Freedom Township

Freedom Township

was laid out in 1860, by Franklin Mock, on section 9, township 48^ range 25. The plat was put on record. The first store, a frame building, two stories, 40x24, was erected by Wm. Kane, in which he carried on a general mercantile business. The first dwelling house erected, is the one in which Dr. Belt now lives. Messrs. Davis, Livengood & Son, put up and operated a grist mill, which has since been moved to Aullville. Wesley Cox put up the next store, and kept a stock of dry goods and groceries.

In 1857, three years prior to the platting of the town, a church building was erected by the Christian denomination, at a cost of $1,400. The Methodists purchased an interest in it, and occupied it a portion of the time. It has since been taken down and moved to Aullville, where it is entirely under the auspices of the Christians, the Methodists having a house of their own. Prior to the construction of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad, Freedom was a town of considerable importance; but rapidly declined after it was built and Aullville laid out. Since then every business enterprise, with the exception of a blacksmith shop, owned by L. C. Matthews, has been moved to Aullville. The postoffice was kept at Dr. Wilborn's, for a time, and afterwards in Mr. Kane's store.

Freedom Chapel, of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, was organized in about the year 1842, at which time the church building was erected. It is located on section 11, township 48, and range 25. The original members were, Dr. H. Davis, George Davis, David Mock, Sr., and David Mock, Jr., John W. Walker, William and Nathaniel Davis. The church is a frame building, built by the community, who contributed the labor and material.

Freedom Chapel Graveyard, also contains one acre, and is situated in the southeast quarter of section 11, township 48, range 25. Elizabeth Mock, wife of David Mock, Sr., Mrs. Hargrave, and Charlts H.Bradley were among the first buried there.

Zion Churchy was organized in 1850. The following were the original members: Henry D. Stunchel, C. Uphause, H. Uphause, P.Uphause, H. Giesselmann, G. Helms, Wm. Cuppingbrinch, and others. The church building is a frame one, and was erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,500. It was dedicated in 1872, by the Rev. H. Fiegenbaum. The following pastors have since been in charge: Revs. Charles Bruegger, John Hausam, and F. Amsperger. The present membership is one hundred and twenty- Union Sabbath School, was organized in 1871, at the Mock schoolhouse, on section 9, township 48, range 25, with Franklin Mock first superintendent. When first organized it had 40 members, which have since increased to 60. B. Whitworth is the present superintendent. Sessions are held every Sunday afternoon.

New Hope Church. A frame church was built on section 11, township 48, range 25, by the Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, and Old School Presbyterian members in 1881, costing $600, and free to all denominations for religious services. This building is not yet cempleted, as it is neither plastered nor seated.

The Chihuahua Grange, No. 14.38, in this township was instituted by Lewis Neal and the date of its charter is Jan. 24, 1874. The names of the charter members are Julius D. Clarkson, Wm. H. Pilkington, James A. Anderson, Theodore Wilson, John H. Wilson, Philip Atkinson, Wm. Means, Hugh M. Pool, Charles R. Anderson, Mrs. Nancy Mathews, Julia Clarkson, Mrs. Nancy Mathews, Jr., James Mathews. First Master, J. D. Clarkson ; O., Wm. H. Pickington ; Lecturer, J. A. Anderson ; Steward, The. C. Wilson, A. S., J. H. Wilson; Chaplain, P. E. x\tkinson; Treasurer, W.H. Means; Secretary, H. M. Pool; G. K., C. R. Anderson; C, Mrs. Nancy Mathews; P., Julia Clarkson; Flora, Lucy Wilson; Lady Assistant S., Miss Nannie Dalton.

The names of the present officers are, Wm. H. Pilkington Master; Henry Anderson, James A. Anderson, John H. Wilson, John T. Hanys, Rice Fox, Samuel Williams, H. M.' Pool, Harrison Anderson, Terry Fox, Lucinda Browning, Minnie Atkinson and Mary Atkinson.

Excelsior Lodge, I. O. G. T., No. 302, was instituted by Hutchison. Date of charter, Oct. 13th, 1879. The charter members were L. Ellege, James Belt, Maggie Whitworth, J. W. Robinson, Rev. L. M. Da-

Source changes here: from Young's History of Lafayette County, Missouri, by Young, William, published 1910; 3,602 words in this source stream.

