File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Thomas J. Mudd, 10 March 2002.  Link change or update: 16 Mar 2002

Diary of Judge Henry Thomas Mudd, written 1875-1890

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My Father and Mother were married in the year 1812 and raised eleven children. Six of whom are living at this time. Two of whom have recently died, My brother Jeremiah T. Mudd in August last, in the 50th year of his age, of good estate and universally respected and beloved by all who know him. And also my sister Mary Rose at the Visitation Convent in Frederick Maryland on the 19th of last month (April 1875) in the 53rd year of her age, having taken the Holy vows in religion in that institution at the age of twenty years and spent thirty five year of her life in the most pious zeal and ability in the building up and fostering the institution to which she had been so long attached, she being one of the first prioresses to start the branch house of that institution at Frederick.

Of my four brothers now living Alexander the eldest next to myself being in the 55th year of his age a large farmer and stock raiser living a near neighbor at Millwood Missouri.

Next my brother Doctor George Dyer Mudd living at Bryantown, Charles County, Maryland, a learned man in his profession and at this time a delegate in the Maryland Senate.

Next my brother Sylvester Mudd in the 45th year of his age, living on, and owning the old homestead in Charles County, Maryland.

And next my brother Doctor James M. Mudd, in the practice of his profession in Hannibal Missouri in the 43rd year of his age.

And also my sister Ann Teresa in the 47th year of her age, who took the Holy vows in religion at the age of twenty years at the Carmelite Monastery in Baltimore, but has recently been appointed and sent by the Archbishop as Revnd. Mother to establish a branch house of the order at Rimoushi in Canada.

My sister Clarissa who marred Doctor Hilary P. Mudd died in 1872. The other two children, both boys, died in the 17th year of their age.

After the foregoing short account of the families of my Father and Mother and others of our people, I propose t make up this short chapter of a few incidents of my own life up to the death of Elizabeth Ellen my first wife, and subsequent marriage.

I was born on 23rd of September 1816 at the old homestead "Boarmans Reserve", near Bryantown, Charles County, Maryland. My Father gave me a common school education, such as was common at that day in our part of Maryland, and about the same to the elder portion of his other children. And although he found himself able to educate my three youngest brothers, and my two sisters, Mary and Ann, at the best colleges and Academy’s, it was no fault of his that he could not in his more stringent circumstance at an earlier day educate his elder children as well.

I was put to work at an early period in life and after being able to plow had generally to follow the plow until the corn was laid by before going to school.

In my 14th year, I went with Fathers approbation to the City of Washington, and served for about eighteen months as a merchant clerk in the House of Sheppard, Johnston and Semmes. Mr. Raphael Semmes

a member of this firm was a man of extended means and business qualities and the Father of the somewhat famous Captain Raphael Semmes of the Confederate Navy. He was formerly of Charles County and a very particular friend of my Father.

After the eighteen months term in this house, I returned home to my Father with the good will and kindness ever after of my employers.

The year following (1835) in my 19th year, my Father put me on his lower farm near Port Tobacco in charge of some half dozen servants, and my three younger brothers, Alexander, Jeremiah, and George, to go to school to an Irish teacher named Fitzgerald, And after two years service on this farm as an overseer, much to the profit and satisfaction of my Father, I was married by the Reverend Aloysius Mudd to my first cousin, Miss Elizabeth Ellen Dyer, by dispensation from the Church.

She was the grand daughter also of my grand Father Dyer and her mother was daughter of Mr. Ignatius Gardiner.

But I would here give it as my decided opinion to my children and others that they should never marry a first cousin

under any circumstances and better far not even a second cousin

For the next two years I rented the farm and one Negro man who had a wife in that neighborhood of my Father, at $300.00 a year, and hiring several other Negro men and women. I made some clear money on the farm both years.

We had one son, George Alton¹, born during this time on the 17th of March 1838.

After the two years on this place, I sold out what I had made and after spending the winter with my wife and child at my Fathers house, removed to Missouri in the spring of 1839 and rented a farm on the river near St. Charles, made a good crop of corn, averaging about 14 barrels to the acre. I then sold the crop at some clear money, and bought 160 acres land near what is now Millwood, Mo. my present home, and moved to it in the spring 1840, where I remained until the year 1853.

In the 1842 and again in 1844, I was elected by the people assessor of the County, and in 1846 as sheriff of the County which I felt somewhat elated at the confidence shown by the people to comparatively a newcomer amongst them, and so young as myself, being only in my 24th year when first elected to fill quite

an important office, both of which offices I filled, I think, to the entire satisfaction of the people, but neither of which brought any material net profit to myself.

