Scotland County, Missouri

Scotland County is a county in northeastern Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,843,[1] making it Missouri's fifth-least populous county. Its county seat is Memphis.[2] The county was organized on January 29, 1841, and named for Scotland.

Scotland County
U.S. county
Scotland County court house in Memphis
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°27′N 92°09′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 29, 1841
Named forScotland
SeatMemphis
Largest cityMemphis
Area
 • Total439 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Land437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water2.6 sq mi (7 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,843
 • Estimate 
(2018)
4,966
 • Density11/sq mi (4.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.scotlandcountymo.org

History

The Missouri General Assembly organized Scotland County on January 29, 1841. At first its boundaries contained all the land now known as Knox County as well, but in 1843 the General Assembly divided it off.[3] Stephen W. B. Carnegy suggested that the county be named after his native Scotland.[4] He also gave several settlements in the area Scottish names.

The first white settlement in Scotland County was in 1833 by brothers Levi and George Rhodes and their families near a location known as Sand Hill.[3] Sand Hill was in the southern part of the county, about 12 miles from present-day Memphis. A general store was opened there around 1835 by James l. Jones, who also served as Scotland County's first sheriff.

Slavery, while never as prevalent in Scotland County as in other counties further south in the state's Little Dixie region, existed from the county's earliest days. Robert T. Smith brought the first slaves, a group of three, to the county in 1834.[3] In 1850 Scotland County had 157 slaves or other "non-free people of color", but by the 1860 census that number had dropped to 131.[3]

Farming was Scotland County's primary economic lifeblood from its earliest times. Once the stands of timber were cleared and the tough prairie grass plowed aside, settlers found rich soil. Between 1850 and 1880 the number of farms in the county grew from 334 to 1,994. The value of the farmland, in 1880 dollars, was over $3.72 million.[3] Corn was the major cash crop, followed by oats, wheat, and potatoes.

The Civil War

Scotland County was the scene of three notable engagements during the American Civil War. The first happened at Etna on July 21, 1861. The 1st Northeast Missouri Home Guards under Colonel David Moore with assistance from additional units from Iowa and Illinois attacked pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard (MSG) forces using Etna as a training and resupply point. The action was part of General Nathaniel Lyon's efforts to clear "rebels" from rural Missouri. After a brief battle the MSG forces, mostly lightly-armed cavalry, were driven from the town and surrounding areas of Scotland County and Moore's unit returned to its main base at Athens, Missouri.

On July 13, 1862, Confederate Colonel Joseph C. Porter approached Memphis in four converging columns totaling 125–169 men and captured it with little or no resistance.[5] They first raided the federal armory, seizing about 100 muskets with cartridge boxes and ammunition, and several uniforms. The Confederates rounded up all adult males, who were taken to the courthouse to swear not to divulge any information about the raiders for 48 hours. Porter freed all militiamen and suspected militiamen to await parole, a fact noted by champions of his character. Citizens expressed their sympathies variously; Porter gave safe passage to a physician, an admitted Union supporter, who was anxious to return to his seriously ill wife. One of Porter's troops threatened a verbally abusive woman with a pistol, perhaps as a bluff. Porter's troops entered the courthouse and destroyed all indictments for horse theft, an act variously understood as simple lawlessness, intervention on behalf of criminal associates, or interference with politically motivated, fraudulent charges.[5]

At Memphis, a key incident occurred that darkened Porter's reputation, and which his detractors see as part of a behavioral pattern that put him and his men beyond the norms of warfare. According to the History of Shelby County, which is generally sympathetic to Porter, "Most conceded that Col. Porter’s purpose for capturing Memphis, MO. was to seize Dr. Wm. Aylward, a prominent Union man of the community." Aylward was captured during the day by Captain Tom Stacy's men and confined to a house. Stacy was generally regarded as a genuine bushwhacker; other members of Porter's command called his company "the chain gang" due to its behavior. After rousing Aylward overnight and removing him from his home, ostensibly to see Porter, guards claimed that he escaped. But witnesses reported hearing the sounds of a strangling, and his body was found the next day with marks consistent with hanging or strangulation.[5] Supporters of Porter attribute Aylward's murder to Stacy. But a Union gentleman who came to inquire about Aylward and a captured officer before the discovery of the body said that when he asked Porter about Aylward, the response was, "He is where he will never disturb anybody else."[5]

Joseph Budd (right), killed at Vassar Hill while serving in Company H of Merrill's Horse.