Freedom Township

Freedom township is in the southeast corner of Lafayette county, and is bounded on the north by Davis creek; on the east by the county line; on the south by the south line of the county and on the west by Washington township. It dates its organization from June n, 1832. The county court, after defining its boundary and naming it, ordered an election at the house of James Wilkinson, but for some now unknown reason said election was never held. May 27, 1833, the court appointed Livingston Wilkinson as constable of Freedom township, until the next general election. In August, 1833, the court changed the township lines, the wording of the record being: "Beginning where Davis fork crosses the eastern county line, then up the same (stream) to the line between ranges 25 and 26; thence south to the middle of township 45 ; thence due east to the line between Saline and Lafayette counties; thence north with said line to place of beginning. Supposed to contain about thirty taxable inhabitants."

In 1834 Johnson county was erected, thus fixing the south line of this county, and about the same date nine more sections were added to the west end, thus completing the township's area as it stands today.

Early Settlement

Eighty-five years ago the first white man invaded the territory embraced within Freedom township. His name was Patrick Henry, who effected a settlement in the eastern portion of the township. A little later, the western portion of the township was settled by Samuel and John Scott. James and Chris Mulkey located in what became known as Mulkey's Grove, about two and a half miles southeast of the present village of Aullville. Classed as early comers to the township may be named these : Doctor Davis, Nat. Davis, William Davis, David Mock, Jacob Phillip, George and David Welborn, Brooks Wellington, John Walker, James Atterberry and Daniel Greenwood. These nearly all located around the old town of Freedom.

"Joseph Johnson, of Indiana, but native to Kentucky, was among the original settlers in the township to which he came in 1829. Noah Rigg in the same year settled on section 13, township 48, range 24. Then William Bright bought Noah Rigg's farm, and entered the balance of the section.

"The first marriage was that of Noah Rigg to Elizabeth Johnson. Joseph Rigg was the first male child born in the township. The first female child born was Ellen Bright, daughter of William and Artimesia Bright. She was also the first to die in this township, and was buried at the old Johnson graveyard. The first regular physician was Doctor Thornton, a Kentuckian. The pioneer school was in a building on the farm of William Bright and there James Campbell taught the first term of school. This school house was made of logs and was 'raised' by the neighbors."

The present population of Freedom township is about three thousand eight hundred. For an account of its schools and churches see respective headings in the general chapters of this volume.

The township is traversed, through its northeastern portion, by the Lexington and Sedalia branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad, with station points at Aullville and Concordia.

Towns And Villages

Freedom (now a defunct village of this township) was laid out in i860, by Franklin Mock, on section 9, township 48, range 25, and made a matter of public record. William Kane erected a store building, two stories high, forty by twenty-four feet, in which he carried on a general merchandise business. The house in which Doctor Belt later resided was the first residence of the village. Davis, Livingwood & Son put in operation an ox-tread gristmill, which later was removed to Aullville. The second store in the place was built by Wesley Cox, and there he carried a small stock of dry goods and groceries. Three years before the village was platted, the Christian denomination erected a church building, at a cost of seven hundred aollars. The Methodists also held an interest in it and worshiped therein. It was finally removed to Aullville. There were several business houses erected at Freedom, but with the building of the railroad through the township, the good start towards a lively town was thwarted and finally all became dilapidated and many of the buildings were removed to the nearby railroad station, Aullville. Doctor Wilborn was postmaster at one time, and later it was moved to the store of Mr. Kane. It is now numbered among the defunct villages of Lafayette county.

The second attempt at town-building in Freedom township was when, in 1868, the town of Concordia was platted, by a joint stock company, consisting of Major G. P. Gordon, Henry Detert, Col. George S. Rathburn, Peter and Harmon Uphouse and Henry Westerhouse. It is situated twentyfive miles to the southeast of Lexington, on the Lexington and Sedalia branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad, and on section 4, township 48, range 24.

Among the early settlers whose names should not be forgotten are these : Mordecai Cook, two miles to the west of the present town ; William Cain, sometime prior to the Civil war; Jackson Patrick came very early and had many slaves and bloodhounds; Preston Patrick, southeast of town, as early as 1845; Fletcher Patrick and Miles Patrick, all brothers, who came in from Kentucky. Miles Patrick sold a slave woman to pioneer Francis H. Walkenhorst for the sum of ten dollars.