But during the thirteen years I had remained on the farm, I had gradually increased my little estate by some acquisition to my farm by purchase, improvements, etc. And at this time when I had sold out the farm, stock, etc. and settled up, I had in money and its equivalent about $7500.00 which was at least double the amount of what I had to commence on when I went to the place.

In 1853, after selling out the farm, etc. I bought ten acres of land and laid out the little town of Millwood, building a good dwelling house, (now used as a hotel), storehouse, wool carding, machine buildings, etc. And commenced the mercantile business in partnership with my brother in law, Doct. Hilary P. Mudd, still carrying on for several years the wool carding business.

The year following 1854, I bought the farm² of 160 acres on which I now live, and commenced farming again, still carrying on the mercantile business.

On the 21st day of August 1855 in the 40th year of her age, my first wife Elizabeth Ellen died from immature birth of her 10^th

child leaving me with only three children living out the ten we had born to us, all the rest having died quite young except one very promising son named Thomas Elzare who died on his birthday at the age of thirteen.

Of the three then remaining children, two are still living; James Edwin¹ is still living with me as salesman in the store, and unmarried. Catherine Rebecca is married to Wilford Lee and has three children.

George Alton graduated at medicine and practiced his profession in Texas for the last four years previous to his death, which occurred on the 6th of March 1875, only two weeks after his arrival at home, never having married.

I propose in this chapter to give a short account of some of the incidents of my life and family from the time of my second marriage to the present.

I was married to Miss Mary O’Brien at St. Johns Church in St. Louis, Mo. by the Revnd. Patrick O’Brien on the 12th day of June 1856, which happens to be just nineteen years ago this day. And as I think it may not be without interest to her children in after times to know something of the history of her family. I propose to give a short account at this point.

At the time we were married, I was in my 39th year, and she in her 28th year of our age. Her Father Daniel O’Brien, and her mother Ellen, immigrated to America from Cork County, Ireland, and settled at Potosi in Washington County Missouri in the year 1834 with several highly respectable families of their connections. Mr. O’Brien was a man of good education and family, and much respected by all who knew him. His profession or occupation was that of surveyor in Ireland, and to some extent in America.

They had seven children, five sons and two daughters that grew up to mans and womans estate.

The eldest, Patrick, was educated for the Priesthood and ordained at the

age of 24 years, and spent 30 years of his life in the most arduous duties of the priesthood, building several churches and schools in St. Louis and was much respected by the Bishop and priests, as also by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, both Catholic and Protestants. He died on his way to Ireland in the year 1873, in the 57th year of his age. His next son John, a farmer and highly respectable man, who died in 1867 in the 44th year of his age, leaving a widow and tree children owning a good farm near Millwood Mo.

The next Catharine, married early in life to Lawrence Flynn living at this time on and owning a good farm near Millwood, Mo. The next Andrew, who made up a good estate by his business qualities and popularity, and died in St. Louis in 1873 in the 47th year of his age, leaving a very interesting family of a widow and five children.

The next was Mary, whom I had the good fortune to marry myself, and of whatever success I may have had in the last nineteen years, since we were married, there is probably as much due to her good judgment and

industry as my own, and to my three elder children, she has been a most kind Mother in Law, and has made them feel as much endeared to her as their own mother could possible have done.

The next was Daniel who died in St. Louis in the year 1861 in the 31st year of his age leaving a widow and one son.

The seventh and last was James now in the 43rd year of his age, educated for the priesthood and ordained at twenty three years of age, who as preacher and lecturer stands far above an average, of much zeal in behalf of the Church, and exceedingly popular with all who enjoy his acquaintance. He is at this time located in Illinois.

In the last nineteen years since Mary and myself were married, we have continued moderately to increase in property, as well as the conveniences and comforts of life, continuing all the while in the mercantile business at Millwood, and for the last twelve years without a partner.

In the year 1869, I built my present storehouse in Millwood costing $5000.00¹ and it is perhaps the best storehouse in the county at this time. And in 1871, I made an addition to my dwelling house costing

$3,000.00. And in 1873 built a stable or barn costing $500.00.

These buildings have afforded much pleasure and convenience, and I may say a degree of pride, though I hope a laudable one, and may in some degree show to my children that my life has not been spent without a degree of industry, and the advancement of those around me at the present time.

And during the same period have made some additions to my land, owning at this time about 500 acres, and 240 in grass and cultivation.

