Nelius C. Chasteen History

Nelus C. Chasteen

            On October 15, 1865 Nelus Chasteen a boy of 18 summers and Mary Jane Proffer a girl of 19 were married. On last Tuesday October 15 1929 time's hour glass had measured off 64 years since that day when in the presence of the bride's family and a few friends the boy promised that forsaking all others he would cherish protect and defend the girl who stood at his side. the girl, though a year his senior, promised that she would love, honor, and obey. the boy.
            Time, changes, and trials have tested the vows taken on that day 64 years ago but they have held fast. Today at the ripe age of 82 for the husband and 83 for the wife combined age of 165 these children are still living alone. The husband does his daily chores with the clock-like regularity and his wife performs all the usual house hold work incident to such duties, including the washing and ironing.
            A few days ago when the writer went unannounced to the home of this couple, he found the husband in his corn patch gathering the corn that he will use this winter in feeding a fine bunch of hens. Besides the corn that he had raised and which was being harvested the writer noticed plenty of pumpkins some fine fruit trees that showed signs of having been carefully pruned and sprayed several colonies of bees, that were housed in modern hives plenty of good dry wood carefully ranked in a nearby shed, seed corn that had been selected for next year's planting and much other evidence in the home and around it, that showed plainly that here was a place a home cared for by ones who of course would at some time wear out, but who would never rust out.
            This couple lives alone today, just as they did 64 years ago. But knowing that it had not always been thus we inquired about the children and found that there are 9 living children, 71 grandchildren, according to the last count, as the boy of 82 remarked 30 great grand children and the end not in sight. Totaling these figures and calling the attention of the venerable sire to the count of 110 direct descendants he said the number might be a little low but he was sure of that many.
Born In Tennessee
            The boy who was known 64 years ago as Nelus Chasteen, is known today throughout Stoddard County and to a number of people throughout the state as Rev. N.C. Chasteen. In Sept. 1868 at the age of 21, three years after marriage, he was licensed to preach as a supply minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church S. For fifty years he continued in this work.
            N.C. Chasteen was born in Fayetteville, Tenn., September 14 1847. He is authority for the statement that he did nothing to demoralize the citizenry of the state of his birth. None of them he said, ever hears him utter an oath, saw him gamble or take a drink of liquor. He left there, according to his mother at the age of 3 months and was brought by his parents to Mo.. The family went as far west in the state as Howell County and stayed there about 2 years. When the father decided to come to Stoddard County and enter some land that was still open. He brought the family here and settled on 300 acres of land about 3 and 1/2 miles west of Bloomfield. Part of the land that he entered is now a part of what is known as the Alonzo Moore place and the home farm of George Kruse.

