Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
[previous page] [next page]
[previous page] [next page]
Ix) 1) H- 1S59. AUG. his answers. He was blindfolded. dressed as a harlequin, placed in ludierous attitudes. of which he was unconscious, and made, by implication. to confess a thousand delinquencies and crimes, all of which he was told were recorded in the proceedings. Judge Norton was Holy (Qom1nander. R. N. Harrington secretary. and \m. E. Oliver personated Death, lying in a cofn, With our rubbed upon his face to produce pallor. and pokeberry stains to indicate blood. \hile all others were convulsed with laughter, the candidate was sternly reproved for levity. Yhen brought to light. before a. large looking-glass. tl1e candidate was told to see himself as others see him; the shouts of merriment were unre~ strained. while the candidate divested himself of his burlesque costume. The candidate was sure to attend the next meeting. to laugh at what he had lately unwittingly passed through. while blindfolded. The order of the Sons of Malta soon exhausted its material. and ran out. THE GOLDEN ERA (f)f Platte (ounty was the vear 1859. Large crops of hemp sold at round prices. Negro traders paid fabulous prices for slaves. Money was 11ever n1ore abundant. Western explorations had opened 11ew avenues for enterprise. Mules. oxen. and wagons were i11 deniand for the West. The trade upon the plains demanded provisions and supplies. California emigrants had returned. with full pockets; and the growing cities of western Missouri and eastern Kansas otfered ready markets for stock and provisions. Society had improved. Prof. Todds female school. with open parlors. had daily receptions. Prof. Gaylords male academy inspired the youth to higher attai111ne11ts. Camden Point had both male and female aeademies. and Prof. Vineyard. a.t Pleasant Ridge. prided himself upon the thorough education he imparted. Examinations and exhibitions gathered vast crowds. a11d picnics oeeurred weekly. The assessment of the year. 337.799.613.00 was the largest in our history. La.11ds were rising rapidly. lur/. .2\1n. )Ie(}i1111is is allowed $~L00 for making a 20-foot pavement of stone i11 front of the clerks oiees. .1 N]/. .20 .1 eo, I. Dorriss advertises casli for negroes to take soutli." lle builds a dungeon on his farm to conne them. An .ltIn.s- of this date is extant. published by XV. H. Gist and N. 1), Short. at I"latte (litv. No. 22. Vol. 3. .1211/. .3.St. Johns Ipiseopal (hurcl1. at Weston. is a-onseerated. .1 145/. .2.)I{ailro:ul meeting at the eourthouse, addressed by J. T. V. Tholnpson. Thomas Thorouglnnan enrolled as an attorney. GOLDEN ERA.