History of Bates County, Missouri

Preface

This book is submitted in the behef that it will be found a readable book. Many historic incidents not mentioned in the general story will be found in detail in the biographies of men and women, now living, who witnessed the incidents they relate; many events are faithfully related by sons and daughters of parents who lived and passed through history-making epochs in this county. An earnest and sincere attempt has been made to present all subjects honestly and fairly, to give the early history of the county more fully, more comprehensively than has ever been attempted in the past. This is not a book of dry statistics or tabulations, designed to show the present status of the county as to wealth or its progress in diversified industry. It is not an advertisement, colored to suit the wishes of any line of business or any class of our citizens. It is a faithful effort to give permanency to the really valuable and supreme historic facts of the settlement and progress of Bates county. In the biographies of the county's leading families will be found a wealth of historic incident well worth preserving for future generations.

The author has done his best to get the truth and to so write it that the reader may find it a pleasure and not a burden to read it. Mooted statements have been discussed without prejudice. Writers of history and the early records have been treated fairly and frankly. To the author, the wnde range of his reading has been intensely interesting and his investigations have been as thorough as possible. Conclusions are stated respectfully and without criticism of the old, and in some instances, long-accepted authorities, with which the author could not agree. It has been a laborious task, but he will be satisfied if the reader enjoys the pages of this volume by the fire-side as much as the author has the writing of them.

Proper credit is given in the proper place to all who have contributed to the making of this book and we here express our appreciation of the assistance received from a few men who have aided and encouraged us during the progress of our work.

Respectfully, Butler, Missouri, Mav 7, 1918. W. O. ATKESON.

Index To Illustrations

Academy, The Old Butler 212

Ackerman, James T. and Wife 492

Atkeson, W. O. Frontispiece

Baie, William 804

Bassett Family, Three Generations of The 748

Bassett, George 748

Bassett, Mrs. George R. 748

Bassett, William C. 748

Batchelor, Bate and Wife 620

Bates County Pioneer Family, Four

Generations of A 877

Beaman, David W. and Wife 580

Borland, George W. and Wife 636

Botkin, Isaac H. 484

Boulware, Theodrick C. 333

Briscoe, Charles B. 428

Brown, Mrs. William G. 885

Brown, William G. 885

Butler Boy, First to Make Supreme Sacrifice in World War 948

Caches or Wells, The Mysterious — 100

Cope, Seth E, 940

Gotten, William H. 676

Court House, Bates County 33

Crabb, Edward 516

Cresap, Daniel, Sr. 532

Cummings, Hiram G. and Family — 924

Dickison, Thomas Humphrey 644

Earsom, Robert Roland 756

Eichler, Lewis C. 364

Evans, George H. and Family 708

Farmers Bank Building 231

Farm Scene in Bates County 122

Fischer, August and Family 852

Foster, Mrs. William C. 444

Foster, William C. 444

Franklin, Joseph S. and Family 468

Gepford, D. A. and Family 692

Golden Wedding Anniversary Group 860

Halley's Blufif, On the Summit of__ 100

Hanson, Andrew and Family 668

Hardinger, Willie M. and Family__ 772

Headquarters of Bates County Red

Cross 150

Hedden, William C. 524

Hensley, J. T. 380

Hess, Edward C. and Family 812

Holcomb, Colonel John Ewing 916

Holland, Frank 540

Home, Bates County 261

Hoover, Andrew J. 828

Inn of Butler, Missouri, The 231

Julien, Barn of Reinhold A. 844

Julien, Residence of Reinhold A 844

Lampton, Dr. W. E. 564

Largent, William P. and Family 684

Laughlin, David William 460

Lawson, John and Family 596

Lewis, J. W. 508

Lewis, Rev. Abram H. 508

Littlefield, Mrs. Ellen 452

Littlefield, Warren 452

McKee, James J. and Wife 572

Mahan, William S. and Family 836

Map of Bates County 39

Map Showing Location of Harmony Mission 50

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Methodist Church, South, Butler ___ 248 Moreland, Arthur C. 548

