Ray County, Missouri - The whole text, 1881 (part 6 of 23)

In witness whereof, the said part . . of the first part ha . . hereunto set . . hand . . and seal . . the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us.

day of .... A. D. 18 .... , before the undersigned, a . . . . within and for the .... of ... . and state of ... . personally came .... who are personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing as parties thereto, and they acknowledged the same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. And the said .... being by me first made acquainted with the contents of said instrument, upon an examination separate and apart from .... husband . . . . , acknowledged that .... executed the same, and relinquishes

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal, at my office in ... . this day and year first above written.

Quit-Claim Deed

the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do by these presents, remise, release, and forever quit-claim unto the said part of the second part, the following described lots, tracts, or parcels of land, lying, being and situate in the county of . . . . , and state of , to wit: [Give description of propert}'.]

* [This deed of quit-claim being made in release of, and satisfaction for a certain deed dated the . . day of . . . ., 18. . ; recorded in the recorder's office, within and for the county of . . ? . aforesaid, in deed book . . , at pages . . . . ]

To have and to hold the same, with all the rights, immunities, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said part of the second or in .... name or behalf, shall or: will hereafter claim or demand any right or title to the aforesaid premises, or any part thereof, but they and every of them shall, by these presents, be excluded and forever barred.

Mortgage Deed

granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do . . grant, bargain and sell, unto the said.... the following described .... situated in the county of. . . .in the state of . . . .that is to say:

[Give description of property.] To have and to hold the property and premises hereby conveyed, with all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, unto said .... heirs and assigns forever; upon this express condition, whereas, the said .... on the .... day of .... A. D. one thousand eight hundred and .... made, executed and delivered to the said

Now, if the said .... executor or administrator, shall pay the sum of money specified in said .... and all the interest that may be due thereon, according to the tenor and effect of said .... then this conveyance shall be void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and virtue in law.

Chattel Mortgage

Know all men by these presents, That .... of the county of .... , and state of . . . . , in consideration of the sum of ... . i~oo dollars, to ... . paid by .... of the county of . . . . and state of .... do sell and convey to said .... the following goods and chattels, to-wit: - *

Upon condition, That. . . . pay to the said. . . .the sum of . . . .10^ dollars, and interest, agreeably to. . . .note, .dated on the. . . .day of . . . ., 18. ., and made payable to the said .... as follows, to-wit : . . . . then this deed shall be void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and effect.

.... who .... personally known to me to be the same person .... whose name .... subscribed to the foregoing chattel mortgage as part .... thereto, and acknowledged the same to be ... . act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my .... seal, at my office in .... in said county, the day and year aforesaid. My term of office as notary public will expire on the . . . day of 18. .

House Lease

This article of agreement witnesseth, That .... ha . . this day rented to ... .in the present condition thereof , the .... for the period of.... from sub-let or allow any other tenant to come in with or under .... without the written consent of said. . . . ; that .... will repair all injuries or damages done to the premises by him or them during. . . .occupancy, or pay for the same ; that all of ... . property, whether subject to legal exemption or not, shall be bound, and subject to the payment of rents and damages thereof; that .... will take good care of the buildings and premises and keep them free from tilth, from danger of fire or any nuisance and from all uses forbidden in any fire insurance policy issued thereon, .... and protect, defend and indemnify the said .... from all damages .... and charges for such, that the houses and premises shall be kept clean, fairly treated and left so; that in default of the payment of any. . . .installment of rent for .... day . . after the same becomes due, .... will, at the request of the said. . . .quit and render to. . . .the peaceable possession thereof; but, for this cause, the obligation to pay shall not cease, and, finally at the end of

.... term .... will surrender to said .... heirs or assigns, the peaceable possession of the said house and premises, with all the keys, bolts, latches and repairs, if any, in as good condition as ... . received the same, the usual wear and use and providential destruction or destruction by fire excepted.

Mechanics' Liens

Every mechanic or other person who shall do or perform any work or labor upon, or furnish any materials, fixtures, engine, boiler or machinery for any building, erection or improvements upon land, or for repairing the same under or by virtue of any contract with the owner or proprietor, or his agent, trustee, contractor or sub-contractor, shall be entitled to a lien upon such building, erection, or improvement, and upon the land belonging to such owner or proprietor on which the same are situated. The original contractor must within six months, and every journeyman and day laborer within thirty days, and of every other person seeking to obtain the benefit of the provisions of this chapter, within four months after the indebtedness shall have accrued, file with the clerk of the circuit court of the proper county, a just and true account of the demand due him or them, after all just credits have been given, which is to be a lien upon such building or improvement, and a true description of the property or so near as to identify the same upon which the lien is intended to apply, with the name of the owner or contractor, or both, if known to be the person filing the lien which shall in all cases' be verified by the oath of himself or some credible person for him.

Every person except the original contractor, who may wish to avail himself of the benefits of the provisions of this chapter, shall give ten days notice before filing of the lien as herein required, to the owner, owners, or agent, or either of them, that he or they hold a claim against such building or improvements, setting forth the amount and from whom the same is due.

All mechanics' lien holders shall stand on equal footing, without reference to date of filing, and upon sale of property they shall take pro rata on the respective liens.

We only attempt to give an outline of the law of mechanics' liens to aid the general business man. Should any complicated questions arise, it is best to consult an attornev in regard to the same.

Mechanic'S Lien

Now, at this day, come .... and with a view to avail .... of the benefit of the statute relating to mechanics' liens, file . . the account below set forth for work and labor done, and materials -furnished by .... under contract with .... upon, to and for the buildings and improvements

(Give description of the property upon which the building is erected.) said premise, buildings, and improvements, belonging to and being owned by .... which said account, the same being hereby filed, in order that it may constitute a lien upon the buildings, improvements, and premises above described, is as follows:

.... for work and labor done, and materials furnished by .... upon, to and for the buildings and improvements hereinbefore described, after all just credits have been given ; that said work and labor were done, and said materials furnished upon, to and for said buildings and improvements the foregoing description is a true description of the property upon, to and for which said materials were furnished, and said work and labor done, and to which this lien is intended to apply, or so near as to identify the same ; that said demand accrued within .... months prior to the riling of prior to the riling of this lien .... gave notice to .... of his claim against the amount thereof, from whom due, and of ... . intention to file a lien therefor; that said .... as affiant is informed and believes, the owner. . of the above described premises, and the buildings and improvements thereon, which said premises, buildings, and improvements are intended to be charged with this lien.

Bill Of Sale Of Goods

receipt whereof . . do hereby acknowledge, by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said .... all the goods, household stuff, implements and furniture, and all other goods and chattels whatsoever mentioned in the schedule hereunto annexed: To have and to hold all and singular the said goods, household stuff, and furniture, and other premises above bargained and sold or intended so to be, to the said .... and . . assigns forever. And .... the said .... for ... . and . . heirs, all and singular, the goods and chattels of whatever description, unto the said .... and . . assigns against .... the said .... and against all and every other person and persons whomsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents. Or all and singular which said goods, chattels, and property, .... the said .... have put the said .... in full possession by delivery to . . , the said .... one .... at the sealing and delivery of these presents, in the name of the whole premises hereby bargained and sold, or mentioned, or intended so to be unto . . , the said .... as aforesaid.

Note. - If the bill of sale is to be recorded in the county recorder's office, it must be acknowledged before some officer authorized to take acknowledgment of deeds - otherwise not.

Be it remembered, that on this .... day of . . . ., A. D. 18. ., before the undersigned, a . . . . within and for the county of and state of Missouri, personally came .... who . . personally known to me to be the same person. . whose name. . subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing, as part . . thereto, and acknowledged the same to be voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.

Definition Of Commercial Terms

@ stands for at or to; ft> for pounds, and bbl. for barrels; !$} for per or by the. Thus, butter sells at 20 @ 30c f lb, and flour at $8@12 f bbl.

May 1. Wheat sells at $1.20@$1.25, "seller June." Seller June means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of June.

Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has not the stock on. hand. It is for the interest of the person selling "short" to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts" are called " bears."

Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, expecting to make a profit by the rise in prices. The " longs" are termed " bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to " toss " the prices upward as much as possible.

