Saline County, Missouri - The whole text, 1881 (part 6 of 28)

Joseph H. Goodin was appointed assessor for the county, and had previously been appointed by the governor, sheriff of the county, to serve until there could be an election. David Warren was appointed county collector. Rev. Peyton Nowlin was appointed surveyor of the boundary line between this county and Cooper, to act in conjunction with Dr. Hart, of the latter named county.

The next session of the county court was held July 1 6, 1821, " being the third Monday" of the month. Present - Gwinn and Tennille, judges; Benj. Chambers, clerk; J. H. Goodin, sheriff.

The first business done and recorded was the appointment of Littlebury Estes, Daniel McDowell, and Wm. White, Jr., as commissioners " to view and mark out" the first road established in the county, "petitioned for by Lewis Rees and others, leading from the Arrow Rock to the Grand Pass, by the place where said Reese now lives, and from thence to the western boundary of the county, and make return to this court at the next term."

The first letters of administration were granted at this court, to David Warren as administrator of the estate of James Warren, deceased, and Richard W. Cummins, Edward Burleson and Wm. Shipley, appointed appraisers of said estate.

to the October term of the court, 1821, it taking the assessor, J. H. <joodin, (or sheriff, for he was both,) just eight days to make the said enumeration. The population of the county at this time was 1,176.

It seems that there was a deficiency in the county tax for the first year, and also a deficiency in the state tax, as it was ordered by the court at the January term, 1822, "that the sum of four dollars forty-three and twothird cents be allowed to David Warren (collector) for the deficiency of the county tax, 1821," and also ordered " that the sum of thirty-six dollars, seventy-seven and two-third cents be allowed to David Warren, (collector) the deficiency of the state tax."

At the same January term, 1822, the first ferry license was granted by the court, to John Nave, across the Missouri river at the mouth of Richland creek, for which he paid two dollars into the treasury.

Thomas Shackelford, the third judge of the county court, having produced his commission from the governor, was sworn in and took his seat at the February special term of the court, 1822.

At the same term the court fixed the boundaries of the three townships, Arrow Rock, Jefferson and Miami, into which the county was then divided. Arrow Rock covering nearly the southern half of the county, and the northein portion being nearly equally divided between Jefferson and Miami.

At the same time, February, 1822, Joseph H. Goodin was appointed collector, and different assessors were appointed for each township, Hugh Galbreath for Arrow Rock, William Ferrill for Miami, and Laban Garrett for Jefferson.

At the August term of the court, 1822, the second year after its organization, the court ordered one-half of the state tax for that year to be collected for the use of the county.

At the November term, 1822, James Wilkinson appears on the records as sheriff of the county. He had been elected at the previous election, on the first Monday in August. Governor McNair commissioned him, September 3, 1822, at St. Charles, then the capital of the state.

One circumstance connected with Wilkinson's commission may be noticed. The first documents of that character bore the governor's private seal in attestation of their genuineness and authority, for the reason, as was stated in the commissions, that no seal of the state had been provided. The commission of Sheriff Wilkinson bore that " strange device " known as the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, of which Mr. Samuel L.' Clemens (Mark Twain), a native Missourian, says : " The armorial crest of my own state consists of two dissolute bears holding up the head of a

To show how small was the valuation of property in Miami township, at this early day, it is only needed to state the amount of pay allowed to Wm. Ferrill for the assessment of the taxable property of that township for the year 1822, which was three dollars.

The fees paid the county officials in 1822 sound very small at the present day, though, when properly understood, they were larger than they now are. At the November term, 1822, B. Gwinn was allowed, for services as judge of the county court, $22; B. Chambers, for services as clerk, $33.25 ; while J. H. Goodin, former sheriff, was allowed $45.53, and as deputy clerk, $26.00, for general and special services.

At the November term, 1822, the first final settlement of an estate was made (that of Wm. Bones, deceased, by H. Tennille, administrator), the value of the property and sales being $874,01^-.

The first tavern license was granted to John McMahan at the February term of the county court, 1823, to keep a tavern in the town of Jefferson, he paying the sum of ten dollars into the treasury.

It seems that the first collector of the county, David Warren, had some difficulty in making his settlement with the court, as in the February term, 1823, it was ordered by the court that "David Warren, collector for 1821, have until the next term of this court to settle respecting the certificate of non-resident land sales to the state, for taxes, etc."

Many of the settlers, being from Kentucky and Virginia, and other slave-holding states, had brought with them their servants. There was a considerable slave population, which was constantly being increased, and it became necessary to appoint patrollers. At the May term, 1824, of the county court, the following patrollers were appointed for the county :

The stock of the settlers " ran wild." That is to say there were no herd laws or stock laws to cause vexation and breed dissension, and the hogs and cattle grazed and roamed at will. Herds began to be numerous, and although not of the best strains, were very valuable. Every settler had his " mark " or " brand," and if he was inclined to be particular he had it recorded. There was a great deal of danger that otherwise it might be appropriated by another party animated with no good intent. And so it came to pass that every settler knew his neighbor's " mark "as well as he knew his name ; and it was made a crime to change a " mark " or brand with evil purpose, almost as serious as to alter the face of a promissory note. As early as the first year of the county's organization - 1821 - Wm. McMahan made haste to record his mark and brand as follows :

The county government was now fully and completely organized, and its machinery in perfect running order. It had passed from its condition as a portion of Cooper county through the confusion incident to its formation; its wildernesses had been made to bring forth grain and fruits abundantly; its waste places to blossom and to bear; its pioneers had become " old settlers ; " it had engaged in the conflict for existence interminable, and it took its place - and not a second place either - among the other counties of the state, to soon become the peer of the proudest of them, and the superior of very many of them.

It is impossible to give the name of every settler who came into the county after the year 1820 for the next twenty years, or even to mention in detail all the settlements that were made during that time. Following, however, is a general sketch of the settlements made, names of very many of the settlers, etc., etc., which, it is believed, will be found of interest, if not of value, in many instances. This sketch may also be depended upon as being in the main authentic and correct. A few mistakes may have occurred, but they are not many nor important. Very many of the facts and much of the information have been derived from the historic papers of Mr. Jerrold Letcher, some of which were compiled , by his father, the Hon. Wm. H. Letcher, and much of the matter has been compared with statements obtained by the publishers, and found to be correct.

Prior to 1820, as has been already narrated, the settlers kept to the heavily wooded bottoms, where they had the conveniences of timber and water navigation " unvexed to the sea," if they willed it. But settlers came pouring into the county in such numbers that there was no longer room for them in the timber, and they must perforce go to the prairies. Thornton and Nave had demonstrated that the prairie lands were susceptible of cultivation, and they began to be chosen as favorite locations. But in almost every instance these prairie farms adjoined the timber growing on the water courses, up which the settlers had pushed. . Farms

In 1819, Asa Finley went out on the Salt Fork, and two years thereafter settled at the mouth of the stream. Many years thereafter, speaking of the prevalance of timber in the region of the salt springs he said : " Rails and house logs now grow where then I could not cut a riding switch."

In 1823, Wm. Hayes removed from the Big bottom to the bluff, and before this date Thos. Shackleford and Drury Pulliam were living on the high ground or bluff near where the Glasgow and Lexington road leaves the bottom. In the summer of that year, Anthony Harvey located in a tract of land which includes the present town of Arrow Rock.

In 1821, Alexander Gilbraith located and built a mill at the present site of Jonesborough, with Wm. Edwards and Mr. Chapman for very near neighbors.

In 1824, Abr am Smith had located on Camp creek, and Joseph Robinson, Samuel Davis, Richard Scott, Henry Gilbraith, and Wyatt Bingham had located near Alex. Gilbraith's mill. Isaac Odell settled on the place known as the Robert Y. Thomson place. The Wheelers, Harrises, and Wolfskills ventured up Edmondson's creek. Hughes, where Bethel chapel is now, and the McReynolds families, in the Grand Pass region, did not hesitate to trust the prairie soil and kind Providence to bring them a subsistence, a seedtime and a harvest.

In 1826 the "big rise" in the Missouri covered all the bottoms with water and drove out the settlers. In this year Green McCafferty was settled on the headwaters of Cow creek. Geo. Rhoades and Nathaniel Walker had settled near Frankfort. Bartholomew Gwinn is reported to have settled on the present town site of Frankfort in 1817. Quite a settlement was soon formed here known as the Gwinn settlement. Including North Rock creek and Bear creek, this settlement contained, shortly after the coming of Rhoades and Walker, both Wm. and Bartholomew Gwinn, Benj. Hawkins, Col. Jno. Smith, Bartlett Gwinn, Col. Ben. Chambers, first county clerk and described by the old pioneers who knew him as " the politest man in the county," Jno. Jackson, Thos. Shackelford, R. Y. Thomson, Adam Ham, and probably a few others. Many of these were refugees from the submerged Missouri bottoms.

In 1827, James Wilhite, who had removed to Lafayette county, returned and settled on Fish creek with his old friend Wm. Haes, and James Crossland and Hugh Tennille for neighbors . Henry Nave moved out of Cox's bottom and settled south of Bryan post office.

In this year - 1827 - there was a very heavy immigration into the county, especially in the fall of the year, and the ferry at Arrow Rock was kept very busy transporting immigrants to the Saline county side. The newcomers were principally from Virginia and Kentucky. The Lewises, the Millers and the Risers, from the valley of the Virginia, came in force. Mr. Finley, from Kentucky, located on Salt Fork, on what was recently known as the Jarvis Smith farm. The same year Ephraim McLean came over from Howard county and settled near James Sappington and John Shipton, who had preceded him.

