SEABOURNS IN MCDONALD COUNTY, MISSOURI

prepared by Joyce Disharoon

 

JOSEPH SEABOURN and his wife POLLY WILHITE had settled in Bradley County, Tennessee at about the same time the Cherokee Indians were relocated westward. 

Several of Joseph's sons left Bradley County and moved west as land opened up for settlement.  Many of the frontiersmen of those days were restless and kept moving west to find a better life.  One of those sons, BRADFORD SEABOURN, found a good life in McDonald County, Missouri. 

THE COUNTY

The County of McDonald was about 540 square miles at that time, and is located in the southwest corner of the state.  Indian territory was on one boundary and Arkansas was on another.

Surprisingly, there are graves of early white settlers, one of whom died in 1807. Who these settlers were and the circumstances of their early arrival into what was Indian territory is still unknown.  The known timing of settlements was in the late 1820s. 

 

 

THE PEOPLE

In the 1860s most people in this part of Missouri were from the Southeast, and of that group more were from Tennessee than any other state.  

 According to Judge J. A. Sturges in his book History of McDonald County, Missouri, published in 1898 and which we quote several times on this page, they "brought with them the manners and customs peculiar to those localities.  They lived in primitive style, compared to the present, and were nearly self-sustaining.  A cook stove was a rare exception, nearly every one cooked by the fire place and oven.   This, by the way, was not so convenient as might be imagined.  Many a delicious 'pone', rare venison saddle and luscious gobbler has been cooked in this way, and the smell that ascended to heaven was enough to tempt the appetites of the gods.”

”A sewing machine had never been heard of, while the clank of the loom and humming of the wheel furnished music almost as sweet, and more homelike than our present organs and pianos.  The old fashioned linchpin wagons, with the box shaped like a canoe, many with wooden spindle, could be heard for miles as they groaned and screaked over the rocky roads.  They raised their own cotton and wool, spun and wove it in the cloth and made their own garments.  The latter was the women's work.  Of course, every family cultivated enough tobacco for home consumption.  Wheat and corn were produced, and, as we have seen, there were a number of mills to do the grinding.  Distilleries were quite numerous and manufactured the pure and unadulterated corn juice at twenty-five cents a gallon.  The good people, both saints and sinners, could take their corn to the still and lay in a good supply of cash.  One didn't have to get 'sick' and tell a lie and sign his name to it, then get a doctor to tell one and sign his name to it in order to get a drink of a decoction miscalled whiskey.  No, he just followed the injunction of St. Paul, and took a little for his stomach's sake, and his oft infirmities, and of a quality that would have met the approval of that learned apostle.  In this new country subject to chills and malaria, and the scarcity of doctors and drugs, no doubt this pure liquor drove disease and death from many a home."

THEIR OCCUPATIONS

"Hogs and cattle could be raised with very little feed, the former being frequently butchered directly from the mast, while deer, turkey and other game were found in abundance.  As to shoes, every neighborhood had a tannery and every man was a shoemaker.  One man told me that his father said his store bill before the war did not average more than five dollars a year.  His family was quite large, and they lived comfortably.  Instead of doing without, they simply produced what was required.  It is by no means intended to convey the idea that all the people were poor or lived so plainly.  Many families were quite aristocratic, had well furnished houses, and gold watches and jewelry were worn quite extensively.  Several parties owned slaves and carried on quite extensive plantations.  Almost any McDonald county farmer, along in the fifties could raise a hundred dollars any day, and real estate mortgages were unknown.  People were honest in their dealing and paid their debts, and the latch string to every cabin hung on the outside.  People were hospitable, extremely so.  Partly because it was born and bred in them, partly because, being isolated, and the settlements scarce and far between, it was regarded as a treat to have a neighbor or stranger stop to dinner or over night.  The familiar 'Halloa, stranger, git down an' hitch yer hoss, and come in n stay all night.'  The old woman  'I have supper drecly.  Boys, take the critter and feed it,' has greeted the ears of many a weary traveler, and he would rest as secure as tho' guarded by a regiment of soldiers.  Those are days to be remembered with pleasure, a bright period in the history of our county.”

