USA > Missouri > A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
The various religious denominations have churches in most of the towns. Bellflower has five churches and four Sunday schools, Middle- town has four churches and four Sunday schools, Wellsville has four churches and four Sunday schools, Montgomery City has four churches and four Sunday schools, New Florence has two churches and two Sun- day schools, High Hill has three churches and two Sunday schools, Jonesburg has three churches and three Sunday schools and Mineola has two churches and one Sunday school.
The Montgomery County Sunday School Association is one of the old- est organizations in the state, being organized in 1868. It has held ses- sions regularly. In 1908 and 1909 Montgomery county was the banner Sunday school county of the state.
502
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
COUNTY TOWNS
The principal towns at present are Montgomery City, Wellsville, New Florence, Jonesburg, Middletown, High Hill, Rhineland, Bellflower and McKittrick. Each of these towns is incorporated under its own govern- ment.
Montgomery City, now the largest town in the county and with a population of 1,789, was laid out in 1853 by Benjamin P. Curd. Mr. Curd, as an inducement to the North Missouri Railroad Company, agreed to give every other lot in town plat if the railroad company would build its road through and locate a permanent depot therein. The town was named in honor of the county. The grading for the railroad reached Montgomery City early in 1856 and the track was laid about December, 1857, after which the cars began to run regularly. The Montgomery College was established in 1859 with the Rev. William A. Taylor as principal. About this time many other improvements took place at Mont- gomery and the town grew rapidly. It is a progressive town and its citizens have contributed much to the early history of the county, as well as its present prominence. It has several large stores, electric lights and ice plant, and fine residences. For a number of years it has been a freight division of the Wabash Railroad, but this was recently moved to High Hill.
Upper Loutre township in the northern part of the county com- prised a considerable extent of territory at first, but in January, 1872. the county court made a division, establishing therefrom Montgomery township. The principal town of Upper Loutre Township is Wellsville. laid out by Hon. Carty Wells in 1856. He was the original owner of the town site and deeded to the railroad company five acres for the depot and railroad purposes. The town was named for its founder. Wellsville is now a splendid little city, the second largest in the county, and recog- nized as the greatest trading point between St. Charles and Mexico. Two very large department stores draw trade from adjoining counties, and it is no uncommon sight to behold farmers driving from twenty to twenty- five miles turkeys in herds of 1,000 to 1,500 to the Wellsville market. It has an electric light plant, ice plant, refrigeration plant and ice cream factory. Its population is now 1,194 and steadily growing.
Now Florence was laid out in 1857 by Hon. E. A. Lewis who pur- chased the land from Mortimer McIlhaney. The town was first called Florence in honor of the only daughter of Judge Lewis and was so platted and recorded, but after a time it was discovered that there was a town of the same name in Morgan county, so by an act of the legislature in March, 1859, the name was changed to New Florence.
The town of Jonesburg is located on lands first settled by James Jones for whom the town was named. Jones settled in this county in 1829, and at his home was a "stand" for the stage coach line that ran from St. Charles to Boon's Lick in Howard county.
Charles Wells, a familiar family county name, resided at the place now Middletown in 1817. Middletown is claimed by some to be the oldest town in the county, but the claim is not clearly established. The first farm opened in the vicinity of Middletown was in September 1824 by James Smith. In 1829 Richard Cox located in this vicinity and became one of the pioneer families of the county. The first business house built in Middletown was on the site of the present hotel and was occupied by Josiah Willbarger, who surveyed the town and platted it for its original owners, James Lynn, John Dudgeon and Stewart Slavens. Captain S. W. Hammock was one of the early Middletown settlers and for years surveyor of the county. Presley Anderson settled on Cuivre
503
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
near Middletown in 1818. Mr. Anderson, while hunting one day, killed a wolf and throwing it into the stream named the stream Wolf Creek, which bears the same name to the present day. Reuben Pew located near Middletown also in 1818 and was elected colonel of the first war company ever organized in the county. Middletown has more gravel streets than any town in the county. Not far away it has a coal mine undeveloped, but shows veins measuring sixteen feet.
