USA > Missouri > Atchison County > Biographical history: Atchison County, Missouri > Part 30
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MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES OF ROCK PORT.
(Continued)
Fire Insurance Co .; Highland Farmers' Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Monroe county-Farmers' and Laborers' Co-operative Insurance Association. Montgomery county-Farmers' and Laborers' Mutual Insurance Co. Nodaway county-Farmers' Mu- tual Fire Insurance Co .; Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Osage county-Farmers' Mutual Aid Association. Perry county-Arnsberg Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Pettis county-Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Pettis County. Phelps county-Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Association of Phelps County. Pike county-Pike County Farmers' Fire Insurance Association. Platte county -Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Platte County. Polk county-Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Putnam county-The Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Ralls county-Ralls County Farmers' Fire Insurance Associa- tion. Ray county-Farmers' Home Insurance Co. of Ray County. Randolph county-Ran- dolph County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. St. Charles county-New Hope Mutual Fire Insurance Co .; Farmers' Mutual Aid Society; Central Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co .; Weldon Springs Mutual Private Insurance Association. Ste. Genevieve county- Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Ste. Genevieve County. St. Francois county- Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Schuyler county-Schuyler County- Fire and Lightning Insurance Association. St. Louis county-Farmers' Mutual Insur ance Co. of St. Louis County. Shelby county-Farmers' Mutual Fire Association of Shelby county. Scotland county-Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Scotland County. Sullivan county-Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. of Sullivan County. Scott county-The Farmers' Insurance Co. Texas county -- Texas County Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. Vernon county-Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co, of Vernon County. Warren county-Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Warren county. Worth county-Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Co. of Worth County.
Total assessable capital of eighty-nine of these companies reporting, $88,913,851.00. Wonderful advancement for the mutual insurance movement in Missouri!
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MUTUAL INSURANCE CO'S OF ROCK PORT.
(Continued )
To further note the progress of the mutual insurance movement in Atchison county we quote from the address of welcome delivered by Hon. M. McKillop, Mayor of Rock Port, at the second annual meeting of the Associated Mutual Insurance Companies of Missouri, held in the Stapel Mutual Insurance Building Company's building on March 16th, 1897, to-wit:
"Mutual insurance, as represented by this body, is only of recent origin. The mutual insurance companies of to-day, as represented by this body, are wholly divorced from the beneficiary idea, and are as clearly and purely insurance societies as was ever a society holding and owning the premiums paid in, to the total exclusion of the insured from any share in the premium. Such are generally called the old line insurance companies.
"'Tis but a little over a decade since the man who first commenced advocating the idea of only a farmers' mutual insurance society was hooted at, lampooned, caricatured, derided and mocked, pronounced anathema, maranatha. And by whom? By the people? No. By the old line insurance companies who had so long robbed the people according to their own sweet and flowery methods. They came to the conclusion that the people were their legitimate prey.
"We talk about monopolies, combines and trusts being the grand robbers of the people of the United States. "Tis all true, and no worse monopoly, combine or robber trust has ever grabbed the American people by the throat than have been these old line insurance companies for the last twenty-five years. Wholly irresponsible to the people, and wholly unscrupulous withal, they, at the expense of the assured, accumulated vast wealth, as is evidenced by their immense palaces that pierce the skies in almost every city and which are the wonder and admiration of all beholders; costing untold millions, taken from the people and in which they, the people, have no interest. For a long time they had made shrines for Diana, and were ready to crush all who intimated any interference with their source of wealth. But what had once been a still, small tentative voice is becoming
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MUTUAL INSURANCE CO'S OF ROCK PORT.
(Continued )
louder and more aggressive in favor of some relief from the gormandizing greed of our oppressors, until at length the voice of the people is heard and our law-makers are compelled to hearken and act. The rubbish of the old temple must be cleared away before laying the foundation of the new. The conditions under which a New York or Massachu- setts company could come and take the money of our people for insurance should be differ- ent from those imposed on an insurance company organized not for money-making butfor mutual insurance of our own people in Missouri, and elsewhere, for all that. Hence we find about the first law enacted favorable to farmers' mutual insurance companies in Mis- souri in section 5909 of the Revised Statutes of 1889, by which all such companies are exempted from the provisions of Chapter 89, the same being the general chapter on insur- ance in Missouri. This was a long step in the right direction, and from mere insurance clubs arose at once regular companies all over the state, doing a legitimate insurance business, at, generally, one-half the cost to the insured that he would have to pay in the old line insurance companies. In the year 1891 the Legislature of Missouri further recog- nized the farmers' mutual tornado, cyclone and windstorm insurance companies by reliev- ing them from the onerous burdens and provisions of Chapter 89.
