Lester Williamson
My name is L.A. Williamson. I was born on September 17, 1836 in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. My parents moved to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri in 1845. My pa was a carpenter while my ma took care of me and my 7 siblings. In 1856 I moved to Clay County Missouri near Liberty and opened my own carpenter shop. I moved back outside Independence after my father’s death and took over his shop. In 1860 I met and married Mary Josephine Younger, sister of younger brothers. We had two children, Jeptha born in 1862 and Margaret born in 1864. After hostilities began, I rode with Captain W.C. Quantrell and was present on most of his operations, including Lawrence, KS. While I was away, I got word that my homestead had been burned and my property stolen. My family was made destitute by Yankee soldiers.
I ended up in Shoal Creek, Clay County, MO due to tracking down the yankee General who ordered my home destroyed. The last yankee officer I dispatched told me the General’s name was something like “Crow Foot”. I was told that he may now be running the town newspaper. I feel that I’m getting close to finding him to make him pay for his mistake. That will be the end of a long journey. After I finish my mission, I will rejoin my brothers-in-law and the James boys .
My name is L.A. Williamson. I was born on September 17, 1836 in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. My parents moved to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri in 1845. My pa was a carpenter while my ma took care of me and my 7 siblings. In 1856 I moved to Clay County Missouri near Liberty and opened my own carpenter shop. I moved back outside Independence after my father’s death and took over his shop. In 1860 I met and married Mary Josephine Younger, sister of younger brothers. We had two children, Jeptha born in 1862 and Margaret born in 1864. After hostilities began, I rode with Captain W.C. Quantrell and was present on most of his operations, including Lawrence, KS. While I was away, I got word that my homestead had been burned and my property stolen. My family was made destitute by Yankee soldiers.
I ended up in Shoal Creek, Clay County, MO due to tracking down the yankee General who ordered my home destroyed. The last yankee officer I dispatched told me the General’s name was something like “Crow Foot”. I was told that he may now be running the town newspaper. I feel that I’m getting close to finding him to make him pay for his mistake. That will be the end of a long journey. After I finish my mission, I will rejoin my brothers-in-law and the James boys .
Deena Roe
My name is Bad Betty. I am an outlaw from Platte County, Missouri. I have rode with the James/Younger gang on several occasions. It was on one of those occasions that I met my dear friend, Belle Starr. Many do not know that she has traveled to Shoal Creek several times and would stay with my cousin. I am not going to say where my current location is....I am wanted!
My name is Bad Betty. I am an outlaw from Platte County, Missouri. I have rode with the James/Younger gang on several occasions. It was on one of those occasions that I met my dear friend, Belle Starr. Many do not know that she has traveled to Shoal Creek several times and would stay with my cousin. I am not going to say where my current location is....I am wanted!
Joseph Roe
My name is J.R. Roe. My birth date is 1830 while on a wagon train west. My Father (Doc Roe) became the town doctor and Mother was the schoolmarm of Platte City, Missouri in 1836. I attended Humbolt Medical College 1856 in St. Louis, Missouri to follow my father in the medical field. I was a physician during the Civil War and had to attend to soldiers from both the North and South. In 1865 I settled down in the town of Shoal Creek, Missouri. I built a small cabin and became the town doctor. Trouble came to town in February of 1866 after the bank in Liberty, Missouri was robbed. The Sheriff of Shoal Creek was run out of town by the James / Younger gang. I decided to run for Sheriff since I could see more money in it then doctoring. I am currently the Sheriff of Shoal Creek, Missouri and always ready for outlaws to visit my jail.
My name is J.R. Roe. My birth date is 1830 while on a wagon train west. My Father (Doc Roe) became the town doctor and Mother was the schoolmarm of Platte City, Missouri in 1836. I attended Humbolt Medical College 1856 in St. Louis, Missouri to follow my father in the medical field. I was a physician during the Civil War and had to attend to soldiers from both the North and South. In 1865 I settled down in the town of Shoal Creek, Missouri. I built a small cabin and became the town doctor. Trouble came to town in February of 1866 after the bank in Liberty, Missouri was robbed. The Sheriff of Shoal Creek was run out of town by the James / Younger gang. I decided to run for Sheriff since I could see more money in it then doctoring. I am currently the Sheriff of Shoal Creek, Missouri and always ready for outlaws to visit my jail.
