USA > Missouri > DeKalb County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 22
USA > Missouri > Andrew County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
$1,740,198
Total value of property $4,617,778
Number of horses.
7,738
Number of mules
1,847
Number of cows
7,531
45
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Number of other cattle
13,701
Number of sheep
11,209
Number of swine.
61,834
Number of pounds of wool.
61,43S
Number of pounds of butter
342,466
Number of bushels of wheat.
291,717
Number of bushels of oats
254,728
Number of bushels of corn
2,723,745
Number of bushels of potatoes.
58,068
Number of bushels of sweet potatoes
2,034
Number of tons of hay
17,449
Number of pounds of tobacco.
12,257
State tax 1880.
$18,471
County tax 1880. .
23,089
City, town and school district tax.
29,457
Total amount of taxes.
$71,017
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Anything like a complete financial history of Andrew County would alone fill a large volume, and were we desirous of giving the same, it would be almost impossible, owing to the manner in which some of the reports of settlements were made. After the report of the first year, which is given elsewhere, the county revenue increased quite rapidly, its principal sources for some time being the proceeds arising from the sale of lots and the granting of licenses for various purposes. What is here pre- sented will show the financial condition of the county for the years designated.
APRIL, 1844, TO APRIL, 1845.
Amount of county revenue on hand. . $ 219 62
Amount since received. 1,699 39₺
$1,919 01}
Amount disbursed
1,693 61
Balance on hand.
$ 225 40}
Amount of lot fund received. . .
$1,409 50}
Amount lot fund disbursed 1,119 42}
Balance on hand.
$ 290 08
Amount of road fund received
$ 230 89
Amount disbursed. 230 89
1850-COUNTY FUND.
Receipts from May 1, 1849 to May 1, 1850. $3,882 22
Disbursements 1,704 90
46
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Total receipts. ៛1,065 12
Disbursements. 1,065 05
BUILDING FUND.
Receipts
$1,239 02
Disbursements. 1,239 02
ROAD AND CANAL FUND.
Receipts.
$ 252 10
Disbursements.
252 54
For 1854 the total receipts and disbursements of the county werc.
$68,286 42
The total disbursements for 1865 were. 30,281 96
The following is a summary of the financial condition of the county for 1870:
Total receipts of the county fund. $12,627 65
Total disbursements county fund 14,779 65
Receipts pauper fund. 1,427 99
Disbursements pauper fund. 2,683 28 .
Receipts bridge fund. 8,008 25
Disbursements bridge fund 5,009 05
Receipts road fund
7,733 97
Disbursements road fund.
3,593 73
Receipts railroad fund. 8,458 64
Coupons accruing from May 1, 1869 to May 1,51870. . 9,660 00
1885.
Receipts contingent fund $1,165 19
Disbursements contingent fund
858 48
Receipts pauper fund. . 381 32
Receipts road and bridge fund.
2,777 79
Disbursements road andjbridge fund.
1,212 71
School principal receipts. 4,940 70
School principal disbursements
1,650 00
Receipts school interest.
12,208 15
Disbursements school interest. 12,065 94
Receipts road fund 3,311 60
Disbursements road fund.
1,752 22
Receipts jury and witness fund.
415 49
Disbursements jury and witness fund.
333 62
Receipts salary fund
1,356 08
Disbursements salary fund.
928 13
Contingent fund registered. $4,508 00
Pauper fund registered. 1,320 64
Road and bridge fund registered. 5,824 00
Jury and witness fund registered.
502 65
Total amount registered.
$12,155 29
47
STATE OF MISSOURI.
MAY, 1887.
Contingent fund-total amount received to May 1,
1887.
$2,192 99
Total amount disbursed. 2,297 73
Amount overdrawn. $ 104 74
Total amount warrants registered.
4,793 29
Total indebtedness on contingent fund
$4,898 03
PAUPER FUND.
Total amount received to May 1, 1887
$1,639 78
Total amount disbursed 1,229 33
Amount in treasury May 1 410 45
ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND.
Total receipts to May 1, 1887 $6,803 99
Total amount disbursed. 5,611 31
Total amount in treasury $ 1,192 68
Warrants registered on road and bridge fund.
13,312 88
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
Balance May 1, 1886.
$
4,226 67
Total received to May 1, 1887 13,794 99
Total
$ 18,021 66
Total disbursed to May 1, 1887
11,766 00
Balance May 1. 1887
6,255 66
ROAD FUND- CURRENT YEAR.
