Nodaway County, Missouri - Chapter 29: Centennial Address by Dr. H. E. Robinson, 1882

Chapter 29: Centennial Address by Dr. H. E. Robinson

OLD SETTLERS TO WHOM PRIZ«S WERE PRESENTED AT BURLINGTON JUNCTION, 1880 - PRESENTATION OF PRIZES AT THE FAIR OF 1881 - HON. LAFAYETTE DAWSON'S ADDRESS.

Below will be found the Centennial Address of Dr. H. E. Robinson, delivered at Maryville, Missouri, July 4, 1876. The doctor is one of the oldest, as well as one of the most highly respected citizens of the county. His address is replete with historical facts and incidents, relating to the early history of the county, and being a carefully prepared and well written document, we deem it worthy of preservation :

Fellow-citizens of Nodaway County : In pursuance of a resolution passed by the Congress of the United States, enforced by a proclamation by the President, and supplemented by one from the Governor of Missouri, to the effect that each county should, at its celebration of this Centennial Fourth of July, have an historical address delivered, which should contain a sketch of the history of the county from its earliest times, your committee has seen fit to select him who now stand before you to deliver such address. Whether a better choice could not have been made, is now too late to determine ; it only remains for him to show how faithfully he has endeavored to perform his difficult task, for the task of preparing a sketch of this kind, short as it must be, is far more difficult than it would have been had more time and a lengthier article been possible. And however much this individual effort may fall short of completeness, it is sincerely hoped it will be found not lacking in truthfulness, in interest, and in evidence of careful research.

It seems hardly possible when we look around over our broad prairies and see them dotted with villages and farm houses, everywhere teeming with busy life, that but thirty-five years ago they were traversed only by their Indian inhabitants and the wild beasts and birds native to the soil, save occasionally by the hunter who had strayed for the time from his usual haunts. Yet such is the case, for as late as the spring of [839 no white man resided in the boundaries of what now constitutes Nodaway County. That spring, however, the advance pioneers of civilization began to push their march forward, and a party composed of Isaac and Daniel Hogan, Richard Taylor and Robert M. Stewart crossed the Elkhorn and selected claims near the present town of Graham. Isaac Hogan remained until he had broken a few acres of ground and planted it in corn ; the other members of the party returned to Platte County, whence they had come. Robert M. Stewart, at that time a poor friendless boy, working out at days wages, in after years became Governor of Missouri and the most highly honored citizen of the Northwest. Although the force of circumstances prevented his ever becoming a citizen of our county, yet to the day of his death he remembered with enthusiasm the beauty of the country upon his first visit here, and always predicted a glorious future to the "noble County of Nodaway."

Late in the fall of 1840, Elijah Bunten, James Bryant and Harvey White explored the country along the White Cloud, and took claims. In those days all that was necessary to gain a title to land was to cut down some trees and start a house, and whether the house was ever completed or not, no honorable man would "jump the claim." Bunten seems to have been a professional claim taker. He first selected the tract of land now owned by Marion Woodward on the White Cloud, and made some few improvements. He also took a claim on the Nodaway River and on the Florida Creek now owned by Judge Shell. In the fall of 1840 he sold his White Cloud claim to Mijamin Byers, and built a cabin on his Florida Creek claim. After a year or two Bunten sold out and moved to Oregon, engaging in the claim business there. He died there in 1869.

Harvey White, who was a son-in-law of Bunten, took a claim on the White Cloud now owned by K. J. Boatwright. He remained there for a few years, when he sold out to a man by the name of Gray, and removed to Oregon.

Jim Bryant is said to have been one-fourth Indian, and at any rate it is known he would do but little except hunt, trade and drink. He built a log cabin in the woods, a little south of where Billy Jones' house now stands, and laid claim to all the timber land on the east side of the WThite Cloud, south of the Saunders school house.

Early in the spring of 1840, Isaac Hogan moved his family from Platte County, accompanied by Daniel Hogan, Richard Hogan and wife, and Joseph Thompson. R. M. Stewart had presented his claim, made the year before, to Thompson, who now commenced to improve it, living with Isaac Hogan, as he was a single man. Mrs. Hogan, after her arrival here, took a claim on the Little Elkhorn, now owned by W. I. Linville. One rainy day Thompson and Mrs. Hogan engaged in a game cf cards, and bet their claims on the game. Mrs. Hogan won, and Thompson at once set off to look for a new location. He is now residing east of the Platte River, and remembers with pleasure those times of "Auld Lang Syne."

