Judge Jenkins' History of Miller County

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

• THE SLAVERY QUESTION
• LOCAL INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY
• ABOLITION MOVEMENT
• MASS MEETING
• SALE OF WHITE MAN
• EARLY EDUCATION
• FIRST SCHOOL COMMISSIONER
• EARLY TEACHERS AND TRUSTEES
• PROGRESS IN EDUCATION
• EARLY PROBLEMS
• FIRST STUDENT IN UNIVERSITY
• RISE OF RELIGION
• GILGAL
• MT. VERNON
• LITTLE RICHWOODS
• BLUE SPRING
• BIG RICHWOODS
• UNION
• COMING OF THE CAMPBELLITES
• RISE AND FALL OF METHODISM
• HINDSIGHT
• COMING OF ROMAN CATHOLICS
• FIRST CATHOLIC SETTLER
• FIRST CATHOLIC LAND OWNERS
• EARLY MINISTERS
• RECORD OF MARRIAGES

The Territorial Legislature applied to Congress for the admission of Missouri to the Union as a state in 1818.  This application opened a violent issue over slavery, and a struggle for political supremacy between the Northern and Southern sections of the United States.

Actually the slavery question was first asked with the adoption of the famous Northwest Ordinance.  On July 13, 1787, Congress placed the Western territory North of the Ohio river under a governor and three judges, and also, made provisions for the full protection of liberty and property, fair treatment of the Indians, religious freedom, encouragement of education, and the prohibition of slavery in the territory.  Forbidding slavery in the Northwest Territory retarded settlement North of the Ohio, but stimulated the Western movement of settlers with slaves through Kentucky and Tennessee into the Territory of Missouri.

In 1800 the entire population of Missouri was given at 6,028.  There were of this number 4,948 whites, 883 slaves, and 197 free colored.  The population had increased to 9,020 whites and 1320 colored in 1804.  The entire population of Missouri was about 20,000 in 1810; 66,000 in 1820, with about 10,000 slaves included in this number.

In March, and again in December, 1818, the people of Missouri applied to Congress for admission to the Union as a state, James Tallmadge, a Congressman of New York, proposed an amendment to the bill for admission of Missouri, specifying further introduction of slavery be prohibited.  This amendment, passing the House, was not passed by the Senate.

With or without slavery the admission of Missouri as a state was of special importance.  In 1819 an equal number of free and slave states were in the Union, eleven each.  In the Senate this made an even balance of power between the North and South.  Also, admission of Missouri would set a precedent sure to be followed when other states were  created and admitted to the Union out of the Louisiana Purchase.

Throughout the year of 1819, attention of the country was absorbed with the question of slavery in Missouri.  There were heated mass meetings in the North and South.  State Legislatures passed resolutions on the question.  When Congress convened near the end of the year, the members of the House and Senate were overwhelmed by the feelings of the people who petitioned for and against the Tallmadge amendment.  Howell Cobb, a Congressman of Georgia, warned Tallmadge that the adoption of his amendment would ignite a fire only human blood could extinguish.

In 1820, a way out of this difficulty was found.  Maine, with slavery excluded, applied to Congress for admission as a state.  The Maine and Missouri bills for statehood were combined, and the Tallmadge amendment excluded, with the adoption of a compromise,¹  allowing slavery in the Louisiana Purchase to the South of the southern boundary of Missouri, except for Missouri itself.  However, Missouri was not admitted until August, 1821.  A second Missouri Compromise, negotiated by Henry Clay, was necessary, since a clause in the Missouri Constitution excluded free negroes from the state.

The inflamed feelings between the North and South continued unabated after the Missouri question.  On January 21, 1830, in the Senate of the United States, Senator Robert Hayne, of South Carolina, indulged in a bitter denunciation of the North, of Massachusetts especially, for following a selfish policy of sectionalism.  He stated the Federal Government was created by the States, that the sovereign States had the power to ignore unconstitutional laws of Congress.

Senator Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, replied to Senator Hayne on January 26th and 27th.  He defended his home State of Massachusetts against charges of sectionalism, then, in a speech, the most powerful ever delivered in the Senate of the United States, upheld the national government.  The Union no longer was a league of States, he pointed out, but a league of people.  The Acts of Congress could be voided only by the Supreme Court, the sole arbiter of the Constitution, created by the Constitution itself.  To hold otherwise, the Union would fall apart.  He noted the national government under the Constitution was “made for the people, made by the people, answerable to the people.”

Approaching his twenty-first birthday, a tall, lanky, raw-boned young man from Indiana studied Webster’s speech in a Tennessee newspaper, while following beside an ox-cart carrying his poor family’s possessions into Illinois.  Abraham Lincoln was unaware that thirty years later the people would trust him with the task of defending the Union, Senator Webster so eloquently upheld.  There is little doubt he remembered Webster’s speech for his “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” at Gettysburg, later, and merely a paraphrase of Webster’s words before the Senate.

However, the difference of opinion on the question of slavery in the North and South ultimately turned to a political question over the balance of power between the sections themselves, and finally, to a question involving a political ideal on the relationship of the States to the Federal Government.  The South held the Constitution an agreement or compact between the States, limiting the power of the Federal Government, while in the North, the people were inclined to believe in a stronger Federal Government.

1.  The famous Missouri Compromise

Missouri was not a great slaveholding state, and Miller was not a great slaveholding county.  When created by an Act of the General Assembly in 1837, 16 years after statehood, there were approximately 100 slaves in Miller county.

The census listed 111 slaves in 1840; 189 in 1850; and 238 in 1860.

Conditions in Miller county were not favorable for a plantation system like in the deep South, but most farms of slaveholders were situated in the prairie regions of Richwoods and Saline townships.

Most of the inhabitants were familiar with the Institution of Slavery, and favorable toward it, the earliest settlers having brought their slaves into Miller county.  Generally, the inhabitants were descendants of slaveholders and bound by ties of blood to the South.

Some of the earliest records concerning slavery in Miller county appear first in the record book of the Circuit Court.

At the June term of Circuit Court, in 1837, Gaddis E. Miller complained of David Musick, in an action of replevin, that on May 29, 1837, Musick wrongfully took and detained one negro girl, a slave, named Vine, of the value of $500, and entitled to possession of his chattel, was damaged in an amount of $700 by Musick’s keeping her.¹

On August 1, 1837, Gaddis E. Miller and Thomas Dawson captured two negro women, Levina and Hettie, while traveling on the public road south of Tuscumbia, holding them in servitude.  Levina, a free woman of colour, complained to Judge Scott of the Circuit Court, that Gaddis E. Miller, having assaulted and greatly beat, bruised, and ill-treated her, imprisoned her in slavery when, in fact, she was a free person at the time, born free; her mother having been free, for her grandmother was freed by John Baker of the State of Virginia before the birth of her mother.  Judge Scott granted Levina her freedom.²

Hettie, a free woman of colour, complained that on August 1, 1837, Thomas Dawson, with force and arms, having assaulted, greatly beat and ill-treated her, imprisoned her in slavery, without cause for her grandmother was free in the State of Virginia, her mother and herself born free.  Judge Scott granted Hettie her freedom.³

In 1837, an order of the County Court authorized the administrators of the estate of William Stephens to hire out the slaves belonging to said estate “to the highest bidder for the term of twelve months on the Seventh day of October, next.”  Usually a negro woman was hired out a year for $50 or more, a negro girl for from $25 to $50, a negro boy for $20 to $75, and a young negro man at $100, and more.

The first appraisement in Miller county, made on May 20, 1837, was on the property of William Stephens, above mentioned, his goods and chattels including the slaves, July, age 25 or 30, appraised at $450; Corlin, age 11, a girl, at $350; Hance, age 9, a girl, at $300; Mariah, age 6, a girl, at $250; and George, age 2 years, at $160.  Three yoke of oxen were appraised at $115.⁴

The slaves of William Stephens were sold at the residence of the widow, Jane C., on December 31, 1846; first having given notice in the Jefferson Inquirer, a newspaper printed in Jefferson City; and the County Court ordered the money arising from the sale distributed among the widow and children of the deceased, each sharing alike.⁵

Edmund Wilkes, administrator of the estate of Jonathan D. Bills, deceased, previously appointed by the Cole County Court, presented his first annual settlement on December 18, 1838, to the Miller County Court, which included these words and figures, among others:⁶

The slaves of Jonathan D. Bills, deceased, to be offered for sale at the Courthouse door, in Tuscumbia, on February 21, 1839, was not held; the death of the negro woman, Lucy, in the first week of February, having taken her own life, cancelling the sale.

On November 5, 1839, in Wilkes’ second annual settlement of the Bills’ estate with the Miller County Court, the following words and figures, among others, may be found:⁷

Upon record books in the Courthouse at Tuscumbia, many orders may be found concerning the hiring out of slaves belonging to various estates, and the selling of these human chattels.

Andrew Estes, on July 28, 1849, sold John G. Estes, of Camden county, a certain parcel of negroes, one woman named Milly, thirty six years of age; three boys, Bob, 21 years of age, Sam, 19 years of age, and Ned, 15 years of age; three girls, Angeline, 19 years of age, Elizabeth, 15, and Malissa, 12 years of age, for $1,800.⁸

Emanuel Godlove purchased from John Flanagin two negroes, Milley and child, Eliza Jane, slaves for life for $800; and from Joseph Howser, of Morgan county, two negro girls, one named Nancy, and her child Charles, three years of age, slaves for life, for an undisclosed sum.  Also, John Flanagin sold Owen Riggs a slave woman named Harriett, and a slave woman, named Matilda for $850.⁹

Gohlson Popplewell, in 1852, purchased from Jane, widow of Gohlson Wilson, Sr., the following chattels:

A negro girl, slave for life, called Martha Ann, now of the age of about nine years, of a dark complexion;
A negro woman, slave for life, known by the name of Mary Ann, about 14 years of age, of a dark complexion;
A negro boy, called Henry Freemen, slave for life, of a dark complexion;
Simon Peter, a boy, slave for life, 8 months of age, of a dark complexion;
One negro girl, slave for life, called Eliza Jane, three years of age, of a dark complexion; for $1,450.¹⁰

George Shipley, guardian of William Shipley, was ordered to hire out Prince and Manswell, slaves belonging to William, upon proper terms for 12 months.¹¹  The slaves of Claiborn Still, deceased, were hired out for a number of years, at public auction to the highest bidder, on proper terms.¹²  John L. West, administrator of the estate of Andrew Watson, deceased, hired out Watson’s slaves at his residence on January 1, 1852.¹³  Daniel Cummings hired out the slaves belonging to the estate of Hugh Gibson, on November 9, 1853, then sold these slaves in 1856, at Tuscumbia, for $1,411.¹⁴

On January 14, 1841, Laswell L. Blanton sold to James Wilson, a certain negro girl named Marie, ten or eleven years of age, for $200, “and have put Wilson in full possession by delivering to him the negro girl in the presence of Thomas Parrish.”¹⁵

The following is a list of slave owners in Miller county in 1859, as taken from the assessor’s book.