William Mock started the first nursery in this section of the state more than fifty years ago and there are now hundreds of farmers who have trees springing from that original stock, among which are many fine varieties of apples, including the famous "Huntsman's Favorite," so well known in Missouri.

A stage line, with its four-horse stage coaches, ran between Sedalia and Lexington, making its trips alternate days. There were relays about every dozen or so miles, Mordecai Cook's place, a few miles to the south of present Concordia, being a station for one of the relays. Men still living here relate that the signal of the approaching mail coach was the long, loud blowing of an immense tin horn, when all would gather at the station to watch the lusty driver change horses, mount his high seat and ply the long whip to the fresh horses.

Marked, indeed, has been the change of the appearance of things in and about Concordia, with the passing of more than forty-two years, since the first townsite stakes were driven.

Before the platting of the place, in 1856, it was that a good grist-mill was put in operation at this point by Henry Flandermeyer and Lewis Bergmann, the same costing about three thousand dollars. This property was burned in 1859. Then followed a blacksmith shop by Frederick Henricks, in 1858. A year later a store was started by Henry and August Brockhoff. It was a story and a half building, twenty-five by forty feet.

A postoffice was established in 1870, with August Heckman as postmaster. In January, 1877, tne P^ce was incorporated, with John Smith as its first mayor. The earliest school house was erected in 1874, of brick, and cost one thousand three hundred dollars. Fifty pupils attended the first term, which was taught by William F. Walkenhorst, at a salary of fifty dollars per month. Dr. F. L. Flanders was the first physician in the town, coming from Illinois, and removed to Kansas City in 1881. The first religious services were conducted by the Methodist Episcopal people, under Rev. C. Bruegger.

The settlement was largely made of German people, and is today mostly of German or German-descent population - a thrifty, well-to-do class of most loyal, excellent citizenship. In 1880 the federal census gave Concordia a population of three hundred and ninety-one, but by another count in 1881 - one year later - the population was about five hundred and fifty. The business was then represented as follows : Five dry goods stores ; five groceries ; two lumber yards ; three blacksmith shops ; two shoe shops ; one harness shop ; one bank ; two boot and shoe stores ; two furniture dealers ; two mills ; four saloons ; two meat markets ; a livery stable ; two drug stores ; three hardware and implement houses ; two hotels ; four doctors ; one millinery store. Of the schools, it may be stated that at this date - 19 10 - the enrollment is one hundred and twenty-six ; teachers employed, three ; average wages paid teachers, sixty-six dollars and thirty cents; district total valuation, three hundred thousand dollars; levy on each hundred dollars, thirty cents.

That the people who settled at this town were of the intelligent, progressive type, it only needs to be said that as early as 1880 the Concordia Library- Society was organized, then consisting of eighteen members, with W. F. Walkenhorst as president and D. H. Smith, librarian. It was the aim of the promoters to furnish a suitable place for the rising young to while away their spare hours, instead of visiting the saloons.

For one reason and another, with the passing years, this library went down, but the Lutheran college and other public school library facilities have in a measure taken its place. The books are now in the public school library.

Concordia has always been a good milling point. The first mill in the neighborhood was a treadmill by which oxen and horses were used as a propelling force, treading on a large half-inclined wheel. This was erected west of town by Fritz Rope; but later it was burned. Then the proprietor of that improvised mill erected a steam mill, with two run of stones, in town and it was run until in 1882, when it also was burned. It was owned by John F. Meyer, who died, then John S. Klinkenberg bought it and under his ownership it was destroyed.

Henry Baepler & Sons built a mill, two and a half stories high, in 1877, which had a capacity of four thousand barrels of flour annually, the product being chiefly sold in the markets of St. Louis. Its cost was ten thousand dollars.

The present milling industry of Concordia is in the hands of the Concordia Mill and Elevator Company, a stock concern, organized in 1908, the capacity of the plant being one hundred and twenty-five barrels daily.

Postoffice Business

Before the town was laid out there was a country postoffice west of the present town site two miles, known as "Castle," where M. Cook was postmaster. Then it was removed to the home of Rev. J. F. Biltz, near the old brick church, a half of a mile out from the present office. Postmaster Biltz changed the name to "Concordia," probably after his old alma mater, the Lutheran college at Fort Wayne, Indiana, called Concordia. The postmasters who served after this change were as follows : Messrs. Hackman, Scheikhardt, F. C. Cook, E. F. Ninas, Althoff, Henry Elling, William Doblie, Julius Vogt, Jr., A. E. Bruns, and the present incumbent, William F. Walkenhorst.