“But the question is asked, how did they make any money?  As before stated, there were but few families in the county, and their farms were very productive.  The range was exceedingly fine, and all kinds of stock could be raised with little or no outlay.  A farmer could gather up his hogs and cattle in the spring, after the grass was good, and drive them to St. Louis.  There was range all the way and it mattered little that it took a long time to make the journey.  What his produce brought was clear profit.  He frequently returned with several hundred dollars.   Horses were raised and taken directly to the southern market where they would bring from $75 to $100.  Thus an industrious man could soon acquire quite a snug sum of money."

THE BRADFORD SEABOURN FAMILY

The July 17, 1860 McDonald County, Missouri Census lists Bradford's family as follows:

Bradford, age 36

Catherine, Age 33

Geo. M. D., Age 13

Joseph C., Age 12

Sarah L., Age 5

Oscar L., Age 6/12th months

Value of Property $200. Every member of the family listed as born in Tennessee

Pictured L to R sitting: John and Oscar; L to R standing: Dallas and Jasper

Judge Sturges describes the family as follows:

BRADFORD SEABOURN

"Bradford Seabourn was born in Bradley County, Tennessee.  He settled in McMillin township.  The settlement of the township was between 1835 and 1840.  The first settler located there in 1842. The Cherokee Indians were relocated there.  Several Tennessee families arrived in the 1850s, among them W. B. Mitchell in 1852 and Bradford Seabourn in 1858".  

G. M. D. SEABOURN

"G. M. D. Seabourn, son of Bradford and Catherine (Campbell) Seabourn, was born in Bradley County, East Tennessee June 3, 1845.  He came with his parents to McDonald county in 1858.  He was first married in 1862 to Miss Missouri Anderson, sister of A. D. Anderson, late of this county.  By her, three children have been born.  Some years after her death he married Miss Sarah Eden by whom he has four children living.  He was never in the regular army, but served for a time in our state militia.  He was in the fight at Neosho with General Shelby by whose men he was captured and released on parole.  The entire family were strongly Union and had to leave this county in 1862, at which time they went to Lawrence county returning in 1866.  His father served over two years in the 6th Kansas Calvary.  Mr. Seabourn does not belong to any church, has never held a public office and is a farmer by occupation.  He owns a good farm, is in comfortable circumstances, comes of a good family and is highly respected by all who know him."

J. C. SEABOURN

"J. C. Seabourn lived in McDonald County, Missouri. On 7 Nov 1882 he was elected as Sheriff and Collector and held the office for two terms."

SMITH AND SEABOURN STORE

“W. G. Smith owned a store in Coy.  John and Dallas Seabourn and Wm. Cunningham began running the store.

”On Sunday morning, January 10, 1892, 'at about 4:30 o'clock a loud explosion, which shook the very earth and made the windows and shutters rattle in every home in Southwest City and which awakened our citizens was but the prelude to the cry of FIRE, FIRE, which resounded through our streets, accompanied by the furious ringing of bells and the cries of people as they frantically rushed from their homes to the scene.”

”When first discovered smoke was seen issuing from the Masonic Temple over Smith & Seabourn's hardware store, and the light from the flames could be plainly seen playing against the curtained windows.”

”Mr. Turner, a photographer, who sleeps in his tent-gallery opposite the hardware store on the other side of the street, was awakened by the violent concussion of the shock and a shower of plate glass and other broken matter, against his tent.  In less than a half minute he was in the hardware building with a bucket of water he had snatched up.  The whole front was blown out which accounted for the previous shower of glass, which awakened him.  A place was burning in the back part of the building, apparently half-way across the room between two joists, and the lamp which was suspended had fallen to the floor and broken and the oil was burning, which he promptly put out.  But fire was dropping from the ceiling all around and he hurried back to replenish his bucket with water.  By the time he got back with the water quite a number had congregated, and the fire by this time was bursting from the windows up stairs and the fire in the interior of the hardware was dropping down steadily, but hesitated when the other explosion occurred -- one, two, three times.”

