Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I, Part 55

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors
Number of Pages: 856

USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I > Part 55

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306

BLUE AND GRAY-BLUE LODGES.

give his attention to his private affairs. In 1869, however, President Grant appointed him United States minister to Brazil, and he held that office for two years, exerting him- self successfully to improve commercial rela- tions between his government and that to which he was accredited. In 1872 he was made chairman of the Republican State Cen- tral Committee of Missouri, and ably directed the critical campaign of that year in this State. In 1874, after the territorial govern- ment of the District of Columbia had been abolished by act of Congress, and the gov- ernment of the district committed to a board of commissioners, Mr. Blow was appointed a member of this board, and held the office for a few months thereafter, doing much to bring order out of chaos, and to restore pub- lic confidence in local government at the national capital. This was his last public service, and called forth at his death, from those who had served with him on the board, the declaration that "he was highly intelli- gent, enterprising and patriotic, and faith- fully performed every private and public trust committed to his hands." Mr. Blow married, in 1840, Miss Minerva Grimsley, daughter of Colonel Thornton Grimsley, in his day one of the most prominent and influential citizens of St. Louis.

Blue and Gray. - An organization formed in St. Louis in 1896, to bind together . by fraternal ties those who fought on oppo- site sides during the Civil War, took the name "Veterans of the Blue and Gray." The patriotic movement which resulted in the formation of this society was originated by Major Charles G. Warner, Captain Joseph Boyce, and other gentlemen who sent to Union and Confederate veterans residing in St. Louis invitations to attend a meeting to be held at the Planters' Hotel, October 19, 1896, the object of which was set forth in the invitation. In response to this invitation the following named gentlemen assembled at the Planters' Hotel at the appointed time: Sam- uel M. Kennard, Colonel M. C. Wetmore, Captain George T. Cram, Major Charles G. Warner, Captain Joseph Boyce. Colonel Ed- ward D. Meier, Edward C. Rollins, Judge Daniel Dillon, Colonel William Bull, Colonel Alvah Mansur, Captain Lloyd G. Harris, Cap- tain E. K. Holton, Captain Robert McCul- loch and Captain J. Russell Dougherty. . 1

committee was appointed at this meeting which formulated a constitution and by-laws, subsequently adopted, for the government of the society, which makes those who served in either the Federal or Confederate armies or navies eligible to membership upon the recommendation of the membership commit- tee of the society, although applicants may be rejected by the votes of three members against their admission. Distinguished vet- erans of either the Union or Confederate armies may be admitted as honorary mem- bers of the society by a two-thirds vote, such honorary members to be admitted in "Blue and Gray pairs." The honorary members thus chosen prior to 1898 were General John M. Schofield, General James Longstreet, General John B. Gordon, and General O. O. Howard. The purposes of the organization are set forth in its constitution as follows : "To cultivate a feeling of friendship and fra- ternity between those who were once opposed in arms; to extinguish all animosities which were engendered by the late Civil War; to eradicate sectional jealousies; to prevent civil convulsions and future conflicts between the various sections of our common country ; and finally to unite the surviving soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies and navies more closely in support of good government and in defense of the Constitution and laws of the United States." The organization of Vet- erans of the Blue and Gray was incorporated in the office of the Secretary of State of Mis- souri, December 14, 1896. The unit of or- ganization is called a company. The union of two companies is to constitute a battalion, and the further union of companies a regi- ment. The St. Louis company was the only one in existence in 1897, and it numbered at that time seventy-five members, ex-soldiers of the Federal and Confederate armies, being about equally represented. The first annual meeting of the company was held at the In- surance Exchange Building, February 22, 1897, and was followed by a banquet at the Planters' Hotel. At this meeting, February 12th-Lincoln's birthday-was fixed as the date for holding future annual meetings, upon the motion of ex-Confederates, a graceful act evidencing the sentiment which dominates the organization.

" Blue Lodges." -- A name given to or- ganizations in Missouri, existing chiefly in

307

BLUE MILES, BATTLE OF-B'NAI B'RITH.

the counties along the western border, which were products of the troubles that attended the organization and settlement of Kansas, between 1855 and 1860. Their object was to promote the settlement of the Territory by pro-slavery persons, and to control the elec- tions in it in the pro-slavery cause, just as the emigrant aid societies of the East were intended to promote the settlement of the Territory in the interest of the anti-slavery cause. The lawless interference of the Blue Lodges in the Territory elections did much to incite trouble and provoke the retaliations that followed. The term "Blue Lodge" is also used in Freemasonry. lodges of Master Masons being commonly called Blue Lodges by members of the craft.