"From 1888, and perhaps before that, the movement has had phenomenal success in Atchison county. I have not the figures of year after year at hand, but the result was that in a year or two after the movement started the old line companies did little or no business among the farmers. I presume the movement has had as wonderful success in other counties in the state.
"Behold what a great conflagration a small spark may kindle! What mighty results may often originate from small and weak beginnings!
"From 1885 up, men all over the state advocated the interests of the people and demanded that they should have the opportunity and right to do their own insurance among each other without being in bondage to the bees and dragons of the East, and, as has been stated, all sorts of abuse was heaped on these men by the old line insurance companies and their henchmen.
"I have in mind one instance. Alongabout 1885 a young man, recently having come to Atchison county, and having succeeded in earning, by school teaching, and by borrow-
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MUTUAL INSURANCE CO'S OF ROCK PORT.
(Continued)
ing money enough to buy a newspaper, commenced publishing the same in this town. He earnestly advocated the doctrine of farmers' mutual insurance. A fellow-I will not call him a gentleman-posing far above him, also running a newspaper in this town, denounced him as a dishonest knave-a trickster who was trying to make money out of the people for his own aggrandizement, and with no idea of benefiting anyone but himself. The friend of the people, however, kept on his way, humbly, earnestly and uprightly, while his assailant, a drunken, dishonest bankrupt, left Atchison county under cover of darkness and hid his dishonored head in the far West, under a false and assumed name. Humbly, straightforwardly and earnestly, the friend of the people kept on his way, winning point after point of the principles he advocated, reaching forward, step by step, toward the goal of his ambition, until, in 1895, we of the towns and cities who groaned in bondage long after the farmer was set free, now stand on our high places, in the sunshine of the liberty and advantages granted us by the Legislature of Missouri and the mutual insurance companies. Need I say, my friends, that this young man was none other than our respected President, whose name the company which erected this building now bears. I do not refer to him in disparagement of anyone else. I have no doubt many others were as earnest, energetic and persevering as he, but it was my misfortune not to know them.
"This, my friends, is the condition of the people's mutual insurance in the state of Missouri to-day. I have no doubt it is as successful as in other states. This is the element in our wealth and welfare you have met here to-day to consider. To be assured that it will receive earnest consideration, the consideration of patriotic, honest business men, I need but to look into your faces-any words or intimation of advice from me as to
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MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES OF ROCK PORT.
(Concluded )
how or what you should do would be wholly out of place. You are masters of the situa- tion and will act wisely for me as well as all others.
"We, in this county and city, appreciate the great benefits of mutual insurance, and, to show our appreciation, have erected this building we now occupy.
"Intimations have been thrown out by those who wish the people's mutual insurance harm, that this building was erected by insurance money; that the insurance company built it out of moneys of the people. As President of the corporation which erected it, I will say I know every dollar that went into it (all was paid over my signature) and there is not a dollar of insurance money in the stock of the corporation. The building, from turret to foundation stone, is built by subscriptions of from $1 up, for which stock is to be issued and on which interest is to be paid. We have erected it as a monument to perpet- uate our appreciation of the principles of mutual insurance, and also as a home and busi- ness place for the companies in Atchison county and the city of Rock Port."
We also quote from the resolutions adopted at the meeting referred to above, as follows:
"Resolved, That we view with pleasure the building known as the Stapel Mutual Insurance Building, of Rock Port, Mo., and heartily commend the meritorious efforts used in the erection of so suitable a building, as being a step in the right direction, leading to the more permanent establishment of mutual insurance.
"Resolved, That we duly appreciate the responsibility of the people of the city of Rock Port, and the kindness of the hotels, and especially the entertainment given by Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Stapel at their home."
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SOME OF THE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE MISSOURI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES OF ROCK
PORT AND THE STAPEL MUTUAL INSURANCE BUILDING COMPANY.
H. E. Wyatt Jos. Durfee.
E. H. Stapel.
H. F. Stapel. W. H. Hindman. W. T. Buckham. John H. Cooper. A. E. Lane.
John A. Knierim.
STAPEL MUTUAL INSURANCE BUILDING COMPANY'S BUILDING.
