PIPES IN MISSOURI
An Article written by Joan Shacklette
William Pipes was the first of Sylvanus Pipes' sons to migrate from Kentucky into the land that would become Missouri. He moved there about 1810, settling in what is now Howard County. In the next few years he was joined by his brothers, George and James, as well as several of his sisters and their husbands. The father, Sylvanus, is found on the records of Missouri only once. He is included on a combined tax list of 1822 through 1824. It is indicated he was a very old man and required to pay only a "poll" tax. Another possible reference to him may be found in the 1830 Missouri census. Sylvanus' son, Pleasant G. Pipes, had joined the rest of the family in Howard County by this time. The census indicated that in addition to his wife and children, Pleasant also had a man living with him who was between ninety and one hundred years of age. Though Sylvanus was by no means ninety years old, it seems to have been a common trait of the times to overstate a persons age. When George Pipes' widow died in 1869, a newspaper article gave her age as ninety and 'possibly the oldest woman in Howard County '. Records would indicate she was probably in her seventies. No record has been found of Sylvanus Pipes' death.
Pleasant G. Pipes, born in North Carolina and raised in Kentucky, joined his father and brothers in Missouri sometime between 1820 and 1830. By 1830, they were all close neighbors in Howard County.
Life in the area must have been interesting. A local history tells that "At one time in 1846 a party of Indians consisting of about fifteen warriors and the same number of squaws came into the area on a hunting expedition. They went into camp on East Locust Creek.. .A short time after going into camp they learned casually that some one had cut down a white walnut tree, in the forks of which, wrapped in bark, had been buried the body of an Indian, together with his rifle, the object being to get possession of the rifle. The Indians were very much incensed at this desecration of a grave, and made every effort to find out who the culprit was. They went to the house of A.Hill, who was away from home at the time, having gone to Old Chariton to get a grist ground. Mrs. Hill would however give them no information, neither would Thomas Lane, who, then a young man, was stopping at the house, They demanded Whisky of Mrs. Hill, but she, knowing that would only enrage them the more, refused them that also. At length they abandoned all efforts to obtain either the desired information or any whiskey and returned to their camp. After a few days, being visited by ... a deputation of citizens embodying the authority ... who laid down the law to them, they retired, without doing any one any harm beyond frightening some of the women and the timid men pretty badly. It was, however, probably well for G. W. Pipes, that the bloodthirsty red men failed to find out who had cut down the tree. "
Other matters indicative of the times were found in copy of a Howard County newspaper dated 15 March 1827. It contained a lot of news from Europe, Washington, D. C., and New England but little local news other than legal notices, advertisements. A copper smith advertised stills and an estate sale included two thousands gallons of whiskey to be sold. Someone was trying to put together a trading expedition and ran the following advertisement: "NOTICE - the subscriber & several other persons have made arrangements for a Santa Fe voyage with merchandise, and intend starting from Franklin in Howard Co. on the 5th day of Aug. 1827. The mode of transportation will be in wagons. those wishing to avail themselves of this notice shall have any information in my possession by application to me at my residence in Boon County at Hinkson Creek on the old St. Charles road. R. W. Morris.
Some time prior to 1840, Pleasant moved his family a few miles north into Randolph County where he was to spend the rest of his life.
The family of Pleasant Pipes has been hard to decipher with accuracy. They were not only lax about their ages, but also their birthplaces and even their names. When he married in 1811, in Kentucky, his bride was recorded as "Polly" Tinsley. Polly was a common nickname of that time, most frequently used for girls named Mary, and it is assumed this is the Margaret M. who was his wife on the 1850 census, the first year that names of family members are given. Over the years, her age varied and her birthplace alternated between Virginia and Kentucky.
When their one confirmed daughter, born in Kentucky, 7 December 1820, married George Spooner the marriage record identified her as "Patsy' Pipes. A St. Louis newspaper article of 17 January 1838 said that "George W. Spooner of St. Louis was married to Georgiana Rhoberta (Patsy) Pipes in Fayette, Howard County, by the Rev. H. L. Boon. " The Spooners had a daughter and, sometime before August 1847, George Spooner died. When the widow remarried, yet another name had been added. The record says: "This is to certify that on the 8th day of August 1847 I Solemnized the rite of matrimony between William C Redd and G. R. Martha Spooner. Given under my hand this 20th day of September 1847 (signed) James Dysart. " The widowed "Patsy" and her daughter, Margaret, appear to have been living with her parents at the time. William C. Redd, a widower with several small children, was a neighbor of the Pipes family.
A Columbia, Missouri newspaper, of 1 July 1864, stated that Pleasant Pipes had died in Randolph County, 19 June, and that he was about ninety years old. He was actually eighty-three. His wife, Margaret, died 15 November 1878, at the age of eighty-four. (These ages are taken from their tombstones and may or may not be correct.) They are both buried at the Hebron Cemetery in Randolph County, Missouri. One of their great grandsons, W. D. Shacklett, is also buried there. He was a son of Benjamin Legister Shacklett and died in l888 at the age of nineteen.
