A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 83

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

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Only a few of the more important events and personalities of the dec- ade of the '70s can be mentioned. The Congregational Church, built at a cost of $2,200, was dedicated May 8, 1870. The first serious acei-

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dent in the town was a boiler explosion in the Hamilton Mills, which had recently been bought by Henry Clark. The explosion occurred in October, 1870, killing two men and injuring several. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1878, but was rebuilt, the roller process installed in 1882, and some years later the electric light plant was added to the mill equipment. In 1871 Hamilton began the erection of its high school building on a block a portion of which had been donated for that purpose the previous year by A. G. Davis. The members of the school board that year were S. F. Martin, George Brosius, L. B. Moore and James McAdoo. In 1870 the first Episcopal Church edifice was erected, and consecrated April, 1871. The first fire of consequence occurred May 27, 1871, resulting in the destruction of several stores; other bad fires were on July 5, 1884, and September 30, 1886. In 1877 the Hamiltonian was founded by William Morton, a paper that never missed a weekly issue from the start. Ten years later it was sold to W. J. Clark. In 1877 the Baptists put up a frame church, and the following year the first Chris- tian Church was built.

Up to this time Hamilton had been governed by a board of trustees, but on October 5, 1880, was organized as a city of the fourth class. That act may be said to have brought the pioneer period of history to a close. As grand as were their deeds and memorable their lives, the days of the pioneers are past. Homes have been built and farms improved ; In- dians have been civilized. Having passed through the home-seeking period and entered into the home, social and commercial development era, the town began to extend her boundaries. Having recovered from the unrest and troublesome times of the war, the people once more re- turned to the peaceable and industrial pursuits of life.

Hamilton has never boomed, but has steadily marched onward, carv- ing out a place for itself in the ranks of the cities of the state, building solidly and permanently as it advanced. Private enterprise has kept pace with the public purse, and erected many imposing business buildings, hotels, and churches, city hall, schools and residences, that for uniform beauty and evidence of affluence combined with culture have made Hamil- ton a home owning community. Particular attention is given to educa- tion, and the benefits of the best instruction in public schools. Her park and Chautauqua grounds are the pride and admiration of her citizens. Her streets are 100 feet wide, and alleys eighty feet, and are well kept and in sanitary condition. Her press-and best friend and agent for diffusing knowledge and advertising her resources and advan- tages to the world-is an indispensable power in the community. Her railroad facilities for marketing her products are the best. Excellent roads in first class condition, in every direction, can be traversed for twenty miles and connect with four of the great railways of the state. Hamilton is surrounded with the best agricultural country and the best soil the sun ever shone on. Her modern country homes are the marvel of all. She has an electric light plant and telephone system; miles of granitoid walks, a flouring mill and elevator. She has two beautiful cemeteries, where repose her honored dead. Hamilton invites homeseek- ers to settle within her boundaries, believing-

"This is indeed the land of forest tree And sweet clinging vine ; Where flowers ever blossom And beams ever shine ; Where light wings of zephyr Oppressed with perfume Wax faint o'er the gardens Of city in its bloom.

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Where apple and peach are fairest of fruit,

And tones of the wild bird never are mute;

Where tints of the earth and hues of the sky In color though varied in beauty may vie."

A. G. DAVIS. As the founder of Hamilton, the name of A. G. Davis has been frequently mentioned in the historical sketch of that Northwest Missouri City. Of his own career, it is in keeping with the purposes of this work, that some memorial should be given. He was a man, aside from his practical achievements, whose excellent character and sterling worth made him a central figure in Caldwell County for over half a century. He was a member of an old and aristocratic family. Great executive ability has distinguished members of his kindred, who have served this country from time to time in various official positions which rendered them prominent in the business and social life of their times. Earlier family connections were with the nobility of both France and Great Britain.

