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 31
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 31
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Just north of the village of Flag Springs parts of houses, furniture, feathers, carpets, etc., were scattered promiscuously in every direction. As far as the eye could reach on either side could be traced its blackened, desolated path, strewn with frag- ments of almost every conceivable thing. Sweeping on in its fury, it passed diagonally across an open prairie, three-quarters of a mile in extent. On this prairie, by actual count, were found the dead bodies of 107 head of cattle. Half a mile farther on it caught up in its fiendish grasp the dwelling of Mr. George May- nard, tearing the building to atoms, and causing the death of Mr. Maynard and his eldest daughter. Mr. Maynard was picked up a short distance southeast of the house, his body having been pierced by a sharp piece of wood, besides having a severe cut over the right eye, and being badly bruised. Miss Maynard was found about sixty yards southeast of the house, terribly bruised, and in an insensible and nude condition. She lived, in great agony, until 9 o'clock Sunday night, when death relieved her of her sufferings.
About one mile farther east the storm struck and completely demolished the residence of Andrew McMillen, and killed fifty- eight head of cattle and horses. William B. Bonham had eight cows killed. A. McLain lost over half his cattle. In a space of
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one mile and a half there were found 200 dead cattle and horses. Fifty-four head were found in the fields of Mr. D. Bonham, car- ried there by the cyclone.
Among others who suffered great loss were L. G. Dangerfield, Isaiah Boyles, George Purviance, Israel Wood, Leb. Garrett, R. C. Nelson, and others, whose houses and barns were swept away. The above parties lived beyond the line of Andrew County.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded along the path of the cyclone: R. C. Nelson, killed outright; George E. Maynard, killed; Gracie Maynard, killed; Mrs. George Roberts, killed; one child, badly injured; unknown man, near Berlin, killed; Miss Agee, seriously injured; Mrs. Maynard, dangerously hurt; William Millen, seriously hurt; Israel Wood, injured, wife and child also injured; Frank Burk and a company of fourteen persons, all injured; John Call and family, injured; one child, killed; William and wife, seriously injured; Mrs. Pick- ard Stark, arm and ribs broken.
The course of the cyclone was a little south of northwest, and from its incipiency until reaching the eastern boundary of the county it seemed to increase steadily in power, breadth and fury. A faint idea can be formed of its terror and the loss incurred when it is stated that from Flag Springs to the point where it left the county, it swept, for almost eighty yards wide, every living thing before it, leaving the ground perfectly bare. The scene of ruin and devastation along the monster's track was ap- palling and beggared all description. Altogether, it was the greatest storm of the kind ever experienced in Northwest Mis- souri, and the prayer of the people is that its like may never be seen again.
A cyclone, a few years later, struck the county on Empire Prairie, passing thence into Gentry County, committing a great deal of damage to buildings, fences, etc., and killing considerable stock. Fortunately no lives were lost, but the destruction along the path of the storm was very great.
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
JAMESTOWN.
One of the first settlements in Andrew County was made in the southern part of what is now Jefferson Township, where, as early as 1839, a small village sprang into existence by the name of Jamestown. It was merely the outgrowth of the neighbor- hood's demand for a trading point, and fast came into promi- nence on account of a couple of small stores and a postoffice, established late in the above year, or early in 1840. Ozro Castle was one of the early merchants of the place, and a man by the name of Fortner kept a dram shop for some time, his establish- ment having been extensively patronized by the convivial spirits of the community.
Until the location of the county seat, Jamestown was the principal business point in Andrew County, there having been at one time two or three small stores in successful operation, be- sides the usual number of mechanics and artisans generally found in country villages.
The Baptists and Cumberland Presbyterians had small or- ganizations at the village in an early day, and in the immediate vicinity were taught some of the first schools of Andrew County.
The first settlers of the place located upon unsurveyed gov- ernment land, and after the same came into market, subject to entry, it was found that nearly all the houses in the village stood on the tract entered by one Willis Ganies, who claimed the im- provements, as he had a right to do. This caused considerable ill feeling on the part of the residents of the village, but as the majority belonged to that restless class, usually found in the van of civilization, it was no difficult matter for them to abandon their temporary habitations and drift to other localities. The business men of the place soon closed out or removed their goods to other points, the buildings gradually disappeared, and within a few years nothing but a cultivated field remained to mark the site of the once flourishing pioneer village. The neighborhood at this time is one of the most flourishing localities in Andrew County.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
SAVANNAH.