The total assessed valuation of the 214 slaves in Miller county in 1859, as property for tax purposes, $117.865.

An appraisement of the property of Claibourn Still, deceased, was partially as follows:

“Hon. H.J. Wilson, Robert Shipley, and Berry Taylor being called upon by Alex Still, executor of the estate of Claibourn Still to appraise the slaves, and other property of the deceased, find on the 3rd day of September, 1842:

In 1842, John Shelton sold George W. Shelton, one negro boy, James, about 16 years of age, and another boy, Mark Anthony, about 9 years of age, for $600.¹⁶

In May, 1842, William Tinsley, “for one dollar, in consideration of the love and affection I bear toward my daughter Katharine Gott sell her my 200 acres of land, and one negro man named Gile, now in the hire of Hamilton Lenox.”

Charles Smith, on December 5, 1843, stated “for the sum of 2 dollars, I hereby sell unto my son, Champ Smith, my mulatto slave Andrew, but to remain in my possession during my natural life.”¹⁷

George Washington Claybrooks purchased from James Melton for $800, in October, 1846, the following negroes:

Priscilla, about 45 years of age, of a black colour,
Liz, about 30 years of age, of a black colour,
Orlinda, about 10 years of age, of a mulatto colour,
All slaves for life, and warranted sound in body and mind.¹⁸

After setting up ten written advertisements in ten of the most public places in Miller county, and advertising in a newspaper printed in Jefferson City, Daniel Cummings sold the slaves belonging to the estate of Margarett Barr, in May, 1851, at Tuscumbia, for $1,008.¹⁹

On January 1, 1851, at Pleasant Mount, the slaves belonging to John Mulkey, having departed this life October 10, 1850, were sold to the highest bidder at public auction for $1,900.²⁰  A negro girl, Harriett, conveyed by will of John mulkey, to Sarah, his wife, during her life or widowhood, was sold at public auction in the town of Pleasant Mount, September 15, 1855.  Sarah, the widow, having died, William Miller, administrator, auctioned Harriett for a sum of $700.²¹

In January, 1848, William Brockman sold Sims Brockman, Uriah S. & Esom B. Dooley a parcel of slaves for $1,810, as follows:

Rachael, about 60 years of age, of a black color,
Joe, about 34 years of age, of a mulatto color,
Hiram, about 26 years of age, of a copper color,
Lucy, about 21 years of age, of a black color,
Walter, about 6 years of age, of a black color,
Amanda, about 2 years of age, of a black color,
All slaves for life, and warranted against the claims of all persons whatsoever.²²

In February, 1847, Flemstead J. Adcock relinquished all right, title, and interest in the slave woman Charlotte, together with her increase, unto Judith Adcock during her natural life, and unto her heirs after her death.²³

Berry Taylor, administrator, hired out the slaves belonging to the estate of Bailey W. Taylor, on December 17, 1855, to the highest bidder for twelve months, at the home of the deceased.²⁴

Delilah, widow of Bailey W. Taylor, on November 3, 1857, applied to the Miller County Court for assignment of dower in the slaves belonging to Bailey’s estate, and the Court appointed Bennett P. Leewright, Phillip Bell, and William Duncan, Commissioners, “to make partition of said slaves, as equal in kind as the value and number thereof will admit, and assign dower in said slaves to said widow accordingly, and make due report thereof to the next term of this court, to be begun and held at the Court House in Tuscumbia on the 3rd Monday in December next.”²⁵

The Commissioners proceeded to value and appraise the slaves, as follows:²⁶

The Commissioners assigned Delilah her dower in the slaves by giving her the negro woman named Emily and child, valued at $1,100, and the negro boy named James, valued at $500.  The remainder of the slaves were sold on January 15, 1858, at public auction to the highest bidder, in Pleasant Mount, the sale amounting in the aggregate to the sum of three thousand, nine hundred fifteen dollars.²⁷

In November, 1858, the County Court appointed Henry E. Dixon, Phillip Bell, and John Brockman, Commissioners, to make a division among the heirs, of the slaves belonging to the estate of Judith Adcock, deceased.²⁸

The Commissioners divided the slaves into lots, and valued them as follows:

On December 1, 1858, in the Courthouse at Tuscumbia, in the presence of the County Court, these lots were drawn from a hat by the heirs of Judith Adcock, Joseph D. Taylor received Lot No. 1; Geo. C. Adcock  Lot No. 2; Polly Adcock Lot No. 3; Flemstead J. Adcock Lot No. 4; Joseph S. Adcock Lot No. 5; Albert G. Wilkes Lot No. 6.

The County Court then ordered the heirs, as legatees, to each pay and receive until the shares were equal at one thousand dollars each, which was done.²⁹

On August 1859, Jane Hinds, widow of Benjamin Hinds, with minor heirs under the age of fourteen years, Sarah, Benjamin, and Margaret, renunciated her right to administer the estate of her deceased husband.  The County Court appointed Isaac Hinds, administrator of the estate.  William Etter, W.F. Stephens, A.S. Spalding, R.E. Simpson, J.M. Miller, R.F. Belshe, W. Stubblefield, and Martin Haynes were securities on the administrator’s bond of forty thousand dollars.³⁰

The estate consisted of three farms of more than one thousand four hundred acres, besides the Mansion of the deceased, and on November 11, 1860, Isaac Hinds was authorized and directed by the County Court to rent the farms in the best interests of the estate.  Also, the heirs presented their petition for a division of the slaves belonging to the estate, with dower in said slaves assigned to the widow.³¹

Robert E. Simpson, Madison H. Belshe, and Robert F. Belshe, Commissioners to make partition, appointed by the County Court, assigned five of the eighteen slaves as dower to the widow, Jane.  These slaves were called Amanda, Jim Jr., David, Jack, and Isum; the five appraised at $4,600.  Other slaves were Jim Sr., Sherwood, Hard, George, Charley, Mary W., Mary A. and child, Mary J., Suky Ann, Sophronia, Ellen, and Henrietta; all appraised at $9,400.³²

The County Court ordered Isaac Hinds, administrator of the estate, to sell all the slaves not set apart to the widow as dower, on January 10, 1860, at the late residence of the deceased,³³ at public auction to the highest bidder.  The time, terms, and place of sale to be published in the Jefferson Examiner and the California News for two weeks, and posted in six public places in the county ten days before the day of the sale.³⁴

On the day designated, the slaves were sold.  The buyers were:

This was a good sale.  The slaves, appraised at $9,400, sold for $12,565.

The following is a list of slave owners, the number of slaves owned, and valuation, as taken from the Miller county assessor’s book in 1860.

Seventy-eight slaveholders, owned 234 slaves, valued at $115,175.

William D.P.M. Nolen hired out the slaves belonging to the estate of John Balance, at public auction to the highest bidder, at Pleasant Mount, in January, 1860.³⁵

Slaves were warranted when sold, and often this caused difficulties.  In 1861, S.R. Roberts sued Isaac Hinds for “at the time when the negro Hard was sold he was represented as being a good mechanic, and a good blacksmith, which statement was made by the auctioneer who sold said negro, and in the presence of Hinds, and with his sanction, and direction.  On account of said representation Roberts estimated Hard as being realty more valuable than he otherwise would have been and was induced to bid for Hard and buy him for a large price.  By the representation that he was a blacksmith and mechanic he gave the large sum of sixteen hundred and fifty dollars, but said negro was not a mechanic or blacksmith, and thereby he was damaged in a sum of one thousand dollars.”

On May 1, 1858, Daniel Cummings purchased of Gholson Popplewell, a negro woman named Ann for $1,000.  At the time of sale Popplewell warranted the slave to be sound in mind and body.  However, according to Daniel, Ann was unsound in body at the very moment of sale, for he immediately expended $100 in trying to cure her, a sum he believed Popplewell aught to pay.

Slaves freed by their masters, or otherwise free, were licensed by the County Court.  Jeptha Freeman, a mullato, and a free man of colour, was licensed by the Court to remain in Miller county as long as he remained of good behavior, on February 2, 1846.³⁶

Alexander Mulkey, a man of character, good behavior, and a free man of colour, was licensed to remain in Miller county on November 4, 1852.  Alexander was described as about 48 years of age, dark complexion, 5 feet 10 ½ inches high, and by occupation a farmer.³⁷

James Stark, a judge of the Cole County Court, when the area of Miller county north of the Osage river was still a part of Cole county, set free, by will, a slave, Lucinda, upon his demise, as follows:

“It is my will and desire that my slave, Lucinda, be free –and I do hereby fully emancipate and set free the said slave and her increase as I have already done by deed, and which I do hereby again do, not thereby intending to effect or impose any rights which may been conferred by the deed of emancipation heretofore made.  And it is my request that none of my children shall ever disturb Lucinda in the enjoyment of her freedom, and if respect for a father’s memory or his wishes can influence them I am sure it will not be done.  I give to the said negro Lucinda, one horse, to be delivered to her at my death, with not less than thirty five dollars and also one cow; and I hereby mention and appoint Thomas G. Stark, Isaac Stark, my sons, and Jeremiah Vernon, my son-in-law,³⁸ executors of this my last will and testament”

Reuben, a free man of colour, mentioned in the old record books many times, upon his death in the 1840’s, left a rather sizeable estate.

On June 8, 1860, Isaac Wickersham claimed John W. Branstetter had two of his slaves, a negro woman named Sarah, about 30 years old, with a frosted foot, and her child about one year of age, of the value of $800, and would not return them.

The selling of slaves were events of great importance in a community.  The main centers for auction were at Pleasant Mount and Tuscumbia.

An eyewitness account, as a very small child, of the selling of a number of slaves at Locust Mound in the 1860’s, was given by a citizen of Miller county, who died in the 1950’s when nearly 100 years of age.

