Bowling Green Township (part 1 of 3)

Boundary

This is one of the smallest towuships in the county and has been recently tormecl. It is bounded on the north by Brunswick and Keytesville tov.'nships, on the east by Keytesviile township, on the south by [Missouri township, and on the west by the Missouri river and Brunswick tuv.nship.

Phtsical Featukes

The southwest corner of this township touches the Missouri river. Much of the township is bottom land and remarkably productive. The upland is also very fertile and constitutes tine farming land. One-fourth the area of the to\vuship is timbered. There are several Indian mounds along the line of the bluffs, and many relics of a prehistoric race have been found in them. The streams are Palmer creek, Lake and Lost creeks. There are a number of sloughs and lakelets. Coal has been mined to some extent at Dalton. Sandstone has been quarried in the township and is very hard in its character.

Old Settlers

Samuel Williams, who was from Jetlerson county, Virginia, came to the county in 1818, for the purpose of attending the land sales which occurred that year, and after purchasing land in what is now kin)\vii as liuwling Greoii township, he went to Kentucky, where ho left his fumily, and returned in the fall of 1819, and settled on Iho edge of Bowling Green [)rairie, where he continued to reside until his death, wliich took place in 1822. He left a wife and four children. T!ic names of his children, were John P. Williams, Thomas "Williams, Eliza Willijims and Harriet Williams. John P. AVilliams, who came with his father in 1819, was horn in Jetl'erson county, Virginia, in 1810 ; he is no^v and has been eontiiiuonsly a resident of Piowling Green lowii-liip - a period of slxt\'-f()ur years. He is the oldest living jiioneer in Chariton countv, and has resided in the county longer than any man now living in the same, except Captain William Heryford, wIkj was l)orn here April 14, 1818. ]Mr. Williams, although seventy-three years of age, is strong in mind and body and possesses a remarkably clear and accunite memory of the events which transpired more than three score j^ears ago.

Among the pioneers in the township were also Henry Lewis, from Virginia ; James and Perry Earickson, from Kentucky ; John M. Bell, from Georgia; Archiliald Hix and Alexander Trent, from Virginia; William Monroe and James Leeper, from Kentucky ; John W. Price, James Price, John Conlson, Chanpion Turpin, old man Eleetwood, John. Harris, Abraham Sportsman, ,lt)hn Ellison, John Rilev and John Sportsman.

The first school teacher to exercise his calling in the township was Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers, whom we have mentioned in our chapter on Cli.iriton township. The school building was located on section o2, township 53, range 19, in 1821.

Among the pupils who attended this first school were John 1'. Th(Mnas, Eliza and Flarriett Williams, Benjamin Monroe, ^Martha and Eliza Bell, Xaucy Stucky, John Stucky, Richard and Gustavus Earickson, .John Ish, who now resides in Saline county, Missouri, and Charles J. Cabell.

William Monroe I)uilt the first mill in the township on the edge of Bowling Green prairie, in 1819, on section 32, township 53, range 19. This was a band mill.

The Methodists built the first house of worshiii, near John W. Price's ; the church was called the " Blutf Church," and was erected al)out the year 1836. It was a frame building, and was afterwards moved into Brunswick township, and is now known as " Prairie Chapel."

Dortor John BuJl was the pionofr Metliodist pi'cachfr in the townsiliip, holding services there as early as 1819, at the house of Samuel Williauis. The doctor was a man of many sterling traits of ch;iracter, was an earnest and eloquent preacher, and was afterwards a Representative in the United States Congress from Missouri. Among the constituent nuMnbers of this original organization were : "William Dalton and fainilv, Jane Browder, Betsy Iludnell, and Tabitha EwiniT.

was laid out by William Dalton, on the southwest corner, northeast quarter, northwest corner, southeast quarter, and northeast corner, southwest quarter, section 13, township 53, range 1'.', in 1867. The town site was the home of William Dalton, after whom the village was named, many years before it was laid out. It is located at the base of the bluffs, overlooking a broad and fertile bottom towards the south - the Missouri river being some three miles distant. To the south of Dalton, and a little to the west, may now be seen some of the out-buildings, which still stand upon the farm which was for manv vears the home of General Sterling Price. Travellers upon the railroad, when jiassing Dalton, ask to have the farm of General Price pointed out to them. The few remaining old citizens who reside in tliis vicinity-, and who knew the General and loved him. always brighten up, with a glow upon the chpek and in the eye, when talking of him as a man, a citizen and as :i neighbor. One of bis" old neighbors, while in conversation with the author in reference to the General, said : " Mr., he was the politest man I ever saw - would even touch his hat to a colored man."

The first business house in Dalton was erected by Vcach Ov. flyers. The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacitic Railroad Company put up a good and commodious depot ; the ground upon which it stands, including about forty acres in the town, was donated to the railroad company by Mr. Dalton.

The business interests of the town are divided as follows: Three general stores, one grocery, one drug store, one lobticco factory, one harness and saddler's shop, two blacksmiths, one hotel, one elevator, and livery stable. There are two church buildings, one white and one colored. The white is a union church, where several different denominations worship.

T'lis was located on section - , townshi[) - , range - , on the ^I'nsouri river. It was never laid out as a town, but was a business point from alxjiil 1832 to LSG'J, when it was tinallv abamUnied on account of the Missouri changing its bi'd, leaving the place a long tlistance from its banks.

The river now (1883) is about two miles from the landing. When the town of Keytesville was established, in 1832, Keytesvillc landing came into existence as a place of some prominence, because the goods which were shipped to the merchants of the former place were brought up tlie ilissouii I'iver liy boats and put off at this point, whence they were transported to Keytesvillc by wagons, it being about six miles away. This place was for nniny years an elegant steamboat landing, and was the highest point of land on Bowling Green prairie, and was the only portion of that prairie bordering u[)nn the river that was not overflowed by the high water of L'^44.

General S^terling Price owned and operated a large tobacco warehouse here i)efore the war. A store of general merchandise was run for several ve:irs. In 18G4, Clinton Basey had a store at the landing ; he sold the same to C. S. Forqiieran, who sold in 18(58 to General Edward Price. No business is done now at this point. In 18(>l), a steamlioat struck a snag near the hmdiug ;urI sank, but no lives were lost. The caliiii was taken oti' and much of the lumber was used in

Historv Of Howaud And Chariton Counties. -475

Prominent among the farmers is General E. W. Price, the piojn-iotor of the celel)ratcd Green Valley farm, hunted on Cowling Green ])rairie, four miles south of Dalton, ten miles east of Brunswick, and eight miles from Ke\tesville, the eouuty seat. This, tlio home farm, embraces an area of 800 acres of tlie finest agricultural land in the State. The soil is a rich, dark loam, from eight to fifteen feet deep, and is simply inexhaustible. Of tlie entii'c area of this splendid domain it is not exaggeration to say that there is scarcely a foot not susceptible of tillage. Tlie ordinal}' yield of wheat here is twenty-live bushels to the acre, and corn produces from seventy-tive to one hundred bushels per acre. GeneiTil Price grew, in 1880, on his farm 500 acres of wheat, which gave a magnificent yield, besides a lai'geareaof corn. His extensive [tastures tuid meadows of blue grass, clover and timothy are among the tiuest in the State. Ho also operates a saw mill located on a 200 acre tract of timber laud, which turns out from 5,000 to 7,000 feet per day of lundjer. His tobacco factory is one of the finest in the State. It is a building three stories high, and 200x1^0 feet ai'ea. The drying capacity of this factory is 200,000 pounds. His stud includes twehe thoroughbreil Kentucky racers, among which are the celebrated Bill Bass, Kusticus, an.d Adclade : Irene, a gray fill}" out ot Adclade, Don and others of wide reputation, making up one of the most valualde collections of thoroughbreds in the State. The General's spacious and elegant mansion is in correspondence with the character of its splendid surroundings. General E. W. Price attained the rank of brigadier-general in the Confederate service. He i? a sou of the distinguished General Price, formerly Govei-isoi- of the State of Missouri, and w hose name is intimately interwoven with our national history. As a polished gentleman and a popular citizen, no man is better or more favorably known throughout the State than General E. \V. Price.

Adjacent to the estate of the General, in Bowling Circen prairie, lies the splendid -i'26 acre farm of (jeo. Chapman. The character of its soil is identical with that of the farm just referred to. ^Ir. Chapman has 32."> acres in cultivation, and gives !iis attention especially to the culture of corn, tobacco, wheat and live stock. He raised, last year, from an eighty acre tract, 5,000 bushels of corn. His tobacco

A Coon Storv

During the winter of 1819-20, Samuel Williams, who had just emigrated to the county from Virginia, was needing some stock troughs, and ordered his servant Eli, a negro who was then ahout twenty years of age, to go to the woods and get then). Eli was accompanied to the woods Ijy John P. Williams, who now resiiles in Dowling (ireeu township, and who was then a lad of fifteen years, and two dogs named respectively, Kuler ami Joler, which were the pro[)erty of Eli. liefore the parties arrived in the locality where they were to cut and make the troughs, the dogs had tracked in the suow aeooii, which had gone up a tree ne.ir \)y. (iuided by the bark of the dogs, Eli and his companion were soon upon the grouml. and while looking into the top of the tree around which the dogs weie standing, Eli beheld, what appeared to be to him an extraordinary large coon. The tree was large, and Eli thinking that he did not have tlie time to spare to cut it down, sent tlohn to the house after the gun (;in old tlint-lock ritlc), intending to siioot the coon. John soon returned with the gun and hau'lcd it to I'^li, who laid down Itehind a cottoii-wooil log, and after taking a long and deliberate aim, tired. The coon, however, failed to show any signs of being hit, or even frightened. Eli liad never shot a gun before and this may account for the fict of his missing. John having forgotten to firing the shot-})oueh with him, Eli's chance for another shot was cut off; being determined, however, to secure the coon, he concluded to cut the tree down and went to work with his axe in good earnest. He had been chopping some little time, when the animal came down the tree, and after aj)proaching within ten feet of the parties below suddenly sprang away out over the hea<1s of all and ran up a leaning tree near by, pursued by the dogs. The dogs were brave little fellows (both beiniz small). Ruler being especially courageous and tenacious, and greatly esteemed l)v Eli for his many virtues. Jolerwasgood and true, orat least had been so heretofore, and both dogs seemed to be readv and an.\ious to iirove their courai^e and tidclitv.