Early in the fall of 1841, Lorenzo Dow Vinsonhaler and Harvey Dillon found the beautiful Nodaway Valley and took claims therein. Dillon selected the land now owned by Lewis Anders, built himself a log house, broke and fenced several acres, and planted a lot of apple seeds. Several years after he sold out to Finley McCrary, and became lost to the sight of his old neighbors. Dow Vinsonhaler laid claim to the' land, now owned by Win. Leeper and remained on it for several years. He then sold out and accompanied John C. Fremont's party of -explorers across the Rocky Mountains. He was with this party during their terrible experience in the winter of 1849, when all their mules were frozen to death and ten men lost their lives by starvation. Fremont speaks in glowing terms of the courage and endurance of Mr. Vinsonhaler, and says he saved the lives of several of the party by his example and encouragement. Mr. Vinsonhaler afterwards settled in California, where he died several years ago.

In the years 1840, '41 and 42, emigration to this county set in with considerable rapidity. Among those whose names we remember with gratitude and honor as our first settlers, may be mentioned Hiram Hall, Colonel I. N. Prather, Burt Whitten, Thomas Adams, John McLain, William Cock, Daniel Marlin, Wesley Jenkins, Joseph Huff, the Finches, Morgans, Groves, J. E. Alexander, John Jackson, the Swearingens, Mozingos, Grays, Vinsonhalers, Ephraim Johnson, John Lamar, Cornelius Brackney, Chauncy Dalrymple, Samuel Nash, Joseph Hutson, Isaac Cox, James Noffsinger, James Penington, the Blaggs, Frank Conlin, and E. S. Stephenson. Many others might be mentioned did time and space permit. They may rest assured that their memory will be preserved Avith freshness that increases with the lapse of time.

When our county was first settled, the Indian title to the land had only been extinguished about three years, and many familes still roamed over their " happy hunting grounds." For by all accounts this part of the United States was not surpassed by any in its abundance of game. Droves of deer bounded over the prairie or sought the welcome shade of the forests that lined the streams ; while immense flocks of wild turkeys roamed through the under brush, and the whirr of the grouse and the pigeon was heard on every side. In the winter of 1810-11, the first -expedition sent out by John Jacob Astor to found the Northwest Fur Company, encamped near the mouth of the Naduet River, or, as we now -call it, the Nodaway River, for four months, on account of the excellent hunting found there and to the northward ; and, attracted by its fame, the celebrated pioneer, Daniel Boone, made his last hunting expedition, a the age of eighty-two, into this region of Northwest Missouri. The advance of civilization has, of coure, driven away the most of this game, although deer have been killed in Nodaway County nearly every year even to the present.

Nodaway County has never been remarkable for its noxious beasts and reptiles, although the first settlers found here, occasionally, bears, wolves, and rattlesnakes. The latter, indeed, were rather too plentiful for comfort, but the constant warfare waged between the descendants ot Eve and t!hose of the "Old Serpent," has so thinned the ranks of the latter, that when one is found it is considered a curiosity. John Bradbury, an Englishman, who journeyed through this section of our country in 1811-12, remarks the almost incredible number of snakes he found here in the spring of 181 1, lying in a half torpid state under every flat stone and fallen tree. He also speaks of the vast flocks of pigeons he noticed at the same time, stating that he killed nearly three hundred one morning in a short time with a common fowling piece.

This whole country of Northwest Missouri, now known as the Platte Purchase, comprising some of the most valuable land in the world, was occupied by several Indian tribes until 1836, when, by treaty with the United States, they ceded the country to the general government, by whom it was granted to the State of Missouri. The principal tribes occupying here at the time of cession were the Crees, Gros Ventres, Iowas, Ottoes, Pawnees, Pottawatomies, Sauks and Shawanees. Families of these tribes continued to live in Nodaway County until 1856, and at different times the remnants of tribes, sometimes as many as two or three hundred, visited their former haunts, evidently looking with wistful eyes upon the paradise they had lost, with no hopes of recovery. Tradition seems to indicate that the Indians who last resided here were of the Pottawatomie tribe, sadly degraded, a lazy, brawling, whiskydrinking class of human beings. For although the law against selling whisky to Indians was very stringent, yet they never failed to find some one bold enough to brave the terrors of the law, and supply them with the much desired " fire water."