Articles Of Agreement

An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunderstandings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a reasonable consideration.

This agreement, made the second day of June, 1878, between John Jones, of Marshall, county of Saline, state of Missouri, of the first part, and Thomas Whitesides, of the same place, of the second part -

Witnesseth, That the said John Jones, in consideration of the agreement of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver in good and marketable condition, at the village of Slater, Missouri, during the month of November, of this year, one hundred tons of prairie hay, in the following lots, and at the following specified times, namely: Twenty-five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of November.

And the said Thomas Whitsides, in consideration of the prompt fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered.

In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the other, one hundred dollars, as fixed and settled damages.

Agreement With Clerk For Services

This agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, between Reuben Stone, of Marshall, county of Saline, State of Missouri, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of Sedalia, county of Pettis, state of Missouri, party of the second part -

Witnesseth, That said George Barclay agrees faithfully and diligently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation; during which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of Marshall, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects as directed and desired by the said Stone. *

In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each upon the last day of each month : provided that all dues for days of absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said Barclay. Witness our hands: Reuben Stone.

Note. - It is generally assumed that the gross weight of hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent, of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by % or 25 per cent. Of itself equals the gross weight.

Rule. - Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, and point oft' one decimal place - the result will be the correct answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel.

Note. - In estimating corn in the ear, quality and the time it has been cribbed must be taken into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the winter and spring. This rule generally holds good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean.

Practical Rules For Every Day Use

Rule. - Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off one decimal place - the result will be the contents in barrels of 31£ gallons.

Rule. - Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length (all in inches) in reversed order, so that its units will fall under the tens; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point oft one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons.

Rule. - Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and divide the product by 12 - the result will be the contents in square feet.

Rule. - Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together, (the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide the product by 12 - the result will be square feet.

Rule. - Multiply the length by the width (in rods) and divide the product bv 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a remainder); the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths.

Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space.

To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths); at one-third pitch by .6 (tenths); at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths); at one-half pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration.

Note. - By Jj or % pitch is meant that the apex or tomb of the roof is to be \£ or ^ the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters.

If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2 to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of ear corn to make 1 of shelled corn.

In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres.

The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes.

To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line stright ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote; and, in walking, keep these objects constantly in line.

Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious contrivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard measure.

Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink.

Rule. - Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches by twice the length in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1.10 to 1.15 according to the thickness of the bark.

Rule. - The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left. - Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given.

Note. - The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate; thus 3 per cent, per month, inverted, becomes *« of a month, or ten days.

U. S. Government Land Measure

The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The description of a forty-acre lot wculd read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1, in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be; and sometimes will fall short, and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain.

Practical Rules For Every Day' Use Surveyors' Measure

A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league.

How To Keep Accounts

Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic manner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and

Interest Table

Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide thie product by the quotient obtained by dividing- 360 (the number of days in the interest year; by the per cent of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest.

Require the interest of $462.50 lor one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multiplied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent of interest) gives 60, and 222.0000 divided by 60 will give the exact interest, which is $3.70. If the rate of interest in the above example were 12 per cent, we would divide the $222.- 0000 by 30 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent, we would divide by 90; if 8 per cent, by 45. and in like manner tor any other per tent.

Miscellaneous Table Names Of The States Of The Union, And Their

Virginia. - The oldest of the states, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region.

Florida. - Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoraticn of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers."

Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.

Suggestions To Those Purchasing Books By Subscription

The business of -publishing books by subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possible, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is made:

A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the prospectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before subscribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principle, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same.

* All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.

Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers The\' are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They cannot extend the time of payment beyond the' time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment 0/ expenses incurred in their business.

// would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument, would examine carefully what it is; if they cannot read themselves, call on some one disinterested who can.

Topography

Boundary, Geographical Position, and Physical Features. - Ray county, Missouri, is situated in the northwestern part of the state, and is bounded as follows:

North by Caldwell county; east by Carroll county; south by the Missouri river, separating it from Lafayette and Jackson counties, and west by Clay and Clinton counties.

Richmond, the county seat of Ray county, is in longitude seventeen degrees west from Washington, ninety-four degrees west from Greenwich, and the northern part of the county is crossed by parallel thirty-nine degrees, thirty minutes of north latitude. It embraces all that portion of Missouri lying between the range line separating ranges twenty-five and twenty-six, and the range line separating ranges twenty-nine and thirty, west of the fifth principal meridian, and extending from the township line between townships fifty-four and fifty-five, north, southward to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river.

The above limits, greatly less than the original, are the result of repeated formations of new counties from the territory allotted to Ray by the act establishing it as a county, and include a superficial area of 561.64 square miles, or 359,449.6 acres.

The twelve congressional townships north of the line between townships fifty-one and fifty-two are integral, and therefore, aggregate four hundred and thirty-two square miles; those south of that line extending to the Missouri river, are fractional, as above stated, and contain, in all, 129.64 square miles.

Ray county is twenty-four miles in width. The issouri river, as it passes the southern border of the county, is quite sinuous, thereby making the distance from its northern to its southern line irregular. The greatest length of the county, north and south, is twenty-six and one-half miles from the point where the section line between sections seventeen and eighteen, township fifty, of range twenty-eight, touches the issouri river - due northward.

The longest straight line that may be drawn within the limits of Ray county, would extend from the northwest corner of section six, township

Ray county is most happily situated in the heart of the most beautiful and productive agricultural and mineral region of northwest Missouri. Kansas City is distant but forty-four miles from its county seat; St. Joseph sixty-seven miles, and St. Louis, the metropolis of the Mississippi valley, is only two hundred and thirty-seven miles to the southeastward.

Natural and artificial lines of transportation are ample and convenient, and the great western and southern markets are easily and cheaply accessible at all seasons of the year. The citizens of Ray have reason, therefore, to rejoice at the fortunate position of their county; and her inexhaustible natural resources, coupled with the thrift, industry and enterprise of her people, justify the hope that she will ever retain the rank she now deservedly holds, as one of the very first counties of Missouri.

The southern border of the county is laved by the waters of the great Missouri - reckoning from its source *o the gulf, as is proper, the longest river in the world - and while one might reasonably suppose that the low lands bordering on so turbid and sluggish a stream are marshy, subject to frequent inundation, and therefore well-nigh valueless, such is - in Ray county at least - far from the case. These bottoms are highly cultivable, and the soil is deep, fertile and enduring.

Stretching across the southern pa-t of the county - save at one or two places where bluffs intervene - at ar average width of about five miles, and at from fifteen to thirty feet above the average watermark, they have good, natural drainage, and are, at almost all times, most admirably adapted to the purposes of husbandry.

These low lands were overflowed in June, 1827; again in June, 1844, and again in April, of the present year, 1881; but they are now -May - being prepared for the ensuing crop. It will be observed that the intervals between overflows are so exceedingly long as to scarcely interfere with the cultivation of the bottoms; and their generous soil seldom fails to yield the industrious husbandman a bountiful harvest.

In the rear, and on the east and west sides of Camden, an old riparian hamlet, in sections twenty-six and twenty-seven, township fifty-one, range twenty-eight, the " bluffs" rise to a considerable hight, and present a scene picturesque and beautiful - especially in the spring-time, when the trees that crown their summits, are freighted with exuberant foiiage.

The face of the county is beautifully, as well as conveniently diversified with prairie land, woodland, groves, valleys and arable hills or knolls. The last mentioned, however, in many places are covered with timber. The irregular surface configuration is an advantage to husbandry, making

Looking from the summit of a towering hill in the suburbs of Richmond, the extensive and variegated landscape, stretching away to the north and northeastward, dotted here and there with attractive farm-houses, is an exceedingly agreeable sight. Far in the distance, "timber ridge " appears looming above the intervening hills, and presenting an even, unbroken range that charms the beholder.

In many localities, more particularly on the water courses, the forests are dense, and the timber, in abundant variety, is very fine. Oak, elm, ash, hickory, pecan, blackwalnut, sugar maple, white maple, linden, Cottonwood and other kinds are found.

Abundant and excellent building material occurs throughout the county, though, as yet, it has not been extensively utilized. In various parts of the county there are beds of limestone from which rock of almost any desired size, both durable and agreeable in appearance, might be obtained.