The Will of William Pipes: From Wills and administrations of Boone Co, Missouri 1821 - 1876 DAR Library
PIPES, WILLIAM - No. 1143 - Adm. James Pipes & Alfred R. Potts, admr. Gr. Oct. 4 1852. F. S. Oct. 5, 1858. Heirs - Lucinda, w. of Master Lawless of Saline Co.,Mo. James Pipes of Randolph Co., Mo. Five ch. of Elizabeth Slack, dec., w. of John Slack of Linn Co., Mo. Names not known. Wm. C. Pipes, heir of Andrew J, Pipes, dec.
The Will of George Pipes:
Page 250: Will of George Pipes Wife, Mary Daughter, Polly Levit, dec. Daughter, Nancy Stemmons Son, David. Exe., Son John Son Allen Daughter, Sophia Heathman Son, Thomas Son, Greenup Written: 14 September 1846 'Wittnesses: James Hollen and A. F. Barnett 9 November 1846
Cemetery Records of Howard County, Missouri
PIPES, Frances Henderson dau R.E. & Pearl Pipes d 7-7-1902 4m 22d
Ora Kate dau G.M. & Fannie b 10-31-1868 d 12-2-1893
Fannie m G.M. d 2-8-1880 42y 10d George M. d 1-6-1892 58y 2m 24d Elder
Harold H. s M.L. & L.E. d 5-12-1884 1y 5m 10d
Louella Hart b 11-15-1861 m Luther M. Pipes 1-11-1882 d 9 23-1915
Luther M. b 3-14-1859 d 7-6-1920 m Louella Hart 1-11-1882
Pearle Henderson b 9-21-1876 d 6-10-1939 dau Mr. & Mrs. Thelbert Henderson m Emmet Pipes 10-24-1897
Robert Emmett b 2-20-1865 d 7-6-1946 m Pearle Henderson 10-28-1897
Lynne C. b 4-1-1887 d 3-24-1955 68y David F. 1863-1939
BOONE, Bell E. Pipes Adpt daughter of David Pipes m. S. Boone d. 5-5-1822 17y 7m 25d
PIPES, Allen s George & Ann Jackman of Kentucky born Boyles County, Kentucky 10-20-1815 d 3-25-1887 71y 7m 5d
Ann M. Kline m Allen d 3-13-1889 60y 7m 18d Harrison b Mercer County, Kentucky 10-25-1811 d 9-29-1866
Sallie m Harris d 12-19-1878 65y llm 5d
Margaret A. m William H. d 4-24-1878 30y llm 2d
Annie dau Allen & Ann M. b 5-13-1861 d 7-8-1865
Belle E. adopted dau David Pipes (SEE BOONE)
James H. m Lois Lee Drake b 11-3-1864 d 11-20-1944
Lydia E. dau Allen & Ann b 2-16-1862 d 7-21-1865
Mary Southerland b 3-10-1857 dau Thompson & Abigail Southerland m first Woodrow Stemmons s Paul Pipes d 3-10 1950
Charles David b 9-28-1835 d 11-28-1912
Laura L. b 7-17-1843 d 8-30-1914
David b 3-31-1811 d 5-20-1891
Mary Stemmons m First John Williams born Kentucky came to Missouri 1831 second David Pipes 1832 died 3-29-1887 86y 12M 20d
Infant son Drake & Catherine bd 5-9-1925
Paul b 2-16-1862 d 8-14-1926
James T. b 1-16-1834 d 3-2-1912
Susan F. b 1-25-1836 d 5-2-1912
Mary b 12-22-1780 d 8-11-1869 88y 7m 19d
PIPES,
Greenup Price s T. & T.C. NO DATES
Tryphena C. w Thomas dau Solomon & Margaret Barnett b 4-11-1827 d 4-13-1863 36y 2d
Benjamin Denhaven d ?-27-1866 65y _____? w Thomas dau John & Nan Johnson b Fauquier County Virginia 11-5-1836 d 7-24-186?
