Clay County MO Archives News.....The Old Men of Clay County August 12, 1870 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald J. Reid rreid21@cox.net July 26, 2007, 6:28 pm Liberty Weekly Tribune August 12, 1870 Liberty Weekly Tribune; Date: 1870 Aug 12, THE OLD MEN OF CLAY COUNTY. We request every citizen in Clay county, over sixty years of age, to send us his name, age, place and date of birth, disfranchised or not, and any prominent circumstances connected with his life. A number of persons have complied so far. We trust the parties to whom our request was made will comply as soon as practicable. The notices will be useful in the future as matters of reference, &c. We will continue the publication of notices until completed. WILLIAM COLLINS I was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, on the 25th day of April 1797. My father served under Gen. Wayne in his campaign against the Indians after St. Clair’s defeat. I emigrated to Clay County, Missouri, in 1828, and have lived here ever since. I have been a member of the old Baptist Church for forty years. I was never intoxicated in my life. In politics, I have always been a Whig. I was never sued by any one. Am disfranchised but do not know the reason why. WILLIAM COLLINS. HENRY PENCE. I was born in Scott county, Kentucky, on the 21st day of May 1800. My father was one of the first settlers of Kentucky, and came out to that State from Virginia about the year 1775. I removed from Kentucky to Clay county Missouri, in the fall of 1825, and settled on the place I now live at. I have always been a Democrat. Am disfranchised. I suppose on suspicion of Democracy, - and that is sufficient to disfranchise a man in Clay county – but at the same time I know no reason why I should be. HENRY PENCE. ANDERSON I. TURPIN. I was born in Montgomery county, Ky., 15th of December, 1804. Came to Missouri in 1854; moved to Kansas in 1860. Was a resident of Olathe, Kansas, when I was arrested by a body of lawless men, tried by a secret Court Marshal, and sentenced to be eaten to death by Negroes – was bitten by Negroes until they thought I would die, was placed in prison, and after five months confinement made my escape and fled to Liberty, Mo. Was and am true union man, but because I do not now love the Negro I am disfranchised. ANDERSON I. TURPIN JOSEPH THORP. I was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on the 13th day of December, 1804. My father – Elder William Thorp – emigrated from Bedford county, Virginia, to Kentucky about the year 1785. In the year 1809, I came with my father to Missouri, and we remained one season on Loutre Island, above St. Charles, and in 1810 passed on up the River to Boone’s-Lick Bottom in what is now Howard county, about eight miles above old Franklin, and there remained until 1824. I was in Cooper’s fort three years after 1812, in consequence of the hostility of the Indians. – There were continued difficulties with the Indians in Howard county during the late war with England. In 1824, removed to Clay county, Mo., here settled and here lived ever since, a period of 46 years. I was one of the Justices of the Clay County Court for the period extending from 1854 to 1858. I have always been a Whig. Am said to be disfranchised by the registrars. JOSEPH THORP. MICHAEL ARTHUR. I was born in Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky, on the 19th day of May, 1800. My father – John Arthur – was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated to America about the year, 1785, and settled in Lexington, Ky. My maternal grand-father, Jesse D. Winn, of Albemarle county, Virginia, was a soldier in the Continental Army under Washington. I emigrated from Kentucky to Clay county, Mo., in the year 1825. I came to Missouri without any money or property whatever, and was not so fortunate as to have been assisted when young. I consider myself the architect of my own fortune. I entered 160 acres of land two and a half miles south west of Liberty – being parcel of the farm now owned by Darwin J. Adkins – in the year 1827. I borrowed the money to do this, $200, from old David McElwee, and before I could pay it off the principal and interest amounted to $500 and upwards. – Since I settled in Clay county, I have given to my children, in the way of advancements, not less than one hundred thousand dollars, and hope that I have enough left to keep me comfortably during the remainder of my life. I have always been a Whig. The registrars disfranchised