The next engagement in the county took place on July 18, 1862. Union Colonel (later General) John McNeil had been pursuing Porter and his forces across northeast Missouri for some time. Hearing of the capture of Memphis, McNeil sent a detachment of three companies (C, H, and I), about 300 men, of Merrill's Horse under Major John Y. Clopper from Newark, Missouri, to rescue the town.[6] Porter and his Confederate forces, their strength estimated at anywhere between 125 men[5] to 600, planned to ambush the Federals. This became known as the Battle of Vassar Hill in the History of Scotland County. Porter called it Oak Ridge, and Federal forces called it Pierce’s Mill. By whatever name, it happened about ten miles southwest of Memphis on the south fork of the Middle Fabius River.

Porter's men were concealed in brush and stayed low when the Federals stopped to fire before each charge. Porter's men held their fire until the range was very short, increasing the volley's lethality.[5] Clopper was in the Federal front, and of 21 men of his advance guard, all but one were killed or wounded.[7] The Federals made at least seven mounted charges, doing little but adding to the body count. A battalion of roughly 100 men[6] of the 11th Missouri State Militia Cavalry under Major Rogers arrived and dismounted. Clopper claimed to have driven the enemy from the field after this, but eyewitness Joseph Mudd said the Union troops fell back and ended the engagement, leaving Porter in possession of the field until he withdrew. Clopper's reputation suffered as a result of his poor tactics. Before the final charge, one company officer angrily asked, "Why don't you dismount those men and stop murdering them?"[8] Union casualties were about 24 dead and mortally wounded (10 from Merrill's Horse and 14 from the 11th MSM Cavalry), and perhaps 59 wounded (24 from Merrill's Horse, and 35 from the 11th MSM Cavalry.) Porter's loss was as little as three killed and five wounded according to Mudd, or six killed, three mortally wounded, and 10 wounded left on the field according to the Shelby County History.[7]

Postwar to present

In the 1880s, a group called The Tax-payers' Association of Scotland County formed to resist paying local taxes and intimidate any potential bidders on horses and mules that had been seized to cover those taxes. The handling of county debt collection went to the Supreme Court in Findlay v. McAllister.

Geography
Another view of the Scotland County courthouse.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 439 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[9] Scotland County borders Iowa to the north.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18503,782—
18608,873134.6%
187010,67020.3%
188012,50817.2%
189012,6741.3%
190013,2324.4%
191011,869−10.3%
192010,700−9.8%
19308,853−17.3%
19408,557−3.3%
19507,332−14.3%
19606,484−11.6%
19705,499−15.2%
19805,415−1.5%
19904,822−11.0%
20004,9833.3%
20104,843−2.8%
2018 (est.)4,966[10]2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 4,843 people, 1,902 households, and 1,302 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 2,292 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.82% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Approximately 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In the county, 5.72% report speaking Pennsylvania German, Dutch, or German at home, while 1.58% speak Spanish.[16]

There were 1,902 households, of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,409, and the median income for a family was $33,529. Males had a median income of $23,836 versus $16,866 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,474. About 13.40% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Public libraries
  • Scotland County Memorial Library[17]

Politics

Local

The Democratic Party controls politics at the local level in Scotland County. Democrats hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

Scotland County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor James Ward Republican
Circuit Clerk Anita Watkins Democratic
County Clerk Batina Dodge Democratic
Collector Kathy Becraft
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Duane Ebeling Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Danette Clatt Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 David Wiggins Republican
Coroner Dr. Jeff Davis Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Kimberly J. Nicoli Democratic
Public Administrator Patty Freeburg Democratic
Recorder Dana Glasscock Democratic
Sheriff Wayne Winn Republican
Surveyor Robert Revere Democratic
Treasurer Kathy Kiddoo Republican

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 65.32% 1,273 31.30% 610 3.38% 66
2012 48.61% 930 48.14% 921 3.24% 62
2008 57.14% 1,197 40.91% 857 1.96% 41
2004 70.16% 1,507 28.63% 615 1.22% 26
2000 53.00% 1,129 45.16% 962 1.84% 39
1996 24.62% 499 72.52% 1,470 2.86% 58