Rebecca Jackson
I am Miss Becky. I have had to take a stand against injustice in Shoal Creek most of my life. I have defended my family’s farm from the corrupt Sheriff to taking a stand for my right to have a say in how the law is made. My gun is ready & at my side if it has to come to that. If laws do not include me then they do not apply to me.
I am Miss Becky. I have had to take a stand against injustice in Shoal Creek most of my life. I have defended my family’s farm from the corrupt Sheriff to taking a stand for my right to have a say in how the law is made. My gun is ready & at my side if it has to come to that. If laws do not include me then they do not apply to me.
Betty Thayer Kunkel
My name is Elizabeth Rebecca Bealmer Wright but all my kinfolk and neighbors call me Aunt Betty. I was born in Benton County, Arkansas just a few miles from Elkhorn Tavern. You might have heard of that place because on March 7 and 8, 1862 a battle was fought there during the early part of the great War of Northern Aggression. Several of the menfolk in my family fought to protect our land even though they didn't officially join the army. After the War, I married a good man, Righard Blandamon Wright. Life was hard in those days and farming in northwest Arkansas was not easy or profitable. We got word that the fertile land of Missouri offered a chance for a new beginning and a better life, so we traveled north by team and wagon with high hopes. We settled in Macon County, Missouri in the Dodd Community but after my husband's passing I was wild for a new adventure and settled in Shoal Creek, Clay County where I had some kinfolk. My children were against my decision but I am a stubborn woman and I have not once regretted my move. You might see me singing in the church or sitting on the Mercantile porch playing my banjo. I'm in the midst of trying to buy the Stribling property but the owner wants an arm and a leg for it and I'm a little strapped for money, being a widow woman. Many folks have asked me how old I am. My reply is "Can you keep a secret?" They always answer "Yes." Then I reply "So can I!" Can you believe the nerve of some people? I'm very happy here and hope to live out the rest of my days in the Shoal Creek community.
(Note: Aunt Betty Wright was my great grandmother. This backstory is based on historical facts, but blended to suit my Shoal Creek persona.)
My name is Elizabeth Rebecca Bealmer Wright but all my kinfolk and neighbors call me Aunt Betty. I was born in Benton County, Arkansas just a few miles from Elkhorn Tavern. You might have heard of that place because on March 7 and 8, 1862 a battle was fought there during the early part of the great War of Northern Aggression. Several of the menfolk in my family fought to protect our land even though they didn't officially join the army. After the War, I married a good man, Righard Blandamon Wright. Life was hard in those days and farming in northwest Arkansas was not easy or profitable. We got word that the fertile land of Missouri offered a chance for a new beginning and a better life, so we traveled north by team and wagon with high hopes. We settled in Macon County, Missouri in the Dodd Community but after my husband's passing I was wild for a new adventure and settled in Shoal Creek, Clay County where I had some kinfolk. My children were against my decision but I am a stubborn woman and I have not once regretted my move. You might see me singing in the church or sitting on the Mercantile porch playing my banjo. I'm in the midst of trying to buy the Stribling property but the owner wants an arm and a leg for it and I'm a little strapped for money, being a widow woman. Many folks have asked me how old I am. My reply is "Can you keep a secret?" They always answer "Yes." Then I reply "So can I!" Can you believe the nerve of some people? I'm very happy here and hope to live out the rest of my days in the Shoal Creek community.
(Note: Aunt Betty Wright was my great grandmother. This backstory is based on historical facts, but blended to suit my Shoal Creek persona.)
J.Purkaple
Mr. J. P. Miles of Shoal Creek, Missouri.
