Contributor's Attic
Charles & Elizabeth (Copenhaver) Suiter
Our profile of Charles Suiter begins in Jackson Co.
Alabama.
Jackson Co. is in North East corner of the state and joins Franklin
Co. Tennessee. Charles was born in 1808 to Alexander and Margaret
Suiter. He was born in Tennessee and grew up in Alabama when it was
still Cherokee Indian Territory.
In about 1839 he and his wife, Elizabeth Copenhaver pioneered from
Franklin County, Tennessee to Missouri. They settled on the St.
Clair/Benton County Line. They had 4 young sons less then 10 years old
and shortly after arriving another son was born.
These 5 boys would grow up on a farm and help operate Suiter’s Mill on
Hogles Creek. The mill was located about 3 miles Northeast of present
day Iconium.
Three more children were born. One daughter died in infancy and the
other two would grow up to be young men.
The Suiter Family lived along the Fairfield to Osceola Road. They
built a Dam on the Creek and for many years it was known as “The Mill
Pond”. In addition to the Water Mill, they operated a Distillery and
had a shop where they could make almost anything desired from wool or
iron.
When the War for Southern Independence started, Charles and Elizabeth
had 7 sons. Four of their sons would serve in the Missouri State Guard
during the summer of 1861. They were John A., Charles Clanton, Andy
McCoy and Tom.
One of the sons, Levi G. had already gone to California by 1860.
On May 7, 1862, (according to the history of Benton and St. Clair
Counties by: Miles/White) Charley Suiter and his wife were out in
their creek bottom field planting corn. Charley was dropping and his
wife was covering, when a squad of Cavalry on Post and Scout duty rode
up on them. They shot and killed Charley and rode off and told others
in the neighborhood that they shot an “Ole Buck down in the Bottoms.”
Through research, evidence, and bits of info passed down thru family
history. This killing was probably done by the 8th Regiment, Missouri
State Militia Cavalry, Company F. Many of the troops in this Union
Regiment were men from Benton and Hickory Counties.
Charles Suiter was laid to rest in the Peach Orchard he’d always loved
so much. He was buried in a traditional style Southern Grave. The top
is capped with Hand Hewed Limestone Slabs of Rock. This burial site
was the first in what later became known as the Suiter Cemetery.
After their father was murdered, John A. enlisted with Co. B, 16th MO
Infantry and Andrew “Andy” McCoy Suiter signed up May 1, 1862 at
Ozark, Arkansas with Co. E, Clark’s Regiment MO Infantry.
Both of these Regiments from Missouri fought at the following
engagements: Battle of Helena, Red River Campaign, Battle of Pleasant
Hill, and Jenkins Ferry. They surrendered at Shreveport Louisiana, May
26, 1865 under General E. Kirby Smith’s Department Trans-Mississippi.
On January 30th, 1865 the newly installed Missouri Governor issued
General Order #3. It required each county in the state to inscript
local men as Citizen Guards. They were to be more law-enforcement
oriented than military. The troops were provisioned by the Federal
Government and paid, at least in part, by imposing a fee upon
“disloyal” citizens residing within each county.
Records show that William L. and Charles Clanton Suiter both signed up
at Osceola under a Captain B. F. Cook on April 30th, 1865. They were
mustered out on July 18th, 1865 with 94 days actual service. This
undoubtedly was done against their will, but they had to choose
between signing up or leaving the State. Both of them would have been
married, with young children and farms to operate. They chose to stay
home.
The Charles Suiter family have Hundred’s of descendents that still
live in this area, plus many have scattered all over the United
States.
Compiled by: Warren D. Love, Iconium, Mo.
Submitted by Mary Zeiler
