SOLDIERS OF 1812.

     There were quite a number of this band of heroes living in Linn county a few years since, but they are now gathered to their fathers.  The following well-known old citizens and pioneers of Linn county were still living up to 1871.  They are now gone, but the record is here of those who shed so much luster upon the American arms in their struggle against British oppression which proposed to rule the land and the sea. The following is the list and record:
     William Woodruff, aged eighty-three, first sergeant in Captain Daniel Cushing's company, Second Regiment United States Heavy Artillery, General Winchester's division.  Scene of operations, western frontier.
     Peter Fore, aged seventy-two, private in Captain Josiah Pinnock's company, Cox's brigade, Virginia.  Engaged in the defense of Washington.
     Seth Botts, aged eighty-four, Captain William Hamilton's company, Colonel Lillard's regiment.  Served on the Coosa River, Alabama.
     Jethro Dodson, aged seventy-nine, Captain James Lanier's company, __ regiment, eastern division.
     James Moore, Captain Hay's company.  Served on the western frontier; was at the siege of Fort Erie.
     James Burnet, aged seventy-six, Captain Adam Vickery's company. Was at the battle of New Orleans.
     William H. Ballow, aged eighty-eight, second sergeant in Captain Robert Cameron's company.  Was at Camp Washington, Mississippi.
     Abijah Woods, aged seventy-five, Captain Caldwell's company.  Served on the western frontier.
     Jacob G. Bailey, aged seventy-nine, Captain Charles Harney's company, Colonel Rennick's Tenth Rifle Regiment.  Was at the battle of the Thames, in Canada; witnessed the celebrated rifle duel between Tecumseh and Colonel Whitley; was so near as to see the flash of both of their rifles, which were fired almost simultaneously, each shot proving fatal.  Was also present

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JOHN B. WILCOX

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when Colonel Johnson's horse was shot from under him, and assisted in extricating him from under his horse.  The next day Mr. Bailey assisted in burying the dead, and when they came to the body of Tecumseh, proposed to bury it in a separate grave.
     David McCollum, aged ninety-one; was twelve years a commanding officer of the Kentucky militia, from 1808 to 1820; his memory was much impaired at the time, and he could not give a well defined account of his services.
     Milton Parmlee, aged seventy-eight, Captain Hawkins’ company.  Served on the northern frontier. 
     Ed P. Dodge, aged seventy-five, Captain Bean’s company.  Served at Fort Washington, New Hampshire.
     Joseph Auberry, aged seventy-four, Captain Patterson’s company.
     Frederick Hester, aged seventy-six, Captain James Hoag’s company, Virginia militia.  Served at Norfolk, Virginia.
      Randolph Babbitt, aged seventy-five, Captain John Trimble’s company of Virginia militia.  Served at Norfolk, Virginia.
     Hasten Shifflett, aged eighty, Captain Christopher Irvin’s company of Kentuckians.  Served on the northern frontier, and was at Colonel Dudley’s defeat on the river Raisin, Michigan.
     James Sportsman and William Sutherland were also known to be living an the county at the time, but no record was made of their services.  Thomas Botts had also been a citizen of the county, but was then dead.  He served in the same company with Seth Botts.

THE FIRST DEED OF RECORD.

     "This deed made and concluded on this thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, by and between Edward B. Cabal and Harriet F. Cabal, his wife, of the county of Chariton and State of Missouri of the first part, and Mendith Brown of the county of Linn and State aforesaid of the other part, witnesseth:  That the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of fifty dollars to them in hand paid by the party of the second party, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and the party of the second part from the further payment of the same is forever acquitted and discharged, hath transferred, set over and quitclaimed, and doth by these presents, transfer, quitclaim, and set over, unto him, the said party of the second part, his heirs, and assigns the following described tract of land, situated, lying and being in the said county of Linn, and State of Missouri aforesaid; to-wit, The southwest quarter of section four (4), in township fifty-seven north, in range twenty-one west, containing one hundred and sixty acres.  And the said party of the second part being informed by the party of the first part that this said tract of land is held by a tax right only agrees to take the same and not

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hold the said party liable for any further title in any way, nor for any money should the same be lost by a better title and agrees to take the same at his own risque, to have and to hold the same free from the claim of them, the said party of the first part their heirs and assigns forever.  In testimony whereof the party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals on the same day and year aforesaid.

