Missouri Township (part 1 of 3)

Topography

Missouri township is divided into about three well defined natural divisions: The Missouri river vallev, called "Terrapin Neck;" the table lands lying between the Perche and Callaham hills on the east, and the Moniteau hills on the west ; river hills on the south, and a continuation of the plateau at the north which extends far into Perche township. The table lands form the largest subdivision of this township, and there is perhaps no finer land in the State of Missouri ; certainly none finer than Thrall's prairie which forms the heart of this plateau, the prairie portion of which lies in Perche township. The blue grass which grows, upon this plain is equal to the best grown in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and furnishes ample pasturage the year round for the vast herds raised in this section. The value of the farms and the fertility of tlie soil has attracted to this section a class of farmers equal in judgment, industry and skill to the superior it}'" of the soil they cultivate ; hence the agricultural interests of this section of the county have been developed to a degree of excellence hardly to be found elsewhere in the county. As a rule, stock raising pays better than anything else, and when the plantation is once stocked it requires less outlay of money to keep up the business. Most of the land is in blue grass. The horses, cattle and sheep raised in this portion of the township are nearly all thoroughbreds. Many of the farmers sell almost exclusively for breeding purposes. Nearer the hills, where the soil is less adapted to blue grass, immense crops of wheat, corn and oats are annually produced. The river hills themselves are very rich and produce the finest fruit grown in the country. Some fine vineyards have of late years been planted and produce great quantities of grapes. Peaches and apples seldom fail along the high hills and sloping ridges near the river bank. The soil is rich enough to produce any of the crops grown in this climate, but washes badly when plowed.

" Terrapin Neck " is a long, narrow strip of river-bottom land extending from a few miles below Rocheport to the mouth of the Perche, which flows into the Missouri river near Providence, This body of land is very rich, producing fine corn and wheat. Before the war large crops of hemp were raised in this section, but of late years the principal crop has been corn. The corn crop never fails in the bottom, and the hog crop, upon an average, is equal to twice the production of a like area of territory elsewhere in the township. The valleys of the Moniteau, Perche, Callaham and Sugar Creek, and the various tributaries of those streams are little less productive than the river bottom and produce a greater diversity of crops.

Missouri township has a greater variety of soil, and less that is wholly unproductive, perhaps, than any other subdivision of the county. The Perche flows from north to south directly through the eastern portion of the township. The valley lands along this stream are densely settled and the farms on either side extend almost to the water's edge. The stream drains a large extent of territory and is subject to overflows, but of late years many of the exposed plantations have been enclosed with wire and post and rail fences that are proof against the floods.

Missouri is well supplied' with bridges and is connected with Columbia and Rocheport by a good macadamized road. The internal improvements are fully upon an average with the most favored sections of the county.

Kemarkable Natural Features The Pictured Rocks

On the Missouri river, about four miles east of Rocheport, are what are known by the local name of "the pictured rocks," called elsewhere "the Indian pictographs of Boone county." They consist of a number of drawings of a rude character, together with some sort of hieroglyphics, made upon the surface of a high cliff of rocks.

The " pictured rocks " are upon the land of L. Torbett, Esq., on whose farm are also some eight or nine mounds. On one of these mounds stands the residence of Mr. Torbett. The present route to the cave is eastward from the house one hundred yards or more, thence south through a small field, at the edge of which a short path leads down a steep ravine densely overgrown with trees and vines, from which the visitor soon emerges on the bank of the river. One hundred yards down stream is a large spring which makes its appearance some thirty feet above the surface of the river. Coming out of a cavernous opening, it rushes in a series of tortuous leaps over mosscovered rocks into the river. The volume of water discharged would drive an ordinary mill. The cliff of rocks here is about one hundred feet in height, the top overhanging some ten feet, protecting the lower surface of the cliff, and this circumstance is one that accounts for the preservation of the pictures to this day. All along the face of the cliff, under the overhanging ledge or shelf, are the remarkable representations. At the height of nearly fifty feet above the spring is the largest visible group. This comprises, among other pictures and hieroglyphs, two rudely executed drawings of human figures, perhaps twenty inches in height, with arms extended ; one small human figure with a staff in its hand ; numerous circles, with dots and crosses in the centre ; spots within semi-circles, half resembling the human eye, etc. Other figures, at different places on the rocks, are those of a wild turkey ; of a man wearing a jockey cap, from which a plume or feather depends ; of numerous circles ; fantastic figures, some of an arabesque character, others plain ; of a square or cube ; of a Masonic compass and square, etc.

About five feet below the most of the figures runs a narrow ledoe, on which the artist or artists must have stood when the pictures were made. The ledge is reached from points east and west, but it requires a person of some nerve to climb to it. Some of the figures, however, are fifteen feet above the ledge, and could not have been made without the aid of a ladder of some sort. The drawing's seem to have been made of a paint composed of ground " keel " mixed with water or grease, and applied with the fingers or a rude brush. Not all of the pictures can now be seen, as a great portion of the face of the cliff is covered with ivy.

existed since the first white men told of tiiis country. The first printed mention of them is made by Lewis and Clark, who saw them in 1804. Doubtless they are the work of the mound builders, or of some other race akin to them.

Coal, - One and a half miles northeast of Rocheport, on the lands now owned by David Mead and Mrs. Woods, is a fine bed of coal. The vein varies from twenty-six inches to four feet in thickness, and lies at a depth of from eight to thirty feet from the surface. ' Near the bank, and on the same lands, is a fine mineral spring.

Caves. - On the bank of the Missouri river, three miles southeast of Rocheport, is the " Sinking Creek Cave." It has been penetrated and explored for nearly a mile. It contains many remarkable and interesting features. It abounds in beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, and other natural features delightful to contemplate. The cave is divided into rooms or chambers, some of which are fifteen feet square. At the entrance the inner roof of the cave is about eight feet high, but farther in the interior it ranges from ten to fifteen feet.

Boboughs'S Cave

One mile east of Midway, on the old Reuben Hatton place, is a remarkable spring, the most singular, perhaps, in the county. It breaks out from under a perpendicular cliff of limestone, some twelve or fifteen feet high, and flows south across a small valley hemmed in on all sides by a natural wall of limestone. At the distance of about one hundred yards it enters the earth again, running for one-fourth of a mile under a high ridge of table land bedded upon ledges of cavernous limestone. The second time it bursts forth into light of day it flows into a large branch, a tributary of Boroughs's fork of Callaham, which heads a few miles northwest of Midway. About one mile from where this stream enters the Callaham, is Boroughs's cave, which, next to Connor's, is the greatest natural curiosity in that section of the country. A short distance from the mouth it forks, one prong being destitute of water, while a large stream flows through the other. This cave, in the early settling of the country, was a great resort for* bear, and the pioneer hunters used to lie in wait at the entrance and shoot them as they passed in and out. Some, still more daring, would light a torch and boldly enter the cave. When the light flashed upon the astonished animal, Bruin would rise upon his haunches and gaze bewilderedly at the venturesome hunter, who seized the precious moment to his own advantage, and either shot the bear or phmged a bowie-knife, tied to the end of a pole, through the animal's heart.

Early Settlers And Settlements

The first settlement of Boone county in earnest began in Missouri township, in the year 1816. True, prior to this date, some of the Howard county hunters had established temporary camps here, but they could not with propriety be called settlers. Wm. Pipes lived in the township in 1812. It was from Head's Fort, in Howard county, about two and a half miles northwest of Rocheport, whence the settlements in Boone county were formed.

From Stephens' sketch it is learned that in the spring of the year 1816 a number of the inhabitants of Head's Fort located near Roclieport, settling on what was afterwards known as Thrall's Prairie,^ north of the present site of Rocheport. This settlement was made by Anderson Woods, in company with the following other persons, viz. : Robert Barclay, John Barnes, Wm. Pipes, Absalom Hicks, John Stephenson, Jeiferson Fiilcher, Jesse Richardson, a family of Bartons, and several others. The settlement grew rapidly, and soon composed some among the best citizens of the county and State.

Among the pioneers settlers may be mentioned Augustus Thrall > Oliver Parker, Anderson Woods, Dr. G. B. Wilcox, Clayton Heme, Tyre Harris, Overton Harris, the Wilhites (Sampson, William, and Stephen), Henry Lightfoot, James Ketchum, William Gosline, John Slack, Wilford Stephens, Jonathan Barton, James Cochran, Reuben Hatton, and Charles Laughlin. The names of others ought to be given, but cannot now be learned.

For the most part the first settlers located on New Madrid claims, or, as they were sometimes called, "Madrid locations." These claims were granted to the settlers in the New Madrid country in lieu of the lands occupied by them which had been destroyed or damaged by the great earthquakes of 1811. The most of this land in Missouri township had been entered by Taylor Berry and George Tennille, who had purchased a number of certificates from the New Madrid sufierers.

Up to 1820 the following, among others, had settled near Rocheport and Thrall's Prairie: John Gray, Gaven Head, John Berry, David and Andrew McQuitty, Samuel Beatty, Robert Dale, John

East and southeast of Rocheport, in what is known as "Terrapin Neck," there lived Granville Bledsoe, Daniel Lewis, James Lewis, Wm. Lewis, Patterson Y. Russell, Jesse Lewis, Wm. Burch, John Graves, Ichabod C. Hensley, Thomas Williams and Richard Fulkerson.