Born at Hannibal, Missouri, but lived the first few years of his life in Winchester, in Scott County, Illinois. Then moved with his family back into Missouri, and soon after to southwestern Clay County. His father was a preacher who rode the Baptist circuit. His mother was briefly a schoolteacher before quitting it to raise her children. He planned on following his father into the ministry, and did receive his ordination from the Southern Baptist Convention, but first took up the occupation of wandering vagabond. While in Oregon County, war broke out. Lied about his age to enlist in the fall of 1862. Mustered in near Batesville, February 1863, as a teamster. First saw action at the Battle of Hartville, and served in Col. Burbridge's Regiment of Gen. Marmaduke's Missouri Cavalry all through Price's Raid unto the war's end in June 1865. Penniless and defeated, he migrated back to Clay County and found his way up to Shoal Creek, where he has since lived and can usually be found smoking and playing cards at the inn. He is never without his trusty revolver, but being scatterbrained he frequently forgets to load it before attempting to fire.
Mr. J. P. Miles of Shoal Creek, Missouri.
Born at Hannibal, Missouri, but lived the first few years of his life in Winchester, in Scott County, Illinois. Then moved with his family back into Missouri, and soon after to southwestern Clay County. His father was a preacher who rode the Baptist circuit. His mother was briefly a schoolteacher before quitting it to raise her children. He planned on following his father into the ministry, and did receive his ordination from the Southern Baptist Convention, but first took up the occupation of wandering vagabond. While in Oregon County, war broke out. Lied about his age to enlist in the fall of 1862. Mustered in near Batesville, February 1863, as a teamster. First saw action at the Battle of Hartville, and served in Col. Burbridge's Regiment of Gen. Marmaduke's Missouri Cavalry all through Price's Raid unto the war's end in June 1865. Penniless and defeated, he migrated back to Clay County and found his way up to Shoal Creek, where he has since lived and can usually be found smoking and playing cards at the inn. He is never without his trusty revolver, but being scatterbrained he frequently forgets to load it before attempting to fire.
Steve Reeves
My name is Steve Reeves i have also done business as a hemp trader from Jackson County I served the people of Missouri as a member of the Ninth Missouri Cav I mostly just want to be left alone by the sheriff and his deputies but still am willing to help protect the people of our town.
My name is Steve Reeves i have also done business as a hemp trader from Jackson County I served the people of Missouri as a member of the Ninth Missouri Cav I mostly just want to be left alone by the sheriff and his deputies but still am willing to help protect the people of our town.
Jerod Green
My name is US Marshal Green from Lincoln Co. retired law man at Shoal Creek Helping Sherriff Roe. I agreed too be his deputy to help him.
My name is US Marshal Green from Lincoln Co. retired law man at Shoal Creek Helping Sherriff Roe. I agreed too be his deputy to help him.
Cary S. Rinkenbaugh Sr.
My name is Ricky “hillbilly” Bobby and I’m known around town as the most lovable guy that can’t be around an open flame. I want to be your next mayor so if you’re looking to sell your vote than I’m looking to buy it.
My name is Ricky “hillbilly” Bobby and I’m known around town as the most lovable guy that can’t be around an open flame. I want to be your next mayor so if you’re looking to sell your vote than I’m looking to buy it.
Colby Rollins
My name is Jesse W. James. Leader of the James/Younger gang from Kearney, Missouri.
My name is Jesse W. James. Leader of the James/Younger gang from Kearney, Missouri.