In 1828, Capt. Daniel Kiser settled on Straddle creek. The origin of the ineuphonous, not to say inelegant, name of this stream is thus given by an old pioneer: Three hunters were pursuing an elk up the stream, at an early day, by trailing him. At one time they lost his track, but presently one of them found it and exclaimed to his companions, "Boys, I've found him! Here he goes straddle of the creek, and he just, keeps straddling along."

John and Samuel Miller opened and settled a farm on the north of Salt Fork, for a long" time known as the Judge Story farm. About the same time John Baker settled on a tract between Kiser and Col. Lewis^ his only other neighbors being Abram Smith on the east, on Camp Creek, and another man living on the Marshall Durrett farm; on the north Wm. Huffman, and George Davis, up in the Petite Osage plains.

With the exception of the Kiser settlement and Jones at the Big Salt Spring, the entire region from McCafferty's to the settlement of the Reavises, on Blackwater, and from Gilbraith's mill, on Salt Fork, to George Davis' farm, up in the plains, was in 1 828 an unbroken wilderness. There was an encampment of 400 or 500 Osage Indians, about two and a half miles northeast of Malta Bend and numerous bands of lowas, Sacs and Foxes, with occasional Kickapoos, and Kaws from the west, roamyd over the country at wiU in quest of game. There were none to molest them or make them afraid, and none whom they molested. Game was abundant and easily secured, and water was plenty. An Indian makes a god of the belly, and to it offers abundant sacrifice when the opportunity presents itself, and there was here a magnificent opportunity for that species of worship.

The -grass on the prairies was in most places as tall as a medium sized man, while on the Petite Osage plains it grew so. tall that a man on horseback could easily tie it over his head. Fire set out would spread rapidly for miles away, driving out hundreds of deer, wolves, rabbits, and other animals, which would leap from their grassy coverts and bound away to find shelter and safety. The hunters frequently fired the prairies in order to drive out the game, a very destructive practice, as it retarded or prevented the growth of timber, and frequently burned up valuable property.

The only road through the county that was much used, was the one from the Arrow Rock to Grand Pass, which crossed Cow creek and ran about a mile south of Mt. Carmel church, and which is probably the one that the county court in January, 1822, ordered Lewis Rees, Dan'l Thorn- ton, and Green McAfferty " to view and mark out." At the same session, Cornelius Davis, Wm. Hays, old Natty Walker, and others were directed to "mark out a road from the Blackwater salt works to the ferry at Chariton;" and Dan. Mann, Wm.Jobe, and Wm. Hampton, to "mark out a road from the ferry at Chariton to the town of Jefierson;" and Almond Gwinn, Wm. Shipley and Joseph Burleson, to "to mark out a road from JefTerson to the upper end of Rush bottom, (so called from the great number of rushes,) where Daniel Tilman now lives." Yet these latter roads could hardly be termed public ones, since they were only used for local travel.

In 1828, Dr. Geo. Penn located on the hill immediately above the town site of Jonesborough and began the practice of his profession. The field of his labor extended from his residence to the Grand Pass and all along the Blackwater and Hetch's creek. Previous to his coming. Dr. John Sappington had been the principal minister to the ills to which Saline county flesh had fallen heir. A little before the coming of Dr. Penn, Samuel Hays, J as. Montgomery, and Moses Johnson had setded in the Salt Pond country, where they were joined by Logsdon.

In 1829-30, to this settlement came James Fitzpatrick, Robert Owens, Isaac Parsons, and his sons, the doctor, and Edward, who settled a mile and a half 'southeast of Brownsville, where the senior Parsons erected a mill. At this time the only persons north and east of Parsons were Benj. Prigmore, Anderson Reavis, Joseph Dixon, Fielding Pennell, Hays, Johnson, Montgomery, and Logsdon.

Prior to this, Nathan Harris and Stephen Trigg were making salt, down on Blackwater, near Harris' mill, and still carried on the business, with Benj. Willow in their employ. They did quite a business, and settlers, miles and miles away, used salt made by them. At the Big Salt springs, John A. Jones had been extensively engaged in salt manufacture for some time. He was quite a personage in his day, although a little " off color," in his complexion. He claimed to be a Portuguese, but many believed him to be an octoroon. On one occasion an Indian " grabbed wrists" with. Jones, and. after the grasps were relaxed, the red man, after smelling his fingers, with a contemptuous expression of countenance, exclaimed : " Ugh ! You no Portugee. You d - n IVigger-gne. ! "

In 1830, Jesse Lankford settled a mile or so east of Marshall; the McClintics, father and sons ; the Lewises - Jno. M., William, and Washington - reached the county, the last two settling in the Grand Pass country the same year, and Col. Jno. M. three years later; and the DeMosses, John and William. Two years later, Mr. Brown settled near where Mt. Carmel church now stands, and the next to settle in this neighborhood was Maj. Thos. H. Harvey. After him came Daniel

In 1834, came Washington Lucas into the Gwinn settlement, where he found, in addition to those already named, Thos. Monroe, James Garrett, Abner Gwinn, and Allen, Harrison, and Elijah Gwinn, three brothers, who occupied the tract whereon Frankfort stands. Subsequently came Matt. Ayres and sons, Alexander, Jas. Jones, Hickerson, and William S. Field. Between 1829 and 1834, there settled at Arrow Rock, Wm. Brown, O. B. Pearson, Burton Lawless, Jesse McMahan, Judge Joseph Huston, and Mrs. Henry Bingham, the mother of Geo. C. Bingham, afterward one of the most prominent men of the state, renowned for many things, who painted his first pictures in the little shop in which he used to work, sketching them with chalk, or "keel." In 1833, the Van Meters had settled near the "Pinnacles." In 1884, John Duggins settled southwest from the present town site of Marshall. His neighbors were Cornelius Davis, old Natty Walker, and Henry Pemberton. In 1834, Jeremiah Odell, Dr. Read Stephen Smith, Aaron F. Bruce, and Samuel Wall, went upon the high prairie, beyond the Salt Fork, in the direction of Old Jefferson.

In 1833, John McDonald settled on Heath's creek; he sold out to James Witcher, who had for neighbors, Gearin Head, who had come in the fall before, and Wm. Corn, the latter four miles northwest, and McClure, beyond him north of the Blackwater. Mr. Witcher found game plenty^ and often killed a deer in the morning before breakfast. . When asked, many years after, what induced him to select this place, he replied: "I was looking for good water, good timber, and good land, and found them all right here."

Isaac NefF visited Ft. Cooper, in 1820, but did not make a permanent removal until 1836, when he settled the place afterward known as Bryan postoffice. When he came, Benjamin Brown w-as already in the neighborhood, and soon after there were Ezekiel Scott, Burnis Brown, Mortimer Gaines, and Rice Wood. Maj. Thos. H. Harvey settled, the same year^ in the Mt. Carmel neighborhood, and built and occupied the house where his son, Thomas, afterward resided. Robert C. Land also settled in the Shackelford neighborhood. Here were Wm. T. Gilliam, Geo. Hawkins, Dr. Kinear, Peter HufF, and Almond Gwinn. Joseph and Samuel Grove came soon after. This settlement was near old Jefferson, at which place, at this time, the residents were F. H. Gilliam, Thos. Lewis, Wm. A. Wilson, Dr. John A. Hix, J. Davis, Nicholas Land, Perry Scott, and Spencer Vaught.

In 1838, there were two more of the Reavis family, Overton and doctor, in the Salt Pond country, and also John Berry, Thos. and Robert Hickinson, James G. Beatty, Thos. Hunter, John and Robert Owens, James Yantis, Asa, Henry and Simeon Pennington, Ed. Armentrout, old Capt.

Bright, Charles, Murray, and George Francisco, and Wm. B. and Geo. Kincaid, who lived about three miles east of the site which Brownville occupies. Thos. Miller settled here this year, and his son, Calvin J., the following year. About this time, John McAllister located at the springs since bearing his name.

In 1840, Beverly Carey moved down and settled at Hazel Grove; Benjamin Miller and Wm. Brown were his neighbors. The "Lynches, Dr. Yantis, Ostrander, the Fergusons, and others, were on the Blackwater.

About 1839, Judge W. B. Napton settled at "Elk Hill;" T. C. Duggins, on Edmondson's creek; Henry and Tillman Weedin settled on Cow creek, where Henry built a mill about 1843.

First Circuit Court

Before the first term of the county court was held there was a term of the circuit court holden at Old Jefferson, February 5, 1821. Hon.. David Todd was judge; Hamilton R. Gamble, afterwards provisional governor of the state, etc., was district attorney; Chambers was clerk, and Joseph Goodin, sheriff. The following attorneys were in attendance: H.. R. Gamble, Cyrus Edwards, George Tompkins, John S. Buckey, John F. Ryland, Dabney Carr, Abiel Leonard, and Duff Green. At least four of these attorneys - Gamble, Ryland, Leonard and Green - afterward became men of prominence in the affairs of the state and the country.