Albert Gallatin Davis was born near Old Franklin, Howard County, Missouri, March 12, 1819. His father was Augustus Cave Davis, a Virginian by birth, and one of the number who followed Daniel Boone's trail to Missouri. He was a son of Louis Cave Davis, who in turn was one of seven sons that emigrated from England. A. G. Davis' mother was Mrs. Elizabeth Colson Holliday of Kentucky; her mother was a Hampton, niece of General Wade Hampton of Revolutionary fame, a cousin to General Wade Hampton, who was a Confederate officer, twice governor of South Carolina and a Federal senator from that state. Mr. Davis' mother was an own cousin to one of Missouri's early governors, Lilburn W. Boggs. Mr. Davis' cousin Ben Holliday was famous in early western annals, was proprietor of Holliday's stage line from Omaha to San Francisco, ran a line of steamships from the latter city to Portland, and also built the Oregon connections of the Southern Pacific Railway and while operating them established the Wells, Fargo & Com- pany's Express. Two of his daughters married French counts. Ben Hol- liday and Nan Patton started the first printing office in Missouri outside of St. Louis at Franklin, Howard County, issuing a paper called The Mis- souri Intelligencer and Boon's Lick Advertiser. The only copy of this first newspaper published west of St. Louis now in existence has been pur- chased by the Missouri Historical Society and is now in Columbia. On April 23, 1819, the first copy of The Missouri Intelligencer and Boon's Lick Advertiser was issued at Franklin, Howard County, Missouri Ter- ritory, by Nathaniel Patton and Ben Holliday. It was published weekly, and the subscription was $3 per annum, payable in advance. The paper was four pages-printed in large type with copious use of capitals.

The paper continued to be published at Franklin until 1823, when it was moved to Fayette, the new county seat of Howard County. In 1835 the type and presses were taken to Columbia by M. Patton, who started the Patriot, which .in 1843 was succeeded by The Missouri Statesman, edited by Col. William F. Switzer and John B. Williams.

Another cousin was J. A. Holliday, of Hamilton, a lawyer and well known in political life. Mr. Davis' nephew, Tilton Davis, was promi- nent as a lawyer, and his brother Jeff Davis is well remembered as an attorney and public official at Kingston. Mr. Davis himself had eight brothers and one sister, and was the last survivor but one. His brother, Dr. Owen Davis, laid out the town of Sulphur Springs, Texas, and had previously distinguished himself in the Mexican and Civil wars.

Mr. Davis was the son of a farmer, and took to that vocation himself. On the outbreak of the Mormon war he enlisted in 1838 under Gen. John

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HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

B. Clark of Howard County, and was commissioned captain. At the end of the war he returned home. November 27, 1844, Gov. John E. Edmonds commissioned him captain of the First Company,. Four- teenth Regiment, Second Battalion, First Brigade, First Division of Missouri Militia, and he served two years in that capacity. In 1846 Mr. Davis became traveling salesman for a drug house in Saline County, and it was while in Mirabile visiting his nephew, Matison T. Hines, that he met Miss Julia Ann Penney, who afterwards became his wife.

Mr. Davis had much skill as a surveyor, which proved of great value to him when it came to the founding of Hamilton. He was the chief promoter of that settlement, and its mainstay for many years. He built and conducted the first hotel; became the first merchant and built the first store building, and with the expansion of the business established branch stores in Breckinridge and Kingston. He was also the first post- master and the first railroad agent and express agent. He was also a notary public and carried on a business in real estate. For years he held a record of which he was justly proud, as in no instance was there an error made in transferring property or a case contested. In time he became the largest landowner of the county, his holdings aggregating 2,000 acres, which taken in connection with his other interests made him the wealthiest man in the county. His name appears oftener in the records than that of any other early citizen of Caldwell County.

He was an advocate of education, and recognized the fact that intelli- gence in communities is essential to progress and reform and the sound- est bulwark of institutions and civilization. As a means of manifesting this interest in a practical manner, he donated much of the ground on which the public schools in Hamilton were built. He was likewise a man of charity, ready to respond to the needs of the less fortunate, a strong man "of light and leading" in his community. He has been described as a man of urbane manners, chivalrous nature, agreeable spirit, and careful disposition, characteristics that were the results of solid culture and experience in the social arts. His brilliant intellect and retentive memory acquired from study and travel made him both an interesting conversationalist and a useful friend. His life was a call to manly living, obedience to law, faith in right, fair dealing with men, and peace in God. He was not a communicant of a church until towards the end of his life, when he united with the Methodist faith. He had long reverenced the principles and practice of Masonry, and was credited with being the oldest Mason in the state. He was a charter member of Hamilton Lodge No. 224, A. F. & A. M., of Royal Arch Chapter No. 45, R. A. M., and an honorary member of the Eastern Star.