Newberry, Captain John B. 652

Nichols, William T. and Wife 868

Nickel, John 372

Ohio Street Methodist Church, Butler 240

Owen, Horace Benton 396

Owen, Martin V. 348

Perry, W. W. 724

Philbrick, Harrison 700

Price, Milton H. 588

Price, Mrs. Milton H. 588

Raybourn, James H. and Wife 612

Residence of W. M. Hardinger 125

Searfus, William A. and Family — 893

Sellon, John 764

Sellon, W. G. 764

Sharpless, Dr. B. F., Wife, Children,

and Grandchildren 860

Shelby, General Joseph O. 356

Shelton, P. L. 412

Simpson, James R. — 7l6

Smith, A. J. 820

Smith, Dr. Decatur , Ti2

Smith, H. W. 877

Smith, Judge Estes 932

Smith. L. W. 877

Smith, Matthias L. 877

Smith, Wilber 877

Standish, Dr. Stephen Lafayette 340

Stone, John H. 556

Thomas, Edward Leslie and wife__ 420

Thomas, James Pendleton 404

Tilson, Thomas Henry 436

Trout, Willard and Family 500

Union and Confederate Veterans— 135

Vint, Dr. William D. 388

Walker, Elliott Pyle 948.

Washington School, Butler 201

Webster School, Butler 248

Wix, Clark 604

Wix, Elder Lewis L. and Wife 628

Woodfin, Jason Sherl 476

Woodfin, Mrs. Prudence E. 476-

Chapter I. Introductory

PURPOSE — TRADITIONAL AND AUTHENTIC HISTORY — NOT CONFINED BY BOUN- DARIES—SCOPE—GEOGRAPHICAL—LACK OF APPRECIATION— ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT — MISSOURI, THE MOTHER OF THE WEST — MISSOURI OF THE FUTURE PAGES 33-3S

Chapter II. Exploration And Settlement

LIMITATIONS OF STORY — LEGAL AGE OF COUNTY— AREA — CLASSIFICATION — BEGINNING — OCCUPATION BY OSAGBS— THEIR CHARACTERISTICS— MAR- QUETTE'S MAP— EARLY MAPS AND WRITERS— PREHISTORIC RACE— VOY- AGEURS AND COURIERS DU BOIS — JOLIET AND MARQUETTE— DE SOTO AND DECORONADO — PENALOZA'S EXPEDITION — ADVENTURERS — FRENCH CLAIMS TO TERRITORY— FIRST FRENCH EXPLORATIONS— GRANT TO FRENCH KING — M. DE TISSENET'S VISIT — NAMING OF OSAGE, LITTLE OSAGE, AND MARMITON— LOCATION OF THE OSAGES— THE MISSISSIPPI COMPANY— RENAULT— INTRODUCTION OF SLAVERY— "GET RICH QUICK" SCHEME- RENAULT'S MEN PAGES 39-49

Chapter III. Harmony Mission

GREAT HISTORIC FACT— MISSION FAMILY— RELIGION OF OSAGES— OBJECT OF SOCIETY— MISSIONARY ENTHUSIASM— SPIRIT— ORIGIN— GREAT OSAGE MIS- SION — COLONEL M'KENNEY — DR. MILLEDOLER — THE COVENANT — APPLICA- TIONS — FAMILY SELECTED — PERSONNEL — APPEALS AND RESULTS — FARE- WELL MEETING — DEPARTURE OF "ATLANTA" AND "PENNSYLVANIA" — COMMISSION— REPORT OF SECRETARY— DOWN THE OHIO— DIFFICULTIES- MISSIONARY STATION— JOURNAL— CEMETERY PAGES 50-73

Chapter IV. The Grand Osage Indians

GRAND OSAGES AND HARMONY MISSION— HOME OP THE OSAGES — CHARACTER- ISTICS — FAILURE OF MISSION — PIKE'S EXPEDITION — LOCATION — RECENT OBSERVATIONS— THEIR RELIGION — FIRST MARRIAGE IN OSAGE COUNTRY — LAST OF HIS LINE PAGES 74-84

Chapter V. Marchioness Degninon Of The Osage

A ROMANCE OF HARMONY MISSION AND HALLEY'S BLUFF PAGES 85-103:

Chapter VI. Topography

TECHNICAL DISCUSSION UNCALLED FOR — SOIL SURVEY — HON. JAMES WILSON — HON. DAVID A. DE ARMOND — SURVEYORS — LOCATION, ELEVATION, AND EXTENT OF TERRACES— EROSION— RANGE IN ELEVATION- ALTITUDE— CHANNELS— STREAMS— UNDERSTANDING OF RIVERS OF IMPORTANCE — DRAINAGE PAGES 104-106