There were no cases tried at this term of court, notwithstanding the: array of lawyers present. A grand jury was impanneled and sent out " to inquire into all offenses within the body of this court." It was composed of Drury Pulliam, foreman; Abel Garrett, Bartholomew Gwinn,. Jonathan English, William McKissick, Joseph Robinson, Hosea Hampton, Alexander Goodin, Jacob Ish, John Lamb, Peter Huff, William Hays, Geo. Baxter, William Ramsey, John Colvin, John Jackson, John Sutton, Almond Gwinn, Baker Martin, Jacob Wilhelm, Wm. D. Hampton, Jeremiah Odell and David Warren - ^twenty-three in all. "After being out some time," says the record, " the grand jury returned into court,, and having nothing to present, were discharged by the court." The court thereupon adjourned until " court in course."

At the June term, 1821, of the same court, there was some business transacted, however. A grand jury, of which Joseph Robinson was foreman, found indictments against Rev. Peyton Nowlin, for usurpation of the office of justice of the peace; against Sarah Shockley, Jane Day, and Rebecca Shockley, for assault and battery; against James Millsap and. Benjamin Goodin, for an assault and an affi-ay; against Jeremiah OdelU for an affray; two bills against John B. Wall for assault and battery.

At the October term, begun on the first of the month, the parties indicted at the June term were tried. The first criminal conviction in the county (tell it not to Phoebe Cozzens) was of a woman ! Sarah Shockley, indicted at the June term for assault and battery, was convicted and fined three dollars. Her sister-in-law, Rebecca Shockley, had her case continued, and the case against Jane Day was dismissed. The jury that tried and convicted Miss Shockley was composed of John Jackson, Jacob Wilhelm, Robert Davis, Wm. McKissick, Wm. Hughes, Harrison Vaughn, Elijah Gwinn, Edwin Hicks, John Copeland, John Brummet, Almond Gwinn, and Wm. A. Gwinn.

Rev. Peyton Nowlin was tried on the charge of usurpation of authority, and acquitted. James Millsap plead guilty to being concerned in an affray, and was fined three dollars. Benj. Goodin, indicted with Millsap, plead not guilty, was tried, convicted, and fined five dollars. Jeremiah Odell plead guilty to being concerned in an affray, and was fined five dollars. John B. Wall was fined five dollars for an affray in one case, and acquitted in another.

On the civil calendar, Samuel Wells obtained judgment against Jacob Ish for the sum of $15, and the case of Holdeman & Co. vs Sterling Nuckolls was discontinued.

Other cases disposed of were David Warren vs. Ira A. Emmons; Joseph Haslip vs. George Tennille; Ira Emmons vs. George C. Hartt, and Simon Leland vs. George C. Hart and George Tennille.

It has been impossible to ascertain further particulars regarding these early sessions of the court, but perhaps enough of general interest has been given.

At the March term, 3 824, Abiel Leonard presented a commission from Gov. McNair appointing him to the office of district attorney in the room of H. R. Gamble, who had re|igned. At this term a singular suit was begun. "Jack," a slave, brought suit against Wm. Chick, Sr., Wm. Chick, Jr., and Robert Wallace for damages for assault and battery and for false imprisonment. Abiel Leonard, "Jack's "attorney, asked leave for his client to sue as a pauper, which was granted; and the Chicks were especially cautioned by Judge Todd to " permit Jack, the plaintiflf" herein, to have a reasonable liberty of attending his counsel and this court when occasion may require, * * and that he be not taken or removed out of the jurisdiction of this court, or subjected to any severity by reason of the application herein to this court to sue for his freedom." Before the next term of the court, at which the case was to be tried, the Chicks released

It seems somewhat strange that Judge Todd should have allowed Jack to sue for his freedom in this, then a slave state, when thirty-fjve years thereafter the supreme court of the United States declared that a negro had not the legal capacity to bring a suit in any court of the United States. The celebrated Dred Scott decision announced principles decidedly in contradiction to those contained in Todd's decision certainly, for he gave the Chicks to understand that Jack, though a negro and held as a slave, had " rights that they were bound to respect."

The first and second terms of court were held in a log cabin, minus a portion of the " chinking." The grand jury deliberated at the first term in the kitchen of a dwelling house, being in season but an hour or two. At the next term that body transacted its business under the spreading branches of a white oak tree.

First Representative

Prior to the organization of the county, as has been stated, it was included within the territor}' of Cooper. The first representative in the legislature from the county was Martin Palmer, a very eccentric character and withal a very notable one. The stories told of him would fill a large volume. He was of the frontier genus and David Crockett species, or rather of the " half horse and half alligator " kind of men. He called himself " the Ring-Tailed Panther," or as he expressed it, "the Ring- Tailed Painter," and he rejoiced in the cognomen. He was uneducated, unpolished, profane, and pugilistic. At musters and other gatherings Palmer would invariably get half drunk and as invariably have a rough and tumble fight. At the first session of the legislature he attended, held at St. Charles, some of the members engaged in a free and easy knockdown. Governor McNair ran out and into the crowd and commanded the peace " in the name of the state of Missouri," when Palmer hauled off and knocked him down, sending his excellency " galley-west," and half a rod away.

Wetmore's Gazetteer (1837), relates the following incident in the career of the ring-tailed member from Saline: As the time approached for the second meeting of the legislature, of which he was a member, Palmer loaded a small keel-boat with salt from the works in this county, and set sail from the mouth of Blackwater for the capital, intending to accomplish two things - legislation for his constituents and a profitable commercial transaction for his own benefit. Having taken the helm himself. Palmer manned his craft with his son and a negro, and started 'on his voyage. Uniting as he did, business and politics, while afloat on the river, he stood astride of the tiller with a newspaper in hand (about six weeks old), out» of which he was spelling with all his might, the leading points of a political essay.

While engaged in this labor, the boat reached a point in the river opposite the famous Hardeman's Garden, five miles above Old Franklin, and the assemblyman was warned by his vigilant son, who was on the lookout, that there was a " sawyer ahead."* Deeply engrossed with a string of polysyllables, Palmer replied, "Wait a minute until I spell out this other crack-jaw word; it's longer than a gun-barrel." The current of the Missouri, however, was no respecter of persons or words ; the river " went ahead," and the 1?oat ran afoul of the nodding obstruction, and was thrown on her beams-end. The next whirlpool turned her keel uppermost. The cargo was discharged into the deep, and the salt not only lost its savor, but its identity. The negro, in a desperate struggle for life, abandoned the ship and swam to shore; but the steersman, like a true politician, determined to stick to his craft, as he would to his party, and succeeded in keeping uppermost for some time. Having divested themselves of their apparel, to be in readiness for swimming, the father and son continued astride of the keel until the wreck'was landed at the town of Franklin. Here the member from Saline, who was long and lean, was supplied with a suit of clothes by a gentleman who was shoit and fat. Palmer's new raiment hung as loosely about him as the morals of the average politician .

The father and son were invited into the habitation of a worthy gentleman to rest and refresh themselves. While recounting their perils, at the breakfast table, the lady who was administering coffee, inquired of the shipwrecked legislator, if his little son had not been greatly alarmed. The " Painter " of the circle-striped-tail variety, replied :

" No, madam. I'm a raal Ring-Tailed Painter, and I feed all my children on rattlesnakes' hearts fried in ' painter's ' grease. There are a heap of people that I would not wear mournin' for if they was to die ; but your husband, marm, hez a heart ez big ez a court house. When we wuz a floatin' bottom uppermost (an unpleasant predicament for the people's representative) past Hardeman's garden, we raised the yell like a team of bear dogs on a wild cat's track, and the black rascals on shore, instead of comin' out to help us, stood thar and grinned as if they had ketched a fat buck 'possum. Now, marm, I wish God K\migh.tY^s yearthquakes would

" I spose you wouldn't like me to spit on this kiver-lid you've spread on the floor to keep it clean; Fll go to the door; out in Saline we don't mind puttin' anything over our puncheon floors. The river, marm, I find, is no respecter of persons ; for, notwithstanding I am the people's representative, I was cast away with as little ceremony as a stray dog would be turned out of a city church ; and upon this principle of democratic liberty and equality, I told McNair, when I collared him and backed him out of the rumpus at the capital, when he was likely to spile the prettiest kind of

§. fight. 'A governor,' sez I, 'is no more in a fight than any other man.' I slept with Mac once, just to have it to say to my friends in Saline, that I had slept with the governor."

About the year 1830, "the Ring-tailed Painter" removed to Texas, took part in her war for independence, and at its close was chosen a member of the council of the then republic, on the strength of his legislative experience in Missouri.

History From 1820 To The Blackhawk War

In 1822 occurred an event which was long remembered by the citizens. This was the first murder ever perpetrated in the county. The circumstanc«?s were as follows:

The time of the tragedy was August 12th, of the year named. The locality was at the ford of Cow creek, at the lower edge of the grove, on the Lexington road. There stood a large elm tree on the spot, and under it, lay down to sleep, on the evening in question, an old Frenchman, named Jean Estelquay, alias Jean Sterkey, alias John Starkey. He had been a soldier in the war of the revolution, and had been granted a pension. He lived in Lafayette, or some other of the western counties, and had made a journey on foot to Booneville , the government agency, to procure his pen sion money.

