USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 26
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producer. If a man could get hold of a few acres of ground his credit would be good with the storekeeper as soon as he told him he had sown tobacco, and the storekeeper would be content to wait for his money until the crop was harvested and sold.
"The tobacco was received in huge barns, the most notable of which were at Huntsville, Brunswick and Glasgow. There were, also, large factories at Macon, Bloomington and Callao. The produet was squeezed into great hogsheads, from 1,400 to 2,000 pounds in each, and sent by boat to St. Louis. I have seen steamers cut loose from the wharf at Brunswick so heavily loaded with hogsheads of tobacco that the water would splash up on the lower deck.
"Nearly all'of the Missouri tobacco went to European countries. It seemed that in certain sections there our weed was a prime favorite for plug and smoking because of its great strength. England was specially fond of a long leaf we raised, which was known to the trade as 'Shoestring.' At that time-prior to 1866-it was against the law to cultivate tobacco in England. The other varieties raised here were 'Iron Oker,' 'Yellow Oker' and 'One Sucker.' 'White Burley' was grown towards the close of the industry in Missouri. It is said that this variety absorbed enough moisture on the ocean voyage to pay its freightage aeross. The smart dealer on the other side was the gainer by this, which he long kept to himself as a trade secret. The vessels collected their freightage at the port of embarkation and, of course, could not charge again on the other side.
"I am glad experiments with the object of again raising tobacco in Missouri are under way. At the present price, which, I understand, is from $10 to $12 per 100 pounds, it ought to be profitably raised. You can raise easily 750 pounds to an acre, if the crop is well 'tended. But it requires incessant activity. About three aeres is enough for one man to look after, but if he has several children to help, he might put out more. In the tobacco days ten aeres was regarded as a large tract. You see, a man has to virtually sleep with his erop, with the weeding and the suecoring and the worming. But it's a hardy crop and thrives well. There was money in it in the old days, and there would be money in it now for the small farmers who could devote the time to it.
"Why they quit raising it? Well, there were several reasons. One was the bottom dropped out of the Liverpool market because of the India tobacco which had just reached there. That knocked out the American export trade. Quite a number of Missouri shippers had large eonsigments on the way over when the drop occurred, and all lost heavily, as the tobacco they sent wouldn't pay the big transportation
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charges. I know of one man whom they drew on to pay a large freight bill to cover the difference between the freight charges and what his tobacco sold for at Liverpool. These things disgusted the Missouri farmer with the business and he tried to forget all about tobacco in the raising of corn, wheat and fine cattle. Tobacco continued very low for a long time, and at last it became a forgotten product of Missouri. But with present prices the weed could certainly be raised profitably and the industry come into its own again. The old state certainly raised a fine article while it was at it, a brand that was famous the world over, just as our corn-cob pipe is today. An immense amount of tobacco could be raised withont subtracting materially from the produc- tion of grain and other things, as tobacco doesn't require very much space.
"There is one draw-back about the crop, and that is it drains the fertility of the land quicker than any other product. After land has been planted in tobacco three seasons it is 'all in,' and you have to treat it heavy to fertilizers to make it produce anything else for some time. But by that time you've got a good pile of money in your pocket, and can stand the loss of the small acreage for a season while it recovers. The resumption of the tobacco industry would add mightily to the state's wealth and furnish employment to a great many laborers, both in the fields and factories. There is no question about the successful raising of the plant; it is as sure a crop as anything a farmer could put in, and because of certain qualities the Missouri article has always proven a high favorite with the manufacturers."
E. E. Samuel, a Chicago capitalist, is now doing a great deal to revive the tobacco industry in Missouri. His house is distributing White Burley seed to the farmers and agrees to take all the tobacco produced at the highest market price. Last year Macon county raised quite a lot of weed which was sold to the firm. The demand for Mis- souri White Burley comes largely from China, where by official edict the celestials have been using tobacco manufactured from that and other brands in large quantities in place of the seductive opium pipe. It is stated by those who are close to the situation that the Oriental demand for tobacco is increasing as the years go by, and that in time the price will rise to such figures that Missouri farmers will go into the tobacco business extensively.
