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David Rice Atchinson
In front of the Clinton County courthouse in Plattsburg,
Missouri, there is a statue of one of the leading political figures
of the mid-nineteenth century. His name is David Rice Atchison, and
although the statue of the prominent legislator is placed at the
front of the entrance of the building for all to see, it is the
plaque on the monument that may be the most unique in presidential
history.
According to Helen Russell, an authority on the life of Atchison, a
political figure with plenty of ties to northwest Missouri, "He was
very well known, very well respected and loved by those who knew
him." Russell recounts Atchison was instrumental as a state
legislator in helping Missouri acquire the Platte Purchase. That
land today forms the six counties in the northwestern "neck" of the
Show-Me-State. In fact, Missouri's northwestern-most county is name
Atchison County in honor of the politician.
Atchinson was born
August 11, 1807, in Frogtown, Kentucky. A bright young man, he
attended Transylvania College (later incorporated into the
University of Kentucky) when he only fourteen, where he was a
classmate of the future president of the Confederacy, Jefferson
Davis. By 1830 he had moved to western Missouri to practice law, and
four years after that he was in the Missouri State Legislature.
It was his appointment by the governor in 1842to fill the
unexpired term of one of the state's senators that propelled him to
national importance. He remained in the Senate until 1855,
eventually being elected president of the body. As President Pro-Tem
of the Senate, Atchison was a national leader whose opinion was very
important in shaping national legislation.
Despite his many accomplishments, it is one particular day of
Atchison's life for which most will always remember him... March 4,
1849. "It fell on a Saturday night when Polk's term expired and the
new president (Taylor) who had been elected refused to take office
on Sunday," says Russell.
Therein lay the problem. Who was president? Polk's term by law
had ended but Taylor's term had not yet begun since he had refused
to take the oath of office on a Sunday. Normally the vice president
of the United States would fill this role, but vice president George
Dallas' term had expired at the same time as that of his boss,
President Polk. By law, the presidency then fell toe the President
Pro-Tem of the Senate, David Rice Atchison.
Historians debate whether Atchison actually was in charge of the
country for that one day between the Polk and Taylor presidencies,
Russell explains. "He's in the congressional record as being
president for that day; at least it's mentioned in one place. Bur
other people still deny he was president for a day." Some say he
should not be considered president since he never took the oath of
office. Others counter by asking, "Who then was president?"
Possibly more interesting was whether or not Atchison himself
believed he was president and what he did during his one-day term.
An 1882 article in the Plattsburg, MO, newspaper, The Lever,
recounted an interview with Senator Atchison in which he asked the
circumstances by which he became president for a day.
Atchison replied, "It was in this way; Polk went out of office on
the third of March 1849, on Saturday at twelve noon. The next day,
the fourth, occurring on Sunday, General Taylor was not inaugurated.
He was not inaugurated until Monday the fifth, at twelve noon. It
was then canvassed among senators whether there was an interregnum
(which means a time during which a country lacks a government). It
was plain that there was either an interregnum or I was the
President of the United States, being chairman of the Senate,
having succeeded Judge Magnum of North Carolina. The judge waked me
up at three o'clock in the morning and said jocularly that I was
President of the United States and he wanted me to appoint him as
Secretary of State. I made no pretense to the office, but if I was
entitled in it I had one boast to make, that not a woman or child
shed a tear on account of my removing anyone from office during my
incumbency of the place."
Atchison was known for his humor, and Russell says, "It was just
kind of a fluke that he made light of. He joked about it, but I
don't think he ever considered himself to be president." Atchison
did say the slept through most of his term, having spent several
long days working in the Senate the previous week.
Although it is a unique honor t have possibly been president of
the United States for one day, it actually may be a great injustice
to Atchison. Russell explain, "I would like for him to be remembered
for things a lot more important than what he did that one day."
History seems to have overlooked the accomplishments of David Rice
Atchison and instead makes light of him as a hapless man in charge
of the country. "I think it's been an injustice to him that he is
just remembered as being president for a day when he did so many
other great things." He had a twelve year career in the U.S. Senate
besides serving as a representative in the Missouri legislature.