me. MICHAEL ARTHUR. SAMUEL A. OLIVER. I was born in Jefferson county, Ky., on the 19th day of March, 1810. I emigrated to Ray county, Missouri, in 1830. In 1834, I went up to the Rocky Mountains and spent two years there in hunting and trapping. I removed to Clay county Mo., in 1840, and have lived here ever since. I have always been a Democrat, and my first vote was for Gen. Jackson for president. I am a registered voter. SAMUEL A. OLIVER. JAMES BURNS. I was born on the 23d day of December, 1799, in county of Tipperary, Ireland. I came to America in the year 1832, and finally settled in Clay county, Mo., in 1836, and have lived here ever since. My father – James Burns – was an architect by profession. In May, 1846, I volunteered in Capt. O.P. Moss’ company from Clay county, for service against the Mexicans. I went through Doniphan’s Campaign, and was in the battles of Bracito and Sacramento. I have always been a Democrat, “dyed in the wool.” The registrars disfranchised me for no other cause, in my opinion, under God’s heavens, except that I was a Democrat. JAMES BURNS. JOSEPH LEWIS. I was born in Goochland county, Virginia, on the 15th day of June 1781. Cornwallis encamped one day with his army in sight of my father’s house some weeks before I was born. I am confident my father was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolution. I emigrated with my father to Mercer county, Ky., in the year 1790. I volunteered in the war of 1812, but the services of my company were not required. I came to Clay county, Mo., in 1835, and have lived here ever since. I have always been a Democrat. I am disfranchised, but do not know wherefore. JOSEPH LEWIS. WILLIAM NALL. I was born in Scott county, Kentucky, on the 18th day of June, 1802. MY father and mother were both from Culpeper county, Virginia. My grand-father – Col. William Nall – was an officer in the American army during the Revolutionary War. My father served as a private in the war of 1812 and was in the battle of the River Raisin. I came to Clay county, Missouri, in 1832, and have lived here ever since. I have always been a Democrat. I applied for registration as a voter, but was rejected, wherefore, I do not know. WILLIAM NALL. ALVAN LIGHTBURNE I was born in Scott county, Kentucky, on Cane Run, on the 13th day of December, 1803. My grand-father was a lieutenant in the Virginia State Navy of the American Revolution, my father was born at Port Royal, Virginia. I came to Clay county, Liberty, Mo., 1st July, 1836, have lived in Liberty ever since, my fathers were Whigs and I have been always a Whig; I applied for registration as a voter, was rejected for reasons I know not. ALVAN LIGHTBURNE. JONATHAN COOK. Was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1803; emigrated to Virginai in 1820, in 1824 cast my first vote for the hero of New Orleans, for the Presidency, emigrated to Missouri in 1844, in 1847 went to Santa Fe in the quarter masters employment; in 1849 went to California, in 1859 came back to Missouri and for the last seven years, a resident of Clay count. Voted the Democratic ticket in Virginia, in North Carolina, in Ohio, in California, and in Missouri, as long as liberty lasted. Disfranchised of course. JONATHAN COOK. SPENCER ANDERSON. Mr. Miller, Sir: I see in your paper a request that all the old men over 60 years would report their names, age, where born, how long a resident of Clay County, or any incident worth notice. My father was born in New Jersey, 1755, and fought through the revolutionary war, was in several of the hardest battles; moved to Kentucky soon after the close of the war. Settled in Franklin county, Ky., where I was born October, 1799. Cast my first vote for Monroe for President in 1820, and voted at every election since until my neighbor disfranchised me, for having too much sympathy for the South. Col. Penick had me brought before him and could find no charge against me, but having sympathy for the South, for that he forced me to give bond and for that I was disfranchised. I moved to Clay county in 1852, with about $25,000 worth of property, which was all taken from me during the late civil war, and now I am left to make a living the best way I can. – I was opposed to secession. My motto was to stick to the Union and fight under the old flag. I always loved the Stars and Stripes. SPENCER ANDERSON. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/clay/newspapers/theoldme52gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb