Boone’s Lick Heritage QuarterLy The Marmadukes: A Boonslick First Family A Family Divided by War The Marmaduke Children Coming of Age VoL. 17 no. 4 — Winter 2018 BoonsLick HistoricaL society PeriodicaL Editor's Page The Politics of Place and Family “The ‘Boonslick Country’ of central Missouri was in connections, but they were predominantly Southerners the early nineteen century the most fertile and popu- and slaveholders, who stood apart from the urban- lous area of the state. From 1821 to 1861, this region commercial interests of the state. This central Missouri dominated Missouri’s agricultural production, econo- structure supported [Thomas H.] Benton and his pro- my and its politics. The Marmadukes and their Sap- gram until the growing controversy over the slavery pington and Jackson relatives of Saline County near question split the party’s ranks.” notes historian Perry Arrow Rock McCandless, in constituted a his A History of powerful family Missouri, Vol- political dynasty. ume II: 1820- The patriarch 1860. of this family “To understand dynasty was Dr. their attitudes John Sapping- and roles in the ton.” war it is benefi- The lead para- cial to examine graph, a quota- their back- tion from this ground,” Dickey issue’s feature writes. article (page Complimenting 4) by historian this is the fol- Michael Dickey, lowing article, aptly sums up an excerpt from the importance a forthcoming of central Mis- biography of souri – the Meredith Miles Boonslick – and Marmaduke its patrician fam- (page 12) by ilies who played author Lee M. dominant roles Cullimore. He in the state’s presents an inti- economy and politics in the early to mid-nineteenth mate portrait of the children born to Meredith and wife century until torn apart by the polarization of the Civil Lavinia (Sappington) Marmaduke – three daughters War. The Marmadukes were one of the most influen- and seven sons, one of whom died in infancy – as they tial families of central Missouri in the years leading to go from their adolescent years to adulthood during the the Civil War. years leading up to the Civil War. Meredith Miles Marmaduke and Claiborne “They were the beneficiaries of their father’s determi- Fox Jackson, brothers-in-law through their marriages nation to become wealthy, and they had every expecta- to daughters of Dr. John Sappington (three daughters, tion that they would continue to prosper in the future,” in Jackson’s case) were also part of what was known Cullimore notes in the conclusion of the excerpt, as generally as the Central Clique, a group of central the war loomed, and adds “Within a year they all Missouri Democratic politicians that had its head- would find their lives turned upside-down as the na- quarters in Fayette. “Some of the men had mercantile tion sundered in the early days of the Civil War. —Don B. Cullimore 2 Boone’s Lick Heritage Quarterly • Vol. 17, No. 4 • Winter 2018 Boone’s Lick Heritage Quarterly is published four times a year by the Boonslick Historical Society, P.O. Box 426, Boonville, MO 65233. Boone’s Lick We encourage our members and others inter- Heritage QuarterLy ested in history to contribute articles or other information of historical interest, including Boonslick Historical Society Vol. 17, No. 4 • Winter 2018 family histories, pertaining to the region. Please address all contributions and correspondence re- Contents lated to the periodical to the editor, Don B. Cul- limore, 1 Lawrence Dr., Fayette, MO 65248, or Editor’s Page: Politics of Place and Family Page 2 email to: [email protected], phone: 660-888-3429. Editorial guidelines may be ob- A Family Divided Page 4 By Michael Dickey tained from the editor. Publication deadlines are February 1 for the March (Spring) issue; May A historian’s account of a remarkable nineteenth-century Missouri fam- 1 for the June (Summer) issue; August 1 for the ily, the Marmadukes, divided by politics and the Civil War. September (Fall) issue; and November 1 for the (Winter) December issue. The Marmaduke Children Coming of Age Page 12 The Boonslick Historical Society was founded By Lee M. Cullimore in 1937 and meets several times a year to enjoy An intimate portrayal of the nine Marmaduke children as they grew into programs about historical topics pertinent to the adults and became swept up in the approaching Civil War. Boonslick area. Members of the Society have worked together over the years to publish his- torical books and brochures and to mark historic sites. They supported the founding of Boone’s Lick State Historic Site, marked the sites of Cooper’s Fort and Hanna Cole’s Fort and have restored a George Caleb Bingham painting on loan to The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art at Central Methodist University, Fayette. Membership dues are $15-Individual, $25-Family, $50-Sponsor, $250-Patron, $500- Life. The dues year is January through De- cember. Receive our