A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I, Part 89

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 731

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Wm. Logan was arraigned before the court on a charge to keep the peace of his wife. The case was removed to the justice of the peace.

Thos. Talbot was sued by John Jones on a charge of fraud in set- tling an estate. The case was dismissed, Several other minor proceed- ings constituted the work of the first circuit court.

Since the first court was held by Priestly McBride, who served until 1836, the following judges served in the county and district : Ezra Hunt,

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1836 to 1848; Carty Wells, 1848 to 1857; A. H. Buckner, 1857 to 1862; Thos. J. C. Fagg, 1862 to 1866; Giles Porter, 1866 to 1871; W. W. Edwards, 1871 to 1889; E. M. Hughes, 1889 to 1905; H. W. Johnson, 1905 to 1906; James D. Barnett, 1906 to present date.

CHURCHES

Soon after the first settlers found homes on Warren county soil, the ministers came to cast their lot with them, and sometimes they were the first settlers to arrive. The history of the community is largely the history of religion. The progress of the community is inevitably ac- companied by the helpful influences of the church. The early pastors did not make merchandise of their mission. They received freely and gave equally as freely.

Services, as a rule, were held in the cabin of a neighbor, and notice of the meeting was promptly and generally circulated. The people generally attended, bringing their rifles with them so as to procure game going to and coming from the house of worship. The services were not looked upon in the light of a task, but adherence to the holy observance of the Sabbath day, and loyalty to the precepts of Christianity. Amidst the rudest surroundings and in the most unpretentious homes, the old doctrine of faith, hope and charity was proclaimed to men and women whose daily lives were pure and consistent. The same gospel truths were laid down to those simple people as are now expounded to the fashionable audiences in costly edifices. The same rules of religious and moral conduct were laid down, and there was much more hope of their observance than in the present time of free thought and scientific skep- ticism.

The first church society organized in the county. was affected by the Baptists soon after the first settlers came. The society was known as Friendship church, and services were held in the home of Flanders Callaway.

In the year 1831 a large log church was built in the Hopewell vicinity. which was not confined to any particular denomination, but was used freely by all. The building was also used as a schoolhouse. A number of men who later became prominent, received the rudiments of an edu- cation in this church. Among them were: John D. S. Dryden, later one of the justices of the state supreme court; John A. Howard, later sheriff of the county; and Jos. L. Fant, who became a leading citizen of Warrenton.

The Methodist church, South, in Warrenton was organized in 1840. Some of the charter members were: A. S. Wood, Elizabeth Wood, Eliza- beth Buxton and Ann Smith. A frame building was erected in 1859. and this building is still the house of worship of a flourishing congrega- tion.

A Missionary Baptist church was organized in 1855. Albert W. Johnson and wife, and William Harper and wife were among the first members. A building was erected in 1866 under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Nichols. This building was later sold to the school board and was used for school purposes. The organization closed when the build- ing was sold, and has never been revived.

The Evangelical Friedens church in Warrenton was organized in 1878, the names of some of the original members being, John G. Schrantz and wife, Fred Fahrmeyer and wife, Fritz Sievert and wife. James Drewer and wife, Wm Fahrmeyer, and others. The congregation is still in a flourishing condition.

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The St. Vincent Catholic church near Dutzow was organized in 1837, having for its charter members Bartholomew Roesner, Henry Dieckhaus, Francis Krekel, Herman Struckhoff and others.

The Evangelical Harmony church, later known as Strack's church, in honor of the Rev. Karl Strack, who served the congregation as pastor for many years, was organized in 1843. The original members were: George Wahlbrink, Doctor Brandt, E. Theermann, H. H. Kerkhoff, F. Waltemath, Henry Bockhorst, and E. H. Suhre.

The Evangelical church at Holstein was organized in 1848 and it is now one of the largest congregations in the county. The congregation first worshipped in a log house which burned in 1855. A brick building was then erected. On account of the growth of the congregation this was razed in 1884 and the present $10,000 edifice was erected. Rev. Jos. Rieger was the first pastor of the congregation.

The German Evangelical church at Marthasville was organized in 1864, the first members being Herman Schulte, Henry Hilgedick, Fr. Lagemann, W. Otterman, R. Hillebrandt, H. Eilers, E. H. Suhre, E. Hovelmann and their families. The first pastor was O. Neithammer. A beautiful brick edifice was erected in recent years, and the congre- gation is a very large one.

The St. Paul's German Evangelical church, located five miles north of Warrenton, was organized in 1865 by the Rev. J. G. Stranger. Some of the original members were: William Hollmann, Henry Pape, Henry Reese, Henry Fischer, Herman Vogt, Jacob Leek, William Karrenbrock, Kunrod Bebermeier, Henry Dettermann, William Voss, Frank Holl- man, William Linnert and William Buschmann. A stone house of worship was erected in 1875 at a cost of $1,000, and a parsonage was built soon after. The latter has been abandoned, the pastor residing in Warrenton, though a flourishing church is still maintained.

The German Methodist church of Warrenton came into existence with the founding of Central Wesleyan College in 1864. It is now one of the largest congregations in the county, and boasts a Sunday school of over three hundred pupils. Dr. O. E. Kriege, president of Central Wesleyan College, is the superintendent. A handsome brick edifice was erected in 1887 under the pastorate of the Rev. Wm. Koeneke, D. D., which served the purposes of the congregation until 1912, when the building was razed to make room for a larger house of worship, which was erected at a cost of over $20,000.

A German Evangelical congregation was organized at Lippstadt, four miles south of Warrenton, shortly after the Civil war. The first church was a log structure, but in 1877 a fine brick building was erected at a cost of $4,500. The congregation had its own pastor for many years, but is now being served by the pastor located at Warrenton.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Pendleton was organized in 1871 by the Rev. C. S. Cooper, its charter members being Wm. F. Chiles, Rob- ert N. Chiles, Mrs. Ellen Watkins, Wilford Johnson, Mrs. Mary E. Johnson, Joseph P. Chiles, Henry Benney, Mrs. Jane Martin, Lewis H. Jackson, Alfred Wingett, Allison Baldwin, Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis, and Mrs. Mary Benny. A frame building was erected in 1872 at a cost of $1,000. A congregation is still maintained with some of the charter members as regular attendants.

The German Evangelical congregation at Wright City was organ- ized in 1880. The first members were : Capt. E. F. Ordelheide and wife, William Kamp, Fr. Nieburg, Fr. Liedke, Henry Blattner, Florence Ordelheide, and Henry Schmidt. A frame structure was erected in 1881 and the congregation was in a flourishing condition until the spring of 1912, since which time they have been without a pastor.

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CENTRAL WESLEYAN COLLEGE, WARRENTON

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Since that time other congregations have been established in the county. A Catholic church at Concord Hill has a large membership and they worship in a large and modern brick building. A Catholic con- gregation in Truesdale is also in a flourishing condition. In Wright City a Southern Methodist and a Baptist church were organized in the '80s and both have a large membership. At Palmyra, a Baptist congrega- tion has worshipped the last quarter century, and, while no minister is maintained at the present time, the pulpit is frequently supplied by neighboring pastors. One of the strongest churches of the Methodist church. South, is at C'entral Grove. Another congregation of the same denomination is doing a good work at Macedonia. In recent years a German Evangelical congregation was established at Pinckney, and a Catholic congregation at Case. German Methodist congregations are maintained at Pinckney, Hopewell, Marthasville and Steinhagen. The churches at Pinckney and Hopewell are among the oldest in the county. The dates of the organizations of some of these old churches are very difficult to obtain, though most of them have maintained a continuous organization for many years, and have grown in usefulness and in membership.

CENTRAL WESLEYAN COLLEGE

This splendid educational institution is located at Warrenton and is under the control of a board of trustees, ministers and laymen, elected by the St. Louis and West German conferences of the German Methodist church.

The college owes its beginning to the necessity of the church in sup- plying ministers for the German work. Everywhere in the central west, congregations were being established, and no ministers could be secured to take charge of them. Several plans were adopted and tried to supply this want, but all without success. The needs of the church, however, were pressing, and the Southwest German Conference at that time decided to start a school in connection with the seminary of the church at Quincy, Illinois.

