USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 25
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According to the census of 1910 there was a population of 629, but at this writing it is considerably larger than that. The town was platted in 1872. Building operations on an extensive scale immediately began. John Gable, Sr., a native of Pennsylvania, is credited with hav- ing erected the first dwelling. Gable's building was used for many years as a hotel. It was wrecked a few years since in order to make space for a modern and commodious residence, which is now owned and occupied by H. H. Dunkin.
For a long while the site on which Browning is located was used as a voting precinct. That was when Sullivan county belonged to the territory of Linn. The citizens assembled at the residence of Dr. W. R. Robinson, an old settler.
Dr. Robinson owned a large part of the land on which the city now stands. His early day residence stood about where W. P. Carter's barn is now, on a hill in the west part of the city.
This old log house remained until 1911, when it was removed.
W. J. Kennedy, now living at La Plata, Missouri, is said to have been the first merchant of Browning. He was a member of the first board of trustees. The other members were W. J. McCrary, H. C. Hill, W. J. Biswell and S. A. Malony.
Mr. Kennedy was also depot agent, postmaster and hotel keeper during the early life of the town.
As is the case with most new municipalities, there was considerable discussion as to the most effective name. Some suggested that it be called Linnivan, an ingenious method of combining the syllables of the two counties, but it was finally decided to honor the wife of an official of the railroad, a Mrs. Browning.
Some of the early merchants of Browning are given as follows:
Y. J. Biswell, who came from old Scottsville; Hill & Shipman of the same place, and E. H. Scrock and F. E. Stone, who each conducted a drug store, and Bolling & Alexander who run a lumber yard and implement house.
The first newspaper published in Browning was the Monitor. It was a neatly printed and well-edited sheet. The next paper was the Browning Reporter, of which A. Robinson was editor and proprietor. The town has always possessed a live, well patronized newspaper.
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The present paper is the Browning Leader-Record, an Independent paper, edited and published by Joseph Nickell.
The first male child born in Browning was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Armstrong. That was in the spring of 1873. The little fellow lived but a short while and his was the first death that occurred in the new town.
Rebecca Biswell, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Biswell, was the first female child born in Browning. Her birth occurred October 13, 1875.
Dr. William Witter came from Milan shortly after Browning was laid out. To him belongs the distinction of being the first physician, but he remained in the town only a short while.
In February, 1873, a few months after the town was surveyed, Browning had one general store, one blacksmith shop, a postoffice and one saloon. George C. Williams of Linneus was the first postmaster. He didn't remove to Browning and John Edwards attended to the duties of the postoffice as his deputy.
W. T. Wogan taught the first school in Browning in 1874.
The first marriage in the town occurred in 1873. The contracting parties were N. O. Beacham and Miss Matilda Smith.
Religious services were held in a building occupied by J. T. Fleming and Son as a store. The Rev. J. H. Cox, who afterwards became a noted minister in Missouri, preached to the little congrega- tion of Methodists that assembled in the store.
Browning has always been a live, progressive and up-to-date city. It has splendid society, good schools and excellent churches. Like other places of importance, Browning has had its troubles. The one which gave to the place its greatest notoriety was that developing out of the murder of Gus Meeks and his family. This was known as the Taylor case.
On May 10, 1894, it was discovered that Gus Meeks, his wife and all his children except a little girl named Nellie had been murdered and hidden away in an old straw-stack on a farm belonging to George E. Taylor, southwest of Browning about four miles.
Nellie lived and gave the alarm. Suspicion was immediately directed towards W. P. and George E. Taylor, who fled the country and were pursued and finally captured in Arkansas. They were brought back to Missouri, tried in Carroll county and convicted of murder in the first degree.
Both were sentenced to death. Before the day of the execution
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George Taylor escaped from jail, and if living is now a wanderer in parts unknown.
W. P. Taylor was executed in accordance with the stern mandate of the law. Nellie Meeks grew into beautiful young womanhood, was married, enjoyed a few short months of wedded life and now sleeps in a graveyard in Sullivan county.
Columns and columns were written in the newspapers about the tragedy, but the above comprises all the essential historical details.