In the fullness of years and maturity and fruitfulness of his works he passed away February 26, 1906. Schools and business houses closed on the afternoon of his funeral, which was conducted by the pastor of the Methodist Church and other ministers assisting and with the impressive auspices of the Masonic fraternity. In the words of a local paper : "In passing judgment upon the merits of the Father of Hamilton we take into account the quality as well as the quantity of what he has done, and we take just pride in his achievements, in his indomitable will, his skilful adaptation and application of the forces that brought him success. As the spire on some lofty cathedral seen at close view, where neither its true height nor its majestic proportions can be accurately measured, so is Albert Gallatin Davis, whose splendid life will be the more ap- preciated as time exposes its intrinsic worth, and symmetry, strength and beauty of his character."

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JULIA ANNA DAVIS, the wife of the late A. G. Davis of Hamilton, was born April 18, 1828, and died September 27, 1891. She was the daughter of the Baptist clergyman, Rev. Eli Penney, and was born in Anderson County, Kentucky, twelve miles from Frankfort, where she was educated. Born of such stock we might expect a conscientious woman, and her life vindicated the expectation, She was cultured also, a woman of remarkable judgment and ability.

She fitted herself for teaching, so that when she left her Kentucky home and emigrated with her parents to Mirabile, Missouri, she was well equipped for the frontier life they were to follow. She opened a school over which she presided several years. She was industrious and an adept in the art of tailoring, and made many of the fashionable coats and vests for the gentlemen of those days. Besides this, like many women of the older generation, she was taught carding, spinning and weaving of cloth, which furnished pleasant employment for summer vacation hours and amply compensated her labors. Thus she laid the foundation for the useful career she was destined to lead.

It was in 1846 that Albert Gallatin Davis visited his nephew, Matison T. Hines, for the first time. He was traveling salesman for John Sap- pington & Brother, druggists of Arrow Rock, Saline County, Missouri. It was while here he met, wooed and married the belle of the village, Miss Julia Anna Penney, and then settled on a farm adjoining Mirabile, the wedding gift of Reverend Mr. Penney to his daughter. After con- ducting this farm until 1855, Mr. Davis turned his attention to other pursuits which brought them more renown. Mrs. Davis assumed the management of the farm during her husband's absence in superintend- ing the first sale of town lots in Hamilton and until he had completed the first house in the town, when she severed her connection with farm life and opened a hotel to provide shelter and entertainment to those seeking homes in a new and undeveloped country. As manager of this new business, she proved successful, and at the end of two years invested her earnings in a lumber yard; forming a partnership with James A. Brown, they acquired the business of Samuel Baldwin, and conducted it with profit for two years. Mr. Joseph Davis-youngest son-has the distinction of being the first white child born in the first house in Hamil- ton-June 13, 1857.

Mrs. Davis was a woman of executive ability, enabling her to pre- side at meetings, speak before audiences, and carry forward any plans her conscience approved. She joined the Baptist Church in 1843, but later accepted the truth of the Seventh Day Adventists in 1870 and faithfully lived up to the principles of the church. She was exceed- ingly lovely and amiable. All active, philanthropic and Christian enter- prises met with her sympathy, encouragement and cooperation. Mrs. Davis was one of the first and earnest workers in the Order of the East- ern Star when it was instituted here. As an entertainer she was gifted ; for charity she was noted; and for hospitality had no superiors.

She was the mother of eight children, five dying in infancy. Three survived her: Mary Frances Brosius, Albert G., Jr., and Joseph H .; and two grandchildren : Anna Brosius Korn and Ben. H. Brosius.

MARY FRANCES BROSIUS, the oldest child of Albert G. Davis and wife, and herself the oldest citizen of Hamilton in point of residence, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank N. Korn, in Trenton, March 10, 1914. She was born in Mirabile, and was still a child when she went to the first house built in Hamilton. On the beautiful prairie surrounding that home and the village in company of her colored nurse-

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girl she gathered the flowers of summer and romped and played as only children can.

