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COOPER COUNTY CITY HALL & ELECTIONS COOPER COUNTY CITY HALL There was a huge jump in County population between 1850 and 1890. Cooper County was growing quickly due to the Steamboats and the Railroads, until the start of the Civil War in 1861. Although Boonville was first settled in February 1810, it wasn’t incorporated by the State of Missouri until February 10, 1839. Unfortunately, records of the city’s business from 1839-1857 have been lost to history and no one even knows where City Hall was located during those early years. Thespian Hall was built in the mid-1850s and City Hall moved into the second floor. City Hall remained there until sometime in the 1870s at which time it moved to the old fire station at 413 East Spring. It remained there until 1913. In 1913, the third and current Cooper County Court House was built across the street from the Frederick Hotel. For the next 55 years, City Hall called the first floor of that building home. It was their longest stay at any one location. In the late 1960s, Boonville was blessed with a new Post Office building and the old one, after being acquired by the City of Boonville, became the new City Hall. It was the first time City Hall was in its own building. City business was conducted and council meetings were held here until the spring/summer of 2012. Kemper Bank sat on the southwest corner of Main and Spring. When that building became available, City Hall had a new home. After renovations, City Hall moved into its new space in mid-2012. But other changes were made and the City Council no longer met at City Hall. For the next five months, July through November 2012, the City Council met at the current fire station at the corner of Main and Bingham. On December 3, 2012, the Boonville City Council met for the first time in their very own quarters in the newly renovated old-City Hall/Post Office building. The occasion was celebrated by the presenting of Colors by Boy Scouts Troop 67. Will City Hall and the Council Chambers ever move again? Only the future can answer that but, at the moment, there are no plans to do so. Source: Historically Yours by Elizabeth Davis CITY ELECTIONS 100 YEARS AGO Cooper County municipal elections took place earlier this month (April 2018) with a voter turn-out of 7.2 per cent. For Boonville, voters had five positions to fill—Mayor and four City Councilmen/women. There would have been seven positions to fill had not the Board of Education voted earlier in the year to accept the two candidates running for the two open seats on the School Board. There was much talk around town about how bad it was that all these candidates were running unopposed. While this might not have been the best situation, it was hardly something new. Looking back a hundred years, things haven’t changed all that much. In 1918, Boonville’s municipal election took place on April 2. Voters turned out to fill eleven offices in the community: Mayor, Marshal, Collector, City Attorney, Treasurer, Police Judge, Assessor, and Councilmen for Wards One through Four. Please note there was no “slash women” in the listing for councilmen in 1918. Remember, at that time, women had not yet been granted suffrage and running for office was just as unheard of. The major change between 2018 and 1918 was the offices to be filled. The offices of Marshal, Collector, City Attorney, Treasurer, Police Judge, and Assessor no longer exist. Their duties have either been transferred to other positions in the city or the county or are no longer elected positions. However, what all 11 offices in 1918 had in common with the five offices in 2018 was that all the candidates ran unopposed. It seems that even 100 years ago, people weren’t always willing to step-up to the plate and serve. The only other item of interest between the two elections was when the City Council met to approve the election results. In 2018, the City Council waited seven days. In 1918, the City Council met the same day as the election. The official City Council minutes show a meeting on April 2, 1918, where the city council met to count the votes as certified in the poll books. It appears that only when all candidates ran unopposed did this same day of counting votes take place. Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SALARIES 100 YEARS AGO The business of Boonville is conducted by the Mayor and Members of the City Council. The mayor sets the agenda and conducts the meeting but has no vote unless there’s a tie. The number of councilmen varies from time to time depending on the number of wards. In 1894, there were six wards. There were four in 1918. Both times each ward had two representatives serving two-year terms. Half the council was elected or re-elected each year. While these positions of authority are not full-time jobs, they do carry a great deal of responsibility. It is only right and fitting that these servants of the people be paid. But how much and how often should that amount be raised? Recently, the question of a raise was brought before the Council. It was noted that there hadn’t been a raise in over ten years. But what about a hundred years ago? How much did the Mayor and Members of the Council get paid and how long did they go between raises? To better understand the past, one needs to know that the old City Council meeting minutes were handwritten in large books. New books weren’t started at the beginning of each year, they started a new book when the old one was filled. One book went from July 1894 to May 1911. The next one was dated June 1911 to January 1923. According to the Ordinances Appropriating Money in July 1894, Members of the Council received $12.50 a quarter, or $50 a year. The mayor received $37.50 a quarter, or $150 a year. Twenty-nine years later, in January 1923, Members of the Council were still getting $12.50 a quarter. The mayor was doing a little better. His pay went to $25 a month beginning April 1896. Twenty-four years later, the mayor’s pay doubled to $50 a month beginning June 1920. Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours

HOW TO DO ORAL HISTORIES Preserving today’s memories for tomorrow Probably the most interesting and fun way to learn about the life of a relative is to conduct an Oral History session with them. This is a very informal way to learn about their life in a relaxed atmosphere. As people age their memories often fade, but reliving the important things that happened in their life brings things back into focus so that the special memories can be relived and enjoyed while they are being recorded. In the past, tape recorders were used to conduct these informal interviews, but today, recording on a cell phone is just as effective. Just by asking simple questions you will learn about family traditions and hear some very good stories. The session can bring your family tree to life. Some general rules: Make an appointment – don’t just show up. Be clear about what you would like to accomplish and get their permission. Get permission to use your phone to record what they say, and for you to take notes. Make sure to record the time, date and location of the interview, and the name of the interviewee and interviewer. Start off with simple questions – when and where were they born? Who were your siblings? Where did you spend your early years, and school years? If you ask a “when” question they may not remember, but if you phrase it – “did this happen before or after you graduated from high school” or “about how old were you when…?” Don’t push for answers, as they may be uncomfortable discussing that question. Ask if they would rather talk about something else. Keep the session short – sometimes an hour is enough. Here are some sample topics: What do you remember about your childhood? What do you remember about your parents? Your siblings, your grandparents or childhood friends? Did your family have any special traditions on birthdays or holidays? When did you leave home? Were there wars, natural disasters or political changes that you recall? How did these events affect you? What did your parents do for a living when you were growing up? Did you help them? Did you learn any special skills from your parents? What was your first job? How old were you when you started working? What different jobs have you had during your lifetime? What do you remember about your grandparents? Did religion play a part in your family? Other possible topics: education, military service, entertainment as they were growing up, family personalities, pets, raising their own family, family recipes, travel, hobbies. I found that cookies and a beverage are good to bring along with you to help the interviewee relax. When my sister and I interviewed our mother, we learned several things that we had not known. Mom grew up on the prairie of Montana during the early Depression. At age six she rode her horse 4 miles to school and back. She had a pet lamb that was rejected by his mother, that she bottle-fed, and he was her only pet. One day she could not find “Curly” and then discovered that he was the main course for the dinner for the reapers that day. We asked if she missed anything about Montana when she moved back to Wisconsin. She said “NO” except my horse and “Curley”. By: Barbara Dahl Family Search : this is a free Mormon web site of information, and can be very helpful, but one needs to verify information taken from them as they are known to have a lot of errors and inaccuracies on family information. MO Birth & Death Records Finding Vital Records Finding Land Records

STRUGGLE FOR STATEHOOD The part of the Louisiana Purchase that was once known as the “Missouri Territory” in 1804 , applied to Congress to become a state in 1819 . This request for statehood is a testament to the rapid growth of the Boonslick area as it changed from being a French and Spanish Territory into a US state. It was a very bumpy, but short ride, and eventually proved to be worth the struggle. Missouri Compromise of 1820 map, Library of Congress In (1818) Missouri applied to be admitted into the Union. This application caused a nationwide dispute between slavery and antislavery sympathizers which was not settled until 1820 with the Missouri Compromise. There were 10,000 slaves in Missouri at the end of the Civil War, most of them in the Boonslick area. When Missouri decided to become part of the Union, many members of Congress were not enthusiastic about admitting another slave state. In 1821 , Congress passed the Missouri Compromise, which allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state. (1820) The question of Missouri statehood hangs in the balance until the Missouri Compromise is reached. (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “The Missouri Constitution Convention met at the Mansion House Hotel in St. Louis, adopting the first Missouri Constitution five weeks later. Soon after, the first statewide elections were held for delegates to the general assembly and statewide offices including the governor and lieutenant governor. Missouri frontiersman Alexander McNair, who became the third man to fill the governor's chair following two other territorial governors, was technically, the first governor of Missouri. He received 72 percent of the vote, defeating the famous explorer and Missouri Territorial Governor William Clark. McNair served as governor from 1820-1824 . Among the new legislative body's first action was to make St. Charles the first state capitol. While Missouri was preparing for statehood, it stood at the center of fierce national debates on the future of enslaved Black people and the institution of slavery. Missouri’s admittance to the Union was in peril until the Missouri Compromise of 1820 , which allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine entered the U.S. as a free state, thus keeping the balance of slave and free states equal in congress. The Missouri Compromise prohibited slavery north of the 36th parallel at the southern boundary of Missouri.” One of several petitions circulated throughout the Missouri Territory and signed by its residents in the Washington County region in 1817. The petitions were presented to Congress in early 1818, marking the first attempt to have Missouri admitted as a state, C3982, State Historical Society of Missouri. (1821) Missouri becomes the 24th state admitted into the United States August 10, 1821. (Courtesy of the Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “U.S. Congress allowed for admission of Missouri as the 24th state, a result of the Missouri Compromise of 1820 , a decision that would ultimately lead to the American Civil War. The vote was close by both the House and Senate with all opposition coming from representatives from the free states. Missouri was the first state entirely west of the Mississippi River to be admitted to the Union. About the time of statehood, the 1820 U.S. Census had listed Missouri with a population of 66,586, although not an exact science in the early days of census taking. The first state capitol was located in St. Charles between 1821 and 1826 before moving to a permanent capitol building in Jefferson City. Despite all the steps taken to ensure statehood, some members of Congress still sought to block Missouri's admission citing what they saw as an unconstitutional attempt to ban non-white immigration into the new state. After the U.S. House of Representatives rejected Missouri's original constitution, Henry Clay brokered a Second Missouri Compromise whereby Missouri officials promised that no future law would bar non-white immigration in exchange for President James Monroe issuing a statehood proclamation, which he did on August 10, 1821 .” Written By: The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica Missouri Compromise , (1820), in U.S. history, measure worked out between the North and the South and passed by the U.S. Congress that allowed for admission of Missouri as the 24th state (1821 ). It marked the beginning of the prolonged sectional conflict over the extension of slavery that led to the American Civil War . United States: Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and Kansas-Nebraska Act Compromises over extension of slavery into U.S. territories. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. By early 1819 Congress was considering enabling legislation that would authorize Missouri to frame a state constitution. When Rep. James Tallmadge of New York attempted to add an antislavery amendment to that legislation on February 13, 1819 , however, there ensued an ugly and rancorous debate over slavery and the government’s right to restrict slavery. The Tallmadge amendment prohibited the further introduction of slaves into Missouri and provided for emancipation of those already there when they reached age 25. The amendment passed the House of Representatives , controlled by the more-populous North, but failed in the Senate, which was equally divided between free and slave states. Congress adjourned without resolving the Missouri question. The following summer a considerable body of public opinion in the North was rallied in support of the Tallmadge proposal. Much of that anti-Missouri sentiment , as it was called, arose from a genuine conviction that slavery was morally wrong. Political expediency was mixed with moral convictions . Many of the leading anti-Missouri men had been active in the Federalist party , which seemed to be in the process of disintegration; it was charged that they were seeking an issue on which to rebuild their party. The Federalist leadership of the anti-Missouri group caused some northern Democrats to reconsider their support of the Tallmadge amendment and to favor a compromise that would thwart efforts to revive the Federalist party. When it reconvened in December 1819 , Congress was faced with a request for statehood from Maine . At the time, there were 22 states, half of them free states and half of them slave states. The Senate passed a bill allowing Maine to enter the Union as a free state and Missouri to be admitted without restrictions on slavery. Sen. Jesse B. Thomas of Illinois then added an amendment that allowed Missouri to become a slave state but banned slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase north of latitude 36°30′. Henry Clay then skillfully led the forces of compromise, engineering separate votes on the controversial measures. On March 3, 1820 , the decisive votes in the House admitted Maine as a free state, Missouri as a slave state, and made free soil all western territories north of Missouri’s southern border. When the Missouri constitutional convention empowered the state legislature to exclude free blacks and mulattoes, however, a new crisis was brought on. Enough northern congressmen objected to the racial provision that Clay was called upon to formulate the Second Missouri Compromise. On March 2, 1821 , Congress stipulated that Missouri could not gain admission to the Union until it agreed that the exclusionary clause would never be interpreted in such a way as to abridge the privileges and immunities of U.S. citizens. Missouri so agreed and became the 24th state on August 10, 1821 ; Maine had been admitted the previous year on March 15. Although slavery had been a divisive issue in the United States for decades, never before had sectional antagonism been so overt and threatening as it was in the Missouri crisis. Thomas Jefferson described the fear it evoked as “like a fire bell in the night.” Although the compromise measures appeared to settle the slavery-extension issue, John Quincy Adams noted in his diary, “Take it for granted that the present is a mere preamble—a title page to a great, tragic volume.” Sectional conflict would grow to the point of civil war after the Missouri Compromise was repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854 ) and was declared unconstitutional in the Dred Scott decision of 1857 . Missouri Compromise Map of the United States that denotes free and slave states as well as the territory open to slavery or freedom by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, c. 1856. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. (digital ID g3701e ct000604) Admitted to the Union 1874 References: Missouri Life: References “Struggle for Statehood” State Historical Society of Missouri – Cooper County manuscripts collection Google Books – History of Cooper County Missouri, 1919 Google Books – History of Howard and Cooper Counties, Missouri, 1883 The county histories from 1876 to 1919 contain some inaccuracies and biases, but still produce some useful information and are certainly interesting reading. These three can be read or downloaded online. Google Books – A History of Cooper County Missouri, 1876

CHURCH, CEMETERY, AND SCHOOL RECORDS Church Records History Books: Early Baptist Church Records; Antioch Baptist; Boonville Baptist; West Boonville Evangelical; Cumberland Presbyterian; Evangelical United Church of Christ; First Presbyterian; Mt. Nebo; Mt. Vernon Presbyterian; Nelson Memorial United Methodist; Pleasant Grove Community; St John the Baptist; St, John’s United Church of Christ; St. Joseph’s Catholic; St. Paul German Evangelical Lutheran; St. Peter and Paul Catholic; Lutheran of Clark’s Fork; Yeager Union Trinity; Centennial Books: Evangelical United Church of Christ – Boonville; First Baptist – Boonville; Lamine Baptist Association: Nelson Memorial United Methodist; SS Peter & Paul Catholic; St. John’s United Church of Christ; First Baptist Church - Prairie Home; First Christian Church (DOC) - Boonville, First Baptist Church Prairie Home, First Christian Church (DOC) Boonville Church Records in File Drawer Information on 104 different churches, some with a great deal of information Cemetery Records and file information for Cooper, Moniteau and Morgan Counties. Card File with Individual Burial Records Cemetery map brochure with 52 cemeteries– free Large cemetery wall map of 186 cemetery locations Notebooks listing burials by Cemetery Old School Records and file information In cabinet: Bellaire School; Billingsville School; Blackwater School; Bluffton School; Boonville School; Byberry School; Choteau School; Clear Springs School; Cotton Patch School; Crossroads School; Dunkles Beginner’s School; Fairview School; Hickory Grove School; Highland; Kemper School; Locust Grove School; Mount Vernon School; New Lebanon School; Oakwood School; Pilot Grove School; Pilot Grove – St. Joseph’s School; Pisgah School; Pleasant Green; Simmon’s School; Speed School; Splice Creek School; Sumner School; Stony Point School. Much more in file drawers. COOPER COUNTY SOLDIER INFORMATION Soldier Information in CCHS files - Civil War - Muster rolls, Hospital records, Cooper County men who served, Military Prisoners, Troop movement, Militia Records, Confederate Navy Records, Military Prisoners, list of dead at Springfield and Wilson’s Creek, Grand Army of the Republic records, Hospital Records, 1882-1940 Book: Civil War Day by Day – 1861-65 (Carolyn Bartels) Also see Military Records

CIVIL WAR Second Battle of Boonville Re-enactment Wayne Lammers Collection Adapted from “Discover Cooper County” by Ann Betteridge: Cooper County suffered a great deal during the Civil War. Her territory was occupied almost constantly by one side or the other, and her citizens were called upon to give to the support to first one side, and then the other. Families and neighbors were divided between sentiments for the North and South. Many of the residents had come from the South and sympathized with the South, but still wanted to stay in the Union. The state was truly divided. Events Leading to the Civil War When Missouri decided to become part of the Union, many members of Congress were not enthusiastic about admitting another slave state. In 1821, Congress passed the Missouri Compromise , which allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state. This kept the number of free and slave states even. By the time the war was over, much of the County was damaged or in ruins. Most of the livestock had been “appropriated” by one side or the other to feed the troops, and many homes had been stripped of anything of value. In 1861 , the Southern states began withdrawing from the Union. Missourians held a state convention to decide what they should do. Many of the members including Governor Claiborne F. Jackson, were strongly in favor of the South. However, the state voted to remain in the Union. At that time, most of the people hoped to remain neutral if a war came. War did come and Governor Jackson refused to send troops to fight for the Union. In April, 1861 , Fort Sumter was fired upon. This caused much concern. The people of Cooper County were anxious. Missouri was predominantly a slave state; however, it also had strong northern ties. Since it was one of the so-called “border states,” the divisions of loyalty were greater here than in most places. Lincoln’s call to arms on April 15th stirred sympathy for the South in Boonville. On April 20th, a large crowd assembled at the Cooper County courthouse. Speeches were made and a secession flag was raised. Perhaps it seemed strange that Missourians passed secession resolutions. Missouri wasn’t a direct supporter of the Confederacy, but it was against Federal intervention in its affairs. The people of Missouri saw Lincoln’s call for troops to crush the “revolutionaries” of the South as a direct threat to their state’s sovereignty. Governor Jackson was a supporter of states’ rights. He favored secession from the Union. The Governor thought that his state had the right to take Federal supplies that were located in Missouri. Therefore, he established Camp Jackson within a few blocks of the Federal arsenal in St. Louis. Everyone, including General Lyon, commander of the U. S. Army in Missouri, knew what Jackson was doing. Lyon did not like it one bit, so he surrounded the camp, forced the men assembled there to surrender, and then marched them through the streets of St. Louis. A crowd gathered and shouted protests against Lyon’s actions. Rocks were thrown, shots were fired, and about 30 civilians were killed. More civilians were killed in other skirmishes in St. Louis. Jackson and Lyon met on June 11, 1861, to discuss what could be done to prevent further fighting in Missouri. Jackson was willing to compromise. However, Lyon insisted on the right to move and station troops of the United States throughout the State, whenever and wherever that might be necessary for the protection of the citizens of the Federal movement, or for the stopping of an invasion. This was totally unacceptable to Jackson, so Lyon stated, “This means war.” Jackson fled back to Jefferson City and called for 50,000 troops to help defend the state against the Federal invasion. He picked Boonville as his point of defense and moved there with General Sterling Price, head of the Missouri State Troops. THE FIRST BATTLE OF BOONVILLE Jackson set up Camp Bacon at Boonville. The untrained recruits were mostly farmers with their hunting rifles, out to defend their land against attack. Jackson’s officers were against making a stand at Boonville. They wanted to go further south until their troops could be drilled and trained. Jackson said it was necessary to go ahead as planned. In St. Louis, Nathaniel Lyon was busy preparing the Federal troops. He believed in trying to surprise the enemy. Lyon took three riverboats and steamed up the Missouri. Early in the morning of June 17, 1861, he landed approximately seven miles east of town near Merna. Meanwhile, at Boonville, Price was sick from diarrhea, so he left on a steamboat to his home in Chariton County. He left Colonel Marmaduke in command with about 1,500 men who had no experience in fighting. The majority of Lyon’s 500 troops had previous military experience. Lyon had artillery, but Marmaduke’s only available cannon was in Tipton. Marmaduke stationed his men along a ridge about four miles east of Boonville which blocked the Rocheport road. Lyon came up the river by steamboat from Jefferson City, landed his troops a little upriver from Rocheport, and then marched with his forces up the road to Boonville. The Federal troops advanced for almost three miles. Lyon had Captain Totten shelled the brow of the ridge on which the state troops were stationed and his infantry opened fire with their rifles. The fighting was thick for a while with several wounded on each side, but soon the training of the Federal troops began to show through, and Marmaduke’s men were forced to retreat across a fence into a field. When the Federals advanced up the hill, the state troops opened fire from the cover of a nearby shed and grove of trees. After fighting for about half an hour, the state troops were forced to retreat. Lyon’s troops took possession of Camp Bacon where they took the supplies. Five men were killed. Lyon advanced toward Boonville. East of the city limits, at the home of T. W. Nelson, the acting mayor, and several citizens surrendered the city to Lyon. Marmaduke left for Lexington on a steamboat, and Governor Jackson headed down the Georgetown road. General Parsons of the state militia arrived from Tipton with the state’s artillery after the battle was over. When he found out that the state had lost, he took his command south to Prairie Lick where most of the other state troops were. The next day General Lyon pardoned all of the people who would promise to support the U.S. government and to never again take arms against it. Many people accepted this. Lyon sent part of his troops to find Jackson, but was unable to locate him. They returned to Boonville. On June 20, three days after the state troops had been defeated, Lyon organized the first Boonville Home Guard, consisting of local citizens. Most of them were of German descent. Their orders were to guard Boonville against invasion by state forces. Similar “home guards” were being organized all over the state. Boonville’s consisted of 135 men with Joseph A. Eppstein elected as captain. Before Lyon left Boonville, he also ordered a small fortress to be built. It consisted mostly of breastworks and a small ammunition bunker which was located on the old state fairgrounds, where St. Joseph Hospital stood for many years. Eppstein heard rumors that they were going to be attacked by Confederate-sympathizing forces from nearby counties. He ordered several southern sympathizers from the community to be held hostage in the breastworks. The breastworks consisted of a series of poles that had been sharpened at one end and tied at the middle to form a barrier about seven to ten feet in height. By July 2, 1861 , General Lyons had received reinforcements from Iowa and marched out of Boonville to chase the Missouri State Guard under General Price. Price was thought to be collecting troops in southwestern Missouri. With 2,400 troops, the caravan moved along the Boonville-Georgetown Road (the old Spanish Trail to Mexico). They camped the first night at the Clear Creek Crossing. The young Iowans were in woolen uniforms and Private George Ware’s diary complains of the heat and dust. The next day, as they marched past Pleasant Green, young boys hiding behind the orchard wall (the remains of Winston Walker’s old Indian fort) pelted the soldiers with green apples. To their surprise, the soldiers caught most of the apples to save for ripening. At the Lamine River bridge crossing shots were fired at the soldiers from the bluffs, but there were no injuries. Lyon’s march ended at Wilson’s Creek, near Springfield, where he was killed in battle with the Missouri State Guard. His unburied body was discovered July 13th by members of Kelly’s Regiment (who had been with Marmaduke in the Battle of Boonville) and given proper burial in the garden of John Phelps. SECOND BATTLE OF BOONVILLE On December 13, 1861 , while eating breakfast, Boonville’s Home Guard was attacked by about 800 men from Saline County under the leadership of Colonel Brown. As rain and musket balls fell, the Confederates advanced twice, but each time they were forced back. Col. Brown was killed in the second attack as was his brother, Capt. Brown. Only two of the Home Guard were killed, but an unknown number of Brown’s men were killed. Major Poindexter took command of the entire force after the death of the Brown brothers. William Burr, a hostage in the breastworks, was given permission to visit the Confederates to see what arrangements could be made to stop the fighting. The two sides agreed on a six-day armistice. After a week’s armistice, Major Poindexter withdrew his troops to join General Price, who had successfully taken Lexington. CIVIL WAR ACTIVITES NEAR OTTERVILLE Railroad tracks were laid through Otterville in 1861 . In January, 1862, the Sixth Iowa Union Infantry, out of Des Moines, made a march to Otterville and dug the tranches. They camped there most of the winter. Regiments from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana stood in the trenches. Some of the evidence of the Civil War can still be observed at Otterville. Trenches, which are about six-foot depressions, along with their accompanying breastworks can still be seen on the John Kuykendall farm one mile east of Otterville, south of the railroad tracks. The original purpose of the trenches was to protect the railroad line going through Otterville from Confederate forces. Union troops stood in the depressions firing over the breastworks at the Confederate soldiers who were attempting to cut the railroad line in half to stop its continued use by the Union to send munitions and supplies to their men in the west. The railroad ended in Sedalia, where goods were transferred to wagon trains to be taken to Kansas City, Springfield, and other stations. To stop the goods from going through, there was constant fighting and skirmishing up and down the Missouri Pacific Railroad line from