General history of Shelby County, Missouri

Foreword

History is the essence of iuminierable biographies. — CarhjJc

The invasion and conquest of a wilderness ; the wresting of a vast domain of hill and valley, forest and prairie, from its nomadic and unproductive savage denizens; its transformation into an empire rich in all the elements of modern civilization, — basking in the smiles of pastoral abundance, resounding with the noise of fruitful industry, busy with a mighty volume of multiform and far-reaching commerce, and bright with the luster of high mental, moral and spiritual life — the home of an enterprising, progressive, all-daring people, as they founded and have built it, is tlie theme of this volume.

Its pages teem with biographies of many of the progressive men of Shelby county — 'those who laid the foundations of its greatness and those who have Iniilt and are building on the superstructure — and is adorned with portraits of numbers of them.

It also gives a compreliensive survey of the numerous industries and lines of productive energy which distinguish the people of the county at the present time and those in which they were engaged in all past periods since the settlement of the region began. And so far as past history and present conditions disclose it, the work indicates the trend of the county's activities and the goal ■(\-hich they aim to reach.

How trite, oft-told and well-worn seems the story herein briefly chronicled! And yet how full of suggestiveness, interest and incitement is it all ! It opens impressively to view the mighty field for earnest endeavor and successful striving there is in the boundless realm of opportunity that is called "The Great American Eepublic," and has been aptly pronounced "The last great charity of God to the human race." It emphasizes anew the value of courage, self-reliance, industry, devotion to diity and firm and sturdy manhood and womanhood.

The story might well be taken as that of Man himself in his contest with Nature on a gigantic theater of action. Poetry sparkles. Heroism glows. Comedy gambols. Tragedy darkens in its texture, and the golden thread of sentiment runs brightly through its woof. It is, in all essentials, an epitome of American history, too. Wide gulfs of time and space are compassed in its range and made as naught. Since the morning hymn and the evening anthem first rose in hope from its primeval solitudes, distant countries have become near neighbors, the Atlantic has been reduced to a narrow frith across which the Old World and the New shake hands ; the Pacific has been bound to it with hoops of steel, and our own East and West have been brought so close together that they look into each other's windows.

The life herein sketched began with the goose quill ; it continues with the typewriter; it came in under the tallow dip; it goes forward under the electric light;

iii iv rOEEWOED

it dwelt at first by well and springhouse; it now abides with cold storage, artificial ice and liquid air; it has quit the stage coach for the palace car, the sail boat for the ocean greyhound, the post rider for the telegraph and telephone, the saddle horse and the gig for the automobile. And now, condemning all more solid and substantial elements of intercommunication, it even dares make the atmosphere its medium in wireless telegraphy and aerial navigation. In all this vast development and progress Shelby county has borne no childish, but a soldier's, part, and it is the aim of this work to preserve in a permanent form the record which proves that fact. The special thanks of the publishers are due and are warmly tendered to Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Simmons, of Clarence, for their masterful preparation of the general history of the county which enriches the volume ; to Jlr. Vernon L. Drain, of Shelbyville, for his excellent chapter on the "Bethel Colony'' and his sketch of the Shelby County Eailroad; to ^Ir. W. 0. L. Jewett for the chapter on "Shelbina"; to Eev. John H. AVood for as^sistanec on the history of the churches in the county; to Gen. J. "William Towson for help in reviewing portions of the work, and to many other persons whose aid is highly appreciated but who are too numerous to be mentioned specifically by name. AVithout the valuable and judicious assistance of all these persons, those who are named and those who are not, it would have been impossible to comjjile a history of the completeness and high character this one is believed to have. The book is now submitted to the judgment of the public with no other voice to proclaim its worth save that of its ow-n inherent merits, whatever

they may be. The Publishers.

CONTENTS CHAPTER I.

