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 33
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 33
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Peabody Relief Corps, No. 38, an auxiliary of the Grand Army Post of 'Savannah, was instituted November 20, 1886, under a charter bearing the same date, with the following original mem- bers: Sallie Ely, Maggie Van Buskirk, Maria Cottrell, Mary Lambaugh, Flora Cottrell, Elizabeth Pickett, Rosa Barr, Amy Barr, Mary Crank, Mary Hernden, Julia Shedrick, Amanda Berry and Mary Neff. Present membership about twenty. Officers: Sallie Ely, President; Maggie Van Buskirk, S. V. Pres .; Maria Cottrell, J. V. Pres .; Elizabeth Pickett, Treas .; Flora Cottrell, Sec .; Rosa Barr, Conductor.
Savannah Assembly, No. 8183, Knights of Labor, was organ- ized July 12, 1886, with a membership of twenty-four. The progress of the assembly has been very encouraging, the mem- bership at this time numbering seventy-nine. J. W. Damon was the first Master Workman, and B. F. Hardcastle, Recording Sec- retary, the latter filling the same office at the present time. The Master Workman for 1887 is C. P. Dakan.
BANKS.
The first banking house in Savannah was a branch of the
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
Southern Bank of St. Louis, established about the year 1859. The enterprise proved a lucrative one, and continued to do a prosperous business until 1863, at which time it suspended operations, in consequence of the war. The officers were G. W. Samuel, President, and E. C. Breck, Cashier.
The Savannah Savings Institution, the second attempt at banking, was established and incorporated in May, 1865, the prin- cipal spirit in the enterprise being Judge John C. McLain, who was elected president, a position he has since filled. This bank is essentially a savings institution, and as such has been con- ducted very successfully, having at no time during its history been unable to easily meet all demands made upon it. The present efficient cashier is Fred Moser. The following is the financial condition of the bank, as shown by the May report, 1887:
RESOURCES.
Loans on goods and collateral security. $81,521 86
United States bonds on hand .
700 00
Due from other banks, good on sight draft
7,318 00
Real estate, present market value.
24,661 00
Furniture and fixtures.
1,500 00
Checks and other items.
2,097 35
Bills of National Banks and Legal Tender United States notes. 7,000 00
Gold coin.
1,000 00
Silver coin.
1,000 00
Total
$126,798 21
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in $18,100 00
Surplus funds on hand.
1,100 00
Deposits subject to draft on sight
69,469 00
Deposits subject to draft at given dates
38,129 00
Total
$126,798 00
Farmers Bank of Andrew County .- This bank was estab- lished in 1862, with a subscribed capital of $200,000, which, in 1877, was reduced to $24,340-amount paid up. Since its or- ganization the Farmers Bank has done a very prosperous busi- ness, and is justly classed among the safest and most reliable banking houses in the State. On the 1st day of July, 1882, the first cash dividend, amounting to 4 per cent, was declared, and
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
in January of the succeeding year a second dividend of 5 per cent showed the earnings of the bank. Since July, 1883, semi- annual dividends of 8 per cent have been paid, earnings which but few banking houses in Northwest Missouri are able to show. The building on the south side of the square is one of the finest and most commodious bank buildings in this part of the State. The following official statement of the financial condition of the Farmers Bank of Andrew County was made on the 14th of May, 1887.
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral
security. $104,631 07
Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security .
3,620 25
Overdrafts by solvent, customers.
170 01
United States bonds on hand.
.....
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price.
8,400 00
Due from other banks, good on sight draft. 47,304 01
Real estate, at present cash market value
6,800 00
Furniture and fixtures.
1,379 75
Checks and other cash items
1,479 51
Bills of National banks and legal tender United States notes 6,346 00
Gold coin, nickels and dimes.
1,379 15
Silver coin.
766 20
Exchange maturing and matured.
Total
$182,275 95
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in. $ 24,340 00
Surplus funds on hand. 25,525 29
Undivided declared dividends.
Deposits subject to draft on sight.
132,410 66
Deposits subject to draft at given dates.
Bills payable
Due other banks and bankers.
Expenses now due.
...
Total. $182,275 95
The first officers of the Farmers Bank were S. S. Garrett, president, and Benjamin Childs, cashier.
