Morgan County Slaves USCT

This blog is a work in progress.  The Colored Troops military information is present, but much of their slave history is yet to be added.  The Morgan County Museum received the old Probate Records in November 2015 and is working to organize the information.

Green and Jackson Fisher enlisted at Tipton on February 19, 1864, both listed as farmers. Both listed slaveholder as John B. Fisher.  Both stated they were born in Cooper County; Green was 24 and Jackson was 26.  They were mustered in to Company E of the 67th on February 23, 1864, at Benton Barracks.

Green was killed in action at Mt. Pleasant Landing, Louisiana, on May 15, 1864.

On April 27 Jackson was sick in the hospital and died of bronchitis at New Orleans Corps d' Afrique Hospital on May 23, 1864.

Note: No widows pension application found for either.  Hannah Fisher was listed on the 1870 Morgan County Census of Black Families.  She died in 1908 and her obituary appeared in the Tipton Times on January 23.  John B. Fisher died in August 30, 1864, so his probate record might be helpful.  Both Hannah and John Fisher were buried at Liberty Baptist Church in Moniteau County.

Samuel Beard enlisted at Rolla on March 23, 1864, as a laborer.  Slaveholder listed as Alexander Beard.  Samuel was 22, born in Warren County, Kentucky.
Mustered in to Company B/K of the 68th at Benton Barracks on April 23, 1864.  On April 26 he was admitted to the hospital with bronchitis and remained in the hospital throughout his service. He died of disease in the small pox hospital in St. Louis on February 9, 1865.

Fount Chism enlisted at Tipton on February 21, 1864, as a farmer.  He was 18 born in Morgan County.  Slaveholder listed as Widow Chism.  Mustered in to Company E of the 67th on Feb. 23, 1864 at Benton Barracks.  Died of pneumonia in post hospital there on March 14, 1864.

Robert Chism enlisted at Tipton on February 25, 1864, as a farmer.  He was 21 born in Cooper County.  Slaveholder listed as Michael Chism.  Mustered in to Company B of the 68th on March 8, 1864, at Benton Barracks.  He was discharged June 26, 1865, at New Orleans, LA by reason of disability, identified as chronic rheumatism.

Note:  There are several Chism family members listed on 1870 Census of Black Families in Morgan County.  Jacob Chism (Michael's father) died January 5, 1851, in Versailles, so his probate record would be helpful.  No pension application for Robert was found.

Berry Harrison enlisted at Sedalia on December 30, 1863, as a farmer.  He was 26, born in Virginia, and listed as slaveholder A. H. Harrison.  He was mustered in to Company G of the 65th on January 9, 1864.  He died of disease at Benton Barracks on January 31, 1864.

On December 21, 1866, an application for compensation from slaveholder A. H. Harrison was received. He stated that he inherited Berry from the estate of his father, Stith Harrison, in Willson County, Tennessee, in the 1830's.

Henry Field enlisted January 28, 1864, at Syracuse, as a farmer.  He was 33, born in Virginia, and listed his slaveholder as J. R. Moore.  He was mustered in to Company H of the 67th on February 8, 1864.  He died in the post hospital at Benton Barracks on February 26, 1864, of congestion of the brain.

Dred Huff enlisted December 7, 1863, at Tipton, as a farmer.  He was 19, born in Cooper County, and listed his slaveholder as Sandy Huff.  He was mustered in to Company H of the 62nd on December 14.  He was discharged due to disability at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on May 12, 1864.  Sandy Huff filed a claim for compensation.

Alfred, Charles, and Elijah Shanklin enlisted at Syracuse on January 23, 1864, as farmers.  Alfred was 28, Charles was 19, Elijah was 22, all born in Cooper County, slaveholder John Logan.  They were mustered in on February 8, but the enlistments were rejected.

Note:  These slaves may have belonged to Elijah Shanklin or his son Elijah Shanklin who died in 1862.  Probate records for either of these men may be helpful.

Franklin Hunter enlisted at Tipton on February 21, 1864, as a farmer.  He was 19 born in Kentucky listed slaveholder as Shores P. Hunter.  Mustered in to Company E of 67th on February 23 at Benton Barracks.  On March 12 sick in Post Hospital at Benton Barracks. Sick in Corps d' Afrique Hospital in New Orleans since April 27, 1864.  On June 10 he was transferred to the 1st Company Invalid Battalion.  Discharged at Morganza, La. for disability November 5, 1864.

The 1870 Census of black families in Morgan County includes three families with the surname Hunter.  One family is headed by Joseph Hunter, age 51, born in Kentucky.  None of the families include Franklin.

