History of Henry County, Missouri (1919)

GenealogyBuff.com - History of Henry County, Missouri (1919) - Chapter XXIII - RECUPERATION AND PROGRESS - THE PEOPLE'S BANK OF CLINTON - UNION OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES - SALOON LICENSES - DEATH OF BROTHER GIVEN - THE U.D.C. BESTOWES CROSSES OF HONOR - JUDGE BOYD'S PICNTC - THE BANKS IN URICH - THE PANIC OF 1907 - NEW BANK IN MONTROSE - POLITICS IN 1908 - FARIS NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR - EXPLOSION AT WINDSOR - DEATH OF DEARMOND - DICKINSON ELECTED TO CONGRESS

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Date: Friday, 24 March 2023, at 1:40 a.m.

CHAPTER XXIII

The People's National Bank was formally organized and opened for business early in January, 1907. Organization was effected by the election of the following directors: James M. Spangler, R. H. Piper, J. D. Carney, John Arvin, Dr. J. H. Britts, J. J. Chastain, J. C. Wyatt. The directors elected the following officers: President, John Arvin; vice-president, R. H. Piper; cashier, J. C. Wyatt; assistant cashier, J. J. Chastain.

The new bank had a paid up capital of $50,000, acquired the Salmon & Salmon Bank building and opened for business using that building for its banking business. Two of these men were from out of the county, the president, John Arvin, who was a recent resident of Howard County, coming from Armstrong, Missouri, and the cashier, J. C. Wyatt, removed from Higbee to assume the position in this bank. The intention of the new organization was to give the county a bank conducted on conservative lines, which would be an assistance to the up-building of the whole community.

Representative M. B. Thralls, of Henry County, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives which was inspired by Governor Folk's wishes to enforce the Sunday "lid law." The proposed law made violation of the dramshop law outlawry and subjected the violator to arrest by a posse which might be called out by the Governor if he should become satisfied that local officials would not, or could not, enforce the law. The cost of the enforcement of the law in such a case was to be borne by the State and the members of the posse to have the same authority in making arrest as a sheriff. This was a law designed to assist the authorities in preventing violations of the liquor laws, particularly in counties or in sections of the larger cities where the sentiment for Sunday observance and proper enforcement of the dramshop laws was not strong.

The question of union between the Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian Churches had been agitated for a number of years and while Henry County Presbyterians did not take any prominent part, yet they were all concerned as to the ultimate results of the proposed merger. At the meeting of the General Assembly of the two churches in 1906, articles of union were formally agreed on and arrangements were made for the joining of the two congregations in towns where both branches of the united church had organizations; and in the case of such union, to vacate one of the church buildings and unite all of the people under one pastor and in one church body. Pursuant to such action of the general assemblies of the two churches, there was a meeting held in Kansas City early in January, 1907, at which the Kansas City Presbytery of the Kansas City Church and the Lexington Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church were both represented and at such meeting, final steps were taken to legally unite the two bodies; and particularly included were the two Clinton Presbyterian Churches. The local Cumberland Presbyterian Church was represented by Rev. G. P. Beaty, who presented a communication from that church bearing upon the matter. The Kansas City Presbytery formally transferred the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton to the Lexington Presbytery, in order to get the two churches in the same presbytery, and the Lexington Presbytery accepted the transferred church in order to perfect the union of the two churches.

The committee of ministers, consisting of Rev. Beaty and Rev. Howell of Clinton, and Walker of Kansas City, were appointed to visit Clinton on January 31 and carry out the orders of the Presbytery, formally constituting the union of the two churches upon the basis of union adopted by each. On the occasion of the visit of the committee from the Presbytery, the two Clinton Presbyterian Churches were formally merged into one body, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton.

The new body was organized, as to elders, deacons and trustees, by an equal number being named from each of the two constituent churches; and, after the formal interrogation and replying to the regular constitutional questions, were declared to be the officers of the united church.