James Crofutt
I was born in the month of April in the year of 1828, at Fort Bluecoat (later renamed Fort Harding) near the Great Waterfalls of the unincorporated Territory out West. My father was an Army Sutler. This territory would go through a number of name changes over the years but it ultimately became the Montana territory in May of 1864. By 1834 the Army had abandoned this fort and my fathers contract expiring he decided to head back east to civilization so that I could be raised more properly. So, he moved our family down the Missouri River to the state of Missouri & settled in St. Joseph, working at first on a river boat and later at a mercantile store. In 1836 the Platte Purchase added the final parts of land to the state of Missouri & Andrew County was established. My father was able to buy some land just on the southern border of the new Andrew County (just north of St. Joseph) and there he started farming and built a house. This is where I would grow up. In 1846 I was 18 years old & war with Mexico was declared. I was young and eager and looking for excitement so I enlisted with Powells Battalion of Missouri Mounted Volunteers. I was a Private in Company D which was organized from Andrew County. We were sent to Fort Leavenworth and musterd in & sent to the Nebraska territory, Our time was spent with a lot of drill and army discipline. In 1848 we, we built & established a Fort on the south bank of the Nebraska or Great Platte River, just below the head of the grand island, called “Fort Child’s” (later to be renamed Fort Kearny) & we remained there until October where our enlistments expired. At that time Regular US Army troops arrived & relieved us & so we marched back to Fort Leavenworth & we were mustered out of service - having served a year & one half in the U.S. Army. We Never saw any battles just a few unknown skirmishes with Indians. The Army wasn’t all the glory & excitement that I had anticipated, but I did a lot of growing up while in its service.
I returned home to my father’s farm - In 1850 I had an opportunity to go on an adventure with my friend Samuel Pendleton from the Mexican War and his younger brother and three cousins in a wagon drawn by an ox team. I decided to go along when they invited me and so we headed west to California to see if we could strike it rich in the gold mines. We worked in the gold mines in California until July of the following year. Then heading home, we did passage at San Francisco to go to Mexico. We went down the coast to Acapules and it was here with the company of 18 men we left the vessel & engaged a pack train to carry us to the city of Mexico. After a few weeks at that place, we rode to Veracruz, and freight wagons making a total distance of 630 miles traveled on land. At Veracruz took passage on a sailing vessel to the mouth of the Mississippi river and travel from New Orleans to Saint Joseph by water. We were gone for 18 months. Through all of this adventure I had only managed to mine about $1500 worth of gold. Upon my return to home, I bought some land in St. Joseph and built a house and decided to settle down. In 1853 I married a Ms. Diana Grieme of St. Joseph. Her father was a German sailor who worked the river boats. I did some farming but not wanting to return to riverboat work because I wanted to stay home & raise a family so I studied law for a year or so but that really wasn’t to my liking. So, I took a job working for the local St. Joseph Newspaper and that is where I began to learn the printers trade. I did that for 3 years until 1857 when work began on the St. Joseph side of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. I helped build the train depot & working at laying the track & building it eastward. An accidental interaction with Mr. Everette Peabody (who was the chief engineer in charge of the construction of the railroad) occurred & for some reason he took a liking to me. Over the next few months, a friendship developed and before I knew it, he had me off the main work crew and started teaching me the engineer trade and I became his assistant. I did this every day for many years until the railroad was
complete. And I am thinking that was right before the outbreak of the big rebellion by the southern states. In 1861 at the breaking out of hostilities & war being declared, Everett Peabody (my friend) started recruiting an Infantry regiment to serve the Union. I of course enlisted & knowing that my Country was in peril & with President Lincoln’s call for volunteers I immediately said yes and joined Peabody in his efforts to raise a regiment. I was a part of the 13th Missouri Infantry Vols, and served until August of 1861 when I was promoted to Sergeant Major which I served through the Lexington Missouri siege where we were captured. After being held as prisoners for a little while at Lexington Missouri by the Missouri State Guard (Pro Confederate rebels) we