Ash-blue hydraulic limestone is found two miles northeast of Richmond, and similar rock exists at most of the coal banks near Richmond and Camden. A strip of limestone country some five miles in width, and about eight miles in length, extends through Grape Grove township, in the vicinity of Tu ney's Grove. On David Teagarden's land in the northwest part of township fifty-three, range twenty-eight, is a limestone quarry. The rock is excellent for building purposes, and when first taken from the quarry is easily worked, but becomes hard on exposure to the air. *

The coal mines of the county are extensive, and worked with great profit; but we dismiss them here, with cursory notice, for a fuller description further on.

On section nine, township fifty-four, range twenty-six, there is every indication of lead; indeed a considerable quantity of very rich ore has been taken out. The hill in which the ore is found is about three hundred feet high. There have also been found in this section, some fair specimens of silver and copper ore; likewise in section twenty-seven, township fiftythree, range twenty-eight.

* The following is Mahon's definition of limes : "Common or air-lime will air-slake, or slake by having water poured over it, and will only harden in the air. Hydraulic lime slakes thoroughly like common lime, when deprived of its carbonic acid, and does not harden promptly under water. Hydraulic cement does not slake, and usually quickly hardens under water. Fat limes give a paste which is unctuous to the sight and touch ; meagre limes yield a thin paste. Common limes are fat; hydraulic limes are meagre; but all meagre limes are not hydraulic.

"The limestones which yield hydraulic limes and cements, are either argillaceous or magnesian, or argillo-magnesian. The hydraulic energy differs according to the proportion of lime and clay in their composition. It is necessary that a certain proportion of clay should enter into the composition of the limestone. These rocks are generally some shade of drab, or gray, or of dark grayish- blue; compact-texture, fracture, even or conchoidal, with a clayey or earthy smell and taste. "

In township fifty-two, range twenty-nine, are indications of oil; the first, second and third sand formations existing the same as in the famous oil regions of Pennsylvania. This locality has been prospected, and the indications examined by experts, who are confident that, at a depth of from seven hundred and forty to eight hundred feet oil will be found . About fifteen years ago, a Mrs. Overman, residing on section thirty-four, township fifty-two, range twenty-nine, sunk a shaft to the depth of eight hundred feet; but owing to some defect in the boring, water could not be kept out, and the undertaking was not rewarded with success. Samples of the drillings, however, were examined by experts' and declared to be the same as found in all the oil districts of the country.

Near the mouth of Rocky fork of Crooked river, there are similar genuine indications of oil. A petroleum company was organized some years ago for prospecting in that locality, and made several borings, but for want of sufficient capital the enterprise proved a failure. At different places, where the stream flows over the land of White, Long and Adkins, oil is actually seen on the surface of the water.

Ray county is well watered, being traversed by numerous small streams, affording sufficient perennial supply of good fresh water for stock and other purposes agriculture and industry.

The following are the principal streams: Crooked river and its tributaries, East, Middle and West Fork, flowing across the county from northwest to southeast, drain the entire central portion ; Wakanda, South Wakanda and Cottonwood creek,the northeastern portion; Fishing river, Keeny and Rollins creeks, the southwestern, and Willow creek the southcentral portion. The course of all these streams, except Cottonwood creek, is southeasterly.

The Mirsouri bottoms and prairies constitute probably one half of the county. The rest consists of small, fertile valleys, low hills, woodland and bluffs - the last named being confined to the Missouri river, except at a few points along the banks of streams in the interior [of the county.

No effort will be made at rhetorical adornment, but we shall endeavor to write plainly, and correctly and truthfully, in language to be appreciated by the people.

The Pioneer

When the first settlements within what are now the limits of Ray county were made, the country was almost wild. Nature was unsubdued. The prairies were covered with rank grass. The Indian's bark canoe floated on the streams, and the jackal's wail on the midnight air. Wild honey was in the hollows of trees, and a man's life in the hollow of his hand. In spring-time, when nature donned her emerald robe, the air was freighted with the breath of flowers; feathered warblers thronged the wildwood, and the shadowy dale was resonant with the voice of song. Birds of plumage were there, but so were birds and beasts of prey - the latter sleeping in the da)r, but prowling in the night. It is ever thus: the enemies of innocence and beauty lurk secluded till opportunity offers to steal a blow. The primeval forests, as yet scarcely scathed by the hand of husbandry, were inhabited by ferocious, as well as by a great variety of harmless wild animals, including almost every species of American game. The panther, bear, jackal, lynx, wildcat, catamount, wolf and fox were among the destructive denizens of the tangled wildwood. Myriads of wild turkeys flocked in the groves and ravaged the little corn-fields. The streams were full of fishes. Bison browsed on the prairie, and elk and deer were abroad in the forest. Hunting, trapping, and the gathering of wild honey were the most profitable employments. The skins of wild animals afforded raiment for the body - their flesh, food. Indeed, the pioneer lived largely on the fruits of the chase. Hunting was at once a pleasant and profitable pastime. People living from fifteen to forty miles apart were considered near neighbors, and numbers of them would often assemble, especially in the autumn, to

On these occasions everybody was gleeful; the very dogs were blithesome, and leaped for joy; the granting horse, with beaming eye and distended nostril, seemed eager for the fun. Peace prevailed and good fellowship reigned supreme. As the cold, gray dawn of a November morning flooded the frost-crowned trees, with a sea of silver the merry hunter would

" Sound! Sound the horn! To the hunter good What's the gully deep, or the roaring flood? Right over he bounds, as the wild deer bounds, At the heels of his swift, sure, silent hounds. Oh, what delights can a mortal lack, When he once is firm on his horse's back, With his stirrups short and his snaffle strong, And the blast of the horn for his morning song? "

But the sound of the hunter's horn is no longer heard in the land. Where it once reverberated the iron horse rends the air from his lungs of fire; and the zephyr's wing wafts the din of industry over the felled forest, where the jackal screamed and the night-bird piped his plaintive strain.

ries of the county, the Indian, steadily driven before the advancing front of civilization, found a safe asylum in the wilds of the west. The first families, therefore, who planted themselves here permanently to remain, were subjected to a close intimacy with the savages. Happily, however, they were not seriously molested, as the tribes noted for fell barbarities failed to visit this immediate region.

Pioneer life had its pleasures, but also, its hardships and dangers; and the latter far more than counterbalanced the former. To leave home and kindred and friends, the attachments of early associations, the scenes of childhood, the influences of education and refinement, and every fond endearment that binds one to the place of his birth, or to the subjects of his parental esteem ; to venture far out on the western border, where animated and inanimated nature are alike unreclaimed, to face the perils "and endure the hardships of frontier life, required a high order of courage - a resolution not easily baffled - an iron will. This is quite as it should be; those who stock a country with inhabitants should be of the very best character, morally, intellectually and physically. So were the men and women <who came to people the then remote northwestern frontier of Missouri territory - all of which subsequently became, and the richest portion of which is now Ray county.

In writing of the pioneers of this county, the reader will understand that our meaning is broad enough to include those who settled within its original limits, from the Missouri river to the Iowa line.

They may have been, as a rule, illiterate, because school advantages were extremely meager; some of them - many of them - were wild and wayward, for they lived on the "outskirts of civilization," and had to battle with the hardships of frontier life. The ruffian anon stole into their midst, but he was not of them - yet among them and of them were Christians; and if there were no church buildings, the groves - "God's first temples" - in summer, and the primitive dwelling of some pious neighbor in winter, afforded them a sacred fane for the worship of the Infinite One. They wore " hodden gray " - cloth woven by the frugal house-wife from nettles, gathered by the boys from the woods and river bottoms; aye, thev wore even the tanned skins of wild animals; and dined on " homely fare." But what of that, they were honest men.

They occasionally fought, it is true, but fought like men - forgave each other, and were friends. Prejudice, jealousy or suspicion found no lodgment in their hearts; neither was there room there for treachery or deception. They spurned all littleness, scorned bickering and smothered the flames of rankling revenge. They worshipped no god but God, and looked with contempt on the fawning sycophant, the sharker and the charlatan. Of their number, the modern " politician " was not one. While their independence of thought gave each an opinion of his own, the one respected the views of every other. Individuality asserted itself in their adherence to different political parties, but they were wedded to no organization, and in reality, their test of merit for public official position, was the JefFersonian test. The pioneer is not a time-server; he loves independence.