The office was changed to a third-class office in 1906. It has four rural free delivery routes running out from it. The first was established in July, 1901, twenty -five and seven-eighths miles long; one known as No. 2, in July, 1903, that is twenty-four miles long; No. 3, established in July, 1903, twenty-two and five-eighths miles long, and No. 4, established in May, 1904, eighteen miles in length.

Incorporation Matters

Concordia was incorporated in 1877, as a village, and in 1883 as a city of the fourth class. The last chairman under village life was Fred C. Cook, and the mayors have been: 1883, Fred C. Cook; 1886, Henry Ficken; 1888, F. C. Cook; 1890, Henry Ficken; 1892, Henry Ficken; 1894, Henry W. Thieman; 1896, Henry W. Thieman; 1898, Louis H. Mehl; 1900, Henry W. Thieman; 1902, George Duensing; 1904, George Duensing; 1906, Max Doblie and still mayor in 1910.

Churches, Lodges, Etc

At present the only lodge in Concordia is the Woodmen of the World. At one time the Odd Fellows sustained a lodge here, but owing to the general sentiment of both the Catholic, Baptist and Lutheran churches against secret orders, it went down.

The churches represented here are the Lutheran, Evangelical (synod of North America), Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Catholic. A history of each appears in the chapter on Churches.

I9Io Business Interests

In 1898 the town put in its present water works plant and has maintained and improved it ever since. In 1909 Runge Brothers installed the present electric lighting plant.

Bushwhacking And Bank Robbery

In 1863, during the Civil war strife, a party of thirty-five bushwhackers came across Davis creek to where Concordia now stands and killed Lewis Fiene, William Schornhorst, D. Karston and Conrad Bruns. They were made to stand up in a row, and when the shooting at them commenced some started to run, but all were finally killed.

October 10, 1864, a report reached Concordia that a party of bushwhackers were in the immediate neighborhood, and the alarm was given by blowing a horn. The citizens gathered at the Lutheran church and about one hundred men rapidly organized, under command of Captain Pepper and Lieutenant Stuenkle. About one-half were mounted on horses. They started in hot pursuit of the bushwhackers, the mounted men dividing into two parties, the one going east and the other party northeast, in order to head them off before they could cross Davis creek. The party going east encountered the enemy, about one hundred strong, and, observing the inequality of numbers, at once turned in retreat, closely followed by the outlaw band, who shot them down along the way, all being killed but five or six. Among those thus pursued and shot for protecting their home and town were the following : Capt. George Pepper, Lieut. Lewis Stuenkle, F. H. Walkenhorst, H. Freitag, Fritz Bruns, Fritz Meyer, C. Wahrenbrock, H. Wolters, Henry Reiter, William Bobenstab, H. Deus, Henry Gritman, Fritz Dettmer, Fritz Brockmann, Henry Meins, D. Carsons ; H. Dickenhorst, Judge Prigmore and Henry Vrede were killed at their homes, on the same day, by the same inhuman bushwhackers.

One of the most daring bank robberies of this country was executed on August 29, 1878, at half past one o'clock in the afternoon, at the usually quiet town of Concordia, this county. In brief the robbery occurred as follows: Henry Ficken (who still presides as cashier) was seated at his desk engaged in writing, when two men presented themselves at the counter. One asked for change for a bill, which he laid down. Mr. Ficken turned to the money drawer to accommodate the stranger, and while his back was turned the robber, a powerful fellow, jumped over the counter and seized him in such a manner as to render him powerless to move or cry out. The other robber then presented a revolver at his head and demanded the money. They compelled him to open the safe, took out the valuables and placed them in a flour sack, and with a third confederate, who had been guarding the entrance outside, succeeded in making good their escape. They mounted on horses, which had been hitched near the bank in waiting for them, and rode toward the south and when not far out of town met many coming home from a picnic. They boasted to the crowd that they had robbed the bank and hurried on by the throng in gleeful triumph. Searching parties were at once sent out and the country scoured, and later a party of detectives was put on their trail and much money spent, but all to no purpose, as they were never captured. It was later believed, and is by many today, that this was a part of the Jesse James outlaw gang, for they were well acquainted here, and the ground and the day had evidently been carefully selected, at a time when but few were liable to be at home and when business men were absent.