Total receipts. $ 2,031 98
Total disbursements. 1,213 90
Balance May 1, 1887 $ 818 08
JURY AND WITNESS FUND.
Receipts
$ 332 96
Disbursements. 273 34
Warrants registered on jury and witness fund. 175 40
SALARY FUND. $ 1,320 74
Receipts.
Disbursements 1,313 58
Warrants registered on salary fund. 150 00
Amount of warrants registered, as appears from the register of warrants in the treasurer's office, unpaid to May 1, 1887, for which there is no money to pay the same, in the treasury, is as follows:
48
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
Contingent fund.
$ 4,898 03
Pauper fund
736 25
Road and bridge fund.
13,212 88
Jury and witness fund
175 40
Salary fund.
150 00
Total indebtedness of the county, less interest
on the same.
$ 19,172 56
TAX LEVY FOR 1887.
Contingent fund
10 cents per
$100
Pauper fund. .
.05
66
66 100
Road and bridge fund.
.25
66
66 100
Salary fund ..
.03
66
66 100
Jury and witness fund.
.02
66
66 100
Road district fund.
.05
66
66
100
STATISTICS, 1887.
Number.
Value.
Horses
9,003.
$ 344,040
Asses and jennets.
79
5,410
Mules.
1,819.
80,190
Cattle.
27,749
362,410
Sheep
3,341.
3,070
Hogs
45,535
87,465
Acres of land
268,123.42
Value of lands.
2,722,040
Value of town lots.
314,673
Total Value of real estate
8,036,713
Moneys, notes and other credits.
965,802
Other personal property. ..
266,118
Total value of personal property.
2,114,505
Total value of taxable property.
5,151,218
THE PRESS.
The honor of establishing the first newspaper in Andrew County belongs to one Lorenzo D. Nash, who, as early as the fall of 1845, located in Savannah, and began the publication of The Western Empire, a small six-column folio sheet of Democratic proclivities, devoted to the local interests of Northwest Missouri. The paper was in harmony with the existing state of things at the time, printed on an old-fashioned press, and reached a fair circula- tion, but of the ability displayed in its editorial make-up we are left in a large measure to conjecture, no copies having been pre- served, and but few people now living remembering the editor.
49
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Mr. Nash was one of the pioneer printers of Northern Missouri, and appears to have been a man of intelligence and average literary ability. He continued the publication until the summer of 1846, at which time he abandoned the sanctum, exchanging the quill for the musket, and enlisted in one of the first regiments recruited for the war with Mexico. Of his military career and subsequent life we are left in the dark, for, on leaving Savannah, he soon passed out of the recollection of the people.
The successor to Mr. Nash was Charles F. Holly, who assumed editorial control of the paper in the summer of 1846, and ran it until the following fall, completing the first year, at the end of which time the enterprise, for lack of proper support, was aban- doned. It was revived in the spring of 1847 by Elzy Van Buskirk, who, after publishing it for a limited period in the face of many discouraging circumstances, was compelled to suspend operations, the people of the county not having been educated up to the point of properly appreciating a live local newspaper.
The second effort to start a newspaper in Savannah was made in the year of 1851 by Charles F. Holly and L. D. Carter, whose paper started out under the name of The Savannah Sentinel. The Sentinel was in size a six-column folio, " Benton Democratic" in politics, and, under the able editorial management of Mr. Holly, one of the most trenchant political writers at that time in North- west Missouri, acquired considerable popularity and a fairly re- munerative patronage. Messrs. Holly and Carter continued the paper several years, but subsequently sold the press to Jesse Johns, who, after a short time, disposed of the same to Baldwin & Ewing, by whom the name was changed to The Family Intelli- gencer. The latter sheet was started as a weekly paper devoted to the cultivation of home literary talent by constituting itself a medium through which the productions of local writers and others might be given publicity. The paper was neat in its mechanical appearance, and with sufficient patronage might have grown into popular favor. It was destined to be short-lived however, and after the issue of perhaps thirteen numbers the publication was discontinued.
In 1856 a joint-stock company, composed of L. D. Carter, C. F. Holly and Daniel Van Buskirk, was formed for the purpose of
4A
50
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
starting a local paper, and in the fall of the same year the first number of the North West Democrat made its appearance with Mr. Holly as chief editor. The political complexion of this paper, as the name would indicate, was decidedly Democratic, and as such, soon became the local party organ of Andrew County. It was published under the management of the aforesaid company for a period of about two years, at the end of which time, in 1858, the office was purchased by Messrs. Welsh and Hail, men of strong Southern sentiments, who continued it until the office was seized and confiscated by a detachment of Federal troops in 1861.