Browning has four church buildings and as many strong church organizations. It is a God-fearing and a God-loving community and as law-abiding as any in the state. It has a first-class high school, with a three-year course in high school work and eight grades below the high school. Six teachers are employed and they keep the standard as high as that of any three years' school anywhere.
Before this history is printed Browning will be enjoying the facili- ties afforded by a modern acetylene lighting system, the installation being in progress at this writing.
David B. Stone was the first settler on the site of Browning. Stone's father lived on land now within the corporate limits of the city. He operated a mill along about the time of the Civil War.
B. D. Bolling, president of the Browning Savings Bank, is the oldest inhabitant, having resided there continuously.
Three good banking institutions, well officered and doing a thriving and conservative business are operated in Browning. All carry large deposits and their prosperity is a reflection of the general prosperity of the productive community tributary to the town.
Browning is not a boom town in the sense as the word has been employed in the west, but belongs to that class of cities the develop- ment of which is the result of steady, solid and substantial growth.
"Each morn it greets the rising sun supremely confident that the day will bring forth its share of business and of pleasure."
LACLEDE (By Oscar F. Libby)
This important city of Linn county is located on a picturesque prairie ridge. Turkey Creek is a mile east and Locust Creek four miles west. A productive farming country surrounds the place and brings to it an extensive trade from prosperous agriculturists. Hand- some modern farmhouses, large barns, extensive orchards and fields' give color to the landscape, and mark a region of enterprise and prosperity.
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The early history of Laclede and the attractive section of country surrounding it, as related to the writer by the late Joseph G. Worlow, is as follows:
In 1848 Joshua Gentry and J. T. K. Hayward, two of the promoters of the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad, in one of their frequent trips of inspection along the line, stopped at the home of Peter Worlow, who lived a short distance north of where Laclede was afterwards located. At that time the matter of building the railroad was a live subject all along the route. As a matter of course it was discussed during the visit of the two promoters at Mr. Worlow's residence. They told what a railroad would mean in the way of developing the country, furnishing a market for farm products and a rapid means of transit to the cities. Inspired by what they heard, Mr. Worlow's two sons, Jacob L. and Joseph G., decided to enter the northwest quarter of Section 5, Township 57, Range 20, for the purpose of locating a townsite. The two young Worlow men went to Milan, where the land office was, and filed in the name of Jacob L. Worlow alone, as Joseph was not then twenty-one.
It was understood by the brothers, however, that they were to share equally in the venture.
The Worlows platted the town and carried out the enterprise as they had planned. That was in 1853. Henry W. Cross, C. V. Eastman and J. M. Cook assisted in the undertaking. Mr. Cross is credited with having suggested the name, Laclede, in honor of the old French pioneer who founded the great city of St. Louis. The first residences were erected by Mr. Worley, Aaron Quick and J. M. Clark.
Jacob E. Quick put up the first store building.
The postoffice was established in 1855. Aaron Quick was appointed postmaster.
Joseph Hamburger started and operated the first boarding-house.
The second store building was put up and run by John G. L. Hedrick. Squire M. G. Roush built the third store in Laclede.
In 1857 Jacob E. Quick built the first schoolhouse. E. G. Clough did the carpenter work. The building was sixteen feet square and cost the modest sum of $75.
Miss Martha Quick, daughter of the builder, Jacob E. Quick, was the first school-teacher.
The first public school building was erected on the site of the present schoolhouse in 1857. It was used until 1873, when it was moved and a modern brick building erected in its stead. This last schoolhouse contained four large and comfortable rooms and was in
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service until 1901, when it gave place to the present handsome school building and is yet serving the students of Laclede.
Charlotte F., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Roush, was born July 27, 1857, and had the disinction of being the first female child born in the town.
Frank, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Dick, was just a month later in coming to town. He was the first male child born in Laclede.
The first religious services were held at a boarding-house shanty, not far from the railroad track. They were conducted by the Rev. Father Hogan, now a bishop and living in Kansas City.
The following religious denominations are represented in the churches of Laclede: Methodist Episcopal, Christian and Baptist. There is also a negro Baptist church.
