Sources

TWO DAYS SPENT IN PIKE COUNTY

I have always said that the scenery in Pike County, Missouri cannot be surpassed by any in the United States, and especially if you see the hillsides in October where the frost has touched the leaves just enough to bring out the gorgeous Autumn tints. The oaks this October 1930 were the most beautiful I have ever seen there, with all the shades of russet, brown with touches of green and red – the brilliant sumac, the sassafras and maples. It was a sight never to be forgotten.

A joint meeting of the Northern and Southern Convocations of the Diocese of Missouri was held at Calvary Church in Louisiana October 28th, 29th and 30th so I decided to go down Wednesday morning and hoped Frank could go also, but when he found he could not get away I decided to go down on the train reaching there about 11 o'clock. There was an interesting business session and then we went out to the Louisiana Country Club to a beautiful luncheon. Gussie Roberts, Mrs. Edith Roberts and Mrs. Mackey of Clarksville had driven up to the meeting, and it had been arranged before hand that I was to be met there and go to Clarksville for the night with Gussie. The luncheon was delicious, the most marvelous fried chicken being the piece de resistance. The principal speaker after the luncheon was Mr. George M. Block of St. Louis, and spoke of his love for Pike Co. and the beautiful old St. John's church which was built by his grandparents and other Virginians who had settled in Pike Co. about the same time. He also mentioned Col. Edw. W Dorsey.1 The Louisiana Country Club is 4 miles from Louisiana and is on the old Jackson farm belonging to Mr. Mark Gillum's maternal grandparents, who are buried on the farm.

After luncheon we drove to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Paul Stark, which is almost seven miles from Louisiana and is on the top of a hill and looks over into the valley towards Clarksville. I have never seen anything more beautiful than the foliage in these hills nor the entire panorama. It was a perfect October day – bright, clear and warm and it was a joy to be out of doors. That evening we listened to a fine sermon by Dr. Block of St. Louis and then went to Clarksville for the night.

During the night had come a hard rain and the weather had turned cold, so Gussie and I stayed indoors and visited all day. Friday was a perfect day, and before I had finished dressing Gussie told me that Mr. Mark Gillum had invited us to drive to Bowling Green with him that morning and we would start at nine o'clock. A young Mrs. Boone, who as a bride had just come from Savannah, Georgia to live in Clarksville, was the fourth in our party.

The air was sharp and bracing, and no schoolchildren, starting out for a day's picnic could have been more excited than we. Our only disappointment was that John could not go with us, but as Publisher of "The Clarksville Sentinel," he was having his busiest day of the week and could not leave. We drove out towards Paynesville, and as we leisurely rode along, Mr. Gillum pointed to each farm telling stories about the early settlers whose names were most familiar to me.

The hills in Pike County have a peculiar shape, all of them being what they call sugarloaf shaped, rounding rather than pointed, and there are distinct ridges with very fertile valleys between them, and the hillsides densely wooded. Then turning around we obtained marvelous views of that grand old Father of Waters, the Mississippi.

It was eleven o'clock when we reached Bowling Green, and the person with whom we sought an interview was Uncle Simeon N. Gillum, son of Nathan Smith Gillum, and grandson of John Gillum II and his wife Elizabeth Smith. Uncle Simeon gave us little information except that Nathan Smith Gillum was the youngest son of John Gillum and that he came to Missouri in 1833 and settled on a farm near Ashley, Mo. He then went back to Virginia and brought his father and others out to Missouri.

Nathan Smith Gillum was born in Albemarle Co., Va., May 15, 1815. I do not know the date of his death but John Gillum II died in 1837. We then went to see Mrs. Champ Clark, thinking that she might know something of the Gillum family, but found that she did not and was unwilling to talk of anything except the Porter family whom she had known so well in Clarksville. Mrs. Clark, as Genevieve Bennett was a seat mate of Aunt Nannie Porter's and was introduced by Aunt Nannie to Mr. Champ Clark whom she afterwards married. I wanted to linger with Mrs. Clark, but feeling that our object was to locate the Gillum family we reluctantly left, promising to return another day.

It was noon! So we decided to stop and eat our lunch, before we went on in our search for Ancestors. Having satisfied the lunch inner man we went to call on Judge and Mrs. Gray, who are living in the old Porter-Broadhead home. It is a beautiful home of the low rambling type, with two types of dormer windows. It sets well back off of the street and has been beautifully preserved. The same old stone front door step is there. The same very thick front door, with the same door knob, lock and hinges. You enter a rather narrow hall, with narrow stairs leading up to the second story. There is a room on either side of the hall in front with the same small panes of glass in the windows; the same high base board around the walls, and it is so beautifully furnished in antique furniture, so suitable to the home – Judge Gray is the Probate Judge of Pike County, and his wife a descendant of the famous Gentry family. She is in D.A.R. But we had to hasten on.

The highways are paved now out of Bowling Green, but you, sister and Eleanor know what kind of mud6 they had to travel through in the olden times, because none of us will ever forget that ride to Bowling Green five years ago. Do you remember the Bank I went into to inquire about the Porter home? Well, Uncle Sim Gillum is President of that Bank, and if that young man had only asked him he would have taken us right to the house, because it is only three blocks from the Courthouse. Wasn't that a terrible pity! You simply must come back to Mo. because now that the highways are paved we can drive to Bowling Green in one hour.

About ten miles south of Bowling Green is the old Myers farm on Buffalo Knob, from 2 and one half to 3 miles west of Edgewood. When Jeremiah Roberts and his wife Lucy Mildred Fagg Roberts came out to Missouri in 1835, they brought with them three children, John Orville, James Boyd and Mary Ann (who was a baby in arms) and some negroes. They went first to Mr. Myers, as he had married Elizabeth Gillum's cousin, and Mr. Myers gave him a sight for a log house and a field to plant. The house was situated on a knob, called Buffalo Knob, and Spout Spring where they obtained their water supply, is down the hill on the left. It is still an active spring. Here Richard Morris Roberts was born Sept. 27, 1837.

Mr. Myers simply gave Jeremiah Roberts the use of this land until he had time to look around for a permanent location. During their residence here they formed a close friendship with Captain Edward Dorsey's family who lived on another hill just across the Valley. Aunt Mary Broadhead told me about staying all night many times with Aunt Millie Roberts, when Uncle Jerry, as she called them, was away from home. Grandmother Roberts was afraid to go to sleep so she kept Aunt Mary awake by telling her an entire novel by Scott or Dickens. Aunt Mary said she had never known anyone who could relate as interesting a story. One negro man's name was Bob.

Only one room of the old house built by Jeremiah Roberts remains, but several wonderful old trees are still standing which look as if they were one hundred years old.

Mr. Gillum said he had walked all over this farm with Uncle John Roberts, and had heard him say, "I remember playing here when I was a little boy," or "I remember carrying water up from old Spout Spring," etc. In this particular part of Pike County were settled Mr. Carter who was such a large owner of slaves, that he was said not to know all of them sight. It was reported that the majority of slaves in Pike County were owned by Mr. Carter, Dr. Bankhead and Captain Edward Dorsey. Captain Archy Bankhead was a very intimate friend of Uncle Cale Dorsey's2 and they with Uncle Sim Gillum fought in the same Company during the Civil War. All of their farms adjoined. We walked over the farm and to the fence that divided the Dorsey and Roberts places.
I heard this story:

It seems that when the Dorsey family sold their farm, they had an old slave named Cato, who was now free, but who had stayed on with them. They gave him a deed to ten acres of land and he lived on it, in his little log cabin until he died. He is buried in a little private burying ground near there. His place was called Cato's Patch, and the Bankhead family have paid taxes on it ever since old Cato's death, many, many years ago. It is all thickly overgrown with underbrush now and is not valuable, but it adjoins their land and as there was no one to claim it, they have just included in their farm. We also saw a farm called the Cale Dorsey3 farm just adjoining the Captain Dorsey farm. There we went over to "Briar Patch" which is such an attractive log house built on the Gillum place. It was built about nine years ago for a hunting lodge and has been used for many happy and gay house parties. It is ideally situated in a grove of beautiful trees and is an ideal place to go to thrown off care and trouble and enjoy life.

Very reluctantly we entered the car for our homeward journey. One marvelous view we had going home was from the old McCune farm. It is on the crest of a hill and the view of the hills and valleys is marvelous. We passed Cousin Chris Merriweather's home; Mr. Heppie Merriweather's; Aberdeen the lovely old home of Mr. & Mrs. H. V. P. Block and "Falicon" the wonderful country home of the Dameron family. It was a day long to be remembered and I can never thank Gussie and Mr. Gillum for making the day possible.

Saturday Gussie drove me out to the lovely old farm where she was born, and to Brookhill Farm, Dr. Clopton's home, also up to Mrs. Roberts's which she bought from Uncle John Roberts. It was a perfect visit and one I shall never forget. That day we also went to the home where Papa and Mamma were married and where Sister was born. We stood on the porch and looked up and down the beautiful Mississippi and remembered the stories of Mrs. Porter sending word to the Captain of a steam boat to please wait for Mrs. Porter she had decided to go to St. Louis. We went inside this old home and were taken from room to room by Mrs. Holmes, the charming owner of the house. She has not disturbed much of the old house but has left windows, doors, etc. as they were years ago.