East of Rocheport and in the north central portion of the township, in the region around about where Midway post-office now stands, the pioneer settlers were John Henderson, Jonathan Freeman, Benjamin Mothershead, Chas. Laughlin, W. T: Hatton, George Crump, Wm. and James Y. Jones, John Ogan, Wm. Douglass, John M. Robinson, Wyatt McGee, George Hersch, Reuben and John M. Robinson,

George Hersch, " the honest man," was a German, and a remarkable character, a cabinet maker, who lived about two miles north of Midway, on a small stream known as Barclay's Fork of the Callaham. He was something of a poet himself, and, although a German, was a great admirer of Burns and Scotch poetry, which he was fond of quoting on every occasion. Hersch had the weakness of his favorite poet's noted character, Tam O'Shanter, and would get " unco'- f u ' " quite frequently. On one. occasion of this sort some wags waylaid him after night and sought to make him believe that Old Nick was upon him. Nothing frightened, Hersch drew himself up, and, imj3rovising a rhyme appropriate to the occasion, exclaimed: -

John Caruthers, an old soldier of the war of 1812, was for many years a resident of this township, coming here in 1832. He was a native of Virginia, born in 1793. By reading an account of the surveys and explorations of Col. Fremont he became interested in the study of geology, and read everything he could procure upon or pertaining to that subject. He became well versed in chemistry, botany, mineralogy, philosophy, engineering, and his knowledge of geology was very elaborate and thorough. Mr. Caruthers died in 1879.

Wilhite family. Sampson Wilhite and his three sons, William, Stephen and Fielding Wilhite, came from Kentucky to this township (then Howard county) as early as the year 1818. They located in the neighborhood of Rocheport, where many of their descendants yet live. They were all farmers. Stephen Wilhite was a blacksmith as well as a farmer ; Fielding Wilhite was a farmer and a Baptist minister. All of them lived reputable lives and died full of years and honors. Probably the first loom was brought into the township by Mrs. Samj)Son Wilhite in 1818. The greater part of the clothing for families was carded, spun and woven by the female members, and was usually made up of wool and flax ; the latter being among the first crops raised. The first brick house in the township was built by Sampson Wilhite in the year 1822. It is still standing and is the house now occupied by J. E. Hart, four miles from Rocheport, on the Sturgeon road.

Reuben Hatton settled on a farm about one mile east of Midway, about the year 1818. He came to Missouri in 1816, spending over one year in St. Louis county. He was a local preacher of the Methodist church, and was mainly instrumental in building up " Brick Chapel," now known as Locust Grove church. He was a native of Virginia and served seven years in the revolutionary army. He raised ten sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living. Reuben Hatton died about the year 1840. Several of his sons and their families are well known in Boone county. Gen. S. B. Hatton, Col. William Hatton, R. M., Fleming and Wesley B. Hatton all raised families in Boone county. The wife of Reuben Hatton was Joan Beleau, who was of French-Huguenot origin. The Beleaus, in the second generation afte-r their banishment, changed the spelling to " Bellew." They were married in South Carolina where their first children were born. They moved to Madison county, Kentucky, and from there to Missouri.

vDr. George B. Wilcox, from Tennessee, is said to have been not only the first practicing physician in Missouri township, but the first in Boone county, He came to the township as early as 1816, when white men were very few in the territory now comprised in Boone county. Dr. Wilcox died in Rocheport about the year 1860.

In the early settlement of Missouri township the leading religious denominations were the Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists. Morality was the general rule. The young people were rather strictly reared. The majority of the first settlers opposed dancing, and the amusements of the young folks were of the simplest character, consisting chiefly of innocent games and plays.

The first post-office in the township (and probably the first in the oounty) was established at Thrall's prairie in 1819,^ and named Lexington. Probably Oliver Parker was the first postmaster, although this distinction is claimed by Mr. Lientz for Dr. Geo. B. Wilcox. Others assert that Parker was the first and Wilcox the second. In 1828 this post-office was removed to the house of Wm. Lientz. The name was changed by Col. Thos. H. Benton from Lexington to Booneton. Mr. Lientz was appointed postmaster. In 1832 the office was removed to Rocheport. When first established the mail was brought to Lexington from St. Charles on horseback. Mr. Lientz lived on the old Columbia and Franklin road.

The first store in the township was established by Oliver Parker, at Thrall's Prairie, in 1818 or 1819. His stock in trade was small, to be sure, but it was none the less valuable, at that day. He kept lead, powder, sugar, coffee, cloths and a few other articles. Small as was his beginning, and unfavorable as his surroundings were, Mr. Parker's business grew and flourished until he eventually amassed a fortune.

An incident showing Mr. Parker's gallantry and bravery will bear relating in this connection. On one occasion Mr. Parker started for St. Louis to replenish his stock of goods. He had his money in gold and silver in his saddle-bags, as he travelled on horseback. The ferry boat at St. Charles at that day was a small affair, capable of carrying over one wagon at a time, and propelled by oars. On the trip when Mr. Parker was a passenger the boat struck a snag and began to sink. He seized his saddle-bags and prepared to save himself, but, seeing a lady who was on board in great distress and peril, he threw away his treasure - every cent - and devoted his energies to saving her, fortunately with success.

When Parker's store was first opened he handled but little money. The settlers were wont to exchange produce for such " store goods " as they were compelled to purchase. Bacon, corn, beeswax, hides and pelts, were the chief articles of barter used by the settlers. About all the money required was enough to pay taxes ; everything else could be traded for. Prices of everything the people had to sell were very low. A good cow brought only $5 ; dressed hogs sold for $1.50 and $2 percwt. ; a day's labor could be had for 25 cents, etc., etc.

Upon the first settlement of the townsFiip the settlers made their own salt. In the fall months they would visit the numerous salt springs in different parts of the township and spend some days in boiling down the saline waters into a very fair article of salt. It was coarse, to be sure, but it was strong, and answered every purpose very well.

The first school-house was located at the Big Spring. It was built by the settlers sometime after the year 1820 and prior to 1825. The house was a very simple structure. It was composed of round logs, with clapboard roof and puncheon floor. The cracks were chinked and daubed with mud ; the chimney was of mud and sticks, and altogether the structure much resembled a settler's dwelling-house. Who taught the first term of school in this house cannot with certainty be learned, but Asa Brown is remembered as a teacher who taught at an «arly day.

The first mill in the township was a horse mill, put up by John Copeland in 1819. The flour was bolted or sieved by hand. The mill was so well patronized that customers often had to wait days for their turn. The first grist mill that ran by water power was built by William Stapleton in 1835.

The- first road through the township was the old St. Charles road, running from St. Charles to Old Franklin, in Howard county. It was known for years as the St. Charles and Franklin road. The road was much travelled at an early day, it being the principal thoroughfare leading from St. Louis and St. Charles to the Upper Missouri country. In 1830^ the first public conveyances, a line of stage coaches, were put upon this road, it is said, by George Sexton, Esq. The line ran from St. Louis to Old Franklin. Mr. Sexton also estab- lished the first stage line from Rocheport to Fayette. Prior to theestablishment of Sexton's stao-e line the mails were carried on horseback. In Angust, 1821, the county court established a road " to run from Columbia to intersect the St. Charles road at or near Augustus Thrall's field." John Gray was appointed the commissioner to lay out this road.

The first murder by a white man of a white man in the neighborhood occurred just over the Howard line, as is believed, since no mention of the case can be found in the records of this county. The case was the killing of David Copher by Bird Lawless, in 1831. The afiair grew out of a cattle trade between the two men, resulting in a dispute, then a quarrel, then a killing. Lawless was tried at Fayette, before Judge David Todd, found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment in the county jail and to pay a fine of $500.

The Indians

In the early settlement of the township roving bands of Indians from the north, principally from the Sacs (or Saukees), Foxes, lowas and Pottawattamies, visited this locality from time to time. After the war of 1812 these Indians were uniformly friendly, though very troublesome on account of their begging and thievish, propensities. Many incidents might be narrated of the peculiar conduct of the savages when in the Missouri township settlements, and the adventures of the settlers with them, but are omitted for want of space.

As early as 1818, upon the first permanent settlement, there were no resident Indians, they having all left some years prior to that date. Sometimes when they came into the locality and made a camp they evinced a disposition to remain permanently, but the whites would invariably give them to understand that on no account would they be permitted to stay for all time, and then would command them to " puck-a-chee, " - i.e., to move on at once.

One of the tragic incidents connected with the early settlement and history of the Boone's Lick country was the killing by the Indians of Jonathan Todd and Thomas Smith, two settlers from Fort Hempstead, in Howard county, in the year 1813. Todd and Smith had gone out from the fort to hunt for some horses, which, they thought, had strayed away. The country was infested with Iowa Indians, also Sacs and Foxes, very hostile and very crafty. The settlers wandered away in.

search of their animals (which had really been stolen by the Indians) until they were beyond the reach of aid from their comrades in the fort. One account says that they were decoyed away by the Indians. When the settlers had reached a point in this township on section 27, township 49, range 14, now on the farm of Sg,mpson S. Wilhite, Esq., they were fired on by the Indians, and after a hard fight both were killed. After they were killed the Indians cut off their heads and cut out their hearts and stuck them up on poles. Todd and Smith were the first whites killed in the Boone's Lick country.

One account of this affair, furnished by an old citizen of Missouri township, is to the effect that when Todd and Smith were attacked a desperate combat ensued, ending in their being overpowered and murdered within two miles of Head's Fort, to which place they were fighting their way. They were killed half a mile apart. When found Todd's head was placed by the body of Smith, seemingly to let the whites know that both had been killed. The bodies, it is said, were buried on the farm of Mr. Wilhite, where their graves may yet be seen.