The officers elected were as follows: From the Presbyterian Church, elders, J. G. Middlecoff, Dr. B. B. Barr, Dr. E. Y. Nichols, Millard Lane, H. P. Farris, J. E. Akey; deacons, U. W. Lamkin, Charles Tobias, Otto Detweiller, Carter Cannon, George D. Coon. From the Cumberland Presbyterian Church: Elders, B. L. Owen, Hale Montgomery, W. H. Shackleford, M. B. Knowles, C. H. Van Dyke, Frank C. Shaver; deacons, A. C. Haysler, Ernest Vale, E. H. Dooley, Dr. S. C. A. Rubey, F. B. Waddell. Rev. J. R. Birchfield, who had hitherto been the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, was installed as the first pastor of the new body.

The union of the two churches was not acceptable to all of the members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and at the same time the above proceedings were being had a meeting was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Clinton, of those members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church who had all the time steadfastly opposed the union. Presiding at this meeting was the Rev. J. E. Duggins of Montrose. J. W. King was elected elder and S. D. Garth trustee. J. M. Weidemeyer and J. G. Turk were appointed to find a suitable place in which to have a Sunday school and prayer meeting, and it was resolved to continue the organization and as soon as possible to employ a regular minister. The dispute between the two branches of this church was carried from the ecclesiastical into the State Court and after a long litigation extending to the Supreme Court of the United States was formally decided in favor of the merger. However, in 1908, Judge Denton had before him in the Circuit Court of Henry County a case involving one phase of the union on which depended the ownership of Mt. Carmel Church in Davis township. It seems that nearly fifteen years before Dr. J. G. Turk of Clinton deeded to the trustees of the Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church a tract of ground about an acre in extent on which the church was built and stood at the time of the suit. There was inserted in the deed by the grantor a stipulation that the building to be erected should be used as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and also the provision that should it cease to be so used the ground should revert back to him or his heirs. Since the union the building was used by the unionists and, as Dr. Turk adhered to the loyal branch of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the suit was brought to gain possession of the ground under the condition that the church was no longer used by the Cumberland Presbyterians.

The city of Clinton having voted to remain wet, the question of saloon licenses was considered at a special meeting of the city council held on Monday, May 6, 1907. The attitude of many of the people seemed to be that saloons should pay a very high license fee, at least such was the presumption from the action of the council, which on this date introduced and passed an ordinance raising saloon licenses in Clinton from $1,000 to $3,000 per year, which together with additional taxes made the saloon licenses $3,800 each. The action was taken probably in anticipation of saloon licenses about to be applied for in the County Court on the following Monday, and the passage of this ordinance and its immediate going into effect made the granting of additional saloon licenses improbable. In fact it was predicted at that time that the raising of the license fee would result in the closing of all the saloons, with perhaps one exception. The prediction that the saloons would not pay the license prescribed by the ordinance was fulfilled and as the licenses of the various saloons expired one by one they closed, so that for a period of nearly four months there was no licensed saloon in Clinton, the town, while it had voted wet, being diy on account of the license fee charge. The County Court in the meantime had granted five saloon licenses, but none of them had been taken out, owing to the Clinton ordinance. However, the long drouth in Clinton was broken on the convening of a special meeting of the city council in mid July. The council at that time reduced the saloon license from $3,000 to $1,500 annually and two saloons were immediately opened, followed by others.

In the death of Rev. J. C. Given at Springfield during the month of April was removed from Henry County and Missouri one of the most popular and widely known ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. There is no resident of Henry County who lived there during the pastorate of Brother Given in Clinton who did not know him. He was remarkable for his friendliness and his most striking feature probably was his innate hospitality and extraordinary love for fellowman. In all of his career it was an inviolate maxim of his that a stranger in his town should be shown the same courtesies that one receives while among his friends and acquaintances. Following this theory it was the usual thing for him to accost a stranger on the street with a hearty handshake and a cheery smile and venture any information about the town or its citizenship that would tend to facilitate the business or make more interesting the sight seeing trips of the unacquainted one. This habit brought him into contact with and gained for him the lasting friendship of many commercial travelers; although on some occasions the drummers would not meet his advances. It is related that on one occasion he was going down the street extending the greetings of the day in his customary manner, when he chanced to meet a drummer who refused his extended hand. After the drummer had learned who it was that had attempted to shake hands with him, he stepped up to Rev. Given and said: "When you offered to shake hands with me a while ago, I thought you were a confidence man. I have since learned that I was mistaken." Givens looked him squarely in the eye and replied: "We were both mistaken; you took me for a confidence man and I took you for a gentleman."