He remembered an immense crowd of people standing around a flat stump, three or four feet in height, and five or six feet in diameter.  This was the auction block, located at the edge of a great grove of locust trees, where the slaves were sold.  He remembered an elderly man, a middle-aged woman, two teen-aged girls, and a girl child of colour, offered at public vendue.

The sale commenced by stripping the slaves of their clothing, and each, in turn, were ordered upon the stump, standing naked before the crowd.  As the auctioneer chanted, each slave slowly turned, assuming various positions upon master’s orders, so all parts of each slave’s body could be viewed by prospective purchasers.  One teen-aged girl, he remembered, becoming rather happy, commenced dancing a little jig, keeping in step with the chanting rhythm of the auctioneer.  The crowd responded by loudly clapping hands.

In modern times such an event would be repugnant beyond description to every citizen, but it must be remembered, all the worst evils of civilization have occurred in Miller county, some events beyond printing even in history books.

Many acts of kindnesses by slaves toward their masters may be found.  The coloured servant of Squire Jesse Kendrick, buried the Judge beside the Shut-In branch, under the hill, in Tuscumbia, then tended his master’s grave a number of years.

The following is a list of slave owners, the number of slaves owned, and valuation, as taken from the assessor’s book in 1862.  The effect of the Civil War is evident.

The 213 slaves on the assessor’s book were valued at $19,225.

To show how the Civil War depreciated slavery, on August 2, 1864, two months before Price’s raid through this area, Wm. M. Lumpkin, administrator of the estate of James Dooley, deceased, filed at the Courthouse a report of the commissioners appointed to make partition of the slaves belonging to Dooley’s estate.  Hannah, Nancy, Caroline, Harriett, Patsy and infant, Lemantha, Ann and infant, and Samuel were appraised at $75, each.

The Miller County Court ordered “that Wm. M. Lumpkin sell the slaves belonging to the estate of James Dooley at public auction to the highest bidder at the most suitable place in Miller county by first putting up six printed handbills in six public places at least 5 days before the day of sale, stating the time, place, and terms which will be cash in hand.”³⁹

The bill of sale on these slaves was approved by the County Court on May 5, 1865; the last entry on slavery in the record books of the County Court.⁴⁰

Slavery was abolished in Missouri on January 11, 1865.⁴¹

PROCLAMATION

Executive Department,
City of Jefferson, Mo.
January 11, 1865.

It having pleased Divine Providence to inspire to righteous action the sovereign people of Missouri, who, through their delegates in convention assembled, with proper legal authority and solemnity, have this day ordained,
“That hereafter in this State, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except in punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; and all persons held to service or labor as slaves are hereby declared free,”
Now, therefore, by authority of the supreme power vested in me by the constitution of Missouri, I, Thomas C. Fletcher, Governor of the State of Missouri, do proclaim, that henceforth and forever, no person within the limits of this State shall be subject to any abridgment of liberty, except such as the law may prescribe for the common good, or know any master but God.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, at the City of Jefferson, this eleventh day of January, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-five.
Thomas C. Fletcher.

By the Governor:
            Francis Rodman, Secretary of State.

  1.  Circuit Court Record Book A, page 9
  2.  Ibid., page 10
  3.  Ibid.
  4.  Ibid., page 17
  5.  Ibid., page 277
  6.  Ibid., page 48, 49
  7.  Ibid., page 72
  8.  Contract Record Book A
  9.  Ibid.
10.  Ibid.
11.  County Court Record Book A, page 122, 147
12.  Ibid., page 66
13.  Ibid., page 396
14.  Ibid., page 173; Book B, page 370
15.  Deed Book a, page 173
16.  Ibid., page 261
17.  Ibid., page 329
18.  Ibid., page 469
19.  County Court Record Book A, pages 516, 525
20.  Ibid., pages 498, 525
21.  County Court Record Book B, pages 310, 406
22.  County Court Record Book A, pages 543, 544
23.  Deed Book A, page 513
24.  County Court Record Book B, page 332
25.  Ibid., page 523
26.  Ibid., page 540
27.  Ibid., page 560
28.  Ibid., page 500
29.  Ibid., page 676
30.  County Court Record Book C, pages 70, 79
31.  Ibid., pages 103, 104
32.  Ibid., page 113
33.  Lived southwest, about one mile, from present day Etterville
34.  County Court Record Book C, page 114
35.  Ibid., page 122
36.  County Court Record Book A, page 242
37.  County Court Record Book B, page 75
38.  Jeremiah Vernon, one of the earliest settlers in territory afterward Miller county, married Betsy, Judge Stark’s daughter.
39.  County Court Record Book C, page 106
40.  Ibid., page 130
41.  House Journal, Regular Session 23rd General Assembly pages 147, 148

There were many people who believed the Institution of Slavery an evil, and a movement commenced to have slavery abolished.

The abolitionists were active in this area, with the antislavery fanatics passing through Miller county, preaching against the extension of slavery.

Too, the Methodist Episcopal Church, becoming active in this work, was soon divided by the question into northern and southern factions.  The vote on the division of the church in Miller county occurred at Smyrna, in 1846.  In Holy Assembly the Methodists of local circuits voted unanimously for allegiance to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In January, 1849, Bob Wilson, a fiery preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, arrived at the Courthouse, in Tuscumbia, to preach on the evils of slavery.  His assistant, a young man in his early twenties, spread word of the meeting throughout the village.

Nearing the appointed hour, an immense crowd of angry citizens were under the hill, having gathered in the dram shops.  Daniel Cummings, noticing the people’s temper, believed the abolitionist preacher would be lynched, which should happen to no Methodist!

Daniel Cummings, with Champ Smith beside him, hastening up the hill, entered the Courthouse, informing preacher Wilson if he started preaching, the people would kill him.  They persuaded Wilson to leave, but his young assistant remained behind.

This young man was handsome; having a fine open forehead.  His hair and complexion were fair; his air and carriage very commanding.  He was possessed of great courage, yet this youth, with all his fine qualities, was the occasion of infinite hatred to many of the mob.

When the crowd arrived on the hill the youth was seized, man-handled, and tied to a post in front of the Courthouse.  His shirt was torn off, and there were cries of Burn him at the stake!  Champ Smith, grabbing a cat-o-nine tails, a whip, viciously popped it a few times, which quieted the crowd.

In a low voice, he calmly told the youth something had to be done or the crowd would take his life.  Smith handed the whip to Sheriff S.C.H. Witten, who administered twenty lashes upon the bare back of the youth.

The mob, satisfied, dispersed.

On Saturday, February 3, 1849, the citizens of Miller county held a mass meeting at Tuscumbia.  At this meeting it was decided no preacher or missionary entertaining abolitionist principles could preach or hold meetings in the Courthouse.  J.S. Johnston and Robertson Roberts were appointed to wait upon the County Court, and inform the Justices of their decision.

On February 6, 1849, the County Court noted that “We, the Justices, in common with our fellow citizens, have seen with concern and amazement the abolition movements, which have occasioned the disruption of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States,” that the Northern portions of this Church were pushing men into this state under the appellation of preachers or missionaries solely to disturb the present arrangement peaceably and amicably entered into, and carried out in good order.

The Justices indicated, instead of being messengers of peace and good order as they pretended, they were sowing the seeds of dissension and discord, not only in the Northern portions of the Christian family, but by disturbing the harmony and peace of society in general.

The County Court noted it would exercise full and complete control over the public property committed to its charge by law and by the suffrages of the citizens of Miller county.  For the benefit of the citizens in general the use of public property by any person or persons deemed injurious to the interest of the community would be denied.

The County Court then ordered the County Clerk never allow the use of the Courthouse to any person or persons entertaining abolitionist sentiments sent “in our midst to stir up strife in a now peaceable and orderly society, on a question so vitally affecting the interests of the whole community.”¹

1.  County Court Record Book A, page 407

On September 11, 1859, a charge of vagrancy against Mr. William Williams was filed by Barnabus Reed, Constable of Glaze township, with John K. Hall, a Justice of the Peace.  A warrant for the arrest of Mr. William Williams was issued to the Constable by Justice Hall.

At the home of Samuel Ash, on the 14th of September, Constable Reed found Mr. Williams, placing him under arrest.

Samuel Ash said, “Barnabus Reed came up to my house in the middle of the night.  He hollered in and asked me if Mr. William Williams was there?  I told him he was, but advised him not to come in for Williams had a knife.  I went outside and Reed told me his business, so I hollered in for Mr. Williams to come on out and give himself up.”

“Mr. Williams came out,” Samuel Ash continued, “and walked to the horses beside the Constable.  A white-oak club of a length of three feet was in Reed’s hand, and he said, Now I’ve got the Red Fox!”

With a guard over the prisoner, Constable Reed and Samuel Ash went ahead, on to the home of J.K. Hall, awakening the Justice.  Even though it was after midnight, Justice John K. Hall immediately summoned six jurors.  The jurors arriving, the Justice convened his court; the prisoner charged with being a vagrant.  Before a jury, duly sworn, the prisoner, brought to trial, was found guilty

“After the trial,” Samuel Ash continued, “Barnabus Reed undertook to tie Williams, drawing his arms behind his back.  Williams said, Gentlemen, I am willing to go with any of you, but I don’t want to be tied!  Then Williams said, Oh please don’t draw the rope so tight!”

“About here,” Samuel Ash said, “Andrew Ulman stepped up and told Reed to get Williams’ arms untied and he would take him in.  Justice J.K. Hall said Williams aught not to be tied, for there was no law for it.”

The next morning Mr. William Williams was in the County Jail at Tuscumbia.  On the Courthouse door a public notice was posted for three days, which advertised a vagrant would be hired out for a term of six months, to the highest bidder.  On the morning of the fourth day, at the door of the Courthouse, the Sheriff, at public vendue, sold Mr. Williams for cash.

Mary Ann Williams, wife of William Williams bought her husband’s freedom.  From a beginning bid of one dime, she continued raising, each bid, one penny, until the Sheriff cried, Going!  Going!  Gone!  To Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, for two dollars and fifty-five cents!

It must be remembered after White men crossed the Mississippi river, hardy pioneers carried muzzle-loading rifles, navy revolvers, whiskey, and civilization into the land of the Osage Indians.  Step by step these pioneers disputed their way with the disappearing buffalo, the grunting bear, the howling timber wolf, and the long-nosed, hazle-splitter hog into the area of what is now Miller county.