An impression seems to have obtained that Nodaway once formed a part of Andrew County. Although there were some grounds for this idea, yet, in fact, such was never the case. In 1839, when Buchanan and Platte Counties were laid out, comprising the southern portion of the lately acquired Platte Purchase, all the territory in said Purchase north of Buchanan County was attached to it for civil and military purposes - not included within its statute boundaries, nor known by the same name - but styled the " territory of Neatawah." All money collected as taxes for county purposes in this territory was applied to the purposes of internal improvement within said territory. In like manner, when in 1841, Andrew County was laid out, its boundaries enclosed the same territory as at present, and the territory now called Nodaway County was simply attached to it for civil and military purposes, all county taxes collected here being applied to internal improvements in this territory. Hence we see that Nodaway County was never a part of Andrew County in any real sense.

In 1844, the population of this county had increased to about twelve hundred souls, and feeling it would be better to have an organization, steps were taken to that end. William A. Miller, representative from Andrew County, introduced a bill in the Missouri Legislature providing for the organization of Nodaway County, which was passed, and on February 14, 1845, it was approved by Governor John C. Edwards, as follows:

" All that portion of territory bounded as follows, viz : Beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Nodaway River, opposite the line dividing townships 61 and 62 ; thence up the middle of the main channel thereof to the mouth of the brook, in what is known by the name of Roland Grove ; thence due west to the dividing ridge, dividing the waters of the Big Tarkio and Nodaway Rivers ; thence north upon1 the top of said dividing ridge to the state line ; thence east with the state boundary line to the old western boundary of the state ; thence south with the same to the township line dividing townships 61 and 62 ; thence west with said township line to the place of beginning, is hereby organized into a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the name of ' Nodaway.'

Amos Graham and William M. Sitton, of the County of Andrew, and Daniel Hunsucker, of the County of Holt, are hereby appointed commissioners to select the permanent seat of justice of said county ; said commissioners shall meet at the house of I. N. Prather on the first Monday of June next.

The County Courts of said county, shall be held on the first Mondays of February, May, August and November, and the first meeting of said court shall be at the house of I. N. Prather, and shall continue to be there held, until the permanent seat of justice is established, unless otherwise ordered by the court."

Governor Edwards appointed Thomas A. Brown, James M. Fulkerson and John Lowe, county justices, and Bartlett Curl, sheriff, and they met for their first time at Colonel Prather's house on April 7, 1845. Their first official performance was to appoint Amos Graham, clerk. During this term Green McCafferty was appointed surveyor, and Daniel McCarty, assessor, and the townships of Buchanan, Atchison, Hughes, White Cloud, and Washington were laid out. Buchanan Township included the present townships of Atchison and Lincoln, besides extending about twelve miles into the present State of Iowa. Atchison Township covered the territory now comprised within Green Township. Hughes, White Cloud, and Washington included their present territory, besides the present townships of Grant and Jefferson, which were about equally divided between White Cloud and Washington. It is said that Bartlett Curl wore a beaver hat, perhaps the only one in the county, and carried therein his sheriff's office. He was elected sheriff at the first general election held in the county after its organization, serving until

November, 1848. During the gold excitement he went to the Pacific Coast, and at last accounts was living in Oregon, where he had served in the Legislature several terms.

The County Court met again in May, at the White Cloud school house, and laid out Polk and Dallas Townships. Polk included her present territory and Jackson also, extending to the Gentry County line on the east. Dallas covered the present townships of Union, Hopkins and Independence, also extending some twelve miles to the northward of the present state line. The same term Stephen Jones, of Andrew County, was appointed commissioner to locate the seat of justice of Nodaway County in place of Amos Graham, the latter having become a resident of this county, which forbade his serving in that capacity. The commissioners met in June, 1845, as required by the act of organization, and after mature deliberation decided upon the southwest quarter of section 17, township 64, range 35, as the best location for the seat of justice, and at the July term of the Courty Court the following entry was made :

" It is hereby ordered and declared that the seat of justice of Nodaway County, Missouri, shall be called and known by the name of Maryville."

This name was given in honor of Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then, and for fourteen years, the efficient county clerk of Nodaway County, and the first white woman who lived within the limits of the county seat.

Mrs. Graham still resides in Maryville, loved and respected by all. She has witnessed the manifold changes our county has undergone in the past, and it is the sincere wish of all her acquaintances that she may be spared to witness still greater changes in the distant future.