Blue Mills, Battle of .- September 16, 1861, a body of State troops passed through Liberty, to join General Sterling Price at Lexington. The force comprised Colonel J. P. Saunders' Regiment, 400 men ; Colonel Jeff. Patton's Regiment, about the same number ; Lieutenant Colonel Wilfley's Regi- ment of Cavalry, about the same number ; and Colonel Childs' Battalion of Cavalry, about 300 men, all under the command of Colonel Saunders. This was the rearguard of General Stein's command, from the Fifth Military District, the remainder of which had already crossed the Missouri River. Under orders from General Pope, several Federal commands were directed to concentrate at Liberty to prevent the crossing of the State troops. The first to reach Liberty was Lieutenant Colonel John Scott, with the Third Iowa Infantry Regiment, and four small companies of Missouri Home Guards. Early on the morning of September 17th, Captain Moses L. James, Caldwell County Home Guards, about 40 men, under the command of Lieutenant James Call, of the Third Iowa Regiment, encountered Colonel Childs' cavalry battalion about three miles south of Liberty, on the Blue Mills road. The Home Guards soon retreated, with a loss of four killed and one wounded. At noon, Colonel Scott moved his command in the direction of the enemy. He had the Third Iowa Regiment, 500 men, about 70 Home Guards, and a piece of artillery. Colonel Saunders, of the State Guard, formed his force at a point about four miles east of south of Liberty, placing about 600

men of Colonel Patton's and Colonel Childs' regiments on either side of the road, where they were concealed from observation by heavy underbrush and a natural embank- ment. The action began about 3 o'clock, and lasted for an hour, when the Federals retreated, pursued by Colonel Saunders' troops. The Federal loss was 14 killed and about 80 wounded; the Third lowa Regi- ment suffered most severely, losing 8 killed, and 72 wounded. Captain Cupp, of the Home Guards, was among the killed. Col- onel Saunders' loss was 3 killed and 18 wounded. The Federals brought off their fieldpiece, but were obliged to abandon the caisson.

Blue Mound .- See "Vernon County, Indian and French occupation of."

Blue River .- A small stream, thirty miles in length, which runs its entire course in the western part of Jackson County, empty- ing into the Missouri, ten miles below Kan- sas City. (See also "Little Blue River.")

Blue Springs .- A town in Jackson County, platted by S. K. Knox, in 1878. It is situated on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and is a shipping point of much importance. It contains stores, hotels, a large flouring mill, four churches, a graded school, a bank, a newspaper, a canning factory, etc. It has a mayor and aldermen, and has a population of 1,200.

Blythedale .- An incorporated village in Harrison County, about eighteen miles north of Bethany on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. It has two churches, a bank, a newspaper, the "Gazette," and about twenty miscellaneous stores and shops. Population, 1899 (estimated), 350.

Blytheville .- See "Joplin." 1

B'nai B'rith .- The Independent Order of B'nai B'rith-Sons of the Covenant-was organized in the city of New York, in 1845, and has extended its jurisdiction far beyond the boundaries of the United States, having in 1897 an estimated membership of 35,000. It is purely a charitable and benevolent or- ganization, composed of members of the Jewish Church and designed to provide, in a

BOARD OF APPEALS-BOARD OF HEALTH, ST. LOUIS.

systematic way, for the relief of the poor and needy among the Jewish people. The first District Grand Lodge of the order in the West was instituted at Cincinnati, Ohio, about the year 1852, and the territory em- braced in Missouri is still under this juris- diction. Missouri Lodge No. 22 -- the first in St. Louis-was instituted in 1855. In 1897 there were five lodges in the city, which had been prolific of good works. In many of the larger cities of the United States, orphan asylums established by the order are in existence, one of the most famous institu- tions of this kind in this country being that at Cleveland, Ohio, which in 1897 was shel- tering five hundred orphans. The district of which St. Louis constitutes a part has a widows' and orphans' fund-which now has a large reserve-to which each member con- tributes a stated amount each year and from which the sum of one thousand dollars is paid to the family of a member at his death. Funds are also available for various char- itable purposes, desired results being reached in the most direct and practical way.