Thomas Watson enlisted February 1, 1864, at Syracuse as a blacksmith.  Age 25, born in Etell, Kentucky, slaveholder George Shackleford.  Mustered in to Company K of the 67th on Feb. 13, 1864.  Sick in quarters til Feb. 29.  Promoted to sergeant March 1, 1864.  4th Sgt. in May and June, 3rd Sgt. in July and August.  Reduced to ranks Oct 18, 1864.  Sick in hospital since Oct. 29.

Died of phthisis pulmonalis in Corps d'Afrique Hospital on November 4, 1864.

His slaveholder, George Shackleford, was shot in Syracuse, Missouri, by a group of men led by Captain Todd.  Two Morgan County citizens,  W. T. Hubbard and G. W. Brunson, stated the events of his death as proof that George Shackleford was a loyal citizen.  Those who filed claims for compensation for slaves had to sign an Oath of Allegiance, but George was deceased.

A second thing they had to prove was that they owned the slave.  The Morgan County Clerk and Recorder, William A. Mills, filed a statement to verify this.  He said a Deed of Trust dated August 27, 1862, listed Thomas and Irvin on the slave list, to be conveyed to John Shackleford.

James Tobin, Asst. Provost Marshal at Syracuse, sent a statement to verify the loyalty of the citizens filing these written statements:  On February 1, 1864, George Shackleford, John Logan, J. L. Consalus, and Charles Prenger, appeared before the Asst. Provost Marshal.  George swore his loyalty.  John, J. L. and Charles swore that George owned Thomas Watson, and that Thomas had not belonged to any disloyal person.

On January 18, 1867, John H. Shackleford of St. Louis filed for compensation for slave Thomas Watson.  John stated that Thomas was purchased in August 1856 from John Heldreth in Bourbon County, Kentucky. for eleven hundred dollars cash by George Shackleford and conveyed to him in trust by George and his wife Malvina on August  27, 1862.  John stated that George was murdered in cold blood by bushwhackers in September 1864, leaving his family penniless.  The award to be used for the exclusive benefit of his widow and children.

Irvin Miller enlisted on January 21, 1864, at Sedalia, as a farmer.  Age 23, born in Madison, Kentucky, slaveholder George Shackleford.  Mustered in to Company K of the 67th on February 13, 1864.  Sent to hospital at Memphis, Tennessee on March 16, 1864.  In March and April he was sick in t he hospital in New Orleans, La.  Listed as sick at Port Hudson, La. from June 19th to August

.  Transferred to Company D of the 92nd Colored Infantry August 15, 1865, in Baton Rouge, La..  Sick in hospital at Port Hudson since October 28, 1865.  Mustered out December 21, 1865, at New Orleans.  In the 1900 Census Irvin Miller and his wife Fannie were living in Warrensburg, Missouri, with their two sons, Frank and Charles.  Irvin was listed as age 59 born in Kentucky in September 1840.  He was buried in Sunset Cemetery in Warrensburg, Missouri.  The grave is marked with a USCT headstone for Company K of the 67th.

On February 23, 1864, George Shackleford appeared in Sedalia to swear his loyalty and these men swore that Irvin Miller was his slave:  Logan Clark, F. L. Parker, and William Brockschmict.

On January 19, 1867, John Shackleford filed for compensation.  John stated that Irvin was owned from birth by George Shackleford.  

Robert Turpin enlisted at Jefferson City on December 14, 1863, as a farmer.  Age 44 born in Cook, Tennessee, slaveholder Moses Turpin.  Mustered in      to Company B of the 65th on December 18, 1863.  March 11, 1864, sick in hospital  Died at small pox hospital in St. Louis on April 23, 1864 of Variola.

Colman Wilson

Where Was Locust Mound? (Miller County)

Genealogists will find several northeastern Miller County ancestors noted as born or died "in Locust Mound."  Locust Mound and Spring Garden are two different places that have been frequently confused in published accounts of Miller County history.  Special thanks to Art and Marilyn Jenkins and the Miller County Historical Society for helping to sort out the confusion.

William P. Dixon, born in 1812 in North Carolina, opened a storehouse in southwestern Cole County as the settlers began coming. The Osage Indians were giving up their hunting grounds in this area and leaving.  Dixon patented land in Cole County in 1835.    A few months later he patented 40 acres nearby along the Jefferson City to Tuscumbia Road in what would become Miller County. The St. Louis market was conveniently reached via the Osage River at Tuscumbia.   Dixon’s Trading Post flourished, and his cousins, through marriage, Dr. William Bolton of Jefferson City, and Dr. George W. Lansdown, soon joined him in the enterprise.  Dr. Lansdown practiced medicine in connection with the store and became one of Miller County's earliest physicians.  Dixon's land was along a section of the Jefferson City to Tuscumbia Road, known today as Jenkins Road, in northeastern Miller County.  A second road, no longer in existence, ran from this area to Pleasant Mount.

