Clay County MO Archives News.....The Old Men of Clay County September 23, 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, 6:54 pm Liberty Weekly Tribune September 23, 1870 THE OLD MEN OF CLAY COUNTY Liberty Weekly Tribune; Date: 1870 Sep 23 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. M.M. ROBANETT I was born in Bourbon county, KY., in 1809; moved to Illinois 1818, and in 1868 moved to Clay county, Mo. A Jackson Democrat opposed to secession. M.M. ROBANETT. JAMES F. SCOTT. I was born in Harrison county, Ky., January 27th, 1798. I removed from there to Clay county, Mo., in the year 1854. My father was a revolutionary soldier for five years without compensation, other than the heritage of liberty left his children. I was always a Whig while there was a party. I am now a Democrat. I have been disfranchised without any cause known to myself – other than being a Democrat. JAMES F. SCOTT. LEONARD BRASFIELD, JR. I was born in Prince William county, Virginia, (a few miles north west of what is since known as the Bull Run Battle ground.) on the first day of June, in the year 1800. I was left an orphan boy in 1816, and traveled to Kentucky with an orphan brother in 1818. I removed from Woodford county, Ky., to Clay county Missouri, in the fall of 1830. I have paid tax and worked roads forty years in Clay county. I don’t owe at this time any man a dollar. I formerly voted the Whig ticket, but I am now disfranchised. LEONARD BRASFIELD, JR. ELISHA MAJORS. I was born in Birk county, North Carolina, in 1804; moved to Kentucky in 1813, moved to Missouri in 1837, and settled in the north east corner of Clay county, and I am now living on the same farm I first settled. I am a Democrat, and believe in the Government as our fathers made it, and for no other cause than that I know of I am now disfranchisd. ELISHA MAJORS. VICTOR M. TULEY. I was born in Jefferson county, Ky., December 31st, 1807. Moved Howard county Mo., 1842, and to Clay county in 1845. My father was in the war of 1812, under Harrison, and in the battles of Tippecanoe and River Raisin. – Been a Democrat all my life. Have raised 8 children. Disfranchised.VICTOR M. TULEY. WILLIAM NORTHERN. I was born in Wilkes county, North Carolin, in 1795 I moved to Kentucky in 1810, and to Clay county, Mo., in 1855. My grand-father was a soldier in the Continental army. In politics, I have ever been a Whig, but act at present with the Democratic party. I am disfranchised and without cause. WILLIAM NORTHERN. REUBEN SEARCY. I was born June the 30th, 1799, in South Carolina, Union District, moved to Kentucky in 1814, and to Missouri in 1850. I united with the Baptist church in 1819, and was ordained a minister of the gospel in 1840. I have always voted the Democratic ticket. My first vote I cast for General Jackson. REUBEN SEARCY. BENJAMIN RICKETTS. Mr. R.H. Miller; - In reply to your public solicitation, I make the following statements; I was born in Jessamine county Kentucky, July 29th, 1801. I was raised to farming, and have followed it ever since. I emigrated to Missouri in 1831 – settled in clay county, where I now live; always made it a point, to do good in preference to harm. – Have served the community with whom I have lived in various petty civil offices; part of which was Trustee of Common Schools, thirty odd years; Justice of the Peace ten years, Justice of the County Court four years. I have always been a Whig in politics; cast my first vote for President for Henry Clay. I am a voter at present. BENJAMIN RICKETTS. EBENEZER TITUS. I was born in Augusta county, Virginia, on the 11 April 1782. My forefathers were a stiff necked, and rebellious people when their rights and liberties were invaded. They fought against Great Britain 7 years for their independence, in which my uncle, George Mathews, was conspicuous. – He was in office during the war, taken prisoner but in what battle I know not. After the war was over he emigrated to the State of Georgia, was there elected Governor, and held that office when that State ratified the Constitution of the United States and signed his name to it. My father emigrated to Kentucky in 1782. He built the first water mill that was ever built in Madison county. About this time he joined the separate Baptists – continued with them until 1800, when the union took place between the regular and separate Baptist, which took place at the big meeting house in Madison county, KY. I was present and heard the terms of union agreed upon. Shortly after the union took place, about 700 of the separate Baptists withdrew from the union. – A great many of them embraced the doctrine of Arius and Scocineus. My father continued in the union and from the time he first embraced religion, his time was partly spent in beseeching and praying the people where God in his providence cast his lot, to be reconciled to God, and to seek the Lord while he might be found, and to call upon him while he was near. He died in Howard county, Mo., on the 23d of April, 1838. I joined the United Baptist in 1818; have been both Clerk and Deacon until the infirmity of old age forbid. In 1824 I emigrated to Missouri, lived in Howard Co., 18 years; then moved to Ray county in 1842 – lived there until 1869, when I lost my beloved and ever affectionately remembered companion. I then divided my household and kitchen furniture and part of my land between my children. I now live with my son-in-law John McCorkle and my daughter Elizabeth. If the illustrious