were paroled and allowed to return to Saint Joseph. That was in September of 1861 in which that fight took place. However, A month or two later we receive orders to re-organize the regiment and found out that we would be re-designated to the 25th Missouri infantry. I of course immediately was working for Colonel Peabody on his regimental staff and helping re-organize the old companies and get them going and at some point, I don’t really recall but we received a bunch of Irishman from Van Horn’s Kansas City battalion and I was promoted to Captain and made a Company Commander. I think it was Company G but That was so long ago I’m not really for sure. Anyway, I served with the 25th Missouri Infantry and fought at the battle of Pittsburg Landing in Tennessee (but most folks call it the battle of Shiloh) in which my good friend Col. Peabody was killed. By Gods hand somehow, I made it through that fight both of the days & my Irish boys fought like tigers they did! Sometime after the battle of Shiloh we were in Mississippi and I received a letter from the Governor of Missouri, offering me a Commission to Lt. Colonel and asking me to help organize a new battalion. Apparently, my friend Peabody had recommended me to the Governor for such a post but he never told me. I think he was wanting to surprise me but we never got that moment because he was killed at Shiloh. I of course accepted the Commission & returned to Missouri & I began organizing the U.S. Muddy River Battalion. This battalion was unique in the aspect that each company came from a different state & for whatever reason they were detached. We had companies from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, the Nebraska Territory & even one from the US Regulars. However, though we were officially still a Missouri Volunteers organization & my Commission came from Governor Hamilton Gamble. Within a few short months the Battalion had grown large enough that I was promoted to full Colonel. Served in command of the US Muddy River Battalion and we actively fought in many battles including, Prairie Grove in December of 1862. By early 1863 I became a Brigade Commander which included the Muddy River Battalion, the Frontier & Territorial Battalions. We were assigned to the First Federal Division & I remember that for some reason our division was temporarily sent east in the summer of 1863 & were serving with the Army of the Potomac and saw heavy action at the Battle of Gettysburg. It was right before this battle that I was made a brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers which was a proper rank for my command. After Gettysburg our division was returned west and served in Missouri, Tennessee & Kentucky and those regions as needed. We saw more action at places such as Perryville, Stones River & many other fights that are too numerous to write out as a lot of these tend to blur together. Sometime in early 1864 I was Promoted to full Brigadier General & assigned Command of the First Federal Division. I commanded the Division for the remainder of the war. I do remember that in the fall of 1864 I had at one point my Division HQ established at Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob Missouri when General Sterling Price invaded the State of Missouri. He attacked Pilot Knob and we put up a spirited fight but had to withdraw that evening. Prices Missouri Campaign was set into motion & we participated against this Rebel invasion and my division fought at several other places such as Lees town, Glasgow, & the Battle of Westport (being the only full federal Infantry at that battle) near Kansas City. Shortly after this fight I received word that I was promoted to Brevet Major General & fully authorized by the Congress of the United States. In November we were sent to Tennessee and joined the Army around the Nashville area. Fully participating in the fighting around Franklin & Nashville. We stayed in Tennessee doing Guard duty but an expedition in the spring of 1865 which resulted in our last fight of the War at Fort Blakley Alabama. By April the Rebels had laid down their arms and the war was all but over. My division was disbanded June of 1865 and I returned back to St. Louis. At that place the Battalions of Muddy River, Frontier & Territorial were mustered out. I had to stay at St. Louis doing desk duty until November of that year. My wife was able to join me though which was a very acceptable thing for me. It was during this period of time that we began talking about relocating out of St. Joseph & finding a smaller community to live. Perhaps in Platte or Clay County. In November of 1865 I was finally mustered out of the Army & we returned home to the farm near St. Joseph up in Andrew County. We began rebuilding the farm. It took us most of that year to get things back proper & up and running again. In 1867 I decided to move to Clay County to a small town that I remembered