One of the early postoffices in the county was known as High Hill and located near the present site of Jonesburg. As time moved onward this postoffice was moved westward and was finally located at a place now called High Hill. In 1851 the present town of High Hill was platted. Hance Miller was among the first to settle at this place. He, in connection with William H. Hoss and John S. Howe, erected a grist mill which is still standing, and in operation.
In 1846 six German families settled in the southern part of the county. In 1853 one of their number laid out a small village, naming it Rhineland in honor of the River Rhine. Here Hugo Monnig con- ducted a store for many years. With the coming of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, the town was moved some little distance east. It is now a prosperous little village, surrounded by a wealthy German settlement.
Bluffton is also located on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. The first settlements date back to 1844. Samuel Miller, who conducted the Bluffton Wine Company in 1866, was the founder of the town.
The town of McKittrick is situated in the extreme southeast corner of the county on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. Here the railroad company has watering and coaling stations. The town has a large flouring and grain elevator, several business houses, bank, Meth- odist church and Sunday school.
The town of Bellflower is the newest town in the county, being in- corporated about two years ago. John W. Schowengerdt was owner of its present site and platted the town. He did more for its advancement than possibly all of the other citizens together. He built a great many houses, public business places, improved its streets, located a beautiful park and contributed in every way possible for the advancement of the town. It now numbers about 400 people and is located on the Burlington Railroad, the principal town on that road in the county.
Buell is a small town located on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway and surrounded by a very rich section of the county. It has a bank, churches, a good school and is the railroad shipping point for Middletown.
The population of Montgomery county is principally American and German. The Germans largely inhabit the southern portion of the county.
In addition to the railroad towns, Mineola, Americus, Big Spring, Price's Branch, Gamma, Marling and Egbert are inland hamlets sur- rounded by a thrifty citizenship. The rural free delivery mail system practically covers the county and with daily mail and telephone service the farmers are in close touch with each other.
MINEOLA SPRINGS
The most historical, interesting and attractive place within the county is Mineola Springs, located on Loutre river, one among the first places to be settled in the county. At this point are several mineral springs which have gained notoriety for the medicinal properties throughout the United States. Health seekers from far and near have visited here. Mineola was laid out as a town by H. E. Scanland in 1879, who owned
504
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
the large farm upon which the springs were located. The town was named for Mineola, Texas, signifying healing waters. It is located upon the cross-state highway between St. Louis and Kansas City and is recognized as the most scenic point en route. Here many noted charac- ters have visited, camped and refreshed themselves from the mineral waters. Here Thomas H. Benton stopped and designated it as the "Bethesda of the West." Here Washington Irving spent a number of days and upon the mantel now resting in the old Van Bibber tavern, penned some of his brightest thoughts. In bidding goodbye to his friend, Major Van Bibber, said: "When I get rich, I shall buy this place and build me a home."
PINNACLES
In the southeastern part of Montgomery county there is a huge, sin- gular-looking rock known as the Pinnacle. It stands alone in the midst of a small valley and rises perpendicularly to a height of 75 feet. Its area is about one acre and is covered with trees. A winding path takes the visitor to the top, where have often been held preaching and Fourth- of-July celebrations.
POLITICAL HISTORY
Montgomery county has played well its part in politics. The first election in which its citizens took part was in 1820 when James Monroe carried the county for president, the only voting place at this time being at the house of Jacob Groom. George W. Windsor of Mineola now has in his possession the poll book of these early elections. In 1824 John Quincy Adams carried the county for president after a very warm and close fight. In 1840 the Whigs carried the county. In 1860, possibly the warmest contested election in the early days of the county, resulted in the Bell electors receiving 658 votes, the Douglas electors 612, the Breckinridge electors 83 and the Lincoln electors 45. For a number of years after the close of the Civil war the Democrats were in power and carried the elections by a safe majority. Of recent years, the Re- publicans have often elected some of their ticket. In the election of No- vember, 1912, the Democrats carried the county by a majority of 186 votes. As to the present county officers, their political complexion is as follows : Representative, S. S. Cox, Democrat; presiding judge of the county court, J. W. Shocklee, Democrat; associate judges, William Schroer and William Martin, Republicans; prosecuting attorney, Harry C. Black, Democrat; sheriff, W. H. Verser, Democrat; county clerk, E. W. Hunter, Republican; circuit clerk, Everett Barton, Republican ; recorder, D. P. Grennan, Republican; collector, L. E. Blades, Repub- lican; assessor, Harry S. Bishop, Democrat; treasurer, John D. Ulrich, Republican; coroner, Dr. J. M. Menefee, Democrat; surveyor, T. L. Cardwell, Democrat.
