History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 79

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220

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P. Anderson, and has remained sole proprietor to this time. The paper was increased from eight to nine columns, being 29x44 inches, folio, and has continued that size since. In 1879 the Herald, which,. from its origin, had been printed on small pica and brevier type, appeared in an entirely new and beautiful dress of long primer and brevier, and has been since that date the handsomest newspaper in the State. The Herald has always had a liberal subscription and advertising patronage. Few papers not of metropolitan pretensions are so extensively patronized at home or abroad. In addition to a lib- eral patronage from its immediate community, it has received annually since under the present management an average of $1,000 worth of advertising from St. Louis, an achievement no less creditable to the Herald as a medium than to the excellent business standing of its section of the State in the evidence thus given the appreciation of it abroad. In 1881 Mr. Marcellus Dimmitt, a gentleman of fine busi- ness and literary accomplishments, became associate editor of the Herald and pays special attention to the advertising department. The Herald has probably done more than any other paper in Central Mis- souri to develop the feature of local news in country journalism. Some ten years ago county papers in this section contained not one- tenth the local news as at present. The Herald opened at once sev- eral columns of county correspondence, local brevities, personals and other items of local news, in which it was soon followed by other pa- pers of the section until now the local feature is the overshadowing one of country journalism. The Herald has always been Democratic in politics.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The academies and other graded schools in Columbia that were in existence at an early day are described in the general history. It only remains to speak of the private schools of less pretensions. These were of the character known as subscription schools and were attended by small children or those of parents in modest circum- stances. The number of these schools between 1820 and 1840 can- not now be computed, nor can the names of the teachers be ascer- tained, so as to set them down in the order in which they taught. There are yet living in Columbia old men, gray and bald now, who were roguish boy-students at these same schools.

For many interesting anecdotes of the early schools let the reader interview R. L. Todd, John M. Samuel, Odon Guitar, and James L. Stephens. Particularly let him call on Gen. Guitar for a narration of

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the manner in which he wilfully assaulted a schoolmate on one occasion and came near putting out his eye, because the aforesaid schoolmate jeered at " Ode," who was then a prisoner, immured behind the school room door.

In was not until in the '50's that the public schools of Columbia amounted to much in the way of educational institutions. The school board rented houses in different quarters of town from time to time. Even after the war there was the " Broadway school," the "Mission school," and other schools. In 1871 the old Methodist church, on lower Broadway, was purchased and used as a school house for some time.

January 13, 1881, the board of education instructed one of its mem- bers, Capt. Jas. A. Adams, to get up plans and estimates for the cost of a new school building. February 22d, the board ordered an elec- tion to be held on the 5th of April for the purpose of authorizing said board to make a loan to the amount of $12,500 to be used in pur- chasing a site, erecting a new school building and furnishing same for said district at a tax of forty cents on the one hundred dollars. At the same time two sites were presented to the voters at the annual election, to choose from as to fixing the location of the new building. One of these sights was known as the Turner property, containing four acres, which was offered to the board for $2,500. The other was the Dimmitt property, which contained five acres, and was offered for $3,250.

The proposition to build a new house was carried : Ayes, 455 ; nays, 58. For the site known as the Gabriel Turner property, 356. For the sight known as the Fred R. Dimmitt lot, 75. Whole number of votes cast on the loan, 528, of which 352 are two-thirds. Majority for loan over the two-thirds, 108. On the question of site the Turner property, carried by 4 votes over the two-thirds. Therefore the elec- tion settled affirmatively both the loan and site, and the board pro- ceeded at once to issue bonds for the amount voted, to agree upon a plan for the building, and to make a contract for its erection.

The bonds issued under this authority were sold at par and accrued interest, bringing $12,604.16, which with the money derived from the sale of the old school house, amounting to $1,055, raised the build_ ing fund to $13,659.16. Much difficulty was experienced to erect with the means at hand a building at once appropriate, commodious, safe and strong, as $2,500 had been paid, according to vote, for the site alone, and four acres of ground, leaving as available funds.

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$11,159.16. There was spent on the building $11,706.88, overrun- ning the fund $547.72.

