History of Missouri United States of America

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MISSOURI, one of the largest of the United States, and the first formed wholly W. of the Mississippi river, is bounded on the N. by Iowa, (from which it is separated for about 30 miles on the N. E. by the Des Moines river,) on the E. by the Mississippi river, which divides it from Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee; on the S. by the Arkansas, and on the W. by Indian Territory, from which it is partly separated by the Missouri river. This state lies (with the exception of a small projection between the St. Francis and the Mississippi river, which extends to 36°) between 36° 30', and 40° 36' N. lat., and 89° 10' and 96° W. lon., being about 285 miles in its greatest length from E. to W., and 280 in width from N. to S., including an area of 67,380 square miles, or 43,123,200 acres, only 2,938,425 acres of which were improved in 1850.

Population: Though originally settled by the French, less than one-third of one per cent. of the present inhabitants of Missouri are of that extraction. The population amounted to 66,586 in 1820; 140,145 in 1830; 383,702 in 1840, and 682,244 in 1850; of whom 312,987 were white males, and 279,017 females; 1361 free colored males, and 1257 females; 43,484 male slaves, and 43,938 female. There were in 1850, 100,890 families, occupying 96,849 dwellings. In the year ending June, 1850, 12,211 deaths occurred, or nearly 19 in every one thousand persons; in the same period 2977 paupers received aid, of whom 1729 were foreigners, at an expense of about $18 to each pauper. Of the free population, 277,604 were born in the state; 244,222 in other states; 5379 in England; 14,734 in Ireland; 2225 in Wales and Scotland; 1053 in British America; 44,352 in Germany; 2138 in France; 3593 in other countries, and 1322 whose places of birth were unknown; making more than one-eighth of the population of foreign birth. There were in the state, according to the census, 259 deaf and dumb, of whom 15 were slaves; 211 blind, of whom 3 were free colored, and 28 slaves; 282 insane, of whom 2 were free colored, and 9 slaves; and 333 idiots, of whom 29 were slaves.

Counties: There are in Missouri 101 counties, viz. Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Andrain, Barry, Bates, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Case, Cedar, Chariton, Clarke, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, De Kalb, Dodge, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Monroe, Morgan, Montgomery, New Madrid, Newton, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, Ripley, Scotland, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francis, St. Genevieve, St. Louis, Salina, Schuyler, Scott, Seneca, Shannon, Shelby, Stoddard, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Wright. Capital, Jefferson City.

Cities and Towns: St. Louis is the largest city in Missouri, population, 77,860, (by a local census in 1853, 88,000;) the other principal towns are Hannibal, population in 1850, 2557; Lexington, 2459; Castor, 2084; Weston, 1915; Palmyra, 1284; and St. Genevieve, 958.

Face of the Country: This great state is mostly level or undulating N. of the Missouri river, while S. of this river (much the larger portion of the state) exhibits a much greater variety. In the S. E. part, near the Mississippi river, and S. of Cape Girardeau, is an extensive marsh, reaching beyond the state into Arkansas, and occupying an area of about 3000 square miles. The remainder of this portion, between the Mississippi and the Osage rivers, is rolling, gradually rising into a hilly and mountainous district, forming the outskirts of the Ozark mountains. Beyond the Osage river, at some distance, commences a vast expanse of prairie land, which stretches away to the Rocky mountains. The ridges forming the Ozark chain, which probably in no place reach an elevation of 2000 feet, extends in a N. E. and S. W. direction, separating the waters that flow N. E. into the Missouri river from those that flow S. E. into the Mississippi river. The geological features of this state are very interesting. One of the richest coalfields perhaps in the world occupies the greater part of Missouri N. of the Osage river, and extends nearly to the N. boundary of Iowa. A carboniferous limestone, which comes to the surface on the E. and W. borders of the state, forms a rim from 5 to 40 miles in breadth. The lower magnesian limestone crops out on the Missouri river, from 25 miles above Jefferson City to within 35 miles of its mouth, with occasional obtrusions of sandstone. School-craft thus speaks of the Ozark mountains: "The Ozark is a term applied to a broad, elevated district of highlands, running from N. to S. centrally through the states of Missouri and Arkansas. It has on the E. the striking and deep alluvial tract of the Mississippi river, and on its W. the woodless plains or deserts which stretch below the Rocky mountains."

Minerals: Missouri is particularly rich in minerals, and a vast region in the neighborhood of Iron mountain is, perhaps, unsurpassed in the globe for productiveness in iron of the best quality. Though existing in the greatest abundance and purity in this locality, this mineral is found scattered throughout the state. In the eastern counties S. of the Missouri river, large quantities of lead, sometimes mixed with zinc, are found. Copper exists throughout the mineral region, (a tract of 17,000,000 or 18,000,000 acres,) but is most abundant near the La Motte mines. It is found combined with nickel, manganese, iron, cobalt, and lead, and these often yield 34 per cent. of the pure metal. Of the other metals named, all except nickel are found in considerable quantities. Silver exists in the lead ore, 350 pounds of pure silver having been obtained from 1,000,000 pounds of lead. Tin has been found in small quantities. Of the non-metallic minerals, limestone abounds N. of the Missouri river, and forms a good building stone. Marbles beautifully veined and crystalline are found in parts of the state; also gypsum, sandstones, red and white, porphyries, sienite, saltpetre, sulphate of baryta, kaolin, and inferior clays. The red sandstone is of too coarse and loose a texture for architectural purposes, but the white, found near St. Genevieve, makes superior glass. Porphyries of a red ground interspersed with crystals, admitting of a high polish, are found S. of the Missouri river.

Coal: Bituminous coal, much of it cannel coal, exists in vast beds in the N. of the state, and has also been found 40 miles up the Osage river. The great cannel coal bed in Callaway county consists, in one place, of a solid stratum 24 feet, and in another 75 feet in thickness, and is believed to be the largest body of cannel coal known.

Rivers: Missouri enjoys the navigation of the two greatest rivers in the United States, if not in the world. By means of the Mississippi river, which coasts her entire eastern boundary, she can hold commercial intercourse with the most northern territory of the Union, with the Whole of the valley of the Ohio, with some of the Atlantic States, and with the Gulf of Mexico. By means of the Missouri, her other great river, she may extend her internal commerce to the Rocky mountains, besides receiving the products that may be furnished in future times by its multitude of tributaries. The Missouri river coasts the N.W. of the state for about 200 miles, (following its windings,) and then darts across the state in a direction a little S. of E., dividing it into two portions, of which about a third is N., and the remainder S. of that river. The S. shore is bounded in many places by bluffs of from 100 to 300 feet in height, while the N. is often bottom lands not generally liable to inundation. Both the Mississippi and Missouri rivers are navigable for large steamers far beyond the limits of the state, though the navigation of the latter is impeded by the swiftness of its current (twice that of the Mississippi) and by the shifting sands. The Missouri river receives a number of tributaries within the limits of the state, the principal of which are the Chariton and Grand rivers from the N., and the Osage and Gasconade from the S. The principal tributaries of the Mississippi river within the state are the Salt river, N., and the Maramec river, S. of the Missouri river. The St. Francis and White rivers, with their branches, drain the S. E. part of the state, and pass into Arkansas. The Osage is navigable for boats of light draught 200 miles, and it is proposed to improve its navigation, as well as that of the Grand, Salt, and Maramec rivers. Fine plank and timber are floated down the Gasconade river.

Objects of Interest to Tourists: We shall hardly be able to do justice to Missouri in this respect, in the present state of our knowledge of the interior, as there are doubtless, in her mountain recesses, gorges, waterfalls, and caves whose time has not yet reached us. To the geologist the state already possesses ample inducements for a visit; while the lover of fine scenery will find much to interest him in the wild bluffs both of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which rise to an elevation varying from 50 to 300 feet. In the S. E. part of the state, the scene of the earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, may be viewed many traces of that startling event: among others are to be seen, at the bottoms of lakes, submerged forests and canebrakes. Pilot Knob, 444 feet high, and Iron mountain, 1500 feet high, the former of steel, as it is said, and the latter of nearly pure iron, are well worth a visit from the curious and scientific tourist. Big Spring, at the head of the Maramec river, rising in a very deep basin 100 feet across, and surrounded by banks as many feet in perpendicular height, gives rise to a stream 60 feet wide and 3 feet deep, and with sufficient force to turn two mills at its source. The water is extremely cold. Schoolcraft describes a cave near some of the head waters of the White river thus: "The opening appeared to be 80 or 90 feet wide and 30 high. A vast gloomy rotunda opened before us, which very soon after entry increased to a height of 60 or 70 feet, and in width to 150 or 200 feet. This hall extended into the rock southerly, branching off into lateral avenues. We explored the main gallery for 500 or 600 yards, when we met with obstructions."

