Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1890. OCT. 928 W. M. PAXTON. us a golden chalice, as a special memento of the occasi~o~n, and an heirloom for our descendants. I have already presented a chart -of tlie family of my Wife and myself. I will embrace this opportunity of giving a short nwotic-e of our lives since marriage. Ve were married in the old Forman mansion at Vaslhington, Mason Gounty, Ky., October 1. 1840. My home for twelve months past had been at Martinsville. Thither we started three Weeks after marriage. Oiur route was down the Ohio, and up the )Iississippi to St. Louis, by s~tea.mboat. Here we took a steamer for \eston, but, on account of low Water a.nd approaching winter. we could: come no further than to Glasgow. Here we took sta.ge for M-artinsville, and after severe trials for the bride We reached our destination late in Novemrber. We rented a one-room cabin. Worth of Grenerall Diorriss, and paid him :,Zi3 per month for it. In the spring We removed to my claim on the prairie, seven miles east of Pl-atte City, now belonging to John T. Kuykendall. Here I e11clo-sed and put in cultivation a large farm. In 1849 We became tired of our prairie life, and January 1st. 1850, We removed to Platte City, and settled where We now live. I was so imprudent as to give up my practice of law. and, with Dr. H. B. Callahan, bought out J. H. John-st0ns store. Ye did well. and in 1853 brought James Martins one-half interest in the Platte City Water Hills. General W. B. Almond owned the other half of the mill property, then valued at $30.000. Callahan and I bought enough of A1monds interest to make each partner own one-third. Ye did well until 1860, when General Almond and Mr. M. N. Owen (who had bought out Callahan) died: and left all in my charge. The war broke out, and the property became valueless. The estates of both Almond and Owen proved in- solvent, and their debts. the debts of the rm. and my own lia~ bilities fell upon me. I had been imprudent in going security for my friends. all of Whom Went south. leaving me to pay their debts. My liabilities were .l$75.000. The war closed, and I proceeded to sell off my large landed estate. and to pay my most pressing debts. Co11:scions of n1y precarious situation. I formed a partner- ship with Joseph E. .lerrvman and resumed the practice of law. Our success was extraordinary. and I was able. in 1870. to settle the last debt I owed. I had paid 1li;5.00() as surety for various persons. and now resolved t-o indorse for none. except in the way of charity. In 1872 I made advaiiees to my three daughters. and mv will. giving the rema.inder of n1y estate to my wife. But in 1874 I became hard of hearing. and had to cease practicing law. Having :1lstxacts of lands of Platte (onnty. I have since that day been able to earn enough to support me and my family. But my restless mind sought employment. and I turned my attention to literature and poetry. In 15481 I issued a small volume1?5 pa;:es of poetrv. and distrilmted. gratuitously. (300 copies. For many years I had been gatlieriiig data and material for sketches and grencalogies of the .Iarshall Family. from which. on my