The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-08-30
REPUBLICAN, RECOLLECTTONS.
The Story of the Growth and Orasni-
zation Of the Republican Party
in Montgomery County.


day is bright, temperature pie as
ant and bracihg--in all a pleasing
reminder of predecession of A
years ago. On August 25, 1863 the
Repu ublican party of Montgomery
County was organized. The, pre-
vious day the writer, then about
four fifths disabled by legacy of
our Civil war from which he had
but recently been brought home,
was invited by Colonel Walter L.
Lovelace, who was later a supreme
court Judge, to accept transporta-
tion to the proposed conqention.!
The courtesy was declined for fear
of debility shake" such as had
frequently given the soldier so
much trouble and hisooctors some
concern. But the excuse was not
effective, and next morning before
daylight was fully unfolded, the
voice of'Ooi. Lovelace was heard
in front of our sleeping room urge
ing US tosgo with him to Mid6lc-
town and that we would take
breakfast at Montgomery City.
We were soon on the way. The
conveyance was Bill Ellis buggy,
a one horse, one seated open ve-
hicle, much usedsin those days.
On that expedition it was drawn
by Thos. Sweariagen's Dollie, a
mud dy chestnut sorrel with ball
face. While passing through
Cha pman valley, the atmosphere
seemed very bracing. Arriving at
Montgomery City, we found in
Pegram' hotel, an all attractive
ta bile, prepared in the old etyle.
Here we w ere Joined by Captain
James. F. Anderson and DIR. VIM.
B. --Ad dams, both residents of Dam
willie. Capt. Anderson was enroll
ing5all men of the Co. available for
militar y -eervice, preparatory for
conscription; and DR.. Adams was
on duty in the same duty at St.
Charles. They went with us to
Mi ddletown andFeturncd. And
erson's nice sorrel horse drew the
buggy in which they rode. Col.
Ira H. Ellis, sheriff and collector,
and Col. James G. Kettle showed
up in time to join the delegation
to the conventional Middletown.
Col. Ellis rode his pacing IRON
gray. He .Uas not in the move
ment, but was as true unionsman
as any of us. On this occasion,
COL Ellis was on dsicial business.
flames L. Pegram, our landlord,
hooked up his gray boxers and
spring wagon and conveyed Col.
Kettle to the convention. When
wo arrived at Middletown, we
found a surprisingly numerous
crowd Of very ,deteEnined men,
putting up at Jas. H. Rays hotel,
a two story house at about the
western limit Of the town near q
trihuta,v of Coonoreek. We were
scarcely through the -sumptuous
dinnec, when the 1.debility shake"
took possession Of its victim with
renewed terror, and for a time, we
don't know how long, to avoid
freezing was the object, as blankets
overooats and bed quilts were in
effective. A drive through Chap
man valley would have been pre-
ferred to drive throGgh Yosem-
ity valley. But change came,
fever with its bath ralleyed its SUBJ
ject. We went to the convention
in church west OF the bridge and
was assigned quarters on a bench
with turkey wing for defense.
Work of the convention was done
substantially and in regulation
rule. A vigorous continuation of
the war to a triumphant end and
q change in some of the national
administrations in Missouri were
demanded. Delegates were chosen |
to State convention at Jefferson
City, to be held few says later.
i.
Organization of the party in the
county was then affected. We
were distinguished as "RadicAls'
and some opponents called US
"Charcoals." We were opposed
by the "Conservatives'' commonly
called "Clay banks." They stood |
In with the provisional government
In Missouri, established by the
State Convention elacted In fRRf