Climate: The climate of Missouri is very variable: in the winter the thermometer sinks below zero, and the rivers are frozen so as to admit the passage of heavily laden vehicles. The summers are excessively hot, but the air dry and pure. In the autumns, bilious and remittent fevers are common on the river bottoms. Pulmonary complaints, however, to such a degree as to terminate in consumption, are infrequent.

Soil and Productions: The soil of Missouri, speaking generally, is good, and of great agricultural capabilities; but the most fertile portions are in the river bottoms, which are a rich alluvion, (in some cases, however, mixed with sand,) and in that portion N. of the Missouri river, except in the E., where a sandy soil prevails. South of the Missouri there is a greater variety in the soil, but much of it is fertile, and even in the mountains and mineral districts there are rich valleys, and about the sources of the White, Eleven Points, Current, and Big Black rivers, the soil, though unproductive, furnishes a valuable growth of yellow pine. The marshy district of the S. E. part will, when the population shall have become sufficiently dense to justify the expense of drainage, be probably one of the most fertile portions of the state. The great staple of Missouri is Indian corn, and more hemp is produced than in any state except Kentucky: the other great products are wheat, oats, tobacco, wool, peas, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, fruits, butter, cheese, pork, hay, flax, honey and beeswax; considerable rye, buckwheat, market products, grass-seeds, maple sugar; and some rice, barley, wine, hops, silk, and molasses. In 1850 there were in the state 54,458 farms, occupying 2,924,991 acres of improved land, (less than 60 acres to each farm,) and producing 2,966,928 bushels of wheat; 44,112 of rye; 36,069,543 of Indian corn; 5,243,476 of oats; 45,974 of peas and beans; 934,627 of Irish potatoes; 332,120 of sweet potatoes; 23,590 of buckwheat; 13,641 of flaxseed; 17,100,884 pounds of tobacco; 1,615,860 of wool; 7,792,499 of butter; 202,122 of cheese; 116,743 tons of hay; 22,558 of hemp; 520,008 pounds of flax; 178,750 of maple sugar; 1,357,822 of beeswax and honey; orchard products valued at $512,527; market products, $99,454; live stock, $19,766,851; and slaughtered animals, $3,349,517.

Forest and Fruit Trees: "The river bottoms are covered with a luxuriant growth of oak, elm, ash, hickory, cottonwood, linn, and white and black walnut. In the more barren districts are found white and pin oak, and sometimes forests of yellow pine. The crab-apple, papaw, and persimmon are abundant; as also the hazel and pecan." There are three species of wild grape; and apples, pears, peaches, apricots, and nectarines yield well.

Manufactures: Missouri has not as yet largely engaged in this branch of industrial employments; though in 1850 there were 3030 establishments each producing $500 and upwards annually; 2 of these were cotton factories, employing $102,000 capital, 75 male and 80 female hands, consuming raw material worth $86,446, and producing 13,260 bales of batting, valued at $142,000; 1 woollen factory, employing $20,000 capital, 15 male and 10 female hands, consuming raw material worth $16,000, and producing 12,000 yards of cloth, and 6000 pairs of blankets, worth a total value of $56,000; 13 iron forges, foundries, &c., employing $848,100 capital, and 722 male hands, consuming raw material worth $254,996, and producing 25,413 tons of pig, cast, and wrought iron, valued at $719,795; capital invested in the manufacture of malt and spirituous liquors, $298,900, consuming 124,400 bushels of barley; 309,200 of Indian corn; 24,900 of rye, and 31 tons of hops, producing 44,850 barrels of ale, &c., and 939,400 gallons of wine, whiskey, &c.; and 148 tanneries, employing $228,095 capital, consuming raw material worth $247,956, and producing leather valued at $866,241. Homemade manufactures were produced to the value of $1,674,705.

Internal Improvements: On the 1st of January, 1853, Missouri had not a mile of completed railroad; but according to Mr. Kennedy's Census Abstract, she had 515, or according to Hunt's Magazine, 249 miles in course of construction, intended to connect Hannibal with St. Joseph's, and St. Louis with Independence. According to more recent newspaper intelligence, 50 miles of the latter are already in operation. Plank-roads are coming much into vogue in this state as well as elsewhere. Three per cent. on the sale of public lands in this state is devoted to internal improvements. The state loans $4,000,000, and gives 1,250,000 acres of land towards the Pacific railroad, i.e. that portion of it between St. Louis and Independence.