I cannot complete an account of this visit without mentioning John Orville's son, John Orville Roberts IV. He is such a bright, wholesome looking baby and is very handsome with hair almost read and very large dark brown eyes. Mr. Jake Huckstep of Bowling Green told John Orville that Frederick Roberts, Jeremiah's brother had red hair, so John thinks perhaps he may have inherited it!

Before I left Clarksville, Mr. Gillum said he would invite Frank and me to "Briar Patch" for a week-end, so imagine my surprise when a week from Sunday I had a long distance message from Bowling Green to come down for three days. Frank said he could not go but for me to go and he would drive me down. We were at Mother's for dinner, and did not get home until after three o'clock, so I hurriedly packed my bedding and a few things and we drove to Bowling Green to meet Mr. & Mrs. Russell Bankhead and Mr. Merrill of St. Louis. They have beds & mattresses at the lodge but do not keep any bedding down there. As the quail season opened Monday morning Mr. Merrill and Mr. Bankhead were planning to hunt and took three dogs with them. It was six o'clock when we reached "Briar Patch" and we found a good hot chicken dinner ready for us and Mr. and Mrs. Gillum and Dr. Randolph Bankhead waiting for us. After a delicious meal we sat around the beautiful big fireplace and talked until far into the night. It was wonderful sleeping so far away from civilization and we were all greatly refreshed and ready for an early rising, breakfast and start by eight o'clock for a busy day – Monday. We drove down the highway past Eolia almost to Auburn then turned onto the country roads to Elsberry where we were to find Mrs. Lizzie Stone, whom we found to be most interesting. (Mrs. Lizzie H. Stone, RR #3 Box 115). She was wide-awake, interesting little woman and told us many interesting things. She showed us a quilt her Mother made in 1858, which is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Her Mother in 1852 started a scrapbook and in it she had written the names of all of the descendants of John Gillum and Elizabeth Dickerson. I have written to her and asked her to try and find out for us the birth, death and marriage of this John & Elizabeth Gillum and Elizabeth Gillum and Richard Morris. Leaving Mrs. Stone we drove north to Little Ramsay Creek and found the farm where Jeremiah Roberts moved before his daughter Ellen Lewis was born in 1839. He moved over to Little Ramsay to be near his Father-in-law John Fagg, who with his family had moved out from Albemarle County, Virginia in November 1837. We were told that their house, which was very quaint and interesting, was not the one where Mr. Roberts lived, but some of the outbuildings were still standing.

We then rode over to the Fagg farm, which is on the other side of the creek and further up the road and at the base of a hill. The front part of the old log house is still standing and I regretted so much not having John's Kodak. Downstairs were two rooms separated by a very narrow hall and narrow stairs led to the upper rooms. The plaster was off the wall in one room and we could see the logs very distinctly. There were the deep window sills showing how thick the logs were. There were small windows in the upper rooms. We then drove up the hill about a quarter of a mile to the family burying ground where we found the grave of John Fagg with the following dates on his tombstone. Born August 14, 1775, died October 12, 1846. Also Elizabeth W., wife of John Fagg born January 11, 1782, died March 5, 1851. Then Horatio T. Kent born October 12, 1811 died May 31, 1849. He was the husband of Mary Ann Fagg, born 1808, daughter of John Fagg. The view from that plot was beautiful. You could look down upon the house, and the lovely hills in every direction. There is a little country school out in the public road called the Fagg School. Reluctantly we drove away, -- mind filled with memories of all we had heard about those who had called these very places home. It was very wonderful to me to the there.

We again resumed our ride and were getting very hungry, as it was after one o'clock. We found a persimmon tree, loaded with the most luscious fruit and stopped and gathered some. On we went towards Paynesville, where Dr. Bankhead had lived for many years, and where Grandma Porter and all of her family had visited many, many times. The house had been destroyed by fire and all that remains are the avenues of wells, which stood one between each two negro cabins on the farm. This was Mrs. Gillum's father's home. There are some charming old homes still standing in Paynesville and I was glad to have seen them.

We reached "Briar Patch" about two and had a refreshing luncheon, after which Mr. Gillum and I left the others to rest and took to the road again.

This time we drove up to the Dorsey farm and walked all around. One room of the old house is still standing so the present occupants thought, the present house being well built by a Mr. Chilton. There they told us of the old family burying ground. We walked over to it and found the graves of Emma Rebecca, Lizzie Rebecca and Margaret Porter, infant daughters of Grandma and Grandpa Porter. Also a stone marked Larry Dorsey4 who died in his 33rd year. I do not know who he was – do you?* I learned when I was in Bowling Green, that cousin Lev Lawrence5 is still living there. Wasn't his Mother a sister of Great-grandmother Dorsey? Is there anything you would like to learn if I ever saw him?

My visit came to an end all too soon. Frank came for me Tuesday afternoon. We met in Bowling Green. Mrs. Gillum is a very charming woman, a true Southern Aristocrat and Mr. Gillum a real Southern gentleman. They were wonderful to me and I feel so strongly drawn to them, that in my quest for Ancestors, I feel I had truly found real cousins.

*The inclusion of this personal question has always suggested to me that Aunt Dot was really writing a letter to her sister-in-law, although much of the voice of this piece suggests a newsletter article.

NOTES:

1. Dorsey – Col. Edward Worthington Dorsey, originally from Baltimore, MD had a large farm across the road from the place where Jeremiah Roberts originally settled with his family in Pike County. Years later, the granddaughter of Edward Dorsey, Julia Porter, married Richard Morris Roberts, the son of Jeremiah Roberts.
2. Cole was actually ‘Cale’ Dorsey – Caleb Dorsey, the sixth child of Edward Worthington Dorsey – and the only member of the Dorsey and Roberts families to fight in the Civil War. Caleb Dorsey never married, left Missouri after the bitter loss of the war, traveled through Mexico with a thought of settling there – but finally settled in Stanislaus County, CA. His Pike County family eventually joined him on the west coast, settling in San Joaquin County, CA.
3. Again, must be “Cale” – or Caleb Dorsey. Only time I have ever heard of him owning a farm. An exhaustive search of Pike County land records has never produced any evidence that he owned or controlled a farm. He sold his rights to the estate of his father, who died in 1858, to his brother Thomas Beale Dorsey, prior to leaving for the war.
4. Larry Dorsey was actually Larkin Dorsey – also a Dorsey from Anne Arundel County, MD – unmarried son of John Dorsey and Sarah Hammond. His younger brother, Sheredine also migrated to MO from MD, married and died in 1879 in Pike County.
5. Cousin Levin Lawrence – and his mother who was Theresa Josephine Brown, a sister of Eleanor Elizabeth Brown, wife of Edward Worthington Dorsey.

 
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The condition of the above Obligation is such, That whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound Jeremiah Roberts and Miss Lucy M. Fagg of Alb. county. Now if there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void, or else to remain in full force and virtue.

Witness. G H Jameson.

Resolutions.: The Old Settler associations of Jasper county at a recent meeting adopted appropriate resolutions on the death of R M Roberts who died suddenly at Joplin and was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery. The resolutions are as follows:
Resolved, 1st. That in the death of R. M. Roberts our city has lost a most estimable and worthy citizen, society one of it brightest lights, the poor a warm friend who gladly extended to them a helping hand and words of sympathy in their need and distress.
2. That this organization deeply deplores the sudden death of our late associate and friend and that to his children and relatives we extend our deepest sympathy in this, their sad hour of affliction.
3. That his noble deeds of love his words of kindness spoken his virtues and true nobleness of manhood will ever remain green and fresh in our memories; and while he sleeps the sleep that knows no wakening may we cherish the fond hope that we may meet again and draw consolation to our souls in the thought that the world is better for his having lived.

THE DEATH ANGEL

Richard M. Roberts Called Home After a Life of Activity and Usefulness

The community was shocked yesterday to learn that Ex-Sheriff Richard M. Roberts had been suddenly called to a higher life. Just before 7 o'clock yesterday morning Mr. Roberts, in his usual good health, left his home at the northeast corner of Second street and Virginia avenue and started to the Marquis chop house on Main street to get his breakfast. Before going to Marquis' he took a bundle of linen to the laundry on Second street between Main and Joplin streets and was returning when just as he stepped upon the curb at the southwest corner of the streets he threw up his hands and fell backward dead. Some men who were standing near, among whom was Col. J. V. Pierce, ran to lend him assistance, but when they raised him up he was quite dead. Death had come instantaneously. He gasped once but never breathed or moved after he fell. Death had come swiftly in the form of apoplexy or heart failure. He was tenderly lifted and carried to his home where Dr. Wolff attended him, but medical aid could avail nothing. Rapidly the sad news spread about the city and on every hand were expressed deep sorrow and regret at the sudden taking away of one of Joplin's oldest and best citizens. The body was at once prepared for burial by Undertaker Fletcher and a telegram was sent to E. D. Porter who had gone on a expedition to the Cowskin. Mr. Roberts was a brother-in-law of Mr. Porter, having married Mr. Porter's sister Miss Julia Porter, in Hannibal in 1866. Mr. Porter arrived home on the Splitlog last evening and at once determined to take the remains to Mr. Roberts' old home in Hannibal where the family burying ground is situated. Mr. Roberts had for many years been a Mason and Fellowship Lodge A. F. and A. M. took charge of the remains. Many old citizens called at the residence during the day to view the remains, which rested in their burial casket wrapped in their last eternal slumber with a peaceful smile upon the features which look as natural as though in the sleep of life. At 11 o'clock last night the remains, escorted by Fellowship Lodge, were taken to the Memphis depot for transportation to Hannibal. A large number of citizens accompanied the remains to the station. Mr. Porter has charge of the body en route. The funeral will take place in Hannibal, Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Biographical