Joler h:i()|>ened to be in advaiit-c of Kuler as thoy approaehetl the coon on llie loaning tree (the tree inclining to >nch an extent that the <loc:^ cciuld ascend and descend without an\' diriiculty), and ^^'llcn he got near enough to take hold of the animal, the coon struck the dog on the top of his head with one of his fore pa\\>, which sent him reeling and ivhirling to tlie grouiul. It was noticed that the scalj> of the dog's head was oil", as he struck the ground and as soon a« he regained his feet, he heat a rapid retreat foi- the house, where he was afterwards found under Eli's hed in one of tlie cabins. Joler attempted to engage with the coon and bring him down. i)ut every time he got near enough the animal woidd apparently sla[) him in the face and on the head, and send him turning over and over to the ground. The dog was tin:dl\- worried so lie could (Jo nolhing more and Eli left to tlu- resuurcf of striking the .animal "with his axe, proviiled he could get in strikin;:- distance. "\A'hile attempting to climb the tree with hi^ axe, and betbre he had reached the coon, it s[irang out of the tree to the ground and made its escape. Eli and .John after tin'shing their wui-k returned to the house and related their c(H)n story to Mr. AA'illiams, who after hearing it, told them that the animal they saw and attempted to capture was a panther. The next day the panther was seen again, and finally killed in the spring of 1820. It measured ten feet in length and was the largest one ever seen in the country.

Eli has been dead but a few years. He took great delight in telling the coon story. lie had never seen a panther, and believed the one he saw firstto be a coon. He said, however, whenever he related the circumstances connected therewith, that he thought all the time ho was trying to kill it that it was the biggest coon he oversaw, and had never seen any as big in Virginia or Kentucky.

Bowling Green township, having been the home of General Sterling Price for many years before the war of 18G1, we deem it jnopi r to given in this connection a brief biographical sketch of the G'mieral's life, believing that every man in Chariton county will j)eruse the same with peculiar interest.

was born in Prince Edward county, Vii'ginia, September 14, 1 ?(-!'. His foniily were, as their names indicate, Welch, but thev had spread into various parts of England and Franco, as well as into Viririnia. Thev were evidentlv old settlers in Prince Edward county, for tlie father of the suhject of this sketch, Pucfh W. Price, was tlie youngest of a family of twenty-tive children, and child of the second wife of his father.

Genera! Price was the third of four son!< and a daughter who lived to maturity. The eldest brother was Doctor Edwin Price, who died in Brunswick, Missouri, in 1858. The next eldest was Major Eolicrt Iluph Price, who died in Galveston, Texas, in 1873. The only sister is Mrs. Pamelia Koyal, widow of Captain John Eoyal, formerly of Virpjiuin, and mother of Colonel William Roval, of the United States army. Mrs. Royal resides in Columbia. Missouri. John R. Price, late of California, but now of Texas, is the only surviviug brother of the famil}'. At a suitable age Sterlina: was sent to Hampden-Sydney College where, after completing his education, he, at the age of twenty years, entered the clerk's office at Prince Edwards court-house, with a view of being bi-ed to the bar. Here, however, he did not remain long, for in the fall of the year 1831 his father move to ^Missouri taking with him his sons Sterling and John. They spent the winter in Fayette, in Howard county, and in the spring following settled in Chariton county, near Keytesville, in which neighborhood the subject of this sketch remained for a number of years, engaged in keejiing a hotel, in merchandising and in agricultural pursuits, after which he removed some tive or six miles south * and settled on a faru) in Bowling Green prairie, on which he remained until the breaking out of the war in 18131. In 1840, General Price was first elected to the lower house of the Missf)uri Legislature, at which session he waf< elected speaker of the same. In 1842 he was re-elected to l>oth })ositions. In 1846 he was elected to a seat in the Congress of the United States from the State of Missouri, on the gener;il ticket system. War with ^lexico having broken out soon aftei' he took his seat in Congress, he resigned and was commissioned by President Polk to raise a regiment of Missouri volunteers. Upon thisservice he retui'ned to Missouri, and in due time organized his command of which he was elected and commissioned colonel, and with which he marched into northern ilexico and the State of Chihuahua. In 1847 he wa< promoted for gallant and meritorious conduct to the rank of brigadier-general, and assigned to command in New Mexico, where he remained until the close of the war. He fought the battle of Santa Cruz which, like the battle of New Orleans, occurred after a treaty of peace had been made. In that battle the Americans captured General Angel Trias, the Mexican commander

:uul GnvcriKjr of Chihii;ilia;i, ;iiid several tlioiisand of his troops ami twent^'-fouf pieces of aitiliory, altlinnirli the Mexican forces nearly ijiiadniplod that of the Americans. The artillery and arms were promptly retiii'ned to the Mexicans as soon as knowledge of the treaty of peace readied the jreneral commanding. Yet it was ever with him a matter of regret tliat he could not l)rinir to Missouri the artillery as trophies of the war. After the ^Icxican war. General Price returned to his fa rP! in Gharitoii county which, during his al(?ence, had heen manatred with great prudence and skill by his excellent witc- Here he devoted himself to agriculture and the genial and elegant hospitalities of that time - a conspicuous trait of all the people of that section, or wherever Virginians h;id immigrated. He was surrounded by a large i;olony of farmers, many of then) of his own name and kindred, and by neighbors who held him in great respect, not c-nly for his civic and military services, but who esteemed and admired him as a good neighbor aiid honest num. From this beautiful retreat at Bowling Green prairie he was railed again, in 1.S,')'2, into public life. He was nominated bv the Dcin'icratic parly and elected by a large majoi'ity as {governor of the State. He entcn-ed upon thi> duties of the office at a time \vhcu the great corporations of the State, especially the railroad companies, were liei^inninir to become formid;d)lo.

Sutbcient cucoiiragemcnt had been given them during the administration of Governor l^ing, liis immediate predecessor, to embolden them in the most extravairant demands, and so plausible did the elofjuence of their supporters in the Legislature m.akc these demands ai)pear, that large extravagant a[)propriations were voted them by the assistance (if the " lobby" and omnibus " l)ills, and when opposed by the veto of the accompanied by the strong logic of his mastermind, and the jjrophetic warnings that have since l>een so fearfully fulfilled, these bills were passed against his earnest protestations. Finding the salary of the Governor iuadecpuite to the su[)}iort of that officer in a manner suitable to the dignity of tlie office, in a message to the Legislature, he called their attention to the fact ; recommending an increase for the l)enetit of his successor. Tmo vears before the expiration of his term, a law was passed in accordance with the recommendation, i)ut to take etl'ect from and after its passage, and notwithstanding the o[)inion of tlie attorne^'-general and several mend)ers of the Sufireme Court iu favor of the constitutionality of its a[)[jlication to the incumbent, yet he persistently ret'useii to receive a dollar more salary than lie took under the law in force at the lime ot' his ia-iuiriiratioii. Consequently there is a hirge hahmce still due him from the State. In 185fi, General Pi'ice returned to his t'iirui, devoting hinisL.'H" to agrieulture and hreeding of fine stock, where he remained with his family till the nomination of Clail)orne F. Jaekson for Governor, when upon his resignation of the office of hank commissioner, (leneral Price was induced to accept the ofiice. In 1857. he interested himself in the canvass for a county subscription of $J50.()00, to secure a railroad through this ctjunty, which is now a part of the St. Louis, Kansas Citv and Northern Eailroad, and by his effcprts, mainly, the project was carried l>y a vote of 341 mnjority. In the triangular contest for the Presidency in I'SfJO, General Price espoused the cause of Stephen A. Douglas, as a conservative between the extreme views represented by Abraham Lincoln of the North, and John C Bieckenridge, of the South. When the results of the election were known and the tremendous excitement consecpient thereupon cau~od the State Legislature, upon its assembling in January following, to call a convention of ninetA'-nine members or of three from each of the thirty-three senatorial districts, to consider the relations of Missouri 'o the L'Vderal Government, Governor Price, with Thonnis Shackelford, of Howard, and William Hall, of Randolph county, were elected Ijy a large majority, as Union members to represent their district, and upon the asseud)ling of the convention in Feln'uary, Governcn- Prii-e was elected president of the body. It was the tlesign of the ]ieoide of Missouri, if possible, to avoid the war that ensued, and tor that p'urpose determined to occupy a position of "armed neutrality." For this they were denounced as traitors and as such treated l)y the I'ederal authorities and their armies. Goveru(U' Jackson tendered to General Price the command of the State forces, with the rank of major-general, which he accepted and henceforth, after all hopes of averting a conflict were crushed by the capture of " Camp Jackson," where General Price's eldest son was with the com[iauy, which he had raised under the laws of the State, and of which he had been elected captain, his energies were expended in the interest of the South. 'J'his is not the time or place to enter into a detailed history of his militaiy career while the sanguinary conflict la-ted, for to do so wcjiild extend the sketch beyond our limits and involve a liistorv of the war, which is not designed. Suffice it to say, that either t'roni ignorance of his merits (which is the most charitalde if not the most complimentary reason), or from jealousy of his great popidarity (which is the most probable), by the Richmond

:\uthoritios he was subordinated to those who were greatly liis interiors, and denied the i>rominence and position to which his talents and abilities entitled him, so far that the cause for which he suffered so much, was greatly the loser by the manner in which he was treated by those who had the authority over him, and who ought to have known lietter. Notwithstanding all this the patience with which he endured and the brilliant qualities exhibited whenever the occasion presented itself so endeared him to the pi'O'.de of the South that with the exception of Lee and possibly of Jack';(3n, no name among their cherished heroes is remembered with a more ardent and sincere affection, and in Missouri, es[)ecially, will the memory of his name and deeds be fresh and fragrant long after those of his maligners have faded and perished from the earth. After the surrender, with a number of Missouri exiles, General Price made his way to the city of the Montezumas, with a view to the formation of a colony at Cordova, where a large grant of land had been made by the Emperor ^laximilian. The unsettled condition of the country, the waning fortunes of the empire aud more th:in all, the unfavorable action of the climate upon his shattei'ed ronslitutiou, notv.ithstandiug Mrs. Price and his children, with the excejitiou of his eldest son, had joined him in ile.xico, seemed to render his return to Missouri a necessity.

