Saline County, Missouri - Chapter 6: Early Historical Events, 1910

Chapter 6: Early Historical Events

The circuit court was the first court ever held in the count}-, and was convened at old Jefferson, T-'ebruary 5. 1821. Hon. David Todd was judge, and Hamilton R. Gamble, prosecuting- attorney ; Benjamin Chambers, clerk, and Joseph Goodin, sheriff. The following attorneys were in attendance : Hamilton R. Gamble, Cyrus Edwards, George Thompkins, John S. Buckey, John F. Ryland, Dabney Carr, Abiel Leonard. Nearly every one of these afterwards became distinguished in his profession, and some of them prominent officials, governors, judges, etc. Of course, there were no cases t(^ be tried, because it was the first term of circuit court ever held in the county. The grand jury was empanelled, however, of wdiich Drury Pulliam was foreman, the other members being Abram Garrett, Bartholomew Guinn, Jonathan English, William McKissick, Joseph Robinson, Osea Hampton, Alexander Goodin, Jacob Ish, John Land, Peter Huff, William Hayes, (ieorge Baxter, William Ramsey, John Colvin, John Jackson, John Sutton. Almond Guinn. Baker Martin, William D. Hampton, Jacob Wilhelm, Jeremiah Odell and David \\'arren, twenty-three in all, and it is recorded that after beingout some time, they returned and reported to the court that they had no indictments to present, and they were therefore discharged. The court thereupon adjourned until the next regular term.

At the June term, 1821, there was some business to transact. The grand jury, of which Joseph Robinson was foreman, found an indictment against Rev. Peyton Nowdin for usurpation of the office of justice of the peace, and against three women for assault and battery, and against James Milsap and James Goodin for assault and an aft"ray, and also against Jeremiah Odell for an affray. Two civil suits were begun, Samuel Wall against Jacob Ish for debt, and one of the same character of Oldeman & Company against Sterling- Nuckolls. Court was in session two days, when it adjourned to the next regular term.

At the October term of that year, the parties indicted at the June term were tried, and the first criminal conxiction in the county was that of a woman, Sara Shockley, found guilty of assault and l)attery, and was fined three dollars. Her sister-in-law, Rebeckah Shocklev, got her case continued.

and the case against Jane Day was dismissed. 1die jury that tried and convicted Miss Shockley was composed of John Jackson, Jacob Wilhehn. Robert Davis. \\'iniam AIcKissick. Wilham Hughes, Harrison Vaughan, Ehjah Guinn. Edwin Hix, John Copeland, John Brummett. Almond Guinn and A\'illiam A. Guinn.

Rev. Peyton Xowhn was fried on the charge of usurpation of ofhce, and acquitted. James Millsap plead guilty of being concerned in an affray, and was fined three dollars. Ben Goodin, indicted with Millsap, entered a defence, was tried, convicted, and was fined five dollars. Jeremiah Odell plead guilty of 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.

In civil matters. Samuel Wall obtained a judgment against Jacob Ish for the sum of fifteen dollars, and the case of Holdeman & Company against Sterling Nuckolls was dismissed. The other cases disposed of were David AA^arren against Ira A. Emmons. Joseph Hazelitt against George Tennile. Ira Emmons against George C. Hart, and Simon Leland against George C. Hart and George Tennille. This is about all the records show of the proceedings of these early times.

At the ]\Iarch term, 1824. Abiel Leonard presented a commission from the governor, appointing him to the office of prosecuting attorney in the place of Hamilton R. Gamble, who had resigned.

At this term, a singular suit was begim. Jack, a slave, brought suit against ^^'illiam Chick. Sr.. and AMlliam Chick. Jr.. and Robert Wallace for damages for assault and battery and for false imprisonment. Jack, through his attorney. Abiel Leonard, asked leave to prosecute his suit as a pauper, which was granted, and the Chicks, defendants, were especially cautioned by Judge Todd, he making an order of record that they should permit Jack, plaintiff in the case, "to have a reasonable liberty of attending and consulting his counsel and this court, when occasion may require, and that he be not taken out of the jurisdiction of this court, or subjected to any severity by reason of his application herein to sue for his freedom."