Amon<i the females, the "common scold" was unknown. A venial fault was not expanded to a crime. A neighbor's misfortune caused them genuine sorrow. They were frugal, but not sordid; liberal, not lavish; cheerful and diligent. Vanity failed to entice them. They were happy in their homespun garb. They were content to work. The husband, home at night, " free from care, from labor free," was lulled'to rest by the steadv whir of the spinning-wheel. Their ready hands shaped fells into garments, drove the shuttle, swayed the batten, whirled the distaff - and their owners were never peevish, because never idle.

Such was the character, with rare exceptions, of the men and women, who left their homes in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and other southern states, to participate in the settlement, ultimately in the organization, and to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Ray county; from among whom her first officers were chosen, and of whom many of her best citizens of to-day are descendants. But they are gone, let us hope, to dwell with "just men made perfect." We know that, on earth, theirs were the homes of peace and contentment; that they dwelt together in harmony, in love.

"Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free from Fear, that reigns with the tyrant, and envy, the vice of republics. Neither locks had they to their doors, nor bars to their windows; But their dwellings were open as day and the hearts of their owners."

Early Settlements And Settlers

The country was not a wilderness, not a dreary waste ; it was a broad expanse of diversified area, rich, productive, beautiful; but undeveloped, unpolished by the hand of art, undisturbed in the embrace of nature's God.

The pioneers' old fashioned Virginia wagons, covered with white canvas, drawn by three horses, forming a " spike team," guided by a single line attached to the rein of the leader's bridle, and in the hands of a driver seated on the rear horse at the left wheel, halted on the east bank of Crooked river, not far above its mouth. It was August. The trees were crowned with luxuriant foliage. The forest was resonant with its own music, and redolent of summer's perfume. Spread out before the travel-worn immigrant in all its pristine beauty, nature's handiwork presented a scene too inviting to pass. The opposite was the more attractive shore, but the stream was swollen, and how to cross was a problem to solve. It was quickly done. Trees were felled, a raft made, and the party swimming their horses, passed safe to the other shore, and went into camp. Thus, though its privations continued for a time, a long and toilsome journey, all the way from the sterile hills of East Tennessee, was brought to a welcome ending; and the first white families, who paused to remain, west of Grand river from the Missouri to the Iowa line, passed the first night within what afterwards became the limits of Ray county. Their tents and canvased wagons afforded them sufficient shelter for the summer and early fall, but not from the rigors of winter. Quarters more substantial and capacious had to be built of logs, and ere this work could be completed, autumn's golden glamour was fading in the " sear and yellow leaf." Winter was coming on apace, and soon " The embattled forests, erewhile armed with gold,

But their hovels were finished in time to shield them from the severity of winter, and that season was doubtless passed with little suffering and in comparative comfort, considering the proximity of savages and ferocious wild animals.

The place of the first settlements was called Buffalo, probably because frequented by that animal, and was not far from the present site of Hardin, in what is now Crooked River township, in the southeastern part of the county.

The settlement at Buffalo, or the Buffalo settlement, more properly, perhaps, was made by immigants from Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. The very first settler was John Vanderpool, a Tennessean. He located, as above stated, on the west side of Crooked river,* in August, J 81 5. With him was his wife, Ellen Vanderpool, and the following children: Winant, Meaddors, Kinman, Mary, Delilah, Holland, and John. Lydia and James were born in Ray county. The latter, at the age of seven years, was drowned in the Missouri river. Winant, Kinman and Delilah, are dead ; the rest still living. Meaddors is living in Oregon, and although ninety years of age, continues to survey land. He, in 1819, taught the first school ever taught in Ray county. He also surveyed this county, and afterwards Chariton, Clay, Carroll, and Caldwell. His life has been one of many hardships, of continued labor, yet he is still active and energetic. Mary and John also reside in Oregon. Holland, to whom the writer is indebted for much interesting information concerning the early history of the county, is still a resident of Ray, making his home with a friend near Richmond. Ray county has been his home from early childhood, and he is now in his seventy-sixth year. No man knows any harm of Holland Vanderpool; he is a true Christian, innocent, emotional and warm-hearted. The entire family is remarkable for longevity. John Vanderpool lived to be quite old, and his father died at the advanced age of one hundred and nine.

Isaac Martin, who came from Kentucky, Lewis Richards, and Stephen and Joseph Field, from Tennessee, settled in the Buffalo neighborhood the same year. Isaac Martin became prominent as a local politician; was among the first representatives of the county in the general assembly, and held other county offices. He was unlettered, but of strong natural sense, and was a good neighbor, and a true gentleman. In one of his races for the legislature, Martin's competitor was Dr. W. P. Thompson, a Virginian, an educated, as well as a most worthy gentleman. A public meeting was held at old Bluffton. Dr. Thompson made a speech of some length, in which he mentioned with an air of pride, that he was from Virginia, and modestly referred to his scholarship and the school from which he graduated. Martin replied in the following words:

" Gentlemen and fellow-citizens : I was born in Kentucky. I never went to school but three days in my life; the third day I whipped the teacher and left. What little I got was in the field, and it's right in here;" (pointing to his head).

Martin was a democrat, and was elected. Living in the county at that time was a poor old man, named Wallace, a revolutionary soldier, who had never received a pension. Approaching Martin, he told him of this neglect, whereupon Martin replied: "Old man, I appreciate your services in the cause of independence ; rest assured that PI! see that you get the pension you justly deserve." The pension was secured through Martin's efforts, and the old soldier lived to the end of his few remaining years in comparative comfort.

The following year, 1810, Abraham Linville, Aaron Linville, John Proffitt, and a man named Wood, with their families, joined the first settlers. They were all from Tennessee.

The first marriage solemnized between persons living within the present boundaries of Ray county, was that of Winant Vanderpool to Miss Nancy Linville, about Christmas, 1815. There being no minister in the neighborhood, they were compelled to go many miles eastward to find one to perform the ceremony.

was the first female child born in what subsequently became Ray county The father, an Old School Baptist preacher, is now dead. The mother as well as the daughter, are still living, the former in Mercer county.

The first death was that of an infant son, mentioned above, of John Profhtt and wife, occurring in 1816, followed soon after by the death ot Peggy, daughter of W. and Nancy Vanderpool. Both decedents were buried on Crooked river, in the Buffalo settlement.

Dr. William P. Thompson, from Virginia, an educated, genial, and obliging gentleman, was the first practicing physician. He died in Grundy county, Missouri.

Reverend Finis Clark, of the Baptist denomination, Old School, was the first preacher. He was a good man; one among many others, who wore and wears religion not as a cloak to conceal the designs of a wicked heart. The first religious services were held at the house of Isaac Martin. In the winter season preaching was held in the neighbors dwellings. In the summer time

* * * "In the darkling wood, Amidst the cool and silence, they knelt down, And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication." * * *

Men carried their guns to church, not to shoot their fellow-man, but to defend themselves against the attacks of wild animals. They also wore leather breeches, hunting-shirts, moccasins, and coon-skin caps. The ladies were attired in dresses of cloth, made from nettles, gathered from the bottoms, after partially decaying, and " broken," as flax. They also wore leathern aprons.

The first school house was built by the settlers on Ogg's branch, in section four, township fifty-one, range twenty-eight. The thing built was but a rude, unsightly hut. The logs were unhewn; the roof was of rough boards, weighted to the rafters with heavy poles; the chimney was made of sticks, and the floor was the naked ground. The seats were puncheons, set on pegs, inserted into holes near either end. The writing desk was of the same material, but larger, and placed on longer pegs. A log, taken from either side of the house, and the apertures closed with greased paper, formed the windows. A hobby-horse stood in the corner, for the accommodation of refractory pupils.

In this house, in the spring and summer of 1819, was taught the first school ever taught in the county, and Meaddors Vanderpool was the teacher. It was a subscription school, and the master was paid in calves, buck-skins, and wild honey.