Page Discovery and Early Settlements — Log Cabin Days — Settlers of 1833 — A Surveying Party — Cholera Epidemics — The First Election — A Postoffice and Store Installed — Shelby County Formed and Organized and Some Events Which Followed — Indians — Wild Animals and Game — The Pioneer Weddings — Pioneer Ministers — First Settlements Made in Timber — Pioneers, Pioneer Homes and Comforts — Agricultural Implements — Fishing 1

Chapter II

Early History — The Name — Important Dates of Public Notices — Important Proceedings 1836 County Court — First Circuit Court — The First Attorney Fisticuff in County Court — Miscellaneous News from Early Court Dockets — The First Shelby County Election — August Election, 1836 — August Election, 1838— August Election, 1839 21

Chapter III

List of 1835 Settlers — Naming of the Streams — First Coroner's Inquest — A Lost Man — "New York" Shelby County — The New Courthouse — Pioneer Mills— The First Roads— "Bee Trails"— Settlers in Shelby, 1837— The First Bridge — The First Homicide 29

Chapter IV

Crops in Early Forties — Chinch Bug Year — The Sixteenth Section — German Settlement — Change of County Line — Mail Facilities Improved — A Few Things that Interested the Settlers — Civilization's Sure Advance — Second Homicide in the County — The First County Conviction — Jefferson Shelton — Jonathan Michael — George Liggett — Miss Aleina Upton — Stock Raising and Shipping — First Jail — California Emigrants — Elections, 1840 — Presidential Election — August Election, 1844 39 vi CONTENTS

CHAPTER V. Page

Heterogeneous — Election of 1852 — Political Campaign of 1856 — Presidential Election, 1856— The "Know Nothings"— Election of 1858— Slavery Days— 1860 Presidential Campaign — The Situation in 1860 — Stirring Times After the Election — Incendiary Talk 52

Chapter VI

The County's War Record — The Mormon War — The Iowa War — The War of 1861 — Governor Jackson Refuses to Respond — The Hunnewell Meeting — The Flag Raising Period — The First Federal Troops — First Union Company Organized — Salt River Bridge Burned — Join Green's Company — Green Takes Shell)ina — Report of Colonel N. G. Williams, Third Iowa Infantry — What the Kansas Officers Said — Second Burning of Salt River Bridge — Shelby County Confederate Troops — Movement of Union Forces — General Grant in Shelby — Secession of Missouri — County Court Meeting — Changes in Coimty Officials 64

Chapter VII

Missouri State Militia Organize — Bushwhacking in the County — The Bushwhacking Near Walkersville — Stockade Built Around Courthouse — "Special Order No. 30" — Several Changes in Positions — John L. Owen Killed — Shelby County Men Executed— The 1862 Election 84

CHAPTER VIII. Many Join Porter's Command — Federals Hold the County — Bill Anderson

Visits Shelby— Fifty-one Killed at Ceutralia, Missouri— The 1864 Election 92

Chapter IX

Ousting the Officers — Murders and Homicides — Murder of George Queary — "The Dale-Phelps Tragedy" — Bruce Green Kills Calvin Wai-ren — A Negro Murder Case — The Robber Johnson- — The Great Benjamin Will Case — The Will — Indicting Rebel Preachers — Registration of Voters — News From Headquarters — The War is Over — The Drake Constitution — After the War — Robbery of the County Treasury — Politics and Election of 1870— Registration in 1870— Census" of 1880— Flood of 1876 102

CONTENTS vii

Chapter X

Page The Agricultural Society of Shelby County — The Shelby County Agricultural and Mechanical Association — The Shelbina Fair Association — Local Option and Temperance — Transjjortation Facilities — The Hannibal & St. Joe Eailroad— The Building of the Shelby County Railway— The First Electric Railroad — Chief Pursuits and Surplus Products 119

Chapter XI

Government Surveys — Original Townships — County and Township Systems — Organization of Townships — Municipal Townships of Shelby County — Tiger Fork Township — Salt River Township — Clay Township — Taylor Township — Bethel Township — Jefferson Township — Black Creek Township — North River Township — Lentner Township 136

CHAPTER Xn.

Newspapers of Shelby County — The Shelbyville Spectator — The Shelby County Weekly — The Shelby County Herald — The Shelby County Times —The Shelbyville Guard— The Shelbina Gazette— The Shelbina Index and Torchlight — The Shelbina Democrat — First Paper in Clarence — The Clarence Courier — The Clarence Republican — The Hunnewell Enterprise — The Hunnewell Echo — The Enterprise Resumes Publication — The Hunnewell Bee— The Bethel Sun— The Missouri Sun 148

Chapter XIII

Some Shelby County Murders and Suicides — William Switzer Murdered in 1864 ■ — Pat McCarty Assassinated — The Buford Tragedy — Murder of Nicholas Brandt — Judge Joseph Hunolt Assassinated — A Leonard Tragedy — Shelbina Mayor Dies Suddenly^M. Lloj^d Cheuvront Shot — Suicide at Clarence — The Stacy Murder and Suicide 155