Map is courtesy of the Jenkins family

 The Dixon partnership was dissolved in 1838 as Dixon headed to Tuscumbia to serve as Miller County Clerk until 1844, and again from 1848-1856.  His father-in-law, Edmund Wilkes, was Miller County's first Representative to the State Legislature 1838-1840.  On January 11, 1838, Dixon sold his Miller County property to Madison H. Belshe for $566.  Not your average pioneer, the Belshe family came from Kentucky to Miller County with a wagon box of silver coin.   Named for a grove of locust trees, Locust Mound included the trading post/general store and the "Belshe mansion and stables" built in 1839.  Belshe also was the proprietor of a wagon and smith shop erected by his own hands.  

In 1850, gold fever reached Miller County. Nuggets of gold were reported on and under the ground in the Sierras.  Miller County men joined the rush over the plains to California. Madison H. Belshe, Boyd Miller, and William Greenup outfitted an expedition, and with others, left Locust Mound on May 2, 1850, for California going by way of Southwestern Missouri.  Three years later the members of the expedition returned in an eventful and circuitous sea voyage, with the exception of Madison H. Belshe.  He returned overland with considerable gold.

In 1855 Belshe was elected surveyor of Miller County and continued in that position for 17 years.  Madison Belshe patented 240 acres bordering Locust Mound in January 1856.  The Belshe family and the Locust Mound area continued to grow and prosper over the next five years.

An eyewitness account, as a very small child, of the selling of a number of slaves at Locust Mound in the 1860’s.  He remembered an immense crowd of people standing around a flat stump, three or four feet in height, and five or six feet in diameter.  This was the auction block, located at the edge of a great grove of locust trees, where the slaves were sold.  He remembered an elderly man, a middle-aged woman, two teen-aged girls, and a girl child of color, offered at public venue.  

Madison Belshe's oldest son, John, enlisted in Captain Josiah Goodman's Company C of the 42nd Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia.  These units were "on call" as needed and served as protection in their local counties.  Along with Captain Long's unit of the 47th EMM, Company C was involved in the Elsey Farm Fight in August 1862 near Iberia.

Madison's son, James, enlisted for the duration of the war in January 1862 at age 20 at Jefferson City in Company I, 4th Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia.  These units were full-time federal forces.  He was discharged for disability in April 1863.  The surgeon stated James had dislocated his right wrist prior to entering the service.  The ulna had fractured and united with the radius, rendering his arm useless for Cavalry service.

His brother, Samuel, enlisted for the duration of the war in February 1862 at age 22 at Jefferson City in Captain Ward's Mounted Rifles, Company D, Fifth Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia.   He served guard duty in Dent County, was assigned to a government train, and served at Little Piney and Rolla.  In January 1865 Samuel was sent to Stevenson's Mill on the Current River.  In March rebels burned the Union stockade there, ordering the miller to grind enough meal to feed 250 rebels due the next day.  Samuel was mustered out in April 1865.

Madison Belshe, a Radical Republican favoring abolition of slavery and supporting federal forces, filed a claim for items taken by Price's raiders in 1864.  These items included a horse, saddle, money, and a double-barreled gun.  His brother, Robert Belshe, filed a claim for the loss of four horses.  Madison Belshe requested a replacement gun as "the bushwhackers were about his place the past night."   He stated that the day after the raiders had taken his things, the Shumates and three others had come for him and he barely escaped.   He described his situation as "exposed between the Fair Play bend on one side and a rebel neighborhood on the other."  If he could get arms again he was "resolved to stay and fight it out."  He requested a double-barreled shot gun in lieu of the one that was taken, and two good revolvers that he would pay for from funds in Jefferson City.

After the Civil War Madison Belshe was appointed as the first surveyor of Miller County.  He and Eleanor Belshe sold a tract of land near the northeast corner of the section to their son Samuel Belshe and sold a tract of land near the northwest corner to their son James R. Belshe.  Madison Belshe was appointed Postmaster of Locust Mound in 1867 and served in this office until his death in 1882.

A mile or two away, in 1868, Spring Garden Seminary was formed and Spring Garden began to grow in population and commerce.  The next year Samuel and Sarah Sullens Belshe sold their tract of land to Robert Witten, his cousin.  Witten was a wagon maker and owned this land for almost 25 years. 