Corn meal was made by putting the grain into a mortar, and pulverizing it by pounding with a pestle. The meal was sifted through homemade sieves, formed of buckskin and wire.

In 1817 the settlers, anticipating an attack from the Indians, and for their general safety and protection, built, on the Missouri, southeast of where Camden now stands, what they called a fort. A circular enclosure, made by setting cottonwood posts in the earth, formed the stockade. In the center of this was a block-house, made of heavy timber, and provided with loop-holes. The fort was called North Bluffton, and was the first village founded in Missouri territory west of Grand, and north of the Missouri river. It stood close to the river bank, but the stream has long since changed its channel, and the site of North Bluffton is overgrown with trees and herbage.

All the settlers entered the fort and lived therein for some time, but really to no purpose, as it was never necessary to use it as a barrier of defense. The Indians were friendly, and seemed influenced more by a desire to pilfer, than by motives of hostility.

The first settlement was a nucleus around which others were rapidly formed. In March, 1818, John, Richard, Samuel, Zachariah, William, and Jesse Cleavenger, Isaac Allen, John Hutchings, Lewis, Samuel, and Jacob Tarwater, James Wells, and William R. Blythe (a trapper), settled in Fishing river bottom, in the southwestern part of the county. They, too, were all from middle and east Tennessee.

The next year R. Lewis McCoskrie, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, settled in the same locality; Captain Jacob Rifle, from Casey county, Kentucky, a little further to the east, in township fifty-one, range twenty-eight, and Dorcdle Rowland and David Fletcher, on sections three and ten, township fifty-one, range twenty-nine, respectively. They came from Indiana directly; originally from North Carolina.

The above settlers all came to stay, and were sober, industrious, honest men. Several of them held county and township offices at different times.

John Cleavenger was the first settler between his house and the Iowa line. He afterwards became a justice o fthe peace ; served two years as sheriff, and from 1856 to 1858, represented the county in the state general assembly. He was a worthy and useful citizen, and many of his descendants are yet living in the county.

Jesse Cleavenger lost his life by falling from a second story window of a farm house, in which religious services were being held when the accident occurred.

Capt. Jacob Rifle was widely known and esteemed. His name is yet familiar in every part of the county. His marriage to Miss Rutha Martin, February 15, 1821, by B. D. Bowmer, a justice of the peace, was among the first solemnized in the county; and his son, William C, was the first white child born in what is now Richmond township.

The physicians who practiced in the neighborhood^ 1818, and thereafter, were: Dr. W. P. Thompson, Dr. A. B. Ralph, who is now (April, 1881,) living at Albany, this county, and Dr. John Sappington, an eminent physician, who died at his home, near Arrow Rock, in Saline county, September 7, 1856. (Dr. Sappington was the originator and proprietor of "Sap-pi lights Anli Fever Pills" which attained immense popularity and were extensively sold - in some places passing as a medium of exchange - throughout the eastern, middle, western, and southern states.)

The first ministers were Rev. William Turnage and Rev. Finis Clark, Baptists. Services were held at the house of Jacob Tarwater, a pious, pure-minded man, in section 10, township 51, 29.

The school house was a mean little cabin, similar to the one already described, situated near the Tarwater place. The teacher was one Munholland; the number of pupils twenty, and the tuition $2.50 per quarter per pupil, a slight improvement, surely, on the Vanderpool school in the matter of compensation. If, in point of fact, less remunerative, it showed progression in method, at least.

The early settlers were, of course, compelled to endure many hardships and privations. To detail all these would require greater space than the plan of this work will allow. Suffice it to say that mills, markets, etc., were from forty to seventy miles distant, and, as there were no roads, or at best very inferior ones, the mills and markets were accessable only with difficulty.

For a long time the nearest horse-mill was forty miles distant, and sugar and coffee (tea being a luxury in pioneer life rarely indulged in.) were to be obtained only at Fort Osage, on the south bank of the Missouri, in Jackson county.

These mills had each a capacity of about twenty-rive bushels per day. The roads leading to them were poor and lonely, but necessity forced persons living from twenty-five to thirty miles away to patronize them. Having reached the mill, the applicant was compelled to remain from three to five days, waiting for his grain to be ground, meanwhile subsisting on game and wild hone)-, using parched corn in lieu of bread.

Trade in live-stock, other than "swapping'' horses, was almost unknown. There were few cattle; and they could be bought, when found, at from three to twenty dollars, according to age, size or quality.

The average price of pork, which was exceedingly scarce, was about one dollar and fifty cents per hundred weight, and a market for that commodity was not easily found. In fact, the first settlers had no hogs. Much time in the early fall was spent in laying in a supply of meat for the winter, and venison hams, nicely cured, formed a considerable portion of the pioneer's food.

The wild hog was in the woods, and the pioneer, being an unerring marksman, never failed to bring him down, save when his usually faithful flintlock " hun<r fire."

The streams abounded with fish, and "gigging" was a favorite recreation of the early settler. But this pastime could be enjoyed only at night and when the streams were clear and shallow. Near the front end of a canoe, five or six boards were laid crosswise, thus forming a small platform, which was covered with mud or mortar. On this a fire was built of dry wood, a supply of which for the night was prepared and placed in the canoe. One man sat at the rear, and with a paddle noiselessly propelled the canoe, while another stood near the front and thrust his longhandled gig into the fish as he saw it by the light of the fire.

But little money was in circulation, and happily little was required. The scalps of wolves and foxes, for which the law provided a pecuniary reward, were often used to pay taxes; and furs, buckskins, beeswax and wild honey were bartered in the stores. Many of the settlers being without gold or silver, the only medium receivable by the government in payment of lands entered, actually deposited with the land agent, at his office in Franklin, doe-skins and beeswax in payment of their indebtedness for land. From this fact the skins so deposited acquired the appellation of "land office money."

Bank notes of all the states were in circulation, and were received at par as a medium of exchange between the settlers, but were not "land office money." A United States bill was very seldom met with, and gold and silver were extremely scarce, being used only in entering land and in the payment of expenses incident to the land office.

Of course none of the vast multitude of labor and time-saving inventions, wrought out by the ingenuity of man, were in the hands of the early settlers, on the wild western borders. All domestic and mechanical labor was performed by the settlers. There were few carpenters among them ; skilled artisans were scarce; hence, every man was his own mechanic. Many agricultural implements; all wearing apparel, and nearly all household articles were made at home. Rude and unshapely as they were, they answered every purpose, and nobody complained because they were no better.

"Nor you, ye proud, impute to them the fault, If memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise, Where thro1 the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault, The pealing anthem swells the note of praise."

The Indians inhabiting this section when first visited by white settlers, and for several years afterwards, were the Sacs and Iowas. They claimed the country as their own, and, of course, regarded the whites as intruders; yet they were friendly, and, though perhaps regretfully, without resistance yielded dominion to the superior, incoming Caucasian.

A few deeds of blood and plunder were committed by savages who occasionally stole into the country from more war-like tribes, but tradition has no graver charge to prefer against the Sacs and Iowas than begging, pilfering and the like. They were not given to such dastardly deeds of despoliation and murder as the ancient Iroquois ; nor were they so barbarous as the neighboring Osage.

One day in July, 1818, a band of marauding savages, belonging to the Osage tribe, camped in the yard of a Mrs. Macelroy, a widow, living near the mouth of Fishing river. The Indians built fires in the yard, and began cooking and eating roasting ears, pilfering, shooting pigs, and driving away the horses. The only inmates of the house were the two persons who lived there - the widow and her little son, aged ten. The latter was sent to the house of Mr. Martin Parmer, a near neighbor, to tell him of the presence of the savages; of their depredations, and to seek his assistance. Parmer, on receiving the message, seized his gun; a grown son did the same, and, accompanied by the boy, the two hastily proceeded to the widow's house, on reaching which, the boy entered by the back door. By this time all the Indians had left but seven, who were still in the yard. Parmer and his son fired upon them, killing two. The rest ran into the house, where the mother and son were trembling with fear. With their tomahawks, the savages cut off two of the boy's fingers, and inflicted other severe wounds, but failed to kill him. The elder Parmer climbed upon the roof and commenced tearing off the boards, whereupon one of the Indians ran out of the house, attempting to escape; but Parmer fired upon him from the house-top, and brought the savage to the ground. His firearm discharged, Parmer drew a butcher-knife, hastily descended, and ran to the wounded Indian. The latter, insolent even in the moment of death, turned upon his back and attempted to spit in the face of his antagonist, when Parmer, with his butcher-knife, cut the Indian's throat " from ear to ear."

