ceeded after the resignation of Rev. Thomas Allen and he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. G. C. Sparrow, of Macon City, in 1867, who for the past fifteen years has ministered to the wants of the church, and performed his sacred duties to the satisfaction of his large congregation. On the completion of the church in 1876 it was dedicated by the Rev. Alton F. Martin, and among the pleasing incidents was the announcement that this church that day dedicated to the service of the Almighty God, was free from debt, its cost, something over $2,000, being fully paid. It is one of the most beautifully located churches in the county. Standing upon a handsome elevation of land lying upon a ridge, it cominands a beautiful view of the surrounding country, while the members of the church have embowered it in an artificial grove of maples and evergreens, a shady retreat, a cozy picture suggestive of quiet, peaceful, and reverent worship.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CITY OF LINNEUS.

Incorporation-Its Founder-Some Reminiscenses of Early Times-Wolves make Music that Lulls the Early Settler to Sleep-A Woman's Strength and Devotion-The First Settler of Linneus a Colored Woman-Aunt Dinah's Experience-Metes and BoundsThe First Frame House-The First Native Born-Churches and Schools-First Merchants-Senator Benton's Visit-Lynching of "Tennessee Tom "-The First Railroad Train-Accidents and Crimes-Business Houses-Visit of General Weaver-Lodges, Societies, Churches, and City Officers-Biographies.

The first settler on the town site of the town of Linneus was Colonel John Holland, who came from Virginia to Linn county in the early spring of the year 1834, and located his claim on the section whereon the capital of the county now stands. Colonel Holland's cabin was of hewed logs, and comprised two rooms. In this double cabin court was afterwards held, school taught, and a great deal of important public business transacted. The cabin stood near the center of the public square. Heavy timber-or at least a heavy growth of timber-stood all about for some years, and upon its first occupancy, its inmates were often lulled to their slumbers by the howling of wolves and the hooting of owls. The Colonel once related that at the first breakfast ever eaten in this cabin the principal dish was a brace of stewed squirrels which he shot from the trees that surrounded his domicile while standing on his doorstep.

Soon after he had built his cabin, Colonel Holland set about digging a

well. His negro man Peter was at work on the job, and had dug down twenty feet when he came upon a large stone. He left the well to get a proper implement to raise this stone, which he had already loosened. When he again descended, he was prostrated by the fire-damps, which it was believed had come into the well with the loosening of the stone. Colonel Holland called his good wife, Elizabeth, and bade her assist him in rescuing poor Peter, who, like truth, was at the bottom of the well and crushed to the earth. Mrs. Holland, though a slight woman and commonly not of much strength, lowered her husband to the bottom, and he at once fastened a rope to the gasping negro, and then ordered his wife to haul him (the Colonel) up. She began to do so and just then the Colonel himself was overcome by the damps and fell senseless into the bucket. Mrs. Holland under the excitement succeeded in drawing her husband out in safety and then screamed for help. A settler who chanced to be near, heard her and came to her assistance. By his help not only did Mrs. Holland get l'eter out of his predicament, but she restored her husband to consciousness, thus saving two human lives, and adding another incident to the long list of he roic actions performed by the pioneer women of Missouri.

came up

The first occupant of Holland's cabin was his negro woman, Dinah, who with her master to cook for the men who built the cabin, and care for the house until the family should come. Colonel Holland brought with him some thirty head of sheep, and these were the especial charge of Dinah. The dusky shepherdess led her flock each day to the woods, to let them "browse" upon the buds of the hazel and elm, and great was her concern lest the ravenous wolves with which the forest was infested, should raid upon the innocent sheep and devour them. At night she penned them in one room of Holland's cabin, while she lay down to sleep in the other. A huge mastiff, cross and vigilant kept watch and ward outside. In the daytime this dog was kept chained. "Aunt" Dinah remained in charge of her master's property for several weeks, for Colonel Holland was delayed in his return by reason of the swollen streams. All the while she was alone. Occasionally William or Jesse Bowyer would pass by the cabin and see that all was right. She had plenty of provisions, but would not accept of any venison or other fresh meat lest the smell should attract the wolves, and they should break through every obstacle and slay her.

"Aunt" Dinah, the first female inhabitant of Linneus, still lives in the place, aged eighty-eight. Her daughter, aged about sixty, takes care of her. Relating her early experience to the writer, Dinah said:

"I members de time vary well, massa, when Massa Jack Hollan' fotch me wid 'im. Dey was nuffin but woods and woods; an' in de woods was wolves and wolves. I tuck keer of de sheep for mont's. De wolves 'ud jist come right up in sight and howl and yowl, an' at night when I druv de sheep in de cabin, an' shot de doah an' prop't it tight, and turn' de dog

loose, an' him an' de wolves jist had it fum dat till mawnin'. Bimeby come along Billy Boyah or Jess' Boyalı, an' dey say, 'Howdy, Dinah, how you git along?' I say,'' Monstrous lonesome.' An' dey say, 'Well, don't git skeered, 'an you'll come along all rite.' So it went on an' went on, an' went on, an' nobody come, an' I got so lonesome, tenin' to dem sheep an' luffin 'em browse, an' singin' to my own self 'kase I didn't feel so 'fraid when I heerd my own voice; an' never seein' nobody 'cept once in a while Billy Boyah, or Jess' Boyah, or Massa Jedge Clark, an' dey all de time say, 'Don't git skeered, Dinah; Jack Hollan' come bimeby.' An' so one day I heerd a big nise, an' wagons a rum'lin', an' cattle a bawlin' an' men a hollerin', and, sure 'nuff, dere dey was-Massa Jack Hollan' an' Missis Hollan' (my fust Missis Hollan'), an' all de chillun, an' de black folks, an', 0, Lawd! I was so happy I hollered right out so you could a heern me a mile."

Upon Colonel Holland's death, July, 1855, according to the provisions of his will, Dinah was set free. Ever since she has lived in and about Linneus, Peter, the negro who was overcome by the fire-damps in Colonel Holland's well, was afterwards sent down into Chariton county and hired out. Becoming tired of his condition of servitude, he concluded to free himself. and one night "struck out for the north star," as the act of running away to the Iowa abolitionists was then expressed, and was never heard of in these parts again.

When Colonel Jack Holland first visisted the "Locust Creek country". it was in about 1832. He was over on Parson's Creek exploring the country, when he got lost. He was on horseback, riding a famous animal named Hector. With all of his skill and science in woodcraft and experience as a pioneer, he could not find his way out. For three days he wandered helplessly about with no food for himself and no shelter but heaven's canopy, and he was well nigh exhausted. At last he gave himself over into the care of old Hector, and the faithful animal soon carried him in sight of a smoke which curled up gracefully from the chimney of a settler's cabin. Upon reaching the cabin the Colonel was taken in by its occupant, one Dunbar, who, after refreshing his famished guest, kindly piloted him over to Mr. Bowyer's house, in this township. What ultimately became of Dunbar is not known, but not long after he was incarcerated in Keytesville jail on a charge of murder, and visited in prison and ministered to by Holland's daughter, Miss Sallie, now Mrs. Edward Hoyle, of Brookfield.

Just who were the next to locate upon the town site of Linneus cannot be definitely ascertained, there being many claimants for the distinction. Up to 1847, however, ten years after the establishment of the seat of justice, the following persons had either been residents of the place or property owners therein:

On the ninth of February, 1853, the County Court granted the prayer of the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Linneus, and incorporated

the place. The particulars can best be given in the language of the records:

* * * * It is ordered by the court here that the town of Linneus and commons hereinafter described be and the same is hereby incorporated in the name and stile of the inhabitants of the town of Linnæus (sic) agreeable to the provisions of an act of the general assembly of the State of Missouri, approved March 7, A. D. 1845. The metes and bounds of said town and commons are as follows; to-wit, Beginning at the northwest corner of section six, in township fifty-eight of range twenty, running west on the township line dividing townships fifty-eight and fifty-nine eighty rods; thence south one hundred and sixty rods; thence east one hundred and sixty rods; thence north one hundred and sixty rods; thence west eighty rods to the place of beginning.

And it is further ordered that John G. Flournoy, Edward Hoyle, Alexander Carroll, Marshall Harrison, and William M. Long be and they are hereby appointed trustees of said town, as aforesaid, to hold their offices respectively until their successors are elected and qualified.

Other incorporations were enacted from time to time, not especially worthy of note and enumeration, and additions were also made. On the eighteenth of March, 1880, by a large majority of the vote of the citizens. Linneus was made a city of the fourth class, under the State law, and took its station among the other cities of the State. Its population at the time was 860, as shown by the United States census report.

INCIDENTS OF EARLY HISTORY.

Immediately upon the establishment of the county seat the town began to grow and to prosper. Speculators and home-seekers bought lots and improved them, and it was not long until quite a snug little village, composed principally of log houses, nestled in the woods which had formerly surrounded Colonel Holland's cabin. The first frame building in Linneus was built by one Gibbs, a tailor, in the year 1840, and stood north of the public square. The lumber was sawed with an old-fashioned whip saw, there being then no saw mills in the country within a reasonable distance. The house was used by Gibbs as a tailor shop for a long time.

The first white male child born in the place was John T. Flournoy, who was born on territory now in the city limits, near the northwest corner of the public square, May 5, 1837. His parents were Augustus W. and Mary E. Flournoy. John T. is still a resident of Linneus.

The first white female child whose birth occurred in Linneus was Mildred Williams Holland, daughter of John and Elizabeth Holland. "Milly "Holland, as she was called, (now Mrs. Russell,) was born January 17, 1839. Upon the death of her mother, whose burial it is claimed was the second in the Linneus cemetery, which event occurred in 1841, little Milly was taken into the family of Mr. G. Murrain for a time.