My sales for the last number of years has aggregated per year about $20,000.00² though with strong competition and much to do on the farm, stock, County Court, administration, business etc., I am hardly reaching that amount at this time.

I was induced to let my name go before the people for County Court Judge, and elected for six years, the salary or per diem is $5.00 per day, while in session, the same of State legislators.

Owning a small amount of stock in the Farmers & Mechanics Bank at Troy, I was selected as one of its Directors, and office however imposing but little labor

Diary Page 26

and no reimbursements. I also hold this little office by appointment from the Governor of Notary Public, but it only imposes an additional little sort of work for the public convenience, like many other things through life that had to do, not paying for the time spent in its transactions.

Mary and myself have had seven children, five of whom are living at this time, all boys. Daniel Henry in his 18th, James Theodore in his 16th, John Pierce in his 11th, Andrew Arthur in his 8th, and William Albert in his 6th year of age. I owned at the time of President Lincolns famous Emancipation Proclamation, ten desirable slaves which were thereby set free. Whether emancipation was a good or bad act, whether the poor Negro is put in a better or worse condition, I cannot undertake to give an opinion. So far, their condition does not seem bettered, at least of those that were well cared for when slaves. It is hoped the future to them, with more experience in self-government will bring results that cannot now be seen. Their freedom was attended with some inconvenience, but no serious regret to myself and most of our people

I propose in this chapter to give a short account of the commencement and progress of the Catholic Church at this place. When I moved here in the spring of 1840 on the 160 acres of land, I had bought, which is now owned by my sister-in-law, Mrs. John O’Brien. I was the first Catholic to own a farm or land of his own in what is known as the Forks of Cuiver, a District composing about one fifth of our county, and had before leaving St. Charles, gotten a promise from Father Smidt, Superior at St. Charles, who had been very kind to us, to let Father Walters, his assistant come up from St. Charles, a distance of fifty miles every few months during week days, to give us Church, and having a very soon built a right good sized house on the place, Father Walter for the first two years give Church at my house about every two or three months, at which every member of the Church (being in all about 8 or 10 families), old and young, black and white, would attend, for which a fat mutton or young porker were killed and bountiful dinner prepared by my kind wife for all hands, and after Mass and Sermon and dinner was served, The evenings and perhaps the next day were generally spent in jumping, leaping, foot racing and other innocent amusements, good Father Walters not only hugely enjoying it but taking an active part in it himself.

Money being a scarce commodity with us, these times, we only made up the amount of five dollars to the Priest for each visit. But he seemed so much attached to us, and it afforded him such pleasure to pay us those visits that the small amount was entirely satisfactory to him.

After two or three years, our number then being some twelve families, we built a good hewed log church, 22 x 30 feet, with sanctuary in addition of 12 x 16 feet, with small gallery for choir, which we soon made up a rite good one. My first wife Ellen and myself being for many years the leaders.

This Church was attended for the next two years by Father James Murphy from Ralls County, once a month on Sundays, remaining with us nearly half his time, and boarding at my house (of course free of charge and affording much pleasure). After this Father Robert Wheeler was sent by the Arch Bishop to make his permanent residence with us, and remained several years with us and boarded with Doct. Mudd, having no priests residence at the time.

Several other priests attended this congregation for short periods of time until the year 1850 when Father Daniel

Lyne, a young Priest of fine oratorical abilities was located here, who set about at once the building of our present brick church 32 x 76 feet, which although estimated by Mr. Welch the architect to cost $4,000.00, when finished, and an organ bought had cost at least $8,000.00, our congregation at this time not exceeding forty families.

When the first subscription was gotten up, I put down $225.00 and at a subsequent time $125.00 more, and after all that we could make up and collect, the debt after a few years interest had accumulated was still $3,600.00 which was borrowed on notes signed by a number of the congregation. I being required to go security for the whole before the money could be obtained on the notes. After several years accumulated interest on these notes, that had not been paid, some of the parties having died, some left, and some not able or willing to pay, and the whole matter in a bad condition, and getting worse, a settlement had to be forced through the Court on the notes, and final settlement what I had to pay to help out weak parties and what I had already paid on the subscriptions was upwards of a thousand dollars. Our church

unfortunately under Father Lynes management in its building was not a very permanent one, and is now hardly considered safe for many years to come, and is also now too small for the accommodation of the present congregation of about one hundred and twenty families.