Upon reaching the area of later day Miller county these earlier settlers opened vast unbounded areas of virgin prairie, groves, hills, forests, and wilderness, allowing no interference with their holdings.  Among them were no castes, they were overlord of their estates as well as tillers of the soil.  But no single thing was more marked, distinctive, or encouraging for the future than the earnest desire of most of the earlier settlers for information and education.

There is no record of schools in the county until the middle 1830’s.  The first teacher, it is believed by most historians, was J. Hilton Houston, a Baptist minister, who taught a subscription school on the farm of A.G. Wilkes near old Rocky Mount.  About this time a subscription school was taught in the Smyrna Church House, a log building in the Big Richwoods. 

Without any doubt the first schoolhouse in the territory of Miller county was a log building raised in the old Curry district about 1834.  It was located in Section 17, Township 39N, Range 13W, on the later day farm of Mr. Peach Wall.  The first school in this building was taught by a traveling preacher.  The second schoolhouse, a log building, was raised in 1835, on the plantation of John  Davis in the Little Richwoods.

The first Constitution of the State of Missouri provided that one school or more be established in each township as soon as practicable and necessary so the poor could be taught gratis.  These first schools were not public schools in the modern sense.  They were empowered to assess rate bills on patrons of the school district of sufficient means to bear the expense.  This permitted free tuition for orphan and indigent children. 

The first chartered school in Missouri was at St. Genevieve in 1808.  About fifty such schools were in existence in Missouri when the first general school law was enacted by the legislature in 1833.  Under the law of 1835, the system of public taxation for schools commenced, limited at first to building needs.

It was two years after Miller county was organized before the constitutional clause limiting educational benefits to the poor was removed.  In 1838, provision was made for a State Superintendent of Public Instruction, for a County Board of Education, and for a Township Board.  However, this law was too advanced in time and little was done under it.  The Secretary of State was made ex-officio state school officer in 1841, and in 1853, the state superintendency was created.

The Act of Congress admitting Missouri into the Union set apart the sixteenth section of every Congressional Township for school purposes.  On May 2, 1837, at the house of William Miller, during the first session of the Miller County Court, Thomas O. Witten presented to the Justices a petition from inhabitants in Congressional Township No. 40, in Range Numbered 15, which requested sale of the land in the 16th section of said township, at public auction, for school purposes.  This was the Congressional Township in which the Village of Bagnell is now located, and the County Court ordered the land sold.¹

The first schoolhouse erected after the formation of Miller county was a log building, raised in June, 1838, at Bilyeu’s Mill in Richwoods township.  A summer term of school was taught here in 1838.  The second schoolhouse in Miller county was raised at Sarter’s Mill on the Saline creek.  A fall term of school, beginning in October, 1838, was taught here.  The third schoolhouse was raised on the Gott Plantation in Glaze township.  A summer term of school was taught here in 1839.  Designated the Little Richwoods school, the name was soon forgotten, but Gott continued into modern times.

In 1840, Miller county was organized into school districts by order of the County Court.  Fourteen school districts were established.²   Each school district was a Congressional Township, or fractional part thereof, making them of large size.  It was not uncommon for some students to walk fifteen miles to school.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Miller County Missouri 1840
In 1840, Miller county was organized into school districts by order of the County Court.
Fourteen school districts were established.  Districts 15, 16, and 17 were established later.

The fourth schoolhouse in Miller county was erected on Hite’s Old Settlement.  In 1841  a fall term of school was taught here.  The Congressional Township in which this school was located appears to be the only school district in Miller county organized for school purposes under the law of 1839.

On April 6, 1844, the inhabitants of Congressional Township No. 42, Range 15W, met at Pleasant Mount, and organized the township for school purposes pursuant to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly, approved February 9, 1839, which provided for the organization, support, and government of common schools.³

George C. Adcock was appointed Commissioner of this Township School District by the County Court; Samuel J. Jones and Alfred M. Houston appointed inspectors of the sub-district schools.  In 1858, there were five sub-district schools in Congressional Township School District No. 2, but only one school building.  Four schools were held and taught in church buildings or private dwellings.

It appears the first enumeration of children for school purposes in Miller county was taken in 1847.  A Justice of the Peace in each municipal township was designated by the County Court to ascertain the number of children between the ages of six years and under twenty, residing in each township on December 31, 1846.

This enumeration of children was made by Esquires Isaac Bond for Jim Henry township; William Wood for Osage township; Jonathan Blevans for Richwoods township; David Reed for Glaze township; E. H. Gibson for Equality township; and Samuel J. Jones for Saline township.⁴

There were 258 children enumerated in Saline township; 192 children in Jim Henry township; 225 in Richwoods; 176 in Glaze; 144 in Osage; and 134 in Equality; total 1,129.  One year later there were 232 children enumerated in Saline township; 211 children in Jim Henry township; 208 in Richwoods; 181 in Glaze; 165 in Osage; and 125 in Equality; total 1,122.

The apportionment of the first state school fund monies awarded to Miller county shown in the record books of the County Court, in 1848, amounted to 38 3/4¢ for each child enumerated.  The second apportionment of the state school fund monies in 1849, amounted to 39¢ for each child enumerated.⁵

The fifth schoolhouse in Miller county was raised on the South bank of the Osage river at the Elm Ford crossing.  In 1841 a fall term of school was taught here.  Congressional Township School District No. 10, in which this school was located, was the first school district organized under the law of 1845.⁶

On September 16, 1848, the inhabitants of Congressional Township No. 40, Range 15W, school district No. 10, met at the meeting house near the mouth of the Little Gravois, the Gilgal Church House, and organized the township for school purposes pursuant to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly, approved March 27, 1845, which provided for the organization, support, and government of Common Schools.  Hugh Challes was appointed Commissioner of this district by the County Court; Gabriel Cotton and J. Milton Houston appointed inspectors of the sub-district schools.

The sixth schoolhouse in Miller county was raised near the Osage river by the mouth of Gum creek.  In 1843 a summer term of school was taught.  In 1855 this building was abandoned with school held and taught in a building at Tuscumbia, raised for school purposes, and privately owned by Daniel Cummings and Champ Smith.

The seventh schoolhouse in Miller county was raised on the Castleman Plantation on Brushy Fork creek.  A summer term of school was taught here in 1845.  On February 24, 1854, the inhabitants of Congressional Township School District No. 13, met at the house of H.P. Gardner, and organized the township for school purposes under the law of 1845.

Eventually four sub-districts were established in Township, School District No. 13, becoming Elliott, Hickory Point, Mace, and the Spearman districts.

The eighth schoolhouse in Miller county was erected on the William Thornsberry Improvement in Glaze township.  A full term of school was taught her in 1850.

On September 22, 1849, the inhabitants of Congressional Township School District No. 4, met at the house of John W. Johnston, near the Saline creek, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, and organized the township for school purposes pursuant to the law of 1845.  The County Court appointed John W. Johnston, Commissioner; Champ Smith and John Stapp, inspectors of the common schools in the district.⁷

On February 6, 1849, the inhabitants of Congressional Township School District No. 2 met at Pleasant Mount and reorganized the township under the school laws of 1845.  William D.P.M. Nolen was appointed Commissioner by the County Court.⁸

On June 12, 1850, the County Court proceeded to make an apportionment of the state school fund monies awarded for that year to Miller county.  A sum of $203.52 was apportioned among the 16 school districts in the county on a ratio of 16¢ for each child between the ages of five and twenty years.  The report of the Justices of the Peace in 1849 indicated there were 391 children enumerated in the municipal township of Saline; 220 children in Glaze township; 205 in Richwoods; 184 in Osage; 152 in Equality; 120 in Jim Henry, for a total of 1,272 children of school age in Miller county.⁹

The ninth schoolhouse in Miller county was erected on Capt. Bond’s Plantation in the community of the Spring Garden.  In 1851, a spring term of school was taught here.  The Congressional Township in which this school was located was organized under the law of 1845 the following year.  The inhabitants of Congressional Township School District No. 1 met at the house of William Etter on the 2nd of October, 1852, at ten o’clock in the morning, and organized the township for school purposes.  William Miller was appointed by the County Court as Commissioner; John R. Morris and Lewis Atkinson, inspectors of the common schools in the district.¹⁰

The tenth schoolhouse in Miller county was erected on the Andrew McCastland Plantation in 1851.  A spring term of school was taught in that year.  It was known as the Franklin schoolhouse, from which Franklin township later derived its name.  The Congressional Township in which this school was located was organized for school purposes pursuant to the law of 1845, in 1851.  The inhabitants of Congressional Township School District No. 3 met at the Franklin schoolhouse on the first Saturday in October, 1851.  The County Court appointed Andrew McCastland, Commissioner; Uriah S. Dooley and Wilson Alley, Inspectors of the common schools in the district.  In 1854, John Brockman was appointed Commissioner of School District No. 3 by the County Court.¹¹

D. Popejoy and Wilson Allee, Directors of the Franklin school district in 1853, reported to the County Clerk:

“We the undersigned Directors of School Township No. 3 in County aforesaid in conformity with the statute in relation to common schools, do report that the whole number of entire school districts in our township is one, and that the number of entire districts, from which the necessary reports have been received, is one, within the time limited by law, and that from said report the following is a just abstract – (viz)

And we the said Directors do further certify and report that the whole amount of money received by the Commissioner of said Township, during the year ending at the date of this report, and since the date of our last preceeding report, is 27 & 12/100  Dollars and Cents of which $23.76/100 were received on the account of the State, $... Dollars on the account of the County, and $3.36/100 on account of Township School moneys; that the said sum has been apportioned and paid to the district from which the necessary reports were received by the directors.  That the school books mostly used in our Township are Websters Elementary Spelling book, McGuffie’s Electic readers, Smith and Kirkham’s grammar, Smith and Olney’s Geography, Smith, Smiley, and Ray’s Arithmetic, dated 1st day September, 1853. D. Popejoy, Wilson Allee, Directors.”

