A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 82

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

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James R. Wilson grew up in the country surroundings of Ray County, attended the country schools for several years, but at the age of thirteen became self-supporting, and has made his own way ever since. His first work on the beginning of his business experience was in Craven Brothers' store at Millville. Four years later he entered the employ of John P. Grimes of Millville, under whose superintendence his business training was perfected. This was followed by an inde- pendent mercantile venture at Millville, and he began selling goods on his own account there before he reached the age of twenty-one. In 1889 his stock was moved to Hardin, in Ray County, and at the end of three years he sold out, returned to Millville and was once more num- bered among the merchants of that village. In 1894, having sold out his Millville interests, Mr. Wilson came to Lawson and established his present business. His large stock of general merchandise, now com- prising practically everything for the use of farm and home, occupies a double room, 40x80 feet, and on two floors.

Mr. Wilson for a number of years has taken an active part in local politics, served two terms as mayor of Lawson, and for several years was a member of the board of aldermen. He was also for some time secretary of the Democratic County committee, and has been an ardent democrat since casting his first vote. He affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member of the Modern Wood- men of America at Lawson.

On September 20, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wilson to Miss Dora Campbell, who was born near Russellville, Missouri, in June, 1867. Her parents, James T. and Mary Campbell, are retired farming people now living in Lawson. Mr. Wilson and wife have three children : Gordon C., Bayard C. and Iras M., all at home.

CHRIS BACHMAN. For more than thirty years Chris Bachman has been a prosperous and progressive farmer of Andrew County and has one of the best improved places in Monroe Township, located on section 6, with mail facilities from the rural route of Cosby. Mr. Bachman represents the hardy Swiss stock in Northwest Missouri, and though he began his career in this part of the state as a renter, he has long since been numbered among the independent farmers, with a record of unusual prosperity to his credit.

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Chris Bachman was born in Switzerland, September 16, 1848, a son of Chris and Elizabeth (Dummarmut) Bachman. His parents were substantial Swiss people, and his father was employed as a carpenter in that country. In 1868 all the family except one daughter left Swit- zerland and emigrated to America and came direct to Andrew County, locating on a farm north of Amazonia. The father died there in April, 1898, at the age of eighty years and seven months, and the . mother passed away in December, 1888, at the age of sixty-one. After coming to this country the father followed farming. He was a republican in politics, and a member of the German Reform Church at Amazonia. Their ten children were: Chris; John, a grocery merchant in St. Joseph; Jacob, who lives in Andrew County on a farm; Fred, a res- ident of the State of Ohio; Charles, who died unmarried; Gottlieb, a resident of Idaho; Elizabeth Zahnd, of Andrew County; Maggie Mar- tha; Anna, who is a widow living in Amazonia ; and Rosa, deceased.

Chris Bachman lived with his parents until after his marriage, and on starting out for himself became a renter, and operated another man's farm two years. His first purchase of land in Andrew County was fifty acres south of Savannah, and thirty years ago he sold that prop- erty and bought his present place. He has in his homestead 165 acres, besides 100 acres three miles north in Rochester Township. On his home farm Mr. Bachman has done much work of improvement, and has two sets of buildings, and devotes his land to grain and stock farming.

Politically he acts with the republican party, and is a member of the German Reform Church at Cosby. Mr. Bachman was married March 19, 1878, to Rosa Elise Strasser. She was born in Switzerland, October 16, 1853, and came to this country with her widowed mother in 1873. Barbara (Ott) Strasser, the mother, died on the 22d of Jan- uary, 1882, and her husband, Joseph Strasser, died in 1861, in Switzer- land. To Mr. and Mrs. Bachman have been born two children: Otto and Alfred, the latter at home. Otto lives on a part of the homestead farm, occupying the second group of buildings, and by his marriage to Elsie Snowden has one child, Imogene.

JAMES A. WATERMAN, M. D. Northwest Missouri has no more loyal and useful citizen than Dr. James A. Waterman, of Breckenridge, where for more than twenty-five years he has practiced medicine. Along with success and prestige as a doctor he has also been distinctive in his com- munity and in the state for service both in and out of his profession. Doctor Waterman has served in an official capacity in connection with several of the state institutions. He is a scholarly and cultured physician, a man of broad and thorough experience in affairs, and has enjoyed high standing in the citizenship of Breckenridge and Caldwell County.

Dr. James A. Waterman was born at Frankfort, Kentucky, August 12, 1862, a son of Rev. J. H. Waterman, who is now pastor and canon of the Episcopal Church at Fresno, California, having reached the vener- able age of eighty-three years, most of which time has been spent in the service of the church. He was educated at Dartmouth College, graduat- ing with honors in 1859, was ordained to the ministry, came to North- west Missouri and held pastorates both in Hamilton and Chillicothe, and in 1890 moved to Fresno, California, where he is still active. There were nine children in the family, six sons and three daughters. Doctor Water- man is the only one still living in Missouri, one being a resident of Geor- gia, another of Texas, and the others in California.

Doctor Waterman was well educated, at first in the public schools, later as a student in St. Paul's College at Palmyra, Missouri, took up the study of medicine under Doctor Brown, an old and noted physician of

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Hamilton, and finished his education by graduation from the St. Louis Medical College with the class of 1887. Doctor Waterman spent eighteen months in practice at Spring Hill, Missouri, and since 1889 his home has been in Breckenridge. His practice has been of a general character, both in town and country, and for many years he has been one of the familiar figures in that section, in his rounds of professional duties, in earlier years making his trips on horseback and in buggy, and latterly having taken up the fashion of the modern physician and traveling much by automobile.

Doctor Waterman is a stanch republican. Governor Hadley appointed him superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Farmington, Missouri, and during his administration he won favorable comment from both parties. He also served for two years and five months as physician and surgeon in the penitentiary at Jefferson City.

Doctor Waterman was married in 1889 to Albina F. Murphy, daugh- ter of Henry Murphy. They are the parents of two sons: Lloyd S., who is in the second year at William Jewell College at Liberty, and during his college career has made a record as an athlete, particularly in baseball; and Henry, who is now eleven years of age. Doctor Waterman affiliates with the Masonic Lodge, and the Knights of Pythias. At the present time he is representative of his county at Jefferson City, Missouri.

JACOB WEDDLE. More than thirty years a resident of Andrew County, Jacob Weddle, long a substantial and prosperous farmer in Platte Town- ship, is now best known in that community as president of the Farmers' Bank of Whitesville. Mr. Weddle became head of this institution at the beginning of the second year of its existence, and has since given most of his time and attention to its management. He is one of Andrew County's prominent citizens and came to Northwest Missouri in the early days when a boy.

Jacob Weddle was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, June 24, 1848, a son of Aaron and Mary (Dodd) Weddle. His parents were both natives of Virginia, the father born in 1821, and the mother in 1822. Aaron Weddle went with his family to Indiana when young, and was married in that state. In 1859 the family set out to find a new home in Western Missouri. Jacob Weddle and his father walked almost the entire distance, driving a bunch of cattle to Buchanan County. They located on a farm eight miles east of St. Joseph. The father was a Douglas democrat and early in the war served in the six months service in Major Joseph's Battalion, and in March, 1862, enlisted with the regu- lar volunteers in the Twenty-fifth Missouri Infantry. A few months later, at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, he died in August, 1862. His widow lived with her only son Jacob for the last five years of her life, dying at the age of eighty-two.

Jacob Weddle was about eleven years of age when he came to Mis- souri, had a somewhat limited education, and had to begin work for his self-support at an early age. From Buchanan County he moved to Andrew County in 1882 and was actively identified with farming here until 1909. Mr. Weddle is the owner of a fine place of 180 acres in Platte Township five miles northeast of Whitesville. After leaving the farm and removing to Whitesville, he was engaged in the hardware busi- ness about a year, in addition to his service as president of the Farmers Bank. Politically he acts with the republican party, is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Walnut Grove, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1871 Mr. Weddle married Helen Brierly, who was born in Iowa, and died in 1880. Her daughter, Luella, is the wife of Dr. A. M. Peter,