Laclede has two good banks, ten business houses, two hotels, three restaurants, two millinery stores, two blacksmith, wagon and repair shops, one livery stable, a lumber yard, two grain dealers, one ax- handle factory, a plant for the manufacture of cement blocks, a good mill, boarding-house, a good weekly newspaper, two lawyers, three physicians, three resident ministers, two meat markets and a barber shop.
Being located at the junction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph and the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City railroads, both properties of the Burlington system, Laclede enjoys excellent shipping facilities. Its people are progressive and hospitable. They encourage every legitimate plan for trade expansion. The country abounds in rich material of all kinds. There are some excellent clays suitable for brick and tile making. Over to the west is the fertile Locust Creek Valley, which will soon have the improvement of an extensive drainage system. The completion of this enterprise will nearly double the value of land in the vicinity.
A good electric lighting system has been installed, the streets are wide and well-kept and there is a beautiful park in the heart of the city. The location on the two lines of railroad, the character of the country and the public-spiritedness of the citizens are three elements that are bound to make Laclede still grow and prosper as the years roll by.
PURDIN
Half way between Linneus and Browning, on a branch of the Burlington Railroad, is situated the beautiful little city of Purdin. The
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town derives its name from its founder, Mr. Purdin, who owned the land and recorded the first town plat of the place.
In 1881 the railroad company erected a small depot for the con- venience of its patrons in that section, and the following year Messrs. A. S. Johnson and H. H. Streed erected some small cattle pens and began the shipment of stock from that point. In the fall of that year a public road was built connecting with the main traveled road between Linneus and Milan, allowing the people in that section of the county free access to the depot and the privilege of flagging trains for their convenience at that point.
In February, 1883, Messrs. W. G. Beckett and W. O. Mathews erected the first store building, and in the same year W. H. Rudy built a small saw-mill, and a little later enlarged the plant by adding a grist- mill to it. In the same year Mr. A. L. Cooper opened a blacksmith shop and the town at once began to grow. G. T. Riley opened the first hotel in 1887, and in 1894 the Bank of Purdin was organized and opened for business.
Since that time Purdin has made rapid strides, until today it is considered one of the attractive and fast-growing towns of the county. There are no less than twenty business places of all kinds and descrip- tions, together with two prosperous banks, a large number of fine resi- dences, with modern churches and schools in proportion to the population.
The first merchant of the town, W. G. Beckett, is still in business, and from his small beginning in 1883 has grown the Purdin Mercantile Company, which is today one of the largest retail establishments in the county. Purdin also can boast of a weekly newspaper, which enjoys a good circulation throughout the surrounding country ; its people are energetic and wide-awake, ready to take advantage of every oppor- tunity offered them to increase their business and build up their town along all lines.
Scattered throughout the county are a number of small places which are patronized by the farmers of the surrounding country, and which are of great convenience to the people in general. Among them can be mentioned the following: St. Catharine, which is one of the oldest towns in the county, having been laid out on April 28, 1856. The ground upon which it was located belonged to William and Cath- arine Elliott together with Caleb and Mary Farmer. The town was named Catharine after Mrs. Catharine Elliott. Afterwards the word "saint" or "St .. " as it was written, was added to it.
For many years St. Catharine was one of the leading towns of the
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county, and not until after Brookfield had been selected as the division point on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad did it lose its prestige.
Today but little remains to remind one of her past greatness. There are two general stores, a good school, churches and a railroad station, but the people surrounding it are drawn to Brookfield and other points on account of superior advantages offered them there.
Another important village in the county is New Boston, situated on section one, in Baker township. The founders of New Boston were A. Borron and R. A. C. Wright. It has never been platted or incor- porated, but notwithstanding these facts it has made considerable progress and is a great source of convenience to a wide scope of country surrounding it. New Boston has had a postoffice since 1872, and today it has a number of general stores, a thriving bank, together with schools, churches and lodges in proportion to her population.
Other small places or trading points are located in other parts of the county, among which can be mentioned Shelby, Eversonville, Haysville, Fountain Grove, Garner, Enterprise and others. These are principally country stores operated solely for the convenience of persons residing in their immediate neighborhood.