In July 1869, Madison Belshe wrote a letter to John Simpson in California and offered $1,400 for land in Miller County where lead had been discovered, and Simpson accepted. As Simpson's appointed local agent, Jasper N. Henley, made an agreement to sell the same land to John Clark.  Madison Belshe saddled his fastest horse, and with silver in his saddle bags, rode to California again to pay Mr. Simpson for the land.  He returned home with the deed in his pocket. In the meantime, John H. Clark was busy operating the mine under a lease agreement. The miners' nine month lease period ending on October 1, 1869, Mr. Belshe, Joseph Fox and C.D. French appeared on the premises, ordering the miners to leave or face the law for trespassing. The miners left and Belshe, French and Fox took possession of the mine.  These diggings came to be called part of the Fox Mines.
                           

Photo Courtesy of the Jenkins Family

In 1874 James Belshe sold part of his tract of land to his oldest brother John Belshe.  This photo shows John and his wife, Frances Jenkins Belshe, in front of their home in Locust Mound.

After their spouses' deaths, Madison Belshe married Cornelia Lumpkin Spalding in July 1879.    Cornelia operated the hotel/stagecoach stop.  Three years later Madison Belshe died and the Post Office location was moved to Spring Garden.  In December his widow married Washington Rosson, the local blacksmith, and continued to operate the hotel.

The location of the trading post can be seen from Jenkins Road.  It is on private property near the junction of Old Highway 54 and Jenkins Road. According to the Farris family who own the property, the kitchen of their grandparents' abandoned house was the site of the trading post.  The stump where they sold slaves was in their yard, and the blacksmith shop was down by the creek that runs through the property.

The following year, Madison's son, James, sold his tract of land to Henry A. Wright.  For more on this family, visit millercountymuseum.org.

Henry built a water-powered grist mill near Locust Mound.  I've been unable to locate a picture of Henry's mill.  Below is a picture of his father and brother's mill on the Little Saline Creek that operated in the same time frame.  "I can still see the old mill house, a 1 1/2 story rustic building standing there in the trees by the spring, and the spring sending forth a sluice of water down a trough to the big wheel that powered the machinery…"  For more on that mill, visit http://www.millercountymuseum.org/commerce/milling.html

Henry's mill might have looked similar, but operated near a creek that ran down a waterfall.  The burrs from this mill were later moved to Clyde Jenkins' yard in Tuscumbia.  

In 1895 Henry and Minerva Melton Wright bought part of Robert Witten's land, then sold that land to their son, Joseph Lee Wright, who worked with his father at the grist mill.  Joseph bought an adjoining section of land from the county, after Robert Witten was unable to repay a debt.  Ten years later a flood, known locally as the pumpkin rise, damaged several water mills in Miller County.  Henry and Joseph Wright turned to steam to power the mill.

Photo from Alan Terry Wright Collection

Over the years Henry Wright's house went to their daughter, Katie Wright Spalding and her husband Thomas Jefferson Spalding, Jr., then to Raymond Sullens. This house still stands on Jenkins road.   

Just down the road is the farm of Art and Marilyn Jenkins, purchased by John Henry Green Jenkins from John and Frances Jenkins Belshe in 1881.  

Further information on this family can be found at:
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/071119.html

Joseph Wright's younger daughter was struck by lightning and died on her way home from Flint Rock Springs School in 1908 or 1909.  Her sister, Maude Wright, was just a few years older.  Maude said they had been holding hands just moments before it happened.   A short autobiography written by Maude Wright can be found at http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/080630.html
Tragedy struck again in 1928 when Joseph was killed while he was working on the steam engine at the mill and the boiler exploded.

Photo from Alan Terry Wright Collection

Joseph Wright's house was sold to Ed Spalding and became known as the Spalding Place to local residents.  Behind some of the sheet rock in the house are log walls. From Maude Wright's autobiography:  "The house on this land was a long log room with a large fireplace at the east end, and a 'lean to' was at the south for a kitchen.  My pap built a bedroom to the west of this room later, and made other changes."  The house still stands today, down a private lane on Tower Road.  

Some family surnames from the Locust Mound area include: Belshe, Bond, Davidson, Dooley, Henley, Hinds, Simpson, Spalding, Stephens, Sullens, Thompson, McMillian, Hale, Baker, Becker, Crisp, Norfleet, Shearer, Hill, Slaughter, Berry, Lasswell, Richardson, Robertson, Kingery, Loveall, McKinney.