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of Whitesville. Two children died young, Howlit at the age of four and a half years, and Myrtie when one year of age. In 1881 Mr. Weddle married a sister of his first wife, Mary Brierly. There are no children by the second marriage. The Brierly sisters were both born in Keokuk, Iowa, the daughters of James and Sarah (Cabble) Brierly. The father was a native of Ohio, and the mother of Kentucky, and in the early days James Brierly moved to Iowa and was married near Quincy, Illinois, to Miss Cabble. Both spent their last years with Mr. and Mrs. Weddle, and died on the farm in Platte Township. James Brierly was a pilot on the Mississippi River during the early days and a man of no little prominence in any community which he called his home. He was in Iowa before it became a state and served in the territorial Legislature, and later was a member of the Missouri State Legislature, and was cap- tain of state troops during the Civil war from Buchanan County. Polit- ically he was a Douglas democrat before the war, but was elected to the Missouri Legislature on the republican ticket. In 1853 the Brierly family, including both wives of Mr. Weddle, started out for California, making the trip overland with an ox-team. On account of the hostility of the Indians, they spent the winter in Salt Lake City, and resumed the journey and arrived in California in the spring of 1854. After three years in that western state they returned East in 1857, and soon after- wards moved to Kirksville, Missouri, and in 1859 to Buchanan County, where both the daughters lived until their marriage.

HAMILTON : ITS HISTORY .* Herein is presented a record of the early colonization of Hamilton, including the distinctive features of the early settlement and appropriate honor to the father, founders and builders of the city. The name Davis is so woven into the history of Hamilton and Caldwell County that no apology is needed for introducing it at the beginning. Since all the land at Hamilton and Nettleton was en- tered under that name, it appears oftener in court records than any other. When A. G. Davis arrived here he found a land of marvelous beauty, an extended prairie with luxuriant verdure, and rarely traversed save by Indians and hunters. He found no friends to greet him, noth- ing but the genial heavens and the generous earth to give him consola- tion and hope.

In his determination to build a town he was well fortified for the undertaking by his skill as a surveyor. Late in the fall of 1854, while yet a resident of Mirabile, he heard that the projected line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad had been surveyed. He shared his plan of locating a town on the line with Edward M. Samuel, of Liberty. A town company was organized, with Mr. Samuel as president, and other members as fol- lows: Greenup Bird, John Berry, Michael Arthur, Simpson McGaughey and Stephen Ritchey, of Liberty ; John Ardinger and Ephraim B. Ewing, of Richmond ; Albert G. Davis and John Burrows, of Mirabile; Charles J. Hughes, of Kingston; Thomas J. Frame, of Gallatin; Jeff Thompson, of St. Joseph.

Mr. Davis believed a certain tract of land along the route of the proposed railroad was still owned by the Government, though generally supposed to have been acquired by the railroad. After two days spent in surveying, he found, true to his surmise, that section 13 had never been entered. He sent his nephew, Tilton Davis, to the land office at Platts- burg, where the section was entered in the name of Edward Samuel, presi- dent of the land company. Mr. Samuel then deeded to Mr. Davis, as

"This sketch as published is the substance of a History of Hamilton, written by Mrs. Anna B. Korn, of Trenton, a granddaughter of A. G. Davis .- Editor.

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trustee of the company, forty acres, which was laid off into blocks and lots. Subsequently eighty acres were added to the original plat.

The honor of naming the town devolved upon Mr. Davis, who called it Hamilton, partly, he says, in honor of Alexander Hamilton and partly for Joseph Hamilton, a brilliant lawyer and a soldier under General Har- rison, killed at the battle of the Thames October 5, 1813. The first sale of town lots was advertised far and near for October, 1855, and the promise of free dinner and plenty of whisky brought a tremendous crowd. The auctioneer was Judge Parrott of DeKalb County. John Berry of Liberty bought the first lot. On the average the lots brought $33 apiece. There was a second sale of lots in June, 1856.

Mr. Davis then built a two-story frame house, into which his family moved in April, 1856. The lumber was brought from St. Louis by river to Camden in Ray County, thence by wagon, and cost, delivered $70 per thousand feet. While the town was beginning to grow this house was used and conducted as a hotel, the Lone Star House. At that time Porter Ward ran a stage between Gallatin and Hamilton, and Judge Green ran one south from Hamilton to Lexington. It took a day to go and one to come. Transient travelers stopped overnight with Mr. and Mrs. Davis.

The original streets of the town were named for members of the town company ; thus, Davis (commonly called Main), McGaughey, Berry, Bird, Arthur, Samuel, Burrows, Ewing, Ritchie, etc. The second house in town, built by Mr. Davis in 1857, was a log building, rented to Henry Holmes, a German brickmaker, who had the first brickyard and his was the second family. In the summer of 1857 Mr. Davis put up the first storehouse, a two-story frame, and opening a stock of general merchan- dise was soon doing a large and profitable business.

How the more substantial families secured educational advantages for their children is illustrated in the case of Mr. Davis. He introduced to his home a governess from Carrollton, Missouri, and she lived in the Davis home and taught the children for a number of years. In order to encourage education and the building of good schoolhouses he donated two lots to the city in 1857. When the first postoffice was established in 1858, he was appointed postmaster and kept the office in his store.

February 14, 1859, the railroad was completed through Hamilton and the first locomotive came through the next day. Mr. Davis was the first railroad and express agent. As no depot was built until the fall of that year, he built a pen for the storage of freight and express, paying a guard to watch it until the owners came and carried it away. Mr. Davis was commissioned notary public July 26, 1859, and for four years per- formed the duties of the office with a diligence and exactitude that left his record free from error or complaint.

Among other early settlers were: William P. Steele, deputy under Mr. Davis and second postmaster; Samuel Baldwin, who owned the first lumber yard in 1858; David Buster, who in the fall of 1858 put up a small box saloon, conducting it in connection with a stock of groceries; Robert Owens, another merchant of 1858; Samuel Hill, who in 1859 laid off forty acres as Hill's addition or Hillsboro; Otis B. Richardson, who came in 1860 and was the third postmaster; William Napier, who brought his family to town in 1860 and whose sister Sallie was a popular teacher in the county; Presley Thomas, who came in 1860 and opened the first blacksmith shop; other families that followed closely upon these were Claypool, Elliott, Logan, Crist, Johnson and Graer.

In 1860 the first piano was bought by Mr. Davis for his only daughter. It was a Chickering of fine tone and quality. He then sent for a music teacher, Miss Mary Payne, who lived in the Davis home and taught the daughter several years during the summer vacation.

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These pioneer fathers and mothers were a busy, active people, but they had their times for rest, and during these restful times they found much solace in song. The violin was their main instrument. They lis- tened to its melody, danced to it, sang to it. In the days of the pioneer, every community had its singing school with a professional singing mas- ter in charge. For music they were restricted to old melodies found in "Carmina Sacra," "The New Lute of Zion," "The Triumph," "The Revivalist," long since out of date. Some of the best books were writ- ten in the old square note system so the people could learn it more easily. Familiar airs were "The Land of Canaan," "Mary to the Saviour's Tomb," "Jesus Lover of my Soul," "Happy Days." Through the art of song patriotism became a part of the life of the community in the days of the Civil war. The singing school led to the popular camp meeting. When a man fails to solve a difficult problem with his head, he in- stinctively undertakes to solve it with his heart. At a time the camp meeting could not conflict with sowing and reaping, people met, min- gled, and their hearts were mellowed by the divine message they heard preached from the Bible. Accordingly this was a season of heart cul- ture and social and religious meeting place of early pioneers whose wis- dom and eloquence were voiced and penned by the pioneer pulpiteers among whom were Rev. Eli Penney and Jimmy Reed. Their influences have quickened the pulpit and given fresh inspiration to every form of literary effort. So we revere and recognize in these untitled messengers our first religious influence. Another notable place of meeting was the old-fashioned barbecue, which usually was given on the Fourth of July or after the harvest season. It was a time of amusement, when people reveled in speaking, baseball, racing and feasting.

In 1861, at the breaking out of the Civil war and the ensuing de- pression, the town ceased to grow but held its own well. In the fall of that year the first Federal troops were stationed here, and remained throughout the war. They were a company of the Fiftieth Illinois and James Battalion of the Home Guards. The few rebel sympathizers were made to take the oath of allegiance. Sometime during the summer of 1863 two of Gallatin's prominent citizens were shot down on the streets of Hamilton by Federal sympathizers. Both men had been drinking freely and openly announcing their views as Confederates. This deed plunged both Hamilton and Gallatin into the most intense excitement.

Henry Thornton took up his residence in 1862 and was thereafter proprietor of a livery stable. A dentist, Doctor Kelley, and a physician, Doctor Cavanaugh, hung out their signs in that year. Religious services were held in the depot before and during the early period of the war, and Rev. Eli Penney, Baptist, and Reverend Mr. Fine, of the Christian Church, were the first ministers. About 1863 James Kemper erected a fine home, still standing. Mrs. Post also set up the first dress-making shop. The first newspaper was started in 1863. John Burrows and A. G. Davis were the financial backers, but the editor soon left town in debt to his benefactors. Marcus A. Low took charge of the paper in 1865 and conducted it successfully. In the same year the war closed, and Hamil- ton began to spread her domain owing to the steady influx of settlers. Robert Mitchell, the first carpenter, was busy, and heavy demands for building supplies were made on Alston Bowman's lumber yard. Among new businesses were John N. Morton's hardware; Dr. James McAdoo, druggist ; J. D. Dort and son Ben, who started the first dray in 1866. The first resident attorney was Marcus A. Low; the second, J. A. Holli- day ; third, Hon. Bushrod M. Dilley; fourth, Crosby Johnson; W. W. Chapel studied law here in 1867. Other comers during 1865 and 1866 to the town or near-by farms were: George Rogers, Haman Henry, Rev.