     Be it remembered that on this thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, before the undersigned presiding justice of the County Court within and for said county, came Edward B. Cabal and Harriet F. Cabal, both personally known, to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing as having executed the same and severally acknowedged the same to be their act and deed for the property therein mentioned, she, the said Harriet F. Cabal, being by me first made acquainted with the contents thereof, and examined separate from her said husband whether she executed the said deed and relinquishes her dower to said land and tenements therein mentioned, voluntary, freely, and without compulsion or undue influence of her said husband, acknowledged and declared that she executed the said deed and relinquishes her dower in the said lands and tenements therein mentioned voluntary, freely, and without compulsion or undue influence of her said husband.
     Taken and certified and given under my hand on the same day and year last above written.

     Filed and recorded the fifteenth day of July, 1837.

     There is a deed of record dated Jan. 25, 1837, made by Isaac F. Keas, and Casandria, his wife, to Armstrong Beatty, relinquishing their right, title, and interest in a certain tract and parcel of land purchased of the United States, which fell into the hands of John W. Usher, or to his infant heirs.  The consideration was ten dollars.  The record being torn and part of it missing, the above substance is given.  In the first deed the heading to the acknowledgement evidently should have been Chariton county instead of Linn.  The deed is copied verbatim as recorded.

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FIRST WILL OF RECORD.

     "I, William Cornett, of Howard County, State of Missouri, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do ordain this as my last will and testament.
     Item:  It is my will that all my lawful debts be paid.
     It is further my will that my beloved wife, Nancy, have all my personal and real estate for the sole purpose of raising and schooling my children, and as my afflicted son, Jarrett, cannot have any benefit of schooling, it is my will that my wife give to him what she thinks proper in that case.  And it is further my will, that at the death of my wife, that what then is left after raising and schooling my children, and what my wife gives to my son Jarrett, be equally divided between my children.
     Signed, sealed, and acknowledged in presence of us this third day of February, 1830.
     I appoint my wife, Nancy, my executrix.

     POLLY FORISTER.
     EDWARD TURNER.
     JEREMIAH PHILLIPS.

     I, Enoch Kemper, clerk of the County Court of Linn county, do hereby commission William Taylor, a justice of the peace within and for Howard county, Missouri, to take and certify the attestation of Edward Turner, of the aforesaid county of Howard, to the above and foregoing will as the law directs.
     In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and private seal, (there being no public one provided), this twenty-ninth day of December, 1840.

     Be it remembered that on this fifth day of January, 1841, came before me William Taylor, justice of the peace within and for said county, Edward Turner, who after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he became a subscribing witness to an instrument of writing purporting to be the will of William Cornett, dated the third day of February, 1830, together with Polly Foster and Jeremiah Phillips, at the special request of William Cornett, and that the said William Cornett did then and there publish and declare the said instrument by him signed, to be his last will

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and testament, and that said will and testament is now here presented, and by me examined.

     Sworn before me this day and date above mentioned.

ADMINISTRATION.

     Know all men by these presents: That we, Rebecca Grant, Daniel Grant, John Holland, and Edmond Keith, of the county of Linn, and State of Missouri, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri, in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, for the payment of which well and truly to be made, we jointly and severally bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators firmly by these presents.  Witness our hands and seals this thirtieth day of December, 1839.
     The conditions of the above bond are that if Rebecca Grant and Daniel Grant, administrators of the estate of John D. Grant, deceased, shall faithfully administer said estate, account for, pay and deliver all moneys and property of said estate, and perform all other things touching such administration required by law, or the order of any court having jurisdiction, then the above bond to be void, otherwise to remain in full force.  Sealed and delivered in presence of witness, R. W. Foster.

THE FIRST.

     The first townships were Locust Creek, Parson Creek, and Yellow Creek.
     The first election held in the county was April 8, 1837.
     Benton township organized May 7, 1838, and its first election May 26, 1838.
     Duncan township organized June 24, 1839, and the first election July of the same year. 
     Barbee’s Store was made the temporary seat of justice May term, 1837.
     The first County Court was called to meet at Silas A. Fore’s, but was transferred to the house of E. T. Dennison, the first Monday in February, 1837.
     The first mills recorded are Botts’ mill on Parson Creek, township fifty-seven, range twenty-two, 1834, and Maddox & Rook’s, township fifty-eight, range eighteen, East Yellow Creek, in the year 1840.
     Liberty township organized August 3, 1841, territory, now Sullivan county. Its first election the same month.