Many old citizens clearly remember the time when Macon, Callao and Bloomington were lively in those seasons when the farmers were bringing their tobacco to market. Immense sums of money were put in circulation and business thrived wonderfully. Of course, tobacco will
BOYHOOD HOME OF DR. A. T. STILL
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not take the place of grain and stock-raising, which are the leading industries of the county, but it may prove to be one of the important side industries, one which will add many dollars to the farmers' annual revenue.
Twenty-two years ago a writer on Macon county farming lands appraised them at from $10 to $20 per acre. Today $50 is a fair average, but many improved farms have been sold largely in excess of that sun. The immense influx of land buyers from Iowa, Illinois and other states in 1902-3 sent valnes up rapidly. Missourians awoke to a realization that they had appraised their farms below their value. Quite a number paid a bonus to purchase back before the deeds were executed. Many thousands of acres in Macon county changed hands during the period of the land boom. The men who came here from other states knew exactly what they were getting. They seemed to have a better idea of the land's value than many of those who had lived on it all their lives. In most instances, the newcomers paid spot-cash. They have proven good citizens, bringing with them the thrift and enterprise of their former states. The county has been the gainer by these new residents, nearly all of whom belong to the well-to-do class.
Blue grass is named as the most valuable of the soil's products. The broad aeres of the county are covered with it, and it has made stock-raising profitable. It comes out in mid-spring and stays till the winter snows blight it. Corn, timothy and clover are the staple crops. Some progress has been made in the production of alfalfa. Wheat thrives as well on the Chariton lowlands as on the Missouri river bot- toms. Corn runs from sixty to seventy bushels to the acre there. The land there also produces the finest vegetables known. Until the drain- age enterprise was under way these lowlands had not been successfully developed. With the large canal now constructed from north Valley township down into Chariton county the farmers regard these lands as safe from damaging overflows, and cultivate them extensively.
The Missouri apple is said to command the top notch price in the markets, because of its superior flavor. There are a number of large orchards in Macon county, many of them being operated strictly as a financial enterprise. One orchard firm near Macon-Wardell & Me- Cully-cleared $12,000 on its product in 1909. The varieties are Ben Davis, Jonathan, Willow Twig, Grim's Golden and Winesap. Peaches, pears and small fruit of all kinds are grown with fair success.
The drainage of Macon county is excellent. The state divide runs through the heart of it, north and south. The larger streams are the Chariton, East and Middle; Mussel, North and South Forks; Salt river,
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Long Branch, Big Brush, Bear, Turkey, Narrows, Winn, Little Turkey, Hoosier, Walnut, White Oak, Painter, Richland, Pearl, Silver, Clear Spring and Rock Creeks.
Within recent years the dairy business has become quite an impor- tant adjunct to farming. There is a first-class creamery at Macon operated by Rudolph Miller, a native of Denmark, who has worked inde- fatigably to interest the people in the production of milk and the development of their dairies.
When he first came to Macon county Mr. Miller traveled from dawn to dark explaining to the farmers what the dairy business had done for Denmark and what it would do for Missouri if the people here would go at the business as the Danes did." The soil of Holland and Den- mark had been practically worked to the bone. and the people were emigrating in large numbers because of their inability to produce crops, when some good Samaritan suggested the idea of dairying for the restoration of the land. It proved to be the financial salvation of the kingdoms.
Mr. Miller came to Macon county in the spring of 1900. He was told that Macon was not a dairy county, and that he would simply add his to the list of failures of those who had tried to conduct a creamery at Macon. But the man from Denmark knew what he was about. He reasoned that a Missourian was just as anxious to make money as a Dane, and that it was his business to show him how. For the first year or two it was a discouraging proposition. He was told that Macon was a splendid county for corn and coal and fruit and stock-raising and all of that, but that it never could be made a prize-winner on dairy products. So from the small patronage he had on the start, Mr. Miller managed to produce some samples of Macon county products, which he sent to the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo in 1901. There were exhibits from all parts of the United States, the highest of which scored 9715. and Mr. Miller's "scrub" butter from Macon county scored 97.