Otterville to California. Otterville was more subject to attack because the rail line crossed a trestle over the Lamine River near Otterville. The trestle was burned three times during the war by Confederate soldiers with the help of local citizens. When James Wear, a current resident of Otterville, was a young boy, he used to play with bullets, belt buckles, and other artifacts from the Civil War found near his home. Other Civil War historians have also found artifacts in the area near the trenches. Reference: Commemorative Issue, Cooper County Historical Society Dedication of the Historical Marker for the Otterville Civil War Entrenchments October 9, 1999. CONFEDERATES UNDER SHELBY CAPTURE BOONVILLE General Joseph Shelby, of the Confederate Army, made a raid into Cooper County during October 1863. He passed through Otterville on the night of October 9th , and burned the Pacific railroad bridge nearby. On the night of the 10th he camped near Bell Air, in a pasture belonging to Mr. Nathaniel Leonard. The next day he marched toward Boonville. His movements had become known in Boonville and a meeting of the citizens was called by Mayor McDearmon. After some delay, the conclusion was reached that the only alternative was to surrender the city to General Shelby. Citizens were sent out to meet him. They returned without being able to learn anything about where he was, so they felt that he probably wouldn’t be coming to the city. His arrival at Boonville on October 11th was quite a surprise. Just as General Shelby marched into Boonville from the south, Major Leonard, with about 150 Federal troops, appeared on the north side of the Missouri River and commenced crossing with his men. When they learned there were many Confederates in town, they decided to retreat. They turned the boat around and headed for the Howard County shore. At this time some of Shelby’s men appeared and commenced firing upon the boat with muskets. As soon as Major Leonard landed his forces, the artillery was turned upon Shelby’s troops and they were forced to retire beyond the reach of the shells. At the same time, Colonel Crittenden, of the Union, was steaming up the river in a boat. On learning the situation of affairs at Boonville, he dropped down the river and landed a short distance below on the Howard County side of the river. General Shelby stayed in Boonville the rest of the day, then camped for the night west of the city on the Georgetown road. He had come to Boonville to obtain supplies, such as food and clothing. The local clothing companies lost $4,000 in clothing. The Confederate troops did not hurt anyone during their stay. Not a single citizen was killed or wounded, and they were very polite to everyone. While the Confederates were in Boonville, the Federals, under General Brown, were close behind them. On October 11th, the Federals were within eight miles of Boonville, on the Bell Air road. That day General Brown moved a portion of his troops west to the junction of the Sulphur Springs and the Boonville and Georgetown roads, which is about seven miles southwest of Boonville. During the night, he marched his command back again to the Bell Air road, and camped near Billingsville. The next morning after General Shelby had left, the Federals passed through Boonville in pursuit, they advanced just behind the Confederate rear guard. Two of General Shelby’s men stopped at Mr. Labbo’s house, about one and one-half miles west of Boonville to get their breakfast. They were killed by some Federal scouts as the two appeared at the front door to make their escape. A running fight was kept up at intervals, all along the route from Boonville to Marshall. The fight became pretty heated between the Sulphur Springs and Dug Ford. At Dug Ford, two Federals were killed and fell from their horses into the water. Theis raid produced great excitement. It is not known whether General Shelby was able to obtain all the supplies and reinforcements that he had hoped. Major Leonard and Colonel Crittenden crossed their commands over the river to Boonville about ten o’clock on the morning of the 12th. After stopping for dinner, they started in the direction of Marshall. Boonville was then clear of troops. The citizens had time to gather supplies to feed the next group of hungry soldiers who happened to land there, whether they were Federals or Confederates. Thus, ended the famous “Shelby’s Raid” as far as Cooper County was concerned. A battle took place at Marshall in which a number were killed and wounded on each side. General Shelby succeeded in escaping from his pursuers with the loss of only a small portion of the supplies he had obtained in Boonville. CIVIL WAR PENSIONS The first known homeless veteran (2020) Last Civil War Widow Dies Helen Jackson, of Marshfield Missouri, was only 17 years old when she married Union veteran James Bolin, 93. He needed care every day and Helen provided that care after she came home from school. Since Mr. Bolin had no money to pay her for her help, he asked her to marry him so that she could have his pension in payment for her care. They were legally married from 1936 to 1939, when Mr. Jackson died. Helen kept her marriage a secret for many years and never applied for Mr. Jackson’s pension. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War. Last American to Collect a Civil War Pension Irene Triplett, was the (2020) last American to collect a Civil War pension . The fact that someone in the year 2020 was still earning a Civil War pension was the result of two factors: First, she suffered from cognitive impairment, qualifying her for the lifelong pension as a helpless adult child of a veteran. Second, her father, Mose Triplet, who’d served as a private in the Confederate Army before defecting to the Union, was on his second marriage when she was born in 1930, and he was 83 years old. Irene received $73.13 each month and seemed to be very secretive of where the money came from. Missouri State Archives - Civil War in Missouri Also see Veteran Research. Confederate Veteran Archive . The Confederate Veteran was a magazine published from 1893-1932 and this site has most of them on it. It also has a link to the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization Union Civil War Federal veterans, members of the Boonville Camp No. 3701 are lined up on the corner of Main and Spring Streets circa 1900. From the Wayne Lammers Collection ` CIVIL WAR TIDBITS Stories courtesy of Bert McClary: Thomas, Abe and the Lieutenant Late at night in June 1863 Thomas Brownfield, a Union Home Guard Captain, heard noises outside his three-room log cabin south of Pilot Grove, and went to the loft with his gun. A Confederate recruiting agent and several men from New Lebanon were up to no good, looking for firearms. They forced open the door and the leader, Lt. Brownlee, was shot in the doorway. Thomas’ brother Abe pulled him inside and locked the door. The others thought him dead and set fire to the cabin. Lt. Brownlee shouted to them to put out the fire. Thomas told them he would send for a doctor, would not turn Brownlee over to the authorities, and would release him after he was treated. They agreed and left, and Thomas kept his word, sending Abe for Dr. Pendleton. However, Thomas did tell a lie, as Brownlee was treated and turned over to the Union militia and placed in the Boonville jail. Thomas Brownfield is my second great-uncle.Abraham Brownfield is my great-grandfather. Cynthia and the Notes Cynthia McClary was home alone southeast of Pilot Grove on the day in 1862 that a group of bushwhackers or militia came to the house and demanded all the livestock. Cynthia had no choice but to comply, however she did manage to chase away one old mare that she knew would return later. She knew one of the men as a neighbor just two farms down the road, and her husband James McClary was shot by the neighbor when he went to inquire about the livestock. Cynthia was now a 43-year-old mother twice widowed, with three children age ten and under. She could not read or write and owned one old mare. She had been given “notes” in reparation for the livestock that was taken, presumably a type of government promissory notes. Cynthia was probably a southern sympathizer, with Native American and Scots/Virginian heritage. She believed the notes were worthless and she burned them. Cynthia McClary is my 2nd great-grandmother. The Key and the Crowbar Mary Carroll was a southern girl living in the Pilot Grove neighborhood of James McClary. Her brother Dennis was arrested and placed in the Boonville Jail along with a Confederate Lt. Brownlee and others. Also in the jail was John Hildebrandt, accused of murdering his neighbor James McClary. Hildebrandt attempted to kill Carroll with a knife, but Carroll broke his hand with a stick of firewood. Mary struck up a friendship with the jailer and surreptitiously made a wax copy of his jail cell key. She made a key of wood and leather and smuggled it, a crowbar, and a bottle of chloroform to Dennis. On the night of the escape Hildebrandt was chloroformed so he could not alert the jailer, and almost died. In the words of Mary, this act “unintentionally came very near being a great benefit to the world.” Hildebrandt was soon acquitted of murder and released, and Dennis was shot and killed. Such was life on the border in 1863 . James McClary is my 2nd great-grandfather. James McClary and the Bushwhackers During the Civil War in Missouri renegade bands or individuals from both sides committed atrocities, purporting to represent the Union or the Confederacy. Some individuals used their membership in a group, or the conflict itself, as an excuse or cover to settle personal disagreements. In September of 1862 a group of bushwhackers or militia took the livestock of James and Cynthia McClary, who lived southeast of Pilot Grove, while James was away. When James returned, Cynthia told him one of the raiders was John Hildebrandt, a neighbor. When James went to confront him, he was shot by Hildebrandt as he approached. Hildebrandt was held in the Boonville Jail for 18 months, charged with “murder in the first degree”. During that time, he attempted to kill a young southern sympathizer who was also a prisoner. At his trial the jury quickly found Hildebrandt not guilty, the killing of James, from the evidence, appearing to be an act of self-defense on his own premises. Such was life on the border in 1862 . Bloody Bill and Captain Brownfield In the fall of 1863 when Bloody Bill Anderson’s guerillas approached the country post office outside of Pilot Grove, Captain Thomas Brownfield of the Union Home Guard slipped into the postmaster’s house. The guerillas relieved about 20 local farmers, waiting for the mail, of their valuables. Mr. Mayo refused, was shot in the leg, and ran. Captain Brownfield also ran and they were pursued by guerillas on horseback. Mr. Mayo was shot and killed but Captain Brownfield reached a thicket after being shot in the hand. He hid in the center of the thicket and fired a warning shot to let them know he was armed. The band of guerillas considered his concealment, then rode away with their loot and their lives. After dark Captain Brownfield made his way to a neighbor’s home, a country physician and friend, although a southerner by birth and sentiment. His friend dressed his wound and fed him, and they slept in the barn as a precaution. James McClary is my 2nd great-grandfather. Thomas Brownfield is my 2nd great-uncle. Killed by Guerillas Wilma Bringarth/Bledso talked about her Great-Great Grandfather, Jacob Neef, who was walking back home from Boonville in his Home Guard uniform, during the Civil War, when he was killed by Guerilla's near the Old Lamine Church and was buried in the cemetery there. CIVIL WAR SITES IN COOPER COUNTY 1861-1865 Cooper County Jail – 1858 – In Boonville. Used as a prison for southern sympathizers. Frank James was arraigned here and released on bond. Concord Cemetery – 1817 – Near Bunceton. One of Quantrill’s men was wounded and secretly cared for by neighbors. Upon his death he was buried in an unmarked grave. Thespian Hall – 1857 – Originally Stephens Opera House. Building was used as a Union prison and hospital during Union occupation. Main Street, Boonville. Pleasant Green – 1820 -Located on General Lyon’s 1861 route to Wilson’s Creek Battle. Raided in 1864. Crestmead – 1859 – Built by John Taylor, a Southern sympathizer who was sent to Gratiot prison and lost his land holdings. Mt. Nebo Baptist Church – 1856 – Site of General Sanborn’s Union encampment October 1864. Ravenswood – 1880 – Built by Unionist Leonard and Nelson families after the war for Captain Nathaniel Leonard and his new bride. On route #5 near Bellair. Markers in Cooper County Tell the Civil War S tory MERNA – where the Missouri River once met the Boonville bluffs, a grey stone marker stands by the railroad tracks. Erected by the Grand Army of the Republic in 1929, it is the landing site of General Nathaniel Lyons and his Union army on June 7, 1861. They had steamed up river from St. Louis to surprise the Missouri Volunteers camped uphill. DNR MARKER – at encampment located by the Missouri Correctional Center – the story of the morning attack upon the new Missouri State Guard recruits, and the confused fighting that followed is told on a descriptive panel. This is considered to be the first land battle of the Civil War. PILOT GROVE MARKER at LIONS PARK – Union General Lyons refreshed his forces in Boonville with Iowa recruits and headed southwest from Boonville on the old Georgetown Road in July 1861 to attack the Southern forces gathering at Springfield. Their first night encampment was at the Clear Creek Crossing near Pleasant Green. Pilot Grove was also the site of a raid by “Bloody Bill” Anderson. The SECOND BATTLE OF BOONVILLE – This marker by Thespian Hall is where barricades were hastily built when southern sympathizers and the State Guard attempted to regain Boonville for the South. The Union wounded were caried inside the hall which was being used as a prison for the Confederate captives. SUNSET HILL CEMETERY – The Union occupation of Boonville was often stormy. Eight Union soldiers were killed in Howard County chasing “Bloody Bill” Anderson and brought back to the City cemetery for burial. A U.S. Government plaque at the mass grave tells the story. WILKIN’S BRIDGE – During the short occupation of the city by General Shelby and his Confederate forces, many skirmishes occurred out in the county, notably at Wilkins Bridge east of Billingsville on the Billingsville Road. The old covered bridge over the Petite Saline is long gone, but a large flat stone with a bronze plaque erected by the Cooper County Historical Society tells of the violent meeting here of General Sanborn’s Union Army and the Shelby Confederates in October 1864. Sanborn’s Union forces moved west from here and the old ante-bellum homes and churches provided campsites, horses food and fodder as the troops moved toward Marshall for the next confrontation with Shelby’s Confederates. OTTERVILLE – From December 1861 till May 1865, Union troops were stationed around the railroad bridge crossing the Lamine River east of Otterville. There defensive trenches extended nearly a mile. The Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources erected a descriptive marker at the Conservation Area boat launch at the site of the former “Camp Curtis” on Highway A. Regardless of the strong defense, the Confederates managed to burn the bridge three times during the occupation. At the top of the hill there is a flag pole and a small bronze plaque donated by the Cooper County Historical Society indicating a section of the 8’deep trenches on land owned by the David McKinney family. A Free Map and information for these sites is available at the CCHS Research Center . Confederate Veteran Archives . The Confederate Veteran was a magazine published from 1893-1932 and this site has most of them on it.

