Randolph County, Missouri - Chapter 10: Organization of Randolph County, 1920

Chapter 10: Organization of Randolph County

ORGANIZED IN 1829 - NAMED IN HONOR OF JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE - FIRST COUNTY COURT - COUNTY DIVIDED INTO FOUR TOWNSHIPS - OFFICERS APPOINTED - SECOND SPECIAL TERM - COUNTY FINANCES - FIRST BRIDGES - COUNTY RECORDS - FIRST CIRCUIT COURT - FIRST GRAND JURY - ATTORNEYS - SECOND GRAND JURY.

Randolph County was organized in 1829 and bears the name of an early American orator and statesman, John Randolph of Roanoke, who was bom in Chesterfield County, Virginia, June 2, 1773, and died in Philadelphia, June 24, 1833. He was educated at Princeton and Columbia colleges. He was elected a representative in congress from Virginia in 1799, and soon became conspicuous. He was described by Hildreth as "a singular mixture of the aristocrat and the Jacobin." He was re-elected in 1801, and was made chairman of a committee of ways and means. In 1803, as chairman of a committee, he reported against a memorial from Indiana, for permission to introduce slaves into the territory in spite of the prohibition of the ordinance of 1787, which he pronounced to be "wisely calculated to promote the happiness and prosperity of the northwestern country."

In 1804 he was chief manager in the trial of Judge Samuel Chase, impeached before the senate. In 1806 he assailed President Jefferson and his supporters with great virulence. He attached Madison's administration, and opposed the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812. His opposition caused his defeat at the next election. He was re-elected in 1814 and again in 1818, having declined to be a candidate in 1816. In the congress of 1819-20 he opposed the Missouri Com- promise, stigmatizing the northern members, by whose co-operation it was carried, as "doughfaces," an epithet adopted into the political vocabulary of the United States. In 1822 and again in 1824 he visited England. From 1825 to 1827 he was a senator of the United States, and during that time fought a duel with Henry Clay. He supported General Jackson for president in 1828. In 1829 he was a member of the convention to revise the constitution of Virginia, and in 1830 was appointed a minister to Russia, but soon after his reception by the Emperor Nicholas, he departed abruptly for England, where he remained for nearly a year, and returned home without revisiting Russia. He was again elected to congress, but was too ill to take his seat.

Exhausted, with consumption, he died in a hotel at Philadelphia, whither he had gone on his way to take passage again across the ocean. During his life, his speeches were more fully reported and more generally read than those of any other member of Congress. He was tall and slender, with long, skinney fingers which he was in the habit of pointing and shaking at those against whom he spoke. His voice was shrill and piping, but under perfect command, and musical in its lower tones. His invectives, sarcasm and sharp and wreckless wit, made him a terror to his opponents in the house. At the time of his death he owned 318 slaves, whom by his will he manumitted, bequeathing funds for their settlement and maintenance in a free state. His "Letters to a Young Relative" appeared in 1834.

The first county court that convened in Randolph County, was held on the 2d day of February, 1829. The following is the record and proceedings of the first term of the said court: '

At a county court begun and held, for and within the county aforesaid, at the house of Blandehnin Smith, the place appointed by law for holding the courts of said county, James Head, William Fort, and Joseph M. Baker, Esquires, produced from the governor of the state commissions as justices of said court, who qualified on the 2d day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine. Whereupon court was opened by proclamation.

The court appoints Robert Wilson clerk of said court; whereupon he entered into bonds with satisfactory security, which is received by the court, and ordered to be certified to the governor.

Wm. Fort Joseph M. Baker

The court recommend to his excellency, the governor of this state, the following named persons to be appointed justices of the peace, viz.: Blanderman Smith, James Wells, and Archibald Shoemaker, for Salt Spring township; John Peeler and Elisha McDaniel, for Sugar Creek township; Thomas Bradley, John Viley, and John Dysart, for Silver Creek township, and Charles McLean for Pi'airie township.

The court then proceeded to divide the county into townships, as follows, viz. : The township of Silver Creek shall be bounded as follows : Beginning at the southwest comer of Howard county; thence running north with Randolph county line, to the township line, between townships 53 and 54; thence east with said township line, to the range line, to the Howard county line; thence west with said line to the beginning.

The township of Prairie shall be bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the Howard county line, where the range line between ranges 14 and 15 intersects the same; thence north with said range line, to the line dividing townships 53 and 54; thence east with said townships to the line dividing Randolph and Ralls counties; thence south with said county line, to the Boone county line; thence west with the line, dividing Randolph and Boone, and Randolph and Howard, to the beginning.

The township of Salt Spring shall be bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning where the township line, dividing townships 53 and 54 on the west; thence north with said county line to the northwest corner of the county; thence east with the county line, to the range line between ranges 14 and 15 ; thence south to the comer of Silver Creek township; thence west with said line to the beginning.

ern county line; thence east to the northeast corner of the county; thence south with the line dividing townships 53 and 54; thence west with said line to the corner of Silver Creek and Prairie townships.

The court appoint Thomas J. Gorham surveyor of the county of Randolph, whereupon he entered into bond conditioned as the law directs, with satisfactory surety.

The court appoint Terry Bradley assessor for the county of Randolph, for the year 1829, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Whereupon, he entered into bond conditioned as the law directs, in the penal sum of five hundred dollars, with Thomas Bradley and Benjamin Cockerill his securities, which was received by the court.