"The trouble with the dairy business in this state," said Mr. Mil- ler, "is that, with most farmers, it is merely a side issue, to carn a little extra money. The production of cream ought to be an industry by itself. There should be organization and discussion. The producer of milk and the manufacturer of butter need greater confidence in cach other. Attention should be given to scientific feeding and to keeping the cows and their barus as clean as possible. The barns should be heated in winter and the cows fed on succulent feed, such as roots, etc. With proper care they will give as much milk in winter as in summer. Great care should be exercised to keep the ponds and all
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sources of water absolutely pure. That is the way they do it in Denmark."
One man sold $82 worth of cream to the Macon creamery in Novem- ber, 1909, the product of ten cows. Several patrons of the creamery clear annually from $500 to $700 on five cows.
The live stock industry has grown to large proportions in Macon county. Blue grass pasturage exists all over the county, and grazing land is abundant. All the towns on the railroads ship large consign- ments of cattle, sheep and hogs to the markets, and the high prices exist- ing have made the industry most profitable. The Missouri mule is developed in Macon county to his highest perfection, and is seen on all the blue grass farms. In most of the towns regular stock day sales are held, which are largely attended and good prices realized. Some noted auctioneers reside in Macon county and they have made these sales attractives features of the week ends.
The following list of purchasers and prices paid is from the report of an auction sale held at Macon in March, 1910, largely attended by stock men and farmers from Northern Missouri :
Span 2-year-old mules, $290, Robert Bell, purchaser; mare, $125, Allen Adams; span mules, $392.50, C. L. Vandyke; span mules, $325, Billy McGee; horse, $127.50, Tom Gupton ; horse, $197.50, P. M. Gross; horse, $115, Tom Sneed ; horse, $155, A. P. Strode ; horse, $292.50, A. D. McAfee ; pair mules, $305, R. W. Ayersman ; horse, $50, N. A. Hayworth, Moberly ; horse, $85, Mitchell, Palmyra, horse, $95, P. L. Miller; span of mules, $300, C. W. Hall; horse. $235, Garnett of Madison, Missouri ; horse, $150, Joe Parrish, Moberly; team of horses, $455, P. M. Gross; buggy horse, $200, Mitchell of Palmyra; horse, $155, Garnett of Madi- son ; span mules, $400, William Rose; horse, $150, A. Roberts; pair mmiles, $365, Vaught of Shelbina.
At about the same time these prices were being paid on the Chi- cago markets for other classes of stock: Cattle, $8 to $8.60; hogs, $10.75 to $10.95; sheep, $8.50 to $9.30. The local market was a few cents lower.
There was a sale of lots in Hudson (now Macon) by public outery on July 4, 1857. At that time Hudson was farming land sliced up into town lots. The town of Macon was to the east of it. Macon had pro- gressed rapidly and it was the desire of the promoters of IIndson to start a rival town and outclass it. The eventual result was that the two towns went together and became one hig city.
Thomas P. Rubey, H. L. Rutherford and G. B. Dameron, comprised the Hudson Town Company. They succeeded in interesting quite a
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number of well-to-do St. Louisans in the enterprise. The syndicate had influence with the management of the North Missouri Railroad, then building upstate. The road, as originally projected, would have gone through Macon, but the Hudson Town Company induced the managers to change its locating survey to the town it was going to build to the west. That is why the road swings on a long curve to the west. Several of the prominent streets and avenues of Macon are named after St. Louis men who were stockholders in the town company, notably Samuel Treat, D. A. January, Gerard Allen and others. The new town was named after Thomas Hudson, at that time president of the North Missouri railroad.
The Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad was very close to completion: North Missouri was full of active railroad men and investors. It was said that the machine shops, road-houses, and other railroad buildings of the North Missouri road would be located at Hudson. Other roads were talked of as knocking at the door to get in. It was a rosy picture for a town lot sale crowd. There were several brass bands, refresh- ments galore and everybody was out there for a good time and a town lot. Lots, 46x20 feet, were bought up like hot cakes at from $50 to $300. There was no limit to the supply, however. The Town Company could have sold lots clear up to the Iowa line if there had been enough purchasers.