Only a small degree less than his enthusiasm for his church and ministry was his ardor as a fisherman. He loved to fish and rarely let an opportunity pass to take a trip to the banks of some good stream and there angle for the fish tribe. Jovial, warm-hearted, courteous, consecrated - his passing was a distinct loss to his church and to every community in which he served or was known.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy have a very beautiful custom of conferring crosses of honor on the old veterans who wore the gray. It is a recent thing with them, for up to this time no mark of distinction had been given to the heroes of the Southern Confederacy. Elaborate ceremonies were held by the K. K. Salmon Chapter of the U. D. C. which was in Clinton and on the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of Jefferson Davis. The custom of giving the crosses arose in the desire to confer some emblem upon the Southern soldier who had served with honor in the war between the States, and was conceived by Miss Mary Ann Cobb Irwin, of Athens, Georgia. The design was offered by Miss I. E. Gabbett of Atlanta, Georgia, and was accepted by the National Conference of the United Daughters of the Confederacy at Richmond, Virginia, in 1899. There are strict rules governing the bestowal of these crosses and the veteran who receives one justly feels that he is indeed honored. The crosses are made from the metal of a cannon which had served in the war between the States, and while they have no intrinsic value they are freighted with that which gold cannot buy.

On the occasion of the first bestowal of these crosses in Henry County, the following twenty Confederate veterans were so honored: Frank Nash, W. G. Watkins, W. F. Mastin, Eli Wade, Joseph W. Wilson, Capt. J. M. Ragland, Capt. J. M. Weidemeyer, Lieut. W. F. Carter, Rev. J. F. Watkins, Dr. J. H. Britts, Judge O. M. Bush, T. H. Violette, W. C. Bronaugh, Judge Joe Boyd, Judge L. P. Beaty, Judge J. F. Hargrave, W. B. Johnson, William Goforth, W. J. Stevens, A. B. Hopkins.

The following January, on the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of Robert E. Lee, the following veterans were also presented crosses:
Abner E. Adair, James A. Dunn, J. C. Gilliam, D. T. Hampton, John M. Salmon, J. T. Wiley, W. T. Wilson, Charles P. Duncan, W. C. Greer, Ephraim Goff, Robert C. Owens, S. F. Snodgrass, J. P. Williams, J. S. Howerton.

An occasion characteristic of the times was a picnic and barbecue arranged during this summer by Judge Joe Boyd, who extended his hospitality to all his friends the latter part of August in his beautiful pasture that skirts the bank of Deepwater Creek. There was "no night" in that big pasture the preceding evening, fires were started in trenches as dusk came on and the flames shooting skyward drove back the darkness and sent a crimson flush between the tree trunks. As the flames died down, over the bed of glowing coals were stretched the carcasses that were to feed the many visitors. John Bixman acted as superintendent and was ably assisted by John Belton and Tom Shoemaker, who were past masters in the science of barbecueing. By the trenches were two big kettles of Burgoo and stores of bread and coffee and pickles awaited the expected guests. By 1 o'clock nearly a thousand happy men, women and children had arrived in the grove. Before this there was a fox chase which Judge Boyd's hounds followed in full cry and the riders, though they failed to bring back the fox, returned with wonderful appetites.

After the dinner speeches were made by Rev. A. N. Lindsey, Senator Dickinson, P. A. Parks, C. A. Calvird and Judge James B. Gantt. The part that Judge Boyd had played in the historic of Henry County, the years when the sparsely settled neighborhood had struggled to avoid paying an unjust debt, the later period of compromise and adjustment and refunding to get the county at its present low rate of interest, and in particular how during his four years' service on the County Court, had been paid $98,000 railroad and $50,000 court house bonds were all subjects of eulogy. The occasion is remarkable and worthy of remembrance because such things were characteristic of the people of this time and the presence of such pioneers and sturdy citizens as Judge Boyd always is worthy of note and a blessing to the county.

The National Bank of Commerce of St. Louis and C. A. Davis of Clinton purchased the Bank of Urich in October. All the old officers remained in the bank except Dr. J. Noble, who was compelled to retire on account of failing health. The officers elected were: W. B. Moreland, president; J. A. Kerr, vice-president; W. H. Erwin, cashier; C. A. Davis, assistant cashier.