In the winter of isGi; they returned to St. Louis : the General suffering with chronic disease of the iniwels, first contracted in Mexico some twentv years previous. Here he engaged in business as a commission merchant, and established a prosperon.'s house. His health continued to decline, and all efforts to restore it were unavailiuir, and on the 29th of September, 1867, he died at peace with all mankind. After the body had lain in state in the church, at the corner of Eiirhth street and AVashingtun aveijue, for several tiays, where thousands took their farewell look at their l)eloved and honored chieftain, he was buried in Bellefontaiue cemeterv, on the 3d of October, tlie anniversary of one of his greatest battles, followed by one of the largest funeral processions that had ever been known in St. Louis. Endowed with rare graces of person, and a presence full of diirnitv aud Ijenignity, General Price was a natural soldier ; capable of huidimr troops under tire, and ot inspiring them with his own hi^h couratrc he had also the faculty of tilling them with a love of his person, amounting almost to adoration. His were the qualities which beritted him for battle and the tlizzy fascination of danger seemed to exalt him with and he could dilTuse his great soul into an aimy. He Vius not so niiioh the ireiierulas the chieftain. He ^vas the chiv.ilrons leader of a gallant and adoring people. The magistrate and ruler, the statesman and citizen. Frugal v.-ithout avarice, he was generous without prodigality, and always just. At the battle of Lexington, Missouri, ho captured from Colonel Mulligan, the federal commander of the post, a million dollars, belonging to the Farmers' .bank, every dollar of which he returned to the rightful owners. It was an act of heroic justice, but "it was not war." On the 14th of ilay, l?oo. General Price was married to Martha, daughter of Captain John Head, of Randolph county, Missouri, who had emigrated to Missouri from Orange county, Virginia, about the same time the Prices did from Prince Edward, and who settled in the corner of Randolph, near the lines of Howartl and Chariton. Mrs. Price, as before intimated, was a most excellent lady, possessed of many amiable traits of character, which endeared her to all with whom she was associated. Only four of their children are living : General Edwin W. Price, Colonel Celsus Price, Martha Sterling Price (now Mrs. Willis), and Quintus Price.

Chapter And Cockrell Townsiih'S

Trii)lctt township is located in the southwestern part of the county, and contains about forty square miles of territory. It is bounded on the north by Cunningham and Mendon townships : on the east by Mendon and Brunswick townships ; on the south by Bruiiswick township and Carroll county, and on the west by Carroll county.

The only streams in the township are Salt and Brush creeks, which water the southeastern part of the same. This township comprises the hirge, high bottom known as Porche's prairie - the low bottom on Grand river and a strip of upland prairie and timber on the east. The Grand river bottom is subject to overflow, and is valual)le chiefly for the timber. Porche's prairie is nearly all susceptible of cultivation and is exceedingly productive. The upland is equal to any upland in the county. There are some large lakes in Grand river bottom. There are a few ledges of limestone and a little sandstone in the south part. No coal has been developed.

AmoiifTthe early settlers of this township was Israel Pt)rche. who came ainoii;^' the pioneers, and located on what is known as Porche's prairie, whieh was naniei.l tor him. Tliis prairie emhraces an area of land, which is about six miles in widtli, and alxmt eight miles in length. I'orehe settled near the banks of Salt creek, where he continued to reside until liis death, which occurred about the year 1844.

Alexander Banning, AVilliam Brown, George Jackson, John and James McFerrin, Samuel Leeper and his sons, John, Calvin, Samuel, Emsley, and thi-ee other sons; AVm. Latliram, William and Samuel Dean, Josejih and Abner Cloud, Levi Snow, and .lohn and Lark Lathram, were all early settlers, some of whom came to the county before ISPjO.

Logan n. Ballew, Joim Triplett, Andi-ew Crockett and E. Ramshcr were also among the old settler.-^. Mr. Kamslier was an Enlisliman, and, it is said, he came to the township umler a cloud, seeking the location as a place of ol)scurity and safety. He was an accomplished business man, having had a large experience in one of the prominent banks of England, from \vhich he embezzled several thousand pounds. Prior to his coming to Chariton county, he had travelled nearly all over the worlil, seeking an asylum of ease and quietude, and upon his arrival here, his ready money was about exhausted. He had. howevei-, a great abundance and variety of elegant clothes, and consideralde jewidry, whirh was also elegant and costlv. Soon after his coming, and in the fall of 1840, a man came from England, searching for him. He came up the river in a boat to Brunswick, and from that place went out to see Ea;nslier, who was living on his farm. He returned to Brunswick next day, and left for St. Louis without li:ivin<r recovered unv of the stolen mouev.

The town of Triplett was laid out by A. FL Hooper and John E. M. Triiilett, on the northwest northeast and northeast northwest section 19, township 54, range 20, on the Brunswick and Chillieothe Railroad, now Omaha litan.ch oi'the Wabasli, St. Louis and Pacific Raiload, in June, 1870. Ml'. Ti-i[)lett huiit the fust house in the new town, ami Jackson Alsoii and .Tohiison M. Reed were tlie lirst merchants. W'm. Ushei' was the tirst hlacksmitl), Doctor Ashbrcw was the pioneer })hysi<'ian, and George BUike the first car[)onter, iu the town.

TripK^tt was incorporated May 4, 1881. The first town officers were: L. 11. Dalleu', president; Doctor C. A. Jennings, George Harper, and Mat Clerkin, trustees ; 1). F. Smith, clerk, and 1\ W. Sanders, treasurer.

The population of the town in 1880 was 205 ; it is trreater now (1883). There are now four stores, general assortment, one hardware and lumber store, two drug stores, one restaurant, one grocery, one Ijlacksmith shop, one grist mill, tliree physicians and one dentist.

Skcret Lodgks

Bouiulcd oil Ihe norlh by ^lacon county, on the east by Maeoii county and "Waylan'.l township, on the south ]>y Wayiantl ami Cockrcll townships, and on the west by Muscle Fork and Chu-k townsliips.

Physical Fkaturk

The township originally embraced about eighty-tive square miles, but in 18S0, another township was taken otf, called Cockrell township, which reduced it to nearly one-half its original size.

.The following streams arc well distributed throughouL the townsliip : Jones' branch, Boe branch. East and West Bee branches, Chariton river, and Puzzle creek.

Kauly Settlers

The early settlers of Bee Branch township were not numerous, and, in fact, the township did not settle up very fast until after the \var of 1861. Among the early pioneers, who came to the township aliout the year 1820, were Silas Thomas and John A. Thomas, who emigrated from the State of New York, and located in section ob. Silas Thomas died before the late war. He has three sons and one daughter now living in the township.

David Morgan opened a farm on section 3, township 5.^, rani:;e 17, and wa.s also from Kentucky. He was a great hunter, and died before the late war. The mcmliers of his family are either all dead ingone to other parts of the country.

Wm. Hurt located on section 3ti, and raised a large familv, a [lortion of which is still living in the county. Alexander and Isaac Smith emigrated from Kentucky about the year 18;! 1, and settled on section 2, where he and his wife still live, at an advanced age. ilr. Smith was a justice of the peace of the county for twentv-five ^'ears.

History Of Howard And Chariton Countiks

h'tni in 18:?7, ciune to Ilowurd county Avith his father, when a mere ciiild, and after remaining in Howard until he was about grown, came to Chariton count v, and settled in Bee Branch township in ]849, on section 3, township 55, range 17. His farm now embraces parts of sections 3 an<l 4.

JoIhi Xoblo came fiom Indiana at a very early day and openetl a farm on section 10, to\vns!iip 55, range 17. Kandolpii Chirk was one of tiie pioneers and settled in tlie southern part of the town^hij), where he erected a mill on tiic Grand Chariton river. This was a grist and saw mill and tiie first one in that region of the country. The settlers for twenty miles around, came to this mill with their corn and wheat and continued to do so for many years. The old pion.eer mill :md its owner have long since passed away.

Thomas S. McCarl, father-in-law of Judge Berry Owens, came in 1846. David and "William McCollum, l)rothers, were among the early settlers, and located near Clark's mill. These men were great hunters. They and their families, are either all dead or gone elsewhere. Nathaniel Bunch, from Kentucky, was one of the tirst settlers in Bee Branch township. He is still living on the place originally settled by him, near Clark's mill above mentioned.

The old settlers of this township, were nearly all from Kentucky, aud were fond of hunting and fishing, which they kept up until the breaking out of the late war. This they could do to their hearts delight, as the w'oods and prairies were full of game and the streams swarmed with fishes of many varieties. The trees along the banks of these streams, afforded also a great abundance of the richest and most delicious honey.

School

There was no school-house in the township) until 1848, aud, perhaps, no school taught until that period. Judge Beny Owen's father aud a few of his neighbors, got together and erected a log building on section 9, during the summer of 1848, and eni[)loyed Kev. James Bell, a missionary Ba[)tist pi'cacher to teach a school. Benjamin Smith, Isaac W. Snuth, Lill>urn A. Smith, A. J. McCart, F. :M. Mc- Cart, Joseph Thomas and Alfred Thouuis were among the pupils.

Byxc.Mvillk

The doctor went to California among the gold seekers of 1S49. A post-office was established here and called Byiiumville post-office. The original house erected on the spot where the town now stands was put up by John T. Brockmau in l>s59. Brockman sold his place to Robert Carman, who was the first postmaster. The town, however, was not laid out until 1878, when Baldwin and Davis had it surveyed and filed a plat, wliieh siio\\s that the town site covers a jiortiou of the west half of section :?<), township fifi, range 19.

The town contains two stores, one drug store, which is an attaclimcnt to the general store of Judge Berr}' Owen's, one Idacksuiith and wagonmaker, one physician, one shoemaker and one church.

This town was laid out in 18 - on the west-half of section 14, township 56, range 17, by Francis Moeuning, Leonard Holzle, and Anton Heuber, in June, 1877. It contains a post-office, two general stores, a blacksmith's and wagon shop and a large Catholic Church edifice.

Church And Convent

The congregation was organized in 1872 b}' the Rev. Fr. Kearful. It then numbered 22 families, and was attended once a month from Brunswick during 1872, divine service being performed in private houses.

Names of priests who have attended these stations : - Kev. Fr. Bonaventura Faulhaber, 1876-79 : Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Kiemann, 1879-81; Eev. Fr. Maximilian Klein, 1881-83; Rev. Fr. Fidelis Kaercher, since August, 1883.

("lunuin^Viam township occu[iies the n<irth\vest corner of the county, and is luiunded cjn the north l)y Linn county, on the east bv Yellow Creek township, on the south by Mcndon and Triplett to\vnships, and on the west by Carroll county.