The history of Savannah proper dates from the year 1841, at which time the town site was selected for the permanent seat of justice by the commissioners named in the legislative enactment creating Andrew County. As already stated these commissioners, to wit: Harlow Hinkston, Elijah P. Howell and Elijah Armstrong, made a formal report of their proceedings at the April term of the county court, in 1841, to the effect that they had carefully ex- amined the location, and, finding it to be within three miles of the geographical center of the county, had fixed upon it as the most eligible and appropriate site for the seat of justice. After making this selection they gave to the prospective town the name of Union, which was officially changed at the ensuing July term, and the name Savannah substituted. The orignal town site in- cluding 160 acres of land on the southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 59, Range 35, was entered in the name of Andrew County, by Edwin Toole, a short time after the county organiza- tion went into effect. Benjamin K. Dyer was appointed commis- sioner of the seat of justice with power to lay off the same into blocks and lots, and to advertise the sale of lots in the Western Star and Far West, the two nearest newspapers at that time to Andrew County, the former published in Clay, and the latter in Platte County. The survey was made in due time, and at the July term of the county court the commissioner made his report of the same as follows:
To the Honorable County Court of Andrew County:
I, Benjamin K. Dyer, commissioner of the seat of justice of Andrew County, submit to your honorable body the following report: I have proceeded to lay out the seat of justice of said county as follows, to wit: Lots laid down by a scale of one hundred and eighty six feet to the square inch, the lots in Block number twenty-six, front eighty feet north and south, and run back east and west one hundred and sixty feet; Block twenty-seven, the lots front north and south eighty feet, and run back east and west one hundred and forty feet; Blocks sixteen and twenty-nine, the lots front east and west eighty feet, and run back north and south one hundred and fifty feet; Blocks number fourteen, fif- teen, twenty-eight and forty-one, the lots front east and west seventy-five feet, and run back north and south one hundred and fifty-six feet. The lots in all the rest of the blocks front east and west eighty feet, and run back north and south one hundred and sixty feet. The streets are all eighty feet wide, and alleys twelve and a half feet. .
The original plan of the city is in the shape of a square, and
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included in all forty-eight blocks, twenty-four of which were not divided into lots at the time of the survey. The number of lots as shown by the plat was 197, and a public square was laid out in the central part of the town to be devoted to county purposes. Im- mediately after the reception of Mr. Dyer's report the county court proceeded to name the streets of the town as follows: "Or- dered that the street north of the public square running east and west shall be called and known by the name of Main Street. Or- dered that the street south of the public square adjoining thereto running east and west shall be called and known by the name of Market Street. Ordered that the street south of Market Street running east and west shall be called and known by the name of Jefferson Street. Ordered that the street south of Jefferson run- ning east and and west shall be called and known by the name of Benton Street. Ordered that the street east of the public square and adjoining thereto running north and south shall be called and known by the name of First Street. Ordered that the street west of the public square and adjoining thereto shall be called and known by the name of Second Street." Then follows a similar description of Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets.
At the August term of court, 1841, it was ordered "That there be no public square in the town of Savannah, and that the same left for that purpose be laid out into lots as soon as practicable." By this order the south side of the public square was subsequently sold, and at this time the leading business houses of the city are situated thereon. Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, of Block 24, were ordered reserved for public buildings, and a little later Block 46 was set aside for the purpose of " a common burying ground."
When the survey had been completed, and the plat of the town prepared, lots were offered and sold at both public and private sale. The first public sale took place on the first Mon- day in August, 1841, the stipulations of the same being one- fourth of the purchase money to be paid in hand, and the remain- der in semi-annual installments with bond and approved security, and a lien on the lots sold for purchase money. The records of this sale show that one James Wood purchased Lot No. 8 in Block 49, and Lot No. 4, Block 32. Mr. Wood was the first settler on the present site of Savannah, and claimed the right of
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pre-emption to the land selected by the commissioners for the permanent seat of justice. He moved to the county as early as 1840, and at the time the town was laid out had a cultivated field extending along north and south on what is now First Street in Savannah, or as it is more familiarly known "Christian Ridge." His dwelling was just south of the selected land on the tract owned by the Nance heirs. He claimed damages, and the county court at the August term, 1841, compromised with him for his claim, and paid him the sum of $100.