Chapter VII. Soils

MEANING OF TERMS — NON-GLACIATED PORTION— RESIDUAL UPLAND SOIL— ROCKS — SHALE, LIMESTONE, SANDSTONE— HORIZONTAL STRATA — EROSION— TOPOG- RAPHY— SOIL SERIES— RESIDUAL SOILS— SOIL TYPES— OSWEGO SILT LOAM — SUMMIT SILT LOAM — BATES SILT LOAM— CRAWFORD SILT LOAM— BATES LOAM— BOONE FINE SANDY LOAM— OSAGE CLAY— OSAGE SILT LOAM.

Chapter VIII. Resources Of Bates County

TIMBER— CHANGE OF OPINION — "THE PRAIRIE" — STRIP COAL MINING — UNCULTI- VATED LAND— BLUEGRASS— "SCRUB STOCK"— STOCK PRODUCTION— FERTIL- IZERS— HORTICULTURE— WILD FRUITS— NUTS— WATER — FISH — BUILDING MATERIALS— CLAYS— KAOLIN— COAL^ASPHALTUM, ROCK OIL, AND GAS- IRON ORE— PAINT BOULDERS— POULTRY— CORN PAGES 120-13(>

CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. County Organization

(By Judge Charles A. Deutou.) NATIONAL, Territorial, state, and county governments— French possession— Spanish POSSESSION— PROVINCE OF LOUISIANA— ACT OF MARCH 26, 18(H— ACT OF MARCH 31, 1805— ACT OF JULY 4, 1812— MISSOURI ADMITTED —TREATY OF NOVEMBER 10, 1808— LEGISLATIVE ACTS PAGES 131-134

Chapter X. The Border Warfare

"KANSAS WAR"— PRO-SLAVERY SETTLERS VS. "FREE STATE MEN"— THE AGI- TATED, EXCITED PUBLIC MIND— FACTS BETWEEN LINCOLN'S ELECTION AND INAUGURATION— BORDER LAND INFLAMED — WAR REPORTS— OSAWATOMIE JOHN BROWN PAGES 135-186

CHAPTER XL

RAILROADS.

EARLY TRANSPORTATION — COLONEL BROWN— RAILWAY CONNECTIONS— FIRST SURVEY— RAILWAY PROJECTS— PLEASANT HILL, BUTLER & FORT SCOTT RAILROAD— LEBO & NEOSHO— RAILROAD MEETINGS— SPECIAL SESSION OF COUNTY COURT— LEAVENWORTH, LAWRENCE & GALVESTON— CONTRACTS LET— "BOB" STEVENS- PERSONAL BENEFIT SCHEMES— GENERAL PARSONS —LA BETTE CITY— COLONEL WILLIAMS— KANSAS CITY & MEMPHIS COM- PANY—MISSOURI, KANSAS & TOPEKA— GENERAL DISGUST— FAILURE OF SYNDICATE— MISSOURI PACIFIC— RICH HILL BRANCH— OTHER RAILROAD PROJECTS— COLONEL PACE AND COLONEL NICHOLS— SYNDICATE REPRE- SENTED—WALNUT CITY BOOM— DAMAGE SUIT— BOOMLET— J. D. SCOTT- SINCERE PROMOTERS— "IN THE LAND OF BEGINNING AGAIN"__PAGES 187-200

Chapter XII. Public Schools Of Bates County

(By Artliur C. Morelaud, County Superintendent.) EARLY SCHOOLS— FIRST SCHOOL HOUSES— FIRST TEACHERS— BEFORE, DURING. AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR— EARLY SETTLERS— OFFICE OF SCHOOL COM- MISSIONER CREATED— WILLIAM C. REQUA— NATHAN L. PERRY— FIRST COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, DAVID McGAUGHEY— L. B. ALLISON— FIRST TEACHERS' INSTITUTES— CHARLES WILSON— JAMBS HARPER— SCHOOL COM- MISSIONERS—HOWARD TOWNSHIP— FIRST READING CIRCLE— LAWS— MEET- INGS— SALARY— STATISTICS— ADRIAN— RICH HILL— BUTLER— BUTLER ACA- DEMY— HUME— AMORET— AMSTERDAM— ROCKVILLE — MERWIN — BUSINESS COLLEGES PAGES 201-218