Physical Featukes

The township einl)races nearly eighty square miles, partly bottom land and partly very gentl}' r(»lling upland. Tiie bottom lands overflow, excepting the ridges, which are in the bottoms. One of these ridges, called Hog ridge, contains l,OuO acres. The township) is watered i)y Elk, Yellow and Turkey creeks, which flow through the western part of the township and emi)ty into Grand river. Swan Lake is in this township, and is located partly in .sections 34, 35, and 3G, township 5(j, range 21. Hog Lake covers ai»out as much land as Swan Lake, but is more irregular in shape. The up[)er portion of the township is nuiinly prairie, and of the very tinest quality of soil. The area of timber is not more than one-fifth of the township. But little coal is developed, and but little stone is found in the township.

Eakly Settters

Robert Stanley came two years after in company with his brothers Coleinan and Duncan. They were mere boys at the time, and are now all living except Coleman, who died in 18(37. Robert lives in Grand Rivei- township, Livingston county, Missouri, and is seventyfour years of age. Robert lives near St. Catherine, Linn county, Missouri. They came to Cooper county, Missouri, in 1818.

The next settler in the townsliij) was Jack, a free negro, who located on Jack's ridge, one mile north of Suiuuer. Benjamin Full, a white man, lived on the place that Jack settled about the year 1835 or 183tj. John Ri(]gewav can)e to the count v after Full, and now sleejis on Jack's ridge. His boys reside iu Randolph county. A family by tlie name of Coopei' settled on the same ridge.

Henrv Wheelbarger, from Ohio, came about 1830, and settled on Hog ridge, south of Cunuinghtim about three miles, and cleared an old field, whicli may be seen now. He first located on the bank of Grand river, a mile and a half west of Cunningham. Wheelbarger had quite a family of boys, whose names were Samuel, John, Charley, Allen and Harry. Sanmel is in Texas : Harrv was killed in the Union army, in McBride's connnand ; fJohn died at home ; Allen. PLirry and Charley live in the township. John Lamb settled ai)out one mile south of Wheelbarger. He left the county a few j'ears afterwards; his present locn.tiun is wot known. JakeCronsaw opened a farm (jn the north bank of Swan Lake; his old farm joins the corporate limits of Cunningham. He came about 1842, and left the county before the war of 18G1. The next settler east of him and on the adjoining farm was a man by the name of Ramshire. Then came Jack Young, who settled on Elk creek about six miles from Cuimingham. He went through the army in the Eighteenth Missouri Volunteers, and became blind with small-pox. He afterwards left the county. James Jones came in 1838, and entered land where Yellow creek In-idge now stands. Edward Stewart and Thomas Stewart came in 1845. Edward was at one time county surveyor. Thonnis Stewart had three boys - Charley, James and Elias. Charley lives at Cunningham, Elias died in Memphis, Teimessee, and James in Arkansas.

northeast quarter sectiou 27, T. 5(5, K. 21, on tlie Omaha branch of tiie \Val)ash, St. Louis and Pacific Eailway. The first building in the town was intended for a duelling house, but after l)eing occuj>ied a while as sucli, it was converted into a boarding-liousc. The first business house was a saloon, erected in 1870. 'J'hen followed in rapid succession the business houses of M. O. Cunningham, AVilliani Harner, Samuel AYinfrey, J. Gould, 'L'homas Abrains, and others. A school liousc was built in 1872. ;uid is two stories in height. The upper story was erected by the Free Masons for a hall. It is now occupied by the I. 0. O. F. and A. O. U. W. A Masonic lodge was organized in the town about the year 187-5 : the charter was arrested in 1878. The Union Christian churcli i.'^ now in [)rocess of erection.

Banks And Bankers

There has never been but one bank at Cunningham, which is the Bank ofCunningham. That was established in August, 1883. President, L N. Long; vice-president, James Mr-Riddle; cashier, A. Johnsou. Directors: I. N. Long, James M. Kiddle, A.Johnson, William Fulbright, J. IL Parker, Harvey Batts, of Battsville, Carroll county, and S. H. Baugh, of Bedford, Livingstor. county. The baid< cominenceil business in its new building under the nio.-t favorable auspices. It has a cash capital of $15,000, all paid up, and its representative capital is $500,000. The officers of the bauk and the directors are men who stand high as leading business men and capitalists of Chariton, Carroll and Livingston counties.

was laid out l)y Joel II. Wilkcrson antl the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City Ivailroad Conn)any on north halt section 22, township 56, range 21, at the junction with the V.'abash, St. Louis and Pacific Kailway (Omaha Branch) in June, 1882.

The lirst building in the place was put up l)y J. M. Vance in the fall of 1882. Among tlie early builders of houses was Professor Willett, who erected the Commercial Hotel. The tirst board of trustees was composed of William W. Knickerbocker, chairman ; Samuel Flommerfolt, Dr. A. C. Aull, F. P. Southerland, W. II. Willett, clerk; N. A. Bailc}', marsiial. A union Sabbatli school was oi-gaiiized, June 17, 1883, with Howard Woodward, superintendent; Mrs. W. B. Perkins, assistant, and l^rotessor Willett, secretary ixnd treasurer.

Business

It is botinded on the noith hy Cunningham township, on the east by Salt Creek township, on the south by Brunswick and Triplett ownships, and on the west by Triplett and Cunningham townships.

Physical Features

The township is watered by Elk, Yellow and Salt creeks and Hickory branch, and is mainly prairie. The eastern )iart is well cultivated and thickly populated. Much of the western portion is fenced in for pastures, it being generally too low and wet for cultivation. Ai)oul one-fourth id' the township is timbered. Coal has been worked in some places, sup])lying considerable local traile. Sandstone is found in some portions of the township. It embraces an area of thirty-six square miles.

!Mcndon was laid out in 1871 V)y Christopher Sliupe <ni southeast southwest section 14, T. br>, R. 20. It was, however, a business point several years before the plat of the to^vn was tiled - as early as 1S65, when Bostich and Eastman erected a business house - general merchandise. In 1871 Keith Brothers put up the building now occupied by Shupc Brothers. Charles Welling erected the next business house in the spring of 18S0. In 1881 Dr. Morgan built a drugstore, which was soon after occupied bv Anderson & Kaatz as a general store. In 1882, J. T. Graves sold drugs in the same building and sold to W. G. Herndon, who now occupies it.

This township has a less number of square rniles than any other iti the counly. It is about five miles in width at its widest point, and little more tlian a mile wide at its narrowest point. It is bounded on the north by Bowling Green and Keytesville townships ; on the east by Chariton township ; on the south b}^ Saline county, from which it is separated by the Missouri, and on the west by Saline county.

Phy.Sical Keatlkf.S.

Alost of the cultivated land of this townshiji cannot l)e surpassed in fertility, but nearly all of it is, at times, overiiowed by extreme high water from the Chariton and Missouri rivers. The township was at one time covered with large timl)er, about half of which has been cleared and put in cultivation. The ^Missouri river washes the entire southern boi-dor of the town^^llip, and the grand Chariton river passes through a portion of the eastern part of the same.

Judge James Earickson and his In-other, Peregrine Earickson, settled in the edge of Bowling Green prairie in Missouri township, in 1815, where they remained till 1824, when they moved to Howard county. Judge Earickson was State ttiiasurer from 1829 to 1833. Talton Turner settled in the townshii) about the same date. These men were government contractors in beef for the Indians and soldiers

The townshij) is Imundeil on the noitli bv P>ee Branch township, on the east I>\- Macon county and W'ayland lown.'-hip. on the sonth hy AVayland and Keyle.-ville to\vnshi|)s, and on the west by Mnscle Fork town>!iip.

Physical Featliies

Cockrell township lies on the nortli and west side of the Chariton river ; its surface is made up of alternate hlutl's and lowlands with timber intermixed. The soil is deep only in spots, but with the exception of the overflf)wed bottoms, is moderately productive. The cereals, grasses and tobacco are grown in ccmsiderable f|nrtntities. Stone is found in many parts of the townshi}) ; coal is also found, but no mining has been done.

Early Settleks

The historj- of Cockrell township is embraced in that of Bee Branch township, from which it was taken. Some of the settlers who have been classed as the pioneers of Bee Branch township, now legitimately belong to the new township of Cockrell. Some of the more recent immigrants and settlers in this township are Isaac Smith, John Hise, Jesse Montgomery, Kichard Wescote, Peter Krager, Eliza Scott, John McSparren, John McCary and William Nelson.

The first mill built in the township, was erected by a man named Hamlin, on the Chariton river in 1845, in the southwest part of the township. This was a water mill. *

School House And Church Edifice

Owing to the crookedness and shallowness ol' the Chariton rivers in Chariton county, the low lands bordering npon those strean.is have been, during certain seasons of the year, subject to overflow. The high waters cover not oidy u. huge area of land, but remain upon the bottoms, oftentimes for days in succession, in some instances to the detriment, and at all tiiues, to the inconvenience of those farmers who are compelled to cross them.

Much of these overflowed lands might be recUiimed hy straightening these streams and deepening their channels. Judge Lucien Salisbury and Lewis Bartholomew, who own about 2,000 acres of land on the Chariton river whirh is suiiject to overflow (sections G ami 7, township .55 an.d range l(i, in Cockrell township), have snceessfnllv tested the experiment of throwing u]) a levee or embankment, which they commenced in the month of July, ]S8;>. The work is done Ijy machinery aud is thrown up rapidly by horse power. The embankment, when completed, will be two aud a half miles in length, fourteen feet -wide at the base, eight feet wide on top, and from tour and a half to five and a half feet in height, and will cost about $1.50 per rod. It will be finished in September, 1883, and will protect 1,500 acres of hind from the overflows. Of course, it is needless to say, that the land? which are covered in the sitring or fall with higli water include some of the richest soil in Chariton county, aud everv efi'ort should be made to reclaiiu them and prepare them for the use of the husbandman. "

This township is bomidci) on the north \iy Clark township, on the east by Bee Biiinch township, on the soutii by Keytcsville township, and on the west by Salt Creelv townsliip.

Physical Featurf

No tow usliip in the connty has a greater supply of water than Muscle Fork. The surface of the same is veined with Long branch, iluscle fork, Cottonwood creek and their triljutaries, which flow south entirely through the township. The bind is thin and broken in some places, and gently rolling and fertile in others. About one-third of the township is timber. A large vein of coal was discovered in the northeast part of the township, but has never been worked ; a thinner vein has been worked in the southwest part. Plenty of lime and sand stone is found.