The officers at this time are: President, A. Schuster ; vice-presi- dent, A. S. Keeves; cashier, J. F. Waters ; assistant cashier, C. C. Somerville; directors, A. S. Keeves, A. Schuster and I. R. Will- iams.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
RAILROADS.
In 1860 the Platte County Railroad was finished to Savannah, thus bringing the city into easy communication with the leading commercial centers of the State and entire country. From that date until about 1867 Savannah was the northern terminus of said road, and during the interim the city became the distributing point for a large area of territory. The change of the road a lit- tle later and the removal of the depot one mile away from the town are spoken of at length in another chapter. At this time (1887) the St. Paul & Kansas City Railroad is in process of con- struction, and when completed will bring new life and activity to Savannah.
SAVANNAH AS IT IS.
Savannah is situated almost in the geographical center of the county, and is surrounded by as fine a region of farm lands as can be found in the State. The town is substantially built, and within the last few years many of the old land marks have dis- appeared before the onward march of progress, yielding their places to new and more modern styles of architecture. Many of the streets have shade trees planted at regular intervals along the sides, and the majority of the yards, also, have more or less shrubbery planted in them, so that in summer time the city pre- sents very much the appearance of a beautiful woodland.
The elevated location which affords fine natural drainage renders the city very healthful, no sickness of an epidemic form having ever visited the locality. The streets are well laid out, and if paved and kept in proper order would not suffer in com- parison with the streets of any other city in Northern Missouri.
The inhabitants of Savannah have ever been noted for their open handed hospitality, and the cordiality with which they receive all new comers. They are intelligent and progressive, and fully alive to any interest having for its object the public wel- fare. The schools and churches spoken of elsewhere speak louder than words of the culture and morals of the city.
At the time Savannah was laid out, and for several years suc- ceeding, its importance was chiefly recognized in the light of a central "trading point " for a large extent of territory surround- ing, and because of that fact, it early acquired a well-merited
170
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
fame. The consequence was, that, as soon as the course began to be diverted from this point, the producing population outside of the town being inadequate to the demands of consumption, the growth of the town was retarded for several years, until, indeed, the products of the country equaled the consumption account of the non-producers in the town, and the avenues of trade were opened with other markets. The increase in popu- lation, and facilities for business during the early years of the city's history, were gradual, uniform and certain, but it was not until about 1850 that the spirit of improvement and enterprise became fully developed. At that period new life and vigor began to be infused into the elements of progress, and more rapid advances in the branches of trade were foreshadowed. Ac- tivity in every department of industry was the rule, rather than the exception, and capital began to seek investment in public and private enterprises, which have since yielded liberal profits. From that time the character of the improvements was no longer uncertain, but has continued to assume a healthy and perma- nent aspect, until at the present time the city is recognized as one of the best commercial points in the Platte country. Her busi- ness men are in the main, enterprising and financially solid, fail- ures being the rare exception. The dry goods trade is large, some of the stores being very commodious, and filled with thou- sands of dollars worth of goods. The grocery trade is also im- mense, in fact nearly every branch of the mercantile business being represented by numerous houses conducted by wide-awake and responsible dealers. The country trade for miles around is the chief support of the city, and it is no unusual sight to see hundreds of teams hitched around the public square on certain days, while the streets are thronged with a busy, bustling crowd.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF SAVANNAH.
Henderson Edwards, hardware and harness; Alderman & Sons, dry goods; A. Schuster & Co., clothing; A. S. Keeves, dry goods, boots and shoes; John C. Conner, hardware and saddlery ; J. J. Miller, clothing; H. Clark, groceries; F. T. McFadden, gro- ceries; Charles Wasmer, furniture; Frank Nance, groceries; Todd & Son, groceries; T. H. C. Hyde, drugs; J. P. Cook, drugs;
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
Limerick & Patton, drugs; L. Baumle, boots and shoes; Pearce & Roberts, groceries; H. C. Shedrick, restaurant and con- fectionery; G. Kolberner, boots and shoes; John F. Mead, gro- ceries; William Kann, restaurant; James Dyer, restaurant; Peter Christianson, hotel-St. Charles; Adam Doram, boots and shoes; Frodsham & Son, jewelers; King & Wetherby, groceries and provisions; Mrs. Parker, millinery; Miss Mattie Ent, milli- nery; Howard & Howard, meat market; William G. Bright, meat market; Charles Perkins, billiard hall; William Hancock, meat market; Harvey Van Buskirk, photographer; Mrs. Price, photo- graph gallery; Neil Barman, Saloon; Frank Hyde, livery barn; J. Follett, livery; J. R. McDermott, marble shop; E. W. Joy, marble dealer; Fred Hartly, marble shop; F. A. Imus, painter; Bielman & Mack, blacksmiths and wagon-makers; James Baker, manufacturer of wire fence; Philip Bielman, blacksmith; W. H. Kinzer, contractor and builder; William Ent, cooper shop; R. A. Morris, blacksmith; C. Brant, barber; P. E. Arthur, barber; H. W. Fosdick, dentist; William H. Bryant, T. M. Laney, T. S. Howard, W. Martin and E. B. Ensor, physicians and surgeons.