FIRST HOME HE REMEMBERED WAS A RAIL PEN

            It was the arrival of the family at this place that made the first lasting impression on the memory of the boy who was then only about three years old. The family wagon containing all of their possessions was stopped out there in the woods. They camped for a few days while the father busied himself with rail splitting and- board-making. A strong pen was built out of the rails and it was covered with clap-boards and this made the first home that Rev. Chasteen remembers living in. It sufficed until a better home made out of logs and laid with puncheon floor which also had a huge fireplace was completed. The family moved in and felt quite well set up with this kind of home.
            Bloomfield, according to Rev. Chasteen was the only place in Stoddard County at the time that dignified by the name "town". The county was much larger then, than now. It's northern boundary extended about seven miles north of the present town of Advance and it's southern boundary line was about half way between the points where the thriving cities of Bernie and Malden are now.
            Groceries were hauled from Cape Girardeau to Bloomfield by wagon but most of the things in this line were considered as luxuries and it took some money to buy them. The Chasteen family didn't have the latter, except in a very limited sum, consequently little was bought except what could be traded for. Cotton was grown and it was ginned, corded, spun, woven. and dyed by hand. It was then cut and made in to clothes for the family. Shoes were all hand made and each member of the family was allowed one pair a year except the father, who had to have two pair. They were usually acquired a little while before Christmas of each year.
            In reminiscing about this childhood Rev. Chasteen said that many a time in the late fall and early winter, when a boy, he would warm a thick board and start out with it under his arm when there was a heavy frost and occasionally a light snow on the ground, to run his traps. After this job was done he would grab up the board and run for another trap. If his feet got too cold before reaching one, he would threw the board down and get on it to give his feet a "toast" and then proceed.
            In speaking of the educational opportunities of his boy hood days Rev. Chasteen said there were no public schools offered then in the neighborhood. The only school offered then were what was called subscription schools. He attended one of these for about three months a year for several years and had only one book during that time, the old Blue Back Spelling Book. The writing instruments then, were goose quill pens and the ink used, was either polk berry juice or ink made by boiling oak balls. He never saw a steel pen until he was 15 years old, and didn't known there was such a book as grammar until after he was married.
            The limited opportunities for acquiring even a rudimentary education by attending school, were lessened by the death of his father which occurred in 1863 when N.C. was 16 years old.    "The war between the states was on and while the Federal troops were stationed in Bloomfield, his father was killed. The federal soldiers had captured him and taken him to Bloomfield where he was kept overnight. In the morning he was set free, but was killed while on the road home, Being shot when half way from town, The deed was supposed to have been in retaliation for imagined grievance--"bushwhacking." His son-in-law and relatives were in the Confederate army," taken from THE HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI by ROBERT DOUGLAS 1912.
       There were several younger children in the family and the mother being unable to pay the subscription of all of them and needing the older ones home school days for Nelus ended. He decided however that he could learn some things by himself and began studying at nights. This practice he followed for many years, As his means would permit, he would buy books that he felt he needed most. Today he has a selection of books that any determined and ambitious youth could take and by diligent application acquire, the fundamental and practical knowledge of a wide range of subjects.
        After the wedding ceremony the boy of 18 years took his wife to his mother's home until he could build a log cabin on one of the "forties" of the farm entered by his father. The cabin completed, they moved over and went to work clearing up more land. Their worldly possessions besides a bed, two or three chairs, a few dishes and a few cooking utensils, were limited to a horse, a cow and a sow and pigs. After the day's work was done the young husband would sit by the fireplace and study. The only other light in the house was furnished by a tallow candle or a grease lamp, neither of which would furnish a reading light. The Bible was the most interesting book that he found in his limited collection and it was studied with increasing interest, understanding, and inspiration. Three years of study and reflection brought the young husband and now a father, to the conclusion that he render service to his fellow man by preaching, He joined the Methodist Church at Old Lick Creek Chapel at the age of 10 in 1857. Now at the age of 21 he decided to see that, if in the opinion of his elders, he was fitted to preach. He was examined and commissioned to preach by Rev. J.C. Wilson, who was then presiding elder in this district, and was given charge of what was then called the Piketon circuit. This circuit then consisted of four appointments south of Castor River and nine north of it, thirteen in all. At that time the circuit had to be made on horseback. Very few streams were bridged and it was not unusual for him to swim in order to fill some of his appointments. His salary for his first year he distinctly recalls was $80.00 in cash, one pair of wool socks and a pair of wool gloves. This salary he explained to the writer was gradually increased from year to year. As he was able to stand prosperity until the last year on his circuit his salary had reached the magnificent sum of $350.00. He Later filled appointments at Bloomfield, Spring Hill, Piedmont, Lancaster Chapel and a number of other places but was always within riding distance of his home near Bloomfield. He didn't join the conference because the salary paid preachers at that time in this territory was not sufficient within itself to sustain a preacher and a family the size of the one that blessed the Chasteen home. He therefore was compelled to depend largely upon his farm for a living. Though actually engaged for half a century as a active supply minister this was only a part of the remarkable record made by Rev. N.C. Chasteen, Besides preaching at regular intervals and holding many revivals, he found time in connection with his farming to run a grist mill, a saw mill, build two cotton gins, operate a thresthing machines from the days of the horse powered machines down through the steam thresher periods and up until about the time of the self feeder, served his county in the state legislature for three terms and as a presiding judge of the county court for 1 term of four years.