The Bank of Urich was one of the most solid and substantial of the smaller banks of Missouri. Under the wise management of Dr. Noble and his associates it had steadily added to its resources and to its surplus. The retirement of Dr. Noble from this bank was followed within less than a month by his death. He had planned to go to California on a trip to recuperate his failing health and was only delaying until he could dispose of his interest in the Bank of Urich; but he was stricken with paralysis the day following the transfer and died the thirtieth of the month.

At about the same time, arrangements were completed for a new bank at Urich, to be known as the Farmers Bank, which new institution was organized with $15,000 capital, among the prominent stockholders being John R. Green of Clinton, H. B. Hackney and Scott Graham of Urich. The financial condition of the Nation in 1907 was such that on the thirty-first of October of that year the banks of the county by unanimous action issued notice that beginning on that day no cash should be paid to anyone in excess of $25 a day and not exceeding $50 in any one week, on any account. All amounts in excess of $25 were to be paid in cash interest checks, certified checks or drafts on Kansas City or St. Louis, and might be deposited. The manifesto from the banks further stated that all local banks were in good condition and had strong cash reserves and the step was taken to keep the currency at home, so it would not interfere with local business affairs and to protect the interests of depositors. The agreement was signed by the People's National Bank, the Clinton National Bank, the Bank of Calhoun, the Citizens' Bank of Windsor, Farmers' Bank of Windsor, Bank of Urich, Bank of Blairstown, Savings Bank of Montrose, and followed similar action of the banks at Sedalia, Warrensburg, Nevada and Butler, which had acted in a similar way some days before. The enforcement of the rule did not cripple business in the slightest degree. It simply insured financial stability and was in the interest of all depositors. In case of payment of over $25 cashiers' checks were given by the bankers which were accepted by any bank or business man just as cash. Business men had long been prepared for the action and its promulgation was creative of no surprise whatever. They recognized it as a measure of safety and approved the courses of the various banks in adopting it.

On December 1 the new Farmers and Merchants Bank of Montrose opened for business. Its capital was $10,000 and the first board of directors was composed of Kansas City capitalists, who were: John C. Hughes, C. M. Scanlon, H. H. Briggs and Frank Stoddard. H. H. Briggs was president and Frank Stoddard cashier.

During the year a number of prominent citizens of the county passed to their reward. Judge J. M. Ballard of Montrose died on June 17. He had long been prominent in business and politics in this section, first in Bates and later in Henry County. He was formerly State Senator from the district and voted for George G. Vest on the last occasion of his election to the United States Senate.

James H. Callaway, a resident of Clinton since 1878, died in his home in that town in mid-summer. He had been sheriff of the county, holding the office two terms. As an official he was efficient, manifesting splendid judgment and yet, while kind-hearted in the performance of his duty, he showed absolute fidelity in everything committed to him.

R. B. McConnell was born in Clinton in 1857, was elected circuit clerk of Henry County and entered on his duties of office January 1, 1883, serving continuously for sixteen years.

On the fourteenth of November Frank B. Waddell, one of the most popular men who had ever lived in Clinton, died in a St. Louis hospital. Of a sunny disposition he was extremely well-liked, and as a business man he had no superior in the county.

The death of Dr. G. Y. Salmon removed from the community one of its oldest citizens. He had come to Clinton in the middle forties, first as a physician, where he built up a large practice. During the war, his business was destroyed and on the conclusion of the struggle he returned and engaged in the live stock business. In 1867 he entered the banking business with D. C. Stone, under the firm name of Salmon & Stone. In 1877, it became the firm of Salmon & Salmon and his partner was his brother, Major H. W. Salmon. This bank continued in business until its failure, June 21, 1905. During his years of active business life Dr. Salmon was noted for his kind disposition. It was said that no friend ever sought a reasonable favor in vain, and he had every v/ord of cheer and friendship.