Richard M. Roberts was born in Ohio in 1837. In 1865 he went to Hannibal, Missouri, where he met and loved Julia Porter, a beautiful and charming girl, daughter of Judge Porter. They were shortly afterward married and in 1872 they removed to Joplin, where, at the corner of Main and First streets, Mr. Roberts and his brother-in-law, E. D. Porter, engaged in the grocery business. The young firm prospered. The young men became widely known as active, enterprising, bright business men. In 1878 Mr. Roberts was elected mayor of Joplin as a popular candidate and served two years. In 1880 he was elected sheriff of Jasper County. He then retired from business and gave up his time to the arduous duties of his office. In 1883 he was re-elected sheriff, and after serving his term of office with the honor he again re-entered business as a merchandise broker. In 1881 his beloved wife passed away and this was a terrible blow to him. She left three children. Nettie, who is now Mrs. Young, of Stockton, California, Miss Dot, aged sixteen, and Master Porter, thirteen years of age. The latter two have been living with their grandparents in Hannibal since the death of their mother. His wife was the idol of his heart and he held her memory sacred. After her death he permitted no one to touch an article in the house and today the furniture in the house stands as she left it before her fatal illness and during all these years he has lived there alone. Richard Roberts was an honest, conscientious generous hearted man, unswayed by prejudices and governed by noble impulses. A man of the people, he was familiarly known throughout Jasper county, and everyone called him "Dick." In his death Joplin loses a valuable public spirited citizen, his family a loving and indulgent father, his friends a true and lasting friendship and the world a good man, for whose life it is made better.
.

Abby Roberts Notebook: William Porter b. in Fredericksburg, Va. Mar. 10, 1770, d. in Troy [MO] 1840 Aged 69 y 11 m 7 d.

Death of Mrs. Gilchrist Porter, August 9, 1892
At 9 o'clock yesterday morning, at her home on South Sixth street, occurred the death of Mrs. Comfort Worthington Porter, wife of Judge Gilchrist Porter, at the age of 69 years 5 months and three days, and when the news went out in this city words of regret were expressed on every hand.
Miss Comfort Worthington Dorsey was born in Howard county, Maryland and after having grown to womanhood, with the advantages of a good education in native state, she removed to Missouri with the family of her father, Col. Edward W. Dorsey, who settled in Pike county. This was in the year 1838, and it was in Pike county that Judge Porter, who was then circuit attorney for that circuit met, wooed and won her. They were married at the home of the bride's father on the 25th day of February, 1840, and went to housekeeping at Bowling Green. In 1853 they removed to Hannibal and have resided here continuously since, with the exception of the fourteen years that Judge Porter was on the circuit bench, during which time they resided in Clarksville. When Judge Porter retired from that office they moved back to Hannibal, in 1881.
To Judge Porter and his good wife twelve children were born, seven of whom are now living, as follows: Ed. D. and W. C. Porter, of Joplin; J. D. Porter, of Lower California, and Charles U. Porter, also of California; Mrs. A. R. Levering, of this city, Mrs. W. H. Smith of Golden Gate, California, and Miss Annie Porter, of Hannibal. Ed. D. and W. C. were at the bed of their mother when dissolution took place, and Mr. R. H. Roberts, who married one of Judge Porter's daughters (now dead) will arrive today. Owing to the great distance that separates the children in California from the mourning household in Hannibal it will be impossible for them to attend the funeral.
To say that the death of this good woman has cast a gloom over the entire city is to speak truthfully. Her's was a character of great nobility and of untiring devotion to everything that was good and true. She was loved for her true worth and during the long and successful political career of the husband she now leaves heartbroken, she was a solace in the hour of trial, a devoted wife and a safe adviser. It is he, in his declining years, who will miss her more than all else - he who will realize that the dearest tie that bound him to earth has been broken. While his children are left to comfort him, yet the rude severance of the a married life of so many happy years is bound to leave a sore heart and a sad mein(sic) even unto the time when he too shall be called upon to answer the summon to go hence. While friends now say to him, "I sympathize with you," and while these kindly expressions have a tendency to sooth(sic) the heart that bleeds, yet remains the knowledge that death has come and his wife is no more. How hollow and idle are words of sympathy under such conditions, and yet how cold the world would be but for their presence.
Mrs. Porter was an active, earnest member of the Episcopal church, having become a communicant with that church 40 years ago. Since she first enlisted in the work of Christ her many good deeds have made her Christian career an especially bright one and they will live long after she has gone to make the world better and the hope of eternal life of those left behind more pronounced and cheering.
The funeral services will be conducted this afternoon by Rev. John Davis, rector of Trinity church, at the family residence, following which the interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Hannibal, Mo.
May her soul rest in peace.

Jumping at once into the middle of the main subject of this communication I must tell you that my Grandfather John Fagg was living in Prince George County, Maryland at the date of my fathers birth in August 1775. The exact locality I never knew but it could not have very far from the ground upon which the battle of Brandywine was fought because it was written of the guns. I do not know whether my Grandfather was ever regularly enlisted in the American Army or not I am inclined to think he never was or I should have heard. The matter discussed by my Grandmother who survived him many years. About the end of the war of the Revolution and when my Father was seven or eight years of age the family moved from that country to Prince William County Virginia settling on the Occoquan River (a tributary of the Potomac) near the old town of Drumfries [now Dumfries].
From that point they subsequently moved to Spotsylvania Co, VA where they continued to reside until my Grandfather's death in 1827.

From that point they subsequently moved to Spotsylvania Co, VA where they continued to reside until my Grandfather's death in 1827. I was not more than five years old when his death occurred and his connection with the Revolutionary War may have been discussed without impressing me at all. I remember much of my Grandmother's talk about her Brother's (Ben Gray) being Master of Transportation in the Division commanded by Genl Lafayette.

References: sons Absalom, George, Charles, John, Thomas, Pleasant,
daughters Letty Moore, Molly Oglesby, Nancy M Blane, Molly Dawson,
granddaughter Milley Moore, grandson Martin Moore.

7th Division
Joseph Aylstock
Jno Harris
Gilbert Goodman fifer
Richd Roberts
Wm Gibson Drumr
Jordan Gibson.

Executors: John Watson and James D Roberts.

Article written for Homecoming 1952 - A Brief History of Lasley Church:
In 1832 Lasley was one of twelve churches on the Columbia Circuit served by James D Roberts, Lay Preacher. The other churches were Salem, Union Mills, Zion, New Hope, Free Union, Yanceyville, Macedonia, Mt. Olivet, Hughes, Columbia and Palmyra.

Surviving heirs of James D Roberts listed in deed: R T Roberts, Gracy Roberts, the only child of W C Roberts, Martha R Walton, now the wife of Moses H White, Geo. E. Butler, Billie J. Badgett, and Mollie W. White, grand children of the said Elizabeth Roberts, they being the only children and grand children of the said Elizabeth Roberts, decd...

19 Nov 1833 affd made before me by Joshua Tasly as to the age of Martha Gilmore Ira Garrett .

Witness John M Roberts (LS)

Wm Rison Richard P Breedlove (LS)

To the Clerk of Pittsylvania Court you will Grant Doctor John M Roberts Lisens to mary my daughter Bethionia P Shelton and oblige yours, Leroy Shelton
Richard P Breedlove March 31st 1833
Thomas L Harris.

75.3 acres for consideration of $480.00. Parts of the SW Section 27 Township 52 Range 2 W bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning on the N & S line between Sections 27 & 28 at a stone near a meeting house on the NW Corner of John Myer's land; thence running N 4.50 chains to a branch and at 10 chains EW Dorseys fence; thence with his fence 26 chs & 50 lks to the qr Section Corner; thence East 27.14 chs to a post on an old claim line. the same being CC Delassus land, a Spanish Grant No 1728; thence S 28 degrees East 19.37 chs (crossing a branch) to a white oak; thence S 64 1/w W 15 chs to a post; thence S58 1/2 W 3.68 chs to a stone corner; thence S 49.0 W 9.41 chs to a corner in a spring in John Myers field; thence N 75.0 W (crossing a branch) 9 chs to the place of beginning, as surveyed by James M Watson, Surveyor of Pike County on April 20, 1840.
Containing 75.30 acres. Being the land which I hold by virtue of a decree of the Circuit Court of Pike County, Mo (sitting in chancery) made at the July term thereof, 1838, wherein it was adjudged and decreed by said Court that John Myers, Executor of Thos. Suddarth, deceased do make and execute to me the said Jeremiah Roberts, a good and sufficient warrantee dec in fee simple for said lands.