In March, 1851, the County Court organized fractional Congressional Township No. 38N, Ranges 14, 12, and 13W, into school districts numbered 15, 16, and 17, respectively.¹²

The eleventh schoolhouse in Miller county was erected on the Big Tavern creek, north and slightly east from present day St. Elizabeth.  Known as the Flaugher schoolhouse, a spring term of school was held and taught here in 1851.  In the same year the Congressional Township in which the Flaugher school was located was organized for school purposes under the law of 1845.  The inhabitants of Congressional Township School District No. 6 met at the house of Calvin & Owen Riggs on the fourth Saturday in March, 1852.  Owen Riggs was appointed Commissioner by the County Court; John L. Fulkerson and John Goodwin, Inspectors of the common schools in the district.  In June, 1852, the County Court appointed John L. Fulkerson, Commissioner of District No. 6.¹³

On June 15, 1852, the County Court appointed Esquires John D. Popejoy for Saline; James Johnston for Jim Henry; E.B. Farley for Equality; Daniel Reed for Glaze; Jonathan Blevans for Richwoods; Levi Morgan for Osage, to ascertain the number of children of school age in the 17 school districts in Miller county.  It took John D. Popejoy eight days to take the census of Saline township for school purposes.  He was allowed $12 for his services by the County Court.¹⁴

The twelfth schoolhouse in Miller county was raised on the farm of Julius Schilwachter by the Big Tavern creek, in Osage township.  In 1857, a spring term of school was taught in this building.

The thirteenth schoolhouse in Miller county was erected on the farm of Levi Whittle in southwestern Richwoods township.  A spring term of school was taught here in 1857.

The fourteenth schoolhouse was erected in 1857, near the George W Robinson’ far, in Glaze township.

These were public schoolhouses, erected as district buildings.  Other buildings used for school purposes were either church houses or privately owned dwellings.

  1.  County Court Record Book a, page 1
  2.  Ibid., page 78
  3.  Ibid., page 179
  4.  Ibid., page 317
  5.  Ibid., pages 388, 432
  6.  Ibid., page 382
  7.  Ibid., page 424
  8.  Ibid., page 407
  9.  Ibid., page 476
10.  County Court Record Book B, page 58
11.  Ibid., page 2
12.  County Court Record Book A, page 532
13.  Ibid., page 512
14.  County Court Record Book B, page 40

Thomas J. Marshall was the first School Commissioner of Miller county.  This was the infant beginning of the county superintendency of schools.

Marshall was appointed as school commissioner by the County Court on November 9, 1853, for a term of two years.  The same day Commissioner Marshall presented to the Court his official bond with Abraham Castleman, Emanuel Godlove, and Champ Smith as securities, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties, in a sum of $2,000.¹  Commissioner Marshall received $119 for his services in the year of 1855.  He served in the office until 1858, then E.B. Farley, County Clerk, assumed the duties of school commissioner.  Wm. M. Lumpkin replaced Farley in 1860.

On August 4, 1854, the County Court appointed William M. Lumpkin Examiner for Miller county schools with the duty to examine and grant certificates to teachers under the same rules and regulations governing county school commissioners.²  Afterward, teachers in the common schools of Miller county were supposed to be examined and granted certificates to teach, although little attention was given this requirement by school directors until after the Civil War.

The 17 Congressional Township School Districts established by the County Court were divided into sub-districts as new schools were established.  In 1856 there were 39 school districts in Miller county, but only 11 public schoolhouses.  There were 10 men and 2 women teachers.  The number of children between the age of 5 and under 20 totaled 2,458, but only 456 children attended school.  Teachers in the common schools of Miller county that year were paid $518.17 for their services, which averaged approximately $70 per teacher.³

In 1857 there were 43 school districts in Miller county, and 14 schoolhouses.  There were 22 men teachers; no women teachers.  Children between 5 and 20 years of age, totaled 2,572; number actually enrolled in school, 926.  Amount paid to teachers for their services during the year, $1,681.57, which averaged approximately $76 per teacher.  AMOUNT RAISED BY TAXATION TO BUILD AND REPAIR SCHOOL HOUSES, $14.00.  This was the first tax levied and collected in Miller county for school purposes, although under the law of 1853, directors were empowered to levy a tax on both personal and real property.  Here was the beginning of our present public school system.⁴

1.  County Court Record Book B, page 174
2.  County Court Record Book C, page 77
3.  Appendix, House Journal, 20th General Assembly, 1859
4.  Ibid.

Early school teachers in Miller county included Silas Capps, Meredith Bowman, W.N. Harrison, Elisha Glass, Sebastian Williams, Jonathan Blevans, e.B. Farley, Samuel Allen, Thomas J. Marshall, Evan Short, Jesse Gott, James McMillen, S.T. Harrison, W. McComb, J.S. McComb, S. Bozarth, Haman Dyer, John Brockman and J. Milton Houston.  These were teachers who organized schools in the 1830’s and 40’s, of two or three months duration, for wages paid in part through boarding-around arrangements for hog and hominy and a place to sleep.

Thomas J. Marshall was probably the first teacher of public schools in the Pleasant Mount’ community; J. Milton Houston near Rocky Mount.  E.A. Henry probably taught the first school in the village of Tuscumbia; E.B. Farley in the vicinity of Bagnell.  Silas Capps probably taught the first schools in Osage township; Jonathan Blevans in Richwoods township; John T. Gilleland teacher of the first public schools around Olean; Elisha Glass near Brumley.

School Trustees in the 1857-59 era included Lewis Atkinson, Edward Henderson, J.M. Richardson, Joel Bond, Ludwell Bacon, and William Etter in Congressional Township School District No. 1; F.J. Adcock, C.T. Atkinson, J.H. Todd, A.M. Houston, and John L. Gilleland in Congressional Township School District No. 2; U.S. Dooley, William Wadley, John D. Reed, and Samuel T. Harrison in School District No. 3; James Johnston, James L. Wright, Hugh Gartin in School Disrict No. 4; John J. Denton, Silas Capps, Bruce Irwin, and J.L. Palmer in School District No. 5; Owen Riggs, John L. Fulkerson, William Pendleton, and F. Flaugher in School District No. 6; George Wilson, J.A. Stone, and W.A. Long in School District No. 7; L.W. Albertson, and Belche brothers in School District No. 8; Daniel Cummings, Thomas Scott, W. Loveall, and R. Bennett in School District No. 9; Reuben Burnett and William McComb in School District No. 10; W.L. Dodds, Jonathan Loveall, and I.S. Harrold in District No. 11; F.G. Hale, J.S. McComb, J.H. Hix, and W. Hawkins in School District No. 12; S. Bozarth, W.C. McCubbin, Haman Dyer, and J.L. West in School District No. 13; William Rouden, Henry Jones, T.J. Dickerson, J.H.C. Branham, and J. Johnston in School District No. 14; Bluford Benton, J.E. McComb, and August Thornsberry in School District No. 15; John W. Record, James McMillen, and Thomas Brown in School District No. 16; C.D. Martin, W.O. Short, and B.W. Acuff in Congressional Township School District No. 17.

Progress in education under the law of 1845, and 1855, was slow in Miller county.  The schools during this early period were likened to the clothing worn by the scholars, largely of home-spun varieties.  School buildings were of logs, with rock chimneys and fire-places, puncheon log floors and split-log benches, and for windows a log was cut and the opening covered with greased paper or a wooden shutter hung on leather hinges.

Usually the first child to school was privileged by the teacher to select a seat for the day, which was important.  In the winter a seat would be chosen nearer the fireplace; in the spring by the cut-log window.  The older boys first reaching the school building were privileged to cut a backlog for the fireplace and get in wood and water for the day.

The students, in age, often ranged from four years to grown men and women.  In earlier days the students wore clothing of leather breeches, jackets, and skirts; later, linsey-woolsey pantaloons and dresses.

Without any doubt the students were tough physically.  A traveler through the county before the Civil War reported there were many grown girls who wore no shoes, but that on school paths their hardened feet struck fire from the flint rocks.  He indicated all of the boys of school age could be tolled with a basket of soda biscuits to St. Louis.

Probably this was an exaggeration, but if students were tough physically, teachers were tougher!  Hickory sticks occupied prominent places in the school rooms, and the abilities of teachers to discipline their schools was an important part of their qualifications.  “Lickin’ and Larnin’” were the rules of the school trustees, and parents.  It may be written that in this era parents were more like schoolmasters to their children; schoolmasters, more like overseers of houses of correction.  Children stood in respectful silence before their parents when in their presence, but trembled at the sight of their schoolmasters, and did not dare speak without permission.

The required studies were reading, writing, and arithmetic, with spelling, and later, geography and grammar added.  In the beginning teaching was limited to the keeping of simple accounts as a farmer or village storekeeper, and how to cast an intelligent vote on the issues of the day.  The mere ability to read and write and cipher correctly distinguished an educated person from the uneducated.

School supplies were at such a premium, oral instructions from Webster’s spelling book, Smiley’s arithmetic, Kirkham’s grammar, and the Bible were the order of the day.  Lead pencils were hardly known before the Civil War, a few made by hammering out lead shot.  Pens were made from choice quills fresh pulled from the honking gander, while ink was made by boiling walnut hulls and sometimes polk berries.  For ciphering and writing, chalk and slates were used.

On December 28, 1859, William Abbott, a schoolmaster, sued John O. Carleton, William Wright, and Hezekiah Robinett, Trustees of a sub-district school in Congressional Township School District No. 12, located near the present day village of Brumley, on an account of five dollars for schooling of one scholar signed to a six months school in July, 1858, offset by a sow credit of two dollars.  The following persons, William G.B. Winfrey, Bluford Barton, Samuel Pennington, and Thomas Winfrey, were sworn as jurors to decide the case in a Justice of the Peace Court, and after hearing the evidence, returned into Court the following verdict:  “We the jury find for the Plaintiff (Abbott) the sum of three dollars.  Thomas Winfrey, Foreman.”

Barnabus Reed, Robert Reed, Hiram Reed, and James B. Reed, by their next friend, David Reed, in an action of trespass, complained that on July 24, 1848, the Reeds were at a reading and writing school in the peaceable enjoyment of their liberties, under the care of their teacher, when and where they were sent, and directed to go, by their parents; and the next day, Elisha W. Glass, envying their happy condition and seeking willfully and maliciously to injure, harass, imprison, impoverish, and wholly ruin them, did willfully and maliciously arrest, take, and imprison them, and caused them to be imprisoned for a long space of time, the space of fifty days, without any Just, reasonable, or probable cause, or without any writ, warrant, or other legal authority.  This caused the Reeds to lay out and expend various large sums of money in exonerating and defending themselves from this attack, -the sum of $100.  That Glass did willfully, maliciously, and with intent to injure them acted under the color of a Justice of the Peace, which caused the Reeds to suffer greatly in bodies and minds, and injured them to the amount of $1000 in sustained damages.

