Yale University Library

39002014492004

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Gp33

1933

asaami,

THE

Autobiography

OF

Calvin Smith

OF

Smithville

Published by
SANFORD H. ROBISON, JR.,
PHILADELPHIA.
FEBRUARY, igo6.

PUBLISHER'S ANNOUNCEMENT.

In presenting the Autobiography of Calvin Smith, of
Smithville, to the public the publisher wishes to state that it is
in response to the demands of newspapers which have been for
years publishing extracts from it and articles about him.
As far as possible the exact words of Mr. Smith have
been used there being no effort to change his language. Typo
graphical efforts may possibly be found in the book, although
every effort has been made to get the names and dates correct.
This book contains many true incidents, gathered during
his ninety-two years of life, and is especially interesting on
account of many stories of the War of the Rebellion and the
Border Ruffians' War which have never been published before .
Inasmuch as he was an active participant in these struggles the
public will have an opportunity of reading inside facts for the
first time. There are also numerous facts about the early settlement
of Missouri which cannot fail to interest everyone.
The Pubvshbr.

CALVIN SMITH

PREFACE.
This, my autobiography, I dedicate to all, both young and
old. I have been faithful in stating nothing but facts, and
have designedly left out nothing to shield wrong in me.
Read the traveling history of one past ninety-two years,
from my cradle to date. I do not restate here what I have
written in the following pages of my book. I do not boast
of much fine literary ability or many big-sounding words to
cover over faults, but state things as they occurred. I say
I stored away my good deeds in a safe; also, in another
safe, my happy days, gathering information all through life
so I would be in good company when, alone, with wisdom
to enjoy it. Oft'times and odd times or in night-dreams, I
take them out and recount them all over for enjoyment.
Now when the time comes I shall wrap my mantle around
me and lay me down to pleasant dreams, counting all is
well. I know who I believe: if I keep and do His word I
shall never die. I do not say-I am without faults and have
not sinned. But I pray the Lord to pardon me, for surely
He will, and is able and willing, if I have faith in His word,
which I have and do believe; and pray I may never sin more,
My great desire is to live righteously before God and man,
and do his word. This day I renew my pledge to serve the
Lord. Caxvin Smith.
1611 Oak Street, Kansas City, Mo.
December 23, 1905.

7
CHAPTER I.
My Ancestors.
In writing this autobiographical sketch, first, I deem it fit
that I name the loins whence I and mine have sprung.
The tradition handed down to me by my ancestors is that
previous to the treaty of Ryswick in 1697, my ancestors lived
in Alsace, or to be more accurate, "in the city (Strasburg)
where the big clocks are." Previous to this date Alsace was
a Province of Germany, but by that treaty was ceded to
France. My ancestor being a German refused to live under the
flag of France, and emigrated to the eastern shores of the
Rhine and looked for a suitable place to locate on German
soil, but he heard of the colonies across the Atlantic, and he
emigrated to America, and arrived in the colonies of her
Majesty, Queene Anne of England, exactly what year I am
unable to say, but tradition says during the reign of Queen
Anne, which was from 1702 to 1714. He settled first in New
Jersey, a short distance north of and east of the city of
Philadelphia, Pa.
His descendant, Abraham Smith, my grandfather, then
married a Miss Davenport, and when my father, Humphrey
Smith, was about ten years of age the Smith and Davenport
families moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. I am informed the
Davenport family was at that time, and has been ever since, a
populous and energetic family in the vicinity of Wilkes-Barre.
Thence my father, Humphrey Smith, when a young man
emigrated to Western New York and settled near the head
of Cayuga Lake, where he engaged in the distilling business,
and where he met and married Nancy Walker, my mother;
Nancy Walker's father having come to the colonies from
England during the Revolutionary War as a British soldier.

8
Shortly after the battle of Long Island he was sent on a
foraging expedition, and was captured by the Continental
tooops and paroled. He went to Connecticut, where he met
Miss Atwater, whom he married, she being a descendant of
the celebrated Atwater family, who were of the first settlers
of New Haven Bay Colony, and I believe is a descendant of
David Atwater, who was the first president of the Town
Council of New Haven Bay Colony.
After marrying Miss Atwater, peace was declared, and
the British forces sent squads of men through the country
seeking British soldiers who had been paroled.
In order to escape these bands Walker took his family out
into the unsettled country, now known as Vermont, and
remained there till the British troops were all out of the
United States, when he went West and settled on the West
ern frontier in Western New York, where, as I have said
before, his daughter, Nancy — my mother — married Humphrey
Smith, my father.
Later Humphrey Smith settled in Erie County, New York,
and built what was then known as Smith's Mills, where I
was born. , >
In later years, when I became a man grown, I was con
sidered, and I think I may say, without conceit, something
of a beau in frontier society; hardly was a frolic or a wed
ding, or an infair considered complete without my presence,
and frequently I was manager of such social events.
I remember that along about the year 1835 my services
were required as best man at a wedding and an infair held
near Big Shoal meeting house, in Clay County, Mo., a few
miles northwest of Kansas City, Mo., and along about two
o'clock in the afternoon myself and gentlemen friends came
into a cleared place by the roadside near a spring; we found
there a family of movers from Virginia, and the man in

charge of the little party asked us if we knew a man living
in that section of the country by the name of Jacob Eiler.
I spoke up and said that I did, that he lived about twenty
miles northwest of that point, not far from the village of
Smithville, in the forks of the Platte. He said that Eiler
was his brother-in-law. I noticed a young girl about four
teen years of age gathering up the cooking utensils and
other belongings of the movers. Her name was Agnes Jor
dan and a few years afterwards she became my wife and the
mother of all my children.
Agnes Jordan, on her father's side was descended from
the Dutch of Holland. Her mother was a Cunningham of
Scotch-Irish descent, and whose ancestor, Cunningham,
came to the American colonies as private secretary of one
of the Colonial Governors of Virginia. It is the same Cun
ningham family which played a very important part on the
frontiers of Virginia in its early settling and which family
always had an active part in all the Indian wars and forays,
and, in fact, the Cunninghams were ''game chickens," and
were always on one side or the other in every fight that hap
pened between the inhabitants of Virginia or the' cblonies or
the United States and any other people*.
I understand they 'are yet very populous in Greenbrier
and Fayette Counties, Virginia, in which latter, county
Agnes Jordan was born.

10
CHAPTER II.
An Autobiographical Sketch.
I, Calvin Smith, was born on the 23d day of December,
1813, at Humphrey Smith's Mills, on Buffalo creek, Erie
County, New York, 18 miles southwest of Buffalo. This
place is now called East Aurora. My father had built these
mills in 1810. Late in the fall of 1815 he sold the mills to a
Mr. Griffin and afterwards they were called Griffin's Mills.
On the 29th day of February, 1816, my father prepared for
a trip to the West. He had four thousand dollars in gold
which he put in a belt and buckled it around his waist. In
an old-style two-wheeled ox-cart, drawn by a yoke of oxen,
he put his family and started for Missourie, that being the
French pronunciation and the way it was spelled at that
time. We went to Olean, a point on the Allegheny River.
With his wife and four children he embarked there on a
canoe. At Pittsburgh, Pa., father had to attach the canoe to
a flat-bottom boat going to New Orleans. At Louisville,
Kentucky, we met three or four families who were going to
the new territory of Missouri. Father chipped in with them
and bought a keel boat and we floated down the Ohio River
to its mouth. The children would stand on the deck of the
boat and watch the shore. When we would see a fine look
ing house on a high hill one of the children would sing out:
"Whose fine house is that away yonder?" Then someone
would reply: "It is not yours, for I know by your asking."
Then all would join in the chorus of a song I have a faint
recollection of which was called "Fol de rol de rol derido."
At the mouth of the Ohio River we turned into the Mis
sissippi and the boat was propelled u pthat river by men who
walked along the shore and drew the boat after them. The
men worked like beavers in the mud and water, while a man

II
on the boat, with a long pole kept it from running ashore.
In time we reached St. Louis, 190 miles from the mouth of
the Ohio River. We stopped there two or three weeks.
Humphrey Smith bought a tract of land in what is now the
central business part of St. Louis. It was on Fourth street
near where the Planters' Hotel is now located. When it
came to record the deeds it was found that the title was im
perfect, so the deal fell through. A few days afterwards we
all boarded the keel boat again for another move. Eighteen
miles brought us to the Missouri River and we went up that
river 300 miles to a place then called Cole's Fort, now Boon-
ville, Mo. We reached there on the first day of July, 1816,
Just four months to a day from the time we left New York.
On the 14th day of July my sister Missouri was born and
about five weeks later, August, 1816, father and his family
crossed the Missouri River and settled eight miles east of
Old Franklin, Howard County. We moved several times,
but stayed in that county until 1819. We then moved to
Carroll County, Mo. This was during the "Missouri Ques
tion," whether the new incoming State should be a slave or
free State. The "Missouri Compromise" in 1822 settled in
favor of a slave State.
In 1822 father took another move to Clay County, Mis
souri, and settled at a place now called Smithville, in the
northwest part of the county. It was then a wilderness, being
ten miles to the nearest neighbor.
The first Smith Mills were started there. It was a hand
mill, two stones, each two feet across and six- inches thick,
one on top of the other. We could grind enough fine meal
on this mill, in about an hour, to last all day. In those days
for coffee we parched corn, put it in a leather bag and then
pounded it with a stick or hammer. We boiled it in a tea
kettle. For our meal we used a sieve made of raw hide

bound round a hoop. We punched holes in the raw hide with
a large knitting needle heated to a white heat. When the
bran floated on top we blew it off and the heavy part we
boiled in a kettle and this made the best of hominy. This
meal we baked in a skillet, and though the bread was black,
we enjoyed it.
I remember one day father found eight bee trees, my
Uncle Walker seven and my eldest brother, who was only
thirteen years of age, found three. Father took mother to
a tree and they got a whole bucketful without disturbing the
bees. After that we never lacked honey. A large barrel
with a square hole large enough to put your hand in, sawed
at the bung hole, was always full of honey.
Shortly after this my father walked all the way to his old
home in New York State, a distance of 1400 fniles, to collect
the money due him by Griffin, who had bought the mills
when our family went West. When he got the money at
Aurora he started home, taking the same route as when he
went first. He stopped at Pittsburg, Pa., and bought a full
set of saw mill irons, up and down saw mill cranks, stirrups
for saw, a ton of bar iron, a number of bars of English Blis
ter steel, a full set of irons for grist mill with a silk bolting
cloth that cost $30.00, blacksmith tools, anvils, bellows, etc.
He shipped these goods to St. Louis and thence to Boon-
ville. They were shipped by a keel boat. In 1824 with this
material Father built and put in operation the celebrated
mills at Smithville. There were born to him and my mother
six sons and one daughter.
School privileges were poor, as were the
facilities for acquiring books and stationery. All the chil
dren learned the three "R's." Your orator remained in
Smithville until 1862; was married to Miss Agnes Jordan in

13
Platte County, in 1840. Miss Jordan was from Virginia (now
West Virginia). Her father was of Dutch descent. Her
mother was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a Protestant.
Her mother was a Cunningham, a large and noted family
scattered all through the States of both the Virginias and
the West.
The civil war or rebellion was a persuader that caused
your orator to hurry off with "bag and baggage" to bleed
ing Kansas, for peace sake, where he engaged in merchandis
ing, and remained twenty years.
My children are now grown and mostly scattered; seven
living out of nine born unto the manor. I now took a
change of venue, and came to Kansas City in 1882. My wife
died in 1884. After my arrival in Kansas City I settled at
161 1 Oak street, where I now live. Twenty years ago I mar
ried Miss Fannie Burton, in Van Buren County, Iowa, my
second wife. Her father was Mr. John W. Burton, formerly
of Kentucky. My wife's mother was A. Freeman of Ohio.
She is now living in Iowa. Mr. Burton is dead at 79 years
of age. There were twelve children in this family, now two-
thirds dead.
As to the Smith family — they are of German origin, and
I am of the fourth generation of American-born. Their
first settlement in America was in New Jersey, about two
hundred years ago. In 1784 they emigrated to Pennsylvania,
and in 1800 they took another move to the State of New
York. My mother's family were English. My Grandfather
Walker came from England in 1777. My grandmother was
an Atwater. Her ancestors came to America in 1635, and
settled at New Haven Bay Colony, Connecticut, where now
reside many of the Atwaters. My father and mother were
married in the State of New York in 1803, near the head of
Cayuga Lake, and were among the first to locate there.

H
Humphrey Smith, my father, was a strong supporter of
John Adams' Administration as President of the United
States of America, after the Hamilton theory of our Gov
ernment, approved by Washington, and which was opposed
by Thomas Jefferson, who believed in State's rights. In my
day father took strong grounds for the election of John Q.
Adams in 1828, and I supported for President in 1840 Wil
liam Henry Harrison, who was a Whig and a strong anti-
slavery man. These principles being ground and rooted into
all his sons — daughters also; so we were all Union men,
hence Republicans.
The "secesh party" during the late rebellion were ag
gressive, so I met them half way for a year and a half. In
1862 (July of that year) I left Smithville, Clay County, Mis
souri, for the State of Kansas, at a great sacrifice of comfort
and property, with all my family. Now my father was dead.
He died in Smithville, Mo., in 1857. He was born in New
Jersey in 1774. His father's name was Abraham Smith; his
mother (my grandmother) was named Katherine Davenport.
My mother (Nancy Walker) was born in 1783, in the State
of Connecticut, and died in 1853 in Dallas County, Iowa,
where my parents lived several years.
In my religious views I am what is called a Protestant,
and I am a member of the Christian church and have been
for the last forty or fifty years. I believe the Bible as an
inspired book. Where it speaks, I speak; and where it is
silent I am silent. I am a Free Mason and have been forty
years or more. On one occasion it furnished me a good
purpose, by which I received due and timely notice of
danger, to escape the clutches of the rebel general, Price,
who had detailed six men to capture me and bring me to
headquarters on the Osage River. I at the time belonged

15
to the Grand Army of the Republic; was initiated at Ridgely,
Platte County, Missouri, in February, 1862. The officers
were Benjamin Smither, presiding officer; Ephroditus Fitz-
geral, secretary. I was invited from my well-known Union
sentiments, and the aid I had rendered. My guide was a
Union soldier, armed with the implements of his office. The
outside doorkeeper was also armed. Those guards were
Union soldiers, guarding the State of Missouri to hold her
in the Union. Ten thousand soldiers were furnished Gov
ernor Gamble by order of the President, Abraham Lincoln.
I also belong to the Sons of Temperance, and have been a
member of that organization for fifty years or more. While
in Kansas I voted for prohibition and do not regret my vote
yet. The world is my country and to do good to mankind is
a part of my religion.
I was postmaster in the town of Smithville for fifteen or
twenty years, also in Valley Falls, Kansas, for several years.
Have acted as Justice of the Peace, and could appear in
under Courts as attorney, and often with success. Profes
sionally I am a farmer, miller, merchant and general busi
ness man. I had the use of tools, hence could do my own
work if necessary. I made money by small profits as in a
general way; but when reverses came it was in a wholesale
way, often scarcely any let-up. Now I have some left —
enough, I hope, to float me to the end. My health, has been
good in a general way.
Speaking of my children: all have reasonably good starts
in this business life; no serious physical ailments among
them, hence I say doing reasonably well.
At the age of five years I broke my thigh bone. This
was in Howard County, Missouri, in 1819. When I wis 23
years old I took the measles and afterwards caught cold. It

i6
was many years before I got clear of the effects, if I ever did.
Was stricken in New Orleans, La., and staggered home be
fore I was able to travel. At the age of 45 I had a severe at
tack of winter typhoid fever. This left me with that trouble
some disease, piles. This affliction is one of my present
ailments — not so bad as in years past.
My oldest son, Erastus Smith, was born in 1841, 19th
day of February; was married to Mollie Berry, September 22,
1863. Nine children were born to them; three of them are
now living. Our next child was a daughter, Almeda, born
December 24, 1842; died in 1847, aged four and a half years.
Next a son, Henry, a lawyer, born October, 1845; married -in
1877, to Miss Varina Courtney; they have seven children.
Alice Letord, born in October, 1848; now has her second
husband; three sons living, one dead; she has five grand
sons, so I am now great-grandfather. Next a son, Sebree
Smith, born 21st of June, 1851; went to West Point (New
York) Military School in June, 1866, at 15 years of age;
graduated there in 1870; was second lieutenant in the Sixth
Cavalry six. years.'
Promoted to first lieutenant in the artillery, again pro
moted to captain of the third artillery and located at various
stations. He was married to Annie Watkins in 1875. There were
seven children, of whom three are now living.
When in Washington, D. C, in 1900, suffering from
sickness, he was ordered to take the examination for major,
but was too ill. Two days afterwards he died from a stroke
of paralysis, July 5; 1901. He was buried in the National
Cemetery at Arlington with full military honors.
Next a daughter, Maria, born in 1854; married George
W. McClary. Three children were born to them — one now
living and two dead. She is now living in California. Anna,

ERASTCS SMITH, Age 65 CALVIN SMITH, Age 92
JEWEL SMITH, Age 32
DELWIN SMITH, Age 7

FOUR GENERATIONS

17
the next daughter, was born in 1856, August 7th; married F.
A. Goodenough in 1881; has three children living and one
dead. Mr. Goodenough died in 1894. He was a Grand
Army man, and drew a pension. He left his wife a reason
able amount of property by will. Mrs. Goodenough now
lives in Northern Iowa.
Our next child was James G. Smith, a lawyer, born
1859; nov married. Next a son, Calvin, Jr., born in Octo
ber, 1863 , died aged 14 years 6 months.
This comprises the outline of my life. I think to continue
the history of my life, including many reminiscences, by way
of a more detailed statement.