The proceeds of the sale of lots in 1841, as reported by Mr. Dyer, amounted to the sum of $757.49, and among the pur- chasers were John Kerr, who obtained possession of Lot 7, Block 24, and James W. Woods, who purchased Lots 4 and 8 in Blocks 32 and 49, respectively. Soon after the sale of lots, preparations were made for clearing them off and putting up buildings, and by the approach of autumn the forests were made to resound with the stroke of the woodman's ax and the falling trees. During the first summer several houses were erected, and within a few months quite a number of people attracted by the eligible location of the new town, and its prospective future, by reason of being the seat of justice, invested in real estate, and became prominent factors in the early development of Savannah.
One of the first houses on the town site was erected by John- son Woods, and stood on the main street where the Hobson building now stands. It was a small round log structure, and answered the two-fold purpose of a dwelling and boarding house, having been well patronized by the prospectors and early comers to this part of the county.
From the best information at hand, one of the first, if not the first house in Savannah was a small structure erected by John Riggin, west of where Pearce & Roberts' store now stands. It was used as a tailor shop by John Travis, one of the residents of the town. This building was put up in the summer of 1841, and stood for a number of years thereafter, Mr. Travis having car- ried on his trade for a considerable length of time. During the same year several other houses were erected, among which was the residence of Edwin Toole, a log building one and a half
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stories high, on Main Street, west of the South Methodist Church. Mr. Toole moved to the town in order to take charge of the county and circuit clerks' offices, to which position he was chosen, in the spring of 1841.
Andrew J. Moodi became a resident of the town in the sum- mer of 1841, and was perhaps the first mechanic to locate in the place. He was a blacksmith by trade, and possessed great ingenuity and skill in different departments of mechanics by means of which he made himself a very useful member of society, and did much toward advancing the interests and adding to the welfare and prosperity of the whole community. His modest and unpretentious little shop stood on the lot just west of the Presbyterian Church, but all vestiges of the building have long since disappeared. Paul Mauritzius came to the town in 1841, and erected a shop on the northeast corner of the public square. He was of the class of mechanics known as cabinet-makers, but, since there was little call for that species of handicraft in the early day, his attention was directed to the cultivation of the kindred branch designated as carpenter and joiner's work, in which he found steady employment. The demand for furniture, however, increasing with the influx of population, he soon devoted his entire attention to the latter trade, and succeeded in working up a very profitable and lucra- tive business. Jacob Moodi, brother of Andrew Moodi, was an early mechanic also, and ran a blacksmith's shop for some time on the lot now occupied by the residence of N. Kirtley. Not far from the same date Warner Terrell came to the village, and as soon as suitable quarters could be obtained set up a tailor's shop, and successfully pursued that vocation for many years. A Mr. Linkenfelter and a man by the name of Haywood were early tailors also, and appear to have been reasonably successful in their business.
Among the early carpenters were the Nelson Brothers, Samuel, James and John T., the latter still an honored resident of the city. They built the courthouse in 1844, and for a number of years thereafter exercised their skill in the erection of resi- dences, business houses and other buildings in the city and sur- rounding country.
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Samuel Brokaw, Joseph Teagarden and William Wilson be- came identified with the town in an early day as carpenters and builders. Isadore Barada opened the first hotel in Savannah, in a frame building, which stood where the St. Charles now stands, his license having been granted at the February term of the county court in 1842. The building was erected by J. L. Robi- deaux, and answered the purpose of a public house until its de- struction by fire several. years later. Messrs. Farnes and Riggin opened a house for the entertainment of the traveling public in an early day on what is known as "Shinbone Alley," and a sec- ond hotel building was erected where the Barada building stood some time in the forties by Josiah Beatty, known at the Beatty House. It was operated until about 1854, when, like the former building, it was completely destroyed by fire.