MEADVILLE
Meadville like most other towns on the line of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, dates its real existence on the completion of that road through Linn county. To be sure the site of Meadville was a year or two older. The first man to erect a business building was John Botts, who ventured to build a small store on the present site of Mead- ville in 1858. A short time thereafter David Lancaster built a little blacksmith shop. These two buildings comprised the settlement which was named "New Baltimore."
The first stock of goods brought to the place was hauled from Brunswick with an ox team by William Botts, who is still a resident of the place.
Time rolled on; and some time during the year 1858 or 1859 the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was completed through this place. Mr. Botts had quite a time to induce them to build a depot at that point, as they were talking of building it two miles west of "New Baltimore;" but through the efforts of Mr. Botts they were induced to erect a building on the spot where it now stands.
On the first day of February, 1860, John Duff, John M. Forbes, John Brooks, John Botts, Josiah Hunt and John L. Lathrop appeared
.
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before Peter B. Groat, a notary public at Hannibal, Missouri, with acknowledgement that they had laid out the town of Bottsville on Sec- tion 6, Township 57, Range 21, west, in the County of Linn and state of Missouri, and that a correct plat of the place was attached thereto.
In February of the same year John Botts made the same acknowl- edgement in Linn county, and it was then duly recorded by Jeremiah Phillips, county recorder at that time. Thus the new town of "New Baltimore" went into oblivion and Bottsville became a reality.
During the Civil War matters came to a standstill and remained so until 1867, when they took a turn for the better. At this time Botts- ville's business interests were small. Thomas D. Evans carried a small stock of general merchandise and also officiated as postmaster; L. W. James (long since deceased) ran a drug store, and Daniel Thurston and T. F. Spencer each carried a small stock of groceries, while L. N. Goodale discharged the duties of station agent.
It was about that time that John Botts, who had served as the first postmaster, disposed of his holdings and returned to Howard county.
In 1867 the question of changing the town's name from Bottsville to Meadville was agitated, and a petition was taken before the county court asking that the above change be made. This was in April, 1869. Some, however, opposed the change, and also went before the county court at the May term with a similar petition, asking that the name of Bottsville be restored. This petition was granted by the court and the name changed from Meadville to Bottsville, and continued in that way until October, 1869, when it was finally changed to Meadville, and will probably remain so for all future time. The name Meadville was given in honor of Charles Mead, at that time superintendent of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.
The first schoolhouse erected was in 1859; it was a frame building, 18x26, and cost about $200. It did service until 1872, when a fine brick building was substituted for it. This in time gave way to others until today the town can boast of one of the best and most modern equipped schools in the county.
The first birth recorded is that of Ada Grace, the daughter of James A. and Tabitha W. Grace, her birth having occurred in 1863.
The first wedding took place in August, 1866. E. D. Harvey per- formed the ceremony, and the contracting parties were Joel F. Spencer and Elizabeth James.
The first death in Meadville was that of Mrs. Frank Harvey, who died in the winter of 1866.
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The first resident physician was Dr. Stephen Beach. He came in 1866, purchased a farm just south of town, upon which he died in 1875.
The first religious services were held in the year 1859; the Rev. Father Hogan officiating.
The first resident minister was the Rev. L. W. James of the Christian church, who came in the spring of 1865.
The first principal of graded school was Mr. L. M. Smith.
Meadville claims the distinction of having been first to start what was known as agricultural picnics. They were a gathering of the farmers, their wives, sons and daughters and were joined by the town people en masse. It was a day looked for with interest and when it arrived was one of unalloyed pleasure.
Out of these picnics has grown what is known far and wide as the Meadville chautauqua assembly, which was started in 1905, and has grown each year in popularity with the people throughout the county until it today undoubtedly is the most popular chautauqua assembly in northeast Missouri. The grounds are beautifully located just north of the city and a thousand or more people camp each year on these grounds, besides other thousands who come day after day in carriages, automobiles or by trains to enjoy the excellent programme.