The building is on an elevated and most beautiful and commanding site in the northern suburbs of the town, overlooking the town on the south and the adjacent country on all sides. Briefly described, it is a two-story brick structure, 65 feet front by 70 feet deep, with two wings, one north, the other south, 14 by 32 feet. Height of building to the square, 35 feet, covered by a shingle roof, hipped on all sides (43,000 shingles), and deck and belfry cov- ered with tin, 28 squares. In the whole building there are 60 large windows with Venetian shutters and three double doors, one at the front or eastern entrance, and one each at the western side of the wings, in which are the stairways. On the lower floor of the building there are four recitation rooms 24 by 28 feet, with 14 feet ceilings. Hallway from front door, 12 feet wide, communicating with the hall- way (running north and south between the rooms on the east and west ), which is 10 feet wide and 65 feet long. At either end of this hall, in a wing of the building, is a platform stairway 41/2 feet wide communicating with the upper story. On the west side of the upper hall are two recitation rooms, 24 by 28 feet, 16 feet ceilings, with a library room 12 by 28. On the east side of the hall is the chapel, 28 by 65 feet, 16 feet ceiling, two doors and 12 windows. Oiled and varnished yellow-pine wainscoting and patent-mortar blackboards are in every room and in the chapel, and each recitation room has a cloak and hat room attached. Large coal stove furnaces, a new and highly approved patent for which many merits are claimed, warm each room and the chapel. All the recitation rooms, and the chapel in part, are provided with the latest improved seats. Surmounting the building on the east and above the front entrance is a handsome belfry - the whole building presenting architecturally a symmetrical and com- manding appearance, a fitting monument to the cause of education, an honor to our people and a credit to the builders.

Mr. B. McAlester, was the architect. The contract for the whole building just as it stands, seats and warming apparatus excepted, was let to A. T. Duncan, James F. Stewart and John Crist, at $11, 455, May 24, 1881. The brick, about 565,000, were manufactured and laid by J. D. Fay and Russell Berry ; plastering by E. F. Arthur ; painting by Mosley & Stewart, and roof of tin by Berry & Matthews, contractors, George E. Allgair and W. W. Hornberger doing the work. The building was commenced about the middle of June, and,

COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOL.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY ..

being completed and ready for occupancy, was turned over to the board and publicly dedicated on Monday, December 19, 1881. The Columbia Statesman of December 23, 1881, contained a full account of the dedicatory ceremonies, from which account it is learned that the dedication took place in the chapel in the presence of the entire school, who with the teachers marched in a body from the old build- ing on Broadway with music and banners, and a large auditory of citi- zens ; the Columbia brass band furnished music for the march and for the dedicatory occasion.

James A. Adams, president of the board, presided. After a song by the children of the school, two or three hundred in number, prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Fisher, when Gen. Guitar one of the board of education, read a paper turning over the building to the people and giving a summary of the work of the board, its successful accomplish- ments, etc. Next followed a financial statement by Prof. Schweitzer, secretary. Following this were very appropriate speeches by Presi- dent Bryant of Christian College, President Rider of Stephens Col- lege, President Laws of the State University and Maj. Rollins, Presi_ dent of the University Board of Curators. Mr. Adams, chairman of the board of education, then delivered a brief charge and the keys of the building to Prof. Iglehart, principal of schools, who responded in a befitting manner. After a closing song by the pupils the audience was dismissed, and thus ended another notable day in the history of Columbia.

At present the school contains about 400 pupils. It has six teach- ers -Prof. J. J. Iglehart, principal and teacher of the high school department ; Miss Lizzie Bedford, teacher of the grammar depart- ment ; Miss Alice Banks, teacher of the second intermediate department ; Miss Kate Hays, teacher of the first intermediate de- partment ; Miss Amanda Lemon, teacher of the second primary department ; Mrs. J. J. Iglehart, teacher of the first primary de- partment.

The first board of education of the town of Columbia of which there is a record was elected January 4, 1873, and held its first meeting three days later. It was composed of R. H. Clinkscales and W. T. Ander- son, who held till September, 1873 ; J. M. Samuel and R. A. Moore, who held till September, 1874, and T. B. Gentry and J. S. Moss, who held till September, 1875. T. B. Gentry was the first president and John M. Samuel the first secretary. The present board is composed of Capt. J. A. Adams, president; Paul Schweitzer, secretary, and

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John M. Samuel, treasurer. The other members are D. D. Berry, B. A. Watson, and O. Guitar.