A scoundrel, named Andrew Turpin, described as a villainous-looking fellow, with his nose pierced like an Indian (he had probably belonged to an Indian tribe at one time), also a Frenchman, was in Booneville, saw the old veteran get his money, and followed him all day, seeking an opportunity to kill and rob him. This opportunity presented itself when the old soldier lay down to pass the night under the famous big elm. Turpin had no weapons, and so he fashioned a lance, or spear, and with this killed the unfortunate Starkey, as he lay with his blanket around him, unconscious of any danger whatsoever. After robbing his victim, Turpin fled. The next day the body was found by some travelers, on their way east from Lexington. An inquest, conducted by Esquire Bartholomew Gwinn, was held, and the body buried at the foot of the big elm.

Turpin was apprehended, and at the next term of the circuit court (in November), was indicted for murder. He was confined in an out-building, at Jefferson, and one night in December, pretended to have frozen his feet very badly. The sheriff thereupon allowed him a good many liberties,, and he was not slow to avail himself of his advantages, and soon made his escape. He was afterward heard of in Ray county, and a capias was sent up to the sheriff of that county, but that official failed to arrest him, and soon after he went west, and, it is said, joined a band of Indians.

The courts took what seems now to be very singular action in this case. The following extract from the records of the circuit court, November term, 1824, will fully explain:

This day came the prosecuting attorney for the state and it appearing to the court here that at the circuit court held for the county of Saline at the November term, 1822, an indictment was found by the grand jury of said county against the defendant, that he did, on the 1 2th day of August, 1822, murder John Starkey, in said county, and that the said Andrew Turpin was in custody to answer the same and escaped before his trial thereon; and that by the court of Saline circuit a capias was awarded to the sheriff of said county where the fact was committed, and the said defendant being supposed to be in Ray county, a capias was awarded to said county of Kay and was delivered to said sheriff two months before the return day of the writ, and that upon both said writs the sheriffs of both counties returned that the said defendant was not found in said counties ; and that a court held for Saline circuit at the July term, 1824, did award a second writ of capias directed to said county and to the sheriff thereof, and that, therefore, at the return day thereof at this term the said sheriff' hath returned that the said defendant is not found in his bailiwick, and that he did cause a copy of the said writ of capias to be pubhshed in the Missouri Intelligencer, a newspaper printed at Franklin, in said State; and further that the sheriff did cause public proclamation to be made at three several days in the circuit court of Saline county between the test and the i-etum day of said writ; that the said Andrew Turpin should appear before the said circuit court of Saline county on the third day of the present term, being the return day of said writ, to answer the indictment or to prosecute his traverse thereof, or else that through default he should at this day be outlawed and stand convicted of the murder of which he stands indicted; and now, on this third day of the present term, the said Andrew Turpin, being solemnly called, did not yield hirpself to the sheriff of this county, or to this court, or stand histrial for the said murder - the court on consideration thereof, doth order, declare, and pronounce him, the said Andrew Turpin, outlawed and convicted of the crime of murder upon the body of him, the said John Starkey, alias Jean Sterkey, alias Jean Estelquay, and do declare and pronounce the said Andrew Turpin therefor shall be hung by the neck until he be dead."

It seems strange, it may be repeated, that a judge of the reputed ability of David Todd, a candidate for governor, member of congress, etc., should sentence a man to death without trial, without being confronted with the witnesses against him, without any of the rights vouchsafed to criminals, but it seems he did so, and it is said he had law for so doing.

ing alone, overtaken by night, lay down to sleep just where his fellowcountryman had laid down and taken his last long sleep two years before. The last traveler was unconscious of what had happened, however, and slept serenely. The locality was s^aid to be haunted, and the. superstitious people of the neighborhood regarded it with something of dread and fear. A horseman living in the neighborhood came riding along. His horse, frightened at the object prone on the ground, started back in alarm. The Frenchman was awakened by the noise made by the horse, and started up with his blanket around him, and hailing the horseman in broken English, or, perhaps, broken French, began making certain inquiries. This was enough for the horseman. He turned his horse about and hastily galloped away. Stopping at the first house he came to, he told the inmates that he had seen the ghost of John Starkey, the murdered Frenchman. " I am sure of it," he asserted, " for he stood up, with his shroud around him, and spoke to me in broken French."

The county now began to assume, in many parts, a civilized aspect. Farms were plenty, comparatively speaking, and the two or three little towns in the county were doing considerable business, and thriving generally. Steamboats ascended the river and landed at the Saline county ports, and communication with the outside world was frequent and of importance.

The first steamboat that passed up the Missouri was the Independent, which made a voyage from St. Louis to old Chariton, above the mouth of the Chariton river, or two miles above where Glasgow now stands, in May, 1819; in June of the same year. Major Long, of the U. S. army, passed up the river with a boat called the Western Engineer, which, in connection with two other boats, was bound on an exploring expedition. This boat was very oddly constructed. From the prow projected an image of a serpent's head, painted black, with a red mouth and a tongue the color of a live coal. The steam exhausted from the mouth of this serpent and produced a queer effect. Some Indians who were at the Arrow Rock when the boat passed that point, gazed upon the seeming monster with astonishment. A band of them followed it from Arrow Rock to Miami bottom, expecting it to " give out," they said, pretty soon, for it was so short of breath, and panted so! This boat was a side-wheeler, and as a means of exploration, proved a success. She was the first boat to ascend the upper Missouri.

A very few of the pioneers of Saline are now living who remember this event; but a few years since, when Mr. Letcher made his tour of the county, there were several. It was something remarkable, and long made an impression.

The most remarkable event of the year 1824 was the presidential election. This was the first election of the kind in which the county was to take a part. The candidates were Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee ; Henry Clay, of Kentucky; Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia; and John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. Henry Clay carried the county by a majority over all the other candidates. There were a number of Kentuckians, and Tennesseeans then in the county, and they, in the parlance of politics, did " good work " for him. The following were the election places in this county and the judges of election :

This election was held under the act of Dec. 17, 1822, and the proclamation of the governor, John Miller, and came off in August. Doubts having arisen as to the legality of the election, the legislature chose the three electors of the state on the 20th of November, 1824.

The result of this election, as is known, not being satisfactory to the friends'of Gen. Jackson, he was placed in nomination four years thereafter. John Quincy Adams was chosen president by the house of representatives, into which body the election was thrown, his election being obtained by an alliance with the friends of Henry Clay. Upon Mr. Adams' elevation to the presidency, he appointed Mr. Clay his secretary of state. Immediately the cry arose and the charge was made that there had been a " bargain and sale " between the Adams and Clay factions, by the terms of which the former had been made president, and Mr. Clay the premier of the government. This charge continued to be made against the great Clay until his death, which latter event occurred in May, 1852.

In May, 1826, occurred the " big rise " in the Missouri, which proved so disastrous to the early settlements in the bottom. The flood was caused by the melting of snows in the mountains and local streams. Cox's bottom and the Big bottom were overflowed to such an extent that the settlers were driven back to the highlands, and much of their property destroyed, and considerable of their live stock drowned. For further account of this flood the reader is referred to the account of the settlement of the bottoms. Although the " big rise " occasioned some temporary discomfort and even distress, it was a blessing in disguise to the county, since it caused settlements to be made away from the malaria-infected bottoms and out upon the fertile prairies, and thus led to the development of the best part of the county.

into camp at first on the highlands with their families ; afterward they built temporary cabins, which became permanent upon mature reflection of their builders, who opened farms adjoining.

There are conflicting statements as to the result of this overflow. Some old settlers have stated that there was a great deal of sickness in consequence; others (Esq. Ish, now living, among the number), say that no unusual amount of sickness followed. The bottoms were covered with water for about ten days.

The presidential contest of 1828 was between Gen. Jackson and Mr. Adams. Gen. Jackson carried Saline county and the state of Missouri, the latter by a majority of 4,872 in a total vote of 11,672, and was elected. John Miller, an Adams man, was elected governor of the state without opposition. Dr. Sappington, Peyton Nowlin, and others were the leaders of the Jackson party in this county. The election was held as follows:

In 1831, the county seat was removed from Jefferson to Jonesboro. The first term of the circuit court was held here on the 27th day of June. Hon. John F. Ryland was now the judge, in place of David Todd; Amos Rice, circuit attorney; Benj. Chambers, clerk. It is reported that this court was held in a stable-loft ; that the horses were below, and among them was a venerable, strong-lunged Kentucky jack. The lawyers were wrangling over some law points, when the long-eared animal below lifted up its voice and cried aloud, with exceeding vehemence. " Mr. Sheriff, " said Judge Ryland, " go down there and make that fellow keep still, so as to give these other jackasses a chance to be heard! "

Some men are yet living who assert that this incident actually happened, as here recorded. It is further stated that the animal so vigorously and frequently exercised his gift of speech, as it were, and interrupted the proceedings of the court to such an extent that the sheriff took him out and confined him in an out-building, which was afterward wanted as a jury room, necessitating the removal of the donkey to the woods.

The next year a case was begun in the circuit court, which lasted two years, and was one of much celebrity in those days. It was the case of the "State of Missouri vs. Jim, a Slave," on an" indictment for murder. The case was tried in Saline county four times, before Judge Ryland, the jury each time failing to agree. Jim belonged to Judge Todd, who at last came again upon the bench, succeeding Ryland. At the first term of the court held by Todd, Jim presented a pardon from the governor for his ofltense, but his honor refused to act upon the case in any manner whatever, because of his relation to the prisoner, and" sent it to Lafayette, where Jim was discharged.