A hotel building was erected early in the forties where the Hardy Opera House now stands, and was a favorite stopping place for the traveling public for a number of years. It suffered the fate of its predecessors, having been reduced to ashes about the year 1866. The St. Charles Hotel was built some time in the year 1856 by W. H. Dewitt, and for a number of years went by the name of the Dewitt House. It was first kept by a Mr. Woods, and has always been the principal hotel of the city.
Among the early physicians of Savannah were Drs. J. C. Mc- Reynolds, William Burnett, Charles Baker, Dr. McDonald, F. M. Wakefield, Gant, Tisdall, Donlan and Smith.
Early Purchasers of Lots .- Additional to those enumerated the following persons purchased real estate in Savannah during the first few years of its history, the majority of them becoming residents: William Knapp, Ezekiel W. Smith, John C. Roberts, Hiram Smith, William P. Howard, Jeremiah Stiles, John How- ard, George Smith, W. G. Erwin, Meshach Hale, E. A. Carson, S. B. Howell, J. B. Howell, J. W. Samuel, Nancy McPherson, Logan Moses, Jane B. Wiley, Silas Veach, James Woolsey, Rob- ert N. Donnell, William H. Rodgers, Abram Nave, James Rains, P. W. Simmons, George Smith, Benjamin H. Riddle, A. S. Wilkinson, William Monroe, Amos Graham, Robert Hale, B. B. Hale, Charles Blankenship, Aaron Alexander, Peter L. Rob- erts, Roswell Barber, Nathan Barber, Samuel W. Woodcock,
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
Thomas A. Thompson, Elisha Avery, Elijah Impey, Sampson W. Sparks, John R. Whitman, Lewis Allen, B. M. Atherton, Henry B. Selecman, David Travers, Frederick Howber, Arthur B. Rob- erts, Peter Conrad, Thomas Conrad, S. Conrad, W. C. Snodgrass, Ludrick McCreary, John B. Howell, Stephen Howell, A. G. Clark, Henry McKee, John Farnes, Alexander Newman, E. B. Brown, M. R. Singleton, James Crowley, Prince L. Hudgens, William Falkner, John Tritsler, Andrew Cameron, N. Culp, M. R. Linkletter, Upton Rohrer and William Burnett.
Merchants .- John Samuels and Robert Elliott, under the firm name of Samuels & Elliott, were the first dry goods and grocery merchants in Andrew County. Their place of business was on the land of Elijah Martin, about six miles west of Savannah, and they opened their store as early as the year 1839. Their custom- ers were not so numerous then as they were after the firm moved to Savannah, amounting to something like two dozen families, hailing from distant settlements as well as from the immediate vicinity. Theirs was a kind of civilized establishment in which all articles necessary for family comfort were found, including everything from a wash tub to a fine comb, or in other words a general assortment of merchandise. Mr. Samuels earned the reputation of a highly honorable and successful tradesman, and his sterling honesty became proverbial throughout the entire county. Early in 1840 a couple of small stores were opened about one mile and a half northwest of where Savannah now stands by W. H. Rodgers and John Welsh, Julius Robideaux and a partner by the name of Long. These trading houses formed the nucleus of quite a village, which early became known as White Hall. A postoffice was established about the year 1840, with Mr. Rodgers as postmaster, and about the same date Jacob Hil- tibiddle, one of the early settlers of the locality, opened a hotel for the accommodation of such guests as saw fit to accept and pay for his hospitalities. The laying out of Savannah terminated the existence of White Hall, and within a short time thereafter the merchants moved their buildings to the new town, and gave an impetus to its business interests. Mr. Samuels moved his stock of goods in 1841, and erected a log store room opposite where the Hardy building now stands. Rodgers built a log
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house on the north side of the square, and for a number of years carried on a very successful business, but finally succumbed to financial embarrassments. The building in which Robideaux sold goods stood on the south side of the square, on a lot occu- pied at this time by Mr. Howard's meat market. He was in business several years, and appears to have carried on a pros- perous trade. Perhaps the first merchant to offer his wares for sale in Savannah was Abram Nave, who moved from Saline County in 1841, and erected a small building on the west side of the square, a part of which is still standing in the rear of H. C. Shedrick's restaurant. Mr. Nave began business in a small way, his first stock consisting of a miscellaneous assortment of mer- chandise, brought to the town in a single wagon. He sold at a good profit, however, and by fair dealing was soon enabled to add to his stock, and erect a larger and more commodious build- ing. His second building was on the south side of the square, where Hyde's drug store stands, and a little later he erected a store room on the east side, which is still in use. He remained in the town a number of years, but subsequently removed to St. Joseph, and later to Kansas City, having been prominently iden- tified with the business interests of those two cities. E. Impey & Co. moved from Elizabethtown in an early day, and carried on a general goods business for several years, and about the same time or perhaps a little before, Smith & Tootle, Frame & Rich- ardson, James Woolsey and others were licensed to vend mer- chandise in Savannah. Among the different business men and firms from time to time during the early history of the city were the following: Bedford & Craig, Jones & Bird, Conrad & Clark, Howard & Hinchman, Rodgers & Hinchman, Impey & Gant, William Barnes, Rowley, Massey & Hudgens, William A. Price, Samuel Riddle, Howard & Breck, Clark, Conrad & Co., Holt & Watts, Holt, Tipton & Co., W. R. King, Woods, Walker & Hal- ley, Breck & Breck, Joseph Holt, Holt, Tipton & Watts, Dr. Smith, F. M. Wakefield, Hinchman & Rodgers, A. N. Schuster, Plummer & Stallcup, William Burnett, Dejarnette & Adkins, Abney & Abney.