            It was while engaged in running a grist mill in the early 1880's that circumstances arose which proved his faith in his fellow man. The year of 1881 was a memorable one because of an extreme drought that occurred. Practically no corn was raised on the hill lands in the county. As a result the price of corn the following winter was unusually high. Many people didn't raise enough to furnish them with the corn meal they needed for bread and many were unable to buy it. As a result many had to have credit until another crop was raised. The proprietor of a grist mill at Leora that had been in operation for a number of years decided it was not safe under the conditions that existed to extend credit and consequently went on a cash basis. Preacher Chasteen decided that those who couldn't pay should be credited and let it be known that no deserving person would be turned away from his mill without meal, whether they had the money to pay for it or not as long as he had money to buy and keep the mill running. The news of this policy soon spread and it wasn't long until his trade territory expanded. He was able to carry out his plan until another crop was made and then he enjoyed a very material reward in the way of increased business. With some pride and much apparent satisfaction in the thought that he had not denied help to any one who asked for it he informed this writer a few days ago that every dollar charged upon his books during that period was paid in full.
            In 1884 Rev. Chasteen decided that he wanted to serve his county in the state legislature. He announced himself as a candidate on the Democratic ticket and entered the field against five opponents one of whom was his former competitor in grist mill business. It was then that he learned that his policy of credit toward his customers was bearing fruit in the political field. He had many friends who unsolicited took up his cause and urged his election because of favors they had received at his hand. Their work counted and on election day the "preacher" was elected by a substantial plurality.
            John L. Marmakduke was elected Governor that year and George G. Vest was a candidate to succeed himself in the U.S. Senate. As a member of the legislature that convened in January, 1885 Rev. Chasteen helped to re-elect Vest to the Senate. He also introduced a bill requiring county courts to work prisoners on county roads and other public works. Before passage the bill was amended leaving it optional with the courts of various counties to do this and as a result the option was not generally exercised.
            After one term in the general assembly Rev. Chasteen decided that he would not engage further in politics as a candidate but in 1900 he was nominated in his party convention as its candidate and accepted. He was elected that year and than re-elected two years later. Alexander M. Dockery was the Governor at this time. The gentleman from Stoddard had no particular measure that he was sponsoring during these terms but during the latter in 1903 he assisted in putting through an appropriation of $200.000.00 to rebuild the State Normal School at Cape Girardeau.
            In 1910 he was nominated and elected to the office of presiding Judge of the county court and served in this capacity for a term of four years. Today at the age of 82 he is unable to read like he did through out most of his life and he enjoys sitting down and talking about men and events that happened years ago. He has one distinction that few men in the state can lay claim to and that is having known and knowing personally every Governor of Missouri since the administration of Governor Phelps, who was elected in 1876. Crittenden, Marmauduke, Francis, Stone, Stephens, Dockery, Folk, Hadley, Major and Gardner he knew well. While he knows ex-governor Hyde, his acquaintance with him is much more limited than with Hyde's successor Governor Sam Baker.
            A survey of the roster of the 33rd General Assembly leads Rev. Chasteen to believe that he is the only surviving member of that session. A recent check up of those who attended a Methodist conference in St. Louis in 1877 shows that he and one other peacher, Dr. J.E. Godby now 90 years old and living in Kirkwood, Mo. are the only survives of those who were then present. One year later 1878 he attended a district conference in Southwest Mo. and today he is the only one living who did so.
            Another unusual record that those "children" have much is this: the wife has lived her entire life in this community where she was born and the husband has lived here for almost 80 years. In this respect the Rev. Chasteen believes that he is the only Methodist preacher in the state who actively preached for 50 years and didn't have to move.
            Their lives have been lived and their record written among people who know them best. To the faithful wife who has been his constant companion and helpmate from the days of the ox , wagon and grease lamp down to this modern day of the Zepplin and radio, Rev. Chasteen gives most of the credit for whatever help he has rendered towards making his community and county and country better, In receiving the changes and what would be regarded today as hardships of their long wedded life the venerable minister said "To Mrs. Chasteen much of the credit is due for any success I have attained. She has been my faithful; helper for 64 years. The failures and mistakes are mine. It would be gratifying if I could look back over a life better spent but the record is made, the opportunities for improvement are gone and now I may say as I stand on the shadowy slopes of age, I throw my arm of faith around the cross and trust in Almighty God." THE END.

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