Chapter XIV

Shelby County — Census of Shelby County — Clarence — Shelbyville — Shelbina — Hunnewell — The Temple of Justice — Courthouse Burned — Three Clarence Fires — Shelby County Congressman 162 viii COXTENTS

Chapter XV

Page Schools, Colleges and Churches — Shelbina Collegiate Institute — Shelbina Public School — The Macon District Academy at Clarence — College at Leonard — The Independent Holiness School at Clarence 178

PORTRAIT INDEX

B Mc

Page , Page

Biirckhardt, John G 518 McBride, Elias A., and wife 556 '

Burnett, Alexander 583 ^ McCully, Dr. John M 433 '

c

M

Christine John A., and wife. . 500 ^^^^^^^^ Theodore P 309 '

Churchwll Francis M., and wife 510 ^^^^^. j^^^,^ ^ 548 '

Cooper, J. T 235 -

Crawford, George W 487 '

D

Moore, John H., and wife 433 ^

Morgan, David 373 .

Morgan, John E 396 i^

N

Dimmitt, Dr. Pliilip 199

Dimmitt, Frank 371

Dimmitt, Lee 440 Noll, Melchior. . .

Dimmitt, Prince 319'

Drain, Vernon L 337 '^ p

I, Phillips, Eugene C 456

Forman, Thomas W 449 ^ Pickett, Hedgeman, and wife 464

Freeland, Arthur L 605 ^ Pollard, Dr. Henry M 406 '

Funk, Henry S 526

G

E

Garrison, Thomas E 503 ^eed, Thomas W. P 363

Greenfield, Geo. W 494 ^eid, ^\llllam A 206

H

Hawker, Wm. M., and wife 534

Hirrlinger, William A 565

Holliday, James L 573

Howell," William 600

S

Selsor, Hiram, and wife 541

Siielton, Hon. N. M 387^

Simmons, Hon. H. Jeane 414

Simmons, Mrs. H. J 416

Hughes, William A 345 "■ Stribling, James 253

Humphrey, Sen. Geo. W 355''

T

Jewett, Hon. W. 0. L.

Towson, Gen. J. William 315

W

Lasley, Charles H 328 Will, Henry • 4*2

Lloyd, Hon. James T 281 Wood, Eev. J. H 243

Lvell, J E 300 "^ Woodward, Cravton 610

IX

INDEX OF VIEWS

Page Tlie Old Mill at Walkersville (Facing) 34 "^

The Old Colony Church at Bethel 173

Type of Block Hoxise Erected on Salt River 72 '