having fought a small skirmish back in 1862. It was Shoal Creek & the town had caught my eye & I had told myself that the town of Shoal Creek might be a good place to one day move to. So, I gave the farm to my son and his family, and my wife and I headed to Shoal Creek. We were able to buy some land just on the outskirts of town. I built a small house and a barn and basically, we at first did some farming. But it didn’t take long before I realized that the town lacked a newspaper. And with my past experience in the printers trade I decided to establish a town newspaper and open up a printing business. I was able to buy a printing press and get started. I was working out of my barn though but never the less the newspaper was well received by my neighbors and most of the town folk. In 1868 I bought the Crossroads Inn right in the heart of Shoal Creek just across from the town mercantile. I did it mostly for the express purpose of being able to easier distribute my town newspaper. But we did also establish it as a small inn for travelers passing through & a place where local town folk could get a drink or some extra food supplies that the mercantile didn’t have. We also established a telegraph line and received the town mail. All of this extra stuff supplemented my already small income from the Newspaper & other printing jobs, but made me an active part of the community & well known. In 1870 (I think it was) I helped establish a Grand Army of the Republic post in Shoal Creek for those of us who were Union Veterans. GAR post #595 the Everett Peabody Camp (in honor of my friend who had died in 1862 at Shiloh). I became very involved. I have lived at Shoal Creek now for over a decade & have found it to be a nice town. Peaceful for the most but just any town back during that period we did have our flare ups & run inns with the likes of the James gang & Bad Betty and her gang. I even got held up once by Bad Betty. I look back now on it and can chuckle about although loosing those greenbacks. We attend the town Church under the Reverend Darold Younger. My wife plays the Oregon every Sunday & the Reverends passionate sermons help keep us on the straight and narrow. On occasion we are able to take the train out of Liberty which is only a few miles east of Shoal Creek & we are able to return to St. Joseph and visit my son and grandchildren. But I also sometimes go down to Blue Mills landing and catch the riverboat and ride it up to St. Joseph by way of the Missouri River. I spent many years working it so of course for me it’s a lot of memories in my older years.
Well that’s pretty much my story up to point. I have seen a lot of history and a Union man, and a God fearing Christian. I’m still at Shoal Creek as a citizen of that town and watching it start to grow. Not sure what else to say but if ever in Shoal Creek I can usually be found at the Cross Roads Inn selling newspapers and hosting folks.
I was born in the month of April in the year of 1828, at Fort Bluecoat (later renamed Fort Harding) near the Great Waterfalls of the unincorporated Territory out West. My father was an Army Sutler. This territory would go through a number of name changes over the years but it ultimately became the Montana territory in May of 1864. By 1834 the Army had abandoned this fort and my fathers contract expiring he decided to head back east to civilization so that I could be raised more properly. So, he moved our family down the Missouri River to the state of Missouri & settled in St. Joseph, working at first on a river boat and later at a mercantile store. In 1836 the Platte Purchase added the final parts of land to the state of Missouri & Andrew County was established. My father was able to buy some land just on the southern border of the new Andrew County (just north of St. Joseph) and there he started farming and built a house. This is where I would grow up. In 1846 I was 18 years old & war with Mexico was declared. I was young and eager and looking for excitement so I enlisted with Powells Battalion of Missouri Mounted Volunteers. I was a Private in Company D which was organized from Andrew County. We were sent to Fort Leavenworth and musterd in & sent to the Nebraska territory, Our time was spent with a lot of drill and army discipline. In 1848 we, we built & established a Fort on the south bank of the Nebraska or Great Platte River, just below the head of the grand island, called “Fort Child’s” (later to be renamed Fort Kearny) & we remained there until October where our enlistments expired. At that time Regular US Army troops arrived & relieved us & so we marched back to Fort Leavenworth & we were mustered out of service - having served a year & one half in the U.S. Army. We Never saw any battles just a few unknown skirmishes with Indians. The Army wasn’t all the glory & excitement that I had anticipated, but I did a lot of growing up while in its service.