In the mean time Mr. Martin, who works in the harness-making department arrived at the back door which was open.  He was engaged in trying to get down some harness to carry out when another explosion occurred and he quit precipitately.  The fire was then nearly all in front of the hardware and was spreading through the archway which connects the general merchandise room and is at the back of the entrance of Smith Bros. drug store which was located between the two stores.  In ten minutes the whole building was in flames up and down stairs and it was with difficulty that parties having offices in the second story of the adjoining building north reached them and saved a few effects for the smoke was stifling.  In about half an hour three adjoining bricks were in flames and the flames were still spreading.  From this block of bricks the fire, which was intensely hot, spread to Dumont's grocery and Dr. Frank Smith's office.  The fire on the north jumped the side street across to the Gorton building, a frame, which contained Murph Harmon's saloon, and all heroic measures failed to keep it from going, awnings were torn away from before the saloon and Sanders & Morrison's store on the north and a line of bucket men stood on the roof of Sanders & Morrison's fire wall, which is a hollow one, and together with a free use of salt the building was saved, although badly damaged.”

 ”Dr. Frank Smith's office was the last building on the southern limits of the burned district to go with the rest.  It was a small one-story frame and was partly torn down by the force of men on this side.  A line of men with buckets and wet blankets, reinforced by plenty of water, kept watch and fought valiantly from the firewall of Mrs. Dustin's drug store, which is also a blind wall, and the fire was finally got under full control.  But forces of workers were busy on the front of the Corum house, opposite the scene of the fire and wet blankets and water did their work well.  The front of John Struther's store on the same side of the street as the Corum House, was subjected to like treatment.”

”In the mean time the large frame implement warehouse of Smith & Seabourn's at the back of the block could not be saved, and out-buildings galore were wiped up in the immediate vicinity, among which was Mrs. Dustin's barn and contents, D. E. Havens' ware house, and only by the best of work was Mrs. Dustin's residence saved.”

”Smith & Seabourn are the heaviest losers by the fire, their loss being estimated at $20,000. Their brick block comprised four large, handsome business rooms; overhead were the Enterprise office, Drs. Quarles & Christian’s office, Opera house and Masonic hall. Their hardware stock was a total loss, except implements and wagons, etc., which were stored in their warehouse, a part of which were saved. About $3,000 worth of general merchandise and $1,000 worth of implements were got beyond the reach of the flames. Papers and safe contents taken out. No insurance."

FAMOUS DOOLIN GANG BANK ROBBERY

May 20, 1895

"About 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon seven well armed men rode into town from the south and dismounted in the street, just back of the post office, and tied their horses.  Three of them made their way immediately to the bank while the other four took positions, two in the pool hall just north and across the street from the post office, while the other two stood in Dr. Nichol's yard.  The first words heard from them was an order for every body to hunt holes, accompanied by an oath.  To give their language more force, they began firing their Winchesters, and kept up a fuscilade.  The men proceeded to the bank and covered Mr. Ault, the owner of the bank, and Mr. Snyder, an assistant, with revolvers.  Two of the men immediately crawled through the cashier's window, while the third held revolvers on Mr. Ault and Mr. Snyder.”

“After relieving the vault and the cashier's drawer of the money, they deposited it in a sack, and made for their horses, keeping up a constant firing at every one who dared to show his head.  While the three men were in the bank, the four men on the outside were doing deadly executions with their Winchesters.”

” Ex-State Senator Seabourn and brother Oscar were in front of Mrs. Dustin's hardware store when the shooting began, and as they started for the store door two shots fired simultaneously struck them, and singularly, in very nearly the same place, just above the right hip joint in close proximity to the lower abdomen.  The ball that hit J. C. passed through, while the ball that hit Oscar had lodged, and at this writing has not been located.  M. V. Hembree, who was in W. L. Barker's saloon, received a ball in the ankle almost severing his leg, and will probably have to be amputated.  By this time men had secured guns and returned the fire, and the robbers made retreat as fast as possible.  As they passed the street to Broadway and turned south they encountered Simpson Melton, Deputy U. S. Marshal and fired three shots at him, one taking effect in his right leg, making a flesh wound.  Melton returned the fire hitting one of their horses which had to be abandoned in the south part of town.”