Board of Appeals .- A body in the city government of St. Louis composed of three persons appointed by the president of the Board of Public Improvements, whose duties are to hear and decide appeals from the orders and decisions of the city building com- missioner in cases of construction of build- ings. The board holds its meetings twice a month in the city hall.

Board of City Commou .- A board created by the city council of St. Louis, in 1854 under special legislative authority, for the purpose of subdividing and selling the "common" lands belonging to the city. The board passed out of existence after serving the purpose for which it was created. (See "Commons.")

Board of Education, State .- A board composed of the State Superintendent of Public Schools, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State. It has general supervision over the subject of edu- cation in the State, with authority to direct the investment of moneys set apart for education, to thic best advantage.

Board of Health, Kansas City .- The first board of health was organized

under an ordinance of the common council, May 8, 1876, and consisted of six members, one from each ward, appointed by the mayor, with the approval of the council. Its mem- bers were: Dr. J. M. Wood, Dr. D. R. Porter, J. W. Cadwell, J. O. Day, J. D. Elston and A. B. Taylor. May 27, 1879, the number of members was increased to seven, all regular physicians, one of the number, who was president, being appointed from the city at large. August 4th, following, the board of health was by ordinance made to con- sist of the mayor, as president ex-officio; the chief of the fire department; the chief of police ; a city physician, who should be sani- tary superintendent : an additional physician to be assistant sanitary superintendent. Subsequently, the board as now existing was instituted, as follows: The mayor, presi- dent ex-officio ; a city physician, who should be sanitary superintendent and surgeon in charge of the City Hospital ; a health officer ; the chief of the fire department ; the chief of police ; the superintendent of streets ; and a clerk. Acting under the board are a milk and food inspector; a stock and meat in- spector : a chemist and bacteriologist ; and two district physicians. In 1899, the cost of maintaining the health department was $39,- 316.74, of which sum $26,465.74 was for main- tenance of the City Hospital. During the year, 1,932 patients were treated at the City Hospital, and 25.425 persons were prescribed for at the City Dispensary. During the same period, the board reported 2.662 deaths, including 435 in public and charitable in- stitutions. The death rate in the city was 13.60 in each 1,000 of population, upon an estimated population of 200.000.

Board of Health, St. Louis. - A board having control of the health depart- ment of the city of St. Louis. It is composed of the mayor, who is its presiding officer, the presiding officer of the council, a commis- sioner of police, to be designated by the mayor, and two regular practicing physi- cians, who shall possess the same qualifica- tions as the mayor. The health commissioner is a member of the board, and presides over it in the absence of the mayor. The board meets twice a weck during the year and approves the appointments of the health commissioner, issues orders to the health commissioner and approves the regulations

309

BOARD OF HEALTH, STATE-BOARD OF TRADE, ST. LOUIS.

prescribed by the health commissioner for the City Hospital, Insane Asylum, Quaran- tine, Morgue, and City Dispensary, and approves the steps to be taken by the com- missioner during the prevalence of an epidemic.

The Board of Health was established by the new charter of 1876; but the first health commissioner was Cornelius Campbell ap- pointed in 1832.

Board of Health, State .- A State Board composed of four members appointed by the Governor for seven years, having its headquarters in St. Louis, and holding its regular meetings in St. Louis, and its annual meetings at Jefferson City. It has general supervision over the health and sanitary interests of the citizens of the State, with authority to recommend to the Legislature such laws as it may deem necessary to im- prove and advance the sanitary condition of the State, and to recommend to the municipal authorities of any city or the county court of any county the adoption of any rules that it may deem wise or expedient for the pro- tection and preservation of the health of the citizens. It has authority also to establislı quarantine, when advisable, and have the State officers enforce it. It has supervision over the registration of births and deaths, and the county court clerks make reports of these to it annually. The regular meetings of the board are held in January and July. The board was established in 1884, with Dr. E. C. Gregory, of St. Louis, as president, and Dr. J. C. Hearne, of Hannibal, as secretary. The officers of the board in 1899 were : Dr. Elmer E. Standlee, of St. Louis, president ; Dr. L. C. McElwee, of St. Louis, vice president, and Dr. O. A. Williams, of Ver- sailles, secretary.