At the first meeting of the County Court in 1908 Henry C. Allen, at that time county surveyor, was appointed to fill the office of county highway engineer, which had just been created. His salary was fixed at $1,400 a year, Mr. Allen to pay his expenses. This was the beginning of a movement that it was hoped would result in the improvement of roads and the betterment of living conditions in the rural districts. At about the same time the Civic Association of Clinton planned a restroom in the court house. Representatives from various women's clubs of the town were present and pledged their encouragement and grave substantial financial aid. The room chosen was the one west of the north corridor of the court house, opening into the office of probate judge, but not used by him. The room was fitted up with chairs, sofas, tables and toilet accessories, etc., and an invitation extended to visitors from the county to make use of it when in Clinton.

The Clinton Pottery, which had been in trouble for some time, was closed in February, the management making the statement that it was immaterial to the company whether or not the Clinton plant was run. The difficulties between the men and the management of this plant had been growing ever since it was taken over by outside corporations and the business had ceased to be a local institution, and finally was closed up. An opportunity existed in Clinton, provided that the management was really interested in the up-building of a business, but under the conditions there was no real effort made to continue this branch of manufacturing in the town.

An abstract of the county assessment for the year 1907 shows the following: 463,185 acres were assessed at $4,547,289, an average valuation of $9.81 an acre. Of town lots there were 73,224, assessed at $1,489,410, making a total real estate assessment of $6,036,699. Personal property assessment shows 11,218 horses valued at $343,547, or an average of $30.62 a head; 3,300 mules valued at $105,561, or an average of $31.99; 83 asses valued at $4,111; 28,045 cattle valued at $287,012, or an average of $11.02; 4,560 sheep valued at $6,612, averaging $1.45; 30,138 hogs valued at $87,898, averaging $2.91; other live stock $424; money, goods, etc., valued at $543,910; banks, $192,630; total personal property, $1,980,979; grand total of real and personal property, $8,017,676.

The winter of 1908 was unusually mild for Henry County. Not once during the three winter months did the temperature fall to zero and the lowest tabulation was two degrees above in February. February came in with an electrical storm which lasted from dusk Saturday evening until midnight. The highest temperature in February was twenty-seven degrees, on the twenty-ninth; the lowest two degrees, on the second. The mean maximum temperature was forty-eight degrees; the minimum twenty-six degrees and the mean average thirty-seven degrees. The total rainfall was 33.3 inches and the greatest rainfall in one day was .87 inches, on the fourteenth. On the same day there was thunder, a very unusual phenomena in winter. During the month there were sixteen clear, five partly clear, and eight cloudy days, and very little snow, only four days having any at all and then not enough to measure. It would be well to remember this winter of 1908, as it was one of the mildest ever known in this climate.

The Christian Church in Clinton, under the leadership of Elder A. N. Lindsey, had grown in a phenomenal way and the congregation erected a new church building to accommodate the increased membership and to provide for the work of the church.

The city campaign in 1908 in Clinton was very animated. The municipal ownership party, which was in power, renominated all of the officers serving at that time whose terms expired. Their nominations were: For mayor, W. H. Shackleford; assessor, A. E. Boyd; collector, R. Belisle; marshal, J. M. Davis; city attorney, Harold Pierce; treasurer, J. H. Scherff; police judge, A. C. Avery; councilmen, S. T. Neill, Roy Labaugh, James E. Wright, George Paul. The Democrats nominated: For mayor, W. M. Stevens; assessor, Alvin Faith; collector. Mason Anderson; treasurer, E. R. Lingle; marshal, Wallace Bennett; police judge, Solomon Blatt; city attorney, Charles Calvird; councilmen. Dr. J. R. Wallis, John J. Chastain, John W. Penland, John R. Doyle.