” About 100 shots were fired on Main street, and sounded like war times, and many citizens had very close calls from the robber's guns.  They rode good horses and the men were under middle age, and it is reported that one of the men was recognized as one of the parties who was arrested on suspicion as being connected with the Bentonville robbery a few months ago.”

” Mr. Ault, of the bank, informs us that the robbers secured in the neighborhood of $3,700.  Fortunately for Mr. Ault, his insurance covers nearly, if not all, the loss.  After securing the money Mr. Ault and Mr. Snyder were marched with the robbers to their horses, and then ordered to find holes and be quick about it.”

” The robbers met a warm reception as they turned south on Broadway, as several parties, including City Marshall Carlyle, D. E. Havens, G. W. Smith, E. W. Eslinger, and S. Melton were there with their guns, and were not afraid to use them.  It is supposed one of their horses was shot at that time by S. Melton, and another one was shot at that time by S. Melton, and another one was shot by J. D.Powell, who put in some good work as they passed his house. Charles Franks and Dick Prater also gave them a dose as they passed the Baptist church.”

” It is pretty well known that two of the robbers were wounded as they stopped several teams going into town and secured horses,  and their wounds were plainly seen.  One is shot near the eye and the other in the back of hip, as in changing horses he was not able to handle himself.  They took a horse from Shade Johnson, and one from a man by the name of Vaughn and another from Dave Smith, but afterward turned it loose as it could not travel fast enough."

"J. C. Seabourn died of his wound a few days later, but his brother Oscar eventually recovered.  Hembry's foot was taken off above the ankle.”

 “The robbers went in a southwesterly direction and track of them was finally lost some distance below Grand river.  That night they stopped for supper some twelve or fourteen miles below Southwest, where they dressed  their wounds.  The lady who got their supper stated that six of the seven were wounded.  Various parties were suspected and three arrests were made.  Dr. Wynn and a man named Sparks were the first two.  After investigating the matter, Sparks was discharged, but Wynn was placed in jail until the next term of court.  The grand jury failed to find a bill and he was released.  James Condry was indicted, but the case was nollied, there being no evidence against him.” 

” In the course of time it was demonstrated to the satisfaction of most of the people of the town that the raid had been made by Bill Doolin and his gang.  One of them died of a wound received in this robbery, five were afterwards killed, and the other one is now serving a term in the penitentiary for some crime of a similar kind."

OSCAR SEABOURN’S APPLICATION FOR CHEROKEE CITIZENSHIP

Sadie L. Thornton Seabourn was 28 years old and Oscar was 39 years old when she made application for Cherokee citizenship for Oscar and their children.  In the application, which was made to the Commissioner of the Five Civilized Tribes and the Department of the Interior, she indicated that she was the daughter of William and Amanda Thornton and had lived in the Cherokee Nation her entire life. She was one-eighth Indian.

Sadie made several errors in her verbal application that would cause the application to be delayed, and the interviewers to become abrupt with her.  She indicated that she and Oscar were married on April 9, 1894 when it was actually April 8th.  Their daughter Joy C. was fifteen, she said, but she meant to say five.  Their other child was Joseph D. and he was four years old at the time of the application.

The errors were found by the government and a memo of correction was placed in the file in December 1901.

On April 25, 1902 Sadie was again called for an interview during which the interviewer pushed hard as to why her answers were incorrect.  Sadie gave intelligent and plausible answers to the questions, and Oscar was also interviewed.

From Oscar's interview we learn that Sadie was a schoolteacher.

Oscar died on January 7, 1904, and his certificate of death was completed by his father-in-law and worded that Oscar was a citizen by adoption of the Cherokee Nation.

On January 10, 1907, a letter was written to Oscar from the Commissioner of the Five Civilized Tribes, rejecting his application for citizenship.

On March 8, 1907, a letter from the office of the Secretary of the Interior was written to Oscar affirming the rejection of his application.  The letter was returned to Washington with a post office stamp indicating that there was no such post office in the state.  The envelope had been sent to the address used in the first part of the application process seven years earlier.

Oscar sustained an injury during the Doolin’ gang robbery in 1895.  A bullet lodged in his groin.  Newspaper accounts after Oscar’s death about ten years later reported that Oscar had been in an insane asylum and died there.

Sadie later remarried.