AMAZONIA.
The settlement of that portion of Lincoln Township in the immediate vicinity of Amazonia dates from a very early day, a number of pioneers having located claims within short distances of the town site as long ago as 1838 and 1840. Among these early comers are remembered James Irwin, William Clemmens, Peter Moser, B. C. Porter, and several others, whose names are appropriately mentioned elsewhere.
About the year 1840 one Charles Caples, a native of Ohio, came to the country, and made a settlement on the One-Hun- dred-and-Two River, several miles northeast of Amazonia, where for some time he was engaged in the mercantile business, being one of the first merchants in the southern part of the county. Disposing of his original location, Mr. Caples, in 1842, purchased a large tract of land on the Missouri River, upon which, a little later, he and a brother, William Caples, platted and laid out a town called Nodaway City, which early became an important shipping and distributing point. The original plan of Nodaway
172
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
City, which joins Amazonia on the east, lies in Section 36, Town 59, Range 36, and includes about 290 lots, surveyed by Will- iam Thatcher early in the forties, and filed for record on the 1st of May, 1849.
Mr. Caples seems to have been actuated by a two-fold pur- pose in founding the town: First, to secure a landing and estab- lish a trading point; and secondly, to speculate upon the sale of lots, as the favorable location promised much for the future wel- fare of the city. The first building was a store house, erected in the east end of the town by Mr. Caples, in which for some years he carried on a prosperous business with a miscellaneous assort- ment of merchandise, a number of his customers coming many miles to do their trading. He next built a warehouse on the bank of the river, from which he shipped large quantities of produce and hemp, and, until the erection of similar buildings a little later, received nearly if not quite all the merchandise for a number of inland towns of Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa.
From the outstart the town attracted considerable attention as a shipping point, and as early as 1843 several prominent bus- iness men and capitalists, among whom were a Mr. Smith and Robert Donald, made overtures to Mr. Caples to purchase the town plat, for which they offered the sum of $3,000. This prop- osition was refused, Mr. Caples intimating that a much larger amount would be necessary to induce him to dispose of the site which then, more than at any previous time, promised to become the future metropolis of the Southwest. Further efforts to secure the site proving fruitless, the gentlemen referred to soon invested their capital in real estate at St. Joseph, then a mere steamboat landing, the rapid growth of which in a few years proved a death blow to the glittering prospects of Nodaway. Had Mr. Caples been a man of judgment and foresight, and accepted the proffered offer, the probabilities are that Nodaway City would soon have become a prosperous commercial mart. Its one golden opportunity, however, being allowed to pass by unimproved, the town, in a few years, ceased to be a place of any considerable 1 mportance, except as a shipping point for the river trade. Mr. Caples appears to have been a very impracticable man, and in
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
after life became imbued with the idea of constructing a " per- petual motion," which would realize him a great fortune. He labored assiduously among his wheels, pulleys, pinions, etc., for a number of years, but, like many others as chimerical as himself, finally died, with his cherished object unrealized. In addition to his early business ventures, he at one time engaged in the prac- tice of medicine, and also operated a saw mill in the early days of the village on a creek which still bears his name. He departed this life about the year 1882.
Among the earliest residents of Nodaway City was a Mr. Barrett, who, about the year 1843, erected two large warehouses, and engaged in the shipping business, which he carried on quite extensively for four or five years, buying and baling immense quantities of hemp in the meantime. Mr. Barrett was a very en- terprising and successful business man, and, until his death, in 1849, was one of the largest buyers and shippers of stock, hemp, produce, etc., on the Upper Missouri. About the year 1849 Wesley Copeland erected two large warehouses, in which he car- ried on a very successful business until 1851. He was succeeded the latter year by his son, James Copeland, who, in order to af- ford facilities for his increasing trade, built a third warehouse, which, with the other two, was operated to its full capacity until 1858.