"Before the next term of court, at which the case was to be tried, the Chicks released Jack, and he dismissed his suit against them upon their agreeing to pay the costs, which they afterw^ards did in open court."

The foregoing paragraph in reference to the result of the suit of Jack for his freedom is not a fair statement of the record in the case as it appears, there being nothing to show that the Chicks released Jack or any thing of that sort, and the facts of the case were probably that Judge Todd, after considering the subject during vacation, arrived at the conclusion that his action in the premises was altogether ill-considered, reaching- the proper conclusion that a slave had no right to bring a suit, no standing in a court of justice whatever in this state. At any rate, this was declared to l)e the law years afterwards by the highest courts in the land. Doubtless, young Mr. A. Leonard, who had but shortly before arrived in this state from Vermont, took a different view of the slavery question than that which was prevalent at that time in this state, and allowed himself to be persuaded into a false position, that of bringing a suit for a negro slave, the fact being that no slave had a right to bring a suit of any sort whatever to test his freedom or any other matter.

Xegro slavery was not a creation of law, and as a matter of history there was never an}- statute law creating slavery in this or any other state. Negroes became slaves and property by custom - long usage. The savage negroes were captured in Africa and brought to the United States, mainly by the seafaring and ship-owning men of New England, and sold by them as slave property, just as wild horses and other animals, and became slaves by custom and long usage, both in the northern and southern states. Laws were made to regulate slavery, but the condition itself was not created by law, and not being created by law slavery was not abolished by proclamation, for the negroes had all practically become free before the proclamation declaring their freedom was issued by the President of the United States. The situation at that time was inconsistent with the condition of slavei-y. The master had ceased to have any control over the slave, and he was free without law or proclamation. This subject of negro slavei-y in its legal aspect afterwards came to a final determination in the supreme court of the United States in the year 1857, ""^ ^ ^^^e reaching that court from Missouri, where Chief Justice Taney thus expressed the opinion of the court on negroes and slavery, saying in the Dred Scott case :

"They had for more than a quarter of a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations ; and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect: and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit."

While most skne holders regarded the institution as an evil, there seemed to have been no practical way of getting rid of it except the one finally adopted to go to war about it, everybody realizing that war would put an end to the institution, at least in this section. In 1861 slaves had already become very uncertain property. A man was liable to get up any morning and find that his slaves had fled to Kansas or Iowa.

The people of the northern states got rid of it first because negro slavery was not profitable in that climate, while an opposite and altogether different condition prevailed in the South, where negro slaves were healthy, profitable and well satisfied, raising cotton in a climate that was suitable for them.

The first arid second terms of the court were held in a log house not completel}^ chinked or pointed. The grand jury is said to have deliberated at the first term in the kitchen of a dwelling house near by. being in session for an hour or two, and at the next term the grand jury transacted its business under the shade of a tree in the open.

Events From 1 822 To 1 832

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 there lay down to sleep, on the evening in question, an old Frenchman named Jean Estelcjuay, alias Jean Sterkey, alias John Starkley. 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 Boonville, the government agency, to procure his pension 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 Boonville, 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 Starkley, as he lay with his blankets 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 Guinn 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 outbuilding 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 afterwards heard of in Ray county, and a capias was sent up to the slieriff of that county, but that official failed to arrest him, and soon afterwards he went west and, it is said, joined a band of Indians.

Some time after the murder and burial of poor Starkley, a laughable incident occurred undei'' the same big elm. Another Frenthman traveling alone, overtaken by night, lay down to sleep just where his fellow-countryman had laid down and taken his last long sleep two years before. Hie last traveler was unconscious of what had happened, however, and slept serenely. The locality was said 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 Starkley. 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."

After 1822, the country began to assume a more civilized aspect. Farms began springing up in every direction and the two or three little towns in the county were doing a thriving business. Steamboats began ascending the river, landing in Saline county at different ports, and communication with the outside world became more frequent and important.