One of the first three judges of the supreme court of the state of Missouri was Matthias McGirk of Montgomery county. Judge MeGirk settled in this county in 1819, living in the Missouri river bottom, and erected a brick house which stands today well preserved and in use. Judge McGirk was appointed to serve until he arrived at the age of 65. He resigned in 1841.
FINANCIAL
The financial institutions of the county consist of eighteen state banks, whose combined capital reaches $504,200, and whose deposits on November 26, 1912, amounted to $1,475,856.92. The stability of the
505
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
financial institutions of the county reflects the character of the people living therein.
The tax rate of the county is low. The county levies $0.35 on the $100 for county purposes and an additional $0.25 for road purposes. The school tax averages from nothing to $1.10, a number of districts being able to maintain their eight-months schools from public money. the total assessed valuation of the county is a few dollars less than $6,000,000 based upon a fifty per cent valuation. The county is free of indebtedness.
FAIRS AND FRATERNAL ORDERS
The Montgomery County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized and held its first fair in Montgomery City in 1866. Since that time fairs have been held at New Florence, Wellsville and again at Montgomery City. The present Montgomery County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized in 1908 and holds annually suc- cessful fairs.
The county, as a whole, is well supplied with secret societies. The Masonic order has lodges at Jonesburg, New Florence, Montgomery, Wellsville. Bellflower and McKittrick, forming a district within itself. The Odd Fellows have organizations at New Florence, Montgomery City, Wellsville, Bellflower and Middletown. The A. O. U. W. has a lodge at Montgomery' City. The Modern Woodmen of America have camps at Rhineland, MeKittrick, Wellsville, Middletown, Bellflower and New Florence. The Order of Eastern Star has a strong organization at New Florence, the only one in the county.
CELEBRATIONS
The first Fourth-of-July celebration was held at Loutre Lick, or Mineola Springs, in 1821. Major Van Bibber was the ruling spirit and paid all expenses attached thereto. Speech-makers were present from St. Louis and St. Charles. At night there was a big dance in the Van Bibber tavern engaged in by the prominent guests.
OLD SETTLERS PICNIC
The disposition of the citizens of Montgomery county is indeed social. The most noted gathering within the history of the county and probably within the history of Northeast Missouri is that of the "Old Settlers," of Montgomery county, who organized themselves into an association on June 3, 1882. in the Woodland district, a short distance west of New Florence. This association has held a reunion annually. It has grown in importance and attendance until now it is the largest picnic held in Northeast Missouri. The attendance has reached fifteen thousand. The association owns its park of twenty acres, where on the first Saturday in each August gather not only the old settlers but the young settlers as well. The politicians of the state have come to recognize it as a good place and here many booms for governor, United States senator and minor offices have been launched. To carry further the social idea, nearly every community has a day for its annual picnic.
NEWSPAPERS
The newspapers of the county are eight in number: The Standard, published at Montgomery City; the Optic-News and Star at Wellsville;
1
506
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
the Chips at Middletown; the News at Bellflower; the Montgomery County Leader at New Florence; the Journal at Jonesburg, and the Record at Rhineland. Each of these papers has a modern plant and is issuing a weekly edition in harmony with the present progressive spirit of Missouri.
ROADS AND TRAVELERS
The early travel from the eastern to the western states, and especially during the gold fever of 1849, found its way across the county over the Boon's Lick road and it is said that as many as 3,000 people passed over it monthly.
In matters of transportation, Montgomery county has the Wabash Railroad running through its center; the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy in the northern section; the Missouri, Kansas & Texas along its southern borders. Several surveys for an electric line, extending from St. Louis to Kansas City, have crossed its borders, and those interested feel con- fident that this too will be built in the near future. With the railroad facilities the county enjoys, she is thrown in close touch with the east- ern markets, as well as the western markets.