The court appoint Jacob Medley collector for the county of Randolph, for the year 1829. Whereupon, he entered into duplicate bonds, conditioned as the law directs, in the penal sum of two thousand dollars, with James Head and Terry Bradley as his securities, for the faithful performance of his duties in relation to state tax, which was received by the court, one of which was ordered to be forwarded to the auditor of public accounts; he also took the oath prescribed by law.

The court appoint Nathan Hunt constable of Salt Spring township. Whereupon, he entered into bond in the penal sum of eight hundred dollars, with Daniel Hunt and Abraham Goodding as his securities, which was received by the court.

The court appoint Nathan Floyd constable of Prairie township. Whereupon, he entered into bond in the penalty of eight hundred dollars, with David Floyd and William Drinkard as his securities, which were received by the court; he then took the oath prescribed by law.

The court appoint John McCully constable of Silver Creek township. Whereupon, he entered into bond in the penalty of eight hundred dollars, conditioned as the law directs, with Benjamin Hardester and Samuel McCully as his securities, and took the oath prescribed by law.

The court appoint Abraham Goodding constable of Sugar Creek township. Whereupon, he entered into bond in the penalty of eight hundred dollars, conditioned as the law directs, with Terry Bradley and Robert Sconce as his securities, and took the oath prescribed by law.

of Randolph, as may be thought necessary. The court appoint Robert Sconce, guardian of Luzetta Wheldon, minor of John Wheldon, deceased. Whereupon, he entered into bond conditioned as tlie law directs, in the penalty of one thousand dollars, with John J. Turner, and Thomas J. Gorham as his securities, which were received by the court as sufficient.

William Fort Joseph M. Baker

At a county court begun and held for and within the county aforesaid, by special appointment on the first day of March, 1829 ; present William Fort and Joseph M. Baker, justices of said court. Robert Wilson, clerk, and Hancock Jackson, sheriff.

Ordered, By the court, that the temporary seat of justice for said county, be fixed at the house of William Goggin in said county; and it is further ordered that all courts of record, hereafter to be holden in said county, be held at the house of the said William Goggin, and that a copy of this order be furnished the judge of the circuit court.

Joseph M. Baker

The above constitutes the proceedings of the first and special terms of the county court. The second regular term of the court was held on the 4th day of May following, and we note the following proceedings:

The following gentlemen were appointed road overseers: Archibald Shoemaker, Blandermin Smith, Thomas Bradley, John, Dysart, James Wells, Henry Lassiter, Mark Noble, William B. Thompkins, John Garshweiler, John M. Patton and Josiah Davis.

The first county levy was made at the June term, aid was ordered to be 50 per cent of the state levy, and in order to give some idea of the kind of salaries our old-time officers received, it should be stated that the county assessor, Terry Bradley, "was allowed his account of sixty-one dollars and fifty-six and one-fourth cents, for thirty-five days' service, postage, stationery," etc. Query - If such salaries as this were paid nowadays, would not electioneering grow small by degrees and beautifully less?

Leaving a balance of two hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifteen cents in his hands, together with the sum of two dollars and ninetynine cents, received by him on licenses, which is ordered to be paid to the county treasurer.

The clerk is ordered to procure a seal for the county court, with the emblem of the American Eagle, provided the same can be had on reasonable terms.

Robert Wilson was appointed commissioner of the county seat. William Goggin and Nancy, his wife, and Gideon Wright and Rebecca, his wife, Daniel Hunt and wife, and Henry Winburn and wife all made deeds without compensation, conveying land to the county for the seat of justice. Each gave twelve and a half acres, aggregating 50 acres. Reuben Samuel was appointed superintendent of public buildings.

The first guardian appointed by the county court of Randolph county was John Harvey, who was appointed guardian of Drucilla Wheldon, minor child of John Wheldon, deceased. Davis and Currin were granted the first license to keep a tavern; their stand was at the house of William Goggin. The license for the same cost them $10. John Taylor was the second tavern keeper.

The first bridge of any importance, constructed in the county, was built over the east fork of the Chariton river, on the first high bank above Baker's ford, in 1829. The citizens paid half of the cost by subscription, and the county court subscribed the other half. Henry B. Owen was the contractor, and received $1.65 for building half of the bridge. In 1830 Nicholas Dysart was allowed the sum of $56 for assessing the county.

The early records of the circuit court and recorder's office, especially the record of deeds in the latter office, were destroyed by fire in 1882, at the time the court-house was burned; consequently we are forever precluded from knowing just exactly what they contained.

The first circuit court within and for the county of Randolph, was held at the residence of William Goggin in 1829. The Hon. David Todd, of Boone county, was the presiding judge; Robert Wilson was the clerk, Hancock Jackson, sheriff, and James Gordon, prosecuting attorney. The following persons composed the first grand jury: George Burckhartt, foreman; Peter Gulp, Ambrose Medley, William Baker, Lawrence Evans, Terry Bradley, Edwin T. Hickman, Francis K. Collins, Levi Moore, Jeremiah Summers, Robert Boucher, Richard Blue, Henry Martin, Thomas Kimbrough, Moses Kimbrough, James Davis, John Bagby, John Dunn, William Upton, Robert Dysart, John Martin, William Pattin, Isaac Harris. They closed their labors on the second day of the term, having found two indictments, - one against John Moore for "assault and battery," and one against John Cooley, for resisting legal process.

The following attorneys were in attendance upon this court: Robert W. Wells, attorney-general; John F. Ryland, Gen. John B. Clark, Joseph Davis, Thomas Reynolds and Samuel Moore. Each one of the above named attorneys, excepting Moore, afterwards occupied honorable positions in the councils of the state. Wilson and Gen. Clark were in the congress of the United States, the former being a senator.