In the 1856-57 session of the University of Missouri, William V. Allen, 20 years of age, from Miller county, was the first student listed in a roster of 170 attending this higher institution of learning.  He was probably the first person from Miller county to attend the University of Missouri.

In 1856 the largest school district in Miller county, according to the number of children in school, was Congressional Township School District No. 1, which included the present day communities of Spring Garden, Etterville, and Mt. Herman.  The second largest, Congressional Township School District No. 2, included the present day communities of Olean, Mt. Pleasant, and most of the city of Eldon.  The third largest was District No. 10, the Congressional Township in which the village of Bagnell is now located.  The fourth largest was the Congressional Township School District No. 12, in which the village of Brumley is presently situated.

On February 25, 1859, the County Court, by actual count, ascertained the amount of money due each school district, and apportioned the money for the payment of teacher’s wages, a sum of $1,852.06.  This would have averaged about $43 to each school.  An examination of the rates paid teachers in the several schools before the Civil War, factually presented that teachers were paid about $15 a month with board.  A joint resolution of the General Assembly, approved May 11, 1861, diverted the state school fund monies from educational purposes to those of war and rebellion.

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

Frenchmen carried the Roman Catholic religion into Miller territory, but passing on, apparently established no missions.  Then for a time Frenchmen, Americans, and Indians were in the area whom differed very little in manners, morals, and customs.  Hunting was the honorable, and principal enterprise; churches and schools, unknown.

Frenchmen brought Christ to the Indians

From Schoolcraft’s journey through the Ozarks in 1818, we may gain some insight by his testimony; “The Sabbath is not known by any cessation of the usual avocations of the hunter in this region.  To him all days are equally unhallowed, and the first and last days of the week find him, alike, sunk in unconcerned sloth and stupid ignorance.  He neither thinks for himself nor reads the thoughts of others; and if he ever acknowledges his dependence upon the Supreme Being, it must be in that silent awe produced by the furious tempest, when the earth trembles with concussive thunders, and lightning shatters the oaks around his cottage –that cottage which certainly never echoed the voice of human prayer.”

So it was in the area afterward Miller county.  For the first three decades of the new Century, the few local inhabitants were laboriously wresting a rugged domain from the wild woods, prairies, and wilder beasts.

About 1835 the Baptists and Cumberland Presbyterians commenced preaching to inhabitants in the area of Central Missouri afterward Miller county.  Among the Missionary Baptists were Reverends Andrew Kingery, James W. Maxey, Lewis Shelton, Snelling Johnson, Harrison Elliott, Blueford Scott, and John M. Brockman.  They held services at the residence of William Brockman, the meeting place and election precinct of Saline township, Cole county, and later, at the houses of Sarter’s, McCastlin’s, Vernon’s, and Wilkes’; and at Reuben Short’s house in the Big Richwoods.  For a number of years Reverends John Abbott and Jacob Chism preached to the Hardshell Baptists, better known as the Primitive Baptists.  In their zeal for primitive Christianity, many of the Virginia and Kentucky Baptists, excelled the Scotch and some of the English and Welsh Baptists, in their more profound piety and consecration to the Redeemer’s cause and glory.

In the early thirties the Cumberland Presbyterians sent Reverends John and Finis Ewing into Miller’ territory.  The Methodists sent Reverend Brashears to Pleasant Mount; Abraham Castleman to Tuscumbia and the Big Richwoods.  They were followed by Benjamin Carnaham, William H. Duvall, John H. Robertson, Jehu Carnes, John Monroe, John D. Reed, and David Henderson.  John D. Reed was pastor of the first church in the village of Tuscumbia.  He died at Pleasant Mount, January 1, 1864, after a brief illness.  Also, John Copeland, David Carnes, B.A. Parrott, David Dutcher, Albert Rhoads, H.K. Litsinger, and Martin E. Paul, Methodist ministers, preached in Miller county.

In the middle thirties ministers of the denomination known as the Disciples of Christ, the reforming Baptist’ followers of Alexander Campbell, entered the area, preaching first in the Big Richwoods, then at Spring Garden, Pleasant Mount, and Little Richwoods.

Without any doubt the first church house in Miller territory was the Smyrna log building, raised in 1834, by Methodists, in the Big Richwoods.

The first record of a church organized in Miller territory was in 1835.  It was organized near the place where the little Gravois creek empties into the Osage river just above present day Bagnell.  A presbytery consisting of Elders Cornelius McLaughlin, Lewis Shelton, and Andrew Kingery met at the house of William Sarter and established The United Baptist Church of Christ at Gilgal.  This congregation raised a log church house.

The first members of this church were William Sarter, William Brockman, John M. Bartlett, John Brockman, Ebenezer Vernon, Andrew Salsbury, Thomas Sarter, David Johnson, and Silas, a colored man, Delila Sarter, Lucy Brockman, Elizabeth Bartlett, Nancy Brockman, Nancy Sarter, Sally Bennett, Sarah Sarter, and Mourning Johnson.  David W. Johnson was the first clerk; Ebenezer Vernon the first treasurer.

The first Deacons were John Brockman and John M. Bartlett.  They were ordained by Elders Cornelius McLaughlin and Andrew Kingery, Deacons Martin D. Nolan and William Johnson, on Sunday, October 4, 1835.

Those persons who joined the church in 1936, were Elizabeth Degraffenreid, Sims Brockman, Andrew Kingery, and Peter Sarter.  Zebulon and Sarah Loveall joined in 1837, John and Fanny Walker in 1838, George O. Morris and Sarah Vaughan in 1840.  John Vaughan, Jonathan Loveall, Obediah Vaughan, Patsy Sarter, Mahaly Vaughan, Nancy Vaughan, Rebecca Vaughan, Jesse R. Johnson, Mary Conner, Peoba McKay, and Mary Steele joined the church in 1841.

Early pastors of Gilgal Church were Andrew Kingery, 1836-38; Snelling Johnson, 1838-39; George O. Morris, 1840-46; John M. Brockman, 1850-62.

John M. Brockman was licensed to preach in 1839.  His license stated:  “The United Baptist Church of Christ at Gilgal, Miller County, Missouri.  To all persons concerned.  This is to certify that our beloved Brother John Brockman is legally authorized by the authority of this Church to exercise a public gift as a licensed preacher of the gospel where ever God in his providence may cast his lot.  Done by order of the Church the First Saturday in April, 1839.  James M. Maxey, Moderator; Thomas Lantor, Clerk Protem.”

John M. Brockman was ordained to the ministry in 1842.  The ordination notice stated “The undersigned presbytery being called by the United Baptist Church at Gilgal sitting in conference on Saturday, the 8th day of October, 1842, at their stated meeting and having presented Brother John Brockman to us for examination to the work of the ministry and we did proceed to examine him in presence of the Church and he giving full satisfaction on the call of the ministry and his vows of the gospel we proceeded to set apart to the work of the ministry with full authority to administer the ordinances of God’s house wherever God in his providence may cast his lot so long as he shall remain in fellowship with the church.  Signed in order.  Levi Roark, Reuben Short.”

In 1844, the Miller County Association of Baptist Churches was organized at Gilgal.  On September 5, 1845, the first annual session was held there with John Brockman, Moderator; Z.W. McCubbin, Clerk and Treasurer.  The annual sermon was delivered by W.C. McCubbin, the text taken from I Cor. 15:10.

In the earlier 1840’s the Missionary Baptists erected the Mt. Vernon Church.  Ebenezer Vernon, a member of the Gilgal congregation, believed going to church at the mouth of the Little Gravois creek too arduous an undertaking for people living in Saline township, ox-wagons and shank’s mare being the chief means of transportation.  Something aught to be done about it, so he set himself to the task.

Through his efforts, The United Baptist Church at Mount Vernon was organized, with Andrew McCastland, Melon Moore, and Samuel Gilleland, Trustees.

Services were first held on the hill at the western side of the Mulkey Plantation, until a Baptist Tabernacle was erected on a tract of land containing one acre, one road, one pole, one yard, three feet and one hundred inches, in the Blythes creek’ valley.  Ebenezer Vernon conveyed this tract of land to the trustees of the church for “so long as it may remain a place of public worship, or at least for ninety and nine years.”

The congregation stipulated, “We the United Baptist at Mount Vernon meeting house, agreeable to an Article signed for building of said meeting house, do agree that all denominations shall have free access to said House except on our church days, or public meeting days.¹

At the Annual meeting of the Miller County Association of Baptist Churches, in the Autumn of 1851, at the Mount Vernon Tabernacle, a heated discussion arose concerning the use of the building by other denominations.  The Disciples of Christ, having used the building for some time, moved away, establishing the Salem Church, approximately one-half mile westward.

1.  Deed Book A, page 211, Recorder’s Office, Courthouse

On April 12, 1840, Reuben Short, Z.W. McCubbin, William McCubbin, James McCubbin, and William Reed met near the Barren Fork creek.  Ten articles of faith, and rules of decorum, were read and adopted, establishing The United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at Little Richwoods.

The rules of decorum included “The Church shall have a moderator and a clerk” and “The moderator shall demand and be a judge of good order and have a right to call to order at any time.  Any member not satisfied with his decision on any point of view may appeal to the Church on the same day but on no other.”

In December, 1840, the church was organized, with George O. Morris, Moderator.  The first members were Reuben Short, Z.W. McCubbin, William C. McCubbin, James McCubbin, William Reed, Margarett McCubbin, Elizabeth E. McCubbin, Cynthian McCubbin, Mary McCubbin, and Zarepla B. McCubbin.  William McCubbin was the first deacon.

William Reed and Reuben Short were granted letters of dismissal from the church in June, 1841, but seven new additions increased the congregation to fifteen members.  The church licensed Z.W. McCubbin to preach, and ordained William McCubbin to the ministry in 1843.  In the same year an arm of the church was extended to the Grand Auglaize creek.  This mission prospered, saving many souls in that area.

In 1845 the congregation proposed building a house of worship, and four years later raised a log building one-half mile north and east from the present day Hickory Point Baptist Church house.

In September, 1846, the second annual session of the Miller County Association of Baptist Churches was held at Little Richwoods.  John Brockman was Moderator, Z.W. McCubbin, Clerk and Treasurer.  The annual sermon was delivered by Rev. John Brockman, the text taken from Mark 16:15.