Board of Pharmacy, State .- Estab- lished by act of the State Legislature in 1880, and composed of three competent phar- macists appointed by the Governor, and holding office for three years. The board examines persons who desire to engage in the business of a pharmacist, and issues cer- tificates of registration to those found competent, and no person is allowed to follow the business of a pharmacist in the State of Missouri without such certificate, under penalty of not less than twenty-five

dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars. The board keeps a registry of all pharmacists to whom certificates have been issued. The meetings are held quarterly, on the second Monday in January, in St. Louis; the second Monday in April, in Kansas City ; the second Monday in June, in Sedalia, and the second Monday in October, in St. Louis. The mem- bers receive no salary, but receive a fee of three dollars on each certificate issued. The first members of the board, appointed in 1881, were Wm. Hurt, president ; Mr. Hart, vice president, and M. W. Alexander, secre- tary. The permanent office is in St. Louis.

Board of Public Improvements, St. Louis .- The body in the city govern- ment that has supervision of the streets. It was first authorized and provided for in the charter of 1876. It is composed of five com- missioners, known as street commissioner, sewer commissioner, water commissioner, harbor and wharf commissioner and park commissioner, all appointed by the mayor, and holding office four years, with a presi- dent of the board elected by the people and holding office four years. It holds weekly meetings, prescribes regulations for water and gas pipe connections, recommends ordi- nances for street improvements, and no ordinance for the construction or recon- struction of any street, alley or highway can be passed without its recommendation. It has authority to direct where and how public sewers shall be established and constructed, with the dimensions and materials, and also to define restrictions for private sewers, to stibmit to the municipal assembly estimates of the cost of any proposed work, and to advertise for bids and let out the work by contract, and to contract for street sprin- kling. All special tax bills contemplated by the charter are made out by the president of the board ; this officer presides at the meet- ings of the board and has a general super- vision over the departments of all other commissioners.

Board of Trade, St. Louis .- A vol- untary, unincorporated association of bus- iness men, organized in the year 1867. Its first meeting was held at the Polytechnic Building, and was addressed by Honorable Henry T. Blow. Its object was to consider questions bearing on the business and wel-

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BOARMAN-BOGGS.

fare of the city, the extension of trade relations into new regions ; the building up of new railroads ; the improvement of rivers ; adjustment of rates of transportation; en- couragement of manufactures ; and co-opera- tion with similar organizations in other cities in common measures for facilitating the internal commerce of the country. Its pro- ceedings were limited to discussions, and while these were interesting, and at times attracted considerable numbers of business men, the board never became an active and influential agent, like the Exchange. It never owned a building, or rooms, with libraries, records, reading-rooms, telegraph service, market reports, and other similar adjuncts for the transaction of business. Its meetings were held in halls and hotel parlors, and after a time lost their interest, and finally were abandoned. The last president was Lee R. Shryock, and the last secretary, Charles L. Thompson.

Boarman, Jerome A., county physi- cian of Jackson County, was born August 22, 1861, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was descended from a notable English family which settled in Maryland in early colonial days, and aided in the struggle for independ- ence. His father, Jerome G. Boarman, a native of Maryland, left that State in 1840 with his parents, who came west and first located at Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Jerome G. Boarman went to Kansas City in 1856. In 1862, he engaged in the drug business in that city, first with Dr. Lester, and he followed this calling for many years. He married Miss Laura Horner, of Lebanon, Illinois, whose grandfather gave the land upon which stands the famous McKendree College. Mr. Boarman is yet living in Kan- sas City ; his wife died in 1874. Their living children are Ada, a teacher in the Oakley School, Kansas City: Lula, widow of T. C. Webster; and Dr. Jerome A. Boarman. The last named was educated in the Kansas City public schools, and in St. Louis University. He then read medicine under the tutorship of Dr. R. L. Greene, of Kansas City, and after- ward became a student in the University Medical College of Kansas City, from which he was graduated in 1895. For about ten years he conducted a drug business, assisted by his father during a part of the time. His practice covers the general lines of the pro-

fession, and he enjoys a large patronage from an excellent class of people who regard him with admiration and confidence by reason of his professional ability and personal worth. He was formerly professor of materia medica in the Kansas City (Kansas) Medical College. In 1897 he was appointed by the county court of Jackson County, to the position of county physician, and he has since annually succeeded himself by re- appointment. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion a Catholic. Dr. Boarman was married to Miss Joanna Lane, of Carth- age, Missouri, daughter of Judge Josiah Lane. once of the Jasper County court. Mrs. Boarman died in 1898, leaving two daughters of tender years.