Col. Newton G-. Elliott: Dear Sir - The letter of my early and tried friend, Capt.. Joseph Cooper, in relation to the early settlement of the Boone's Lickc ountry, has been read to me and I heartily endorse as true all he said. My eyesight is so dim that I am unable to read it myself, being 86 years old. I came to the Boone's Lick country in 1810, and was a participant in very many of the incidents mentioned in Capt. Cooper's letter. Harrison Jameson (my brother-in-law) and myself were making saltpeter in a cave just below the mouth of Moniteau Creek the morning that Jonathan Todd and Thomas Smith were killed. We had been informed by the Indian agent that the Indians were coming to kill us, and that morning we threw all our saltpeter into a canoe and started for Fort Kincaid, arriving there in time to g© out with the command to get the dead bodies of Todd and Smith and chastise the Indians, if found ; for after the murder they had set fire to the woods to destroy their trail. * * * * A great many other incidents of the early history of the county might be given, but I, like others who participated, am getting too old to furnish a minute history. Respectfully, James Barnes.

In a little pamphlet, published in 1861, by Joseph Persinger, entitled, " The Life of Jacob Persinger, " appears the following on page 20, et seq. :

* * * Not long after this treaty was made, some hunters went down on the Bonne Femme Creek to find some game, and, in traveling down an Indian path in pursuit of game, they discovered the head of a white man sticking upon a pole. They became alarmed, im- mediately went back and reported what they had seen. The whites collected together as quick as possible, made arrangements to catch the murderers, and started oflF to where the head was found. On arriving at the spot they found two men had been killed, which exasperated them very much. They then entered into a compact that they would hunt from day to day until they found the murderers, and seek revenge by taking the lives of those who committed the atrocious deed. They started and traveled over a considerable scope of country, and at length saw an Indian alone. They took him prisoner and interrogated him in regard to the murder of the two men, but he stoutly denied having any knowledge of the murder at all. They then asked him if he knew of any Indians ; he replied that he did, and that they were then stationed on the point between the creek and the Missouri river.

The white men immediately set out to march against the Indians. They proceeded to get as close as possible unobserved, and they succeeded. They crossed over the creek as noiselessly as possible and formed a line that extended from the creek to the river. When they came upon the Indians they found them playing " bandy. " They made a rush and got between them and their guns. The Indians knew now their only chance for safety would be either to to swim Bonne Femme creek or the Missouri river ; but the whites were too fast for them. They (the whites) made a charge and killed off all the Indians, forty-nine in number, except one, who escaped with a broken arm. After the battle was over the whites took the Indian prisoner upon the bottom or low ground on the Missouri river, and told him that if he wished to save his life, he could do so by out-running any one man in the company. The Indian readily accepted to this proposition, and started off at full speed ; but a man named Fugate started after him, caught him immediately and led him back to the company. The whites then told him that they would give him another chance : that he might commence running, and after he got a certain distance from them they were to commence firing, and if none of the balls struck he should go unharmed. The Indian started at full speed again. After he got to the required distance he ran in an angular direction ; but the poor creature did not get far until he fell dead, with seven bullet holes in him. This defeat of the Indians isettled the war with them for some time.

From Persinger's description of the ground, it is evident that the fight with the Indians narrated in the foregoing, took place near the mouth of Bonne Femme creek, in what is now Cedar township. It is worthy of note, that no corroboru,tive statements or accounts concerning the killing of the forty-nine Indians can be obtained at present, and yet this remark is not intended as a denial that any such affair ever came off.

A Bear Hunt

In the year 1823 a large black bear came mto the neighborhood where Andrew McQuitty lived. The alarm was given and a hunting party was soon formed to give chase to the monster. Among those composing this party, were Andrew McQuitty, Bird Lawless, Joshua F. White, and some negro men. Bruin was soon found, and chased into a sink-hole. Here the dogs were set upon him, but he soon and very easily disposed of them, and they at last refused to come to time.

influence. Brave at all times, thej were now reckless. One of the negroes was a slave named Jefi", who belonged to McQiiitty. Jeff's master called out to him : -

"Give me the ax then, dim you," and, seizing the weapon, Mr. McQuitty walked out upon a log that lay partly across the sink-hole, and luckily enough struck the savage animal with the blade of the ax a blow in the neck which severed its jugular, and it fell a quivering carcass.

Organization

At the first session of the county court, February 18, 1822, Missouri township was organized. When the territory was in Howard count}^ it had comprised a portion of Moniteau township, and Tyre Harris was justice of the peace, and James Harris constable. The Boone county court appointed, (or recommended for appointment,) John Gray to be justice of the peace, Ichabod C. Hensley constable, and Jesse B. Dale, assessor. It appears that the appointment of these offices did not operate to legislate Tyre Harris out of office, for there is a record of his having performed the functions of a magistrate for some time afterward. The metes and bounds of Missouri township first fixed by the county court, are the same to-day. The order of the court establishing the township reads as follows :

"4th township to be denominated Missouri township: Beginning at the mouth of the Eoche Perche creek, thence up the Missouri river to the mouth of the Monitor ^ creek ; thence up said creek to where the dividing line between this county and Howard leaves the same ; thence with said dividing line to where it crosses the old St. Charles road ; thence eastwardly with the said road to where it crosses the southeast corner of section 16, in range 14, and township 49 ; thence east with the sectional line to the western boundary of Columbia town- ship ; thence south with said boundary to the northern boundary of Cedar township, thence west with the said township boundary to the Koche Perche creek, thence down said creek to the mouth, the point of beginning."

Early Mills

Among the earliest improvements in Missouri township should be mentioned the Dixon and Stapleton mills east of the Callaham. The first mill built in that region of country, other than the old-fashioned horse-mills, was the Dixon water-mill, on the Callaham, about three miles above the junction of that stream with the Perche. Robert Scott was the mill-wright who built it. The first proprietor was a man named Dixon. It was both a saw and grist-mill. Soon after it was completed Dixon sold it to Gen. S. B. Hatton, who employed a skillful millwright named Smith to add a number of improvements thereto. It ran night and day, but could not supply the demand for lumber. Most of the lumber used in building the State University was sawed at this mill. Soon after it was started Stapleton, a wealthy young man from Howard county, commenced building a large steam mill about half a mile below the Dixon mill. When completed it was the largest and most complete steam mill in the county. This mill also furnished a large amount of lumber for the State University, but Stapleton did not prosper, from some cause or other, and soon sold the property to the Sexton brothers, who conducted the business for several years, when they sold the mill and 500 acres of land to R. M. & S. B. Hatton. Gen. Hatton sold the machinery to a man named Renfroe, who moved it to Moniteau county. The machinery had formerly done service in the paper-mill at Rockbridge, Boone county.

There is a tragedy connected with the history of each of those mills. A man was drowned in attempting to cross the Callaham just above Dixon's mill, but the name of the individual and the circumstances of his death, are shrouded in mystery. The tragedy of Stapleton's mill is of a more thrilling nature. Two boys, sons of a Mr. Kingsberry, a wealthy planter of Howard county, had come to spend the Christmas with their sister, Mrs. Stapleton, whose husband was very fond of hunting. He had promised to. take the boys on a deer chase, and in their impatience for the hunt they took their brother-inlaw's guns and proceeded to load them. While thus engaged, one of the guns was fired, accidentally, the ball piercing the heart of one of the boys, who died without uttering a word.

In The Civil War

During the civil war Missouri township bore its full share of the liurdens and endured its full measures of the distresses incident to that sanguinary strife. , The Southern element predominated in numbers in the township, but there were many Union men staunch and true. Each side was well represented in the armies that fought in the field. Amono; the more notable incidents of the war in the township was the

Killing Of Sidney Denham

Mr. Denham lived four miles east of Rocheport, on his farm. He was a well-to-do citizen and owned a number of slaves. At the outbreak of the war he went to Boonville as a member of the Missouri State Guard, but returned home in a few days and took no further active or open part in the strife. In the fall of 1864 he had collected some guns and ammunition which he had hidden in a vacant house on his premises, and which, it was charged, were intended for use by the bushwhackers. Mr. Denham's negroes informed the Federals on their master, and a squad was sent out from Columbia to arrest him. Mr. Denham was arrested, his premises searched, the guns and ammunition found, and then the party started away. A Mr. Boggs, who accompanied the Federals as a guide, and who now resides in Terrapin Neck, states that Denham was well mounted, and not long after the party had started, and while near Walnut Grove church, he put spurs to his horse and tried to escape. The Federals gave chase and fired on him and killed him. It was charged that the Federals induced Mr. D. to try to escape in order that they might have an excuse for shooting him. The body was buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery. The Federals who did the shooting are believed to have belonged to the 42d Mo. Infantry, a detachment of which regiment was stationed at Columbia at the time commanded by Lt. Col. Stauber.

Assailants Killed

About the last of November, 1866, Addison Adams, John Q. Adams, James Adams and Francis Hornsinger, were in Rocheport disturbing the peace and defying the authorities of the town ; and ineiFectual attempts were made to arrest them by Deputy Constable Charles Myers and Recorder Samuel Scobee. These desperadoes, among other things, rode up and down the streets with drawn pistols and finally evacuated the town, firing at dogs and hogs as they left it. They came east on the Columbia road, on their way, it is sijpposed, ta the house of one of the parties, John Q. Adams, who lived about four miles from Rocheport.

When about two miles from town the Deputy Sheriff", Mr. James C. Gillaspy, who had that day been to Rocheport on official business no wav connected with either of these parties, passed them on the road. Having no business with either of them, he simply spoke to them in passihg, and when a few steps in advance was ordered by James Adams to halt. Not halting, Adams galloped to his side with a drawn pistol, repeating the order; whereupon some words passed between them, Mr. Gillaspy requesting Adams to desist and put up his pistol as he knew no cause why he should be thus assailed on the public highway. Instead of desisting, however, although Mr. Gillaspy requested his comrades to interpose and take him away, Adams became more furious, and with his pistol in close proximity to Gillaspy attempted to kill him, but fortunately the pistol missed fire.