Old Skttleks

Among the old settlers of Muscle Fork township was Goodman Oldham, who was a native of ^ladison count}', Kentucky. In 1832 he moved to Howard county, Missouri, and in LS33 to Chariton county, where he lived until his d^^^atli, which occurred April .Ttli, 182.5. He was killed in the town of KeytesviUe by Mordecai Lane. Oldham was qiiietlv silting Ijy the fire ;U llie hotel where he was .*toj)pino-, when. Lane opened the door and shot hiiu in tlie hack, i<iliing him instantly. Oldham had puieha-ed some land from Lane and was to receive a warrantee i]eci]. The pavtnenit; on the land had all been made except the last. Wiien OUliuuu demanded his deed. Lane could give him only a ta.x-deed, as that was all the title he had. Oldham hronuht suit against Lane for the recovery of his money, anil beeaust: of the litiiration instituted \>y Oldham, I^ane, it was thouglit, killed him. lie was suspected of ha\'ing coniniitted the deed, was arrested and confined in jail to await his trial in the circuit c;)Urt. Two or three years passed before he had his triad, raid when it occurred he was acquitted. Upon his death bed, however. Lane confessed that he was the man who kiileil Oldham, thus veril'ying the old saying, "murder will out." Oldham left ten children, six Ijoys and four girls, all of whom lived to be grown. Ilis widow Jived till March 8, 18X3, her husband havinobeen dead forty-eight years. John G. Oldham, who is another early settler of the township, is the son of Goodman Oldham above named, and Catherine Jackson, and was born in Laurel county, Kentucky, October 9th, 1S22. Came wilh his father to Howard county, Missouri, in 183:^, and bum tliere to Chariton county in L833. He married Mrs. Nancy L. Lucas in Brunswick, Missouri, in 18-48, and to them have been born ten children. He entered the Confederate army during General Price's raid, and was taken prisoner on the Kansas .State line. Was imprisoned at Fort ?^cott. Fort Leavenw(jrth and at Caiuj) ^lorton, but was released in February, 1865, when he returned home, and has .since been engaged in fai-mins;. J.ames Guthridge, a native of Fan<juier county, Virginia, where he was born March 1, 181;;, came to Chariton county in April, 1831. He v^as employed by James Ki.'ytc soon after his arrival, and was mail carrier for some little time between old Chariton and Kevtesvillf . At the time of his coming to Keytesville there were but a few settlers; north and west there were no settlers, and from Keytesville' to Rossville there was but one house. Mr. Guthridge is a large landed proprietor. He erected a saw and grist mill in 18.31, at the town site of Izora City, which is still in o[ieration. It is six miles from Kevtesville. This was the tir^t mill in the township.

Peter Smith may be classed among the eaidy settlers. He was bora in Germany, April 8, 183.5 ; came to the United States States in 1S39, and after remainimr at Glasgow three years came to Chariton county, where he has since resided and followed the occupation of a farmer.

His farm is large, well iniproved, and well adapted to the raising of stoek, of which he has ii large number, including cattle, hogs and sheep.

.)(.)hn ^^'eleh came among the [tioneers to Chariton county. lie was a native of Kentucky, where he married .Matilda M. Cockerel. They eniigrated first to Howard anti then to Chariton county. 1"lie\' lived to ;i ripe old age, having had fourteen children, eleven hoys and three ofirls.

Mr. Welch was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans, where he served as a faithful and gallant soldier. He .suffered many privations and fatigues during that memorable campaign under General Jackson. He often peeled bark from elm trees, as high as he could reach with his bayonet toeat, this at times constituting his only food. He drew a pension until the date of his death, which took place in September, 1S72.

Stokely Mott emigrated to Missouri at an early day from Kentuckv. He is the father of Mrs. Edward B. Welch and still lives in Chariton county. He came to Missouri in 1822. Edward B. \\'elch, who was tlie tliirteentii child of .bdui and Matilda ^\'elch al)0ve named, is a native of Chariton coLinty, \vhere he was born in Aj^ril, ISo'S. He onlisted in the Confederate army in Jane, ISfJl. and was in General Clark's division of Price's army. He was with General Price durini;- his last raid into ^Missouri, and p:irticipated in all the battles ami skirnushes engaged in by the army at that tim^. He was also in the engagement at Lexington, Missouri. Was captured while \\ith General l'i-ice and confined in prison fifteen days, when he was released and returned to his farm. He is an extensive stock raiser, making a specialty of that iuisiness, and has also dealt largel\' in tobacco.

Izoka City

This town is located in Muselfi Fork township, the town site occupying about ninety-tive acres of land. It was founded iu 1858, but no plat of the town has ever been filed. The first store was opened in the town by Charles Turner. In 1879 Doctor Hi(ks opened a drugstore. Afthis time (l''>83) there are seventeen l>uildings in the town including the mill, two general sfoi'es, one drug store, and two bhedc. smitli shops. There are two halls - one erccte(.l by the P'ree ^lascuis and the other by Mr. E. Irvine over his store. Mr. Irvine is owner of much of thf town site. Tiic town was originally called (iuthridge Mills. The post-ofiice is still called Guthridge Mills post-ottice.

This place was commenced in 1877, the tirsl building being erected by the Grangers, the up[)er story^ being used as a hall by that order, and tlie lower story occupied b}' Pound & Welch as a ?tore-room.

A number of good Ijuildings have been erected, and the town is improving, with a prospect of becoming a fair busuiess point. Idiere are at present three stores, general merchandise, a drug store and a grocer j.

Wayland township is bounded on the north by Bee branch, on the east by JNIacon and Ilandol[>h counties, on the south bv Salisbury township, and on the west by Keytesville and Bee Branch townshi|)s.

About all the water supply afforded the township, is obtained from the Ciiariton river and one small tributary. Its surface consists mainly of a rich, geutly .rolling prairie, admirably adapted to all the cereals, especially wheat, of whicli a vast amount is produced. The soil is deep and riol;. Al>oiit oiio-fuinth ot" the lownship is subject to overfli>w ; about three-l'ouitiis of the s:iine is prairie. No coal has ;i^ yet been developed and no stone of nnv importance. It has an area of about thirty-nine square miles.

Among the early pioneers was l^evi Fawks, Sr., a native of Georgia. lie married a Miss Wliite, of North Carolina, in Wilson couutv. Tennessee, in ISOlj. Tliey came to St. Charles county, ilis.souri, in 1817. Tliev moved theme to Callaway county, in 182.3, and linally settled in Chariton county, in April, 182."^. ]Mr. Fawks settled what is known as the G. G. Dameron [dace, wdiere he lived for several years. Tiiere was no white man living nortii of him at that time. While Mr. L'ameron v.as residing at tiie place, and wdiile he was absent from his home, on an ^-xpedition ag-iin-Jt the Indians, Mrs. l^aincron placed two of her oldesl children on the house-top t(j look out for the Indian-. At anotlier time she carried the (ddldren into a corn-field and spent the night, being afraid to remain in the cat/ni, where she would be exposeil to the tomahawk and scalping-knife of the red man. The familv -ubsequenth' cros-ed the Middle Fork of the Chariton river, and lived for ten vears at Fawks' Mill. Mr. Fawks and hi- wit'e liavr been dead nnniy years. They had eleven children, whose names were as fidlows. in the lU'der of theii' ages: Malissa. William, Mary, .Sabrimi, Alfred. Edward, Levi, Nancy. Littlcburg. Josephine and George : some of them were born in Tennessee, others in Missoui'i. Four of these are now living, Alt'red. Edward. Nancv anil GeorL'e ; all in Chariton county and near each other. The last to die >>{' this family of brothers and sisters was Levi Fawks, Jr., whose death occurred in March, 1883. Levi and his brother Alfred lived on a farm near Prairie Hill, which they settled about forty years ago. The t'amilv is a nnmertuis one, the children :uid grandchildren numbering nunc than one hundred peisons now living.

P. M. Sears and J. C. Sears settled on the prairie. John Danieron wa« atuoiig tlic old settlers. Eli \VayIand came from Virginia and settled in the east part of the township.

Prol)al)lv the lii'st scliool-luuise erectetl in the township, was the ^Ya_vland scliool-liou-e. The Prairie Hill church was the first house of worship built in tin.' town>hi[), and was put u}) about the }ear 185'J. The jiioncor mill was of a mcu'e recent date, and was built in 187.", on the Grand Chariton river, bv Joseph Sims. After ruiming tliis mill a few years, as ;i saw-mill, Mr. Sims added bnhrs.

Aliout three-quarters of a mile east of the present town of Prairie Hill, L. T. Fawks built a lai-ge tobacco barn, in I'^To. He had, however, been dealing in tobacco at this place ever since the close of the war of 18fil. He operated also a general store at this point until the to\vn of Prairie Hill was started ; this is the name of a post-ofSce, the only one in the township, and was established about the year 1878. Since that lime, three or four business houses have been built. The land upon which the first store \vas erected was owned by E. H. Fawks. sold to James Foster, ^vho began merchandising in 1878. Jjimes Farris, Iniilt the next business and dwelling house. There are now three general stores, one drug store, and a l>lacksmith shop, at Prairie Hill.

This one of tlie northern tiers of townships and is bounded on the north by Linn, county, on the east by Clark township, on the south bv Salt Creek township, and on the west by Cunningham townshi[).

Physical Featlke

The area of the township is thirty-six square miles, and consists of jirairie of considerable extent and large groves interspersed. Most of the hind is of fine medium quality. Some of it is the best of land. Some coal is mined : there is much stone but little use is made of it. About one-third of the township is timbered. The east and west forks of Yellow creek, with otiier tributaries of the same stream, are found in this township. Three branches of this stream (Yellow creek) unite at the town of llothville and form the main branch.

This town was laid out by John Kotii, on west half, section 20, township '>6, lango 10, ami tho plat was tilotl in ISR?). The first Imsiness house was built in the place in IHUS, l)v Mr. - Bristol. Mr. Ivoth commeneed i)usiiie.ss in one end of iiis dwellinir house the same year. Hristol was the first postmaster, i-eceivini'- liis appointment in istjs. H. K. Custer erected a Imsiness bouse in the spring of 1S7(». The business of the tov.-n is done at this time by Kiddle & Johnson, drugs, etc. ; Ingram vS: HoUoway, general merchants ; L. M. Angert, harness shop ; liiddcll & Allen, flouring mills. There is also a blacksmith and a wagon m:d<er in the town.

