Volume 36, Number 4 - Spring 1997
John H. Caynor Tobacco Company
by Robert P. Neumann (Greene County Archivist)
The history of any early Springfield business is usually difficult to trace. J. H. Caynor and Company, one of four tobacco manufacturing firms in Springfield in 1858, is, however, fairly well documented in an early probate file. According to Holcombe’s History of Greene County, J. H. Caynor and Company, along with three others, processed 250,000 pounds of tobacco in 1858, with combined sales of almost $50,000.
Springfield, Greene County, Missouri Inhabitants in 1880 (hereafter referred to as Dr. Hall’s 1880 census), reported that John Caynor "built the first manufacturing enterprise in Springfield--the old Caynor tobacco factory." From Virginia, Caynor was listed in the 1850 Greene county census as 27 years old, the son of William, 50, and Finella, 43.
The probate files detailing business activities of the Caynor Company (#15 10) and John A. Morton (#7368), indicated that in addition to Morton, the firm of J. H. Caynor and Company was composed of John H. Caynor, John W. Hancock, C. A. Haden, and B. W. Henslee. At Morton’s death the "inventory of the partnership effects of the firm," including notes, receipts and accounts, came to $29,901.60. The firm of Caynor and Company was definitely a going, if not prosperous, concern. Its success probably stemmed from both the wealth of its partners and their varied business experiences.
More can be learned about the company by examining the activities of the partners. While poorly financed companies often failed, the men involved with J. H. Caynor and Company were wealthy by Greene County standards of the iSSOs. This surely aided the company’s success as appearances were very important in the nineteenth-century business world; if a man’s home and personal holdings were shabby or meager, few men would be willing to take his notes in lieu of cash.
Although not mentioned in either the 1851 or 1856 Greene County tax assessor’s list for Greene County, John Morton was a man of means. His probate inventory of 28 July 1865 included "Cash on hand Gold to the amount of $275. Cash on hand Silver to the amount $58.15, Cash on hand U.S. Treasury notes to the amount $163.60." An additional inventory dated 11 October 1865 listed $219.08 in silver and $1500 in gold. Yet another inventory of 21 June 1866 recorded "Cash on Deposit in Bank of State Mo. At St. Louis Two thousand & ninety six 80/00 Dollars (in Gold)." This appears to have been sold by Joseph T. Morton, estate administrator. Because gold was more valuable than paper money the administrator received a premium of 53 114% on one sale, which came to $1,116.76 over face value, and 40% for $2,073.25 in gold and silver at another, $829.30 over face value.
One wonders how Morton was able to accumulate such a large amount of gold; was it because of wartime business opportunities or other activities? Clues to Morton’s financial success may be surmised by further family appraisal. Joseph P. Morton, probably John’s father, owned seven slaves worth $1,875 in 1851, plus $2,300 money on notes and land, bringing his assessment to $6,045. In 1856 he owned nine slaves valued at $4,300, and with money on notes worth $3,206, a total assessment of $13,453. Perhaps these notes were collected by son John in specie rather than paper money
John Morton was involved in other ventures as well as John H. Caynor and Company. He appears to have been in business with a W W Jeifries. A voucher filed 26 August 1867 detailed "Profit on Cattle Drive to Westport in 1860."
The 1860 census listed Morton, a native of Tennessee, as a 26-year-old Greene County merchant married to Margaret V. Logan, age 21, the daughter of William B. Logan. (Mter Morton’s death, Margaret married Joseph George Aumoth; their daughter became the wife of Bunch McDaniel, a well-known Springfield banker. (Dr. Hall’s 1880 census)) Although not a Caynor and Company partner, various probate documents indicated that William B. Logan was active in the business. Many of the company’s accounts were directed to "Mess. Logan & Morton" for payment. These two men apparently
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operated what would today be the purchasing and accounting departments of the company.
Caynor and Company partners Charles A. Haden and B. W. Henslee were also financially successful. Haden’s 1851 tax assessment showed eight slaves worth $2000, four horses values at $100, twenty-four cattle assessed at $180, and twenty-nine jacks and mules worth $690. (Haden’s place of birth was Kentucky.) Henslee in 1851 owned about 225 acres in 55 T29 R20, four slaves, a pleasure carriage, and stock worth $1840. A native of North Carolina who listed his occupation in 1880 as tobacconist, on 10 July 1884 he was a witness to the inventory certificate for John H. Caynor’s estate. (Dr. Hall’s 1880 census)
Of all the associates of the Caynor Tobacco Works, John W Hancock was probably the most widely known. Having been appointed sheriff pro tem in 1834, Hancock ran for assessor in 1835. He lost, but in August 1842 was elected state senator. In 1856 he became a county director for the Southwest Missouri District Fair Association. In January 1857 Hancock became president of the Springfield Bank, which by 1857 was a permanent branch bank of the state. By 1861 Hancock was among the "leading ‘Southern’ men or secessionists," according to Holcombe. On 16 December 1871 Hancock died in Paris, Texas, living there, one might assume, because of the migration of Missouri Confederate sympathizers during the war.
One can get an idea of Hancock’s impact in the J. H. Caynor and Company firm by looking at his assets. Besides the business and financial backing his association with the branch bank provided, in 1851 he owned 350 acres of land, nineteen slaves, money on notes, stock and other property worth $9494. By 1856 he had twenty-five slaves worth $12,300, a pleasure carriage, a piano valued at $300, additional land, and stock, all totaling $23,884. He also had an interest in Hancock, Morton and Company of seventy-nine cattle worth $1560. This was probably a partnership with the previously mentioned John Morton, another partner in Caynor and Company Hancock was obviously a man possessing a long and extensive acquaintance with not only Greene County, but areas of northern Arkansas and Missouri where the branch bank had business dealings. His banking involvement assumably gave him an awareness of tobacco prices, availability, and people involved in growing it.