In the way of entertainment the managers of the chautauqua assembly secure each year the services of some of the best known speakers in the country that are engaged in chautauqua work. Many of the most noted men of the day have spoken from their platform, and the people look forward each year with pleasure and profit to the week to be spent at the Meadville chautauqua.
Meadville was duly incorporated as a city of the fourth class on January 4, 1881, and the following officers were appointed by the court: George W. Golden, mayor; A. B. Black, J. C. Waters, John McNicholas and D. M. Sevey, aldermen, with John Crafton as marshal.
Meadville is in the heart of a fertile and thickly populated region. The railroad carries daily heavy consignments of products of the farm, the dairy and poultry yard to the markets. The town is well supplied with churches, has a splendid school and all facilities and conveniences of modern life; is well located, healthful and attractive. Best of all, it is inhabited by a kind-hearted generous people, with the welcoming hand always outstretched to the visitor.
CHAPTER XVII
Locust Creek Drainage System-Enterprise to Reclaim 25,000 Acres- Estimated Rise in Land Values-An Interesting Landmark-The Woodland Mills-Indian Mounds-Descendant of a Noted Warrior -Boy Lost in the Wilderness-Sheltered by a Deer-A Mother's Joy-The Trail of the 49ers-The Hannibal and St. Joseph Cross- State Highway-Automobile Men and Farmers Working for an Important Improvement-List of Towns on Route-Statement by State Highway Engineer-Importance of Good Roads.
The farmers and landowners along Locust Creek bottoms are planning an extensive drainage system which will save and render productive 25,000 fertile acres in the valley. As contemplated the drainage work will begin above Linneus and extend some twelve or thirteen miles down the valley to Grand River. Several meetings have been held and at the publication of this history the organization is well under way. Mr. Shaffer, a government engineer from Spring- field, Missouri; J. H. Nolen of Jefferson City and John B. Logan of the Missouri State Waterways Company, have visited the valley and made an inspection of the situation. They have unhesitatingly ex- pressed the opinion that the land could all be reclaimed by a system of ditches and dikes. Mr. Nolen said that in his opinion the best method would be to construct one straight ditch through the valley.
Owing to the fact that the land was subject to periodical over- flows during crop growing seasons it has only commanded from $30 to $60 per acre. Mr. Shaffer, who has had a great deal of experience in drainage projects, and is a good judge of land values, said that if well drained and ditched the region bordering the creek would immedi- ately rise in value from $150 to $200 per acre.
The experience of the adjoining county of Macon has proved that drainage ditches will effectively save large bodies of land which have hitherto been subjected to devastating overflows. Along the Chariton Valley they have constructed two ditches, each about thirty feet in width, and within recent years these waterways have been subjected to severe tests by heavy floods coming down from the north. The
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farmers who organized to construct the system are thoroughly satisfied with its efficiency. With the exception of one or two low places the water has been promptly drained and carried on down to the Missouri river. Laterals are being made from the low places to the canals and soon the entire district under organization will be as safe from damage by overflow as any land in that county.
The enterprising farmers who are moving in the ditch matter in Linn county are confident that the same result will be reached here. As high as ninety bushels of corn to the acre and forty bushels of wheat have been produced in the Locust Creek Valley. With a good system of ditching and diking that record could be made almost every year, and some are so sanguine that they think it could be exceeded.
The first meeting to consider the project of draining the valley was held at Meadville in July, 1911. Another meeting was held at Linneus in February, 1912. An organization was formed at that time and F. L. Fitch was elected president; Aleck Brinkley, secretary and Mr. Fetty treasurer. A committee was appointed to work up interest in the project. A petition for the organizing of the drainage district association will be filed with the circuit court. The legal formality complied with, the contracts will be let and the work will be industri- ously pushed. No enterprise ever inaugurated in Linn county promises greater results for the money invested. It will be noted in the United States Census Bulletin that Linn county land is rated higher than in most other counties of northern Missouri. This in spite of the fact that no great work has been yet done in the Locust Creek Valley, the most fertile land in the county. The strengthening influence to values in the valley by the drainage system will extend to all the lands in the county, and add greatly to the total wealth of property.
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