See notes for Jeremiah Roberts - lot was purchased from Fielding Lewis for the sum of $50 on 15 May 1850 - recorded 4 Feb 1851.

Page 513:
John O. Roberts, principal; Benjamin P. Clifford and Thomas J. C. Fagg - securities; Lucy M Roberts (widow), John O. Roberts, James B. Roberts, Richard M. Roberts, Ellen J. Roberts, and Caroline V. Roberts are the only heirs of Jeremiah Roberts.

Vol F, p 40 - Jeremiah Roberts and others (Sept 16, 1852) money made from sale ($1463.05) paid to Jeremiah Roberts in right of his wife Lucy M. Thomas J C Fagg
[women could not assume monetary or land rights - only father and husband].

 .

Detail comments:
As receiver the undersigned has proceeded to distribute & pay to the parties entitled their respective portions of the sum of $2,954.10 being the nett sum for distribution. This sum, divided into seven parts, the number of distributees, gave to each the sum of $422.01 and the following persons have been paid to wit: ER Harris in right of his wife; E L Warren in right of his wife; Thos E Warren in right of his wife; J D Roberts exors; self; inc. the remaining share or portion of $422.01 due to Jeremiah Roberts, who is absent residing in Missouri, in the hands of the undersigned, to be paid to him on application. All which is respectfully submitted - Fred. Roberts, Commissioner an recever
Feby 10, 1854.

Note: Everything in italics and underlined are words, numbers and letters handwritten and added to a pre-printed form..

Jefferson City, Dec 3. - A 60-year-old prohibition provision written into the deeds to the original townsite of Elsberry, Mo., in an attempt to forever stop the sale of intoxicating liquor in the business section of the community was ruled invalid today by the Missouri Supreme court, division No. 2. In 1879, Robert T. Elsberry, founder of the town; William McIntosh, John O. Roberts and Henry S. Carroll conveyed the land for the future little town. Records in the case disclose lengthy hearings in the lower court, which ruled against the claims of the Elsberry descendants. It was shown that during the lifetime of Robert Elsberry, and after the restrictions in the deeds were effective, "whisky was old in great abundance" in the town upon the restricted premises. Judge Westhues held that because of the widespread violation of the restrictions, known to Mr. Elsberry during his lifetime, the provisions of the deeds had been waived by him, and the descendants now could not recover.

Richard wasn't born in 1830 - so I'm assuming that this was a typo and have shifted it to 1860 - will leave it there until I can correct it with an accurate date.

Have been unable to find any information about Mary Ann - research continues.

Dr June, Port starts to-night for Stockton. Enclosed find draft on FM for $250.00. Nell said she would go down with him and see to his board & c. I don't know how much it will cost and thought it best to send this, and you can advise me when it is gone. I hope he will be a success & that we will all be proud of him some day. My love to all & kiss for my Olivia. Yours truly, A. R. Levering
I sent your statement book (back?). We have about 57% reserve. And propose to keep that way until we get result of Election. If McKinley we will reach out for business. If Bryan, I can't say what we will do.

Written on Farmers & Merchants Bank - AR Levering, Cashier.

Class of '96 - Florence Thorne, Edith Hodgdon, Emma Henwood, Frank Theis, Ethel Carver, Porter Roberts, Helen Henwood, Myrtle Blake, Dan'l Hill, Queena Austin, Jessica Fuller, Elisabeth Norton, Katherine Cronin, Frances Catlett

Program: Part I - #5 Dora by Edith Hodgdon; Part II #13 Oration - The Glory of American Citizenship - G Porter Roberts.

Clark William r 645 W Poplar

Roberts & Clark Planing Mill 425 S Center bet W Sonora & W Church Phone 116
Gilchrist P Roberts & Wm H Clark.

Roberts Gilchrist P (R & C) h 27 W Poplar.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be added to the powers and purposes of said corporation additional powers and purposes, to-wit: to manufacture and sell automotive bodies; to repair automobiles and motor vehicles; and generally deal in all kinds of automobiles, motors, motor bodies, machines, wagon, engines, apparatus, and vehicles of every kind and description, and to generally deal in machinery, machine supplies and engineering appliances incidental to the construction of motor cars and automotive bodies; to manufacture, buy and sell sash, doors, frames, mouldings, mill work, and lumber of all descriptions, including also the complete finishing of the same ready for the placing in buildings, and that the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation be, and the same are hereby amended for that purpose so that there shall be added to Article Second, Section aa, reading as follows:
Section aa. To manufacture and sell automotive bodies; to repair automobiles and motor vehicles; and generally deal in all kinds of automobiles, motors, motor bodies, machines, wagons, engines, apparatus, and vehicles of every kind and generally deal in machinery, machine supplies and engineering appliances incidental to the construction of motor cars and automotive bodies; to manufacture, buy and sell sash, doors, frames, mouldings, mill work, and lumber of all descriptions, including also the complete finishing of the same ready for the placing in buildings.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the place where the principal business of said corporation is to be transacted is hereby changed from the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, to the City of Stockton, County of San Joaquin, State of California, and that the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation be, and the same are hereby amended for that purpose so that Articles Third thereof shall be in the following form:

Article Third: That the place where the principal business of said corporation is to be transacted is the City of Stockton, County of San Joaquin, State of California.

Department of State Corporation Number - 74453
Filed 31 Mar 1930, signed Robert Jordan, Asst Sec'y of State.

Sirs: please to let John Fagg have Licence to Marry my Daughter Betsey Oglesby & oblige Your Ob
Jacob Oglesby
To the Clerk of Albemarle
Test Wm C Bradburn
Mary C Oglesby.

Judge Thomas J C Fagg was born July 15 1822 in Albemarle Co, Va. His father was a farmer in that state & when Burgoyne's army was sent as prisoners to Va. it occupied a part of his farm. John Fagg married Elizabeth w. Oglesby a relative of ex governor Richard J Oglesby of Ill. and in 1836 moved with his family to this state & settled in Pike Co. Thomas was educated at Ill. College at Jacksonvileee & then commenced reading law with Murry McConnell & James A McDogal & finished with Hon. Gilchrist Porter, then of Bowling Green and for some years was company with Hon. J. O. Broadhead and afterward alone (was admitted to practice at Troy this county in April 1845) in 1856 he moved to Louisiana, Pike Co. where he lived for more than a quarter of century & was in some public office much, the larger part of the time, before leaving Bowling Green he ad become greatly interested in policies being a Benton Democrat. As such in Aug 1850 he was a candidate for the Legislature and was defeated. In Nov., same year he was elected Judge of probate & established that court in Pike Co & was reelected in 1854. At a special election in 1855 he was elected on American ticket to fill a vacancy in Legislature. In 1856 Mr Fagg was defeated on State ticket as a candidate for Commissioner of Board of public works.

Living next door to John Hammond, Sr and family and Ann E Ray.

Father George Cornwell Officiating
Mrs Russel Bibler Organist
Private Inurnment, Stockton Rural Cemetery.

Father George Cornwell Officiating
Mrs Russel Bibler Organist
Private Inurnment, Stockton Rural Cemetery.

Dr and Mrs. Thomas Ustick Smyth of San Anselmo have announced the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Helen Smyth to Gilchrist Porter Roberts, Jr of Stockton.
Miss Smyth has been living in Stockton with her aunt, Dr. Margaret Smyth. The wedding will take place early in April at her home in Marin county.

ANOTHER OLD LANDMARK GONE - Dr. John D. Porter, one of our oldest and most respected citizens, died at his residence near this place on the morning of the 3rd inst. Dr. Porter was born in Fredericksburg, VA in 1804, being 65 years of age at the time of his death. He studied medicine at Port Royal, VA in the years 1825, 6, 7 and graduated as M.D. in the Medical Department of the University of Penn. in the spring of 1830. He removed to Troy (Missouri) in 1835. For many years he practiced medicine at this place and was very successful as a practitioner. He was unmarried, but leaves a sister and two brothers, Judge Gilchrist Porter and Chas. U. Porter, together with a large circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his loss.

ANOTHER OLD LANDMARK GONE - Dr. John D. Porter, one of our oldest and most respected citizens, died at his residence near this place on the morning of the 3rd inst. Dr. Porter was born in Fredericksburg, VA in 1804, being 65 years of age at the time of his death. He studied medicine at Port Royal, VA in the years 1825, 6, 7 and graduated as M.D. in the Medical Department of the University of Penn. in the spring of 1830. He removed to Troy (Missouri) in 1835. For many years he practiced medicine at this place and was very successful as a practitioner. He was unmarried, but leaves a sister and two brothers, Judge Gilchrist Porter and Chas. U. Porter, together with a large circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his loss.

On the 9th of November (1840), Mr. John Mackey aged 74 years, died. He was one of the earliest settlers, coming to the county in 1810 and improving the farm on which he died.

Census - In 1840 the number of inhabitants of the county was 10,766.

For Congress
1st District - Samuel Caruthers (Whig)

2nd District - Gilchrist Porter.

GILCHRIST PORTER
Attorney at Law.
HANNIBAL, MO.
Office in Collins' new building, corner of Main and Bird street.

Fifty years ago today in the parlors of the home of Judge Gilchrist Porter, on the northwest corner of Fifth and Lyon streets, the Rev. Mr. Dunn, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, united the destinies of Miss Ella M. Porter and Aaron Righter Levering...