TELEPHONES Today, we live in a world of websites and smart phones. Early in the 20th century, less than half the businesses listed a phone number in their business ads. Here is a list of businesses and their phone numbers as found in Kemper's 1901 Haversack yearbook. A. K. Mills, Jr., Undertaker & Embalmer, office #250, residence #173 A. M. Koontz, Good Things to Eat, phone #18 Chas. Heiberger, Bakery and Confectionery, phone #111 D. S. Koontz & Son, phone #3 Thiessen & Warnhoff's, phone #286 No, these are not typos. They are actual phone numbers of the day. They are also the only businesses that listed phone numbers. Source: Elizabeth Davis of "Historically Yours " The first regular telephone exchange was in New Haven, CT. The phones were leased and the owner had to put up his own lines to connect with another phone. The first rotary dial phone was invented in 1896. In 1889 the coin-operated pay phone was patented. It is interesting that the customer paid for the call after it was made. By the time the first pay phones were installed in 1905, there were about 2.2 million phones. Rotary Dial Phones were introduced in 1954. Touch-Tone Phones were introduced in the 1940’s, but by 1990 the push button phones were more common than the rotary-dial phone. Cordless Phones were introduced in the 1970’s. In 1994, digital cordless phones were introduced, which were more secure than a landline phone. Cell Phones – an early mobile phone was a radio-controlled unit designed for vehicles. They had a short range and were clumsy to work with, and they were expensive. Two 17 year old’s try to use a rotary dial telephone Additional information can be found at: Bellis, Mary. "How the Telephone Was Invented ." ThoughtCo, May. 22, 2021, Telephone Companies that Currently Service Cooper County Gonetspeed servicing the following Cooper County Towns: Blackwater Bellair Boonville Bunceton Clifton City Lamine Lone Elm New Lebanon Otterville Pilot Grove Prairie Home Speed Wooldridge Co-Mo servicing the following Cooper County Towns: Blackwater Boonville Bunceton Otterville Pilot Grove Prairie Home Wooldridge For more than a century, the Otelco family of communication companies has been providing rural communities with cutting age technology, first with the telephone in the late 1800's and today with traditional and digital technology and high-speed internet. The original part of OTELCO in Missouri, the Gilliam Telephone Company, was formed May 18, 1903 and the Marshal Junction Telephone Company was formed in 1928. These two companies merged in November 1932 and became the Mid-Missouri Telephone Company, owned and managed by Harold Jones and family. In 1946, Mid-Missouri bought Telephone Company the Blackwater-Arrow Rock Telephone Company, adding the Blackwater and Arrow Rock exchanges. With the vision of serving rural communities where telephone service needed upgrading, Mid-Missouri Telephone Company grew, acquiring Nelson, Pilot Grove and Bunceton exchanges from United Telephone. Then, Speed, Latham, High Point and Miami completed the current 12 exchanges extending 100 miles from north to south. Internet service was added in March 1995, and in 2002 I-Land internet Services was acquired. On December 21, 2004, Mid-Missouri Telephone Company became a division of OTELCO, with the name officially changing to Otelco Mid-Missouri LLC on January 1, 2012. In 2018, all companies started using the OTELCO name. The company is now active in seven states. Many other neighboring exchanges were added, thus expanding their boundaries 100 miles north to south. On December 21, 2004, Mid-Missouri Telephone became a division of Otelco. Otelco acquired Gonetspeed in May of 2022. There are currently 10 employees at the Pilot Grove location. Co-Mo’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the region we serve. We continually evaluate neighboring communities that are not served, or are underserved, in relation to broadband services. We have expanded into city areas such as Boonville that we do not serve electrically, but have been able to bring broadband service to residents of those towns and others. Co-Mo Connect, a subsidiary of Co-Mo Electric, began a pilot program in 2010 to determine if it could bring all of the cooperative’s members a state-of-the-art fiber-to the home communications network. In June of 2012, the Co-Mo Comm Board of Directors announced it would expand the pilot program to the entire Co-Mo Electric service territory through a four-phase plan over the next four years. In addition to telephone and internet services, the communications network, dubbed Co-Mo Connect, would offer television packages over the revolutionary fiber system. As of 2023, Co-Mo Connect serves 30,00 members in rural Missouri. Do-it-Yourself Telephone Service The people of Clear Creek wanted to modernize their community, so in 1907 they set up their own telephone system. They set up poles and lines, and the system was used by seven families. The system was housed in a Clear Creek home, and members of that family were the operators. In 1913-1914 they consolidated their system with Pilot Grove. Source: Pilot Grove Centennial Book Visit the Telephone Pioneers Museum in Blackwater next to Mary Ann Schuster's insurance office. The city hall clerk is in charge of locking/unlocking the Museum. The Museum has a lot of the old switchboards, phones, and lineman tools. There are a couple framed articles about the history of Mid-Missouri Telephone company.

THE BEEKEEPER'S BEEKEEPER Mr. Brengarth Brengarth Honey Label Brengarth Family Beekeeping was unknown in the Western Hemisphere until after the first European settlers arrived. Bees were imported from England and Germany to the colonies where beekeeping became an important home industry. In 1641, bee colonies in New England were sold for 5 pounds apiece, the equivalent of 15-days labor by a skilled craftsman. By the end of the 18th century, bees were fairly common throughout the eastern half of the continent. Often bees would swarm and form a colony in a hollow tree. As bees slowly moved westward, they would swarm and often form a colony in a hollow tree. Early settlers were always on the lookout for a “bee tree” to provide sweetening for their food, as sugar was not readily available in early central Missouri. The Missouri Indians were very familiar with “bee trees by the time the early settlers arrived. Native Americans referred to honey bees as “the white man’s fly, and regarded their presence as indicating the coming of white settlers.” (source USDA Agriculture Handbook number 335) Eventually, some who had become successful working with bees, became backyard or commercial beekeepers. The central Midwest now has modest honey production. However, the increased use of chemicals used in farming has been very detrimental to honey bee colonies. In the last 15 years bee diseases seem to have become much more prevalent and the use of neonicotinoids has been fatal to honey bees and many other insects such as bumble bees and butterflies. Colony Collapse Disorder in the U.S. The number of managed colonies in the United States for honey production has been in decline since the 1940s and these losses have increased since the early 2000s. Colony losses during winter are normal within beekeeping, however the rate of honeybee colony deaths, higher losses during the summer, as well as the inability to find a determinate cause of these deaths has caused alarm. In 2006, some beekeepers reported losing 30-90% of their hives. Total colony loss reached 45% between 2012 and 2013, up from 28.9% and 36.4% in previous years. While annual losses above 30% are not out of the ordinary, the symptoms of these colony losses do not all match with those normally produced by known pests and pathogens. The amount of loss experienced as well as uncertainty around the cause of the loss lead to the coining of the term Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) by the beekeeping community. Source: Wikipedia Musings of a Lady Beekeeper In 1970, before we had children, we decided to try beekeeping as a hobby. We lived on 10 rented acres near Waukegan, Illinois. I had grown up in the suburbs of Milwaukee, so country living was new to me. We had a small garden and also raised chickens, rabbits, peacocks, dogs, cats and two baby raccoons. But our favorite pastime was "working" our bees. We started with two hives and 15 later years we were up to 45 hives. Some of the hives were the result of swarms caught from our own bees. Many came from removing bees from live and dead trees, inside and outside of buildings, and a few strange places. One of the strangest places was on the roof of a local one-story bank where the bees were draped over the front door. At the time, I was working as an Extension Agent. The office occasionally got calls from people who needed to have bees removed, and we, or two others in the area, would hurry to help when a call came in. One day a call came and no one was available to help. As my husband was an excavator with his own business, I volunteered, and dashed home, got my "bee shirt," veiled hat and gloves, plus a hive body and cover, my smoker and a bee brush, and hurried to the bank. They provided the ladder and I was able to capture the bees by gently brushing them into the hive body with a frame of sealed honey inside. (They only stayed in the box because I was fortunate to capture the queen. The hardest part was getting the box, bottom board and cover down from the roof intact.) My bee recovery made the front page of the Grayslake paper. We never charged for our service, although some were very time consuming, because we felt that the bees were our reward. In 1992 we made a huge mistake, which we still regret. We had run out of hive bodies for our bees. We answered an ad in the paper from someone who was "getting out of the bee business". This very pious man sold us enough hive bodies for 8 more hives of bees, assuring us that his bees had been healthy, but that he was just "too old" to keep bees and wanted to sell his equipment. We added swarms to the new "used" boxes in our largest bee yard which had about 25 hives. Up until this time, our hives had all be very healthy and we had never lost a hive. Soon, we discovered that these hive bodies were not "disease free" and our bees started to diminish in population. The state bee inspector checked the hives and said that they must be destroyed - bees and all, that nothing could be done to save them. We learned that the disease that they had contracted, was “foul brood, ”but we did what we were told to do. We had to burn the hives with the bees in them. I want to cry, even now, when I remember what we had to do. Our enthusiasm for beekeeping diminished greatly after that. When we moved to Missouri in 2006, we again wanted to try beekeeping. The kids were grown and gone, we were retired, and we had 11 acres in the country. What could go wrong? Well, farming practices had changed a great deal since 1992. Many more dangerous chemicals are being used now than we had experienced in Illinois. Using pre-emergent or post-emergent chemicals, spraying by plane, and nicotinoids (chemicals with nicotine in them that protect the plants, but confuse the bees when they collect the nectar, so they cannot find their way home). This is believed to be the major cause of “colony collapse”. We bought two "boxes" of bees after my husband constructed two new hive bodies. I think we paid about $60 for each two-pound box of bees with a queen. (Since bees are almost an endangered species today, the same 2-pound box today would probably be closer to $200.) We caught two swarms and added them to the new hives. The first winter we lost one hive, but do not know why. That Spring we added two new hives from our swarms. The hives that summer were loaded with honey and we took off half of it in mid-July. A week after extracting the honey I went to do a weekly check on the bees and found that all the bees were GONE, and so was the rest of the honey. The hives were empty except for a few sealed egg cells. Evidently three things might have happened: 1) the bees ingested the nicotine from the nectar of the crops that surround us on three sides, or 2) they were caught gathering nectar when the crops were sprayed so they could not find their way home and died 3) "robber" bees cleaned out what was left of the honey and took it their hives located elsewhere. Since bees can travel as far as two miles in search of nectar and honey, this seems a reasonable conclusion. After three years of trying our hobby of beekeeping for the second time it was time to call it quits. What I miss most about beekeeping, beside working with the bees, and working as a team with my husband, is the wonderful aroma that greets you when you open a healthy hive to inspect it or to gather honey. It is hard to describe - wonderfully fruity, sweet, fragrant and clean. Impossible to describe perfectly, but I really miss the joy of being greeted by it. By: Barbara Dahl, Editor