Immediately on this deadly assault being made Mr. Gillaspy very properly fired upon his assailant, the ball making a flesh wound in Adams' shoulder. The report of the pistol frightened the horses of both Adams and Gillaspy, and both were thrown to the ground. In falling Gillaspy' s pistol was again fired, accidentall}^ and this was the last charge in it. Finding himself thus surrounded and unarmed, Gillaspy leaving his horse started for the house of Mr. Marion Cochran, not far off. About this time three citizens returning from Columbia to their homes in Rocheport, viz : J. H. Thornton, Dr. H. R. C. Cowden and Michael O. Woods, came up ; and Mr. Thornton being the constable of that township commanded the peace and ordered tihem to surrender their arms, which they refused to do - James Adams swearing vengeance against Gillaspy, and others of the party against Thornton. Mr. Woods passed rapidly on to Cochran's house, whither Gillaspy had gone, to assist Gillaspy ; whereupon Gillaspy, obtaining a navy revolver, and Woods a rifle, started back to where his horse had thrown him. Woods soon ascertained that the rifle was unloaded ; Gillaspy, however, went on. Seeing him coming, Addison Adams and Hornsinger remarked to Jas. Adams, who by this time had remounted his horse - "There comes the damn sonofab - h; go and kill him." James obeyed and rode in a gallop toward

Gillaspy, pistol in hand, and firing upon him as he approached. Gillaspy heroically stood his ground and returned the fire, several shots being exchanged. In the melee Adams' horse was killed and he mortally wounded - Gillaspy escaping unhnrt. Adams died the next morning.

Mr. Gillaspy returned to Columbia that evening and immediately surrendered himself to Sheriff Baker ; and the Circuit Court being in session the grand jury summoned witnesses and after a thorough investigation of the case, fully acquitted Gillaspy and found indictments for assaults with iutent to kill against Addison Adams and Francis Hornsinger, and they were immediately arrested by Sheriff Baker and lodged in jail. Neither of these four desperadoes, except Jno. Q. Adams, resided in Boone county; but had recently come from Southwest Missouri.

Recent Negro Riot

About the 1st. of August, 1882, the colored people living in the southwestern part pf the county, better knowai as " Terrapin Neck," had a picnic at Mr. Burch Hunt's springs not far from the river and some eight miles southwest of Columbia. Whisky, it seems, as' usual was on hand and got in its devilish work. A negro named Sewood Cochran, noted for his desperate deeds, it is said, with his two brothers, George and Warren, came upon the grounds for the purpose of raising a row and began by overturning the table. A general fight ensued in which a negro named. Joseph Jackson, one of the managers of the picnic, shot Sewood through the thigh. Jackson received a dangerous and probably fatal cut in the side, from, it is thought, Warren Cochran. Sewood getting possession of the pistol with which Jackson shot him, in aiming to return fire, shot Alex. Freeman, colored, a bystander in the neck, inflicting a flesh wound. Constable Newland, of Missouri township, was present and tried to preserve the peace, but had to shoot Sewood, who resisted, the ball passing through his chin and entering his neck and chest. Newland wheeled around and arrested George Cochran and took him before Ugenus Boldin, J. P., but there being no one to swear out a warrant he was released.. In the melee Warren Cochran was knocked senseless with a plank by Jim White. The scene after the fight was over, looked like a battlefield, the wounded and bleeding negroes lying around in all directions and making; the air vocal with their groans.

Country Churches Old Bethel, Now Walnut Grove

The first church organized within the present limits of Boone county, was a Baptist church called Bethel located near the centre of section 16, township 49, range 14.^ This organization was forofied June 28, 1817, by five persons, whose names are here given. Fortunately the original manuscript of the church covenant is still in existence and a transcript is herewith set out, printed as it was written, with a few unimportant errors in orthography, grammar, and composition, not to be ridiculed, but to give record to a paper of great importance and remarkable interest. For sixty-five years has this paper been carefully preserved, and, though yellow and bronzed by age, bids fair to exist for a much longer period. Let its possessors take some means to permanently preserve it. The records of the first church meeting and the names of the original members are also given, as matters of interest. The following is a literal transcript of the first church covenant of Old Bethel : - -

Church Covanant

June the 28 A. D. 1817 We the Baptist Church called Bethel was constituted by Brethren William Tharp and David McClain on the Scriptures of the old and new testaments, believing them to be the infallable word of God and only rule of faith and practice, Believing that salvation is of God alone, also that .Tesus (Jhrist is the eternal Son of God the Father three persons in the Godhead, the Father the son and the holy ghost, these three are one We believe in perticular and unconditional Election by grace and baptism by immertion, Belevers to be the only subjects and the final perseverance of the Saints. [Signed] Anderson Woods Betsy Woods David Maquitty John Tuenkr James Harris

The first pastor of the congregation was the Eev. William Tharp, of whom it is to be regretted not much can be learned at this late day. Fielding Wilhite was the pastor in 1829. The following is a transcript of the first meeting, together with the membership list: -

Saturday 1817 We the Baptist church of Christ met according to appointment and after prayer to God for his blessing proceeded to business as folows -

7. On motion agred to appoint Brethren David Mcquitty Joshua Barton and Anderson Woods to form a church deciplin for the inspection of [last line torn off.]

Persons names who were constituted calling them selves Bethel Church June the 28 A D 1817. David JMequitty John Turner James Harris Anderson Woods Betsj' Woods

Persons names who have joined since the constitution by letter; Joshua Barton by letter; Lasarus Wilcox by letter; John Reid and Patsey his wife by letter; Policy Pipes by letter; Betsey Pipes by letter ; Mourning Harris by experience ; Lucy Willcox by experience ; PoUey Harris by experience ; Mary Mcquitty by letter ; William McCarty by letter; James Hicks and Sarah his wife by letter; Jacob Sowder and Libby his wife by letter; Elias Elston and Jamima his wife by letter,

The first church building occupied by the old Bethel congregation was built of logs, sometime in the year 1818, and this was used until the separation, in 1835, after which it was worshipped in by the autimissionary or Old School Baptists and the Presbyterians for some time. The pulpit, as stated, was supplied by Rev. Wm. Tharp, from the first organization until the year 1820, when the regular pastor, Eev. Thos. Campbell, was installed. He resigned in 1829, and Fielding Wilhite became his successor.

The first cemetery in Boone county was old Bethel burying ground, located near where the church stood, in the southern border of Perche township. The first interment therein was that of a man named Payson, who was buried in 1818. The cemetery contains some 300 graves, but for a long time has not been used, and is now the centre of a pasture.

The congregation worshiped in harmony until in 1835, when occurred the dissension in regard to foreign missions. The anti-missionary Baptists withdrew, and the remainder, to the number of about forty, formed the Walnut Grove Baptist church. Amoug the constitutional members, as well as can now be remembered, were Fielding Wilhite (afterwards pastor), William Wilhite and wife, William Pullman and wife, Reuben Elliott and wife, Tyre Harris and wife, Elijah Dale and wife, Geo. W. McQnitty and wife, Zachariah Burnett and wife, Newman T. Mitchell and wife, Isaac Doty and wife, and Henry Dooley.

In 1836 William Wilhite donated one acre of ground for the present cemetery and church site (which has been increased to about three acres), whereon a stand was erected and where the first services were held, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Fielding Wilhite, and Revs. A. P. Williams and Thos. Fristoe. The first meetings were protracted, sometimes for a period of two weeks. When the weather was inclement the meetings were adjourned to and held in the Presbyterian church at Rocheport.

feet in area, and of moderate height, plahily but substantially finished and furnished. Here services were held until 1847, when the present church was built. It is a frame, 40 by 60 in area and 18 feet in height, without spire or bell. Within the same inclosure and contiguous to the church is the Walnut Grove cemetery. The first interments therein were those of Mrs. Enoch Taylor, in 1836, and Sampson Wilhite, Sr., in 1837. Subsequently more than two hundred graves have been added. As no records have ever been kept, many of these graves cannot now be identified. But known or unknoAvn, recognized or unrecognized, the tenants of these silent abodes, the fathers and mothers, the brothers and sisters of the present generation of the communicants of Walnut Grove sleep well. Whether the sun of summer shines upon them, or the winds of winter blow over them, alike they silently lie, awaiting the Great Day ; and year by year their descendants and posterity are gathered to them to become in their turn waiters in the silent chambers. *

The first pastor of Walnut Grove was Rev. Fielding Wilhite, wha first began his labors in Old Bethel in 1829, and closed them in Walnut Grove church in 1844. His successors have been : -

The present officers are the following: Deacons - N. G. Mitchell,. Sr., J. H. Sampson, N. G. Mitchell, Jr., and Stephen Elliott. Clerk - J. H. Sampson. Treasurer - J. S. Denham. Present membership, not reported. The church and cemetery are located about the center of section 29, township 49, range 14.

The Sugar Creek congregation of the Baptist church was organized November 2, 1823. The following is an abstract of the records containing the report of the constitutional meeting : -

We, the Baptist Church of Christ at Sugar Creek, met at Brother John Berry's, according to appointment, and being constituted on 25 members by Elders Wm. Tharp and Thomas Campbell, Brother Thos. Campbell chosen moderator, we proceed - 1. And agree to be known by the name of Sugar Creek. 2. We agree to hold our church meetings on the second Saturday and Sunday in each month. 3. A door was open for the reception of members. Keceived by experience. Sisters Rachel Riddle, Elizabeth Huntsucker, Susannah Bledsoe,, and Polly Hawkins.