Sacred to the memory of Emma Rebecca, daughter of Gilchrist and Comfort W. Porter, born Dec 7th 1844, died Jan 1st, 1845, age: 11 months and 24 days. (footstone: ERP died 1845.

Sacred to the memory of Emma Rebecca, daughter of Gilchrist and Comfort W. Porter, born Dec 7th 1844, died Jan 1st, 1845, age: 11 months and 24 days. (footstone: ERP died 1845.

Also on file - probate documents, appraisals etc.

State of Missouri, County of Jasper. This is certify that the undersinged, a clergyman of the Prot. Episcopal Church did at Carthage in said County, on the 25th day of April A. D. united in marrige the above named persons. H A Duboc Rector, St. Phillips Church.

Application for bounty land warrant, presented before the Probate Court, Bowling Green, Pike, MO and certified by the Judge of the Probate Court, Judge Thomas J C Fagg, 16 Jan 1851. Warrant #31644 issued 3 Dec 1851 for 40 acres.

THOMAS B. DORSEY
JOHN T W DORSEY

NB The subscribers would sell this property (if desired) at private sale at any time before the 15th of June next.

Know all men by these presents that we, James O Broadhead and Caleb Dorsey as principal and ------as [clearly word or words concerning a bond] securities are held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri in the sum seventy five thousand dollars for the true payment of which we hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, witness of hand and seals this 19th day of July AD 1858. The condition of this bond is that if James O Broadhead and Caleb Dorsey, administrators of the Estate of Edward W Dorsey, deceased shall faithfully administer said Estate, account for, pay and deliver all money, property of said estate and perform all other things touching said 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. Jas. O Broadhead, Caleb Dorsey, Aaron McPike, Joseph Roants, William Bankhead.

James O Braodhead and Caleb Dorsey on their oaths state that Edward W Dorsey, late of Pike County, Missouri has died leaving the following named heirs and representatives to wit: Eleanor E Dorsey, his widow and the following children to wit: Comfort W Porter of Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri and wife of Gilchrist Porter, John W Dorsey and Thomas B Dorsey of the state of California, Mary L Broadhead, wife of Jas O Broadhead, Caleb Dorsey, Annie Dorsey, Susan Dorsey and Edna(sic) Dorsey of Pike County, Missouri, the last three of whom are minors under the age of twenty one years, that the deceased died without a will and that they will make a perfect inventory of and faithfully administer all the estate of the deceased and pay the debts as far as the assets will extend and the same direct and account for and pay all assets which shall come to their possession or knowledge belonging to said estate. Jas. O. Broadhead, Caleb Dorsey. Filed for record July the 19th, 1858.

Know all men by these Presents:
That we, Esther M Dorsey as principal, and, J W Dorsey and Caleb Dorsey both of the County of Stanislaus and State of California as sureties, are held and firmly bound to the state of California in the sum of fifteen Thousand dollars - 21st day of Oct 1885
Administratrix of the Estate of Caleb Dorsey...died 28 Mar 1885 without a will...heirs at law Elizabeth M Dorsey Anita E Dorsey Kate W Dorsey all over 21, and Caleb, 17 years of age.

Notice of Location of Mill Site & Water Right: Notice is hereby given to all whom it may concern, That we the undersigned citizens of the United States of America, over the age of Twenty one, have this day located under the laws of the United States Fifteen hundred (1500) inches of water flowing in Knights Creek in the County of Tuolumne State of California to be taken out on the north side of said creek at a certain ditch constructed to take the same. Also three (3) acres of ground at the terminus of said ditch to be used as a Mill Site to have and to hold the same Dated this 22nd day of October 1891. Signed John Dorsey, Adam Elliot, J W Foster. Recorded at the Request of J W Foster Nov 14th 1891 at 10 min past 9 oclock AM. L P Cannon, County Recorder.

. Family living next door to Richard Morris and Julia Roberts and Edward Dorsey Porter.

Know all men by these Presents:
That we, Esther M Dorsey as principal, and, J W Dorsey and Caleb Dorsey both of the County of Stanislaus and State of California as sureties, are held and firmly bound to the state of California in the sum of fifteen Thousand dollars - 21st day of Oct 1885
Administratrix of the Estate of Caleb Dorsey...died 28 Mar 1885 without a will...heirs at law Elizabeth M Dorsey Anita E Dorsey Kate W Dorsey all over 21, and Caleb, 17 years of age.

The New York Times; Published May 26, 1905.

Hon Champ Clark Apl 26th/94
House of Representatives
Dr Sir

Can you furnish
Me with the full name of
Col -------- Dorsey
Of the Missouri State Guard, & afterwards with Genl S. Price
In Confederate Service

& Oblige
Yours truly
Jos Darr

Caleb W. Dorsey is the name you want.

Your, Champ Clark.

Caleb Dorsey appears to have been in command at various times of service different bodies of men who were raised in Mo. for the Confed. service.
He was paid for services as Capt of Cav. Mo. ?? from June 27/61 to Dec 27, 1861 as Col. Of Inf. From the latter date.
He was captured while rectg [recruiting] near the Osage River Feb 15, 1862 & was imprisoned at Alton, Ill. Camp ??? Ohio & Ft Warren Mass. And was delivered to the confed August at ??? ??? Va. Aug 5, 1862 exchange at which time his age was stated as 28 yrs. Height 6 feet.
Subsequently he is mentioned as Capt. As Maj. & as Col. In Command of Troops and on Aug 20, 1864 he was authorized to recruit a regt. of Cav. For Shelby a Brig. CSA.
He appears in Nov 1864 to have been in command of a body of Confed. Troops in Mo.
No later rec. found.

32, 66. Blue, gray Blackwater Johnson Co., Miss. Accounting Officer.

Maj Gen E Halleck

D Sir
Learning that you have extended the parol of Genl Price and other officers of the Rebel Army lately taken prisoners - I am induced to ask that you will extend the parol of Col. Caleb Dorsey who is a brother of my wife - so as to enable him to go to Pike County Missouri where his mother resides and where his home is - I am not authorized to say that he is disposed to abandon the position which he has heretofore affirmed - but I think that the influences that would surround him on his return home would most probably induce him to change - but this I can pledge myself to that he would do nothing whilst on parol inconsistent with strict propriety of conduct as a prisoner of war parolee upon his honor -
Respectfully your
Jas. O Broadhead
P.S. - He is not at Alton

Comment on cover of letter "Make that the parole of Col. Caleb Dorsey may extended to allow him to go to Pike Co. Mo.".

Appears on a record of PRISONERS OF WAR at Fort Warren, Mass.

Age 28 ; height 6 feet inches
Eyes Gray ; hair Dark
When received April 9 186 2
Where taken Fort Donalson
Remarks: Released July 31, 1862 to be exchanged.

February 2d, Maj. Caleb Dorsey, with his squadron of Confederate cavalry, was escorting the steamboat Julia Roane down the Arkansas river, when at White Oak, seven miles west of Ozark, he was attacked by a band of Arkansas Federal, under Captain Galloway. Dorsey, with his confederates, charged and routed them, killing horses and wounding several of the enemy, who retreated to Frog bayou. On February 3d, Capt Peter Mankins, with a portion of his company, was surrounded in a house on Mulberry by a scouting party under Captain Travis, which Mankins repulsed, killing two men of the Tenth Illinois and wounding others.

Full article in Caleb Dorsey Book - several references to Dorsey's involvement around the massacre of the Calloway County boys at Brown's farm.

HDQRS. DETACH. FOURTH CAV. MO. STATE MILITIA.
Fulton, Mo., November 8, 1864
General: On the night of the 5th instant Dorsey, with 200 men, camped ten miles southwest of this place. At 12 midnight he took up the line of march for some point on the Missouri River. I received information that he was in camp at the place above mentioned. at noon of the 6th. I immediately went in pursuit with sixty-five of my command. I struck the trail late in the evening at a point ten miles west of south of this place, and found that he was bearing east. I followed the trail through by-roads and plantations until near midnight, when I lost his trail and came to a halt. I learned that there were two Union families within a mile of me. I sent a sergeant to one place for information of the whereabouts of the enemy. I also sent for and procured a Union man for a guide. I learned that the enemy were crossing the river two miles and a half below Cote Sans Dessein, at the farm of one Swan Ferguson. I delayed no time after receiving information, but moved at once. At about 1 o'clock I arrived at the farm of Ferguson. Not seeing any camp-fires of the enemy, I sent two men, dismounted, to reconnoiter for his camp. In about one hour his camp was found, or rather his point of crossing, with a few men and horses still remaining on this side. I dismounted all of my men, leaving ten men to guard the horses. I went into the brush with my men and moved cautiously, and surrounded the point at which the enemy were crossing the river, and arriving at their fires found that I was too late. The last load had crossed intervening the time that the camp was discovered and the report could reach me and I could move to the place of the crossing. It was pitch darkness, thick brush and heavy timber to pass through. My information up to this time had been that the enemy were crossing in skiffs. I remained on the ground till daylight, and ascertained that Dorsey had captured a steam-boat at dusk, but I did not learn the name of the steam-boat.
On my return to this place a detachment of one sergeant and five men of my command pursued two of Dorsey' men from the river a distance of fifteen miles, following them by their tracks, overhauled them, killed 1, mortally wounded the other, and slightly wounded a third, who had fallen in company with the two. A short time before my men came upon them, captured their arms and equipments, consisting of blankets, saddle-bags, and a regular outfit for the brush confederacy. One pair of the saddle-bags had a new pair of Federal cavalry pants in them. Conscripts are coming in slowly. I think this country is quiet for the present, but I cannot tell how long it will remain so. It is with much difficulty that we can obtain information from citizens as to where an enemy is in this country.
General, I am, with much respect, your obedient servant, D. Dale, Major Fourth Cav., Missouri State Mil., Comdg. at Fulton, Mo. (Brig. Gen. E B Brown).