. i8
CHAPTER III.
My Father and Mother.
Humphrey Smith, my father, was a soldier in the war of
1812 for which he received a military bounty land warrant.
My father was a laboring man and was handy with tools of
any kind. His leading passion was mill building and milling,
and he could make or mend anything. He could make shoes,
operate a mill, blacksmith or farm, and was equally handy
with all — and such diversiveness was at that time necessary in
the West, or in the first settlements in Pennsylvania and first
settlements in New York State in 1800, down to 1830 in
Missouri. He was also a moderate scholar and had kept
school. He was a great reader and was familiar with most
histories, both ancient and modern; also with the bards and
poets. My father was a Protestant in religious faith, and was
in his younger days a member of the Methodist Church, be
fore coming to Missouri. In this State he refused to unite
with the church on account of the slave question; he holding
that slavery was a sin: "Therefore put away from amongst
yourselves that wicked person." His prejudice against slav
ery caused him to take my mother and move to the State of
Iowa. There in one of the first settlements he built mills
and secured several hundred acres of land. After ten years
mother died there and father sold out and returned to
Smithville, Mo., to the old homestead, where one son (the
author) lived and was in business, and where Humphrey
Smith died in 1857.
The following inscription can be found on a marble mon
ument over his grave, in a small graveyard in Platte

19
County, Missouri, four miles northwest of the village of
Smithville. IN MEMORY OF HUMPHREY SMITH.
BORN, 1774; DIED, l8S7.
"Like leaves on the trees, the race 01 man has found:
How green in youth, now withering on the ground.
So generations in their course decay ;
So perish these, When those have passed a*vay."
This patriot came to Missouri in 1816 from the State of
New York, and labored to make that territory a free State,
for which he was mobbed by armed slave-holders; scourged,
bruised and dragged at midnight from his house. His ever-
faithful wife, coming to his assistance, received injuries at
the hands of the mob which caused her years of affliction
and the loss of one eye.
He was compelled to leave the State. His family fled
from Howard County to Carroll County, and he, joining
them there, they moved to Clay County, where for many
years he kept up the struggle against the negro thieves or
man-stealers. They denounced him as an Abolitionist, be
cause he was in favor of human liberty for all. His request
was "Never let the nigger thieves know where I am buried
until my State is free; then write my epitaph:
" 'Here lies Humphrey Smith, who was in favor of hu
man rights, universal liberty, equal and exact justice; no
union with slave-holders; free States, free people, union of
States and one universal Republic' "
Tuesday, May 5th, 1857, closed the eighty-third year of
the life of a remarkable man. "Having wrapped the drapery

of his couch around him, he laid down to pleasant dreams."
My mother was a Connecticut woman, in early life raised
in Vermont. She possessed a fair education, and was a
woman of much policy. She was a hard-working woman and
raised eight children; spinning and weaving, and cutting and
making the clothes for her family, besides the cooking and
the washing. She seldom hired any help until past middle
age. She died at the age of 70 years and is buried in Dal
las County, Iowa, on Coon River. Late in life she became a
doctor by practice, and midwife, and was an Allopath under
the reformed practice, rejecting the Cook-calomel practice,
and her work was successful. No other doctor could take
her practice from her — always some one waiting for her to go
with them. She assisted the poor, giving medicine and cloth
ing to the needy. Society lost a friend when she died, as
did her husband and children. She was a Methodist for a
long period of her life and later a member of the Christian
church. On a neat tombstone in the cemetery at Wiscotta, Dallas
County, Iowa, you will find this inscription:
IN MEMORY OE NANCY WALKER SMITH.
BORN, 1783; DIED, 1853.
"Connecticut gave her Hfe; New Xork a husband (Humphrey Smith);
Missouri a home and eight children; Iowa, a grave."

21
CHAPTER IV.
Childhood Recollections of 1817.
Having stated in brief a sketch of my life and family re
lations, I feel at liberty to note some personal incidents of
minor interest.
My first recollections were early in the spring of 1817, in
Howard County, Missouri, where we lived the first winter
we were in the State, in a rented house belonging to David
Magill. An old cow called Tide would come to the door
mornings after her slop. Another: It was a year of mad
wolves. That winter a dog, mistaken for a mad wolf by the
women and children, appeared before our house. Isaac
Groom, a neighbor youth of 14 years, ran into our house,
got father's gun, and, resting it upon a sled, shot the dog. A
cat that had licked some of the blood was killed to prevent
its going mad.
I remember David Magill, a boy of thirteen, who had a
top and stuck it in a crack in the back part of the house
beside a chinking. His sister, Sallie, who was ten years of
age, discovered me with the top, and took it from me after
cuffing my ears and pulling my hair. Of course I fought and
cried, but this stuck to me for all time.
In May, 1817, when I was about three years and three
months old, I well remember these incidents. Father was
building our new home on public land, then called Con
gress Land. It was on a public road about a mile from
where we were living. This road was the one leading from
old Franklin, Howard County, to St. Charles, Missouri, in
Howard County, now the Columbia road to Boonville. While
he was engaged in the building of the house, making boards
to cover the log house, mother sent my older brother George
to take a dinner to my father.

George persuaded me to go with him, and on the way I
gave out, after walking something over half way, so George
took me on his back and carried me, resting occasionally.
We arrived in good time, and after a good rest father eat his
lunch and then we started for home. We played along the
road occasionally and rested at times. An old goose and
a half-dozen goslings ran along ahead of us, and I caught
one as a curiosity and as a trophy. Isaac Groom, the boy
who had shot the mad dog, was near us on a large black
stallion. He rushed on to us boys; I fell down and cried.
My brothers made their escape, but I was headed off. The
horse squealed and snorted. Then a young man, Caleb Ma
gill, stepped up and forced Groom to desist. Groom, being
fierce and a bad boy, swore he would ride over Magill, who
was eighteen or twenty years old. He started whipping
his horse and ran against Magill, so Magill picked up a
four-cornered block, threw it at Groom, cut a hole through
his hat and through the skin to the skullbone. Then Isaac
Groom swore he would whip Magill when he got to be a
man. This incident was renewed thirty years later, so Ma
gill told me, but was never settled in full.
The year 1818 is more of a lost history to me, but the
year of 1819 made much history. On the fourth day of Jan
uary my brother Damon was born, and many vivid circum
stances come to my mind of that happy day to my father
and mother. Then in April of that year I fell down in a
foot race and broke my thigh bone. This was the year of
the Government land sales at old Franklin in Howard Coun
ty, Missouri. The territory elected delegates to form a
State Government. There were two pronounced parties —
Pro-Slavery and Free State. A war of extermination was
waged by the Pro-Slavery party.

23
Nick Buckheart, our neighbor, was a candidate for the
convention for the people. He was a man of considerable
ability on the Pro-Slavery side, so it was reported, so father,
Humphrey Smith, assumed to call on Buckheart to know
his position on the slave issue. Buckheart lived with his
father, who was a Baptist preacher of the Gospel. The son
Nick was a deacon in the church. The call was made early
in the morning, soon after breakfast.
So the ball opened by Smith saying to Buckheart: "How
are you on the slavery question, Mr. Buckheart?" Buck-
heart answered that he was in favor of a slave State, and
would do all he could to secure that end, if elected. So
the slave question was fully discussed for freedom and slav
ery. The subject ran its regular course, and after all the
appeals in favor of freedom had been made by Smith and
failing to get any encouragement from Buckheart, Smith
quoted the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would
others should do to you." Buckheart replied: "Smith, you
do not understand the Golden Rule. It is this: if I say to
you, 'Smith, kill me,' and you don't do it, and I kill you that
is the Golden Rule."
Smith replied: "Buckheart, I am surprised that a man
of your pretensions to education, honor and standing in so
ciety would be guilty of treason, perjury and blasphemy."
Buckheart raised up his hand and brought it down on
his thigh, saying: "Smith, I'll be damned to hell if I thank
any man to talk such stuff in my house," getting up at the
same time and going out of doors. There was no other
person in the house at that moment. Smith took up his
hat and walked out of doors meeting the old preacher of
the Gospel.
The old man said: "I thought I would bring in some

24
wood as it is rather cool." The parties never met again.
Smith was mobbed and driven from the territory, and
Buckheart was elected. Then followed the Missouri ques
tion, the Free State men fled the territory and half of
them never returned. Dick Gentry killed Colonel Carroll,
who was a candidate for Congress on the Free State ticket,
met him on the highway and shot him off his horse. No at
tention was paid to this murder. This all occurred in How
ard County, Missouri, where hell was turned loose for a
season.

2S
CHAPTER V.
A Night Attack.
Ten or fifteen days after the Buckheart visit about fif
teen or twenty men came about ten o'clock one night to
Humphrey Smith's house and hid behind the back part of
the log cabin. One of them came to the door, and, after
knocking said that he wished to stay over for the night with
a horse. Father got up but protested that he had no room.
The man said he would stop, stable, or not, even if he had
to tie his horse to a tree. Father was standing just outside
of the door on a high step, and he said: "Well, I will go and
get you a rope." As he turned to go after the rope the
stranger caught him by the wrist and jerked him, heels over
head, out and down on the ground. As they both fell the
mob behind the house rushed out and commenced with
young hickory sprouts, two or three years old, flagulating
Smith. Fifteen or twenty of them made welts, and made the
blood fly. Dragging Smith down to the yard fence about
forty yards they still laid on the cudgels. One man was
holding Smith by the arm, keeping his head down so that
the others could strike him. Smith's faithful wife, hearing
the shrieks and oaths, ran down to the fence, where the mob
had gotten over and were trying to pull Smtih over. Mrs.
Smith grabbed up a long swinging block and threw it over
the fence, hitting the man who was holding Smith and knock
ing him dqwn. Smith, finding himself loose, ran, and the fel
low jumped the fence and ran after Smith. Mrs. Smith
jumped in his way. The man then grabbed Smith's shirt,
but as it tore off, Smith escaped. The ruffian was so
angry that he struck Mrs. Smith over the head with such
force that the cudgel was bent. He knocked out Mrs.
Smith's eye and mashed a large brass comb she wore. I

26
well recollect the night, though it is many years ago. Mother
Smith had a sore eye as long as she lived. It would beal and
break, and at times she could see a little, and then would
close entirely and run .matter. For thirty-four years she
suffered from this until her death. These Jubolas, Jubolums
and Jubolems' fight over, the men retired to an elevated
piece of ground, about 250 yards away, and then, with de
moniac oaths, ordered Smith to leave the territory in three
days or he should die. Tom Arnold, of Franklin, was the
leader of this mob.

27
CHAPTER VI.
Insured to Live a Century.
When Humphrey Smith had gone to foreign lands, in
the fall of 1819, Mrs. Smith and her children left Howard
County and went to Carroll County. Humphrey Smith came
to the same place late in November, but had no supplies for
the winter. In 1822 the Smith family went to Clay County,
the northwest part, now Smithville. Humphrey built those
noted saw and grist mills in 1824.
Now that the Missouri question was settled and Mis
souri was a slave State, Humphrey Smith was notoriously
known as "Yankee" Smith. He had many enemies, especial
ly among the slave-holders. Smith still stuck to his prin
ciples, and had many hard struggles and personal conflicts.
Now eighty years have passed, and all have gone to the
unknown. Humphrey Smith's desire not to have his epitaph
written until his country was free was complied with, and
it was not until after that had occurred that it was inscribed
on a slab stone in Piatt County, Missouri, five miles north
west of Smithville. The epitaph, which speaks for itself, is
given in another part of this.
From 1822, for forty years I made headway in life. Most
of the time my nearest neighbor was eight miles away; the
school privileges were poor, indeed. I boarded out, and at
tended the proverbial log school house. The country soon
settled up. I was a farmer, merchant and postmaster for
forty years.
In 1849 or thereabouts I united with the Christian
Church. When' I went to Valley Falls, Kansas, in 1862, I
united with the church there.
Upon reaching Kansas City, Mo., I took a letter and
united with .the church in that city.

28
On the 13th of April, 1902, I united with the church in
Des Moines, Iowa, and am now a member of the same
church in Kansas City, Mo.
I took the temperance pledge about fifty years ago, and
have kept it. I never drank to excess at any time pre
vious to taking the pledge. I voted to make the State of
Kansas a prohibition State in her altered Constitution.
About twenty years ago I took a volunteer pledge, by ad
vice of Dr. G. B. Hanawalt, my nephew, of Des Moines,
Iowa, not to chew tobacco or smoke. He said if I would
obey this pledge that he would insure me to live 100 years.
I have pledged myself to this now. I never did chew to
bacco, but I did smoke cigars moderately. So here I am
now, with about eight years to make out my hundred years,
in reasonable good health and still keeping the pledge.