The original members of the congregation were : Wm. Barnes, Mark Reavis, Wm. Jones, Sr., Wm. Jones, Jr., Willis Hawkins, Levi H. Jones, John Stemmons, John Berry, John Jones, James Eeavis, James Flemming, Thos. Hart, Anthony Crosby, Benj. Dale, Gavin Bledsoe, John Huntsucker, Thos. Huntsucker, and Sisters Lucy Reavis, Elizabeth Berry, Tabitha Crosby, Polly Flemming, Mildred Hawkins, Anna Jones, Patsy Jones, and Vilette, a woman of color.

The first deacons were selected on the second Saturday in January,, 1824, and were LeviH. Jones and Thomas Hart. They were ordained the same day by Elders Thos. Campbell and Elijah Foley, The first pastor called was Elder Campbell, but he refused to accept; then Elder Foley was called. Saith the record of October 2 (Saturday), 1824: -

* * * Keference from last meeting relating to this church calling a pastor was considered. 2. This church was unanimous in'calling Bro. Elijah Foley, and he accedes to their wishes.

The first church building was of logs, and was put up on the farm of John Henderson, in 1827. It was never completed, however, and was only used during pleasant weather. It was afterwards taken down and removed to the farm of James H. Lowrey, and again removed to the farm of Sherman Harris and used until 1840. In this year a double log building was put up, 24 by 40 feet in size, which was used until the summer of 1882, when the present structure was erected. It is a frame, 36 by 56 in area, and is well furnished. Its cost was about $2,000. It was dedicated June 18, 1882, by Rev. W. Pope Yeaman. It stands on the northeast quarter of section 22, township 48, range 14.

[Information concerning the pastors, present membership, and other matters connected with the history of this church, was promised, but not furnished.]

The Sugar Creek Cemetery was originally the private buryingground of Owen W. Boggs, and the first burial was that of his infant daughter, in 1830. The next, soon after, was that of a negro boy, belonging to Mr. Boggs. Subsequently, by consent of Mr. Boggs, the ground was used by the public, and in 1882 it was deeded to the trustees of the Sugar Creek Baptist church, in whose name the title will hereafter rest. The church site was also donated by the heirs of Mr. Boggs, for church purposes.

New Providence Chuech

organized in 1838, the original members being Joel Wilhite and wife, Thomas Allen and wife, Elijah Foley and wife, Fannie Foley, and Arthur Barnett and wife. The first pastor was Fielding Wilhite, and the first officers were Joel Wilhite and Andrew Barnett, deacons, and Thomas Allen, clerk. The meeting at which the church was formally consecrated was held in a grove at McGee's spring, near where the church now stands. Services were held at the grove and at the houses of different members until 1845, when they built a meeting house of hewed logs, labor and material being donated by the members. It was forty-five feet long by thirty feet wide, and seated with common wooden benches. This building answered as a place of worship till 1878, when it was torn down and the present edifice was erected on its site. The new house is a frame, plain but neat, 52x38 feet in length and width, with a good stone foundation underneath. It cost $1,450, and is comfortably, though not expensively, furnished. In front and over the entrance is a wooden awning, which not only ornaments the building, but protects it from the weather. The membership numbers 160, and since its first organization in 1838, there have been 350 conversions. The following is a list of names of the young men, formerly members of this church, who have become preachers: George Oliver, Lewis Conner, Elliott Wilhite, Morton Modisett, James Smalley, D. B. Black, Edwin Walker, and William H. Nichols. The present pastor is Kev. J. M. McGuire. George H. Hutchinson, Thomas H. Caruthers and Joshua Fenton are deacons, and James Bradley, clerk, at the present writing. New Providence Cemetery was set apart for burial purposes in 1845, and the first subject interred was Mrs. Eveline Barnes, wife of David Barnes - husband also since deceased. It now contains over 100 graves, and is in the same enclosure with the church.

Locust Geove Church

This is another of the numerous Southern Methodist churches in the county, the nucleus of which particular congregation were the Hatton and Harriman families. The circuit called " Boone's Lick Circuit " was organized as early as 1816, and Joseph Piggott was the first itinerant preacher ( ' ' circuit rider " ) . The Locust Grove church at Midway was organized early in 1818, but services had been previously held. The first, or constitutional, members were Keuben Hatton and wife, John Harriman, wife and several of the family, Keuben M. Hatton, Thomas Finley, Margaret Laughlin, William Doug- the following were received as members : Alexander M. Ellington and wife, Abram Funk, wife and two daughters, Mrs. Jane McGhee,^ Mrs. Anderson, and Miss Anderson (afterwards wife of Rev. John Bennett.) Services were lieM from the time of the organization up to about 1824 at the residence of Reuben Hatton, and from that time until 1830 at the house of William Douglass. In that year the Old Brick Chapel was erected near the site of the present church at Midway. It was a small house, 36 by 26 feet in length and width, and a 12-foot ceiling, plainly built, heated by old-fashioned "fire-places," and seated with plain oaken seats without backs. The land (two acres) was donated by William Douglass and William Scott, one acre each, for a church-yard and cemetery. This was in 1829 or '30, and the burying ground is also called Locust Grove cemetery. As nearly as can be ascertained, the first subject buried there was Warren Leonard. There are now about 400 graves, whose little hillocks dot the ground, but no record has ever been kept. The prime movers in building the brick chapel were Rev. John Bennett, A. M. Ellington, Stephen G. Evans, and Peter McLain. The old church was in time found to be too small to accommodate the increased and still g-rowing congregation. Accordingly, in 1870, it was torn down and the present edifice, a new and commodious frame structure, was built near the old site, the dimensions being 52x40x14 feet in length, breadth and height. It is neatly and comfortably furnished, and was dedicated in 1871 by Rev. John D. Vincil, then of Columbia. The pastor in charge was David Root, and the membership numbered about 80, and still continues about the same. The old records are unfortunately lost, and much of the information herein given had to be collected from private and unoflicial sources. The oldest preacher remembered was Rev. Bankston, who served the congregation after the organization, though he was not the first.

Mount Nebo Church

The history of this congregation of Southern Methodists was furnished the historian by Mr. Joseph Williamson. Rev. Moses U. Payne, who was the leading spirit in the organization of this church, was its first pastor in about 1840, he giving it the name it now bears. The first chapel was a log building of the primitive pattern, built on the land of Joseph Williamson, who now uses the house for a stable. The original members were Mary Williamson, Joseph Williamson and wife, Mrs. Burrilla Pettis, Wilson Dennis and wife, Cynthia Bledsoe?

Lizzie Bledsoe, Joseph Bledsoe and wife, Margaret Melloway and Samuel Wood and wife. Mary Williamson (mother of Joseph Williamson), whose name heads the list, was the first Methodist in the neighborhood of Mount Nebo. The establishment of the church at the time was largely due to her zeal in the cause. Though she is long since dead, and the old log structure in which she worshipped lias long ago been put to baser uses, and given way to a more becoming, house of meeting, still her influence and the church's influence for good still glide down the path of time and produce fruit in the Master's vineyard. All honor to Mount Nebo for the good it has and all hope and prayer for her future career.

Mount Nebo Cemetery contains about two acres, which, together with the church site, were donated to the Baptist church for church and burial purposes in 1860 by James W. Thomas. The first interment was that of Alexander K. Williamson, in February, 1861. He was a son of Joseph Williamson, and died at the age of seventeen.

The Town Of Kochepokt Eaely History

The land comprising the present site of the town of Rocheport was patented by the United States to David Gray, November 13, 1822. Gray sold it to Wm. Kincheloe ; he sold to John Gray. March 2, 1825, John Gray (and Sally, his wife,) sold to Abraham Barnes, John Ward and Lemon Parker, who, with Wm. Gaw, composed the first town company, and were the projectors of the town itself. Rocheport was laid out December 15, 1832, by Parker, Barnes, Ward and Gaw. The latter sold to Parker a portion of the town site. Wm. Shields was the surveyor. Subsequent additions were surveyed by James H. Bennett. In the various transfers of the land on which the town stands it (the land) is uniformly described as " a part of section 1, township 48, range 15."

As early as 1820 there was a warehouse on the present town site, called "Arnold's warehouse," which was managed by Robert Hood, and was an establishment of some note. The locality was also widely known as" the mouth of the Moniteau," and was a favorite landing place for the settlers of eastern Howard and western Boone. The Moniteau creek (or " creek of the Great Spirit") was famed for the fish in its waters and the game along its banks. John Gray settled in the neighborhood in 1819 and established a ferry across the river, which he operated for some years prior to the laying out of the town. Many flat-boats and keel-boats were built and loaded at " the mouth of the Moniteau" in an early day.

In Juue, 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition landed at the mouth of the Moniteau and explored the country along the river and for some distance inland. The " painted rocks " were particularly noted and mentioned in the published journal of the expedition,^ as being " very remarkable. They are covered with strange and uncouth hieroglyphics and representations. * « * "vy^ were prevented from making a careful inspection by reason of the presence of so many ferocious rattlesnakes, which are very venomous at this season of the year, and which were crawling amons; the rocks in o-reat numbers."

The name of the place was first intended to be Rock-^ovi, but it was changed to Roche^ovt, at the instance, it is said, of a French missionary who was in the neighborhood. The name signifies a rocky port, or port of rocks, and the town ought always to have been known by the name first given it.

The first merchant in Rocheport was one Barlow, who established himself in 1830 in a log store-house on Moniteau street, north of where the Star mills are now located, and occupied the grounds whereon stands Wm. Hulett's residence.^ As before stated, the locality was a sort of shipping port. Boats were built, loaded and set sail for New Orleans and the other lower Mississippi markets from this point, and the boatmen landed here on their return. Barlow did a fair business for the time and under the circumstances. Other venturesome merchants, attracted by his success, located here from time to time, and soon quite a number of houses, chiefly built of logs, were standing in the place. Gary Peebles, Lark. Bennett and others came next after Barlow, and all did business in log houses. The first merchants kept only staple articles, such as were needed by the people at that day - cotton goods, sugar, coflfee and whisky, the latter article being as much of a necessity in early days as either of the former.