Dearest Loudie

I crossed the "Grand River of the North" (Rio Grande Del Norte) this morning and have determined to write you a few lines, without the slightest prospect of getting an answer for a long, long time. As I leave here, for some "other" Place, in a day or two - As to where I shall go 'tis scarcely yet known to myself - Perhaps when I write again 'twill be from some foreign port - I am no Citizen of the United States as you are aware of, therefore can promise myself nothing but eternal trouble by coming to Mo. where there has been so much trouble among the contending parties -
Write to John & Tom & say that they will hear from me soon - I have been in unusual good health all winter & spring - have not had a line or heard a word from any of you since November last -
I shall try and find a country where you can join me if you wish it -
W H E & "Sallie G's" "George" are with me - Both in moderate health - Crocket is also with me & well - I cannot yet write you a letter that is at all satisfactory & will therefore make this as short as possible - I do not design joining either party in this country unless some unlooked for change takes place in the present status of affairs --
Presently kindest regards & sympathy to my old friends --
The Boys wish to be kindly remembered to their friends - and send much love to you --
With much love to all I am as ever Devotedly
Caleb.

After the War between the States it was difficult for southern people to get established for farming in a new country. The Dorsey brothers had but two teams of mules for use in sowing wheat; one plowed in the daytime and one at night using a lantern hung on the plowbeam. Impressed with the new land, Philip C Barbour Ewing returned to Kentucky and from his plantations brought out to the ranch mules, cattle and some of his blooded horses, shipping via the new overland railroad.

In June, 1868, the Stanislaus Steam Navigation Company was incorporated under an act of legislature passed the previous April. The company was to clear the Stanislaus River of all obstructions in the way of trees, snags, and so forth. This they did, from Burneyville (ed: now Riverbank) west to the mouth of the river. The first steamer to make the trip was the Clara Crow. A small sternwheeler then twenty years of age and already a veteran in river transportation. The steamboat company invited the board of supervisors to make this trip, but on one, Caleb Dorsey, made the maiden voyage. The Clara Crow left Stockton on May 1, 1869, and that night they tied up at E E Taylor's ferry near the present Caswell Park. The next day they steamed into Burneyville to be greeted by a large crowd of citizens. The steamer loaded forty tons of grain and the next day it departed downstream.

At the annual meeting of the San Joaquin Agricultural Society held Saturday, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, L U Shippee...Vice Presidents, Stanislaus county, S H Rogers and Caleb Dorsey...

HON. CALEB DORSEY, Stanislaus County; Is a representative in the Assembly of Stanislaus County, and resides at Oakdale. He is a native of Maryland, 43 years old, single, and came to California from Missouri in 1865. He is a confirmed Democrat, and a farmer by occupation. Mr. Dorsey served on the Confederate army, with the rank of Colonel, during the rebellion. Since becoming a resident of his present County he has been one of the Supervisors for three years. He has also been President of the Bank of Modesto, and President of the San Joaquin Agricultural Society, and is now one of the Directors of the State Insane Asylum at Stockton. This is Mr. Dorsey's first trial as a legislator. He is a tall, good-looking bachelor, courteous and gentlemanly in his deportment, and is liberally endowed with that most necessary element of success - go-ahead. Mr. Dorsey is Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs.

---- F H Darling of Napa; N L Bancroft of New York; Caleb Dorsey of Sonora, and AI Elkins of Sacramento are at the Cosmopolitan.

Caleb Dorsey
Snell Qtz Mine
Tuolumne Mg D.
Tuolumne Co.
20.66 acres $105.00
Patent written April 8, 1891 LMW
Patent No 17839
Date May 6/91
Recorded Vol 198 p 49
To R & R May 28, 1891 SB

Land Entry file contains Affadavit of Citizenship; it states he is a citizen b. County of Baltimore, State of Maryland in the year 1833 and is now a resident of Oakdale Stanislaus Co. Cala. Signature of Caleb Dorsey - dated 31 Dec 1886. The Mining claim hereby located is situated in Tuolumne Mining District, Tuolumne County, State of California and is in T3N R15E S7 in a Southwesterly direction from the Wilson Ranch. This location is distinctly marked on the ground so that its boundaries can be readily traced by a monument set at a discovery shaft where this Notice and Statement is posted this 15th day of May 1880 and by substantial posts or monuments of stone at each corner of the claim, and the exterior boundaries of the claim as marked by said posts or monuments are as follows: Beginning at this monument and notice and extending 750 feet in a Westerly direction to a stone monument thence 300 feet in a Northerly direction to a stake, thence 1500 feet in a Easterly direction to a stake thence 300 feet, Southerly to a stone monument, thence 300 feet Southerly to a stake thence 1500 feet to a stake which is the South west corner thence 300 feet to the stone monument to the place of beginning. The undersigned intends to hold this claim under and according to the Laws of the United States and of the State of California and to record this notice and statement under oath in the County Recorders Office of said County as provided by law Dated this 15th day of May 1880 and signed Robert Ross, Locator and claimant, Recorded at request of R Ross, January 10th 1881 at 39 M P o'clock AM in volume 2 Page 309 of Records of Mining Claims of Tuolumne County.
On the 31st day of May AD 1881 Robert Ross conveyed by Deed to Caleb Dorsey all his right title and interest in that certain Quartz Claim known as the Snell Quartz Lode Mining Claim, above described Said Deed being of Record in book A Vol 20 Page 455 of Deeds Tuolumne County Records and Recorded in June 1st 1881 at 9 H A M.

Claim abandoned and repatented to E L Pearcy and S Plenningham 9, Dec 1886.

Claim abandoned and repatented to H A Reading 9 Dec 1886, Dec 1886.

Modesto, July 21st - Yester day morning news was brought to this place over the telephone that the whole country was on fire north of Oakdale or just across the Stanislaus river, near Burnett's station...The fire broke out on the northwest corner of Col. Caleb Dorsey's ranch, about five miles from the river. It is supposed that two men were smoking, and that the fire from their pipes caught the grain and before they noticed it, it got under such headway that no one could go near enough to put it out...The fire started about 10 o'clock and it was not under control until 3:30. During this time it had run about five miles and covered a country three miles wide, destroying some of the finest grain in the valley. It was reported that several farm houses had been destroyed. Col. Dorsey lost one of his tenant houses and the barn, valued at $900. He also lost a thrashing machine and one of Shippee's combined headers and thrashers, valued at about $3,000...
PROBABLE LOSSES.
As everybody was excited it is impossible at this time to tell exactly what the losses will amount to. As near as could be learned from the insurance men it is as follows: Col. Dorsey, 1,040 acres; loss $30,00; no insurance; also one house and barn, $900; one of Shippee's combined header and thrasher and one steam thrashing machine, $3,600; partly insured. R Robinson, or Robinson and Carey, 1,200 acres: loss, $20,000; insurance, $7 per acre. L. Grainger, 120 acres; loss, $4,000; insurance, $10 per acre. Isaac Watson, 900 acres; loss, $16,000; insurance, $7 per acre. Paulsel & Muncy, 200 acres; loss, $16,000; insurance, $7 per acre. Total loss, $90,100; total insurance, $23,200.

Know all men by these Presents:
That we, Esther M Dorsey as principal, and, J W Dorsey and Caleb Dorsey both of the County of Stanislaus and State of California as sureties, are held and firmly bound to the state of California in the sum of fifteen Thousand dollars - 21st day of Oct 1885
Administratrix of the Estate of Caleb Dorsey...died 28 Mar 1885 without a will...heirs at law Elizabeth M Dorsey Anita E Dorsey Kate W Dorsey all over 21, and Caleb, 17 years of age.

...It is not so easy to tell the delegates to the National Convention. TO GO TO ST. LOUIS ...
...J J White of Alameda and E G Blessing of Sacramento, it is understood, will go form the Third District. From the Second C P Berry will probably be one of the delegates, and Caleb Dorsey of Stanislaus would not refuse to go too.

Arrivals at the Capital Hotel yesterday: ...Caleb Dorsey, Stanislaus Co.

Notice Is hereby given that we the undersigned claim (5) acres of this land including the Springs of water for a Mill Site to be hedl in accordance with the United States Mining Laws Situated in Tuolumne County Cal and described as follows: North of Knights Creek about 1 mile and about 1/2 a mile from the Snell Mine and known as the Old Wilson Ranch. Caleb Dorsey, Adam Elliot, Located this 10 day of October AD 1890. Recorded at the Request of Wells Fargo & Co Oct 27, 1890 at 9 o'clock AM. R. Inch County Recorder.