In 1855 the Rev. H. A. Koch, D. D., was appointed agent to secure the finances necessary for the undertaking and the Rev. John Walter was ap- pointed principal of the school. In the year 1857 Doctor Koch was placed in charge of the German department of the college, and this had an at- tendance of about twenty-five, all preparing for the ministry. During the Civil war the Quincy College, as it was later called, went down under financial troubles, but the German department was continued with Doctor Koch as teacher until 1864. At that time the church recognized the need of a home for the children of deceased soldiers, and it was proposed to purchase an estate from Wm. Truesdale near Warrenton, and establish there both the college and the orphan home. After a hard fight the proposition was finally accepted, largely through the efforts of the Revs. Philip Kuhl, and Henry Pfaff and Doctor Koch. The Trues- dale farm was purchased and in the fall of 1864 both institutions were opened. The Rev. George Boeschenz was appointed superintendent of the orphan home, and Doctor Koch was made principal of the college. In 1865 a charter was obtained and the institutions were incorporated under the names: "Western Orphan Asylum and Educational Institute."

The object of the institutions as set forth in the charter were : First, "To found and support a home for orphan children, especially of de- ceased soldiers; to clothe, feed and instruct them." Second, "To pro- vide for the instruction and education of the youth of our land and thus enable them to become honorable members of society." "In the recep-

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tion of orphan children and students, no regard shall be paid to the religious denominations of parents and children." Both institutions were established upon the broad and secure basis of Christian philan- thropy, and both have had a generous growth during the forty-eight years of administration in accordance with these principles.

Doctor Kuhl was the first president of the corporation, and Doctor Koch the first principal of the college. With the help of two other teachers, school opened October 3, 1864, with 190 pupils, including orphans, enrolled. The following courses were offered: Primary, clas- sical, scientific, normal and commercial.

In March, 1870, the charter was amended by the general assembly and the name changed to Central Wesleyan College and Orphan Home. In June of 1870 the first class in the classical course graduated. The class consisted of Wm. Balcke of Davenport, Iowa, and John H. Frick of Liberty, Missouri. The former has been a leading member of the patronizing conferences since his graduation, and Mr. Frick has been teacher of mathematics in his alma mater for over forty years and is the Grand Old Man of the college.

In the early '70s strong efforts were made to have the college re- moved from Warrenton. Offers of Quincy, Illinois, and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, were rejected. In the meantime a large subscription was raised in Warren county which amounted to over $10,000 by the time the conference met in Quincy, Illinois, in September, 1872. The subscrip- tions were accepted, and the trustees were authorized to proceed with the erection of a building, fifty-five by ninety feet, three stories high, and to cost about $20,000. The building was dedicated November 14, 1875, and still serves as the principal building of the college. Some of the early financial agents of the college were the Revs. Mr. Kuhl, M. Roeder and Chas. Heidel. Through their efforts a substantial en- dowment fund was raised which has grown from time to time. The endowment now amounts to over $150,000 and a special campaign is now being made to raise this to $250,000.

For a number of years the college made rapid progress. More stu- dents enrolled each year and more teachers were added to the faculty, and more and better facilities provided. At midnight of May 8, 1882, the college suffered a severe blow when a destructive cyclone struck the new college building which carried away the roof and tore away the whole east wall. Other buildings were also damaged.

The untiring workers of the faculty, however, did not give up in despair. Two hours after the storm a faculty meeting was called and it was at once decided that not a single day of school must be lost. Class rooms were arranged in nearby public buildings, and the arrangements for the continuance of the work were so well made that not a single recitation was missed. The trustees' board met shortly after and decided to rebuild and repair all damages at once. The professors and resident pastor, the Rev. Wm. Schutz, solicited funds. The unfortunate loss of the school aroused the sympathies of the people so well that the necessary funds to make the repairs were soon raised.

In 1884 the charter was again amended and at this time, too. the separation of the college and orphan home was carried into effect. The Central Wesleyan College and the Central Wesleyan Orphan Home were each incorporated under separate charters. Each now has separate boards of trustees appointed by the St. Louis and West German confer- ences of the Methodist church, German.

The college then entered upon an era of prosperity and soon it be- came necessary to provide larger facilities in all of its departments. In the fall of 1884 a woman's home was built at a cost of $11,000. This

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provided room for about fifty young women, and a dining room built in connection with this building was large enough to seat 125 students.