Skcket Orders

Roihvilli- (.'Jifistian Clmrch. - Organized about the year 1871, by Elder Sandy E. Jones. The origimd members were ^Villiam Henderson and \\ite, A. Johnson and wife and M. M. Johnson and wife. Present member>liii), seventy. J. M. Wright, of ]Macon City, was the preacher of this church for about nine vcars. Elder J. P. Furnish is the present pastor. Sci-vices are lield hy this church at the Baptist church edifice.

Yellow Creek Baptist Chtirch. - Located at Rothville, organizetl in 1853, by Rev. Thomas Allen. Original members: Mrs. Sophia E. Jones and two daughters, Mrs. Martha H. Turinau, Charles E. Allen and wife, 'I'homas E. Waugh and wife. The church disbanded in 18t)2 and reorganized in 18l)5. The church editico was erected in 1871-72, and cost about $2,000. Present membership, 125. Rev. S. H. Morgan is the pastor in charge.

Clark township is lioiimled on thu iioith by Linu county, on the east I)y Bee Branch and Wayhvud townships, on the south liy Musoh' Fork towiiship, and on the west l)v Yelif>w Creek townshii).

This township is permeated by a number of streams, among which are Locust and Clark brauelies and Muscle fork. The soil is ])artly good and partly inditlcrent ; the township however, has a careful iiu>\ thrift}' populytion '.vho arc putting their lands in a good state of cultivation. About one-third of the hind is timber. A deep vein of coal is know to e,\ist in tlie southeast corner. Both lime and s;indstone are found, but ncne :!S yet have been quarried. The tov7nshi[) contains thirty-six square miles.

Henry Chu'k, who came trom Kentucky at a very earlv dav, about 1820, and settled on Clark's bianch, was one of tlic first settlers in the township. He was revered (or his piety and strict integrity. The branch upon which he located, and the township were named after him. Wm. W. Vincent, ^[itchel Maupiu, Wm. Maupin, 1. K. Stephenson, .\rthur Withers, Richard Gri!l)l)s, George Adanv-, Henrv Hainds, Harrison Lock, S. F. Akcrs, David and Beverly Long, Doctor AVm. S. \Ycst, Stephenson Hederick, Tlioinas Bell, Samuel Yduul'', Wm. Beardon, Pink lliley, dames I'atton, Joel Slewson, H.Avell Pipi)en and V\'m. C. UoUy (the latter was captain of the compaiiv of men wlm enlisted in the Mexican war from Chariton countv), all of whom were among the early emigrants to the township.

was laid out in August, ls,"i7, by Doctor Wm. S. West, on the sin.llieast southwest of Sec. 2i', T. .iC, 11. IS. The tirst business house was erected by Smith and Hagler. Parson Savage and Charles Riot.- were also among the pioneer !)usines3 men. The tirst physician and postmaster was Doctor Wm. S. West.

Salt Creek township takes its name from a stream bearing that name, and is bounded on the north by Yellow Creek townshi[), on the east by Muscle Fork township, on the south ))y Keytesvilie and Brunswick townships and on the west by ilendon township.

Physical Featitkes

The township is thirty-six miles sqniire, and contains, perhaps, loss water than ain' other township in the county. Hickor\ branch and Salt creek have their sources in the township. The township is mostly prairie, the groAos of timber comprising only about one-sixth of its entire area. The east half of the township is broken and rocky ; the west half is one of the finest prairie portions of the county. Coal is mined to some extent. Lime and sandstone are found.

Early Settlers

James Demsey settled on Salt creek in March, 1841, and was t'rom Howard county. William Johnson arid Jackson Allen were also from Howard county and were old settlers.

From all accounts, the first settler in Salt Creek township was a man bv the name of Jenkins. FIc built a cabin on the main road near the centre of the townsldp where he remained a tew \ear3 and sold to James Demjisey, Sr., above mentioned. Dem|)sev was a man of considerable note. He occupied Jenkins' cabin and added much lO its capacity, finally makinji' out of it a country tavern, which became a favorite stoppinj:- place. About the same time came Francis Moss, Hamilton Breeze and William Fox, an Englishman. William T. Guthudc, a Vira:inian, settled Hickory Grove. David AVoods, came from Howard county amomj the early settlers and made a settlement at Hickory Grove. Salt Creek township was one of the best hunting grounds in the county, deer especially being in great abundance until the breaking!: out of the late civil war.

Chaptee Xii

Newspapers - Public Schools and I'osl-offices - The Reporter - The Bmnsioioker - Central Cit'j - Centra! City Brunsv.-icker - Werklij Bnmswicker - Carriers kidress - The R/ixfi/ican - Tbe iN'Cics - The Chariton County Union - The Keytesville //eroM - Chariton Co!(r('ec - Chariton County A'/i^ij-prise - Salisbury Frrss - Spectator -- Pr.-.i^s-Spcct.itor - Salisbury Chronicle - The Ga'!-I.ioht - Public Schools - Their History and Pre^ient Condition - I'ost-otlices.

The lir-<t ncwspaiiei- tliiit was published in Chariton comity wus called the Rf-portei-. It was a weekly paper and was cstahlished in 1847, by J. T. Quescidierry, who, after runiiinji' it several months, sold to Doctor Jolm II. Bltic & Co., who, on the Hth of Octolier, 1847, l>eL;'an the publication of the Britn^vi<:ker,A\\<l continued to own and edit that [laper until IS.^l, when he sold the same to Casper W. Bell. Soon after Hell pnreliased the paper Willis II. Pliinkctt became a part owner and eontinued as stich until the paper was sold in l^biy to O. D. Ilawkin-. who sold to R. II. .Mnsser. After a little more than a year Mnsser sold to Dr. H. W . Cross, who consolidated the paper with the C( ntral Cif;i, and changed the ii.ame to Ccufral Citij Britns- Wicl-i i\ which name was retained until ISiKi, when the name of Wei'kli/ Brnnsirii-kfr was resinned. Doctor II. W. Cross, in 1858, sold to Robert C. Hancock, who continued to be the owner until 18(>2, when he sold to Doctor J. F, Cunnin;j;ham. In the spring of 18(54 Cunningham sold to Robert C. Hancock, and in the fall of 18i)5 Hancock sold to Ctmningham & Winslow, who continued its publication till the .summer of 186(5, wdien it was imblished by Naylor ct Balthis, who ran it together until 187."). At this time J. 15. Na} lor purchased Balthis's interest and rai\ the paper until IS'^^n, when he snhl to Kinsley, Wal- Uxce lit Taylor. After a slunt time Taylor withdrew, and from that time until the present (August, 188."5), the paper has been owned and editeil h\ Kinle\' & ^\'allace.

We had tho nlHUt-ure of ox;iuiiniiiL' the riles of the BrH>i!<wicker from tlie dute ol' it.> first issue to 1853. It \v;is not only ;ihly edited and sparkling with wit and liiiinor, hut its selections trf)m other |)apei.s we)-e culled with care ;ind taste. It was neutral in politics.

The following address was prepared by the editor of the Bvunswicker, and was delivered to the patrons of that paper, b}' the carrier, on the morning of January 1, 18-18. Ic-^ antiquity, its literary merits and historical references to the current events of that day and time, entitle it to a place iu this history.

It has siven the Mexicans thunder, And the lightning line to tlie west, And the nations begin to wonder What the Yankees will be doing next. Why if they stick to their text. They may make the next President, The ruler of the Continent.

In p^i^on walls: Old Zach is covered with glory. Till the school boy knows the story, And the name of iJoniphan, Is as famous as Xeuiphon; And the laurels of I'rice, so green. Will thicken still I ween. Til! Missouri's ciiivairy Shall be the watchword of the free.

Hail, Republic of Liberia! The germs of our own planting. Where the sous of Africa, No more our succor wanting. Have made themselves as free And as promising a home. Upon their native shore, as we Can find in Christendom.

1 would say mnre, but c.in't express All that I would in my tirst address. Xot much is the time I get to play. Not many the dimes for a holiday;

The Chariton county LJnion, Kepulilican in politics, was the lirst newspaper published at Kcytesville. It was established in ISti"', by Wm. E. Maynard, who is the present editor of the Moberly llend- Ihjht.

The Kevtesville Herald, the next paper in succession, was founded by Thomas D. Bogie, in 1S71. In 1874, Bogie sold to Wru. E. Jones, and Jones sold to J. H. Hudson, who changed the name of tlie pajier, in June, IST.S. to Chariton Co(n-/e;-, which is now edited and published l)y Vandiver & Collins.

The Chariton county Enterjivixp was started in June, 1S82, by J. H. Groves, who published the same at Keytesville until October, 1SS2, when he removed to Cunningham, Chariton county, where he now continues to publish the same as the Chariton county Enfirprise.

Salisbury /'/r.vs (Democratic), started by J. ?kl. Gallemore June 1, 1871, consolidated with the Spectator (Democratic) July 15. 1881. and became the Press- Spectator, which name it now carries under the same management and same politics.

The Spectator was established in November, 1880, by R. M. ^^ dliams and Whitlield Williams and continued by them until July. 1881, when the consolidation above referred to occurred.

The Chariton county Enterprise (Democratic) was established by J. M. Groves March 15, 1882, who continued the same for a period of si\ months, when he moved his paper to Kcytesvillc.

The Gas Light

The above was the name of a paper published in manuscript form, in Kevtesville, in June, 1850. The paper was neutral in religion and politics, and was edited by Timothy Timbertoes and Samuel Sugarstick. Of course the names of the editors arc fictitious, but the Ga-< Light was a living reality and survived for nearly a year, to the entertainment and amusement of scores of [)ersons who read it. 1 he hitppeninLT^ :uid saving? and doings oF the littlf town and neighliorhood were all faithfully garnered and published by the Gatt Lifjld. If there occurred a dance in that locality, a record of it was made in the Gas Light. If a quilting party or shooting match came off, the particulai's were given in the Gas Ligltt. If a wedding took place, it was mentioned in a rcchercht manner in the (t«.s LigJd. The bride was the special theme for highest eulogium, and the wedded pair always elicited the Gas Light' s warmest wishes for their future h:ippiness. In fact, the Gas Light, like the good mirror, reflected not onl}- the redoubtable editors' views of matters and things, but reflected as well on poimlar subject*, the will of the people.

Public Schools

Our State Constitution lays down as the very foundation of society and good government the following principle: "Schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged in this State. One school or more shall be e.-fablished in each township, as soon as practicable and neccssaiv, where the poor ?ha!l i)e taught gratis."

