University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-07-07
SHORT STORIES OF MISSOURI

= The first congressman from Missouri
Vas John Scott OF st. Genevieve. He
was the delegate in congress from Mis-
souri, territory for four years and then
served as congressman for eight years.
After retiring from politics he returned
to St. Genevieve where he engaged in
the practice of law and for forty years
was most successful lawyer.
As was the custom then with men,
beers of the bar in Missouri, he travelled
from court to court on horseback, his
saddle covered with a large sheep skin
and his saddle bags filled with law
books. He was of medium size, quick
and active OF step, and always carried
a green bag with him wherever he
went. He was noted for the eccentri-
city of wearing winter and summer
a cloth cap that almost covered his
eyes and his pantaloons were always
at least four sizes too large for him.
All his life he carried under his vest
on his left side a beautifully carved
dirk and on the other side pistol.
Daniel Dunklin was elected COVER
nor of Missouri in August 1882. Gov
ernor Dunklin was born in South Caro-
lima while Missouri was yet a terri
tory and a member of the constitu-
tional convention of 1920. He
was an ardent supporter of the inter-
ests of public schools and is known as
the Father of the Common School
System of Missouri. One month be-
fore his term of Governor would have
expired he resigned the office to ac-
cept the Office of Surveyor General
of Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. AS
surveyor general he established the
boundary line of Missouri and Arkan-
sas. He died in 1874 and is buried
near Pevely, Jefferson county, Mo.
A curious story is told of Governor
Dunkln while he was Lieutenant Gov
ernor from 1928 to 1892, and acted as
presiding officer of the Senate:
During the session of the Legisla-
ture the weather became intensity cold
After taking his seat Lieutenant Coy
ernor called the door-keeper up to him
and directed him to set the door of the
Senate chamber wide Open The men,
bers sitting near the door would close
it to keep out the cold. AS soon as
he noticed that the presiding officer
again ordered the door keeper to throw
the door wide open. Again the suf-
fering senator closed it. This was re-
peated several times until Dunklin
could stand it no longer. He called
the attention of the senate to the mat
ter and stated that the constitution,
which every member of the senate had
taken an oath to support, expressly
provided that both Houses of the Gen
eral Assembly should sit with open
doors; that he had tried to do his duty
by keeping the door open, but that he
regretted to see that some members of
the Senate were disposed to violate
the Constitution by closing the door.
Quite an animated discussion arose to
decide the question whether shutting
the door to keep the cold out
was sitting with closed doors From
this occurance Dunklin was called the
strict Constructlonist.'
Eugene Field was at one time on
the staff of the Chicago News under
Melville E. Stone. During one period
of financial crisis that was especially
severe. Field could see no way out of
his difficulties except to ask for a
raise of salary Several days in
succession he went to the office re-
solved to ask for the raise but each
time failed to nerve himself up to the
speaking point. Finally he decided up
on way to do it, and for week was
not seen in the office at all. Then one
day he walked into Mr. Stones office
Col oc / I'LL,