In 1893 the college again suffered a serious loss when the woman's home was destroyed by fire, but a far greater loss than that of the build- ing, was the death of Prof. J. Louis Kessler, who died from injuries sustained while attempting to save the building. In his memory a chapel hall, and quarters for a conservatory of music, was erected in 1895. A larger woman's home took the place of the one destroyed by fire, and accommodations for about eighty young women are now pro- vided.

In 1900 a liberal donation of Andrew Eisenmayer of Trenton, Illi- nois, made possible the erection of a modern and commodious boys' hall at a cost of $25,000. The building is four stories high and accom- modates over one hundred students.

In 1910 a large gymnasium, said to be one of the best in the state, was erected at a cost of $15,000, which was largely the gift of the late Wm. Niedringhaus of St. Louis. This year, 1912, a college church is being erected at a cost of $20,000 and plans are under way for the erection of a science hall at a cost of about $80,000.

Doctor Koch, the first president, conducted the affairs of the college quite successfully for a number of years. In 1894 he was succeeded by the Rev. Geo. B. Addicks, D. D., who served with a masterful hand until 1909, when he was compelled to resign on account of failing health. The Rev. Otto E. Kriege, D. D., succeeded him, and has built the school up to a high standard. During the past year 316 students were enrolled. The college is a member of the Missouri College Union, which alone is evi- dence of its growth and excellent work. The college maintains the fol- lowing departments: College of liberal arts, academy, normal school and summer school, school of business, conservatory of music, art and oratory, physical culture, German theological seminary.

CENTRAL WESLEYAN ORPHAN HOME

The early history, the organization and purposes of the orphan home have already been given in the history of the college. Both existed under the same corporate name until 1882, when a separate board of trustees was appointed for the home or asylum. The Revs. G. Boeshenz, H. Pfaff, and F. W. Meyer, each had charge of the institution a short time. Then followed the administration of Rev. Philip Kuhl. He was very active and enterprising, and built up the interests of both asylum and college so well as to assure their success for a number of years. The asylum is supported largely by contributions from members of the German Methodist Episcopal church and their friends. Another means of support is the asylum farm of several hundred acres. The boys in the home assist at cultivating the farm, and much of the food consumed in the home is raised on the farm of the asylum. A large orchard pro- duces quantities of various kinds of fruit, and is therefore no small factor in the support of the orphan family. The girls of the home are taught to do cooking, housework and sewing. In 1878, the Rev. Chas. Heidel succeeded Doctor Koch as superintendent and managed the affairs of the home successfully until 1880, when the Rev. C. F. Schlinger was appointed superintendent. He was succeeded in 1888 by Ph. Nau- mann, who served until 1892, when P. Gruenewald was chosen super- intendent. Three years later, in 1895, J. H. Knehaus succeeded him and in 1903 F. H. Wippermann was selected as the superintendent, and he is still serving in that capacity.

At the time of the separation of the college and asylum, it became

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evident that the old buildings were fast becoming inadequate. A new building was therefore erected at a cost of $10,000, which was completed in 1885. Since that time two additions, each costing as much as the original structure, have been built, and at the present time a third addi- tion is being built at a cost of $10,000. There are over one hundred children in the home and all are carefully and tenderly cared for by the superintendent and wife, Rev. and Mrs. F. H. Wippermann, and their assistants.

A graded school of three rooms is maintained in the home where the children are given the best education. After completing this course. they may continue in the college where they receive free tuition. In addition to this, they are instructed in the principles of the Christian religion and good morals from first to last, and the children have a home that is ideal in every particular and exceeded only by that pre- sided over by father and mother.

THE WAR HISTORY

The people of Warren county are, and always have been, peaceable and law abiding, and avoided strife and discord whenever they found it possible so to do. When it became necessary, however, to defend their honor or their rights, no people were more willing to contend for these rights. Impelled by a patriotic love of country and a deep-seated veneration for her institutions, the brave sons of the county left their loved ones, severed the ties of friendship and hastened to defend the flag of their country.

In all of the wars in which our beloved country has been engaged since the Revolutionary war, Warren county contributed her full quota of brave and gallant men.