The $300 lots were supposed to be on the main thoroughfare, the Broadway of Hudson. Now it is in the extreme southwest part of Macon, almost out of sight of the business district. Colonel Robert Bevier, who later organized a regiment and went into the Southern army, was one of the orators of that interesting day. Quite a number of other distinguished personages from the cities were present.
Web M. Rubey, now a resident of Macon, is the only person who could be found in the county who has a keen recollection of the town lot sale. He was then deputy county clerk, and lived at Bloomington, the county seat. Hudson, January, Judge Treat, Allen and all the members of the Hudson Town Company are now dead.
The men who bought lots erected buildings, and for a while it seemed that all the rainbows drawn by the auctioneer would be realized. The streets of Hudson hummed with activity, just as they do now in the boom towns of Oklahoma. A large portion of old Macon was rolled over and united with the new town. The railroads were com- pleted and up until the Civil war there was constant business activity in these parts. It is very rare now that you hear the name Hudson
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mentioned in connection with Macon, as soon after the union the latter name became generally adopted.
Visitors to Macon have expressed great admiration for the beauty and extent of the maple trees in the residence districts of the town. A picture taken of the town from the waterworks tower looks as though the city were in the heart of a forest. From these beautiful trees came the name, "The City of Maples," so frequently applied to Macon. The circumstances in which the town acquired these trees are interesting. In 1872 John W. Beaumont, an energetic real estate man and pro- moter, became involved and conld not pay his taxes. The city's bill against him was only $116. Beaumont was an honest man and the debt worried him. He went to the City Council, frankly explained his financial embarrassment, and said that he liad on hand 10,000 young maple trees, from one to two inches in diameter, which he had secured for the purpose of setting out around the real estate lie had for sale; if the city would accept these young trees, which were worth far more than his debt, he would be glad to make the payment that way. After some discussion, in which the majority favored the proposition, the Council agreed to the compromise, and Mr. Beaumont delivered the trees. Then the mayor, S. G. Brock, proclaimed an "Arbor Day." It was announced that every property owner who would agree to set out and care for from six to ten trees could receive them free of charge by applying to the City Council. At that time the country in these parts was mostly prairie land and there were bnt few trees in Macon. The Council's proposition was eagerly accepted and acted upon by the citizens. Almost in a day Mr. Beaumont's legal tender for taxes was in the hands of the inhabitants, who faithfully carried out their part of the agreement. These trees were sturdy and grew to large proportions, furnishing welcome shade to all the avenues of the town, and adding greatly to its beauty and homelike appearance.
To Col. F. W. Blees largely belongs the credit of the extensive municipal improvements inaugurated and carried out in Macon. When he returned from Germany, after having settled up his ancestral estate, he went before the City Council and insisted that an adequate sewer- age system be constructed. To this enterprise he generously donated $5,000. He was also one of the first to urge the extension of street paving and good sidewalks. Year by year the paved streets have been extended in all directions and there are miles and miles of granitoid walks around the town. All the main streets of the city are paved with vitrified brick, and at the southern limits of the paving is the govern- ment road, a smooth boulevard constructed as a specimen of rock high-
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way by engineers from the Federal Road Department. This boulevard extends on to the Academy and south.
In 1909 the electric light and waterworks system was remodeled at an expenditure of about $24,000. The improvements were in the hands of a Board of Public Works, composed of the following gentle- men: F. W. Gieselman, president ; John Thompson, Thomas Still and Henry Hunckler. Allen Guthrie was a member of the board the first year, but resigned when his time was up and Mr. Hunekler was appointed in his place. The board was chosen by the citizens. New electric pumps were installed at the source of water supply, East Fork, and the power house was strengthened by the addition of a Vertical Cross Compound engine. 450 H. P., directly connecting with a 300 kilowatt generator. This is the emergency engine of the plant. It is of the class used in the large cities for trolley lines and electric lights. The capacity of the plant with this powerful engine is 7,000 16-candle power lights. The Maeon plant has the capacity to supply power not only for Macon but for all the adjoining towns within twelve miles or more. It is said to be the best concern of the kind in the west. It is hoped by the new installation that the electric light and waterworks system will not only be self-sustaining, but will create a revenue for the city.