Scotland County is in Missouri's 4th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Craig Redmon (R-Canton).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Scotland County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Craig Redmon 1,677 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Scotland County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Craig Redmon 1,276 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Scotland County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Craig Redmon 1,595 100.00%

Scotland County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Missouri Senate — District 18 — Scotland County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Munzlinger 1,244 100.00%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Scotland County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 1,283 66.13% +19.13
Democratic Jason Kander 570 29.38% -19.76
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 39 2.01% -1.85
Green Johnathan McFarland 18 0.93% +0.93
Constitution Fred Ryman 30 1.55% +1.55
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Scotland County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 900 47.00%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 941 49.14%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 74 3.86%

Scotland County is in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Scotland County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,509 79.01% +4.20
Democratic David M. Blackwell 333 17.43% -5.15
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 29 1.52% -1.09
Green Mike Diel 39 2.04% +2.04
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Scotland County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,090 74.81% +5.27
Democratic Bill Hedge 329 22.58% -5.46
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 38 2.61% +0.19
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Scotland County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,265 69.54%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 510 28.04%
Libertarian Russ Monchil 44 2.42%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 78.6% 1,560 19.6% 388 1.8% 36
2016 77.0% 1,525 18.4% 365 4.6% 91
2012 64.4% 1,246 33.2% 643 2.4% 47
2008 59.5% 1,249 37.8% 793 2.7% 56
2004 61.5% 1,352 37.7% 828 0.8% 17
2000 61.3% 1,335 36.3% 790 2.5% 54
1996 36.7% 773 47.0% 990 16.3% 343
1992 32.0% 798 42.9% 1,070 25.1% 626
1988 52.6% 1,248 47.1% 1,117 0.3% 7
1984 58.0% 1,485 42.0% 1,075
1980 55.5% 1,592 41.8% 1,200 2.7% 77
1976 46.7% 1,286 52.7% 1,449 0.6% 17
1972 60.2% 1,918 39.8% 1,269
1968 50.1% 1,554 43.2% 1,340 6.8% 210
1964 35.7% 1,215 64.3% 2,187
1960 50.2% 1,899 49.8% 1,884
1956 45.9% 1,735 54.1% 2,044
1952 50.2% 2,123 49.5% 2,093 0.2% 10
1948 40.8% 1,693 59.0% 2,451 0.2% 9
1944 48.7% 2,058 51.1% 2,158 0.1% 6
1940 48.7% 2,329 50.9% 2,435 0.5% 23
1936 40.7% 1,940 58.0% 2,768 1.3% 64
1932 33.5% 1,410 65.1% 2,738 1.4% 57
1928 51.5% 2,350 48.1% 2,194 0.5% 22
1924 44.8% 2,282 51.0% 2,595 4.2% 215
1920 53.1% 2,509 45.0% 2,124 1.9% 91
1916 42.9% 1,243 54.9% 1,592 2.2% 65
1912 30.1% 860 53.3% 1,525 16.6% 474
1908 43.9% 1,273 54.0% 1,564 2.1% 60
1904 45.5% 1,354 51.5% 1,530 3.0% 89
1900 40.8% 1,277 56.3% 1,760 2.9% 90
1896 36.5% 1,203 63.0% 2,077 0.6% 19
1892 33.3% 940 48.5% 1,369 18.2% 515
1888 41.7% 1,226 57.2% 1,680 1.1% 33

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated community

Notable people

See also
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Scotland County, Missouri

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland Counties. St. Louis, Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Company. 1887. pp. 405–554.
  4. Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 362.
  5. Mudd, Joseph A. (1889). With Porter in North Missouri. Washington, D.C.: The National Publishing Company. pp. 72–90.
  6. Moore, Frank, The Rebellion Record, Fifth Volume, G.P. Putnam, 1868, page 558, from "The Fight near Memphis, Mo." in the Missouri Democrat
  7. The History of Shelby Country, page 744
  8. Banasik, Michael, Embattled Arkansas: The Prairie Grove Campaign of 1862, Broadfoot Publishing, 1998, page 124
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. Breeding, Marshall. "Scotland County Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.

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