Thus we find, in the fundamental law of Missouri, the plain and unequivocal announcement of tiie principle that every State is bour.d to see that its citizens are educated. It is a voluntary avowal of the fact that the happiness, wealth an<l prosperity of a nation must depend on the intelligence and virtue of the people.

In the act of Congress (1820) authorizing the people of Missouri territory to form a constitution and State government, the si.xtcenth section of each townshii), or its equivalent, was devoted to the purpose of su[)porting schools in each town-hii).

Twelve s;dt springs, with si.\ sections, or thirty-eight hundred and forty acres of land adjoining each, were also granted to the State, and those were afterward devoted by the Legislature to the same object.

The first act passed by the Legislature of the State on the subject of education was on the 17th of January, 1825. This law enacted thateach congressional township should form a school district, to be under the control of the county court in all matters pertaining to schools. It also declared that all rents (of school lands), fines, penalties and forfeitures accruing under provisions of this act, should be set apart and appropriated exclusively to a school fund, and in no case should it be otherwise applied.

By aet ol June 23, ISod, the office of Suj)erintendent of Coniniou Scliools was tirst created. Peter G. Glover was the tirst to till this office. He was rcfpiired in the month of January of each year, to make distribution of the "school luouevs"" amongst the several counties in which there may he any school, based upon the numl>erof white children between the ages of six and eighteen years.

During the session of 1853, a committee composed of Acock, of Polk County ; Hickman, of Boone ; and Kellev, of Hult couiitv, l»\ authority ot' the Legislature, matured and [ircsented to that liod\- the law in force on the statute book, up to the .passage of the second State Coii.-'titnlion, and witli some modiiieatioiis substantiallv the same as exists to-day (18'Sl). The tirst distril)atioii ol' State school moneys was made ia .lanuary, 1842, when onl}' thirteen counties received any portion of the fund. These were ]!enton, Boone, Glark, Cole, Cooper, Greene. Lat'ayette, Livingston, Marion, Monioe, Rall.s, Saline and Shelby. The aggregate amount of this apportionment was $1 ,91iy.(iC>. The numlier of children in tlie rc[iort here fails to a;i[)eai-. In' 1859, the niinilier of children reiiorted was oiJT,- 248, and the amount ap[)ropriated, $253,4t) 1 .1 2.

One of the earliest educatioinU conventions, hehl in Xorthwe~t Missouri, was during the year 1844, in Buchanan county. Its objei-t was to discuss the bcnelits accruing to tlie teacher tVom teachers' institutes and associations, and to devise the best means for the mutual iniprovemeut of teachers. The reiuarks made at tiiat meeting b\' a Mr. Stratton, a teacher himself, upon the sul)ject of teaidier^' ventious will, doubtless, be read with interest b}- tho-e who engaged in the same pursuit now (1883). Mr. Stratton saitl :

How can they lie continually improving their minds ;ind their systems of instruction? And how bhall every teach(n- receive the light which the more experienced are constantly throwing \i\>on the t-ubjcct of instruction? We know ot no means so common to all, and so favorable, us county couvenlious of teachers. Heretofore there has been but little communication between teachers. The imi)rovenients which one has made have not been made known to others ; the in-

'J'he wisdom and experient'c of tiiese conventions m^it only eidighten the people and ,>it in judgment upon their eri-ors, l)ul produce throughout the whole country similarity of feeling and harmony of ctl'orts for the peace of the church, the advancement of science and the prosperity of the country.

Such conventions are absolutely necessary, hut are not convfutions of teachers ecpially as neci's.sary for the prosperity of our schools? Does not the difficulty and responsible position of teaching require all the light and knowledge that can be obtained on the subject? Does not the in!:oiui>cIeiKy of teachers iu\ite ail the aid that can be obtained on this subjert? Does not the incompetency of teachers invite all the aid that can bo furnisheti I'rom those who are l>etter qualified by experience and fnun other literary' men?

"Certaiulvl " one will say, "such assistance is highly important : it would alford that necessary aid v.'hich teachers now have no means of obtaining."

Yet so great is the apathy of the jieople that we seldom hear of a teachers' convention. 1'he introduction of a teachers' convention, it seems, has but just found it^ wav into Missouri. Hence but a small number of our teachers have been profited by thcmi. But how shall teachers improve themselves, if not by such conventions?

Works on edticatiiui ha\'e a verv liinilcd circulation. Sol one teacher out of a hundred re.-ids anythinir on the subject : n(M' will thev read befoi'e the living voice exxucises their attention. There are but few seminaries for educating teachers, and rarely a lecture delivered on schocd-keeping. Teachers are seldom qualified when they enter into the profession, and they have neither tlie assistance of teachers in the vicinity nor intelligence from abroad, either from books or the speaking lecture. This should not be so. There are many means which teachers may use to prepare themselves for their profession and for improvirig themselves while engaged in their duties; and we know of none so advantageous to teachers, and that is attended with so little expense and within reach of all, as fret]uent county conventions.

If these are generally aiuiouuced and faithfully attended, they will not only be highly interesting to teachers, but of the greatest benefit io our sehools. The}- should be attended not only bj' teachers, but bv all the friends of education ; each individual should go prepared ti) contribute to their interest and usefulness and with a hearty desire to promote the general cause ol' education. Each county association should liave a correspondence with similar associations in atljacctit counties and so Ihroughout the United States. By this connnunication all the improvements or changes which have l>eeu nuule may be made known. !t should be the oWJect of these conventions and communications with other associations to di.scover tlie origin of the defects in the present system of instruction, to ascertain the actual condition of schools throughout the United States, who are in school, and the number who do not use the means of education. To ascertain the true interest which parents are taking in educating their children, to convince the people of the necessity of general intelligence in a free government, and to make known the duties which every one owes to the free institutions of his country. The mutual imjjrovemeut of teachers is one of the tirst objects of these (uunentions. To render this mutual instruction each teacher bel'orc the convention should describe his system of instruction and his form of government. Fronj this iuterchaniic of views on the best methods of teaching and governing nviny valuable suggestions will be elicited and uuiuy evils and defects disclosed. Individuals should \)C appointed to deliver lectures before these conventions, the object of the lectures l)eing either to illustrate or simplify the branches which are taught in our schools, or to make known the best methods of instructing. These, with many other advantages, too numerous to mention, are the happy results of county teachers' conventions.

These institutes have been continued down to the lu-escnt time ( 1883), and have accomplished great good. They have not only been the means of bringing together the teachers from the different sections of the county for an interchange of thought and feeling, thus binding them more closelv in the i>ouds of sympathy and social feeling, but they have materially aided in the practical methods of imparting instruction and simi)lifying the lessofis of the school-room and economizing time.

Perhaps no county in the State possesses a larger public school fund than is to be Ibund in Chariton county, or a better system of free schools, extending through all the rural districts of the county. The extensive land grants made by the general government to the State of Missouri for free school purposes, including each sixteenth section of land, together with all the lands known as swamp and overllowed lands, whicli, under the laws of Z^Iissoiiri are given to the eonnties in which they lie, furnishes a fund sufiieient to maintain a good free school in each school district in the county for at least four months in each year, and un<k'r our law the public school in each district [nav be continued as much longei- as may be desired by a voie of the people in each district at their annuai meeting, tixing the time and rate of taxation I'cijuirevl for tliat purpose.

There are in Chariton county 114 school districts, including: two village schools, one at Brunswick and the other at Salisburv. Our people, fully recognizing the inestimable importance of the education of their children, have erected suitable school-houses in all the school districts in tlie county, in which there are now about S,S90 children being educated.

The principal of the school fund of the county now amounts to the sum of §1.50.0.30.11, which. l)y tiie hiwsof the State, is held under the management of the county coui'l, and required to be loaned al tlie highes; legal rati of inlerest on prime real and personal securitv, the proceeds derived therelVom to be a[)[i!ied annually to the support of the public schools.

Chariton county has reason to l)e pioud of lier public school fur.d. There is but one county in Missouri, that lias a Lrreater amount to the credit of this fund than Chariton. This is the county of Jasper, which has $240,387. -21. The city of St. Louis ha> $1,.j2S,5o1.07.

The total amount of public funds received from all sources and disbursed by Charitcm county tor pulilic school purposes last year was $3.S,0Gi;.G;'i.

In addition to tlie puldic school fund now hehl by the county court of Chariton count}- in lionds and money, the county holds thousands of acres of lauds donate'! for school i)Ui-poses, as well a.:, other valuable lands received on the foreclosure of mortgages for debts due to the public school fund, any of which can i)e bought at reasoirable prices and on easy terms, a general ride of the court being that when the purchaser pays one-til'ili of the purchase money down, and properly secures the remainder, he can have as much time in which to pay the balance as he may desire, by promptly paying the interest annually for the support of the public schools in the very township his land may be located. Much of the school lands thus held by the county is of the very richest quality, and scarcely a meeting of the court

The tir.-t Si'lioil eoinniissioiicr of [luhlie schools for Chariton count}' was appointed hy the cdUiitN' court, in l."^-")4. B. F. (^'awley was the ai)i)oinlee and was rea]ipoi;it(>d in hS-^ti (the term of service heinp; two veai's). and served unlil JSOO, wluMi the law made the oflice an elective one. Crawley was succcetled l)y Jcihn Hannah, who was elected in 18()0, Inir di'.l not serve out ids term, on account of entering the arinv. During the continuance of the war, the otEce and its duties devoiveil u[)oii the countv clerk. In ISGii, Jackson Bock was electe<l and served two terms. The county clerk then tilled the otBce from 1S70 to I'STl', wIk'U Alfred Mann was eh'cted and has since sei-ved cohtinuou-lv, he lieing now the !^cllo(ll commissioner of the county.

In 1S37 there were only three post-otfices in Chariton county Chariton, G. Compton, postmaster. Keytesville, Sterling Price, postmaster Brunswick, James Keyte, postmaster.

Chapter Xiii

The Biir Neck War as Told By An Old Settler - Mexican Wur - Soldiers from Chariton County - ABirbecue - California KaiiL;rauls - A Touching Farewell - Men who entered the Union Army from Chariton County - Many of the Xanle^ of those who Enlisted in the Confederate Army - The Heroes who Died - A Record of Bloody Deeds.

The whites in that vicinitv irathereil iij) a small companv with their rifles and appointed or eieeted a man named Trammel as (.heir captain. After organization thev went out to drive the Indian- olf the grounds, but found them verv stubborn and got into a light with them, in which .--everal white men were killed, among whom were Capt. Trammel, William Wynn and (,thers.