The first steamboat that ever passed up the Missouri river was one called "The Independence," Capt. John Nelson being in command of her. the first to attempt the navigation of the Missouri river. "The Independence" had been chartered by Col. Elias Rector and others of St. J^ouis to ascend the Missouri as high as Chariton, two miles above Glasgow. She left St. Louis May 15, 1819. and reached Franklin, in Howard county, on May 28th. Upon the arrival of the boat at h^ranklin, a public dinner was given the passengers and officers, and a public meeting was held, of which A.sa Morg-an was president and Dr. X. Hutchinson was vice-president. She was joyfully met by the inhabitants of Franklin and saluted with the firing of a cannon, which was returned by the steamboat.

The grand important fact was now ascertained that steamboats could safely na\igate the Missouri river. The "Independence" continued her voyage to Chariton and returned to St. Louis in safety. Shortly after this, July 13th, of the same year, two other boats arrived at Franklin belonging to the

Yellowstone expedition carrying troops and provisions for establishing the fort at the mouth of the Yellowstone under command of Major S. H. Long and Major Thomas Biddle ; Lieutenants Graham and Swift; Major Ben O'Fallon, Lidian agent; and Daugherty, assistant agent and interpreter; Dr. ^^'illiam Baldwin. Iwtanist ; Thomas Say, zoologist; Mr. Jessup, geologist; Mr. Sevmore, landscape painter; and Mr. Peale, assistant naturalist. Major Long's boat was called "The Western Engineer," and is said to have had an escape pipe shaped like a serpent, painted black with red mouth and a tongue the color of a live coal. The steam escaped from the month of the serpent, producing a rare effect. Some Indians who were at the Arrow Rock when the boat passed that point gazed on the monster with horror and astonishment, a band of them following it from Arrow Rock to Miami bottom, expecting to see it give out, they said, for it was so short of breath and panted so. This boat was a side-wheeler and proved a great success, ascending the river as far as Council Bluffs.

The name "The Arrow Rock," mentioned in the first instance by Lewis and Clark, 1804, and by nearly every one of the early navigators of the river, is derived from an interesting Lidian legend. At this place the river is about three hundred and fifty yards wide running north and south. On the Saline countv side there is a high rock l)luff. On the eastern bank of the river a band of Lidians were encamped in the river bottom. The beautiful daughter of the chieftain was much sought after in marriage b}- the }(xmg men of the tril)e. The old chieftain, not wishing to offend any of his tribe, told the young bucks that he would give his daughter in marriage to the one who could stand on the eastern bank of the river and strike with an arrow, shot from a bow, the rock bluff on the western bank. On the day of the contest, that was so full of interest to the parties concerned, the Lidian men took their bows and selected the best arrows thev could find, and entered the lists for the maiden's hand. One after the other, they attempted the shot, and one after the other, they saw their arrows fall short of the mark and their hopes of winning the coveted prize ^-anish, amid the rejoicing of those who were to succeed them.

The last Lidian to shoot was the one that the maiden loved. He was a tall, straight, supple, bronzed child of the forest. His bow was twice the length of that of any other man in the contest. ^^lIen the thong of deer sinews was looped over the end of the bow, it seemed as though no man could draw it farther. The arrow was of a straight reed, barbed with a slender flint and headed with a feather from an eagle's wing. The youth smiled to his sweetheart and, stepping to the river's bank, placed his arrow across the bow. Pointing it at an angle of about forty-five degrees, he drew at the thong until the barb on the arrow touched the center of the quivering bow. The twanging of his bow string announced the beginning of the arrow's flight; it sailed high over the waters of the "Big Muddy" and as it struck the rock bluff on the opposite side of the river, the delighted maiden exclaimed in broken English to her father, "Arrow Rock." From this incident, the place took its name.

The arrival of this steamboat, "The Western Engineer," made an indelible impression on the minds of the pioneers at Arrow Rock and elsewhere along the river. In 1876. when Jerrold Letcher made his tour of inquiry through the county, there were several yet living who still retained a vivid recollection of the event.