T "HE accompanying picture shows the home of the Missouri Mutual Insurance Compan- ies, of Rock Port, Mo. The building is a fine two-story pressed-brick and stone structure, in size 26x120 feet. The building, fixtures, cases, application and policy files, boxes and furniture, cost over $15,000, and it is said to be the most attractive building this side of Chicago. It is supplied with water-works, electric lights and telephone service. It was the first mutual insurance building in the state, so far as we know, or in the United States. From it are directed the operations of hundreds of agents, who, in all parts of the state, take applications and collect premiums for the Missouri Mutual Insurance Com- panies of Rock Port. These companies have paid over $200,000 in losses. They offer ample security for the fulfillment of their contracts-good from start to finish, for they have a large assessable capital. They have carried the insurance of their membersfor less than one-fifth the cost in old line or stock companies.
On February 1st, 1897, The Atchison County Mail also moved into the Stapel Mutual Insurance Building Company's building. For over ten years The Mail office was located on east Main street. There was laid the foundation for substantial improve- ments and success. Enlarging the paper once and adding substantial improvements, the growing business demanded more room and a more desirable location. The location is now on the corner of Main and Rock streets, the best corner lot and location in the city. Two new presses were added, one being the latest improved Cottrell newspaper and job press, with a capacity of 1,750 per hour; also a Bennet folder, a Monitor stitcher and a Burton Peerless power perforator; all run by a Fairbanks engine; also new type, cases,
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STAPEL MUTUAL INSURANCE BUILDING COMPANY'S BUILDING.
stands, etc., until The Mail office was made the finest and most complete newspaper plant in Northwest Missouri. It is out of debt-owes nothing-and every dollar that has been invested upon it represents a dollar that it has earned. In this fact is the guarantee of its continued success and solidity. It is the oldest Democratic newspaper in the county, being in its twenty-ninth year. In January, 1986, it was made the official organ of the mutual insurance companies of Missouri, at a meeting of those companies in St. Joseph. It has been advocating mutual insurance for more than twenty-four years, and has done more than any paper in the United States for the success of the mutual insurance compan- ies. It is wide-awake and progressive and never lets an opportunity slip to do good, and believes in brains rather than money and prestige. It has a larger circulation than any paper in Northwest Missouri, and its advertising patronage is large, owing to the fact that it is known to have the largest circulation among the better class of people. Its cir- culation is over 3,000, and some months runs as high as 20,000.
The publisher of The Mail and those connected therewith will always be glad to see those who have stood by them so nobly, and they are invited to call at The Mail office whenever in the city, and we will be glad to show them through the building.
We will also say that we consider ourselves under obligations to the people of Atchi- son and other counties, not only for insuring in and supporting these mutual companies but also for taking stock in and supporting the building enterprise of Stapel Mutual Insurance Building Company.
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PETER GINGRICH.
PETER GINGRICH was born in Rhinish, Bavaria, Germany, on June 1st, 1837. In his sixteenth year he came from Germany to America and located at Lancaster, Penna., and began farm work. From there he went to Ohio, and from Ohio to Missouri. In 1873 he came to Atchison county, Missouri, and bought 320 acres of land at $10 per acre. At the time the accompanying view was taken he owned and lived upon a fine farm of 529 acres, in section 3, township 66, range 41, twelve miles north of Rock Port. Also owned a farm of 100 acres, three-fourths of a mile south of Hamburg, Ia. And right here we will say that Mr. Gingrich is a self-made man, his acquirements resulting entirely from his own efforts.
The residence on this farm is of the following dimensions: 18x36 feet and 16x24 feet, 11% stories, and 14x24 feet, one story; barn, 34x50 feet, with shed 14x50 feet; barn, 36x60 feet; other outbuildings, sheds, cribs, scales, and a fine orchard of thirty acres. Mr. Gingrich made a specialty of breeding fine horses, having in his stud Allsteel, by Axtell, 2:12. Herewith we present a picture of that horse. Mr. Gingrich also fed cattle and hogs extensively.
In 1868 Mr. Gingrich took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Susan Rediger, a native of Bavaria, Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Gingrich eight children have been born, namely: Evurt, Emma Wendrith, Herman, Arthur, Lena, Amelia, Jacob, Williamn. Arthur attended college at Shenandoah, Ia .; Lena, Emma and William were educated in Hamburg High School.
In politics Mr. Gingrich favors the Democratic party. He has served in the capacity of school director several times.
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FORMER HOME OF PETER GINGRICH.
NORTH STAR LODGE, NO. 157, A. F. & A. M., ROCK PORT, MO.
