 members, was chartered in Middletown, November 8, 1884, - not in time for a list of the first officers to be obtained. '