The most stirring and interesting' event of the year 1824 was the presidential election, the first ever held in the county, the candidates being Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, Henry Clay of Kentucky, William H. Crawford of Georgia, and John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts. Henry Clay carried the county by a majority over all the candidates, and Saline county remained a Whig county for many years afterwards, in fact always except when General Jackson was a candidate. The election precincts and the judges of election were as follows :

The election was held under the act of December 17, 1822, and the proclamation of Governor John Miller, and came off the first Monday in August. Doubt having arisen as to the legality of the election, the Legislature chose the three electors of state on the 20th of November, 1824. There was a failure to elect by the people or the electoral college, the election being thrown into the House of Representatives, resulting in the election of John Quincy Adams, his election being effected by an alliance with the support of Heniy Clay, and upon Mr. Adams' elevation to the presidency, Henry Clay was appointed secretary of state. Immediately the cry arose and the charges made that there had been a "bargain and sale" between Adams and Clay, by the terms of which the foiTner had been made President and the latter the premier of the government, and this combination gave John Randolph the opportunity to say from his seat in Congress that "he had been defeated horse, foot and dragoon, clean cut up by the combination of Bhffil and Black George. The unheard-of coalition till then of the Puritan and the Blackleg." This insinuation made in the Senate provoked Mr. Clay to challenge Randolph, and they afterwards fought a duel.

In the presidential contest of 1828, between General Jackson and Mr. Adams, the General carried Saline county and the state of Missouri, but John Miller, an Adams man, was elected governor of state without opposition. Gen, Thomas A. Smith, Doctor Sappington, Peyton Nowlin and others were leaders of the Jackson party in this county. The election was held at the following places :

In 183 1 the county seat was removed from Jefferson to Jonesboro. The first term of circuit court was held there the 27th day of June. The Hon. John F. Ryland had become the judge of the circuit court; Amos Rece, circuit attorney; Benjamin Chambers, clerk.

The next year a case was begun in the circuit court which was of some celebrity in those days. Jim, a slave, was indicted for murder. He was tried four times, each time the jury failing to agree. Jim belonged to Judge Todd, who succeeded Ryland as judge. At the first term of court held by Todd afterwards, Jim presented a pardon from the governor, but the Judge refused to act upon the case in any manner whatever, because of his relation to the prisoner, sending the case to Lafayette county, where Jim was discharged.

The interest in the presidential election this year, 183 1, was diminished on account of the excitement over the Blackhawk war, Andrew Jackson and Martin VanBuren were the candidates of the Democratic party, Henry Clay and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, being the Whig candidates; the Anti- Masonic party had for its nominees, William Wirt, of Virginia, and Amos Ellnaker, of Pennsylvania. General Jackson was chosen by an overwhelming majority of the electoral college, Henry Clay receiving only forty-nine votes, while Vermont chose Anti-Masonic electors.

The winter of 1830-31 was long rememljered 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 began to fall on Christmas day, and fell continuously until New Year's. It reached the extraordinary depth of four feet on 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 13th 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 Doctor Sappington and the other physicians of the county made their visits to the bedsides of their patients.

In 1832 the county was visited by the dreaded pestilence, the Asiatic cholera. The victims were not numerous, but it caused widespread alarm, visiting Arrow Rock and Jefferson, and a few cases in the country, the whole number of deaths being about six, but it was very destructive in St. Louis and other towns in the state.

The Blackhawk War In 1832

The proximity of the hostilities of the Black Hawk war in 1832 to the Missouri frontier caused Governor John Miller to adopt precautionary measures to avert the calamities of an invasion which seemed imminent. Therefore, in Alay. 1832, 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 g'ood order, with an ample supply of ammunition."