I returned home to my father’s farm - In 1850 I had an opportunity to go on an adventure with my friend Samuel Pendleton from the Mexican War and his younger brother and three cousins in a wagon drawn by an ox team. I decided to go along when they invited me and so we headed west to California to see if we could strike it rich in the gold mines. We worked in the gold mines in California until July of the following year. Then heading home, we did passage at San Francisco to go to Mexico. We went down the coast to Acapules and it was here with the company of 18 men we left the vessel & engaged a pack train to carry us to the city of Mexico. After a few weeks at that place, we rode to Veracruz, and freight wagons making a total distance of 630 miles traveled on land. At Veracruz took passage on a sailing vessel to the mouth of the Mississippi river and travel from New Orleans to Saint Joseph by water. We were gone for 18 months. Through all of this adventure I had only managed to mine about $1500 worth of gold. Upon my return to home, I bought some land in St. Joseph and built a house and decided to settle down. In 1853 I married a Ms. Diana Grieme of St. Joseph. Her father was a German sailor who worked the river boats. I did some farming but not wanting to return to riverboat work because I wanted to stay home & raise a family so I studied law for a year or so but that really wasn’t to my liking. So, I took a job working for the local St. Joseph Newspaper and that is where I began to learn the printers trade. I did that for 3 years until 1857 when work began on the St. Joseph side of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. I helped build the train depot & working at laying the track & building it eastward. An accidental interaction with Mr. Everette Peabody (who was the chief engineer in charge of the construction of the railroad) occurred & for some reason he took a liking to me. Over the next few months, a friendship developed and before I knew it, he had me off the main work crew and started teaching me the engineer trade and I became his assistant. I did this every day for many years until the railroad was
complete. And I am thinking that was right before the outbreak of the big rebellion by the southern states. In 1861 at the breaking out of hostilities & war being declared, Everett Peabody (my friend) started recruiting an Infantry regiment to serve the Union. I of course enlisted & knowing that my Country was in peril & with President Lincoln’s call for volunteers I immediately said yes and joined Peabody in his efforts to raise a regiment. I was a part of the 13th Missouri Infantry Vols, and served until August of 1861 when I was promoted to Sergeant Major which I served through the Lexington Missouri siege where we were captured. After being held as prisoners for a little while at Lexington Missouri by the Missouri State Guard (Pro Confederate rebels) we were paroled and allowed to return to Saint Joseph. That was in September of 1861 in which that fight took place. However, A month or two later we receive orders to re-organize the regiment and found out that we would be re-designated to the 25th Missouri infantry. I of course immediately was working for Colonel Peabody on his regimental staff and helping re-organize the old companies and get them going and at some point, I don’t really recall but we received a bunch of Irishman from Van Horn’s Kansas City battalion and I was promoted to Captain and made a Company Commander. I think it was Company G but That was so long ago I’m not really for sure. Anyway, I served with the 25th Missouri Infantry and fought at the battle of Pittsburg Landing in Tennessee (but most folks call it the battle of Shiloh) in which my good friend Col. Peabody was killed. By Gods hand somehow, I made it through that fight both of the days & my Irish boys fought like tigers they did! Sometime after the battle of Shiloh we were in Mississippi and I received a letter from the Governor of Missouri, offering me a Commission to Lt. Colonel and asking me to help organize a new battalion. Apparently, my friend Peabody had recommended me to the Governor for such a post but he never told me. I think he was wanting to surprise me but we never got that moment because he was killed at Shiloh. I of course accepted the Commission & returned to Missouri & I began organizing the U.S. Muddy River Battalion. This battalion was unique in the aspect that each company came from a different state & for whatever reason they were detached. We had companies from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, the Nebraska Territory & even one from the US Regulars. However, though we were officially still a Missouri Volunteers organization & my Commission came from Governor Hamilton Gamble. Within a few short months the Battalion had grown large enough that I was promoted to full Colonel. Served in command of the US Muddy River Battalion and we actively fought in many battles including, Prairie Grove in December of 1862. By early 1863 I became a Brigade Commander which included the Muddy River Battalion, the Frontier & Territorial Battalions. We were assigned to the First Federal Division & I remember that for some reason our division was temporarily sent east in the summer of 1863 & were serving with the Army of the Potomac and saw heavy action at the Battle of Gettysburg. It was right before this