29
CHAPTER VII.
The Border Ruffian War.
During the border ruffian war in Kansas in 1856 I took
over about 100 head of cattle to graze on Slough Creek,
Jefferson County, Kansas. I left them in care of Colonel
Henry Owens. The struggle was so fierce between the Free
State men and the Pro-Slavery men that the colonel and
his family came back to Clay County to wait a more pacific
time before returning to Kansas. In August Colonel Owens
and myself went to Kansas to look after the cattle. The
stock was scattered all over the prairies. The country was
much agitated by the raids of freebooters of both parties.
We first became prisoners by being captured by Colonel
Harvey, a leading and determined Free State man and the
right bower of James H. Lane, afterwards United States
Senator. Harvey had about sixty-five earnest men, eight
or ten of whom we were well acquainted with.
After a full and free explanation Colonel Harvey direct
ed that we should return to Oscaloosa, Kansas, which we did
the same day, stopping at Old Man Stags, or near his resi
dence, where there were thirty-seven Alabamians returning
from Lawrence. They, with others, had burned the Eldridge
Hotel, and had as booty about forty horses and eight or ten
wagonloads of plunder.
Right here I wish to say that Colonel Harvey was load
ed with thirty or forty horses and eight or ten wagonloads
of plunder, he having robbed all the stores on Stranger
River for twenty-five miles up and down — Pro-Slavery store
keepers, of course. The two parties were about fifteen miles
apart, but had no knowledge of each other's positions.
Now was my time, I being opposed to the border ruf
fian invasion of the territory, and really in favor of the

30
Free State party. We (Colonel Owens and myself) visited
the ruffians' camp just at dusk of evening.
Old Dr. Jesse Newel, living in Oscaloosa town, one mile
and a half away, came along as he was returning from Osau-
kie, where he had been on business. I took him to one side,
knowing him to be a strong Free State man from Oscaloosa,
Mahasky County, Iowa. Knowing him to be a stout-hearted,
determined man, who would fight, I told him of Colonel
Harvey's position, and what he was doing, and suggested
he send his son, John Newel, to advise Colonel Harvey of
this border ruffian outfit and camp.
Dr. Newel at first rather flinched, saying if such a thing
was found out on him, that he would be murdered by the
Pro-Slavery party. I assured him of my true friendship, so,
after pledging our Masonic honors, as Free and Accepted
Masons do when danger might be expected, Dr. Newel left
for home. John Newel, his son, was soon on the road after Col
onel Harvey, fifteen miles away. When he reached within
seven miles of the camp, at Bill Butler's stage office, Har
vey's scouts took in young Newel on the right way. It was
Harvey's picket guard, he having moved on eight miles to
ward Lawrence, where their headquarters were located. The
bugle soon gave the call to boots and spurs. By three A. M.
Colonel Harvey and his brigade were at Oscaloosa, and only
one and a half miles away the enemy lay in quiet, sound
sleep. Colonel Harvey and men shotted their guns and ad
vanced in battle form, close up to the sleeping foe, the Col
onel at the head. The picket, or, rather, camp-guard, was sit
ting down, nodding, and the Colonel said to him: "Hand me
your gun." With that the guard fired, cutting off the little

31
finger of Colonel Harvey. Harvey's whole platoon fired, or
part did, overshooting the sleeping foe. Surrender, sur
render from sixty-five conquerors was demanded. Three or
four were wounded slightly, one severely shot through the
back of the neck and partially paralyzed. He was a Virgin
ian by birth, Pro-Slavery in views.
Day was breaking when the writer and Colonel Henry
Owen fled to the brush near by, half naked. The yard was
picketed by Free State men, but we were permitted to go.
We soon found that the battle was over, and that a surrender
had been made. By 9 A. M. Colonel Harvey lined up his
prisoners, paroled them and sent them on, where they had
pretended they were going, to Hickory Point,' six miles
north, thence to Kickapoo, Kansas, near Fort Leavenworth,
30 miles east.
The Colonel retained all the spoils, including 40 or 50
horses and eight or ten wagons loaded with plunder. The
Pro-Slavery men had taken these when at Lawrence, at the
same time that they burned the Eldridge Hotel. He also
secured all of their guns, ammunition, blankets, etc. Colonel
Harvey and his company were soon on their way to Law
rence, 25 miles away.
At Hickory Point a Pro-Slavery camp was stationed so
those recruits fell in with their confederate friends. They
were mad clean through, many of them being half-naked and
naturally ready for another fight. The Free State men gath
ered around Colonel James H. Lane, who came on the
ground with new forces and supplies. Colonel Harvey heard
of the battle coming on and retired with blood in his eye.
The third day after that Hickory Point was fortified by the
border ruffians and neighboring Pro-Slavery men in the
country round for ten to twelve miles, and a regular siege

32
was started. As Hickory Point was on level ground, with
nothing but the level prairies stretching for many miles, strat
egy was the next resort of the Free State men. A wagon
loaded with baled hay was run backward up against the
blacksmith shop and fire was started. The besieged men
fired under the backing wagon, hitting the legs of the Free
State men. They ran off and left the wagon, so the Pro-
Slavery men shot wads of tow, saturated with gunpowder,
and burned the wagon and hay. After three days' siege both
parties were out of provisions and whisky, shot and ammuni
tion, so white flags were sent out. A compromise was
made, and another keg of whisky drank. Friends drew up
a contract that the border ruffians and Jim Lane's Chicago
stubs were to leave the territory; the settlers were to go
home, irrespective of party, and to keep the peace. All sign
ed this. Colonel Harvey started for Lawrence, and after go
ing about ten miles camped for the night. Abput .eight
o'clock that night Colonel Sumner, with United .Spates sol
diers from Fort Leavenworth, made the sixty-five men pris
oners. Quince Grason, a traveling man, had been the guide
for the soldiers. During the arrest one of the United States
soldiers was killed, but this was an accident. Next morn
ing Colonel Harvey produced the compromise which had
been signed by both factions, so Colonel Sumner turned
them all loose. Thus the war was ended north of the Kaw
River, although old John Brown was operating in South
east Kansas.
My position and what I did caused the border ruffians to
watch me when the great rebellion came, knowing that I
would tell where their places were.

33
CHAPTER VIII.
Noted Men I Met up to Time of the Civil War.
I will now tell of a few of the noted men I knew per
sonally from the time of my childhood up to the great civil
war. In 1816 I recollect in the town of Franklin, then the
county seat of Howard County, Mo., there lived Colonel
Dick Gentry, a leading man in society and politics. In 1819
Colonel Carroll, of St. Louis, Mo., was a candidate as dele
gate to Congress from the territory of Missouri. Colonel
Carroll came up through Missouri, electioneering for Con
gress on the Free State ticket. He stopped at Franklin and
went out to Fort Hemstead, now Fayette, the county seat
of Howard County. That evening Richard Gentry went out
a few miles on the road toward Fort Hemstead, waiting at
the forks of a road until he saw Carroll coming along the
road. Gentry then shot Carroll dead. Gentry was a rabid
Pro-Slavery man, and nothing was done in the way of prose
cution. After this Colonel Dick Gentry never could gain
political office, as he was a marked man. In 1835 he raised
a regiment of volunteers and went to the war in Florida. At
the battle of Okochobee he gained much credit as a brave
man, but was killed at the end of the battle.
I knew many of his soldiers, and one man named Bat
tle, who lived in Clinton County, Mo., was also killed in this
battle. When Battle fell wounded he called for water, and al
though the volunteers had fallen back John Engarard heard
the wails for water. He swore that a comrade should not die
for want of water, and although contrary to orders, he said:
"Orders or no orders, he would get a dying man water."
And he did, and after that put Battle on his shoulder and
brought him back to the lines. Battle died a few moments
after.

34
Nick Buckheart was a delegate to the convention that
made Missouri a State, and I knew both him and his fam
ily well. Nick ran on the Pro-Slavery ticket.
I knew Judge Arixson, of Howard County, Mo., who
about the year 1816 was a wealthy farmer, speculator and
contractor. His son-in-law, Colonel Tarlton Turner, was
also a rich man and had large contracts for surveying.
His parents were Tories in the revolutionary war. He was
named after Colonel Tarlton, of the Red Coats, of the bat
tle of Cowpens, in North Carolina. Colonel Tarlton Tur
ner's father had died before the revolutionary war was over,
hence the Government could not confiscate his estate. For
the part taken by his relatives in that war Tarlton Turner
was ostracized by society.
When the war of 1812 broke out Tarlton Turner, feeling
that the Turner family must do something to redeem their
name, raised a regiment of 1000 men at his own expense,
costing him thirty thousand dollars. He went to Washington
and presented them, ready for service, to President Madison.
The President accepted the men and appointed Tarlton Tur
ner colonel of the regiment. They fought through the war
with honor, and after it was over Colonel Tarlton Turner
received many big contracts from the Government. I knew
him personally and often heard he and my father talk over
the war of 1812, he coming to our house frequently to buy
stock from my father.
I knew Colonel Thomas H. Benton and heard him make
many speeches. I approved of his services in the United
States Senate, and in his latter terms Benton was a great
statesman. Some said he was a leader of a party without
principle. If that be so he changed his principles or party,

35
for he opposed the repeal of the Missouri compromise and
other measures.
I knew Colonel A. W. Doniphan for twenty years, and
was impressed with his noted campaign in old Mexico. I
also knew many of his volunteer soldiers. I was also well
acquainted with Senator David R. Atchison, knowing him for
many years. I also knew Willard P. Hall, Governor of Mis
souri. For many years I was a personal friend of Colonel Loane,
afterwards General Loane and Congressman. He was the
man that delivered the celebrated speech, the keynote of
which was "a rebel had no rights which a Union man
should respect."
I knew General Atkinson, of the United States army,
the hero of 1814, at the battle of Rock Island, on the Up
per Mississippi. In 1823 he visited Smithville while on a
tour of inspection to Council Bluffs. He had about twenty
soldiers with him. The same year Major Foster, from
Council Bluffs, visited our house. He had his wife and
daughter with him. Joseph Roubideaux, the founder of St.
Joseph, visited us in the same year. He was on his way to
the Upper Missouri River, trapping and trading.
I also knew Gene Ashley, who took a party of 130 men
through the mountains of Oregon and British America.
While on one of these trapping trips he had been robbed by
British fur traders, and he was pursued through California.
Ashley afterwards went to St. Louis, married a young
woman and went to Congress. He stopped at our house
once, and something that impressed itself on my memory
was the fact that my father sold him a beef steer.
I knew Colonel Sam Owens, of Independence, Mo., well,
and of course knew thousands of business men, for I was
engaged in mercantile business for over forty years at Smith-

36
ville, Mo. I ran the valuable mills that my father had built
there. They were built in 1824, and have been burned down
twice. I knew hundreds of eminent lawyers, doctors, Judges
and wealthy farmers, and, being an active business man,
I was brought into personal contact with them. Of the
founders of the town of Smithville and its mills I am the only
one left.

37
CHAPTER IX.
The Opening of the Civil War.
At this late date I start in to write a recollection of the
late civil war. The secessionist slave-holders of the slave
States said: "A Southern slave-holder with Southern views
should be elected President of the United States, or there
would come a separation of the States." There were a num
ber of candidates— Mr. Abraham Lincoln, on the Republican
ticket; Stephen A. Douglass, Democrat; Bell and Everett,
Whig, and Breckenridge, Secesh Democrat and Disunion-
ist. It looked like a forlorn hope. At the election the
Judge, Thomas J. Gunn, chairman of the Board of Electors,
said to Smith, "We have no electors entered on our poll-
books for Abraham Lincoln, but if you wish we will place
electors on the book that you may vote your sentiments."
I replied: "I was long an old-time Whig, and would vote
for Bell and Everett on the Whig ticket." I was fully aware
of the fact that the great Whig party had added a plank of
Freedom to their great protective tariff principle.
On or about the last of December, i860, there was a
meeting at the school house in Smithville. I happened to
be out of town that day. The meeting was at 8 P. M., and
I got home about 7, and was eating my supper when a dele
gation came after me from the political ' meeting. I sus
pected a "hen on," but I went, under protest from my wife.
There had been much street talk on secession, Mr.
"Abe" Lincoln having been elected President for four years,
commencing March 4, 1861. When I reached the school
house, in which the town meeting was being held, it seemed
as if all were awaiting my arrival. I was called to the speak
ers' stand at once, having been told that South Carolina had
seceded an,d gone out of the Union. I made a short ad
dress. I said that I had often been fishing in streams of

3»
water and saw chub fish jump out of the water, but they
fell back soon. I also said that history told us that no
nation that dealt in slaves lived long. The Pharoahs failed,
also the Babylonians, while the slaves of Rome burnt her
up, after slaughtering old and young. Age had been no ex
cuse for sparing life. The South had the Grecian horse of
slavery in her borders, and I looked upon this movement as
a bluff for more territory for the extension of slavery. I
was for peace and the Union as it is, with no change.
This roused a few to say it was the duty of every man to
stand firm for Southern rights, but the majority said that
we, of the border, had best be quiet.
Shortly after this the "Secesh" raised a company of 84
mounted horse guards to resist Lincoln soldiers. Colonel
Cramer, in Northern Missouri, had raised a regiment and
was bearing down on St. Joseph. Robert Fleming, a Union
man, called for volunteers as home guards. I joined the 50
or 60 men, all of whom were unarmed. Captain Theodore
Duncan, of the Mounted Rebels (for that was just what they
were), sent his adjutant with a written notice to Captain Bob
Fleming to dismiss his men or he would charge on them
with horse. Fleming read the notice to his men and said
that without arms we could do nothing before these mount
ed and sabred cavalrymen, so let us adjourn until armed. So
mote it be.
Next the Secesh robbed the United States Arsenal at
Liberty, taking cannon, small arms and an immense amount
of powder and other accoutrements of war. They stored
much of this between Liberty and St. Joseph, and also in
the vicinity of Smithville.
Then the Union forces drove the rebels out of St. Jos
eph and also Clay County, but the rebs failed to take many
of the stolen arms that they had hidden.

39
CHAPTER X.
Pete Lizar's Sister-in-Law's Pension.
As exciting news came the town of Smithville was ablaze
with excitement. After President Lincoln took his seat, in
Washington, daily meetings were held to talk politics, and
about the war. "Secesh" men were organizing companies
everywhere, and at all these meetings I stood out for the
Union. On April I, 1861, President Lincoln issued an order that
no disloyal man should receive any public money. All would
have to take the oath of loyalty before they could receive
any pay or have any recognition of any claim.
One day in came Pete Lizar, a neighbor, and he said to
me, "Smith, my sister-in-law, who is a widow, lost her
husband from the injuries he received in the Mexican war
and we all think her claim is good for a pension."
Being in that business I listened to the facts as he told
them and then said: "Yes, there will be no trouble to get a
pension for her. Bring your sister-in-law here to-morrow
morning, and. I will have all the papers ready. Bring along
at least two witnesses who know of the facts."
He said: "I can bring a dozen witnesses if you want
them." I replied: "The more the better, but Uncle Peter, the law
requires all claimants and witnesses to be Union men and
women. No secessionists can have a hearing or have a
claim allowed."
Lizar said: "We are all for the Union, of course we
are." Now in my heart I knew I had scored much for my
self, the neighborhood and the Union, for all these were
rough fighting men and must be, if possible, on the side of

40
the Union. The next day all of a dozen of Lizar's sons,
nephews and friends came with the widow to prove her
claim. I had the papers already for signature and made
each one take an oath of allegiance to the Union. A Jus
tice of the Peace took the acknowledgments, and I hurried
off to Liberty to have the county seal attached. Then I
wrote a long letter to the pension agent of the importance
of having early action on this, as all of these parties were of
much interest to the Union, as in our section Union men
seemed to be in the minority. I wanted to hold all that I
could for the Union, and as these men were of fighting
stock I had all confidence in the pledges they had taken.
In about ten days the petition papers came back,- allow
ing twelve dollars a month, I think. However, the Lizar
boys were soon Union soldiers and took part in many bat
tles. One was shot in the eye and the bullet came out at
the back of his head, for which he received a pension, and
another one was shot in the throat, but recovered. Lizar
himself went to the front with his nephews. I claim some
credit for this.

! 4i 1
CHAPTER XI.
Lincoln's Proclamation for a Day of Prayer.
In the meantime President Lincoln had proclaimed a
day of solemn prayer for the preservation of the Union. At
our church in Smithville a crowd thronged from morning
until late evening. Late in the afternoon I ventured in.
Brother Alex. Duncan noted my presence and called me up.
After some waiting the calls came rapidly and I arose and
made a short speech, saying in short that "you have called
the powers that be a renegade party of abolitionists seeking
to destroy the South and her institutions, and that murder
and rapine is the end and aim. I say to you this violation
of the Federal compact is a Southern move to break the
Union, unite with Mexico and Central America for a grand
despotic oligarchy." This caused hisses, and some left
the house. I was alone. I had shown my hand, and I added,
"Yes, gentlemen, before September these streets will be
tramped by dragoon, horse and rattling saber."
The rebels congregated on the south side of the Mis
souri River on the Little Blue, where they were stampeded.
Captain Theodore Duncan was killed and his company re
turned to Smithville temporarily demoralized. A camp of
instruction was formed to collect the scattered forces. The
battle of Springfield was fought, then Carthage. Mulligan
surrendered at Lexington; confusion reigned in many places.
Judge Leonard and Senator David R. Atchison had left
St. Joseph, also Colonel Boyd, with two or three skeletons
of rebel regiments for Southern Missouri to join Price, the
great leader in this section of the "Secesh" army. Many
returning rebels went into the brush and continued to wage
independent war in many places in Piatt, Clay, Clinton and
Ray counties. I was watching the movement. Colonel Boyd

42
said I was a dangerous man in the rear and proposed to
take me South, but by this time the" Southern sympathizers
at home wanted to court friendship with Union men, and Dr.
Robinson and Colonel Lewis Wood, noted Secessionists, told
Colonel Boyd and other passing Confederates to leave me
alone or otherwise the Southern sympathizers at home would
be destroyed by the Union soldiers.
Now I wrote to St. Joseph, the Union forces having
gotten possession of that city and also of the Hannibal-St.
Joseph Railroad. That report of mine brought the Sixteenth
Illinois Regiment down on a raid through Buchanan, Platte
and the southern part of Clay County to Liberty, and back
to St. Joseph through Smithville over the route taken by the
rebels at the time they left Liberty after raiding the arsenal
there. I pointed out the places where the hidden arms and
ammunition lay and a half dozen wagon loads were gathered
up. On this raid one Union soldier was killed at Platte City
by a rebel sharp-shooter in ambush.
It was claimed the Union soldiers made a successful
campaign in the matter of booty. Every house was searched
for arms, which was taken when found, and all horses and
mules were confiscated if it was suspicioned they had been
used for rebel purposes; this resulted in a grand haul and
the Union soldiers were loaded with booty. Many citizens
followed to prove their loyalty and recover their goods. I
was under requisition to help many, which I did. Preston
Aker lost $500 to $800 worth of clothing and other mer
chandise; some of it was recovered, but the most was lost.