In the year of 1854, William C. McCubbin received a sum of $12.50 for his services as pastor.

The church house was used by other denominations, especially the Disciples of Christ.  In the late forties this denomination almost destroyed the Baptist congregation at Little Richwoods.  Devout members of the Baptist faith were excluded from the church if caught in conversation or visiting with the reforming followers of Alexander Campbell.

In 1842, Reverend Thomas McComb, a fiery Primitive Baptist preacher, established a church at the Blue spring in what is now Franklin township.  The first members of this church were dismissals from the Gilgal congregation.

The following year some members of this congregation led bull teams into the woods, hauling out logs for a new house of worship.  John Conner, just a chunk of a lad, helped with the oxen in this undertaking.  A number of bull teams were gadded by ox drivers to Brockman’s sawmill on the Saline creek where dressed lumber was obtained for flooring, tables, and benches.

In 1844, the church house was completed.  It was located in the middle of a field, by a spring of clear, running water.  This spring, gurgling from a deep hole in which the color of the water appeared deeply blue, appropriately allowed the name, Blue Spring Baptist Church.

In 1843, Reverend Reuben Short organized The Big Richwoods United Baptist Church of Christ.  The first members of this church were Reuben Short, Melvina Short, Paulin Gardner, Marry Allen, John Shelton, Daniel Spurlock, and James Shelton.  They met at the Smyrna church house in the Big Richwoods.

Early preachers at this place included John M. Brockman, Harrison Elliott, William C. McCubbin, and George O. Morris, also, James and Allen Henderson preached here.

In September, 1847, the third annual session of the Miller County Association of Baptist Churches was held at the Smyrna church with John Brockman, Moderator; Z.W. McCubbin, Clerk.  The annual sermon was delivered by Reverend Harrison Elliott, the text taken from Jonah 2:9.

In the 1850’s ill feelings arose between the Baptist and Methodist congregations using the Smyrna building, so the Baptists decided they would build a house of their own.  With this in mind, the congregation elected five trustees, -Rev. Reuben Short, James Bowlin, Alvis Duncan, Wm. R. Wright, and Paulin Gardner.

In March 1858, the trustees purchased a one acre lot from Samuel P. and Mary Melvina Tucker, the deed executed by Squire Haman Dyer.¹  A few graves were on this lot; Elija, 55 years of age, a son of Squire Haman Dyer, buried in 1841, apparently the first internment.  This was the beginning of the Iberia Cemetery.

A building of hewn logs, large in size, was raised on the lot.  When the Baptists moved into this building, a few members of the congregation remained at Smyrna.  The Smyrna group labeled the new church congregation selfish, biggoted, and sulky!!.  From this the Sulky  church was born.

1.  Deed Book C, page 513, Recorder’s office, Courthouse

In 1843 the United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at Little Richwoods established a mission point on the Grand Auglaize creek.  In 1855, Reverend William C. McCubbin, preaching at the mission, organized the Union Church.

The first members were George Payne, William Hawkins, Jacob McComb, Presley Hawkins, Alfred Devore, Francis Payne, Catherine Hawkins, Sarepta Hawkins, Mary F. Hawkins, Mary McComb, and Elizabeth Devore.  Church was held in homes, especially the residence of Presley Hawkins.

In September, 1859, the 15th annual session of the Miller County Association of Baptist Churches was held at the Union Church.  The annual sermon was preached by Reverend John Brockman, the text taken from II Cor. 5:12.  William C. McCubbin was Moderator; William Hawkins, Clerk.

The first church in Miller county of the Christian denomination known as The Disciples of Christ was organized in the Big Richwoods in 1835, by Elder Isaac Clark.  They used the Smyrna building, a small log house.  Abraham Castleman, a Methodist Circuit Rider, was obliged to report “On my first visit to Elder Isaac’s reforming meeting, I witnessed scenes of the wildest enthusiasm for the Redeemer’s cause and glory.  A Baptist and a disgusted scene of a Methodist coming up to be prayed for, obliged me to take exception, for he aught to have known better.”   For reasons unknown, this congregation soon lost its enthusiasm.

The second church of the followers of Alexander Campbell was organized at Spring Garden in 1840, by Peter Cartwright.  Reverend Phillip Mulkey was the first pastor.  This became the Mother Church of this denomination in Miller county.  Charter members included Madison H. Belshe, Robert Belshe, Robert H. Simpson, Gabriel Simpson, Samuel C.H. Witten, Boyd Miller, John Bond, William Musick, John Greenup, James W. Morrow, Wm. G. Hoff, and John Sullens.

In 1844, by a small burial plot where a point of timber put up to the prairie, the congregation erected a frame church house.  This building was 24 feet in width by 36 feet in length.

In 1845, Boyd Miller donated two acres of land to the community of Spring Garden for 999 years.  This was the land upon which the church house and burial ground were situated.  Thomas Sullens, John Bond, and William Musick were the first trustees of the church house and cemetery.¹

Early preachers at this place included Reverends Phillip Mulkey, Nelson A. Davis, J. Stubblefield, William Jones, G.W. Longdon, J. Creath, E.P. Belshe, and Cyrus P. Arbuckle.

The Disciples of Christ organized a Christian Church at Mount Vernon in late 1841.  They used the building erected by their Baptist brethren, but the two congregations never enjoying harmonious affection, eventually separated, giving rise to Salem Church.

In 1852 the congregation of The Christian Church at Mount Vernon appointed Albert G. Wilkes, trustee, to lease twenty acres of land from Alfred M. Houston, for a site on which to build a meeting house and stipulated:

“Said House shall belong to the Christian Church and shall be known as their property yet it shall be free at all times for all other denominations of professed Christians to hold their meetings in when not occupied by the Christian Church; each denomination arranging their meetings as much as possible so as to not come in collision with the regular meetings of others at the same place.  Nor shall the Christian Church or any other possess the power to sell, or make to sell, or make away with said House in anyway so as to change the principles thereof, and thereby defraud the community who may subscribe to the building thereof.”²

Afterward known as the Salem Church, early preachers included Reverends J.S. Bonham, Henry Tomson, John Bezoi, J.H.D. Thompson, and J. Findley.

In the late 1840’s, the Disciples of Christ organized a Christian Church in the Little Richwoods.  Meeting at the Baptist Church house, this congregation, by their reforming tactics, kept their Baptist brethren constantly opposing their counsel.  Eventually, Baptist visiting, or merely talking with Campbellites, marked them for expulsion from the Baptist’ congregation.

In 1855, The Alder Spring Church of Christ was organized in the township of Richwoods; and in 1856, Elders Thomas O. Workman and J.C. Glass, commenced preaching to inhabitants in the Little Richwoods.

1.  Deed Book A, pages 473, 474, Recorder’s office
2.  Deed Book B, page 267

The Methodists were early active in this area, with Rev. Brashears preaching to the inhabitants in 1833.  The Methodist Church established circuits for ministers, with Reverends Abraham Castleman, John Monroe, John D. Reed, and David Henderson early Circuit Riders.

The first church house in territory afterward Miller county, the Smyrna log building, in the Big Richwoods, near the Henderson Settlement, was erected by Methodists, in 1834.  Hite’s Chapel, another early Methodist church, was situated on the Hite Plantation, in Saline township.

In 1841 Reverend John Monroe organized a Methodist Church at Mount Pleasant.  William P. Dixon, Claiborn Still, Joseph Sullivan, William Ragsdall, A.M. Smith, John Sons, and John T. Davis were the first Board of Trustees.  Church was held in the homes of Methodist brethren, especially the Dresser’s, Dixon’s, and Smith’s.

A member of the congregation of the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church was summoned on July 8, 1848, in the following manner:

“Very dear brother:  In as much that you are charged with the crime of gross immorality, I hereby notify you to appear with all the train of evidence you can in your favor bearing on the crime to wit of being the father of an illegitimate child; the time and place of the trial in the house of Mr. Samuel Dresser at Mount Pleasant on Monday the 14th of August, 1848, at the hour of 10 o’clock A.M.
                                                                                             Yours in trust, John Monroe”

The committee, composed of the church board, found the defendant not guilty in manner and form as alleged against him, one member dissenting, and it was recorded, “from the evidence and all the proceedings that came before the church by her committee I am hereby duty bound to sustain the majority of the committee.  John Monroe, Pastor, This 14th day of August, 1848.”

With characteristic zeal, the Methodist Episcopal Church involved its ministers and membership in the abolition movement.  When a temporizing course was adopted allowing congregations, or circuits, to vote on the question, the Church divided into two factions; the Northern against slavery, the Southern for slavery.  In conference at Smyrna, in 1846, the Methodists in Miller county voted unanimously for allegiance to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1858, a Methodist church house, a log building, was erected at Pleasant Mount.  The Church Board of Trustees included William P. Dixon, Larkin Norfleet, William Swanson, John T. Davis, W.R. Litsinger, John H. Sullens, Thomas J. Marshall, Isaac J. Dodds, and William Grandstaff.

The congregation, having erected a church building and parsonage which cost over $700, stipulated ministers and preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South be sent to reside in and occupy the aforesaid parsonage.¹

In the late 1850’s the Smyrna congregation in the Big Richwoods, torn asunder by the slavery question, re-organized.  The new congregation purchased two acres of land from James R. Green, and two acres of land from David and Anna Shelton, in Section 1, Township 39N, Range 12W, “together with all and singular the houses, woods, waterways, privileges and appurtenances thereto” to be held in trust by T.J. Dickerson, G.T. Atwell, S.L. Wilson, Levi Carnes, D. Lawson, D. Etter, and J.K. Howell, as Trustees, and the successors in office, forever.

It was stipulated the Trustees “shall erect and build or cause to be erected and built a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, according to the rules and disciplines which from time to time may be agreed upon, and accepted by the ministers and preachers of the said church, at their general conferences; and in further trust and confidence that they shall at all time forever hereafter permit said ministers and preachers belonging to the said church as shall from time to time be duly authorized by the general conference of the ministers and preachers of the said Methodist Episcopal Church South, or by the annual conference, authorized by the general conference, to preach and expand God’s Holy word therein.²

The first church house in Tuscumbia, a Methodist building, was erected by Champ Smith, in February, 1860.  This house of worship was situated on lots numbered 7 & 10, block 36, and was erected for $99.61.