Later, in the absence of educational facilities in the pioneer village, her parents engaged a governess to instruct her, Miss Mollie Carroll of Carrollton. Several years later Miss Julia Payne came to the home and taught the child piano and music. After the stage line was in op- eration between Gallatin and Richmond, Mary Frances was sent to school in Gallatin. Several years later she entered a young woman's seminary at Liberty, and later a finishing school at St. Joseph. On her return to Hamilton she became a progressive social spirit in the town, working with church and school in their entertainments.

February 16, 1865, she married James Henry Brosius. To this union three children were born: Lillian, who died at the age of eighteen months; Anna Lee, now Mrs. Frank N. Korn of Trenton; and Ben Holliday Brosius of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mrs. Brosius was converted and joined the Methodist Church in 1875, and for nearly forty years journeyed in the faith of the Lord. She showed both the spirit and practice of an older generation of Christians, exemplifying her doctrine in a kindliness and charity that had no proxy and went directly to all in need, irrespective of class or color. At the same time she was an exemplar in the virtues of the home, and through her household and through her relations with the life outside did much to enrich and en- noble her community. She was active in the orders of the Eastern Star and the Pythian Sisters. Her life was the expression of a beautiful character, and since the influence of a single deed is beyond the compu- tation of the finite mind, who can attempt to measure the influences that went out from that steady-burning flame which was unquenched through her long life ?

ALBERT GALLATIN DAVIS, JR., one of the two sons who survive Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Davis, was born at Mirabile, October 9, 1854. He grew to manhood in Hamilton, entered his father's mercantile store, learning the business when not in school. Like that of his brother and sister, his education was under private instructors engaged in the home. Later he went to school in Gallatin, finishing his education in the Missouri State University. On returning home he engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, and also mastered surveying, a business he still pursues. In politics he is a democrat, and was elected city and township assessor in 1909, and was the first democrat elected to that office since his father held it, forty years before.

JOSEPH HAMILTON DAVIS, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Davis, was born June 13, 1857, and has the distinction of being the first child born in Hamilton in the first house built in the town-"The Lone Star"-in recognition of which fact he was named after the town. He was graduated from the high school under Prof. David Ferguson. He was taught the mercantile business, and assisted his father in the store. Later he attended Moore's Business College at Chillicothe, and subsequently taught school several years in the county. October 2, 1901, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Hardman of Polo, Missouri, by Rev. J. E. Ellenberger. He engaged in farming near Polo until 1907, when he sold his place and bought the Moffat farm a mile and a quarter east of Hamilton. His career has been marked by industry, perseverance and quietude.

REV. ELI PENNEY. One of the pioneer settlers and useful church- men of Caldwell County, Rev. Eli Penney was born near Frankfort in

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Anderson County, Kentucky, April 6, 1799, and died in Hamilton, Mis- souri, June 13, 1872. When he and his wife, Polly Burruss Penney, left Kentucky to emigrate to Missouri, they sold a fine estate, well improved, with brick two-story house, brick outbuildings and walks, everything to make life comfortable and happy. The parting with these possessions and old friends filled the members of the household with sorrow as they embarked upon their journey in covered wagons, drawn by mule and horse teams, driven by negro servants.

In 1841 they purchased and settled upon a farm near Mirabile, now Colonel Frost's farm, where they prospered and continued to live until 1868, when they sold their farm and came to Hamilton to live near their several children located in that town. As their children married they gave to each of them $2,000 and a negro servant, which was an ex- cellent start in life, and at their deaths the children shared equally in the final division of the estate.

They were people of strong characters, indomitable energy, and strictest integrity. Kinder and more obliging neighbors never lived; while the poor were always certain of their warmest sympathy, together with something more substantial. Elder Penney was among the first pulpit orators of pioneer days. He was an old-school Baptist, very earnest in his convictions, living his belief with the utmost fidelity. Of the ten children born to Eli Penney and wife, only one survives, Edward of Kansas City. The others were: Dr. Eli Penney; Frances, wife of Captain David Thompson of Kingston; Julia Anna, wife of A. G. Davis of Hamilton ; John R., of St. Joseph; Mary Jane, wife of Doctor Adams of St. Joseph; Mildred, wife of Dr. J. H. McClintock, of Houston, Texas ; Elizabeth, wife of William Partin of Hamilton; William, who died at the age of twenty-one; and Rev. James C., a Baptist minister of Hamil- ton.