At the' same July term Elhanan Reinhart was appointed assessor, in place of Daniel McCarty, and John Jackson treasurer. Mr. Jackson held this responsible office for ten years, after which he clung to private life, living on his farm, just north of Maryville, until his death, which occurred a little over a year ago.

During the summer of 1845, Green McCafferty, county surveyor, laid out the original town of Maryville, assisted by John Jackson, and Thomas Baker was appointed commissioner for the sale of the lots.

In September, the county court met at "Thomas Adams' house by the well," said house being the one afterwards owned and lived in by William Saunders, and still standing, about one-half mile northwest of our court house. During this summer there was considerable emigration to Nodaway County and Maryville

Thomas Adams had a small stock of goods for sale, and James L. Ray also kept a little store in a log cabin on the lots now occupied by J. E. Alexander.

All the early settlers in Nodaway County seemed to have chosen timbered lands for their homes. They were mostly Kentuckians, with a sprinkling of Virginians and Tennesseeans, and they passed by the beautiful prairie lands of the Platte Purchase to find the timbered country. They preferred lands that they must open for culture by the old familiar process of clearing and grubbing, to those already cleared and grubbed to their hands by a bountiful Providence. Then, also, the prairie was under the ban of unhealthiness. Ague, that great scourge of the South and West, was supposed to be snuffed in every breeze that bowed the tall grass of summer. All countries of great fertility of soil, where the vegetable products are unconsumed by stock and allowed to rot where they grow, are liable to miasmatic diseases. The chills and fever, which overcame Julius Caesar when he was conquering Gaul, were as certain to come to the first settlers as their corn ; and Sappington's pills and quinine were as much daily necessities as bread and meat or whisky bitters. All these things conspired to keep the prairie land unsettled, and it was not until most of the desirable timber farms had been occupied that the open country began to receive the attention of the immigrant.

At the February (1846) term of the Nodaway County Court, an order was made appropriating two hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of building a court house in Maryville, and the contract for its erection was let on the 7th day of March to Benjamin Sims, and James Vaughn was appointed to superintend the work. The following copy of the specifications well illustrates the modest ideas of our first settlers:

" Thirty-two feet long and twenty feet wide, with a partition wall, so as to make one room twenty feet long, and the other twelve feet long, and each twenty feet wide, all to be of good logs and durable timber. Rooms each to be nine feet between floors, and all covered with good shingles. Lower floor to be of good oak plank, well seasoned and jointed, to be sealed or plastered overhead nine feet from the lower floor. One door and window in the small room, and one door and three windows m the large room. Windows to be of twelve lights, glass ten by eight, and good sash. Doors to be good, strong, plain doors. There shall be six good, stone pillars under the sills, one foot above the surface of the ground. The whole building to be well chinked and pointed with good lime mortar. A good stack chimney in the middle of the partition, so as to make a fireplace in each room, to be of good bricks, all to be finished in workmanlike style by the first day of September, 1846."

Lot seventeen, western boundary, was appropriated for this court house, being the lot on the southwest corner of Main and Second Streets. Although the work of building this court house would not seem possible to have been very great, yet it was not completed until October, 1847, over one year and a-half after its commencement. The small room was then set apart for the clerk's office.

Some dissatisfaction existed from the first with the choice of location for the seat of justice of Nodaway County, as the southern part of the county was first settled, and continued for several years ahead of other parts of the county in population. This dissatisfaction led to the circulation of a petition, which was presented to the county court in December, 1850, praying for the removal of the county seat to a point about seven miles south of Maryville. The court, which at this time was composed of Joel Hedgpeth, W. J. W. Bickett and Adam Terhune, rejected the petition on the ground that it did not contain three-fifths of the names on the tax list. This was the last effort of any account towards removing the county seat from its present location, and we doubt not the last that ever will be made.

The prosperity of Nodaway County and of Maryville was now a firmly fixed fact. The population of the county had increased in the five years of its existence from about 1200 to 21 18, notwithstanding the gold excitement of 1849 had drawn off hundreds of her citizens. The fame of her fertile soil began to spread abroad, and scarcely a day passed but the voice of the new-comer was heard in the land. These, of course, brought more or less money with them, and all combined to make times lively and business brisk. Everybody was happy and contented, whisky was cheap, and fun and frolic prevailed on every side. Fiddlers were in great demand, and we have heard that Uncle Mose Stingley and Doc. Ford would lose half their rest rather than disappoint any who called upon them to play.