The probate file of Caynor and Company (#15 19) consists of three large folders. They contain a variety of receipts, notes, correspondence, and other items. The documents reveal the large geographical area encompassed by the company’s business dealings. There is a receipt for a note for $26 dated 31 May 1860 from Cherokee Nation. Many Missouri and Arkansas businesses also ordered tobacco products; there was also at least one order from Kansas Territory. From Lebanon, Missouri on 15 November 1859 J. W. Thrailkill wrote, "we are out of your Celebrated Cherry Juice Tobacco Can you not Send us Some forthwit." The firm of Hooper and Catton, Dry Glaze, Missouri, on 5 March 1861 requested "One Box.. .of Tobaccoe No. 2 To Lebanon to. ..Churchill & Co." Parrington Packwood, Crane Creek, Stone County, Missouri sent a request dated 3 May 1860; J. G. McConnell of Huntsville, Arkansas received $139.60 worth of tobacco on 20 February, 1861; other customers were from Bloomington, Arkansas and Mt. Pleasant, Carroll County, Arkansas. Additional dealings were carried on with Missouri firms M. B. Young of Mount Vernon; Bowers and Bros. of Bowers Mills; A. Hamilton of Cassville; John H. Price of Dallas City, all during 1860; T. A. Cotter & Co., of Avilla, Jasper County (1859); and in Arkansas Wm. M. Mcllvoy, Fayetteville (1859) and Jas. A. Watson of Saint Paul (1860).
A large amount of tobacco was being purchased by the firm judging by the large number of receipts. From Forsyth, Missouri, W. D. Maynard wrote 6 March 1860, "Mr. Wilson has his crop of tobacco all striped and is anxious to know if you will take it.. .and [if not] he may ship or haul it to some other point." From Saint Leger, Ozark County, Missouri, R. W Torgan wrote, "we have a nomber 1 article of tebacow this Spring...write me what you will pay...and if you will pay a nough to gestify me to hall hit to you."
As with all companies, Caynor had expenses to take care of. Probate records indicated the costs a tobacco manufactory could incur. Shipped by the Pacific Railroad to Knob View South West Branch Pacific Railroad were two orders from J. Matthews & Sons, Wholesale Druggists in St. Louis. The accounting lists three cases of "liquorice," quantities of whiskey, rum and some type of oil, and a case of tin foil. From J. W Dowdall & Co., also of St. Louis, came an order for "3 Flatner tobacco Presses, 1 tobacco screw, 3 lots Sinkers," and other tobacco process-
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ing items. Two particular items offered interesting information. A slip requested "Mess. Logan & Morton Pay to the Fire Department Thirty Dollars.. .Sept 22/60" which surely indicated some type of volunteer fire department in Springfield. The other invoice for 200 pounds of "Pig Lead" bought of Blow & Kennett of Granby, Missouri, 14 September 1860 carried the pencilled notation: "Mess Logan & Morton Please pay off the above Bill and chgr [charge] Sept 27/60 J. H. Caynor & Co."
Selling on consignment, or note, must have occasioned some losses, or at least tardy payment. From Newtonia, Newton County, Missouri came, "Sir, I have recevd your favor informing me that you ar in need of Some means. I will by and git you up Some money ... [signed] M. H. Ritchey" A month later, in February 1860 he again wrote, "I have just recevd yours informing me of a bout [sic] what I expected. I have fild out the enclosed check witch I hop will answer." Apparently Ritchey paid some, if not all of what he owed the company, although among the probate listings are numerous other uncollectible accounts.
J. H. Caynor and Company was well-known in the tobacco business throughout Missouri. There are letters requesting work with the company from Hannibal, Franklin County, Sarcoxie, St. Louis and Glascow. From there, a W. Williams wrote on 7 March 1860, "I was informed by Wm. Kilby the foreman at Lewis & Perry’s tobacco Factory that you were engaged in the manufactoring of the weed. I am a roller & sorter & understand the business." From Hannibal, T. R. Appler applied for work, writing, "I should like very much to get a situation in you place. ..as trading or sorting Tobacco[.] I have been In Messer D. J. Garth & Co Tobacco House for Two years past. Messer Thrner Alan & Co the Last year...N.B. Pleas Anser How much you pay per day or Week for a good sorter."
Besides inquiring about jobs people sometimes wrote about business prospects. James A. Watson, of Saint Paul, Arkansas wrote, "I can Raise Some fifteen Hundred or Two Thousand Dollars which I am will to Invest in Some Branch of business.. .Please answermeonreceiptofthis&Givemeyourviews."
Two other items relate to business seemingly outside the scope of the tobacco business. There is an account of Wm. Patterson buying 545 dry hides from
W. B. Logan. Another sheet was entitled "Cattle Bought By Henslee" with columns headed "First Trip," "2nd Trip," and "Exp up North." $2,503.25 was spent for the first cattle, $5,212.80 for the second lot, and $20.94 for the expenses up north. This indicated that the partners handled other business ventures in conjunction with the tobacco company.
It is fortunate for those interested in early Greene County history that people sometimes die at opportune times. John A. Morton’s demise forced a snapshot of the John H. Caynor Tobacco Company because of his partnership with Caynor, Henslee, Hancock and Haden. It is possible, consequently, to look at the various documents and discover how an early Springfield business operated.
Bob Neumann is the Greene County Archivist. Society members are welcome to visit the newlyremodeled facility on Boonville Avenue in the local government complex just north of the Museum of the Ozarks.
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