THE COLORED SCHOOL.

The first colored school house in Columbia was built in 1866, partly by the Freedman's Aid Society. The ground on which the building stands was donated by the colored church members of Columbia. The building was first erected for a Union church, but was occupied as a school house from the first. It was originally called Cummings Academy, in honor of its first principal, Prof. Chas. C. Cummings, who had charge of the school for ten years.

The house has three rooms. No. 1 will seat 100 pupils ; No. 2 seats 80 ; No. 3 seats 40. There are two rooms on the first floor. Room No. 3 is called the abecedarian department ; No. 2 is the primary de- partment ; No. 1 the grammar and intermediate department. There are four teachers - Prof. F. H. Lawther, principal and teacher of the grammar department ; Mrs. Hattie Lawther has charge of the inter- mediate department ; Miss Bettie Hoskins has room No. 2, primary department ; Miss Jennie Coleman teaches the abecedarians.

The school ranks as one of the best colored schools in Missouri. The rooms are very small, however, and during the last session were very much crowded. The terms are of the same length as those of the main public schools. In the matter of school privileges the colored children of Columbia have the same number as the whites.

CHURCHES OF COLUMBIA - BAPTIST.

The Baptist church of Columbia was first organized at the resi- dence of old Charles Hardin, November 22, 1823. The original members were Hutchens Barrett, Wm. Ridgeway, Charles Hardin, Hannah Hardin, Harriet Goodloe, Abraham N. Foley, Wm. Jewell, George Jewell, Mary Jewell, Henry Cave and Hiram C. Phillips. From 1823 to 1828, services were held at private-houses. From 1828 to 1836 the congregation worshipped in the court-house. In 1836 Wm. Jewell (Baptist ) and Moses U. Payne ( Methodist ) built a church which was used jointly by the Baptists and Methodists for many years. This church stood where was afterwards John Guitar's resi- dence, lot 241 of the original town plat.

The records of this church from 1823 to 1844, and from 1844 to April, 1865, have been lost, and no authentic history can be given during those periods. This much is known, however, that in 1837,

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when the division in the Baptist church occurred on the subject of missions, this church almost unanimously sided with the Missionary Baptists.

The second church building was erected in either 1844 or 1845. Alfred Keene was the contractor. This building is still standing on the old public square, just west of the court-house. The site was deeded by the county court.

The first pastor of the church was Rev. Allen McGuire, who was elected in August, 1827, and served until his death, March 31, 1835. Then came R. S. Thomas, who served till 1843; and after him were Elder Keep, - Macy and J. A. Hollis, the latter afterwards the president of Baptist College. Rev. H. M. Richardson was pastor from September 28, 1867, to May 4, 1871. Rev. B. T. Taylor from December 4, 1871, to December 4, 1872; Rev. E. D. Isbell from May, 1873, to June 26, 1876 ; Rev. H. W. Dodge from July 27, 1876, to the present time. Rev. Dodge refused a call to this church about forty years ago. The present membership of this church is 252.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

From a historical sketch in the Columbia Herald, of February 17, 1876, it is learned that the Presbyterian church of Columbia was organized September 14, 1828, by Revs. Wm. P. Cochrane and Thos. Durfee, missionaries, who had been sent out to the far West by the Home Missionary Society of New York. The constitutional meeting was held at a private residence. The second meeting was held at Robert Huston's, four miles northeast of Columbia. The original members were Peter Wright, John Sutton, Elizabeth Sutton, Caro- line Wilson, Wm. Pierce, Harriet Pierce, Robert Huston, and per- haps others.

At the March meeting, 1829, Peter Wright was chosen first dele- gate to the presbytery, then held at St. Charles. September 1, 1829, the membership of the church had increased to twenty-five. A few days after the first meeting Peter Wright and Wm. Pierce were chosen the first ruling elders. John Vanhorn and Robert Huston were chosen the first deacons, in the year 1832. The first presby- tery was held August 23, 1834, " on the Presbyterian camp ground," two miles north of Columbia. The first members disciplined were arraigned February 18, 1830. They were two sisters ( !) "who," saith the record, " common fame says, are not living on terms of

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Christian friendship." A committee visited them and a reconciliation was effected.