The sending of abolitionist preachers into Central Missouri by the Methodist Episcopal Church, then the great upheaval and division of the church over slavery, shattered Methodism in Miller county.  Internecine conflict completed its destruction.

The Methodist church building at Tuscumbia, housing a saloon during the Civil War, was later destroyed by fire.  In 1866 the trustees sold the Methodist church house, parsonage, and grounds at Pleasant Mount to private interests.  Eventually Hite’s Chapel ceased to exist, and the Smyrna congregation, moving into Maries county, embraced another denomination.

The largest denomination in the earlier days of the county’s history, Methodism deserved a better fate!

Prior to the Civil War, in Glaze township, The Aboah Church of New York, owning real estate, enjoyed a small following.

1.  Deed Book C, page 607, Recorder’s office, Courthouse
2.  Ibid., pages 527, 528

Most earlier settlers in the United States came from countries having embraced some form of the Protestant faith.  Most came to enjoy a religious freedom impossible in the lands of their birth. 

The Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians settled in New Jersey, later extending along the Allegheny ridges into the southern colonies.  The Baptists and Methodists first settled in eastern Pennsylvania; the Quakers around Philadelphia, the Lutherans along the Delaware; the Puritans in New England.

The followers of the English national faith first established the Episcopal Church in the southern colonies, and in some extent, elsewhere, the only exception being Maryland, a colony founded by a group of persecuted Roman Catholics in 1632.

In 1647, Rhode Island adopted the first law ever enacted by an English-speaking people providing for freedom of religious worship.  In 1649, Maryland enacted a similar law, but being a Catholic colony, this law was soon overthrown by the English, and a rigid Episcopal Church rule established.

Eventually, except in the Puritan colonies, the Episcopal Church was the Established Church, and supported by a general tax.  The old orthodox English national faith, in spite of the earlier settlers having come to this country for religious freedom, now sought to rule or ruin.

However, by 1750, the monopoly of the Puritans in New England, and the Episcopal Church in the central and southern colonies, was being challenged.

The Baptists, the first denomination to openly attack the old religious solidarity, was joined in the late 1760’s by the Presbyterians and Methodists, and the fight against entrenched orthodoxy was on in earnest, without one scruple to deceive.

To escape the tax for the established church, the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians commenced moving out.  Entire congregations, with their pastors, followed the buffalo paths and Indian trails westward, moving into Kentucky and Tennessee.  Even the Quakers, due to the rigid discipline of the church, commenced losing members.  This included the Boone family, made famous by Daniel.

After the Revolutionary War, although the tax for the support of the Episcopal Church was abolished in the Carolinas, Virginia, and other places, the flight westward of the common people continued.

Then dissatisfaction occurred among the dissenters.  The Presbyterian Church divided over whether ministers should be educated or uneducated.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, using lay ministers, was organized.

Reverend Alexander Campbell, a Baptist who intended merely to reform the church, when joined by Reverend Barton W. Stone, leading a party of New Lights  in Kentucky, emerged from the affray as the Disciples of Christ.

The Baptist brethren divided into splinter groups, the Missionary Baptist being the stronger.

So it was in those days when our forefathers in Kentucky and the hills of Tennessee, especially, turned their eyes across the Mississippi, where land could be obtained for $1.25 an acre, and as Cumberland Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ moved into the area later Miller county.

In no one grand, distinctive Christian practice, or characteristic doctrine, did they differ; the appreciable difference indeed being over baptism by immersion or sprinkling although tactics, economics, and ecclesiastical politics caused religious ferment by both saint and sinner.

Each denomination in those earlier days found their candidates for baptism occasionally getting religious, relating strange scenes, irrepressible emotions, grand and marvelous feelings.

The present territory of Miller county, when members of the Roman Catholic faith first appeared on its pages of history, was far removed from known civilization, inhabited by a people known as savages.

These savages, or Indians, used the undressed hide of buffalo, deer, and bear for clothing.  They painted their skins for ornament, and decorated their heads with feathers from the eagle.  The Indian men, or braves, possessed of great physical strength, were remarkable for their endurance in walking and running.  They subsisted on wild meat, and on such fruits and plants as the wilderness produced without cultivation.  They were skilled in the art of hunting wild animals found in the forests and upon the prairies.  The women were practiced in basket-making, the material being of the twigs from willows.  They also sewed together, for clothing, the hides of animals, using needles of bone and leather for thread.  Usually, in the summertime, women tended small patches of maize, beans, and pumpkins.

Such was the condition of the people when Dutisne crossed Miller county in 1719.  He found the Indians clustered in villages, living in houses made of stakes stuck in the ground, curtained or boarded with skin and bark, and covered with the boughs of trees.

The Indians worshipped two gods, the good and bad Monitou.  The bad Monitou was the ague, unfortunate occurrences of every kind, and death.  The good Monitou was everything beneficial to their living, and precarious existence, in the Wilderness.  The Indians, at the breaking of dawn, commenced a mournful wailing and howling dirge, each day lamenting departed ancestors, abruptly ending after some moments.  Their countenances immediately restored, they quickly entered upon their labors.

Other Frenchmen of the Roman Catholic faith followed, after Dutisne, through Miller county.  Without any doubt they informed the natives of the Gospel, for it is known a few Indians were converted to Christianity, but by and large, being uninhibited childen of the Wilderness, the Indians displayed an unwillingness to abandon the religion of their ancestors.

In spite of this, and other strange ways, the Frenchmen treated the Osage Indians with much respect, most of the time with profound fondness, unashamed of their religion.  Because of this treatment, the Osage Indians very early allied themselves with the French Roman Catholics.

This instance of consideration toward the Indians by the French Roman Catholics is a striking example of how human kindness can be a source of most lasting good.

Without any doubt the first Roman Catholic to settle in the area now Miller county, was a Frenchman, by name of Bevois.  In 1812, coming up the Osage river, he found, at the mouth of the Little Gravois creek, surroundings very much to his liking.  Upon putting in to shore, having quite a number of slaves, he engaged them in clearing, plowing, sowing; and raising a number of log cabins, by a large Indian orchard.

His Plantation prospered from the beginning, and too, he hunted extensively across the present area of Central Missouri.  After two years, having succeeded so well in his endeavors, he prepared to return to St. Louis.  Loading a number of rafts with peltries, many hides, and much produce for the St. Louis market, he departed, downriver, in the Spring of 1814, for the Mississippi, leaving his slaves to care for the Plantation and his property in their charge.

Bevois indicated he would return before the sun reached the highest point in the heaven, but this he did not do; and his fate is unknown.

The first Roman Catholic land owners in Miller county were Thomas and Nicholas Browse, who patented land north of present day St. Elizabeth, near the river, in 1837.  The next year Owen and Calvin Riggs patented land in the same area, while Edmund Riggs settled later, up-river.

The Roman Catholics now in Miller county owe their presence here more to Awhen Riccs, of Tyler county, Virginia, anglicized Owen Riggs, than any other man. 

Owen Riggs, intelligent and hard-working, was a jolly Irishman.  He and Calvin raised a puncheon log house, with board roof, and half-log floor, near the Big Tavern creek, and commenced clearing, buying, and entering land.  They obtained many improvements from earlier settlers, purchasing the land from the Government.  An instance of this may be given.

Sold to Owen and Calvin Riggs, “The improvement on which I now live with the appurtenances thereto; also, my other improvement west of the Big Tavern creek together with two head of horses, twelve head of cattle, and eighty head of hogs.”  Abraham Brasier, January 6, 1846.¹

An early storekeeper, Owen was associated with Daniel Cummings, under the firm name of Cummings and Riggs, at Tuscumbia, for some time.  When Flaugher school, north of present day St. Elizabeth, was organized in 1851, Owen was the school’s most ardent booster; overseeing the raising of a log house for school purposes by the Big Tavern creek.

The next year, when inhabitants of Congressional Township 41 North, Range 12 West, organized Miller County School District No. 6, the meeting was held at the house of Owen and Calvin Riggs.  After organization on the 4th Saturday in March, 1852, the Miller County Court appointed Owen Riggs, Commissioner of the new District.

Other Roman Catholics who owned land in the vicinity of present day St. Elizabeth before the Civil War, of Irish, French, and German ancestry, included Nicholas Riggs; Patrick Whalen; William and Washington Padgett; Calaghan McCarthy; Chancey Alberty; Patrick Dallen; John and Bailey G. Reynolds; James O’Brian; Oran, Lucas, and Sidney Disbrow; Campbell A. McCarty; Richard A. Warner; David Bierner; Jno. S. Lilland; and Dr. Charles O. Curtman.  These families, many not practicing in the faith, having no parish, and being in strong protestant territory, were served, if at all, by missionaries of the faith from Westphalia, a colony of German Catholics having settled in the present area of Osage county about 1835.

Catholic families in Miller county, often slave owners, escaped the bitter hatred directed toward many German Catholics and Pennsylvania Dutch Protestants by Anglo-Saxon supporters of the Southern cause during the Civil War.

After the Civil War, Owen Riggs established the town of St. Elizabeth, by the Osage river.  He was a prime mover in the erection of a house of worship in the village, the first Catholic Church in Miler county.

Owen Riggs died on October 5, 1875, leaving his widow, Malinda H.; minor daughters, Missouri M. and Elizabeth; and married daughters Virginia C. and Martha T.

Virginia C. was married to William McHugh; Martha T. to Joseph Luckenhoff.

At the time of his demise Owen Riggs owned nearly six thousand acres of land in Congressional Township 41N, Range 12W.  This estate was almost exclusively sold to satisfy an indebtedness to C.W. Holtschneider, a merchant at Westpahlia; which opened the door to the rapid migration of German families into Miller county from the Catholic parish at Westphalia, and later, the establishment of Charlestown, today’s thriving city of St. Elizabeth.

When the Civil War commenced there were ten church buildings in Miller county.  These were 1. Gilgal (Baptist)  2. Big Richwoods (Baptist)  3. Little Richwoods (Baptist) 4. Blue Springs (Baptist) 5. Mount Vernon (Baptist) 6. Hite’s Chapel (Methodist) 7. Mount Pleasant (Methodist) 8. Tuscumbia (Methodist) 9. Salem (Disciples of Christ)
10. Spring Garden (Disciples of Christ).

The Baptists, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ were the chief denominations in the county.

Ministers of the Gospel in Miller county before the Civil war included:

1.  Deed Book A, pages 448, 449, Recorder’s Office