In the meantime, about the year 1857, a paper bearing the high sounding title of The American Eagle was started by Will- iam D. Gentry, who ran it for a limited period in the interest of the " anti-Benton " faction of the Democratic party. Mr. Gentry was a man of some newspaper ability, but the Eagle seems to have been impeded in its flight from the outstart, and its col- lapse after a few months' vain attempt at soaring was the source of no surprise to its friends or enemies.
The next newspaper venture in Andrew was The Plain Dealer, established in the fall of 1859 by Charles H. Whit- taker, an editor of decided ability, who had previously been connected with the North West Democrat.
Mr. Whittaker, in 1855, conducted the Weston (Mo.) Re- porter, and as editor of that sheet achieved a widespread repu- tation as an uncompromising " Benton Democrat," and the un- sparing foe of border outlawry, then so prevalent in Western Missouri and Kansas.
Having had the benefit of considerable newspaper experience, and being a vigorous writer, Mr. Whittaker soon made the Plain Dealer one of the strongest anti-slavery sheets of Northern Mis- souri. As already stated, because of objectionable and seditious articles published in the North West Democrat, that paper was seized by the Union troops, and as a retaliatory measure, the rebels, several weeks later, by order of Col. Sanders, arrested Mr. Whittaker, and took possession of the Plain Dealer office, which they loaded up and hauled to their camp, several miles from Sa- vannah. They attempted to set the press up in their camp, but several needful pieces being mysteriously missing, the task was
51
STATE OF MISSOURI.
given over. Several days after, Mr. Whittaker dodged through the rebel picket lines, and escaped into Iowa, where he remained until the Federal troops, under Cols. Kimball and Cranor, moved down and occupied Camp Highly, the rebels having left a few days before. Mr. Whittaker regained a part of his printing material, the Confederates having molded much of his type into bullets and carried away the more valuable portions of his press. A few weeks later he purchased a new press, and again commenced the publication of the Plain Dealer. He vig- orously denounced the excesses committed by the Federal sol- diers, and as a consequence the postmaster at Savannah refused to distribute the papers through the postoffice boxes. The diffi- culty that ensued resulted in Mr. Whittaker being commissioned postmaster of Savannah, the duties of which position he dis- charged for some time. The Plain Dealer was soon afterward suspended. Mr. Whittaker at this time is editor and proprietor of the Macomb Eagle, Macomb, Ill.
The Andrew County Union came into existence in the fall of 1868, with John Patterson as editor, the paper having been es- tablished by a joint-stock company as a campaign sheet. Mr. Patterson was succeeded in a short time by Joseph Rea, who ex- ercised editorial control for a period of about three months, or during the presidential campaign of the above year, at the end of which time publication was suspended, the company subse- quently disposing of the office and material to other parties. The Union became quite an important factor in the campaign, its vigorous editorials winning many votes for the Democratic party.
Late in the sixties a paper called The Patriot was started in Savannah by Jesse Johns, who conducted it as a Democratic sheet for some time. It was in size a seven-column folio, and in mechanical and editorial make-up compared favorably with the previous publications of Andrew County. Mr. Johns was a forcible writer, but the enterprise proving a failure from a finan- cial point of view was soon abandoned.
The next in order appears to have been the New Era, which made its first appearance about the year 1870, under the man- agement of J. E. Huston, editor and publisher. This was an in- dependent sheet, with Republican proclivities, and during its
52
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
brief period of existence became quite popular, Mr. Huston be- ing an able editor and terse writer.
After a few months the office was purchased by W. A. Beale, who subsequently sold the material and patronage to the Repub- lican, into which paper the Era was finally merged.
Mr. Beale, early in the seventies, started a paper called The Tribune, an eight-column folio devoted to the interests of the Republican party of Andrew County. This paper was neat in its mechanical appearance, and with sufficient patronage might have grown into popular favor. It was continued nearly one year, but finally suspended, the editor going to Kansas, where he sub- sequently established the Troy (Kas.) Times.
In the spring of 1874 The Patron of Husbandry was started in Savannah by Joseph A. Kelley, who brought the press and material from Morgan County, Ohio. It was an advocate of the grange movement, and as such occupied no neutral ground on the leading questions of the day, but fearlessly gave expression to its convictions. Mr. Kelley was a man of more than average literary ability, and as a newspaper man ranked well among the brethren of the quill in this part of the State. The Patron of Husbandry continued its visits until 1876, at which time the office was purchased by O. J. Hurley, who used the material in establishing The Democrat.