The election resulted in the defeat of the entire Democratic ticket with the exception of C. A. Calvird for city attorney. The Democratic county convention which met in Clinton on Saturday, May 16, 1908, was important because of the fact that it was the last time they were to select delegates to a State convention, as the candidaes for Sate officers were to be elected by State-wide primary. A number of suitors for State officers were present, among whom were John O. Long, candidate for State auditor; John P. Gordon, of Lafayette County, also a candidate for auditor; Hon. William R. Painter, editor of the Carrollton "Democrat," candidate for the office of lieutenant-governor, and Hon. Wall Bronaugh, of Henry County, candidate for railroad warehouse commissioner. The resolutions adopted expressed confidence in William J. Bryan, admiration for William J. Stone and approval of his record, endorsed the official record of Joseph W. Folk along the line of law enforcement, commended Hon. D. A. DeArmond, recommended to the voters at the primary W. C. Bronaugh for railroad commissioner, voted for Peyton A. Parks as delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Denver and for delegate at large to that convention, declared itself for Stone, Folk, Francis and Reed. The delegates to the convention were then named as follows: J. S. Turk, Davis township; Clay Hurst, Bethlehem township; Frank McCausland, Bogard township; C. C. Dickinson, of Clinton; C. A. Calvird, of Clinton; J. D. Hall and Bruce Wilson, Deepwater township; Henry Carter, Fairview township; R. W. Carrington, Honey Creek township; H. B. Salsbury, Osage township; H. B. Hughes, Tebo township; T. B. R. Hackney, White Oak township; J. F. Wall and L. K. Meyer, Windsor township.

These fourteen delegates were authorized to cast the eleven votes to which Henry County was entitled at the State convention. The delegates returned in a jubilant frame of mind, having been able to assist in the election of all the men recommended by the county convention and the reports of harmony encouraged the local democracy. The candidacy of Hon. W. S. Cowherd and Hon. Dave Ball for Governor were overshadowing all others at this time before the Democratic voters. The people were hopeful that the enactment of a primary law would secure the selection of the best men for the various offices and recognized that the merit of this system was on trial in the State-wide primary which was held for the first time in August, 1908.

The result of the primary showed the selection of W. S. Cowherd for Governor on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Cowherd carried Henry County by a vote of practically two to one over his nearest competitor, David A. Ball. The other winners on the Democratic ticket were William R. Painter for lieutenant-governor, Cornelius Roach for secretary of State, John P. Gordon for State auditor, John R. Knott for railroad commissioner, W. W. Graves for judge of the Supreme Court.

The following candidates carried the county in the Republican primary: Governor, H. S. Hadley; lieutenant-governor, J. F. Gmelich; secretary of State, John E. Swanger; auditor, Jesse A. Tolerton; State treasurer, W. F. Maring; attorney general, F. B. Fulkerson; railroad commissioner, W. W. Wilder; Supreme judge, Argus Cox. The Prohibition party polled thirty-nine votes. The only State officer voted for was Hon. H. P. Faris for Governor, who received thirty-seven. This was the second time that Mr. Faris had been given the Prohibition nomination for Governor and it is related that as he returned home after receiving the Prohibition nomination for Governor as a result of the State primary he was given a unique reception. At the train he was met by a band and a large crowd of citizens. The band played "The Old Oaken Bucket" as the nominee was greeted on the platform, while nearby stood the city water wagon gaily decorated with the National colors. A reception was held on the southwest corner of the square, where speeches were made by Mayor Shackleford and Rev. A. N. Lindsey, to which Mr. Faris briefly responded. The local papers add that it is noteworthy that the tent show which at that time was playing in Clinton that night played "Ten Nights in a Barroom," and several hours later a copious shower refreshed the earth.

The Democratic campaign in the county was very active in the fall. Among the speakers were Hon. Elliott W. Major, candidate for attorney general, who spoke at Deepwater, Montrose and Windsor. Governor Joseph W. Folk spoke at Montrose and Clinton on Tuesday, the twentieth of October, and Governor A. M. Dockery spoke on October 8. United States Senator William J. Stone spoke at Windsor on October 21 and that night at Clinton. The farmers of the country were very much interested in the election of Bryan and had contributed over $1,000 in one dollar subscriptions toward the Democratic National campaign. On the seventeenth of October there was a tremendous rally in Clinton in which James B. Reed was the leading speaker, and at a night meeting Congressman DeArmond and Hon. Frank M. Lowe of Kansas City made addresses. The results in the county showed a clean sweep for the Democratic ticket, the lowest man being H. F. Poague for prosecuting attorney, who won by approximately three hundred plurality, and the leading candidate J. D. King for sheriff, whose plurality exceeded 800. Bryan carried the county for President by nearly 800, while Stone's majority over Folk for the Senate was nearly the same. Cowherd for Governor ran about 200 votes below the National ticket. The Democratic State ticket was elected with the exception of Governor, the Republican candidate, Herbert S. Hadley, being successful.

On September 15, 1908, a terrible explosion occurred at the depot at Windsor. A consignment of ten kegs of rifle powder - 270 pounds in all - was in a car being consigned to W. F. Crome, wholesale grocer at Clinton. Five kegs of this powder securely floored were at one end of the car and the other five equally well fastened to obviate jarring were in the other apartment. The usual four powder posters were placed on the car to caution those who were to handle it. As the car was loaded with general merchandise besides the powder, it was switched to the south end of the depot. The station agent and a number of trainmen, draymen, helpers and one tramp gathered around it to sort over and take out the Windsor freight. The most plausible story of the explosion is that one of the kegs of powder had sprung a leak and some of it had sifted out on the floor. One of the negroes, helping, procured a broom from the depot and swept up the powder, intending to take it out. Some one dropped a match, the powder lighted along the floor and there occurred a terrific explosion, blowing out with awful force the side of the car.

Twelve lives in all were lost in the accident, including Frank Yake, the station agent; J. G. Hall, a drayman of Deepwater; James McCabe, a brakeman; Ernest Igo, a depot helper; Ira Malone, a miner; Elmer Keach and Walter Bachs, two boys who were loitering about; Charles Dawes, John Walker and Howard Kerns, three negro helpers, and Harry Gravestone, a tramp. In addition eight or ten others were more or less seriously injured. This was one of the most terrible and deplorable accidents that ever occurred in Henry County.

Clinton indulged in another local option campaign in November, 1909, the holding of such elections having become a habit. Henry County being dry, there was a continual agitation on the part of the drys to vote the saloons out of Clinton and thus destroy the only oasis in the county. After several weeks of active campaign, an election was held on Tuesday, the 23rd of November, and resulted in a wet victory by a majority of 129. Owing to the high license at this particular time, while Clinton's status as wet territory was not changed by the election, yet the town had actually been dry for some six months. The vote on the question by wards follows:

 

Ward     Wet     Dry 

====     ===     === 

First    191     125 

Second    66      54 

Third    176      85 

Fourth   164     204 

==================== 

Totals   597     468 

 

Wet majority     129 

Henry County people were horrified in late November, when the appalling news came of the burning to death of their beloved Congressman David A. DeArmond in his home at Butler. The Congressman and his five-year-old grandson were sleeping on an upstairs porch in the DeArmond residence, when the house caught fire from some unexplained cause, evidently starting near the place where Judge DeArmond and the little boy were sleeping, and that portion of the house was all in flames when neighbors reached the scene. It is said that a maid-servant who slept in the rear of the house was the first one awakened and that only when the flames burst into her room. She escaped in her night clothing and ran to the front of the house, where her screams aroused the neighborhood. No one could get near the front of the building on account of the intense heat. Mrs. DeArmond and Mrs. Harvey C. Clark, her daughter, were aroused by the cries of the boy and the assurances of his grandfather that he would be saved. Judge DeArmond could easily have saved himself but he remained to save his beloved grandson and both were burned to death. The people of Henry County felt peculiarly close to Judge DeArmond; though born in Pennsylvania, he had been long a resident of Bates County, had served as judge of the circuit in which Henry County was located and several times had been a representative of Henry County in Congress and was known to practically all the citizenship of the county.

Few men in the last half-century have had a more spectacular or brilliant career than he, winning his political spurs in his home as a lawyer. Presidential elector and State Senator, later as judge of the Circuit Court and member of Congress, he was greatly admired because of his commanding ability. Rarely has any district had a man to represent it, who was so relied upon and whose judgment on all matters was so implicitly accepted by his constituents.

Every possible token of respect was paid to him by the people of his district and the greatest sympathy was felt for his bereaved family by all of his constituents whom he had so long and so faithfully served. The death of Judge DeArmond of course, necessitated the immediate election of his successor and national conditions were such that the election in the Sixth district was looked on with a great deal of interest all over the country. The election of a Congressman here afforded the first direct expression in any country district, of the popularity of the Payne-Aldrich tariff law just enacted by the National Congress; of what was called Cannonism in the House of Representatives, and, in general, of the Taft administration.