Eesidence of John A. Christine 593

Home of Dr. William Keil at Bethel 176

GENERAL INDEX

A

Page

Adams, Judge Newton 257

Alexander, Edward P 640

AUgaier, James F 313

Arnold, Henry 507

Ayerg, Mort. D 430

B

Bailey, John T 229

Bailey, Tilmon A 256

Bair," Harry C 360

Bair, Samuel J 361

. Baker, Wesley 461

Baker, Sanford 571

Baker, James R 651

Baker, Isaac N 645

Bank of Lentner 305

Barker, Charles S 259

Barker, James S 470

Barton, John S 442

Bauer, John G 377

Bayliss, Dr. W. M 393

Bean, Thomas A 420

Bethards, Kim 555

Blackford, James G 480

Bodwell, Forrest G 589

Bonnel, Henry H 629

Bostwick, William H 653

Bower, John C 359

Bower, August 363

Bower, David 364

Bower, Carl E 365

Bower, Theodore L 366

Bower, Walter C 374

Browne, Sidney H., Jr 459

Brown, John 475

Buckman, Martin S 427

Bue, John H 604

Burckhardt, John G 518

Burckhardt. John F 316

Burnett, Alexander 582

C

Cadwell, Eugene M 338

Callison, Elisha A 339

2iii

Page

Calvert, Cecilius C 611

Capp, Eobert E 611

Carmichael, Robert L 560

Carroll, Hansford S 498

Carson, Dr. William 335

Chinn, John S 513

Christine, John A 590

Churchwell, Francis M 510

Citizens' Bank of Clarence 391

Citizens' Bank of Shelby ville 322

Clarence Savings Bank 387

Claussen, William 516

Cockrum. Joseph F 640

Coe, Edward M 553

Collier, Richard 317

Collins, Hiram 234

Commercial Bank of Shelbina 292

Connaway, J. Polk 467

Cooper, Alonzo 333

Cooper, Jolm T 225

Cotton. William J 613

Cox, ilatthew M 288

Cox, Charles T 289

Craigmyle, Ferd 529

Crawford, George W 487

Crow, James F 425

D

Dale, John D 334

Dale, Francis M 647

Damrell, Edwin M 340

Damrell, Theodore B 561

Daniel, Dr. Joseph A 212

Davis, John T 453

Davis, Dr. Eli C 270

Dempsey, Hugh 469

Dempsey, Mark 484

Dimmit't, Frank 271

Dimmitt, Walter A 350

Dimmitt, Dr. Philip 199

Dimmitt, Lee 440

Dimmitt, Prince 310

Dimmitt, Marvin 627

Douglass, Hardin 313

Drain, Vernon L 337

XIT

GENERAL INDEX

Page

Drennan, Henry C 630

Duncan, William L 489

Dunlap, Andrew B 26.5

Dunlap, Robert H 286

Dunn, Preston, B., Sr 568

E

Eaton, Harrison 307

Eaton, Henry M 311

Echternacht,' Justus F 656

Edelen, James 3-18

Edwards, John D 667

Ertel, John 485

P

Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Hun-

newell 261

Farmers' Bank of Emden 60n

Farmers' Bank of Leonard 635

Farr, Fred'k M 343

Farr, Dr. Geo. E 344

Farrell, Judge Rufus 410

Feelv, Theodore W 550

Feely, Silas M 551

Feely, Charles R 552

Forman, Thomas W 44!1

Forman, John 592

Fox. William S 473

Freeland, Arthur L 605

Freeman, James M 335

Frye, Edwin A 267

Frve, John W 331

Funk. Henry S 526

G

Gable. Jacob 657

Gamble, William 443

Garner, Charles B 504

Garner, George B 602

Garrison. Thomas E 503

Gerard, Edward N. Jr., M. D 634

Gibson, William T 547

Gillaspy, John A 597

(JillaspV, Richard W 603

Gillaspy, William L 579

Gillispio, William H 219

Gilman. George T 422

Glahn, Christian P 583

Glahn, Henry F 664

Goodwin, Richard D 609

Gorby, Samuel 648

Gose, John T 221

Grant, George C 249

Page

Graves, Charles A 454

Greenfield, Geo. W 494

Griswold, Alonzo L 413

Gunby, William K 668

H

Hall, Geo. W 577

Hammond, Dr. Harry B 528

Hamilton, James A 413

Hamrick, Wm. L 384

Hardy, Jesse T 246

Harrison, James F 314

Hart, William T 670

Harvey, George W 663

Hawker, Wm. M 534

Hawkins. James W 637

Heinze, Theodore 505

Herron. William B 368

Hershey, Michael 638

Hewitt, John J 330

Hickman, Charles A 291

Hickman. Joseph H 393

Hickman, Jesse H 395

Hiles, James J 501

Hirrlinger. William F 421

Ilirrlinger, William A 565

Holliday, James L 573

Holliday, James M 563

Hollyman, John J 615

Hoofer, Jacob 594

Howe, James W 455

Howell. William 600

Huggins, Albert F 208

Hughes. William A 345

Humphrey, Sen. Geo. W 355

J

Jackson, Robt. T 351

Jacobs, John W 404

Jacobs. William L 403

Janes, William P 276

Janes, Rov 299

Janes. Thomas 301

Jarrell, Jonathan 538