publication, Boone’s Lick The Sappington Cemetery, near Arrow Rock, where most of the Sappingtons and Heritage Quarterly, and attend annual Society Marmadukes and extended family are buried. Photo by Don Cullimore events highlighting the region’s history. To NEWS BRIEF become a member, send a check made out to the Boonslick Historical Society, P.O. Box 426, Cooper Co. Historical Society Trivia Night Fund Raiser Boonville, MO 65233. The Cooper County Historical Society's Twelfth Annual Trivia Night, a fund-raising event, will be Saturday, January 26, at the Knights of Columbus Officers and Board Members 2018 Hall, 1515 Radio Hill Road in Boonville. Cindy Bowen, Armstrong, President “We always have a lot of great food, which is included with entry fee,” Brett Rogers, Boonville, Vice President say members. The evening starts at 6 p.m. and the Trivia competition starts Sam Jewett, Boonville, Treasurer at 7 p.m. Price is $140 per team/table of 8. The evening also includes a silent Denise Haskamp, Glasgow, Secretary auction. Items for sale will include special bandanas commemorating the Carolyn Collings, Columbia 200th Anniversary of Cooper County (18 - ), as well as some books, plat Don Cullimore, Fayette maps, and other goodies. Mike Dickey, Arrow Rock For information and reserving tables, contact Dawn Taylor (Taylor's Larry Harrington, Fayette Bake Shop) at 660-888-9438 or email her at [email protected]. Becki Propst, Fayette James (Jim) Steele, Fayette COVER ART: Historian Michael Dickey’s map showing the greater “Boon- Editorial Staff slick County” of the early to mid-nineteenth century includes an area today Don B. Cullimore, Editor that touches on 13 Central Missouri counties. The Boonslick Country was the Cathy Thogmorton, Graphic Designer epicenter of Missouri politics and agricultural production during that period, and Meredith Miles and Lavinia (Sappington) Marmaduke (pictured) were an important “First Family” of the Boonslick. Boone’s Lick Heritage Quarterly • Vol. 17, No. 4 • Winter 2018 3 Marmaduke Family The Marmadukes of Missouri: A Family Divided by War By Michael Dickey • Images courtesy of Missouri State Parks The following essay was adapted from Michael Dickey’s presenta- William Breathitt Sappington, became extremely wealthy plant- tion at the fall 2018 meeting of the Boonslick Historical Society at the ers. Erasmus served Saline County in the Missouri legislature in historic J. Huston Tavern in Arrow Rock.—the Editor 1846, after defeating artist George Caleb Bingham in a recount. The brothers built lavish mansions three miles west of Arrow THE MARMADUKES WERE ONE OF THE MOST Rock. The mansion of William, known as “Prairie Park,” is INFLUENTIAL FAMILIES OF CENTRAL MISSOURI in the today fully restored and is perhaps the finest antebellum mansion years leading to the Civil War. To understand their attitudes and remaining in Missouri. The mansion of Erasmus burned down in roles in the war it is beneficial to examine their background. the early twentieth century. Dr. Sappington lived in a two story The “Boonslick Country” of central Missouri was in the early log cabin two miles to the southwest that he called “Pilot Hick- nineteen century the most fertile and populous area of the state. ory.” He referred to his sons’ fine plantation homes as “Monu- From 1821 to 1861, this region dominated Missouri’s agricultural ments to damn fools.” The Marmaduke home a couple of miles production, economy and its politics. The Marmadukes and their west of Dr. Sappington’s cabin was an unpretentious two-story Sappington and Jackson relatives of Saline County near Arrow frame house. Rock constituted a powerful family political dynasty. The patri- Kentucky immigrant Claiborne Fox Jackson had political arch of this family dynasty aspirations when he was Dr. John Sappington. arrived in Missouri but Dr. Sappington came he needed a benefac- to Missouri from Tennessee tor. He gained this in 1819, settling about five through marriages to miles southwest of Arrow three daughters of Dr. Rock. He was the first Sappington. Mary Jane physician in Saline County (the first wife) died and his wife, Jane Breathitt within a few months of Sappington, became some- marriage to Jackson in thing of the “first lady” of the 1832. He then married Boonslick Country. No mere Jane’s younger sister, country doctor, Sappington Louisa Catherine, who owned more than 5,000 died as a result of a acres of land and owned carriage accident in interests in multiple business 1838. Finally, he mar- enterprises. He developed ried Eliza Sappington and mass-marketed quinine Dr. John Sappington Pearson, the eldest Meredith Miles Marmaduke pills to treat malarial fever daughter shortly after in 1832. The pill enterprise, Louisa’s death. When especially, led to his amassing a fortune. Dr. Sappington was a Jackson asked for Eliza’s hand in marriage the Doctor allegedly Jacksonian Democrat.