The father and son killed three of the four remaining savages; the other, though severely wounded, made his escape. The six dead Indians were dragged to a deep gully and thrown in.

This bloody rencounter alarmed the settlers; they expected the Indians to seek revenge; the latter, however, showed no disposition to retaliate.

Stephen Fields, who will be remembered as one of the original settlers in the Buffalo neighborhood, about 1820, moved to the bluffs, on Crooked river, near where the present poor farm is situated. The Indians commenced killing his hogs. At this Fields was greatly enraged, and, taking his gun, one morning, went into the woods, and came upon three Indians, also with guns. Fields told the Indians they had been killing his hogs, and to faickachec (get away). The savages bitterly denied the accusation, but Fields insisted that he was not mistaken; he knew they had been killing his hogs. Unable to pacify the old man, the three Indians seized him, stripped off his shirt, and, with the ramrod of his own gun, flogged him unmercifully, lacerating his back in a horrible manner, they told him to -puckachee. That he did, is not a " rash presumption.

This outrageous affair caused great excitement. Mr. Fields was an old man, sixty years of age, and greatly esteemed by his neighbors. The people were aroused. A company was raised to follow and punish the savages. The latter, anticipating retaliation, decamped long before sunrise the following morning. When their pursuers, about sunrise, reached the camp the Indians had deserted, their tires were still burning. Hair, bones, feet and flesh of the hogs they had killed were scattered around. The indignant whites pursued the Indians as far as Grand river, which the latter swam, thus baffling their pursuers.

A venerable gentleman, who was living near the scene of the occurrence just related, at the date thereof, who was one of the party of original settlers, and has always lived in the county, assures the writer that he remembers of no other deeds of violence committed by the Sacs and Iowas. They were generally very friendly.

On one occasion, a party of surveyors ( Meaddors and Holland Vanderpool being two of the party, the former surveyor-in-chief), was camped in the woods. It was a rainy day in autumn, and the men remained in their tent for shelter - availing themselves, meanwhile, of the excellent opportunity of washing their leather breeches and hunting shirts. About ten days were required in which to complete their survey. The party was busily engaged in washing their wearing apparel, when, out of the rainfall, six Indians stepped into the tent. They at once began making a variety of significant gestures, such as picking up ashes and putting them to their lips, plainly indicating that what they wanted was salt, an article of which the party had on hand in a little bag lying in sight, about a quart. Their request not being complied with, the Indians proposed to exchange for the salt a butcher-knife they had brought along, and their powder and bullets, ejaculating, as they held out the articles, "how swap!" "how swap!" The reply came, "no swap!" " no swap." Meantime, the white men had begun to sniff, and hold their noses, as an odor, not agreeable to evenr olf actor, was permeating the atmosphere of the little tent; and suddenly, a big Indian thrust from under his blanket, next to his skin, a genuine skunk, exclaiming, " how swap pony cat," " how swap pony cat," his companions, at the same time, gabbling like a flock of geese. The whites, at once comprehending the ruse, failed to disperse, and again replied, "no swap," "no swap." Foiled in this trick, the big Indian at once invented another; a mark was made on a tree, some paces in front of the tent, at which five of the Indians, standing in the tent door, consecutively shot. No sooner had the fifth fired, than the five ran toward the tree, as if to see which had won. This was to attract the white's attention - and it did so. In the excitement the big Indian deftly slipped the bag of salt under his blanket, and ran in the direction of the mark, but he never stopped there. The surveyors were compelled to eat fresh meat without salt about ten da}rs.

It is a well-known fact, that the Indians were exceedingly fond of honey, and yet remarkably afraid of bees. Holland Vanderpool and Daniel Riggs - youngest son of Timothy - were one day cutting a bee tree in the forest. Two Indians came up, but being afraid, not of the men, but of bees, stood at some distance looking on. The tree was soon felled to the ground, and the large, rich, delicious comb taken from its hollow. While the process of " robbing " was going on, the Indians stood making signs, by thrusting out their hands in a grasping manner and returning them to their mouths, which stood ajar, to indicate that they wanted some honey. Mr. Vanderpool, proverbially generous, took a large piece to each of them. They expressed their gratitude by tenderly stroking him on the breast, and by the exclamation, " good muck-a-man, " "good muck-a-man. " Besides being afraid of bees, the Indians were too lazy to cut the trees. Laziness is one of the chief characteristics of the Indian. All heavy work and drudgery are forced upon the squaws.

It will be seen, then, that the early settlers of Ray county suffered little on account of the Indians. They were fortunate in locating in the midst of friendlv tribes - the Sacs and Iowas.

Organization

The legislative act establishing Ray county denned her territory to be, " all that part of Howard county west of Grand river to the boundary line of this state ;" and then went on to declare that all that portion of country lying north of the county of Ray, and west of the range line dividing ranges twenty-one, and twenty-two, to the northern and western boundary of the state should be attached to said county of Ray for all purposes, civil, military and judicial.

Ray, it should be remembered, was organized while the rich and beautiful area acquired under the celebrated " Platte Purchase " was yet an Indian reservation. It was not till 1836, that that sagacious, far-seeing statesman, Thomas H. Benton, succeeded in procuring the passage of a bill through congress providing for the removal of the Indians farther westward, and the adding of their territory to Missouri. When Ray county, therefore, was established it extended to the western border of the state, or to what has since become that portion of Missouri containing the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway and Platte, known as the " Platte Purchase;" and it then comprised within its limits all that broad and beautiful expanse of country now divided into the prosperous counties of Worth, Gentry, DeKalb, Clinton, Clay, Ray, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, Livingston and Carroll.

Article VI. of the act organizing Ray county, provides that, " when a division of said county of Ray may become necessary, the boundary line of said county shall be as follows, to-wit: Beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river, at the range line between ranges twenty-five and twenty-six; thence with said line north to the township line dividing townships fifty-five and fifty-six; thence west with said line to the line dividing ranges twenty-nine and thirty ; thence south with said line to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence down the middle of the main channel thereof to the place of beginning."

It will be observed that the present limits of the county correspond with those set forth in the above article, save as to the northern boundary line, which, in fact, is that separating townships fifty-four and fiftv-five, instead of those numbered fifty-five and fifty-six. The latter townships are in Caldwell county.

Section XX of "an act defining the limits of the several counties in this state," approved February 16, 1825, provides as follows: "That all that portion of territory bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river, due south of the termination of range line between ranges twenty-five' and twenty-six, north of said river, and running thence north, with range line to the township line dividing townships fifty-three and fifi ty-J our; thence with said line west to the range line between ranges twenty-nine and thirty; thence south with said range line to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence down said river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the beginning, shall compose the county of Ray: Provided, That all the territory not included in said boundaries, lying east of the ranges twenty-nine and thirty, south of the northern boundary of the state, west of Chariton county, and north of the Missouri river; and all that part of the county of Ray which is stricken oft" by the before mentioned boundary line lying north of the before mentioned boundry of said county, be attached to, and form part of said county of Ray for all purposes, civil and military, until otherwise provided by law."

It will thus be seen that - excluding the territory attached for "civil and military purposes" - the above mentioned boundaries are the same as the present confines of the county, except that, this time, the northern limit is the township line separating townships fifty-three and fifty four, whereas, Article VI of the act establishing the county provided that whenever it should become necessary to divide the county, its northern boundary should be the township line between townships fifty-five and fifty-six. This line is the space of one township north, and that mentioned in the act of February, 1825, the same distance south of the existing northern boundary line - which was fixed December 26, 1836, when Caldwell county was formed out of the northern part of Ray. Clay county was erected January 2, 1822, from the western part of Ray, and Carroll January 2, 1833, from the eastern portion. The formation of these counties, together with Caldwell, above mentioned, left Ray with her present boundaries.