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIII. The Press

VALUE AND INFLUENCE — "BATES COUNTY STANDARD" — "WESTERN TIMES" — "WEST POINT BANNER" — "BATES COUNTY RECORD"— "THE BAT:£S COUNTY DEMOCRAT"— "THE BUTLER WEEKLY TIMES" — "REPUBLICAN"— 'ADRIAN ADVERTIZER"— "THE REGISTER"— "RICH HILL GAZETTE" — "NATION>i. GA- ZETTE" — "DAILY GAZETTE" — "HERALD" — "COMING NATION" — THE WEST- ERN ENTERPRISE" — "THE RICH HILL MINING REVIEW" — "DAILY REVIEW — "AMORET LEADER"— "AMSTERDAM ENTERPRISE" — "THE BORDER TELE- PHONE" — "THE HUME NEWS' — "HUME STAR" — "HUME CHRONICLE" — "THE HUME GLOBE"— "HUME SUN"— ROCKVILLE NEWSPAPERS— "THE ROCKVILLE NEWS" PAGES 219-226

Chapter XIV. Finance And Banking

A STORY OF SUCCESS — C. B. DUNBAUGH & COMPANY — BATES COUNTY BANK — BATES COUNTY SAVINGS BANK — BUTLER NATIONAL BANK — F. J. TYGARD AND W. F. TYGARD— RAILROADS AND BUILDING OF TOWNS — BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES — LOAN CENTER— THE MISSOURI STATE BANK — THE WAL- TON TRUST COMPANY — THE FARMERS & MANUFACTURERS BANK — ADRIAN BANKING COMPANY — THE FARMERS BANK — THE FARMERS BANK OF BATES COUNTY— BANK OF ROCKVILLE— BANK OF AMSTERDAM— BANK OF AMORET — THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF HUME — THE COMMERCIAL STATE BANK — STATE BANK OF HUME — FARMERS BANK OF ROCKVILLE PAGES 227-234

Chapter XV. The Bench And Bar

INTRODUCTION— THE BENCH — THE BAR— THE HEGIRA OF OUR PUBLIC RECORDS (By James H. Raybourn) — CRIMES AND CRIMINALS PAGES 235-239

Chapter XVI. Churches

RANKING IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS — GROWTH AND PROSPERITY— LIBERAL ATTI- TUDE—PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH— LATTER DAY SAINTS — CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PAGES 240-245

CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII. Butler

LOCATION— AD /ANT AGES— ORIGINAL TOWN— NAMING — WILLIAM ORLANDO BUT- LER — FIRST SURVEYS — JOHN C. KENNETT — MONTGOMERY — JOHN E. MOR- GAN—FIRST HOTEL — GENERAL STORE — McCOMB & ROBISON — LORING & BTjRNETT — FIRST PHYSICIAN — FIRST ATTORNEYS — FIRST TEACHER AND . SCHOOL HOUSE— WILLIAM HARMANN— VAN BUREN VAN DYKE— FIRST SAW AND GRIST MILL— FIRST CHURCH— FIRE— DURING CIVIL WAR— INCORPORA- TION — CITY OF FOURTH CLASS— FIRST MAYOR— FIRST CITY OFFICERS — CITY OF THIRD CLASS — EARLY ESTABLISHMENTS— OLD SURVEY— DEEDS.

Chapter XVIII. Rich Hill

POSTOFFICE — DEVELOPMENT — ORGANIZATION — THE "LEADVILLE OF MISSOURI" — "MINING REVIEW"— "TRADE JOURNAL"— CITY OF FOURTH CLASS — TOM IRISH— ORGANIZATION — FIRST MAYOR— CLINTON R. WOLFE — THIRD CLASS —WATERWORKS— PROSPECTING— GAS PLANT— WATER, LIGHT AND FUEL COMPANY — REVOLUTIONARY EPOCH— THE "REVIEW" — TOWN COMPANY — LOCATION PAGES 253-260

Chapter XIX. Townships, Towns And Villages

INTRODUCTION — MINGO TOWNSHIP — SETTLE FORD — COVE CITY — MAYESBURG — GRAND RIVER TOWNSHIP— ALTONA— DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP— ADRIAN- CRESCENT HILL — EAST BOONE TOWNSHIP— BURDETT—PARKERVILLE — WEST BOONE TOWNSHIP — ROSIER— WEST POINT TOWNSHIP — WEST POINT VILLAGE — VINTON— AMSTERDAM — ELKHART TOWNSHIP— ELKHART POST- OFFICE— MOUND TOWNSHIP— PASSAIC— SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP— CULVER.