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James Penney and John R. Penney, all locating on farms; William Ather- ton and Marion C. Martin, builders and contractors, and a little before them came S. F. Martin, Henry Partin, Elijah Altman, who furnished service also as builders. April 1, 1866, Jacob Brosius and William Ervin opened the Hamilton House, a hotel widely known during its existence for its good management, furnishings, excellent cooking and cleanliness. The popular dances, feasts and social functions are often recalled in pleasant retrospection by the people of those times. W. J. Ervin, who opened the second drug store in 1867, continued in the same business upwards of forty years.

From 1867 to 1871 names of individuals and heads of families locat- ing in Hamilton were as follows: Rev. William Wilmot, Robert Ogden, Marion Reed, L. B. Moore, Henry Reed, G. G. Perkins, W. W. Orr, J. S. Orr, J. L. Filson, H. C. Farabee, Billy Dodge, George Pickel, Wil- liam Pickel, Ben Pickel, Andy Harrah, Rev. James Penney, John R. Penney, A. G. Howard, druggist; O. O. Brown, merchant; James Stone, hardware; A. C. Menefee and C. C. Green, meats; H. C. Hughes, res- taurant ; Phil Rogers and James Lunn, shoe shops; Henry Thorton, plas- terer; Sam McBrayer and Paxton Bros., livery; Anthony Rohrbaugh, head of Rohrbaugh, Moore & Company; John Minger, who in 1867 es- tablished the first bakery; Lee M. Cosgrove, painter and paper hanger; Joseph Allen, contractor; C. M. Morrow, William Wagonseller, J. J. Hooker, Henry Leeper.

In 1868 Hamilton was incorporated as a town. The trustees were Anthony Rohrbaugh, F. P. Low, George Lamson, John Morton, and Wil- liam Partin, with Mr. Low as chairman, or mayor, and his son M. A. Low as secretary and city attorney. Charles Stephenson was first mar- shal. In 1868 Alston and Vincent Bowman as a committee circulated a petition for the purchase of ground for a cemetery. Mr. Davis surveyed the ground into lots. This is called the old cemetery. Other events of this same year were: The erection of the first M. E. Church building at a cost, including bell, of $4,000; chartering of Eden Lodge No. 190, I. O. O. F., and Chapter No. 45, R. A. M.

Other names and business concerns that deserve mention in 1868-69 were : R. D. Dwight, Israel Gee, B. F. Holmes and T. E. Tuthill, farmers and stock raisers; Col. J. W. Harper, who had the first furniture store ; John C. Griffing, wagon maker; A. C. Cochran, who in 1868 established the first bank, his successors in that business being Houston, Spratt and Menefee; Major Higgins, who started the second lumber yard; Hiram Markham, real-estate and insurance; Dr. S. V. Stoller ; William McCoy and George Hastings, grocers; Mrs. Lutitia Dodge, first milliner ; J. J. C. Guy and J. F. Naugle, who in 1869 erected the first elevator and were the first to engage in the grain trade; William Goodman, who started a hotel; S. H. Swartz, a produce merchant, who remained a resident for many years; Asa Thompson, a cabinet maker; J. E. Colby, who had the third lumber yard, which by his son was developed later into a flourish- ing hardware and implement business; the Broadway Hotel, built in 1869; T. H. Hare, who came in 1869 and the next year opened the first photograph gallery ; Dr. R. D. King and Dr. J. W. Tuttle, who had been established physicians for a year or more and were intimate friends ; the Hamilton Mills, built in 1867 by John Sigman; Doctor Bishop and Doc- tor Douglas were physicians about this time, and Doctor Stevens, a dent- ist; Charlie Goodman and W. H. Chandler were associates in a lumber yard established in 1869.

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 82

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912