During the seven years that Mr. Copeland continued in busi- ness, all the goods for Savannah, Fillmore, Maryville, Bedford, Hawleyville, and a number of other towns of Northwest Mis- souri and Southern Iowa were landed at this point, and on cer- tain days, when freighters came for their loads, a more animated scene than the various warehouses presented would have been hard to find at any point along the river. After realizing a hand- some competence, Mr. Copeland disposed of his warehouses in 1851 to Messrs. Scott and Meisenheimer, who, under the firm name of Scott & Co., carried on business until the completion of the Platte County Railroad, which interfered with the river trade to such an extent that they were compelled to close their houses. In the meantime Roland Shannon built a small warehouse, which he operated about three years. As already stated, the superior facilities for transportation afforded by the railroad proved dis-
174
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
astrous to the river trade, in consequence of which the ware- houses were soon closed and sold, farmers in the neighborhood buying them, and using the material in the construction of barns and other outbuildings.
In the year 1851 the name of the town was officially changed to Boston, to correspond to the name of the postoffice, which had been established some time previous under that name.
MERCHANTS AND MECHANICS.
Among the early merchants of the town was O. H. P. Thorough- man, who opened a general store in 1851, and continued the trade for a period of a little over two years. David Cranor sold goods from 1854 till 1855, and in an early day one Porter D. Roberts began the manufacture of pottery ware, which he carried on with fair success for about eight years.
French Rodgers was one of the first mechanics of the town. He came to the country in 1842, and began working at the car- penter's trade in the vicinity of the village, and, later, moved to the town, where he carried on his trade until 1859.
An Englishman by the name of Gingery was an early resident of the village, and is remembered as a very skillful millwright and general mechanic. He was employed by Mr. Caples for a number of years in constructing the wonderful perpetual motion alluded to, but suffice it to say that the mechanic never had any faith in the success of the project. Mr. Lyman and a German, name unknown, were the first blacksmiths, and a cooper shop was started, in an early day, by a man by the name of McManus. Moses, Fielden and Burrel Wilkes were also early mechanics, and a Mr. Potter established one of the first manufacturing enter- prises, in the shape of a shingle machine, which was in successful operation for several years. William Caples, son of Charles Caples, was, perhaps, the first to practice the healing art in the town, and the next physician was Dr. Jacob Caples, who began the practice in 1850, but subsequently moved to Savannah.
THE NEW TOWN.
In 1857, P. S. Roberts, Joshua Bond, J. M. Copeland, G. W. Lankford, Peter Moser, Sr., P. G. Clayton, John W. Smith, Paul
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
Mauritzius and several others, purchased a tract of 152 acres of land adjoining the original plat on the northwest, for the purpose of laying out and building up a new town, to be known by the name of Amazonia. The intention was, at first, to plat but fifty acres, but with the addition of four other partners, viz., G. W. Samuels, Dr. Holt, Lee Crandle and Hiram Clark, it was determined to lay off the entire area into lots. This was accom- plished on June 20, 1857, and the plat so recorded shows forty- two blocks-514 lots-and a " college square " traversed by the following streets: Elm, Vine, Meridian, Spring, Hackberry and College, running north and south, and First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh running east and west.
Within a short time after the survey, the lots were offered for sale, and it was not long until quite a number were pur- chased and improved. The first building on the town site was a business house erected by a Mr. Riley, on Lot 16, Block 43, some time in the year 1857. Mr. Riley started a general store, but, the enterprise failing to meet with the necessary pecuniary encouragement, it was closed out at the end of about six months. The first residence was the house now occupied by Charles Collett on Lots Nos. 1 and 4, Block 32, erected in 1857 by James M. Copeland. A. C. Scott, William Callaway and Mr. Riley purchased lots and erected residences during the first year of the town's history.
Messrs. Roberts & Miller erected a store building in Block 43, in 1858, and stocked the same with a line of drugs and notions, which they sold in a short time to William Abbott, who continued the business for a limited period. A brick business house was built by Dr. J. M. Holt, in 1858, and used by him till the following year, when it was purchased by Mr. Abbott.