Commerce: St. Louis is the great centre of internal commerce of the Mississippi and its tributaries, which must greatly increase as the settlements on those great rivers extend themselves. The foreign imports of Missouri (a very small part of its trade) amounted in 1851-52 to $914,826; tonnage of the state, 37,861 8/9 7/5.; number of vessels built, 11, of which 6 were steamers; tonnage, 2133 1/9 3/5. Of 1195 steamers owned in the United States in 1853, 126 belonged to St. Louis. The exports of this state consist mainly of lead, pork, flour, wheat, tobacco, and live stock. Missouri has long been the principal seat of an active caravan trade with Santa Fé: whether the new state of things on the Pacific coast will interfere with this trade, remains to be seen. For further particulars, see ST. LOUIS.

Education: Missouri has a school fund (in 1852) of $575,668, and another fund of $100,000, called the seminary fund. The interest of the former is distributed among the counties in proportion to the number of scholars in each. In 1850 there were 59,927 children in the state, of whom 39,983 were in the schools. Annual expenditure for school purposes, $88,124: number of volumes in school libraries, 6200. Every sixteenth section of public lands is devoted to common schools. There are (1853) 6 colleges in the state, with an aggregate of 378 students, and 18,400 volumes in their libraries; and 2 medical schools, with 164 students. The state university, located at Columbia, in Boone county, is endowed with six townships of land by the general government. Four counties contended for the honor of having it located within their limits, and it was accorded to Boone because its citizens subscribed most liberally to its funds. Howard High School, at Fayette, in Howard county, is a flourishing and successful school. St. Charles College, at the town of St. Charles, was established by Mr. Collier, who bequeathed the institution $10,000: See Table of Colleges, APPENDIX.

Religious Denominations: Of 773 churches in Missouri in 1850, the different sects of Baptists owned 283; the Christian Church, 51; the Episcopalians, 10; the Free Church, 13; the Lutherans, 21; the Methodists, 200; the Presbyterians, 108; the Roman Catholics, 64, and the Union Church, 11. The rest belonged to the Boatmen's Church, the Church of Christ, the Evangelists, the German Protestants, the German Evangelical Church, the Independents, the Jews, the Mennonites, the Mormons, the Republicans, the Rationalists, the Unitarians, and the Universalists-giving one church to every 882 inhabitants. Value of church property, $1,558,590.

Public Institutions: The state penitentiary at Jefferson City had in December, 1852, 232 convicts confined within its walls, of whom 145 were from the county of St. Louis. This institution is conducted by lessees, who pay an annual rent of $5000 to the state. The legislature, in 1853, made the following appropriations: $57,000 for the lunatic asylum at Fulton, $37,000 for the deaf and dumb asylum at the same place, and $20,000 for a blind asylum. In 1850 there were 19 public libraries in the state, with an aggregate of 37,506 volumes.

Government, Finances, &c: The governor and lieutenant-governor are elected by popular vote for four years, the former receiving $2000 per annum, and the use of a furnished house, and the latter $4.50 per diem during the session of the senate, of which he is ex officio. The senate consists of 18, and the house of representatives of 49 members, the former elected for 4 and the latter for 2 years, by the people. The sessions of the legislature are biennial. Twelve months' residence in the state is necessary before exercising the right of suffrage. Missouri is entitled to seven members in the national house of representatives, and to 9 electoral votes for president. The judiciary consists: 1. Of a supreme court, composed of three judges; 2. Of 14 circuit courts, and the courts of St. Louis, (viz. common pleas, criminal, and probate courts,) and the common pleas courts of Hannibal City; and 3. Of county courts. The judges of the supreme and circuit courts are elected for 6 years, by popular vote, and the county judges for 4 years, in the same manner. The supreme court holds two sessions annually, one at St. Louis and one at Jefferson City. A circuit court is held twice a year in each county, and has exclusive jurisdiction in criminal matters., and in all contracts and matters of tort over $90. The county courts are limited to matters of probate and local county affairs. The judges of the supreme court receive $1500 salary each; the circuit judges $1000 each, and the judges of the St. Louis courts $3000. There is a recorder's court at St. Louis, confined to small offences. The assessed value of property in the state in 1850 was $98,595,463; public debt, (in 1852,) $922,261; school fund, $575,668; ether productive property, $382,034, and ordinary expenses, exclusive of debts and schools, $110,000 per annum. Missouri had in January, 1853, one bank with five branches, with $1,210,622.69 capital, $1,253,311.96 in coin, and $2,427,720 circulation.