To the Ladies Civie League is largely due the credit for the cleanly and attractive appearance of Macon. The League was organized in 1903, and the following officers were chosen. Mrs. Philip Gansz, presi- dent : Mrs. Theodore Gary, first vice-president ; Mrs. Otho Matthews, second vice-president : Miss Jennie Dessert, secretary and treasurer.
The League at onee began an active campaign. It enlisted the support of the City Council and the business men. A man was employed to sweep and remove the litter from the downtown streets daily. An ordinanee was passed prohibiting tobacco users from disfiguring the sidewalks. Householders were urged to clean up their yards and alleys, and to have carted off their ashes, old cans and debris. Prizes were offered for those who cultivated the most attractive lawns. Many other improvements were encouraged by the industrious and publie spirited women, and Macon soon became known far and wide as one of the prettiest towns in the state. The secretary has received numerous letters from other organizations of women, requesting that a copy of the by-laws of the Macon League, and something about its method of operation.
Since its organization the League has expended, on an average, about $650 a year for the improvement of Macon. It is now creating
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a sinking fund to be devoted to some special feature of interest and benefit. A suite of entertainment rooms for farmers' wives and children, and visiting women from the towns of the county, has been suggested. The fund now contains $300. The ladies raised $85 of this by the sale of a carload of old magazines which had been donated to them by the people.
The present officers of the Civic League are: Mrs. R. Holtzclaw, president; Mrs. Ed. S. Smith, first vice-president; Mrs. W. H. Miller, second vice-president; Mrs. Maude D. Brock, secretary-treasurer.
The Maeon Charity Society is another women's enterprise which has and is accomplishing splendid work. It was organized in 1904. Mrs. E. J. Demeter, who was the first president, still retains that posi- tion, because her work has proven so successful, and she seems so well adapted to it, that the ladies will not permit her to resign. The purpose of the Charity Society is twofold-to help the deserving poor and to prevent the citizens from being imposed upon by unknown and irrespon- sible charity solictors. The society saves the County Court a large sum of money every year, by taking care of the town's really poor. The merehants and business men generally are requested not to hand over money to traveling strangers solieiting for this and that enterprise, but to refer them to the president of the Charity Society, who will investigate, and if the applicants are found worthy, will assist them.
Within recent years Missouri has been the happy hunting ground for the traveling charity grafter.
Not long ago a sweet-faced young woman, dressed in deep mourn- ing, came to Macon and said she represented an institution where poor children were cared for. She wept bitterly over the sufferings of the little ones who were disowned by their parents, and in less than half a day had raked in forty dollars to relieve motherless little chaps, who, it was afterwards ascertained, existed only in the imagination of the sweet-faced young solicitor. The money she carried away in her hand- bag, however, was very real.
It is her knowledge and experience with cases of this sort which makes Mrs. Demeter an invaluable head to the society. If those who contributed to the young lady referred to had first sent her to Mrs. Demeter for investigation an unconscionable yonng grafter would have left Maeon with an empty hand-bag.
The cases of real destitution, however, receive the earnest and constant attention of the society. No worthy applicant is refused, and so useful has the society proven that not a case of real suffering occurred in Macon during its organization. The officers of the Macon
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Charity Society are: Mrs. E. J. Demeter, president; Mrs. Charles VanCleve, Mrs. J. R. McKee, vice-presidents ; Mrs. Frank Smith, secre- tary; Mrs. H. A. Abel, treasurer. Two women from each church of the city constitute the Charity board.
Perhaps the most important county enterprise that has been put on foot within recent years is the system for draining the Chariton lowlands. The need of this had been apparent for a long while before the work was commenced. The bottom lands are the most productive in northern Missouri. The periodical floods bring down a large quantity of valuable fertilizing material, which lays on the ground until it become a part of the soil. The springs would open smiling and propitious, encouraging the farmers to sow. But when the grain was up and beginning to give promises of a prolific harvest the floods would come and destroy the hard work of the husbandman. This occurred so fre- quently that the lowlands had but little value.
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