This is not an image of Hezekiah Davis, by the way, but rather of my Uncle Richard Miller (1858-1931), left, with his friend Sherman Johnson, taken from a somewhat battered tintype. Uncle Richard and Charlie McDowell, who farmed nearby, were among those who joined Hezekiah in the chase reported here. His was the only photo I could find that related in some way to the story.
Hezekiah was 26 at the time of his midnight ride, recently married to Nettie, and they were recorded in the 1900 census of Lincoln Township, but not thereafter. So I don't know what became of them after this.
If you're wondering why a six-inch bolt --- such were used to attach buggy wheels, so a missing bolt could result in a wobbly wheel and the need for emergency repairs. The request made of Mr. Davis, although mischievous, at least was plausible:
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Three boys living about six miles northeast of Chariton --- James and Gale Brown and Bert Apgar --- were badly scared by being hauled before Justice Manning the first of the week, charged with unlawful assemblage and disturbing the peace. The complainant was Hezekiah Davis, a farmer living four miles north of town. The case was a state case, Steve Hickman prosecuting in the absence of County Attorney Drake, and J.A. Penick defending. Upon change of venue, the case was taken to Justice Long's court, where it was tried on Tuesday afternoon before a large and highly amused assembly of citizens.
The facts developed that on the night of October 31, the three boys, who were out driving in a single buggy, drove past the home of Mr. Davis, and called him out of bed at the unseemly hour of eleven p.m. to find out whether or not he had a six-inch bolt. Upon being informed that he thought he had one he could spare, the mischievous boys told him that it was a good thing to have and that they would call the next day and get it.
It was an old game for the youngsters, and nearly all farmers have to suffer from such scamps, but Mr. Davis had suffered once too often, and he cursed the boys for impudent upstarts, meanwhile betaking himself to the barn and mounting a good nag to give chase.
The boys whipped up and Mr. Davis did likewise. As they were three in a buggy with only one horse, and he was on horseback --- with not a stitch of clothing on except his shirt --- he gained on the boys and they whipped their poor horse into a mad gallop to escape.
The chase spread through the neighborhood and other farmers mounted their nags and joined in the race, not knowing exactly what they were after, but having a vague idea that some burglars or boys had tried to rob Mr. Davis, or had shot into his house, or something equally terrible. After the chase had covered a distance of six miles or more, the pursuers gave it up as a hopeless job, and the lads escaped to their homes.
By a wily move of one of the pursuers, however, it was found out next day that the three boys named above were the ones who had done the mischief, and upon testimony from Mr. Davis that they had shot into his house, they were arrested and tried as stated.
The evidence did not sustain the charge that the boys had done any shooting, however, or indeed anything more than commit mischief, so Justice Long discharged them with a reprimand and the state will pay the costs. So is the great dignity of the law upheld at the cost of the dear people.
As a post script it should be recorded that Mr. Chas. McDowell and Richard Miller, who aided Mr. Davis in his wild ride for the miscreants, wore some clothes during the chase.
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