The above are not given in the order of their engaging in business, as it is impossible to obtain a full and accurate list.
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
The following were among the leading merchants of a later day : Eli Mitchell, J. M. Tyner, Walker & Earles, Stiles & Hardy, J. G. Ferguson, Hudson & Beard, J. B. Russell, W. F. Terrell, W. S. Wells, William Wilson.
TOWN INCORPORATION.
Pursuant to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri for the incorporation of towns, the in- habitants of Savannah, desiring to ascertain whether public sen- timent was in favor of erecting and maintaining a town corpora- tion, circulated a petition to that effect in the spring of 1842, and after securing the requisite number of names, presented it to the county court at the regular May term, praying that action might be taken on the same. The material part of the order of the court relating to the matter is as follows: "William H. Rodgers, L. M. McReynolds, together with two-thirds of the inhabitants of Savannah, present their petition to the county court, praying that they may be incorporated, and a police established for their local government; and the court being satisfied that two-thirds of the taxable inhabitants of said town have signed said petition, it is therefore ordered that said town of Savannah be and the same is hereby incorporated, together with the commons there- unto attached, including the entire quarter section of land as sit- uated [then follows description ]. And the court here declares the inhabitants of bounds aforesaid a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the inhabitants of the town of Savan- nah." Notice was then given that an election for trustees would be held, but owing to the absence of anything like a reliable record the names of the first officials were. not learned. The town was reincorporated by an act of the Legislature, approved March 13, 1848, and its official jurisdiction more clearly defined and enlarged. The records extant go back to the year 1849, at which time the following persons held positions under the munic- ipal government, to wit: Thomas H. Clark, James Ford, A. A. Dougherty, G. W. Samuels, J. W. Thompson, Prince L. Hud- gens and Abram Nave, trustees; E. A. Carson, clerk; Jeremiah Stiles, assessor; J. M. Holt, treasurer; William Burnett, inspec- tor of corporation; Jackson Abney, constable, and John W. Browzer, collector.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
During that year various ordinances were adopted, among which were those defining misdemeanors and providing adequate punishment for the same. Among the misdemeanors specified were the following: Keeping slaughter pens within the town limits, rapid riding or driving through the streets, assault and battery, rioting, keeping gaming houses, betting on any gam- bling device, disturbing the peace of the citizens by loud sing- ing and noises, singing vulgar songs, using obscene and vulgar language, etc. Prince L. Hudgens was employed to prosecute and defend all suits brought for violation of the ordinances. The last town board under the corporation of 1848 was elected in May, 1851, and consisted of the followiug gentlemen, to wit: Joseph W. Thompson, A. G. Clark, X. K. Stout, John K. Welch, H. W. Peter, Henry Patterson and Jackson Abney. Among the first official transactions of the board was the repeal of all ordinances, rules and by-laws previously passed, and the adoption of new . ones, which more clearly set forth and defined the powers of the municipal government. The latter ordinances remained in oper- ation until the incorporation of the town as a city in 1853.
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