The presidential contest of this year excited some interest in Saline county - not as much, however, if it had not been the year of the. Black Hawk war. Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren were the candidates of the democratic party ; Henry Clay and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, were the whig candidates; and the anti-masonic party had for its nominees Wm. Wirt, of Virginia, and Amos Ellnaker, of Pennsylvania. The result of the election in the United States was that Gen. Jackson was elected by an overwhelming majority of the electoral college. Henry Clay received but 49 electoral votes Vermont chose anti-masonic electors, while Souh Carolina, then pouting over what she imagined were grievous injuries received at the hands of Old Hickory, and never liking Clay, cast her vote for two men not candidates - John Floyd, of Virginia, and Henry Lee, of Massachusetts. In this election. Saline county voted for Clay and Sergeant.

The winter of 1830-31 was long remembered as the cold winter. The temperature was unusually low, and there was a great snow storm, phenomenal as to magnitude and extraordinary as to character for this latitude and locality. Snow b^gan to fall on Christmas day, and fell continuously until New Years. It reached the extraordinary depth of four feet an average, and in many cases well authenticated statements are to the effect that it drifted up to the roof of the cabins. The snow did not disappear until in March. The wind continued in the north and northwest for six weeks, never shifting or ceasing for a moment during that time. On the 16th of February, at noon, there was a total eclipse of the sun, and immediately thereafter a gradual thaw set in, which lasted until the snow melted away. The weather was intensely cold, from January until the time of the eclipse. Game of every kind perished in the woods, as did the stock of the settlers that was not well cared for. It is said that the settlers even kept their dogs in the house to prevent them from destroying the famishing and half frozen game.

Snow covered everything. The wells and springs were inaccessible, and the people melted snow and used snow-water exclusively, for many days. There was but little, if any, communication with the outside world, and many roads remained unbroken for weeks. It was with the greatest difficulty that Dr. Sappington and the other physicians of the county made their visits to the bedsides of their patients.

In 1832, the county was visited by that dreaded pestilence, the Asiatic cholera. While its victims were but few, it caused very great alarm. It visited Arrow Rock, Jefferson, and tfiere were a few cases in the interior of the county. The number of deaths in the county was about six. It was very destructive in St. Louis and other towns in the state.

In May, of this year, a party of distinguished personages passed through the county on its way to the far west. The party was composed of Washingion Irving, Gov. Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, a French count, and other individuals of greater or less renown. Washington Irving and the French count stopped at the house of John M. Lewis, in Grand Pass township, for breakfast. Mrs. Mary J. Lewis, relict of Mr. Lewis, remembers that Irving was so charmed with the appearance of the country that he could scarcely contain himself. He admired the beautiful landscape spread out before him, and expressed his admiration in his choicest language. After breakfast the count went out on the prairie to take a shot at a herd of deer that had been discovered. While out he lost his handkerchief, which was afterwards found, and which is described by Mrs. Lewis as being a yard square, made of twilled silk, with a red and white striped border, an eighth of an inch wide, the center being of a cherry color. (Trust a woman to remember such things!)

Irving, Geo. Ellsworth and others of the party, stayed that night at Mr. Wm. Miller's, in Grand Pass township, in company with Rev. Mr. Spratt a Methodist preacher then on that circuit. The party remained in this county for some days, engaged in hunting and other diversions, and then proceeded to Ft. Leavenworth and even further westward, among the wild Indian tribes. Every one who has read Irving's description of the capture of the wild horse as given in the school readers,. is reminded that it was written on this trip of the author.

The Black Hawk War

In the year 1832, the people of Saline county, and indeed a great part of Missouri, became much excited over the then prevailing Black Hawk war. A full account of this war may not be void of interest.

The scene of the struggle, as is well known, was in Wisconsin, and began in 1830. Its immediate cause was the occupation of Black Hawk's village, on Rock river, by the whites, during the absence of the chief and his braves on a hunting expedition, on the west side of the Mississippi. When they returned, they found their wigwams occupied by white families, and their own women and children were shelterless on the banks of the river. The Indians were indignant, and determined to repossess their village at all hazards, and early in the spring of 1831 recrossed the Mississippi and menacingly took possession of their own cornfields and cabins.

It may be well to remark here that it was expressly stipulated in the treaty of 1804, to which they attributed all their troubles, that the Indians should not be obliged to leave their lands until they were sold by the United States, and it does not appear that they occupied any lands other than those owned by the government. If this was true, the Indians had good cause for indignation, and complaint. But the whites, driven out in turn by the returning Indians, became so clamorous against what they termed the encroachments of the natives, that Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, ordered Gen. Gaines to Rock Island with a military force to drive the Indians again from their homes to the west side of the Mississippi. Black Hawk says he did not intend to be provoked into war by anything less than the blood of some of his own people; in other words, that there would be no war unless it should be commenced by the pale-faces. But it was said, and probably thought by the military commanders along the frontier, that the Indians intended to unite iaa general, war against the whites, from Rock river to the Mexican borders. But it does not appear that the hardy frontiersmen themselves had any fears, for their experience had been that, when well treated, their Indian neighbors were not dangerous. Black Hawk and his band had done no more than to attempt to repossess the old homes of which they had been deprived in their absence. No blood had been shed. Black Hawk and his chiefs sent a flag of truce, and a new treaty was made, by which Black Hawk and his band agreed to remain forever on the Iowa side and never recross the river without the permission of the president or the governor of Illinois. Whether the Indians clearly understood the terms of this treaty is uncertain. As was usual, the Indian traders had dictated terms on their behalf, and they had received a large amount of provisions, etc., from the government, but it may well be doubted whether 'the Indians comprehended that they could never revisit the graves of their fathers without violating their treaty. They undoubtedly thought that they had agreed never to recross the Mississippi with hostile intent. However this may be, on the 6th day of Aprjl, 1832, Black Hawk and his entire band, with their women and children, again recrossed the Mississippi in plain view of the garrison of Fort Armstrong, and went up Rock river. Although this act was construed into an act of hostility by the military authorities, who declared that Black Hawk intended to recover his village, or the site where it stood, by force, it does not appear that he made any such attempt, nor did his appearance create any special alarm among the settlers. They knew that the Indians never went on the war path encumbered with the old men, their women and their children.

The Galenian, printed in Galena, of May 2, 1832, says that Black Hawk was invited by the Prophet, and had taken possession of a tract about forty miles up Rock river; but that he did not remain there long, but commenced his march up Rock river. Capt. W. B. Green, who served in Capt. Stephenson's company of mounted rangers, says that "Black Hawk and his band crossed the river with no hostile intent, but that his band had had bad luck in hunting during the previous winter, were actually in a starving condition, and had come over to spend the summer with a friendly tribe on the head waters of the Rock and Illinois' rivers, by invitation from their chief." Other old settlers, who all agree that Black Hawk had no idea of fighting, say that he came back to the west side expecting to negotiate another treaty, and get a new supply of provisions. The most reasonable explanation of this movement, which resulted so disastrously to Black Hawk and his starving people, is that during the fall and winter of 1831-2, his people became deeply indebted to their favorite trader at Fort Armstrong (Rock Island). They had not been fortunate in hunting, and he was likely to lose heavily, as an Indian debt was outlawed in one year. If, therefore, the Indians could be induced to come over, and the fears of the military could be sufficiently aroused to pursue them, another treaty could be negotiated, and from the payments from the government the shrewd trader could get his pay. Just a week after Black Hawk crossed the river, on the 13th of April, 1832, George Davenport wrote to Gen. Atkinson: "I am informed that the British band of Sac Indians are determined to make war on the frontier settlements. * * * From every information that I have received, I am of the opinion that the intention of the British band of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier." And yet, from the. 6th day of April until after Stillman's men commenced war by firing on a flag of truce from Black Hawk, no murders nor depredations were committed by the British band of Sac Indians.

It is not the purpose of this sketch to detail the incidents of the Black Hawk war of 1832, as it pertains rather to the history of the state of Illinois. It is sufficient to say that, after the disgraceful affair at Stillman's run. Black Hawk, concluding that the whites, refusing to treat with him, were determined to exterminate his people, determined to return to -the Iowa side of the Mississippi. He could not return by the way he came, for the army was behind him, an army, too, that would sternly refuse to recognize the white flag of peace. His only course was to make his way northward and reach the Mississippi, if possible, before the troops could overtake him, and this he did; but, before he could get his women and children across the Wisconsin, he was overtaken, and a battle ensued. Here again he sued tor peace, and, through his trusted lieutenant, " the Prophet," the whites were plainly informed that the starving Indians did not wish to fight, but would return to the west side of the Mississippi, peaceably, if they could be permitted to do so. No attention was paid to this second effort to negotiate peace, and, as soon as supplies could be obtained, the pursuit was resumed, the flying Indians were overtaken again eight miles before they reached the mouth ofthe Bad Axe, and the slaughter (it should not be dignified by the name of battle), commenced. Here, overcome by starvation and the victorious whites, his band was scattered, on the 2d day of August, 1832. Black Hawk escaped, but was brought into camp at Prairie du Chien by three Winnebagoes. He was confined in Jefferson barracks until the spring of 1833, when he was sent to Washington, arriving there April 22. On the 26th of April, they were taken to Fortress Monroe, where they remained till the 4th of June, 1833, when orders were given for them to be liberated and returned to their country. By order of the president, he was brought back to Iowa through the principal eastern cities. Crowds flocked to see him all along his route, and he was very much flattered by the attentions he received. He lived among his people on the Iowa river till that reservation was sold, in 1836, when, with the rest of the Sacs and Foxes, he removed to the Des Moines reservation, where he remained till his death, which occurred on the 3d of October, 1838.