Marriage Records of Boone Co, Missouri
Maston Lawless & Susanna Pipes Nov 8, 1821 by Thomas Campbell
Washington Pipes And Polly Pipes July 2, 1830 by William Crane
John Slack And Elizabeth Pipes Jan 30, 1834 by Fielding Wilhite
Alfred pipes and Chinese Pipes Oct 11,1838 by Fielding Wilhite
George W. Drake and Julia Ann Pipes Jan 15, 1857 by T.N. Gaines
Marriage records of Howard Co. Missouri
Carrie Pipes and J.D. Pickard Oct 30, 1892
Lula Pipes and Levi Pickard Jan 1, 1893
Allen Pipes and Ann Clyne Sep 11, 1860
Anderson Pipes and Elizabeth J. Whitmore Feb 14, 1842
Patsey Pipes and George Spooner Jan 10, 1838
PIPES, Andrew & Susan Cooper 8 Sep 1847
PIPES, Charles & Laura Kline 13 Nov 1860
PIPES, George M. & Alice Stephen 3 Feb 1981
PIPES, George M. & Fannie A. Settle 14 Jan 1857
PIPES, James A. & Louis L. Drake 14 Mar 1887
PIPES, Mark & Ina Stott (Scott) 14 Jun 1899
PIPES, Paul & Mary A. Stemmons 18 Nov 1896
PIPES, Quinten & Charlott Atkins 16 Feb 1854
PIPES, Thomas & Bettie G. Johnson 7 Feb 1869
PIPES, Thomas J. & Lula Ward 13 Mar 1877
A letter from Joan Shacklette concerning Census/tax lists connected to Sylvanus Pipes 5 May 1997
Mr. Robert Pipes
2453 N. Sherman Blvd.
Milw, WI 53210
Dear Bob:
I finally got back to Colorado and found a few minutes to go through my Pipes file. After reviewing them I think you are probably justified in questioning the parentage of Sylvanus. I find, in my notes, that I questioned his age. The big problem is that the birthdates of most of his children are unknown. If their estimated birthdates are even close, then Sylvanus was extremly young when they were born
The 1782 tax record which follows is the earliest record I have found of Sylvanus. Surry County North Carolina 1782 - Sylvanus Pipes assessed tax on 3 horses.
The following 1789 KY records indicate he probably had two sons above the age of 16 and since were not listed in 1790, they may have been older.
Lincoln Co. KY 1789 Tax List:
Silvenus Pipe - White Males Above 21 - 1
Above 16 and Under 21 - 2
Horses, Colts, and Mules - 3
1790 Tax List: Sylvanus Pipes -
White Males Above 21 - 1
1791 Tax List: Sylvanus Pipes -
White Males Above 21 - 1
Above 16 and Under 21 -1
1792 Tax List: Sylvanus Pipes -
White Males Above 21 -1
Above 16 and Under 21 -1
1793 Tax List: Sylvanus Pipes -
White Males Above 21 - 1
Above 16 and Under 21 -1
Mercer Co. Ky. 1795 Tax Lists:
Sylvanus Pipes -
Blacks -0
Horses -2
Cattle --15
(Also indicates Sylvanus holds a license to run an ordinary.) This is the only actual census record I have of Sylvanus and it doesn't prove much.
1810 Census of Washington County (Now Boyle), Ky.
Sylvanus Pipes -
Free White Males - 26-45 -2
Free White Males - 45+ -1
Free White Females - 45+ -1
(I have assumed one of the 26-45 men to be Pleasant G. Pipes, who was married the following year. The other, I assume, is son James Pipes who was married 11 December 1810.)
Howard Co. Missouri - Combined land and property Taxes- 1822- 23- 24:
Pipes, George
James, Sr.
James, Jr.
Pleasant
Silvalus ( it was spelled that way, Bob)
This person paid a 'poll" tax only and was probably young and single, though a very old man might pay the same small tax, The Pleasant Pipes is thought to be the son of William Pipes and a grandson of Sylvanus. He was born in KY, 4 March 1804 and died in Boone County, Mo., 13 November 1830. He would have been sixteen years old at the time. I'm not sure at what age they had to start paying a poll tax. Pleasant G. Pipes, the son of Sylvanus was still living in Kentucky and is listed in the 1820 census as a resident of Franklin City, Simpson County, KY. Sylvanus Pipes is assumed to be our Sylvanus and required to pay poll tax only because of advanced age, also assumed. I have never found evidence of any Sylvanus in any of the younger generations.
1830 Census- - Howard Co. Missouri
P. G. Pipes (Pleasant)
Free White Males - 15-20 -1
Free White Males - 40-50 -1
Free White Males - 90-100 -1
Free W. Females - 10-15 -2
Free W. Females - 30-40 -1
This is the census record I referred to in my notes that may be showing Syhanus living with his son. Since no names are given it could be any elderly man.
I have never gotten a copy of the 1820 Mo. census. The index shows a James Pipes and three William PIpes', all residents of Howard County. If anyone has access to the actual census, they might find Sylvanus living with one of these sons.
I don't know if any of this will help you but it seems to be all that I have at the present time.
Sincerely, Joan Shacklette
1840 Census of Missouri PERSONS NAMED PIPES
David, George, James, James, John, Pleasant G., William
1850 census of Missouri : PERSONS NAMED PIPES
Harrison, James, James, John, Mary, Mary E., Thomas, William, William,