1. Colonel Caleb Dorsey of Pike County Missouri was on recruiting service under General Price both in the State Guard and Confederate service. He now resides in California on a Ranch.
2. Captain Celsus Price Son of Major General Sterling Price was aide de camp on his father's Staff till the end of the War, now resides in Saint Louis
3. The other son was named Edwin W. Price and was a Recruiter General of the third Division Missouri State Guard, was taken prisoner in the War in the Winter of 1861, on the Osage River near Warsaw while on recruiting service, was exchanged for a Federal officer of equal rank, reported to his father in Mississippi and --?-- he returned to Missouri and remained till the end of the War.
Respectfully
Your obt servt
R H Musser.

J C Newcomer was held to answer without bonds for the killing of Col. Dorsey. Newcomer did not testify.

Many inquiries have recently been made by his friends concerning the death of Colonel Caleb Dorsey, who was shot and killed in Tuolumne County, California, by a man named Newcomber, who was interested with him in a gold mine and mill in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, some distance from Sonora, Colo. Dorsey was raised in Pike County, Misouri(sic), and had numerous friends throughout the State. He served in the Confederate Army as Lieutenant Colonel of a regiment in Shelby's Brigade, throughout the War of the Rebellion. He was universally respected and beloved wherever he was known, both here and in California, where he has resided on a rancho in Stanislaus County since the close of the war. From the best and most recent information obtained, it appears that no other persons were present at the time of the shooting - it was done in a cabin near the mill, and after the shooting Newcomber locked the door and went over to the mine, which was about a mile off, and delivered the key to the cook - said he had shot Dorsey in self-defense - then went on.
In a recent number of a Stockton paper just received appears the following "The prevailing opinion seems to be that the killing of Colonel Dorsey, who was shot on Tuesday, April 21, was unprovoked and not in self-defense, as his slayer alleges Colonel Dorsey had no weapon upon him, and no one can be found who does not say that he was never known to provoke a man to anger in private life. Mr. Rutherford of Stockton, who knew Colonel Dorsey during the civil war, gave some interesting particulars of his life during the war, which stamp him as one of the bravest, coolest men who fought with General Price in the West. He said 'After the war General Price told me that he considered Colonel Dorsey one of the most discreet, cool and brave men in his command, and that he would rather trust him with any delicate mission, or one that required unquestioned courage, than any other man in his army.'
Mr. Rutherford knew Colonel Dorsey from boyhood, and never before knew him to have a personal difficulty with anyone. He ended the interview by saying, "During all my acquaintance with Colonel Dorsey I never knew him to have an enemy; he never sought trouble and was too much respected for anyone ever to offer him an insult.".

Sonora, Cal., April 22. - The Coroner's inquest throws no new light on the killing of Colonel Caleb T. Dorsey, and J. T. Newcomer, the homicide, still positively refuses to make a statement of kind regarding the cause of the killing. W. H. Bailey gave the most important testimony at the inquest. Newcomer having given him, briefly, the reasons for his act.
"The first I knew of any trouble was Tuesday morning between 8 and 9 o'clock," said Bailey. "Mr. Newcomer came to the house and turned over the keys to his cabin to me, saying he had shot Colonel Dorsey. He wanted me to go down and take charge of the place. I asked him how it happened and he said he asked the colonel to appoint a receiver for their mine, and the colonel said he would have gold enough to pay everything. Hot words followed and Dorsey reached for his pistol, but Newcomer drew his first and fired. He said he did not know if he had killed Dorsey or not, but thought that he had. He then rode away and said that he was going to Sonora to give himself up."
Newcomer is reported as having said in Columbia on yesterday that Dorsey accused him of stealing amalgam from the mills. He called Dorsey a liar. Dorsey reached for his pistol, but Newcomer got in the first shot. Dorsey's nephew, as well as others who were at the mine at the time of the shooting, knew of no trouble between the partners. Dorsey's pistol could not be found, although it was his custom to carry one always. The searchers did find cartridges on his person.
Dorsey's friends attempted to bring his body out from the mine on a mule to-day. The mule became fretful and unmanageable and after hard work they succeeded in getting the body from its back, and enfolding it in a blanket, strapped it to a buckboard. They are bringing the corpse by the wagon road via Sugar Pine, a distance of thirty-five miles. It will reach Sonora before morning.
Colonel Dorsey was a cousin of the late Caleb Dorsey, for many years District Attorney of this county and a prominent mining lawyer. The Colonel was a Mason of high rank.

Sonora, Cal., Aug. 11 -- The trial of John To Newcomer for the murder of Caleb Dorsey began in earnest to-day, the twelfth juror being sworn during the morning hours. The District Attorney made a short opening address, reciting the main facts of the killing and then called Thomas B Dorsey, a brother of the murdered man, to the stand.
Dorsey testified to the general correctness of a map showing the Dorsey mine and surrounding buildings and topographical features. William Bailey, a cook at the mine, testified that on the morning of the shooting he was in the kitchen when Newcomer drove up to the cabin and asked him to come out. Newcomer told him that he had shot Dorsey, but did not know whether he had killed him or not. He was going into Sonora to give himself up. He handed to Bailey a key to the cabin where he and Dorsey lived and told him to go down and look after the wounded man. Bailey gave the key to Samuel Bateman, who went down to the place to look after the colonel.
Samuel Bateman stated that on the day of the shooting he noticed in the mine -?- a pistol which belong to Dorsey: of the neck on the right and below the ribs near the abdomen. Bateman state that Edward Dorsey, a son of the murdered man, had gone down to the cabin where his father's body lay, but did not go in, and at no time did he see him with his father's pistol.
Charles Owens was the last witness of the day and merely testified to the fact that on the day of the murder, while he was at the mine, Newcomer had told him that Colonel Dorsey was up in the woods cutting timber for firewood. This is important so far as Newcomer's veracity is concerned, as all that the colonel lay cold in death.

However, 18 Mar 1903, JT Newcomer committed suicide in a remote cabin in Tuolumne County. After being acquitted of the murder of Dorsey, he was never able to recover his life, was ostracized by the community. "Feared by his neighbors and without friends, he finally turned on himself the weapon which wrecked his life and his fortune." (SF Call Newspaper, 20 Mar 1903).

Mary S. Broadhead, Anna B. Dorsey, L. E. D. Ewing (individually), Samuel W R Langdon, Eleanor M Levering, Millie Porter as Executrix and Trustee under the Will of Edward D. Porter, deceased, Annie D Porter, J D Porter, William C Porter, G Porter Roberts, Nellie L Young and Annie R Hodgdon having filed herein their petition for a partial distribution, and the same coming on regularly to be heard this day, and it appearing to the Court from the proofs adduced, that personal notice of the hearing of said petition had been given to the administratrix of the estate of the deceased, and by the Clerk by posting for the time and in the manner required by law and the order of this Court, the Court proceeded to the hearing of said petition.
And it appearing to the Court from the proofs adduced, that more than fifteen years has elapsed since the issuance of letters of administration; That the time for filing and presenting claims has expired; that all claims that have been allowed against said estate have been paid, and said estate is not indebted except for the commissions of the administratrix and the attorney's fees to be allowed on final settlement; That a final distribution of the estate of said deceased cannot now be made, for the reason that an action for an accounting is pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of Tuolumne, as to certain mining property belonging to the estate of said deceased; That said deceased left certain real property in the State of Texas, some of which has been sold, and, by agreement of some of the heirs, the proceeds thereof turned over to the administratrix of the estate of said deceased to be by her distributed; That the petitioners above named are all heirs at law of said deceased and entitled to share in the proceeds of the Texas property; That petitioners G Porter Roberts, Nellie L Young and Annie R Hodgdon are a grand-nephew and grand-nieces, respectively of said deceased, and are not entitled to share in the property of said deceased situated in the State of California; That after leaving in the hands of said administratrix the sum of $697.49 (the proceeds from California property) and the sum of $573.13 from the proceeds of Texas property to meet the payment of her commissions and attorney's fees on final settlement, the shares of those of the above-named petitioners that may be entitled thereto, in the proportions hereinafter set out, in eight (8) shares of the capital stock of The San Joaquin Valley Bank and five (5) shares of the capital stock of Modesto Grange Company, and in moneys received from the proceeds of Texas property can be allowed to said petitioners, as such heirs, without loss to the creditors of said estate, and that no injury can result to the estate by reason of such partial distribution; It is by the Court here ordered, adjudged and decreed that the eight(8) shares of the capital stock of The San Joaquin Valley Bank and five (5) shares of the capital stock of Modesto Grange Company be and the same are hereby distributed to the following name petitioners, in the following proportions, to wit:
To petitioners Mary S. Broadhead, Anna B. Dorsey, LED Ewing, (individually) and Samuel W R Langdon, an undivided one-sixth (1/6) each;
To petitioners Eleanor M Levering, Annie D Porter, J D Porter, William C Porter and Millie Porter as the surviving wife of and trustee under the will of Edward D Porter, deceased, and undivided one-forty-second (1/42) each;
And that there be distributed to the following named petitioners, out of the proceeds of the Texas property, the sums set opposite to their names respectively, to wit:
Mary S Broadhead, Anna B Dorsey, LED Ewing (individually)and Samuel WR Langdon each the sum of $481.60;
Eleanor M Levering, Annie D Porter, J D Porter, William C Porter each the sum of $60.20;
G. Porter Roberts, Nellie L Young, Annie R Hodgdon each the sum of $20.06
It is further ordered that no bond be required of any of said petitioners on this distribution. Dated June 30, 1911.
L W Fulkerth, Judge.