Numerous locations and businesses are named for him, including
Atchison County, MO, the city of Atchison, Kansas, and the Atchison,
Topeka, and Santa Fe railway.
by Andrew McCrea
Plattsburg
Country Club
Our Emerald Jewel, The Plattsburg Country Club was an idea
thought up by 31 men in the Plattsburg area who wanted to play golf
in 1922..
They formed an association, rented a farm, which they soon
thereafter purchased, built their sand greens, and finally got the
chance to play the game they love.
The president of this association or "club" Joel Funkahuser with
W.M. McMasters serving as his Vice. That first golf course consisted
of only 6 holes on a blue grass field.
This is how the Plattsburg Country Club was formed, and at
the time membership dues ranged from $5 per pear for a "Junior"
membership to $20 per year for a full "active" membership. By 1932
fifty-seven people were members of the Country Club and each enjoyed
the 1, 990 yard golf course and the Country was regarded as a
modern, first-class country club for the times.
In 1957 the Country Club's financial status was turned into a
not-for-profit corporation as, they solicited $1690. in
contributions and built the clubhouse basement with many members and
non-members putting in the time and money to see it built. The
completion of the old clubhouse and basement was designed by Dean
Filenberger, and built by Leo Harless.
The following year an "Olympic-size" swimming pool was built in
an attempt to raise membership numbers. The cost of the pool was
$26,000. and was built by Eli "Red" Roberts, using a California
blueprint
The pool was 42 ft. x 75 ft, with the floors 3" thick, wire mesh
continuing into the footing, which are 14" thick. The walls were 1
ft. thick and were all poured in one day. Next up for the Country
Club were tennis courts that would be constructed on school property
and leased to the club.
The cost of the tennis courts was $10,000. by 1989 the Country
Club was a very successful attraction for the people in Plattsburg.
Then $120,000 was spent with Grass Greens Construction, a Sioux City
company who specialized in the water irrigation of the new golf
course. This company helped maintain proper irrigation, and also
supplied $13,500. in equipment to continue proper maintenance.
In later years the golf course was extended to 2,700 yards and
instead of six holes, it now has the proper nine holes most golf
courses have.
Also added were cart paths, many grounds improvements, and wooden
bridges crossing the new creek bed. Golf cart, equipment and
maintenance sheds were added in 1989. The Country Club now has a
fine 9-hole golf course built with safety in mind and the goal of
challenging the best golfers while still providing a very enjoyable
course for all players, regardless of individual ability.
The pool would also receive upgrades during this intervening time
as diving boards were installed, along with a patio and wading pool.
Since 1989 the Country Club has continued to expand, in actual
size and in membership. In 1995 the golf course was expanded to an
18-hole course, which has been featured in several magazines. Block
retaining walls and concrete cart paths have been added as well. The
pool attendance grows with each year and the actual clubhouse has
grown in size and quality. This year 350 members, including persons
from areas across North West Missouri, like Blue Springs, Liberty,
and Gower
The clubhouse is now open year around rather than seasonal.
"Business has picked up every year and the course, putting-green,
and pool keep getting better," commented pool manager Tricia Wolf on
the Country Club's success.
P.T. Luckenbill who was very instrumental in the development and
creation of the pool is honored every year when the P.T. Luckenbill
Memorial Golf Tournament is held. The money made from the tournament
goes to updating the pool.
This year's tournament earnings go to updating the shower area
and if enough is made the purchase of a slide will be made. Also
after this year's tournament on hole 15, which is the Country Clubs
featured hole, a waterfall will be added to the creek bed in honor
of Luckenbill.
The date of the P.T. Luckenbill Memorial Tournament is Saturday,
July 16, followed by a Luau dinner from 6-9 p.m..
by Clint Dye
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Oscar Odd
McIntyre
Plattsburg was also home to two illustrious writers--O.O. McIntyre
and J. Breckenridge Ellis.
Oscar Odd McIntyre was a journalist who was the most
widely read syndicated columnist of his day. He wrote about life in
New York City in his daily column "New Your, Day By Day." It was
syndicated across America for 25 years in the 1910s, 1920s, and
1930s.