43
! CHAPTER XII.
My Letter to General Prentiss.
An Iowa regiment, on its way down from Plattsburgh,
got into an engagement at Blue Mill Landing, Clay County.
About ten men were killed and fifteen or twently, who were
wounded, were left at William Jewell College in Liberty.
This Iowa regiment returned to Smithville and then went to
Kansas City, thence to Leavenworth and on to St. Joseph.
They helped themselves to all the horses they could find on
their travels. The regiment was in command of Colonel
Scott, of Des Moines, afterward Governor or Lieutenant
Governor of Iowa. Then Major Joseph came down from
St. Joseph, through Plattsburg to Piatt City.
He was seeking Cy Gordon, a desperate "Secesh," who
had organized a party from Todd's Creek and other places.
Major Joseph's party made a halt in Smithville. At Platte
City they captured a hundred or more prisoners and thought
they had Cy Gordon, so the major made me separate the
citizens from those he had charges against.
You see now I was noted for my position, all knew I
was guiding the Union soldiers. I released most of the pris
oners from the court house the first night. Mr. Paxton was
among those corralled in the court house. He called me
and said his mill would run empty and wished me to have
him released at once that he might attend to his mill. I
did so at once. He told me Cy Gordon was in the court
house, a prisoner. Gordon had killed several Union men
and Major Joseph would have hanged him on the spot. Pax-
ton knew this. I begged him to point Cy Gordon out to me,
but he refused, saying the rebels would burn his mill in less
than a week if he did so. After all, Gordon made his escape
and shot several Union pickets that night.

44
Now by this time things were at fever heat. By the last
of November or first of December .returning rebels were
thick everywhere, raising new recruits for Price's army
which was camped on the Osage River ten or twenty thou
sand strong.
In Liberty Captain James Ford and Captain James
Moore each had companies of 60 men camped in the court
house square. At the old Judy place five miles south of
Smithville were commissary stores. The war spirit was up.
This was my time. I knew it all. I had several horses
stolen and cattle killed. I wanted to have all the rebels
swept from the north side of Missouri River, killed or im
prisoned. I sat down one morning and made a list of every
enemy in the country, naming each and giving their location,
also naming the rebel camps and how many quartermaster
stores were collecting for General Price's army south of the
Missouri River. I had previously sent in a partial report to
St. Joseph by mail, but fearing it might have miscarried I
made this other report. I advised General Prentiss to push
on down to Smithville and Liberty, and to lose no time.
The "Secesh" thought it was best to start me out of the coun
try and violently attacked me one night. Knives and weights
were in requisition, but luckily no one was hurt. This
pitched battle was for my benefit. It was led by Dr. Patton.
Coming back to my eight-page report: I spent most of
the day on it. Then I was. frightened. I dare not trust it in
the mails, for if intercepted it meant death for me. So
I took it out the back way into the orchard and covered it
over as a lion would his uneaten dinner, then innocently
went down town contemplating the future. I peered down
the long stretching street and saw a Mr. Hutchens, a true
blue Union man, coming into town. I advanced to meet him

45
and after salutation told him my troubles and determination
and of my buried report and its contents in part, of which
the main object was to destroy those rebel camps and stores.
Hutchens said: "Smith, I am going to St. Joseph to-night,"
and I replied that was just the thing, as I feared the mails.
I went at once and got my report and he slipped it in his
pocket and went home. The next night General Prentiss
occupied comfortable quarters in my home and four thou
sand soldiers camped in and around Smithville. General
Prentiss had received my first letter, sent by mail, and acted
on its advice.
His coming to Smithville was entirely unexpected and
he drove the seceders to the south in front of him and took
a number of prisoners who were confined in my storehouse.
Among the crowd of prisoners was old Bill Byrd, a man of
seventy-two. I took pity on the old man, I know not why,
and appealed to the general to let him go. Out of gratitude
for what I had done this was agreed to and Byrd was
brought into the house to be questioned. As the general
interrogated the old prisoner he learned something of the
old man's relations and found to his surprise that Billy
Byrd and he were full cousins. The scene was a pathetic
one, a Northern general and a Southern prisoner embrac
ing, and both in tears. The general soon regained his dig
nity and said that he was going to show no favors to rela
tives, and that if he released him it would only be on ac
count of Smith asking for it and because of his gratitude to
Smith. The old man pleaded to be given his team and to be
released. After a few moments' consideration the general
told him to go home and he would send his team later by
Byrd's two boys, who were also prisoners. ¦
The court-martial was a trying one for Smith. All of

46
the prisoners were taken to the Court House in the county
seat of Clay County, which was Liberty. As each neighbor
was arraigned Smith was asked to pronounce him a "Union"
or "Secesh" man.
A long time afterwards I heard from Hutchens how he
had taken the dispatches. It seems after taking my report he
had gone to his home a half mile in the country, and after
dark returned to Smithville and went out to Eleven Thatch
er's farm two miles south of town, got in his barn and found
a new saddle and bridle in a tub of wheat. He clapped the
saddle onto a five-year-old horse, worth (the owner de
clared) $175, and rode down through Smithville, just at day
break. That morning 22 miles out, at the crossing of a small
stream called Maiden, Hutchens was halted by General Pren
tiss' pickets and declaring that he was the bearer of dis
patches for the commanding general he was taken to that
officer's tent, where orders were given that he and his horse
be fed. This was done, and Hutchens went on to St. Joseph
and crossed the river to Elwood, Kansas, where he sold the
horse, saddle and bridle for $140. This money he brought
home and gave to his wife, who had five little children. He
then went to Weston, in Platte County, and enlisted in the
Union service, participating later in the battle of Donald-
sonville, at Shilo and at Pittsburg Landing, serving the term
of his enlistment, and then came back. The Union soldiers
had in the meantime taken his wife and children away, to
Weston, I believe.

47
CHAPTER XIII.
The Prentiss Raid.
From Smithville General Prentiss threw out two wings
of his army; one went east and one south — the main force
took the centre. They had taken 75 or 100 prisoners be
fore they reached Smithville and this last day's drag made an
awful havoc among the rebels and their sympathizers. The
prisoners were all taken to Liberty. I was sent for and a
court-martial was called to dispose of their cases. The court-
martial was held under turn key.
The first night Prentiss' troops were in Smithville com
missary stores to the value of ten thousand dollars were
taken, including horses and mules, and one man, Samuel
Bodyston, was killed. He had been in the rebel army and
would not halt when ordered to do so. Fifteen or twenty
prisoners were also taken. I was blamed for this Union raid.
In the court house square at Liberty General Prentiss'
forces captured Captain James Ford and sixty men and
Captain James Moore, ex-Sheriff of Clay County, and sixty
men, besides two hundred or more "Secesh" soldiers, many
of whom had just returned from General Price's army which
was encamped on the Osage River to the south of the Mis
souri. I had listed the most of these, so the Union general
knew whom he had. At the court-martial I was advocate for
the Union and upon my decision the prisoner would be set
free or detained as the case might be.
"What shall be done with this prisoner?"
"Let him take the oath of loyalty and go home."
"What shall be done with this one?"
"Take him to Alton Penitentiary."
"And what shall be done with this one?"
"Let him give bonds for the faithful performance of his
Union obligations."

48
And so on until the end, and the mourners' bench was
full of penitents.
The next day General Prentiss made a speech from the
court house steps, declaring many of the truest Union men
in the West were in Missouri. "Yes, from your own midst,
I knew of the 'Secesh' movements here before I left St.
Joseph. Three days ago, in fact, I was fully advised as I
came along of your names, and many of your residences were
pointed out to me. Don't believe that you are a unit here;
a strong Union element exists right in your midst and your
movements are closely watched and reported to headquar
ters. You had better return to loyalty and cast away the
idea of secession." And he added much more to his talk.
Now Mat Miller, Ike McCarty and a half dozen other
rebels took me out to one side and said to me the next day
after the speech (Miller being the spokesman) : "Smith, we
heard Prentiss' speech yesterday. We don't know anybody
smart enough to report the movement of the Southern army
but you, and we know you are d — n rascal enough to do it,
and we're going to have your scalp. We will have General
Price send for it."
As Woods said when he applied to General Jackson for
a pardon and it was denied him: 'My grave appeared in
view." I went immediately home and sent for Al Owens and
told him I might have to go on an instant warning, and if
so thought of going to Des Moines, Iowa, and for him to
advise me of the secessionists' movements and to give me due
and timely notice of the approach of the enemy.
A few days later I was advised by John W. Duncan of
the detail General Price had dispatched to arrest me.

49
CHAPTER XIV.
How I Left. Smithville.
From information received by me I know that General
Price's charges against me were; giving aid and comfort to
the enemy in the field, assisting thereby the Union forces
under command of General Prentiss in raiding the counties ¦
¦ of Buchanan, Piatt and Clay, causing great loss to the South
ern army; also in giving aid and information to Major Jos
eph, of the Second Iowa, and to the Sixteenth Illinois, caus
ing death to many as well as great loss to private citizens,
especially those of secession principles, and terrorizing the
citizens in the name of serving the Union. The detail sent
to effect my arrest and removal to Price's camp left there
on or about the loth of December, 1861. John W. Duncan
got a furlough and accompanied the squad as far as the Mis
souri River, but as the river was full of floating ice and
there was a scarcity of boats the squad did not get across
at once. Duncan's wife was sick and he left the party at the
river, managed to get across and pushed on home, some
hours ahead of Major Savory's squad. He found me at once
after his arrival in Smithville and apprised me of my danger
of arrest. The next morning, December 12, I left Smithville
in a two-horse buggy, taking with me $2900 in Platte County
Railroad bonds drawing 10 per cent, interest — worth all told
$4600. A peculiar incident in connection with these bonds was
the fact that they were practically lost for five years. Upon
reaching Des Moines I went to Allen's Bank there to de
posit them. Mr. Allen was busy at the time and gave me no
deposit slip or other receipt, simply laying the bundle up on
top of the vault. I left the bank and five years later sent
Colonel Henry Owen to the bank after them. Mr. Allen

50
denied any knowledge of the bonds, having forgotten my hav
ing been in the bank, nor having any recollection of the
package. Colonel Owen told Mr. Allen that I had said that
he (Allen) had laid the bonds up on top of the vault, and
Allen reached up and brought them down, remarking: "Here
they are now." The bonds were all there and had evidently
not been moved since they were laid there five years pre
viously. My trip overland to Des Moines was a cold one, a snow
storm meeting me on the way. I spent the greater part of
the winter in Des Moines and then returned to Missouri.
The war was still on, though the rebels had moved further .
south and Pea Ridge, near the southern line of the State,
was the scene of activities. Donaldsonville and Pittsburg
Landing, in Tennessee, were in the death struggles. So I
had time to arrange my affairs to leave the State permanent
ly, and this time I went to Kansas, arriving there July 24,
1862, and remaining a resident of that State over twenty
years, then moved to Kansas City with $20,000.
When I left Missouri in 1862 for Valley Falls, Kansas, I
owned 100 head of cattle, 35 mules and ten slaves, besides
much household goods. I set the slaves free — they were
valued in those days at $10,000. I also sacrificed and lost as
much as $10,000 more.
If I say it myself, I was a Union man and kept the army
posted as to where the rebels were moving or skulking.
My position was a central one, covering 35 to 50 miles of
country, and I made good use of it for a year and a half,
when I was compelled to leave the State the 24th day of July,
1862. But I was long known to be a Clay Whig, opposed to
the "border ruffian war" and the invasion of the territory
of Kansas by armed ruffians. A Fremont Republican, op-

5i
posed to secession. All my kin folks on both sides were
Union. Many went to the front.
At the end of the war, in 1865, the Union debt was three
billion dollars, the Confederacy was bankrupt and four mil
lion slaves were free.

52
CHAPTER XV.
Joining the Union League.
In the spring of 1862 after my return from my Iowa
exile to Smithville one day I thought I would go up to
Ridgely, Platte County, Mo., six miles distant, where many
active Union men lived. I saw many people there, mostly
strangers, some of them carrying guns.
One man, with a gun on his shoulder, walked up to me
and said: "You are Mr. Smith, are you?" I said: "Yes."
Then he said: "You are requested to come up to the hall."
We started at once for the. Old Masonic Lodge. We
went up the outside stairs and at the top there was a soldier
standing with a gun. There were a few questions, a knock
on the door and then we entered. There was a large com
pany present. Benjamin Smithey was at the head of the table
and Ephraim Fitzgerald at the other end.
Smithey said: "Smith, we sent for you. This is a Union
Lodge of loyal men who have found it necessary to organize
and unite for the defense of the nation against its enemies,
who are now in the field, rebellious, in fact. We are advised
and know you to be a Union man and it is advisable to
know each other on the highways. We have organized this
Union Lodge, having a charter from the State Lodge of Mis
souri. If you will sign this roll and take the pledge or oath
of loyalty you can be one of us."
I signed and kneeled at the altar. The oath ran about
this wise: "To defend the Government of the United States
against all enemies, sacrificing property and life if neces
sary to preserve the Federal Union of States, to put down
this and all other rebellions."
The passwords, signs and grips were then imparted. The
form of challenge was: "Have you seen Sam?" and the an-

53
swer was : "I have," if a Union man. The next speech
would be: "And will draw Washington's sword?" If a
Union soldier you would say: "And have drawn Washing
ton's sword."
Then the two would advance, lock arms and one would
say: "Union," and the other: "Forever," and then separate.
The foregoing is some of the Union pledge to support
the Union, so now I properly belong to the Union League,
voluntarily and in full fellowship of Ridgely Lodge, and I
have kept the pledge still steadfast.

54
CHAPfER XVI.
The Escape of Tinsley.
James H. Tinsley, of Ridgely, who was a rebel under oath
and bond to keep the Union and not to aid or abet the rebels
in any way1, had a narrow escape in July, 1862. This was just
before I left for Kansas. Three or four men, one a Union
soldier, Bob McMillen, a brave man, came to see Bob Flem
ing about punishing Tinsley for planning and introducing a
company of rebels encamped on Todd's Creek in Platte
County to destroy the Union camp at Ridgely. The object
of the raid would be to get about 27 horses that were being
cared for by a few Union soldiers. Bob Fleming was in
quiring into the circumstances and I discovered that Tinsley
might be 'guilty or might not, so I nudged Fleming's foot.
He took my view and asked for twenty-four hours' time to
make some further inquiries. The next day, Monday, was
fixed to punish Tinsley, if guilty, so I went home that even
ing, on Sunday night, and on my way met a sympathizer of
the South, a semi-reb and told him there was "a hen on"
and Tinsley was accused of being the cause of the attempt
to rob the stable at Ridgely, which had only been prevented
by a terrible wind and rain storm. Tinsley left home that
night for St. Joseph and did not return until after the war
was over.
Fifteen years after I met Tinsley and he asked me who
the parties were that were going to punish him, but I re
fused to tell him and he was angry until I said: "Tinsley,
those men would kill you to-day if you raised a row about it."
Then Tinsley explained the whole affair to me. I be
lieved him. He said the Rebs took shelter in his barn dur
ing the terrible storm that night and he was entirely ignorant
that they were coming on the expedition. Then I was glad
I did as I did.