The proximity of these hostilities to the Missouri frontier caused Gov. John Miller to adopt precautionary measures to avert the calamities of an invasion which seemed imminent. Therefore, in May, 1 832, orders were issued to the generals commanding the Missouri militia, to warn the members of their commands, " to keep in readiness a horse, with the necessary equipments, and a rifle, in good order, with an ample supply of ammunition, etc."* «

The nearness of Saline county to the hostile territory, the familiarity of Black Hawk and the Sacs and Foxes with this country, together with the instinctive dread of Indians and Indian wars, led many settlers to fear a raid from the hostile savages, and many were the alarms, all of them false, that were raised. At least two companies of men, then belonging to the county militia, kept their powder dry for an emergency. The fear of the people of Indian incursions was not confined to Saline county. From a fear of the Sac and Fox Indians the people gradually grew to be afraid of all Indians. Rumors were prevalent at one time that a general Indian uprising had taken place, in which even the friendly Osages had joined- Levens & Drake's History of Cooper county, p, 169, et seq., says:

Some time during the year 1832, the people became terribly alarmed by the report that the Osage Indians were about to attack and massacre all the settlers in this vicinity. This report started first, by some means, at old Luke Williams', on Cole Camp creek. The people became almost wild with excitement. They left their plows in the fields, and fled precipitately in the direction of the other settlements, towards Booneville. Some of them took refuge in a fort at Vincent Walker's, some at Sam Forbes', and others at Collin Stoneman's and Finis Ewing's. Hats and caps, shoes and stockings, piUows, baskets, and bonnets might have been seen along the old military road to Booneville, lying scattered about in beautiful confusion, all that day and the next, until the excitement had ceased. Fortunately, the scare did not last long, as it was soon ascertained that the alarm was false, and that the Osage Indians had not only not contemplated a raid on the white settlements, but that they had actually become frightened themselves, and fled south of the Osage river.* But the panic was complete, and exceedingly frightful while it lasted.

A fellow named Mike Chism lived near the Bidstrup place. Mike had a wife and two children. They were already preparing for flight. Mike's wife was on horseback and had one child in her lap and one behind her, and Mike was on foot. At this moment a horseman came galloping up in great trepidation, and informed the little family that the Indians were coming by the thousands, and that they were already this side of Flat creek. On receiving this intelligence, Mike, in great terror, said to his wife: God! Sally, I can^t wait for you any longer H Suiting his actions to his words, he took to his scraper in such hot haste that at the first frantic jump he made, he fell at full length, bleeding and trembling, on the rocks. But the poor fellow did not take time to rise to his feet again. He scrambled off on all fours into the brush, like some wild animal^ leaving his wife and children to take care of themselves as best they could.

In August, 1832, Gen. Stephen Trigg was ordered to take a body of militia and make a scout southwest and west of this coiyity to see if the Indians were menacing the country from that quarter. It had been reported that a general attack was to be made on the settlements of Saline, Lafayette, Cooper, and the other counties adjoining. Saline county was called upon for a company and promptly responded. Her quota was raised in three dayj. It consisted of forty rangers or mounted riflemen. Each man furnished his own horse, arms, accouterments, and rations. Capt. Henry Becknell, who had formerly owned and operated the ferry at Arrow Rock, was chosen captain; Jacob Nave was 1st lieutenant; Ben. E. Cooper, 2d lieutenant; Jackson Smiley, orderly-sergeant. Unfortunately it is impossible to obtain the names of all the members of the company, but some of them were Wm. J. Wolfskill, Wm. Pruntin, Ephraim McClain, Henry Nave, and__ Ephraim Prigmore.

The command started some time in the month of August, and there was " mounting in hot haste." Considerable marching was done. The expedition went up the LaMine and the Blackwater, to their respective

*[The Osages were in mortal terror of the Sacs and Foxes, who were their deadly enemies. Black Hawk, when only nineteen years old, headed a war patty of his tribe, that attacked the Osages near the mouth of the Chariton, and, according to Black Hawk's own account, he killed about one hundred of them. Some years thereafter, heand his tribe killed the occupants of about forty lodges of Osages. - R. I. H.]

sources. It passed out by Knob Noster, in Johnson county, crossed the Osage, at a point just below Little Tebo, near where Warsaw now stands. Here a detachment was sent back for provisions and orders. Supplies were soon received, and orders obtained to complete the scout - that is, to canvass the county thoroughly, and if no hostile Indians were found, to return. Several bands of Kickapoos were encountered, undoubtedly on their way to join Black Hawk, as they were well armed, and bore other indications of being on the war-path. These vv^ere turned back without a fight, and made to understand that it would not be healthy for them if they were caught out on the same business again. The camps of the Osages were visited, and the occupants found to be attending to their own legitimate business, and entirely fi-iendly. Lewis Rogers, their chief, assured Gen. Trigg of his fealty to the whites, and loyalty to their interests. Very soon the command returned to Saline county, and joined the main army, at Joneaboro. The Saline company was absent from the county just twenty-one days. When it returned to Jonesboro, it was disbanded.

Gen. Trigg is described by some oi the men who were on this expedition, as "a mighty peart man, and a good judge of Indians." Being struck with the fine appearance of the Saline county company, the General chose it for his escort, or body-guard.

Captain Becknell had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and had seen considerable service. He was also well versed in Indian warfare and fighting, and would have made a good record with his company if he had had opportunities. He was not of a religious turn of mind at all. Capt. B. was not. Many a settler remembers how volubly and with what wonderfid force and power he could swear. He was a rough-and-tumble fighter of no mean ability.

In 1833 occurred the wonderful meteoric display known as the " star shower," " the time when the stars fell," etc. This remarkable phenomenon was visible throughout the United States, and is the most memorable of the kind on record. It was on the night of the 12th and 13th of November, lasting until and perhaps after daylight on the morning of the 13th. It began at various hours between 10 and 12 p. m., owing to the locality. The meteors fell as thick and fast as snow-flakes in a heavy snow storm. Together with the smaller shooting stars, which produced phosphorescent lines along their course, there were intermingled large fireballs, which darted forth at Intervals. These left behind luminous trains, which remained in view several minutes, and sometimes half an hour or more. One of these fireballs, seen in North Carolina, appeared of larger size and much greater brilliancy than the moon. Some of the luminous bodies were of irregular form, and remained stationary for a considerable time, emitting streams of light. At Niagara Falls the exhibition was especially brilliant, and probably no spectacle so terribly grand and sublime was ever before beheld by man as that of the firmament descending in fiery torrents over the dark and roaring cataract. The source whence these meteors came was computed by Prof. Olmstead at not less than 2,238 miles from the earth.*

In Saline county the celestial phenomenon was fuUj'^ as brilliant as elsewhere. Hundreds of people witnessed it, and it was an occasion of much excitement. Very many of the poorly informed people concluded that the judgment had come. It is said that the incident upon which is founded an oft-told story happened in this county. A man and his wife were sleeping the sleep of the just, the lady by a window. Awakening she saw the wonderful celestial pyrotechnical -display, and arousing her husband in great terror she exclaimed: "Get up, old man, quick! The day of judgment has come ! " Her liege lord hesitated but a moment, and turning over grumblingly replied: " O, lie down and go to sleep, you old fool, do you suppose the judgment day is going to come in the night f"

The negroes especially were very much frightened. A dance was in progress on a farm in Arrow Rock township, attended exclusively by slaves from the neighborhood. When the shower began the dusky revelers were first made aware of the fact by a messenger who ran frantically into the cabin and shouted: "If you all wants to get to heaven you better 'gin to say you' pra'rs mighty sudden, kase de Lawd is a comin' wi' de fire an' de glory, an' de wuld 'ill be burnt up like a cracklin"fore mornin'!" The dancers ran out, and scarcely had they seen the (to them) terrifying spectacle when they fell upon their knees and howled for mercy. Not for some days did they recover from their fright, or live without fear of some sudden and awful supernatural visitation.

One old darkey declared that if the world and his life were spared he would guarantee to break eighty pounds of hemp every day, instead of fifty, as had been his wont!

" Old Uncle Jimmy " Reavis and some other parties were engaged in a lawsuit for the possession of a negro named Ben. By the advice of: their attorneys, the Reavis party had captured the darkey and kept him under guard. The night of the " star shower," the guards were on duty, but when the "shower" began they fell on their knees to pray, and while the prayer-meeting was in progress Ben very irreverently, and at the risk of being arrested for disturbing religious worship(?), got up and lit out for his friends on the other side of the case, making good his escape.

The next year there was another meteoric shower on the same day of the month, which was very brilliant, but not nearly so much so as that of 1833. The November meteors are quite generally known, and no description of them need here be given.

The winter of 1834-6, was intensely cold. " The cold Friday and Saturday " were long remembered. The cold was very intense. Cattle had their horns frozen off, many old settlers assert, and in some instances, had their legs frozen off up to the knees. Pigs and fowls perished in great numbers, and there was much damage done to peach and other fruit trees.