The nearness of Saline county to the hostile territory, the familiarity of Black Hawk and the Sacs and Foxes with this county, together with the general 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 and Drake's "History of Cooper County," page 169, 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 AVilliams', on Cole Camp creek. The people became almost wild with excitement. They left their plows in the field, and fled precipitatively in the direction of the other settlements, towards Boonville. 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, pillows, baskets and bonnets might have been seen along the old military road to Boonville, 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. ]\Iike had a wife and two children. They were already preparing for flight. Alike'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 famil}- that the Indians were coming bv the thousands and that they were already this side of Flat creek. On receiving this intelligence, Mike, in great terror, said to his wife: "My God! Sally, I can't wait for you any longer!" 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 and trembling, on the rocks. But the poor fellow dia 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 count v to see if the InlOO PAST AND PRESENT dians were menacing the county from that (juarter. 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 cjuota was raised in three days. It consisted of forty rangers or mounted riflemen. Each man furnished his own horse, arms, accoutrements and rations. Capt. Henry Becknell, who had formerly owned and operated the ferry at Arrow Rock, was chosen captain; Jacob Nave was first lieutenant; Ben E. Cooper, second 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 William J. Wolfskill, William 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 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 country 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 warpath. These w^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 friendly. Lewis Rogers, their chief, assured General 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 Jonesboro. The Saline company was absent from the county just twenty-one days. When it returned to Jonesboro it was disbanded.

General Trigg is descrribed by some of the men who were on this expedition as "a mighty peart man, and a good judge of Indians." Being struck Avith 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 opportunity. He was not of a religious turn of mind at all. Many a settler re- members how volubly and with what wonderful force and power he could swear. He was a rough-and-tumble fighter of no mean ability and, as we hereafter show, was the originator of the Santa Fe trade and the locator of the Santa Fe trail.

Early Marriages

The first marriages taking place in the territory now forming Saline county are to be found in the records of Cooper county, which this county formed a part of. The first marriage that occurred for which a certificate was issued and recorded was that of John Tarwater and Ruth Odle. This took place on the 13th of September, 1820, the certificate being in w^ords as follows :

"I, Jacob Ish, justice of the peace within and for Saline county, do hereby certify that on the 13th of September, 1820, I joined John Tarwater and Ruth Odle in matrimony as man and wife.

The next certificate was by the same justice, who, on the 27th day of November, 1820, joined Anderson Warren and Sarah J. Wilkerson in matrimony as man and wife.

The same official also reported that on January 14, 1821, he made happy John Job and Polly Clevenger; that January 26, 1821, he performed a similar service for Thomson Wall and Polly Vann.

None of these returns specify the place where the marriage sei-vice was performed. The following is the first return particular enough to so state : "State of Missouri, Saline county.

'T do certify that I did on the 8th day of March, 1824, join together by marriage Joseph Wilson and Polly Millsap, at the house of Mr. Kinney, in Arrow Rock township, in said county. Certified under my hand, April 10, 182 1. Peyton Nowlin, Gospel Minister."

Other early marriages were those of David Warren and Rachel Burleson, by Bartholomew Guinn, justice of the peace, May 3, 182 1 ; on the same date, bv the same, Laban Garrett and Rachel Baxter.

I02 Past And Present

January 6, 1822, Julius Emmons, of Lillard (now Lafayette) county, and Thizra Smith, of this county, by Peyton Nowlin, minister of the gospel.

February 23, 1823, Thomas Mann and Mary Jeffries; March i6th, Jesse McMahan and Polly McMahan; July 17th, Hezekiah Copeland and Malinda Guinn, all by William M. Chick, justice of the peace of Jefferson township,

December 24, 1823, John Nave ( Neff) and Elizabeth Kelly, by George Tennille, a justice of the county court. This marriage, according to return, took place "at the dwelling house of Thornton Adams, in the Big bottom."

February 17, 183 1. Claiborne F. Jackson, of Howard county, and Jane D. Sapping-ton, of Saline, by Justin Williams, ordained preacher of the Alethodist Episcopal church. This was Governor Jackson's first marriage. He afterwards married her sister, Louisa Sappington, and after her death, ]^Irs. Eliza Pearson, all sisters and daughters of Dr. John Sappington.

January 4, 1826. M. M. Marmaduke, late of Westmoreland county, Virginia, and Lavinia Sappington, daughter of Dr. John Sappington, were married by the Rev. Peyton Nowlin. This marriage took place at Dr. John Sappington's, six miles west of Arrow Rock. The groom was afterwards governor of the state in 1844.

The Rev. Peyton Nowlin, the officiating minister in many of these early marriages, was a Baptist and one of the first ministers, and preached (^ne of the first sermons in the county. He died in the year 1837.