The whites being defeated evacuated the country, and af> in all such cases it created great alarm in the outside settlements. There was a great deal of unnecessary running done, as usually transpires in such alarms. Upon the alarm of Indians all who are in the least ex])f>sed will fancy themselves in danger, especially when nighl comes on, they imagine some great danger ; or bugbear and cannot sleep, and when daylight returns they are otf at once for some more safe place. This time all the out or exposed settlements ran in, and I afterwards learned that the Indian^ ran also.

There was a part of a regiment composed of men raised in Howard and Chariton counties all under the command of General Owens, of Fayette. A company of seventv-six men, rai.sed iu Chariton county,

After tlie election of onicers I wrote to General Ou'ens, at Fayette, tliat the company was ready lor active service and awaited liis (jrders. In reply to my letter Gen. Owens returned to me the following order : -

"Yon will, with \-oiir company, proceed to the lower Iowa village on Grand river and reconnoitre the country from said village castwardlv to the. Big Kockhcap on the Grand Ch:iriton rivei'. where my command will he by the time you arrive there, wheu you will join my command. P- Owkns, Com't."

1 started on the march with my men within an hour after receiving this order. V\'e encamped at Cross's school-house that night and I went home, having the command with tlie other otRcci's. On my return tiie next morning I found many of the men and some of the ofticers drank. I made diligent incpiii-y and learned that after my leavino' the evening liefore there was a motion made hy some one. whether an officer or not. it carried, to send to Heryford's for whiskey, which, jndaiug tVom the effect it hail on the company, was very strong, and I mi'jht add verv nieaa whi.-ke\-. I'oi- some of the most civil, well behaved men were on their horse-' gallo|)ing up and down the camp, tirini;- pi - tols, halhjoing fire, halt, etc., etc. The first order I gave was id fall into line of marrh ; I then g:ivc the orders to make ready and then to tire, and at the discharge of the guns I ordered them to shoulder arm< and march otr v.-ith empty guns. It was lucky 1 did thi-;. for we had not marched more tlraii two or three miles until two men, both n(in-commissioned otlicer^, quarreled and would have shut each other if thc-N' had not been compelled first to load; while they were doins' this I ordered them taken prisoners and their arms taken tVom them, and that thcv bi; marched without arms, under guard, uiitii we stopped for noon, by whii h time all the whiskey and its etlects !iad di;-appear<d and the guard also. I had them tried by somi' of the officer^ and they passed sentence that they should be rcprimaiidrd by the captain, which was done, and this ended ail the difficulty that happened in my company during the campaign.

Histoiiy Of Howard And Charitox Counties

who seemed very muLh surprised and very sorry over the disturhance. and the\' came to me with the calumet or jiipe of peace, for me to snoke, t^ayiui; tlicy were all -' arropee," tho^^ame as we arc all right. We then left and encami)ed at the three forks of Yellow creek. Next day we arrived about sunset at a high blutf on the Grand Chariton river, about two miles below the big rockhea|). From here I sent two platoons of six men each to tlie to|) of the blutV, with orders for tliem both to tire if necessary, giving ten minutes lietween the tiring of each platoon, but in three or four minutes after the fii'st file, I heard a .similar rejiort about two miles northeast across the Chariton river, which was nearly bankful.

Charles Heryford swam across it, about seventy yards, carrj'ing his ritlc in his hand. We then constructed a raft of dry logs upon which we carried our camp equipage and a few old men, and the remainder swam across. We fixed up as soon as we could and marched to Gcnei-al Owen's headquarters. On the way we met an escort that piloted us into camp, when we took our position in the main army.

We lay in cam]) se\-eral days waiting for some troops that had been sent on a long scout, who, on their return, reported tliev had followed the Indian trail noith about forty miles, and that the signs appeared to be eight or ten da}-s old, and it also appeared that the Indians were marching in great haste.

The command also reported that on the trail they found a dead Indian, who, judging from all appearances, was a chief. He was sitting up by a tree, tied by strips of bark, which were wound around him in several places. lie was profusely decorated with beads and feathers. His blanket, wliit'h was very large and tine, was wrapped around him. His leggins and moccasins were also ot' the finest materials, and decorated with beads and porcupine ijiiills all worked together in a fanciful style. His hair was long, hanging down his back ill a very gi-aci,'t'ul manner; it was lightl}' tinged \vith irrav about the temples, and the front i^ai't of it was plaited in small Inaids. In his ears were large brass rings and his none liad small silver rinas attached to the centre. By his right side, theri- was a bow and a large quiver of arrows. Around him was gracefully fastened an otKcer's belt of wampum, which was very highly ornamented with white, red and green beads, and about his neck were large strings of beads of various colors, some of which hung do'vn on his breast over a foot. He had around him a belt made of tircsseii elk hide in which was a huteher knife, and a tine pi;)e tomahawk with a handle about twenty inches in lenjrth and very uletly wrapped and tineh' plaited jiorcupine quills of various colors. He was sitting on a huilalo robe neatly folded. 'J'hcre was fastened to his wanipiini sash a large silver brooch with the square and comiiass engravt'd on it. Me was a tine, portly looking Indian, and had been shot in the, right breast, which killed him almost instantly. After taking a good look at him, many of our command seemed to regret his death, tliough killed in battle with our frontier settlers.

We were then put under marching orders, ^vith the announcement from General Owens that the enemy having Hed, there was no necessity to keep up military discipline, and that each captain will take command of his company, and march them to their respective counties and discharge them at as early a du}' as possible. So we formed iu companies and marched home, to again take up our ordinary pursuits, and this ended the Big Neck war."

Mkxican' War

Charitcni countvscnt to the Mexican war seventy-five as good and true men as ever unsheathed their swords upon the field of battle. They suffered much from the hardships and privations which they were compelled to undergo in that distant, barren and inhospitable countrv. Fatigue, disease and death had made such fearful ravages upon the compan\- that ouh' :d)out h;df of the men lived to return to tlieir homes. Among those who died from disease in Mexico were Enos and William Payne, Thomas Sanderson, Jesse Prather, Charles Cravens, Milton ^Montgomery, Lewis Sanderson, James Page, P. Clark, E. Clark and Le\vis McColbnn.

Sterling Price, colonel. Wm. C. HoUey, captain, Daniel Hcryford, first lieutenant, John ^lansfield, second lieutenant. Golden Wasson, third lieutenant, D. Mansfield, orderly sergeant, Valentine Cupp, flag bearer, Hiram Lewis, bugler.

History Of Howard And Chariton Counties. 52J

We are indebted to Felix Redding, of Linn county, Missouri, for the names above given. The list is lacking the names of three persons to make it complete.

From tlie following notice- it, will tx^ seen thai the people of Kevtcsville tendered the returned Mexican soldiers from Chariton county a barbecue : -

" Keyxesvilli:, Missouri, October G, 1817. '- The undersigned, ' committee on invitations' for the barbecue, to be given at this place on Wednesday, the 20th instant, in honor of the Chariton county volunteers belonging to Colonel Price's reiriment, take this metiiod of tendering an invitation to the oiBcers and soldiers of Price's and also of Doniphan's regiment, hoping that as many as can conveniently be present will attend on that occasion.

" Our barbecue given yesterday in honor of the Chariton volunteerwas worthy of our county and of the occasion. The reception address was made by tiie editor of this paper (Dr. John H. Blue) ; it was responded to for the volunteers by General Price. The flag of the company - a gift of the ladies - was displayed with much sensation, rent as it was with sixteen liullet-holes, an evidence that it had seen service at Cenuda, el Emboda and Taos ; and been unfurled to the Mexicans, in the foremost ranks, where the missiles of death flew the thickest. General Price's address was deeply interesting. Colonel C. F. Jackson, an invited guc,-,t, spoke in hi>. usual ha[)py style. The table was splendid, and everything pa^^sed otl' as grandly as could be e.vpected."

The years ]84it ^nd 1850 will be remembered by the old settlers of Chariton countv as the periods when the gold excitement in California reached its hiiihest point, and as the years when the people generally throuj;liout the Ainorican Union, as well ;is Cluiritoii county, were jilikc smitten witlithe gold fever. The eiirly settlers, liicc their descendants of to-d:iv, soon learned tluit

And ni;uiifested their kivo ;ind appreeialion of t!ie satlVon-hucd niet;il, by separating themselves from their homes and friends, and taking up their line of niurch to the gold fields of California.

Chariton county sent forth many of her sons, some of whom were men with gray hoards, and otlii'rs were hoys still in their teens, to that far distant region, all animated will; the hope that their labors, their sacrilices, and their bravery would ije rewarded with an abundance of the glittering and precious ore.

Very, very few of these gold hunters ever acoumuhited anything, and thegreat majority lost all they had, ineluiling even " their lives, their fortunes, and their sai'reil honor." The persons who really gained by the gold excitement were those who remained at hunic and sold their produce to the gold-crazy emigrants. The rush which had commenced in the spring of IS-l!) continued until about the 1st of June, ISoO, whcu the great, surging tide began to abate, although belated gold-hunters continued to pass through the country for some time. But the excitement began to die away, and those citizens who had judgment enough to resist the contagion now settled down in quiet to pursue the even tenor of their way.

Union .Soldiers

The Second Union company, made up in part of citizens of Chariton county, %va3 Compan}' E, Ninth RcgimentM. S. M. cavalry. The followins were from Chariton county : -

Confedekate Soldiers

The niunher of men who entered the Confederate army, during tiie war of l.'^tJl from Chariton county, cannot now be ascertained. The muster rolls hive not been preserved, either by private parties or the Confederate government. The number is placed between 700 and 1,000 men. The two tirtt ooiiipuiiios were raised at Biiinswick, and ill that vicinity, and entered tlie service on the 10th of May, l'*>i51. The officers oi" the tirst company were : -

These companies went to Jelt'erson City, while General Sterling Price in command of tluit place as State Guards, Ijut in consequence of an agreement entered into between General Price of the Confederate army and General llarncy of the Pinion army, these companies were dishauded and reluined home. They were, however, called into service the day liefore the l)atlie of Boonville, and while on their way thitlier thi-y met (icneral Price at Glasg(nv, who was going to lA'xiugton. Missouri. Uniting ^\ith hini tliev \vcve mu-tcred into regular servii;e at Lexington, under command of Captain Joseph Kellov from St. Louis.