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     Baker township organized Nov. 1, 1841, taken from Yellow Creek township. Its first election first Monday in December, 1841.
     The first bridge built in the county was in the winter of 1841-42, across Locust Creek. To be fourteen feet, of sound white oak.  This was near William Bowyer’s.  Two others were ordered built, one across Main Yellow Creek, west fork, and one across East Yellow Creek, to be twelve feet wide, of sound white or burr oak.  They were completed in March, 1842. They were contracted for in January.
     The county purchased its first seal February, 1842.
     Pleasant Hill township was organized May 3, 1842.  It is now a part of Sullivan county.  Matthew Kidd’s house was the voting place.
     Locust Creek and Baker townships’ boundary lines were changed Feb. 7, 1843.
     The State road from Linneus to Brunswick was laid out in May, 1843.
     Morris and Vrooman townships were organized May 6,1844.  Now part of Sullivan county.
     Yellow Creek and Baker township lines changed May 8, 1844.
     The voting place in Yellow Creek township was changed from Sampson Wyatt’s to A. J. Booker’s, in 1845.
     The first tavern license granted was to Beverly Neece, and to be kept in the town of Linneus.
     The new court-house was completed Oct. 16, 1848, the net cost being $3,894.85.
     The first town lot sold in Linneus was lot number one, in block one, and was purchased by Meredith Brown.
     To record the town plat of Linneus cost $8.
     The selection of swamp and overflowed lands and preparing them for sale cost $460.
     Linneus was first incorporated Feb. 9, 1853.
     A new county seal was ordered May, 1854.
     The first jail was completed Aug. 14, 1854.
     The first refusal to grant dram-shop license was October, 1854, to stand for one year.
     The first well was dug in the court-house yard and completed in October, 1854.  Cost $68.50.
     The first county poor-farm cost $2,000, and was rented for three years from Feb. 4, 1856, and then sold.
     The election precinct for Jefferson township was removed from Maxwell’s to Laclede, May 5, 1856.
     The sheriff’s report of the sale of swamp land was filed in county clerk’s office May 6, 1856.
     The law making four assessors’ districts was in force 1858 and 1859.
     Only one dollar per foot was allowed for the coffins for paupers.

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     The alleys in the old town of Linneas were valued, Feb. 1, 1858, at $420, and ordered sold.
     The first publication of the receipts and expenditures of the county was in the Linneus Democratic Bulletin, June, 1859.
     North Salem township was organized May 3, 1858.
     The first poor-farm was ordered to be sold for $2,000, Feb. 8, 1860.
     The expense to the county of keeping an insane person one month and then taking him to the asylum was $204, March, 1860.
     Enterprise township was organized Aug. 13, 1860.
     St. Catharine was made the voting precinct in Yellow Creek township Sept. 1, 1862, being removed from Wyandott.
     Brookfield was made a voting place Feb. 6, 1865.
     Brookfield incorporated Oct. 10, 1865.
     Bottsville, now Meadville, was made a voting precinct May 1, 1865.
     Bucklin made a voting precinct Sept. 7, 1863.
     The town of Bucklin incorporated May 8, 1866.
     Laclede was incorporated Mar. 6, 1866.
    The County Court made an order at the August term, 1861, that the "military tax" was unconstitutional and declined to make a levy.
     June 5, 1866, Jefferson township was divided into two voting precincts, Laclede and Brookfield.
     Yellow Creek was also given two voting precincts, St. Catharine and Bucklin, June 5, 1866.
     Brookfield township was organized July 2, 1866.
     The repairs and addition to the court-house cost $8,456.20, November, 1867.
     The town of Franklin was vacated Aug. 3, 1868.
     The census of Linn county in 1868, gave a population of 12,249.
     Bottsville changed to Meadville, finally, Oct, 6, 1869.
     The town of Sherman was vacated Aug. 2, 1869.
     Ed Hoyle, ex treasurer paid amount of judgment, $1,598.15, Aug. 12, 1869.
     It cost $1,126.94 to run the poor-farm in the year 1870.
     The voting precinct of Jackson township was changed from Mt. Olive to Hannon school-house, June 20, 1870.
     Grantsville township was organized Feb. 20, 1870.
     Duncan school-house was made the voting precinct for Clay township in place of Strawberry school-house, June 20, 1870.
     The first railroad tax on Locust Creek, Benton, and Jefferson townships, was levied in 1870.
     Bucklin township organized October, 1870.
     A subscription of $150,000 for the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad for Linn county, was rejected by the County Court, July 18, 1871.

