Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1843, APRIL. 53 IIARI) TIMES. ;lpri.l .37The Platte City Ireslvterian UlllllLll organized with the following members: 1. \m. I}. .ln1ond; 2. John Y. Cooper; :4. Dr. John (larke: 4. . n, his wife: 5. N. ll. Hope: 6, S. P. S. M(Cl]l(lV; 7. -los. Patton; 8, Allen Sloan: 0, Anna M., his wife; 10, Jas. E. Valker. ])r. J. M. Fiilton was invited to supply the pulpit. \. M. Paxton and wife united a tew months later. The orgaiiization took place in the large upper room ot the eourt house, where preacliing was held by all denominations. MAY. (()U."l.Y FIN.- . ES. Amountreceived... .....01T.] laidout.. .. 1,022.07 $595.05 The season was backward. and no ground was plowed before the 20th of April. For three weeks the ground was ill good order for the plow, and corn planted before the 10th of May did well: but in May the windows of heaven were opened. and late-planted corn and hemp were failures. Hemp and wheat were covered by snow from November to April. \heat was protected by the snow. but hemp did not rot until the spring rains: and then the weather was so wet that the hemp could not be broken out. Much of it was left in tlie shock a11d lost. lhronghout the winter one snow was added to another. and by spring formed a solid covering for the earth. a foot thick. Not half the corn was gathered before the snows commenced. and vast ocks of prairie-fowl froln tl1e west damaged the standing corn. LAND ENTRIES. Samuel and Bireli were able and acco1nn1odating oieers. A specific time was xed for the settlers of eaeh township to prove their preemptions. The settlers of eaeh neigl1borh0od went in a body, and there was no trouble to get witnesses to prove residence. .- prescribed oath was taken. a neighbor was called to prove settlement, the money was paid in gold. silver, or Missouri bank-notes. and a certicate given that made the preemptioner a freeholder. There were but few eontroversies. and these generally were settled to the satisfaction of both parties. There was not an appeal from Platte (onntv. It required $320.()00 to enter the lands of Platte, or .,l2,000.000 for the Platte Country. Until the Mexican War brought relief. I witnessed a state of awful pecuniary distress. Some of the settlers had money laid by to enter lands; but a greater number had to sacrifice their personal property to save their lands. Property had three prices: ]st. trade or exchange price: 2d. eurrenev price: and 3d. land- oice money price. The unfavorable seasons of 194?. and 1844 added to the distress. Tn 1943 the eounty assessment of slaves and personal property. including notes and money. was only $412,000. Land was not assessed.