dead participate with the concerns of this world, I invoke the shade of my venerable departed father and uncle to look down with scrutiny on the conduct of their disfranchised son and nephew, and see if he ever has departed from rectitude, which was their good pleasure to instill into his youthful mind, or if he ever hesitated to support, defend and protect the Government which they fought 7 years to establish. I was an old line Whig, but shall henceforth vote with the Democrats if permitted. EBENEZER TITUS. ALEXANDER HARDWICK. I was born April 16th, 1803, in Hallifax county, Va., moved to Missouri in 1823, and to Clay county in 1824, and have been a citizen ever since. I help to cut out the first State road through Clay county. I am now 67 years old, but not allowed to vote. ALEXANDER HARDWICK. FREDERICK MILLER. I was born in Stokes county, N.C., July 6th, 1787; moved to Clay county, in the spring of 1837; and have lived in Clay county 33 years. I was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and my father before me was a soldier under General Washington in the revolutionary war, and fought for our liberty. I am now 83 years old and not allowed to vote. FREDERICK MILLER. EMSLEY CRAVENS. I was born in Randolph county, N.C., September 17th, 1801; moved to Missouri in 1822. I served in the Mormon war. I am disfranchised. EMSLEY CRAVENS. GEORGE B. FINLEY. I was born in Guilford county, N.C., May 15th, 1792. I was a volunteer in 1812. I moved to Clay county, Mo., in 1831, and have lived here ever since. Disfranchised. GEORGE B. FINLEY JOHN PARSONS. I was born in Wilkes county, N.C., November 17th, 1792; moved to Tennessee when young. I served a campaign under Gen. Jackson against the Creek Indians in 1812. I moved to Missouri in 1834, and settled in Clay county. I have always been a Democrat and am one yet. Disfranchised. JOHN PARSONS. CHARLES SAMPLES. I was born in Russel county, Va., November 19th, 1792, moved to Kentucky, in the spring of 1815, and in the fall of 1840, moved to Missouri. I am now 78 years old, and have been a citizen of Missouri for 30 years, but not allowed a vote. CHARLES SAMPLES. JOHN CROSSET. Mr. Editor: - I was born in North Carolina, Orange county, and came to Missouri about 1830, and settled in this county on William Creek. I assisted in building the first Old School Presbyterian church in this county. I have been a member of that church 30 years. I have always been a Democrat. The first vote that I ever cast was for the re-election of Andrew Jackson for President. I was a lieutenant in Capt. Cummins’ company under Gen. Doniphan in the Mormon difficulty. I am 64 years of age, and never have had a lawsuit or even on arbritration. My father was raised in Ireland, and knew something of a despotic government. – He learned us, his boys, to love this government – our glorious old Constitution was the next thing with me to my Bible; never knowingly violated one law, or one clause of the Constitution. I never have been called on the second time for a tax. Disfranchised. JOHN CROSSET. REV. DANIEL PATTON. My parents were Scotch-Irish, born, raised and married in Ireland; where they had 5 children. My father was a Presbyterian, O.S., was in the Irish rebellion, in the days of Robert Emmett; two of his grand-fathers were in the battle of the Boine, in 1690, under King William. My father was a devout Christian, and lover of civil and religious liberty. I, his eight son, was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, January 8th, 1799. Eight years after my birth, my father and family removed to Bedford county, Tennessee, where he died in 1815. I made a public profession of religion in the 20th year of my age, under the preaching of Cumberland Presbyterian ministers. Shortly afterwards, I entered into the work of the ministry in the C.P. church. Rev. R.D. King and myself, formed, and traveled, the first circuit in south Alabama formed by Cumberland Presbyterians, shortly after the Creek Indian war. Much of our traveling was done on the Indian trails. I removed to this State, (Missouri) in the fall of 1826, a poor man, as to earthly substanceshaving a wife and 2 children. Settled in 1 mile of where Richmond, Ray county, now stands, helped husk corn which grew where the Court House now stands. I believe I preached the first sermon ever preached in Richmond and the first in Carrolton. I removed to Clay county, Mo., where I still reside, in the fall of 1844, being strongly urged to do so by the C. Presbyterians of the county. So far as politics are concerned, I read, and thought, formed my own opinions, and always tried to act, in accordance with the fundamental principles of our government. I never meddled with politics in the Pulpit. I passed through the scathing wicked war, gotten up by wicked men, which has well neigh destroyed “the best Government in the world.” I acted in elections as a voter, and voted the Whig ticket. I have not tried to vote since the base requirement of the qualifying Oath. If in principle, and fact, I was ever entitled to vote, I am so entitled yet. Therefore, knowing the character of the men who have usurped authority to sit in judgment on me I never go to the polls. I am now nearly 72 years old, have been preaching 50 years. I would make any sacrifice a good man could make to see my county reinstated to its former happy state. This at your service respectfully. DANIEL PATTON. 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