55
CHAPTER XVII.
Charges Made Against Me.
About May, 1862, when I got back from Des Moines,
where I fled the previous December, Major P. M. Savery
and five others were detailed to bring me to headquarters
of General Price to answer charges which had been made
against me. The attempted arrest was caused by "Secesh"
Mat Miller, Ike McCarty and many others of Liberty. Mil
ler told me the charges were: First, I was a coward; sec
ond, an abolishinist; third, an enemy of the Southern con
federacy; fourth, a spy in the rear of the Confederate army.
I was also told that General Price would get my scalp. I
fled one hour ahead of their arrival. They waited in Smith
ville for me, eating their meals in my home. Then they left
for General Price'? headquarters. They were crossing the
Blue River, four miles east of Kansas City, when they ran
into a scouting party of Kansas soldiers. Two were cap
tured and the othe; four got away. The captured men were
¦ taken to a camp near Independence, where a court-martial
was held. They admitted that they were Southern soldiers,
without uniforms, armed and privately spying over on the
north side of the River at Smithville. This was the end of
the court-martial. Next morning the company started on
a march, leaving the prisoners under a guard, who were os
tensibly to bring them along later. They were both shot.
Word was sent to Liberty and a brother of one of the men,
Mr. Stark, told me that he had the men buried at Big Shoal
Meeting House in Clay County.
In reference to the charges that were to be brought
against me, I deny one of them, "that I was in the rear of
the Confederate army."

56
CHAPTER XVIII.
Views of the Rebellion.
The first two years of my life was spent in the State of
New York, the next three years in Howard County, Mis
souri, the next two years in Carroll County, Missouri, and
when eight years old my father's family came to Clay
County, where I lived for forty years and where my life's
struggles really began— where the great rebellion stalked
abroad. "To arms, ye brave!" "Liberty or death," the
French motto; "Union and liberty for all."
Two million men enlisted in the Union army, one million
were discharged after four years' struggle. The war was
ended. The Rebel hosts were never numbered to a cer
tainty, but it is supposed a million and a quarter is near the
correct number. In round numbers the death roll was near
a million lost on both sides — in Union and "Secesh." The
Union loss was somewhat larger than the loss on the seces
sion side — perhaps fifty thousand greater. Over one hundred
thousand emancipated slaves were enlisted in the Union army
— 75 thousand were discharged.
Speaking of the war of 1861-1865 the border States suf
fered severely by returning guerillas, remembering they were
forced South into the Southern Confederacy. The Union
men of the border, not enlisted men, aided and assisted the
Union soldiers to rid the State of rebel "bushwhackers."
This was natural for Union citizens to rid the country of the
enemies of the State. The feelings were embittered and
cruel all around, causing relatives and friends serious trouble.
Now that the flag of the country floats over a Union of
States in which there is not a single slave, the incidents of
the war linger in the canvas of memory as fading pictures.
I can now afford to confess that I did send information to
General Prentiss of which I was accused, and believe that in
doing so I helped the Government.

57
CHAPTER XIX.
The Story of Sebree Smith.
When the Civil War was on, in June or July, the Gov
ernment gave orders that all citizens should hoist Union
flags, the Stars and Stripes, over their front doors. This
order came from Washington and was seconded by the
Gamble Government at Jefferson City. The "Secesh" citir
zens vowed they would not. I was willing, but did not have a
flag. My oldest son was in Iowa, my next son in a rail--
road store, my oldest daughter in a seminary, so that only
left myself, wife and the smaller children at home. Sebree
Smith, a boy of ten, was one of these. I was away from home
for a few days about this time, and Sebree got a few yards
of bunting (calico), red, white and blue, about ten yards. He
cut and tore it to suit and formed a flag about three feet
wide and about nine feet long. He sewed it up well and
fixed stars and stripes on it. He attached a staff to it and
then climbed up a walnut tree in the front yard of our house,
fastened it to a limb about 25 feet up in the air. Then he
let the flag float to the breeze. This soon attracted the at
tention of the "Secesh" boys of the town and they came and
fired a volley of stones at the flag. One stone went through
the flag, tearing a large hole in it. It was torn from, the
staff, but caught on a lower limb, where it hung for three
years. Sebree, who ran out to protect the flag, had to go in
the house, as the boys were firing stones at hijn.
His mother came out and protested, but the young boys
only replied by another shower of stones. Then Mrs. Smith
went to the corner of the yard, about forty yards away, and
called on Col. Lewis Wood and Dr. A. M. Robison. Wood
was a Southern man not in favor of war, and Robison a

58
rebel. Both men helped to drive the boys away and peace
was restored. I came home in the evening and saw the flag,
and honored the boy for his bravery and interest in his
country. Twelve months afterward I located at Valley Falls, Kan
sas. Senator James H. Lane often stopped with me for a
day or two. Sidney Clark, a member of Congress often
stopped with me there while he was electioneering. The flag
story was often told there.
When Sebree Smith was fifteen years old a vacancy oc
curred in West Point Military Academy. This appointment
was given Sebree Smith for his bravery. He passed the
examination, was four years a student, graduated with an
average of 90. In 1870 he was second lieutenant of the Sixth
Cavalry, six years with the Second Artillery, acted as first
lieutenant for near 20 years, then as captain. When the
Spanish War broke out he was with the Third Artillery, was
sent from Fort Warren, Boston, to Fort Stevens, at the
mouth of the Columbia River, where he was taken sick and
sent to the United States Hospital in Washington. He was
notified by the Adjutant General to apply for Major, but
was too sick. He died in Washington, and is buried in
Arlington Cemetery.
Thirty-two years after Sebree Smith had been appointed
to West Point he was captain of Third Artillery. He had a
son eighteen years of age who wanted an appointment as a
cadet at West Point. His appointment could only come
through the President, as his father was not a citizen of any
Congressional district. William McKinley was a candidate
for President. I met him and made a short statement in
the presence of Webster Davis, then Mayor of Kansas City,
Mo., and many others.

59
In my introduction to Mr. McKinley I said: "When you
come to your kingdom I shall more fully explain my claims
for my grandson's appointment to West Point as a cadet."
"What is that you say?" said Mr. McKinley.
I replied: "When you are elected President of these
United States."
Two years afterwards the time had come. Web Davis
and Congressman Broderick, of Kansas, a personal friend of
the family, took up the matter of Captain Sebree Smith's pe
tition and my own petition and request for the appointment
of my grandson as a cadet at West Point and gave in part the
claims the Smith family had on the Union of these United
States. It detailed the Smithville, Mo., incident which was
almost a tragedy. I added this honorable, just recompense
was due, I really thought, and not unreasonable to give
Selwyn D. Smith, my grandson, this honor.
These papers were carried to President McKinley. Mr.
Broderick told me that he scanned them over and then
said: "File these papers in the War Office where I can refer
to them when needed."
I learned that there were several hundred applications
on file for West Point cadetships and only six could be ap
pointed each year by the President. I believe that since then
the power to appoint has been raised. There were one
hundred and two second lientenants short in 1900; West Point
would furnish about seventy, and the balance would be se
lected from sons of officers who perished in the Spanish
War, and from competent enlisted soldiers of the regular
army. In the meantime Selwyn D. Smith was nineteen years of
age and he enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Infantry. He went to

6o
Manila in 1899. On the 16th of March, 1899, he was ap
pointed second lieutenant in the United States army.
I stated in my diatribe to President McKinley that I
lost in the Rebellion $20,000 worth of property at Smithville,
Mo., and hence my claim was small considering the dangers
I had passed throught besides my losses. One tie only had
saved my life at a critical time, and that was the tie that
none know but the favored few.

6i
CHAPTER XX.
My Political Sentiments.
Politically from childhood I was anti-slavery, owing to
my father's strong anti-slavery sentiments. In the Missouri
question, from 1816 to 1821, with the fiercest part of 1819
when mob violence drove three thousand citizens out of the
territory, one-third of whom never returned, my father was
what was called a Federalist. He believed in a strong na
tional government, with States secondary, "united we stand,
divided we fall," opposed the slave trade as it was carried
on with Africa or any other way. I voted for John Adams
and John Quincy Adams. These were my first convictions.
When Henry Clay in 1844 made his speech at Raleigh, North
Carolina, that established my Whig principles beyond change
on the tariff question. I had voted for William Henry Har
rison on the Whig question before, "Tippecanoe and Tyler
too." Then the next was John C. Freemont in 1856. Then
we had no ticket in my State, Missouri. Next, Abraham
Lincoln, I failed to vote for him, as we had no electors, so
I voted for Bell and Everett. In 1864 I voted for Abraham
Lincoln. In Valley Falls, Kansas, I voted for General
Grant twice. I voted for Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, Mc
Kinley, always voting true American ticket to the last.
My connection with slavery was this. None of the six
Smith brothers ever sold a slave. It was against their creed.
As a matter of compulsion and necessity they were kept
for work, but given compensation; and as for the buying of
them, that was for the same reason, to get their services, and
not for traffic.
All got their freedom without Mr. Lincoln's proclama
tion. Voluntarily all of the slaves were turned loose and sent
to freedom.

62
CHAPTER XXI.
As a Mason and Know-Nothing.
About fifty years ago I was made a Free Mason in the
Ridgely, Missouri, lodge of Free and Ancient Masons. After
some years we organized a lodge of Free Masons in Smith
ville. I was one of the charter members. The lodge flour
ished for some years, when the war of the rebellion came
on like a cyclone. Some of the brethren were for Union,
some for secession. So brethren disagreed out of the lodge
and on the street. In the lodge we said brethren should
agree in and out of the lodge. But a storm was too plainly
brewing and the shock was at hand; so we passed a resolu
tion to surrender our charter back to the Grand Lodge of
the State of Missouri, instructing our secretary to send the
charter arid jewels to the Grand Lodge. This was in Octo
ber, 1861, or thereabout. Ten years later I obtained a demit
from the Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri at St. Louis.
I still have my demit. I am an unaffiliated Mason now; I
still have my working tools and laboring and dress aprons.
In 1853 or about that date I was in St. Louis when
the Whig party thought the American idea would strengthen
their political force and power. A new order was started
which was called the "Know-Nothings," a rather private so
ciety. This fad raged a few years, but failed in its aims.
I united with this party in St. Louis. It was for Americans
to rule America, no foreign born to hold office, the same
rule as applies to President of the United States. I don't
think that so far this rule is necessary in the United States.

63
CHAPTER XXII.
Sporting Experience.
In the early thirties there were many men who belonged
to what was called the "Shop de Spoile" or sporting men.
There were from twenty to thirty leaders, five from Rich
mond, Ray County, Mo., with many followers, eager for
business. The leaders were Ance and Bill Martin, brothers;
Wiley Williams, John Brown, Bright Sherwood and George
Allen, with many followers. From Liberty, Clay County,
Mo., there were Yell Moore and his nephew, Tight Moore;
Newman, a tinner; John Baxter and Coleman Younger, who
lived ten miles west of Liberty, near Barry. He owned sev
eral fine farms there and was leader of the Liberty crowd.
This Coleman Younger was the grand-uncle of the Coleman
Younger of the present day. now living in Jackson County,
Mo. He was one of the three Younger brothers who went
through the Civil War on the Confederate side and after
wards were imprisoned in the States Prison of Minnesota.
Another noted sport of those days was Dick Welden from
North Grand River. He was always in evidence with a fine
stud of horses. On all holidays and on many special days
these men would assemble at the race courses and bet their
money on the races. At night they would play cards, as that
was a favorite method of passing time, and everybody indulg
ed in it. When "green" horses were brought in from the
country those who knew how fast the horse could travel
would bet their money freely.
This continued for ten years and then the Mexican War
scattered the sports, some going to California and others to
engage in the war. Others stayed around until the Kansas-
Nebraska agitation came up and during the Border Ruffian
war sporting of all kinds was wiped out. The preachers of

the Northern Methodist Church were also helpful in the
breaking up of the sporting. One of the stumbling blocks
in their way was old Daddy Whitton from near Excelsior
Springs, Clay County. Others who kept up preaching against
the evil were old Daddy Isaac Burns, Charley Morris and
Ray Taylor, of the forks of Platte, who was a fine singer.
A mob at Missouri City, in Clay County, once notified
old Daddy Whitton to stop preaching on the day that he
was appointed to preach in that city. A Mr. Sullivan, who
was editor of a paper there; young George Wallis and a com
mittee from the town, took the old preacher to one side and
read the riot act to him, telling him he should not preach.
The old preacher said: "My grandfather was a colonel in
the Revolutionary War in 1788 and my father bore an honor
able position in the same war and was killed while on duty.
I was beside him when he fell and I served out my time.
Now I am old and receive a pension of twelve dollars a
month, but I am able to preach the Gospel as commanded
by Christ, to all the world and I shall. I am now ready to
gird on the sword to defend the rights of my country and
myself." As he finished young George Wallis jumped on the old
preacher, but Sullivan stopped him saying: "Let us have
peace. I don't know, but I may need the prayers of old
Daddy Whitton myself."
Old Daddy Whitton used to stop at my house in Smith
ville and told me the above story. My wife was a warm
friend of the old preacher and used to prevail upon him to
preach at Smithville. When the date was set she used to take
great pains to notify all her neighbors, so that there would
be a big crowd present.
Daddy Whitton married George Allen's widow and moved

65
to Kansas just before the Civil War in 1861. He bought a
farm about fifteen miles south of Kansas City. He had
some few cattle, horses and other comforts for his own and
family use.
Quantrell and his band often passed near the old preach
er's house on their way from Kansas to Missouri, but never
molested him in any way, always going around the place.
It was said that Quantrell, who was from a State north of
Mason and Dixon's line, was afraid to molest the old North
ern Methodist preacher.
Rev. Charles Morris, the Methodist preacher, was a chap-
Iain in a Union regiment that went from St. Joseph, Mo.
While he was with the regiment in Arkansas his wife was
taken sick and sent for him to come home. His home was
on a farm near the head of Bee Creek, in Platte County,
Mo. He brought home with him a negro soldier. A few
days after his arrival home his wife died and with the help
of the negro soldier Mr. Morris buried her.
They were to start back to headquarters of the army next
morning and some rebel bushwackers heard of it and visited
the house. They attacked the two defenseless men and kill
ed them. Then they threw the bodies of the old Methodist
pracher and the colored soldier into the house and then set
fire to the house. The bodies were entirely consumed.
The news created quite a lot of sensation in the immediate
vicinity. Charls Morris had two sons stationed in Fort
Leavenworth, both being in the Union Army. As soon as
they heard the news they came to Platte City to avenge their
father's death. A Doctor Walker, a retired surgeon of the
United States Army, was a noted Border Ruffian and he
had been one of the crowd that broke up a Methodist camp-
meeting conducted under Northern principles by Rev.