In the fall of 1852, a small brick office was built in the court house square, a little south of the present site of the jail, for the use of the county clerk. This remained there until 1868, when it was torn down.

In July, 1853, an appropriation was made to build the present court house, and the plan drawn by James L. Ray was accepted, and he was appointed to superintend its erection. In June, 1855, it was accepted by the county court, at that time composed of Hiram Elliott, William V. Smith and Williams Emerson.

The total cost of the building was $4,461.32, which presents a strong contrast to the little $250 house, thought amply sufficient only about eight years before. But the population of the county had increased to over 4,000 souls, and the taxable wealth from $22,256, in 1845, to $394,- 662, in 1855, an increase almost unparalleled in a purely agricultural community, and well calculated to lead its beholders to almost imagine the millenium was at hand.

We have now reviewed some of the more important events connected with the early history of Nodaway County, coming down to the year 1855. As this period covers what may be called the "Era of Old Settlers," and more time has already been consumed in its recital than was aimed, we will close for this time.

There is one feature, however, which to neglect would be unpardonable, which Nodawy Count)' has always possessed in a superlative degree even from its first settlement, and that is its never failing crop of babies. And as I look around upon this vast audience, assembled to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the birth of this glorious republic, I see that this peculiar feature still prevails and hundreds of little ones laugh and crow at the gathering to-day, who will, we hope, celebrate in like manner long after we, their elders, have passed away. Let us resolve from this time forward that our teachings and example shall be such that they may look back with pride and say, " Our fathers and mothers lent a helping hand in making Nodaway County the banner county in the banner state of these grand and powerful United States of America."

Old Settlers To Whom Prizes Were Awarded

There have never been any distinctive reunions of the old settlers of Nodaway County. There have been occasions, however, when these old veterans have met in common with others, at the celebration of our national holidays, and quite often a day has been set apart during fair time, when prizes were awarded to a few of the oldest settlers. These have always been occasions redolent of pleasant memories and sacred recollections to the gray haired sires who were present.

Presentation of Prizes at Burlington Junction, 1880: In pioneer life there are many dark days, and pioneers suffer privations and endure many hardships. But there are always " rifts in the clouds," and many a cloud has a "silver lining." Pioneer life often has an abundant fruitage, and the sons of the pioneer often become the " lords of the realm."

In the year 1880, the citizens of Burlington Junction bethought themselves of the pioneers of the Platte Purchase, and determined to offer to the oldest pioneers some slight token of their regard. The awards were to be made at the Fourth of July celebration at that place, and were to consist of the following :

We clip the following account of the exercises of the gathering on that day of the citizens of Burlington Junction and vicinity from the Burlington Juncton Post, of July 10, 1880. After some preliminary remarks, the Post says : " The Pioneers of the Platte Purchase found a spokesman in Rev. Sunderland, who filled the bill exactly, and gave us one of the best short speeches of the occasion. The old settlers prizes next came in order, and were presented by Prof. B. A. Dunn. The Pro- fessor stated that it was a mark of American patriotism to pay homage to the gray headed fathers and mothers, and cited the fact that the pilgrim fathers, and our nation's fathers, whose names were signed to that sacred Declaration of Independence, were shown more respect and spoken of with more profound reverence than any of the leading men of our day. Imbued with this spirit, the people of Burlington Junction had tendered a reception to the gray headed sires of Northwest Missouri, and had procured some beautiful presents as mementoes of the occasion.

In compliance with the report of the committee on presents, the silver tea set to the oldest couple of the pioneer settlers of the Platte Purchase was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Joel Albright, of Nodaway County, who came here in 1837 - foity-three years ago.

The committee reported two ladies, Mrs. Samuel T. Kennedy and Mrs. Mary Jackson, who had come to this purchase the same year, 1837, and both were awarded a silver castor.

Two gentlemen, Mr. Benj. R. Holt, of Andrew County, and Mr. John Grooms, of Nodaway County, came here in 1835, and both were awarded a silver-headed cane.

The committee on presents reported the following list of pioneers present at the celebration and reunion. There were quite a number present who did not compete for the presents :

Joel Albright was born in Gilpen County, North Carolina, July 10, 1813, and moved to the Platte Purchase in the winter of 1837. His wife, Carolina A. Holt, was born in Orange County, North Carolina, in the year 1815. They were married in 1832, and moved to the Platte Purchase in 1837. They have raised seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are still living.