History: Though the French were the first settlers, and for a long time the principal inhabitants of Missouri, yet a very small portion of her present population is of that descent. A fort was built by that people as early as 1719, near the site of the present capital, called Fort Orleans, and its lead mines worked to some extent the next year. St. Genevieve, the oldest town in the state, was settled in 1755, and St. Louis in 1764. At the treaty of 1763, it was assigned, with all the territory west of the Mississippi, to Spain. "In 1780, St. Louis was besieged and attacked by a body of British troops and Indians, 1540 strong." During the siege, 60 of the French were killed. The siege was raised by Colonel Clark, an American, who came with 500 men to the relief of the place. At the close of the American Revolution, the territory west of the Mississippi remained with Spain till it Was ceded to France in 1801. In 1803, at the purchase of Louisiana, it came into the possession of the United States, and formed part of the territory of Louisiana till the formation of the state of that name in 1812, when the remainder of the territory was named Missouri, from which (after a stormy debate in Congress as to the admission of slavery) was separated the present state of Missouri in 1821. In 1811 and 1812 occurred a series of earthquakes which, in the neighborhood of New Madrid in this state, caused the earth to open, and entirely changed the face of the country, swallowing up hills and forming new lakes, while others at the same time were drained of their water. The current of the Mississippi was turned back till the accumulating waters gained sufficient force to break through the newly raised barrier. All this region is now a widely extended marsh.

Biographies:

Hamilton Rowan Gamble, governor of Missouri, was born in Winchester, Va., Nov. 29, 1798; son of Joseph and Annie (Hamilton) Gamble. His father was born in Ireland and emigrated to America, settling in Virginia in 1784. He attended Hampden Sidney college and was admitted to the Virginia bar about 1817. In 1818 he removed to Franklin, Mo., and in 1824 was elected secretary of state. Subsequently he removed to St. Louis and became presiding judge of the supreme court of Missouri and a representative in the state legislature. In August, 1861, he was a delegate to the State constitutional convention and by that body was made provisional governor to supersede Claiborne F. Jackson who had joined the secessionists. In June, 1863, he reassembled the state convention and during the session offered his resignation as governor which was not accepted and he was still in office at the time of his death. He was married in November, 1827, at Columbia, S.C., to Caroline, daughter of David Coalter and a sister of Mrs. William Harper and Mrs. William C. Preston of South Carolina. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 31, 1864.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Rezin A. De bolt, representative, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, Jan. 20, 1828. He was a farmer, learned the trade of a tanner, studied law and in 1856 was admitted to the bar. He removed to Trenton, Mo., in 1858, and was county school commissioner, 1859-61. He enlisted in the Federal army and was a captain in the 23d Missouri volunteer infantry. At the battle of Shiloh he was taken prisoner and held from April to October, 1862. He resigned, March 1, 1863, on account of impaired health, returning to the army in September, 1864, as major of the 44th Missouri infantry and received his discharge with the disbandment of his regiment in August, 1865. He was judge of the circuit court for the 11th district of Missouri, 1863-75, represented his district in the 44th U.S. congress, 1875-77, and was defeated for the 45th congress. He died in Trenton, Mo., Oct. 29, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John C. Edwards, governor of Missouri, was born in Kentucky. While an infant he removed with his father's family to Rutherford county, Tenn. He was licensed to practise law, opened an office in Murfreesbero, Tenn., and removed to Jefferson City, Mo. Governor Miller appointed him secretary of state in 1828 and he served until 1837, when he was elected judge. He was a Democratic representative in the 27th congress, 1841-43, and was governor of Missouri, 1844-48. During his term of office he was active in raising and forwarding volunteers for the army in Mexico, and "Doniphan's Army of the West" was the immediate result of his efficient action. He removed to California and died there in 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Austin Augustus King, governor of Missouri, was born in Sullivan county, Tenn., Sept. 20, 1801. He prepared himself for the practice of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1822. He removed to Missouri in 1830, and established a practice at Richmond. He was elected a representative in the state legislature in 1834, and reelected in 1836. He was judge of the circuit court of Ray county, Mo., 1838-48; Democratic governor of Missouri, 1848-52; a delegate to the Democratic national convention at Charleston in 1860; judge of the circuit court of Ray county, 1862-63, and Democratic representative from the sixth Missouri district in the 38th congress, 1863-65. He was defeated for the 39th congress by Burt Van Horn, and practised law in Richmond, Mo. He died in St. Louis, Mo., April 22, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

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