66
Charles Morris, Rev. Isaac Burns and another preacher. He
lived five miles south of Platte City, on the road leading to
Hampton and Parkville, Mo.
To avenge their father's death, and possibly thinking that
Doctor Walker was one of the mob that had helped kill their
father, the Morris boys took Doctor Walker prisoner at his
home, but before they reached Platte City with him they shot
and killed him. They then went through Platte City to Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, about eight miles distant. Nothing
was ever said about this by either side.
At the time the camp-meeting was broken up by Dr.
Walker and his crowd Rev. Isaac Burns fled from there and
took refuge in my house, where he was cared for and sym
pathized with by my wife.
From the time I was seventeen until I was twenty-seven
there was all sorts of "sport" among the men of the West.
Cards, wheels of fortune, banking games and horse-racing
was indulged in by everyone. I was a looker on and took
a decided interest as a boy of 17. A man from Shenandoah,
Virginia, a farmer's son, who had been shown the inside of
these games and the advantages, taught me. At that time
Hon. Senator Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was very fond of
playing "bragg," so all the other Western men took interest
in it. I soon took a deep interest in it and as I never turned
my back to any I often found it profitable. I never neglected
business for sporting, and as I was always sober I could
carry the stakes. Business, however, made me stop it, so
when I reached forty no more sporting for me. I went into
business, merchandising, farming, stock raising, buying and
selling land and met with great success until the Civil War
broke out. Then I lost $20,000, went to Kansas where I lost
$4000 more. After that I settled down again and left with

67
all debts paid, $14,000 cash and a $5000 homestead. My ad
ministrator will tell you the final balance sheet.
When I was rather a green-horn in sporting I was in
St. Louis, Mo., and started on a steamboat for Liberty Land
ing. The first day out a number of sharpers started card
and dice games on the deck. They kept this up until we got
to Boonville, Mo., and many dropped down from the cabin
to look on or take a hand. We left Boonville late at night
and jogged along the river. Just at daybreak one man who
had been playing with the sharpers leaned back to where his
wife was sleeping, with her four or five little girls cuddled
up close to her, and said: "Anna, I have lost all my money."
The wife jumped up, and, although only clad in one un
dergarment, which barely reached to the calves of her legs,
she at once ran to where the gamblers were playing. She
grabbed the sweat cloth, the fare box, dice box, cards, etc.,
all of the money, paper, gold and silver. This was .quite a
large amount, as it not only included the winnings, but also
the capital. She quickly ran to the forecastle, then upstairs
to the clerk's room. The clerk happened to be in, so the
woman said: "Here, take this; they have won all our mon
ey. We have not paid our fare nor for the freight."
The clerk quickly obeyed orders and put the whole
bundle in the safe. One of the head gamblers, who had fol
lowed the woman, got there just in time to see the money
put in the safe. He at once demanded the return of his
money, both from the woman and the clerk, using furious
oaths. The husband of Anna had followed, and the gambler
drew a big knife and flashed it in his face and drew it across
his throat, while with the most furious oaths he demanded
the return of his money. The. clerk saw that war was de
clared, and as the steward was just passing, the clerk told
him to call the captain.

68
As soon as the captain came to the clerk's office the
woman commenced telling hirti: "It was all the money they
had in the world, and that they had not paid their freight or
passage." The gambler tried to explain, but the woman
kept repeating: "It was all the money they had." Her
tongue ran like a bell-clapper, repeating the same thing over
and over again. The gambler only asked for a fair settle
ment and to get back his own money, but he could not be
heard on account of the woman.
The captain stepped forward to the boiler deck and tap
ped the bell for the pilot to land the boat on the star-board
side. He was followed by the woman, Anna, with her al
most naked children. Some of them had on torn slips, but
they all had but little covering. As it was warm weather, in
June, this did not hurt them any. They clung to the few ar
ticles of clothing their mother had on.
In the meantime the captain had ordered the mate to
take two sailors and bring the yawl around to the star
board side. When this had been done the captain ordered
the mate to bring up four or five deck hands to the boiler
deck. Then the captain said: "Take these two men and
put them on shore." The mate had a long bamboo pole,
about six feet in length, and he flourished it as he ordered
the two gamblers to march. I could not help but laugh
as the deck hands pointed to the naked little girls as the
gamblers marched past.
Down in the forecastle one of the gamblers said to a
friend: "Have our boxes and trunks put off at the next
town above." This was Lexington, Mo.
I watched the gamblers as they marched through the
grass and weeds up toward Glasgow, Mo., which was about
six or seven miles up the river. When we passed that place

I saw nothing of the two gamblers. Next night at 9 o'clock
when we reached the landing place where the gamblers'
goods were to be put off I heard their friend tell the ware
house man that they would be called for by two men.
Next morning we were at Liberty Landing and the man
who had lost all of his money was attending to the putting
off of the boxes, barrels, bedsteads, lot of bundles of cloth
ing and otherthings like emigrants usually carry. The clerk
called Anna, the man's wife, to come to his office. When she
went there he handed her a bundle made up of the veritable
sweat cloth such as the gamblers used in the game the night
before and a receipt for sixteen dollars for freight and pas
sage. He also assisted her in getting the children ashore
and helped her with her bundles.
The gentleman who put off the freight of the gamblers
near Lexington said afterwards that the gamblers told him
that they lost over one hundred dollars of their own, over
and above what they had won up to the time of leaving.
Who done wrong is the question?

70
CHAPTER XXIII.
Business Experiences.
At twelve years of age, my father had just built a grist
mill, two run of four-foot burr stones. He ground for one-
eighth of each grist. He also had a saw mill. He had six
sons and two daughters, and, although we were all young,
we assisted in the running of the mills. He had a farm of
20 acres of meadow land, 10 acres of plough land, one acre
of orchard. He owned about 25 head of cattle, 75 hogs arid
6 horses. We all attended log-house country schools. There
were three brothers older than I and two younger.
I was put in one of the mills to attend the running. I
soon learned to repair machinery in either the saw or
grist mill.
For ten or twelve miles around people flocked to those
mills for supplies and accommodations. At 21 years of age
I thought land a good investment, so I started a small spec
ulation. I ran this up to say 500 acres in six years.
At 23 years of age I commenced merchandising in
a small way. At the age of 26 I was married to Agnes Jor
dan, and we went to housekeeping at once. Fortune, the
fickle dame came and I took a back seat, settled up, called
in my outstandings, and found it was not as bad as it
might have been.
When 34 I took a new lease in speculation, pushed bus
iness and success, I thought mine, for many years. At 48
came the great Rebellion. Now a frost, a killing frost, nip
ped my success. I had nine children, mostly in schools and
colleges. The tocsin of war was sounded not only afar off,
but at home, in Smithville, Clay County, Mo.
I took a loyal stand for my country, radically. I first
took my two oldest sons from a college that was a hot bed

7i
of "secesh." The oldest went to Des Moines, Iowa, and
the next year to Kansas. During 1861 and 1862 I was driven
myself to Iowa.
In 1864, the early spring I went to Valley Falls, Kan
sas, with ten likely negro slaves to be free, as they are this
day. The value of these slaves was $10,000, and my other
losses over $15,000.
My first venture in business was when I was about 23
years of age. Although I had but little experience in grocery
or mercantile business I left for St. Louis, Mo., with about
nine hundred dollars in my pocket. I had self-confidence,
for I had been engaged in the milling business for years. I
got on the boat at Liberty landing, and it looked as if I
were going to have a pleasant trip.
Just as the boat got near tbes^tiding in St. Louis a
gentleman pointed out a large stone buildirtg-«ear_jhe wharf
and said: "There is an excellent wholesale grocery store,
and a safe house to do business with."
That afternoon I walked into the store and one of the
firm asked if he could do anything for me. I found out
afterward that the firm was worth about $500,000. I said
first I wanted to deposit some money so I could draw it out
as I needed it. He seated me at a table and I commenced
unbuttoning my clothes, and then from under my shirt and
from my shoes I drew out gold and paper money. I counted
the money and then went out and looked around the town.
Next day I commenced doing business. What this firm did
not have I bought from other firms, and soon I was out of
money. Then this firm offered to sell me more groceries.
They asked me if I could give a cash check, but I said I had
no deposit. Then they asked me if I could pay in thirty days,
but I said it would take longer than that to get home

72
with my stock. Then I told them that if they would sell
me about $500 worth of staple goods on 6 months, 6 per
cent, or four months' credit, without interest, I would trade.
They laughed and said that their most favored customers
did not get such terms. We dickered for two or three days.
Then my boat had bills up to leave the next day, so I went
to them and told them to have my goods ready at the boat.
I was just going out of the door, when who should I meet
but Graham L. Hughes, of Liberty, Mo. He was of the
firm of Jas. M. and G. L. Hughes. Jim Hughes, of this
firm, was Governor after this, and also at one time Presi
dent of the Missouri State Bank. I passed out and Mr.
Hughes went in the store. Naturally the members of the
firm asked him who Smith was. They also said that I wanted
to buy more goods, but could give no security.
Then Hughes said: "Sell him all the goods he wants.
Send the bills to our firm and we will pay you and I will
collect from Smith. He is the shrewdest young man in that
vicinity, and my brother Matt thinks him good at anything
that comes along."
The next morning when I went to settle for the goods
I had bought they were very anxious to sell me. I took
about $600 worth and gave them two notes, one for four
months with no interest and one for six months at 6 per
cent. I went home in very good spirits. The first note was
due in four months, and I went to Liberty, and stopped at
Hughes' store, expecting to buy exchange. Hughes met me
and said as he was going to send some money to St. Louis
the next day he could send mine with it. I agreed, being
happy at saving the exchange. When the next notes came due
I went to Hughes' store again and Hughes said: "That firm

73
sent your note up here for collection. So you can pay us
and save the exchange." I did so.
Then Mr. Hughes said: "Smith, do you know why they
sold you that bill of goods?" I said I did not.
Then he told me and he seemed very happy to think that
he had done me a favor without my knowing it.
After I had realized on this venture I was never checked
in any business transaction. Merchants in New York, Phil
adelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, Leavenworth and Kansas
City always sent me word: "Let us see more of you." I was
never denied after this time.

74
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Clay County "First Settlers'" Convention.
In about 1890 the papers published at Excelsior Springs,
Clay County, Missouri, contained notice that the first set
tlers of Clay County would meet in convention at Excel
sior Springs for the purpose of organizing a society of old
settlers. Qualifications for membership rested on a resi
dence in the county from the 20s to the 30s and all who were
born in the county and had lived there sixty-five years were
eligible. I lived in Kansas City and so attended. A large
concourse of people were on hand, introductions were made,
and acquaintances were jovial. After dinner the old settlers
gathered at the theatre building for organization. A noted
doctor, well and favorably known, was called to the chair
and with a well expressed statement outlined the object of
the meeting, giving a history of his life, taking a retrospec
tive view of the civil war, giving his record there in 1861
to 1865. He declared he was one amongst the first to enlist
in the Southern army, with a determined will to win or die
in the last ditch. But long before the war closed he wished
it was over, and later he became as strong a Union man as
any who fought in its armies or stayed at home. The
Doctor took his chair with applause. There were forty of
us present and thirty-nine spoke in the same strain. All
had been to war in the Southern army, or had assisted in
furthering the Southern cause, and all now Union men.
Finally, at the end of the class this writer, Calvin Smith,
took the stand and stated that although he had not been an
enlisted Union soldier, he had assisted the Union army to
drive all rebels south of the Missouri river and sympathizers
to take the oath of loyalty or go to jail. I was like the hon-

75
orable chairman — the war ended just as I wanted it to end, I
was happy in the final results. (Cheers and groans.)
As I came to Clay County in 1822 I considered it my
right to become a member of the society. The chairman an
nounced that all those entitled to membership should come
forward to the platform. Forty of us were at once seated.
All were interviewed. When my time came objections was
made that I had forfeited my county citizenship by leaving
the county and also the State. To this I replied that I was
forced to leave the county and State by the home enemy
during the civil war, but that since peace had returned I was
on my way to Smithville, Clay County, Missouri; that I was
stopping in Kansas City, but that Smithville was my home.
No man could be forced from his citizenship.
A committee was appointed to report at the next meet
ing. Their report was favorable and I paid my dollar and
joined. All shook hands with me and we talked over old
times; when one-half of them used to come to Smith's Mills
for grinding of meal and flour, and for lumber. One-fourth,
probably, had been customers of my store at Smithville;
many I had credited for goods; some were raised within two
miles of Smithville. All knew me and I knew nine-tenths
of them.

76
CHAPTER XXV.
River' Stories.
My first trip on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in
April, 1836, was in company with a party of leading business
men of Western Missouri. Among the number was James
M. Hughes, of Liberty, Clay County, Mo., one of the
staunchest merchants and business men of that day. We
had a delightful trip, separating at St. Louis, Mo., some
going down the river to Memphis and other points. I went
to Natchez, as I learned that my brother, Erastus Smith,
who was a pilot on the "Swiftboy," a boat that plied on the
Red River, would arrive there that day. I arrived early in
the morning and at noon the "Swiftboy" arrived. I imme
diately went aboard and found my brother at dinner. We
chatted only a few moments when a man with a pistol and
a rope came on board and stepped up to the steward, a bright
mulatto man. He placed him under arrest as a fugitive
slave. Then walking back to the ladies' cabin he arrested
the chambermaid. Starting for the forecastle he passed near
my brother and myself. The steward asked permission to
get his coat from his room. Permission was given and the
prisoner went out the back door, down to the deck, then into
the wheel house and quickly slid into the water under the
paddle wheel bucket, leaving out only his nose.
The overseer, who seemed to be from a neighboring plan
tation, tied the chambermaid's wrist tightly with the rope
and then took her to the forecastle. Then he went in search
of his prisoner. He got the assistance of the deck hands
to help him discover the fleeing prisoner. The overseer as
soon as he saw the slave's hiding place underneath the pad
dle wheel bucket pointed his pistol at him, ordered him to
come out. The negro at once loosened his hold and sank

77
into forty feet of water never to rise again. Only a few bub
bles rising in the water showed where he sank.
I went on shore and saw the negro chambermaid crying
and screaming from the pain, she having been tied so tight
with the rope that the blood had stopped circulating. She
ran screaming to me begging that I should loose the cord,
but I was frightened, as I saw the overseer coming toward
me with his pistol in his hand. There were dozens of people
standing around, but no one interfered. The overseer moved
on with his prisoner and I saw no more of him.
Next morning the steamboat "Swiftboy" was attached for
$1500 for the loss of the black man. Bond was given and
the boat left for Nantucket, up the Red River.
In 1838 I went to St. Louis, Mo., on a boat. We had the
customary cabin passengers, business men, sporting men and
travelers of all kinds. First day out near Sibley, Mo., our
boat got on a sand-bar. The mate was not an up-to-date
man, so Captain Bates went out in a yawl with mates and
deck hands to warp the boat off. They were to draw the
boat off by letting out the anchor and then attaching to it a
cable wrapped around the main staff, to be drawn by an
engine. In letting out the cable a coil caught the captain
around the thigh and hauled him overboard. The crew were
unable to stop the yawl and it drifted away while all the
passengers who saw the catastrophe screamed with horror.
The clerk, A. B. Miller, who was shaving, heard the cries,
and calling to the yawl to pull to our boat, he succeeded in
fishing up the cable and recovering the body of the captain.
In the meantime the steamboat had floated off the bar and
we proceeded down to St. Louis. When we reached that
city the captain's two brothers took his body ashore.

78
CHAPTER XXVI.
A Country Dance.
About the tenth of April, 1838, I heard there was to be
a party or rather a country dance, near St. Joseph, Mo. It
was twenty-five miles away in the New Platte Purchase,
where people had just been settling for two years. Log
cabins were all the go at that time. Early in the morning of
that day I started for the fandango. On the way, about fif
teen miles out I stopped at Woodville, a town just started,
where there was a grocery store and private tavern. Bill
Tawney Hill, a young man whom I knew, owned this store
and he had a nice stock of goods. I also knew another
young man in the town. I told them where I was bound for
and that I had prospects of a good time. I then went on to
Contrary Creek, in sight of St. Joe, about ten miles distant,
on the big road. This was the place where the party was to
be held. There were twelve or fifteen horses hitched to hickory
grubs and stumps and a half dozen wagons near by, with the
horses tied to the wagons. I tied my horse to a hickory
sprout close by and went to the house, which was a double
log house, two good-sized buildings. Near the door I pulled
off my overcoat.
Just as I went in the door a large Virginia Reel was
being danced. A young man, who was dancing in the reel
with his lady, took me by the hand and said: "Mr. Smith,
take my partner. My horse out yonder is getting in his
halter," pointing with his hand to where the horses were
tied. I dropped my overcoat at once, swung into the dance
with the young lady and soon became well acquainted with
her, as I did with many other ladies and gentlemen that
night.

