Thomas C. Fletcher was born in 1829 in Herculaneum, Missouri. After service in the Union army, in which he rose to the rank of brigadier general, he was elected as Missouri's eighteenth governor, serving from 1865 to 1869. He was the first Missouri-born and first Republican governor, but because of the political chaos in Missouri immediately after the war he has come to be known as "the lost governor."

 

Soon after his term began a "convention" was established to form a new county from parts of existing Audrain, Lincoln, Montgomery and Pike Counties, to be named "Fletcher.” The convention obviously failed and faded into oblivion. Little is known of its establishment, meetings, work and official action.

 

However, Kenneth Weant, Montgomery County native and Historical Society member, now living in Texas, recently sent the Society an item from the St. Louis Democrat newspaper of March 14, 1865, in which James H. Ray of Middletown, "one of the committee appointed upon the part of the people of this locality," made a few suggestions and called attention to several petitions.

 

Mr. Ray suggested that the convention take part of Callaway, a "large, formidable rebellious county" and add it to the "loyal counties," Audrain and Montgomery. Fletcher County could be 500 square miles and Audrain and Montgomery Counties would not be reduced. He referred specifically to a petition by Colonel Canfield and "other officers and many privates of the 67th E.M.M.” (a Montgomery County "home guard" unit during the Civil War). 

 

Mr. Weant's vocation and avocation in retirement is indexing early Missouri newspapers. His many works include 18 volumes of indexes of Montgomery County newspapers. These indexes generally contain a section of notable events, arranged chronologically as well as deaths arranged both chronologically and alphabetically. They are not complete for all newspaper published in the County since he must work from the newspapers on microfilm at the State Historical Society. The Historical Society has copies of all 18 volumes as well as many other articles pertaining to Montgomery County people from newspapers in other counties.

 

This work points to the value of indexing. It is one thing to have articles of importance recorded in the local papers; quite another to know where to look. The mission of the Montgomery County Historical Society is to discover, preserve and disseminate local history. Items are valuable only in so far as they are shared. The Society is a means for people to share interesting artifacts and writings. Mr. Weant’s willingness to share what he uncovers best typifies the Society's work. Thank you for sharing!

The least remembered American war, that with the English, 1812-1815, officially ended with culmination of the provisions of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. Practically none of the issues that brought about the conflict were dealt with by the treaty. The only well-known incidents are the burning of the White House by the British and Andrew Jackson's victory at New Orleans.

 

Locally the conflict was known as the Indian Wars. The English made treaties with various American Indian tribes and that promoted numerous Indian raids. This had the effect of spreading American concern over a wide area that was largely disconnected.

 

The most significant local action in the Indian Wars was the battle near the confluence of Prairie Fork Creek and Loutre River in southwest Montgomery County. Sac and Fox Indians and part of a company of American Rangers led by Capt. James Callaway met there in early March, 1815. The result was the death of Capt. Callaway and five of his men, including three buried near the battle site. Callaway, a grandson of Daniel Boone, was born in Kentucky in 1783 and was also buried nearby. The bodies of two (Gilmore and Scott) of those killed were never found.

 

In addition to the four burials mentioned, 28 other veterans of the War of 1812 are known to be buried in Montgomery County.

 

 

Other articles about how wars effected Montgomery County can be found here. (Documents -> Military). 

Several articles about “Pioneer Montgomery” may also be of interest.

An article about Callaway's death published in the Missouri Gazette.