battle that I was made a brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers which was a proper rank for my command. After Gettysburg our division was returned west and served in Missouri, Tennessee & Kentucky and those regions as needed. We saw more action at places such as Perryville, Stones River & many other fights that are too numerous to write out as a lot of these tend to blur together. Sometime in early 1864 I was Promoted to full Brigadier General & assigned Command of the First Federal Division. I commanded the Division for the remainder of the war. I do remember that in the fall of 1864 I had at one point my Division HQ established at Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob Missouri when General Sterling Price invaded the State of Missouri. He attacked Pilot Knob and we put up a spirited fight but had to withdraw that evening. Prices Missouri Campaign was set into motion & we participated against this Rebel invasion and my division fought at several other places such as Lees town, Glasgow, & the Battle of Westport (being the only full federal Infantry at that battle) near Kansas City. Shortly after this fight I received word that I was promoted to Brevet Major General & fully authorized by the Congress of the United States. In November we were sent to Tennessee and joined the Army around the Nashville area. Fully participating in the fighting around Franklin & Nashville. We stayed in Tennessee doing Guard duty but an expedition in the spring of 1865 which resulted in our last fight of the War at Fort Blakley Alabama. By April the Rebels had laid down their arms and the war was all but over. My division was disbanded June of 1865 and I returned back to St. Louis. At that place the Battalions of Muddy River, Frontier & Territorial were mustered out. I had to stay at St. Louis doing desk duty until November of that year. My wife was able to join me though which was a very acceptable thing for me. It was during this period of time that we began talking about relocating out of St. Joseph & finding a smaller community to live. Perhaps in Platte or Clay County. In November of 1865 I was finally mustered out of the Army & we returned home to the farm near St. Joseph up in Andrew County. We began rebuilding the farm. It took us most of that year to get things back proper & up and running again. In 1867 I decided to move to Clay County to a small town that I remembered having fought a small skirmish back in 1862. It was Shoal Creek & the town had caught my eye & I had told myself that the town of Shoal Creek might be a good place to one day move to. So, I gave the farm to my son and his family, and my wife and I headed to Shoal Creek. We were able to buy some land just on the outskirts of town. I built a small house and a barn and basically, we at first did some farming. But it didn’t take long before I realized that the town lacked a newspaper. And with my past experience in the printers trade I decided to establish a town newspaper and open up a printing business. I was able to buy a printing press and get started. I was working out of my barn though but never the less the newspaper was well received by my neighbors and most of the town folk. In 1868 I bought the Crossroads Inn right in the heart of Shoal Creek just across from the town mercantile. I did it mostly for the express purpose of being able to easier distribute my town newspaper. But we did also establish it as a small inn for travelers passing through & a place where local town folk could get a drink or some extra food supplies that the mercantile didn’t have. We also established a telegraph line and received the town mail. All of this extra stuff supplemented my already small income from the Newspaper & other printing jobs, but made me an active part of the community & well known. In 1870 (I think it was) I helped establish a Grand Army of the Republic post in Shoal Creek for those of us who were Union Veterans. GAR post #595 the Everett Peabody Camp (in honor of my friend who had died in 1862 at Shiloh). I became very involved. I have lived at Shoal Creek now for over a decade & have found it to be a nice town. Peaceful for the most but just any town back during that period we did have our flare ups & run inns with the likes of the James gang & Bad Betty and her gang. I even got held up once by Bad Betty. I look back now on it and can chuckle about although loosing those greenbacks. We attend the town Church under the Reverend Darold Younger. My wife plays the Oregon every Sunday & the Reverends passionate sermons help keep us on the straight and narrow. On occasion we are able to take the train out of Liberty which is only a few miles east of Shoal Creek & we are able to return to St. Joseph and visit my son and grandchildren. But I also sometimes go down to Blue Mills landing and catch the riverboat and ride it up to St. Joseph by way of the Missouri River. I spent many years working it so of course for me it’s a lot of memories in my older years.
Well that’s pretty much my story up to point. I have seen a lot of history and a Union man, and a God fearing Christian. I’m still at Shoal Creek as a citizen of that town and watching it start to grow. Not sure what else to say but if ever in Shoal Creek I can usually be found at the Cross Roads Inn selling newspapers and hosting folks.
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