A very distressing case of freezing happened down on the Blackwater, during this fearful winter. A man and wife were traveling in a wagon. In crossing Blackwater the wagon became uncoupled in the middle of the stream. There was no help to be obtained, and no witnesses to the scene, all appearances afterward indicated that the man had tried hard to extricate his vehicle. Somehow the woman fell into the water. Her husband carried her to shore, but she soon froze to death. Then her companion laid her out upon a log and stood by her to watch and wait. He soon became chilled, but remained true to his watch and ward, and when some persons came to the scene the next day, they found him pulseless, and cold, and rigid and pale as marble, standing by the white corpse of her whom he had promised to "love, cherish, protect and defend." He leaned against a tree and his eyes were partly open, and their last gaze had evidently been upon his wife. His boots showed signs that he had tried to cut them from his feet - why, heaven only knows.

The bodies were taken charge of by the settlers and given sepulture. No information can now be obtained as to who these unfortunate victims of the ice-king were, or where they had lived. There are conflicting accounts as to what became of the team. One statement is that it was found dead; another, that it was found alive and taken care of by the settlers until relatives of the dead pair arrived.

In 1836, the most memorable event was the presidential election. The candidates were Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson of the democratic party; Wm Henry Harrison and Francis Granger, of New York, of the whig party, and Hugh L. White, of Tennessee, of the independent democrats and whigs. Dr. John Sappington was one of the democratic or Van Buren electors. In this election Claiborne F. Jackson, then a citizen of Saline county and a rising young politician, took an active part as a stump-speaker, for his, the democratic party. For his services in this and other campaigns he was rewarded by the munificent appointment of postmaster at Arrow Rock, with a salary of $50 per annum.

The vote of Saline county was as follows: VanBuren, 178; White, 135; Harrison, 50. The vote of the state stood: Van Buren, 10,995; Harrison, 7,337 ; White, 3,256. The result throughout the country was the election of Van Buren who received 170 electoral votes to 73 for Gen. Harrison, and 26 for White. South Carolina was still pouting and cast her vote for Willie P. Mangum, of North Carolina. Massachusetts gave her 14 votes to her " favorite son," Danid Webster. There was no choice of vicepresident by the electoral college, no candidate receiving a majority of all the votes. The senate, therefore, was called upon to elect. That body, being largely democratic, chose Col. Johnson, " who killed Tecumseh, and had a negro woman, a slave, for his wife."

During this year cholera again- appeared in the county, occasioning some excitement, but securing only a few victims, if any. Travel to St. Louis and other points on the Mississippi was entirely cut off, however, and all iatercourse with all suspected points for a time suspended.

Another alarm was started this year, that the Indians were coming down from the north, and occasioned some uneasiness. It was soon ascertained, however, that the scare was without foundation. A notorious family, named Hetherly, living in the upper part of Carroll county, in what was then-called the Grand river country, had started the report that the Iowa Indians were making a murderous incursion on the settlements. The Hetherlys were, themselves, thieves, murderers, and prostitutes. The mother was a sister to the murderers and robbers, Big and Little Harp. They had some adherents, among them, James Dunbar, Alfred Hawkins, and a fellow named Thomas. Their chief occupation was horse-stealing. Early in the month of Jime a number of Iowa Indians made a friendly incursion into the state, for the purpose of hunting. The Hetherly gang immediately began to steal their ponies. They managed to capture a lot and escaped with them. The Indians followed, overtook the thieves, and a skirmish ensued, in the forks of the Grand river, resulting in the killing of Thomas, the re-capture of the ponies, and the escape of the Hetherlys. The latter afterward killed Dunbar, fearing that if they were arrested, he would turn state's evidence against them. Then they fled to the Missouri, declaring that they had been run out by the lowas. The murders were afterwards traced to them, and they, with Alfred Hawkins, were arrested and tried. Upon the final trial, the old man Hetherly, his wife, and daughter, Ann, turned state's evidence, and upon their evidence, mainly, Alfred Hawkins was convicted of manslaughter, and sent to the penitentiary for ten years. The affair was known as the Hetherly war, and old citizens of the county yet well remember it.* was considerable emigration to the newly-acquired territory. Among them were members of the McKissick family, who removed to Fremont county, Iowa, eventually, and became the first settlers of that community.

In 1837 there was a considerable rainfall and a very extraordinary freshet on the Blackwater. The water in the stream was foyrfeet higher than in the great flood of 1844. It spread over the lowlands to a great extent, forming many inland seas or lakes, and doing great damage to property. The flood was the greatest ever known in that quarter, and lasted about three weeks.

It was in December of this year that the freezing and drowning of McMahan, Harris, Smith, and Guthrie occurred in the Missouri, opposite DeWitt. For full particulars of this peculiarly distressing affair, the reader is referred to the history of the settlement of the Miami bottom, on other pages of this history.

In this year Col. Gentry's regiment of Missouri volunteers left the state to take part in the Seminole war, then being waged against the Indians of that tribe in Florida. This war is commonly known as the Florida war. It was brought about by the refusal of the Seminole Indians to be removed west of the Mississippi river.

A few Saline county men from the Big bottom participated in this war as members of Capt. Congreve Jackson's company, of Howard county, which was one of the best of Gentry's regiment. At the battle of Okeechobee, December 25, 1837, Col. Gentry and a number of his men were killed, and many more wounded. None of the Saline county men were wounded or injured, so far as is known .

The Mormon War

In the year 1838, occurred in Missouri what is now called the Mormon " War." An account of this difficulty, (for it really was nothing else), may hot be void of all interest.

In 1832, Jo. Smith and the Mormons, to the number of several hundred, settled in Jackson county; mostly west of Independence, where they entered several thousand acres of land, established a newspaper, and prepared to found the New Jerusalem on earth. They had come from Kirtland, Ohio. Their presence was very distasteful to the citizens of Jackson county - the "Gentiles" - who could not tolerate the nonsense of "new revelations," the "second kingdom," etc., and the result was they threw the Mormon printing press into the river, tarred and feathered the Mormon bishop and two others,* and otherwise made it unpleasant for the "saints." The latter did not suffer in patience. When smitten on one cheek they retaliated forth- with upon the smiter. In 1833, an affray between Mormons and citizens occurred near Westport, in which two citizens and one Mormon were killed. Soon after, Jo . Smith, the " prophet of the Lord," received a " revelation " ordering the destruction of the city of Independence. He marched with his force to the vicinity of the town on the night of November 2d, but here he was confronted by a large force of Gentiles from Independence and the surrounding country, and compelled to capitulate. The Mormons were made to lay down their arms and leave the country by the 1st of January following. The Gentiles agreed to pay the owner of the printing office for the destruction of his property.

From Jackson county the Mormons fled to the north side of the river, settling in Clay, Carroll, and Caldwell counties. Jo. Smith and his officers laid out a town about eight miles southeast ©f Cameron, which was named Far West. It was declared by Smith that here a magnificent temple should be built, and that the town itself should soon become one of the mighty cities of the world. It is now quite a respectable cornfield. In 1887, work begun on the temple, but it was never finished. The prosperity of the Mormon settlements at and near Far West attracted many adventurers, the majority of whom were arrant scoundrels. They managed to get into and obtain high positions in the church and influence it altogether for harm. " Revelations " were obtained to the effect that the Lord had given the earth and the fulness thereof to " this people," and that the Mormons were " His people," and consequently had the right to take whatever they pleased from the Gentiles. In pursuance of these revelations the more lawless of them strolled about the country taking what they pleased. They largely outnumbered the Gentiles in Caldwell county, and Mormons held all of the important county offices. All efforts, therefore, to punish them for their crimes and misdemeanors were wholly inoperative, and the citizens felt justified in resorting to mob violence and retaliation in kind.

The Mormons not only had a troubled experience in Jackson and Caldwell counties, but also in Carroll, at and in the neighborhood of DeWitt, on the Missouri, immediately opposite the Saline county shore.

Dui-ing the summer of 1838, a citizen of this village, named Root, sold a large number of lots to G. W. Hinkle and one Murdock, who, it was afterwards discovered, were Mormon leaders, that had come to Carroll county to establish a Mormon settlement. DeWitt being a good landing on the river, they regarded it as a con%'enient point from which to forward goods and immigrants to Far West. No sooner was it known in Carroll county that the Mormons were about to settle therein in large numbers than there arose great excitement among the people. The people of this county were somewhat alarmed. They did not want the Mormons among them, and they resolved not to have them. A few of the "saints" came across the river to survey the situation. They were noti- iied that their room was preferable to their companj'-, and that under no circumstances would any considerable settlement of members of their peculiar faith and practices be allowed.

In July, 1838, a public meeting was held in Carrollton, and it was determined that the expulsion of the Mormons from the county was imperatively demanded and had become a necessity. Assistance from this and other counties had been promised the people of Carroll, and a committee visited DeWitt and had a conference with the Mormon colonel, Hinkle, and a large number of other Mormons. On being told the object of the committee's visit, Hinkle drew his sword and defiantly flourishing it, threatened the extermination of all those who should attempt to disturb the peace of himself and the saints. To this piece of vaporing the chairman of the committee, Rev. Sarshel Woods, replied : " Put up your sword, colonel; I am an old pioneer; I have heard the Indians yell, the wolves howl, and the owls hoot, and am not alarmed at such demonstrations." There were several men from Saline county in DeWitt when this happened, "taking items," they said.

Before decisive measures were adopted for the expulsion of the Mormons at DeWitt, trouble broke out in Daviess county, and the people of Carroll were called on for aid. While the attention of the people was directed to the disturbances in Daviess, Mormon recruits, in large numbers poured into the town of DeWitt by land water, and their temporary habitation filled the grove of timber below the town. An attack on the Mormon encampment was made by the citizens in the latter part of September, 1838. Nobody was killed.