79
The dance was kept up until midnight, supper being served
in the meantime. There was a large log fire outside for the
cooking. The adjoining room to where we danced was the
place for eating. There were about forty people there,
mostly young people. There were two fiddlers, and they
kept the music going all the time.
Later some of the young men, who were tired of dancing
and a few of the older men, started a game of "brag" and
soon others started a game of "poker." The dance con
tinued until after midnight and then a few of them went home.
The ladies who remained bunked on the floor of the adjoin
ing room, but there were enough card players left to keep
two tables going. Money seemed plentiful and the games
continued all night.
When morning came we had breakfast and then the
dancing and gaming commenced again. New recruits soon
joined us, some taking a hand at cards while others danced.
In the afternoon Bill Tawney Hill and his friend came in.
Both were sports and liked cards and dancing, so they
joined us.-
Soon after dinner Lang Searcey, from near Smithville,
who had heard where I was and followed me twenty miles,
came in and at once started in on the sport. He liked danc
ing, but gambling was his best hand. About dark Yell Moore,
from Liberty, who had heard of the big good times at Con
trary Creek, came over forty miles, with a friend, to join in
the gaming. They were special sportsmen,.
On Friday I was tired and worn out, so I got my horse
and started for home by way of Linville store, a new town
on the head of Bee Creek. I had dinner there and then went
on home. The game at Contrary Creek kept up until Sunday morn-

8o
ing. The result was that Bill Tawney Hill lost about three
hundred and fifty dollars. He was the greatest loser, the
rest being twenty dollars or thereabouts in or out. I never
reported my gains or losses at that time. I was always
ready for a country dance or a game. It could always be
had by going after it.

i. 8r
CHAPTER XXVII.
Experiences in Des Moines, Iowa.
I remained in Kansas City until June 13, 1901, when I
again went to Des Moines, a wanderer. The first thing I
did after settling there was to get into good society— I went
to church. Next I joined the Octogenarian Society, an or
ganization of twenty-five members. The qualifications for
membership was to be 80 years old or more. Men of 70
years were also admittd as junior members. October 25 of
the above year the first meeting of the society was held, at
a hotel at high noon. Plates were laid for sixty and each
plate cost 75 cents. Two hours were given to introduction
and arranging membership, and at 2 o'clock dinner was an
nounced. My daughter, Mrs. Anna Goodenough, and grand
daughter, Miss Eva Goodenough, accompanied me. I was
given the place of honor at the head of the table, being 88
years old — the oldest man present. After dinner speeches
were called for and I was invited to speak, which I did, de
tailing a short history of my life, of Missouri, of the Mis
souri Question, and the expulsion of the free State men, and
the trials incident to war times on the border.
In June 1903 I visited in Des Moines and attended
church services. The Des Moines Register says of that oc
casion: "The centennial sermon delivered by Dr. A. B. Storms
at the First M. E. Church Sunday morning on the Louisi
ana Purchase drew a large audience and was one of much
interest to all. He told of the resources of the vast territory,
the struggles and development which has produced for the
world a country unequaled in wealth, usefulness and beauty.
In its nature it must have a peculiar people to unfold a coun
try so vast — men with brain and brawn, brave and enduring;

82
men whose lives must be given to produce homes for mil
lions who seek our shores; strong men with mental, moral
and physical force to lay a perfect foundation. 'In my
audience I see a gentleman who is a fine representative of
this type and who has lived in the Louisiana Purchase 87
years — Father Smith. Am I not right?' To which the gen
tleman assented. 'Will you arise and face the people that
they may see a man so well preserved.' He has a marvelous
physique and the intelligence of expression is still keen and ¦•
active. It is a pleasure to see him and enjoy his conversa
tion. Surely he is a fine representative of the man Dr.
Storms portrayed and as he passed out of the church after
the services many congratulations and handshakes with
hearty good wishes greeted him."

83
CHAPTER XXVIII.
An Interview with Vice President Fairbanks.
My interview with Vice President Fairbanks can best be
told by the following clipping from The Kansas City Journal:
Senator Fairbanks, candidate for Vice President, was
given a reception at the Midland Hotel. While the recep
tion was - given by the Republican party, the most promi
nent people present were the Tippecanoe voters for William
Henry Harrison, in 1840. One was John Adolphus McNa-
mee, of St. Joseph, and the other Calvin Smith, of this city.
Calvin Smith, of 161 1 Oak street, was thus introduced to
Senator Fairbanks by U. S. Epperson.
" 'Calvin Smith, Senator. He is 91 years old, has been
88 years west of the Mississippi River and voted for Harri
son in 1840.'
"Senator Fairbanks said: 'I hope you will live to be a
hundred, Mr. Smith.'
" 'I hope to meet you again in Washington,' said old
man Smith, straightening himself up. 'I hope to see you Vice
President.' " 'Thank you, sir,' said the Senator.
"Putting Mr. Smith's card in his pocket, he said t<fc
Mr. Epperson: 'I must write to him. Isn't he a fine speci
men of an old gentleman?' "

CHAPTER XXIX.
How Elliot Was Converted.
This is a reminiscence of a dialogue on the "sins of
men" by and between Humphrey Smith and Joseph Elliot,
when I was quite a boy. It was near 80 years ago. My
father, Humphrey Smith, owned a mill, both saw and grist
mill, two run of four-foot burr stones. We took one-eighth
for toll for the grinding.
Elliot, who lived ten miles away, in Clinton County,
came in with some wheat. He had a two-horse wagon and a
colored man to drive. After the wheat had been carried in
for grinding my father sat and talked to Mr. Elliot, and then
said: "Come go home with me for supper and stay all night.
The miller and your man will attend to the grinding and it
will be all ready for you."
Mr. Elliot accepted the invitation and went to our house
for supper. After supper both men were sitting in front of
a big fireplace filled with wood. The conversation finally
turned on the doctrine of salvation and Christian religion.
Elliot soon announced that he believed all men would be,
saved, the Universalist doctrine. Father discussed the sub
ject freely, quoting Scriptures. Elliot did the same, quoting
Isaiah, the Prophet: "Give the poor man strong drink to
drink, that he may be drunken and forget his poverty."
Finally the argument got dull, when father said: "Elliot,
when you die you will go to hell."
"Think so?" said Elliot. "Yes," said Smith, "unless
you repent."
"Well, Smith, how am I to repent?" asked Elliot.
"You must set all your negro slaves free and pay them
for all the work you have extorted from them and then get

85
down on your knees and ask God to forgive you. Then live
godly in Christ Jesus the balance of your life and you will be
saved." "Well, Smith, if I have to do all of this I would rather
die and go to hell, and lie there forever than to repent," said
Elliot, and then he brought down his fist on his knees in a
solemn manner.
Elliot was then the owner of sixteen slaves, "a whole
heap of niggers," according to the Southern phraseology.
Time rolled on for many years, and finally the Kansas
and Nebraska acts for new States were passed. There was a
struggle as regards Kansas, whether it would be a slave
or Free State. It was finally decided as a Free State. El
liot knew the country, it being less than twenty-five miles
from where he lived. He knew that settlers would take up
homesteads, and that it was fine land. Elliot called all his
slaves together, one day and said to them: "I want you all
to go to Kansas. Take all the wagons, horses, harness,
plows, harrows, cattle, hogs, sheep and provisions, corn,
wheat, bacon, enough to last you until you can raise or get
otherwise. Come back, if necessary, for more. There is
plenty here for all of us. You will find the best of land
twenty-five miles south of Topeka. No risk in this venture.
Land will come into market at $1.25 an acre. I will see that
you have the money on hand when that time comes. Now
all ready for a start to the new home."
An old negro woman, about 70 years of age, mother
and grandmother to a number of those who were going,
went to Elliot and said: "Massa, I'se don't want to go away
among strangers. I'se take cold and dies."
"Well, well, Aunty," said Mr. Elliot, "if you don't want
to go you can stay right here where you are and this is

86
your home as long as you live. Stay in your house and
take care of yourself. There is plenty for both of us."
A few years later Elliot died. He had no children, never
was married. He had a fine farm, and a lot of money loaned
at ten per cent. He had four or five brothers and one sister,
and all were old.
Arch Elliot, his brother, and Judge Froman adminis
tered his estate. When they went to make an appraisement
they took memoranda of all the estate, farm implements,
etc. Then they met the old Auntie whom I told about.
Blandly they asked her, the faithful old woman slave, what
she had, and the old ex-slave said: "Massa give me money
from time to time and with that and what my son earned
from playing the fiddle I'se got about $350 in silver." The
gentlemen administrators and appraisers counted it, put it
in their pockets and left. So ends the history of Mr. Elliot,
as far as knows the relator.

87
CHAPTER XXX.
Extracts from Newspapers.
Extract from Kansas City World:
In speaking of the Smithville Horse Show, which was
held in October, 1905, the Kansas City World had the fol
lowing to say:
"The most conspicuous figure at Smithville is Calvin
Smith, 92 years of age, a tall, well preserved, neatly groomed
veteran, with long gray hair and whiskers, whose father,
Humphrey Smith, .founded Smithville in 1822, when Calvin
was but 9 years old.
"Mr. Smith is the father of Henry and James G.
Smith, prominent Kansas City attorneys, and lives with the
latter at 1611 Oak street, in that city. All day Mr. Smith
was surrounded by the old-timers and reminiscences of war
times flew thick and fast.
" 'I left in a hurry during the war,' said Mr. Smith, 'as
General Price had sent six men to get me, but I escaped and
two of the six men never lived to tell Price how it hap
pened.' "A flour mill, now doing a business of 100 barrels a day,
founded by the elder Smith, is one of the leading institutions
of Smithville."
Extract from Kansas City Sunday Star:
"Calvin Smith, of 161 1 Oak street, is 92 years of age.
For eighty-seven of these years he has lived in Missouri.
Few will appreciate, perhaps, unless time is taken to think
over it, how very much of this country's most important
history is included in ninety-two years, but a quick and em
phatic way of realizing it is in remembering that Calvin
Smith was born while the guns were still roaring in battle in
the war of 1812. When he was cutting his first teeth his

father was fighting for his country. Practically every nota
ble advance in the civilization of this country for nearly a
century has come to pass during this man's life. He has
marveled at all the great inventions and discoveries of
science; he has seen the world's map change; nations have
risen and fallen in his time; political parties have come and
gone, and he is still a Republican. To quote his own words,
he'll be one until he dies.
"Calvin Smith's great age is impressed upon you when
you meet him, not by his long white hair or any physical de
ficiency, for he is as straight as a man of 50, but by his con
versation. When he says: 'I lived forty years in Smithvilfe,
leaving there in 1862/ you feel young.
"When he goes on to say occasionally: 'Seventy years
ago,' or 'I had a plan in the 30s' you begin to realize how
old he really is.
Calvin Smith does not walk twenty miles before break
fast, and he doesn't split a cord of wood each day for exer
cise, which makes him a unique figure among old men.
" 'I have lived through the nerve-racking experiences
of city life,' he said, a few days ago, 'and I have known
the farmers' trials. Most of my life I was a merchant in a
small town. I came to Kansas City in '82.' "
At various times during the year 1905 the Smithville
Star, published at Smithville, Mo., publishd illustrated articles
and extracts from my autobiography under the title "The
Smiths of Smithville." These articles were widely read and
copied in full in many of the leading papers of the country.
The interest taken in the narration of many exciting inci
dents of the history of our county and the calls for the facts
as seen by an eye-witness led me to have them published in
full.

89
CHAPTER XXXI.
A Romance of a Love Wedding in 1818.
The writer was a witness of these facts. In Howard
County, Mo., in 1818, my father lived on the big road leading
from Franklin to now Columbia, thence to St. Charles, on
the north side of the Missouri River. One day in July there
came along a party of five or six men, each leading a horse
with a pack saddle on, containing camp equipage and cloth
ing, on top of these were a number of children. There were
five or six women walking behind, some of them barefooted.
The company stopped at our house for a drink from the
springs. After refreshing themselves they laid on the grass
for a rest, it being the heat of the day. We found out their
destination was about fifteen miles further on to the mouth
of the Chariton River.
One of the ladies in the party was sick and my mother
agreed she could remain at our house for a rest, so she went
to one of the saddles and pulled out her clothing.
She told my mother her name was Patsey Millsap, and
that she was not related to any of the party, but had joined
them in Tennessee. She was about twenty-two.
Next day she was better and asked mother for work and
to remain at our house.
Mother said we were only new-comers and that we only
had one room for the five or six children and father and
mother. A few days after this Mrs. Groom, a neighbor,
called to take tea with mother and asked if she knew of any
one that wanted work. She said her daughter had just been
married and they were opening a large farm.
Mother at once introduced her to Patsey Millsap. She
was asked if she would take the position and she said "Yes."
Then the question of wages came up. Mrs. Groome said

go
she could pay 25 cents per week, and, although this was
very cheap, Patsey agreed to take it, as she had no home.
The two then started off for the Groome farm.
The first day's work was washing. As the wash was be
hind three weeks it took a week to catch up. The Groome
family was a large one.
Patsey worked for a month or more, when a young man
of 24 came along the big road. He was from Kentucky. His
name was Richard Chaney. He stopped at the spring for a
drink, and, looking up, saw many tall straight white oak
trees, and, as they struck his fancy, he made up his mind to
camp at this place, which was called Smith's White Oak
Ridge. He went to a mill, got some meal, wet it up in some
hickory leaves, opened embers and burning coals, covered
a lump with green hickory leaves and in an hour or two his
"pone" was done. (This we called "ash pone.")
After his simple meal he went to work with his ax, cut
down a four foot white oak. Then with his ax and wedge he
made four-foot clap boards, which he carried to the big road,
where all immigrants passed.
He found plenty of customers for his boards, there
being no trouble to get logs for a cabin, but planks and shin
gles were scarce. Dick soon filled his pockets with silver
and thought he would get some meat, getting tired of
"pone;" so he went to old Daddie Groome's place for same
bacon. He saw Patsey on his first visit and it was a case
of love at first sight. A few days later a match was made,
and Patsey told Mother Groome she was going to marry
Dick, and that party at once told Daddie Groome. Daddie

called Patsey to one side and said: "I understand you and
Dick are going to get married."
Patsey said: "We so contemplate to do."
"Well," said Daddie Groome, "Dick is no account and
you will starve."
"We can live on love," said Patsey.
"Well, go ahead," said Daddie Groome.
They were married and moved into a vacant school
house near by. They bored a hole in one of the logs, had
one leg of the bed in the middle of the room, laid boards on
the rails and covered them with leaves. This, with a quilt
given by Mrs. Groome, made their bed. This was surely
love in a cottage.
Mrs. Groome also gave them a skillet to make pone in
and fry meat. A few weeks later Patsey went to Groome's
house to buy some bacon. Daddie Groome said: "Patsey, I
thought you told me you could live on love." "So I did,"
said Patsey, "but a little bacon will help out so very much."
Mr. Groome laughed and gave her a huge side of bacon,
and when she offered to pay for it told her it would be a
wedding present. Patsey wrapped her apron around the
middle of the bacon, propped it on her head and started for
home. Six years later we lived at Smith's Mills, now Smith
ville, 140 miles west of where the above happened. I was
sent to school 13 miles away. My brother George, who
was older than I, went with me.
The first night, when I went to my boarding house be
hold our landlord and landlady were Richard Chaney and
wife. Mrs. Patsey M. Chaney was the mother of three chil
dren. They owned a double log house and had 19 acres un
der cultivation.

92
A year or two later a man came along and saw Chaney's
farm, and as Dick had not entered the land it was declared
vacant, and belonged to the Government, subject to private
entry. The man entered the land, about 30 acres, at $1.25
an acre. The man then said he did not want Dick to have all his
labor for nothing, so he paid him $ico if he would leave
at once. Dick gratefully accepted this and went to Lexington,
Mo., 60 miles away, and entered 80 acres, double in value
to that which he had lost. The last I heard of them there
were eight or ten children and all were happy and prosper
ous. This is the end of my love-story.