PRE-CIVIL WAR THE CIVIL WAR 1861-1864 RESULTED IN CHANGES IN COOPER COUNTY POPULATION If we consider the census records, the period between 1860 and 1910 looks like the “Boom Time” for Cooper County, as the population increased by 5,351, and many new businesses were opened. Yet, the “Boom” did not really start until after the end of the Civil War, and the Reconstruction period was over. THE CIVIL WAR AND POPULATION “The Civil War is a bitter part of the history of both Cooper County and Missouri. Neighbors and even families were divided between North and South. Missouri was truly a divided Border State. When Missouri was admitted to the Union, as a slave state, it tried to remain neutral and did not want to break up the Union. But since many of the early residents were from the South, it was natural for them to favor slavery. Central Missouri had already become a very wealthy area due to the rich soil for crops, especially tobacco. This was only possible because the landowners brought their slaves with them to work the land. We often hear how poorly slaves were treated. And that may be true in some instances. But studies have shown that most slaves were well treated and were considered to be almost members of the owner’s family. The only difference was that they lived apart from owners family and ate their meals from the kitchen. True, their cabins were not something we would want to live in today, and their clothing was basic, but that was over 200 year ago and standards were in many ways were different. Missouri men fought on both sides of the Civil War. But some, on both sides, seemed to enjoy antagonizing people. It was common for Union soldiers to stop a passerby to demand people pledge their allegiance to the Union. This harassment caused many people to become Southern sympathizers. However the Southern guerrillas were just as bad. Source: A History of Pilot Grove, Missouri The two battles and two occupations and the resulting ravages of the Civil War, began with a skirmish on June 17, 1861, (the First Battle of Boonville) and the war would last on and off for four years. Families and farms, both those in Boonville, and the rest of Cooper and surrounding counties, were attacked by the Union Army. Bushwhackers, and looters: During the war, farms and homes in Boonville, and in surrounding areas, were looted of all visible food in order to feed the armies on both sides. Valuables, even blankets, and furniture were taken. Meanness and anger seemed to be everywhere. Homes, barns and crops were burned, leaving the civilians and farmers with nothing. Grain mills and a few churches were also badly damaged or destroyed. In fact, almost all County church activity was disrupted during the War. One of our members (“Winky” Friedriches) said that when her grandmother heard that the “Yankees“ were coming, they buried all their silver. After the war, they found only a few of pieces that they had buried. Where the rest went, no one knew. Before the war ended on June 02,1865, three more battles would be fought in the Boonville area. The devastations of war were eventually experienced by almost everyone in the County and surrounding areas. Many citizens were forced to abandon their homes and farms, while other citizens were robbed or killed. Very few horses were left in the County by the end of the war. WHY DID THE CIVIL WAR START IN CENTRAL MISSOURI? Missouri had already been accepted into the Union as a slave state prior to the war, but there were still very strong, differing opinions on both sides of that decision. Yet, Missouri voted to stay with the Union, although Governor Jackson refused to send troops to fight for the Union. It seems that the “key” reason that Boonville was chosen for the early battle was the fact that it was located in the center of the state of Missouri and was on the Missouri River. Being on the river meant that troops, artillery, horses, food and equipment could be quickly and easily moved to the area of battle. Being in the center of the state allowed the Union troops to easily move anywhere they were needed. SLAVERY AND THE CIVIL WAR Boonville’s Earliest Connections to the Civil War, Started Long Before the Civil War started Slavery was complicated. The Civil War didn’t “just happen.” It was the culmination of many events that took place over many years. Some of those events took place in Missouri and many of the people involved got their professional start in Boonville at that time. To understand what happened and its significance to Missouri, we need to back up to the mid-1790s. 1. Somewhere around 1795, Mr. and Mrs. Whiteside’s and their slave girl “Winny” moved from Carolina to Illinois, which at that time was part of the 1789 Northwest Ordinance Territory and “free”. By 1800, the family had moved to Missouri. In 1818, Winny sued for her freedom in the Superior Court of the Missouri Territory. The case wasn’t heard until after Missouri achieved statehood, so it was transferred to the state Circuit Court of St. Louis County. Winnie’s argument was that her residence in the Northwest Territory made her free, and after a jury trial in February 1822, the court ruled in her favor. Meanwhile… Howard County was created in 1816. With land on both sides of the Missouri River, it physically covered more than 1/3 of the state, including what is now Cooper County. Howard County’s first Circuit Court convened in Boonville on July 8 of that year and one of the four attorneys who attended that first term was Edward Bates. Bates would later play a much larger role than a county lawyer. As the population grew on both sides of the river, people asked that Howard be made into two counties. In December 1818, all of Howard County south of the Missouri River became Cooper County. Boonville was the location for the new County’s first Circuit Court which began on March 1, 1819. Over the next two years, 14 lawyers were enrolled to practice in Cooper County, three of whom were George Tompkins, John F. Ryland, and Hamilton R. Gamble. Each of these three men would one day sit on the Missouri Supreme Court and make decisions that would reach far beyond the boundaries of the state. 2. Back to “Winny” … Missouri was admitted as a slave state in 1821. In 1824, George Tompkins was appointed to Missouri’s Supreme Court. Slavery was a major issue in those days and many cases came before the state’s Highest Court, including “Winny” v. Whiteside’s. Mrs. Whiteside, now a widow, and “Winnie’s sole owner, chose to appeal the lower court’s decision and took her case to the Missouri Supreme Court. Three judges sat on the Supreme Court at that time and they were Mathias McGirk, George Tompkins, and Rufus Pettibone. In a 2-1 decision, the state’s Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court and it was this decision that set the precedent “once free, always free.” Justice Tompkins wrote in his majority opinion, “We are clearly of the opinion that if, by a residence in Illinois, the plaintiff (Mrs. Whiteside’s) lost her right to the property in the defendant, (Winny), and that right was not revived by a removal of the parties to Missouri.” (McGirk concurred and Pettibone voted in the minority) Source: Elizabeth Davis, "Historically Yours " BOONVILLE’S EARLIEST CONNECTION TO THE CIVIL WAR Boonville, central Missouri’s oldest city, is more than a small city in the middle of Missouri. It is home to a great deal of our state’s historic past. Following the Louisiana Purchase, Americans headed west, looking for adventure and new opportunities. Boonville, was settled in 1810 by Hannah Cole and her nine children, along with her brother-in-law’s family. All was peaceful for about two years until the once friendly Sac and Fox Indians roaming the area became hostile, around 1812. Their displeasure with the new settlers was encouraged by the British who pointed out that the Indians were losing their hunting grounds as more settlers arrived. The British encouraged the uprising by suggesting that if the Indians fought against the settlers, and the British won the War of 1812, the British would return the hunting ground to the Indians. (This is the same War of 1812 where the British set fire to the US Capitol in Washington D.C.) For protection, the Coles and the other families moved to the forts north of the river. By 1814, they were back in Boonville. The Cole’s cabin was in a great location and had access to fresh water, so the family built a fort around it. Soon other settlers followed and built their houses in and around the Cole’s fort. Howard County, which covered about one-third of what would become Missouri, was organized January 23, 1816, and Hannah Cole’s fort in Boonville was the site of the first county court in July of that year. Asa Morgan and Charles Lucas platted Boonville in 1817. By 1818, Howard County, south of the Missouri River, had grown sufficiently to allow for the forming of another county. Thus, Cooper County was born, and Boonville became its county seat until a permanent seat could be determined. When Morgan and Lucas gave Boonville 50 acres on which to build a county courthouse, the deal was sealed. Boonville became the permanent county seat of Cooper County. In 1818, Missouri made its first request for statehood. Rather than break the balance of power over the issue of slavery, Congress delayed Missouri statehood for three years. President James Monroe didn’t sign the Act making Missouri the 24th state of the Union until August 10, 1821. Source: Elizabeth Davis, "Historically Yours " SLAVERY RAISES IT’S UGLY HEAD AGAIN Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state. And after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled on Winny v. Whiteside, the precedent was set: “Once free, always free.” In 1834, another slave, named Rachel, sued for her freedom in Rachel v. Walker. Rachel had been owned by an army officer and, in the course of his military assignments, she had lived in what is now Minnesota and Michigan, both of which were free territories. Back in St. Louis, she was sold to Walker. Rachel sued on the grounds of “once free, always free,” but this time the court ruled differently. It was the court’s opinion that the officer had no choice on where he would live, so Rachel had no grounds to ask for her freedom. Rachel’s attorney immediately appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court. Two years later the original ruling of the lower court was overturned. The Court’s 1836 decision set another precedent: “If an officer of the United States Army takes a slave to a territory where slavery is prohibited, he forfeits his property.” This opinion was penned by Justice Mathias McGirk with George Tompkins concurring. Robert Wash was the minority vote. These are the precedents that were used in at least 300 19th-century freedom suits which were found among St. Louis Circuit Court records in the 1990s. Both precedents were set by Mathias McGirk and former Boonville resident George Tompkins. Ten years after Rachel v. Walker, yet another slave and his family sued for their freedom based on “once free, always free.” This time the case made it all the way to the US Supreme Court. Many books have been written about Dred Scott’s eleven-year battle for freedom and here, too, lie a few threads to Boonville. It started in 1846 after Scott’s failed attempt to buy his and his family’s freedom from Dr. Emerson. Just like Winny, Rachel, and dozens of other slaves since 1824, Scott and his wife filed “freedom suits.” After a series of trials, retrials and other delays, the Scotts finally won their freedom in January 1850. Unfortunately, their freedom was short-lived because Mrs. Emerson, the doctor’s widow, appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court and none of the previous judges were still on the bench. They had all been replaced by William Napton, James H. Birch, and John F. Ryland. Ryland was the second lawyer from Boonville to reach the Missouri Supreme Court. Napton and Birch were strong pro-slavery advocates and Ryland, whose feelings weren’t as strong, still leaned toward slavery. The case was scheduled to be heard in March 1850, but due to an overloaded docket, the case was postponed until October. According to one historian, the justices had made a decision and it was unanimous, but their opinion was never written. Napton was supposed to have written it, but he postponed it because he was waiting for a particular legal book to arrive from the capital. Before he received it, however, the law changed. Beginning August 1851, judges on the Missouri Supreme Court had to be elected by the people. Birch and Napton were not elected to stay on the court, but Ryland was. The two new members of the Court were William Scott and Hamilton Gamble. Gamble was Boonville’s third lawyer to attain a seat on the Missouri Supreme Court. Missouri entered the Union as a slave state in 1821, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruled “once free, always free” in the case of Winny v. Whiteside in 1824. Ten years later the state’s Supreme Court extended that precedent to include military personnel. 3. When finally, the Dred Scott case came before the Missouri Supreme Court, the players and the rules had changed. On March 22, 1852, in another 2-1 decision, William Scott and John Ryland struck down 28 years of Missouri precedents when they overturned Dred Scott’s victory. William Scott wrote, “Times now are not as they were, when the former decisions of this subject were made.” One historian of the day remarked, “He might just as well have said their decision was strictly political.” Hamilton Gamble wrote in his dissent: “Times may have changed, public feelings may have changed, but principles have not and do not change, and in my judgement, there can be no safe basis for judicial decisions, but in those principles which are immutable.” The Scotts were remanded to slavery, Mrs. Emerson remarried and moved to Massachusetts, and ownership of the Scott family was transferred to Mrs. Emerson’s brother John F. A. Sanford of New York. Dred Scott appealed his case to the US Supreme Court in 1854. It was heard in 1856, but the decision wasn’t handed down until March 6, 1856, two days after President James Buchanan was sworn into office. Chief Justice Roger Taney wrote for the 7-2 majority. To paraphrase Taney’s two-hour reading of the decision: “African Americans are not, and can never be, citizens, therefore, they have no rights to sue for their freedom. And Congress has no power to regulate slavery in new territories.” Taney, in an attempt to settle the issue slavery once and for all, had moved the country even closer to war. In 1860, 22 men fought for the Presidential nomination. Edward Bates, Boonville’s first attorney with a connection to the Civil War, lost the Republication nomination to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was sworn in on March 4, 1861 and named Bates US Attorney General the following day. Hamilton Gamble, who had resigned from Missouri’s Supreme Court in 1855 due to failing health, had moved to Pennsylvania in 1858. After the legally elected state officials were run out of Jefferson City, the Union put Missouri under martial law and asked Gamble to return to Missouri as its Provisional Governor. Source: Elizabeth Davis, "Historically Yours " MISSOURI SLAVES EMANCIPATED August 30, 1861 John C. Fremont, on August 30, 1861, declared martial law in Missouri and emancipated all the slaves in the state. Unfortunately for Fremont, this was done without the knowledge or consent of President Lincoln. John Charles Fremont (1813 - 1890) was born in Savannah, Georgia, on January 21, 1813. He attended Charleston College, taught mathematics, and his legendary trailblazing skills earned him the nickname "Pathfinder." In 1838, he joined the Army Engineers Corps as a 2nd lieutenant. At the beginning of the Civil War, Fremont was promoted to Major General and assigned head of the Department of the West based in St. Louis. Shortly after the battle of Wilson's Creek, in an attempt