The Early Pioneer Families of Daviess County: The Penistons

One of the first families to settle in Daviess County was that of the family of Robert Peniston, Sr. ,who came in the fall of 1831, according to son, Theodore’s, obituary. The family came from Jessamine County, Ky., when Theodore was 19. The children were: Robert Jr., buried in Livingston County; Col. William, P., buried in California; Theodore;  Francis, killed at the Battle of Lexington during the Civil War; Thomas; Elijah; Susan, married to Dr. John K. Kerr, settled in Memphis, Tenn.; and Martha, married Wm. Zook, settled in Oregon, Holt County.

The Penistons settled on what was afterwards known as Splawn’s Ridge, three miles east of Gallatin. After building their homesteads, they established the first town in the county, calling it “Millport,” because of the first horse drawn mill in the county.

Robert Sr. built the first mill with the assistance of his son, William, architect Milford Donaho, and Uncle Jake Peniston, a slave owned by Peniston Sr. It was an ingenious idea. Son, William P. Peniston, built the first house with the help of Jake, and the first court, the first church services and voting location were at Sr. Peniston’s house. In fact, until 1837, Millport was the only town in the county.

The arrival of the Mormons in 1836 would play a huge part in the Penistons’ lives. In 1838, Sr.’s son, William, wrote a letter to Governor Boggs relating the seriousness of the matter with the Mormons in the area. The first outbreak was at the election for sheriff in August 1838. The Mormons were in favor of John A. Williams, and William P. Peniston was endorsed by the Missourians. Words were exchanged, and a Peniston supporter abused a Mormon preacher, knocking him down.

A few “rough characters” were in the crowd waiting and seemingly wanting a fight, and they got one. Words were exchanged, with the Mormons rushing for stakes. After grabbing these, one man was stabbed, and 20-25 others badly hurt. Thankfully none were killed.

When the Mormons at the far west of the county heard about the fight, about 200 came to investigate. Several on both sides were arrested, but, sadly, that was just the beginning of the Mormon War.

In his letter to the governor, William Peniston described the sights while standing on the top of Splawn Ridge, with the many Mormon setting fires that burned all around the Ridge. Tragically, William’s two homes, the town’s saw mill, Gallatin businesses, and in fact, the whole town of Millport, were all burned by the Mormons.

Make no mistake. Atrocities were done on both sides. This was war!

The Governor only recognized that the majority of these Mormons were not peaceful as they claimed, however, when he got word that Mrs. Milford Donaho and her children were forced out of their home into a snow storm by a Mormon neighbor which resulted in the sickness and death of her baby.

It was such a horrific time in the county’s history, that after recognizing that the Mormons did not recognize the laws of the state, the Governor issued orders to General John B. Clark, placing him in command of the forces necessary with instructions that he was in receipt of information of the most appalling nature “which entirely changed the face of things, the Mormons being in armed defiance of the laws that they must be treated as enemies, and be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace–their outrages are beyond all description.”

Basically, one could shoot and kill any Mormon on sight with no penalty of the law.

William Peniston was indeed elected sheriff, and continued to be a key player during the Mormon War.

It wasn’t until November 1838 when Mormon leaders from Daviess and the surrounding counties were tried with high treason of thes and other Mormons returned property to the owners, that things began to improve. The majority of the Mormons began leaving at once and continued until all were gone except a few who gave up their associates rather than their property and who had friends among the citizens.

There were Mormon citizens who did not approve of the actions of their leaders. Many who left sold out for what they could get, others left without selling at all. Their leaders were prisoners, their means of defense as well as offense were taken from them and the order given by the governor caused some 12,000 to be driven from the state. [Source: 1882 History of Daviess County, Missouri, and copies of Peniston correspondence letters sent to and from the Governor].

William Peniston later went out west during the gold rush, and died in one of the mining camps in Sacramento, Calif., in 1850.

When the Peniston family arrived, Daviess County didn’t exist. It was Ray County which extended to the Iowa line. Indian camp fires were lit all along the valley of Grand River and its tributaries, and they didn’t go out until the winter of 1834 and 1835. In 1832 when Black Hawk organized the Sacs and Foxes and went on the war path. Robert’s son, Theodore Peniston, along with many others from the county, enlisted as scouts and patrolled northern Missouri and southern Iowa until Black Hawk and his band were killed.

In 1834, Theodore again became a scout in what was then known as the Heatherly War. It was at this time that the settlers built a block house near their father’s residence on what was John Merritt’s place in 1892.

In the spring of 1836, Theodore built a flat boat on Grand River near Millport, and loaded her with the then produce of the country: venison, hams, deer skins, coon skins, wild turkey, honey and bee’s wax, and ran safely out of Grand River and down the Missouri to St. Louis where he disposed of his cargo and returned home. He was the first to utilize the waters of the Grand River as a highway for commerce.

In 1848, Theodore married Susan Williams in Daviess County, and began to study law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Gallatin for many years. After several years, he grew tired of the confinement of the law office and returned to the farm. By the time Theodore passed in 1892, he had gone through two Indian wars, the Mormon War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, and all the incidents connected with them.

Theodore’s descendant, Charlie, is still in the area. He’s the Charlie Peniston who owns and operates Good Time Charlie’s, located between Lock Springs and Chillicothe. He also owns a large successful farm, like those of his ancestors. Every fall, he operates Papa Charlie’s for those young and old who can experience the fun activities on a farm. It’s a heritage of which he is understandably proud.

If you would like for me to write about your early pioneer family who arrived prior to 1850, please mail your information to me at PO Box 245, Jamesport, MO, 64648 or email [email protected].

Additional research will be attempted and the article may be submitted.