Anderson Cameron was born in West Tennessee in 18 13. Martha E. Cameron, his wife, was born in the same state in 1828. They came to the Purchase in 1837, and have lived in it ever since.

E. W. Johnson was born in the territory of Indiana March 20, 1808, and was married to Margaret Allen in 1830. She was born in North Carolina in 1810. They moved to the Platte Purchase in 1841, settling on the farm where they now live, in Lincoln Township, October 14.

Levi Martin was born in Marion County, Ohio, July 8, 1805. Nancy A. Martin, his wife, was born in Pennsylvania March 24, 1809. They were married January 16, 1825, and came to the Platte Purchase January 30, 1840, entering the land where Burlington Junction is located.

G. B. Cooper was born in Virginia May 4, 18 15. Elizabeth A. Cooper, his wife, was born in Indiana in 18 12. They settled in the Platte Purchase in 1839, and are now residents of Maryville,

Benj. R. Holt was born in Orange County, North Carolina, on the nth day of February, 1813 ; was married in 1840 ; came to Missouri in 1832 ; moved to the Platte Purchase in the fall of 1835, making a residence of forty-five years. Was at the treaty of eight days ; saw it made ; saw it signed by General Clark, and saw the Indians sign it, and furnished the provisions for General Clark.

Presentation of Prizes at the Fair, 188 1 : On Tuesday, the second day of the fair, 1881, at Maryville, a silver-headed cane was awarded to the pioneer who had resided the greatest length of time, within a radius of fifty miles of Maryville, and a china tea set to the pioneer lady who had resided the greatest length of time within the same radius of the city.

The cane was given to Mr. Irwin, of Andrew County, who had lived continuously for forty-nine years at one place, and the set of china ware to Mrs. John Riggin, who had lived three and a-half miles from Savannah, Andrew County, for forty-three years. The presentation address was made by Hon. Lafayette Dawson, who spoke as follows : the lady whom the committee selected for that purpose, should be entitled to receive it. This committee has reported that Mrs. Riggin, of Andrew County, has resided continuously within a radius of fifty miles of this place for a period of forty-three years, and that this period of time exceeds in its duration the length of residence of any other lady, who has laid her claim before the committee. This fact, ladies and gentlemen, is suggestive, and furnishes food for reflection. For y-three years is a long time, and many, very many now before me, had not been born at the time Mrs. Riggin took upon herself the duties of a housewife. The Platte Purchase was at that time a howling wilderness. Very few traces of civilization were to be found. Yet nature had been lavish in beautifying the country. I have had a conversation with Mrs. Riggin about her early days in Andrew County, and she assures me that forty-three years ago, everything then around her early home, assumed a radiance and splendor that she had never before seen. When, said she, the spring time came, the scenery was absolutely indescribable. Flowers, as full and perfect as if they had had the attention of a skilled florist, with all their sweet and captivating odors, and with all the variegated charms which color and nature could produce, were here in the lap of elegance and beauty decorating the smiling groves. The sweet songsters of the forest appeared to feel the influence of the genial clime, and in more soft and modulated tones warbled their tender notes in unison with love and nature.

This description represents Andrew County as it was when Mrs. Riggin first looked upon it, robed in primeval beauty. But mighty changes have come over the scene. The hand of man has been laid upon the forest, and the wild, romantic grandeur of nature succeeded by the arts of a civilized people. Mrs. Riggin has for more than forty years shared the joys and sorrows of the noble husband who stands by her side. He began the world with quite a start. His team consisted of a blind ox and muley cow, together with a rickety lynchpin wagon and a wooden mouldboard plow, made up his outfit for farming. This outfit he valued at five thousand dollars, and his wife, who is now to become the recipient of this elegant set of chinaware, at twenty thousand dollars. With the outfit alluded to, he and Mrs. Riggin began the great battle of manhood life, and it affords me pleasure to be able to state to you that success has attended them - an ample competency, a beautiful home, a happy family of well to do children and unsullied characters are the results of their married life. Mrs. Riggin, you will now please accept this present as a token of friendship on the part of our people, and as an evidence of the gratitude we bear those who battled with the obstacles of nature forty years ago and converted a wilderness into a garden."

The early pioneers of the county, like the aborigines of the soil, are rapidly disappearing. Each succeeding year they are passing to the land of shadows -

A few, however, still abide with us, as the oldest landmarks of Nodaway County. Brave hearted men and women ! Golden be the evening twilight of their lives. A few more years of watching and waiting, and they, too, will have joined -