.Tarrell, James Wesley 539

Jewett, Hon. W. 0. L 368

Johnston. Lafayette J ''--. r.'> 599

Jones, Wade H 304

.Ionian. Arthur E 476

.bmlan. William A 476

K

Keith. John T 43G

Keller, Peter 531

GENERAL INDEX

XV

Page

Keller, Philip, Jr 533

Kelso, John L 515

Kemp, Luther 587

Kesner, W. J 643

Kimbley, F. M 632

Krauter, Valentine 537

Lair, John W 278

Laslev, Cliarlcs H 328

Lewis, Minns H 401

Lewis, Aaron 401

Libbv, Harrv J 223

Lloyd, Hon. James T 281

Llovd. Oliver Jerre 635

Lowman. John B 490

Lownian, Samson B 491

Lyell, J. E 300

Lyell, Dr. Thomas W '211

Mc

McAtee, James A 280

McBride, Elias A 556

McCnlly, John M., M. D 423

M

Mas^riider, Willis J 445

Mannel, Theodore P 309

Martin, Charles Boggs 341

Maupin, Hon. Rice G 235

Maupin, William A 323

Maupin, Marion M 439

Maupin, John Henry 646

Mears, Samuel H 660

Melson, James H 305

Merrin, Jacob H 548

Miles, John S 338

Miller, Henrv G 558

Million, Burrell 395

Mitchell, Thomas D 478

Moore, George W 520

Moore, John H 433

Moran, Judge James F 572

Morgan, J. R 396

Morgan, David 373

Morgan. William W 203

Morgan, David, Jr 203

Morgan, James H 204

N

Neuschafer, John 533

Noll, Melchior 479

Nothnagol, Valentine 519

Page

Oaks, Milton P 639

O'Bryan, J. L 311

O'Brvan, George W 447

O'Daniel, John A 273

O'Donnell, Richard 433

Old Bank of Shelbina 363

Oliver, Andrew J 636

Orr, James C 653

Osburn, Morris 576

Parsons, S. G 379

Peoples, John 585

Peoples, William Z. T ' 635

Perry, Judge John T 333

Perry, Benjamin F 531

Perry, Oliver Commodore 650

Peterman, Lewis J 418

Phipps, William H 514

Phillips, Eugene C 456

Pickett, Hedgeman 464

Pollard. Dr. Henry M 406

Powell, Hugo 450

Prange, Harry H 546

Priest, Thomas E 524

Priest, John C 500

Pritchard, Walter M 385

Puckctt. Thomas L 237

Q

Quigley, John L.

R

Ragsdale, James E 236

Rtith.fen, Henry 511

Rathjen. Harman 536

Raines, William C . . . . .' 631

Ray, Elmer B 620

Reardon, Peter J 398

Reid, William A 206

Rice, Thomas J 318

Rickev, John C 390

Ridge, Joseph R 232

Ridings, Joseph L -108

IJoff, George 244

RofF, Thomas 355

Roy, Dr. James E 393

Rutter, Michael E 446

XVI

GENEEAL INDEX

S

Page

Sass. James 509

Schofield, Frank L 368

Sflnvada, Henry 662

Schwieters, Charles X 428

Selsor, Hiram 541

Shale, John B 397

Shain, Edward C 381

Shelblna National Bank 234

Shelbv Coiint\' State Bank of Clarence 383

Slielton, Judge Nat. M 387

Simmons, Hon. H. Jeane 414

Siiigletiin, Jacob H 581

Singleton, Judge A. E 327

Singleton, Benjamin H 330

Smith, Dr. Jacob D 210

Smith, Andrew J 284

Smith, J. Sidner 417

Smith, James A 492

Smith, Lewis 596

Snider, Peter A 460

Snider, Henry F 463

Snider, Marion F 465

Spalding, James A 296

Sparks, John F 434

Spencer, James A 458

Speyerer, Frederick G 481

Stalcup, William 641

Stalcup, George W 482

Steinluu-h, William 357

Steinliach, Albert W 358

Stewart, George E 535

Slover, Lewis Cass 666

Stribling, James 253

Swearingen, William T 248

Swift, Byron L 466

Swinney, Emmett D 619

Tarbet, James H 543

Taylor, Eobert Edgar 557

Page

Taylor, Reuben Lee 643

Teachenor, Monroe 617

Terrill, Eugene M 341

Terrill, John M 346

The Shelbyville Bank 570

The Hunnewell Bank 263

ThiehofF, William B 264

Threlkeld, Silas 251

Tolle, John D 371

Towson, Gen. J. William 215

Turner, Wm. R 353

Turner, James William 378

Turner, James W 616

V

Van Osdol, Luke 575

Vanskike, James H 542

Vaughn, Albert L 262

Van Vacter. Benjamin F 586

Von Thum, Henrv 531

Von Thum, Jolm'G 545

W

Warren, William H 201

Wav, John 437

AVerr, John H 506

AAHieeler, Julian A 274

Wheeler, Lanius L 654

Wliitbv, Marvin 622

White', Stephen A. D 659

Wiggins, John 488

Wi'li; Henry 472

Williams, Newton E 231

Willis, H. T., M. D 239

Wilson, Rev. James Jolly 607

Wood, Rev. J. H 243

Wood, Dr. A. G 302

Wood. John M 566

Wood, Hugh W 451

Woodward, Crayton 610

Wright, George A 431

Zicgler, AVm. T 375

Z