The first hotel or tavern was the log house, also used as a store building, kept by Barlow. This house was built by John Gray, perhaps in 1819. It was not kept as a regular hotel, with bar-room.

office, etc., but was merely a combination of store-room, dwelling^ house and tavern. The first regular tavern or hotel was built and kept by Jesse B. Dale in 1833, and stood on Moniteau street.

The post-office at Rocheport was established in 1832. It was the successor to Lexington, upon Thrall's prairie, and toBooneton, kept by Wm. Lientz. Lexington was removed to Booneton in 1828, and Booneton was removed to Rocheport in 1832. The first postmaster in Rocheport was Gary Peebles.

Probably the first steamboat to land on the present site of Rocheport was the R. M. Johnson, of Mlijor Long's expedition, which came up the river in 1819, and landed at the mouth of the Moniteau for wood. In 1821 a steamer owned by James Johnson, a brother of vice-President Johnson, for whom the first boat to land was named, tied up at Arnold's warehouse, and it is said took on some freight. Between 1820 and 1825 a boat made regular trips between Old Franklin and St. Louis, stopping at all the principal landings, Arnold's warehouse among the number. All these landings were made before the town was laid out.

In the early days of Rocheport society was not the best regulated. Whisky was used as a common beverage throughout the country. If one neighbor visited another he expected to be " treated," of course,. and if he was not, and no apology or excuse was given, the visitor considered that he had received a personal affront. Fights and fisticuff's were common in Rocheport. No other weapons than Nature's were used, however, as a rule, and after the fight a speedy and lasting reconciliation was eff'ected. The bottle was passed, everybody drank and all was soon forgotten. Much of the whisky drank in early days was made at the stills in the neighborhood, was untaxed by government, unstamped by inspector, and uninspected by ganger, and, the word of an old settler for it, would make a man fight his grandfather. People exchanged their cortt and rye for the juice thereof.

At first coffee was fifty cents a pound at Barlow's store. It was seldom used by the people except on Sunday morning. Tea was rarely used at all. Most people used maple sugar for " sweetening," made by themselves, and fit food for the gods. Sassafras tea was a common table drink ; while the children drank good, rich, nourishing cow's milk.

For a few years after the town was laid out it grew rather rapidly, and in 1835 it was a place of considerable size and importance, rivaling Columbia. Rocheport contained eight stores, two tailor shops^ two carding machines, a steam saw mill, five brickyards, two tanjards, two rope walks, two blacksmith shops, a tavern, and a tobacco manufactory. The next year, or in 1836, thirty new buildings were erected.

In the exciting presidential contest of 1840 the Whigs held a monster mass meeting at Rocheport. The meeting was on a hill east of the town in a dense grove of sugar trees, where three speakers' stands were erected, and where for three days and nights the friends of " Tippecanoe and Tyler too" held high carnival. During the meeting speeches were made by Chilton Allen, of Kentucky, Fletcher Webster, son of Daniel Webster, Gen. A. W. Doniphan, James H. Birch, Abiel Leonard, James S. Rollins, Col. John O'Fallon, James Winston, George C. Bingham and others.

In the year 1847 Rocheport had five dry goods stores and several saddler, tailor and blacksmith shops, together with a large number ot mechanics and persons in other branches of industry, and had a population of 450. The next year, 1848, the census showed the population to be 476. In 1849 the number of inhabitants had increased to nearly 600. Some of the business men of the place in 1849 were A. L. Robinson, T. H. Ready, John W. Harris, Moses U. Payne, George

Knox, Jas. H. Parker, Thomas Walker, Ballentine and Outcalt. In the year 1850 Mr. H. S. Chalmers had a flourishing school in the place. During the year 1849, about fifty steamboats were making regular trips up the Missouri as high as Rocheport, and fiftyseven boats made 500 landings in that year, and a great deal of business was transacted at this point. Many tons of hemp, corn, wheat, tobacco and other produce were shipped weekly, and large quantities of rnerchandise were put ofi", some for towns in Boone and Howard counties, but the most for localities far north in the interior.

Cholera In Rocheport

In 1849 cholera again visited Rocheport. Several cases occurred. Alexander Graver,^ the driver of the stage from Rocheport to Columbia, came near being buried alive. He was attacked with cholera and to all appearances died. His coffin had been prepared and full prep- aratioiis made for his burial, when a Dr. Buster discovered signs of life, and by dint of fresh blisters, vigorous rubbing, etc., restored the alleged " corpse " to full animation.

In July, 1852, the scourge again visited the place and there were many deaths. Among them were Miss Jane Morrison, Mary Litchlyter, Mrs. Shanks, Thos. A. Taylor, John Harris, John A. Hadwin, two of Taylor's negroes, a negro belonging to Taylor & Jackmau, and some children. Through fear and in consequence of the intense excitement, the dead and dying were frequently abandoned by their nearest relatives and friends. As is reported, in twenty-one days, during the prevalence of the dread contagion, Henry Tumy, R. G. Lyell, and four or five others buried twenty-three victims of cholera and of the measles, which latter disease was also in the place at the same time.

From 1850 to 1860 the town did a good business and flourished very fairly. It had become known far and near for years and attracted to it many individuals. The building of the North Missouri railroad affected the prosperity of the place no little. Goods began to be shipped into the county by rail instead of by river, and the commercial interests of the town sustained material injury thereby. The iron horse has always been the mortal enemy of the steamboat, and in most cases the victor in every contest. The river towns have suffered of late years and the railroad towns have flourished.

During The Civil War

The population of Rocheport at the beginning of the civil war was largely in sympathy with the Southern or Confederate cause, and so far as can be known did not change its sentiments. It furnished a considerable number of men for the Confederate army and some for the Federal service. Of the latter, Robt. G. Lyell was adjutant of the 61st Enrolled Missouri Militia, and Major on the staff of Gen. J. B. Douglass.

The first Federal troops in Rocheport were a portion of Gen. Lyon's command, who landed, when on their way to Boonville, the day before the battle at that place, June 17, 1861.

The Federals occupied the town from time to time with a garrison. In 1863-4, the bushwhackers made frequent visits to the place. Bill Anderson's guerillas came so often that that they called Rocheport *' our capital." The people were between hawk and buzzard. The Federals plundered them and the bushwhackers robbed them. On

Early in October, 1864, when Lt. Col. Matthews of the 3d Cavalry, M. S. M., was m command at Rocheport, Maj. Leonard's command, of the 9th M. S. M., entered the town. A boat loaded with Fisk's men was also lying at the wharf. A fire broke out on Main Street and destroyed one of the principal blocks and a part of another. As soon as the fire was discovered Col. Matthews ordered out a strong provost guard and sent every other soldier to his quarters, and then endeavored to check the flames. There was no pillaging and all disorder was repressed, and Col. Matthews won golden opinions from the people for his exemplary conduct. The fire was probably .set out by some of the Federal soldiers, but just by whom cannot be learned.

Not loilg afterwards some of the bushwhackers came into town and set fire to the fine public school building, and it was burned to the ground. The building was valued at $6,000 or $7,000, and was a fine structure. One statement is to the effect that but one man was concerned in the burning of the school-house, a member of Anderson's company, who crossed the river and applied the torch one night.

Bushwhacker Raids

and shook it up considerably. Several stores were robbed. Messrs. Clayton & Wilcox, Harris & Hubbard, A. & M. Earth, and H. Tumy were the principal losers.

In the spring or early summer of 1864, Anderson's guerillas made their appearance in Rocheport, and until late in the following fall continued to visit the town quite frequently. Indeed they soon established friendly, if not confidential, relations with many of the citizens, and were on fair terms with nearly everybody. They took a great deal of property in one way or another from the people, and caused -some of them to pay $3,500, but so long as nobody was killed, the citizens considered that they had escaped very well.

manded by Capt. Thos. Waterman, came up to Kocheport and landing just above town was captured by Bill Anderson and his band of bushwhackers. Capt. Waterman was killed and an employe of the boat badly wounded. By orders of Anderson the boat steamed up and crossed over to the Cooper county side, when the guerillas landed, went into the interior and robbed many of the farmers of money, provisions and horses. When they returned they compelled the boat to recross them to the north bank of the river, and then retired into the Howard county timber.

The citizens of Rocheport were wholly irresponsible for the capture of the boat and the killing of Capt. Waterman, but from representations made to Gen. Rosecraus, then in command of this department, that oiEcer could not see it in that light, and issued the following

The general commanding, satisfied tliat tlie citizens of the town of Rocheport, Boone county, Missouri, have countenanced, tolerated, and fed, if not encouraged, gangs of bushwhackers and other outlaws for the last sis weeks, and being apprised that a gang of these villains, in open daylight, shot and murdered Thomas Waterman, the only support of a widowed mother and two sisters, on the steamer Buffington, at the landing of said town, orders that the sum of ten thousand dollars be collected from the disloyal citizens of Roche-^ port, and paid to the chief quartermaster of the department for the use of the widow and sisters of said Waterman. The district commander is charged with the execution of this order. By command of Major General Rosecrans. O. D. Greene, Asst. Adj. Gen. and Chief of Staff.