Isaac Martin, James Wells, John Harris, John Turner, and Jonathan Liggett were appointed by the legislature commissioners, " with full power and authority to point out and fix upon the most suitable place in the county of Ray, whereon to erect a court house and jail ; " and the place they, or a majority of them, selected was to be the permanent seat of justice for said county of Ray. The act provided that the first courts of the county should be holden at the town of Bluffton, unless the commissioners should previously point out another place for holding said courts. The commissioners were authorized bv law to receive as a donation, a good and sufficient title in fee simple to such tract of land or town lots as they, or a majority of them, should deem most convenient for a county-seat for the county of Ray, containing not less than fifty, nor more than two hundred acres of land ; and if such donation could not be obtained,, the commissioners, in that event, were empowered to purchase a similar quantity of land, without any reservation whatever, for the purposes aforesaid. They were to pay in cash, ten dollars per acre. The deeds by them received were to be submitted to the circuit court for approval, and if approved by the court, the commissioners were to cause the land to be laid off' in town lots, or squares. They were further authorized to sell said lots, first reserving such as might be necessary for public buildings, and the money received from their sale was to be applied, first, "to the building of a good and sufficient jail, and the remainder toward the building of a court house and other public buildings." The commissioners were notified of their appointment, by the governor, and were required to take an oath, or affirmation before some judge, or justice of the peace of Ray county, to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties assigned them, and that they would not select any place for a seat of justice, wherein they, or any one of them, were directly or indirectly interested in the soil. They were required to render a true account of their proceedings to the circuit court at each term thereof, after their several appointments; they were also required to give bond, with at least two sufficient sureties, to be approved by the judge of the circuit court.

On and after the first day of January, 1821, the county of Ray was vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities of a separate and distinct county. It then became lawful for the sheriff, coroner and constable to " do and perform" all duties which those officers were required to do in the county of Howard; and all suits and actions then pending in U the count}' of Howard, were to be tried and determined in the same manner as though no division had taken place; all fees, fines, forfeitures, judgments, due on the first day of January, or to become due in pursuance of suits, processes, taxes, or proceedings then commenced, were to be collected in the same manner as if the act creating the county of Ray had never been passed. Justices of the peace in the county of Ray, who acted as such while it was included within the county of Howard, had full power and authority to proceed in all cases commenced, or judgments given before them as justices of the peace for the county of Howard. Any person who acted as justice of the peace for that part of the county of Howard which fell into the county of Ray, was required to deliver to some justice of the peace of the township in which he resided " all dockets, documents, papers, and books," which belonged or related to his office of justice, "whole, safe and undefaced." The justice to whom they were delivered, receipted for the same, and it became his duty to proceed on such dockets, etc., in the same manner as the justice would have done had the act never been passed.

The first circuit court convened at Bluffton, on the Missouri river, in February, 1821, and the first county court at the sarne place in April of the same year. A district judge, three count)- justices, a county and circuit clerk, and a sheriff, whose names will be given at the proper place in a succeeding chapter, were duly appointed. Thus was the municipal machinery of Ray county set in motion ; and, save during a memorable period due to no default of her citizens, it has ever since continued to run smoothly and without retardation.

The legislature, as already stated, by the act organizing Ray as a separate county, made Bluffton, on the Missouri river, its temporary set of justice. There, of course, the courts were to be held, and all county business transacted, until the commissioners appointed to select a site for the permanent location of the county seat, should have performed that dutv according to law : and until the title papers, conveying the land donated to, or purchased by them should be duly approved by the judge of the circuit court as the law provided. Such approval, as the sequel will show, was most tardily obtained; and, owing to the difficulty in selecting a more eligible place, to which a perfect legal title could be given, Bluffton continued to enjoy the distinction of being the " Seat of Justice " of a new, but large and prosperous county, for nearly seven years.

but it no longer exists, save in name, on the early official records, by traditional evidence, and in the memories of the oldest living inhabitants. In the latter repositories it must soon perish, as the oldest residents are fast joining the "innumerable caravan that travel to the pale realms of shade;" by the other means, however, aided - let us indulge the hope - by the pages of this volume, it will, no doubt, enjoy a longevity extending far beyond the limits of the present generation. In 1821, William B. Martin, Robert Nicholson and Timothy Riggs were the tavern-keepers of Blufiton. They received their licenses - for which each paid a "tax" of ten dollars - from the county court. Martin afterwards became a justice of the county court, and held other public positions of trust and profit. Timothy Riggs was a man of some prominence - a naive, garrulous, good-natured landlord, in whose house the first circuit and county courts were held. The records contain no mention of Nicholson and tradition fails to hand him down.

Ray county was organized before the ingenuity of man made the very elements subservient to his will. Not yet did the "rail-car snort from strand to strand ; " and, in order to reach the seat of justice, on its southern border, persons in remote parts of the county, which then extended northward to the Iowa state line and westward to the Indian reservation, were compelled to traverse many miles either afoot or on horseback, as necessity required; and were often on the road from four to six days. This fact, doubtless, more than any other, made " tavern-keeping " profitable even in the country; and many persons were licensed by the county court to "keep tavern," at their residences, in different localities in the county - a privilege lasting one year, and for which each licensee was required to pay a "tax" of ten dollars. Besides those already enumerated, Isaac Martin and Martin Parmer were among the early " tavern keepers." Of the former we shall have more to say hereafter. Parmer, familiarly known as "Ring-Tail Painter," was a noted pioneer. He came to this county about the year 1S16. In the fall of 1817 he built a log cabin near Grand river, in what is now De Witt township, Carroll county, and established himself for the winter to engage in trapping. The cabin erected by Parmer is said to have been the first ever built within the present limits of Carroll county. Parmer was a celebrated Indian fighter, and in another place in these pages it shall be our pleasure to give an account of his heroic defense of helpness innocence. He was exceedingly eccentric in habit, rough in manners, unlettered, but warm-hearted, brave, generous and daring. He preferred the seclusion of the wilderness to the abodes of civilization: vet he became a politician, joining this pursuit to that of trapper and Indian fighter; and was the first man to represent Chariton county in the state general assembly. He first settled in Howard, afterwards Ray county, where he lived a number of years, endearing himself by deeds of valor, as well as by offices of kindness, to all his fellow-pioneers.

William Turnage, an Old School Baptist, was the village preacher of Bluffton. He also conducted religious worship at various places in the county. He was among the first settlers, and will be remembered as one of the pioneer preachers of the west; a devout and pure-minded man, whose earnest exhortations taught many souls to " flee from the wrath to come." But Rev. Turnage was not the only minister. Others, whose names will be mentioned hereafter, labored with him, and with equal fervor and fidelity.

The first legal judicial tribunal that ever sat in Ray county, was the circuit court, and it was held in the town of Bluffton, Monday, the 19th day of February, 1821.

David Todd personally appeared, and produced a commission from the governor of Missouri, appointing him judge of the first judicial circuit - Ray being one of the counties of that circuit. As this was among the first commissions granted by the first governor of the state, it is subjoined in full:

" Alexander McNaie, Governor of the State op Missouri: To all who shall see these Presents, Greeting: - Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, learning and ability of David Todd, Esq., I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, do appoint him circuit judge of the first judicial circuit in the state of Missouri, and do authorize and empower him to discharge the duties of said office according to law. To have and to hold the said office, with all the rights, privileges and emoluments thereunto appertaining unto him, the said David Todd, during good behavior, unless removed according to law.

Hamilton R. Gamble, appointed by the supreme court, commissioned by the governor, was the first prosecuting attorney for the first judicial circuit. He was present and entered upon the duties of his office. John Harris was appointed sheriff, and William L. Smith, clerk.

First Grand Jury

The grand jury retired and consulted, but having nothing to present were discharged. 'Twere better for the country, if modern grand juries were generally discharged for a similar reason.

At this first term of court, Hamilton R. Gamble, Peyton R. Hayden and John T. McKinney, were the lawyers present. They were authorized to practice in the circuit court of Ray, and after allowing Timothy Riggs three dollars for the use of his house, the court adjourned till " court in course " - having been in session one day.

" Indictment for selling less than twenty gallons of whisky, without having obtained a license for retailing spirituous liquors. A true bill."