ANNA BROSIUS KORN. One of Missouri's distinguished women is Mrs. Anna Brosius Korn, of Trenton. Mrs. Korn is a very talented woman, a leader in club, social, patriotic and civic activities, and her name is perhaps familiar to most Missouri people as a charming and graceful writer of both prose and poetry.

She is renowned as a versatile song writer. A song written by her entitled, "The Missouri Carol," was unanimously endorsed by the Forty-seventh General Assembly of the Missouri Legislature for use on state occasions, national holidays, and in schools and colleges. A patriotic song entitled, "Guard the Flag of Our Republic," written by her, was received with every demonstration of enthusiasm when rendered by a quartette at the state encampment of the Grand Army of the Re- public at the Lyceum Theater, St. Joseph, and at the dedication of Patriots Hall, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1914, by the choir of Washington Memorial Chapel.

Mrs. Korn is the originator of a movement for the inauguration of a Missouri Day in state life. Resolutions drafted by her designating first Monday in October Missouri Day have been adopted by the State Teachers' Association; Missouri Daughters American Revolution; Missouri Federated Commercial Clubs; Missouri Society United States Daughters of 1812; Women's Federated Clubs; Group Two, Bankers Association ; Missouri Society of Colorado; Missouri Society of Washing- ton, District of Columbia. She is the author of the bill that has been introduced in the Forty-eighth General Assembly to create the first Monday in October Missouri Day, by official act. The bill known as Waterman House Bill 112, passed both houses March 19, 1915. While a resident of Oklahoma for three years, she was elected vice president of Vol. III-36

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the Missouri Society of Oklahoma, organized at Oklahoma City, April 22, 1909.

On October 1, 1909, her work received high recognition at the Oklahoma State Fair. The Daily Oklahoman mentions her as first prize winner among the state's artists to capture champion prize in pastel in fine arts exhibit.

Mrs. Korn is a student of the William Heacock School of Journalism. As a descriptive writer she has achieved success on articles of travel, published in serial form; penal institutions, pottery, etc., articles ap- pearing in western publications.

Mrs. Korn's ancestors assisted in establishing independence. Mrs. Korn is the daughter of James Henry Brosius, born September 20, 1839. His father, Jacob Brosius, born August 19, 1808, died September 13, 1878, was married to Lorenza Hoblitzell at Hancock, Maryland, on September 14, 1830. She was born May 20, 1812; died July 13, 1886.

Jacob Brosius was the son of Jacob Brosius, Sr., and Marie Eva Meyer. Jacob Brosius, Sr., born August 7, 1774, died July 13, 1862. Marie Eva Meyer, born January 28, 1785, died November 24, 1846. They were mar- ried May 25, 1804. The said Jacob, Sr., was a son of Abraham and Mar- garet Brosius. The former, born in 1722, and died in 1802, was private in Captain Peter Decker's Company, Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion, in 1776. Marie Eva Meyer, wife of Jacob, Sr., was a daughter of Henry Meyer, born in 1750, and Katharina Diehl. They were married in 1783. Katharina Diehl was the daughter of Nicholas Diehl, born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1725, and died in Maryland February 1, 1805. Nicholas Diehl was a member of the Chester County, Pennsylvania, Committee of Observation and Soldiers and was com- missioned captain of a company of the Third Battalion, Chester County Associates, 1776.

James Henry Brosius acquired his early education in the country schools of Cooper County and for many years was a well-known hotel man and was also engaged in mercantile pursuits. Politically he was a democrat and affiliated with the Episcopal Church. He served in the Confederate army under General Price. He was married February 16, 1865, to Miss Mary Frances Davis, daughter of Albert Gallatin Davis and Julia Anna (Penney) Davis, the pioneer family of Hamilton, Missouri, and founders and builders of the town. James H. Brosius and wife were the parents of three children: Lillian, who died in infancy ; Ben Holliday Brosius; and Anna Lee.

Anna Lee Brosius was married at Hamilton, Missouri, October 28, 1891, to Frank Nicholas Korn, by Rev. R. T. Mathews. To this union two children were born: Frank Marvin, who died at six weeks, Septem- ber 12, 1892; Mildred Lillian, who was born May 31, 1894, died November 11, 1904.

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 83

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