January 1, 1843, a great revival meeting occurred in this church, during which there were about one hundred additions. The meeting was conducted by Rev. Isaac Jones, assisted by Revs. W. W. Rob- ertson and David Coulter.

The first church building was erected on the northwest corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, in 1832. It was a brick and cost about $1,000. It was an unpretentious affair, and had neither steeple nor bell. It was afterwards used as a carding mill. The present church, which stands on the corner of Tenth and Broadway, was built in 1848. It is a brick, and quite a substantial structure. It contains a hand- some pipe organ, which was purchased in February, 1860, at a cost of $700. Mr. J. L. Stephens generously paid one-fourth of this cost.

The following have been the pastors of this church since its organiz- ation :

1828-33, Wm. P. Cochran ; 1833-34, no pastor; 1834-35, F. R. Gray ; 1835-36, no pastor; 1836-38, J. L. Yantis ; 1838-40, no pas- tor; 1840-46, Isaac Jones; 1846-48, no pastor; 1848-49, Frank Hart ; 1849-51, James T. Paxton ; 1851-58, N. H. Hall ; 1858-61, S. A. Mutchmore ; 1861-62, M. M. Fisher ; 1864-67, David Coulter, 1868-70, B. Y. George ; 1870-71, no pastor ; 1871-76, R. S. Camp- bell.

Rev. Wilkie is the present pastor.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

This now numerous and flourishing church was organized in 1832, the original members being Elizabeth Stone, Stephen Bedford, Eliza- beth Bedford, Joseph Chiles, Elizabeth Ramsey, Susan Robinson, Jane Robinson, Wm. E. Ready, Catherine Teeter and Robert Teeter. Their first church building was a frame erected in 1841, which served as a place of worship through many years of success as a church. In 1860, the present large brick edifice was erected on lot No. 285, on the corner of Tenth and Walnut streets. The structure is commodious and well furnished, and cost $8,000. It was dedicated by Rev. Moses E. Lord in January, 1861. The following is a list of the names of pastors that have served the church, from time to time : Richard Cave, Marcus P. Wills, Thomas M. Allen, S. S. Church, D. Pat Henderson, James Shannon, L. B. Wilkes, Joseph K. Rogers,

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John W. Mountjoy, Albert Myles, O. A. Carr, Richard W. Gentry and John W. Mountjoy again who is the present pastor. The present membership numbers 400. The church has its regular weekly meet- ings, twice each Lord's day, holds its prayer-meeting on Wednesday evening, supports a Sunday-school, contributes to missionary enter- prises at home and abroad, and is especially identified with the organization and success of Christian Female College of Columbia, a history of which is given in this volume.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

As early as 1835 mass was celebrated in Columbia by Rev. Father La Fevre, at the residence of John H. Lynch, whose family was the only one of the Catholic faith in the town at the time. Those who at- tended from the country were Cornelius Lynch and family, Mrs. Reed and family, the Keiths and the Robinsons, in all not more than 20 persons. For many years matters remained in this primitive condition. The members were true to their faith, and long distances were not barriers to their attendance on every occasion where the holy sacrifice was offered. Nor were the laity alone in their zeal. The pioneer priests will never be forgotten by those who saw them in the storms of winter and in the heat of summer carrying the " bread of life " from one cabin to another throughout the sparsely settled country. They knew no nationality, race or color. Almost without " coat or scrip," they administered the sacraments of the church whenever proper and possible and " had souls for their hire." The names of Rev. Fathers Alamande, Cusick, Murphy, O'Brian, O'Neal, Walsh, O'Shea and McKenna ought never to be forgotten for their great devo- tion to religion and the cause of humanity in the early days of Mis- souri. Archbishop Kendrick's visit to Columbia, in 1845, gave en- couragement that a church would one day be built, but many years came and went and every one of the first settlers had joined the church triumphant before the structure was erected, and but few of their de- scendants have ever seen it. The first attempt at regular services was made by Father C. F. O'Leary, in 1876. He celebrated mass in private houses until after Bishop Ryan's visit in 1877. June 3d, of that year, the bishop himself said mass in the court-house. On the same day he delivered the baccalaureate sermon to the students of the University ; subject, " Christ as a Model." From that time until the completion of the new church, services were held in the court-house.