N TORTH Star Lodge, No. 157, A. F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation issued August 23, 1855. The charter was granted March 29, 1856. Under the dispensa- tion temporary officers were appointed as follows: Solomon Wyatt, S. W .; David J. Martin, J. W .; John Lewis, Treasurer; Silas Poyear, Secretary; Geo. A. Thomas, S. D .; Rufus K. Crandle, J. D .; Joshua Hunt, Tyler. After the organization Geo. A. Thomas was elected as the first Worshipful Master. The first meeting was held in a hall over the M. E. church, South, which stood where S. M. Smith's residence now is. The meetings were held in this house until after the Civil war. During that war the soldiers took possession both of the church and hall. They used the church for a stable and the hall for a kitchen, using the Masonic aprons for dish-cloths. The lodge was moved from there to the I. O. O. F. hall, where it met for a time, after which it was moved to a room over the bank of Durfee, McKillop & Co., now the Bank of Atchison County. There it was held until the present temple was built, in 1882. This temple was built by a loan, made by the members of the order individually. This debt was finally assumed by the lodge and now has been paid off. Thus the lodge owns its temple and the large store-room below, which gives it a good revenue with which to carry forward its great work of "Relief" and charity. The following was the membership at the time of taking this sketch:
Geo. W. Lash, W. M., G. A. Bartholomew, S. S. McMillen, S. W., G. W. E. Chamberlain, M. E. Grebe, J. W., O. M. C. Chamberlain, Wm. Cloepfil, L. A. Crabtree,
O. M. Johnson, J. M. Johnson, J. A. Knierim,
S. M. Smith, U. G. Stoner,
A. F. Sickler,
J. H. LaHue,
E C. Smith,
A. E. Wyatt, Treasurer, L. C. Christian, Sec'y, Austin McMichael, S. D. F. N. Johnson, J. D., J. A. Newell, S. S.
P. E. Cavender,
M. L. Lee, Jr.,
Don T. Lee,
P. H. Thull,
J. U. Crosen, J. D. Dopf,
E. F. Locke,
L. R. Thompson,
J. R. Dopf, Bob Dopf, C. F. Davis,
Jacob Lips, Fred. Marlatt,
C. E. Volkmann, Geo. E. Wood,
Lewis Sampson, J. S., C. C. Grimes, Chaplain, J. M. Sliger, Marshal, J. M. Anderson, Tyler, A. W. Buckham,
N. Petry, Geo. Potschke,
B. W. Warden,
C. S. Dragoo,
T. J. Rice,
G. D. West.
Geo. L. Bischof,
W. H. Gordon,
L. D. Ramsay,
J. M. West,
Thos. M. Bailey,
W. T. Gore,
H. F. Stapel,
Royal Walters.
W. H. Broughton,
W. E. Giermann,
J. H. Shary,
Henry Bishop,
L. A. Ireland,
J. L. Shelters,
A. M. Warnstaff,
G. W. Foutch,
Wm. LaHue,
W. H. Sanders, Lewis Sampson,
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OFFICERS NORTH STAR LODGE NO. 157, A. F. & A. M.
Dr. A. McMichael. Lewis Sampson.
W. E. Giermann. J. A. Newell. F. N. Johnson.
Henry Broughton. M. E. Grebe.
A. E. Wyatt.
George Lash.
L. C. Christian.
Dr. S. S. McMillen.
THOS. H. COOPER.
T THOMAS H. COOPER, farmer, of Benton township, was born in Atchison county, Missouri, on Sept. 25th, 1873, the son of Harmon and Mata Cooper, and the seventh in a family of ten children. He was raised on his father's farm-in fact, his whole life has been passed on that farm, where he was born. On March 9th, 1898, he was married to Miss Mary Smith, daughter of John and Mary Smith. She is a native of Hanover, Ger- many, and emigrated from her native land with her parents in her seventh year. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper two children have been born-Mata and Willie.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are members of St. Peter's German Lutheran church in Benton township. Politically Mr. Cooper is a Democrat. He is a stock-holder in both the Citi- zen's Bank of Atchison County and the Bank of Atchison County.
His farm comprises 400 acres, located about six miles south of Rock Port. He also owns forty acres of land about six miles southeast of Rock Port. He is a successful stock feeder and markets annually, on an average, one car-load of fat cattle and about eighty head of hogs.
The dimensions of his house are 16x28 feet, 11% stories, and 14x26 feet, one story; barn, 17x40 feet; cattle shed, 18x48 feet and 19x32 feet. There are also other necessary outbuildings and an orchard.
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ـسـ
MR. AND MRS. THOS. H. COOPER AND CHILDREN.
MR. COOPER'S FARM PREMISES.