The spirit of good roads has lain dormant these many years. During the years 1911 and 1912 more progress was made in the improvements of roads than ever before in its history. The Old Trails road, the official cross-state highway, approved by the State Board of Agriculture, enters the county just east of Jonesburg and continues its way across to the western border, a distance of 20 miles. Near New Florence the North State Highway branches from the Old Trail and extends through the northern central section. The farmers of the present day realize their need of transportation facilities for reaching the railroad and are enthused with a spirit of making their conditions better.
CHAPTER XXIV PIKE COUNTY . By I. Walter Basye, Bowling Green THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Who has not heard of Pike county, its famous men, its beautiful women, its schools and its churches, its undulating prairies, green-car- peted valleys and sun-kissed vine-clad hills, its crystal streams, its macadamized roads rivaling the old Appian Way, its delightful climate, its fine farms, fruits and flowers? It is God's country. And who dare say it is not the veritable Lost Paradise, the Garden of Eden retouched in its pristine glory, rehabilitated and rededicated by the latest and best edition of the genus homo-the Piker?
Come, step out from the rushing rabble throng that is passing by and let me lead you to this quiet nook inside the garden gate hard by the Missouri Pippin tree that Mother Eve used to climb and get apples to pelt his Adamic lordship. What! Not convinced ? Skeptical of the identity of Pike county and the Paradisian garden? What other land than Pike county could Moses have had in view in his usual evening address to the children of Israel while journeying in the wilderness? He at least gives a description of the land that so completely fits that the burden of proof is on you to show that the great leader did not have Pike county in his prophetic eye. Vide Deuteronomy VIII: 7, 8, 9. "A good land, of brooks of waters, of fountains and depths that spring out of the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley and vines, and honey, a land in which thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack for anything in it." Isn't that Pike county ? Again, Deuteronomy XI: 12. "A land which the Lord thy God careth for. The eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year, even to the end of the year."
To tell the story of the county, taking no thought of the time to tell it, no studied effort at literary merit, no "apples of gold framed in pictures of silver," doing even a passing justice to the characters who contributed so much to make that story fascinating, would not only require historical genius, but genius with the dip of inspiration. The Creator surely did care for the land as stated and He was so pleased with the new Piker that He took him into full partnership, gave him the keys to this western world, and whispered in his ear talismanic words for greater achievements. Nor has this partnership been dissolved. Baron Munchausen's fancy flights may yet be put to flight by the real- ities of the Piker. One day, some day he may be seen coming home from the North with splinters from the Pole with which to cook the evening meal. Some wise old philosopher said he could move the earth with a lever, if he only could find a place to stand. The Pike county product has found that place and is being noted for his skill in using the lever and making things move.
507
1
508
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
OLDER THAN ITS MOTHER
Pike county is old and venerable, with the anomaly of the child being older than its mother, the State of Missouri, by two years, seven months and twenty-four days, born and christened at St. Louis, Mis- souri, December 14, 1818. Quadruplets were born on that day-Pike, Montgomery, Lincoln, and Madison counties. Only seven came before- St. Louis, St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Washington and Howard. Except the last two, the other children were six years old when Pike threw her hat into the ring, the birth of the other five corresponding to that of the Territory of Missouri, 1812.
In 1805 a young lieutenant of more than passing worth was trusted with an important military expedition up the Mississippi to find its source, establish forts and trading places and to make report to the government of any and all valuable information about the new country just purchased from France. Perhaps we were cheated. So began an inventory. Clark and Lewis fourteen months before had gone up the Missouri and on to the West. This last expedition was voluntary and not yet concluded when the former, which was the first military exploi- tation of the Louisiana Purchase, was begun. Clark and Lewis had well set their faces to the setting sun in the Rockies when, on August 9, Zeb- ulon Montgomery Pike, a young man of twenty-six and of soldierly bear- ing, made his way through a mixed crowd gathered at the wharf at St. Louis. At his sharp word of command, one sergeant, two corporals and seventeen privates, with one guide, embarked in a seventy-foot keel boat. Another word of command, as the summer sun was setting, and the men bent to their oars, the vessel groaned and slowly put out from shore. This exploration was overshadowed by the much more pretentious one to the West, and both overshadowed private searches, one up the Mis- souri river three years before Clark and Lewis, and one up the Missis- sippi fourteen years before Lieutenant Pike. Pike was an efficient officer and a very popular man. Seven years later, in 1813, he was com- missioned a brigadier-general and was killed in attack before Toronto. Five years later, in 1818, his glory had not the least abated. Two of the counties formed in 1818 divide the honor of his name-Montgomery and Pike.