Chapter XX

TOWNSHIPS. TOWNS AND VILLAGES— CONTINUED.

SPRUCE TOWNSHIP— JOHNSTOWN— BALLARD POSTOFFICE— DEEPWATER TOWN- SHIP—SPRUCE VILLAGE — SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP— BUTLER— CHARLOTTE TOWNSHIP— VIRGINIA POSTOFFICE— HOMER TOWN- SHIP— MULBERRY— AMORET— WALNUT TOWNSHIP— MARVEL— LOUISVILLE- WALNUT POSTOFFICE— WORLAND— FOSTER PAGES 270-277

CONTENTS.

Chapter XXI. Townships, Towns And Villages— Continued

NEW HOME TOWNSHIP — NEW HOME VILLAGE— SHOBETOWN AND RIVELY— CORNLAND— LONE OAK TOWNSHIP— PERU AND ATHOL— PLEASANT GAP TOWNSHIP— PLEASANT GAP VILLAGE— STUMPTOWN — HUDSON TOWNSHIP— HUDSON— LAHIA—ROCKVILLE TOWNSHIP— ROCKVILLE TOWN— j?RAIRIE TOWNSHIP — HARMONY MISSION — PAPINSVILLE— PRAIRIE CITY— O&^GE

TOWNSHIP — HOWARD TOWNSHIP — SPRAGUE — HUME PAGES 278-281

Chapter XXII. The Marais Des Cygnes And Osage Rivers And

VALLEYS.

CONFUSION — DERIVATION AND MEANING — EARLY OFFICIAL MAPS — ERRORS — CONTROVERSY— MILTON WHITING— ERRONEOUS PLATBOOKS— EARLY WRIT- ERS—LOCATION OF OSAGES— THE MARAIS DES CYGNES A PART OF BOUND- ARY — A BEAUTIFUL SCENE— HAPPY HOME— BIG TREES— CROOKED STREAM — DESCRIPTION — FISH STORIES — RECLAMATION — CAPTAIN A. B. DICKEY— C. G. GREEN — DRAINAGE COMPANY— "VALLEY OF THE NILE"— EXTENSION.

Chapter XXIII. The Big Drainage Ditch

THE EGYPT OF BATES COUNTY— "MARAIS DES CYGNES"— RECLAMATION — PRE- TENSE—NO FEASIBLE PLAN UNTIL 1906 — PETITION PRESENTED— VIEWERS AND APPRAISERS — PROPOSED PLAN— REMONSTRANCE — REPORTS — JUDGE McFADDEN — REPORT APPROVED — PERMANENT BOARD APPOINTED — DUTIES OF BOARD AND COST OF WORK — OBJECTIONS — CONTRACT — BONDS — CON- STRUCTION— LITIGATION— COMPLETED— RESULTS— J. F. KERN.

Chapter XXIV. The Grasshopper Plague

(By Lucieu Green.) IN KANSAS— THE GRANGERS — POOR CROP YEARS — INVASION — J. C. TAYLOR — SMALL DAMAGE — THE "JUANITA OF THE WEST" — JOURNEY TO BATES COUNTY — DESTINATION — RECEPTION — JOHN McCONNELL — CAPTAIN JOHN W. HANNAH— THE ATTACK— LEAVE TAKING — GOOD FEELING — CROPS.

CONTENTS.

Chapter XXV. Reminiscences

OLD SETTLER '3 AND EARLY INCIDENTS— INTERESTING FACTS — RECOLLECTIONS OF HA'^iMONY MISSION — BATES COUNTY IN THE FIFTIES — SIXTY-EIGHT YEAB.S AGO— EVENTS OF LONG AGO— TALKS AND TALES OF OLDEN TIMES.