93
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Family of Bill TillEry.
In 1823, when I was ten years of age I went to school
about thirteen miles from home. There were about forty
scholars in all, most of them larger than I was. There was
one boy near my own age whose name was William Tillery.
He was further advanced than I, having reached the higher
class when I was still studying my A B Cs. "Bill," we will
call him for shortness, for it was by that name he was known
until he was eighty years of age. The Tillery family was a
large one, many of his uncles being influential members of
society. Bill grew up to manhood and when he was twenty-one
years of age he married a Miss Poe, who came of a nice re
spectable family of boys and girls. Bill had a small farm of
about thirty acres, four miles west of Liberty, Clay County,
Mo. He was a Baptist and a very pious man. If he went
to town on business, as soon as he got through he went
home, in most cases getting there in time for dinner.
Bill and his wife lived happily for a number of years and
had eight children born to them. Then Mrs. Tillery died.
There was at this time one of his deceased wife's sisters liv
ing with him. About a year later Bill married his sister-in-
law. They lived happily together until she died. She was
the mother of eight children, making sixteen in all, at the
time of the breaking out of the Civil War.
About this time a well-to-do family who lived in Saline
County, sent their daughter to Camden Point to a female
academy kept by H. B. Todd. This gentleman was a first
cousin to President Lincoln, the Todd family being a noted
one in Kentucky.
As this young lady student passed through Smithville

94
frequently on her way to college she would stop at our
house for refreshments and rest. I had an adopted daugh
ter attending the same college.
The young lady graduated and then married a gentle
man and moved to a town near Cameron, Breckenridge. The
new couple were extremely "secesh" in politics. When the
war broke out they had four children, but the husband took
up arms and volunteered in a company formed at Brecken
ridge. The Union troops at St. Joseph, Mo., were sent to
disperse them. A fight took place and this husband was
killed. His house was burned down and all his goods and
chattels were destroyed.
The young widow with four children was left destitute,
but the Union captain took her to Liberty, Mo., and got a
dilapidated house for her and her children. He ordered the
Union Quartermaster to issue the widow rations.
In the meantime John Gragg, a good Union man, wished
to employ a schoolma'am to teach a common district school.
The position was offered to the widow and she was ready to
take it, but as President Lincoln and Governor Gamble had
issued a proclamation which prevented any rebels from re
ceiving public money, she was told she would have to take
an oath of loyalty to the United States. This stunned her,
but as bread and butter were a necessity for her children she
took the oath of loyalty (in her heart she asked God to for
give her for the false oath) and then took the school.
She taught school until the war was over, and William
Tillery came into view and in a short time they were mar
ried. They now had 20 children to begin with, quite a start.
Bill was somewhat financially embarrassed, so he sold his
old home, and moved to Gower, Clinton County.
Ten years later the writer called on his old friends and

95
schoolmate, and by that time four more children had been
born, making Bill's family twenty-four.
The next morning Mrs. Tillery told me of her experience
when she took the oath. She said she had asked God to
forgive her for that oath, as her children were crying for
bread. In the meantime I had asked Bill about his views on
the war and he told me he had been "Southern" in view.
As I was going to Plattsburg, Bill recommended me to
a married daughter living there. I stopped at that house,
but found that both her and her husband were Southern,
too, so I left, and have never been back since. A short time
after that Bill Tillery died.

96
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Ben Franklin's Letter.
I have in my possession a copy of a letter sent by Ben
jamin Franklin to his mother, in which he spoke of selling
his slaves. If Benjamin Franklin, one of the apostles of
freedom, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Con
stitution of the United States of America, living under the
Stars and Stripes, of the spangled banner of freedom pro
posed TO SELL HIS SLAVES what think you?
I set my ten negro slaves free who were worth $10,000.
CALVIN SMITH.

97
CHAPTER XXXIV.
FINALE.
This year I will be ninety-two years old, and I wish
to say right now and here that in all my life my business
transactions have been honorable with all men and women. _
I will be willing to meet them and square them all up and for
the last farthing due, if any balance is found against me.
Of course, I am not so blind to truth as to say I have not sin
ned; the Book says otherwise. I always considered I had no
need to lie cheat or steal to make a living, as I claimed, and
believed I was smart, wise and brilliant enough to make an
honest living without these sinful practices, besides well,
sound, and able to work and willing such villainous thoughts
I cast from me. Rather than do wrong I would suffer
wrong. So I have contented myself for being in good company,
even when alone, so I often commune with myself, not fear
ing the officer or detective. My conscience was my guide
and lookout. Fearing no evil, following truth.
I have no regret for the acts of Providence. My asso
ciates in younger days and manhood and in business are all
dead, or nearly all. So it is, Amen.
Nothing can you do for me; I am too old now. I have
enough to supply my simple wants, which are but few. But
I will tell you a secret: I am not poor, though I am not rich.
What others may think does not trouble me. In one sense I
am a rich old miser. It is true I have but little gold or silver;
but I have two large safes — in one of them I keep the good
deeds I have done, and in the other the happy hours and days
I have known. I have not lived as I might have done, but
old and feeble as I am I shall add the good now and then.
The safes are not full yet, but I hope to fill out the measure-

ment. On rainy days, at quiet times, and nights when the
wind howls and no one is looking in, I will get them out and
count them over — my gleeful treasures. I try to live in such
a way that when the time comes I shall be ready to depart.
The poet says:
"He who builds beneath the skies, builds too low.
Faith builds a bridge from this world to the next."
I shall soon go to bed. Wish me a pleasant night's rest;
I surely wish you all a pleasant afternoon. CALVIN SMITH.

99
The Counties of the State of Hissouri
and for Whom Named.

ADAIR, called after General John Adair, of Mercer County,
Kentucky, who was elected Governor of that State in
1820, and died May 19, 1840.
ANDREW, called for Andrew Jackson Davis, a prominent
citizen of St. Louis and Savannah, Mo.
ATCHISON, in honor of David R. Atchison.
AUDRAIN, called for James M. Audrain, a citizen of St.
Charles, Mo.
BARRY, in honor of William T. Barry, one of Jackson's
Cabinet officers.
BARTON, called for David Barton, a prominent politician
in the State of Missouri.
BATES, called for Frederick Bates, second Governor of
the State.
BENTON, in honor of U. S. Senator Thomas H. Benton.
BALLINGER, in honor of Major Geo. H. Ballinger.
BOONE, named for old Daniel Boone.
BUCHANAN, named for President James Buchanan.
BUTLER, called for Benjamin F. Butler, Attorney General
during Jackson's term.
CALDWELL, named for Captain Mathew Caldwell, an In
dian scout and hunter of Kentucky.
CALLAWAY, named for Captain James Callaway, killed by
the Indians on the Lutre.
CAMDEN, in honor of Charles Pratt Camden.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, named for Ensign Steve Girardeau,
a Frenchman and Indian trader.
CARROLL, for Charls Carroll, one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence.

CARTER, called for Zimri Carter, a pioneer citizen.
CASS, in honor of Lewis Cass, U. S. Senator.
CEDAR, after the principal stream in the county.
CHARITON, called for John Chariton, a French fur trader.
CHRISTIAN, named for Col. William Christian, of Ken
tucky.
CLARK, named for William Clark, first Governor of Ken
tucky-Missouri.
CLAY, called for Henry Clay, of Kentucky.
CLINTON, called for G. De Witt Clinton, of New York.
COLE, for Captain Steven Cole, who built Cole's Fort, at
Boonville, Mo.
COOPER, called for Sarshel Cooper, one of the first set
tlers of Howard County. He was killed by an Indian in
the fort while sitting in his cabin in the year 1814.
CRAWFORD, called for William H. Crawford, a Demo
cratic statesman of Georgia.
DADE, called for Major Dade, of the Seminole War, who
was killed in Florida with one hundred men.
DALLAS, in honor of George M. Dallas, Vice President
with James K Polk.
DAVIESS, named for Col. Joseph Hamilton Daviess, of
Kentucky, killed in the battle of Tippecanoe.
DE KALB, called for Baron John De Kalb, a Frenchman of
Revolutionary fame.
DENT, called for Lewis Dent, an early settler.
DOUGLAS, called for Stephen A. Douglas.
DUNKLIN, called for Daniel Dunklin, Governor of Mis
souri.
FRANKLIN, named for Benjamin Franklin, printer and
philosopher.
GASCONADE, named for the principal river.

101
GENTRY, in honor of Col. Richard Gentry, killed at the
battle of Qcheecobee, Florida.
GREENE, called for General Nathaniel Greene, of the Rev
olution.
GRUNDY, called for Felix Grundy, U. S. Senator of Ten
nessee.
HARRISON, called for Albert G. Harrison, member of
Congress.
HICKORY, in honor of General Jackson, who was nick
named "Old Hickory." His residence, called "Hermit
age," is the county seat.
HOLT, named for Dr. David Rice Holt, of Platte, who was
a Representative.
HOWARD, named for General and Governor Howard, of
Kentucky.
HOWELL received its name from Howell Valley, in which
the first settlement was made.
IRON, named for its great iron mines.
JACKSON, in honor of Andrew Jackson.
JASPER, in honor of Sergeant Jasper, of the Revolution.
JEFFERSON, called for Thomas Jefferson.
JOHNSON, called for Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky.
KNOX, called for Gen. Henry Knox, of the Revolution.
LACLEDE, called for Perry Linquest Laclede, founder of
St. Louis.
LAFAYETTE, named in 1825.
LAWRENCE, named for Captain James Lawrence, of the
war of 1812.
LEWIS, called for Merriwether. Lewis, of Lewis and Clark's
expedition.
LINCOLN, named for General Benjamin' Lincoln, a distin-

102
guished officer and especial friend of George Washington.
LINN, called for Lewis E. Linn, U. S. Senator.
LIVINGSTON, called for Edward Livingston, Secretary of
State under President Jackson.
McDONALD, named in honor of Sergeant McDonald, one
of "Marion's Men," in the Revolutionary War.
MACON, named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, United
States Senator.
MADISON, named for James Madison, President of the
United States.
MARIES, called after two of the principal streams of this
county.
MARION, called after Francis Marion, of the Revolution
ary War.
MERCER, called for John F. Mercer, of Revolutionary fame.
MILLER, called for Governor John F. Miller.
MISSISSIPPI, called for the river.
MONITEAU, an Indian name for the Deity.
MONROE, named for James Monroe, President.
MONTGOMERY, named for Gen. Richard Montgomery,
of the Revolution.
MORGAN, called for Gen. Daniel Morgan, of the Revolu
tion.
NEW MADRID, called so in contrast to Old Madrid, of
Spain.
NEWTON, named for Sergeant Newton, of the Revolution.
NODAWAY, called for the river; an Indian name meaning
"placid river."
OREGON, called after the State.
OSAGE, called for the river; an Indian name.
OZARK, called for the mountains.
PEMNISCOT, named for its principal bayou; an Indian
name meaning liquid mud.

103
PERRY, called after Commodore Perry.
PETTIS, called for Spencer Pettis, Member of Congress
from St. Louis; killed in a duel when he was 29 years old.
PHELPS, named for John S. Phelps, Member of Congress
and Governor.
POLK, called for James K. Polk.
PULASKI, named for a Polish Count, who was General
PIKE, named for Montgomery Pike, who commanded expe
dition up Mississippi River in 1806.
PLATTE, named after its principal stream.
in the Revolutionary War.
PUTNAM, named for Gen. Putnam, of Bunker Hill fame.
RALLS, called for Daniel Ralls, member of Missouri Legis
lature.
RANDOLPH, named for John Randolph.
RAY, named for John Ray, of the Constitutional Convention.
REYNOLDS, for Thomas Reynolds, Governor.
RIPLEY, called for General Eleazer W. Ripley, of War of
1812, and Member of Congress.
ST. CHARLES, named in honor of Charles V.
ST. CLAIR, called for Gen. Arthur St. Clair, of the Rev
olution.
ST. FRANCOIS, called for its principal stream.
ST. GENEVIEVE, named after a female saint of France.
ST. LOUIS, after Louis XIV, of France.
SALINE, named for its salt springs.
SCHUYLER, named for General Philip Schuyler, of the
Revolution.
SCOTLAND, named after old Scotland.
SCOTT, after John Scott, first Member of Congress from
Missouri.

104
SHANNON, called after Judge George W. Shannon, who
was called "Peg-legged Shannon."
SHELBY, called for Governor Isaac Shelby.
STODDARD, called for Major Amos Stoddard, U. S. A.
STONE, named after early settlers.
SULLIVAN, called after James Sullivan, of the Revolution.
TANEY, called after Chief Justice Roger P. Taney.
TEXAS, named after the State of Texas.
VERNON, named after Miles Vernon, a State Senator.
WARREN, called after Joseph Warren, of Bunker Hill.
WASHINGTON, called after George Washington.
WAYNE, called after Anthony Wayne, of the Revolution
ary War.
WEBSTER, named for Daniel Webster.
WORTH, called for Gen. William J. Worth, of Florida and
Mexican wars.
WRIGHT, called for Silas Wright, Senator.

105

The Record of fly Wife's (Agnes Jordan) Family.

JOHN JORDAN, SR., was born in the year of our Lord,
1775, January 14.
AGNES JORDAN, SR., was born December 9, 1778.
MARY JORDAN was born February 27, 1797.
SUSAN JORDAN was born July 12, 1799.
ELIZABETH JORDAN was born September 2, 1802.
ANNA JORDAN was born February 2, 1804.
GEORGE W JORDAN was born February 26, 1806.
PHOEBE JORDAN was born April, 1818.
CYNTHIA JORDAN was born in the year 1810.
JAMES C. JORDAN was born March 4, 1813.
MARGARET JORDAN was born August, 1815.
JOHN S. JORDAN was born March 1, 1818.
AGNES JORDAN was born August 2, 1821. Married to
Calvin Smith, March 12, 1840. West Virginia gave her
life, State of Missouri a husband and nine children, Val
ley Falls, Kansas, a grave, January 5, 1884.

INDEX.

Chapter I — My Ancestors.
Chapter 2 — An Autobiographical Sketch.
Chapter 3 — My Father and Mother.
Chapter 4 — Childhood Recollections of 1817.
Chapter 5 — A Night Attack.
Chapter 6 — Insured to Live a Century.
Chapter 7— The Border Ruffian War.
Chapter 8— Noted Men I Met up to Time of the Civil War.
Chapter 9 — The Opening of the Civil War.
Chapter 10 — Pete Lizar's Sister-in-Law's Pension.
Chapter 11 — Lincoln's Proclamation for a Day of Prayer.
Chapter 12 — My Letter to General Prentiss.
Chapter 13 — The Prentiss Raid.
Chapter 14 — How I Left Smithville.
Chapter 15 — Joining the Union League.
Chapter 16 — The Escape of Tinsley.
Chapter 17 — Charges Made Against Me.
Chapter 18 — Views of the Rebellion.
Chapter 19 — The Story of Sebree Smith.
Chapter 20 — My Political Sentiments.
Chapter 21 — As a Mason and Know-Nothing.
Chapter 22 — Sporting Experiences.
Chapter 23 — Business Experiences.
Chapter 24 — Clay County First Settlers' Convention.
Chapter 25 — River Stories.
Chapter 26 — A Country Dance.
Chapter 27 — Experiences in Des Moines, Iowa.
Chapter 28 — Interview With Vice President Fairbanks.
Chapter 29 — How Elliot Was Converted.
Clrepter 30 — Extracts from Newspapers.
Chapter 31 — A Romance of a Love Wedding in 1818
Chapter 32— The Family of Bill Tillery.
Chapter 33— Ben Franklin's Letter.
Chapter 34— Finale.

DEAR WIFE, I COME.
CAtV¥IN SMIttH
BORN DECEMBER 23, 1813,
IN ERIE COUNTY, N. Y.
WHERE I FIRST DREW BREATH
MISSOURI GAVE ME HOME,
KANSAS A GRAVE ;
I KNOW JESUS IS THE CHRIST.
DIED 
CHRISTIAN FAITH BEHOLDS A HOME ON HIGH
CHRISTIAN HOPE GROWS BRIGHT AS YEARS GO BY,
CHRISTIAN LOVE BREATHES TRUSTING PRAYER,
GOING HOME AND CHRIST TELLS WHERE.

The above inscription is to be placed on my tombstone
— Calvin Smith

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