Messrs. Robinson and Baker carried on an extensive business in the Abbott building from 1859 until 1860, at which time the store was completely destroyed by fire, entailing a heavy loss upon the proprietors. Additional to the above, the following men have been identified with the mercantile interests of the village from time to time : G. W. Manning, Bond, Lyle & Co., P. Moser & Co., and Thomas Trent.
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
MANUFACTORIES.
Messrs. Eisenminger & Stinson, in 1858, brought a steam saw mill to the village, and engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber. This mill had previously stood about three miles north of the town, and is said to have been the first mill operated by steam power in the county. Eisenminger & Stinson ran it very successfully until 1861, at which time it was purchased by William H. Bowman, who operated it until about 1875.
The large four-story flouring mill in Block 41 was built in 1858 by G. W. Baker, who operated it until 1860. It then passed into other hands, but in 1864 came into the possession of Peter Moser, Sr., and G. W. Harvey, who added a number of improvements, making it one of the best mills in the county. In 1870 Peter Moser, Jr., and G. W. Harvey became pro- prietors, and have since operated it under the firm name of G. W. Harvey & Co. The mill has a capacity of about fifty barrels per day, and is doing a fair business.
M. Chronister and E. B. Stinson brought steam saw mills to the village in 1886, and still operate them, both reporting their business good.
The manufacture of barrels early became an important industry in Amazonia, and is still carried on quite extensively by the Moser Mercantile Company, the largest firm of the kind in the county. The first cooper shop was started early in the seventies by a Mr. Overman, who erected a building which sub- sequently passed into the hands of Moser & Bond, by whom it was operated until 1874. Messrs. Clemmens and Ent manu- factured barrels for several years, and in the fall seasons did an extensive business in buying and shipping apples. Mr. Ent, in 1886, as manager of the Moser Mercantile Company, manufact- ured 7,000 barrels, all of which with 9,000 more were used in packing the fruit brought to the village for shipment.
An early industry in the vicinity of the town was a small distillery operated by Casper Hunsinger about the year 1865. The manufacture of "Calamity Water " was conducted upon quite a limited scale for about two years, when the building and contents were destroyed by fire.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
LODGES.
Amazonia Lodge, No. 286, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 14, 1873, with the following charter members: Joshua Bond, A. J. Clemmens, E. B. Stinson, James Carmichael, J. H. Maxwell, D. Ryan and J. H. Rogers. Joshua Bond was elected first N. G., James Carmichael, V. G., and J. H. Rogers, treasurer. The lodge has enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity, but is not so strong in numbers as formerly, the present membership num- bering only about fourteen. The officers elected for 1887 are as follows: Peter Moser, N. G .; William Gleaver, V. G .; E. B. Stinson, Recording Secretary; J. H. Rogers, Permanent Secre- tary, and Alexander McArthur, Warden.
A post of the G. A. R. was established in Amazonia a number of years ago, but it proved of short duration. The membership at no time exceeded fifteen, and several of the leading spirits moving to other parts, the organization after a few months was disbanded.
CRIME.
While Amazonia has always sustained the reputation of a peaceable and law abiding village, several transactions of a san- guinary nature have from time to time taken place within its borders.
About the year 1860 or 1861 there occurred a shooting affray between one Nat. Lewis and a man by the name of Roark, result- ing in the death of the latter and a serious injury to the former. The men were both rough characters, and the difficulty grew out of a misunderstanding over a game of cards. Both were armed with heavily loaded guns, and in the melee Lewis received a shot in the side, while Roark was shot through the breast. Lewis suc- ceeded in making his escape, and shortly afterward became a guerrilla in the southern army.
In 1864 William B. Reynolds met a violent death at the hands of Reuben Miles. It appears that a difficulty had existed for some time between the father of young Miles and Reynolds, and one day when the two met in Amazonia a quarrel took place which soon resulted in a fight. Reynolds being the younger and stronger of the two soon succeeded in throwing his antagonist, and was proceeding to administer some severe punishment when 12A
-
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
young Miles appeared upon the scene and interfered. He rushed at Reynolds with a large revolver, and before the latter could ward off the blow struck him over the head with the weapon, killing him instantly. Miles was arrested, but before his trial broke jail, making good his escape, since which time he has not been seen in Andrew County.
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