A dapper dresser who was painfully shy in real life, his column
made him a staple of New York society while he live there. His
column was based on a view of the "Big Apple" through the eyes of a
conspicuously rural Midwesterner.
J.
Breckenridge Ellis
J. Breckenridge Ellis was the son of the headmaster of
Plattsburg College. He was born in Hannibal, MO, and moved to
Plattsburg at the age often. He was always an avid reader of the
then-popular "five and dime" novels.
He lost the use of his legs from spinal meningitis as a youth and
also losthis eye-sight at the age of 21, but still he persisted in
writing and learning. He churned out many action and detective
novels and slice-of-life works through his career. Several of them
were turned into motion pictures in the early days of that industry
in the 1900s-1920s.
Among the movies made of his writings were "Love Hunger,"
"Cinderella of the Hills," "Emmy of the Stork's Nest" and "The
Shadow on the Wall." "Breck Ellis spent a great amount of his
life traveling and learning but returned to live out his days in
Plattsburg. His home is still standing on Clay Avenue. The Ellis
Elementary School in Plattsburg bears his name.
Guy
Speckman
"Tree City, U.S.A."
Special
to The Leader
Seven years ago, our
former City Administrator, Guy Speckman, began the
process to qualify Plattsburg as “Tree City, U.S.A.” A
Tree Board was formed and a forester was hired to
inventory all of our trees on public property. Since our
first year as “Tree City U.S.A.” we have received a
$10,000 grant to remove dangerous trees and to provide
all our citizens with information on trees appropriate
to our area.
Our five-year award is
significant in that there are presently only 2,600
cities in the U.S. that qualify as “Tree Cities, U.S.A.”
Thanks need to be given to Tree
Board members, Joanne Holman, Brenda Stocklas and Polly Jaben; to
Christina Dudley, art teacher who involves her students in the
National Arbor Day Poster Contest; our Public Works team who
monitors our existing trees; our City Administrator D.J. Gehrt who
maintains the information required to qualify for our yearly awards;
and to our Missouri Forester Phil Sneed who assists us in numerous
ways.
Plattsburg is a beautiful
city. Our parks and streets are enhanced by the care and
beauty of our trees.
The Tree Board will be developing a
tree-planting program to replace trees we have removed.
We hope to qualify for a grant from
Missouri Conservation to assist us in this.
We are very proud of this
five-year award as “Tree City, U.S.A.” On March 6, 2006 the Missouri Department
of Conservation announced Tree Board Member Polly Jaben was the
winner of the individual category in the 2006 Missouri Arbor Award
of Excellence. Jaben has influenced Plattsburg and its City fathers
for many years. The overall health and attractiveness of any
community's trees depends on many people practicing good tree
stewardship on public and private property. Jaben has set an
excellent example.
A Few Good Men and Old Glory
Terrorist attacks on 9-11-01 immediately rekindled the patriotic
spirit throughout America. Americans quickly rallied to our symbol
of freedom "Old Glory" the American flag. This American spirit
continued to build when our troops went to Afghanistan and later to
Iraq, where we are still fighting the terrorists with the
determination to keep America free.
In Plattsburg, this patriotic spirit of honoring the Stars and
Stripes has been alive and well for decades, not just the past few
years. The late City Councilman, Jack Gump, who served in the Korean
War said in 1970 a group from the local American Legion Post #97
took on the responsibility of "Flying the Flag" on special
occasions.
"A few of us, the late But Smith, who served in the Navy, Francis
Hales, who served in the Army and myself thought it would be
patriotic to line Clay Avenue with American Flats," said Mr. Gump
during an interview in 2001. "We raised the money and started the
project, and have been doing it ever since, because we enjoy doing
it."
On those special days, there are 62 flags unfurled on the light
poles lining Clay Avenue. The men gather early in the morning and
begin their self-imposed duty of driving the pickup truck and
placing the flags. The flags fly all day until around 5o'clock in
the evening when they return to retrieve the precious symbols. In
all, it takes about 30 minutes to place the flags and another 30
minutes to take the down.