The Democratic convention insisted that national issue should control in this fight. The plurality with which Judge DeArmond was elected in 1908 was about two thousand; both Democratic and Republicans alike, agreed that it would be a test whether the successor to Judge DeArmond should receive the same or a larger vote, and decided to nominate a congressional candidate by convention and to hold such convention on December 21st. The place was fixed at Butler and the ratio of representation was one delegate to every 250 votes cast at the last election for the Democratic candidate for President, or each fraction over 125 or more votes. Such ratio gave the following representation in the convention: Bates County, 13; Cass County, 13; Cedar County, 6; Dade County, 6; Henry County, 14; Johnson County, 14; St. Clair County, 8. Pursuant to the call of the congressional committee, the convention met at Butler and besides the seventy-four delegates present, there were many Democratic leaders from the various counties in the district. More than thirty citizens of Henry County were in attendance, promoting the interests of C. C. Dickinson, who received the solid vote of Henry County from the start. There were four counties which had home candidates and whose delegates were instructed for them. Henry's fourteen delegates were instructed for C. C. Dickinson; in addition. Bates County was also instructed for him; Mr. Dickinson also had two out of Cedar and two from Cass, giving him a total of thirty-one votes. Johnson's fourteen delegates were instructed for J. W. Suddath; St. Clair's eight delegates were instructed for C. P. Hargus, and Dade's six for Charles W. Newman; the eleven delegates from Cass County usually voted with Johnson's fourteen, for Suddath; occasionally, some of these Cass County Suddath delegates would vote for Newman or Hargus. Hargus had four votes from Cedar, in addition to his eight from St. Clair. Newman had no outside strength except an occasional Suddath delegate or two from Cass County. The officers of the convention were: Charles R. W. Sloan, of Cass, presiding, and W. R. Bowles, of Dade, secretary. Hon. W. E. Owen nominated C. C. Dickinson and the other three candidates were placed before the convention in equally eloquent speeches.

On the first ballot, Cass scattered six votes between Hargus and Newman. On the second ballot, five between these two men; on the third and fourth ballots, four; the fifth ballot two, and finally the sixth ballot brought them back to Suddath; on this sixth ballot, the vote was: Dickinson, 31; Suddath, 25; Hargus, 12; Newman, 6.

This represented practically the actual strength of the various candidates, as the five earlier ballots had only differed from this result because of the complimentary votes from Cass County, given to Hargus and Newman. Balloting continued until midnight Tuesday, more than one hundred ballots being taken with no change, an adjournment was had until Wednesday morning. Wednesday, Dickinson gained one vote from Suddath and thus increased his vote to thirty-two; the balloting proceeded all day Wednesday without any further break, although various rumors were afloat - some that one man was going to receive accessions, others that it was another; but the most persistent was that Dade was preparing to go to Dickinson and nominate him. After over three hundred ballots had been taken, the convention again adjourned until Thursday; balloting continued all day Thursday without any indication of a break until nearly midnight; finally, after nearly seven hundred ballots had been taken, the instructions were taken off the delegates and each was left to vote according to his own inclination. On the 675th ballot, C. C. Dickinson of Henry County received forty-two votes, or four more than were necessary to nominate him. On this final and decisive ballot, the counties voting for Mr. Dickinson and the number of votes from each were as follows: Henry County, 14; Bates County, 13; St. Clair, 4; Dade, 3; Cass, 2; Cedar, 6. Total, 42.

The announcement of the result in a scene of great enthusiasm, caused Mr. Dickinson's opponents to vie with each other in their efforts to move to make his vote unanimous. The result of the roll-call was never officially announced. Mr. Dickinson and the men who had remained with him, returned home and were enthusiastically received, although they arrived in Clinton at one o'clock in the morning in the midst of a driving snowstorm. The interest taken in the contest in Clinton and Henry County had been intense; it was not confined to the Democrats alone, but the nominee was assured the support of his many friends, irrespective of party. In the campaign that followed, a great many Republicans and Independents declared themselves in favor of Mr. Dickinson and against the Republican nominee. The result of the election was a Democratic landslide. Mr. Dickinson carried his own ward by 147; he carried the city of Clinton by 429, Henry County by 1,309 and the Sixth district by 3,790, which was practically twice the normal majority of the district.

Missouri School Yearbooks by County

History of Henry County, Missouri (1919) is maintained by GenealogyBuff with WebBBS 5.12.