The first conflict to involve the settlers of Warren county was the War of 1812. Though far removed from the active scene of operations, the country along the Missouri river did not escape the ravages of war. For mutual protection from the marauding bands of Indians, two posts were established in the county-Kennedy's post near Wright City and Callaway's post near Marthasville. The Boone and Callaway families, led by the famous hunter, and the Kennedy family understood the methods of Indian warfare well, and were ever ready to meet and re- pulse the enemy when attacked. During this war, however, no skirmishes of any consequence took place. For three years after the war the set- tlers enjoyed immunity from their former enemies. On a beautiful May day in 1818, however, they were rudely awakened from this dream of a peaceful and quiet existence when an event took place that brought death and sorrow to the colonists at the Callaway fort. At an early hour a band of Indians surprised a family by the name of Robert Ram- sey, and at once opened a murderous fire on the defenseless family. Three of the children were killed and scalped, Mrs. Ramsey was mortally wounded and Ramsey himself received serious wounds. Several boys escaped and at once spread the news of the attack. Volunteers from neighboring camps at once rushed to the rescue and several desperate engagements ensued. In one of the engagements Captain Callaway. of Callaway's Fort, with several of his companions were captured. and were later horribly tortured and put to death.

The following residents of the county were among those who enlisted in the War of 1812: Anthony Wyatt, Morgan Bryan, James Bryan, William Hancock, John King. William T. Lamme (a lieutenant in Nathan Boone's company), Newton Howell, Thomas Bowen. James Kennedy, John Kent, William McConnell, Thomas Chambers, Alexander

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Chambers, Joseph, John, James and Guion Gibson, Robert Lisle and Robert Gray.

The next call to the people of Warren county to take up arms in defense of the country came upon the outbreak of Indian troubles in 1832, known as the Black Hawk war, because of the famous Indian chief, Black Hawk. The only names obtainable of men who enlisted in this war are: Woodford F. and Edward Roundtree and Turner Miller.

At the opening of the war with the Republic of Mexico in 1846, Warren county was again called upon for troops. In response to a call by Governor Edwards for volunteers, a company was at once organ- ized in Warrenton. The following enlisted: Thomas W. Stewart, who was chosen captain, P. P. Stewart, J. H. Faulconer, Lewis Gibson, A. Z. Kent, Joseph L. Fant and James A. Stewart. John Ballard, of Pendleton, and James B. Oliver, of Wright City, also volunteered.

When the war cloud of 1861 burst upon the country and involved the people of the South and the North in the great Civil war, the people of the county were at once aroused and took sides according to their beliefs on the question which divided the nation. The situation in the county was a rather unusual one. Located near the line of demarcation between the free states and the slave states, a large number of sympa- thizers of both the North and the South were found in the county. There were a large number of slave owners in the county, and when the time came when warfare was to determine whether the system of African bondage was to continue in the country, they were aroused to action. Volunteers enlisted freely on both sides. Neighbors who had lived peaceably together for many years, suddenly found themselves placed in a position where they must oppose each other in a long and bitter war. With the first volunteers in the county, began a state of public fear and anxiety that continued throughout the four long years of the struggle for supremacy.

While there were a number of Union sympathizers in the county, the town of Warrenton contained a large majority of Southern sym- pathizers. The few Union men in the town who dared to take a stand, were threatened with injury and sometimes death. Col. Frederick Mor- sey, who later organized the Third Missouri Cavalry, was served with notice to leave town. He was a man of courage, however, and remained to carry out his plans. Recruits were brought to his house at night and enlisted, and in this way the regiment was enrolled. To these men belongs much of the credit of preserving the lives and property of many of the people of the county. Occasional raids, however, were made into the county, and the militia was kept on a constant move in order to pre- serve order.

On a dark night in August, 1861, the people of Warrenton and its vicinity were given the first realization of war. At midnight a party of guerrillas rode through the town and created some disturbance. They went at once to the Red Hill bridge on the North Missouri Railroad several miles west of Warrenton, and burned it to the ground. The object was to prevent the transportation of Union troops to St. Louis from western Missouri and other states. The bridge was at once recon- structed and only a temporary delay was occasioned.

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A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I, Part 89

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 731

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 731