It was a hard tax, this $10,000, upon the " disloyal " citizens of Rocheport at this time, but the amount was afterwards reduced onehalf by Gen. Rosecrans, and the remaining $5,000 assessed to the disloyal citizens of Moniteau township, Howard county. Only about $3,500 was ever collected, the remainder being remitted by the commander-in-chief upon representations of the loyalty of those assessed. If culpability in the affair had been the test of the assessment, and the proportion of guilt the measure of each citizen, s share, perhaps not fifteen cents would have been demanded from the people of the township. They were no more responsible for the firing on the steamer than the people of any other part of the county or State. But war sometimes places its burdens very unequally.

On Monday, September 5, 1864, the steamer Yellowstone was fired into at Eocheport, while passing down, by Anderson's band . The guerrillas followed the boat some distance down the river, keeping up an ineifectual fire on it, with their revolvers. At last the Yellowstone stopped in the channel, and appearances indicated that she had surrendered. Two of Anderson's men, Harvey Eucker and Jim Anderson, were sent to the boat to bring it into shore. A citizen, James Lewis, was pressed in to row the skifi". As the party reached the boat Kucker attempted to climb aboard when some of the crew fired on him, striking him in the arm and thigh. He fell back into the skiff, which was hastily rowed ashore, and the boat went on to Jefferson City. Anderson was greatly enraged at the failure to capture the boat, and the wounding of one of his best men. Eucker' s arm was so badly shattered that it had to be amputated.

After Eucker had been brought ashore, a young lad named James W. Lyons, now a merchant in Columbia, who had been pressed into the service of the guerrillas as a guide, by Jim Carter and some other bushwhackers, attempted to return to his home in Missouri township. It is proper to let Mr. Lyons himself tell the story of what followed. He says : -

I had permission from Carter, on arriving at Rocheport, to return home, but was not allowed to pass outside of the picket lines, and had made up my mind to remain in town until Anderson should leave. As I was passing Smith's Hotel, near the river, one of his men (who was a personal enemy of mine) standing near, told Anderson that I was going home, and also represented that I was deserting them. Anderson then asked me where I was going. I told him I was going home, and attempted to explain why, informing him that I had not joined his command or signified any such intention, and could substantiate the fact by Capt. James Carter. "Whereupon, without any provocation whatever, he seized a chair that was near by and struck at me. I caught the chair and held it. He then drew his revolver and struck at me, which blow I managed also to ward oflF. Just at this junction Uncle Benj. Mead, who knew me, and knew the circumstances under which I was at Rocheport, seized Anderson and told me to run, but I was told by one of Anderson's men (whom I never sav/ before or since) that if I ran he would kill me. At this moment Capt. Emery came to my rescue, and caught the party who ordered me to remain, and Emery also told me to run. I ran through the hall of the hotel into the back yard, and, having lost my hat in the encounter, ran through Henry Smith's house, snatched up an old hat of his, and made directly for the river bank, which I knew would conceal me from any one in town, and in this way made my escape.

Since The War

The close of the civil war found Eocheport scarred and blackened, and considerably prostrated in every. It " picked up " slowly for a considerable length of time, but gradually became quiescent, in which condition it has remained for some years. It is still, and bids fair long to be, the chief river town in the county, and during the warm months heavier shipments of grain and stock are made from here on steamboats than from all other ports in the county. The town is connected by telegraph with the outward world, and a stage runs daily to Columbia. The population in 1870 was 823 ; in 1880 'it was 728. The present population is estimated at about seven hundred, of which about two hundred and fifty are colored.

Until quite recently Rocheport has been an extensive shipping point for leaf f,tobacco. In 1870 Col. E. A Caskil established himself in the tobacco trade, and for some years shipped annually from two hundred to one thousand hogsheads of leaf tobacco to Liverpool and Bristol, England, and to Glasgow, Scotland. The shipments were increased or diminished as the crops were large or moderate. Mr. Caskil has a factory capable of handling 1,500,000 pounds of tobacco annually. .

The Riot Of April 1, 1882

On the evening of the 1st of April, 1882, Jim Mitchell, a drunken negro, assaulted Mr. Marion Wyatt, of near Rocheport, and was promptly knocked down. " Gen." Wilhite, another negro with a notoriously bad reputation, together with some other colored loafers,, came to Mitchell's assistance and attacked Mr. Wyatt, who drew his revolver, and, without firing, drove his assailants across the street. The negroes, to the number of about twenty-five of the most abandoned class, gathered near the post-office and acted in a very turbulent and threatening manner. The marshal, Thos. J. White, calling to his aid some other white men, notified them to disperse or they would be arrested and imprisoned. All left but two or three, among whom was Bill Barber, who, more daring (or drunker), remained. When again warned to disperse, Barber attempted to strike the marshal with a stone. The latter drew his pistol and fired at the negro, but in the darkness missed. All of the negroes now left.

Quite a crowd of white citizens gathered in front of Chambers Bros. & Co.'s store, and, believing that the negroes had been effectually quieted, and wholly unsuspicious of any danger, were quietly discussing the episode that had passed. The front of the store was of glass, and the interior of the building, being brilliantly lighted, the sidewalk was as bright and light as day. Suddenly, from a dark alley on the opposite side of the street, came a volley from pistols and shot-guns, and several citizens were severely and one seriously wounded. The windows of the store were riddled with shot, and it WHS remarkable that no one was killed and that no more were wounded. As soon as possible the whites procured arms, and, organizing, fired at the place where they supposed the negroes to be, but, owing; to the darkness and the fact that most of the rioters had dispersed, none of them were hit.

Excitement ran very high during the remainder of the night. The negroes were drunk and were yelling about their haunts, and the whites expected the attack to be renewed every minute. A strong force of whites was kept under arms throughout the night. It chanced that Dr. Jackman was the only surgeon in town at the time, and he was kept busy the rest of the night attending to the wounded 'Indeed, it was some time after daylight before all the wounds were examined and dressed. In all of its history, including the period of . the civil war, Rocheport had never passed such a night of terror.

On Sunday morning early the authorities began to move. Marshal Evans and Constable Barton arrested " Gen." Wilhite, Bill Barber,^ Jack Booth, Ed. Washington, Benton McClure, Jim Bellons, Russ. Foster, Jim Beatty and Wm. Watts, on a warrant charging them with assault with intent to kill. The next morning the prosecuting attorney changed the charge to assault and battery. The prisoners were tried before Justice Scobee, convicted, and all but Foster, Beatty and Watts were fined and imprisoned in the county jail. Afterward the imprisoned, together with Alex. Gaw and Tom Steele, were indicted at the April term of court, 1882, tried in a few days thereafter, and, with the exceptions of Mitchell and Washington, all were convicted of assault with intent to kill, and sentenced to terms in the penitentiary of from two to seven years.

Town Government Public Schools

The number of school children within the corporation is about 260^ and of these 120 are colored. The white-school building is a brick,. 40x60 feet in area, and three stories high. The upper story is occupied by the Masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges. The school is graded and divided into three departments. About nine months of school per year is the present average. No building is owned by the district that is occupied as a colored school. One is rented whenever the occasion demands.

Cemetery

The Rocheport cemetery originally contained but one acre, but it was afterward extended to twice that area. It is beautifully located on a hill overlooking the town. The ground is nicely fenced and well kept, and therein, sleeping their last sleep, lie many of the pioneer citizens of the neighborhood, the founders of Rocheport, and the builders up of the country round about.

This congregation of worsnippers was organized in 1835 with about fifteen or twenty members, all of whom jhave passed a'vay with the ravasfes of relentless time, or moved far in the distance to make their homes elsewhere. There are no records of sufficient age to give a history of the church, and very little definite information can be obtained. The church building, a large brick with spire and bell, was erected m 1844. It still stands and answers the church as a place of worship. Rev. William Rush is the " circuit rider," and holds services there one Sabbath in each month. The membership numbers thirty-five.

Christian Church

The church of Christ at Rocheport was organized in 1837 with about twenty members, the only one of whom now living is Mrs. Anna Wheeler, wife of Henderson Wheeler, who still resides in the town. The following were among the constitutional or first members : Thomas Hart, wife and daughter; John B. Hill and w^ife ; Porter Jackman and wife ; Dr. Buster ; Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Amanda Wheeler. The first pastor was Thomas B. Allen. They built a brick house of worship in 1845, with spire and bell, the dimensions of the building being 35x50 feet, with a fifteen foot ceiling. The edifice still stands and is in good repair. They have a membership of 113, and a flourishing Sabbath school, with about fifty children attending. At this writing, Mr. E. C. Gill is pastor in charge, and resides in Rocheport. Dr. W. A. Jackman, J. W. Morris and J. W. Champion are elders ; and J. A. Chambers, J. H. Chambers, C. M. Patterson and J. M. Hern are deacons. The other oflacials are T. M. Nicholson, clerk; R. W. Hubbard, Sabbath school superintendent, and C. M. Patterson, Sabbath school clerk. As full a historv cannot be given

The Presbyterian Church

Was organized June 3, 1839, under the pastorate of Rev. R. L. Mc- Afee. The original members were Rollin Lyman, Temple E. Bell and Mary Bell (his wife), Miss Mary Lientz, Mrs. Reuben Parker, Mrs. Mary Gaw, Mrs. Mary Leintz, and Mrs. Ellen Knox. They built a church in 1845, which was burnt during the war, February 20, 1865. They have never re-built, neither had any regular pastor.