Pike county, being a lusty child, made its cry heard afar off. The rugged, impetuous mountaineer came clambering over the Allegheny and the Blue Ridge mountains to help shape her destiny. The immobile Carolinian, the blue blooded Virginian, the Hoosier schoolmaster, the "down Easter," and there came too, on horseback or in mountain wagon or gliding by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi, the Kentucky colonel. Each and every one of these immigrants, no matter how learned or ignorant, how humble or how lordly he was in his old home, brought to the new home elements that were to become the warp and woof of a new race, industry, grit, optimism and a heaped up measure of double distilled honesty. Many of them were poor, as property goes, but they were rich in hope and neighborly kindnesses. They nestled down side by side in a neighborly way, on the hillside, or in the rich valleys, helping one another, intermarrying and becoming the progeni- tors of a new, a composite race, leaders in every department of life in this western world. They were dreamers, big dreamers, practical dreamers, the advance guard of humanity, the toilers who with bent backs and sweating brow cut smooth roads over which mankind marches on- ward and upward from generation to generation. Were it not for such dreamers the American people would still be hugging the Atlantic. The present advancement is but the sum total of dreams of past ages
509
HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI
made real. All honor to our dreamers who looked far enough into the future of this country to see our people emancipated from the narrow- ing. hampering fetters of their day. Let us honor the men who had the ability to foresee greater things, aye, and the nerve to make them realities.
SOURCES OF HISTORY
Very much of the early history of the county, like that of other coun- ties and the first few years of the state, has not been preserved in such a form as we now wish had been done. It has been only in the more recent years that we begin to find real joy in the faintest traces and incidents of our ancestral pioneers. Pike's honored citizen, Judge T. J. C. Fagg. from time to time contributed articles reminiscent of early days. Thirty years ago a voluminous history of the county was prepared by a non-resi- dent, who failed to imbibe the interest he would have had, had he been a resident. Especially do I want to accord value to researches made some thirty odd years ago and printed in pamphlet form by Dr. Clayton Keith of Louisiana. Before publication his writings were submitted to pioneers then living, such as Levi Pettibone, Edwin Draper, the Rev. J. W. Campbell and son, Gov. R. A. Campbell, yet living, and to others, getting information at first hand. From all these sources, from the rec- ords at the courthouse, from my ancestors, who were here very early, from historical clippings, 'and especially from two old records kept by the first merchant in the county. Uriah J. Devore, September, 1818 to ! 1826, the information in this chapter was obtained.
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE COUNTY
Of the seventh annual session of the territorial legislature, held at St. Louis December 14, 1818, Pike county was cut out of St. Charles county, which embraced all that part of the territory that lies north of the Missouri river, west of the Mississippi river, north of the British possessions and west of the Pacific ocean. On the same day Lincoln county was outlined on the north of the present St. Charles county. Then came Pike, the articles of description reading: "All that part of St. Charles county lying north of the following lines, viz., beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river between townships 51 and 52, thence west with the township line to the range line, between 2 and 3, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence south to the township line between 50 and 51, thence west with said line to the eastern boundary of Howard county, thence north and west with the county line between St. Charles and Howard, to the most western point of St. Charles, shall be and is hereby laid off into a separate and dis- tinct county, which shall be called and known by the name of Pike." Such, gentle reader, is the legal description of Pike county to which I introduce you, the home of Joe Bowers and his brother, Ike. Can any- body on earth make a plat of it? The south line, the southeast and the southwest corners fixed, the west vague, the northwest tacitly under- stood to extend to the ocean, no north, while the Father of Waters is supposed to be the east side. Imagine a huge comet with a fairly well- defined head drinking from the big river at the southeast corner of the county, while its tail indefinite and indefinable spread over the great northwest, covering Iowa, the Dakotas, and all the lands to the Pacific.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.