The details of many of these early marriage ceremonies of the pioneers would be interesting, but they are not obtainable. There were no newspapers in those days to publish any events of this character.

Early Schools

The pioneers regarded education as very important, and as early as 181 7 they had a school in the big bottom, taught by one John Hurd, and afterwards by William Hampton and Ebenezer Rogers. About the same time Daniel Johnson, Laban Garrett and William Rogers taught in the Edmondson creek settlement. Mr. Garrett contended that he taught the first school that was kept in the count}'.

Subsequently, near where Concord church now stands, Edwin ]\Iulholland taught a school, and sometime thereafter David Howard and John Robertson had a school on Camp creek. In the Nowlin neighborhood. Josiah Gregg, Jr., and young Peyton Nowlin were among the early teachers.

In 1827 John Pulliam taught a school near \\'illiam Smith, and John Scott one at Wyatt Bingham's, midway between Salt fork and Blackwater. This latter school in after years was taught by one Pat Morris, who had a wide reputation as a school teacher in his time.

Very soon after settlements were made across Blackwater, schools were organized and taught by Thornton Rucker, David Wooden, Thomas Thorpe and others. These were individual subscription schools and the teachers were usually well educated men - as a rule, much more thoroughly educated than the country school teachers are of late years.

The first boarding school in the county was established by John Duggins and his wife, Frances E. Duggins, on the farm afterwards known as the Mose White place, three miles southwest of Marshall. This school was established in 1834 and maintained for ten years, the house being built part of logs and part of frame, the lumber being hauled from Chambers' mill over in the Big bottom. As the number of pupils increased, so did the size of Mr. Duggins' mansion and school house. Among the pupils who attended this school were Paris, Pleasant and Jane Walker, Royal and Dr. Anderson Brown, Samuel and Mary Miller, John Wall, Thomas W. Gaines, Liberty Green, David, Rebecca and Mary Vanmeter, Georgia Bruce, Mrs. Saufley (then Miss Brown), Elizabeth and Edwin Oliver, Mary and Wallace Finley, Samuel, Joseph and Ezekial Scott, David and Marshall Durrett, Miss Susan Bates, of Virginia, and Miss Mary Howard, of Tennessee.

The Rev. Dr. Yantis' school at Brownsville, now Sweet Springs, was the next high school in the county, after Mr. and Mrs. Duggins'. Doctor Yantis' school was begun in 1848 and was a first class institution, one of the best, if not the very best, in western Missouri, but by the middle of the last century ample educational facilities were established in the county, although the school houses were somewhat farther apart than they are at the present day. There was a good female seminary at Arrow Rock at that time, affording good opportunities for young ladies to acquire a finished education, but they usually married before acquiring a thorough schooling.

The early records of the common schools were lost during the Civil war, and were very imperfectly kept for some years thereafter and no authentic account of the first establishment of the common schools can be g'iven.

There were many private tutors in families in different parts of the county, and had been since the early settlement of the county, and there was no excuse for ignorance or illiteracy in this county at any time since it was occupied by white people.

First Contract With School Teacher Recorded

"This day came William A. Gwinn, Peter Huff and Isaiah Huff, trustees of the third division of Jefferson school district, and made their report, showing the number of children entitled to the benefit of the school fund in said division, wliich report is received, and is in the following words, to-wit :

Wednesday, August 9, 1837. We, the trustees of the third district of the Jefferson school district, pursuant to an agreement, met, and chose Peter Huff chairman, and proceeded to business, and in the exercise of our duty, chose John W. McMahan to teach a school for the term of six months, to commence the nth day of this inst., in consideration of which Ave bind ourselves to pay, or cause to be paid, unto the said McMahan the sum of one hundred and ten dollars, lawful money, at the expiration of said term, in consideration of which said McMahan obligates himself to teach orthography, reading, writing, common arithmetic, English grammar and geography, to the best of his skill. The number of children is as follows, viz: W. A. Gwinn, three; E. Gwinn, two; P. Huff, five; Isaiah Huff, five; J. Copeland, one; John Copeland, six; E. Copeland, four; amounting in all to twenty-six scholars."