Baptist Church

The Baptist Church of Christ was organized at Rocheport in July, 1851. The original record of that date reads as follows : "A meeting was held in the Presbyterian meeting house in the town of Rocheport to take into consideration the propriety of organizing a -Baptist church. After sermon by T, C. Harris, Rev. F. Wilhite was called to the chair, and Bro. A. J. Barnes was elected clerk jpro. tern. A committee previously appointed consisting of Ira E. Barnes and John F. Calvert to ascertain and report the names of persons desirous to go into such organization, presented the following namfes, viz. : C. N. Worthington, Ira E. Barnes, John F. Calvert and lad}^ Martin Calvert and lady, Tom Cooper, lady and daughter, Silas Tipton, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Lyell, Mrs. Cornelius, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Gentry, Mrs. Pharris, Sidney Elliott, E. McClelland and lady and John L. Lewis. On motion of Bro. Ira E. Barnes it was unanimously agreed to o-o into the organization of a church to be called the United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ in Rocheport." After adopting a "declaration of faith and church covenant," they " on motion, adjourned to meet on the 3d Saturday in August, 1851."

Civic Societies. Masonic Lodge

The Eocheport lodge, No. 67, of A. F. and A. M., is, perhaps, the most venerable secret institution in the town, and was organized as long ago as October 20, 1843. The only names remembered of charter members are George Knox, William Reid, and William E. Harris^ who, after organization of the lodge, were chosen its first worthy Master, senior warden and junior warden, respectively. The reason so little of the early history of the lodge is accessible, is the fact that their hall was destroyed by fire m 1865, and all of their records, books and papers lost. For that reason, much that would be both valuable and interesting will necessarily have to be omitted. The present officers are : W. Scobee, W. M. ; J. M. McKee, S. W. ; J. H. Lowrey, J. W. ; H. Tumey, Treas. ; Chas. Myer, Sec. ; J. W. Bell, S. D. ; C. M. Patterson, J. D. ; H. F. Williams, Tyler. None of these are grand lodge officers. The hall they now own was built in 1868, and is a good brick structure erected at a cost of $2,400. The membership is in number 38, and the lodge is in a thriving and harmonious condition.

Odd Fellows

The Boone lodge, No. 121,1. O. O. F , was instituted by John McFarland, and their charter was received in 1858. The charter members were Ferry Eockwell, James Bradley, Thomas H. Bowen, Moses Barth, Solomon Sticknell. The first officers were James Bradley, noble grand ; Thomas H. Bowen, vice grand; J. S. Clayton, secretary; Moses Barth, treasurer ; T. Waddell, O. and I. guard. The present officers are Charles Myer. N. G. ; Fielding Tindall, V. G. ; A. G. Norris, Sec. ; John Dodson, Treas. ; J. S. Clayton, W. ; M. D. Lewis, conductor, and James O'Howell, guard. There are no grand lodge officers of this lodge. The present membership is thirty-three. They built a brick hall in 1868, which cost $2,000. The lodge is reported in a prosperous condition.

Good Templars

ter-members were Rev. D. H. Root, Sarah Tumy, Jennie Root, Mary Root, Chas. Myer, H. C. Mooth, H. Tumy, Mollie Burkhardt, Mary Jones, William Hill, Robert Boyze, John Scobee, J. L. Root, Ann Root, Ora Root, and Sallie Wheeler. The present officers are J. W. Champion, W. C. T. ; Clara Dodson, W. V. T. ; Geo. Hill, R. S. ; H. A. Henley, F. S. ; H. A. Roberts, M. ; Mrs. Henley, I. G. ; H. C. Mooth, O. G. ; J. R. Robinson, S. D. Number of members, 40.

United Wokkmen

Rocheport Lodge, No. 81, of the A. O. U. W., was instituted by John A. Brooks, both charter and dispensation bearing date of October 9th, 1875. The names of charter members are : R. W. Hubbard, John E. Miller, O. J. Miller, T. M. Nicholson, Charles Myer, Henry Hall, Sylvester Calvert, U. Baldwin, S. P. Scobee, W. E. Mabry, and Robert White. The first officers were - Robert White, P. M. W. ; O. J. Miller, M. W. ; R. W. Hubbard, G. F. ; T. M. Nicholson, O. ; Chas. Myer, Recorder; Henry Hall, Financier, J. E. Miller, Receiver ; S. P. Scobee, Guide ; U. Baldwin, I. W. ; J. S. Palmer, O. W. The names of the present officers are : John Scobee, M. W. ; James O'Howell, P. M. W. ; W. F. Potts, Recorder; A. G. Norris, Financier; R. W. Hubbard, Receiver; James Bradley, I. W. ; F. M. Nicholson, O. W. ; Wesley Scobee, Guide ; Peter Fine, G. F. They have a membership of forty, but as yet own no lodge building, holding their meetings in a rented hall.

Business Interests Of Rocheport

Newspapers. - The first paper published in Rocheport was the Times, by Isaac N. Houck in 1868 and 1869. In 1872 F. B. Bysfield established the Enterprise, which was discontinued in 1873. The Rocheport Commercial was started in 1879. It is still published, and does excellent work for the town. J. W. McQuitty is the present editor and proprietor.

Mills. - The Boone County Star grist mills grind about 150,000 bushels annually. They have four run of burrs. About 15,000 barrels of first-class flour are annually shipped to St. Louis. The mills are owned by a company, ot which W. T. Anderson is president ;

The Moniteau saw and grist mills, J. W. Champion, proprietor, were established in 187.5. They have three run of burrs, do a large local trade and custom work, grinding severa thousand bushels annually. The saw-mill has a capacity for sawing 2,500 feet of lumber daily.

Miscellaneous. - The oldest business man in the place is Henry Tumy, dealer in saddles and harness, who began business in 1842. Then comes W. E. T. Waddell, hardware dealer and tinner ; estabtablished in 1853. The oldest mechanic is Henderson Wheeler, a blacksmith, who has struck while the iron was hot since 1838. Hubbard, Prince & Co. and J. A. Barth ship annually thousands upon thousands of bushels of wheat and other grain.

The Rocheport pottery was originally established by John Cranson, in 1844. W. H. Williamson & Son, the present proprietors, took charge in 1860. The establishment turns out 50,000 gallons of an excellent quality of stoneware every year.

James Dabny Arnett

James D. Arnett was born in Louisa county, Virginia, near Louisa court-house. May 8th, 1830, where he was raised on the farm, continuing in that business until he came to Missouri in 1857. He lived with his uncle, T. E. Daniel, near Midway, and farmed his place on the shares until his death in 1869 and continued to manao-e the farm for his aunt until her death in 1879, when he purchased the place of their administrators. At this writing Mr. Arnett, is unmarried. In 1864 he was drafted by the Federal authorities but was detailed as a carpenter and served as such until the close of the war. He is a member of the Locust Grove, Methodist church, and steward and Sunday school superintendent. He has been a member of the church since 1850.

William F. Angell

October 18th 1846. He is the son of Joseph and Margaret (Elliott) Angell. His father having died when he was an infant, his mother remained with her father, the late Eeuben Elliott. He was brought up on the farm and educated at the Eocheport and Walnut Grove academies. He began business for himself when eighteen, cultivating rented land. In 1871 he purchased his grandfather's farm - the old Elliott homestead - where he has remained ever since. He was married, December 14, 1871, to Miss Luella, daughter of Willis G. Evans, of Boone county. They have two children, William E. and McClelland. Mr. Angell is a member of the Walnut Grove Baptist church.

Moses Barth

The subject of this sketch, one of the leading commercial men of the county, is a foreign born gentleman, a native of Illingen, Germany, born October 24th, 1824. Though Prussian born, he is of pure Hebrew extraction, and is the son of Michael and Sarah Barth. He was reared and educated in his native city and learned the business of cattle dealer and money exchanger, which was his vocation, and continued in the business with his fother till he came to America in 1847. Arriving at New York, June 15th, of that year, he proceeded to Philadelphia and supplied himself with a stock of goods which he " peddled " out to advantage in Berks and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania. He then came to Missouri and was similarly engaged in Boone and Howard counties, making his headquarters at Fayette. He then became associated with his brother in the dry goods business, and they operated as both local and itinerant merchants till 1850. In that year, without severing his connection with his brother, Moses made a trip over the plains to the gold fields of California, where he remained about two years, engaged principally m quartz- mining. He sailed from San Francisco to New Orleans, arriving there in the fall of. 1852. There he fell sick with a fever, which prostrated him for some ten weeks. He had the good fortune, however, to find a friend in an old-country acquaintance, to whom Mr. Barth is much indebted for kindness during that long illness among strangers. The friend's name was Philip Marx. Keturning to Fayette, he found that Alexander Greenabaum had bought into the firm during his absence. This firm' in 1853, started a branch house at Eocheport, and Moses was placed in charge of it. The Barths wound up their affairs with Greenabaum in 1856, and centered their business at Eocheport. Two years later, they opened a branch store at Columbia, the brother assuming charge. Thus they continued till 1869. In 1863-4 they handled tobacco quite extensively, and also established a shirt factory in Philadelphia. Rocheport was burned by Federals in 1864, and their loss in buildings, merchandise and tobacco was almost a fortune in itself. Besides the firm's losses, Moses lost some $7,000 in slave property by their emancipation. They managed to get rebuilt in 1866, when A. Victor and H. W. Myer became associated with the firm, and the company thus continued till disasters overtook them in 1869. These reverses, coupled with their losses by the war, forced them into bankruptcy. Being released thereby from all indebtedness, Mr. B. was enabled to start up again by the assistance of friends, and is now doing an extensive business in the mercantile line, and is a large shipper of grain, wool, and general produce. On March 21, 1855, Mr. Barth married Miss Minnie, daughter of Isaac L. Arnold, of Philadelphia. They have seven children : Joseph (in business with His father) ; Nettie, wife of Victor Barth, of Columbia; Linda, wife of S. Hanauer, of Bismark, D. T. ; Pauline A. ; Carrie ; Isadore A. ; Sadie A. Mr. Barth is a member of Boone lodge No. 121, I. O. O. F. at Rocheport, and is also a demitted Mason.