Three suspects (not of this county) were arrested and brought to the county seat for identification and trial, but no responsible person could identify them, and really they proved a complete alibi, hence were discharged. William Young was then prosecuting attorney.

Town Of Aullville

This sprightly town was founded in the month of July, 1869, by Hall Hungate and C. B. Russell, and was incorporated in 1876. It is situated in section 28, township 49, range 25. The first business house was erected by Bell & Erskin. A postofnce was secured in 1871, with H. T. Hartman as postmaster. The first mayor was James H. Barnes. The first school house in town was erected in 1873, at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. Miss Lillie Tolbert taught the first school, her wages being twenty-five dollars per month. The number enrolled was sixteen.

The first male child born was John Ennis, son of G. M. and Tenny Ennis, born in 1871. The first female child born in the village was Nola, daughter of John W. and Franky Endley.

The first physician of the place was Dr. H. T. Hartman, a native of Lafayette county. The Missionary Baptists held the first religious services in town, on the second floor of the store building of George Emn. The earliest minister was Rev. E. Roth.

In 1876, a flouring mill was erected by Dr. J. T. Watson, and later operated by Major & Ridgeway. Its first cost was two thousand five hundred dollars; its machinery cost four thousand dollars. In 1880 this milling plant turned out three thousand two hundred barrels of excellent grade flour, a part of which was consumed at home and the balance sent to St. Louis.

A Masonic lodge was instituted at this point in 1872 - see chapter on Fraternities elsewhere in this volume. The secret societies of the place at this time are : The Masonic, Woodmen of America and Mystic Workers.

Postoffice History

When the first postmaster, H. T. Hartman, was appointed, in 1871, the village was very new and small. The office has grown with the passing years ; it is a fourth-class office yet, but doing a large business. In 1903 one rural free delivery route was established at this point, the same extending out and back a distance of almost twenty-five miles. Among the postmasters who have served here may be named Messrs. Hartman, George Phelps, Henry Henrichs, J. M. Hord, James H. Barnes, and the present incumbent, R. A. Roberts, who has served since February, 1889.

Business Interests Of I9Io Interesting Items And Events

Just a little to the north of the village of Aullville, at one time was the home of that well-known Confederate general, Joseph Shelby, who at an early day was a large land owner in this county. Southwest of Waverly is what is known as the "Shelby tract," consisting of about eight hundred acres of excellent land, now held by the Yancey brothers.

In the sixties and seventies there were enacted many dark, criminal deeds in and near the village of Aullville, some of which it is probably not wise to blacken the pages of this volume with, but there are others that would seem to find a proper place in the annals of the county, of which this work is supposed to impartially treat. Within the nearby vicinity of the place the notorious outlaw, Jesse James, once made his hiding place during the interims between the dark crimes with which he was from time to time connected. It was in the seventies, when Hon. William Young was sheriff of the county, that Jesse James was hiding from justice in this township and, being hotly pursued by the officer named, that he left his bed, just in time to make his escape. Sheriff Young had difficulty in crossing the waters of Davis creek, hence lost his man, who even then was known as among the greatest of highwaymen.

At other points within this county Jesse James remained at farmhouses several weeks, but at the time was unknown to the people here. It was right after the close of the Civil war, and his carrying such an array of firearms and going "armed to the teeth" as he was, finally caused a suspicion among the members of a family where he was stopping as a boarder, and one of them told him he must leave, as such things did not look well in a civilized country. He took the hint and left, and not long thereafter it was learned that the "boarder," who came and went at all times of the day and night, was none other than the notorious Jesse James, so much wanted by the state and federal authorities for numerous crimes.

Until a vigilance committee waited on a large number of bad citizens in the vicinity of Aullville, in the seventies, that community was the scene of many foul deeds. When crime was committed, sympathizers were on hand to see that the law was thwarted in bringing them to justice. Many guilty persons escaped their just deserts. On one occasion more than fifty persons were personally placed under arrest by Sheriff Young and brought to Lexington, and placed - some as witnesses and others as criminals - on trial.

Outside of Concordia and Aullville, in Freedom township, are these churches: The Baptist, two and a half miles to the west of Concordia; the Evangelical church, two miles to the east of town, and a Lutheran church, four miles west of town.

There are small coal mines within Freedom township, west of Concordia, but not of any great magnitude, and they are only periodically worked.