to gain a political advantage, he began overstepping his authority. On August 30, 1861, he proclaimed martial law in Missouri: active secessionists were arrested, their property confiscated; slaves were emancipated; and newspapers suspected of disloyalty were shut down. When news of Fremont's actions reached Washington, the President was not pleased. Lincoln did not want to link slavery to the war yet, because he feared it would give slave owners in the border states reason to join forces with the Confederacy. He requested Fremont withdraw or modify the proclamation. Fremont flatly refused both suggestions. Instead, he sent his wife, who happened to be the daughter of former Senate leader Thomas Hart Benton, to Washington to talk to Lincoln. Fremont's blatant refusal, along with the arrival of his wife, angered the President, and Lincoln felt he had no other choice. On September 11, 1861, Lincoln revoked the proclamation as unauthorized and premature; on November 2, 1861, Fremont was also relieved of command. FREEDOM: At the end of the war, the Constitution still did not give the President the authority to abolish slavery. Even the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was not effective because it was ignored by the Confederacy and the slaves were not made aware of the change in their status. But Missouri did not offer empty promises. They held a special convention on January 11, 1865 that called for the immediate emancipation of “all enslaved persons in Missouri”. The United States did not ratify the 13th Amendment, officially freeing the enslaved, until December 6, 1865. Missouri can be proud of the fact that it was the first and only state to abolish slavery before it was passed by federal law. Source: Adapted from "Historically Yours " by Elizabeth Davis REMEMBERING OUR HERITAGE It has been more than one-hundred-fifty years since the beginning of the American Civil War. While neither side was wholly right, both fought and died for what they believed in. Some Americans think we should just forget about that war altogether and move on. Others feel we should remember it, study it, and learn from it. Which side is which, you ask? Is it the North who wants to remember, or the South? Unless you answered “Both,” you would be wrong. Two such groups are the Daughters of Union Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. These groups work hard to remember the past and the part their ancestors played in fighting for their beliefs. While both are national organizations, they each have smaller local groups. It has been asked, “What’s in a name?” For the DUV and the UDC , names are important reminders of the past. The Daughters of Union Veterans have five local groups, called Tents, in the state of Missouri. They are: Julia Grant in St. Louis, Charlotte Harrison Boone in Kahoka, Ann Hawkins Gentry in Columbia, Mary Whitney Phelps in Springfield, and Josephine Garlock Morrow in Macon. The United Daughters of the Confederacy have twelve local Chapters across the state. They are: Boonville; Robert E. Lee 1567 Branson; Ozarks 2723 Campbell; John L. Patterson 2682 Columbia; John S. Marmaduke 713 Higginsville; Confederate Home 203 Independence; Independence 710 Jefferson City; Winnie Davis 628 Kansas City; Stonewall Jackson 639 Lexington; Sterling Price 2049 Marshall; Marshall R. E. Lee 552 St. Louis; Matthew Fontaine Maury 1768 Springfield; Springfield 625 These two groups represent hundreds of women across the state who are descendants of veterans from each side of the war, that are actively preserving, remembering, and passing on the history of this great nation. Adapted from "Historically Yours " by Elizabeth Davis. There are several Civil War markers in Cooper County. See the What to See in Cooper County for information.

AUTHORS, ARTISTS, & HISTORIANS OF COOPER COUNTY AUTHORS Books are a very important part of our lives and national heritage. For the sake of argument, books are not limited to physical, printed editions. For those who have switched to e-books or “read” audio books, remember, each book, whether fiction or non-fiction, must first be written or “created.” Throughout the year, there are many unofficial, designated special occasions that bring recognition to a person, place, or thing. November is National Novel Writing Month, April is National Poetry Month, and the third week in January is National Book Week. In May, there is even a National Children’s Book Week. But who writes all these books, and when? Thousands of people have written books and have done so for centuries. Our forefathers (and mothers) have written about America’s colonial days, our war for independence, and each and every war we’ve had since then. There are biographies, historical fiction, science fiction, and poetry. Not all books were written long ago or by authors now gone. At least a dozen writers live in Cooper and Howard counties. To them I dedicate this column. Source: Elizabeth Davis Women Authors: Ann Betteridge Florence (Winky) Friedrich e s Anita Crews Elizabeth Davis Cindy Koch Eva Ridenour Linda Runnebaum Anna Skjei Mary Ann Snapp Judy Stock Barb Thoma Casey Wendleton There is no way any one person can know every author, so my apologies for all the names I’ve missed. Source: Elizabeth Davis WELL KNOWN ARTISTS George Caleb Bingham George Caleb Bingham is best remembered as a 19th century artist who left behind a visual record of American history. Bingham was born in Virginia on March 20, 1811. Although he grew up in a slave-holding family, he and his family’s roots were firmly tied to generations of New England ministers. In 1819, Bingham’s family moved to Franklin, Missouri. There, they opened an inn and purchased a tobacco farm in Arrow Rock. Four years later Bingham’s father died and his mother, one of the best educated women of the day, opened a girls’ school to support the family. Bingham hired out as a farmhand as soon as he was old enough to help, but it was soon discovered he was asthmatic. With few options before him, he became a cabinetmaker apprentice near Boonville, first to Jesse Green and later to Justinian Williams. He learned precise craftsmanship and by 1834, Bingham was using that craftsmanship as a portrait painter. A self-taught American primitive artist, Bingham wanted more. In 1836, he went back east to study at the Philadelphia Academy. While there, he was able to see originals of America’s greatest—Benjamin West, Washington Allston, etc. After only a few months, his work became more sophisticated. Always seeking to improve his art work, Bingham then went to Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1856 to continue his studies. At the time, Dusseldorf was the center of the western art world. Prior to the Civil War, when future Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson was campaigning for slavery, George Bingham was campaigning against it. Bingham believed “slavery should not be expanded, slave families should never be separated, and all slaves should be gradually emancipated.” When the Civil War began, Bingham enlisted as a captain in Van Horn’s US Reserve Corps. After being defeated in September 1861, they were disbanded according to the terms of their surrender. A few months later, on January 4, 1862, Union Governor Hamilton Gamble appointed Bingham state treasurer for Missouri. After the war, Bingham was able to continue his art while he served as Missouri’s adjutant general and in other appointed posts. George Caleb Bingham died in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 7, 1879. Source: Historically Yours, by Elizabeth Davis Florence (Winky) Friedriches – Painter, graphic arts, metal work, dress design Wayne Lammers – Photography Edwards Family Two generations of photographers O. D. Edwards came to the United States and settled in Boonville in 1859. Edwards became a skilled photographer and made a fine living during the Civil War, photographing soldiers on both sides. His success lasted for the better part of 50 years. Louis Edwards, his son, followed in his father’s footsteps. He graduated from Boonville High School and attended the Singleton Academy before becoming as skilled in photography as his father. He was known for quality work at reasonable prices. William L. Tanner William L. Tanner, the oldest of twelve children, was born in Illinois on September 24, 1880, the son of Louis and Christina (Kraft) Tanner. Louis Tanner was a native of Switzerland and came to the United States with his parents at the age of 14. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, the family moved to St. Louis where they operated a manufacturing business. Later they relocated to Lost Prairie, Illinois. In 1886, the family returned to St. Louis. William Tanner left school at 13 and went to work in a gents’ furnishing store until the age of 19. At that time he took up the study of photography and worked with Gustav Schneidt who had learned the art in Germany. On June 5, 1905, Willian Tanner married Miss Emma Georgiana Schneidt, the daughter of his employer, and the union was blessed with one son, William Louis, Jr. In 1911 Tanner began working in the studio of O. C. Conkling. He became a traveling salesman for Hyatt’s Photo Supply Company in 1914 and stayed in their employ until he moved to Boonville in 1916. On March 23, 1916, Tanner opened his own studio in the McCurdy Building in Boonville where he had what we call today a Grand Opening. It was quite a new way of doing business in the early 1900s. And each lady attending received a photograph of herself—54 in all. Tanner’s studio lasted just under three years. On December 23, 1918, it burned down and he lost almost everything in the fire. However, a successful business doesn’t stay down long. Tanner reopened Tanner Studio and Art Shop at 305 Main St. on February 26, 1919. Occupying two floors and the basement, it was the “the last word in modernity. The nitrogen lighting system, with a battery of eight lights, of strength of 8000 watts, is used and renders reliance on daylight as an adjunct to photography unnecessary. Posing can be accomplished at any hour of the day or night…studio is equipped with the finest model of camera in existence fitted with an automatic adjustment, and which uses films instead of plates. Perfectly appointed dressing rooms have been provided for patrons.” A new department of the studio was handled by Frank Swap, a local artist. For those who were interested, portrait painting was also available. Source: Johnson, W. F. , History of Cooper County, vol. I, c/1919, page 498 Maximilian Schmidt (1865-1935) Maximilian Schmidt learned the trade of a jeweler and watchmaker. WELL KNOWN HISTORIANS Ann Betteridge - Author of the 400-page workbook “Discover Cooper County by Looking Back”, was given personally to each Cooper County third grader by the author, along with a fun history lesson. Ann presented this book, which she had researched and written, to the children for over a period of over 20 years, until her untimely death. Gladys Darby Elizabeth Davis Jim Denny Bob Dyer Florence ”Winky” Friedriches Jeanette Heaton James Higby Wayne Lammers Helen Mitzel (1901-2006) Mary Pat Holmes Sam Jewett Maryellen McVicker Patrick Overton Bonnie Rapp Judy Shields HISTORICAL WRITERS Wayne Lammers Maryellen McVicker Ann Betteridge Bob Dyer Jim Dyer Judy Shields Elizabeth Davis Jeanette Heaton

COOPER COUNTY TOWNS THAT ONCE HAD TRAINS AND DEPOTS 1850-1960 There was a huge jump in County population between 1850 and 1890. Cooper County was growing quickly due to the Steamboats and the Railroads, until the start of the Civil War in 1861. When populations declined during and after the Civil War, during the Reconstruction period, and later during the Depression, the number of trains running through the County declined also. Today, the size of the remaining towns once serviced by the railroads, other than Boonville, is just an echo of what they had been when the trains ran through the town centers. The trains that are running today no longer go through towns or carry passengers, only freight and coal. BILLINGSVILLE - Billingsville is located six miles south of Boonville. At one time, the Hilden family owned the general store, the granary and the two scales. There were seven owners of the store over time. There was a blacksmith, a school, a post office, two churches and several well-built houses in the area. Two trains came to Billingsville daily. A school was built on a small bluff near the banks of the Petite Saline River Between 1852-1853 a covered bridge, spanning the river, was built on land owned by Mr. Shoemaker, so it was named the "Shoemaker Bridge". The bridge offered school children a place to play and gave people in buggies or on horseback a place to stay dry during a storm. The Southern Branch of the Osage and So Kansas Railroad came to Billingsville twice a day. The train seceded operation in 1936. BLACKWATER - The town of Blackwater, named after the nearby Blackwater River, had its beginning in 1887 when W.C. Morris filed a plat for the town. Mr. Cooney and Mr. Scott who owned the surrounding land, gave free alternating lots to obtain the location of the town. In the spring of 1887, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company surveyed for the Missouri River Route of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. This Route was later known as the Lexington-Jefferson City Branch. he In 1888, C.T. Rucker built the first general merchandise store, and the train depot was also built. The first drugstore was operated by Riley Holman, and an early physician was D. H. Quigg. The first bank was the Farmers Stock Bank, and was built in 1895. By 1937, Blackwater had two general merchandise stores, a grocery store, blacksmith, lumber company, two poultry houses, one hotel, a grain elevator, two doctors, a bank, post office, two hardware stores, two barber shops, a beauty shop, and the Blackwater Stone Company quarry, which employed 100 people. Grain and cattle were shipped to market and livestock were fattened and shipped in. Blackwater had its largest population in the 1920's, nearly 600 people. Today the town has the following businesses: Telephone Museum, Post Office BOONVILLE - Boonville is more than a small city in the middle of Missouri. It is home to a great deal of our state’s historic past. Following the Louisiana Purchase, Americans headed west, across the Missouri River, looking for adventure and new opportunities. Boonville, the oldest city in central Missouri, was settled in 1810 by Hannah Cole and her nine children, along with her brother-in-law’s family. The Sac and Fox Indians roamed the area and became hostile around 1812. For protection, the Coles moved to the forts north of the river. By 1814, they were back in Boonville. The Cole’s cabin was in a great location and had access to fresh water, so the family built a fort around it. Soon other settlers followed and built their homes in and around the Cole’s fort. Howard County, which covered about one-third of the area that would eventually become Missouri, was organized January 23, 1816, and Hannah Cole’s fort in Boonville was the site of the first Howard County Court in July of that year. Asa Morgan and Charles Lucas platted Boonville in 1817. By 1818, Howard County, south of the Missouri River, had grown sufficiently large to allow for the forming of another county from its vast territory. Thus, Cooper County was born, and Boonville became its county seat until a permanent seat could be determined. When Morgan and Lucas gave Boonville 50 acres on which to build a county courthouse, the deal was sealed. Boonville became the permanent county seat. In 1818, Missouri made its first request for statehood. Rather than break the balance of power over the issue of slavery, Congress delayed Missouri statehood for three years. President James Monroe didn’t sign the Act making Missouri the 24th state of the Union until August 10, 1821. Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours BUNCETON - Bunceton was platted in 1868 and named after Harvey Bunce, an early settler and a Director of the Central National Bank of Boonville. The town was laid out on a town site of 20 acres in a very fertile area. The Township was named for one of the most respected early pioneers, John Kelly. Several Roller mills were erected in Bunceton, and over the years, several of them burned, causing a great deal of damage to the town. At its height of population there were 2 drug stores, 3 general stores, 4 grocery stores, 4 barber shops, 2 millinery shops, 2 doctors, 2 lumber yards, a livery stable, one carpenter shop, 3 blacksmiths, one flour mill, 4 churches, and a population of almost 1,000 people. The post office has been in operation since 1868. Today the town has seven businesses: Connections Bank, Leslie’s Service Center, 2 beauty shops, Bunceton Mutual Insurance, Josephine’s General Store, Strobel’s Welding and two churches: the Baptist Church and Federated Church. It also has an excellent K-12 public school. CLIFTON CITY - Clifton City was known as the “Devil’s Half Acre” because it was a place where several notorious characters, such as Jesse James, frequented. It was on the Katy Railroad and was an important shipping point at one time. In 1849 it had one blacksmith and one general store. During the early 1900’s it was a very prosperous town. There were blacksmiths, general stores, a bank, lumber yard, a hardware store, a farrier, 2 drug stores and a pay telephone office. Today there are no businesses in town, but a church and several homes. HARRISTON - Harriston was located 15 miles southwest of Boonville and three miles east of Pilot Grove. It was established in 1873 and grew to be an important shipping place for livestock and grain, with a railroad depot, post office, two general stores, a blacksmith shop and a few other businesses. Dr. N. W. Harris gave land for the MKT Railroad right-of-way. A depot was located there and was named Harriston. Henry W. Harris, son of Dr. Harris was appointed the first postmaster. H. Brooks was the first depot agent. Dr. Harris was the medical doctor and also operated the general store. E. Gates made wagons. N.L. Wilson sold sewing machines. Pete Bitsch was a shoe and bootmaker. In 1877, the Sly family, from Kentucky, moved to Harriston. Jim Sly became a wagon maker. His brother Jim was a blacksmith. The population grew to 50 residents. Harriston is no longer listed as a town. In 1879 Dr. Harris became postmaster. In 1883, W. Jacobs and Co. had a general store and the Woolery family owned a general store. About this time the Straub family came to Harriston. In 1891, William Sly became postmaster and the owner of the general store. In 1896, J.H. Schlotzhauer gave land for a school which was organized and named Harriston School. Clay Daniels, a stone mason, carved stones for many of the houses in the community. In 1908 the post office was combined with Pleasant Green. The depot closed and Harriston was a flag stop for passengers for a few years. Roy Daniels was the last resident of Harriston. LAMINE - Lamine is located on the river route of the Union Pacific, as well as on the Lamine River. Lamine is named for the river, which was originally named "Riviere de la Mine." In 1720, Philippe Renault, Director of mines of the French colonies in America, sent prospecting parties into the territories west of the Mississippi to seek gold and silver. In 1723 they discovered lead oar near Lamine. La Mine, or Lamine, is a contraction of the original French name. Samuel Walton erected a business in the village of Lamine in 1869. (He was the great grandfather of Sam Walton of Walmart fame), and Redd and Gibson opened a store in 1871. JJ Simms was a blacksmith and wagon maker. Dr. R. Davidson operated a drugstore. R.R. Reed was postmaster. The mail came on a stagecoach route that traveled daily from Boonville to Arrowrock. Tornadoes are somewhat common in the Lamine area. In the late 1800's, Thomas Weekly recalled his father's account of the tornado which came down the Lamine River and struck the bluff three times. The third time it came up the ravine, it destroyed the Baptist church, while the Christian Church was not harmed. Eventually the town of Lamine was moved closer to the river and the railroad. The two towns were sometimes referred to as New Lamine an Old Lamine. Turley descendants have lived in the Lamine area since 1811. Stephen Turley fought in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Turley were the last operators of the store they owned in Lamine which closed in 1984. A Hopewell Indian settlement, located at the confluence of the Lamine and Missouri Rivers, is listed on the Register of Historic Places. OTTERVILLE - The town was named “Otterville” because of the great number of Otters in the area. The businesses and homes were originally located north of the town near the school. The mail from Arator was carried on horseback by a young boy named James Wear. Later he became a prosperous merchant in St. Louis For a while, Otterville grew quickly as it was the end of the line for Missouri Pacific Railroad. Later the railroad extended its service to Sedalia, and when Sedalia became the end of the line, business in Otterville declined, while Sedalia boomed. William Stone, in 1825, was one of the first to settle. Other early families included William Reed from Tennessee and James G. Wilkerson from Kentucky. William Sloan came in 1826. Thomas Parsons was a hatter from Virginia and opened the first hatter's shop south of Boonville. Fredrich Sherly appeared about 1827 and was known as one of the best hunters around. Before coming to the area, Sherly had been with General Jackson in the Creek War. He had been present at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend and witnessed the death of over 500 Indians. James Davis arrived from Tennessee and was known as a great rail splitter. James Brown was another hunter who settled in the area. Brown had once hunted with Daniel Boone. An early enterprise was run by John Gabriel who came from Kentucky. Gabriel had a distillery and made whiskey. One day he was killed for his money by a slave. The slave was captured, and then hanged in Boonville which was the county seat. Thomas Jefferson Stark was another early settler Otterville who became a lawyer and was admitted to the bar and served as legal adviser and Notary Public for this part of Missouri. He is also responsible for much of the history we have of Otterville and the surrounding area. On February 22, 1947, a city election changed Otterville from village to Fourth Class City. OVERTON - Overton is opposite Rocheport on the Missouri River. Overton was an unincorporated community in northeast Cooper County. The community was adjacent to the south edge of the Missouri River floodplain. Overton was laid out in 1901, and named in honor of William B. Overton, the original owner of the town site. After the loss of the steamboat trade in the 1880’s and 90’s, the town moved to a place near the base of the bluffs near the railroad. A post office called Overton was established in 1864, and remained in operation until 1944. Unfortunately, due to heavy flooding of the Missouri River in 1993 and 1995, the farms that once dotted this area have become wetlands and many farmers sold their land to the US government, such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Today, acres of weedy, herbaceous plants cover what were once crop fields in the Overton Bottoms section of the Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge and Service. It is now known as the Big Muddy Fish and Wildlife Refuge that covers the Missouri River bottoms adjacent to Interstate 70. Source: Ann Betteridge Discover Cooper County and (the source of the article about Overton), Brendan Gibbons Columbia Missouri PILOT GROVE - Pilot Grove became a town in 1873, soon after the arrival of the MKT Railroad. Samuel Roe, a teacher and postmaster, was the founder of Pilot Grove. He also helped with the building of the railroad depot. The town was named "Pilot Grove" for a grove of tall hickory trees standing on the prairie, which served as a guide and was a "pilot" for travelers going across the prairie. Like many other towns in its day, Pilot Grove became prosperous because of the railroad. It became a major shipping point for grain and livestock. Other successful businesses were a pottery, blacksmith shop, brickyard, millinery, ice house, livery stable, grain elevator, and a flour and grist mill. Most businesses were farm related, but some were engaged in manufacturing. There were factories that made furniture, boats and cabinets. The cabinet shop eventually became the start of Anderson Windows. One of the biggest events in Pilot Grove happened in 1945, when a train carrying ammunition and oil, derailed about one-half mile north of town, derailing 20 cars. Flames and smoke rose over 400 feet, and shells exploded. One can only wonder what would have happened if the train had derailed in town. Today, Pilot Grove is the second largest town in Cooper County. PLEASANT GREEN This is a picture of the small building that housed the Pleasant Green Post Office from 1869-1871 and 1873-1954. It also served as a telephone office. In the middle of what is now Cooper County, Anthony Winston Walker arrived in 1818 with his wife, and three sons. They started with a one-story brick house, slave quarters, and a separate cookhouse. The estate was called Pleasant Green after an earlier home in Virginia. In 1824, Walker set aside 1-1/2 acres for a church and cemetery. Pleasant Green Methodist church is still in use today, and the cemetery is still active. According to census records, Walker had two African-American slaves in 1830. It was at this time that a two-story federal style add-on was built for their son Anthony Smith Walker to be used as his office and as a post office. Eventually, the Walker family owned 61 slaves and 13,00 acres of land. Anthony Smith Walker had been postmaster, assessor, and a Cooper County Judge. He was in the Missouri Legislature from 1844 until Lyon captured Jefferson City in 1861. His son, Anthony Walker, was a major in the Union Army when he inherited Pleasant Green and didn’t return to take over the estate until 1872. Some time after that, several acres were sold for the town of Buzzard’s Roost. (Local residents know it as Pleasant Green.) Everything was lost in bankruptcy in the 1900’s bank panic. Fifty years later, Florence (Winky) Walker Chesnutt Friedrichs, a direct descendant of the Walker’s, and her husband Stanley Chestnut, repurchased the Pleasant Green Plantation house. It has remained in the family ever since. The plantation had a separate building (see picture above) that served as both the telephone office and the post office. At one time, Pleasant Green was a busy little town with three general stores, a small hotel, bank, drug store, hardware store, barber shop, livery stable, blacksmith, and two grain elevators. People began to leave the town in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. The trains had bypassed the town and there were trucks and cars by then, and people could drive to larger towns for business and shopping. In the late 30’s and early 1940’s, the town collapsed. All that is left of the town is the little telephone and post office and several Victorian homes. PRAIRIE LICK - Prairie Lick was located five miles southeast of Boonville on the MKT railroad. There was once a store, grain elevator and blacksmith shop there. George Drennan operated a store there until the late 1920's. Mr Tom Bryan was the last store owner in Prairie Lick. On the 1950 Census Prairie Lick was no longer listed as a town. SPEED (New Palestine) - Speed is an unincorporated community located along Missouri Route F, on a branch of the Petite Saline creek, four miles East of Bunceton. It was originally laid out on higher ground in 1868, and named Palestine. Later, the town moved closer to the creek when the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas & Texas Railroad (KATY) came through in 1898, and was renamed “New Palestine” after the move, and later renamed “Speed” after Austin Speed, a railroad official. Speed was a very prosperous town after the move. Many businesses, including a bank did very well. When the railroad was disbanded, most of the businesses closed, and today there are no businesses left in Speed. The post office closed in 1955. One church remains active. WOOLDRIDGE - Wooldridge was incorporated in 1902. The Missouri Pacific ran past Wooldridge but rarely stopped. The town had a restaurant, general store, a drug store and a lumber yard. A tomato factory was in operation in 1908. The town slowly disappeared and only the church and post office remained of the original town. In the Fall of 2022, during harvest time, a piece of farm machinery started a fire, and the dense smoke from it was seen for miles around. The church and post office were damaged, but nothing else remains. There are still a few homes on the bluff above Wooldridge.