Mr. Kelley in 1877 published a single sheet called The Mis- sourian in which the advantages of Andrew County as a field for immigration were ably and eloquently set forth.
The Andrew County Republican was established in Savannah in October, 1871, by a joint-stock company of which W. W. Cald- well, Samuel Frodsham and W. S. Greenlee were chosen directors. John Sherman was elected editor and business manager, and filled the position six months, when O. E. Paul, a former employe of the Cincinnati Commercial, became editor. Under the able management of Mr. Paul the Republican soon took high rank among the local papers of Northwest Missouri, and became the organ of the Republican party in Andrew County. In the spring of 1873 the east side of the square in Savannah was burned, including the greater part of the material of the Republican office, entailing a heavy loss upon the company. From this
53
STATE OF MISSOURI.
disaster the paper soon rallied, and within a short time thereafter the New Era was purchased, the material of which supplied in a large measure the loss caused by the conflagration. Mr. Paul subsequently purchased the paper, and continued its pub- lication until the spring of 1875, at which time he sold out to F. M. Taylor, under whose management it was regularly issued until December, 1876. In the latter year the office was pur- chased by George E. King & Co., who changed the name to The Andrew County Advance, the policy, tone and appearance undergoing a complete transformation at the same time. The paper as originally started was a five-column quarto, and as already stated decidedly Republican in politics. Under the new management the form was changed to an eight-column folio, and the political complexion so modified as to come under the head of Independent, the design of the Advance having been to vibrate with the public pulse, and be a reflex of the current thoughts of the day. Mr. King displayed con- siderable ability in the management of the paper, and suc- ceeded in securing a fairly remunerative circulation. He con- tinued its publication for about two years, at the end of which time the office was moved to Seneca, Kas.
The Savannah Reporter, the present organ of the Republican party in Andrew County, was established in the spring of 1876 by O. E. Paul, the first number making its appearance on the 28th of April, of the above year. It is now well advanced in its twelfth volume, and is still under the control of Mr. Paul, who, by dint of perseverance coupled with great energy and tact, has from the beginning to the present continued to issue it regularly, and has now as the result of discreet man- agement a regular circulation of over 1,000. Politically the Reporter is uncompromisingly Republican, but in the discus- sion of the issues of the day is dignified in tone, never resort- ing to offensive personalities or scurrilous abuse, which too frequently comprise the chief stock in trade of many local sheets. The paper is a five-column folio, a model of neatness in its mechanical make up, and with a liberal advertising patronage and a constantly increasing circulation. We bespeak for it a future of great prosperity.
54
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
The Democrat was established by O. J. Hurley, present edi- tor and proprietor, in August, 1876. Its political complexion is at once indicated by the name, and as a local party organ it ranks among the best county papers in Northern Missouri. It is a thirty-two column weekly devoted to the interests of Andrew County and Northwest Missouri, and during its career has con- tinued to grow in popular favor until at this time it has a liberal patronage, not wholly local, its circulation having reached consid- erably over 1,000. Mr. Hurley is manly in his discussion of the political issues of the day, upon all of which he has strong convictions and advanced views. Correspondence from different parts of the county, earnest advocacy of all local improve- ments, and a reliable record of the events of the times, make the Democrat a paper sought for and read by the citizens of the county, irrespective of political affiliation.
The Savannah Courier began to be published about the year 1878 by Joseph A. Kelley, who designed it as a campaign sheet to be run in the interest of the Republican party. It was a nine- column folio, and in point of mechanical make-up and editorial ability did not suffer in comparison with any of its predecessors. Mr. Kelley displayed marked ability in its management, but the paper failing to receive the necessary pecuniary encouragement suspended publication at the end of about three months.
The Bolckow Herald was established by the Bolckow Print- ing Company in 1879, with Jobn L. Glazier as editor, who dis- charged the duties of the position for a period of one year. In December, 1880, B. A. Rutherford, an experienced newspaper man, purchased the office, and, enlarging the paper from a six to an eight-column folio, besides adding various other improvements, soon made it one of the best local sheets in Northwest Missouri. The Herald, under Mr. Rutherford's management, has continued to grow in favor and influence, and at this time has a circulation of nearly 1,000, besides a liberal advertising patronage. Inde- pendent in politics, it is fearless and outspoken on all the leading questions of the day, and in discussion proves an able and digni- fied opponent. Bolckow is justly proud of its newspaper, which has been a potent factor in promoting the interests of the town.