Bodine, Robert N., lawyer and mem- ber of Congress, was born in Monroe County, Missouri, December 17, 1837. He graduated at the State University, and then held the position of principal of the Paris public school for several years. After that he studied law and practiced, and was elected prosecuting attorney for Monroe County, and served two terms in the State Legis- lature. the last term as a member of the committee on revision of the statutes. He was also a member of the board of regents of Kirksville Normal School. In 1896 he was elected to Congress in the second district as a Democrat, receiving 25,862 votes to 19.367 cast for C. A. Loomis, Republican. and 1,212 for J. Y. Polson, Populist.

Bogard .- An incorporated village in Carroll County, seven and a half miles north- northeast of Carrollton, on the Chicago, Burlington & Kansas City Railroad. It was formerly known as Bogard's Mound, a large Indian mound being near by. It has Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Churches, a flour- mill, sawmill, hotel, weekly newspaper, the "Journal," and about twenty stores and shops. Population, 1899 (estimated), 300.

Boggs, James H., a prominent and representative farmer of Howard County, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, November 17, 1824. His father, Joseph Boggs, was a native of Delaware, and his mother, Elizabeth (Plow) Boggs was a native of Pennsylvania. James H. Boggs as a youth worked diligently on his father's farm

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BOGGS-BOGIE.

in Kentucky, and had but limited educational advantages. What book knowledge he possessed was obtained through his own efforts mainly outside the school room. In 1859 he came to Missouri and located in Howard County. He bought the farm of three hundred and ten acres on which he now resides, and which he has by his industry, thrift and good management made one of the model farms of Iloward County. He has devoted himself mainly to the growing of wheat and corn and to stock-raising, in which he has been eminently successful. As an index to the character of the man, it may be mentioned that at one time he engaged with a partner in a merchandising business. In 1868 this venture failed and Mr. Boggs went energetically to work on his farm and made the money to liquidate every dollar of the firm's indebtedness. This action, together with a similar high standard of conduct which has marked his course of action through life, has given him a standing in the community second to no citizen of the county. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Christian Church and for twenty years has been an elder of his church. He is a Master of the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He married March 1, 1859, Miss Mildred Cornalison, daughter of John and Patsey (McWilliams) Cornalison of Kentucky. Their children have been John C., who died January 28, 1869 : Mildred, and Mary M., who is now the wife of James A. Forbes, who manages Mr. Boggs' farm, outlying Armstrong, in Howard County.

Boggs, Lilburn W., soldier, fur trader, legislator, Lieutenant Governor and Gov- ernor of Missouri, was born at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1796, and died at Napa Valley, California, March 14. 1860. He served with the Kentucky Volunteers in the War of 1812, and in 1816 came to Missouri, settling first in St. Louis, where he became engaged in the fur trade. In 1819 he was made cashier of the Bank of St. Louis, the first bank opened in Missouri. In the prosecu- tion of the trade in furs, he lived for a time, successively, in St. Charles, Franklin and Jackson Counties. In 1826, he was elected to the Legislature, and re-elected for several terms. In 1832 he was elected Lieutenant Governor, and served four years, and in 1836 was elected Governor, serving to the

end of his four years' term, and after that was elected State Senator. In 1846 he re- moved to California and filled honorable stations in that State, dying there in 1860. His administration as Governor of Missouri was made memorable by the "Mormon War" which resulted in the explosion of the Mor- mons from the State and their settlement at Nauvoo, Illinois. Governor Boggs' ener- getic proceedings against the Saints inflamed them against him, and in 1841, after his re- tirement from the Governor's office, an attempt was made to assassinate him at his home in Jackson County by some one who shot him in the head while he was sitting in his room with his back to the window. The bullet did not penetrate the skull and the intended victim recovered from the wound. A Mormon named Rockwell, in the Gov- ernor's employ, was charged with the crime and was arrested and tried for it. but was acquitted, Colonel A. W. Doniphan being his attorney.

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Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I, Part 55

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n Publication date: 1901 Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors Number of Pages: 856

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors
Number of Pages: 856