Years ago the Catholics owned a lot near where the court-house

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now stands, on which they designed erecting a church some day ; but in 1858 the county court condemned this lot for street purposes and allowed damages in the sum of $80. No person appearing to claim this money it was converted into the county treasury, where it lay un- til in 1880, when it and the accrued interest, the total sum amounting to $180, were paid over to Mrs. Kate Clapp, the duly accredited agent of Archbishop Kendrick, and to her the credit is due for the investiga- tion which led to the return of this money to the proper hands. In 1880 Mrs. Clapp, Miss McAfee, H. H. Hagan, and G. M. Baumgart- ner were authorized to solicit subscriptions for the building of the new church. Angust 16th, 1880, work was begun on the building, and June 19th, 1881, the first services therein were held.

The church stands on the corner of Locust street and Grand avenue, Columbia. It is a frame 30x60 feet in size, has a spire seventy-five feet high, and cost when completed, about $2,000. The lot, which is 125x165 feet in size, cost $400, of which sum Mrs. Clapp paid $200. Many of the articles used in the adornment of the altar and in the proper furnishing of the church, were contributed by ladies of Columbia, of various religious denominations. Many of the Protestant citizens of the town and county gave liberally toward the erection of the church, for which the little Catholic congregation desire it said that they are truly grateful.

In this connection it is but just to say that to Mrs. Catharine Lynch Clapp, before mentioned, more credit is due for the building of this church than to any other person. It was she who secured the greater portion of the subscriptions, who superintended, in a great part, the construction of the building, and saw to its proper furnishing and equipment, and who subscribed herself sums of money much beyond her means. She is still an active, zealous member of the congrega- tion, foremost in every good work.

The church has had for pastors, Fathers C. F. O'Leary, W. T. Stack and John T. Twohey, the present pastor. Services are held monthly.

Practically, the first congregation was organized in 1876, with the following members : Mrs. Catharine Lynch Clapp, Peter Horan and family, Larry Rocheford and family, Chas. O'Donnell and family, Thos. Loftus and family, T. Freeman and family, O. Daily and family, - - Winterhalter and family, and G. M. Baumgartner. Mr. Ed.

Farley, and Misses Robinson, McAfee and Lunsford have become members since. The present membership is not far from fifty.

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.

The history of this church in Columbia had to be gleaned from the memory of persons who knew something of the facts, owing to the loss and destruction of the records, there being now no other source of information. This being the case, errors must of course appear, for which our friends will please make allowance.

It was organized before the great political split of 1844, the exact date of its organization being unknown, but was prior to 1838.

The names of some of the original members were : Turner Daniels, Samuel Austin and wife, Moses U. Payne and wife, Mrs. Eliza Matthews and son, Milon S., and Thomas Phillips and wife. For some time after organization, the congregation worshipped in school houses and private dwellings. The first church was a union or part- nership edifice, built of brick, the Baptists uniting funds with the Methodists for this purpose. It cost about $2,500. The congrega- tion of the two denominations were both small and poor, and Rev. M. U. Payne, of the M. E. Church, and Rev. William Jewell, of the Baptists, agreed to build, jointly, a house of worship. They occupied the house for service, free from discord, till the erection of another house. In about 1848, the Methodists built them a brick church at a cost of about $3,000. It served as a meeting place for about twenty years. It stood on the south side of West Broadway, and has been recently torn down. In 1870, they began an elegant new church on the north side of east Broadway, which is built of brick and was finish- ed in 1873, at a cost of $20,000 for lot and building. Just before going to press with this work, the inside was newly decorated with artistic paper-hanging and painting, which makes it now, both inside and out, one of the neatest and most comfortable churches in the county. It was dedicated in 1875, by the late eminent Bishop, E. M. Marvin. Columbia and Rocheport were made the same station in 1842, with Rev. Walter Prescott as pastor for two years. . He was succeeded by Wm. A. Rush, for two years, and he by Zachariah Roberts, for one year. Revs. Joseph Cotton and P. M. Pinkard came next, the former for one year, and the latter for two. Then, in about 1850, Columbia was put on a large circuit, with Revs. Holt and Miller, jointly, on the work for a year. By some it is thought Pink- ard came on again at this time, but all agree that B. H. Spencer was about that time pastor for two years. After Columbia was made a station of itself, J. S. Todd, two years ; Rev. Cope, one year ; William

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 79

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1220

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220