For the last nineteen years my present wife Mary, has been the leading singer in our choir, and until the last five or six years, I had continued to assist. At the present time Mary Jane O’Brien, and Elizabeth Carr, both orphan girls of 15 & 16 years of age raised and educated by us are now the best singers in our choir. My daughter Catharine R. Lee performs well on the organ and is also a good choir singer, but distance and inconvenience has thrown her in a measure out of practice.

We are now beginning to need a larger and better Church, an I hope to live long enough an be able to write in this book of having assisted in the building of such a Church at this place as will be sufficient not only for the present congregation but for our children after we are gone.

Father Lyne returned to Ireland in the year 1855, after which various priests were located here for different periods of time for the next ten years. When in 1865 Father Thomas Clary was sent to take charge of this congregation and several smaller Catholic settlements around, and has remained in the zealous discharge of his duties, and the good will of the people up to the present time now in the 62nd year his age.

The above is a diagram of an orchard of fruit,

With each dot representing a tree.

And explanation of each kind to suit,

On the 15^th of April 1875 planted by me.

Selected with much care in the hope and belief,

If I should not live to enjoy its fruit as a blessing.

It may afford much pleasure and relief,

To those who may survive me in its possession,

It will be found they will ripen from mid-summer till October,

Commencing with Golden sweet in south row in July,

And others following on until the month of November,

When the Winesap and Lenetin fully mature in reply,

Remember then dear children as you pluck from the tree,

Whether from Astrican Pippin or Lenetin it may be,

It was by a kind Fathers hand they were planted for me.

Diary Page 34

In the year 1856, I planted an orchard of 132 trees of well scented fruit, that has for the last 12 or 15 years afforded all the fruit we needed for family purposes as well as the sale of some green and dried fruit, and a good deal of vinegar retailed at the store.

But from borers and other insects, as well as damages by farm stock etc. about one quarter of the trees have died or become worthless. And I am advised in such case to make a new orchard instead of replanting the old one, in which opinion, Mary and the children strongly concurred. Hence as will be found on page 33 I have planted a very nice orchard of 144 trees the past spring, as well also as several kinds of smaller fruits and shrubs that were supervised by Mary & the Children.

In regard to the best breed of cattle, I have been left in the background by some of my more enterprising neighbors. Having done no more until recently than to carefully select the best heifer calves from mothers that were famous as good milkers from the common or mixed breeds. And by that means have kept then to twelve cows for a number of years back of our selection in heifer calves that perhaps have proved very nearly if not quite equal to the famous Ayshire (propagated by this method by the peasantry in Scotland) in the quality and quantity of milk. I have found much pleasure and profit in this plan. More especially as under Marys skill in their management. She has had yearly aggregate sales of about a hundred dollars worth of butter of fine quality besides furnishing a large family with both milk and butter of the best quality, affording a great part the cost of living as well as a great luxury. And also for four or five months in the year a number of small pigs are fed on wasted milk and clabber in the orchard at a value of some forty dollars or more each year, beside a small portion given away each year to three neighbors who having less of amount in having a supply

I, however bought four English Durham heifers last summer, three of which brought heifer calves this Spring, and will now perhaps get a full stock of this, said to be improved breed, which are more handsome in style and no doubt better feeders for beef. I hope they may prove even as good for milk and butter as those we have kept in the past years.

Since I have been in Missouri, now upwards of thirty seven years, there have been several brands of hogs presented to the public, more or less famous as good breeds, but for the last ten years, the Chesterwhite, Berkshire and Poland China has been considered the very best. Four and a half years ago I purchased of Messrs. Shepard & Alexander of Charleston, Ills, who have become very famous, as breeders of the Poland China a hog, one sow at a $100.00 , two Gilts at $80.00 each, and one young boar at $40.00 and in the next two years sold pigs enough for breeders, to pay all cash and expenses on the investment. The price at weaning time being from $10 to $15.00,I then declined selling any more pigs on account of the low price and few wanted.

Butt sold eight this spring at $10.00 each at weaning time. I found this to be a superior breed of hog, fattening well at any age, and when full grown weigh from 400 to 600 lb, and can

sometimes be made weigh 1000 lb. I fattened one myself that weighed 800 lb.

I sold a mixed lot last January of 40 that averaged in St. Louis 372, and I have now a lot of 65 head on clover with four ears of corn per day, that I expect to sell in August at an average of 300 lb, at which time they will be 16 months old. The 40 brought in January $7.121/2 gross, and I think these will bring as much, being very good these times. I have sent to Charleston for two more pigs at $20.00 each at weaning time that I am expecting in short time.

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