A few Saline men were present on this occasion, either as participants or spectators. The Mormons retreated to their block houses, and the Carroll county people awaited re-enforcements, which soon reached them. A bloody conflict was avoided only by the efforts of Judge James Earickson and Wm. F. Dunnica, who negotiated for and obtained a treaty of peace, by the terms of which the Mormons were to leave DeWitt and Carroll county and pay for what property they had stolen or " appropriated " and destroyed, and the citizens were to pay the Mormons for the town lots belonging to the latter in DeWitt, and certain lands in the county.*

The people of Saline county were active sympathizers with their neighbors in Carroll, in this trouble, and assisted them very materially. Dr. W. W. Austin, of Carrollton, was the leader of the Carroll county forces. He appealed to Saline county for aid early in the fall and at about the beginning of the trouble, and his appeal was heeded. A company of rangers, numbering about twenty-five, was soon raised and crossed the river at Miami, reporting to " General " Austin for duty. This company was commanded by Capt. Wm. J, Wolfskill. The members were all well mounted and armed. Mr. Ephraim McClain was a member of the company and furnishes an account of its movements. Upon arriving in Carroll and reporting to Austin, it was sent to the north and northeast on a rapid march, and discovered that the Mormons, in considerable numbers, were coming in from Illinois and other states, and concentrating, with a view of assisting their brethren at DeWitt, having been apprised of the situation of affairs by emissaries sent out by Hinkle. Upon the completion of this scout, by the company, it was sent up to a crossing on Grand River, at Cross' farm, to prevent the Mormons from coming into the county from Illinois and other states, and re-enforcing Hinkle at DeWitt. In a day or two the company was divided, and half of it sent to a ferry five miles above the one at Cross' farm to guard that point. But a few days had passed when a body of Mormons made their appearance at the lower ferry, and attempted to cross. They were well armed but did not seem desirous of a fight. Capt. Wolfskill told them very positively that they could not pass, and they went on to the upper ferry. But here they were again confronted by the Saline county men and turned back. Thereupon they made a wide circuit to the northward and gained the town of Far West. Very soon thereafter, WolfskiU's company was ordered back to Austin's headquarters, about three miles below the lower ferry, to take part in the intended attack on the block houses occupied by Gen. Hinkle. Upon the settlement of the difficulties and the conclusion of the treaty of peace, Capt. Wolfskill and his company returned to their Saline county homes. The Mormons told the peace commissioners that they could easily have cleaned out Austin and his crowd, had

In addition to the military movements already detailed. Gen. D. R. Atchison, major-general of the militia, by direction of Governor Boggs, called out the Saline county militia. Col. G. W. Lewis was commander of the - Regiment, composed of men from Pettis and Saline counties. The company from this county (there seems to have been but one) was commanded by Capt. Wm. D.urrett. The adjutant of the regiment was Mr. Chas. L. Francisco, of this county. The regiment (or rather battaJlion, for it was only about 300 strong) marched, under orders, to Richmond, Ray county, to join the main body of the army under Gen. Atchison, then preparing to move against Jo. Smith and the Mormons. Soon after arriving at Richmond "peace was declared," and the expedition returned home, after an absence of about one week.

In 1839, the county seat was removed from Jonesboro to Arrow Rock, and from thence to Marshall. A history of this removal, it is believed, will be found of interest. February 5, of this year, the legislature passed an -act authorizing the removal of the county seat of Saline county from Jonesboro to the center of the county, or as near thereto as practicable, and appointing five commissioners to fix the site for the new capital. These commissioners were Hugh Barnett, of Lafayette; Amos Home, of Johnson; Joseph Dixon and George McKinney, of Carroll, and Caton Usher, of Chariton. The commissioners met on Thursdaj;^, April 11, at the house of David Bailey, and on the 13th made the following report:

Commissioners' Report

In obedience to an act of the general assembly, approved February 8, 1839, we, Hugh Barnett, of Lafayette county; Amos Home, of Johnson county; Caton Usher, of Chariton county, and Geo. McKinney, of Carroll county, met at the house of David Bailey, in Saline county, Mo., on Thursday, the 11th day of April, 1839, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of"^ said act of the assembly, and, after learning the reasons why Joseph Dixon, of Carroll county, did not appear, we proceeded to appoint, in lieu of Joseph Dixon, James Lucas, of said county of Carroll, and, after being duly sworn, according to the act of the assembly, we did proceed to ascertain, as near as possible, or practicable, the center of the county of Saline, according to a map of the said county, furnished us by the register of the land office, at Fayette, Mo., which we deemed to be in the center of section ten, in township 50, range 21 ; and, not finding it to be a suitable place for the location of a county seat, we proceeded to examine the lands generally around the center of section ten, as aforesaid, and found, as we deemed to be the most suitable place nearest the said center of section ten to be upon the lands of Jeremiah Odell, in section 15, in township 50, and off range 21. Whereupon, the said Jeremiah Odell agreed to give, or donate, to the county of Saline, for the purpose of locating thereupon the permanent seat of justice for Saline county, sixty-five acres, to be taken from the north end of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 15, as above described; and, upon examining the title papers exhibited, and being satisfied that the said Odell's title was good, we have located the permanent seat of justice for Saline county, 1 according to the act of assembly aforesaid, upon the sixty-five acres of land, to be taken from, as above stated, the north end of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 15, and in township 50, and off of range 21, donated by Jeremiah Odell, and have received from him a deed of general warranty for the said sixty-five acres of land, which is herewith respectfully submitted. [Signed by the five commissioners serving, April 13, 1839.]

and Lewis Carthral, by their attorney, Hon. David Todd, presented a remonstrance against the confirmation of the report, but, as their objections were mostly, if not altogether, on trivial and technical grounds, this remonstrance was overruled. The judge appointed Cornelius Davis commissioner to superintend the survey and platting of the town, sell the lots, etc.* The commissioner was ordered to advertise the sale of lots in the Boone's Lick Deinocrat and Western Emigrant, which he did, fixing the date of sale for September 23, following. The notice of the sale in the Boone's Lick Democrat, gave a very flattering description of the town site and surrounding country, and commending it to business men as a. desirable point at which to locate. One hundred lots, were ordered to be sold. The sale came ofFas advertised. Thos. M. Davis sold the lots, and Horatio S. Chalmers was clerk. The first lot sold was lot 1, in block 4, to Wm. Miller, for $15; the second, lot 8 in block 4, to Wm. Hook, for $10; the third, lot 2 in block 7, to Clement Craig, for $19; the fourth, lot 8 in block 7, to P. B. Harris, $26; the fifth, lot 7 in block 7, to Robert Isaacs, $41 ; the sixth, lot 6 in block 7, to Asa Finley, $136; seventh, lot 1 block 15, to Geo. Wilson, $105; eighth, lot 2 in block 16, to Wm. Lewis, $90. The highest prices paid for lots were by Gov. M. M. Marmaduke, who paid $185 for lot 3, in block 9, and Wm. Lewis, who paid $182 for lot 2, In block 20 - both lots being " business lots " upon the public square, one being upon the north side of the northwest corner and the other upon the west side of the southwest corner.

The judge of the court ordered an election to be held August 5th, for the purpose of allowing the voters of the county to vote for and select a temporary seat of government for the county. Three towns were contestants for the honor - Arrow Rock, Centre, and Greenville (Miami). The result of the vote was as follows:

The county seat was therefore removed to Arrow Rock about the middle of August or first of September, 1839. Various historical sketches of Saline county have been printed, but none of them state that there have ever been more than three capitals of the county, Jefferson, Jonesboro and Marshall. Indeed many persons yet live in the county, - old settlers, too, who have forgotten, if they ever knew, that Arrow Rock was once the county seat.

The first term of the county court in Arrow Rock was held Nov. 11, 1839. Gilmore Hays and W. A. Wilson were present as justices. The first term of the circuit court was held in November, 1839. Wm. Scott was judge ; John A. Trigg, clerk ; David S. Wilson, sheriff. These courts were held, and indeed almost all the other business of the county transacted, in a double log'building (to which was afterward added a frame), belonging to Benjamin Huston.

At the session of the county court in August, 1839, the new county seat was christened. In order that it might be certainly known for whom it was named, the court ordered: "That the permanent county seat of this county be called Marshall, in honor of John Marshall, late chief justice of the United States." Judge Marshall had died about four years previously.

That the commissioner of the county seat be and he is hereby required, authorized and required to give notice in the Boone's Lick Democrat and Western Emigrant that sealed proposals will be received bj^ him * * for the building of the court house. ******

At the same time it was ordered "that the sum of $12,000.00 be and the same is hereby appropriated for the building of the court house, and in addition thereto any amount of money which may be donated by patriotic citizens for that purpose."

At the February term, 1840, the -contract for building the. court house was awarded to Wm. Hook for the sum of $9,000.00, payable in three installments, the building to be completed by November 1, 1841. Messrs. Majors and Richardson bid against Mr. Hook, their bid being $11,748.40.

Plan Op The Court H0U8E

The " plan " referred to by the court is here given, omitting unimportant details as to size of joists, material used in partitions, etc. The building was completed according to the specifications, and cost in the aggregate about $5,000. It stood until burned down in August, 1864, by the men of Capt. Jackson's company of Confederate partisan rangers. PLAN OP THE COURT H0U8E.