Since 1981, others have joined in to help with the flag flying
duties. Mike Russell, who served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and
Larry "Hoot" Heitman, U.S. Army, have joined the band of volunteers
to make sure the task is completed every time. "weather permitting
we display the flag 18 times a year with maybe two or three
additional times for special events in town," said Mike Russell. "We
really haven't had a lot of trouble except one time when a truck
broke down, it has been a smooth operation. We get a lot of
compliments on how it looks and we're all proud veterans. That flag
means a lot to us."
The schedule days for the flag flying are as follows; National
Day of Prayer; V-E Day; Mother's Day; Plattsburg High School
Graduation; Memorial Day; Armed forces Day, D-Day, Flag Day;
Father's Day; 4th of July; Day Korean War ended; Labor Day; POW-MIA
Day; Plattsburg High School Football Homecoming; Plattsburg Fall
Festival; Pearl Harbor Day; Christmas Day. Other special days have
been added when deemed necessary. Flags are not flown to honor any
individual.
Clinton County Historical Society
Clinton County Historical Society and those who made it
happen.
A lot of good ideas start with friends talking and tossing out
ideas around a kitchen table. That happened in Joanne Holman's house
in 1969 with friends who were interested in history such as Mary
Ellen Dedman, a school teacher and Alice Kerr. Then other people to
interested and the idea grew from there. Today we are reaping the
rewards of that conversation through the Clinton County Historical
Society.
"The purpose quickly became to save, restore and preserve
history, historical items and documents. The society was started in
Plattsburg because it was the County Seat." said Holman.
The most obvious reward to Plattsburg and Clinton county is the
Riley-Carmack House and Historical Museum located on Birch Street in
Plattsburg. The house was purchased by the Historical Society in
1979 and a visual restoration rather than a historical preservation
was done because of the cost. The acquisition of this house was of
utmost importance because it gave people a place to display items
they donated.
"It is wonderfully lucky the items we have in the museum are
donated. People were not anxious to donate things if there was no
place to display them. They didn't want them in storage.' Holman
said.
In the summer and fall of 2004 the society spent $17,000 on
repairs to the house when they replaced the front porch floor,
replaced the old built in guttering and downspouts, did roof repair
and added new screen doors. Members of the society worked hard
inside to clean the building from floor to ceiling. The next expense
will be painting the exterior of the house which is estimated to
cost about $15,000.
The Historical Society's reach and contributions go far beyond
what we see as they work to preserve our history and heritage here
in Clinton County. They have worked over the years to put together
several publications including respectively the Greenlawn, Catholic,
Calvary, Washington, and Perrin Cemetery Census, 1860, 1870, and
1880 Federal Census, and the 1881 Clinton County History. They are
also reprinting the 1939 Clinton County in Pictures publication
which will soon be available for purchase.
The society has also contributed time and funds to the
restoration of the Log Church, the Old Cemetery upkeep, and the
Masonic Hall.
The Clinton County Historical Society also works to promote
education and tourism as well. Last year they played host to 2
speakers as they helped promote Missouri history. A David Rice
Atchison portrayer was in Plattsburg twice, once in August as a
speaker for the society and again in October for a Living History
event at the museum during Fall Festival and an actress portraying
Sacagwea was here in conjunction with the Lewis and Clark events
being held across Missouri.
"We see exciting possibilities to host these events with the use
of the new Plattsburg High School auditorium and we are very open to
state humanities programs offered," Holman said.
The society also hosted several tourism groups through the museum
and received many comments on "what an impressive museum we have
available."
Open invitations to area schools are made each year as 4th grade
elementary students begin to study Missouri History. "We find it sad
the museum isn't used more by the schools and our invitations are
often met with no response." Holman said
The membership drive started this spring and continues underway
at this time. The original membership was county wide with
participation from Gower, Lathrop, Holt and Cameron as well as
locally and is still the goal today. There are three avenues of
membership which include Individual Membership for $10. per year,
Lifetime Membership for $100., and a Memorial Donation of $100. for
a single memorial to a deceased person or for a husband and wife
together. Currently the society has about 150 members.
"More young members make me hopeful," said Holman, as many of the
new memberships are from younger individuals in the community who
seem to have a renewed sense of importance as to the need to
continue the work of Historical society.
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