FRIENDS OF HISTORIC BOONVILLE Contact Information Located in the Old County Jail 614 E Morgan St. Boonville, MO 65233 Hours of Operation: Weekdays 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Phone: (660) 882-7977 Website: friendsofhistoricboonvillemo.org The mission of the Friends of Historic Boonville is to plan, promote, expand, and celebrate the cultural life of Boonville, MO through the arts, history, and historic preservation for the betterment of the community. The Friends’ organization was established in 1971 by a small group of local citizens dedicated to restoring the Old Cooper County Hanging Barn which hosted the last public hanging in the state of Missouri. Since 1971 our organization has steady grown and today, we have over 350 members from all over the country. In addition to preserving three historic properties – Old Cooper County Jail & Hanging Barn (view more ); Thespian Hall (view more ); and Hain House & Memorial Gardens (view more ); we serve as the community arts organization for Boonville (view Events/Festivals); and maintain an extensive archives library of local items significant to our history. The operations of our organization are largely supported by annual membership dues, grant funding from Missouri Arts Council and City of Boonville, private donations and sponsorship’s from local businesses. The Board of Directors is comprised of individuals in the community who are interested in preserving our local history. The Friends of Historic Boonville has only one staff person, who at times must attend off-site meetings during business hours. For that reason, if you are traveling to Boonville for a tour, we suggest you contact us in advance and let us know the date and time. We will insure that someone is available to give your tour. Collections below are available at Friends of Historic Boonville Collection #1—Directories—includes telephone directories for Boonville and other Cooper County towns, 1869-2018. Highlights are: Boonville City Directory, 1869/1870 Boonville City Directory, 1876/1877 Maloney’s Cooper County Directory, 1912/1913 Farmers and Merchants Hand Book of Cooper County, 1916 Collection #3—Small Collections—Collections only one or two folders in size: Folder #36 Cooper County Extension Homemakers, 1988-1991 Enrollment forms, County Council records Folder #54, Cooper County, Plat Book, 1897, 2000 Folder #93, Cooper County Area Retired Teacher Association, Papers, 1995-2011 Handbooks which include directory of members and dates of meetings, and minutes, 1997-2003 Folder #120, Cooper County Public Schools, 1914 Names of district clerks, presidents of boards, and teachers, with salaries paid Folder #125, Cooper County Sunday School Association, Papers, 1918 Sixth annual convention program Folder #142, American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Cooper County, Map, 1970's Historic sites map of Cooper County Folder #228, Cooper County Bicentennial Commission, 1976 Bicentennial Pageant program, written by Uncas McGuire, directed by Dennis Smith (3 copies); and schedule of summer celebrations Folder #250, Cooper County, Superintendent of Schools, 1945 County School Directory, includes school districts on map, rosters of teachers, school district statistics, Folder #379, Cooper County, Plat book, 1960's Folder #434, Cooper County Record, Ledger, 1955-1964 Expenses of the paper Folder #442, Guide to Boonville and Cooper County, 2011 Published by the Boonville Publishing Company, Boonville Daily News, includes local information and local advertisements Folder #465, Cooper County Court House, Cornerstone Centenary, 2012 Program for the ceremony and two cups used at the ice cream social after the ceremony. Folder #469, Cooper County Court House, 1912 Copies of articles from Boonville papers concerning the building of the court house (used for presentation during centenary of court house Folder #478, Cooper County Law Enforcement and Communications Center, 1999 Dedication ceremony program (2 copies) Folder #492, Cooper County Farm Directory, 1928 Alphabetical listing of farmers by township and advertisements Folder #493, Cooper County, Plat Book, 1925 Folder #529, Cooper County Public Schools, 1910's-1959 Cooper County School Directory, 1943/1944; Sixth, Seventh and Fourteenth Annual Report of the County Schools, 1958, 1959 and 1967; and miscellaneous clippings about consolidation in 1949 and lists of graduates from county schools in the 1910's. Folder #565, Cooper County Jail, 1970's News clippings about the need to close the old jail and build a new one. Folder #593, Cooper County Court House, 1930's Hand drawn plan of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the building Folder #599, Cooper County Counseling Center, 2004 Brief history of the center presented to the Cooper County Human Services Council by Timothy Von Engeln Folder #604, Cooper County Missouri Plat Book, 1987 Folder #605, Cooper County Missouri Plat Book, 1991 Folder #606, Cooper County Missouri Plat Book, 1978 Folder #626, Cooper County Historical Society, 1993 Cooper County Church Sketches by Florence Chesnutt Folder #662, Cooper County Historical Society, 2007 Old Pleasant Green "Underground" list of burials at the cemetery Folder #663, Cooper County, 1995, 2017 Financial statement--included in the Boonville Daily News Collection #5—Illustrated Atlas Map of Cooper County, 1877—more easily accessed through the State Historical Society of Missouri website Collection #6—Illustrated Atlas Map of cooper County, 1897—more easily accessed through the State Historical Society of Missouri website Collection #7—Standard Atlas of Cooper county, 1915—more easily accessed through the State Historic Society of Missouri website Collection #9—Photographs—donated over the years from many donors Image #59 Groundbreaking, possibly at Cooper County Memorial Hospital, 1960's Image #83 Soldiers and band standing in front of Cooper County Court House, 1920's Image #347 Cooper County Memorial Hospital--dedication, 1971 Image #348 Cooper County Memorial Hospital--dedication, 1972 Image #468 Daughters of the American Revolution standing on the Cooper County Court house steps, 1921 Image #472 Missouri Drummer's Association with band standing in front of Cooper County Court house, 1917 Image #502 Cooper County Memorial Hospital, 1973 Image #794 Cooper County Home, 1960's Image #802 Drawing of Cooper County jail, n.d. Image #803 Cooper County jail, man standing by screen door, sign to right of door "Visitors, Hours 2-4, Wednesday Only", 1940's Image #804 Cooper County jail, after closed, 1970's Image #1328 Arthur Bradley, Sheriff of Cooper County, and Daniel Walters, deputy standing in front of entrance to sheriff's house, 1936 Image #1412 Full view of Daniel Walters on front porch of Cooper County Jail, 1936 Image #1889 and #2099 Statue of Liberty in front of Cooper County Court House, 1984 Image #1944 Putnam Family of Cooper County standing outside of their house, 1917ca Image #2092 Cooper County Court House, 1980's Image #2093 Cooper County Court House, 1963 Image #2094, #2095, #2096 #2097 Cooper County Court House, 1980's Image #2100 Cooper County Court House, 1980's Collection #20—Cooper County Agricultural Extension Records, 1930's-1980's--Annual reports, 4-H membership records, and other miscellaneous records Collection #25—Brochures—Many from the Boonville Chamber of Commerce, primarily to promote the area and businesses Item #8, Cooper County Memorial Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, An Extension of Care, n.d.; produced by Cooper County Memorial Hospital Item #9, We keep your heart in tune, Cooper County Hospital Cardiac Rehab, 1990's Produced by Cooper County Memorial Hospital Item #14, Tour of Homes, Historic Cooper County, Missouri, n.d. Produced by unknown Item #36, Cooper County, Missouri, Community Shelter Plan, 1968 Produced by Cooper County Civil Defense Agency Item #57, City of Boonville and Cooper County Map, 1985 Produced by Chamber of Commerce Item #74, City of Boonville and Cooper County Map, 1995 Produced by Chamber of Commerce Item #83, Cooper County, Missouri, A Gas Tank Tour of Living History, n.d. Produced by Chamber of Commerce, Cooper County Hist. Soc. Item #84, City of Boonville and Cooper County Map, 2001 Produced by Chamber of Commerce Item #100, Cooper County, Missouri, Living History Tour, 1994 Produced by Cooper County Historical Society Item #108, Cooper County Memorial Hospital, what you're looking for, 1980ca Item #109, Cooper County Memorial Hospital, 1970's Produced by Cooper County Memorial Hospital Item #110, Dedication of Cooper County Memorial Hospital, 1973 Produced by Cooper County Memorial Hospital Item #134, 2014 Guide to Boonville and Cooper County, 2014 Produced by Boonville Daily News Collection #34—Cooper County Marriages Records, 1870-1912--Marriage licenses giving bride and groom names, date of marriage, location of wedding—these were the records that were used to enter the information into the official records of the county Collection # 38—Mt. Sinai School Records, 1904-1964—board minutes, enumerations, and attendance records. Also includes a scrapbook of the PTA Collection #55—Cooper County Historic Buildings Survey, 1970's-1980's—a survey undertaken by the Friends of Historic Boonville, includes photographs of the buildings, mostly houses Collection #63—Bluffton School Scrapbooks, 1930's--One scrapbook showing 1939 Homecoming, including pictures of former students, local farms; the other a social studies project Collection #75—Cooper County Records, 1818-1959—primarily volumes from various county offices including the assessor’s office, 1842-1867; circuit court, 1841-1948; county court minute books and other records, 1822-1935; justice of the peace dockets and other records, 1818-1942; probate court, 1821-1959 Collection #97—Maps and Plans, 1874-2000—maps of Cooper County Collection #98—Newspapers, 1844-1996—includes Cooper County Record, 1939-1987—more easily accessed through the State Historical Society of Missouri newspaper library Collection #104—Cooper County Bicentennial Commission Papers, 1970's--commission that planned activities for the Bicentenary in the county

HOW GOOD WERE THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”? Did YOU miss out on them? Ask an older relative or family member about what they knew about rural life prior to 1935, especially without electricity or a car. How hard was it for people to complete daily chores without the following items that we take for granted today?: Electricity for light, electric stoves, refrigerators, Indoor plumbing Electricity to pump water from a well Central heat Hot showers or baths Washing machines, clothes dryers, irons, Telephones, cellphones, computers Freezers, blenders Air Conditioning, flash lights Hair dryers, curling irons, electric razors Crock pots, Instapots, air fryers, coffee pots Automatic transmissions on cars Dependable tires for cars and trucks Chainsaws, weed whackers, lawn mowers , Who took care of sick animals with no area vets? How would you contact a doctor in an emergency when you have no phone and only have an old wagon and a horse for transportation? It’s 11 P.M. in 1937 and you have a flat tire out in the middle of nowhere, no spare tire and no way of contacting someone. What do you do? Where did you buy your groceries, where did you buy your clothes, and needed household items? How do you get to town?