Glasgo Weekly Times (Glasgow, Missouri) July 5, 1849.
Slaves In the Probate & Circuit Court Records
The following information was gathered and compiled from an article in the The Daily Standard (Sikeston) newspaper from August 18, 1951. The original article was written by George Munger.
It is unknown when the first slaves were brought into Stoddard County, but from 1835 to 1861, six estates had slaves probated as part of the appraisal of personal property of the deceased. Michael Sitz died March 13, 1838 and left twelve slaves ranging in age from two to forty years old. They were appraised for $4,950.00 collectively and ranged from a value of $50 to $800. In 1842, the estate remained open and the slaves were hired out at the Court House door in Bloomfield.
Edward David died in 1840 and left one slave girl that about seventeen years old named, Nan, and valued at $600.00. There’s a gap of several years before the next estate shows up with slaves. John H. Crowder, died leaving six slaves appraised at between $35 to $1000 each.
The fourth estate was James Askew in 1858, in which there were four slaves valued at $200-$800 each. There was an open account with Askew’s estate against Reuben P. Owen for hire of a slave woman in the years of 1856, 1857, and 1858 at $72.00.
When slave owner, William R. Hunt passed away, Solomon G. Kitchen sold his six slaves on December 21, 1858, they brought $480-$1180.00 each.
On January 2, 1860, three slaves belonging to the estate of John McElwrath were sold. A male slave named Ike and and a female named Silva were bought by Daniel B. Miller, he paid $1,545.00 for Ike and $234.25 for Silva. The other male slave was sold to Henry Miller for $560.00.
In 1854, the heirs of Thomas Jenkins were parties to a suit in the Circuit Court for the purpose to partition two slaves. William Phelan prosecuted and won the case. Phelan was given $25 for his service. In the case of one large family of ten that could not agree on how to divide up their inheritance, two slaves were auctioned off by the sheriff and the proceeds were divided among the heirs.
Edward David died in 1840 and left one slave girl that about seventeen years old named, Nan, and valued at $600.00. There’s a gap of several years before the next estate shows up with slaves. John H. Crowder, died leaving six slaves appraised at between $35 to $1000 each.
The fourth estate was James Askew in 1858, in which there were four slaves valued at $200-$800 each. There was an open account with Askew’s estate against Reuben P. Owen for hire of a slave woman in the years of 1856, 1857, and 1858 at $72.00.
When slave owner, William R. Hunt passed away, Solomon G. Kitchen sold his six slaves on December 21, 1858, they brought $480-$1180.00 each.
On January 2, 1860, three slaves belonging to the estate of John McElwrath were sold. A male slave named Ike and and a female named Silva were bought by Daniel B. Miller, he paid $1,545.00 for Ike and $234.25 for Silva. The other male slave was sold to Henry Miller for $560.00.
In 1854, the heirs of Thomas Jenkins were parties to a suit in the Circuit Court for the purpose to partition two slaves. William Phelan prosecuted and won the case. Phelan was given $25 for his service. In the case of one large family of ten that could not agree on how to divide up their inheritance, two slaves were auctioned off by the sheriff and the proceeds were divided among the heirs.
Stoddard County Slave Owners in 1850
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1. Godfrey Andrews - 2
2. George Askew - 1 3. Joel Brantly (spelling) - 1 4. Orson Bartlett - 4 5. Henry Bedford - 3 6. Christopher Bess - 4 7. Jemima Farris - 4 8. Elizabeth Gibony - 3 9. Thomas Jenkins - 2 10. John M. Johnson - 1 |
11. Solomon G. Kitchen - 4
12. Sarah H. Knight - 2 13. Isaac Layton - 2 14. Daniel B. Miller - 4 15. Henry Miller - 2 16. Sophia Miller - 4 17. Andrew Neill - 2 18. Thomas W. Percifull - 2 19. Margarett Shipman - 2 20. Henry Sitz - 1 21. Sinclair Taylor & 3 Others - 2 |