Richards plead "not guilty," but a verdict was rendered against him, and he was fined one hundred and twenty dollars and costs. The fine, however, was subsequently remitted by the governor.

AmonLr the items of interest connected with the now extinct Blufiton, worth}- to be noted on the historian's page, is the number of eminent lawyers who practiced there.

Nearly, if not quite all of the following persons who practiced at the Blufrton bar, distinguished themselves either as jurists, advocates, orators or statesmen:

Hamilton R. Gamble, Peyton R. Hayden, Jno. T. McKinney, George Tompkins, Cyrus Edwards, Dabney Carr, Almstead S. Grundy, Cornelius Burnett, Jno. F. Ryland, Amos Rees and Gen. Duff' Green. So bright a constellation of forensic talent rarely illumines the court room of more modern times.

A deep interest is always associated with first occurrences in the history of a country or community - with the first act beginning, or leading to, an important era, or great event - with the first person to do a thing memorable for its consequences - with first instruments of writing. Men of after times love to move backward, " through the vista of departed years," to the beginning of universal history, and then, specifically, to the first events, acts, things, men and documents of their own nation, state or county. The first performers in any great political, social, or military epoch are remembered simply because they were first. Even the person first to do an act, in itself insignificant, is often held in long remembrance, provided it happens to be the first in a series of paramount importance. First papers, documents, records, after the lapse of years, are looked upon with reverence. So with a particular spot, marking the scene of some first important historic event.

Jamestown, Virginia, is remarkable only because it is the site of the first permanent English settlement in America. For that reason, the American heart holds its memory dear.

Sir Isaac Newton was a man of superior mind and great learning, but had he not been first to ascertain the existence of a great philosophical truth, he must have remained in comparative obscurity.

Columbus was the first white man to set foot on the West Indies, and John and Sebastian Cabott, the first to touch the mainland of North America; therefore we cherish their memor}^.

Edwin Ruffin, it is said, was the life-long personal and political friend of Calhoun, but that is a matter of no interest. On the morning of April 12, 1861, however, a ball from a Confederate cannon crashed against the solid granite walls of Fort Sumter. It was the first shot of the civil war. Whether Edwin Ruffin ever fired another is not known, but he fired the first, and thereby gained a place in history.

Things first are always prolific and proper material for the historian's pen. This is our apology for having already alluded to matters first in the history of Ray county, and for frequent similar mention which will occur in the progress of the work.

"This day came into court Patrick Darcey, and presented a petition, which is ordered to be recorded by the court, which is in the words following:

"To the honorable, the circuit court of Ray county: The petition of Patrick Darcey, a native of Swynford, of the parish of CellscondifT, of the county of Mayo, in Ireland - being twenty-four years of age on the 10th of May, last; and who has lived in the United States of America since the month of April, 1820; and wishing to become a naturalized citizen of the said states, intending to make his residence in the county of Ray, of the state of Missouri, being in height five feet, seven inches and one half, with gray eyes, black hair, freckled face, pretty much marked with small-pox: And he would respectfully ask of this honorable court to be permitted to avail himself of the several laws of the United States, in such cases made and provided, to enable him to become a naturalized citizen of the said states; 'and prays that this declaration - may be entered of record, and, as in duty bound, he will ever pray, and so forth. Patrick M. Darcey."

"Patrick Darcey, the above named declarant, appears in open court and makes oath that the facts set forth in his said petition, as above, are true. July 15th, 1823. Jon. T. Burch, Clerk."

"The undersigned, citizens of the state of Missouri, and residents of the county of Ray, make oath that they have been personally acquainted with Patrick Darcey, the within named declarant, for about six months past, that they believe him a well-disposed man, and have heard no charges against his general good character.

And so, an "exile of Erin " was the first foreigner to become a naturalized citizen of Ray. We presume he made a worthy citizen, and a useful member of society. If a true representative of the Emerald Isle, we knozv he paid his debts and his taxes, and was brave, generous, and unselfish. He was afterwards appointed road-oVerseer, and for the year 1831 was collector of the county.

The circuit court continued to meet in Blufrton, at the house of Timothy Riggs, till its November term, 1828, when it adjourned to meet in Richmond.

The first term of the county court was held in Bluffton, commencing Monday, April 2d, 1821. Like the circuit court, the county court used the " tavern " of Timothy Rigri£S as a court house.

John Thornton, Isaac Martin and Elisha Camron were the justices. The last named, however, did not attend till the January term, 1822, when he produced his commission, was sworn in, and took his seat.

" Be it remembered, that upon the first Monday of April, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, being the second day of said month, at the town of Bluffton, in the county of Ray, the same time and place being those appointed by laws passed at the last session of the legislature of said state, entitled, 'An act for the division of Howard county and the establishment of certain counties therein,' one of which is the said county of Ray, and also entitled, ' An act to establish judicial circuits and districts, and appointing the times ot holding courts therein.' John Thornton and Isaac Martin, being a majority of the justices of the count}' court, appeared, took their seats, and presented their commissions."

The county court, at this, its first term, seems to have had considerably more business to transact than the circuit court at its first session. Townships and county roads were established; county and township officers appointed; ferry rights, tavern, merchant, dram-shop, and peddler's licenses granted; commissioners nominated to "superintend and preserve from waste " all school lands in the county, and William Rollins was summoned to appear at the next term of the court to show cause why his children should not be taken in charge by the county court for protection.

A county court was then, of course, a novelty to most of the citizens, for Franklin was many miles away, and few of the denizens on the western border ever visited that town; but the judges, though perhaps unlettered, wrere men endued with a goodly share of common sense, and performed their duties in a creditable manner.

The first public road in the county, established in April, 1821, lead from Bluffton to John Thornton's mill. The first ferry license was granted to Isaac Martin, to keep a public ferry across Crooked river from his farm on the east half of the northwest quarter of section six, township fifty-one, range twenty-six. Rates for transportation by said ferry of " persons and things " were fixed by the county court. Isaac Martin was also the first road overseer.

On the first Monday in August, 1822, an election was held at the house of Andrew Turpin, in Missouriton township, and at that of John Shields, in Bluffton township.

The county was originally divided into two townships, Bluffton and Fishing River. The latter, however, was soon sub-divided, and Gallatin township formed thereout. Prior to the holding of the election referred to, and prior, also, to the May term, 1822, of the court at which that elec-

On the " Wyaconda,7' to be called the " Wyaconda" precinct, to include the settlement from Grand river to the middle of range twenty-three. Place of holding elections, house of John McGaugh.

On Crooked river, to be called Crooked River precinct, to include the country from the middle of range twenty-three to the Discharge (Willow creek). Place of holding election, house of Isaac Martin.

At BlufFton, to be called Bluftton precinct, including the settlements from the Discharge to range line between ranges twenty-nine and thirty. Place of holding elections, Bluftton.

The court established the above precincts April 23, 1821, but no election was ever held in them, because previous to the time (August, 1822,) appointed for holding the first election, and at its May term, above mentioned, the court reduced the number of townships to two- - Bluftton and Missouriton - establishing the voting places therein as stated above.

The first census of the countv - an enumeration of the inhabitants only - was taken by the sheriff, John Harris, in September, 1821, a service for which he received thirty-four dollars. Returns were made to the county court, and that body found the population to be 1,789. The county's present population, as well as that of intervening years, will be given in another place; here, we will only add that it is gratifying to know, that, although reduced in area to one-twelfth its size in 1821, the number of inhabitants to-day is twelve times as great, and the increase of wealth a hundred fold.

At its May term, 1822, William L. Smith resigned his position as clerk of the county court. He was an efficient officer; wrote a large, fair hand, and was a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence. It is, perhaps, not traducing his character, to state that he was an old bachelor, and that the author finds in the records of the county court, the following entry:

"Ordered, that the order of this court requiring that William L. Smith, the former clerk, should be charged with half the amount of the tax imposed upon bachelors for state purposes in 1821, be and the same is hereby revoked, and from henceforth discontinued."

The first death by violence that occurred in the county, of which an official took cognizance, wras that of James Buchanan, on whose body an inquest was held before William Miller, a justice of the peace, August, 1823.