Town’s Namesake — Abraham Alphonse Albert Gallatini

Meet Our Town’s Namesake... Albert Gallatin

Gallatin, Missouri, takes its name from one of the early financial giants in American history. Born in Switzerland, his full name was Abraham Alphonse Albert Gallatini. He graduated from the University at Geneva at age 18 in 1779. He came to the United States to offer his services to General Washington and the cause of human liberty. Gallatin served as commander of Fort Machias in what is now the State of Maine.

When Gallatin first entered the federal service in 1795 as a congressman from Pennsylvania, the federal debt was pegged at $78.7 million and rising. It was his contention that the debt would have held firm had not the Washington and Adams administrations paid nearly $10 million in tribute and ransom to four Mediterranean pirate states. He encouraged the Jefferson Administration to stop paying pirates and helped direct the U.S. Navy to hunt them down. Even allowing for the Louisiana and Florida purchases, which amounted to $15 million, President Thomas Jefferson and his Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, reduced the federal debt by nearly half by 1810. Gallatin's treasury system proved practical and successful and was essentially unchanged for nearly 100 years. On Ocober 1, 1894, the system was changed (...and the author of that change was Alexander Monroe Dockery of Gallatin, MO).

Secretary Gallatin promoted economy in government expenses and made the country prosperous until the War of 1812. The Treaty of Ghent, ending that war, is considered largely Gallatin's personal triumph. For 7 years Gallatin served as U.S. Minister to France and also made diplomatic missions to the Netherlands and Great Britain. Albert Gallatin, who declined to accept nomination for Vice President in 1824, is the only man ever to serve in the treasury post under two presidents. The county seat of Daviess County chose to honor Albert Gallatin when it officially incorporated as a city in 1858. Today Gallatin’s statue stands before the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C. His farm located at Friendship Hill, PA, became a national park with local officials from here participating in the opening ceremonies held there in 1992.

Albert Gallatini was a Jeffersonian financier and diplomat. PIRATES His 12 years as Secretary of the U.S. Treasury is a length of service still unsurpassed. His name was given to a river, a mountain range, counties in three states, and to communities in Missouri and Tennessee

A special strike of a bronze medallion honoring

Albert Gallatin (1968 Medal JK-AC-112)

A Frontier Gunsmith You Should Know... Valentine Shuler

Shown above is a gun made by Valentine Shuler, one of many guns crafted by the Shuler family. How many Shuler guns were made during America’s early years? Nobody knows. Family descendant Don Shuler notes that a ledger, marked “J. Shuler,” has been passed down through his family. It has a numbering system of carefully inscribed grooves and hatches, and it stops at “193.” This may (or may not) indicate the number of guns made by Johannes (John) Shuler over his lifetime.

Nationally known Shuler Family gunsmith story culminates in Daviess County, Missouri

Walk any cemetery and be reminded that the lock plate has a script signature New Phila. Two that papers in intermingled German and English. One of his behind every marker lies a story. Among the older don’t have his handmade lock with ‘R&W.C. Biddle & Co., sons, William David, lived on the same Jamesport farm markers in Daviess County is one Philadelphia’ on the plate… for 67 years – continuing some gunsmithing and in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Jamesport, where rests a “One of the Valentines I have was made in Missouri. locksmithing while working as a railroad clerk and in man once nationally known for his craftsmanship in Many of its features reflect the change from Ohio to local schools. William Shuler was the last of the Shuler making guns. Missouri style and he was obviously affected by the gunsmiths in the lineage of craftsmen who worked in

Valentine Shuler (1808-1885) was born in Hawkins style plains rifles that were in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri for Pennsylvania, married a girl from Ohio, and eventually demand there.” approximately 200 years. died in Missouri. Today Shuler’s work still lives on The Shuler name is a familiar family among the guns featured in the book, “Ohio Gunsmiths name to Daviess County. Darwin Shuler Who taught whom? & Allied Tradesmen” (by Donald A. Hutslar, published (1898-1977) resided at Gallatin, at the east The succession of the craft of by the Association of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors, page end of today’s East Grand Street. Darwin gunsmith through generations is often a 125). Some of the finest guns ever made in Ohio were Shuler was featured by photograph in the matter of speculation rather than fact, since from Valentine’s hand. There are dozens of surviving Daviess County History (published 1985, surviving documentation is so rare. This is “Shuler Rifles” still in the marketplace although most of page 487). His genealogical records and certainly true for the Ohio Shuler Gunsmiths. these are not at all like the “family gun.” personal memories help describe Valentine Some surmise that Johann Valentin Schuller

In a ledger covering the period 1837-45 there is Shuler, the gunsmith of national renown. Valentine Shuler was a gun maker and, if so, it is reasonable to evidence that Valentine Shuler was not only filling Valentine Shuler was the great-grandson assume he trained Johannes (John) in orders for guns but was also training apprentices. The of Franz Schuller, a German who settled his family, Northumberland County, PA, before moving to Ohio. ledger lists 33 special orders, thought to be custom associated with the German Reformed Church, in Berks Johannes was approximately 23 and married with one made guns rather than guns sold from stock. Prices County, PA. His son, Johann Valentine Schuller (1759- son when he moved with his father to Licking County. If ranged from $13 to $25. The record also lists the number 1833) was a renowned calligrapher whose works are the old man did not do it, certainly Johannes was old of balls to a pound, barrel length, half or full stock treasured in numerous archives. About 1817 Schuller enough to have trained his younger brothers, Daniel and weight, patch box style plus special features ordered. and wife moved to Licking County, OH. The future Valentine. Also, Valentine passed the trade on to at least

Shuler made patented locks, so if this was desired it master gunsmith was one of the couple’s six children. two nephews and one son. was noted. One unusual order called for “German silver He was about age 9 at this time. butt plate eight pieces of silver, brass around lock plate By 1830 Valentine Shuler had developed a How many guns made? and patch box with spring hook.” The price was $20. considerable gunsmithing trade and was co-owner of a Don Shuler notes that a ledger, marked “J. Shuler,”

Information compiled by John Shuler, the great- sawmill. In 1853 after his first wife’s death, Valentine has been passed down through the family. It has a great grandson of the gunsmith, includes comments remarried and moved to Chillicothe, MO, in 1861. Four numbering system of carefully inscribed grooves and describing four family guns that he owns. He writes: years later he relocated to Jamesport in Daviess hatches, and it stops at number “193.” This has the

“All four guns are different, so he (Valentine) County, acquiring small parcels of land and a homestead family wondering if this is the number of guns made by expressed his artistic ability in different ways. He signed with his sons William David, Martin Banes, and Ulysses Johannes (John) Shuler over his lifetime. It is unknown all of his guns apparently. Three that I own have Franklin. how many total guns were made by the Ohio Shuler Valentine Shuler on the barrel in block letters and the Valentine combined gunsmithing and farming, Gunsmiths. fourth and earliest is signed in script on the barrel and amassed a small personal library, and left behind scant