In the spring of 1880 George E. King moved the Saturday
55
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Herald from St. Joseph to Savannah, and continued its publica- tion in Andrew County for a limited period. He subsequently returned to St. Joseph, where the paper was regularly issued for a number of years. The Democrat was in size a six-column folio and, during its brief career in Savannah, received but limited patronage.
The Good Way, a religious paper devoted to the interests of the " doctrine of Holiness," as believed in and advocated by a certain division of the Methodist Church, was started in the spring of 1879 by Rev. Mr. Caughlin, who at the time was pas- tor in charge of the Methodist Church of Savannah. This was one of the first efforts to propagate the above doctrine by means of the press in Northern Missouri, and the peculiarities of the belief soon won for the paper a large and extended circulation. It also made the temperance question an important feature, and was strong in its denunciation of the liquor traffic in all of its forms. The Good Way was subsequently moved to St. Joseph, where it was regularly issued for a number of years.
The District Times, a religious publication devoted to the interest of the St. Joseph district of the Methodist Church, was established in Savannah some time in the year 1881 by Rev. O. S. Middleton, presiding elder of the above district. It was issued monthly, and continued its regular visits until March, 1886, when the office was moved to Hannibal. The Times was an ably edited paper of pure and dignified religious tone, and reached an encouraging circulation. It was printed by O. E. Paul in the office of the Reporter.
A third religious publication was attempted in Savannah in 1884 by Rev. Lucian Hawkins, who started a small sheet known as Old Paths, for the purpose of advocating and bringing into publicity the peculiar doctrine of " Holiness " referred to. Mr. Hawkins wrote ably in defense of his belief, but for want of proper financial support was obliged to discontinue the paper at the end of about five months.
The Wind Mill, under the management of Messrs. Glazier and Brill, made its first appearance in Savannah, in the year 1883. At the end of six months, Glazier sold out to his partner, who a little later disposed of the office to Frederick Mason, by whom
56
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
the name was changed to the Andrew County Republican. After running a short time in Savannah, the office was moved to Rosen- dale where, under the name of The Rosendale Clipper, the paper continued its weekly visits for about six months, suspending at the end of that time for want of patronage.
In the fall of 1886 a small local paper by the name of The Helena Enterprise, was started at the town of Helena, by a joint- stock company, with Mr. Foster as editor. The principal mission of the Enterprise seems to have been the bringing of Helena into prominence, as a place for safe investment of capital. The paper had an ephemeral existence, its star going out at the end of a couple of months. Some time in the sixties, James McLean started a paper in Savannah, and continued its publica- tion for a limited period, but its name and all facts concerning it have been forgotten. A small paper, name unknown, was pub- lished for some time at Fillmore, but of its brief history nothing definite is now remembered.
RAILROADS.
While Andrew was not the first county in the State to engage in the enterprise of building railroads, neither was she the last. It required the stimulus of roads in the older counties to excite the necessary estimate of public opinion, to warrant the preliminary action in behalf of such an enterprise in this part of the country. This was not long wanting, for the year 1857 found some of the citizens of the county moving with a deter- mined purpose to assist in the construction of what was.then known as the Platte County Railroad, a preliminary survey of which had been made through some of the neighboring counties about that time. The friends of the enterprise in Andrew suc- ceeded in awakening an interest in behalf of the proposed road and, in order to bring the matter before the people, the county court at the July term of the above year made the following order: "Ordered that the county of Andrew County vote on the question for or against taking stock in the Platte County rail- road, amounting to two hundred thousand dollars, provided Savannah and Fillmore be made points on said road, permitting
57
STATE OF MISSOURI.
the company to vary one-half mile either east or west of said points-be submitted to the voters of the county at the next August election." While a great many of the citizens were enthusiastically in favor of voting the above amount of stock, the majority appears to have been opposed, and at the election the measure was defeated. Two years later the subject was revived, and, in the summer of 1859, a meeting of the citizens was called to take into consideration the feasibility of again submitting a proposition to the people to vote in bonds the sum of $100,000, to aid the same company to extend their road north to Savannah and through the county. Much enthusiasm was manifested in behalf of the project, and so determined were the citizens to push forward the enterprise that initial steps were immediately taken to have the proposition submitted. Accordingly an order was made by the county court authorizing an election to be held in October, 1859, the stipulations of the order being as follows: " Provided the said railroad company shall locate and build the Platte County railroad through Savannah or within a quarter of a mile distant therefrom, said subscription to be paid by issuing bonds within twenty years, and said one hundred thousand dollars be applied to build said railroad."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.