Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1913-04-10
FORMER AUDRAiN MAN DIES IN
WEsT-WELL KNOWN HERE

Benton county, who died at his
home at Wells. on March IL, was
born at Cross Roads, Essex county,
Va, August 30, 1885. His parents at
forwards removed to Mexico. Mo,
where the family passed through
all the horrors of border warfare, un-
IN in 1866, despairing Of the war
ever ending, they removed to Ore
gon and located in Corvallis.
Mr.. Cauthorn was the eldest broth
er Of the late B. r. Cauthorn OF
Mexico, Mo.
Mr.. Cauthorn could talk Interesting
ly of the days prior to and during
the war. He recalled the histori-
cal race for congress between John
B. Henderson, then a Democrat, and
James S. Rollins, "Know Nothing"
It was great day for Mexico
and the surrounding country when
Henderson, who arrived first by train.
and Rollins, who came in his own con
veyanee, came to hold their joint de-
bate.
Rollins friends met him on the
outskirts of the town. All who could
secure horses were there, and when
they reached ''the square," where
thousands were assembled, the ex
citement was intense. Mexico IL
the county seat of Audrain county,
and like many county seats in the
south, has the court house in the
center, with business houses across
the four streets on which the couri
house faces. Here was assembled
the crowd, and as Rollins partisani
paraded around "the square" tim'
and again, and the partisanship o
those days is recalled, the scenes
enacted can be imagined. No mu
sic was provided that day, for thu
brass band was divided politically,
and in those days they did no
play for the side that paid then
most or for both sides Insteai
battle royal took place over tn
possession of the bass drum AM
other instruments.
| Mr., Cauthorn often heard Genera
Grant, then Colonel Grant, who wa
at the head OF his company, locate
for a time n Mexico, talk on wa
: topics, and other matters. Colont
Grants company was drilled Just we
: Of Mexico. and Mr.. Cauthorn recalle
that he always rode fine dun hors
to and from town,
y Mr.. Cauthorn was drafted by tn
government and not accepted b'
cause OF disabilities but had many
war time experience. He was farmin
between Mexico and Centralla, wher
9 CentraIIa massacre occurred. Bill Al
derson and his guerillas captured
North Missouri train, freed the soutl
orn prisoners and killed 21 or
Union soldiers who were on the trai
= Colonel Johnson and his men, wi
y we're looking for Bill Anderson, sougI
him at once. Not knowing how
- fight Anderson's men he had h
j. men dismount to meet Anderso
leaving IA men to look after h
horses.
" Anderson's men charged johnson
y forces at full speed, and killed all
" them except those left with Z
horses, who, seeing the slaught'
" mounted and fled Anderson's m
III rode on the sides of their horse
~ and lost only one man. Mr., Caut
orn received orders late that event
- to help bury the dead, and assist
in burying SO of the IT'S men, W
were put in a trench by the side
the railroad, the head Of one m
y, being placed between the legs Of
a" other one and their faces merely CT
cred with a blanket or coat. 7
dead we're afterwards removed
= their homes or to cemeteries.
- Another earlier experience of
!. - Cauthorn's which he related W
~ amusement, was that when a sch
- boy he secured steel pen in so
manner, but his teacher, John
~ Clark, advised him not to use 1t
cause he might not always be a
-" to get one, while he could always
~ -, sure of getting a goose quill.
w Mr. Cauthonr was the descendant
~ one of the Oldest American famil
~ Richard Cauthorn, the head of
family in Virginia, was the aut
no OF what is said to be the first ar
'ur metic ever used in the schools OF
, south. It was published in ITS
al
4hn