E. H. OSWALD.
E RNEST REINHART OSWALD was born in Platte county, Missouri, January 31st, 1864, the son of Henry and Francis Oswald, and the oldest child in a family of ten. While he was yet a babe in his mother's arms his parents located in Atchison county, Mis- souri, and this was his home until in 1905, when he moved to Kansas. He remained with his parents until in his twenty-fourth year, when he began farming on his own account. - At the time of taking the accompanying view he owned and lived upon a farm of 78% acres, in section 35, township 64, range 41. He also owned ten acres of timber land southwest of Rock Port. The residence on this farm is, in size, 16x22 feet and 16x16 feet, one story; barn, 18x25 feet, with 12-foot posts; hen house and buggy shed, other outbuild- ings and an orchard and vineyard.
On Sept. 5, 1888, Mr. Oswald and Miss Anna Zieke were united in marriage. Mrs. Oswald died on Feb. 22nd, 1892. By this union there was one child-Hermie C., born Jan. 14, 1892. On , Mr. Oswald was united in marriage with Miss Annie E. Salfrank, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Salfrank. She was born in Atchison county, Missouri, May 17th, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Oswald have three children, namely: Oliver H., born Nov. 26, 1895; Elsie E., born June 6, 1897; Willard S., born April 15, 1900.
Mr. Oswald is a member of the German Lutheran church at Rock Port and Mrs. Oswald is a member of the M. E. church at Union City. Politically, Mr. Oswald is a Republican.
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FORMER HOME OF ERNEST OSWALD.
EDWIN F, RANKIN.
EDWIN F. RANKIN was born in Biggsville, Ill., Feb. 26, 1854, the son of Alexander and Jane Rankin, and the oldest child in a family of five. He came from Illinois to Atchison county, Missouri, in 1876, and bought 320 acres of land-a part of his present home, paying $8 per acre for same. His capital at that time was about $1,100 in money. The farm now comprises 400 acres of as fine land as there is in the county. It is situated in sections 20, 28 and 29, township 65, range 39, four and one-half miles southeast of Tarkio. He also owns a farm of 240 acres in sections 28 and 33, township 66, range 38. Mr. Rankin makes a specialty of breeding and raising jacks, jennets, mules and standard bred trotting and pacing horses. He is also a successful stock-feeder, marketing about 150 head of fat cattle and 500 head of fat hogs annually.
Politically, Mr. Rankin affiliates with the Democratic party. Formerly, however, he was a leader in the People's Party in Atchison county. He was elected Judge of the County Court, from the North District, in the year 1900, which office he filled with credit to himself and to the advantage of the people of the county. Mr. Rankin is a stock-holder in the Midland Manufacturing Company, at Tarkio, and was formerly a stock-holder in the First National Bank of Tarkio.
On Jan. 8, 1880, Mr. Rankin and Miss Mary Willsie were united in marriage. Mrs. Rankin is a daughter of Henry and Mary Willsie and was born at Des Moines, Ia., at which place she was also educated. Mr. Rankin attended college at Monmouth, Ill.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rankin seven children have been born, six of whom are living, namely: Bessie, Alexander, Edith, Ruth, Donald and Grant. One child died in infancy. Alexander was educated at Tarkio College and Bessie and Edith have attended the high school at Mishawaka, Ind., and also Tarkio College.
The residence on Mr. Rankin's farm is of the following dimensions: 16x40 feet, 18x20 feet and 10x20 feet, two stories, and a summer kitchen, 12x16 feet, one story; barn, in size 66x68 feet, with 20-foot posts, with a shed on two sides, each 36x48 feet; also three other large barns, and cribs, granaries and other outbuildings, and an orchard large enough to supply the family with fruit. Withal, it is a model Atchison county farm.
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HOME OF ED. F. RANKIN.
ROBERT WATTS.
R OBERT WATTS, farmer, of Nishnabotna township, was born in Crawford county, Illinois, Nov. 25, 1827, the son of Ezekiel and Polly Watts, and the third of six child_ ren. While a young man he worked out as a farm hand until he went into the army, en- listing in service for his country in August, 1862, and being mustered out in 1865. He served in Co. D, 38th Ill., in General Rosencrans' command. Among other important battles he participated in those of Stone River, Crab Orchard and Chickamauga. In the last mentioned battle he was captured, and he was incarcerated in Libby prison. After two months lie was transferred to Andersonville prison, where he was confined fifteen months. He was a member of Jaines Karnes Post, G. A. R., at Rock Port.
Mr. Watts located in Atchison county, Missouri, in 1865, in the neighborhood of Watson. He owned a fine farm of 307 acres, in section 32, township 64, range 42, four miles northwest of Watson. The residence on this farm is of 112 stories, in size 16x22 feet and 16x18 feet; barn, 12x42 feet in size, with 12-foot posts. Also a wagon-shed, corn cribs and granary, and an orchard containing 500 trees.
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