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     Brookfield subscribed $100,000 to a branch of the Laclede & Ft. Scott Railroad Oct. 17, 1871.
     Baker township subscribed $25,000, to same branch railroad.
     North Salem township subscribed $25,000 to same branch railroad.
     The new jail was completed Sept. 18, 1871, at a total cost ot $8,680.26 including ground $250.
     The new township organization law was adopted May 31, 1872.
     The board of supervisors was elected June 29, 1872.
     The remaining portion of sections five, eight, and seven, were incorporated in the town of Brookfield, Oct. 17, 1871.
     The boundary lines of Linneus were defined by act of the legislature, Apr. 1, 1872.
     Brookfield voted $63,000, Feb. 15, 1873, for the Brookfield & Chicago Railroad. The $100,000 subscription void.
     The law making the County Court consist of five judges, passed in 1873.
     The County Court ordered suit against H. C. Clarkson and securities for default as treasurer, May 6, 1873.
     The second poor-farm cost $1,800, and had sixty acres.
     The second poor-farm of sixty-acres, was traded for another of one hundred and sixty acres, and $3,000 given to boot.
     The boundary line of Brookfield was changed May 18, 1875. See book G page 85 of County Court records.
     The Linneus Bulletin purchased the right to do all the paid work of Linn county, in printing and job work for one year, for $1, Dec. 6, 1875.
     West Brookfield was vacated Sept. 4, 1876.
     The census of 1876 gave the population of Linn county at 18,110.
     The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company compromised their school tax for the years 1873, 1874, and 1875, by paying $15,000.
     The county was made into two judicial districts and one judge at large, Feb. 6, 1878.
     The collector’s office was made a separate office in 1877, and the first collector, James Tooey, appointed Aug. 6, 1877.
     The first iron bridge built in the county was across Locust Creek near Austin’s mill, June, 1878.
     The election to compromise the township railroad indebtedness of Benton, Locust Creek and Jefferson carried in favor of paying fifty cents on the dollar, Sept. 20, 1879.
     The court-house was condemned at December term, 1879.
     The Burlington & Southwestern Railroad compromise school tax was $3,964.46 for the years 1873 to 1878 inclusive, Feb. 5, 1879.
     The last attempt to remove the county seat from Linneus to Brookfield and Laclede was at the November election of 1880.

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     The county received up to and during 1881 $2,893.37 from the securities of H. C. Clarkson, defaulting treasurer.
     The last township organization law passed 1880-81 was carried by a vote of 2,960 for, to 6S8 against at the November election of 1880.
     Meadville was incorporated as a city Jan. 4, 1881.
     Eversonville was incorporated Nov. 7, 1881.
     The collector’s bond for 1881 was for $166,000.
     The vote to remove the county seat to Brookfield was yeas 1,369, nays 2,369.
     The vote to remove the county seat to Laclede was yeas 282, nays 2,719.
     The Common Pleas Court expired by limitation Jan. 1, 1881.
     The bonded debt of Linn county Jan. 1, 1882, amounted to $7,207.35.

DISTANCES.

     From Linneus, the county seat, to Laclede, by railroad, seven miles.
     From Linneus to Meadville by railroad fifteen miles.
     From Linneus to Brookfield by railroad twelve miles.
     From Linneus to St. Catharine by railroad sixteen miles.
     From Linneus to Bucklin by railroad twenty-three miles.
     From Linneus to Browning by railroad fourteen miles.
     From Linneus to Eversonville by wagon road twelve miles.
     From Linneus to Grantsville by wagon road eight miles.
     From Linneus to New Enterprise by wagon road fifteen miles.
     From Linneus to North Salem by wagon road twenty miles.
     From Linneus to New Boston by wagon road twenty miles.
     Brookfield, the commercial metropolis of Linn county, is about midway between Quincy and Hannibal on the east and St. Joseph and Kansas City on the west and southwest, and is the division between the above named points on the Hannibal, St. Joseph & Kansas City Railroad.

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