Mrs. Lou Eleanor Dorsey Ewing, esteemed Stockton woman of many years' residence, founder and first president of Sterling Price chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy, and long an active worker in St. John's Episcopal Church, died yesterday afternoon at the family home, 1125 N. El Dorado street. Her passing came after an illness of over two weeks' duration, although she had been in poor health for a longer period. She lacked two months of being 80 years of age.
Mrs. Ewing, widow of Philip C. Barbour Ewing, a pioneer resident of a San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, who died many years ago, was the mother of Miss Edwa W. D. Ewing and J. Dorsey Ewing of Stockton and Mrs. Harry Marsh of San Francisco, formerly Miss Barbour Ewing. There is a grandson, Dorsey Ewing Marsh of San Francisco. A Sister, Miss Anna B. Dorsey, who has made her home at the Ewing residence, survives.
Mrs. Ewing was born in Missouri of parents who had recently moved there from their home in Maryland. Her girlhood was spent in her natal state and she was there during the trying period of the Civil war. Her parents being southerners, their sympathy was naturally with the Confederacy and Miss Dorsey was active in the war relief work which is always the lot of women to perform.
A number of years ago in Stockton Mrs. Ewing interested a group of Southern women in the formation of a chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. She was chosen the first president when Sterling Price chapter was organized, and continued in that office for seven years or as long as her health permitted. Her daughter, Miss Ewing, is president at the present time. Mrs. Ewing was present at the chapter a month ago, but her illness prevented her attendance at the meeting earlier this week.
All during her long residence in Stockton, Mrs. Ewing has been actively identified with the Episcopal church. She was treasurer of the Sunday school and a teacher there for many years. In times past the Christmas tree, with its decorations and gifts, was one of the things in which she took a special interest.
Mrs. Ewing was a fine type of southern gentlewoman with a wholesome personality and quiet charm which won her many friends. Her untiring efforts in church, charity and other work to which she devoted herself, made her many more admirers.
Of distinguished lineage, she had many prominent family connections in Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky, as well as in this state. She was a great-aunt of Mrs. J. D. Young of Stockton and Dr. Samuel Langdon, formerly of this city, but more recently of Livingston, Merced County.

Mrs. Lou Eleanor Dorsey Ewing, esteemed Stockton woman of many years' residence, founder and first president of Sterling Price chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy, and long an active worker in St. John's Episcopal Church, died yesterday afternoon at the family home, 1125 N. El Dorado street. Her passing came after an illness of over two weeks' duration, although she had been in poor health for a longer period. She lacked two months of being 80 years of age.
Mrs. Ewing, widow of Philip C. Barbour Ewing, a pioneer resident of a San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, who died many years ago, was the mother of Miss Edwa W. D. Ewing and J. Dorsey Ewing of Stockton and Mrs. Harry Marsh of San Francisco, formerly Miss Barbour Ewing. There is a grandson, Dorsey Ewing Marsh of San Francisco. A Sister, Miss Anna B. Dorsey, who has made her home at the Ewing residence, survives.
Mrs. Ewing was born in Missouri of parents who had recently moved there from their home in Maryland. Her girlhood was spent in her natal state and she was there during the trying period of the Civil war. Her parents being southerners, their sympathy was naturally with the Confederacy and Miss Dorsey was active in the war relief work which is always the lot of women to perform.
A number of years ago in Stockton Mrs. Ewing interested a group of Southern women in the formation of a chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. She was chosen the first president when Sterling Price chapter was organized, and continued in that office for seven years or as long as her health permitted. Her daughter, Miss Ewing, is president at the present time. Mrs. Ewing was present at the chapter a month ago, but her illness prevented her attendance at the meeting earlier this week.
All during her long residence in Stockton, Mrs. Ewing has been actively identified with the Episcopal church. She was treasurer of the Sunday school and a teacher there for many years. In times past the Christmas tree, with its decorations and gifts, was one of the things in which she took a special interest.
Mrs. Ewing was a fine type of southern gentlewoman with a wholesome personality and quiet charm which won her many friends. Her untiring efforts in church, charity and other work to which she devoted herself, made her many more admirers.
Of distinguished lineage, she had many prominent family connections in Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky, as well as in this state. She was a great-aunt of Mrs. J. D. Young of Stockton and Dr. Samuel Langdon, formerly of this city, but more recently of Livingston, Merced County.

Dr. Walter R Langdon, brother to Dr. Samuel Langdon, of this city, and Assistant Physician of the State Insane Asylum, was joined in matrimony yester, with an estimable young lady, sister of Colonel Dorsey of Stanislaus county. The nuptioal ceremony was performed at the dwelling of the bride's mother and brother, and the knot was duly tied by Rev. Mr. Foote, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of this city. The worthy couple took their departure last evening on a wedding tour for a few days.

P 113: Morris Roberts Louisa Co 14 Feb 1780 No 498
(proved) by the oath of Capt Jos Fox tha Morris Roberts enlisted and Served as a Soldier in his Company of rangers in the year 1756... John Nelson Clk

...assign with Certificate of Land to Jas Mcalester (signed) Morris Roberts; Test: Nath Mcalester, Thomas Gooch, Alexander Mcalester; Feby 15th 1780.

Morris Robards 1 (one tithable - no property).

Morris Roberds, 1.

Moses Roberts - 1.

Morris Roberts 1.

Moses Roberds 1.

Morris Robard 1.

Morris Robards 1.

Morris Roberts 1 -- 100 (one tithable person, 100 acres).

Living next to Chewning, Rowe (John, William, Jessey, Johnson).

This Indenture made this Twentyfifth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve between William Rowe and
Agness his wife of the County of Fayette and state of Ohio of the one part
and Mathew Sims of the county of Louisa & state of Virginia of the other
part Witnesseth that the said Rowe and wife, for and in consideration
of the sum of Seven hundred dollars have granted bargained and sold, and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell to the said Mathew Sims a tract of land lying in the county of Louisa and state of Virginia on the waters of Beaverdam a branch of Mychump creek, containing Two hundred and twenty two acres... Total assumption based on the information in this deed. I have no marriage records or anything else that might prove this marriage relationship. However, the Rowes and the Roberts did live in proximity, this land appears to resemble land owned by Morris or Jeremiah Roberts. The tract was originally sold to William Rowe by Jeremiah Roberts and William Rowe, Sr., and implies the marriage of known daughter, Agness, to William Rowe. From the way the will is written, one can assume that Agness is living, but if married, he has failed to mention her married name.

142 Acres
B.D. Creek [Beaverdam]
Distance and bearing from the Courthouse: 17W
Value of Land per acre including buildings: 3 dollars
Total Value of Land & Buildings: 426 dollars.

Witnessed by: Joshua Key, Thomas Trevillion, Micajah Carr, W E Key

Executors: Frederick Gillum and Matthew Wingfield.

One of the executors of the will is Matthew Wingfield.

Frederick Gillum born April 30 - 1783 died Feb 7 1865 - 81 yrs 9 m. & 5 da
Frederick Gillum was born near south mountain April 30 1783 Frederick had 4 brothers & 4 sisters & 1 half sister .

Frederick Gillum born April 30 - 1783 died Feb 7 1865 - 81 yrs 9 m. & 5 da.

P. 16: 28 May 1745 O S Page 151
Charles Smith James Yancey and Archelau Yancey at the Motion of Thomas Prestwood are appointed to view the way from the road that crosses at Dickerson's Mill to the new church and report to the next Court where the most convenient road may be had.

References: sons Absalom, George, Charles, John, Thomas, Pleasant,
daughters Letty Moore, Molly Oglesby, Nancy M Blane, Molly Dawson,
granddaughter Milley Moore, grandson Martin Moore.

Because they were expecting their first child who was born , the date of their marriage is simply a guess assuming about two years from marriage to first child. Obviously they might have been married much earlier or later.

Pleasant Martin - b. 21 Dec 1756, Albemarle Co, VA; d. 16 Oct 1836, Wilson Co, TN; pension allowed 26 Sept 1832.
(had been a resident of Wilson Co, TN for six years at the time his pension was allowed).

acquired from Gail on the Martin rootsweb email list - G2BYNUM@aol.com.

MARYLAND JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
We learn that Wm F Frick, Esq., has been appointed, by the Governor, Chief Judge of the district composed of Baltimore city and county and Harford county, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge Archer. He has also appointed Judge Thomas B. Dorsey, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Judge Dorsey, who has so long and so acceptably discharged the responsible duties of a Judge f the High Court of Appeals, and presiding Judge of the Anne Arundel county district, is advanced to the honorable position of Chief Justice of the Court, as his service, learning and ability required he should be...

Another patent, Liber CD, folio 76.

Another patent, Liber WD, folio 141.